Guyanatimes 14 december 2017

Minister of State hands over vehicles for GL&SC regional office P2 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Issue No. 3422

PRICE

Signing bonus scandal

WHAT'S INSIDE:

President admits diverting US$18M from Consolidated Fund …“there was no need to make it public” …claims it’s in an escrow account

Page 3

Parliament drama continues

Undercover cops impersonate Journalists

BV teen was alive when face bashed – postP2 mortem

T&T company launches liquefied natural gas in P9 Guyana

Trio nabbed in Agricola P9 house …after robbing bus driver, passengers

…sit at press table in chambers Page 9 The two undercover cops sitting among Journalists at the press table during the sitting in the National Assembly on Wednesday

Kaneville man robbed, shot by bandits Page 7

2018 Budget estimates

$4.7B approved for Region 2 $6.2B approved for Region 4 …concerns raised over drainage in East Coast Demerara villages …“Do not blame PPP for your ineptitude” – Teixeira to Allicock

$80 vat included

See stories on pages 10 and 11

Armed bandits rob male sex P7 workers Police storming of Parliament

Ramjattan must take full responsibility – Rohee P7 …as President blames PPP/C for ruckus

2 news BV teen was alive Minister of State hands over vehicles for GL&SC regional office when face bashed thursDAY, december 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

M

inister of State Joseph Harmon on Wednesday handed over four vehicles to the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission’s (GL&SC) regional offices.

The handover was made at the Commission’s general staff meeting held on the grounds of the GL&SC Headquarters in D’Urban Backlands, Georgetown.

As part of the 2017 Budget allocation, the Minister handed over two Honda All-terrain vehicles (ATV) for the offices in Region One (BarimaWaini) and Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), as well as two Toyota Land Cruisers for the offices in Region Four (DemeraraMahaica) and Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). The vehicles

– post-mortem

…suspects still being interrogated

A Minister of State, Joseph Harmon presents the keys of the vehicles that were handed over to the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission regional officers in Region Nine

will be used to aid in the work of the Commission for land administration, monitoring, and enforcement.

“I’m extremely proud of the work that is being done by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission… I believe that good work is

being done here and quality work is being done here,” Minister Harmon was quoted by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying.

Minister Harmon also encouraged the staff to continue to exemplify of the value of hard work to other departments in the Government. “Lands and Surveys Commission must be one of the shining examples in Government as to how, with a dedicated

work force, you can turn around an entity in a very short space of time. So, I want to congratulate all of you for that and for being that shining light in Government,” he said.

The programme featured holiday performances from the GL&SC staff as well as presentations of the Managers’ Reports from the Commission’s Finance and Surveys Divisions, and Human Resource and Land Administrations.

s the five men held on suspicion of murdering 18-yearold Qualfon receptionist Raynelle Benfield remain in Police custody, the PostMortem Examination (PME) has confirmed that she was alive when she was bashed in the face.

Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh conducted the autopsy on Monday and determined Benfield’s cause of death as crushed injuries to the face by a blunt object.

The PME also determined that the young woman was not raped at the time of her demise and that the burn marks were as a result of burns from the sun.

Benfield was last seen by colleagues early Saturday evening and was found partly unclothed in a Muslim cemetery near her Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara home just after 07:00h on Monday. As the Police continue to figure out the timeline surrounding the teen’s final hours, the suspects are allegedly reluc-

Murdered receptionist Raynelle Benfield

tant to disclose what they may know about the ghastly crime. It was observed that Police in C Division (East Coast Demerara) were yet to make a breakthrough on the teen’s murder.

The teen’s relatives were on Monday questioned by investigators about her social life and acquaintances which prompted ranks to visit the homes of several young men in the area.

These young men were arrested and one of them was Benfield’s boyfriend, a suspected gang member who had reportedly dated a female relative of Benfield in the recent past.

When the teen’s body was discovered, her hands were resting on her chest while the pair of jeans she was wearing was pulled to her knees. Guyana Times reported that the teen left home on Saturday morning for work and after she did not return home that evening, her relatives were under the impression that she was working overtime. Her colleagues also stated that they last saw her around 18:00h on Saturday.

news

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thursDAY, december 14, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

Signing bonus scandal

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

Thursday, December 14 – a night-time retraction of 02:00h and a daytime retraction of 14:30h-16:00h and Friday, December 15 – a night-time retraction of 03:00h and a daytime retraction of 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, December 14 – 14:15h-15:45h and Friday, December 15 – 14:50h-16:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to light showers can be expected throughout the day, with thundery showers returning in the evening. Temperatures should range between 25 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging from East North Easterly between 4.47 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 01:39h and 13:59h reaching maximum heights of 2.30 metres and 2.42 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 07:30h and 19:59h reaching minimum heights of 0.89 metre and 0.79 metre respectively.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2017

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FREE TICKET

DAILY MILLIONS 7 8 11 18

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LUCKY 3 2 2 9

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

President admits diverting US$18M from Consolidated Fund …“there is no need to make it public” …claims it’s in an escrow account

P

resident David Granger had admitted that he had instructed that the US$18 million signing bonus be placed in a Bank of Guyana account instead of the Consolidated Fund.

The President made the comment on Wednesday as pressure mounts over what has been described as a breach of financial regulations governing such revenues. The President defended the move by saying that it was a legitimate Government of Guyana exercise.

According to Granger, in making such a decision, there was never an intention to deceive the nation but rather the transaction was not revealed because of national security implications.

He claimed that at the time when the US$18 million signing bonus was received, it was meant to be used for “certain matters” which he perceived were of national security interest and at that time, it was the right “thing to do so that we can have access in the event of a national security emergency”.

Speaking to reporters on the sideline of an event at State House on Wednesday, the President said, “…it is a legitimate Government of Guyana exercise. It is in the Bank of Guyana in an escrow account…it was not dishonestly acquired and cannot be used for purposes it was not intended …so, as far as I am concerned, it is a legitimate Government of Guyana practice. The money has not been dishonestly acquired.”

Questioned on the decision to keep the money a secret from Guyanese, the Head of State said that “evidence of non-disclosure does not mean it’s evidence of an intention of deception…there was no need to make it public”.

The Government has been consistently denying receiving the money, but a document by Finance Secretary Hector Butts was leaked to Guyana Times and it stated there was a request that the Bank of Guyana’s Governor set up a special account to deposit the money.

A few months ago, Chartered Accountant, Christopher Ram, revealed to the nation that Government had collected a US$20-million-dollar signing bonus from the oil company.

However, Government’s receipt of this bonus was denied by Finance Minister Winston Jordan; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; and Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, who had all pleaded ignorance of the bonus when asked by the media.

After the leaked doc-

President David Granger speaking with the media on Wednesday

ument was published by Guyana Times, ExxonMobil has since said that they in fact paid US$18 million over to the Government.

In lashing out at the Government for lying to the nation, Ram has since called for an inquiry to be held into all deals negotiated by the Natural Resources Ministry, and for criminal charges to be instituted against ministers at the centre of the controversy.

Now that the proverbial cat is out of the bag, Ram noted, there are immediate and longer-term implications of this saga from which Guyana may forever suffer.

One of these implications, he pointed out, is that high-level officials of the Finance Ministry, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, and the Bank of Guyana -- inclusive of the Audit Committee

-- have been ensnared in this conspiracy.

Ram added it means that Article 216 of the Constitution of Guyana has been knowingly violated; “that critical information contained in the Estimates of Expenditure now being considered by the National Assembly is inaccurate, incorrect and meaningless; that the 2016 financial statements of the Government and of the Consolidated Fund are for 2016 similarly deficient.”

Meanwhile, in light of revelations Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has called for the resignation of the entire Government after they deceived Guyanese.

Turn to page 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, december 14, 2017

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

Drawing a line T

he citizens of Guyana will have to draw a line in the sand on the creeping subversion of the rule of law that is a disturbing sign of a return to the dark days of the PNC’s dictatorial rule between 1968 and 1985 under Forbes Burnham, the party’s “founder leader”. There are too many examples abounding of institutions outside their legal remit taking unilateral political decisions that plunge their countries into the political abyss.

It usually begins with seemingly innocuous actions without the authority of the civilian agencies to which they answer. When this intrusion is part of a pattern of violations of the rule of law, the vigilance of the citizenry becomes critical since dictatorships are usually constructed in broad daylight, while the citizens are inattentive. Earlier this week, the acting Chief Justice ruled that the unilateral action by President David Granger to annul the leases of several West Coast Berbice farmers was illegal. It is very hopeful that the court has drawn its own line in the sand against a president who had labelled a prior ruling as “perception” and that he is entitled to his own “perception”. We do not believe this latest ruling will serve to disabuse the President of his misapprehension of the “separation of powers” doctrine and his encouragement of the traducing of the rule of law.

Not surprisingly, the President’s cavalier attitude has affected other officials of his government and almost every day one can read of further transgressions. The secreting of a “signing bonus” by Exxon in the Bank of Guyana (BoG) for over a year by two senior Ministers – the Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman and the Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan – and not the Consolidated Fund as mandated by the Constitution (Article 216) is only the most egregious transgression.

The fact that the two Ministers can try to alternately stonewall and offer patently specious “reasons” for their breaking of the law demonstrates their contempt for the Guyanese people, but it is grounded in them following a president giving short shrift, if any, to even the highest laws of Guyana. What has been very unfortunate is the partisan lines along which the citizenry has been split towards these transgressions, evidently oblivious to the encouragement it offers to our country’s inevitable slide into authoritarianism, at best, and to a dictatorship, at worst.

The most recent undermining of the rule of law, ironically, but, maybe prophetically, just occurred in the National Assembly, the locus of the promulgation of the laws of this country. The Speaker invoked his power via a procedural rule, to deny an MP’s substantive right to speak on the issue before the House in fulfilment of his duty as a representative of the people. While one may argue that the Speaker should not have allowed procedure to trump substance, he was still technically acting “legally”.

What followed when the MP refused to sit, however, demonstrated the extent to how far Guyana has proceeded on the slippery slope towards a dictatorship. Policemen entered the Parliament and manhandled (there were no female Police present) a ring of MPs in attempting to arrest the silenced MP. The 500-year-old tradition that led to the rule where no Police or even the President can enter Parliament without its permission was broken with impunity.

In 1642, the then Speaker of the House of Commons, said to King Charles I, who tried to enter the House to arrest some MPs: “May it please Your Majesty, I have neither eyes to see, nor tongue to speak in this place, but as the House is pleased to direct me, whose servant I am here, and I humbly beg Your Majesty’s pardon that I cannot give any other answer than this to what Your Majesty is pleased to demand of me.”

The chastened King departed and the rule was set in stone for Assemblies following the British Westminster tradition. Our Speaker claimed he did not summon the Police. There must be an inquiry immediately to ascertain who did and condign action should follow.

Digicel brought Christmas cheer to almost 100 children drawn from five orphanages around Georgetown. The children enjoyed face painting, storytelling and other attractions for almost the entire day on Wednesday in the compound of the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMRSC)

That breach of security Dear Editor, The elected MP who breached security barricade but did not enter the hal-

lowed Chamber was arrested.

The female Santa who not only breached security barriers but all security –

both external and internal – and entered the hallowed Chamber cannot even be located, much less arrested.

Oh, what a tangled web.

Sincerely, Shamshun Mohamed

Political platitudes of peace and goodwill Dear Editor, The extension of greetings to the Guyanese religious communities on the occasions of religious events of deep significance can be expected from politicians and political parties as routine, public relations, patronising interventions with the aim of scoring political points, however cheap. Many believers of the faith-based religions of our people of Hinduisms, Islam, Christianity and others are not impressed with such empty statements.

The politicians use some generalised message associated with a religious event to project a self-centred image of ‘tolerance and respect.’ Many question the

sincerity and motives of these political operatives, unmindful perhaps of the deep religious and theological interpretations of these events.

This Christmas 2017, we can expect the usual public relations platitudes from our elected, and appointed high public servants of the Guyanese people – servants, not lords of the people. Public officials are expected to function with a deep sense of servant-hood to the people, and with high integrity in obeying the Constitution and the laws of Guyana. Those in public offices are required to discharge their public duties as servants of the people in a fair, openly transparent, in-

clusively participative, and must be subject to personal and public accountability all times, without lies and deception in the discharge of public duties; all in the best national interest.

Members of the governing authorities of the executive and the National Assembly, and other public servants, instead of extending Christmas greetings to the nations, in our politically divisive and polarised national context which is laced with political venom, should extend the message of Christmas to each other in the Executive and the National Assembly. The Christmas message of hope, peace, joy, and love can be extended to each other in

the governing authorities, who are called in the national interest, to genuinely practice these in the daily conduct of the people’s business. It can serve to imitate genuine national reconciliation and healing in our badly wounded political culture.

What a great and wonderful Christmas gift to all the people of this fair land of ours! Let the Speaker and the members of the National Assembly, Ministers of Government in the political executives, and all in public offices lead by example and be worthy role models in Guyana.

Yours faithfully, Samuel J Goolsarran

President erred Dear Editor, In the news article stating that President David Granger has taken full responsibility for the US$18 million ExxonMobil signing bonus not being placed in the Consolidated Fund, claiming that the money was escrow for national security emergency reasons.

This is admirable of President David Granger,

but the money was not escrow at all. It was to be invested which means the account was basically an SWF (Sovereign Wealth Fund).

An escrow account tends to involve an impartial third party where the money is held in trust. The Finance Ministry and the Bank of Guyana are two Government agencies. So, there is no impartial third

party to the transaction.

What President David Granger is effectively saying would be the same as me saying that I have savings for a holiday trip to Guyana, so the money is escrow. No it is not. It would only be escrow if the APNU/AFC Government of President David Granger could not access the money for any other reasons than

legal fees in an account held by an impartial third party.

Nowhere in the letter to the Bank of Guyana did it mention escrow or legal fees. It does mention investing in secured interest-bearing securities.

The account was an SWF. Yours faithfully, Sean Ori

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, december 14, 2017

5

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

No appetite to provide truthful answers Dear Editor, The world is aware that I have been suspended from the National Assembly and that I cannot ask questions or participate in the scrutiny of the 2018 Estimates of Expenditure.

I would not use this forum to augment my case on the justification for the principled position that I took on Monday, December 11, 2017, in the National Assembly of Guyana, but rather I will seek to make clear for all and sundry to see the misinformation that is being disseminated (“fake news”). It appears that (another sections of the media) seems determined in its reporting to excuse the Government’s incompetence and to soften the impact of its venality through misleading articles.

Case 1: On December 13, 2017, page 3 another sections of the media had: ‘’Govt. to withhold almost US$7M from contractor in delayed CJIA project’’.

The headline seems to suggest that the government is concerned about the quality of work and the enforcement of terms and conditions of the said contract,

but failed to report that they (the government) have reworked the scope of the original project. Guyana is paying more but getting less on this contract. Instead of eight (8) Air Bridges, we are only getting two (2); instead of a new terminal, we are getting a renovated terminal building; and the general square footage have been significantly reduced. This project is way behind schedule in terms of both the runway and the buildings. In simple language, this project is in deep shambles.

This kind of exposure is what the Government is doing everything in its power to avoid and would have seemingly engage friendly media houses to carry its dangerous propaganda.

The excuses of costs of materials and exchange rates, if not specifically stated in a fixed priced contract, do not apply.

The CJIA contract is a design, built and deliver turnkey project, financed to the tune of US$138M from the China EXIM Bank and US$12M from the Government of Guyana.

The fact of the matter is that, under the APNU/AFC

administration this project has been grossly mismanaged and the people of Guyana are getting less than what was originally agreed upon in the contract.

Thanks to the incompetence of the David Granger- lead government and his Minister of Public Infrastructure.

Case 2: On December 13, 2017, page 8, that media house had a headline ‘’No monies set aside for new Demerara River Bridge’’.

It was disclosed in the National Assembly by the Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Annetta Ferguson that, “No monies were set aside in the budget for the new Demerara River Bridge”.

Despite the Minister of Finance in his budget speech and the Minister of Public Infrastructure in his public discourse, reported in various sections of the media, that, ‘’we will have the new bridge beginning construction in 2018’’. Where is the money coming from?

Why did that media house not report that this project has been mired in controversy, as it relates to the

sole-sourcing of the consultancy for the feasibility study, even though,` more than a dozen other contractors submitted expressions of interest?

The Nation is still to be told the truth about who financed this consultancy, we are also still awaiting information on how the alignment of the western end of this bridge ended up on a property of an known PNCR financier.

The Nation is still to be told of the total cost of land acquisition to facilitate this construction. The Nation still awaits the answer on the total cost of land acquisition for the approach roads and the total cost of its construction. In essence, this ‘’pie in the sky’’ project, with its ‘’ice cream promises’’, with no transparency and accountability is one of a long list of corrupt projects that the APNU/AFC government machinery is dodging and unwilling to truthfully address during the consideration of the 2018 estimates.

Case 3: On December 13, 2017 the same media entity reported ‘’1.5 million records digitised by Ministry of Citizenship’’ :- Ministry of

the Presidency, Citizenship and Immigration Service’s Program 055’ One hundred and forty one (141) persons are employed under this programme, the total sum budgeted for 2017, was $149,926 million. Total sum budgeted for 2018, is $200,197million. The Minister Winston Felix informed the National Assembly that 80 persons from the 141 employees of his Ministry are involved in a special project, beyond normal working hours.

These 80 persons are paid for their overtime work, under line item 6284. In 2017, the sum paid to these 80 persons was $194million and the sum to be paid in 2018 is $218 million. This sum to be paid to these 80 employees exceeds the total employment cost for the entire 141 staff complement.

It therefore means, that 80 persons in this department are paid a ‘’top up’’ that is the equivalent to 100% or more of their basic salary.

This is a gross illegality and a financial heresy unheard of before.

• Are these persons engaged in an exercise that can lead to reproduction of

false or fake documents?

• Does this have anything to do with the Haitians arriving in Guyana and disappearing thereafter, having been met at the air-side by known government operatives, why is the same not done for the Cubans and Venezuelans arrivals?

• Does this special exercise and distribution of birth certificates have any bearing on sourcedocuments to be used in the preparation of the 2020 voters list.....Is this to facilitate election rigging? We need to follow the money.

These are the questions that the David Grangerlead government has no appetite to entertain and provide truthful answers. The guillotine and the time-delay tactics that is being used to suppress scrutiny must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

Let the public discussion on these and other matters continue.

Until the next time.

Yours in service to Guyanese, Bishop Juan A Edghill PPP/C MP

Govt deserted sugar workers in their time of need Dear Editor, Our Union refers to Mr Abel Seetaram’s letter – Sugar workers, their families and the PPP –- which appeared in one of the newspapers on December 6, 2017.

Mr Seetaram, in seeking to defend his Government’s callous, cold-hearted approach to the sugar industry, has sought to find scapegoats as a means in order to justify the unconscionable actions taken by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration. This is indeed saddening and speaks to the illogicality being employed to defend the indefensible.

Mr Seetaram said our Union was aware that the industry was bankrupt prior to May 2015. This, however, is far from reality. The GAWU’s first indication of GuySuCo’s financial difficulties was on May 25, 2015 when the then CEO invited us and NAACIE to advise that the industry was facing a cash crunch. Immediately, our Union having been appraised issued a public statement and informed workers of what was brewing. This is the approach any responsible, duty-bound organisation would take.

The letter writer, as he continues to mount an unconvincing defence, charges that if his Government was

intent on closing sugar “… they would have used the recommendations in May 2015”. What recommendations is he speaking about?

This is the first time we heard of such recommendations, maybe Mr Seetaram would care to enlighten the public. But forgetting that the letter writer seems to be in an obvious state of confusion, isn’t he aware that the Government at this very time is closing substantial sections of the sugar industry, something Agriculture Minister Noel Holder revealed had been hatched over two years ago. No amount of window dressing can obscure that sad reality.

Mr Seetaram then goes on saying: “This government wants to make the industry profitable again, and that is why they have decided to close a few estates…”. But, President David Granger addressing a UN activity in Kenya, recently, is reported to have said that we must put people before profits. It seems that Mr Seetaram and the President are not at one on this matter. However, words apart, it is disappointing that the State has chosen to impoverish Guyanese in the interest of profits.

We are also told by the erstwhile gentleman that his Government “…will seek ways for those workers who will lose their work

to regain employment. Yes, I see alternatives will be put in place for those workers”. On this score, could Mr Seetaram point to those alternatives he is seeing. We are aware that Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had announced that no alternatives were yet in place.

Clearly, again it seems, the letter writer should have his eyes, if not other things, examined.

But while the heavy touting of alternatives for the workers continue, today, hopelessness, misery, anxiety and worry have gripped the sugar belt. The thou-

sands who will now swell the ranks of the unemployed which has grown significantly since the APNU/AFC took office remain clearly unaware of what next to do. Their “hard working and people’s Government”, as Mr Seetaram puts it, has deserted them at a time when

they require a caring and comforting hand and not the fake mouthings of the likes of someone, as Mr Seetaram is obviously.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

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thursDAY, DECember 14, 2017

Page

Foundation

Give your spouse the gift of a parenting marriage this year

guyanatimesgy.com

Santa Claus is no longer

coming to town

By Susan Pease Gadoua

A

re you just not feeling it with your spouse this holiday season?

Perhaps things have been a bit rough for you and your husband or wife for some time and you're pretty "over it."

You might even be thinking about filing for divorce come January.

Before you do anything rash, consider this alternative to divorce – especially if you have kids and you co-parent well: a Parenting Marriage.

This might be a good fit for you if you've been married for a long time, you both feel that the romantic love connection died long ago, you continue to go through the motions of being a family, and you long for a more fulfilled existence.

This alternative is a compromise between staying unhappily, and divorcing yet it draws from the best of both. That may sound funny since neither option is terribly good but, hear me out.

In a Parenting Marriage, you continue to raise your kids together in a stable environment. You continue to draw from one pool of money and you don't have to double your expenses as you would in a divorce. You have the option to come together as family or have a separate social life apart from your spouse (which may or may not include dating but that is one of the details you would work out between you). In a Parenting Marriage, you both get to see your kids every day. And, as one person said, "You get to avoid the loneliness of divorce." In a nutshell, the shift you are making is one away from an emotion-based marriage to a purpose-based marriage. You will no longer expect to share mutual ro-

mantic love with your marriage partner and instead, you can focus on the tasks and responsibilities of raising your children together.

I have been helping couples make this very transition for over a decade and I am seeing an amazing thing happen: Couples that felt helpless and hopeless that they would ever have a sense of peace and happiness until the kids had flown the coop are finding a

new sense of freedom and excitement.

Couples are no longer having to defer their happiness in order to avoid putting their children through splitting the family up like living in two homes and all the social, financial and familial stress that goes along with divorce.

I keep tabs on why people are seeking out a Parenting Marriage. One question I have asked interested folks was "What do you hope to accomplish by transitioning to a Parenting Marriage?"

Here are some of the answers I received from a recent survey (these percentages add up to more than 100 per cent because people could check more than one answer): Eighty-three per cent of respondents said they were choosing a Parenting Marriage in order to raise their children in a stable environment; 72 per cent said that they wanted to do a Parenting Marriage to spare their kids from having to live in two homes; 28 per cent said that they wanted to do a Parenting Marriage in order to ease into divorce (novel concept!) and 18 per cent of respondents said that they wanted to do a Parenting Marriage in order to save enough money to get divorced (another novel concept!).

Other answers people gave were, "the chance that maybe reconciliation could occur given time", "to explore how I really feel", "[to] get organised with my ex as a friend", "bring structure to the last remaining part of our relationship — parenting our special needs child [and remove] anger from failure of the romantic marriage", "give me a chance to reenter the workforce and establish myself after all these years as a stay-at-home mom." As you can see, a Parenting Marriage is a healthy alternative to divorce for many reasons. Given how obvious the benefits are, you may be wondering why it isn't more mainstream. One answer is that the law doesn't recognize the Parenting Marriage concept. From the court's perspective, you are either married, or at some stage of separation or divorce (this includes legal separation). (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

– how and when children find out the truth

By John D Rich Jr, PhD

I

n an unsigned editorial on September 21, 1897, veteran newsman Francis Pharcelius Church answered 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon’s query, “Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?” with this reply: "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist…Alas! How dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus…We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished…Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies!” The last I checked, fairies don’t exist, do they? Given the opportunity to “Please tell [Virginia] the truth,” Mr Church not only lent his credibility to the Santa Claus myth, but he also tied belief in Santa Claus to a belief in “love and generosity and devotion.” When Virginia grew up and realised that Santa Claus was not real after all, did it cause any sense of disappointment or betrayal? Or worse, a cynicism about these important virtues?

My wife and I have never used the Santa story in our house. I've honestly never really seen the point. I work hard for my money so if I'm going to give my children gifts, I want the credit! In addition, I wanted to be consistently honest with my children, and this story seemed to have the potential to call my trustworthiness into question. It's possible that children believe in the Santa myth for longer than they would normally, except that the people they trust more than anyone else in the world, their parents, are insisting that it is real. My scientific mind worried that my children could be traumatized by the eventual discovery of the truth. It turns out that my worries were unfounded.

Are children at risk of a traumatic discovery?

In an article about the reactions that children have when they find out that Santa is not real [2], the vast majority of children had positive reactions. In fact, it was the parents who were saddened that the myth was over. In my interactions with parents whose children may be finding out the truth, I hear a similar sadness. It seems that parents go along with the Santa Claus story as part of a larger desire for their children to be allowed to just be children. The belief in magic and some ethereal, otherworldly realm, where life is freedom and goodness, is a gift that some parents want their children to have.

What's interesting from a psychological perspective is the difference between the Santa story and almost every other fantasy character to whom children are introduced.

When parents play with their children, pretending to be Spider-Man or Wonder Woman, or Snow White, there is an implicit understanding that the play is just pretend. There are no efforts on the part of parents to convince a child that Spider-Man is real. By contrast, Santa (and, less so, the Easter Bunny and the tooth fairy) is not only a part of the Christmas magic but is also purported to be a real person, whose magic requires belief in his actuality.

In spite of this insistence, somewhere along the line, usually around the age of eight or nine, children begin to realise that the Santa story is full of flaws and leaps of spatiotemporal faith that cannot be sustained. In some cases, children may figure it out long before they "come out of the closet" to their parents as unbelievers, because they sense that it means so much to their parents that they hold onto their childish beliefs. Perhaps the sadness parents feel is just another example of the melancholic nostalgia we all have when we think about how small and cute our children used to be? Our goal is to help them grow up but there's a part of us that wants them to stay small. (Excerpt from psychologytoday. com)

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thursDAY, december 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Police storming of Parliament

Ramjattan must take full responsibility – Rohee …as President blames PPP/C for ruckus

F

ormer Home Affairs Minister and Opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Clement Rohee, has cast blame on his successor Khemraj Ramjattan for allowing a matter that didn’t require the Police presence to be blown out of proportion in the Parliament Chambers on Monday.

Rohee said as the Minister who has responsibility for the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Ramjattan may have been responsible for calling in the Police and he thinks the Minister should therefore bear full responsibility for the assault on both the male and female Opposition MPs. “As long as it was not a criminal offence, neither the Speaker nor the Clerk of the National Assembly have the authority to call on the Commissioner of Police(ag) to take action in a matter at the Chambers of the Parliament.

The decision to call in the Police had to be taken at a political level in which the Minister of National Security must have been involved,” the former Minister alleged.

Rohee argued only that Minister has the legal authority to give 'general orders and directions' to the Commissioner of Police (ag) who in turn, given his 'command of the Force' would issue orders to the Commander 'A' Division of GPF to proceed

Chaos erupted in Parliament when Police stormed the chambers President David Granger

to the Parliament to 'deal' with the situation therein.

The Opposition MP said based on these theories, there is absolutely no mystery about how the Police got involved in the events on Monday at the Chambers of the Parliament.

“It was Ramjattan's call to the Commissioner of Police (ag) that gave rise to the arrival of Police ranks at the senior and junior levels at the Chambers of Parliament. In the circumstances, therefore it is Ramjattan who must take full responsibility for the gross, brutal and highly unprofessional assault by junior ranks of the GPF on the women parliamentarians of the Republic of Guyana,” he alleged.

More importantly, Rohee claimed that it was blatantly

Former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

obvious that the ranks were unprepared, if not totally untrained to deal with the situation obtaining at that time in the Parliament Chambers.

He observed that there were no female among the Police ranks present who allegedly assaulted the women MP's in what he described as “brutish efforts” to extricate MP Edghill from his seat.

“The orders given by a rank of the Force to attack the circle of both male and female MPs supporting MP Edghill is tantamount to gross misconduct and a breach of the Standing Orders of the GPF,” he added.

The former Minister said the women MPs who were allegedly assaulted had sought medical attention and now

has in their possession medicals from certified and registered physicians to prove their claims of physical assault and injuries caused by ranks of the GPF. “And whose presence can only be explained by the instructions issued to the Commissioner of Police (ag)

by Ramjattan as the Minister who has responsibility for the Guyana Police Force and who in the final analysis must bear full responsibility,” the Opposition MP added.

Unprecedented Providing his view on what took place in the Parliament Chambers on Monday, President David Granger was quick to cast full responsibility on the Opposition without giving a full analysis of the issue.

Armed bandits rob male sex workers R anks on patrol duty Tuesday night arrested a suspect after he was found in possession of a motorcycle that was minutes before stolen from two male sex workers.

Guyana Times understands that the sex workers were seated on the motor-

cycle at the corner of Croal Street and Orange Walk, Georgetown when they were suddenly pounced upon by four armed males, who pulled up in a motor car.

The bandits relieved the victims of their valuables, including the motorcycle and their cellphones. However,

during their escape bid, one of the bandits was disarmed by the two sex workers of a .32 pistol, which was loaded with five live rounds.

The incident was reported and patrol ranks who were in the vicinity of the Bourda Market, responded swiftly and pursued the 24-year-old

suspect, who was eventually arrested on Camp Street with the victims’ motorcycle.

He was positively identified by the sex workers and is cooperating with investigators. Meanwhile, the weapon that was taken away from the bandits was also handed over to the Police by the victims.

Kaneville man robbed, shot by bandits

A

30-year-old East Bank Demerara (EBD) resident has been hospitalised in critical condition after he was shot by armed bandits just after midnight on Tuesday.

The injured man has

been identified as Ishwar Ramanah, called “Jack”, a machine operator from Macaw Drive, Kaneville, EBD. The incident occurred at 00:10h at the victim’s home.

According to reports, Ramanah was attacked by

two armed men, who relieved him of a gold chain valued $40,000. However, the bandits shot the man once in the abdomen before making good their escape.

The injured man was taken to seek medical attention

at a medical facility and has undergone surgery.

The Police have since recovered a spent shell of a small calibre weapon at the scene. No arrests have been made. Investigations are continuing.

Magistrate Azore hears intriguing assault case

By Paula Gomes

I

f one ever has the opportunity to sit in the courtroom of some magistrates, particularly Fabayo Azore’s on a Wednesday, then one knows that there is no end to the disputes which flood in on a weekly basis – some of which are particularly humorous. Such was the case of Andrew Sharples, a 51-yearold Stabroek Market stall operator, of A Field Sophia,

Greater Georgetown.

The charge against this defendant stated that on November 24, 2017, he unlawfully assaulted Desmond Gordon, occasioning actual bodily harm. nHe was also accused of using abusive language and threatening behaviour to the Virtual Complainant (VC). Sharples readily pleaded guilty to all three charges and indicated that he wished not to waste the court’s time.

According to the man, the VC who was known to him for over 15 years would communicate fabricated tales of Sharples’ extra-marital affairs to his wife. One of the confrontations between the parties took a particularly nasty twist when the complainant punched the defendant to his face and Sharples naturally responded with equal violence. “He bit my lip and I bite back…it was a quick thing and I am really sorry…

it was an unfortunate incident and I don’t want to waste the court’s time,” he remorsefully told the Magistrate.

Having considered his early guilty plea and remorse, Magistrate Azore had the case discharged for good.

The other party has also been charged with the offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm to which he pleaded not guilty. That case is before another court for trial.

While he condemned the action, the President’s focus was only on Edghill whom he claimed displayed a vulgar behaviour. He said the Opposition Parliamentarians’ behaviour was also unprecedented. “It was a very poor display on the part of Mr Edghill and his colleagues to demonstrate to the public and to our children that the honourable House should be the scene of such a disorderly show,” he opined. Granger said the same respect given to him, or the Chancellor of the Judiciary, should also be given to the Speaker of the House who is the head of the legislative arm of the Government.

“I can’t imagine that the Speaker should be faced with that type of vulgarity… the head of the legislative branch (of Government) must be treated with respect,” the President declared.

However, the President did not address the other issues which saw Police ranks entering the Chambers of

Parliament and attempting to arrest Opposition MP Juan Edghill.

The President said he is opened to meeting with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to address any concern that would address any issues that they might be facing as an Opposition.

The Opposition has repeatedly stated it is disappointed with the manner in which the Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland, who is perceived to be bias, handled the matter.

While the Speaker has denied calling in the Police to have the elected Opposition MP removed, it has been reported that the Speaker may have passed that instruction.

The Opposition feels that even if its MP broke the Standing Order the issue could have been dealt with properly to avoid it to escalate to the point it did on Monday.

Following the incident with Edghill on Monday, the MP was suspended for four days.

President admits diverting US$18M from....

On Friday, during his Budget 2018 presentation, Jagdeo noted the fact that a special account was set up breaches the financial laws of the country, while adding that the monies ought to have been deposited into the account of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) or the Consolidated Fund.

Jagdeo contended that the funds should have been included in the budget, adding that it was understated by over $4 billion. This, he said, is grounds to call for the withdrawing of the entire 2018 estimates because it translates to being not only fraudulent but also illegal.

Adding its voice to the condemnation of the Government's action, the Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI) and other anti-corruption advocates are up in arms over revelations that Government had moved to open a secret account with the Bank of Guyana (BoG) to facilitate receipt of a signing bonus.

According to the TIGI,

FROM PAGE 3

the coalition, while on the Opposition benches, had been vociferous about the transparent management of state finances. Now that it has formed the Government, it is failing to show that it can accountably manage oil resources.

Government’s receipt of this bonus was initially denied by Finance Minister Winston Jordan; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; and Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman, who had all pleaded ignorance of the bonus when asked by the media.

After months of denial, the Natural Resources Minister on Friday told the National Assembly that Government did receive a large sum of money from oil giant ExxonMobil following the signing of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA).

The Finance Minister also admitted that the money was received. ExxonMobil has since said that the company paid over the money to Government last year.

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thursDAY, december 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Arrested 3 months after hit-and-run accident

Berbice businessman on $1M bail for causing teen’s death

P

olice ranks in Berbice have been able to locate the car which was involved in a hit-andrun accident at Number 55 Village, Corentyne back in September and have also arrested the driver.

Reports are that Police got the breakthrough with the aid of a close relative of the suspect.

It was the man's son-inlaw who reportedly provided the information to the Police almost three months after the accident which killed 19-year-old Trishan Sahai, also called “Star”, of Number 57 Village, Corentyne and injured his 28-year-old friend, Mooneshwar Jairam, also called “Bodo”, of the same village.

Reports are that after the driver's daughter and her husband encountered some marital problems, he told the Police that it was his father-in-law who was involved in the September 17 hit-and-run accident at Number 55 Village in front of a bar.

One of the persons Police immediately arrested was the man's wife, Roshnie Iyube, in whose name the car is registered.

The woman said that she had no knowledge that her car was involved in a hit-and-run accident.

According to her, she was led to believe that her husband had hit an animal and it was not until six weeks after that the car was fixed.

During that time, it remained in the garage. The woman told Guyana Times

Dead: Trishan Sahai, also called “Star”

that last Friday evening, a party of Police Officers visited their Bath Settlement home.

"When I come out, they ask me who is my husband and I told them Sultan Iyube and they say that is not the name they have for him and then they ask for my name and after I give them they told my husband that he is under arrest for some accident and then they told me that I am under arrest too,” the woman said.

The couple were initially taken to the Fort Wellington Police Station and then to Central Police Station in New Amsterdam.

The suspected hit-and-run driver was eventually detained at Reliance while his wife went to Sisters Village. During the investigation, the suspect took investigators to the scene and pointed out where it was that he hit the two men.

He also told investigators that he thought it was

an animal, but related that in the rearview mirror, he could see persons rushing towards the object he had hit.

According to Roshnie Iyube, when her husband arrived home on the night in question, he told her that he had damaged the car after hitting something on the road. “When I look, I see the headlamp break on the left side and the rearview mirror on the left side break and the bumper have a little scratch and I told him once there is life, we can always fix that," the woman said.

Back in September, a motor car with an unknown registration plate was proceeding north along the Corentyne Highway at a fast pace and struck down Sahai and Jairam, who were walking across the Highway at Number Naught Village.

Sahai was tossed some 30 feet away from the impact point while Jairam landed on top of a parked motor car, breaking the windscreen and rearview mirror in the process.

However, the speeding driver did not stop. Both men were taken to the Skeldon Hospital, where Sahai was pronounced dead while Jairam was transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital.

Iyube says following the accident, her husband was unusually quiet for several days. The damaged car was fixed six weeks after the accident. During that period, it remained parked in the

garage.

Meanwhile, the dead man's stepfather, Haroon Hamid, says he is happy that the Police have been able to crack the case.

"When we get that news, we felt a little relieved to know that after a while the Police were still trying and now they get to apprehend him. We must give thanks and compliment the Police for doing such a wonderful job. We hope that justice will prevail," he said.

Meanwhile, the mother of 28-year-old Jairam expressed gratitude, saying she had given up hope.

“On to now, he is not well as he was before. He still cries out for his head and his shoulder that is paining up to now,” she said.

Sultan Iyube, 48, of Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, appeared at the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday before Magistrate Charlyn Artiga to answer four charges.

The West Coast Berbice businessman was placed on $1 million bail and ordered to lodge his travel documents after he was arraigned on four charges, including causing death by dangerous driving.

Iyube was not required to plead to the causing death charge. He was also charged with failing to stop following an accident, failing to render assistance and failing to report an accident on the same day.

He will have to return to court on December 27.

(Andrew Carmichael)

Man fined for damaging car window

…during parking lot fracas

A

n East Bank Demerara (EBD) electrician on Wednesday received a fine after he admitted to damaging the car window of a man who he is accusing of attempting to run him down with his car.

Kevin Hamilton, 34, of 422 “A” Republic Park, EBD, pleaded guilty with explanation to the charge of damage to property read to him by Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

That charge stated that on October 2, 2017, at Carmichael Street, Georgetown, he unlawfully damaged one car window

valued $150,000.

The defendant explained to the court that on the day in question, he was attempting to drive into the parking lot of his place of employment, but was prevented from doing so by a man standing guard at the lot.

Hamilton said he was told that he could not park there, but knowing that random persons would usually park in the lot, he explained to the new guard that he worked at the company.

He added that he was still prevented from enter-

ing the lot and as such, a tug of war ensued between himself and the guard.

He noted that in anger he left in order to avoid a further confrontation with the guard, but later returned and exited his vehicle as someone else was attempting to enter the said parking lot.

Hamilton revealed that he was in the way of that person and as such, the man drove his vehicle at a fast pace and in the process struck his foot, causing him to receive injuries.

Hamilton relayed that in

anger, he hit the man’s car window causing it to break.

The defendant further explained that he agreed to pay to have the damage fixed, but could only afford $50,000 as opposed to the $165,000 being requested by the Virtual Complainant (VC).

As such, the matter was reported to the Police and the defendant was arrested and charged.

Magistrate Azore fined Hamilton $75,000, with a default sentence of eight months imprisonment if he fails to pay the fine

Ruimveldt man remanded for ganja possession

A

31-year-old man who was allegedly caught by Police with a quantity of cannabis was on Wednesday remanded to prison by city Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

Roberto Charles of Pineapple Street, East Ruimveldt, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and denied the

charge brought against him.

He denied that on December 12, 2017, at the Stabroek Market area, he was found to be in possession of 354 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

The Court heard from Police Prosecutor Simone Payne that on the day in question, the defendant was

observed by Police on patrol to be acting in a suspicious manner. However, as Police approached him, he was seen giving a bag which was in his hand to another person The said bag was examined by the ranks, and seeds, leaves and stems suspected to be cannabis were found.

Charles was arrested and taken to the Brickdam Police Station where the cannabis was weighed and found to be 354 grams. He was told of the offence, cautioned, and charged.

Charles was remanded to prison and was scheduled to reappear in court on January 10, 2018.

Unrestrained…

W

…governmental spending power ell, the PNC/APNU/AFC have now acquired the legal fig leaf to spend the money of the citizens any which way they want to. Not that they didn’t do that when the PPP could scrutinise the Budget: with them having the majority in the National Assembly, it really didn’t matter WHAT the PPP said.

The “ayes” always had it – and the Speaker didn’t even bother to lift his head up before banging his gavel!!

But at least the PPP went on the Hansard to record their position on the spending – and it’s clear that the PNC (forget the rest!!) doesn’t even want to offer them this sop. Take the specific line item that precipitated the Speaker’s ruling on Edghill. This wasn’t some inconsequential matter – it had to do with a huge, unexplained, new expenditure of $68 million proposed for the Presidency.

Now, of course, your Eyewitness understands there was an agreement on the time limits for the specific Budget agencies – and the time was up for the “Ministry of the Presidency”. But if the law is not “an ass” – one has to assume the law-making body, the National Assembly and it’s Speaker that controls it – aren’t also asinine. There should have been an accommodation by the Speaker to deal with MP Edghill’s query.

Back in the early days in the development of the Common Law which still guides our legal system, there were also strict rules that the Judges couldn’t vary from! That straight-jacket gave rise to quite ridiculous (not to mention unfair) results that forced the Judiciary to introduce a notion called “equity”. Under these rules – called the Maxims of Equity – there were new common-sense rules that allowed the courts to “do the right thing” and not let the law be made “an ass”. This view was summarised in one of the Maxims: “Equity sees that as done what ought to be done.”

Now what should Speaker Scotland have done?

Edghill was clearly not filibustering and wasting the Assembly’s time. He was seeking legitimate answers that fulfilled his remit to scrutinise the spending of the taxpayers’ money. The Speaker should have applied the spirit of the Maxim of Equity; “Equity aids the vigilant, not those who slumber on their rights.” Edghill was being vigilant on behalf of the Guyanese citizenry – and God knows he needed to be…think “bonus!” – and he should’ve been aided.

So we have the Speaker facilitating more Government spending like building a wood-ants-infested stadium for $1.5 billion; a pharma warehouse that wasn’t; an illegal single-sourced $605 million pharma contract etc.

The Government now has carte blanche to “do what dey want wid we!” …lying Just when the Infrastructure Minister rose in your Eyewitness’ estimation – because of his principled stand against his AFC leaders’ betrayal of their (stated) founding principles – he ups and bursts the balloon. For more than a year, he’s been promising that construction of the new Demerara Bridge will begin in 2018. Now that blessed year is less than a month away – yet, lo and behold!! – there’s not a penny allocated for it in the present (unscrutinised) budget!

Now, you perceptive readers might point out the bridge is supposed to be a “Build, Operate, Own and Transfer” (BOOT) venture and the Government doesn’t have to spend anything. And you’d be wrong!! Think – at the minimum – of the approaches to be built on both sides of the bridge. The Government has to take care of that.

More specifically, they have to set aside money to pay its financier Stanley Ming for the land he snapped up on the Versailles end, with his insider tip!!

Political investors, after all, must be paid!!

…Presidential tomfoolery After all the protestations that Patterson’s GECOM appointment satisfied President Granger’s own criteria, we’re informed he’s still the AG’s advisor!!

Or is that just AG Williams’ “perception”??!! What about the President’s? Forget about the Judiciary!!

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

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thursDAY, december 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Parliament drama continues

Undercover cops impersonate Journalists …sit at press table in chambers

T&T company launches liquefied natural gas in Guyana …DDL reportedly using product for 15% of its power grid

A

nother situation almost escalated in Parliament on Wednesday when two plain clothes Police Officers took turns pretending to be reporters while sitting at the press table in the National Assembly.

When day three of the meeting of the Committee of Supply commenced on Wednesday, the journalists noticed a strange person sitting at the press table but raised no alarm. However, as the day progressed, and it was observed that the stranger made no attempt to fit in nor communicate with other journalists, this left reporters suspicious.

That suspicion was heightened when the first stranger was replaced by a second one, who acted in the same manner. It was also observed that the second stranger had a bulge at his waist, resulting in many of the journalists believing that he may have been armed.

As such, a complaint was lodged with the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, who immediately investigated. He reported that the officers were there on assignment but was unable to determine who authorised the assignment.

The officers were immediately summoned and ordered to leave the precinct of the Public Buildings which they did.

It was also related that acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine, had no idea as to who authorised the officers to work undercover in the National Assembly.

He promised to investigate and determine who ordered that the officers’ presence be in the National

ICON President and Chief Financial Officer John Thompson told the gathering at Cara Lodge that natural gas is a safe and natural fuel

A

Undercover Cops posing as journalists in Parliament

Assembly and that they impersonate journalists at the press table.

Isaacs told reporters that the officers had no permission to sit at the press table and added that they were improperly attired as well.

He noted that the National Assembly gives permission to have two undercover officers from the Special Branch along with two uniformed female officers in the public gallery at every Sitting of the House.

When contacted, A Division (GeorgetownEast Bank Demerara) Commander, Marlon Chapman told this publication that the incident was a

“genuine mix up” that was “rectified” but did not indulge in further details.

The incident once again raises the question of the safety of parliamentarians and all those within the confines of the parliamentary Chambers during every sitting of the House.

Just last Friday, the greater public saw the invasion of the National Assembly by a woman dressed as Santa Claus ringing a bell and carrying a dictionary along with other paraphernalia.

Her invasion seemed to be well-planned, since it happened as soon as most of the Government Ministers left the Chambers.

head of Guyana’s official start date for oil production in 2020, local companies that utilise vast amounts of energy to facilitate operations are actively being encouraged to pursue energy sources that burn at a cleaner rate and have less impact on the environment. It is against these considerations that the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) partnered with Trinidadian-based company ICON LNG to provide the beverage giant with natural gas supply on a pilot programme for six months.

ICON specialises in providing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as an alternative to replace diesel, gasoline and heavy oil fuel. The company highlighted that the gas is lighter and safer to transport than propane gas.

At the launch at Cara Lodge Hotel on Wednesday, DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo announced that the project’s technical feasibility has already been proven and noted that for the next few months, DDL will conduct financial and economic evaluation of the

programme which will assess its viability. Samaroo stressed that with power taking up the second highest cost, the company saw it fit to select natural gas “to tackle” the cost that power rakes up as DDL operates on a 24-hour basis.

“DDL believes in the future of natural gas as a form of reliable energy which will help pilot Guyana’s prosperity... our country is poised for greater economic buoyancy with the oil sector,” the DDL Chairman noted.

“Given Guyana’s quest for clean energy, this project resonates very well with national policy,” he added.

While ICON and DDL officials were reluctant to go into financial arrangements, Guyana Times was told that DDL is currently running on 15 per cent natural gas capacity for a few hours a day. It was pointed out that once ICON’s power is switched off; DDL reverts to using diesel for much of its capacity. During the launch, the company’s Chairman had however reminded that DDL produces steam through its methane

gas plant.

ICON President and Chief Financial Officer, John Thompson said the pilot programme with DDL is still in the initial stages. The gas will be obtained from Trinidad and in the next six months, six 20-foot containers will be shipped and it will last for 90 days.

Thompson told stakeholders that the company has been around for three years and is active in regional markets such as St Lucia and Barbados. The ICON President added that natural gas is a “safe, natural fuel” which emits 30-40 per cent less Carbon Dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Energy Agency, in brief remarks, told the gathering that he has been encouraging the Guyana Power and Light to seek alternative forms of energy. Guyana Times understands that the National Milling Company of Guyana and the Beharry Group have expressed interest in utilising natural gas as an alternative means of energy use.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

Trio nabbed in Agricola house

...after robbing bus driver, passengers

D

iligent work by ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has resulted in the arrest of three males who were found at a house in Agricola, Greater Georgetown, shortly after robbing a minibus driver and several passengers on Wednesday morning.

According to reports, the three suspects boarded the Route 42 minibus, which left the bus park at Stabroek Market around 10:00h. The trio subsequently requested to be put off at Middle Street, McDoom, Greater Georgetown and after disembarking the vehicle, one of the suspects pulled out a handgun.

The men subsequently held up the occupants of the

The illegal firearm that was found in possession of one of the suspects

bus, relieving the driver of $4000 and three passengers of two cellular phones and their handbags, containing

items of little monetary value, before escaping into the street.

A passing Police patrol,

commanded by a corporal, was informed of what transpired minutes before and pursued the suspects, who were soon after arrested in the house in the neighbouring community of Agricola.

It was reported that at the time of arrest, one of the suspects was found comfortably covered with a sheet pretending to be sleeping.

He was found in possession of a firearm that is believed to have been used in the commission of the crime.

Meanwhile, the two other suspects, in whose possession the stolen items were found, were relaxing as if nothing had happened when the Police confronted them.

Among the stolen items that were recovered were the two

The Police patrol that arrested the three suspects

shoulder bags and two purses.

Additionally, the unlicensed revolver that was recovered had four live matching rounds in its chambers.

It has since been lodged as evidence.

The three suspects remain in custody and are assisting with the investigation. According to the Police, one of the men has already been implicated in a similar robbery that occurred recently.

10 news

thursDAY, december 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

2018 estimates consideration

$4.7B approved for Region 2 in 2018

$6.2B approved – but not before Opposition scrutiny for Region 4 A …concerns raised over drainage in East Coast Demerara villages

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan

F

ollowing the closure of sugar estates, concerns were raised by the Opposition about the treatment of drainage and irrigation in several villages on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), as the Committee of Supply considered the 2018 estimates for Region Four (DemeraraMahaica). Some $166.2 million is budgeted for drainage and irrigation works in the region.

The allocation was questioned by Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, who noted that her concern is whether the drainage structures would be maintained and preserved by the region.

However, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan indicated that the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) would pick up the responsibility for all Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) drains following the closure of the estates.

On the same issue of drainage, the region’s 2017 spending was also questioned since they have expended some $180 million for 2017, thus far, which is

Opposition MP, Dr Frank Anthony

$20 million over their allocation. In response, Bulkan informed that the $20 million was expended on emergency works at Cane Grove, Beterverwagting and Mon Repos, ECD. The allocation of $688 million for current expenses under the region’s health programme came under intense scrutiny when Opposition MP, Dr Frank Anthony, questioned the functionality of a Regional Health Office (RHO) within the region. He was told that there is an acting RHO who is being paid directly by the Public Health Ministry.

Additionally, Dr Anthony attempted to find out the number of doctors within the region along with their emoluments but was informed by Minister Bulkan that the region only pays one doctor, while the others are being covered by the Public Health Ministry and that the list of doctors would be laid over to the National Assembly.

A common trend in the region’s estimates saw an increase of millions of dollars for fuel and this caught the attention of the Opposition

MPs who queried the drastic increase.

However, the Committee of Supply was informed that the drastic increase is as a result of an agreement with the Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil) coming to an end in September of 2017. He further explained that in 2014, the region paid a large sum of money to Guyoil for fuel and the previous estimates took that into account.

It was also noted that there was a decrease in the allocation for the provision of security services and when questioned, Bulkan explained that the decrease was as a result of the services provided. He further related that the services provided were less than budgeted for since they were expecting 24-hour armed security but the contracted firm was unable to do so.

Under the capital expenditure provision, some $10 million was budgeted for the rehabilitation of the Regional Democratic Council’s (RDC) Administrative Building at Triumph, ECD. When questioned, the Minister indicated that there are several leakages in the roof and the allocation would cover the repair. Region Four has been allocated almost $1 billion more in 2018 than in 2017. The region has received $6.22 billion for current and capital expenditures in Budget 2018, of which $211.2 million is for regional administration and finance; $396.8 million for agriculture; $228.5 million for public infrastructure; $4.1 billion for educational delivery; and $1.31 billion for health services.

total sum of $4.7 billion was approved for Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) following an examination of the expenditure for the region in the Committee of Supply in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Current and capital expenditures were approved for regional administration and finance ($255.3 million); agriculture ($395.9 million); infrastructure ($197.4 million); education delivery ($2.1 billion); and health services ($1 billion).

However, Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Collin Croal highlighted a massive increase in security services from $28.8 million to $37.7 million, under the 2018 Budget for Region Two. Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan conceded that the increase was substantial but explained that it was due to an additional security at the State House annex in the region.

In addition to that, it also caters for additional security at the residence of the Regional Executive Officer (REO) who has reportedly been in constant fights with elected regional officials.

Minister Bulkan also told the Committee of Supply that several schools will now have full-time security services and that the newly contracted security firm offers an increased hourly rate of $350.

The Minister emphasised that there is an increased need for security at regional facilities throughout the region, which is the

Opposition MP Collin Croal

main reason for the budgetary allocation in 2018.

Opposition MP Cornell Damon also drilled the Minister on the procurement process used to hire a company to assist with the repairs of vehicles belonging to the region.

Bulkan admitted that selective tendering was used to outsource a company to undertake this duty and the Opposition MP requested that the documents – as it relates to this transaction – be provided.

Damon also zeroed in on the increases in clerical and office support staff, from 57 to 66; technical and craft skilled, from 304 to 321; as well as semiskilled and unskilled staffers, from 204 to 265.

Where there was a decrease in contract staff and an increase in the monies allocated, Bulkan explained that the increase was to cater for annualisation of salary increases.

Meanwhile, Opposition MP Gail Teixeira also questioned Government’s spending. She pointed out

Corentyne man remanded for discharging rounds from stolen gun

…during attack on elderly woman, 5-year-old girl

Private Sector officials pay A courtesy call on Police top brass

M

embers of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) of Guyana on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on the acting Commissioner of

Police, David Ramnarine, DSM, and other senior officers of the Force.

Best wishes for the Christmas season were exchanged along with a re-

newed call by PSC Chairman Edward Boyer for a greater partnership between the two entities during the festive season and for the upcoming year, 2018.

that $15.8 million was spent on maintenance of buildings, when only $4.1 million was budgeted.

The Opposition Chief Whip was quick to ask where the money came from. Bulkan responded by saying that t was taken from sums budgeted for education delivery, which Teixeira noted was highly irregular.

Bulkan was again pressed to answer several pertinent questions in relation to medical supplies within the region, but this time by Opposition MP, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, a former regional health official.

Dr Mahadeo claimed that during visits to the region, there were always complaints about the shortage of essential drugs. He asked Bulkan whether the $186.1 million budgeted for drugs and medical supplies was spent.

The Minister stated that $17 million is unspent.

He told the Opposition MP that a reconciliation process is currently ongoing.

A truck will be purchased by the region to uplift and transport drugs and medical supplies.

Concerns were also raised about fuel being sourced for the support of generators which will provide standby electricity services to healthcare facilities, particularly at the Oscar Joseph and Suddie hospitals.

The House was also told that $40 million will be expended for drainage and irrigation, construction and rehabilitation throughout the region.

Corentyne man, who late last month reportedly stole a gun along with ammunition, and allegedly discharged the rounds at an elderly woman and her grandchild, was on Tuesday brought before the Whim Magistrate’s Court.

Suraj Singh, 26, of Number 72 Village, Corentyne, appeared before Magistrate Charlyn Artiga and denied the allegations brought against him.

He pleaded not guilty to the first charge which alleged that between November 22-23, 2017, he stole a gun and ammunition; property of Booraj Surajbally.

Singh also denied discharging rounds with intention to cause injuries to fiveyear-old Renuka Singh and Savitree Hassan, her grandmother.

Accused: Suraj Singh

According to the Police prosecution, on the day of the incident, a loud explosion was heard and when inspections were made, the child who was at the time screaming and her grandmother were both attacked while sleeping and were found to have received inju-

ries.

The two were rushed to the Skeldon Hospital where they were treated for gunshot injuries. Singh, according to the Police, was seen escaping from the scene of the crime.

Despite his not guilty plea, the accused when questioned told the court that he carried out the act because of a previous incident involving the husband of the elderly woman whom he is accusing of raping his relative.

He was remanded to prison and will return to court on January 4, 2018, at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court.

This publication was informed that Police are investigating the allegation made by Singh against the husband of the elderly woman.

news

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thursDAY, december 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

2018 Budget estimates

“Do not blame PPP for your ineptitude” – Teixeira to Allicock

…as House approves $2.2B for MoIPA

O

pposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira blistered Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock for his “ineptitude” in improving the lives of Indigenous people and his resorting to blaming the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) for that.

Allicock, during the Committee of Supply meeting, said that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Administration is now bridging the divide between Amerindian villages that was left by the PPP/C. He was, at the time, responding to questions about the cutting of over $336 million from the Amerindian Development Projects budget.

“We need to unify this nation. We need to bring people together. Unity in diversity is our belief,” Allicock said.

When questioned about the extra $24 million expended in 2017 under Buildings, the Minister explained that the monies were diverted

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira questioning expenditures for the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry

from the savings of the Bina Hill Institute and promised to lay over the documentation to support that.

“The biggest head is $981 million for (Amerindian Development Projects) and there is very little in this budget that will make a difference in the quality of life of the Indigenous people… so you cannot blame the PPP for your ineptitude,” Teixeira noted.

She pointed out that Allicock boasted about the necessity of the Bina Hill Institute for hinterland de-

velopment and sought to remind him that at one point, the Institute lost its funding from its overseas partners and it was the PPP/C that stepped in and provided it with a grant on the condition that it be headed by a Board to ensure transparency and accountability for the funding it received.

“I have no issue with Bina Hill, but it is not the only part of Guyana…Bina Hill is getting $50 million, and you are reporting that they are getting the dormitories built and by the way,

you said that you took the savings out of the dormitories to increase your 2017 budget by $24 million and you are putting it back in in your 2018 budget. So, I am wondering whether you have taken money that was meant for Bina Hill in 2017, use it, sidetracked it to another project, and then put it back in 2018,” Teixeira questioned.

As it relates to the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme, the Opposition had a hard time finding the allocation under the current expenses of the Ministry and constantly grilled Junior Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe, to point out the allocation. However, she was unwavering and after frustration from Teixeira, Garrido-Lowe related that the monies were allocated under line item Amerindian Development Programme in Capital Expenditure.

This was intensely questioned by the Opposition since the programme is a two-year project and included wages and salaries,

Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock

and should have been under the Current Expenditures heading. However, Minister Allicock explained that the HEYS was a “Special Project” without divulging any further detail. He also said that to date some 1976 youths have benefited with an additional 2000 slated to in 2018.

PPP/C Member of Parliament (MP) Yvonne Pearson queried the figures for national events which saw $210 million spent in 2017, and $203 million being requested in 2018. Minister Garrido-Lowe, who respond-

ed to questions for Current Expenditure, explained that there would be no Heritage pageant next year, nor will Guyana host the 2018 Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO) Traditional Knowledge Meeting, hence the reduction of the figures.

However, at the end, with no objection from the Opposition, the Committee of Supply approved a total of $2.2 billion for the Ministry.

The sums of $1,183,274 and $1,036,686 were for Capital Expenditure and Current Expenditure respectively.

7 students, 10 charitable organisations awarded at GBTI’s 2018 calendar launch in the development of our country.”

Adding to that, he zoomed in on the calendar competition and highlighted the concept of this particular initiative.

“For many years, we have been doing this calendar competition that in a sense gives voice to young people, a space for us to

of 911, Binda pointed out, “What can be described as a global catastrophe that touched the hearts of many no doubt touched the hearts of bankers sitting at GBTI. And this catapulted them to launch the very first calendar competition in 2001 which was focused on the topic: “If you had a chance to make a difference in this

a total of 127 entries were submitted for the 2018 design.

Among that total were students ranging from age nine to 17, from across the country. The theme for this year’s depiction was: “Saving: the Key to a Brighter Future.”

Seven of the entries managed to make their

GBTI CEO Larry Nath, Public Relations and Marketing Manager Pamela Binda and Administration Manager Sean Noel pose with this year’s winners of the GBTI 2018 Calendar Art Competition

A

s the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) on Tuesday unveiled its calendar for the upcoming year, seven students, along with 10 charitable organisations, were awarded as part of its annual initiative.

Every year, GBTI singles out 10 non-profitable organisations that have been serving the poor and vulnerable throughout the country to which it makes a significant monetary donation in keeping with its corporate social responsibility.

The 10 NonG o v e r n m e n t a l Organisations (NGOs) to benefit this year are: Uncle Eddie’s Home; The Salvation Army; Help and Shelter Crisis Service; Dharam Shala Home for the Poor for all Races; Guyana Red Cross Society; Guyana Society for the Blind; Artistes in Direct Support; Guyana Relief Council; the Guyana Society

for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) and Food For The Poor.

Food For The Poor Public Relations Manager Wayne Hamilton, who accepted the donation on behalf of the organisation and who spoke for the receiving donor organisations, expressed his sincere gratitude to GBTI for its kind generosity to the organisations. He said it was donations like these which go a far way in helping provide much needed support for these organisations to keep doing what they were doing.

These presentations have evolved into an even more fulfilling occasion for GBTI, given that the entity has now merged the handing over with the award ceremony to students who were adjudged winners of its annual calendar competition.

Addressing the gathering at the launch of the Bank’s 2018 calendar, Chief

Executive Officer Larry Nath explained what kept these initiatives alive, year after year.

In doing so, he noted, “Many of us think that banks are only in the lending business. I think GBTI has changed that perception and at GBTI, we’re actually in the people business of helping our folks achieve their financial dreams.”

“The Bank is very connected to their communities and for this year alone would have contributed over $1 million to noteworthy charities and deserving causes,” Nath further detailed.

Echoing similar sentiments was the Senior Manager of Administration, Sean Noel.

Noel stated that, “Combining the launch of our annual 2018 almanac and our donations to charitable organisations sort of tells what we see in ourselves at GBTI as partners

This year’s representatives of the NGOs pose with GBTI’s Head of Credit, Shaleeza Shaw; Administration Manager Sean Noel and Public Relations and Marketing Manager Pamela Binda

hear their ideas, see some of their creativity and I believe that as parties in society, we must be able to give young people that opportunity,” the Senior Manager relayed.

Continuing on that note, GBTI Public Relations and Marketing Manager Pamela Binda outlined how the calendar competition idea was birthed.

Indicating that this annual undertaking was as a result of the aftermath

world, what would you do?”

With that, she went on to say, “GBTI since then had Guyanese people at heart and wanted to ensure that it resonated within the country that GBTI was here to make a difference and still is today in 2017.”

For the first time this year, GBTI opened the calendar competition to the wider public, a decision which was greeted with an overwhelming response as

way to the top of the list.

Emerging as awardees at Tuesday’s ceremony were Aaron Gangadeen, Rasheed Franklin, Omawattie Ramnarain, Noel Sukhai, Siddharath Ramessar, Rena Marshall, and Azalyah Exeter.

GBTI expressed heartfelt gratitude to all of the children who sent in entries, and is looking forward to their participation in next year’s competition.

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BER 14, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

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Thursday, december 14, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

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he countdown is on! It happens every year. In the weeks preceding Christmas, frantic shoppers fill the aisles of almost every store known to man. The frenzy of traffic that creeps along the city streets is enough to make even the most festive person cringe. Now is the time to check gifts off the list and start wrapping things up.

Thoughtful gifts for your parents:

Your parents probably act like they don’t want anything, which can make shopping for them a nightmare.

These inspired picks are sure to please moms and dads everywhere.

Personalised family mugs: Quirky and practical, these unique mugs will have a treasured spot in their kitchen cabinets for years to come Family ornament: This is the absolute cutest way to remind them of this holiday for years to come

Gifts for her:

Christmas Gifts for the woman in your life are important as let’s face it - it’s normally the lady of the house who does all of the Christmas preparations whilst you’re off down at the bar. So, whether it’s a Pampering Gift or some Love Gifts or for Her do yourself a favour and treat your lady to something lovely this Christmas.

Family names necklace: This beautiful silver personalised family names necklace is designed to keep your loved ones close to the heart. A wonderful gift for a wife, mother, sister, auntie and grandmother’s alike. (pix saved in photo as necklace) Perfume: Want to give a good-smelling gift to your best girl? ‘Tis the season for treating .These fragrance sets will ensure you’re seen as the ultimate present giver of the season

Gifts for him:

Finding a gift for him can be a challenge. It’s no secret finding gifts for men isn’t always easy. How do you come up with great Christmas gift ideas for men when they appear to have everything? How can you find Christmas gifts for your husband or a present for your dad when he’ll just go out and buy what he wants for himself before you get the chance. Here are some ideas: Wireless speaker sound bar: It’s gameday. Or maybe it’s movie night. Either way, getting the best sound is a must. Every square inch is packed with technology to make the most of movies, TV and sports.

Cologne: Gucci Made to Measure for men is an aromatic scent with a blend of bergamot, orange blossom, lavender, anise seed, nutmeg, water lily, juniper berries, plum, cinnamon, labdanum, patchouli, leather, and amber.

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thursDAY, december 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Christmas gifts for kids We made a list, checked it twice, and found the top toys for every kid LEGO classic creative building Set Give the gift of imagination with this LEGO set that's loaded with 583 pieces in all different colors. The set includes special pieces, like wheels, eyes, windows, and more for the ultimate building experience!

The creator can build animals, buildings, vehicles, and other objects with ease.

Alex Ombré Hair FX Has your tween been begging you to let her color her hair? Surprise her this Christmas with the Alex Ombré Hair FX kit. To apply, sandwich

her hair tips between the pink, purple or teal clamp and drag down to color. Don't worry, Mom — the color washes out the next day.

Remote control robot Here’s a robot toy you can afford this Christmas. Not only does this little guy sing, dance and read, but he’s lightweight so your child can easily move him f r o m room t o room.

This robot comes with a remote control, so your child can have fun with it from a distance. Oh, and this guy also conducts math test and can shoot discs.

Luvabella LUVABELLA responsive baby doll: Discover so many real baby surprises with Luvabella! This adorable interactive doll will amaze you with her true to life facial expressions a n d

movements! Play and interact with her in so many ways! Play with Luvabella using her interactive accessories, such as the spoon, bottle, pacifier and Lamby toy. Kids will have a natural nurturing experience as they feed,

burp, play and soothe their own baby.

Think and learn smart cycle: Perfect for tackling new fitness goals, this bike by Fisher Price makes exercise fun! Kids can use their tablet on the bike to race through

different levels of entertaining games.

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thursDAY, december 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

S

ecret Santa is a great way for coworkers to affordably exchange gifts in an organised manner. But this inclusive swap can sometimes stump even the best gifters, especially when paired with someone they’re not that close with. Our tips? Veer away from giving the recipient another coffee cup, bottle of wine, box of chocolate, or gift card. Instead, opt for small, luxurious gifts for

their home—like a fragrant candle, an elegant kitchen towel, or a luscious hand cream

has a handy iPhone charger, so your friend can stay glued to her fully-charged phone.

Rosé Cocktail Kit

Gummy bears in the flavor of their favorite wine? Can't lose.

Flavour infuser water bottle

Just about everyone wants to be healthier and drink more water, but sometimes water is just s o … . blah.

Yankee candles

Make your colleague’s home burst in fragrance with Yankee candles in jar sizes from small to large, tealights, votives and melt cups available in every scent.

Charging tassel keychain

This leather tassel keychain

This flavor infuser water bottle is the cure for that!

Mint body scrub

Bath and body

gifts always, always, go over big at the Secret Santa gift exchange. And once people see that their gift is this homemade delicious-smelling mint matcha body scrub (made by you), the office gift exchange will never be the same!

Wireless speaker

Wireless speakers are the perfect gift for anyone in your office. Whether they use it to listen while they cook, or create a custom surround sound movie experience, this little Jam Plus speaker packs a big punch.

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thursDAY, december 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

H

olidays is the opportunity to give a gift to someone you care about. There's something very personal and meaningful about a gift that you took the time to make yourself. Grant the people in your life that extra special feeling with one of these 100 homemade gift ideas. There's something here for every occasion and season, not to mention ideas for everyone in your life.

clothespins eventually). Cut the doubled-up cardboard into a generally wreath-like shape (a circle) 2) Cover your circle with patterned paper and glued the little tabs around the outside and inside circles.

3) Cover your clothespins. You can either stick with patterned paper or cover with glitter or paint.

4. Start hot gluing your clothespins to your wreath. Continue until the whole wreath is covered in evenly spaced clothespins 5. Tie a ribbon on your wreath for hanging.

Clip tea onto each of your clothespins. Hang and enjoy!

decorative vinyl (optional) Directions: 1) Cut a piece of wood scrap into a triangle. This piece will be glued onto the back of the cutting board and will be the support and hold it steady. It needs to have a bit of an angle on the back…the more angle, the more your cutting board will lean backwards. Adjust this according to your needs and preference.

2) Stain the triangle and the Scrabble game piece holder and let them dry completely. Glue the triangle onto the back so that the bottom of the triangle rests against the counter. Let that dry completely. Then glue the game piece onto the bottom of the front of the cutting board so that it is centered. Let it dry completely. That is it!

best fit the blank card you are using, then print the pattern on regular paper.

Directions: 1) Trace the pattern onto the front of the card with a pencil. You don't need to trace around each circle. Instead, mark the end of each "spoke" and the center point of the wheels. These will be the places where the thread will pass through.

2) Select a minimum of three colors for the main part of the tree, plus an accent color for the tiny dots. Using tints or shades of the same color for the tree helps to keep the look cohesive 3) Although it's best to start and end embroidery without a knot, working these stitches on card stock can make that tricky. So it's okay if you use knots. Just be sure they don't pull through to the front. A tiny tab of tape helps with this!

Cinnamon sugar hand scrub

Tea wreath

Polka Dot Tree Card

To make a Tea Wreath, you’ll need: -two pieces of 12x12ish cardboard (Used the back covers to two scrapbook paper packs) -patterned paper that compliments your kitchen décor -24 clothes pins -hot glue -ribbon for hanging Direction: 1) Hot glue your two pieces of cardboard together (this is to give your base a little bulk since it’ll be holding a bunch of

What you'll need: Blank card (or card stock trimmed to size) & Envelope Pencil Needle Embroidery floss Scissors Scrapbooking paper (or other pretty paper) Double-sided tape Download the Polka Dot Tree pattern and use your computer software to adjust the size to

iPad holder To make this for yourself you will need the following: wood cutting board Scrabble game piece holder triangle piece of wood Krazy Glue wood stain

Ingredients ¼ C light brown sugar 1 tsp ground cinnamon ¼ tsp vanilla extract 1 ½ Tbs coconut oil Direction: In a medium sized bowl, mix all ingredients until well combined.

It should resemble wet sand. Keep in an air tight container and use within a week or two.

Here’s how you’ll use this hand scrub: Wet hands.

Scoop out about 1 Tbs of hand scrub.

Gently rub hands together for about 15-25 seconds. Rinse.

thursDAY, december 14, 2017 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

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sports

Archery Guyana, St Joseph Mercy Hospital hold fruitful outreach

A

rchery Guyana recently partnered with St. Joseph Mercy Hospital for the second year in a row byhaving an Archery Booth at the Hospital’s Annual Christmas Fair on Saturday December 2, 2017 at Demerara Park, Banks DIH. Enthusiasm amongst patrons was high as usual, as lots of adults and children alike were eager to try their hands with the bow and arrow. Those who wished to try were as usual, first advised on the safe and proper use of the equipment and the general safety guidelines since safety remains paramount in the sport.

Prizes were provided by the Hospital Fair’s Organising Committee, with a grand prize of a gi-

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by Jonathan DeGroot who racked up the most points from among the curious and

the third set after outscoring her opponent 11-9 before storming to 11-5 in the fourth. Cadogan fought hard but couldn’t hold the first game with Jonas winning 12-10, but then made light work of the following 3 games; 11-4, 11-6, 11-5.

Matches continue from 6pm each evening, two sessions on Saturday and the final matches on Sunday.

brave enough patrons.

Last year, Archery Guyana was pleased to contribute all

Taylor Fernandes

T

he Guyana Squash Association (GSA) spiked of its final junior tournament for 2017; the annual Farfan and Mendes Skill level which got underway at the Georgetown Club Inc. courts on Tuesday.

The start to the competition witnessed a high number of new entries this year with a few notable absentees, including national player Shomari Wilshire who is currently competing internationally.

Categories A-G is currently ongoing and will run until Sunday for a spot at the top of their respective groups. Taylor Fernandes, now considered a senior, is playing in Category A in her continued support of the junior players, to extend their challenges and increase the number of the smallest

Category B Abosdaie Cadogan beat Ethan Jonas 10-12, 11-4, 11-6, 11-5 Kirsten Gomes beat Demetrius De Abreu 11-9, 8-11, 11-9, 11-5

Category C Nicholas Verway beat Zachary Persaud 11-5, 11-8, 11-7 Mohryan Baksh beat Louis DaSilva 11-7, 11-4, 11-5 James Mekdeci beat Jason Gomes 11-3, 11-7, 11-7

Category D Jahcinta Adams beat Beau Fernandes 113, 9-11, 15-13, 9-11, 11-7 Dhiren Persaud beat Isabella Ramjohn 11-6, 11-7, 11-7 Aishani Persuad beat Teija Edwards 11-2, 11-1, 11-4

Category E Arvin Seelall beat Angel Rahim 11-4, 11-13 Jared Saul beat Grant Fernandes 11-9, 11-4 Joshua Verwey beat Noah Rahaman 11-3, 11-2 Rayad Boyce beat Lajuan Munroe 11-9, 11-6

Category F Leshaunte Berkley beat Jehan Singh 11-9, 11-8 Brenno DaSilva beat Rylee Rodrigues 11-6, 11-0 Matthew Spooner beat Tiana Gomes 10-12, 11-5, 12-10 Kayden Pynaendy beat Thandi Dean 11-8, 11-7

Category G Safirah Summer beat Nicholas Sawh 11-7, 11-8 Jane Singh beat Mya Dean 11-6, 11-8 Shriya Persaud beat Alea Ruplal 11-5, 11-3

of the funds raised towards the construction of the Mercy Resident Care Facility in Georgetown. Archery Guyana believes in giving back to the community as best as it can and to support persons of all walks of life and encourages anyone, (young, middle-aged or elderly), to join the sport of Archery, whether for recreation or for competition, by contacting any of our members.

Archery is in fact a great leveler, so both young and old, able and disabled can compete against each other.

It’s a sport where the basics are easy to pick up, but perfecting them is a matter of lots of practice. There is no maximum age for archery and around the world, many persons take up the sport after retiring.

Sinclair century sets up big win for Rose Hall

Results of the matches played Tuesday evening were as follows

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This year’s Prize was won

group in the tournament.

Tuesday’s matches saw the girls triumphant in category B with Kirsten Gomes beating Demetrius DeAbreu and Abosaide Cadogan defeating Ethan Jonas.

Kirsten came out hard in the first game for a close win 11-9.

De Abreu replied by taking the second set 11-8 but Kirsten emerged winner of

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Eventual grand prize winner Jonathan DeGroot trying his hand at the bow for the first time

Squash players shine in Farfan & Mendes Skill Level opener

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Kevin Sinclair

K

evin Sinclair’s century led Rose Hall Town Bakewell to a massive 177-run win over Tamarind Root Cricket Club when the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Second Division Cricket Tournament continued this week.

Played at the at the Hampshire Cricket Ground, Rose Hall Town Bakewell amassed 287-5 from their reduced 35-over-per-side thanks to their captain who cracked 127 from 82 balls with 16 fours and four sixes. He shared a record opening stand of 168 with Junior Sinclair who scored 66.

The bowling for Tamarind Root was led by skipper Brandon Prashad who bagged 3-61 with R. Deonarine snapping up 2- 41. Needing 288 from 35 overs, Tamarind Root who had earlier defeated Chesney and power house Albion in the Second Division Tournament were never in the hunt, succumbing for 110-10 in 25 overs.

Tamarind Root Opener Ricardo Ramsammy (03) was bowled by Kevin Sinclair (2-18) while Brandon Prashad (00) was sent packing by national U19 all-rounder Kevlon Anderson (2-12) to leave the home team 6 for 3 in the third over.

Only S. Joseph 23, Michael Ramdihal 15 and Krishna Gowkarran 17 reached double figures as left-arm spinner Keith Simpson bagged 3-16 to go along with the two each for the Sinclair’s and Anderson.

The Rose Hall Town Bakewell side has over the years won six Berbice Second Division Championships, the most in Berbice and has been runners-up on four occasions, losing by three runs to Tucber Park in the finals of the last tournament.

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thursDAY, december 14, 2017

CWI/Digicel Regional 4-Day Championships 2017-18…

T

Fierce clashes begin ahead of Xmas break

here is a great incentive for all six teams to finish the second stage of the Digicel FourDay Championship season on a successful note before the long break for the Christmas/New Year’s holidays, when they suit-up for the seventh round of matches, starting today across the region.

Red Force vs Pride at Tarouba

Red Force will be hoping that it will be third time fortunate at this venue, where they face the Pride in the renewal of one of Caribbean sports’ most fierce rivalries.

In their previous two matches at this newly-inaugurated venue, Red Force have had to settle for a heavy-scoring draw against Jamaica Scorpions followed by a heavy defeat to the Guyana Jaguars.

But they will hope that the same pitch conditions which prevailed in those matches continue, as they typically don’t favour their rivals and this could be the springboard for their first

taste of success at the newest First Class venue in the Caribbean.

Red Force enter the match feeling battered however, following their great escape last weekend in Kingston, thanks mainly to the weather, after they conceded the highest total of the season – and they will also want to erase from their collective memories that the previous highest total this season they also conceded – at this venue.

Pride have had an upand-down season, due to a number of largely inexperienced players forming the core of their side, and they too, may have some apprehensions following the tense finish to their previous match.

When the two sides met in the first leg of the tournament in Bridgetown, the Pride got the edge over the Red Force in a drawn match, but they will be hoping to defy the conditions and grab a timely boost of points and confidence.

Red Force Squad;

T&T Red Force are still looking for their first win at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy

Denesh Ramdin (captain), Bryan Charles, Akiel Cooper, Ricky Jaipaul, Amir Jangoo, Imran Khan, Ewart Nicholson, Anderson Phillip, Khary Pierre, Roshon Primus, Isaiah Rajah, Jeremy Solozano, Daniel St. Clair Pride squad; Shamarh Brooks (captain), Anthony Alleyne, Jonathan Carter, Justin Greaves, Keon Harding, Aaron Jones, Shayne Moseley, Mario Rampersaud, Shamar

Springer, Kevin Stoute, Jomel Warrican, Hayden Walsh Jr, Kenroy Williams.

The on-field Umpires are Zahid Bassarath and Verdayne Smith while the Reserve Umpire is Kellman Kowlessar and the Match Referee is Hayden Bruce.

Volcanoes vs Scorpions in Gros-Islet

Both teams will enter this match high in confidence following their performances in the previous round, af-

Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Georgetown Zone…

Sparta’s plan

ter Volcanoes played hard to earn that historic tie, and for once, the batting of the Scorpions clicked so that they could post the highest total of the season.

Both teams will be looking to carry the momentum they gained from their respective performances into this match, as things have been tough this season for the Volcanoes, having lost four of their six matches, but the Scorpions have sprung to life in their last three matches following a

slow start to the season.

It was a 10-wicket victory on home soil that sparked this revival of the Scorpions and completing the season sweep of their rivals will be something heading into the break for the Christmas/ New Year’s holidays.

Volcanoes squad: Tyrone Theophile (captain), Miles Bascombe, Roland Cato, Kenneth Dember, Kirk Edwards, Donwell Hector, Delorn Johnson, Sherman Lewis, Kyle Mayers, Shane Shillingford, Dennis Smith, Devon Smith, Josh Thomas Scorpions squad Paul Palmer (captain), Fabian Allen, John Campbell, Assad Fudadin, Derval Green, Trevon Griffith, Damion Jacobs, Brandon King, Christopher Lamont, Reynard Leveridge, Odean Smith, Aldaine Thomas, Oraine Williams Patrick Felix is the Match Referee while onfield umpiring duties will be done by Deighton Butler and Leslie Reifer Jr with Ericson Degallerie filling the role of Reserve Umpire.

Silva sparkles as Manchester City march on

is to play attacking football – Britton

P

reparations are well and truly on for this Saturday’s Georgetown Zone of the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” final between Gold is Money and Sparta Boss at Demerara Park.

Guyana Times Sport spoke with Sparta Boss’ forward Courtney Britton who said that his team will be looking to attack their opponents as they look to assert themselves as true “Guinness in the Streets” Champions.

Britton stated that his team was feeling confident despite enduring a contrasting tournament by their standards. The attacker said his unit will be looking to curb their passive ways and pull out all the stops against their topranked opponents.

“So far we have been good with our defense, because we haven’t done much attacking. In our last game we didn’t really do too much defending in the first half, only in the second. We’re trying to work on our attack because we have a good defence already so we’re just training and practicing together so we can come out and do well,” said Britton.

With only two losses but some very uncharacteristic, unconvincing wins

Courtney Britton has his eyes firmly on the prize as Sparta Boss beat Leopold Street in the semi-final on Tuesday

under their belt, Britton believes that it’s critical, especially against a strong unit such as Gold is Money that his teammates look to play positively and keep the opposition starting big four at bay.

“Well the starting four for Gold is Money is a good top four and we really have to be on the lookout for them because they already have a win over us in the semi-finals of the last tour-

nament, so we have to look at that and correct our mistakes from the last time.”

Regarded as one of the top futsal teams in Guyana, Sparta has made a name for themselves on the local scene but have not lived up to their reputation as the powerhouse unit they are.

Due to their scratchy approach to the tournament this year, Britton said the players who have

been playing together for some time, have been encouraging each other and it has been paying off as the team’s momentum going into the finals are high.

“Well most of the players play together for a good while we didn’t really have changes so it’s about helping each other and giving courage and help in areas where we might be weak in,” said the striker.

Concluding his interview, the footballer believes that come this Saturday, the gloves are off and both teams will be bringing their A-Game; with Sparta looking to silence the doubters by winning the title in a convincing manner.

“Really we haven’t won any convincing games, we had two games on penalty and that’s not really Sparta. So we will be trying to secure a convincing win in this final, we know they already beat us so we will be trying to play hard.

We will be looking to throw it all on the line and bring out everything,” ended Britton.

The mouthwatering finals will be held at the Banks DIH Demerara Park tarmac from 21:00h on Saturday. Admission is free. (Clifton Ross)

Manchester City's David Silva scores their first goal at Liberty Stadium

D

avid Silva scored twice to help Manchester City to a routine - and record-breaking win - over Swansea City.

Manchester City cruised past Swansea City 4-0 at the Liberty Stadium on Wednesday to set a new Premier League record of 15 consecutive wins.

Pep Guardiola's runaway league leaders set a new best mark for an individual season when they beat Manchester United 2-1 on Sunday and have now overtaken Arsenal's 14-game streak, which was registered across two campaigns.

Two goals from the irrepressible David Silva and one each from Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero sealed a routine triumph over the league's bottom club, maintaining City's enormous lead over United at the summit.

Silva, who grabbed the opener against United at the weekend, got City up and running after 27 minutes with a clever finish before De Bruyne continued his remarkable season by scoring with a free-kick.

Spain international Silva grabbed his second shortly after the restart with another fine finish and only some impressive saves from Lukasz Fabianksi prevented the scoreline from spiralling out of control.

Sergio Aguero completed another memorable night for Guardiola's record-breakers late on, finishing a mazy run with a wonderful finish into the bottom corner.

City, who made four changes from the game at Old Trafford, started in typically dominant fashion and came close early on when Fernandinho's sweetly struck volley was repelled

by Fabianski.

The horribly over-worked Swans goalkeeper made a fine save from Sterling just moments later and Aguero flashed wide as City threatened to run riot.

Aguero did finally get on the scoresheet with five minutes remaining as he blazed past the beleaguered Swans defence and stroked into the bottom corner - a fitting way to end a landmark evening for Guardiola's men. (Sportsmax)

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, december 14, 2017

23

CWI/Digicel Regional 4-Day Championships 2017-18…

‘Shiv’

Getting rid of stonewall crucial, says Hurricanes Coach

… Jaguars seeking improved fortunes against new nemesis Akeem Greene

L

Leeward Hurricanes Head Coach Winston Benjamin By

eeward Islands Hurricanes Head Coach Winston Benjamin strongly believes that seeing the back of veteran Guyana Jaguars batsman Shivanrine Chanderpaul will be critical, if they are to upstage the three-time defending champions in their own back yard.

“We need to get rid of Shiv early. He has been the stonewall in our path in the last game. He made the difference; if we can get him early we can put Guyana under some pressure. That being said, with cricket the way it is, even

though we may get Shiv early, someone else can stand up,” Benjamin stated on the eve of today’s day/night seventh round clash of the Cricket West Indies/ Digicel Four-day Championship at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.

Hurricanes are the only side to defeat the champions twice over the four years and they were on the cusp of doing it again this year but was the heroics of Chanderpaul with a characteristic 109 in the second innings saved his side from an embarrassing innings defeat at Warner Park following on.

In the first innings, Vishaul Singh made 97 not out when

Kevin Persaud signs with Australia’s AT1pro G

uyanese Motor Biker Kevin Persaud commendable performances at this year’s Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) has gained the attention of Australian company AT1pro who manufactures custom made Professional Racing Suits.

According to the elated Persaud, the partnership will significantly aid his 2018 CMRC Super Stock title endeavours and it came to fruition after impressing the company’s Managing Director Dominic De Leon, who is also a motor biker that raced at the South Dakota circuit in 2014.

“He was impressed by my performance of which I won two CMRC races that day. I raced with him again in Trinidad last year and we always kept in touch. He would always advise me on race techniques and skills.”

Persaud added, “he messaged me last month congratulating me on my championship win and offered me some sponsorship towards 2018 and 2019 and I immediately said yes. Essentially, I will be getting discounts on all of the products that they make and suits and gloves for that two-year period.”

For the 18 year-old, the new found agreement will significantly aid his development and quest to dethrone Team Mohamed’s Enterprise Byrce Prince for the title.

“This is a surplus for me and a great achievement to have an international company from Australia coming on board to support my program. It helps since defeating Bryce Prince will cost lots of practice and hard work in the gym and also a better machine and most importantly the sponsorship to be successful.”

The former Queen’s College Student who

rides under the #93 gang banner, is also the current country champion and plans to tour to the other three territories, Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago when the championships gets underway in March at the Wallerfield International Raceway in the twin island republic.

Aside from Caribbean g l o ry, the rider’s whose machine of choice is a Kawasaki ZX6R is seeking to earn a spot on one of AT1pro teams in Australia. (Akeem

the Jaguars were reeling at 57 for 5 and 131 for 9 before they were bowled out for 206 replying to the Hurricanes first innings 412 for 9 declared.

Though the recent history between the two sides, will be one to marvel at for Hurricanes, Benjamin a former menacing West Indies fast bowler says his team will remain humble as cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties.

“You cannot dwell on that, you had some good games against Guyana but we won’t dwell on that since we have to now perform on the day but will be boosted by the fact that we have played well against them before.”

Despite Jaguars’ trump card left-arm spinner, Veerasammy Permaul leading the bowling charts with 33 wickets, the coach stressed that they will not place much emphasis on his potential impact. Apart from the spinner, young medium-pacer Keemo Paul has been a shining light for Jaguars with the ball with 23 wickets.

On the individual aspect, talented Devon Thomas scored a high-tempo 103 against Barbados Pride

Seamer Jeremiah Louis is expected to be a handful with the pink ball

itors this season, winning only once, losing twice and drawing thrice. Benjamin’s point of view is the team is still adjusting to the new management.

Greene)

Jahmar Hamilton in deep concentration during Wednesday's net session

Kevin Persaud has lots to celebrate this year

in his last in his last innings which earned a draw for Hurricanes. The coach is hopeful Thomas along with skipper Rahkeem Cornwall can continue their good form.

Apart from Thomas who is their second leading run-scorer with 290 runs, opener Montcin Hodge has scored 390 runs at average of 50. With ball, the seam of the exuberant pacer Jeremiah Louis with 27 wickets and Cornwall’s offspin which took 19 wickets have done main damage for the islanders.

Though, they have found success against the champs, it still has been an in-different performance by the vis-

“We have a different coaching staff who brings a different mentality and the players are coming into something new. It will take some time and it won’t happen overnight but once they stick to what is being taught they should be an emerging force in regional cricket.”

The home side will certainly have to enter this contest with caution especially after their historic tie with Windward Islands Volcanoes in the previous round which ended on Sunday at Providence.

The pitch for today’s encounter is the same that was used when the Jaguars beat Barbados Pride by eight wickets. In the match,

the home team’s seamers picked up 18 of the 20 wickets which will also excite the Hurricanes’ quickies as well.

Coupled with the pick ball under the lights, the batsmen’s patience and ability will be tested.

There is cause for optimism for Jaguars and some pessimism for the Hurricanes, as the visitors have lost two of their last three matches this season, so there may be a crisis of confidence on their part.

This may be enough for the Jaguars to exploit and take a giant leap to ensuring they cannot be denied securing their fourth straight title, but the Hurricanes proved in their last match that they can be quite unpredictable coming within 26 runs of victory in what looked a highly improbable, if not impossible chase.

Jaguars (from) – Leon Johnson (captain), Anthony Bramble, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Keon Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Keemo Paul, Veerasammy Permaul, Akshaya Persaud, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Vishaul Singh Hurricanes (from) – Rahkeem Cornwall (captain), Sheeno Berridge, Nkrumah Bonner, Shane Burton, Jahmar Hamilton, Montcin Hodge, Chesney Hughes, Jeremiah Louis, Mervin Matthew, Akeem Saunders, Devon Thomas, Gavin Tonge, Terence Warde

THURSDAY, december 14, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

CWI/Digicel Regional 4-Day Championships 2017-18…

Pg 23

Getting rid of stonewall ‘Shiv’ crucial, says Hurricanes Coach … Jaguars seeking improved fortunes against new nemesis Veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul is seen as the major barrier to the Leeward Hurricanes and their quest for victory

Kevin Persaud signs with Australia’s Pg 23

AT1pro

2017 marked both an improved and memorable year for Kevin Persaud which is capped with the new sponsorship deal (GT Ridez Photo)

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