Guyanatimes 1 october 2017

LOOK INSIDE !

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

Issue No. 3348

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Sunday, October 1, 2017

PRICE

Marriott/Casino deal to be shrouded in secrecy

$120 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE: Board chairman

P12 FITUG threatens legal action against Govt

Page 3

…confidentiality agreement imposes unilateral restriction on bidders …project document allows for tender to be cancelled at any time

Wanted bandit gunned down in Albouystown

Page 2

Amerindian Heritage Month ends Page 7

Deafening silence continues on Amerindian discrimination – Jagdeo

Page 9

….as APNU/AFC Councillors walk out

P12

Vehicle P2 limit usage imposed on Region 2 VC

Pedal cyclist dies in P17 Essequibo Coast accident

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Saturday enjoyed the celebrations at Pakuri, popularly known as St Cuthbert’s Mission, as the curtains were drawn on Heritage Month 2017. In photo, Toshao Lennox Shuman walks along with the Opposition Leader as they partook in the day’s activities (Carl Croker Photo)

Parliament should empower PAC to impose sanctions – Sharma

Region 3 statutory meeting disrupted

Region 8 villages bemoan escalating cost of living Page 10

…say no plane shuttles, food items now a luxury

P14 UG proposes 6-8% salary increases

…despite Govt's recommendation of 15%

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SUnDAY, october 1, 2017 guyanatimesGY.com

Wanted bandit gunned Vehicle limit usage imposed on Region 2 VC down in Albouystown a single gunshot and upon looking out, he saw a crowd of people congregated. As he enquired further, he realised that someone was lying on the roadway and was covered in blood.

By this time, the Police arrived at the scene and cordoned off the area. The dead man’s mother told me-

20:00h on Friday evening when he left home claiming that he was going to reach someone.

The brother who visited the scene and identified Daley’s body, claimed that his brother was not a criminal.

On the other hand, the Police confirmed that the

He was reportedly making his way into his home when he was accosted by a man, who was armed with a handgun.

He was subsequently relieved of a pouch containing his service revolver and 17 live rounds of matching ammunition. The injured man was rushed to a private

Dead: Colin Daley

A

24-year-old man, who was wanted by Police in connection with a number of robberies, was in the wee hours of Saturday morning gunned down in Alboys Street, Albouystown, Georgetown.

Dead is Colin Daley, also called “Froggy,” and “Frog Eye,” of Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown.

While information surrounding the shooting remains sketchy, the Police confirmed that Daly was found in a pool of blood with a single gunshot wound to his head.

At the scene, there was blood along Albert Street, in the vicinity of the newly commissioner health centre. Persons in the area were tight-lipped about the shooting.

One resident told Guyana Times that he was in his house when he heard

The area where the wanted man was gunned down

dia operatives that at about 02:00h on Saturday morning, she received a telephone call from a friend informing her that one of her sons was killed.

Without hesitation, she said she woke her other two sons and instructed them to rush to the scene. Due to his bloodied state, Daley was identified by the clothes he was wearing when he left home. His mother recalled seeing her son alive at about

now dead man had been wanted for the attempted murder of a GRA officer, who was shot during an attempted robbery at Cactus Street, West Ruimveldt, Georgetown recently.

It was reported that Ariel Benjamin, 35, was shot once in his abdomen during the attempted robbery. Police stated that at 4:30h, the GRA employee was about to enter his premises shortly after arriving home.

medical facility where he was admitted.

Apart from that incident, the Police further revealed that Daley was wanted for several other armed robberies. No arrests have been made in connection with the execution-style killing of Daley whose body is at the Lyken’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Investigations are ongoing.

R

egion Two Regional Vice Chairperson Nandranie Coonjah has been given a limit on the usage of the vehicle that was assigned to her.

This decision was conveyed through Regional Engineering Department personnel, who informed her driver that the instructions were passed by Regional Executive Officer (REO) Rupert Hopkinson.

Coonjah, also chairperson of the Regional Works Committee, is not permitted to use the region’s vehicle beyond 16:30h. On September 26, her driver was issued a letter from Regional Engineer Latchman Singh to park the vehicle assigned to Coonjah in a regional office compound by 16:30h each day. The letter was copied to the Personnel Department and the Transport Department. This newspaper was informed that after the driver received the letter, he informed Coonjah of his instructions.

To date, Coonjah has not been officially informed of this development. This newspaper was told that the driver has been complying with the instructions, as he is afraid of losing his job.

Coonjah, in an invited comment, said she is disappointed that she, as a regional official, is being treated with no respect.

She said that as chairperson of the Works Committee, she is required to inspect projects, and now that she has been limited, it is affecting her execution of her job.

She said the vehicle as-

Region Two Regional VC, Nandranie Coonjah

signed to her is usually parked in the Johanna Cecelia Secondary School compound at night. To her knowledge, the school is a Government compound, and it’s closest to her home. Coonjah said the move is a very disrespectful one, and it aims to stymie development within the region.

She added that more fuel is now being used by the driver to drop her home then return to the region’s compound to park. She said also that because there is a time limit, she has to leave work early, which is affecting her carrying out her duties as the Regional Vice Chairperson.

In an invited comment, head of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), Devanand Ramdatt, said the move is unacceptable, especially towards the Regional Vice Chairperson. Ramdatt said fuel for his vehicle was cut by the REO, hence he also is affected in carrying out his duties.

news

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Sunday, October 1 – 05:00h-12:00h (seven hours) for planned maintenance works and Monday, October 2 – a night retraction at 02:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Sunday, October 1 – 13:20h-14:50h and Monday, October 2 – 14:10h-15:40h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected in the morning, while light to sunny weather can be expected in the afternoon. Partly cloudy to thundery skies are expected in the evening, with temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging from East North-easterly to East SouthEasterly and North-easterly between 1.34 metres and 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 00:53h and 13:34h reaching a maximum height of 2.17 metres and 2.23 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 06:59h and 19:28h reaching minimum heights of 0.97 metres and 0.99 metres respectively.

SATURDAY, September 30, 2017

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DAILY MILLIONS 01 05 10 25

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LUCKY 3 1 8 7

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

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SunDAY, october 1, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Marriott/Casino deal to be shrouded in secrecy

…confidentiality agreement imposes unilateral restriction on bidders …project document allows for tender to be cancelled at any time

I

t was only a few weeks ago that Government, in a tender seeking expressions of interest from contractors for the new Demerara River Bridge, attached a number of restrictions that saw bidders waiving a number of their rights to maintain confidentiality.

That trend is continuing, with bidders expressing an interest to partner with Atlantic Hotels Incorporated (AHI) to build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) a casino at the Marriott Hotel also being saddled with red tape and restrictions.

Bidders engaging in the project have to sign a non-disclosure agreement, as has been noted with a number of other projects, including the new Demerara River Crossing, among others. The vernacular of this document reveals that bidders are restricted from disclosing “information of whatever nature relating to the project which is obtained either in writing or orally from or pursuant to discussions with management and employees of the AHI project or any of its subsidiaries or advisors of AHI.” The confidentiality agreement also informs prospective bidders that if they are required by a valid court order to disclose confidential information, they are to immediately notify AHI - a Government owned special purpose company that had constructed, and is now maintaining, the Marriott Hotel. They also have to seek the company’s advice on seeking legal ways to “resist or narrow” the requirements of the order.

The document adds: “if disclosure of such information is required, exercise

The Marriott Hotel

your best efforts to obtain an order or other reliable assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded to such portion of the disclosed information which AHI so designates.”

Going even further, the agreement sets out that bidders cannot disclose to anyone outside their company “either the fact that discussions or negotiations are taking place concerning a possible transaction by you relating to the project or any terms, conditions, or other facts with respect to any such possible transaction, including the status.”

Rejection of proposals

For some time, the Government’s tendency to annul whole tenders during the early stages of projects has been the source of much concern. The political Opposition has even accused the Government of using this practice to get rid of legitimate but ‘out of favour’ bidders vying for a project.

In the invitation of ‘ex-

pressions of interest’ project document, AHI ensures it is covered in case it decides to cancel the tender.

According to section 21, Rejection/Disqualification of Proposals, the public company states it doesn’t have to accept the lowest costing bid, or even any bid.

“AHI is not bound to accept the lowest or any EOI or Proposal Documents, and reserves the right to reject any or all EOI or Proposal Documents,” AHI sets out, adding that it can also disqualify any EOI or proposal documents based on three reasons.

Non-compliance with any provision in the EOI

guidelines; inconsistency in the numbers or words in the EOI; and failing to provide enough details to allow AHI to do a thorough evaluation.

The Guyana Government, late last month, sent out the invitation in its search for partners to finally complete construction and operation of the casino at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Georgetown.

The US$58 million project was completed in 2015, and was advertised as a state-of-the-art, energy-efficient edifice, complete with hotel, casino and entertainment complex. turn to page 8

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sunDAY, october 1, 2017

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 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

Editorial

Dealing with alcoholism

T

he Minister of Public Security recently made an intervention on the issue of alcohol consumption in the country when he suggested the minimum legal age at which alcohol could be sold to individuals be raised from eighteen to 21. The intervention followed his earlier edict that bars be prohibited from selling alcohol beyond 2am. While welcome, both suggestions are not enough to address the tremendous damage excessive alcohol consumption wreaks on our society.

But, in all fairness, a more effective holistic approach would have to involve the entire spectrum of governmental activities, and this is what we are proposing.

Using figures, starting from 1961, obtained from the WHO website, it appears that alcohol consumption was historically high in Guyana, which is not surprising. The Sugar Planters allowed the newly time-expired Portuguese and Chinese immigrants to open “rum shops” near the pay offices of all the sugar plantations, to groom the remaining predominantly Indian indentureds as their clientele. In India, alcohol consumption and abuse was rare in the 19th century. It is interesting that while the WHO figures did not capture this fact, anecdotal evidence suggests that the descendants of this demographic remain those most adversely affected by the alcoholism scourge.

Analogously, African-Guyanese, descendants of the freed slaves, the majority of whom had left the plantations to start the Village Movement, are not as severely and widely affected.

While always high compared to average global consumption, the WHO figures show that alcohol consumption in Guyana started to climb in the 1970s, and by 1992 the rate had astonishingly quadrupled. It then dropped immediately afterwards back to its historical rate. This timespan, of course, corresponds to the period when the economy started to deteriorate under the socialist co-operative principles of the PNC after the Declaration of Sophia until its ouster by the PPP/C in 1992.

During those years, the Opposition-PPP supporters, who were already among the heavier imbibers of alcohol, were facilitated to increase their consumption by a proliferation of “rum shops” in the villages that were allowed to flout the regulations without governmental censure. At that time, the suicide rate in the same demographic also rose precipitously, but unlike that of alcohol consumption, there was no dramatic drop after 1992. Since the new millennium, however, the rate of alcohol consumption has been inexorably rising, and official interventions are imperative as have been implemented in suicide.

The Government can do worse than begin by regulating much more rigorously the licensing of “rum shops” in the “sugar estate” villages, where the heavier imbibers reside. If cigarette smoking in the public space can be forbidden because of its social and medical impact, then the number of rum shops in the villages can certainly be reduced administratively by the GRA. When those villages were established in the 1950s, there were regulations that commercial establishments should be located only on the “front streets”. This regulation should be enforced immediately.

From a medical standpoint, an official interventionist programme exists only at the Georgetown Hospital, and this should be extended by the Government into the rural areas where alcohol consumption is rampant. Civil society should become more involved by sponsoring the programmes, such as the 12-point one developed and run by Alcoholics Anonymous.

These are effective because they provide an alternative social network for alcoholics away from the usual “drinking buddies”.

The statistics also reveal that Guyanese youths are starting to imbibe at an ever increasingly younger age. This must be countered by the Ministry of Education including in its curriculum the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption -especially to the brains -- of young people. The Ministry had also promised a greater emphasis on sports in schools, which would provide an alternative outlet for the energies of youths; but, sadly, this has not materialised. The Ministry of Information should increase its public awareness programme on alcoholism via billboards and public service announcements.

Excessive alcohol consumption contributes to almost all societal dysfunctional behaviour -- teenage pregnancy, domestic violence, suicide, road accidents and fatalities, brawls at public functions. It is time to take action.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo shares a photo moment with dancers at the curtain call of Heritage Day 2017 celebrations on Saturday (Carl Croker photo)

Preserving our democracy through free and fair elections

Dear Editor, Kindly allow me the space to publicly express my deep worry over the single most important issue facing Guyana; that is, preserving our democracy through free and fair elections.

The preservation of Guyana’s democracy commences with following strictly the Articles of Guyana’s Constitution as they relate to the appointment of a chairman of the Elections Commission. Though tribal instincts in our over-politicised society prevail, at the very least, preserving our democracy through free and fair elections ought to be ring-fenced as an apolitical issue, as it protects the single most important electoral right of all Guyanese -- to choose, and remove, the Government.

Despite public utterances by legal luminaries, self-professed or otherwise, the proper institution to definitively determine the interpretation of the relevant

constitutional article regarding the appointment of an Elections Commission chairman is, of course, the court, and the recent ruling by the Chief Justice (ag) Madam R. George, is under appeal with the likelihood of significant passage of time leading to finality.

Given that likelihood, and the requirement for Local Government Elections next year and General Elections by 2020 -- without the possibility of extension, since it requires the agreement of the parliamentary Opposition (a position already definitively pronounced on in the negative by the Leader of the Opposition and General Secretary of the PPP) -- it would be the advisable, sensible, responsible, and preferred option for the President to exercise the status quo interpretation (adopted and practised without objection by the PNC for over 15 years whilst in Opposition, and was a party to the drafting and amend-

ment of the Constitution for that very Article 161) until the court has ultimately decided.

Departing from such without the court’s definitive ruling raises unnecessarily too many questions, but answers the question of whether the PNC is committed to free and fair elections.

It must not be news to President Granger and his Administration that the common talk and concern among Guyanese people is about the attempt to rig the next election; and Granger, as President, ought to be sensitive to this.

Let’s be clear: not once was this issue ever raised prior to 2015 by David Granger, the PNC, or any of the other parties in the partnership, let alone on the campaign trail leading into the election. So why the haste to appoint someone not on the submitted list when interpretation of the article is before the court?

There are far more import-

ant issues facing our country than departing from a practice that was never raised as an issue in question and has not once obstructed our governance.

David Granger is more than the leader of the PNC; as President, he is the leader of the entire Guyana. As President, he is tasked not with getting the PNC or APNU or APNU-AFC back in power through cheating or rigging, but through praiseworthy performance.

That is what will ensure Guyana’s transformation.

What will not so do is taking away the single most important right that Guyanese have – the right to choose their political representatives through free and fair elections; and history will never forget.

Sincerely, Charles S Ramson Attorney-at-Law Former Member of Parliament

A dangerous misconception of human resource management Dear Editor, In his comments on my recent letter to the media on repatriates, ‘Kassem’, a regular commentator on letters to the editor, declared: “HRM job is a piece of kake” compared to others.

I assume that ‘kake’ was a typo for ‘cake’, as in the usual expression of simplicity: ‘a piece of cake’. I also hope that he did not deliberately mean our colloquial miasmatic ‘kaka’, or even the New Zealand parrot, because some HRM officials might be talking like the bird.

In any event, as an experienced and seriously committed HRM professional, I

take umbrage at such an uninformed, unbridled affront to a critical and demanding profession.

Kassem might be excused if, as it appears, his experience was limited to the simple ‘record keeping’ aspects of HRM; however, he and others like him need to know that Human Resource Management is as serious a discipline as any other. Its primary base is in the behavioural sciences, and it is as demanding as any other discipline.

Professionalism in HRM require tertiary qualifications and post-graduate training lasting as long as any oth-

er discipline. The fact that it is a new professional discipline relative to engineering, medicine, law etc does not diminish its status, or demands, or impact on organisations and businesses.

The business world, the fields of institutional, governmental and non-governmental organisations, are increasingly realizing the uniquely important and critical role of the human factor in their various spheres of operation. Those who fail to do so soon realize the folly of their insensitivity.

I would not be surprised if the foregoing is seen as self-serving, but I cannot

ignore the years of positive feedback I have had from colleagues in other professions virtually across the world, who have acknowledged the valuable and critical inputs from me and teams of other HRM professionals that I have had the pleasure of leading.

Besides, I do not think that the type of derogatory, belittling comments from Kassem should go unchallenged in light of the value-added necessarily associated with the HRM profession.

Sincerely, Nowrang Persaud

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

Court’s determination on this issue is important Dear Editor, The written decision of Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire on the interpretation of Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana was recently handed down.

The decision contains several important points.

One such is that matters of sufficient public importance may confer upon any Guyanese locus standi (that is, sufficient connection to or harm which confers standing to bring an action with respect to a matter) to invoke the court’s jurisdiction.

I fear that in hastening to ascertain what the Court has decided regarding the proper interpretation of Article 161 (2), many may have overlooked the significance of the Court’s decision on the above-stated point. At the very least, no media outlet that I consult-

ed paid attention to this detail. At least not yet. These contemplations prompted this letter.

I apologise in advance for my lack of brevity, which is primarily due to my insistence on including certain quotations from the judgment which I think are worth reading.

Any person, natural or juridical, desirous of commencing litigation on any civil, constitutional, or other such matter must demonstrate locus standi.

Where a court finds that an applicant lacks locus standi, the application will typically be dismissed, and without any examination of the substantive issue(s).

It is unsurprising, therefore, that the State’s counsel challenged the applicant’s locus standi, arguing that he was not a public benefactor, but a “meddlesome busybody” who had failed to establish

Hilbert Foster for President of Berbice Cricket Board Dear Editor, The Berbice Cricket Stakeholders Committee unequivocally supports Mr Hilbert Foster for the presidency of the Berbice Cricket Board. Mr Foster, the Secretary/CEO of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS, has, over the years, been in the forefront of cricket development, and development of young people of a whole, across Berbice and by extension across Guyana.

It is without doubt that Hilbert Foster at the helm of the club he manages, he would have been instrumental in it being awarded the Medal of Service, a first

for any sports organisation in this country.

In his capacity as Secretary/CEO of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club and in his personal capacity, Mr Hilbert Foster would have touched the lives of so many people in this country.

The Berbice Cricket Stakeholders Committee notes with disgust the vulgar attempts by person/persons to malign Mr Foster’s character and integrity.

Sincerely, Berbice Cricket Stakeholders Committee

“…sufficient direct interest in the appointment of the Chairman of GECOM.” The Court, however, found that “as a citizen and elector, the applicant… definitely has relevant and sufficient interest in knowing how the position of such an important office is to be filled, and to have the court interpret the relevant article of the Constitution in the circumstances where it may be that there is ambiguity or uncertainty”, and that “the appointment of the Chairman of the GECOM is one of national interest and importance…”

The Chief Justice noted that case law consulted revealed that “…courts have been working assiduously, if not uniformly, to open the gates to general

grievances public interest litigation, where an applicant is not directly affected by the impugned legislation or public/government action,” and that “judicial discretion will have to be exercised in each case depending inter alia on their legal and factual context, the merits of the challenge, the importance of the issue, and the public interest in having it determined.”

Applying the authority consulted to the facts of the current case, the Chief Justice determined that “once issues raised are sufficiently grave, or of sufficient public importance, and involve high constitutional principles, an applicant’s case may be considered,” and ultimately found that “as a citizen and an

Who was Koko Mary?

Dear Editor, As we come to the close of Indigenous Heritage Month 2017, I acknowledge that many would have contributed positively towards the growth of Guyana just after Independence 1966.

However, I am almost certain that many would have done their part prior to Independence, and as I was perusing a historic book of 1961, captioned ‘TIMEHRI MAGAZINE...The Journal of The Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society of British Guiana’, there was featured one “KOKO MARY”, who appears to have been an Indigenous woman, and I am almost certain she played a pivotal role from or within her community and former British Guiana at large.

Perhaps a family member or historian can educate us on who “Koko Mary” was.

Yours faithfully, T Pemberton

elector, the applicant has a relevant interest in the appointment of a Chairman of GECOM, and as such has locus standi to make this application.”

It is understandable that the Court would be mindful against opening the proverbial floodgates and encouraging a torrent of public interest litigation.

The Chief Justice did not fail to address this in her judgment, affirming precedent recognising the need to balance the “desirability of encouraging individual citizens to participate actively in the enforcement of law (against) the undesirability of encouraging the professional litigant and the meddlesome interloper invoking the jurisdiction of the courts in matters in which he is not concerned.”

Further, as indicated earlier, the Chief Justice was sure to make it clear whether public interest matters that confer locus standi will depend on the legal and factual circumstances of each case.

In my humble estimation, the Court’s determination on this issue is important beyond measure.

The dual context against

which the preceding statement must be viewed, and ultimately understood, is what seems to be the perpetual intentional and/ or unintentional violation of Guyana’s Constitution by public authorities under successive political administrations, and the resulting need for enhanced conformity with, and reverence to, the Constitution.

While we wait for personal conviction or civic education to compel the culture of compliance, which is desirous, it does seem that compulsion through judicial determinations may achieve swifter results, although I will concede that even that suggestion is debatable.

Nevertheless, I hope that all persons who possess both a genuine interest in seeing the provisions of the Constitution followed and the intent and means to compel such compliance through litigation or some other means take note of this aspect of the decision and the authorities upon which it stands.

Yours sincerely, Chevy Devonish

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Foundation

HSS celebrates

Let’s fight breast cancer “I do not feel any less of a woman. I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity” – Angela Jolie (on getting a double mastectomy)

O

Anu Dev

ctober is "Breast Cancer Awareness Month”, and although many women are aware of the existence and possibly of the prevalence of breast cancer, I don’t think that there is enough awareness of the things they should be doing for early detection, or about factors that put them at a greater risk of having breast cancer; so I believe this article bears repetition.

In the Caribbean, the WHO announced in 2013 that rates are rising because of our change in lifestyle in imitation of the developed countries. In my first clinical rotation (surgery), we saw a lot of cases of breast cancer, which illustrated the stark statistic. In fact, during my month at the San Fernando General Hospital, the unit I was on had a separate clinic dedicated just to breast complaints. Many of the cases of breast cancer that we saw were unfortunately rather advanced forms of the can-

cer, and required quite radical surgeries. It was a sobering experience.

By being aware of the things in our life that might put us at risk of breast cancer, we can try to avoid those things -- like smoking; cigarette smoking increases your risk of contracting breast cancer and a whole host of other diseases; but that’s a lecture for another time, I suppose.

Since the risk of breast cancer increases with age, if females are socialized from young adulthood to check themselves for early signs of breast cancer, then -- statistics have shown -- in more than 90% of those cases, with early prognosis, the women can go on to have cancer-free lives. This is an amazing statistic, and is the rationale behind Breast Cancer Awareness Month; and we should all talk openly about it.

A monthly breast self-examination results in the detection of almost 40% of

breast cancer; and the steps are very easy to learn, since they consist of varying methods of observing and checking for lumps or thickening of the tissue of the breast or underarm. Sometimes there are changes in the appearance of the breasts or nipple, and even discharge; all these should receive professional scrutiny. The examination can be undertaken during several activities – in the shower, in front of a mirror, or lying down. The goal is to detect any lumps that might have formed since the last examination.

Not all lumps are cancerous, and at a visit to the doctor, a clinical breast examination can be performed by a trained health worker. Obviously, this would increase the chances of early detection.

The most conclusive test is done by a mammogram. A mammogram is an x-ray that allows a qualified specialist to examine the breast tissue for any suspicious area.

The breast is exposed to a small dose of iodizing radiation that produces an image of the breast tissue.

Mammograms can be performed at a clinic or hospital, and are the most extensive method of detecting breast cancer today. It is recommended that all women over 40, or those in a highrisk category, should have a mammogram every one or two years.

I, for one, am tired of seeing the devastating effects that cancer has on so many, many people. With breast cancer, we have a chance to make a difference, especially if we intervene early. So let’s fight back, and let’s educate ourselves about this disease.

And we can start by examining our breasts for lumps and bumps the next time we step into the shower. And yes, even though more rarely, men can develop breast cancers also.

Detection of cancer doesn't any longer have to be a kiss of death.

in Guyana

“V

ijaya-Dashami” (literally “Victory-ten days) is a festival celebrated by Hindus on the day - after the nine nights of Nau Raatri during which God was worshipped as female. The festival is also called “Dassera” and is commemorated in different manner in various parts of India.

Diwali will be celebrated 20 days after Vijaya-Dashami.

In Northern India, from where most of the Indians who came as immigrants to Guyana originated, the festival commemorates the victory of Lord Rama over the King of Lanka, Ravana, who had kidnapped his wife, Mother Sita.

Typically, in the nine days before Dassera - as Nau Raat is commemorated - villagers and artists would enact parts of the story of Rama and Sita in the performance called “Rama Lila”. On Vijaya-Dashami effigies of Ravana and sometimes those of one his brother Kumbhkaran and his son Meghanada are burnt after the last performance of the Ram Lila.

On Saturday evening the Hindus for Selfless service (HSS) celebrated VijayaDashami in fine style at the village of Tuschen on the east bank of Essequibo. The ceremony started with all the as-

sembled youths and guests paying obeisance to the Bhagwa Dwaj or “Saffron Flag” which represents Hindu Dharma. They then offered flowers to replicas of all the weapons carried by Devi Durga to acknowledge the need for all to defend Dharma Shastran Puja.

A speech was then delivered by the SanghaChalak or Guide, who quoted from the Ramcharitmas (Story of Rama’s Exploits) to outline some values for living according to Hindu dharma in modern day Guyana. These had been suggested by Sri Rama himself, in an extended discourse on ethics for living a Hindu life. The values illustrated were courage, fortitude, truthfulness and good character.

The participants were then led in a procession by the beat of tassa drums to the ground where the effigy of Ravana had been constructed. A young member of HSS, dressed in the garb from the days of Sri rama shot an arrow into the effigy which burst into flames, as everyone shouted in praise of Hanuman, the faithful devotee of Sri Rama. The participants had written on pieces of paper one negative quality of theirs they wanted to eliminate and these were thrown into the flames consuming the effigy.

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sunDAY, october 1, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Amerindian Heritage Month ends

Deafening silence continues on Amerindian discrimination – Jagdeo

A

s the curtains came down on the monthlong observation of Amerindian Heritage Month, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo joined the village of Pakuri, popularly known as St Cuthbert’s Mission, for the final celebration, where he told those in attendance that the Government continues to be silent on the discrimination against Guyana’s Indigenous peoples.

Jagdeo was at the time referring to statements uttered by Minister within the Social Protection Ministry, Keith Scott, several months ago, when he stood in the National Assembly and said

(PPP) remains committed to the development of the Amerindian people.

The Pakuri Culture Group demonstrate how bird hunting is done through dance

Students from the Pakuri Primary School performing the Monkey Dance

it would be avarice on the part of Amerindians to want to move their land ownership from 13.8 per cent of

the land mass of Guyana to 23 per cent thereof.

The statement did not sit well with the National Toshaos Council (NTC) and the wider population

of Guyana. However, to date, the Minister is yet to issue an apology, and Government is yet to distance itself from the derogatory statement.

Jagdeo said Government is preaching social cohesion, but its actions do not support its rhetoric. “Social cohesion can’t be policies only written on paper with hardly any consultation. Social cohesion should be policies of the Government and actions that benefit the people, and not drive a wedge between them,” Jagdeo said, while addressing concerns related to the ongoing Commission of Inquiry into lands.

He added Amerindians in Guyana are concerned about the lack of development in their communities, while alluding to policies that affect the daily existence of the indigenous groups. On the issue of policy changes, Jagdeo said the Peoples Progressive Party

He noted that if the Government moves ahead with amendments to the

Amerindian Act, the PPPC would support it. turn to page 15

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SunDAY, october 1, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

Fisherman slapped with attempted murder charge

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Queenstown, Essequibo fisherman was on Friday slapped with an attempted murder charge and appeared at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court.

Mervyn Peru, 36, was

charged with the attempted murder of Troy Gentle and was released on $800,000 bail when he appeared before Magistrate Ester Sam. Reports are the Virtual Complainant was chopped several times about his

body during an argument on September 27, 2017, at Queenstown back lands.

The VC is still hospitalised in the Intensive Care Unit at the Suddie Public Hospital in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The Police Prosecutor had objected to bail since the victim is still hospitalised but that submission was overruled.

The case will continue on November 12.

Grievous bodily harm lands man in jail for 40 months

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ohit Lall, called “Poduck”, of Walton Hall Village on the Essequibo Coast, in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam)

was sentenced to 40 months in prison after he admitted to causing grievous bodily harm.

Lall made his first ap-

pearance before Magistrate Ester Sam at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court, where he admitted that he inflicted grievous bodily harm on

Marriott/Casino deal to be...

According to the request for expressions of interest (EoI) advertised locally, Atlantic Hotels Inc, the special-purpose Government-owned company that was set up to construct and own the Marriott Hotel has invited interested parties to present proposals for the completion and operation of the facility.

According to the advertise-

ment, “AHI is seeking expression of Interest from reputable organisations/individuals to complete the construction, outfitting and operating its casino annexed to the Marriott Hotel…”

The Government-owned company says it “is interested to receive EoIs from either persons or companies, either individually or as part of a joint

venture/consortium.”

AHI said preference would be given to submissions by applicants who are established in the gaming and entertainment industry.

It was also pointed out that in selecting the lessee, “AHI will consult with Marriott.”

Those interested in partnering with AHI in order to complete construction and op-

Jairaj Seeraj on September 29, 2017, during an argument.

As such, he was sent to jail for committing the crime.

from page 3

eration of the casino are being asked to submit design proposals, proof of financial viability, a financial plan; and are being asked to sign on to a ‘confidentiality undertaking’ on registration.

Government had, in the past, publicly indicated its intention to sell off the multi-million-dollar tourism flagship project of its predecessors.

Left holding…

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…the oil hole

t is noteworthy that this Government -- chockfull of petroleum experts, according to Trotman -hasn’t commented much on the original exploration contract signed by Janet Jagan and Exxon back in 1999.

Recently, civil society activist Chris Ram -- NOT an executive member of the WPA! -- pointed out that Janet had handed out 600 blocks, ten times that 60 permitted by Desmond Hoyte’s Petroleum Act of 1986.

Janet’s successor to the presidency -- the present PPP and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo -- couldn’t pronounce definitively on the reasons for the former’s decision. He suggested “geopolitical considerations” and “no prior oil strikes” could’ve been factors. The “geopolitical considerations”, of course, had to be the ridiculous controversy Venezuela had precipitated on our Essequibo borders.

With Exxon drilling off the Essequibo shores, this would certainly have given pause to Hugo Chávez, who’d convened a “Constituent Assembly” in 1999 and was busy rewriting the Venezuelan Constitution. He wasn’t, of course, reviewing Article 8, which entrenched Venezuela’s spurious claim to our Essequibo.

Folks also forget that drilling for oil had been ongoing for almost a century, but all there was to show for the efforts were a lot of “dry holes”. So the Opposition Leader’s points are most plausible, but not exhaustive.

In 1999, the PNC under Hoyte were in the second year of violent protests in the streets against a Janet Jagan presidency. They didn’t just reject the results of the 1997 elections. After the “forensic audit” showed conclusively that the elections weren’t rigged as they’d claimed, the PNC and their supporters came out against Janet PERSONALLY. In a most racist series of attacks, they reviled as a “white woman” a person who’d emigrated to Guyana since 1943, and had devoted her entire life -- for the fifty-six years up to 1999 -- to struggle on behalf of the Guyanese people. They didn’t see the irony of attacking a person of Jewish heritage as “white”, when she’d left the US when Jews were still classified as “kikes” - the equivalent of the “N” word for blacks.

But, to your Eyewitness, the most plausible reason for Janet’s generosity to Exxon -- the epitome of the capitalist class reviled by her all her life -- was the FORM of the PNC’s attacks against her. They created “Janet dolls” and, for weeks on end, in the full view of the public and the media, they stuck pins into the dolls while sprinkling potent liquids and chanting powerful incantations as they “wuk pon she”.

Janet, of course, stepped down from the Presidency because of the “illness precipitated” by the protests.

But it’s clear the “wuk” also affected her judgement to seal the Exxon deal!! Blame the PNC!!

…the (ticket) bag

Once again, the poor Guyanese traveller’s left stranded on the ground with his expensive tickets bought with his hard-earned cash clutched in his sweaty hands, as another airline goes belly up. This nonsense has really been going on for too long, and it’s high time the Government steps in to save its citizens money -- if not their honour.

After all, we’re now down to Caribbean Airlines, and the Trinis show no inclination to stop treating us Guyanese like we’re in cattle class when in the air, and like hogs when in transit on way to the States. And with the US continuing to demonstrate their remarkable show of faith in our willingness to return to our native land, there will certainly be no let up on bodies heading north.

So your Eyewitness doesn’t believe rumours that Government has scaled back the airport from 8 boarding gates to 1.

‘Cause if we don’t become a hub for South America, how will we hitch rides?

…the containers

Your Eyewitness knows the economy’s tanking under this Government. But we have to draw the line SOMEWHERE as an international charity case, don’t we?

Did you see those used containers the Canadians presented to Ramjattan as an “evidence room”? Cheezy isn’t the word!!

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

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SunDAY, october 1, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Parliament should empower PAC to impose sanctions – Sharma I n light of the investigation launched into the school feeding programme, Auditor General Deodat Sharma is recommending adjustments be made to the Standing Orders of the National Assembly to allow the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to enforce the law.

He made this recommendation on the sidelines of the handing over of the 2016 Audit Report on the Public Accounts of Guyana and a copy of the performance report on the new access road to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).

“The Public Accounts Committee has finished examining the 2015 AG report. So they are waiting on the 2016. But I think the problem they are having is: can the Public Accounts Committee mete out disciplinary action?” he asked.

According to the Standing Orders, the answer is ‘no’, and as such, the AG is recommending that there be an amendment of the Standing Orders to empower the PAC to impose sanctions.

One of the PAC’s main functions is examining the audited accounts in the Auditor General’s Report, which would show the appropriation of sums granted by the National Assembly

to meet public expenditure.

The PAC also exercises general supervision over the functioning of the Auditor General, in accordance with the Rules, Policies and Procedures Manual.

The Committee’s powers are enshrined in the Legislative Bodies (Evidence) Act, Chapter 1:08, which allows for the PAC to summon witnesses to give evidence and/or provide it with documents. It also can impose penalties for non-compliance, including not answering questions fully or satisfactorily. These penalties, if convicted, include fines and imprisonment. to its In addition Chairman, Irfaan Ali, its members include Members of Parliament Bishop Juan Edghill, Charrandass Persaud, Nigel Dharamlall, Pauline Sukhai, Volda Lawrence, Jermaine Figueira and Valarie Patterson.

School Feeding Programme The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the education sector, which was completed earlier this year, had recommended that an investigation be launched into the school feeding programme to ensure Government was getting value for money.

Following this recom-

mendation, state auditors had embarked on an investigation targeting the programme. They had reportedly found major “spending” inconsistencies plaguing the programme in two remote villages in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) during the period 2016/2017.

Notwithstanding the lofty ideals of the programme, coordinators in the red-flagged region have reportedly been abusing the responsibility and power vested in them.

The particular scrutiny that was brought to bear into the expenditures for each meal revealed that costs were inflated. This had raised further queries as to whether the correct procurement procedures were followed during the awarding of the contracts.

Some $1.3 billion and $1.9 billion were injected into the programme in the years 2016 and 2017 respectively. It was set up in all 10 administrative regions.

It was the previous administration that had started the National School Feeding Programme in February 2010.

Even as state auditors were probing the allegations of fraud in the programme, things had progressed to the point where the Guyana Police Force had to be called

in and an official report made.

The National School Feeding Programme targets all nursery and prima-

ry school students in Grades One and Two. The school feeding programme was implemented in Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six,

and 10 and Georgetown.

Regions 7, 8 and 9 are treated separately. The programme consists of biscuits and juices.

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sunDAY, october 1, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

Region 8 villages bemoan escalating cost of living … say no plane shuttles, food items now a luxury

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he unpredictable weather and the ever-present mist which hovers above of the thick forested and mountainous region of the Pakaraimas in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni), makes it is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous areas in Guyana to traverse by air, and has had its share of tragic plane crashes and mysterious disappearances in the past up until recently.

Following the latest tragedy which claimed the life of Imran Khan, a pilot attached to Air Services Limited (ASL), the local airline company’s compliance with instructions of Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) to have shuttles around the region suspended, has caused grave economic inconveniences for Indigenous communities across the region.

Residents of Chenapou and Karisparu villages are complaining bitterly about the indiscriminate rise in food prices, compounding the already high cost of living in these communities. The last routine shuttle from Mahdia to their communities was on August 28, 2017. Shuttling of essential items are their main means of sourcing food and other basic necessities from the coast via inter-regional plane transports from the region’s mining town.

Air transport remains

Toshao Edward McGarrell

the primary means of access to these satellite villages in the absence of roads, largely owing to the region’s rough terrain.

A resident of the Chenapou community lamented the crisis breaking the village’s economy.

“We bought rice, flour, sugar and salt for $180 per pound before the crash and now because of no shuttle from Mahdia to Chenapou we now have to pay $260 per pound… chicken is $900 per pound. Everything is at a standstill because of the incident with us and the park (Kaieteur National Park)… no employment.” The resident added that the community is still waiting to determine their next move.

“We are still awaiting

the investigation teams to come and do whatever they have to; the people here is wondering why is the Government taking so long to look into the issue knowing it is one that should be treated with urgency…,” the frustrated villager said.

Toshao of Chenapou Village, Edward McGarrell spoke with Guyana Times and indicated that his community is at its wits end and are forced to suffer under conditions where basic requirements such as food items are now costly and scarce; a luxury rather than a necessity.

“No regular passenger flights in or out of here.

The business owners charter aircrafts directly from Georgetown that is why the cost climbed so high, the

people are finding it hard because there is no sort of employment here other than going into the backdam (mining) that is our main source of income. Our only other option is to go to the border to buy our goods over in Brazil…,” Toshao McGarrell added.

Meanwhile, a representative from Guyana’s major hinterland aviating company, disclosed that the situation stemmed from a temporary arrangement in acquiescence with directions from GCAA, while assuring that shuttles from Mahdia to surrounding villages in the region are expected to reconvene per normal soon.

Following three plane crashes involving shuttle flights, during the month of August, the GCAA in efforts to ensure the safety of travellers and aviation personnel, suspended shuttle operations for domestic air operators on August 30, 2017, to facilitate the reviewing of policies governing conduct shuttle operations in Guyana.

While larger communities in the Potaro-Siparuni region – Paramakatoi and Kato – were not as severely affected as larger business owners were able to charter flights per normal from Georgetown, smaller communities continue to bear the effects of the arrangement. (Paula Gomes)

A Police thing S

atiricus was incensed. He was incensed because his leader, Rum Jhaat, was incensed. Rum Jhaat was incensed because he was in charge of the Police and things weren’t regula with his “boys”. In fact, things had gotten so bad there wasn’t a day when his dirty laundry wasn’t hanging out in the front pages of the dailies. It made for uncomfortable moments for Satiricus at the Back Street Bar. “Suh wha’ yuh leadah seh ‘bout de drugs wha disappear fram de CID affice?” Bungi wanted to know.

“Bungi, why you hasslin’ the man?” Hari interjected to save Satiricus blushes. “Rum Jhaat already said it was ‘reckless and negligent’ officers who are responsible!”

“Da wha me wan’ fuh know,” Bungi persisted, as he polished off his beer. “Rum Jhaat a wan lawyah. How ‘e can seh police “negligent” when dem na done dem investigation?”

“What he means is at least the Police are negligent to let 2 kilos cocaine disappear,” said Satiricus at last.

“Budday! Leh abee pick sense fram nansense!” chortled Bungi. “Dis a wan police aperation fram de start!”

“What you mean?” demanded Hari, still solicitous of Satiricus’s sensitivities.

“Yuh na read de story?” asked Bungi. “Ah police gi’e police de drugs, and customs ketch dem! Suh de CID police bin gat fuh gi’e back de drug to dem mattie!”

“So why should Rum Jhaat be ashamed?” asked Hari. “It’s not like he thiefing the drugs.”

“Rum Jhaat shame beca’se ‘e rememba how ‘e use fuh moles’ Rodee!” chuckled Bungi. “An’ me fr’en’ Sato know da!!”

“Well, Rum Jhaat is in a coalition, you know,” said Satiricus. “He really can’t do what he really wants to do.”

“But na da me bin tell yuh, Sato?” asked Bungi. “De police know Rum Jhaat cyaan do dem not’in’. Dem gat ‘e like wan chris’muss blow-blow!”

“Let”s look at the bright side!” said Hari. “The police circulating the coke and keeping the economy going!!”

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SunDAY, october 1, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

GECOM chair

Nandall disputes AG’s interpretation of CJ’s ruling Public debt management in the context of Guyana’s public debt ast week we had established that total stock of debt, which

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includes both domestic and external debt, stood at US$1.638 billion, or close to G$340 billion.

Further, according to the Bank of Guyana’s half-year report 2017, domestic debt service increased by 31.2 per cent, or G$267 million, to G$1.123 billion due to principal payments and interest payments growing by 2.7 per cent to $861million.

On the external side, external debt service increased by 8.2 per cent to US$29 million from June 2016 level, which represents 6.4 per cent of Central Government’s current revenue and 4.3 per cent of export earnings. Principal and interest payments amounted to US$19 million and US$10 million respectively. Effectively, this brings total Central Government’s debt servicing close to G$7.9 billion.

Putting these aforementioned figures into context within the economy’s macroeconomic structure, total stock of debt of G$340 billion represents 47.8 per cent of GDP (at market price), which stood at G$711.7 billion as at the end of December 2016 (BoG Annual report 2016), and total debt service of G$7.9 billion represents 8.13 per cent of Central Government’s total revenue, which stood at G$97.1 billion for half-year period ended June, 2017.

At the same time, total current expenditure for the same period stood at G$81.4 billion.

Guyana’s debt-to-GDP ratio is relatively low (under 60 per cent) compared to other Caribbean countries, such as Trinidad & Tobago’s debt-to-GDP ratio, which stood at 61 per cent as at the end of 2016.

The Bahamas was 74 per cent, and Suriname was projected to increase to 68 per cent at the end of 2016, just to name a few.

Despite this, however, the Government of Guyana needs to be careful in debt management, at it seems as though this level of debt is increasing at perhaps not an alarming rate, but certainly at a rate that warrants some degree of heightened monitoring, as could be deduced from the mid-year economic reports. Efforts in this regard need to be engaged to avert a likely unsustainable level of the public debt management structure.

Such an assessment at this point is premised on the fact that key economic sectors are performing poorly. We are losing revenues from export earnings, and in the context of public debt management, this means Central Government’s ability to honour its external debt obligations may be weakened.

Again, quantifying this assertion, export earnings from rice fell by 12.6 per cent, or US$11 million, below the level in 2016 on account of lower levels in volume being exported. Gold export earnings declined by 0.5 per cent or US$1.9 million less than June 2016; sugar export earnings also fell by US$1.0 million; timber fell by 8.7 per cent. But total other exports’ earnings increased by 10.8 per cent for the half-year period ended June 2017.

Simultaneously, import value of goods increased by 13.6 per cent; hence, altogether, what these factors indicate is that, as imports increase and external debt service payments increase, the demand for foreign currency will also increase. And this could impose pressure on the Government’s ability to meet these obligations, as this also means it will have an effect on the country’s foreign reserves, which are depleting as an effect of the outcomes of these very factors.

A Working Paper on Public Debt in Emerging Market Economies (EMs) produced by the World Bank (2010) sought to address the impact of the global financial crisis on 24 countries and the responses by their public debt managers. It provides a number of positive lessons for policy makers and international financial institutions. Some of these were as outlined in the paper: - Sound and well-coordinated macroeconomic policy during the years before the crisis, leading to much improved fundamentals, was elemental in serving as a buffer and placed Ems in a position for quicker recovery.

- In addition to macroeconomic measures, prudent public debt management with a focus on containing risks in debt portfolio was an additional fundamental factor that strengthened EM resilience to the crisis.

Notwithstanding the positive developments that most EMs have enjoyed between June 2009 and March 2010, this current period (2011-2017 and onwards) presents more risks than usual. Given this outlook, it is important that policy makers in EMs maintain the prudent approach to macroeconomic management that has served them well over the last decade. Specific policy measures will depend on individual country circumstances. For those with weaker fiscal positions, as growth recovers, it presents an opportunity to reduce debt/GDP ratios by reversing the fiscal accommodation that was implemented to mitigate impact of the global crisis. For others with more significant external surpluses and fiscal buffers, the emphasis should be on stimulating domestic demand and allowing exchange rates to adjust, while maintaining vigilance on inflationary expectations.

Returning to our situation: against these backgrounds, policymakers may argue that with the advent of the oil and gas sector, the economy is expected to hit a ‘booming’ period and foreign reserves are expected to experience significant increases, thus averting a debt management crisis. These expectations are, however, yet to materialise, and will only begin three years from now.

So what will happen until then, as other key sectors continue to deteriorate; foreign earnings are lost on account of reduced export earnings; net foreign reserves are depleted; and public debt seemingly keeps on climbing? Is this not a recipe for a debt crisis? How will we mitigate these risks? Shouldn’t there be a review of priorities on spending, and emphasis on value for money as it relates to contracts, just to cite a few suggestions; let alone a stimulus package, as is the call from some private sector agencies?

(For comments, questions and responses on articles featured in this column, readers can reach the author at jbinsights@outlook.com).

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

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ttorney-General (AG) Basil Williams’s pronouncements on Acting Chief Justice Roxane George’s ruling regarding President David Granger’s criteria for selecting a suitable Chairman for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) were on Saturday disputed by Williams’s predecessor, Anil Nandlall, who accused the current AG of peddling “misinformation”.

Nandlall referred to the AG’s comments in a September 30 <<Guyana Times>> article wherein Williams highlighted the discretionary powers that the President has in relation to rejecting Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo’s third list of nominees for GECOM chairmanship.

Nandlall, who served as Attorney General for the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, viewed some of Williams’s attributed statements in the article as attempting to “completely distort several parts” of Chief Justice George’s ruling.

Nandlall explained that while no one has ever questioned the President’s discretion to deem a list unacceptable, the President’s

Acting Chief Justice Roxane George

discretion in this instance “must be exercised reasonably and in accordance with relevant principles governing the exercise of discretionary powers”.

The Acting Chief Justice’s written ruling was handed down this week, wherein it was stated that the nominees do not necessarily have to be a judge, former judge or person qualified to be a judge; and further noted that the President must give reasons to justify the unfitness of persons he has rejected. Nandall noted that this was a rejection of the AG’s arguments.

The Chief Justice’s ruling had, however, added that if persons on the list are not found to be acceptable to the President, he can go ahead and appoint a person from the category he has identified; namely judges, former judges, or a person eligible to be appointed a judge.

In response, the PPP has stated that it could appeal the latter decision in future, since that decision could have implications for future appointments.

Responding to the ruling on Thursday, Williams held out that the Head of State can reject the list if he considers one or all

the names unacceptable.

Assessing these comments on Saturday, Nandlall noted that the statements are not reflective of the Chief Justice’s ruling, and he even found it “contradictory”.

He also claimed that the current Attorney-General, by way of his statements, had created a ‘misleading impression’ that the Chief Justice had upheld his and the President’s interpretation of the Constitution.

“It is unfortunate that the Attorney-General only chose to speak on rejection of the list, rather than acceptance of it. It appears that the only advice he is giving to the President on this matter is about rejection of the list, rather than an objective consideration of the list in accordance with the principles of law articulated by the Chief Justice in her written ruling. Perhaps this is the type of advice which may have led to the rejection of the two previous lists, and is part of an ulterior design for the President to eventually appoint a person of his choice,” Nandlall pointedly stated.

He also reminded that “almost every argument advanced by the AttorneyGeneral” was rejected by the Chief Justice, including a

Attorney General Basil Williams

preliminary argument that the applicant, businessman Marcel Gaskin, had no locus standi (standing).

The Opposition Leader has described President David Granger’s interpretation of the lists of nominees as invalid, due to the court ruling. On August 25, he had presented an additional six names to President Granger for his consideration for appointment to the post of GECOM Chairman. Jagdeo’s nominees were Major General retired Joseph (Joe) Singh; Teni Housty; Sanjeev Datadin; Annette ArjuneMartins; Onesi La Fleur and Krishnadatt Persaud.

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SunDAY, october 1, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 3 statutory FITUG threatens legal action against Govt meeting disrupted Board chairman

FITUG General Secretary, Carvil Duncan

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he Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) is preparing to file legal action against the Government over what the union body sees as a violation of the existing laws regarding the selection of chairman of the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board

(TURCB).

This was announced by FITUG General Secretary Carvil Duncan when on Friday he met with members of the media and reported that a meeting had been held the previous day with Social Protection Ministers Amna Ally and Keith Scott, Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle and a delegation from the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC).

“They unilaterally appointed a chairman, which the court is now looking at, so having brought in FITUG and the TUC, they are going down a road that will end up in court,” Duncan told media operatives.

In October 2015, FITUG had taken objection to Government’s appointment of former Justice Claudette La Bennett as Chairperson of the Trades Union Recognition and Certification Board, and had questioned the legal

Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board Chairperson, former Justice Claudette La Bennett

transparency of the process. FITUG is now questioning the appointment of the current board, with Duncan claiming that, at last Thursday’s meeting, Social Protection Minister Amna Ally asked for nominations from GTUC, which signalled its support for Justice La Bennett to re-

turn as chairperson.

“FITUG was then asked to nominate a person, and we made it clear that we have no faith and confidence in the present chairman; but at the same time, we requested until Monday, when we will submit to the minister our thoughts on a chairman,” the FITUG General Secretary outlined.

However, he noted that a decision seems to have already been arrived at and their submission was just a matter of formality.

The Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board has responsibility for determination of all applications and matters concerning the certification of trade unions as recognised majority unions. The FITUG General Secretary said the union body’s lawyers were informed of the intended court action, and will soon make a determination on the way forward.

….as APNU/AFC Councillors walk out

Region Three Chairman Julius Faerber

Region Three REO Dennis Jaikaran

he Regional Democratic Council (RDC) monthly statutory meeting was late last week halted after councillors of A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) walked out.

Regional Chairman Julius Faerber, when contacted, confirmed that the walkout did occurred, adding that one Councillor decided to walk out of the meeting following claims that Councillors of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) were absent from a workshop recently held in the region.

Guyana Times understands that the Councillor, Kathleen Armstrong, after the meeting was convened, reportedly rose and accused the PPP/C Councillors of disregarding the workshop, stating that she would be boycotting the statutory meeting.

However, the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Dennis Jaikaran and sever-

al other Government Officer were reportedly beckoned and they all followed suit.

When contacted for a comment on the allegations, Jaikaran did not answer questions saying that he was seeking media attention.

The Chairman revealed that following the “walk out”, there was a quorum as to the way forward, with Opposition Councillors continuing discussions as per normal.

Faerber called the walk out a gross disrespect for the affairs of the region and called for the public to be made aware of what is currently happening in the regional administration.

The REO and Chairman have been at loggerheads over a number of issues in the region.

The Chairman claims that he is being kept out of the loop on affairs of the region, while Jaikaran maintains that the Chairman is undermining his authority.

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SunDAY, october 1, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Orealla, Siparuta youth embracing cultural traditions Killing Coolies

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eptember 30th was the 145th anniversary of the killing of five indentured sugar workers and the wounding of seven others at Devonshire Castle, Essequibo Coast.

Today it is difficult to accept that sugar was once “king” in Essequibo also. It is a harbinger for what I believe Demerara will become within five years.

The killings signalled the confluence of the interests of the sugar planters and the state, since the highly armed police could be called in to settle labour disputes between workers and management. The Devonshire Castle incident also exacerbated already strained relations between newly freed African slaves and the Indian immigrants, since the Police Force was overwhelmingly African-manned.

Additionally, while most of the official violence was deployed to quell labour uprisings on the plantations, there were other daily humiliations inflicted on the immigrants.

Police Force historian John Campbell noted: “Police were employed to levy rents and to act as bailiffs Ravi Dev (and) East Indians quite rightly viewed the police as agents or allies of their oppressors”. Chief Justice Beaumont noted police harassment of Indians in the 1870s as “galling subjection”.

Since any protest of their working conditions on the plantations could be defined as an “overt rebellion” and result in lengthening of their indentureship term, immigrants did not lightly embark upon such actions. Yet, since the immigrants did protest, one could only imagine the provocations. The overall dire conditions on the plantations by 1870 can be gleaned by the bare population statistics. Of the 69,380 Indian immigrants that had arrived by 1869, some 6,523 had returned to India, but only 44,936 showed up in the census. It meant that, if not a single birth had occurred, 17,921, or 26%, had died.

The precursor to Devonshire Castle occurred in July of 1869, when forty workers of the shovel gang at Plantation Leonora disputed the wages for work done and allegedly “assaulted” a manager. The response was swift: the police and the 2nd West India Regiment were called in. After the “Leonora Riot”, the Guiana Police Force became “the most heavily armed Police in the British West Indies,” according to Adamson. Even though no one was killed, the protesting workers were arrested, convicted, and jailed in short order. The system had begun to perform a “one-two”: first the Police would use violence to maintain “order”, and then the judiciary would emphasise the condign lesson to the immigrant by applying the “law”.

Where any claimed non-performance or underperformance of their tasks - civil violations – it earned the immigrant criminal penalties of jail terms and onerous fines.

The Leonora protests precipitated a Royal Commission, but not any changes on the unbalanced police-immigrant equation, which inflicted violence to “keep the Indian in his place”.

The underlying cause for the disturbance at Devonshire Castle was the mistrust of the Indians for the judicial system.

On Sept 29, one Parag had been arrested for “assaulting” a Manager at Devonshire Castle, but was rescued from confinement. He cross-charged the Manager. The next day, Parag refused to appear at the Magistrate Court, where the accused, as a manager, would have been allowed to sit beside the Magistrate. Instead, he, along with 250 other immigrants, appeared at the Estate and prevented the Manager, or anyone else, from entering.

Twenty-three armed Policemen and the Magistrate appeared, and the latter ordered the Policemen to load their rifles. The Police were then ordered to charge. The immigrants stood their ground, and one policeman (Archer) discharged a shot. The other Policemen thought the order to shoot had been given, and nine other Policemen fired. Five workers: Maxidally, Kaulika, Beccaroo, Baldeo and Auckloo, were killed and seven others were wounded.

It is noteworthy that thirteen policemen, including the two Indian ones, did not shoot. At the Inquest, the Policemen’s actions were exonerated as “justifiable homicide”.

The Colonist, a paper friendly to planter interests, exulted, “the leaden argument has brought submission quicker than all honeyed words that could have been used.”

The “leaden argument” from the Police guns was to be made with terrifying regularity against Indian Guyanese sugar workers from then: 1896, Non Pareil; 1903, Friends; 1912, Lusignan; 1913, Rose Hall; 1924, Ruimveldt; 1939, Leonora; until 1948, Enmore. They were just “coolies”.

T

Canoe racing during the Heritage Day festivities at Siparuta

he youth of Orealla and Siparuta, in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) dazzled Social Cohesion Minister with responsibility for culture, youth and

sport, Dr George Norton with their cultural performances, which were held as part of their annual Heritage Day celebrations. The Minister travelled to the Indigenous

communities on Friday and Saturday to participate in the observances, which were held under the theme ‘Guyana’s First Peoples; Sustaining a Rich Cultural Environment”.

“We have been celebrating Heritage Month for a number of years and every year it is becoming more and more authentic, the real thing… It is good that we are carrying on and living this culture; it is the children who have to carry on the mythologies and the stories… when they start dancing and singing at this age, you can rest assured that when you’re gone they will carry it on,” he is quoted as saying by the Ministry of the Presidency.

Meanwhile, before the close of the programmes, Minister Norton presented a quantity of footballs and volleyballs to sport groups in both communities. He also inspected the playfields in both villages.

In Orealla, Dr Norton and his team participated in the village’s Heritage games, which included a competitive match of tug-owar between residents and visitors.

14 news UG proposes 6-8% salary increases Younge’s Take …despite Govt’s recommendation of 15% Justice for Leonard D SunDAY, october 1, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

espite Government’s budgeted recommendation for staff to be paid 15 per cent salary increases for 2017, the University of Guyana (UG) has opted to disburse payment increases that are considerably less than what was proposed.

In a release issued on Saturday, the University ob-

served that its negotiations with the two university unions yielded its final offer of eight per cent to UB staff members and six per cent to UA members. The union presidents learnt of the offer on August 30, and the negotiations began on July 12.

UG justified the decrease on Government’s recommendation, viewing its offer

in a context of “what is affordable in keeping with the mandate by the University Council.” It said, too, that the payments are for this calendar year, retroactive to January 1, 2017, adding that Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith, had stressed from the outset that performance of staff members

G

Vice Chancellor at UG, Professor Ivelaw Griffith

would have been a key consideration.

Vice-Chancellor Griffith had earlier this month said he was “ready to sign the agreement and begin the payments.” Following the announcement of the new offer, he thanked the academic and non-academic staff members for their “exemplary service”, and said he “looks forward to the collective efforts to enhance the University’s teaching and learning, research, and service to the University community and the wider society”. turn to page 16

uyanese were, last week, thrown into despair after becoming aware of circumstances which led to the death of 13-year-old Leonard Archibald, who was brutally sodomised by two men from his community. His body was dumped aback the community and left exposed to the extremities of the environment, only to be discovered days after by a search party.

Since the incident, members of the Brothers (and Sisters) village where the lad resided have come forward demanding justice. They have also accused the Police in their district of inaction on a number of previous reports made against one of the two men who have been arraigned for the murder of young Leonard. This incident also saw other boys who were victims of rape, assault and intimidation coming forward to tell their harrowing tales.

In response, both the Government and Police Force Michael Younge have expressed concern and outrage following the lad’s death. At least one probe is ongoing into the conduct of the Police within the district, and their handling of the Archibald case and others, which residents say were ducked under the table. Various stakeholders have strongly condemned the rape and buggery of our boys. Suddenly, calls are resurfaced for stronger legislation against child sex offenders and paedophiles.

The Rights of the Child Commission also has awoken from its periodic slumber, and is joining the discourse. Politicians have expressed sympathy, and some are even trying to see how they could achieve mileage and relevance following the dastardly act to boost their personal appeal. In short, everyone has reacted, and rightly so.

But this sort of knee-jerk reaction exposes the sad reality of the kind of society that we live in. It also highlights the core of the bigger problem, while further bringing the double-standard and shocking levels of hypocrisy of human nature to the fore.

Leonard did not have to die. Those boys who were brutally abused did not have to go through those traumatic experiences.

The probes ongoing now into the conduct of the Police ranks in the district and their handling of previous rape and buggery accusations would not have been necessary if there were a functional system of monitoring and evaluating the work of the lawmen in cases like these -- wherein serious allegations are being levied about cases being “ducked down” or ignored.

While no one is willing to admit it, as a society, we are fully responsible for Leonard’s death. We are all guilty of inaction as far as doing much more to adequately protect our boys from rape and buggery. We are all accountable for the failure to safeguard the wellbeing of all our children. The truth is that there are, across the country, many Leonard Archibalds whose stories have never been told. There are so many young boys who have been scarred for life following the sexual overtures that are made constantly by supposedly heterosexual adult males who prey on the innocence of these minors. I dare say that there are also homosexual males who have a special appetite for underage boys and children. The victim is usually the boy down the road, or the child next door whose parents usually leave him unsupervised because he is a “boy” and is deemed “capable of defending himself” from those kinds of attacks.

When they happen, the shame and concern about the boy’s image or future force some of these families to remain silent. Fathers, too, whose sons were victims, also fear the impact reporting and highlighting the act would have on the perceived masculinity of their sons. So, to protect them, they do nothing but place on them the obligation to become “hard men” while suppressing every emotion they perceive to be feminine.

Guyana does not need more complex laws to tackle the issues raised in this column, or to prevent paedophiles from hurting our children. We need stricter enforcement of the laws that exist as a first step towards protecting our children. We need more national programmes aimed at educating communities about the laws that protect children as a deterrent to those with such an inclination. We need campaigns aimed at ending the “hush hush” culture. There is need for boys to be treated equally as girls when it comes to allegations of sexual molestation, buggery of underage boys, rape and sexual assault.

Boys must be taught not to be “hard men” who repress their emotions, but men who express them. We must teach our boys to love and protect each other. They must speak out against any uninvited attempt to touch them inappropriately by another male or female. They must know there is no shame, but integrity, in exposing perpetrators of rape and sexual abuse.

More training of the male-dominated Police Force to respond professionally and swiftly to reports of rape must be compulsory. The Government must take a stand, too, and more research must be conducted on making other interventions to protect the male child.

Finally, society must disabuse its mind of the viewpoint that all homosexuals are paedophiles. Those men who killed Leonard do not identify as gay or bisexual; they are products of a society that has failed to instill proper mores, values and traditions in them. We have failed them, too, because they appear confused about their sexuality and troubled mentally, if they can look at a 13-year-old boy or any underage child as sexually attractive.

They must not just be left to rot in jail; they must be rehabilitated and reformed.

15 Filaria can be eliminated by 2027 – PAHO/WHO T news

sunDAY, october 1, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

he Education Ministry has collaborated with the Public Health Ministry on the Lymphatic Filariasis Mass Drug Administration (MDA) programme in efforts to eradicate filaria in Guyana.

This was formalised at the MDA launch held at the Square of the Revolution in Georgetown on Saturday.

Education Minister Nicolette Henry, in her remarks at the launch, stressed that school health education and promotion is intimate to educational achievement, quality of life, and economic productivity in reference to the World Health Organisation’s Expert Committee.

The programme was engineered by the findings of recent studies which indicated the age group that did not

meet the 65 per cent mark for taking medication to fight the infection were children. As such, the Minister assured that the Education Ministry pledges full support to the initiative.

“With this initiative, the Mass Drug Administration Campaign against Filaria (has started), and every parent or guardian will be furnished with a form that has some very important information on the campaign; as well as a detachable sheet that you, as parents and

guardians, will be required to fill out and return to the child’s class teacher if (you) feel so strongly about (your) child not being given tablets to prevent this disease.”

According to Minister Henry, the Ministry of Public Health staff will be distributing tablets that will be given to each child. The Minister also gave tips that parents could employ to play an active role in ensuring the continued good health of their children.

Meanwhile, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, indicated that since the launch of the MDA programme in Guyana in 2003, there has been a significant reduction of new cases of Lymphatic Filariasis.

Studies have shown that the infection is a leading

Deafening silence continues...

“We will support the amendment only if there is widespread consultations among all the Amerindian communities, and the amendments bring further benefits to Amerindian communities; and if they enhance the rights of Indigenous people.

Any attempt to take away land rights of the Indigenous people will not be supported,” he informed.

Defence

Meanwhile,

Minister

within the Indigenous Peoples Affairs Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, said the Government never came out in support of the statements uttered by Scott.

“Neither the President nor his Ministers ever said they agree with him. We would never agree with that. The Minister will do what he has to do in good time,” she said.

She said Government remains committed to developing the Amerindian community, and that development would be holistic.

from page 7

Also attending the final Heritage Day celebrations was acting British High Commissioner Ron Rimmer, who used the opportunity to renew his Government’s commitment towards the development and understanding of the rights of the Indigenous people.

The Heritage Day celebrations saw a wide variety of cultural presentations from the Amerindian community in the form of poems, skits and dances.

cause of long-term disability worldwide among both sexes, hence according to the minister, the programme is geared at promoting the available medical solutions to combat Lymphatic Filariasis, which is a priority of the Public Health Ministry.

In addition, Pan

American Health Organisation and World Health Organisation (PAHO/ WHO) Representative for the Guyana Country Office, Dr William Adu-Krow, is optimistic that if all protocols are followed, Guyana can eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis by 2027.

The programme serves to reduce the density of parasites circulating in the blood of infected persons and the prevalence of the infection within communities to such low levels that transmission cannot be continuous, resulting in the cessation of infections.

16 news

SunDAY, october 1, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

Only 20% of persons paying Water Users' Association fee

The new Management Committee seated front row. From left are: Deonarine Persaud, Chairman; Mark Narain, Secretary; Bendernauth Mohabir, Vice Chairman; and Sheleeza Bux, Treasurer. From left, in back row are: Lall Bahadur Singh, Shiv Devi Premnauth, Claude Rebeiro, Vorad Premnauth and Compton Persaud

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lack Bush Polder Water Users Association now has a new management committee.

Elections for the Bush Polder Black Water Users' Association

Management Committee were held, and saw Deonarine Persaud being elected as the new Chairman, to serve for the next two years. The management committee will remain in place for four years,

and after the first two-year of its existence, elections will be held for a chairperson and other office bearers.

Meanwhile, National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) National

Coordinator of Water Users Associations, Shiv Sankar, noted that only twenty per cent of the landowners were paying their land taxes to the association.

Persons have to be up to date with their payments in order to be eligible for election. Several persons who were deemed unfit had been paying to the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), and others were paying to the Lands and Surveys Department, depending on how the land was acquired.

Sankar called on the new board to encourage farmers to pay their taxes. “They may want to go back to the laws of Guyana, under the Drainage and Irrigation Act, where they can take legal action against those who are reluctant in

paying their rates,” he opined.

The full Management Committee comprises: Deonarine Persaud as Chairman, Bendernauth Mohabir as Vice Chairman, Mark Narain as Secretary, and Sheleeza Bux as Treasurer.

The five committee members are Lall Bahadur Singh, Shiv Devi Premnauth, Claude Rebeiro, Vorad Premnauth and Compton Persaud.

The WUA’s primary task is to ensure that the secondary canals are cleared and functioning well. According to Regional Chairman David Armogan, the last WUA did more than that, working outside of the agreement.

“They were able to monitor the sluices wherever there was heavy rainfall. I know sometimes the Chairman

used to be there at midnight until 2 O’clock in the morning, to make sure that the operators work. He was also able to do other things that the region might have slipped up on.

The region sometimes takes a lot of time to deliver some of these services, because of the red tape and procedure you have to go through; and so Richie use to take up that slack, and from time to time he would buy batteries for the pump, he would repair the lighting plant, and all the other little things that (go) with making sure that the farmers are happy,” Armogan said.

Black Bush Polder is an important part of the Region Six economy, since it produces close to seventy per cent of the region’s rice, along with cash crops and livestock.

UG proposes 6-8% It is to be noted as well that exclusion of the University’s executive members from the negotiation package and consequential benefits was communicated to the unions on September 20, 2017. This was conveyed in a letter which stated that “the administration is committed to consummating an agreement that will not include members of the executive, but will include elements of performance…Also, the Administration reiterates what the unions know and what has been shared with the University community most recently in a September 27, 2017 note from the ViceChancellor that increases in base salaries and pensions are not the only financial obligations the University has to bear,” UG recalled on

Saturday.

It said that obligations, including benefits such as allowances for travelling, entertainment, uniforms and academic materials; study leave (salary and housing for three months); sabbatical leave (salary and housing for 12 months); leave passage; and duty allowance for Deans, Heads and Co-coordinators will all be met should the deal be accepted.

Over the last several months, there were stalled negotiations between the UG Administration and the union bodies, so much so that workers staged several protest actions, demanding hefty salary increases, which had called for academic and non-academic staff to receive upticks of 23 per cent and 25 per cent respectively.

from page 14

In 2016, workers had said that while the UG Administration claimed it had no money to pay benefits, including 10 bursaries for their children who performed with distinction at national exams, it was at that time able to find “over $8 million to increase the salaries of statutory officers who had joined the university some 8 months ago prior. To this end, it was highlighted that the take-home pay of certain categories of staff amounted to approximately $1 million per month.

In March of this year, workers picketed their place of employment, from which they had demanded an early and urgent commencement of salary negotiations. These talks came some four months after that call.

news

17

SunDAY, october 1, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Harris Paints sends hurricane relief to Dominica Pedal cyclist dies in Essequibo H Coast accident

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pedal cyclist was killed along the Essequibo Coast Public Road after a minibus reportedly slammed into him on Saturday morning.

Dead is Mahendra Dyal of Perth Village, Essequibo Coast, Region Two. Reports are that the minibus was proceeding south along the eastern carriageway allegedly at a fast rate when it collided with the 42-year-old man, who was proceeding in the opposite direction. The driver reportedly told investigators that the cyclist swerved east from

behind a moving vehicle into his path. Following the accident, Dyal was picked up and rushed to the Suddie Hospital. However, as a result of the extent of his injuries, he was referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, but succumbed whilst being transported there.

The driver is in custody assisting with the investigation. A breathalyzer test was administered and no alcohol was detected in his breath.

The body of the cyclist is presently at the Suddie Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.

arris Paints Guyana Limited, in collaboration with DeSinco Trading Company Limited, has begun coordinating efforts for the delivery of hurricane relief supplies to Dominica.

On Thursday, some US$40,000 in pharmaceuticals were donated to that country.

According to Margaret Daisy, representative of Harris Paints, the Harris Group across the region has made a concerted effort to amass donations towards those Caribbean countries that have been devastated by hurricane.

A representative of DeSinco Trading Company Limited handing over coffee to Harris Paintsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Margaret Daisy

DeSinco Trading Company Limited is just one of the companies to support the Harris effort at donating over $100,000 worth of supplies to Dominica.

In applauding DeSincoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts, Daisy said the donation is very much appreciated and needed.

A representative of DeSinco noted that the company have always been one of the first to respond to the call for help in any such situation.

Harris Paints has operations in Barbados, Dominica, St Lucia, Guyana and Jamaica.

18 news

sunday, october 1, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

Brazil’s Lula extends lead in 2018 vote despite conviction – poll

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ormer Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva extended his lead in the run-up to the 2018 presidential election despite a corruption conviction that could bar him from running, a poll showed on Saturday.

The Datafolha survey

published in the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper showed Lula winning at least 35 percent support from those polled in a first-round vote, up from about 30 percent in a June poll.

Two potential competitors, former environment minister Marina Silva and

right-wing congressman Jair Bolsonaro, trailed with 13 percent to 17 percent of voting intentions.

Lula would beat all potential contenders in a runoff vote, the poll said, expect in an unlikely contest against Sergio Moro, the judge who convicted him of

Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

corruption in July. Moro has repeatedly denied being a candidate.

Millions of Brazilians were lifted from pover-

ty during Lula’s 2003-2010 presidency. Many detractors blame him for a political graft that flourished under the Workers’ Party, calling

his bribery conviction the end to his political career.

Lula may not be eligible to run if his conviction is upheld by a higher court.

Datafolha showed 26 percent of voters would vote for a candidate endorsed by Lula in such a scenario.

Sao Paulo state governor Geraldo Alckmin and Sao Paulo city mayor Joao Doria, both from the Brazilian Social Democracy Party (PSDB), had 8 percent of voting intentions each.

Lula was found guilty last month and sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison for accepting 3.7 million reais worth of bribes from engineering firm OAS, the amount of money prosecutors said the company spent refurbishing a beach apartment for Lula in return for his help winning contracts with state oil company Petroleo Brasileiro. (Reuters)

sunDAY, october 1, 2017

Hamilton ‘surprised’

to take pole position in Malaysia

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Hamilton equalled Michael Schumacher’s record of five poles at Sepang

ewis Hamilton said he was surprised to take pole position for the Malaysian Grand Prix after a difficult weekend.

The Briton's Mercedes team struggled in practice, but he took pole from Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen by 0.045 seconds.

Hamilton's title rival Sebastian Vettel starts last after an engine problem.

"We had some big calls to make going into qualifying and then those laps - particularly the first Q3 lap - was very well put together," Hamilton said.

"A very nice lap. I don't really know where it came from so I'm a little bit surprised at myself."

Hamilton was only fifth quickest in final practice but he set the pace in the first qualifying session, was fourth in the second, and then reset the boundaries at the start of the final session (Q3).

His first lap was 0.9secs quicker than team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who headed Q2, and pipped Raikkonen by 0.232secs.

Hamilton did not improve on his second, but Raikkonen could not improve enough to unseat him.

"We had such a difficult day [on Friday]; it was difficult to know where we stood," Hamilton said.

"I didn't sleep very well, just like all my engineers as well, because we didn't know whether we would fix the issue or not.

"But today we arrived and the car was much better, but still I think it looked like the Ferraris were a little bit ahead.

"I'm very grateful. It's always a special thing to be able to extract a little bit more out of the car than it's particularly willing to go. That's what I've always enjoyed."

His day was made better by the fact his title rival Vettel, who trails Hamilton by 28 points, will start last on Sunday after an engine problem.

"Sebastian… I mean, he would have been up there with us," Hamilton said. "He'd been driving well all weekend, very, very quick, between him and Kimi.

"Very unfortunate for him, but of course we just have to continue to focus on our job and try to maximise every opportunity that we get collectively."

Hamilton ended up abandoning a new package of aerodynamic parts that Mercedes brought to Malaysia.

The team ran them on Friday but then split the cars in Saturday practice to compare them, Hamilton taking the old parts and Bottas the new.

Raikkonen said he had a "good feeling" about the race and Hamilton is also wary of the threat from Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo, who start third and fourth and have shown good race pace so far this weekend.

Vettel, who had looked a strong favourite for pole before his problems, said: "We have a very quick car so we should be able to make up a lot of ground. (BBC Sport)

19

20

guyanatimesGY.com

sunDAY, october 1, 2017

GMR&SC/ Caribbean Invasion Drags…

expected at South Dakota

Bangladesh fight back but SA press ahead

South Africa had more to celebrate on day three against Bangladesh at Potchefstroom

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The motor bikes are expected to be another crowd attraction

he best of the quarter-miler will test their speed down the straight away today in a bid to walk away with the bragging rights of the best in the trade.

The confident Suriname are reportedly in Guyana and rearing to go however, due to the ongoing hurricane season, the Caribbean islands such has Antigua, Barbados and Trinidad who were invited have found it difficult to make the trip.

Nevertheless, much is still at stake.

Several persons have already registered for today’s highly anticipated meet which will also see the Motor cycles in action in the 600cc and the

F

ifties from Pakistan's top three ensured Pakistan edged very slowly but surely - towards Sri Lanka's imposing first innings total of 419.

Neither side gave up much ground on a blazing day in Abu Dhabi on a day that was hardly the best advertisement for how Test cricket is to thrive in the 21st century. Pakistan added 202 runs over the course of the entire day's play for four wickets to finish on 266 for 4, 153 runs behind Sri Lanka. Azhar Ali was the star performer for Pakistan, unbeaten at the end on 74. He might have hoped to build on a productive partnership with Babar Azam, but the No. 5 fell off the day's last delivery, chasing one that was drifting down the leg side.

Entry to the Zayed Stadium was free, yet the crowd was almost non-existent, and with the lack of excitement the day offered, one couldn't really complain.

1000cc classes.

A major change at the upcoming event will be the usage of the Time Bracket System instead of the Porta Tree Timing device which is aimed at creating a balanced battle ground.

The blue GT-R came against its Nismo version which is a stock car and though the Nismo held the lead in the early meters, it soon saw the rear lights of ‘Godzilla’ as it speed away in bullet-like speed much to the delight of the sizable crowd in attendance.

The Nismo, which is also owned

by Mohammed’s Enterprise had a reaction time of 0.807s as compared

to the blue GT-R’s 1.482s. However, the final times told a different tale as ‘Godzilla’ clocked a time of 7.569s to win the unlimited (7-seconds) category ahead of the Nismo’s 8.906s.

Importantly, both competitors and patrons are reminded that the Demerara Harbour bridge will be closed from 05:00 hrs to 12:00 hrs for maintenance work.

Fee runs and classing going from 09:00 to 11:30h while knockout begins at 12:00h Adults will be charged $1,000 for admission and Children under 12, $500.

Rasheed’s Pakistan 9 for batsmen 46 put toil on Everest in slow day control

Perhaps Pakistan felt cowed

by Sri Lanka's large total, and didn't fancy the prospect of conceding a large first-innings lead, but they came out with the express intention to put safety first, and inched towards the Sri Lankan total.

The day began with Pakistan openers Shan Masood and Sami Aslam - batting together for the

first time - putting together 114 runs for the first wicket, both openers scoring half-centuries on a slow surface that showed few signs of springing to life, and Pakistan's batsmen worked their way through the innings the same way their Sri Lankan counterparts had done over the Test's first two days. (SPN Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Stumps on Day 3 Sri Lanka 1st Innings 419 Pakistan 1st Innings (overnight 64/0) Shan Masood b Herath 59 Sami Aslam lbw b Perera 51 Azhar Ali not out 74 Asad Shafiq c Thirimanne b Herath 39 Babar Azam c †Dickwella b Pra deep 28 Extras (b-4, lb-9, nb-2) 15 Total (For 4 wickets,

112.4 overs) 266 Yet to bat: Haris Sohail, Sarfraz Ahmed*†, Mohammad Amir, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali Fall of wickets: 1-114, 2-116, 3-195, 4-266 Bowling: Lakmal 15-3-300 (nb-1), Fernando 16.4-1-441, Perera 27-7-58-1 (nb-1), Sandakan 26-6-68-0, Herath 25-6-47-2, Karunaratne 3-1-6-0 Position: Pakistan trail by 153 runs with 6 wickets remaining

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verest Cricket Club’s left-arm spinner, Javed Rasheed was a misery to the Diplomats batsmen when he wreaked havoc with figures of 9 for 46 from 13 overs on day one of the Noble House Second Division Two-day Competition at the Ghandi Youth Organisation.

The spinner’s impressive returns saw Diplomats being bundled out for 147 in response to Everest CC mammoth first innings of 306 for 5 declared. D Bobb with 51 showed the only fight for Diplomats.

When Everest batted, their huge total was orchestrated by Khemraj Ramdeen with 120 and Rishi Hiralall with 90.

When the action resumes at 10:30h this morning, Everest CC will begin their second innings with a healthy lead of 159. Today is the final day.

angladesh batted for most of the third day and threatened South Africa at times. But the home side fought back with a clean-up job of the visiting team's tail and furthered their lead to 230 runs. When play was called off due to bad light at Senwes Park, they were 54 for 2.

Hashim Amla and Temba Bavuma batted out the last 4.5 overs with some ease after Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram were snuffed out early in South Africa's second innings.

Bangladesh could possibly have been looking at a much smaller deficit but for a lower-order meltdown that resulted in them losing their last five wickets for 28 runs.

Keshav Maharaj bowled well for South Africa despite being attacked at times and finished with three wickets.

Bangladesh had done well to move close to the follow-on mark when Sabbir Rahman chopped on a short ball from Duanne Olivier after finding the bounce too disconcerting. But with Mahmudullah well-set on 59, it had at least seemed like Bangladesh would comfortably pass their highest Test score against South Africa, of 326.

South Africa decided to take the second new ball halfway into the 84th over and immediate-

ly struck, Morkel getting Mahmudullah to chase a length ball and chop it on.

A moment's brilliance from Temba Bavuma at backward point caught Taskin Ahmed short of his crease, and by the time tea was taken, Bangladesh had lost three wickets in six overs.

South Africa needed just 19 more balls after the break to take out the last two batsmen. With the ball hard and new, out came the short stuff. Rabada bounced out Mehidy Hasan second ball after the break. Maharaj then found Shafiul Islam's outside edge with one that straightened from middle and off, Amla pouching an excellent catch at first slip.

It was far from how the day had begun for Bangladesh. Morkel and Rabada bowled well at the start of the first two sessions but were wicketless in those periods. As a result, Bangladesh added 91 runs in the first session for the loss of just Tamim Iqbal.

Tamim was at times lucky during his stay and survived a blazing opening spell from Rabada.

Eventually, he fell to a diving, one-handed catch from Quinton de Kock, who anticipated early and moved to his right, giving Andile Phehlukwayo his maiden Test wicket. (ESPN Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Stumps on Day 3 South Africa 1st Innings 496/3 decl.

Bangladesh 1st Innings (overnight 127/3) Liton Das† c Amla b Morkel 25 Imrul Kayes c Markram b Rabada 7 Mominul Haque c Markram b Maharaj 77 Mushfiqur Rahim* c Markram b Maharaj 44 Tamim Iqbal c †de Kock b Phehlukwayo 39 Mahmudullah b Morkel 66 Sabbir Rahman b Olivier 30 Mehidy Hasan Miraz c Elgar b Rabada 8 Taskin Ahmed run out (Bavuma/Markram) 1 Shafiul Islam c Amla b Maharaj 2 Mustafizur Rahman not out 10 Extras (b-1, lb-9, nb-1) 11 Total (All out, 89.1 overs) 320 Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-36, 3-103, 4-158, 5-227, 6-292,

7-304, 8-305, 9-308, 10-320 Bowling Morkel 19-7-512, Rabada 24-5-84-2 (nb-1), Maharaj 27.1-8-92-3, D Olivier 11-1-52-1, Phehlukwayo 6-218-1, Markram 2-0-13-0 South Africa 2nd Innings AK Markram c †Liton Das b Mustafizur Rahman 15 D Elgar lbw b Shafiul Islam 18 HM Amla not out 17 T Bavuma not out 3 Extras (nb-1) 1 Total (For 2 wickets, 15.5 overs) 54 Yet to bat: F du Plessis (c), Q de Kock †, AL Phehlukwayo, KA Maharaj, K Rabada, M Morkel, D Olivier Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-38 Bowling Mehidy Hasan Miraz 4-1-15-0, Shafiul Islam 5-1-181, Mustafizur Rahman 4-1-7-1, Taskin Ahmed 2.5-0-14-0 (nb-1) Position: South Africa lead by 230 runs with 8 wickets remaining

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sports

Canadian company assists Everest CC young brigade A

dana Homes, a Canadian Realty Brokerage Inc has invested in the development of the young cricketers of the Everest Cricket Club. The sponsorship was initiated by Anil Beharry, former president of the Berbice Cricket Board who is a good friend of Satishwar Persaud, the Broker Owner of the Company. After being approached, Persaud acceded to the request without any hesitation. At a simple ceremony held recently at the Everest CC at Camp road and Carifesta avenue in Georgetown, the kit of SS gears consisting of a bag, four pairs of batting gloves, three pairs of batting pads, one pair of wicket keeping pads and gloves, two helmets, two thigh pads, two batting inners and one box

of red balls all to the total value of G$113,000. was handed over the club executives in the presence of players and their parents.

In a prepared statement, Persaud said that he is happy to be part of this gesture and will continue to make meaningful contributions to his country of birth. He added that when approached

by Beharry, he knew it was a good cause. He is hopeful that the children will take good care of the equipment and make full use of it. He wished them well and challenged them to make a difference in Guyana and West Indies cricket.

Persaud is a lover of cricket and owns the Cambridge Jaguars cricket team in Canada. Just recently his team reached the final of a tournament played

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The happy bunch of young cricketers from the Everest Cricket Club with their gears in the presence of club member Juanita Mootoo (left) and coach David Harper

in Canada.

Beharry also spoke and thanked his friend for providing the gears for the young cricketers. He said that is it a great joy to share and care and he is happy to be part of this event.

He commended the club for their recent interest in the development of cricketers, the young ones in particular and he hopes this generosity can help the club

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to win competitions and more importantly, produce more national and West Indies cricketers. He urged the youths to follow in the footsteps of Test opener Rajendra Chandrika and other regional and international cricketers produced by the club over the years and even do better.

Speaking on behalf of the Everest Cricket Club, committee member and par-

ent Juanita Mootoo thanked Adana Homes for this timely intervention. She said that the club is heavily concentrating on their youths so as to rebuild a stronger cricket structure with the aim to produce more national and West Indies players.

She also thanked Beharry for the role he played in acquiring the sponsorship of the gears.

Over $2.5M at stake in Family Fun Day at MSC

YOUR

Contact our

21

Members of the Planning Committee from left; Edison Jefford, Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson and Bobby Vieira

C

elebrating under the theme ‘United and Strong: 60 Years On’ the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) launched its Diamond Jubilee Family Fun Day and Sports to commemorate the Party’s 60 years of existence.

During an impressive ceremony that was con-

ducted at Congress Place, Sophia, Chairperson of the Jubilee celebration Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson officially launched the event in the presence of Committee member Bobby Vieira, co-ordinators Edison Jefford and Rawle Welch and representatives from the media.

Speaking at the occasion, Minister Ferguson gave an outline of some of the activities that has been organized for the grand celebrations which will be staged at the McKenzie Sports Club ground in the Mining Town of Linden on Sunday October 29.

She disclosed that competitors will participate in

disciplines such as athletics, dominoes, futsal and basketball, while novelty events such as tug-o-war, lime & spoon races, quiz contest, buns eating, kids zone, bouncy castles and the feature 60 metres races for both male and female members of the executive committee of the Party.

“This Fun Day & Sports activity is not only for members of the Party, but is also an occasion for every Guyanese regardless of political affiliation, colour or creed and I call on all to come out and enjoy a fun-filled day in the Linden community,” she told the gathering.

Ferguson informed that over $2.5million in prize monies will be up for grabs in the respective competitions, adding that while the aim is for all to have a good time and be part of the celebrations, because it is going to be a one-day activity a decision was made to make the futsal and domino competitions invitational.

Vieira in his remarks

echoed similar sentiments expressed by Minister Ferguson, adding that persons desirous of being part of the celebrations could use the occasion as an excursion and take family members to the community in a safe way.

He said the Planning Committee decided to offer a package, excursion style to patrons who wish to go, but did not want to drive, while those thinking of consuming alcohol could do so and not have to worry about their safe return.

Jefford, who represented the co-ordinating team, gave a brief synopsis of what the day’s activities would be like, while also offering insight as to why a couple of the selected disciplines had to be invitational.

He pointed to time constraints as the main reason for the invitational nature, indicating that to go in any other direction would place immense pressure on the organisers to complete the competitions in one day.

22

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guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, october 1, 2017

uyana’s two-wheel sensation, Raverio Tucker is eager to put his machine to the test and put a break on the dominance of his Surinamese counterparts when the Caribbean Invasion Dragz meet gets underway today at the South Dakota Circuit.

“The Surinamese are tough, especially the bikers. They're bringing fully equipped drag racing motorcycles so it's going to be a very competitive racing. I'm expecting to run with them and hopefully pull off a win on the Surinamese,” the rider told Guyana Times Sport.

At the last meet in March, In the Motor bike category, Surinamese Rajiv Lalbiharie was deemed the champion.

Tucker, who will be using an Aprilia Tuono street fighter, and will be competing in the 1000cc further explained “I started preparations about a week ago, it was a last minute call but we have managed to complete preparations for to-

Tucker out to Guyana fold meekly break Suriname’s in beach dominance volleyball

day’s race.”

Tucker who only recently made his entrance into the circuit racing explained that his motivation for dragz also came from his uncle, Eric Tucker. The elder Tucker is a former race car competitor and is now passing on the baton.

“Well my uncle got me into drags. I was at work one day and he came to me and said "Raveiro why don't you drag the Aprilia for me?" Well as you know, I'd never refuse anything that concern motorcycles or racing. I'm hoping to compete annually in drags as well

An Aprilia Tuono street fighter will be Raverio Tucker’s machine of choice today

as circuit racing if it goes well,” the younger rider disclosed.

But can he halt the Suriname juggernaut, Tucker explained precision will be key. “Basically to be successful and pull off wins I'll need to focus on my launch and my shifting.

Quick shifting is the key to victory and a good launch hopefully will give me the advantage on Sunday.”

A major change at the upcoming event will be the usage of the Time Bracket System instead of the Porta Tree Timing device which is aimed at creating a balanced battle ground.

It means Tucker will have to wait until qualifying is over today to know precisely where he rides.

Free runs and classing will run from 09:00 to 11:30h while knockout begins at 12:00h.

Adults will be charged $1,000 for admission and Children under 12 year old, $500 while vehicles will be allowed at no additional cost.

Guyana (white and red uniform) locked in action against the Surinamese

G

uyana opened the first day of the National Beach Volleyball tournament with a defeat at the Hands of Suriname and French Guiana, when the action spiked off on Friday evening in Nickeri, Suriname.

The Guyanese pair of Luen David and Ray Moore played well in the first encounter against Suriname, losing 1321 before going down 19-21 to French Guiana. David and Moore rebounded beating the Suriname pair 21 to 13 in the third match.

The opening night of competition got worse when the other Guyana team, the pair of Devindra Latchman and Samuel Fraser went down 14 -21 at the hands of Suriname before going down to French Guiana 19-21.

The competitions will culminate today.

Courts 7th annual 10k…

Missigher wants to add

10k title to collection

By Clifton Ross

N

Male 10k champ Cleveland Forde will look to beat off competitors to retain his titles today

ational middle distance runner, Winston Missigher said he’s banking on all his experience to help him win the 7th annual 10km road race title, adding that a win will help prepare him for the South American 10k.

Missigher told Guyana Times Sport on the eve of the race, that his recent journey was rocky following his recent injury but he’s pumped up heading into today’s big race which starts at 06:00h in front of Courts’ Main Street, Georgetown branch.

“It was a tough journey for me, I ended up with an injury with my leg and it forced me to drop out of my last race in Trinidad. My foot is doing well now, but i didn’t put in much work after so right now I’m giving God praise and thanks and hoping that everything works out,” said Missigher.

With a bevy of senior athletes on display, most notably defending champ Cleveland Forde Missigher said he was more than certain that this year’s event will be as tough as ever, adding that he’s backing himself to do well despite still recovering.

“It’s going to be stiff competition on Sunday but as I said my foot is feeling good, I had to pack four days into one in order to condition myself, but I’m going to run off my experience and the condition I had before I got injured,” the Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara resident said.

Speaking on what’s next following the 10km race, the veteran runner declared that sights are set on the South American 10k but stated how important it was for him to enter that situation, winner of the Courts 10k.

“Next is the South American 10k first leg in Suriname, then the 2nd leg in Guyana and the last leg in Panama. I’m hoping to do well and compete in all three legs, because if I win it’s a big achievement for me.”

In terms of today’s race, Missigher said “I’ve been placing 2nd and 3rd for the past few years, so winning will be a big achievement and it will give me a boost cause (Forde) has been winning for the past four or five years.”

Meanwhile, Courts, on Friday launched the event which is considered one of the most premier athletic events in the country. Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) President Aubrey Hudson and Courts Pernell Cummings sealed the deal with the handing over of the sponsorship check.

Both parties also expressed their delight in working together again, earmarking the event as an important one for ath-

Winston Missigher said he’s looking to go all out today letes, while urging competitors to challenge current male and female champs; Forde and Euleen Josiah-Tanner, both of who have been dominating the competition over the years.

Staff members of the company will compete in a 3K race as youths will take part in a Golden mile run. Both events will run off concurrently with cash prizes and trophies among other awards being bestowed upon the winners.

Meanwhile, prizes for the Male and Female Open categories fetch a purse of $100,000 with cash prizes of; $75,000, $50,000, $30,000 and $20,000 will also be up for grabs.

guyanatimesgy.com

sunDAY, october 1, 2017

Courts/Malta Pee-Wee Football…

GRFU/ Bounty Farm 15s…

Sophia sends stern warning with 8-0 victory

Goal! St Margaret’s Primary breached Supply’s defence on six occasions but they were disqualified after they field and ineligible player

T

he sixth annual Courts/ Malta Pee-Wee under-11 Schools football kicked off Saturday with a flurry of goals in the 16 matches at the Banks DIH Thirst Park ground but it was newcomers Sophia who looked the most ominous team of the day.

Led by a helmet-trick from Ronaldo Wilson, Sophia trounced St Winifred’s 8-0 to sending a

warning that they are out for a title bid. Wilson scored in the 3rd, 12th ,15th and 22nd in the one-sided onslaught.

David Weeks (28th), Shem Howard (11th), Leonard King (38th) and Ovid Playter – Own Goal in the 9th minute added to the success.

Isiah Carter’s goal in the 14th minute helped St Agnes defeat Grove Primary 1-0 while Keilshon Humphrey hit a hat-trick

to help Den Amstel to a resounding 3-0 win over Smiths Memorial.

Other wins came from St. Ambrose Primary who won 8-0 against Colaaco Primary, Stella Maris 2-0 against Mae’s Primary.

Soesdyke Primary went down 6-0 to Tucville while defending champions St Angela’s drew with inaugural winners Marian Academy 0-0.

Redeemer Primary de-

23

feated North Georgetwon 2-0. Likewise, did Stephens Primary won 1-0 over Timerhi. St. Pius Primary stormed to a 6-0 victory over F.E. Pollard Primary.

Enterprise and West Ruimveldt played to goalless draw while Supply won against St Margaret’s after they were disqualified.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Co –Director of the organising committee Troy Mendonca stated, “we are very happy to continue our relationship with Courts to bring you this special event. It provides an opportunity for the children to play structured football while still being in school.”

Likewise, Clayton explained “would like to see a greater audience come out to support and we are proud of all participants and you must remain focus.”

Courts Marketing Director Pernell Cummings expressed, “we are winners here. This tournament has produced national players and hope it continues along that line.”

The tournament will continue this Saturday at the same venue.

Falcons earn walkover from Hornets P

olice Falcons gathered some much needed points without breaking a sweat when Pepsi Hornets failed to muster a team for their clash in the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) Bounty Farm 15s on Saturday in the National Park, Georgetown.

It means that the only for this weekend will be the two inform teams, Panthers and Guyana Defence Force (GDF) who should produce an intriguing battle today once the action gets underway.

Last weekend, the army made light work of Pepsi Hornets by inflicting a humbling 41-10 schooling. GDF blazed to a 15 – 3 half-time score via tries from Cloyd Prowell, Dwayne Schroeder and winger Patrick King. In the second half Rodwell Hudson joined King and Prowell on the ‘try line’.

Schroeder then scored two conversions, while Prowell had one.

Likewise, Panthers stormed to their second win when they trounced Yamaha Caribs 39 – 0.

The rout was led with tries from Rondell ‘Bull’ McArthur, Godfrey Broomes, Malcolm Rhodia and Lancelot Adonis which saw the team 20 – 0 at the end of the first half.

In the second stanza it was all Lloyd Anderson who scored 17 points in the second half – three tries and a conversion – while Broomes made good of one conversion.

Match time is 16:00h in the National Park.

GCB/Jaguars 3-Day League…

Keemo special keeps Essequibo in charge –tons for Foo, Perez, Anderson 33 balls and his 100 from 63 deliveries, sped to his big ton which required a total of 126 deliveries and featured 10 fours and 12 mighty sixes.

At stumps, Essequibo were placed firmly on 361-3 from 63 overs with in-form batsman

while off-spinner Eon Hooper claimed 2-81.

West Berbice vs East Bank at Bushlot Ground West Berbice 1st innings (140 all out in 42.2 overs), were bowled out for 190 batting a second time with Atherly Bailey (78) and Gudakesh Motie (50).

Off-spinner Steven Jacobs ended with 5-22 for East Bank who were bowled out for 191 runs in the 1st innings, are 62-2 needing 140 for a win with Sachin Singh (18*) and Darshan Persaud (10*),

at the crease.

Georgetown vs West Demerara at Tuschen Ground Georgetown, who dismissed West Demerara for 333 all out in 97.3 overs after all-rounder Raymon Reifer’s 100, replied

Keemo Paul

Jonathan Foo

K

eemo Paul hammered a monstrous 177 as table leaders Essequibo imposed their will onto Upper Corentyne, seizing control of the match heading into the final day with a sizeable 204-run lead when round five of the GCB/Jaguars 3-Day league continued Saturday at Port Mourant Ground.

After gaining a meager lead of 37-runs at the end of the first day, Upper Corentyne lost their way and control of the match after Paul, who made his 50 from

Steven Jacobs

Kevlon Anderson Ricardo Adams creeping close to his third century of the competition after ending day two’s on 62 not out (4x4; 5x6) while his partner Kemol Savory will resume his innings on 37 (4x4; 1x6). Opener Kevon Boodie earlier scored 59

Raymond Perez

with a massive 396 all out from 81.2 overs with Raymond Perez hitting 138, Ramaal Lewis 68, Chris Barnwell 86 and Steven Sankar 48.

Travis Persaud Keshram Seodan and Richie Looknauth ended with three wickets each for

West Dem who were trailing by 20 runs heading into the final day on 43-2 with batsmen Akshaya Persaud (13*) and Tevin Imlach (06*), set to resume.

Lower Corentyne vs East Coast at Lusignan Ground Jonathan Foo continued from last season, as he slammed 152 while Kevlon Anderson notched up 102 for Lower Corentyne who amassed a mammoth 343-3 in their first innings.

All matches are set to continue today from 9:30hrs.

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

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Sophia sends stern warning with 8-0 victory

Courts/Malta Pee-Wee Football…

Pg 23

Sophia Primary (yellow bib) showed great skill in their one-sided win over St Winifred’s Primary

GMR&SC/ Caribbean Invasion Drags…

expected at South Dakota

Pg 20

Today we will find out who will be tough enough to line up next to Mohammed’s Enterprise two Nissan GTRs’ at the South Dakota Circuit

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October 1, 2017

Star Times Hollywood:

Page 14 Kim KardashianWest confirms baby news FREE DISTRIBUTION

A Blind Otter's Story

Inside

Page 3

Finding Solace in Donna’s Room Page 2

Powerful life lessons from a 90-year-old Page 4

Guyana’s Postal History: First Day Covers Page 7

2 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 1, 2017

Feature

In tough times, cancer patients find independence and comfort with the help of Periwinkle Club Donna's Room, where cancer victims, survivors and their family members are given counselling

G

enerally persons diagnosed with a life threatening illness require much love and support from family and friends, sometimes they even require professional help for the emotional and psychological strain bought on by their condition. That’s where Donna’s Room at the Periwinkle Club comes in.

Donna’s Room is a place of solace for cancer patients and survivors. It is a place where persons can receive counselling, comfort and relaxation.

A collaborative effort between Periwinkle Club and the Association of Guyanese Nurses and Allied Professional (AGNAP), Donna’s Room was established at the behest of the late Donna Sage to provide counselling and complementary therapy to cancer patients, their caretakers and family.

Donna Sage will always be remembered for her infectious smile

While living in London, Donna received treatment for breast cancer and was impressed by the support and medical attention offered, as a result she wanted similar treatment provided in Guyana.

Donna’s mother, Norma Sage, upon losing her

daughter to cancer, fulfilled Donna’s wish by approaching AGNAP to build Donna’s Room in 2009 in a vacant office at the Periwinkle Club.

After benefitting from the support and counselling services in the UK, Donna’s mother also approached AGNAP to help establish a similar service in Guyana.

Donna willed money to the club to transform the vacant office into a counselling room and to make it as comfortable as possible.

Donna’s Room is a cosy room found on the second floor of the Periwinkle Club.

It is furnished with a sofa set, a Berbice chair, a television, a carpet and coffee table.

The Periwinkle Club continues to receive support from AGNAP on an annual basis, which enables them to do more, such as training for nurses, counselling and education in cancer prevention

A few of the hardworking members of the Club

and outreach palliative care.

Periwinkle Club

Periwinkle Club, located at 148C Alberttown, Georgetown, is a cancer support group focused on raising awareness on the disease among cancer survivors and members of the public, and offering advice on coping with it.

The club collaborates with several local and international organisations to provide cancer survivors with support for diagnosis and treatment as

well as for nutritional and emotional wellbeing. It also provides counselling services in Donna’s Room and facilitates breast self-examination and cervical cancer screening for interested groups of persons.

The Periwinkle Club was first introduced on October 17, 2006 as a women's fo-

rum for breast and cervical cancer survivors and persons with an interest in supporting cancer patients, to meet and freely discuss their health and related experiences. After about five months of meeting and interacting quietly, it was decided to present the club to the wider commu-

Plaque in memory of Donna Sage on the room's door

nity.

Educational material is available at the Periwinkle Club headquarters in the form of pamphlets on various types of cancer in particular breast and cervical cancer.

Members of the club are willing to facilitate talks on cancer to organisations to help to share information on

the disease and provide prevention and other relevant tips.

From time to time, various professional persons make presentations at the Periwinkle Cancer Club. Also, there are reference library facilities at the Periwinkle Club headquarters for researchers and persons who wish to enhance their knowledge of cancer.

These books, p e r i - odicals and magazines, have been primarily kindly donated by AGNAP. The club also collaborates with the Ministry of Public Health in outreach sessions to assist persons who wish advice and testing.

One of its initial activities for Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October) is a church service at the Livingstone Church of God in South Ruimveldt today from 8am to 10:30am.

Feel free to contact Periwinkle Club on (592) 226-7152 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 10am and 2pm for assistance. Check out www. periwinklecancerclub.org or Periwinkle Cancer Club on Facebook for more info.

The club welcomes, as members, all persons interested in working to get rid of the stigma of cancer and create equality of treatment for cancer patients in Guyana.

Periwinkle Cancer Club's banner last year

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 1, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Feature

D

Having fun with Salvador on the Rupununi River sandbank

ue to being blind, Buddy required special attention; he would not have survived very long in the wild in Guyana. Jacksonville Zoo, in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.A., was looking for a giant river otter to add to the gene pool, and so the decision was made to send Buddy to that zoo.

Recently, a photo of Buddy was featured on the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Facebook page, which attracted several comments by visitors who spoke lovingly of the otter, prompting us to retell his story.

Buddy’s Story

In 2013, Sunday Times Magazine had interviewed Salvador de Caires who related his unforgettable experience with the loving otter.

Salvador first met Buddy on the Rupununi River sandbank at Karanambu.

Salvador, who was born and raised in Georgetown, knew the late founder of Karanambu Ranch and conservationist, Diane McTurk.

They met through a mutu-

al friend, Duane de Freitas, the manager of Dadanawa Ranch.

Diane had, for years, been the executive director of the lodge which won the Caribbean Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award in 2013. Over two decades, Diane cared for more than 50 orphaned giant river otters at Karanambu – the majority of which have successfully been returned to the wild.

“My wife and I came to Guyana, after living overseas for a number of years, in January of 2010 with the intention of investigating the possibility of moving home to Guyana. We went to Karanambu to visit Diane for 10 days and ended up staying for three months.

When we finally returned to the US, it was only two weeks before Diane called us on Skype and asked us to make her home our home. It took us five minutes to agree. We returned to Karanambu as the managers of Karanambu Lodge Inc.,” Salvador recalled.

When Salvador and his wife arrived at Karanambu, they saw Buddy who was just a teenager. Salvador recollected Diane having two baby otters at that time: Philip and Belle. Salvador described Buddy as “very inquisitive and friendly”.

“Having a large animal, (about six feet from tip of tail to tip of nose) checking you out is a little nerve-racking. But I soon realised I had nothing to fear from Buddy.

Diane called out, ‘My beloved beast!’ and Buddy came bounding over and almost knocked her over.

Buddy and I became very close friends. I took over his care allowing Diane to spend more time with the two baby orphan otters,” Salvador reminisced.

He noted that Buddy’s temperament was what stood out about him. He trusted Buddy completely.

The loving otter was never aggressive, unlike many others raised by Diane.

Salvador mentioned that he could lock his fingers behind Buddy’s canine teeth and pull him through the water and not get bitten - a game they played.

Buddy had lost his sight in an accident when he was much younger. A small boy, Salvador recounted, was playing with Buddy and stepped on a board which flipped and hit Buddy across the eyes, blinding him instantly.

Taking Buddy to the sandbank twice a day for at least two hours each time, Salvador got to see what he could do, and was amazed. Not having sight in the murky river waters was not an obstacle to catching fish. Buddy surprised everyone when he caught an 86lb arapaima and dragged it up out of the river onto the sandbank. Another time he caught a huge stingray and ate most of it.

“But Buddy was getting big. Twice he followed a wild otter down the river and we had to go behind him in the

Buddy (right) and a friend at Jacksonville Zoo in 2012 (Photo from www.jacksonvillezoo.org)

boat to bring him back. He also had several close encounters with black caiman, who were thankfully not bigger than he was,” Salvador remembered.

This was when the decision was made to take Buddy to Jacksonville Zoo, where he would get the attention he requires. (Jacksonville Zoo collaborates closely with the Government of Guyana.

Two jaguars from Guyana are already there.)

Diane’s intention, according to Salvador, had always been, with each otter she has raised, to return them to the wild, not to keep them as pets.

“Buddy was unable to live on his own because he was blind. It would have been just a matter of time before a caiman got him. It was a question of quality of life over safety. But Diane still would not agree to send Buddy to a zoo. I tried to tell her that this would be his only chance to mate. She wavered, and then the wet season came and the river came up about twenty feet.

Buddy became disoriented because the sandbank was gone and the steps that he was accustomed to going up and down at a great speed to the sandbank disappeared under water. Diane relented,” Salvador reminisced.

A few weeks later, a charter flight landed at Karanambu and a crate was loaded with Buddy and

Buddy playing with the late animal activist and close friend to the otters at Karanambu Ranch, Diane McTurk, in Guyana

Talia – a volunteer who had become very close to all of the otters. After 48 hours of travelling, Buddy finally arrived in Jacksonville.

Salvador said the experts checked his eyes, but unfortunately nothing could be done. He had a few parasites and was kept in quarantine until he had adjusted.

At Jacksonville Zoo, a complete habitat based on Karanambu was designed.

Underwater channels, a waterfall and even a sandbank were designed just for Buddy.

Salvador related that Buddy was accustomed to catching fresh piranha and eating them headfirst, so when Jacksonville served him his first frozen fish Popsicle, he swallowed it too quickly and got “brain freeze”; shaking his head madly.

At the Zoo

In July 2017, Jacksonville Zoo posted a photo of Buddy on Facebook with the caption: “Our giant river otters are a JZG [Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens] visitor favorite, so be sure to wish Buddy a Happy Zooniversary if you see him today! Buddy came to us from the wilds of Guyana 7 years ago today for special care after he was found injured and blind.”

One visitor commented on Buddy’s photo: “He is so adorable, always one of our favorites to see when we visit Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens!”

To learn more about Buddy, visit www.jacksonvillezoo.org. (Cover photo: This photo of Buddy at Jacksonville Zoo was taken by Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens and was recently shared on the Zoo’s Facebook page)

Playing in the water at Jacksonville Zoo

Buddy in his habitat at Jacksonville Zoo created just like the one at Karanambu

4

Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 1, 2017

Feature

T

he United Nations (UN) designated October 1 as the International Day of Older Persons. This year’s theme is: “Stepping into the Future: Tapping the Talents, Contributions and Participation of Older Persons in Society”.

In observance of this day, Sunday Times Magazine interviewed 90-year-old Angannie Roopchand - who outlined some powerful life lessons and her opinion on how we all can make the lives of our senior citizens better.

International Day of Older Persons

According to the United Nation’s website (www. un.org), “this year’s day is about enabling and expanding the contributions of older people in their families, communities and societies at large. It focuses on the pathways that support full and effective participation in old age, in accordance with old persons’ basic rights, needs and preferences”.

The UN went on to explain that this year’s theme underscores the link between tapping the talents and contributions of older persons and achieving the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Madrid International Plan of Action

on Ageing, which is currently undergoing its third review and appraisal process.

Between 2015 and 2030, the target date for the Sustainable Development Goals, the number of older persons worldwide is set to increase by 56 per cent — from 901 million to more than 1.4 billion. By 2030, the number of people aged 60 and above will exceed that of young people aged 15 to 24.

“Stepping into the future with pledges that no one will be left behind, it is starkly evident that the need to tap into the often overlooked and under-appreciated contributions of older persons is not only essential to older persons’ well-being, but also imperative for sustainable development processes. The 2017 theme will explore effective means of promoting and strengthening the participation of older persons in various aspects of social, cultural, economic and civic and political life,” the organisation pointed out.

Life lessons from a 90-year-old

Angannie Roopchand grew up with four sisters and three brothers, who she described as “fun”, in Cornelia Ida - a “simple” village on the West Coast of Demerara.

Remembering her parents, Angannie said they

were strict and ensured they attended school regularly.

She also recalled how serious her father - who came to Guyana as a six-month-old baby from Calcutta, India – was about his children taking Hindi classes after school.

“My parents always warn us [her and siblings] not to fight with each other; always tell everybody good morning and good afternoon. They teach us to behave decently and treat our neighbours and people in the village with respect. We couldn’t call people by them full name, we had to say uncle or aunty or brother or sister,” she remembered.

The matriarch observed that in modern times parents are not inculcating these values in their children.

Angannie expressed her life was her children; “it was her richness and joy”. She has 11 children: seven sons and four daughters. Her family was her strength and her pride. Seeing her children grow up, get married and fill her life with grandchildren and great-grandchildren added to her happiness.

The 90-year-old stated she did several jobs to “feed the many kids” in her family. She cultivated rice, planted vegetables and reared

90-year-old Angannie Roopchand

poultry. The vegetables and fruits from her backyard were sold at the market.

Additionally, she sold confectionaries at the primary school in her village.

She credits her diet, which consists of mostly vegetables and dhal, for being healthy at 90 years old.

Angannie explained in the

earlier years of her life, her diet was mostly eggs and poultry, which she reared in her yard. However, after marriage fish was her only source of meat. In the latter part of her life, she usually begins her morning with a cup of oats porridge.

Throughout her 90 years, Angannie said she has

I

n her two creative and celebrated books, USbased Guyanese author Anne Coltman shares her life growing up in Guyana, narrating her struggles, adventures and loving grandmother.

Born in British Guiana, Anne was privileged to grow up in a household which included her maternal grandmother. She is the second of five children and the first girl born to her parents, and was often called upon at an early age to help out with her younger siblings. Anne became fascinated by the myths and beliefs that were a part of child rearing and taught to her by her grandmother.

The author migrated to the US as a young woman with her family and spent her early years having a full career while she and her husband raised their three children – two daughters and one son. She and her husband reside on Long Island, New York.

After 25 years in permanent mission at the United Nations Organization, she is now retired to devote more time to family and her passion for writing. Anne enjoys writing, classical music, theatre and antiques. She has produced a comprehensive family history as well as a

US-based Guyanese author, Anne Coltman

book of poetry, “For the Love of Grandma” and a novel “Scarred with Fortune”.

Practicing what she learnt from her grandmother with her own children and then with her grandchildren has inspired the writing of her debut volume of poetry, “For the Love of Grandma”. “ F o r the Love of Grandma” is a collection of thoughts and experiences that not only preserves a long lost tra-

learned a lot of life lessons.

“When you dead you don’t carry anything with you.

And know that nothing last forever. We must always live good with everybody, and just like how you want people to be nice to you so you got to be nice to them.”

Having worked tirelessly in her earlier years, Angannie eagerly looks forward for her pension every month to care for her needs.

She insists that a muchneeded raise in pension will benefit not only her, but every other elderly person in the country. Additionally, establishing homes in villages for elders who do not have children to care for them is something she thinks would be helpful.

“If we can go back to helping people in the community would be good too. In the old days, you hadn’t be family before somebody could help you. But this culture die away now; everybody care for themself alone. This time nag lang time,” she declared.

As we observe International Day of Older Persons, let’s all come together to fulfil Angannie’s wishes of showing extra care and consideration to all our senior citizens who contributed, one way or the other, to the development of our nation.

dition, but also reflects on the drastic change in the role of grandmothers today and grandchildren of this age.

The author’s other book, “Scarred with Fortune”, narrates life’s unexpected surprises in a heart-warming story of enchanting entertainment as readers enter the lives of an ordinary family and open the door to their extraordinary world.

For more information on the author visit her website www.booksbyannecoltman. com

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OCTOBER 1, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Feature

Breathtaking view from one of the bedrooms

S

loth Island is one of the few islands on the Essequibo that was reportedly given a name by the British colonial authorities.

With an area of 155 acres, it is believed that the island owes its name to the large

Wooden walkway into the jungle

Nature resort on Sloth Island

Observe how the sloth interacts in its habitat on the island

population and variety of sloths that were found and can still be seen on the island.

This pristine forest-covered island sits a mere five minutes from Bartica on the Essequibo River, between Bartica and the east bank of the Essequibo

River. The island and river surroundings teem with a variety of wildlife, flora and fauna.

The island holds many surprises. Many have been lucky to spot a variety of wildlife daytime and at night: from the two and three toed sloth, the capybara and howler monkeys to an impressive number and variety of bird species. At Sloth Island, you can relax, recharge and rejuvenate.

It is also ideal for camping, nature walks, fishing, volleyball and sand golfing.

This island hub is two hours away by land and boat from Georgetown or 15 minutes by air.

Adding to its reputation is the accessibility to the historical sites found on the Essequibo and Mazaruni Rivers, notably Fort Island and Fort Kyk-Over-Al. In essence, the island is far enough from the rush of city life and not too far from civilisation.

The resort on the island can accommodate up to 20 persons in self-contained rooms, with en suite bathroom and flush toilets, running water and lights from generators. There is also outdoor accommodation for tents, hammocks, camp fires and outdoor cooking.

Kayaking at Sloth Island

Rest in the hammock or enjoy a refreshing drink from the bar

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OCTOBER 1, 2017

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Sunday Times Magazine 7

Feature

Guyana’s Postal History: First Day Covers

S

tamps released on an envelope are referred to as ‘Official First Day Covers’ - signifying the first day of release. In addition, infor-

Former Postmaster General, Henry Dundas, in a past interview with Sunday Times Magazine pointed out that stamps are significant because

nies were taken over by the Dutch, the post office was abolished in 1784 to 1795. During this period, mail was sent through the government office.

mation leaflets known as ‘Stamp News’ may also be issued providing collectors and users with the historical background and significance of the said stamps.

Stamps provide a vivid reflection of history through the ages. At the time of issue, virtually every stamp has clear historical significance. There are various types of stamps issued for several occasions.

Commemorative stamps honour important people, events or special subjects of national appeal and significance. Their subjects frequently are former presidents, statesmen, other prominent persons and national shrines.

they highlight a country’s culture and rich history. He noted that first covers are mainly made to commemorate momentous occasions and may worth a lot in future years.

Additionally, Dundas said first covers are still made by the Guyana Post Office upon request by companies, government ministries and other entities.

The first post office was established in 1793 under the control of Attorneyat-Law, J.C. De La Coste, and ran until 1795 when it was again closed. In 1796, when the British gained control of the colonies, it was resolved by the Court of Policy that a post office be established at Stabroek.

In 1834 the office was removed to the New Public Buildings, where it remained until 1857. In 1865, the post office was housed in the lower flat of the Royal Agricultural and Commercial Societies Building. In 1914, the old Hotel Tower was purchased and converted into the post office. The colony’s

Interesting Facts on Guyana’s Post Office History The first postal service was established in British Guiana by France in 1782.

On 1783, Adrian Loncq was appointed the first Post Master for Demerara.

However, after the colo-

postal service remained there until the great fire in February 1945. Temporary accommodation was found at the Regent Hotel, but this was also destroyed by fire in 1947. From then until the construction of the new post office, a makeshift office was set up at Avon House in Main Street, the Town Hall Basement and the Fire Brigade Annex.

On August 11, 1952, His Excellency the Governor Sir Charles Wooley, on invitation of the Post Master General K.I.R. Kirkpatrick, declared open the newlybuilt General Post Office and Telecommunications Centre at its present location.

On April 1, 1877, British Guiana entered the Postal Union. The first British Guiana postage stamp, familiarly known as the Cotton Reel, was issued on July 1, 1850, was printed locally at the office of the Royal Gazette.

In 1852, the first London Issue was printed by Messrs Watterlow and Sons. In 1853, another beautiful lithographic issue was printed by the same firm. In 1856, a local issue was printed by Messrs Baum and Dallas.

From this issue emanated the one cent Black on Magenta, known to be one of the world’s rarest stamps.

In January 1860, the first uniform inland letter postage rate was introduced. In April 1877, a uniform rate for letter postage was introduced to all Postal Union Countries.

Inland Postcards were introduced in August 1885.

Small packet service was introduced in 1931 between British Guiana and the UK and in 1932 to Trinidad and Barbados; later in 1939 it was extended to all Postal Union Countries. The first exchange of parcels between British Guiana and

UK commenced in 1886.

Money and Postal Order Services were inaugurated in July 1863.

The treasury Savings Bank Service was first established on December 2, 1889. It was taken over by the Post Office between December 1910 and June 1911. In 1938, the Post Office Savings Bank (POSB) was established under the management of the PMG. The Post Office, formerly part of the traditional Public Service, became a Public Corporation on January 1, 1977. It has a spread of over 60 main post offices and several postal agencies throughout the length and breadth of the country.

Sunday Times Magazine features today a few of the most recent first day covers produced by the Guyana Post Office.

(Information and photos by Guyana Post Office, http://guypost.gy)

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Sunday Times Magazine 9

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Fashion

Empowerment through

Fashion A

s she continues to celebrate two decades in the fashion industry, Guyanese designer Sonia Noel actively participates and leads empowerment projects through her brand, Sonia Noel Designs.

“It is a blessing to be able to reach this juncture – which was no smooth sailing. It took a combination of navigational skills to outmanoeuvre hurdles, and a resilience to literally row my own boat when the waters got rough. But my faith in God got me to two decades in style. I am particularly proud of being able to use the platform of fashion to inspire lives,” Noel expressed in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

Her favourite fashion quote is by Colombian fashion journalist and critic Nina Garcia, who once said: “If you look back in history of the women who are most memorable and most stylish, they were never the followers of fashion. They were the ones who were unique in their style, breakers of the rules. They were authentic, genuine, original. They were not following the trends.”

Locally, regionally and internationally, the designer is famous for her sophisticated, versatile designs that can be worn from the beach to the ballroom.

Today, we feature Noel garbed in her fashionable designs. For more information, visit sonianoel.com or Sonia Noel Designs on Facebook. (MUA: Meleesa Payne and Alana De Souza. Photos by Obrey James and Ruth Wilson)

Style Tips for Men

Sock Rules

I

f you haven’t given much thought to what you wrap around your feet, it’s time to rethink your sock game and get with the times. Socks play a vital role in our personal hygiene, and in the functionality of how we get around and are seen by other people. Their most important asset, though, is how they protect your feet from perspiration and give you the confidence to step forward with your best foot.

When it comes to wearing socks, there are very few hard and fast rules.

The first thing you ought to know is the length of the sock: there are three primary styles; the lowcut sport, ankle-dress, and knee-length socks (although these are rarer, and often more expensive).

If you pick the right length of the sock, the finer details will fall into place.

Low-cut sports socks: As the name suggests, these are appropriate for

sports thanks to their shorter length, which fits neatly into tennis shoes.

Socks, which are cut below the ankle, often incorporate a wool and nylon blend to absorb perspiration and give added strength to the bridge of the foot for use during athletics.

Ankle-dress (or midcalf) socks: For most men, these are going to

be the socks that account for much of your collection. Ankle dress socks sit

above the ankle but below the knee.

Knee-length socks: These long and dandy socks are seeing resurgence in dapper men who wear suits, and who prefer the comfort and convenience of a longer sock.

Unlike the traditional an-

kle-length dress sock, the knee-length sock offers the added confidence of not being too short in the leg should a man flash his calf throughout the day.

Sock fibres Wool: Wool is an extremely popular sock choice thanks to its ability to keep feet cool during hot weather, and warm during colder weather. Wool may be blended with other fibres to add strength, durability, and other positive factors, or to mass produce cheaper socks.

Cotton: Much like wool, cotton is sought after for its temperature regulating properties, but this lightweight option is great for sportsmen. Cotton is also more affordable than wool, and can also be blended to create durable and comfortable socks.

Synthetics: Before turning your nose away, understand that synthetic socks are an important addition to your collection, especially if you play soccer or football. These lightweight socks are not adept at preventing perspiration, but their resilience makes them an important asset.

Cashmere or Silk: Strictly luxurious, cashmere, silk, and other exotic fibres, are called upon for black-tie and other special events. Silk, especially, is known to snag easily, and won’t hold up to daily wear, but is expected during formal events. Cashmere is perhaps a luxury, but an affordable one.

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Sunday Times Magazine 11

Home & Cooking

Recipe of the week

Ingredients: 2 large eggplants Olive oil 4tbsp butter 1 cup chopped scallion/shallot

3 to 4tbsp chopped parsley Salt and pepper to taste 1lb crab meat Fine dry seasoned bread crumbs Grated Parmesan cheese

Unexpected Items to Incorporate Into Your Decor

I

f you live in a small home or apartment, your storage spaces can quickly become filled to capacity. Free up some of that space by putting favourite items on display instead of hiding them away.

Instructions: Cut eggplants in half lengthwise; rub the cut surface with olive oil and place cut-side-down in a large shallow baking pan. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.

Scoop out eggplant pulp, leaving shell intact for stuffing.

Melt butter in heavy skillet; add the green onion, parsley, then season with salt and pepper. Sauté until onion is tender.

Add eggplant pulp and cook for 2 to 3 minutes longer. Add crab meat and mix well. Stuff eggplant shells with mixture and sprinkle with bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese.

Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes.

Serves 4.

Hats: If you search the internet, you'll find dozens of inspiring ways to incorporate your headwear into your decor. A simple, asymmetrical grouping of hats over the bed makes for a chic look. Don't worry about making them look too perfect.

Greatest Cooking Tips

To substitute honey for sugar in recipes, start by substituting up to half of the sugar called for. With a little experimentation, honey can replace all the sugar in some recipes.

Because of its high fructose content, honey has a higher sweetening power than sugar. This means you can use less honey than sugar to achieve the desired sweetness.

To retain honey's wonderfully luxuriant texture, always store it at room temperature; never in the refrigerator. If your honey becomes cloudy, don't worry. It's just crystallization, a natural process. Place your honey jar in warm water until the crystals disappear. If you're in a hurry, place it in a microwave-safe container and heat it in the microwave on HIGH for 2-3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds.

Never boil or scorch honey.

Utensils: You probably haven't given much thought to the sides of your kitchen island or the ends of your cabinets, but these are great places to sneak in extra storage.

You can add antique brass coat hooks and knobs to hold kitchen tools.

Home Help Pour salt on top of an egg spill to cover the eggs. Then wipe the eggs up with a paper towel.

Removing fish odour from your hands is simple with salt. Just rub your hands with a lemon wedge dipped in salt, then rinse with water.

Use pieces of leftover foil to sharpen up your dull scissors. Smooth the foil out if necessary, and then fold the strips into several layers and start cutting. Seven or either passes should do the trick.

Keep insects away from your drink if you’re outside by tightly covering the top of your glass with aluminium foil. Poke a straw through it, and then enjoy your drink in peace.

Keep messy drips off the bottom of the oven by laying a sheet of aluminium foil over the rack below. However, do not line the bottom of the oven with foil, as it could cause a fire.

Cutting Boards: Pretty wood or stone cutting boards don't need to be shoved in a cabinet when they're not in use. Instead, display them in layers against your backsplash.

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Puzzles

Crossword

122 Beach Boys "Little -- Coupe" ACROSS

124 Bird abode

1 Groom excessively 128 Toupee

6 Fall planting 129 Tool handle wood

11 Fossil resin

131 Shop machine

16 Writer's problem 133 Impressive 21 Esteem 135 "Ben- --"

22 As good as won (2 wds.)

136 Urged on

23 Handy's "-- Street Blues" 138 Spy

24 Posh hotel lobbies

140 Romantic interlude

25 Dome home

142 Mud brick 26 Permeate

144 Bonn's river

27 Stan's comic foil

145 Where stars are

28 Coal strata

146 Ward off

29 Peggy or Brenda

147 Column order

30 Courage under fire 148 War-horse 32 Bounders

149 Trimmed, as costs

34 Garden-pond fish

150 -- -level job 36 Speckle 151 Good-natured

37 Mlle. in Barcelona DOWN

39 Fragrant flower

1 Collins and Donahue

41 Skulk around

2 Pilot's assent

43 Movie set fixture 3 Cove

45 Wait in line

4 Alley Oop's kingdom

47 Surprise attacks

5 B.C. or Que.

49 Goes off course 6 Working hard

51 Seance sounds

7 Finish a mousse Crafty moves

54

8 October sign

55 Japanese clog

9 RN posting

56 Backpack contents

10 Look searchingly

60 Improvises (hyph.)

11 Teems with

61 Surgical tool 12 Brawls

62 Mendel's science

13 Ultralight wood

64 Veld grazer

14 Bulldogs backer

65 Vestige

15 Awful smell

66 Where Pago Pago is

16 Classy hors d'oeuvre

67 Drug busters 17 Tpk.

68 Chaucer's month

18 Hitch -- - 70 L-o-n-g time 19 Trivial

71 Road company 20 Ristorante fare

73 Ponder, as evidence

31 Ladd and Shepard

74 Boss, slangily 33 Basket willow

75 Exceeded the limit

35 Shark domain 77 Finales 84 Piracy

38 Meat jelly

78 Long suit

85 Condor's abode

40 Friday's companion

79 Mapped a course 86 -- Bow of the silents 42 Gripe

80 Forearm bones

87 Suburbanite's need

44 Flavor enhancer

82 Mountain-dwelling people 88 Like some goals

46 Neighbor of India

83 -- the rapids 90 Regularly

48 Taking a cruise

84 More tasteless 91 Steer

50 Depot info

87 Teen hangouts 92 Deduce

51 Has status

88 Lake bird

94 Pina - 52 -- -- in the bucket 95 Cheated

89 Hindu mystic

53 Runway sight

93 Curtis of cosmetics

96 Shaman's findings 54 Inclines

94 Might

99 Sweet Sixteen org.

55 Chasm

95 It's north of Java

100 Congenial

57 Majestic wader 97 Enjoyable

102 Two quartets

58 Biscotto flavoring

98 Backspace on a PC 105 Software buyers

59 Held sway

99 Emphatic refusal (2 wds.)

106 Grating 61 Praises 100 "Cool!"

107 Turn color, maybe

62 Fishing lures

101 Design

109 45 or 78 63 Popular search engine

103 Flat-needled conifer 111 Sharpened

66 Whale finder

104 Cell parts 112 Outspokenly

67 Brains, maybe

106 Knife handles

114 Really rich 69 Small-minded 107 Abate

115 Medium's state

72 Ms. Zellweger

108 Run like crazy

116 Perm kit item 73 Globe

110 German industrial region 117 Pitchers

74 High-tech replica 111 Zany 118 Vampire's shift

76 Fists, slangily

112 Grape grower

119 Prize marble 78 Completely 113 Implore 121 Unmistakable 79 Impostor

115 Mid-afternoon

123 Tut's turf

81 Pharaoh's garment 116 Grove 125 Avignon's river

82 It's northwest of Oahu

117 Inflame with love

126 Jazzman -- Blake

83 Varieties

120 Large lots 127 Construct

KATHLEEN SAXE

WORD GAME TODAY'S WORD -- RELIGIOUS (RELIGIOUS: rih-LIJ-us: Having or showing belief in God or another deity.)

Average mark 45 words Time limit 60 minutes Can you find 75 or more words in RELIGIOUS? rile rise rogue roil role rose roue rouge rouse rugose rule

ruse egis ergo euro lieu liger ligure lire loge logier lore

lories loris lose loser lour louse lousier lues luge lure iris

isle girl glories glue goes gore gorse grilse grouse gruel guile

guise ogle ogler ogre oiler oilier orgies oriel osier ours uglier

urge user sego sigil silo sire slier sloe slog slue slug

slur soil sole sore soul sour suer sure surge

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" are not allowed, but "bake" and "baking" are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.

130 132 134 137

Briefcase closer Blarney Stone site Lectern's place Wind dir.

139 UCLA stat 141 Lair

143 Investor's concern

Solution on Pg 13

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Sunday Times Magazine 13

Tech

IPhone X to use ‘black box’ anti-spoof Face ID tech E

ven Apple will not be able to explain how its forthcoming iPhone X can spot some efforts to fool its facial recognition system.

The firm has released a guide to the Face ID system, which explains that it relies on two types of neural networks - one of which has been specifically trained to resist spoofing attempts.

But a consequence of the design is that it behaves like a “black box”.

Its behaviour can be observed but the underlying processes remain opaque.

So, while Apple says Face ID should be able to distinguish between a real person’s face and someone else wearing a mask that matches the geometry of their features, it will sometimes be impossible to determine what clues were picked up on.

Face ID is far from being the first facial recognition system to be built into a mobile device.

But previous technologies have been plagued by

complaints they are relatively easy to fool by with photos, video clips or 3D models shown to the sensor.

This has made them unsuitable for payment authentication or other security-sensitive circumstances.

In publishing its Face ID documentation more than a month ahead of the iPhone X going on sale, Apple is hoping to head off such concerns - particularly since the handset lacks the Touch ID fingerprint sensor found on its other iOS phones and tablets.

Its site details how the process works: two sets of readings are taken by the sensors - a “depth map” of the face created by shining more than 30,000 invisible infrared dots on it, and a sequence of 2D infrared images these readings are taken in a randomised pattern that is specific to each device, making it difficult for an attacker to recreate the data is then converted into an encrypted mathemat-

The phone’s TrueDepth system includes an infrared camera and an IR dot projector

Tech news

D

ical formulation this is then compared to similarly encoded representations of the owner’s face stored within a “secure” part of the processor.

The final “matching” part of the procedure relies on one neural network that Apple says was trained using more than a billion 2D infrared and dot-based images.

Simultaneously, it explains “an additional neural network that’s trained to spot and resist spoofing” comes into play.

Apple has designed the computer chip involved to make it difficult for third parties to monitor what is going on, but even if they could they would have little chance of making sense of the calculations.

“The developers of these kinds of systems have some level of insight into what is happening but can’t really create a narrative answer for why, in a specific case, a specific action is selected,” explained Rob Wortham, an artificial intelligence researcher at the University of Bath.

“With neural networks there’s nothing in there to hang on to - even if you can inspect what’s going on inside the black box, you are none the wiser after doing so.

“There’s no machinery to enable you to trace what decisions led to the outputs.”

Apple has said it carried

Dubai tests drone taxi service

ubai has conducted its first test of a drone taxi service that it hopes will become a viable transportation system in the city.

The two-seater, 18-rotor unmanned vehicle took off for a five-minute flight above a

strip of sand on the Gulf coast.

The flight was watched by Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed.

Dubai has big ambitions for becoming a smart city, with drones and robots central to its plans.

Crossword Solution

The drone was designed by German firm Volocopter and the firm said it hopes to have the taxis up and running within five years.

“Implementation would see you using your smartphone, having an app, and ordering a Volocopter to the next Voloport near you,” said chief executive Florian Reuter.

“The Volocopter would come and autonomously pick you up and take you to your destination.”

The drone had previously been tested in Germany in April.

Rival Chinese firm eHang was supposed to be the first to launch a fleet of flying taxis in the city but its plans appear to have been delayed.

Dubai has positioned itself to become the smartest city in the world with ambitions to have self-driving vehicles account for a quarter of journeys made by 2030.

Noel Sharkey, a computer scientist and robotics expert at Sheffield University, said of the drone plans: “The big challenge will be dynamic obstacle avoidance of other taxis, buildings, birds and delivery drones.

“The skies over Dubai could become uncomfortably crowded very quickly. The ground level of the city could become a dark place of intrigue and mystery like Blade Runner.” (BBC)

Apple explained it had trained Face ID with 3D masks to ensure it can spot spoof attempts

out many controlled tests involving three-dimensional masks created by Hollywood special effects professionals, among other tasks, to train its neural network into detecting spoofs.

However, it does not claim it is perfect, and intends to continue lab-based trials to further train the neural network and offer updates to users over time.

Other details revealed by the security documents include: Face ID data cannot be saved off the device by the user, but some diagnostic data can be shared with Apple if express permission is given the system will automatically augment its stored mathematical representa-

tions of the owner’s face over time to take account of ageing if a failed match occurs but the user then types in their passcode immediately afterwards, it will also take account of “dramatic changes” - such as a shaved-off

beard or altered make-up - to allow later facial recognition checks to work Apple does not recommend Face ID’s use by under-13s because their distinct facial features may not have settled to an adequate degree. (BBC)

Tech TIP

I

Instagram crops photos into the square format unless you tap the grey arrow button in the bottom-left corner to change the picture dimensions, but the service also has standards for overall picture resolution and aspect ratio. (Credit: The New York Times)

nstagram supports photos in the rectangular landscape and portrait orientations — as long as you switch it from the default square shape before you upload the file. To do that, tap the round grey arrow icon in the bottom corner of the image preview.

Instagram’s help guide says the service supports photos and videos only with aspect ratios between 1.91:1 (a horizontal wide-screen/ landscape shape) and 4:5 (a vertical portrait shape); the

traditional square shape has an aspect ratio of 1:1. If the photo you upload is not in one of Instagram’s supported aspect ratios, it will be cropped automatically.

As for the image quality, Instagram does not change the picture resolution if the photo has a width from 320 to 1,080 pixels, as long as the file is in one of the supported aspect ratios. Small, low-resolution photos are enlarged to a width of 320 pixels when you upload them to the service, which may distort them.

Most decent smartphones these days take fairly highresolution resolution photos — 12-megapixel (or better) cameras are common now in the flagship models from Apple, Google, LG, Samsung and other companies. The photos these mobile cameras can produce are typically much larger than 1,080 pixels wide, but if you upload a picture that is bigger than Instagram’s requirements, the service resizes the image to meet the maximum 1,080-pixel width.

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OCTOBER 1, 2017

Bollywood/Hollywood

K

im Kardashian-West has confirmed that she is having a third child with husband Kanye West.

In a new promo for “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” season 14, Kim says to her sister Khloe on FaceTime: "What happens every time I say, 'Guess

what?'" and Khloe guesses, saying: "You're pregnant... or the person's pregnant," And that's when Kim confirms it: "We're having a baby," she says, before the promo abruptly ends.

The couple have hired a surrogate, and according to TMZ, she's reportedly due in January 2018. It's go-

ing to be a big year for the Kardashian Jenner household and it's believed Kylie Jenner is pregnant and Khloe Kardashian is also pregnant.

According to Us Weekly, their surrogate is a woman from San Diego and she's in her late 20s. The woman was referred to the pair by an agency.

So how much does it cost to carry a Kimye baby? It's believed the couple agreed to pay US$45,000 in 10 monthly instalments of US$4,500, according to a TMZ report.

This is an addition to the US$68,850 deposit given to the agency.

Earlier this year Kim was told by doctors that she would not be able to survive another natural birth.

(Glamour)

guyanatimesgy.com

Vidya Balan escapes unhurt in car accident

B

ollywood actress Vidya Balan narrowly escaped when a car slammed into her vehicle in Mumbai.

While Vidya is safe, her car was badly damaged.

DNA quoted a source as saying, “She (Vidya) is fine and has not sustained any injuries. It was a minor accident that led to car damage and thankfully no one is injured.” She was on her way to Bandra, Mumbai for a meeting, the report added.

Vidya is currently gearing up for the release of her upcoming film, “Tumhari Sulu”. She plays

a radio jockey in the film.

Earlier, she played an RJ in “Lage Raho Munna Bhai” (2006.)

Talking about the two films, Vidya told Hindustan Times, “I think Sulu in a different zone because it’s a very different character. For starters, the basic difference being my character in Lage Raho Munna Bhai was an early morning RJ, but this time, I am playing a late night RJ. Imagine a housewife doing the job of a late night RJ. The thought itself is quite funny.” (Hindustan Times)

Salman Khan thanks Bollywood stars for using Being Human E-cycles

Kit Harington and Rose Leslie are engaged "G ame of Thrones" actors Kit Harington and Rose Leslie announced their engagement Wednesday in The Times of London newspaper.

The notice in the births, deaths and marriages section reads, "The engagement is announced b e tween Kit, younger son of David and Deborah Harington of Worcestershire, and Rose, middle daughter of Sebastian and Candy Leslie of Aberdeenshire."

Harington plays Jon Snow on the hit HBO series, and Leslie portrayed Ygritte before her character was killed off in the fourth season.

The actors, who are both 30, have been pretty private about their relationship.

They reportedly met on the show, and

fans first started buzzing about them in 2012 when they were spotted out on a dinner date.

The couple went public with their relationship in 2016 when they hit the red carpet together at the Olivier Awards in London.

In June, Harington appeared on "The Late Late Show With James Corden" and said he had moved in with his "other best friend, Rose."

"So, I'm very, very happy and it's going well," he said. "She has all sorts of ideas for the house."

Nicole Kidman was also a guest on the show that night and asked Harington if he and Leslie were going to get married.

"I just think it's kind of nice if you're going to live together, maybe at least get engaged," Kidman said. (CNN)

P

itbull took action to help relief efforts after Hurricane Maria rocked Puerto Rico and its surrounding areas. The 36-year-old rapper, whose real name is Armando Christian Perez, sent his private plane to move cancer patients to the U.S. following the natural disaster.

"Thank you @pitbull for lending your private plane to move cancer patients from PR to USA so that they can get chemo," Puerto Rico congresswoman Jenniffer Gonzalez revealed on Twitter. The musician responded in a brief statement, "Thank God we're blessed to help. Just doing my part."

According to reports,

Puerto Rico was completely without power after the hurricane. More than a dozen people died, buildings were destroyed, and there was widespread looting. Dominica government spokesman Charles Jong said they have "gone into survival mode."

Jennifer Lopez recent-

ly said that she lost contact with her family after the hurricane mercilessly ravaged the Caribbean. "Me and my cousin still haven't been able to hear from our families over there," so the singer opened up in an Instagram video message.

She donated US$1 million from the proceeds of her Las Vegas residency show.

She also teamed up with exhusband Marc Anthony to spearhead additional relief efforts. "Our island of Puerto Rico has been hit by the two most devastating hurricanes we've ever seen Irma and Maria. Today, Puerto Rico needs our help," she said. "Together we can help rebuild our island and the Caribbean." (AceShowbiz)

F

ilmmaker Rohit Shetty’s “Golmaal Again” cast, led by actor Ajay Devgn, has shown support for sustainable city development by using e-cycles, which bear superstar Salman Khan’s Being Human brand.

“Thank you Ajay, Rohit Shetty, Tusshar Kapoor, Arshad Warsi, Parineeti Chopra, Shreyas Talpade for using Being Human E-cycle in Golmaal Again,” Salman tweeted a photo in which the actors are seen posing with cycles.

Salman launched the e-cycles on World Environment Day on June 5. “Since the time

B

ollywood star Amitabh Bachchan has come forward to support Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi’s Bharat Yatra - an initiative to fight child trafficking and sex abuse in India. The actor has supported the cause and asked people to join the movement via a video on Twitter.

Amitabh makes a passionate plea to create a safe environment for children and urges citizens to become proactive and come forward to support children across India.

The actor appeals to the public to take a closer look at things happening in society and not to dismiss them, but break the pervasive silence that is ingrained in us.

“These children are our tomorrow. They are the future of this country. Let’s lead them away from the darkness of abuse.

Kailash Satyarthi Ji has launched a peaceful war against child abuse. Let’s all join him in this struggle,” he says in the video.

I got into movies, my fans have accepted me... They pay to watch my movies. It’s my time to give back to fans,” Salman had said.

Meanwhile, the team of “Golmaal Again” will sensitise people about the need for tiger conservation. Rohit Shetty, director of “Golmaal Again”, and the film’s actors Ajay Devgan and Parineeti Chopra have come on board for Mission Big Cat, a new season of programming dedicated to big cats, including lions, leopards and tigers. It begins on October 2. They will feature in a campaign for the programme, along with Taapsee Pannu and Rana Daggubati. (IANS)

The 63-year-old activist started his 35-day Bharat Yatra against child sexual abuse and trafficking from the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Kanyakumari on September 11. He has been campaigning for the freedom, safety and security of the children across the globe for the past 36 years.

He was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for his continuous efforts and struggle for the rights of children.

The Bharat Yatra has received support from Google through its homepage promotion. The Yatra is aimed at increasing awareness and reporting of the cases of sexual abuse, strengthening medical health and compensations, ensuring protection of victims and witnesses during the trials of cases and increasing convictions of child sexual abuse in a time bound manner.

(Hindustan Times)

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 1, 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 15

16 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

OCTOBER 1, 2017

Fun Times

Archie

ARIES Concentrate on relation(March 21- ships and making plans that April 19) will bring you closer to someone special. Planning for the future will encourage greater stability and give you something to look forward to.

Take on a challenge that TAURUS will make you feel good (April 20- about who you are and how May 20) you contribute your time and services. Avoid lending or borrowing cash or possessions.

GEMINI (May 28June 20)

Make a choice and a change that will improve your reputation, status and future. Use your imagination to find a new way to use your skills, experience and knowledge.

A day trip attending a conCANCER ference or doing something (June 21- entertaining with friends, July 22) family or a loved one is encouraged, as long as you don’t overspend or let indulgent tendencies take charge.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Peanuts

Spend time with someone you love. An outing will broaden your awareness about personal growth opportunities and lifestyle options available to you. Make romance a priority.

Research new possibilities thoroughly before you make a decision that could alter your life. Physical fitness and a proper diet should be part of your long-term goals.

Look at potential investments or expand your skills, qualifications or resume.

Plans can be made and new beginnings put into play.

An emotional reaction is SCORPIO best contained until you have (Oct. 24- all the facts. Concentrate Nov. 22) on physical improvements and personal growth, not on someone else’s actions or lack thereof.

Revisiting old, familiar SAGITTARIUS places and reconnecting with (Nov. 23people from your past will Dec. 21) make you feel nostalgic. Don’t believe everything you hear, feel jealous or regret your life choices.

Calvin and Hobbes

Getting together with peoCAPRICORN ple from your past will broad(Dec. 22- en your interest in old places Jan. 19) and pastimes. The information you learn and the experience you have will be enlightening.

Spend time with friends AQUARIUS and relatives or attend a re(Jan. 20- union. Traveling and engagFeb. 19) ing in discussions and events will lead to personal growth and new opportunities. A lifestyle change will lift your spirits.

PISCES Update personal docu(Feb. 20- ments and review your fiMar. 20) nancial assets and liabilities to discover a way to cut costs and put your money to better use. Celebrate with someone you love.