Guyanatimes 12 october 2017

Recognise teachers for what they’re worth – Union tells P11 Govt Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3359

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Thursday, October 12, 2017

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Business Summit 2017

Toroparu mining P9 syndicate feels cheated

by Govt

Granger berates business community for not investing more Page 3

...ignores Private Sector pleas for clarity on Govt policies

Opposition brings slew of fiscal measures for Budget 2018

Suddie Hospital P11 biochemistry machines out of order ̶ Councillor Condemned killer was planning to skip country – Police P7

Page 11

...says taxes cost Guyanese $10B in disposable income

CJIA suspends night flights P2 …CAL shifts to Eugene F Correia International Airport

"Grey Boy" jailed for threatening CrumEwing’s mother P8

Page 2

Son of former Chancellor admitted to the Bar

3 remanded for South Road double murder Page 8

More P12 hurricaneaffected Guyanese return home

2 news

thursDAY, october 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

CJIA suspends night flights Son of former Chancellor

…CAL shifts to Eugene F Correia International Airport

Ongoing expansion works at CJIA

I

n order to facilitate the expansion project currently underway at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri, East Bank Demerara, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority has announced the temporary suspension of nightly operations so as to allow for construction works.

This disruption to both incoming and outgoing flights will take effect on

October 13 and is expected to last until November 3.

Reports indicate that stemming from the partial closure of the CJIA, regional carrier Caribbean Airlines (CAL) has considered shifting its operation of their night flights into the Eugene F Correia International Airport at Ogle, on the East Coast of Demerara, with the use of its smaller ATR-72 aircraft during this period.

CAL indicated that in order to minimise disruption to their customers, it will operate services from Ogle to the Piarco International Airport, Trinidad, on the days where flights cannot operate to and from CJIA. The carrier further noted that the flights out of the Eugene F Correia International Airport will operate as BW463 and BW464, to accommodate passengers who are already booked to fly within this period. As a result, these flights will not be available for sale.

Flights BW483 (POS/ GEO) and BW484 (GEO/ POS), initially slated to operate through CJIA, are those which have been affected on specific days during the suspension.

Meanwhile, other airlines are yet to announce their intentions for this period.

The expansion works ongoing at the CJIA are expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Canadian teen remanded for trafficking heroin

A

Canadian teen was on Wednesday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after she admitted to trafficking in narcotics.

It is alleged that on October 5, 2017, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Yuonika Bovell was allegedly in possession of 1.662 kilograms of heroin for the purpose of trafficking.

Bovell appeared in the company of legal counsel, who sought to secure bail for the accused pending the outcome of trial.

According to the lawyer, the 19-year-old is a Canadian citizen, who has been residing in Guyana for the past nine months with her reputed husband and parents in East La Penitence, Georgetown.

The court heard that de-

spite being a Canadian citizen, the teen spent most of the last three years in Guyana working as a cashier in her mother’s grocery store after graduating high school.

Bovell voiced through her lawyer that she is oblivious of the charge and willing to lodge her passport or report to CANU on a weekly basis if necessary, during trial.

Special reasons advanced on the basis that the accused suffers from chronic asthma and trauma following the recent the loss of a baby was rejected by the Magistrate McLennan and she was committed to prison.

CANU Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford led the prosecution’s case.

Bovell will return to court on October 24.

admitted to the Bar

Newly admitted Attorney-at-Law Nirvan Singh is congratulated by Justice Brassington Reynolds, as his father, former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh, mother and brother share in the celebratory occasion

T

he son of former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh was on Wednesday admitted to the Bar after taking his oath to serve the country in the capacity of an Attorneyat-Law. Sworn in with high praises was Nirvan Singh, following an application presented by former Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran, which was accepted by presiding Justice Brassington Reynolds.

Singh began his tertiary education at York University in Canada, after which he returned home in pursuit of his Bachelors of Law in 2014.

Upon completion of his LLB at the University of Guyana, the young Singh then moved on to the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad, where he received Legal Education Certificate.

In putting forth his petition, the former Speaker of the National Assembly pointed out that Singh has thus far been attached to several entities, which speaks to his experience as a well-rounded young professional. For a number of

years, he was attached to the Cameron and Shepherd Law Firm, operated by the former Speaker.

As such, Ramkarran highlighted that he has no doubt that the newly admitted attorney will produce work of high quality and standard.

Justice Reynolds shared the same views, indicating that Singh has had a front row seat to the great works of his father. On that note, the presiding Justice welcomed Singh to the legal fraternity and urge him to not only follow in his father’s footsteps but to leave his own footprints in field as well.

Moreover, he noted that Singh’s petition comes at an opportune time, where there is much advancements in Guyana’s fairly short legal history, some of which can be attributed to the strides of former Chancellor.

Meanwhile Singh, who just so happened to be sworn in in the very same courtroom as did his father, in his admission remarks relayed, “I appear before the court today with a deep sense of fulfillment having worked so

hard.”

The most recently inducted Attorney at Law continued on by saying that the country can look forward to him showcasing integrity and representing his clients with honesty.

While speaking with Guyana Times, the young lawyer revisited his journey to fulfilling this longstanding dream and expressed his anticipation for the road ahead.

Underlining that becoming a lawyer requires much hard work, dedication and belief in self, the young Attorney went on to offer words of advice to those in pursuit of a similar path.

Singh stated, “Just work hard, maintain a sense of confidence and ambition and believe in yourself. Having an unwavering support system is definitely important.

I didn’t do this by myself, I had tremendous help and I’m truly grateful.”

Nirvan Singh will now commence his career as an Attorney-at-Law and looks forward to the opportunity to contribute to the jurisprudence of Guyana.

news

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thursDAY, october 12, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, October 12 – 10:30h-12:00h and Friday, October 13 – 12:00h-13:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, October 12 – 09:40h-11:10h and Friday, October 13 – 11:10h-12:40h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light cloud cover in the early morning hours is expected to give way to thundery to heavy rain showers. Light rain showers can be expected in the late afternoon hours, with partly cloudy to thundery showers expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly and Northeasterly between 1.34 metres and 2.68 metres.

High Tide: 09:32h and 21:55h reaching maximum heights of 2.25 metres and 2.25 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 02:54h and 15:23h reaching minimum heights of 0.79 metre and 1.04 metres respectively.

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Business Summit 2017

Granger berates business community for not investing more ...ignores Private Sector pleas for clarity on Govt policies

H

ead of State, President David Granger on Wednesday pointedly blanked several direct calls made by Private Sector leaders for clarity on Government’s economic development policies such as taxation, oil and gas and energy, and instead lashed out at the business community for not investing more.

Granger was at the time delivering the keynote address at the opening of “Guyana Business Summit 2017”, which got underway on Wednesday at the Georgetown Marriott.

Organised by the Private Sector Commission (PSC) with support from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB), the activity saw in attendance scores of business leaders and representatives, members of the diplomatic community, representatives of the donor community and members from each side of the political divide.

Granger, in scolding the business sector, said investors have been coming to Guyana from across the world, including the Americans, Brazilians, British, Canadians, Chinese, French, Indians and Russians.

“All are investing in Guyana, why can’t you… why should Guyanese have to be reminded…Guyanese should have no good reason for not increasing investment in their country,” the President said.

In lashing out at the Private Sector representatives for failing to invest in the country, the President said Government has been working to create a more enabling environment.

He told the Private Sector it would have to position itself in order to take advantage of emerging opportunities since it has the expertise and experience to drive economic development.

The President also used the occasion to lament the lagging ratio of commercial banks operating in Guyana, saying Government has been encouraging this industry to expand its services to other zones.

Unanswered questions

Addressing the opening of the Business Summit, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President Deodat Indar, speaking in the stead of PSC Chairman Eddie Boyer, was among the representatives to throw out direct questions ahead of the President’s remarks.

Directly addressing the President at the third-ever such gathering to be held in the nation’s history, the Private Sector represen-

President David Granger addressing the opening of the Business Summit 2017 on Wednesday

tative said the consensus among the business leaders was that the country could not depend on the oil and gas sector alone.

He said the Private Sector was of the view that there was need for a diversification of the economy, but that there also needed to be clear signals being sent from the Administration to investors and the business community at large.

Turning to President Granger – seated in the first row of the conference room along with Business Minister Dominic Gaskin – the GCCI President called on the President to clarify his position on a range of issues.

“Please clarify Government approach to economic development,” Indar requested and listed taxation policy, incentive programmes for business, strengthening democracy, and ensuring the rule of law as a few of the main con-

cerns.

Indar said the Private Sector wanted the Head of State to clarify how Government intended to work with the business community to create jobs.

The oil and gas sector – a hot button topic throughout the course of the first day – also saw appeals from the Private Sector.

The business leader told President Granger the PSC wanted a better understanding of precisely where and how the revenues from that industry would be spent.

Government, he reminded, is the biggest spender.

Such clarity from the President “will assist the Private Sector on where and when to invest”.

The GCCI President – reading a prepared statement from PSC Chairman Boyer – told the opening of the Business Summit the confab had been organised, for the coming to real solutions that would bring marked benefit with regard to national development and not “another talk shop”.

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Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Right action O

ver the past few years as the Government settled into office, there has much discussion about morality – or conversely and more frequently, its lack in governance and in the rest of society. In Government, the predilection for corruption has astounded even its loyalists, while in society, the murders and general violence continue unabated. The solutions or at least the approaches to address this moral decline have taken two forms – encoding morality into law then seeking enforcement through legal sanctions and through the creation of institutions that herd individuals into approved behaviour.

But these approaches have revealed fundamental flaws in their implementation. We have enacted so many laws to reduce stealing, for instance, but we would be hard put to claim they have had any noticeable effect on stealing of one sort or another. Currently, there is the debate as to whether the laws on child molestation have deterred any paedophiles. On the governmental front, it appears that members spend more time trying to subvert the rules than on following them. We can point to the recent case of cocaine being pilfered by Policemen, who are members of the institution dedicated to preventing such actions.

So what are we to do? One approach, in a sense, would have us look backwards – or even go backwards.

Our present framework for judging morality focuses on rules that we are supposed to follow. In one scenario, our duty to act in a particular manner is defined a priori – say in accordance to the categorical imperative of Immanuel Kant, and the subsequent rules enforce the prescribed behaviour. The other approach – popularised by Jeremy Benthan – would have us act so as to increase the overall happiness of humans. Together these “Enlightenment” ideas summarise the present liberal approach to desirable action. Both lead to an exaltation of the individual and his/her rights.

But before these approaches, there was the Greek view, popularised by Aristotle, that we were supposed to live a good or virtuous life. Being good, according to Aristotle, consists in a creature (whether plant, animal, or human) acting according to its nature – its telos, or purpose. Each individual must practise and cultivate virtuous behaviour.

The telos for human beings is to generate a communal life with others; and the good society is composed of many independent, self-reliant groups. Ancient Indians also held to this ideal and called it “Dharma”.

In the past few decades, this ancient approach has been given new life by the philosopher Alisdair MacIntyre, with his book, “After Virtue”. The most damaging consequence of the Enlightenment, for MacIntyre, was the decline of the idea of a tradition within which an individual’s desires are disciplined by virtue. And that means being guided by internal rather than external “goods”. Today, we have the result that everyone looks out for Number One, and maximises what he can acquire for himself, by any means necessary.

The best option in this time of great moral crisis is a return to the virtue ethics of the ancients. Moral rules are too abstract and too rigid, and it is difficult to apply them to complex situations and decisions. If we each are motivated from within to be a better person, then no matter what institution we are placed in, we have a greater chance of doing the ‘right thing’. Conversely, no matter how well we design the institution, non-virtuous members will look for and find ways to subvert those rules.

Aristotle talked about the ‘middle way’ – avoiding extremes not only in the big things but in everyday life.

Buddhism encourages ‘mindfulness’ whereby we try to always have on our minds, the consequences of our actions. Moral behaviour can begin with the good practice of a profession, trade, or art: cutting cane or cutting hair. In other words, the virtues necessary for human flourishing are not a result of the top-down application of abstract ethical principles, but the development of good character in everyday life. Let us give it a try in Guyana.

People dance in a park on a foggy day in Huai'an, Jiangsu province, China

(Reuters/Stringer)

All Patras declare Diwali as October 18

Dear Editor, The Ephemeris is an Astronomical Almanac or table of the positions of celestial bodies. The Panchaanga of the Hindus is an Ephemeris. It is what people call ‘Patra’. The Panchaangas available in Guyana are (1) Kaashi, (2) Bhaskar, (3) Shiv Shakti, (4) MyPanchaanga.com, (5) Drik Panchaanga.com, (6) Bhavani Shankar, and

(7) 100-Year.

All these Panchaangas are in agreement with each other.

The Panchaanga (Patra) is the authority in such matters. Hindus consult the Patra from birth to death – naming of a baby, auspicious day and time for Poojaa, marriage ceremonies, auspicious/inauspicious time in birth and death, travelling, horoscope, building a house,

time of New Moon and Full Moon, etc, etc.

The Patra also has the dates for planting and burning of Holika, Holi, Shiva Raatree, Janma Ashtami, Hanuman Jayanti, Sita Jayanti, Ram Navami, Gita Jayanti, Diwali, etc, etc.

The Patra is also consulted in times of illness, problems, etc.

The Panchaanga is

the official calendar of Hindus. According to all Panchaangas (Patras), Diwali in Guyana, Trinidad, Suriname, USA and Canada is October 18. All these countries are within the same time zone.

Sincerely, Pandit R Balbadar President, Sanatan Vaidic Dharma Pandits’ Sabha

Why Guyana needs tax reforms Dear Editor, President Granger did not mention the phrase (tax reform) once in his "2015 manifesto" message, while his Prime Ministerial Candidate stated that his team “proposes to restructure the tax recovery system, not to oppress the wage earner, but to catch the tax dodger”. But after some two and a half years, although the Government’s Tax Reform Committee made sweeping recommendations, tax reform appears to have been relegated to the back burners.

I want to focus on one particular set of tax measures against the backdrop of the Guyana Business Summit 2017; I speak specifically of Corporation Tax (CTAX).

According to the Ram and McRae website, there are three rates of CTAX in Guyana – a 30 per cent rate that applies to non-commercial companies, a 40 per cent rate that applies to commercial companies except telephone companies, and finally a 45 per cent rate for the telephone companies.

If one just observes the CTAX rates in Trinidad as an example, they have a ba-

sic rate of 25 per cent and a band of 35 per cent that is applied to the oil and gas industry. If you are a company in Guyana, and you have a legal choice, which country would you prefer to pay your taxes? Guyana at 35 per cent/40 per cent or Trinidad at 25 per cent/35 per cent!

This situation has opened a door to a practice called transfer pricing that allows companies to avoid paying their fair share of taxes in Guyana legally. It is called tax avoidance. In reality, the tax burden is exported from Guyana to another country with a lower tax rate, allowing that company to bypass the Guyana Treasury. In reality, there is such a company called Guyana Stockfeeds (Trinidad) Ltd which is a subsidiary of Guyana Stockfeeds Inc (Read the Annual Report).

The solution to increasing the CTAX payment to the Guyana Treasury is simple – reform the tax system.

But it requires a phased reduction of the CTAX rates.

A strategic starting point is a reduction of the rate from 35 per cent to 25 per cent for the non-commercial compa-

nies (mainly the dwindling manufacturing sector). That one concession will make a world of difference to the investment landscape.

I disagree with the Minister's excuse that tax reforms will have adverse budgetary consequences. It has been empirically proven in many instances that any reduction of the CTAX will directly enhance the investment climate, generate new jobs and new tax payments.

Reduction in the rate of taxes is a flow, not a spot transaction and thus to quantify the impact of the tax reform, one must quantify the cost-benefits over a period of time (let us say a year) and this is what the Minister has refused to do. Rather he is focused on the spot position and his “book losses” at a particular date. But that is a "bean-counting" mentality.

Any reduction in the CTAX will result in the freeing-up of hundreds of millions of new dollars for new investments.

The ideal principle of taxation is “broaden the base and lower the tax rates”. The principle goal of tax reform is to promote economic well-be-

ing and drive aggregate demand – new investments, enhanced productivity and a living wage. Instead, Finance Minister Winston Jordan continues to delay the implementation of the recommended tax reforms that even Statia advised (he sat on the Tax Reform Commission).

It is time for the Minister to wake up and cut through the fog and if he does not understand the core concepts, why isn't he buying expertise to help him. For how long more can Guyana bear a Minister in training behind the 8-ball?

At this stage of the game, we should not be discussing the reduction of the CTAX rate for the Private Sector; it should have been a well-advanced process already reaping the benefits from the increased investments, augmented productivity and expanded wages for the workers which would have all been feeding into the expansion in aggregate demand and by extension the economy.

Sincerely, Sase Singh

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

Creating a conundrum for Economic prospects of Region 1 efficacy of NDCs (Part 1) Dear Editor, It cannot be denied that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government continues to display immense fear of empowering our local government structures.

The refusal to appoint the Local Government Commission and the pussy-footing in naming the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, are clear indicators of a weak and divided leadership that riles conflict and is clearly counter-productive.

After much deceptive utterances and dominant parliamentary majority impositions, it is indeed very disheartening to witness the new posture of the coalition with their reneging and continued non-embracing of positions fought for, as well as ones that in many ways were seen and accepted improvements.

The nations’ majority must be utterly horrified by the lack of readiness to properly contribute to positive governance at the local level. In this respect, the position is now further divorced from achieving or the general intent of the much earlier, or even the most recent legislation on the issues. Additionally, the many previous prob-

lems with the system remain unresolved as well as new ones; to which there is clearly no committed approach to even examine, much less resolve the issues.

Coupled to the foregoing, there are serious challenges in addition to certain major unresolved issues with some Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC)’s and Local Government Areas (LAA) boundaries. The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is also intricately linked to the boundaries of, and within Local Government Areas since same defines the geographical areas of consideration from which Councillors are elected to represent and service. GECOM must therefore look carefully at the NDC boundaries, with a view of clearing up previous problematic areas.

Further, with the opening up of the new housing schemes, many NDCs are finding it extremely difficult to deal with the bigger areas, creating a conundrum for efficacy. This is partly because in the absence of official handover of housing development projects to the various NDCs, coupled to the legitimate expectation that residents of these new schemes are

expected to vote at Local Government Elections of the LAA for Councillors who would represent their interests on NDCs. As an example, Eccles/ Ramsburg NDC now has the responsibility for the new housing areas spanning from behind the Industrial site at Eccles, through the massive development in the Providence area to the border of the Mocha Arcadia NDC. In the current GECOM setting for the last LGE, the constituency including the newest housing area is now hugely disproportionate demographically as well as geographically to all the other constituencies in the LAA. It raises numerous questions regarding whether the current balance of representation by Councillors is appropriate.

Further, complications have emerged from the fact that the latter cuts across previously defined constituencies such as Republic Park, Nandy Park and Providence without the specific identifiable ground markers and these are still to be addressed. The new schemes must be regulated regarding the latter and hand over to the NDCs. Sincerely, Neil Kumar

Is this the benefit of marking my X for the AFC? Dear Editor, For the past months the East Coast Demerara stretch has been plagued by blackouts several times during the day and night.

Electrical appliances are malfunctioning and are being damaged. GPL and its subject minister are silent!

Or are they unaware?

Is this the good life we were promised? Is this the benefit of marking my X for the AFC? It is difficult not to feel

that certain AFC leaders are either muzzled or downright frightened to speak of the concerns of their constituencies. I suppose the gravy is delicious for them, and we were merely the tickets to get them into the kitchen.

GPL is a bundle of incompetents. They complain of losses, but do nothing to curb stealing of electricity.

Back to the days!

Sincerely, C Selman

Dear Editor, The recent commissioning of the turmeric factory in Hososroro Hill in Mabaruma in Region One (BarimaWaini) will provide immediate economic empowerment to the Region through job opportunities among other benefits by empowering the people and creating jobs in these communities.

More than 50 farmers from turmeric-producing communities of Region

One, namely Arukamai, Barima River, Aruka River, Hotoquai, Port Kaituma, Morawhanna, Hobodia, Yarakita, Aruau, Koberimo, St Anslym, Kachi Kamo, Black Water, Kamwatta, Wauna and White Water have benefited from planting materials, technical advice and training through the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) The farmers are now as-

sured of a ready market at the turmeric processing factory, which can process one tonne every three days in terms of processing and drying.

Through this factory, fresh turmeric will also readily be available for export to neighbouring districts and regions, thus creating more markets.

Sincerely, Shauna Williams

Respect our Hindu festivals Dear Editor, As Hindus prepare to observe Diwali on October 19, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha is calling on persons to respect the sacred festival of lights. President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Dr Vindhya Vasini Persaud is asking promoters and companies to desist from associating Diwali with activities involving al-

cohol. “We are, once again, asking all to respect our festivals and to desist from linking these types of activities with our Hindu observances.” The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha condemns the use of Diwali to promote activities which are alien to the sanctity of this festival, which is of deep religious significance to the Hindu Community. The Guyana

Hindu Dharmic Sabha has always taken a strong position against the use of our festivals in conjunction with alcohol and things alien to the sacredness of those observances and will continue to do so.

Sincerely, Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha

There is nothing more to be taxed Dear Editor, Finance Minister Winston Jordan was quoted as saying that "there will be no new taxes" in the 2018 Budget. Now, that pronouncement was made with the expressed intention to placate the poor and dispossessed in our midst.

Benign at best and diversionary as the Finance Minister continues on that eel-like, slippery, evasive slope when it comes to the management of the nation's finances. Of course, Mr Jordan can afford the luxury of an excuse that there would not be any new

taxes, because the truth of the matter is, there is nothing more to be taxed. Over two plus years in office and more than 200 taxes that is record breaking by any standard. One hundred taxes for each year.

At least the budget would be balanced, there is no doubt about that, with so many taxes floating around, the treasury would be inundated with what I call "cry money" from those monies squeezed out of a tax-fatigued nation. But at the end of the day would the lives of the Guyanese people be any better? I hasten

to give a resounding no!

What the Minister should be talking about is a reduction in taxes, the creation of income-generated investment, while giving the nation hope on job security. There is no guarantee of the lessening of the hardships Guyanese face as industries are arbitrarily shut down by this Government and more and more persons join the ranks of the jobless. How on earth can those families sustain themselves?

Respectfully, Neil Adams

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Foundation

6 pieces of bad advice we give children – do this instead, and they’ll be happier and more successful of stressful events. While we can’t change the work and life demands that we face, we can use techniques such as meditation, yoga, and breathing to better deal with the pressure. These tools help children learn to tap into their parasympathetic “rest and digest” nervous system, as opposed to the “fight or flight” stress response.

By Emma M. S eppälä, Ph D

M

ost parents want their children to be successful in life, so we teach them attitudes we believe will help them achieve their goals.

But as I learned while researching my book, many widely-held theories about what it takes to be successful are proving to be counterproductive: They may produce results in the short term, but eventually they lead to burnout and — get this — less success. Here are a few of the most damaging things many of us may be teaching our children about success, and what we should tell them instead.

1. We tell our children: Focus on the future. Keep your eyes on the prize.

We should tell them: Live (or work) in the moment.

It’s hard to stay tightly focused. Research shows that our minds tend to wander 50 percent of the time we’re awake. And when our minds wander, we can start to brood over the past or worry about the future – thereby leading to negative emotions like anger, regret, and stress.

A mind that is constantly trying to focus on the future – from getting good grades to applying to college – will be prone to greater anxiety and fear. While a little bit of stress can serve as a motivator, long-term chronic stress impairs our health as well as our intellectual faculties, such as attention and memory. As a consequence, focusing too hard on the future can actually impair our performance.

3. We tell our children: Stay busy We should tell them: Have fun doing nothing

Children do better, and feel happier, if they learn how to stay in the present moment. And when people feel happy, they’re able to learn faster, think more creatively, and problem-solve more easily. Studies even suggest that happiness makes you 12 percent more productive. Positive emotions also make you more resilient to stress, helping you overcome challenges and setbacks more quickly so you can get back on track.

It’s certainly good for children to have goals they’re working toward.

But instead of encouraging them always to focus on what’s next on their to-do list, help them stay focused on the task or conversation at hand.

2. We tell our children: Stress is inevitable; keep pushing yourself We should tell them: Learn to chill out

Children are feeling anxious at younger and younger ages, worrying

about grades and feeling pressure to do better at school. Most distressingly, we’re even seeing stress-induced suicides in children – especially in high-achieving areas, like Palo Alto in Silicon Valley.

The way we conduct our lives as adults often communicates to children that stress is an unavoidable part of leading a successful life. We down caffeine and over-schedule ourselves during the day, living in a constant state of overdrive, and at night, we’re so wired that we use alcohol, sleep medication, or Xanax to calm down.

This is not a good lifestyle to model for children. It’s no surprise that research shows that children whose parents are dealing with burnout at work are more likely than their peers to experience burnout at school.

I recommend that parents teach children the skills they will need to be more resilient in the face

Even in our leisure time, people in Western societies tend to value high-intensity positive emotions like excitement, as opposed to low-intensity emotions like calm. (The opposite tends to be true in East Asian countries.)

This means that our children’ schedules are often packed to the brim with extracurricular activities and family outings, leaving little downtime.

There’s nothing wrong with excitement, fun, and seeking new experiences. But excitement, like stress, exhausts our physiology by tapping into our “fight or flight” system – so we can unwittingly prompt our children to burn through their energy after school or on weekends, leaving them with fewer resources for the times they need it most.

Moreover, research shows that our brains are more likely to come up with brilliant ideas when we are not focusing; thus, the proverbial a-ha moment in the shower. So instead of over-scheduling children,

Part 1

we should be blocking out time when they can be left to their own devices.

Children can turn any situation – whether sitting in a waiting room or walking to school– into an opportunity for play. They may also choose calming activities like reading a book, taking the dog for a walk, or simply lying under a tree and staring up at the clouds – all of which will allow them to approach the rest of their lives from a more centered, peaceful place. Giving your children downtime will help them to be more creative and innovative. Just as important, it will help them learn to re(Excerpt lax.

f r o m gytoday.

psycholocom)

High Marks For Fair Praise A pat on the head may be most effective when it’s well earned.

By Kirsi Goldynia

I

t’s no secret that positive feedback on a child’s performance in school can have an impact on both her well-being and her report card. But is it better for parents to praise children generously or honestly?

Researchers recently asked more than 300 stu-

dents at South Korean elementary schools, as well as their parents, to rate how much the parents typically understated or overstated their school-related praise.

American a n d South Korean parents share a tendency to overpraise their children.

Although no causal link between overpraise and other

They found that children who perceived their parents’ praise as accurately reflecting their performance or as slightly overstated – and whose parents perceived their praise as accurate –tended to have a higher GPA and to report lower levels of depression symptoms than students who received too little acknowledgment or an excessive dose of it.

Psychologist YoungHoon Kim of Yonsei University, a co-author of the study, says that

outcomes was established in this study, a 2014 paper suggests that for children with low self-esteem, inflated praise can backfire, making them less likely to embrace challenges.

The many contradictory opinions about the best way to support a child “put parents in a difficult situation,” says Kou Murayama, a psychologist at the University of Reading. These findings, he says, suggest parents could afford to be more straightforward in their encouragement. (psychologytoday.com)

news

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thursDAY, october 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Condemned killer was planning Trotman leaves Private Sector in dark on oil contract to skip country – Police ...distances Natural Resources Ministry from Sovereign Wealth Fund

A section of the gathering at the Business Summit on Wednesday

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atural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman on Wednesday declared that Guyana’s estimated oil reserves now stood at some three billion barrels.

He was at the time speaking for the first time publicly since the most recent announcement by ExxonMobil that it had struck several hundred million barrels more of oil.

Minister Trotman, however, sidestepped calls by the political Opposition to make a pronouncement with regard to the available petroleum in light of the contradictory statements made by his colleague Cabinet Minister David Patterson, or word on the public release of the oil contract.

The Natural Resources Minister was at the time a guest speaker at “Guyana Business Summit 2017”, which got underway on Wednesday at the Guyana Marriott Hotel.

Speaking on behalf of the political Opposition at the opening of the Business Summit organised by the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Charles Ramson Jr, a former parliamentarian, called on the Minister, to provide some insight on the matter of the proposed Sovereign

Wealth Fund (SWF).

The former parliamentarian was adamant that all frameworks have to be in place ahead of 2020 and describing the oil patrimony as an ‘apolitical’ issue, and called for information with regard to the release of the oil contract.

Enquiring of Government’s policies on concessions, Ramson Jr also called on Minister Trotman to, in fact, clarify its position since advisors across the world point to auctions.

He questioned too whether a contract had been issued to Tullow and Echo, an exploration joint venture which was handed an exploration licence by the current Administration – a licence that was months later flipped for profit when a significant portion of shares were sold to a French company.

The former Member of Parliament (MP) also called in vain for Minister Trotman to provide some clarity on the available petroleum concessions, since Minster Patterson had said all had been given out, but the information from the Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) indicated otherwise.

The Minister in rebutting Ramson Jr said Government viewed the Summit not as an arena for competition but for

sharing ideas.

While not providing any responses to a number of the queries posed, the Minister did indicate to the gathering that the Sovereign Wealth Fund is being organised by another Ministry.

“We don’t set fiscal policy; we don’t determine how the money is spent,” the Minister said in defence of the Natural Resources Ministry.

According to Trotman, “we bring the resource to production”, while the Finance Minister is tasked with dealing with the fiscal aspect of the administration of the resources. He did indicate to the gathering that the admonitions of Ramson Jr have been heard and “yes, it [oil] has to be an apolitical resource.…

Government’s prepared to sit with civil society to have a model that suits us best.”

Following the opening session, the first of the formal panel discussions was hosted targeting the energy sector and saw presentations and interactions involving Guyana Energy Agency Chairman, Dr Mahender Sharma; MP Juan Edghill, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Representative Jaime Sologuren Blanco and Shyam Nokta of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA).

Granger berates business...

Good Life

Delivering the keynote address, Head of State Granger instead pointed to inherited problems still to be solved and repeated that Government has “been working to creating an environment supportive of social economic development linked to the objective for good life for all”.

The President said the Administration had inherited an anarchistic colonial ‘three counties’ system which divided the country into Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice. This, he said, posed significant administrative problems and as such, Government has started the process of

re-balancing the public service along with the entire economy.

The opening of the twoday forum also heard from Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association head Shyam Nokta, who, in his appeal ahead of the confab, told those gathered of the need to look at the bigger picture.

“We need to ask ourselves what kind of economy we want to see by 2025,” he said as he reminded of the transformative potential of the oil and gas sector.

Nokta was adamant there was need for a clear strategy to stimulate growth of the Private Sector in the years to come.

From page 3

Nokta, in addressing the business leaders, reminded of the urgency of collaboration and urgent action.

Public-private dialogue

The opening of “Guyana Business Summit 2017” saw presentations also from IDB Resident Representative Sophie Makonnen, who was also firm in exhortations for a more inclusive, groundbased approach by stakeholders in the need to tackle social economic disparities.

The IDB Country Representative was critical too of the continued dependence on traditional exports such as rice and gold, which remain susceptible to international market prices.

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aw enforcement officials have confirmed that notorious criminal Royden Williams, called “Smallie”, who was recaptured on Monday, was planning to skip the country.

Williams, also known as Mark Royden Durant, was travelling in a public minibus when Police stopped the vehicle and conducted a search at Weldaad, West Coast Berbice.

Members of the media were told on Wednesday during a press conference at the Public Security Ministry that the Police had gathered intelligence that assisted with the recapture of Williams.

Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine revealed that Williams was becoming increasingly desperate a few weeks before his recapture and Police had to dismantle his support base.

“In pretty quick time, he was virtually left alone.

But he was still in contact with someone from his support base, which we had destroyed. And the indications were the move to exit,” he explained.

The acting Top Cop also revealed that those who happened to have provided assistance to Williams, including members of his family, were charged accordingly. He said no one was spared.

“I remember from some of the calls I received from the corporate community, expressing concerns about the fact that these guys were still out there and we were taking a bit long to apprehend them.

But it has paid off and thank-

Royden Williams, called “Smallie”

fully by the grace of God … due to our hard efforts, we have not had such an experience,” the acting Top Cop said.

Ramnarine believes the mere fact that the Police were not keen on providing detailed information on the investigation and operation to recapture the prison escapees also contributed to the success. “It was an absolute need, for security reasons not to disclose some of the things we were doing,” he added.

Asked by the media whether any reward would be given to those that have assisted the Police in find-

ing Williams and other prisoners who formed part of the escapee list, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said that the matter would be looked into and compensation would be given where due.

The Police have said that Williams would be charged for escaping prison and since his recapture, he has been placed in solitary confinement. They have given all assurances that the notorious criminal would not be allowed the slightest opportunity to escape prison for a second time.

Williams escaped from the Camp Street Prison on July 9, 2017. He is believed to be the mastermind behind the prison riot and fire that facilitated the escape. He was last spotted on August 31, 2017, in Linden.

Williams was in the company of Uree Varswyck, another prison escapee, who was shot dead during a Joint Services intelligence-led operation at Central Amelia’s Ward, Linden. According to a Police statement, Williams managed to escape on foot.

Williams was on death row for the Bartica Massacre.

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thursDAY, october 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

3 remanded for South Goodbye Road double murder Columbus…

...woman charged for taking dead woman’s money

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ne week after they allegedly murdered two elderly women during the course of a robbery, three Albouystown men were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Wednesday, charged jointly for the capital offence of murder.

The alleged mastermind, Christopher Imran

their rights to a lawyer and were beaten by Police to secure confessions.

The lifeless, bound and gagged bodies of the two elderly women were discovered on Tuesday last in their South Road, Georgetown home. A few days later, Andrew and Suffrie were among the four persons arrested after Police received information about their potential involvement in the

Steven Andrews and Phillips Suffrie

Khan, 25, along with Steven Andrews, 26, and Phillips Suffrie, 23, are accused of killing 87-yearold Constance Fraser and 75-year-old Phyllis Caesar between October 2 and 3, during the furtherance of a robbery.

Although they were not required to plead, the trio maintained their innocence and contended in court that their constitutional rights were trampled upon. They claimed that they were not cautioned or made aware of

homicides.

They reportedly confessed to the murder, but claimed that Khan was the mastermind. The alleged mastermind was subsequently nabbed in Pomeroon River, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), and taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, where he allegedly made the confession, describing how the master plan unfolded and the gruesome details as to how the women met their

Christopher Khan

Seeta Khan

demise. According to the alleged confession, the initial plan was to rob the elderly women. The men reportedly confessed that it all started when Khan went to the women’s house to do some works and upon realising that they lived alone, he conspired with his accomplices and hatched a plan to commit the robbery, just a few days prior to the execution.

Khan and his accomplices climbed into the veranda where they opened one of the windows to gain entry into the house. The men allegedly confessed that Fraser and Caesar slept in separate bedrooms and as such, they entered the first bedroom waking the elderly woman and demanding that she surrender money and other valuables.

The dazed woman sought to raise an alarm and the defendants allegedly responded by stuffing her mouth with pieces of cloth, choking her and killing her almost immediately. The men ensured that the second vic-

tim met her end in the same manner before ransacking the house for money and valuables.

The men will make their next court appearance on October 26.

Meanwhile, a sobbing Seeta Khan appeared before the court of Magistrate Fabayo Azore, charged for receiving stolen money from the prime suspect in the double homicide.

The 36-year-old mother of three, who resides in Cooper Street, Albouystown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which detailed that between October 2 and October 3, 2017, she received $60,000 in cash from Christopher Imran Khan knowing same to be feloniously stolen property of Constance Fraser.

Seeta Khan claimed she was taken on a shopping spree by the accused and was never in possession of the monies at no point in time.

She was granted bail in the sum of $25,000 and ordered to return to court on October 25.

“Grey Boy” jailed for threatening Crum-Ewing’s mother

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egan Rodrigues, popularly known as “Grey Boy”, 39, of Riverview, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was jailed for three months on Wednesday on a threatening language charge.

He appeared before Magistrate Dylan Bess at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for threatening Donna Harcourt, the mother of Courtney Crum-

Regan “Grey Boy” Rodrigues

Ewing.

“Grey Boy”, a taxi driver and a father of three, was in August released on $10,000 bail by Magistrate Bess after being accused of threatening to “wipe out” the woman on Regent and Wellington Streets, Georgetown on August 20, 2017, after Police Prosecutor Christopher Morris made no objections. Rodrigues contends that it has been diffi-

cult to secure employment, because Harcourt continues to further stain his reputation through the media by accusing him of killing her son, provoking him and making his life miserable, notwithstanding his acquittal. Rodrigues was acquitted of the murder of CrumEwing in June of this year, when Magistrate Judy Latchman found there to be insufficient evidence.

North West farmer slapped with murder charge

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46-year-old farmer of Five Miles, Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini) was brought before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to face Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for the unlaw-

ful killing of Romel Gouveia, also called “White Boy”.

Charles Lennard was charged for killing Gouveia between October 5 and 6, 2017 at Five Miles, Port Kaituma.

Lennard, who professed

himself a farmer, was unrepresented by legal counsel and was not required to plead to the indictable offence.

Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore indicated that the case file was still incomplete as the prosecution was await-

ing the filing of the post-mortem report. The case was transferred to the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court for November 2.

Details surrounding the murder were not disclosed to the court.

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…hello the (genocidal) consequences t seems like only yesterday your Eyewitness was in primary school and he learnt that poem by the Englishman JC Squire about the landing of Columbus on October 12, 1492 – from the perspective of the “Indian” or the Indigenous peoples who he stumbled over. Because this present generation has been exposed to a different perspective on Columbus, he’d like to share the poem in its entirety.

There was an Indian, who had known no change, Who strayed content along a sunlit beach Gathering shells. He heard a sudden strange Commingled noise: looked up; and gasped for speech.

For in the bay, where nothing was before, Moved on the sea, by magic, huge canoes With bellying cloths on poles, and not one oar, And fluttering coloured signs and clambering crews.

And he, in fear, this naked man alone, His fallen hands forgetting all their shells, His lips gone pale, knelt low behind a stone, And stared, and saw, and did not understand, Columbus’s doom-burdened caravels Slant to the shore, and all their seaman land.

So here it was, these people had been living on their own terms for thousands and thousands of years but it was all to change after the arrival of what even a member of the English ruling class would call the “doom-burdened caravels”. And doom it was. Columbus had landed on one of the smaller islands in what we now know as The Bahamas. Columbus ironically named it after Christ, “the Saviour) – San Salvador. But the native peoples were anything but “saved” – literally or figuratively.

The “gentle people”, as Columbus described them, along with practically all their other tribes in the Caribbean archipelago from Cuba to Trinidad would be wiped out through the confluence of germs, guns, and steel wielded by the Europeans who followed Columbus.

As a contemporary Bartholemew De las Casas wrote, the Indigenous population on Hispaniola, for instance, was reduced from 400,000 to 200 in a few decades. Recently we learnt from news of the hurricane on Dominica, only a few hundred survive there. Elsewhere, they’ve all practically disappeared.

But the destruction and genocidal consequences of those “doomed caravels” didn’t stop there. Today, members of the African Guyanese community are commemorating the genocide inflicted on their ancestors who were hauled across the Atlantic against their will and made to slave on the plantations of the “New World”.

According to Henry Louis Gates, of Harvard University, “Between 1525 and 1866, 12.5 million Africans were shipped to the New World. 10.7 million survived the dreaded Middle Passage, disembarking in North America, the Caribbean and South America.”

That means at least 1.8 million perished. That’s genocide. …hello Kafka Maybe we know the story of Gregor the travelling salesman who wakes up one morning and discovers he’s been transformed into a cockroach? The Metamorphosis.

From this new state, of course, Gregor can’t do even the simplest task, much less get on with his life. Which wasn’t much to write home about anyway.

But like anything else, the family adjusted – but not without a fatal dénouement to Gregor. Something “Kafkaesque” like this is playing out with the poor folks of Wales. One morning last December, they woke up and discovered 1700 of their breadwinners were made incapable of earning bread. The country tried to deal with this tragedy – but seems to have now “adjusted”. The Government – following their first horrible act to change the people of Wales from employed to unemployed – is ensuring their death.

The Finance Minister just announced, no job programmes for Wales in their budget but “No new taxes!”

What’s this to the metaphorised folks at Wales, who’ve got no money to be taxed?? …hello loose lips The Gaming Authority received an application for a casino gambling licence. The confidential info is now in the hands of the AG. But the Gaming Authority head says wasn’t him with the loose lips.

So is he going to just bluster or investigate?

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

News

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thursDAY, october 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Toroparu mining syndicate Fallen electric wires pose threat in Black Bush Polder feels cheated by Govt

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mining syndicate developed for small miners in the Toroparu, Upper Mazaruni, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) feels that it has been treated unfairly by the Government, after an application for 10 mining blocks has been turned down.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Toroparu Mining Syndicate, Melanie Beharry told Guyana Times on Wednesday that the Syndicate had initially applied for 29 blocks.

She said based on the rules established for syndicates, they were told that they could only apply for a minimum of 10 blocks. Three applications later, the Syndicate has been told that all the blocks it has applied for cannot be granted as they are all currently occupied.

“Recently, we applied for 10 again, but we were told that it was given to a private individual. We find this strange, because during our meetings with the [Natural Resources Minister], Raphael Trotman and Simona Broomes [Minister within the Natural Resources Ministry], they emphasised that no one or two miners could apply for land in the closed area,” she explained.

Beharry now claims that the Syndicate received news that the person who was given the blocks was given them based on special orders. “At least this is what was told to us by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) that a higher person instructed that,” she explained.

Toroparu Mining Syndicate members are, therefore, upset and frustrated over the situation, because it has been a long while and several members had even plugged monies into building the area and creating linkages through roads they have spent money on constructing.

According to the CEO, the GGMC has also informed her that the lone individual was granted the mining blocks, because he had applied months before the Syndicate sent its application.

But Beharry told this newspaper that the Syndicate sent in its first application in

Toroparu Mining Syndicate CEO Melanie Beharry

March, while another application was made for lands that were vacant on the map.

“It is only until recently that it was gazetted that land belongs to the individual,” she further added.

The GGMC informed her that the individual’s application was accepted, because he applied since January and applications were dealt with on a first come, first served basis.

“But my major concern is, it doesn’t matter who apply for it first, it matters that it’s one person. You are going to give one man who doesn’t even have dredge 20 blocks against a syndicate [of] 25 members.”

Beharry said she planned to meet with the Ministers and see how best they could assist with finding available blocks for members to utilise, because they have their equipment stalled.

In May this year, the National Mining Syndicate had said while it was appreciative of the efforts made by the administration to ensure that they have lands to mine, the process is being frustrated by several within the GGMC. Many miners are of the opinion that the Natural Resources Minister was not pushing for them to receive the lands with alacrity. President of the group, Renwick Solomon had said there was lack of “proper coordination” relative to dealing with the body of syndicates, which results in the beneficiaries being frustrated.

“We would have applied for some land within the closed area, which has a closed area committee that deals with these lands. Thus far, the majority of syndicates that have applied for land were not granted the licence to operate in full compliance with Government regulations on these lands.”

Solomon said the National Mining Syndicate has made its concern public many times, but nothing has been done thus far to alleviate the frustration.

“This is a bread-and-butter issue. Many families are depending on us, and these decisions affect many lives.

We expect this matter could be dealt with by the GGMC in a timely manner. Give it some sort of expedience. I know there is a system and rules by which to go by.”

Solomon had said hundreds of dredges have been parked, and noted that small miners were obeying the law by not mining without permission from the GGMC. Mining syndicates were developed after the Natural Resources Ministers met with miners in January 2016. The decision was made to cluster small miners across the mining districts for them to benefit from concessions and support each other, something they were unable to achieve, mining on their own.

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A live wire running on the ground esidents of Mibicuri, Black Bush Polder, on Wednesday met with Regional Chairman David Armogan to voice their concerns over fallen electric wires within the community which they believe pose a life-threatening danger to residents and their livestock.

This is after several utility poles fall due to deterioration, leaving the live wires exposed to those passing by.

Following several reports to Guyana Power and Light (GPL), farmers within the area have turned to the Regional Chairman to address the apparent lack of interest shown by GPL. According to the residents, this issue exists at five different locations within the community, but complaints to GPL fall on deaf ears.

In one instance, the villagers indicated that they have been reporting the situation for more than one year.

Dilapidated GPL utility poles leaning within the community

While speaking with Guyana Times, Neron Chan Persaud of South Mibicuri, expressed his frustration over this matter. He related, “A couple years ago the tree fall and take off the wire from the post. Ah call dem [GPL] to come and take off the wire and they never come to move the wire from the ground.”

The concerned resident went on to say that it was the same wire on the ground that supplies electricity to buildings in the community.

Meanwhile, the villagers raised another alarm, saying that dilapidated polls are left leaning with the possibility of falling at any time.

As such, the residents are calling on GPL to rectify the matter so as to prevent disastrous outcomes.

On that note, one of the farmers, Anand Persaud, told this publication that for several weeks, two utility poles have been leaning dan-

gerously in front of his house.

The farmer said the issue was reported to the authorities, but they are still awaiting a replacement from GPL. Adding to that, another community member, Padmini Edwards, related that for the past three weeks, the poles have been in a deplorable state. “About one month now, it break and we calling and nobody nah come in fo check,” the woman complained.

In addressing the issues raised, the Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) Chairman had interrupted the meeting to inform an official from the electricity company of the complaints and shortly after workers were seen in the area.

The Regional Chairman subsequently received a call from GPL claiming workers were at the scene but did not see any fallen wires as reported.

10 news

thursDAY, october 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Broadcasters encouraged to be responsible Ramnarine condemns

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ocal broadcasters were charged to be more responsible and cognizant of the effect their words have on listeners when on-air.

P u b l i c Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes delivered the charge on Tuesday last, at the University of Guyana, Centre of Communications’ panel discussion on ‘Careers in Broadcasting’.

“You have such a huge responsibility and it’s really not about you. When you get in front of that microphone, you must realise that you could be speaking to someone who is about to commit suicide, who

Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes

doesn’t have the joy of vision, who is blind. You could be speaking to so many dif-

ferent people and therefore there is a responsibility that must come with every single word you say,” Minister Hughes is quoted as saying by the Department of Public Information.

It was noted, there is more work to be done in the broadcasting industry, which is rapidly progressing technologically. Internet access has proven to be advantageous for broadcasters today, as research tools are now at their fingertips.

Minister Hughes stressed the need for objectivity, whether broadcasters are employed in the private or State media. She reiterated the job requires presentation of information in a fair

and objective manner.

The Public Telecommunications Minister encouraged persons interested in joining the industry, to have a passion for the craft and be prepared to raise the bar.

A number of veteran broadcasters, including Russel Lancaster, Merrano Issacs and Stan Gouveia shared their experiences, gave tips on honing broadcasting skills and responded to questions from the audience.

The event was part of the University’s Communication Studies Centre’s effort to sensitise students to the various opportunities in the field of broadcasting.

Russian natural resources delegation caucus with local counterparts

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delegation from Russia’s Natural Resources and Environment Ministry met with officials of Guyana’s Natural Resources Ministry and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission on Wednesday to discuss a number of opportunities for cooperation in the mining sector.

The two-day meeting – a follow up from a previous meeting in October 2016 in Russia – was held in the Natural Resources

Ministry’s boardroom, Upper Brickdam, Georgetown.

The respective Ministries and agencies of the two countries have agreed to meet on a yearly basis to advance areas of cooperation.

Among the issues discussed are the provision of assistance in scientific and technical knowledge of drawing up, compiling and analysing Guyana’s baseline geological, topographic and metallogenic maps; assistance in the compiling/anal-

ysis and reporting of historical and current geological, topographic and metallogenic data and assistance in delineating lands according to resources for specific types/ sizes of mining.

Also on the agenda are the provision of satellite geological surveys and monitoring, the training of mining officers at Russian Geological Institute and enterprises and the development of Small Hydropower in Guyana.

The Ministry’s team will include Clayton Hall, MNR Technical Officer Mines; Euliene Watson, acting Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission; Dianne McDonald; and Manager Geological Services, GGMC Gordon Nestor.

The Russian team comprises Head of the Federal Agency of Subsoil Management, Sergey Aksenov; Deputy Head of Division of Bilateral Cooperation, Department of International Cooperation of the Natural Resources and the Environment Ministry of the Russian Federation, Anna Khurshidova; Russian Ambassador to Guyana, Nikolay Smirnov; and officials of the Russian Friendship University and Russian bauxite company RUSAL.

“Smallie” nude photo leak

Mark Royden Williams, called “Smallie”

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cting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine has berated his fellow law enforcement ranks over a photograph of convicted Bartica massacre killer, Mark Royden Williams, called “Smallie” that surfaced online which was taken while he was strip-searched after being nabbed in Berbice.

The leak raised many questions for citizens who have been actively debating the issue on social media.

While such searches are in keeping with standard operating procedures, Ramnarine said on Wednesday that the act was completely unethical.

“This nude photograph is the most unfortunate, unethical, insensitive action but unfortunately it originated when he was being interviewed having returned to the prison and a directive was given, because he had a number of tattoos about the body and you had to remove the clothing to take pictures and some insensitive, irresponsible person decided to do just more than that,” the acting C ommissioner highlighted.

In February 2017,

Williams was sentenced to death by hanging along with Dennis “Anaconda” Williams for the massacre but “Smallie” fled death row at Camp Street, and took others along with him in July. The prison was burnt and a warden was killed during the escape.

Williams, also known as “Mark Royden Durant” was on the run after he broke out of the Camp Street Prison earlier this year. He was nabbed in Weldaad, West Coast Berbice on Monday evening. The acting Commissioner condemned the actions of the persons who leaked the photo, informing media operatives at the Public Security Ministry that investigations within the prison system were launched on Monday. The person found culpable will be subjected to disciplinary actions.

Following the leaked photo, the human rights observers criticised the person who shared the post on social media but many of social media users found the convict’s treatment favourable and in keeping with that acts that he was found guilty of.

Linden/Soesdyke highway slated for $40M upgrade

A stretch of the Linden/Soesdyke Highway

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inden Mayor Carwyn Holland has assured that the Public Infrastructure Ministry is set to undertake development projects on the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway as early as next year. At a press conference on Wednesday, the Mayor said the promise was made public during a re-

cent visit by Minister David Patterson, where it was noted that some $40 million will be allocated for repairs, upgrade and lighting of the highway, which has been dubbed “dangerous” by commuters.

He added that there have been calls for lights along the highway for many years,

as he pointed out that the projects do not fall under the municipality of the Linden Mayor and Town Council but through the Regional Democratic Council (RDC).

The upgrade of the highway was initially expected to be carried out in 2017, however this was not done. Owing to the high number of serious motor vehicle accidents which take place on the highway each year, motorists, residents and officials have been calling for an upgrade to the highway which they noted is unevenly surfaced and unlit. Residents living along the highway have called for attention to be paid to the Bamia stretch, more particularly where constant fatal accidents occur.

Councillors of the RDC made calls for proper markings, signs and lights to be erected, noting that without those elements, the highway is “dangerous”.

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thursDAY, october 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Recognise teachers for what Opposition brings slew of fiscal they’re worth – union tells Govt measures for Budget 2018

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s the Guyana Teacher’s Union (GTU) continues to await word on salary increases for teachers after nearly two years of stalled negotiations, the Union’s General Secretary, Coretta McDonald, is calling on President David Granger to urge his Ministers to ensure that a deal is reached before the end of the year.

The last multi-year agreement between the Education Ministry and the GTU ended in 2015 and since then, teachers have been waiting for a finalised new deal. McDonald told Guyana Times that the Union is hopeful that an agreement could be made before the start of 2018.

“We are pleading with the President so that he can plead with his Ministers to have us complete our salary negotiations before the end of 2017, we would have completed 2016, nothing has happened in terms of the proposals we submitted. We don’t want to complete another year and not having that proposal being signed off and being implemented,” she observed.

GTU had suggested a 40 per cent increase in salaries across the board for public school teachers in its December 2015 proposal. The Union had hoped that negotiations and a new agreement could have been

GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald

completed before mid-2016 but as the situation remains unchanged, McDonald stressed that teachers must be recognised for the service they have been offering the nation.

“We are asking you to please recognise our teachers for what they are worth and please have your Ministers honour the agreement,” the GTU General Secretary explained.

Once signed, the deal will have to be retroactive since it is a multiyear agreement that would span the period 2016-2020.

Earlier this year, the GTU General Secretary contended that teachers across the country were anxious to know when they would receive benefits of the pro-

posed five-year agreement.

In the previous agreement, the GTU managed to get a five per cent increase over the course of five years for teachers countrywide, but McDonald had explained that the GTU would like to now see implementation of 45 per cent in 2017 and 50 per cent for the following three years (2018-2020) for all categories of teachers.

In May, McDonald suggested that the reshuffling of Permanent Secretaries at the Education Ministry could be partly responsible for Government not being able to meet at the bargaining table. Talks had begun with the GTU and former Permanent Secretary Delma Nedd, where the nonfinancial matters of the proposal were only discussed.

Nedd was removed from that position and replaced with Vibert Welch earlier this year. He was formerly attached to the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry. Additionally, former Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine is now heading the Public Service Ministry within the Ministry of the Presidency, while the former junior Education Minister Nicollete Henry was recently promoted to the post of Education Minister.

It is unclear when the substantive discussions on teacher’s salaries will begin.

Ministry denies primary school child was attacked by classmate …says children were playing tug-of-war

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he Education Ministry is refuting claims that the nine-year-old student of Eccles Primary school was attacked by another pupil of the school.

According to the Ministry’s senior Public Relations Officere, Brucel Blackman, on the day in question, the children were playing a game of tug-of-war when the incident occurred.

He said that the child’s ribbon was used in the game and had somehow come into contact with the child’s neck, after which pressure was applied by the other student, which resulted in the laceration on the girl’s neck.

He further noted that the teachers of the school later informed the Education Ministry of the incident.

Blackman stated that the matter was dealt with and the parent of the injured child is satisfied with the manner in which the matter was dealt with. It was noted that the child was referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital for a further medical checkup.

Guyana Times was told that after the incident occurred, the school was revisited by a representative of the Education Ministry and the welfare department.

On Friday last, it was reported that the student was at the time preparing for an event when she was approached by a male classmate who reportedly removed her ribbon and then went on to wrap it around her neck.

After witnessing the struggle, another child intercepted the attack and managed to release the student from the grip. The nineyear-old is now left nursing a scar across her neck, but had it not been for the interven-

tion of her peer, the attack could have resulted in more serious injuries.

The incident went viral on Monday after an enraged family member of the injured girl took to Facebook to express her grievance over the matter and more so, the way in which it was handled by the school’s administration.

The furious young woman, who is the older cousin of the student, indicated in her Facebook post that the school failed to inform her family of the incident. However, when the mother arrived at the school at around 15:00h that afternoon, she was greeted by her injured child who was complaining of severe pain due to the injuries to her neck.

...says taxes cost Guyanese $10B in disposable income

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he Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is gearing to table a slew of Budget measures it wants to see for 2018 – the proposals coming days before Finance Minister Winston Jordan is set to present the coalition’s third annual Budget.

The measures have been documented in a Parliamentary Motion piloted by Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and PPP/C Member of Parliament, Irfaan Ali, along with party Chief Whip, Gail Teixeira.

Parliament formally emerged from its recess this week, but there would not be any sittings until after October 21.

This obtains since several Members of Parliament, including the Speaker of the National Assembly, are on an engagement in Russia.

The PPP/C parliamentarians – in presenting the menu of measures – insisted Government’s tax-oriented approach to growth and policies is among the key factors responsible for the deteriorating economy and pointed to the introduction of increases for every category of taxes on income, property, production and consumption, and international trade, including environmental taxes.

The Finance Minister on Monday announced that there would be no new taxes in Budget 2018, but the Opposition members contended that the 200 new taxes alone that were imposed in the last budget were currently costing Guyanese $10 billion in disposable income.

According to a draft copy of the motion seen by Guyana Times, there has been a marked effect on the business community, “there is a marked reduction in the overall demand for goods and services”.

The motion attributed

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

this marked reduction to the reduced disposable income, “dwindling sugar and forestry sectors that employ in excess of 40,000 persons directly, the downsizing of many businesses and reduction in investment in agriculture”.

According to the motion, the PPP/C, in calling for an affirmation of the adopting of its menu of measures, will point to the fact that Government in addition to dismantling the local productive sectors has also been depleting the foreign reserves/savings of the country while escalating its debt.

“The Government expended US$18.3 million from the Bank of Guyana’s net foreign assets, thereby reducing the net foreign reserves from US$633 million in June 2016 to US$574 million in mid-2017, the lowest-ever recorded in over seven years,” the PPP/C motion outlines.

In addition to Government dipping heavily into the foreign reserves, the PPP/C contends that external debt increased by US$53 million to US$1 billion.

In arguing for the inclusion of its own list of measures, the PPP/C in its motion argues that Government continues to “crowd-out”, outstrip and deprive the Private Sector

of much-needed credit for investment.

According to the motion to be presented to Parliament for a date for debate, “there is no shadow of doubt that the economy is in a dire state; indicators are showing strong signs of distress and imminent economic failure with a severe shortage of foreign exchange, the decline of key foreign revenue streams such as sugar, bauxite, forestry and even rice to an extent, while concurrently the Bank of Guyana foreign reserve continues to be depleted and servicing our external debt will become more burdensome.”

The political Opposition insists the Finance Minister needs to admit that his framework of fiscal policies and tax-oriented solutions have contributed to this state of affairs and have successfully dis-incentivised the economy, and, therefore, urgent and immediate measures need to be taken to reverse this economic decline”.

The PPP/C, in laying down the gauntlet, further contended if Government was serious about national development and the ‘good life’ for all Guyanese, it needed to urgently change its policies and support the Opposition proposals “urgently introduced to stimulate the economy”.

Finance Minister Jordan on Monday met members of the local press corps to provide an update on his imminent 2018 Budget, but did not commit to a reduction of any of the existing taxes.

On the matter of consultations with the political Opposition ahead of the budget preparation, the Minister downplayed the hiatus, along with the PPP/ C’s request for pertinent documentation.

Budget 2018 will be presented to the National Assembly on November 27.

Suddie Hospital biochemistry machines out of order – Councillor

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hairman of the Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) Health and Sanitation Committee, Arnold Adams, has reported that the two biochemistry machines at the Suddie Public Hospital in Region Two are out of order, forcing patients to have their blood tests done privately. Adams was at the time addressing his fellow Councillors

at the Regional Democratic Council’s statutory meeting for the month of October.

Adams said in addition to major drugs shortages that plague the hospital, two of the biochemistry machines have malfunctioned.

He said this is causing residents to be burdened further since they now have to go take their tests to private laboratories. Most of the pa-

tients, he said, cannot afford this additional cost and he therefore called on the Public Health Ministry to intervene and procure new equipment.

Adams explained that the laboratory at Suddie has sufficient staff but lacks proper equipment.

The blood testing machines have been out of operation for almost two months.

12 news

thursDAY, october 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

More hurricane-affected Houston residents officially notified of offer to buy out lands Guyanese return home

– Legal Affairs Ministry to negotiate compensation

Senior Engineer Ronald Roberts, of the Public Infrastructure Ministry, explains alignment details for the new Demerara River bridge to residents of Houston, East Bank Demerara during a recent engagement within the community

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fficials from the Public Infrastructure Ministry on Monday met with residents of Houston, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on the possible acquisition of their land for the new Demerara River bridge.

The residents were told that the Legal Affairs Ministry would be responsible for negotiating any compensation for the acquisition of the land and property.

findings from the Feasibility Study and Design, were also shared with the residents.

The residents were informed that more detailed economic, social, and environmental impact assessments would be conducted when the project moved beyond its preliminary stages and these assessments would take into account many of the residents’ concerns.

According to the residents,

their appreciation for the meeting with the Ministry officials and said that the meeting quelled much of their fears.

“Today’s (Monday) meeting was very informative and I appreciate the Ministry coming and making us aware of what’s going on, ‘cause all the time we didn’t know anything about what was going on. Now that they’ve come, we feel a bit more comfort-

The ministerial delegation to meet with the four households included Central Transport and Planning, Senior Engineer, Ronald Roberts; Transport Planning Officer Ramona Duncan and Socio-environmental Officer Shawn-Ann Greene.

During the engagement, Greene explained that the “first grassroots community meeting” was an effort by the Ministry to foster a transparent process as the project gets underway.

Even though the project is in its initial stages, Greene emphasised that community engagement from the get-go was a necessity.

“We want to ensure that you are informed every step of the way,” Greene said. She added that all of the previously identified homes might not be affected upon the determination of the final design of the bridge; nonetheless, all of the residents would be privy to the necessary information.

The proposed alignment of the new bridge and additional project details, including

their main concerns were being evicted from their properties without adequate notice and not being adequately compensated.

The residents also shared that while they had no issues with relocation, they would prefer new homes on the East Bank of Demerara or somewhere close by.

“We’ve established lives for ourselves in this area; we’re accustomed to this life and we want to continue those lives as best as possible,” one resident explained.

In turn, the Ministry officials emphasised that sufficient notice would be given if the removal of homes became necessary.

Furthermore, the officials shared that the Legal Affairs Ministry would be negotiating directly with the residents on compensation while the Lands and Surveys Department would be conducting the valuation process to ensure that residents were correctly reimbursed for their homes.

The residents expressed

able with the process and whatever has to come in the future, we will try to cooperate with whatever has to be done,” Rantwi Rupnarain, a Houston resident for 60 years, said.

The new Demerara River bridge, which will connect Houston on the East Bank and Versailles on the West Bank, will be a medium-level bridge with three vehicular lanes and a central movable part in the form of a lift span to allow for the passage of ocean-going vessels.

The project will also include the construction of two fly-over bridges and 11 kilometres of connecting roads on the eastern and western banks of the Demerara River, providing seamless connection to the existing road network. The new bridge is expected to alleviate traffic congestion, reduce travel time and distances, and provide a level of service never before experienced on Guyana’s roadways. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2018.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix; and Director General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Retired Colonel Chabilall Ramsarup welcome the evacuees from St Martin who arrived on the JAGS Aviation flight on Wednesday evening

B

ringing the total number of Guyanese returning home to 44, a batch of 16 persons comprising mainly women and children were the latest to arrive from St Martin.

The group arrived at the Eugene F Correia International Airport on Wednesday evening and were welcomed by Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Citizenship Minister Winston Felix.

A Guyanese, who arrived on the Wednesday evening flight, said she was on vacation at the time when the hurricane hit. She said it was her first time experiencing a hurricane and hopes she will never experience another one

most frightening natural disaster she had ever witnessed.

Also speaking to the media moments after touching down at the Eugene F Correia International Airport on Tuesday evening was Aretha Woodruff, a cosmologist who had been plying her trade for the past 16 years in the now almost gutted Caribbean nation.

Woodruff noted that following the hurricane, the living conditions on the island became practically inhabitable, forcing her to return home until the recovery efforts are well underway.

The women stated that, “The reason why I wanted to come home was because we

that despite the regrettable circumstances, his Administration is extending a warm welcome to the distressed countrymen.

“This is a joint effort on the part of the Government of Guyana, the Private Sector, the Civil Defence Commission and several well-meaning citizens who have actually come together and put their resources to ensure that those persons who were affected by hurricanes, they can be brought home, welcomed and that we have extended this arm of humanitarian love and affection for our people,” Harmon conveyed.

The flight which arrived on Tuesday evening brought 16 overseas-based Guyanese

Staff of the Department of Citizenship were on hand to assist the evacuees with their documentation needs

in her lifetime, and is very happy to be home with her family.

As a part of the ongoing efforts to rescue Guyanese from hurricane-ravaged islands within the region, a total of 16 locals returned home on Tuesday evening, among the second batch of evacuees being flown out of St Martin.

Among those were Aletha Khandhai, a mother of two, who migrated to St Martin seven years now. The distressed woman and her daughters were ripped from their new found home following the destruction brought on by Hurricanes Irma and Maria which hit the island just weeks ago.

Khandhai revisited the horrifying experience and pointed out that it was the

can’t get anything done because I have no water, no electricity at the moment. And all the schools are shut because it is very bad at the moment and I need my daughter to get in school. So I just come so that she can get in school, until things get back to normal, I’ll go back.”

With that being said, the evacuees expressed delight in being back at home after the life threatening disaster and thereby thanked those who played a part in the rescue mission.

Meanwhile, receiving the hurricane victims was Minister Harmon who highlighted that Government is always willing to lend a helping hand to Guyanese who are in need.

Harmon went on to say

and marks the second batch of evacuees to be rescued from the devastation left behind by the string of hurricanes to hit the region this year.

However, it was the first influx of locals out of St Martin as a part of this collaborative initiative.

At the commencement of this rescue initiative, some 43 Guyanese living on the island had indicated their interest to return home but following news of their successful return, that total quickly increased to 116.

As such, a number of other flights are slated to evacuate Guyanese from the devastated island.

Meals were provided to the returnees at the airport

by M&M Snackette, free of cost.

news

13

thursDAY, october 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Gender rights key in pursuit of social NA Rotary commissions public schools’ clean cohesion and equality – President water project

A

s Guyana joins the world to celebrate International Day of the Girl Child , President David Granger has reiterated that for Government gender rights were central to social cohesion and equality.

The President made these comments during a visit to Cabinet by Martina Nedd, a student of the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service and an intern in the Office of the Prime Minister, who was given the opportunity by PM Moses Nagamootoo to be Prime Minister for a day to commemorate the International Day of the Girl Child 2017.

Nedd was also given the opportunity to visit and address the Cabinet members and during her brief presentation, she said that she was humbled by the opportunity, adding that recognising International Day of the Girl Child means raising awareness, both locally and internationally for human rights of girls.

“This opportunity here today (Wednesday) would give me the chance to be familiar with the many tasks and re-

President David Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Members of the Cabinet with acting Prime Minister for the day, Martina Nedd (centre, front row); Miss Indigenous Heritage Sherryanna Balkaran, acting Canadian High Commissioner for the day, and Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee

sponsibilities a Minister is faced with on a daily basis. By recognising [this Day], we will raise awareness in Guyana that girls are not only considered as housewives or baby mothers, but they are also considered as decision makers, mothers, persons of high quality and dignity. Our girls are important and respect should be given to them at all times,” she said.

These sentiments were shared by President Granger, who said, “We are all very happy to have you here and I will say without fear of contradiction that we endorse everything that you have said: our respect for our girl chil-

dren, our respect for each other and our respect for diversity in our community. We hold gender rights as being one of the keys in our pursuit of social cohesion and equality,” he said.

Nedd noted that it was an experience that she would cherish for a lifetime. “This experience has been great.

It is a lot of smiling, public speaking and being in front of the camera, but I am sure it will be one that I can share with my children and grandchildren in time to come,” she said.

Also present during the visit was Miss Indigenous Heritage Sherryanna

Balkaran of Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), who played the role of Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana.

She was accompanied by the High Commissioner of Canada to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee.

The United Nations General Assembly on December 19, 2011 adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 the International Day of the Girl Child in an effort to recognise the unique challenges girls face around the world. This year, the International Day of the Girl focused on the theme, “EmPOWER girls: Before, during and after conflict”.

Capoey pushes for all-weather road – integral to tourism prospects

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esidents of Capoey, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), hope to soon benefit from an all-weather road to boost development of their tourism package. This was revealed by Toshao Melrose Henry during a recent interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI).

The natural beauty of the community with its lush surrounding savannah and cool tranquil lake with comfortable benabs are key to attracting visitors; hence, the need to improve the current infrastructure. Capoey faces numerous challenges with roads in terms of accessibility; to that end, Village Council members have identified an

building materials for the road can be accessed.

However, residents will require technical and machinery assistance to make the proposal a reality.

According to Henry, no funding agency has yet undertaken the project proposal.

The value of the project is $10 million to construct the road; however, the Capoey council members have indicated they are willing to put $1.8 million towards the project.

Other matters

Toshao Melrose Henry

existing trail to be reconstructed into a permanent access point to the community.

There are existing sand and loam pits from which

In other village matters, the Toshao highlighted that Capoey still experiences drug shortage and residents are calling for more medical outreaches that offer training

sessions in dealing with basic health issues. Henry believes that this will help with the prevention of illness, as village members will be able to deliver quality health care in terms of treating certain diseases and illnesses.

Marketing has also been highlighted as a gray area for the village members, especially those who do extensive farming and are unable to garner a market for their products.

Toshao Henry is encouraging persons within the community to embrace the ‘Green Economy’ agenda which Government has been highlighting; in terms of developing their own kitchen garden for personal use.

GNBS Open Day, exhibition focuses on benefits of standardisation

T

he Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) hosted an open day and exhibition to promote the benefits of standards for regulators, businesses, and consumers, in observance of World Standards Day. Candelle Walcott– Bostwick, Executive Director, GNBS encouraged the public to embrace the implementation of standards, as it will ensure the return of value for their money. She recommended that consumers understand the importance of standards, particularly as it relates to purchasing from vendors and suppliers. Walcott–Bostwick

cited the example of the use of metric weights for the measuring of commodities. The GNBS Executive Director also encouraged farmers to implement the grading standards that are readily available at the agency along with standards for agro-processed products. “By implementing those standards, it would allow our local manufacturers and producers to access regional as well as international standards that were developed at the regional level which the CARICOM member states have all contributed to,” Walcott-Bostwick is quoted by the Department of

Candelle Walcott-Bostwick

Public Information as saying.

The Open Day and exhibition was one of GNBS’ ac-

tivities slated for National Quality Week (October 0814) being observed under the theme, “Standards make cities smarter.” The agency will also conduct its first Quality Awards ceremony where eleven local companies will be awarded for their outstanding implementation of standards.

The agency’s mandate is the development and implementation of standards to enhance business competitiveness and ensure consumer protection, in accordance with established procedures to ensure consistency, efficiency, and effectiveness in the provision of such services.

Children of Fort Ordinance Primary benefiting from the new pure water facility

T

he Rotary Club of New Amsterdam on Tuesday commissioned a public schools’ clean water project. One school has started to receive the purified water and five others are to benefit from similar projects.

The project was commissioned at the Fort Ordinance Primary. The pilot project is a Rotary and LatterDay Saints joint project and serves as a functional model to promote an interest in other potential donors.

According to Past President of the Club, Roger Greenidge, the Latter-Day Saints have agreed to partner with the Club for the other five projects, which will see similar benefits to Cumberland Primary, Edinburgh Primary and Nursery, St Therese and Fort Ordinance Primary, and Canje Secondary.

He noted that Fort Ordinance Primary was specifically chosen, because it was earmarked as community disaster centre and clean drinking water was a definite necessity in an area where people would be staying or meals prepared during disaster relief efforts.

Given the importance of clean water for preserving our children's health, Greenidge said the Rotary Club was encouraging other entities and individuals to get involved in the continuation of the initiative. He added that some of the entities who have indicated their commitment are the Bank of Nova Scotia, the Latter-Day Saints and Courts Guyana while Rotarian Jerry Outar has given the commitment to one of the projects and Imran Sacoor is planning a fundraiser to install the system in schools on the West Coast of Berbice. The Club is hoping to engage Oldendorff Carriers, who has supported it in the past.

“This initiative if I am not wrong is unprecedented in our public schools. I have not heard of anyone installing water filtration systems in our schools, if this has been done I stand corrected and commend the respective agencies for their proactive-

ness, given the importance of clean water for preserving our children's health. We would like to encourage other entities and individuals to get involved in the continuation of this initiative,” the Club’s Immediate Past President said at the commissioning ceremony, which was attended by a class of students from the school.

He added that it was his hope other entities and private citizens would get on board with the initiative to keep our children healthy not only at home but also at school. “I would also like to see the Government of Guyana getting involved at the regional level to install these systems at schools where treated water may not be available, as a cheaper alternative.”

Meanwhile, Regional Chairman David Armogan, himself a Rotarian, noted that Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have a role to play and should support such projects. He added the Club was happy to partner with the LatterDay Saints on the project.

“Clean drinking water is essential, because we have seen in many communities around the world where clean drinking water is not present, many water-borne diseases have become prevalent and this is something that we in Guyana are trying to stop. Not everyone can afford to buy bottled water; it is very expensive and so systems have to be put in place to ensure that the water that is used at the level of the school would be drinkable and free of disease and all the other things that go with problems.”

At the regional level, Armogan said they would continue to work with all NGOs to improve the school system.

He called on the children to care the new facility.

President of the Club, Ramroop Rajnauth in noting that six schools would benefit from the five projects, explained over the years the Club has been focusing on water and sanitation, health care and education.

14 news

thursDAY, october 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 2 RDC calls for timely Agencies benefit from ISPS completion, quality projects training exercise at Bosai

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everal communities in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) are dissatisfied over what residents described as inferior projects that were concluded by the Region Two administration. Residents, particularly at Golden Fleece, are dissatisfied with the construction of a bridge and described the job done by the contractor as ‘substandard’.

Many residents said the bridge is used daily by school children and now poses a threat to their wellbeing, since it does not have a rail.

Head of the Region Two Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Devanand Ramdatt said he is concerned about the slow implementation of both capital and current projects within the region.

Ramdatt said while only 38 per cent of the region’s capital projects was completed, the RDC through its Works Committee, continues to monitor and evaluate projects’ implementation in

Head of Region Two RDC, Daveanand Ramdatt

an effort to ensure quality projects.

The Regional Chairman said he mandated the Regional Vice Chairman, who also chairs the Works Committee; to ensure stronger monitoring and wider circulation of bill of quantities to the public.

The Regional Chairman

emphasised that project beneficiaries and residents ought not to be ignored since taxpayers’ dollars are invested. He is calling on residents and all concerned stakeholders to take a leading role in examining projects done in their communities.

Ramdatt said details regarding projects can be uplifted from the Office of the Regional Vice Chairman, the Regional Executive Officer and the Regional Engineer.

In an effort to address public concerns, the Regional Chairman also requested for the REO to investigate the complaints raised regarding the poor quality works done at Good Hope – installation of tube; Zorg Nursery School – landfilling; and the Golden Fleece bridge. These are only a few projects that residents are complaining about.

Ramdatt said the RDC is committed to making adequate use of resources available in the best interest of all the people.

GPL deploys network technicians to hurricane-affected Anguilla

ISPS training exercise at Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated in Linden

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epresentatives of several agencies on Tuesday participated in an International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code training exercise, conducted within the plant of Bosai Minerals Group Guyana Incorporated in Linden.

Port Facility Security Officer attached to Bosai, John Domer explained that the aim of the exercise was to test and improve the response rate of participating agencies (Guyana Police Force, Guyana Fire Service, Guyana Revenue Authority, St John’s Ambulance Brigade, Linden Hospital) in cases of port emergencies.

The ISPS Code was put in place following the terrorist

attack on the World Trade Centre in the United States in 2001. It was formulated in 2002 and came into effect in 2004. Since then, it is mandatory for all international ports to be compliant with the ISPS Code.

This is an activity that is mandated by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) for all port facilities across Guyana.

Bosai, which is considered an international port, has been compliant since 2008, with the exercise being the third of its kind hosted since.

“Our port, Bosai is an international port because we export more than 500 tonnes per ship and the ISPS Code

says 500 tonnes and over must be ISPF compliant...

The main objective of this training is to ensure that in case there is an emergency on the port, that the respective agencies – the Guyana Police Force, Fire Service, they all respond in a timely manner to put measures in place that we minimise any undesired events,” Domer said.

Such events include bomb threats, terrorist attacks and theft.

“There’s a stipulation to check on communication, access control, the response by designated authority and other law enforcement agencies,” the Port Facility Security Officer explained.

Delta refuses to pay tariffs on Bombardier CSeries jets

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elta Air Lines Inc on Wednesday said it would refuse to pay a 300 per cent US tariff on Canadian-built Bombardier CSeries jets, raising doubts about its purchase of 75 of the new aircraft at a list

a claim that Bombardier used Canadian government subsidies to bankroll the CSeries sale to Delta and dump the planes at “absurdly low” prices.

The proposed duties would not take ef-

ing Bombardier throughout the process and its CEO, Ed Bastian, reaffirmed the airline’s intention to take possession of its CSeries aircraft. This is the message that we should get out of this,” spokesman Simon

price of more than $5 billion.

“We’re not going to be forced to pay tariffs or anything of the ilk,” Delta Chief Executive Ed Bastian said on the company’s third-quarter earnings call.

Delta is the only major US carrier to buy the CSeries so far, and Bastian called the US Commerce Department’s decision to impose anti-dumping duties on the jets “nonsensical.”

He said Delta still expects to take delivery of the CSeries order, however.

The US tariff decision, sparked by rival planemaker Boeing Co, stems from

fect unless affirmed by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) early next year.

Shares of Bombardier, which is based in Canada, were up 3.78 per cent at $2.34 in afternoon trading.

Delta shares were up slightly, 0.85 per cent at $53.15, on the airline’s stronger-than-expected third-quarter results.

Responding to Bastian’s remarks, Bombardier said it was “confident the ITC will reach the right conclusion given that Boeing did not compete for the Delta order.”

“Delta has been support-

Letendre said.

How the extra costs of the planes would be covered remained unclear.

Bombardier has also said it would not pick up the tab for the trade duties.

The CSeries dispute has spiraled into a broader discussion of trade agreements between the United States and Canada, as US President Donald Trump has warned he would terminate the tri-national North American Free Trade Agreement unless changes were made to address deficits within the trade pact.

From left: Senior Network Technician, GPL, Garden of Eden, Jermaine Simmons; Team Leader, Senior Network Technician, GPL, Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice, Errol Pitt; Senior Network Technician, GPL, Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice, Laureston Carmichael; and Senior Network Technician, GPL, New Amsterdam, Joshah Tilland

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he Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) in collaboration with Caribbean Electric Utility Service Corporation (CARILEC) has extended its assistance to Caribbean territories affected by Hurricane Irma.

GPL’s Public Relations Officer, Shevion Sears explained to the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the power company has deployed a team of network technicians to Anguilla to assist with the rehabilitation of the electricity network that was destroyed by the hurricane.

The category five storm left Police stations, hospitals, school facilities, emergency shelters, a home for the infirmed and the aged, as well as the fire station

damaged in Anguilla.

Leader of the group, Senior Network Technician Errol Pitt said the four-member team will be reconstructing transmission and distribution lines.

Pitt, who has been employed with GPL for approximately 16 years, noted that the exercise is a joint effort with a number of Caribbean countries. “We all will be collaborating to get our mandated work completed which as to do network rebuilding exercises. We will do our best to make GPL proud and more so Guyana.”

The other technicians shared their excitement at being able to represent Guyana for a worthy cause.

Senior Network Technician at GPL’s Onverwagt West Coast Berbice location,

Laureston Carmichael said, “I’m happy because I will do my best in rebuilding the electrical network in Anguilla.”

While Senior Network Technician at the Transmission and Distribution Department at Garden of Eden GPL, Jermaine Simmons, told DPI he is pleased to demonstrate to the wider world that Guyana is capable of coming to the aid of others in their time of need.

Joshah Tilland is also a Senior Network Technician employed at the New Amsterdam branch. He assured that the restoration job will be completed successfully.

The team left earlier on Wednesday and is expected to return by November 22.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

thursDAY, october 12, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Fidal Bassier

15

of 55 Photography

“…Clients will always come back to you when you treat them with respect…”

Fidal Bassier

F

or Fidal Bassier of 55 Photography, that means being honest, humble, sincere, dedicated to producing quality work, and always striving for excellence. “You know, basic human qualities” with, he later adds, “a little bit of detachment. Things don’t always go the way you want them to.

It’s all about serving the client and the clients’ needs. In the end, it’s what the client wants and trying to meet the client’s needs”.

The registered business owner got into photography on account of his daughters, now 11 and 8 respec-

tively. When they were born, the proud papa could not stop snapping photographs of his little girls and from there his interest grew, with him reaching out online to local photographers, some of whom, a m o n g them Kojo McPherson, were happy to share their knowledge for which he is quite grateful. In 2010, Bassier made the transition from amateur to professional photographer. “The first job I was paid for was a wedding…” the former St Joseph student, who is particularly known for his stunningly beautiful wedding shots, recalled.

There are many lessons

he has learnt throughout the years, primarily the importance of networking with other photographers – professionals, amateurs and even persons utilising their cellphones for casual shots – to grow the field of photography locally. A member of the Guyana Photographers Facebook group, which is open to the public, Bassier

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana Cur

Buying

Calculated at 94% purity, October 11, 2017

Selling

GBP

$272.95

$276.41

CAN

$164.85

$166.76

USD

$205.98

$208.44

EURO

$ 242.09

$245.18

USD

$1274.25

Gross

$249,597

Net

$232,125

Indicators as on October 11, 2017 Indicators

US$ per barrel

Crude Oil

$56.00

Price

USD

Change %

-0.21 Change %

Rough Rice

$265.10/ton

+0.17

London Sugar

$375.70/ton

+2.79

Live Spot Gold

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1273.20

$1274.20

Low/High

$1270.10

$1283.00

Change

+1.4 0

+0.11%

Business Concept – Advertisement (ad) Paid, non-personal, public communication about causes, goods and services, ideas, organisations, people, and places, through means such as direct mail, telephone, print, radio, television, and Internet. An integral part of marketing, advertisements are public notices designed to inform and motivate. Their objective is to change the thinking pattern (or buying behaviour) of the recipient, so that he or she is persuaded to take the action desired by the advertiser. When aired on radio or television, an advertisement is called a commercial. According to the Canadian-US advertising pioneer, John E Kennedy (1864-1928), an advertisement is “salesmanship in print”. (Business Dictionary)

said no one could do everything on their own, at a certain point we need other professionals’ help to grow. He says the 3000-strong group, who have come together to share ideas, knowledge and techniques, always have activities happening to keep interest high, including contests, and persons can also post photographs for critiques. Some members of the group even offer classes for beginners and others who joined as novice photographers now own their own photography business.

“I am always learning. Different people have different thoughts and ways of doing things,” he would later conclude in his calm, soothing voice, after highlighting that the flexibility of photography enables him to set his own schedule and spend lots of time with his children and wife. When

a s k e d what inspired him, he said simply, “Religion. I am a Baha’i and it’s all about the oneness of humankind and the elimination of prejudice….I see beyond the material to the humanness.”

His advice to budding entrepreneurs is to “do something you love doing almost every day, [because you will be doing it almost every day]”.

“Be in it for the long haul,” he emphasised, noting that after five years in business you may still be struggling, but if you have a good product and service, “you will survive and thrive”.

“Success is always thriving to better yourself and business. Always try for excellence, to build your capacities. I don’t think there is any one point where you can say I have made it – because it sets up a barrier [to growing, to improving, to betterment]”.

Contact: 653-5832, FB @ 55 Photography

Investor’s Guide

Wall Street ticks higher to record close; eyes on earnings, Fed

M

ajor stock indexes edged up to post record closing highs on Wednesday with sector moves in the S&P 500 showing preference toward socalled defensive stocks.

While Wall Street reaction was muted to minutes of the most recent Federal Reserve policy meeting, a report that a market-friendly candidate was being pushed as successor to Janet Yellen at the helm of the US central bank helped indexes close near the highs of the day.

Real estate, utilities, and consumer staples were among S&P 500 sectors that posted gains, while financials were pressured by a slip in Treasury yields US10YT=RR and industrials also fell.

“You’ve got sector rotation grinding the indexes higher and it’s hard to see what stops that,” said Art Hogan, Chief Market Strategist at Wunderlich

Securities in New York.

Federal Reserve policymakers had a prolonged debate about the prospects of a pickup in inflation during their September meeting, but many policymakers still felt that another rate increase this year “was likely to be warranted”.

“Nothing changes the opinion that the Fed is likely to hike rates after the December meeting,” Hogan said.

Stocks ended near session highs after a report from Politico said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin was pushing President Donald Trump to name Jerome Powell, seen as a safe pick for financial markets, as the next Federal Reserve Chairman.

“The market prefers status quo,” said Ken Polcari, Director of the NYSE floor division at O’Neil Securities in New York.

“Everyone knows rates are going up, but they pre-

fer the policy that Yellen has laid out. Maybe the market is telling you it thinks it’s going to be status quo.”

Powell is seen as closer policy-wise to Yellen than another front-runner, Kevin Warsh.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 42.21 points, or 0.18 per cent, to end at 22,872.89, the S&P 500 gained 4.6 points, or 0.18 per cent, to 2555.24 and the Nasdaq Composite added 16.30 points, or 0.25 per cent, to 6603.55.

Gains in Wal-Mart and Johnson & Johnson nudged the Dow Jones Industrial Average to another record high, but declines in financials kept gains on the S&P 500 in check.

Banks take the focus as JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup report results today, with analysts warning that results in the sector will largely be held back by low trading volumes compared with a year earlier.(Reuters)

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Regional

American newlyweds go UN agency says housing most urgent missing in The Bahamas need for hurricane-ravaged Dominica

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B

ahamian authorities are still trying to get to the bottom of the mysterious disappearance of an American couple who reportedly arrived in Grand Bahama, but never made it to their honeymoon on the island of Rum Cay. According to family members, there has been no contact with Forrest and Donna Sanco for over two weeks.

Their niece, LeeAnn Burger, reported that the Fort Worth, Texas couple travelled to Florida on board a Cessna 150-N3214X en route to The Bahamas on September 25. She said that same day they landed in Grand Bahama, where they cleared customs and spent the night.

But the pair never turned up in Rum Cay where they had rented a house and now Burger is trying to raise US$10,000 through a Go Fund Me campaign to hire

Forrest and Donna Sanco have been missing for over two weeks

private crews and pilots to find them.

She said she last heard from them when they stopped in North Eleuthera for more fuel.

“We want to determine what happened to them there or after they left,” she said. “We’re trying, the best way we know how to determine what happened in this

case.”

Burger told the Bahamas Tribune newspaper that she has reached out to Bahamian Police, but she has been unable to make any contact.

She said she also made an appeal to the United States Embassy in New Providence and they have vowed to look into the matter. (Caribbean360)

hree weeks after the Category 5 Hurricane Maria ripped through Dominica, the scope of the damage remains daunting, with islanders in dire need of water, electricity, food and supplies, the United Nations migration agency reported as it continued to carry out an array of activities as part of the response. Noting that an estimated 23 per cent of the small Caribbean nation’s homes have been flattened, Jean Philippe Antolin, head of response operations in the Caribbean for the UN International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said: “Those houses do not exist anymore. They have either been blown into the sea or totally scattered in pieces across the island.” In addition, some 39 per cent of the houses have sustained severe damage, and a further 28 per cent have been affected to some degree, said IOM, underscoring

A woman walks along a street of Roseau, the capital of Dominica which is struggling to overcome the severe impact of Hurricane Maria (Photo Credit: UNICEF/Moreno Gonzalez)

that the numbers reflect the painful human situations in the shelters where more than 2000 Dominicans are still living, while the rest are staying with relatives and friends. A mother and her children took cover in a local school just before the hurricane hit, and are still living in one of the classrooms with another family. “My home just vanished into thin air. Nothing, nothing left to remember from

it. Everything is gone,” she told IOM. The agency has responded through promoting an array of activities, including supply delivery, coordination of shelter management, and pipelining international donations. IOM has released US$100,000 to scale up shelter response, and an additional US$350,000 has been secured from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Genocide trial against ex-Guatemalan Haitian Government pleads with Trump Administration to give Haitians more time in US dictator Rios Montt to restart

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ith the looming return of close to 60,000 Haitians in a few months, the Jovenel Moise Administration has sent an urgent appeal to Washington to pull back its plan to send home Haitians currently living in the United States under Temporary Protection Status (TPS).

In an official letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Haitian Ambassador to the United States Paul Altidor has for-

mally requested that US immigration authorities grant an 18-month extension to the initiative which expires in January 2018.

He said Port-au-Prince was not in a position to meet the needs of the returning nationals in light of ongoing struggles to return to normalcy following the January 2010 earthquake which were set back even further by extensive damage caused by recent storms.

“The detrimental impacts of the recent hurri-

canes have complicated our ability to recover from the 2010 earthquake…resulting in major disruptions of living conditions in the short term,” Altidor told acting DHS Secretary Elaine Duke in the letter, adding that a visit to Haiti “would offer (you) insight on the challenges that we continue to face”.

Former US President Barack Obama had granted Haitians the TPS, which offered them short-term work permits and reprieves from

deportation.

In May this year, the then DHS Secretary, John Kelly, approved a final sixmonth extension of TPS for Haitian refugees – the fifth such extension since the original designation following the earthquake.

He urged Haitians living in the US without another immigration status other than TPS to “prepare for and arrange their departure” before the revised expiration on January 22, 2018. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Mexico prison riot leaves 13 dead

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hirteen people have been killed in a riot at a Mexican jail, authorities in the northern state of Nuevo Leon say.

Eight others were severely injured in the disturbance at Cadereyta prison. Local media reports that 250 inmates battled security forces.

A spokesman for the state Government said lethal force had been used to regain full control of the facility.

It is the latest in a string of bloody clashes in Mexico’s

A helicopter dropped water to extinguish a fire at the prison

jails, which are often dominated by drug gangs.

Tensions also rose outside the jail, near Monterrey,

as prisoners’ friends and relatives clashed with Police.

Many anxiously awaited news, banging on the side of

vans which left the site carrying the injured.

Authorities say an initial fight – reportedly between rival gangs – was quashed on Tuesday morning, but violence re-erupted later when prisoners started fires.

Aldo Fasci, a spokesman for the Nuevo Leon Government, told reporters prisoners had taken three guards hostage and security forces had entered after attempts to mediate failed.

In 2016, a riot at Topo Chico prison, in the same state, left 49 people dead.

(BBC News)

FILE PHOTO: Former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt leaves during a break in a hearing at the Supreme Court of Justice in Guatemala City, November 19, 2013 (REUTERS/Jorge Dan Lopez/File Photo)

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ormer Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt will face a second trial on Friday for genocide, a lawyer for victims said, reviving a case against the strongman accused of ordering massacres of Maya Indians during a long civil war.

Rios Montt, who ruled Guatemala in 1982 and 1983 after a military coup, was convicted of genocide four years ago along with another military officer, but the ruling was overturned.

A Supreme Court tribunal will hear the case, Edgar Pérez, a lawyer for the relatives of victims who have led a years-long campaign against Rios Montt, said on Wednesday.

The 91-year-old retired general was diagnosed with

senile dementia in 2015. He will be represented in court by two lawyers and will not make a personal appearance. The lawyers were not immediately available for comment.

The new trial will revisit the earlier accusations that Rios Montt ordered massacres leading to deaths of at least 1771 Ixil Mayan Indians during his 17-month rule. Rios Montt maintains his innocence, saying junior officers acted without his knowledge.

Guatemala’s 1960-1996 civil war led to the deaths of more than 200,000 people and was the bloodiest among the Cold War conflicts that tore through Latin America when US-backed military Governments battled leftist Governments and rebels.

(Reuters)

Int’l agencies cast doubt on eradicating hunger in Caribbean by 2030 T wo international agencies say it is becoming “increasingly unlikely” that hunger will be eradicated in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2030.

The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the world’s oldest international public health

agency working to improve the health and well-being of people in the Americas and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), said that hunger has increased in six countries and now affects 2.4 million people in the Region.

They said that the total

number of individuals that suffer from hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean has increased, reversing decades of progress, while overweight affects all age groups in men and women, and constitutes a major health problem in all countries in the Region of the Americas.

PAHO and FAO have published a new study titled “Panorama of Food Security and Nutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean 2017”, which also highlights that after many years of gradual progress, in 2016, approximately 42.5 million persons did not have enough food for

their daily caloric needs.

This is an increase of 2.4 million people, six per cent more of the undernourished population than the year before.

FAO Regional Representative, Julio Berdegué, said if this trend does not change “it will be very difficult for the

Region to reach Sustainable Development Goal 2 on eradicating hunger and malnutrition by 2030”.

While hunger levels remain low in Latin America and the Caribbean in comparison to the rest of the world, there are signs that the situation is getting worse. (Excerpt from CMC)

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Around the World

Trump denies seeking nearly 10Indonesia Bishop fold increase in US nuclear arsenal Hubertus Leteng resigns amid scandal N BC News said the President called for the increase after he was shown a chart indicating the stockpile of US nuclear weapons had slid from a high of 32,000 in the 1960s. Trump said he wanted to have that same number now, NBC reported.

Speaking to reporters at the White House during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Trump said the report was not true.

“I never discussed increasing it. I want it in perfect shape. That was just fake news by NBC,” he said.

“We don’t need an increase.

But I want modernisation and I want total rehabilita-

US President Donald Trump speaks before signing the National Manufacturing Day Proclamation at the White House in Washington, US, October 6, 2017

tion. It’s got to be in tip-top shape.”

The President’s denial was buttressed by a statement from his defence chief.

“Recent reports that the President called for an increase in the US nuclear arsenal are absolutely false. This kind of errone-

ous reporting is irresponsible,” Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said.

Although US Presidents have modernised weapon stockpiles over the years, any meaningful addition to the nuclear arsenal would violate treaty agreements.

The Federation of American Scientists says the United States currently has about 4000 nuclear warheads earmarked for use in its military stockpile.

After the meeting in July, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson referred to Trump as a “moron,” according to NBC. US news reports have painted the relationship between Trump and Tillerson as tense. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Violence erupts in Kenya over new election law

K

enyan Police have fired tear gas at opposition protesters a day after their leader Raila Odinga announced his withdrawal from the presidential race, saying he does not expect it to be free and fair.

His supporters are unhappy at a new election law and fear it could lead to a walkover victory for incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta, in the rerun of the election later this month.

Election officials have

been locked in crisis meetings since Odinga's decision, as debate rages over what his move could mean for an election after President Uhuru Kenyatta's August 8 victory was annulled by the Supreme Court.

Protests have been taking place almost daily since the decision in a country that still has grim memories of post-election violence when a disputed 2007 poll prompted politically motivated tribal clashes that left

some 1100 dead.

There is widespread anger; however, after Parliament on Wednesday passed the new law, which says if one candidate withdraws, the other automatically wins the presidency.

The law was one of the several changes approved

by Parliament – dominated

by Kenyatta's ruling Jubilee party – on Wednesday that Odinga says will make the "irregularities" cited by the Supreme Court legal.

Announcing his withdrawal on Tuesday, Odinga said: "All indications are that the election scheduled for October 26 will be worse than the previous one."

Kenyatta, for his part, insists that the election rerun must go ahead.

Odinga has demanded deep reforms that the election commission (IEBC) says are impossible to deliver in the constitutionally mandated period. (Excerpt from Al

Jazeera)

Indian court criminalises sex with child bride

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he Indian Supreme Court has ruled that sexual intercourse with a wife between the age of 15 and 18 years is a crime.

In a landmark ruling on Wednesday, India's top court amended the country's rape law and declared that sex with an underage wife illegal under India's Penal Code (IPC).

The wife must file a complaint against her husband within a year of the committed offence.

"The exception in rape law under the IPC is contrary to other statutes, violates bodily integrity of girl child," the court in the capital, New Delhi, said.

The verdict will come into effect for future instances

and have no bearing on marriages already solemnised, the court said.

The legal age for marriage in India is 18, but child marriages, are not uncommon, especially in the rural parts of the country.

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) considers sex with a person under the age of 18 as rape.

However, the law had an exception clause that said a man was not guilty of rape if he had consensual sex with a wife who was above the age of 15.

After hearing a petition by NGO Independent Thought, the Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the age of consent was

S

declaration of independence on Tuesday.

However, they halted its implementation to allow for talks with Madrid.

Spain has been in turmoil since the separatist Government held a disputed referendum in Catalonia on October 1, which was declared invalid by the country's Constitutional Court.

Almost 90 per cent of voters backed independence with a turnout of 43 per cent, Catalan officials say.

Anti-independence voters

The outgoing Bishop said allegations that he had a relationship with a woman were "slanderous"

studying to be a pilot in the US. He said that allegations that he had a relationship with a woman were "slanderous".

The Vatican has not explained why the Bishop is retiring early, nor publicly discussed the allegations against him.

The Ruteng diocese over which he presided also made no mention of the allegations in its announcement of his temporary replacement on Wednesday. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Moscow may demand US cut diplomatic staff in Russia to 300 or below – RIA

The age of consent in India is 18, but marital rape was not considered an offence [BBC News]

18.

Women's rights activists in the country hailed the ruling as a "positive step in the right direction" and a possible "deterrent for child marriages". "We strongly feel that this deci-

sion of the Supreme Court will work in impacting child marriages, also," Jagmati Sangwan, women's activist and member of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), told Al Jazeera. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Catalonia: Spain issues deadline to separatists

panish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has given Catalonia's separatist leader five days to say whether or not he has declared independence.

If Carles Puigdemont confirms by Monday that he has, he will be given a further three days to withdraw the declaration.

Failing that, Madrid will invoke Article 155 of the Constitution allowing it to suspend the region's autonomy and impose direct rule.

Catalan leaders signed a

P

ope Francis has accepted the resignation of an Indonesian Bishop accused by his own priests of having a mistress and appropriating more than US$120,000 in church funds.

Bishop Hubertus Leteng has previously denied any crime, but gave no reason on Wednesday for his sudden exit.

At 58, he is leaving 17 years before the usual retirement age for a bishop.

The Vatican had been probing claims that he secretly borrowed US$94,000 from the Indonesian bishops' conference.

He is also alleged to have taken US$30,000 from his diocese without accounting for either sum of money.

Nearly 70 priests were reported to have resigned in June in protest over the Bishop's actions – leading to the Vatican inquiry.

Bishop Leteng argued at the time that the cash was used to educate impoverished young people.

The Catholic Herald reported in June that he told priests some of the cash was used to finance a youth from a poor family who was

largely boycotted the ballot and there were several reports of irregularities.

National Police were involved in violent scenes as they tried to stop the vote taking place.

Rajoy said his Government had asked the regional government to clarify whether or not it had declared independence.

He accused Puigdemont of having created "deliberate confusion" and said he wanted to restore "certainty".

"This call – ahead of any of the measures that the government may adopt under Article 155 of our constitution – seeks to offer citizens the clarity and security that a question of such importance requires," Rajoy said.

"There is an urgent need to put an end to the situation that Catalonia is going through – to return it to safety, tranquillity and calm and to do that as quickly as possible." (Excerpt

from BBC News)

Vehicles drive past the Embassy of the US in Moscow, Russia

I

n July, Moscow told the United States to slash the number of its diplomatic and technical staff working in Russia by around 60 per cent, to 455, in a further sign of souring relations.

The figure of 455 was meant to mirror the total number of Russian diplomats working in the United States, but also included Russian nationals working at the United Nations in New York, Borisenko, head of the Foreign Ministry’s North America Department, told RIA. “The fact that in the summer we took into account the people working for Russia’s mission at the UN, this was goodwill,” Borisenko said.

“If they haven’t appreciated this, we have the full right to reduce ... the number of US diplomats,” he

said, adding that Moscow could stop taking Russian UN staff into account when calculating what parity between the two countries meant.

“In this case, the number of American personnel in Russia should decline to a level of 300 or below.”

A spokeswoman for the US Embassy in Moscow said Washington hoped that complying with the Russian requirements would mean both countries could stop trading retaliatory measures, RIA later reported.

“The deterioration of relations does not serve the interests of either side. We hope that the downward trend in relations has come to an end,” RIA quoted embassy spokeswoman Maria Olson as saying. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

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ARCHIE

Discuss your plans with someone you trust. Keep the (March 21peace and work as a team April 19) player to reach a resolution that is fair and will bring you the happiness and satisfaction you desire.

ARIES

Personal pampering, upTAURUS dating your appearance or (April 20- making positive alterations May 20) at home are all favored. Make special plans to do something engaging with a special someone. Romance is highlighted.

dilbert

Take a closer look at your GEMINI (May 21- appearance and how you June 20) present yourself to others.

A makeover will give you a sense of pride and the confidence to take on something new.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Uncertainty will prevail if you give in too easily or get involved in an impulsive situation. Walk away from anyone who shows signs of instability. Invest in yourself, not in someone else.

Know what or whom you are up against before you decide to participate. A challenge can change the way others view you. Aim to win, or don’t enter the competition.

Overdoing it will turn out VIRGO to be costly. Take a step back (Aug. 23and assess a situation beSept. 22) fore you make an unrealistic promise. Take better care of your health.

Stay calm, keep the peace LIBRA (Sept. 23- and do what feels right. A Oct. 23) keen sense of assessment and knowing enough to say no to anyone who doesn’t play fairly will be necessary.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

A change at home will give SCORPIO you some breathing room.

(Oct. 24Cut your overhead and find Nov. 22) a strategy that will help you move forward. Do things your way.

Your vision will be cloudSAGITTARIUS ed by emotional matters. Try (Nov. 23- to separate your personal and Dec. 21) professional lives in order to avoid mistakes. Don’t feel pressured by what others do or say.

solution for LAST PUBLISHED Puzzle

Partnerships will face inCAPRICORN stability. Do your best not (Dec. 22- to argue. Consider what you Jan. 19) can do to offer a fair deal that doesn’t jeopardize your integrity. Walk away from erratic, demanding individuals.

An emotional matter conAQUARIUS cerning a contract, invest(Jan. 20- ment or medical issue will Feb. 19) surface. Use common sense before panic sets in, causing you to make an impulsive move.

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

Love, marriage, children PISCES (Feb. 20- or changes to your current March 20) lifestyle are prominent. Look at your options and consider what’s most realistic for you at this stage in life.

thursDAY, OCTOber 12, 2017

West Indies top all-rounder Hayley Matthews completes a catch as part of a remarkable outing in the opening match (Photo courtesy Windies Media)

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Clinical Windies Women draw 1st SCOREBOARD blood

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layer of the Match Hayley Matthews helped the Windies Women to 2 valuable points in a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka Women in the 1st ODI in Trinidad. The three-match ODI series is part of the ICC Women’s Championships, used as qualification for the 2021 World Cup.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. Yosada Mendis top scored for the tourists, followed

by Dilani Manodara 28 for 136 all out in 49.4 overs.

Hayley Matthews was destructive with the ball taking 3/18 from her allotted 10 overs, which included 2 maidens. Skipper, Stafanie Taylor took 3/24 from 10, and Afy Fletcher also had 3/42 from 9.4 overs.

Both Kycia Knight and Captain Stafanie Taylor fell early in the run-chase. But Hayley Matthews and Chedean Nation restored the innings as they shared in 37 run partnership before Matthews had to retire hurt.

Deandra Dottin and Nation then added 12 together before Nation became Ranaweera’s first scalp for 24. Dottin was next to go when she gave herself too much room and her stumps were rattled by Ranaweera for 22.

Merissa Aguilleira 34 not out and Kyshona Knight 21 not out then took the charge to victory. This match- winning partnership of 42 took the Windies Women home to victory by six wickets.

The next match is a Day/Night game on Friday 13 from 14:30h at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.

Jamaican invasion for GT Motorsports Grand Prix

Sri Lanka Women (Maximum 50 Overs) N Hansika lbw b A Fletcher 8 Y Mendis c Kyshona Knight b H Matthews 34 C Atapattu c and b H Matthews 25 D Manodara not out 28 P Weerakkody c M Aguillera b H Matthews 8 S Siriwardene c and b S Taylor 0 A Kanchana c and b S Taylor 7 R Vandort+ c S Selman b A Fletcher 4 S Weerakkody c C Nation b S Taylor 9 I Ranaweera* run out (C Nation) 2 C Gunaratne c H Matthews b A Fletcher 0 Extras (b-2, lb-2, w-7) 11 Total (All out, 49.4) 136 Fall of Wicket: 1-22, 2-63, 3-78, 4-95, 5-96, 6-106, 7-118, 8-133, 9-136, 10-136 Bowling: Selman 5-1-100, Connell 5-0-9-0 (w-3), Mohammed 10-0-29-0, Fletcher 9.4-1-42-3 (w-2), H Matthews 10-2-18-3, Taylor 10-0-24-3

West Indies (Target 137 from a maximum of 50 Overs) H Matthews retd, not out 22 Kycia Knight run out (I Ranaweera) 1 S Taylor* c P Weerakkody b S Weerakkody 2 C Nation c C Atapattu b I Ranaweera 24 D Dottin b I Ranaweera 22 M Aguillera+ not out 32 Kyshona Knight not out 21 DnB: S Connell, A Fletcher, A Mohammed, S Selman Extras: (b-1, lb-2, w-11) 14 Total (For 4 wickets, 39 Overs) 138 Fall of Wicket: 1-2, Taylor 2-7, 3-61, 4-95 Bowling: Weerakkody 5-122-1(w-1), Gunaratne 7-124-0 (w-5), Atapattu 3-0-80, Siriwardene 10-0-28-0, Ranaweera 10-0-3-27, A Kanchana 4-0-26-0 (w-5) Result: West Indies Women won by 6 wickets with 12 overs to spare Player of the Match: Hayley Matthews (West Indies Women)

Tagore, Skeldon emerge winners of BVA school tourney

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he heat will be on later this month when three leading Jamaican gokarters compete in the GT Motorsports Georgetown Grand Prix ‘Caribbean Showdown’ on October 21 at Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club, Albert Street and Thomas Lands.

Senna Summerbell, the son of Caribbean motor-racing ace, David Summerbell Jr., and compatriots Joshua Sigany and Ryan Lue will face the starting line.

Summerbell will do battle in the x30 Junior category, while his compatriots, Sigany and Lue will look to outdo the competition in the x30 Senior and 60cc Sun Burst Kids Cup respectively.

All three drivers are leaders in their respective divisions back home, and no doubt they would want to make a statement on their maiden appearance at the country’s lone go-kart facility.

Apart from the large band of Guyanese drivers, the Jamaicans will also have to contend with competitors from Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, as the organisers are currently in discussion with drivers from those islands.

However, Guyana’s young

Some of the top performers in the BVA Secondary School tourney pose with their spoils

T

Senna Summerbell

brigade will look to defend home turf and give the anticipated large crowd a night to remember.

Carrying the Golden Arrowhead on their chest will be the talented bunch of Elan Rahaman, John Phang, Rayden Persaud, Mikhail Persaud, the Tenpow brothers- Jeremy and Justin, Paige Mendonca and Nathan Rahaman.

The showdown in the Sun Burst Kids Cup is another manifestation of the organisers’ intense focus on developing the youth pool of drivers in Guyana, as soon the country will be embarking on tours to

other Caribbean territories geared at creating avenues for development of those youngsters.

As has been the case with previous Georgetown Grand Prix meets, the event once promises a clash between the big boys and the emerging talents. Action will speed off at 18:00h and admission to the venue is $1,000 for adults, $500 for children and $4,000 for the VIP experience.

The event will set the stage for the ultimate motorsport event of the year- the final leg of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship on November 12 at the South Dakota Circuit.

agore Memorial and Skeldon Linepath Secondary School emerged winners in the respective Male and Female categories when the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) Inter-county finals culminated on Monday.

After weeks of intense competition among some of the best school teams in the Ancient County, the Guysuco Training Centre hostel compound was the venue of Monday’s final. In the female category it was; New Amsterdam Multilateral, Berbice High School, Corentyne Comprehensive High, Central Corentyne Secondary and Skeldon Line Path Secondary.

In the finals it was Skeldon

who shot Berbice High down by two sets; 25-22 and 25-5 to take the crown. In the male leg of the tournament it was; Tagore Memorial, Central Corentyne Secondary, Black Bush Secondary, Corentyne Comprehensive Secondary, Port Mourant Secondary, Berbice High School and New Amsterdam who did battle.

In the end it was New Amsterdam and Tagore who met in the finals with the latter whipping their opponents two sets to none with a scoreline of 25-11, 25-8 to bag the title. There were also a huge number of awards distributed by the BVA and the National Sports Commission (NSC) to the top performers.

BVA President Levi Nedd

expressed thanks to Director of Sports Christopher Jones and the NCS for its arduous support of the competition.

He also thanked the Regional Education Deputy Volika Jaikissoon.

“To all schools that participated, it is hoped that with more sponsorship the rest can be bigger and better.”

Nedd also indicated that the next Volleyball activity in the ancient county is the Balram Shane tournament for seniors, and a referee course for clubs and interested persons.

The MVP award for females was awarded to Stephney Lewis of Skeldon Line Path while the Male MVP award went to Andy Rohoman of Tagore Memorial.

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursDAY, october 12, 2017

Large turnout expected at Bel Air Lions Domino competition

T

he Lions Club of Bel Air in collaboration with Clear Waters will be holding a grand two-day Domino Competition on November 4 and 5 at the Club House, Enachu Street in Section K Campbellville Georgetown.

Judging from the enthusiasm, the organisers are expecting a large turnout of teams registered under the Guyana Domino Association (GDA) which will ultimately make the event a big success.

At the official launch which took place at the Club House on Wednesday, Clear Waters Sales and Distribution Manager Amarjeet Hardat expressed his pleasure in participating with the one of the longest standing social groups in the world. Hardat urged all players and supporters to mark the date and give their full support to the club, the event and the cause.

President of the club

Vic Nasser (Past District Governor of Lion Club) and Clear Water Sales and Distribution Manager Amarjeet Hardat shake hands in the presence of other representatives at the launch on Wednesday

Tamattie Narine was in deep gratitude support given by Clear Waters and contented it will be integral in the club’s continued social responsibilities.

The competition is open to all Domino teams with the winners set to pocket $250,000 and a trophy. The second placed team will win $140,000 and a trophy while

$60,000 and a trophy will go to the third placed team. The Most Valuable Player over the two days will walk away with $10,000 and a trophy.

Entrance fee is $15,000

per team with all proceeds going towards the construction of a Bus Shed on Vlissengen road.

For more information, regarding registration which

opens today, club members can call Lion Boyce on 642 8179, Lion Orlando on 6611235, Lion Joseph on 685-1009 or Mark Wiltshire on 6655855.

Bigger, better Stage of Champions coming in November ̶ 32 athletes set to compete

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Stage of Champions reigning champions: from left, Soese Koesa, Milita Gilimo, Shaquille Lavine and Emerson Campbell

he second edition of the Stage of Champions set for November 18 at the Theatre Guild in Kingston, promises to be bigger and better according to organizer Videsh Sookram.

He has dubbed the event as the “War of Champions” with regional champions set to compete; “we are going to have Hoskin “Biscuit” Worrell from Barbados, he is going to be here to compete, to

Guyana Softball Cup VII…

Albion host 4-team warm-up

John Sumair

Lakeram "Mike" Singh

ith the start of Guyana Softball Cup VII just about three weeks away, teams have heightened their preparations

in anticipation for the high level of competition.

On Sunday October 15, Albion Masters will host a fourteam tournament which also

W

serves as a fundraising event in the form of a grand bar-b-que and lime for the Jaihind Cricket Club of Albion, Corentyne Berbice.

The four teams are Albion Masters, Floodlights, Wellman and Parika Defenders.

Lots of big names will be on show with John Sumair and Rajin Moonsammy leading the way for the hosts while Ricky Deonarine, Dharam Persaud, Imtiaz Mohammed, Clyde Canterberry and Anil Beharry will suit up for Floodlights. The likes of Kenrick Persaud, Bisham Persaud, Davenand Kannan and Fazil Baksh will line up for Parika Defenders and the legend Mike “Shane Warne” Singh, Wayne Jones and Lloyd Rooplall will

lead the Wellman charges.

The first match is at 10:00h with Albion Masters taking on Floodlights followed by Wellman and Parika Defenders in action at 12:00h. The winning teams will then contest the final which is set for 15:00h at the Jaihind Cricket Club ground which is located behind the Albion Police Station.

Bar-B-Que will be served from 12:00 noon. Admission to the ground is free.

The seventh annual Guyana Softball Cup will be played in Guyana from November 3, 4 and 5 in the All-Star and Masters categories with the grand finals set for the Demerara Cricket Club ground, Queenstown Georgetown on November 5.

A representative of Digital Technology hands over the hefty sponsorship package to Videsh Sookram (right)

win the Stage of Champions title. We have Damion Daniels of Grenada, Grenada sent a message saying they don’t need to send a team, they just need one person to win and that person is Damion Daniels.”

Another feature of the event that has been expanded is the number of categories of competition, while last year only had two this year there will be quite a few. “We are going to have a lot of weight classes with the lowest being under 143lbs and the highest being 177lbs and over. The Men’s physique and Ms Bikini will also be open for competition again” Sookram revealed.

Sookram exuded confidence in the Stage of Champions II being the biggest and best bodybuilding show of the year for Guyana.

“This will be the biggest bodybuilding show for the year; we are trying to be bigger and better every year.” He urged fans to come out and support at the event at the Theatre Guild noting that it is the home of bodybuilding.

Surinamese Soese Koesa is the defending champion in the in the Men’s Invitational title having beaten his countryman Wendel Setro and Barbadian Shaquille Levine. Meanwhile Levine is the champion in the Men’s Open category while Guyana’s Emmerson Campbell is the Men’s Physique champion with Suriname’s Milita Gillimo the reigning Ms Bikini.

The Stage of Champions II is slated for November 18 and is sponsored by Space Gym, Sabina Farms and Digital Technology among others.

sports

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V-Net Communications T20 Blast…

Jaguars, Cavaliers prevail in lop-sided semis

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The finalists, San Souci Jaguars and G Square Cavaliers celebrate their semi-finals’ victories last Sunday at the Wakenaam Community Centre Ground

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n the latest action in the V-Net Communications T20 Blast on the Essequibo Island of Wakenaam, G. Square Cavaliers and San Souci Jaguars booked their places in the final after their one-sided semi-finals at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground last Sunday.

In semi-final one, G.

Square Cavaliers defeated Good Success by a whopping 65 runs. Batting first, the Cavaliers got to 144/6 from their 20 overs with Satnarine Sahadeo hitting the top score of 40 and got support from Satrohan Shiwnandan with 29.

The pick of the Good Success bowlers was Nazeer Mohamed with 2 for 17.

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Heated semi-finals head to DCC

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In reply, Maria’s Pleasure was shot out for 98 with only Alex Clemenson showing some fight with a brave 22. Nokta Moses ended a superb all-round performance by claiming 4-14.

G. Square Cavaliers and San Souci Jaguars will now contest the grand final on Sunday at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground from 13:00h.

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he Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) continued its Well Teen/ Nauth Motor Spares/ Tropical Spring/Trophy Stall U-13 25 Overs-perside Competition with two matches in Berbice. After the matches that were played at the Rose Hall Town ground, it was Blairmont Cricket Club, Demerara Cricket Club (DCC), Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) and Transport Sports Club advancing to the final four.

Rose Hall bowling was led

by Jonathon Rampersaud’s 3-7 and Lucus Arthur 2-26.

Rose Hall in reply were bowled out for 76 20 overs Shivnarine Ramnarine 16, Lucus Arthur 13 and Jonathon Rampersaud’s 11.

Blairmont won by 36 runs were indebted to; Hemchand Ragbeer 2-8, Sredath Roopnarine 2-16 and Antwone Alexander 2-23.

Roopnarine was named Man of the match.

Rose Hall vs Blairmont

GCC made 155-9 in 25 overs thanks to Rivaldo Phillips 51 and Sanjay Persaud 44 runs a-piece.

Rose Hall bowling was led by Lucus Arthur who claimed

Blairmont CC 112-7 in 25 overs with knocks from; Sredath Roopnarine (29), Antwone Alexander (10) and Zynol Ramsammy (7).

GCC vs Rose Hall

5-27 for his team who raced to 156-3 in 21.4 overs to win comfortably by 7 wickets.

MVP, Lucus Aurthur’s 43 and Jonathon Rampersaud’s 30 lead the way.

The Semi- finals will be held on Saturday October 14 at the DCC Ground, with the number one team Blairmont playing Transport Sports Club from 15:00h while hosts DCC take on archrivals GCC from 18:00h.

All teams in the round-robin tournament played six matches and accumulated the following points; Blairmont CC 94 points, DCC 90 points, GCC 87 points, Transport SC 77, Rose Hall Town Sports Club 62 points, GYO 58 points and Everest CC 23 points.

Wakenaam U-19 take series against NOC U-19 M

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feated Maria's Pleasure by the wide margin of 64 runs. The Jaguars batted first and raced to 161 with Nokta Moses leading the way with 35. Beesham Moses was also among the runs with 30 as was Sidique Mohamed with a rapid 20.

Leoryan Ramlakhan (331) bowled well for Maria's Pleasure but lacked the support at the other end.

GFSCA/Well Teen, Trophy Stall, Tropical Springs & Nauth Motor Spares U13 tourney

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The run chase never got out of first gear and Good Success folded meekly for 79 15.4 overs. Sahadeo returned to claim 4 for 6 while Jaggernauth Manbodh supported with 2-14. Only Imran Khan with 24 runs showed some batting caliber to the steady bowling of the finalist.

In the second game, San Souci Jaguars de-

Bumeshwar Ramkissoon

ahase Ramnarine struck fine half century while off-spinner Bumeshwar Ramkissoon grabbed five wickets as Wakenaam defeated Now Opportunity Corps Select XI by 37 runs in the second game of the Trophy Stall threematch U19 50-over tournament which was contested last Saturday.

The victory gave Wakenaam the series with a match in the bag.

Ramnarine struck seven fours and three sixes in a top score of 57 and got support from Beesham Moses 18 and Romario Steven 10 as Wakenaam U19 posted 121 all

out in 26 overs batting first at NOC ground, Essequibo Coast. Medium pacer Zarood Allicock grabbed 5-20 while Saeed Hack had 2-20. NOC Select U19 XI were bowled out for 84 in 35 overs in reply. Hack made 14, Shane Wong 12 and Orlando Jailall 10.

Ramkissoon bowled with control and variation to capture 5-14 from six overs while Beesham Moses claimed 2-12.

The three-match series will conclude on Saturday at the Wakenaam Community Centre ground when the hosts will be looking for a clean sweep while the visitors will be looking to save some pride.

Mahase Ramnarine

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thurssDAY, october 12, 2017

GCB/Jaguars 3-Day League Round 7 Kandasammy Surujnarine

U

pper Corentyne and Georgetown will do battle much earlier than expected when they open the seventh and final round of the GCB/Jaguars 3-Day Franchise League today at the Port Mourant Ground.

Georgetown, Upper Corentyne open Round 7 clash

Statistic-wise, both sides are almost evenly poised with Upper Corentyne sitting in 5th place and Georgetown lingering in 6th.

They both recorded two wins each from the six previous rounds with Georgetown losing 3 of their games compared to their opponents who have only lost two.

However, overall, the race will be a stiff one as the Ancient County franchise enter this round with 58 points compared to Georgetown who trail by 6 points on 52. In the last round Upper Corentyne easily disposed of East Bank by 87 runs compliments of a good all-round team perfor-

Ashmead Nedd

Gajanan Suknanan

mance.

K a n d a s a m m y Surujnarine who scored 150 and Balchand Baldeo who

has a few fifties under his belt are a few of the players Georgetown will need to look out for while their

bowlers in Eon Hooper, Shawn Perreira and Clinton Pestano have been among the wickets regularly.

From a Georgetown Perspective, since the departure of a few of their top players like Leon Johnson, Chris Barnwell, Ramaal Lewis and Robin Bacchus, their franchise’s form has dipped a bit especially in the last round where they went down by 8 wickets to West Berbice.

Georgetown’s batting has been a bit soft throughout the competition, especially with the loss of their big guns. However, their real trump card lies in their bowl-

Points Allocation Teams

Matches

Wins

Loses

Outright win

Drawn

Batting Bonus

Fast Bowling Bonus 1.9

Total

6

Team Bowling Bonus 18

Essequibo

6

4

0

48

6

Lower Corentyne West Demerara Upper Corentyne Georgetown

6

3

2

36

3

7

18

2.7

66.7

6

2

1

24

6

9

14

2.1

58.1

6

2

2

24

6

8

18

2

58

6

2

3

24

3

4

18

3

52

Upper Demerara/ East Bank

6

2

3

24

4

16

4.2

48.2

West Berbice

6

2

4

24

1

18

2.1

45.1

East Coast Demerara

6

0

2

0

4

14

3.3

33.3

ABCA Independence Tri20 Cricket Tournament…

Abandon

3

3

9

Leon Johnson

Veerasammy Permaul

Robin Bacchus

Sherfane Rutherford

uyana’s form in the on-going Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA) Independence Tri20 Cricket Tournament continues to grow following their 7-wicket thrashing over Antigua and Barbuda Master Blasters on Tuesday night.

In a low scoring encounter played at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground,

needing just 136 for their second win of the competition, Guyana cruised to 1373 after knocks from skipper Leon Johnson (45), Robin Bacchus (34), Chandrapaul Hemraj (31not out) and Sherfane Rutherford (29) helped to make the chase a simple one.

The Master Blasters found it difficult to cope with the Guyanese bowl-

ers led by left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul who bagged three wickets.

Seamer Keemo Paul 2-29 was the next most successful bowler while all-rounders Romario Shepherd and Rutherford chipped in with a wicket each.

Prior to their 7-wicket win on Tuesday, Guyana whipped the hosts on Sunday by 4-wickets in the first round. Chasing

170, Jonathan Foo stroked an unbeaten 70 while Johnson scored 34 to take their team to 171-5 in 20 overs. West Indies quick Alzarri Joseph was the pick of the bowlers for the home team, snatching up 3-26 while Kerry Mentore supported with 2-45.

Guyana and Jamaica were set for battle on Wednesday evening. The final is set for Saturday October 14.

79.9

Universal DVD U-15 begins on October 29

In-form Guyana beat Master Blasters again T

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ing department and should Upper Corentyne look to brush aside the town team, they will need to be weary of spinners Ashmead Nedd and Gajanan Suknanan who have been in ripping form as well as skipper Paul Wintz who’s experience will come into play.

Both teams desperately need a win to boost their rankings despite their chances of winning the tile being slim. The match bowls off at 9:30h while the other three matches in round seven are expected to bowl off from Friday.

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) organized and Universal DVD Store sponsored Under-15 50 Overs competition is expected to bowl off on October 29 with the main aim to recruit players ahead of the 2018 domestic season.

According to a press release, newly elected BCB President Dhieranidranauth Somwaru said the competition is expected to target some 30 players from across the four zones, namely; Upper Corentyne, Lower Corentyne, New Amsterdam/ Canje and Western Berbice who Newly elected BCB Head will then commence training Dhieranidranauth Somwaru ahead of next year’s inter-county games.

Played under round robin rules, the tourney according to Chairman of Junior Selectors Leslie Solomon will help selectors to properly assess the physical status of the youngsters while creating various match scenarios to help with their game.

Some 15 players will be selected to represent each geographical area, and coaches and managers will also be assigned to each team by the Board. Somwaru said in the release that he was optimistic the U15 level coupled with the Board under his new leadership, will groom youngsters for the future while still focusing on the further senior players and often times, and the juniors are not given their desired recognition.

The Venues for the competition are; Port Mourant Community Center, Albion Community Center, Blairmont Community Center, Rose Hall Community Center. The final is expected to be played at the Albion Community Center on November 19, 2017.

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, october 12, 2017

23

Ninvalle punching WI ‘A’ 236-4 on opening day for Caribbean ̶ half centuries for Ambris, Singh & Campbell boxing academy T in Guyana

By Akeem Greene

G

uyana stands to possibly become the mecca of Amateur Boxing in the Caribbean since Guyana Boxing Association (GBA) President Steve Ninvalle is making a pitch for an Academy to be established on these shores.

“I will be pushing for a boxing academy to be created in Guyana, the reason is that the Caribbean counties have been clamouring since two years ago to come here and train their fighters,” Ninvalle told Guyana Times Sport on Wednesday.

Given Guyana’s dominance in regional amateur tournaments after having a strong breeding ground for competent fighters, the country has essentially become an understudy regarding their recipe for successful pugilist.

“We have the space and are leaders in terms of being champions of the Caribbean.

It is only right that we have something like that here.

I intend to write the leader of AIBA to address this issue. Next year is AIBA year of the Caribbean, so if we can have something like that starting in Guyana or any part of the Caribbean, it will be good for us,” the GBA boss further stated.

The discipline is the only one to have secured an Olympic medal for Guyana and in January, they were the first association to submit their four-year plan to the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) as they seek to have their boxers properly prepared to secure a medal at the 2020 Olympic Games set for Japan. The plan charts the course that would lead to a strategic development of the sport and the addition of another Olympic medal.

Commenting on the progress made to date, Ninvalle expressed gratitude for the support from both from the GOA and the National Sports Commission but contended there is more to be done. Regarding what has been done, he alluded to the support of one bright prospect, Keevin Allicock being the recipient of a monthly stipend from the GOA which is expected to continuously increase based on the performance of the Commonwealth Youth Games Silver medallist.

Caribbean Issues

This Saturday, Ninvalle will host the International Boxing Association (AIBA) meeting of the Caribbean, at the Resource Centre in Georgetown from 10:00h.

The focus of the meeting is

GBA President Steve Ninvalle

to discuss a wide range of pressing matters concerning the community and ways of finding solutions.

“There is the annual Caribbean championship which will be held in St Lucia and we need discuss how we move forward from here. This meeting is about our concerns and what is hurting the Caribbean, we will have frank and fruitful discussions and at the end of it we will hope we can pave a way forward.”

He added, “We [the Caribbean region] has been neglected for some time and we need to decide how to go forward.” Representatives from Anguilla, Antigua, Bahamas, St Marteen, St Lucia, Suriname, Cayman Islands, Trinidad and Tobago along with American Boxing Federation (AMBC) President Osvaldo Rafael Bisbal and AIBA Executive Director William LouisMarie are expected to be in attendance.

Turmoil in AIBA

AIBA Taiwanese president Ching-kuo Wu has been provisionally suspended by a disciplinary commission, the Olympic sport’s governing body said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Switzerland-based organisation has been riven

with in-fighting for months, with Wu pitted against most of the executive committee who failed to remove him through a vote of no-confidence tabled in July.

The Interim Management Committee (IMC), which was established in July following the no confidence vote, has been seeking to remove the Taiwanese official from power amid allegations of financial mismanagement under his administration.

Commenting on the issues of the governing body, he stated, “We got issues to discuss as a body. It is more important judging the turmoil AIBA is going through.

We think that it is important that we meet and we decided which side of the fence we are on. We will take what is right for the Caribbean.

We have had due process all along. We have been badgered, we have been pushed to choose a side and we have not done that”.

A recent elected member to Executive Committee Bureau, Ninvalle knows the magnitude of the appointment given that the five-member committee comes out of 202 member associations. He plans to use the position to allow the cries of the Caribbean associations to be heard at the executive level.

he West Indies ‘A’ and Sri Lanka ‘A’ three-match “Test” series got off to a quiet start on Wednesday at the Trewalany Multiplex in Florence Hall, Jamaica.

Shamarh Brooks won the toss and the hosts immediately took first strike.

When bad light stopped play, the West Indies ‘A’ reached 236 for 4 with three batsmen recording contrasting half centuries.

John Campbell lost his opening partner Montchin Hodge and Brooks on either side of the opening session but continued along before wandering out of his crease after adding 51 for the third wicket with Vishaul Singh.

Campbell’s knock came off 108 balls with six fours.

Meanwhile, Singh saw the demise of wicketkeeper Jahmar Hamilton before finding a more than useful partner in Sunil Ambris. Their unbroken fifth wicket partnership is so far worth 87 runs with both players looking confident.

Singh’s innings has so far spanned 174 balls with three boundaries while the more attacking Ambris used 75 balls and cracked 10 boundaries.

In all the visitors used eight bowlers on the Trewlany strip but only Malinda Pushpakumara

Vishaul Singh pulls confidently on his way to 58 not out (Windies Media Photo)

and Shehan Jayasuriya found success.

Play will begin earlier

on day two after 12.5 overs were not bowled on the opening day.

SCOREBOARD

Stumps Day 1 West Indies ‘A’ 1st Innings M Hodge stp wkpr Weerakkody b Pushpakuma 13 J Campbell stp wkpr Weerakkody b S Jayasuirya 56 S Brooks* run out 19 V Singh not out 58 J Hamilton+ LBW b Pushpakumara 6 S Ambris not out 62 Extras (b-8, lb-1, nb-5, w-8) 22 Total (For 4 wickets, 76.1 Overs) 236 Did not bat: R Cornwall, D Jacobs, S Cottrell, K Joseph, R Leveridge

FOW: 1-44, 2-76, 3-127, 4-145 Bowling A Fernando 8-1-21-0, L Kumara 11-1-43-0 (w-7, nb3), M Pushpakumara 19.1-462—2, C Karunaratne 12-1-33-0 (w-1), S Jayasuriya 16-3-39-1, D De Silva 6-1-9-0, W Hasaranga 1-0-9-0, D Shanaka 3-1-11-0 Sri Lanka ‘A’ Ron Chandraguptha, Sundun Weerakkody+, Dhananjaya De Silva*, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, Wanidu Hasaranga, Shehan Jayasuriya, Chamika Karunaratne, Malinda Pushpakumara, Lahiru Kumara, Asitha Fernando Position: West Indies ‘A’ bat all day

Persaud is top West Indian marksman, 2nd overall

A

fter suffering his first off day since the WIFBSC's 150th shoot began, National Captain Mahendra Persaud seems well on his way to being crowned the top West Indies shooter.

Persaud dominated the first two days of the competition, racking up 134 points and 14 V's at the end of day one. Upon securing the lead, the veteran marksman then shot 130/13 on day two as he kept his grip on the competition.

However, after recording his worse day to date which was still better than the rest of shooters, he ended day three with 123 points and 6 V Bulls.

As a result, he was toppled by Alexander Gill who edged him out with 127 points and 8 V's ending with a total of 390 points and 25 V's, recording his best stats in the tournament thus far.

Despite Gill’s ascension to the number one spot, Persaud with an overall aggregate of 387 points with

33 V's is likely the favorite to clinch the title with a few more ranges to complete over the next two days.

Meanwhile, local shooter Roberto Tiwari in his first international tourney, blew away the competition to win the O class division.

Thursday will see the top 44 shooters contesting over the 300, 500, 600 yards with the top 22 gunners duking it out over the 900 and 1000 yard ranges with the aim of crowning a new champion.

UCI World Masters Cycling Championships

T

wo-time Olympian James ‘Joelyn’ Joseph, one of Guyana’s top cyclists from yesteryear, still has the Golden Arrowhead flying high and proud further afield. Joseph copped a second- and a thirdplace finish at this year’s UCI (Union Cycliste International) World Masters Cycling Championship in Los Angeles, USA. Joseph, who hails from the mining town of Linden and represented Guyana at the 1980 and 1984 Olympic Games, competed with some of the world’s most outstanding cyclists, some of whom he would have been familiar with throughout his illustrious

career on the saddle.

Reports emanating from Los Angeles state that on Sunday, Joseph was second in the 20lap scratch (bunch), in a race where the winner broke away and lapped the field.

James, according to reports, rode a masterful race which saw him break away with twelve to go in pursuit of the eventual winner but failed to bridge the gap.

On Monday, Joseph, racing in the 500m time trials, clocked 36.088 secs which was good enough for the third spot on the podium, behind USA’s David Wilmott (35.915 secs) and winner, American Kurt Sato (34.936 secs).

Guyanese veteran gets podium finish

James “Joelyn” Joseph (left) finished second on Sunday and third on Monday at the UCI World Masters Cycling Championships in the United States of America

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Jamaican invasion for GT Motorsports Grand Prix Pg 19

Clinical Windies Women draw 1st blood Pg 19

Joshua Sigany have a go in a recent outing on the tracks

Pg 23

Joshua Sigany have a go in a recent outing on the tracks

Kyshona Knight and Merissa Aguilleira brought it home for the home team at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad (Photo courtesy Windies Media)

A boxing academy in Guyana will lay the foundation for the development of some of the top pugilists in the region (Photo courtesy Cullen Best-Nelson)

Ninvalle punching for Caribbean boxing academy in Guyana Pg 23

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