Guyanatimes 16 september 2017

25 innovative projects awarded grants by MoE

P2 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Saturday, September 16, 2017

Issue No. 3334

PRICE

Petroleum mining blocks

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Trotman’s public statements prove Minister Patterson is lying – Jagdeo

Page 3

…calls on Govt to publish list of oil concessions allocated Aviation sector

GCAA admits deficiencies in navigational aids, search and rescue Page 11

…says GDF helicopter/equipment deteriorated

Fifth Nereid Yacht Rally

Unapproved hike in customs fee deterred some yachters – P13 Nascimento

Suddie Public Hospital theatre ceiling collapses P13

GTT cable sabotage continues

Company to meet with P12 Ministers to address issue …offers $500k reward for capture of culprits

Lethem men charged for P8 building illegal Rupununi airstrip

Parika boat operator nabbed with P7 ganja Ushered by a group of students, President David Granger and Education Minister Nicolette Henry make their way into the Education Day celebrations at D’Urban Park, Georgetown on Friday

Soldiers remanded for snatching teen’s phone Page 15

Sharing oil and gas experiences

Transparency Page 10 critical for industry safety – Canadian Mission

‘Alcohol control bill’

Ramjattan pushes for age 21 for P2 alcohol purchases 'Racial slur’

Former ERC P16 Chairman expresses disappointment in Press Officer …says she once worked, trained with ERC

2 news

saturDAY, september 16, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

25 innovative projects awarded grants by MoE

T

he Education Ministry on Friday awarded grants to 25 groups that proposed innovative project ideas to be implemented within their communities as a part of the first ever Innovation Programme of Guyana, launched earlier this year.

This was as the Ministry celebrated Education Day 2017 with a grand education rally and innovation fair.

This initiative kicked off in May of this year and sought to provid the opportunity for Guyanese to design, develop and produce innovative ideas to combat challenges they face within their communities.

Stemming from that, citizens were called upon to submit proposals of their service projects which are to address the concerns facing communities throughout the country.

Following a month-long procurement process, 25 of the proposed initiatives were shortlisted and will now receive funding, allowing for the awardees to execute

President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo posed with one of the winning groups of the Innovative Programme of Guyana (iPoG)

their service projects within their communities.

In addressing the gathering at the Education Day event, Education Minister Nicolette Henry revisited the launch of what was initially the Youth Innovation Project (YIPOG). In doing so, she indicated that as a result of the tremendous response received, the organising body was forced to extend this opportunity to the

general public.

“The response to this invitation has been overwhelming and has propelled us to re-organise YIPOG into the Innovative Programme of Guyana (iPoG),” Henry stated.

After taking on the new approach, the iPoG initiative managed to secure a number of outstanding proposals that reflected the creative ideas of community mem-

bers in targeting issues affecting of their fellow residents.

On that note, the Minister outlined, “We have been inundated with solutions to the challenges of flooding, overcrowding, school dropout, and illiteracy; the issues of mental health, gender discrimination and sexual and reproductive health; the problems of bullying, poverty, and food insecurity.”

The list winners comprise of groups emanating from secondary schools, the University of Guyana, community circles, faith-based organisations among others. This 25 included groups from Regions One to Nine, with Region Four recording a total of 14 awardees.

The Government has plugged some $50 million into the execution of this programme and more so the implementation of the individual projects. As such, the groups will now cash in on a grant from the Government which will be directed towards offsetting the overhead costs of their projects.

Speaking with Guyana Times during the Innovation Fair on Friday were some of the recipients of the iPoG award and project grant.

The awardees indicated that they are honoured to be the beneficiaries of this venture and went on to outline how their efforts will be of benefit to their community.

Anthony Stanislaus was among the group that proposed the building of a community centre ground in Non-Pariel, using waste materials that have been polluting their community

for a number of years. The young innovators will capitalise of plastic bottles and tires thrown around the village and utilise these waste materials in the building of the foundation of the centre. Once completed, the facilities will provide capacity building opportunities for those living within the areas, as it is set to house a series of training sessions targeting school dropouts and those who wander the streets.

The young man indicated that the process of preparing their proposal as a submission in this programme was a tedious one but they were assisted by the Ministry.

As such, he extended gratitude to the organising body and expressed excitement as they move forward with realising their project.

The $50 million investment which materialised as iPoG, is as a result of the Government’s intention to promote the use of innovation. As such each of the winning projects incorporated the use of science, technology, engineering, agriculture, anthropology, architecture, archeology, arts, Mathematics and spirituality, otherwise known as ‘STEAMS’.

‘Alcohol control bill’

Ramjattan pushes for age 21 for alcohol purchases drink’ and you’ll have a lot of arguments,” Ramjattan told reporters on Friday.

His announcement comes days after Social Cohesion and Minister with responsibility for culture youth and sport, Dr George Norton suggested that an alcohol control bill be introduced in Parliament.

Dr Norton had called for both the ages of purchas-

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

P

ublic Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said on Friday that he supports increasing the legal age of purchasing alcohol to 21. He made these comments at the Police Training Centre in Georgetown, as he reminded of the country’s many economic and social issues which are associated with the excessive consumption of alcohol. He however conceded that young persons, citing their early adulthood, may be against a move to limit their ability to freely purchase alcohol.

“I’d certainly support that (increase the age); but of course, you’re going to get a lot of Guyanese, who are 18 year olds saying that we must be free to choose because they are adults at 18 [and would say] ‘we can vote, why can’t we have a

“It is a disease in this country” – Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan describing Guyana’s alcohol consumption ing and consumption to be increased, expressing his concern with the way in which people conduct themselves while being under the influence of alcohol. The Public Security Minister told reporters on Friday that he will work with the Health, Social Cohesion and Education Ministries to battle the scourge which he stressed, affects families and the wider society.

Ramjattan is calling for the enforcement of existing alcohol consumption related laws. TURN TO PAGE 9

news

3

saturDAY, september 16, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Demerara – Saturday, September 16 – a night retraction at 01:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Sunday, September 17 – a night retraction at 02:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, September 16 – 13:45h-15:15h and Sunday, September 17 – 14:40h-16:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny weather with the interruption of light rain showers can be expected in the morning, while sunshine is expected the rest of the day. Clear skies are expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 24 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 1.34 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 00:58h and 01:44h reaching a maximum height of 2.32 metres at each scheduled high tide.

Low Tide: 07:08h and 19:37h reaching minimum height of 0.84 metre and 0.90 metre respectively.

Petroleum mining blocks

Trotman’s public statements prove Minister Patterson is lying – Jagdeo …calls on Govt to publish list of oil concessions allocated

T

he People’s Progressive Party, through its General Secretary, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, has dismissed as outright lies an assertion being levelled that the Jagdeo Administration had given out all of the available oil concessions/blocks; and is demanding that Government make available a list of all the petroleum-mining blocks available, the names of the persons or companies to whom they have been allocated, and the dates of allocation.

Jagdeo has said this disclosure would alert the public to the fact that no new petroleum-mining blocks can be allocated in the near future.

General Secretary of the People's Progressive Party, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

sponse to Patterson, Jagdeo has said: “Ministers of the Coalition Government con-

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

troleum-mining blocks.

Jagdeo pointed out that Minister Trotman, in his public pronouncements,

Sensationalised lies

WEDNESDAY, september 13, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS H

03

04 07

09

21 25

17 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

Friday, September 15, 2017

DAILY MILLIONS 01 06 07 10 21 LUCKY 3 7 3 0 Afternoon Draw

8

9

8

Evening Draw

DRAW DE LINE

02 05

09 14

15 20 21

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

The Opposition Leader had said several front companies belonging to friends and relatives of ministers of Government were, through complex shareholding structures, applying for exploration and production licences for the available oil blocks. He has posited that the strategy was in fact to flip the licences to large foreign companies, since those front companies are unable to raise the large amounts of capital required to develop an oil-and-gas concession.

P u b l i c Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, on Thursday during an Alliance for Change press engagement at that party’s headquarters, was questioned on the allegations laid

by Jagdeo the previous day.

Patterson responded by saying, “In Budget 2015, the Minister of Natural Resources made a statement saying that all available forest land had been given out; so all I can A map from the Natural Resources Ministry showing the concessions say is, ‘Ditto’...when we which were allocated and those which are still available got in they (had given) out everything.” tinue to peddle massive lies Patterson continued: and misinformation un- had spoken to the issuance “Some of the people (to re- ashamedly and with impu- of new oil-and-gas exploraceive oil concessions) we nity. They continue to get tion and production licencdon’t even know...so there the Kaieteur News to sen- es for these blocks.

At the time, Trotman is nothing to give.” sationalize these lies with had said, “Whether we go He said further: “The blazing headlines on the Opposition Leader could front pages of the newspa- openly and publicly with insay that. Maybe he is hop- pers -- all with the inten- ternational bids, or whething for someone to drop out, tion to fool, mislead, and inso that he could get in. But sult the intelligence of the I want (to) tell you (there) public.” is nothing to give; he has given out all, and he should Petroleum blocks know.”

According to Jagdeo, Patterson said Jagdeo the fact that oil concesought to know there is no sions are still available was oil concession/block availconfirmed only recently by able for allocation since, none other than the subas President, he was in stantive minister, Trotman, charge of the natural rewhen he recently referred sources sector. But in reto the existence of these pe-

Newell Dennison, Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission

er we have quiet and private discussions, will be determined by the national interest.”

The Opposition Leader observed: “Without more, Trotman’s assertion by themselves prove that Patterson is lying...

Moreover, everyone who has some familiarity with the sector knows that there are several petroleum-mining blocks available.”

The Opposition Leader has since further challenged Government, saying: “If Patterson has correctly expressed the position of the Government, then we call upon the Government to make public a list of all the petroleum-mining blocks, the names of the persons or companies to whom they have been allocated, and the date of allocation.”

This disclosure, according to Jagdeo, will alert the public to the fact that no new petroleum-mining blocks can be allocated in the near future.

Checks with the Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, as calls to his mobile phone, went unanswered. turn to page 12

4

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, September 16, 2017

Views Kaleidoscope of Colour 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

Post Irma

D

ays after Hurricane Irma ripped through the Caribbean, leaving in its path several dead, thousands displaced without access to water, food and proper shelter and buildings flattened, regional stakeholders are beginning the do a more detailed assessment of the magnitude of the damage.

While many had expected Hurricane Irma to do massive damage in the Caribbean in its path to Florida, the scale of the destruction has left many in shock. Since Hurricane Ivan devastated Grenada in 2004, with the exception of a few smaller hurricanes, we have not seen such widespread damage to countries’ public infrastructure and private homes.

Due to the level of destruction to these islands, in addition to the long time it would take as it relates to the rebuilding and reconstruction efforts, it will require massive amounts of financial and human resources to allow these countries to return to some degree of normalcy. This will call for huge contributions from international development partners, governments, individuals and organisations.

On Wednesday, Caribbean Community (Caricom) Chairman, Prime Minister Keith Mitchell of Grenada and Secretary General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, along with several other regional stakeholders completed a tour of the hurricane devastated islands. The aim was to get a first-hand look at the level of devastation and assess the immediate, medium and long-term needs of citizens. From what we have gathered so far, both from media reports and those provided by the Caricom assessment team, the extent of the damage to the various islands has been massive and perhaps would take a very long time before they could fully recover from the hurricane’s impact.

According to the Caricom Secretariat, an initial assessment by the Government in Antigua and Barbuda shows more than 90 per cent of the buildings on the island were destroyed.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has since confirmed that all Barbuda residents have been relocated to sister island Antigua, with just a contingent of military personnel remaining to provide security.

In the British Virgin Island, Premier, Dr Orlando Smith said the focus is on meeting critical immediate needs such as water and food supplies and restoring access to electricity and telecommunications, while simultaneously working on arrangements for getting students back into schools and getting critical sectors of the economy such as tourism and financial services back up to speed.

Anguilla’s Chief Minister Victor Banks reported that the island’s main hospital, schools and 90 per cent of the homes were damaged. He indicated that efforts are being made to meet the pressing need for food, water, building supplies and electricity and confronting any challenges to the critical tourism sector.

It should be noted that following the tour of the islands, leaders indicated that steps are being made to convene an international Donors Conference to mobilise the ‘significant resources’ required for recovery efforts. This is indeed a positive move which would allow international development partners, governments, Private Sector organisations and individuals to have a better grasp of the immediate and longterm needs of these countries. For example, in addition to other forms of support, affected countries would need much help in providing psychological counselling to help affected persons overcome the trauma of the hurricane Irma experience.

As stated by the Caricom Secretary General, given the scale of the destruction, countries and institutions in the international community must be willing to build on the current relief efforts by the Caribbean Community.

That said, several commentators have called for Caricom governments whose nationals reside in the affected islands to provide some help in repatriating those persons back to their home countries once they are desirous of returning. Already some Caricom governments have begun to repatriate their nationals who have chosen to leave the British Virgin Islands.

According to media reports, several persons took advantage of the opportunity to leave the island over the past week.

Many of the survivors fear that they would be forgotten once the dust of Hurricane Irma settles. For us in Guyana, we can only imagine how difficult the challenges ahead will be for many of them. Our hope is that regional governments will step up and do what is necessary to ensure that normalcy returns to their communities as soon as possible.

As Guyana celebrates Education Month 2017 under the theme: ‘Promoting wellness in communities through quality education’, part of the month’s activites included a grand education rally and innovation fair which saw thousands of students from various schools gathered at D’Urban Park, Georgetown

Is the new Demerara River bridge another scandal in the making?

Dear Editor, The Guyanese people, I am sure, are ripe with some excitement and welcome the news of a new Demerara River bridge. This excitement, however, is now tempered with the facts that are becoming public and as such, a public discussion is current.

They are a number of issues that the Public Infrastructure Minister must come clean on and level with the masses. Now that there is an announcement by the Government that the bridge will be built from Houston to Versailles, some specific questions must be answered.

1. What would be the cost of the acquisition of lands at Houston and at Versailles?

Why did the Public Infrastructure Ministry only announced acquisition of lands at Houston? What about Versailles? Who is the owner(s) of the land at this location?

2. If a decision has been made for Versailles to be the agreed site on the western end where the bridge will terminate, what is the

agreed figure which the owner(s) agreed upon for the acquisition of the lands?

3. With this new structure, what would be the cost of tolls for commuters and for commercial transporters?

What would be the percentage increase in tolls? Since the feasibility study indicated that increase of tolls will be inadequate to finance this project, what would be the level of Government subsidy/financing? We need to know the amount; it cannot be a blind date. Minister David Patterson, the figures please.

4. To support the construction of this bridge, there will be the need for other infrastructure, approach roads, vehicular overpass and other nonbridge infrastructure that would be priced separate and apart from the cost of the bridge. What would be the total or estimated total of such infrastructures?

5. Since we have not seen copies of the social impact assessment or the environmental impact assessment, could the Minister inform the nation how will this site

affect businesses in the vicinity of the proposed site on both North and South on both sides of the river?

Since, within a specific distance determined by international standards mooring of vessels are restricted for safety purposes in the vicinity of this bridge, how will this impact the publicly announced on-shore oil and gas facility and investments made by Muneshwars Limited at the recently acquired Gafoors property, at Houston? Notwithstanding, other existing fishing establishment, fuel terminals and other wharfs that service ocean going vessels?

6. As it relates to traffic flow and congestion, is there a network of roads that was considered and how does the propose Ogle to Diamond by-pass road fit into this scheme?

7. What is the financing model for this bridge?

Would it be a Private Public Partnership (PPP) or the Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model?

Would the selected contractor be responsible for financing and building the bridge

as well as other infrastructure to accommodate usage of the bridge or would it be two separate awards?

8. Why is the Ministry requesting that bidders sign non-disclosure agreements as well as waive their rights to protest the award, if aggrieved? Is it because the Government has already predetermined who will be contracted to build this bridge and the financing model secretly agreed on?

Are the few selected bidders only to be window-dressing and to give the impression of a fair and open process?

Why is it necessary to waive their rights to protest if aggrieved?

9. What are the experts estimated total cost of the bridge as well as other infrastructure to facilitate and operationalise the Houston to Versailles Demerara bridge link?

Minister, my fellow Guyanese and I would like to have a bridge, not another scandal.

Sincerely, Bishop Juan Edghill, PPP/C MP

UG also needs to change its teaching methodologies

Dear Editor, I was amazed that the day after I wrote in the media about Human Resource Management professionals needing to adapt their approaches to staff training/ learning/development in keeping with readily available ‘tech-savvy’ methodol-

ogies, the media carried a sad report on September 15 titled: “UG Sociology students forced to stand during three-hour lecture due to limited seating”. The said report went on to describe the series of distresses experienced by the students to adapt to the anachronis-

tic, thoughtless and most uncomfortable learning-deficient approach being used especially in the face of wellknown obstacles at UG. I humbly ask a simple question: ‘Was it not better to video-tape the said lecture and send it to all the relevant students (and per-

haps other interested parties!) and to follow this up with several smaller group tutorials involving students who express a desire for same or mandated by their teachers accordingly?”

Sincerely, Nowrang Persaud

guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, September 16, 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

Provide proof instead of engaging in name-calling Dear Editor, In Guyana, it is most unfortunate that almost every discourse degenerates into race or a charge of racism no matter how well intentioned the commentator.

Thus, one can never get into a constructive or serious discussion on issues even when it would benefit the entire country. Discussing matters impinging on race is even more divisive. And therefore, the country cannot make progress.

People make all kinds of idiotic claims even when they cannot be justified or supported with solid evidence. An Africanist makes a claim for 15 thousand square miles based on land development by his ancestors and when shown how the argument is flawed, he calls you a racist. If you

show your ancestors developed more land and therefore are entitled that land, using the same logic as he did, he opposes your claim.

Worse, he also accuses you of being a racist for making such a claim even when you accept his claim on the condition that he respects yours. Worse, he seeks to silence you and threaten violence – he will do a Rwanda on your people.

This only serves to inflate racial passions and won’t take the country forward on development as happened during the ethnic apartheid like dictatorship during Burnhamism.

Only those without much intellect and whose claims lack validity descend to name-calling and attacking a media and its highly respected columnists for their

views on land issues and other unjustified claims. But such a strategy only works against the meek and those who cower in fear of being denied bread and butter if they speak accurately.

Rather than engaging in name-calling (calling people racists to silence them), a better option would have been to present incontrovertible proof to support a claim.

No commentator or columnist has a monopoly on public discourse. And merely giving your opinion does not make it a fact, no matter how many times you state it.

Writers are entitled to their views providing they offer fair, objective, balanced and non-racist comments.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Cuban shoppers helping to keep many businesses in Georgetown afloat Dear Editor, It has been observed that in recent times in downtown Georgetown, some members of the Georgetown City Constabulary have begun a campaign of harassing Cuban shoppers.

Now that they can hardly get a dollar out of vendors whom they have harassed for years, due to those vendors saying enough is enough and due to the massive reduction in their profit margins, many wayward Constables are now pestering Cubans, demanding to see their passports to determine whether they were legally in Guyana, and if they accidentally drop a small piece of paper or the wrapper of a confectionery item, they quickly pounce on them and shake them down. This is in spite of mountains of garbage all around them, created by ‘junkies’, but of course ‘junkies’ have no

money to give them a bribe so they hardly bother with them.

The City Constabulary Department of the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown has convinced itself that is has the same power as the national Police – the Guyana Police Force – has in the maintenance of law and order in this country, but needs to be told that they have no responsibility, jurisdiction nor authority over immigration in Guyana.

Clearly the Georgetown Municipality and their Constables fail to appreciate that the steady flow of nearly 1000 Cubans coming to Guyana every week to shop, mainly clothing, is extremely good for our country’s economy at a time when there is much talk about sluggishness and over-reliance on gold to prop up revenues.

The Cuban shoppers are helping to keep many businesses in Georgetown afloat and therefore if they were to get tired of the harassment by the City Constabulary and stop coming, it would leave Georgetown in pretty bad shape financially.

What the Constabulary should be doing instead, is providing protection to the Cubans and other visitors from the roving criminals in our capital.

Sincerely, Shanta Singh

2018 Budget should be designed with youths in mind Dear Editor, The Guyanese people deserve a budget for 2018 that sets them up for a better life. But based on what I have seen so far, I am not convinced that Minister Winston Jordan or for that matter, his boss President David Granger, are prepared to support the youths of Guyana to truly build this nation.

Rather, there are some heavy investments into the personal welfare of a small cabal, who have all peaked over 15 years ago. Case in point – a medical plan for Ministers who refuses to use the Georgetown hospitals but expect the nation to do so.

In early 2015, the majority of the youth stood with Granger because they saw him as a fresh face. His words did encourage an ambition that more youths would have been able to unleash their potential under the new Government, but sadly it was all a "HOUDINI" kind of illusion that was populated with heavy doses of subterfuge and deceit.

Guyana, as currently constituted, is too small a nation to be making all these mistakes. But this gross incompetence in the regime is causing the nation to fail to harness its true growth opportunities.

As a result, the young people continue to express themselves with their feet by migrating. As a result, we are losing the critical skills and manpower we need to continue to build this nation.

Those few who decide to stay are overworked and

overwhelmed by the collapse of all the systems around them.

Any finance talent will know that the 2018 Budget should be designed with the youths in mind and should include programmes and projects that can contribute to the creation of the new jobs, directly combat poverty and feed the process of creating real new wealth for more people.

One youth who left Guyana five months ago to work “off the books" in New York, returned in June only to tell me that “in five months everything has gotten so much harder in Guyana”. She even ventured out to state that “man, I can’t wait to come

back to the States”.

So to the apologists in the Department of Public Information who are trying to distort the truth with their fake narrative that things are getting better, wake up! You can try peddling your falsehood as much as you want, the youths are aware of this Guyana tragedy under this regime and they are turning on the People’s National Congress. Once the youth turn on you, collectively we can all shout "Good riddance to the team that mislead the nation with that false promise of a "Good Life under Granger.”

Regards, Sase Singh

6

saturday, September 16, 2017

Page

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation Are you sad sometimes and don't know why?

A yearly physical exam is a great time to talk about this. A doctor can tell your preadolescent — and you — what to expect in the next few years. An exam can be a jumping-off point for a good parent/child discussion. The later you wait to have these talks, the more likely your child will be to form misconceptions or become embarrassed about or afraid

W

hen you consider that the teen years are a period of intense growth, not only physically but emotionally and intellectually, it's understandable that it's a time of confusion and upheaval for many families.

Despite some adults' negative perceptions about teens, they are often energetic, thoughtful, and idealistic, with a deep interest in what's fair and right.

So, although it can be a period of conflict between parent and child, the teen years are also a time to help children grow into the distinct individuals they will become.

Understanding the teen years

So when does adolescence start?

Everybody's different – there are early bloomers, late arrivers, speedy developers, and slow-but-steady growers.

In other words, there's a wide range of what's considered normal.

But it's important to make a (somewhat artificial) distinction between puberty and adolescence. Most of us think of puberty as the development of adult sexual characteristics: breasts, menstrual periods, pubic hair, and facial hair. These are certainly the most visible signs of puberty and impending adulthood, but children who are showing physical changes (between the ages of 8 and 14 or so) also can be going through a bunch of changes that aren't readily seen from the outside. These are the changes of adolescence.

Many children announce the onset of adolescence with a dramatic change in behaviour around their parents. They're starting to separate from mom and dad and become more inde-

pendent. At the same time, children this age are increasingly aware of how others, especially their peers, see them and are desperately trying to fit in.

Their peers often become much more important than parents as far as making decisions.

Children often start "trying on" different looks and identities, and they become very aware of how they differ from their peers, which can result in episodes of distress and conflict with parents.

Butting heads

One of the common stereotypes of adolescence is the rebellious, wild teen continually at odds with mom and dad.

Although it may be the case for some children and this is a time of emotional ups and downs, that stereotype certainly is not representative of most teens.

But the primary goal of the teen years is to achieve independence. To do this, teens must start pulling away from their parents – especially the parent whom they're the closest to.

This can feel like teens are always at odds with parents or don't want to be around them the way they used to.

As teens mature, they start to think more abstractly and rationally. They're forming their moral code. And parents of teens may find that children who previously had been willing to conform to please them will suddenly begin asserting themselves – and their opinions – strongly and rebelling against parental control.

You may need to look closely at how much room you give your teen to be an individual and ask yourself questions such as: "Am I a controlling parent?,"

"Do I listen to my child?," and "Do I allow my teen's opinions and tastes to differ from my own?"

Tips for parenting during the teen years

Looking for a roadmap to find your way through these years? Here are some tips:

Educate yourself

Read books about teenagers.

Think back on your own teen years.

Remember your struggles with acne or your embarrassment at developing early – or late. Expect some mood changes in your typically sunny child, and be prepared for more conflict as he or she matures as an individual.

Parents who know what's coming can cope with it better. And the more you know, the better you can prepare.

Talk to children early and often

Starting to talk about menstruation or wet dreams after they've already begun is starting too late. Answer the early questions children have about bodies, such as the differences between boys and girls and where babies come from. But don't overload them with information – just answer their questions. If you don't know the answers, get them from someone who does, like a trusted friend or your paediatrician.

You know your children. You can hear when your child's starting to tell jokes about sex or when attention to personal appearance is increasing.

This is a good time to jump in with your own questions such as: Are you noticing any changes in your body?

Are you having any strange feelings?

of physical and emotional changes.

And the earlier you open the lines of communication, the better your chances of keeping them open through the teen years. Give your child books on puberty written for children going through it. Share memories of your own adolescence.

There's nothing like knowing that mom or dad went through it, too, to put children more at ease. (Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

Building your relationship with your teen – A good relationship is based on trust, security, and love.

Nurturing these three values is essential to having a healthy relationship with your child

E

ven though your teen is becoming more involved in their relationships outside the family, it is still important for you to remain responsive to their needs and be there to guide and support them.

You are your teen’s first teacher, and the relationship you have with them is the basis of his emotional and social development.

Have family meals together. Your teen’s schedule may be getting busier as they make their way through high school, but it’s good to try to have family dinners together as much as possible. Research has found that when teens eat meals with family, they are more likely to get good grades and less likely to engage in risky behaviours like smoking, drinking, drug abuse and sexual activity. Try to set a time that works for all family members, and use this as an opportunity to discuss everyone’s day and open up discussions about important topics like friends, relationships, responsibility and important ongoing activities. Having dinner together is a great way to get everyone to check in, and it helps build a strong relationship between you and your teen.

Education consultant Jennifer Miller suggests making dinner together and having every member of the family contribute by setting the table, providing meal ideas, contributing to a shopping list, cooking or cleaning up.

Find creative compromises and de-escalate conflicts. Maurice Elias, director of the Rutgers SocialEmotional Learning Lab, suggests that you try to de-escalate conflicts as much as possible. Elias says that even though your teen may be difficult, you are still the adult and have the greater responsibility to preserve your positive relationship. Try to step away from conflict. If you feel frustrated with your teen, Elias suggests that you tell them, “I don’t feel that this is going anywhere right now. I need to cool down and think and we can continue this in an hour.” Not only do you decrease the risk of saying something you will regret later, but you also model a vital skill for your teen, which is to avoid making decisions in the heat of the moment.

You should try to make sure that you return to that conversation eventually, as this will allow you to generate ideas together for a mutually agreeable solution.

(parenttoolkit.com)

news

7

saturDay, September 16, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Cabinet's secret decision

A ploy to legitimise illegal payments to ANSA McAL – Nandlall

T

he recent Cabinet decision taken in relation to the procurement of pharmaceutical supplies appears aimed at having Government turn over $515.2 million to ANSA McAL before the findings of the report of the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) are made public, since that company would have already received some $90 million on its $605 million contract, which triggered the investigations.

This is the view held by former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall. Yesterday, in a public missive, he contended that “a Cabinet decision cannot legitimise an illegality.”

The matter was first made public on Thursday when Guyana Times published a copy of the decision of the Cabinet Sub-Committee concerning the contract involving ANSA McAL. According to Nandlall, “It is public knowledge that the total value of the contract for drugs unlawfully procured from ANSA McAL is six hundred and five million, nine hundred and sixty-two thousand, two hundred dollars ($605,962,200)...

My information is that ninety million, seven hundred and eighty-three thousand, nine hundred and thirty-two dollars ($90,783,932) (have) already (been) paid to ANSA McAL by a previous Cabinet decision.”

Nandlall contends that this was “clearly done when the controversy did not reach the gigantic proportions to which it eventually exploded. I surmise that Cabinet found itself in a conundrum after the controversy erupted, and especially

Former Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall when the matter was transmitted to the Public Procurement Commission (PPC) for investigation.”

He added, “The problem was further compounded because, despite the internal wrangling which is emerging from the PPC in terms of who should be held responsible for the violations of the Procurement Act, it is abundantly clear that there is a unanimous finding by that Commission -- that the Procurement Act was violently breached.”

The former Attorney General is adamant that no minister of the Government or the Cabinet has the authority to waive or authorise the waiver of the Procurement Act in respect of any transaction to which it applies.

In his repudiation of the Cabinet intervention, Nandlall has observed that based upon the content of the secret

Cabinet document -- which has since made its way into the public domain -- it is clear that this matter was first considered by Cabinet on a previous occasion, and was transmitted to a Cabinet Sub-Committee for consideration.

He has opined: “It was considered by that sub-committee and returned to Cabinet for Cabinet to stamp it with some form of imprimatur/legitimacy.” The former Legal Affairs Minister, now Opposition front bencher, is adamant that Minister Jordan, “recognizing that he is being faced with a fait accompli (already accomplished or occurred) of an unlawful transaction already taken place, the Minister of Finance, by this instrument, is now seeking coverage from Cabinet before he authorizes payment of five hundred and fifteen million, one hundred and seventy-eight thousand, two hundred and sixty-eight dollars ($515,178,268) to ANSA McAL.” The Opposition member has since accused Minister Jordan and the Cabinet of “obviously protecting themselves, and are obviously invoking the principle of collective responsibility of Cabinet in respect of authorizing an obviously un-

lawful payment.”

Nandlall adamantly contends: “Unfortunately for this Government, a Cabinet decision cannot legitimize an illegality... Laws are made by Parliament, and equally bind all.”

Nandlall has posited that Cabinet enjoys no exception,

and has stated that if the Executive enjoyed such exemptions from the law, then there would have been no need for laws to be passed

by Parliament. The former Minister of Legal Affairs, in his public missive, also observed that it is common knowledge that the PPC’s Report

on this matter would shortly be submitted to the National Assembly, and would be discussed or debated when the National Assembly resumes sitting after the current recess.

“It is my considered view that the shenanigan of the said Cabinet decision is simply an artifice, not only to satisfy the Minister of Finance’s discomfiture, but to also ensure that all payments are concluded in respect of this contract before the PPC’s Report is considered by the National Assembly and made public.”

Nandlall suggests this recourse is necessary in the event of any actions taken by the National Assembly or in the courts designed to prohibit that payment. He however, adds, “Those actions will simply be futile, as payments would have already been made.”

He contends, nonetheless, that despite payments already having been made, “this transaction will nevertheless remain judicially reviewable. In the end, it will be recorded as one of the most egregious exhibitions of corruption and rank illegality committed in Guyana by a Government over the last 30 years.”

Parika boat operator nabbed with ganja

A

speedboat operator and resident of Parika, East Bank Essequibo, who has for some time been on the Police radar as a suspected trafficker in narcotics, was on Friday arrested by ranks

in ‘F’ Division (Bartica/ Interior Locations) with a quantity of marijuana in his possession.

Reports reaching Guyana Times state that ranks acting on information received approached

the 37-year-old suspect at First Avenue, Bartica at about 10:30h on Friday and conducted a search on his person and his belongings, unearthing the illegal substance in his haversack.

He was arrested and

taken into custody, and the cannabis, when weighed, amounted to 868 grammes.

Long suspected to be trafficking in narcotics, Police say, the speed boat operator is currently being processed for court.

8 NEWS

saturday, September 16, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Lethem men charged for building illegal Rupununi airstrip

T

wo men from Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) who reportedly confessed to constructing an illegal airstrip in the Rupununi, were arraigned on Friday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Wazim King, 37, of Lot 222 Kumuku Drive, Lethem; and Nathan Hamilton, 21, of Lot 107 Beverley Hill Drive, Lethem appeared before City Magistrate Judy Latchman, denying the allegation made against them.

It is alleged that both men between August 10 and 13, 2017, at Rupununi Region Nine, conspired to facilitate the illegal landing of an aircraft used for trafficking weapons and drugs by constructing an illegal airstrip.

Attorneys for the defendants questioned why their clients were being charged when the mastermind in the matter; their employer, is not in Police custody and was in fact released by Police some time ago.

It was revealed to the court by Attorney Jerome Khan, who is representing King, that the defendants admitted to being recruited by their employer (name given) to construct the airstrip.

He further disclosed that both men are cooperating fully with Police and should be used as witnesses instead of being charged.

However, Police Prosecutor Vishnu

Wazim King and Nathan Hamilton Hunt objected to bail being granted and revealed that the defendants gave statements implicating themselves and clearly stated to Police that they had knowledge of what they were building.

As such, Magistrate Latchman remanded the men to prison until September 18.

Reports are an illegal Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft; and a 5400-foot long, 45foot wide makeshift airstrip was found in the Upper Takutu region by Joint Services ranks.

Three men were seen existing the aircraft but they managed to evade Police.

Identification documents; several pieces of communication equipment, including cel-

lular phones; flashlights; a quantity of dried ration; and medical supplies were found aboard the aircraft.

Additionally, a search of the area unearthed three abandoned camps, in which canned food and other items were found along with containers of suspected aviation fuel.

A probe into the matter led to the arrest of several persons, including the duo that was charged and their employer. However, their employer was later released. Police have since launched a manhunt to re-apprehend the businessman.

An inter-agency probe has since been launched and it was unearthed that the aircraft, which initially had a Colombian registration number, was actually registered to Brazil’s third largest bank, Banco Bradesco.

On Monday last, acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine told reporters that documents found in the Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft may have links to South American neighbours, Brazil and Colombia.

However, the acting Top Cop was unable to say who the individuals were that brought the illegal aircraft into Guyana.

Police officials had also revealed that the identification documents found in the aircraft belonged to a Brazilian and a Colombian national.

Fixing…

A

…Police bribery? udreyana Thomas is no ordinary Guyanese – meaning, in our context – she’s actually no ordinary being!! While ostensibly the PRO for GuysuCo, she’s single-handedly taken on every and anyone who dare oppose the Government’s abrupt and precipitate closure and “amalgamation” of sections of the sugar industry. This’ll eventually throw 10,000 poor sugar workers into the streets. Her pen – with the power of the entire State apparatus behind her – has worked to make the said opposition moot, if not mute.

So, your Eyewitness’ ears perked up when he saw her letter in the press, “Police should stop disgracing the uniform they wear”. The “disgrace” was her witnessing – “with her own two eyes” as they say – a couple of traffic Police fleecing a motorist. If this woman could spearhead and justify to the nation – if not the naysayers – the shuttering on the largest employer in the land, she could surely put a stop to the epidemic of Police bribery that has demoralised the public at large. Especially since sugar – while losing money – brought in over US$100 million foreign currency annually and a Government CoI had recommended it be supported and privatised in three years. Audreyana was the face of powerful forces!!

But your Eyewitness’ jaw dropped to his socks when he read the (good?) lady’s actions and suggestions.

First, she caught up with the poor CITIZEN who’d been fleeced, and admonished her for paying the bribe to the traffic Cop!! Is she for real? Obviously at her power level, she’s never been forced to drive to the Police Station – miles away – kept waiting for interminable hours and then charged for the innocuous “infraction” they’d been pulled over for. Folks have things to do Ms Thomas, apart from writing letters justifying the firings of thousands: they’d rather get on with their lives.

But why didn’t Thomas upbraid the Police? If she had the evidence of her own two eyes – which could’ve been memorialised by her phone-camera – for someone with her connections, what was there to fear? But it wasn’t prompted by fear, but sympathy. Thomas announced she’ll start a fund – to be supported by us the fleeced populace – to “topup” Police salaries!! You read that right – the Harmon principle to stop bribe taking, but this time coming directly from citizens’ pockets rather than via their taxes!!

It didn’t work with the Ministers then – after their 50 per cent raise – and it won’t with the Police for the same reason. Greed is insatiable and only increases when fed. …President’s College Your Eyewitness knows the memory of Founder Leader Forbes Burnham is being rehabilitated. But isn’t the Muckraker going a tad over the top when they claimed, “President’s College was established on September 11, 1985, with a student body of 72

by Guyana’s first Executive President, the late Linden Forbes Burnham.” The man died on August 6, 1985, for goodness sake. Or does it mean since the PNC Government was ferrying his body across the world to be preserved, he was still “around”?

OK…your Eyewitness recognises the statement could be semantically ambiguous because of the stilted sentence construction, but it does reflect the hagiographic efforts afoot on Burnham’s behalf, doesn’t it? Did you notice the purple flowers in Prezzie’s mala to go with the purple uniforms of the President College’s students? Did you know that purple was the colour of royalty and Queen Elizabeth I forbade others from using it?

It revealed the (royal) pretentions of Burnham when he picked purple as his personal colour.

Check out his flag with a black camoudi around a palm tree between purple stripes!! …Local Government Commission AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan says the long promised Local Government Commission (LGC) – which was to take over the supervision and disciplining, etc of local government bodies like NDCs and municipalities, is nigh upon us.

But not till the Georgetown meter contract is settled! Can’t mess with the fix by the gang of Four!!

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

News

9

saturDAY, september 16, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Wedding house killing

Former Magistrate slapped Grove man slapped with more charges

with murder charge F A man who beat and killed another at a wedding celebration was remanded to prison when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the capital offence.

Rajen Dindial, 36, of Lot 653 Section C Block Y, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) was slapped with the murder charge and appeared before City Magistrate Judy Latchman.

The charge read that on September 3, 2017, at Sarron Street Grove, EBD, he murdered 25-year-old Alston Henry.

The prosecution is contending that Henry was at a wedding house with

Murder accused: Rajen Dindial

Dindial’s relatives when an argument ensued between the duo.

The now dead man re-

portedly started to act in a disorderly manner and threw down a portable toilet that was on the property where the wedding was being kept.

As such, the accused picked up a dabla (large wooden spoon) and dealt Henry several blows about his body.

The man reportedly fell unconscious but was however picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

As such, the accused was taken into Police custody where he was later charged with the offence.

He was remanded to prison. The case will continue on September 18.

Ramjattan pushes for age 21...

FROM PAGE 2

“We do have a number of regulations and what we have to do now is enforce those regulations.

Alcohol is a big problem and it has led to consequential challenges. it has also led to tremendous violence in homes, which has other consequential issues like children not being brought up properly – daddy beating up mommy and [children] not being well nurtured because money goes towards the liquor,” Ramjattan expressed.

In the past few months, several road accidents have been recorded which saw many pedestrians and car occupants losing their lives. Drunk driving has been listed as one of the causes of serious accidents.

These latest suggestions to curb alcohol con-

sumption follows Minister Ramjattan’s enforcement of an early morning curfew in July 2015 which stops bars, nightclubs and restaurants across the country from opening beyond 02:00h. In the past, the Minister threatened to revoke or suspend the li-

cences of businesses which did not comply. However, the enforcement is often relaxed during the holiday season and for other special events. Minister Ramjattan maintains that these measures form part of his crime-fighting strategy.

ormer Magistrate Chandra Sohan was on Friday slapped with two more charges in relation to an accident in Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

Sohan appeared before Magistrate Renita Singh at the Albion Magistrate’s Court where he denied the charges of failing to give his name, address and registration number to the nearest Police station and another charge which stated that on August 18, 2017, on the Williamsburg Public Road, Corentyne, Berbice, he failed to take the injured person to seek medical attention after allegedly being involved in an accident. He was released on self-bail. The matters have been adjourned until September 26.

Meanwhile, his previous charge of driving under the influence (DUI) was also called at the same court.

When the matter was called, head of the barrage of lawyers representing Sohan, Marceline Bacchus, entered an application for the prosecution to make disclosure.

Magistrate Singh ordered the Police to make a disclosure on the statements they have to the defence and set September 26 for the trial to continue.

The charges stemmed from an accident allegedly involving Sohan at about 19:40h on August 18, at Williamsburg.

The prosecution is contending that following the accident on August 18, Sohan’s blood alcohol level was above the legal limit.

Investigations revealed that motor van PJJ 6060 driven by the 51-year-old lawyer of Palmyra Village, East Coast Berbice, was proceeding West along the southern

carriageway when a male pedestrian who is still unidentified, allegedly crossed the road from South to North into the path of the vehicle and was hit. He was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Port Mourant Public Hospital, treated and transferred to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital and later to the Georgetown Public Hospital. The injured man was admitted in a serious but stable condition. (Andrew Carmichael)

10 news

saturday, September 16, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Sharing oil and gas experiences

Transparency critical for industry safety – Canadian Mission

By Lakhram Bhagirat

I

t is important for all oil and gas companies to actively pursue transparency. This is to ensure that the integrity of the sector is kept intact, the environment is preserved, and future generations are provided for.

Michael Critch, Treasurer of the Broad of Directors of the Newfoundland and Labrador Oil and Gas Industries Association (NOIA), and a team of Canadians are in Guyana at the instance of the Canadian High Commission to share on Canada’s oil and gas experience. He made this observation during a public presentation at the Umana Yana on Wednesday. He was speaking at a fiveday consultative and part-

nership workshop collaboratively sponsored by the Government of Guyana, the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), and the Canadian High Commission. That workshop ended on Thursday.

Over the past months, Guyanese from all sections of society have been calling for transparency in the local dealings concerning the emerging oil and gas sector. The call for the release of the contract entered into between the Government of Guyana and ExxonMobil have intensified over the weeks, but Government remains adamant that if the document were shared it would compromise security.

However, Commissioner of Information, Charles Ramson Snr, has prom-

ised access to the document. He said the non-disclosure of the details of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) between Exxon and the Government does not prevent any citizen from getting details from the Commissioner of Information. He added that if a formal application is made, the information could become available.

Ramson Snr has said it is his objective to inform citizens of their right to access information not readily available, and the process through which they can so do.

The agreement, signed earlier this year, will see Guyana receiving 50 per cent of the profits along with two per cent royalties following the com-

mencement of production in 2020.

Guyana has its own draft Local Content Policy, which was formulated by the Natural Resources Ministry and seen by this publication.

According to that Policy, local businesses would be provided with assistance to build capacity.

The document sets out that a well-funded and resourced regulatory institution would enforce the policy. A multi-stakeholder group representing local bodies that are involved in the sector would in turn oversee the regulator.

The agency’s duties would include monitoring, evaluating, and reporting on the licensing and registration process for all suppliers.

It will also be in charge of creating databases for suppliers, local professionals and technicians, as well as projects. It is proposed that the body will also set targets for these projects.

In relation to royalties, Critch said the issue is complex and is formulated by various governments, depending on their interests.

“The royalties and taxation is a complex scheme formulated by Government.

Even in Canada, even in Newfoundland and Labrador, it is not the same…it is not always easy for the Government to for-

Michael Critch, Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Newfoundland and Labrador Oil and Gas Industries Association

mulate, because there are differences. Based on the resources out there, you cannot compare one oilfield to the next, because each oilfield needs to be negotiated in its own,” he said.

He noted that, in his jurisdiction, the percentage of royalties is changed from time to time, depending on various factors. He added that, in some cases, Government would have to take royalty cuts to ensure that more jobs are being provided for its citizens and better investments are made in the forms of infrastructur-

al and educational development.

He said Government needs to take an active role to support the development of a local supply and service industry, along with the education and skills’ training, to ensure that citizens are prepared and can be a part of the industry.

Critch said Guyana should have been engaging international bodies a while now to have citizens trained and knowledge shared to ensure readiness when production commences.

With production expecting to commence in 2020, Critch said, Guyana should start seeing an influx of revenue immediately following the commencement of production, but he noted that profit-sharing payments would depend on the agreement between Government and the drilling company.

The overall estimation of oil already discovered in Guyana is now between 2.25 billion and 2.75 billion oil equivalent barrels. This represents oil bearing rocks found in Liza One, Two, Three and Four wells, Liza Deep, Payara and Snoek.

However, oil was not found in commercial quantities at the SkipJack well.

About 120 barrels of oil will be produced a day for the first 20 years in Guyana.

news

11

saturDAY, september 16, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Aviation sector

GCAA admits deficiencies in navigational aids, search and rescue …says GDF helicopter/equipment deteriorated

By Jarryl Bryan

T

he Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Egbert Field, at a recent press conference, has lamented the deterioration of the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF’s) helicopters.

He noted that Guyana does not have an adequate search-and-rescue helicopter, that there is no navigational aid at the main airport outside a certain radius, and that this risky situation has been ongoing for years without rectification.

This seemingly confirms some concerns raised by operators in the aviation sector.

“An important element

Director General of the GCAA, Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Egbert Field

point where they do not have a serviceable helicopter for

The GDF Bell 412 helicopter which is unserviceable

of search-and-rescue, which is a helicopter in the event of a crash…I don’t know why the GDF equipment was allowed to deteriorate to the

search and rescue – which is the Bell 412 helicopter,” Field expressed.

Field noted that the GCAA has sent a complement of its

officers to countries like the USA, Peru and Mexico in order to conduct courses in search and rescue.

“As NATA (National Air Transport Association) would tell you, from the first meeting I had with them, I touched on the topic of search-andrescue,” Field related. “And I promised them that I will be taking a serious view of it.”

In a letter to the media highlighting some of the deficiencies in the aviation sector, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Roraima Airways, Captain Gerald ‘Gerry’ Gouveia, had zeroed in on problems besetting the local aviation sector, such as the lack of effective searchand-rescue operations, and the absence of air traffic control to help aircraft avoid midair collisions beyond a 75-mile radius of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

Probed about the situation, Field admitted that indeed there is no navigational assistance for pilots outside of the radius.

“There are no navigational aids outside. We are looking at GPS, but then there would be an added cost for the operator, because the GPS is not (a) simple equipment. It would have to be sophisticated, and the GPS would have to be installed in the aircraft,” he explained.

Gouveia’s letter had related that pilots have been making daily reports of high-

ly unusual and unexpected weather conditions. He noted that pilots fly unassisted through vast airspace beyond the 75-mile airport radius, while depending primarily on their own radio contact with other planes in order to avoid mid-air collisions.

In recommendations accompanying his observations, Gouveia had urged the au-

thorities to ensure that air traffic control services are deployed at specific geographic locations beyond the 75-mile radius of CJIA. Gouveia’s critiques and recommendations came after several fatal and non-fatal accidents occurred recently. On July 25, Captain Collin Martin, a retired Guyana Defence Force Major, was pi-

loting a Roraima Airways’ Britten-Norman Islander aircraft when it crashed on landing at Eteringbang, killing him almost instantly.

Captain Imran Khan, 41, of Essequibo Coast, Region Two, also lost his life when the Air Services Limited’s Cessna 206 aircraft he was flying from Chi-Chi to Mahdia went down late last month.

12 news

saturDAY, september 16, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

GTT cable sabotage continues

Company to meet with Ministers to address issue …offers $500k reward for capture of culprits

T

he Guyana Telephone Telegraph (GTT) is reporting that its cables have again been sabotaged, and the company is offering a reward of $500,000 for the capture of those responsible.

The telecommunications giant has announced that it plans to meet with the relevant ministers of government for discussions on the spate of sabotage plaguing the company.

On September 12 and 13, three hundred (300) me-

tres of cable in the vicinity of New Hope and Friendship on the East Bank of Demerara were cut and removed, affecting voice and data services to more than 400 customers.

“These malicious acts are being conducted by persons who understand the telecoms system, and are bent on impeding the company’s progress for their own

selfish gains,” GTT’s Chief Executive Officer, Justin Nedd, has said.

“GTT intends to meet with the Minsters of Public

Security, Business and Public Telecommunications to holistically address the issue. Engineers and other resources allocated for scheduled works have since been diverted to restore service to the affected customers,” the company said in a press statement.

During a joint press conference with the Public Telecommunications Ministry and GTT on July 26, 2017, Minister Cathy Hughes stressed: “At the end of the day, it is important to recognise that the new tele-

communications agency will have the responsibility to issue new licences.” She was unequivocal in pointing out that, should information be revealed identifying any singular entity as responsible for the sabotage perpetrated on GTT, that entity would be censured when it comes to being granted licences.

The previous success in capturing and prosecuting some saboteurs was made possible through the vigilance of members of the respective communities where the sabotage was being conducted, who acted on appeal of GTT to say something if they see something, the statement explained.

The first act in the recent series of sabotage was detected on July 14, 2017, one day before GTT officially launched the Blaze fibre-optic high-speed Internet. In February, the company’s fi-

bre-optic cable was also sabotaged at a time when it launched its high-speed LTE broadband in Essequibo.

Over the past 12 months, GTT’s loss of service and restoration effort has equated to $50 million, according to the company.

Twenty-two-year-old Ricky Singh of Lot ‘F’ Grove, East Bank Demerara was in August placed on $350,000 bail upon being arraigned in court and denying that between July 22 and July 24, 2017, at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara, he was caught vandalizing and stealing the GTT fibre-optic cable.

Twenty-four-yearold fisherman Sanjay Seecharran of Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara was also recently jailed for three years after confessing to stealing fibre-optic cable from GTT.

Trotman’s public...

GGMC context

The Guyana Times was directed by Trotman’s office to Newell Dennison, Commissioner of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

Dennison told this publication he was unable to provide any assistance at the time, and that a response from the Commission would be informed by what was said by Patterson and its context.

According to Dennison, the matter of oil blocks being given out has to be seen in the context of what was given out and when, before referring further queries to the substantive minister.

Among the concessionaires named as operating in oil blocks in Guyana (onshore and offshore) are: NABI Oil and Gas Inc, ON ENERGY Inc, REPSOL, ANADARKO, ESSO/HESS/NEXEN, MidAtlantic Oil and Gas Inc, RATIO Energy/Guyana Ltd, and CGX Resources Inc. The GGMC’s website has stated: “Presently, a number of companies are negotiating for concessions in the offshore Guyana area.”

Jagdeo in his repudiation of Patterson’s pronouncements, has said: “This is the same strategy of lying which we recently witnessed by the Government when they misled the nation for several months by claiming that they cannot disclose the ExxonMobil contract because they are prevented from doing so by a law passed by the Jagdeo Administration...

We unmasked this lie two weeks ago.

Not a word has come from the Government since.”

Complex shareholding

During his weekly media engagement with the local press corps on Wednesday, the Opposition Leader told media operatives that a worrying case of cronyism is currently evolving, in which relatives, friends and associates of ministers and senior Government functionaries have been incorporated into companies through complex shareholding

from page 3

arrangements, and they are applying for exploration and production licences for oil and gas in the blocs still available.

“It has been brought to our attention that a number of front companies with key APNU/AFC individuals and ministers and their families as shareholders have submitted applications to the Ministry of Natural Resources for petroleum exploration and production licences.

“There are at least two companies that we know of that have developed complex shareholding structures that have made applications”, Jagdeo disclosed.

Speaking to the need for the available blocs to instead be auctioned off rather than having preferred companies apply, Jagdeo pointed out that a premium must be considered.

He said the world-class discovery of oil in Guyana could be compared to a ‘gold shout’, and the moment oil was discovered, “there is a premium now to owning offshore blocs and getting an exploration or production licence.”

Newspaper ploy

Jagdeo was adamant that several of the local companies applying for petroleum licences “have no means whatsoever – who are aligned to ministers and their families, etc, and some others (are) cronies – they have no means of finding hundreds of millions of US dollars to do the exploration work.” He opined that the companies in question “will get these blocs and, weeks later, they will sell the blocs without any competitive process being followed”.

He also suggested that even some of the foreign companies that have been making applications had “unhealthy contacts with some ministers and their surrogates”.

In dismissing Minister’s Patterson’s dishonestly, Jagdeo also chided the Kaieteur News, which he accused of having a penchant for sensationalizing erroneous assertions.

news

13

saturDAY, september 16, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Fifth Nereid Yacht Rally

Unapproved hike in customs fee deterred some yachters – Nascimento … Govt looking at construction of marina in Bartica

A

s the Guyana leg of the fifth Nereid’s Yacht Rally kicked off on Thursday at the Hurakabra River Resort, organiser Kit Nascimento said an overnight hike in the customs fee for yachts served as a deterrent for some yachters, resulting in fewer participants in this year’s rally.

“We discovered that the customs fee for yachts coming to Guyana suddenly went from US$25 to US$100 overnight. When I discovered it, I called the Minister responsible for tourism (Dominic Gaskin), Minister of Finance (Winston Jordan), I called the Head of the Guyana Revenue Authority (Godfrey Statia), and none of the three

knew about it. In the space of three to four days they put their heads together and the fee went right back down to US$25,” he explained.

The average customs fee throughout the Caribbean is US$20, Nascimento noted, added that a US$100 fee will not encourage yachters.

“We don’t have a boat yard, a marina, we don’t have moorings; we have none of the facilities yet that yachters look for where they go. So it got abroad first and some yachts were discouraged, we might have maybe three to four more yachts (in this year rally),” he added.

Co-owner of the Hurakabra Resort, Nascimento, said the rally

“is one of the most consistent tourism events in the calendar year. We have been doing this for years”. He added that yachting is one tourism event that can give a country “great PR or (bad PR)” noting that yachts communicate with each other; hence they will be knowledgeable about the country even before they decide to travel to it.

The tourists will be visiting Iwokrama Rainforest and the Kaieteur Falls.

Business Minister with responsibility for tourism, Dominic Gaskin noted that promoting Guyana is instrumental to his Ministry and the Government since the country has vast potential

Minister Gaskin with some of the yachters and regional authorities

and scenery for tourists to explore. He made the comments at a luncheon and reception at the resort on Thursday. The luncheon and reception also saw in attendance Chinese Ambassador

to Guyana, Cui Jianchun and his wife; Regional Chairman of Bartica, Gordon Bradford; among others.

Gaskin said talks have begun with the relevant stakeholders to have a ma-

rina constructed in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) to cater for such events. “With those constructions, we can have more yachts coming on the rally and feel safe,” he said.

Turn to page 15

Suddie Public Hospital theatre ceiling collapses All set for Mashramani 2018 launch today

Councillor Arnold Adams

A

make shift theatre, which is said to be quite shaky and unsafe, was set up at the Suddie Public Hospital, in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) after the ceiling for the institution’s theatre collapsed. This is according to People’s Progressive

Party Councillor Arnold Adams.

Adams during an interview said fortunately no operation was being done when the ceiling collapsed.

He said, however, that the hospital’s administration was forced to make a temporary theatre for emergency surgeries.

During the interview, Adams said he was informed by the Medical Superintendent that renovation works are currently being conducted. Adams said numerous times after he conducted health and sanitation meetings, recommendations were made to the Regional Executive Officer, Rupert Hopkinson’s office; but to date, none were implemented.

“I guess the ceiling had to collapse for the REO to get busy because over and over,

meetings after meetings, we recommended to him what to do. Nothing has been doing… poor people are suffering,” Adams said.

Adams further related that he is disappointed

such, many residents are feeling the effects.

He also said the hospital’s generator is still to be repaired. He is therefore calling on the Public Health Ministry to launch an inves-

The Suddie Public Hospital

that most recommendations made for the improvement of health-related issues in the region are not meaningfully followed up, and as

tigation into the deplorable conditions of certain wards at the hospital, since the institution is unsafe.

A

ll is set for the official launch of Mashramani 2018 activities, which will take place today (Saturday) in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Chairman of the Region 10 Commemoration Committee, Charles Sampson, has said there has been "a lot of movements" by the Committee, and that is responsible for the activities that would be staged at Mashramani 2018. Details have been finalized relative to the hosting of these activities, he explained.

The launching ceremony of the festival, which commemorates Guyana’s obtaining republican status on February 23, 1970, is scheduled to take place at 17:00h at the Linden-Georgetown minibus park on Republic Avenue, Mackenzie. The Ministry of

Social Cohesion, in collaboration with the Region 10 Democratic Council (RDC), will spearhead the event in the mining town.

As is customary, the theme for next year's Mashramani event is expected to be unveiled at the launching ceremony. Leading up to the official launch, a street parade is slated to commence from outside the Linden Technical Institute (LTI) along Washer Pond Road, Mackenzie, then make its way to Republic Avenue. Other activities on the agenda include speeches by regional and ministerial officials, performances by the 2017 Senior and Junior Calypso Monarchs, the Chutney Monarch, the National Steel Orchestra, and the 2017 Masquerade Champions, among others.

14 news

saturDAY, september 16, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Another Linden family displaced following freak storm – as tree crashes into home A nother Retrieve, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) family have lost their home, following a freak storm which ripped through the community on Tuesday afternoon. The Hopkinsons’ were displaced after a large cashew tree – located at the front of their home – was uprooted, which caused it to fall, demolishing the two-storey structure.

The Hopkinsons’ are the second Retrieve, Linden family to lose their home due to stormy weather in recent months.

Both homes were constructed using aluminium materials.

At the time disaster struck, 75-year-old Leslie Hopkinson said he was at home with his 35-year-old daughter, Desiree Hopkinson, at their Lot 493 Moraballi Street home. His wife, Chandra Hopkinson, explained that she was at a nearby shop at the time but recalled that her husband was in the kitchen at the time of the incident.

"I saw a little piece of the zinc blow away. So I left to go to my daughter who was in her bedroom to get a piece of plastic to cover the stove... both of us then tried to cover the stove... then I spot the tree coming into the house,” Leslie Hopkinson told this publication.

The patriarch of the home said impulsively, he pulled his daughter to safety from the fallen tree, but they were both knocked to the floor by the heavy winds. A kitchen cabinet which contained glass ware was broken upon the tree’s impact.

As a result, Hopkinson sus-

The Hopkinsons’ home which was demolished by a fallen tree

tained minor cuts and bruises to both legs while his daughter sustained injuries to her head which required five stitches.

She was treated at the Linden Hospital Complex.

"This thing ripped through the kitchen, right to the front of the house. There was hardly any zinc left back to the top of the house... The only things left standing are the two bedrooms, and not even completely because the roof is missing zinc sheets,” he told Guyana Times. He further explained that neighbours then came to the family's aid following the storm, to which they were very grateful. When this newspaper visited the house on Wednesday, the Hopkinsons’ with the help of other residents, were in the process of relocating their household items over to a neighbour's house.

The family is presently staying with the neighbour. Hopkinson said assistance has not been forthcoming from regional officials but family members and neighbours have since offed tangible assistance.

Hopkinson pointed out

that the family’s current situation is heart rendering, given the fact that they would have only recently conducted repairs to the front of the home.

Nevertheless, he said the family remains optimistic.

The family noted that while officials came and took pictures of the home, no official offer of assistance was extended.

Back in June of this year, the home of the DeClou family of 274 Oronoque Drive, Retrieve, was completely destroyed by a freak storm. The entire roof of that home was blown off, while several parts of its interior were completely damaged.

Tuesday's storm wreaked havoc throughout the community, as it uprooted several trees and caused damages to the roofs of public buildings and homes.

Electricity and communication services were also disrupted.

Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland on Tuesday noted that he will be seeking to secure emergency funding as a means of assisting residents in the community who have suffered as a result of the storm and soil erosion.

news

15

saturDAY, september 16, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Education Day 2017

Education on the verge of a magnificent turn – CEO

J

ust last year, President David Granger designated the second Friday in the academic month of September as National Education Day. Stemming from that, the Education Ministry on Friday staged a grand education rally and innovation fair, during which scores of institutions from across the country, representing each level within the sector took to D’Urban Park, Georgetown in celebration of this occasion.

It was at this event that the Chief Education Officer Marcel Hutson posited that the sector is on the verge of a magnificent turn thereby making way for continued growth in education.

“Quality education does not only enlighten but it also empowers citizens and enables them to contribute to the maximum extent to the social and economic development of their communities,” Huston underlined.

On that note, the Chief Education Officer indicated that, “We believe that we are on the very of a magnificent turn around in our education sector. However, a union of the school, home and the community is critical to the development and sustainability of this process.”

Echoing the sentiments of Hutson was Education Minister, Nicolette Henry,

Students from a wide cross sectoin of schools parcipated in Education Month activites at D’Urban Park

who noted that there is much to celebrate given the successes deriving from the Government’s many initiatives.

Henry pointed out that through employing a more innovative approach, the administration managed to record significant achievements within the last year.

“During the last academic year we have tried new things. As a Government we have spent vast sums on improving education and, I have to be fair, some things did get better, which indicates that Education is clearly an area where money makes a difference,” the

Unapproved hike in...

Additionally, Bartica Mayor Gifford Marshall said there are several programmes being executed in his town by the Government and publicly endorsed them, noting that they are all for the development of the town. He added that they are putting in place plans and policies to ensure that their rivers do not become more polluted by mining activities. In addition to curbing pollution, he said the region’s administration is currently constructing a boulevard to the tune of $40 million to aid in bringing more tourists to the town.

The Nereid’s Rally was born in 2011 when Italian sailor David Matelicani met Kit Nascimento and his wife Gem, while sailing up the Essequibo River.

Nascimento had been actively involved in working to promote Guyana as a hurricane free international yachting destination and Matelicani saw the potential.

The idea got full support from the then Tourism Ministry and the Mayor of Saint Laurent in French Guiana.

Matelicani launched the first rally, sailing from Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) in September 2013 and the rallies have successfully grown each year to become a feature on Guyana’s tourism calendar.

The rally will depart Guyana on Friday, September 22 to its final

From page 13

destination, via Suriname, at Saint Laurent on the Maroni River in French Guiana, for an elaborate welcome by the Mayor of the Town, complete with T&T steel band. Countries represented at this year’s rally are Sweden, Australia, the United States of America, France, Italy, and England.

Matelicani (from Italy) noted that Guyana has numerous adventures to offer tourists. He said the main objective of the Nereid’s Rally is to promote the destinations, encourage sailors to come and visit the region in the hopes of kick-starting the development for yachting tourism.

“This is what the Caribbean promises sailors and this is what cruisers want to see, when people see Guyana they don’t want to leave or they want to return quickly,” he said.

Yachter Michael Paulovich from New Zealand said this is his second trip to Guyana as a part of the rally. He said he came back because of the hospitality and the untouched green spaces. Meanwhile, Allen and Francine Kesner said they took a two-year break to travel in their yacht and promised to return to Guyana despite the tropical climate.

If anyone is contemplating purchasing a yacht and joining the Rally – a standard yacht costs approximately US$1 million.

Minister stated.

She then alluded to some of the undertakings of the ministry of which the launching of the Commission of Inquiry and mainstreaming a the National Grade Six Intervention were some of the main highlights.

With that in mind, Henry conveyed, “We are focusing on quality education for every child and a good school for every family. That may sound basic, but it’s abso-

lutely fundamental to creating an improved education system. Helping every child fulfil their potential and helping to make Guyana a place where anyone who works hard can get ahead.”

Moreover, the education minister pledged commitment to the continuous growth in the quality of education offered throughout the country and called on the different stakeholders to play their part as well.

Meanwhile, President David Granger in delivering the feature address at the celebrations on Friday congratulated the ministry, especially in light of the positive results emanating from the NSGA, CSEC and other major exams this year.

Granger took the opportunity to outline the main focus of the administration by indicating the areas within this sector that are at the forefront of their concerns.

“Our major concern is to provide easy access, that children wherever they live must have access to schools. If children can’t get to schools, the schools must get to the children. But we have an obligation to make sure that every child gets to schools,” the President said.

He also noted call for the construction of more educational facilities to better cater for the holistic development of the nation’s children. Even with that he noted that the schools will not be sufficient unless the institutions provide for the special needs of Guyanese students (including those living with disabilities). President Granger said that ‘every child in school’ is not a slogan, but a declaration of intent and a commitment on the part of his Government to remove the impediments that hinder access to education. As such he urged parents, teachers and citizens as a whole, to embrace this motto.

This year’s Education Month events are being observed under the theme: ‘Promoting wellness in communities through quality education.’

16

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, september 16, 2017

News Strengthening security

Guyanese, Surinamese ranks complete capacity building training

A

s the Guyana Police Force (GPF) seeks to promote and sustain its development, several ranks were awarded certificates for successfully completing capacity building training in strategic planning at the Police Officers’ Training Centre on Friday.

A total of 14 Police ranks participated in the training; 12 GPF members and two members of the Surinamese Police Force.

The programme had 11 deliverables which sought to make participants aware of the roles, functions and objectives of strategic planning, team building, risk assessment and communication within the Guyana Police Force. Participants were also exposed to the reform programmes including the United Kingdom’s Security Sector Reform Programme (SSRP) which saw UK experts Paul Mathais and Andy Odell offering support to assist in the sector’s reforms under the guidance of Presidential Advisor under the UK Security Reform Programme, Russell Combe.

Head of the Strategic Planning Unit and Senior Superintendent, Royston Andries-Junior explained that the participants were tasked with expertise to train other members of their respective Police Forces in the role of strategic planning. Assessing the twoweek exercise, AndriesJunior said there was 100

per cent participation, even though there was mixture of both junior and senior ranks.

“Such an experience indicates to me that as the Guyana Police Force moves forward, we must take into consideration that the best solutions do not only lie at the top, but can be contributed from all members across the Force,” he encouraged.

Meanwhile, acting British High Commissioner to Guyana, Ron Rimmer reminded that his country is committed to ensuring that tangible action is taken during and following its SSRP initiative.

“This training course is one of those first tangible actions and is part of a planned series of activities which we are looking to fund and conduct over the next few months,” the UK diplomat highlighted.

He added that his country will continue to undertake initiatives that will seek to support measures to improve security for Guyana’s citizens, not that the course was designed to improve the capacity, capability, and operational efficiency of the GPF’s Strategic Planning Unit. Rimmer thanked the two Surinamese ranks for their participation in the programme and emphasised that they implement some of the strategic planning measures in their home country.

The programme ran from

Fourteen Police ranks, including two Surinamese officers successfully completed training for capacity building in strategic planning

September 4-15.

It was during a meeting with former British Prime Minister David Cameron in September 2015, that President David Granger had requested that the multimillion-dollar security sector reform programme be revived. After UK expert Russell Combe had carried out an assessment of the reforms that were needed within the local Police

Force, Combe handed over his preliminary findings to the Guyana Government in June 2017.

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn when he addressed the opening of the workshop earlier this month, said the launch was a precursor to the other areas of support that the UK was contributing. The Prison Service, Defence Force, and

T

by the men, choked and relieved of his phone. A third rank, who was also involved in the crime, is yet to be apprehended, the court was told. Bail was refused and the men were both remanded to prison. The case will continue on September 18.

It was previously reported that after being robbed, the 18-year-old raised an alarm and a public-spirited person assisted him in pursuing the perpetrators.

One of the robbers was apprehended and upon being caught, allegedly identified himself as a GDF Private.

He was reportedly taken to Base Camp Stephenson, in Timehri, where under questioning; he allegedly admitted that he and two other ranks had robbed the teenager.

The suspect also reportedly identified one of his accomplices; who was also taken into custody. A third suspect is still being pursued.

“More and more, every sector of society is depending, requesting, demanding improved services from the Police Force,” he told the participants before they started their training. As part of the implementation phase, UK Security Expert Combe was first recruited on a one-year programme where he guided and advised the Guyanese Government on reforming the security sector.

‘Racial slur’

Former ERC Chairman expresses disappointment in Press Officer … says she once worked, trained with ERC

Soldiers remanded for snatching teen’s phone wo Guyana Defence Force (GDF) soldiers were on Friday charged for snatching a cellular phone from a teenager.

Thomas Richards of Lot 95 Plum Park, Sophia, Greater Georgetown; and Lloyd Seymour of Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD) appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before City Magistrate Judy Latchman. The duo, both 20, denied that on September 12, 2017, at Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD), they robbed Keron Wells of one cellphone valued $17,000.

It is also alleged that both men on the same day, at the same location, used personal violence against the Virtual Complainant (VC).

Police Prosecutor Vishnu Hunt objected to bail on the grounds that the defendants are both serving members of the Defence Force.

He revealed that on the day in question, the VC was walking through a “shortcut” when he was attacked

specialised agencies such as the Special Organised Crime Unit were some of the agencies that were receiving support.

Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine had welcomed the addition to the Strategic Planning Unit, indicating his willingness to see the realisation of strategies recommended under the programme.

Public Information and Press Services Officer Lloyda Nicholas-Garrett

F

ollowing the controversy surrounding media reports of alleged racial utterances attributed to the President’s Press Officer, Lloyda Nicholas-Garrett, the immediate past Chairman of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) has expressed his disappointment in the situation.

According to former ERC Chairman Juan Edghill, the situation is especially compounded as Nicholas-Garrett at one time worked with the ERC during his stint as Chairman. He noted that she benefited from training with the Commission.

“I am extremely disappointed.

(Garrett) worked with the Ethnic Relations Commission when I was Chairman. Would have been on countless outreaches with us (and) would have received training.”

“So apart from her current job, she had a significant stint at the ERC, both in advocating for harmony among the races and would have been the beneficiary in training to assist in facilitating discussion at the community level.”

The parliamentarian therefore said the purported statements she made are therefore unfortunate. Edghill also noted that for persons at the Ministry of the Presidency to even feel comfortable in using that language compounds the situation. He also queried the usefulness of an investigation.

“What is the investigation? Is it to find out if she said so, with those words, or who leaked it? I would have thought that the right and proper thing to do is for her to acknowledge, be repentant about it and to explain her intention.”

The brewing controversy stems from alleged social media chat where the Press Officer purportedly exchanged messages with friends that included racial slurs and derogatory remarks about colleagues at the Ministry of the Presidency (MotP).

The supposed leaks were shared

by People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP) Nigel Dharamlall, who called for her termination.

The Indian Action Committee (IAC)

Former Chairman of the ERC, Bishop Juan Edghill

has already come out in condemnation of the allegations. The Committee, while welcoming the investigation reportedly launched into the incident, said it was gravely concerned given what was in the public domain.

It urged that the investigation be conducted thoroughly, unhindered, swiftly and its findings made public soonest, for such incidents can have national ramifications, especially given its reported source.

The group also expressed its condemnation of anyone who resorts to the use of racial slurs and racial bashing in reference to and during engagements with others.

saturDAY, september 16, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Parsons Green: UK terror threat increased to critical after Tube bomb

T

he UK terror threat has been increased to its highest level as Police continue the hunt for the person behind the Tube bombing in South-West London. The Prime Minister said the threat was now critical, meaning an attack is expected imminently, after a device was detonated at Parsons Green station.

The Met's Assistant Commissioner said he had requested military assistance to free up 1000 armed officers. So-called Islamic State has said it was behind the attack, which injured 29.

May said the military would be providing support to Police and would replace them on guard duties at certain sites which are not accessible to the public. She said: "The public will see more armed Police on the transport network and on our streets, providing extra protection.

"This is a proportionate and sensible step which will provide extra reassurance and protection while the investigation progresses."

Twenty-nine people have

Pictures taken of the train showed a white bucket on fire inside a supermarket bag, with wires trailing on to the carriage floor. The BBC understands the device had a timer

been treated in hospitals, mostly for burns, following the attack at 08:20 BST on the eastbound District Line train from Wimbledon.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said police were "chasing down suspects".

He said the assistance from the military would "provide reassurance" across the country. Rowley said hundreds of police officers had been "trawling" through CCTV to find the attacker.

Pictures taken of the train showed a white bucket on fire inside a supermarket bag, with wires trailing on to the carriage floor. The BBC understands the device had a timer.

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the bomb appeared not to have gone off properly.

Had it worked as intended, it would have killed everyone around it and maimed everyone in the train carriage for life, he said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

The Amazon’s ‘uncontacted’ people

10 reportedly killed by illegal gold miners – report under investigation by authorities

P

rosecutors are investigating a reported massacre in which members of an "uncontacted" Indigenous tribe were allegedly killed by illegal gold miners in a distant part of the country's Amazon. The news has been widely condemned by advocacy groups that say Brazil is backsliding on its obligation to protect Indigenous peoples and their land.

"The Government doesn't see protecting Indigenous people as a priority," said Gilderlan Rodrigues, a missionary working with uncontacted peoples for Brazil's Indigenous Missionary Council, an organisation that monitors violence against Indigenous people.

"They want to open up Indigenous lands for exploration," he added. The killings reportedly happened around the Jandiatuba River, in the Vale do Javari, in Amazonas state, near the border with Peru, an area known as the "uncontacted frontier" that concentrates the highest number of uncontacted tribes – Indigenous groups that have no contact with modern society – in the world. Pablo Luz de Beltrand, the federal prosecutor in charge of the case, confirmed to Al Jazeera an investigation was under way and said a complaint was registered by Brazil's National Indigenous Foundation (Funai) at the beginning of August. The prosecutor could not comment on any details of

17

An Indigenous man sings during a protest against austerity measures in Rio de Janeiro in 2016

the case.

A document obtained by Al Jazeera, said to be a copy of the original complaint made by Funai, said about 10 Indigenous people – known as "flecheiros" or "archers" and

including women and children – hunting for turtle eggs by the edge of the river were killed by illegal gold miners searching for food. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

After new missile test, US says North Korea threatens whole world

U

S Secretary of State Rex Tillerson accused North Korea on Friday of threatening the entire world, after Pyongyang fired a missile over Japan for the second time in under a month in defiance of international pressure over its missile and nuclear programmes.

In the latest attempt to deal with an issue that has repeatedly frustrated world powers, the UN Security Council was due to meet at 15:00h ET (1900 GMT) on Friday to discuss the missile launch, at the request of the United States and Japan.

The council’s 15 members unanimously stepped up sanctions against North Korea over a nuclear bomb test it staged on September 3, imposing a ban on North Korea’s textile exports and capping its imports of crude oil.

North Korea has launched dozens of missiles under leader Kim Jong Un as it accelerates a weapons program designed to give

In this photo provided by South Korea Defence Ministry, South Korea's Hyunmoo II ballistic missile is fired during an exercise at an undisclosed location in South Korea (The New Indian Express)

it the ability to target the United States with a powerful, nuclear-tipped missile.

Tillerson said in a speech to foreign officials that the tests threaten the world and stressed the United States was working closely with regional allies Japan and South Korea.

Taking a tougher line than Tillerson, White House National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said the United States was fast running out of patience for dip-

lomatic solutions on North Korea.

North Korea’s latest test missile flew over Hokkaido in northern Japan on Friday and landed in the Pacific about 2000 km (1240 miles) to the east, the Japanese government said. It travelled about 3,700 km (2,300 miles) in total, according to South Korea’s military, far enough to reach the US Pacific territory of Guam, which the North has threatened before. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Caribbean Credit Bureau wants taxes waived on hurricane relief supplies

I

n the wake of Hurricane Irma, a special appeal has been made for regional governments to waive airport taxes and other levies on emergency relief supplies.

Chief executive officer of the Barbados-based Caribbean Credit Bureau (CCB) Grady Clarke made the call, while announcing that CCB was about to embark on a major post-disaster relief drive, in support of neighbouring countries ravaged by the storm.

Clarke, who is currently working with the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions (CCCU) to put together a database of skilled professionals in the Eastern Caribbean with a view to carrying out voluntary work in the affected territories, said his company was also prepared to put money behind the rebuilding process, and he urged other regional businesses to do the same.

Hurricane relief is coming in to islands affected by Hurricane Irma and there’s a call for a tax ease on those items

“The cooperative movement is all about cooperating and working together to help our own. So let us see from the cooperative society, the skilled resources we can draw on to provide much needed disaster rebuilding in neighbouring islands,” he stressed.

Clarke also appealed to governments “to endorse the waiving of any airport

departure taxes [and] VAT [Value Added Tax] on any airline tickets for people that volunteer to go to disaster zones”.

Hurricane Irma ripped through the northern Caribbean last week, leaving nearly 40 dead, along with a trail of destruction and billions of dollars in losses. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

sium at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Port of Spain. Citing his experience as a lecturer at the UWI Faculty of Medical Sciences, Hutchinson said the composition of the student body at the faculty has undergone a dramatic shift since 2001, when he began his academic career.

“I think the distractions of the modern world seem to be affecting boys more, meaning their ability to focus is compromised. The question is why are they compro-

mised compared to girls and I think that has to do with a combination of the socialisation they receive as well as the education system itself,” Hutchinson said.

“The education system in general has not kept pace with the way children are developing, especially boys.

Hutchinson said the need to find a sense of identity also prompted many young men to fall in league with criminal gangs or violent extremists. (Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Earthquake hits UWI Professor says East of St Lucia ‘boys more distracted’

T

here has been another earthquake in the region. A 4.7 magnitude tremor was recorded east of St Lucia around 10:16h on Thursday, according to the University of the West Indies (UWI) Seismic Research Centre.

The tremor occurred 64 kilometres east of the capital, Castries, 100 kilometres southeast of Fort-deFrance, Martinique and 132 kilometres northeast of Kingstown, St Vincent and

the Grenadines at a depth of 21 kilometres.

The National Emergency Management Organization said there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

On May 2, a 4.5 magnitude quake was recorded off Barbados, following a 3.9 magnitude tremor on April 27.

The UWI Seismic Research Centre has reported 13 quakes in the region since the start of the year.

(Caribbean360)

R

ecently appointed member of the Mercy Committee and professor of psychiatry at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Dr Gerard Hutchinson says boys tend to be more distracted, which plays a role in their failure to keep up with their female peers academically.

Hutchinson made the remarks on Wednesday while responding to questions from audience members at the 7th annual mediation sympo-

18

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, september 16, 2017

ARCHIE

ARIES

A challenge will motivate

(March 21- you to take better care of your April 19) health. Added discipline will

help you come out on top. Do what works best for you.

Don’t let an issue at home

TAURUS bother you. Everyone has good (April 20- days and bad. If someone is May 20) emotional, it will be due to out-

dilbert

side influences. Offer quiet support and encouragement.

Put in extra hours if it GEMINI (May 21- will help you get ahead. You June 20) will avert complaints or criticism if you take care of your responsibilities. End the day with romance.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Back away from anyone enticing you to do something you shouldn’t. Poor choices will be made if you are indulgent. Aim to save money, and lock up your valuables.

Express your feelings to someone special and see what transpires. Love and romance are highlighted and can lead to a better home life. Make a commitment or renew your vows.

Dig in and do something VIRGO that matters. Look around (Aug. 23you and find a cause that you Sept. 22) can meaningfully help. Your contributions will bring you peace, happiness and a sense of belonging.

Share your experience, wisLIBRA (Sept. 23- dom and knowledge with people Oct. 23) you know you can help. Making a difference in someone’s life will be satisfying and will lead to new beginnings.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

A little fun and games will SAGITTARIUS take your mind off any wor(Nov. 23- ries you have been labouring Dec. 21) over. Opt for entertaining, inexpensive activities that you can do with someone special.

TODAY’S WORD — NATTIER (NATTIER: NAT-ee-er: Neater; trimmer; more dapper.)

Average mark 26 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 45 or more words in NATTIER? The list will be published on Monday.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — NOVELLA

nave navel noel nova novel olla oval

oven vale vane veal venal vole elan

lane lave lean leno llano loan lone

love aeon aloe alone anole

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Emotions will rise to the SCORPIO surface when dealing with (Oct. 24friends and family. Offer Nov. 22) practical advice based on an honest assessment of the situation. Don’t promise something you cannot deliver.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Take a close look at your CAPRICORN personal documents and make (Dec. 22- sure everything is up to date.

Jan. 19) Partnerships can be addressed and adjustments can be made.

Keeping things equal should be your focus.

Make plans with someone AQUARIUS you love. A romantic dinner or (Jan. 20- a family night out will bring Feb. 19) you closer together and give you a chance to discuss something you want to pursue.

Don’t limit what you can PISCES (Feb. 20- do due to a lack of informaMarch 20) tion or skills. Education and honing your skills will bring encouraging results. Don’t labour over losses when you can embrace positive gains.

saturDAY, september 16, 2017

19

Gennady Golovkin v Saul Alvarez…

‘Fight of the decade’ promises big hype, money and reputations in Las Vegas

S

ome experts have labelled it the 'fight of the decade'.

Gennady 'GGG' Golovkin v Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez has also been hailed as an antidote to the chaos of Floyd Mayweather's win over UFC's Conor McGregor by boxing purists.

Some ringside tickets for Saturday's bout have sold for £18,000 each, two middleweight world titles will be on the line and in a throwback to some of the greatest fight nights Las Vegas has seen, two of the very best in their weight division go head to head.

If that is not enough, the bout falls on Mexican Independence Day, so the patriotic following Alvarez already attracts is expected to be heavily bolstered in Sin City.

Alvarez has dubbed this his "most dangerous" fight. That is quite a statement from a 27-yearold who has been a professional for 12 years and has shared the ring with Floyd Mayweather.

'Money' inflicted the only defeat of Alvarez's 51-fight career back in 2013. Even then, 'Canelo' - a nickname which translates as 'cin-

namon' in reference to his red hair - was a big box-office draw as his defeat is currently the third-mostbought pay-per-view bout of all time.

The 2.2m buys of that night is unlikely to be beaten but pushing through the million mark will be key for boxing. Recently muchhyped fights involving Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev, as well as Golovkin's last win against Daniel Jacobs, have not broke through 200,000 buys.

Alvarez will receive the bigger chunk of earnings and is expected to pocket a minimum of $15m (£11.3m) before pay-per-view bonuses are added. That will be the biggest haul of his career and some improvement on the $60 he says he picked up for his first fight, aged 15 in Mexico in 2005.

And he has been more vocal in selling a fight many in the sport have longed for. When head-to-head in the ring together in May, Alvarez responded to a seemingly sincere "good luck" wish from Golovkin by voicing back: "Luck is for the mediocre."

He has stated his rival would "understand" what

new stories, new times for us."

What's on the line?

Alvarez (left) is a slight underdog against WBA, IBF and WBC champion Golovkin

he is facing when the first punch lands and this week said: "I prepared myself for the knockout. Look, anything can happen in this fight. But that's what I've prepared for - to knock him out."

But Golovkin has never been knocked out and has never been beaten. He dishes out the knockouts - 33 in 37 bouts to be precise. That stat points to why Alvarez talks of danger.

An ESPN study of Golovkin's technique earlier this year discovered the Kazakh fighter generates

Savoury’s 136 highlights day 1 action

Ricciardo impressive for Red Bull as Ferrari struggle

D

E

Daniel Ricciardo led Red Bull’s dominance in Singapore

pressive fifth fastest, behind Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas, and just ahead of the McLarens of Stoffel Vandoorne and Fernando Alonso on a day McLaren’s split from Honda was finally confirmed and it was announced they will use Renault engines next season.

Hamilton goes into this weekend three points ahead of Vettel, on a track where Vettel and Ferrari are expected to beat their rivals.

Race simulations: Red Bull could win this

The headline from the day was the stunning performance of the Red Bull, particularly in the hands of

little rusty. It was the first time in almost nine years that 'GGG' needed the judges' scorecards.

Golovkin has stated emphatically that this is his greatest challenge. He missed the birth of his second child recently because of his commitment to his training camp in Big Bear, California.

"I want to win this fight because for me this win will be like a history fight, like so many fights, like Sugar Ray Leonard vs Marvin Hagler and others from that era," he said. "Right now I think

Jaguars Franchise 3-day league

Singapore Grand Prix

aniel Ricciardo set an impressive pace as he led a Red Bull one-two in the second practice at the Singapore Grand Prix with Lewis Hamilton third.

Ricciardo led team-mate Max Verstappen by 0.556 seconds with Hamilton 0.147secs adrift as the Briton’s title rival Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari struggled.

The German ended up 11th quickest after aborting one timed lap for traffic and then spinning into the barriers on the second.

His team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was also in trouble and ended up ninth.

Renault driver Nico Hulkenberg was an im-

the type of power boxers two weight divisions - or around 15lbs heavier - produce. He also landed 10 blows a round more on average than others at middleweight and his punches flew at a speed similar to that of a top drag-racing car.

Formidable then, he is consequently a slight favourite with bookmakers. And his power should not mask a stunning amateur career and thorough schooling.

But now 35, some in the sport believe his last performance - a points success over Daniel Jacobs - was a

Oscar de la Hoya, who promotes Alvarez, predicts both men will go through "eight or nine rounds of hell," dubbing his fighter a "knockout artist" and Golovkin a "monster."

The promoter needs this fight to be a success. He was one of the most vocal in the sport when it came to criticising August's meeting of Mayweather and McGregor.

It is key that this pure meeting of two of the best fighters on earth delivers.

In the ring, Golovkin has three belts to lose but Alvarez will only be able to win two of them. He can claim the WBA and IBF titles but has shunned the WBC strap as his relationship with the body has been strained in recent years.

However, should Alvarez land the win and two belts, the WBC title would become vacant.

The fourth belt in the division is held by Britain's Billy Joe Saunders, who also fights on Saturday night and wants to face the winner of the Las Vegas showdown. (BBC Sport)

Ricciardo.

The Australian was not only half a second clear of the field on the short runs on which teams simulate qualifying, but was also a similar margin ahead on average on the longer race-simulation runs of consecutive laps.

Those long runs gave a clearer picture of Ferrari’s competitiveness, with Vettel narrowly slower than Hamilton, who was the next quickest driver after Ricciardo.

Vettel’s true pace in qualifying trim was not seen because he had traffic on his first lap and then a halfspin, brushing the barriers, on his second. turn to page 20

ssequibo’s Kemol Savoury stroked an eye-catching 136 to lead Essequibo to 280 all out on day one of their third round Jaguars Franchise 3-day league match against East Bank Demerara at the Everest Cricket Ground, Georgetown.

The left-handed Savoury, a former national youth player received support from Mark Williams who made 43.

Spinners Darshan Persaud and Totoran Bishun shared six wickets between them with figures of 3 for 47 and 3 for 73 respectively. East Bank will begin their response today.

In the other matches, Gudakesh Motie’s 6 for 17 spun out West Demerara for 110 with only Akshaya Persaud (43) and Tevin Imlach (39) making significant scores. In response West Beberice could only muster 106 all out as Keshram Seyhodan snared 4 for 37 and pacer Romario Shepherd took

Kemol Savoury

3 for 29. The only fight offered was from Arthley Bailey with 46 and Avishkar Sewkarran 32. West Demerara will resume at the Tuschen ground on 57 without loss.

Over at Lusignan, Georgetown and East Coast Demerara are locked in an intriguing battle. After bowling out Georgetown for 192, hosts East Coast Demerara are replying strongly with 1024 at stumps with Rajendra Chandrika top scoring with 45 so far. When the city side took the crease, all-rounder Christopher Barnwell top scored with 44 while Robin Bacchus made a run-a-ball

36. It was Kumar Bishundyal with figures of 4 for 60 who did the damage with the ball bowling for the home team.

In the clash between the two Corentyne sides (Lower and Upper) at Albion, Upper Corentyne could only manage a first innings score of 130 with Anthony Bramble hitting the top score of 34 from 26 balls as left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul wreaked havoc with 6 for 49.

In response, Waheid Edwards’ unbeaten 74 lead Lower Corentyne to 166-3 at close of play.

All four matches continue today from 09:30h.

20 Construction of GFF’s National Training Centre to commence shortly

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturDAY, september 16, 2017

President Wayne Forde receives the signed MoU from Eccles-Ramsburg NDC Chairman Mahamad Hafeez

A

ccording to a media release from the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), the long awaited construction of the FIFA Forward Programme, which will be known as the National Training Centre, is scheduled to commence by the end of September at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

This follows the confirmation of the lease of the land earmarked for the facility and subsequent approval by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) in June 2017.

This will be the first and major state-of-the-art football facility, which will seek to among others, produce consistent levels of highly competitive and exciting football that is a force to be reckoned with regionally and on the international scene.

The facility will cater for football development among both males and females and will be the focal point for football activity at all levels of the game.

The release further stated that construction of the artificial turf will be done by Greenfields, a manufacturer of artificial turf, in phases and is scheduled to be completed in January month end in

2018. Following this, the accompanying amenities will be constructed.

When the Wayne Fordeled Executive Committee took stewardship of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) following the Normalization Committee (NC), it was the general feeling that that the groundwork to activate the construction of the centre was established. However, this was far from reality.

It was discovered that the lease for the land identified had no legal standing and in fact, necessitated several rounds of negotiation by the GFF and the involvement of the Honorable Minister of Communities on May 16, 2017 to finalize. This resulted in crucial delays which affected the commencement of the project since the final approval from FIFA was dependent on confirmation of all related documents.

It is no secret that the NC under Clinton Urling, during their relatively short tenure, received FIFA funding totaling almost (US$1M) which enabled them to discharge their mandate. It is also no secret that following a FIFA audit of the 2015 accounts which was conducted by Price WaterhouseCoopers (PwC)

following the departure of the NC, countless red flags were raised.

This resulted in FIFA formally informing the Wayne Forde led Executive Committee on October 10, 2016 of the decision of the FIFA Audit and Compliance Committee to “block funding to the Football Federation of Guyana.”

The effect of the decision of the Audit and Compliance Committee meant that the Wayne Forde led Executive Committee had no access to the necessary funds to finance their operations and to support the development needs of the Players, Officials and Members of the GFF. Additionally, this also meant that the GFF was unable to access and benefit from the increase FORWARD funding programme.

To date, this situation has had an extremely negative effect on the operations of the GFF which has severely affected the institution’s relationship with its members and suppliers.

Over the past months, the Executive Committee has undertaken a complete overall of the institution’s financial operation, resulting in major systems and personnel changes.

Consequently, the GFF has

been approved for “conditional funding” targeting essential operations and preapproved projects and programmes.

However, the Executive Committee is working assiduously to streamline every aspect of its Finance operation and internal procedures in order to meet and exceed the conditions laid out

by FIFA’s Audit and Compliance Committee the release stated.

Notwithstanding, the GFF will proceed with the construction of this historic project which will be the first of nine all-weather facilities to be constructed in each Regional Member Association (RMA) and will also serve as a training facility for all teams as necessary. The venue will be equipped with female amenities to encourage greater female participation and will also house the headquarters of the GFF. The GFF in a release to the media thanked its stakeholders for their patience and reassured them that football will be the winner.

They continued by noting that all stakeholders will be continuously updated relative to the progress of the construction.

The GFF went on to say “the Executive Committee of the GFF recognizes the important role played by the NC during a very turbulent period in Guyana’s Football history and once again express our appreciation on behalf of the fraternity. We wish each member of the NC every success in their future endeavor.

In an invited comment, President of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), Wayne Forde, said “It is our solemn goal to truly restore the integrity and reputation of football in Guyana and across the globe.”

Banks DIH/GFF/ABSAA Clash of Veterans' Football…

Santos, Wales & Thomas United notch up victories

T

he Banks DIH, Guyana Football Federation, Alex Bunbury Sports and Academic Academy Clash of Veteran’s Football continued on Thursday night with four games at the Tucville Ground.

Thomas United, Santos and Wales FC were all victors while Rasta FC gained a walkover from their match against Beacon FC. Thomas United battled their way to a 2-1 victory over Plaisance while Santos dominated Park Rangers scoring five goals and conceding only one.

Wales FC got their first win of the tournament when they beat a nine-man Pele FC 2-0.

The tournament continues on this evening at the same venue and features many former national players with the likes of Gordon Braithwaite, Mortimer Stewart, Chris Barnwell, Floyd Cadogan, Anthony Stanton, Terrence Lewis, Rawle Jones, Wayne Milo and many others.

The opening fixture brings together Park Rangers FC and Beacon FC from 18:00h. the second game of the night will see Wales FC matching skills with Rastas FC from 19:00h followed by Pele FC versus Plaisance FC from 20:00h. the final match of the night will see Newtown FC taking on Santos FC from 21:00 in the final match of the night.

Nedd, Perez called up ...

Browne added: “The addition of players from the recent Regional U19 Tournament to the camp squad will complement the team that was so successful two months ago in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

“These additional players were chosen to strengthen those positions in the squad that we felt needed attention.”

The players will assemble in Barbados, where they will undergo fitness testing, before travelling to Antigua in order to complete the training programme using the Coolidge Cricket Ground.

It will be their final preparation in the Caribbean before travelling to the ICC Youth World Cup to be staged from January 13 to February

Fidel Edwards

F

ormer West Indies fast bowler Fidel Edwards accomplished a five-wicket haul for the first time in two years after an outstanding spell with English County Cricket team Hampshire.

Facing the prospect of a relegation battle Middlesex resumed their first innings on the fourth day at 162 for seven before being all out for 204. Edwards, who had done most of the damage in a severely rain-affected match that saw only 59 overs of play in the first three days, returned to polish off a

splendid innings. The 35-year-old added to his three-wicket haul after bagging his fourth scalp courtesy of Tom Helm (1) was trapped lbw by an off-cutter.

In a bid to push the run total John Simpson and Steve Finn then added 35 for the tenth wicket before Simpson lost his middle stump to another good delivery from Edwards that gave the former West Indies Test bowler figures of 5-79.

Middlesex did, however, manage to secure crucial batting points after Hampshire, who reached 46-3 at lunch were eventually dismissed for 146. Rain brought an early finish with Middlesex 14-1 in their second innings. The drawn encounter confirmed Warwickshire’s relegation from Division One. Warwickshire were beaten inside three days by newly-crowned champions Essex and, with Somerset beating Lancashire on Friday, Middlesex’s tally of bonus points in their drawn game sent the Bears down with two matches remaining.

Middlesex, the 2016 champions, have now slipped into the relegation zone after Yorkshire’s game at Surrey ended in a draw.

James Franklin’s side are level on points with sixth-placed Somerset, who are above them in the table having won one more game this season.

Hampshire’s eight points have taken them 18 behind second-placed Lancashire. (Sportsmax)

Ricciardo impressive...

from page 19

Gordon Brathwaite

from page 22

3 next year in New Zealand.

Windies Under-19s are the defending ICC Youth World Cup champions, having lifted the title for the first time ever last year in Bangladesh, under the leadership of Shimron Hetmyer and guidance of head coach Graeme West.

The full squad reads; Alick Athanaze, Brad Barnes, Joshua

Edwards takes 5, Warwickshire relegated

Bishop, Cephas Cooper, Kishan Graham, Jarion Hoyte, Kirstan Kallicharran, Mikyle Louis, Aaron Maniram, Kimani Melius, Ashmead Nedd, Darron Nedd, Kian Pemberton, Raymond Perez, Joshua Persaud, Jeavor Royal, Keegan Simmons, Javier Spencer, Emmanuel Stewart, Bhaskar Yadram, Nyeem Young. (Windiesmedia)

He did set a couple of fastest-of-all sectors of the lap but did not overall appear to have the pace to challenge Ricciardo.

His fractured session, though, did mean it was difficult to draw any meaningful conclusions about how Hamilton and Vettel might match up over one lap.

“Obviously not ideal I lost the car in the middle sector on my second attempt,” said Vettel. “I am not yet happy. I am missing a little bit the balance and then you miss the confidence. We’ll see what we can do tomorrow.”

The Marina Bay circuit is notorious for the size of

the challenge it creates, with a long lap, a bumpy surface and concrete walls around it, all in high temperatures and humidity.

But there were remarkably few incidents, the most serious being Vettel’s relatively harmless half-spin into the barriers at Turn 10, from which the car appeared to emerge largely unscathed.

A number of other drivers had moments, Verstappen, Alonso and Haas driver Romain Grosjean all brushing the wall, and the Frenchman also spinning, but all the cars got through the day without major damage. (BBC Sport)

sports

CLASSIFIED ADS

Narayan Ramdhani jets off to high level badminton camp

SATURday, september 16, 2017 www.guyanatimesgy.com

ACCOMMODATIONS Conferences and retreats – full service: Hotel, Catering & Facilities.

Aracari Resort WBD – 264-2946 Alex Wayne Weddings and anniversaries: Rental or full service: Banquet Hall & Catering. Aracari Resort 264-2946 Alex Wayne Aracari Hotel, WBD (Near Harbour Bridge) – All modern amenities, rates from $25. Phone 264-2946-8

EDUCATION Jean offers courses in dress-making, curtain designs, floral arrangement, cake decorating 670-2653/ 638-8449

FOR RENT Space to let, entire bottom flat 225 New Market Street, 1350 sq feet, suitable for doctor’s office, clinic, pharmacy, etc. Tel: 624-7471 or email: rravier@gmail.com

FOR SALE 1-Honda PC50- Push Rod Model (second hand) Serviceable. 1-Mini Fridge-refrigerator Magic chef110 Volts never used (new). 1-Oval Shaped Mirror (Antique). 1-Impact Screw driver kit (new). 1-For details call 667-0887

SALON / SPA COSMETOLOGY – FULL COURSE $100,000. TECHNICIAN $40,000.

Aracari Salon & Spa, WBD 264-3312, 600-3927

taxi services GR Taxi, 24 hours. Phone: 225-7878, 219-5000 or 227-2100

WANTED Waitress for bar 612-2522

NOT RECEIVING YOUR

DAILY & SUNDAY COPIES OF THE

GUYANA TIMES in your area?

Contact our

Circulation Department on

Phone: 223-7230 EXT: 35

Classified

Ads

$5+VAT per word

Call:

223-7230 Ext 50

21

G

Narayan Ramdhani (standing third from left) continues to be outstanding in the sport he loves

uyana's top Badminton player, Narayan Ramdhani was selected by the Pan American Badminton Federation to attend a High Level Player Development Camp in Aguascalientes,

Mexico from September 1520, 2017.

The camp will be conducted by a high level coach from the Netherlands with sessions twice daily.

This is a great step for Narayan as he will be train-

ing with some of Pan Am Top Ranked Players like Kevin Cordon of Guatemala and Osleni Guerrero of Cuba who are also in the world rankings.

The Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) is ex-

tremely happy that he is of Quality that the Pan American Badminton Federation is paying this kind of interest in him.

After the Camp, Narayan will participate in the VII International Mexicano 2017 Championships which will be held at the Gimnasio Olimpico de Cd Deportiva Aguascalientes, Mexico September 21-25, 2017.

Narayan has started his second year in Vancouver, Canada training at Shuttlesport and also finishing of College after a two months break at

home in Guyana. During the July/August break, Narayan took the opportunity to participate and win the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) Olympic Day Tournament and also took part in the Shuttle Time Course. He also conducted a Badminton Training Camp through the Department of Sport.

To top it all off, Ramdhani coached the Guyana Junior Badminton Team to Trinidad and Tobago and under his watch the team bagged eight medals.

Inaugural Guinness Cage/ Three Peat Promotions Indoor Futsal…

Old School vs Future Stars…

Who will be crowded champions?

I

f ever there was a story of two teams with contrasting styles, tonight’s anticipated epic showdown between Ol’ Skool Ballers and Future Stars is one such example when they meet at the National Gymnasium.

Despite the fact that both teams are as hungry as ever for success, the difference between them is that one has the best rated defence in Future Stars, who are yet to concede a goal in regulation time, while the other, Ol Skool Ballers is just one goal shy of the championship leading scorers Leopold Street who registered 14 goals.

It therefore sets up the

Future Stars

clash for an electrifying conclusion to what has been an exciting introduction of the Cage format which is being played for the first time in

Guyana.

Impressive

The battle for the lucrative $400,000 first prize, champi-

onship trophy and the right to etch their name in the records of being crowned the first winner of the Guinness Cage / Three Peat Promotions Indoor Championship is truly on.

Aside from the financial rewards anyone who knows these two teams can confirm their thirst to be the best so you will have to agree that they will leave everything on the floor. These two teams are noted for their never say die approach and spectators who converge at the National Gymnasium tomorrow evening is in for a real exhibition of guts and skill.

Ol’ Skool Ballers has

V-Net T20 blast continues Sunday T

he seventh edition of the action-packed V-Net Communications T20 blast will continue on Sunday at the Wakenaam Community Centre Ground where Sans Souci Jaguars battle G Square Cavaliers from 09:30h after which Maria’s Pleasure face off with Good Success from 13:00h.

Last weekend, off-spinner Nokta Moses grabbed five wickets for seven runs to hand Jaguars a 42-run victory over Noitgedacht while an unbeaten 74 from Kennard Lewis guided Maria’s Pleasure to a nine-wickwin over Zeelandia.

Jaguars were bowled out for 154 in 20 overs. Chandrika Jairam scored 29 while Moses hit 24. Leon Higgins bowled tidily to finish with 4-14 while Jamal Hartman claimed 3- 20. Noitgedacht fell for 112 in 17 overs in reply.

Keemo Paul made 38 and Dellon Retemiah 14. Medium pacer Derwin Daniels supported Moses with 3- 21. In the afternoon fixture, Zeelandia batted first and posted 164 all out. Ryan Adams slammed 34; Navishaul Pooran got 32 and P. Jadookul 31.

Left arm spinner Marsh Singh picked up 3-24 and fast bowler Leorayan Ramlakhan 2-24. Lewis then led Maria’s Pleasure reply with some lusty hitting while Lionel Baker contributed 26. Adams was the lone wicket taker for Zeelandia.

The championship team will receive cash incentives and a trophy while the runner up will take home a trophy, the man-of-the-match in the final, best bowler and best batsman in the tournament will also win silverware of their own.

et

Nokta Moses

shown throughout the championship that big names don’t matter and their victory over the previously indomitable Sparta Boss was followed by wins over the two Albouystown units and they then crowned it off with an impressive win over the usually stubborn - Back Circle in the semi-finals.

On the other hand, Future Stars has been there before and is now being touted as the ‘new kids on the block’ to replace the fading Sparta Boss.

The third place playoff has much similarity as the final with Back Circle aiming to dent the aspirations of Leopold Street, who seems to be a recharged bunch, while also trying to remain amongst the elite teams.

The runner-up, third and fourth placed finishers will collect $200,000, $100,000 and $50,000 respectively, while the Most Valuable Player (MVP) will receive a gold chain compliment of YK Investments and Pawn Shop and a trophy from Trophy Stall. Among the other sponsors on board are: Star Party Rentals, Faye Joseph, Claude Geddes Recreational Sports Club, National Sports Commission, Windjammer International Hotel & Cuisine, E-Networks, Woodpecker Trophies & Sport, Y.K Investments & Pawn Shop, Henry Chase, Jai Signs, Trophy Stall, the Bike Shop and John Fernandes Ltd. Meanwhile, the Organisers continue to extend thanks to the sponsors, fans and ranks of the Guyana Police Force for their support throughout the championship.

Four exhibition matches will be played before the third place playoff.

Kick off time is 20:00hrs.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturDAY, september 16, 2017

Pakistan vs World-XI Independence Cup…

Pakistan celebrate cricket's return with 2-1 series win

Ahmed Shehzad scored a match winning 55-ball-89 for Pakistan

I

n the end, World XI was a group of players, while Pakistan were a team, and it finally showed.

In a clinical performance in all three departments, Pakistan outclassed Faf du Plessis' men to clinch the third and final game by 33 runs. It was once again set

hundred, scoring 89 off 55.

He seemed to be hurtling towards the landmark, whipping the crowd into a frenzy during the closing stages of Pakistan's innings, when he launched Ben Cutting - who has had a series to forget for three consecutive sixes in the 18th over.

SCOREBOARD Pakistan Innings (20 overs maximum) Fakhar Zaman run out (Sammy) 27 Ahmed Shehzad run out (†Bailey/Cutting) 89 Babar Azam c du Plessis b Perera 48 Shoaib Malik not out 17 Imad Wasim c du Plessis b Perera 0 Sarfraz Ahmed† not out 0 Extras (w-2) 2 TOTAL (For 4 wickets, 20 overs) 183 Did not bat: Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Usman Khan, Rumman Raees FOW: 1-61, 2-163, 3-175, 4-182 Bowling: Badree 3-0-280, Morkel 4-0-42-0, Cutting 2-0-26-0 (w-1), Perera 4-037-2 (w-1), Sammy 4-0-24-0, Tahir 3-0-26-0 World-XI Innings (target: 184 runs from 20 overs) Tamim Iqbal b Usman Khan 14

up by a superb partnership between Ahmed Shehzad and Babar Azam, who added 102 off 57 balls. Shehzad narrowly missed out on a

HM Amla run out (Fakhar Zaman/Hasan Ali) 21 BCJ Cutting b Hasan Ali 5 F du Plessis (c) run out (Shadab Khan) 13 GJ Bailey† b Imad Wasim 3 DA Miller c Babar Azam b Hasan Ali 32 NLTC Perera c Babar Azam b Rumman Raees 32 DJG Sammy not out 24 M Morkel run out (Babar Azam) 1 S Badree not out 0 Extras (lb-1, w-4) 5 TOTAL (For 8 wickets, 20 overs) 150 Did not bat: Imran Tahir Bowling; Wasim 4-0-34-1 (w-2), Usman Khan 4-0-261 (w-1), Hasan Ali 4-0-282, Rumman Raees 4-1-20-1, Mohammad Nawaz 1-0-7-0, Shadab Khan 3-0-34-0 FOW: 1-15, 2-41, 3-41, 4-53, 5-67, 6-112, 7-137, 8-139

World XI could never get any partnership going, and in a repeat of the first game, found themselves reduced to disjointed cameos

as wickets tumbled. Tamim and Amla started positively once again, but once the South African was run out, any realistic chance of World XI toppling the home team disappeared. Thisara Perera kept his side's slender chances alive, carting Shadab Khan for 24 runs in a contest that couldn't quite live up to its competitive hype. But the previous game's hero was merely denying the inevitable.

Where the match was won

T20 cricket might be a batsman's game, but Pakistan's bowlers showed why in full form, they are the hottest property in world cricket. Against many other attacks, this game might have been alive well into the final over with the wealth of talent at World XI's disposal. But other than one Shadab over, Pakistan never really let the opposition's big hitters free their arms.

The fast bowlers, in particular, were superb - Rumman Raees even bowled a maiden over - and time and again, David Miller and Darren Sammy tried to open up only to be tied down by yorkers that seemed to be landing on a sixpence. As far as T20 cricket is concerned, scoring big runs is just half the job done. Pakistan's bowlers ensured they kept their end of the bargain.

The men that won it

Shehzad is an unlike-

Fans were in a festive mood at Lahore as international cricket returned to Pakistan after a gap of two years with the ‘Independence Cup’ against the ICC World XI (AFP)

ly answer to the question: who is the only Pakistani to score a T20I hundred? But for a while today, it looked like he might get there a second time. Almost batting through the innings, Shehzad was timing the ball superbly right from the start. And for a change, he seemed to be placing it, too, finding the gaps that so often elude him. As his innings developed from just another start to a solid knock, one barely had time to notice that it had very quickly become a series-winning performance.

Straying out of the crease

This was a day marked by run-outs; for the first 19

overs of the Pakistan innings, the only two wickets that had fallen had gone that way. We were still less than half way there, three World XI batsmen also failing to make their ground. In a game otherwise memorable for its quality, they left the final scorecard looking a little untidy.

The moment of the match

One could pick either of the two instances in this game that saw three consecutive sixes, but that would be a little too typical. And this tour is nothing if not atypical, and the final game was marked by a five-minute spell worthy of the occasion. With Amla and Tamim having got-

ten World XI off to a flying start, Pakistan might have struggled with the memories of Wednesday, when they had been unable to defend a similarly high score.

But on came Raees, who you might have forgiven for lacking confidence after failing to defend 12 in the final over in the second game. But the over he bowled to George Bailey, almost imperceptibly, took the game out of World XI's reach. Varying his pace and length, he beat the former Australian captain several times in the over, and registered the only maiden of the series. The asking rate crept, and soon galloped away, over the hills and out of sight. (ESPN Cricinfo)

Nedd, Perez called up for Windies U-19 training squad – CWI plotting Youth World Club title defence

T

he Selection Panel of Cricket West Indies has announced a 21-member Windies Under-19 squad for a twoweek training camp from December 5 to 20 in Barbados and Antigua.

All but two of the players that were part of the successful trip to southern Africa in July have been included in the squad which also includes seven players whose performances during the recent Regional Under-19 Tournament in St. Kitts enhanced their claims for consideration.

The new inclusions are: Brad Barnes, Kishawn Graham, Jarion Hoyte, Aaron Maniram, Kimani Melius, Regional U19 3-Day Most Valuable Player Ashmead Nedd and Regional U19 Super50 MVP Raymond Perez.

On the squad, Courtney Browne, chairman of the CWI selection panel, said: “As the build up to the 2018 ICC Youth World Cup continues, the development of our Under-19 players is paramount.

“The upcoming strategic camp will again

Joshua Persaud (left) and Bhaskar Yadram on their recent tour of Africa

give the coaching staff another opportunity to enhance and fine-tune the players’ skills and focus on team work, as we set out on our quest to defend the ICC Youth World Cup titurn to page 20 tle.”

Raymond Perez allowed the bat to do the talking (Photo courtesy of The Xercise)

Ashmead Nedd has been in ripping form at all levels with the ball

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, september 16, 2017

23

England v West Indies lone T20 I, Chester-le-Street

Confident hosts challenge full strength champs - Ben Stokes rested

Ben Stokes who was hit for four sixes in a row in the last World T20 final will not play in this match

"R

emember the name," was the immortal line from Ian Bishop when these two sides last met in a T20 as Carlos Brathwaite smoked four consecutive sixes off Ben Stokes to steal the World T20 crown from under England's noses. It's doubtful they have forgotten.

England have been reunited with Brathwaite since then - in the one-day series earlier this year - but this is the format that gave him a place in West Indies cricket history. Sadly, the controversial decision to rest Stokes for his home ground game has robbed the match of its strongest

T

themes; a chance to take on Brathwaite and the latest chapter against Marlon Samuels.

Samuels is one of the senior players back in the mix following the thawing of tensions between the players and the board. He, Chris Gayle and Jerome Taylor played against India earlier this year and the potential power in West Indies' batting line-up is eye-watering when Kieron Pollard and Evin Lewis are also considered. None of the 13-man squad for the one-off T20 were involved in the Test series.

Tom Curran and Dawid Malan were England's big-

gest gains from their 2-1 series win over South Africa earlier this season. Malan made 78 off 44 balls on his debut, an innings that played a key part in his move to the Test side even though the formats are polar opposite, but whether he retains his spot will depend on how the batting is shuffled with Joe Root available again.

Adil Rashid has been overtaken in England's Test legspin pecking order by Mason Crane (despite Crane still being uncapped) but returns to the T20 line-up having missed the South Africa series where Crane made his international debut. He had an impressive T20 Blast campaign with 15 wickets in 12 matches and an economy rate of 7.10, but will need to show a strong nerve if any of West Indies' hitters get going.

Chris Gayle's previous two T20 innings against England have been from opposite ends of the spectrum.

At the start of the World T20 in Mumbai he smashed an unbeaten 100 off 48 balls, then in the final in Kolkata he fell second ball for 4 against Joe Root. His international comeback innings was a relatively sedate 18 off 20 balls against India but he is entering this tour on the back of being the third-highest-scorer in the CPL with

376 runs at a strike-rate of 127.02.

England will need to decide how many spin options they require for a mid-September evening match.

Curran made a good impression against South Africa so could retain his place. Jake Ball and David Willey are also in the squad.

Ashley Nurse was recalled to the T20 squad after a gap of more than two years and could take Samuel Badree's place in the side as a second spinner. Alternatively, Ronsford Beaton could earn his first cap if an extra pace option is preferred.

Scores in the T20 Blast were less daunting at Chester-le-Street than at most venues during a high-scoring tournament.

Late in the season, there could be some assistance for the seamers especially with it being an evening game. The start time also means that spectators may want to take an extra layer with them. The forecast says the odd shower is possible but the game should get through.

The match also holds a lot of significance as two of the three players that have scored two hundreds in T20Is will be playing: Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis. The other is Brendon McCullum while for England, Jos Buttler

West Indies Captain Carlos Brathwaite

needs 16 runs for 1000 in T20Is. If he gets there he would be the fourth England batsman to that mark behind Kevin Pietersen, Alex Hales and Eoin Morgan.

Squads: England; Eoin Morgan (capt), Alex Hales, Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Dawid Malan, Jos Buttler (wk), Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Liam

Plunkett, Jake Ball, David Willey. West Indies; Carlos Brathwaite (capt), Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Marlon Samuels, Jason Mohammed, Chadwick Walton (wk), Ronsford Beaton, Kieron Pollard, Jerome Taylor, Rovman Powell, Ashley Nurse, Sunil Narine, Jerome Taylor, Kesrick Williams.

The first ball is at 13:30h Guyana time.

Expanded Courts/Malta Pee-Wee kicks off on September 30

he annual Courts/ Malta Pee-Wee under-11 Schools Football Tournament will return with its sixth edition on September 30 and conclude on November 11 at its regular Banks DIH ground at Thirst Park.

The pee-wee tournament which is the brainchild of the Petra Organisation and has traditionally attracted Georgetown school teams

has now expanded its doors to accommodate teams from East Bank of Demerara, East Coast of Demerara and West Demerara taking its tally to 32 teams this year.

At the tournament’s launch on Friday in the Conference Room of the National Library, Co-Director of the Organising body, Troy Mendonca felt pleased with the success the tournament

has brought since it gives youngsters the opportunity to engage in other activities other than academics.

Mendonca also explained the organisation is seeking to expand its wings which is the rationale behind the invitation being extended to schools from districts outside of Georgetown.

Likewise, Banks DIH Non-alcoholic brand manag-

Heritage Sport Domino set for next weekend

A

grand Heritage Sports Extravaganza organized by Sports Coordinator of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ James “Uprising” Lewis is set to roll out next weekend.

The event which is a part of the Indigenous Heritage Month celebrations will kick off at 11:00h on Saturday, September 23, at the GPSU Hall on Regent Road and Shiv Chanderpaul Drive with the biggest ever Inter Ministries/Government Agencies Knock-out Domino competition. At stake will be trophies and medals with the entrance fee per team set at $5,000.

On Sunday September 24, the Extravaganza will continue with the Big Super 6 Overs, 11-a-side Knock-out Tape Ball cricket competition. Entrance fee for the cricket competition is $4,000 per team where it is expected that attractive prizes will be up for grabs.

Closing date for entry to both competitions is on Wednesday September 20. Interested persons and teams must contact Lewis on 672-6179 or 666-5857 for more information and registration.

From left: Banks DIH Non-alcoholic Brand Manager Clayton McKenzie, Guyana Football Federation President Wayne Forde, Co-Director of the Organising body, Troy Mendonca, Courts Finance Manager Neil Boucher, Education Ministry Representative Nicholas Fraser and Courts Marketing Manager Pernell Cummings

er Clayton McKenzie stated “we believe sports is the contributing factor to develop and for this reason will explore parents and teachers to come and support. Marketing Manager for Courts, Pernell Cummings disclosed that the sponsorship is in excess of $4M and commended the Petra Organization for the sterling job they have been doing. He too encouraged all to attend since It will be a time well spent.

He went on to express the company’s delights in seeing several players from the tournament gravitate to national colours.

Also present at the simple ceremony was the Guyana Football Federation President, Wayne Forde who further underscored the importance of corporate support citing that the federation cannot bear the burden of developing football in Guyana.

Similarly, Ministry of Education Representative Nicholas Fraser applauded Petra Organization for taking the leap of inviting other teams. Fraser further noted the importance of students finding the balance between academics and sports.

St. Angela’s boys are the defending champions of the tournament, after becoming

the only team to win backto-back titles in 2016 also having the distinction of being the only school to have never conceded a goal an entire tournament. The primary schools that are expected to participate are: Marian Academy, New Comenius, West Ruimveldt, St Margaret’s, St Agnes, Tucville, South Ruimveldt, North Georgetown, Ketley, St Gabriels, F.E Pollard, Enterprise, St Pius, Sophia, Winfer Garden, Smith's Memorial, East La Penitence, St Angela’s, St Ambrose, St Stephens, Stella Maris, J.E Burnham, School of the Nations and Rama Krishna.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

England v West Indies lone T20 I, Chester-le-Street

Confident hosts challenge full strength champs

– Ben Stokes rested Pg 23

West Indies destructive opener Chris Gayle gets some useful practice ahead of today’s big clash (windiesmedia)

Expanded Courts/Malta PeeWee kicks off on September 30

Pg 23

The future! Several pupils and organisers shared a light moment after the launch on Friday

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Sport: sport@guyanatimesgy.com Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 SALES AND MARKETING - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.