Guyanatime 5 june 2018

GNBS to conduct P 1st standards road show 14

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Issue No. 3585

PRICE

GuySuCo pensioners

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Agriculture Minister unaware of pension fund status

GECOM P13 accused of discrimination, prejudice

Govt mulls P11 aerial surveillance for mining areas

Page 3

Govt ducked info on ExxonMobil contractors

Page 9

US$150M bond

...refused company’s openness to be audited – Jagdeo

P7

Deal exposes State to massive losses – financial analyst …notes that GuySuCo still buried in over $70B of debt

Govt announces plans to build 2 more roundabouts Page 5

Driver dies after tractor overturns in rice field P14

Poultry farm robbery

Stolen car P11 found stripped in Guyhoc Park

…Kitty roundabout opens Head in bucket murder

Husband gets 22 years for drowning wife Page 12

Ruimveldt fire leaves 5 homeless

Farmer charged for stealing solar panels P8 from GWI

Page 10

Hike in fuel prices

Nonpareil fire

Businessman who lost home P12 dies Page 15

West Berbice, Essequibo Coast minibuses withhold service

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tuesDAY, june 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

GuySuCo pensioners

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, June 5 – 09:30h-11:00h and Wednesday, June 6 – 10:30h- 12:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Agriculture Minister unaware of pension fund status

Tuesday, June 5 – 08:20h-09:50h and Wednesday, June 6 – 09:30h-11:00h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers followed by lightly cloudy skies are expected in the day, with thunderstorms and cloudy skies in the evening hours. Temperatures are expected to range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East South-easterly to East North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 08:44h and 21:25h reaching maximum heights of 2.30 metres and 2.20 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 14:51h reaching a minimum height of 0.91 metre.

saturDAY, june 2, 2018

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

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

Acting GuySuCo CEO Paul Bhim

ttempts to ascertain the status of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) pension fund, which reports indicate is in a deficit, have hit a proverbial roadblock as the Minister responsible for the sector is unaware of its status.

When contacted on Monday about the status of the fund, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder said he was unable to say whether the fund was in a deficit or healthy.

According to the Minister, who is overseas, he would not be able to provide information on Government’s plan to secure financial benefits for pensioners as he was not “up to date” on the situation.

He referred Guyana Times to acting GuySuCo Chief Executive Officer Paul Bhim, noting that he should provide an update on the situation before it is escalated to him. According to Holder, however, he would seek clarification from GuySuCo himself on the matter. Efforts to contact Bhim proved futile.

In the past, there has been confusion over who has responsibility for GuySuCo – Minister Holder or Finance Minister Winston Jordan. The Special Purpose Unit (SPU) is an arm of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), itself an arm of the Finance Ministry. The SPU has been leading the divestment of GuySuCo. Jordan has since affirmed that the Finance Ministry was overseeing the “rump” GuySuCo. Over the weekend, eligible pensioners have questioned whether they would be treated like the bauxite workers in Region 10. A senior manager, who is part of the fund, told this publication that in 2002, the then Government had signed an agreement with the two large bauxite unions, providing six weeks’ severance pay for every year of service, with a cap of 104 weeks.

Additionally, the Government committed to pay the pension plan deficit and bring up to date outstanding payments for NIS and PAYE. The Manager said that almost $3 billion was paid out by Government to fulfil these obligations.

This newspaper was also told that, separate from the payout, the Bauxite Industry

Pension Plan (BIPP) was wound up and the full benefits were paid to all members of the bauxite industry pension plan.

This is a major concern for another beneficiary of the GuySuCo pension plan called STEPS (Sugar Trading Enterprise Pension Scheme), which is the largest pension plan in the country. Its officials have said there seemed to be no focus on protecting the workers’ benefits and ensuring fair treatment of sugar workers.

Just over 5400 sugar workers were dismissed as Government closed four sugar estates and vested their assets into NICIL since the end of 2017.

There is major fear that Government would shortchange the workers, a former employee told Guyana Times on Saturday.

“Instead of the workers being paid both their contribution and that of GuySuCo, workers are concerned that they may end up with far less than the same treatment enjoyed by the bauxite industry,” a former senior staffer stated.

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The STEPS Fund has a history of negative figures, but several persons have opined that with the closure of several estates and the downsizing of the industry, there will be an influx of persons into the pension system.

Reports are that the Employees Retirement Benefits are in negative territory by $1.1 billion, as opposed to $2.4 billion in 2014, according to the 2015 financial statements produced by GuySuCo. And according to well-placed sources, the state

of the fund has not improved.

A former employee of the Corporation had told this newspaper that Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) pulling out from the fund has added pressure on it.

The ex-employee had expressed the view that Government had to be aware of the dilemma. He said this on the basis that there was no likelihood that foreign investors would have joined the fund, as the Financial Act currently prohibits certain levels of offshore investment.

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tuesDAY, june 5, 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

Scaling up efforts to address NCDs

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he issue of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the impact it is having on countries has always been a matter of concern for governments and international organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations and others. It has always been said that too many people are dying prematurely and urgent actions must be taken to prevent these deaths.

According to the WHO, of all the major health threats that have emerged over the years, none has challenged the very foundations of public health so profoundly as the rise of chronic noncommunicable diseases. Due to poor lifestyle choices; such as tobacco use, alcohol abuse, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity, NCDs have resulted in large numbers of young people dying. Another significant number have also fallen ill and therefore cannot contribute to their families or the development of their communities in any way.

Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases, once linked only to affluent societies, have affected, and continue to affect every country in the world; with the poor suffering the most due to the lack of proper medical care and access to drugs etc.

It should be noted that based on a 2017 study, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago were found to have the highest mortality for premature cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the Americas. For Guyana in particular, this is indeed quite worrisome and must serve as a wake-up call for the authorities here to take the issue of fighting NCDs more seriously, as from all indications, efforts in this regard are being weakened or minimized to some extent.

While there have been some positive moves in tackling NCDs here; such as finalising the Tobacco Control Legislation etc., some experts believe that enough is not being done in the fight against NCDs. Some of the crucial programmes that were previously in place to tackle NCDs appear to have been reduced or totally abandoned. For example, community health fairs and school programmes and other initiatives, which were used to address issues such as positive lifestyles are becoming less visible. Also, the education and awareness campaigns that were very much visible some years ago need to come back on stream. These are all useful strategies in ensuring the message of healthy lifestyles continues to reach everyone in every community across the country.

A new report from the WHO Independent High-level Commission on NCDs launched recently calls for urgent action to address chronic diseases and mental health disorders. It demands high-level political commitment and the immediate scaling up of actions to address the epidemic of NCDs. The report, which was also published simultaneously in the medical journal The Lancet, recognises the need to ensure that health ministries have the influence they require to ensure the issue is backed with the political will and the necessary financial resources it merits.

The Commission’s report makes six useful recommendations which countries, including Guyana, should take seriously in order to make continuous progress as it relates to tackling NCDs; these include: Heads of State and Governments should take responsibility for the NCD agenda, rather than delegating it to ministers of health alone, as it requires collaboration and cooperation across many sectors.

Governments should identify and implement a specific set of priorities within the overall NCD and mental health agenda, based on public health needs.

Governments should reorient health systems to include NCDs prevention and control and mental health services in their universal health coverage policies and plans.

Governments should increase effective regulation, appropriate engagement with the private sector, academia, civil society, and communities.

Governments and the international community should develop a new economic paradigm for funding actions on NCDs and mental health.

Governments need to strengthen accountability to their citizens for action on NCDs and simplify existing international accountability mechanisms.

We had stated before that discussions surrounding NCDs should constantly be kept on the national development agenda where serious efforts are made at all levels to reduce the large numbers of persons suffering or facing death. It is hoped that Governments and international development partners will use this most recent WHO report as a guide in their efforts to effectively address NCDs.

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, performing at Torbay Airshow in the United Kingdom in the skies of South Devon over the weekend (Paul Box/Telegraph)

Remembering Walter Rodney for his relevance today Dear Editor, June 13 marks the death anniversary of Guyana’s dear son, Walter Rodney. It is with great sadness that we are not more aware of his great work on the global stage, and more so for bringing a solution for racial unity in Guyana at a time when no one else was able to do so then and now.

Rodney understood and empathized with the poor and disenfranchised of the world, and defined with great detail and intellect how the world system works to keep people in poverty. His brilliance in history and academics as a whole helped Rodney to articulate and clearly identify what is wrong with our society. And he brought forward substantial and viable solutions to those problems we faced then and now.

Rodney was recognized and respected by his peers around the world, and was among the first Guyanese to achieve that great standing that made his country proud, with the exception of the then PNC Government, of course.

But it was not only the PNC that feared his brilliance and the force he brings; it was the entire system that thrives on oppressing others for their gains.

During his time in Jamaica, Rodney developed a following among the poor and downtrodden in that country, along with great support and reverence from the Rastafarian community. In Jamaica, Rodney met with the people of the slums, reasoned with them to understand their struggles, and share his knowledge with the hope of uplifting his people. During his time in there, he wrote “Groundings”, a

ground-breaking look at the dynamics between systems of control and poverty.

With pressure from the powers that be, Rodney was forced out of Jamaica, which resulted in the now famous “Rodney riots”, wherein thousands of Jamaicans took to the streets to have their teacher and leader returned to them. This shows the magnitude and power of Rodney’s impact on social consciousness, since he was making an impact on foreign countries like Jamaica, whose people worship their local heroes with zeal; however, they made room for Rodney.

Rodney’s work in his canonizing book “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa” was nothing short of a masterpiece that exposed the inner workings of an evil system designed to keep Africans in severe poverty while Europe and their allies took Africa’s wealth for free. His book made him a marked man, and no place was safe anymore. He was seen as a clear threat, because he shone the light on evil.

What made Rodney different from his counterparts in politics is that he saw capitalism, socialism and communism as systems of oppression in one form or another. And even though his writings would have swayed more towards socialism, it is natural for any critic of capitalism to be seen as a socialist at best. But, at its core, Rodney stood up for justice and fairness for the unfairly treated. This position made him rise to great heights among others who only paid lip service to justice while they continue to exploit the people.

For Rodney, whether a

country was capitalist or communist, there was always a core group of individuals who were constantly exploiting the people by stealing the wealth from the many and giving it to the few elites. This fact was evident not only in Guyana, but in almost every former colony in the world, where leaders who rise to power on promises of equality and justice then begin thieving from the poor.

In Guyana, Rodney returned to contribute to his homeland, as he had seen the severity of exploitation of all races in Guyana by the PNC Government led by Burnham. For him, Burnham was a charismatic leader with grandeur and pomp, claiming to be a liberator for the poor when in reality he was no different from the other leaders who paid lip service to poverty while enriching themselves and a few around them.

Rodney understood that racial unity was critical for Guyana to grow and become successful as a nation, and he was the only person positioned with the right message and solution to bring unity. Of course this drove fear into the heart of the PNC, and their natural reaction was to eliminate the competition. The PNC did exactly what every other exploitative regime did, and that was to kill the bringer of truth and righteousness because the bringer exposed their evil acts.

Being a world-renowned historian, Rodney understood that race was by design, and not a natural tendency, and he proved that it was introduced by Europeans as a means of separation and exploitation at the same time.

The Europeans knew that, by separating the races, it would be easier to conquer by dividing people and putting them to fight amongst themselves. Therefore, he set about to debunk the race issue and bring racial unity to Guyana.

His message and action took root in Guyana, and all races in Guyana began to follow his leadership as he pushed to become the first and only leader to bring real national unity to Guyana.

Sadly, Rodney never saw his vision come to life, as he was brutally assassinated by whom many believed to be on the orders of Burnham himself. This is further assured by the fact that the only person who stood to lose from Rodney’s victory was Burnham and the PNC regime.

The death of Rodney changed Guyana forever, and our beloved country has never recovered from this act of sin committed on Rodney.

We can only now imagine and dream of what Guyana would have become if Rodney was not killed in the name of evil. But his ideas and knowledge are not lost, and his work is studied and shared around the world with reverence, as it is considered a source of change.

We must go back and learn about Rodney, since his words are relevant today like never before, and without his message we will remain lost. Walter Rodney provided a blue print for Guyana’s future, and the time is now for us to rediscover his greatness. May Walter Rodney rise in power always.

Sincerely, Malcolm Watkins

5 Govt announces plans to build 2 more roundabouts news

tuesDAY, june 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

…Kitty roundabout opens

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s Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson on Monday officially opened the Kitty roundabout, plans were announced to construct two more of the structures, which will help to ease traf-

will accompany the Kitty roundabout as a tourist destination in the country.

“During the course of this year and next year, there will be two additional roundabouts in two equally important areas,” Patterson stated.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson; Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes; Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson; Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Deputy Mayor Akeem Peters cut the ribbon to officially open the Kitty roundabout

fic congestion and wastage of time.

The Minister also announced that he expected a waterfront project to be completed by 2019, which

According to Patterson, the two planned structures are scheduled to be erected at the Timehri junction, East Bank Demerara and at the corner of Mandela

Avenue and Sheriff Street, Georgetown, under the Sheriff Street road expansion project.

While the Minister did not elaborate on the details of the planned Mandela Avenue and Sheriff Street roundabout, he reported that works for the Timehri roundabout have begun by Gaico construction for the sum of $74 million.

He told the small gathering at the opening ceremony that the Kitty Roundabout project was undertaken after several phases to ensure its robust design and that it met its objective.

It was explained that the project initially began with the upgrade of Carifesta Avenue, followed by the replacement of drainage pipes from Vlissengen Road and Carifesta Avenue to Kitty.

Subsequently, the contract for the East Coast road expansion was renewed to help ease traffic congestion and finally the roundabout was constructed.

Although the new structure was officially opened, the Minister agreed that there were still a few finish-

Traffic now utilising the Kitty roundabout

ing touches to be added.

As such, the centre of the roundabout will be beautified with flowers from each Caribbean country, in keeping with the name Carifesta Avenue, Paterson pointed out.

“We have some traffic lights to be installed here and obviously the traffic lights will be for particular issues (like) pedestrian crossings…we have some painting of the medians and the curbs…with reflective paints,” he added.

“We will be doing a waterfront development from Kitty Pump Station all the way back to the Pegasus Hotel, whereby we will be upgrading it into a commercial space…the consultancy

has already been awarded,” the Minister highlighted.

He was keen to note that he was expecting a report in the coming months, which would detail the scope of works for the project and importantly, the price.

The Minister while noting that the specified area is already a tourist destination as it is, said the Government has been taking into consideration issues such as waste management and sewage disposal among others. He said, however, that he was hoping that the project could be completed by 2019.

The Kitty roundabout was initially to be opened by May 26.

While persons remain

curious and uncertain about the use of the structure, the Ministry is urging road users to visit its Facebook page to have a better understanding of its use.

Earlier this year, the contract for the project was awarded to S Jagmohan Hardware Supplies and Construction Services in the sum of $78.9 million. The decision to construct a roundabout at this busy junction was made after a sinkhole had formed nearby.

The roundabout is expected to reduce waiting and stoppage time for motorists heading to the East Coast of Demerara and those using Carifesta Avenue, Vlissengen Road, and the Kitty Public Road.

Total lack of empathy for the plight of staff

Dear Editor, Considering the tragic circumstances currently affecting GGMC workers, you would expect prudent and progressive- minded leaders of other agencies to take the necessary precautions to ensure their organisations are not hit by similarly deadly scandals. Unfortunately, many leaders within our society, including some at the Ministry of Public Security (MoPS), do not view the human resource under their charge as a valuable asset to invest in and care for.

Nearly one year ago, a very senior member of the Permanent Secretary’s Office was engaged, in the presence of a senior representative from the Personnel Division of MoPS, about various issues plaguing workers. Foremost on the agenda were the variety of health risks, some of which were life threatening, each category of workers was exposed to in the execution of their duties. It was suggested that each worker be paid a risk allowance, and environmental defects to the work-

space be remedied.

This was countered with a very insensitive remark by the member of PS’s office.

She stated she cannot force anyone to stay and work in such an environment; that workers know the risks, and if they cannot put up with them, they should leave.

On the surface, this assertion may seem harsh but fair. Further consideration, however, reveals the cancer that affects the entire Public Service of Guyana. This flippant response to the concerns of workers by someone who can be considered their ‘boss’ shows a total lack of empathy for the plight of staff; that she is willing to take advantage of the economic situation of Guyana, she knows job opportunities in the land are few and workers are willing to put up with less-than- ideal situations to feed their families; she is someone who does not view her fellow human beings as the most important resource of a country.

With persons like this in positions of power, is it a surprise that Guyana has

one of the highest rates of migration of tertiary-educated individuals? Our nation will not develop with such attitudes! People will go where they feel valued!

There was some good news, however! The ‘boss’, the senior member of the Permanent Secretary’s Office, stated bids were requested to correct building

defects which contribute to health risks. While this was good news at the time, nearly one year has elapsed and nothing much has been done to tangibly improve the working environment!

While it is understood that within the ‘government system’ some things take time, workers’ health should not be taken for granted. It

seems as if this situation will not be treated urgently unless someone dies.

Throughout the meeting, not once did the representative from the Personnel Division utter a word in support of staff! The Personnel Department is not a tool to be used by the PS’s office or just to keep records intact.

It should stand in solidari-

ty with staff members when they are not being treated fairly within the work environment!

The human resource is indispensable to the operation of the MoPS. Respect their health. Value their contributions.

Regards, At-risk Staff

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By Raychelle Cassada Lohmann, MS, LPCS

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eens spend more than a third of their day looking at a screen. In fact, according to reports, the average teen spends about nine hours a day online creating an opportunity to make a poor decision that may have an irreversible consequence. I was recently asked why youth post and do things online that may later come back to haunt them? A good question – especially in an era where teens are losing scholarships, being let go from their jobs and getting denied admission to colleges, all because of their online behaviour.

It’s not uncommon for colleges to rescind admission offers to students who post inappropriate content, images, etc, online. Just last year Harvard rescinded 10 admission offers to prospective students who shared obscene memes on a private Facebook group chat, only it wasn’t so “private”. And once university officials viewed the content, they decided those students should pursue their education elsewhere.

Foundation

material may have on their lives and the lives of others.

The online community is not a forgiving one. Let’s face it, when things are posted online, it’s next to impossible to get rid of them. This includes text messages that can end up in the wrong hands only to be shared via social media. If you need an example of poor decisions gone viral, turn on the news. Our politicians and government officials have given us plenty of examples of posting and texting information that later came back to bite them. Which brings up another good

Why are teens risking future opportunities by posting inappropriate online content?

In my experience, there are two primary reasons that lead to young people posting inappropriate material.

The first is the erroneous ever-popular beliefs that “I won’t get caught” or “What happened to that person would never happen to me.” Teens like to believe they are untouchable and bad things won’t happen to them. Unfortunately, some young people must learn the hard way that bad things can happen to anyone.

The second reason is that a lot of young people act on a whim without thinking through the consequences of their behaviour. They get so caught up in the moment they impulsively share that photo or fire off that inappropriate post.

If they never get caught, they keep doing it without thinking about the effect the

question, how on earth are we supposed to teach our youth how to behave online when many adults do not lead by example?

What are the researchers saying about teen online behaviour?

Some of the research that I have seen examines adolescent brain development, with a particular focus on the prefrontal cortex. This part of the brain is responsible for problem-solving, impulse control, and decision making. The prefrontal cortex isn’t fully developed until the mid-twenties. Although we expect our teens to know better, the fact is there are

some physiological reasons they act out impulsively and believe they are invincible.

What will it take for teens to make better online choices?

If we are going to try to make an impact on teen online behaviour, then we are going to have to put our energy and resources into a lot of education and positive modelling from adults. Of course, despite all of our efforts, there will be some youth who will choose to post inappropriate material and learn life lessons the hard way.

Teens need to learn how to effectively and appropriately communicate and interact online. This education needs to begin in early childhood and come from parents, schools and the community. Youth can learn to self-monitor behaviour, work through complex online scenarios, and weigh out options by utilising good decision-making skills. These skills can help young people learn to make better decisions when it comes to self-regulation and managing online behaviour.

With teens spending a large amount of time each day online, it’s time that we collectively do more to protect our youth and that begins with education. As we become more and more advanced, technology will continue to be a large part of how we entertain, educate, and communicate with one another. Our culture is dependent on technology and so are our kids. The screen creates a sense of pseudo-privacy, yet the information they post isn’t private. And one post can easily spread like wildfire destroying their online reputation. Sadly, far too many teens have had to learn this lesson the hard way.

No matter how interconnected the virtual and physical worlds are teens online choices can and do have real consequences. (psychologytoday.com)

By Raychelle Cassada Lohmann, MS, LPCS

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e can all relate to one sleepless night, but what if we were barely getting enough sleep to get by? Unfortunately, that’s what’s happening to many of our teens – and it’s affecting their ability to function.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, teens need between 8-10 hours of sleep each night, but only about 15 per cent are even getting close to that amount. In fact, today’s teens are lucky if they get around seven hours of zzz’s a night -- and most are only getting six hours or less during the school week. According to a study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, about 59 per cent of youth are severely sleep deprived and their lack of sleep can lead to a severe condition known as insomnia.

Teenage sleep deprivation

Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterised by having trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, waking up too early, or any combination of these disturbances. Studies have shown that between six per cent and 10 per cent of adults meet the criteria for an insomnia disorder, in which sleep disturbances occur at a minimum of three times per week and are present for three months. Many of these sleep problems begin during adolescence. During these years, teen brains are wired to fall asleep later and wake later, but many schools start early and that

creates a nightmare for establishing healthy sleep habits.

Teen sleep deprivation has also been linked with anxiety, stress, and depression. Regarding depression, one study showed that 90 per cent of people who suffer from depression also struggle with insomnia.

Sleep-deprived teens try to self-medicate by turning to stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine to make it through the day, but those only provide temporary relief. And some youth look for something more potent to help them get through the night, like alcohol.

A recent study of seventh and eighth-grade students found that sleep problems in youth were indeed a risk factor for alcohol use. The study published in the journal of Addictive Behaviors looked at the associations between alcohol use and sleep-related issues. Results indicated alcohol use was significantly correlated with both insomnia and daytime sleepiness.

Another study showed that teens with sleep problems were 55 per cent more likely to have used alcohol in the past month in comparison to teens who didn’t report any sleep problems.

To supplement these findings, there have been numerous studies linking sleep deprivation with drinking, binge-drinking, drinking and driving, and risky sexual behaviour.

Simplistically, the research shows teens need sleep to function and perform well, without it they are at higher risk for mental health problems including substance use. (psychologytoday.com)

news

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tuesdAY, june 5, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

US$150M bond

Deal exposes State to massive losses – financial analyst …notes that GuySuCo still buried in over $70B of debt

Financial Analyst Dr Peter Ramsaroop

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inancial analysts are expressing concern over the announcement that the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) has secured a US$150 million (Gy$30 billion) bond to finance its administration of sugar estates.

It is a syndicated loan that will have to be repaid within five years at a rate of 4.75 per cent interest. The consortium of investors behind the bond comprise the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and the Guyana Bank of Trade and Industry (GBTI).

According to financial analyst Dr Peter Ramsaroop, the repayment of this loan will have ramifications for Guyana’s oil revenues.

He noted that while there has been talk of selling lands to repay the loan, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is already buried in over $70 billion in debt.

This, Ramsaroop noted, is almost three times the value of the bond.

“The US$150 million also has to be seen in the context of Guyana’s already increasing debt portfolio and diminishing revenue stream. Such a large loan is contingent on the successful turnaround of the now defunct estates,” Dr Ramsaroop has charged.

“It is dependent on a reduced debt portfolio and increased revenue streams—a reduced debt portfolio and increased revenue stream

based on oil revenues. This in itself poses even more pitfalls,?” he expanded.

Dr Ramsaroop notes that the NIS will be expected to inject billions into the venture to recapitalize the remaining estates: Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt.

According to Ramsaroop, the decision to arrange the loan should have never been taken in the first place.

“There is also the fact that, to sweeten the pot for the consortium, a Government guarantee has been given. This (is) in addition to the increasing of the debt ceiling in the National Assembly for loans to be guaranteed by Government,” he said.

“While the decisions have already exposed the treasury to billions in further liability, the move has now created a precedent,” Ramsaroop explained. “Precedents then set the stage for future similar transactions.”

Syndicated loan

It was announced a few days ago that NICIL had issued a US$150 million bond facility through Republic Bank’s investment banking division, in order to raise capital for GuySuCo’s operations. It was also stated that London House Chambers Attorney Devindra Kissoon had helped arrange the transaction.

The statement had explained: “With the issue, NICIL becomes the first public issuer to raise debt in the local capital markets in over 10 years. The bond is the largest ever bond facility arranged in Guyana, and was oversubscribed by local investors on the first tranche.”

NICIL had also explained that: “the bond will be issued in multiple tranches, with the first tranche of roughly Gy$17 billion, or US$85 million equivalent, being issued to local investors on Friday, May 25, 2018.”

According to NICIL, the money from the bond will be used towards capital expenditure and general operations for GuySuCo. But even with this US$150 million,

Also, a proposal has been made to secure another $10 million by selling scrap metal sourced from around the company’s East Demerara Estates.

This publication was told that over the next few months, GuySuCo would embark on the process of selling prime real estate not being utilised. Some 4600 acres would be up for grabs.

From that alone, it is understood, the SPU and GuySuCo hope to garner a whopping $50 billion if sold at different intervals.

SPU head Colvin Heath-London

there are still plans to raise a whopping US$65 million more to finance the complete revitalisation and recapitalisation process.

In its release, NICIL said it expects to raise the remaining sum, equivalent to Gy$13.6 billion, within the next few months through a combination of local and regional investors.

“A targeted road show is expected to be launched within the coming weeks that will likely include investor briefings in Trinidad and Jamaica” in order to raise the much needed funds, the release noted.

Repayment

Questioned during an exclusive interview on the GuySuCo repayment of the bond, SPU head, Colvin Heath-London, insisted that the SPU and GuySuCo were committed to ensuring that all the necessary repayments were made.

He had been adamant that strict adherence to financial best practices would be followed within GuySuCo, to ensure that there was no wastage of revenues secured by the sugar company from its ongoing operations.

But a source close to the SPU revealed that GuySuCo, with financial advice of NICIL and the SPU, would embark on a process that could see the company selling some $3 billion worth of spare parts that were currently lying in its storage bond.

The Guyana Sugar Corporation is already inundated in billions of dollars of debt

Further, the Unit could seek to secure some $265 million by selling GuySuCo lands

in and around the Wales Estate.

8 news

tuesDAY, june 5, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

IN THE COURTS

Miner granted $400,000 bail for fraud charge

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ifty-eight-year-old Michael Boodhoo, a miner of Lot 925 Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara, appeared on Monday before Georgetown Magistrate Judy Latchman on a charge of fraud, which detailed that he had written a cheque for over $800,000, knowing that he was not in receipt of that sum.

It is alleged that with intent to defraud, Boodhoo, on December 11, 2016, at Georgetown, uttered to Latchmie Singh one forged Republic Bank cheque, #7406, valued at $844,000.

On the same day and at the same location, Boodhoo obtained from Singh arch panel doors and arch windows by way of the said

cheque valued at $844,000, knowing same to be forged.

On December 9, 2016, Boodhoo ordered the items from Latchmie Singh’s place of business, and on December 11, 2016, his order was delivered by Latchmie Singh.

However, when Singh visited Republic Bank on the same day to cash the

cheque, it was revealed that the sum was not available in the defendant’s account.

The matter was reported to the Police and Boodhoo was recently arrested and charged. He denied that he had defrauded Singh, and has been placed on $400,000 bail. He is expected to make his next court appearance on June 28.

Minibus driver remanded for narco trafficking

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inibus driver Seon Barker of Lot 232 Independence Boulevard, Georgetown on Monday denied before Georgetown Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus a charge detailing that on June 3, 2018, at 111 Miles Potaro, Region Eight, he had in his possession 1030 grams of cannabis for the

purpose of trafficking.

The 41-year-old father of eight told the magistrate that he has no cause to traffic narcotics as he is gainfully self-employed as a driver of his own minibus.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to bail being granted this defendant, explaining

that the defendant had acknowledged ownership of the haversack in which the drugs were found.

Mansfield reported that on June 3, ranks acting on information carried out a search of a hotel room Barker was occupying, and the cannabis, wrapped in two transparent parcels, were found among the de-

fendant’s clothing in a haversack which was in a cupboard in the room.

He noted that no one else was occupying the room with Barker.

Magistrate IsaacsMarcus has thus remanded Barker to prison until June 15, 2018, when the case would be recalled.

Farmer charged for stealing solar panels from GWI ...another charged for buying stolen panels

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wenty-four-year-old Omar Castello and 31-year-old Ukland France, both of Moruca, North West District in Region One, were on Monday arraigned before Georgetown Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus, charged for allegedly stealing three solar panels from the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI).

Both men denied the

charges brought against them.

Castello has been accused of stealing the items, valued at $450,000, and selling them to France; who reportedly knew that the said items were stolen or illegally obtained.

France has also been charged for assaulting a Police Constable who was at the time executing his du-

ties in arresting him.

Attorney Priyanka Sookraj who appeared for both defendants, in requesting bail on France’s behalf, disputed that he had assaulted the Police Constable.

Sookraj told the court that France had gone along willingly with the Police, without even knowing why he was being arrested. And while in Police custody for

some 96 hours, France was denied food and water, the attorney charged.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield did not object to the defendants being placed on bail, but requested that same be substantial.

Each man was accordingly placed on $100,000 bail, and the matters have been set for July 3 recall.

Potaro Backdam man slapped with wounding charge

G

iddeo Daniels, called “Dido”, of Potaro Backdam in Region Eight, was on Monday arraigned before Georgetown Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus on a charge of unlawfully and maliciously

wounding Donald Shariff with intent to maim, disfigure, disable, or cause him grievous bodily harm.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield had no objection to the 22-yearold father of one being

placed on bail, as the virtual complainant, Shariff, was reportedly treated and sent away for the injuries he had sustained at the hands of Daniels. However, Prosecutor Mansfield requested that the defendant

report to the Mahdia Police Station weekly until the completion of the trial.

Daniels was placed on bail in the sum of $80,000 and was ordered to return to court on July 16.

Accused gold chain thief remanded

A

n accused gold chain thief was on Monday remanded to prison for allegedly stealing a $50,000 gold chain from a woman in the vicinity of Commerce Street, Georgetown on May 21 last.

But Marlon Williams,

31, of Lot 266 “B” Field, Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara (ECD), denied that he robbed Dharshanie Ramsook.

The charge was read by Magistrate Judy Latchman.

The court was told that Ramsook was walking in the

vicinity of Commerce Street, Georgetown when she was approached by Williams, who ordered that she be quiet.

He then proceeded to remove her chain, after which he made good his escape.

An alarm was raised, and

he was allegedly captured shortly after the incident.

Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore objected to bail being granted the defendant based on the seriousness and prevalence of the offense.

Bail was denied. The case will continue on June 25.

Venezuelan remanded for boat theft

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wenty-one-year-old Venezuelan national Moses Chappelle, who was for the last two months residing with his uncle at Moruca, North West District, was on Monday remanded to prison by Georgetown Magistrate Sherdel IsaacsMarcus on an allegation that he had stolen a boat.

It is alleged that on May 31, 2018, at Moruca, NWD, he stole one engine valued $631,560

and one boat valued $300,000, properties of Orlando Charles and Terrence Henry.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield said the items were recovered, but he still objected to the defendant being granted bail, describing the accused as a flight risk.

Chappelle denied the allegations levelled against him, but was denied bail, and the case has been set to continue on June 11.

Reaching out…

Y

…or neutralising the Public Service?

our Eyewitness is beginning to see a method to the presumed madness of President Granger painting State House with that lurid PNC green. Yes! Yes, we know he wanted to mark the building with a distinctive sign, to claim ownership against other challengers -territorial claim and all that; and it was better than him peeing on the sides!! But there are clearly other uses.

Have you noticed, dear reader, that whenever Granger is at odds with a group or wants to court a group’s support, he invites them to State House? And he never takes them inside…he hosts them outside on the lawns, where they can be exposed to the full impact of the ghastly colour. It’s like the bright lights interrogators direct at their victims…after an hour, they’re willing to confess assisting those Saudis to bring down the World Trade Center!! Imaging being subjected to that colour for HOURS!!

The latest to get the treatment was the Public Service Union, some executives of which had been getting a bit restive at Granger’s dismissal of their concerns on salaries etc. Patrick Yard wasn’t there, but that would’ve been like carrying coconuts to Pomeron, wouldn’t it?

So, after wining and dining the restive younger Union members (at our expense!), Granger told them to bury the hatchet, and they weren’t “rivals”. It was a Freudian slip.

Fact of the matter is: when Burnham established his dictatorial regime, the PNC party, the Disciplined Forces and the Public Service were the three legs on which it stood. When Corbin manoeuvred Granger into the leadership of the PNC, he didn’t realise his strategic mistake. Granger – always, in his head, the General and Head of the Disciplined Forces -- immediately went about neutralising the party and Public Service as threats to his incipient authoritarian regime.

Why’d you think practically every Ministry and Government agency now has a military man in a strategic position? Was it just to brighten up the place with their glinting medals? Naaah!! Think of how the Soviets would similarly place “political commissars” who wielded the real power…which came right from the top. That’s the plan. In this iteration of fulfilling Burnham’s “legacy”, the fulcrum of control will now be totally centralised – in the military leg.

You can’t blame Granger; he doesn’t have Burnham’s gift for the gab, much less his charisma. All he knows is centralised command and control…and that’s what he’ll use. So, for the Public Service, they’ve been made to come supplicating to Granger – in HIS house!! Granger’s made his point. He won’t allow the tail to wag the dog.

The GPSU is now a “tail” and Granger’s the Top Dog!!

Woof!! Woof!!

…and teaching Bajans humility

Your Eyewitness must confess he felt a frisson of schadenfreude – a tingle of pleasure at another’s misfortune -- when he learnt Barbados’ debt load was so high, and its reserves so low, it was forced to stop paying its debt!! Right away its credit rating was downgraded – meaning it will have to pay more to borrow on international markets. If at all!!

The Bajans were already being instructed by the IMF that they had to get off their high horse and deal frontally with their economy, which couldn’t sustain them living so high off the hog.

Now your Eyewitness isn’t a mean fella. But these Bajans really did a number on us Guyanese after Burnham had brought us to our knees. To say they treated us like dirt when we even were IN TRANSIT at their airport would be using a euphemism. They treated us like sh*t!

Well, now they’ll find out how it is to have leaders who just screw up and the people have to pay for their sins.

How sweet it is!!

…to Region 11

Your Eyewitness just saw pics of the “Independence parade in NY”. Wel,l it was in BROOKLYN NY. So what happened to all the folks from Richmond Hill who’d been promised “one love forever”??

Splitsville already?? Why??

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

News

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tuesDAY, june 5, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt ducked info on ExxonMobil contractors ...refused company’s openness to be audited – Jagdeo

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he revelation from ExxonMobil itself that it gave Government the list of local companies it is using is not going down well with the parliamentary Opposition. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo is expressing surprise that Government had hid these details from the Guyanese public.

On Monday, Jagdeo ‘called out’ Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman on the Government’s reluctance to come clean, given that ExxonMobil had given Government information on the company’s local content commitments.

“Guyanese would recall that, last month, when asked about his failure to make the disclosure, Minister Trotman was flippant in saying that he ‘did not know why Exxon had not released the names’ of the local companies it engaged.

It is only over the past sev-

formation public. “It is a flimsy excuse and it exposes his reluctance to act. There is nothing stopping his release of the names of the local companies.”

Jagdeo went on to reiterate his call for the Government to release the list of 309 local companies used by ExxonMobil in 2017, as well as the 227 used during the first quarter of 2018.

Pre-contract cost

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

eral days that Guyanese became aware that Minister Trotman was in fact in possession of the information,” Jagdeo said.

He added that he feels firmly that Trotman is hiding behind the Chairman of the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Natural Resources as another excuse for not making the in-

Government’s acceptance of a pre-contract cost of US$460 million in the Production Sharing Agreement it signed with Exxon has been a sore point between Government and civil society for quite some time.

Guyana will have to audit and verify cost oil claims ExxonMobil will make on its revenue. Exxon is expected to use revenue from its production in order to recoup its capital investment.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

Whatever remains of this is the ‘profit oil’ Guyana will have to split with the oil company and its associates.

According to Annex C of the PSA, pre-contract cost “shall include four hundred and sixty million, two hundred and thirty seven thousand and nine hundred and eighteen United States Dollars (USS 460,237,918)

Police to collaborate with Red Thread to tackle societal ills

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op officials from the Guyana Police Force on Monday met with representatives of the NGO Red Thread to discuss the preliminary report of a twoyear project which commenced in 2016 with focus on “Engaging communities for improving implementation of Domestic Violence laws”.

The meeting was held at the Kingston, Georgetown Headquarters of the Guyana Police Force, and was attended by Crime Chief Assistant Commissioner Paul Williams, Karen De Souza, and top officials of both the Guyana Police Force and Red Thread.

Discussions dealt with

Crime Chief Paul Williams, other top officials of the Guyana Police Force and members of Red Thread

the preliminary report of the project mentioned above, which targeted Plaisance/ Better Hope, La Parfaite Harmonie, Bartica, Lethem and Anna Regina.

During the research done in connection with this project, Police stations within the stated communities

had been observed in relation to how members of the Force would deal with domestic violence and related matters.

From the discussion, both positive and negative behaviours and actions would have been observed by the Red Thread represen-

tatives.

Officers in attendance pledged to continue working with the group to strengthen their efforts in addressing domestic violence, child abuse, sexual offences and other aspects.

in respect of all such costs incurred under the 1999 Petroleum Agreement prior to the year ended 2015.”

The fact that this is money Exxon will have to recoup at the expense of revenues that would have actually been retained by the Government during that time period has caused outrage. However, ExxonMobil is not opposed to the audit, but the Government simply did not audit it.

The Opposition Leader, in addressing this issue on Monday, said he has noted ExxonMobil’s position in saying that audits of pre-contract costs are “expected and customary” in the oil sector.

“In doing so, I think it is clear, again, that the Coalition Government failed the Guyanese people in the re-negotiation of the oil contract,” Jagdeo stated.

“If ExxonMobil is open

to an audit, why wasn’t this done? Why did the Coalition Government not audit the pre-contract costs before including it in the re-negotiated contract? Why was there no verification done? There was clearly no push-back from ExxonMobil. Given this state of affairs, there is reason for alarm regarding the quality of representation Guyanese received from the Coalition Government in this re-negotiation,” Jagdeo declared.

Jagdeo recalled that he had, in June, declared that fair questions had been asked by civic-minded Guyanese about the pre-contract costs. He reiterated his call for these questions to be answered.

“I reiterate my call for the Government to resist its proclivity towards secrecy and ensure that the answers to these questions are given,” he stated.

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tuesDAY, june 5, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Ruimveldt fire leaves 5 homeless A

family of five is now homeless after a fire demolished their Front Road, Ruimveldt home on Monday afternoon.

According to residents about 15:30h, smoke was seen emanating from the one-storey building located at Lot 67 Front Road, which alerted public-spirited citizens to summon the Police and the Guyana Fire Service (GFS).

When Guyana Times arrived on the scene, several firemen were seen battling the blaze, which had already engulfed the entire building, in their attempts to save nearby wooden structures.

Meanwhile, the owners of the home and residents of the area watched in despair

as the flames consumed the entire structure, leaving mere rubble.

Malinda Reid, an occupant of the house, told this publication that no one was at home at the time when the fire started. She was leaving work when a caller informed her that her house was on fire.

“I just came off of work and I receive a call that my house burn down. I leave 11 o’clock to go to work and that’s it. There’s nothing more I can say, because I know to myself that I didn’t leave on anything (appliances),” the distraught woman said.

Recollecting her actions before leaving her home, Reid stated that she left to

drop her kids to school and later returned home and subsequently left for work.

She explained that the fire could not have been electrical in origin since all of her appliances were unplugged and not in use.

“I normally press on Saturdays, so the iron was out. I didn’t put on the TV. I just took my children to school and went over by my aunt. When I finish with her, I just go and put on my clothes and go to work, so it’s not that I leave on anything, so I don’t know what is the cause.”

While counting her losses, she noted that the house was equipped with numerous appliances and valuables, which she would have

What remained after the devastation

bought. The family recounted losing television sets, a refrigerator, stove, washing machine, microwave and other important household items.

Reid, her husband, two children and brother had

resided on the premises for quite some time and there had not been any such incidents in the past. She later revealed that she had received documents to obtain a house from the Central Housing and Planning

Authority (CH&PA) and is pleading with the organisation to replace her papers.

Firefighters at the scene managed to control the fire from spreading to the nearby dwellings. However, they were unable to save the house or any furniture.

The owners of the house revealed that their losses have been immeasurable since they would have lost almost everything. The woman was in tears when she noted that this tragedy has affected her severely since she no longer has a home.

Meanwhile, an investigation has been launched into the matter and the origin of the fire is yet to be determined.

(Rupadai Seenaraine)

Overcrowded prisons pose serious health risk – report W

hen it comes to health matters, an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) report has found that the overcrowding at Guyana’s prisons put inmates at risk of contracting contagious diseases.

It is a situation that the Citizen Security and Strengthening Programme (CSSP) Prison Survey report zeroed in on. Completed and handed over to the Government recently, the report found that 44.1 per cent of inmates had been stricken with the flu and other chest infections.

The report states that 8.9 per cent of prisoners had gastro-intestinal problems; 4.5 per cent were affected by tuberculosis; 2.4 per cent suffered from depression and anxiety, 0.8 per cent were infected with HIV/ AIDS and the remainder

Data suggests the importance of reducing prison overcrowding

had other conditions such as malaria and chicken pox.

“During their stay in prison, 67.4 per cent of inmates got sick. Besides, 45.9 per cent of the inmates said that HIV/AIDS tests were performed on them to verify whether they were infected or not,” the report states, adding that 53 per cent were

not tested.

According to the report, 80.6 per cent of the inmates, after being diagnosed with an illness, continued to share a cell with other inmates. Approximately 18.1 per cent responded in the negative, while the question was not applicable to the remainder.

Meanwhile, the survey found that 46 per cent of inmates were taken to the hospital at some point during their incarceration. This was not so for 53.1 per cent of the prison population, while the question was not applicable for a select few.

“In summary, given on the one hand the overcrowded and poor state of facilities, and the scope and type of diseases reported by the inmates, it is very likely that some inmates get sick from contagious diseases.

“Authorities should pay special attention, because care and medicines are mostly in place, the overcrowding may be the trigger for the large reported cases of diseases,” the report also states.

Population

As of January 2017, there were a total of 2043 in-

mates in Guyana’s five jails, although the largest one – the Camp Street Prison – was subsequently gutted in a fire. At the time, the Georgetown prison had 963 inmates, 521 of whom were on remand; Lusignan had 153, of which 32 were remanded; Mazaruni, 360 and Timehri, 130 inmates, including 28 remand prisoners.

All of the prisoners were male, while New Amsterdam Prison had a male prison population of 352 and a female population of 85. One and fifty of these men and 31 women were on remand.

In 2016, a fire had raged through the Camp Street Prison and claimed the lives of 17 prisoners. Afterwards, a Commission of Inquiry (CoI), which cost the treasury some $13 million was ordered by President David Granger.

According to the report compiled by the Commissioners, the combination of overcrowded, uncomfortable and unhygienic confinement are all ideal conditions for epidemics, for gangs to prosper and to propagate discontent.

Moreover, the CoI found that reducing numbers in prisons to manageable levels is the single most important priority for establishing safe, humane and purposeful prisons. In the wake of another fire in July, which gutted the wooden section of the Camp Street Prison, the need to reduce the prison population was further emphasised to the Government.

Since last year, Government had received a loan from the IDB to support its Criminal Justice System Project. The key objective of the Project is reducing the prison population.

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tuesDAY, june 5, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt mulls aerial surveillance Poultry farm robbery Stolen car found for mining areas …not sure if bandits are indeed “foreigners” – Ramjattan stripped in Guyhoc Park

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

By Bhisham Mohamed

I

n light of the recent robberies committed on two prominent mining camps in Guyana’s interior locations over the past two weeks, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan on Monday said security forces are contemplating the implementation of aerial surveillance in mining areas.

Minister Ramjattan, however, believes that although the idea of implementing the aerial surveillance is a good one, the need for patrols on the ground is also important.

He has, however, admitted that there are challenges in the hinterland communities.

In a telephone interview with this publication, the minister explained that the Public Security Ministry is looking at efforts to strengthen surveillance of the “extraordinary” territory involved, and as such, more gun licences are being made available to miners to assist them in protecting their properties.

“There are also some security firms that are contracted by the miners to provide the necessary protection, but I agree (that) the

Guyana Police Force’s presence is needed in those mining areas,” the minister told Guyana Times.

He could not confirm whether those security personnel are trained to deal with situations such as the robbed mining camps had faced.

“In the last robbery, involving the Chinese mining camp, we were told that a security firm was contracted to provide security, but we are not sure what took place; and that brings back the question of training,” Ramjattan said.

Challenges

He posited that getting Police officers to a crime scene in hinterland areas is quite a challenge.

“Due to the mountainous terrain, it is sometimes difficult to reach at a location in a timely manner. Most times the use of ATVs are recommended, but in some cases, it’s boat and foot,” he related.

Divisional Commander Kevin Adonis has expressed an opinion similar to the minister’s when referring to the latest robbery committed on the Chinese mining camp.

“The closest Police outpost to the Black Water area is at Eteringbang, and it took a team of Police ranks and soldiers four hours to reach the location. The ranks had to use boats, and then walk some distance. It is not a case that as soon as these crimes are committed, the Police can react right away,” Adonis stated.

Adonis added that the soldiers and Police are doing an exceptional job, considering the challenges. Protecting Guyana’s borders is paramount, he noted, but added that, at the same time, an investigation has been actually launched to determine

Commander Kevin Adonis

whether or not the crimes are committed by foreigners.

Also touching on this issue, the Public Security Minister noted that he is awaiting a report from the Commissioner of Police with the findings of an investigation that was launched into the robberies.

“As of now, we are aware that the people who committed the crimes spoke broken English, some Portuguese and some Spanish… This does not mean that they are foreigners… We have some smart Guyanese criminals who would use the little foreign language they know to make it look as if it is a bunch of foreigners who are trespassing on Guyana’s territory to commit the acts,” Minister Ramjattan said.

He added that law enforcement officers are presently interviewing persons in the area to find out if they had seen any unusual movements by foreigners in the past weeks.

About two weeks ago, four armed men staged a robbery on a mining camp at Baboon Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven, escaping therefrom with millions of dollars’ worth of raw gold and other valuables, includ-

ing a licensed shotgun.

The bandits were reportedly armed with rifles and shotguns, and were clad in dark-coloured clothing. They also spoke a foreign language, allegedly Spanish or Portuguese.

Initial investigations have revealed that about 28 workers attached to Mohamed’s Enterprise were in the mining camp when the men held the camp hostage.

The miners were ordered to hand over all the raw gold that was kept in the camp, and all the personal items, including the shotgun.

After committing the robbery, the gunmen disappeared.

On Wednesday last, a group of four armed men -who also reportedly spoke Portuguese, broken English and Spanish -- carried out a brazen daylight robbery on the China High Tech Mining Company at Black Water Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

The men, all masked, carted off 50 ounces of raw gold, estimated at $13 million; US$500, and two GPS systems belonging to the owner of the mining company.

They also took one 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun with six matching rounds, and one AR rifle along with eight matching rounds, property of Mark’s Interior Communication.

The Police have not as yet arrested anyone in connection with the robberies.

The car that was taken by bandits on Thursday last

S

ilver-grey Toyota Premio PTT 502, stolen during a robbery at Craig, East Bank Demerara, was found stripped of its parts at Guyhoc Park, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

At the time of the discovery, the car was carrying registration number PRR 8349, and its lights, front bumper, mirrors and other accessories were missing.

The car was later confirmed to belong to Lalbeharry’s Poultry Farm at Buzz-BeeDam, Craig, East Bank Demerara, which was invaded on May 24 and robbed of over $6 million.

The vehicle was reportedly identified by several features installed by the owner’s son.

On May 24, at about 04:14h, four armed men invaded the head office of the poultry business at Craig, EBD. It was reported that on the morning of the robbery, one of the owners was awakened by the sound of a

“loud explosion”. He thought it was electrical in nature, but soon heard his mother pleading for her life.

Within seconds, three armed men barged into his room and held him at gunpoint. Whist there, the bandits demanded money and gold.

Fearful for her life and that of her son’s, the 56-year-old businesswoman immediately complied with the bandits’ demands, handing over to the men a sum of cash and a quantity of jewellery. They then escaped with the motorcar.

It was later discovered that the bandits might have been holing up in the house for quite some time, since cigarette ash was found in the lower flat of the building.

Back in 2017, this family had suffered significant losses following a burglary committed on their Craig Public Road business. To date, no arrest has been made.

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tuesDAY, june 5, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Head in bucket murder

Husband gets 22 years for drowning wife

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hirty-five-year-old Vindra Siriram, who was last month found guilty of killing his wife, Shelly Ann Persaud, four years ago, will spend the next 22 years in prison for submerging her head in a five-gallon bucket of water.

Justice James BovellDrakes, who handed down the sentence at the High Court on Monday, encouraged the convicted husband to re-evaluate his conduct to be a better member of society.

The woman’s lifeless body was found at the couple’s Friendship, East Bank Demerara home on June 10, 2014. The couple shared three children who were present when Persaud and Siriram argued while he was in a drunken state.

His lawyer, Damian Da Silva, in a plea of mitigation had earlier appealed for leniency and stressed that

Shelly-Ann Persaud was killed at the hands of her partner in June 2014

the killing was a one-off unfortunate incident. State Prosecutor Seeta Bishundial responded that there were too many similar incidents involving intimate partners.

She added that alcoholism and domestic violence had no place in Guyana’s society.

In the probation report which was presented in court, it was observed

that Siriram dropped out of school as a teenager and he learnt a trade at 15. It was also reported that he suffered from meningitis when he was very young and was given herbal treatment by his grandmother.

Under examination by Bishundial, it was found that the probation report did not include how the death affected the young children in addition to several other concerns the State’s Attorney raised. As such, she declared that the report was not balanced. It was principally based on the evidence of neighbours which seemed to favour Siriram.

Bishundial had petitioned the court to consider the gruesome nature of the offence and that the offender had not shown remorse.

Persaud’s sister, SherryAnn, who witnessed the accused slapping her sis-

amination revealed that she died as a result of drowning and manual strangulation.

However, the convicted man previously told the court that he loved his wife and also wanted to know who killed her, claiming that he was beaten by the Police.

In addition, he stated that a garbage bag was placed over his head and he was forced to sign a caution statement.

Siriram claimed that in fact, on the morning of June Convicted killer Vindra Siriram

ter in front of others, testified before the court. Other witnesses, including the couple’s young daughter, testified that Siriram and Persaud would often fight.

The pathologist testified that there were marks of violence about the body and signs of compression as if someone forced the woman down. The post-mortem ex-

Judge to rule on US fugitive case by next week

H

igh Court Judge JoAnn Barlow will by June 15, 2018 rule on whether or not a magistrate has authority to hear extradition proceedings involving fugitive Marvin Williams, who is wanted by United States law enforcement for a Queens, New York murder that occurred on December 11, 2011.

Williams, also called “Troy Thomas”, had initially answered to that name at his court arraignment before Magistrate Sherdel Isaacs-Marcus in March, but he now says his name is Marvin Williams.

Both his attorney, Prithima Kissoon, who stood in place for Williams’ attorney, Nigel Hughes and Solicitor General Kym Kyte, who is representing the respondent, the Attorney General, were at a hearing before Justice Barlow on

Wanted fugitive Marvin Williams, called Troy Thomas

Monday. Both sides made legal arguments.

The defence team, which includes Hughes, Bernard Da Silva and Darren Wade, contends that their client’s name is Marvin Williams and that he is being unlawfully detained. They further noted that him being a citizen of Guyana makes him entitled to the protections as

provided in the Constitution of Guyana. During Monday’s hearing, Attorney Kissoon reiterated that the Fugitive Offender’s Act of 1988 makes provisions that citizens should not be extradited to a third State.

However, Assistant Solicitor General Beverly Bishop said in court that the December 22, 1931 treaty entered into by the United Kingdom and the United States for the mutual extradition of fugitive criminals remained in force. She cited the current Marcus Bisram case, which suggested that the State has “arrangements” with the US. In responding to the applicant’s submissions, Bishop said that the Public Security Minister’s directive to the Magistrate to proceed “does not infringe on the separation of powers”.

Williams was arrested in

March 2018 at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, after an intelligence-led operation by ranks of the Guyana Police Force, which commenced on January 31, 2018. An arrest warrant was issued by the US in 2012.

Williams was being hunted by the New York Police Department, and a wanted bulletin was issued for him in connection with the murder of Guyanese Keith Frank after an altercation outside a South Richmond Hill party.

It was disclosed by US law enforcement agents that the suspect had fled the country to Canada within hours of his alleged crime.

Shortly after, the man reportedly travelled to Guyana before the wanted bulletin which was issued by the US had reached Interpol.

10, 2014 he woke up and found his wife in that position and immediately called out to a neighbour. He maintained this story after he was sentenced.

Siriram was initially indicted for murder, but a jury (10-2) found him guilty of manslaughter early last month. Persaud, who had known Siriram since she was a teenager, was said to have dropped out of school during the relationship.

Nonpareil fire

Businessman who lost home dies

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he 57-year-old businessman who was hospitalised after his home went up in flames has died.

Hanuman Singh was fighting for his life at the Georgetown Public Hospital after he suffered a shock, having learnt that his Lot 360 Block 12, Nonpareil, East Coast Demerara (ECD) house was completely ravaged by a fire.

The fire is said to have occurred after the power was restored following a power outage in the area on Friday about 21:00h.

His daughter, Reshma Singh, related that when they arrived on the scene her father was nowhere to be seen and after the fire was extinguished a search party was formed to locate him. She said that they were unable to find him, but later received a call that he had been found unconscious at the Botanical Gardens’ Vlissengen Road entrance and was rushed to the Hospital.

Doctors had related that the man suffered a heart attack, which was complicated by low blood pressure, and he was rejecting all forms of medication. His breathing

Businessman Hanuman Singh

was also very shallow, and he was placed on life support.

He, however, succumbed on Sunday.

The family recently renovated their home and was supposed to move their business from Enterprise, ECD, to the lower flat of the home. Also, the family believes that Singh may have walked from Nonpareil to Georgetown while in a daze.

According to information received, neighbours reported seeing smoke emanating from the ceiling of the two-storey building and quickly raised an alarm.

The Guyana Fire Service was summoned, but arrived some 45 minutes later and took an additional 20 minutes to source water.

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tuesDAY, june 5, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GECOM accused of discrimination, prejudice E xecutive member of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Dr Roger Luncheon has made several damning allegations against the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), particularly as it relates to the process of selecting staff for various positions within the Commission’s headquarters.

The former Cabinet Secretary said in a statement on Monday that it was brought to his attention from several sources that the People’s National Congress (PNC) Commissioners at GECOM are allegedly engaged in a process to eliminate candidates for advertised positions at the GECOM Secretariat.

He said it would seem that these Commissioners were aiming at such an objective by resorting to “giving low to zero scores to candidates of Indian origin who are shortlisted during the interview process while providing high to 100 per cent scores to their preferred candidates”.

In addition to that, the former Head of the Presidential Secretariat also alleged that the Commissioners were finding extraneous reasons for eliminating top candidates of Indian origin from appointment to positions at the GECOM Secretariat.

He said if these disclosures are confirmed, it would reveal that the practice continued of excluding some

Dr Roger Luncheon

ethnicities from GECOM’s Secretariat.

“Once confirmed the PPP condemns this practice in the strongest possible terms and will urge the

aggrieved candidates to approach the Ethnic Relations Commission on the ground of ethnic discrimination,” the PPP stalwart added.

As part of preparations for the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE), GECOM has started a new cycle of continuous registration. Several public advertisements were posted in the media for various openings, which Dr Luncheon has referred to in his statement to the media.

The new registration exercise, which began on May 21, will run until July 15, 2018. Persons needing to register are being advised to visit the office in their respective communities between 08:00h and 17:00h

Hinterland communities lack healthcare professionals – UNICEF …child mortality rate high

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he availability of reliable healthcare professionals may be taken for granted on the coastland, but for people in the hinterland communities, it is a crucial problem for many individuals who are unable to seek medical attention when the need may arise, owing to the lack of nurses and doctors.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), there is need for a substantial number of medical personnel to address the needs of the Indigenous people. Additionally, numerous health centres are operating without any standard equipment to perform tests.

In a comment, a healthcare professional from one of the hinterland communities stated, “People from here

do not really apply to work in these fields (health-related work). Some who are brought here do not stay very long. We are not on par with the rest of the country, because we don’t have a functioning lab and an x-ray department.”

This situation has been on-going for many years and as such, it is seen as a norm by the residents of these areas. Additionally, it is also linked to the high mortality rates that have been recorded and shown from the statistical data that was collected, since many are aware of the healthcare facilities but are unable to access them owing to unavailability. Many women tend to give birth at home rather than visit the health centres.

The child mortality rate, the probability of a child dying between the first month and their fifth birthday, for the Indigenous people is 12 per 1000 live births when compared to the national rate of 8 per 1000 live births.

Several studies also show that while many babies are born alive, they tend to die before their fifth birthday.

These findings are regarded as alarming factors for such a small population as in these communities.

Meanwhile, another problem that these areas are faced with is the nutritional status of the children which was deemed by the US organisation as “worrisome”.

The findings demonstrate that one in every four children is faced with malnutrition, which creates a severe

risk to their cognitive and physical development.

Additionally, 20.4 per cent of children under the age of five in the interior locations suffer from malnutrition when compared to 9.8 per cent in the urban communities and 10 per cent on the coastland.

While there are little to no records on maternal mortality, anecdotal information also points to the fact that women in the hinterland are also at a higher chance of dying during childbirth.

The logical solution to these problems, as stated by the UNICEF representatives, would be to offer primary healthcare services and vaccination programmes to the Indigenous communities.

from Monday to Thursday, 08:00h to 16:00h on Friday and 10:00h to 14:00h on weekends and holidays.

Previously, the PPP has said that one of five GECOMissued lists of persons who died between December 2015 and March 2016 included the names of persons whose names are not on the voters’ list – that is they were never registered.

The Party had said when it checked that list, many of

those names of presumably unregistered persons were, in fact, on the voters list.

The PPP has since urged GECOM to exercise greater care and due diligence in its attempts to sanitise the list.

“We will continue to partner with GECOM and other stakeholders, in a concerted effort, to produce a List of Registered Electors that is accurate and whose integrity can withstand objective scrutiny,” the Party said.

Ithaca among villages to receive street lights

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thaca, West Bank Berbice is among several villages which will be receiving street lights in a few weeks to improve the safety of the roadways.

The announcement was made by the Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson on Monday at the opening of the Kitty roundabout.

In addition to the much-needed street lamps, the Minister announced that he has made plans for reflective thermoplastic lights to be used along the roadways, to aid night drivers in preventing accidents and promoting safety.

According to Patterson, more than 1000 Light Emitting Diode (LED) street lamps have already been sourced and are soon to be installed in a number of villages, which were promised the lamps, by himself and the Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry , Annette Ferguson.

Some of the villages that will receive street lights include Wakenaam, Supenaam to Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast; MetenMeer-Zorg to Plantain Walk,

West Coast Demerara; Bourda Market; and Aubrey Barker Road, Georgetown.

The Minister pointed out that there were several more villages to be improved with street lights when the next batch of 4600 lights is sourced during the next week. Nevertheless, he noted that the installation of these lights should take just about six weeks to be completed.

Earlier this year, the National Park received an $8 million upgrade in lights of this type. The particulars of the project involved replacing the inefficient 250watt mercury vapour lamps with the more efficient 80watt solar powered lights.

The integrated solar powered street lights use renewable energy from the sun to charge the batteries, which provide lighting at nights using energy-efficient LED lights.

Some 49,275 kWh of energy is being created and 29,565kg of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually is being avoided/saved through this investment. This translates to over $2,800,000 yearly in savings in electricity costs.

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tuesDAY, june 5, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Driver dies after tractor overturns in rice field T he lifeless body of 20-year-old Alvin Dubarai, of Lot 65 Kilmarnock Village, Corentyne, Berbice was found pinned under the tractor he was last seen operating on Monday morning

at about 07:00h.

The discovery was made by rice farmer Heera Nauth, also called “Bammer, owner of both the tractor and rice field which Dubarai was plowing. He told this publication that Dubarai ap-

peared to be dead, and only his hands and legs were visible when he was found.

“When the thing happen I was not there; is two tractor I have, he driving one and I driving one. I was at the camp…,”Nauth said.

Disgruntled Linden CIIP workers demand payment from LM&TC

Disgruntled Linden CIIP workers demanding payment on Monday

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everal disgruntled Linden (Region 10: Upper Demerara/Berbice) Community Infrastructure Improvement Project (CIIP) workers on Monday gathered inside the compound of the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC), demanding payments reportedly owed to them for additional work conducted since 2015.

This publication understands that some 53 workers had each been promised half of their payment,

which amounts to $12,500; but upon turning up at the Council in seeking same, they were given no certainty regarding their payments. The employees then gathered in the compound to express their frustration.

Police and Constabulary staff had to be summoned to remove them.

According to the employees, when they turned up for payment, they were told they would be paid “whenever”. Acting Town Clerk Orleena Obermuller not-

ed, however, that the payment would be facilitated

by Friday, since all of the workers could not be facilitated on Monday.

She refuted claims that she had said payment would be made “whenever”. Obermuller said it was agreed during a meeting on Monday that the employees would be given half the payment. The employees were expecting the payment on the same day, which, according to Obermuller, could not be facilitated at the time.

The workers have also lamented that the system of payment at the Council is frustrating. They noted that they are paid in the new month for work done in the previous month.

This publication understands that a confusion in payments in 2015 had seen employees who did not work the extra hours receiving the additional payment as well.

Meanwhile, efforts to contact Linden Mayor Waneka Arindell regarding the issue proved futile.

Deputy Mayor Wainewright Bethune, when contacted, said the Linden Town Council had not received any information regarding the circumstances of the issue, as he and Arindell were out of town. (Utamu Belle)

Hike in fuel prices

Dead: Alvin Dubarai

According to Nauth, when he arrived at Kilmarnock, Corentyne, he saw the overturned tractor and Dubarai pinned under it.

“He already dead. Then I call some of them boys from out on the road and them come down with boat, and when they see he they say that they have to call the Police, so they went and bring in the Police,” Nauth detailed.

Nauth said that when the Police arrived they had to use three tractors to re-

Telecommunications sector

New timeline set for full liberalisation A new timeline has been announced for the complete liberalisation of the public telecommunications sector, a task that must be completed by the end of 2018.

This was revealed by Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes, who informed the media that this extra delay is as a result of other issues surrounding the final document having to be reviewed.

Nevertheless, the minister has assured that she would be in a position to deliver the liberalisation by the new timeline that was scheduled.

Citizens were, for many months, exasperated with the many delays that occurred in the past, but the minister noted that there

are many other issues which surround the liberalization, and she further refuted the reports of it being completed until 2020.

Presently, there are two telephone companies which provide mobile phone services to the Guyanese public. The liberalisation of the sector is heavily dependent on the settlement of a US$44 million tax claim against Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT).

However, the company continues to enjoy the monopoly in international voice and data services until 2030.

In January of 2018, it was reported that negotiations with the GTT and the Ministry to address the lifting of the monopoly were effective. These negotiations began in 2016 where

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dling this situation of bus fares, and even other matters in the minibus sector,” Andrews stated. Other bus operators related that the rise in fuel prices is taking a toll on them.

The Union has asserted that minibus operators would continue protest action until a resolution is arrived at. The union, on Wednesday last, said the sudden hike in fuel prices would burden consumers. In a strongly worded statement to the media, the union said Government must stop “turning a blind eye to what is taking place” and proactively act in the interest of people. Gas station prices for fuel have increased rapidly from $215 per litre last week to prices ranging from $230 to $250 per litre this week. That situation continues as the Government re-

mains indifferent and mum on the matter. Nevertheless, the Department of Public Information (DPI) on Thursday issued claims of price structures, which appeared to be cheaper than what recent reports suggest.

This comes after the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana urged Government to act swiftly on the matter.

On Wednesday, the trade union said this sudden hike in fuel prices will burden consumers. In a strongly worded statement to the media, the union said Government must stop “turning a blind eye to what is taking place” and proactively act in the interest of people.

However, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin had disclosed that the matter was still to be addressed

by Cabinet.

Telecommunications Cathy Hughes

Minister

the intention of ending the 26-year-old monopoly on the fixed line market.

The liberalization, once in place, would ensure there is fair competition and regulation among all enterprises in the business sector.

GNBS to conduct 1st standards road show

Minibus union meets T with Govt officials embers of the United Minibus Union (UMU), supported by leaders and representatives of several minibus routes, met with several senior consumer officers to submit a proposal to Business Minister Dominic Gaskin to decide a way forward with respect to transportation cost, as fuel prices continue to escalate.

According to President of the United Minibus Union, Eon Andrews, the bus operators would be unwilling to lower the proposed fare hike even if the price for gasoline decreases, since they are faced with much burdensome expenditure, and this is compounded by fluctuating gas prices.

“We are expected to meet the minister maybe

by Wednesday, so we will be able to go about han-

move the vehicle from off of Dubarai’s body. The body was removed from Nauth’s farm at about 16:00h.

He explained that even if persons were around at the time of the incident, it would have been difficult to save Dubarai’s life, since it took the Police about 30 minutes to remove the machine off him.

Dubarai had been working in the rice fields since the age of 15. He leaves to mourn four siblings.

(Andrew Carmichael)

he Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) are set to conduct the first standards informational ‘road show’ for the construction sector in Guyana, on June 7-8.

ASTM is an international standards organisation which develops and publishes voluntary technical standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services.

GNBS Director Candelle Walcott-Bostwick said the aim of the road show “is to inform academic institutions, Government agencies and practitioners on the construction sector and the standards that are available within the sector that can be utilised.”

“The road show is basically promoting standards for the construction sector.

I am aware that a number of our local contractors utilise ASTM standards, as

GNBS Director Candelle Walcott-Bostwick

well as our students at the University of Guyana and other technical institutions,” Walcott-Bostwick is quoted by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying.

Walcott-Bostwick pointed out that local manufacturers and practitioners benefitting from the activity will also be given the opportunity, to demonstrate the use of ASTM standards

on products manufactured locally, and to share their experiences in using ASTM standards.

She noted the sessions would be interactive, since the ASTM officials will also share their experiences on available standards for the construction sector.

In October 2011, the GNBS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ASTM to strengthen its collaboration with the US standards institution.

The GNBS has also signed on to a total of 19 technical committees with ASTM which allows the agency to be in agreement with a number of standards being developed and participate in their development for a number of areas.

Some of the areas include fuels and lubricants, textiles, water, waste management, solar, occupational safety and health, and environmental assessment.

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tuesDAY, june 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Hike in fuel prices

West Berbice, Essequibo Coast minibuses withhold service

Berbice minibus operators congregate as they withdrew their services on Monday over Government non-intervention

By Andrew Carmichael and Mohanlall Seulall

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inibus operators on the West Coast of Berbice (Region Five) on Monday parked their vehicles in protest at Government’s apparent lack of response to the hike in fuel prices, which the operators are feeling at the pump.

School children were left

the strike. Those buses could not pass Bath. However, as senior Police ranks arrived on the scene, protestors were prevented from stopping and blocking buses that were operating.

Those who supported the strike were mainly minibus owners. Those who just operate the buses remained on the road, claiming that they had to deliver the owner’s

owners, Rawana Ally, told this publication that the proposed increases to cushion the fuel price hike are not much in the bus operators’ opinion. He said it is being proposed that the fare for school children move from $60 to $100, and the adult fare from $100 to $140.

“Is only $40 we want to put on, not much. The gas raise several times and we

to put aside for maintenance of the vehicle. “…you have to service the vehicle, then you have to pay a conductor; all these are bills that are reaching you, and you still have a family to maintain and to deal with the high gas price,” he explained.

Meanwhile, Garcia, who owns and conducts a minibus running the Rosignol/ Georgetown route, said she nets about $15,000 daily. She noted that $10,000 is used for gas and the remaining $5000 has to pay her and her husband, who is the driver, and she still has to maintain the bus.

The Route 50 buses are not licensed to pick up pas-

financially.

"I am in solidarity with the people here in Region Five. The recent increase in gas would have taken tremendous financial burdens on the bus operators, and knowing that our region is already contracting financially, it will only place more financial burden on our people,” Ramphal said.

Ramphal called on the administration to address the fuel hike issue as early as possible, “so the bus operators can continue with their daily trade and the people in Region Five can continue to do their business as per normal.”

high for them to survive in the transportation business.

Deputy Mayor Darshan Persaud said the failing rice industry drove many farmers into the transportation sector for survival, and if the Government doesn't intervene, there will surely be a rise in crime and other illegal activities.

President of the Essequibo Coast Minibus and Hire Car Association, Mohammed Nazmul, said that due to the banning of foreign used tyres and the high cost for spares, the transportation sector in Guyana is in very bad state, and maybe now the final blow to kill it is being administered.

Essequibo minibus and hire car operators hold up placards in protest over the high fuel prices

Some Route 21 – Essequibo Coast – buses parked as operators protests

stranded as the operators assembled at Bath, West Coast Berbice, seeking to draw attention to their plight and also to organise themselves to become a unit so they can take their case to the Government. Route 50 (Rosignol/Georgetown) operators, however, do not have an association.

As the protest grew on Monday morning, operators blocked the road to other operators who had boycotted

$5000 fee by the end of the day.

More than 60 percent of the buses plying the West Coast Berbice and Rosignol/ Georgetown route are not operated by the owners.

The owners are calling for an increase in the short drop fare, which has remained at $100 for almost two decades.

The Rosignol/Georgetown fare has been increased from $700 to $800.

Meanwhile, one of the

cannot take it anymore. This is over too much; it is too costly to run vehicles on the road now because of the high cost to maintain the vehicle.

Government calls for news tyres which are very expensive, $12000 to $15000 for a new tyre, whereas we use to get tyres for $4000,” he said.

He added that all he is seeking was a decent wage.

He noted that a decent wage would be five thousand dollars: $3000 for him and $2000

Licensing of teachers being discussed – CEO Marcel Huston

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he licensing of teachers, as recommended by a commission of inquiry into the education system, is currently being discussed with stakeholders.

Chief Education Officer Marcel Hutson explained to the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the recommendation is one of several suggested by the CoI last year. It is expected to improve the level of service the educators provide.

Hutson opined that licensing teachers is necessary since the system would guarantee greater discipline and management of educators.

He said, “This will require a complete rethink on

Chief Education Officer Marcel Hutson

how teachers are trained, certified, appraised, managed and disciplined. Every teacher should have an incentive to maintain his or her licence to teach.”

The CoI report further stated that consideration must be given to the system’s renewal on a five-year basis, once “certain criteria for professional development, mental and physical assessment are fulfilled.”

Asked what would happen to those uncertified persons who have been teaching for several years, Hutson said there are programmes currently ongoing to have them upgrade their skills.

President David Granger had thus observed: “Teachers are the foundation on which a good education system is built; and a good education system is the foundation on which any nation is built.”

sengers along the East Coast of Demerara. Hence, they can take only passengers going from Berbice to Georgetown and vice versa.

Meanwhile, Region 5 Chairman Vickchand Ramphal, who met with some of the bus owners, told this newspaper that he is very concerned, not only about the impact the strike could have on the small man, but from a financial standpoint, the Region is already contracting

Essequibo Coast protest

Meanwhile, operators of minibuses and hire cars on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two, have also decided to take drastic action by striking on Monday to protest the constant raising of fuel prices.

According to the drivers, they are fed up with the system and are calling on the Government to immediately reduce the price for fuel, which at present is far too

An effort was made by the association to meet with the Regional Executive Officer, but he instead asked that they put their concerns in writing.

Also present on scene was the Prime Minister’s Representative, Karran Chand. The bus operators have said they are not satisfied with the way they have been treated, and will continue protest action until someone listens to them.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, june 5, 2018

Regional

Guatemala volcano: Dozens die as Fuego volcano erupts

It is Guatemala’s most violent volcano eruption in more than a century

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uatemala’s most violent volcanic eruption in more than a century has killed at least 25 people.

Another 46 people are missing, the country’s disaster agency says.

Villages on the slopes of Fuego volcano were buried in volcanic ash, mud and rocks as the volcano erupted for 16 and a half hours on

Sunday.

Pyroclastic flows, which are fast-moving mixtures of very hot gas and volcanic matter, rushed down the mountainside and engulfed villages.

President Jimmy Morales has declared three days of national mourning.

A further pyroclastic flow on Monday sparked alarm.

The official death toll is

25, but volunteer firefighters say they have found another five bodies, according to local media.

A powerful earthquake has also hit the Guatemalan coast, though there are no reports of damage so far.

Fuego, about 40km (25 miles) south-west of the capital Guatemala City, spewed rock, gas and ash into the sky.

Fast-moving flows hit villages, killing people inside their homes.

Sergio Cabañas, head of the country’s National Disaster Management Agency (Conred), said the town of El Rodeo had been “buried”.

Other towns affected include Alotenango and San Miguel Los Lotes. Rescuers are still trying to reach a number of villages and the death toll is expected to rise.

Temporary shelters have been set up for about 3000 residents who have been evacuated.

Efrain Gonzalez, who fled El Rodeo with his wife and one-year-old daughter, said he had had to leave behind his two older children, aged four and ten, trapped in the family home.

Local resident Ricardo Reyes was forced to abandon his home: “The only thing we could do was run with my family and we left our possessions in the house.

Now that all the danger has passed, I came to see how our house was – everything

Volcano survivor: “I think my family was buried”

is a disaster.”

A total of about 1.7 million people have been affected in four regions. The country’s main airport has now reopened.

Officials have advised people to wear masks as protection against falling ash.

Fuego is one of Latin America’s most active volcanoes. A major eruption devastated nearby farms in 1974, but no deaths were re-

corded.

Another eruption in February this year sent ash 1.7km (1.1 mile) into the sky.

Sunday’s event was on a much greater scale.

This eruption is Guatemala’s deadliest such event since 1902, when an eruption of the Santa Maria volcano killed thousands of people. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Top OAS members start push University of Trinidad to suspend Venezuela and Tobago to downsize

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he United States and six more of the most influential countries in the Organisation of American States (OAS) called Monday for the launch of proceedings to suspend Venezuela from the body.

Washington was joined by Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, and Peru in urging that President Nicolás Maduro’s

Caracas Government be punished for what they see as his assault on democracy.

A draft resolution, presented on the first day of the 48th annual meeting of the OAS, calls on members not to recognise the results of last month’s “unconstitutional” Venezuelan election.

It further urges the body to use “the mechanisms for the preservation and de-

fence of representative democracy” contained in the Inter-American Democratic Charter — a first step towards suspension.

Under Article 21 of this Charter, an extraordinary general assembly of OAS Member States can suspend a country from the body, the main forum for Western Hemisphere countries to develop shared democratic norms. (AFP)

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s part of its cost-cutting exercise, the University of Trinidad and Tobago is now looking at shutting down some of its 13 existing campuses.

The plan is part of the University’s massive restructuring exercise which started on May 11 with the retrenchment of over 50 academic staff. In line with this,

the University will be giving up all campuses deemed surplus to its operations “The plan was to keep six teaching locations. There is a report but they keep changing it,” a UTT source who did not want to be identified told the T&T Guardian.

It is expected that UTT will give up the Chaguanas (Agora) campus once the main university campus in

Tamana is opened.

“They have already met with staff there and indicated this,” the UTT source added.

Agora, which is the only building owned by UTT, will either be rented or leased.

It is also suspected that one of the Teachers’ Colleges— Valsayn or Corinth will be closed. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Jamaican Govt developing crop loss Antigua and Barbuda 1st Caribbean country to ratify anti-racism convention and farm insurance programme

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he Jamaica Government is in the process of developing a crop loss and farm insurance programme.

The disclosure has come from Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, JC Hutchinson, who says a concept document outlining the mechanism for the off-budget financing of the programme has been developed.

“Stakeholder consultation has commenced, and the second draft will be available soon,” he told members of the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, Hutchinson is urging farming communities to adopt climate-smart procedures to provide water for farms.

“We recognise the need for climate-smart agriculture, so identify areas where ponds can be dug and pond liners installed to harvest

Sir Ronald and OAS SG, Luis Almagro signing Instrument of Deposit of Convention (Photo courtesy Sir Ronald) Minister without Portfolio in the Jamaican Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, JC Hutchinson

rainwater, or channel water from the roadways into ponds where it can be gravity-fed to farms,” he encouraged.

Hutchinson has commissioned principals of schools in his North Western St Elizabeth constituency to enter a hydroponic competition utilising plastic bottles

to grow cabbage, lettuce, scallion and thyme.

“The school with the most creative concept will be used for demonstration and the concept used to promote backyard gardening. The winning school will be rewarded,” he noted. (Excerpt from

Caribbean360)

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ntigua and Barbuda is the first Caribbean country and the third nation in the Western Hemisphere to ratify the Inter-American Convention against Racism, Racial Discrimination and Related Forms of Intolerance.

The Instrument of Ratification, signed by Prime Minister Gaston Browne, was presented by Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the Organisation of

American States (OAS), Sir Ronald Sanders, to Secretary-General Luis Almagro at a ceremony at the OAS headquarters in Washington, DC Friday morning.

In presenting the Instrument for deposit, Ambassador Sanders observed that “the Gaston Browne Administration is in the forefront of efforts to end discrimination based on race, racial discrimination

and intolerance”. He recalled the Prime Minister’s apology last month to the Rastafarian community and the historic occasion at the OAS marking it.

Sir Ronald expressed appreciation to Joy-Dee Davis Lake of the Antigua and Barbuda delegation to the OAS who, he said, “did outstanding work in navigating the Convention through its many difficult stages before it was signed”. (Excerpt from CMC)

tuesDAY, june 5, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

Jordan’s PM Hani al-Mulki resigns ‘Remarkable’ therapy beats amid mass protests over tax bill terminal breast cancer

Prime Minister Hani al-Mulki

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ordan’s King Abdullah II has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Hani al-Mulki, the country’s royal palace has said.

Mulki submitted his resignation in a meeting with King Abdullah II on Monday.

His resignation comes amid mass protests over price hikes and an income tax reform bill.

According to an official source, the move is aimed at

defusing the anger over the economic policies.

Protests have been taking place across the capital Amman and other towns for the last four days.

Protesters are calling for the Government to scrap the bill. They were also demanding the removal of Mulki, whose government had proposed raising the income tax by at least five per cent.

Mulki assumed office in 2016 and was responsible for improving the country’s

economy amid regional turmoil and a refugee crisis.

In the wake of Mulki’s resignation, Jordanian King Abdullah asked Omar al-Razzaz to form a new government.

Al-Razzaz, a former World Bank economist, is described as a more “likeable” and “accepted” character among the Jordanian people.

Yet, some have questioned whether al-Razzaz will have what it takes to defuse the current tensions.

Musa al-Adwan, a retired Jordanian army general and former deputy chief of staff, told Al Jazeera that while he highly respects al-Razzaz, “he is not fit the lead the government at this critical junction.”

“Al-Razzaz is a technocrat that cannot and should not lead the country during this explosive situation,” al-Adwan said. (Excerpt from Al

Jazeera)

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he life of a woman with terminal breast cancer has been saved by a pioneering new therapy, say US researchers.

It involved pumping 90 billion cancer-killing immune cells into her body.

Judy Perkins had been given three months to live, but two years later there is no sign of cancer in her body.

The team at the US National Cancer Institute says the therapy is still experimental, but could transform the treatment of all cancer.

Judy – who lives in Florida – had spreading, advanced breast cancer that could not be treated with conventional therapy.

She had tennis ball-sized tumours in her liver and secondary cancers throughout her body.

She told the BBC: “About a week after [the therapy] I started to feel something, I had a tumour in my chest that I could feel shrinking.

“It took another week or two for it to completely go away.”

She remembers her first scan after the procedure when the medical staff “were all very excited and jumping around”.

It was then she was told that she was likely to be cured.

Now she’s filling her life with backpacking and sea kayaking and has just taken five weeks circumnavigating Florida.

The technology is a “living drug” made from a patient’s own cells at one of the world’s leading centres of cancer research.

Dr Steven Rosenberg, chief of surgery at the National Cancer Institute, told the BBC: “We’re talking about the most highly personalised treatment imaginable.”

It remains experimental and still requires considerably more testing before it can be used more widely, but

this is how it works: it starts by getting to know the enemy.

A patient’s tumour is genetically analysed to identify the rare changes that might make the cancer visible to the immune system.

Out of the 62 genetic abnormalities in this patient, only four were potential lines of attack.

Next researchers go hunting. A patient’s immune system will already be attacking the tumour; it’s just losing the fight between white blood cells and cancer.

The scientists screen the patient’s white blood cells and extract those capable of attacking the cancer.

These are then grown in huge quantities in the laboratory.

Around 90 billion were injected back into the 49-yearold patient, alongside drugs to take the brakes off the immune system. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Khamenei says curbing Iran’s China to hold Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit missile programme a “dream that will never come true” T

he 18th Shanghai C o o p e r a t i o n Organisation(SCO) summit will be held from June 9 to 10 this year in Qingdao, a coastal city in China’s Shandong Province.

The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation, the creation of which was announced on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai (China) by the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China,

the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan.

It was preceded by the Shanghai Five mechanism. The Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan joined the Organization in 2017.

The SCO’s main goals are as follows: strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness among the member states; promoting their

effective cooperation in politics, trade, the economy, research, technology and culture, as well as in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection, and other areas; making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region; and moving towards the establishment of a democratic, fair and rational new international political and economic order.

Philippine President Duterte condemned for kissing overseas worker

P

hilippine President Rodrigo Duterte has drawn criticism for kissing an overseas Filipina worker on the lips during a

live event.

Duterte was speaking to a crowd in South Korea when he called the woman on stage then convinced her

to kiss him.

The scene drew cheers from the crowd, mostly made of up other Philippine workers. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (file photo)

I

ran’s top leader said on Monday it would respond harshly to any attack and that Western demands for limits on its ballistic missile programme are a “dream that will never

come true”.

Tensions between Iran and the West have resurged since President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of world powers’ 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran, calling it

deeply flawed.

European signatories are scrambling to save the accord, which they see as crucial to forestalling Iranian nuclear weapons, by protecting trade with Iran against the reimposition of US sanctions to dissuade Tehran from quitting the deal.

Under the deal, the Islamic Republic curbed its disputed nuclear energy programme and in return won a lifting of most international sanctions that had hobbled its economy.

One of Trump’s demands – which European allies back in principle –is negotiations to rein in Iran’s ballistic missile programme, which was not covered by the nuclear deal. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Bill Clinton: “Monica Lewinsky US Supreme Court backs baker affair was dealt with correctly” who spurned gay couple

F

ormer US President Bill Clinton says he would not respond any differently today to reports of his affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky than he did in 1998.

“If the facts were the same today, I wouldn’t,” the former US President told NBC’s Today programme.

When asked if, in light of the #MeToo movement, he thought his handling of the scandal had been correct, he said: “I think I did the right thing.”

Clinton was impeached for lying to investigators over the relationship.

The House Republicans’ move against Clinton in

T

Former US President Bill Clinton says he handled his affair with Monica Lewinsky correctly after the scandal broke

1998 made him only the second US President to have been impeached. However, he was later acquitted in the Senate and remained in power until 2001.

Speaking to NBC on

Monday, Clinton appeared defensive, saying he felt it was unnecessary for him to resign following the revelations of an affair with Lewinsky, who was 22 years old at the time. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

he US Supreme Court on Monday handed a victory on narrow grounds to a Colorado Christian baker who refused for religious reasons to make a wedding cake for a gay couple, stopping short of setting a major precedent allowing people to claim exemptions from anti-discrimination laws based on religious beliefs.

The justices, in a 7-2 decision, said the Colorado Civil Rights Commission showed an impermissible hostility toward religion when it found that baker Jack Phillips violated the state’s anti-discrimination law by rebuffing gay couple

David Mullins and Charlie Craig in 2012. The state law bars businesses from refusing service based on race, sex, marital status or sexual orientation.

The ruling concluded that the commission violated Phillips’ religious rights under the US Constitution’s First Amendment.

But the justices did not issue a definitive ruling on the circumstances under which people can seek exemptions from anti-discrimination laws based on their religious views. The decision also did not address important claims raised in the case including whether baking a cake is a kind

of expressive act protected by the Constitution’s free speech guarantee.

Two of the court’s four liberals, Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan, joined the five conservative justices in the ruling authored by Justice Anthony Kennedy, who also was the author of the landmark 2015 decision legalising gay marriage nationwide.

“The commission’s hostility was inconsistent with the First Amendment’s guarantee that our laws be applied in a manner that is neutral toward religion,” Kennedy wrote. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, june 5, 2018

ARCHIE

Watch out for someone trying to lead you in the wrong (March 21- direction. Take better care of April 19) your health and rely on your intelligence and resourcefulness to help you get ahead.

ARIES

Take control and bring about

TAURUS the changes that will make you (April 20- feel good about yourself and the May 20) direction you are headed. Don't

dilbert

let someone's boldness intimidate you. Strive for perfection, honesty and success.

Stay focused on what you GEMINI (May 21- are trying to achieve. Actions June 20) and intelligence will show you mean business and that you are willing to see matters through to the end.

Take a unique approach to your responsibilities if you (June 21- want to find new ways to use July 22) your skills and attributes.

Personal improvements and educational pursuits are favoured.

CANCER

Peanuts

Don’t take a risk or get inLEO volved in a dubious joint ven(July 23- ture. Persuasive tactics will Aug. 22) be used to try and convince you of the merits of a plan that lacks substance.

Calvin and Hobbes

Examine what's being ofVIRGO fered or how something is (Aug. 23handled before you put your Sept. 22) reputation on the line. Play it safe and only take part in endeavours helmed by trustworthy people.

Speak up and let others LIBRA (Sept. 23- know what's on your mind.

Oct. 23) Personal problems will develop if someone puts pressure on you to do something you don't want to do.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — ANTEDATE (ANTEDATE: AN-tih-date: To precede in time.)

Emotional manipulaSAGITTARIUS tion will disrupt your day.

(Nov. 23Whether it's you or someone Dec. 21) else using persuasive tactics, the outcome will not be satisfactory. It's best to be honest and move on.

Average mark 15 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 20 or more words in ANTEDATE? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — ALLOWANCE acne aeon allow aloe alone anew lace lance lane lawn

lean leno llano loan local locale lone ocean olla once

wale wall wane weal wean well noel call calla callow

canal cane canoe canola cell cello clan claw clean clew

clone clown coal cola cole cone cowl elan

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

Stick close to home and SCORPIO the people you trust. You (Oct. 24will accomplish the most Nov. 22) if you are diligent and embrace change using uncommon methods.

solution

Consider people and ideas CAPRICORN from your past to help you (Dec. 22- move forward. Attending a Jan. 19) reunion will bring back memories that will help you make decisions. An emotional relationship will take a unique turn.

Make changes for the AQUARIUS right reason. Don't act out (Jan. 20- of spite or because someone Feb. 19) else prompts you to. Focus on home, family and gaining greater stability.

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Be courageous and try something new. A personal change will open a window of opportunity. Love, romance and physical improvement are highlighted.

Do your own fact-finding.

tuesDAY, june 5, 2018

19

French Open 2018…

Nadal beats Marterer in last 16 T

en-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal moved into the 2018 quarter-finals with a 6-3 6-2 7-6 (7-4) victory over Germany’s Maximilian Marterer.

Nadal, 32, lost his opening service game and trailed 2-0 in the first set in Paris before recovering well.

He broke Marterer’s serve early in the second set and fought back from 3-1 down in the third for a straight-set win against the unseeded 22-yearold.

The Spaniard will play

11th seed Diego Schwartzman, 25, in the last eight.

The Argentine recovered from two sets down to beat South African sixth seed Kevin Anderson 1-6 2-6 7-5 7-6 (7-0) 6-2 to move into the second Grand Slam quarter-final of his career - and first at Roland Garros.

Nadal, meanwhile, has reached at least the quarter-finals in 12 of the 14 years he has played in the French Open.

The world number one has won 37 consecutive sets in the tournament, though he need-

ed a tie-break in the third set to secure Monday’s win over world number 70 Marterer.

Nadal, who celebrated his birthday on Sunday, is now third on the all-time list for most match wins at Grand Slams, moving clear of Jimmy Connors with his 234th.

“I don’t feel old, but I am 32, and I have been here since 2003, so it’s a long way, a lot of years,” said Nadal.

“I started very young.

That’s a real thing. But, no, I feel happy to be here. I hope to keep doing this for a while.”

(BBCSport)

Zimbabwe players threaten to boycott T20 tri-series

Z

imbabwe’s players have given their board an ultimatum to pay outstanding salaries and match fees by June 25, failing which they will boycott July’s T20 tri-series with Australia and Pakistan.

The cricketers are owed three months’ salary and match fees from their tour of Sri Lanka last July and

union, last seen in 2015, the players have appointed lawyer Gerald Mlotchwa to be their spokesperson.

However, several sources have revealed they do not know whom Mlotchwa will be negotiating with since the board has failed to appoint a new managing director following Faisal Hasnain’s depature at the end of April.

Zimbabwe players are a delighted bunch after dismissing Chris Gayle

have already opted not to train ahead of the tri-series as a first sign of protest. New interim coach Lalchand Rajput is expected to arrive in Zimbabwe on June 10 but it may be to the sight of empty nets.

Zimbabwe are also due to host Pakistan for five ODIs later in the year but the fate of those matches has not come under the spotlight yet.

In a bid to revive their

A ZC spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo that a solution to this situation is nearly at hand. “Due to a very difficult financial situation beyond its control, ZC has been unable to meet some of its obligations, including paying player and staff salaries in time. However, because this is a matter of top priority, ZC has been working round the clock to address the challenge and, as promised to the players by

our chairman, ZC expects to start processing payments this week.”

However, many insiders remain skeptical. ZC is as cash-strapped as ever, with debts in the region of USD 19 million. It is expecting an ICC payout in July but that may come too late to meet the players’ demands.

To secure the payout, ZC needed to see the domestic season to a close. The board suspended it in January to prepare for the World Cup qualifiers but it resumed in April - even though several national players chose not to take part over unpaid salaries - so that Zimbabwe could meet its Full Member requirements.

“It’s a complete joke at the moment,” one player told ESPNcricinfo. “ZC made out as though some players were injured to save face. They didn’t bother that the big-name players weren’t available, they just needed to get the games out of the way. No-one knows how things will work going forward” Late on Monday afternoon, ZC attempted to provide some direction, announcing the acquisition of Vince van der Bijl, the former South African fast bowler who was the ICC’s umpires and referees’ manager, as a consultant with immediate effect. In a release, ZC said van der Bijl’s appointment was part of a “major initiative by ZC to restructure its domestic and international cricket.” (ESPNcricinfo)

Rafael Nadal won the French Open in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2017

NBA to test coaches’ challenges in Summer League

P

otentially following the lead of the NFL and Major League Baseball, the NBA is pondering a system in which coaches may challenge officials’ rulings.

NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki VanDeWeghe said Sunday on Sirius XM NBA Radio that the league will experiment with a challenge format at the Las Vegas Summer League.

“We’ve wanted to do it for years,” VanDeWeghe said in the radio interview, according to USA Today Sports. “The competition committee has been trying to figure out how we actually do this, because there’s some complications.

It’s not quite as simple as you might imagine.

“We’ve had it in the G League for a number of years now and it’s been very effective. We’re going to try it in a very limited form in Summer League and we’re going to see how it goes. We’re going to let everybody look at it.”

VanDeWeghe indicated a challenge system is unlikely to be in place when the next NBA season starts in the fall.

“We are very careful in how we implement things,” he said, per USA Today. “We would look at it for a year, in the G League as well, and see what happens. A lot of things that we’re always trying to innovate, we’re always trying to improve the game. We’re always looking at new things.

Summer League is a great time

Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Tom Thibodeau argues with referee Ben Taylor (46) during the first half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden

to do that. G League is a great place to do that.”

USA Today reported that Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle, the president of the NBA Coaches Association, backed VanDeWeghe’s plan.

“For me, it’s not so much about the power of having a challenge, it’s really another layer of protection if a call is missed,” Carlisle said on Sirius XM NBA Radio. “Officials aren’t perfect. They’re men, not machines. If there’s any kind of trigger or something that we can add into the game that’s simple and effective and can potentially prevent us from the big bang, the call that’s really the one that’s a destructive thing, then I’m all in favor of it.”

In the G League, the NBA’s developmental circuit, each team’s coach receives only one challenge per game, and it may be used only on fouls called, goaltending/basket interference and out-ofbounds rulings.

The NBA’s challenge format

won’t involve the use of a flag like the one that NFL coaches toss, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported.

Video review in the NBA became a hot topic in the past week when a crucial call was overturned in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

Cavaliers star LeBron James originally was ruled to have drawn a charging foul from Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant in the final seconds Thursday with Cleveland ahead by two points. The referees went to replay ostensibly to check whether James’ feet were in the restricted area under the basket, but they wound up reversing the call and ruling a blocking foul on James.

Durant sank the subsequent two free throws to tie the game, and the Warriors ultimately won in overtime.

The NBA announced the next day that the refs had acted correctly on all aspects of the review and the final ruling on the play. (Reuters)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, june 5, 2018

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola

BANNED for 2 Champions League games M

anchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been suspended for two Champions League matches by UEFA for his conduct in the defeat by Liverpool.

The 47-year-old was sent off at half-time in the quarter-final second leg at Etihad Stadium on 10 April for complaining about a decision.

He misses one match next season, with a second game deferred for a year.

Liverpool were fined 30,000 euros (£25,450) over crowd incidents during the quarterfinals and semi-finals.

Former Barcelona boss Guardiola said he “did not

Pep Guardiola (left) was sent to the stands against Liverpool

Injury wrecks Williams’

audacious French title bid A

merican Serena Williams’ audacious attempt to win the French Open for a fourth time ended in crushing anti-climax on Monday as injury, rather than an old foe, forced the 36-year-old to admit defeat at Roland Garros.

The scene had been set for Williams in her ‘superhero’ catsuit to take on Russian ice queen Maria Sharapova in a fourth-round clash that had assumed top-billing.

But shortly before the two old warriors were due on court, the 23-times grand slam champion instead stepped into a news conference room to announce she was pulling out.

Williams, playing in her first Grand Slam tournament since giving birth to daughter Alexis Olympia last September, said she had suffered a pectoral muscle injury in her impressive third round victory against Germany’s Julia Goerges.

“Unfortunately I’m having some issues with my pec muscle. Right now I can’t actually serve it’s kind of hard to play,” she told a room packed with reporters.

“I’m having an MRI (scan) tomorrow, I’m going to stay here to see the doctors and see as many specialists as I can. I won’t know (how serious the injury is) until I get those results.”

Williams had worked hard to get back in shape and, despite starting the tournament with a notional ranking of 451 and having played only four matches this year, she actually looked capable of going all the way.

Dressed in the black bodysuit with a red band around the waist she resembled a superhero — not just a supermum — and was playing as if she had never been away.

Williams beat Australian 17th

seed Ashleigh Barty in the second round and turned on the style against 11th seed Goerges.

However, on Sunday she took part in a third round doubles match with sister Venus, losing 6-4 6-7(4) 6-0 to Andreja Klepac and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, and apparently aggravated an injury she had first felt the previous day.

With an 18-match winning streak against twice French champion Sharapova in her favor,

Williams said she was “beyond disappointed” not to be able to play on Monday.

“I gave up so much to time with my daughter and my fami-

ly and put everything on court for this moment,” she said.

“It’s really difficult to be in this situation, but... for now in my life, I just always try to think positively and just think of the bigger picture and hopefully (I can play in) the next events and the rest of the year.

“I’m going to continue to get better.

I had such a wonderful performance in my first Grand Slam back.”

Five-times Grand Slam champion Sharapova, who despite her long run of defeats by Williams is still considered an arch-rival, wished her nemesis a “speedy recovery”.

“I was looking forward to my match against Serena today and am disappointed that she had to withdraw,” the 28th seed said.

Sharapova, herself making a French Open comeback after missing the last two editions following a doping ban, will face either Garbine Muguruza or Lesia Tsurenko in the last eight.

Williams said she would have to wait to find out the extent of the injury before deciding whether she can play at Wimbledon.

But former world number one Kim Clijsters, who returned from having a baby to win the U.S. Open in 2009, said injuries of this nature are only to be expected for new mums returning to the top tier of sport.

“We were all looking forward to this match and excited to see what the outcome would be,” she told Eurosport.

“Pregnancy and birth is physically very demanding and you deal with new injuries that you are not used to. In the first part of my career I’d have recurring injuries and then after I had (daughter) Jada I had new injuries.”

The Belgian believes Williams can still add to her Grand Slam collection, though.

“I think Serena can get close to winning another Grand Slam. I think it’s these kind of new situations that she’ll go home and learn a lot about how she is feeling,” Clijsters added. (Reuters) Serena Williams

insult” referee Mateu Lahoz when protesting that a disallowed goal shortly before half-time should have stood.

City were leading 1-0 but trailing 3-1 on aggregate when Leroy Sane was adjudged offside despite firing in after the ball deflected into his path off Liverpool midfielder James Milner’s knee.

Liverpool won the match 2-1 to seal a 5-1 aggregate victory.

They lost the final 3-1 to Real Madrid.

Guardiola will miss City’s first game of the Champions League next season, although a second match will only be added if he receives disciplinary action for a further offence next

season.

European football’s governing body fined Liverpool 20,000 euros (£17,500) for crowd disturbances, acts of damage, the throwing of objects and setting off of fireworks during the first leg against City at Anfield on 4 April.

Reds supporters attacked City’s team bus on its way to the stadium, prompting a police investigation.

They were also fined 6,000 euros (£5,200) for fans setting off fireworks and throwing objects during the second leg and a further 3,000 euros (£2,600) for use of fireworks during the semi-final second leg at Roma. (BBCSport)

West Ham manager Pellegrini mugged at gunpoint in Chile

W

Manuel Pellegrini

est Ham’s manager Manuel Pellegrini has been mugged at gunpoint in Chile.

Pellegrini, 64, who won the Premier League with Manchester City in 2014, was on his way to a restaurant in Santiago with his wife and two friends when they were targeted by a gang.

A spokesman for West Ham United said: “We are relieved to hear that Manuel and his wife were both unharmed.”

In a Tweet written in Spanish, Pellegrini thanked Chilean police for their “quick and courageous” response.

The club’s joint chairman, David Sullivan, has been in touch with him to offer “good wishes and support” following the mugging on Saturday evening.

The Chilean newspaper, La Cuarta, said Pellegrini’s wife had her purse stolen by the group.

An official told the newspaper the gang shot at police before driving away in a stolen Porsche.

Another local news report said officers recovered the purse when they found the car abandoned.

The former Manchester City and Real Madrid manager left his job with Hebei China Fortune last month.

(BBCSport)

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21

Madhoo confirmed for DARTS championships A

s the Guyanese darts contingent prepares to compete in Trinidad and Tobago in July, members have pulled out all the stops in order to make sure that they are successful at the Americas Cup and Caribbean Championships.

As such, the man who can be regarded as Guyana’s best darts player is scheduled to travel to the Caribbean to participate in the highly-anticipated competition. Norman Madhoo will be flying to Guyana from Florida within a week’s time, in order to prepare for the competition with local players.

Madhoo is no stranger to success in the darts arena; in fact, he is the former Guyanese national champion, a title he held consistently for 10 years. His accomplishments include victories at the Caribbean and South American masters in 2003, 2009 and 2010. He then went on to become the only person to represent Guyana, the Caribbean, and South America at the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship hosted in London on four separate occasions.

Norman Madhoo competes at the world championships

The Americas Cup and Caribbean Championships are slated to run from July 6-16, and Guyana have named a 13-member male and female team, which have had success in the past. That team include reigning singles champion Sudesh Fitzgerald, Luis Miguel Ramirez, Lallchand

Rambharose, Norman Madhoo, Adrian Damon, Fedel Hunter, Andrew Balchand, Mary Correia, Melisa Smartt, Shondell Hyles, Hemwantie Balchand and Victorine Chandro.

The Guyanese team will seek to add to their titles while defending their male singles and doubles titles.

Can Afghanistan land knockout blow?

T

he ease with which Afghanistan won the series opener on Sunday should set some alarm bells ringing in the Bangladesh camp. Just like that, it’s back to a do-or-die situation as the teams prepare for the second T20I on Tuesday.

Bangladesh’s fast bowlers seemed out of their depth, and were somewhat carried along by Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah, who delivered timely wickets. Shakib chose to not bowl his spinners (himself included) in the last four overs, a mistake in hindsight. With Abu Javed and Abul Hasan looking far from settled in the international arena just yet, it was unusual to give them such a big responsibility of the death overs. They paid the price for it on Sunday, as Afghanistan scored 71 off the last five.

Not all is lost yet, though, for Bangladesh. Their top and middle order is accomplished and experienced enough to fight back, but key to how they fare will be their plans against Afghanistan’s trump cards: Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.

The Afghanistan players go into a huddle

Not everything is rosy for Afghanistan. They frittered away a solid start with the bat, stuttered briefly but were helped by the strength of their lower order. Can they fire in unison?

One thing is for sure: after Sunday, Afghanistan will be supremely confident of defending anything over 150.

In his last innings prior to this series, Shafiqullah made an unbeaten 89-ball 200 in a firstclass match, with 11 fours and 22 sixes. On Sunday, his eightball 24 gave Afghanistan rapid runs in the end overs to help them wrest momentum at the

halfway mark. This much is sure: he is a big hitter and is perhaps unlucky at not being picked in the Test squad. Tuesday is another opportunity to leave an imprint.

So much has been talked of Mahmudullah the finisher these days. He proved it in the Nidahas Trophy in March and has done it regularly in the Bangladesh Premier League. Along with Shakib, he’s a key all-round force in Bangladesh’s T20 side. In the first T20I, he even picked up two wickets in his only over. That said, the team management will still prefer important contributions

with the bat from him. Can he deliver to keep the series alive?

Barring injuries, it is hard to see Afghanistan change a winning combination, even though they have some multiskilled players like Najeeb Tarakai or Gulbadin Naib in the reserves.

Afghanistan (probable): Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Usman Ghani, Asghar Stanikzai (capt), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Nabi, Samiullah Shenwari, Shafiqullah, Rashid Khan, Karim Janat, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Shapoor Zadran Bangladesh (probable): Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mahmudullah, Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarkar/ Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan/Abul Hasan, Abu Jayed, Rubel Hossain, Nazmul Islam If Bangladesh do end up pressing the panic button, there’s a good chance they’ll slot in Soumya Sarkar in place of Mosaddek Hossain. The Dehradun surface - slow and low - could mean some match time for offspinning allrounder Mehidy Hasan.

Liverpool keeper concussed during NOT RECEIVING Champions League final – doctors YOUR

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iverpool goalkeeper have been felt immediately.

Loris Karius Dr Ross Zafonte said it was sustained a “possible” the injury concussion during last “would affect month’s Champions performance”.

League final defeat by He came to his Real Madrid, doctors conclusion after have said. reviewing “game film”, Karius, 24, was at a “physical examination” fault for the Spanish and “objective metrics”. side’s first and third Dr Zafonte said Karius goals in their 3-1 had suffered from “visual victory in Kiev spatial dysfunction”, a process on 26 May. which hampers a person’s ability to T h e process visual information about German where objects are in space. had tests at He said it was “likely” hospitals in that would have occurred Boston in immediately after the event the United that caused the concussion.

States, Karius collided with Real and medics defender Sergio Ramos said the early in the second half impact of the of the final - when the concussion score was goalless Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius was “likely” to although doctors have

not pinpointed the moment he was concussed.

Minutes after that collision, Karius threw the ball against Real striker Karim Benzema, and it rolled home to give the Spaniards the lead.

Liverpool equalised through Sadio Mane, but Gareth Bale scored a stunning overhead kick then netted Real’s third when Karius let a shot from long range slip through his hands.

In the aftermath of the game, Karius received death threats, prompting a police investigation, and told fans he was “infinitely sorry”.

After being assessed at Massachusetts General Hospital and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, he is said to have shown “significant and steady improvement since the concussive event”.

“We expect him to make a full recovery based on the results of the examination,” added Dr Zafonte.

Karius, who joined Liverpool for £4.75m from Mainz in 2016, was reportedly on holiday in the US when he was tested.

22

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tuesDAY, june 5, 2018

GRFU begins prep for

international engagements

Flashback! Guyana and Bermuda compete in the RAN U-19 Championships

G

uyana’s ruggers will kick off their international engagements for 2018 in the next two months as they prepare for the Casco Games, Americas Rugby Challenge 15s Championships and RAN Sevens Championships.

These tournaments will serve as qualifiers for the 2019 Pan American Games in Peru.

Casco Games

The men’s rugby sevens team form part of the Guyana Olympic Association contingent to the Casco Games. The sevens team are billed to depart July 29 for Barranquilla, Colombia to play in an eight-team championship before returning on August 4.

The shortlisted players, comprising mainly the 2017 finalists who lost to Jamaica, will be without the services of three main players – Rickford Cummings, Dominic Lespierre and Vallon Adams due to work commitments.

GRFU President Peter Greene is expected to serve as Manager of the team.

Shortlisted players asked to report to Coach Lawrence Adonis immediately are Dwayne Schroeder (Captain); Richard Staglon (Vice Captain); Claudius Butts; Patrick King; Avery Corbin; Peabo Hamilton; Ronald Mayers; Jamal Angus; Godfrey Broomes; Rondel McArthur; Osei McKenzie; Lancelot Adonis;

Ryan Gonsalves and Philip Barrington (Physio).

Americas Rugby Challenge

Arguably the biggest challenge of their history to date, Guyana will be participating in the newlyformed Americas Rugby Challenge. They will lock horns with the top tier of their group featuring the likes of world-ranked USA (15th); Canada (21st); Argentina (8th); Uruguay (18th) and Chile (29th).

Guyana, ranked at 48th, will play Paraguay (40th); Colombia (41st) and Mexico (54th), who were chosen over Trinidad and Tobago (52nd),

over one week with a rest period of three days after each game on August 25 and 29 and September 2.

With this in mind, the National Selectors have released a long list of players from whom the touring party of 29 will be selected. Persons listed are asked to submit passport and registration details to the Union’s Secretary, Petal Adams. Clubs can uplift forms on behalf of their players. Players listed are asked to report to Coach Kenneth Grant Stuart and Assistant Coach Oslen Olivierre. Unlisted players are welcome to present themselves for training and possible selection.

The shortlisted players

are Rondel McArthur, Ryan Gonsalves, Dwayne Schroeder, Kiefer Lopes, Rickford Cummings, Patrick King, Phibian Joseph, Delroy Gordon, Avery Corbin, Lloyd Anderson, Jason Tyrell, Cloyd Prowell, Lancelot Adonis, Jose Felicien, Sean Phillips, Daniel Anderson, Elwin Chase, Dillon De Abreu, Joshua Griffith, Peabo Hamilton, Joseph Rahaman, Jacques Archibald, Ronald Mayers, Cyon Kitt, Reign Dey, David Grant, Glenroy Poole, Godfrey Broomes, Kevin McKenzie, Kurt Hunte, Jamal Angus, Dillon Downer, Aluko Venture, Osei McKenzie, Ahmad Isaacs, Troynton Braithwaite, Osafo Selman, Lonsdale Browne, Telroy McAlmont, Claudius Butts, Daniel De Abreu, Vallon Adams, Michael Barrow, Richard Staglon, Rashad Butcher, Kevon David, James Osbourne, Allain Crawford, Shaquan Williams, Akeem Frazier, Lionel Holder, O’neil Charles, and Grantley Williams.

RAN 7s Championships and Pan Am Qualifiers

The 2018 RAN Sevens Championships slated for September 22-23 in Barbados will be attended by both the Male and Female teams. The GRFU would like the women’s team to commence immediate training under the eyes of Coaches Theodore Henry and Sabola Gray. Training will also be in preparation for the 2019

Women’s T e n s Championships.

Overseas-based former national and potential players of Guyanese heritage not listed and interested in making the team are asked to become registered.

Women’s list: Alana Fraser, Natasha Andrews, Alicia Mentore, Collette Hope, Sasha James, Cloetta Dublin, Shonette McFarlane, Lotoya Cordis, Mandy Browne, Cindy Fraser, Tricia Munroe, Carrin Skeete, Carrin Carter, Ashanti Carrington, Kean Andrews, Nicole Nero, Helen Jervis, Alicia Blackman, Tiffany Pilgrim, Olana Reece, Andrea Lashley, Calanda Morrison, Ronesha Cornelius, Melissa Perry, Tamera Cameron, Sheriah Melville, A Wilson, O Grant and D Josiah.

Under-18 and Under-20 continue training

The national junior teams continue training under the watchful eyes of National Coaches Adonis, Grant Stuart and Olivierre for upcoming international tournaments along with engagements with both Caribbean and South American teams. A domestic league featuring the players is expected to commence in October and conclude in December.

Guyanese boxers advance Ninvalle, Van Lange impress at to SA Games semi-finals GTTA Junior National C/ships T T wo of Guyana’s fastrising boxers have proven why they are amongst the best in the nation, as they participated in the 2018 South American Games, in Cochabamba, Bolivia on Sunday evening.

Colin “Superman” Lewis and Keevin Allicock, who often compete against each other on the home turf, found themselves in separate weight classes when they were ready to face off with the seemingly better South American opponents.

The first of the pair to grace the Bolivian ring in the bantamweight class was Allicock, who faced off with Lucas Fernandez of Uruguay.

Allicock, who was clearly in control of the match-up from t h e first bell, connected j a b after jab to the Venezuelan, leaving him to use blocks and holds as his only resort. As such, the winner’s announcement was no shock to the spectators. The 19-yearold junior sportsman of the year has secured his spot on

the Bolivia 2018 podium with at least a bronze medal.

Competing in the light welterweight category, ‘Superman’ Lewis found himself in the ring with Venezuelan Jose Palacios Medina. The intense match-up saw both parties throwing punch after punch and at the end of their allotted rounds, it was unclear to the boisterous fans who would come out victorious. Eventually, it was the Guyanese superman who was announced as the winner. Like Allicock, Lewis has guaranteed himself a spot on t h e Bolivian podium.

In the respective s e m i -

he Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Junior National Championships wrapped up at the National Gymnasium on Sunday with an impressive battle for bragging rights of the Boys’ Under-15 title between Kaysan Ninvalle and Niran Bissu.

Johnathon Van Lange

finals, Allicock will come up against Carlos Maria Colin “Superman” Lewis

Alanis of Argentina while Lewis faces off with John Lennon of Colombia.

When the fat lady came home to sing, it was 13-year-old Ninvalle who emerged victorious 3-2.

The first two sets went in his favour 11-7, 13-11. In the second set, Bissu had a chance to level proceedings after coming back from a 1-4 deficit to carry the set to deuce, but faulted on the set point as Ninvalle played a tackle advantage by

pressuring Bissu’s forearm play which surprisingly was not clicking.

Bissu, who is from the Titans Club, took the next two sets 11-6, 11-8, but lost the final set 11-4.

In the semi-finals, Ninvalle defeated Jonathan Van Lange 11-1, 11-9, 12-10, while Bissu took care of clubmate Isiah Layne 11-5, 10-12, 11-1, 11-9.

The Under-15 Girls’ title went to Navaeh Clarkston, who produced a clinical display against Thuraia Thomas, who won the Under-13 title the previous day.

Clarkston won 11-2, 11-7, 11-5. Added to her trophy collection was the Under-18 accolade for which she had matched skills with Titans’ clubmate Thomas. She won that match 11-8, 11-6, 13-11.

For the Boys’ Under-13 title, Van Lange had a change in fortunes against Ninvalle in the final. It was another robust exhibition by the young lads, who played to a five-set match.

Van Lange took the first two sets 11-9, 14-12, but allowed Ninvalle to come back into the fray by going down 5-11, 10-12.

It was beginning to look like he was in for another heartbreak in the match set, but he had just enough determination to pip Ninvalle 11-9.

The Under-18 Boys category had some

upsets as title favourite Miguel Wong was ousted by Bissu in the quarter-finals. Bissu went on to lose to eventual champion Nickolas Romain in the semi-finals.

Romain won the final against Jamal Nicholas quite emphatically 11-5, 11-7, 8-11, 11-4; Nicholas had stopped a ragging Van Lange in the other semi-final 16-14, 11-4, 17-15.

O t h e r winners of the threed a y event

were C o l i n W o n g (U-11); Jasmine Billingy (U-9 and U-11); Emmanuel Jeffery (Male Novices) and Shania Narine ( F e m a l e Novices).

Kaysan Ninvalle

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, june 5, 2018

23

Global T20 GFF appoints Jamaican Canada Michael Johnson as League teams Golden Jags Head Coach confirmed

T

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has announced the appointment of former Jamaican international and UEFA Pro Licence holder Michael Johnson as the new Head Coach of the Guyana men’s national football team.

With the UEFA Pro Licence and the League Managers Association Diploma in Football Management, Johnson is the most qualified national coach in the history of the Golden Jaguars.

The 44-year-old British national brings a wealth of professional coaching and playing experience to the role, alongside sparkling recommendations from the English Football Association, former England Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and the English Premier League.

“I just can’t wait to get started – I’m really looking forward to the project the GFF President and the Technical Director have set out,” Johnson said. “The attraction of the role was the direction of Guyana: The GFF is looking to really make strides: to qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup and to break into the FIFA top 100.

But it’s not just about results, it’s also about helping to grow the infrastructure of the country regarding coach education, youth talent, and the possible links between our nations – that’s what’s

belongs – a Caribbean exciting.” football powerhouse Johnson was the at the top of the standout candidate regional rankings. from more than 200 applications received from “I also would like all over the world. All but to take this one of the shortlisted opportunity candidates to offer my selected by the heartfelt GFF following thanks a rigorous a n d recruitment respect process had to former obtained interim the UEFA C o a c h Pro Licence Wayne Dover – the highest for his ongoing c o a c h i n g service to qualification in football, and global football. to the many “The impressive GFF team is a p p l i ca nt s delighted for the to welcome h u g e M i c h a e l i n t e r e s t Johnson on board generated –- the best qualified by this role,” national coach Forde said. in the history Johnson will of the Golden visit Guyana Jaguars.

With shortly to meet his professional the GFF team, e x p e r t i s e players, football and top-level sta ke h o l d e rs experience as a and the player, Michael n a t i o n a l will set a new The media, and gold standard Golden to observe for football in Jaguars’ newlyprogress in the Guyana,” said GFF appointed construction President Wayne Head of the GFF Forde. “The GFF Coach, N a t i o n a l is determined to Michael Training Centre elevate Guyana Johnson at Providence. to the level it

Johnson was part of the Jamaican national squad that competed at the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup and boasts a professional playing career spanning two decades in the English Football League Championship and the English Premier League with clubs such as Derby County and Birmingham City.

His coaching career includes successful stints at Cardiff City, Birmingham City and Notts County. He is currently an ambassador for Derby County, and it is expected that this connection will bring benefits for Guyana, including technical development exchanges, player scouting, and the hosting of training camps and international friendlies in England.

“Michael comes with outstanding references from the very highest level of the game, including former England Manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and the English FA. He fits perfectly with the profile we were looking for as we look to build for the future and prepare young Guyanese talent for success at international level,” said GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood. “With Michael in charge, we are confident we can qualify for the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, on our way to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”

Cummings Lodge win tape-ball competition

D

avid Warner will join Steve Smith in making their cricket comeback at the Global T20 Canada League after being picked by Winnipeg Hawks in the player draft on Sunday.

Guyana off-spinner Steven Jacobs was bought by Vancouver Knights, while Dilon Heyliger and Jeremy Gordon, Guyanese who are playing their trade overseas, were also bought at the draft.

Earlier, Smith was named one of the 10 proposed marquee players. The other marquee players are Shahid Afridi, David Miller, Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Chris Lynn, Darren Sammy and Lasith Malinga. The league will comprise six teams that will play 22 games beginning June 28, while the final will be played on July 15.

Both Smith and Warner were suspended for 12 months by Cricket Australia following their involvement in the infamous ball tampering scandal that took place earlier this year in the Newlands Test against South Africa. However, the board had cleared the banned troika, which includes Cameron Bancroft (suspended for nine months) to play grade cricket.

Warner will also be seen in the Darwin Strike League in July, alongside Bancroft. While Bancroft will be available for the entire duration of the tournament, Warner will feature in two 50-over matches on July 21 and 22. At the Darwin Strike League, the former Australia vice-captain will play for Randwick Petersham, his club in Sydney.

Final team listings:

The triumphant Cummings Lodge team

C

ummings Lodge Secondary School won the Dexter Cush/Johil Store School Boys Tapeball Knockout Competition, which was played on Saturday on the D’Urban Park Tarmac where seven

schools competed.

In the final, Cummings Lodge defeated North Georgetown Secondary, who batted first and scored 70-3 in their six overs. Nkosi Beaton topscored with 34.

When the eventual vic-

tors replied, they reached 74 without loss as Keshire Seepersaud (40) and Deoram Narine (16) weathered the storm. Beaton and Seepersaud took the honours for best players in the competition and were awarded.

Other teams taking part in the competition were RBI, Sophia Special School, IAE Guyana Education Trust College and St John’s College.

The next competition is scheduled for June 16.

In the players’ draft conducted on June 3, a coach was to pick two marquee players from the list already announced and then 14 others players from a pool.

Toronto Nationals got the first pick. Four spots in each side were set aside for Canadians.

Toronto Nationals: Darren Sammy [marquee player], Steven Smith [marquee player], Kieron Pollard, Kamran Akmal, Hussain Talat, Ruman Rias, Nikhil Dutta, Johnson Charles, Kesrick Williams, N a v e e d A h m e d , Nazakat Khan, Farhan Malik, Nitesh Kumar, U s a m a Mir, Rohan

Mustafa, Muhammad Umair Ghani Vancouver Knights: Chris Gayle [marquee player], Andre Russell [marquee player], Evin Lewis, Tim Southee, Chadwick Walton, Fawad Ahmed, Babar Hayat, Sheldon Cottrell, Saad Bin Zafar, Ruvindu Gunasekera, Srimantha Wijeratne, Kamau Leverock, Steven Jacobs, Hiral Patel, Rassie Van Der Dussen, Jeremy Gordon Winnipeg Hawks: Dwayne Bravo [marquee player], David Miller [marquee player], David Warner, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Fidel Edwards, Rayad Emrit, Ben McDermott, Ali Khan, Hamza Tariq, Junaid Siddique, Tion Webster, Rizwan Cheema, Hiral Patel, Mark Deyal, Kyle Phillip Montreal Tigers: Lasith Malinga [marquee player], Sunil Narine [marquee player], Thisara Perera, Mohammad Hafeez, Denesh Ramdin, Sandeep Lamichhane, Sikandar Raza, Dasun Shanaka, Isuru Udana, George Worker, Najibullah Zadran, Cecil Pervez, Mohammad Ibrahim Khaleel, Dilon Heyliger, Nicholas Kirton, Rayyankhan Pathan Edmonton Royals: Shahid Afridi [marquee player], Chris Lynn [marquee player], Luke Ronchi, Mohammed Irfan, Sohail Tanvir, Christiaan Jonker, Wayne Parnell, Asif Ali, Hasan Khan, Agha Salman, Shaiman Anwar, Anmar Khalid, Satsimranjit Dhindsa, Ahmed Raza, Simon Pervez, Abraash Khan A sixth team, which is a representative side from Cricket West Indies, will also take part i n t h e tourn a ment.

(Cricbuzz)

Steven Jacobs

tuesDAY, june 5, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

GRFU begins prep for international engagements Pg 22

Cummings Lodge win tape-ball competition GFF appoints Jamaican Michael Johnson as Golden Jags Head Coach

Pg 23

Pg 23

The triumphant Cummings Lodge team

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