Guyanatimes 11 september 2017

“The Climbers” humanitarian club launched in Region 2 P14 – aspires to promote volunteerism

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, September 11, 2017

Issue No. 3329

Hurricane Irma claims Guyanese life Page 13

...as Diaspora in Florida braces for impact ...remittances projected to fall significantly

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE: Sugar estates’ closure

GAWU contemplating next ‘serious’ P7 move

Dead: Dereck Ragnauth

Beauty queen opens Fitness Park & Diabetic Centre Page 14

Ram and P12 McRae launches 2nd edition of Companies Act Handbook

Govt must P11 ensure Audit Office strengthened for oil – PPP

Miss World Guyana Vena Mookram joined by her Sweet Vigor team at the launch of her Fitness Park and Diabetic Centre in Diamond

21-year-old Page 2 motorcyclist killed in early morning accident ‒ girlfriend critical

Several arrested in Norton Street drug bust

Page 2

‒ as CANU intercepts over 75lbs ganja in early morning raid

Govt unit flouts court order to demand Page 3 exorbitant broadcast fees

...warns agencies to avoid backroom deals with Govt ahead of budget

Ready Mix P9 Concrete Ltd robbed P5 PPP denounces ‘lies’ about Exxon’s oil contract disclosure

2 news

monDAY, september 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Several arrested in Norton Street drug bust 21-year-old motorcyclist ‒ as CANU intercepts over 75lbs ganja in early morning raid killed in early morning accident R anks of the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) conducted a raid at a house at the corner of Camp and Norton Streets, Georgetown early Sunday morning, and intercepted 34.048 kilograms (75.5 pounds) of marijuana, valued at more than $5.6 million.

Three persons have been taken into custody, and are assisting with investigations.

CANU said ranks conducted the raid at the house at

about 06:00hrs on Sunday, and uncovered bulk parcels of suspected marijuana contained in two barrels and two boxes. The drug was

‒ girlfriend critical

By Lakhram Bhagirat

A

Place of interception (first building after light post – with brownish roof)

Some of the marijuana

Two barrels containing marijuana

wrapped in plastic and hidden in the boxes and barrels. Information reaching this publication suggests that the drug either was shipped to

the country or was on the way out.

The Guyana Times understands that CANU is still in the process of gathering information, and additional raids are expected in order to break the ring.

The owner of the property, a senior citizen, along with a female and a male, was taken into custody.

Sources at CANU have opined that there were more drugs on the property, but they may have been moved.

n accident that occurred on the MetenMeer-Zorg public road, West Coast Demerara (WCD) on Sunday at about 2:55hrs has left 21-yearold Kevin Singh of Hague Backdam, WCD dead, and his girlfriend Verna Wells warded at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) in an unconscious and critical state.

The two persons were reportedly returning home from watching the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) cricket finals at a friend’s home a few villages away. According to information, Singh was riding motorcycle CH 8732, which crashed into a parked forklift at the side of the road.

The impact of the crash sent the electrician and his girlfriend flying from the bike, to land several feet away from the site of the crash. Neither victim was wearing a helmet at time of the incident, and Singh may have been under the influence.

Rushed to the Leonora Diagnostic Center, the couple was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where Singh was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Police have said their investigations have so far revealed that the couple was proceeding east along the northern carriageway of the road on motorcycle CH 8732 when the collision with a forklift which was parked on the edge of the road occurred, and the persons ended up on the northern grass parapet.

According to the dead man’s cousin, Nirmala Singh, a call was received early on Sunday morning informing family members of the accident, and they immediately rushed to the GPHC to investigate.

“We got a call early in the morning and we went to the hospital, where they tell us that he died. He come home from work around 7pm and then said he going by his friend in Anna Catherina to watch the cricket; and he was coming home when the accident happen,” she related.

Nirmala said relatives were informed that Kevin crashed into a parked forklift with his girlfriend in tow, but the family does not know the woman. “We hear that she is from Region One (North West District) and has three children, but we don’t know anything about she, because we never meet she,” Nirmala said.

Another relative, Kayann Singh, told the <<Guyana Times>> that the dead man would usually stay at their Lot 73 Haley Street, Wortmanville,

Dead: Kevin Singh

Georgetown home during the work week and go to his Hague home on weekends.

She related that Kevin was involved in an accident just over a week ago, and his bike was recently repaired.

Just last Friday, 38-year-old Malcom Ross, called ‘Shabba,’ and his girlfriend, 20-year-old Jewel Pestano, were killed in an accident, when the motorcycle on which they were travelling crashed into a car on the Cummings Lodge railway embankment road on the East Coast of Demerara.

In addition, Traffic Chief Dion Moore has said that Operation Safeway, which was launched on September 15, 2016, has yielded some success in reducing the number of road fatalities.

The Traffic Chief launched Operation Safeway with the intention of decreasing accidents and deaths on the roads, and promoting better road safety awareness. On Friday, Traffic Chief Moore said, “Safeway has borne us some amount of fruit.

“To date, we are at a 22 per cent decrease in accidents and 20 per cent decrease in deaths, in comparison to the same period last year,” he said.

From January to September 2017, the GPF had recorded 65 accidents with 72 deaths. Speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol remain the leading causes of accidents on the roadways.

“It is not pleasing, but it’s a great achievement, and we are looking forward to the continued support from members of the public to further reduce accidents and deaths by the end of this year,” Moore said.

When Safeway was launched, the GPF had already recorded 89 accidents with 96 deaths. There was a 33 per cent increase in fatal accidents and a 17 per cent increase in deaths compared to 2015.

The year 2016 was one of the deadliest for road users, with 116 fatal accidents resulting in 127 deaths by the end of that year.

news

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monDAY, september 11, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, September 11 – 08:30h-10:00h and Tuesday, September 12 – 09:30h-11:00h.

...as Media Association highlights dishonest Nagamootoo-led DPI outfit

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, September 11 – 07:45h-09:15h and Tuesday, September 12 – 08:35h-10:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Heavy rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected throughout the day, with sunny weather expected in the afternoon. Clear skies can be expected in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to South-easterly between 0.89 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 07:51h and 20:09h reaching maximum heights of 2.60 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 13:42h reaching a minimum height of 0.68 metre.

SATURDAY, september 9, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS I

08

12 15

16

18 21

2 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

DAILY MILLIONS 03 13 14 20 23 LUCKY 3 0 9 9 Afternoon Draw

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DRAW DE LINE

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Govt unit flouts court order to demand exorbitant broadcast fees

17 19 20

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

T

he local media fraternity, through its broadcasters, and the Coalition Administration, through the Minister of Information, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, are at loggerheads over the payment of fees; and broadcasters are disputing official statements emanating from the Government’s Department of Public Information to the effect that all is well in the media landscape.

The matter has since attracted the attention of the Guyana Media Association (GMA), which has since condemned demands made for payment in violation of a court decision handed down by then Chief Justice Ian Chang in May 2014. An absolute order was made on that date.

According to the GMA, the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) is currently demanding fees which are being asked for as back-payments from the year 2014.

“It is this Association’s understanding that the Authority is making the demand for these back-payments on the basis of fees set under a court-overturned regulation which was instituted by the past administration”, the GMA has said.

The decision by then Chief Justice Chang follows an action by four existing broadcasters to challenge the imposition of $2.5 million in fees, which represented a 1000 per cent increase, and would cause financial ruin. It was considered in breach of Article 146 of the Constitution, which guaranteed the broadcasters’ right to freedom of expression.

The Broadcasting Act, as noted in the decision, allows for a fee ‘which shall be a sum equivalent to such percentage of the gross revenue of the licensee as the Minister may by regulations prescribe.’

This, according to the GMA, does not allow for the imposition of a fee to be prescribed by the Minister un-

GNBA Chairman Leslie Sobers

der an option where, if the percentage of the gross is less than $2.5 million, the Authority will ask for the greater sum of $2.5 million, as being demanded.

In his decision on May 9, 2014, the Chief Justice examined the sections in the Broadcasting Act, distinguishing between a grant fee for a new licence and an annual fee.

The Chief Justice, in his decision, stated the Authority’s reliance on regulations which were published on November 29, 2013 in the Official Gazette. This set out the demand of $2.5 million if it is greater than a gross percentage.

Justice Chang had at the time also ruled that while the relevant section empowers the Minister to make regulations on grant fees, such a fee ‘would, of necessity, apply only to first time broadcasters, and not to existing broadcasters.’

In granting the order in favour of the existing broadcasters, Justice Chang had ruled: “It goes without saying that an annual fee based on a percentage of gross revenue of the previous year cannot apply to a first-time broadcaster, and can apply only to existing broadcasters...On the other hand, a grant fee of $2.5 million cannot apply to existing broadcasters, and can apply only to first-time broadcasters.”

He further ruled that the ‘grant fee of $2.5 million has no application to the applicants, as existing broadcast-

ers.

According to the GMA, the Broadcasting Act 2011 required existing broadcasters to re-apply for their licences within 30 days, a stipulation with which they complied.

An Amendment which was passed in 2017 duplicates this requirement by asking existing broadcasters to again re-apply within 30 days.

Meanwhile, contrary to reports issued by the Department of Public Information under its Director Imran Khan -- a unit which falls under the purview of Prime Minister and Minister of Information Moses Nagamootoo -- local and regional media associations have also challenged the requirement of allocating free time of 60 minutes for public service broadcasting, imposed in the Amendment and defined in the Amendment to include the promotion of ‘policies and activities of the Government that benefit the public as a whole.’

According to the GMA, international press bodies among others have urged the President not to assent to the amendment, with Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF), also known as Reporters Without Borders, urging for ‘“consultations with broadcasters, in order to take into account their recommendations”.

The Department of Public Information has, however, reported that the GNBA, in a letter to Prime Minister Nagamootoo, “has reported that following discussions with several broadcasters, there has been pos-

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

itive feedback”, and no broadcaster has “expressed any disagreement with the sixty (60) minutes’ time allocation for PSA”.

The letter, dated September 8, 2017 and signed by the Chairman of the GNBA, Mr. Leslie Sobers, also stated that “the GNBA fully supports the Amendments as passed by the National Assembly in August 2017”, and that the board “has formally tabled a motion” to communicate same to the Prime Minister.

The GNBA, in updating Prime Minister Nagamootoo, reported that meetings with broadcasters will continue, and that the number of compliant broadcasters has doubled from 6 to 12 from July 2017 to September 8th, 2017, with regards those making payments.

The Broadcast (Amendment) Bill 2017 was passed in the National Assembly, and is awaiting the assent of President David Granger.

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monday, September 11, 2017

Views The game must go on??!!

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, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

The BRICS summit

I

t may have started as a witty acronym at the beginning of the new millennium by a Goldman Sachs investment banker, seeking to analyse the prospects of the major “emerging economies” in the architecture of the new global order, but BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) which became “BRICS” with South Africa becoming a member in 2011, has become quite institutionalised, having just completed its ninth leadership summit last week in China.

In 2009, after the first summit, there were several excitable projections that the bloc of nations – encompassing 41 per cent of the world’s population and 21 per cent of the world’s gross product – was launching a “new world order” that would create mass chaos in the present web of global relationships. The fears have proven groundless and the leaders of BRICS have shown themselves quite mature in realising that the world is much too interwoven to have such seismic changes.

What the BRICS have done is to create a set of parallel institutions that serve to complement the present ones that were formed after the ascendance of the West following WWII, and which offer the members of BRICS greater clout as they jostle for space at the power table.

For instance, the 10th paragraph of the closing declaration stated: “We agree to promote the development of BRICS Local Currency Bond Markets and jointly establish a BRICS Local Currency Bond Fund, as a means of contribution to the capital sustainability of financing in BRICS countries, boosting the development of BRICS domestic and regional bond markets, including by increasing foreign Private Sector participation, and enhancing financial resilience of BRICS countries.” While these developments may not sound as sexy as sending troops to Afghanistan as President Donald Trump has decided, they offer a possible alternative for nonWestern investors whether or not Trump continues with his isolationist path for the US. The forum also allows the members to deal directly with issues they may have with each other. For instance, in the months before the summit, Indian and Chinese troops tensely faced off in their Himalayan border region that many feared might escalate into a full-scale war, as occurred in 1962. Today, however, both nations are nuclear powers and such, an escalation would have catastrophic consequences for the world. The two countries decided to pull back their troops just before the summit and their leaders, Narendra Modi and Xi Jinping, held extensive talks on the sidelines of the summit.

Many countries, especially in the underdeveloped regions, were optimistic about the New Development Bank (NDB) that was launched by BRICS with an initial subscribed base of US$50 billion. In the fiveyear plan announced in July, the NDB will concentrate on sustainable infrastructure development such as clean energy, transport infrastructure, irrigation, water resource management and sanitation. Another innovation would be to finance projects in local currency and the Bank will, therefore, soon be issuing bonds in the currencies of the member nations.

But the relatively low-key approach of the NDB, as compared to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which China launched in 2015 with an authorised capital base of US$100 billion, membership of 56 countries and a Moody rating of Aaa, signals China’s quest to become the leading global nation concomitant with its expected eclipsing of the US as the largest economy in the world in the next few decades. As part of this strategy, China has also launched the two “silk roads” – one by land and one by sea – to link its underdeveloped regions with Africa, Europe and most importantly, Eurasia.

The OBOR initiative (“One belt; one road” as it is referred to in China), while seeking to develop its outlying provinces and quell economic inequality is also seen as a “pivot” to Eurasia, where there appears to be a power vacuum with the retreat of Russia. But overall, the BRICS summit demonstrates that it is a welcome institution for the strategic role it can play in addressing tensions both within and without BRICS.

Eagle Creek wildfire burns as golfers play at the Beacon Rock Golf Course in North Bonneville, Washington (Reuters/Kristi McCluer)

David Hinds’s jaundiced views in conflict with reality (Pt 2) Dear Editor, Like his pal Freddie Kissoon, David Hinds continuously propagates the notion that the People’s Progressive Party “ruined Guyana”. They are shamelessly trying to rewrite the economic and rights history of this country, when those two in particular lived and suffered through the perilous dictatorship of the Burnham era. The second President of the United States, John Adams, is credited with the famous quote, “Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.”

It was thanks to the prudent management of our resources by the PPP that Guyana had grown from bankruptcy in 1992 to the vibrant economy that the APNU/AFC coalition inherited in 2015. And I fear this government is determined to take us back to those dark, perilous times.

Perhaps David Hinds is influenced by his friend Freddie, for he has conveniently overlooked the positive changes that the PPP has made to our Constitution; to Parliament; to the Judiciary; and to the economy. The PPP reduced the massive debt burden and recorded years of sustained GDP growth. There were more investments, both local and foreign, that led to prosperity and job creation;

and the housing sector exploded with the distribution of over 100,000 house-lots to Guyanese of all ethnic and political affiliations. The PPP built new schools and healthcare facilities in every region, and expand welfare to our citizens. Yet none of this progress they see.

How sad that David Hinds has now been reduced to being the mouthpiece of the same corrupt political legacy he once despised.

And in another recent article in the media, “PPP has left Guyana in an ethnic trap” (April 24), Hinds wrote that the PPP’s political domination during its term in office translates into ethnic dominance, which “ensured that African Guyanese developed a very deep fear and hatred for that party”. According to the article, Hinds said that “the consequence is that attempts to reform governance will be seen by most PPP supporters as ethnic revenge on the part of the current government”.

He then went on to justify the political witch-hunt and ethnic cleansing of those perceived to be PPP supporters in the Public Sector as an “ethnic imbalance that needs to be corrected”.

Space does not permit an appropriate response to the erroneously racist views the learned Professor advocates, and to do so may very well put me in trouble. But I will say this: When the PPP/C took office in 1992, the Public

Sector was made up of 9095 per cent Afro-Guyanese.

Even after 23 years the composition of the Public Sector was still about 75-80 per cent Blacks in a country that has a significant Indian majority. On August 30, the Guyana Chronicle carried a photograph of the Attorney General posing with the staff of the AG Chamber. They were all Afro-Guyanese. Of the 60 to 70 employees of the Ministry of Legal Affairs (professional staff included), only about two Indo-Guyanese now work there. The others have either been dismissed or forced to resign. Since Independence 50 years ago, there was only ONE Indian Head of the Army, Major General Joseph Singh. And in the 23 years of PPP rule, there was only one Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud.

At the recent Carifesta Games held in Barbados, someone asked: “Why such a huge delegation only had approximately four persons of Indo-Guyanese origin in their midst, given that demographically Indo-Guyanese are the biggest ethnicity in Guyana?

Because of the small number of Indo-Guyanese in the delegation, it was then left to other ethnicities to depict IndoGuyanese culture in dance routines on stage.” (Stabroek News, September 2). And recently, the REO of Region Five employed 17 persons, all of whom are Afro-Guyanese in a region that is predomi-

nantly Indian.

During the 23 years of PPP rule, there was only ONE Indo-Guyanese Chief Justice, Carl Singh, who later became the only IndoGuyanese Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary. And readers may recall that the PNC never gave Justice Singh the agreement that would have confirmed him as Chancellor.

There is no doubt that Afro-Guyanese fared much more under the PPP than at any time during the entire 28 years of PNC dominance.

Some would readily admit that had it not been for the PPP, they would never be able to own a car, a bus or a home of their own. The evidence is everywhere. Ulrick Leacock, a vendor and APNU supporter, said, “If I vote back I would vote for the PPP because they were doing quite well. Which in, when they were in power for 23 years, I build a house and I was working for less money and now in APNU time, I cannot buy a bicycle.” The PPP stands prepared and committed to a public fact-based debate anytime with the likes of David Hinds and Eric Phillips to debunk this racist rhetoric they have been peddling for years to prevent more Afro-Guyanese from supporting the PPP. But don’t expect them to turn up, facts are stubborn things!

Harry Gill PPP/C Member of Parliament

Unfairly criticised by The Caribbean Voice (Pt 2)

Dear Editor, I would like to address several issues raised by The Caribbean voice (TCV) regarding my recent letter in late August on suicide in Guyana.

TCV states that suicide in this country comes about because Guyanese are: “Prone to copycatting, a

practice referred to as the Werther Effect, suicide ideation is the result of depression and/or anxiety triggered by helplessness, hopelessness, powerlessness, and loneliness. These triggers are catalysed by low levels of self-acceptance and/ or feelings of inadequacy/low self-esteem, as a result of abusive and dys-

functional relationships; lack of empathetic communication, teenage affairs and pregnancy; rape and incest; an inability to deal with problems (lack of coping skills) and/or unbearable pain – psychosis, bipolar disorder and some other mental illness.”

My response: (a) TCV needs to know that copycat-

ting is not a primary trigger driving suicide, rather it is a maladaptive response. Also, copycatting is high among individuals with personality characteristics like impulsiveness, aggressiveness or antisocial tendencies and that stress potentiates copycatting behaviours in these individucontinued on PAGE 5 als.

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MONDAY, september 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPP denounces ‘lies’ about Exxon’s oil contract disclosure ...says Ministers deliberately lying or unable to comprehend simple English

T

he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has firmly denounced, as an absolute falsehood, the contentions peddled by the Coalition Government that the Jagdeo Administration passed, in 1997, an amendment to the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act which prevents the disclosure of the ExxonMobil contract.

sertion has been parroted repeatedly by several members of the Coalition Government, including Ministers Raphael Trotman, Dominic Gaskin and Khemraj Ramjattan.”

According to the parliamentary opposition, “This lie is either peddled deliberately, or is yet another exhibition of the extravagant incompetence about which we

“...lies, falsehood, and the refusal to make public information to which the public is entitled have now become a staple in the daily diet of this Administration.”

The PPP statement, made over the weekend, echoes similar sentiments voiced by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo over Government spokespersons’ views on the non-disclosure of the contract it has inked with ExxonMobil for oil production in 2020.

In a public missive released over the weekend, the PPP said, “This ridiculous as-

regularly complain in respect of this Government.”

In this instance, according to the PPP, it is simply an issue of ministers of the Government deliberately lying, or being unable to read and comprehend the simple English language in which Section 4 of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act is expressed.

According to the PPP, this section of the Act expressly authorises disclosures such as the ExxonMobil contract, not prohibition, “as these incompetent Ministers have been asserting.”

It was reported by the opposition party that Government spokespersons in their assertions, “attribute this prohibition as an amendment to the law done in 1997 by President Bharrat Jagdeo...Even this they got wrong. Mr. Jagdeo was not the President in 1997.”

The party reiterated, as was done by Jagdeo earlier in the week, that “the 1997 amendments do not prohibit the disclosure of such information...Therefore, these Ministers have been shamelessly misleading the nation over the last several months on this issue.”

It was also pointed out that although this lie has been comprehensively exposed, Kaieteur News, in its Sunday September 10, 2017 edition, in a letter titled ‘This government had adopted

Jagdeo’s secrecy mentality’, written by “Rudolph Singh”, the lie continues to be repeated.

“This same level of lies and misinformation is being repeatedly peddled by the Guyana Chronicle...In its 9th September 2017, edition, under the caption ‘I have nothing to hide’, the Chronicle quotes extensively from a report submitted by Sukrishnalall Pasha, a Commissioner on the Public Procurement Commission (PPC), in respect to the controversial purchase of $632 million of drugs by Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) without the resort to any form of tender.”

It was, however, noted that this report is confidential and was apparently submitted to the Clerk of the National Assembly.

“How Chronicle got a copy of the report (since they are quoting from it extensively) remains a mystery.”

The State-run daily newspaper is quoted as saying, “Pasha’s 30-page minority re-

port is expected to be submitted to the National Assembly by the Opposition – the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) – with the intention of countering the substantive report prepared by the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) on GPHC’s multi-million drug purchase.”

According to the PPP, “this is another vulgar lie...

The PPP has not seen this report, and has not been asked to submit same to the National Assembly. Indeed, we shall attempt to secure a copy of the same from the National Assembly in due course.”

The party has since surmised that “lies, falsehood, and the refusal to make public information to which the public is entitled have now become a staple in the daily diet of this Administration....

Ministers of the Government, the Department of Public Information, Kaieteur News, David Hinds, Freddie Kissoon and others are all outlets through which these lies and misinformation flow.”

Unfairly criticised by The Caribbean...

To abrogate copycatting, at least the primary triggers inducing stress need to be eliminated or decreased. (b) That the variables listed by TCV are all related to stress and that they are directly or indirectly tied to the calamitous conditions in this country. (c) Importantly, stress is known to trigger relapse and individuals rescued through interventions can relapse into suicidal thoughts, particularly in Guyana where stress is intolerable. Moreover, stress also causes relapse of substance abuse, which is another risk factor for suicide. (d) That almost all variables listed by TCV are products of a hijacked

brain stimulated by stress or through some kind of inherent pathology. (e) Stress also increases suicide vulnerability in individuals with poor coping skills. (f) Moreover, the expressions and functions of genes can be modulated by stress in augmenting suicidal behaviours and in eliciting maladaptive responses. To this end, there is some indication at the behavioural level that genes may be playing a role in suicide in this country, but culture needs to be teased apart. Clearly, the suicide rate will fall if stress is attenuated.

Editor, a practical example can help connect the dots to il-

lustrate how stress emanating from Guyana’s rough economy influences suicide. For example, the proprietor of Stretch - D - Dollar store has recently been the victim of a fatal suicidal behaviour after his business went bankrupt in a bad economy. Such a stressor has got to trigger unbearable stress, which breaches psychological well-being in eliciting and/or exacerbating depression, anxiety, hopelessness, etc, into pushing the proprietor into a series of problems which included divorcing and killing his wife and ultimately suicide. In another example, we have all witnessed that dysfunctional politics in this

country has snuffed out diversity from the workforce and this, unfortunately, unleashes intolerable stress and ultimately pushes Guyanese into suicide. I am not sure why TCV is unable to connect the dots. I remained baffled. Given this narrative, I am convinced and, in no way, confused that calamitous conditions in this country largely spur such a human tragedy and as such, aggressive actions need to be taken to bring down the high unemployment rate, the high crime rate, curbing widespread discrimination, ending cruelty, ending dysfunctional politics, among a wide spectrum of others.

In closing, I need to be clear that I am very much in tune with the highly-valued and much-needed work done by the NGOs. They deserve praise. But definitely, more needs to be done. To this end, emphasis needs to be placed on reducing or eliminating the primary triggers in conjunction with broad therapeutic approaches aimed to reach every citizen. While my letters to the editors remain insightful, it is also my wish to be on the ground fighting this problem. And I remain hopeful that Guyanese will win this battle against such a human tragedy when egos are set aside, new ideas and insights are allowed

from page 4

to flourish and constructive criticisms are welcomed with open arms.

I wish to thank TCV for its criticisms which stimulate the contents of this letter. And although this letter cannot address every aspect of the suicide dynamic, I have nevertheless put forward a highly relevant hypothesis.

Moreover, it needs to be realised that stress arising from the calamitous social, economic and political conditions influence brain functions in multiple ways in unleashing the bulk of suicide in this country.

Sincerely, Annie Baliram

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monday, September 11, 2017

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guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

Does your child have enough friends?

When we listen to students

– combating loneliness needs good coaching from parents

By Michael Ungar, PhD

W

ith a new school year having just started, it’s worth asking ourselves as parents whether we should be worried about the number of friends our children have. Increasingly, I hear parents complaining that their child seems isolated, or doesn’t have “real” friends that they spend enough time with. Indeed, a Childtrends report found that up to 30 per cent of teens say they feel depressed, lonely or unhappy much of the time. That number may not change as those teenagers become adults. These days, an astonishing percentage of adults are living disconnected lives, with more than one quarter living alone. While we can debate the benefits and harms of a life lived solo as an adult (after all, some people prefer the quiet and autonomy of their own place), children need social interactions for their psychological, social, and even physical development.

Can a child’s caregiver, however, provide enough social and emotional support for a child who is isolated? The answer is “it depends.”

If you grew up on a remote farm, or were raised on a sailboat, one or two relationships might be enough.

In such rare circumstances, friends are optional and kids still do just fine developmentally. That’s largely because of the intensity of their experience day-to-day and the responsibilities they have for their own survival and that of those they live with. In other words, their lived experience gives isolated children the foundation stones for resilience: a positive identity, a sense of control, a feeling that they are important and belong. And of course enough activity to keep them distracted from feeling lonely.

The typical suburban kid, however, who is living an isolated existence in some rambling home with empty rooms and parents who neglect them, and who spends her

time keeping up with the latest trends on Facebook, will find nothing much good to say about being alone. Such isolation may contribute to a range of mental health problems such as increased use of drugs, depression, failing grades and even suicide.

Now before we parents push our way into our children’s lives and insist they make friends, it’s important to first ask yourself whether our child is an introvert or an extrovert. Does our child want or need more interactions with peers? In my career as a family therapist I’ve had more than a few conversations with extremely affable parents who wanted to pathologise their child’s lack of peer relationships when the

child was in fact quite happy with one or two close friends and lots of time to read and daydream. Being shy and being alone shouldn’t be confused with being lonely (which is the feeling that one wants more social relationships and can’t find them).

If my child is lonely, what can I do?

If you child is lonely, that is a problem. There are two ways to tackle it (ignoring for the moment any problems with bullies that might be causing the loneliness).

While I don’t believe a parent should make friends for their child, or create those very awkward play dates and parties to force their child to have friends, we can as par-

ents offer our children opportunities that help them make friends on their own.

Structure counts. Sports and music and volunteer opportunities, visits with cousins and dragging kids along to events we participate in like the neighbourhood BBQ are all great strategies to bring a shy child into closer proximity with new peers. But while we can insist our child participate, we shouldn’t emphasize new friendships.

Better to let proximity and continuity over time work their own magic. Eventually, if there is a good fit, a child will begin relationships with other children that match her interests and activity level.

Of course, this presumes that children have the skills they need to make friends. At a time when adults are as socially isolated as the children they are trying to help, and therefore not the best role models, we may have to offer children a little training on how to make friends. One book I like is Growing Friendships: A kids’ guide to making and keeping friends by Eileen Kennedy-Moor and Christine McLaughline. It’s an easy read for a tween, or could be used by a parent of a younger child as a coaching tool. Either way, the simple examples and graphics make it accessible without dumbing down what a child needs to learn. Indeed, no matter what behaviours your child has that are barriers to making friends (including bullying others or being bullied) she is likely to find some good strategies in the book that will help her cope better.

As your child navigates their way into a new classroom this year, if you think he is lonely, consider a little coaching. Loneliness isn’t something caregivers should ignore. If children don’t develop the skills they need to develop friendships early, they are unlikely as adults to have the capacity to form the positive relationships they will need later in life. (psychologytoday.com)

By Elena Aguilar

A

s you return to school, I have a suggestion that can drastically impact your year (and it's simple): brainstorm questions to ask your students.

The kids right in front of us often have the most useful information within them – information that can help us reach and teach them, help us engage them, and that can help us have a fantastic year together.

What to ask?

Here are several of my favourite questions to ask kids of all ages: What would be the most useful thing for me to know about you as a student?

What do you wish was different about school?

Describe a moment in school last year when you felt really engaged. Why do you think that moment was such a positive one for you?

What do you think teachers think about you, and what do you wish they'd think about you?

Tell me about a teacher who you feel knew you well.

What kind of student were you in his or her class? What

did he or she do to get to know you?

If you could build a school, what would it look like?

What do you wish I would ask you so that I can be a good teacher for you?

What makes a weekend day great for you?

When we ask questions, and when we're genuinely curious about what students say, we are communicating an authentic desire to get to know who they are beyond their test scores and beyond what other teachers may share.

The questioning and the quiet listening communicate our care for our students.

Managing logistics

There are many ways you can go about getting responses to your questions. Ideally, sit with each of your students for five minutes or so during the first week of school and listen to them. That one-to-one contact can be a powerful opportunity to connect.

If you teach dozens, or hundreds of students, then this will be hard. Surveys can work to collect this information, although you do need to do something so that kids know you've read – and heard – their survey responses. When I taught middle school, I shared summaries of the data I collected with the whole class, such as, "65 per cent of you wish that teachers didn't give homework". This is a way of validating student responses. What's most important, perhaps, is that when you ask students questions, you ask with an open heart and an open mind -- willing to listen to whatever they say, as well as willing to listen for what's not said. Many of our older students have had enough negative experiences in school for them to feel that teachers don't listen to them. This could be the year when you change that for them. Everyone deserves to be listened to, and listening is a powerful way to connect with others.

(Excerpt from Edutopia.org)

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monDay, September 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Granger leans economy towards Burnham’s socialist control system ...imagine what will happen to oil resources – Ralph Ramkarran

Former Speaker of the House, Ralph Ramkarran, SC

T

he APNU/ AFC Coalition Administration is silently leaning the economy towards Forbes Burnham’s socialist control system -- to co-operativism and poverty -where the sugar workers suffer and the private sector has no influence.

This is the damning view promulgated this past week by former Speaker of the National Assembly, Senior Counsel Ralph Ramkarran, in his online media outlet conversationtree.org.

Examining some of the pervasive divisions that still exist in Guyana between the two dominant ethnic groups – Indo- and Afro-Guyanese -- and their perceived political representatives in high office, the former longstanding Executive Member of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) said the manner in which these ethnic blocs represent what they perceive to be their interests has evolved over the years, but a central theme

keeps revolving around the idea of agreed united political action.

Looking at the possible adverse consequence of this prolonged status quo in light of the imminent influx of oil revenues, Ramkarran concluded that with the developing oil economy and vastly more resources available, “these problems will intensify and multiply, unless there is a political solution in Guyana.”

The former Speaker recalled that in 2002 the PNC accepted ‘shared governance’ in principle. He drew reference to the fact that, in 2015, the APNU/AFC coalition accepted constitutional reform, which should have seen separate elections for president.

The vice-president should have been the person receiving the second highest votes in the presidential elections, and all political parties gaining more than 15 per cent of the vote should have been part of the Government.

This situation is yet to be obtained, and while the coalition promised to start the process of constitutional reform within one month of its election to office, the foundations for this are yet to be materialized, he said.

Corruption

On the matter of the systemic complaint of corruption locally, Ramkarran posited that this phenomenon did not emerge with the PPP. “One reason that caused its expansion was the expansion of public spending from $3 billion a year prior to 1992 to $20 billion-plus thereafter.

resented under the big tent of the PPP...That idea of a single big political tent did not last, and it should be no surprise that it did not,” He declared.

According to Ramkarran,

“We need to accept the existence of the PPP and PNC, and work to bring (political unity) by way of constitutional reform, which both political parties and the diplomatic community in Guyana sup-

port.”

He suggests that while this will not solve all problems, it is the basic prerequisite for the reduction of discrimination, corruption and the other identified ills.

Sugar estates’ closure

GAWU contemplating next ‘serious’ move President David Granger

With the oil resources, which will multiply public spending several times over, and one political group in control, imagine what will happen,” Ramkarran posits.

Ramkarran observed that the dominant narratives in and about Guyana are conditioned by slavery, indentureship and their consequences.

“One major consequence is the existence of two ethnic blocs which have been socialised differently and separately...Guyana consists largely of two different societies, in watchful competition, but largely at peace, existing under the same national roof,” he posited.

The Senior Counsel reminded that during the 1950s, two major industrial events – namely, the Teare strike of transport workers and the Enmore strike of sugar workers -- pushed the restive middle class into a national alliance under the PPP. “The underlying idea was that cooperation to achieve independence and socialism will benefit all who were rep-

T

he Guyana Agriculture and General Workers Union (GAWU) is still working with people in the sugar belt to get their support to protest the impending action to close more sugar estates in Guyana.

The union is actively engaged in discussions that look at ways in which they could help to inspire more workers to protest what they have described as an unconscionable decision.

President of GAWU, Komal Chand, told Guyana Times on Sunday that sugar workers are still fired up and will do whatever it takes to have the coalition Government reverse its decision.

Chand said the union is also contemplating its next “serious” move, and has a particular action in mind that could help to change the decision; but this will be used as a last resort.

“We don’t want to disclose that yet. So, we don’t think

GAWU President Komal Chand

the mood is getting dim. We think the workers are there, and if they see more action and protest, (it) will put them in that spirit to fight this decision and stand up to the Government to the end, and avoid the closure,” he explained.

The GAWU leader said the recent public meeting held by the union, which saw Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo addressing the gath-

ering, was well attended, and this shows that people are deeply concerned about their future and those of their families.

The union has also organised a public meeting in Berbice for Tuesday, and there will be more of these meetings in the coming weeks and months.

“People still want to do something, but they want to ensure that their action will bring about some reaction or change,” he added.

Chand also maintains that the Government has a moral responsibility to hold a referendum to determine whether the sugar industry should be downsized or not, as it has the potential to affect thousands of people employed within the industry.

The GAWU head reminded that many of the current Government ministers who were in the last political campaign had made a lot of promises to the people in regard to turn to page 8 sugar.

8 NEWS

MONday, September 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Neighbourhood brawl lands man in court for assault

K

enrick Edwards of 52 Independence Street, La Grange, West Bank Demerara (WBD) was recently arraigned before Wales Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool on a charge detailing that he assaulted his neighbour, Maharanie Gafoor, on Sunday, August

27, 2017 at La Grange, WBD. Guyana Times understands that the two reside in different houses in a yard at the same address, and would occasionally have altercations. In the latest showdown between the two, Edwards allegedly assaulted Gafoor, a housewife, causing her actu-

al bodily harm.

He pleaded not guilty to the offence, and was placed on $15,000 bail. His case has been set for recall on October 12 for report.

Man allegedly assaults wife

Meanwhile, 33-year-old Keo Mc Pherson of Recht

Door Zee, WBD was also last week arraigned before Wales Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool on a charge detailing that he assaulted his common-law wife Seeta Chalmers on August 30 in the home they share. This matter was, however, heard in-camera.

Bagotville resident released on $20,000 bail for traffic offences

E

on Norton, a customer sales representative and resident of Bagotville, West Bank Demerara (WBD), was late last week arraigned before Wales Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool on a raft of traffic-related charges, and was released on $20,000 bail on two of the matters.

Police allege that on August 31, 2017, the 30-year-old defendant drove motor car PMM 1191 on the La Grange public road, WBD without wearing a seat belt; but Norton pointedly denied being guilty of this offence.

Police also contend that Norton operated the said vehicle for a purpose other than that for which it is licensed; and again Norton pleaded not guilty to the charge.

He, however, accepted the prose-

cution’s evidence that, on the day in question, he operated motor car PMM 1191with tint being so dark that it obstructed the identities of both the driver and the occupants of the vehicle.

Norton also informed the court that

he was previously charged for prohibition of tinted glass. After brief consideration, the magistrate fined him $7,500 for the tint offence, and placed him on $20,000 bail for the other offences.

Norton’s cases come up on October 12 for report and fixtures.

Over the last several weeks, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has intensified its campaign to rein in drivers of motor vehicles with heavily tinted glass.

Several junior police ranks have also had tint removed from the glass of their motor vehicles. Police Commissioner (ag) David Ramnarine has warned GPF members that unless they were granted a special exemption for tint on their private vehicles, they would equally be subject to what the law stipulates in regard to tint.

GAWU contemplating next...

However, these same people are now supporting the miniaturising of the industry, which will render about 10,000 workers redundant, and could affect thousands of households.

During the public meeting on August 30, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo told sugar workers that the number of jobs slated to emanate from the emerging local oil industry will not suffice for, or outweigh, the avenues of employment that existed in the once thriving sugar industry.

Jagdeo claimed that Government’s decisions on the industry are motivated by malice and a lack of con-

sideration for thousands of employees and their families, who stand to suffer from the closures. He also told the gathering at Enterprise, East Coast Demerara that, from an economic perspective, there is much risk in being too heavily dependent on oil, given the volatile nature of the market.

Over the past months, GAWU has been holding several protest actions across the country and along the sugar belt, and has managed to get the support of not only sugar workers, but persons in the various communities, as well as shopkeepers, pensioners and concerned citizens.

Former Presidential Advisor and economist, Ramon Gaskin, has warned the Government to be careful how they go about implementing this new policy. He emphasised it could have a negative effect on the local economy. Gaskin said it could also lead to the increase in other social ills that remain prevalent in society, including suicide and crime.

The economist believes that if Government goes about addressing this issue the wrong way, it could find itself facing a rebellion along the sugar belt. He referred to the 1904 Rose Hall rebellion and said this could occur again, unless alternative employment is provided to the thousands that are likely to be affected.

from page 7

In announcing plans to downsize the sugar industry, Government said it plans to close the Enmore and Rose Hall Sugar estates and sell the Skeldon Sugar Factory, but keep functioning estates at Blairmont on the West Bank of Berbice, AlbionRose Hall in East Berbice, and Uitvlugt-Wales in West Demerara.

Government also plans to cut sugar production to approximately 147,000 tonnes per annum, to satisfy the demand in the local market (25,000 tonnes per annum); Caricom and other regional markets (50,000-60,000 tonnes per annum); the United States (12,500 tonnes per annum) and the world market (50,000 tonnes per annum).

No stopping…

Y

…the retracting bridge? our Eyewitness can spot an election gimmick a mile away…and the new Demerara Harbour Bridge the Government’s “bigging up” is nothing more than that. 2020’s almost nigh upon the APNU/AFC Government and they’re pulling their hair out to show they “did something” concrete (pun intended!) by then.

The D’Urban Park Jubilee Stadium, you murmur Dear Reader? The Government would like you to forget about THAT, thank you!! No concrete and not much greenheart even, to show for the over $1 billion thrown into that white elephant.

And that new supposedly PAHO-compliant Pharma warehouse in Albouystown is privately owned by the other Larry – Singh – so that doesn’t count also. The new Terminal at Cheddi Jagan might be ready…but that was actually quite a long way already before the PPP were ousted, so they can’t really take much credit, can they? So since they just wouldn’t want to face the electorate as wankers who broke more than they built (Wales, Enmore, Rose Hall Estates, Stabroek vendors’ stalls, etc), we’re back to the Demerara Harbour Bridge.

Going full steam ahead, just like the captain of the Titanic, Patterson and crew insist that “all stakeholders” - -including NDCs and such like – have been “consulted” and they’re in favour of another retracting bridge!!! So all that’s left is the pre-qualification of contractors – closing on Oct 17.

Now let’s pick sense from nonsense, shall we? If the cost for the Bridge is one aspect of the submission by contractors seeking to “pre-qualify”, how can anyone give their approval if they didn’t know what’s the difference in cost between the high-level fixed bridge recommended by the pre-feasibility study?

If anyone can tell your Eyewitness this isn’t another “pig-in-a-poke”, then he doesn’t know what is! If the Government wanted to hedge their bets, wouldn’t it have been better to ask for bids on both structures? We know that will take a bit longer, but we aren’t even talking about a suspension bridge for crying out loud!! And those have been around for more than a hundred years now! These concrete bridges – whether high or low level, retracting or non-retracting –aren’t exactly like cutting-edge quantum computers, are they?

As we mentioned before, Suriname built their fixed high-level bridge since the 1990s.

So we’ll be stuck with this low-level retracting bridge for 70 years just to win some votes!

…the exodus from Myanmar While we rightfully bemoan the fate of Floridians streaming out of their homes in the millions to escape Irma, spare a thought for what’s unfolding in Myanmar and the more than a million Rohingya Muslim refugees. Unlike the Floridians, they’ve got no home to return to at any time. Heck, even before this latest outflow, they were declared “stateless” by the Myanmar Government because they were dubbed Muslim “foreigners”.

The question is why isn’t more being done for them by the international community in general, and the nearby Muslim-majority nations like Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia, in particular. But this is where it gets “complicated”. While most of the world feel the Muslim countries should do more, the Rohingya are Shia Muslims and the neighbours are Sunni – and they don’t see eye-to-eye on a host of what they consider to be fundamental issues.

Witness the distrust between Saudi Arabia (Sunni) and Iran (Shia).

Would that the world could be as one, as John Lennon asked years ago. Sigh… …drugs transshipment Whatever happened to the plane surveillance system – including drones – our Public Security Minister assured us were going to be supplied to us by the Americans to intercept those drugs bound for the US markets??

Just a gyaff?

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

News

9

monDAY, september 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Oil sector

Exxon will provide updated Local Content Plan every year – says Govt Affairs Director

By Jarryl Bryan

O

il giants ExxonMobil are providing assurances that the Local Content Plan they submit by year-end will not be the summation of their corporate responsibility towards the development of Guyanese.

Company executives have said there rather is an intention to, on an annual basis, provide an updated plan in regard to Local Content as the sector evolves.

According to the Senior Director of Exxon’s Public and Government Affairs, Kimberly Brasington, the Local Content Plan would be an ambitious one that would include plans to develop the local business enterprises which will have to supply Exxon's operations with essential goods and services.

hiring, staffing, and development plans for Exxon's employees and key contractors.”

She also promised that Exxon would not present Guyana with a static or unchanging plan.

“Local Content evolves over time, and is always changing,” she said. “The plan is not static; we will submit it in December, and update it every year based on the growing capacity and the stage of the project.”

Local Content and what it will do for Guyana has been a burning question since the announcement of oil being discovered in the Stabroek block. After Exxon first tempered expectations by saying that few job opportunities would be created by oil, it has since said it would help with Local Content delivery.

Since being granted a pro-

Exxon’s operations in the Stabroek Block

“Our Local Content Plan will include both plans for supplier development and plans for workforce development,” she related in an interview with this publication.

“The plan will (also) include the metrics of Guyanese content in the project to date,” she explained.

“Supplier development includes how we and our main prime contractors will increase capacity of local companies so they can be a part of the supply chain by winning contracts,” Brassington explained.

“On the other hand,” she continued, “workforce development will encompass the

duction licence in June of this year, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, had given Exxon a six-month deadline in order to submit its Local Content Plan to the Government.

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

He had told participants at a meeting that it was not a case whereby ExxonMobil would be looking to build a fa-

Senior Director of Exxon’s Public and Government Affairs, Kimberly Brasington

cility for its support services, but would rather put out tenders, and anyone interested in providing the shore-based services could present a proposal.

Trotman had, in 2016, announced that Cabinet had given its ‘no objection’ to the establishment of the onshore industrial site on Crab Island, in the mouth of the Berbice River. He had said it would be forged through the joint efforts of the ministries of Natural Resources, Public Infrastructure and Business.

Construction was announced for early this year, and the investments from the private sector and Government’s infrastructural work and support were to be equivalent to US$500 million; but the Crab Island facility is yet to materialise.

According to information released by the

Government’s Department of Public Information (DPI) this March, the construction of an onshore oil-and-gas facility seeks to cater to the expansion of exploration and subsequent production of oil in Guyana.

That report had said Government would be investing US$500 million to construct the onshore facility during the course of this year, and that the facility would serve as a logistics and supply base to the offshore production, crucial areas of opportunity for Local Content.

What is happening now

is that an onshore facility to service Exxon is being constructed by Guyana Shore Base Incorporated (GYSBI) at Houston, EBD. GYSBI is acting in partnership with Muneshwer’s Limited, Pacific Rim Constructors, Total Tech Oil Field Services and LED Offshore.

Guyana

Meanwhile, Government itself has formulated its own draft Local Content Policy, which was seen by this publication. According to the policy, legislation is likely to be enacted to set out

how Guyanese would benefit. The document also sets out that the policy would be enforced by a well-funded and resourced regulatory institution. The regulator, in turn, will be overseen by a multi-stakeholder group representing local bodies that are involved in the sector.

The regulatory agency will also have to report to the National Assembly, as is customary for most regulators who report to the Public Accounts Committee or are overseen by the Auditor General and the Social Services Committee.

Ready Mix Concrete Ltd robbed

P

olice have said they are investigating an incident of robbery-under-arms committed on the Ready Mix Concrete Limited at Eccles Industrial Site, East Bank Demerara on Sunday between 02:30 and 03:00hrs.

An undisclosed amount of cash was taken by three armed men, who assaulted

the two watchmen there -both in their late seventies.

Investigations have so far revealed that the suspects pounced upon the two watchmen and held them at gunpoint, after which they proceeded to a section of the two storey-building and used a cutting torch to gain access to the cash in a safe, which they

removed.

Armed personnel from a contracted security service, responding to an alarm being emitted from the said building, confronted the suspects and an exchange of gunfire ensued, but the suspects managed to flee the scene.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Police investigating beating to death of South Rupununi man

P

olice are intensifying efforts to capture the suspect accused of the beating to death of 49-yearold Menie Xavier, a farmer from Karaudarnau Village, South Rupununi.

Police disclosed on Sunday that a 30-yearold male suspect is being sought for the farmer’s

murder which occurred in Karaudarnau about 23:00h on Friday last.

According to the preliminary investigation, the farmer and the suspect were allegedly imbibing when an argument ensued. It was noted that during the altercation, the suspect armed himself with a torchlight which

he used to severely beat Xavier about his head and body, which resulted in his death. A post-mortem examination will be conducted on the farmer’s body in the coming days. His body is at the Lethem Hospital Mortuary.

The hunt is on to nab the suspect, as Police continue their investigations.

10 news

monday, September 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

In hinterland region

GWI blamed

Community Health Workers being trained Little or no water for some West Dem residents to reduce maternal, neonatal deaths

Public Health Ministry officials along with other representatives from other Ministries with the Community Health Workers who are to be trained

T

wenty Community Health Workers (CHWs) of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) are embarking on training to deliver improved maternal and child health services in the Region. The training is made possible through an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan, which was granted to the Government of Guyana in February 2017. The $8 million loan will be utilised to generally improve the level of reproductive healthcare delivery in Guyana.

Over the next five years, the reproductive, neonatal and maternal health services in Regions Three, Four and Nine will be strengthened, while the overall healthcare network will be reinforced.

The Maternal and Child Health Programme is exploring an initiative called the “safe motherhood” plan.

Director of the Maternal and Child Health Programme of the Public Health Ministry, Dr Ertenesia Hamilton said, “In looking at the situation which exists in Guyana, it was recognised that all of our maternal deaths that we

had over the last 10 years could be grouped under three main headings.” These she outlined as the three ‘delay’ models – delay in seeking care, delay in reaching care and delay in receiving care.

Region Nine, the only hinterland region to be covered by the loan, has faced many challenges within the health sector, hence it being selected to pilot the project. More specifically, issues relating to maternal and child health are the main objective.

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence told the CHWs awaiting training that they would be responsible for a reduction in maternal and neonatal mortality in the Region.

“You represent the various communities in Region Nine and are, therefore, well placed to respond to the needs of the people. In administering the programme within the Region, the curriculum, which is designed to cover all pertinent aspects of maternal and reproductive health and childcare, the finished product…you are going to help us to reduce the mortality rate in this Region.”

The Minister quoted statistics from the IDB which indicated that Guyana was among those countries in the Caribbean and Latin America to record high rates of mortality in neonates and pregnant mothers “The estimated figures revealed that (in Guyana) there is 121 per 100,000 live births and 23 per 1000 live births respectively, this is by the IDB 2016 report,” Minister Lawrence stated.

She further explained that the country has a commitment to achieve goal number five of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which seeks to reduce the maternal mortality ratio and achieve universal access to reproductive health care.

Further, the Minister pointed out that the landscape in this particular region differed from that in the other two regions catered for under this project. She advocated for the relevant authorities to consider having the main access roads from North to Central Rupununi and South to Central Rupununi upgraded.

Most of the maternal

Dr Ertenesia Hamilton, Director, Maternal and Child Health, Ministry of Public Health

deaths recorded in the Region were as a result of poor access to health-care facilities. The main access roads as they are in the Rupununi are considered rough terrain for pregnant women to traverse whether by ambulance or hired transportation, Minister Lawrence said.

At the end of the training the CHWs could be likened to nurses and midwives within the respective areas. They will be trained for six months. The first four months will cater for theoretic training while the other two months will have them engaged as Preceptors.

The training will focus on areas of personal hygiene and environmental health, basic anatomy and physiology, clinical practice procedures, maternal and child health among other relevant areas.

According to the former Director of Health Sciences and Education Faculty, Public Health Ministry, Wilton Benn, “the programme itself is structured in such a way that we place emphasis on prevention of illness, the promotion of health and the treatment of simple common illnesses based on protocol.”

The Department of Public Information said the CHW trainees were expected to graduate in March 2018.

This young lad uses a bowl to collect water to bathe before heading to school on Friday

T

he service of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) is being criticised by residents in La Grange and La Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme on the West Bank of Demerara, since residents in those communities are forced to deal with low water pressure or no water at all.

The issue have been ongoing for over three weeks, and residents are calling on the relevant authorities to have it addressed.

Since August 10, residents in Independence Street and several parts of La Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme has been continuously forced to endure low water pressure, and in most cases no water at all. According to the residents, several complaints have been made to the GWI Office at Pouderoyen on the West Bank of Demerara, but to no avail.

“We are not getting any water, sometimes for days; and if we do get water, it come around 3am and very slow; so we have to get up early morning to full water to do our work, and it is tough,” Independence Street housewife Veronica said.

She added that residents would have made several calls to the GWI office, only to be told that they are working on the issue, with no additional information.

“The water does come oneone time, but when it come it is coming slow, and we have to use bowls to full our containers; and it is hard, because it take a long time to full a small bucket, and we need the water to wash clothes and bathe the children to send to school,” Recht Door Zee resident Shafrana Khan told the Guyana Times.

Several calls have been made to the GWI office at Pouderoyen, WBD, and this publication was informed that the issue is being worked on, but the employee there was unable to say what exactly the issue is.

The Guyana Times made contact last Tuesday with the Public Relations Department of GWI to source additional information, and was told that the sought-after information would be gathered and forwarded to us.

However, the information is yet to be forwarded, and several follow up calls have gone unanswered.

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monDAY, september 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Addressing staff shortages at West Dem Hospital

Minister hears pharmacy graduates still awaiting placement

By Shemuel Fanfair

A

fter roughly a year of completing studies and the required internship programme, several pharmacists are still waiting to be placed at health institutions.

This was discovered during a top-level meeting with Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings and officials in Region Three (Essequibo-Islands-West Demerara) last week. The meeting, which was held at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH), sought to iron out a number of issues which are affecting healthcare delivery in the district.

Medical Superintendent and acting Regional Health Officer, Dr Bibi Jabar informed the Junior Public Health Minister that the pharmacy at the WDRH would open until 20:00h.

And Inter-Ministerial Sector Coordinator within the Public Health Ministry, Mr Seewchan related that the Ministry was currently un-

The West Demerara Regional Hospital

tion of pharmacy assistant.

“We have pharmacists who graduated, but they weren’t able to be placed into the institution; what needs to be done is that the Region [should have] an inventory [to identify the positions that need to be filled],” he noted.

Responding to the staff shortage concerns, WDRH Administrator Sanjah Persaud highlighted that his office had already submitted requests via the Region to the Public Service Ministry for several positions to be filled. As such, Seewchan, the Ministry’s Inter-Ministerial

The Parfaite Health Centre is one of the medical facilities that require a pharmacy assistant

dertaking measures to ensure that the Hospital operated a 24-hour pharmacy service.

He also explained that to this end, the Public Health Ministry has been working with the representative from the ministerial secretariat to have the requisite positions filled. Seewchan further observed that there were several university graduates who were available for the posi-

Sector Coordinator, called on the Deputy Regional Executive Officer (DREO), Jennifer Ferreira-Dougall to have that process facilitated.

Ferreira-Dougall disclosed that even before the start of her tenure in April, those requests were passed on to the relevant Ministry.

“Maybe the Region can work with our national coordinator of pharmacy who can

have those persons identified and placed in those positions.

[We need] to have that process expedited. It [the pharmacy service] is not only for West Demerara and its environs,” Seewchan noted, saying that persons from riverine communities along the Essequibo would first stop at the West Demerara Hospital for medical care after travelling several miles.

Seewchan highlighted the need for pharmacists to be paid good remuneration packages, and also noted that transportation incentives should be considered for those who have to travel far distances to their placements at centres and at the Hospital.

The official expressed hope that the positions would be filled by October.

Dr Cummings concurred, saying the West Demerara Hospital must be restored to its former glory as it had copped major awards in times past.

“We are looking to improve the services, so people wouldn’t have to travel from Saxacalli and pass here and go till to Georgetown when you can stop right here,” she noted.

In March, reports surfaced that the careers of several pharmacy graduates were on hold since they could not obtain their licences to practice.

This had come following a delay in the students being admitted to an internship programme at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

This newspaper had reported that the 2016 class

of then prospective pharmacists had waited for months to commence their internship programme; however, it was stated that the Pharmacy Council was at the time unprepared to facilitate the process, which was originally slated to commence in January 2017.

The Pharmacy Practitioners Act of 2003, under the Part VI section titled “Pharmacy Interns”, stipulates that University of Guyana graduates who have completed the Bachelor of Science Degree (Pharmacy)

must complete an internship programme of not less than six months, before obtaining a licence to practice as a professional Pharmacist. The Council has the mandate to approve an appropriate institution at which the students can undertake the six-month programme.

The students had called on Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence to intervene on their behalf.

“We have spent four years of our lives studying hard to be pharmacists, because we have a passion for health-

care provision. The Pharmacy Council, by their unconscionable delay, has prevented better health provision being provided to those patients in need of health care,” Guyana Times was told in March.

Now that the internship has reportedly been completed, the graduates at this juncture are awaiting placement at medical facilities.

According to information disclosed on Thursday last, the current non-placement of appointed pharmacists is not exclusive to Region Three.

Govt must ensure Audit Office strengthened for oil – PPP …warns agencies to avoid backroom deals with Govt ahead of budget

A

s Budget 2018 inches closer, the political Opposition is warning the Government against undermining the financial autonomy of constitutional agencies. And as oil production also creeps closer, it is also putting the Government on notice of the need to strengthen the Audit Office.

Guyana is expected to start earning revenue in the form of royalties and profit sharing, from its oil sector by 2020. Speaking to Guyana Times, former Minister within the Finance Ministry, Juan Edghill, noted that with this expected inflow of money, the Audit Office of Guyana needed to be operating at full-throttle efficiency.

“Constitutional agencies must not be tricked into sitting down with the staff or the planners at the Ministry

PPP/C Member of Parliament, Juan Edghill

IDB’s Resident Representative, Sophie Makonnen

of Finance, because the Minister will then come to Parliament and say that the figures is one that was agreed upon, where their budgets will be cut privately by the Ministry of Finance,” Edghill stated.

“For instance,” he continued, “If the Audit Office

makes requests for additional staffing or equipment, in preparation for first oil, we would like to see what the Minister of Finance will do, as it relates to strengthening the Audit Office in preparation for oil. So, there must be no backroom dealings.” turn to page 12

12 news

monDAY, september 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ram and McRae launches 2nd edition of Companies Act Handbook “We at Ram and McRae decided that we will do four books this year and we are on target for doing it. In November, you will have the handbook on the anti-money laundering legislation,” the Attorney disclosed.

Earlier this year, the company launched the second edition of its Value Added Tax (VAT) and Excise Tax Handbook. The 12-chapter book contains updated information relating to the VAT

Attorney Christopher Ram and others who assisted with the second edition of the Companies Act Handbook

A

ccountancy firm Ram and McRae on Friday launched the newly-published second edition of its Companies Act Handbook at the Georgetown Club.

The new book serves as a practical guide to the Companies Act and is intended to provide Guyanese business owners and managers, as well as their legal advisers, with the practical guidance and templates to properly complete a Memorandum of Incorporation for their business.

Speaking at the launch, Managing Partner of Ram and McRae, Christopher Ram noted that the book was long overdue and would help to serve the country and to a larger extent, the legal and accounting professions in a meaningful way.

He commended those who helped in the successful completion of the handbook, including seven legal interns who were attached to his company at the time.

“It has taken us 11 years to get here; I hope that you will find it worthwhile. We were able to do this because of the tremendous work of a number of young people from the University of Guyana. It is my humble pleasure to say what a wonderful job that

they have done,” Ram said.

The Companies Act is arguably one of the most important business laws in any country. In Guyana, the principal Act (Companies Act) was passed in 1991, based on similar legislation in countries like Canada and Barbados.

It was passed with 140 sections and it was organised in six parts, with each having a number of subdivisions. Since then, the Act has only been amended on six occasions, the last two times being as a result of amendments to the anti-money laundering legislation.

With that Act becoming law, Ram and McRae published the first edition of the Companies Act Handbook in December 1998 which was later sold out.

The updated version of the handbook went through a much longer review process with lots of starts and stops.

Ram said the Companies Act in his view has not been subject to rigorous examination, noting that both Canada and Barbados, countries from which Guyana adopted its principal Act, have both had substantial amendments over the years, something that is lacking here.

The Attorney and Chartered Accountant told the launch that he had written a Government agency asking that it put in the legislation for amendment of non-profit organisations and limited liability companies. “I did the drafting and submitted it and I am still waiting for a response. I believe that we can form companies with unlimited guarantees; shareholders are free to choose,” he added.

The new handbook has 372 pages compared to 338 in the first edition, and 19 chapters compared to 15 in the first one. There are references to 93 cases compared to just 17 in the last edition.

Included also are references to the oil and gas sector, securities legislation and taxation of companies.

The Handbook covers topics from company formation to creation in 14 of its chapters, and at the end of each of these, includes a statutory provision section containing restated extracts of the Act itself.

In addition to the Companies Act Handbook, Ram and McRae will also be launching three other books, including one that will deal specifically with anti-money laundering later this year.

Act and the Excise Tax Act, which would be of use to persons desirous of improving their knowledge base within the particular field of law.

Moreover, the Handbook has been outfitted with illustrations and new features aimed at making knowledge acquisition of the subject matter user friendly.

The outlined illustrations have been reported to include, but are not limited to, differentiations between

zero-rated, standard-rated and exempt supplies; calculating VAT where the registered business engages in both taxable and exempt supplies; Mixed Supplies; VAT-inclusive pricing; Tax Invoice; setting up and maintaining the VAT account; the VAT Return; specimen Notice of Appeal; the Objections and Appeals Process and the Application for Refund form.

Govt must ensure Audit...

During the closing ceremony for a multi-year capacity-building programme held last week, Resident Representative of the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), Sophie Makonnen had highlighted this issue. At the time, Auditor General Deodat Sharma had been in attendance.

According to Makonnen, the independence and capacity of the Auditor General’s Office is one of the priority areas to be addressed by Guyana. She had noted that this was to ensure there were transparency and accountability with regard to oversight of the nation’s revenue and expenditure of public resources.

She had explained that the US$2 million the IDB plugged in to the capacity-building programme for the Audit Office was a component of the wider assistance provided to Guyana with regard to capacity building for the Public Sector.

The Audit Office of Guyana was reportedly plagued with a poor work environment, limited IT capacity and a huge backlog of statutory auditing among other issues prior to technical as-

sistance from the IDB and the Government.

But while the international donor agency has been fully supportive, the same cannot be said about the Government. The proposed budget for the Audit Office was slashed by the Government in the National Assembly during consideration of the 2017 Estimates of Expenditure, and the resultant consequences had included the body grappling with not having adequate staff or adequate funds to pay them.

The proposed estimate in the last budget for the constitutional agency that is tasked with auditing “the State apparatus” was $771.2 million, but Finance Minister Winston Jordan had decreased this sum to $754.9 million.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has been vocal in its opposition to the budgetary cut. The Party pointed out that the total budgetary allocation for constitutional agencies in 2016 was $8 billion, whereas it was only $6 billion in 2017.

The Audit Office has a wide remit, being responsible for auditing the public ac-

from page 11

counts of Guyana and presenting reports of those audits to the Finance Minister, thence to the National Assembly. As laid out in Article 223 of the Constitution of Guyana, the Audit Office is authorised to audit all officers and authorities of the Government, including Commissions.

PPP/Civic Member of Parliament Edghill had, during a previous press conference, reminded that a budget was a financial plan which articulated the direction of an organisation and the cost to get there. Therefore, he argued, when the budgets are cut, affected organisations would now have to re-organise priorities and neglect funding for some critical undertakings.

“Whenever the Government reduces the allocations for constitutional agencies, they are actually preventing themselves from being scrutinised. For example, the Auditor General would say, ‘This is what we need.’ If you cut the Audit Office (budget), the Auditor General would have to re-organise his priorities, and so something will be left out; which means less scrutiny for Government,” he had said.

news

13

monDAY, september 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Hurricane Irma claims Guyanese life

...as Diaspora in Florida braces for impact ...remittances projected to fall significantly

Hurricane Irma ravages British Virgin Islands (Pride News Magazine)

Aerial footage illustrates the extent of the damage in BVI (KCRA.com)

Hurricane Irma leaves a trail of devastation across the Caribbean (The Telegraph)

UK Police deployed to the British Virgin Islands to help in Hurricane Irma response

G

Damage from Hurricane Irma is seen September 7 in Orient Bay, on the Caribbean island of St Martin (CNN)

Hurricane Irma batters Turks and Caicos Islands (The Metro)

Hurricane Irma plowed through Saint Martin island in the Caribbean on September 6 Photo (PBS)

Dead: Dereck Ragnauth

Large waves produced by Hurricane Irma crash into the end of Anglins Fishing Pier (ABC News)

This video still shows damage from Hurricane Irma in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands (ABC News)

An abandoned car is overtaken by a storm surge as Hurricane Irma hits Fort Lauderdale on September 10 (CNN

photo)

uyanese have not been spared the ravages of the devastating 2017 hurricane season currently storming the Caribbean and State of Florida in the United States of America where there is a significant Diaspora presence.

At least one Guyanese has been confirmed among the approximately 28 dead as a result of Hurricane Irma – the most powerful storm to make landfall in the Caribbean.

Dead is Derek Ragnauth, a Guyanese native who resided on the eastern end of Tortola – the largest in the chain of British Virgin Islands (BVI).

Ragnauth reportedly perished when the building he was in collapsed, as the monster storm tore through the BVI on Wednesday last.

Ragnauth was an in-law of former Amerindian Affairs Minister, now Opposition Member of Parliament, Pauline Sukhai. Another of the Caribbean territories that have been severely impacted, and the Diaspora there as well, is the isle of St Martin where hundreds of Guyanese have been displaced as a result of the widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure.

In excess of 3500 Guyanese reportedly reside on the island.

Social media posts emanating from that overseas territory indicate that there has also been widespread violence and looting in the wake of the destruction left behind by Hurricane Irma.

Analysts have since opined that the impact will soon be felt at home since Guyanese are heavily dependent on remittances received from Caribbean jurisdictions such as the BVI, St Martin and the Turks and Caicos Islands, three of the hardest-hit territories where a significant Guyanese population resides. Meanwhile, the Caricom grouping of which Guyana is a founding member has already indicated its readiness to provide assistance to nationals affected in the hurricane-hit regions.

Caricom Chairman, Prime Minister Keith Mitchell of Grenada, in a public statement from the body, has stated, “The Community stands ready to render whatever assistance it can to assist in the recovery efforts which are being coordinated

by CDEMA [the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency].”

According to the Caricom Chair, “This massive storm has already claimed lives in many of the countries and has inflicted severe damage to infrastructure in the affected islands.”

“I extend condolences to the family of the deceased and to the Governments and peoples of the countries. It is almost impossible to assess the human cost of disasters such as these.”

Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vice President Carl Greenidge has been quoted in local media reports indicating that Government was exploring the possibility of evacuating citizens from hard-hit areas such as St Martin.

“Caricom is looking at such coordination. This is one of the things discussed yesterday (Saturday), but what I am saying is that whilst in principle, the need was recognized, the specifics by way of needs could not be determined yesterday and as soon as we have those details, we will ask whoever can help or if we can help,” one report quoted Greenidge as saying.

Guyana’s Honorary Consul in French Guiana, Travis Tracey-Lecant has advised that all Guyanese who need information, in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, on relatives who reside on the French territory of Saint Maarten should contact her as follows: consul.guyana.cayenne@gmail.com with their full names, dates of birth, gender and address.

The powerful hurricane made landfall on Sunday in the State of Florida where surges immediately flooded large swathes of residential and business enclaves.

After wreaking devastation through the Caribbean and forcing one of the largest evacuations in American history, Hurricane Irma ripped away from the Florida Keys on Sunday afternoon and made a second landfall in the United States around 15:35h at Marco Island on Florida’s Gulf Coast, according to the National Hurricane Centre.

The Marco Island Police reported wind gusts of up to 130 miles per hour. In southwest Florida, residents have been bracing for Irma after days of frantic preparation.

14 news

monDAY, september 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

“The Climbers” humanitarian Miss World Guyana Beauty queen opens Fitness club launched in Region 2 – aspires to promote volunteerism

Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt along with members of the new club, The Climbers

By Indrawattie Natram

L

aunched under the theme, "Working in unity for the betterment of our community", a group of 18 young people from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) on Saturday evening came together and formed a new volunteer club called The Climbers.

According to President of the club, Devendra Persaud, the passion for humanitarian service was the foundation for setting up the new club. Persaud said the group was registered under the Friendly Society Act of Guyana with the main aim of promoting service activities throughout various communities.

He said the group was formed of young, energetic and highly motivated individuals who are ready to serve communities within Region Two. The focus will be youth empowerment, health, food security, vision, environment and education.

"We are not just anoth-

er club; we are a movement, a group of committed individuals selflessly serving our communities," Persaud said.

As the club's President, he intends to work with key stakeholders in addressing social issues as well as to create a partnership for the betterment of Region Two. Already, the group is being supported by the Region Two Administration.

Members were inducted during the launch and were challenged to give of their best. The club, at its next meeting, will be planning essential projects that will help further develop communities on the Essequibo Coast.

Attending the launch was Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt, who pledged the Regional Democratic Council’s support. Ramdatt said he always has had a passion for working with young people and commended them for forming the club. He, however, urged them to keep the same spirit and zest and

to continue to build partnerships so that Guyana could become a better place.

He called on the group of Climbers to be involved in activities and seminars that would fight against suicide, which is a major issue affecting the county. He also called on members to display civic responsibility.

Serving as Charter Members are Vice President Mohabir Persaud, Secretary Bibi Wazeefa Latifd, Assistant Secretary Keshwantie Singh, Treasurer Thareshme Persaud, Fundraising Co-ordinator Yasuda Chowtie, Service Activities Coordinator Roshini Chowtie, Membership Coordinator Malesha Deonarine, Public Relations Officer Chandrashekar Sharma and Sergeant -atArms Bishawn Persaud.

Directors include Wazeeda Bacchus and Tianna Ramlakhan. Other members are Ashmieny Ramnarine, Darren Singh, Michelle Assad, and Reneeta Latchman.

Park & Diabetic Centre

J

ust weeks before the international pageant, Miss World Guyana Vena Mookram on Sunday opened the gates to her very own Fitness Park and Diabetic Centre in Avenue A, Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

This is as the local beauty queen makes good on her $8 million Beauty with a Purpose Project, titled “Sweet Vigor”, in hopes of copping the crown with this grand noble gesture.

The commissioning on Sunday kicked off with a Fitness Walk at 09:00h, which saw in excess of 200 persons, comprising loved ones, teammates, activists, supporters and fans of this year’s Miss World Guyana assembling at the Diamond hospital before making their way to the Park.

Their arrival was followed by the ribbon-cutting ceremony after which Mookram officially declared the facilities open to the public.

In attendance at the launch were the Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr George Norton along with members of several participating organisations such as the Guyana Diabetic Association and Young Leaders in Diabetes.

The event also allowed for the staging of a Health Fair, during which persons were able to access various health services such as dental, optical and diabetes screening in addition to free medication made possible as a result of partnerships with Food For The Poor, the Public Health Ministry, and other entities.

In addressing the gathering at the event, the reigning local 2017 queen urged persons to become physically active and eat healthier in the journey to realising a healthy nation, outlining this as one of her main objectives in launching the park.

While speaking to

Miss World Guyana Vena Mookram joined by her Sweet Vigor team at the launch of her Fitness Park and Diabetic Centre in Diamond

Guyana Times, M o o k r a m further highlighted what prompted this venture, and explained the journey from having the vision to realisation of the mission.

“It was definitely not an easy process. I started out with my team and we were thinking about all the projects that we would need to do over the next few months to be able to make a difference on the international stage and we remembered that there was a proposed area for a park in Diamond. This area was covered in bushes and it was basically a dumpsite. Given that it was a proposed area for a play park, we thought we should go in to the NDC [Neighbourhood Democratic Council] and make arrangements. I am so grateful that they agreed to cooperate with me on this project.”

Moreover, Mookram underlined the importance of this venture as she gears up to represent Guyana at the Miss World Pageant 2017.

“For the international leg of the pageant, all the girls throw out whatever they have to offer and this is

why I’m so happy that this is something that needs going all out and yes, I think I have a really good shot at winning Beauty with a Purpose at the Miss World competition this year,” she expressed, positively.

After two months of tremendous efforts, the 120x200ft Fitness Park and Diabetic Centre in Diamond is open for public use and is accessible, free of cost. The Centre, which will operate on a weekly schedule, will serve the medical needs of persons within the environs, with the primary focus of preventing diabetes. As such, it will be operated by the Diabetes Association of Guyana.

Following her participation in the Miss World Pageant 2017, the local queen indicated that she would return home with the aim of further developing the facilities to better cater for the needs of persons in the fight against diabetes.

The Guyanese queen is set to take the international stage on November 18 as she vies for this year’s Miss World crown in China.

15

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say about

I SAY...

The condition of public hospitals I

n the past months, doctors and nurses attached to public hospitals across Guyana have spoken out and taken action against the poor working conditions and deplorable facilities in which they are being forced to work. Just recently, medical practitioners at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre downed their tools, calling for better working conditions. In light of this ongoing situation, the Guyana Times has asked persons their views of the present conditions of public hospitals in Guyana. Here are the views of a few members of the public: Colwyn Abrams “Public hospitals are doing the best they can do, given that health care is free in Guyana. In other countries, people pay and still almost get the same service as we do here. Doctors and nurses are under-paid and way understaffed. When they don't have the ideal work environment, it is worst. The hospitals do need an upgrade, but it also falls on us to maintain it, not only Government. Doctors and nurses in Guyana also need to wake up and realise they chose the career knowing that it would be hard, so they can't just strike.”

Carlos Gonsalves “Considering the circumstances, one can infer that actions of such severity of trained professionals must have been continually provoked by some grave injustice over a substantial period of time. I have read the articles on the issue, and it is my understanding

that much like many other critical infrastructure around the country, the Diamond hospital has been in a terrible state of disrepair. This is especially saddening, considering that it is the main hospital of that particular urban centre.

The state of affairs of our public hospitals in general is alarming. I shared a similar sentiment when I read the article on the state of the maternity ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Such a state of affairs brings to mind the question of why the relevant authorities and powers fail to rectify the situation? Why is there a shortage of drugs and late deliveries when Diamond is simply a stone's throw from the capital? If not rectified soon, the consequences will be tremendous.”

Shaunell Wilson “Public hospital? Not me again. I don't care how much I have to pay, not me. I cannot understand how our public hospitals are in such horrible conditions. When I travel, I am very surprised to see the condition of hospitals abroad because I feel that everything that’s free does look the way it does in Guyana; no joke.

This country has a long way to go in terms of development, but it doesn't look like that is anytime soon, because even our hospitals are in poor conditions.”

Nyron Boyce “The conditions at public hospitals are in a terrible state. I live on the West Coast of Demerara, so I usually go to Best Hospital (West Dem Hospital). I feel so grossed out to even sit in the waiting area.

The place is hot, smelly and nasty and then you have to be waiting for hours to even get any care. Not because is free, I’m sure that they can provide much better care than what we have now. It is a shame!”

Raymond Singh “I am not exactly aware of the conditions at the public hospitals across Guyana because persons

Keeran Williams “I must commend the efforts that have been made in recent times in terms of strengthening our healthcare sector, primarily our primary health-care sector.

I've seen a lot of efforts towards infrastructural development as well as

rather go to a private one instead. That alone speaks of the state in which they are.

However, based on recent experiences, relatives have reported that the conditions are deplorable and they were unable to receive treatment.

About two months back, a family member went to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre suffering with a dislocated shoulder and there weren’t any X-ray machines available, so instead they wrapped her arms up with gauze and cardboard. I was also told that the room was filthy, toilets were really dirty with faeces on the seat and the nurses were somewhat snobbish, so they end up transferring her to a private hospital.”

programme enhancement.

But this doesn't take away the fact that we still have a long way to go. For our health-care workers, there are still factors that they need in terms of the quality of workplace as well as the services that are provided. There isn't much accommodation for the state of our health-care workers in terms of mental health, how they are accommodated and facilitated, and what sort of services are available to them, while they've been giving their all to provide to the public. I truly believe that more efforts can be put in place to ensure they are adequately compensated and their workplace is at a standard to ensure the best of quality health. I hope this serves as an eye opener.”

Molda Johnson “I think most hospitals do need proper working conditions, I can’t speak for other hospitals but ours for one, need that. We have been for the longest while experiencing shortage of

Devin Sears “I believe that there has been significant improvement in health care across Guyana.

However, there is still much work that needs to be done particularly in the area of service delivery, health workforce, health information, medical products including

drugs, where hospital cannot even provide Vitamin C tablets, and relatives of patients have to be buying these medications. In recent times, we have had mental illness patients, and it is very unsafe for nurses as well as patients to be contained in the same cubicle as these special cases, especially when they become aggressive. If systems should be put in place for these patients to have their own ward or area where they can be kept away from other patients, we would be working happily because we will be more safe as well as our patients. Simple drugs are not available and cannot be provided, in addition to the already unsafe working environment. We cannot be working under these conditions. Something has to be done!”

vaccines and investment in technology, health financing…. as well as good leadership and governance. Guyana is known to have qualified doctors, nurses, and other medical practitioners and all the staff that are necessary to execute duties within the health sector. Deficiencies come about in the lack of resources, timely administration of correct prescriptions, and accessibility of proper health care, particularly in the hinterland regions. A few of the solutions that can remedy this current situation across Guyana in public hospitals are to have efficient monitoring and evaluation strategies, proper consultative budgetary allocation and execution practices.”

16

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, september 11, 2017

Regional

Thousands of homes wrecked by huge Trinidad: TT$3.2M for CoP search Mexican quake, death toll at 90

A

massive earthquake off southern Mexico on Thursday night that killed at least 90 people damaged tens of thousands of homes and afflicted upwards of two million people in the poorer south, state officials said, as more details of the disaster emerged.

The 8.1 magnitude quake off the coast of Chiapas state was stronger than a 1985 temblor that flattened swathes of Mexico City and killed thousands. However, its greater depth and distance helped save the capital from more serious damage.

Late on Saturday, authorities in the southern state of Oaxaca said there were 71 confirmed fatalities there, many of them in

A resident walks near debris and destroyed houses after an earthquake struck the southern coast of Mexico late on Thursday, in Juchitan, Mexico, September 10, 2017

the town of Juchitan, where the rush to bury victims crowded a local cemetery on Saturday.

Television footage from parts of Oaxaca showed

small homes and buildings completely levelled by the quake, which struck the narrowest portion of Mexico on the isthmus of Tehuantepec.

Aftershocks continued

into Sunday, and scores of people were wary about returning to fragile buildings hammered by the initial tremor, sleeping in gardens, patios and in the open air.

Piles of rubble lay strewn around damaged streets, where the shock was still visible in the faces of residents.

Oaxaca Governor Alejandro Murat told Mexican television the quake hit 41 municipalities and had likely affected around one in five of the state’s four-million strong population.

“We’re talking about more than 800,000 people who potentially lost everything, and some their lovedones,” he said on Sunday.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Uruguay Vice President resigns in spending row

U

ruguay’s Vice President Raúl Sendic has stepped down over accusations he used public funds for personal use while heading a State company.

Sendic, 55, an-

nounced his resignation in Congress – a move that took the country by surprise.

An inquiry by the ruling left-wing coalition has concluded he used company credit cards for person-

al shopping when he led Ancap oil firm in 2009-13.

He denies any wrongdoing, saying there was no evidence against him.

“I presented my irrevocable resignation from the vice presidency to the ple-

nary of the FA (ruling coalition),” Sendic wrote in a tweet (in Spanish) on Saturday.

It is the first time a Uruguayan Vice President has resigned from the post. (BBC News)

Slightly injured Pope ends Colombia tour with unity appeal

P

ope Francis, his eye bandaged and blackened after a minor accident in the popemobile, wrapped up his trip to Colombia on Sunday appealing to the country to “untie the knots of violence” after a 50-year civil war.

His last day in the Andean country got off to a rocky start when he lost his balance and bumped his head while riding in the popemobile. He bruised his cheekbone and cut his left eyebrow, blood staining his white cassock.

The Vatican said he received ice treatment and was fine. A smiling Pope continued the trip wearing a bandage over his cut. “I was punched. I‘m fine,” he

joked afterward, the bruises on his face clearly visible.

At the end of the day, when he said Mass for hundreds of thousands of people in the city’s port area, the bruise had swollen and he had a black bag under his eye.

“If Colombia wants a stable and lasting peace, it must urgently take a step in this direction, which is that of the common good, of equity, of justice, of respect for human nature and its demands,” he said in a strong voice in the homily of the Mass.

“Only if we help to untie the knots of violence, will we unravel the complex threads of disagreements,” he said.

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sive to devastating damage in Barbuda, the Virgin Islands, Anguilla, St Martin/St Maarten, St Barts, and Puerto Rico, was expected to pass close to the northern Leeward Islands Saturday.

But the hurricane, carrying maximum sustained winds near 145 miles per hour, eventually passed north of the northern Leeward Islands.

All watches and warnings have been discontin-

T

axpayers will pay an estimated TT$3.2 million to local consulting firm KPMG in its search for a new Commissioner of Police (CoP) and new Deputy Commissioner of Police.

The search has already begun with advertisements of the positions placed in local newspapers from September 4 to 29.

The funding for the search came from the Police Service Commission’s budgetary provision for “other contracted services” for financial year 2017. This provision was revised and increased from TT$2.5 million to TT$4.55 million in order to facilitate the search for a new CoP. No one has held the substantive post since 2012, when Stephen Williams was appointed as acting Commissioner of Police, a position for which he has re-

ceived 11 six-month extensions since that time.

Williams is expected to apply for the substantive post.

The Guardian understands that last month the Police Service Commission (PSC) contacted the Service Commissions Department regarding outstanding payments for the firm.

The firm is expected to supply the PSC with recruitment process guidelines, job competency models, application forms, feedback documents, prospectus of the Police Service, advertisement of vacancies, list of applicants and a list of eligible and ineligible applicants.

Only this week, the PSC published a vacancy notice for the positions of commissioner and deputy commissioner in the daily newspaper. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

B’dos PM to receive report on how citizens view island 50 years after independence

Pope Francis during Angelus prayer in Cartagena, Colombia, September 10, 2017

Francis used the trip to urge Colombians deeply polarised by a peace plan to shun vengeance after a bloody 50-year civil war.

He also said leaders had to enact laws to end injustice and social inequality that breeds violence. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

Caribbean spared 2nd hurricane battering as Jose shifts course

esidents of islands still reeling from Hurricane Irma’s battering were able to breathe a sigh of relief over the weekend as Hurricane Jose, which had been predicted to further pummel those islands, shifted course and gave them a break.

The Category 4 Hurricane Jose had been following hard on the heels of Irma which caused 25 deaths, as well as mas-

No one has held the substantive post since 2012, when Stephen Williams was appointed as acting Commissioner of Police, a position for which he has received 11 six-month extensions since that time

ued.

In its latest advisory at 08:00h Sunday, the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Miami said a less intense Hurricane Jose, with maximum sustained winds down to 130 miles per hour, was passing well north of Puerto Rico.

It is expected to make a turn toward the north later today into Tuesday and gradual weakening is forecast during the next couple of days.

All watches and warnings have been discontinued.

However, the NHC warned that swells generated by Jose are still affecting portions of the Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands, and the northern coast of Puerto Rico, and will begin to affect Hispaniola, portions of the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands over the next couple of days. (Caribbean360)

T

he Barbados Government is to receive a report on Tuesday outlining what citizens want to reclaim, retain or discard, in keeping with the questions posed by Prime Minister Freundel Stuart last year during this island’s 50th anniversary of political independence from Britain.

“Barbados At 50: The Barbados National Values Assessment 2016 Report, was undertaken by the Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies and will be presented to Stuart during an Evening of Appreciation, on Tuesday.

The report is expected to inform Government of the views of the population in relation to where “we are as a people at this juncture of our 50th anniversary as an independent nation”.

Stuart has said he is eagerly looking forward to receiving the report and hav-

ing a national dialogue on where the country should go, particularly in light of several recent incidents among young people that have led to concern by Barbadians, and generated widespread discussion.

“It is my hope that this important research would be the platform for a series of in-depth studies that would inform our policy formulation, development and implementation over the next 50 years and beyond,” he said.

In January last year, Stuart had asked Barbadians “What are those features of Barbadian life that we have lost and that we need to reclaim?

What are those features of Barbadian life that we have not lost and need to retain? and What are those features of Barbadian life we have not lost, but we have to try and discard as quickly as possible? (Excerpt from CMC)

monDAY, september 11, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

North Korea: NATO chief says Russian air strikes kill 34 global response needed civilians near Deir Az Zor

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ATO's General Secretary, Jens Stoltenberg, has said North Korea's nuclear programme "is a global threat and requires a global response".

"That of course also includes NATO," he told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show.

But he refused to say whether an attack on the US overseas territory of Guam would trigger the military alliance's collective defence pact.

Article 5 of the NATO treaty says that an attack against one member is considered an attack against all.

Guam, an island territory of the United States in the Pacific Ocean, is a key military outpost and has been the subject of heated rhetoric from Pyongyang.

"I will not speculate about whether Article 5 will be applied in such a situation," Stoltenberg said.

"What I will say is that we are now totally focused

A

Kim Jong-un attended a celebration for the country's nuclear scientists and engineers after its latest test

on how can we contribute to a peaceful solution of the conflict and press North Korea to stop its nuclear missile programmes."

He called on North Korea to stop its development of nuclear weapons, saying it was a blatant violation of United Nations security resolutions and "a threat to international peace and stability".

NATO has condemned Pyongyang's tests but, as a military alliance, is not directly involved in the related diplomacy.

The comments from Stoltenberg come as members of the UN Security Council differ on how to deal with the crisis following North Korea's latest missile test over Japan.

The US has drafted a resolution to increase sanctions and cut off some of the last remaining sources of income for Pyongyang, as well as imports of oil.

Russia, however, has expressed scepticism about more sanctions, which have had little effect so far. (Excerpt from BBC News)

US denies Iran report of confrontation with US vessel

A

n Iranian military vessel confronted an American warship in the Gulf and warned it to stay away from a damaged Iranian fishing boat, Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday, but the US Navy denied any direct contact with Iranian forces.

The American vessel turned away after the warning from the Iranian ship, which belonged to the naval branch of the Iranian army, according to Tasnim. The Iranian military vessel then towed the fishing boat, which had sent out a distress signal after tak-

ing on water, back to shore.

The agency did not specify when the incident, close to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, took place.

In statement, US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) said the coastal patrol USS Tempest, operating in the Gulf of Oman on September 6, heard the distress call of an unidentified small boat about 75 nautical miles from the Tempest’s position. At the same time the motor vessel Nordic Voyager, much closer to the boat in distress, offered help and had made visual contact with it.

The Tempest offered to support the Nordic Voyager which declined the offer, NAVCENT said.

Following the radio traffic from a distance, USS Tempest heard the Nordic Voyager coordinate additional Iranian Navy help for the vessel in distress to tow it back to Iran.

“At no time was there any direct contact between the US and Iranian maritime forces,” NAVCENT spokesman Chloe Morgan said. Tensions have been on the rise between the Iranian and US military in the Gulf in recent months. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

China looks at plans to ban petrol and diesel cars

C

hina, the world's biggest car market, plans to ban the production and sale of diesel and petrol cars and vans.

The country's Vice Minister of Industry said it had started "relevant research", but that it had not yet decided when the ban would come into force.

"Those measures will certainly bring profound changes for our car industry's development," Xin Guobin told Xinhua, China's official news agency China made 28 million cars last year, almost a third of the global total.

Both the United Kingdom and France have already announced plans to ban new diesel and petrol vehicles by 2040, as part of efforts to reduce pollution and carbon emissions.

Chinese-owned carmaker Volvo said in July that all its new car models would have an

t least 34 civilians, including nine children, have been killed in a Russian air raid on Euphrates River ferries near Syria's Deir Az Zor city, according to a monitoring group.

Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the air strikes on Sunday targeted "more than 40 ferries" that left al-Boulil town southwest of Deir Az Zor

for the eastern shore of the Euphrates.

No immediate response from Russian authorities was available.

Sunday's attack came as Syrian troops pressed an offensive against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) across Deir Az Zor province with Russian air cover.

According to the War Media channel operated

by Syrian Government ally Hezbollah, Syrian troops

seized full control of the 450 kilometre road linking the capital, Damascus, to Deir Az Zor for the first time in four years.

"The Syrian army and its allies now control the entire international highway between Deir Az Zor and Damascus, through the cities of al-Sukhna and Palmyra," it said, referring to other central Syrian cities recaptured from ISIL (also known as ISIS). (Excerpt

from Al Jazeera)

Blocking EU repeal bill is vote for chaotic Brexit, Minister warns UK lawmakers

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efusing to back legislation to sever Britain’s political, financial and legal ties with the European Union would be a vote for a chaotic Brexit, Britain’s Brexit Minister, David Davis said ahead of a parliamentary vote today.

Parliament is due to hold a second day of debate on the EU withdrawal bill today, before a late-night vote on whether to allow the legislation to continue to the

next stage of the process, when more detailed scrutiny will take place.

The bill seeks largely to ‘copy and paste’ EU law into British legislation to ensure the UK has functioning laws and the same regulatory framework as the bloc at the moment of Brexit, something the Government says provides certainty for companies.

“A vote against this bill is a vote for a chaotic exit from

the European Union,” Davis said in a statement, calling on lawmakers to support the legislation, also known as the repeal bill.

“Businesses and individuals need reassurance that there will be no unexpected changes to our laws after exit day and that is exactly what the repeal bill provides. Without it, we would be approaching a cliff edge of uncertainty which is not in the interest of anyone.”

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Bangladesh seeks India's support on Rohingya crisis

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angladesh on Sunday sought India's support in handling the Rohingya issue by mounting pressure on Myanmar to take back the refugees who have taken shelter in the country.

According to the United Nations, nearly 300,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar's Rakhine state into Bangladesh since August 25 when a fresh wave of violence erupted when militants attacked Police posts in Myanmar's northern Rakhine state.

The Rohingyas allege that the military and Rakhine Buddhists responded with a brutal campaign against them.

Myanmar rejects this, saying its military is fighting against Rohingya "terrorists".

Ruling Awami League general secretary and senior Bangladesh minister Obaidul Quader said, "The entire world is today worried with

Rohingya residents say the military and Rakhine Buddhists are waging a brutal campaign against them, burning their villages [BBC News]

the Rohingya issue and India also expressed its concern... their (India's) concern and stance beside us is very crucial at this moment."

Quader recalled the decisive support given by India during Bangladesh's 1971 liberation war and said, "We hope India will favour Bangladesh in this humanitarian crisis as well."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who concluded his three-day visit to Myanmar

on Thursday, expressed solidarity with the Government there against the "extremist violence" in the Rakhine state.

PM Modi also urged all stakeholders to find a solution that respects the country's unity.

India also refused to be a part of a declaration adopted at an international conference recently in Indonesia as it carried "inappropriate" reference to violence in Rakhine state.

(Excerpt from NDTV)

Suicide bomber kills 6 in central Somalia China wants more electric cars on the road to fight pollution

electric motor from 2019.

Geely, Volvo's Chinese owner, aims to sell one million electric cars by 2025.

Other global car firms including Renault-Nissan, Ford and General Motors are all working to develop electric cars in China.

Automakers are jostling for a slice of the growing Chinese market ahead of the introduc-

tion of new rules designed to fight pollution.

China wants electric battery cars and plug-in hybrids to account for at least one-fifth of its vehicle sales by 2025.

The proposals would require eight per cent of automakers' sales to be battery electric or plug-in hybrids by next year, rising to 12 per cent in 2020. (Excerpt from BBC News)

A

t least six people died after an al-Shabab suicide bomber blew himself up in a restaurant just outside a senior official's office in the central Somali city of Beledweyne.

The deadly blast took place outside the office of the governor of the Hiran region, where he was holding a meeting, police and residents said on Sunday.

"At least six people died and several others were wounded. A suicide bomb-

er blew up himself in a restaurant," Major Hussein Osman, a police officer, told Reuters news agency from Beledweyne. The al-Qaedalinked al-Shabab group said it was behind the attack.

"We are behind the attack at the Hiran governor's headquarters. There are casualties. We targeted the workers of the Hiran administration," said Abdiasis Abu Musab, an al-Shabab spokesman.

The town is about 340km north of the capital

Mogadishu. Residents said clan elders were among the dead. "The suicide bomber who had an explosive jacket stood inside the restaurant and blew up himself. We were heading to a meeting in the governor’s office when it happened," said Farah Ali, a local elder.

Somalia has been at war since 1991 when clan-based warlords overthrew long-time leader Siad Barre and then turned on each other. (Excerpt

from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, september 11, 2017

ARCHIE

Stay focused on your responsibilities and get things (March 21done.

Your hard work will be April 19) noticed, and gratitude will be offered. Don’t let a personal issue halt your productivity.

ARIES

Choose your words wisely to

TAURUS avoid being stuck taking care of (April 20- someone else’s responsibilities.

May 20) If you complain or criticize, you

dilbert

will be left to do everything on your own.

Emotions will swell throughGEMINI out the day. Don’t let frustration (May 21mount and lead to an argument June 20)

with someone you deal with daily. Calm down and focus on personal growth, not on trying to change others.

Collaborate with people who

CANCER have similar goals but think dif(June 21- ferently. What you can accomJuly 22) plish will help you present posi-

Peanuts

tive ideas that will benefit your cause.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Professionalism and practicality will be necessary. Don’t overspend on products or items that promise the impossible. Be happy with the way you are and focus more on personal growth and peace of mind.

Learn as you go. Be open to VIRGO suggestions and willing to try (Aug. 23- new things. Branch out and Sept. 22) use your skills to reach new heights. Effort will bring benefits.

Personal improvements are LIBRA (Sept. 23- featured. Look inward and do things that will help you operOct. 23) ate at your optimum. Don’t wait for someone to give you a shove.

Take the initiative.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — VITREOUS

SUDOKU

ties or spend time with a loved one.

Average mark 45 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 68 or more words in VITREOUS?

Emotional matters concern-

CAPRICORN ing youngsters or elders will be (Dec. 22- upsetting. Remain calm and you Jan. 19) will have a better chance to fix

TODAY’S WORD — VITREOUS tire tiro tore torus tour tries trio trove true rest riot rise rite rive

will do you good.

Dig in and get ahead. What SAGITTARIUS you put behind you will ease (Nov. 23- stress, leaving you room to take Dec. 21) part in more enjoyable activi-

(VITREOUS: VIT-ree-us: Glossy; obtained or made from glass.)

verso vert vertu vest veto vireo virtu virtue virus vise visor vote voter tier

You have options, but you SCORPIO must question what you are do(Oct. 24- ing and why to find the answers Nov. 22) you are looking for. A change

rivet rose rote roue rouse roust rout route rove ruse rust etui euro osier

ours oust ouster outer over overt user sire site sore sort sortie sour soviet

stir store stove stover strive strove suer suet suit suite suitor sure

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

whatever has gone wrong.

solution for Last Published Puzzle Weigh the pros and cons of

AQUARIUS any situation you face concern(Jan. 20- ing home, family or an importFeb. 19) ant relationship. Taking time

to gather information and digest what’s happened will help you avoid an argument.

Listen, ask questions and PISCES verify the information you re(Feb. 20ceive. Getting upset with someMarch 20) one will not help matters.

Protect personal information and your reputation. Say little and pay attention to detail.

monDAY, september 11, 2017

Froome completes historic victory in Madrid

Chris Froome was superbly marshalled throughout the race by his Team Sky team-mates

C

hris Froome has become the first British winner of the Vuelta a Espana after finishing safely in the peloton on Sunday’s final stage in Madrid.

The Team Sky rider’s winning margin was two minutes and 15 seconds over Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali.

Russia’s Ilnur Zakarin was 36 seconds further back in third.

Froome is the third man to complete the Tour de France-Vuelta double in the same year and first in that order.

Italy’s Matteo Trentin won the final stage to claim his fourth of the race.

Earlier, Froome was able to sip a celebratory bottle of beer and glass of Cava on his way to the Spanish capital, knowing he had only to cross the finish line to win because tradition dictates the race leader is not challenged on the final stage.

He equals the feat of legendary riders Jacques Anquetil (1963) and Bernard Hinault (1978) in completing the Tour-Vuelta double, although the previous dou-

bles were done when the Spanish race was held in the spring with the Tour following in July.

As well as winning the red jersey for the overall victory, Froome also claimed the green points jersey and white combined jersey.

The green jersey was under threat on the final stage with Trentin needing to win the intermediate sprint and the stage to have a chance of taking it from Froome.

Team Sky pushed Trentin’s Quick-Step Floors team hard but he won the

intermediate sprint to pick up four points on the third crossing of the finish line and he took 25 more for winning the stage after the riders completed eight laps of a 5.6km circuit around Madrid.

However, Froome kept pace with the sprinters to finish 11th on the stage, enough to win the classification by two points.

Trentin said: “Froome told me he wanted to defend the jersey but four stage wins and not the jersey is a joke.” (BBC)

19

Sri Lanka set to return to Lahore next month for T20 S

ri Lanka will return to Lahore for a Twenty20 international at the end of October, eight years after gunmen attacked a bus carrying its players in the Pakistan city.

Apart from a short visit by Zimbabwe in 2015, Pakistan has been starved of international cricket since the 2009 attack in which six security staff and two civilians were killed and six of Sri Lanka’s players were wounded.

Subject to security clearance, Sri Lanka will play Pakistan at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Oct. 29 in the final fixture of a three-match

T20 series.

The first two will be played in Pakistan’s adopted United Arab Emirates ‘home’ after a two-test series starting in Abu Dhabi on Sept. 28 and five one-day internationals.

T h e International Cricket Council has also given its backing to a World XI, led

by South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis, playing a three-match T20 series in Lahore from Tuesday in a bid to help revive international cricket in the country.

The second test in Dubai starting Oct. 6 will be Sri Lanka’s first day-night match in the longest format.

(Reuters)

Great North Run

Mo Farah wins for record 4th straight year

B

ritain’s Mo Farah claimed a record fourth successive victory in the 37th Great North Run. The 34-year-old overcame New Zealand’s Jake Robertson in a thrilling duel to win in one hour six seconds.

London Marathon winner Mary Keitany of Kenya surged to her third victory in the women’s race in 1:05:59.

Three-time runner-up Simon Lawson won the men’s wheelchair race and Manuela Schar broke the course record by over a minute in the women’s wheelchair event.

Farah equals the num-

ber of victories in the race

by Kenyan Benson Masya, who won in 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1996.

The four-time Olympic gold medallist, who ended his track career with victory in the 5,000m in Zurich last month, timed his push for the line to perfection to pass Robertson and finish six seconds clear.

“That was really, really tough,” Farah told the BBC. “I think it was a lack of training really.

“With four miles to go I was hanging on - but I managed to believe in myself and know that at the end I can sprint.

“The kick worked for me and I’m really enjoy-

ing myself and living the dream. I’m so pleased with how the season has gone.”

Keitany, meanwhile, broke clear of the pack in the opening stages and set a tough pace as she finished one minute and 45 seconds clear of fellow Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot, who won last year.

Caroline Kipkirui, who pushed hard to keep pace with compatriot Keitany up until the eight-mile mark, finished third in 1:09:52.

Britain’s Sammi Kinghorn, competing in the women’s wheelchair race, finished second in her first half-marathon in 52:47. (BBC)

E

James Anderson

Another win under Mo Farah’s belt

ngland seamer James Anderson has moved to No. 1 on the ICC’s Test rankings for bowlers.

He displaced India spinner Ravindra Jadeja, following the Lord’s Test, in which he became the sixth player to pick up 500 Test wickets, and also returned a career-best 7 for 42.

Anderson, 35, became the oldest bowler to claim the top spot since Muttiah Muralitharan in July 2009 and the oldest seamer since Glenn McGrath in 2006.

Meanwhile, Ben Stokes leapfrogged Moeen Ali to fourth in the allround-

ers’ rankings. His 60 in the first innings against West Indies pushed him four places up to 20th in the batting rankings, while his 6 for 22 helped him gain two places to 21st in the bowling rankings.

West Indies batsman Shai Hope, who was the top scorer in the three-Test series with 375 runs, including twin hundreds in Headingley, jumped up 11 places to a career-best 30th.

Fast bowler Kemar Roach, who was West Indies’ leading wicket-taker in the series, moved up four places to 24th. (Cricinfo)

20 Shakib requests 6-month Umesh, Shami return to India ODI squad break from Tests S F

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, september 11, 2017

hakib Al Hasan has submitted a letter to the BCB requesting a break from Test cricket for six months. The board will discuss the matter on Monday afternoon, hours before it is scheduled to announce the South Africabound Test squad.

ESPNcricinfo has learned the BCB has taken the matter seriously and is considering giving Shakib a shortened break, and is likely to ask him to be available for the Sri Lanka Tests at home in late December. Shakib apparently wants the break to prolong his international career.

“Shakib has submitted a letter to the BCB asking for a six-month break from Test cricket,” Jalal Yunus, BCB’s media committee chairman, confirmed.

Over the next six months, Bangladesh have four Tests scheduled, two each against South Africa and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh play three ODIs and two

ast bowlers Umesh

Yadav and Mohammed Shami have returned to India’s ODI squad. They last played limited-overs cricket in July but were part of the 16 men picked for the first three matches against Australia. The series begins on September 17 and runs through to October 13.

Shakib Al Hasan wheels away in celebration (Getty Images)

T20s during the South Africa tour while there are ODIs and T20s also scheduled against Sri Lanka.

Shakib will be available for the limited-overs series.

The letter is an unprecedented move by a Bangladesh cricketer. Shakib has been

Bangladesh’s most consistent performer in the team in the last 10 years, and, since 2011, he has also become a regular in the franchise-based T20 leagues.

He is currently the No. 1 ranked allrounder in cricket across the three formats.

(Cricinfo)

“Personally, it’s just unbelievable what happened this year,” Rafael Nadal said of winning two majors this year for the first time since 2013. “After a couple of years with some troubles, injuries, some moments playing not good.” Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

R

fast-bowling support to Umesh, Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, who is fresh from a climb to No. 4 on the ICC ODI bowlers rankings.

With four seamers available, Shardul Thakur, who made his international debut a little over a week ago, has been left out.

India’s batting wore a familiar look with each of the seven specialists - Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya

India v Australia

Nadal outclasses Anderson to win 16th grand slam at US Open afael Nadal outclassed Kevin Anderson in the US Open final, claiming his 16th grand slam title with a three-set win.

Rafael Nadal produced a relentless display to claim his 16th grand slam title with a straight-sets win over Kevin Anderson in the US Open final on Sunday.

The world number one has enjoyed a tremendous year, and his 6-3 6-3 6-4 triumph added to his 10th French Open crown secured in June.

It marked the fourth time, and first since 2013, that Nadal has claimed multiple grand slams in a season.

The Spanish great, 31, is back to within three majors of Roger Federer, who has won the most of any man with 19, after clinching a first hard-court grand slam since his 2013 success in New York.

Nadal was characteris-

ly R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been rested,” Prasad said. “The team’s performance during the Sri Lanka tour was outstanding and players like Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal, who performed very well are being given an extended run and this will in turn supplement our approach, to build a strong reserve strength, as we pre-

tically relentless against Anderson, in his first major final, although it took a while to break the South African’s resistance on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Anderson, who had lost all four previous meetings with Nadal, managed to hold the left-hander at bay early, but once the Spaniard edged ahead, he cruised.

Nadal was able to dominate when he got into points, and he held comfortably throughout, losing just 15 points on serve as he won in two hours, 27 minutes.

Anderson showed few signs of early nerves, but Nadal looked the more likely to race ahead in the first set.

As the Spaniard held serve comfortably, he pushed repeatedly in the opening seven games – which took 47 minutes – before finally breaking at the fifth time of asking,

Anderson pulling a forehand wide, his 21st unforced error, to fall 4-3 behind.

Nadal, who stood closer to the crowd than the baseline on return, consolidated and broke again, a drop volley sealing the first set in 58 minutes.

Although he created fewer chances to begin the second set, Nadal still looked in command, and he broke for 4-2 courtesy of an overhead.

The second set was secured in fine style, Nadal hitting a cross-court forehand winner to wrap it up in 39 minutes.

As expected, Nadal was giving nothing away easily, committing just seven unforced errors in the opening two sets He broke to start the third, an Anderson forehand going wide, and while his level dropped briefly, Nadal closed out his win.

(Sportsmax)

Sept 12 - warm-up game, Chennai Sept 17 1st ODI, Chennai Sept 21 - 2nd ODI, Kolkata Sept 24 - 3rd ODI, Indore Sept 28 - 4th ODI, Bengaluru Oct 1 - 5th ODI, Nagpur Oct 7 - 1st T20I, Ranchi Oct 10 - 2nd T20I, Guwahati Oct 13 - 3rd T20I, Hyderabad

Mohammed Shami (left) and Umesh Yadav returned to a 16-member India squad for the first five ODIs against Austrailia

India have also chosen to be without R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja for a second series in a row. However, the chairman of selectors MSK Prasad clarified that both players have only been rotated out of the squad.

This meant another opportunity for Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel to lead the team’s spin attack.

They had been impressive during the 5-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka last week, collecting 14 wickets at a combined economy rate of 4.18.

“The team for the three ODIs against Australia has been selected in line with the rotation policy of the board and according-

pare for forthcoming tours.”

It would appear likely that Ashwin, currently playing for Worcestershire, might stay for the entire county season. He spoke to ESPNcricinfo about wanting to get used to to English conditions ahead of India’s five-Test tour in 2018 and took a five-for on debut two weeks ago.

Jadeja has not played topflight cricket since the Tests against Sri Lanka ended in the first week of August, and he has not been part of India’s limited-overs squads since July.

Hardik Pandya retained the allrounder’s spot. He was not in the XI for the final two matches of the Sri Lanka tour but will lend

Rahane, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav - from the Sri Lanka series keeping their place.

Squad: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma (vice captain), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami (Cricinfo)

Jamaican athlete killed in accident

‒ World Champs relay participant also injured

J

amaican athlete Jordan Scott was killed in a motor vehicle accident, while his compatriot Michael Campbell, a member of Jamaica’s 4x100 metres relay team, is in stable condition.

According to reports, the accident took place close to the intersection of East King’s House and Hope roads in the early hours of Sunday morning. Jordan Scott It is claimed that the vehicle in which the pair was travelling, struck a median before crashing into a utility pole.

Both athletes were trapped in the vehicle but were removed and taken to hospital where Scott was pronounced dead on arrival.

Scott, who was a student of the University

of Technology, was formerly of Petersfield High School in Westmoreland.

Campbell, a 21-year-old UTech student, clocked a personal best of 10.07 in finishing fourth at Jamaica’s national trials in July, which secured him a spot in the relay pool for the London championships.

The athlete, while suffering minor injuries, is expected to be able to begin recovery in a few weeks’ time. (Sportsmax)

sports

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Future Stars, Leopold Street clash to ignite semi-finals

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he exciting Guinness Cage/Three Peat Promotions Indoor Championship is now down to four teams after some thrilling quarter-final action on Saturday evening at the National Gymnasium.

The results of the night meant the youthful talents of Future Stars will battle Leopold Street, while Ol Skool Ballers face Back Circle in Tuesday’s semi-finals.

Leopold Street, led by their in-form Captain Okanie Fraser and the skilful Omallo Williams, who both netted a brace, outmuscled a strong Mocha team 4-1 to leave the bookmakers with no choice but to tip them as firm favourites to lift the title.

However, the most impressive performance of the night must be adjudged that of Ol Skool Ballers, who continue to show no fear for any opponent, as was demonstrated in their hard fought 2-0 triumph over another previously undefeated team in Albouystown ‘A’, whom

Part of the action between Ol Skool Ballers and Albouystown ‘A’

many had felt were on the cusp of producing their best results in many years.

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last four after coming from behind twice, before winning a penalty shootout against a strong West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’ unit.

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backboard before slamming onto the feet of defender Gerald Gritten and landing in the goal.

Up until then it was a closely fought contest, with the outcome hard to predict.

The fans had their money’s worth, and all four semi-finalists Captains are promising to lift their game even further to entertain the fans come tomorrow night.

More than $800,000 in prize money and trophies will be up for grabs, with the winner set to receive $400,000 and the championship trophy, while second, third and fourth-placed finishers will respectively take home $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000 along with trophies.

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ed by the awesome trio of Orlando Glasgow with 31 points, Harold Adams with 19 and Chris Williams with 15, the Victory Valley Royals triumphed over reigning champions Retrieve Raiders, coasting to a 98-72 routing of the opposition to end

Cameron 16, as Dauwin Lovell contributed 13 in a losing cause. The Royals went into overdrive and won the game to record 12 points from six wins in this even-team tournament.

On Friday night also, the Bankers Trust Falcons se-

Harold Adams

Orlando Glasgow

round one as the points leader in the chase for the coveted title of Mackenzie Sports Club Open League title, being staged by the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA).

cured win number two after six matches when they scored a 63-57 win against Block 22 Flames, with J. Gilkes netting 15 points, Ahkeel Primo 11 and Stephan Duncan nine.

Only Selwyn Henry with 16 and J. Waldron with 11 looked in good form for the Flames, who finished one position ahead of Christianburg Pistons.

These ended on the carpet with six losses, while the Falcons from two wins and four losses are on eight points, with the Flames on seven from one win and five defeats.

On Saturday night, Half

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Representative of The Bike Shop making the presentation to Three Peat Promotions’ Rawle Welch

T

he Bike Shop of Robb Street, Bourda became the latest entity to offer support for the inaugural Guinness Cage /Three Peat Promotions Indoor Championship when the entity confirmed its position in a simple ceremony conducted at its location on Saturday.

Represented by Jamal Bentley, the entity’s cheque for an undisclosed sum was handed over to Three Peat official Rawle Welch, who expressed appreciation for the extension of goodwill.

Managing Director Jude Bentley, a former national racing cyclist, had signalled the entity’s support for the ongoing championship, which has brought together thirty-two of the top futsal teams in what has already provided lots of exciting clashes and upsets.

Bentley’s business has been a consistent supporter of sport, and Saturday’s coming on board was just another example of that commitment being still vibrant.

Playing at the tournament venue last Friday night, Royals effectively closed out what was appearing to be a close contest when the first quarter ended with them ahead 17-16, and at half time 43-36.

However, expectations were dashed when the game petered out to a no-contest later, with Neil Marks netting 18 points and Keon

Mile Bulls secured their fifth win, easing past Amelia’s Ward Jets 68-46 with Akini Wilson getting 19 points and Donnel Benjamin 18 for the Jets, who are third with 10 points from four wins and two defeats. The Christianburg Pistons are still to record a win; after six games, they are on six points. A. Iniss and Mark Louis scored 14 and 12 points respectively for the Pistons.

Another exciting night is anticipated tonight in the second round at the MSC hard court, where at 18.30hrs Royals collide with Falcons and Raiders face Jets at 20.30hrs.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

MONDAY, september 11, 2017

Swimming: An adrenaline rush for the gifted Leon Seaton

B

By Akeem Greene

e it the 50-metre dash or the more gruelling 100-metre length, National Swimmer Leon Seaton Jnr considers himself the “Energiser bunny “in the pool.

Although just 13, Seaton Jr has already scripted an eminent name for himself regionally with the fast times he has produced, shattering records on his way to Gold.

At the XXIII Goodwill Swim Meet held last month at the National Aquatic Centre at Liliendaal, ECD, Seaton Jr competed in thirteen (13) events, consisting of 10 individual races and 3 relays. He won 9 Gold medals, 2 Silver medals and 1

Number one! A smiling Leon Seaton (centre) showcases one of the Gold medals he won at the Goodwill Games Meet

takes a lot of hard work and determination over time; it does not happen overnight.

“I was making sure I exercised at home, ran in the park, ran “That feeling of in the neighbourhood.

I kept active heading swimming is very into the meet. I felt I was going to do good exciting. Every time when I achieved my I hit the water, every first record in the 100m freestyle,” Seaton distime I step up on the closed. blocks, there is this For the aspiring medical doctor, balfeeling that just flows ancing life in the pool and commitment to the through my mind and books is no easy task. body; and when I hit “For me, I have been in this sport for a the water I release, while [since age five], and then I just swim and the routine has become normal to be very fast.” me. For someone now beginning, it would be challenging. In the mornings when you wake at Bronze medal, for a total of five, you have to reach the 12 medals.

Against a field of swim- pool at 05:30h, then go to mers from Trinidad and school. You then come back Tobago, Barbados, St Lucia, to pool, go home and study, Suriname and the Bahamas, and then it continues all he etched his name in the re- over again,” he revealed.

Some may wonder why cord books on five occasions.

tennis, athletics and karate, swimming will always be close to his heart, given that he has set his sights on some illustrious goals.

“Five years. I see myself at the Olympic Games, of course! Along that way, I will have to be going to development meets to achieve my goals. I have set myself very high standards, and will be working hard to achieve (them)” he declared.

The second of three siblings, Seaton credits his success to the motivation sup-

plied by his parents, Leon Seaton Snr and Rhonda Seaton, along with his peers at Silver Shark Aquatic Swim Club; and to current coach, Haresh Bhagwan.

Who will be able to stop Seaton in his rise to the top?

He believes there is no comparable local talent in his age group.

“No one in my age (group) can beat me in Guyana.

There is Zachery Taylor from Barbados who has been trying to beat me since 2013.

I don’t know much about him, but he is very dedicated and hardworking,” Seaton disclosed.

His self-confidence flows from his knowledge of what is needed to develop the sport. “I would say they should put more learning programmes and teach more persons how to swim; and when they do that, they can then become competitive and learn to swim at my speed,” Seaton said.

Locked on his goals, Seaton can possibly bring joy to a nation which has not received much world recognition from the sport of swimming.

GCA/Noble House Seafoods 2nd Division

Everest hammer GYO by 342 runs E verest Cricket Club continued to showcase their strength in Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) competitions by registering a resounding 342-run victory over a hapless Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) team yesterday at the GYO ground.

Scores in the match: Everest 329-9 declared and 154 all out; GYO 77 and 64.

Opting to bat first, Everest posted a solid first innings score of 329-9 on the first day, Saturday, compliments of Dwayne Adams 78, Kevin Paul 65, and Travis Mohammed 54.

Bowling for the hosts, Wazim Ally claimed 6-112 and Richard Hoyte took 3-73.

In reply, the GYO batsmen were tormented before they folded for 77, as Paul 4-17 and Javed Rasheed 3-35 combined to dispose of seven wickets. R. Melville made 43.

Instead of enforcing the follow-on, Everest decided to bat again, and were dismissed for 154, with Gavin Sookdeo and Khemraj

Javed Rasheed

Ramdeen making 25 and 24 respectively.

Ray Gill (3-49) and Richard Hoyte (3-66) were the architects of the Everest second innings’ collapse at the GYO ground.

However, with a mammoth target of 402 to claim a come-from-behind victory, the GYO batsmen found themselves mesmerized by consistent left-arm orthodox spinner Rasheed, who bagged 8-30 from 10.5 overs and ended the match with a 10-wicket haul.

GYO could muster only 64 in their second innings, thus losing by 342 runs.

Softball: a sport-building sentiment of playing together – Nagamootoo …as lucrative Prime Minister’s Cup is launched

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo (centre) and the other stakeholders pose for a photo opportunity after the launch on Sunday at the Everest Cricket Club

A

The hard work begins long before he enters the pool

He lowered the 50m Butterfly time from 29.75s to 29.20s; 50m Backstroke from 31.82s to 31.72; 50m Freestyle from 26.62 to 26.18s; 100m Freestyle from 58.80s to 58.19s; and 200m Freestyle from 2:13.03s to 2:10.37s.

“I rate myself at 100%.

I excelled, pushed my game to the top, and I came out on top”, he said in an interview with Guyana Times Sport.

But achieving such feats

this St Rose’s High School student puts his body through the rigours. “That feeling of swimming is exciting. Every time I hit the water, every time I step up on the blocks, there is this feeling that just flows through my mind and body; and when I hit the water, I release and then I just swim very fast,” he disclosed.

Though he wishes to have a taste of other sporting disciplines, such as table

n initiative which is the first of its kind -the Prime Minister’s Softball Cup -- was launched on Sunday at the Everest Cricket Club on Camp Road, much to the delight of several teams who are all anxious to participate in the anticipated action-packed tournament organised by the Georgetown Softball Cricket Association Inc (GSCL Inc).

Delivering the feature address to an audience bolstered by the gracious presence of Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo expressed appreciation and honour at being patron of the tournament.

Nagamootoo described softball as a growing sport that is becoming extremely attractive. He contended: “It is not just any sport, but one

which is intended to build a sentiment of playing together, sharing and competing on the basis of doing the best.”

The Prime Minister indicated that the Office of the Prime Minister would pledge $300,000 towards the new talents that are unearthed in the tournament, which runs from October 27 to 29 at various venues across Georgetown.

Meanwhile, GSCL Inc president, Ian John, revealed that the tournament had been in planning for quite a long period.

John explained that since the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) 10/10 tournament, they noticed that they had even talent to successfully produce a tournament of this magnitude.

For this reason, he explained, overseas teams would compete against the

locals, and no registration fee will be charged for any team. Toronto Cup Masters Softball Cricket tournament 2017 winners, SVC Mafia, and New York Hustlers, along with New York President’s X1 and Try State Masters, have all confirmed their participation.

Players must be over the age of 45 in order to play in the Masters category, while the All Stars format is open to all ages.

Teams registering for the Over-45 category must submit photo identification, preferably valid passports for every member of their 15-man squad. The Over45 category will make the champions $500,000 richer, while in the All Stars category, the winning team will collect $600,000. Both categories will have a runner-up prize of $100,000.

The man-of-the-series

for the Open category will be awarded a Hero Dawn 150cc motorcycle, compliments of local distributors Rose Ramdehol Auto Sales; while, for the Over-45 category, a 50inch flat screen television will be up for grabs.

Teams are asked to be fully uniformed in coloured clothing, given that white balls will be used. The draw will be held a week before the commencement date, and it will be streamed live to accommodate overseas teams.

The organisers further thanked the sponsors: Banks DIH under their Banks Beer, Regal Stationery and Sports, and Rose Ramdehol Auto Sales under the Hero brand.

Registration forms can be uplifted from Regal Store at 69 Seaforth Street, Campbellville, or from any Executive member of GSCL Inc. (Akeem Greene)

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, september 11, 2017

23

Super Cooper takes Knight Riders to 2nd CPL title A

stunning late surge from the Trinbago Knight Riders turned a helter-skelter match on its head right at the death to seal their second Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title and deny St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in a thrilling final which ended early Sunday morning at the Brian Lara Cricket Acdemy, Trinidad and Tobago.

Chasing 136 the Knight Riders seemed down and out at 90 for 7 but Denesh Ramdin and Kevon Cooper kept the Knight Riders in the hunt, reducing the equation to 28 off 13 balls. It was then that Cooper exploded into life, launching a six over extra cover to ignite the contest once more.

A dramatic penultimate over bowled by Ben Hilfenhaus begun with two wides in the first three balls before a waist high no-ball was carved over cover for another six from Cooper.

The ensuing free hit was hit for four through backward point and so too the ball after that. Two balls later Ramdin scampered a single to seal the win with an over remaining.

The Knight Riders run chase was derailed in the second over when they lost two wickets in two balls to the bowling of Sheldon Cottrell. First Sunil Narine’s poor form continued when he top edged a pull shot that was caught by the bowler.

The very next ball the promoted Dwayne Bravo was brilliantly bowled by an in-swinging yorker.

‒ Warriors’ Walton deemed player of the tournament Colin Munro breathed life into the run chase in the fifth over by hitting

Mohammad Nabi for three straight sixes with midon and mid-off in the circle.

The following over he tried the same thing to Mohammad Hafeez but with long-on back he couldn’t clear him and was caught. When Darren Bravo was trapped lbw by a delivery from Hafeez that skidded on what begun as a relatively straightforward run chase had been transformed with the Knight Riders 53 for 4 after 8.2 overs.

A brief partnership of 14 between Hamza Tariq and Ramdin stabilised the innings but Tariq soon fell for a torturous 16 off 22 balls when a leading edge off Tabraiz Shamsi was brilliantly caught by Brandon King diving forward at cover. After Dan Christian was run out and Javon Searles caught the Knight Riders were seven down, but their demise brought Cooper— the eventual hero—to the crease.

Earlier in the evening after being put into bat by the Knight Riders the Patriots innings saw a familiar rivalry resume between Chris Gayle and Ronsford Beaton. Gayle survived a testing first over but fell victim to the first ball of the second from Searles, driving uppishly to Yasir Shah at backward point for just one. The pressure of a tight start from the Knight Riders

SCOREBOARD

St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots Innings (20 overs maximum) CH Gayle (c) c Yasir Shah b Scantlebury-Searles 1 E Lewis lbw b Narine 16 Mohammad Hafeez c Christian b Scantlebury-Searles 5 BA King lbw b Cooper 19 JL Carter b Beaton 21 DC Thomas†c Yasir Shah b Cooper 17 CR Brathwaite not out 30 Mohammad Nabi not out 18 Extras (b-2, lb-3, nb-2, w-1) 8 TOTAL (For 6 wickets, 20 overs) 135 Did not bat: BW Hilfenhaus, SS Cottrell, T Shamsi Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-11, 3-37, 4-45, 5-65, 6-114 Bowling ; RR Beaton 4-0-27-1, JPR Scantlebury-Searles 4-0-292 (nb-1, w-1), DT Christian 3-021-0, SP Narine 4-1-8-1 (nb-1), DJ Bravo 2-0-24-0, KK Cooper 2-0-12-2, Yasir Shah 1-0-9-0

Trinbago Knight Riders Innings (Target 136, 20 overs maximum) SP Narine c & b Cottrell 3 C Munro c Lewis b Mohammad Hafeez 29 DJ Bravo (c) b Cottrell 0 Hamza Tariq c King b Shamsi 18 DM Bravo lbw b Mohammad Hafeez 1 D Ramdin† not out 26 DT Christian run out (Carter/†Thomas) 8 JPR Scantlebury-Searles c Lewis b Shamsi 2 KK Cooper not out 29 Extras (lb-10, nb-1, w-9) 20 TOTAL (For 7 wickets, 19 Overs) 136 Did not bat: Yasir Shah, RR Beaton FOW: 1-11, 2-12, 3-48, 4-53, 5-67, 6-77, 7-90 Bowling; BW Hilfenhaus 3-0-300 (w-2, nb-1), SS Cottrell 3-0-21-2, Mohammad Hafeez 4-0-19-2, Mohammad Nabi 1-019-0, CR Brathwaite 4-0-17-0 (w-1), T Shamsi 4-0-20-2 (w-2)

told in the fourth over when Mohammad Hafeez looked to hit the first boundary of the innings but picked out Dan Christian at mid off leaving the Patriots 11 for 2.

Boundaries from Lewis and King gave the Patriots a fillip but they only managed 28 for 2 off the Powerplay.

A relaxation of the field restrictions brought no let up in the pressure from the

Dance Time! Denesh Ramdin (C) of Trinbago Knight Riders celebrate winning the Finals (CPL T20 via Getty Images)

Chadwick Walton of Guyana Amazon Warriors receives the player -of-the-series cheque from Hon Darryl Smith (R) of the Ministry of Sport, Trinidad (CPL T20 via Getty Images)

Knight Riders who continued to keep things tight. In the eighth over Narine made the key breakthrough when he trapped Lewis lbw for just

16 off 16 balls. Things soon got worse for the Patriots when they lost King to the first ball of the tenth over: trapped lbw by Cooper and

when Devon Thomas cut Cooper straight to Yasir at backward point the Patriots were 65 for 5.

With Narine bowling exceptionally from one end the Patriots couldn’t get away in the late middle overs.

Narine finished with stunning figures of 1 for 8 and after 16 overs the Patriots were just 79 for 5.

Fortunately they had Carlos Brathwaite and Mohammad Nabi waiting in the wings. Seven boundaries in the final four overs of the innings lifted them to 135 for 6 with Brathwaite finishing 30 not out off 25 balls

and Nabi 18 not out off 5 balls. The Knight Riders did not bowl badly at the death but Brathwaite and Nabi hit brilliantly, muscling full balls for boundaries on both sides of the ground. It was spectacular batting but less than two hours later it was upstaged by Cooper’s pyrotechnics.

Meanwhile, Amazon Warriors dynamic opening batsman Chadwick Walton was deemed player of the tournament after top the batting charts with 458 runs from 12 matches. He averaged 41.63 while keeping a strike rate of 145.63 and had a high score of 92.

GISE/Star Party Rentals First Division 2-day Competition

UG hold on for a draw despite Deonarine’s 108

By Delvon McEwan

G

andhi Youth Organisation (GYO) narrowly missed out on a come-from-behind victory against University of Guyana (UG) yesterday at the Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) Ground.

GYO finished on 172-6, falling short by 26 runs in pursuit of 198 for victory, despite a brilliant century by Chris Deonarine (108).

Deonarine accounted for 13 fours and two sixes as he added 136 for the first wicket partnership with Surendra Hiralall (34). However, after the latter was run out, things went downhill for GYO, who lost five quick wickets for 26 runs. Dennis Heywood (3-21) and Dwayne Dodson (2-19) were responsible for GYO’s casualties.

Resuming the day on 1326, GYO were eventually routed for 207, approximately 30 minutes before the lunch interval.

Overnight batsman France added just six runs to

Chris Deonarine raises his bat upon reaching triple figures

his score before he was dismissed for 38. His partner Leon Griffin, who resumed the day with him, scored his team’s only 50.

Part-time off-spin bowler Dwayne Dodson was the main tormentor of the GYO batsmen, and collected 5-43 from 13.3 overs.

Ray Newton and Omesh Danram played supporting roles to snatch two wickets apiece, as UG claimed a lead of 65 runs.However, the University unit did not fare well in their second innings, and were dismissed for a paltry 132 forty minutes before the tea break.

France continued to prove

worthy at this level, as he captured his third five-wicket haul of the tournament.

He finished with 6-44 from 11 overs of his left-arm orthodox spin bowling.

Keron Sewnarine topscored for the students with 38, while Danram contributed 28 in a substandard batting performance put on by the students.

In pursuit of 198 for victory, GYO raced to 36 without loss in 10 overs at the tea interval, compliments of Chris Deonarine who scored successive centuries in the first match and was well placed on 28 with four fours and a six, and Surendra Hirilall on 6.

Both batsmen appeared to be confident, and were complementing each other as their team sought a come-from-behind victory.

Meanwhile, Transport Sports Club (TSC) defeated Guyana Defence Force (GDF) by a mammoth margin of 174 runs at the military base of Camp Ayanganna.

Scores in the match: TSC 214 and 90 all out, and GDF 74 and 60. Significant contribution in the match came from Joel Spooner (5-8) in the GDF’s first innings, and Kevin Ross (8-14) in the GDF’s second innings.

Randy Lindore took 4-22 in TSC’s second innings.

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

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Super Cooper takes Knight Riders to 2nd CPL title ‒ Warriors’ Walton deemed player of the tournament

Pg 23

Champions ! Trinbago Knight Riders celebrate winning the Finals of the 2017 Hero Caribbean Premier League on Sunday (CPL T20 via Getty Images)

GISE/Star Party Rentals First Division 2-day Competition Pg 22

UG hold on for a draw despite Deonarine’s 108 Pg 23

Chris Deonarine drives during his attractive century at the Malteenoes Sports Club on Sunday

Swimming: An adrenaline rush for the gifted Leon Seaton Eye on the Prize! Seaton remains focused that there is greater accomplishments ahead

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