Guyanatime 9 february 2018 new

ACP Alves given emotional farewell …after 34 years of service to GPF

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, February 9, 2018

Issue No. 3476

PRICE

Chancellor, CJ appointments

WHAT'S INSIDE: Ebini drug eradication exercise

President exploring legal options after Jagdeo's rejection – Harmon

…Jagdeo respectfully declines to publicly state reasons for non-agreement ...PPP will challenge any unconstitutionality – former AG See stories on pages 3, 9 & 15

PSC condemns “Go invest elsewhere” ad – criticises Kaieteur, Stabroek

newspapers for publishing antinational information Page 14

2015 Tucville murder

“Pretty Boy”, “Dangles” freed Page 15

Page 2

Oil and gas sector gearing up: As Guyana’s emerging oil and gas industry gathers steam, the sod was turned for training facility International Petroleum and Maintenance Academy while the Guyana Shore Base Inc offloaded pipes destined for ExxonMobil’s Liza One project from the Intermarine Industrial Aim vessel. Inset: (left to right) TOTALTEC Senior Vice President Business Development Brian Chia, Chairman Lars Mangal, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman and Guyana Shore Base Inc Managing Director Glenn Lockwood

Page 14

300,000 P10 cannabis plants, 150kg dried marijuana destroyed

P8 Miner remanded on murder charge

Oil and gas sector preparations intensify

Cop fires at bandits who robbed bus driver, conductor

$80 vat included

Cocaine in fish shipper for court today Page 16

GIPEX 2018 summit

LCDS, Norway pact can lead to a green economy P16 – former presidential advisor

St Rose’s P2 demolition to start during Easter holiday

– as Cabinet gives ‘no objection’ to $16M contract

2 news

friDAY, February 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

St Rose’s demolition to start during Easter holiday – as Cabinet gives ‘no objection’ to $16M contract

C

abinet on Tuesday approved a $16.9 million contract for the demolition of the St Rose’s High School. The contract was awarded to PD Contracting.

According to Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, at this week’s post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday, the demolition exercise was expected to commence during the upcoming Easter holiday break when school will be closed.

“The displaced students will be accommodated in buildings within the school compound in the new school term,” Harmon said.

Last month, the school’s Board of Governors Chairman, Kenrick Thomas, in a letter, indicated that the demolition would be limited to the aged wooden section of the building facing Church Street that was in a state of disrepair.

“This decision was taken

St Rose’s High School

only after extensive consultations over many years to determine the viability of retaining this edifice because of its historical importance and architectural integrity.

After much deliberation and with the primary goal being to provide a safe, up-to-date and innovative building for the development of our students, and only after ex-

ploring every option to preserve the building was the decision unhappily taken to demolish the structure,” Thomas had stated.

He noted that given that it was almost entirely made of wood – some portions 100plus years old, the building was now structurally incapable of providing a safe environment for the more than

700 students that utilise the facility. Because of this, he added, the auditorium has not been used as a general meeting hall for the past five years and the building was evacuated completely during the past year to ensure that there would be no mishaps.

Nevertheless, the Chairman assured that the replacement structure would incorporate many aspects of the original design and would integrate the design of the Marion and other wings on the property, including retention of the green space courtyard area, a unique feature of the school.

The reconstruction is intended to take place immediately following the demolition and the project is expected to last for approximately 24 months.

A Trinidadian firm with strong Guyanese roots – Bynoe, Rowe & Wiltshire,

won the bid for the architectural design and consulting services contract.

Meanwhile, Cabinet on Tuesday also approved the award of a $16.2 million contract to A & N Enterprises, for the rehabilitation of the Ruimveldt Police Station.

Additionally, ‘no objection’ was given to a $25.1 million contract for the supply of multi-media equipment for the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).

This contract was awarded to Digital Technology.

TOTALTEC launches oil and gas academy

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman turning the sod alongside TOTALTEC Chairman Lars Mangal

I

n light of the growing interest in Guyana’s emerging oil and gas sector, an oil and gas academy was on Thursday launched with the aim of providing training and certification for Guyanese citizens who wish to be part of the lucrative sector.

The sod was turned for the International Petroleum and Maintenance Academy, located at the Gafoors complex, Houston, East Bank Demerara by Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, who welcomed the initiative, noting that it was great that the sod turning coincided with the Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit and Exhibition (GIPEX) 2018.

The Academy is an initiative of TOTALTEC Oil Services, in partnership with Schlumberger, a leading service provider in the global oil and gas industry.

TOTALTEC Chairman Lars Mangal expressed joy at being able to inaugurate the oil field service academy.

He noted that the company was focused on recruiting, developing and employing Guyanese. The graduates of the oil and gas academy will be highly qualified to participate in offshore and onshore work during exploration activities and the development of Guyana’s oil and gas industry.

Minister Trotman, who was privy to the curriculum that would be taught at the Academy, stated that it was integral, as the Government would not be able to develop the sector alone.

“We cannot do it alone, we need all hands on deck to support us and particularly,

we need private enterprise support and so we are overwhelmingly happy that you have taken this initiative,” he said.

The Minister also charged the company to collaborate with the University of Guyana and local technical institutes as they go through the “agonising pains of right sizing the sugar industry”.

Trotman explained that there would be many able-bodied men and women who would be more than capable of contributing to the “new industry that is going to replace sugar”.

Meanwhile, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon on Wednesday clarified that there was no conflict of interest in the relationship between Government, the Mangal brothers and ExxonMobil.

The TOTALTEC Chairman’s brother is Dr Jan Mangal, an advisor on oil and gas, while he himself has also partnered with ExxonMobil.

The Academy is conveniently located at just a stone’s throw away from the Guyana Shore Base Inc, which is providing shorebase services to ExxonMobil.

Attendees were also invited to a tour of the grounds of the company. The shorebase operations already have a pipe-washing complex and a warehouse set up and pipes are currently being off-loaded from a vessel, the Intermarine Industrial Aim, which arrived in Guyana on Wednesday night, in support of the Liza One project.

These preparations are all in anticipation of oil production, which is slated to begin in 2020.

news

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friDAY, February 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

Rejected appointments of Chancellor, CJ

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

Friday, February 9 – 12:30h-14:00h and Saturday, February 10 – a night retraction at 01:00h and a day retraction at 13:30h-15:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, February 9 – 12:00h-13:30h and Saturday, February 10 – 13:00h-14:30h.

I will not drag people’s names through the mud – Jagdeo ...respectfully declines to state reasons for non-agreement publicly

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

WEATHER TODAY

Light cloudy skies can be expected throughout the day, with light to thundery rainy conditions expected in the afternoon. Thundery showers are expected to continue in the evening, with overall temperatures ranging between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 11:23h reaching a maximum height of 2.16 metres.

Low Tide: 04:50h and 17:33h reaching minimum heights of 1.12 metres and 1.06 metres respectively.

wednesDAY, february 7, 2018

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2018

DAILY MILLIONS 03 06 09 11 24 LUCKY 3 4 4 5

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

President David Granger

Acting Chancellor Yonette Cummings-Edwards

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

By Shemuel Fanfair

Chief Justice. He indicated to reporters on Thursday that he is not interested in ascribing ratings to the various nominees.

“No, I’m not going to rate anybody; I’m not a rating agency to say this persons is number eight or number five. I don’t want to do that; I prefer to deal with these people respectfully,” he stressed.

He however pointed out that having such a career does not give one automatic qualification for the top judicial posts. He also berated reports by State media agencies that he was a no-show at the meeting at the President’s Office on Wednesday evening to discuss the matter. He also clarified that his absence was due to non-confirmation by Minister of State Joseph Harmon who did not respond to correspondence so that why he opted to dispatch another letter that confirmed his objection.

“I said to him (Harmon), my positions are outlined in the letter and should there be a need to meet further, we’re available [but] I never heard back from him and then around 6pm I saw the photo on their Facebook page saying that I didn’t show up at the meeting, so clearly this Government loves a distraction,” Jagdeo expressed.

This distraction, according to the former President, is part of the current Administration’s attempt to gain millage out of the issue.

“I will just treat this as what it is: an attempt to score cheap political points by the President and the people surrounding him,” he claimed.

Jagdeo had earlier warned that even though the President has to make the first move to resolve the decade-long non-appointment of a substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice, he would not allow himself to be coerced into accepting nominees just to fix the situation.

The last meeting held in January was held in keeping with Article 127 (1) of the Constitution which speaks to the appointment of the Chancellor and Chief Justice. It states that both the Chancellor and Chief Justice shall be appointed by the President, acting after obtaining the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition. The provision was a key aspect of the 2001 amendment to the instru-

O

ne day after rejecting President David Granger’s proposed candidates for Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday opted against giving reasons for rejecting the nominees on the basis that he will not be dragging people’s names through the mud.

He said his action would be unlike what the President had done with the 18 names of nominees for Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) which was eventually “unilaterally” handed to retired Judge, James Patterson.

“If required at some time in the future, I can provide reasons but I chose not to do so because I’m not in the business of judging people in the public domain.

These are distinguished individuals who had long careers in the Judiciary and I therefore don’t want to do like what the President did with the GECOM nominees – drag people’s names through the mud,” Jadgeo strongly noted.

In a letter issued late Wednesday, Jadgeo citing Article 127 (1) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana contended that he is “unable to offer his agreement” to the top two judicial posts, thereby rejecting the appointment of Justice Kenneth Benjamin as Chancellor Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards as

Justice Kenneth Benjamin

ment.

President Granger had announced at his first press conference in two years, in December last year, that he has accepted a proposal from a committee that had been set up to review and interview applicants interested in the top judicial post after it advertised locally, regionally and internationally.

Justice CummingsEdwards had previously severed in the post of acting Chief Justice before being promoted to her current post in an acting capacity. Once she is confirmed as substantive Chief Justice, it means that her current successor, acting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, will be removed.

It is not clear in what capacity Justice George will serve should Government move ahead with the appointments as was indicated by State Minister Joseph Harmon.

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guyanatimesgy.com

FRIDAY, February 9, 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

Guyana open for business O

n Wednesday, hundreds of business executives and prominent players in the local, regional and international Petroleum, Oil and Gas Sector converged in Guyana for the opening of the country’s first International Petroleum Business Summit and Exhibition (GIPEX).

They are here, no doubt, to get a firsthand look at Guyana’s plans for its emerging oil and gas sector, with the aim of seeing where and how they could benefit economically from securing opportunities that could be mutually lucrative in the future.

Also, companies will look at entering into bilateral partnerships that could see important investments being made, especially those that would require creating short- and long-term linkages with reputable and capable local private sector companies, to maximize economies of scales, launch cottage industries, and establish business ventures that would in turn make the necessary financial and infrastructural investments in the country, in order to enter the merging oil and gas sector with a competitive edge.

If the Summit itself ends on a successful note and Guyana manages to secure some more lucrative and transparent investments in its emerging petroleum sector, then all Guyanese stand to benefit. The Government’s line Ministries -- along with the Guyana Office for Investment – which were directly involved in the negotiation or facilitation processes should be commended.

In the lead-up to the hosting of GIPEX, over the past couple of weeks, the Government had come in for constructive criticisms from both the political opposition and the private sector. It was evident that while some stakeholders had their reservations about the Summit, they supported the principles and backdrop against which it was being held because they understand the need for boosting this country’s ability to attract increased amounts of foreign direct investments.

Andeven ahead of the Summit being held here, all Guyanese backed the need for Government to develop a more realistic and transparent approach to developing the country’s emerging oil and gas sector for the greater benefit of the country. Against the worrying socio-economic climate and challenging macroeconomic fundamentals, none who have their country’s interest at heart would support any attempt to undermine Guyana’s potential or ability to attract and secure transparent regional or foreign direct investments.

So it came as a shock to many that two newspapers would publish in sections of the press an advertisement which advised and warned investors against doing business with Guyana. The ad, carried by two sections of the press, was in bad taste, opportunistic, and anti-nationalistic in its intent. It came at the wrong time, and the fact that it encouraged investors to “goinvest elsewhere” is abominable and reprehensible.

Both the newspapers and those who were behind the ad should apologise to the Guyanese people for attempt to sabotage Guyana’s economy by deliberately discouraging investments which could possibly provide jobs or an enabling environment for thousands of sugar workers and cane harvesters who have been made redundant or retrenched late last year.

Guyanese should condemn both the placement and publication of such an advertisement, as it goes against the grain of Guyana’s goals and objectives, which are centred on the creation of a green economy and an economically sound state.

In order for us to move forward and away from the precipice, all investments are needed. We cannot be penny wise and pound foolish.

As for the argument for “freedom of expression”, one commentator has succinctly noted, “The possibility to advertise in media is not the same thing as an absolute right to have ads published. Advertising is a business deal, and it is up to each newspaper and TV channel to make its own choices. This is not to be confused with the freedom to express opinions. Freedom of the press is not just the freedom to publish without governmental oversight; it is also the freedom to choose not to publish.”

This newspaper would never agree to publish such an advertisement, because it understands that its core responsibility is to protect the interests of the populace while defending their livelihoods.

The inaugural Guyana International Petroleum Exhibition and Summit (GIPEX) 2018 was open to the public from Thursday and many students took full advantage of the opportunity to learn about the country’s nascent oil and gas sector (Carl Croker photo)

We demand better leadership for our country

Dear Editor, The excesses of this de-facto APNU/AFC Coalition Government has been overwhelmingly overflowing. The over-indulgences are evidenced by unparalleled heights of corruption and squandermania, which have become the order of the day. The benefits, regrettably, are primarily themed towards the enrichment of the Government/PNC supporters, and must be challenged.

The core drivers of the Government’s approach, no doubt, have their origins in ‘lust and hunger for power’ coupled with personal enrichment/greed of many of the key agents, who seek to achieve these outcomes by any means necessary.

Unfortunately, the impositions are being advanced at the sacrifice of the welfare of the poorer class of Guyanese citizens at large.

The Government is currently in the 34th month of its tenure in office, and its Ministers and leaders have

invoked an almost immeasurable negative displacement on the welfare path of citizens. Their threats to a further unleashing of attacks on citizens’ rights seem duly imminent. While at it, their actions have become shamelessly uncaring, and there is much evidence that the extremes of further viciousness will be employed to deprive basic survival needs.

Guyanese at large are called upon to speak out against the wickedness being rolled out from the very sinews of the Coalition.

We have consistently observed, emerging from the very echelons of the Government, a lack of support and frequent authorization of disruptive development activities. Only recently, the Minister of Communities reaffirmed his threats to derail the progress of the elected Councils in Local Authority Areas (LAAs), where the Coalition lost at the 2016 Local

Government Elections. He has moved to implement his own design, a Local Government control system through several moves to minimize the authority of the elected Councils.

In fact, the Minister has taken ludicrous steps in many cases to approve the rebuffing and suppression of councils’ decisions by selected Overseers and Regional Executive Officers, to address his own political agenda which goes against the core of the people’s needs and choices. The moves, to date, of de-emphasizing the relevance of the Local Government Commission runs counter to any positive ideals in the interest of citizens’ representation and the intent of the constitution to balance against political excesses.

The malicious deprivations to thousands of workers in several regions have resulted from the closures of several sugar estates without any realistic job options.

It creates sufferings unforetold, and makes a mockery of the job creation and the focus on youths’ platform on which the APNU/AFC campaigned and promised Guyanese citizens.

Those of us who were temperate enough to survive the role plays of the PNC of the 70s, 80s, and period prior to 1992 would be familiar with the most economically damaging and brutal playbook from which the Government’s strategic choices are being drawn.

Amidst the lavish spending and squander by the Government, Guyanese would have never imagined or experienced the increased sufferings of so many in such a short period of time.

The unleashing of, or uncontrolled escalation of, the criminal terrors on citizens seems to be one of the areas designed for intimidating, or rather, one that the Government is totally incapable of addressing.

continued on page 5

Wales cane cutters’ severance pay demand covered by law

Dear Editor, The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has noted the comments made by Agriculture Minister Noel Holder and GuySuCo CEO (ag) Paul Bhim in relation to the call made by the 350-odd cane cutters of Wales for them to be paid their severance payments. The Wales cane cutters are the only group of redundant sugar workers who are being denied their severance pay although they are entitled to such payments arising from the closure of Wales Estate in December, 2016.

The Agriculture Minister, in the February 06, 2018 Guyana Times, is reported to have said, “…careful consideration has to be taken into account, because making such a move as it could potentially cost the Government to be placed in a bad situation”.

We are at a loss as to the ‘bad situation’ the Minister referred to. His reference in the Guyana Times article to the Rose Hall workers can only be likened to the invocation of a red-herring. The Rose Hall matter is distinct and, we believe, should not be convoluted with the situation at Wales.

The Minister’s stance that a judicial adjudication is necessary we see as nothing more than the Government and the GuySuCo’s intention to punish the workers for reason/s best known to them.

It seems from the article that the Minister is not aware of all the relevant details with regards to the issue. Also, we expect that he deals with the matter impartially, and possibly have knowledgeable person/s examine the matter carefully. We would want to believe that such an approach may very well cause the Minister to reconsider his stance.

Following the Minister’s statement, we saw in the February 07, 2018 Guyana Times the GuySuCo CEO (ag) saying that the Wales cutters “…were at risk of self-termination… based on the Collective Labour Agreement signed between GuySuCo and the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU)”. We recognize the GuySuCo CEO (ag) is repeating a similar statement made during 2017 by a lower level Corporation official, which our Union had then pointed out was patently unfounded and false.

continued on page 5

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, February 9, 2018

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

New Amsterdam Multilateral We are being denied justice School is losing its premier standing Dear Editor, I wish to thank the brave efforts of a concerned parent, Orlando Fraser, who registered his dissatisfaction with the current state of the New Amsterdam Multilateral School (NAMS) which is factual.

As the former Chairman of the Board of Governors of the NASS, I am in receipt of a letter for the transfer of the current Deputy Headmaster (DHM) to Vrymens Secondary School but the letter was disregarded and the DHM continues to be in the school.

The dissatisfaction of the parents continues to be a major concern and in order to correct this, the DHM should be transferred for the betterment of teachers and students of the school.

We therefore urge that the Education Ministry and the

school board secretariat act immediately.

After the board life came to an end in April 2017, the DHM with the national PTA coordinator changed the canteen arrangements and gave the management of the canteen to the PTA because of the DHM’s access to funds and control of the school canteen.

There was a lot of unauthorised spending and mismanagement of funds from the school. There's is so much of irregularities and mismanagement in the school because of this untouchable DHM. I remember that there was a commission of inquiry on education led by Ed Caesar which was established by President David Granger to bring an end to the issues that plagued this school, but to date, nothing

Dear Editor, We are a group of concerned residents who are being denied justice and the protection of our rights by key elements in the Guyana Police Force and at least one other state agency. was done.

We reside at Agriculture I told Ed Caesar from Road, Mon Repos, on the East the beginning of my presenCoast of Demerara, and are tations that this is another law-abiding citizens. We have waste of time and nothing always had welcoming and will change but he assured open arms to businesses that members that the President are established in our commuwill take steps to correct the nity, because they offer us the situation at the school but to opportunity to gain employdate the commission of in- ment and provide services that quiry has failed the board, can keep our community going. the students the teachers Recently, modifications and the school. were made to a business enIn order to preserve the terprise in our community that integrity of the school and to saw the opening of a sports bar decrease the mental stress and lounge on the main road. on teachers, the Ministry This new addition or expanshould act swiftly to correct sion of the business saw the these situations immediate- owner(s) operating into the ly. wee hours of the morning with-

Regards, Zamal Hussain Former Chairman of the Board of Governors New Amsterdam Secondary School

Botched CoIs are nothing new for PNC Dear Editor, Botched or bogus CoIs are nothing new when it comes to the PNC, we have grown accustomed to them by now. If they are not openly bogus, when closely scrutinized, they will eventually get to that place.

Are you aware that the Walter Rodney murder was "investigated" by the PNC in a Coroner's Inquest? Yes, after his death, Burnham and his PNC henchmen held a kangaroo inquest conducted by Justice Edwin Pratt.

Now, Burnham was very clever in his selection of the said coroner, as well as the timing and parameters under which he operated. A party comrade in Pratt, and most importantly the prime witness, Donald Rodney, could not have given evidence because a warrant was out for his arrest.

Donald Rodney was, as it were, a "fugitive from justice."

Even of graver importance was the fact that many key witnesses could not come forward because of threats and other coercive tactics by the PNC Regime.

So, when the report

would have been written up, it contained bogus entries, such as Dr Walter Rodney wanting to create mayhem and instability in this country, was about to blow up the Camp Street Prison to release subversive elements there, and was killed by a bomb that was given to him by his own brother. Pratt's Report would add up to something as ludicrous as that.

When The PPP/C came to power, they held a CoI, one that was adjudicated by international jurists and one that saw all the persons involved coming forward to give testimony. The truth about Dr Rodney's death was eventually revealed to the world at large.

If there were any doubts in people's minds, all was cleared up by that commission, which incidentally was hurriedly shut down by the PNC-led Granger Administration.

Now, fast forward to 2002 and a so called breakout, or were they let out, at the selfsame Camp Street Prison, and a period of mayhem and instability in our country. Dozens of persons killed. There was a CoI con-

ducted which revealed certain intellectual authors and behind-the-scenes actors in the so-called breakout.

Not much was done by way of this present Government acting on those recommendations, because it meant that they would have had to let go some of the senior officers in their government who were complicit with the criminals. This the Granger Government would not do, so in the meantime create a diversion with a "Selective CoI" into the Lindo Creek Massacre.

In this CoI, they hope to at least absolve themselves of any blame or involvement in those crimes. But, we know better --- that even amidst this corrupt, oneman-Party-Comrade CoI, serious questions would come out as to the real persons behind or the intellectual authors who caused a situation at Lindo Creek. As bogus as it is, they will find it difficult to extricate themselves from the facts that led to Lindo Creek.

Respectfully submitted Neil Adams

We demand better...

Many of the issues can be linked to the economic situation and the unconcerned approach of the Coalition in many areas.

It is extremely sad to know that APNU/ AFC Regional Councillor Amarnauth ‘Bobby’ Chinkan was brutally chopped and is presently in a serious condition at the hospital.

However, one cannot help observing accommodation of the power-drunk approach and treatment of another APNU/AFC agent, Mr. Abel

Seetaram from Region #5, who has also been involved in all sorts of questionable activities.

The defiant Ronald Bulkhan must not be allowed to pretend that a deaf ear is acceptable. He is obligated to the members of the Local Government Commission, and must make sure they get their salaries and be provided with a properly equipped office with adequate staffing. People in the Local Authority Areas have shared the view that

if the Local Government Commission were operational, then many of the reported serious in-fighting and corrupt activities would be avoided.

The corruption under this administration has become ingrained.

The Regional Democratic Councils, through the Government-controlled REOs, are micro-managing the Local Authority Areas.

Contractors are bribing seriously to scrape a contract so they can keep their staff

out any intervention from the Police, despite our constants calls for assistance because of the noise nuisance emanating from the place.

The business is now extended on to the Government and Neighbourhood Democratic Council Reserves, and we fear that: (1) if we were to do the same with our properties, the authorities would swoop down on us and break our bridges and any immovable structures.

(2) If it rains and our drains are blocked, there would be poor drainage and irrigation, which would result in flooding, and (3) The NDC is duty bound to ensure that all provisions and taxes are paid up.

Also, there are a lot of shady characters at this business place, and many times patrons complain of being robbed and the blame is heaped on our community. We do not under-

stand why the Police would not ensure that all the laws are followed, and why they do not maintain surveillance of the area.

Interestingly, one of our residents who is employed at the Guyana Revenue Authority reported that the business was ordered closed, or at least the sports bar and lounge on the lower flat, because of issues with their licences; but it remains open, blasting its music into the wee hours of the morning.

Something must be done about this situation. We need our rest too. We need to feel safe, and our elderly folk also need to be rescued from the noise and confusion that takes place there at wee hours in the morning.

Concerned residents Mon Repos/Triumph Community

Wales cane cutters' severance...

We wish again to point out that should the Corporation deem the concerned workers as having self-terminated their services, then it would be engaged in contemptuous behavior, bearing in mind that the matter is engaging the attention of the Courts.

But more than that, the GAWU/GuySuCo Collective Labour Agreement at no point mentions or provides that a worker is deemed self-terminated after some period of absence from work.

The CEO (ag) goes on in the article to say, “… we require the workers at Uitvlugt… [w]e are still insisting that we need them to go…” We could not help but wonder if it was the same person making this statement, considering that just a few paragraphs before, in the same article, we noted the virtual threats being made to the workers. Moreover, if indeed the Corporation is so desirous of having these workers going to take up work at Uitvlugt, then certainly a prudent management would have engaged the Union and the workers in discussions to examine the feasibility.

The GAWU suspects that the statement is not sincere, but is rather a ploy through a veiled threat to force the workers to leave the industry, thereby giving up their service, and with it their severance allowance; a rather wicked ploy. We are not from page 4

and small business in operation. Word on the street is that for a contractor to get a small ‘job’, he has to bribe the officials at the Ministry, RDC, and the APNU/AFC activists for his survival.

The Local Government Commission must look in to these numerous issues and develop an immediate response to help our citizens, since it does not seem to matter to many in the Government, Neil Kumar

unaware that large areas of the Uitvlugt cultivation have been allocated to farmers, and for the areas that remain under the estate’s supervision, the Uitvlugt labour force is obviously sufficient.

Mr Bhim, in the article, lamented the turnout of cane cutters to work but, seemingly, fails to connect the obvious dots. At a time when workers’ real wages have declined by about 7 per cent and their nominal wages have fallen by 15 per cent between 2015 and 2016 alone, the situation for the workers is not encouraging. The reality of no pay rise, no API, cutting down of benefits, disrespect of customs and practices, among other things, must have their effects. Such a situation we saw and experienced in the last half of the 1980s, and it was corrected only when the workers rates-of-pay were reflective

from page 4

of the cost-of-living.

Clearly, it seems the GuySuCo has not learnt from its previous mistakes, and therefore, from all indications, may be repeating them.

Regards, GAWU

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friDAY, February 9, 2018

Page

By Roberta Satow, PhD

G

randparents are important sources of support for their children who are new parents. However, attitudes about child care change over time and this can cause a conflict between parents in different generations.

It's important that grandparents know about changes in attitudes about infant care so they can offer the support to their children as new parents that they desperately need.

Attitudes about breastfeeding, for example, have changed dramatically.

Throughout the mid-20th Century, most physicians did not advocate breastfeeding, and most middle-class women chose not to breastfeed. In fact, there was a stigma attached to it in the 1940s and 50s. I was not breastfed in 1945, because my mother told me, "only poor women breastfed" because they couldn't afford formula. Using formula was a status symbol indicating the family could afford to buy it. But in my generation, breast-feeding was a symbol of being educated about emotional bonding and the importance of the antibodies in mother's milk. When I had children (1978 and 1982) I, and all my friends, breastfed if they were able.

When I was a young mother, the wisdom was that three months was the minimum for exclusive breastfeeding. When

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

I got a breast infection and was unable to breastfeed my younger son after six weeks, I was guilt-stricken, fearing I had damaged him emotionally and physically because I didn’t make it to three months.

Nowadays paediatricians recommend a minimum of six months and encourage mothers to continue for a year.

Beginning in 1969, when the

National Institute of Health’s Second International Conference identified Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) as a distinct diagnosis and is the leading cause of death among infants ages 1–12 months, there have been many changes in infant care that grandmothers may not know about. For example, pacifiers are now recommended at bedtime be-

cause it is believed that they prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. But 30 years ago paediatricians told mothers that pacifiers should not be used because they damage the teeth and jaw causing protruding top teeth.

Sleeping position is a major risk factor for SIDS. Parents should place children on their backs to sleep. We used to think that putting a baby on his/her stomach strengthened their necks. But the current view is that they should only be put on their stomachs when an adult is present and watching them – never for naps or at night.

Paediatricians warn that loose clothing is a danger to infants as well, so swaddling is recommended.

Baby pillows are a suffocation danger and, while grandmothers used to knit baby blankets for their expected grandchildren, now they are considered a danger for the first year. And we used to put bumpers around the crib to protect the baby’s head, but that is another suffocation risk.

As you can see, attitudes about infant care have changed dramatically. It is important for grandparents to be aware of the changes so that they do not present a danger to their infant grandchildren while babysitting and so that they can be supportive to their children as new parents. (psychologytoday.com)

By Sara Au and Peter L Stavinoha, PhD

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illions of children live in homes where grandparents are the householders and are responsible for them. Assuming the constant demands of child-rearing requires grandparents to set aside their own plans and is really a heroic act. If this comes about after a malfunction or tragedy in the family, grandparents begin their task in the climate of stress, and unfortunately sometimes even in desperation. With the recent recession, many families combined generations in to one house-

hold to save on housing costs, and moving in together can be extremely helpful, but can also cause friction.

Psychological issues can be major factors when grandparents are raising their grandchildren. Here are some common issues: If stemming from tragic circumstances, the reason that the children are living with their grandparents can sometimes be hard to cope with, not to mention difficult to explain to children of any age.

If grandparents have already had the opportunity to indulge and even spoil their grandchildren, it can be hard to establish authority when the need arises.

Grandparents who have undertaken the parenting of a grandchild may be disappointed and angry about be-

ing deprived of their grandparent status, yet relieved that they are finally in control of what seemed to be a chaotic situation.

The grandparents’ marital relationship may well be disrupted and become a source of frustration. The presence of both parents and grandparents under one roof potentially introduces a whole new set of unresolved psychological issues that can interfere with healthy parenting. When this is the case, well-defined parental authority must be established between parents and grandparents, and communicated clearly to the children.

The sheer physical and emotional aspects of having children in the home can exhaust some grandparents.

If grandparents are feeling emotionally overwhelmed and are not sure where to turn for guidance, it is essential to seek out support. Try to find a trusted friend, family member, doctor, pastor, etc… with whom to express these feelings. Grandparents need to remember that it is in their grandchild's best interest for them to be physically and emotionally healthy, and the only way to maintain physical and emotional health is to spend some time focusing only on themselves. It feels selfish sometimes, though it is really an investment in the situation, as a healthy grandparent will be more effective in the parent role. (psychologyto-

day.com)

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friDAY, February 9, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GIPEX 2018

Guyanese being misled on local content for oil industry – Ram

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utspoken political commentator and chartered accountant, Christopher Ram claims Guyanese are being misled on local content for the oil and gas industry of Guyana.

Ram said it is unfortunate that the comments coming from both people locally and overseas have not been consistent with the laws governing the petroleum sector in Guyana.

“Almost every person that has spoken on local content is speaking either from a position of ignorance or is deliberately misleading people as to what local content means in the context of our Petroleum Exploration and Production Act,” Ram told delegates at GPIEX 2018 on Thursday.

He contended that in order to acquire a prospecting licence, an applicant must state what the local contents are in respect to employment of Guyanese labour. Also, when applying for a production licence, the applicant must state local contents for the purchase of goods and services.

The accountant asserted that until the laws are changed, then those systems will continue to prevail.

Ram also told this newspaper on Thursday that Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman and other public officials have all stated repeatedly that Guyana could determine whether local content should be included in the legislation or developed separately as a policy.

Political commentator and Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram

“No we don’t! The law is and that is set out under the Petroleum Exploration and Production Act and regulations that in applying for a prospecting licence, you must present your proposals for local content in respect of a prospecting licence … So all the things they are saying are incorrect,” he added.

Further, Ram said, “I think it is sad that we have to have a foreigner tell us what local content should be, and that to me is the irony. I don’t think Trotman is acting from a position of total ignorance.”

“I don’t think he is bothering to read the law and he is getting people to come and advise him who are just as ignorant. I am sorry to say, I have to be blunt because if he does not as a lawyer accept what the law requires then I can’t say what he is going to do.

Quite frankly I don’t think Mr Trotman has done a great service to this country in relation to his portfolio as Minister of Natural Resources,” he added.

The Local Content Plan and what it will do for Guyana has been a burning question since it was announced that oil was found in the Stabroek Block. Expectations were initially tempered by statements to the effect that few job opportunities would be created by commercial exploitation of this oil find, but the company has since said it will help with local content delivery.

When ExxonMobil was granted a production licence in June of this year, Minister Trotman had given the company a six-month deadline in which to submit its Local Content Plan to the Government.

ExxonMobil’s Guyana Country Manager, Rod Henson, had announced that the company would be relocating its onshore operations, which were used for support services, from neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago to Guyana.

He said it was not the case that ExxonMobil would be looking to build a facility for its support services, but would rather put out tenders, and anyone interested in providing the shore-based services could present a proposal.

Trotman had, in 2016, announced that Cabinet had given its ‘no objection’ to the establishment of the onshore

industrial site on Crab Island, in the mouth of the Berbice River. He had said it would be forged through the joint efforts of the Ministries of Natural Resources, Public Infrastructure and Business.

Construction was announced for early this year, and the investments from the Private Sector and Government’s infrastructural

work and support were to be equivalent to US$500 million; but the Crab Island facility is yet to materialise.

However, the draft Local Content Policy has been criticised in recent months for lacking provisions which would safeguard against exploitation by companies. The document does not cater for issues such as how to avoid procurement

fraud, conflict of interest and favouritism, among others.

Instead, the draft Local Content Policy framework seeks to address, the suite of opportunities that may arise and the approaches to be taken in selecting and developing opportunities related to enhancing the capabilities of Guyanese nationals and businesses.

Natural mangrove die-off results in sea defence works

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uyana’s coastline has seen some considerable sea defence construction in light of the natural die-off of the mangroves.

One such area is the West Coast of Demerara (WCD) where works were carried out by the Public Infrastructure Ministry’s Sea and River Defence Unit, in an effort to avoid flooding.

The mangroves, which serve as the main barrier between the people of the coastland and the vast waters of the Demerara River, have been subjected to natural die-off during the past three years.

As such, the amount of mangrove cover has been reduced significantly.

When contacted, Head

of the Mangrove Office at the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), Kene Moseley explained that the area is been monitored to determine whether or not mangroves will be planted immediately, as certain assessments are necessary and must be carried out.

“We have to monitor the area. One of the areas has to stop with the erosion cycle. If it starts accreting again, we will consider to monitor, to make sure it reached the right elevation. And then we may or may not do planting, depending on whether or not the area starts to naturally regenerate, but we have to continue monitoring. At the moment we,

don’t plan to do any planting.”

It was also clarified that the mangroves were there for the primary defence in that area. As the mangroves deteriorated, residents experienced flooding and thus, the sea defence unit was subjected to build riprap structures which they have been doing.

Guyanese conservationist Annette Arjoon-Martins in commenting on the phenomenon she stated that due to the natural process of erosion, the sea defence workers are doing a ‘remarkable’ job of trying to save the banks of the river from eroding completely.

This will help to prevent flooding of areas where people reside where this kind of erosion is occurring.

8 news

friDAY, February 9, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

IN THE COURTS SOCU Head testifies as GBTI Directors’ case continues Rhetoric

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pecial Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) Head, Sydney James on Thursday testified before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan as the trial continued of eight Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Directors accused of not complying with a court order to produce financial records.

The Directors are charged with failing to comply with a court order requesting documents to facilitate an investigation into the US$500 million Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) fraud case – a charge they all deny.

On Thursday, it was revealed that James gave instructions with respect to filing charges against GBTI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) based on advice given by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) after the Bank failed to hand over the documents.

However, James explained that he was at SOCU Headquarters when an envelope was deliv-

SOCU Head Sydney James

ered by a representative of GBTI; subsequently, the documents covered by the production order were delivered to him on August 7 and 8, 2017.

The matter was adjourned until February 12, 2018.

Several former senior officials of the GRDB have been charged in the ongoing probe into money transfers in the hundreds of millions of dollars to a prominent Essequibo rice farmer.

But as a result of the

Bank’s refusal to provide information requested by SOCU, the Unit approached the High Court seeking a production order, which was issued by acting Chief Justice Roxane George.

The order, served by a marshal of the High Court, compelled GBTI to provide all information requested

by SOCU on the GRDB officials.

After the Bank subsequently refused to hand over the records, its Directors were jointly charged with failing to

comply with the order to produce certain named documents within seven days, to SOCU’s Head.

GBTI later made an application before the acting Chief Justice to be relieved from the production of the documents on the grounds that they have either been destroyed by the applicant after the applicant’s retention period had expired, or they have been lost and cannot be found despite diligent efforts to find them.

The Bank failed in its bid to be relieved from producing the documents.

Miner remanded on murder charge

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miner was on Thursday remanded to prison after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to a murder charge.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield revealed that during the period of December 2, 2015 and December 5, 2015, it was alleged that Michael Melville, 31, murdered Jose Oliveira Silva while at Arau Landing, Wenamu River, Essequibo.

The accused was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded to prison until March 20, 2018.

Melville was previously

The accused, Michael Melville being escorted out of the courtroom by a Police Officer

charged for the said murder, but the matter was discharged since the witnesses failed to appear; however, the charge was reinstituted.

ExPoliceman remanded on rape charge

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n ex-Policeman was on Thursday remanded to prison when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with sexual assault of a three-yearold.

It is alleged that on March 14, 2017, while at Friendship Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara, the 57-year-old sexually penetrated the toddler.

He was not required to plead to the indictable charge and was remanded to prison until February 22, 2018.

D

…and anti-nationalism

ear readers, you’d know your Eyewitness holds no brief for this PNC government. In fact, after giving them the benefit of the doubt when they replaced the PPP government, your Eyewitness was forced by their actions to admit this lot was up to no good. He signalled his gradual disillusionment by first referring to them as the APNU/AFC coalition; then the PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition; and now as the PNC government. And we know what the PNC are!!

But what your Eyewitness won’t ever do is confuse the COUNTRY with the GOVERNMENT – nasty as the latter may be. And this is exactly what the Kaieteur News and the Stabroek News have done when they published that anti-national half-page ad: “INVESTORS BEWARE, GOINVEST ELSEWHERE”. Now why would they do this? It’s clear they were addressing the 400 or so foreign companies who’re in the country to attend the Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit (GIPEX) - since the ad started to run on the first day of the summit.

Why would they even CONSIDER such an ad? OK… OK…so they have severe problems with the contract Raphael “Nassau” Trotman “re-negotiated” with ExxonMobil, for the oil bonanza they struck under our sea bed. So do all of us! In fact, if we go to the record, your Eyewitness was the first off the block to criticize Trotman’s paltry royalty figure and the income tax waiver. But how in God’s name does the struggle for us to get a better deal for our oil helped by telling investors not to invest here??

Here it is, the Government just fired 5700 sugar workers and made another 2000 jobless in the private farming sector on top of the overall high unemployment rate – especially with youths, where the last survey showed that to be some 40%!!! These are people who’re forced by poverty to make all kinds of compromises to survive. All they’re looking for are opportunities to find jobs, take care of their families, and live with a modicum of dignity. At a minimum, some of those investors at the Summit can provide some jobs.

Maybe not to the sugar workers directly…but with any new jobs created, there are what the economists call “externalities” – spillover effects to the rest of the economy! The ads are most anti-national, and serve to help those who would want us to remain on our knees. Who could they be?? Well, for one, the VENEZUELANS!! Remember when in the 1970s Burnham tried to bring hydro-power to Guyana and the Venezuelans killed the project by blocking the World Bank loan?

Well, they’ve been stymied again with the ICJ now involved, and they’d do anything to seize our patrimony.

Including placing those ads!!

…and sophistry

Chris Ram referred to the anti-national ad accepted and published by the KN and SN and said they’d “crossed a line”. The editor of KN added a note to Ram’s letter claiming the charge raised the question: “Where does someone’s freedom of expression end?”

Now this is really being disingenuous, isn’t it? One of the most famous retorts to that question was given by Chief Justice Wendell Holmes of the US. The case asked whether someone had the “freedom of expression” to publish opposition to the draft then in place for WWI. Justice Holmes gave the answer that established the rule to this day: “You can’t shout “FIRE!” in a crowded theatre.” In the actual case concerning the draft for the army, the expression was “anti-national” and would’ve harmed the interests of the country.

Which is exactly the case in publishing an ad scaring away investment from Guyana – when we’re mired in the morass of joblessness and hopelessness.

We echo Chris Ram: a line has been crossed!!

…and jobs

The newspapers, however, didn’t mind taking ads soliciting applicants to work aboard the FPSO that’ll be processing the oil and gas. They don’t mind Guyanese getting the junior cook and bottle washer jobs!!

But they’ll scare away the big-paying jobs!! Go figure!!

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

News

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friDAY, February 9, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

President exploring legal options after Jagdeo's rejection – Harmon – to have second-level “meaningful consultations” with Opposition Leader

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espite Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo’s rejection of his nominees for the two top judicial posts, President David Granger is likely to go ahead with the appointment of Justice Kenneth Benjamin as Chancellor of the Judiciary and Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards as Chief Justice.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Thursday told reporters at the post Cabinet press conference that given Jagdeo’s rejection, Government will be relying on provisions within Guyana’s Constitution going forward.

However, Harmon could not say whether the President will appoint his nominees in an acting or substantive role under those constitutional provisions.

“There’s a constitutional provision which we will look at. If in fact there is no agreement for them to be appointed in a substantive position, then there is a constitutional provision for them to be appointed

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

otherwise,” he outlined.

On Wednesday, Jagdeo in a letter addressed to the President, said after having duly considered the nominations of Justice Benjamin and Justice Cummings-Edwards under Article 127 (2) of the Constitution, he is unable to offer his agreement for their appointments.

However, the Opposition Leader has since indicated his willingness to further engage the President on substantive

appointments to the top judicial positions.

To this end, Minister Harmon noted that Government will be going ahead with “meaningful consultations” between the two sides as provided for in the Constitution.

“Mr Jagdeo’s rejection is constitutional, the President’s powers are also constitutional and there is a provision in the law which provides that in the event there cannot be agreement… then there is second level which now requires meaningful consultations. So I believe that is the next step we will go to,” the Minister of State posited.

According to Article 127 (2) of the Constitution; “If the office of Chancellor or Chief Justice is vacant…then, until a person has been appointed…, those functions shall be performed by such other of the Judges as may be appointed by the President”.

In this regard, the President is expected to write Jagdeo for another meeting.

Justice Kenneth Benjamin

“Constitutionally, there is a provision which will now kick in that will allow for another level of consultations before appointments are made,” Harmon noted.

On January 3, President Granger and his team held a meeting with the Opposition Leader and his team on the substantive appointments for the top judicial posts. In keeping with Article 127 (1) which states that “the Chancellor and the Chief Justice shall

each be appointed by the President, acting after obtaining the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition”, the two parties agreed to meet again on February 7, 2018, to follow up on the proposed names for appointment of the Chancellor and Chief Justice.”

However, on that date, the Opposition Leader wrote the Head of State, indicating his rejection of the nominees after due diligence.

President Granger had announced at his first press conference in two years, in December last year, that he has accepted a proposal from a committee that had been set up to review and interview applicants interested in the top judicial post after it was advertised locally, regionally and internationally.

Jagdeo had earlier warned that even though the President has to make the first move to resolve the decade-long failure to appoint a substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice, he would not allow himself to be coerced into accepting nom-

Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards

inees just to fix the situation.

Meanwhile, Harmon told reporters at Thursday’s post Cabinet press briefing that while Government is committed to meaningful consultations with the Opposition Leader over the judicial appoints, they will not allow “the work of the Judiciary to be held in abeyance or be stymied by any intervention whatsoever.”

After 12 years

Integrity Commission soon to be fully constituted

– as nominees approved

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fter years of inactivity, the Integrity Commission could soon be constituted following Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo’s approval of President David Granger’s nominees for the Integrity Commission.

In a document seen by Guyana Times on Thursday, the nominees were identified as Kurmar Doraisami, Thandi McAllister, Rabindranauth Persaud and Rosemary Benjamin-Noble.

Doraisami and Benjamin-Noble are Attorneys-at-Law while fellow lawyer McAllister is a former executive of the People’s National Congress’s Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM) and Persaud serves as a pandit.

It was on Wednesday that Jagdeo sent a missive to the

Attorney-at-Law Rosemary Benjamin-Noble

President wherein he noted his approval of the appointment of members of the Integrity Commission.

“I offer no objection to the four persons whom you have identified for appointment to the Integrity Commission, in

accordance with Section 3 (4) of the Integrity Commission Act Chap. 19:12, Laws of Guyana.

“I consider the totality of our engagement on this issue to be in satisfaction of the requirements of “consultation” as contemplated by the letter and spirit of Section 3 (4)…,” an excerpt of the letter pointed out.

Under the Integrity Commission Act, the President is to appoint a chairperson and other Commissioners. The extended delay in the reconstituting of the body has long been criticised as a move against transparency so much so that governing coalition partner, the Alliance For Change (AFC) called for its re-establishment at the conclusion of the National Executive Council (NEC) in November 2017.

Former GYSM activist, Attorney Thandi McAllister

The party had called for the Integrity Commission to be treated as a matter of national priority. In 1999, the previous Government had sworn in members to the Commission.

But since the 2006 resignation of the Commission’s Chairman, Bishop Randolph George, the body has been headless.

In January 2016,

Government used its one-seat parliamentary majority to vote against a motion tabled by the Opposition that would have provided for all Members of Parliament (MPs) to make public declarations of taxable income and all assets over the last 10 years to the Integrity Commission which would be released to the public.

The coalition had noted that it was not in favour of the public declaration, and would prefer to make such disclosures to the Integrity Commission instead. It had said that such a move would violate the privacy of members.

In defeating the motion, the Government MPs had proposed amendments to the motion for the National Assembly to support the enforcement of the legal requirement for all MPs to file their Income Tax returns and make declarations to the Integrity Commission.

Pandit Ravi Persaud

However, that proposal was protested by the Opposition and eventually resulted in MP Juan Edghill calling for his motion to be withdrawn, arguing that the amendments significantly changed the intent of the original motion. But the coalition MPs declined the withdrawal request and at the end of the debate, succeeded in passing the amended motion.

10 news

friDAY, february 9, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Bourda Street under Fuel prices’ hike “Customers can’t really afford rehabilitation any new fare increases” – taxis, minibus operators admit

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Some of the works being undertaken at Bourda Street

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he Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has embarked on a new project to rehabilitate Bourda Street, which has been in an execrable state for quite some time. As such, while some vendors believe that this is a good initiative, the views of others differ.

The works are being done in collaboration with the Public Infrastructure Ministry.

A vendor, who requested to be anonymous, revealed that due to the works being done, there has been a significant reduction of customers in that particular area as they cannot access the street. In the past days, business has been ‘slow’ and sometimes, the produce is not being sold so

she incurs a loss. She believes that they should’ve been advised not to sell in the area until the rehabilitation of the street is completed.

Meanwhile, a number of other merchandisers expressed their satisfaction with the new asphalt street and stalls; and have given their full cooperation until this project is completed.

This, they said, will be an improvement and the market will see more customers and sales in the future, as the appearance of the area will be much better than it was before. They also think that the infestation of rodents will also be eradicated.

“Excellent. I believe they’re doing an excellent job and they need to con-

tinue what they’re doing.

There will be new stalls and they will be doing it in concrete so we won’t be having rats and these things no more,” Alfred Mack related.

For now, the entrances to the stalls have been moved to the western pavement and vendors were asked not to use their current stalls after these works are completed.

Vendors were told by M&CC Town Clerk Royston King, that new stalls will be constructed as per the M&CC’s specifications, as it relates to the dimension of each stall.

As a result, taxes will also be increased on the upgraded stalls, to improve the services and facilities such as water, lightS and security being offered.

he Guyana Oil Company Limited (Guyoil) has increased its rates for fuel prices, but taxi and minibus drivers have expressed concern as to what this holds for them.

Taxi drivers, whose prices are higher than the bus fares charged, have related that if they should raise their prices any further, it would lessen the amount of customers they receive on a daily basis. The increased price for fuel will have to be met with their fares remaining unchanged.

“People ain’t want to

pay if we raise the fare for a drop-off. If the gas price increase and we raise the fare from $500 to $600, they will not travel with us. So we taxi drivers does have to do through with the same thing all the time,” said an anonymous taxi driver.

“There’s nothing that I personally can do. The gas raise, I still have to work.

We have to wait and see.”

However, minibus drivers have expressed that this is affecting them because their fares are way lower than those of taxis, while the distance is almost the same,

or even much greater.

“The gas prices always going up, but we can’t raise the fare. The price for gas never decrease, it always increasing. Every time it increase, we still have to work with the same fare. We don’t really make much at the end of the day,” said a minibus driver.

Fuel prices were increased this week, and gasoline now retails at $204 per litre. Kerosene, which was priced at $130, is now $137 per litre; while diesel, which was $188, has now been increased to $204 per litre.

300,000 cannabis plants, 150kg dried marijuana destroyed

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team of drug enforcement officers on Wednesday conducted a drug-eradication operation at Ebini, Upper Berbice River.

The operation which lasted in excess of 15 hours saw an estimated 300,000 cannabis plants ranging between six inches to five feet in height, 150,000 kilograms of dried cannabis, a number of nurseries with about 100,000 seedlings and four camps were destroyed by fire.

A single-barrel shotgun, three live cartridges, a water pump and a chain saw which were

Some of the dried cannabis unearthed during the exercise

also found during the operation, have been confiscated by the lawmen.

No arrests were made

but investigators are in the process of tracing the owner of the approximately 10-acre plot of land.

NEWS

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friDAY, February 9, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

S RAIGHT T

CC&PA to investigate “Otisha” fiasco

G$12B reasons why the Police continue to abandon their duties to the people

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ccording to the Police Act, Chapter 16:01, the Force shall be employed for “the enforcement and preservation of law and order”. Is that so?

If one observes the performance of the Police as a unit, one must consider how inefficiently they will be while spending the G$12.2 billion that is assigned to them by the 2018 Budget. Remember if you consider the size of the Force, the arithmetic works out to just over G$2.4 million (US$12,000) in upkeep cost per officer. For a poor developing country, that is a lot of money with so little results to show for this investment. Just read the latest headline – “Thirty-two gun robberies in 35 days”.

For the Police to really advance we need drastic changes at the very top. At a minimum, we need fresh and independent experts from outside of the Force TEMPORARILY both in the Office of the Commissioner and at other levels in the key operational structure. And why not? We tried “the Ramnarines and the Williams” and both groups failed with an “F” Grade. It is time to try a small team of real professionals from outside the Force who will not pander to the political class.

Why not a small team from the Commonwealth of Nations to head the Police for a short stint over two years to lead the reform, recognising that overwhelmingly the top echelon of the Police have major performance issues? That small team will be tasked with reviewing all operational policies, designing modifications to the training systems and chartering a cultural upgrade in the Force. But for any of this to be successful, we must change the way we recruit and care for the human resources in the force.

As a start rather than giving Ministers a 50 per cent increase, giving all 6000 officers a 20 per cent bump in their salary with the clear caveat that they all will be measured by new performance metrics will go a far way. If they fail to score an average grade, then they shall be demoted with a transition plan out of the Force if the poor performance continues. Can you imagine robbery victims have to wait for two hours for Police to come to their rescue?

Then we must focus our recruitment regionally. All junior officers up to Inspectors should be given a choice to work close to their home (Berbicians will be given a choice to work in Berbice; Lindeners will be given a chance to work in Region 10, Lethem residents in Rupununi and so on) and why not? That way you will be able to influence a greater regional, ethnic, cultural, religion, and gender balance in the force.

When I raised this concern with Minister Ramjattan in Washington, DC he said that it could not work because the Guyana Police is a national force like the FBI. But he is very wrong. The USA and Guyana have different societal challenges. In Guyana, the centralised system acts as a tool of marginalisation for young people in rural and hinterland areas who are willing to join up, but are not prepared to leave their young wives for long periods of time. The consequences can be to their matrimonial detriment. Would Mr Ramjattan relocate for a long time from his family? So, why would he ask so callously for the same from ordinary potential constables?

Over the entire history of the Police, there was a culture where senior officers were more obsessed with what their political boss wants rather than what the law demands. Let us reflect on the Presidential Guard Service. When the PPP left office it was charging the State some G$244 million to secure the President and the Prime Minister. Today, not even three years after, the State is being asked to fund the same operations to the tune of G$468 million (almost double) to secure these top two persons. Clear evidence that we have a pageantry President and Prime Minister in 2018 who, with their 8-10 car motorcade are a clear burden on the taxpayers. It is just scandalous how selfish these people are; all it will take to settle the severance benefits of the cane cutters at Wales is G$300 million and they do not have that, but they have G$468 million annual for the siren rides. Why did the Commissioner / Commissioner (ag) not object?

Please share your thoughts at sasesin1@yahoo.com.

he Childcare and Protection Agency (CC&PA) is set to launch an investigation into recent allegations made against a popular member of the transgender community.

Otis “Otisha” Pearson has come under fire for remarks he made last week regarding “little boys.” Many members of society, taking the term to mean underage boys, turned to social media to bash Otisha. But the transgender personality defended himself by explaining that the term is being taken out of context, and when it was used, it actually meant persons above the age of consent.

In light of these allegations, the Childcare and Protection Agency (CC&PA) has made it clear that it would

CC&PA Director, Ann Greene

be investigating the matter.

In a telephone interview with the Guyana Times, Agency Director Ms. Ann Greene admitted that the matter has

been looked at and a formal investigation will follow soon.

Based on the findings of the investigation, the matter will be turned over to the Guyana Police Force, she related.

Ms Greene also took the opportunity to touch on the impact that social media blame can have on delicate situations like this one.

“There’re too many things in the media (social media) that destroy children, and it has become a circus,” Ms. Greene stated.

She explained that public inflation of such issues can have negative impact on victims, and can discourage them from coming forward with their testimonies.

Last week, after being locked up for questioning in relation to the murder of

Hemchand Dalchand, also known as “Rakesh”, Otisha, in an interview, stated that he has a “little boy for every day of the week.” Initially taken as a joke, the statement quickly became a serious matter when a photo of Otisha and a young man was leaked on social media site Facebook. Many users of the site were of the opinion that the young man was underage, the age of consent in Guyana being 16.

Thereafter, this transgender individual, on a “Facebook live” forum, sought to debunk the allegations that were being pedalled against him by stating that the term “little boys” is one he often uses when referring to his colleagues in the transgender community.

ACP Alves given emotional farewell …after 34 years of service to GPF

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erving and retired ranks of the Guyana Police Force on Wednesday evening gathered at the Central Immigration and Passport Office to bid farewell to Assistant Police Commissioner Dale Andrew Alves, who heads into retirement.

With an impressive 34 years of service in the Guyana Police Force, Assistant Commissioner Alves functioned in many different areas, among which are the Tactical Services Unit (TSU), Commander of ‘G’ Division, and Deputy Commander of ‘A’ Division.

Retiring as Deputy Chief Immigration Officer, Alves, who also served as a drill instructor at the Felix Austin Police College during his earlier years in the Force, has been referred to by many as “the Assistant Commissioner Extraordinaire”, and both senior and junior ranks from the Immigration Office fervently expressed admiration and gratitude to their outgoing Assistant Commissioner.

While addressing the gathering, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud noted that Alves had remarkably transitioned from a background

Retired Assistant Police Commissioner Dale Andrew Alves with staff during his farewell

in the tactical field, and was able to adapt and function incredibly well in the area of immigration, which requires exceptional people skills and tolerance.

He posited that Alves would be missed, and remarked that Alves was one of the senior officers on whom he could have depended to get the job done.

Assistant Commissioner, ‘Law Enforcement,’ Paul Williams; Assistant Commissioner, ‘Operations,’ Nigel Hoppie; Director of Prisons (ag), Gladwin Samuels, and other serving and retired senior officers of the Guyana Police Force

also described Alves’s thinking as “critical”, and “out of the box”.

However, the most impacting remarks were made by those of the staff of the Central Immigration and Passport Office. Through dance and poetry, the ranks sent emotional waves across the room, using bilingual skills, sharing past experiences, and genuinely signalling goodbye to a great man.

In the end, he recipro-

cated as if he had not done enough; his ‘thank you’ artistically expressed.

Assistant Commissioner Dale Andrew Alves proceeded on pre-retirement leave on February 7, and will be officially retired on April 1, 2018.

He is succeeded by Senior Superintendent P. Langevine, who served as acting Deputy Chief Immigration Officer and Deputy Commander of ‘C’ Division.

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friDAY, february 9, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

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ith just about two weeks left before Guyanese take to the streets to commemorate the nation’s Republic status, several concept parties are planned with the aim of setting the right vibes for the roads.

Over the past weekends, Team MMR has been leading the way with these parties at the District Ultra Lounge, Giftland Mall. From chutney to soca vibes, the party continues this evening and is named after the latest single by Trinidad Soca King, Machel Montano.

The party titled “Chutney Soca Kingdom”

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fter “palancing” on the roads on February 23, the party continues at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground with Hits and Jams Entertainment concert called “Mashrama”. The show will feature StyleX out of Jamaica who is known for his latest tune titled “Me love my fatty” which went viral after the recording.

In addition, “Marz Ville” popularly known for this tune “Bang Bim” will also take to the stage. Guyana’s own Jumo “Rubber Waist” Primo will also be performing on the night of the show. However, continuing the excitement from the road parade and street jam, the Boom Deejays will be in full swing at the GFC ground.

Advance tickets for the event cost $2000 and more at the gate. On the morning of the Road Tramp and Float Parade, HJ will host its Sunrise

Marz Ville

is expected to be epic with some versatile deejays on the console. This evening, Team MMR is taking it to another level and will for the first time have live performances at one of their events.

Yes, this evening, Jonathan “Lil Red” King will be performing his entry into the Carib Soca Monarch, titled “Water, Paint and Powder”.

Deejay Golden Chyld will also rock the house.

As usual, Selector Andy and the Party Boss himself, WR Reaz, will be hitting some selections. Entry into the party costs $2000 and ladies will be admitted free until 21:00h.

Breakfast at the 704 Parking Lot. It commences at 04:00h and will end at 11:00h in time to take to the streets.

For those who will attend the stage concert at the National Park, the Sunrise Breakfast is the ideal idea before heading home and prepare for the big bacchanal. Tickets of the Sunrise Breakfast cost $2000.

On the day of the costume and float parade, the BOOM party trucks will be starting their engines and traverse the roads. Those interested in getting on the party trucks can pay $10,000 for an outfit which comes with free drinks along the party route.

The final event for HJ for Mash 2018 is the “Washdown” at the HJ Water World called “Soca on Sunday”. This event will take the form as a cooler fete with the BOOM Deejays taking charge. Admission to “Soca on Sunday” is $1000.

Stylex

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he town of Corriverton will come alive on March 2, Phagwah Day, as one of the biggest concerts will be hosted in celebration of the “festival of colours”.

The event is promoted by Price is Right Supermarket and will feature some of the top chutney artistes in Guyana and from Trinidad and Tobago.

Headlining the concert will he reigning Chutney Soca Monarch, Nishard M who is fresh out of the International competition.

This will be the first time he will be performing in Guyana after winning the com-

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imehri, on the East Bank of Demerara, will come alive on Saturday evening as the first ever J’Ouvert party is hosted by Steele and One Touch. With this being the first event of this nature, it has been creating quite a buzz.

It will be a kaleidoscope of colours as the event is expected to be one of a kind with the full hype as a Carnival-styled J’Ouvert party.

Water will not be an issue as several tanker trucks will be on site. It will be a night of shelling down to the best soca music while at the same time getting soaked.

Several top deejays will be part of the event to ensure everyone has the time of their lives.

petition.

Also slated to perform is Guyana’s Baboo, Terry Gajraj; De Hitman; Sally Sagram; Vanita; and Bunty Singh. The event will be spruced up with a lively dance piece by the Shelita Dancers. The event is billed for the parking lot of the Classic International Hotel at No 79 Village, Corentyne Berbice.

Admission to the grand Phagwah Mela is absolutely free and gets underway at 14:00h. Lighting and stage is provided by Crown Vibes.

All the way from the East Coast of Demerara, Father Moey will take to the console as well as Deejay Akelo from Stereo Sonics but the East Bank’s very own, Silver Star and its crew will turn up the vibes a few notches. In addition, the “Hardball Squad” will be rocking the house down.

Apart from the actual J’Ouvert party, scrumptious Bar-Be-Que will be on sale. The excitement starts at 20:00h.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, February 17, the community will witness its first Costume and Float Parade. The road tramp starts at the Timehri Docks Area and will culminate at Red Ground for a grand wash down.

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, february 9, 2018

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he search has commenced for delegates to vie for the coveted title of Miss Linden 2018. The queen will be crowned on April 21, at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground.

The ladies who have an interest in competing for the title have to be between the ages of 17 and 25 and must be at least 5’ 6” tall.

The applicants must have good moral character and possess charm, poise, and personality and have beauty of face and figure.

In addition, the applicants must have the ability to show compassion and intelligence and speak intelligently in pub-

lic places as well as have a good command of the English language.

The applicant must be someone with an unblemished background who is not likely to bring into disrepute/negative controversy the Miss Linden 2018 or the Miss Linden title.

Closing date for applications is Monday, February 12. These must be submitted to the Linden Town Week Secretariat, Lot 37 Republic Avenue, Mackenzie, Linden.

Once shortlisted and approved, the delegates will be trained to compete in the various segments on pageant night which includes intelligence, swimwear, talent, evening gown and recycled wear.

The reigning Miss Linden is Keisha Fraser who was crowned in 2015.

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cores of Guyanese are expected to flock the recently renovated Cheers Bar and Grill this weekend as the entity and sporting facility reopens its doors to the public after a period of brief closure.

Already, two major concept parties are billed for the venue.

These parties are slated to be hosted as part of wider activities for Mashramani 2018.

“We have been receiving hundreds of calls and we understand that people appreciate our party concepts and the entertainment they provide, especially to our younger folk,” the Manager said.

She said her aim is to ensure that people are comfortable whenever they visit the entertainment spot because providing an incident

13

free service is very important and pivotal to the overall success of a business venture.

Apart from the mouthwatering delicacies that are offered, the Manager also related that there will be several promotions that would see patrons wining free prizes and drinks over the weekend.

“We run a clean and honest venture that caters to people from all walks of life. We respect our competitors but we know that we are the best and we strive to ensure that the playing field is levelled as we promote our bar and our ventures,” the Manager related.

Cheers Bar and Grill, located at Montrose, Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara, will open its gates from 16:00h on Saturday.

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fter 13 years on the market, GEM (Guyana Entertainment Magazine) was forced to suspend its operations for 2018 owing to the lack of advertisement and subscription sales.

“Declining advertising revenue and subscription sales and an unsafe environment are among the factors that have forced us to re-examine our business model for Guyana,” founder and publisher Simeon Corbin stated.

He further stated “Unfortunately, we don’t foresee any improvement in the publishing industry soon. In addition, the obvious out of control criminal activity has created a clear and immediate danger to our operation. Of course, our safety and well-being are paramount to our existence.”

Due to the recent development, all local and international subscribers will be reimbursed their unused portion of the subscription.

The magazine in a release stated that it is deeply humbled by everyone’s support, and promises that should there be significant improvements in business and security, it will consider re-launching the magazine but as of now, it owes a huge debt of gratitude to its readers for supporting the concept to positively promote the country, by transcending race, pol-

itics, religion and class.

“Your continuous support year after year at home and in the Diaspora from issue one to issue seventy-seven is incredible,” the magazine stated.

Finally, the magazine would like to thank all its clients, friends, writers, photographers, graphic artists, newsstands, subscribers and office staff who have helped to build it and keep Guyana’s first and only glossy lifestyle publication in operation for 13 years.

J

amaica’s love doctor, Jah Cure, will be performing live on February 17 at the Entertainment Strip, Giftland Mall. Although Valentine’s Day will be long over, the love and spreading of love will continue on that evening.

Known for his smooth and sassy performances, lovers will be in for a treat as the artiste promises one heck of a show.

It is his way of celebrating the spirit of Valentines with his fans. The event is promoted by The Strip Hookah Lounge

and Restaurant. Jah Cure is no stranger to Guyana, with some excellent performances at the Guyana National Stadium.

Some of his tunes include “Call on Me”, “Unconditional Love”, “All of me”, “Telephone Love”, “From my Heart”, and “Jah Bless Me” among others.

Tickets for the event are available at the Hookah Lounge.

The show is powered by Guinness.

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friDAY, February 9, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Views of Presidential Advisor don’t reflect President, Govt’s position – Harmon – says Govt has use for Dr Mangal’s expertise

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fter distancing itself from comments made

by Dr Jan Mangal on the contract between Guyana and United States (US) oil giant ExxonMobil, Government has stated that it has use for the Presidential Advisor on Petroleum but noted that the expert does not speak on behalf of the Head of State or the Government as a whole.

This clarification was made by Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Thursday.

“Dr Mangal is not a spokesperson for the President on petroleum or neither is he a spokesperson for the Government. He is an advisor to the President and works within a framework and in that framework, advice is given to His Excellency. It is up to the President to decide whether this advice is good, (he) will follow it or this advice is not

Presidential Advisor on Petroleum, Dr Jan Mangal

good and therefore (he) will not follow it. So that’s the job of an advisor to advice, not to direct or give any directions,” Harmon told media operatives at the post Cabinet press briefing on Thursday.

This comes on the heels of the Presidential Advisor telling reporters on the sidelines of an oil and gas forum

at the University of Guyana (UG) on Wednesday that if Guyana is dissatisfied with the contract it signed with ExxonMobil, then the country can go ahead and have the agreement amended. He also criticised the low royalty and large concession given to the US oil company.

Hours after his comments were published on online news websites, the Ministry of the Presidency issued a brief statement under the title “Dr Jan Mangal not authorised to speak on behalf of President”.

Expounding on the issue at Thursday’s post Cabinet conference, Harmon explained that Dr Mangal is part of a team that advises the president on petroleum and he can give his advice within that structure, in which case goes to the President as part of a team.

“An advisor is an advisor and you provide ad-

vice to your principle… It is up to the President to decide whether he accepts or rejects that advice, so it is not for the advisor to be making a statement for the President. The President makes his own statements and the Minister of State makes these statements as the Chief Government spokesperson,” Harmon posited.

Nevertheless, the Minister of State went on to outline that given his expertise, and as a citizen of Guyana, Dr Mangal is free also to personally pronounce on national or international issues.

Meanwhile, asked whether Government will be renewing Dr Mangal’s contract as Presidential Advisor on Petroleum, the Minister of State could not say. He explained, “I think his contract is one which is an IDB (Inter-American Development Bank) contract itself and I can’t be too definite on that. But to the ex-

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

tent to which Dr Mangal continues to provide advice to the His Excellency, the President; I believe, to that extent, we have use for Dr Mangal – whether in fact he makes statements in his own, private capacity that’s another matter,” Minister Harmon stated.

He went on to say that the renewal or non-renewal of Dr Mangal’s contract would be based on his expertise and advice given to the President, and not on his views expressed.

Dr Mangal has a Doctorate in Offshore Geotechnical Engineering from Oxford University and a Bachelor in Civil Engineering from the University of Edinburg. He worked in the marine and oil and gas industries for over

18 years, where he spent 13 of those with US oil giant, Chevron, working on major projects in the USA, West Africa and Asia.

When asked on Wednesday whether he thinks the oil contract with ExxonMobil should be renegotiated, the petroleum expert stated that while he has his views he is not ready to pronounce on that publicly but did say it is a topic of discussion with the Government.

Furthermore, the President’s Petroleum Advisor noted that renegotiated terms such as the two per cent royalty on earnings from ExxonMobil’s oil sales and the non-payment of taxes on Exxon’s share of the profits, is low compared to global standards.

To this end, he raised concerns about the system used to negotiate that agreement and also the expertise of the persons doing the negotiating.

The University of Guyana discussion on the emerging oil and gas industry was held on the day the inaugural Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit (GEPEX) opened and the President’s Petroleum Advisor’s absence from the event was notable.

When asked about that, he told reporters that he was never invited to the event.

Cop fires at bandits who robbed bus driver, conductor

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Police Constable stationed at the Charlestown Post Office on Thursday morning opened fire on two armed bandits as they were fleeing the scene after robbing a minibus driver and conductor.

The incident occurred at sometime around 10:30h at Drysdale and High Streets, Charlestown, Georgetown.

According to information received, bus driver Rakesh Seegobin, 43, of Covent Garden, East Bank Demerara was robbed of $8,000 cash, while his conductor, 22-year-old Ashiva Singh of La Parafaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, was relieved of a black wallet valued at $1,000 and $1,000 in cash.

Reportedly at around 10:15h, Seegobin drove his Route 42 mini bus, BLL 2333, with Singh inside, to Drysdale and High Streets, and parked on the eastern side of the road. The conductor then exited the bus and stood on the road, while Seegobin remained in the driver’s seat eating.

The two suspects emerged from the northern side of High Street, one on a bicycle and the other on foot.

The one on foot approached Singh, pointed a gun at him, and relieved him of his belongings.

The armed suspect then confronted Seegobin, who was still in the driver’s seat, holding him at gunpoint before relieving him of his money. During this time, the other suspect on the bike was keeping guard.

After robbing the two men, the suspects then escaped north along High Street. Seegobin raised an alarm and the Police Constable, who was armed with a .38 service revolver that had six live rounds, responded and gave chase.

The armed suspect on foot turned around and pointed the gun at the Constable, who in turn drew his service revolver and discharged a round in the direction of the suspects. However, the men managed to escape east into Princess Street.

The police searched the area but the suspects could not be found. It is not known whether any of the suspects was hit, but checks were made for blood around the area where the shot was fired and nothing was found.

Investigations are ongoing.

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friDAY, February 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPP still to make decision on 2020 PSC condemns “Go invest elections Presidential Candidate elsewhere” ad

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s the hearing of the constitutionality of presidential term limits looms in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the main opposition group, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), are still undecided on who will be on their Presidential ticket for the 2020 General and Regional Elections.

This was confirmed by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo at his press conference on Thursday. Observing that he is more interested in building his party’s base than being bothered by an ongoing court matter, Jagdeo declared: “When the right time comes, we will decide on a Presidential candidate. This matter that’s going on in court is outside of the PPP, but if the APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) thinks that I’m going to put all the PPP eggs in a Jagdeo basket, they are wrong...I’m not too worried about term limits,” he declared.

His comments followed speculation over his future, he having formerly served as President from 1999 to 2011 and having re-entered the field of active politics, albeit reluctantly.

Jagdeo stressed that he is mostly concerned about ensuring that his party is victorious at the nation’s next polls.

“I made it clear that the

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

PPP is not decided on a presidential candidate for 2020.

I’m General Secretary of the party, I took over in January last year after the congress, and my job as General Secretary is to work hard to transform the party, to widen its base and prepare it to win the elections regardless of what position I serve in,” he noted.

He responded to questions posed by the media highlighting the Attorney General’s appeal to the CCJ of a landmark Appeals Court ruling in February 2017 -- which declared that sovereignty resides in the people and not in the Parliament; and as such, certain fundamental clauses in the Constitution that serve to define its substantive nature can be altered

only by a referendum of the people. This ruling signalled that an amendment to the Constitution on presidential term limits, which was enacted when the National Assembly altered Article 90 via a two-thirds vote in 2000, needs a referendum to make a final decision.

AG Basil Williams and colleague Raphael Trotman, through private citizen Cedrick Richardson, have challenged the ruling in the CCJ. It is slated to heard through live video at 10:00 hrs on February 28. If that appeal is unsuccessful, then the voters of Guyana would have a choice of four classes of persons that were barred

by Art 17 of 2001. These classes are: (A) that only a citizen by birth or of parentage can qualify to be the President; (B) that a person must be residing in Guyana on the date of nomination for election, (C) that a person must have been a resident for seven years immediately before that date, and (D) Citizens of Guyana who have served for two terms as President.

Last elections, back in 2015, saw former President Donald Ramotar serving as the PPP’s Presidential Candidate while his running mate was Diplomat Elisabeth Harper, who served as the party’s prime ministerial candidate.

2015 Tucville murder

“Pretty Boy”, “Dangles” found not guilty

Edward Skeete, called “Pretty Boy”

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dward Skeete, called “Pretty Boy”, and Nabadingi Gobin, called “Dangles”, the two accused who had been on trial for the July 2015 murder of Ryan Clementson, were on Thursday freed by Justice Navindra Singh at the High Court in Georgetown.

The duo had earlier this week hid from photographers, but after the judge’s announcement, the men were all smiles. ‘Pretty Boy’ ran to his freedom, but Gobin, called Dangles, was returned to prison pending his relatives’ presentation of a bail receipt on a separate charge.

The men have been ac-

Nabadingi “Dangles” Gobin hiding his face from the cameras earlier this week

quitted of the shooting of former Mocha-Arcadia resident Ryan Clementson, which occurred at the Turning Point business place in Tucville, Georgetown in early July 2015. Clementson, who died between July 24 and 25, 2015, two weeks after being shot to his thigh, had stated in his dying moments that the duo and another were his assailants. However, defence counsels for the accused, Nigel Hughes and Mark Waldron, were successful in preventing certain pieces of evidence from entering the main trial, those being disclosed in the jury’s absence.

Justice Singh, who con-

Deceased: Ryan Clementson

sidered the submissions overnight, ruled on Thursday that the prosecution did not make out a case against the two, and he formally directed the jury forewoman to return a not-guilty verdict.

Prosecutor Narissa Leander however informed the judge of the State’s intention to appeal the court’s decision.

Pretty Boy and Dangles had been accused of opening fire on Clementson and his friend Ayodele Solomon on July 14, 2015 near the Turning Point Snackette in Tucville. Clementson, who had been shot in his thigh, succumbed almost two weeks later from cardiac arrest following a surgery.

– criticises Kaieteur and Stabroek News for publishing anti-national information

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PSC President Eddie Boyer

recent advertisement that appeared in two local national newspapers urging investors not to set up business here has been described by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) as anti-national.

The half page paid advertisement was carried in the Kaieteur News and Stabroek News on Wednesday February 7, and again on Thursday, and read: “Investors Beware, Go Invest Elsewhere” in bold letters.

President of the PSC, Eddie Boyer told Guyana Times on the sidelines of the Guyana International Petroleum Business Summit (GIPEX) 2018 on Thursday that he was alarmed when he first saw it appear in the newspapers.

“The advertising to those newspapers comes from the Private Sector and people who depend on investment. Why are we taking a position on investment? Whoever gave that ad had no right to do so whether local or foreign,” the PSC asserted.

The PSC head also lashed out at the two daily newspapers that published the advertisement for two consecutive days, especially during a time when Guyana is hosting its first ever oil summit.

He said, “I think the papers had a right to find out about it and decide that it is something we should not be publicising, especially given the fact that we have investors in the country.”

Boyer pointed out that there are a number of local companies that are participating in the summit and sees it as an opportunity to build on, especially given that oil and gas is becoming a new sector for Guyana.

“And being here with all the oil executives, oil giants, sub-contractors from around the world, I think it was wrong timing. I think it was also anti-national,”

he added.

But the PSC head did not stop there, adding that he hopes other bodies come out and condemn the mischievous act, as it reeks of vindictiveness and should not be encouraged to happen again. “I hope others come out and condemn the ad, because the newspapers shouldn’t have carried it,” he added.

Asked whether he thinks that the advertisement had any impact on the summit, the PSC President responded in the negative stating that it was a waste of time.

Speaking from a personal point of view, Boyer said he is a Guyanese first and foremost who has business investment in the country, and he would hope that people would think along the same lines.

“I hope that the persons who advocated for no investment to come in Guyana, could understand that any investment coming here would benefit Guyanese and in turn benefit their businesses,” he stated.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman has also expressed his disappointment with the advertisement, which he said is clearly aimed at discouraging investment in Guyana, when the world’s top industries are in country seeking partners.

Meanwhile, Finance

GMSA President Sham Nokta

as to bring harm and put our country into disrepute, I think everybody, every right-thinking Guyanese, should be able to say no, we have our differences but no, we don’t need to carry it this far,” he added.

Meanwhile, Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) President Shyam Nokta said that his organisation was fully supportive of the position taken by the PSC. Speaking with Guyana Times during an interview, Nokta said that the Private Sector was united on this particular issue as he explained that the GMSA did not oppose any form of lucrative or transparent investment coming into the country.

He said that the GMSA was supportive of Government in its quest to

The paid adverisement that was published in Kaieteur News and Stabroek News on Wednesday

Minister Winston Jordan also stated his displeasure with the advertisement, stating that Guyanese should reject any move to destabilise the country.

Minister Jordan said while there is provision for freedom of speech, the advertisement and the authors of it went beyond the boundary and should not be tolerated.

“If we have a difference in the family, I am sure we can solve it, but when you bring it nationally so

seek out regional and foreign direct investment and as such, could not support any advertisement that was aimed at turning away investment from the country.

The advertisement was published on the first day of GIPEX 2018. The summit seeks to create a platform for networking and partnership opportunities for all investors as Guyana prepares for first oil in 2020.

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friDAY, February 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Cocaine in fish shipper for court today

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he shipper of the cocaine-laced fish consignment that was intercepted on Tuesday evening at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) has been charged and is scheduled to be arraigned this morning.

The suspect has been identified as West Demerara resident Amair Ally. According to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), the man was charged on Thursday afternoon and will be taken to court today.

CANU ranks stationed at the Timehri airport on Tuesday evening intercepted the suspected cocaine, concealed in partially frozen fish. The drug was later extracted and weighed, amounting to 9.366 kilogram (20.61 pounds).

The consignment was scheduled for export to the United States. The company which was used to ship the fish is located on the West Bank of Demerara.

The intercepted shipment

Initial investigations had led anti-narcotics agents to seven persons, who were arrested following the bust.

On Wednesday, six of them

– porters handling the shipment – were released.

However, Ally remained in custody to assist with the probe.

LCDS, Norway pact can lead to a green economy – former presidential advisor …underscores importance to emerging oil and gas sectors

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ormer Presidential Adviser on the Environment, Shyam Nokta, speaking at the panel “How can oil and gas support the Model Green State” at GIPEX 2018, indicated that, since 2010, Guyana had started the process towards a green economy through the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), which was supported by the Kingdom of Norway.

He emphasised that the model was built on innovation, where, for the first time, forest climate services were monetised and a mechanism for payments was developed and implemented, and this had seen Guyana receiving close to US$200 million as payment for forest climate services.

Nokta pointed out that the innovation showed by Guyana and Norway and the lessons learned have been valuable in helping other forest countries which are pursuing reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+), and shaping elements of the Paris Agreement.

He indicated that Guyana needed to build on the LCDS and to continue the Norway partnership, even as the country looks forward to an oil and gas industry.

Nokta, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Environmental Management Consultants, pointed out that the two concepts are not mutually exclusive, but rather could be mutually supportive.

In this regard, he empha-

PPP will challenge any unconstitutional appointment – former AG

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GIPEX 2018 summit

By Samuel Sukhnandan

GIPEX 2018

sised that the sustainability of a green economy would hinge on a diversified economy and energy mix, and oil and gas revenue can serve as a catalyst.

He further emphasised that there is urgent need for the national development framework to be put in place to facilitate this, and he highlighted the critical important of national participation and involvement of all stakeholders.

The panel was chaired by former Presidential Adviser Rear Admiral (retd) Gary Best; and included Dr. David Singh, Director of Conservation International Guyana, Ndibi Schwiers, Head of the Department of Environment in the Ministry of the Presidency, and James Ellsmor, CEO of Solar Head of State, a US-based energy company.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, told the National Assembly last year that the innovative forest conservation for money Norway-Guyana deal is “well and alive”, but will be redirected to a number of different viable projects.

Harmon announced that the Kingdom of Norway had agreed to release US$14 million for a sustainable land development and management project. In addition to that, to that, some US$17 million would be released for several Information and Communications Technology (ICT) projects, while funding for the Amerindian Fund and Amerindian Land Titling project is ongoing.

According to Harmon,

Former Presidential Adviser on the Environment, Shyam Nokta

Norway has also extended to December 2021 the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) Trustee Account that ended in December 2016. He said 285 grants and 120 loans have been approved under the Micro and Small Enterprise Project, as against the previous two-year figures.

The release of these funds forms part of the US$80 million which were earmarked for the Amaila Falls Hydro Project. However, the Government has made its intention known that it does not wish to proceed with Amaila.

Instead, the funds will now be channelled to a number of different ‘clean energy’ initiatives.

The LCDS has been the brainchild of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who introduced the revolutionary strategy in 2009, the updated version of which was confirmed in 2013.

Government recently announced plans to launch the Green State Development Strategy, which is expected to replace the LCDS.

ormer Attorney General and People’s Progressive Party Executive Anil Nandlall late Thursday night vowed to challenge any unconstitutional move by President David Granger to appoint two nominees who were rejected by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo as Guyana’s Chief Justice and Chancellor respectively.

On Thursday, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had indicated that Government would be continuing its consultation with the Opposition Leader, but stopped short of stating whether the President was likely to move ahead with the appointments of the said individuals in an acting capacity or substantively.

Soon after the Government’s Department of Public Information (DPI) issued a statement under the caption “Jagdeo nor any other interventions will not stymie the work of the judiciary – Minister Harmon” The relevant parts of the statement read: “...Minister Joseph Harmon today during a post-Cabinet press conference said that President David Granger will be writing Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo informing him that another level of consultations will be held before the appointment of a substantive Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice... “....There is a provision in the law which provides that in the event that there cannot be agreement because the requirement is for there to be agreement. Where agreement cannot be met, there is a second level which now requires meaningful consultations, so I believe that is the next step we will have to go to,” Minister Harmon said, according to the DPI release.

Former Attorney General, Anil Nandall

But Nandlall argued that these two excerpts led to the irresistible inference that Minister Harmon was contending that the Constitution provides, in relation to the substantive appointment of Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice, that if there is no agreement between the President and the Leader of the Opposition then the appointments can still be lawfully made once there is “meaningful consultation” between the two.

“Unfortunately, Mr Harmon has not cited the constitutional article which so provides. There is none.

Minister Harmon, either wittingly or unwittingly, is grossly misrepresenting the constitutional position. The sole relevant Article, 127 (1), is excruciatingly clear. It is expressed in a singular sentence, spanning only three lines. It brokers no place for ambiguity or equivocation,” he said in a statement.

That provision Nandlall referred to states: “The Chancellor and the Chief Justice shall be appointed by the President acting after obtaining the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition.”

The former Attorney

General said if “there is any attempt by President David Granger to flout or to ignore the strict constitutional prescription on this matter, the PPP will leave no stone unturned in a relentless effort to ensure constitutional compliance. If the head of the Judiciary – the constitutional bulwark of our democracy and the organ of State vested with the responsibility to protect our constitutional and human rights and freedoms and to preserve our democracy, law and order and indeed civil society as we know it – is allowed to be bastardised by the authoritarians who now wield political power, this nation will rapidly degenerate into a state of anarchy from which we may never fully recover”.

He said this was one issue that we must never allow to be a casualty of partisan politics while explaining that although the PPP will certainly be playing its part, it must not be left alone to carry the struggle.

“Those who choose to stand idly by in the face of such travesty will do so at their own peril. It is sincerely hoped that the two highly respected and experienced judicial officers identified by the President will not lend themselves to be used in this proposed constitutional heresy, for they will be embroiled in the ensuing litigation which may unnecessarily tarnish their high professional standing , stature and professional reputation. I hold both of them in sufficiently high esteem to know that they would recognise the vulgar violation of the Constitution that is being contemplated,” the PPP Executive explained.

GPS collaborates with MoPH to manage vulnerable prisoners

Director of Prisons Gladwin Samuels

D

(ag)

irector of Prisons Gladwin Samuels said the Guyana Prison Service continues to collaborate with the Public Health Ministry to ensure proper care and management of vulnerable prison inmates.

“A number of persons who are held in the prisons in Guyana ought not to be there because they actually require specialised treat-

ment. Our prisons across Guyana account for about 75 persons who are known to be mentally unstable, and with our relationship with the Ministry of Health, we were able to provide daily care to those persons before the July 9 fire of 2017,” Samuels said.

Although these prisoners are now dispersed across the country due to the fire, the Prison Director noted that efforts are still being made to care for them. He also made it known that with the training, prison officers would now be able to identify and properly care for those deemed mentally ill.

At the opening ceremony of the Handling Vulnerable Prisoners training programme, the acting Director of Prisons disclosed that the Prison Service has accounted for a number of these vulnerable prisoners.

“So, by being able to adequately identify these persons, we will be able to adequately cater for them and

provide the necessary segregation for them and also expose them to the necessary training to better equip them to deal with the challenges,” Samuels stated.

The Prison Director also made it known that despite the challenges faced by these mentally unstable persons, they nevertheless are a part of the Guyanese population and should to be treated with same respect.

He also noted that they need to be safeguarded against harassment, especially in the prison environment, as this can often lead to unfortunate circumstances.

The Handling Vulnerable Prisoners training programme commenced on February 5 and will instruct the officers on ways to manage those considered vulnerable. The fiveday programme will be facilitated by Director of CreateBetterMinds, Caroline Ravello and UK Consultant Michael Hamilton.

friDAY, february 9, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

East Ghouta ‘drowning in blood’ EU could impose blocking regulations if US pulls out of Iran deal after 3rd day of bombing

T

R

esidents of the besieged Syrian enclave of eastern Ghouta have endured a fourth day of relentless bombardment by the Government of Bashar al-Assad, a campaign that has so far killed more than 200 people and left a ceasefire deal that lasted months in tatters.

The bombardment continued despite international pleas for a countrywide ceasefire to alleviate “extreme” suffering in Syria, where the violence has been renewed after failed peace talks earlier this month.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group, said 59 civilians, including 15 children, had been killed on Thursday alone in Eastern Ghouta, an enclave that has been under siege for years, endured a devastating sarin gas attack in 2013 and was once the breadbasket of the nearby capital, Damascus.

Smoke rises after an airstrike over the eastern Ghouta region of Damascus, a de-escalation zone in Syria

The killings capped three days of shelling and bombardment that have killed 150 people so far, days after a national dialogue conference brokered by Russia failed to produce a breakthrough in peace talks.

The violence, which continued in other parts of Syria as well, marked the effective end of a de-escalation agreement brokered by Moscow, Ankara and Tehran to re-

duce violence around the country and pave the way for peace talks.

In eastern Ghouta, rescue workers spent much of the day searching through the rubble of buildings that collapsed under the airstrikes. They said they had tracked at least 76 airstrikes on Tuesday and Wednesday alone in the region. (Excerpt from

The Guardian)

Colombia tightens border, gives aid as Venezuelans flee crisis

C

olombia has strengthened immigration controls and will give aid to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans fleeing an economic crisis, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Thursday, as his country spends millions of dollars to support the migrants.

The number of Venezuelans living in Colombia increased 62 per cent in the last half of 2017 to more than 550,000, the migration authority has said. Many arrive in utter

poverty, forced to sleep in doorways and under bridges while they try to scrape together enough money to feed their children. Santos said he would put in place stricter migratory controls along the Venezuelan border, temporarily suspending new daily entry cards for Venezuelans and deploying 2120 more soldiers along the shared frontier.

Speaking in Cucuta, a border city of about 670,000 Colombian inhabitants, Santos said he would not

tolerate crime committed

by Venezuelan migrants and would prosecute any unlawful behaviour. He will create a new registry of Venezuelans already in Colombia and open a centre with the United Nations to provide humanitarian aid. Colombia estimates it costs $5 per day to supply each Venezuelan migrant with food and lodging. The Government did not provide figures on how many migrants it was supporting.

(Reuters)

he European Union could put in place regulations to protect its firms doing business in Iran if the United States withdraws from the 2015 nuclear deal and restores extraterritorial sanctions, a senior EU official said on Thursday.

European countries have been looking to increase trade with Iran since Paris, Washington and other world powers agreed to lift most economic sanctions in 2016 in exchange for limitations on Tehran’s nuclear programme.

But US President Donald Trump on January 12 vowed to restore US sanctions unless France, Britain and Germany change what he calls the “worst deal ever” to his liking, effectively putting it on life support until mid-May. While European nations have been adamant that they would stick to the deal should Washington pull out, Europe would need to find ways to limit any impact from possible US sanctions to ensure their firms continue to do business with

Tehran.

Denis Chaibi, head of the Iranian taskforce at the EU’s external action service, said one of the options would be to restore “blocking regulations”, a system from 1996 that would protect its firms.

The regulations were agreed in 1996 as a countermeasure to the US extraterritorial economic sanctions against Cuba, which EU governments argued benefited US foreign policy interests at the expense of European sovereignty. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

Small Business Development Centre to be launched in The Bahamas

T

he Cabinet of The Bahamas has approved the launch of a Small Business Development Centre later this year. Prime Minister, Dr Hubert Minnis says the initiative, one of several to help stimulate business ownership and Bahamian enterprise, will be spearheaded by the Government, in conjunction with the University of The Bahamas and The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers’ Confederation with support from the Organisation of American States (OAS).

“This Centre will provide a resource for all Bahamians to receive advisory and technical support when seeking to open a business or expand their operations,” he said.

The announcement came on the heels of the Prime Minister’s disclosure that his administration has committed to investing US$25 million over the next five years to help develop micro-small-medium-sized en-

Prime Minister, Dr Hubert Minnis says the initiative is one of several by his Government to help stimulate business ownership and Bahamian enterprise

terprises (MSMEs) in The Bahamas.

Funding for the project will amount to US$5 million per year for the next five years and will be funded through the sale of Government-owned shares in Aliv and the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC).

Prime Minister said the “ambitious initiative” will help to stimulate the econ-

omy while boosting growth and employment and will also provide specific support for entrepreneurship and MSMEs development within marginalised groups, especially poorer communities and youth organisations.

This will include organisations that participate in the Over-the-Hill Community Development Partnership Initiative. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

North Korea stages military parade on eve of Olympics Philippines drugs war: ICC announces initial inquiry into killings

T More than 50,000 people, including 13,000 troops, participated in the parade

N

orth Korea has held a military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of its armed forces, just one day before South Korea hosts the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Footage from North Korea showed leader Kim Jong-un and party officials watching the annual display of military strength in the capital, Pyongyang, as goose-stepping soldiers and tanks paraded past them on Thursday.

Citing analysis of images from the event, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that a

Hwasong-15 long-range missile was part of the procession. Experts also said that the Hwasong-14 was also on display.

Observers, however, noted that the parade appeared to be shorter and smaller in scale than a major event staged last year.

A livestream of the parade was also not available this time, while foreign journalists were not invited as in previous years.

This comes as teams from both North and South Korea are due to march together under a "unification flag" at the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang

Games on Friday.

Speaking at the occasion, Kim said the military parade showcased "the status of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), which has developed into a world-class military power." More than 50,000 people, including 13,000 troops, participated in the event, according The Korea Times.

North Korea held a massive military parade in April last year to celebrate the 105th birth anniversary of the nation's founding President, Kim Il-sung.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

he International Criminal Court (ICC) is to open a preliminary inquiry into alleged crimes committed during the Philippines government's war on drugs, its chief prosecutor says.

Fatou Bensouda said it would look at reports of extrajudicial killings.

President Rodridgo Duterte's policy of endorsing such killings in the drugs war has drawn widespread condem-

nation.

Bensouda said an initial examination would also be opened into the use of excessive force in Venezuela. The Government of President Nicolás Maduro has faced accusations of human rights violations following protests last year in which more than 120 people were killed.

Bensouda said she had "closely followed" the situations in the Philippines and Venezuela and after "a care-

ful, independent and impartial review... I have decided to open a preliminary examination into each situation".

She stressed that the examinations by the ICC – based in The Hague – were "not an investigation" but a process of examining information "in order to reach a fully informed determination on whether there is a reasonable basis to proceed with an investigation". (Excerpt from BBC

News)

India: Couple held for selling newborns

P

olice have arrested a doctor and his wife for allegedly selling babies in Kohlapur district in the western state of Maharashtra.

The doctor confessed to selling two newborns for 200,000 rupees (£2239; US$3112) each since December.

Federal authorities raided the clinic where the couple

worked and handed them over to Police on Tuesday. Police are investigating the case further to see if others were also involved. "We will also find out how many people were in touch with the doctor," a police officer told BBC Marathi.

An official from the Central Adoption Resources Authority (CARA) said that it is possible

another doctor from Mumbai, the state's capital, is involved.

"The couple took advantage of women who were pregnant and unmarried. They would deliver their babies and then sell them to people who wanted them." Authorities are also questioning other staff in the hospital, Police said. (BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, February 9, 2018

ARCHIE

Helping others will lead to ARIES rewards. You cannot be fault(March 21- ed if you do your best and are April 19) honest about your feelings.

Walk away from petty arguments.

Don't donate money to a

TAURUS cause if you don't have the funds.

(April 20- Offer your time, but don't let May 20) anyone take you for granted. It's

dilbert

admirable to want to help, but make it clear what you can do.

Partnerships will make GEMINI (May 21- a difference to your future.

June 20) Whether a personal or professional connection, the discussions you have and the promises you make will help you excel.

Emotional deception will

CANCER throw you off guard. Don't let (June 21- a disagreement lead to an arJuly 22) gument. Instead, state facts,

Peanuts

listen to the other side's viewpoint and find common ground.

Love, romance and person-

LEO al improvements are highlight(July 23- ed. Make arrangements with Aug. 22) someone special that will give you the opportunity to discuss plans. Invest more time and money in your future.

Don't get angry when you VIRGO should be looking for solu(Aug. 23tions. Question what's transSept. 22) pired and be willing to admit to anything you may have misunderstood. Keep the peace.

Calvin and Hobbes

A short trip with someone LIBRA (Sept. 23- you love will bring you closer Oct. 23) together. Personal changes will make you feel good about the way you look and what you have to offer.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD —RECTIFY (RECTIFY: REK-tih-fye: To set right or correct.)

Average mark 14 words Time limit 30 minutes

YESTERDAY’S WORD — RESTING signer signet sine sing singe singer sinter sire siren site snit stein stern sting

stinger stir string tern tier tiger tine ting tinge tire tries trig trine inert

ingest insert inset inter nest niter girt gist grin grist grits

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

promise or offer an incentive that will allow you to explore your pursuits.

Emotions will fester if SAGITTARIUS you don't channel your ener(Nov. 23gy into something physical.

Dec. 21) Don't take risks, but do take on a challenge that will tire you out.

Can you find 20 or more words in RECTIFY? The list will be published tomorrow. reign rein rent resign resin rest ring rinse rise risen rite egis sent sign

What you want to do will SCORPIO not sit well with someone you (Oct. 24live with or love. Find a comNov. 22)

solution for LAST PUBLISHED Puzzle

Someone will take advanCAPRICORN tage of you if you are too for(Dec. 22- giving or helpful. Ask quesJan. 19) tions and determine if you are dealing with someone who is merely lazy or actually in dire need of assistance.

Consider how you are usAQUARIUS ing your skills to bring in (Jan. 20cash, and look for new and Feb. 19) diverse ways to put your talents to good use. A change will do you good.

PISCES You'll end up in a compro(Feb. 20- mising position if you choose to March 20) go to battle. Make sure you have your facts straight and that you are willing to lose if you end up in a no-win situation.

friDAY, february 9, 2018

19

Bangladesh reeling after Sri Lanka bowled out self out, when, unaware that the throw was coming to his end, he ambled towards the crease and failed to ground his bat.

That Sri Lanka managed to heave themselves to a competitive score was largely thanks to Kusal Mendis, who in the morning session, batted as if on a different plane from his team-

Suranga Lakmal took two Bangladesh top-order wickets late on the opening day

ball of the innings, delivered

by Lakmal, down the ground for four, but attempting a similar shot next ball, only managed to send a sharp return catch to the bowler. Mominul's complacency would leave the hosts 4 for 2 in the next over. Expecting the throw from mid-off to come into the non-striker's end, Mominul was caught

B

esieged batsmen, violent turn, wicked offcutters, fielders around the bat, and a hail of dismissals. It was as if this Mirpur pitch was on a mission to compensate for five days of boredom in Chittagong. No fewer than 14 wickets fell on a treacherous day-one surface, and by the end of it, Bangladesh were the side in the poorer position. They finished on 56 for 4, still 166 runs short of Sri Lanka's 222. Nothing is certain on tracks such as this, but if Bangladesh are to give themselves a good chance of winning this match, a first-innings lead is almost imperative. They will have to bat last. And the fourth innings will not be pretty.

Playing his first Test in four years, it was Abdur Razzak who was most effective for Bangladesh, taking

Abdur Razzak tied up Sri Lanka's batsmen in his first Test in four years Raton Gomes/BCB

4 for 63, while Taijul Islam took three wickets at the other end. For Sri Lanka, however, Suranga Lakmal made the early inroads, removing Tamim Iqbal to claim his 100th Test wicket, before later bowling Mushfiqur Rahim, who shouldered arms. Bangladesh's poor position at stumps was partly down to their own doing: Mominul Haque ran him-

mates. Unlike at the start of his innings in Chittagong, he was clearly in good touch here, timing the ball nicely from the outset, and rarely appearing overawed by the amount of turn from the surface. Bangladesh left the field with a strut, but minutes after their innings had begun, it began to unravel.

Tamim drilled the second

short by Dhananjaya de Silva, whose excellent awareness saw him throwing the ball to the wicketkeeper. Mominul's bat was suspended above the crease when the bails came off.

Mushfiqur and Imrul Kayes attempted a slow rebuild. Until towards the end of his spell, Lakmal noticed Mushfiqur was leaving balls

that passed very close to his off stump. Lakmal continued to pitch it in a similar spot, until one moved back in off the seam and clattered into the top of off - Mushfiqur shouldering arms again. Bangladesh's fourth wicket came in the dying moments of the day.

Having just raised an lbw

shout, Dilruwan Perera pinned Imrul in front of the stumps with an arm ball.

Liton Das, batting more adventurously than the other top-order batsmen, finished the day unbeaten on 24, having struck three boundaries. He had nightwatchman Mehidy Hasan for company. (ESPN Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka 1st Innings BKG Mendis b Abdur Razzak 68 FDM Karunaratne st †Liton Das b Abdur Razzak 3 DM de Silva c Sabbir Rahman b Taijul Islam 19 MD Gunathilaka c Mushfiqur Rahim b Abdur Razzak 13 LD Chandimal* b Abdur Razzak 0 ARS Silva c †Liton Das b Taijul Islam 56 N Dickwella† b Taijul Islam 1 MDK Perera c Mominul Haque b Taijul Islam 31 A Dananjaya c Mushfiqur Rahim b Mustafizur Rahman 20 HMRKB Herath c Mushfiqur Rahim b Mustafizur Rahman 2 RAS Lakmal not out 4 Extras (lb-5) 5 Total (All out; 65.3) 222 Fall of wickets: 1-14 (FDM Karunaratne, 5.1 ov), 2-61 (DM de Silva, 16.3 ov), 3-96 (MD Gunathilaka, 27.1 ov), 4-96 (LD Chandimal, 27.2 ov), 5-109 (BKG Mendis, 31.2 ov), 6-110 (N Dickwella, 32.1 ov), 7-162 (MDK Perera, 48.3 ov), 8-205 (A Dananjaya, 57.1 ov), 9-207

(HMRKB Herath, 59.1 ov), 10222 (ARS Silva, 65.3 ov) Bowling Mehidy Hasan Miraz 13-0-54-0, Abdur Razzak 16-263-4, Taijul Islam 25.3-2-83-4, Mustafizur Rahman 11-4-17-2

Bangladesh 1st Innings Tamim Iqbal c & b Lakmal 4 Imrul Kayes lbw b Perera 19 Mominul Haque run out (de Silva/†Dickwella) 0 Mushfiqur Rahim b Lakmal 1 Liton Das† not out 24 Mehidy Hasan Miraz not out 5 Extras (lb-1, nb-1, w-1) 3 Total (For 4 wickets; 22 Overs) 56 Yet to bat: Mahmudullah (c), Sabbir Rahman, Abdur Razzak, Taijul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Tamim Iqbal, 0.3 ov), 2-4 (Mominul Haque, 1.3 ov), 3-12 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 8.6 ov), 4-45 (Imrul Kayes, 19.5 ov) Bowling Lakmal 7-3-15-2 (w-1), Perera 8-3-25-1 (nb-1), Dananjaya 3-1-4-0, Herath 4-0-11-0 Position: Bangladesh trail by 166 runs with 6 wickets remaining in the innings

Winter Olympics 2018, Pyeongchang

Coldest games begin today

T

he 23rd Winter Olympics begin in Pyeongchang on Friday and are set to be the coldest in history.

The build-up has seen relations thaw between North and South Korea, with the countries fielding a joint women's ice hockey team, while there has been controversy over the 169 Russian athletes set to compete as neutrals.

Team GB have sent a record 59 athletes to South Korea - three more than at Sochi 2014 - and are aiming for their most successful Winter Games, with a medal target of five or more.

Over 17 days, more than 3,000 of the world's best athletes will compete in 102 medal events in 15 sports.

Around 77% of tickets have been sold - approximately 826,000 - across the 13 venues in South Korea.

Heat pads, blankets, a warm seat cushion and raincoats are on offer for spectators as they prepare to watch extreme sport in extreme weather in Pyeongchang, where temperatures dip below zero for a third of the year.

The Games are held around two main venues Alpensia, the mountain resort, and Gangneung on

A spectacular snow sculpture near the games venue

the coast, with stand-alone venues in Bokwang and Jeongseon.

While residents of

Gangneung are treated to relatively warm temperatures - ranging between -6C and -2C - the wind chill in

the mountainous regions means it can feel as cold as -25C. That would see the Games surpass the 1994 edition in Lillehammer, Norway, where temperatures dipped to -11C. The 35,000-seater purpose-built Olympic Stadium, situated north east of Alpensia, has been built without a roof and temperatures for Friday's opening ceremony - which starts at 20:00 local time (11:00 GMT) - are forecast to drop to -5C. It will certainly differ from Sochi four years ago, when temperatures as high

as 20C saw the Games go down as the warmest on record.

But there is good news for those attending Friday's curtain-raiser, with temperatures expected to be "not problematic to having the opening ceremony", according to Korean Meteorological Administration deputy director Choi Heung-jin.

The cold has not been the only problem in the build-up, as 86 cases of norovirus have been confirmed among security staff, leading to soldiers having to replace them as guards. (BBC Sport)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

friDAY, february 9, 2018

Mega Sri Lanka T20 League slated for 2018

S

ri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has confirmed that an IPLstyle T20 tournament in Sri Lanka is in the offing, with the board stating that plans are underway to resurrect the Sri Lankan premier league later this year.

SLC, meanwhile, is looking at next month’s Nidahas Trophy as a testing ground of sorts for maximising Sri Lankan cricket’s international exposure, ahead of the launch of any domestic T20 league.

“We believe we have the best package, we’ve got the best formula, we’ve got the best position to present the next Lankan premier league,” SLC president Thilanga Sumathipala said. “The Nidahas Trophy is going to give us that platform, the The Nidahas Trophy is going to give us the place where we have never ever seen our country’s cricket being positioned in the global market.”

The Nidahas Trophy, which is being held to commemorate Sri Lanka’s 70th year of independence, will see Bangladesh and India take part alongside Sri Lanka in a T20 tri-series from March 6 to 18. As the tournament is outside of ICC’s Future Tours Programme (FTP), for the first time since 2004 SLC have independently negotiat-

Sri Lanka are currently the number ninth ranked side in the world

ed media and broadcasting rights.

The series is expected to be broadcast in over 150 countries both terrestrially and digitally, resulting in the largest ever viewership for a tournament hosted by the SLC. DSports and Channel 9 have been granted broadcasting and media rights for India and

Bangladesh respectively, while ITW will be streaming the tournament live online to 150 countries.

“Digital markets have never been exploited by Sri Lanka before, but now we have secured the digital rights separately,” Sumathipala said. “So we are get-

ting worldwide, world-class platforms, taking Sri Lankan cricket into your mobile phone, into your home, in an unprecedented network of expansion.

“The territories and areas that we’re going with t h i s t o u r - Sri Lanka Cricket President Thilanga Sumathipala n a ment is sports marketing agency Lagard we have never ever been to before. re Sports Asia, who, according to This tournament will be viewed, talks within the executive commitlistened, and read by more than tee of SLC, may be retained for ofany tournament ever held in Sri fering their services for any proLanka. This tournament is going posed Sri Lankan premier league. to have a huge presence globally, “We’re in discussions at the and as a result of that you will see moment, but our matter in hand at more and more people will want to the moment is the Nidahas Trophy, be partnering Sri Lankan Cricket which we still have several aspects in years to come.” to finalise,” Sumathipala said. (ESPN Aiding SLC in this endeavour Cricinfo)

PCB slaps corruption charges on Jamshed A fter 12 months of allegations and only a minor charge, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has blinked and made its first major move against Nasir Jamshed. The PCB’s anti-corruption unit has formally charged the opening batsman for as many as five breaches of their anti-corruption code. Jamshed is already serving a one-year ban after the PCB had found him guilty of the relatively minor charge of non-cooperation in the PSL spot-fixing investigation - that ends on February 13.

But all through the last year, the PCB firmly believed that Jamshed was more central to the plots to corrupt games during the PSL and it was made clear several times by the board that he would face further consequences. That, potentially, could be the case now, as Jamshed has been charged with fixing, accepting money to improperly influence games as well as inducing other players to indulge in corrupt activity.

Jamshed was also arrested in the UK by the National Crime Agency in February last year in connection to this case, though he was quickly released on bail.

That investigation is believed to be ongoing, though officials familiar with the case believe a decision is expected in a few weeks -

Jamshed, these officials believe, is not the centre of the NCA’s investigation.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board has today issued a notice of charge to cricketer Nasir Jamshed, wherein he has been charged with multiple violations of Articles 2.1.1, 2.1.2, 2.1.3, 2.1.4 and 2.4.4 of the PCB’s Anti-Corruption Code for Participants (“the Code”),” a statement said. “Nasir Jamshed now has fourteen (14) days to respond to the notice of charge.”

According to officials involved with the case, the PCB acted after the emergence of fresh evidence, centering around alleged meetings prior to the PSL in the UK. The board has, over the past year, claimed to have overwhelming evidence against Jamshed and also said that they have been waiting for the NCA to share their evidence - the latter has not occurred, though an NCA official d i d ap-

pear as a witness via video link in one of the PCB’s tribunal hearings. At least one part of the evidence against Jamshed is a collection of WhatsApp voice recordings allegedly between Jamshed and others also implicated in the case; these recordings were leaked to the media.

Jamshed has all along denied any wrongdoing and has, in fact, threatened to take the PCB to court for m a ligning

his name. He is based in Birmingham and has been communicating with the PCB through his Lahorebased lawyer, and has appeared before the PCB tribunal via video link.

Jamshed was the fifth Pakistani player sanctioned in relation to the spot-fixing case that marred the start of the second season of the PSL last February.

Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Irfan and Mohammad Nawaz were all fined and banned for various periods of time, for a variety of charges. Shahzaib Hasan was also charged and is presently undergoing legal proceedings before a PCB three-man tribunal.

Jamshed hasn’t played an international game for Pakistan since the 2015 World Cup and last featured in domestic cricket in December 2016. (ESPN Cricinfo)

Nasir Jamshed has played 68 international matches for Pakistan

Another Copa del Ray final for Barca

Coutinho has started only once for Barca since moving from Liverpool in January

P

hilippe Coutinho scored his first Barcelona goal as the Spanish side beat Valencia 2-0 to reach a record fifth successive Copa del Rey final.

Coutinho, making his fifth appearance since a £142m move from Liverpool, came on in the second half and acrobatically steered home from Luis Suarez's cross.

That put Barca, cup winners in the past three years, 2-0 up on aggregate in the semi-final second leg in Valencia, before Ivan Rakitic added another.

Barca will face Sevilla in the final.

Valencia - who are third in La Liga, 18 points behind leaders Barca - had two key chances but were well beaten by a team that looks certain to win the league title.

At 0-0, striker Rodrigo headed against the crossbar while Jasper Cillessen produced a stunning instinctive save to deny full-back Jose Luis Gaya from point-blank range following Coutinho's opener.

After Rakitic coolly rounded off a late counter attack, finishing from Suarez's pass, Barca brought on 23-yearold Colombian defender Yerry Mina - a £10.4m January signing from Palmeiras - for his debut.

Sevilla, sixth in the Spanish table 25 points behind the leaders, reached their second Copa del Rey final in three seasons with a 3-1 aggregate win over La Liga rivals Leganes.

Barca have won the competition three times in a row since losing to Real Madrid in the 2014 final. (BBC Sport)

sports

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President of the Federation, Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon noted that as a non-profit Federation, the support is welcomed as good corporate sponsors come forward to promote sport shooting in Guyana.

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McLaren-Honda won four consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ championships from 1988-91. Their renewed partnership was not so successful

M

cLaren believe they will make the biggest step forward of all teams in Formula 1 this season.

The team have not won a race since the end of 2012 but are hopeful of a strong season after swapping their under-performing Honda engines for Renault.

McLaren executive director Zak Brown said: "We should be the team that has the biggest difference in grid position from last year to this year.

"Everyone, including ourselves, is eager to see what that looks like."

Brown said McLaren's aim for 2018 was "being competitive - that is racing at the front, qualifying at the front, getting on the podium".

After three years of being Honda's sole partner but suffering from the engine's lack of performance, McLaren dropped the Japanese company and are now one of three teams with Renault engines.

But Brown said he was not nervous about being compared with Red Bull, who won three races last year, and the French manufacturer's improving factory team.

"If we're 0.9 seconds off Red Bull, that won't look good, I agree," Brown said. "We don't want to hide. It's showtime.

"The beautiful thing about motor racing is hundreds of millions of people get to see how you do. That's part of the adrenalin.

"We are looking forward to that. This team has won the second most amount of championships and they welcome and are excited about the pressure of having the spotlight on us. We will only want to hide if we are 0.9 seconds off Red Bull." (BBC Sport)

The winners of the R&R 11-race programme in 2017 pose with their spoils. Who will be there this year?

I

f it’s not broken, why change it.” That is probably the reason behind R&R’s continued support for the Hassan Mohamed organized cycling classics. This year marks 27 years that the company has teamed up with the National Cycling Coach to keep the athletes on two wheels busy on back to back days.

On Saturday, the wheelsmen will take to the inner circuit of the National Park where they will compete across the 11-race programme which will see the featured event in the 35 lap school boys and invitational meet.

Defending champion, Evolution’s Paul Denobrega will have his hands full with the likes of former champion and second place finished last year, Hamza Eastman, his team Cocos club mate, Jamaul John along with the Berbice bikers in Andrew Hicks and Romello Crawford.

On Sunday, the cyclists will leave the circuit and challenge the recently refurbished West Demerara road for a grueling ride with lots at stake.

The riders will be sent on their way

at 08:30h from Schoonord, West Bank Demerara, a few meters right off of the Harbour bridge and will make their way to Bushy Park and back completing 40 miles.

This marks a change in venue from the previous edition where the riders used the East Coast of Demerara Highway.

Again, Eastman is amongst the top contenders having won the event last year.

Should Eastman fend off the highly touted competition, he could sweep the weekend on the saddle.

In his quest for the double, he will have to ward off the challenge of the inform Shaquel Agard, Geron Williams, Stephano Husbands and Christopher Holder will all be gunning to dethrone Eastman who had spent most of the 2017 season training in the United States.

The weekend double is in keeping with the sponsors’ pledge last year to continue to support the riders and help them develop in any way they possible could while also congratulated Mohammed for his continued dedication to the sport.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

friDAY, february 9, 2018

CWI turns to Pybus again C

ricket West Indies (CWI) has appointed Richard Pybus as the High- Performance Director.

In this new role, Pybus will work alongside the Chairman of Selectors and all the technical coaches in the region to improve the high performance programmes and standards CWI new High-Performance Director, within franRichard Pybus

chise cricket. His role will also include, but not limited to standardizing coaching and preparation for regional teams and overseeing a talent identification programme from the Under-19 level all the way to the WINDIES International level.

Pybus’ record with high performance programmes is well established. He is the most successful South African franchise coach of all time having won nine championships across all formats. The two-time South African coach of the year was part of a system that developed the likes of current South African, Captain Faf du Plessis, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel and A.B de Villiers.

The High-Performance programme aims to support the continued development of CWI regional franchise cricket and put systems in place to close the gap between regional franchise cricket and International cricket.

Richard Pybus said: “I am delighted to be re-join-

ing Cricket West Indies in this newly created role. I am looking forward to working with Jimmy Adams and the rest of the cricket department to improve standards within a system that I know well. My focus will be on developing our high performance programmes and helping to identify and coach the most talented cricketers in the Caribbean.”

Pybus’ appointment is for an initial term of two years.

Pybus previously served as CWI Director of Cricket from October 2013 to December 2016, overseeing WINDIES victories in the ICC World T20 in 2016, an ICC Women’s World T20 and an ICC U-19 World Cup. Along with International Head Coach roles with Pakistan and Bangladesh, Pybus coached extensively in South Africa for Border, Titans and Cape Cobras, as well as Middlesex CCC in England, at domestic cricket level. He will be based at the CWI Headquarters in Antigua. (CWI Media)

NAMILCO pumps $750k into Futsal tourney

T

he National Milling Company (NAMILCO) has thrown massive financial support behind the Petra Organization ahead of their 3rd annual Futsal competition set to kick off February 24; at the National Gymnasium.

The brief presentation ceremony was held at the milling company’s Agricola site boardroom, where Financial Controller Fitzroy McKlowd handed over the $750,000 cheque;

NAMILCO Financial Controller Fitzroy McKlowd hands over the cheque to Petra’s CoDirector Troy Mendonca in the presence of Marketing Manager Afeeze Khan and Petra’s Jacklyn Boodie at Thursday’s ceremony

Milo Schools Football Tournament 2018

BHS setting ambitions high

I

n the inaugural edition of the Milo Schools Football Tournament, The Bishops’ High School (BHS) powered their way to the quarterfinals which is still their best showing to date. In that tournament, their hearts broke with a 2-4 defeat to Tucville Secondary which has motivated the Carmichael street based school to strive to go at least on step further this season.

In this year’s opening encounter last Saturday, the Carmichael Street unit were restricted to a goalless draw with Pure Masters where as their toughest group opponent is yet to come in the form of rampant 2017 runners-up Morgan’s Learning Centre and then School of the Nations.

Cognisant of those looming battles, captain Darin Chan is contending they needed to beef-up their preparation routines.

“All of our players mostly have lessons on Saturday’s

The Bishops’ High School captain Darin Chan (left) forms part of his team’s attacking arsenal

but once we can start training every day or every other day will build as a team.

We don’t train a lot compared to other teams so in certain ways they will outplay us but once we start training constantly again we can reach far in the com-

petition.”

He added, “Some players would have come in via Sixth Form so chemistry is a problem right now and it’s something we have to continuously address.”

Forward Tyresse Souvenir is conscious of his

mistakes and expressed optimism heading into other matches.

“I don’t feel too bad about the output since the opposing team played very well, we just have to work on our attack and maybe next time we will not end

without a goal.”

Meanwhile, the under-18 tournament which is being held in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health under the theme, “there is no excuse for violence” will continue this weekend at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue with six more games.

On Saturday, Annandale Secondary clashes with Carmel Secondary from noon followed by South Ruimveldt Secondary and Business School from 13:30h which should set an exciting tone for the final match of the day between three-time defending champions Chase Academic Foundation and Friendship Secondary from 15:00h.

At stake is the first place prize of $500,000 which goes towards a school project. Second to fourth, will receive $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively which also go towards school projects.

as part of their donation to the tournament’s cash prize.

NAMILCO Marketing Manager Afeeze Khan said the company was happy to support the competition for another year as both entities strive to promote healthy lifestyles in the realm of sports. Khan further added that drive behind the company’s support stemmed from their love of sports, more so football which they have been backing over the years.

Petra boss Troy Mendonca said that it was a pleasure to share the spotlight once again with the milling giants who have been behind the fraternity for some time. Mendonca added that both entities have a vision to help promote football and healthy living throughout the communities.

McKlowd during his brief remarks said he sees the tournament as a good way to help promote wellness and healthy living through Futsal. He credited some of the company’s top wellness products as foods to be consumed for athletes of all ages.

He further added that added that he’s expecting a wonderful tourney with a massive turnout by the diehard, football-crazed communities. McKlowd in conclusion highlighted that the importance was to keep Guyanese fit and strong by ensuring the right foods are eaten, while stressing on the importance of exercise.

The Gymnasium will come alive when the 24 teams including Sparta Boss, Back Circle, Tiger Bay and West Front Road lock horns in intense action over the next few weeks.

(Clifton Ross)

friDAY, february 9, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

GCB/Dave West Indian Imports Inter County U-15 Tournament

Berbice, Demerara set up final showdown

Rommel Daterdeen collects his Player of the Match prize from Match Referee Moses Ramnarine

B

erbice and arch rivals Demerara will clash in the finals of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Dave West Indian Imports inter county U15; following commanding wins on Thursday.

At Everest, Berbice batting first made a 111 for 8 in 36 overs after the match was reduced due to rain during the defending champions’ innings. In-form batsman and captain, Zeynul Ramsammy top scored for Berbice with a composed 36 batting at number four while Jonathon Rampersaud contributed with 16 runs down the order.

After a spirited bowling display at the start of the game after winning the

toss in brilliant sunshine, the Essequibo batting lineup faltered and were bowled out cheaply for 49 in 28.5 overs giving Berbice their third consecutive win of the round-robin phase of the tournament this time by 62 runs.

Mahendra Basdeo scored 14, as the destroyer once again is Rampersaud who bowled exceptionally well for the Berbice team following up his 5-fer in the previous game with 4- 13, copping the man of the match award again. Boodram Lakeraj and Latchman Dhanna were also in the wickets’ column with two scalps each.

Over at Lusignan, Demerara beat the GCB President’s XI by four wick-

ets under the Duck-Worth Lewis Method.

The President’s XI won the toss and elected to bat first and were bowled out for 88 in 43 overs either side of a rain interruption.

Tameshwar Mahadeo top scored with 17 and got support from Yohance Anjoy with 13 runs.

Player of the Match, Rommel Datterdeen (2-12) and Zachary Jodha (2-7) were the most outstanding bowlers for Demerara.

When Demerara began their quest for 89 from 50 overs for a place in the final

ets in the 30th over.

Batting for Demerara, opening batsmen, Nicholas Rajpat (15) and captain Mavindra Dindyal (13) laid the foundation before Datterdeen came back with the bat to hit the top score of 17 to set up the championship match on Saturday.

Ajay Gainda and Mitra Dhanraj bagged 2 wickets each for the President’s XI who finished their three preliminary matches winless.

The finals now set for Saturday February 10 from 09:30h at Bourda, will see

Essequibo medium pacer, Jonathan Lynch sent back Mahendra Gopilall during a fired up spell (John Ramsingh photo)

they were held up by rain.

After a lengthy delay, they were given a revised target of 80 from 40 overs and got there for the loss of six wick-

Demerara looking to wrestle the title from the boys from the ancient county who are unbeaten heading into the final.

23

Sanjay’s Valentine Open tees off Saturday

LGC President Aleem Hussain receives the sponsorship cheque from Sanjay Persaud

S

anjay’s Jewellery on Thursday teamed up with the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) as they launched a PreValentine’s Day Open set for Saturday February 10.

The move was sealed when Sanjay’s Jewellery owner Sanjay Persaud, handed over the sponsorship cheque to LGC President Aleem Hussain during the sponsorship ceremony held at the jewellery store’s Sheriff Street location.

Persaud, who has been part of the fraternity for more than a decade, said he was happy to be back in full swing as part of the club’s current boom in weekly events. Persaud said he wants to give back to the golf community and as such decided to host a pre lover’s day tourney.

The jewellery store proprietor also hinted at his next move, a birthday tournament scheduled to tee off in October where a lucky winner will walk away with $100, 000 as a super prize.

Meanwhile, Hussain thanked the sponsors for their continued support in the development of golf. He said that it was good to see their sponsors whom they have been in good relations with for a large number of years, coming to the forefront of the sports new drive to expand.

Saturday’s tourney is set to be well-attended by the local golf fraternity while tee of time is set for 12:30h.

(Clifton Ross)

Guinness "Greatest of the Streets" Football West Dem Zone

Showstoppers

I

t was picture perfect for twotime defending champions Showstoppers as they hammered five unanswered goals into a hapless Zeelugt Warriors when the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Football Championships West Demerara/ East Bank Demerara Zone continued on Wednesday night at the Pouderoyen tarmac.

The dynamic Trayon Bobb was at the helm of the destruction netting goals two minutes apart, in the 7th and 9th while assistance came from Marvin Josiah (6th), Dexroy Adams (8th) and Marvin Frank (12th).

A Guinness goal (any goal in the final three minutes) saved Rising Stars from defeat at the hands of Admiral United. In the final minutes Daniel Abrams produced the match defining strike which erased Lexroy Manfield’s conversion in the 4th minute. Goal Getters and Harmony Warriors could not find a goal in their regulation time but the latter were good enough to win 2-0 on sudden death penalty kicks.

Parfait Hardball and Police ‘A’ also left the call for goals un-

trounce Zeelugt Warriors

when Anthony Darlington scored in the 20th; Police ‘B’ won via walkover against Frontline Ballers.

Action continues on Friday at the same venue with round of 16 games as the battle heat ups for the winning purse of $400,000 and a spot in the national play-offs.

The runners-up will be given $200 000 and a trophy while thirdand fourth-placed finishers will receive $150 000 and $100 000 respectively along with trophies.

Round of 16

Showstoppers were unstoppable against Zeelugt Warriors at the Pouderoyen tarmac Wednesday evening

answered in their encounter but Hardball snuck one of their sudden death penalty kicks to walk away victorious.

Bilaal Abdul’s Guinness Goal in the 19th minute aided his side’s 2-1 victory over Brothers United after Leon Yaw scored in the 2nd minute while both Zeelugt FC

and Hustlers won 1-0 on penalty kicks after their matches against Harmony Ballers and Mocha ‘B’ ended goalless stalemates.

ESPN gave the Dream Team a rude awakening winning 3-0 via goals from Trevon Lythcott (13th) and Pernell Schultz (20th).

Facebook Ballers edged Veterans

1-0 on penalty kicks after their match ended 1-1; Veterans took the lead in the 13th via Kacey John but one minute later Jalen Williams equalised.

Patentia won 1-0 on penalty kicks after goalless regulation time with Nismes Ballers and Up Like Seven got two over Bagotville

West Side Ballers vs Patentia Money Team-19:00h Boom Bang vs Up-Like-719:30h Ballers Empire vs Brothers United-20:00h Mocha vs Hustlers-20:30h ESPN vs Parfait Hardball21:00h Harmony Warriors vs Dream Team-21:30h Zeelugt FC vs Rising Stars22:00h Showstoppers vs Harmony Ballers-22:30h

FRIDAY, february 9, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Guinness "Greatest of the Streets" Football West Dem Zone

Showstoppers trounce Zeelugt Warriors

Pg 23 Pg 21

Cyclists bracing for R&R double this weekend

Part of the action in the feature 35-lap race in the National Park in 2017

GCB/Dave West Indian Imports Inter County U-15 Tournament

Pg 23

Berbice, Demerara set up final showdown

Berbice openers Tomani Caesar and Mahendra Gopilall began positively for the defending champions on Thursday at the Everest Cricket Club ground (John Ramsingh photo)

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