Guyana Times Saturday 11 August, 2018

“Capacity building for our population is key” – Harmon to GGGI delegation P14

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3652

Saturday, August 11, 2018

Govt’s rejection of salary increases, benefits

“I’m extremely disappointed” – GTU President Page 12

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Mazaruni Prison P9 expansion delayed

…overtopping of river blamed

…as teachers go on strike from August 27

GTM records $235M after-tax profit Page 9

7 months later

Security P10 Sector Reform report still being reviewed

Police record whopping P10 25% increase in robberies 9-hour power outage for Georgetown, EBD P11 Members of the Indigenous Dance Troupe posed for a photo op during the official launch of Indigenous Heritage Month 2018 at the Umana Yana on Thursday, which will be held under the theme “Proud of our Indigenous identity – celebrating in unity”

AFC is in sad political shape – Jagdeo Page 3

…to have to prove it is not dead

NA Town Council flouts Procurement Page Act 7

Lover charged for killing Pomeroon farmer P8

2

saturdAY, august 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

3

news

saturdAY, august 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Saturday, August 11, 2018 – a night-time retraction at 04:30h and a day-time retraction at 14:30h-16:00h and Sunday, August 12 – 05:30h-07:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, August 11, 2018 – 16:40h-18:10h and Sunday, August 12 – 05:00h-06:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals with light cloud cover and the possibility of light morning showers are expected, while partly cloudy to sunny weather can be expected in the afternoon.

Partly cloudy skies are expected in the evening, with temperatures expected to range between 21 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 04:15h and 16:46h reaching maximum heights of 2.79 metres and 2.72 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:17h and 22:36h reaching minimum heights of 0.40 metre and 0.48 metre.

AFC is in a sad political shape – Jagdeo …to have to prove it is not dead

T

he announcement by Alliance For Change (AFC) leaders that the party intends to go to the local polls alone to test its strength is being viewed by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, as a symptom of the minority party's political shape, according to him, a sad one.

Jagdeo addressed the issue during a recent press conference where the former President expressed suspicion that both the AFC and its A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) partner are aware of the party's evaporating support at the grass roots. It is a point, Jagdeo noted, that his party and the coalition could agree on.

“Imagine the leaders of the AFC said they have to prove to APNU and Guyana that they are not dead… I suspect that in the APNU circle, they have formed the same impression that we (People’s Progressive Party) have formed – that AFC is dead on the ground as you have seen,” Jagdeo observed.

In addition, Jagdeo noted that there are efforts to create an impression that the AFC is separate from the majority APNU; when in fact, he said, the AFC themselves are culpable.

“In trying to create this impression that they’re different, they’re saying to people that the APNU group in Government is the corrupt group. They are not. They’ve started spreading that on the ground; that the AFC people have been strug-

gling internally within the Government to fight against corruption but the APNU people are dominating them. They’ve started in Berbice again saying ‘oh they were opposed to the closure of the sugar industry’ which is not substantiated by facts,” he posited.

According to the Opposition Leader, the fact that the AFC is not claiming responsibility for the corruption taking place under the coalition Administration is laughable, when the performance of several portfolios are considered.

“We have them defending the closure vociferously, even more than the APNU people and it was Nagamootoo who took that message of closure, long before the decision had been made to close Rose Hall estate.”

In fact, Jagdeo asserted that Nagamootoo does very little but “live off taxpayers”. He pointed to the Agriculture Ministry and noted that the Ministry has, since the coalition took over, cut millions from the Budget; sums that would have been used for drainage, irrigation and construction of roads to the market.

In addition, Jagdeo referenced the increases in water and land charges from $3500 per acre annually to $15,000. This is not to mention the thousands of sugar workers who have been dismissed from their employment as a result of Government's downsizing of the industry. Nor was

Jagdeo impressed by the handling of the natural resources and business portfolios – both of which are run by AFC Ministers. “(Natural Resources Minister Raphael) Trotman, who is the leader of the AFC… said we did not receive the US$18 million signing bonus. He was the one who led the renegotiation of this contract that the whole country has concluded now is stacked mainly in the favour of ExxonMobil and not in the favour of Guyanese… under performance,” he maintained. “(Public Security Minister) Khemraj

Ramjattan, another leader of the AFC, is totally lost in fighting crime. He gives excuses, he whips out a series of statistics, showing some reduction in crime and I really believe the statistics now are fudged, when you compare that with the reality of what’s happening.”

On Sunday last, the AFC announced that they will be contesting the Local Government Elections (LGE) on November 12, separate from APNU. This decision was reached following the inconclusive negotiations with APNU, the party had stated. turn to page 7

WEDNESDAY, august 8, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS F

02

06 10

11 13 22

22 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 DAILY MILLIONS 11 15 16 18 20 LUCKY 3 1 4 5 Afternoon Draw DRAW DE LINE

05

06

15

6

9

18

2

Evening Draw

19

20

21

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

4

guyanatimesgy.com

saturdAY, august 11, 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

Youth and societal challenges

T

he United Nations General Assembly has designated August 12 as International Youth Day. Since it was first observed in 1999, the day serves as an annual celebration of the role of young women and men as essential partners in change, and provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the many diverse and complex challenges young people face.

According to UN estimates, there are currently 1.8 billion young people between the ages of 10 and 24 in the world. This is the largest youth population ever. But 1 in 10 of the world’s children live in conflict zones, and 24 million of them are out of school. The UN notes that political instability, labour market challenges, and limited space for political and civic participation have led to increasing isolation of youth in societies.

Here, in Guyana, there are many social ills affecting citizens, especially the younger segment of the population; and programmes and support services to help address these issues could never be enough. For example, the use of illegal drugs and alcohol, crime, suicide, domestic and other forms of violence, lack of jobs, and so on are having a huge negative impact on communities. And now, more than ever before, there is need for a genuine collaborative approach, with inclusive planning and coordination, where volunteerism is a key element, to help find practical and lasting solutions to these many ills.

While the Government must play a crucial role in designing the relevant policies and putting in place the necessary legislative framework and other support mechanisms aimed at addressing these issues, this burden must also be shared by other stakeholders; such as religious groups, the private sector and other non-governmental organisations (NGO) etc.

A case in point is that there is hardly any family in Guyana that has never been touched directly or indirectly by suicide.

Experts have pointed to the fact that about 90 percent of people who die by suicide had some sort of mental illness at the time of their death. Many people die by suicide because depression is triggered by several negative life experiences, and the suffering person does not receive effective treatment or support. Young people are crying out for attention; they need guidance, or simply someone to speak with; many want to find a way out of their misery. However, sometimes accessing that source of help is very difficult.

The role of the private sector should never be underestimated. There is need for funding for many crucial programmes aimed at creating better opportunities for young persons. Such programmes, once effectively implemented, would see our children and young people become well equipped with the necessary skills to develop themselves, and in turn contribute to the overall development of the country. The private sector is one of the main beneficiaries of an educated and skilled workforce, and it should seek to invest in, and help to build, the pool of talent it wishes to draw from.

It is well accepted that progressive countries in the world have strong systems for engaging youth in policy formation, and in creating or altering programmes designed to support youth. One of the most effective ways to create a sense of belonging and give youth a voice is through national and local youth councils, which aim to create platforms for young people to discuss and debate relevant issues and influence policy decisions.

That said, with the upcoming Local Government Elections, it is hoped that young people from across the country would come out of the shadows and actively participate in the process; either by making themselves available to serve their communities, or be very vocal and start to lobby for the changes they wish to see in their communities. With opportunities afforded by new technologies, including the deployment of social networking platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, this should lead to more interest for youth to get involved in debates and discussions, and to pose questions to their leaders on issues that are relevant to the electorate.

We encourage all stakeholders here, including the Government and private sector, to use International Youth Day to raise awareness of the challenges young people face, and to lobby for more support, both in terms of designing the necessary policies and allocating the resources needed that would hopefully result in better opportunities for this segment of our population.

All aboard!

A man guides a horse onto a boat to transport it to the mainland following Sunday's earthquake on Gili Trawangan, Lombok, Indonesia (Reuters)

Cricket in Guyana brings people together Dear Editor, We are often told about racism in Guyana, but to witness all Guyanese together cheering on the Warriors was indeed a marvellous sight. Persons of all cultures, identities, political views and opinions were, for the first time I should say, not divided, but standing together to support and cheer

on our local team.

In my opinion, this is the Guyana that we all dreamt of; not a country divided by political views and beliefs, but of persons working together as families and friends.

The joy and happiness plastered on the faces of people as the Warriors won their first match at

Providence was remarkable.

Persons exchanged hugs, smiles, and high fives; and laughter was a sign that the Guyana you and I dream of is real, and by working together, we all can achieve this goal.

I want to say to all Guyanese: Don’t allow the many political views to cause disunity, but keep in

mind that this country belongs to each and every one of us; not the Government or Opposition, but Guyana belongs to each and every one of us equally.

All the best to the Warriors for a successful tournament. Many thanks!

Sincerely, Pt Surendra Tiwari

M&CC has values and priorities’ problem Dear Editor, I read with amusement and some disgust the apparent surprise and disappointment of the Town Clerk with regard to his claim that large businesses in Georgetown owe the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) over $4 billion in rates and taxes. He of all persons should know that it is property rates and not rates and taxes that the Council collects.

Clearly, he has never heard of tax resistance, which in this case is the refusal to pay property rates because of a lack of confidence by these citizens in the Council’s ability to properly collect, secure, account for, and spend prudently these monies. Tax resisters are distinct from “tax protesters,” who deny that the legal obligation to pay taxes exists or applies to them. Tax resisters accept that some law com-

mands them to pay taxes, but they still choose to resist taxation for a variety of reasons. He should be aware that tax resistance played a significant role in the collapse of several empires, including the Egyptian, Roman, Spanish, and Aztec.

With the Council not having its financial records audited in decades; with non-adherence to tender board and established procurement procedures; with poor fiscal planning and management; with constant overspending and sloppy recordkeeping, do they really expect these business persons to rush in and hand over 4 billion dollars to them just like that?

Everyone knows that even if the business persons were to do so, two weeks later, the Council would be broke again.

Quite disingenuously, he points to the issue

that a valuation procedure has not been effected in two decades, with the aim of persuading persons to share his view that property owners are underpaying property rates. He does not allude to the fact that, in 2017, the municipality hiked property rates by 10 percent and implemented a steep rise of 750 percent in compliance fees, from 0.1 percent to 0.75 percent. It was misleading for him to say that citizens pay a commercial property rate of 250 per cent of the value of their properties, and a domestic rate of 40 percent of their properties, when in fact he knows that they pay 275 percent and 44 percent respectively, The reason the Council is cash-strapped is not due only to the large amount of debt it is owed allegedly by large businesses, but also because of wanton, excessive and reckless expen-

diture it embarks on. But worse than that, he then suggests that this is the reason that the Council has failed to preserve and restore City Hall which is currently in a deplorable state; which is absolute poppycock!

How is it that the Council can afford to pay a wage bill of well over 100 million dollars each month to their fat cats, several hundreds of million to contractors each month without a tender procedure, millions in overseas travel etc; but cannot afford to even spend one million per month in maintenance of City Hall.

I am convinced that the Georgetown City Council does not have a money problem. They instead have a values and priorities problem.

Best regards, Deodarie Putulall

guyanatimesgy.com

saturdAY, august 11, 2018

5

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

Is AFC out to fool M&CC workers’ union very silent Guyanese again?

Dear Editor, The Alliance for Change has said it will be contesting the Local Government polls alone.

I wish to make four simple points: One, the Alliance for Change insists that it remains committed to the APNU/AFC Coalition, but it is unable to secure a position that demonstrates a commitment by both the APNU and AFC to coalition politics. Is the Alliance for Change just out to fool Guyanese again?

From where I sit, the Alliance for Change seems to be falling apart and unable to secure its position in the Coalition. So how can Guyanese trust the Alliance for Change at the Local Government polls?

Second, with my first point being the likely state of affairs in the Alliance for Change, isn’t the position it has taken a deceitful one? Guyanese have not forgotten that the

PNC is the major partner in the APNU/AFC Coalition, and Guyanese have surely not forgotten what happened to The United Force (TUF) after it and the PNC joined up for the sole purpose of taking Government.

Third, if other Guyanese like me conclude that this is so, what we are seeing is just another manifestation of an unscrupulous Alliance for Change -- a party which in the last three years seems more interested in defending the perks and privileges that its ministers get, as opposed to defending the interest of the Guyanese people.

Until and unless the Alliance for Change finds a way to demonstrate otherwise, it will remain a political party that for most Guyanese is untrustworthy.

Yours faithfully, Attiya Baksh

Mitigating climate change Dear Editor There has rightly been talk of what the Government can do to mitigate climate change; but what can we, as individuals, do?

New research published in the journal Science has revealed that avoiding meat and dairy products is the single biggest way you can reduce your environmental impact on the planet. The analysis revealed the impact of livestock, which takes up 83 per cent of farmland and produces 60 per cent of agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions, while providing only 18 per cent of calories. It also revealed that the elimination of meat and dairy consumption would result in a reduction of more than 75 per cent of global farmland – an area equivalent to the US, China, European Union and Australia combined.

A World Wildlife Fund

report found that 60 per cent of global biodiversity loss is down to meat-based diets. A graph produced by Our World in Data suggests that, on average, 0.01m2 of land is required to produce a gram of protein from beans or peas, as against 1m2 to produce a gram of protein from cattle or sheep: a 100fold difference. Beef production results in up to 105kg of greenhouse gases per 100g of meat. Tofu produces less than 3.5kg. In Ireland, a third of our greenhouse gas emissions come from ruminants.

Albert Einstein’s quote has never been more apt: “Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet”.

Sincerely, Rooplall Dudhnath

Dear Editor, Something has to be seriously wrong with the two labour unions, also called trade unions in Guyana, that are supposed to represent the collective interests of the workers of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown. These two labour unions, which ought to unite to negotiate with the Council over wages, hours, benefits and other working conditions, are instead very silent, passive, and seemingly almost complicit with the Council, as municipal workers, both current and former, are brutalised on a daily basis for years now.

Can you imagine the Council is planning a big anniversary jollification whilst refusing to hand over the

workers’ contributions to the National Insurance Scheme, thus compromising the employees’ welfare, and not a murmur is coming from any of the unions? It is no wonder the NIS is encountering fiscal constraints, as the Council has owed them for years and seems to be in no hurry to pay.

How could the Council’s ‘Big Enchiladas’ be flying all over the world with little or nothing to show for it, whilst failing to remit the pay-asyou-earn (PAYE) deductions to the Guyana Revenue Authority as they are required by law to do. Again, no action by the unions.

Apart from industrial action, they can pursue legal options on behalf of the workers. One can only hope that

the union leaders would not be seen hobnobbing at the extravagant anniversary dinners and cocktail receptions whilst the workers are unable to file their tax returns.

Are the unions not concerned about the nonpayment of the workers’ contributions to their credit unions, preventing them from accessing loans and other benefits?

But worst of all is the deafening silence of the unions regarding the nonpayment of gratuities and pensions to municipal employees, who have retired after serving the Council for decades with distinction, whilst the Council’s revenue is frittered away on contractors who do not have to bid for jobs; on a bloated human resource structure; and on expensive vehicles,

bodyguards, chauffeurs, and other excesses.

Could someone explain the paradox between the terrible conditions the Georgetown Municipality’s workers are faced with and the unions’ declining representation of their members? Have the unions lost their teeth, been silenced, or bought out?

Haile Selassie once said that, throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.

Sincerely, Shanta Singh

Be aware of persons who are claiming to have NAC approval

Dear Editor, The National Accreditation Council (NAC) seeks to provide additional information on the services it offers. Today, I will address the Equivalency and Recognition Services.

Please note the following: 1. The NAC advises on the recognition status of post-secondary and tertiary programmes and institutions operating both locally and internationally.

2. Persons who wish to pursue a course of study, or who have completed a programme at a post-secondary or tertiary institution, both locally and internationally, may apply for the Statement on Recognition and Equivalency, which provides information on the accreditation and recognition status of the institution of interest and its programmes.

3. A person seeking to have their qualifications recognised by the NAC is required to provide some information to the Assessment Officer by filling an application form for Equivalency

Assessment and paying a processing fee. This form can be accessed from NAC’s website www.nac.gov.gy.

4. The Assessment Officer does a research on the institution of interest and its programmes. The NAC Officer would search to see whether or not the institution is accredited with the official body within the country of origin, the quality of the programmes offered, and whether the programmes meet the requirements of the awards offered. For example, if the person claims to have a Master’s degree, the NAC officer would check the information about the programme to see if the admission requirements, course content, credits, course outcomes, and programme duration meet the requirement of a Master’s programme.

5. At the end of the process, the NAC issues a Statement of Recognition and Equivalency that generally states the following: * The accredited status of the institution in its home country, and the accredita-

tion agency from which the status is obtained. * The level at which the qualification is comparable on Guyana’s Draft Qualifications Framework. * Whether or not NAC recognises the institution, its programmes, or qualifications.

6. A person seeking information about a foreign institution and its programmes will go through a similar process, at the end of which the NAC will issue a Statement of Recognition for that institution.

The National Accreditation Council wants to make it emphatically clear that a Statement of Recognition issued by the NAC does not give any foreign institution the approval to offer programmes in

Guyana. Any foreign or local individual or institution who wants to offer programmes in Guyana at the post-secondary or tertiary levels MUST go through NAC’s quality assurance process and be registered with the NAC. Further, local institutions that want to offer foreign programmes at the post-secondary and tertiary levels must be registered with the NAC and have the approval to offer the desired programmes.

The public is advised to be aware of those persons who are claiming to have NAC’s approval to offer foreign programmes using a Statement of Recognition offered by the NAC. Yours truly, Deborah Jack Executive Director

6

saturdAY, august 11, 2018

Page

By Gad Saad, PhD

T

here is a natural rhythm to parent-child interactions including the fact that some parental insights prove poignant and veridical decades after they were first shared with us. I recall my mother sharing two pieces of advice with me: 1) “Gad, you cannot exist in your pure bubble. The world does not conform to your purity.” She was referencing my purity of spirit, exacting personal conduct, and deep sentimentality.

2) “Gad, your love is akin to that of a dog.

It is pure, deep, and unconditional.

Never get a dog. You will be crushed.” She was recognising the brutal reality that a dog’s lifespan is painfully short.

No psychotherapist could have ever uttered truer words. That I ignored these two insights has had a profound effect on me albeit in radically different ways. Today’s article focuses on the first piece of advice.

My purity manifests itself in countless ways, including an utter inability to sit idly when exposed to attacks on truth, reason, logic, and/or individual dignity. My refusal to accept the pathological biophobia exhibited by the great majority of social scientists (fear of biological explanations of hu-

Foundation

man behaviour) led me to found and develop the field of evolutionary consumption (at great professional cost).

My refusal to accept a broad range of other pathogenic ideas and viruses of the human mind (postmodernism, radical feminism, identity politics, social constructivism, cultural relativism, acquiescence to religious ideologies that are antithetical to every foundational tenet of Western liberties, political correctness, equality of outcomes, culture of victimhood, etc) shaped my career as a public intellectu-

al and social commentator (at great personal and professional cost). In other words, my intellectual purity has always superseded any careerist calculus. My next book, tentatively titled The Parasitic Mind, addresses these pathogenic ideas and ways by which to inoculate ourselves against such cancers of the human mind.

All told, that I pursued the path of greatest resistance in my professional career (and in doing so ignored my mother’s first advice) has yielded both positive and negative consequences.

To be an outspoken professor in academia is a very dangerous proposition.

Academia is ruled by a pathological herd mentality. Stick out and be prepared to get ostracised. On the other hand, my intellectual purity permits me to lay my head on my pillow at the end of the day knowing that I’ve stayed true to my dogged pursuit of the truth. Also, in being indignant about the tsunami of nonsensical gibberish that has plagued our public discourse, this has allowed me to build a very large platform from which to spread my ideas (few professors can make a similar claim).

My advice to you: Belong to the tribe of truth rather than being loyal to ideological tribalism. The pursuit of truth is the highest ideal.

Addendum: Needless to say, the two quotes from my mother are accurate paraphrasing of the gist of her words as uttered many years ago some of which were likely in Arabic.

Both my Psychology Today editor and my wife thought that this was an obvious point that did not require further clarification (and I obviously agree).

But my pathological purity compelled me to add this note! (psychologytoday.com)

Building Stories

I

t’s an architect’s job to create a design for a structure that is safe, functional and looks pleasing.

But how does an architect know what elements he needs to include in his design? He asks lots of questions!

Ask your child to pretend

over to him. Provide him with pencil and paper to start drawing the floor plan for his dream house. Explain that a floor plan is like a map – you are looking at it with a bird’s eye view. The floor plan shows the outside shape of the house and what’s

that you are an architect and that he has hired you to design his dream home. Let him know that you are going to ask him questions about what he wants and needs in his new house and that there are no limits on size or expense. Some questions you might ask are: Where will the dream house be built? In the mountains, the city, near the ocean?

What kinds of building materials do you like? Wood, brick, concrete?

How many rooms do you want to have? What happens in these rooms?

Does it have an upstairs? A basement? An elevator?

What kind of furniture do you want? Are there special features like a swimming pool?

Write down his answers.

Then hand the role of architect

inside: walls, doors, windows, bathrooms and special features. Each room needs to be labelled. The answers to the earlier questions will help him with his design.

When the floor plan is finished, your child may want to build a model of his dream home or draw a picture of what the finished house looks like.

You might also ask your child to tell you a story about how he would typically spend his day living in his dream house.

Variation: Although Architect Studio 3D was created with older children in mind and requires a fairly fast computer, you and your child could work together — with Frank Lloyd Wright as your guide — to design a house online: http:// architectstudio3d.org/AS3d/ design_studio.html (www.

startwithabook.com)

7 NA Town Council flouts Procurement Act T news

saturdAY, august 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

he New Amsterdam Town Council has been flouting the Procurement Act in awarding contracts. This is according to regional officials who stated that the minutes of the Council’s statutory meeting for the month ending June 30, 2018, shows that nine contracts were handed out without a bidding process. According to the minutes of the meeting, the Town Council had not been tendering for contracts and has issued several contracts amounting to over $37 million in the month of June.

According to the documents shown to Guyana Times, one of the contracts was for $9.1 million to carry out repairs to the municipal market wharf.

Another was for repairs to the same wharf to the tune of $4.2 million and another contract for repairs to the very market wharf for the sum of $16.3 million.

The minutes also showed that it was the Councillors who decided to give the contracts to the individuals without allowing others to bid for them.

At that meeting, the

The New Amsterdam municipal wharf under construction

Town’s Treasurer, Kerryanne Edwards, told the Councillors that she was told at the last financial meeting that what the Council was doing as it relates to the tendering process was incorrect.

She also reported that contractor Shawn David had already completed the first and

second phases of the municipal wharf and he thought he would have been awarded the full contract.

“Edwards went on to say that she informed the Town Clerk about same and was told that she was informed that all of the works on the work pragramme had to be advertised.

Police high-speed chase

Nabbed taxi driver remanded on illegal gun, ammo charge

D

evon Porter of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, who was nabbed by Police during a high-speed chase, was on Friday hauled to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to firearm and ammunition possession charges.

Porter, who claimed he was a taxi driver, denied both charges when they were read to him by Magistrate Judy Latchman.

The court heard that on August 9, 2018, while he was in the vicinity of

Howes Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, he had in his possession a .38 revolver without being a licensed firearm holder.

The second charge alleged that on the same day he also had in his possession one live matching round.

The prosecution informed of the court that the 38-yearold man was arrested after a high-speed chase with Police through the Charlestown, Georgetown area.

According to Police, upon observing the “suspicious movements” of mo-

tor car PWW 149, the lawmen signalled the driver to stop the vehicle, but instead, the accused accelerated and ended up crashing into a lamp post in Lying Street, Charlestown.

As Police approached the car, Porter was allegedly seen throwing the said firearm through the window into a nearby drain. The car accelerated and eventually crashed into a light pole.

Porter was remanded to prison until September 7.

AFC is in a sad...

At the same time, it had maintained that this decision only applies for the 2018 LGE and does not affect the APNU/AFC coalition Government, nor does it, change the AFC’s position on coalition politics at the national level. At a press conference following this announcement, Trotman had struck a matter of fact tone.

In fact, Trotman claimed the decision was made since last year.

“Since last year we decided that we were going to contest the elections independently and we spoke to APNU about the matter.

There were little points on which we were able to come to an agreement on.

At the national level, it was easy to say 60/40, but LGE is different and it wasn’t easy coming with that same share to the table. Both sides sought to find common ground, but it didn’t materialise because of the particulars… but we still remain cordial on the

matter,” he said.

“Going independently will refresh and strengthen the coalition for 2020, so that the people will get the best of both parties. Being in Government sometimes makes you complacent and

from page 3

you lose touch with the people and the coalition needs to be refreshed. This will augur well for us.

We expect to be in competition with each other, but in battle with the PPP,” he had added.

After Councillors would have shared their views on the matter, all were in agreement of having Mr David complete the third phase of the municipal wharf,” the minutes read.

Meanwhile, under the Laws of Guyana – Municipal and District Councils Act 28:10 Section 97 – the Council before entering into any contract for the execution of any work or the supply of any goods to the value of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars or more, give notice of such proposed contract and shall, by such notice, invite any person willing to undertake the same to submit a sealed tender.

The Act also says the Council shall not open or consider any tender.

A regional official informed this publication that it is the Regional Tender Board which should be looking at those contracts and not the Town Council. The official noted that the Council could have a representative sit of that Board.

There is no provision in the law for municipalities or Neighbourhood Democratic Councils to have their own tender board, the official added.

Under the Procurement Act which is gazetted and dated Thursday, February 18, 2016, regional tender boards can only consider contracts for construction up to $14 million.

Anything above that has to go to the National Tender Board.

(Andrew Carmichael)

8 news

saturdAY, august 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Lover charged for killing farmer F orty-six-year-old Radha Sukwah, a domestic worker of Charity Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, was on Friday arraigned before Suddie Magistrate Christel Lambert on the indictable charge of manslaughter committed on 73-year-old Deonarine, also called “Russian,” on August 3rd last at his home at Grant Maria’s Delight, Lower Pomeroon River in the Essequibo.

She was placed on $400,000 bail, and the case was set for continuation on September 3, 2018.

RECAP Reports are the elderly man was shot and killed at his house on August 3, 2018. Initially, the suspect had allegedly told Police that the man was shot by an intruder who had attempted to kill him during a robbery.

However, during investigation, the detectives recognised some inconsistencies in the woman’s statements, and as such she was transported to the Major Crimes Unit at Eve Leary, Georgetown, where she was further interrogated.

After a few hours of interrogation, she reportedly confessed to committing the

Dead: Deonarine, also called "Russian"

act, claiming that she was defending herself.

In a detailed account of what had taken place, she reportedly claimed that on the night of the murder, Deonarine

had collected her from her home and had taken her to his home. While there, she had made dinner and they had eaten, after which they retired to bed.

She is reported to have said that after having sexual intercourse, an argument ensued between them when she refused to have sex with him for a second time.

She allegedly told detectives the argument escalated, and the farmer armed himself with a knife and threatened to kill her if she did not comply with his request. This led to a scuffle between them, resulting in the woman being injured as she attempted to take away the weapon.

She told detectives the knife fell to the floor, and the elderly man ran to the lower flat of the house, where he collected the firearm from a secure safe and returned. She allegedly said she attempted to take away the gun, but it went off, mortally wounding the elderly man.

After the incident, she reportedly got rid of the weapon and raised an alarm, claiming that the elderly man had been shot during a robbery. The man was rushed to the Charity Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

“Otiesha” to face Judge, jury for sex offence charge

A

t the end of a preliminary enquiry held by Georgetown Magistrate Fabayo Azore, 40-year-old transgender Otis “Otiesha” Pearson of Lot 61 Station Street, Kitty Georgetown was on Friday committed to stand trial in the High Court for engaging in sexual activities with a child under the age of 16 years.

Pearson was charged for the offence in March of this year, and was placed on $300,000 bail. During the trial, the court heard that on December 4, 2017, while at Station Street, Kitty,

Accused: Otis “Otiesha” Pearson

Pearson allowed the minor to preform sexual activities on him.

He was arrested by Police on March 6, 2018 after the Child Care and

Protection Agency (CCPA) had closed its investigation into the alleged rape of the child in February 2018.

According to CCPA Head, Ann Greene, the

agency had gathered statements from a number of persons, including the child in the middle of the controversy.

This incident came to light when Pearson was released from custody after being implicated in the murder of Hemchand Dalchand, also called “Rakesh,” of Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara (ECD), whose body was discovered in the vicinity of Oleander Gardens, ECD. A pair of slippers and a piece of clothing belonging to the late Dalchand were also found along the East Coast sea walls. This drew some suspicions by the Police, and since Pearson was reportedly the last person seen talking with the deceased young man, he was arrested.

He refuted claims of being involved in the murder, and in attempting to profess his innocence, appeared on national television and made certain comments, one being that he had “a little boy” for every day of the week. After the television programme was aired, he was bashed on social media for the comment, which he quickly defended by explaining that the term “little boy” was taken out of context. The statement soon became a serious matter when a photo of Pearson hugging a lad was leaked on Facebook.

Investigations later revealed that the lad was indeed below the age of 16, and was also indeed being bullied. A birth certificate presented proved that the lad was indeed underage.

Unbribable…

W

…to COP?

ell…well…well. Here we go again!! President Granger has decided on who will be the top COP very early in the day, and it was just a matter of genuflecting to the forms!! First, all GPF officers -- incumbents and those in the hierarchy -had to be plucked from contention by hook or crook.

Or, as in this case, by a crooked hook!! The Police Service Commission (PSC), which has constitutional responsibility for making decisions on the top tier of the GPF, was decommissioned and left in abeyance.

That left the field open to kill the cat by other means.

The top guns were discredited by a one-man CoI headed by retired Asst Commissioner Paul Slowe. It was more of a hatchet job than an Inquiry…but since only the President had to be satisfied, and that was what he wanted, who’s to complain?? The top COP himself was sent on “leave” for such an extended period, some thought he had been leavened!! The second step was to reconstitute a PSC so that the fella preselected by President Granger could be appointed according to “the law”!!

So who does Granger appoint as Chair of the PSC? No one but the one-man COP lynching crew, Paul Slowe!! But not before setting out the outcome determinative criteria Slowe and his Crew must use to make their selection. This, of course, is just like when Granger decided Article 161 (2) meant only a judge can become Chair of GECOM. But when pushed, said “judge-like qualities” like integrity and impartiality would do!! The question, of course, was who’d decide on the requisite quantum of “integrity and impartiality”? Granger’s eventual choice showed HE would – and his bar wasn’t much higher than the ones used for doing the Limbo!!

In the case of the Top Cop, Granger says “intelligence and being unbribeable” are the criteria.

So will an IQ test be conducted on all the nominees and applicants? Or will there be only one nominee, like with the Energy Czar or GECOM Chair? Will this be the standard IQ test that’s applied to everyone, or will there be one specifically designed to identify “police intelligence”??

The trickier one will be the test for being “unbribeable”? Since there’s one school of thought that insists ‘everyone has his price”, will the budget set aside a sufficiently large sum to test whether though applicants’ spirits may be willing, their flesh is much more pliable? After all, we know that with, say, drugs, big bucks are always in the offing to law enforcement types.

We certainly can’t go by the history of any person.

It could be they weren’t tempted by a big enough bribe!!

…Bridge sole sourcing

Back when they were in the Opposition – and not quite joined at the hip with the PNC – the AFC insisted there must be a Public Procurement Commission (PPC) in place to stop the hanky-panky they’d accused the PPP of committing. After they sidled into office, it took them years – and much protests by civil society etc – to get a PPC in place. It was headed by the wife of the former head of the PNC, and many cynics felt that was the end of that good intention!

But sometimes – due to quantum fluctuations or whatever celestial forces – strange things happen.

And one just did!! The PPC just announced that when Minister of Public Infrastructure, James Patterson, decided to single source a design for the new Demerara Harbour Bridge, he’d broken the procurement law!!

The Opposition had long pointed this out! But who listens to THEM??

Well, now it’s the PPC headed by someone who certainly can’t be accused of anti-PNC bias!! So what will it be?? Interminable internal investigations like with “I is” Broomes??

Or just plain, old fashioned stone walling?

…Cricket fans

If there’s one place where you don’t need to worry about bribes, it is at Providence Stadium, to get the fans to go berserk about their Warriors!!

Love means being unbribeable!!

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

News

9

saturdAY, august 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

GTM records $235M Mazaruni Prison expansion delayed … overtopping of river blamed after-tax profit

A

fter recording a decline in the previous financial year, the Guyana and Trinidad Mutual Fire Insurance Company Limited (GTM) in 2017 saw its profit after-tax skyrocketing to a whopping $235 million. This represents an increase of $169 million or 255 per cent from 2016’s $66 million after-tax profit.

Speaking at the company’s Annual General Meeting on Friday, Chairman Ram L Singh explained this surplus is largely due to the savings recorded for reinsurance premiums and a reduction in claims expense.

“Your company continues to enhance its underwriting procedures thus ensuring careful screening of each risk it insures.

As a result of our efforts to

GTM Chairman Ram Singh

maintain the largest market share for property insurance. However, this did not obtain in the other Caribbean markets where growth, he said, has been difficult as there are many

conversion of comprehensive to third party policies.

Notwithstanding the decline in premium income, the motor portfolio has recorded a significant reduction in claims expenses net of reinsurance recoveries from $551.96 million at the end of 2016 to $396 million at the end of 2017. This has improved our overall net claims to premium ratio from 53 per cent to 41 per cent,” he said.

The Chairman outlined that in Guyana, the majority of the claim payments are for damages to the clients’ vehicles and to those of other parties. He added too that GTM has met its claim obligations to clients with claims amounting to some $666 million at the end of last year when compared to $812 million in 2016, a reduction of $147 million or 18

A section of the shareholders at the AGM

strength underwriting procedures, your company has not only seen a significant improvement in its claims ratio from 31 per cent at the end of 2016 to 26.5 per cent at the end of 2017, but has also benefited from lower reinsurance payments of $123 million when compared to 2016,” he told shareholders.

However, the Chairman posited that the company continues to face many challenges within Guyana and the Eastern Caribbean territories.

“Marginal economic growth and fierce competition resulting in the steady decline of rates has impacted on its ability to attract new and retain existing business. These factors, among others, have led to a decline in insurance premiums for the year 2017 by $60 million when compared to 2016. However, after payment of reinsurance, the company’s growth in net premiums was $63 million in 2017 over 2016,” he detailed.

Furthermore, Singh related that of the $2.5 billion in gross insurance premiums written, Guyana accounts for $1.6 billion or 65 per cent; followed by Grenada with $445 million; St Lucia with $341 million; and St Vincent with $87 million.

He said that despite the challenges face in the Guyanese market, the company still managed to

more companies competing in far smaller markets.

To this end, Singh assures that GTM is working to ensure its viability despite strong competition.

“You company continues to focus on ensuring that the business remains viable and therefore will not adopt the less than prudent strategies including rate-selling used by its competitors to secure more market shares at the expense of long-term viability. Therefore, the Board of Directors working in conjunction with management remain committed to proactively managing expenditures to contain costs while seeking new opportunities to enhance existing products and the development of new packages,” he asserted.

The Chairman went on to outline that during 2017, GTM wrote new business amounting to $33 billion, with annualised premiums of $155 million. He added that at the end of the year, the total business in force amounted to $373 billion in sums insured with annualised premium income of $1.8 billion.

Singh further revealed the motor insurance premiums last year amounted to $1.014 billion when compared to $1.096 billion in 2016 – a reduction of $82 million or eight per cent.

“This decline is largely as a result of lower premium rates, lapses and the

per cent. Singh credited this to the company’s improved underwriting guidelines, particularly as it relates to property insurances.

At the end of December 2017, the company’s asset base stood at $7.8 billion, an increase of 16 per cent over the previous year.

Additionally, GTM will be making a declaration of a cash profit return of 50 per cent of premiums on profit policies.

In his report, Singh noted that while GTM is implementing requirements under the new Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act, which some clients are facing challenges to comply with, the company is being face with yet another International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS).

He explained that IFRS 17 was issued in 2017 and takes effect in 2021. However, he noted that this new standard will have a significant and far-reaching impact on how insurance companies account for their revenues, insurance contract liabilities and profit recognition.

Moreover, at Friday’s AGM, a number of staff members were recognised for their contributions and achievements while GTM also distributed bursary awards to 12 students who excelled at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment exams.

The Mazaruni Prison

T

he recently released 2018 mid-year report has revealed that construction works at the Mazaruni Prison, intended to expand the facility so it could take on more prisoners from the city, was delayed for the first half of the year.

The report blamed overtopping of the Mazaruni River which resulted in delayed mobilisation of the contractor. While the report does not name the particular contractor, the work was awarded last year to A Nazir and Sons Contracting ($28.1 million) and R Kissoon Contracting Services Limited ($30.4 million).

“Works are anticipated to intensify throughout the second half (of 2018) and into 2019,” the report also adds.

The sloth of implementing this project has, however, had an effect on overall spending.

For instance, the mid-year report noted that only $21 million was actually spent; out of the $1.5 billion allocated to the Prison Service from the 2018 National Budget. In

fact, Government budgeted $30.7 billion to support capital and recurrent projects and programmes under the Public Security Ministry. Of that amount, $14 billion has so far been expended.

Meanwhile, the report also states that Government will be tendering for designs for a new prison at Georgetown by year end.

This will come after successive years of prison disturbances, which culminated in most past at the Georgetown prison which was burnt to the ground.

The Camp Street Prison reached the end of the line on July 9, 2017 when prisoners set that facility on fire, occasioning its complete destruction except for a newly built brick building which is still standing intact.

In the ensuing confusion, a number of prisoners managed to escape from lawful custody, including convicted murderers Mark Royden Durant, also called “Royden Williams”; Uree Varswyck: Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander and Cobena Stephens – all

deemed armed and dangerous. That incident resulted in the death of Prison officer Wickham, who lost his life after he was shot by prisoners during the prison break.

Following that jailbreak, over 1000 prisoners were displaced. While some were moved to Mazaruni or granted early release or bail, others had remained at the Lusignan Prison, on the East Coast of Demerara, under straightened circumstances. It was then that another contingent escaped. Since these two jailbreaks, all but two prison escapees – Paul Goriah and Cobena Stephens – have either been recaptured or killed.

In March 2016, another fire raged through the Camp Street Prison and claimed the lives of 17 prisoners.

Afterwards, a Commission of Inquiry, which cost the Treasury some $13 million, was ordered by President David Granger to probe the circumstances which led to that fire and the deaths of the inmates.

Sandpits along Linden Highway to be monitored

N

A sandpit on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway

atural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman has said that sandpits on the LindenSoesdyke Highway will be monitored, since operators have been functioning dangerously close to the roadway.

The Minister made this disclosure during the inaugural multi-stakeholder natural resources consultation, held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre

in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. While admitting that much attention has not been given to the area, Trotman said, “If you drive along the (Linden) Highway, you would see that people are literally just scooping sand. Some of them are coming as near to the road and undermining the Highway.”

As a result of this safety breach, the point man on Natural Resources said that the Minister within the

Natural Resources Ministry, Simona Broomes would be monitoring the situation through a new initiative.

“I am told that at a meeting held last Tuesday, there was some good movement in that direction,” he said.

He added that the Ministry has received many requests for the waiving of royalties from businesses that operate in the said area. turn to page 14

10 news

saturdAY, august 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Police record whopping 25% 7 months later increase in robberies Security Sector

…76 illegal firearms seized

T

he Guyana Police Force on Friday announced it has recorded a whopping 25 per cent increase in robberies at the end on July 2018 when compared to the same period in 2017.

The Police also recorded a 17 per cent decrease in murder; a seven per cent increase in armed robberies where firearms were used; three per cent increase in rapes and a seven per cent increase in burglary. A seven per cent increase in robbery with violence was also recorded.

Reductions were recorded in robbery under arms where instruments other than firearms were used; robbery with aggravation; larceny from a person and break and enter and larceny. All in all, the Police noted that it recorded a five per cent decrease in serious crimes.

According to the Police statistics, 58 murders were committed at the end of July 2018 compared to 70 for the corresponding period last year. Of the 58 murders, 25 were as a result of disorderly behaviour, 16 were as a result od domestic dispute, 11 were committed during robberies and the reasons for six are yet to be determined.

Twelve murders each were recorded in A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) and C Division (East Coast Demerara); while 11 were committed in B Division (Berbice); nine in D Division (West DemeraraEast Bank Essequibo); eight in F Division (Interior locations) and three each in E Division (LindenKwakwani) and G Division (Essequibo Coast and Islands).

The Police Force also noted that it seized a total of 76 illegal firearms at the end of

July when compared to 81 in 2017 for the same period.

The firearms seized include 44 pistols, 18 revolvers, eight shotguns, one submachine gun and five rifles.

With respect to seizures, A Division topped the list with 34; followed

by F Division with 15; and C Division with nine. B Division followed closely with seven; while five firearms were seized in D Division; three in E Division and two in G Division.

Traffic

The traffic department saw a 7.4 per cent decrease in fatal accidents at the end of July 2018 when compared to the same period last year.

It also recorded a decrease in serious, minor and damage accidents.

A total of 57 persons were killed as a result of accidents up to July 2018, two less that the same peri-

od last year, which signals a 3.3 per cent decrease. Of the 57 persons killed, two were children.

April was listed as the deadliest month with 11 deaths followed by February, March and May with nine deaths each. Seven deaths were recorded in June and six apiece for January and July.

Speeding accounted for 26 of the 57 deaths, while failure to conform to sign were responsible for nine; pedestrians crossing in the path of approaching vehicles claimed eight lives and inattentiveness claimed another six.

One person died as a result of driving under the influence of alcohol/speeding.

In addition, between January and July 2018, the Police made out a total of 52,277 cases against errant drivers. Speeding topped the list with 12,401 cases.

Reform report still being reviewed

S

President David Granger

ome seven months after the Security Sector Reform (SSR) report was handed over to Government, President David Granger said the report is very detailed and is still being reviewed.

“Security Sector Reform is being pursued, it’s expected that future appointees [in the Police Force] will vigorously carry out the approved reforms which aim at restoring public trust in the Force and reinforcing the Force’s capability to fight crime; and promote men and women of the highest calibre to become officers,” the Head of State told reporters on Thursday.

President Granger went on to say the need for these reforms is necessary now more than ever, given the current security situation in the country, especially as it relates to public trust in the armed forces.

However, even as the President commits to ensuring security reform, he is yet to establish the office – which he had announced last November – would be tasked with the implementation of the reforms.

Nevertheless, Minister of State Joseph Harmon told reporters last month that the SSR report was also being reviewed by the National Security Committee (NSC) which is comprised of local security stakeholder agencies.

The US$4.7 million Security Sector Reform programme was initially launched in 2007 but was scrapped two years later after major disagreements between the then Administration and the United Kingdom Government over some of the conditions of the plan.

However, during a meeting with then British Prime Minister David Cameron back in 2016,

President David Granger had requested that the multimillion-dollar security sector pact be revived.

As such, British security expert, Colonel Russel Combe, was brought in to conduct an assessment of the local security sector and compiled a report with steps to be taken to improve services.

While the report focuses primarily on reforms within the Guyana Police Force, there are also measures included to address issues plaguing the prisons and the fire services as well as the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF’s) Coast Guard.

At the handing over of the report back in January, Combe had said the presentation of the report is not just the beginning or end of efforts to reform the local security sector.

“The report is dynamic; it’s not to represent just the beginning. Activities supported by the United Kingdom have already commenced: the training of (Police’s) Strategic Planning Unit last year and then in November there was consultancy on the marine capability of the Police Force and indeed engaged with the coast guards as well… So this is not the beginning, nor is it the end,” he had noted.

The UK expert had further stated that his Government does not want to see the report sitting on the shelf, gathering dust.

In fact, he noted that the report was compiled in such a way that it can be broken up and separated into parts to be dealt with by different groupings.

Colonel Combe is expected to oversee the implementation of his recommendations until March 2019 when his tenure comes to an end.

news

11

saturdAY, august 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

9-hour power outage Guyana Goldfields employee for Georgetown, EBD charged for death of pedestrian

T

he Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) will be conducting maintenance works for one week. As such, several areas in Georgetown and villages on the East Bank of Demerara will be affected with as long as nine hours of blackout.

This is according to the power company, which is urging the general public to be patient, as it seeks to upgrade the power lines in these areas.

On Sunday, August 12, Alberttown, Werken-Rust, Kingston and Cummingsburg, Georgetown will be without electricity for a period of two hours beginning from 08:00h.

Newtown, Eping Avenue, Bel Air Park and Vlissengen Road between Lamaha and the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) will be affected for nine hours, from 08:00h as well.

On Tuesday, August 14, Subryanville, Georgetown will also experience nine hours of blackout from 08:00h. On that same date, Second Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme on the East Bank of Demerara will be without power from 09:00h to 17:00h.

Ruimzigt, West Coast Demerara will experience blackout from 08:00h to 16:00h, on August 15.

B Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown will also be without power during the same period the following day.

On August 19, eight streets in Georgetown will

J

be without power from 08:00h to 17:00h. These streets are Avenue of the Republic, Hadfield Street, Stabroek, Brickdam, Water Street, High Street, Quamina Street west of Waterloo and Carmichael Street south of Quamina.

GPL Assistant Public Relations Officer (PRO) Natalie Yearwood-Pindar had said “localised faults” were why many areas across the country have been experiencing power outages.

Localised faults are basically issues which affect a small group of persons within a community, the Assistant PRO explained.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Albert Gordon recently announced that US$110 million was needed to address the issue of blackouts. He explained that the existing infrastructure in the country was the main reason for the constant power outages.

The Amaila Falls Hydropower Project could have been almost operational by now, and consumers could have been close to seeing an end to expensive and unreliable electricity.

Guyana would, moreover, have been entering into the ranks of the top 10 users of

clean energy worldwide.

The Project, which would have represented the largest Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country’s history, had the potential to reintegrate Guyana with the global capital markets for the first time in over 40 years.

Blasting the Government for the frequent episodes of power outages across Guyana was Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who noted during one of his recent press conferences that many Guyanese were forced to endure the constant power outages daily, despite the Government saving more money from fuel than ever before.

According to the Opposition Leader, there is a manifest lack of shortand long-term solutions to address GPL’s inefficiency.

“So many Guyanese face this on a daily basis — the large number of blackouts, sometimes for extended periods — and (they are failing) to address this.

(There is) no relief from the Government in the short term, and no (effective) plan for addressing this in the medium to long term. So, it can only get worse,” Jagdeo predicted.

amel Lowe was on Friday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on a causing death by dangerous driving charge alleging that, on August 8, 2018, he drove minibus BVV 2848 in a manner dangerous to the public, resulting in the death of pedestrian Franklyn Dover on the Covent Garden Public Road, East Bank Demerara.

According to information presented to the court, on August 8 last, the 33-year-old Guyana Goldfields employee was driving the minibus in

a southerly direction on the eastern carriageway of the East Bank Demerara Public Road at a fast rate of speed when he collided with the pedestrian Dover, who was crossing west to east on the Covent Garden Public Road.

The pedestrian accordingly fell to the roadway and received injuries. He was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre and was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he died while receiving medical attention.

Lowe denied the allega-

tion when it was read to him, and Police prosecutor Vivian Adolph objected to Lowe being placed on bail, citing the serious nature of the offence for which he was charged.

Lowe was, however, placed on bail in the sum of $600,000 on condition that he lodges his travel documents and reports to the Providence Police Station every Friday until determination of his case. His driver’s licence was also suspended until completion of the case.

The matter will continue on August 20.

Gold miner charged for ganja possession

G

old miner Richard Simon of Lot 111 Fourth Avenue, Bartica (Region 7: CuyuniMazaruni) was on Friday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on a cannabis possession charge alleging that on August 9, 2018, while at the Bartica Police Station, he had in his possession 61.2 grams of cannabis.

Represented by defence attorney Adrian Thompson, the 27-year-old Simon denied

the charge, and Thompson, in a bail application, told the court that his client has no knowledge of any other matter, previous or pending, before the court.

The prosecution is contending that on the day in question, after a search was carried out on Simon’s person, the illegal substance was found, and he admitted to the offence and told officers that he uses the herb for medical purposes.

Police Prosecutor Vivian

Adolph objected to Simon being placed on bail, telling the court that the father of two had previously been arraigned on another charge of a similar nature.

The miner was nevertheless released on $100,000 mail by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, who ordered Simon to report to the Bartica Police Station every Friday until completion of the matter.

The case will continue on August 30.

12 news

saturdAY, august 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt’s rejection of salary increases

“I’m extremely disappointed” – GTU President …as teachers go on strike from August 27

T

he Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) has confirmed that, following failed talks between the union and a Government team on Thursday, teachers will go on strike for two weeks’ duration, beginning from August 27. This strike that might even be accompanied by protests.

Making this pronouncement was GTU President Mark Lyte, who had led negotiations on the teachers’ behalf. Out of eight proposals made by GTU on salaries’ issues, no agreement could be reached on a single one. With the collapse of these talks, Lyte confirmed on Friday during an interview, strike action is imminent.

“Definitely! Strike action is on the cards. Me, vice-presidents and the executives were yesterday (Thursday) given a directive by the membership that we needed to take strike action. So we are in the process of preparing the letters to indicate to the minister and the ministries, especially the Ministry of Labour, that we will take strike action from August 27.”

Lyte expressed disappointment that matters have had to reach this stage. He recalled that the union had threatened strike action before, and was dissuaded from this course of action out of a willingness to work out a solution.

GTU President Mark Lyte

“I’m extremely disappointed. Having threatened before that we would take strike action, the President intervened and

set up a task force. We expected they had a good intention, but looking at the counter-proposals, there was no intention; I think the whole thing was to delay the process. There’s nothing there for our teachers to really say that they have waited for. So I think it’s a very disrespectful approach,” Lyte declared.

“And we were taken aback by the fact that these are the people who say they love our teachers, and our teachers are special.

And this is what you do?

I think our teachers have reached a stage where they don’t want to hear any further discussion, they want people to bring figures they can accept.”

According to Lyte, channels of communication would be opened between the GTU and Government, and it is now up to the coalition Government to de-

cide what they will do.

Lyte made it clear that the GTU would not defer its strike unless a tangible offer is made. He added there is a possibility GTU two weeks’ strike can be further extended, depending on the Government’s next move… And nor is he ruling out protest action.

The meeting

A number of requests from the GTU, including a long awaited retroactive increase in salaries across the board and increases in keeping with improved qualifications, were rejected by the Government at the meeting.

The meeting featured Education and Social Protection Ministers Nicolette Henry and Amna Ally, as well as Junior Minister Keith Scott and GTU President Mark Lyte.

Their discussions related to

the proposals from a joint task force that President David Granger had himself ordered into the teachers’ plight last year.

Even though that task force had the input of Government, it was indicated to teachers on Thursday, a specialist would have to be contracted to determine the increases.

In addition, the teachers were bluntly told that instead of the specific increases ranging from 40 per cent in 2016 to 50 per cent in 2020, a ball figure would be used based on the current salary scale.

When it comes to debunching payments, which is payment based on years of service, the GTU requested payments on the scales of, and retroactive from, the 2011 agreement. turn to page 14

news

13

saturdAY, august 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Unlawful double fares

PNCR’s Vice Chair race

Ferguson wants to rejuvenate party’s base, strengthen youth movement

By Michael Younge

Y

outh empowerment, building a stronger grassroots support base and continuing the work currently being undertaken by the current People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) executive would be the core areas of focus if Annette Ferguson were to be successful in her bid to become the PNCR’s next Vice Chairman. The party’s 20th Biennial Congress is slated for August 17-19.

Ferguson, speaking with Guyana Times on Friday, said she remains committed towards working very hard to ensure the PNCR continues to be a strong party which is capable of catapulting Guyana further into the 21st century by providing the highest quality of leadership and policies that could transform its socio-economic dynamics.

“If victorious, I will continue in the same manner as I am right now, work hard and serve my people. However, with the assumption of office, it means greater responsibility and accountability to the electorate and party membership.

And therefore my number one priority will be to deliver the promise I made during plea for delegates to elect me,” she said.

For Ferguson, the core areas of focus would include, but not limited to, building a strong youth arm and strengthening of the women’s arm; the continuous mobilisation of the masses; the development of strategies for the sustainability of the PNCR, and the implementation of programmes so

PNCR Executive Annette Ferguson

that members can be trained and be exposed to the ideologies and philosophies of the founder Leader.

“Whether elected or not, I will continue to contribute my ideas and plans to those vested with the responsibility of taking this party forward. I believe our ideas and plans are sound and will greatly benefit the enter membership of the party as whole. Today we compete as comrades because we are both aspiring for an office where only one can be elected; however, after that we have to pick the pieces up and work together to the betterment of Guyana,” Ferguson said during the interview.

Asked what inspired her to run for the office of Vice Chairman at such a young age, given that there are more experienced party members who feel entitled after waiting their turn, Ferguson explained that she

accepted the nomination of her party group because she wanted to make a difference in the way the party is administered and response to the core interest groups that constitute the key demographics in the country. “…According to the 2012 Population Census report, approximately 64 per cent of Guyana’s population is 35 years and younger. You asked me what inspires me to run at such a young age; that ought to give you an idea. I bring balance and representation to the demographics of Guyana. Young people must be given a fair chance to govern and what better role to start in than that of the Vice Chairman where you provide support to the leader and also learn and at the same time, share fresh ideas and perspective,” she remarked.

The PNCR executive who currently serves as the country’s Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, also explained that she has been meeting with delegates from the various regions and has been putting forward her “case” to the party’s membership.

“I believe we have done a good job in sharing our proposal and vision. The feedback is that we have generated enough interest and support from the membership… in terms of where is my biggest support base.

It is a difficult question because we have been openly welcomed in the areas we have visited so far. For delegates who may still be indecisive, I solicit your support and will make a difference once given the opportunity to do so,” she explained.

She even expressed satisfaction with the work being done by the Congress Committee so far to ensure that the event runs smoothly and is of high standard.

“The bar has been set very high, but I am glad that we are on track with preparations. We want our delegates and comrades to feel please that they are part of a wonderful party with a solid legacy, so a lot of work has been done for this Congress.

We have done everything that we can do for this Congress, so I am pleased with the preparations,” the PNCR Executive remarked.

Ferguson insisted that the PNCR has a crucial role to play in building a modern democratic Guyana.

“We are witnessing one of the greatest wealth discoveries of this country. And with the discovery of great wealth will come great responsibility in its fair and equal distribution.

The PNCR is committed to ensuring every Guyanese gets a fair share of the pie and not just a selected few,” she added.

Ferguson served as one of the representatives of the PNCR in the 10th Parliament and has held several other leadership posts in the past.

MARAD urges commuters to report errant operators

T

he Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) has renewed its call to commuters utilising the water taxi services to make reports of any form of unlawful behaviour from boat operators, especially those who demand a double fare on Sundays and holidays.

On Friday, Harbour Master Michael Tennant in a public statement reminded passengers of the standard fare for the various water taxis routes.

In his missive, Tennant said the fare from Georgetown to the Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling is $100 while the fare from the Parika Stelling to Eastern Wakenaam is $1000 and $1300 from Parika to the Wakenaam/Supenaam Stelling. The fare from the Parika Stelling to Bartica is $2500.

“Any demands for addi-

tional sums by operators/ owners should be reported to MARAD, indicating the vessel’s name, and time of travel,” MARAD said.

The Department is urging passengers to make their reports on telephone numbers 225-7330 or 226-3356 or inbox messages via the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/maradguyana.

Earlier last week, Guyana Times was told that boat operators who double charge their passengers on Sundays and holidays were being suspended for the unlawful practice.

This was related to this publication by the Harbour Master, who explained that the move comes weeks after this newspaper had published several articles in which commuters called for MARAD’s invention in the situation. continued on page 15

14 news

saturdAY, august 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

“Capacity building for our population is key” – Harmon to GGGI delegation

M

inister of State Joseph Harmon met with a delegation from the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), an international organisation of which Guyana is a founding member, that focuses on assisting countries to adopt new green models in their development and investment planning, formulate ‘green’ growth policies, build capacities for implementation of ‘green’ growth policies and mobilise finance for ‘green’ growth investments.

Since 2017, through a collaborative effort, GGGI has been assisting Guyana in the Scaling up of Renewable Energy Project and has been hosting workshops for the public and Private Sector to garner widespread involvement. Through the collaboration, the GGGI through its engineer/ consultant, David Fernandez has been assisting in the preparation of an Urban Sector Solar Energy Programme.

This programme is being designed to cater to both the

commercial and industrial companies and will see the installation of solar photovoltaic panels on identified companies. Funding for the execution of this project is also being sought through international financial institutions.

During the meeting on Friday, the two sides discussed the Urban Sector Solar Energy Programme, the Scaling Renewable Energy Programme, possible financing options and accessing Global Climate

Minister of State Joseph Harmon met with the delegation from the Global Green Growth Institute

Funds (GCF) and the possible establishment of an office for the GGGI in Guyana.

Minister Harmon in his remarks to the group said in building capacity for the implementation of green growth policies, local content is most impactful when buttressed by a prepared and educated population. He noted that Guyanese must be equipped to take control of the development in their homeland. “In my view, local content can never progress unless you have the people being prepared to take their positive roles in society…

So, while [we] will legislate for local content, if we do not prepare our people to benefit from that legislation, then it is basically… a piece of paper that gives the companies obligations, but do not really create a real benefit for the people them-

selves… I believe that capacity building for our population is key through all of this –to the extent which we’re able to get assistance in preparing our population, educating them, training them, and bringing them up to a certain level [where] they can, in fact, take over [the] management… of some of these projects… [This] is critical to us in our own development,” he said.

Minister Harmon also said that Guyanese are eager to see more tangible benefits of ‘green’ living and it is therefore important that moves are made in a positive direction as soon as pos-

sible.

The meeting was also attended by Director of the Department of Environment, Ndibi Schwiers; Liaison Officer Sandra Britton; Project Manager of the Office of Climate Change, Gavin Bovell; Senior Energy Engineer, Investment and Policy Solutions Division, GGGI, Muharrem Askin; Investment Officer, Green Investment Services, Charlotte Chow; and Director and Head of Programmes, Large Emerging Economies, Green Growth Planning and Implementation, Dr Chanho Park.

“I’m extremely... from page 12

Instead, the Government proposed another ball park figure for the new school year of 2018 to 2019.

“The Guyana Teachers’ Union disagreed on this counter-proposal, stating the amount allocated did not cater for the years signed and agreed to previously by the Government,” a release from the ministry said. “They noted that previous Permanent Secretary signed an agreement to honour the de- bunching payment from 2011.”

A request for a $5,000 monthly emotional, stress and risk allowance was met by the Government urging a “holistic approach”.

As such, the Government team stated that it cannot be considered at this time, taking into account the wider public service. A similar response met requests for mileage and maintenance allowances for top school officials. A request for all teachers to receive double pay in December had to be withdrawn.

Sandpits along... from page 9

“Recently, I have had a flurry of requests for the waiver of royalties by companies that are providing sand and stone for Government projects…” he explained.

In addition to sand, Trotman said that loam too would be monitored under the same initiative. “Loam, that is the redder-looking material for roads, that too is something we are going to be monitoring a little bit more intensely,” he said.

Just recently there were orders to close the sandpits at Five Miles, Bartica following a “dangerous safety infraction” that was said to have occurred there during a visit by Minister Broomes.

Men were seen shovelling from a steep drop with

unstable overburden which could have proven to be detrimental to those workers.

Additionally, millions were reportedly owed in royalties to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC. Bartica Mayor Gifford Marshall had related a number of challenges the town has since faced, owing to the closure of the sandpits.

Back in June, a sandpit in Yarrowkabra on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway was immediately ordered to cease work as it was found with quite a number of infractions.

The discovery was made

by Minister Broomes, who was accompanied by a team of GGMC officials, during a visit to several sandpits.

news

15

saturdAY, august 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

GTA working with Tourism Department to develop tourism policy

T

he Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), in its efforts to transform Guyana into a recognised tourist destination, has been collaborating with other organisations to develop principled guidelines which can be implemented shortly.

This was related by GTA Director Brian Mullis earlier this week, when he announced that the agency is working with the Department of Tourism to create policies. This, he said, has commenced by identifying popular locations in Guyana which are frequently visited by tourists. This includes where they are coming from, where they are visiting, and some of the at-

GTA Director Brian Mullis

tractions that they participate in, which will later be used to create the Living Destination Development and Management Action

Plan.

“We are also actively supporting tourism strategy and policy development, and I think that’s where we’re

most closely working on a week-in/week-out basis with the Department of Tourism, and then helping to lead the implementation of those policies related to tourism and strategies. Right now, we are working on a national strategic action plan for Destination Guyana with the Department of Tourism. We are in the process of laying the groundwork for what we’re characterising as a Living Destination Development and Management Action Plan,” Mullis said.

While indicating that the capacity of the industry should be lifted to reach international standards, the GTA Director indicated that the GTA would be engaging

stakeholders for a revised licensing and regulatory process.

“We are responsible for raising the capacity of the industry, and we’re going to be doing so through a revised licensing and regulatory process that we’re in the process of reimagining and that we’ll be bringing out for stakeholder input here within the next several weeks, and we hope to finalise that by the end of September,” he informed.

This will be linked to product development, which he believes plays a vital role in marketing and other advancements. Mullis believes that Guyana would be able to capitalise on its tourism sector if the quality of its

local products is developed and marketed correctly.

“It’s going to be linked into marketing benefits and our training programmes that were increasingly strengthened, based on a needs assessment that we just undertook to best understand the needs of the sector as it relates to training and certainly supporting the facilitation of product development,” the GTA Director said.

“Marketing and product development have to (work) hand in hand. Product development is a form of marketing, particularly when you’re developing unique, distinctive, cultural, adventurous and nature-based experiences,” he added.

Caribbean records Caribbean Voice launches decline in mother-to-child suicide prevention vigil transmission of HIV T

A

lthough Guyana has seen an increase in HIV cases during last year, Director of the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), Michael Springer, during a two-day faith leaders’ consultation, indicated that the Caribbean has seen an overall reduction in the transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) from mother-to-child during 2017.

Not only was the Caribbean able to record a reduction, but seven countries were also able to completely eliminate mother-to-child transmission.

“We have also seen in terms of a reduction in mother-to-child transmission of HIV across the board (Caribbean) in our region. In fact, seven of our countries have eliminated both mother-tochild transmission and transmission of congenital syphilis,” he said.

It was understood that this major achievement was made possible through various regional efforts, which include the reduction in treatment costs from as much as US$12,000 to US $100.

“Our Region through collective actions was able to see a significant reduction in the price for antiretroviral; that is the treatment for HIV because in 2002, our Region took a collective decision to advocate to fight pharmaceutical companies to ensure that the cost for antiretroviral was reduced from some US$12,000 a year to US$1000 per year and now we can say that that treatment for the first time is below US$100 per year,” Springer informed.

In addition to this, the Director noted, “We have also seen a significant scale up when in 2001 we had just five per cent of persons who required treatment, receiving treatment for HIV. When we look at the last UN (United Nations) AIDS report, we now have about 57 per cent of those persons who know their HIV status and who should be on treatment (and) who are on treatment at the moment”.

At the event, Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings said there are many gaps in AIDS response which deserve attention.

She said, “There are still major gaps in the AIDS response and then they are barriers that still stop people from accessing quality healthcare services. Too often stigma and discrimination prevent people from accessing the much-needed health care… this situation needs to be promptly addressed in order to ensure that equitable and equal access to treatment is universal among those

living with HIV”.

The Minister went on to encourage the use of treatment as she noted that HIV and AIDS is not a death sentence.

“HIV is no longer a death sentence.

When the HIV outbreak first began, most individuals developed in about eight to 10 years and once persons were diagnosed with AIDS, he or she had a two-year life expectancy…HIV is no longer a terminal illness; we describe it as a chronic, manageable disease,” Cummings added.

The Health Minister took the opportunity to encourage religious leaders to continue working together as they seek to develop solutions to reduce the spread of the virus.

The two-day consultation with Guyana’s national faith leaders concluded on Friday.

The initiative is part of a series of engagements with faith leaders in Guyana under the PANCAP Justice For All (JFA) programme.

Over the two-day session, the 40 participants will propose solutions for resolving the challenges in developing a viable faith leaders network and focus on how and what can be done to end AIDS by 2030.

he Caribbean Voice (TVC) has partnered with the Social Cohesion Ministry to organise its third annual national anti-violence candlelight vigil to mark World Suicide Prevention Day, which is aimed at spreading awareness on suicide prevention.

There will be a monthlong awareness on suicide prevention and other scheduled activities, which will culminate with the vigil on Sunday, September 9.

At the launching ceremony on Friday, National Coordinator of the Caribbean Voice, Nizam Hussain, highlighted some of the organisations partnering with The Caribbean Voice in this initiative. Those include the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO), the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Charity Church of Christ, Emerging Young Leaders, the Enterprise Youth Development Group, and Golden Om Dharmic Youth.

Hussain explained that this vigil will aid in reducing the scourge of suicide and the number of cases which

are often coupled with domestic violence.

Social Cohesion Minister George Norton has noted that efforts should continue to assist with ending both of these social issues in Guyana.

“I believe that observing this vigil is a great start,” he said. “We want you to not only observe the vigil, but to join forces with Caribbean Voice and other bodies that are working towards ending violence and suicide altogether,” Minister Norton said.

Norton also spoke on the report that was produced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) a few

years ago, which placed Guyana in the spotlight for its high suicide rate. He said the rate of suicide has decreased significantly.

“This could have been, and it was immensely troubling, and we needed to take immediate remedy. In 2015, Guyana was one of the few countries that moved aggressively to develop a suicide prevention plan, and I’m happy to say that Guyana’s suicide rate has dropped,” Dr Norton declared.

Last year, the organisers had just under 800 participating groups at the vigil.

They are looking forward to more this time around.

MARAD urges commuters...

“We have already said that persons who are overcharging people and all such like, all the persons have to do is provide the name of the boat to us, and we will take the necessary action,” Tennant reminded.

He said he was unable to give an approximate number of boat operators who have been suspended, but noted that MARAD has begun to clamp down on errant operators in an effort to stamp out exploitation.

Guyana Times had previously reported that boat operators were charging double fare on Sundays and holidays, much to the discomfiture of the travelling public.

This newspaper was informed that boat operators usually demand a fare increase of an additional $100 when they transport half the number of passengers on this route.

Passengers have also detailed cases when they were forced to pay the extra $100, some without even knowing that the additional fee is unlawful.

Back then, when Guyana Times visited the Georgetown stelling, some disgruntled passengers opined that the fare increase was quite burdensome and “unfair”. An angry passenger had said, “I ain’t get raise on my salary, so I ain’t concern with no raise of

from page 13

fare! I won’t go for no raise of fare!”

A bowman who spoke to this newspaper had said the fares are increased on Sundays and holidays because those are not full working days.

“Sundays and holidays is $200 (charged) because we ain’t supposed to be working. So them man does come out because them ain’t got nothing fuh do (and them want) fuh try and help de passengers to get across more fast. $200 a head. Me ain’t know why them (passengers) does row, because this is de cheapest boat fare around here,” he had declared.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

saturdAY, august 11, 2018

Regional

Chile’s first female President Michelle Cuba Constitution Bachelet will rise to human rights mission referendum date set

T

he United Nations General Assembly met on Friday and approved Michelle Bachelet’s appointment as the world body’s new human rights chief.

The former President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, was chosen by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to replace Jordanian diplomat Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, who will step down from the post at the end of the month after a four-year term.

The UN Human Rights High Commissioner is the principle official who speaks out for human rights across the whole UN system.

Key duties are described

In this file photo taken on September 20, 2017, Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet addresses the 72nd UN General Assembly at the United Nations in New York

as “strengthening human rights mechanisms, enhancing equality, fighting discrimination in all its forms, strengthening accountability and the rule of law, wid-

ening the democratic space and protecting the most vulnerable from all forms of human rights abuses”.

Bachelet’s predecessor, al-Hussein, was noted for be-

ing outspoken. He regularly criticised President Trump’s policies and Government, most recently over the decision to separate young children from their parents in a crackdown on immigration.

It is likely Bachelet will not shy away from confronting the hard issues either.

During her Chilean presidency, she was noted for pushing for a more radical tax-and-spend agenda, as well as broader abortion rights and gay marriage.

But she is first and foremost a women’s rights champion and this will be central to her manifesto in her new UN position. (Excerpt from France24)

Brazil presidential debate to kick off without jailed Lula

B

razil staged its first presidential election debate on Thursday with eight of the crowded field locking horns but also one notable absentee – jailed frontrunner Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The debate in Sao Paulo, broadcast on TV Bandeirantes, will not feature the four most minor candidates among the 13 who have launched campaigns ahead of the October 7 first round of voting.

Three big ones will be on stage: right-winger Jair Bolsonaro, who is polling in second place after Lula, and his next biggest rivals, center-right former Sao Paulo governor Geraldo Alckmin and environmentalist Marina Silva.

But the elephant in the room will be the missing Lula, who is serving a 12year sentence for corruption and is likely to be kept off the ballot.

A court earlier

Thursday turned down lawyers’ request for Lula to be allowed to participate by video link in the event, arguing it was “essential” to the campaign.

His leftist Workers’ Party also failed to get TV Bandeirantes to mark his absence with an empty chair or to allow his vice presidential pick, former Sao Paulo mayor Fernando Haddad, to take his place.

Instead, party leaders have organised what they

call an alternative debate in Sao Paulo, which will be broadcast on social media, featuring Haddad and other allies.

With deeply unpopular President Michel Temer not seeking a new term and Latin America’s biggest country in a deep funk after years of recession and corruption scandals, it is the least predictable election in decades. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

Caribbean aims to become world’s first climate-smart zone

T

he Caribbean ClimateSmart Accelerator Programme, which has the objective of making the region the world’s first climate-smart zone, was launched at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona campus on August 9.

So far, some 26 Caribbean Countries and more than 40 private- and public-sector partners have joined the accelerator, which will trans-

form the region’s economy by fast-tracking sound public and private investment opportunities that support climate solutions for resilience, social development and broad-based growth for the Caribbean.

The climate-smart zone will not only protect the region but create jobs and a new economy in climate-smart infrastructure. Core partners in-

clude the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the World Bank, Caricom, and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

Over the next five years, the accelerator will create the right environment for private and public funds to flow into investments in clean energy, building resilience and climate-smart cities and healthy oceans.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in his address at the launch, said he is excited by the project’s potential in combatting climate change and accelerating national and regional development.

He noted that the Caribbean is already making progress with the expanding use of renewable energy. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

for February 2019

T

he national referendum to ratify Cuba’s new Constitution will take place on February 24, 2019, state television said.

The Caribbean nation’s Parliament in July approved a new draft Constitution that will be submitted for citizens to debate from August 13 to November 15.

The current version was passed in 1976.

The new Constitution would recognise for the first time the role of the market and private sector in the island’s heavily controlled socialist economy, though under the watchful eye of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC).

The changes would give legal backing to economic reforms initiated a decade ago by former president

C

Venezuelan migrants wait to register their exit from Colombia before entering into Ecuador, at the Rumichaca International Bridge, Colombia August 9, 2018. Picture taken August 9, 2018.

REUTERS/Daniel Tapia

lions on aid for Venezuelan migrants, including food, shelter and medical care.

Many arrive with only what they can carry and are often underfed.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Wednesday announced an additional US$9 million in aid to Colombia to help with the crisis, during a visit to the border city of Cucuta.

Trujillo said he had not yet received a formal extradition request from Venezuela for six people it has accused of involvement in the explosion of drones at a military

from Jamaica Observer)

Venezuela asks Interpol to arrest Opposition figure Julio Borges

V

enezuela has requested Interpol to arrest an Opposition politician who is currently in neighbouring Colombia and accused of involvement in an apparent attack against President Nicolás Maduro.

“We are seeking code red for Mr Julio Borges,” Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez said on Friday, referring to the for-

Colombia to ask UN for special envoy to manage Venezuelan migrant crisis olombia will ask the United Nations to designate a special envoy to coordinate humanitarian aid for the hundreds of thousands of Venezuelan migrants flooding into countries around the region, the Foreign Minister said on Friday.

More than a million people have arrived in Colombia from Venezuela over the last year and a half, fleeing a severe economic and political crisis in the socialist country that has caused food and medicine shortages.

Colombia has spent mil-

Raul Castro, which have now been left in the hands of his successor Miguel DiazCanel. The document would also provide a legal path for same-sex marriage, an important demand of the socialist island’s LGBT community.

Cuba plans to let its 1.4 million expatriate citizens contribute to its new constitution, the first time emigrants will have a say in the island’s affairs since the 1959 revolution. However, it is not known if they will be able to participate in the referendum.

The referendum’s date coincides with the anniversary of the proclamation of the current 1976 constitution – and with the beginning of the Cuban War of Independence in 1895. (Excerpt

event last week and who are believed to be in Colombia.

Venezuela’s Government has said the incident was a failed assassination attempt.

Trujillo reiterated that Colombia would withdraw from the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), created a decade ago in an attempt to counterbalance US influence in Latin America, in tandem with several other nations. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Peru have already indefinitely suspended their participation in the body. (Excerpt from Reuters)

mer speaker of the National Assembly.

The request for an Interpol red notice – calling for police in another country to locate and provisionally arrest a suspect wanted in another – follows what Venezuelan officials said was a drone assassination attempt on Maduro.

A drone loaded with explosives on Saturday detonated near a military event where Maduro was giving a speech.

The President escaped unharmed but seven people were wounded.

Authorities say they have detained 10 suspects whom they accuse of involvement with support from Colombia and from unidentified figures in the United States.

One of those detained is Opposition lawmaker Juan Requesens, who was seized by intelligence officers at his home this week. On Thursday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said his country had officially requested Colombia to extradite five people suspected for the involvement in the attack.

However, Colombian Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo said Bogota has not received yet Venezuela’s request to extradite the suspected people.

(Excerpt from Aljazeera)

saturdAY, august 11, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

China hints at 3-child policy Yemen war: Saudis to probe with 'happy family' stamps air strike child deaths

S

peculation is mounting in China that the country is set to further relax its two-child policy and allow people to have more children.

Postage stamps unveiled earlier this week to mark the incoming Year of the Pig in February 2019 have led many social media users to question whether a loosening of family planning restrictions could be imminent.

The stamps show a parent pig couple and three piglets. On the surface, it hardly appears to be a policy announcement. But users on the popular Sina Weibo microblog have pointed out that two years ago, before the one-child policy was abolished, China issued Year of the Monkey stamps featuring two baby monkeys.

And in recent months,

In recent months, the Chinese Government has been strongly encouraging couples to have more than one child

the Chinese Government has been strongly encouraging couples to have more than one child. Local authorities have even been offering incentives, such as tax breaks, and education and housing subsidies.

State media have also been suggesting that change is on the horizon. The China Times newspaper said in a recent editorial that the two-child policy is "not effec-

tively increasing the national fertility rate".

The controversial onechild policy was first introduced in 1979 and finally abolished in late 2015. But parents have been slow to take advantage of the twochild policy that replaced it and many young Chinese say that they would struggle to afford having one child – let alone two or more. (Excerpt

The Houthi Health Ministry says at least 40 children were killed in the attack

T

he Saudi-led military coalition has announced it will investigate an air strike in Yemen which killed at least 29 children. On its Twitter feed, Saudi-funded Al-Arabiya TV quoted a senior official who said the coalition was probing "collateral damage" from the strike.

Forces struck a bus in Dahyan in the rebel-held

province of Saada. The coalition backs Yemen's Government against the Houthi rebels and initially deemed its actions "legitimate". But now the coalition intends to investigate the strike, with Al-Arabiya TV quoting the official as saying they will "bring the perpetrators to account and compensate the victims".

The Houthi-affiliated

Health Ministry now says the death toll from the strike has risen to 51 in total, including 40 children, with a further 79 injured.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for an "independent and prompt investigation" into the strike, his spokesperson said.

The bus was hit as it passed through Dahyan market, transporting local civilians, including many schoolchildren, Yemeni tribal elders told the Associated Press news agency.

The children were on their way back to school from a picnic when the driver of their bus stopped to get a drink, the charity Save the Children said it had been told by its staff. The vehicle was stationary when the attack happened, it added.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Turkey's economic crisis deepens Zimbabwe: Opposition challenges as Trump doubles tariffs election result in court

Z

imbabwe's Opposition coalition has filed a legal challenge to results of the country's recent election, in a move that delays the inauguration of Emmerson Mnangagwa as president of Zimbabwe.

The MDC alliance filed their paperwork with Zimbabwe's Constitutional Court on Friday, alleging the result of the July 30 vote had been rigged in favour of incumbent Mnangagwa, the leader of the ruling ZANU-PF party.

"Our legal team success-

fully filed our court papers.

We have a good case and cause!!" MDC leader Nelson Chamisa said on Twitter.

Party lawyers arrived at the court in the capital, Harare, with plastic boxes full of paperwork. Zimbabwe's electoral commission has said Mnangagwa won the election, the first without longtime President Robert Mugabe on the ballot form, garnering 50.8 per cent of the vote against 44.3 per cent for Chamisa.

Chamisa has claimed he

from BBC News)

won 56 per cent of votes and called the election "fraudulent, illegal and illegitimate". "The MDC alliance say some of the evidence they have shows forms that have been tampered with, figures changed here and there – and they're going to present that in court," said Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa, reporting from Harare.

Judges have 14 days to rule on the case, delaying the inauguration of Mnangagwa which was scheduled for Sunday. (Excerpt

from Al Jazeera)

T

urkey’s unfolding economic crisis has deepened further after Donald Trump announced he was doubling US import tariffs on Turkish steel and aluminum, stoking the country’s currency free fall and rattling financial markets.

The Turkish lira plunged by more than 20 per cent against the dollar after the president announced the move, amid a widening dispute between Washington and Ankara over the imprisonment of the US pastor Andrew Brunson.

Fredericton shooting: At least 4 killed in Canada's New Brunswick

Police investigate the scene of a fatal shooting incident in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. The two officers killed in the shootout are 45-year-old Lawrence Robert Costello and Sara Mae Helen Burns, 43

O

ne person is in custody following a shooting in eastern Canada that left at least four people dead. Two Police Officers were among those killed early on Friday in Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick.

Residents said they heard as many as 20 gunshots following a confrontation that prompted police to initially cordon off a large section of the city with emergency vehicles and order residents to

remain inside their homes and businesses.

The suspect, who is in custody, is being treated for serious injuries, police said on Twitter. Several victims were being treated at a regional hospital, but there were no immediate details on the nature of their injuries or their conditions.

Police said there is "no further threat to the public" and an investigation is under way. In Fredericton, a city of about 60,000 residents, peo-

ple said they were stunned by the scene, which occurred as people were heading to work or dropping children at a daycare centre not far from the apartment complex where the attack took place.

The attack comes as other parts of Canada wrestle with a string of violence, including an instance in Toronto last month where a man with a handgun opened fire in a crowded part of the city, killing two people and wounding 13 before he either

shot himself or was killed by Police.

In April, a man who linked himself to a misogynistic online community used a van to run down pedestrians in a busy part of Toronto, killing 10 people and injuring 14. Authorities are still pursuing leads in an ongoing investigation of a serial killer who has been charged with killing eight men in the city in recent years. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Pressure has been applied on the country in recent days to stage an emergency interest rate rise to avert further economic damage.

Revealing an increase in US taxes on Turkish steel imports to 50 per cent and on aluminum to 20 per cent, the President tweeted: “Our relations with Turkey are not good at this time!”

Even before Trump’s tweet, the lira had plunged 14 per cent as investors rushed for the exits, choosing to buy the dollar, yen and other assets seen as

safe havens during times of financial market volatility. The lira has been under sustained pressure on foreign exchanges, dropping by almost 50 per cent against the dollar in the past 12 months and hitting a succession of record lows this week.

Inflation reached an annual rate of 15.9 per cent in July – more than five times the average rate for wealthy nations – and Government borrowing in foreign currencies has risen dangerously high. (Excerpt

from The Guardian)

UN says it has credible reports that China holds million Uighurs in secret camps

A

UN human rights panel said on Friday that it had received many credible reports that 1 million ethnic Uighurs in China are held in what resembles a “massive internment camp that is shrouded in secrecy”.

Gay McDougall, a member of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, cited estimates that two million Uighurs and Muslim minorities were forced into “political camps for indoctrination” in the western Xinjiang autonomous region.

China says Xinjiang faces a serious threat from Islamist militants and separatists who plot attacks and stir up tensions between the mostly Muslim Uighur minority who call the region home and the ethnic Han Chinese majority.

A Chinese delegation of some 50 officials made no

comment on her remarks at the Geneva session that continues on Monday. The allegations came from multiple sources, including activist group Chinese Human Rights Defenders, which said in a report last month that 21 per cent of all arrests recorded in China in 2017 were in Xinjiang.

Earlier, Yu Jianhua, China’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, said it was working towards equality and solidarity among all ethnic groups.

But McDougall said that members of the Uighur community and others Muslims were being treated as “enemies of the state” solely on the basis of their ethno-religious identity.

More than 100 Uighur students who returned to China from countries including Egypt and Turkey had been detained, with some dying in custody, she said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

saturdAY, august 11, 2018

ARCHIE

ARIES

Shine the spotlight on

(March 21- your accomplishments and be April 19) proud of your contributions.

It’s OK to gloat if you are generous with rewards and compliments. Romance is encouraged.

Keep your life simple.

TAURUS Complex situations will be (April 20- difficult enough without you May 20) complicating matters or making a fuss. Look for the best way to stabilize your life with the least interference.

dilbert

Attending a social event, GEMINI (May 21- hosting a party or getting toJune 20) gether with friends or relatives will affect the way you feel about someone. Romance is on the rise.

Stick close to home and take time to relax and rejuve(June 21- nate. The less said, the better July 22) when dealing with sensitive issues that arise between you and a loved one.

CANCER

Peanuts

Control your emotions and LEO adapt to inevitable change.

(July 23- You can only account for your Aug. 22) words and actions, not what others decide to say or do. Be smart and do what’s best for you.

Don’t share information VIRGO or gossip. You’ll damage your (Aug. 23reputation if you don’t have Sept. 22) your facts straight. Focus on offering encouragement, not criticism. Aim to please.

Calvin and Hobbes

Make physical improveLIBRA (Sept. 23- ments. Fix up your space and Oct. 23) reconnect with people who have been a benefit to you in the past. A healthier lifestyle will increase your energy and accomplishments.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Make adjustments to your SCORPIO living arrangements or home (Oct. 24that will be conducive to imNov. 22) proving your creative output.

Fashion an environment that encourages you to excel.

Travel and communicaSAGITTARIUS tion will lead to an interest(Nov. 23ing, potentially prosperous Dec. 21) idea. Be careful not to take someone’s word at face value.

Do your own fact-finding before you jump in.

THURSDAY’S WORD

solution for last published puzzle

Gain experience by trying CAPRICORN something new and different.

(Dec. 22- Don’t let anger seep into a Jan. 19) conversation. It’s OK to have a difference of opinion. Give freedom to get freedom in return.

Share with someone you AQUARIUS love. Make reasonable plans.

(Jan. 20- A joint effort will bring you Feb. 19) closer to your long-term goal.

Romance is on the rise.

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

An opening you’ve been waiting for will turn out to be a disappointment if your expectations are too high.

Take one step at a time and don’t overspend.

saturDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018

19

“We just need your support” – Hetmyer confident Warriors can win it all

G

uyana Amazon Warriors star batsman Shimron Hetmyer was all smiles on Thursday evening after the Warriors secured an empathic win in their first match of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2018.

The left-hand batsman, who came in at number four to stabilise the shaky innings, eventually played to the end, getting his team over the line with an unbeaten 79 runs from 45 balls.

With an innings containing nine fours and four sixes, the 21-year-old electrified the Providence National Stadium, leaving his fellow Guyanese in awe of his massive capabilities.

Speaking on the technicalities of the pitch and play,

Hetmyer disclosed that he was comfortable on the pitch and focused on rotating the strike as much as possible.

“I’ve never played on these pitches before the Bangladesh series. I think this one of the new pitches closer to the other side, so it really helped me.”

When asked if he was worried about the three Warriors wickets falling within the power play, Hetmyer noted that he did not even think twice about it.

“No, I didn’t. ‘Cause I knew there were some good guys left. Sherfane Rutherford, he is a very good batsman, but he didn’t get a chance tonight. What we talk about in the meeting is if the batsman gets in, let them just take it right through to the

end. I guess that was my role tonight.”

Straying away from the actual game, Hetmyer shared that it was refreshing to be able to perform well in front of an enormous home crowd. “It’s great playing in front of my home crowd; I always love playing in Guyana.”

He went on to note that a sizeable crowd was what drove players to go the extra mile, hence being successful in their games. As such, the batsman is confident that the overall Warriors team have what it takes to bring the trophy home for the first time in six years.

“Just keep supporting us, I do think this is the year for us, we just need the support.”

Anderson takes 5 as India rattled for 107

James Anderson celebrates taking the wicket of Lokesh Rahul

J

ames Anderson took 5-20 as England bowled a woeful India out for 107 on a rain-affected second day of the second Test at Lord's.

India fell to 15-3 after being asked to bat in conditions perfectly suited for swing bowling.

Anderson struck twice early on before the first of

SCOREBOARD

India 1st Innings M Vijay b Anderson 0 KL Rahul c †Bairstow b Anderson 8 CA Pujara run out (Pope) 1 V Kohli (c) c Buttler b Woakes 23 AM Rahane c Cook b Anderson 18 HH Pandya c Buttler b Woakes 11 KD Karthik † b Curran 1 R Ashwin lbw b Broad 29 Kuldeep Yadav lbw b Anderson 0 Mohammed Shami not out 10 I Sharma lbw b Anderson 0

Extras (lb 5, nb 1) 6 TOTAL all out (35.2 Overs, RR: 3.02) 107 Fall of wickets: 1-0 (M Vijay, 0.5 ov), 2-10 (KL Rahul, 6.1 ov), 3-15 (CA Pujara, 8.3 ov), 4-49 (V Kohli, 21.4 ov), 5-61 (HH Pandya, 23.3 ov), 6-62 (KD Karthik, 24.2 ov), 7-84 (AM Rahane, 29.4 ov), 8-96 (Kuldeep Yadav, 33.6 ov), 9-96 (R Ashwin, 34.2 ov), 10-107 (I Sharma, 35.2 ov) BOWLING: JM Anderson (13.25-20-5), SCJ Broad (10-2-371), CR Woakes (6-2-19-2), SM Curran (6-0-26-1)

two lengthy rain delays.

Chris Woakes took 2-19, including captain Virat Kohli, in an extended evening session as India - 1-0 down in the series - folded in only 35.2 overs.

Woakes, returning to the side in place of Ben Stokes, and Anderson bowled superbly to expose India's poor technique against the moving ball.

Only the intervention of Mohammed Shami, the number 11, pushed India beyond 100 before Ishant Sharma was trapped lbw

by Anderson to wrap up the innings.

With the weather set to improve on Saturday, India face a sizeable task to drag themselves back into the match. (BBC Sport)

Shimron Hetmyer receives his Man-of-the-Match prize for his unbeaten 79 on Thursday evening

Captain Pogba scores as Man Utd defeat Leicester

M

anchester United manager Jose Mourinho praised Paul Pogba for "putting himself forward for the team" after he captained the side and scored the opening goal in the win over Leicester City on the first day of the Premier League season.

Pogba - strongly linked with Barcelona this summer - was a surprise starter only four days after his return to training, having won the World Cup with France just under a month ago.

The hosts made a flying start at Old Trafford, winning a penalty in the second minute when Daniel Amartey handled Alexis Sanchez's deflected shot.

Pogba stepped up and after a slow run-up placed the ball in the top-right corner above Kasper Schmeichel.

Left-back Luke Shaw then scored the first senior goal of his career after controlling

Paul Pogba also scored in his previous game the World Cup final

Juan Mata's aerial pass to double their lead.

Substitute Jamie Vardy scored a late consolation after Ricardo Perreira's cross had hit a post, and Foxes goalkeeper Schmeichel came forward for an injury time corner but his header went wide.

Pogba lasted 84 minutes before being replaced by Marouane Fellaini, but Mourinho said he did not expect the Frenchman to play for so long.

"We thought maximum 60 minutes, he managed over 80," said Mourinho, who asked several of his World Cup players if they could play.

Belgian Romelu Lukaku was a second-half substitute, while England's Jesse Lingard was not in the matchday squad.

"The decision belonged to Paul. I asked him and he made himself available and he was very good," added Mourinho.

"It was a match where I needed six changes

[substitutions], not three. I want to play Anthony Martial but I can't, Paul Pogba can't play 90, Fred the same. I need more changes.

"Paul was fantastic, his contribution was amazing but the fuel was disappearing. We were in trouble. Martial in the last 20 minutes could have given us the second goal but I couldn't make that change."

The Foxes had edged the first half following their early setback with debutants James Maddison and Ricardo both forcing saves from David de Gea. The second period was a slightly tamer affair before the late goals, although United substitute Lukaku was denied a goal by a good Schmeichel save.

It is the third year in a row Leicester have conceded the opening goal of the season having lost to Hull and Arsenal in the first games of the previous two campaigns. (BBC Sport)

20 Hero MotorCorp gives back for 1-year anniversary GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018

T

he primary sponsor of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL),

children.

Rose Ramdehol Auto Sales, the distributor of

of the Shaheed Home the chance to interact with two Guyana Amazon Warriors

Left-hand batsman Shimron Hetmyer exchanges a few words with another youngster

Hero MotorCorp, went the extra mile on Friday in celebration of its first year operating in Guyana.

The motorcycle and scooter manufacturing company celebrated in a different way, giving back to less-fortunate

Hero’s products, took up the mantle of organising a cheerful visit to the Shaheed Boys and Girls home. Added to that, the organisers took the opportunity to utilise its partnership with the Hero CPL by giving the children

players.

Speaking on behalf of the Auto Company, Joshua Ramdehol revealed that Hero has been actively involved in and has a stunning track record for community service. Ramdehol thus ex-

pressed elation at being part of such an initiative.

“Globally, Hero sponsors a lot of sporting events such as IPL, CPL, golf, along with social programmes such as funding for university, campaigns, youth programmes, and we have pledged here in Guyana to continue this work of Hero by sponsoring local events….”

He went on to state that giving back is a major responsibility of corporate entities. “Being a part of the Private Sector, it’s our social responsibility to ensure that everyone has the equal opportunity and fair option to education and social services. So, it is our responsibility to give back,” he explained.

There was an outpouring of gratitude on behalf of the Rahaman family, who is tasked with upkeeping the orphanage. “On behalf of the Rahamans and the entire Shaheed Boys and Girls Orphanage, it is our sincerest appreciation for remembering us, remembering the children and bringing these world-class athletes as a source of inspiration and ad-

Guyana Amazon Warriors all-rounder Chris Green presents a token to an elated young man

miration. I would like to appreciate the company Hero for sponsoring this and more specifically, the Ramdehol Company for promoting us and the children,” a family representative said.

Following the formalities, Shimron Hetmyer and Chris Green, who were representing the Guyana Amazon Warriors team, interacted with the children and shared bits of advice and encouraging words with them.

“As an international visitor it is great to see the commitment being shown to those in need of it. The kids here today are the important ones. And the work being done here is really special,” stated all-rounder Chris Green.

The children were later presented with back-toschool tokens and a variety of gear, so that they too can get involved in the game of cricket.

CONCACAF U-15 Girls' Championship…

Guyana claim victory in final match

“I

believe the future is bright for the women’s game in Guyana and the investment the GFF [Guyana Football Federation] has made in the U-15 Girls will pay dividends in the future,” said International Women's Coordinator Paul Beresford, following the national U-15 girls’ second victory to conclude their participation in the CONCACAF Girls’ U-15 Championship in Florida, US Friday.

Guyana defeated Curaçao by 6-0 in a match which saw the team dominating the play throughout the match with goals from Shacaylah Williams who scored twice, Samantha Banfield, Jalade Trim, Kersti Thomas and Shamya Daniels respectively.

According to Beresford, the match was the breakout game the technical staff was hoping for in the tournament and Guyana could have

Guyana's starting line-up versus Curaçao at the CONCACAF 2018 Girls' U-15 Championship

achieved a higher score line with two early goals but for some offside calls made early in the match.

Nonetheless, the players executed the tactical game plan presented by the technical staff.

Guyana’s team, captained by forward Trim, saw Banfield’s goal in the 12th minute as the opener followed

by Williams’ goal to give Guyana a 2-0 lead at half time. “Guyana continued to pressure Curaçao in the second half and Jalade Trim got on the scoresheet with a calm finish. Shacaylah Williams added one more goal in the second half to complete her brace, Guyana’s final two goals came from Kirsty Thomas and Shamya Daniels, who completed the scoring with two minutes left in the contest,” as reported by Beresford.

The starting line-up was as follows: Ludesha Reynolds (GK); Aliea Moses; Hasha Holder; Jenea Knight; Samantha Banfield; Shacaylah Williams; Jalade Trim (C); Anaya Willabus; Anastasia Salvadore; Ashaya Doobay and Allianna Holder.

The CONCACAF U-15 Girls’ Championship was the first international tournament for the national U-15 girls in some time with a mix of Guyana and internationally-based players.

CLASSIFIED ADS

saturDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

CAR RENTAL

TO LET

Car and minibus for hire-airport, weddings, creek etc. Contact Kumar on 265-0100 or 617-2376

One-bedroom apartment at Parfaite Harmonie (Dairy) Call: 670-2653, 638-8499

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

670-2653, 638-8499

FOR SALE 1 two door refrigerator (foreign use), 1 six hole 20’’ mag-rims with tires, fits tundra, Tacoma, Hilux pick-up, 1 diesel fuel pumps for Hilux 1KDFTV engine, 1 turbo for Hilux 1KDFTV engine, 1 turbo for Pardo 3.0 diesel engine, 1 Small twin tub washing machine. Contact Tel: 220-1630 or 638-1829.

HERBAL TREATMENT Have one of the most effective herbal cancer treatment. Also treatment for diabetes- no need for amputation. Get good result in 3 days. Call 612-8944, 688-3663.

LAND for sale

House upper flat, privacy, security, convenience, 2 bedrooms $30,000 Garden of Eden, EBD 592-601-3232

SERVICES Do you need a designated driver?

Call 667-0887

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

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

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

taxi services GR Taxi, 24 hours. Phone: 2257878, 219-5000 or 227-2100

VACANCIES

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

WANTED. Drivers and Security Personnel. Apply to North West Mining Investment Inc. 344 Middle and East Streets, N/Cummingsburg

NOTICE

CUSTOMER SERVICE ASSISTANT. CALL OR WHATSAPP 680-3863

APPLICATION FOR MONEY LENDER’S CERTIFICATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 4 OF THE MONEYLENDERS ACT 1 ROLSTON HARPER, OF 41 TROTMAN STREET, GOLDEN GROVE ECD, HEREBY GIVE NOTICE THAT I HAVE APPLIED TO THE MAGISTRATE OF THE GEORGETOWN MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT FOR A CERTIFICATE UNDER THE MONEY LENDERS ACT, AUTHORISING THE GRANT TO ME OF A MONEYLENDER’S LICENCE TO CARRY ON THE BUSINESS OF A MONEY LENDER UNDER THE TITLE OF RH MESSENGER, AT 42 TROTMAN STREET, GOLDEN GROVE ECD. NOTICE OF ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE APPLICATION SHOULD BE SENT FORTHWITH TO THE CLERK OF COURT OF THE VIGILANCE MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT AND A COPY OF ANY SUCH NOTICE SHOULD BE SENT TO THE SUBSCRIBER. APPLICANT ROLSTON HARPER. DATED AT GEORGETOWN, GUYANA.

BOTTLE WASHER: FOR DETAILS. CALL OR WHATSAPP 680-3863

K

Alanzo Ambrose and Nigel Duguid, We Stand United’s Andrew Hicks, Silvio

given out is the Player of the Year, which holds distinction in the Under-15, Under-17, Under-19, Under-21, B Team (Second Division) and A Team (Second Division).

Batsman of the Year and Bowler of the Year are

also up for grabs along with Most Disciplined Player, Most Improved and Most Committed Member.

The KUSC will have the Volleyball Player of the Year and Female Player of the Year awards adjudged.

Advantage Tennis Academy launches

N

House for Sale. 3 bedrooms, bungalow-style.

Gated community, Versailles. Valued at $35M (Negotiable). Tel: 612-9766

House for sale, 2-family, privacy, security, convenience, $11.5m, Garden of Eden, EBD 592-601-3232

DeNobrega and Christopher Griffith alongside Cocos’ Jamaul John, Alanis’s

Innins, Deeraj Garbarran, and Linden Bauxite Flyers’ Michael Anthony.

KUSC awards ceremony on tonight

endall’s Union Sports Club (KUSC) will be holding its second annual awards ceremony today, August 11, at the club’s pavilion for the year 20172018 period.

Among the awards to be

LOT 15 PUBLIC ROAD #2 VILLAGE WEST COAST BERBICE. 3 HOUSE LOTS. COCONUT AND MANGO TREES. RICE CULTIVATION. RED SAND. 49FT BY 10,314 FT LENGTH. PRICE $18M. CONTACT: 648-7109, 686-4818

Lot 15 Public Road, #2 Village, West Coast Berbice. 49ft x 10,314ft Length. $18M. Contact: 648-7109 or 686-4818

ANSA McAL’s Non-Alcoholic Brand Manager Errol Nelson (second right) hands over the sponsorship to National Cycling Coach Hassan Mohammed in the presence of Lucozade’s Brand Manager Fharis Mohamed and iCool water marketing assistant Gabrielle Lopes

The awardees of the inaugural awards ceremony held by the KUSC

TRANSPORTED LAND WITH COMMERCIAL BUILDING 33X40 LAND(108X200) LOCATED AT LOWER MAHAICONY, ECD. PRICE: 38 MILLION NON NEGOTIABLE. CONTACT: 6420336, 258-0280, 655-6643

LOT 38 BELLA DAM, WEST BANK DEMERARA, SIZE: 120*40 FT PRICE $4.5M NEGOTIABLE. TEL: 673-9231, 216-4063, 685-5476

everage giant ANSA McAL has collaborated with National Cycling Coach Hassan Mohammed to bring fans the inaugural run of the Lucozade/iCool 11-stage cycling programme, which is set for today at the inner circuit of the National Park.

Riders will converge to gain ranking points as the best rider in the country as well as a spot on the national team to represent the nation at the Caribbean Championships.

At the ANSA McAL head office, Mohammed said he was quite pleased to have the company on board, recognising its contribution to sports locally.

Among the top riders to contest the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational will be Romello Crawford, Evolution pair Paul

Vacancy for sales person to work at a mini mart. Call or whatsapp 624-0033

property for sale

PRIME LOCATION-PUBLIC ROAD, LOT 2 SARAH JOHANNA, EAST BANK DEMERARA. SIZE: 35*101 FT PRICE $6M NEGOTIABLE. TEL: 673-9231, 216-4063, 685-5476

21 Lucozade/iCool 11-stage cycling meet pedals off today B sports

Classified Ads $5+VAT per word

Call:

223-7230 Ext 50

ational Men’s Open Tennis Champion Anthony Downes has returned from St Vincent, where he was successful in attaining his International Tennis Federation Level 1 certification.

Downes was assisted by ExxonMobil and the Guyana Olympic Association to attend the intense 12-day course, the first step in furthering his aim of using modern coaching methods to take the game of tennis to a higher level in Guyana.

Downes will lead the list of coaches in the newly-formed Advantage Tennis Academy, which is committed to the growth and development of tennis in Guyana and the Caribbean. With the aim to have all members enjoy their involvement in the sport and for those who wish to compete, Advantage Tennis aims to prepare them to play against the best competition, both locally and internationally.

Advantage Tennis Academy will be based at the Le Ressouvenir Tennis Club, and has the blessings of Guyana Lawn Tennis Association President Samuel Barakat who said “Anthony has been our best player for some time, an eight-time winner of the GBTI Open, Guyana’s premier tennis tournament, to have such a high-quality player take up the mantle of coaching augurs well for the development of the game.”

Advantage Tennis Academy has a website www.tennisguyana.com where more information about its programmes and service offerings can be found. Interested persons can email admin@tennisguyana.com.

Anthony Downes

According to a release from the Sports Club, awards will also be given to two former players of the club and two persons who have contributed to the development of the community.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018

2018 Hero CPL...

Paul backing Warriors to shine against Stars G

– Coach Botha says team focusing on one game at a time

uyana Amazon Warriors all-rounder Keemo Paul and Head Coach Johan Botha said the team were focused on this weekend’s upcoming double-header, but were looking to take it one match at a time as they prepared to tackle the St Lucia Stars at Providence, today, Saturday, August 11.

During the Warriors’ pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon at the Marriott Hotel, the rightarm seamer, who was the pick of the Guyana franchise’s bowling in Thursday night’s opener versus the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, said it was good to have kicked off the campaign on a high note.

“I just backed myself and bowled well and bowled my best ball when I thought it was the right time, so it’s all about having a clear mind. I see everything as a challenge, so I just want to overcome it and make strides,” said Paul.

The West Indies fast bowler starred with 2-16, standing out among a good bowling performance from the other worldclass Warriors bowlers.

The Essequibian said that

Guyana Amazon Warriors all-rounder Keemo Paul and Head Coach Johan Botha at a press conference on Friday

he was happy to be called upon by his captain to be a key part of the pace attack, adding that he was looking forward to maintaining his form.

“I’m looking forward to bowling in the death overs; to do it for the Warriors is an honour. I’m embracing the opportunity that has been given to me, so I just

want to continue to do well in my death overs or whenever I’m given the ball.”

From a bowling perspective, the ex-Windies U-19 Vice Captain said that overall it was good to have a first-hand look at the surface at Providence, especially with two more home games left over the weekend. He also maintained

that the experienced as well as upcoming bowlers would need to work as a unit in order to keep teams at bay throughout the competition.

“I mean we have a lot of senior bowlers in our team with international experience, they know how they want to go about doing their stuff; they played a

few practice games on the wicket so they know what it’s like. I think everyone has knowledge of how the wicket plays, so it’s about backing yourself when you get out there,” Paul added.

Head Coach Botha was also in good spirits as he said the team had ideal preparation ahead of the Patriots encounter. The exSouth African all-rounder also added that he was delighted with how the team handled their first assignment, adding that it was necessary to keep the momentum at a high going forward.

Regarding the woes, Botha said while he was thus far happy with the batting and bowling returns following game one, he was focused on improving in the area of fielding as well as helping bowlers reduce the number of extra deliveries, something which he said needed to be rectified immediately.

It was also highlighted by the Coach that they were not about to take the Stars lightly as he knew they would be seeking to rebound, given their opening round loss to the defending champs Trinbago Knight

Riders.

“Any team would want to start three from three, but we are going to focus on tomorrow (Saturday), get the result we want, then focus on Sunday. Personally, I think we can win games on the road and if someone outplays us, we will have to go on the road and win games,” Botha declared.

Meanwhile, the St Lucia team underwent their training session on Friday, with a rebound win definitely on the cards.

Despite a star-studded top order, the Stars failed to shine in Wednesday’s game as the likes of Andre Fletcher, David Warner, Lendl Simmons, Captain Kieron Pollard, and Darren Sammy all failed.

With a powerhouse lineup including T20 specialist bowlers – pacers Mitchell McCleneghan and Kesrick Williams, the Stars will be gunning for a win to get themselves going this season. The Warriors will, however, fancy their chances as they beat the Stars twice last season in two low-scoring games.

The first ball is expected to bowl off at 16:00h Guyana time. (Clifton Ross)

CPL first T20 league to stream LIVE on Twitter T

he Hero Caribbean Premier League (@CPL) and Twitter on Friday, announced a collaboration to live stream all matches of the 2018 season in 54 countries including an exclusive live stream of the matches in South Africa on Twitter.

This is the first time that cricket fans in these countries will be able to watch full matches on Twitter and join in the live conversation at the same time. Fans in India will also be able to enjoy over 150 highlight video clips from the league, courtesy of an in-stream video sponsorship collaboration with the Hero Caribbean P r e m i e r League (@ CPL) and Hero MotoCorp (@ HeroMotoCorp), the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer.

The 2018 edition of the Hero CPL will feature superstars from around the cricketing world including Chris Gayle (@ HenryGayle), Andre Russell (@ Russell12A), Steve Smith (@stevesmith49), David Warner (@davidwarner31), Kieron Pollard (@ KieronPollard55), Dwayne Bravo (@DJBravo47), Sunil Narine (@ SunilPNarine74), David Miller (@

DavidMillerSA12) and many more.

The live stream of CPL matches will be available to logged-in and logged-out cricket fans on Twitter and connected devices via @CPL on Twitter.

Twitter’s in-stream video sponsorship enables publishers like Hero Caribbean Premier League (@CPL) to monetize video content while making it easy for advertisers such as Hero MotoCorp (@HeroMotoCorp) to reach engaged audiences and sponsor exclusive content.

Through the partnership, premium video content highlights from #CPL18 will be made available on Twitter in India and globally. The in-stream video sponsorship collaboration builds on the success of the last season and treats fans on Twitter to the best moments from #CPL18.

Bharatendu Kabi (@bharatendukabi), Head – Corporate Communication, Hero MotoCorp, said,“We are delighted to extend our association with Twitter for the second consecutive year, for the Hero Caribbean Premier League. Cricket fans in India and around the world now prefer to watch live streams of their favourite matches at their convenience

and we are glad to play a key role in facilitating this. Twitter is today one of the most preferred media for the youth and our continued partnership with them is a signal of Hero’s commitment to bringing sports to where the fans are.”

“Hero CPL is the biggest party in sport and we’re proud to partner with Twitter to become the first T20 cricket league to give fans access to cricket streaming LIVE on the platform.

Hero CPL brings together some of the biggest cricket superstars in a carnival atmosphere. In addition to the games, the highlight

clips on Twitter thanks to our title sponsor Hero will ensure that fans don’t miss a single moment, just like Fabian Allen’s stunning catch last season. Our goal is to engage the cricket community even more deeply and this partnership w i l l make it big, especially as our star players are popular on Twitter.” said Vishnu Kumar (@vishkmar), Head of Digital, Hero CPL

Commenting on this partnership, Aneesh Madani (@ aneeshmadani), Head of Sports Partnerships, Asia Pacific, Twittersaid, “The global, public conversation around cricket happens on Twitter and we’re thrilled to team up with Hero CPL to add LIVE-streamed cricket to that experience for fans in 54 countries.

Strengthening our partnership with Hero CPL is the in-stream video sponsorship with Hero for the second year running. Together, we’re excited to offer cricket fans a unique experience to take in the games, highlight video clips and the conversation, all in one place on Twitter.”

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018

Hero CPL 2018 Match 3

23

Magical Russell’s unbeaten 121 puts TKR to the stake A

ndre Russell led his team to an inspiring four-wicket win over Defending champions, Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) with the first century

TKR, bounced backed from his opening match score of 8 to contribute 46 at the top of the order.

Brendon McCullum (56) also cashed in on a good

were claimed by Khan while Gabriel, storming in at the other end, removed Rovman Powell for just one.

Johnson Charles launched a fight back with a 5-boundary score of 24, however, Fawad Ahmed’s introduction meant the end of Johnson. He fell lbw to the leg-break bowler and JT were 41-5.

When Russell met Kennar Lewis in the middle, the equation kept looking more than possible with the skipper going hard at the Trinbago bowling attack. Dre Russ could have been dismissed on the first ball but Khan misjudged a simple catch at backward square leg off Ahmed.

Earlier in the evening, the Tallawahs won the toss and gave the opposition first strike on a very familiar track.

After the early dismissal of Sunil Narine in the second over for 7, the combination of Lynn and Munro produced a 98-run partnership which rocked the visitors.

Both batsmen slammed three maximums but Munroe picked five boundaries while Lynn had four. It was already Munro’s second fifty in two matches.

Denesh Ramdin was unlucky on Friday evening, recording a first ball duck compliments of Russell. He missed the opportunity to

Andre Russell of Jamaica Tallawahs runs between the wickets

Ali Khan of Trinbago Knight Riders appeals successfully for the wicket of Ross Taylor

of the 2018 Hero Caribbean Premier League on Friday evening in Trinidad.

The Queen’s Park Oval witnessed their home side bow out to a rampaging Russell as Tallawahs successfully chased down 224 for victory.

Batting first, TKR capitalized on the short boundaries and loose Tallawahs bowling as they stormed to 223-6 in their allotted overs.

It was an entertaining batting performance from the home side that were led, yet again, by an aggressive half century from Colin Munro, who top scored with 61.

Opener Chris Lynn, in his first season with the

score after being dismissed for just 13 in the previous match. Darren Bravo got a healthy strike rate going but was stopped on 29 when he was bowled by Tallawahs captain Russell.

In reply, Tallawahs found themselves in hot water early on as Ali Khan’s magic mesmerised the Jamaican top order.Ali Khan and Shannon Gabriel were the chief destroyers for the Tallawahs with them removing the first four batsmen in under five overs. At one point, Russell’s side was 16-4.

Glenn Phillips (06), Andre McCarthy (00) and the big wicket of Ross Taylor

SCOREBOARD

Trinbago Knight Riders Innings (20 overs maximum) SP Narine c Powell b Imad Wasim 7 CA Lynn c Russell b Santokie 46 C Munro c Taylor b Zampa 61 BB McCullum c Powell b Russell 56 DM Bravo b Russell 29 JPR Scantlebury-Searles not out 6 D Ramdin † c McCarthy b Russell 0 DJ Bravo (c) not out Extras (lb 4, nb 1, w 13) 18 TOTAL (20 Overs, RR: 11.15) 223/6 Yet to bat: Fawad Ahmed, Ali Khan, ST Gabriel Fall of wickets: 1-10 (SP Narine, 1.1 ov), 2-108 (CA Lynn, 10.2 ov), 3-130 (C Munro, 13.3 ov), 4-216 (BB McCullum, 19.2 ov), 5-216 (DM Bravo, 19.3 ov), 6-216 (D Ramdin, 19.4 ov) BOWLING: K Santokie (4-041-1), Imad Wasim (4-0-231), KAJ Roach (4-0-64-0), AD Russell (3-0-38-3), A Zampa (4-

0-35-1), R Powell (1-0-18-0) Jamaica Tallawahs Innings (target: 224 runs from 20 overs) GD Phillips † c Fawad Ahmed b Ali Khan 6 J Charles lbw b Fawad Ahmed 24 AM McCarthy c Lynn b Ali Khan 0 LRPL Taylor lbw b Ali Khan 1 R Powell b Gabriel 1 K Lewis c Scantlebury-Searles b Fawad Ahmed 52 AD Russell (c) not out 121 Imad Wasim not out 3 Extras (b 5, lb 2, nb 4, w 6) 17 TOTAL (19.3 Overs, RR: 11.53) 225-6 Yet to bat: KAJ Roach, K Santokie, A Zampa Fall of wickets: 1-7 (GD Phillips, 0.3 ov), 2-7 (AM McCarthy, 0.5 ov), 3-15 (LRPL Taylor, 2.2 ov), 4-16 (R Powell, 3.3 ov), 5-41 (J Charles, 6.1 ov), 6-202 (K Lewis, 17.4 ov) BOWLING: Ali Khan (4-024-3), ST Gabriel (3-0-28-1), DJ Bravo (4-0-60-0), Fawad Ahmed (4-0-46-2), SP Narine (3.3-0-42-0), JPR ScantleburySearles (1-0-18-0)

Trinbago Knight Riders celebrate the wicket of Andre McCarthy

Russell’s brief time in the middle saw him record a 22-ball fifty which included six sixes. After reaching the landmark, he raged on as the home crowd became quieter by the delivery.

Meanwhile, Lewis (51) played an excellent role at the other end, getting the strike turned over as often as possible to the fire blower. He also recorded a half century but departed when JT needed 22 from 14.

That did not seem to faze Russell who carried on to his second CPL century in just 40 deliveries. His first, ironically, was also against TKR. In that inning, he needed just 42 balls to reach triple figures.Not much can be said about this man-of-the-match performance except for, it was one worth watching.

In the final over, JT needed six from six balls and Narine was given the chance to do something special, but it was Russell night. Imad Wasim turned the strike over on the second ball allowing Russell to finish it emphatically, with a six over long on to reach 225-6.

Russell was left unbeaten on 121 which was laced with 13 sixes, the record amount, and four boundaries. His strike rate was a magnificent one of above 246 from his 49 deliveries.

toggle his aggregate following his unbeaten 50 in the season opener.

Even though Russell took

3 – 38, they could not stop TKR from scoring. Krishmar Santokie, Imam Wasim and Adam Zampa each took a wicket as Javon Searles

brought the innings to a close with a six off Russell; a slower full ball that went sailing over the wide long-on boundary. (Kizan Brumell)

saturDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Hero CPL 2018 Match 3

Magical Russell’s unbeaten 121 puts TKR to the stake Pg 23

Paul backing Warriors to shine against Stars

– Coach Botha says team focusing on one game at a time ...“We just need your support” Pages 19&21

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.