Guyanatime 7 april 2018

UK plugs $837M into upgrade 5 hospitals P9 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Gunmen invade Cuyuni mining …kill miner, escape with camp 100 ounces of gold guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3526

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Page 3

Crying GDF Captain remanded for killing lover …court orders psychiatric evaluation Page 2

2 teens, mother charged for killing Berbice security guard Page 9

Pavement parking?

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Hold public, Private Sector to higher standards – Fmr GCCI P7 President

…urges citizens to be more proactive in demanding better

US$900M loan

Loan will be a mortgage on Guyana’s future – economic P16 advisor

…warns Govt over staking debt on oil sector

“Archaic” expired P10 drug disposal system needs modernising – Minister Lawrence Anna Regina Deputy Mayor outraged over continuous “blackout” P10

…slams GPL for removal of generator

Commuters were forced to walk on the roadway in the busy Stabroek Market, near the minibus park, after this inconsiderate driver parked on the payment opposite the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts (Carl Croker photo)

3 arrested for threatening to kill President Granger Page 3

US$110M

PSC questions GPL figures

Page 15

…notes need for fact-based studies

Taxi driver P8 charged for sexual grooming Mae’s 42% fee hike Financial P2 arrangement with students, parents are private – Harmon … parents to protest on Monday

2 news

SATURDAY, April 7, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Crying GDF Captain remanded for killing lover …court orders psychiatric evaluation

S

cores of persons gathered early Friday morning outside of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to get a glimpse of the former Chief-of-Staff’s Aide-de-Camp, the interdicted Captain Orwain Sandy, who has been slapped with a murder charge after he allegedly killed his lover, Reona Payne.

A tearful Sandy, 36, of Lot 130 Section C Grove, East Bank Demerara, was arraigned before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, whose court heard that Sandy shot his lover Reona Payne on March 31, 2018 at Alexander Village, Georgetown, where the two were allegedly involved in an argument.

Sandy’s attorney, James Bond, making application for his client to be examined by a private psychiatrist, informed the court that the examination is critical to his client’s well-being, since he

A weeping Orwain Sandy being escorted by Police officers at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts

has been consulting with a psychiatrist for the past two years.

Police Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt made no objection to the application being granted.

Moreover, Magistrate Latchman granted application for Sandy to be mentally evaluated.

Sandy was remanded to

prison, and the case will continue on April 24.

An autopsy revealed that Payne, who was a travel agent at Muneshwer’s Travel Service, received fourteen gunshot wounds to her body.

Reports are that Sandy and Payne were in a motorcar proceeding along First Street, Alexander Village when an argument ensued

after he reportedly accused her of being unfaithful. It was reported that he stopped the car, and as the woman exited, he shot her several times with his service revolver.

He left her lifeless body on the roadway and went to the Ruimveldt Police Station, where he surrendered, informing ranks what he had done moments earlier.

This publication was told that the argument ensued after Sandy had confronted Payne about having an affair with one of his colleagues.

Meanwhile, following the shooting, the GDF, in a statement, said Sandy has been interdicted from duty, and a Board of Inquiry has been established to probe the incident.

Sandy, who two years ago graduated from the University of Guyana with a Degree in Sociology, was regarded by his peers as progressive.

Teen among 3 nabbed with guns, ganja

P

olice ranks in ‘C’ Division (East Coast Demerara) on Friday morning arrested three men from Sophia, Greater Georgetown, after they were separately found in possession of illegal weapons and ammunition, along with a quantity of marijuana.

The discovery was reportedly made during an intelligence-led operation.

The ranks were able to seize one Taurus .40 pistol with six live rounds, two .32 Special revolvers with four live rounds, and 79

grams of cannabis sativa.

Among the three suspects in custody is a 16-year-old whom Police say is currently being investigated for armed robbery allegedly committed on a resident of Sophia on Thursday.

Guyana Times understands that the Police operation stemmed from that robbery report. At some time on Thursday night, 34-year-old Abinda Accra, a painter of ‘C’ Field, Sophia, was robbed of his cell phone and a sum of cash by an armed teenag-

The illegal guns and ammunition which were found by Police

er. A report was made to the Police, and based on the victim’s description of

his attacker, the Police realized that they have the suspect under surveillance.

As such, ranks went in search of the young man, and found him on Friday morning at his ‘C’ Field home. Found in possession of a .32 Special revolver, he told investigators during interrogation that he had rented the weapon from another resident of the area.

This information led Police to the residence of that individual, and a search conducted on the premises unearthed the .40 Taurus pistol and the second .32 Special revolver under a pillow in the suspect’s room.

The ranks also arrested another occupant of the premises, after he was found in possession of narcotics.

This newspaper was further told that Accra (robbery victim) returned to the station on Friday morning after word of the arrests spread in the community. While there, he immediately pointed out the 16-year-old as the person who had robbed him.

Upon searching through the teenager’s belongings, it was revealed that the cell phone he had in his possession belonged to Accra.

The trio remains in Police custody, assisting with further investigations.

Mae’s 42% fee hike

Financial arrangement with students, parents are private – Harmon

…parents to protest on Monday

Mae’s Schools at Third Avenue, Subryanville, Georgetown

I

n light of the recent 42 per cent hike in fees by Mae’s Schools, Minister of State Joseph Harmon said the matter has not engaged the attention of Cabinet but did note that the arrangement between the private institution and the parents of students attending same is one that is private; hence he cannot make a definitive statement on it.

“The Ministry of Education would have to have a look at this to see whether it is in fact an unreasonable impost on citizens. But certainly the private schools, the arrangement with students and parents I believe is a private arrangement and is something which maybe it will have an impact on so much people in society maybe the MoE would have to have a look at it,” Harmon said.

“During last year when the Government introduced some fees on the private schools, there was a big hue and a cry from the same citizens that are complaining that the private schools are charging them as much as 42 per cent increase,” he added. When asked about the status of the Education Bill, Harmon noted that he cannot speak to the status of that and efforts to contact Education Minister Nicolette Henry to determine the status proved futile. Additionally, the parents of students attending Mae’s Schools have indicat-

ed that they will be hosting a picketing exercise on Monday between the hours of 11:30h and 13:00h.

According to the parents, they received notice of the increase just before school closed for Easter, indicating school fees for the Christmas Term will be increased by up to 42 per cent depending on the Grade.

For playgroup, fees were raised from $35,000 per term to $50,000; nursery $45,000 to $60,000; primary Grades One to Four – $60,000 to $75,000; Grade Five, $70,000 ($60,000 + $10,000 lessons fee); Grade Six from $70,000 (60,000 + 10,000 lessons fee) to $80,000 ($60,000 + $20,000 lessons fee). Additionally, this publication was told that fees for the secondary department was also raised from $80,000 to $90,000.

According to the School’s Administrator, Stacey French, the increase is due to the fact that the school’s costs to do business have increased, as well as the challenge of hiring teachers who are both motivated and experienced, in addition to overall operational costs.

In 2014, then Education Minister Priya Manickchand tabled the Education Bill of 2014, which was read in Parliament. Then in 2017, the Ministry of Education said the regularisation of all private education institutions will be provided for under the new Education Act.

news

3

SATURDAY, April 7, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Gunmen invade Cuyuni mining camp

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

…kill miner, escape with 100 ounces of gold

Saturday, April 7 – 09:30h-11:00h and Sunday, April 8 – 10:30h-12:00h.

By Vahnu Manikchand

D

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, April 7 – 08:30h-10:00h and Sunday, April 8 – 10:05h-11:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thunderstorms can be expected throughout the day, with drizzles and partly cloudy skies in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 08:40h and 21:21h reaching maximum heights of 2.28 metres and 2.12 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 02:14h and 14:47h reaching minimum heights of 1.01 metre and 0.96 metre respectively.

ominican Republic national Pedro Pablo Rosario, a night supervisor at a camp, was shot and killed at about 02:00h on Friday when a group of armed and masked bandits invaded that mining camp at Black Water Backdam, Cuyuni River, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

According to information reaching Guyana Times, the 55-year-old Rosario and four other workers were on duty while other workers were at the dredge, about 30 feet away, when the gunmen pounced on them.

Rosario was reportedly relaxing in a hammock at the watch camp when one of the bandits confronted him and discharged a round that fatally struck him. The three suspects then went to the dredge area, where they held the workers at gunpoint and removed two gold mats from the sluice box before making good their escape.

This newspaper understands that the owner of the camp reportedly told investigators that a total of 100 ounces of raw gold were on the mats to settle. Divisional Commander, Senior Superintendent Kevin Adonis, told the Guyana Times on Friday that the Police received a report of a robbery under arms that morning, and a team of investigators were immediately dispatched to the

area.

The Divisional Commander disclosed on Friday evening that the body of the 55-year-old night supervisor has been air dashed to Georgetown. A post mortem examination is expected to be performed on Monday.

No arrest has as yet been made, but investigations are ongoing. This incident comes on the heels of persons operating mining camps in the

tacted, that because the men were on Venezuela’s side of the river, there was not much local law enforcement could do. He said the Police have since been urging persons traversing the river to remain on Guyana’s side of the border.

Miners are calling for Government to provide security escort for them while travelling past the Sindicato camps.

State Minister Joseph

Cuyuni region complaining bitterly over security threats, particularly from members of the Venezuela-based Sindicato gang.

In a letter of complaint to the media last weekend, the concerned operators disclosed that the gang has set up two camps in the Cuyuni River, and would usually rob persons (both Guyanese and Venezuelans) passing by in boats; and when persons fail to stop, they would open fire on them.

Commander Adonis had told this newspaper, when con-

Harmon, at the post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday, assured residents in frontline communities along Guyana’s border with Venezuela that steps are being taken to ensure their safety and security.

He noted that while Government has set aside “sufficient resources” for the security forces – both the Police and army – to respond to reports of attacks along the border, at the same time a lot of those State resources are being wasted to verify the credibility of such re-

ports, which he said are sometimes mere nuisance reports.

The State Minister has emphasised the importance of protecting the country’s border, noting that the National Security Council had earlier this week discussed the increasing attacks along the western border, and coming out of that meeting is a high-level security visit to those borderline areas.

“A very high level delegation has gone in there, commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), a Senior Superintendent from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), and representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources… “They’ve had specific briefings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, (which) basically deals with matters in relation to the border, and (they understand) the need for them to exercise caution in dealing with these matters,” Harmon stated.

Additionally, a Parliamentary Oversight Committee on the Security Sector team, led by Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, also recently visited the Region.

Over the past months, President David Granger has been visiting frontline communities along the border with Venezuela, and has announced several measures to beef up security in those areas, including an increased presence of Community Policing Group (CPG) members.

3 arrested for threatening to kill President Granger

R

wednesDAY, april 4, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS O

09

11 18

21

22

24

01 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 2018

DAILY MILLIONS 04 07 11 13

22

LUCKY 3 2 0 0

3

Afternoon Draw DRAW DE LINE

06

08

11

13

6

2

Evening Draw

14

17

20

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

anks of the Guyana Police Force have arrested three persons, including a pensioner, over phone calls made to the emergency hotline by persons threatening to kill President David Granger.

According to a brief statement from the Police Public Relations Department on Friday, “…Investigation continues into threatening phone calls made against the life of His Excellency, President David Granger…”

These calls were received and recorded on the 911 emergency system at Brickdam on March 20, 2018.

The 65-year-old suspect is said to be a resident from the East Coast of Demerara.

This is not the first time that threats have been made against the life of the Head of State.

Police Commissioner

some $7 million was allegedly offered to carry out the act. However, after several weeks of Police investigations, President Granger ordered a Commission of Inquiry into the alleged assassination plot. The Commission found that while some aspects of the allegation have a “ring of

President David Granger

David Ramnarine had confirmed in November last that Police are investigating reports of an inmate at the Lusignan Prison calling the 911 emergency line and threatening to kill President Granger and officers of the Guyana Police Force.

Reports surfaced in March last year of an alleged plot to assassinate the Head of State, and

truth, it was not confirmed during the inquiry.”

Additionally, a 52-yearold resident of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo, Bibi Safoora Salim, was charged after she allegedly used Facebook to issue threatening and derogatory statements against the Head of State.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, April 7, 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

Agricultural industries

F

rom time to time, over the years, there has been talk of developing new agricultural industries. The media, and in particular the Government-owned media, have carried reports, sometimes with photographs, conveying the impression that such industries would be income-earners within months. For example, there was talk of the massive production of white potatoes quickly replacing imports or of the production of turmeric and other spices. Unfortunately, the optimistic hopes propagated to the public have never materialised.

The various agricultural industries talked of were quite feasible to be developed but the State never went far enough to accord effective incentives to prospective producers.

The coconut industry is one which could be a moneyspinner for the country. Coconut could be an industry which could produce scores of by-products for which there is an export as well as a local demand. Coconuts and its by-products are now in growing demand worldwide. Coconut oil, which was once wrongly labelled as highly in cholesterol, is now regarded as among the best cooking oils, many consumers preferring it to olive and canola oils. It was, therefore, no surprise that in a recent report, a British investor was coming into the industry.

Most of the old coconut-growing families who had large estates have gone out of business. In the Pomeroon area, for instance, there is only one big producer left.

The Agriculture Ministry and the Lands and Surveys Commission should be able to locate good coconutgrowing lands and advertise for suitable takers.

The economic advantages of the Industry should be widely disseminated in both the print and electronic media. The numerous profitable by-products which could easily be produced should be made known to the public as well as the available markets should also be made known to producers. The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) has the capacity to offer some of the best technical advice to the industry, among the best in the Caribbean and South America.

The coconut industry seemed to have contracted over the last two decades: Coconut oil has been largely replaced by foreign imports. Dried coconuts are still exported but in lesser quantities than formerly. Coconut fibre was widely used in upholstery and fibre mattresses were once the preferred type. Now, fibre mattresses are never used. Today, a great part of coconut production is used to provide coconut water. One producer exports it to Trinidad for canning. The cans carry no reference to its Guyanese origin. Guyana has the ability and the capacity to produce all the spices used on the local market and the world markets but yet the country imports almost all of its spices. NAREI has long had an Indian expert helping in this field and most of the spices demanded on the world markets could be successfully and economically produced in Guyana. Once there is the demand, NAREI could produce adequate planting material to satisfy all needs.

As in the coconut industry, Government should take the initiative of freely giving out long-term leases with guarantees of later freehold ownership once the crop designated is efficiently and profitably cultivated. The knowledge of the use of many of these spices has to be resuscitated. For example, turmeric is used as a painkiller and a preventative of Alzheimer and other types of dementia and this quality of the spice is widely recognised.

An infrastructure of international packing standards already exists in Guyana.

Both the coconut and spice industries could become highly profitable within the next three or four years but this could only be achieved if the Government makes available suitable land to prospective farmers, intense agricultural extension services, soft loans and marketing exploration. Government should take the initiative in this instance and not depend on the Private Sector.

One of the models representing marine life that was entered by a hinterland student at the biennial Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) fair. The project features a marine cleaner which is aimed at reducing the amount of pollution which poses a threat to marine life in our water bodies. It is also designed to remove debris in the water systems

Mae’s Schools unreasonable Dear Editor, It is with grave concern that we pen this letter to you to highlight the concerns that parents have as regards to Mae’s Schools, which is situated at Third Avenue, Subryanville, Georgetown, Guyana.

Parents received a letter stating that school fees have been increased by $15,000.

This increase is on the playgroup, nursery and primary levels.

Please note that no meeting was held with parents prior to this increase of school

fees. It seems that management has taken this decision to increase fees (Playgroup to Grade Six) without consulting parents. Increases are as follows: playgroup from $35,000 to $50,000, nursery from $45,000 to $60,000, primary $60,000 - $75,000.

What are the reason/s for increasing these school fees to so much money? Not $5000, not $10,000 but $15,000, oh come on Mae’s. This action is appalling, and management needs to address ‘us’ parents.

Last year when we were told by the Education Ministry

that we had to pay Value Added Tax (VAT) on education, a meeting was called by the administration and parents came together vehemently and protested this VAT and this was eventually withdrawn. Now to know it’s the same school that is adding an increase of $15,000 to their school fees. We the parents are extremely angry at the decision made by Mae’s Schools to increase the fees. $15,000 is a lot of money, albeit, this is the same school when they have activities they always ask parents to donate or con-

tribute to these activities. I hope that the owner/management reverse the decision of $15,000 and also to know that once a child has the ability and potential, he/she can attend any school of his/her desire. Not all children are born into an affluent family. Poor and middle-class children whose parents are sacrificing their “all” to have them gain a proper education also deserve to be embraced and to be part of the school curriculum.

Sincerely, Angry parents

Privatisation offers no assurance that estates would remain operational Dear Editor, Region Six Regional Democratic Council Councillor, Haseef Yusuf in letters appearing in the April 4, Guyana Times and Kaieteur News titled “Save GuySuCo another $45B” contended that the entire Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) should be privatised. While the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) agrees that Yusuf is entitled to his view, like any other person, we, at the same time, do not share his viewpoint.

The privatisation of GuySuCo offers the Guyanese people no assurance that the estates would remain operational. We need just to look at what happened in Jamaica when it took a decision a few

years ago to privatise its industry. When that industry was privatised the private investors promised brighter days ahead. But February 1, 2018 Jamaica Observer reported Permanent Secretary in the Agriculture Ministry, Donovan Stanberry as saying “the country has not seen the economic benefits of the privatisation of the sugar industry that was anticipated when renewed efforts to divest started in 2005”.

The Jamaican experience is not an isolated situation as the world has seen similar situations playing out. Even in Guyana, the privatisation experience has not been necessarily positive with quite a few of the entities privatised in the latter 1980s and early 1990s having either fold-

ed up, or are operating at a smaller scale. Certainly, one does not get a great deal of confidence that the situation would be any different with respect to the sugar industry. Moreover, when taking account of this Government’s track record regarding transparency, the confidence barometer dips even further.

While we agree and share Yusuf’s view regarding the return on investment regarding the $32 billion Government said it injected into GuySuCo, we do not believe we should throw the baby out with the bathwater. GAWU has consistently questioned how the massive sum was utilised and up to this point, all we have heard is a deafening silence.

Regarding the $30 billion financing secured, we also

have several questions and look forward to engaging the Special Purpose Unity about the plan that will guide the huge sum secured. The sugar industry still remains too important for haphazard decision-making as recent experience has taught us. The industry’s transformation from a sugar to sugar cane industry offers it the best chance for success. Such transformation, we contend, must be guided by plans grounded in reality and implemented by knowledgeable personnel with the involvement of the workers and their representative organisations.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

Would it be wise to use the US$900M to construct Amaila Falls hydropower?

Dear Editor, It was hard to miss from the bold headlines splashed across several newspapers on April 6, 2018, that our Government has, from all appearances, borrowed US$900 million from the Islamic Development Bank. This, as far as I can recollect, is the largest loan ever con-

tracted by any Government in our country’s history.

What’s even worst is that the Administration hadn’t any moral decency to inform the Guyanese people, who are responsible for repaying the borrowed sum with interest, that it was contracting such a large loan. It is the latest in the borrowing spree that

the Government has been engaged in and one cannot help but wonder if we have now eclipsed our foreign debt ceiling. Even more obnoxious, for me, is the scant, almost absent, details provided in what the monies secured will be spent on. Wouldn’t it have been wise to use the sum borrowed to construct the Amaila

Falls hydropower plant which, from its income, could have repaid the loan? Nevertheless, every Guyanese man, woman and child has another burden to fetch on their already overburdened backs. Welcome to the ‘Good Life’!

Yours sincerely, Patricia Persaud

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, April 7, 2018

5

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

Creating mischief within the PPP First-hand level Dear Editor, With reference to the letter in another section of the media on April 4, 2018, by Lalman Ramsundar about the person who will be the presidential candidate for the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in 2020 is something that should be decided by the Executive and Central Committee of the PPP. The leadership of the PPP has numerous presidential candidates who are fit and proper but Jagdeo is the only person who has the popularity for a landslide victory at the 2020 elections.

Ramsundar should know that at any congress, delegates votes for the leaders to the Central Committee of the PPP so to accuse Bharrat Jagdeo of political interference is just another method of creating mischief among

the leadership and memberships.

The attack on Gail Teixeira, a senior executive member of the PPP, indicates that this so-called political campaigner is either a People’s National Congress activist or a devious deceptive wicked so-called PPP detractor trying to sway or confuse the people’s minds from the only hope in the 2020 elections that is a victory for the PPP. Irrespective of who may succeed, Jagdeo if the Third term case goes against him, it would be a challenge not to have Jagdeo as part of an ‘A team’ that would assure the voters that Jagdeo – who is considered to be the saviour or the “Mahatma Gandhi" of the Guyanese people, would guarantee voters a comprehensive recovery and

rebuild Guyana. Lalman Ramsundar must also know that at the last elections in 2015 when Jagdeo started to campaign with the PPP, the polls had the PPP in the high 3's which was about three months before the elections. But because of the aggressive campaign by Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP, the election was declared a loss by a just a few thousand votes by the Guyana Elections Commission. Let me also remind Ramsundar that Jagdeo as the General Secretary of the PPP has renewed hopes in leadership, the membership and to a wider extent, the Guyanese people, that the PPP is the only political party that has what it takes to rebuild Guyana and ensure that democracy prevails once again.

Numerous persons may

of narcissism

have their choices who they would like to be their Dear Editor, presidential hopefuls but Quite recently, I had the Ramsundar should rememchance, or should I say the ber that creating mischief among the leadership of the misfortune of witnessing PPP would not guarantee first-hand the irritating levhim his favourite choice, be- el of narcissism of some of cause there is a democratic Georgetown’s municipal leadsystem within their PPP to ers.

Whilst standing in line in ensure that the most suitable the immigration area at a popperson is being chosen by ular North American airport the Executive And Central on my way back to Guyana, I Committee of the PPP. observed Town Clerk Royston Bharrat Jagdeo is a symbol King and Mayor Patricia of the PPP that would assure Chase Green enter the same voters that with his successimmigration area and atful leadership (as was evitempting to utilise the protodent under his leadership as col services and dedicated VIP President) Guyanese would facilities that have been set be happy once again after up in that airport to accommothe PPP victory in the 2020 date foreign dignitaries.

Regional and General elecThese facilities are used tions. by heads of states, including Sincerely, Zamal Hussain

Presidents and other heads of governments, and royal parties including reigning mon-

archs from Europe, Middle East Asia and Africa. This is an expedited service that speeds persons through security, check-in, and passport control.

Clearly these two are well below those categories but apparently do not recognise that fact.

The whole episode was indeed very embarrassing as they had to be escorted from this area and placed in the regular immigration line by security personnel.

I first was amused at witnessing the illusions of grandeur of these two individuals, but then I became sad at how clueless these municipal officials were.

Sincerely, Anu Bihari

The good life at City Hall Dear Editor, In spite of all of the repetitive declarations of being broke and bankrupt made by the Georgetown Municipality and claims of shortages of financial and other resources, it is clear that the Council is the place to be if you want to be financially rewarded, or as the boys in Guyana would

say a “good place to make an extra dollar.”

It is quite mind-boggling that whilst the lower ranked workers have to wait each month for their wages and salaries way past the official pay date, whilst pensioners have to wait for long periods to receive their monthly pension, and whilst recently re-

tired persons are waiting for years for their gratuity, some Councillors and some senior officers constantly get extra perks.

Examples of this would be the fact that Councillors get special and considerable emoluments when they sit on special committees such as the parking meters, in spite

of being paid travelling and other allowances each month to attend all meetings.

Councillors and some senior officers also get special payments for being around at events such as Mashramani Day. And then they have the per diems which are paid for both local (rural) and over-

seas travel which amounts to millions upon millions each year, with even the drivers that take them to places such as Suriname receiving spending money in US dollars. Special meals and overtime is the order of the day at City Hall, which sometimes amount to some persons getting almost twice their pay,

with bodyguards and drivers having to wait outside gyms, restaurants, shopping malls, etc late into the night at the whims and fancies of the ‘Big Ones and their families’.

I guess it is 'the good life at City Hall’.

Best regards, Sambu Jacobus

El Sindicato is a serious threat Dear Editor, We need to move quickly and powerfully to stop the vicious Venezuelan crime cartel ‘El Sindicato’ from violating our borders and terrorising our citizens.

Let me state categorically: this is our land and we cannot allow any foreign criminals or Government to step into our territory and start a reign of terror, blackmailing, killing, raping and molesting of our people.

It really cut into my heart and soul that our miners are so fearful for their security that they found it necessary to put a paid advertisement in the newspapers asking for protection.

In the advertisement, they said heavily-armed El Sindicato gang members have set up bases in Guyana’s sovereign territory and are demanding food, cash and other valuables for safe passage in the areas they control.

This is a sad day for Guyana. Foreign criminals have come into our country and are bullying and terrorising our people and think they can get away with it because we are too scared and too soft to do anything about it.

It makes our country appear weak, almost like our Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan and our military are afraid to confront them. The only proper response is a strong counter-attack to let these criminals know that we run things here.

Throughout the world,

criminal organisations in North America, Europe and elsewhere have been known to create insurrections, revolutions and wars to destabilise nations and overthrow governments.

We cannot overlook the possibility that El Sindicato might be an agent of the Venezuelan Government and we have to do everything in our power to call on our citizens, if necessary, to help the military and the Police deal with this threat.

Frankly, I am not inspired

by Minister Ramjattan's response. He seems to think that the Police alone can deal with this matter. He is quoted in the media as saying that Police Officers are being sent to Region One (BarimaWaini), near the Venezuela border.

My suggestion is: bring on board strategy masters of the Guyana Defence Force and Police Force and all brilliant former Director Generals and Army heads to strategise.

This is a time for a decisive military thrust that completely eliminates threat, like the historical “Operation Greenheart” when our military genius Ishoff expelled the Surinamese from the New River Triangle, which they attempted to claim.

In the planning and execution of this military exercise, the Government and Army need to bring members of civic society on board who are patriotic and have the experience in security matters to

contribute significantly to the operation.

El Sindicato is a serious threat to Guyana’s national security. Let us do what we have to do. We can involve the Brazilians, our finest neighbours and the Caribbean Community (Caricom). This is not a criminal matter; this is a foreign invasion by a crime cartel that is probably being orchestrated by the Venezuelan Government.

I have suggested before that Guyana can consider inviting the United States military to set up a free military base in that area where they can practice their jungle warfare/guerrilla warfare strategies. This will definitely provide us with a certain amount of protection. They may not accept this idea but, who knows? It’s worth a try, especially now as our oil industry is about to bloom. Our mili-

tary will also have a chance to do some real soldier work with the United States armed forces instead of just being in barracks. It is time to work

with the Americans to safeguard ourselves.

Sincerely, Roshan Khan Snr

6

saturDAY, April 7, 2018

Page

M

ake decisions together about what to do for special events like birthdays. Even young children can be part of these decisions.

Positive communication and family relationships Positive communication is about making the time to listen to each other, listening without judgment, and being open to expressing your own thoughts and feelings. When you have positive communication in your family, it helps everybody feel understood, respected and valued, and this strengthens your relationships.

Try these positive communication ideas to strengthen your family relationships: When your child or partner wants to talk, stop what you’re doing and listen with full attention. Give people time to express their points of view or feelings.

But sometimes you might have to respect their need not to talk – especially if they’re teenagers.

Be open to talking about difficult things – like admitting to mistakes – and all kinds of feelings, including anger, joy, frustration, fear and anxiety.

Just remember that talking about feeling angry is different from getting angry, though.

Be ready for spontaneous conversations. For example, younger children often like to talk through their feelings when they’re in the bath or as they’re getting into bed.

Plan for difficult conversations, especially with teenagers. For example, sex, drugs, alcohol, academic difficulties and money are topics that families can find difficult to talk about. It helps to think through your feelings and values before these topics come up.

Encourage your children and partner with praise. For example, “It’s a big help

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

when you bring the bins in without being asked, Leo. Thanks!”

Show appreciation, love and encouragement through words and affection.

This can be as simple as saying ‘I love you’ to your children each night when they go to bed.

Positive non-verbal communication Not all communication happens in words, so it’s important to pay attention to the feelings that your children and partner express non-verbally. For example, your teenage child might not want to talk to you, but might still come looking for the comfort of cuddles sometimes!

It’s also important to be aware of the non-verbal messages you send. For example, hugs, kisses and eye contact send the message that you want to be close to your child. But a grumpy tone of voice or a frown when you’re doing something together might send the message that you don’t want to be there.

Teamwork and family relationships When your family is working as a team, everyone feels supported and able to contribute. It’s easier to work as a team when everyone understands where they stand, so it helps to have clear expectations, limits and boundaries.

You can encourage teamwork in some of these ways: Share household chores. Even very young children like the feeling of belonging that comes from making a contribution – sometimes, at least!

Include children in decisions about things like family activities, rules and holidays. Give everyone – including young children – a chance to have their say. Family meetings can be a good way to do this.

Let children make some of their own decisions. The decisions you allow will

depend on your children’s abilities and maturity, and the boundaries you’ve set. For example, you might let your 12-year-old child decide whether to walk home from school or ride his bike.

Create family rules that state clearly how your family wants to look after and treat its members. For example, ‘In our family we speak respectfully to each other’. Rules like this help everyone get along better, and make family life more peaceful.

Work together to solve problems.

This involves listening and thinking calmly, considering options, respecting other people’s opinions, finding constructive solutions, and working towards compromises.

Appreciation for each other and family relationships Valuing each other is at the heart of good family relationships. Here are some ways you might be able to do this: Take an interest in each other’s lives. For example, make time to go to each other’s sporting events, drama performances, art shows and so on.

Include everyone in conversation when you’re talking about the day’s events. For example, “What was the highlight for you today, Izzy?”

Share family stories and memories. These can help children appreciate things that aren’t obvious, or that they’ve forgotten – for example, Mum’s sporting achievements when she was younger, or the way a big sister helped care for the youngest child after he was born.

Acknowledge each other’s differences, talents and abilities, and use each other’s strengths. For example, if you praise and thank your teenage child for listening to a younger sibling reading, he’ll begin to see himself as helpful and caring. (Excerpt from raisingkids.net.au)

A

s with any new or potentially unsettling situation – like restarting school – allow children time to adjust.

Emphasise the positive things about going back to school, such as hanging out with old friends, meeting new classmates, buying cool school supplies, and getting involved in sports and other activities.

It's also important to talk to children about what worries them and offer reassurance. Is the thought of schoolwork stressing them out? Are they worried about the bully from last year?

Consider adjusting your own schedule to make the transition smoother. If possible, it's especially beneficial for parents to be home at the end of the school day for the first week. But many working moms and dads just don't have that flexibility. Instead, try to arrange your evenings so you can give children as much time as they need, especially during those first few days.

Make sure that they:

get enough sleep (establish a reasonable bedtime so that they'll be well-rested and ready to learn in the morning) eat a healthy breakfast (they're more alert and do better in school if they eat a good breakfast every day) write down the need-to-know info to help them remember details such as, what time classes and lunch start and end, their classroom numbers, teachers' and/or bus drivers' names, etc. use a wall calendar or personal planner to record when assignments are due, tests will be given, extracurricular practices and rehearsals will be held, etc. have them organise and set out what they need the night before (homework and books should be put in their backpacks by the door and clothes should be laid out in their bedrooms) Although it's normal to be anxious in any new situation, a few children develop real physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches, associated with the start of school. If you're concerned that your child's worries go beyond the normal backto-school jitters, speak with your child's doctor, teacher, or school counsellor.

To help make going to school a little easier on everyone, here's a handy checklist: Will children need a change of clothes for PE or art class?

Do your children have a safe backpack that's lightweight, with two wide, padded shoulder straps, a waist belt, a padded back, and multiple compartments?

Do children know not to overload their backpacks and to stow them safely at home and school?

Will your children buy lunch at school or bring it from home? If they buy a school lunch, how much will it cost per day or per week?

Do you have a weekly or monthly menu of what will be served?

Have you stocked up on all of the necessary school supplies?

(Letting children pick out a new lunchbox and a set of pens, pencils, binders, etc, helps get them geared up for going back to school.)

Transportation and safety:

Do you know what time school starts and how your children will get there?

If they're riding the bus, do you know where the bus stop is and what time they'll be picked up and dropped off?

Are there any regulations on bicycles or other vehicles, such as scooters?

Have you gone over traffic safety information, stressing the importance of crossing at the crosswalk (never between parked cars or in front of the school bus), waiting for the bus to stop before approaching it, and understanding traffic signals and signs?

If your child walks or bikes to school, have you mapped out a safe route? Does your child understand that it's never OK to accept rides, candy, or any other type of invitation from strangers?

What about after school?

Figuring out where children will go after school can be a challenge, especially if both parents work. Depending on a child's age and maturity, you may need to arrange for after-school transportation and care.

It's important for younger children and preteens to have some sort of supervision from a responsible adult. If you can't be there as soon as school's out, ask a reliable, responsible relative, friend, or neighbour to help out. If they're to be picked up after school, make sure your children know where to meet you or another caregiver.

(Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

news

7

SATURDAY, April 7, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Hold public, Private Sector to higher standards – fmr GCCI President …urges citizens to be more proactive in demanding better

Tests being carried out on the company’s heat-resistant concrete blocks

W

ith more companies coming to Guyana's shores than ever before, a former Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry president is urging Guyanese to demand better from local companies and the public sector.

This call was made by Vishnu Doerga, as he delivered the keynote address at the launch of construction company Emporium Investments Bureau on Friday.

Doerga reminded the gathering that the citizens pay the salaries of public sector employees through taxes, and he stressed that the best service possible should be demanded from

the public sector.

The business executive also noted that Guyanese have an obligation to hold local private sector companies accountable. According to Doerga, this will play a key role in the private sector raising its overall standards and getting its proverbial share of the pie from oil.

“I looked at your core values, and I thought (that) if I was to choose core values for a company I have to operate with and deal with, these might have been some. So I noticed that you had listed integrity. It means when you say something you must mean it. So everything you have said today we expect you to also do. And I would

like this message to resonate across Guyana,” he said.

“When we say something to our customers, when we market, we have to be able to deliver on it, because that is the measure by which your customers will hold you by. Every time you barely satisfy your customer, nobody talks about that. They talk about when they didn’t get what they need. It goes in the newspapers, it goes on Facebook; that becomes your permanent record,” Doerga said.

And according to Doerga, customers should, by right, talk about the poor service they receive through the mediums available to them.

He pointed to the possibility that while some companies are under the impression their service is competitive, the reality might be different, and they do not even know.

Emporium Investments Bureau, incorporated locally in 2016, is located on Sendall Place in Brickdam.

Among its services are building construction, civil engineering, and logistics. Director of Operations, Sean Thompson, who is of Jamaican descent, spoke of Emporium’s track record of

Former GCCI President, Vishnu Doerga

speedily completing projects.

According to Thompson, customers can be assured that their building constructions will easily outlive the customers themselves. In particular, he espoused the fire-resistant qualities of the company’s building blocks.

“Clients should also know this is a green product.

A non-toxic, mineral-based agent is used in the mixture, which produces the fire resistance in the concrete blocks….some of the bene-

fits our home owners will enjoy with us.

“It’s non-toxic, it’s environmentally friendly, and it’s fire-resistant. It’s thermal and acoustic-insulated, mould and mildew-resistant, and these are some of the benefits you would get when you build with Emporium, using our new products,” Thompson detailed.

Keene Mitchell, in charge of the company's electrical installations, noted that there are very few, if any, companies that would provide a 20-year warranty on their construction projects.

He also stressed that Emporium, through its solar-powered systems, offers viable alternatives to traditional power generation.

Third time rape accused released on $100,000 bail

A

Tucville man, who was charged earlier in the year for raping two women reappeared in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court for the third time before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer to another rape charge.

Thurston Semple is accused of having sexual intercourse with a 30-year-old woman without her consent.

According to facts presented, on August 31, 2017 at Quamina Street,

Georgetown, he engaged in sexual penetration with the woman.

It is alleged that he met the woman on the said night at a popular night club on Main Street, Georgetown.

He subsequently began talking to the woman before calling a taxi and taking her to a city hotel where the incident took place.

Semple was released on $100,000 and is expected to return to court on April 17.

8 NEWS

saturDAY, April 7, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Taxi driver charged for sexual grooming

T

axi driver Daniel James on Friday appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer a charge of sexually grooming a 15-year-old female relative.

The 31-year-old pleaded not guilty to the charge read to him, and was subsequently released on $200,000 bail.

The Prosecution’s contention is that, on at least two occasions between December 12, 2017 and January 18, 2018, James communi-

Daniel James

cated with the teen via Whatsapp with intention to engage in sexual activity. The taxi driver allegedly knew that the child was underage, but still communicated with her.

It is further alleged that on January 18, James made arrangements to have sex with the teen, but the Police intervened and arrested James after being tipped off by relatives.

His case is scheduled for recall on April 16.

Money…

W

…and principles? ord is, Finance Minister Winston Jordan just signed on the dotted line for a US$900 million loan from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

If this manifests itself, that fella Raymond Chickerie, who’d been pushing the PPP Government for years to become a member of the Bank would be vindicated! This finally occurred two years ago to the day with the new PNC-led coalition Government which announced we’d be eligible for “access to concessionary resources, grants and interest free loans.”

While Guyana has a 10 per cent Muslim population, most of us don’t realise Islam has its own perspective on banking. One that’s quite different from what we’ve been used to, which is based totally on western, “Christian” principles. Right off the bat, we’ve got to understand that the money can only be used in consonance with Islamic law or “Sharia”. This means the Finance Ministry will have to be guided by a local Sharia Board that’s au fait with Islamic banking so it doesn’t violate the Sharia-based terms of the loan and forfeit the same. The strictness of the specific rules do vary from (Islamic) country to country.

Some of the rules we should already (hopefully) intuitively know because of our familiarity with local Islamic practices – for instance, the money can’t be used to buy or produce “haram products”. Thus, no funding of pig farms or producing molasses for distilleries!! Other rules may be counterintuitive to us because of our total immersion in the western model. The most significant one is the prohibition of “riba" which literally means “excess or addition”, and in the context of money lending means "interest", "usury", "excess", "increase".

Now this sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?

Borrowing money without any interests? And that’s not all. There can be no charges for late payments or “murâba?ah”. Some countries have allowed late charges – but these must be donated to charities. Loans cannot also be used for “speculation” or “Maisir” sometimes called “gambling”. Investing in oil blocks hoping oil will be struck won’t cut it.

But even more radical is the prohibition of transactions that are “Gharar” or characterised by "uncertainty" or "ambiguity". This of course rules out derivatives, options and futures – all schemes that provided most of the “wealth” in the West before it all came crashing down in 2008. Islamic banking institutions were spared.

So the question arises, as to how do Islamic banks support its activities? Well, the bank can act as the capital partner in “mudarabah” or musharaka accounts and share in the profits and loss.

Meaning, the Islamic Bank would be very heavily involved in execution of projects. Is the Government ready for these principles?

Not likely!! …and health Even before PM Nagamootoo touched down on his return from his overseas heart surgery, he precipitated a fierce debate in the local press between AFC supporters and a PNC partisan. The former wanted a mega welcome – 18 gun salute and hundreds of fawning big wigs? – at the airport while the latter questioned as to why this was necessary after the Government had already shelled out mega bucks for the American intervention? And – your Eyewitness suspects – why, Georgetown Hospital wasn’t good enough when it was good enough for the founder leader, Forbes Burnham. So what if he died on an operating theatre there? Things haven’t improved?

But your Eyewitness is glad Nagamootoo is back – if for no other reason than Ramjattan wasn’t doing too good handling the pressure with his “haul yuh ass” riposte. The Government announced that Nagamootoo jumped right into his job – which wasn’t surprising seeing as how he really does nothing but cutting ribbons and such like.

Ramjattan confessed how he’d missed Nagamootoo’s “words of wisdom” at Cabinet meetings.

Wished he’d mentioned even one!! .…guns and corruption Folks wondered about Zuma’s buying US$2.5 billion arms rather than dealing with South Africa’s social problems. It was a clear case of literally choosing guns over butter.

Sadly, it’s now clear it was all corruption. A lesson for the PNC? Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

News

9

SATURDAY, April 7, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

2 teens, mother charged for killing Berbice security guard

T

wo teenagers, along with the mother of one of them, were on Friday remanded to prison for the murder of a Corentyne, Berbice security guard.

Carlos Ballers, 19, of Williamsburg; and Yuvraj Singh, 17, of Guava Bush, Albion Front, Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Renita Singh at the Albion Magistrate’s Court. The two were jointly charged. Also charged was Lalita Ballers of Section E, Port Mourant.

However, she was charged separately also for murder.

The three are accused of killing Munisperen Iyasammy Monien of Lot 45 Clifton, Port Mourant, Corentyne, during the course of a robbery on March 31. They were all remanded and the case will continue on April 23.

Dead: Munisperen Iyasammy Monien

Reports are Monien’s body was discovered in a pool of blood in a storeroom at Sukhsram General Store at Lot 13 Public Road, Rose Hall.

The 53-year-old provided security services for two years for the store which sells agricultural products; working a 12-hour shift, which commenced at 17:00h.

Following the discovery of the body, it was also discovered that money which was being kept in the store was missing.

It was also reported that when the store was closed on Saturday afternoon, $1.5 million was locked in a draw inside. The money is reportedly missing.

Police later arrested all of the employees following a theory that the robbery/murder was an inside job.

UK plugs $837M into upgrade of 5 hospitals

From left: PAHO/WHO Country representative, Dr William Adu-Krow; Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence and British High Commissioner Greg Quinn

T

he United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) under the Caribbean Smart Health Care Facilities Project is expected to invest some $837 million to outfit five healthcare facilities in Guyana, so they can withstand the effects of natural and manmade disasters to offer service.

The project is funded by the UK’s Department for International Development and will be implemented

by Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation’s (PAHO/ WHO) Department of Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief in partnership with the Public Health Ministry. The £38 million project is aimed at providing safer, greener health facilities to deliver care in disasters. It is expected to be implemented in seven Caribbean countries namely Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

PAHO/WHO Country representative, Dr William Adu-Krow, said some 71 facilities were assessed and only five were selected, adding that the project commenced in 2016 and will be completed in May of 2020.

“A safe hospital is one whose services remains accessible and functions at maximum capacity in the same infrastructure during and following the impact of a major emergency event. This employs structural stability, the ongoing availability of basic services and organisation within the hospital.

In green hospitals air quali-

ty improves, water and energy costs decline and peoples’ working conditions improve through enhance physical access to hospitals, improved access to safe water and improved safety conditions,” Adu-Krow noted.

Additionally, Dr AduKrow said they would have already held a seminar with contractors and design firms to educate them on the procurement procedure to follow when bidding for the project. Thus far, four companies have been shortlisted and according to Dr AduKrow, they are in the process of evaluating the bids.

“It is one of the objectives of the project that this concept of smart facilities will be adopted by other sectors such as education, public infrastructure and tourism. We see the concept as an opportunity to attract funding and we hope that other donors will support it,” he added.

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence said healthcare facilities are smart when the structural and operational safety are linked with green interventions. She explained that they are not building new facilities rather they are upgrading the existing ones.

It is anticipated, once completed, the health facilities will see a tremendous reduction in operational costs and Lawrence noted that those savings would be plugged back into the maintenance of the facilities.

“The chosen institutions are well positioned to fully optimise the benefits of the smart concept... the anticipated benefits from the slash in operating cost means there will be huge saving which

the sector can then use to maintain the respective facilities. Maintenance has always been a challenge,” she noted.

She said under the programme, the Leonora Cottage Hospital, the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, Mabaruma and Lethem Regional Hospitals along with the Paramakatoi Health Centre will be retrofitted as a part of the smart plan.

“The smart hospital initiative is designed to provide the health sector with increased protection against disasters to which the region is prone and further provide protective cover against the vagaries of climate change,” Lawrence said.

“Under the tripartite agreement, there were strict selection criteria to be met for the five identified institution to qualify for retrofitting into a smart hospital. When evaluated using the Health Safety Index, all institutions received a classification of C indicating that urgent intervention measures were needed. The hospitals current safety levels are inadequate to protect the lives of patients and staff during and after a disaster. Since none of them obtained the minimum score to be qualified as a green facility, then all of them must be retrofitted,” the Minister added.

Additionally, British High Commissioner Greg Quinn noted the project is designed to make the health facilities across the Caribbean more efficient and more resilient to natural disasters.

“Over the next few years the UK will support efforts across the region to build and improve 50 facilities in seven

countries. It includes mundane work such as strengthening roofs, installing hurricane shelters, improving drainage, improving access and improving power supply and safety. At the same time as improving resilience, we will also take time to improve power efficiency,” he noted.

The proposed cost for the retrofitting of the five institutions equates to approximately US$4.1 million with the approximate figures for Leonora Cottage Hospital – US$950,000; Lethem Regional Hospital – US$910,000; Mabaruma Regional Hospital – US$827,000; Paramakatoi Health Centre –US$580,000 and the Diamond Diagnostic Centre – US$920,000 However, it was noted that it is too early to determine a concrete figure considering a number of factors.

Charged: Lalita Ballers, mother of murder accused Carlos Ballers

Two days after, Ballers reportedly confessed to plotting the robbery and also implicated Singh, who later also allegedly confessed.

As the Police continued to probe, Ballers allegedly took them to a house at Port Mourant where his mother lives. The woman report-

edly went to a section of the yard and dug up some money, which was buried.

Her son also reportedly showed the investigators where he had hidden the murder weapon.

Meanwhile, the Police are searching for another suspect.

10 news

SATURDAY, April 7, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“Archaic” expired drug disposal Anna Regina Deputy Mayor outraged over system needs modernising continuous “blackout” – Minister Lawrence

I

n response to revelations that the West Demerara Regional Hospital has, for a number of months, been waiting to have its expired drugs disposed of, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence has said the system employed in the disposal of drugs is archaic and plagued by staffing issues. She, however, added that the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) is working to have those issues addressed.

When questioned at the March 26 Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting as to why more than $5.4 million in expired drugs dating back to 2016 have not been disposed of, Regional Health Officer for Region Three, Dr Ravendra Dudhnath, informed that Public Health personnel are still awaiting the intervention of the Government Analyst Food and Drug Department (GAFDD).

Minister Lawrence, who also sits on the PAC, told reporters on Friday that she would have made contact with the GAFDD to make officers available to ensure the

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence speaking to reporters on Friday

drugs are disposed of. Asked why it would have taken so long to have the drugs disposed, the minister informed that the system is plagued by staffing issues.

“I know that last year we did have an exercise at several facilities removing drugs. I know that with regards to the present request for removal, I did speak with the Food and Drug Department to make sure that they make staff

available to visit with the institution, as they (the institution) had indicated that they did request. So, at this point, I cannot say whether that has been done, or has not been done,” Lawrence said.

She noted that the issue of expired drugs has been in existence for a number of years, and added that the system to dispose of those drugs needs modernising.

“We do not have a system

which allows for the ready distribution. Most of the systems that we have are very archaic. The officers do not have the responsibility to dispose on their own, so they depend on other entities, whether it is the Auditor General; the Food and Drug, who will come and say how you dispose of these particular items that you have. So it cuts across (departments), and they all have their challenges,” she explained.

Additionally, Lawrence said MoPH personnel are taking steps to have issues addressed, but it would take some time before the changes become visible.

“It’s a work in progress.

We have to change the ways in which our regulations are written. We have to ensure that we have more people at the various entities, so that they can be dispatched more readily at the various institutions to assist (the institutions) with disposal,” she added.

According to the Auditor General’s Report of 2016, some 213 items of expired drugs with an approximate value of $5.4 million were noted at West Demerara Regional Hospital and seven health centres within Region Three. It was also revealed that the drugs are still being stored at the bond, which is also used to store current medical supplies. However, Dudhnath told the PAC there is no chance the expired drugs could be dispensed to patients, since they are stored separately in the bond. The PAC also heard that the region had officially requested the removal and destruction of the expired drugs since August 2017.

…slams GPL for removal of generator

D

eputy Mayor of the town of Anna Regina, Darshan Persaud, is outraged at the service being offered by the Guyana Power and Light (GPL).

In an interview with Guyana Times, Persaud said residents in the township are complaining about the long periods of power outage, which have contributed to the loss of thousands of dollars in ice cream, chicken, meat, and other frozen foods.

Persaud told this publication that the generator which was removed from the Anna Regina Power Station to facilitate the Bartica Regatta was not used at the event; and he said he cannot understand why the power company had removed it from the region in the first place.

He said GPL needs to answer to the many residents of Region Two, who have suffered losses as a result of the company’s negligent decision.

“If they wanted to send a backup to Bartica from Anna Regina, they must inform the residents, especially the business sector, before doing so. I personally know that the technical staff at Anna Regina is doing a good job to provide the region with electricity, but we need to know who (made) that sudden decision, and some disciplinary action should be taken (against them) . It was the Easter holiday weekend, and many businesses stocked up on their frozen

Anna Regina Deputy Mayor Darshan Persaud

food,” the outraged Deputy Mayor added.

Over the Easter weekend, a generator placed by GPL at the Anna Regina Power Station, Essequibo to supply the region with electricity was moved to Bartica for the Regatta.

According to reports, the remaining generators cannot supply the coast, and as such, residents were faced with constant blackouts.

A GPL source informed that the generator moved was currently the best generating set at the power plant.

Meanwhile, businesses, especially those in the ice, fish, and meat industries, are complaining of the extra dollars they have to spend to run their own generators.

Rice millers are also severely affected by this move.

(Mohanlall Seulall)

HEALTH DAY 2018

11

SATURDAY, April 7, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

World Health Day 2018 #healthforall T

he World Health Day is a global health awareness day celebrated every year on 7 April, under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as other related organisations.

The Assembly decided to celebrate 7 April of each year, with effect from 1950, as the World Health Day. The theme of World Health Day 2018 is: ‘Universal health coverage: everyone, everywhere.’

WHO calls on world leaders to take concrete steps to move towards universal health coverage (UHC). This means ensuring that everyone, everywhere can access quality health services without facing financial hardship, as set out in the Sustainable Development Goals all countries agreed in 2015.

Where health systems fail to provide adequate financial protection, people are forced to choose between health

generating evidence that policy-makers can use to ensure out-of-pocket payments do not push people into poverty.

Findings from a regional analysis of financial protection will be shared at a highlevel technical meeting in

care and other basic needs.

This undermines access to services, lowers health status, deepens poverty and exacerbates inequalities.

In the WHO European Region, some countries do well in meeting UHC goals, but all of them can do better to secure financial protection, especially

for poorer people. New analysis finds that households in the poorest fifth of the population are most likely to experience catastrophic health spending, often due to out-of-pocket payments for medicines. They are also most likely to forego or delay seeking care due to cost and other barriers to

How you can get involved in World Health Day 2018

T

he WHO Maintains that everyone has a part to play, stimulating conversations and contributing to structured dialogue towards policies that help your country achieve and maintain UHC. Specifically, Government ministries bring about policy change to improve health and spur economic growth and social development.

• Parliamentary health committees and health groups mediate between those that develop policy and those that execute it.

• Political parties frame their programmes to meet the expressed needs of their supporters.

• Professional associations protect the welfare of the workforce.

Civil society • organizations work on the ground and represent the concerns of different population groups.

• Individuals use their own voices to demand good health services.

• The media can help increase understanding of UHC as well as transparency and accountability in policy-making.

• To whatever group you belong, you can take a lead, too.

A few ideas as to what you could do Government • Engage in structured conversations with a broad range of community stakeholders who are both affected by and essential

to ensuring universal health coverage.

• Capture the population’s demands, opinions and expectations on UHCrelated matters to improve policy responses. The population can be consulted, e.g. through faceto-face dialogue, surveys or a referendum. with • Collaborate

grassroots organizations and champions for universal health coverage to explore feasible universal health coverage solutions.

• Individuals, civil society and health workers • Communicate your needs, opinions and expectations to local policy-makers, politicians, ministers and other people representatives.

• Make the necessary

noise to ensure your community health needs are taken into account and prioritized at the local level, including through social media.

• Invite civil society organizations to help raise your community needs to your policymakers.

• Share your stories as affected communities and patients with the media.

• Organize activities like discussion fora, policy debates, concerts, marches and interviews to provide people an opportunity to interact with their representatives on the topic of UHC via media and social media.

Media • Highlightinitiatives and interventions that help to improve access to quality services and financial protection for people and communities.

• Show what happens when people cannot obtain the services they need.

• policy-makers Hold and politicians accountable, e.g. through documentaries on UHC pledges they have made and strengths, weaknesses and new challenges to be addressed (e.g. increase in non-communicable diseases; population ageing).

• Create platforms for dialogue between beneficiaries, communities, their representatives and policymakers, e.g. through talk shows, interviews and radio debates.

access.

Acting on new evidence can move European Region towards UHC In the coming months, WHO/Europe will publish a series of individual reports on financial protection in 25 countries. The context-specific analysis in these reports is

Tallinn, Estonia in June 2018 – Health Systems for Prosperity and Solidarity: leaving no one behind – hosted by the Government of Estonia to celebrate 10 years of the Tallinn Charter: Health Systems for Health and Wealth.

12

SATURDAY, april 7, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

HEALTH DAY 2018

HEALTH DAY 2018

13

SATURDAY, april 7, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

14

HEALTH DAY 2018

SATURDAY, april 7, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

“U

niversal” in UHC means “for all”, without discrimination, leaving no one behind. Everyone everywhere has a right to benefit from health

services they need without falling into poverty when using them.

• At least half of the world’s people are currently unable to obtain essential health services.

• Almost 100 million people are being pushed into extreme poverty, forced to survive on just $1.90 or less a day, because they have to pay for health services out of their own

pockets.

Over 800 million people • (almost 12 percent of the world’s population) spend at least 10 percent of their household budgets on health expenses for themselves, a sick child or other family member. They incur socalled “catastrophic expenditures”.

Incurring catastrophic • expenses for health care is a global problem. In richer countries in Europe, Latin America and parts of Asia, which have achieved high levels of access to health services, increasing numbers of people are spending at least 10 percent of their household budgets on outof-pocket health expenses.

What UHC is

• UHC means that all people and communities receive the health services they need without suffering financial hardship.

UHC enables everyone • to access the services that address the most important causes of disease and death and ensures that the quality of those services is good enough to improve the health of the people who receive them.

What UHC is not

• UHC does not mean free coverage for all possible health interventions, regardless of the cost, as no country can provide all services free of charge on a sustainable basis.

• UHC is not only about ensuring a minimum package of health services, but also about ensuring a progressive expansion of coverage of health services and financial protection as more

resources become available.

• UHC is not only about medical treatment for individuals, but also includes services for whole populations such as public health campaigns – for example adding fluoride to water or controlling the breeding grounds of mosquitoes that carry viruses that can cause disease.

• UHC is not just about health care and financing the health system of a country. It encompasses all components of the health system: systems and healthcare providers that deliver health services to people, health facilities and communications networks, health technologies, information systems, quality assurance mechanisms and governance and legislation.

What UHC is not

According to the WHO , there are many things that are not included in the scope of UHC: • UHC does not mean free coverage for all possible health interventions, regardless of the cost, as no country can provide all services free of charge on a sustainable basis.

UHC is not just • about health financing. It encompasses all components of the health system: health service delivery systems, the health workforce, health facilities and communications networks, health technologies, information systems, quality assurance mechanisms, and governance and legislation.

UHC is not only about • ensuring a minimum package of health services, but also about ensuring a progressive expansion of coverage of health services and financial protection as more resources become available.

• UHC is not only about individual treatment services, but also includes populationbased services such as public health campaigns, adding fluoride to water, controlling mosquito breeding grounds, and so on.

• UHC is comprised of much more than just health; taking steps towards UHC means steps towards equity, development priorities, and social inclusion and cohesion.

How can countries make progress towards UHC?

•

Many

countries

are

already making progress towards UHC. All countries can take actions to move more rapidly towards it, or to maintain the gains they have already made. In countries where health services have traditionally been accessible and affordable, governments are finding it increasingly difficult to respond to the ever-growing health needs of the populations and the increasing costs of health services.

Moving towards UHC • requires strengthening health systems in all countries. Robust financing structures are key.

When people have to pay most of the cost for health services out of their own pockets, the poor are often unable to obtain many of the services they need, and even the rich may be exposed to financial hardship in the event of severe or long-term illness. Pooling funds from compulsory funding sources (such as mandatory insurance contributions) can spread the financial risks of illness across a population.

• Improving health service coverage and health outcomes depends on the availability, accessibility, and capacity of health workers to deliver quality people-centred integrated care.

Investments in the primary health care workforce is most needed and cost-effective in improving equity in access to essential health care services. Good governance, sound systems of procurement and supply of medicines and health technologies and well-functioning health information systems are other critical elements.

• UHC emphasizes not only what services are covered, but also how they are funded, managed, and delivered. A fundamental shift in service delivery is needed such that services are integrated and focused on the needs of people and communities. This includes reorienting health services to ensure that care is provided in the most appropriate setting, with the right balance between out- and in-patient care and strengthening the coordination of care. Health services, including traditional and complementary medicine services, organized around the comprehensive needs and expectations of people and communities will help empower them to take a more active role in their health and health system.

NEWS

15

saturDAY, april 7, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

US$110M

Licence denial

…notes need for fact-based studies

legal fight against Medical Council

PSC questions GPL figures Cuban doctor loses

GPL CEO, Albert Gordon

F

ollowing a pronouncement by the new Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Chief Executive Officer, Albert Gordon, regarding the monies needed for the entity, the private sector is urging in-depth studies to arrive at a definitive figure.

In an interview with this publication on Friday, Private Sector Commission (PSC) President Eddie Boyer questioned the CEO’s figures which were arrived at in such a short space of time. He queried whether any prior studies were done to inform the GPL of the cost to fix these issues.

“What study has been done? The CEO has been there for just about two months. For someone to come up with that assessment in the two months without any proper study that we can analyse, there’s no way we can make a decision on

that,” Boyer declared.

“I would like to hear from the board, if the board is consulted. For GPL to fix the problem, we know there is a multitude of problems, from the line distribution (to) the connectivity. We know there are other areas to be fixed first”, he conceded Gordon had made this pronouncement regarding the sum needed to fix the GPL on Wednesday at a cocktail reception at Pegasus Hotel, where he was formally introduced to members of the local media.

According to Gordon, there were several deficiencies that he discovered while on his familiarisation tour to almost all the GPL facilities across the country.

“That is the biggest challenge now -- keeping the lights on; and as I have mentioned in a different forum, there are different contributors to that, not the least of which is the existing infrastructure and configuration of the system.

The GPL system is evolving from a bunch of smaller systems that are being integrated; and, right now, there are serious deficiencies in the system that we need to address,” he said.

Amaila Falls Hydro Project However, this plan has drawn criticism from persons, including PPP Member of Parliament Irfaan Ali. He believes that, instead of pump-

PSC Chairman, Eddie Boyer

ing more finances into fixing the plethora of issues at GPL, Government should seek to invest in building a cleaner and more efficient energy system.

That system, he also noted, has to be one that would have a trickle down and long lasting effect to the benefit of consumers. In making this point, he had referenced the decision made by Government to abandon the Amaila Falls Hydro Project.

“The Amaila Falls Hydro Project was a long-term solution to our energy requirement in a sustainable and cost-effective manner. By today, we would have been enjoying power from Amaila Falls, we would have been enjoying it at much less or far less the cost that consumers are paying today,” he opined.

Ali said the coalition Government abandoned the

Amaila Falls project without any plans as to how it would sustain the energy climate for the country.

The former minister had said the main objective right now should be to look at a longterm solution to the country’s energy problem, to ensure that energy is also generated in a sustainable, cost-effective manner, and one that would bring benefit to the consumer.

“Pumping money into GPL will not allow it, the Government should therefore rethink its strategy and rethink its position on the Amaila Falls Hydro Project.

Any investment should be able to equip us of our capability for energy to be generated in a sustainable way,” he opined. One of the greatest challenges facing this sector is the growing demand on the system. The current capacity has not grown to meet that demand.

“They’ve also seen a retrograde (step) in terms of reliability of power, and if you look at, for example, what is going on with blackouts and so on, it is far worse today than when we had the contract with Wärtsillä,” he added. (Jarryl Bryan)

…Civil Procedure Rules 2016 final – CCJ

T

he Caribbean Court of Justice on Friday ruled that the Crown Office Rules of 1906 were no longer applicable and that Guyana’s Civil Procedure Rules 2016 applied to all civil proceedings, in light of a challenge against the Guyana Medical Council

by Cuban doctor, Jose Ocampo Trueba.

In September 2017, Dr Trueba filed an application in the High Court seeking judicial review of the Medical Council’s refusal to grant his application for full registration as a medical practitioner.

He told the court that he was unaware on what grounds his application was refused before he was given the chance to be heard.

Since 2013, Dr Trueba was granted an institutional registration, which meant that he was licensed to practice only at the Davis Memorial Hospital, but according to the Medical Council, he was in breach of his licence since he was operating privately as well at other

Dr Jose Ocampo Trueba

institutions. In July 2017, he applied for full registration as a medical practitioner.

He was written to twice by the Council asking whether he would like to respond to the letters but he never acknowledged them, which ultimately resulted in the Medical Council’s decision not to grant him his licence.

The Medical Council also published an advertisement in two newspapers notifying the public that Dr Trueba was licensed to practice medicine only at the Davis Memorial Hospital. turn to page 17

16 NEWS

saturDAY, april 7, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

US$900M loan

Loan will be a mortgage on Guyana’s future – economic advisor

…warns Govt over staking debt on oil sector

T

he recent US$900 million loan taken by the Government from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) is a source of deep concern; as Guyana’s debt portfolio is slated to take a sharp hike.

This is according to the Opposition’s economic advisor, Peter Ramsaroop. However, while an agreement has reportedly not yet been inked, he on Friday expressed worry over plans to borrow such huge sums.

“It is clear. The Guyana Government has now begun to borrow enormous sums of money based on a promise of oil revenues. Every advisor, including the Leader of the political Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo, has consistently

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

warned this Administration against contracting unsustainable loans based on the promise of an extremely volatile export – crude.”

“There is no other reason the Islamic Development

Economist Peter Ramsaroop

Bank would front Guyana US$900 million – a country with a proven track record of the inability to spend far less in a given year – now, to spend on a work programme to be completed between this year

and 2020, seems far-fetched,” he pointed out.

For perspective, Ramsroop made reference to the state of the art Skeldon Sugar factory which cost US$100 million.

“The Amaila Falls Hydro Electric Project – a project that would have revolutionised this country was projected to cost US$800 million. The David Granger Government railed against this project saying taking on such a high loan and raising the legislative debt ceiling guarantees for Government was excessive and would have been a burden on this nation for ages to come.”

It was announced that the IsDB has, for the period 2018

to 2020, committed to providing Guyana with financial and technical assistance to the tune of US$900 million. This, it was made known, would be directed into the country’s key development areas to assist with its plans for continued social and economic development.

This disclosure was made

by Finance Minister Winston Jordan during his address at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the IsDB Group in Tunisia.

According to the Minister, this money will aid Government’s plans in a meaningful way, as it would give direct support to several Government programmes in many developmental areas.

“The Bank fielded a programming mission in December 2017, where a work programme for the threeyear period 2018-2020 was formalised. Financing and technical assistance of about US$900 million will be directed to key development areas; including economic infrastructure, rural development, human development, and trade and competitiveness,” the Minister explained.

Jordan claimed that Government has been steadfast in its resolve to ensure growth in the economy. That resolve, according to him, resulted in economic growth averaging about three per cent between 2015 and 2017.

New fraud accusations surface against Region 10 Works Department

T

A section of the RDC statutory meeting

wo years after fraud accusations levelled against several employees within the Works Department of the Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) had triggered investigations, new accusations have again begun to surface against some employees within that entity.

This has reportedly led to another internal investigation. At the hosting of Thursday’s monthly statutory meeting, Regional Chairman Renis Morian outlined that the Council is still grappling with a number of issues relative to the Works Department.

Regional Councillor Gordon Callender alluded to several alleged misdemeanors involving the staff. The allegations range from illicitly soliciting funds to inadequacies with bills of quantity, to favoritism in selecting family members to undertake contracts, and general inefficiency in the execution of contracts.

Newly-appointed Regional Executive Officer (REO) Orrin Gordon, who is conducting the investigation, also alluded to inadequacies.

According to Morian, inadequacies regarding bills of quantity are a sore issue for the Council. “There are a number of issues that we continue to grapple with...the Councillors do not have the confidence that the bills of quantity truly represent the work that is there, and in some cases...you see... excess quantities. It is a troubling area for us,” the Regional Chairman said, adding that there are also issues with receiving them in a timely manner.

Meanwhile, Councillor Callender also pointed to alleged misdemeanors, which he noted were observed as recently as last year. “As recent as last year-end, I know projects went out from that Works Department, and I also know persons in that Works Department who bringing in sister, brother...contracts pass out of that place... We got proof. And I’m saying, persons also in that Works Department soliciting funds from people, because one man already started making allegations that one person inside there collect seven hundred and something thousand dollars from him. We know what

going on...”, he said.

Callender, who was quite vocal, made calls for an end to such issues, even threatening to mobilize Councillors to walk out of the Council should the issues persist.

Callender added that the Council and its chairman are being disrespected by the administration, which he said is failing to execute its policies. He recalled previously when employees of the Works Department found themselves in hot water, triggering an investigation. Some of those staff, he said, were reinstated.

The REO further pointed out that he is presently trying to assist with prior issues.

Additionally, Councillor Sampson said the level of inefficiency within the Works Department keeps spiralling out of control. He stressed that he has seen jobs executed with variations.

“Our Works Department got to step up its game... we seem to be moving very slow...,” Sampson said as he pointed to projects such as the Linden synthetic track and the construction of a new RDC building.

Restaurateur remanded on narco-trafficking charge

P

rince Lamaison, owner of the popular vegetarian restaurant ISUNS, was remanded to prison by Magistrate Leron Daly after he appeared before her to answer a charge detailing that on April 5, 2018, at Lot 57 Robb Street, Bourda, he had in his possession 836 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

The 44-year-old businessman denied the charge.

The Prosecution is contending that when Police ranks, acting on information received, swooped down on the restaurant, Lamaison locked himself in a room.

The room was subsequently searched by the ranks, and a black plastic bag containing the prohibited substance

was found. Under caution the defendant allegedly told the ranks, “Officer, is me own”.

Police prosecutor Sanj Singh objected to bail being granted by citing the serious nature of the offence.

The prosecution’s submissions were upheld, and the restaurateur was remanded to prison. The case will continue on April 27.

news

17

saturDAY, april 7, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

GWI working to improve Sanctions on Russian tycoon Georgetown’s water quality Deripaska will create global ripples

Organisation (WHO).

Delivering his presentation on water treatment and water quality monitoring in Georgetown, GWI’s Head of Water Quality, Deon Anderson, highlighted that Georgetown’s miniature laboratory runs on a 24/7 basis, and water is tested every hour.

An analysis is also conducted from all treatment stages and strategic points in various areas of the capital city.

At the Shelter Belt treatment plant, water distribution has increased by seven hours, from 17 hours to 24 hours’ supply, and the supply pressure has been doubled from 10 pounds per square inch (PSI) to 20 pounds PSI. Additionally, the pump stations located at Festival City, North Ruimveldt; Kingston in Georgetown, and Turkeyen and Industry on the East Coast Demerara have seen an extended water

supply period of 24 hours.

While concentrating his attention on the Sophia water treatment plant, Anderson said a range of treatment processes has been used by GWI to assist in the iron removal deficiency, which was once poor and contributing towards the supply of aesthetically unpleasant water. These interventions included the optimization of the lime dosage, Potential of Hydrogen (pH) addition of pall rings to aerators, and the optimization of depth of the filter media.

Presently, the Sophia treatment plant is now consistently meeting the WHO required standards and guidelines in regard to pH, turbidity, and iron.

In addition to improving the treatment of water, the company has also partnered with the Education Ministry to provide clean water and holding tanks to all nursery and primary schools.

Meanwhile, Dr Van WestCharles has said that many understand the gap which exists in the provision of safe water, and GWI is, in some cases, not completely aware of the communities which are faced with the challenges of obtaining potable water.

As such, persons will be briefed on a quarterly basis via the media on the engagements and programmes which the company plans to execute.

2018, while in the vicinity of Longden Street, Georgetown, he robbed Rambarran of one cellphone valued $44,000 and $27,000 in cash.

Reports are at about 19:30h, the Virtual Complainant was walking along Longden Street, when he was reportedly approached by Larry, who was in the company of others, and choked and robbed him of his valuables.

The court also heard that a Police Officer was in close proximity and saw the

ordeal and grabbed onto Larry. A search was carried out and the items were allegedly found in his possession.

A further search was conducted while at the Brickdam Police Station where Police later found 16 grams of cannabis in his clothing. Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the offence.The Magistrate agreed with the prosecution and remanded the defendant.

The case will continue on April 27.

GWI Managing Director, Dr Richard Van West-Charles (seated centre) during his address on Friday

T

he Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) on Friday said continuous measures are being put in place to improve the quality of water it provides to residents in Georgetown and the coast.

Managing Director of GWI, Dr Richard Van WestCharles, made this observation and noted that the utility company is implementing measures to ensure equitable access to quality water.

According to Dr Van WestCharles, there is the tendency of some persons to think that Georgetown communities are being neglected because of the immense focus being given to hinterland communities. He stressed that this is not the case.

Much emphasis has been placed on providing, in all of the regions, water which corresponds to the standards set by the World Health

Labourer charged for robbery

A

labourer was on Friday remanded to prison by Magistrate Leron Daly when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to a robbery charge.

Emmanuel Larry, 23, of East La Penitence, Georgetown, is accused of robbing Christopher Rambarran while using personal violence during or before the robbery.

Larry however denied the charge.

The prosecution’s case stated that on April 5,

Cuban doctor losses legal...

However, Dr Trueba challenged the decision in the High Court in September asking for a judicial review of the Council’s decision and that the court set aside the Council’s decision based on the procedures in the Crown Office Rules 1906. In her ruling, acting Chief Justice Roxane George dismissed the application on the basis that judicial review was not an appropriate recourse as Section 19 of the Medical Practitioners Act stated that persons who wanted to challenge a decision of the Council should appeal to a High Court Judge in chambers.

Not satisfied with the ruling, Trueba sought redress from the Appeal Court, which ordered that the matter be remitted to the High Court because the Judge should not have automatically refused the application but should

have considered whether judicial review was appropriate in the circumstances of the case.

The Medical Council then applied to the CCJ for special leave to appeal the Court of Appeal’s decision.

However, the CCJ agreed with the Court of Appeal that the right to appeal to a Judge in chambers did not totally preclude an application for judicial review but said that as a rule of thumb, the safe route to challenge a decision of the Medical Council of Guyana was to appeal to a Judge in chambers.

Nevertheless, the CCJ allowed the appeal and upheld the decision of the Acting Chief Justice.

The court said that the implication of its decision was that pending, and especially unheard, applications, brought or proceeding other-

from page 15

wise than in accordance with the new rules will now need to be revisited by the courts.

The court also noted that it was “highly improper” for Trueba to conceal from the High Court Judge the fact that he had been operating in breach of his licence and that it was dishonest of him to have falsely stated that he was never the subject of disciplinary proceedings and unaware of any reasons why the Medical Council could have refused his application.

The court said this was in breach of his duty to make a full and frank disclosure.

In the reasons for the court’s decision, the CCJ commended the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the attorneys for the parties for the speedy resolution of the matter, which took less than six months from start to finish.

T

he US Government’s decision to include Russian magnate Oleg Deripaska on its sanctions blacklist on Friday will reverberate around the world because his business empire has a global footprint and counts major multinationals as partners.

Washington imposed sanctions on seven Russian oligarchs, 12 companies they own or control, as well as 17 senior Russian government officials because, it said, they were profiting from a Russian state engaged in “malign activities” around the world.

Deripaska, estimated by Forbes magazine to have a net worth of $6.7 billion, is the main owner of the conglomerate EN+, which in turn is the co-owner of some of the world’s biggest metals producers, Rusal and Nornickel.

Deripaska’s inclusion on the U.S. sanctions list could potentially create complications too for companies with which he does business; they include German car giant Volkswagen and commodities trader Glencore.

Deripaska has made no

public comment about the sanctions. Part of his empire, Rusal, said it regretted its inclusion on the U.S. sanctions list, adding that its advisors were studying the situation.

Hong Kong-listed Rusal is one of the world’s biggest aluminium producers. It says exports to the United States account for over 10 percent of its output.

Rusal owns assets in Italy, Ireland, Sweden, Nigeria, Guyana, Guinea. It owns a stake in Australian QAL, the world’s top alumina refinery.

Nornickel has assets in Finland, in Australia, where it holds a licence to develop the Honeymoon Well Project, and in South Africa, where it has a 50 percent stake in the country’s only nickel concentrate producer, Norilsk Nickel Nkomati.

A Nornickel representative declined to comment on the risks resulting from the sanctions on their shareholder.

Foreign partners

In its statement announcing the sanctions, the US Treasury Department

said US entities will be “generally prohibited from dealings with” the people and firms on the sanctions list.

In addition, it said, companies outside the United States “could face sanctions for knowingly facilitating significant transactions for or on behalf of” sanctioned entities.

Volkswagen has a joint plant with GAZ, a Russian carmaker which is a subsidiary of Basic Element, another of Deripaska’s businesses. Basic Element was also sanctioned on Friday.

Under a contract that runs until 2025, the plant assembles vehicles from the Volkswagen stable.

The German automaker has been in talks to buy a stake in GAZ, five sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters in December last year.

Swiss-headquartered Glencore is a shareholder in Rusal, and his said it plans to switch those shares to Deripaska’s newly-created holding company, EN+.

According to a Rusal prospectus, its major customers include Glencore, Toyota, and Rio Tinto Alcan. (Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, april 7, 2018

ARCHIE

An untimely decision will leave you at a loss. Someone (March 21you are close to will offer inApril 19) sight into what you should do. Protect your position, reputation and future.

ARIES

Participation will do you TAURUS good. Listen to what's being (April 20- said, as it will spark an idea May 20) that will encourage you to take on a project that could alter how or where you live.

dilbert

Be careful how you spend GEMINI (May 21- and handle your cash. Get June 20) your financials in order and plan a new strategy that will help you save money. Don't let anyone take advantage of your generosity.

Partnerships will need a lit-

CANCER tle tender, loving care. Don't re(June 21- ject something out of hand before July 22) you hear and understand what's

Peanuts

being offered. Being accommodating will allow you to make the changes you desire, too.

Listen to the voice of reaLEO son. You will have plenty of (July 23- ideas, but not all of them will Aug. 22) be feasible. Someone with more experience will offer suggestions that you should consider.

Calvin and Hobbes

Family, friends, children VIRGO and loved ones will all play im(Aug. 23portant roles in what you deSept. 22) cide to do. Visit people who bring you comfort and joy.

Romance will improve your life.

Changes at home will not LIBRA go smoothly. An open dia(Sept. 23logue must not be allowed Oct. 23) to end up being one-sided.

Don't hesitate to speak up or to listen to others' suggestions.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — LAYOUTS

SUDOKU

You'll hit a snag if the SAGITTARIUS changes you want to make (Nov. 23at home or to your lifestyle Dec. 21) don't fit into your current budget.

(LAYOUTS: LAY-outs: Arrangements of material to be reproduced or printed.)

Average mark 18 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 24 or more words in LAYOUTS? The list will be published tomorrow.

It's good to listen, but at CAPRICORN (Dec. 22- some point you must make Jan. 19) your views clear to those trying to coax you into something you don't want to do.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — REWARD

rare rawer read rear wade wader ward

warder ware warred wear awed dare darer

dear draw drawer drew drear

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

Get involved in events SCORPIO that will give you the chance (Oct. 24to mingle with people who Nov. 22) can share information about your ancestry. You could learn something!

solution for Puzzle A donation will end up

AQUARIUS costing you too much. Before (Jan. 20- you commit to invest time in Feb. 19) something, make sure you

know what will be required from you physically, financially and emotionally.

You'll be torn between PISCES (Feb. 20- what's right and what you March 20) want to do. Listen to all the facts and make a choice that won't jeopardize your reputation.

saturDAY, APRIL 7, 2018

19

Brace yourself for the most closely fought IPL yet T

en years later, riding over controversy, embracing change, the leading T20 league in the world is back a richer, bigger and better-represented tournament. And yet it is the closest it could be to the original product. After the self-brought trials and tribulations by two teams, we are back to the eight cities that played in the first season in 2008. Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh are back with their home teams, Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab, and Shane Warne is back to his Cinderella XI, Rajasthan Royals. With everything changing around him, Virat Kohli becomes the only player to have represented the same franchise for 11 years. If it feels a little like travelling back in time in order to arrive at this future, there remains the same unpredictability the first season of IPL brought with it.

It won't be a surprise if this year's edition is the closest fought. Expect a tight tussle for playoff spots in the last week of the league stage. Franchise owners have learnt from past mistakes at the auctions, and

have become much smarter. As a result, this year's teams are better balanced, and there is no clear favourite at the outset. It is hard to predict who is likely to make the playoffs.

Less-fancied teams like Daredevils, Kings XI and Royal Challengers Bangalore have ensured they have plugged gaps in their XIs. Teams have enough bench strength to cover for players suffering

injuries or leaving for international duty. In the past, it has taken teams about fourfive games to identify the right combination and roles for their players. This year, they will have to be quicker.

T20 is a format in which coaches and analysts can have a bigger influence on the games, live, but everybody acknowledges it remains a sport where the captain is in charge. More so in the IPL because not

only does he have to make a great number of crucial tactical decisions in little over three hours but also because he has to manage superstar egos from across the world and make disparate units work together with hardly any time for team-building.

We have enough instances from previous editions where captains have failed and have been removed mid-season.

The experienced MS

Captains of the eight Indian Premier League (IPL) teams competing for the 2018 title

Dhoni, Gambhir and Rohit Sharma – seven titles won under their captaincy – will look to implement strategies that worked for them and add to their silverware while Kohli will need to find that extra something to take his side past the final hurdle for a first time. Not surprisingly, Indian captains have led seven of the 10 successful campaigns, but the Australians have left a significant mark too, with three wins. However, with David Warner and Steven Smith pulled out at the last minute, there is opportunity for new leaders – R Ashwin, Dinesh Karthik, Ajinkya Rahane and Kane Williamson – to make their mark.

This is their first IPL season as full-time captains. All four of them have had moderate careers in the shortest format. Williamson and Ashwin were not even regular starters for their IPL sides in the last two years. Rahane and Karthik are only just starting to find their way back to regular spots in India's limited-overs sides. All four will need to justify not only their team results but also their own

individual spots in the XI. Karthik and Williamson have some experience in captaining their state and national sides and are in a better position to fill the big shoes of Gambhir and Warner.

There have not been many bowler-captains in the IPL, and so it will be interesting to see how Ashwin goes about his job. He is touted to be one of the most astute cricketers India has produced and his first challenge will be to help Kings XI make the playoffs. Rahane showed promising signs in his only Test as a captain for India, and will look to carry forward similar ideas with a revamped Royals outfit. He will have an IPL winner in Warne helping him out.

Pele FC Alumni makes timely donation to hinterland football

M

inister within the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe on Friday received a timely donation of educational material and sport gear from the Pele Football Club Alumni Corporation.

The items, which were presented to the Minister, will be distributed to schools in the hinterland to assist children in their educational and extra-curricular activities. The hinterland youths were supplied with 25 backpacks and 10 footballs on behalf of the club.

Minster Garrido-Lowe while expressing her gratitude stated, “The youths in the hinterland are very appreciative of contributions and this is education to further their studies and even the game of football; they will be so happy”.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Alumni, Dennis Carrington before making the presentation noted,

Minister Valarie Garrido-Lowe receiving the donation from Pele FC Alumni representative, Dennis Carrington

“The backpacks with the school supplies will definitely help them advance on the education side but

at the same time they will have fun and the footballs will be used in order to do so”.

Minister Garrido-Lowe also highlighted that this will ensure that the game is developed not

only on the coastland, but also in the hinterland communities as equal opportunities are created.

According to the Minister, the hinterland will continue to make a name for itself since the Indigenous youths will continue to demonstrate natural talent in every area of sport.

Currently, the various regions host successful football tournaments with the most prominent being the North Pakaraima Football Tournament and the Upper Mazaruni Games.

Meanwhile, Pele FC Alumni Corporation is a non-profit organisation whose mission is to empower children in Guyana through sport.

The club believes that this vision will be achieved by providing educational opportunities for young football players who require support to pursue their academics.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturDAY, APRIL 7, 2018

McGregor U ltimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Conor McGregor faces one count of felony criminal mischief and three counts of assault, a New York Police Department spokesman said early Friday morning, after McGregor created a melee near the loading dock of Barclays Centre shortly after UFC 223 media day Thursday.

Cian Cowley, an MMA fighter who trains with McGregor at Straight Blast Gym in Dublin, Ireland, was also charged with one count of assault and one count of criminal mischief.

McGregor was arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court sometime Friday. McGregor had turned himself in to Police custody at the 78th precinct late Thursday night.

UFC President Dana White appeared on FS1 and ESPN on Friday morning. He said he texted with McGregor on Thursday evening before he turned himself in to Police.

“He was apologetic about the people he wasn’t trying to hurt,” White said on ESPN’s “Get Up!” morning show, “but he felt like the Khabib thing had to be done.”

McGregor’s actions caused three fights to be removed from the card.

Artem Lobov, McGregor’s friend and teammate, was removed from his bout against Alex Caceres because of his role in McGregor’s outburst.

Lobov was shown on video two days ago in a verbal altercation with Khabib Nurmagomedov, who was scheduled to fight in Saturday’s main event against Max Holloway for the lightweight title. It is believed McGregor’s antics Thursday were in response to that, and not news of him being stripped of his lightweight title after Nurmagomedov and Holloway fight. Holloway, however, was deemed medically unfit to fight by the New York State Athletic Commission on Friday morning and was pulled

charged with assault by NYPD

Conor McGregor, who is facing assault charges after he allegedly created a melee near the loading dock of Barclays Centre on Thursday, is seen leaving the 78th Precinct on Friday

from the main event.

“Listen, you don’t like Khabib, and you don’t like what happened or whatever, then fight Khabib,” White said. “You can come in here and do it legally. This fight’s happening Saturday.... You could do whatever you want to Khabib within the limits of the rules of fighting. But you want to grab 30 friends and come down here and do what you did [Thursday] today? It’s disgusting.”

A video surfaced on social media hours after Thursday’s event showing McGregor throwing a metal hand cart at a bus, which Nurmagomedov and other UFC fighters were on, and shattering a window. That glass caused cuts on the face of lightweight Michael Chiesa. Chiesa can be heard on a video shot from inside the bus saying, “Am I cut bad? I don’t want to touch my face.” He was treated at a nearby hospital and released.

Because of those facial lacerations, he was deemed unfit to fight by the New York State Athletic Commission, and his bout with Anthony Pettis was cancelled.

“I’m devastated to say the least,” Chiesa tweeted.

Ray Borg’s flyweight bout against Brandon Moreno has been cancelled as well.

Borg was seated near the broken window and later went to the hospital to be

treated for multiple corneal abrasions, the UFC said.

“The organisation deems today’s disruption completely unacceptable and is currently working on the consequences that will follow,” UFC said in a statement late

Thursday.

“Immediately, Lobov has been removed from this weekend’s card and individuals involved in the incident are not welcome at [Friday’s] ceremonial weigh-in or Saturday’s event at Barclays Centre.”

Videos posted on social media show McGregor screaming at the bus.

Another video showed McGregor lifting a barricade and running toward the bus before being stopped by a security guard in the loading dock. A video posted showed McGregor and his group fleeing Barclays Centre in a black SUV after the melee.

McGregor was not scheduled to appear at the event but showed up storming through the lobby with his entourage shortly after media day ended.

“After this disgusting, despicable move, I think everybody’s relationship with Conor is going to be not so great,” UFC President Dana

White said. “This is the type of bad decision you make that turns a lot of people off.”

White said Thursday he found out on Wednesday night that McGregor was in town for the fights. That came after the UFC 223 news conference when he said, as far as he knew then, McGregor wasn’t in New York.

White said McGregor and his group of approximately 20 people were let into the building by two credentialed media members from TheMacLife.com, an MMA website.

White said strawweight champion Rose Namajunas also was on the bus. He said she was not injured but was shaken up by McGregor’s actions.

McGregor’s last UFC fight was in November 2016 when he won the lightweight title from Eddie Alvarez at Madison Square Garden.

In 2017, he boxed Floyd

Mayweather Jr and lost by TKO in the 10th round.

After White announced Wednesday that McGregor would be stripped of his lightweight title, McGregor responded on social media, “You’ll strip me of nothing.”

This isn’t the first time McGregor has caused a ruckus. Last November, he stormed the cage from the stands after a Bellator MMA fight to celebrate with one of his friends who had just won the fight, then pushed the referee.

“The fight game, mean things are said, people get in each other’s faces, people grab each other and do stuff like that, it’s completely normal,” White said. “We always contain it and handle it, it’s part of the business.

But what happened today was criminal, disgusting, despicable, makes me sick.

We as an organisation need to make sure this never happens again.”

Busta softball and volleyball on Sunday T

he Number 19 Cricket Ground will come alive on Sunday, April 8, as the Kendalls Union Sports Club (KUSC), in collaboration with Guyana Beverage Incorporated, will be hosting their Busta Super League Softball and Volleyball competition.

The event which was postponed from March 26, 2018, will be a family-oriented extravaganza featuring attractions for all ages.

Trophies and cash prizes will be awarded to the winners of the softball and volleyball competition. In addition, the organization will be drawing their raffle where enticing prizes are up for grabs.

With gates opening at 09:00h, patrons can enjoy bar-be-que, a wellstocked bar, trampoline and other attractions for the children. Teams and anyone desirous of participating in the event can contact the KUSC on telephone numbers 645-1205 and 658-0751.

President of the KUSC (second left) receiving the sponsorship cheque

sports

CLASSIFIED ADS saturDAY, APRIL 7, 2018 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

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

Aracari Salon & Spa, WBD 264-3312, 600-3927 Conferences & Retreats – Full Service: Hotel, Catering & Facilities. Aracari Resort WBD – 264-2946 Alex Wayne Weddings & Anniversaries: Rental or Full Service: Banquet Hall & Catering.

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

Driving School Shalom Enterprise. Lot 2 Croal Street, Stabroek. Obtain an international driving permit covering 131 countries. Tel: 227-3835644-2052. Join us on Facebook

EDUCATION Electronic classes beginning 6th March. Register early, limited spaces. Abdul Electronics. Tel: 226-6551/ 225-0391.

JOB OPENING Administrative Assistant for Pro business Builders, we are looking for a highly motivated person to assist a corporate executive and be a part of our team. Your spoken and written English are superb. Send resume to jannessa. kalloo@probusinessbuilders.com

property for sale Lot 15 Public Road, #2 Village, West Coast Berbice. 49ft x 10,314ft Length. $20M Neg. Contact: 6487109 or 686-4818 2-flat bedroom wodden building situated at 154 “B” Shell Road Kitty.

2 Lots east of Kitty Market. Tel: 6979418/6702653/2269548

SERVICES GUYANA TRANING COLLEGE FOR INTERNATIONAL SKILLS. TELEPHONE 227-4881 DAY&EVENING CLASS. *Train to live & work in CANADA / CAREGIVER *Care for Elderly *Care for Children.

A reputable businessman requests the sum of 5million dollars for the period of 6mths.better interest than the bank guarateed..safe and trustworthy..call or text 641-7074

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

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

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

Tailoring Jimmy and Sons Tailor Shop ( Herstelling). We specialize in sewing of Gents Pants, ladies suit etc. We also do quality alternations (Jeans, Zip, Dresses, Skirts, blouses, etc.) Contact us on Telephone: 265-5033

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

TO LET 1 and 3 bedroom apartments in gated community Versailles West Bank Demerara. Tel: 2642946

tRAINING Private Customs Brokerage Training Course From 7th May 2018 Register now Space limited Call 694-8322/ 690-4225

Classified Ads $5+VAT per word

223-7230 Ext 50

21

Corona Futsal Tournament…

Bent Street, Sparta collide in tonight’s explosive semi-finals – lucky fan to win Hero motorcycle

I

t took some time to reach this stage but it has finally arrived and a plethora of non-stop action is expected to treat the humongous turnout anticipated tonight at the National Gymnasium to witness the semi-finals of the Corona Futsal Tournament.

From thrills to spills, four teams remain and it is literally too close to call at the start – who will progress to the final on April 14.

From 22:30h, Alpha Warriors and Leopold Street will duel. The latter are no strangers to this level of competition and will be buoyed knowing the talismanic Okeenie Fraser has shown great form throughout the tournament and will have support from talented players such as Eon Alleyne, Omallo Williams and Daren Benjamin.

Warriors, on the other hand, are a newly formed unit but with seasoned campaigners in the mix. Quietly, they have reached this stage and though Leopold on paper and track record start as favourites, they must be wary of the likes of Lennox Cort, new recruit Vurlon Mills, brothers Delroy and Delwin Fraser, along with Opara Benjamin.

The match of the night pits title favourites Bent

Can Gregory Richardson use all his experience to help Sparta withstand Bent Street?

Street and defending champions Sparta Boss from 23:15h. Well, its ultimately difficult to say who may have the edge in this unit as Bent Street has big names such as Daniel Wilson, Kelsey Benjamin, Ryan Hackett, Solomon Austin and Job Caesar, providing some serious artillery.

Even when they seemed down and out in the thrilling quarter-final against Tiger Bay, their power got them over the line.

On the other hand, an

exodus of some core players has left Sparta not being the dominant unit of the past but young recruits such as Jeremy Garrett, Quincy Adams adds to the old foes in Gregory Richardson and company.

Though performances have been in-different, they have reached this stage which should count for something and sends a message they are determined on retaining their title.

According to Co-Director of Petra Organisation, Troy

Mendonca, “fans expect two epic matches; it is like we are having two finals”.

Mendonca further revealed a Hero motorcycle will be given to a lucky fan at the end of the first semi-final and is urging all to come out in their numbers to stake a claim to the grand prize. The other motorcycle will be awarded to the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the final.

The Co-Director also expressed satisfaction at the level of refereeing which has

been getting some flak. He reminded fans and players, the referees’ decision is final.

With teams already pocketing their respective group prizes, the tournament which is a collaboration with NAMILCO Wheat Gem, will see the attention turning now to the winning purse of $600,000 and the championship trophy.

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

Van Lange steers DCC South Essequibo to Toucan U-15 title CC T20 to D commence on Sunday

emerara Cricket Club (DCC) surged to an emphatic 6 wicket win over Transport Sports Club (TSC) in Friday’s Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/Toucan U15 100 overs finals.

The exciting tournament ended on the champs’ home turf, where Jonathan Van Lange steered his side home with a confident 41 with Akash Persaud chipping in 29, to help their side chase 129-4 inside 35 overs.

TSC earlier racked up 128-8 in 50 overs with youth player Shemar Yearwood setting the tone with 68 inclusive of five fours and a six. Jonathan Adams (14) and Fidel Colins (09) were the other contributors.

DCC’s bowling was led by right-arm seamer Mykien Khan with 2-9. After some hiccups at the top of the order, DCC we're guided by the 86run partnership between Van Lange and Persaud who kept the chase simple.

At the ceremony, GCA President Roger Harper

thanked the sponsors, players and parents for ensuring that the tourney was a success.

Andrew King, CEO of Toucan Industries said that his company will continue to support the event next year, adding that sports is integral and as such players should continue playing and embracing cricket.

Avinash Persaud of Everest and Arian Persaud of the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) swept majority of awards for runs, wickets exceptional fielding throughout the competition.

T

he South Essequibo Cricket Committee launched, on Thursday last, the second edition of its round robin T20 Invitational tournament at Imam Bacchus Library.

Defending champions Imam Bacchus Sports Club have been drawn in Group ‘A’, alongside Top Shattas, Rising Star, Hibernia and New Opportunity Corps (NOC). Group B consists of Bush Lot, Reliance Hustlers, Jaguars Over-40, Golden Fleece and Queenstown. Group ‘C’ include United Warriors, GT Warriors, Reliance Sports Club, Young Achievers and Crown XI; while Group D is made up of Jaguar, Aurora Knightriders, Invaders Masters and Charity Sports.

Pomona, NOC, Golden Fleece, Imam Bacchus ground, Reliance, Anna Regina Multilateral and Charity ground will host first round matches on Sunday.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturDAY, APRIL 7, 2018

Road to Mecca ‘V’ tips off today

GABF executive members and club representatives at the launch of Road to Mecca ‘V’ at Palm Court, Main Street

T

he 2018 Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation’s (GABF) ‘Road to Mecca V’, bounces off tonight at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), after being officially launched on Thursday at Palm Court on Main Street.

The winners of this, the National Club Championships, will cash in on $600,000. Second place finishers take home $400,000 and third place finishers bag $300,000, while the tournament’s MVP will walk away with $200,000.

Among the other individual awards are highest scorer, most rebounds, and the most improved player, all carry-

ing a cash incentive of $100,000.

Road to Mecca will now host a total of 12 teams that will be divided into two groups of six in the round-robin stage, then the top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinal stage.

Eagles will make their debut and will line up in Group B alongside Victory Valley Royals, Kobras, Jets, Nets, and the winner of Berbice Amateur Basketball Association’s (BABA) tournament final today between Hopetown Stealers and Canje Knights.

Meanwhile, Group A will consist of Bounty Colts, Half-

Mile Bulls, Plaisance Guardians, Pacesetters, Retrieve Raiders and Dyna’s Ravens.

Kobras and Eagles will go head-to-head in the first of four matches that are scheduled to be contested on the opening day, from 16:00hrs. The second game will be between two-time defending champions Bounty Colts and Half-Mile Bulls at 18:00hrs, followed Victory Valley Royals versus Republic Bank Nets at 20:00hrs. Plaisance Guardians will sweat with Dyna’s Ravens in the feature game that tips off at 22:00hrs on Saturday.

Foster, Smith meet with youth cricketers

– Berbice Inter County Cap to be re-introduced

N

ewly elected President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), Hilbert Foster, accompanied by Vice President Albert Smith and Senior Coach Julian Moore, met with forty Berbice Under-19 cricketers as part of his Berbice-wide meetings with cricket stakeholders and players.

The meeting was

held at the Albion Sports Complex on Sunday last, and followed meetings in Lower Corentyne, Upper Corentyne, the Berbice Under-17 Team, and Umpires Association.

Meetings would also be arranged in the New Amsterdam/Canje and West Berbice areas as the BCB seeks to keep Berbicians informed of the massive de-

velopments taking place in the Ancient County, and listened to suggestions on how to develop the game.

Foster, in a lengthy presentation, assured the young cricketers that the BCB’s only interest was the development of every player in Berbice, despite their race, creed, the areas they lived in, or clubs they play with.

The BCB, he stat-

BCB Vice President Albert Smith posed with the players after the meeting

ed, would not only organise cricket at all levels -- Under-15, Under-17, Under-19, Under-21, Female, Intermediate, Double Wicket, Second Division and First Division; but would also invest heavily in coaching, social skills seminars and educational programmes that would assist them to develop into well rounded individuals.

Noting that only eleven cricketers make up a team, he urged the players to take their education seriously, and to develop other skills off the cricket field. Foster informed the Under-19 players that they were role models, mentors to Under-15 and Under-17 players in the county, and as such it was crucial for them to set a proper example for others to follow.

He advised them to say yes to education, religion and no to drugs, crime, alcohol, tobacco. He also advised the youths to avoid night life, and to always listen to the advice of legends of the

game.

Moreover, Foster urged the players to become students of the game by doing research on its history, rules and structure.

The Players were told that it does not make any sense to be good players on the field if they are ignorant of the game. Foster, pledged his support for each player, and stated that he was always available to meet with them to discuss solutions to any problem.

He also committed the BCB to providing coaches to assist the players, even on a one-by-one basis if the players request assistance.

Foster announced to the appreciative youths that the BCB would once again be providing inter-county caps to every Berbice player in the future, and would be hosting several social skills programmes to educate junior players on topics such as public speaking, table manners, personal hygiene, public manners and personal etiquette.

Vice President Albert Smith, who is also Head of the BCB Cricket Development Committee, reminded the players that there would be a no-nonsense approach to indiscipline. Players would have to be disciplined in all aspects of their game. Smith stated, as representing Berbice is a privilege, not a right.

The highly successful cricket coach, who is also Chairman of the BCB Selection Committee, pledged election based on performances, but warned that indiscipline could result in a player been bypassed.

Senior Coach Julian Moore also stressed the importance of discipline, preparation for matches, and getting the proper equipment/ gear for the game. Moore, a Level Three cricket coach, urged the young cricketers to be more focused on their personal individual game, while taking advantage of the opportunities being presented to them.

saturDAY, APRIL 7, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

23

East Coast Guinness "Greatest of the Streets" Competition

Uprising could break jinx this evening – Buxton, Diamond in ominous form

I

n the tournament’s short history, which began in 2013, no team east of Haslington has been able to defeat those situated west of the designated venue, but the young and enterprising Uprising unit that hails from Golden Grove are in an excellent position to break that jinx this evening.

The occasion is the semi-finals and final of the East Coast Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition, which will be played, at the Haslington Tarmac.

Only Plaisance-A, Beterverwagting A&B, and Melanie A&B have had the distinction of being declared champions in the tournament’s history; but that could all change this evening, should Uprising play to their true potential.

They face the defending champion Melanie-B in the second semi-final, and this encounter could provide fans with the kind of excitement that is associated with

Part of this year’s Guinness "Greatest of the Streets" competition

the street format. Many feel Uprising have the tools in their arsenal to register an upset.

However, even if they manage to get past the

reigning title holders, they will have to deal with the winner of the Buxton Diamond versus Paradise-A clash, and the survivor of this encounter is another

potentially dangerous and worthy opponent.

The two games have the quality to be classified as virtual finals, and fans will definitely witness enthrall-

ing end-to-end action.

With another large turnout anticipated, it is now up to the organisers and teams to provide the loyal fans with the atmosphere and on-field excitement to erase the disappointment of Easter Monday’s postponement, which was caused by persistent rain.

While much has been said about Uprising’s chance to shine, the same could be said about Buxton Diamond, which have quietly reached this far in convincing fashion, and no one should be alarmed if they go all the way.

On the other hand, the champs have looked purposeful and resilient in every match, and they, too, could have the final say in this year’s competition.

With the opportunity to make history by becoming the first team to win the tournament back-to-back, that is enough motivation to make them click.

Paradise-A have not

made it this far by fluke, and while not many fancy them to win the tournament, that alone could instigate the kind of determination that opposing teams find difficult to repel.

Also carded to take place is the Plate final, which carries a winning prize of $50,000 and a trophy.

However, all eyes will be on the battle for the ultimate prize of $400,000, plus bragging rights and a place in the national playoffs.

The losing finalist will take home $150,000, while third and fourth place finishers will be given $100,000 and $75,000 respectively.

The organisers have extended gratitude to the Guyana Police Force, residents of the East Coast communities, and those from other areas, for their support and discipline throughout the tournament.

All roads should lead to nowhere else but the Haslington Market Tarmac.

Top golfers continue battle for LGC title

T

he ongoing quest to crown a new Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) champion continues this Saturday, when a star-studded bevy of pros will take to the Greens for the third tourney of its kind for 2018.

Contenders the calibre of former Captain

and veteran golfer Patrick Prashad, former Guyana Open champion Mike Mangal, reigning 8-time champ Avinash Persaud, Guyana Open aspirants Richard Haniff and ‘Max’ Persaud among others, will take to the Greens.

LGC Executive members, Secretary

GCB 75th Anniversary Raffle set for November 18 T

he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) wishes to inform the general public that its 75th Anniversary Raffle drawing, originally slated for April 7, 2018, is now scheduled to take place on the last final-match day of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The T20 spectacle, partially hosted by Guyana, ends on November 18. The GCB is encouraging the general public to hold on to their tickets, as they are still valid, and continue to purchase tickets from the various ticket outlets across Guyana.

Those outlets include: Igloo Ice Cream outlets, Howie’s Restaurant at Eccles, Flat Shop at Eccles, RSI Brokers in First St. Alberttown, Carib Foods Supermarket at Croal St; Cell Phone Shack outlets,

Khemme’s Sports Bar at 2nd & Light Street, Alberttown; Beacon Café; or at the GCB Office or from any executive of the GCB.

Final Drawing Prizes: 1st prize: one motor car 2nd prize: one Jialing motor cycle 3rd prize: one 60” TV 4th prize: one return airfare to New York (VISA NOT INCLUDED) 5th prize: one golden necklace 6th prize: round trip for 2 to Kaieteur Falls 7th prize: one laptop computer 8th prize: day trip to Arrowpoint Resort

Golfers in action during one of the previous club tournaments

‘Pandit Ravi’ and Treasurer Aasrodeen Shaw, are in immaculate form, having won the last two tournaments back-toback, while the man in the lead -- President Aleem Hussain -- will have his work cut out for him as he tries to keep his lead.

Each golfer’s club tournament score receives points, which add up at the end of the year. The golfer with the best aggregate over a certain number of tournaments out

of the 10 to be played will be used to determine the champion.

In addition to the winning trophy, President Hussain confirmed, spoils will go to the crowned champion. These include umbrellas, golf clubs, golf bags, $50,000 cash, preferred parking spot, free locker, 5% off Assuria Discount Card (good at 60+ locations), a trophy, and of course a full year of bragging rights.

saturDAY, aPril 7, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Corona Futsal Tournament…

Bent Street, Sparta collide in tonight’s explosive semi-finals

Pg 21

Bent Street are the team who seem to be charging towards the title

Pg 21

Van Lange steers DCC to Toucan U-15 title

The winning DCC U-15 team

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Sport: sport@guyanatimesgy.com Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 SALES AND MARKETING - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.