Guyanatimes november 15, 2017

Kato School slated to open in January P12 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

GPL’s switch to natural gas troubling Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Issue No. 3393

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Man accused of killing P8 peacemaker during sibling row remanded

Page 3

… Jagdeo says no feasibility study was done

DPP recommends release of pastor accused of rape ...says Police need to do more work on case

Father of P8 2 granted $150,000 bail

…accused of stealing motorcycle, gas stove

Page 2

Region 7 residents decry deplorable access roads to communities

Businessman remanded after nabbed with cannabis, ecstasy P8

Page 12

…during ministerial visit

Cop mistakenly shoots P10 colleague while chasing alleged bandit

A section of the deplorable trail between Kamarang and Waramadong

Police using inter-agency Monies could have approach to tackle saved 1000 sugar carjackings workers – Opposition

PM's $100M annual salary

Page 11

Bond fire leads to fuel tank explosion P2

Page 15

…in Port Kaituma

2 NEWS DPP recommends release of pastor accused of rape WEDNESDAY, november 15, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

...says Police need to do more work on case

T

he Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack has recommended the release of the pastor who was accused of sexually assault-

ing a member of his congregation on Wednesday last in his Diamond, East Bank Demerara home.

The pastor, Joseph Persaud, who officiates

at a church in Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, turned famous overnight after he was arrested and taken to the Grove Police Station where

he was told of the rape allegation.

He was accused of inviting a member of the church with whom he shared a relationship outside of his

Pastor Joseph Persaud

marriage to his home and performing the act. The victim on national television admitted that she and Bishop Persaud, 35, shared a relationship, but after his wife found out, it turned sour.

Nevertheless, the victim reportedly told the Police that although the relationship was over, the pastor would constantly contact her for sex. On the night of the incident, the victim who claimed she aborted three babies for the pastor said that after she arrived at his house, he stripped her and had sexual intercourse with her against her will.

A report was made to the Police and the pastor was arrested. In addition, sever-

al recordings of phone conversations between the two were leaked to the media.

One seemed to clearly proved that the act was committed and the pastor was heard begging for the victim to drop the case and that he was willing to let her go without making attempts to contact her.

However, as the story came to light, several other victims have come forward accusing the pastor of sexual molestation.

Meanwhile, the DPP requested additional information from the Police pertaining to several aspects of the case. Once that is provided, the file will be sent to the DPP once again for advice.

Guyanese busted in Barbados with cocaine

A

gang inclusive of a Guyanese man and two Barbadian women who were busted with some $625,000 worth of cocaine were jointly charged Tuesday in Barbados.

The Guyanese, 34-yearold Kwanza Canterbury, was charged, along with Barbadian entertainer Betty Griffith-Payne, 38, of Lot 8 West Terrace Heights, St James and her 35-yearold sister Marie Alexa Griffith, of Phillips Road, Cleavers Hill, St Joseph.

The charge against the three stated that between November 7 and 10 at West Terrace Heights, St James, and Mason Hall Street, St Michael, Barbados, they had in their possession 12 kilograms of cocaine with intent to supply, traffic and conspire to traffic.

Barbadian entertainer Betty Payne

The Bajan women, however, had another charge of ‘handling the cocaine’ brought against them.

Canterbury, who was also found with cannabis weighing one kilogram valued at Bds$8000, had that additional charge instituted.

Bond fire leads to fuel tank explosion …in Port Kaituma

A

fuel tank located in the vicinity of Turning Basin at Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini) exploded on Tuesday morning after a fire of an unknown nature erupted in an abandoned bond next to it.

According to information received, the fire began in the wooden structure at around 04:30h and quick-

ly spread to the tank of fuel belonging to businessman, Brian Gammel.

Guyana Times was informed that no one was injured as a result of the fire.

Further, residents in the area were heard speculating that the blaze could have been the work of arsonists.

An investigation has been launched.

news

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GPL’s switch to natural gas troubling

WEDNESDAY, november 15, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, November 15 – a night time retraction at 02:30h and a daytime retraction at 14:30h-16:00h and Thursday, November 16 – a night time retraction at 03:30h and a daytime retraction at 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, November 15 – 14:40h-16:10h and Thursday, November 16 – 15:15h-16:45h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Early morning sunny conditions are expected to be followed by heavy rain showers which are expected to last throughout the day, with sunny conditions returning in the late afternoon. Partly cloudy conditions can be expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 25 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging between Easterly and East Northeasterly between 2.23 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 02:14h and 14:34h reaching maximum heights of 2.42 metres and 2.52 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 08:06h and 20:31h reaching minimum heights of 0.76 metre and 0.68 metre respectively.

saturDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2017

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2017

DAILY MILLIONS 02 08 09 19 23 LUCKY 3 4 9 9 Afternoon Draw

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

… Jagdeo says no feasibility study was done

By Samuel Sukhnandan

A

recent decision taken by the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) to alter one of its advertisements to procure a 50 megawatt dual fuel plant that uses Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) and natural gas, to natural gas only, has raised some concerns since it is believed that natural gas may not become available until 2020.

While it has been noted that several existing GPL generators can be converted to use natural gas that ExxonMobil will be extracting during commercial oil production in another two years, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said even with a switch, it requires appropriate studies.

“We do not have a feasibility study on natural gas, the efficacy of it being used to generate power in Guyana.

So this Government is going to go, put out an Expression of Interest (EoI) for a type of power plant that we have done no feasibility study on as to whether it is suitable for Guyana or not,” Jagdeo contended.

Contrary to ExxonMobil’s position that it will not be commercially feasible to extract and sell natural gas, the Government has made it clear that it wants the fuel to power GPL’s generators.

A local company had also said several of the sets at Kingston Power Station and all of those at the Vreeden-Hoop Power Station can be converted to use natural gas.

But Jagdeo said even if this is possible, the Government has pledged to the international community to have 100 per cent of its energy come from renewable resources by 2025.

“This is contrary to that pledge. This is another broken promise. Even by a long stretch of the imagination, even if this project starts in 2020, how does that solve the blackouts now?” he questioned.

And even while Government has stated that 25,000 more people will have access to electricity, Jagdeo said there is no clear plan to improve the efficiency of the service.

“So, you’re bringing more demand on the system but you don’t have any generating capacity and the generating capacity is already stressed. And so this is what we get for planning,” he opined.

Jagdeo did not stop there; adding that the current Government is placed in an even better position than that of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), because under his presidency, the prices for oil were high.

“They have collected over $20 billion in the two

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

and half years they been in office. I hope the media ask them about the money… they never confirmed how much they collected because they did not adjust the prices of electricity downwards when the oil prices fell,” he claimed.

The former Head of State said Government has no fixed plan to address the electricity situation in the country and has only given shallow explanations, noting that the problem will get worse.

According to Jagdeo, the Administration has continuously uttered that they are “doing something” to rectify the constant power outages, but there’s never anything substantial or specific to support their claims.

Moreover, he lambasted the Government further on their poor planning skills, highlighting that they have proclaimed that 25,000 more people will be benefiting from electricity in the near future, when there is no generating capacity and the current system is al-

ready stressed.

Less than a week ago, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) minced no words in taking to task the Government-owned and operated GPL for the spate of power outages that have been registered throughout Guyana.

According to the PSC, GPL, which is the only company providing the country with electricity, has provided no credible explanation to address the "series of unannounced and frequently prolonged power outages."

"To add insult to injury, the GPL recently from 2nd September to 5th November,

2017, announced a series of scheduled maintenance power cuts which, in Georgetown alone, amount to a total of 149 hours spread between 17 sections of the city. In addition, power cuts averaging about four hours each were scheduled for the Essequibo Coast, Berbice, East and West Bank Demerara, West Coast Demerara, Soesdyke and East Canjie," said the PSC. Moreover, the PSC posited that "judging from this performance or, to be more accurate, absence of performance, GPL simply have neither the management nor the capacity to deliver a reliable power supply to the country and the Government has consistently failed to address this reality.

"Guyana’s manufacturing and commercial sectors cannot function in these circumstances and, in this day and age at the exorbitant price that we are expected to pay for electricity, Guyana’s population should not be subjected to this punishment. As the Christmas season approaches, this has now become an even more pressing source of concern for the populace."

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WEDNESDAY, november 15, 2017

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

Consumerism in Guyana

R

ecent statistics show food prices have increased by 4.2 per cent over the 12 months to August 2017, according to the latest data set from the Guyana Bureau of Statistics.

One financial analyst, in a recent column in this newspaper, said based on his research, non-food retailers will continue to struggle this Christmas, with sales expected to show flat growth in the fourth quarter. And with year 2017 shaping up to be one of the most significant years of inflation in the last decade, the analyst predicts that this is what will drive sales at Christmas, not volumes.

“Based on my analysis of the first nine months of data out of the Bank of Guyana, I am convinced in my conviction that volumes at Christmas will be flat, and sales will be mostly driven by the higher price of commodities,” the Guyana Times columnist noted.

But this whole notion of spending and commodity prices brings us to a related issue – consumerism in Guyana.

To “consume” means to eat. From that simple act of taking care of one of our most basic needs – to take in nutrients to literally keep body and soul together – the word was broadened to include our utilisation any resource. We talk about consuming the forests and fossil fuels, for instance. But with the expansion of the term, there was an interesting disjuncture from its original utilisation: “consuming” is no longer linked with needs. And herein lies a predicament for modern man: consumerism.

For most of our existence, man used those resources from his environment that took care of his basic needs: food, shelter and clothing. As he developed the facility and technology to increase the production of the necessary resources he obviously began to consume more. But this is not the problem that we want to identify; this is not consumerism. While eating too much food, building 100-storey skyscrapers or manufacturing polyesters might engender problems of their own, needs are still being satisfied. This is just overconsumption and while it has some overlap with consumerism, it is important to distinguish the two.

The first is a problem but the second is a disease. And we are fast becoming afflicted by the latter in Guyana.

Consumerism is more of an attitude or a lifestyle rather than the simple act of consuming this or that. Today it has assumed the dimension of a religion or a creed. After all, it’s not called an ‘ism’ for nothing. In the ideological framework of consumerism, consumption becomes an end in itself and people are hungry to consume more and more regardless of their needs or their means. The essence of consumerism is that the level of consumption becomes the yardstick of an individual’s worth.

We can do worse than observe that consumerism is so deeply imbedded in our modern discourse that our quest for development is invariably measured in terms of consumption – measured always in monetary terms, of course. We are “underdeveloped” if we don’t have so many phones per household or consume so many units of electricity. The developed world is our standard. Never mind that the level of their consumption is such that it will be impossible for the entire world to achieve that with the resources ultimately available to us on planet Earth. But more insidious is that even when the availability of the new resources that may make our lives a bit easier is secured, we demand more of the same. We should not miss the irony that all we desire are now dubbed “goods”.

Since money is the medium for securing the “goods”, its possession and the quantum of that possession is now the measure of worth of man. Money makes the world go around, we are assured. The problem is not with bigger cars, more clothes and costlier cellphones. As pointed out earlier, it is human to consume and to improve our quality of life. But strip human beings of their other qualities and attributes and reduce them to this single dimension of being consumers of this or that – all based on how much money you have, and you have a problem.

When what we consume is no longer tied up to what we need or what we can afford, it becomes a dangerous thing.

In Guyana, the previous Government’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) implicitly acknowledged and began to address the disease of consumerism. By factoring the depletion of our world’s resources and our responsibility to ensure that our utilisation is sustainable we are impelled to question our consumption patterns. Some might say that we are short-circuiting our efforts to live as those in the ‘developed” countries. But do we really want to experience the angst, anomie, alienation – call it what you may – that accompanies their consumerism gone wild?

All religions caution against the evil of consumerism. Greed is a sin and simplicity a virtue.

Sandra, a 42-year-old elephant, paints with her trunk in a Hungarian travelling circus of Florian Richter Circus in Budapest, Hungary (Reuters)

PNC faction in the AFC Dear Editor, I have read with interest the comments made by President David Granger’s son-in-law, Minister Dominic Gaskin, in attempting to justify, and poorly so, the Alliance For Change’s (AFC) denial of being consulted on President Granger’s unilateral appointment of Reverend James Patterson as the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman. And also the denial of playing any part in the selection process, in face of the present AFC leader, Raphael Trotman, at the October 19, 2017 meeting between the President and

the Opposition Leader.

The report in sections of the media on November 13, 2017 states, and rightly so, that as Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman would have had no reason to be present at the meeting, in any capacity, other than that of AFC leader.

Gaskin confirms that Trotman was present at the meeting between the President and the Opposition Leader because he is “the leader of the AFC” and “it is a recognition that we are a coalition Government.”

However, he then contradicts himself in defending the unilateral appointment

of a GECOM Chairman by his father-in-law, by saying that the Constitution does not provide for consultations with any party, as the decision to choose a Chairman is placed on the President.

Gaskin cannot defend the AFC when it says it was not consulted and not part of the selection process used to arrive at a GECOM Chairman and at the same time defend his father-inlaw as President. He cannot, using the proverbial term, “chew cane and blow whistle at the same time”. The AFC cannot be physically present when this egregious breach of the Constitution takes

place and then pretend like “Pontius Pilate” that it washes its hands of its sin.

This latest pronouncement by yet another AFC leader points clearly to another manifestation of the ‘PNC faction’ in the AFC. Dr Henry Jeffrey and members of the AFC Canada Chapter recently publicly warned about this PNC faction.

Gaskin has exposed himself as an apologist for his father-in-law, President Granger, and the PNC, and, has gone so far as to hang his own party, the AFC, out on a limb.

Regards, Gail Teixeira, MP

Lawlessness in Guyana Dear Editor, One of the things that remain a mind-boggling nightmare for most civil Guyanese is the frequent, unconstrained, unbridled level of lawlessness in this country. There is flagrant disregard for law and order by some individuals who seem to thrive on chaos and confusion. When such individuals are allowed to perpetuate their lawlessness within earshot or stone’s throw of institutions that represent law and order, or are seemingly ignored by those who should maintain law and order, it clearly reveals the great mess we find ourselves in as a nation.

The Turkeyen Police Station, on the easternmost boundary of Georgetown, sits about 100 feet from the junction of upper Dennis

Street, D Field Road and University of Guyana access road in South Turkeyen.

That junction sees the convergence of motorists primarily from southern and eastern Georgetown, and is an active bypass for some East Coast motorists heading into the city or unto the East Bank. It also routes persons to the nearby Forensic Laboratory, UG, Cyril Potter College of Education, Caricom Secretariat and the Giftland Mall. However, there are no traffic lights at that junction. There is invariably no (Traffic) Police presence too, particularly at peak hours. Route 48 minibuses plying the D Field Sophia/ Cummings Lodge communities make that junction a playfield for their competitive hounding of passengers.

They routinely stop directly

at, on, and around the junction, often creating traffic chaos. Those chaotic minibuses are complimented by the double-parking and obstructive taxis from a nearby taxi base and wash bay located on Dennis Street two buildings West of the junction.

All of this is taking place daily within 100 feet of the Turkeyen Police Station.

That junction is made popular too by the famous “Red Shop”. The Red Shop sits directly on the junction at the eastern end of Dennis Street. When open, the operator of that shop places seats and tables on the roadway to accommodate his patrons, adding to the congestion and chaos, particularly on weekends.

Again, all of this takes place within 100 feet of the Turkeyen Police Station,

where any Police rank can stand at its gate and shout to the Operator of the Red Shop to order some beverages or meals.

This is just one of the places in Georgetown Guyana, two years after its citizens electing new national and local representatives, where chaos continues.

Perhaps those representatives should consider taking tours of that section of the city at varying hours to observe for themselves the realities on the ground. I trust too, that anticipated changes within the Guyana Police Force will result in the type of capacity building, awareness, and action on their part to tackle the abovementioned public disorder and traffic situation.

With best regards, Orette Cutting

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, november 15, 2017

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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

GAWU will not shirk Bringing back “co-operatives” from responsibility of protecting sugar workers Dear Editor, The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) was not surprised to read the comments of Guyana Sugar Corporation’s (GuySuCo) Senior Communications Officer, Audreyanna Thomas, which were contained in an article titled “Despite low attendance, GuySuCo says on target for second crop” that appeared in the November 13, 2017 edition of one of the newspapers. The GuySuCo officer is quoted to have said that our Union is seeking to “frustrate the company”.

For some weeks now, our Union has been pointing out that the Corporation had begun to set the stage to lay blame at the workers and the GAWU for their inability to achieve their target. This strategy we opined was a sordid attempt to

give the Corporation’s hierarchy cover for what will be the poorest production since 1990.

On this matter of workers protest, Thomas should edify us how many of the workers actions were as a result of price disputes or resulted from unilateral changes to long-standing work practices.

Most, if not all, of the work stoppages, could be grouped into the two aforementioned categories. The fact remains, as clearly evidenced by Thomas’ comments, that the Corporation is seeking to ride roughshod over the workers disregarding their interests, concerns and apprehensions.

From GuySuCo’s recently admitted perspective, it seems, the workers must meekly stand in silence as their rights, benefits and conditions are unconscio-

nably taken away.

We wish to advise Thomas, once again, and the GuySuCo top brass, that our Union has no intention of frustrating the Corporation’s objectives but, at the same time, we have a responsibility to protect and advance the cause of the workers. We wish to advise that we will not shirk from that responsibility and no amount of ‘propaganda’ concoctions will force or cause us to change our position.

In closing, we were indeed heartened to learn from Thomas that the company would achieve its set target. Is it the 198,000 tonne target or the 174,000 tonne target or the more recent 162,000 tonne target?

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

Amicable resolution needed on GECOM Chair appointment fiasco

Dear Editor, It is indeed heartening to learn that both the US Ambassador and the UK High Commissioner are paying attention to the current imbroglio surrounding the unilateral appointment of Justice James Patterson as the Chairman of the Guyana Election Commission.

It is reported that both these gentlemen said that the courts should ultimately rule on the validity of President Granger’s choice; and whether he follows the appropriate provisions of the Guyana Constitution. Be that as it may, it is however incumbent to draw attention to the perception of a great number of Guyanese that

the Supreme Court might be more inclined to support the ruling party and, therefore, it would be injudicious to place confidence in the impartibility of that body.

Further, for the court as it is constituted to pronounce on the matter would, indeed, be a breach of one of the cardinal principles of the Rule of Law that “no one ought to be a judge in his own cause.”

Finally, Mr. Editor, from my observation there is a prevailing sentiment that unless Justice Patterson’s appointment is rescinded and that both the government and the opposition resort to the drawing-board in order to resolve this issue

amicably, disruptive political and social consequences would follow and with it all that that entails.

Respectfully, Albert Khan

Dear Editor, Two happenings have prompted this brief correspondence on what could now be considered a relatively quaint issue, once of national significance – the Co-operative Movement.

First, I was approached to consider ideas to promote interest in and indeed the rejuvenation of Co-operative Societies throughout Guyana. (Poor me, I had the feeling that “Co-ops” hardly still existed in our society. Despite the fact that our Republic is still officially “the Co-operatives Republic of Guyana.”)

Secondly, I’ve just read a piece on “The Socialist Revolution” penned by a former Speaker of our Parliament. I must note too that the same introductory section to our Constitution which describes the country’s official title also reminds that Guyana is a “…democratic sovereign State in the course of transition from Capitalism to Socialism.”

Of course, it is quite understandable if most of our Guyanese citizens today wouldn’t grasp the “Capitalism-to-Socialism” Constitutional aspiration.

Personally, I am of the view that whilst Socialism as a socio-economic ideal is not completely deceased, the overwhelming principles and behaviours of Capitalism (in terms of the production of assets, markets wealth etc) prevail. But why do I link any consideration of the Co-

operative Movement to or with Socialism?

Perhaps because various socio-economic systems set out to achieve very similar objectives – like creating and distributing wealth equitably, after the elimination of exploitation and poverty. Alas, how the best of intentions fall woefully short. Co-ops, however, are managed by the small members who are all owners of the business enterprises. The State of Israel utilised the Co-op Society system to kick-start economic development and I once visited a giant agricultural co-op in faraway Uzbekistan.

Our own early Co-op Movement boasted numerous success stories, especially in land development, consumer enterprises and thrift societies. This prompted Forbes Burnham to insert “Co-operative” in the country’s official name and to declare that, along with the Government and the Private Sector, co-ops would

be the third vehicle to travel the road of national economic development. I wonder: did co-ops die with Forbes Burnham?

Not really, but it seems that “the small man” has turned to IPED, Small Business Bureau and other facilities to develop small businesses. There is nothing to prevent co-operative societies, well organised and managed, to utilise those facilities as well.

Fifty-two years ago as a young teacher in training, it was compulsory for me to do a “Course in Co-operation”.

Perhaps elements of such a programme should be brought back. The Guyana National Co-operative Union Limited (GNCUL) is about to launch its Co-operatives Education and Management Programme. Interested citizens should contact the Union at Waterloo Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown.

Yours sincerely, A A Fenty

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wednesDAY, november 15, 2017

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tarting right now, you can begin to make choices and take dayto-day actions that will create nothing short of a phenomenal family. You can choose to have one if you just resolve to do it and know where to put your focus. That’s where the Five factors for a phenomenal family come in. These factors aren’t inherited, but they’re not particularly difficult to implement. Creating these factors in your family begins with you. You must start by believing in yourself and your family’s right to be phenomenal.

This involves having a new mindset, a new philosophy and personal truth as well as a plan of action. So start now with the attitude that you are going to re-parent your family. Resolve to get your mind right and your behaviour on track.

Here’s a brief look at the five factors:

Foundation

Put your family on project status. This means you must consciously decide to actively and purposely work on improving your family situation every day.

You may need to do such things as: Reschedule business activities to make time for your children; help your children set and achieve goals. – Set aside an hour a day for the family, every day.

Bring out the authenticity of every family member. Each child in your family came into this world with a core set of unique skills, abilities, interests

lowing suggestions will help you get started on ways to discover and bring to the surface the authenticity and hidden talents and interests of each of your children: respect and encourage your child’s uniqueness; catch your children doing something right and look for the best intentions in your children.

Create a sense of security and peace in your home. Your children look to you and your spouse as a solid and safe base of operations. Yet when they’re sub-

Factor 1: Create a nurturing and accepting family system

The number one need in all people is the need for acceptance, the need to experience a sense of belonging to something and someone. The need for acceptance is more powerful in your family than anywhere else. The following to-do list can help you bring the spirit of acceptance into affirmative, interactive action in your family:

guyanatimesgy.com

and talents – all of which make up their genuine identity, their “authentic self”.

Authentic children have a sense of hope, a feeling that today is as fun and exciting as yesterday and that tomorrow will be as fun and exciting as today. The fol-

jected to a conflict-ridden home, their base is shaken to the core. Here are some actions that will ensure that your family becomes and remains a secure stable base for your children and not a war zone: take arguments private and keep

them private; stop being a “right-fighter”; eliminate patterns of verbal abuse and deal forthrightly with destructive behaviour.

Factor 2: Promote rhythm in your family life

Children need rhythm in their lives, and it is unsettling to them when they don’t have it. This factor is critical to the well-being of your family, and here are some steps to help promote that rhythm.

Create a predictable pace of family life. It can be difficult to schedule the events of the day or the week, but your family does need a pace – a rate of progress throughout the day built around key activities, such as: specific times when meals are served; regular bedtimes and a specific list of chores.

Be accountable for your choices. The choices you make are 100 per cent your responsibility, and they affect your interactions with everyone else in your family. Acknowledging your accountability means that you should be willing to ask yourself questions like the following: 1. Are there certain behaviours or bad habits I need to stop? if so, what are they? 2. Do I spend more

money than I can afford, possibly jeopardising the financial condition of my family? 3. Do I choose to live recklessly and without regard for my personal safety? 4. Am I having trouble at work, brought on by my own attitudes or behaviour or by compromising my principles? 5. Do I consider the consequences, positive or negative, of a career change on my family? 6. Have I taken unnecessary risks? 7.

Have I, in any way, treated my children unfairly? 8.

Am I failing to take care of my health by simply not re-

D

r Phil says that parents must require certain behaviour from their children so they will learn how to succeed in the world. He says it’s a parent’s duty to make sure their children conduct themselves in a way that:

1. They are not a danger to themselves or others

You need to make sure that your child is not doing something where they’re putting themselves or someone else in danger. You’ve got to keep them alive and safe.

2. Comply with applicable family, school and societal mores and folk ways

Whatever in your culture is appropriate, children should comply with

quiring enough of myself?

9. Have I failed to take my marriage vows seriously, being emotionally unavailable or even unfaithful? Have I considered how this behaviour may affect my family? 10. Do I choose to put work over the priority of my family? Answer these questions, and any others that may come to mind, to see how your choices have the power to impact your family. Let your answers identify for you what must become priorities for repair. (Excerpt from huffingtonpost.com)

that. You’re not preparing your child if you don’t require them to do that.

3. Comply with the law

You have to make sure that they don’t break the law.

4. Make progress toward independence

You’re preparing them for the next level of functioning.

5. They do not interfere with healthy adjustment of other people

They must learn how to fit into relationships.

They should not be toxic to other people.

“If you can do those things, you’ve done a pretty good job of parenting a child,” Dr Phil says. (huffingtonpost.com)

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WEDNESDAY, november 15, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

No sidetracking will work

AFC cannot deny role in GECOM Chair selection – Jagdeo

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lthough the Alliance For Change (AFC) has attempted to remove itself from the process that led to the unilateral appointment of a new Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, the Opposition has claimed that one of its senior members was active and present for most of the discussions.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has rubbished the arguments made by several AFC members who have sought to claim that their party played no role in the process.

Addressing the media on Monday, Jagdeo said the public views made by these members point to a fact that the AFC is opportunistic.

The Opposition Leader noted that AFC leader Raphael Trotman was at two meetings between himself and President David Granger. He recalled that Trotman was there when the President decided that the third list was unacceptable and agreed to set up a special task force to deal with the matter.

“Trotman was at the meeting when we agreed that should the third list fail, we were going to establish a high level committee to work

GECOM Chairman, Retired Justice James Patterson

this through in a collaborative fashion until we got a Chairman who is acceptable to both sides… He was not a passive participant,” Jagdeo recalled.

Further, Jagdeo said that the AFC leader helped to draft the joint press release with Opposition Member of Parliament Anil Nandlall.

“It was (Joseph) Harmon, Trotman and Anil Nandlall who drafted the two paragraph press release. So, Trotman knew that there was a joint commitment to the nation that should the third list be rejected by the President then we will set up a Committee,” he added.

Jagdeo therefore believes

that Trotman and the AFC can’t exclude themselves totally. “Why did Trotman not say to the President, Mr President you are going to be deemed untrustworthy, you are not keeping your word, because I sat with the Opposition on this matter and we drafted something, a joint approach we agreed to, and your current action is in direct contradiction to the commitment that you gave.”

The former Head of State argued that Trotman lacked the courage, decency and integrity to do that but his party (AFC) cannot come and remove itself from the entire process for convenience sake. And based on statements made by another AFC member, Minister Dominic Gaskin about the AFC’s perceived non-involvement, Jagdeo again said no amount of sidetracking can help the party.

When told that Trotman may have acted in the place of Attorney General Basil Williams due to his absence, Jagdeo argued that Trotman is also the leader of the AFC and that should have also taken prominence. “Even if he was there as acting Attorney General, he is the leader of the AFC. His party is being questioned now,

2am curfew not enforced even-handedly …some businesses complain of double standard

M

embers of the Private Sector have accused ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) of unfairly administering the 2am curfew which enforces a legal stipulation that bars, night clubs and other places of entertainment must close off by 02:00h.

This concern was highlighted during a Police press conference at the Force’s headquarters in Eve Leary, where Junior Vice President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Timothy Tucker questioned the Police’s ra-

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

Acting Top Cop David Ramnarine

tionale when undertaking measures to ensure that the curfew is enforced. He added that many GCCI members

feel that there is a double standard where enforcement is concerned.

Turn to page 15

AFC Leader Raphael Trotman

their role in this matter…

I’m just pointing out they had a more involved presence than just passive onlookers as Gaskin and the others are trying to portray.”

While the AFC had said in

a statement that they played no role in the selection of the new GECOM Chairman, the party had also sought to justify the appointment, noting that it recognised that the necessity had arisen for the President not to further delay the appointment of a Chairman.

According to the AFC, the appointment in the President’s own deliberate judgement has averted a "looming constitutional crisis."

Meanwhile, the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had filed an injunction in the High Court to rescind the appointment on the grounds of unconstitutionality. The injunction is seeking a declaration that Justice Patterson

is not qualified to be appointed in provision with Article 161-2 of the Constitution of Guyana.

The injunction is also seeking an order to have the appointment of Justice Patterson as Chairman of GECOM quashed and directing the President to choose a person from the 18 names submitted to him by the Leader of the Opposition.

The injunction was filed in the name of the Executive Secretary of the PPP and Member of Parliament (MP) Zulfikar Mustapha, who is an elected official that has legal authority.

The matter will be heard before the Chief Justice on Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 13:15h. (Samuel Sukhnandan)

8 NEWS

wednesDAY, november 15, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Man accused of killing peacemaker during sibling row remanded

T

he North Ruimveldt, Georgetown man who allegedly stabbed and killed his friend who was attempting to make peace between him and his brother was on Tuesday arraigned at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Jermaine Abel, 26, of 316 North Ruimveldt, appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore for the murder of Hafeez Douglas, a mason of Lot 2981 North Ruimveldt.

The indictable charge

against him stated that on November 8, 2017, at Christian Street, North Ruimveldt, he murdered Douglas.

The accused was represented by Attorney-at-Law Stanley Moore, who unsuccessfully petitioned for bail to be granted.

The Police Prosecutor told the court that the accused stabbed the now deceased man as he was attempting to intervene to stop a fight between him and his brother.

Father of 2 granted $150,000 bail

…accused of stealing motorcycle, gas stove

A

father of two young children appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for alleging stealing a motorcycle and other items.

Sylvester Croft, 28, of Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara (WBD) appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore and denied that between November 8 and November 9, 2017 at 2 ½ Miles Bartica, he stole one Honda motorcycle with registration number CGE 6387 valued $650,000; one gas burner valued $4000 and one gas cylinder valued $6000, property of Mark John.

The Police Prosecutor

Jermaine Abel

He revealed, however, that the weapon used in the murder has not been recovered.

Abel, a shop assistant, was remanded to prison and

was scheduled to return to court today, before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

On the day of Douglas’s demise, Abel and his brother called “Lappy” were involved in a heated argument, which quickly escalated into a scuffle. The now dead man who was friends with the two brothers intervened and was stabbed once to his chest after which he collapsed, hit his head on a concrete drain, and reportedly died on the spot.

After realising that the young mason was motionless, the two brothers attempted to escape, but the alleged stabber was held by the Police.

Businessman remanded after nabbed with cannabis, ecstasy

A

Sylvester Croft

did not object to bail, which was granted to the farmer in the sum of $150,000. The defendant will return to court on November 15, 2017.

Campbellville, Georgetown businessman was on Tuesday remanded to prison by Magistrate Fabayo Azore after he denied that he had a quantity of cannabis and ecstasy in his possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Apiliyo Ramsawack, 34, of 13 Bell Street, Campbellville, appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and denied that on November 10, 2017, at Campbellville, he had in his possession 2.6 grams of ecstasy for the

Apiliyo Ramsawack

purpose of trafficking.

It is further alleged that on the same day at Lodge, Georgetown, he had in his possession 496 grams of cannabis also for the purpose of trafficking.

According to Attorney for the accused, George Thomas, his client was at a shop on the day of his arrest when Police Officers who conducted a raid on the shop discovered the items and held him in connection with the discovery.

However, the Police Prosecutor told the court that a search was actually conducted on the person of the accused and the cannabis was found.

He was later transported to his house by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) ranks where his home and place of business were searched and the ecstasy was found.

Ramsawack reportedly told ranks that the ecstasy tablets were being used by him for medical purposes. He was, however, arrested and charged with the offences.

As such, Magistrate Azore granted bail in the sum of $15,000 for the possession of ecstasy charge, and denied bail for the cannabis possession charge.

The defendant is expected to return to court today, before the Chief Magistrate.

Calling out…

C

…Prezzie onfession, they say, is good for the soul. So, we can be certain that Prezzie’s “Confession of Georgia” about always being a “true-purple” Burnhamite, must’ve done wonders for his soul. The question, however, is what has it done for his political currency?

After all, souls don’t vote in elections, bodies do. And if those bodies aren’t one with his confession, there might be trouble ahead!

While many looked at the AFC as the ally that brought the coalition victory in 2015, not enough attention was placed on the WPA’s role in giving the PNC respectability by covering their spots in APNU. “Respectability” – not necessarily to the Indian voter – but to the middle class African and Mixed sceptics who weren’t convinced the street-battles of the post-1997 PNC were the vehicle to deliver the chalice of power to them.

The WPA provided that respectability. It was the dream team for them: the brawns of the PNC with the brains of the WPA. During the seventies, the WPA had degutted the PNC in the moral plane by the principled positions they took on the national questions of the day.

While most of them may have swallowed hard and voted for the PNC when the vote was “free and fair” in 1992, it wasn’t something they were proud about. In 2015, they could have their (PNC) cake and eat it too – courtesy of the WPA sanitisation!

So, after Prezzie’s confession, WPA Exec Ogunseye fired off a missive that was more of a missile! Calling it “disturbing” and “surprising” Ogunseye figured Prezzie was either floating a trial balloon on the PNC going it alone in 2020; or alternately bigging-up his PNC credentials to oppose those in the party who may want to do so. Well, Mr Ogunseye seems to be waking up a bit late to smell the coffee, which the PNC, under Prezzie, has been brewing!

Ogunseye would know Roopnaraine almost singlehandedly brought about the PNC-WPA Alliance – going back all the way to Desmond Hoyte. So when Prezzie pretty much FIRED Roopnaraine last June 13 – the anniversary of Walter Rodney’s assassination, he should’ve read the writing on the wall! Fact of the matter, Prezzie and the PNC have no use for the WPA anymore.

The ones who they can get some use out of, like Clive Thomas, they’ll keep. Others like Ogunseye will be discarded!

But Prezzie has also come under fire from the oneman party OVP for claiming he’s a “real” Burnhamite. Not so! Cried the “one man”. If he were, why didn’t he oppose Desmond Hoyte back in 1992 like Hamilton Green?

But jeez! The Americans would’ve also been strongarming Prezzie, wouldn’t they?!! …Jordan Your Eyewitness caught sight of one of the giant posters placed around the country with a huge pic of Finance Minister Jordan smirking like the Cheshire cat!!

Is this another Burnhamite practice being revived?

But those were about exhortations like “PRODUCE OR PERISH!” or “THE SMALL MAN IS THE REAL MAN” and such like.

The only picture allowed was that of Burnham! Those were placed even on exercise books – and more than anything else, caused Guyana to plunge to the bottom of the Caribbean standings in education!! Not easy to focus on Maths with Burnham staring morosely at you!! But the poster just highlighted Jordan’s muddle?

Here he was – in front of a highway with the Budget slogans for 2015 and 2016 proceeding in the left lane. The 2017 Budget (which is supposedly coming up) however was placed going in the same direction – BUT IN THE OPPOSITE LANE!!

Doesn’t Jordan realise his budget’s going to collide with incoming traffic?? Like reality? …the VC Like Finance Minister Jordan, UG’s VC Griffith boasted his graduating class was the BIGGEST ever! Now after the shameful SNAFU’s that marred the event, he accepts there was “poor planning.”

Shouldn’t he do the honourable thing and resign? Like he had to do at Fort Valley State?

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

News

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WEDNESDAY, november 15, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

CCJ President slams delay to confirm acting Chancellor, Chief Justice

– cites continuous probation as pressure on independence of office holders

By Jarryl Bryan

T

he trend of persons being appointed to act in top positions in Guyana’s judiciary for years while their confirmation remains in limbo has attracted the attention of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Byron zeroed in on this situation in a recent address to the Guyana Bar Association. He condemned the fact that since former Chancellor Desiree Bernard demitted office, an agreement has not been reached for the substantive appointment of a Chancellor.

Acting Chief Justice, Justice Roxane George (left) and acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards (right) pose with President David Granger after their appointments

The situation is being described as unfortunate, since such office holders have to issue rulings while their confirmation hangs like a ‘Sword of Damocles’ over their heads.

In particular, CCJ President, Sir Dennis

“This has brought us to the situation today where the number one and number two officials of the Guyana judiciary have not been substantively appointed. This is a most unfortunate state of affairs,” the legal luminary stated.

“This situation has

moved well beyond what ought to be acceptable in a modern democracy where respect for the rule of law is maintained. The Constitution envisages the judiciary of Guyana to be headed by officials who are substantively appointed and enjoy all the legal and institutional mechanisms to secure their tenure,” he continued, bluntly adding that the delay was a breach of the spirit and intent of the Constitution.

Article 127 (2) of the Constitution states: “If the office of Chancellor is vacant … then until a person has been appointed to and has assumed the functions of such office…the functions shall be performed by such other of the judges as shall be appointed by the President after meaningful consultation with the leader of the opposition.”

Commenting on this, Justice Byron noted that the language of the Act suggests that the appointment was to be a shortterm one, before a substantive appointment. He noted that even from a subjective analysis, the Constitution never intended for the years it has taken to fill the substantive positions to elapse.

“Of course,” he admitted, “I do acknowledge that there are practical problems in identifying precisely where the liability lies in the failure to come to an agreement. It seems entirely plausible for such liability to lie with either

(breached) a level of justifiability and the most appropriate authority for resolving this situation is the court system.”

“Section 127(1) ascribes an obligation to the President and the Leader of the Opposition that is mandatory in nature and not discretionary (to appoint the Chancellor and Chief Justice).

Any failure in fulfilling this obligation must, therefore, be regarded as a breach of the Constitution,” Sir Dennis also said.

Acting Chancellor of CCJ President, Sir Dennis Byron

the President or Leader of the Opposition, or both, in accordance with the mandate of section 127(1) and depending on the process that has been followed.

“This naturally raises the question of whether an appropriate statutory or regulatory framework to establish agreement is in existence. If the answer to this is in the affirmative, that may be a basis for judicial intervention.”

The CCJ President said that if the right framework to appoint the Chancellor and Chief Justice was not being used, now would be the opportune time to make regulatory or statutory changes.

He noted that that too may be a basis for judicial intervention.

“The delay in complying with section 127(1) of the Constitution has long

the Judiciary, Yonette Cummings-Edwards was appointed by President David Granger in May of this year. Prior to that, she acted as the Chief Justice from December 2015. She was never confirmed to the substantive position.

Cummings-Edwards replaced Justice Carl Singh, who retired after acting as Chancellor since 2005. On the other hand, the current acting Chief Justice, Justice Roxane George, was also appointed to her position on the same day as Edwards.

10 News Cop mistakenly shoots colleague while chasing alleged bandit A wednesDAY, november 15, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

police constable attached to the AntiCrime Unit of the Brickdam Police Station was on Tuesday afternoon shot once to his upper right arm by his colleague during the pursuit of an alleged robbery suspect.

The injured Policeman has been identified as Constable France who was said to be in stable condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital. His colleague who pulled the trigger, Constable Lewis, is under close arrest and an investigation has been launched.

Based on reports received, the Police received a phone call from residents in Leopold and Breda Streets, Charlestown, Georgetown

that a possible robbery suspect was sighted. As such, the Police responded and upon arriving in the area, the alleged suspect was seen riding a pedal cycle.

The Police reportedly intercepted the robbery suspect and as they questioned him, a mob of residents pulled him away. As the mob grew bigger, the Police

called for backup.

As the other ranks arrived at the scene, the alleged robbery suspect managed to crawl out of the angry mob and was spotted running away from the scene.

It was at this time that Constable France went in pursuit of the man with his colleague a short distance

behind.

Reports indicate that during the pursuit, Constable Lewis reportedly slipped thus resulting in two rounds being discharged from the high-powered rifle.

One of the bullets, according to reports received, struck Constable France.

The injured cop was attended to while the alleged bandit made good his escape. Constable France was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was being treated up to late Tuesday afternoon.

The Police, up to press time, could not say who was the intended robbery victim, but said investigations were continuing.

Sexual harassment

S

atiricus and the fellas had been parked in the Back Street Bar for a while. Meaning their tongues had been well-lubricated. They’d exhausted their usual political stuff and since religion was off limits by common consent (and bitter experience!) the gyaff turned to the explosion in sexual harassment in the US. “So Cappo, what’s really going on with all this sexual harassment in the US, man?” asked Satiricus, as he signalled for another beer.

“How me guh know?” demanded Cappo.

“Well…yuh jus’ come back fram deh!” pointed out his pal Bungi. “Yuh na l’arn nothin’ de whole year?”

“Budday!! Me bin a wuk fuh fix-up people house in New Yark,” Cappo explained a bit aggrievedly. “Wha’ me guh know ‘bout dem people in Hallywood?”

“But it’s not only people in Hollywood, Cappo,” said Hari as he signalled he would pass this round, “Trump boasted he did the same thing!”

“Yeah, Cappo!” insisted Bungi, “He fram New Yark and he seh how he bin a grabble all dem lady crotch!!”

“Ok…OK…de only t’ing me know, dem ‘merican man always gat fuh try wan t’ing when dem meet ‘homan!”

Cappo related.

“Every woman they meet?” asked Satiricus curiously.

“Yeah!” nodded Cappo. “An’ if yuh na do da, dem t’ink somet’ing wraang wid yuh! Yuh a anti-man!”

“So tell us something, Cappo,” asked Hari. “Did you try a t’ing?”

“Well, waan time me bin a wuk front a wan house,” Cappo started. “An’ me w’istle pan wan ‘merican homan who bin a pass.”

“And?” prompted Satiricus. “What happened?”

“She knack me head wid she han’bag!!” reported Cappo. “An’ she tell me she guh report me to immigrashan!”

“And that was it?” said Hari incredulously. “You never try a t’ing with the Guyanese girls?”

“Budday, all dem Guyanese people know waananadda,” confessed Cappo.” Yuh bin wan’ me wife kill me?”

The fellas decided it was time to go home before their wives killed them all!

11 Police using inter-agency approach to tackle carjackings news

wednesDAY, november 15, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Acting Crime Chief Paul Williams

I

n light of the increased incidence of carjackings, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has announced that it is embarking on an inter-agency approach to crack down on the crime, which has seen a spike in the past several months.

This was announced at GPF Headquarters at Eve Leary, Georgetown, where the public was updated on plans for increased security during the holiday season.

Over the past several months, bandits have been pouncing on motorists, especially those operating Toyota Allion and Toyota Premio motor cars, and often times, the motor vehicles are swiftly transported to various locations to be either stripped or overhauled. It was suggested that with the recent Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) restrictions on older models of vehicles, it is likely the bandits are stealing the cars for parts, the reason that many of the cars could never be recovered.

It was further related that certain auto-body repair shops are under the watchful eyes of investigators as some of these businesses are believed to be facilitating the criminal enterprise, with some even “cutting the cars”.

Police are, however, intensifying their campaign to stop the criminal activity. Acting Crime Chief Paul Williams, during the press conference, said that from the evidence obtained, carjacking gangs roam around

looking for opportunities to pounce on unsuspecting drivers.

“These guys are just moving around scouting and as they see the opportunity where the person is being vulnerable, they decide to take the chance,” the acting Crime

Chief observed.

As part of efforts to foil carjackings, Williams on Friday last met with all divisional detective officers and other senior Police Officers to iron out plans to nab the perpetrators.

Guyana Times understands that Police have approached certain mechanic shops with the hope of finding the hijacked vehicles, but have come across stumbling blocks. It is on this note, the multi-agency

approach was conceptualised and more so, investigators will be armed with the tools and information on specifications to recover stolen cars.

It was in June that

Police issued an advisory to taxi operators plying routes into and out of Georgetown to beware of carjackers hiring cars under the pretext of wanting taxis. However, the perpetrators have since upped the ante, and are now going directly to owners, attacking them and stealing their vehicles.

J u s t over a week ago, two persons attached to G u y a n a Times were relieved

of their motor cars by gunmen – one on the Kitty Seawall and the other, 66-year-old columnist Rhyaan Shaw, in front of her home.

On October 16, 24-yearold Ryan Seecharran, of Third Street, Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD), who was on trial for a hit-and-run charge, had said that after he had just returned home, some time after 19:00h, two men, one of whom was armed with a handgun, appeared out of nowhere, and demanded money they claimed was owed to them. They stole his silver grey Premio, PVV 4911, motor car.

12 news

wednesDAY, november 15, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 7 residents decry deplorable access roads to communities …during ministerial visit

A section of the deplorable trail between Kamarang and Waramadong

D

uring a ministerial visit to a number of communities tucked away in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), residents came out in their numbers and expressed longstanding concerns, mainly with regard to the deplorable access to these remote villages.

Villagers were at their

wits’ end over the dilapidated infrastructure and non-existing alternative routes for those travelling in and out of the rural communities, particularly during the rainy season.

Leading the visit was Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, who was accompanied by the Minister of Public Affairs,

Dawn Hastings-Williams, who had first-hand experience of the difficulties faced by those residing in these areas, on a daily basis.

The Ministers and their respective teams also got an idea of the difficulties usually encountered as they were forced to weather the rains by travelling on ATVs from one village to the other, all the while inspecting the trail between the two target communities, Kamarang and Waramadong.

Following the field visit, the Ministers also convened a ‘town hall meeting,’ which opened the floor for residents hailing from Kamarang, Waramadong, Jawalla, and Kako to highlight issues affecting their community.

It was during this forum that a number of issues were raised, with the poor access to communities topping the list.

It was then that the residents called for an upgrade of riverine networks to transport heavy materials as well as the construction of two airstrips, one in Jawalla and

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson meeting with residents of the Region Seven communities

the other in Waramadong, to bridge the existing gap in transportation.

Overcrowding of schools in the sub-region; insufficient energy supply to the communities; and a need to improve the water system were also among the complaints aired by those in attendance at the meeting.

In responding to these concerns, Minister Patterson indicated that while he could not definitively say what works his Ministry would be executing in the sub-region following the visit, he promised that works would be done when a full assessment was completed.

Continuing on that note,

Patterson apologised to the residents for not visiting the communities sooner, having recognised that the urgency of infrastructural works needed for the sub-region had not been adequately emphasised by the relevant regional authorities.

Nevertheless, the meeting with the Ministers culminated on a high note after the villagers’ requests were immediately granted. As a result, Chief Aerodromes Inspector Alphonso Mangah was given the go-ahead to provide the necessary assistance from the Ministry through his agency.

Earlier this year, some of the very communities visited by the Ministers were faced with considerable destruction after massive flooding wiped out several homes and significantly hindered the livelihoods of many across Region Seven.

Kato School slated to open in January plies to commence school in January,” Gunga said.

The REO added that teachers have also been secured for the new school term. He disclosed that he was informed by the Teachers Service Commission that the necessary personnel to execute

School, who presently are housed at that institution’s overcrowded dormitory, will be transferred to the Kato Secondary School.

The DPI noted that in July last, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon at a post-Cabinet briefing announced that the Kato

Region Eight REO Gavin Gunga

P

reparations are ongoing to have Kato Secondary School opened for the new school term in January.

Region Eight’s Regional Executive Officer (REO), Gavin Gunga explained to the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the school was currently still being outfitted with furniture, equipment, and other requisite supplies.

“The plan right now is to commission the Kato School in the last week of this school term. So right now, the trucks and contractors are delivering those furniture and necessary sup-

Kato Secondary School

the functions of the school were there, and “once school starts in January, students and teachers will be there”.

According to REO Gunga, all the technical checks were conducted and the school was given the green light to open in January. Students from nearby institutions including Mahdia Secondary, Sand Creek Secondary, and Paramakatoi Secondary

Secondary School, which was constructed at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars, was unsafe for occupancy.

After several interventions by Government, remedial works were completed by the contractor who was issued the Certificate of Practical Completion by Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson.

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wednesDAY, november 15, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

14 news

wednesdAY, november 15, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

For this year

28 Police ranks involved in accidents

…9 dismissed so far, says Top Cop

By Shemuel Fanfair

A

s the Guyana Police Force (GPF) continues to remove its “rogue” elements, acting Commissioner David Ramnarine has affirmed that the Force has no place for unprofessional conduct, informing the public that some nine junior ranks were dismissed for their involvement in various types of motor vehicular offences.

Police statistics have re-

Dead: Anastacia Kerr

vealed that for the period January-October 2017, some 28 junior Police ranks were involved in motor accidents, some of which saw persons losing their lives.

At Monday’s press conference, the acting Police Commissioner said that nine of those ranks were dismissed. He added that the Police Force’s senior administration would not accept such unprofessional conduct, whether or not the ranks operated their private

Dead: Pulmattie Ramotar

cars or one of the Force’s fleet of vehicles, some of which were involved in accidents in recent weeks.

“You cannot be driving without fitness, insurance [or] drunk driving, and expect to be a member of the Force; you have to go,” Ramnarine strongly stated.

In March 2017 in Berbice, Constable Joshua Ali, then unlicensed, was fined $37,500 after pleading guilty to Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol and breach of condition of provisional licence.

Similarly, Police Constable Satrohan Gowkarran, who struck a pedestrian at Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, in a drunken state in September, pleaded guilty and was fined $7500 and had his licence endorsed for a DUI. Condemning such occurrences, Ramnarine suggested that new recruits were

actively waiting to fill the vacuum that would be left by dismissed ranks.

“The Guyana Police Force did not have a long line waiting to enlist five years ago, but today through the grace of God and through public trust, and other initiatives, we have a long line waiting out there, so when you slip up; I’m not going to wait on three strikes, that is the way forward for the Force,” he related, at the same time condemning the heavily tinted motor cars of junior ranks.

Road (EBD), East Bank Demerara, by a police rank, who was transporting an injured colleague, who himself was involved in a separate car accident in the early morning hours. Police had, however, claimed that no alcohol was found when breathalyser tests were conducted on these two ranks.

In September, 20-yearold former Lot 5 Hope Estate, ECD resident and sales girl Anastacia Kerr lost her life after she was struck down and killed by a drunk-

The PPP 8497 Toyota Allion motor car which struck and killed Eno David at Soesdyke, EBD in August (Shemuel Fanfair file photo)

In August, 58-yearold Pulmattie Ramotar, of Success, East Coast Demerara (ECD), succumbed two days after she was struck down on the Success Public Road by a police rank. Additionally, Eno David, 22, of Matthew’s Ridge, North West District, was struck down at the Soesdyke Public

en Police Lance Corporal at the Ogle Public Road, ECD. It was reported that the Policeman was proceeding along the roadway in motor car PSS 3984, when the now deceased woman allegedly ran across the road and into the path of the vehicle. As a result, the left side of the car hit her.

News

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WEDNESdAY, november 15, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

PM’s $100M annual salary

Monies could have saved 1000 Where is the sugar workers – Jagdeo Exxon US$20M? T I

By Samuel Sukhnandan

t seems as though ExxonMobil was made to pay a signing bonus of US$20 million (more than GY$4 billion) when it signed a licence agreement with the Government of Guyana. I heard this several months ago.

Many people have told me they have been told by persons close to the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) and the oil Dr Leslie Ramsammy company that the US$20 million payment is true.

Chris Ram about three weeks ago courageously wrote a story stating that he heard that the oil company paid a bonus of US$20 million. The Leader of the Opposition has vowed to seek answers, even requesting answers from the oil company. In doing so, the Leader of the Opposition is fulfilling his obligation to represent the Guyanese people and demand accountability of the Government.

Social media has been buzzing about this payment.

President David Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Ministers Joseph Harmon, Raphael Trotman, Winston Jordan and the APNU/AFC machinery have been totally, painfully, awkwardly, silent. It has been weeks. Not a word.

Even when a truthful story has some inaccurate elements, the APNU/AFC propaganda machinery is usually out in full blast, denying and denouncing the stories and the people behind the stories. Why the silence in this instance? They know they cannot lie because the oil company will not be able to lie.

Confronted two days ago, Minister Jordan remained silent, shamefully claiming that he cannot confirm or deny such a payment, insisting that he has to ask about it. He is the Finance Minister, the Chief Financial Officer of our country. It is therefore outrageous that he cannot answer this question. He is accountable for any money that is received by Guyana. I have to assume that any payment from Exxon as a bonus has to be to Guyana. Where then is the money?

Why is it that APNU/AFC cannot say unambiguously that Guyana received or did not receive US$20 million from Exxon? Exxon must come clean and say it paid or it did not pay, in accordance with the contract they signed.

Minister Trotman and his APNU/AFC colleagues have been trying to convince the nation that it is against the interest of Guyana to release the Exxon contract.

They have argued that scrutiny of the contract is against the security interest of Guyana and somehow that it will provide advantages to Venezuela in that country’s absurd claims on Guyana’s territory. They even tried to cast blame on the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), that the contract was signed under the PPP and included a non-disclosure clause. No one is buying APNU/AFC’s spurious explanations. The more they defend their stubborn refusal to permit scrutiny of the contract, the more people are convinced they have something sinister to hide. It maybe they want to hide the US$20 million bonus as part of the deal.

Minister Trotman and his colleagues have essentially told the nation that we ought to be patient and trust them. How can we trust them when they will not permit anyone outside their own small group from examining the contract? It is a contract that should be at least examined by the Leader of the Opposition and members of the Parliament. Oil does not belong to APNU/AFC; it belongs to the people of Guyana. If there was a bonus for Guyana, there is nothing to stop them from informing the people that Guyana’s Consolidated Fund is US$20 million richer. It has to enter the records somewhere. Hiding it is a certain sign of sinister intentions.

he annual salary of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo which is currently close to $100 million could have been better utilised and put towards helping to save the jobs of 1000 sugar workers who are expected to be laid off by the end of this year, as part of Government’s plan for the industry.

This is according to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo who told a press conference on Tuesday that this, among other huge spending being undertaken by the Government, should be in the limelight, instead of what the Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) are doing with their increased salaries.

Despite recent media reports that only some People’s Progressive Party (PPP) MPs are contributing their increases to a special fund that was set up by the party, Jagdeo said the position remains that all Opposition

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

MPs will not take the salary increases. “That still remains our position today,” he said.

In trying to provide an explanation for why some MPs have been contributing their increases while some have not, the PPP General Secretary explained that some of the MPs had written the Parliament directly requesting that they deduct the salaries, while others have chosen to do otherwise.

“Other MPs have said

to me that they have other methods of getting the deductions made. Some do it directly through their bank’s accounts so that they send it to the other account. It doesn’t have to necessarily go through the parliamentary mechanism,” he asserted.

Nevertheless, Jagdeo said he will follow up to ensure that it is so because “it remains our commitment that we do it there and we haven’t spent a cent of the money. This is not about theft… The increases that our MPs got were about $23,000 when the Government took the 50 per cent increase.”

The former Head of State said if one is to do the comparison, they would find that members of the Government received increases of 15 times more in some cases. Some Ministers who received $500,000 are now receiving a few hundred thousand more to $1 million in some cases.

“MPs now get about $200,000 that moved from

2am curfew not...

“The observation of some of the members is that it’s not being done across the board; they feel there’s a double standard – that their bars are being shut down while others are not being shut down just outside of Georgetown,” Tucker revealed.

A Division (GeorgetownEast Bank Demerara) Commander Marlon Chapman who has responsibility for the Georgetown area, related that the curfew is an ‘across the board’ stipulation. Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine also responded to the complaints, cautioning that the 2AM curfew, for the moment, remains intact. Ramnarine, however, acknowledged receipt of the “concerns” raised over the conduct of Police in terms of “consistency” when administering the curfew.

The acting Top Cop further informed Private Sector operatives that the curfew does not give business operators the right to continue to 2AM if there is a report of noise nuisance, even if that report is made at 23:00h.

The acting Commissioner stressed that once there is no complaint of noise nuisance, traffic congestion or crime committed at the establishment, nights spots can operate until the cut off time.

“We have asked the Divisional Commanders to ensure that this is enforced and it’s not a case where we are flexible with people and we are arbitrarily or unilaterally flouting an order of the Minister,” Ramnarine expressed.

The Police were also told that some night spot opera-

tors are under the impression that the curfew is for Georgetown only but the Minister’s order was that all such operations must close by 02:00h. Public relations veteran Christopher “Kit” Nascimento identified a few night spots which are open beyond hours and he called on senior Police ranks to ensure that the law is evenly distributed.

There has been much criticism as well as some praise for Public Security Minister

$170,000 plus as it was before,” he explained.

Jagdeo slammed sections of the local media for not highlighted what he described as far more important issues which should be brought to the public’s attention. “We spent $20 million on Nagamootoo to travel to conferences where he has to receive a plaque… look at the security vehicles, personal assistants, speech writer… When you look at the package, we are spending more on a single Minister than they used to spend on an ex-President.”

Ever since the closure of the Wales Sugar Estate in December of 2016, some 1700 workers have been directly affected, and thousands of persons in surrounding communities have been indirectly affected.

With the impending closure of Enmore and Rose Hall Sugar Estates and privatisation of Skeldon thousands more stand to lose their jobs if not partially, entirely.

From page 7

Khemraj Ramjattan’s decision in July 2015 to enforce the curfew that was already on the law books. In March, he even suggested that the curfew could be brought forward to as early as midnight, based on his interactions with some stakeholder groups.

In the past, the Minister threatened to revoke or suspend the licences of businesses which did not comply with the enforcement. However, concessions were given at certain intervals for night estab-

lishments to operate at later hours, but this was only for holiday periods, especially during December. Minister Ramjattan has argued that the curfew was part of his crime-fighting strategy.

Of recent, Police conduct has come in for scrutiny and in late October reports surfaced that a Police Corporal was being investigated for allegedly taking a $1 million bribe from a businessman to raid a fellow strip club.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

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guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, november 15, 2017

Regional

Venezuela in selective default, says credit ratings agency

I

nternational credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s has declared Venezuela to be in “selective default”. The ratings agency said the South American

nation had failed to make US$200 million (£153 million) in repayments on its foreign debt.

Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA has also

been declared in default by rating agencies Fitch and Moody’s. The news came just hours after the government met investors in Caracas to try to renegotiate its debt.

Standard & Poor’s declares a “selective default” when a country has failed to pay one or more of its financial obligations when it came due. In the case of Venezuela, the government of President Nicolás Maduro failed to make US$200 million in payments on two global bond issues by November 12, when a 30-day grace period expired.

S&P says Venezuela is also overdue on four other bond payments worth a total of US$420 million but that the grace period has not yet expired on those payments.

Venezuela’s total external debt, which also includes loans from countries like Russia and China, is

Government officials held a meeting with creditors but participants said no concrete proposals were made

thought to be as much as US$140 billion.

On Monday, Government officials met with creditors in Caracas in an attempt to restructure its debt. But

creditors who attended the meeting told journalists that the 25-minute meeting ended without the government making any concrete proposals. (Excerpt from BBC News)

St Vincent Prime Minister makes son new Finance Minister

S

t Vincent’s Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves has handed over the important Finance Ministry to his son in a Cabinet reshuffle.

Camillo Gonsalves, 45, has taken over the responsibility held by his father since 2001. It has been added to the portfolios he previously held – Economic Planning and Sustainable Development. But the other ministerial responsibilities for Industry, Information, Labour, Postal Service and the Bureau of Standards which he also held have been given to other Cabinet members.

Industry, Labour and Bureau of Standards have been added to Saboto Caesar’s existing post of Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Rural Transformation.

“Outside of tourism,

Camillo Gonsalves is St Vincent and the Grenadines’ new Finance Minister

the economic levers, from a formal standpoint, are in the hands of Camillo and Saboto, of course, with the Prime Minister having oversight responsibilities,” Prime Minister Gonsalves said on a local radio station.

Minister of Transport, Works, Urban Development

and Local Government, Senator Julian Francis takes on the further responsibility for Postal Services,while Minister of Education, Reconciliation and Ecclesiastical Affairs, St Clair Prince, has the added responsibility for Information.

The 71-year-old Prime Minister Gonsalves will continue as Minister of National Security, Air and Sea Port Development, Immigration and Legal Affairs.

The younger Gonsalves is expected to present his first budget as Minister of Finance by mid-January 2018.

The Prime Minister defended the Cabinet reshuffle and said it was important for the new Minister of Finance to be in place before the budget presentation. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Jamaica elected to UNESCO Intergovernmental Information Council

J

amaica’s Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister, Olivia Grange has announced that Jamaica has been elected to UNESCO’s Inter-governmental Council for the Information for All Programme for the period 2017-2021.

According to Grange, the council “aims to assist UNESCO member states to develop and implement national information policies which create an equitable society through better access to information.”

Grange said that Jamaica will “benefit from capacity building in this area of policy development” by being a member of the council.

She added that Jamaica will be represented on the Council by the executive director of the Broadcasting

Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Minister Olivia Grange

Commission, Cordel Green, who also sits as chairman of the Information Advisory Committee of the Jamaica National Commission for UNESCO. Jamaica was also elected to the powerful executive board of UNESCO during

the organisation’s 39th General Conference, which ends today in Paris, France.

Grange will represent Jamaica on the executive board, which focuses on the development of policies and programmes to direct UNESCO’s activities. (Jamaica Observer)

WEDNESdAY, november 15, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

Senate committee questions India thieves dig 25ft tunnel to rob bank Trump's nuclear authority

F

or the first time in over 40 years, Congress has examined a US president’s authority to launch a nuclear attack. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing was titled Authority to Order the Use of Nuclear Weapons.

Some senators expressed concern that the president might irresponsibly order a nuclear strike; others said he must have the authority to act without meddling from lawyers.

The last time Congress debated this issue was in March 1976. In August, Trump vowed to unleash

US President Donald Trump

“fire and fury like the world has never seen” on North Korea if it continued to expand its atomic weapons programme. Last month, the Senate commit-

tee’s Republican chairman, Senator Bob Corker, accused the president of setting the US “on a path to World War III”.

Senator Ben Cardin set

the tone at Tuesday morning’s public hearing on Capitol Hill. “This is not a hypothetical discussion,” the Maryland Democrat said.

Some senators present said they were troubled about the President’s latitude to launch a nuclear strike.

Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, said: “We are concerned that the president is so unstable, is so volatile, has a decision-making process that is so quixotic, that he might order a nuclear-weapons strike that is wildly out of step with US national-security interests.” (Excerpt from BBC News)

More than 60 killed in air strike on Syrian market town

T

he death toll from air strikes on a Syrian town in a “de-escalation zone” has risen to 61, a war monitor said on Tuesday, a demonstration of the fragile state of areas set up in attempt to ease the violence.

Jihadist rebels blamed Russian warplanes of carrying out Monday’s attack and said they would fight back against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces

and his Russian and Iranian backers in the six-year-old conflict.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said three air strikes hit the market in Atareb, West of Aleppo, and killed at least 61 people.

Atareb is inside what is known as a de-escalation zone under an agreement between Turkey, Russia and Iran to reduce the bloodshed.

But despite the diplomat-

ic efforts, fighting continues in many areas, including Aleppo, Idlib, Raqqa, Deir al-Zor and Hama. “(The zones) did de-escalate fighting,” U.N. humanitarian adviser Jan Egeland told Reuters. But lately, “there has been increased fighting also.” The zones were set up under the Astana process, a series of talks in the capital of Kazakhstan between Russia and Iran, and the rebels’

supporter Turkey.

They agreed in September to deploy observers on the edge of a de-escalation zone in Syria’s Idlib province, which is largely under the control of Islamist insurgents.

Following the air strikes, the Tahrir al-Sham jihadist alliance denounced the ceasefire talks and pledged to keep fighting government forces and their Russian and Iranian allies. (Excerpt from Reuters)

The thieves dug this tunnel over months

T

hieves in the western Indian city of Mumbai robbed a government-owned bank after gaining access via a 25 feet (eight metres) tunnel that they dug over four months.

The Police told the BBC that cash and jewellery were stolen but the value of the haul is yet to be determined.

Authorities believe the group rented a space next to the Bank of Baroda so they could dig the tunnel.

They are said to have run a grocery shop on the premises to provide cover for their activities. The suspected thieves have been missing since the robbery on Saturday night.

It is not clear how the men managed to dig the tunnel for months without arousing suspicion. Indian media spoke to distraught customers whose safe deposit boxes were robbed. Dagdu Gavani told the Mumbai Mirror: “All my life’s savings were kept in the bank locker. The jewellery, which we had owned since generations, has been lost.”

Employees of the bank, located in a Mumbai suburb, discovered the robbery on Monday morning and alerted the Police. The police told the BBC that 30 of the bank’s 225 safe deposit boxes were robbed. The suspects are yet to be identified.

(BBC News)

Zimbabwe: Army Saudi alliance bombs Sanaa airport, chief accused of ‘treasonable conduct’ blocking aid access

Y

emen’s Houthi rebels have accused the Saudi-led coalition of bombing the country’s main international airport, destroying a navigation station that is critical to receiving already limited aid shipments.

Houthi officials told Al Jazeera two air strikes targeted Sanaa’s international airport in the rebel-held capital early on Tuesday, making it unusable for aid flights and further complicating humanitarian efforts into the country.

“This attack is intended to cause maximum damage and deprive millions of Yemenis from receiving life-saving food and medicines,” Mohammed, a Houthi

Authorities say air strikes destroyed a radio navigation system critical to receiving already limited aid deliveries

official who declined to give his surname, said.

The Saudi-led coalition forced the closure of Sanaa airport in August 2016 to all but a few UN aid flights.

The Houthi-run General Authority for Civil Aviation said in a statement the air strike “led to the total destruction of the VOR/DME radio navigation system, tak-

ing it offline and thus halting the only flights at Sanaa airport – those of the UN and other international organisations delivering humanitarian assistance”.

Last week, the Saudi-led coalition intensified its embargo on Yemen, closing all of the country’s land, sea and air ports after Houthi rebels fired a ballistic missile towards the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

The kingdom intercepted the missile and no one was injured, but within hours it imposed a fresh blockade, claiming it aimed at preventing weapons being smuggled into Yemen by its regional rival, Iran. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

UN condemns N Korea for firing missiles as people starve

U

nited Nations member-states on Tuesday condemned North Korea for gross human rights violations and for conducting missile and nuclear tests while its people suffer from severe hunger.

The UN General Assembly’s human rights committee adopted by consensus a resolution draft-

ed by the European Union and Japan that expressed international concern over Pyongyang’s rights record.

The measure will now go to the General Assembly for debate next month.

North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test this year and test-fired a series of advanced missiles, including intercontinental ballistic

missiles, even as 18 million North Koreans, or 70 per cent of the population, are struggling with food shortages.

The resolution co-sponsored by 61 countries condemns North Korea for “diverting its resources into pursuing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles over the welfare of its people.”

Over half of North

Korea’s population face food shortages and nearly a quarter suffer chronic malnutrition, the resolution said. The measure condemned “the long-standing and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights” in North Korea, and said those violations have led to severe hunger and malnutrition. (Excerpt from MSN)

Zimbabwe Army General Constantino Chiwenga warned of a military takeover

Z

imbabwe’s ruling party has accused the country’s army chief of “treasonable conduct” after he warned of a possible military intervention in politics.

General Constantino Chiwenga had challenged President Robert Mugabe after he sacked the Vice President.

Gen Chiwenga said the Army was prepared to act to end purges within Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party. The party said the General’s comments were “calculated to disturb national peace... [and] incite insurrection”.

In a statement, the party said it would never succumb to military threats, and that it “reaffirms the primacy of politics over the gun”. The statement was signed by SK Moyo, the information secretary, on party letterheaded paper.

Mugabe sacked VicePresident Emmerson Mnangagwa last week, amid a row over succession.

Mnangagwa had previously been seen as an heir to the 93-year-old President, but First Lady Grace Mugabe is now the clear front-runner.

On Tuesday, BBC correspondents reported that a few armoured vehicles had been seen on a main public road outside the capital city, Harare, having left one of the country’s main military barracks, Inkomo.

It is not clear where they were heading but they were not seen on the streets of the city itself. One of the vehicles had broken down on the side of the road. Gen Chiwenga’s warning of possible military intervention came on Monday at a news conference at the army’s headquarters. (Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, november 15, 2017

ARCHIE

You need to find a way to get rid of some excess energy.

(March 21If you let thing brew, anger April 19) will take charge. Concentrate on physical challenges and activities that will help you dissipate stress and worry.

ARIES

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

Don’t get all worked up over nothing. Plug away until you take care of your responsibilities and can sit back and relax with friends or family. Romance is highlighted.

Your playful approach to GEMINI (May 21- life and love will help you gain June 20) access to information that can help you meet new people and get ahead. Discuss your plans with someone you love.

Refuse to let anyone take advantage of you or cause you (June 21- to make an emotional blunder.

July 22) Look inward and consider the changes you can make that will encourage greater happiness and security.

CANCER

Peanuts

Be ready to make a leap

LEO from one thing or place to anoth(July 23- er. Your ability to make things Aug. 22) happen will surprise someone who doesn’t expect you to make a move.

Bypass discussions that VIRGO make you feel uncomfortable (Aug. 23or that you are not ready to Sept. 22) deal with. Look at what you can do, and stay in touch with people who support your beliefs.

Calvin and Hobbes

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Concentrate on the relationships you have with others. Whether at work or home or when dealing with friends, a positive attitude and sincerity will help build strong ties.

Take the lead when the chance occurs. Look at the big picture and make choices that will give you the edge and help you outmanoeuvre any competition you encounter.

Put your mind at ease SAGITTARIUS by doing what’s best for you.

(Nov. 23- Changes you make at home Dec. 21) or work will increase your confidence and boost your income.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

YESTERDAY’S

Stay focused on what you need to accomplish. Don’t let petty differences stir up anxiety and cost you time and money. Walk away from touchy situations.

solution for LAST PUBLISHED Puzzle You can make progress

AQUARIUS when it comes to home im(Jan. 20- provements, investments and Feb. 19) trying to get others to pitch in and help. Don’t let bad habits take control.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

If you want something, be PISCES (Feb. 20- willing to put in the hard laMarch 20) bour, time and effort to make it happen. Intelligence and fortitude will help you reach your goal.

wednesDAY, november 15, 2017

2017/2018 CWI/Digicel 4-Day Championship

Jaguars retain No 1 spot after Hurricanes scare

– Singh, Bramble leading run-scorers

T

Anthony Bramble in full flow

hree-time defending champs Guyana Jaguars sustained their number one spot following the end of a highly-competitive third round in the 2017/18 Cricket West Indies (CWI)/ Digicel Regional 4-Day Tournament.

Guyana got off to two wins in the opening rounds of the competition but barely escaped the clutches of what would have been their third defeat at the hands of the Leeward Hurricanes, who almost

their number twice since last season.

With a clean start to the competition, despite the drawn encounter versus the Hurricanes, the Jaguars have managed to accumulate a healthy 46.6 points, 5.2 points ahead of their long-time rivals and next opponents, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, who have a tally of 41.4.

To date, Guyana have two batsmen in the top 10: Vishaul Singh, leading with 258 runs with a best of 119, and wicket-keep-

Vishaul Singh

upset the champs’ unblemished run this season.

Things ended in a draw as the remarkable recovery was orchestrated by the 43-year-old veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who crafted his 77th FirstClass ton which spared the Jags an agonising defeat to a team which have had

er/batsman Anthony Bramble, who has a trifecta of fifties under his belt with 235 runs. Singh’s current average is 129.00 while Bramble’s aggregate is 58.75, making the pair Guyana’s leading run-scorers heading into round four.

Another Guyanese pair

have found themselves among the tallies; this time in the bowling division with Veerasammy Permaul and Sherfane Rutherford causing a number of problems for the opposition teams in the previously-concluded rounds.

Permaul, Guyana’s leading wicket-taker has snared 17 victims with his left-arm spin from three matches played to date.

He has already passed 400 First-Class wickets and given his track record over the past three seasons, it is likely that he could remain in the top 3 in terms of leading bowlers at the end of the 10 rounds.

Meanwhile, the all-rounder Rutherford has shown that he can punch above his weight by exhibiting great duality, with runs off the bat to go along with his 12 wickets. His haul of 6-32 is also among the current best for bowlers leading up to the fourth round.

The wickets column is, however, dominated by Guyana’s next opponents, the Red Force, who are led by spinner Imran Khan with 18 wickets under his belt to date. The Force also have two centurions in the batting ranks with ex-West Indies wicket-keeper-batsman Denesh Ramdin coming in second with 316 runs, followed by Yannick Cariah rounding off the top 10 with 176 runs.

Overall, the tussle in round four looks to be between the top three teams – Guyana, Trinidad &Tobago and the Leeward Islands, who have a decent point margin ahead of the other three franchises who trail by at least 15 points.

19

Everest Masters beat GuyanaUK CC by 6 wickets

E

Some members of the Everest Masters, along with from right: Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall and Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board, Anand Sanasie

verest Masters defeated the GuyanaUK Cricket Club from London in a friendly T20 game played at Everest Cricket Ground on Friday November 10, 2017. Batting first the visitors posted 109 for 8 off their 20 overs with Navin Persaud hitting an attractive 65 (2x6; 3x4) and Raj Nanan supporting with 16 (1x6; 1x4).

Former Guyana First Class player, Rohan Sarjoo was the best bowler for the

Everest Masters with 3 for 18 while the experienced Johnny Azeez bagged 2 for 21.

In the run chase, Everest Masters got 37 from Shadeo Hardaiow who hit one six and three fours while Troy Gonsalves hit a whirlwind 36 (2x6; 1x4) on their way to 111 for 4 and the six wicket victory.

Navin Persaud showed his all-round capabilities by picking up 2 for 23 to win the Man of the Match award

which was sponsored by Trophy Stall.

The victors added the Guyana UK Cricket Clubsponsored trophy to their collection and in turn presented the London based team with a plaque in recognition of their visit to Everest compliments of Trophy Stall.

The Guyana UK Cricket Club also presented the Everest Cricket Club with cricket gears, balls and a clock.

16 teams for 4th Smalta Girls Peewee Football Tournament

– begins on November 18

T

Organisers and stakeholders, along with students and teachers of participating schools, at the launch of the tournament

he Petra Organisation having recently concluded its Courts Peewee Tournament, now turns its attention to the fourth edition of the Smalta/Public Health Ministry Under-11 Girls Tournament.

At the launch of the Tournament on Tuesday in the Conference Room of the National Library, it was disclosed that teams from 16 schools in Georgetown would be participating over five rounds for top honours.

Co-Director of Petra, Troy Mendonca urged all stakeholders and individuals associated with the Tournament to treat it with the same vigour that is usually shown to male football tournaments.

Mendonca pointed out that throughout the world, women’s football has been making strides which are due largely in part to FIFA who

has been actively pursuing the development of the sport among women.

This Tournament, he noted, could serve as a catalyst for development of the young girls as it would afford them the opportunity to begin careers and even spark an interest in sports as a whole.

“The Petra Organisation is very pleased to join with all the various stakeholders (the Ministry of Public Health, ANSA McAL through their Smalta brand, the Ministry of Education, Guyana Football Federation, and all others) to present this Tournament, to give yet another opportunity to kick start some of these young girls’ careers, and even to help them in deciding if they want to participate in a sport,” Mendonca said.

Meanwhile, Dr Oneka Scott from the Public Health Ministry told the gathering,

which included several of the participants-to-be, that the Tournament would also be pushing to spread Human Papillomavirus (HPV) awareness to the young people.

She noted that it was important for the country to take care of its youth, especially the young girls.

The Smalta Brand Manager, Sean Abel, who was also present at the launch, expressed pleasure on behalf of his company at being able to help shape the minds of the youths once again and wished the organisers and participants the best of luck in the upcoming Tournament.

The competition will begin on Saturday, November 18, and will continue with four other rounds on November 25, December 2, December 9 and December 16 respectively.

Games will begin at 10:00h each day.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesDAY, november 15, 2017

ICC wraps up venue inspections …Women’s World T20 less than a year away

A

team from the International Cricket Council (ICC) has concluded its tour of the Caribbean after inspecting facilities at 11 international match venues in eight countries for next year’s ICC Women’s World Twenty20 2018, which will take place from November 2 to 25.

The venue inspection team, which included representatives of event operations, broadcast and media, also met with the officials of Cricket West Indies in Antigua to discuss event objectives and targets.

The CWI Management will now recommend the venues to its Board of Directors before submitting the venues to the ICC Board for ratification.

“On behalf of the inspection team, I thank all the venues for not only their warm and friendly welcome, but also assisting us with a 360-degree inspection of the venues,” said ICC’s Senior Event Operations Manager, Simon Jelowitz.

“With the event now less than 12 months away, we have a very good understanding of how the venues operate, and

Providence successfully hosted matches in the 2007 World Cup and the 2010 World T20

what needs to be done to deliver an international event with a uniquely Caribbean flavor with the support of the CWI and the venues.

He added: “Though most of the venues, if not all, require some facelift and cosmetic changes, the main point we have emphasized on this visit is to ensure strong crowd attendances. This is consistent to our strategic objectives of

maintaining the momentum from the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017, where a packedto-capacity Lord’s watched England beat India by nine runs in a thrilling final.

“This is also a once-in-alifetime opportunity for the cricket passionate people of the region to back and support their side, which will defend the title, as well as watch the modern-day stars live in action

in one tournament.

“According to the process, the CWI will now internally discuss the potential venues before recommending these to its Board of Directors for approval. The selected venues will then be presented to the ICC Board for ratification in February 2018.”

The ICC venue inspection team visited Sabina Park in Jamaica, National Cricket

Stadium in Grenada, Queen’s Park Oval and Brian Lara Cricket Ground in Trinidad, National Cricket Stadium in Guyana, Three Ws Oval and Kensington Oval in Barbados, Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St. Lucia, Warner Park in St. Kitts, and Vivian Richards Cricket Ground and Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua.

“We are grateful to all the venues for the time, effort and valued information they provided to the inspection team during their visit,” said CWI Senior Project Officer Fawaz Baksh, who accompanied the venue inspection team, along with CWI Commercial Manager, Nelecia Yeates.

“The venue inspection ensures that stadia meet the minimum requirements to host matches and the response to the bid document which has been circulating will be the deciding factor on which country will host matches.”

Baksh said: “Next year’s event will not only provide another global stage for female players to showcase their talent, but also for us – in

the Caribbean – to present our countries to the World.

“But its success will depend on how well it is organized and how efficiently each venue can be managed, so now the work of CWI and ICC begins, as we evaluate the information from the inspections, make the choice of host venues and put the things in place that would get them geared up for hosting of the matches.”

The ICC Women’s World Twenty20 2018 will feature 10 teams, including Windies Women defending the title they won so sensationally last year in India under the leadership of Stafanie Taylor.

Other sides taking part will be: Australia, World 50-overs champions England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka, all of whom have qualified directly.

The remaining two sides will emerge from a qualifying tournament to be staged next June in the Netherlands.

When the ICC World Twenty20 was staged seven years ago in the Caribbean, Australia won the women’s title and England took the men’s crown.

sports

wednesDAY, november 15, 2017 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

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21

What is a chess opening?

C

hess opening is a term that refers to the initial moves which lay the foundation for a chess game.

There are numerous ways of playing the opening phase of a chess game. By the 16th century chess players had already realized that certain opening moves proved more beneficial Jessica Clementson than others. They had started giving specific names to specific openings and had made the first steps towards the development of opening theory.

With the development of modern chess, opening theory has become more and more significant. Certain chess openings have been analyzed for almost a hundred years now, making them become more or less standard.

These openings are known as book openings.

Opening theory is constantly evolving. Every now and then, strong chess players manage to find new moves in well-known positions that change the evaluation of a certain book opening. Such moves are known as theoretical novelties.

It has to be said that the opening theory has undergone truly revolutionary changes in the last 20 years. The development of the modern chess computers was the prerequisite for the invention of the chess opening databases, which have accelerated the flow of chess information and assimilation of chess knowledge.

Nowadays, theoretical novelties are common occurrence and their number and frequency are constantly increasing. Following recent trends in opening theory is a must for any chess professional. Most of them have a “Second”; usually a strong Grandmaster who analyzes certain opening lines, discovers new ideas, and documents his findings.

Before getting to the point where a player starts analyzing complicated variations and finds theoretical novelties, he has to be familiar with the basic principles of chess openings.

In other words, you have to learn how to walk before you can run.

Over the next few articles I will be discussing some Popular Chess Openings and how to play them.

Hamid, Najad performances highlight opening round

T

he Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) of Guyana InterJamaat 10/10 softball cricket competition in Memory of the late Br. Amanat Baksh of Queenstown Jama Masjid began on Sunday with five matches.

All the games were played at the MYO ground, Woolford Avenue, Thomas Lands, Georgetown with Adventure winning both of their matches while

The competition was high on the action-packed opening day

took 3 for 24 and Safraz Mohamed had 2 wickets for 19 runs. In reply, Diamond/ Grove found it very difficult during the course of their innings as they crawled to 63 for 8 wickets when their overs expired. Bowling for Adventure was Adish Salim Hakim with 3 for 10 runs in his two overs and was well supported by Fidel Smith with 3 for 7 and Muhammad Baksh 2 for 11.

MYO beat New Amsterdam by 7 wickets with 25 balls remaining

Mohamed Najab

New Amsterdam lost their two. MYO, Queenstown and Grove also walked away with wins.

Adventure beat Diamond/ Grove by 83 runs

Adventure batted first and made a whopping146 for 9 wickets from their allotted 10 overs with Zameer Mohamed making 37 (3x6, 1x4) and Ameer Mohamed 26 (4x6). Bowling for Diamond/Grove Faiz Ally

New Amsterdam batted first and made 67 for 8 in their allotted 10 overs with Anthony Ameerally making 20 runs (1x4).Bowling for MYO was their main destroyer, Imran Hamid who picked up 4 wickets for 10 runs including a hat trick.

MYO in reply made 68 for 3 wickets in 5.5 overs with Shaheed Gittens making 31 not out (4x4, 1x6) and was supported by Richard Latiff with 18 runs (1x6, 1x4).

Adventure beat New Amsterdam by 7 wickets with 33 balls remaining

New Amsterdam had first strike and were limited to 56 for 8 in their allotted 10 overs with Zahir Moakan making 20 runs (1x6).

Bowling for Adventure was Muhammad Baksh with 3 wickets for 5 runs in his two

overs and was well supported by Leyland Mc Donald with 2 wickets for 3 runs.

Adventure got to their target in 4.3 overs with the loss of 3 wickets with Ameer Mohamed making 19 runs (2x6, 1x4) and Andy Dass 19 runs (2x6).

Bowling for New Amsterdam was YassimYassin had 1 for 14 runs from his 2 overs.

Queenstown beat Land of Canaan by 7 wickets with 9 balls remaining

Land of Canaan batted first and made 93 for 7 in their allotted 10 overs with Rasheed Baksh making 29 runs (3x6) and Mohamed Cubra stroking 25 (1x6).

Bowling for Queenstown was Mohamed Najab with 3 wickets for 27 runs in his two overs and was well supported by Abid Haniff with 2 wickets for 13 runs.

Queenstown got to their target in 8.3 overs with the loss of 3 wickets with Mohamed Najab making 68 runs (7x6, 4x4).

Bowling for Land of Canaan was Andrew Ragnauth with 2 wickets for 21 runs from his 2 overs.

Grove Masjid had an easy day at the office with a walk over from Enmore Masjid who failed to show up.

The competition continues on Sunday with matches at the MYO ground.

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rove Hi Tech successfully ended the inaugural season of the GFF/NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National Under-17 Intra Association League/East Bank Football Association leg on a winning note on Sunday last at the Grove Playfield.

The Grove boys which ended as the only unbeaten team in the two rounds of competition which has a few more games to play, trounced Highway United 5-2. Also triumphing by a similar margin was

Herstelling Raiders which hammered Friendship All Stars.

Kuru Kururu Warriors pocketed full points without breaking a sweat as Agricola Red Triangle failed to put in an appearance.

Scoring for Grove which ended with a positive goal difference of +20, Gregory Stephens with a brace in the 29th and 41st minute, Kashif Tinnee opened proceedings in the first minute of play while Jamassi Benjamin netted in the 60th minute.

Highway United got

Grove Hi-Tech and Highway United in their match on Sunday last at the Grove Playfield

their goals from Shawn Steele in the 33rd minute and Ishmael Pulsarran in the 69th.

Shoran James was the main architect of Herstelling’s win by blasting the nets on three occa-

sions. He scored in the 9th, 24th and 61st minute while there was one each from Joel Taylor in the 22nd and Damion Persaud in the 65th.

Accounting for Friendship’s goals were Zaheer Rahat in the 6th

minute and Xavi Allison in the 38th minute. Grove Hi Tech and Highway United have completed their quota of matches with six teams having one more match to play.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesDAY, november 15, 2017

158 karatekas graduate ASK-Guyana grading Ninth Dan Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-a-tai (centre) is flanked by two of Guyana’s most senior Senseis – Amir Khouri (left) and Jeffery Wong (right) along with other ranked karatekas

S

ome 158 of Guyana’s top and budding martial artists were successfully graded by Ninth Dan Shuseki Shihan Frank Woon-a-tai in Sunday’s Association do Shotokan-Karate (ASK) examinations held at the YMCA Dojo, Thomas Lands.

Founder of the International Karate Daigaku (IKD), Shuseki Shihan Woon-atai, assisted by Seventh Dan Sensei Amir Khouri and senior instructor, Fourth Dan Roger Peroune conducted the exams. Six students passed Shodan (1) and one student who passed Nidan (2) at the July 2017 exams were given their Dan diplomas by Woon-a-tai.

Karatekas hailing from Association do Shotokan Karate-Guyana dojos in New Amsterdam, Albion, Blairmont, Land of Canaan, Canal Number One and Georgetown –YMCA & GKF – were examined and graded during the one-day event.

Karatekas who were promoted to Second

Dan included Laurence Lowe of the GKF and YMCA’s own Malcolm Francis. YMCA also saw three other students, Reuel Austin, Clint Jones and Shemar Parkinson, being promoted to First Dan while Dorian Dhanraj of Blairmont, Xavier Henry of New Amsterdam and Chelsea Benjamin of Land of Canaan were also promoted to the same rank.

Woon-a-tai also announced that Senseis Khouri and Jeffrey Wong were successful at their Seventh Dan exams held on November 9, thus making them the only two Guyanese to currently hold such a high rank in the arts.

Apart from the aforementioned karatekas and instructors, there were also a significant number of students who attained higher rank at the exams. Shuseki Shihan Woon-a-tai continued with his intensive training sessions for seniors, which has been ongoing for about two weeks and is expected to continue until his departure.

A few of the senior instructors (centre) flanked by their students at Sunday’s grading exam

BCB U-15 Inter-Zone Competition

Lions Club/Clear Waters domino tournament

Spartans B reign supreme

Upper Corentyne crush Lower Corentyne by 135 runs U pper Corentyne continued their dominance after whipping arch-rivals Lower Corentyne by 135 runs in the third and final round of the ongoing Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Under-15 50-Over InterZone Competition.

The competition is used as a measuring stick by the selectors as they prepare to identify the 30-man squad which will be encamped for training in preparation for the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) U-15 Inter-County Competition scheduled for February 2018.

Played at the Jai Hind Ground in Albion, table-toppers Upper Corentyne scored 215-5 in 50 overs after a magnificent knock of 83 from Vettorie Latchman while Mahendra Gopilall supported with 37 and Jonathon Rampersaud with 33.

The wickets were evenly shared among Lower Corentyne bowlers: Leon

Vettorie Latchman

Cecil took 1-34, Rudra Goberdhan 1-36, Parvanand Ganesh 1-42, Damian Cecil 1-32 and Hemchand Maniram 1-17. In their reply, Lower Corentyne was then steamrolled for 80 in 36.1 overs with Hemchand Maniram top-scoring with a meagre six runs. Matthew Pottaya starred with 5-16 while Jeremy Sandia had 2-26, Jonathon Rampersaud 1-21, Rampersaud Remnant

1-7 and Gopilall 1-10 to cap off a ruthless bowling exhibition.

Over at the Young Warriors Ground in Cumberland, Western Berbice defeated hosts New Amsterdam/Canje by 51 runs, advancing to the second-place spot in the competition.

Batting first, Western Berbice scored 133 in 30.5 overs, with Darius Josef leading the way with 52 and support coming from A Antwoon (31) and V Singh (16).

C Arokium took 3-34, while Isia Thorne and J Persaud took two wickets each for New Amsterdam/ Canje who found themselves mowed down for 82 in 27 overs, despite T Caesar showing some resistance with 35. Bowling for Western Berbice was led by L Budhram, who bagged a five-fer and S Rupnarine, who ended with three wickets.

A

The victorious Spartans B team after winning the inaugural Lions Club/Clear Waters domino tournament

fter six competitive rounds of intense dominoes competition, Spartans B was crowned winners of the Lions Club Clear Water sponsored tournament.

In the first 3 rounds of the finals Spartans B, Transport and the famous Mix up was near inseparable with the score line reading 30 30 25.

But in the 4th round Spartans B made their first

move and powered away with 18 games to take a nine and ten games lead respectively.

Going full throttle Spartans B again power it’s way in the 5th sitting to mark another 18 games. Literally sealing their position while Transport and Mix up was jostling for the second position.

In the end the score line read : Winners -Spartans B 88 games, Transport 73 games

and Mix up in the third position with 68 games.

For winning Spartans B was rewarded with 250000, trophy and medals, while transport for their efforts walked away with 140000, trophy and medals and Mix up received.

60 000 trophy and medal.

The MVP of the finals was Leroy Edwards of Spartans B marking the maximum 18 games.

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESDAY, november 15, 2017

23

2nd place finish for Guyana at CMRC – Prince, King among champion racers

Veteran race car driver Andrew King collects his award from CMRA Chairman Silbourne Clarke

Silbourne Clarke on Monday evening at the annual presentation ceremony and dinner held at the Ramada Princess Hotel, East Bank Demerara.

With previous rounds held in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and then Barbados, Clarke highlighted that current Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club President Ramez Mohamed led the Guyanese charge up the point standings.

According to Clarke, Guyana amassed 648 points while Barbados (580), Jamaica (330) and Cayman Young Star Kevin Persaud collects his award from Palm Court’s Sasha Lewis after winning the local Super Sport championship

G

uyana will just have wait until next year to once again savour the success of winning the Caribbean Motor Racing Championship (CMRC) title after finishing second to two-time defending champions Trinidad and Tobago who scored a whopping 1267 points after the 2017 season concluded on Sunday at South Dakota Circuit.

This announcement was made by Chairman of the Caribbean Motor Racing Association (CMRA)

Champion Boy! New CMRC Super Stock Champion Bryce Prince

Island (65) rounded-off the table.

Regarding individual awards, CMRC Group 4 (AWD) champion was awarded to local and Andrew King while the 2WD went Barbadian Mark Maloney.

King also won the local 2WD class while former CMRC champion Kristian Jeffrey won the 4WD. Group three CMRC champion driver went to Trinidad’s Paul Vieira while , Vishok Persaud who was simply unstoppable on

Sunday wining all three of his races was deemed the local champion for the group.

Over in Group Two, Barbadian Mark Thomson retained his CMRC title while Chet Singh lead the locals.

Sports Tuner went to Azaad Hasan while Street Tuner was awarded to Roopnarine Dasrat and the Starlet Cup champion being Motilal Deodass.

In the two-wheel thick of action, Team Mohammed’s Bryce Prince won the CMRC Super Sport title,

displacing 2016 Champion Mathew Vieira.

Prince would have been unbeaten throughout all the rounds until Guyana where he was beaten by teammate Matt Truelove.

On the local circuit, the improving Kevin Persaud who amassed the highest points while Raverio Tucker came second and Vieira third.

The first leg of the 2018 Championships will be held in March at the Wallerfield Raceway in Trinidad and Tobago.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

2nd place finish for Guyana at CMRC

Pg 23

– Prince, King among champion racers Sweet Victory! Team Trinidad and Tobago celebrate another championship title

16 teams for 4th Smalta Girls Peewee Football Tournament

Pg 19

– begins on November 18

Attention now turns to female football to see who will be deemed the best school in the city

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