Guyanatimes 12 september 2017

St Cuthbert’s Mission to be renamed PakuriP5

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

Issue No. 3330

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

City Hall garbage woes

Pervasive P3 corruption responsible for failed Budget implementation

“Town Clerk, let us get it right!” – Mayor Page 9

Bicycle patrols for city

Crime down?

Police report 11% drop in serious crimes P2

Page 13

…but 41 per cent increase in robbery with violence

Granger signs into law tougher money laundering sanctions P7

3 die in 2 days on Guyana's roadways

Gunmen P10 attack, brutally beat Soesdyke family

(see stories on pages 9,10, 12 )

Hurricane Irma relief effort

Govt pledges initial US$50,000 to regional relief effort Page 13

…Opposition urges immediate assistance to affected Guyanese

Gunmen hijack taxi in P11 Kitty Miner hospitalised following suspected shooting P10

2 news Crime down? Police report 11% drop in serious crime tuesDAY, september 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

…but 41% increase in robbery with violence

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he Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Monday reported an 11 per cent decrease in serious crime up to the end of August 2017, when compared to the same period last year.

This was credited to collaborative efforts among stakeholders.

According to the Police Force in its monthly statistics, for the month of August there was an 18 per cent decline in reports of murder with 80 cases in 2017, compared to the same period last year when 98 cases were recorded.

A breakdown of the murder figures showed that 39 of the deaths were as a result of disorderly behaviour, 15 were domestic, 12 were during the course of a robbery, eight were unknown, four were execution-style and two were listed in the ‘others’ category.

Some 27 of the murders were committed in A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara); 19 in B Division (Berbice); seven in C Division (East Coast Demerara); seven also in D Division (West DemeraraEast Bank Essequibo); two in E Division (LindenKwakwani); a whopping 17 in F Division (Bartica/ Interior Locations), and one in G Division (Essequibo Coast-Islands).

With regard to robberies, it was disclosed that gun-related robberies saw a 16 per cent decrease with 402 cas-

es this year compared to 481 cases last year, while there was a five per cent decline in robberies with other instruments –201 cases this year against 212 last year.

The declining pattern continued with an eight per cent reduction in burglary, with 136 cases this year against 148 in 2016, and a 19 per cent decrease in break and enter and larceny, with 712 cases recorded this year compared to 881 cases last year.

Additionally, the number of robberies with no instruments remained the same – 30 cases. Meanwhile, robberies with violence increased by a whopping 41 per cent with 99 cases recorded this year against 70 last year, robbery with aggravation was up by 20 per

cent with 54 cases this year and 45 in 2016, and larceny from the person recorded a 27 per cent increase with 104 cases in 2017, compared to 82 last year.

Nevertheless, there was a six per cent decline in rape cases, with 171 cases recorded so far compared to 181 cases last year.

Furthermore, the Police Force reported that some 89 illegal firearms were seized during this period –55 pistols, 11 revolvers, 14 shotguns and nine rifles. It was reported that 40 of these illegal weapons were seized in A Division, seven in B Division, eight in both C and D Divisions, four in E Division, and a staggering 22 in F Division. No weapons were seized in G Division during this period.

Last year, a total of 53 firearms were seized by the Police.

On the other hand, as it relates to traffic, the Police reported that there was a 24 per cent decrease in fatal accidents at the end of August 2017. Meanwhile, serious, minor and damage accidents have also been reduced by 8.3 per cent, 15.2 per cent and 27 per cent respectively.

It was noted that speeding and inattentiveness were the two leading causes of fatal accidents, followed by driving under the influence of alcohol, failing to conform to sign and pedestrian crossing in the path of approaching vehicle.

According to the Force, some 48,936 cases were made out against errant road users during this period. These include: 15,335 cases for speeding; 2548 for breach of condition of road service licence/music; 1278 for driving under the influence of alcohol; 921 for using cell phone while driving; 876 for breach of traffic light signal; 1003 for tinted motor vehicle; 565 for unlicensed driver; 1060 for failing to wear seat belt; 622 for dangerous driving; 613 for careless driving; 469 for failing to wear safety helmet; 1462 for overloaded minibus; 866 for obstruction; 1255 for failing to conform to sign; 920 for crossing double yellow line; and 19,143 cases for other offences.

Single-mom night shift policy

Govt cognisant of farreaching consequences – Senior Minister The Social Protection Ministry said it has no current or future intention of creating any policy that would exclude single mothers from any sector in Guyana, whether voluntary or involuntary.

Senior Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, in an issued statement on Monday, said that Government remained cognisant of the far-reaching consequences of the implementation of such a policy.

Ally noted that the Ministry has for years been

Senior Social Protection Minister Amna Ally

working towards bridging the gaps that exist particularly as it relates to gender equality and such a policy would erode progress in this area. “The Ministry of Social Protection wishes to notify that while it remains open to practical options that would provide flexibility for working single-parent women in Guyana, it is fully committed to adopting measures and policies that

Minister within the Social Protection Ministry, Keith Scott

would not contribute or impede single-parent women being hired in all sectors of the economy,” the Minister said.

Ally’s statement comes in light of recent statements made by Junior Social Protection Minister Keith Scott regarding the exclusion of single mothers from night shift work within private security firms that has since sparked widespread debate and controversy within the security sector. The Minister said in the statement that an important aspect of the Ministry’s mandate is to remove constraints to women’s economic participation in the work force and to ensure that all women, especially those facing intersecting forms of discrimination, have equal access to employment free from gender discrimination, including that based on traditional sex stereotypes, pregnancy, or parenting.

TURN TO PAGE 14

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tuesDAY, september 12, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, September 12 – 09:30h-11:00h and Wednesday, September 13 – 10:30h-12:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, September 12 – 08:35h-10:05h and Wednesday, September 13 – 09:45h-11:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

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

Temperatures are expected to range between 26 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to Easterly between 3.57 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 08:44h and 21:04h reaching maximum heights of 2.45 metres and 2.46 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 14:35h reaching a minimum height of 0.84 metre.

SATURDAY, september 9, 2017

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Pervasive corruption responsible for failed Budget implementation ... “they cancel tenders every time they don’t get a particular outcome” – Jagdeo

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ormer President Bharrat Jagdeo believes that Government would not be able to implement 60 per cent of the 2017 Budget as it relates to its Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) – a far cry from the 90 per cent implementation rate achieved by the former Administration under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic.

Jagdeo this past week weighed in on the current budget preparations by the Finance Ministry ahead of its early presentation for a third year.

He, however, criticised the abysmal implementation rate and blamed what he called the pervasive corruption being practised by the Administration as one of the key reasons behind the failure to expend annual allocations.

Jagdeo was at the time speaking with members of the local media corps at his Church Street office.

The Russian trained economist, who served as Finance Minister and later President from 1999 to 2011, opined that the purpose of an annual Budget is to enhance the welfare of the citizenry of the country and to expand opportunity and support the creation of wealth at every level.

Based on these criteria, Jagdeo said: “This (2017) budget has failed miserably....it has done none of these things.”

According to the former President, now Opposition Leader, the lack of implementation of the 2017 Budget despite its early presentation in 2016 was just a symptom of the confusion that exist in Government.

“This charlatan understanding of how these projects work seems to permeate the entire Government at the political level and secondly, their frequent interference in tendering process,” Jagdeo posited.

Speaking to the pervasive corruption under the David Granger Administration, Jagdeo pointed to the award of contracts.

According to the Opposition Leader, when an evaluation of a tender is returned, the Administration simply retenders the project if the desired outcome is not achieved.

The former President pointed to the fact that using international loans through various funding agencies, the process can take as much as six to eight months.

Jagdeo noted that as a result of the frequent retendering of projects being funded from the treasury, the Administration has inherently and consistently delayed the utilisation of the allocated funds which at the end of the year results in woefully inadequate implementation of the Public Sector Investment Programme.

“They have cancelled every time they don’t get a particular outcome; they have cancelled to tenders,” Jagdeo

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said.

He cited a multibillion-dollar contract which has been repeatedly retendered for the Guyana Power and Light Inc. Jagdeo, in seeking to further illustrate his point of favoured bidders being the preference of the Administration, pointed to the fact that of the $4.8 million spent on drugs this past year, the majority $4.4 billion went to handpicked suppliers as against using the process, prequalification which was used by the PPP/ Civic Administration.

According to Jagdeo, the process of cherry picking “who you want the contracts go to,” will, and has been, adversely affecting the implementation of the PSIP. He suggested that Government may not even achieve a 60 per cent implementation rate for the funds allocated for 2017 as against the 90 per cent implementation rate that was achieved by the PPP/C in office. “This is problematic,” Jagdeo declared.

The abysmal failure on the part of the Administration to fully execute its programmes was recently laid bare when

Finance Minister Winston Jordan presented the midyear report on national spending and revenues earned.

According to Minister Jordan in that report, “notwithstanding the historically early budget, the required shift in planning cycles at the sectoral levels failed to keep pace and, though the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) recorded higher levels of expenditure at the mid-year than at the similar period in 2016, spending was less than onethird of the budgeted allocation.”

He had announced interventions to support sectoral and project specific bottlenecks were underway, even “as we grapple with the recent spate of security breaches that has resulted in additional fiscal and other pressures”.

Jordan had promised that a combination of targeted in-

Finance Minister Winston Jordan terventions to address the sluggish pace of spending in the PSIP, coupled with prioritised sector-specific engagements with the Private Sector, is expected to result in more systemic and structural reforms that would promote diversification and green initiatives so critical to delivering the good life to all Guyanese.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, September 12, 2017

Views Remembering 9/11: 16 years on Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Lawlessness on our roads T

he Traffic Department of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is reporting that almost one year after “Operation Safeway” was launched, there has been a marked improvement in terms of reducing road accidents in Guyana.

On September 15, 2016, the Traffic Chief launched “Operation Safeway” with the intention of decreasing accidents and deaths on the roads and promoting better road safety awareness. Giving a brief report on the programme’s success thus far, Traffic Chief Dion Moore was quoted in the media as saying that “Operation Safeway” “has borne us some amount of fruit”. That fruit is a reduction in the number of fatal accidents this year compared to the same period last year.

The Traffic Chief reported that this year, to date there has been a 22 per cent decrease in accidents and a 20 per cent decrease in deaths in comparison to the same period last year. From January to September 2017, the GPF has recorded 65 accidents with 72 deaths. He noted that speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol remain the leading causes of accidents on the roadways.

It should be noted that when the campaign was launched in 2016, the GPF had already recorded 89 accidents with 96 deaths. That was a 33 per cent increase in fatal accidents and a 17 per cent increase in deaths compared to 2015. The year 2016 was one of the deadliest for road users with 116 fatal accidents resulting in 127 deaths by the end of that year.

If we are to go by the statistics provided by the GPF, even though the achievement has not been that great, it could still be regarded as an improvement which needs to continue. The GPF must continue to mount certain targeted campaigns to halt the level of lawlessness we see daily on our roadways.

Almost every week there are reports in the media of someone being killed or badly injured on our roadways.

Despite action on several fronts, including Government enacting the relevant legislation, civil society groups mounting numerous protest marches for stronger action against reckless drivers, and the Traffic Department carrying out a number of ‘campaigns’, the road fatality rates remain unacceptably high.

The reasons for the high rates of road accidents are well known and there is no need to rehash them here except to say that, while there are various factors which impact on road safety, there is little doubt that the single most important in a general sense is enforcement of the traffic laws. The Government has enacted the relevant legislation in relation to driving under the influence, loud music in vehicles, overloading, speeding, etc, but if the laws are not adequately implemented, they become useless. It would be interesting to find out how many of the drivers/conductors who are stopped for breaking a traffic law/s are actually charged and brought before the courts.

While it is not our intention to paint the entire Police Force with the same brush, as there are many professional and honest officers within the Force, we are convinced that unless what is perceived as the endemic corruption in the organisation, and the traffic section in particular, is addressed in a systematic way, we will not achieve the desired results.

Importantly too is that along with the measures being undertaken by the law enforcement authorities to reduce road fatalities, there is need for all Guyanese to move away from the culture of disregard and irresponsibility in relation to using the roadways. In this regard, the Education Ministry and other relevant stakeholders should examine the possibility of strengthening the school curriculum with the aim of increasing knowledge, skills and understanding among children and young people about the responsible use of our roadways. Similar efforts should also be made targeting the adult population as they too are sometimes found to be irresponsible when using our roadways.

Too many of our citizens continue to lose their lives or are becoming permanently disabled at a young age due to road accidents. For a small country such as ours, we cannot afford to continue along this path.

A New York City Police Department officer pauses at the edge of the reflecting pool at the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum (Reuters/Brendan McDermid)

Reorganisation of garbage disposal needed Dear Editor, Since discontinuing the garbage collection services of its two main disposal agents in Georgetown, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has obtained the services of a number of small contractors.

While the M&CC’s move to alternative garbage collection is timely and commendable, there are particular issues that the Council needs to urgently address with those new contractors. These relate to the timing and con-

sistency of their collection and the consequent inconvenience it poses to taxpayers and disruptions to the free flow of vehicular traffic.

These new collectors seem to turn up for garbage collection at any time and on any day. There are three noted instances over the past week in different areas within the city.

Details are withheld from this letter, but can be provided to the Council upon request, since the purpose of this missive is to advo-

cate and not to prematurely affect the image of those concerned publicly.

In one area, where garbage is traditionally collected early on Wednesday mornings, the new collectors did not do so until the following day at about 16:00h (4 pm) when vehicular traffic had peaked. In another instant, garbage collection usually done early Saturday morning was done midmorning on Sunday, again causing some inconvenience to road users and an unholy

stench to worshippers at church.

The M&CC is urged to collectively review the level of performance with its new garbage collectors, since all of their disposal vehicles do not display contact information for feedback. It is recommended that garbage collection be done either prior to 07:00h (7 am) daily; in the evenings; or at other suitable off-peak periods during the day.

Sincerely, Orette Cutting

GWI working to restore water supply Dear Editor, Guyana Water Inc (GWI) wishes to respond to your article, dated Monday, September 11, 2017 and titled “Little or no water for some West Dem residents”.

Firstly, we wish to offer an apology to the residents of West Demerara.

GWI wishes to advise customers served by La Grange, La Parfaite Harmonie and Westminster Well Stations, West Bank Demerara that the disruption to their service is due to GPL voltage fluctuation and power failures.

Affected communi-

ties include Bagotville, Canal Number 1, Parfaite Harmonie, Westminister, Schoonord, La Grange, Onderneeming and Recht Door Zee. GWI is working with the Guyana Power & Light to restore normal service in the quickest manner possible.

We wish to thank your publication for highlighting the concerns which affect our customers. We remain firm in our commitment to significantly improve our service.

Sincerely, Guyana Water Incorporated

5 St Cuthbert’s Mission to be renamed Pakuri news

tuesDAY, september 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

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undreds of locals and foreigners on Saturday gathered at Pakuri, better known as St Cuthbert’s Mission, to celebrate the annual Heritage Village Day. At the weekend celebration, Toshao Lennox Shuman, in his opening remarks, reflected on the history of the Indigenous people, as he expressed gratitude to his ancestors.

“I know there are some of us sitting here thinking why are we here, why are we recognising Indigenous peoples? … but I also put that blame on the shoulders on my ancestors.

Had they not greeted Christopher Columbus in 1492 on the shores, then all of us, we would not have this kind of diversity we have in Guyana,” Shuman said.

The Toshao also extend-

ed gratitude to President David Granger for the promise of a village name change.

Toshao Shuman, in an exclusive interview with the Department of Public Information, explained that missionaries changed the name of the village.

“About a hundred and twenty-eight years ago, the missionaries landed here, and they proclaimed in the name of the majesty that this should forever be known as St Cuthbert’s Mission. But before that, it was Pakuri. It has always been Pakuri. What we are trying to do is to go back to that.”

President Granger, in his feature address, stated that he has approved the renaming of St Cuthbert’s Mission to Pakuri. “It is always a pleasure to come here and I am very glad

Members of the Pakuri Culture Group performing the sacrifice dance for the audience

the community has taken the initiative to engage in what I call an exercise of authentication. That is to restore the authentic name of this community to

Pakuri.”

The President described the move as a valid one, “I think this exercise in authentication is a correct move, and particularly be-

cause Pakuri is a special community. Of the nine Amerindian nations in Guyana, the Lokono or the Arawaks are the largest.”

National Toshaos’

Council Chairman Joel Fredericks was enthusiastic to be involved in the celebration, as he felt it served as a bridge between the old and new generations.

“Our culture needs to be shared with the younger generation. There is a gap of this knowledge passing on to the younger generation. And you cannot change who you are. So don’t try to imitate someone who you are not. We are Indigenous people and we are the first people of Guyana.”

The all-day event saw a host of presentations from Toshao Shuman, the Regional Democratic Council of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), the parliamentary Opposition, and a number of cultural performances from Pakurians and visitors.

Lusignan Youth Development Initiative graduates commended

First Lady Sandra Granger (seated, second from right) is flanked by Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d) Yvonne Smith of the Office of the First Lady; Head Teacher at the Lusignan Primary School, Michelle Barton and Coordinator of the Lusignan Youth Development Initiative, Nicola Halloway. Teachers and students in the remedial programme are pictured standing

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welve students who have shown significant improvement in their academic performance over the past year on Monday graduated from the 2016-2017 Lusignan Youth Development Initiative (LYDI) remedial programme.

The initiative is held under the auspices of the Office of the First Lady at the Lusignan Primary School, East Coast Demerara. The programme caters to slow achieving Grades Two to Five students of the Lusignan Primary School and, based on the graduates’ improved test scores, has now been expanded to include tuition

for Grade Six students, which will start from this afternoon.

First Lady Sandra Granger commended the teachers and the students for the commitment and discipline they displayed during the programme. “I want to thank the teachers and staff, who took up the challenge… because this arose from a concern about the number of children who were struggling in school and we are happy to say that some of you have improved your performance and we look forward, over the years, for the children of Lusignan performing excellently when they get to the Grade Six exam,”

Granger is quoted as saying by the Ministry of the Presidency.

The programme, which had also been implemented in the Buxton/Friendship areas, was started in Lusignan on October 3, 2016 with 80 students, who were considered under-achievers.

Of that number, about 70 attend the thrice-weekly classes regularly. Improved test scores were most significant among those students, who demonstrated a high level of commitment and had the support of their patents. These include one student whose grade rose

from 40 per cent to over 60 per cent during the year.

The First Lady encouraged the students and their peers to remain focused on their studies. “I think that the children of Lusignan have the talent to do very well in education and I’m sure that with the help that you are receiving from the teachers and Head Mistress and school, you will do very well as the years go by and as you graduate from one grade to the next,” she said.

Meanwhile, Coordinator of the LYDI, Nicola Halloway said the programme’s long-term goal

was to raise numeracy and literacy rates to 90 per cent and to improve scores at the National Grades Four and Six Assessments.

The 12 students were each given gift vouchers, of varying sums, which can be redeemed for books and school supplies at Austin’s Book Services in Georgetown.

The First Lady’s remedial programme for primary school students complements the measures that the Government and the Education Ministry have embarked upon to improve the educational outcomes of the nation’s students.

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Helping children conquer worry

o help your children manage what’s worrying them: Find out what’s on their minds: Be available and take an interest in what’s happening at school, on the team, and with your children’ friends. Take casual opportunities to ask how it’s going. As you listen to stories of the day’s events, be sure to ask about what your children think and feel about what happened.

If your child seems to be worried about something, ask about it. Encourage children to put what’s bothering them into words. Ask for key details and listen attentively. Sometimes just sharing the story with you can help lighten their load.

Show you care and understand. Being interested in your child’s concerns shows they’re important to you, too, and helps children feel supported and understood.

Reassuring comments can help — but usually only after you’ve heard your child out. Say that you understand your child’s feelings and the problem.

Guide children to solutions. You can help

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

reduce worries by helping children learn to deal constructively with challenging situations. When your child tells you about a problem, offer to help come up with a solution together. If your son is worried about an upcoming math test, for example, offering to help him study will lessen his concern about it.

In most situations, resist the urge to jump in and fix a problem for your child — instead, think it through and come up with possible solutions together. Problem-solve with children, rather than for them. By taking an active role, children learn how to tackle a problem independently.

Keep things in perspective. Without minimising a child’s feelings, point out that many problems are temporary and solvable, and that there will be better days and other opportunities to try again. Teaching children to keep problems in perspective can lessen their worry and help build strength, resilience, and the optimism to try again. Remind your children that

whatever happens, things will be OK. So, for example, if your son is worried about whether he’ll get the lead in the school play, remind him that there’s a play every season — if he doesn’t get the part he wants this time, he’ll have other opportuni-

ties. Acknowledge how important this is to him and let him know that regardless of the outcome, you’re proud that he tried out and gave it his best shot.

Make a difference.

Sometimes children worry about big stuff — like terrorism, war, or global

warming — that they hear about at school or on the news. Parents can help by discussing these issues, offering accurate information, and correcting any misconceptions children might have. Try to reassure children by talking about what adults are doing to

What do children worry about?

Children don’t have to pay bills, cook dinners, or manage carpools.

But — just like adults — they have their share of daily demands and things that don’t go smoothly. If frustrations and disappointments pile up, children can get stressed or worried.

It’s natural for all children to worry at times, and because of personality and temperament differences, some may worry more than others. Luckily, parents can help children learn to manage stress and tackle everyday problems with ease. Children who can do that develop a sense of confidence and optimism that will help them master life’s challenges, big and small. What children worry about is often related to the age and stage they’re in.

Children and preteens typically worry about things like grades, tests, their changing bodies, fitting in with friends, that goal they missed at the soccer game, or whether they’ll make the team. They may feel stressed over social troubles like cliques, peer pressure, or whether they’ll be bullied, teased, or left out.

Because they’re beginning to feel more a part of the larger world around them, preteens also may worry about world events or issues they hear about on the news or at school. Things like terrorism, war, pollution, global warming, endangered animals, and natural disasters can become a source of worry. tackle the problem to keep them safe.

Be aware that your own reaction to global events affects children, too. If you express anger and stress about a world event that’s beyond your control, children are likely to react that way too. But if you express your concern by taking a proactive approach to make a positive difference, your children will feel more optimistic and empowered to do the same. So look for things you can do with your children to help all of you feel like you’re making a positive difference. You can’t stop a war, for example, but your family can contribute to an organisation that works for peace or helps children in war-torn countries. Or your family might perform community service to give your children the experience of volunteering.

Offer reassurance and comfort. Sometimes when children are worried, what they need most is a parent’s reassurance and comfort. It might come in the form of a

hug, some heartfelt words, or time spent together. It helps children to know that, whatever happens, parents will be there with love and support.

Sometimes children need parents to show them how to let go of worry rather than dwell on it. Know when it’s time to move on, and help children shift gears. Lead the way by introducing a topic that’s more upbeat or an activity that will create a lighter mood.

Highlight the positive.

Ask your children what they enjoyed about their day, and listen attentively when they tell you about what goes great for them or what they had fun doing. Give plenty of airtime to the good things that happen. Let them tell you what they think and feel about their successes, achievements, and positive experiences — and what they did to help things turn out so well. Schedules are busy, but make sure there’s time for your children to do little things they feel good doing. Daily doses of positive emotions and experiences – like enjoyment, gratitude, love, amusement, relaxation, fun, and interest – offset stress and help children do well.

Be a good role model. The most powerful lessons we teach children are the ones we demonstrate.

Your response to your own worries, stress, and frustrations can go a long way toward teaching your children how to deal with everyday challenges. If you’re rattled or angry when dealing with a to-do list that’s too long, your children will learn that as the appropriate response to stress.

Instead, look on the bright side and voice optimistic thoughts about your own situations at least as often as you talk about what bothers or upsets you.

Set a good example with your reactions to problems and setbacks. Responding with optimism and confidence teaches children that problems are temporary and tomorrow’s another day. Bouncing back with a can-do attitude will help your children do the same.

(Kidshealth.org)

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tuesDay, September 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Granger signs into law tougher money laundering sanctions

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ead of State, President David Granger, has signed into law tougher measures under the contentious Anti Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/ CFT) Act. The amendments were successfully piloted by Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams ahead of the recent parliamentary recess by legislators.

The President gave his assent at the end of August and the amendments have since been published in the Official Gazette.

At the time he presented the amendments to the 65-member legislative arm of government for its approval, Williams had indicated that the changes sought to amend the principal Act with a view to making money laundering a hybrid offence.

He explained, “It can either be indictable or a summary offence.”

As a result of the successful amendments, the authorities are now given more time to prepare their cases if they are complex in nature.

The amendments also significantly increased fines under the law to not less than $200 million or more than $500 million for offending corporate bodies.

As it relates to the time constraints that had been imposed in the principal Act, the House heard that “the Prosecutor could only institute proceedings in the Magistrate’s Court within six months of the offence being committed.”

It was pointed out in the explanatory memorandum accompa-

nying the legislative changes that “with the amendments, the offence is now a hybrid one and that the time limit provided for summary offences do not apply to indictable offences”.

As a result, as it relates to the instituting of proceedings against suspected money launderers, “the Prosecutor would have a longer time as no limitation for the indictable offences of money laundering is provided for by the statute”.

The explanatory memorandum further states, accordingly, “this amendment is important because more time would be given to

the relevant personnel to conduct their investigations and prepare their case especially if the matter is a complex one”.

Opposition Member of Parliament Anil Nandlall, during the debate, had said that he checked the principal Act and noted there they were legislating to create an offence against a body corporate. An officer must be identified, either a director or company secretary for the purpose of enforcement, he noted.

Nandlall said he was under the impression that the bill was intended to treat a particular factual

situation, that is, not only increasing the period of time for those needed to be held in custody for potential prosecution but applying this retroactively.

If it is applied retroactively, it would be unconstitutional, he stressed.

Minister Williams at the time reminded the House, “There is no question of retrospectivity, since there only existed the principal Act when the new government took office”.

He said too that within eight months that changed with the passage of several key amendments, four within a short time.

Williams questioned why a body corporate could not be charged and noted the need for a longer period to conduct extensive investigations by authorities.

Only recently, the AML/CFT legislation was utilised to take action against two Guyanese nationals both convicted in the United States of America for their involvement in a plot to cause an explosion at the John F Kennedy Airport, New York.

The order was effected by Minister within the Finance Ministry, Jaipaul Sharma on August 29.

The Ministerial Order, which has since been officially gazetted, is titled the “Targeted Financial Sanctions (Specified Persons) Order 2017”.

Under that Ministerial Order, it was noted that the two specified persons were identified as a result of being targeted for financial sanctions in accordance with a United Nations Security Council

President David Granger

Resolution #1373 and referred to under Guyana’s AML/CFT laws.

Abdul Kadir, a former People’s National Congress (PNC) Member of Parliament (MP), is currently incarcerated in a US penitentiary in Pennsylvania, as inmate #64656-0533. He is also identified by the moniker “Aubrey Michael Seaforth”.

Abdel Nur, also known as “Compton Eversley”, is incarcerated in a North Carolina State Federal Correctional Institution.

The 2007 JFK International Airport attack plot was an alleged Islamist terrorist plot to blow up a system of jet fuel supply tanks and pipelines that feed fuel to the Airport in Queens, New York.

These pipelines travel underground New York City in densely populated areas. The alleged plot was foiled when an undercover law enforcement official was recruited to the homegrown terrorist cell.

8 NEWS

tuesday, September 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS 3 separately charged, jailed for armed robberies

By Paula Gomes

M

onday’s session at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts saw a number of arraignments for the offence of armed robbery during the first half of the day.

A 33-year-old taxi driver attached to a popular city taxi service was slapped with a robbery charge which detailed that on September 2, 2017 at King Street, Georgetown, while in the company of another and armed with a gun, he relieved Colin Akra of gold and diamond jewellery valued at $950,000.

It is further alleged that Lester Joseph discharged a loaded firearm at the Virtual Complainant (VC) during the course of the robbery with intent to cause

him grievous bodily harm.

Joseph was also charged for being in possession of one .32 pistol and five rounds of matching ammunition without being the holder of a firearm licence at the said time.

The accused, who appeared unrepresented before the court of principal Magistrate Judy Latchman, pleaded not guilty to the charges which were read to him by the Magistrate and was remanded to prison on all counts.

Moreover, the accused told the court that he had a matter of unlawful wounding before a court in the North West District (Region One), a matter which Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves seemed oblivious of and the case was adjourned to September 25,

Single mother denies fraud charges Denise Lovell appeared unrepresented before the court of Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday morning to answer to two counts of fraudulently converting monies to an improper purpose, other than which was stipulated by the Virtual Complainant (VC).

The first charge reported that between February 1, 2017 and June 30, 2017, while being solely entrusted with some $125,000 cash by VC Rhonda James, in order that she may deposit same in James’ New Building Society bank account, the defendant fraudulently converted same to her own use and benefit.

In addition, between November 1, 2016 and June 30, 2017, the defendant converted to her own use the sum of $320,000, which she was instructed to deposit in James’ New Building Society savings account.

The 46-year-old woman denied the allegations and told the Magistrate that she was a single mother of two, permanently residing in Norton Street, Georgetown.

Bail was set at $150,000 for each charge, and the matter was adjourned to September 25, 2017 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

2017 while the authorities at the other end investigate what became of the case, which the defendant admitted that he had not been following.

Meanwhile, Dexter Ray, a construction worker of Agricola, Greater Georgetown, was remanded to prison when his lawyer’s submission for bail did not give rise to special reasons as to why same should be granted.

Ray also appeared before Magistrate Latchman, who read the charge which stated that on September 2, 2017, at Houston Public Road on the East Bank of Demerara, while in the company of others and armed with a gun, he robbed Roxanne John of a quantity of valuables and cash, a total of $50,000 while permanently depriving Mark Josiah of $25,000 in cash on the same day at the said location.

Finally, an East

Ruimveldt Housing Scheme labourer also found himself before the court of Magistrate Latchman for an offence of a similar nature.

Dellon McLean, a father of five, had reportedly robbed Shenetta Ann Boyce of gold jewellery valued $160,000 on North Road, in Bourda, Georgetown on September 5, 2017.

According to Prosecutor Gonsalves, the accused was positively identified by the victim during an identification parade even as his lawyer, Keoma Griffith, argued that his client claimed no knowledge of the allegation at hand.

The prosecution’s arguments of the seriousness, prevalence and penalty attached to the felonies formed the basis for the bail objection with respect to the named offences above.

The matters are all set to be continued on September 25, 2017.

Tuschen man charged for raping 17-year-old girl

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resident of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, was on Monday morning arraigned at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court charged with the rape of a 17-year-old girl.

Indrajeet Mootilall appeared before Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool and denied that he carried out the act.

The charge brought against him stated that he executed the act on November 22, 2016 in a village located in the West Demerara district.

The accused who had been on the run since the allegation was made

against him was apprehended by ranks on Friday.

The Virtual Complainant (VC) and the rape accused were known to each other prior to the incident.

The accused is vehemently denying that he raped the VC, and continues to claim that he had consensual sexual relations with her.

He is also accusing the VC’s grandparents of instigating her to make such a claim to the court.

Mootilall was granted $100,000 bail and was expected to make his next appearance on September 29, 2017.

Getting it right…

A …on our history

s you, Dear Reader, would know by now, your diligent Eyewitness reads all the dailies. It’s part of his job description. But he takes special care to read the Chronic – since it’s supported by his tax dollars.

Well, not TOTALLY…but you know!! And he expects the rag to do the right thing by all of us. So he was more than a bit taken aback when he read its editorial yesterday.

(Yes…your Eyewitness has to read even editorials!)

The editorial says we should know our history…

Now there’s nothing wrong about that. In fact, there’s everything good. But it then goes on to claim, “We have lost track of our identity and adopted other identities without understanding the fundamental core principles of the civilisations we want to emulate…(that of Britain and other Western countries). Now this is the kind of crock that’ll ensure we remain at the bottom of the ladder “from now to thy kingdom come”.

First of all, we have not “lost track of our identity”.

Our identities were literally beaten out of us with whips, racks, treadmills and hangings when we were denied our humanity and deemed slaves and indentured servants.

The identity injected into us during that period and afterwards by our “masters” was how to become good servants. Does the Chronic not see the loss of the colonial identity they mourn so poignantly was one intended to keep us in “our place”?

How can we be comfortable with forever trying to imitate our former masters? Aren’t we setting ourselves up for perpetual psychic damage since we can never BECOME them, but remain (dark) imitations? Even if we do our darndest (and Lord knows, our ancestors – and the present bow-tied UG Vice Chancellor – tried!!) weren’t the goalposts always moved? Was Burnham ever accepted by them even though he cultivated Churchill’s accent and wore jodhpurs when he rode a horse at Hope Estate to crack his whip at Civil Servants he’d dragged into the fields?

To emphasise how backward its thinking is, the Chronic insists, “The British lead us into the industrialisation age from the technology of mining bauxite, gold, etc.”!!! Can you believe this? Britain led us into the industrialisation age??! Even factually, it was locals who started gold mining in the 1890s and the US and Canada mined our bauxite – but never opened up an aluminium smelter.

And did England ever refine sugar here? Lord!! Did the Chronic’s editorial writer even read Rodney’s thesis of “underdevelopment”??

The Chronic should get a grip of the narrative it’s spewing. Even Burnham, personally twisted as he was, understood that our original humanity had to be regained.

…on alcohol

Minister Norton hinted his government might impose some sort of controls over the sale and distribution of alcohol in this country. And not a moment too soon. He mentioned the rising number of accidents committed by persons “Driving Under the Influence” (DUI) to justify the State’s intervention into what some may claim is a “private matter”.

But DUI’s just the tip of the iceberg. There’re the costs our free medical care incurs in dealing with all the ailments caused by alcohol consumption: cirrhosis, Steatosis, Alcoholic Hepatitis, and Fibrosis of the liver, Cardiomyopathy, Stroke Arrhythmias, high blood pressure. And let’s not talk about the brain and the loss of coordination during DUI. So shouldn’t we have warnings on bottles of alcohol like we do on cigarette packs? Shouldn’t we have greater penalties for DUI? Like seizing the cars of offenders after three strikes like they do in New York.

Or insisting the GRA observe the law and NOT issue liquor licences to all the “bottom house” bars springing up like jumbie umbrellas?

…in Police reform

Now that Prezzie’s indicated deep-seated reform of the Police hierarchy is imminent, could he also throw in the major reform that was the raison d’être of the Disciplined Forces Commission he sat on in 2003?

Ethnic proportionality in composition.

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

News

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TuesDAY, september 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

City Hall garbage woes

Pensioner killed in “Town Clerk, let us get it right!” – Mayor hit-and-run accident

A

…small contractors not aware of roles

T

he Georgetown municipality’s battle with garbage seems like a never-ending one and Mayor Patricia Chase Green has indicated that she is disappointed with the work of the new contractors and has called on Town Clerk Royston King to “get it right”.

“I am not satisfied with the way we are dealing with our commercial garbage, while we sent out notice and gave people 12-day notice, I have been receiving calls and complaints that the trucks passing, if the store owners have a box and a barrel, they move the barrel and leave the boxes. Then immediately after, the City Constabulary is charging and bring those persons before the court,” Chase Green said.

“Town Clerk, let us get it right! If we are saying we will collect garbage at 5 pm (17:00h) and then at 5:05 pm (17:05h), we can’t go charging people. We know fully well that the new garbage contractors are not aware of what is to happen. I am disappointed that people have to call me,” the Mayor added.

She made those comments at the Mayor and City Council’s statutory meeting on Monday at City Hall.

The Mayor explained that she was not satisfied with the level of service being delivered to residents in the city. She added that the Constabulary could not be arresting and charging business owners when the municipality was the one to be blamed for the ‘slack-up’.

She further explained that many of the business owners were frequenting her office as well as her telephone to make complaints about the failure of the garbage companies to pick their garbage and the subsequent charges.

Town Clerk Royston King

“I called the Solid Waste Director and the Town Clerk (informing them that) on many occasions that the trucks as they pass through they collect one drum, if you have three drums, they collect one drum and then tell you that you have to pay for the other two, which is unacceptable. They are only intended to do one pick-up per day through the streets of Georgetown. Town Clerk, that is unacceptable (that they only collect some of the garbage) and you have to call in these contractors and let them know their role,” she said.

On September 1, the M&CC implemented fees for commercial waste collection. Small business operators are required to pay a $5000 per month fee while medium businesses will contend with $8000 per month. Large business operators across Georgetown are required to pay the most significant figure of $12,000 per month for their waste collection.

Solid Waste Director Walter Narine had told the Council that while the originally approved fees for commercial garbage collection were $5000, $10,000 and $15,000, the latter two were reduced to $8000 and $12,000 after consultations.

The M&CC has long

been saying that it operates as a cash-strapped body and in many instances, work around the city has had to be halted, since the municipality was unable to pay workers and waste disposal service providers. Councillors heard Monday that salaries could not be paid.

Puran Brothers Disposal and Cevons Waste Management withdrew their services on July 30, 2017, as City Hall’s debts had risen to the multimillion-dollar range. According to the companies, the issue of non-payment has been a longstanding one, with many debts going as far back as 2015. Many Councillors at Monday’s statutory meeting commended themselves for keeping the city clean despite the withdrawal. A Councillor, however, noted reports that a truck (registration number provided) was going around and charging some residents $500 to empty their barrels – a service which currently attracts no additional fees for homeowners.

It was at a meeting with stakeholders in April 2017 that the Mayor informed the Council was cash-strapped; hence, she requested businesses to pay more for commercial waste disposal.

Mayor Chase Green had told the businesses that City Hall could not afford to keep up with the weekly amount of $1.8 million only to clear commercial waste.

Town Clerk King has in the past said that even if citizens paid all of their outstanding taxes, the Council would still fall short of enough money to cover everything it has to do.

King said the implementation of a new fee was in order because the service of waste disposal was a very expensive one that the Council could not afford at the moment. At that time, Councillor Kuppen had held

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green

out that the matter must be carried to a vote.

In July 2016, City Hall imposed a $25,000 container fee on container trucks each time they moved items across the city. After an uproar from the Private Sector, City Hall slashed the fee to $5000 as an interim measure after discussions with the M&CC and the Private Sector Commission.

Corentyne, Berbice pensioner was on Sunday evening killed after he was struck by a car that sped away from the scene.

Dead is Andre Buchhan, also called Nalvan Buchhan of Lot 51 Block 4, Tain, Corentyne.

At the time of the accident, the 68-year-old was heading to a friend’s home.

Reports are the pensioner was struck on the Tain, Berbice road during a power outage and as such, residents were unable to pinpoint the registration plate of the car.

Speaking with Guyana Times, the dead man’s brother, Michael Latchaya said that about 19:30h on Sunday, they were informed about the accident. He said when he arrived at the scene his brother was lying in a pool of blood in an unconscious state.

He was picked up and taken to the Port Mourant Hospital, where he was

Dead: Andre Buchhan, also called Nalvan Buchhan

pronounced dead on arrival. Upon making enquiries, Latchaya was told that the car sped away after hitting Buchhan.

Meanwhile, Police were able to obtain surveillance footage from a home in the area as they launch an investigation. Buchhan was the third of 14 siblings.

(Andrew Carmichael)

10 news

tuesday, September 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Gunmen attack, brutally beat Soesdyke family

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Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara (EBD) family had to be treated at the Diamond hospital following a severe beating at the hands of gunmen who invaded their place of business on Sunday.

Reports are that the incident occurred around 15:00h when the three unmasked armed men entered the Sharman General Store.

Guyana Times was told by A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) Commander Marlon Chapman that the men entered through the garage of the business place, which is located close to the Linden-Soesdyke Highway junction.

This publication was made to understand that the men entered the premises where the businesswoman and her son, along with others, were at the time.

Pointing guns, the men started to ransack the business place after which they ordered the family to hand over the valuables.

When they failed to comply, the gunmen used their weapons to beat the family members.

Following the beating, the men or-

Dem extremists, propagandists and hero-worshippers deh pon am again!

I

The businesswoman and her son following the incident (Romel Roopnarine photo)

dered the family to lie on the floor after which they escaped the scene in a white Toyota Premio motor car with an undisclosed amount of cash along with jewellery and electronics.

The Police were called to the scene

and the family members were rushed to the hospital.

Commander Chapman revealed that no one has been arrested, but the Police are continuing their investigations.

Loo Creek accident

Kitty woman succumbs to injuries

T

hirty-four-year-old Cindy Moore of Lot 141 Danrade Street, Newtown, Georgetown, is now dead following a motor vehicle accident, which occurred along the LindenSoesdyke Highway on Sunday evening.

Information reaching Guyana Times indicate that at the time of the incident, Moore, along with five relatives, all of the same address, was a passenger on board motor car PTT 5964 when the car experienced

a flat tyre. The car was reportedly travelling from Linden to Georgetown along the western side of the roadway, when its rear right wheel suffered a blow-out in the vicinity of the Loo Creek Public Road, LindenSoesdyke Highway, at approximately 18:30h.

The car, which was driven by 29-year-old Carlton Ferrel, reportedly toppled before ending up in nearby bushes. Moore was rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) in critical

condition, and succumbed to her injuries on Monday morning. The other occupants of the car, including 58-year-old Loretta Philadelphia, six-yearold Michael Benjamin, 14-year-old Dequan Gibson, 25-year-old Denzel Hyman and 15-year-old Pierre Browne all suffered minor injuries and were also admitted to the medical institution and later discharged. Police investigations into the accident are ongoing.

Miner hospitalised following suspected shooting

A

resident of Coomacka, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) is now a patient at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) following a suspected shooting incident, which occurred on Sunday at Five Miles, Ituni access road, Region 10.

The victim, Andrew Couchman, a miner of Coomacka Mines, was reportedly discovered by a passer-by along the “Ituni trail" with two suspected gunshot wounds to his back.

The 25-year-old reportedly told investigators that he was walking along the trail when he heard an explosion and then felt a burning sensation in the lower part of his back. He was picked up along the said trail and transported in a vehicle to the LHC, where he was admitted. He is said to be in stable condition awaiting surgery.

E Division (LindenKwakwani) acting Commander, Superintendent Anthony Vanderhyden noted that while the victim had "two impressions on his back" suspected to be gunshot wounds, the cause of the wounds would be determined following the surgery.

"We have to wait until (he does) the surgery to know if they find any war heads or so forth,” the acting Commander noted. He added that Police investigations were ongoing and that Police have since revisited the alleged scene of the crime.

f you have not noticed, may I inform you that there has been an unctuous switch among the mollycoddle extremists, predatory propagandists, and the surfeit of supporters of this regime from hero-worshipping to undulating criticisms? Such a political chameleon is most welcoming. It is better to be late than never.

What is amusing, however, is that when reading the commentaries of these people above, some self-claimed activists and some supporting activists like themselves (active inbreeding), one could only be convinced that if the moral and practical failings of the regime’s maniacal leadership have not been obvious, they would have obfuscate the truth.

Is it really news that this regime has been engulfed in ineptitude and buffoonery? Does it matter who is saying this? Is it really news that some who have supported this regime are now criticizing it? Does it matter who is criticizing the regime? Some in the tabloids and state newspapers have begged for forgiveness when the regime called them out for critiquing it. I feel sorry for those stabled commentators. They will Dr Lomarsh Roopnarine write and say everything else, except for taking an introspective look at themselves and challenging their macabre owners. They are trapped in a leash of life.

Wouldn’t it be more convincing news if the above individuals mentioned the genuflected role they have played in helping to shape and support some policies of this regime? In any confident and functioning democracy, these individuals would have been relegated to the dust bin of politics. But in Guyana, these individuals have a say because they had manipulated the voters through their twisted writings and campaigns to vote for this regime, and so there is now a saturated situation in which a desperate regime is relying on desperate individuals to achieve desperate outcomes.

Is this ploy working? Maybe. Has the nation become more aware of this ploy? Absolutely. I suggest that these cryptic commentators apologize to the public for egging on this regime on an unrealistic and unreasonable path.

History has revealed that these stabled individuals have been on their knees praising the 100 days’ manifesto through a groundswell of desperation, and have refused parsing the most political propaganda pamphlet in post-independence Guyana. Remember this pamphlet swayed undecided voters to its side. Certainly, these individuals have denied witch-hunting from this regime. Certainly, these individuals have denied that the regime has engaged in corruption. They call incompetence and corruption mistakes. I say au contraire, what a folly? Certainly, these individuals have denied that SARU and SOCU are the protective and prosecuting arm and organ of the regime, designed to ridicule everyone else except those in coalition regime. Certainly these individuals have not seen the negative impact of regime’s policies towards agriculture and Guyana rural community. I describe their action as an irredeemable blot on rural happiness. Even more pathetic is that these commonality of commentators (they share a mutuality of problems as opposed to a community of one voice) have earned the reputation for being Georgetown centric, malleable, and flaccid when commenting beyond urban areas. I support Federalism to root out this myopic urban centralism.

When the above denials and problems are lumped together and de minimis with regard to significance and importance, we have not only a dereliction of duty from the regime, but also a dereliction of responsibility from commentators who are determined to put their limited creditability on line. In the school of journalism, this is called loose cannon mentality. My message to them to correct this slick and sleek behaviour might be too late, since some have already been metastasized into a daily and weekly riff-raff of musings. To them, if you support the opposition, you have no place in Guyana’s political space. What these individuals have missed so baldly is that the now opposition has always been effective and affective when in the opposition. The opposition used up 28 of its 51 years of post-independence existence to remove the most notorious dictatorship in the English-speaking Caribbean. The opposition, when in power, spent more than 12 of its 23 years to dismantle 28 years of dictatorship. Some have taken this battle for granted. Some have denied it ever happened. Some have pushed it under the rug.

Nonetheless, history will show that this battle was a remarkable achievement, at least to show that political office is seasonal, and not for life.

What seems now to be on the cards is that the nation has been catching on to the sensational defence of the PNC-led regime, but sadly some have also become enervating and demoralized. I understand. We really never expect this repeated dose of history from the worst political left-overs in Guyana’s post-independence period. Even the pre-independence colonialists are preferred to those in power now.

Perhaps I am enabling the extremists by publishing this writeup. Maybe. I am guided by the thought that the extremists are misinforming the public. If they claim they know so much (soi-disant or self-proclaimed experts) about the current situation in Guyana, namely that the media has now turned on the regime, they must know of other controversial things and events going on in gov’t; or have they become laggard and incapacitated by their own selfinterests? I think they are victims of the above twin circumstances.

I rather see these individuals riding a donkey on the road around Parliament than to see them appearing on television and writing opinion pieces on how they are experts on Guyana. (lomarsh. roopnarine@jsums.edu).

news

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tuesDAY, september 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Police intensify hunt for “Smallie” – Commander The Commander said that Police were looking at various possibilities.

“It (the operation) is intel-driven and we have a posture in place,” Hicken pointedly stated.

It is believed that “Smallie” is still in Guyana and is moving along the coast and through the backlands. As such, Joint Services ranks are stationed throughout the country to recapture the murder convict who was sentenced to death along Mark Royden Williams or Mark Royden Durant

A

s Police intensify operations to capture the alleged mastermind of the July 9 Camp Street jailbreak and prison fire, Assistant Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken has disclosed that investigators were not ruling out the possibility that the fugitive could still be in or around Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

Two months ago, in an escape bid, prisoners set the penitentiary on fire, resulting in it eventually being flattened and prison officer Odinga Wickham being killed.

The alleged mastermind, Mark Royden Durant, called “Smallie”, and his surviving accomplice, Cobena Stephens, called OJ, remain on the loose. On September 1, ex-Policeman Uree Varswyck was killed in an exchange of gunfire at Linden moments after being spotted with Durant, also called Mark Royden Williams.

Commander Hicken, who also functions as Head of (Police) Operations, was questioned by reporters on Monday about the efforts to recapture the wanted man.

prison breakout at Lusignan, Paul Goriah remains on the run. However, he is not believed to be moving with “Smallie”.

Durant and Varswyck were seen in the Central Amelia’s Ward area of Linden, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice), a short distance away from the Amelia’s Ward Police Outpost. When members of the Joint Services had approached their hideout, on September 1, the wanted men opened fire. Ranks returned fire, killing Varswyck.

Williams, however, made good his escape.

A 9mm pistol with 40 live rounds, a haversack and cloth bag containing medication, a gas mask, military camouflage clothing, toiletries and a cellular phone were all found when Police retrieved Varswyck’s body.

In late August, ex-cop and Linden resident, Teon Allen 31, had pleaded not

Lusignan escapee Paul Goriah

with Dennis “Anaconda” Williams for the 2008 Bartica Massacre. Hicken stressed that operations were being carried out across the land to recapture the elusive convict.

“The exchange was in Linden and he was with Varswyck [and] we are not ruling out the possibility that he’s still in Linden and we are not ruling out the possibility that he’s not in Linden. We have our postures throughout the length and breadth of the country just in case,” the Assistant Commissioner observed.

Apart from Williams and Stephens, another prisoner, who escaped in a separate

Cobena Stephens called OJ

guilty to the charge of sheltering fugitives – Williams and Varswyck. He was remanded and was scheduled to next appear in court on September 28. Meanwhile, the hunt for the three remaining escapees continues.

Gunmen hijack taxi in Kitty G

unmen on Sunday assaulted a 65-year-old taxi driver, after which they carted off a Toyota Premio which he hired to operate as a taxi and some of his possessions at Kitty Public Road, Georgetown.

Reports are that the incident occurred around 12:45h on Sunday, just as Percey Busey, a driver attached to Eddy’s Taxi Service, had arrived in Kitty in the car bearing registration PRR 3295, to pick up a passenger.

Busey, in an interview with Guyana Times, said that he was at the time reversing on the Kitty roadway while awaiting the arrival of his passenger when two men pounced on him.

He said one of the men was carrying a gun.

The traumatised taxi driver went on to say that one of the men held a gun to his head and threatened to shoot him if he did not comply with their demands while the other opened the door and attempted to drag him out by his collar.

Refusing to leave the car, Busey questioned the intentions of the hijackers, resulting in the gunman dealing him a blow to his mouth, using the handle of the weapon.

Eventually, the driver surrendered and exited the car. However, after gaining access to the vehicle, the

duo then insisted that he get into the back seat, but he managed to escape leaving his possessions behind.

It was then that the hijackers drove off with the car.

Following the incident, a report was made to the Police.

This report comes just weeks after the Guyana Police Force (GPF) had issued an official warning, calling on drivers, especially those operating taxis in the capital city, to be on the lookout for carjackers.

In the advisory, the GPF urged that all taxi drivers, especially those operating Toyota Allion and Toyota Premio motor cars, to “be on the alert for potential hijackers”. It was further disclosed that the attackers have been hiring cabs in Georgetown under the pretext of wanting transportation and “upon arrival at their requested locations, the drivers are

robbed of their personal belongings as well as their motor cars,” the statement noted.

Just last month, another elderly taxi driver was relieved of his silver Toyota Premio and a quantity of cash in a similar manner.

This publication previously reported that after hiring a car at Robb Street, Georgetown, an unidentified young woman lured the taxi driver into a trap, where he was greeted at their destination with a man carrying a gun.

Walter Sanmoogan, 60, of Lot 157 Section B Nonpareil, East Coast Demerara, left with a passenger sometime after 16:00h and upon arrival in D’Urban Backlands, he was stripped of his possessions and forced to abandon his car. Sanmoogan’s vehicle is yet to be retrieved.

12 news

tuesDAY, september 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

PM says constitutional reform Biker dies in South Ruimveldt still top priority W accident …pillion rider in critical condition

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biker was on Monday killed on Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown after he lost control of his motorcycle during an alleged race.

Dead is Sunil Samaroo, 23, of Kaneville, Grove, East Bank Demerara. Injured was pillion rider 24-yearold Keitze Bazilo of Lot 33 Howes Street, Charlestown, Georgetown.

Reports reaching Guyana Times stated that Samaroo, who was riding an unregistered motorcycle, along with pillion rider Bazilo, was alleged to have been racing with two other motorcyclists, all proceeding east along Aubrey Barker Road. However, upon reaching the vicinity of the Tucville Bridge, the now dead man lost control of the motorcycle causing him and his passenger to be tossed to the road.

Given the speed in which

they were proceeding, the duo wiped out on the surface of the roadway and as a result, sustained severe injuries.

Following the accident, the two were rushed to the Woodlands Hospital. The biker was pronounced dead on arrival. However, Bazilo remains in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the private institution, with her condition listed as critical.

An investigation has been launched.

This report comes one day after a 21-year-old electrician succumbed to injuries sustained in a similar accident after his motorcycle crashed into a parked forklift at the side of the road. Kevin Singh of Hague Backdam, West Coast Demerara (WCD), is now dead while his girlfriend Verna Wells, the pillion rider, was at the Georgetown Public Hospital in an unconscious state.

hile pointing out that the Government is still committed to ensuring that constitutional reform remains a top priority, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo reminded the public on Monday that draft legislation on the Constitutional Reform Bill was tabled in the National Assembly before the recess.

Nagamootoo has said that this would pave the way for the establishment of a Constitutional Reform Consultative Commission to guide this long overdue process, noting that the Committee was a bipartisan one that would hopefully push this matter more quickly through Parliament.

“I am trying to remove myself as a politician and a representative of the Executive from the process by putting it at the parliamentary floor,” he said on Monday to the media, while explaining that the process could be fast tracked given that the Committee has a balance of politicians from both sides.

The Prime Minister said too that he would support organisations like Reform, Inform, Sustain Educate (RISE) Guyana, which are interested in educating the citizenry on the importance of constitutional reform and what changes that could bring about for Guyana as a whole.

“You need to have organisations in Guyana that can go down to the grassroots to tell people that your life is linked to the Constitution and it matters very much if there is constitutional reform that will bring some change to your system of

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

governance,” he said.

RISE Guyana, a non-profit organisation, had announced that it would be embarking on a countrywide push for reforming Guyana’s Constitution over the next two years, and said its members were free to engage in active politics with any party of their choice.

Established in June, the group of free-thinkers plans to establish groups across the country and consult with Guyanese to ascertain their basic concerns and the types of constitutional reforms they would like to see to address those concerns.

Meanwhile, Nagamootoo also noted that the Constitution of Guyana was inherited and there were some features of it that could be exploited to build authoritarian structures, and given Guyana’s potential to become a wealthy country, with the emerging oil sector, this should never be encouraged.

The move to have the bill debated at a parliamentary select committee level is seen as a major step to assist with constitutional reform, something that the

coalition Government promised during its election campaign to deliver.

According to the draft bill, the Consultative Commission will be made up of 15 members. The establishment of this Commission will allow for some 100 countrywide public consultations.

The bill allows for President David Granger to appoint two constitutional law experts. Eleven of the other members will be nominated each from the parliamentary parties; trade union movement; organisations represent-

ing Guyanese youths; the Guyana Bar Association; the Guyana Association of Women Lawyers; Christian, Muslim, and Hindu organisations and the National Toshaos’ Council.

The bill states that if any entity fails to make a nomination, the President shall appoint a member to represent that entity after due consultation.

The six criteria for selecting members of the Commission shall include experience, knowledge of Guyana’s Constitution, commitment, academic expertise, and practical expertise.

Further, the Commission will be tasked with assisting the Standing Committee in the Committee’s review of how effectively Guyana’s Constitution has been working and to ascertain the views of Guyanese through consultations in the 10 Administrative Regions.

The Consultative Commission on Constitutional Reform will be funded from the Consolidated Fund, and donations and contributions from international agencies.

2 slapped with narco trafficking charge A ‘bahir’ (cook) who was reportedly nabbed with 17 grams of cannabis was on Monday hauled before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to answer to a narcotics trafficking charge.

Ruschelle Azore, who was employed with a mining company in the Mahdia area in Region Eight (Potaro-

Siparuni), was allegedly busted with 17 grams of cannabis at the Sherima Police Checkpoint in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) during routine checks of passengers aboard a motor vehicle on September 7, 2017.

The woman denied the allegation and was remanded to prison in absence of special circumstances advanced by herself or defence counsel.

Meanwhile, Stephan Banwarne, 41, pleaded not guilty to an offence alleging that on September 8, 2017, at the said checkpoint, he was in possession of 63 grams of cannabis for trafficking purposes.

Defence Attorney Tiffany Jeffery related that her client has a fixed place of abode in Triumph, East Coast Demerara, and contended that the alleged drug was found in the tray of a truck occupied by at least 11 persons in addition to her client. Jeffery also asserted that her client who is “barely literate” was instructed to sign a caution statement, whose content he was ignorant of.

Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore objected to bail, informing the court that the prohibited substance was found in the “pants crotch” of the accused.

Bail was refused for both cases and the defendants will remain incarcerated until September 20, 2017, when the matter is expected to be called at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

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tuesDAY, september 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Hurricane Irma relief effort

Govt pledges initial US$50,000 to regional relief effort …Opposition urges immediate assistance to affected Guyanese

I

n light of the massive destruction that has taken place in many Caribbean territories owing to Hurricane Irma, Government has pledged an initial sum of US$50,000 to aid urgent relief efforts through Caricom’s regional mechanism, which is coordinated by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) in partnership with the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon told a special meeting convened at the boardroom of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) in Georgetown on Monday that this was agreed to following a high-level meeting convened by President David Granger at State House earlier in the day. He said further assistance would be determined subsequent to the completion of a needs assessment.

Harmon, who has responsibility for disaster relief, noted that needs assessments were being conducted at the regional level and added that regular situation reports were being monitored as Guyana continued to work with the Region to ensure a coordinated response.

He said the President has also mandated a comprehensive response to the needs of Guyanese citizens who are residing in the affected territories.

At the meeting, some members of the PSC sought to find out whether there was a need to have a recognisance team on the ground

Officials of Government, the Private Sector and international donor agencies gathered on Monday to craft a plan to assist hurricanehit countries in the Caribbean

in some of those affected islands to assist with a more proper needs assessment, but Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo did not forcefully object to the idea. He said at this point the Government would prefer to work with the CDEMA in its relief efforts.

Nagamootoo, who is heading a Ministerial Task Force that will be responsible for oversight of the efforts of the Civil Defence Commission's (CDC) National Risk Reduction Platform, which has since been activated, said too that both CDEMA and the CDC have the experience and knowledge to gather such information, and based on that, Guyana would continue to respond to the needs.

Assistance

In a statement issued on Monday, Opposition Leader

Bharrat Jagdeo urged Government to immediately initiate steps to provide assistance to evacuate Guyanese living on the affected islands, who are so desirous of being evacuated, noting that the extent of damage was insurmountable. “…buildings flattened and thousands of people without access to water, food and proper shelter.

Hurricane Irma has practicably reduced some of these islands to ground zero. It is, therefore, incumbent upon the Government of Guyana to take immediate action,” he said.

The Prime Minister at that meeting also raised concerns about the safety of Guyanese nationals in these Caribbean territories ravaged by Hurricane Irma. “We want to reach out to them…

The Task Force, first and foremost, will try to access information about the number of Guyanese affected and the places where they are affected and to make general appeals to Guyanese in the Caribbean to get in touch with the Consulates in those areas or in other parts, where they can access Consulate services. We need the information as to Guyanese who may want to be evacuated or who may want assistance at this point in time of a specific nature,” the Prime Minister explained.

He also informed that over the next few days, strenuous efforts would be made to keep an open line of communication to ensure that relatives of those residing in hurricane-hit zones were provided with the necessary information regarding their

Bicycle patrols for city

A

s the Guyana Police Force continues with efforts to boost crime-fighting initiatives, ranks on pedal cycles will be placed throughout the city and other sections of A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) A simple ceremony was held at the Tactical Services Unit (TSU) Square at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary on Monday for the junior ranks who completed a rigorous one-week training course on operating the bicycles to fight crime. Assistant Police Commissioner and Head of Operations, Clifton Hicken told reporters that the bicycles were lighter, easier to handle and better to move through the congested capital city.

“It’s easier to handle, it has cushions …and there are some drills that were done that can enable the bicycle riders to effect arrest without any harm. Having gone through the necessary training, we thought it necessary to establish the bicycle patrols now,” he related.

The Operations Head indicated that 25 bicycles were allotted to A Division

Cops on bikes: Ranks at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary on Monday

while C Division (East Coast Demerara) will have 18. The Commanders of the seven Police Divisions will determine how many of the 170 donated bicycles they require.

“I think this initiative is timely and it is always good to maintain what we have, so we have developed a maintenance policy so that the bikes can be taken care of,” Hicken noted. He underscored that this initiative would allow

the Police to have better interaction with members of the public, adding too that the Force initiated Team Policing initiatives which can boost intelligence operations.

“The bicycles help Police to navigate easier through the traffic and it helps members of the public to have easy access to the Police because they can flag down Police on a bicycle as against a police riding with speed on

a motorcycle or a car,” he noted.

Twelve ranks, including four from the City Constabulary, received training in Las Vegas, Nevada last year. Apart from the 170 bicycles given to Police, 30 were given to the Constabulary.

The overall donation, worth US$145,000, was made in support of Guyana’s Community Outreach Programme by the US Embassy.

loved ones.

Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge said that Cuba has better infrastructure than many of the other Caribbean countries and noted that from current reports, the Ministry has no reason to believe that scholarship students were in any danger or have suffered in any alarming way. Nevertheless, the Ministry will be setting up a portal on its website to facilitate communication between those affected and their fami-

lies as well as the authorities in Guyana.

Lack of communication is one of the major difficulties that the regional response effort faces. Minister Greenidge explained that while there was a basic framework of communication such as Honorary Consuls, Ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives, the storm has ravaged communications infrastructure, especially in places like St Martin, St Barts and Barbuda.

During the meeting, suggestions were made to have a bank account set up to allow persons to donate funds towards relief efforts. While the PSC was open to the idea of sending building materials, food and water and other essential supplies, it has asked Government to find out if these items could be transported to some of these affected countries via air or sea. Recommendations were also made to have the Guyana Power and Light Inc and GTT be put on standby to assist. One businessman also came forward, stating his willingness to donate prefab homes to Barbuda’s rebuilding efforts.

British woman found dead in NA house …suicide suspected

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British woman was on Sunday evening found dead at a house in New Amsterdam, Berbice.

The 50-year-old Dajee Sarah Rosemary, also called Rosie Dajee, an accounts assistant at Admin Re Alico, was discovered hanging from the ceiling of a house at Pope Street, New Amsterdam with a phone cord around her neck.

The discovery was made about 19:30h by her friend and co-worker Jessica Grumble with whom she came to Guyana two weeks ago for a three-week vacation.

According to reports, about one week ago, Rosemary started acting strangely. On one occasion, she told Grumble’s mother, who is a Guyanese also home on vacation, that she was getting married to a local photographer.

Rosemary had also reportedly requested to take Grumble on a trip to the Kaieteur Falls. However, Grumble’s mother did not allow it, reportedly saying that the weather was too bad.

On Saturday, however, Rosemary said she was leaving the country and requested a ride to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) for a late-night flight.

However, at the Airport,

Dead: Dajee Sarah Rosemary

it was discovered that her name was not listed on any flight, but in an effort to assist the airline clerk asked Rosemary for her passport, but she reported that she could not find her passport.

She was taken back to New Amsterdam.

Around 19:30h on Sunday, Rosemary’s friend made the horrific discovery and an alarm was raised.

The matter was reported to the Police, who examined the body.

The body was transported to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

Meanwhile, B Division (Berbice) Commander, Assistant Commissioner Paul Williams said that an investigation has been launched.

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tuesDAY, september 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Corentyne family homeless after suspected arson

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Corentyne, Berbice family is appealing to the public for help after members lost everything when a fire suspected to be arson razed their two-bedroom wooden house.

Savatrie Seegobin, 49, of Lot 64 Section G Alness, Corentyne, says she barely escaped the raging flames unhurt.

She told Guyana Times that on Friday last, she was awakened by a cracking sound and heat. She said when she opened her eyes, most of the building was in flames. She recalled that at the time only one of the children was at home and she was able to grab his hand and flee.

“All over was fire and we barely make it out.

Even the fowls which were in a pen under the house

that bun up…” the mother of seven stated.

Seegobin is seeking refuge at her eldest daughter’s home in Fyrish, Corentyne village.

In tears, Seegobin’s 23-year-old daughter appealed to the public to assist her mother.

According to Seegobin, she will accept any assistance she can receive.

“Bucket, school clothes, things to build back the house… anything I will be thankful for,” Seegobin said with tears in her eyes.

Savatrie Seegobin

also die. All they (her children’s) school clothes and everything bun up. They had two shelf that full with books that Ah had to buy for dem go to school; all

Earlier threats Seegobin explained that her 53-year-old husband had earlier threatened to burn the house. She said it was not the first time he had made such threats.

She recalled that last

The home which was destroyed

Thursday they had a fight shortly before he was expected to leave for sea.

Meanwhile, the Guyana

Fire Service is still investigating the fire.

Seegobin says anyone or organisation wishing to of-

fer any form of assistance can make contact with her on 653-2003.

CDB approves US$200,000 for territories ravaged by Irma

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he Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) on Monday announced that five island nations in the Caribbean would benefit from Emergency Relief Grants to the sum of US$200,000 each as they continue to rebuild in the wake of disaster.

The territories slated to benefit are Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The CDB said that these grants would assist the

Loans” of up to US$750,000 to the affected countries.

The Loans, available on highly concessionary terms, are designed to support the clearing and cleaning of areas damaged by Hurricane Irma, and the emergency restoration of services.

CDB President, Dr William Warren Smith stressed that the Bank was committed to providing assistance to those affected by Irma.

“We reaffirm our support for our BMCs [Borrowing Member Countries] affected by this devastating hur-

Barbuda was left uninhabitable after Irma swept through the island last week

of Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, and St Kitts and Nevis. Additional payouts are expected in relation to water damage from flooding and storm surges.

As Irma passed through the US state of Florida, the

hurricane was downgraded to Tropical Storm status. The National Hurricane Centre announced on Thursday evening that the storm was packing winds of 50 miles per hour as it prepared itself to move through several

south-eastern states on the North American continent.

The storm has killed over 38 persons thus far, including overseas-based Guyanese Derrek Ragnauth, who perished as the storm ravaged the British Virgin Islands.

Govt cognisant of far-reaching...

Hurricane Irma moves through the southern United States

countries with costs associated with damage assessments and the provision and transportation of emergency relief supplies, water and sanitation resources, roofing materials for emergency shelters and community buildings, and temporary shelter for displaced persons.

The Bank stated that it has approved a fast-tracked grant of US$150,000 to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to assist with preparations for mobilising and coordinating disaster relief. The CDB added that it has also offered “Immediate Response

ricane. We very much regret the loss of life and infrastructure, and pledge to help the Governments and people of the impacted countries recover and rebuild in any way we possibly can,” he pointed out.

The CDB said that the loans and grants were awarded to the CDB’s BMCs. The affected countries are also eligible to receive Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Loans.

“This instrument helps Governments with their recovery efforts, to rehabilitate social and economic infrastructure, and restore key economic sectors to better than pre-disaster oper-

ating levels. The Loans also assist in reducing countries’ vulnerability to future disasters as countries work on assessing the damage caused by Irma, CDB is also engaging development partners in discussions and planning for additional recovery and rehabilitation support,” the CDB said in an official statement on Monday.

It was further noted that the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility, a segregated portfolio company and partner of the CDB, announced last week that it would make payouts of US$15.6 million on its ‘tropical cyclone policies’ to the Governments

“For decades women have been fighting the stereotypical perception that they should not seek careers that may not suit their social status. However, the Ministry remains resolved to continue and not hinder the work that we have begun regarding gender parity because of pregnancy and motherhood,” she acknowledged.

In light of this, Ally said Government remained committed to ensuring that all sectors work better for women; equal access to gainful employment; the provision of equal terms of conditions for women, safe working conditions and the full participation of women in the economy which is vital to achieving sustainable development in Guyana.

Only last week, the Government through the Ministry of the Presidency issued a statement distancing itself from comments

made by Minister Scott, who has responsibility for labour relations. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said on Thursday that there was no policy position approved by Cabinet whereby there was to be a ban on any female working at a security service at night. “As far as the Government is concerned, we have had no debate on the matter,” he explained.

Harmon said Senior Social Protection Minister Ally would have to take a paper to Cabinet for deliberation.

Until such time, the situation with regard to the issue remains as it is and that means woman will continue to work either day or night and there is no restriction on them.

The Minister indicated that Government, instead, was calling on security companies to acknowledge and recognise that there were special conditions under which women should work

from page 2

and, therefore, those facilities for women should also be acknowledged and recognised by security firms.

Several women rights activists, including head of Red Thread Karen DeSouza, have come out to criticise the move, stating that it was misguided and did not represent the true meaning of protection of women rights. The award-winning activist told this newspaper in a recent interview that this move could be viewed as Government attempting to abdicate its responsibility to private companies.

The Guyana Association of Private Security Organisations (GAPSO) has also come out to condemn the proposed policy and stated that Minister Scott’s choice to selectively dismantle and target single mothers within the private security sector was a “cruel and arbitrary attack” on the sector.

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tuesDAY, september 12, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IAC joins nationwide fight against suicide …in commemoration of World Suicide Prevention Day 2017

By Ashraf Dabie

T

he Indian Action Committee (IAC), in collaboration with a number of local organisations, on Sunday pledged support to the nationwide fight against suicide by staging an awareness walk and sensitisation session in the community of Better Hope, East Coast Demerara.

This is as Guyana joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Suicide Prevention Day 2017, observed on Sunday under the theme, “Take a minute, change a life”.

Recognising the need for collective efforts aimed at tackling this social ill which has been plaguing the country, more so in recent years, the IAC thought it best to play its part in suicide prevention, especially in light of the international occasion. As such, the committee entered into a partnership with the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) of Better Hope/La Boone Intention (LBI), along with other institutions such as the Rajiv Gandhi University of Science and Technology and the Greenheart Medical School in organising and executing a Suicide Prevention Walk followed by an interactive awareness session.

The Walk kicked off at the entranceway of Massy Distributors (Guyana),

Representatives of the IAC and other organisations took to the streets to participate in the suicide prevention and awareness walk on Sunday

Starlight Square, Montrose, ECD and took the group of marchers up the ECD highway into the Better Hope Community Centre Ground.

The suicide prevention activists then gathered at the Community Centre Ground along with scores of members of the Better Hope Community as the IAC conducted an awareness session, which saw presentations being delivered by a number of advocates, including representatives from the Committee, religious leaders, political leaders and medical practitioners.

Kick-starting the proceedings on Sunday was an executive member of the IAC, media personnel Neaz Subhan, who commended

the efforts of those in attendance for joining in the fight against suicide in Guyana.

He further thanked the Better Hope/LBI NDC for taking up the mantle and not only facilitating the hosting of this event but participating in the much-needed efforts as well.

On that note, Subhan pointed out that the IAC was of the belief that suicide should be declared a national priority, in order to place the necessary emphasis on this social ill. This, he noted, would ensure that more focus and research will be directed towards the cause, resulting in a decrease in death rates, with the hope of suicide cases eventually being eradicated.

Echoing the sentiments of the IAC representative was the Vice President of the hosting NDC, Jagnarine Singh, who expressed delight in the staging of such an event for the benefit of the community members of Better Hope and its environs.

Singh highlighted that most suicide cases could be attributed to dire circumstances that may lead someone to take their own life.

However, in doing so, he emphasised that no matter how difficult a situation could be, there was always a better alternative and that was the choice to live.

With that, the NDC’s Vice Chairman urged those in attendance to value the

possibilities of life while encouraging the gathering to always be willing to lend a helping hand or ear to those in a vulnerable state and in need of assistance, rather than allowing those persons to add to the statistics.

Meanwhile, also addressing the gathering was the Reverend John O’Connor, a visiting activist attached to the McMaster University in Canada. O’Connor, in his presentation, posited that the high suicide rate in Guyana was owed to the fact that Guyanese, especially youths, could easily access lethal poisons, such as pesticides.

As such, the Reverend is calling on the relevant authorities to institute an im-

mediate ban on highly dangerous chemical pesticides, positing that such action will see a massive decrease in persons committing suicide, simply by removing one of the main means used in Guyana.

The Suicide Prevention Walk and awareness session also allowed for the celebration of the decline of the suicide rate in Guyana, removing the country as the proclaimed suicide capital of the world. Only recently, the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) had announced that Guyana, which once recorded a suicide rate of 44 per cent (one of the highest and most alarming rates around the globe), has managed to lessen the prevalence of this major social ill to 29 per cent.

This evidently significant drop is only as a result of a widespread campaign on the prevention of suicide in Guyana, for which organisations such as the IAC and other institutions stand in high praise.

However, despite the major accomplishment, the presenters at Sunday’s event are all calling for the continued commitment of the public, underling that suicide prevention was not only the concern of the Government or select organisations but there was a need for countrywide efforts to achieve this mission.

GLDA Hatchery allowing farmers to increase their production base ‒ over 408,000 ducklings produced thus far for 2017

T

he Guyana Livestock D e v e l o p m e n t Authority (GLDA) has thus far produced 408,000 ducklings for 2017, surpassing the 2016 figure of 400,000 as it moves to be the source for farmers increasing their production base.

Genetic Improvement Specialist of the GLDA, Dr Robin Austin, who was at the time updating Agriculture Minister Noel Holder spoke of the progress made by the Hatchery and the positive results achieved by farmers.

He noted that last year, the Hatchery recorded close to 400,000 ducklings and thus far, the institution has surpassed its target while paving the way for farmers to access quality ducklings.

“The work of the GLDA Hatchery has increased significantly as it continues to make a significant contribution to the advancement of the industry,” Dr Austin said.

The GLDA Hatchery Department has been facilitating farmers in the use of the facility at a cost of $100 per egg, or based on the number successfully hatched.

Agriculture Minister Holder, while touring the facility, spoke of his satisfaction with the work done by

the GLDA, in ensuring that the Authority became independent and generated an

Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that we maintain a high level of service,” the

ensure that farmers practise proper husbandry, and maintained a ratio of female

The Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA)

“It is important for us to sensitise farmers on issues such as these if there are to be an increase in their pro-

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder being briefed on the operations of the GLDA Hatchery

income.

He added that thus far, duckling production has experienced positive growth of more than 90 per cent and encouraged the management of the Authority to continue to strive for higher growth rate.

“Many farmers, primarily single parents, from all parts of the country utilise the services of the GLDA Hatchery; hence, the efforts of the

Minister was quoted as saying by the Department of Public Information.

The eggs, after being collected from farmers, are fumigated after which they undergo the process to become ducklings.

Hatchery Manager designate, Dr Mariel Savory stated that the GLDA did not only provide the hatchery services, but made use of its extension officers who would

Ducklings at the GLDA

ducks (hens) to male ducks (drakes) which contributed to fertility.

duction and productivity... since we have introduced these services to farmers, we (GLDA) have seen a signif-

icant increase in the number of new farmers as well as production,” Dr Savory said.

The GLDA Hatchery produces approximately 8500 ducklings on a hatching day.

Of that amount, 600 are from farmers while the remaining eggs are from the GLDA. The Authority also retails ducklings to the public at a subsidised cost of $250 with a waiting period of two weeks.

Annually, the GLDA Hatchery records an increase in production during the January-April period. It is estimated that the ducklings produced at the hatchery yields over one million pounds of duck meat per year.

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tuesDAY, september 12, 2017

Regional

Mexico rushes aid to millions after UN rights boss sees possible “crimes against powerful quake; death toll at 96 humanity” in Venezuela A

T

he United Nations human rights chief said on Monday that Venezuelan security forces may have committed crimes against humanity against protesters and called for an international investigation.

But Venezuela’s Foreign Minister defended the record of the Government of President Nicolás Maduro, rejecting the allegations as “baseless”.

Venezuela has been convulsed by months of demonstrations against the leftist President who critics say has plunged the oil-rich country into the worst economic crisis in its history and is turning it into a dictatorship.

“My investigation suggests the possibility that crimes against humanity may have been committed, which can only be confirmed by a subsequent criminal investigation,” Zeid Ra‘ad al Hussein told the UN Human Rights Council.

He said the Government was using criminal proceedings against Opposition Leaders, arbitrary detentions, excessive use of force and ill-treatment of detainees, in some cases amount-

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, arrives at the 36th Session of the Human Rights Council at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland on September 11, 2017

ing to torture.

However, Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza told the Geneva forum: “We have now selected the National Constituent Assembly, this is the true expression of our citizens’ will. It will have the powers to draw up a new Constitution.”

“The Opposition in Venezuela is back on the path of rule of law and democracy, we will see dialogue emerging thanks to mediation of our friends,” he said.

Arreaza accused protesters of using firearms and “home-made weapons” against security forces, but

noted that the last death was on July 30. “Our country is now at peace,” he added.

Venezuela is among the 47 members of the Council, where it enjoys strong support from Cuba, Iran and other States.

Diego Arria, who was Venezuela’s Ambassador to the United Nations in New York from 1991 to 1994, told a separate Geneva event organised by activists and action group UN Watch that Venezuela should be referred to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. (Excerpt from Reuters)

More EU assistance on the way for Hurricane Irma-hit islands

T

he European Union (EU) says more help is on the way for the islands where Hurricane Irma left a trail of death and devastation.

EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, says it is the body’s “moral duty to help those in need whose lives and homes are being destroyed or severely threatened”. “We stand in full solidarity with all those in the Caribbean and in the USA during and after the storm.

“For as long as it takes.

Last week we mobilised our emergency response tools and our 24/7 Emergency Response Coordination Centre has been in continuous coordination with our EU Member States on any assistance required.

“Today additional EU funding is on its way,” Stylianides said in a statement Monday. “We have now released an initial amount of humanitarian assistance of €2 million for the most affected islands in the Caribbean. This will help support key sectors such as water and sanitation, health, waste management, logistics.”

In the longer term, the EU Commissioner said, further EU funding is available for reconstruction efforts.

He said EU humanitarian experts deployed across the region continue to help the local authorities and coordinate aid deliveries.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has sent experts on crisis recovery to support the people of the Caribbean after the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful storms ever

recorded in the Atlantic.

UNDP activated its crisis preparedness plans in several countries in the Region, and promised to support them both during the immediate response to this disaster and in crucial early recovery activities like debris and waste management, emergency employment and supporting core government functions, if asked. (Excerpt from

Caribbean360)

powerful earthquake that struck Mexico last week has left some 2.5 million people in need of aid and killed 96 others, authorities said on Monday, as officials rushed to get food and water to stricken communities in the poor south.

Oaxaca State Governor Alejandro Murat told local television the death toll in his state had risen to 76.

He said preliminary reports showed that at least 12,000 homes were damaged, and warned the number was likely to rise.

Murat said one million

people in Oaxaca needed food, water, electricity and help rebuilding damaged homes, while in neighbouring Chiapas state, which was closest to the epicentre of the tremor, 1.5 million people were affected, according to officials.

“We are united in facing this humanitarian crisis,” Murat said.

The 8.1-magnitude quake off the coast of Chiapas rattled Mexico City and sowed destruction across the narrowest portion of Mexico on the isthmus of Tehuantepec.

Mexico’s Government on

Monday withdrew an offer to help victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas after the quake stretched the resources of its emergency services. The Government has been coping with heavy rains and the impact from Hurricane Katia on the Gulf state of Veracruz.

Sixteen people were reported killed in Chiapas state and four others in neighbouring Tabasco from the quake. Many of the fatalities in Oaxaca were in the town of Juchitan, where more than 5000 homes were destroyed.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Hurricane Irma death toll rises to 38 in Caribbean: Cuba reports 10 deaths

H

Cuban victims perished in Havana, Matanzas, Sancti spiritus and Ciego de Avila provinces [Yamil Lage/AFP]

urricane Irma has killed at least 10 people in Cuba over the weekend, the authorities say, bringing the death toll in the Caribbean to 38 as the weakened storm moves up the US state of Florida.

Cuba’s civil defence authorities said in a statement on Monday that the victims perished due to various causes such as accidents, collapsed buildings and not

heeding orders to evacuate in the four provinces of Havana, Matanzas, Sancti spiritus and Ciego de Avila.

Irma, which was downgraded to a tropical storm on Monday, is centred about 170km north-northwest of Tampa area of Florida, with sustained winds of about 110km/h as of 9:00 am local time (13:00 GMT).

Warnings of dangerous storm surges remained in effect through vast swaths

of peninsular Florida, where more than six million people had been ordered to flee Irma in one of the biggest evacuations in US history.

“There’s a huge difference between a (Category) 3 and 5 when it makes landfall,” said private meteorologist Ryan Maue of WeatherBell Analytics.

“Barbuda is an example of that. It was wiped.”(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Antigua Govt moving to give Trinidad: Kidnap Barbudans ownership titles to land victim freed near UWI

T

he Antigua Government Monday announced plans to provide each Barbudan a Crown grant for one dollar in order to obtain ownership legally of the lands they now occupy as the island seeks to rebuild following the battering it took from the passage of Hurricane Irma last week.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne, speaking during a special sitting of the Antigua and Barbuda Parliament, said “we are saying here we will give you freehold ownership.

“I want to tell you the Barbudans I have spoken to they are absolutely elated over it,” Browne said, noting that the initiative would em-

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne

power them significantly.

“When you give a Barbudan freehold, first of all those who have their properties that are damaged, they can go into the bank, they can borrow money, they can

repair their properties, they can get a mortgage they can build.

“They can get a loan for student purposes, to businesses. It is a form of empowerment,” Browne told legislators, adding “it is untenable in the 21st century for Barbuda to be exclusively dependent on Antigua.

“It is totally untenable… and the irony about it, each time that salaries and wages are late, they hold the Central Government responsible. It was never the intent of the Central Government to take full responsibility for the payment of salaries and wages and other expenses in Barbuda.” (Excerpt from CMC)

N

ine hours after Clint Beharry was kidnapped from his Pleasantville home on Saturday, he was set free along the Churchill Roosevelt Highway.

Beharry, part owner of the Born Free Recreation Club, was picked up by Police near the University of the West Indies’ St Augustine Campus around 20:00h on Saturday night.

Investigators said the TT$100,000 ransom demanded for his release was not paid.

Four gunmen, two of them wearing tactical police clothing, entered Beharry’s Blitz Village home around

11:00h and stole TT$14,000.

Video footage showed the gunmen escorting a handcuffed Beharry out and putting him into a silver Nissan AD wagon.

Southern Division Police and the Anti Kidnapping Squad began a search for the gunmen, who they said were “fake officers” deemed “armed and dangerous”. Up to Sunday, the men had not been found.

In 2010, Beharry was a witness to the murders of his brother Rennie, 29 and friend, Kwasi Preddy, 25, during a shooting at the bar.

Ryan Straiker is currently before the court charged with those killings. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

tuesDAY, september 12, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

Trump on 9/11 UN rights chief denounces Myanmar’s ethnic cleansing anniversary: “Our

T

he top United Nations human rights official has urged Myanmar to end the “brutal security operation” against Rohingya in Rakhine state, calling it “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing”.

Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, addressing the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, said that more than 270,000 people had fled to Bangladesh, with more trapped on the border, amid reports of the burning of villages and extrajudicial killings.

“I call on the Government to end its current cruel military operation, with accountability for all violations that have occurred, and to

Myanmar does not recognise Rohingya Muslims as its citizens [Danish Siddiqui/Reuters]

reverse the pattern of severe and widespread discrimination against the Rohingya population,” Zeid said.

“The situation seems a textbook example of ethnic cleansing.”

The UN chief’s warn-

ing comes a day after Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister said “a genocide” is being waged in the country’s violence-hit Rakhine state.

“The international community is saying it is a genocide. We also say it is a

genocide,” AH Mahmood Ali told reporters after briefing diplomats in Dhaka on Sunday.

Ali described actions following the attacks on security forces on August 25 as “revenge” by Myanmar troops.

“Should all people be killed? Should all villages be burnt? It is not acceptable,” he said, adding Dhaka was seeking a peaceful solution, not a “war” against Myanmar.

“We did not create the problem. Since the problem started in Myanmar, that’s why they should resolve. We have said we’ll help them,” he said, adding that the problem took a “new turn” after the August 25 attacks.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Hurricane Irma: Two-thirds of Florida without power

A

bout 6.5 million homes in Florida, two-thirds of the total, are without power after Hurricane Irma cut a deadly path through the state, officials say.

Relief operations are under way and engineers are working to restore power, but many areas remain stranded.

The islands of the Florida Keys and western parts of the US state bore the brunt of the Category Four hurricane.

Irma hit Florida on Sunday, before weakening to a tropical storm as it moved north on Monday.

Media reports link at least four deaths to the storm in Florida. Last week it killed at least 37 people in the Caribbean.

Florida Governor Rick Scott said it was “going to take some time” before people could return to their homes, the Miami Herald website reports.

Speaking as he went on an aerial tour of the Keys to survey the damage early on Monday, he said: “Power lines are down throughout the state.

We’ve got roads that are impassable,

lives lost on 9/11.

“The terrorists who attacked us thought they could incite fear and weaken the spirit. Those who try will soon join the long list of vanquished enemies who dare to test our mettle,” he said.

The President acknowledged the more than five million young men and women who joined the military since 9/11 to “defend our country against barbaric forces of evil and destruction”.

“We are making plain to these savage killers that there is no dark corner beyond our reach, no sanctuary beyond our grasp, and nowhere to hide anywhere on this very large Earth,” he continued.

Meanwhile, relatives of 9/11 victims, survivors, rescuers and others gathered at New York’s 9/11 memorial at 08:46h to mark the exact time the first plane struck the World Trade Centre’s North Tower. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Strong winds and rain have been battering Florida

so everybody’s got to be patient as we work through this.”

The Keys are cut off from the mainland, as the 42 bridges that link them are being assessed for damage.

Reports say that 10,000 people decided to ride out the storm.

At 18:00 GMT, Irma’s centre had moved into southern Georgia, the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said.

Although Miami was spared the worst, large parts of the city are un-

In a landmark judgement, the court granted her permission on Wednesday to medically terminate her pregnancy

T

U

S President Donald Trump has presided over his first 9/11 commemoration in office, marking the 16th anniversary of the attacks.

He and First Lady Melania observed a solemn moment of silence at the White House and later at the Pentagon.

Thousands gathered nationwide to mark the deadliest attack on US soil.

Nearly 3000 people died after hijackers crashed planes into New York’s World Trade Centre, the Pentagon and a rural Pennsylvania field in 2001.

“Our values will endure, our people will thrive, our nation will prevail, and the memory of our loved ones will never, ever die,” the President said.

Trump joined Defence Secretary James Mattis and General Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the Department of Defence to remember the

Vast rally for independence in Barcelona

der water. Winds have snapped power lines and 72 per cent of homes there are without electricity, officials say.

On the west coast of Florida, drone footage from Naples, a town on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico about 125 miles (200 kilometres) to the northwest, shows rows of shattered suburban homes on streets under water.

President Donald Trump has released emergency federal aid for Florida, describing the hurricane as a “big monster”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Mumbai: 13-year-old rape victim’s baby dies 2 days after birth

he baby of a 13-yearold rape victim, allowed by the Indian Supreme Court to terminate her pregnancy, has died two days after he was born.

The baby had been in neonatal intensive care in Mumbai, but died on Sunday.

The girl, who was 32 weeks pregnant, gave birth

nation will endure”

to the boy by Caesarean section on Friday, the hospital said.

Her father’s colleague is under arrest for the rape.

India normally allows terminations after 20 weeks only if the mother’s life is in danger.

The case made headlines after her pregnancy was discovered on August 9

by chance when her parents took her to a doctor to seek treatment for suspected obesity. A Delhi-based lawyer approached the Supreme Court on her behalf, seeking permission to abort the baby.

In a landmark judgement, the court granted her permission on Wednesday to medically terminate her pregnancy.

The doctors had suggested a wait for two weeks to allow the foetus to grow further, but the Judges ordered an immediate termination to avoid further trauma to the girl. A panel of five doctors, headed by gynaecologist Dr Ashok Anand, carried out the Caesarean section at Mumbai’s JJ Hospital.

Since her pregnancy was at such an advanced stage, the termination resulted in the birth of the baby boy,

Dr Anand told the BBC on Monday. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Thousands march in Barcelona in support for an independence referendum

T

housands of Catalans thronged the streets of Barcelona to mark their national day – the “Diada” – and show support for an independence referendum.

Catalonia’s pro-independence government plans to hold the referen-

Militant blast, gun attack kill 18 Policemen in Egypt’s Sinai

M

ilitants attacked a security convoy in Egypt’s strife-torn Sinai Peninsula, killing at least 18 policemen in a blast and a gun battle on Monday, sources said – an assault claimed by Islamic State.

The attackers detonated an improvised explosive device and managed to destroy three armoured vehicles and a signal-jamming vehicle near Arish, the capital of North Sinai province, the security and medical sources said.

The attack turned into a

gunfight and the militants also opened fire on ambulance workers, injuring four, the sources told Reuters.

At least 18 Policemen, two of them officers, died in the violence, and a brigadier general lost a leg in the blast, several sources at Arish hospital said.

Militants have killed hundreds of soldiers and Police in Sinai since 2013, when the military ousted Egypt’s Islamist President Mohamed Mursi after mass protests against his rule.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

dum on October 1, defying Spain which deems it illegal. Catalonia has passed a law to secede from Spain if the vote is Yes. Opinion polls suggest the vote, if it takes place, will be very close.

With their own language and customs, Catalans already have much autonomy.

But there is a widespread feeling in the region – one of Spain’s richest – that too much of its tax revenue goes to Madrid.

Spain’s economic woes since the 2008 financial crisis – including chronic unemployment – have fuelled the pro-independence mood in Catalonia.

In recent days Spain’s Guardia Civil police have raided several Catalan printing shops suspected of preparing material for the referendum.

The September 11 Diada marks the fall of Barcelona in the War of Spanish Succession in 1714 – a defeat for Catalan forces. (Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, september 12, 2017

ARCHIE

ARIES

Personal

matters

con-

(March 21- cerning parents, siblings or April 19) friends will slow you down.

Offer patience and compassion. Anger will not alleviate pressing matters. Do your best and stay calm.

Don’t trust someone who TAURUS has let you down in the past.

(April 20- Picking a fight will not help May 20) you resolve issues. Stick to people you know you can count on.

dilbert

Stay close to home and GEMINI (May 21- nurture personal relationJune 20) ships. Implement changes that add to your appeal.

Getting along with others is in your best interest. Choose peace over discord.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Rumors will roll if you divulge secrets. Respect others and demand the same in return. Avoid getting angry by not putting yourself in a precarious position to begin with.

Don’t give in to someone who wants something that belongs to you or who uses emotional manipulation for monetary gain. Arguing is a waste of time. Say no and move on.

Emotions will be diffiVIRGO cult to control when dealing (Aug. 23with children, siblings or a Sept. 22) friend who has let you down.

Honesty and compassion will lead you to personal happiness.

You’ll learn from the exLIBRA (Sept. 23- periences you have. Get inOct. 23) volved in an event. Volunteer your time and energy. A physical challenge will do you good. Romance is on the rise.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Use your intuition when SCORPIO dealing with investments (Oct. 24or joint ventures. Refuse to Nov. 22) give in to someone’s charm or salesmanship. Go it alone if you have doubts. Do things your way.

Partnerships will undergo SAGITTARIUS an adjustment. Discussions (Nov. 23- will be necessary and could Dec. 21) cause some anger and disagreements, but in the end, if you collaborate, you’ll come up with a plan.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Emotional spending will CAPRICORN need to be addressed. Getting (Dec. 22- involved in a joint venture Jan. 19) or a risky investment is best avoided. A personal commitment will bring you closer to someone you love.

Think before you speak.

AQUARIUS Don’t take on so much that (Jan. 20- you won’t have time to spend Feb. 19) with the people in your life who need you the most.

Romance will do you good.

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

Partnerships will suffer if PISCES (Feb. 20- either party is not honest and March 20) open about how they feel and what’s going on. Don’t neglect to address issues that are bound to escalate.

tuesDAY, september 12, 2017

19

World XI series

a ‘HUGE LEAP’ for Pakistan – Sethi

T

he World XI side, led by coach Andy Flower along with head of the ICC’s Pakistan Task Team (PTT) Giles Clarke, arrived at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore in the small hours of Monday morning. World XI’s three-T20I series against Pakistan, which gets underway on Tuesday, will be the third attempt in the last two years to revive international cricket in the country.

The side was escorted in a bombproof bus amid high security with the entire route from the airport to the team hotel at Mall Road lined with armed policemen. The squad contains five players from South Africa, three from Australia, two from West Indies and one player each from England, Bangladesh, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. West Indies’ Samuel Badree was the only player in the 14-man squad yet to arrive due to his commitment with the CPL; he will join the squad by Monday evening. The entire group was received by PCB officials, led

by chairman Najam Sethi, and was driven straight from the runway through a private departure area.

“For Pakistan, it’s a big day,” Sethi said at a press conference alongside Clarke. “If this didn’t happen, I don’t know how many more years we would still have to wait for cricket to return. I want to start by thanking all those people who made this possible for international cricket to come back to Pakistan. Top of my list is my friend and colleague Mr. Giles Clarke who is the head of Pakistan ICC task force on Pakistan. He has gone out of his way to organise this series and he is working at it for over a year now. Giles has been a great friend and the amount of conviction he has in the return of international cricket to Pakistan is unsurpassed.”

Since the attack on the Sri Lanka team in 2009, Pakistan has been deprived of regular international cricket in the country. In the last few years, the PCB had made several attempts to convince teams to tour Pakistan, but was only able to convince

Najam Sethi and Giles Clarke address the media Associated Press

Zimbabwe, Kenya and Afghanistan to tour. A major breakthrough came with the hosting of the PSL final earlier this year in Lahore, an event that included international players like Darren Sammy, Chris Jordan and Dawid Malan. The World XI tour was subsequently planned to showcase another attempt as a part of confidence building and to change the ‘negative’ perception about Pakistan.

The ICC, however, had distanced itself from the Zimbabwe series in 2015, not even sending its own officials, but has now thrown its weight behind the World XI trip by hiring independent experts to oversee the security arrangements.

Flower was among the driving forces in assembling a diverse and robust squad from around the world with each player offered USD 100,000 to play a limited-overs series within five days at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The series has been earmarked as a key step, as a part of the PCB’s intentions, to

convince the world that Pakistan is ready to host top-flight international cricket.

“A lot of courage was needed on other side to put it all together,” Sethi said. “We are very very happy to host the World XI and we know this is a small step in many ways but a huge leap for Pakistan. In a sense that if the PSL final in Lahore actually opened the gates to the World XI. The players, of course, you have seen in pictures are relaxed, each one of them knows that this trip is not just about cricket. I am grateful to them for this trip, and we look forward to great performance on the field.”

Clarke echoed Sethi’s comments and outlined how his team prepared for World XI’s visit. “We met in January when we had a short conference on how to make this possible,” Clarke said. “We were looking to take small steps on a long journey, and those steps have been taken by Pakistani people and Pakistani government on a

daily basis, more than by anyone else apart from the team that I’ve brought with me, which I have greatest admiration for.

“After I came here in January, we agreed that we should invest in training and preparation. We needed to behave as if there are going to be FTP tours in Pakistan.

We have half the nations’ players registered as members of FICA. So we needed to ensure that FICA was happy. For that to happen, we had to have a structure that was approved by FICA and the other countries. So I was very pleased that FICA sent their representatives to watch the PSL final which was a great achievement.

“ICC have paid for and invested a significant sum of money in security and training of Pakistani security agencies. In the end, we need Pakistani companies to provide those services, and that’s what’s going to happen in future. We’re building a serious house, and we’re building it with bricks, not straw.”

(Cricinfo)

Guinness Cage/ Three Peat Promotions Indoor Futsal

Too close to call!

T

he Guinness Cage Indoor Futsal Championship will reach its semi-final stage this evening, but picking the two teams to progress seems an impossible task given the magnitude of talent the teams possess.

Leopold Street, led by tourney top shot Okeene Fraser, oppose emerging force Future Stars, while heavyweights Back Circle battle giant-killer Ol Skool Ballers at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

Although both contests are expected to be thrilling affairs, the Leopold Street and Future Stars clash at 23:00h pits an established contender against an emergent power, in what is projected to be a neutral’s dream.

Leopold Street has been in rampant form throughout the campaign, evi-

…as semi-final action gets cracking tonight

Some intriguing battles will be on tonight

dent by an eye-watering and event-leading 12 goals scored in five matches.

Captain fantastic Okeene Fraser has singlehandedly dismantled teams with seven goals, while brothers Omallo and Orandel Williams also pose

a threat with two goals each.

If there is one area of concern for the free-scoring unit, it is their lack of defensive caution, highlighted by the six goals conceded.

This is the area Future Stars will aim to exploit de-

spite their five-goal output.

Keiron Solomon and Jermaine Beckles have scored two goals each, while Jamal Cozier has netted once for a talented rooster that also comprises Akeemo Anthony, Lennox Cort, Jermaine Junior, Kevin

Cummings and Jermaine Beckles.

Meanwhile, the opening clash at 22:00h is reminiscent of a David versus Goliath pairing, as underdogs Ol Skool Ballers aim to upset Back Circle.

The Albouystown-based unit possess an impressive list of victims, following wins over Sparta Boss, Albouystown-A, Broad Street and Albouystown-B. Rather surprisingly, the unlikely semi-finalist can be considered the event’s most balanced team based on their statistics.

Fans and pundits can anticipate two pulsating matches. Prior to the commencement of the semi-final round, four exhibition matches will kick-off the proceedings from 20:00h.

The resulting victor of the historic event will receive $400,000 and the championship trophy.

The runner-up will pocket $200,000 and the respective trophy.

Meanwhile, the third and fourth placed finishers will collect $100,000 and $50,000 respectively and a trophy. On the individual side, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) will receive a gold chain from YK Investments and Pawn Shop and the respective accolade from Trophy Stall Bourda.

The complete list of the event sponsors are Star Party Rentals, Faye Joseph, Claude Geddes Recreational Sports Club, National Sports Commission, Windjammer International Hotel & Cuisine, E-Networks, Woodpecker Trophies & Sport, YK Investments & Pawn Shop, Henry Chase, Jai Signs, Trophy Stall, the Bike Shop and John Fernandes Ltd.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, september 12, 2017

Hope outscores English batsmen

Dwayne Bravo

– tops Test series averages

W

est Indies number-four batsman Shai Hope topped the batting aggregates and averages of all batsman of the recently concluded Test series against England.

The 23-year-old Barbadian scored 375 runs in six innings for an impressive series-leading average of 75.

Hope scored two centuries – 147 and 118* - during the second Test at Headingley that the Caribbean side won by five wickets to level the series at 1-1.

He also scored 62 in the final Test at Lords that the West Indies lost by nine wickets, giving England a 2-1 series win.

Hope, who hit 56 fours during the three-Test series, scored at a rate of 51.51. For his efforts, he climbed up to 30th in the ICC batting rankings.

Hope’s compatriot, Kraigg Brathwaite also enjoyed a successful series. His 283 runs meant he had the third highest aggregate of series, only 21 runs behind England’s Alastair Cooke, who scored 304 runs that included 243 in the first Test at Edgbaston.

Brathwaite scored 134 and 95 during the second Test and averaged 47.16 for the series. His performance saw him

climb eight places to 17th in the world on the ICC batting rankings.

E n g l a n d Captain Joe Root had the fourth highest aggregate of the series with 268 runs, albeit from four innings during which he scored a century (136) and two fifties against the visitors.

Middle-order batsman Jermaine Blackwood also enjoyed a measure of success during the series during which he accumulated 187 runs at an average of 37.40.

Kieron Powell scored 142 runs at an average of 23.66, while Captain Jason Holder averaged 17.20, having scored just 86 runs for the series.

Roston Chase, who scored over 500 runs against India earlier this year at an average of more than 100, had a poor series as he scored only 80 runs at an average of 13.33. (Sportsmax)

Chris Froome

'Targeting Gayle, Lewis worked to perfection' – Bravo T

Shai Hope

‘Fifth Tour de France title in 2018 is ‘priority and focus’ – Froome

rinbago Knight Riders captain Dwayne Bravo has revealed that a major part of the team’s perfected plan for beating the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in Saturday’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final involved heavily restricting the team’s top batsmen Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis.

Gayle who amassed a team-topping 376 runs for the Patriots and Lewis, who has contributed 371 were kept quiet at the top of the order in a three-wicket win for the Knight Riders. Gayle, who made a half ton against the Knight Riders in the first qualifiers, made one for seven deliveries, while Lewis made 16 off 16 before being bowled by Sunil Narine.

The free-hitting pair had damaged teams all tournament but were also slowed in the first match, where Gayle made an uncharacteristically slow 54 from 51 and Lewis was dismissed for 9. Bravo was pleased the tactic had worked again.

“If you look at both games when they beat us they didn’t get off to a flier, we have specific plans for both Chris and Evin,” Bravo said following the match.

“We know the Patriots rely on them heavily, especially Evin because he has been the more aggressive one. We have to give credit to our analyst because he had the bowlers in a lengthy meeting and our game plan was basically to bowl full to Evin so it paid off in the playoff game and tonight.” (Sportsmax)

Drakes out as Springer named interim coach of West Indies Women

B

ritain’s Chris Froome says winning a fifth Tour de France title will be his “priority and focus” for 2018 and he still has “lots to achieve” in cycling.

Froome, 32, has become the first man to follow a Tour victory by winning the Vuelta a Espana in the same year.

A fifth Tour win would see him equal Eddy Merckx, Jacques Anquetil, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain’s record.

Six riders have won all three Grand Tours during their career, with Froome yet to triumph in the Giro d’Italia.

But, after winning the Vuelta, the Team Sky rider told BBC Sport: “I’m sure the time will come when I will target the Giro.

“It’s a big task to try to go for the Giro

F

and it could compromise the Tour but I wouldn’t write it off.”

Speaking earlier, on BBC Radio 5 live’s Sportsweek, he said: “A fifth Tour de France title will take my aim but it’s early days and I’ll wait to see what the Giro, Tour and Vuelta courses look like next year and sit down with my team to draw up the goals.”

He added it would be “hard to not sign up for next year’s Vuelta” because it is a race he “genuinely loves”.

When asked whether it was possible to win all three Tours in one year, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I wouldn’t say it’s impossible, nothing’s impossible, but certainly it would take some doing.” (BBC)

ormer Barbados all-rounder Henderson Springer leads a new interim management team that will prepare the West Indies Women for the 2018 World T20 set for the West Indies from November 2-25. Springer replaces Vasbert Drakes who headed the previous management team that steered the regional team to their disappointing showing at the ICC 50-over World Cup held in England earlier this year.

The interim team will consist of Henderson Springer (head coach), Gus Logie (assistant coach), Ariane Mangar (Physiotherapist) l Shayne Cooper (Sport and Conditioning Trainer) and Gary Belle (Analyst). Meantime, Cricket West Indies will be setting up a new management support structure for the team and is expected to be completed before Sri Lanka visits the region on Thursday, October 5.

An 18-member squad will gather for a camp from September 25 to October 4 from which the final 13 will be selected for the three

ODIs, three T20 series, scheduled for Trinidad and Tobago Henderson Springer and Antigua.

CWI, in a statement released on Monday, thanked the previous management team for their time and contribution. That team has been replaced following the West Indies Women’s woeful performance during the World Cup in which they only won two of seven games and failed to qualify for the knock-out rounds.

Springer, a former director of coaching in Barbados was assistant coach of the West Indies team for the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa in 2009. The former off-spinning all-rounder previously worked as coach of the West Indies ‘A’ team in 2006 and assistant coach of the West Indies team in 2007. (Sportsmax)

sports

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21

CPL 2017 best XI 1. Evin Lewis (St Kitts and Nevis Patriots) - 371 runs, strike rate 184.57 True to his reputation, Lewis out-paced opening partner Chris Gayle (strike rate 127.02) at Patriots, providing quickfire starts that set up a number of chases.

Lewis scored less than 39 only five times in 10 innings, and his strike-rate - the best in the tournament among batsmen with more than 100 runs - makes him an easy choice to face the new ball inside.

Standout performance: His 32-ball 97, at a strike-rate of over 300, with six fours and 11 sixes, helped Patriots chase down a target of 129 against Tridents in only seven overs. That win secured second place for Patriots on the points table.

2. Brendon McCullum (Trinbago Knight Riders) - 335 runs, strike rate 165.84 With the team losing only two of their group-stage games, it is of no surprise that four Knight Riders players feature in our XI. McCullum was the season’s third-most successful foreigner with the bat, behind only Kumar Sangakkara and team-mate Colin Munro, and his high-impact batting in the latter half of the season helped Knight Riders cruise into the playoffs. McCullum remained unbeaten four times in his ten innings - a remarkable feat for a T20 opener - and struck three fifties to finish with an average of 55.83.

Standout performance: McCullum smashed 91 against Jamaica Tallawahs to help Knight Riders post the season’s highest total of 208.

They won the high-scoring match by 36 runs.

3. Chadwick Walton (Guyana Amazon Warriors) - 458 runs, strike rate 145.85 The season’s highest run-getter, Walton was the only batsman to score more than 400 runs. Barring a duck and a score of 10, Walton ensured strong starts to Amazon Warriors’ batting every time as they chased the final qualifier spot towards the end of the league stage. With 61 hits to or over the rope (37 fours and 24 sixes), he also led the tournament’s boundary charts.

Standout performance: Walton walloped an unbeaten 84 off 40 balls against Jamaica Tallawahs, helping Amazon Warriors chase down 150 in 63 balls. That remarkable innings and win leapfrogged Amazon Warriors’ net run-rate, a number too big for the fifth-placed Tridents to overcome.

4. Kumar Sangakkara (capt, wk) (Jamaica Tallawahs) - 379 runs, strike rate 135.84 The ever-consistent Sangakkara notched up four fifties in his last five matches to stake claim in our XI, eventually finishing as the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament. He also led a Tallawahs side that possessed limited resources to the playoffs, and is therefore also our choice for team captain. With 40 fours, Sangakkara also finished as the tournament’s top four-hitter.

Standout performance: A classy 74* against St Lucia Stars in which Sangakkara smashed nine fours and three sixes to help Tallawahs chase down 173 with an over to spare.

5. Andre McCarthy (Jamaica Tallawahs) - 292 runs, strike rate 127.51 The perfect foil in the Tallawahs line-up, this CPL season has been McCarthy’s breakthrough year. He has seen off difficult periods with the bat and his nifty knocks have anchored numerous Tallawahs innings. Both his half-centuries this season were match-winning efforts and his performances often correlated with his franchise’s success. With the big-hitters around him in this XI, the crafty McCarthy fits the team like a glove.

Standout performance: McCarthy’s 37-ball 61* against St Lucia Stars helped Tallawahs complete a final-over win courtesy three huge sixes from the Jamaican in the last three overs.

6. Kieron Pollard (Barbados Tridents) - 264 runs, strike rate 150.00, 8 wickets, bowling average 16.87 Pollard breached the fifty-run mark three times this season, and was Tridents’ most consistent batsman. With the bat, he found himself in sticky situations (with the team losing early wickets) and was often the reason the Tridents bowlers had some sort of total to bowl at. With the ball, he did not concede more than 29 runs in any match, and

even took 4 for 16 against Amazon Warriors, albeit in a losing cause.

Standout performance: Pollard smashed five fours and six sixes in his 35-ball 83 against St Lucia Stars to roll back the years in a game that Tridents won by 21 runs (D/L method).

7. Dwayne Bravo (Trinbago Knight Riders) - 16 wickets, bowling average 23.75 The season’s second-highest wicket-taker, Bravo’s nifty death bowling ensured his team lost only two matches. He also scored useful twenties, coming into bat during the slog overs, and helped the T&T franchise clinch their second CPL title.

Standout performance: Bravo took 4 for 38 against fellow finalists Patriots to restrict them to 149 in the first qualifier, and smashed a 13-ball 24 in a losing cause.

8. Sohail Tanvir (Guyana Amazon Warriors) - 17 wickets, bowling average 18.52 The Pakistan fast bowler was the season’s highest wicket-taker and his swing bowling under gloomy Caribbean skies earned him rich dividends. Amazon Warriors started their season poorly but it was Tanvir’s economy of 7.00 - the second-best among all fast bowlers - that led their play-off charge towards the end of the league stage. He also played the role of pinch-hitter, opening the batting at times to utilise the long handle during the first six overs.

Standout performance: Tanvir took 5 for 3, the most economical four-over spell in all T20 cricket, to bowl Barbados Tridents out for 59 in Amazon Warriors’ 99-run win in Bridgetown.

9. Sunil Narine (Trinbago Knight Riders) - 12 wickets, economy rate 5.39 Narine sent down 306 balls all season and conceded only 275 runs. And while he never took more than two wickets in any game, he delivered when it mattered, his figures of 4-1-8-1 helping Knight Riders limit Patriots to 135 in the final. He was also Knight Riders’ designated opener, a strategy that produced mixed results.

Standout performance: Narine’s best performance this season came with the bat. On an evening when no other Knight Riders batsmen scored more than 25, Narine smashed a 45-ball 79 to help his team steamroll Tridents in Port-of-Spain.

10. Shadab Khan (Trinbago Knight Rider) - 12 wickets, economy rate 5.75, average 15.33 In his first CPL season, Shadab shone as Knight Riders’ second spinner. While Narine stemmed the run-flow, Shadab’s legbreak and wrong’un collected the wickets at the other end. He played only eight games, but used his array of variations to good effect.

Shadab had the second-best bowling average among all regular bowlers and finished as the second-highest wicket-taker among spinners.

Standout performance: Shadab took 4 for 28 in Portof-Spain to restrict Amazon Warriors to 156 in Knight Riders’ seven-wicket win.

11. Kesrick Williams (Jamaica Tallawahs) - 15 wickets, bowling average 26.06 Not afraid to give dismissed batsmen a send-off, Williams provided Tallawahs with the early breakthrough and then returned at the death to cushion their young bowling attack. Williams bent his back all season and was rewarded with plenty of wickets, especially of top-order batsmen in the Powerplay. The quality of the batsmen he consistently dismissed, and the fact that he usually bowled the difficult overs, excuses an economy rate of 9.53.

Standout performance: Williams finished with 3 for 26 in Port-of-Spain, including the wickets of both openers, and helped Tallawahs effect the first of only two losses that Knight Riders suffered in the league stage. (Cricinfo)

22 Chanderpaul’s unbeaten 176 helps West Demerara crush East Bank

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, september 12, 2017

Ragnauth shoots low to take STP Trophy

‒ win by an innings and 182 runs

G

uyana Jaguars batsman Tagenarine Chanderpaul stroked a delightful 176 not out on day two which was a significant factor in West Demerara crushing East Bank by an innings and 182 runs when the Guyana Cricket Board/ Jaguars 3-Day tournament continued on Monday at Tuschen.

East Bank, who made 171 all out in their first innings with all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford top-scoring with a 42-ball 67, were made to pay for their below-par total since the home side responded with 494-7 declared from 130 overs.

East Bank’s destruction came at the hands of national youth spinner Richie Looknauth who took 5-46.

With the bat, centuries from former West Indies youth players Chanderpaul and Tevin Imlach (103) and busy knocks by Romario Shephard (55 off 29 balls) and Akshaya Persaud (43 off 26 balls) got West Demerara to

their mammoth total.

Ronaldo Ali-Mohammed (2-76); Totoran Bishun (2-79) and Darshan Persaud (2-101) were the main wicket takers.

With a daunting deficit of 323 runs, East Bank could only muster 149-9 in 40.2 overs. Captain Vishaul Singh stroked 36, but it was AliMohammed’s aggressive knock of 49 from 35 balls which carried the late order assault.

The menacing pace of Shepherd accounted for 3-50 while Looknauth was again among the wickets with 3-32, taking his match haul to 8-78.

Round three will commence Friday and it will see East Bank taking on Essequibo at Everest, West Demerara challenging West Berbice at Tuschen, East Coast battling Georgetown at Lusignan and Lower Corentyne going up against Upper Corentyne at Albion.

STP Investments Managing Director Sanjay Persaud (third from right) hands the trophy to the winner, Balgobin Ragnauth

B Richie Looknauth

GABA league

algobin Ragnauth took top honors in the inaugural STP Investments Golf Tournament held on Saturday at Lusignan Golf Club, shooting a gross 90 off a 25 handicap for a net 65.

With the rough recently mown it was a day for the high handicappers who had little to fear from any errant shots. Greens were also receptive having been recently sanded. Second place

went to Mark Lashley with a 91 (24) 67 and third to Deno Bissessar 96 (28) 68.

Best Gross went to Avinash Persaud with a 77 and nearest to the pin Dinanauth Mohanlall.

The event was well attended with 25 participants and STP's Managing Director Sanjay Persaud said he was happy to be a sponsor and hoped this would become an annual event.

Pacesetters, Eagles, Nets record latest victories President’s College Ground cleared after 10 years ‒ football programme to be launched

A

Action in the GABA Basketball League

ction in the G e o r g e t o w n Amateur Basketball Association (GABA)/ Malta Supreme/Rainforest Waters/ Powerade League continued over the weekend and Pacesetters, Eagles and Nets all notched up victories.

The four games were played at the Burnham Court on Middle and Carmichael Streets and saw the Plaisance Guardians taking on Pacesetters in a D i v i s i o n

One encounter which the Pacesetters duly won by 63-59 points.

Plaisance led at the end of the first quarter with the score at 18-14 in their favour, but relinquished that lead in the second and third quarters with the Pacesetters rebounding nicely to win a close game.

In game two, an Under-23 clash, the Pacesetters U-23 team racked up a comfortable victory by beating the Kobras 75-67. The Pacesetters were behind in the first quarter,

but like their FirstDivision counterparts, they rebounded and won comfortably.

In the second U-23 clash of the night, the Eagles handed the Plaisance Guardians a loss, defeating them by 78-68 points, leading in all quarters.

In the final game of the night, a First-Division clash between the Nets and the Pepsi Sonics, the Nets outscored their rivals to end up 77-60 victors.

In the first quarter, the Nets led by 15-14 and 2011 in the second; however, the Pepsi Sonics did well to be on level terms in the third quarter scoring 18 points, but it was not enough as the Nets inflicted a fourth-quarter drubbing, sinking 25 points to end the game at 77-60.

The League will now go on a two-week break after which matches will resume on Sunday, September 24 at the same venue.

The recently-cleared President’s College Ground (Jafar Gibbons inset)

T

he students of President’s College , Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara now stand to benefit from a football programme that has been made possible through the student alumni and Jafar Gibbons.

Within months of a proposal being put forward to have a fully comprehensive football programme that should be fully operative at the school, the school’s playground which has not been

cleaned or cleared for close to 10 years was recently cleared.

The programme, which is designed to institute the sport of football at the school, will be aimed at both male and female teams with the goal of establishing respective teams. It is for children attending the school throughout the academic year and they could be potentially coached by coaches from the Coaches Association once everything

goes according to plan.

This ground will now also be accessible for many other disciplines of sport along with football and athletics.

Gibbons, who is one of the main persons behind the move, hailed the clearing of the ground as “another step in the right direction”.

The football programme, he noted, is picking up momentum and will commence on September 18.

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, september 12, 2017

G

eorgetown Football Club (GFC) and the Guyana Police Force will do battle to determine the winner of the inaugural Corona Invitational Tournament.

Both sides made their entrance into the final with contrasting victories on Sunday evening at the GFC Ground, Bourda.

For the home side, they made light work of the Northern Rangers winning 3-0, with Benjamin Opara netting a brace in the 14th minute and 64th minute and the other goal coming from Dwayne Roberto in the 55th.

Opara’s first goal brought the sizable crowd in attendance to its feet when he whizzed the ball past the outstretched custodian.

Collecting a pass on the edge of the penalty area, the diminutive keeper found an opening from the spaced backline, sealing his right foot to the lower left of the net.

Though there were some other chances created in the half, it ended quietly in favour of the home side.

23

GFC, Police to vie for Corona football title

Kevin Sinclair Sinclair’s exploits make him one for the future

By Delvon McEwan

GFC’s Benjamin Opara (No 9) in action against Northern Rangers

The second stanza saw Rangers’ backline continuing to be run ragged as Opara assisted the second goal with a looping cross from the right flank which Roberto responded to with a diving header – arguably the goal of the night.

GFC were not finished with their opposition as yet, since a counter-attack gave Opara another chance to etch his name on the score sheet and he obliged with a powerful shot to the lower right to end the one-sided

contest.

In the other semi-final, which was marred by four red cards, Police won 1-0 against rivals Western Tigers. The experienced Dwain Jacobs scored on the brink of half time (45+1).

The red cards incidents were by virtue of the physicality of the match and to a large extent, indiscipline by the players.

Police’s Quincy Holder was sent off in the 31st minute along with opposite number Barrel Tyrell

A for a scuffle on the field.

Additional red cards came for Lerone Charles (Police) in the 72nd and Linden Pickett (Western Tigers) in the 55th.

The stakes will be high come Sunday at the aforementioned venue, since the championship team will pocket one million dollars and championship trophy, while second to fourth place teams would respectively pocket $400,000, $200,000 and $100,000 and the corresponding accolades.

t just 17 years old, talented batting all-rounder Kevin Sinclair has four years of experience playing for junior national teams since making his debut in 2014 with the victorious Guyana Under-15 team that won the regional title in Jamaica.

However, unlike many others, the right-handed top-order batsman and part-time off-spinner, whose experience has elevated his performance, did not start his career when he entered secondary school. In fact, at the tender age of seven, the diminutive cricketer had his first shot at the gentleman’s game.

Hamilton Green Cup KO tournament

Winners Connection, Mile Rock triumph to book quarter-final spots T

he first of eight qualifiers for the quarter-finals of the Hamilton Green Cup Knock-out Tournament were played on Sunday at the Mackenzie Sports Club, Linden.

Both Linden-based sides – Winners Connection and Mile Rock came out victorious over their opponents and in so doing booked spots in the quarter-finals.

Winners Connection took on Kuru Kururu in the first game and won comfortably with four first-half goals.

Marley Davison was the first player to get his name on the score sheet when he opened the scoring in the fifth minute to give his side a 1-0 lead, Quentin Andries would make it 2-0 10 minutes later and Keon Sears netted a brace with goals in the 24th and 31st minutes respectively to truly put the game out of the reach of Kuru Kururu. When action in the second half resumed, the latter shut up shop and ensured that they did not concede any additional goals with the game ending at 4-0.

In the second game of the night, Mile Rock prevailed over Plaisance, needing two second-half goals to progress to the quarter-final stage.

Keon Sears netted a hat-trick for Winners Connection

Denzil Fordyce of Mile Rock opened his account in the 15th minute to edge his side in front at 1-0; however, Plaisance fought back and were unfortunate not to score with chances going begging. The score line remained the same and when play resumed in the second half, Mile Rock’s play improved and Fordyce bagged his second in the 72nd minute to settle his side’s nerves after a brilliant team play. Royston

Mile Rock’s Denzil Fordyce

Fraser put the icing on the cake in the 84th minute and the game ended at 3-0.

The next set of matches will be played at the same venue on Friday, September 15, and features Silver Shatters going up against Georgetownbased Riddim Squad while Eagles United take on Soesdyke.

Game one will be played at 19:00h and will be followed by game two at 21:00h.

Du Plessis to captain South Africa in all formats

A

fter AB de Villiers stood down from the ODI captaincy, South Africa have named Test and T20 skipper Faf du Plessis as his replacement.

Faf du Plessis will captain South Africa in all three formats after being confirmed as AB de Villiers’ replacement in

the one-day international setup on Monday.

Proteas Test and Twenty20 skipper Du Plessis will take on the additional responsibilities with immediate effect, De Villiers having stepped down last month.

The 33-year-old’s first appearance as ODI cap-

tain will come when the three-match series against Bangladesh begins on October 15 in Kimberley. Bangladesh will be South Africa’s first opponents since the appointment of Ottis Gibson as head coach. “Congratulations to Faf on his appointment as the natural successor to the ODI

leadership,” Cricket South Africa chief executive Haroon Lorgat said. “He has established himself as one of the best leaders in world cricket and this was reflected in his appointment as the captain for the World XI currently engaged in the T20 Series against Pakistan.” (Sportsmax)

And his initiation into the game of the willowed warriors could date further back, because playing cricket was a favourite pastime for the Sinclairs since the glory days of his grandfather, Carlton, as the backlands of his Angoy’s Avenue community could attest.

This enabled rapid progress for Kevin, who had secured for himself a place on the Police Under-13 team when he was just eight years old, and by the early onset of adolescence was frequently being featured in positive results for his club side.

In 2014, he was one of 14 talented Guyanese who dominated their peers to win the Regional Under-15 Tournament.

The former Canje Secondary student won the accolade for most wickets on the back of some quality off-spin bowling. He also registered a fifty during the said tournament.

His exploits caught the eyes of the selectors, and he was chosen to represent the West Indies Under-15 team for their tour of England. However, he did not make the trip because of visa issues. He was selected for two regional Under-17 tournaments, but his performance was subliminal.

Thus he returned to the drawing board, where he managed to correct some of his flaws and was able to make some significant contributions with bat and ball to Guyana’s double crown honour at this year’s Regional Under-19 Tournament.

If you have never previously heard the name Kevin Sinclair, you could commence paying keen attention to this teenager, because he is very optimistic he would be representing Guyana at the senior level in the next two years. Sinclair favours two West Indies players, Shane Shillingford and Roston Chase as his cricketing heroes.

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

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

GFC, Police to vie for Corona football title

Pg 23

GFC’s Benjamin Opara (no.9) in action against Northern Rangers

Guinness Cage/ Three Peat Promotions Indoor Futsal Pg 22

Chanderpaul’s unbeaten 176 helps West Demerara crush East Bank – win by an innings and 182 runs

Too close to call!

Pg 22

…as semi-final action gets cracking tonight The rush for the final two spots begins tonight at the National Gymnasium

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