Guyanatime 2 may 2018

P15

1 year later

Bridging of Kurupukari crossing to commence soon

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Issue No. 3551

PRICE

May Day 2018

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Trade unionist calls for investigation into Public Service Department

Accused bird thief stabbed to death P8

See stories on pages 3, 12 and 14

Rising debt levels

Govt continues to plunder P5 nation’s coffers – Ali

…Opposition demands re-establishment of Labour Ministry …President touts open-door-policy to unions Pirate attack in Suriname

Families blame authorities for tardy response

P10 Linden passport office nears completion

Local Govt Elections

…as search continues for 16 missing fishermen Cyber Crimes Bill outrage

Page 9

BoG report

GTT says sedition clause Central bank's seeks to limit press, foreign reserves freedom of expression plummet Page 5

AFC mandates leader to P12 respond to Granger in “prescribed manner”

See stories on pages 7 and 11

…as GTUC encourages Guyanese to refuse to be silenced – slides from US$825M in 2012 to US$498.5 M in 2018

Cop, former athlete die in Linden Highway accident Page 2

Prison P14 wardens detained for “ganja” smelling bag …arrested after bag thrown over prison fence

2 news

wednesDAY, may 2, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Cop, former athlete die in Linden Highway accident

…1 hospitalised

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Police Corporal and a former athlete lost their lives tragically on Tuesday morning when the motor car in which they were travelling slammed into a lorry on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.

Dead are Theon Hope, 24, of Lamaha Park, Georgetown, a Police Corporal, who was stationed at Eve Leary and 25-year-old Quason Anthony, a former athlete of Lot 8366 Bent Street, Georgetown.

According to reports, both men, along with two others – the driver of motor car PNN 1278, Rishawn Pierre, 23, of D’Urban Street, Lodge, and Jermaine Samuels, 20, of Lot 71 Haley Street, Wortmanville, were proceeding to Georgetown on the LindenSoesdyke Highway at 07:30h when the accident occurred.

Guyana Times understands that Pierre was speeding and while proceeding north in the vicinity of Loo Creek, he collided with the rear of motor lorry GWW 8443 with trailer TWW 8912 which was heading in the same direction carrying lumber. One of the logs reportedly went through the mo-

Dead: Theon Hope

Dead: Quason Anthony

tor car.

Public-spirited persons assisted to pull the men from the wrecked motor car, but by that time both Hope and Anthony had succumbed to their injuries.

The third injured man, Samuels, who was in the right rear seat, reportedly received head injuries, and was in stable condition at the Linden Hospital Complex

(LHC).

However, Pierre was taken into Police custody, where he is said to be assisting ranks with the investigation.

When this publication visited the homes of the two dead men, their families were too distraught to speak.

The father of Anthony’s fiancée was seen in tears while oth-

The wrecked motor car after the accident

er relatives seemed to be at a loss for words. Anthony was a father of one. Relatives of Hope declined to

comment as they were still trying to come to grips with the horrific news.

news

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wednesDAY, may 2, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

May Day 2018

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

Wednesday, May 2 – 05:00h-06:30h and Thursday, May 3 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, May 2 – 05:00h-06:30h and Thursday, May 3 – 05:00h-06:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light to thundery showers can be expected throughout the day and into the evening, with temperatures ranging between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Trade unionist calls for investigation into Public Service Department

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senior female trade unionist has called on Government to investigate the operations of the Department of Public Service within the Ministry of the Presidency, claiming that it is not treating workers and their unions fairly, while criticising trade union leaders on a number of issues.

In a fiery address at the

en who have committed their career as public servants in this country and 20-30 years after we are stagnated because we are being denied upward mobility by males who have been placed in positions of authority in the public service. We need to stop it. We’ve had enough of it.

We have the competence, the capacity, the skills and

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

Head of the GPSU’s Women Advisory Committee, Karen Van Sluytman

High Tide: 05:38h and 18:02h reaching maximum heights of 2.74 metres and 2.60 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:37h and 23:47h reaching minimum heights of 0.48 metre and 0.66 metre respectively.

A section of the gathering at the National Park

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Sidelining women

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Afternoon Draw DRAW DE LINE

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Evening Draw

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Labour Day rally held at the National Park on Tuesday, Head of the Women's Advisory Committee of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), Karen Van Sluytman, said she has evidence to support her calls for an urgent investigation to be launched at the Department.

“I believe there is an urgent need for an investigation to be launched into the operations of the Department of Public Service. The Department of Public Service ought to be functioning to the benefit of all public servants. It is not happening. It is functioning for certain public servant, friends and cronies of a few… I am asking our national leaders to please look into to that,” she stated.

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Van Sluytman, who was passionate throughout her address to the hundreds of workers in attendance at the rally also noted that women make up close to 60 per cent of the total workforce, and stressed the need for them to be given equal opportunities like their male counterparts.

“You have to take into consideration, the concerns and needs of use women workers. When we place people in authority… you have to put people of integrity and good character,” she said referring to a senior official of the Public Service Commission. The trade unionist claimed that the individual is known to have a certain agenda and does not have the best interest of public servants, particularly women, at heart.

“There are many wom-

knowledge and intellectual capacity just like the men.”

Van Sluytman argued that for far too long working women have been sidelined and this must not continue to happen. The trade unionist also lashed out at the leaders of various trade unions, saying that many of them hold on to positions for decades, and it is clear that they have no intention of letting go nor making way or creating opportunities for others, especially women in the movement.

“We’ve had enough of those trade union leaders who want to hold on to

those unions, as though the unions belong to them, as though the property of the union belongs to them, personally. The unions belong to the membership. The property of the union belongs to the membership,” she posited.

Van Sluytman was one of two trade union activists that have called for the removal of the GPSU President Patrick Yarde and some members of the union's executive who have held on to those positions for several years.

She spared no effort in criticising trade union leaders also for providing lip service to issues relating to decent work. The trade unionist says this must start at home, if leaders are to demand from employers decent conditions for workers. “You going and talk about decent work for public servants and decent work for other workers, and the people who’re working

with you, you don’t have any regard for their conditions of work. You have them working overtime and not paying them…what is decent about that.”

Van Sluytman captured the crowd’s attention throughout her entire speech and even offered advice to women workers to walk away and stay away from abusive relationships. She said domestic violence is becoming a major issue and women in the workforce must place their hands in the effort to combat this scourge which is taking place in many communities countrywide.

The issue of sexual harassment in the work place was also discussed. She urged women to stand up to bosses who make sexual advances towards them and don’t be afraid to speak out.

The trade unionist’s advice to women in these situations, is never to compromise and speak to someone.

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wednesDAY, may 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

May Day celebrations

Reducing child mortality

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ased on official statistics released recently, over the past 25 years or so, the world has made commendable progress in saving young children’s lives; but there is still a far way to go in terms of drastically reducing newborn and child deaths. The rate of child mortality fell 62 per cent from 1990 – 2016, with under-five deaths dropping from 12.7 million to 5.6 million. However, it is also quite clear that this progress has not been universal, as some countries, including Guyana, are still lagging behind.

A new report from UNICEF and its partners in the InterAgency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (IGME), Levels and Trends in Child Mortality: Report 2017, shows the full scope of child and newborn mortality across the world. The data reveal that the rate of newborn deaths is not decreasing as quickly as that of children aged one to five. As a result, newborns account for a growing proportion of child deaths with each passing year. For example, according to UNICEF, in 2016 alone, 7,000 newborn babies died every day.

Newborn deaths made up 46 per cent of all child deaths, an increase from 41 per cent in 2000. According to the report, most of these deaths are entirely preventable. WHO has noted that prematurity; complications during labour and birth; and infections like sepsis, pneumonia, tetanus and diarrhoea are among the leading causes – all of which can be treated, or prevented with simple, affordable solutions.

It must be mentioned, too, that these children are dying because of who they are and the environment they were born into – whether it be an impoverished family, a marginalised community, or a country consumed by conflict. Children in the poorest households are nearly twice as likely to die before the age of five than those from the richest households.

It must be noted that the vast majority of newborn deaths take place in developing countries, where access to health care is low. Most of these newborns die at home, without skilled care that could greatly increase their chances of survival.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), skilled health care during pregnancy, childbirth, and in the postnatal (immediately following birth) period prevents complications for mother and newborn, and allows for early detection and management of problems. WHO and UNICEF now recommend home visits by a skilled health worker during a baby’s first week of life, to improve newborn survival. Newborns in special circumstances, such as lowbirth-weight babies, babies born to HIV-positive mothers, or sick babies, require additional care, and should be referred to a hospital.

The WHO has suggested that with an increasing share of under-5 deaths occurring within the neonatal period, accelerated change for child survival requires a greater focus on building strong health services, ensuring that every birth is attended by skilled personnel, and making hospital care available in an emergency.

Here, in Guyana, despite progress achieved during the last decade, this country continues to experience one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a maternal mortality rate estimated at 121 per 1,000 live births and an infant mortality rate at 22 per 1,000 live births.

In 2016, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) had approved an US$8 million loan for a programme to help reduce maternal, perinatal and neonatal deaths in Guyana.

The focus of the programme is to improve the quality of care at 140 health facilities and in 88 communities, benefitting at least 140,000 women and 9,000 newborns per year.

The initiative was designed with the aim of supporting and improving maternal and child health care geared towards improving access to quality neonatal health services and providing a better path to, and quality of, reproductive and maternal health services. Efforts such as these must be commended.

That said, the most recent report by UNICEF has made some useful recommendations, which the Government here should seriously consider. Diligent efforts must be made to continue reducing newborn and child deaths. We believe that once there is a concerted, coordinated effort among policymakers, businesses, healthcare workers, communities and families, we can achieve the desired results as those relate to reducing child mortality rates.

Leicester Morrismen throw their hats during May Day celebrations at Bradgate Park in Newtown Linford, UK (Reuters/Darren Staples)

Singh, Brassington being politically persecuted Dear Editor, The recent charges laid against former Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh and former NICIL CEO Winston Brassington are the worst examples of political persecution seen in Guyana for decades, and reek of desperation on the part of the military dictatorship Government anxious to protect its stranglehold on power in the run-up to the 2020 national elections.

Several prominent stakeholders in society, including the leadership of the Private Sector and other civil society organisations, have already expressed outrage at the obviously politically motivated charges laid against Singh and Brassington. These charges are a clear example of political persecution. Both Singh and Brassington are well known for their high standards of professional integrity

and competence. These men were also highly regarded by former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar, who both spoke about the professionalism and integrity displayed by these two former officials throughout their respective tenure in office.

The charges are designed to besmirch the character of these two professionals, and persecute them because of their service in the former PPP/C Government. This kind of harassment is reminiscent of, and worse than, the atrocities during the pre-1992 PNC dictatorship.

During that time, political opponents were singled out for harassment and persecution, simply because they were viewed as belonging to the opposite political side. Acts of persecution were also perpetrated in order to distract domestic and international at-

tention from the substantive issues of the day.

In recent times, the APNU/ AFC coalition Government has been embarrassed by a succession of scandals in which its officials have been reported to have been caught involved in obviously corrupt practices. These practices would rock any democratic government, but this APNU/ AFC Government is apparently unembarrassed by the mounting evidence of corruption under its watch – committed, facilitated, or condoned by its high-ranking members. The reason it is so unfazed is because of its willingness to use the weapons of fear, intimidation, and brute force, in order to hold on to power at all costs.

Everybody knows that what the Government is doing is wrong, but nobody is prepared to come out public-

ly and say it, because they know that if they do, the Government will target and victimise them.

The result is that fear stalks the land. We live today in a climate of fear and intimidation, at the mercy of a brutal and uncaring military dictatorship. Gone are the days when you could speak badly about a Government official, and not have to worry about doing so. Today, if you speak badly about anybody in Government, you immediately have to be fearful for your life and livelihood. I understand that they have even taken to Parliament a law making it illegal to speak badly online about the Government.

If that is not evidence of dictatorship, then I don’t know what is.

Sincerely, Concerned citizen

Seeking explanations, clarifications on proposed cyberspace bill

Dear Editor, “A person commits an offence of sedition if the person, whether in or out of Guyana, intentionally publishes, transmit or circulates by use of a computer system, a statement or words, either spoken or written, a text, video, image, sign, visible representation that brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the Government.”

The above is the section of the proposed cyberspace bill on sedition which has been attracting much attention in the media and elsewhere over the past few days. I write to seek explanations and clarifications about this section of the proposed bill before I offer any opinion on it.

Now, unless I am ill informed, Guyana remains committed to free speech

and freedom of the press, as guaranteed, if not under the Constitution, in several international conventions which the country has signed and ratified. So this means that the press remains free to criticise the Government, Guyanese maintain the right to protest against Government policies and persons like me continue to enjoy the right to express my views via letters to the Editor. Nowhere have I seen or heard of any attempt by the Government to reject these commitments.

However, this proposed new legislation, seems to suggest, in my view, that the right to criticise is only rejected if this is done by “use of computer system”. It also leads one to conclude that one can produce anti-Government material such as videos, signs (pickets), texts etc without being guilty of sedition but the circulation

of such material via computer constitutes a crime.

So here are the explanations and clarifications I am seeking: (A) As a frequent letter writer who transmits my letters via computer, am I committing sedition by sending a letter via e-mail criticising the Government to the media for publication (circulation)?

(B) If I post my hand-written letter (snail mail) would I be guilty of sedition?

(C) Does this new proposed legislation mean that newspapers can publish anti-government material in the printed editions but not on the electronic versions of the publication?

(D) If I post to social media, eg, my Facebook page an article critical of the Government which appears in the printed media but not on its electronic version

(I scan it and post it), am I guilty of sedition?

(E) Are newspapers in Guyana indirectly being prohibited from having electronic versions of their publications since these publications, including the State-owned Guyana Chronicle, from time to time publish letters, news articles and columns that can be constituted to bring or attempt to bring “into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the Government”?

(F) Is this legislation, if it becomes law, consistent with laws in other countries since it includes persons who may commit sedition (in Guyana) even while outside of Guyana? If I am charged and refuse to return to face the courts, could I be extradited or can Interpol list me as “WANTED”? continued on page 5

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BoG report

Rising debt levels

Central bank's foreign Govt continues to plunder nation’s coffers – Ali reserves plummet – slide from US$825M in 2012 to US$498.5M in 2018

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Opposition MP Irfaan Ali

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A graph showing the slide in foreign reserves

recent report from the central bank indicates that Guyana’s net foreign reserves, held by the bank in foreign currency notes, has fallen to its lowest point since 2008. It is a road that took the reserves from a high point of US$825 million in 2012 to US$498.5 million as of March 2018.

A perusal of the Bank of Guyana’s statistical abstract shows that from the lows of US$298.8 million ten years ago; Guyana’s foreign reserves were built up to 2012’s sum and then it started dropping, going to US$751.2 million in 2013 and US$652.2 million in 2014.

The slide continued with the foreign reserves being recorded at US$594.7 million at the end of 2015, before picking up in January of 2016 and being recorded at US$621.1 million. While the year 2016 saw the reserves fluctuate, it never strayed below the US$500 million mark until the end of the year.

In 2017, the reserves plunged well into the US$500 million range. By November of last year, the reserves were recorded at US$562 million and as of March 2018, for the first time since 2008, the net foreign reserves fell to below the US$500 million benchmark.

Economy

At a press conference last month, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had admitted that from the 2017 end of year economic report, the economy grew by a lacklustre 2.1 per cent. Sugar, bauxite and gold all underperformed, and experts are positing that this may be playing a part on the drop in foreign reserves.

The foreign reserves is not the only thing that has declined. According to the bank’s statement of assets and liabilities, its total assets as of March 28, 2018, were $206.4 billion. This includes $1.9 billion in gold reserves, $82.1 billion in capital market

securities and $5.6 billion in money market securities.

This is a reduction from the gold reserves the bank recorded in June 2017.

According to the bank’s Half Year Report last year, it had $4.8 billion worth of gold in its foreign holdings as assets.

The gold reserves have steadily been declining with each passing year. At the end of 2016, the bank had $7.4 billion in gold, while at the end of 2015 the gold reserves stood at $14.2 billion. At the end of 2014 the bank of Guyana had $25 billion in gold as assets.

In the case of total assets, that has also seen a marked decrease.

At the end of 2014, total assets were $207.9 billion.

It reduced in 2015, being recorded at $188.7 billion in December of that year, before recovering by 2016 year end and being recorded at $220 billion. At June 2017, total assets were $221.8 billion, before the drop recorded in this year’s figures.

eeks after declaring that Guyana was on its way to amassing exorbitant debt levels, Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Irfaan Ali has once again condemned the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration’s handling of the economy, contending that Government is continually plundering public funds.

“Since taking up office in 2015, the APNU/ AFC Government continues to plunder the nation’s coffers [by] outstripping private investment to satisfy their growing budget deficit and unruly profligate spending habit,” Ali highlighted on Tuesday.

He also contended that market securities were in decline, noting that these were critical sources of foreign currency. Market securities are debts which can be redeemed within a year and can be in the form of stocks or bonds. Ali, a former Minister under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government, stressed that his party’s suc-

Charges against Dr Singh, Brassington frivolous, vexatious (Part 1)

Dear Editor, The People’s National Congress (PNC)-led coalition is in a mad rush to fulfil the long-awaited election campaign promise to “lock up” People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) former Ministers of Government.

They are expending millions of taxpayers’ money on this witch-hunting expedition that has so far borne no results. I have deliberately used the term “witch-hunting” in the last sentence. The Christopher Columbus’s at the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) have finally landed on the discovery that two former Government Ministers should be charged for misconduct in public office. The charge, sale of prime State lands below market value, which is

tantamount to corruption and misconduct in public office.

Well, my take on that is one of utter foolishness, because if all businesses, Government or otherwise, were to conduct their transactions strictly based on harsh, cold, market prices then no one would ever succeed in this life or the hereafter for that matter.

Businesses do it, even the common small man in the street does it, we all look out for the “best deals” in the market to keep our businesses viable and successful. So, I am at a loss to know where this old English law of misconduct applies. It is just another one of those frivolous and vexatious clauses pulled out of the PNC hat of tricks, so used to harass former PPP officials.

This leads me to the following: When you elect a Government, that group of in-

dividuals are truly entrusted with your wealth, our wealth, the people’s wealth to manage in a wise and prudent manner. Technically, the Government is given full access to our funds to spend (you are not talking about managing) because that is the sticky wicket here, you are actually telling them to spend your money as they see fit, end of discussion.

And this is the big question, these were Cabinet decisions which were well planned and meticulously put together by astute technocrats and politicians alike. Teamwork, done by above board individuals, who have done their homework for our country, the results all bound up in the pleasant experiences we’ve had these last 23 years. This was caring, progressive government at its best, our coun-

try was hauled out of a place of nothingness to one of lasting prosperity. The indelible evidence is all around us in the decades of sustainable growth and development.

So, this misconduct charge must be viewed in the context of what harm did our country accrue as a result of these business deals carried out by those two eminent gentlemen? What have they done to ruin or negatively impact Guyana’s development? And the answer is none? What we can see are the many positives that came about as a result of their hard work.

I sagely believe the PNC is using SOCU and SARA to somehow mask their gross incompetence, but sadly that ruse will not work.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

Seeking explanations, clarifications...

From page 4

(G) Is this proposed legislation in violation of any United Nations Conventions or even its Charter?

These are some of the

clarifications I need before commenting beyond the fact that “in this age of Trump” and the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For

Change and the People’s Progressive Party with this proposed legislation “any call for civility is a call for servility”. I got the last quote from

a piece in the Economist, lest I be convicted of plagiarism.

Regards, Wesley Kirton

cessor was leading the country on a downward trajectory, which could cause the collapse of the nation’s financial system.

Ali further observed that even private enterprises were continuing to record large deficits, coupled with shrinking contributions to net domestic credit. It was pointed out that from a fiscal point of view, Government deficits and total debt continue to proliferate.

“When assessed, growth in total debt outstripped [Gross Domestic Product] GDP by more than 119 per cent points,” he stated.

Ali had observed last month that based on estimates, the country’s debt-toGDP ratio, using the 2018 GDP forecast of 3.8 per cent, would now be 73 per cent. He noted then that Government was increasing the country’s total debt by more than 28 per cent. It was observed then that the Administration was refusing to adhere to calls by international observers for the country to reduce largescale borrowing.

Highlighting the threats to job creation and supporting sectors such as forestry, agriculture and construction, the PPP executive pointed out a range of outcomes if these industries continued to suffer a decline.

From rising non-performing loans, there could be a high tax burden, low growth rate and low disposable income. According to Ali, the economic decline will see high unemployment as businesses will opt to downsize their operations owing to high interest rates and low demand, coupled with depreciation of foreign exchange.

At the end of December 2017, the Finance Ministry’s

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

Public Debt Annual Report showed Guyana’s total debt, inclusive of external and domestic debt, stood at US$1.66 billion or 45.2 per cent of GDP. Earlier this year, Government secured a US$900 million line of credit from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to develop the areas of agriculture, banking and finance, human development, energy, and rural development.

The funds are also expected to go towards developing new co-generation capacity for the sugar estates’ operations and for the national electricity grid. Finance Minister Winston Jordan had explained that the IsDB financial arrangement has a resource envelope of US$900 million that is potentially available, from which the Government can borrow.

However, some observers, including Ali, were of the opinion that these decisions will lead to a “massive” increase in debt.

In April 2018, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo opined that Government was, in fact, “pawning our futures”.

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Foundation

By Matthew M Johnson

G

rammar can produce anxiety for teachers because it’s maddeningly hard to teach effectively and has a lot of intimidating terminology like dangling modifiers and adverbial clauses, and every rule has exceptions.

Further complicating matters is the fact that there’s great doubt about whether many traditional methods of teaching grammar – like the direct teaching of grammatical terms or use of grammar worksheets – work at all. In 1963, researchers argued that “the teaching of formal grammar has a negligible or, because it usually displaces some instruction and practice in actual composition, even a harmful effect on the improvement of writing,” and over 250 studies since that time, as well as a metaanalysis from the Carnegie Corporation in 2011, have widely supported that statement.

All of this is enough for the authors of Grammar Alive! to call grammar “the skunk at the garden party of the language arts,” and like a skunk, most students and teachers probably wish it would just go away.

But it isn’t going anywhere. Beyond its central role in standards and tests, grammar matters because troubled mechanics can and often do obscure meaning, and students who use the wrong grammar at the wrong time run a major risk of being judged harshly or not taken seriously in the wider world.

So what then are teachers supposed to do? One option is to stop isolating grammar in its own box and to instead embed it into the reading and writing already happening in the classroom. This in-context approach has shown promise, but it can be tricky to implement – it isn’t as simple as handing students a worksheet with rules and exercises, and it looks different in every class.

There are some core concepts, however, that can help teachers bring grammar out of isolation and into the daily

guyanatimesgy.com

work of their classrooms.

Teaching grammar in context

Discuss what grammar is: In a 2012 English Journal article, Jill Ewing Flynn recalls a lesson she observed in which the teacher discussed what Standard English is, where it came from, and what its connection is to power and prejudice. What struck Flynn was how quickly the students’ scepticism of grammar morphed into a desire to know more, but that makes sense because a conversation like this gives students some context for why learning the rules of Standard English grammar now will help them improve their lives in the future.

Executing a lesson like this can be difficult, as language is a personal and controversial subject, but if handled with care, such a lesson can motivate and inspire students to work at learning grammar.

Make grammar instruction about choices, not errors: In a video called “The Craft of Grammar,” Jeff Anderson explains that one of his main goals is to sabotage the students’ notion that grammar is about finding errors and reframe it as being about empowering them with tools and choices.

His notion is that students understand passive voice better by dissecting how politicians use it to deflect blame than they ever would from correcting passive voice “errors” in a worksheet.

Use and imitate mentor texts: Harry Noden, author of Image Grammar:

Teaching Grammar as Part of the Writing Process, suggests exposing students to excerpts with different grammatical structures and moves and then having them imitate the excerpts to deepen their understanding of what the authors are doing. The end goal of this is to expand the students’ toolboxes of grammatical moves, which will in turn help them develop their voices.

One of my favourites is the lesson in which Noden has students mimic a 126word sentence about the exhilaration of flying a fighter jet from Tom Wolfe’s The Right Stuff to describe an upcoming school dance, big game, first date, or anything else that is exciting in their lives.

Teach sentence combining: One approach to teaching grammar that finds almost universal support in research is sentence combining, which is where teachers show students how to combine and break apart sentences.

Doing this is pretty straightforward – give students a list of information such as, “I went to a movie, it was on Friday, it starred Chris Pine, and I thought it was all right.”

They move the information around, creating as many sentences as possible, and the resulting lesson touches upon everything from run-ons and fragments to sentence length variation to use of commas.

What makes this type of sentence combining lesson so effective is that it forms a bridge that shows students how talking about things like clauses and commas can actually help them improve their writing.

Grammar might not ever be most students’ or teachers’ favourite delight in the garden party of language arts, but it needs to stop being the skunk. And that starts by unplugging our noses and inviting it with open arms to play a more central, positive, and interconnected role in our classes. (Edutopia.org)

By Carl Pickhardt, PhD

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f all the responsibilities that come with thankless parenting an adolescent – taking unpopular stands and making unpopular demands – supervision of teenage behaviour is usually close to the top of the list.

“Sometimes we get so tired of keeping after our adolescent we wonder if it’s worth the aggravation!”

I believe it is.

In addition to teaching skills and guarding against dangers, another purpose of supervision is a corrective one.

This is to combine parental oversight to monitor what the teenager is doing with parental pursuit to influence what she or he needs to get done. “You still haven’t finished what I asked so I am telling you again.”

The high cost of supervision

Supervision takes a lot of parental attention and a lot of parental effort, and it is generally disliked on both sides of the relationship. On the receiving side, the young person can find it invasive and oppressive; and on the providing side, the adult can find it aggravating and exhausting.

There can be this youthful complaint: “Stop checking on me; I hate it when you keep reminding and reminding me; I said I’d do it an hour ago!” And there can be the adult response: “I appreciate what you said, and I get tired of repeatedly asking. However, I won’t stop checking until you take care of what I requested.” So why did the teenager finally comply? “To stop their bugging me, I finally did what my parents wanted!”

Particularly to counter the seemingly endless adolescent capacity for delay, the byword for parents is: “If it’s important enough to ask for or require, then it’s important enough to follow through and see that it gets done or is complied with.” Supervision is a specific act that has a lot of symbolic value. It goes to show that: Parents mean what they say Will insist on what they want And routinely follow through on rules they set and requests they make

The importance of consistency

What can undercut their influential power of supervision is when parents use it inconsistently, keeping after a rule on one occasion, but letting it go on another when their attention is elsewhere or their energy is lacking. In this case, the teenager can be encouraged to conclude: “Sometimes they mean what they say I have to do and sometimes they don’t.” So the next time the adolescent comes up against a selectively enforced requirement, she or he is likely to bet on “they don’t.”

Consistently applied, parental supervision can have shaping value, instilling important habits in both child and adolescent. For example, consider the weary parents who came in for coaching, in disrepair over having to deal with a very strong-willed six-year-old. “She’s totally defiant!” they declared. “She automatically refuses everything we ask!”

“That must be very frustrating,” I said. “It sounds dangerous. You can’t even drive with her safely in the car, with her refusing to wear a seatbelt, I mean.” “What are you talking about?” they asked. “She knows to always buckle up in the car.” “Really,” I replied? “I thought she refused to comply with any of your rules.” “Well, not that one,” they admitted. “And how did you get her to use her seat buckle?” I wanted to know. “We didn’t give her a choice,” they explained. “It’s too important. We just kept after her and after her until she finally decided it wasn’t worth fighting us about it anymore.”

“Exactly,” I replied. “That’s your model for getting important compliance with your headstrong daughter. You must consistently supervise what you most want until she gives in and decides to routinely do it. And now she is free to fight you about something else. Since a wilful child is likely to become a wilful teenager, it’s best for you to have a well-practised history of consistent supervision in place when a strong-willed adolescence begins.” (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

TO BE CONTINUED

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wednesDAY, may 2, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cyber Crimes Bill outrage

GTT says sedition clause seeks to limit press, freedom of expression …raises concern

U

rging the removal of the offence of sedition from the Cyber Crimes Bill 2016 because of the danger it presents to free speech, GTT has waded into the debate on the unpopular clause.

In correspondence seen

by Guyana Times, the telecommunications company raised objections to the proposed Bill. It also cited examples where similar pieces of legislation were discarded by the respective Governments.

“The offence of sedition seeks to limit the press and freedom of speech against the Government and should be struck from the draft as it would limit freedom of speech and thought of the people,” the correspondence dated April 25, 2018 stated.

“The Opposition of St Vincent and the Grenadines publicly struck out against it. This will limit the development of the freedom of the press in Guyana.”

Questioning whether any service providers were consulted prior to the

Bill’s preparation, the company stressed the need for such consultation. It would not be the first time the Government has faced flak over implementing policies without consulting relevant parties first.

“As interested parties that store such data, they should be consulted in the process. Legislation that affects the relevant stakeholders should have their input prior to the passage of legislation.”

Recommendations

Questioning whether Guyana had a cybercrime unit, GTT cited similar circumstances in Jamaica. The company also noted that there should be a section in the Bill that addressed the liability of service providers.

“What about the passage of the Data Protection Act?” the company queried. “In other Caribbean countries, the passage of the Data Protection legislation was needed as auxiliary legislation to support the efficiency of cybercrime [laws].

GTT CEO Justin Nedd

“There should be a clause that speaks to the violation of privacy as noted at Section 16 of the draft of cybercrime legislation in Trinidad and Tobago. There should be a clause in the draft that speaks to limiting the use of the data, taking as precedence from the draft of the Cybercrime Bill of St Vincent and Grenadines clause 25.”

Laid in the National Assembly since 2016, Guyana’s Cyber Crimes Bill had catered for, inter alia:

illegal access to a computer system; illegal interception; illegal data interference; illegal acquisition of data; illegal system interference; unauthorised receiving or granting of access to computer data; computer-related forgery; computer-related fraud; offences affecting critical infrastructure; identity-related offences; child pornography; child luring; and violation of privacy among a slew of other offences.

A Special Select Committee had been working on the Bill for the past few years and their report on the Bill was presented recently. That committee was composed of Attorney General Basil Williams, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, Education Minister Nicolette Henry and parliamentarians Michael Carrington and Audwin Rutherford.

The Opposition People’s

The offending clause in the Cyber Crimes Bill

Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was represented by Chief Whip Gail Teixeira and parliamentarians Clement Rohee, Anil Nandlall, and Gillian Persaud-Burton.

According to clause 18 of the Bill, persons commit an offence of sedition when they “attempt to bring into hatred or excite disaffection towards the government”.

These provisions have, in fact, excited worry among

social media users. They took to the medium in their numbers to register concerns that their freedom of expression would be trampled.

PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo has also vehemently denied his party supported the Bill.

Meanwhile, Government’s explanation for the clause has been to say it falls under national security.

8 NEWS

wednesDAY, may 2, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Accused bird thief stabbed to death A

n alleged bird thief, who of recent had reportedly been on a bird snatching spree, was killed in Sophia, Greater Georgetown on Tuesday morning when he allegedly attempted to snatch another bird.

Twenty-one-year-old Shelton Jordan, called “Mickey Mouse”, of West La Penitence, Georgetown, was reportedly killed at about 05:30h.

Guyana Times was told that Jordan attempted to steal a bird on Dennis Street, Sophia but was un-

The man’s body along with the motorcycle following the stabbing

successful.

An argument reportedly ensued between him and the owner of the bird and Jordan reportedly stabbed the man to his hand. This resulted in a scuffle between the two.

The robbery victim managed to disarm Jordan of the knife he was carrying, and stabbed him several times in the process.

The 56-year-old man then proceeded to the Police

Dead: Shelton Jordan

station where he reported what transpired.

Tiffany Lowers, the girlfriend of the now dead accused bird thief, was in a distraught state at the scene of the incident.

According to the woman, Jordan left home at about midnight on Monday but never returned.

“He left home at 12 last night (midnight Monday) to work… he had no problems with the Police before…we had been together for the last seven years,” the young woman cried.

However, at the scene of the crime, several persons who had their birds stolen, alleged that Jordan was among a group of men who had been prowling the area and stealing birds.

“We know this motorcycle,” one eyewitness relayed, adding “this same motorcycle pull up and grab two birds from that man there with that black hat, it was this boy (pointing to dead man) and another red skin boy,” the man revealed.

Another person told this publication that he was sitting on his veranda one day attending to one of his birds when he noticed Jordan riding past on numerous occasions.

“I see he deh driving pass for about three times. I had my bird right in front of my yard up on a lamp post. He play like if he was about to pee but he grab the bird from the post and by the time I reach down he did already drive away,” the man explained.

According to a resident in the area, a wildlife dealer, the stolen birds are expensive and are being sold to persons who smuggle them out of the country.

“The birds are expensive, especially if it’s a racing bird but the birds are being stolen and sold back at a low value.”

When this publication visited the dead man’s home, his family were not at home and were said to be at the Police station.

The Police are continuing with their investigations.

Labour’s lost…

N

…love o…your Eyewitness didn’t mix up the Bard’s play, “Love’s labours’ lost”. That had to do with a king and his three friends who decide to focus on their studies and not to get distracted with “love”. But being yesterday was “Labour Day”, he decided to reflect on the heady days of yore when Labour was strenuously wooed by the politicians. And why today, they barely rate a second glance.

In case you’ve forgotten, dear reader, the very existence of our country is due to “LABOUR”. And yes, it should be capitalised for exactly that reason. The Europeans who “discovered” our neck of the woods soon discovered they quickly wilted under the local conditions when plundering our wealth. Not to worry…they quickly solved their problems by first purchasing African slaves to supply the labour – from chiefs of warring tribes who were only more than willing to get some quick baubles from the Europeans.

Later they ended that system and freed the slaves when they discovered they could get the work done even more cheaply with indentured servants from India and China!!

So we’re all about LABOUR, right? So where do the politicians come in? Well during slavery, the slaves used to rebel periodically and create quite a ruckus – not to mention razing factories and profits and such like. After slavery, when the factory owners just couldn’t shoot the workers willy-nilly, the workers realised the value of withholding their labour. When conditions got to dread – like with wages or working conditions, the workers would now STRIKE en masse!

The difference from the old rebellions of slavery was that now the owners had to read “the riot act” before shooting them down!! So, after a while, the workers learnt that up in England the white workers formed something calls “Unions”, which rioted until the Government had them BARGAIN with the employers for better wages and conditions. So like monkey see; monkey do, we formed trade unions here!!

Like sharks smelling blood in the water, it wasn’t long after, fellas who used to BEG the powers that be for a piece of the (political) action, realised if they linked up with the trade unions, they could instead BARGAIN for that piece of the action. “Politicians”, who had LEVERAGE, were born!!

And so, lo and behold the trade unions became the womb that produced all the early politicians – both from the PPP and later the PNC. But like the sharks they were genetically related to, the politicians soon turned the table on unions, after they got into office.

And we reach the present when the unions are so passé, the Government of the day wouldn’t even give unions the time of the day!! …direction But seriously folks…isn’t there something the unions can do to reverse their descent into irrelevance? Your Eyewitness thinks so! All they have to do is get back to first principles: do what they started out to do on behalf of workers in the first place!! Remember? They’ve got to get out into the streets and riot when workers’ rights are being violated!!

Look at what just happened to sugar workers – the folks whose labour during slavery and indentureship made this country possible, to begin with. The employer, GuySuCo, arbitrarily fired 5700 of them!! Why weren’t there riots??

GuySuCo also demanded sugar workers forget about the CONTRACTED clause forbidding having workers being sent to work more than 20 miles from their homes!! Why no riots??

The answer, of course, is trade unions have become just like Government Ministers who retire into their airconditioned offices and send out press releases! Imagine the workers who pay their salaries are left to starve…and they tap away at computer keyboards!

No wonder labour’s lost relevance. …champion Was a time only a decade ago, under the Socialist banner, when labour seemed to be just about to conquer all in our region – including Latin America.

But with Lula in jail and Maduro in the air, it’s all gone to channa.

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

News

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wednesDAY, may 2, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Pirate attack in Suriname

Families blame authorities for tardy response

…lament lack of information …as search for 16 missing fishermen continues

T

he Surinamese Government on Tuesday dispatched a helicopter to continue the search for the 16 fishermen who were thrown overboard during a horrific piracy attack last weekend.

However, relatives of the missing men believe the situation would not be the same had there been a timely response from the Dutch authorities.

Five men, armed with guns and cutlasses, attacked four fishing boats and their 20 crew members late Friday evening into Saturday morning near the Wia Wia bank off of the Surinamese shore. Guyana Times understands the majority of the crew members are Guyanese.

During the attack, the ruthless sea bandits mercilessly inflicted chop wounds on the crew men and ordered them to jump overboard but not before tying them up with boat anchors, batteries and other heavy items to anchor the men’s bodies underwater.

Of the 20 fishermen in Friday’s incident, which has been described as one of the most horrific piracy attacks in recent history, only four were able to make their way to shore.

Boat Captain Ramesh Sanicharran, called “Ravo”, one of the survivors, related to reporters what happened

to him during the attack.

“The looters them come and start to chop we up in the boat and say everybody gonna die. They chop me pon my hand, pon my head and they throw we in the water, everybody… They tie me neck with the anchor and when I reach down to the ground, I lose it and come up back, and for so far only me can meet shore… I don’t know what happen to the rest but I think two of them dead in the boat because they get bad chop,” the boat captain told reporters on Monday.

However, reports coming out of the neighbouring country revealed that those two badly injured fishermen, who were spared being thrown overboard, survived and are receiving medical attention.

Like most of his fellow colleagues, the Guyaneseborn fisherman, originally from Good Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD), has been living and working in the neighbouring country for a number of years, and according to him, there is little done by the Surinamese authorities to protect seamen.

Meanwhile, another Guyanese, Joan Parris, is also in despair as she awaits news about her son, 21-yearold Glenroy Jones, who is missing. She too lamented about the lack of response of the Surinamese authorities

in responding to the reports of piracy.

“When we heard, we go at the station to report it, you know what they told us, they have to wait till somebody come from out at sea and report the matter, that’s foolish… Is another fishing boat had to load up their own fuel and go out there with 12 men to look to see if they find anybody… Even if them boys survived (the attack), I don’t think they would be alive up to now,” the woman noted.

Parris went on to accuse the Surinamese Police of not being fully proactive in their response, since the victims are mostly Guyanese. “This Government isn’t doing anything cause is Guyanese people but is Guyanese people building their fishing industry, their shrimp industry and their prawns industry…

No Dutch man ain’t going on that water top, is share Guyanese and they need to protect Guyanese,” she asserted.

Also grieving is Tarmatie Ibrahim, who is pleading with the authorities to do all they can to get her husband, Danish Persad, back home with her and their two young sons.

According to the woman, she last spoke with her husband, a boat Captain, on Friday evening sometime just before midnight and he told her he was returning

One of the four fishing boats sunk by the pirates

home in a few days but instead she received the news of the attack. The couple has been living in Suriname for the past six years.

Meanwhile, 50-yearold Ramnarin Singh, called “Harry”, originally for Better Hope, East Coast Demerara, is also missing and his relatives in Guyana are also looking for answers from the Surinamese authorities.

The man’s niece, Nikieta, told Guyana Times on Tuesday that Singh and his wife have been living in Suriname for about 15 years and only two weeks ago he visited Guyana. The man’s worried niece said the family contacted the boat owner, but the woman did not give them any information.

She noted that Singh’s brother has since travelled to Suriname to get some information about the incident.

Meanwhile, the Surinamese Government in a statement on Tuesday afternoon said a helicopter has been dispatched to continue the three-day search with the hope of rescuing more of the missing fishermen or at

least retrieve their bodies.

“There are immediate searches, we are still working… I read that the actions have stopped, nothing is less true,” Suriname’s Minister of Justice and Police, Stuart Getrouw, said.

The Dutch Coast Guard, military and Police Force are continuing the search with support from French Guiana. Nevertheless, the Justice and Police Minister assured that the necessary steps have been taken to ensure the safety of the fishermen in the future. This, he noted, includes, among other things, the installation of a GPS system and the creation of special organisations.

Meanwhile, efforts to contact Guyana’s security officials on whether they are getting involved or have been contacted by their Surinamese counterparts have been futile. However, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge did confirm he is not aware of any contact made with his office by Suriname about this issue.

According to reports from the neighbouring coun-

try, the sea bandits stole the fishermen’s catch, fuel, the boat engines as well as fish glue. They also hijacked one of the four boats and sank another one, while the two others were retrieved and taken back to shore.

Local media in Suriname has since reported that one of the survivors has identified four of the five attackers to be Guyanese. He identified them by their ‘sea names’ as “Dick”, “Bolo”, “Crackhead” and “Sanbad”.

The fifth perpetrator was a “dark-coloured” male unknown to the fishermen.

Meanwhile, some fisherfolk on the Corentyne in Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) believe last weekend’s attack was a vendetta. Several persons operating out of the Number 66 Fishermen Coop told this publication on Tuesday that the Guyanese fishermen operating in Suriname have a rift amount themselves.

This is as a result of the availability and accessibility of licences to operate in the waters of the Dutch nation.

(Vahnu Manikchand)

10 news Linden passport office nears completion wednesDAY, may 2, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

C 10

onstruction work on the Linden passport office in Region (Upper Demerara-

Berbice) is nearing completion.

The project, which commenced in January, is

Old folks’ advice

S

The passport office which is currently under construction

expected to wrap up by the end of May. Upon completion, residents of Linden and other areas in the Region are expected to enjoy the comfort of having a passport office which will cater for new applications within their community, easing the burden of having to travel to Georgetown to access the service.

Last December, Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix travelled to the community for a sod-turning exercise at the site, which is in the vicinity of the Young Men Christian

Association (YMCA) building at Mackenzie, Linden.

The construction of the building, which measures 2000 square feet, is being executed by R Bassoon and Sons Contracting Company, to the tune of $30,604,472.

While Linden has been benefiting from passport renewal services, conducted out of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) building at Mackenzie since August 2016, it is the first time the community will host an office to cater for new applicants.

223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

atiricus was feeling quite good about himself. Even though the fellas had urged him to check out the labour march in town, he’d steadfastly refused.

Satiricus figured Labour Day was intended as a reward for those who laboured all year long. Like himself!! And was therefore intended as a day of rest. In his case, lying in his hammock and gently swaying away under his mango tree in his backyard. Duly rested, he ambled over to the Back Street Bar. “Look! De lazy man come out fram ‘e hammick!” said Bungi, as Satiricus eased into his seat.

“Sato, yuh na shame yuh na march ‘gainst yuh wukplace?” asked Cappo as he slid a beer towards Satiricus.

“Let me tell you in your own words, friend,” said Satiricus after he took a long swig, “Don’t mind how bird vex, it can’t vex with tree.”

“Like you think about job security, in the hammock Sato?” observed Hari as the other two fellas gaped at Satiricus.

“Budday…I have to feed my children – not to mention my wife Caustic!!” smiled Satiricus. “Can’t afford to lose my job right now, you know.”

“Well me na guh tell yuh nuttin,” said Cappo. “Ev’ry fowl does feed pan ‘e own craw!”

“Since everybody giving you old people advice, you mind if I give you some?” asked Hari in his usual careful manner.

“Sure! Go ahead!!” replied Satiricus amiably. “I know I will hear it whether I like it or not!!”

“You always complaining about how your editor overworking you, Sato,” said Hari. “When man mek ‘eself sugar, he mattie does suck am!”

“But Sato, yuh mean all abbe fr’en dem get fyah fram GuySuCo,” said Bungi. “An’ yuh na t’ink yuh sh’u’d support dem?”

“Yes, Sato,” interjected Cappo in support. “If yuh finger get sore, nah tek am and throw way am!”

“Well, let me tell you something my leader Nagga Man taught me,” said Satiricus “’E nah good to shove yuh foot in every stocking.”

“Especially since HE already stuck his foot into his mouth!” grinned Hari. “Do fuh do nah obeah!”

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wednesDAY, may 2, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GTUC against sedition clause in Cyber Crimes Bill …encourages Guyanese to refuse to be silenced

G

eneral Secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Lincoln Lewis has encouraged Guyanese to refuse to be silenced even as the much-debated Cyber Crimes Bill 2018 is in the process of being soon passed at the parliamentary level.

The Bill, which holds two controversial clauses which seek to penalise persons who “attempt to bring into hatred or excite disaffection towards the Government” via text, speech, or image is considered to be a threat to freedom of speech in Guyana.

“Let none still your voice, for your voice plays a pivotal role in giving meaning and expressions to your existence, and is vital to being part of the social order because we are foremost social beings.

Let’s get up… stand up… stand up for our rights. Don’t let us give up the fight… Ours is the baton to carry and we must carry it like true warriors. None must stop us in this leg of our journey to create a just society! Solidarity forever, for it’s the union that makes us strong!” he told May Day rally on Tuesday.

Since the introduction of the legislation, many members of the public have sought

GTUC General Secretary Lincoln Lewis

to criticise the clauses and Government, while calling for it to be removed from the Bill; the original purpose being to protect Guyanese and their children from the dangers of cyberspace.

Recently, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo denied suggestions that the parliamentary Opposition supported the insertion of the controversial clause – clause 18 – into the Cyber Crimes Bill.

Clause 18 of the Cyber Crimes Bill outlines that persons commit an offence of sedition when they “attempt to bring into hatred or excite disaffection towards the Government.”

These provisions have, in fact, excited worry among so-

cial media users who have recently taken to that medium in their numbers to register concerns that their freedom of expression would be trampled.

According to Jagdeo, the initial purpose of the Bill was to protect Guyanese and their children from the dangers of cyberspace.

Instead, he explained, the Bill has been converted by the Government to one that, besides the original purpose, protects their Government’s own interests.

“This is why the entire Guyana must fight to ensure that this retrograde step to charge people for sedition, an archaic offence, because of what they say, which can cause disaffection with the Government… This provision has no place in a democratic, in a free Guyana, in a Guyana where free speech is an important part of our democracy where freedom of expression is defined and protected by our Constitution,” he stated.

Laid in the National Assembly since 2016, the Cyber Crimes Bill had catered for, inter alia: illegal access to a computer system; illegal interception; illegal data interference; illegal acquisition of data; illegal system interference; unauthorised re-

ceiving or granting of access to computer data; computer related forgery; computer related fraud; offences affecting critical infrastructure; identity related offences; child pornography; child luring and violation of privacy among a sleuth of other offences.

A Special Select Committee, comprising of Government and Opposition members had been working on the Bill for the past few years and their report on the Bill was presented recently.

Jagdeo noted However that PPP “members of the

Select Committee that met on several occasions to consider this Bill were there and were absent sometimes” while outlining that their “presence alone, just being named to that Committee does not elevate this to support of the PPP.”

12 news

wednesDAY, may 2, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Opposition demands re-establishment of Labour Ministry

…receives endorsement from GTUC

W

hile criticising Government for its handling of matters concerning outstanding wages and salaries owed to workers by employers, Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Gillian Burton-Persaud used the opportunity to call on Government to reestablish the Labour Ministry to look at specific issues in relation to the many delicate challenges facing workers and trade unions.

Burton-Persaud, who was one of the key speakers at the annual May Day rally which was held at the National Park on Tuesday, told the hundreds of workers in attendance that there is need for Government to fulfil their part of the bargain since many contractors claim the reason for non-payment is because they (the contractors) are yet to be paid for work done for the Government.

“The Minister needs to advise the Government better as it relates to its adherence to the Collective Bargaining pro-

Opposition MP and trade union leader, Burton-Persaud

former Gillian

cess, negotiations and workers’ rights. We have seen too much bungling in these areas.

I therefore support the call for the Ministry of Labour to be a separate Ministry,” she asserted.

The former trade union leader and Opposition spokespersons on labour in the National Assembly said the ‘sorry state of our economy’

signals to the trade union movement that there is a lot of work to do. In delivering a passionate speech, BurtonPersaud said it cannot be business as usual.

Further, the MP called on workers to stop succession planning, and activate that plan into flight mode. “The time is now for workers to impose upon delinquent leaders the need to shape up or ship out. Workers must no longer accept mediocre representation from union leaders,” she added.

Burton-Persaud said her party, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and its leaders will not stand idly by and allow the rights of workers and the democracy of citizens to be trampled upon.

“Therefore, we stand in solidarity with every Guyanese worker regardless of sector, gender, race, ethnicity, religious, political or cultural persuasion in ensuring that your rights to freedom of expression, freedom of association, freedom of assembly,

freedom of choice, the right to work so as to provide a decent life for yourself and family remain intact and is in no way threatened or taken away by anyone.”

Support for Ministry The Member of Parliament’s call for the re-establishment of a Labour Ministry was supported by General Secretary of the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) Lincoln Lewis. But he went a bit further to request of Burton-Persaud and her party to table a motion to the National Assembly seeking the re-establishment of the Ministry.

“Labour is prepared to work with you to bring this to fruition and hopes you take this commitment in the spirit of solidarity. Labour also holds out optimism that Minister (Basil) Williams would be able to use this experience in impressing on his Administration the wisdom of having a Ministry of Labour and the benefit of treating labour as a social partner consistent with Article 38 and 149C of the Guyana Constitution.”

Lewis argued that with the absence of that Ministry, not only does it signal the value Government places on a country’s most valued resource but also communicates to allies and foes of Guyana that Guyanese are not considered pivotal to the country’s development. He said this was also reinforced with the country’s non-attendance to International Labour Organisation (ILO) conference for the past three years.

“Where we know better and different we must continue to act accordingly for development of society requires of us staying the course.

Employment remains a sore issue. Too many are unemployed, under-employed, and the retired who need to be productively engaged are too being deprived. We note the statistics of the Guyana Labour Force Survey,” the outspoken trade union leader added.

Importantly, while Lewis said that the effort of gathering scientific data is commendable, he said it must make real the science through action. “Meaning must be given to data being collected beyond collection and making findings public.” As such, he said Guyana needs a policy for the creation of decent jobs.

“We had the Feed, Clothe and House Programme and the Structural Adjustment Programme that gave rise to systems being put in place to make these possible with the trade union playing a meaningful role, and the Ministry of Labour being the institution that coordinated and developed policies that impacted the role of the workers in the process, ensuring laws to protect workers and compliance with international standard based on the country’s obligations to organisations Guyana is affiliated with,” he added.

Local Government Elections

AFC mandates leader to respond to Granger in “prescribed manner”

President David Granger

AFC Leader Raphael Trotman

he Alliance For Change (AFC) held its second National Executive Committee (NEC) Meeting for 2018 on Tuesday where a decision was taken to have its leader, Raphael Trotman respond to President David Granger in a “prescribed manner” on the issue of Local Government Elections.

The AFC late Tuesday evening said the meeting was held at the Georgetown Club and was attended by members of the NEC, representatives from all the administrative regions and Diaspora representatives, including persons from Grenada who represented the AFC’s Caribbean Chapter.

According to the party, Trotman reported to the meeting that on April 30, he received a response to the AFC letter dated February 26, 2018, which was sent to leader of the A Partnership For National Unity (APNU), President David Granger. The AFC letter outlined a number of matters, including the issue of the approach to Local Government Elections and the response from Granger proposed “a certain course of action.”

“The NEC deliberated on this matter and mandated the leader respond to His Excellency in a prescribed manner. This will be done in the coming days and following the dispatch of that communication, the AFC will make a more detailed statement on the issue,” the AFC in a statement said on Tuesday eve-

ning.

Last month, after months of uncertainty, AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan said the party will be going into the LGE with the APNU under one ticket.

“We have made a decision that we are going as a coalition. We have to thrash out a number of issues preferably in relation to candidacy candidates, and a number of other things,” he told the press, while noting that the AFC has noticed some unfortunate developments in the Georgetown municipality.

Ramjattan was referring to the attitude of APNU Councillors, including Town Clerk Royston King towards AFC members, which he claimed is “bothering us.”

The AFC Chairman indicated that statements in this regard have been made and will be officially raised through communication with APNU officials.

In mid-January, Trotman had announced the possibility of the party breaking away from the APNU for this year’s LGE. The AFC leader went as far as to reveal that there was a strong opinion of body within the party that the AFC should go alone, which may have been prompted over delays with reviewing the Cummingsburg Accord.

The AFC has, of recent, come under fire for the perceived submissive role it played when it joined forces with APNU. In 2017, top leadership of the AFC had decided to revise its governing agreement with APNU.

T

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WEDNesDAY, may 2, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

14 News

WEDNesDAY, may 2, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Labour Day 2018

President touts open-door-policy to unions

W

ith a message that Government will not shut its door to unions representing the workers, President David Granger and his entourage spent Labour Day visiting a number of unions based in Georgetown.

Granger was received with open arms by union members when he arrived at the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) on Woolford Avenue. At the GTU, the President insisted that his Administration has an opendoor approach to union issues.

“Earlier this year, I met with [Guyana Agricultural and General Workers’ Union] GAWU. The important thing is the future of Guyana is in the hands of the workers and also the Government. We have to work together. This is my message to all workers.”

“This Government is a listening Government; this Government is learning, and this Government is caring,”

President David Granger, along with several Ministers, including Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, being greeted by Guyana Teachers Union members

Granger informed media operatives. “No union leader can say the doors to the President are closed.”

The President went on to visit the Guyana Local Government Officers Union (GLGOU) at Upper Woolford Avenue. There, he had lunch and interacted with union members.

The Guyana Public Service Union, the

Guyana Postal and Telecommunications Workers Union and the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union were also featured on the President’s schedule.

On Tuesday, thousands braved threatening rain to march across the city and while there was a show of unity on Tuesday, Government has not had

the best of relations with the unions over the past few months.

With the dismissal of

sugar workers, GAWU at one point was mulling taking the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to court over its decision to pay thousands of dismissed and retrenched sugar workers part, and not all, of their severance purportedly this month end.

In addition, Government relations with the GTU deteriorated to such a point that there was a walk out from a meeting between union officials and the Government.

The issues of concern to the Union had included the stagnated negotiations between the GTU and the Education Ministry for increased teachers’ remuneration and outstanding payments among other matters.

Additionally, the Union had expressed concern about a memorandum that could see teachers having to work during their designated lunch period. The Union had accused Government of side-lining and disrespecting it, resulting in the Union threatening a countrywide strike if the Government failed to take decisive action to address the concerns of the representative body.

That strike was aborted after conciliatory measures from Government. A task force was also set up to examine outstanding problems, with a view to their timely resolution and to propose a new, multi-year agreement between the Government and the GTU.

Prison wardens detained for “ganja” smelling bag …arrested after bag thrown over prison fence

T

wo prison wardens have been detained and are now being investigated after a bag was thrown over a fence of the holding bay at the Lugisnan Prison on Tuesday morning.

According to the Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, the bag was thrown over the fence at about 04:05h.

He noted that when checks were made, only two

prison wardens were found in the area. However, a third officer was arrested after initial investigations revealed the bag belonged to him. Samuels noted that it is believed that the bag continued marijuana since the scent of the illegal substance was high.

The three prison officers have since been placed in Police custody as an internal investigation is set to com-

mence.

Samuels stated that based on the findings, the necessary letter(s) of interdiction will be issued.

He reinforced that the fight against trafficking of contraband must be collective, adding, “We will continue to work to correct the very sad situation that has contributed to damaging the image of the organisation.”

news

15

WEDNesDAY, may 2, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ramsammy’s Ruminations Double standards – one obscene APNU/AFC weapon consolidating dictatorship

I

t is too obscene for anyone to miss. The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) has effectively incorporated double standards in its arsenal of weapons to consolidate dictatorship in Guyana. They campaigned in 2015 on an agenda of change.

But the May 2015 change of Government allowed dictatorship to return to Guyana. For those who Dr Leslie Ramsammy still only see the threat of dictatorship, the bad news is Guyana has already become a dictatorship. The double standards we see being practiced every day are instruments of power perverted. These double standards represent yet another stark demonstration that Guyana has already become enmeshed into the dark days of dictatorship, days reminiscent of the Burnham/Hoyte People’s National Congress (PNC) authoritarian regime.

APNU/AFC, similar to the PNC Governments between 1964 and 1992, simply do not care if anyone trusts them or not, they are only interested in maximising the use of any instrument that will reinforce their power. Those who, or those actions which are supportive of the Government, even if laws are broken and even if the actions are absolutely corrupted, are protected by “sovereign immunity”, a powerful weapon the State uses to enforce its dictatorial power. APNU/ AFC is determined that it will govern, surpassing the PNC in its enforcement of the principle “the King can do no wrong”.

That immunity extends to the “King’s” people.

No one denies that high officials linked to APNU/AFC are associated with the ship recently caught with smuggled fuel. The Head of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) conceded that it was a criminal fuel smuggling operation.

Yet the owners of the operation are getting away “scotchfree” – no punishment, nada. For this serious crime on the high seas, the owners simply have to pay the taxes owed for the fuel that the ship was caught with. Who believes this was the first ever smuggled fuel this ship was involved in?

Was this smuggling operation not an open secret all along?

What if the people associated with this ship with smuggled fuel were not linked to the Government? Without doublestandards, the minimum would have been seizure of the ship and criminal charges against the owners or the operators.

Blatant double standards are evident in the news that three low-level Police officers were transferred after a routine sitting of candidates for a drivers licence examination revealed there were 106 persons who physically took the exams, but there were 207 written exams at the end, 101 extra non-present candidates. How did this happen? To make matters worse, the three Policemen had no official or unofficial role to be present. Assuming, they were involved in the skullduggery all by themselves, why is it they are simply transferred? This is a crime and they should be charged with a crime. The soft-landing “punishment” is merely hiding the crime and allowing a pass.

The issue of Government’s response to Rusal versus sugar workers provides a sinister insight into the muddy mind of this Government. We commend the Government for quickly meeting with the Rusal bauxite workers whose jobs are on the line because of the American sanctions against Rusal. The quick response by APNU/AFC to establish a task force that will seek to provide necessary support for the 200 plus Rusal workers, if and when they would have lost their jobs, is the right thing. The question is why no one in this Government thought of a similar task force, why they rejected a task force proposal in December 2016 and why the livelihood of 7000 sugar workers did not elicit a similar urgent response from APNU/AFC. There is a worrying double standard in APNU/ AFC’s response in the case of the 200 Rusal workers whose jobs are on the line versus the 7000 sugar workers who have lost their jobs.

Frighteningly, these few examples of double standards are just from this past week. If one cares to look, we will see the double standards every day. When Juan Edghill demanded to speak in Parliament, even as the Speaker was denying him his rights, Police was brought in to arrest him and his colleagues who joined him in standing up. The APNU/ AFC leaders accused the PPP MPs of being disrespectful and undemocratic. Yet these same leaders smile when their Councillors refuse to allow any civil meeting of the Regional Democratic Councils in Regions Two and Five. Most Guyanese are willing to simply “smh” in disgust. APNU/AFC, however, is “lol” as they wreak havoc with disgusting double standards.

Pouderoyen accident

Driver denies causing security guard’s death …released on $400,000 bail

T

he alleged drunken driver implicated in the death of 60-yearold security guard attached to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), Keith Redmond, has been released on $400,000 bail on two separate charges. During his recent arraignment at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court, the driver, Rondell Mark De Costa of La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD) de-

nied being responsible for causing the Redmond’s demise.

According to information disclosed, De Costa appeared before Magistrate Rushell Liverpool and denied charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and causing death by dangerous driving. After his pre-trial liberty was granted, the accused driver was ordered to make his next court appearance on June 4, at the

1 year later

Bridging of Kurupukari crossing to commence soon

The Kurupukari crossing

O

ne year after it was announced that the Kurupukari ferry crossing will be bridged, Public Infrastructure Minister, David Patterson has said works will commence soon.

The construction of a new single or dual lane fixed bridge – approximately 600 meters long – at the Kurupukari ferry crossing, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) will soon commence.

According to Minister Patterson, systems are already in place and works should begin soon.

Currently persons travelling the Linden/Lethem trail have to cross the Essequibo River, at Kurupukari, by a privately-operated pontoon service.

Kurupukari Village is located along the Lethem– Georgetown trail, about five hours from Lethem.

In February 2017, the Public Infrastructure Ministry had said it was gearing up to commence construction on the first phase of the Linden-Lethem Road project, which will be funded through the United Kingdom Government under its UK Caribbean Infrastructure Partnership Fund (UKCIF) programme.

In September 2015, former UK Prime Minister David Cameron announced a £300 million investment in vital new infrastructure such as roads, bridges and ports to help drive economic growth and development across the Caribbean region.

Guyana was named among nine Caribbean states to benefit from the grant.

The first phase of the project, which spans from Linden to Mabura, covers approximately 122.5 kilometres of road and the construction of the bridge across the Essequibo River at Kurupukari.

Deceased security guard and pedal cyclist Keith Redmond

Vreed-en-Hoop Magistrate’s Court.

De Costa’s denial comes in steep contrast to the Police’s release that his blood alcohol level was found to be exceedingly above the legal limit. The Police had stated that the driver of the car was out drinking with his friends and was heading home when he reportedly lost control of his car whilst navigating a turn.

Redmond, who was struck off his bicycle at Pouderoyen, WBD, had just finished his eight-hour shift at the WDRH and was heading home when De Costa’s PMM 1895 motorcar reportedly slammed into him at about 05:15h on April

Rondell Mark De Costa was held moments after the accident at Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara

25, 2018.

Redmond was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Guyana Times understands that the security guard’s cause of death was given as “multiple injuries”. He was laid to rest on Saturday.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

16 news

WEDNesDAY, may 2, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Labour Day rallies

Region 10 union leaders call for better working conditions

…Region 2 workers urged to be unified

May Day march in Linden Workers marching along the road in Region Two

W

orkers in Region Two (PomeroonS u p e n a a m ) marched on Monday from La Belle Alliance, where freedom fighter Damon and his 700 apprentice workers gathered and protested against the forced labour system on August 3, 1838, to the Anna Regina Town Council compound.

The Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and the Guyana Teachers Union were the only two unions that participated in the march and subsequent rally. In his May Day message, Executive Member of

the GPSU, Duwane Boston called for unity among the working class and reminded workers of the many struggles fought for by their foreparents for a free and just system.

Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt in brief remarks wished the workers well.

Region 10

Meanwhile, in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), officials during the observance of the occasion of Labour Day made continued calls for better working

conditions for workers.

Marching under the theme, “Advancing solidarity, promoting employment and decent work – Workers unite, a living wage is the goal,” on Tuesday, workers from various agencies in Linden participated in the annual Labour Day rally, which culminated with a ceremony at the Lichas Hall, Mackenzie.

Coordinating Secretary of the GPSU, Mortimer Livan in delivering the feature address gave a history of the British Guiana Trade Union and shed light on the right for collective bargain-

ing, as he pointed out that there has been no collective bargaining under the GPSU over the past 18 years.

Livan also pointed to challenges still being faced by workers and unions inspite of freedom of association.

“We have some cases where, even though we have freedom of association, we have employers telling employees if they join the Union you will be dismissed and those on contract, ‘we will not renew your contract’”, Livan pointed out.

He also alluded to the lack of solidarity and support between Unions as well as the lack of unity in the trade union movement. According to Livan this has a negative effect on the movement in terms of taking it to the level of making certain demands for employees. In highlighting some changes and breakthroughs in the Public Service Union in terms of improvement of working conditions, Livan said while a lot has been achieved, the Union will continue to seek better working conditions for persons employed in the public service.

Meanwhile, GPSU Region 10 Representative Maurice Butters said the

arm of the union in Linden has had an upward struggle, not only for workers’ wages and salaries but better working conditions, as he further pointed to the struggles in trying to establish a Regional Health Committee over the past five years to assist suffering workers.

He also stressed the need to take hold of the situation at Linden schools as he called on the regional administration to work together with the Union in helping to alleviate these and other issues. Nevertheless, Butters said the struggle continues in trying to go back to the bargaining table for collective bargaining to reach the goal of a living wage.

Meanwhile, Charles Sampson in speaking on behalf of the Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union urged workers to demand proper representation as he noted that much more needs to be done in the interest of workers.

“Unions have become weaker... because you the workers have not been insisting that the unions act more in your interest and do things that will enhance your livelihoods; enhance

your ability to rise and enjoy a good life in our society... companies are not treating workers right. If there’s not a union representing workers then you will not get the right treatment,” Sampson said. He also made calls for the involvement and integration of more young people into the trade union movement, noting that serious conflicts exist. Sampson added that there is need for unions to be more involved in workers’ payment negotiations, including appropriate minimum wage, as he pointed out that the minimum wage for Government workers is totally inadequate. Regional Chairman Renis Morian further called on unions to be more creative and strategic in the struggle for better working conditions.

Additionally, a number of persons were awarded for outstanding service to trade unionism in the region. Also present and delivering remarks were Branch Chairman Jennifer Nelson, Deputy Regional Executive Officer Maylene Stephen, Emmet Alves of the Linmine Secretariat, and Councillor Eleze Hall.

(Utamu belle and Mohan Seulall)

WEDNesDAY, may 2, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

Paris Police arrest 200 after In show of continuity, Castro flanks new Cuban leader at May Day rally violent May Day riots

A

French Police said about 1200 'black bloc' protesters took to the streets on Tuesday

P

olice in Paris have arrested nearly 200 masked demonstrators who smashed shop windows and torched cars during annual May Day protests. Far-left anarchist groups, known as Black Blocs, hijacked a peaceful rally against President Emmanuel Macron's Public Sector labour reforms.

Police said about 1200 masked and hooded protesters attended the annual 1 May demonstration by labour unions. Four people, including a Police Officer, were lightly wounded.

The protesters were swamped with teargas and sprayed with a water canon in an effort to disperse them. The black-clad protesters attempted to hold up the demonstration march, before smashing shop windows along the route and torching a McDonald's near Austerlitz station.

Various vehicles and a car dealership were also set ablaze, and graffiti was scrawled on walls.

Government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux criticised the protesters for covering their faces. "When you

have sincere convictions, you demonstrate with your face unmasked," he said.

"Those who wear hoods are the enemies of democracy."

There is widespread discontent in labour unions over Macron's reforms. Rail staff began three months of nationwide strikes over a planned overhaul of staterun railway SNCF. Tens of thousands of teachers, nurses and other workers joined the rail staff on strike in March. The President has said he will not back down on his agenda. (Excerpt from BBC News)

t Cuba’s first major political rally since Raul Castro handed the presidency over to his protégé Miguel Diaz-Canel, the two men stood side-byside overseeing Havana’s May Day march on Tuesday in a show of continuity and unity on the Communist-run island.

Cuba’s Government has been at pains to stress that the historic transition that took place on April 19 does not herald change to one of the world’s last state-run economies and one-party systems, to the frustration of some and relief of others.

While Castro has retired from Government, the 86-year-old remains head of the all-powerful Communist Party and speakers at the meticulously state-orchestrated rally referred to him before they did to DiazCanel.

Hundreds of thousands paraded at the break of day through Revolution Square to the tune of marching bands,

Cuba's First Secretary of the Communist Party and former President Raul Castro (second right); Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel (second left); First Secretary of the Communist Party in Havana, Lazara Mercedes Lopez (left) and President of the Communist Party of Chile, Guillermo Teillier watch the May Day rally in Havana, Cuba, May 1, 2018

waving Cuban flags and banners reading “United for our Socialism” and “Viva Fidel” in reference to Castro’s late older brother, Fidel Castro.

Together, the Castro brothers led Cuba’s 1959 revolution and ruled the island nation for six decades.

The rally was a show of support for the revolution, for Castro “and the continuity of his leadership in the state and government presid-

ed by comrade Diaz-Canel,” Ulises Guilarte, of the Cuban Workers’ Confederation, said in a speech.

Standing side-by-side on a platform under a memorial to independence hero Jose Marti, Castro’s olive green military fatigues and cap contrasted with Diaz-Canel’s casual white shirt and baseball cap. The 58-year-old is the first civilian Cuban leader since the revolution. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Holocaust row: Abbas accused of anti-Semitism Mosque blasts kill at least

R

emarks by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas about the Holocaust have been condemned as anti-Semitic by Israeli politicians and rights activists. Abbas told a meeting in the West Bank the Nazi mass murder of European Jews was the result of their financial activities, not anti-Semitism.

He described their "social function" as "usury and banking and such".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesman said the remarks were "anti-Semitic and pathetic". Michael Oren, Israel's deputy minister for diplomacy, remarked in a tweet: "Mahmoud Abbas says mon-

Child survivors found in Auschwitz death camp by advancing Soviet troops in 1945

ey-lending Jews provoked Holocaust... Now there's a peace partner."

In New York, the AntiDefamation League condemned Abbas's "anti-Semitic assertions". In its attempt to

Taiwan dumped by The Dominican Republic amid pressure from China

T

he Dominican Republic and China have announced that they are establishing diplomatic relations as the Caribbean country becomes the latest state to dump Taiwan, leaving it with just 19 diplomatic allies worldwide.

Mainland China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949, when the defeated nationalist government fled to the island. Beijing is increasing international pressure to prevent diplomatic recognition of what it considers a renegade province.

Taiwan, which sees itself as a sovereign state, said it was “deeply upset” at a decision it blamed on Beijing’s “dollar diplomacy”. The move deepens the island’s international isolation while its giant neighbour flexes its economic and political might on

the global stage.

The Dominican Republic said in a statement that it “recognises that there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory”. It said it believed its switch to ties with China would be “extraordinarily positive for the future of our country”.

Beijing announced on Tuesday morning that it would exchange ambassadors with the Dominican Republic “as soon as practicable”.

Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, said Beijing’s actions had eroded trust and he blamed financial incentives for ending Taiwan’s 77-year alliance with The Dominican Republic.

Taiwan has 19 diplomatic allies – 10 in Latin America and the Caribbean, two in Africa, six small island states in the Pacific and the Vatican. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

annihilate the Jews of Europe during World War Two, Nazi Germany murdered some six million of them, building death camps to expedite the mass slaughter.

Driven by fanatical na-

tionalism, the Nazis regarded Jews as a threat to Germany's "racial purity". He was addressing a rare meeting of the Palestinian National Council, the legislative body of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), in the West Bank town of Ramallah on Monday.

Abbas also denied that Ashkenazi Jews – Jews from Germany and Northeastern Europe – were actually Semitic, saying, "They have no relation to Semitic people."

Ashkenazi Jews make up one of Israel's biggest communities, giving the state a long line of Prime Ministers, including Netanyahu. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

27 in northeast Nigeria

E

xplosions in and around a mosque in northeast Nigeria killed at least 27 people on Tuesday, a hospital official said, in the latest in a spate of attacks by militants in the region.

The blasts in the town of Mubi bore the hallmarks of Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has waged an insurgency in Africa’s most populous country since 2009 and often deploys suicide bombers in crowded places.

The jihadist group on Thursday carried out an attack in Maiduguri, capital of neighbouring Borno state, that killed four people. More

Brazil fire: São Paulo building collapses in huge blaze

The 26-storey building burned for approximately 90 minutes before collapsing

A

26-storey building has collapsed after being engulfed in flames in Brazil's largest city, São Paulo, killing at least one person. More than 150 firefighters are battling the blaze which is thought to have been caused by a gas explosion.

The high-rise had been occupied by squatters. Fire authorities said they feared more people were trapped inside.

Witnesses said flames spread quickly from

one of the lower floors and set an adjacent building on fire.

Some 50 families had moved into the building in the Largo do Paissandu area of the city after the federal police force, which had been using it, vacated it some years ago.

The São Paulo newspaper Estadão reported that makeshift living compartments in the building had been constructed from wood, aiding the spread of the

blaze through the floors.

Firefighters evacuated the high-rise but as they were taking out the last of the residents the building collapsed, killing one man.

One firefighter was injured, Estadão reported.

"It was a matter of seconds but we couldn't save him," firefighter Max Mena said.

São Paulo Governor Márcio França said the building was an accident waiting to happen but that

than 30,000 people have been killed in the insurgency, which has also forced some two million to flee their homes.

Abdullahi Yerima, police commissioner in Adamawa state, said a suicide bomber struck at the mosque at around 13:00h (1200 GMT) and a second bomber detonated a device some 200 meters (220 yards) away as worshippers fled.

Ezra Sakawa, chief medical director of Mubi general hospital, said 27 people died and 56 were injured. Earlier police said about 24 people had been killed and more than a dozen were hurt.

Boko Haram held territory in Adamawa state in 2014 but troops pushed the insurgents out in early 2015 and Mubi was relatively peaceful until a suicide bomb attack in November 2017 that killed 50 people.

Insecurity has become a politically charged subject in the run-up to a national election next year.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who took office in 2015 with a promise to end Boko Haram’s push to create an Islamic state in the northeast, has said he wants to seek another term. (Excerpt from Reuters)

its residents had resisted leaving.

"That type of home is uninhabitable, staying there is looking for trouble," he said speaking at the site of the blaze. Captain Marcos Palumbo of the São Paulo fire brigade said that modifications made by the residents had allowed the fire to spread more quickly. Last year, dozens of homes were destroyed by a fire in a favela in the city. (Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, May 2, 2018

ARCHIE

Negotiate on your own behalf. When faced with ob(March 21stacles, use your intelligence April 19) and quick wit to turn the tables. A little romance will improve your life.

ARIES

Work, partnerships and TAURUS advancement are favoured.

(April 20- Don’t shy away from taking May 20) the reins or putting in more hours if it will help you gain the respect and support required to reach your goals.

dilbert

Emotional matters will GEMINI (May 21- keep you on your toes.

June 20) Partnerships are best handled with caution. If something sounds suspicious, speak up and ask questions.

Self-deception is apparent.

Offer help, but don’t let anyone take advantage of (June 21- you. A problem with someJuly 22) one who tries to take charge and speak on your behalf will come to a head.

CANCER

Peanuts

You’ll be keen to try someLEO thing new, but make sure you (July 23- can afford the overall expense Aug. 22) involved before you sign up. A positive physical change can be made without overspending.

Calvin and Hobbes

Dealing with domestic VIRGO matters, home renovations or (Aug. 23expenses will cause stress if Sept. 22) you are sharing the costs with someone who tends to be extravagant. Be clear how much you are willing to spend.

Share your feelings and LIBRA (Sept. 23- be sensitive to the needs of Oct. 23) others. If you are willing to compromise, you will find a solution, even if you are dealing with a stubborn individual.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — MIRRORED

Concentrate on what’s SAGITTARIUS important.

Don’t exaggerate (Nov. 23or be evasive when asked Dec. 21) for facts to back up your claims. If you want to get things done, you’ll have to get along.

(MIRRORED: MEER-erd: Reflected, or as if in, a mirror.)

Average mark 17 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 23 or more words in MIRRORED? The list will be published tomorrow.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

YESTERDAY’S WORD — QUALMISH quail qualms quash quasi alms alum lash lush mail mash maul

mulish mush sail sham shim slam slim slum hail haul hula

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

Keep busy, move about SCORPIO and be willing to listen to (Oct. 24reason.

If you are too insisNov. 22) tent or take on too much, you will not reach your target. Keep your life simple.

A steady pace toward your goal will be your best bet. If someone veers off in a different direction, don’t feel obligated to tag along.

solution AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Finish what you start and live up to your word.

As long as you stick to your agenda and are productive, no one will have the right to complain.

False information will be offered. Rely on your intelligence and trustworthy people to avoid being led astray. A financial opportunity looks promising.

wednesDAY, may 2, 2018

19

Madrid edge Bayern

in thriller to reach 3rd successive final S

ven Ulreich's huge error ultimately proved decisive as Real Madrid progressed to the Champions League final thanks to a 2-2 draw in an enthralling semi-final second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Madrid came from behind to win 2-1 last week in the first leg at the Allianz Arena, and sealed their progression with a 4-3 aggregate triumph despite an unconvincing performance on Tuesday.

Bayern took the lead in the third minute, Joshua Kimmich opening the scoring following a mistake

by Madrid captain Sergio Ramos.

The hosts were quick to reply but it was Karim Benzema and not Cristiano Ronaldo, making an outfield record 152nd appearance in the competition, who took centre stage.

Benzema's close-range header ensured Madrid's deficit lasted only eight minutes, and 21 seconds into the second half he was presented with a gift when Ulreich misjudged a back-pass from Corentin Tolisso.

There was another twist as James Rodriguez, on a two-year loan spell at Bayern from Madrid, levelled the tie on the night

Karim Benzema equalised for the champions with a close-range header

with a goal he did not celebrate but, despite intense pressure from the away team, Zinedine Zidane's men held on to move within a win of a third successive European title, and now await Liverpool or Roma in the Kiev final on May 26.

So often the hero at the other end for Madrid in games of such magnitude, it was an error from skipper Ramos that enabled Bayern to get the start they needed.

He failed to clear Thomas Muller's lofted cross into the

box and Kimmich was there to pounce and slot home with a first-time finish.

Madrid soon levelled matters on the night, capitalising on slack marking from the visitors.

Marcelo delivered a deep cross from the left and Benzema somehow managed to escape the attentions of the returning David Alaba to head beyond Ulreich.

Yet Madrid continued to look vulnerable at the back and Bayern had a strong claim for a penalty dis-

missed by referee Cuneyt Cakir, who refused to point to the spot after Ramos appeared to bundle over Robert Lewandowski in the box.

A fine run from Franck Ribery and a clever turn and shot from Muller forced a low save from Keylor Navas, who then denied Lewandowski after a surging run from Mats Hummels, the subsequent looping rebound nodded down by Muller but then fired over on the volley by James as Madrid

again somehow survived.

Ulreich turned a low Ronaldo drive wide as the frenetic pace continued, with Ramos heading into the side-netting from the res u l t i n g corner, before another Bayern penalty appeal was waved away after Marcelo appeared to handle a Kimmich cross.

But a l l

Bayern's impressive work in the first half was undone in a blink as Ulreich's howler left them with a mountain to climb.

Tolisso played a risky backpass and Ulreich, seemingly caught in two minds as he came to claim it, slipped to present Benzema with the ball on a plate in front of an open goal that he tapped in to, despite the best efforts of Hummels.

Navas produced heroics at the other end to turn a vicious deflected Alaba effort behind, and Ramos was again fortunate not to concede a penalty after another challenge on Lewandowski.

The tie should have been put to bed by Ronaldo, but he blazed Marcelo's cross wide with a close-range volley.

And that miss soon loomed large as James gave Bayern hope once more, following up his blocked volley from Niklas Sule's cross and firing through Navas' legs at the near post.

Navas had to get down low to keep out a Muller header as Madrid's nerves were further jangled, but a defence that never looked secure withstood the pressure to put Los Blancos within 90 minutes of a fourth European crown in five seasons. (Sportsmax)

“They promised to retain me but never called back” …Gayle reveals shocking RCB snub

W

ith 252 runs in four matches this season for Kings XI Punjab, Chris Gayle has rediscovered the form that made him such a force for Royal Challengers Bangalore over the years, before he was released by the franchise ahead of the 2018 IPL. Gayle, however, revealed he'd been told RCB would retain him, only to not hear from the franchise again. "I was their biggest draw. It was disappointing from that end, because they had called me. They wanted me in the team and I was told that I will be retained," Gayle told The Times of India. "But they never called back after that. So that gave me the impression that they didn't want me, and it's fine.

RCB let Gayle go after he

scored only 200 runs at a strike rate of 122.69 in nine innings in the 2017 IPL, but between then and now the batsman had found T20 form.

In the 2017 CPL, Gayle was the highest scorer for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. He bettered that in the BPL, where he topped the tournament run charts by a distance and scored 146 not out with 18 sixes in the final.

"I think I had a wonderful CPL and BPL - where I scored two centuries for my side Rangpur Riders. The stats don't lie: 21 centuries, most number of sixes. If that doesn't put a stamp on brand Chris Gayle, I don't know what will."

Gayle nearly didn't make it to this IPL entirely. Having gone un-

sold when his name XI Punjab, and so came up for bidding far I've had a great the first time during time. Perhaps it the player auction in was supposed to January, he was evenhappen, you know. tually bought at base King Gayle: desprice by Kings XI totined to be playing wards the end of the aucfor Kings XI Punjab." tion's second day.

After finally be"I'll be honest in ading picked at the mitting that it was very auction, Gayle did surprising for me to not not have a smooth get picked by any team," start to the seaChris Gayle Gayle said. "I don't know son either: he was launches one what went behind closed benched for Kings into the leg doors, but I also understand XI's first two side for new that these things happen," franchise Kings games. However, afhe said. "It's just the way XI Punjab ©BCCI ter overseas batsmen it is. But it's fine, I've Aaron Finch and David moved on from it. Like Miller had poor starts I said, it's a great opporthemselves, Gayle was tunity to be playing for King given a go at the top

of the order. He scored a 33-ball 63 against Chennai Super Kings and then followed up with a hundred and another half-century, forming a prolific opening partnership with KL Rahul, another player RCB let go.

"Even though I was selected in the very last round of the auction, I wasn't really worried about it," Gayle said. "At some stage, you are going to walk away from the IPL and other forms of cricket. This is how I've always been: living in the present. But, given the sense that I was picked up and playing for a new franchise, it was very pleasing. And the way I have played in the first three games, I think it has been fantastic. I'm very happy with where I'm at."

(Cricinfo)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesDAY, may 2, 2018

Indian Premier League 2018...

RCB keep play-off hopes alive as Mumbai’s grow dimmer

R

oyal Challengers Bangalore stopped the rot with a 14-run Indian Premier League victory over Mumbai Indians despite an excellent allround display from Hardik Pandya.

RCB had lost two consecutive matches to give themselves plenty of work to do in their quest for a top-four finish, but they claimed only a third win of the tournament at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday.

Manan Vohra top scored with 45 on a dry pitch, but the Royal Challengers lost their way, Brendon McCullum (37) and captain Virat Kohli (32) failing to go on after getting starts, posting 167-7.

Pandya took 3-28 and made 50 off only 42 balls, but the RCB bowlers were much improved and raised their game in the field to claim an important victory.

Defeat for defending champions Mumbai leaves them facing a major battle to reach the semi-finals.

Vohra takes Duminy apart, unlucky 13 for Pandya Vohra made his presence felt in only his third appearance of the tournament, smashing four sixes at the top of the order.

JP Duminy suffered at the hands of the opener, who hit two sixes and two fours in four balls during a fourth over which went for 22.

Pandya made a nightmare start, conceding seven runs off one ball when

McCullum (37 from 25) hit a delivery above waist height over the ropes before taking full advantage of the free hit with a ramp for six to take 13 off one legal ball.

Pandya makes amends before Grand goes big

Pandya was in no mood to feel sorry for himself, running former New Zealand captain McCullum out with a superb direct hit to leave RCB 121-3 in the 15th over.

The India star also saw the back of Mandeep Singh and Washington Sundar as the Royal Challengers lost five wickets for 22 runs in the space of four overs.

Virat Kohli doesn't hold his emotions back ©BCCI

SCOREBOARD which cost 24 - for a maximum to finish unbeaten on 23 off 10.

RCB bowlers on the money

Ishan Kishan got out without scoring again © BCCI

Colin de Grandhomme flexed his muscles in the final over with what proved to be a key contribution, emulating McCullum by hitting a full toss from fellow Black Cap Mitchell McClenaghan

for six off off what would have been the last ball and doing the same again with the free hit.

De Grandhomme had already smashed the fourth delivery off the final over -

The RCB bowlers have come in for some flak, but delivered under pressure on this occasion.

Mumbai slumped to 84-5 when Umesh Yadav produced a great piece of fielding to send Duminy on his way and also finished with figures of 2-29.

Tim Southee (2-25) and Mohammed Siraj (2-28) also made an impact, the former dismissing Pandya in the final over to all but end the contest. (Sportsmax)

Royal Challengers Bangalore Innings (20 overs maximum) M Vohra lbw b Markande 45 Q de Kock † c Sharma b McClenaghan 7 B McCullum run out (Pandya) 37 V Kohli (c) c Pollard b H Pandya 32 M Singh c Yadav b H Pandya 14 C de Grandhomme not out 23 W Sundar c Sharma b H Pandya 1 T Southee c Cutting b Bumrah 1 U Yadav not out 1 Extras (b 1, lb 2, nb 2, w 1) 6 Total (7 wickets; 20 Overs) 167 Did not bat: Y Chahal, M Siraj Fall of wickets: 1-38 (de Kock, 4.6 ov), 2-61 (Vohra, 8.4 ov), 3-121 (McCullum, 14.3 ov), 4-139 ( Singh, 17.1 ov), 5-139 (Kohli, 17.2 ov), 6-141 (Sundar, 17.6 ov), 7-143 (Southee, 18.5 ov) Bowling: Duminy 2-0-280, McClenaghan 4-0-34-1, Bumrah 4-0-22-1, Pandya 4-0-24-0, Markande 3-0-

28-1, Pandya3-0-28-3 Mumbai Indians Innings (target: 168 runs from 20 overs) S Yadav lbw b Yadav 9 I Kishan † b Southee 0 J Duminy run out (Yadav/†de Ko ck) 23 R Sharma (c) c †de Kock b Yadav K Pollard c †de Kock b Siraj 13 H Pandya c Kohli b Southee 50 K Pandya c Singh b Siraj 23 B Cutting not out 12 M McClenaghan not out 0 Extras (b 1, lb 4, w 18) 23 Total (7 wickets; 20 Overs) 153 Did not bat: M Markande, J Bumrah Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Kishan, 0.6 ov), 2-21 (Yadav, 3.1 ov), 3-21 (Sharma, 3.2 ov), 4-47 (Pollard, 7.1 ov), 5-84 (Duminy, 11.6 ov), 6-140 (K Pandya, 18.3 ov), 7-143 (H Pandya, 19.1 ov) Bowling: Southee 4-0-25-2, Yadav 4-0-29-2, Siraj 4-0-28-2, Chahal 4-0-23-0, Sundar 1-0-150, de Grandhomme 3-0-28-0

Sinclair, Campbelle headline RHTY&SC Awards ceremony

K

evin Sinclair and Shemaine Campbelle emerged as the Male and Female Cricketers of the Year following the annual Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) Awards ceremony.

Monday’s ceremony, held at the St Francis Training Centre, saw numerous awards being presented to the Club’s best players and members who have done much over the years to ensure the prestige of the RHTY&SC remained intact.

Campbelle has been one of the premier female cricketers for Guyana/the West Indies over the years, and has been giving back by coaching and playing a role in the Club’s ongoing development.

Male Cricketer of the Year runner-up, the young all-rounder Kevlon Anderson continues to shine, having won the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) U-17 award last year while lead-

The RHTY&SC Male and Female Cricketers of the Year 2017 Kevin Sinclair (seated second left) and Shemaine Campbelle (seated third left) are joined by fellow Club members and awardees, along with dignitaries following Monday’s Award Presentation. Others seated from left are Regional Chairman David Armogan; Guest Speaker, Dr Alistair Collins; Director of Sport, Christopher Jones and RHTY&SC Assistant Secretary Simon Naidu (KN News photo)

ing Berbice in the ongoing 50-Over Inter-County U-19 tourney as they prepare to do battle in Friday’s final at Providence.

Guest speaker, Dr Alistair Collins; Director of Sport, Christopher Jones; RHTY&SC Assistant

Secretary Simon Naidu and Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President and RHTY&SC CEO Hilbert Foster were among the top speakers.

In the feature address, Dr Collins lauded the Club for its role in cricket while complimenting Foster on his

work, which has made Rose Hall one of the most sacred clubs in Guyana. He said the long-serving executive has been the cornerstone of the Club, as he has been putting cricket first.

RHTY&SC also recognised the services of other

individuals who have been playing key roles in the development of cricket and the Club. As such, under the Law Enforcement Awards Scheme, five Officers were recognised, while under the Tribute to Retired Teachers, the Scotiabank Tribute to Student and Teacher programmes, others were honoured.

A number of persons were also given the highest honour, the Dolphin Award, for their contributions to the Club. Those awardees included Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs; Cricket Coach and former Test player Roger Harper; Guyana Water Inc Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Richard Van West-Charles; Banker Harry Dass Ghaness; New Building Society (NBS) Deputy CEO Anil Beharry; Insurance Executive Bishwa Panday; Attorney-at-Law Anandranauth Gossai; and businessmen Poonai

Bhiroog and Deonarine Balram.

The Club also gave awards to its sponsors who have been kind over the years.

According to Foster, some 712 programmes were accomplished by the Club, in the areas of education, charity, sports, community development, and youth development among others.

Plans for 2018 include the building of a weather-proof outdoor facility, as well as the continued development of its cricketers.

The BCB President further expressed special thanks to Club Patron President David Granger for his support over the last year, along with the likes of Region Six Chairman David Armogan; Regional Vice Chairman Dennis DeRoop; Regional Executive Officer (REO) Kim WilliamsStephens and Mayor Vijai Ramoo.

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21

Roger Harper receiving his Dolphin Award

M

inister within the Natural Resources Ministry, Simona Broomes was among 11 individuals who were hon-

oured by the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) at its 28th annual award ceremony on Sunday evening.

The Dolphin Award of Excellence was established in 2015 and is the highest of the 12 awards of the Club. This year’s re-

cipients included Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs; Cricket Coach and former Test player Roger Harper; Guyana Water Inc Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Richard Van West-Charles; Banker Harry Dass Ghaness; New Building Society (NBS) Deputy CEO Anil Beharry; Insurance Executive Bishwa Panday; Food For The Poor Chairman Paul Chana-Sue; Attorney-at-Law Anandranauth Gossai; and businessmen Poonai Bhiroog and Deonarine Balram.

Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster disclosed that when the award was first announced, it was only limited to 30 persons.

However, that number increased as more persons continued to make positive contributions to the county of Berbice and Guyana.

The first two awardees were Busta General Manager

Robert Selman and Gizmos&Gadgets CEO Ravi Mangar. Other awardees over the years included President David Granger; Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon and Journalists Avenash Ramzan, Franklin Wilson, Claude David, and Gregory Rambarran.

Minister Broomes was selected based on her charitable work with young women, while Dr Van West-Charles was hailed as a dedicated visionary. Ghaness, Balram, Poonai, and Beharry were honoured not only as role models but as outstanding friends of the Club.

Awardees Van WestCharles, Harper, Isaacs and Panday all expressed gratitude to the RHTY&SC for honouring them and commended the Club for the positive work that it continues to do within Berbice.

Drayton surpasses Republican Gym Meusa in chess rankings to make return – 4 youngsters newly ranked

A

s Anthony Drayton continues on his internationally ranked players. quest for chess supremacy, the young man has edged past Guyana’s number one ranked player, Wendell Meusa in the World Chess Federation (FIDE) international rankings. This disclosure came as the organisation released its quarterly update of rankings and ratings.

Drayton has been on a successful streak, recently winning the Georgetown Chess Classics with seven wins out of seven games. He is now ranked at 1973, just one point in front of Meusa.

Additionally, more of Guyana’s senior players have moved up the rankings. Taffin Khan now sits at 1900, while Loris Nathoo is ranked at 1765 and Ronuel Greenidge at 1728. Guyana’s female chess champion, Maria Varona-Thomas is now ranked at 1762.

The senior players will seek to surge into the 2000+ category in the Sub zonal scheduled for Kingston, Jamaica this June and the World Chess Championships in Batumi, Georgia this September.

Meanwhile, the country’s junior chess players have not been left out of the ranking success. Four junior players have found themselves breaking into the ranking system, owing to a fruitful stint at this year’s CARIFTA Games.

Junior Chess Champion Joshua Gopaul is now ranked at 1312, while Jaden Taylor follows at 1131. The second-place finisher at this year’s female chess championships, Nellisha Johnson has also found herself on the rankings at 1123. And Ethan Lee is now ranked at 1121.

Guyana now Candidate Master (CM) Anthony Drayton has a total of 28

at Andrew Lewis Novices Championship

Heated boxing action is expected to make its return to the National Gymnasium

T

he Andrew Lewis National Novices Championship, scheduled for May 4-6, is expected to be full of wholesome entertainment as some talented pugilists out of Republican Gym will return to action.

After fire ravaged the Camp Street Prison in July 2016, boxing was ultimately put on hold, but now boxers who showed promising signs prior to the horrific event will have a chance to restake their place in the pecking order in an event organised by the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA).

The Novices will also feature newcomers Savannah Gym from Lethem and a gym from Mabaruma

which add to the list of gyms participating: defending champions Guyana Defence Force (GDF); Police; Young Achievers; Rose Hall Jammers; Pocket Rocket; Carryl Harpy Eagles; Forgotten Youth Foundation; and Vergenoegen.

Last year, GDF ended on 22 points, way ahead of their closest challenger, the Republican Gym, which secured four points.

Vergenoegen Gym (formerly Essequibo) was third with two points.

Twenty fights are slated, with admission into the National Gymnasium being $1000 for ringside, and $500 for stands.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

WEDNesDAY, may 2, 2018

Bangladesh go above Hinds calls for Windies in ICC Test rankings better coaching structure G

Bangladesh picked up four points to move to 75 and take over eighth spot in the rankings

W

est Indies have slumped to ninth in the latest International Cricket

Council Test rankings, a historic low for the Caribbean side in the game's longest format.

Pos

Team

Matches

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

India South Africa Australia New Zealand England Sri Lanka Pakistan Bangladesh West Indies Zimbabwe

28 32 33 23 36 31 17 16 22 8

Points 3,499 3,589 3,499 2,354 3,511 2,914 1,463 1,202 1,484 12

In the rankings released by the ICC on Tuesday, the Windies lost five ratings points to tumble to 67 and are now only above minnows Rating Zimbabwe who sit on two points, hav125 ing played just 14 112 Tests inside the last 106 five years.

102 Significantly, 98 West Indies are also 94 now eight points be86 hind Bangladesh 75 who picked up four 67 points to move to 75 2 and take over eighth

spot in the rankings.

The bad news for the Windies come on the heels of a wretched tour of New Zealand last December when they suffered a 2-0 whitewash.

They were crushed by an innings and 67 runs in the opening Test at Wellington and soundly beaten by 240 runs in the second contest in Hamilton, with both matches finishing inside four days.

West Indies beat Zimbabwe 1-0 in a twomatch series last November but enjoyed no points gains from that success.

Once World champions, the Windies have fallen from their lofty heights and struggled badly over the last two decades. Last year, they won just three of ten Tests and their victory over Pakistan in November 2016 broke a 19-month win-less streak.

They have not beaten a higher-ranked side since they swept New Zealand 2-0 in the Caribbean six years ago.

However, the Jason Holder-led unit will have the chance to improve their ranking, as they face a heavy playing schedule over the next several months.

They host Sri Lanka in a three-match series in June, Bangladesh in a two-Test tour the following month, before heading to Bangladesh and India for Test tours later in the year.

The Windies demise was the only change to the rankings but India strengthened their position at the top of the rankings, increasing their lead over second placed south Africa from four to 13 points, after gaining four points to move 125.

The Proteas lost four points to slip to 112 while Australia are now on 106 after moving up four points. New Zealand remain fourth on 102 points.

England (98) lie fifth, Sri Lanka (94) are sixth while Pakistan are seventh on 87 points. (CMC)

uyana Amateur Basketball Association (GABF) President Nigel Hinds recently acknowledged that there has been inadequate coaching within the basketball fraternity.

This admission came at a GABF press conference last Friday.

Hinds noted that the lack stemmed from the Federation’s inability to attract suitable persons to the job. “In terms of coaching, the efforts that have been made to attract coaches have not been successful. A lot of it goes back to clubs, lack of a club structure, and financing,” Hinds stated.

Another factor, he explained, is the absence of support at the school level. “There isn’t an instance in the schools where you can find a dedicated coach, except for a few schools.”

Hinds clarified that this situation could be helped by the Government’s s u p p o r t , whether by injecting funds into the school clubs or ensuring that interested schools have a fullt i m e coach o n

board.

Another issue highlighted is the need for local coaches to be properly attired and for them to attend games with specific game plans.

The GABF President admitted that his Federation also had a part to play, “What falls under the GABF mandate is that we have a dormant coaching association, and it’s a challenge we have ahead to bring some sort of semblance of progress to having stricter coaches and the essential need for coaches.”

He noted that this was an area that would be looked in to over the course of the year, owing to the importance of having a coach on board for every team.

“I will venture to say that Willon Cameron has played a key role in the Colts’ success,” he explained. Cameron has been coaching the Bounty Colts team for the past two years and has led the team to victory both times.

GABF President Nigel Hinds

Arjune shines in Ganesh Parts Golf Open L

ocal pro Munaf Arjune stormed to the Ganesh Parts and General Store-sponsored Open Golf tourney on Tuesday.

After rain interrupted the event last Sunday, golfers came out in large numbers to chase after the title on Tuesday. Action teed off at the Lusignan Course from 09:00h and Arjune warded off all threats as he ended with 79/69 behind second-place Mike Mangal 76/68.

Third and fourth place went to Kassim Khan and Ian Gouveia, who also had a good outing on the greens, with Net Scores of 79/69 and 84/67 respectively.

Meanwhile, Nearest to the Pin went to Roy Cummings while Parmanand Persaud won Longest Drive, with reigning eight-time Open winner Avinash Persaud copping Best Gross award.

Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) President Aleem Hussain, who spoke to the attendees prior and following the match, lauded them for their support of yet another sponsored Open.

He further expressed gratitude to the sponsors, who are among the latest to join the Club and immediately make a significant impact by sponsoring the second Open of 2018.

wednesDAY, may 2, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

23

Beaton suspended

from bowling in international cricket – GCB ready to pave way for rehabilitation, says Sanasie

By Akeem Greene

W

The promising fast bowler has just begun an international career many hope would be long-lasting

indies' Ronsford Beaton failed an independent assessment which resulted in him being suspended from bowling in international cricket.

The fast bowler had been reported with a suspect bowling action during the second One-Day International against New Zealand in Christchurch on December 24, 2017.

According to an International Cricket Council (ICC) release on Tuesday, which stated “in accordance with the Regulations, Beaton’s international suspension will also be recognised and enforced by all National Cricket Federations for domestic cricket events played in their own jurisdiction”.

However, with the consent of Cricket West Indies

(CWI), Beaton may be able to play in domestic cricket events played in the Caribbean under the auspices of the country's cricket board.

“The player can apply for a reassessment after modifying his bowling action in accordance with clause 4.5 of the ICC Illegal Bowling Regulations”.

In an invited comment, CWI Director and Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Secretary Anand Sanasie told Guyana Times Sport that from the level of the GCB, they would be exploring options of assisting the promising fast bowler to be rehabilitated.

“Yes, we will.

We are in the process of discussing with the West Indies cricket board the process moving forward; the West Indies cricket board has an established process with assisting such individuals in

the rehabilitations,” Sanasie conveyed.

CWI also gave an update in which it stated that Beaton would “therefore join the fast bowling camp, now on in Antigua as part of his remedial programme; following which he will undergo a reassessment process, which if successful, he will be allowed to participate at the intern a -

tional level.”

CWI Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams said: “We are fully committed to working with Ronsford during this period of remedial work, which will hopefully accelerate his successful readmission to the professional game.”

Dropping the ball

Pundits of the sport had suggested various rationales for Beaton’s action when it was first reported. Many felt it was “the system who had failed him” by not noticing the irregularities sooner, given the scope of cricket he played.

B e a t o n played for West Indies Under19s and West Indies A, and was also called up for the Afghanistan Twenty20s earlier in 2017, although he failed to play a

match.

Most notably, former captain, Sir Vivian Richards, had vented that someone in the current Windies set-up should have picked up on the fast bowler’s suspect action before he reached the international level.

In response, Sanasie stated, “I would not like to comment on that, because I am not technically qualified to identify people with such actions. I know he has been playing throughout in our territory and he has to be reported before such action can be taken.”

He added, “To the best of my knowledge, only when he was an Under-19 cricketer there was some sort of report and that was dealt with, because he went to testing in Australia which he passed.”

On the flip side of the news, the Guyanese bowler’s suspension came on the same day that the ICC confirmed Pakistan off-spinner Mohammed Hafeez was allowed to resume bowling following a re-assessment.

FIFA commits to strengthening youth football – to sign MoU with Caricom

Y

outh football, especially at the primary school level, will receive a much-needed boost from the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), as representatives from the international organisation are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Caribbean Community (Caricom).

This is expected to take place when FIFA representatives Véron MosengoOmba (Director of Member Associations) and Marlon Glean (Caribbean Regional Director) visit Guyana over the course of May 1-4.

The MoU, which will be signed at the 31st Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD), places specific emphasis on the development of youth football

FIFA Director of Member Associations, Véron Mosengo-Omba during a courtesy call with Education Minister Nicolette Henry; GFF President Wayne Forde and GFF First Vice President, Brigadier Bruce Lovell

throughout the Caribbean Region. One of the focal points of the developmental plan is the primary school football programmes.

Assistance

will be given to countries to strengthen their programmes, and competitions will be implemented and executed in countries that currently do not have

such programmes. The aid will include the provision of necessary equipment to facilitate these competitions, including balls, bibs, and cones.

Another aspect that FIFA is looking to strengthen is the capacity of the technical staff in the Region, including Coaches, match officials and admin-

istrators. It will seek to assist with the development and training of all Physical Education teachers within the Caricom Region in football coaching and football management.

This initiative is a direct result of the inaugural visit to Guyana by FIFA President Gianni Infantino in 2017. Infantino sat down with GFF President Wayne Forde and Caricom Secretary General Irwin LaRocque to discuss school football within the Region and committed to facilitating the venture. It was later advanced by Education Minister Nicolette Henry.

FIFA has also committed to engaging Caricom on making travel within the Region hassle free for all FIFA officials and FIFA Member Associations (MA) representatives and national teams.

wednesDAY, may 2, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Beaton suspended from bowling in international cricket

Pg 23

– GCB ready to pave way for rehabilitation, says Sanasie

Ronsford Beaton failed an independent assessment after being reported in December 2017

Pg 23

Bangladesh go above Windies in

ICC Test rankings

West Indies have slumped to ninth in the latest International Cricket Council Test rankings, a historic low for the Caribbean side in the game's longest format

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