Guyanatime 4 april 2018

ICJ case

Final, binding judgement being sought – Greenidge P7 …cautions likelihood of lengthy process Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Issue No. 3523

PRICE

US$18M signing bonus

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Process to hold money outside Consolidated Fund not followed – IIA Chair

4 homeless after Corentyne fire P14

Page 3

7-year-old dies Daughter’s in Essequibo boyfriend jailed Coast accident for 16 years Nonpareil pensioner’s murder

Page 11

Page 2

Dilapidated living quarters for Police at Port Kaituma

Nappi's proposed extension

P13

Villagers accuse Govt of pussyfooting around …object to Agriculture Research Centre due to lack of consultation

La Penitence Market vendors call for armed P12 security

2.2kg cocaine bust

Trafficker P8 jailed for 4 years, fined $6M 32 of 229 cases P15 completed in January Demerara Assizes This shabby building is the living quarters for Police at Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini), which was visited by the Parliamentary Oversight Committee for the Security Sector

Miner dies after pit caves in at Cuyuni Backdam Page 9

Social Services Committee finds

Truancy, lack of social workers among issues in Region 2 Page 16 – 79 schools being serviced by 2 welfare officers …teachers forced to buy school supplies out of pocket

SPU’s P9 molasses production plan ‘a pie in the sky’ – Ramsaroop …as SPU Head defends reason for reopening Enmore factory

2 news

wednesDAY, April 4, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Nonpareil pensioner’s murder

Daughter’s boyfriend jailed for 16 years …taxi driver freed for time served

T

wo years after two teenaged girls were charged with murdering their father, Roger

Manikram at Nonpareil, East Coast Demerara (ECD), their alleged accomplices – Veeram Dias, the boyfriend of one of

the sisters; and taxi driver Devon Brown both admitted to their crimes at the opening of the Demerara Criminal

Assizes on Tuesday. The girls, Nalinie Manikam and her sister Alicia Manikam did not appear at the proceedings but they remain on remand pending the outcome of their matter.

Dias, 23, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to serve 16 years in prison while Brown, who pled guilty to being an accessory after the fact, knowing that Dias and others committed the gruesome act, was released after having served two years on remand.

The sentences were handed down by Justice Sandhill Kissoon, who considered the facts presented by Prosecutor Mandell Moore. The court heard that Dias bashed in Roger Manikram’s head with an axe and placed the man’s body into Brown’s car before later dumping the 64-yearold’s body at Coldingen Railway Embankment, ECD, on April 2, 2016.

However, Dias’ Attorney, Latchmi Rahamat in her plea of mitigation highlight-

“Not a day goes by that I don’t regret what I have done.

I don’t know how many times to say sorry” - killer ed that there were several accompanying circumstances which motivated her client to commit the crime. Having accepted the prosecution’s facts, the court was told that the admitted killer was in a relationship with the deceased man’s daughter.

Attorney Rahamat observed that her client was Veeram Dias was sentenced to 16 years’ imprisonment

Freed: Devon Brown

only 21 years old at the time, noting that he was a firsttime offender. She also noted that her client has never opted to waste judicial time as he has always accepted that “his actions did result in the death of the deceased”.

She described Dias as a model prisoner since he has not had any brushes with the law since being incarcerated. The Attorney also submitted legal arguments to support her case, even citing a ruling by Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) which described Camp Street jail as one of the most de-humanising facilities in the region.

The attorney further claimed that her client almost lost his life in the 2016 Camp Street prison fire. While pleading for mercy, she added that Dias is now active in Bible studies and spends much time reading.

In a brief address in which some emotion was shown, Dias indicated that he is forever sorry for his actions. “Not a day goes by that I don’t regret what I have done. I don’t know how many times to say sorry,” the admitted killer pointed out.

Meanwhile, Dexter Todd, attorney from Dias’ accomplice, Devon Brown, also made an impassioned plea to the court, where he detailed the “rough life” his client had with losing many of his loved ones.

Noting that Brown, a father of two, was only 24 when he committed his crime, Todd claimed that all his client did was respond to a call from his friend to assist him on the day in question.

The court heard that Brown migrated to St Lucia when he was two years old and that his father and broth-

er died over time and that his mother passed away whilst he was behind bars. Todd noted that Brown re-migrated to Guyana and settled at Crane, West Coast Demerara and had interacted with Dias and the two became friends.

Brown supposedly had not known that there was a murder when he was called to transport Dias. Todd claimed that his client only knew what he did was against law

Murdered pensioner, Roger Manikram

after he was arrested.

Justice Kissoon sentenced Brown to two years imprisonment. In computing Dias’ sentence, he started at a base of 30 years, deducted eight years for guilty plea, five years for his lawyer’s mitigating plea and one year for having shown remorse. This meant that the court’s sentence was 16 years. However, the court was ordered to deduct the time the defendant spent on remand awaiting trial.

Meanwhile, Nalinie Manikam is being represented by attorney Charrandass Persaud while her sister Alicia Manikam is represented by Shellon Boyce. Both attorneys were present at the sentencing of Dias and his accomplice, Brown.

According to reports, when the man’s body was found, it was claimed that the man might have been killed during a robbery. However, as investigations continued, Police ranks reportedly found a piece of rope at the Non Pariel home of the man, which appeared to have been a part of the rope that had been used to tie the deceased man. (Shemuel Fanfair)

news

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wednesDAY, April 4, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

US$18M signing bonus

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, April 4 – 05:00h-06:30h and Thursday, April 5 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, April 4 – 06:30h-08:00h and Thursday, April 5 – 07:00h-08:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals with light cloudy skies will prevail throughout the day, with light cloudy to clear skies in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 20 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 06:41h and 19:06h reaching maximum heights of 2.69 metres and 2.55 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 00:18h and 12:39h reaching minimum heights of 0.61 metre and 0.53 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS M

02

01

15

16

19

23

25 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018

DAILY MILLIONS 02 04 09 12

21

LUCKY 3 2 7 5

3

Afternoon Draw DRAW DE LINE

01

02

03

07

9

5

Evening Draw

08

11

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

Process to hold money outside Consolidated Fund not followed – IIA Chair

T

he US$18 million signing bonus controversy has engaged the attention of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Guyana chapter, with the Chairperson of the body questioning the process Government used to keep the money outside the Consolidated Fund.

In an interview with Guyana Times on Tuesday, IIA-Guyana Board Chairman and Financial Consultant John Seeram noted that while the signing bonus could be held outside the Consolidated Fund, there were certain prerequisites.

“What is important is that once money is received, it should be recorded in the Government’s statements of assets and liabilities, comprising of the Consolidated Fund as an entity and there is the Deposit Fund as an entity and the Contingency Fund as an entity,” he explained.

“My view is that that US$18 million bonus could be deposited in the Deposit Fund bank account and be shown in the Deposit Fund as an entity, thereby showing up on the statements of assets and liabilities.”

He noted that only when it is appropriated accordingly could it be moved from the Deposit Fund. Asked whether this process was followed in the case of the signing bonus, Seeram replied in the negative.

“Not to my knowledge,” the experienced auditor said. “But I wrote an article suggesting the use of a deposit fund. I’m just waiting to see what happens.”

The bonus

Recently, local economist Ramon Gaskin said in a letter to the media that the Bank of Guyana’s financial statement was recently issued and there was no trace of the signing bonus.

The bonus became a matter of controversy last year after it was revealed that not only did Government fail to disclose that it had received the money since 2016, but also it had deposited it into a private account at the central bank instead of the Consolidated Fund.

Government had defended its actions saying that the money was placed at the Bank of Guyana since Government intended to use it to pay the legal team that would represent Guyana’s interest at the World Court on the border controversy with its western neighbour, Venezuela.

However, Gaskin on Monday wrote that, “The Bank of Guyana has published the list of 128 Government Account Balances at the end of January 2018 in excess of 36 billion Guyana dollars… the US$18M ‘Signing Bonus’ received by Guyana and allegedly placed in the account is not listed”.

IIA Chairman and Financial Consultant John Seeram

But, when contacted, an aide to Finance Minister Winston Jordan told this publication that the money has not been moved, thus it could not have been spent.

“It is still there,” the aide assured.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had also denied that the monies were used.

“The signing bonus is monies that belong to Guyana, but that bonus, wherever it is, will be placed into the Consolidated Fund and it is from that Fund that any team whatsoever will be paid,” he stated.

Although the legal team has already begun work and has completed Guyana’s submissions, which were filed with the World Court on Thursday last by Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, Harmon told reporters that Government intended to follow prudent fiscal management policies regarding the use of the US$18 million.

“Whether (the legal team) work before or they work after, it is from the

Consolidated Fund, these monies will come from (to pay them. But before that)… we will of course have to make applications to the National Assembly for its approval for these funds…

It is just prudent fiscal management,” he stated.

Moreover, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, when probed on the whereabouts of the signing bonus, had declined to pronounce on the matter,

but told media operatives that there was nothing sinister afoot if the monies were to be moved.

While Government Ministers have said that Section 37 (2) of the Financial Management and Accountability Act provides for public monies to be held in Extra Budgetary Funds and deposit funds until they are credited to the Consolidated Fund, there are steps to be followed.

Section 42 mandates that after a deposit fund is established, the Minister has to inform the National Assembly of the fund’s existence.

According to Section 42 (2) of the Act, the Minister also has to specify “the source or sources of the monies in the deposit fund; the purpose or purposes for which monies may be expended from the deposit fund; the banking arrangements for the deposit fund and the intended investment strategy for the monies deposited in the deposit fund.”

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wednesDAY, April 4, 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

Ignoring the voice of the majority

R

ecently, a senior member of the Georgetown City Council, who was also one of the four who went into the agreement with Smart City Solutions (SCS) to install parking meters in Georgetown, declared that come what may, parking meters will be installed in the city as it is within the Council’s legal right to do so. From the onset, we would suggest that officials of the city be more circumspect with regard to their public comments on the parking meters issue, which has sparked much controversy since its implementation in January 2017.

The Parking Meters Project was taken up by City Hall as a revenue-generating measure. It has very little or nothing to do with traffic congestion, which occurs only on parts of three or four streets in downtown Georgetown and only at certain times of the day. This, as we all know, could be controlled and managed by the presence of more Traffic Police or the City Constabulary.

Parking meters in every part of the world are never imposed on downtown cities as a measure to raise money from commuters. They are imposed for traffic purposes and never to raid the pockets of owners and drivers of motor vehicles and other users of the road transport systems.

Important to note too is that the Parking Meters Project has been rejected by most of the citizens and the entire business community. The Guyana Consumers Association (GCA), which speaks on behalf of all consumers, from the inception had pointed out that there is no social or economic justification for such a project to be imposed on the city, and had called for the contract to be revised or scrapped altogether. On this basis, the GCA had listed several valid reasons why the project in its present form should be rejected.

For example, in the contract between SCS and M&CC, SCS was allotted 80 per cent of the returns and M&CC 20 per cent. SCS would notionally have made an investment of US$10 million while the City Council’s investment would have been the road system of Georgetown worth many billions of dollars plus the cost of continuously maintaining the roads over the next 20 years of the contract. In other words, SCS would have invested a minimal percentage of the cost of the scheme, but would have been collecting 80 per cent of the revenues! If this project were to materialise, the Guyana side would be permanently disadvantaged for a first tranche of 20 years followed by another 20 years.

It should be mentioned that during the renegotiation of the contract, the subject of profit sharing and contractual obligations were discussed, and it was agreed to have it remain the same: 20-80 M&CC-SCS for a period of 20 years.

This also means that the owners of the Parking Meters Project would be harvesting hundreds of millions of dollars per year which would be sent abroad causing a constant drain of the foreign exchange of the country.

Additionally, the parking meter scheme would cause businesses great losses. Their customer parking would be eliminated, and the acceptance and delivery of goods at their premises would become more expensive and timeconsuming. Any contraction of business could result in unemployment and an increase in prices of some consumer goods.

By the contract, no other person could have a parking lot in Georgetown and even businesses that have their parking lots for their employees and vehicles may be affected. This giving of SCS a monopoly on parking in the city is unheard of in any other city in the world. Such a monopoly is iniquitous and deprives citizens of the use of their properties.

The citizens group which has been opposing the parking meters scheme has claimed that the contract is void because of a number of factors it has adumbrated, and the group is prepared to test it in the courts.

The authors behind the project must be fully cognisant that the overwhelming majority of the population of Georgetown as well as the tens of thousands who visit the city every day for business or pleasure are against parking meters. One is, therefore, left to ask: why is City Hall so oblivious to the concerns of the majority?

The Guyana Police Force Band on parade during Tuesday’s opening of the April Session of the Demerara Criminal Assizes in Georgetown (Carl Croker photo)

Police are powerless to challenge ‘Sindicato’ (Part 1) Dear Editor, Last Wednesday, March 24, I was part of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee for the Security Sector that inspected Police stations at Muruca; Matthews Ridge; Port Kaituma and Mabaruma in Region One (Barima-Waini).

To his credit, our Committee Chairman, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, instructed his Police ranks to be truthful and straightforward in answering our questions, and I am satisfied that this was done.

Because of this candid interaction with the ranks, I was able to ascertain the state of readiness of our Police Force in those communities, and the conditions under which they live and work.

Editor, we demand professionalism of our men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe.

They in turn, need to be assured of our support and commitment in providing them with the tools to keep them safe, and to get the job done. Sadly, much is needed to provide the basic level of comfort to those Police Officers; most of whom have been transferred from loca-

A view of the dilapidated building Sergeant Connell is forced to call home

tions far away from home.

Police in Region One are challenged to cope with routine criminal activities they are confronted with on a daily basis. Every Police station is short-staffed and is in dire need of transportation; adequate manpower, more and better weapons.

There is no defined policy guideline to deal with Venezuelans crossing the border, working here illegally and setting up prostitution rings.

Living quarters for Police Officers are mostly cramped and inadequate. In Port Kaituma, Police Sergeant Connell is forced to live in a dilapidated building that should have been demol-

ished a long time ago. So, when I read in the press that Minister Ramjattan will be sending in more law enforcement officers to deal with the threat emerging from the Venezuelan gang known as the “Sindicato”, I wonder where he proposes to house these additional ranks, and how will they be able to confront the “Sindicato” without transportation and effective communication.

Unless Police Officers in Region One are given the tools to get the job done, even with additional ranks, they will be powerless to challenge any threat emerging from that notorious Venezuelan gang.

A reliable communication

system is extremely vital to any Police station, more so those located in rural isolated areas. Yet the Police radio at Muruca has not been working since October of last year. Without a replacement and telephone land-lines, the only form of communication available to these Police Officers are their personal cellphones. This is totally unacceptable.

The lack of adequate transportation is a common problem facing all Police stations in Region One. Muruca has been without a 4x4 vehicle since 2012, and one of the two ATVs is non-operational due to smooth tyres.

A common request I’ve heard throughout this inspection tour of Region One, is the need for female Police Officers to deal with cases of rape, domestic violence, child abuse etc.

While the Public Security Minister admitted that he is aware of some of the “harsh” conditions that exist in some locations, it appears that the chain of command is failing to address the basic needs of Police Officers in this Region.

Sincerely, Harry Gill PPP/C Member of Parliament

“Georgetown, we have a problem” Dear Editor, There is a NASAproduced documentary titled “The Journeys of Apollo" in which the Apollo 13 mission produced the popular phrase "Houston, we have a problem", as the astronauts communicated their discovery of the explosion that crippled

their spacecraft.

In Guyana, the Town Clerk has caused all and sundry to produce the phrase “Georgetown we have a problem”, to describe the crippled state of our capital city, due to mismanagement, venality and incompetence.

By now it ought to be crystal clear that our style of management of our capital city is not working, and in fact, is a total disaster.

What we have now in spite of a significant amount of work that has been undertaken in recent years to review and improve the Local

Government sector more popularly known as ‘Local Government reform’, is our capital city being run under very archaic laws dating back to the colonial times, laws that cannot relate to, nor deal effectively with, the current circumstances. continued on page 5

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

Save GuySuCo another $45B Doggedness, explicit

Dear Editor, The trial and error approach to the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) continues with the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) and the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) at the helm; more SPU than NICIL. The Agriculture Minister has now made it pellucid that GuySuCo no longer falls under the Agriculture Ministry but the Finance Ministry.

His happiness with this new ‘trial’ is understandable since he and his Ministry have made several ‘trials and errors’ from 2015 to 2018 resulting in the dissipation of $32 billion with nothing to declare except increasing underperformance and drastically dwindling production levels of the entity.

More remarkable also is the fact that during this same period Wales, Rose Hall, Enmore and Skeldon Estates were closed and over 5000 workers booted resulting in social and economic chaos in these communities.

The ‘sugar experts’ did not do any feasibility study to measure the negative social and economic impact of these closures, although they were repeatedly educated by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union and the Opposition.

We are now told by another ‘sugar expert’ that to keep the remaining three estates alive and to bring them to profitability, there is a need to inject $30 billion. I could recall that the People’s Progressive Party in their manifesto had planned to inject $20 billion into GuySuCo to continue its mechanisation process and to bring it back to

profitability without any closures or job losses. After getting into power, many negative terms were used by this Government to label and get rid of GuySuCo. More notable are the ones used by the former sugar workers’ ‘champion’, Moses Nagamootoo, who likened GuySuCo to a “black hole” and the sugar workers as “raiders of the Treasury”.

The Government through the Finance Ministry now sees GuySuCo as being ‘viable’, a complete about turn from what is said a few months ago.

Moreover, the ‘sugar experts’ now need $10-15 billion to reopen the operations at Wales, Rose Hall and Skeldon in a ‘miniaturise’ way so that they can become more lucrative to the 70 odd investors who have expressed interest to purchase the estates as they are, that is, in their current conditions. At this point I want to bring to attention the destructive capabilities of this Government. When these estates were closed, these factories were cannibalised to a large extent and the parts moved to the remaining three estates so the amount of monies required will be to largely replace these cannibalised parts and which I do not for a moment think will be enough the even ‘miniaturised the operations’ at these estates.

It will be another $15 billion down the ‘dark hole’ created by this Government.

Why the need for a syndicated bond of $30 billion? We are told that this amount will provide capital, support infrastructure maintenance and upgrade at Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt. In addition, funds

are expected to go towards developing co-generation capacity for the estates’ operations and sold to the national grid. While this may look good on paper, the reality is far different. According to the Commission of Inquiry (CoI), at that time, GuySuCo has the capability of supplying 17MW of power to the Grid but GPL can only take 15MW. Therefore, with co-generation capacities at Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt will GPL be in a position to effect the transmission?

The same CoI had said land sale at Ogle and La Bonne Intention can generate in excess of $57 billion.

It stated that Ogle has 26 acres while LBI has 2,282.5 acres which real estate dealers have proposed can be sold at a whopping $25 million per acre. So why go into more debt when you can sell these lands and have enough monies to conduct your ‘experiments’?

Another alarming fact is that all the assets of NICIL and GuySuCo have been used as collateral for the syndicated loan and it said the repayment of the loan will come from selling lands, privatisation, co-generation and value-added products, so why not sell the lands mentioned above now rather than later?

Lastly, it is time that these ‘trials and errors’ are brought to an end, rather than squandering another $45 billion on the closed and the existing estates, the entire GuySuCo should be fully privatised now!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councillor, Region Six

North West mother died needlessly Dear Editor, I am deeply upset and saddened by the news that a Guyanese woman, a mother of six, lost her life tragically during a home delivery of her baby in the North West district of Yarakita.

I want to state publicly and unmistakably: such things should not happen anywhere in our country. In this day and age, we cannot allow our people to endure poor medical service, especially those who are financially challenged and live in remote areas.

It is hurtful to me personally that this mother delivered her baby and the placenta was left in her. It is basic medical practice to make sure the placenta is expelled from a mother’s womb after she delivers a baby.

This case is extremely painful for me. It brings back vivid memories of my own mother bawling and screaming in her bedroom when midwives were helping her to deliver her babies.

Childbirth is extraordinarily painful and stressful; mother and child need the best care

and attention at that time.

Many times when I was a kid, I had to run or ride seven miles to get a nurse or midwife for my mom, sometimes at two or three o’clock in the morning.

My heart bleeds to know that a North West mother had to suffer and die so needlessly. It is painful to realise that in 2018, in our supposedly modern society, too many Guyanese women still do not have access to proper medical care before, during and after delivery of babies.

The safe delivery of children should be a top priority for our health care authorities. They have to do more extensive medical outreach programmes and put better systems in place across the length and breadth of Guyana to ensure that pregnant mothers and their offspring get basic medical services.

The death of the mother in such harrowing circumstances is very depressing and painful. The Government must tremble and the whole of Guyana must shake. We need to fix this problem and do it now!

Sincerely, Roshan Khan Sr

bullyism by some at M&CC Dear Editor, The doggedness and explicit bullyism being displayed by some members of the Georgetown City Council as they seek to shove down the throats of Guyanese the purported benefits with regards to the renegotiation of the scandalous parking meter deal, clearly means one of two things. It is either those unrefined oppressors who are championing the return of the parking meters have a pecuniary interest in its operations, and therefore are duty-bound to see it up and running; or it means they are just heartless sadists who could not care less of what the political, economic and legal consequences and fallout will be.

They are all aware that foisting what can only be described as a corrupt contract on the citizens of Georgetown is not only wrong but is proscribed.

Let me say from the very outset that most citizens recognise that space is precious in our capital city – and so is time for our drivers, so they do not oppose a modern, transparent and efficient

parking system being implemented by the City Council, what they oppose is having it done by Smart City Solutions.

They challenge the legality and transparency of the arrangement and the credibility of the company to which the city has entered into the contract with.

From the outset it should be noted that the previous Council never approved the imposing of the draconian parking meter project as was erroneously stated repeatedly by the Administration, and therefore everything else that followed including the renegotiations was null and void and premised on a falsehood.

Secondly, and very importantly, it must be noted that the parking meters fiasco has been mired in controversy from the inception. The tortuous journey began with the setting up of an opaque company going by the name National Parking Systems (NPS) sometime around 1995 which listed its address as 387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016, where the security and other officials in the building that NPS

claimed as the address from which it rented office space, emphatically denied that National Parking Systems had an office there, leading to the first set of concerns by citizens.

Then we had NPS partnering with a company called Smart City Solutions to install the parking system and there again another controversy as there seemed to be two Smart City Solutions, one with just two Directors and registered locally and one which is owned by a Mexican group.

Evidently no due diligence was done by the Council on these companies.

The ‘Terrific Triumvirate’ which incorrectly believes installing parking meters is the legal right of the Council, and that they will be forcibly implemented is in for a rude awakening as until and unless the entire parking meter initiative is done over transparently and with reputable companies it will go nowhere.

Sincerely, Mark Roopan

“Georgetown, we have...

What we have now is the Town Clerk of Georgetown cloaking himself with ridiculous powers, scope and authority to completely ignore the views and wishes of the elected Council, of the laws pertaining to procurement, of covenants ascribed to State lands, of accounting and audit regulations, of even answering to the Communities Minister.

All over the world city governments are run like businesses, municipalities have become municipal corporations, with executive Mayors and city managers who are given by charter a large degree of control and responsibility. Right nearby we have the likes of the Port

of Spain Corporation and the Kingston Corporation.

In none of these places do we have a Town Clerk, who is merely the Secretary to the Council, who performs several administrative tasks, running around creating havoc, as this one is doing. In fact none of the previous Town Clerks of Georgetown ever attempted to seize and convert public open spaces into private housing projects, to establish parking meter systems in our city on the basis

From page 4

of a falsehood that the previous Council had approved it, of withholding statutory deductions from the Guyana Revenue Authority, the National Insurance Scheme and the Credit Unions, of granting contracts amounting to billions of dollars without adherence to tender board procedures and of jaunting around the world for no practical purposes.

Sincerely, Magagula Jackson

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1

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Foundation

Continued from Tuesday

Staying focused Explain that this part is about doing it and sticking with the job. Tell children this means doing what you’re supposed to do, following what’s on the list, and sticking with it.

It also means focusing when there’s something else your child would rather be doing – the hardest part of all! Help children learn how to handle and resist these inevitable temptations. While working on the report, a competing idea might pop into your child’s head: “I feel like shooting some hoops now.”

Teach children to challenge that impulse by asking themselves “Is that what I’m supposed to be doing?”

Explain that a tiny break to stretch a little and then get right back to the task at hand is OK. Then children can make a plan to shoot hoops after the work is done. Let them know that staying focused is tough sometimes, but it gets easier with practice.

turned in.

Getting it done Explain that this is the part when children will be finishing up the job. Talk about things like copying work neatly and asking a parent to read it over to help find any mistakes.

Coach your child to take those important final steps: putting his or her name on the report, placing it in a report cover, putting the report in the correct school folder, and putting the folder in the backpack so it’s ready to be

would like to get better at?

How to start Here are some tips on how to begin teaching the 1-2-3 process: Introduce the idea Start the conversation by using the examples above and show your child the children’ article Organise, Focus, Get It Done (see opposite). Read it together and ask for reactions.

Will it be easy or hard? Is he or she already doing some of it?

Is there something he or she

Get buy-in Brainstorm about what might be easier or better if your child was more organised and focused. Maybe homework would get done faster, there would be more play time, and there would be less nagging about chores. Then there’s the added bonus of your child feeling proud and you being proud, too.

2 3

Set expectations Be clear, in a kind way, that you expect your children to work on these skills and that you’ll be there to help along the way.

Make a plan Decide on one thing to focus on first. You can come up with three things and let your child choose one. Or if homework or a particular chore has been a problem, that’s the natural place to begin.

Get comfortable in your role For the best results, you’ll want to be a low-key coach. You can ask questions that will help children get on track and stay there. But use these questions to prompt their thought process about what needs to be done. Praise progress, but don’t go overboard. The self-satisfaction children will feel will be a more powerful motivator. Also, be sure to ask your child’s opinion of how things are going so far.

Start thinking in questions Though you might not realise it, every time you take on a task, you ask yourself questions and then answer them with thoughts and actions. If you want to unload groceries from the car, you ask yourself: Q: Did I get them all out of the trunk?

A: No. I’ll go get the rest.

Q: Did I close the trunk?

A: Yes. Q: Where’s the milk and ice cream? I need to put them away first.

A: Done. Now, what’s next?

Encourage children to start seeing tasks as a series of questions and answers.

Suggest that they ask these questions out loud and then answer them. These questions are the ones you hope will eventually live inside a child’s head.

And with practice, they’ll learn to ask them without being prompted.

Work together to come up with questions that need to be asked so the chosen task can be completed. You might even jot them down on index cards.

Start by asking the questions and having your child answer.

Later, transfer responsibility for the questions from you to your child.

Things to remember It will take time to teach children how to break down tasks into steps. It also will take time for them to learn how to apply these skills to what needs to be done. Sometimes, it will seem simpler just to do it for them. It certainly would take less time.

But the trouble is that

children don’t learn how to be independent and successful if their parents swoop in every time a situation is challenging or complex.

Here’s why it’s worth your time and effort: Children learn new skills that they’ll need – how to pour a bowl of cereal, tie shoes, match clothes, complete a homework assignment.

They’ll develop a sense of independence. Children who dress themselves at age 4 feel like big children. It’s a good feeling that will deepen over time as they learn to do even more without help. From these good feelings, children begin to form a belief about themselves – “I can do it.”

D

oing homework can be fun. Especially when it’s just the right amount of challenge – not too easy, not too hard. But if you’re a kid who gets distracted easily, homework takes a lot more time. And it feels a lot less fun.

Here are three big tips that help you get better at doing homework: Get organised.

Stay focused.

Get it done!

Being organised means having things you need and knowing where to find them.

When you’re organised, you don’t have to spend time looking for things and getting sidetracked.

Organise your stuff. Label your binders and folders, and keep your school papers in the right ones. Clean out your backpack every day, so you have only what belongs in there. Keep things you take to school in the same place every day. That way, it’s always easy to find your backpack, shoes, and coat.

Organise your space. Have a place for doing homework.

It’s best to use a desk or table where you can spread out your work. Gather any supplies you’ll need before you get started – like pencils, papers, or markers. Don’t use your bed for homework. That makes it too easy to snooze, daydream, or play instead of doing your work.

Organise your time. Use a planner to help you keep track of what you need to do and when you will do it. Mark the dates when you will have tests, and when you will study for them.

Mark the days when you will have sports practice, lessons, or other activities. Write down your homework every day.

Look at your homework list and your planner every day.

Your firm but kind expectations that your children should start tackling certain jobs on their own send a strong message. You reinforce their independence and encourage them to accept a certain level of responsibility.

Children learn that others will set expectations and that they can meet them.

This kind of teaching can be a very loving gesture. You’re taking the time to show your children how to do something – with interest, patience, love, kindness, and their best interests at heart. This will make children feel cared for and loved. Think of it as filling up a child’s toolbox with crucial life tools. (Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

After you get organised, it’s time to focus on what you have to do. This means putting your attention on your homework.

Get rid of distractions.

Some people try to do homework while they have music or a favourite show playing in the background.

But these distractions make it hard to focus. They will make your homework take longer and keep you from doing your best. Remind yourself that it’s time to do homework. And give yourself free time after it’s done.

Get ready — get started.

Pick the first thing you’ll work on. Then talk yourself through it. “OK, I’ll do my Maths problems. Let me read the first one.” Then go ahead and do it.

Ask yourself, “What’s the next step?” Answer: “Write down the numbers I have to add up to get the answer.” Then add them up. Write down your answer.

Check your work to see if it’s right. Take each step one at a time. Focus on the step you’re doing.

Take breaks. If your attention starts to drift, get up and move around for a few minutes. But don’t start playing or doing something else. Just walk around your homework area a couple of times, go get a drink of water, or stand and stretch. Do some jumping jacks or walk up and down the stairs.

Moving and breathing keeps your mind alert and ready to focus.

Refocus. After a break, get right back to work. Pick the step you’ll work on next. Talk yourself through it. Then do that step. Keep going. Take one step after the other. Check off the things you’ve already done.

Your job is to stay focused long enough to finish what you need to do. (Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

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wednesDAY, April 4, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

ICJ case

Final, binding judgement being sought – Greenidge …cautions likelihood of lengthy process

the Governments of Guyana and Venezuela jointly request that he refrain from doing so.”

Registrar of the International Court of Justice, Philippe Couvreur (left) and Vice President and Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge

By Jarryl Bryan

O

n the heels of Guyana submitting its border case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the call by the Venezuela Government to return to the Good Offices Process, Government is adamant that the wheels are in motion.

According to Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge in a statement on Tuesday, the application Guyana filed on March 29 is seeking a final and binding judgement on the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Award.

“Coming from the principal judicial organ of the (United Nations) UN, such a judgement will once and for all put to rest this baseless contention. As you are aware, Guyana has suffered from Venezuela’s contention of nullity ever since our

Former Commonwealth Secretary General, Sir Shridath Ramphal will lead the legal team

independence in 1966,” the Foreign Affairs Minister said.

“This assertion has undermined our ability to develop our sovereign territory and resources, including our natural wealth in the sea. By means of a judgement of the court, our objective is to put this controversy to a definitive end so Guyana and Venezuela can live together as neighbours without the shadow of this conflict.”

Greenidge noted that with the Good Offices process being officially brought to an end by Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, the process for this final judgement has started.

“We will now await the response of the Court to our application,” Greenidge affirmed. “Venezuela of course has the right to respond and disagree with Guyana’s position on the validity of the 1899 Award. But either way,

the process leading to a final judgement has now been set into motion.”

“This judicial process will unfold in several stages and the Government of Guyana will periodically inform the public of its progress. This is likely to be a lengthy process, but having waited more than 50 years, we are fully committed to seeing it through until the very end.”

Describing it as a “great moment” in the international and regional rule of law and an example for the peaceful resolution of conflict, the Minister was hopeful it would result in better relations with Venezuela.

Since the UN’s decision to send the matter to the ICJ, Venezuelan President Nicholás Maduro had been quoted publicly affirming that his Government did not agree with the decision, and that continued negotiations would have been preferable.

Relations between Guyana and Venezuela have been rocky ever since oil giant ExxonMobil announced in 2015 that it had found oil in Guyana. Venezuela has staunchly been against oil exploration in Guyana’s Stabroek Block, where multiple oil deposits were found by ExxonMobil.

In fact, Venezuela’s National Assembly had approved an agreement to reject the oil exploration activities in March 2017. Venezuela has claimed, in 1968, the entire territorial sea of Guyana by means of the Leoni Decree, despite the 1899 award.

In 2015, the Government of Guyana requested then UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, to take steps toward resolving the controversy. In 2016, as a consequence of a stalemate on the matter, the outgoing Ban Ki-moon agreed with his successor, António Guterres, to continue to use the Good Offices Process until the end of 2017 as a means of arriving at a settlement.

It is with that intention that Guterres appointed Nylander as an envoy to resolve the border controversy.

According to the mandate of the Personal Representative, “If, by the end of 2017, the Secretary General concludes that no significant progress has been made toward arriving at a full agreement for the solution of the controversy, he will choose the International Court of Justice as the next means of settlement, unless

That process expired and Guterres subsequently ruled that the matter will engage the attention of the ICJ, where a panel of distinguished judges will hear Guyana’s case in The Hague,

Netherlands based court.

Guyana’s legal team is being led by former Commonwealth Secretary General, Sir Shridath Ramphal. The team is a holdover from the Foley Hoag law

firm delegation that successfully petitioned the UN in Guyana’s maritime controversy with Suriname. Other members of the team are Paul Reichler and Payam Akvan.

8 NEWS

wednesDAY, April 4, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2.2kg cocaine bust

Trafficker jailed for 4 years, fined $6M

…alleged accomplices remanded

T

hree men on Tuesday appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts jointly charged for possession of 2.250 kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

The prosecution is contending that the trio –

33-year-old Mark Gomes, 33-year-old Ryan Fowler and 38-year-old Mohammed (only name) were found with the substance on Thursday last while in the vicinity of Sheriff Street, Georgetown.

The court heard that the men were observed by ranks of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit, who were

acting on intelligence, which led to the arrest of the men.

The men were taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters where the substance was handed over to Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), and an investigation was launched.

One of the men, Ryan

Fowler, told the Court that he would like to accept responsibility for the cocaine. He was sentenced to four years in jail and fined $6 million.

Meanwhile, Gomes and Mohammed were remanded to prison.

The men are expected to return to court on April 18, 2018.

GDF Captain likely to be arraigned on murder charge today

G

uyana Defence Force (GDF) Captain Orwain Sandy, who killed his reputed wife on Saturday in Alexander Village, Georgetown is expected to be arraigned with the capital offence of murder today.

Detectives confirmed that the file was completed and sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice but according to a well-placed source, the Captain had already given a confession statement when he walked into the Ruimveldt Police Station after shooting the woman 14 times.

He will make his first court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

On the day in question, the Army Captain and the now dead woman were in a motor car proceeding along First Street, Alexander

Reona Payne and Captain Orwain Sandy in happier times

Village when an argument ensued after he reportedly accused her of being unfaithful.

It was reported that he stopped the car and as the woman exited, he opened fire thus riddling her body with bullets from his service revolver.

He left her lifeless body on the roadway and drove to the Police station where

he surrendered after telling Police ranks what he had done.

Ever since the shooting, there have been speculations that Payne was seeing two other men while living together with the GDF Captain. Guyana Times was told that after the suspect found out that she was seeing a colleague of his, it angered him, and the shooting

seemed nothing but premediated.

To date, the woman’s immediate family members have not broken their silence on the matter, but other relatives have told media operatives that the woman was involved in an abusive relationship with the Captain.

It was also reported that the mother of two encouraged the Captain to reconcile with his legally married wife.

The suspect has since been dismissed from the Guyana Defence Force.

In a release issued by the Force a few hours after the shooting, the Defence Force stated that the suspect’s action does not reflect that of the men in the Army and that an independent probe will be launched by the Force to determine what really took place on the day in question.

Do fuh do…

T

…na obeah in trade he other foot has come down on Trump’s intemperate slapping of tariffs on steel and aluminium: China retaliated by imposing tariffs on 125 items they import from the US. And as your Eyewitness had said when he predicted this response, there’s absolutely nothing Trump can do about it – since he’s already emasculated the WTO. The American exporters of these 125 items to China will now have to cut back their production…and ultimately fire redundant workers.

This means less local and federal taxes collected and the vicious spiral to an implosion will begin unless some saner heads take over in the States. The sad truth is, while there might’ve been something in Trump’s earlier tariff announcement that included Canada and Mexico – since with the former being the biggest exporter of steel and aluminium to the US, the increased prices might’ve made US production competitive and catalysed the reopening of some shuttered factories in the high-employment Rust Belt. Where many of the yahoos who voted for Trump reside.

But exempting Canadian and Mexican exports just left China and the EU facing the squeeze of increased tariffs.

So these countries have no option but to retaliate!! What we’re witnessing, dear reader, is real brinkmanship in play.

Forget about the North Korean tinpot rattling his nukes… this move of Trump will affect every country in the world – including little, innocuous Guyana. And kill us just as surely as the nukes – but slower and more painfully!!

The modern globalised world was built on free trade – and it’s a world that’s seen more people lifted from poverty than at any other time in the history of mankind.

Free trade, England – the then first industrial country in the world – assured us in the 19th century, would allow each country to exploit their “comparative advantage” to produce goods for the world rather than just themselves.

In this way, the goods would be cheaper for ordinary people everywhere than if a single country tries to produce everything. Can you imagine us producing computer chips for ourselves??

This argument suited England and the other countries – such as the US and Japan that followed in the former’s part – ‘cause they had the “comparative advantage” in manufactured goods that they declared to be worth many times than our “primary goods”. They were onto a good thing till the 1970s – when the Far Eastern Tigers then China, plunged into manufacturing with such dedication – the older developed countries like England and then the US just couldn’t compete.

The resort to “wrong and strong” behaviour just won’t cut it.

The only way out is to facilitate the WTO to become an honest broker. …na obeah on Winnie Winnie Mandela just passed away and it’s really the passing of an era. She’s been criticised quite heavily because she didn’t live up to what the world thought the wife of Mandela should be like. But here greatest credit is she didn’t allow herself to be railroaded in changing who she was just to fit into the mould that others created.

Let’s face it – it can’t be east being married to a saint.

And this was what the world decided Mandela was. He was overtly compared to Gandhi – who just happened to have invested his “saintly” image in South Africa. But in the hundred plus years of his beatification has anyone asked what a burden it must’ve been for Kasturbai, his wife??

See that, dear reader…you didn’t even know the poor woman’s name!! The only time she rebelled against the saint was when he told her she had to clean the buckets into which the latrines delivered faeces.

So Winnie…if necklacing of collaborators was necessary at the time – you did it YOUR way!! …na obeah on Trotman So the AFC wants “action” on all the workers at GGMC who’ve suffered from mercury poisoning?? Well how about speaking to their LEADER who’s the Minister who’s in charge of the agency??!!

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

News

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wednesDAY, April 4, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SPU’s molasses production plan ‘a pie in the sky’ – Ramsaroop

…as SPU Head defends reason for reopening Enmore factory

Economic Advisor Peter Ramsaroop

T

hough the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) has an ambitious plan to produce molasses for both local and regional companies that have a demand for this by-product of sugar, Economic Advisor to the Opposition, Peter Ramsaroop said the prospects of selling molasses to this lucrative market is a “pie in the sky”.

In making reference to a recent article published by this newspaper, where SPU Head Colvin Heath-London revealed that the sugar industry could now tap into the Caribbean rum industry due to the high de-

mand based on damages caused by hurricanes, Ramsaroop said it is an unrealistic plan.

“What Heath-London failed to acknowledge in his public commentary is that (Demerara Distillers Limited) DDL made a decision to invest in the factory in order to preserve its own world-renowned industry and its fate. It would be uncompetitive for DDL to now have to import its molasses for its rums,” he explained.

According to Ramsaroop, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) will barely, by its own projection, meet the molasses demand for DDL, which has a shortfall of in excess of 27,000 tons of molasses.

“Where exactly is GuySuCo getting molasses from, to consistently supply the more than 15 world-class distilleries already competing with DDL, which just advanced hundreds of millions of dollars to the SPU in order to protect its own supply of molasses?” he questioned.

The financial adviser reasoned whether Heath-London is now trying to say that GuySuCo intends to increase sugarcane production by millions of tons,

SPU Head Colvin Heath-London

even when it is publicly known that Government has been closing sugar estates and scaling back production annually.

Ramsaroop argued that GuySuCo has set for itself, a target of 115,000 tons of sugar for this year, down from 188,000 tons in 2016. He said it is also important to note that 100 tons of sugarcane, under ideal conditions, yields 10 tons of sugar (GuySuCo actually gets between six to seven tons), while at the same time leaving about three tons of molasses as a by-product.

“What this means, is that

in order for GuySuCo to meet its already meagre target of 115,000 tons of sugar, it will need to produce about 1.15 million tons of sugarcane. The by-product from this will barely satisfy DDL’s demand for molasses, said to exceed 27,000 tons – molasses for which DDL has already paid for in advance, through its agreement with the SPU,” he further stated.

The economic adviser to the Opposition therefore questioned whether based on the statements made by the SPU head, it would mean that GuySuCo has plans to increase sugarcane cultivation and production ten-fold, in order to sell molasses to the Caribbean market.

Defence

However, despite these arguments, Heath-London defended the reason for reopening the Enmore factory to produce molasses, although it is being suggested that it is an impractical task. He told Guyana Times on Tuesday, “They have to keep the estate going. Like a car, nobody is going to purchase a car if they know it isn’t working.

Miner dies after pit caves in at Cuyuni Backdam

A

miner was buried alive on Sunday after a pit in which he was working caved in at Chinese Creek Backdam, Mazaruni River, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

The dead man has been identified as 25-year-old Kevin Adams of Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

According to information received, the incident occurred about 14:00h on Sunday while Adams and another miner were working in the pit.

Guyana Times was told that the walls of the pit caved in on the men suddenly, pinning Adams. The oth-

Dead: Kevin Adams er miner managed to escape with minor injuries. Adams was, however, buried.

Reports are persons working in the area ran to the rescue of Adams, but after some time, he was pulled from the debris in an unconscious state and rushed to the Bartica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Adams’s body is presently at the Lyken Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Adams's family noted that the miner was simply seeking a better way of life, hence the reason for him taking up the job in the interior.

Relatives related that they had not seen Adams in about three years.

A cousin recalled receiving the tragic news of the accident and his passing from a neighbour on Sunday; however, they said the family did not receive much information. Family members on Tuesday travelled to Georgetown to identify the body.

He is survived by his parents and siblings. A post-mortem examination is scheduled for later this week.

So, we have to keep the estate going. DDL needs molasses and so we are doing that.”

While some politicians and former policy makers, including local economist Ramon Gaskin have said that reopening of Enmore to produce molasses for the company’s operations is not economically feasible, the SPU head said he does not agree with that theory, explaining that Enmore is not operating at a loss.

“I don’t agree. You have to realise that crystallisation process in a sugar mill is where most of the money is spent – the high cost profit. And that forms a major part of the manufacturing cost or the whole crystallisation process. We will not be crystalising, we are just doing normal work and inversion method.”

Heath-London claimed that the factory is using up about a quarter of the energy needed.

In fact, he said the operation cost is much lower and at the same time, the molasses cost is much higher. He also rubbished claims that DDL is getting molasses at a subsidised cost. While he did not disclose the prices that GuySuCo is selling their molasses to DDL, he explained that it is at market cost.

At present, A grade molasses is sold at a premium price of US$200 per ton while the price for normal molasses is somewhere between US$100 and more. “Their rates are based on the quality of molasses they get and you have to remember at Enmore, normally GuySuCo gives DDL what is called black strap molasses which is molasses when you extract most of the sugar from. The molasses that Enmore is producing now is called high tech or Grade A and that sells at a premium,” he added.

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wednesDAY, April 4, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Flying high!

S

atiricus was still recovering from his Easter excesses. If Easter was the time of the year that folks went to great length to get their kites high – Satiricus figured he was doing his patriotic duty to do the same – with himself. But it did take a toll, he said to himself ruefully, as he ambled carefully to the Back Street Bar. “Hey Sato,” called out Bungi boisterously as Satiricus winced, “yuh look terrible, maan! Like yuh really injai yuhself again!!”

“I had to carry him home from the seawall, as you know fellas,” said Hari. “And lemme tell you, Satiricus wasn’t only celebrating Easter!”

“Wha’ else a guh laang?” demanded Cappo as Satiricus carefully sat down in his chair. “Yuh na tell abee nuthin’!”

“He figured you fellas would get on his case,” explained Hari. “His leader Nagga Man is returning to Guyana this week.”

“An’ yuh a CELEBRATE?” asked Bungi incredulously.

“Wha’ fa?”

“It’s the same thing I was worried about,” said Satiricus at last. “The man had a heart attack and he’s now better, why shouldn’t I celebrate?”

“If dem bin gi’e Nagga Man wan new heart,” said Cappo, “me wou’da anderstaan. But a de same man who fo’get all ayou who vote fuh am?”

“You fellas don’t know what goes on behind the scene,” said Satiricus earnestly. “Nagga Man has his hand in the tiger’s mouth…so he has to pat its head.”

“Na gi’e me all dem Nancy story,” said Bungi sharply. “’E haan in tigah mout’ because ‘e push am out fuh get de big cheque!!”

“Budday, we have to get somebody to work from INSIDE!” replied Satiricus desperately.

“Inside?” said Hari with his eyebrows reaching his hairline. “The Pee-an’-See have Nagga Man so far outside, he has to wait in line to use the OP washroom!!”

“That’s not fair,” protested Satiricus. “Nagga Man is a key man in the coalition!” “’E BIN de key man!” said Cappo with a grin. “’But ‘e gi’e Pee-an-see de key fuh get in guvment…and now dem lack am out!!”

Satiricus groaned as he placed his head in his hands.

NEWS

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wednesDAY, April 4, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Big Foot” denies murdering hotel owner 7-year-old dies in Essequibo Coast accident

A

seven-year-old boy has become the latest road fatality after he was struck down by a motorcar along the Aurora Public Road, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

Dead is Jagdesh Mohanlall of Aurora Village.

Reports are 42-year-old Gobin Chandrika, a businessman, was driving his motorcar, PNN 9465 along the Aurora Public Road, when the child reportedly ran out of a yard and into the path of the moving vehicle.

Chandrika allegedly attempted to avoid the collision, but the left side of the

vehicle came into contact with the lad. Due to the impact, he sustained injuries and was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital where he succumbed while receiving medical attention.

A breathalyser test was administered on the driver, who hails from Hibernia, Essequibo Coast and it proved that he was above the legal limit of alcohol consumption.

He was taken into Police custody and is assisting with the investigations. Police in March stated that they have recorded an 18.1 per cent decrease in fatal accidents up to

the end of February 2018.

The Guyana Police Force stated speeding, inattentiveness and pedestrian crossing in the path of approaching vehicles were the main causes of fatal accidents.

Statistics also showed that there were 2935 recorded cases of speeding, 752 instances of breach of condition of road service licence, 247 cases of persons driving under the influence of alcohol, 165 cases of persons using their cellular phones while driving, and it was also reported that 254 drivers breached the traffic light signals.

Bryan Leitch called “Big Foot”

D

iamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident Bryan Leitch on Tuesday morning entered a not guilty plea upon his arraignment for the murder of Joseph Jagdeo, also known as “Joey”; the owner of South Central

Hotel. The prosecution contended that Leitch, also known as “Big Foot”, committed the crime between November 13 and 14, 2013 at South Road, Georgetown.

On Tuesday, he denied killing 59-year-old Jagdeo; and as such, a 12-member jury was empanelled before Justice Sandhill Kissioon in a case that is being presented by State Prosecutors Lisa Cave and Mandell Moore.

According to reports, Jagdeo had last been seen in his dwelling room. He was discovered gagged in his room by a concerned employee. It was suggested that the alleged murder may have stemmed from a robbery as the deceased’s mobile phone was missing. A post-mortem examination revealed that Jagdeo died from asphyxia via

Dead: Joseph Jagdeo

manual strangulation.

Leitch is being represented by defence attorneys Hewley Griffith and Lawrence Harris.

It is expected that 15 witnesses will testify over the next several days. Justice Kissoon adjourned the matter for this morning.

12 news

WednesDAY, april 4, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

La Penitence Market vendors call for armed security …City Hall probes mistreatment of junior female Constabulary Officers

F

ollowing the brazen daylight robbery committed on La Penitence Market vendor Doodnauth “Hardat” Danasri and his wife, Meena, on Monday, vendors in the area are calling on both City Hall and the Guyana Police Force to set up an outpost and armed officers.

On Monday afternoon about 17:30h, two armed men pounced upon Meena and demanded cash. However, her husband attempted to ward off the men with a knife, but they shot him three times about his body and made good their escape with over $150,000 in cash.

Doodnauth, of Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara

The area where the Danasris were robbed

(WCD), was shot once in the region of his temple, his hand and abdomen while attempting to rescue his wife. Meena

said the money was two days’ sales and she had to pay some suppliers. After snatching the money, the men rode off on

their bicycles into James Street, Albouystown.

An alarm was raised, and ranks from the Ruimveldt Police Station promptly arrived on the scene and quickly rushed Doodnauth to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he received medical attention.

Meena related that her husband went back to the Hospital on Tuesday morning to dress his wounds and to receive a medical certificate. She noted that his injuries were not life-threatening, but did indicate that they were now scared for their lives.

Security

The woman, along with other vendors, said there have been many robberies at the Market and the Constables were unable to do anything, because they were mostly female and unarmed. She noted that at the time of the robbery, there were four unarmed female Constables nearby, but they could not have aided the situation.

“It been got Constable out here with nothing to represent themselves…we want protection out here. We want protection, we need protection because high daylight them do we that,” Meena said.

“We want a Police Outpost here and the Constables have to get some weapon so when them people this come to rob, they can

do something and not just stand up and watch,” she added.

Meena related that at the time of the robbery, the area was crowded. She said in all of the 38-plus years she have been vending at the Market, this is the first time a robbery of this magnitude was committed on her.

The Police investigations are ongoing and the suspects are yet to be apprehended.

Mistreatment

At the March 26 statutory meeting of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC), concerns were raised in relation to junior female Constabulary Officers taking an unprecedented amount of sick days, resulting in the call for a probe and possible disciplinary action. The call from some Councillors led to Chief Constable Andrew Foo reporting that he would have exhausted all avenues of discipline, but the junior officers were failing to comply.

However, this did not go down too well with Mayor Patricia Chase-Green, who revealed that the same officers would have complained to her, along with other Councillors, about the treatment they receive at the hands of their superiors.

“We have senior female Constabulary Officers mistreating the junior officers...they are

Injured: Doodnauth Danasri telling them all sorts of things and even chasing them out of their offices,” the Mayor reported.

“In some cases, they are sending the junior female officers to work at sites with no lights or protection, and it is unacceptable,” Chase Green added.

She noted that there were serious issues going on in the City Constabulary Department and she would have made numerous complaints to Town Clerk Royston King, who was in charge of the City Constabulary, but, to date, the situation remained unchanged. Chase Green then ordered the city’s Welfare Officer to look into the treatment of the junior female ranks and the conditions they are forced to endure and work in. The Welfare Officer’s report is expected to be submitted at the next statutory meeting on April 9, 2018.

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WednesDAY, april 4, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Nappi's proposed extension

Villagers accuse Govt of pussyfooting around …object to Agriculture Research Centre due to lack of consultation

F

or the residents of Nappi Village, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), it seems as though the wait for the Government to grant them their proposed extension is a never-ending one, ultimately resulting in hindered development and lack of access to resources.

Nappi had applied for an extension to their titled land and the land titling process began since 2015, under the Low Carbon Development Strategy-funded Amerindian Land Titling Project, which is spearheaded by the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry.

Last week, a high-level team comprising of the President and Vice President of the National Toshaos Council (NTC), the Regional Chairman, the Indigenous Representative on North Rupununi Development Council and the Opposition Member of Parliament for the region met with the villagers to discuss the way forward. At the meeting, it was decided that the leaders will continue to press the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry to ensure the issue of the proposed extension is addressed at the earliest time possible.

“The residents were concerned about the proposed extension and that is what they brought up at that forum and they want it ad-

dressed urgently,” Regional Chairman Brian Allicock said during an interview on Tuesday.

At the meeting, NTC’s Vice President Lennox Schuman told villagers that they are ready to stand with the village in their fight to have their extension granted.

“The extension for Nappi sits under an agreement between the Government of Guyana and the Kingdom of Norway and based on that agreement the Government has an obligation in principle and in finance to grant Nappi its extension and that is between the Kingdom of Norway and the Government of Guyana,” Schuman told the residents.

“We haven’t seen a lot of support for Nappi extension although there is a legal obligation,” he added.

The residents have since related their discontent with the manner in which they are being treated as it relates to their extension and the proposed agriculture research station to be built on the proposed extension.

The Government, with funding from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), proposed to construct an Agriculture Research Station and water catchment area in the satellite village of Pirara.

However, the villagers are accusing the Government

Residents at the meeting

of failing to satisfy the Free, Prior and Informed Consultations (FPIC) protocol as mandated by the IDB. They claim that they were never informed that the station would be on their proposed titled extension and called for a revisit of the process. At last week’s meeting, the leaders heard that the research station was initially supposed to be built in the Manari area but was subsequently shifted to Pirara which is located approximately 40Km North of Manari.

In relation to the shift, Schuman told the villagers that they have already begun engaging the IDB with the intention for a revision of the proposal.

“About five weeks ago, we engaged the IDB on this very project and the first thing that came out in relation to the land, the IDB

will not fund any project that infringes on the rights of Indigenous peoples. In order for this project to go ahead in its current state, they have to meet the FPIC criteria…

If the land is titled the IDB will require from each community expressing their consent,” he informed.

“Before any economic development in any Indigenous

village, we must have a people process first. We have identified that the people process has failed. I support the call for a revisit of the people process to ensure that people understand the document,” he added.

Additionally, Allicock said the proposed area for the agriculture research station is not suitable since it means the Government will be utilising over 200 acres of wetlands ultimately affecting the biodiversity in that area.

The team is expected to have another consultation session by the end of April after which they will engage the Government.

Just in February, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman commissioned a water reservoir on Nappi lands.

The reservoir was constructed after the Rupununi area

suffered a severe drought back in 2015/2016, drastically affecting the livelihood of the residents. The new reservoir has been professionally engineered and designed by JR Ranch Incorporated and is buttressed by an 860-metre dam and has the capacity to hold 4.5 million cubic meters of water.

The water catchment area is a public-private partnership between the Government and Cataleya Energy Limited. The project was proposed by the Natural Resources Ministry and funding, $1.2 million, was provided by Cataleya Energy Limited. JR Ranch Incorporated was hired to construct the reservoir while Conservation International designed the programmes for the usage, upkeep and maintenance of the water catchment area.

14 NEWS

wednesDAY, april 4, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

4 homeless after Corentyne fire F

our persons are now homeless after a fire destroyed their Corentyne, Berbice home on Monday night.

The occupants of the home – a rice farmer, his wife and two children – were not at home at the time of the blaze.

Reports are the fire started about 19:30h at the Lot 10 Number 45 Village, Corentyne house.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Geragie Parath said the family of four was at a relative’s house 14 villages away when they were alerted that their home was on fire.

She said when they ar-

Fire engulfs the house

rived at the scene, the entire building was already engulfed.

She said that after

several attempts at calling the Rose Hall outpost, Corriverton and Georgetown Fire Departments, they fi-

nally managed to report the incident, but firefighters did not arrive until about an hour after.

Meanwhile, Parath’s father, Arjune, who lives 200 metres away, said when he arrived on the scene, the fire had already consumed both the lower and upper flat.

The 62-year-old farmer related that he also contacted his daughter and was told that they were on their way.

Arjune said several villagers informed the Corriverton Fire Department.

When the firefighters finally arrived, they were confronted with the wrath of the villagers, forcing the Police to intervene.

By the time the firefighters got into gear, only a part of the frame of the two-storey four-bedroom building was standing.

According to Arjune, with the aid of other persons, they were able to pull a tractor from next to the burning building onto the road. However, a motorbike was burnt in the building.

Meanwhile, Parath said she has lost everything. She related that two days prior to the fire, she purchased a new chair set, which cost $150,000.

The woman said a few

months ago she also purchased a new stainless steel refrigerator. She listed household items and machinery worth in excess of $3 million that were destroyed in the fire.

She also noted that her two children, who attend the Number 48 Primary, lost all of their school clothes and books.

The owner of the building resides overseas, and

few days ago. A report about the threat was made to the Police.

“Is over the coconut tree and the Police say he will come and look at the area and when she find out that I report to the Police she start to cuss and say she gon learn me sense,” Parath added.

The Guyana Fire Service has started its investigation of the fire. Investigators visited the scene and on

The remains of the two-storey building

Parath had been living there for the past six years along with her husband.

Meanwhile, the family suspected that the fire may be arson, since they were threatened by a neighbour a

Tuesday were able to determine that the fire originated in the back of the lower flat.

The forensic fire investigators are expected to revisit the scene. (Andrew Carmichael)

NEWS

15

wednesDAY, april 4, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

32 of 229 cases completed in January Demerara Assizes

H

igh Court Judge Justice Navindra Singh via gaol delivery brought a formal end to January session of Demerara Criminal Assizes on Thursday last. In a statement issued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on Tuesday, it was observed that 32 of 229 cases in Demerara were disposed of.

This number reflected that 14 per cent of the cases were cleared from the judicial backlog.

The April session of the Demerara Criminal Assizes commenced Tuesday where Justice Bovell-Drakes, Justice Kissoon and Justice Barlow are on rotation.

The DDP’s office said that the Berbice February Session will continue until May while the Essequibo February Assizes will conclude on May 21.

Demerara

Justices James BovellDrakes, Navindra Singh and Simone Morris-Ramlall sat at the previous session.

Of the 32 matters from the previous session; the Office of the DPP presented 24 in the High Court of Demerara while eight were nolle prosequi (dismissed) by the DPP. Of the 24 cases presented, 12 were for the offence of murder, 11 for sexual offences and one for the offence of attempted murder with an alternative count for wounding with intent. The statement noted that there were

er matter for the offence of manslaughter, the accused pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.

The five other matters were for sexual offences; in

two of these five matters, the accused were respectively sentenced to 35 years and 25 years imprisonment for rape of a child under 16 years.

Justice Margaret Kurtzious presided in Essequibo.

‘Head in bucket’ murder

Friendship man denies murdering reputed wife The High Court

four guilty pleas, 10 convictions, seven not guilty verdicts by jury and three formal verdicts of not guilty; that latter of which was ordered by the presiding Judge.

For Sexual Offences Court, presided over by Justice Morris-Ramlall, four were for the offence of rape.

Justice Morris-Ramlall passed lengthy prison terms for several men who were found guilty of rape, especially that of young children.

Notably, over 140 listed cases in Demerara related to sexual offences.

One of those charged were Rohan Daniels called “Shine Buck”, who was sentenced to life, with possibility of parole after 40 years on two counts of child rape.

Another case was that of Ganesh Chaitram who was

sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia after he was found guilty of child rape with a female relative in 2016.

“The eight matters Nolle Prosequi by the DPP were for sexual offences. The complainants in these matters indicated in written statements they did not wish to proceed with their matters,” the DPP statement pointed out.

Berbice

In Berbice, Justice Sandil Kissoon first sat from January and closed the October Assizes and then opened the February 2018 Assizes. There were 21 matters heard in the county of which seven were for the offence of murder, 11 others were for sexual offences and three other cases for the of-

fence of attempt to commit murder.

“In four of the murder trials, the accused all pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter and were respectively sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, 12 years imprisonment, 25 years imprisonment and 15 years imprisonment,” the statement noted.

Essequibo

Meanwhile, the Essequibo Criminal Assizes commenced on February 20, where 62 matters were listed to be heard. Seven matters have been presented and prosecuted – one was for the offence of murder in which the accused pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of manslaughter and was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. In one oth-

V

indra Siriram on Tuesday denied murdering the mother of his three children, Shelly Ann Persaud, at their Friendship, East Bank Demerara home in June of 2014. The woman was found with her head in a bucket of water but when Siriram appeared before Justice James Bovell-Drakes at the High Court, he entered a not guilty plea. As such, a 12-member jury was empaneled to hear the case.

The State’s indictment read that Siriram committed the act between June 9 and 10, 2014. In September 2014, Vindra Siriram was committed to stand trial for the woman’s murder.

He is being represented by Attorney Damian Da Silva while the State’s Prosecutors are Shawnette Austin and Seeta Bishundial.

On the day in questioned, Persaud, a moth-

Murder accused: Vindra Siriram

er of three, was found with her head submerged inside a five-gallon bucket of water.

The post-mortem examination later revealed that she died as a result of drowning and manual strangulation.

According to reports, Siriram and Persaud were heard arguing prior to the woman’s death.

16 NEWS

wednesDAY, april 4, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Social Services Committee finds

Truancy, lack of social workers among issues in Region 2 – 79 schools being serviced by 2 welfare officers …teachers forced to buy school supplies out of pocket

The Charity Secondary School

By Jarryl Bryan

I

n the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Social Services’ seventh report, troubling facts about life in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) for the year 2017 are documented; including a lack of capacity for authorities to deal with certain social ills.

The Committee, which was led by Opposition Member of Parliament, Dr Vindhya Persaud, paid a visit to schools, hospitals and health centres in the region last year. On their stop over to Charity Secondary School, they were informed of prob-

lems with truancy.

“The head teacher informed the Committee that a businessman in the community was selling alcohol to school children in uniform,” the report, released last month, stated. “Even though the matter was reported to the relevant authorities, to date no action was taken.”

“The Committee was also informed by the head teacher that students do not attend school regularly and that some children live alone. She stated that these cases were reported to the Police.”

But even with the cases being reported, there are issues with the capacity of the

regional authorities to address them. The Committee stated that according to a welfare officer in the region, there are 79 schools with only two welfare officers.

“The teachers informed the Committee that for the past two terms, they did not receive any school supplies and would have to put their hands in their pockets to buy same. They also mentioned that it was very costly during the period of examinations to photocopy,” the Committee also recorded.

Recommendations

A perusal of the 2018 Budget estimates shows

that under the heading ‘Educational delivery’, monies were only set aside for ‘Buildings’. A sum of $172.8 million was allocated for school provisions, sanitary blocks and retention payments.

In its recommendations, the Committee urged that counsellors be made available to all the schools. In addition, it was recommended that the welfare officers lobby for the protection of abused children.

And since there were complaints of children from far flung areas not having anything to eat, the Committee recommended that all the schools be made beneficiaries of the Government’s feeding programme.

“The school should have in-house staff – secretary, typist and accounts clerk – so that teachers can concentrate on their jobs, teaching.

The school (in fact) should have more teachers. The school should have separate room and washroom facili-

ties for teachers.”

The Committee also recommended that the Police investigate reports of persons selling drugs and alcohol to school children. It also advised that a bus be assigned to the school to transport children.

According to the Committee, the school should have a parking lot for teacher’s vehicles; in addition to the carrying out of much needed upgrades to the classrooms and the provision of essential supplies.

It was also recommended that space be made to house

CV Nunes Primary School

an additional 180 students be created.

Chaired by Dr Persaud, the other Opposition MPs on the Committee are Alister Charlie, Vishwa Mahadeo and Indranie Chandarpal.

Sitting Government Ministers include Raphael Trotman (Natural Resources Minister), Valarie Patterson (Minister within the Communities Ministry), Dr Karen Cummings (Minister within the Public Health Ministry) and Valarie Garrido-Lowe (Minister within the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry).

news

17

wednesDAY, april 4, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Protected Areas Commission to Lethem Industrial Estate develop Biodiversity Garden construction on schedule

T

he Protected Areas Commission (PAC), over the years, has been raising awareness on the conservation and proper care of the environment; as such, the organisation has begun efforts towards developing a Biodiversity Garden on the eastern section of the Botanical Gardens in Georgetown.

PAC Deputy Commissioner Odacy Davis highlighted these plans.

“For most persons who would frequent this location or even drive around, it may appear as if it’s just bush, but it’s an actual representation of different types of forests. So, what we’re envisioning is for schools, students, institutions, the ordinary man or family to be able to come into the Botanical Gardens and see what a wetland eco-system would look like,” he is quoted by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying.

“This is not very common in many places, and so what we want to do is encourage all Guyanese to really embrace what we have here in the Botanical

B

Staff of the Protected Areas Commission

Gardens. We have at least over 180 species of birds in the Gardens; we have sloths here; we have caimans in the canals. This is really an ecosystem that supports many animals and many species so what you see here is really something special in the capital city of the country,” she noted.

The Garden would be a unique landmark in the heart of the city.

The Biodiversity Garden will also serve as an educational tool. There are plans to conduct tours, and the construction of three teach-

ing benabs for primary, secondary, and tertiary students has already begun. “…They can sit there and teach concepts on conservation and the environment, and they can go through the entire biodiversity gardens. So, really, we want to use the Botanical Gardens not only as a place for recreation, but for education and even to support the Green Development Strategy. This is really how we can protect and embrace this beautiful environment that has been entrusted to us,” Davis said.

ICT hub opens in Linden

R

A section of the ICT hub

esidents of Block 22 in Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) will now have access to free Internet services with the recent opening of an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hub. Eight Internetready computers are now available for use to residents of the community following the official opening of yet another ICT Hub. Situated in the Block 22 Multipurpose building, the hub was officially opened with the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon and a simple ceremony.

Director, Community

Development and Social Management of the National Data Management Authority (NDMA), Phillip Walcott speaking at the recent opening, said that the plan is to ensure that Guyanese become computer literate.

According to Walcott, while affordability is a challenge for some citizens, connectivity is a problem for others; hence he noted a US$31 million project will be launched later this year, to extend the reach of the Internet.

“An ICT hub is created so you can have access to a

device and then for others the challenge of connectivity and ICT hubs provide free wifi so that that challenge is removed. You run out of data that you can use in the comfort of your home, you can come to the hub during the hours the hub is available and you can use that,” he added. Members of the community are soon expected meet to elect a Management Committee which will be responsible for the operation of the hub.

The NDMA is under the E-Government Unit of the Public Telecommunications Ministry.

Miners slapped with B&E charges

T

wo miners appeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday and denied charges that they broke and entered a hotel in Region One (Barima-Waini).

Christoph Methland and Leroy Savory appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann

Mc Lennan to answer to one count of break and enter and one count of simple larceny.

The court heard that between March 30 and 31, 2018, at Port Kaituma Waterfront, the duo broke and entered a hotel room and stole $100,000, one

haversack, a cellphone and other valuables to the total value of $124,200.

The Police Prosecutor did not object to bail, and as such, the men were released on $30,000 bail each.

The case will call again on April 18.

usiness Minister Dominic Gaskin conducted a site visit to the Lethem Industrial Estate while he was in the border town over the weekend.

Construction of the facility, which is located on the outskirts of Lethem in Region Nine (Upper TakatuUpper Essequibo), is right on schedule and, once completed, will be a stimulus for many of the entrepreneurs within Lethem and the wider Region Nine area.

Minister Gaskin, who also has the responsibility for tourism, pointed out that a business incubator is being established to give small businesses an outlet where they can cultivate and acquire enough skills in an enabling environment with the necessary support mechanism.

“The project is likely to be operational by next year we are pinning a lot of hope on how that estate develops.”

The goal is that within a year of the establishment, the businesses should be in a position to branch off independently and possibly expand.

The industrial site is ex-

Lethem Industrial Estate under construction

pected to be a source of employment for the residents of the town. “When the estate is open, it will take a while to get full occupancy, it’s a long-term project, but businesses that will be opened in that environment will require employees and staff in a variety of levels and we expect that these positions will be taken up by persons from Lethem or by the region, and we expect that the Brazilian market will play a role in the viability of the businesses that are looking to be established,” Minister Gaskin is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying.

The Business Ministry

has responsibility for industrial estates at Lethem, Belvedere, Eccles, and Coldingen. The latter two, which have a combined total of 120 developed plots, house close to 60 developed estates providing jobs for about 4000 Guyanese.

The main industries are wood-processing, cement and block-making, food processing, fish processing, furniture manufacturing, metal fabrication and pharmaceuticals.

In the 2016 National Budget, the Government allocated $212 million for the development and repair of the industrial estates at Belvedere and Lethem.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, april 4, 2018

ARCHIE

Your emotional insight into matters that can help (March 21you move forward will come April 19) in handy. Ease stress by eschewing responsibilities that don’t belong to you.

ARIES

Make your point, but don’t TAURUS go overboard trying to con(April 20- vince others to do things your May 20) way. Be prepared to move forward on your own if necessary. Take action and finish what you start.

dilbert

Put your heart on the line GEMINI (May 21- and be factual when dealing June 20) with others. It won’t pay to exaggerate or be misleading when it comes to getting what you want. ou’ll face some setbacks when it comes to the changes (June 21- you want to make at home or July 22) to a certain agreement. Pay attention to detail if you want to come out on top.

CANCER

Peanuts

You will be happiest when LEO taking part in exciting discus(July 23- sions that promise to bring Aug. 22) about positive change. Before you sign up for anything, make sure you can afford any cost involved.

Calvin and Hobbes

Take part instead of sitVIRGO ting on the sidelines. Offer (Aug. 23your point of view and ideas Sept. 22) for bringing about change.

If you don’t participate, you have no right to complain. alk over pressing matters LIBRA with a partner or someone (Sept. 23Oct. 23) who can make a difference to your income or future earning potential. Honesty will be necessary.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — CAPILLARY (CAPILLARY: KAP-ih-lair-ee: A minute blood vessel.)

Be direct about the way SAGITTARIUS you feel. Don’t let anyone (Nov. 23infringe on your personal Dec. 21) space or lifestyle. Take ownership of your life and responsibilities.

Average mark 32 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 49 or more words in CAPILLARY? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — IMPARTS mart mast mist pair part past pita pram prim prism amir armpit

arms astir ramp rapist rapt rasp tamp tapir taps tarp tram tramp

trap trim trip tsar samp sari sitar smart spam spar spat spit

sprat sprit stair stamp star stir strap stria strip

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

Being open to what’s goSCORPIO ing on around you will give (Oct. 24you a chance to make perNov. 22) sonal changes. Adjust a relationship to suit your lifestyle. A commitment can be made.

solution for Puzzle

Don’t feel the need to get CAPRICORN (Dec. 22- involved in something just Jan. 19) because someone else is urging you to participate. Size up what’s in it for you before making a commitment.

Get ready to discuss matAQUARIUS ters that can influence the (Jan. 20- way you make or handle Feb. 19) your money. A joint venture should be conducted openly and with a written agreement.

Someone won’t be straight PISCES (Feb. 20- with you. If suspicion takes March 20) hold, make it clear that you need to know the truth in order to move forward with plans or investments.

WednesDAY, APRIL 4, 2018

19

ACA calls for reduction of 'disproportionate' sanctions for ball-tampering

T

he Australian Cricketers' Association (ACA) has asked Cricket Australia to consider reducing the "disproportionate" sanctions on Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, the three players involved in the plan to tamper with the ball during the Cape Town Test.

Australia selector Mark Waugh has backed Smith, Warner and Bancroft to make returns to the national side after they complete their bans for ball-tampering in Cape Town.

"I would (pick them), for sure," Waugh told Sky Sports Radio. "My personal contact with these three guys is they're all good people. Everyone makes mistakes. This is a major one. We all hope they bounce back to their best form when the penalties are finished. We should all look at the facts and you've got to let them back into the fold again. You've got to forgive them."

Waugh also defended the Australian team against criticism of its culture. "I don't see this team as any different as any other team from previous eras," he said. "Of course, there's the odd individual player who'll push the boundaries. But to then say because of that there's a whole toxic culture of

Steven Smith

Australian cricket, I'm just not seeing that. Most of this team, they're so quiet on the field."

Smith and Warner were banned from international and domestic cricket for 12 months, while Bancroft was banned for nine. Warner was also banned from holding leadership positions in Australian cricket for life, while Smith and Bancroft were banned from leadership positions for another 12 months after the end of their

bans.

"The proposed penalties are disproportionate relative to precedent," ACA President Greg Dyer said in Sydney on Tuesday.

"We ask that consideration be given to recalibrating the proposed sanctions, to consider options such as suspending or reducing part of the sanction.

To consider allowing the players to return to domestic cricket earlier, for example, as part of their rehabilitation.

"We believe [the bans] are disproportionate. We've pointed out the fact that incidents of this similar type have occurred previously, the sanctions are vastly less than what's been suggested here.

There's a need to reconcile between the two; there's a need to understand that disproportionality and to move forward. We're in ongoing conversations with Cricket Australia through this process."

The players have until Thursday to decide whether to appeal the penalties imposed by CA or not. "The ACA is working strongly with the players," Dyer said. "Their decisions are imminent, but I'm not able to share them with you this morning. [It is] a deeply personal decision for the players. We're supporting them through that process, but

ultimately [whether to appeal is] for the three players to decide."

Dyer was of the opinion that the administration needed to support the banned players during this time, and allowing them to stay involved with cricket would be beneficial. "The players need to be brought back into the confines of the game to be supported by the game – to be assisted by the game, in the rehabilitation," Dyer said. "If the sanctions were to prevent that, then I think that would be a bad outcome.

"The loss of leadership is significant as a sanction ... these are very substantial things that have occurred to these men.

That needs to be brought into mind. Those [consequences] are over and above the length of the sentence."

Smith, Bancroft and Warner

held press conferences after returning to Australia, where they expressed remorse for ball-tampering on the third day of the Newlands Test.

All of them were extremely emotional during their press conferences, and Dyer said their "extraordinary contrition" should be taken into account by CA. "The contrition shown by these men is extraordinary.

We ask for this extraordinary contrition to be taken into account by Cricket Australia just as it would be in any fair or proper process. Their distressed faces have sent a message across the globe as effective as any sanctions could be.

Australia cried with Steve Smith last Thursday. I certainly did.

We expect this contrition to be taken into account." (ESPNCricinfo)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesDAY, APRIL 4, 2018

Philander 6-for completes historic series win for South Africa

South Africa 488 (Markram 152, Bavuma 95*, de Villiers 69, Cummins 5-83, Lyon 3-182) and 344 for 6 dec (Du Plessis 120, Elgar 81, Cummins 4-58) beat Australia 221 (Paine 62, Khawaja 53, Cummins 50, Philander 3-30, Rabada 3-53, Maharaj 3-92) and 119 (Burns 42, Philander 6-21) by 492 runs

I

t's always challenging for a captain to judge when his team has enough runs on the board.

Turns out South Africa had enough about an hour into day two. Led by a brilliant bowling display from Vernon Philander, South Africa took less than 90 minutes on the final day in Johannesburg to wrap up victory by 492 runs, sealing their first home series win against Australia since 1970.

A series full of bad blood and boorish behaviour, collateral damage and carnage ended with the latter.

Australia started the day on 88 for 3 and lost their remaining seven wickets for 31 runs inside 17 overs.

Philander struck with the first ball of the day, again three deliveries later, and kept striking even more regularly and resoundingly than Big Ben. He finished with the remarkable figures of 6 for 21, and match figures of 9 for 51, and Australia were humbled for 119.

The win was sealed with the retiring Morne Morkel at the bowling crease, although the wicket was not added to his career tally of 309. Nathan Lyon drove Morkel away through cover and turned for a risky second run; Aiden Markram's throw from the outfield was good enough for Quinton de Kock to whip the bails off and have Lyon run out for 9. Australia had made only 340 runs for the match; South Africa had that many well before lunch on day two.

It is hard to believe Australia won the first Test of this series. It seems an era ago, and in many ways it was. Since then, Australia's Captain and Vice Captain have been sacked in disgrace, the Coach has resigned, and Tim Paine, not even part of Tasmania's team at the start of the summer, is now the skipper. In terms of results, Australia's 1-0 series lead turned into a 3-1 win for South Africa, who dominated throughout

Vernon Philander celebrates as South Africa wrap up a super win over the Aussies

the remainder of the series.

Not only was this Australia's first series defeat in South Africa since 1970, it was also the first time since that same tour that they had gone through a series of at least four Tests without a single batsman scoring a

century. Australia's collective batting average of 22.02 was their lowest in a series of at least four Tests since the dark days of the World Series Cricket era, when an enormously weakened side averaged 19.17 in the Ashes in England.

The final-day carnage began with Philander nipping one in to Shaun Marsh, whose inside edge ricocheted off his leg and was taken in the cordon

by Temba Bavuma. Three balls later, Philander added Mitchell Marsh, whose regulation edge was caught behind. Peter Handscomb soon fell to Philander in almost identical fashion to his first-innings dismissal, trying to leave but instead playing on to his stumps, this time for 24.

That was all just a warm-up for Philander, who later managed three wickets in four balls. His fine

display of swing and seam bowling brought three consecutive edges from Paine – an inside edge, then an outside edge that didn't carry to gully, and then a regulation chance to the wicketkeeper. Two balls later, Pat Cummins failed to pick the inswinger and was bowled shouldering arms to Philander, and next delivery Chadd Sayers edged to third slip.

Philander's hat-trick ball was solidly defended

by Josh Hazlewood, and the match then entered a holding pattern as Lyon and Hazlewood held off the inevitable for six overs. The only question was who would get the final wicket – Philander, to complete a 10-wicket match haul, Morkel to finish his last Test on a high, or someone else. In the end, it was a run-out, perhaps appropriately effected

by Markram, who with 480 was comfortably the leading run-scorer in the series.

The final scenes of this vituperative series involved joy and disappointment, but also handshakes and congratulations, the way Test cricket should be. And, also as it should be, the best team won. (ESPNCricinfo)

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Action between Guyana and Jamaica in round four of the CWI Regional U-15 Tournament

G

uyana maintained their unbeaten streak after skipper Zeynol Ramsammy stroked a classy half-century to help lead his team to a four-wicket win over hosts Jamaica in round four of the ongoing Regional U-15 Tournament.

The two-time champs kept their momentum going as they disposed of the hosts in fine fashion, thanks mainly to the class of Ramsammy, who stroked five fours in his top innings of 72.

Romel Datterdeen and

Mavendra Dindyal supported their skipper well with brief knocks of 43 and 33 respectively as Guyana ended on 181-6 from their 50 overs batting first.

Jamaica were indebted to the efforts with the ball from Sherwayne Thomas, who grabbed 3-33, but were unable to capitalise on their home conditions when chasing a relatively meagre total and were kept to 177-8 when their allotted 50 overs expired.

Openers Jordan Johnson,

who top-scored with 56 and Adrian Weir, 48, gave their team the ideal start with their 112-run stand, which worried the Guyanese. However, after their dismissals, not much was done to facilitate or combat the assault led by Jeremy Sandia, who bagged 4-29 with Jonathan Rampersaud capping things off with 2-35 to keep Guyana in control.

In other round 4 matches: Trinidad & Tobago beat Windward Islands by 47 runs.

Barbados blew away Leeward Islands by 140 runs.

Jamaica claim all 4 gold medals in 200m finals at 2018 Carifta Games

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21

Christopher Taylor capped a four-gold medal performance for Jamaica in the 200-metre finals at the 2018 Carifta Games

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hristopher Taylor crowned Jamaica’s sweep of the 200-metre sprints at the 2018 Carifta Games in the Bahamas on Monday, further cementing his country’s hold on the sprints this year.

Taylor, who has been nursing an injury that has prevented him from running the 400m this season, crossed the line in 20.38 seconds to claim his second gold medal of the championships while leaving homeboy Joel Johnson in his wake.

Johnson clocked 20.90s while Jamaica’s Xavier Nairne took the bronze medal in 21.07s.

Earlier, Briana Williams of Jamaica won her third gold medal of the Games in the Under-17 girls’ 200m. Williams, who set a record 11.27s in the 100m and led-off Jamaica’s 4x100m team to a

gold medal on Sunday, went into the final with kinesio-tape on her sore hamstrings.

It didn’t seem to matter as she destroyed the field, crossing the line in 23.11s well clear of Trinidad and Tobago’s Shanique Bascombe, who took the silver in 23.75s. Jaida Knowles of the Bahamas won the bronze in 23.85s.

Ockera Myrie of Jamaica was also a comfortable winner in the Girls’ Under-20 final, taking the gold medal in 23.34s. Gemina Joseph of French Guiana won the silver medal with her time of 23.70s while Devine Parker of the Bahamas was third in 23.77s.

The Boys’ Under -7 race was won by Jamaica’s Rajay Morris in 21.25s over his compatriot Andre Bent (21.42s). Terrence Jones of the Bahamas won the bronze in 21.69s. (SportsMax)

22

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wednesDAY, APRIL 4, 2018

World-class Briana Williams wins Austin Sealy Award at 2018 Games B

riana Williams, the fastest 15-year-old ever over 100 metres, collected the Austin Sealy Award for her outstanding performances at

the Commonwealth Games in The Bahamas on Monday.

Ato Boldon, Coach of the three-time 2018 Carifta Games gold medallist, was full of praise for the sprint-

er, who on Monday was presented with the Austin Sealy Award for her standout performances at the Games held in Nassau, Bahamas.

The award is presented

to the athlete adjudged the most outstanding, either in terms of record accomplishment or quality of performance as compared to other top medallists at the Carifta

World class: Briana Williams wins the Austin Sealy Award at 2018 Carifta Games

Games. She is the first Jamaican to win the award since Yohan Blake in 2007.

Williams, who turned 16 on March 21, won gold in the 100m for Under-17 girls in a new Carifta record of 11.27s.

She was also the lead-off runner of Jamaica’s sprint relay team that won gold in a new record of 44.95s on Sunday. Then on Monday, she ran away from the field to win the U-17 girls’ 200m final in 23.11s, her third gold medal of the meet.

Boldon, who has been guiding Williams’ career for the past three years, said she was rapidly fulfilling her potential as a potential worldclass athlete. “I’m thrilled

for her,” said Boldon shortly after Williams received her award Monday evening from Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Alexander Minnis.

“Last year, she left Carifta with one bronze, but we knew we’d be back. She’s a different athlete this year – a year older in age, but she’s grown as an athlete by leaps and bounds. She’s close to world class.”

On Saturday, March 17, Williams won the 100m at the Bob Hayes Invitational in Jacksonville, Florida in 11.13s, a world age-group records for 15-year-olds.

In doing so, she broke a 27-year-old record of 11.17s set by Marion Jones in 1991.

(SportsMax)

Aguero still sidelined for Champions League trip to Anfield

S

Sergio Aguero

ergio Aguero will miss the first leg of Manchester City's Champions League quarter-final tie with Liverpool as he continues to recover from a knee injury.

City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed the club's all-time leading scorer did not travel with the rest of the squad to Merseyside ahead of today's game at Anfield.

The forward has instead remained in Manchester to undergo further treatment on a problem he picked up in training prior to the international break.

Aguero has not featured since the 1-0 home win over Chelsea on March 4, sitting out away games against Stoke City and Everton, as

well as Argentina's recent friendlies with Italy and Spain.

However, Guardiola refused to rule the player out of contention for the derby with Manchester United, with City knowing a win over the neighbours on Saturday will secure the Premier League title.

"He's in Manchester, he didn't come. He's still not fit," the Spaniard told the media. "We'll see [about the derby]. He's much, much better, but he spoke with the doctors and he was still a little bit uncomfortable."

With Aguero absent, Gabriel Jesus is set to start in attack against a Liverpool side who remain the only team to beat City in the League this season. (SportsMax)

wednesDAY, APRIL 4, 2018

Fakhar Zaman

guyanatimesgy.com

23

Babar, Fakhar lead Pakistan to 3-0 sweep Pakistan 154 for 2 (Babar 51, Fakhar 40) beat West Indies 153 for 6 (Fletcher 52, Ramdin 42*, Shadab 2-27) by eight wickets

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akistan won with 19 balls to spare to com-

SCOREBOARD West Indies Innings CAK Walton c Babar Azam b Mohammad Nawaz 0 ADS Fletcher run out (Mohammad Nawaz) 52 MN Samuels b Shadab Khan 31 AM McCarthy c Fakhar Zaman b Shadab Khan 5 R Powell lbw b Faheem Ashraf 2 JN Mohammed (c) c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Usman Khan 13 D Ramdin † not out 42 KMA Paul not out 1 Extras (lb 6, nb 1) 7 TOTAL (20 Overs, RR: 7.65) 153/6 Did not bat: RR Emrit, S Badree, OF Smith Fall of wickets: 1-2 (CAK Walton, 2.1 ov), 2-74 (MN Samuels, 11.3 ov), 3-90 (AM McCarthy, 13.5 ov), 4-95 (ADS Fletcher, 14.4 ov), 5-96 (R Powell, 15.1 ov), 6-140 (JN Mohammed, 19.3 ov) Bowling: Nawaz 4-1-26-1, Khan

4-0-34-1, Shaheen Shah Afridi 4-0-27-0, Faheem Ashraf 4-0-331, Shadab 4-0-27-2 Pakistan Innings Fakhar Zaman c †Ramdin b Emrit 40 Babar Azam c Walton b Smith 51 Hussain Talat not out 31 Asif Ali not out 25 Extras (lb 5, w 2) 7 TOTAL (16.5 Overs, RR: 9.14) 154/2 Yet to bat: Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (c) †, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz (3), Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan Fall of wickets: 1-61 (Fakhar Zaman, 5.2 ov), 2-113 (Babar Azam, 12.5 ov) Bowling- KMA Paul 2.5-0-37-0, Emrit 4-0-24-1, Smith 3-0-38-1, Badree 4-0-30-0, Mohammed 1-0-8-0, McCarthy 2-012-0

plete a 3-0 sweep. But given how ordinary West Indies have been on tour, this was a competitive match.

West Indies' 153 could have proved handy on a different surface against another side, but in Karachi, it just didn't seem enough against Pakistan's firepower.

Fakhar Zaman's early onslaught – a brutal 17-ball 40 – brought the asking rate down drastically and from there on, West Indies had no answers.

Babar Azam continued his rich vein of form to stroke an unbeaten 51 to go along with his 97 not out on Monday, as Pakistan won in a canter.

West Indies lost Chadwick Walton for a duck, but seemed to recover courtesy of a 72-run stand between Marlon Samuels and Andre Fletcher. As solid as they were, what West Indies needed from them was to add some big-hitting madness to the innings. Yet, it was a massive improvement to the shoddy batting of the previous two matches. Fletcher found his timing as the innings progressed as he top scored with 52, only for

a mini-collapse to set West Indies back.

It began with Shadab Khan cleaning

Babar Azam

up Samuels with another gem of a googly, the variation so well concealed that Samuels didn't seem to realise the stumps had been rattled. Fletcher was run out following a brilliant piece of fielding – and a direct hit –- from Mohammad Nawaz.

The debutant Andre McCarthy top edged Shadab to long-off, while extra pace from Faheem Ashraf trapped Rovman Powell in front.

74 for 1 suddenly became 97 for 5.

The last four overs proved profitable as Denesh Ramdin outwitted, outthought, and outclassed Pakistan's death bowlers. The absence of Mohammad Amir and Hasan Ali might have had something to do with that, but Usman Khan and Faheem are hardly poor substitutes.

Ramdin, however, was all over them in a show of power hitting Lahore Qalandars fans will be

wishing he had shown when he was with them just last month. He smashed three sixes and four fours as he surged to 42 off just 18 balls, and West Indies scored a respectable enough 153.

West Indies, however, failed to carry that momentum. Fakhar's fireworks aside, Babar was his usual consistent self, almost effortlessly cruising to another 50 as he anchored Pakistan's chase. Rayad Emrit, who was hammered to all parts of the under-renovation National Stadium in the first two games, was West Indies best bowler on the day, conceding just 24 in four overs.

Unfortunately for Jason Mohammed's team, however, he didn't take any wickets, and thus West Indies were never in with a shot of defending the target.

After Babar fell, new boys Hussain Talat – who has had a series to dream of – and Asif Ali took command of the chase. There was no pressure on them, really, but even so, the lack of drama with which they calmly steered the team home was impressive.

And so cricket's return to Karachi ended with another Pakistan win. (ESPNCricinfo)

Bramble blitz helps Guyana secure Cheddi Jagan T20 title N

ational wicket-keeper Anthony Bramble’s blazing knock helped the Guyana All-Stars seize the Cheddi Jagan T20 Centenary Cup, after romping to a four- wicket win over the Trinbago Titans last Saturday night.

In a low-scoring affair played under lights at the Albion Sports Complex Ground in Berbice, the Leon Johnson-led All-stars easily defended their turf from the Titans, paying ideal homage in the observance of the 100th birth anniversary of the late President of Guyana, Dr Cheddi Jagan.

The Titans of Trinidad were led by West Indies batsman Lendl Simmons, with tons of other talented players from the twin-island republic coming out to show their respect for the late Dr Jagan while putting on a show for the Berbice fans.

Led by a berserk 60 from left-hander Nicholas Pooran, who smashed five sixes, the Titans, who were at one point tottering at 39-7 halfway through their innings, managed to end on a respectable total of 118.

After not managing the lightning start they would have wanted, the Titans were forced to play a less attacking form of cricket, which saw them struggle to reach 30

within the power-play. Some tight bowling from the All-Stars ensured that the visitors would have to work hard for their runs.

However, the pair of Pooran and Mark Deyal launched a counterattack for the Titans, adding 61 runs as the former West Indies U-19 player Pooran, flexed his muscles as he spanked a handful of sixes, some of which went out of the venue to end his innings unbeaten.

The bowling for the All-Stars was led by two Ancient County men – Guyana Jaguars left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie, who starred with 3-29 and all-rounder Romario Shepherd, who claimed 2-20.

Despite the fireworks earlier, Pooran’s knock ended up being in vain as the right-handed Bramble breezed to 42 from 27 when Guyana batted, sharing a 50 -run partnership with Sherfane Rutherford.

After the wicket-keeper narrowly missed out on a rapid 50, Johnson then capitalised on the blistering start as he saw his team over the line with 20 as they finished on 119-6. Bramble, in the end, was named the Man of the Match for completing three catches with two stumpings and his top score.

Guyana All-Stars Captain Leon Johnson accepts the winning trophy from People’s Progressive Party executive member Zulfikar Mustapha following their win over the Trinbago Titans on Saturday night at Albion

WEDNESDAY, aPril 4, 2018

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

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Babar, Fakhar lead Pakistan to 3-0 sweep Pg 23

CWI Regional Under-15 Tournament

Ramsammy's 50 secures 4-wicket win for Guyana Pg 21

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