Guyanatime 8 may 2018

P12

Climate change

Researchers to embark on sensitisation drive

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Gunmen snatch $5M from Soesdyke businesswoman

Issue No. 3557

... 1 nabbed in escape bid

Page 7

19 homeless after Georgetown, Berbice fires

See stories on pages 10 and 13

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

End-of-year report shows

Public debt overtakes P3 budget projections …hike attributed to disbursements from multilateral banks

P7 ECD businessman, tenant robbed during power failure

Bird thief stabbing

P8 Victim slapped with manslaughter charge Man jailed for beating wife with P8 rolling pin

Nineteen persons are now homeless as fires of unknown origin gutted two houses in Hadfield Street, Georgetown and one in Cotton Tree Village, West Coast Berbice. In photo, the inferno rages at the Hadfield Street location on Monday afternoon

Pirate massacre

Surinamese law enforcement confirms 13 in custody

…but Justice Minister says 30 arrested

Church leaders should engage Govt on good governance, national Page 5 development – Harmon

Page 9

AG's Chambers ordered to produce $54M in missing diamonds Page 9

Lindo Creek CoI

GDF criticised for excluding P10 camp owner from investigation …Commissioner to visit campsite

60-year-old busted with 27kg ganja in freezer P12

2

tuesDAY, may 8, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

news

3

tuesDAY, may 8, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

End-of-year report shows

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, May 8 – 10:30h-12:00h and Wednesday, May 9 – 12:30h-14:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, May 8 – 10:30h-12:00h and Wednesday, May 9 – 11:45h-13:15h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Lightly cloudy skies are expected throughout the day and the evening, with light rain showers in the late morning hours and drizzles in the early evening.

Temperatures will range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 10:23h and 23:17h reaching maximum heights of 2.12 metres and 2.09 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 16:35h reaching a minimum height of 1.06 metres.

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS L

01

06

07

08

12

22

05 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

MONDAY, MAY 7, 2018

DAILY MILLIONS 01 05 06 11

20

LUCKY 3 0 0 4

2

Afternoon Draw DRAW DE LINE

02

03

04

06

6

8

Evening Draw

09

14

16

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

Public debt overtakes budget projections …hike attributed to disbursements from multilateral banks

G

uyana’s public debt is on the rise, with the 2017 end-ofyear outcome report detailing that for the year 2017 the stock of public debt and the public debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio have increased.

According to the report, total public debt was recorded at US$1.6 billion, exceeding the projected amount by US$8.4 million. The public debt-t- GDP ratio actually increased by 0.9 per cent to be recorded at 46.1 per cent.

According to the report, higher disbursements of money from the ExportImport Bank of China (China Exim Bank); the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) and the Caricom Development Fund (CDF), as well as delayed debt service payments, are to be blamed.

The report notes that debt service payments to Venezuela were delayed “due to sanctions imposed by the United States on debt and securities transactions related to that country. As a result, Guyana’s international correspondent banks have been unwilling to transfer payments to Venezuela”. It adds, however, that “in early 2018, Government opened an account with Bank of Guyana into which payments are being posted”.

Meanwhile, external public debt was US$1.2 billion, accounting for 74.3 per cent of the total debt stock, as of 2017 year-end. In terms of the domestic side, the domestic public debt stock was US$430.1 million, exceeding the budget projections by US$2.3 million.

“This was primarily due to the issuance of a new 91day treasury bill. The share of domestic public debt accounted for 25.7 per cent of the total public debt stock as at December 31, 2017,” the report explained.

Servicing debts

When it comes to servicing these debts, the report states that total public debt service amounted to US$71.7 million for 2017.

This was, in fact, lower by 2.5 per cent than the projected 2017 sum of US$73.5 million.

“External public debt service for 2017 amounted to US$60.8 million, US$1.9 million less than projected at the time of Budget 2018,” the report notes, adding that for 2017, 6.8 per cent of total revenue earned went towards servicing the external debt.

Bank of Guyana, Georgetown

According to the report, this is a marginal increase from the 6.7 per cent projected at the time of the 2018 Budget. Domestic debt service payments of US$10.9 million, however, remained in line with projections.

At least one of the reasons behind the increase in the debt profile can be laid at the feet of the East Coast Road expansion project. In January of last year, the Guyana Government had received a US$45.3 million concessional loan from the China Exim Bank to complete the expansion project.

This concessional loan was inked less than two months after the formation of the Framework Agreement between the Governments of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the People’s Republic of China that took place on November

23, 2016. Works have since commenced.

The ECD Road expansion project entails a fourlane extension from Better Hope to Annandale, and a two-lane upgrade from Annandale to Belfield, with a total length of 16,998 kilometres of roads and 33,996 kilometres of drains to be built.

Apart from the road expansion, residents were also going to benefit from the project, which included improved drainage since the

East Coast is usually susceptible to floods. Initially, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government had tried to finance the road expansion project, but the funding was not readily available; hence, the Administration decided to use local funds for preliminary works and use the funds from the Chinese to complete the works.

The preliminary works for the four-lane upgrade were completed at the end of 2014. This included the widening of the roads and installation of drainage facilities. The project was divided into seven lots which were awarded to different contractors.

With the China Exim Bank putting up most of the finances for the road expansion, Guyana had awarded the contract to China Railway First Group for some US$42.7 million. The Chinese construction company reportedly put in the lowest bid of US$46.994 million.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, may 8, 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

Crucial component

I

t is well known that tuberculosis (TB) is one of the world's top health challenges with nine million new cases and nearly 1.5 million deaths each year. Over 95 per cent of TB deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, poor communities and vulnerable groups.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), while there has been significant progress in the fight against TB, with more than 43 million lives saved since 2000, the battle is only half-won as over 4000 people lose their lives each day to this leading infectious disease.

At a recent international forum, which was organised to help complement the functioning of, and assist in capacity building among, national TB laboratories, Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings boasted that Guyana was currently winning the war against TB. She said that in spite of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) causing a spike in the number of TB cases dealt with last year, the National Tuberculosis Control Programme (NTP) and the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS) were working round the clock to heighten the Isoniazid Preventative Therapy in citizens living with the deadly disease.

Even though Guyana still has a far way to go, this country can boast of tremendous progress made in its fight against TB; and all efforts must be made to ensure these gains are not reversed. It could be recalled that the actual number of new TB cases diagnosed by the National TB Programme (NTBP) rose steadily throughout the 90s. However, with some key interventions by the previous Administration, such as the implementation of the Directly Observed Treatment Short (DOTS) programme (2002-2007), annual cases declined from 2008 and stabilised for four years thereafter due to further DOTS expansion.

Based on official statistics, the case notification rate over the past five years decreased from 92 per 100,000 in 2012 to 70 per 100,000 in 2017. This is quite an achievement and kudos must be given to all the stakeholders that are working to further reduce TB cases in Guyana.

Some years ago, the DOTS system was successfully implemented in all the regions of the country and has been essential to ensuring case detection, standardised treatment, with supervision and patient support. That said, the national rate is still below the target for the WHO’s END TB Strategy 2025 of 90 per cent.

According to recent analysis by the WHO of the TB epidemic, “momentum is growing at country and community levels – including in the 30 countries with the highest TB burden (over 85 per cent of the global burden).

A number of countries are strengthening the strategic agendas of their TB programmes, by adopting newer tools, extending access to care and linking with other parts of Government to reduce the financial costs borne by patients.

Other countries are partnering with researchers to speed development of diagnostic tests, drugs and vaccines, and to improve delivery”.

However, despite these advances, formidable challenges remain including fragile health systems, human resource and financial constraints, and the serious co-epidemics with HIV, diabetes, and tobacco use.

Ending TB will only be achieved with greater collaboration within and across governments and with partners from civil society, communities, researchers, the Private Sector and development agencies. This means taking a whole-ofsociety and multidisciplinary approach, in the context of universal health coverage.

Funding also remains a crucial component. All partners can help take forward innovative approaches to ensure that everyone suffering from the disease has access to TB diagnosis, treatment and cure. Governments and NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs) may have the best ideas to tackle TB, but it makes very little sense if there are inadequate financial resources to ensure their effective implementation.

The authorities here must continue to build on the gains made over the years regarding efforts to reduce TB cases in keeping with the WHO targets.

A taste of Guyanese cuisine: Patrons partake in local Indian dishes during a cultural programme and awards ceremony at the Indian Monument Gardens, Georgetown on Saturday (Carl Croker photo)

Downward trajectory with no solutions

Dear Editor, Guyana’s economy continues its downward descent with no solutions in sight.

More so, even getting the economic forecasts approximately correct continues to be an arduous task for the Finance Ministry headed by Mr Jordan – who, it seems, is just an expert juggler trying to mask the economic decline.

In March 2017, Mr Jordan seemed to have had an epiphany when he declared at a press conference, “Very little manufacturing activity takes place in Guyana…the last number I looked at manufacturing, without sugar and rice milling, contribute a mere five per cent to [gross domestic product] GDP, which is very low.” He said that Guyana cannot continue to borrow, which would, in effect, incur debts on generations to come.

“We have to generate the taxes and income from the economy, even as it is growing,” he had said. Mr Jordan concluded that taxes would boost and stabilize the econ-

omy. We have seen that the economy is NOT growing, even as taxes keep on increasing.

This view was severely criticised by Mr Shyam Nokta, President of the Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association Limited (GMSA), who warned that several measures implemented by the Government would work against the competitiveness of the local manufacturers in both domestic and overseas markets, and this includes the re-categorizing of zero- and standard-rated items to exempt. We have seen that the VAT on water and electricity has already escalated the production costs of locally produced goods. This result is now evident as exports constrict and imports expand.

The contradiction of the conclusion by Mr Jordan, that ‘taxes will boost and stabilize’ the economy, was manifested by the fact that even though taxes account for $ 171.2 billion, or 87.9% of total revenue, the growth rate of our economy fell to

2.1 % in 2017! Yet, our balance of payments deficit is getting increasingly bigger.

An important component, which is the Current Account, is showing a deficit increase from US$12.4 million to US$287.4 million.

Our imports will continue to increase as we become more dependent of foreign goods and services, while our exports will continue to dwindle because of the harsh taxation on our local manufacturers, making locally manufactured products uncompetitive at home and abroad. Increased taxation has failed to ‘boost and stabilize’ the economy!

In our present situation, increased taxation due to poorly-thought-out strategies has resulted in: insufficient disposal income; increased cost of living; high prices; poor quality products; loss of markets; decline in the productive sector; scarcity and shortages; job losses; foreclosures, and increases in poverty and crime.

The late Sir Winston Churchill, who had been

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, made an astounding statement, which can be quite applicable to our current situation, when he said, “I contend that for a nation to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift it by the handle.”

What we need are sound monetary and fiscal policies, but after three years in Government, the Coalition’s performance is getting worse. Oil revenue will never be able to correct the mismanagement of our economy; from all indications, it will only get worse.

The late Milton Friedman, an American Economist, once said the Great Depression was caused solely by the Government’s mismanagement of the economy. This is quite applicable to the current progressively declining state of our economy!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councillor, Region 6

Bringing disgrace to the Police Force Dear Editor, Please oblige me a space in your newspaper to bring to the attention of the administration of the Guyana Police Force an incident that took place on May 3, 2018 at the Ministry of Public Health’s (MoPH’s) Head Office (Lot 1 Brickdam).

Editor, on the mentioned day, I had a very unfortunate opportunity to witness what I deem not only cruel, but inhumane treatment administered to a citizen -- a taxpayer, and moreso an elderly woman -- by the sergeant who runs that location. This elderly woman, I believe, is old enough to be that sergeant’s mother.

Now, the MoPH is hav-

ing two gates from the Brickdam entrance. One of them is to be used by pedestrians, and the other one is for the movement of the ministry’s vehicles. The pedestrians’ entrance is not seen by people many times, and that may be because of the way it is situated.

This elderly woman travelled from wherever in a westerly direction to the Ministry, and may have only spotted the gate used by the vehicles, and had decided to make her entry there. She was already in the compound, and just as she was about to pass the security hut, she was greeted by a very loud voice.

“Hello! Get back through that gate and use the oth-

er gate!” The loudness and force with which those words stormed through that woman’s ears that morning gave me no reason to doubt that she would have thought twice to disobey this order.

She immediately carried out that demand!

You think it finished there? No. She then turned her attention to the rank who was controlling the gate (it’s an automatic gate).

“What I told y’all about not paying attention to the gate, eh? Y’all don’t piss me off this morning...”

Editor, it is not really a big issue if persons use that gate, but it is on the safer side if they use the gate built for them. What I have

witnessed a few times by the previous sergeant is that she used to kindly ask them to use the other gate next time, if they happened to have already made their way into the compound. That approach is one which much be commended.

Editor, we at the MoPH have never had a cause to make any informal, or even formal, complaint about any rank who had worked or currently works at the ministry, until they (the Police) replaced the previous sergeant with what we are having now. Her behaviour is a disgrace to the Police Force.

Yours truly, Concerned employee

news

5

tuesDAY, may 8, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Church leaders should engage Govt on good governance, national development – Harmon fully understanding that positive change in society has to start with the individual, then the family, then the community, and finally the nation,” he added.

Harmon also spoke of the transformative influence

that active churches have on Guyanese society. “Our Government has a vested interest in your success, because your success will result in an increase in goodness and righteousness in our society, in moral re-armament

and national development, and in lessening of social ills that affect us,” he said.

The church’s anniversary service, themed ‘Sons of God Arise’, featured multiple artistic performances of song, dance, and drama.

$11M allocated to QC rehabilitation

F Minister of State, Joseph Harmon shares a light moment with Pastor Wade Ridley of Restoration and Life Ministries Church. Also in photo is Minister within the Natural Resources Ministry, Simona Broomes

M

inister of State, Joseph Harmon, has urged church leaders to engage the Government on issues concerning Guyana’s development.

He made these remarks on the occasion of the Love and Faith World Outreach Ministry’s 30th Anniversary Service, held in the sanctuary of the church at Dennis Street, Turkeyen on Monday.

“I ask you to pray for our nation; that we grow from strength to strength and administer truth and justice for all our people...

Feel free to engage us, the Government, on issues of good governance, national development, and any other matter that you may deem important,” the State Minister said.

Minister Harmon noted the important contributions that religious organ-

isations make to Guyana.

“The past three years have not been easy, as efforts to clean up the Augean Stables continue… In these efforts, we have been truly blessed in many ways; one of the most important of which was the support of the righteous in our society... You, of the Love and Faith World Outreach Ministries, have, along with other religious institutions, continued to reach out, touch and heal,

Electricity distribution in Mahdia to be expanded According to the GM, operations are running smoothly with the two engines. Total capacity is 1.2 megawatts, and approximately 368 kilowatts during peak hours.

MPL Inc is governed by the Public Infrastructure Ministry’s Hinterland Electrification Company Incorporated.

Mahdia Power and Light Incorporated

A

n increased number of residents in Mahdia, Region Eight, will soon have electricity in their homes, according to General Manager of the Mahdia Power and Light Incorporated (MPL Inc), Courtney Handy.

Handy said plans are underway to extend services to new communities, including a new developing housing scheme in Mahdia, and Upper and Lower Campbelltown.

Services will also be augmented with establishment of the Tumatumari Hydro Plant, Handy noted.

MPL Inc currently has two generators, a 400 and a 625, which operate on 46 or 56 litres an hour, respectively. Twenty hours of electricity are provided daily on a weekly basis, and 24 hours on weekends. However, according to Handy, one of the major challenges is the timely receipt of fuel.

“We mainly get our supply from GUYOIL, and that is all the way in Georgetown.

So it will take an entire day to come to Mahdia. You have to come through Linden, then through Mabura, then here. But once we can get that on time, everything is fine,” Handy is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying.

The utility company is mainly sustained through government subvention and rates accrued from the current 6,116 customers.

Handy related to DPI that from May 1, the collection rate was increased from 70 to approximately 90 per cent.

He said, “Based on the amount of money we bill, we collect 70 per cent from our customers, and we’re trying to increase it to somewhere to 90, so that we can improve our efficiency and achieve our goal of expanding services.”

ollowing reports in Guyana Times of the facilities and other infrastructure of Queen’s College being in a dilapidated state, education officers from the Department of Education along with an engineer appointed by the Education Ministry have visited the school.

Coming out of the visit, assessments were made, which exposed that the institution is in need of a facelift.

Following an inspection, it was announced that the structure will be subjected to routine repairs and maintenance works, which are needed. Additionally, the roofs of the east and west wing and the administrative building will be repaired. Maintenance is also scheduled for the playground which has been invaded by bushes.

The science lab, which was considered by the teachers as “not conducive” to lab experiments, will be repainted, cupboards will be installed, and the dilapidated walls and ceilings will be repaired.

With these rehabilitative works set to commence in the August vacation, a decision was made to allocate $11 million for the works that are pending.

This publication had reported earlier that students and teachers were raising

complaints about the difficulties which they face on a daily basis, as a result of poor structural facilities.

Calls were made for the labs to be redone, which was one of the main challenges being faced by Guyana’s premier institution.

Sources had revealed that in respect to the quality of students that are produced every year, the institution requires at least one state-of-the art laboratory.

“Structurally, we think that the lab should be done over. In terms of the quality of students and the calibre of the examination practical component, we definitely need a state-of-the-art lab because this is not conducive to lab experiments,” a source stated.

It was revealed that in the past, moderators that were dispatched to the school would comment on the state of the laboratories utilised by the students.

“It’s not that we are totally responsible for the

practical part. We have an external moderator that has to come to check how the labs were conducted.

Every year they come to check how we’re conducting our labs and there’re always comments about how they thought the lab was much better than it is.”

While it was stated that they try to make do with the necessary resources that are available in the laboratories, the walls and other sections are unadorned with diagrams due to the fact that the walls are gradually crumbling.

Additionally, the unmaintained playgrounds were one of the main reasons that their sports activities were diverged to the Guyana Cricket Club (GCC) Ground.

With the decision to rehabilitate the structural aspects of the school, students and teachers will be able to perform effectively without any disturbances.

6

tuesDAY, may 8, 2018

Page

Continued from Monday Be a good role model Young children learn a lot about how to act by watching their parents. The younger they are, the more cues they take from you. Before you lash out or blow your top in front of your child, think about this: Is that how you want your child to behave when angry? Be aware that you're constantly being watched by your children. Studies have shown that children who hit usually have a role model for aggression at home.

Model the traits you wish to see in your children: respect, friendliness, honesty, kindness, tolerance. Exhibit unselfish behaviour. Do things for other people without expecting a reward. Express thanks and offer compliments. Above all, treat your children the way you expect other people to treat you.

Make communication a priority You can't expect children to do everything simply because you, as a parent, "say so". They want and deserve explanations as much as adults do. If we don't take time to explain, children will begin to wonder about our values and motives and whether they have any basis. Parents who reason with their children allow them to understand and learn in a non-judgmental way.

Make your expectations clear. If there is a problem, describe it, express your feelings, and invite your child to work on a solution with you. Be sure to include consequences. Make suggestions and offer choices. Be open to your child's suggestions as well. Negotiate. Children who participate in decisions are more motivated to carry them out.

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

Be flexible and willing to adjust your parenting style If you often feel "let down" by your child's behaviour, perhaps you have unrealistic expectations. Parents who think in "shoulds" (for example, "My kid should be potty-trained by now") might find it helpful to read up on the matter or to talk to other parents or child development specialists.

Children' environments have an effect on their behaviour, so you might be able to change that behaviour by changing the environment. If you find yourself constantly saying "no" to your two-yearold, look for ways to alter your surroundings so that fewer things are off-limits.

This will cause less frustration for both of you.

As your child changes, you'll gradually have to change your parenting style. Chances are, what works with your child now won't work as well in a year or two.

Teens tend to look less to their parents and more to their peers for role models. But continue to provide guidance, encouragement, and appropriate discipline while allowing your teen to earn more independence. And seize every available

moment to make a connection!

Show that your love is unconditional As a parent, you're responsible for correcting and guiding your children. But how you express your corrective guidance makes all the difference in how a child receives it.

When you have to confront your child, avoid blaming, criticising, or fault-finding, which undermine self-esteem and can lead to resentment. Instead, strive to nurture and encourage, even when disciplining your children. Make sure they know that although you want and expect better next time, your love is there no matter what.

Know your own needs and limitations as a parent Face it – you are an imperfect parent. You have strengths and weaknesses as a family leader. Recognise your abilities – "I am loving and dedicated." Vow to work on your weaknesses – "I need to be more consistent with discipline." Try to have realistic expectations for yourself, your spouse, and your children. You don't have to have all the answers – be forgiving of yourself.

And try to make parenting a manageable job.

Focus on the areas that need the most attention rather than trying to address everything all at once. Admit it when you're burned out. Take time out from parenting to do things that will make you happy as a person (or as a couple).

Focusing on your needs does not make you selfish. It simply means you care about your own well-being, which is another important value to model for your children. (Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

Continued from MONDAY

By Mike Brooks, PhD Although this position is certainly debatable, one could argue that some measure of happiness (or, as psychologists like to call it, “subjective well-being”) is the best metric of how Generation Z (or any generation) is doing. Happiness, in this sense, refers more to a deep sense of contentment and life satisfaction than the pleasures that come from experiences such as eating ice-cream. It can be argued that happiness is a useful metric to assess how people are doing because almost everything we do in life is in some way tied to increasing our happiness (or reducing our suffering).

When we look at Generation Z, at least according to data from a number of sources, their well-being is dropping compared to those of teens from prior decades. Interestingly, screen use, by itself, does not necessarily decrease well-be-

ing. In fact, some studies suggest that moderate screen use can enhance well-being. However, numerous studies suggest that overuse of screens contributes to diminished well-being.

The takeaway?

Is Generation Z in trouble? For the most part, no.

Overall, they are not falling off of a cliff into anxiety, depression, despair, entitlement, and narcissism. In fact, many of them are accomplishing extraordinary things. For a number of teens and young adults, smartphones, social media, and gaming can be used to enhance relationships, productivity, and well-being. It’s likely that, for at least a fairly large percentage of young people, the pros and cons of technology use probably neutralise each other to some extent. Thus, many kids aren’t doing better or worse than teens from previous generations. That said, when we look at the overall trends in well-being, there are increases in the rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide among young people. These increases are substantiated by solid research and worth our attention.

While we can’t pin this all on smartphones and social media, research generally finds that the overuse of such technologies tends to diminish well-being. With screen time, there’s truth to the old adage that there can be “too much of a good thing”. However, if we learn to balance our screen use, we can gain more of the benefits of screens while minimising some of the negatives. For the teens who learn to do this effectively, they will be more than just all right. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

news

7

tuesDAY, may 8, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Gunmen snatch $5M from Soesdyke businesswoman ...1 nabbed in escape bid

A

businesswoman and an employee were on Monday held at gunpoint at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara, and relieved of a bag containing more than $5 million in cash.

The woman, who operates a service station in Soesdyke, EBD and lives as Land of Canaan Gardens, was on her way to a commercial bank to make a deposit when the robbery occurred.

Reports are that while on her way to the Diamond, EBD bank, the woman stopped at a business place in Land of Canaan to drop off an invoice, and as she was about to re-enter her car, two men on a CG motorcycle confronted her.

One of the bandits, who was armed with a handgun, grabbed her and forced her into the car, after which he grabbed the bag containing the money. After collecting the bag, he handed it over to his accomplice who was on the motorcycle.

The gunman then exited that car, hopped onto the motorcycle, and the bandits rode away. As the men rode off, an alarm was raised and persons in the area went in pursuit of the men.

One of them was reportedly nabbed, while the other made good his escape with the bag containing the cash.

A relative of the traumatised businesswoman explained that he received the telephone call informing him that his daughterin-law was robbed, and that one of the bandits was apprehended by public spirited citizens who went to her aid.

He noted that the money contained in the bag was

T

he storage bond and minibus of an Annandale, East Coast businessman were in the wee hours of Monday broken into, and over $400,000 in items were reported to have been stolen. The bond is located at the side of the businessman’s home.

The victim, 28-year-old Andrew Rampersaud, told Guyana Times that he arrived home with his family at about 22:00h on Sunday, and retired to bed following a power failure and heavy rains. He recalled that the bond was secured with padlocks; and his minibus, which also had some items, was locked.

However, at about 06:45h, his tenants frantically informed him that his bond was broken into, as well as his minibus. He rushed to the area, only to find that not only

The ransacked minibus

A screwdriver was recovered lying on the top of the fence, which gives the indication that the bandits had scaled the fence to gain entry into the yard.

“They left a screwdriver on the fence top, and there was a slight bend on the grill

The car from which the music deck was ripped out

The bandit who was caught following the robbery

from sales at the service station over the weekend. The businessman further stated that after reviewing the CCTV footage at the service station, it is believed that the robbery was executed with the assistance of an employee.

He stated that the man who was arrested was seen in the footage speaking with someone at the business place. The man added that the CCTV footage was handed over to the Police as

they continue their investigations and hunt for the second suspect.

He, nevertheless, was happy that his daughterin-law and the employee were not injured when the robbery was committed.

He, moreover, thanked the Police for their prompt response to the distress call.

Guyana Times understands that the employees at the service station were questioned in connection with the robbery.

EBD fatal accident

Unlicensed driver jailed for 4 years

T

he minibus driver who drove recklessly on April 13, 2018, causing the deaths of 52year-old Yvonne Mohan and Ramroop Persaud, was on Monday jailed for causing death by dangerous driving.

Ronald Balgobin, 24, of Sophia, Greater Georgetown admitted to driving minibus BWW 4542 at a fast rate, thereby causing the deaths of both persons.

On his first appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, Balgobin had denied the sole charge against him -that of causing the death of Mohan. However, when he was slapped with the second charge, he admitted to them, explaining what occurred on the day of the accident.

According to Balgobin, he was asked by a friend whom he had met on Facebook to drive her bus, and even though unlicensed, he complied.

ECD businessman, tenant robbed during power failure

Ronald Balgobin

He added that he was transporting only one extra person in the bus when the accident occurred. He further revealed that the accident occurred when he was overtaking a truck behind a car that was overtaking as well.

However, the driver of the said car reportedly re-

fused to give him space to return to the correct lane, and as such he was forced to speed up in an attempt to overtake the car when he suffered a blow out. He then lost control of the vehicle, which toppled several times before coming to a stop. In the process, some of the passengers were reportedly thrown from the vehicle.

Balgobin and the injured passengers were rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where Mohan succumbed.

Persaud succumbed to his injuries several days after the accident.

On Monday, Balgobin begged for mercy, apologising to the Court for his carelessness. Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan told him that he did not drive with due care, and as such, sentenced him to four years’ imprisonment for each charge.

However, the two sentences are to run concurrently.

the locks to the bond were damaged.

He noted that, as based on checks, he realized that a quantity of costume jewellery, kids’ games, clothing, DVD players, Bluetooth boxes and other items were stolen.

In addition, the tenant’s motor car was also broken into. The perpetrators removed the car’s music deck, a quantity of liquor and other valuables.

The broken locks on the door of the bond

work,” he recalled. The Police were summoned and an investigation has commenced.

The area was dusted for fingerprints.

“The detectives took fingerprints. We already gave a statement, but we gotta go [to the Vigilance Police Station] to give a formal statement,” the frustrated young businessman told the Guyana Times.

8 NEWS

tuesDAY, may 8, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Bird thief stabbing

Victim slapped with manslaughter charge

T

he Sophia, Georgetown man who fought for his life and reportedly stabbed a thief who was robbing him was on Monday charged for manslaughter.

Fifty-six-year-old Peter Jansen, of Lot 134 Block X North Sophia, Greater Georgetown appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

He was not allowed to plead to the charge which stated that on May 1, 2018 at Sophia, he unlawfully killed Shelton Jordan.

Guyana Times previously reported that Jordan, called “Mickey Mouse”, was killed when he attacked Jansen and reportedly attempted to steal his bird about 05:30h.

The alleged bird thief Shelton Jordan

During the course of the robbery, Jordan reportedly stabbed Jansen to his hand.

This resulted in a scuffle be-

tween the two.

Jansen, however, managed to disarm Jordan of the knife he was carrying, and during the fight, the thief was reportedly stabbed.

The father of five then proceeded to the Police Station where he reported what transpired.

Jansen’s Attorney, Latchmie Rahamat, in a bail application, told the court that her client was entitled to protect himself from danger.

She revealed that after attempting to steal the bird but failing, Jordan pursued her client who had begun to run away, and then pulled out the knife and attacked him.

In her bail applica-

tion, Rahamat cited Article 148 (2) of the Constitution, which makes provision for her client to be protected, and the deceased was not entitled to protection under the same article.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield had no objections to bail, but requested that Jansen lodge his passport with the court and report to the Police every week until completion of the case.

Bail was granted in the sum of $250,000. The case will continue on May 28, 2018.

Reports are several persons who had their birds stolen alleged that Jordan was among a group of men who had been prowling the area and stealing birds.

Man jailed for beating wife with rolling pin

T

he heavy arm of the law came down on domestic violence when jail time was imposed on a man who beat his wife with a rolling pin during a family dispute.

Forty-three-yearold Collin Millington appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday charged with unlawful wounding.

He admitted to the court that he beat his wife with a rolling pin on May 5, 2018 at their Austin Street, Campbellville, Georgetown home.

According to Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore, Millington is in the habit of beating his wife when angered.

On the day of the incident, someone told

Millington that his wife was allegedly having an affair and as such, he picked up a rolling pin from the kitchen and dealt the woman several blows to her body.

The matter was reported to the Police, and Millington was arrested and charged.

He was jailed for 18 months by Magistrate Latchman.

Wife beater: Collin Millington

Businessman remanded on narco trafficking charge

T

he owner of Glow Again Boutique was on Monday charged for narcotics trafficking after he was intercepted by Customs Anti-Narcotics

Unit (CANU) ranks with a large quantity of cocaine.

Gavin Blackman, 42, of Lot 65 Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, denied that he had 1.12 ki-

lograms of cocaine in his possession on May 4, 2018 for the purpose of trafficking.

Blackman’s Attorney, James Bond, in a bail ap-

plication, told the court that his client did not traffic the cocaine as it did not belong to him. He informed the court that his client was visiting a physically-challenged friend when ranks of CANU searched the premises. The lawyer added that his client was arrested after the drug was found in the yard adjacent to where he was visiting.

However, Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that CANU ranks were investigating the businessman for some time and on the day in question, he was being trailed by ranks.

The Prosecutor stated that about 09:30h, the businessman was seen with a black plastic bag when he visited his friend’s home at Lot 2 Norton Street, Georgetown.

He was called upon by a rank, but subsequently ran and was seen throwing the illicit substance into his friend’s house.

When the said bag was searched by the CANU rank, the drug was found inside; as such, Blackman was arrested and charged with the offence.

The businessman was remanded to prison. The case will continue on June 7, 2018.

Holding on…

O

…to bitter (bauxite) myths

ne of the constants of politics in divided states is the cultivation, nursing and retention of myths of persecution and oppression by the “other”. This tendency, of course, helps immeasurably to create the divisions in the first place!! Given the opportunity – or creating the opportunity – it becomes a case of “payback time” when the shoe is on the other foot, or the cutlass is in the other hand!!

Like all myths, there’s always at least a grain of truth at the centre, but that truth is always burnished and augmented to bring home the “point” in a way that even the most “hard-headed” can understand; and be aroused.

Take the case of the bauxite industry, and, more to the point, the bauxite workers. Marxists talk about the “working class” of the developed countries being a “labour aristocracy” because of their vastly better wages and working conditions than those in the Third World.

In Guyana, up to the time when Burnham nationalised the Bauxite Industry in 1970, Bauxite workers were our very own “labour aristocracy” – compared to all other Guyanese workers – but especially sugar workers. They were all African, after the 1964 ethnic cleansing. However, a decade after nationalisation, the PNC, under Burnham’s direct involvement, had brought the industry to its knees.

By 1992, when the PPP took over, the Industry was producing just one-third of its optimum production. The Alumina Plant – which added value to the bauxite and justified free electricity to all of Linden – had long been shuttered, and its workers sent into the streets by the PNC. When Desmond Hoyte called in the IMF to bail out Guyana from the debt albatross bequeathed by the PNC, one of that entity’s demands was that the Bauxite Industry be privatised. Hoyte had already given away the Berbice bauxite operations to ALCOA for a song, without even the need to pay taxes or shipping fees etc. It was a blueprint for Trotman’s Exxon oil contract!! Inheriting this snafu in 1992– especially with ALCOA playing hardball and threatening to walk away -- the PPP obviously had to make some hard decisions based on the triage principle: sacrificing some parts for the survival of the whole.

And that’s the kernel of truth African-Guyanese activists like Lincoln Lewis and David Hinds have stubbornly nurtured to beat the PPP over the head as “racists” – especially when they contrapose the PPP’s supposed pandering to the sugar industry and sugar workers who’re their supporters and Indian to boot. It is rarely, if ever, mentioned that the PPP kept the PNC-imposed draconian sugar levy that sucked all profits from the sugar industry.

During the same years, they kept bauxite alive on life support funded by that levy.

…to old shibboleths

There are some interesting economic statistics this newspaper’s been mining from the year-end reports the Finance Ministry has to issue. Dragged, kicking and screaming, Minister Jordan’s been forced to concede the economy’s growth has been inexorably shrinking, contrary to the rosy projections he appears impelled to issue at Budget Time.

But that, of course, is more tragic than interesting.

What’s interesting is the revelation that there are even more taxes being collected – especially from individual and corporate income taxes -- even as economic growth is headed south!! Why that’s interesting is because it’s contrary to the advice of economists from every school out there – from the Keynesians to the New Monetary Theorists! Very simply put, one way to revive the economy is to place more money in the pockets of consumers and businesses – who can then inject it directly into the economy!!

Now the Finance Minister will say the increased revenues are due to better tax collections. But duh!! Why hasn’t he proposed and implemented income tax cuts??

…to Marx

It’s Karl Marx’s 200th birthday. Your Eyewitness thinks it’s rather serendipitous that Cheddi Jagan, his most faithful follower, just had his 100th birthday commemorated.

Marx had a statue donated by China to his home town, while Jagan has some stamps issued by the PNC Government to his relatives.

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

News

9

tuesDAY, may 8, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Pirate massacre

Surinamese law enforcement confirms 13 in custody

…but Justice Minister says 30 arrested

I

n light of the recent arrest of notorious criminal “Crackhead”, who was wanted by Surinamese law enforcement for the recent deadly pirate attacks, the Police have confirmed that a total of 13 persons are in custody.

However, at a joint press conference on Monday in Suriname, that country’s Justice and Police Minister, Stuart Faith reported that 30 persons have been arrested.

The arrests, he noted, were made on water and on land.

Meanwhile, Surinamese Defence Minister Ronni Benschop assured that in a week’s time the fishermen

Arrested: the notorious criminal known as “Crackhead”

could safely return to work at sea.

The authorities have not ascertained the motives for the attack, but there are suspicions that it was retaliation

for the murder of a captain.

The main suspect, “Crackhead”, was reportedly spotted in the boat that attacked the fishermen between May 3 and May 5 in the Wia

Wiabank, Suriname.

Guyana Times understands that a boat owner who reported the robbery to the Police described the men he recognised during the brutal attack on the fishermen.

He reportedly told the Police that “Dick”, “Bolo”, “Crackhead”, “Sanbad” and another man he did not know carried out the attack.

The owner also told officials that the suspects were all Guyanese.

News coming out of Suriname also stated that the Coast Guard has also brought in a boat and suspects and handed them over to the Police. Upon inspection of the boat, it appeared that the crew could not produce a permit.

The people on board also had no identification papers.

Fifteen fishermen are still missing. Three bodies have been recovered and five people have survived the attacks.

On Sunday, Guyana’s Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan led a team to the neighbouring country where he had the opportunity to meet with the relatives of the missing men.

During his visit, Ramjattan recognised the need for an improved coastguard warning system and information sharing.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who led a team to Suriname, described the attacks as acts of terrorism, and called upon the Governments of Guyana

and Suriname to work together in addressing the horrific incidents. He urged that the full force of the law be used to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Two Saturdays ago, four boats were attacked by a group of men who brutalised the occupants then threw them overboard. Two days later, another boat was attacked, and the captain was killed. The crew is still missing. identified as Those missing include: Ramesh Sanchara, Ganesh Persaud, Vickey Persaud, Glenroy Jones, Bharat Heralall, Ralph Anthony, and Tiaknauth Mohabir. The bodies that were recovered are yet to be positively identified.

AG’s Chambers ordered to produce $54M in missing diamonds

Attorney General Basil Williams

J

ustice Fidela CorbinLincoln has given the Attorney General’s Chambers two weeks to locate some $54 million in missing diamonds, which vanished from Police hands sometime after a 1994 robbery investigation.

At a hearing before this High Court Judge on Monday, lawyers for the AG’s Chambers claimed being unable to contact several Police officers connected to the probe. This revelation comes in the wake of retired Police Commissioner Floyd McDonald breaking his silence by denying that he had handled the missing diamonds.

The case has garnered increased attention following the AG publishing notices in the press calling for several Police ranks to make contact with his chambers. Some of those called for are now elder-

ly men.

The matter stems from a civil suit that businessman Ronald Khan brought against the State in 2011, seeking to recoup his uncut diamonds that went missing.

In court documents seen by this publication, the Statement of Claim contends that Khan’s Ewang Creek Mining Camp in Region Eight was robbed of the diamonds in 1994. However, the precious merchandise was recovered by Guyana Police Force ranks and taken to the Mahdia Police Station, where it was inspected and the quantity was verified. The stones where then transported to Police in “E” and “F” Division.

The suit also indicated that Khan was disallowed from having the property returned to him, which he says was his “at all material times.”

“The plaintiff was informed that the said diamonds were required as exhibits in the criminal trial of the persons charged with the armed robbery of the plaintiff’s camp.

Despite the passage of several years, the Guyana Police Force was unable to conclude the prosecution of the alleged defendants, as some have [sic] escaped and others (have) subsequently died,” an excerpt of the writ highlighted.

According to court documents, Khan even wrote the late Police Commissioner Henry Greene in 2010, requesting the return of his diamonds. The businessman said that while his letter was ac-

Former Police Commissioner Floyd McDonald

knowledged, he failed to have his property returned.

As the matter continued at the High Court on Monday, Justice Corbin-Lincoln told both sides that the case will not be dragging on, and she gave Joan Edghill-Stuart of the Attorney General’s Chambers until May 22 to update the court on the status of the criminal case involving the 1994 robbery, and to locate the missing diamonds.

Edghill-Stuart has, however, stressed that the AG has been unable to contact various parties involved in the case. She even noted that their names have been published in official notices in the daily newspapers. Earlier in the day’s proceedings, this attorney had told the court that she is not in receipt of information pertaining to the status of the criminal matter or the diamonds.

This revelation prompted the Judge to query the merit of ascertaining this information. In response, Kezia Williams, a lawyer who appeared in the place of Khan’s attorney, Nigel Hughes, told Justice Corbin-Lincoln that the plaintiff is willing to settle once the State returns his diamonds. Nevertheless, he is seeking in excess of $100,000 in damages, interests and court costs.

In the notices published in the daily newspapers, former Police Commissioner Floyd McDonald, who served as Crime Chief in 1994, was named, but on Sunday he re-

sponded to an article in the State newspaper, denying he had ever received, seen, examined, or sent to examine, any diamonds in relation to Ronald Khan.

McDonald, who retired in 2004, was also quoted as saying that he was not in the Force when the diamonds supposedly went missing. Also, that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters did not keep exhibits. His disclosure contradicts claims that diamonds were handed over to him after inspection by a diamond dealer.

Aside from McDonald, those whom the AG asked

to make urgent contact are: Harley Davidson, Deputy Crime Chief; Eon Sandy, who had been stationed at the Supreme Criminal Court’s Police Outpost; and Alwyn Wilson, who was stationed at then ‘E’ and ‘F’ Division headquarters at Eve Leary.

Notices were also sent out for Terrence Semple, who was last stationed at Mahdia Police Station; Courtney Ramsey and Desmond Leitch, both last stationed at the CID; Constable Fraser (Reg Number: 10881), and ex-Detective Sergeant Carl Wilson (Reg Number: 7797).

10 news

tuesDAY, may 8, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

13 homeless after fire guts Lindo Creek CoI GDF criticised for excluding Hadfield Street homes camp owner from internal investigation

…Commissioner to visit campsite

The aftermath of the fire which left 13 homeless

T

wo houses have been gutted and 13 persons have been rendered homeless following a Monday afternoon fire of unknown origin in Hadfield Street, Georgetown.

Guyana Times understands the fire started in a one-storey wooden house located at Lot 69 Hadfield Street, where one of the occupants of the home – an elderly woman -- was at home with her grandchildren. Neighbours say smoke was seen emanating from the house, but its occupants managed to escape unharmed.

Alarmed at the flames, residents immediately called the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), which arrived promptly. While they were unable to save the adjacent houses from destruction, the firemen were able to control the blaze and prevent it from spreading fur-

ther to the other buildings which were in close proximity to the inferno.

When this publication arrived at the scene, firefighters were battling the blaze in efforts to contain the fire. A tenant, Patrick Hall, one of ten persons who resided in the house where the fire started, related that he was returning home from work when he saw smoke emanating from what used to be his dwelling. In disbelief, he quickly made it over to the front of the house, but was unable to save anything from burning. The 40-yearold is now counting his losses and contemplating his next move, as his sister and her seven children, who had been residing with him for the past decade, now have nowhere to stay.

The house to the east of this building was almost flattened. It was occupied by 3 persons, who were incon-

solable in their anguish as they counted their losses as well.

GFS officials who were at the scene battling the blaze were unable to state definitively what had caused the fire. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.

GFS Divisional Operations Officer Gregory Wickham told this publication that two buildings were completely destroyed.

“We have two buildings that have been completely destroyed, and two others have been slightly scorched. Upon arrival, the first building was alight and the second one was partially engulfed. We are still investigating. The second building has been completely destroyed too. That’s how serious it is,” he explained.

He said that an investigation has been launched into the fire.

Commission Chairman, retired Justice Donald Trotman

T

he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) was heavily criticised on Monday for excluding the evidence of Lindo Creek mining camp owner Leonard Arokium from an internal investigation conducted to determine whether its ranks were involved in the June 21, 2008 massacre.

Upon resumption of the presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI), the panel heard from Major Andy Pompey, who headed the unit which was appointed to carry out the inquiry among members of the GDF. Back in 2008, Pompey was a Captain and head of the Intelligence Corps.

He told the CoI that the five-member unit, which he headed, interviewed the 24-member Joint Services unit that was deployed to the area at the time. However, the Commission thought it was rather strange that the Army did not interview a man who was making a serious allegation.

Arokium had told officials that information he received from eyewitnesses made it clear that it was the Joint Services that were responsible for the deaths of his son, brother, and six oth-

er miners in his employ.

The Joint Services unit was combing the area and had, days before, been involved in a “shootout” with the “Fineman gang”. They reportedly killed at least two members of the gang.

CoI Chairman, Justice Donald Trotman questioned the mode of operation of the GDF’s investigating team, inquiring from Pompey, the reason for not questioning Arokium.

“Here is Mr Arokium making these allegations.

You were asked to investigate the circumstances and you didn’t think at least, if no one else, you should have interviewed Mr Arokium, who was making these allegations?”

Pompey said he was working with a directive at the time. According to him, he was restricted to interviewing only the ranks identified.

“The persons interviewed by the team were the persons who the directive I received were to be interviewed and those persons were the only ones who came and were interviewed,” he explained.

However, as part of his interrogation of ranks, Pompey did not call upon

Arokium.

Meanwhile, retired Justice Trotman said on Monday that as the Commission moved apace with its work, a number of outreach activities critical to the investigation have been planned.

The team will commence a four-day visit to the Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice Region on Wednesday. Its first visit on Wednesday will be a public conversation with residents at Constabulary Hall, Linden.

The following day, the team will visit Goat Farm Ituni, where interviews will be conducted with Kwakwani residents.

Then on Friday, the team will visit the Arokium campsite, Lindo Creek. It also has on schedule a visit to Christmas Falls, the site where members of the Rondell “Fineman” Rawlins gang were killed.

The following day, the Commission will be engaged in a public conversation at the Kwakwani Workers Club before returning to Georgetown.

Among the Terms of Reference (ToRs) of the GDF unit was the investigation of “allegations of murder being made against ranks of the Joint Services by Mr Leonard Arokium and other family members of the deceased”.

Some time between June 12, 2008, and June 24, 2008, miners Cecil Arokium, Dax Arokium, Compton Speirs, Horace Drakes, Clifton Wong, Lancelot Lee, Bonny Harry and Nigel Torres were shot and killed, and their bodies burnt at the Upper Berbice River mining camp, which was being operated by Leonard Arokium.

The CoI was established to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the killings of eight miners and to report its findings and recommendations to President David Granger.

news

11

tuesDAY, may 8, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Vigilante charged Case to continue today with murder Singh, Brassington charges

…SOCU ordered to submit additional documents

T

he court matters involving former Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and former Chief Executive Officer of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington, will continue today before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The men are being charged for allegedly selling several plots of land on the East Coast of Demerara to National Hardware Guyana Ltd for over $598 million; Scady Business Corporation at a cost of $150 million, and to Multi-cinemas Guyana Inc at a cost of $185 million.

The Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) brought the charges against the two former Government officials early last month.

However, the men, who both reside overseas, were not in court on Monday.

Their respective lawyers instead appeared for them.

Chief Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan has set the matter for today, when the prosecution will have to prove to the court that attempts were made to serve summons on both men.

SOCU Prosecutor Trenton Lake has claimed that summonses were sent to the last known addresses of both men. However, those summonses were not available to be presented to the court when requested by Magistrate Ann McLennan. As such, the Chief Magistrate has said that any other step by the court can only be taken after the “return of service” is provided.

In the three charges advanced by SOCU, it was outlined that Singh, being the Chairman of NICIL, and Brassington, being its CEO, in December of 2008, by way of agreement of sale and purchase, sold to Scady Business Corporation a tract of state land (4.7 acres) being a portion of Plantation

Former Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

Former NICIL CEO Winston Brassington

Liliendaal, situated on the East Coast of Demerara, for the sum of $150, 000,000 “knowing that the said property was valued at $340,000,000 by Rodrigues Architects & Associates, a competent valuation officer.”

The other charge outlined that Singh and Brassington sold to Multicinemas Guyana Inc a plot of state land (10 acres) at Turkeyen for the sum of $185,037,000 “without first having procured a valuation of the said property from a competent valuation officer.”

SOCU is contending also that Singh and Brassington, in 2009, by way of an agreement of sale and purchase, sold to the National Hardware Guyana Limited a tract of state land (103 acres), being a portion of Plantations Liliendaal and Turkeyen, for the sum of $598,659,398 (VAT exclusive) “without first having procured a valuation of the said property from a competent valuation officer.”

On Wednesday last, lawyers for SOCU were given one week to file an affidavit in response to show cause why the High Court should not grant an injunction to have an interim stay on lower court proceedings on charges against the two former Government officials.

Former Attorney General under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Administration, Anil

Nandlall, is challenging these matters for what the defence contends are frivolous charges.

Nandlall filed two High Court action seeking to (1): have an interim stay of proceedings in the Magistrates’ Courts; and (2): to have the charges against Singh and Brassington quashed.

Singh and Brassington’s legal team include Senior Counsel Stanley Moore and attorneys Sase Gunraj, Ronald Burch-Smith and Mark Waldron.

Since institution of the charges, a number of legal scholars have commented on the matter. Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran is of the view that the charges may be unconstitutional on the basis that Singh and Brassington are not “public officers” in accordance with the Constitution.

After the charges were filed, Nandlall, on behalf of PPP MPs, took to the court to have current Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence and former Public Health Minister Dr George Norton charged with the same offence.

In addition, Government Ministers David Patterson, Winston Jordan and Dr Rupert Roopnaraine were also charged. However, all of those charges were discontinued by the DPP in a move which Nandall contends is unfair, as he continues to oppose the decision.

Ganja trafficker jailed A 20-year-old man was on Monday jailed for four years for trafficking in narcotics.

Kurt Steel admitted to being in possession of 452 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking on May 4, 2018 at Broad Street, Georgetown.

Steel, who was unrepresented, was caught by Police on patrol riding a bicycle with the drugs hidden in a black plastic bag in his hand.

When stopped and searched, he was found to

be in possession of leaves, seeds and stems suspected to be cannabis.

As such, he was taken to the Ruimveldt Police Station, where the drugs were weighed and amounted to the amount mentioned in the charge.

City Magistrate Judy Latchman jailed Steel for four years, and fined him $30,000.

Additionally, Gordon Nedd was jailed for three years on a separate charge of possession of 27 grams of cannabis.

He admitted to being in possession of 27 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking at Cummings Street, Alberttown earlier this year.

He was found with the narcotics hidden in his crotch when a motorcar in which he was traversing was stopped and searched.

In begging for leniency, he told the court on Monday that the drugs belong to his boss, but he was forced to hide it when he saw that the vehicle was being stopped by Police.

A

suspected vigilante who, back in August 2016, had shot and killed an alleged bandit, was on Monday slapped with a murder charge.

Moses Singh, 59, of Lot 12 Sarah Johanna, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was slapped with the indictable charge which alleges that he, on August 20, 2016 at Pearl Village, EBD, killed 21-year-old Seon Clarke.

Reports are that Clarke and two accomplices were allegedly planning to rob a grocery store in Sarah Johanna, East Bank Demerara.

However, the owner of the store realised that he was about to get robbed and raised an alarm. Villagers, including a Policeman who was passing, captured Clarke and one of his accomplices. During the process, Clarke was reportedly shot and the captured accomplice was beaten, while the other escaped. The third accomplice was later caught, and allegedly took investigators to a location at Pearl, EBD, where he handed over a .380 Beretta pistol with six matching rounds.

Charged on Monday for the shooting, Singh had been living in the United States (US) for the past two years, where he was receiving treatment for an illness.

His attorney, Latchmie Rahamat, told the Chief Magistrate that her client was escorted by an alleged Immigration Officer to the airport, where he was handed over to Criminal Investigation Department (CID) ranks.

The Police later revealed

Dead: Seon Clarke

that they were unaware of the said immigration officer.

Singh was flown back to Guyana, where he was arrested and charged with the murder of Clarke.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield revealed to the Court that his case file on the matter shows that the defendant flew back to Guyana on his own accord. Magistrate Ann McLennan has, however, called for an investigation into the reports.

Singh was remanded to prison. The case will continue on May 17.

Clarke, of John Street, Campbellville, was reportedly a victim of mistaken identity. He was reportedly shot and killed after it was reported that he and an accomplice had attempted to rob a grocery shop.

The businessman had reportedly alerted Police ranks that were in the area, and they had pursued the men who allegedly were trying to rob the grocery shop, but the men had managed to escape.

Clarke and a colleague were later apprehended by

members of the community, who spotted them on the Pearl Public Road.

It was reported that during the process of their apprehension, one of the vigilantes shot Clarke and inflicted a beating on his accomplice. The men were handled over to the Police, who rushed them to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where Clarke was pronounced dead on arrival while his alleged accomplice was treated and sent away.

However, the family members of Clarke revealed that he was a victim of mistaken identity after it was reported in the press that he had previous brushes with the law.

Godfrey Clarke, who spoke with the media following the incident, had revealed that he was the dead man’s father. Margaret Davis, the grandmother of Clarke, said her grandson had never gone by the alias “Cash Money”, and had never had brushes with the law, as was reported by the Police. She added that the name of Clarke’s father is Andre Clarke, and not Godfrey Clarke, as was reported in the press.

The woman claimed that the information provided by the Police was inaccurate, leading to Clarke being misidentified.

As a result, Godfrey Clarke, believing it was his son who had been fatally shot, told reporters that his son, Seon Clarke, had had brushes with the law, and had recently been released from jail in relation to a simple larceny charge.

12 news 60-year-old busted with Climate change Researchers to embark on 27kg ganja in freezer sensitisation drive A I tuesDAY, may 8, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

60-year-old man was on Monday morning arrested after more than 27 kilograms of cannabis were found hidden in a freezer at his East Coast Demerara home.

Reports are that an intelligence-led operation saw members of the Police Narcotics Branch visiting the man’s home at Haslington, ECD, where a search was conducted and five well taped parcels of the compressed marijuana were unearthed.

The sexagenarian is expected to make his court appearance at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court today. The Police are, however, continuing their investigations into the discovery.

By Jarryl Bryan

The compressed marijuana found in the freezer

n light of the real threat posed by climate change, the Centre of Partnership for Development (CAD) group is undertaking a series of outreaches and consultations that would aid in climate change mitigation efforts in Guyana.

On Monday, the group launched a workshop at Cara Lodge, where there was interaction with members of the private sector. According to the group, its outreaches and workshops would be taken to Regions One, Two, Seven, Eight, Nine and 10.

Jaime Fernandez, a research analyst at CAD, has said these activities would be centred on raising awareness on Reducing Emissions

Linden roadways

More safety concerns raised over heavy-duty trucks

A lumber truck stuck across the roadway on Sunday

C

alls are beginning to mount for closer attention to be paid to heavy-duty trucks which traverse thoroughfares across Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), more so Linden and the LindenSoesdyke Highway, in light of safety concerns.

Region 10 Democratic Council (RDC) members as well as residents continue to express concerns over the “haphazard” way in

which some operators utilise the roadways by not adhering to safety guidelines. On Sunday, a heavily-laden lumber truck was stuck across the highway at Amelia’s Ward, causing a traffic build-up. This caused residents to raise concerns over safety.

“This nonsense got to stop. The authorities have to do something about these lumber trucks. People can’t get to work on time,” an af-

fected resident remarked.

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman Renis Morian said he would be meeting with members of the Police Traffic Department to discuss recommendations.

The administration recently made a decision to clamp down on defaulting timber and lumber trucks utilising the Mackenzie-Wismar Bridge and internal roads in the Linden community, after concerns were raised

over trucks not operating under standard regulations when utilising the roads and bridges. With Linden being a major link to interior locations, scores of these trucks pass through the community on a daily basis.

“I would want to also talk to the person in charge at the toll (Kara Kara) station, the stop points on the highway,” Morian told Councillors, during a recent statutory meeting.

He noted that just recently he was forced to inform staff at the toll booth after observing a heavy-duty truck traversing without tail lights. “So we would need to involve the Police here ... and I would want to involve the Police too in the meeting,” the Regional Chairman said.

Councillor Tracy Johnson has, however, called for the trucks to occupy a particular location and be escorted

by Police.

“I think it would be wise for us to ensure that those trucks are parked in a particular area and every hour the Police escort them out of Linden to Soesdyke and they pay a fee to the Police,” he told members of the Council.

Morian said while the RDC did not make laws, it could make recommendations and urged Councillors to present same at the meeting with the Traffic Department.

“We got enough grounds to make strong recommendations because over the past three years – and maybe we need to chronicle as part of the argument, the amount of deaths that happened (involving heavy-duty trucks) over the past three years. I would have that report from the Police Station.

So, it would strengthen our case,” he said.

Adding to the discussion, Councillor Antonio Hackett suggested that there be representation from the National Road Safety Council at the meeting. (Utamu Belle)

Research Analyst participants

at

CAD

from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing countries, commonly known as the REDD-plus programme.

“All in all, the project aims at increasing awareness towards REDD-plus and engaging stakeholders like forestdependent communities in the interior regions. So it is quite a challenging two- year project, and this will be done in different steps,” he explained.

“The first step is to listen to you: to see what are your experiences and your expectations,

Jaime

Fernandez,

addressing

national community. It plays a critical role in our lives, and we have to do something about it.

One of those options (is) REDDplus,” Fernandez explained.

The Guyana REDD?plus Investment Fund (GRIF) is a multi?contributor trust fund established to manage payments provided by contributors to the GRIF for forest climate services provided by Guyana. Those payments and any investment income earned on them, excluding any administrative costs of the sec-

The Iwokrama Centre is a major piece of the forest conservation puzzle

(and to determine) what (you do) know about (Redd-plus) and what is still missing. And from collecting that information from you, we will be able to design effective communication strategies,” he explained.

Fernandez noted that, coming out of these consultations, CAD would be better able to design appropriate communication strategies. He noted that when effective communication tools are designed, the team would return to outreach sites to distribute them.

It is understood that the team is aiming for this yearend to start distributing these materials across the country.

The first destination on the team’s list is the Region One community of Moruca.

A global problem

Describing climate change as a global problem, Fernandez noted that this phenomenon threatens various aspects of livelihood, including bio-diversity, public health, and food production systems.

“It’s not a local problem, but a global problem. There are many different drivers of climate change, and one of those is deforestation. We (can) just look at the first decade of 2000, from 2000 to 2010. Deforestation contributed to about 50 per cent of the total greenhouse gas emissions worldwide,” he explained.

“So there have been a lot of discussions about it in the inter-

retariat and the trustee, are transferred to partner entities for projects and activities that support the implementation of certain local projects.

One project Guyana is globally known for is Iwokrama -acres of forests, 1.6 per cent of Guyana’s land mass, dedicated as a place of research.

Its 371,000 hectares is also equivalent to two per cent of Guyana’s forests.

The Iwokrama Centre itself was established in 1996 in order to manage the forest area. This was arrived at following an agreement between the then Government and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The United Nations (UN) has classified combating climate change as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Number 13. According to the organisers of World Earth Day, at least two million people die globally due to indoor and outdoor pollution. It also estimates that by the year 2030, food prices will go up by 50 per cent, due to climate change.

The rising temperature, global warming, and other ecological imbalances are because half of the world’s rainforests are gone. The death of 70,000 persons in Europe was due to rising temperatures in 2003. These imbalances are also leading to frequent flooding and other disasters across the globe, which include forest fires – again, impacting the trees.

news

13

tuesDAY, may 8, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Cotton Tree fire leaves 6 homeless S

ix persons are now homeless after a fire completely destroyed their two-bedroom, two-storey home at Lot 28 Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice on Monday.

Reports are that, at about 00:30h, family members were awakened from asleep to find their home filled with smoke. At the time, those in the building were Rajwattie Persaud, 45; her husband Jairam, 49; Kumarie Jairam, 19; Nafeeza Nazam, 12; Christopher Jairam, 11; and Kishan Habibullah, two years old.

Jairam told Guyana Times that after an alarm was raised, he got the family together and tried to get everyone out of the burning building, but they were trapped as they were all barefooted, and received burns to their feet.

“The heat coming up from the bottom and we get burn!” he explained.

As initial efforts to exit the building proved futile, he went back into his room.

After a while, he broke a window on the upper flat and

Damage to a building being less than ten feet away was limited to its outer rafters, while the building on the next lot received damage to the plastic guttering along one side of its roof.

“The 400 gallons of water (the GFS) came with could

Fire flattened this two-storey building

jumped to safety. Four of the other family members did likewise, while his wife had to take her baby with her when she jumped to safety.

Residents, meanwhile formed a bucket brigade to fight the flames, but it failed to save the building.

All six family members were taken to the Fort Wellington Hospital suffering from burns. Persaud and Kumarie were admitted as patients while the others were treated and sent away.

Swift action by the

Guyana Fire Service, however, prevented two nearby houses from burning. Deputy Fire Officer for Berbice, Clive McDonald, said that upon receiving the report, the Fire Service responded promptly.

Mc Donald referred to the escape as an act of bravery, noting that Persaud jumped from the burning building with her two-year-old toddler.

“The first thing was to stop the fire from spreading.

The fire was contained to one building,” Mc Donald said.

Grove man denies killing poultry farm employee

M

ahindra Bishundial, called “Tyrone”, of Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Monday denied the State’s indictment that he, on November 6, 2012 at Busby Dam, Craig, EBD, murdered 57-year-old Aga Khan during the course of a robbery.

As such, a mixed jury of 12 persons was empanelled before Justice James BovellDrakes at the High Court to hear how the Edun Poultry Farms & Hatchery employee met his demise.

Defence counsel Nigel Hughes entered an appearance for the accused man while Prosecutor Shawnette Austin is leading the State’s case against Bishundial.

According to reports, Khan was confronted by several robbers and he handed over a bag. He was subsequently shot and rushed to the Diamond hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

It had also been reported that a porter was shot during the ordeal over five

years ago. Police had said that Khan was driving motor lorry GJJ 2806, which was owned by his employer. It was observed that the men walked into the vehicle’s path and approached the now deceased man, ordering that he hand over cash.

The Preliminary Inquiry was conducted by former Magistrate Leslie Sobers at the Providence Magistrate’s Court. However, the High Court trial will start on Wednesday.

Retrial under way for man accused of killing reputed wife

Dead: Donna Thomas

A

12-member jury was on Monday empanelled at the Demerara High Court before Justice Sandhill Kissoon to hear the retrial of Anthony Morrison, who is accused of murdering his reputed wife, Donna Thomas, nearly six years ago.

When the indictment was presented, the accused once again denied that he murdered the woman between May 26 and May 27, 2012.

The State is represented by Prosecutors Lisa Cave and Mandell Moore while Attorney-at-Law Maxwell McKay is defending Morrison. Thomas’s body was found in a pool of blood with several stab wounds at the Lot 65 Cross and D’Urban Streets, Werken-Rust, Georgetown home she shared with Morrison.

A post-mortem examination had revealed that Thomas died from asphyxiation as a result of compression to the neck, compounded by blunt force trauma to the head.

Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh testified that he observed the woman had 16 incised wounds to one hand, while he found

Accused: Anthony Morrison

six such wounds on the other hand. Based on his expert knowledge, he said that these wounds were defensive. He observed that Thomas died as a result of being deprived of oxygen and her heart eventually stopped. The matter continues before Justice Kissoon.

Jairam and one of the children who were in the building at the time of the fire Two of the fire victims who sustained injuries from the fire

not be sufficient. Is immediately they went to the source, and it is there to prove, the other buildings still standing,” he added.

Residents were high in their praise for the work done by the firefighters.

Meanwhile, Jairam is now counting his losses, saying he had suffered a broken leg last year and has since not been able to work.

“Is everything ah loss! Me na get nothing! Me picknin, me wife, nobody na get nothing!” he said in his native creole dialect.

Lying in a hammock when this publication visited him, the injured man explained that he has been out of a job for the past eight months following an injury in the cane field which resulted in him suffering a broken leg.

His wife has been the family’s breadwinner, working as a part-time domestic.

“Now she get burn an in hospital,” Jairam lamented.

Persons who may wish to provide urgently needed assistance to this family can contact Jairam on telephone number 619-6113. The Fire Service has launched an investigation into the fire. (Andrew Carmichael)

14 News

tuesDAY, may 8, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Nurses to get scholarship Deportee arrested as Education opportunities – Lawrence Primary school “improper encounter”

Ministry confirms reports

A

n investigation conducted by the Education Ministry (MoE) has confirmed that nine students of a West Coast Berbice primary school were indeed subjected to improper conduct and advances by a deportee.

The MoE said on Monday that the man had indeed improperly conducted himself and had made advances to the students, but the incident did not occur in the school’s compound, but rather at another location.

While stating that the children were confronted with an improper encounter, the MoE clarified that they were not sexually assaulted.

The investigation and the vigilance of the teach-

ers of the school have resulted in the man being arrested and taken into custody by the Police.

Since the incident at the institution, the Regional Education Officer and a team of Education officials have visited the school and given support to the teachers, encouraging them to continue being attentive and to engage the children and parents.

The MoE, through the Chief Schools Welfare Officer and the Senior Guidance and Counselling Officer, will be facilitating counselling for both parents and pupils.

Guyana Times had reported, two Saturdays ago, that seven female and two male students of the primary school were victims

of inappropriate advances made by a deportee -- an incident which was reported to the school’s administration. The man was accused of being a constant visitor to the school and of luring the students with food purchased from a nearby vendor. Parents had reported that that was not the first time that their children were faced with this issue.

Meanwhile, another instance was addressed, whereby information was circulating about a teacher and his student who disappeared after a video was leaked. The Ministry noted that the matter was investigated, and no inappropriate relationship was discovered existing between the teacher and now former student.

First Lady launches 27th Self-Reliance Workshop – to provide entrepreneurship training for 37 persons

First Lady Sandra Granger, along with facilitators, coordinators and participants of the Self Reliance and Success in Business Workshop held in Anns Grove

F

irst Lady Sandra Granger on Monday opened the 27th Self Reliance and Success in Business Workshop in Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara; where, over the next five days, 37 participants will be given the necessary wherewithal to set up their own businesses or expand existing ones.

The training is being held at the Ebenezer Congregational Church in Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara.

In her remarks, the First Lady told the participants that attendance along with full participation throughout the duration of the training is the key to them successfully completing the programme and garnering a certificate which is recognised by the Small Business Bureau of the Ministry of Business.

She urged participants to register their businesses and to maintain standards of professionalism and integrity in their day-to- day business operations.

“Part of this is to make sure you are confident enough to set up and manage your own businesses…and part of how you manage your business is how you manage people... You have to know how to deal with your customers,” Mrs. Granger said.

She told the partici-

pants that the idea of having a workshop in Ann’s Grove was suggested by former Minister of Social Protection, the current Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence. “It empowers women, it encourages them. You don’t only learn how to run a business, but you also learn to keep your accounts, you learn the importance of yourself, in your family and in your community. So this is why it is called the Self-Reliance and Success in Business Workshop. Many of you know that part of self-reliance is that you have your own money in your pocket; so this is what this workshop will teach you at the most basic level,” she said.

The First Lady then informed that men have also participated and graduated from the workshop, although it is specifically geared at empowering women, to help them create, manage and grow their own businesses.

“I mean, we are a fair-minded, equality-conscious people, and any male that has asked to join has been welcomed and has ended up learning a lot more with a group of women,” she said.

Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) Chairperson Genevieve Allen, in her brief remarks, congratulated the

participants on taking a bold step to empower themselves.

She reminded them that they would be given the skills and techniques that would allow them to formulate plans for their ventures and enable them to become empowered, independent and prosperous residents of their communities.

“What I particularly like about this programme is that it will not only help you to promote yourself as business persons, but it will allow you to become a rounded individual. It will also allow you to identify areas within your community where improvements are needed, and that is the aspect that I am looking forward to,” she said.

Meanwhile, Director of Interweave Solutions (Guyana) Incorporated, Sanjay Yohann Pooran, provided the participants with an overview of the programme. He indicated that the workshop would educate them on how to start, manage, and grow small businesses; help them to lead balanced lives, and provide them with the opportunity to give back to their community with the formulation of a community action plan.

Since its launch, a total of 1030 persons have been trained under this initiative, of which 50 were trained to become trainers.

Minister Volda Lawrence posing with three nurses of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC)

T

he Government, through the Public Health Ministry, will be drafting a policy for nurses to access scholarships to further their studies. This was revealed by Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence during the observance of International Nurses Week.

The minister indicated that the Nurses and Midwives Act, crafted in 1957, must be amended to allow for the creation of new policies catering to improved service provision by nurses.

“We are working on a scholarship for nurses.

Therefore, we want to design a policy that will go in tandem with the bill. (We are thinking

of a policy) that allows you to specialise. We are operating in a very old system; therefore, we have to work with the Ministry of Public Service to ensure that we cater for studies (for) both our doctors and our nurses,” the minister said.

Lawrence noted that enabling nurses to function in specialised capacities speaks to the Government’s commitment to create upward mobility within the nursing profession.

“As a result of policy decisions that we make, and with you (nurses) as the executors, the general public now makes certain demands of you in your execution. They look upon you, as nurses, to take

action; and they believe that the responsibility lies with you to enable them to access our health system,” Lawrence explained.

Minister Lawrence also pledged to introduce a new and improved nursing service.

Countries all across the world join in celebrating International Nurses Week, May 6-12, under the theme, “Nurses, A Voice to Lead – Health is a Human right” as chosen by the International Council of Nurses (ICN). In Guyana, the week will be observed in all ten administrative regions, as senior nurses who have contributed significantly to the profession will be recognised.

Ithaca man found floating in Blairmont canal

T

he body of 51-year-old Rawle Fredericks of Ithaca Village, West Bank Berbice was discovered on Monday morning floating in a canal in the neighbouring settlement of Blairmont, West Bank Berbice.

The body bore suspected marks of violence when it was discovered at about 09:30h in a canfield canal which runs adjacent to the Blairmont Public Road.

Fredericks was last seen alive on Saturday.

According to his cousin, Jonell Robertson who is visiting from the USA, the dead man was the son of the late West Indies prolific opening batsman Roy Fredericks. However, he was mentally challenged.

Robertson explained that Fredericks had wanted to go to a party about three miles from his home on Saturday. She said she was leaving for the weekend, but prepared his party clothing and instructed her grandmother to ensure he had his hair cut.

When she returned on Sunday evening, she did not see her cousin, and enquiries elicited no response.

She said he was not there for breakfast on Monday, and when she enquired, she was told that he might still be sleeping.

Rawle Fredericks

Fredericks had lived alone in a nearby house, but visited his aunt’s home for meals and other essentials.

Robertson said she and Fredericks’ grandmother went to Rosignol, and on their way back, as they were crossing a bridge, the driver of the car pointed to what appeared to be a body floating in the canal, but after a brief moment, he said it was not a body, and they continued on their journey home.

Robertson said that shortly after she got home, someone called and questioned about the clothing the now dead man was wearing. After providing the information, it was then

confirmed that the missing man was dead.

Robertson said the body appeared to have marks of violence.

“He had bruises on his face (and) he was bleeding through his nose. His body was fine, but his face and his hands had bruises. It looked to me like something hit him, and they just throw him in the canal, because his forehead was swollen and his hands. I can’t tell about the back, because he was lying on the stretcher,” she explained.

She described her cousin as being loved by the community, although being mentally challenged.

“Everybody know he has mental issues. He comes to get his breakfast, takes his lunch and gets his shower; and he is always walking going to Rosignol. If anybody have a party, he is always there. He don’t trouble nobody…He cannot write, but he know people; if he sees something he would come and tell. You have to listen carefully to understand what he is saying. If he tells you that someone did something to him, then someone did do something to him,” the woman explained.

The Police are investigating, and are awaiting the results of an autopsy.

(Andrew Carmichael)

news

15

tuesDAY, may 8, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Health Ministry to adopt more people- World Red Cross Day to be observed centred communication strategy with Humanitarian Village

T

he Public Health Ministry and the PanAmerican Health Organisaion/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) are working to re-draft the National Communication Strategic Plan for the health sector during a two-day consulting exercise at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston.

Communications Specialists, Kevin Cook and Leticia Linn from PAHO, Washington DC are spearheading the exercise.

The Public Health Ministry had drafted a National Communication Strategic Plan in 2012, but this was never implemented. Ministry officials have been seeking, since last year, to redraft and implement a plan that can provide vital health care information to the public.

Addressing the gathering at the opening of the consultation, Cook indicated that the importance of health communication has never been more of a priority as it is today. He highlighted PAHO’s strategy towards successful and effective health information and communication in the Americas.

“Well-formulated health

PAHO’s Communications Specialist from Washington DC, Kevin Cook

communication, coupled with community engagement efforts was absolutely critical to saving lives.”

Minister within the Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings said that the establishment of health literacy through health promotion is essential to realising positive public health outcomes.

“Health communication is an essential component of any public health programme. This vital compo-

nent provides a vehicle for the transmission of messages to targeted audiences on a number of issues that can result in the creation of health awareness and the development of the embryonic stages of health literacy.”

Also, PAHO/WHO’s country representative to Guyana, Dr William AduKrow said that effective communication is a prerequisite to bridge gaps that exist in communicating health information.

“Globally, whether we want to maintain and improve health, contain immediate public health crisis or respond appropriately, the messages we send and receive are critical to creating better health for us all.” Dr Adu-Krow said.

The objectives of an effective health communication strategy is to provide health information by using understandable language; to provide methods that can be easily accessed by population; to enhance the ability of healthcare providers to interact with individuals and to develop a system for management and delivery of health materials developed.

Caricom Foreign Ministers meet in Bahamas to tackle global issues

C

aribbean Community (Caricom) Foreign Ministers began a two day meeting here Monday amid calls for closer unity in tackling the various global issues confronting the 15-member grouping.

Bahamas Foreign Affairs Minister Darren Allan Henefield told the opening ceremony that the 21st meeting of the Council for Foreign and Commonwealth relations (COFCOR) was taking place at a time “when the urgency of our call to solidarity as a Caribbean Community, some near 45 years ago, could not be more critical.

“Our inchoative objectives, is to encourage economic integration and co-

operation; to even-handedly share therefrom; and to coordinate foreign policy” in the interest of the collective, are as urgent today as they were at Chaguaramas in 1973.”

Henefield said even though, Caribbean countries will not always agree, “it is incumbent upon us as foreign ministers and ambassadors, who invariably set the tone and tenor of the foreign policies of our respective nations and our region, to remain cognisant of our unspoken commitment to be our brothers' keepers.

“And so, during those most infrequent and odd occasions, then, when our collective and individual goals misalign, let us always re-

member a sage saying I have come to love, which opines, “alone I am just a voice, but together, we are a force,” he told the meeting.

The Bahamas foreign minister said that there were a number of issues that had to be discussed over the next two days, including the region's position regarding the upcoming negotiations between the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group and the European Union for a successor accord to the Cotonou Agreement that expires in 2020.

“Therefore, we must engage in meaningful discourse that will inform our negotiations on a successor agreement,” he added. (Jamaica

Observer)

New York Attorney General resigns

N

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman

ew York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has resigned following allegations of assault by four women.

The resignation came after The New Yorker magazine published a report quoting the women who ac-

cused Schneiderman of hitting them.

Two identified themselves as former girlfriends of his.

Scheiderman - who contests the allegations - has been a vocal supporter of the #MeToo movement against

sexual harassment.

"In the last several hours, serious allegations, which I strongly contest, have been made against me," he said in a statement late on Monday.

"While these allegations are unrelated to my professional conduct or the operations of the office, they will effectively prevent me from leading the office's work at this critical time."

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo had called for Scheiderman’s resignation, following the reports.

“No one is above the law, including New York’s top legal officer,” he said. “I do not believe it is possible for Eric Scheiderman to continue to serve as attorney general.”

(BBC News)

T

he Guyana Red Cross Society will be aiming to put smiles on the faces of many with a humanitarian village they will set up tomorrow at their Barrack Street, Eve Leary, Kingston address.

‘Smile’ also happens to be this year’s theme for World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day which will be celebrated today.

Health Officer of the Guyana Red Cross Society, Samesta Martin-Forde shared with the Department of Public Information (DPI) some of what the day will entail and the overall aim of the organisation.

“The Guyana Red Cross will be having its humanitarian village, where we will display the different programmes that we offer. We will have the blood drive and a non-communicable disease aspect, also we will be helping people to understand that it takes time to have a healthy lifestyle. This is more than just teaching for us, it’s knowing that we’re equipping families with training that can further enhance their family’s lives and other people around them.”

The organisers will also encourage persons to eat, exercise and have healthy practices overall. They will also address issues such as mental health, encourage persons to have a brighter outlook on life and build self-esteem. There will also be a first aid booth where persons can learn to give emergency care to family members, friends, and even strangers.

Secretary General of the Guyana Red Cross Society, Dorothy Fraser

With the intention to stick with the theme of ‘Smile’, Martin-Forde highlighted that “over the years, our programmes have brought lots of smiles, and that is what we seek to do; help persons to understand the importance of wearing a smile.”

Secretary-General of the Guyana Red Cross Society, Dorothy Fraser also noted the effort of the organisation and is hoping persons be present tomorrow in observance of the day.

“We have a number of activities all the time, so it’s really hard to focus on one thing specifically, but this year we’re going to do a series of things throughout the month. We do hope that people will come out not only to give blood but to look at the displays and ask ques-

tions on how to get involved in their communities and Red Cross in general, to really carry out a humanitarian spirit.”

World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is also used to celebrate the Birthday of Red Cross founder, Henry Dunant. It also seeks to recognize the incredible contribution and achievements of the millions of volunteers and staff around the world who keep our commitment to humanity every day.

The history of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has been one of partnership.

Both include individuals who are fueled by determination and passion to alleviate human suffering. The Guyana Red Cross Society encourages all to support the proceeding today.

Alabama 'miracle' boy wakes before doctors pull plug

A

13-year-old boy in the US state of Alabama regained consciousness just after his parents signed the paperwork to donate his organs.

Trenton McKinley suffered severe brain trauma when a utility trailer he was riding flipped over and fell on his head in March.

Doctors told his parents he would not recover and that he matched with five children who needed organ transplants.

A day before his life support was to end, Trenton showed signs of awareness.

The teenager suffered seven skull fractures in the accident in Mobile, Alabama.

According to his mother, Jennifer Reindl, Trenton has since undergone several craniotomy surgeries, suffering kidney failure and cardiac arrest.

At one point, Reindl said, Trenton died on the table for 15 minutes, after which doctors told her he would “never be normal again”.

Reindl told CBS News that she agreed to sign the organ donation papers when she learned her son’s organs could save five other chil-

Trenton McKinley is now on a slow recovery process – half his skull must be re-connected

dren.

“We said yes, that also ensured that they would continue to keep Trenton alive to clean his organs for the donation,” Reindl said, recalling how her son regained consciousness in March.

“The next day he was scheduled to have his final brain wave test to call his time of death, but his vitals spiked so they cancelled the test.”

Trenton is now going through a slow recovery process.

“I hit the concrete, and the trailer landed on top of my head. After that, I don’t remember anything,” he said.

He still has nerve pain and seizures, and will need surgery to reconnect half of his skull.

He has been walking and talking, even reading and doing maths, Reindl said, calling it “a miracle”.

Trenton himself told WALA he thought he was in heaven while he was unconscious.

“I was in an open field walking straight,” the 13-year-old said.

“There’s no other explanation but God.” The family currently has a fundraiser on Facebook to help with medical expenses.

(BBC News)

16

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, may 8, 2018

Regional

US sanctions 3 Venezuelans, 20 companies Costa Ricans being

T

he United States on Monday sanctioned three Venezuelans and 20 companies with ties to socialist President Nicolás Maduro for narcotics trafficking activity, and US Vice President Mike Pence called for more nations to increase pressure on Caracas.

The new sanctions continue a pattern of stepped-up US measures on individuals connected to Maduro, who is blamed by President Donald Trump’s Administration for a deep recession and hyperinflation in Venezuela that have caused food shortages and sent a flood of migrants into neighbouring countries.

The individuals sanctioned on Monday are fairly low-profile and are unlikely to create major economic hardship.

Trump has so far opted

President Nicolás Maduro

not to impose new oil-related sanctions that were considered for a Venezuelan oil services company and on insurance coverage for tankers carrying Venezuelan oil, though the measures were still under consideration,

one Administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Pence told the 35-nation Organisation of American States (OAS) – which includes Venezuela as a member – that they needed to

take greater steps to isolate Maduro.

“We believe it is time to do more, much more,” Pence said in an address to the OAS. “Every free nation gathered here must take stronger action to stand with the Venezuelan people and stand up to their oppressors.”

Pence said the OAS should suspend Venezuela’s membership, and urged other members to cut off the nation’s leaders from financial systems and restrict them from travel visas.

He also called on Maduro to suspend the May 20 elections, saying he expected voter intimidation and manipulation of data. “There will be no real election in Venezuela on May 20, and the world knows it,” Pence said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Grenadian politician charged in connection with drug bust

A

34-year-old politician was one of three men jointly charged with conspiracy to import and trafficking cannabis, after a compressed quantity of the illegal drug was found inside a barrel at the Maurice Bishop International Airport last Friday.

Basil Williams, who contested the March 13th general elections in the St George’s North East constituency under the banner of The Progress Party (TPP); 26-year-old disc jockey Brian Charles; and 44-yearold bus driver, Branford Thomas, appeared at the St

George’s Magistrate’s Court on Monday in connection with the drugs that were discovered inside a bag of cat food during a search of a barrel, which arrived in Grenada from the United

States.

They were each granted EC$15,000 (US$5550) bail with two sureties and ordered to surrender all travel documents. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

paid to marry Chinese migrants

“W

ho wants to earn some money?”

It was just a simple question, but it was enough to convince María (not her real name) to enter into what seemed like a simple deal.

A young woman offered the 46-year-old Costa Rican woman 100,000 colones (US$175) to get married to a Chinese man so that he could get residency in the Central American country.

At the time, María lived in one of the poorest areas of the Costa Rican capital, San José, and was desperate for help to feed her family.

“We did not have anything to eat,” María says of her decision to say yes.

María’s neighbourhood is not known for its safety.

“Around here, the less you know, the longer you live,” a resident warns.

What happened to María is not uncommon here. A lawyer or middleman arrives looking for the most desperate and convinces them to marry a foreigner they have not even met.

“They look for prey...

N

gate the deaths.

The students and other Government critics say the congressional commission will not be independent since Congress is largely pro-Government.

The protests have continued to take place on a daily basis since they began on April 18.

They accuse them of concentrating power in their hands and acting undemocratically.

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights asked the Nicaraguan Government to be allowed to enter the country and investigate the violence, but was told to “wait for developments in internal processes”.

President Ortega has agreed to talks with the protesters brokered by the church, but is yet to set a date for the discussions to begin.

The protests have been the worst Ortega has faced in over a decade since the former left-wing Sandinista rebel returned to power after a long period in Opposition.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Brazil’s First Lady rescues dog from lake

Nicaragua sets up B commission after protest deaths icaragua’s congress has set up a commission to look into the deaths of dozens of anti-Government demonstrators.

The protesters, mostly students, died during violent demonstrations over the last few weeks.

The unrest was sparked

by President Daniel Ortega’s pension reforms, but changed into anger against the Government.

Ortega has agreed to talks.

Rights groups said 45 people died, but officials stopped updating their toll after counting 10 deaths in the first three days.

The speaker of the Congress, Gustavo Porras, said the five-member panel of investigators would act independently of the legislature and be free to research where they wanted.

The panel has a threemonth deadline by which to report back.

Student organisations have demanded an independent commission be set up with the participation of international bodies to investi-

People here are in dire need.

However little they offer, people accept without giving it a second thought,” another resident explains.

María got married without even leaving her neighbourhood. She just got into a car, where she signed a marriage certificate and received her 100,000 colones in exchange on the understanding that she would get divorced as soon as possible.

She says that was all the explanation she was given.

“They just showed me a photo of the Chinese guy and told me: ‘Miss María, you are getting married to this Chinese man’,” she explains.

In María’s case, the middleman kept up his side of the bargain and came back with the divorce papers some time later.

A few years later, she married another Chinese citizen for money, as did some of her daughters, and her partner, too.

The Government says María’s case is part of a serious problem, the extent of which is hard to measure.

razil’s First Lady, Marcela Temer, jumped into a lake at the presidential palace in Brasilia to rescue her dog, presidential officials have revealed.

When she found Picoly, a Jack Russell, in distress in the water, she threw herself into the lake fully clothed to rescue him.

A security agent who refused to help rescue the dog was dismissed after the April 22 incident.

Mrs Temer had been walking in the gardens with

Mrs Marcela Temer threw herself into the lake fully clothed to save Picoly from drowning

her son, Michelzinho.

When Picoly took an interest in the lake, he dove in and could not return to shore.

Brazil’s President, Michel Temer, and his family have two dogs: Picoly and Thor, a golden retriever.

Thor has been known to interrupt the first lady’s meetings.

The British animal welfare charity the RSPCA says people should not put their lives in danger trying to rescue an animal from water.

(BBC News)

Muslim leader accuses T&T Govt of abandoning citizens in Iraq

T

he head of the Islamic Front, Umar Abdullah, has accused the Trinidad and Tobago Government of neglecting its citizens after a local Muslim religious leader confirmed that three members of his family, including his daughter, had been sentenced each to 20 years in jail by an Iraqi court for alleged association with the Islamic State (ISIS).

“Since August of last year request was sent to this government to send those particular travel documents indicating that those persons were in fact citizens of Trinidad and Tobago so that the process of sending them back here would have been easy,” Abdullah said.

Abdullah, who in the past had acknowledged nearly joining several Trinidadians as a frontline fighter for the ISIS, told a radio audience that

Umar Abdullah

the Government had failed to provide the necessary documents so eventually they had to be tried before a court

in Iraq.

“Even at that point in time, there were indications that they (Iraq) were willing to send these people back home here to serve their time in their country. We have to see and make sure that citizens abroad receive a just and fair trial,” he added.

Earlier this month, Imam Nazim Mohammed told the Trinidad Guardian newspaper that his daughter Anisa Waheed Mohammed and his two granddaughters had each been sentenced to 20 years in jail by Iraq’s courts for alleged association with ISIS. Mohammed said that he officially confirmed the situation when he read a May 1 United Kingdom Telegraph newspaper report chronicling his daughter’s trial in Baghdad’s Central Criminal court last month. (Excerpt from CMC)

tuesDAY, may 8, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

Trump backs CIA nominee Italy faces fresh elections as coalition talks fail after she offered to quit

I

P

resident Donald Trump has defended his nominee to head the CIA after she offered to withdraw amid concern over her role in harsh interrogation techniques widely seen as torture.

Trump said Gina Haspel had “come under fire because she was too tough on terrorists”.

Haspel, who faces a tough Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday, has now decided not to withdraw.

The tight 51-49 party split in the Senate makes confirmation uncertain.

The post became vacant after Mike Pompeo was appointed Secretary of State last month. Haspel would be the first woman to head the CIA if confirmed.

The President offered his strong support for Haspel in a tweet on Monday, ending it with: “Win Gina!”

She has been at the CIA for 33 years, almost entirely undercover but most recently as Deputy Director, and

Gina Haspel is a 33-year CIA veteran

her time at the Agency covered the period when techniques that included waterboarding were used in a controversial interrogation programme for terrorist suspects.

Haspel herself ran a so-called “black site” in Thailand, a secretive overseas prison where such interrogations were carried out.

The Washington Post says she was summoned to the White House on Friday by officials worried about

her previous support for the techniques.

It was at that meeting she apparently indicated her interest in withdrawing, reportedly fearing the Senate questioning could damage her reputation and the CIA’s.

She also apparently feared repeating the fate of Ronny Jackson, who withdrew his nomination for Veterans Affairs Secretary amid questions over alleged past misconduct. (Excerpt from BBC

taly’s coalition-building talks have failed, leaving the country facing fresh elections or a neutral caretaker government until the end of the year.

President Sergio Mattarella said on Monday that those were the only two options left after a third round of negotiations were unsuccessful.

No single party or alliance won a majority in the March general election.

The most influential parties, Five Star and The League, favour a new vote in July. Mattarella has the final say.

Following the latest round of talks aimed at forming a coalition, the big-

President Sergio Mattarella urged parties to rally behind a “neutral government”

gest single party, the anti-establishment Five Star movement, could not agree on joining forces either with the right-wing alliance of Forza Italia and The League or with the centre-left Democratic Party.

Previous attempts to break the deadlock since the inconclusive result on March 4 also came to nothing, with the parties’ starting positions reportedly remaining unchanged. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

Hawaii volcano destroys dozens of homes

News)

Hezbollah, Amal and allies claim Lebanon election sweep

H

ezbollah and its political allies are the biggest winners in Lebanon’s first general election in nine years, an analysis of the preliminary results show.

Hezbollah and Amal – dubbed the “Shia duo” by local news media – are predicted to have won 29 seats in Lebanon’s 128-seat Parliament during Sunday’s vote, according to unofficial tallies cited by politicians and local media reports.

More than 11 seats are predicted to have been won by other political parties aligned with the duo.

The long-awaited elections were marked by a voter turnout of just under 50 per cent, down from 54 per cent in the last legislative election in 2009, Interior Minister Nouhad Machnouk said on Monday.

Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, declared the outcome a “national achievement” in a televised

speech on Monday.

Sunday’s elections were Lebanon’s first in nearly a decade of turbulent politics.

Since 2009, the Lebanese have watched their Government collapse twice – in 2011 and 2013; the presidency sit vacant for 29 months – from 2014 to 2016 – and their Parliament extend its mandate several times.

Nasrallah said Hezbollah achieved what it was hoping to in the elections. (Excerpt from

Al Jazeera)

Fissures and vents in the Leilani Estates area have spewed lava around homes

T

he eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has destroyed 26 homes and is threatening hundreds more, with new fissures opening overnight on Sunday.

Nearly 2000 people have so far been evacuated. Some residents were allowed home to rescue pets, but authorities said it was not safe

to stay.

New fissures and vents opened overnight in the Leilani Estates area, where lava leapt up to 230 feet (70 metres) into the air.

The island was hit by a powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake on Friday.

“When I evacuated on Thursday, I pretty much said goodbye because I have

2nd raped Jharkhand teenager set alight – Police

A

17-year-old girl in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand is in a critical condition after she was raped and then set on fire, Police say.

A local man has been arrested in connection with the attack.

It is the second such incident to be reported in Jharkhand in recent days – another teenage girl who police say was raped and burned alive died on Sunday.

Police have not indicated the two cases are connected. They come as India reels

Two recent cases of rape that made headlines have sparked massive outrage in India

from a string of violent sexual crimes.

One of them involves an eight-year-old Kashmiri

Muslim girl who was gang raped, drugged and murdered in January.

The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the trial of eight men, all of them Hindus, who have been arrested in the case must be held in Punjab because of the deep divisions between the communities.

In the latest case in Jharkhand, the girl is undergoing treatment in hospital after suffering 95 per cent burn injuries, police told BBC Hindi’s Ravi Prakash.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Syria war: US Navy jets begin sorties from Mediterranean

A

US naval strike force led by aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman began sorties on May 3 against Islamic State in Syria, continuing missions by a US-led coalition against the militants.

The force joined the US Sixth Fleet on April 18, nearly a week after the

United States, Britain, and France launched air strikes targeting what Western powers said were Syrian chemical weapons installations.

Meanwhile, Syrian rebels have begun withdrawing from the last big, besieged enclave that they held in the war-torn country.

Hundreds of fighters have been boarding buses along with their families in a pocket of territory lying in central Syria, between Homs and Hama.

The only significant areas of Syria still in rebel hands lie along its borders in the far north and the far south. (Excerpt

from Reuters and BBC News)

lived here a long time and seen what the lava does,” local resident Ikaika Marzo told the BBC. “I think it’s just important for everybody just to be realistic.”

Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes and has been in constant eruption for 35 years.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Nigeria: 1000 hostages rescued from Boko Haram

N

igeria’s military says it has rescued more than 1000 people held captive in north-eastern Nigeria by the armed group Boko Haram.

Brigadier General Texas Chukwu, the army spokesman, announced on Monday evening that the hostages were rescued from four villages in Borno State.

The Multinational Joint Task Force, which comprises Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin, helped to secure the release of the captives, mostly women and children.

Some men who had been forced to become Boko Haram fighters were

among those rescued, the army said.

Boko Haram has been held responsible for thousands of abductions, especially of young girls and women, during its nineyear armed campaign in Nigeria and surrounding countries.

The group gained international notoriety after its fighters kidnapped 276 schoolgirls in the town of Chibok in April 2014.

About 100 girls are still missing.

More than 20,000 people have been killed in the fighting, which has also forced some two million to flee their homes. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, May 8, 2018

ARCHIE

How you help others will make a difference. Don’t ne(March 21- glect your responsibilities April 19) when covering for someone else. Show others the way, but don’t do the work for them.

ARIES

Keep busy and refuse to TAURUS let your emotions cause you (April 20- to overreact. Consider all anMay 20) gles of a situation and recognize that what works for you may not work for someone else.

dilbert

Listen to sound advice and GEMINI consider your options before (May 21you make an assumption or June 20)

take action. Personal change will be rewarding and help you avoid an argument or criticism.

Don’t feel obliged to be a fol-

CANCER lower or let fear of failure drive (June 21- your actions. Create your own July 22) opportunities and use your

Peanuts

imagination and intuitive insight to help you bring your ideas to life.

Keep personal matters in LEO check and don’t let your emo(July 23- tions hinder your productivity Aug. 22) or get in the way of you meeting your responsibilities. Falling short of what’s expected of you will only make matters worse.

Calvin and Hobbes

Attend functions that will VIRGO give you better insight into fu(Aug. 23ture trends. Staying on top of Sept. 22) industry requirements or technology and social media will ensure that you don’t miss a chance to advance.

Live and learn. Get out LIBRA (Sept. 23- and do things that will open Oct. 23) your mind to different cultures and lifestyles. Someone close to you will feel threatened by your changing attitude.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — SHORTCUT (SHORTCUT: SHORT-kut: A more direct route than the customary one.)

Can you find 49 or more words in SHORTCUT? The list will be published tomorrow.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

YESTERDAY’S WORD — UPSTAGES peat pest puss sage sagest sate saute seat sept

seta setup spat spate stag stage stapes step suet

tape taps taupe ague apse asset gape gases gasp

gate gauss guess guest gusset gust guts east

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

friends and family or include them in your plans to gain support and avoid complaints.

Relationship problems SAGITTARIUS will be based on hearsay.

(Nov. 23Make your position clear and Dec. 21) share the changes you want to see happen. Evasiveness will lead to a misunderstanding or loss.

Average mark 34 words Time limit 45 minutes

upset usage page pass passe past paste pate pause

Doing things your way can SCORPIO be daunting for someone who (Oct. 24loves you. Share with close Nov. 22)

solution AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Watch what others do instead of taking part. Avoid unnecessary arguments or joint ventures that could be unpredictable. Concentrate on stability and domestic security.

Be the solution, not the problem.

Revisiting the past will help you change the future.

Old friends, memories and experiences will shape what’s to come. Romance will improve your attitude and encourage a better personal life.

Don’t let sorrow take charge or cause you to retreat. Strength and courage, along with truth and integrity, will lead to greater opportunity and better relationships.

tuesDAY, may 8, 2018

19

Indian Premier League 2018...

Williamson, Rashid all but seal RCB's fate

S

unrisers Hyderabad lost their last seven wickets for 34 runs in four overs, but their bowling attack bailed them out again and all but put Royal Challengers Bangalore out of contention for the playoffs.

Kane Williamson was front and centre in Sunrisers' innings, making 56 off 39 balls on a twopaced pitch, where every other batsman struggled.

He later dropped Virat Kohli on 33, and fell on his back, but came away smiling in the end.

RCB's chase of 147 fell apart when Kohli and AB De Villiers fell in successive overs for the second game in a row and even though

Colin De Grandhomme mounted some late blows, the asking rate and the skill of Sunrisers' attack was too much to overcome.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar defended 11 runs off the last over to help Sunrisers open up a two-point lead at the top of the table.

RCB's bowlers quickly read the Hyderabad pitch, and ventured cross-seamers and a variety of slower balls. One such cross-seamer from Tim Southee stuck in the pitch and floored Alex Hales' middle stump in the third over. Moeen Ali, who was making his IPL debut, and the seamers straightjacketed Shikhar Dhawan by offering very little room.

Only three out of 19 balls he

Kane Williamson

IAAF unveils new, mass worldwide running event

A

new series of onemile runs in 24 cities around the world to celebrate Global Running Day on June 6 and tagged “Run 24:1” was unveiled by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Monday.

Partnering with sports

ministries, city governments, race organizers and member federations around the world, the IAAF initiative incorporates races to be held in cities across 15 time zones that will each start at the same local time to create a ‘simultaneous’ worldwide celebration of running.

IAAF Run 24:1 will commence at 1700 local time

(GMT +12) in Auckland, New Zealand, then cross Oceania to Sydney, enter Asia in Tokyo, move to Europe in Minsk, into Africa in Addis Ababa, and cross the Atlantic to the Americas in Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires before the day’s final race in Vancouver on Canada’s west coast.

In a l l , I A A F Run

24:1 will include stops in 23 countries, uniting tens of thousands of runners around the world.

“Running is accessible to everyone, it is fun, it is competitive,” said IAAF President Sebastian Coe. “It can be social, it can be solitary. It is testing, it

is personal but most of all it builds strength, stamina, fitness and health. It is the mother of all sports.

“On Wednesday 6 of June, we want as many people as possible to celebrate Global Running Day – the biggest annual celebration of running.”

Each race will be headed by a designated ‘City Captain’, a former or current athlete who will lead local efforts to spread awareness of

t h e initiative and to involve their respective running communities.

Celebrating its third year in 2018, Global Running Day is a grassroots initiative where people of all abilities and from all paths of life come together to celebrate their passion for running and inspire others to get moving. (Reuters)

faced finished wide outside off. He laboured to 13 before splicing a Mohammed Siraj short ball to deep square leg.

Kohli made life more difficult for the batsmen with smart field placements. He posted himself at short cover for Manish Pandey, who simply chipped a catch to the RCB captain. It was Yuzvendra Chahal's first wicket away from home in IPL 2018.

On a similar sluggish pitch in Jaipur last week, Williamson made a masterful 63 off 43 balls and boasted a control % of 100 against every Rajasthan Royals bowler except K Gowtham and Jofra Archer.

He may not have the raw power but his ability to manoeuvre the ball into the gaps makes him such a good player even on bad pitches. On Monday night, he got his eye in and then forced the pace. He scored 31 off his first 29 balls before cranking up the tempo and hitting 25 off his next nine balls. Umesh Yadav, ultimately, had him holing out to long leg but not before the Sunrisers captain had brought up his fifth fifty of the season. The shot of the night came fetched a wide legbreak and slogswept it against the break over the midwicket boundary.

The two seamers did so with contrasting methods.

Where Southee took pace off the ball, like he did in the Powerplay, Siraj rushed the batsmen with speeds north

of 140kph. Shakib Al Hasan swept a slower ball straight to deep square leg before Siraj bowled both Yusuf Pathan and Wriddhiman Saha in the 19th over.

Southee then capped the innings with an excellent last over that brought three runs and three wickets.

After Parthiv Patel was pinned lbw by Shakib, Kohli launched the chase with a flurry of boundaries,

including a fierce short-arm jab through midwicket off the left-arm spinner. By the end of the Powerplay, RCB had shaved 55 runs off the target. Enter Rashid Khan.

He was bowling to Kohli for the first time in T20 cricket. His sixth ball to Kohli drew an outside edge, but Williamson dropped a simple catch at slip. Kohli was on 33 at that point. He added six runs before Yusuf Pathan pulled off an outstanding one-handed leaping catch at short third man to dismiss Kohli.

Rashid's first ball to de Villiers drew a review for caught behind from Sunrisers. When the legspinner slid a dart down the leg side, de Villiers missed a pull. Saha rode the bounce behind the stumps and gathered the ball, but Ultra Edge did not detect a spike. Then came a fizzing legbreak, which de Villiers edged past short third man. Then came the wrong'un, which he played on. Siddarth Kaul then had Moeen feathering one behind to leave RCB's season hanging in the balance.

(ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Sunrisers Hyderabad Innings (20 overs maximum) AD Hales b Southee 5 S Dhawan c Southee b Mohammed Siraj 13 KS Williamson (c) c Mandeep Singh b Yadav 56 MK Pandey c Kohli b Chahal 5 Shakib Al Hasan c Yadav b Southee 35 YK Pathan b Mohammed Siraj 12 WP Saha † b Mohammed Siraj 8 Rashid Khan run out (Kohli/†Patel) 1 B Kumar not out 1 S Kaul run out (Kohli/†Patel) 1 Sandeep Sharma lbw b Southee 0 Extras 9 (lb 3, nb 1, w 5) TOTAL 146 all out (20 Overs, RR: 7.3) Fall of wickets: 1-15 (AD Hales, 2.3 ov), 2-38 (S Dhawan, 5.5 ov), 3-48 (MK Pandey, 8.2 ov), 4-112 (KS Williamson, 15.6 ov), 5-124 (Shakib Al Hasan, 17.2 ov), 6-134 (YK Pathan, 18.1 ov), 7-143 (WP Saha, 18.6 ov), 8-144 (Rashid Khan, 19.2 ov), 9-146 (S Kaul, 19.5 ov), 10-146 (Sandeep Sharma, 19.6 ov) BOWLING: MM Ali (3-0-19-0),

UT Yadav (4-0-36-1), TG Southee (4-0-30-3), Mohammed Siraj (40-25-3), YS Chahal (4-0-25-1), C de Grandhomme (1-0-8-0) Royal Challengers Bangalore Innings (target: 147 runs from 20 overs) M Vohra b Sandeep Sharma 8 PA Patel † lbw b Shakib Al Has an 20 V Kohli (c) c Pathan b Shakib Al Hasan 39 AB de Villiers b Rashid Khan 5 MM Ali c †Saha b Kaul 10 Mandeep Singh not out 21 C de Grandhomme b Kumar Extras 5 (lb 2, w 3) TOTAL 141-6 (20 Overs, RR: 7.05) Did not bat: TG Southee, UT Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, YS Chahal Fall of wickets: 1-24 (PA Patel, 2.5 ov), 2-60 (M Vohra, 7.1 ov), 3-74 (V Kohli, 9.5 ov), 4-80 (AB de Villiers, 10.4 ov), 5-84 (MM Ali, 11.4 ov), 6-141 (C de Grandhomme, 19.6 ov) BOWLING: Sandeep Sharma (4-0-20-1), B Kumar (4-0-271), Shakib Al Hasan (4-0-362), S Kaul (4-0-25-1), Rashid Khan (4-0-31-1)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, may 8, 2018

McClenaghan, Ronchi complete World XI squad

N

ew Zealand's Luke Ronchi and Mitchell McClenaghan have completed a World XI squad that will take on West Indies in the Hurricane Relief Twenty20 Challenge on May 31 at Lord's.

The charity fixture has been given international status, which means wicketkeeper-batsman Ronchi makes a brief comeback, having announced his retirement from international cricket in June last year. More recently, Ronchi was the top scorerin the Pakistan Super League with 435 runs in 11 innings at an average of 43.50 and a strike rate of 182. The tal-

ly included a 19-ball fifty - the fastest in the league.

Fast bowler McClenaghan, who had forgone a New Zealand central contact to pursue a future in T20 leagues, is currently playing for defending champions Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.

"It is all for a worthy cause and it feels really good to see so many cricketers from different countries come together for such a reason," Ronchi said. "To be playing a match which will see some of the very best in action together is a matter of great pride for me. I'm looking forward to seeing a packed house at Lord's, sup-

porting the relief effort, and an exciting game of cricket."

Ronchi is the second wicketkeeper in the squad, behind India's Dinesh Karthik.

The squad, led by England's Eoin Morgan, also includes Shakib Al Hasan, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, and Rashid Khan.

The West Indies side will be led by Carlos Brathwaite and will include Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Evin Lewis.The proceeds from the game will go towards the restoration of five cricket venues in the Caribbean that bore the brunt of the category 5 hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Novak Djokovic edges Day wins Wells Fargo past Kei Nishikori at Championship by 2 shots Madrid Open tennis J

N

ovak Djokovic scored his best-ranked victory in almost a year by coming through his nightmare first round against world number 20 Kei Nishikori at the Madrid Open on Monday.

The 12-time major champion could now face Kyle Edmund in round two, if the Briton wins his own awkward opener on Tuesday against the talented Daniil Medvedev.

Not long ago, Djokovic versus Nishikori would have been a match for the latter stages of a grand slam but struggles with fitness and form caused these two to meet first up on Manolo Santana.

Djokovic prevailed 7-5, 6-4, producing some scintillating tennis when it mattered most to register his first win over a top-20 opponent since the Serb beat Gael Monfils at Eastbourne in June last year.

At their best, Djokovic and Nishikori were perhaps the game’s two outstanding athletes, renowned for their speed in defence and stamina over five sets.

But injuries, to the wrist for Nishikori and elbow for Djokovic, have left each attempting recoveries and it was certainly evident here that both are still some way away.

If Edmund beats Medvedev, he may fancy his chances against a player he is yet to take a set off in three meetings.

Djokovic, however, will be keen to draw on the positives. His movement was better and he delivered in the crunch moments. There

were also a handful of breathtaking retrievals the 30-year-old would have been proud of in his prime.

Four games both players would have liked to forget prompted an exchange of breaks in the middle of the opening set but Djokovic stepped up a gear at 5-4.

Nishikori resisted two rasping forehands but finally caved two games later as Djokovic clinched the frame.

Djokovic seemingly defied physics by lashing one smash into the net early in the second but found his groove again at 5-4, breaking Nishikori to seal victory in just under two hours.

Maria Sharapova’s claycourt revival is also gathering pace after the Russian had earlier eased past Romanian big-hitter IrinaCamelia Begu in the women’s tournament.

Sharapova arrived in Spain on the back of four consecutive defeats but two wins, the latest a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Begu, have sent the 31-year-old into the last 16.

France’s Kristina

Mladenovic will now await Sharapova, who is showing signs of rhythm ahead of the French Open later this month, which she won in 2012 and 2014.

Novak Djokovic

ason Day captured his second PGA title of 2018 with a two-shot victory at the Wells Fargo Championship.

The 30-year-old former world number one moved up seven places to seventh in the rankings after finishing on 12 under.

The Australian began the final round two ahead but was level with Aaron Wise on the back nine before pulling away with birdies at the 16th and 17th.

Wise, 21, tied for second with Nick Watney, while Paul Casey and Phil Mickelson shared fifth, five back.

American Bryson DeChambeau holed a meandering 12-foot birdie putt at the last to claim sole possession of fourth place, four behind Day, at Quail Hollow.

Compatriot Watney's finish in North Carolina was even more spectacular, a remarkable 58-foot birdie putt on the 18th green earning him a share of second place.

Day, who has now won six of the past seven events he has led after three rounds, was comfortably three shots clear when he duffed a chip to bogey the 13th.

When he hooked his tee shot into the water to drop another shot at the next hole, he was level with South African-born Wise, who parred his way in for a 68 and his best finish on the PGA Tour to date.

Day responded superbly, holing from six feet to birdie the 16th then hitting the pin with a seven-iron from 230 yards - which soared 142 feet into the air - at the par-three 17th and tapping in from three feet for the two.

After winning his 12th PGA title, he said: "I had no idea where

the ball was going today.

Luckily my short game stood the test."

Casey began with a double bogey but had four birdies in a 71 for his seventh finish inside the top 20 in nine PGA strokeplay events this season.

Mickelson produced a typically entertaining round of 69, which started with consecutive bogeys but featured seven bogeys and three more bogeys, culminating with a par at the last after he chipped out from the rocks in the greenside creek, securing his sixth top-six finish of the season.

Northern Ireland's world number seven Rory McIlroy, who carded a 76 in round two, mixed three birdies and three bogeys in a 71 and tied for 16th, nine shots off the pace.

"I felt like a hit the ball a lot better today although t h e score

doesn't reflect that," the 29-year-old said after his 71. "But I saw enough good in there for next week." (the unofficial fifth major, the Players Championship) Former world number one Tiger Woods, who will play alongside Mickelson in the first two rounds of that coveted event at Sawgrass, was unable to make a birdie in the final round and returned a 74 for a two-over total and a share of 55th.

(BBCSport)

Jason Day mixed six birdies with four bogeys in the final round at Quail Hollow

CLASSIFIED ADS

tuesDAY, may 8, 2018 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

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

Aracari Salon & Spa, WBD 2643312, 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

Local archers now certified

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

EDUCATION Electronic Course Beginning 1st June. Practical’s. Learn to repair all major electronic appliances including flat screen TVs. Earn extra cash in our spare time. Boost your income. Abdul Electronics. Tel: 2250391/226-6551

FOR SALE Husky puppies for sale at West Bank Demkerara. Call: 611-2378 for enquires.

LAND for sale COMMERCIAL LAND FOR SALE. 17,990 SQ FT. NO 7 BELAIR, WOODLAND VILLAGE DISTRICT, BERBICE. $35 MILLION. CONTACT# 592 639-4644.

One transport land for sale 100x50ft at Hope Town village West Coast Berbice Price 1.2M Contact # 680-1009

property for sale Lot 15 Public Road, #2 Village, West Coast Berbice. 49ft x 10,314ft Length. $18M Non Neg. Contact: 648-7109 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 Shalom Enterprise. Lot 2 Croal Street, Stabroek. Obtain an international driving permit covering 131 countries. Tel: 227-3835, 644-2052.

Join us on Facebook

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: 6959805 & 652-6427.

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

TO LET RGUST Apartments. Single or double occupants. Ideal for students/couples. 1st St., UG Road, Turkeyen, ECD. Call Tele: 222-6075, 222-6076

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

VACANCIES Vacancy exists within the Enmore/ Hope NDC for an OVERSEER. Send application to the above N.D.C. on or before 3rd May, 2018. Requirements: FIVE(5) CXC SUBJECTS, INCLUDING MATHEMATICS AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE, MUST BE COMPUTER LITERATE. AGE: TWENTY-FIVE (25) YEARS AND ABOVE. Application can be sent to: CHAIRMAN, ENMORE/ HOPE NDC, Beezie, Enmore, East Coast Demerara.

The newly certified coaches flank International Level 4 Coach Phillip Graves (centre)

T

he local archery fraternity was recently given a boost when domestic archers and members of Archery Guyana recently became certified as Level One coaches.

The eight-day course they attended ran from April 28 to May 6, and was

facilitated by USA Level 4 NTS CT Coach and member of World Archery Americas Development Committee, Mr. Phillip Graves.

At the beginning of the course, Graves had expressed excitement at being a part of the course.

“I’m extremely pleased.

This truly is a National Coaching course because of all these people (attending) from different parts of Guyana. They all understand that what they’re going to learn here, they’re going to go back and teach to other coaches. That means it’s going to spread

sports

like wildfire,” Graves had told the Guyana Times Sport.

T h e course consisted of 1 9 participants h a i l i n g f r o m Regions One, Four, Seven, Eight and Nine. At conclusion of the training programme, participants were presented with their Level One Archery certification, which has equipped them with the necessary tools to return to their communities to disperse the knowledge they had gathered over the past week.

This inaugural course has also been hailed as a success, since it laid the groundwork for the introduction of Archery to the National Schools’ Track and Field Championships.

Hinterland students will participate in the new discipline come November of

21

t h i s year.

Archery Guyana wishes to acknowledge support for this event that came from the Honourable Minister Dr. George Norton of the Ministry of Social Cohesion; Director of Sport, Mr. Christopher Jones; the National Sports Commission; Mr. Shameer Mohamed; the Management of Ocean Spray Hotel; Mr. Mark Singh; the Management of Carib Foods; Demerara Distillers Limited; Mr. Ramesh Ghir; Mr. Ryan McKinnon; Infotrans Guyana Inc.; Guyana Tourism Authority, and Dr. Pravesh Harry.

Giggs hopes former Manchester United manager can recover

G

iggs was one of Ferguson's most loyal servants during his career Wales manager Ryan Giggs says he is praying that his former club manager Sir Alex Ferguson can recover from a brain haemorrhage.

Ferguson, 76, remains in intensive care after emergency surgery on Saturday.

The Scot gave a 17-yearold Giggs his Manchester United debut in 1991 and he starred in all 13 of Ferguson's Premier League title wins.

"Now is the time to pray and hope he can make a full recovery," Giggs told BBC Wales.

"He has been the biggest influence in my career, both on and off the pitch.

"I know the operation has been a success - but he is a fighter and that is what makes me think that he will be able to make a recovery."

Giggs' sentiments were echoed by current Manchester United and England defender Phil Jones, who described Ferguson as being like a father figure to him.

Jones was signed from Blackburn by Ferguson as a 19-year-old in June 2011 and was part of the Scot's final title-winning squad in 2013 before his retirement in May that year after winning 38 trophies during 26 years in charge.

"He's taken me under his

January 2014.

"I've never been coached by him, unfortunately, yet I

Ryan Giggs was one of Ferguson’s most loyal servants during his career

wing like a father and it was shocking," said Jones, 26, who has made 190 appearances for the Reds.

"It's sad, but I know his character and I know he has that fight in him.

"He is such a legend in my eyes. He is the one who brought me to the club and gave me that opportunity to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world.

"He has got all his family and friends around him, the support from all the players and staff at Manchester United and football around the world.

"When something like that does happen it's nice that the football world comes together and shows support and we are all rooting for him."

A host of Premier League managers, including Arsenal's Arsene Wenger and Manchester City's Pep

Guardiola, sent their good wishes over the weekend to Ferguson, the most successful manager in the history of the British game.

Wenger, who is leaving the Gunners at the end of the season, described Ferguson as "an optimistic man" with Guardiola saying his thoughts were with Ferguson's wife Cathy and the rest of his family, including his son Darren, who is currently in charge of Doncaster Rovers.

Jones' team-mate Juan Mata also sent his good wishes, saying the news had had a "huge impact" on the club and called on United to use Ferguson's winning mentality for the remainder of the season.

"He has been a unique and fundamental figure in the football world over the last few decades," said Mata, who joined the club in

know well his incomparable legacy on this club." (BBCSport)

Ribery signs 1-year contract extension with Bundesliga side

B

ayern Munich midfielder Franck Ribery has signed a one-year contract extension with the Bundesliga side.

The 35-year-old Frenchman had been linked with a move away from the German champions in the summer.

He has scored 117 goals in 385 appearances and won the Bundesliga eight times with Bayern since joining them in 2007 from Marseille.

"I'm very proud to have another year here - Munich has become a home for me and my family," Ribery said.

Bayern, who are 16

points clear at the top of the table, play their final game of the season on Saturday, 12 May when they host Stuttgart.

(BBCSport)

Franck Ribery joined Bayern Munich for £17 milion from Marseille in June 2007

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, may 8, 2018

Transcend Tape-ball tournament…

Corruption All-Stars upset Village Rams D

efending champions Village Rams were reduced to mere spectators as Corruption All-Stars’ celebrated their victory when the curtains came down on the second Transcend Tape-ball tournament on Sunday at the National Cultural Centre tarmac.

In pursuit of 49 for victory in five of the 7-perside contests, Carlos La Rose blazed to 27 (3x4s;1x6) and Treatlon Liverpool to 15 (3x4s) to see the scores read 52-1 at the end of four overs, thereby sparking jubilation as Corruption AllStars went home $100,000 richer.

Village Rams’ plans of posting a much more challenging total were reduced to ashes when marque batsman Omesh “Rampage”

Danram fell for six off a good catch behind by Liverpool, off the bowling of Dwayne Dodson.

Big-hitting Captain Ershad Ali made only four, which further dented the Village Rams’ progress, as only Amir Khan with 25 (2x4s; 2x6s) made a significant score.

Village Rams had earlier defeated the star-studded V-Net Vipers in a thrilling semi-final contest.

Vipers, who have numerous senior national players in their armoury, had attained only 64-3 in their allotted overs, with Ricardo Adams top-scoring with 25 (2x4s; 1x6), and Kemol Savoury supporting with a 4-ball 18, comprising of three sixes.

It was Ali who gave Rams the early impetus, blasting two mammoth six-

The victorious Corruption All-Stars’ members are all smiles after winning the Transcend Tape-ball title

es and three fours in scoring 29, which just got his team over the line, had it not been for a brisk knock of 17 from Khan when wickets fell regularly. Defending just seven off the final over, Richie Looknaught did a commendable job to bring it

down to the final ball, which saw a missed fielding opportunity bringing the desired result.

Organisers Dwight Dodson and Kefa Naughton expressed immense gratitude for the support of sponsors and the 11 teams

Meusa, Persaud dominate "Clash of Champions" 1st weekend T

he National Aquatic Centre was on Saturday graced with a series of captivating chess matches as the Guyana Chess Federation kicked off their ‘Clash of Champions’ tournament. Consisting of both male and female categories, this competition will span two weekends, with seven rounds of play. Each game has a 1-hour, 30-minute time control, with a 30-second increment per move.

The first weekend of competition saw three rounds being played, with the expected candidates taking the lead.

With an international ranking of 1972, Candidate Master Wendell Meusa took charge of the male category by racking up 3 points from the three games. He currently leads the competition by .5. Davion Mars follows closely, gaining 2.5 points from his three games. Glenford Corlette, Robert Neto and Calvin Giddings are all tied on two points apiece; whilst Loris Nathoo sits on 1.5 points. Another tie sees Saeed Anwar Ali, Cornelius Pasqual and Jaden Taylor having 1 point each. Ghansham Allijohn and Savir Gookul have struggled to make their mark on

the points’ standings. The female competition missed the participation of WFM Maria Varona Thomas and Nellisha Johnson. However, those in attendance managed to put on a great showing. Attorney-at-Law Yolander Persaud surged to a commanding lead with 3 points, being 1.5 points in front of her closest opponent. Chelsea Juma had a mixture of wins and draws to earn herself 1.5 points.

She is currently tied with Sasha Shariff.

Upcoming star Waveney Johnson seemingly could not find her footing, recording losses in the first set of games.

The competition will continue on May 12 and 13 with the remainder of the seven rounds.

Candidate Master Wendell Meusa in action on Sunday

which had entered the tournament. They also said they would soon enter planning mode to produce a bigger tournament.

The tournament was sponsored by Banks DIH under its flagship Banks Beer brand;

Imperial Trading, Xavier’s Investments, Precision Auto Works, Regal Stationery, the National Sports Commission, Star Party Rentals, Movement Auto Rental, Church's Chicken, V-Net Communications and Seeta’s Bar.

Ian Greenwood participating in Technical Directors’ programme T

he Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) Technical Director, Ian Greenwood, is participating in a one-week FIFA Technical Directors’ programme being held at the Hilton Conference Centre in Trinidad and Tobago.

Running from May 7th to May 11th May, this workshop targets seven participating FIFA member associations, which are the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and the US Virgin Islands.

Among the key objectives of the programme is building the capacity of technical directors in essential areas for their daily business. The programme will also serve as a platform for knowledge and experience-sharing among the participants, the Confederation and FIFA. As part of the sessions, each participant is required to pro-

duce a country-specific presentation which speaks to roles and responsibilities, department and staffing, priorities, challenges, areas for improvement, and areas for FIFA funding support.

The workshop will be divided into classroom and practical sessions, a n d also have ind i vidual and group presentations.

GFF’s Technical Director, Ian Greenwood

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, may 8, 2018

23

GCB Senior Female Inter-County…

Berbice rattle Essequibo for 13 – Giddings stars with bat and ball

E

ssequibo continue to have a hapless outing in Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) Senior female Inter-County Tournament when they were routed for a paltry 13 by defending champions Berbice at the Lusignan Community Centre Ground on Monday.

Chasing 174 for victory, the girls from the Cinderella County seemed to be in a world of their own, offering no resistance to fold in 9.5 overs, which meant they were condemned to a 160run thumping; last year Berbice routed them for 15.

Star of the one-sid-

ed show was national all-rounder Erva Giddings who took 5-5 which followed up her unbeaten 45; off spinner Dian Prahalad supported with 2-1 as seven Essequibo players were dismissed without scoring, with the top-score being seven by Akema McKenzie.

Earlier, when play eventually got underway at 14:00h due to early morning showers and the match reduced to 24 overs per side, the defending champs raced to 38 in 6.3 overs after which national player Shenita Grimmond took the walk back to the pavilion for 25.

They t h e n slipped to 62-5 in 11.3 overs when Giddings and Katane Mentore who made an even 50 (4x4s), undertook operation restoration with an unbeaten 111-run stand for the sixth wicket. Seamer Mayon Boson took 4-27 as her side leaked 35 runs in extras.

Action continues on Wednesday at the Georgetown Cricket Club with the final round being between Demerara and Berbice.

Dian Prahalad completed her caught and bowled opportunity on Monday at the Lusignan Ground

Persaud, Ten-Pow bring the heat at GT Motorsports’ Grand Prix second in all three races.

Raymond Baksh, Kristian Boodhoosingh and Zachary Boodram each got a thirdplace finish.

Ten-Pow, of Pure Racing, continued his dominant showing by brushing aside the competition in all three 60cc races, leaving perennial rival Nathan Rahaman to settle for second on three occasions.

Jeremy’s brother, Justin, copped two thirdplace finishes, while Paige Mendonca, the lone female competitor, took third in the first race.

M

i k h a i l Persaud and Jeremy Ten-Pow have again showed that Guyana’s motor racing future is bright by being the top drivers in their respective categories when the second Grand Prix for 2018 was held on Sunday at GT Motorsports.

The 15-year-old Persaud made a clean sweep of the 125cc Senior category, while Matthew Phang finished

Mikhail Persaud was among the champion drivers in the second round of the Georgetown Grand Prix Sunday

“Kool Kidz”

Participants of the GFF "Kool Kidz" Grassroots Outreach in Roxanne Burnham Gardens on Sunday

O

ver 50 children from the Roxanne Burnham Gardens/South Ruimveldt and surrounding areas participated in the second of a series of Guyana Football Federation (GFF) “Kool Kidz” Grassroots Outreach

Kristian Jeffrey managed to hold off the challenge of his cousin Stefan Jeffrey and Steven Nobrega in the Easy Cup Super to be deemed champion. Nobrega got two second-place finishes and a third, and Stefan finished with one second and two third-place finishes.

Additionally, Ben Phang won the 60cc Baby Cup; Rayden Persaud did likewise in the 125cc Juniors; Shan Seejatan followed suit in the 125cc Masters, and Dharmendra Dharmo did same in the Easy Cup Rookie.

held on Sunday.

The session was held under the supervision of the GFF’s Technical Development Officers and Youth Development Officers from 11:00hrs at the Roxanne Burnham Gardens Square.

Grassroots Outreach graces Roxanne Burnham Gardens

The children engaged in fun activities which introduced them to “the beautiful game”, as part of a partnership between the GFF and the Guyana Beverages Company Inc. to provide constructive activities for children in vulnerable com-

munities.

Martin King, a participant, said he “had fun and learned how to shoot penalty and defend”; while another participant, Nicolas Nuella, said he made friends at the session.

The next schedule for the Grassroots Outreach is St. Phillip’s Green on May 19. This session will cater for the children in Leopold Street and its surrounding areas.

tuesDAY, may 8, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Persaud, Ten-Pow bring the heat at GT Motorsports’ Grand Prix Pg 23

Some of the action in the Sun Burst Kids Cup (Avenash Ramzan Photo)

GCB Senior Female Inter-County…

Pg 23

“Kool Kidz” Grassroots Outreach graces Roxanne Burnham Gardens Participants learning to dribble in the GFF Kool Kidz Grassroots Outreach in Roxanne Burnham Gardens

Berbice rattle Essequibo for 13 Pg 23

– Giddings stars with bat and ball National player Erva Giddings was in top form with both bat and ball on Monday at the Lusignan Ground

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.