Guyanatimes 22 july 2017

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3279

Saturday, July 22, 2017

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Prison escapees

Govt to request over $500M from National Assembly Page 10

… to house prisoners, boost security

1 detained P13 as manhunt leads to Linden …recaptured prisoner was using public transportation

Agricola man wanted for escaping P9 from GPHC

Demerara Rum brand becomes first GI registered rum in P7 Caribbean

Cricket with Crix! An employee of Massy Industries has a bright smile after he got the opportunity to strike a pose with Guyana Amazon Warriors Steven Jacobs and Assad Fudadin at the company’s Ruimveldt location (Carl Crooker Photo)

Chinese national killed during row at wharf “We want to meet Former CEO with the President” Johnson acted – GGDMA “recklessly” Page 7

GPHC procurement probe

Page 2

– Board

Page 3

… after tampered tendering led to drug shortage

… as concerns of miners yet to be addressed

Haags Bosch dumpsite in recovery mode P10

Poisoning of witness

Teenager remains P11 critical … suspect questioned, released

2 news

saturDAY, july 22, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.co

Released prisoner goes on robbery spree … attacks 8 Berbice homes

upon checking, discovered that someone was using a flashlight to search one of his cars. He said that by the time he went out into the yard, the person had departed, but he discovered that two of his cars were broken into and items, including money and a cellular phone, had gone missing.

Ajab said the police were contacted, and after several checks in the community,

The window with missing louvres at Lolita Ramdass’ home, where the man gained entry

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esidents of East Coast Berbice communities between Palmyra and Seawell in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) were shocked to learn that a man, released on Thursday after serving prison time for larceny, had plundered at least eight homes within a space of three hours, spanning the late evening hours of Thursday and the early morning hours of Friday.

Now safely back in the custody of law enforcement personnel, the man, when apprehended, was found with two bulky bags containing items from villagers’ homes.

The first reported breakage was in the village of Seawell, where Lolita Ramdass discovered that someone had removed several louvre panes from her window and had entered the lower flat of her two-storey building. The discovery was made at about 07:00h on Friday, when her granddaughter went to the lower flat and discovered both doors open.

Ramdass said items had been removed from her refrigerator, along with household items and three bags containing small sums of money. She also reported missing a cellular phone and its charger.

As Ramdass raised an alarm, persons from the back of the village who were on their way to work found several household items packed in a bag, and partly-used bottles of beverage nearby. A check revealed that some of the items belonged to her.

Askam Ally, who lives two houses away from Ramdass, was reportedly awoken from sleep at about 22:00h on Thursday by strange sounds in his Lot 5 Sewell home. Ally explained that he opened the door and confronted the person, who made a dash for the gate, and picked up a bicycle he had leaning on the fence.

On that bicycle was a bulky bag.

And at about 02:00h on Friday, Annan Ajab, also called “Sham,” of Lot 59 Palmyra, said he was awoken but a strange sound; and

One of the cars which was broken into and money stolen

they found a man walking a short distance away. The man was carrying two bulky bags. Further checks revealed that there were household and personal items in those bags. Several residents were later able to identify some of the items in those bags.

Ajab related that police also found a bicycle parked in a street with a bulky bag hanging on the handle.

Ricky Gowkarran of Lot 57 Palmyra said he was called out, and on his way to the gate, he discovered that his bicycle had been stolen. It was later discovered that the bicycle which was found with a heavy bag belonged to him.

Oma Karram of Lot 43 Palmyra said that when she got up, she discovered that someone had broken into her home and had partly emptied her refrigerator, and had removed a number of other

items from her kitchen.

Some of the missing articles were found to be in the bags which the man was carrying when he was nabbed.

Vindud Ramnauth explained that he had heard a strange sound during the night, and later found that someone had removed three boots and other items from the shoe rack in his Lot 83 Palmyra Village home.

Someone had also broken the window of his car, but had not entered the vehicle. The boots were among the items recovered in the bags.

A car belonging to Steve Samaroo of Lot 47 Palmyra Village was also broken into on Friday morning, but nothing was stolen therefrom.

Meanwhile, only some of the items discovered in the bags have been claimed by villagers between Palmyra and Seawell, East Coast Berbice.

Region 5 APNU/AFC Councillors walk out of RDC meeting T

he Region Five RDC monthly meeting was on Thursday disrupted for the fourth consecutive time as Regional Executive Officer (REO) Ovid Morrison led the Coalition Councillors out of the meeting, refusing to participate in deliberations until the Region 5 Chairman apologises to him.

The refusal of the REO to sit at RDC meetings has been having a negative impact on the residents of that region, in that development plans are at a standstill. Regional Chairman Vickchand Ramphal is

Region Five Chairman, Vickchand Ramphal

Region 5 REO, Ovid Morrison

accusing the REO of acting in an unconstitutional manner. The Chairman is of the view that, as Clerk of the House, the REO has a constitutional obligation to sit in the RDC meetings and do what a clerk is expected to do. He said Morrison has shown total disregard for the council, the people of the region, and does not seem to understand his function as it relates to the RDC. Thursday’s walkout was triggered by events that transpired at an April meeting which resulted in the first walkout by the APNU representatives on the Regional Council.

That act was in response to Chairman Ramphal calling for an investigation into allegations against the Chairman and the Vice Chairman of the Bath/Woodley Park Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC).

At the April meeting, AFC Councillor Abel Seetaram had made allegations that an excavator assigned to the NDC by the NDIA to do work in the NDC area had been commandeered by

the Chairman and Vice Chairman and deployed to do work to benefit lands the duo intended to use for their personal benefit.

According to Seetaram, he and the REO had observed the misuse of the machine first hand, and had demanded that it be used for the purpose for which it was sent to the area by the NDIA. Ramphal said an investigation should be carried out in regard to the excavator being utilised for personal use, and evidence should be provided. But Morrison has said the fact that the Chairman is calling for an investigation into what he (Morrison) would have witnessed first-hand is questioning his integrity, and he is demanding that Ramphal apologise for so doing.

However, Ramphal told reporters on Thursday that the RDC is guided by parliamentary practices.

He related that when there is an allegation about the drug bond, the Speaker of the House called for an investigation to be launched and for both sides of the house to be a part of it.

Ramphal said Thursday’s meeting was an opportunity for him to bring to the council many of the issues affecting the people of the region with the hope that the council would have been able to adequately address them.

“There are many issues out there that were brought to the attention of the various NDCs, and those problems that the NDC cannot handle would have come as recommendations at that meeting, which is supposed to be brought before the council so that the council can take action to address these issues, to reduce the problems that are affecting the residents of Region Number Five,” the Chairman noted.

Between January and July 2015, the coalition had refused to sit under the chairmanship of Ramphal, saying an apology is needed from him for not attending a function in the Region at which President David Granger was the guests of honour.

On August 1, while delivering an Emancipation Day speech at Ithaca, the President said there was no need for an apology, and asked the two sides to work together.

“I once again am calling on the REO, who is the Clerk of this House, to behave responsibly and to put the interest of the people at heart before his personal beliefs,” implored the Regional Chairman.

The Regional Chairman said that at the last Regional and Local Government Committee meeting, several NDCs Chairmen and Vice Chairmen expressed their disapproval over the way Morrison had been handling the affairs of the region.

news

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saturDAY, july 22, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, July 22 – a night time retraction at 03:30h and a day time retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Sunday, July 23 – 04:30h-06:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, July 22 – 15:50h-17:20h and Sunday, July 23 – 16:45h-18:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected in the morning while thundery showers are expected to dominate throughout the afternoon and into the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging between East South-easterly and Southeasterly and South South-easterly between 1.78 metre and 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 03:20h and 15:54h reaching maximum heights of 2.70 metres and 2.61 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:25h and 21:43h reaching minimum heights of 0.49 metre and 0.61 metre.

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GPHC procurement probe

Former CEO Johnson acted “recklessly” – Board … after tampered tendering led to drug shortage

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probe conducted by the Board of Directors of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) into the nearly $632 million emergency drug procurement expenditure earlier this year has found that former GPHC Chief Executive Officer (ag) Allan Johnson had acted recklessly when he signed off on the contracts for emergency supplies without going to tender. “The Board was shocked and disappointed to learn that GPHC had breached the (procurement) laws,” a statement from the hospital said on Friday. Following weeks of criticisms from stakeholders, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence had in March ordered the GPHC Board to investigate the circumstances surrounding the award of a $605 million contract to ANSA McAL to procure emergency drugs and supplies for the GPHC. The investigation ordered sought to determine if/ how the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) had been involved in the process; how the shortlisted companies were evaluated; and whether all the drugs had been supplied by ANSA McAL on time, among other issues. It was reported earlier this year that the emergency contract was awarded to the Trinidadbased company after the hospital had found itself facing “critical drug shortage”, a situation that was created as a result of, among other reasons, a GPHC Finance Department staffer tampering with tender documents. “GPHC authorities cited reasons for the shortage, including the underestimation and late quantification of drugs; the annulment of a tender because a GPHC Finance Department employee had tampered with a tender document; and the failure of some local suppliers to honour their 2016 contracts,” the statement on Friday said.

In light of the shortage, several emergency meetings were held. On February 3, Minister Lawrence met with then CEO and senior staff of the Finance and Pharmacy Departments of GPHC, during

Former GPHC CEO (ag), Allan Johnson

which she instructed them to immediately devise a plan of action to alleviate the drug shortage as quickly as possible. To this end, the hospital staff reported to the Board that the minister requested that the hospital take into consideration Pan American Health Organisation’s (PAHO) emergency mechanism to supply pharmaceuticals, and also check with Materials Management Unit (MMU) of the Public Health Ministry to ascertain whether they had any of the required drugs in stock before a determination could be made about which drugs the hospital would need to procure from suppliers.

At a subsequent meeting that day, the Public Health Minister reportedly listened to a plan of action developed and presented by the GPHC Finance Director, which included determining availability of drugs from PAHO, MMU and local suppliers; obtaining quotations from suppliers; sending an evaluation report to the National Procurement and Tender Administration (NPTAB) for approval, then followed by the award of tender. However, it was found during the probe that the GPHC did not follow its stated plan of action. “The Procurement Act provides that any contract beyond the sum of $15 million must go through NPTAB, which then forwards it to Cabinet for re-

view and approval. Former Acting Chief Executive Officer of GPHC, Mr Allan Johnson, wrote NPTAB seeking approval for the contracts after GPHC had begun to receive pharmaceuticals from the suppliers,” the Board said.

Moreover, none of the information received by the Board during the investigation revealed that Minister Lawrence had ever given instruction to GPHC officials to bypass any procurement procedures or laws. “The Board believes that the senior staff of the Finance Department had an ethical and professional duty to properly advise Mr Johnson, since this matter was within their realm of expertise. Mr Johnson had been known to trust and depend on his officers to do the right thing, and it is regretta-

rious matter to the members.

The decision for the GPHC Board to probe the emergency drug procurement at the medical institution was heavily criticised by General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who had stated that the board could not impartially investigate the matter. He noted that such a probe should have been undertaken by the Auditor General’s Office or by the Public Procurement Commission (PPC). One week later, Chair of the PPC, Carol Corbin, announced that the Commission was probing the procurement of pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies, specifically done by the GPHC. That probe is still ongoing, and the Board, management and staff of GPHC have

The Georgetown Public Hospital ble that they failed him in this instance. However, ultimately, the power was within Mr Johnson’s judgment and signature, and he acted recklessly”, the Board said.

The Board also said that it was unacceptable that when it held its first meeting, on February 22, after being installed, the now former CEO had failed to disclose this se-

said they have been fully cooperating with the Commission in its investigation.

“We wish to defer to the report of the PPC in relation to this matter, since that body has the remit and required expertise to conduct a thorough investigation. Further, the PPC has wider jurisdiction to interview all parties involved,” the Board said on Friday.

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saturDAY, july 22, 2017

Views Farewell!

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

More focus on STEM

T

he recent success of the STEM Guyana team at the just concluded 2017 Global Challenge in Washington, DC, is yet another example of what our young people could achieve once they are provided with the necessary opportunities. After three days of fierce competition, the team was able to cop the 10th position out of a total of 165 countries overall, even topping the points board on day one of the competition. It should be mentioned too that technology heavyweights such as Russia, China and the United States were also part of the completion.

The way the Guyana team performed has shown what can be done considering the fact the team only had a few months to prepare for the Robotics competition. The team was able to band together and more importantly represent their country well at such a high-level competition.

The success of the team is a perfect example of Guyanese ingenuity and creativity. It shows that inspite of the many challenges at home and the negative perceptions persons usually have of Guyanese, our young people can still rise to the challenge and be counted among some of the leaders in the various fields. For Guyana to compete for the very first time against 165 countries that have much experience in the field and come out in 10th place is a tremendous achievement and will serve as a motivation to others who have an interest in the socalled STEM subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Certainly, the investments made over the years in improving performances in STEM subjects are beginning to show results. As stated by First Lady Sandra Granger, the success of the team is a testimony of what investments, particularly by Government and the Private Sector in STEM education can yield for young Guyanese.

The importance of focusing on STEM education could never be overemphasised due to their importance to national development. Our leaders, from both the past and current Administrations have recognised the need to create more opportunities for our young people to further their studies in STEM subjects.

Over the past few months, President David Granger has been actively promoting STEM education and encouraging students and teachers to pay more attention to the four STEM subjects. He had said this is an important aspect of Government policy as it is the future of Guyana.

The President’s National Endowment for Science and Technology (NEST) programme, which provides funding to schools for investment in STEM is a laudable initiative.

There should be other similar programmes; some of which could be Private Sector-driven, geared towards improving performances of students in various areas.

Every student who has a desire to further their studies in STEM subjects should be afforded the opportunity to do so. We feel that once the necessary facilities are provided, such as laboratories, etc, more young people will be drawn to these areas of study.

Additionally, more students should be encouraged to focus on STEM subjects to advance their chances in the job market. This is necessary as it will help them to become innovative. It will also help them to be equipped with the necessary skills to contribute to national development.

Some persons see STEM as “hard subjects”. When one looks at the number of students graduating from the university, it is evident that more students are gravitating to the social sciences. However, if this trend continues, we would continue to see graduates coming out of the university for whom the job market would be severely limited.

While there is need for qualified persons in the arts and humanities and other fields, there is also a need for experts in science and technology; hence, more attention should be provided to encourage children who are gifted in science and technology to explore their passion. In essence, considering the national needs of the country, STEM is seen sustainable. If students undertake STEM subjects, they can be assured of job opportunities, not only here in Guyana, but in many other countries.

The excellent performance of the STEM Guyana team should be celebrated by all Guyanese.

After six weeks of hands-on training at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), a farewell reception was held to honour Crystal Griffith (second front left) and Kelly Hyles (second from right) at the Hospital’s conference room on Friday. Also in photo are CEO of the Hospital, Brigadier George Lewis (right); Director of Medical and Professional Services, Sheik Amir (left); and Chairperson of the GPHC’s Board, Kessaundra Alves. Hyles’ rose to fame when her story about being accepted at all the precarious universities in the United States went viral

The Judiciary is the authoritative interpreter of the Constitution Dear Editor, Several news publications have reported His Excellency Brigadier David Granger (“the President”) as saying that notwithstanding the decision of the Court regarding the interpretation of Article 161 (2) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, he intends to act in accordance with his own perception of the meaning of the text.

Ideally, I would have preferred to have the benefit of the Court’s written decision and an official statement from the President on the judgement, to inform this contribution. However, as neither seem available at the moment, I will proceed on the strength of what has been reported.

Now, providing that such a position was indeed taken by the President, it constitutes an affront to the principle of constitutionalism, which advances the view that a Government’s powers are subject to the constitution.

Essential to the principle of constitutionalism is the doctrine of judicial supremacy; that is, the exclusive right of superior courts of record to authoritatively interpret and apply the constitution and statutes. It is for this reason that courts are oft described as the guardians or protectors of the constitution.

This principle was elucidated by the United States Supreme Court as early as 1803 in the landmark case Marbury v. Madison (1803) 1 Cranch 137. Delivering the opinion of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice John Marshall remarked: “It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is.

Those who apply the rule to particular cases must, of ne-

cessity, expound and interpret that rule.

The role of courts in interpreting constitutions was also stated in the case of Shatrughan Chauhan and Another v. Union of India and Others; and other writ petitions [2014] 4 LRC 124, where the Indian Supreme Court said, “There is no question of remanding the matter for consideration, because this court is the custodian and enforcer of fundamental rights, and (is) the final interpreter of the Constitution.”

Both decisions reflect the generally held position of courts across several jurisdictions, and thus constitute persuasive authority. For the benefit of laypersons, I pause to explain that judicial decisions (judgment-made law or common law), or rather the determinative legal principle (or ratio decidendi) which underscores such decisions, set persuasive or binding precedent with respect to our own courts. I am yet to encounter any determinations which suggest that the interpretation of a constitutional provision by an executive president in a democracy is superior to a judicial interpretation.

There is no written constitution to interpret in the United Kingdom (“UK”), but it is trite law that it is the court which possesses exclusive authority to interpret and apply statute. Various rules and canons of interpretation have been developed over the centuries to assist the court in this exercise.

How familiar is the President with these rules and canons? Indeed, the President has the benefit of the advice of the learned Attorney General, but even this officer’s interpretation is not superior to that of the Court’s.

So then, if our superior courts authoritatively interpret the constitution, saying what it means, and Article 8 of the Constitution provides that: “This constitution is the supreme law of Guyana…”, one may reasonably argue that the meaning of the Constitution, as given by the Court, is supreme, being superior to all other proffered meanings, and is subject only to the determinations of more senior courts in Guyana’s judicial hierarchical structure.

The effect is that the President’s interpretation of Article 162 (2) of the Constitution is, in law, of no legal effect where it differs from the judicial determination of a superior court of record. Furthermore, unless his own view is vindicated on appeal from the current determination, the President is duty bound to defer to the judicial determination.

There is a very important rationale behind the court’s authoritative role as interpreter of the Constitution.

Consider a scenario where every entity or person empowered by the Constitution to exercise power is allowed to conclude for themselves the meaning of constitutional provisions which define the nature and scope of their powers. Imagine if the President is allowed to, ignoring previous and later judicial determinations, and determine, in all cases, the limitations, or lack thereof, on his own discretions and even immunities.

Also, consider the ramifications of citizens demanding the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights provided for in our Constitution in accordance with their own interpretations, as opposed to deferring to judicial guidance. What if citizens interpreted the guiding principles

of our Constitution as binding upon the State, as opposed to viewing them as non-justiciable, as decided by our courts?

Article 27 (1) in particular -- which speaks to the “right to free education from nursery to university, as well as non-formal places where opportunities are provided for education and training” -would be especially problematic.

I will seek to further make my point by way of a comparison. The role of the courts in Guyana is similar to that of the Caribbean Court of Justice (“CCJ”) with respect to the interpretation and application of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (“RTC”). If each State party to the RTC is allowed to interpret and apply the RTC’s provisions for themselves, it is likely that we would have as many interpretations as we do have States.

Indeed, in the few cases which have engaged the CCJ’s Original Jurisdiction, various States have proffered their own interpretations of RTC provisions, none of which are valid unless they align with the interpretation adopted by the CCJ. To ensure a much-needed uniformed interpretation and application of the RTC within the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (“CSME”), there must be a single authoritative interpreting entity. The CCJ, in its Original Jurisdiction, serves this role.

To ensure a uniformed interpretation and application of Guyana’s Constitution and statutes, there must be a single authoritative interpreting entity. Our courts of superior record, including the CCJ in its Appellate Jurisdiction, serve this role.

Yours sincerely, Chevy Devonish

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saturDAY, july 22, 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

FITUG in solidarity US Diaspora and free and fair elections with Venezuelan working people Dear Editor, The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG), a major segment of the organised Guyanese working-class, has been following over the last months the situation in Venezuela, an important neighbouring country, with growing uneasiness and deep concern.

The street violence coming from the extreme right, a section of the political opposition is clearly aimed at destablisation of the Maduro Government – a constitutionally and democratically-based Government. We consider that the unleashed violence and its instigators find encouragement from the several intrusive statements made by the foreign ruling circles.

In the tension-filled situation, FITUG expresses appreciation of the several significant efforts made by the present Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to reach a compromise with the Opposition Parties and return the country to normalcy and continuing its pro-people development.

So far, unfortunately, the Opposition’s intransigence has led to little or inconsistent progress in this direction. The Opposition’s stances have revealed their insincerity to bring a halt to the existing situation.

Their real intention, obviously, is to ensure a change of Government by violence rather than the democratic route.

FITUG has especially noted the expressions of solidarity coming from the Caribbean, extra-regional countries and many independent, conscientious, progressive and democratic forces to the Maduro Government.

The rule of imperialism, hand-in-glove with local reactionaries, have brought back memories of

the past filled with horrifying violence and militaristic ventures, most notably, Chile of the 1970’s.

We of FITUG have taken cognizance of the new Constitutional initiative taken by President Maduro to address the on-going situation.

This effort relates to the decision to convene a Constituent Assembly which would continue to rely on democratic means to consolidate the country’s social achievement and chart a just destiny for the Venezuelan masses.

We welcome this initiative and wish it all success.

As a neighbour, we are aware that developments over there can and will almost surely impact our own country one way or another. With this in mind, FITUG, a workers organization, is of the view that the National Constituent Assembly can lead to a halt of the violence, see an end to this assault on democracy and self-determination and ensure stability in our region.

We join with other democratic and peace-loving forces to express solidarity with Venezuela’s working-people and their leaders in this time of trials and also in the democratic institutions in their admirable struggles to defend democracy and the gains made over the recent years.

Sincerely, FITUG

Dear Editor, A handful of overseas-based Guyanese assisted in the struggle for free and fair elections in Guyana during the 1970s thru 1992, when the country held its first democratic election after independence. An appeal is being made to the diaspora to help secure a fair election in 2020. The group of freedom fighters who led the overseas struggle for democratic elections is no longer enthusiastic to lead, or even join, the campaign for an election that is free and fair and free from fear, which is due by 2020, because of the shabby treatment meted out to them by successive governments since 1992, particularly in the post-Jagan period.

Only a handful of us carried out the international aspects of the struggle to restore democratic rule in our former homeland. We lob-

bied the US Government (the Administrations of Presidents Carter, Reagan and Bush, Snr) and Members of Congress to help return our country to democratic rule, and to the open economy that existed prior to independence in 1966.

The US and U.K. were responsible for installing the PNC into office in 1964, and propping up the Burnham dictatorship to keep the pro-Soviet PPP out. After the Cold War ended in 1990, with PPP no longer a major concern to the West, and as we appealed to Washington to help liberalize and liberate our former homeland, the US demanded economic and political reforms in Guyana.

Desmond Hoyte caved in to the demand by Washington for the (Jimmy) Carter Center to observe the election. The Carter Center itself was lobbied by us in

the US to observe the elections. A relatively fair election was held under international supervision in October 1992, resulting in the defeat of Hoyte.

Democratic governance and free and fair election would not have been possible without the US intervention, which came about largely through that very important and direct role played by the diaspora in the US. The diaspora in the UK, Canada, Trinidad, and other countries also lent a helping hand to liberate their former homeland.

The PPP was returned to office, but the role of the diaspora in the restoration of democracy was never really acknowledged or fully appreciated.

The relationship between the post-Jagan governments and supporters abroad eventually turned sour. However, although the

former freedom fighters are disillusioned with the rule of the coalition, they are not very enthused about returning to the PPP. The NY diaspora bitterly complains about a few individuals in their midst who alienate supporters in the Big Apple.

There is a hands-off approach on calls to help secure a free and fair election in 2020. The diaspora has, over the years, been treated too badly by the political forces in Guyana, and they don't want to be burnt again.

The proverb "Once bitten twice shy" is apt here. The political parties and their leaders would have to provide a lot of guarantees before the diaspora re-joins any campaign to secure a free and fair election, or for any party to be victorious in their former homeland.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Swift actions by GWI

Dear Editor, Dr Richard Van WestCharles, along with his Billing and Customer Service Management teams, deserves open commendation for swiftly and actively addressing a matter surrounding Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI)’s service. This follows my ventilation, in an earlier Letter to the Editor a few days ago, regarding billing discrepancies on an account that I pay.

Guyana is a country where most officials and decision-makers upwards of supervisorial levels often claim to be busy with meetings and various forms of engagements all day long. It

is a virtual impossibility to receive acknowledgements and responses to correspondence, much less meet with those types of gods in person, unless one holds a significant hierarchical position in society, or hails from the ABC caucus. I consider myself an ordinary citizen, with the singular focus of thriving for the best possible life while God gives me breath in Guyana. For this reason, I am absolutely impressed by the attitude, responsiveness and availability of the GWI management to address the matter I highlighted. My respect for them and their hard work has increased immensely.

Our meeting was cordial,

fruitful, and gave hope for an unfolding new dimension of customer service.

A number of positive and promising outputs emanated from that engagement.

The GWI team read and clearly understood the contents of my letter. They investigated the matter. There was a collaborative effort to resolve it. They availed themselves. They acknowledged what went wrong, and by whom. They provided an apology, and a resolution was immediately initiated to correct the problem.

Part of the aforementioned resolution lies

with the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

Dr Van West-Charles and his team are already engaging the PUC on addressing the broader issues.

The issue I addressed, which many other consumers lament about, may not have required our engagement if the PUC and GWI were able to forge greater public awareness.

Nevertheless, expedient progress is being made in that regard, and I can only wish them well!

Sincerely, Orette Cutting

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saturDAY, july 22, 2017

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By Laura Markham, PhD

"I've been very careful to not use bribery with my child, but there have been times when I've said 'If we all get buckled into the car, we can have time for a book before we eat lunch'... or something like that, and I've wondered if I had just used bribery. What's the difference between bribery and helping them to move towards the next thing with a little incentive?" – Julie

I

t's a well-accepted tenet of parenting that bribes are a bad idea, used only by desperate parents.

But virtually all parents use them from time to time. So why do "experts" always give this advice?

Because children shouldn't be "rewarded" for behaviour they should do anyway

I don't find this reason convincing.

All of us need some incentive to do the right thing and give up something we want. Just because your child "should" obey you instantly without an argument the first time you tell him it's time to leave the playground doesn't mean he will. There are lots of things we "should" do that we're more likely to do if we see that there's something in it for us. For young children, that might be looking forward to a book before lunch.

Conclusion: Looking for a "Win/ Win" solution that meets both our desires and our child's desires is not bribery. The key is to offer the "reward" in advance, by looking for a way to make the situation work for everyone. Don't offer the reward in the middle of misbehaviour, because that trains children to misbehave to force you to give them a reward.

Because when children get older, they won't get rewards for do-

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Foundation

ing what they're supposed to do

Actually, they'll get a pay cheque for doing their job. They'll get a tax break for donating to a good cause. If they eat right and take care of their bodies, they'll be rewarded with good health. So this objection isn't always true. Even if it's true that the world doesn't necessarily reward good behaviour, there's a fundamental flaw in the argument. Just because we're preparing children for a cold, cruel world, we don't make them sleep without blankets. We raise them to be the kind of person who's empowered to create more warmth in the world, for themselves and for others. We empower them to find blankets.

Conclusion: Not a convincing reason to refrain from incentives. Again, the caveat holds that these incentives are established in advance, not pulled out under duress when a child is misbehaving.

Because when children are rewarded for a desired behaviour (sharing, reading, eating broccoli) they actually do less of the behaviour

Now, this is convincing. Research shows that rewarding a child for a behaviour communicates that the behaviour must be unpleasant, since you "have to be rewarded" for doing it.

Unfortunately, this is true not only for material rewards but even for the reward of praise (Research shows that "Good sharing!" makes children share less – unless an adult is watching.)

This seems to be because rewards are so powerful they make children focus on the reward as the benefit of what they assume is an "unpleasant" activity. So they never experience the inherent rewards of the activity itself: Sharing can give you a good feeling, reading can be entrancing, and broccoli can taste good!

Conclusion: Using bribes to manipulate children to repeat a desired behaviour is a control tactic that makes children focus on the reward rather than helping them want to repeat the behaviour. Luckily, there's an alternative. We can point out the result of the behaviour and empower our child to decide if he wants to repeat it: "Sam looked so happy when you shared your truck with him!"

ping cart than to use a bribe once your child is demanding one.

What if you've been using material bribes, like toys, to get your child cooperating? I haven't seen research that this does any harm if it's time-limited and very specific, such as small prizes for potty training. True, your child is learning to pay attention to his body's urges because he wants another piece for his train set. But he is learning a new habit that will continue even after your bribes stop, and habits are powerful in shaping behaviour.

What about a more general trend of paying your child off with small toys every time she cooperates with you? Cooperation is too complicated to be shaped by a simple habit, since it's

driven by emotions and how connected your child feels to you at the moment. That means you'll have to keep bribing over time. Besides, your child will quickly learn this new game and bargain harder, so you're setting yourself up for extortion.

What's more, you're ignoring a red flag. Why does your child need a toy to cooperate with you? Is she feeling a bit disconnected?

To dig yourself out of that hole, try an experiment. Dispense with the bribes, and substitute some giggly roughhousing every day for a week. I predict that your child will feel so motivated by her deepened connection to you that her requests for bribes will just melt away. Because the reward your child really wants is you. (psychologytoday.com)

Because when children get used to constant rewards for doing what we ask, we're training them that the reason to do what we ask is because they'll "get" something

This is certainly true. As children get older, they learn that once we're offering them a reward, they can negotiate it upwards. So if your child ever says "What do I get if I do that?" you know that you've taken rewards way too far. And as we established above, if you offer your child a "reward" for stopping "bad" behaviour, you're actually training him to misbehave in order to get future rewards.

Conclusion: We've all pulled out an enticement on an airplane, or at Grandma's house, hoping to distract our child from an impending explosion. And that's fine; think of it as triage. Just know that your child still has all those feelings pent up inside looking for an outlet, and be sure you welcome those feelings later, even if it means a meltdown. And for this strategy to be effective, you have to resist using it except in "emergencies". While a peaceful Christmas dinner at Grandma's may qualify as an emergency, the supermarket checkout line probably doesn't, simply because it happens so often, and your child will learn how to use it to extort bribes. It's better in the long run to just walk away and leave your shop-

Part 1

By Loretta LC Brady, PhD

T

he key to protecting children online comes first in understanding development across the lifespan, and second in understanding the important role adults have in sharing culture and values with young people. Whether you are sitting awake at night worried over who can talk to your kid in their latest Roboblox adventure, or you fear a child might be manipulated into an online suicide challenge, at the end of the day our strategies for protecting children have to go deeper than simply setting a time limit on screen use or knowing our child’s passwords.

What we know about all development over the course of a life is that knowledge comes before ability which comes before sound judgment in applying knowledge and ability. For an example, consider a toddler learning to walk.

A toddler learning to walk learns how to stumble full heartedly forward with great energy and, eventually, learns how to maintain its balance while doing so. That's knowledge; that same toddler being able to consistently balance and ambulate in the direction in which it wishes to, that is ability; the ability to run and even jump while still maintaining its equilibrium. But as caring adults we understand that as that toddler increases its capacity to run and jump, stand, or balance it still lacks judgment of when exactly to use those skills, say to cross a busy road. It's why we run so quickly after a three-year-old who's approaching the edge of the sidewalk or driveway.

Yes the child can walk, no we don't expect it to cross the highway safely on its own.

In the same way we need

to consider our children and their use of the Internet. Use of their mobile apps, even use of their smartphone. Heck, we should be questioning their need for a smartphone (spoiler: children don't need them.

Most teens don't either!) In my home, I have children between the ages of five and 19.

Every one of them can go online, whether it's my notquite-a-reader-yet five-yearold, or the Chinese exchange student with whom we just celebrated her 19th birthday through “We Chat”, a Chinese social networking site.

Each of them know how to use technology to find information that is interesting to them using voice commands or image search, instantly accessing an endless possibility of video and web content.

More importantly, they are not simply passive in their discovery of media, each of them get provided with information on a daily basis about which websites or apps or technology they should start using.

Even my five-year-old understands what a QR code is for and asks to visit the website it must be promoting.

For most parents our conversations about media, about what's real or not real, what's true or not true, what we should question or accept, tend to happen more often when our child is younger.

Most of us stop having those conversations the older our child gets.

But if we take what is true about human development and apply this same framework to our children’s online media use, we understand that knowledge comes before ability comes before judgment. We begin to understand why these conversations are increasingly important the older our children get.

(Excerpt from pyschologytoday.com)

NEWS

7

SATURDAY, JULY 22, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Demerara Rum brand Chinese national killed becomes first GI registered during row at wharf rum in Caribbean … DDL expanding rum aging capacity

I

n order to protect its Demerara Rum quality and brand, Demerara Distillers Limited secured a Geographical Indication (GI) registration, making it the first company in Guyana and the Caribbean to have such a registration. Chair of the DDL Group of Companies, Komal Samaroo, made this disclosure at the launch of the Master Blender’s Special Edition Rum for the upcoming Caribbean Premier League T/20 cricketing competition.

A geographical indication is a name or sign used on certain products, which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin. Article 22(1) of the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement says "Indications which identify a good as originating in the territory of a member, or a region or a locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographic origin."

The GI tag ensures that none other than those registered as authorised users (or at least those residing inside the geographic territory) are allowed to use the popular product name.

“We have succeeded in securing the registration of Demerara Rum as the Geographical Indication to be used only for rums produced in the Demerara region of Guyana. The registration will prevent others from using our origin to pass

sistance for us to advance that process and build the Government capacity to be able to process our application,” he related.

Increasing rum aging capacity

Chairman of the DDL Group of Companies, Komal Samaroo

off their product because there is a lot of that taking place. As you create premium value and premium image, there is a whole set of fake products that try to capitalise on your brand and we are very conscious of this and we have seen it happening,” Samaroo disclosed.

He said that the El Dorado brand rum continues to “blaze new trails” sets new horizons and noted that the company is recording an increase in the number of consumers utilising their products. In order to safeguard the quality of their product, the company will be advancing the GI registration to the European market. Samaroo, met with the head of the GI Division in Brussels about two weeks ago to advance the process.

“We would like to thank the Government, especially Minster Carl Greenidge, who was very instrumental in securing technical as-

9 months jail for cigarette thief

R

ohan Chand, who before Georgetown Magistrate Leron Daly admitted to stealing a quantity of cigarettes, was on Wednesday jailed for nine months.

The charge alleged that, on July 11, 2017 at Hunter Street, Charlestown, he broke and entered the dwelling place of Rondel Hunt and stole 17 cartons of cigarettes, valued at $61,600.

The prosecution detailed that, on the day in question,

the virtual complainant (VC) secured his shop before leaving the premises, but the following day he was approached by a friend of the defendant, who informed him that his shop had been broken into by the accused.

This friend reportedly told the VC that the cigarettes were stashed in the defendant’s home in a black plastic bag. The matter was reported and the defendant was arrested and charged with the offence.

Samaroo said they are also investing in the expansion of the company’s capacity for storage and aging of its rums. “We are investing very significantly in the company in projects to give us the capacity to meet our anticipated growth… there is construction going on to build another warehouse to age another 30,000 barrels of rum to support the growth we are projecting, that would take us to over 100,000 barrels of rum we have aging at any point in time,” he said.

He added that they are also in the process of designing a modern automated blending system that will allow for faster blending and bottling to meet the growing demand of the market place.

Samaroo also advocated for responsible alcohol consumption, noting that nothing is good when used in excess. The company follows and adheres to the marketing code of the West Indian Rum and Spirits Producers Association whose standards are based on the standards set by the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking.

F

orty-two-year-old Chan Wen Wong of Lot 14 Seaforth Street, Campbellville Georgetown, a Chinese national and former cook of the Mei Tung Chinese Restaurant on Sherriff Street, Campbellville, was on Thursday evening stabbed to death during an altercation at the Meadow Bank Wharf in Greater Georgetown.

The now dead man and the suspect, identified only as “Chokadhall”, were reportedly engaged into a heated argument which quickly escalated into an altercation. Fishermen in the area parted the combatants, and Chan Wen Wong had reportedly walked

away from his adversary.

But when he was some distance away, the suspect reportedly ran after Wong, whipped out a sharp object and dealt him one blow to his chest before making good his escape.

The injured Wong reportedly fell to the ground, but was picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body is presently at the Lyken Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

When Guyana Times visited Wong’s home, other tenants explained that he had worked at the Mei Tung Restaurant as a cook for quite some time, before

later branching out into the fishing business. He and several other Chinese nationals had rented the house, but none was at home at the time.

The other tenants described Wong as a peaceful and helpful individual.

Wong, who had reportedly arrived in Guyana as a child, leaving his parents back in China, was known as the Guyanese-Chinese at the Meadow Bank wharf.

Apart from buying and selling fish, he also went out to sea.

Persons at the wharf were reluctant to speak about what had transpired, but the Police have said they are making every effort to apprehend the suspect.

Baseball bat assault lands man on remand

N

kosie Gittens, who is alleged to have assaulted Ronel Ault with a baseball bat on July 18, 2017 at Middle Road, La Penitence Georgetown, was on Wednesday arraigned before a Georgetown magistrate, charged with unlawfully and maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm.

The prosecution’s case is that the two men know each other but are currently not on speaking terms.

On the day in question, the

VC was sitting in an alleyway when the defendant approached him with a baseball bat and dealt him several lashes about his body, causing him to sustain injuries that included a broken left arm.

The matter was reported and the defendant was arrested and charged.

The unrepresented de-

fendant denied committing the offence, but the prosecution objected to his being granted bail on ground that he has a matter involving attempted robbery currently ongoing in another court. Gittens was therefore remanded to prison until August 11, when his matter would again engage the magistrate’s attention.

8 NEWS

SATURDAY, JULY 22, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

3 years in jail for man who chopped vagrant

D

evon Jackson was on Friday jailed for three years after being arraigned before Georgetown Magistrate Leron Daly for maliciously inflicting chop wounds on Michael Mohammed, a vagrant, on June 26, 2017 at Charlotte Street, Georgetown.

The prosecution’s case was that the incident occurred at about 19:00h on the day in question, when the virtual complainant was lying on a cardboard

Devon Jackson

in the vicinity of a popular business spot on Charlotte Street, and the defendant approached him with a cutlass and ordered that he get up.

The VC told the defendant that he had a cut and could not move, and this prompted the defendant to kick the VC several times about his body. Jackson then reportedly dealt the VC several lashes with a cutlass which was in his hand, and as the vagrant began to yell for help, Jackson chopped

him to his hand and head.

Onlookers rushed the injured vagrant to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), where he was treated; and a report of the matter was made to the police, thus the defendant was arrested and charged.

In court on Friday, the defendant declared: “Is not no chop. Is a guard pushing this story, and he is lying.”

Magistrate Daly, nevertheless, jailed the defendant for three years.

Ex-Policeman slapped with robbery charge

E

x-Policeman Edwin Nunes of Lot 32 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown was on Wednesday arraigned before Georgetown Magistrate Leron Daly, charged with allegedly committing the following offences: On July 18, 2017, at Campbellville, Georgetown, while being

Edwin Nunes

armed with a cutlass and knife, he is alleged to have robbed Dmitri Charles of keys, rings, chains and other items to a total value of $53,000.

On July 18, 2017, at Sheriff Street Georgetown, while being in the company of others, he is alleged to have robbed Parmanand Harilall of one phone valued $12,000, one cutlass

valued $1000, and other items to a total value of $19,300. The unrepresented 24-year-old defendant pleaded not guilty to either charge, and the magistrate, considering that he was previously before the court on a similar matter, remanded the defendant to prison until August 11, 2017, when the cases will come up for report.

Profligacy…

E

…and oil curse ven though he warned against it, your Eyewitness just knew this Government would ensure the oil find becomes a curse rather than a blessing. And that’s because they’re obviously driven by inner demons to start spending oil money even before they get it in their hands. And how can they do that?

Well, the ink had barely dried on Exxon’s press release announcing the oil find -- COINCIDENTALLY, just as the new PNC-led coalition government was ensconced!! -when Trotman announced he’d be asking the company for payments against “future revenue streams”!! Talk about counting your barrels before they’re shipped!!

We pointed out that this was such a ridiculous suggestion it just betrayed Trotman’s ignorance about the oil business!

How can Exxon pay up front for oil when it just can’t know where oil prices will be in 2010 in such a volatile market?? With shale oil coming into its own in this decade and renewables about to take centre stage in the next, all we can figure is oil prices ain’t gonna be flyin’ high no mo’!! Exxon probably took Trotman behind the woodshed and gave him a good whupping to drive some “oil sense” into his head (and the “non-sense out!), ‘cause we haven’t heard anything about “future revenues” since!

The other thing we warned these “last of the big time Third World spenders” was not to BORROW before the oil comes in. In fact, they should plunk the funds into a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), from which they can make strategic investments -- like into infrastructure -- for Guyana’s development. We quoted the example of Ghana, where they got into big-time trouble when they took the “borrow and spend route” - before their oil came in. Trotman DID start talking about a SWF, but, your Eyewitness knew that, like a junkie, he couldn’t just drop his wastrel ways.

So - lo and behold! -- we now hear Guyana’s just signed off against a loan facility of US$44 against oil revenues from the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID). And -- surprise! Surprise! -- they tell us “the details can’t be released”!! But we don’t need to have further details, do we?? Yuh na need torchlight fuh see wha’ clear in broad daylight!

This Government just wants to continue the spending spree that began with their mammoth salary hikes; continued with the Independence Extravaganza, when $1.3BILLION were spent on just one park; and segued into EMERGENCY billion-dollar phama contracts to overseas companies!!

What’s driving the present push is 2020, with elections looming; and they’re scared witless that their daily scandals have cooked their goose.

How do you get an addict to go cold turkey? …and modern business With everyone convinced the good times are about to roll with the coming of oil, we’re being overrun with slick-talking carpetbaggers who’re willing to “educate” us natives on how to run a “modern economy”. One lesson will certainly be on “bankruptcy”.

Your Eyewitness is sure some of us were more than a tad puzzled when we read Jerry Gouveia saying “not to worry” about Dynamic Airlines “filing for bankruptcy”.

To us, going “bankrupt” is that shameful circumstance when you can’t pay your creditors; they take you to court, and you and your family are thrown into the streets after the bank seizes your property. Oh, the shame! The shame!! Some are driven to committing suicide.

So why are we “not to worry” about Dynamic’s bankruptcy? Well, dear reader, welcome to “Modern Business 101”!! No Dickensian poorhouses here! The US has a “Bankruptcy Code” - with several Chapters.

Under Chapter 11 - which Dynamic filed - creditors HAVE to work out a settlement with the bankrupt business, which then reorganises and continues doing business!!

Ain’t that lovely??! …and power-grabbing So, what’s the scoop behind Roopnaraine’s resignation and withdrawal of same?? Your Eyewitness was told the successor proposed by the WPA was unpalatable. And it wasn’t just the optics.

Proposing one’s daughter is nepotism, isn’t it?

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

News

9

saturDAY, july 22, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

“We want to meet with the President” – GGDMA

… as concerns of miners yet to be addressed

C

The state of interior roads is a major issue for miners and truckers alike

oncerns have been raised by the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) for some time, including the elapsed concessions they formerly benefited from, increased taxes and interior roads.

According to Executive Member of the Association, Colin Sparman, these concerns largely remain unaddressed despite meetings with Government representatives. In addition, there is no word on whether the President will meet with the Association, the recognised representative of gold miners. “We want to meet with the President,” Sparman said during a recent interview. “About two years we have been asking to meet with the President.” He noted that some of the topical issues the Association would potentially raise with the President are the taxes on mining operators, as well as ways of stabilising the royalties paid for gold in Guyana to mitigate the effects of fluctuations on the world market. “Everyone is

depending on the gold production, because of the revenue,” Sparman said, referring to the members of the Association. “We still have issues with the road conditions in the interior.” Commenting on the increase in the processing fees for gold declarations by the Guyana Gold Board, Sparman noted that the Association was told that the increase from $1000 to $2500 was due to overhead costs. However, he stated that the Association was in consort with the $2500 decision. For some time, miners have been raising issues, such as the spike in taxes across the board implemented by the Government; in particular, the increase of the Tributors Tax from 10 to 20 per cent, Value Added Tax on heavy-duty mining equipment and the two per cent Withholding Tax. In addition, the Association had complained of not being able to benefit from the grant of duty-free concessions on mining equipment, vehicles and fuel, owing to the red tape expe-

rienced at the regulatory agencies involved. In 2015, the GGDMA signed agreements with the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). These agreements had included the granting of exemption from custom duties on fuel and equipment for eligible miners.

But with an initial lifespan of six months, miners complained bitterly that the time elapsed with many not benefiting.

The roads in the mining areas are another issue that came to the forefront when aggrieved truck operators travelled to Georgetown to expose the degraded condition of the roads. And since miners depend on trucking services to transport supplies, the issue is one that impacted on their livelihood.

But declaring that overweight trucks are chiefly responsible for wreaking havoc on interior roads in Guyana, Government had announced that moves will be made to amend the relevant laws in

order to enforce weight limits on the roadways. In fact, the legislative instrument to enable change of the laws is currently with the Chamber of the Attorney General for vetting.

Three heavy-duty scales have already been procured, and Government will be moving to have them installed at key locations shortly. And of the $2.3 billion allocated to the Public Infrastructure Ministry for use on hinterland roads, some 82 per cent of that fund has been committed to contracts, while a total of 43 per cent of the money committed to contracts having already been disbursed to contractors.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson made this announcement at the beginning of the recent sitting of the National Assembly. Patterson was responding to Opposition parliamentarian Juan Edghill, who had queried what measures were being put in place to address the plight of truckers moving goods and providing services to interior locations using roads such as the Linden/Lethem road link, among others.

Agricola man wanted for escaping from GPHC

P

olice are on the hunt for a man who escaped from the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), where he was admitted under Police guard.

The Guyana Police Force issued a wanted bulletin on Friday for 18-yearold Marlon Jeffery, called “Melvor Jeffery” and “Buck” of Lot 120 Agricola, Greater Georgetown, who escaped from lawful custody on Wednesday.

He was held for possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition and two counts of discharging a loaded firearm. It was reported that the teenager was shot in the back by Police during his apprehension and was hospitalised.

It was further reported that the teenager was reportedly planning his escape for some time, since pieces of female clothing and a wig were found in the vicinity of his hospital bed.

Meanwhile, the rank tasked with guarding Jeffery has since been placed under close arrest after it was reported that

Wanted: Marlon Jeffery, also known as “Melvor Jeffery” and “Buck”

he allegedly left his guarding post to go sleep, thus giving the suspect an opportunity to escape. The Police are asking anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the 18-year-old suspect to contact the nearest Police station or dial 911. All information will be treated with full confidence, the Police Force assured.

10 news

saturdAY, july 22, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt to request over $500M Haags Bosch dumpsite from National Assembly in recovery mode … to house prisoners, boost security

From left: Fire Chief Marlon Gentle, Top Cop Seelall Persaud, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and Prison Chief Gladwin Samuels

G

overnment will be moving to the National Assembly to seek supplementary financing likely to exceed $500 million in an effort to house prisoners, boost security at the existing prisons and deal with the fallout from the disastrous fire on July 9, 2017, that gutted the Camp Street Prison. This was disclosed during a press conference at the Public Security Ministry on Friday. According to Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, the

struct and security systems (that) have been designed, during the last 72 hours,” the Minister proclaimed.

“Because that was (something) we had to fast track.”

Ramjattan also spoke of advances that Government has made, including the completion of a tarmac area for the displaced prisoners at Lusignan. “There have been some major accomplishments. At this stage the tarmac area at Lusignan has been completed and there have been some minor diffi-

Mazaruni, which is scheduled to start this year.

Ramjattan has said that building a new prison could end up costing the Government $6 billion. But after the completion of the prison design by VIKAB Engineering Consultants Ltd, the first phase of building the prison at Mazaruni will commence. The security sector is one of the priority areas of Government.

For 2016, a sum of $24.6 billion was announced by the Government, ostensibly to

The new holding area for prisoners

Ministry had come up with a fast-tracked plan pertaining to what temporary constructions would be erected.

“At least (for) the purpose of building the prison and the tarmac area, the removal of debris, I haven’t gotten the final figure…These contractors and quantity surveyors are working hard. But by Monday certainly (we will have final figure), because we have to go for the supplementary budgetary allocations by Tuesday or whenever the next parliamentary date. And it will be, as I’m being told, in excess of $500 million,” Ramjattan told a media conference.

He noted that this was to ensure that the prisoners being housed at Lusignan penitentiary could be relocated to the remaining brick structure at Camp Street.

According to Ramjattan, these constructions will be temporary. “We require, for the support of those prisoners, a kitchen be constructed, an admin building and infirmary to be constructed. And it will be quite costly though it will be temporary. All these major constructions that will make the place safe will cost a good set of money.”

“But the plans, in terms of what we have to con-

culties (that were) corrected to the extent that at least 400 prisoners are now there in better conditions than in the swamp area they were in,” he said.

He added that there are still 80 prisoners in the swamp area. “We felt that it was necessary because we do not want them to contaminate the four hundred prisoners that are in the tarmac area. These are the real bad ones that have done a number of acts which make us believe that if they were to go into that tarmac area, there would be real trouble.” He also noted that there are 151 prisoners in the actual prison at Lusignan. The Minister also reported that the charred debris from the Camp Street site has been removed. The fire which razed the Camp Street Prison occurred on July 9, resulting in over 1000 prisoners being displaced. While some were moved to Mazaruni or granted early release or bail, a contingent had remained at Lusignan under strained circumstances.

Dollars and cents

Currently there are plans for the phased construction of a four-storey prison as part of the expansion at

develop and modernise the security sector inclusive of the prison service. In 2015, the coalition Government had allocated $21 billion in their inaugural budget towards the security sector.

Some $11.9 billion had been allocated from that sum in order to support the operations of the Disciplined Services; the Guyana Prison Service, Fire Service and the Guyana Police Force.

Last year March, however, a fire raged through the Camp Street Prison and claimed the lives of 17 prisoners. Afterwards, a Commission of Inquiry which cost the Treasury $13 million was ordered by President David Granger.

According to the report compiled by the Commissioners, the combination of overcrowded, uncomfortable and unhygienic confinement are all ideal conditions for epidemics, for gangs to prosper and to propagate discontent. Moreover, the CoI found that reducing numbers in prison to manageable levels is the single most important priority for establishing safe, humane and purposeful prisons. But some of these recommendations were not implemented at the time of the fire.

Cell 1 of the Haags Bosch Landfill

T

he Communities Ministry through its Sanitation Management Unit has embarked on a cycle of recovery efforts to correct the disaster at which erupted at the Haags Bosch Landfill, Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD), during a dumpsite fire back in 2015.

It was reported that phase one of the recovery works is almost completed, which saw the restoration of the disposal facilities at Eccles, EBD. This announcement was made during a media tour to the dumpsite on Friday, at which the Site Supervisor, Lloyd Stanton, explained the progress made ever since the massive destruction.

Stanton noted that the site features four dumping cells, of which only one has been used since its existence. As such, the Supervisor pointed out that clearing and preparing that cell is paramount to ensuring continued disposal at that landfill.

The Supervisor indicated that, “We had a chaotic situation when we had a big fire.

The first phase is to get from that confusing state to bring back the landfill to somewhat normalcy, called a controlled dumping setting.”

“That phase would have included moving all unwanted garbage from around the dumpsite, getting it to Cell One, compacting it and cov-

ering it,” he conveyed.

Stanton further noted, “We would’ve successfully completed phase one which is expected to end in September and in phase two we’ll see the reinstatement of the roads buildings and we hope to reinstate education for the staff.” This is set to commence in October.

Joining the tour on Friday was the Minister within the Communities Ministry, Dawn Hastings,

place, I’ve seen for myself they need to improve the road coming onto Haags Bosch, and have these things before the year end. I was able also to observe the existing cell and to my common knowledge, we should start working on cell number two, we should not wait until that is filled.”

Adding to the recovery works, the facilities recently installed two different shredding machines, which

Minister Hastings being briefed during the site tour

who commended the restoration efforts undertaken at the Haags Bosch Landfill.

Even though Hastings expressed delight in the ongoing operations at the Eccles, the Minister outlined her concerns at several levels. “While I’m happy that some things are in

The shredder installed at Haags Bosch

allows for the disintegration of tires and trees, maximising on space at the disposal site. This is as Haags Bosch gears up to implement a more eco-friendly waste management system, by employing the waste separation and recycling approach. As such, the shredded trees will be transfer to a decomposition site, while the chopped up tires is to be used in setting the foundations when building roads or even used to lay the base of the drainage systems at the landfill. The shredders have been in operations for about two weeks now and are still in the testing phase. The Haags Bosch Landfill was commissioned in 2011 to replace the overused Mandela, Georgetown dumpsite after the polluted facilities became a health hazard within the city. As such, the Eccles facility is now the sole disposal site for waste emanating from Georgetown and its environs.

news

11

saturDAY, july 22, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Poisoning of witness

Teenager remains critical

… suspect questioned, released

A

s investigations continue into the alleged poisoning of the main witness who was slated to testify against Marcus Bisram in the Faiyaz Narinedatt murder trial, several persons including the man whom the family had suspected were questioned. This was according to B Division (Berbice) Commander, Ian Amsterdam during a telephone interview on Friday evening.

The Commander told Guyana Times that statements were taken from several persons as well as from the alleged suspect but confirmed that no one was taken into Police custody. He noted that based on the statements taken from the persons questioned, there was nothing substantial to warrant an arrest.

Amsterdam nevertheless explained that the Police will continue to place emphasis on the matter which he regards as sensitive. However,

Dead: Faiyaz Narinedat

relatives of the 16-year-old star witness explained that his condition has deteriorated tremendously over the past 24 hours and while they are praying for his speedy recovery, they are also bracing themselves for the worst.

One relative during a telephone conversation told Guyana Times that the family received information that the man whom they sus-

pected to have poisoned the teenager made arrangements to travel to the United States. This information according to the B Division Commander was not related to him as he was not aware of it when asked by this publication.

Relatives are calling on the relevant authorities to ensure that the alleged suspect, who is a close associate to Marcus Bisram, does not leave Guyana’s shores.

An aunt further stated that they have not been getting the cooperation from the Police and are of the view that they are being victimised due to the fact that the family has been bashing the incompetence of the officers that would have investigated the death of Narinedatt and now, the suspected poisoning of the teenager.

Nevertheless, the teenager remains a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital in a serious condition.

Alleged mastermind: Marcus Brain Bisram

It was reported that the now hospitalised teen was a frequent visitor to Bisram’s home when he was in Guyana and is said to have witnessed first-hand the events leading up to Narinedatt’s murder and also plans to stage the hit-and-run scene.

The teenager also reportedly knew the car which drove over the man’s body when it was placed

on the Number 70 Village, Corentyne Highway.

Last Saturday he was allegedly given fried rice mixed with a poisonous substance.

The teenager and a member of Bisram’s family circle – who also has family ties with the teenager – went into the backdam.

The teenager’s mother had said that upon her son’s return, she suspected something was amiss. However, he reportedly told her that he will be ‘ok’ but could not make it to have a shower. It was after his condition worsened, he was rushed to the Skeldon Hospital where it was diagnosed that he was poisoned.

Due to his medical condition, he was referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted.

Narinedatt was murdered between October 31 and November 1, 2016, along the Number 70 Village Corentyne, Berbice,Public

Road.

Three weeks later, four men were arraigned for the murder. They were 39-yearold Radesh Mootie of lot 124 Number 4 Village, Berbice; 18-year-old Deodatt Dott of Lot 98 Number 71 Village, Corentyne Berbice; 49-yearold Harripaul Parsram of Lot 164 Number 71 Village, Corentyne Berbice; and 37-year-old Nirone Yacoob, of Lot 65 Number 67 Village, Corentyne Berbice.

Meanwhile, one day after the arraignment of the four men, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) issued a wanted bulletin for Marcus Brian Bisram who is suspected to have ordered the murder of the carpenter.

Bisram was finally arrested in New York and remains in prison until his extradition hearing in August.

The wealthy businessman was charged in absentia for the murder of Faiyaz Narinedatt, a father of two.

Reparative justice is a necessary cause that must be steadfastly pursued … President Granger says at National Rastafarian Conference

Members of the Rastafarian community setting up craft display booths at the University of Guyana's Turkeyen Campus

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resident David Granger said public education is essential in order to heighten awareness at the personal, national, regional and international levels with regard to the calls for reparative justice, which he described as a just and necessary cause. “The world needs to know about, and people need to be conscious of, the crime of enslavement,” he said. The Head of State made these remarks at the National Rastafarian Conference which opened on Friday in collaboration with the Guyana Reparations Committee at the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus.

He explained that awareness and education will allow for greater solidarity which will serve to bolster the region’s collective advocacy at the international level; implant in the public mind, the legal and moral bases of the region’s demand for repa-

rations; indicate the precedents in support of reparative justice and lay the foundation for international advocacy and agitation.

“Reparative justice’ is not a ruse for development finance or international handouts. It is a demand aimed at ensuring recompense for crimes against

humanity, enslavement and native genocide, and for the atrocities of indentured immigration. The demand for ‘reparative justice’ must not be confused with developmental assistance,” the President said.

Noting that reparative justice is not an alien concept to Europe and the rest of the world, the President pointed out that Britain compensated sugar planters for the loss of their ‘property’ (slaves) in 1838 as well as the victims of torture during the MauMau uprising in Kenya.

Further, Germany paid reparations to its allies after the first and second World Wars and even agreed to pay reparations to Israel for the ‘Holocaust’. However, there has been no recompense for the dispossession and underdevelopment of the Caribbean as a result of slavery, native genocide and indentured immigration.

“The descendants of the

Members of the Rastafarian community seated in the George Walcott Lecture Theatre at the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus

colonised peoples of the Caribbean, therefore, are correct in their call for reparative justice to right these wrongs. The victims of these crimes against humanity have been deprived of an apology. They have been deprived of ‘reparative justice’ for the abominable crimes that resulted in the loss of millions of lives, the expropriation of wealth and the legacy of underdevelopment,” President Granger said.

The aim of the National Rastafarian Conference is to bring together leaders and members of the Rastafarian community to discuss the issue of repatriation.

Guyana, like the other Caribbean countries, remains steadfast in its calls for Britain to make its due payment to the descendants of those who suffered in the massive slave trade which spread between the 16th and 19th centuries.

The Caribbean Diaspora was called upon to support the Caribbean Community’s (Caricom) calls for the UK to pay reparations as compensation for its involvement in slavery and the slave trade. So far, there has been no definitive outcome of the reparation issue to date, as regional leaders are still awaiting answers from Britain authorities concerning reparation for slavery. The Region recently pushed their campaign further, when, on behalf of the 15-member countries of Caricom, Barbados’ Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, who is also the Chairman of Caricom Reparation

President David Granger was greeted by members of the Reparations Committee and the Rastafarian community upon his arrival at the University of Guyana’s Turkeyen Campus

Commission formed in 2013, wrote and sent a formal letter of complaint to the British Foreign Office seeking reparation. Stuart called on London to formally acknowledge the Region’s demands for payment for the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The Caricom Reparations Commission, which was launched in July 2013, had set a number of demands to the former European slave trading nations. Caricom Reparations Committee Chairman, Sir Hilary Beckles had said that the plan was also to set out areas of dialogue with former slave-trading nations including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The claims are being channelled through the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and processed with the help of the London law firm Leigh Day.

The economies of Caricom Member States reportedly total close to US$78 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which would place the Region 65th in the world if it were a single country.

Reports are the Region cannot claim much in the way of the economic blow.

However, after having suffered over 400 years of slavery and colonialism at the hands of European powers, its demands for reparations possess enormous moral authority. The Transatlantic Slave Trade brought over 10 million captured Africans to work as chattel slaves in sugar and cotton plantations throughout the Caribbean and the Americas. It was the largest forced migration in human history. Today, Caricom nations have a population of 16 million, and the Diaspora in the United States, Canada and Europe totals about five million people.

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saturDAY, july 22, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

First Lady calls for balance in formal education F

irst Lady Mrs Sandra Granger said on Friday that education is the only way to ensure that young people achieve their full potential and are able to participate in the sustainable growth and development of themselves, their families, communities, and the country as a whole.

Speaking at a Youth Conference hosted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara, the First Lady said she hopes that participants also see the importance of embracing education and learning in both the journey to achieve their goals and in order to become productive citizens.

“Because of the TwentyFirst Century global environment, I hope that it [education] is also of burning importance to you, our leaders of the Twenty-First Century; because you will

First Lady Mrs Sandra Granger poses with participants and facilitators of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Youth Conference

inherit and be responsible for our environment, which includes not only the geographical space occupied by our nation, but the impact on the social, economic and political life of its citizens, and the conservation

of our flora and fauna,” the First Lady is quoted as saying by the Ministry of the Presidency.

She said Guyana is blessed with an abundance of natural resources, and therefore decisions have to be

made on how those resources can be harnessed and utilised in a way that leads to sustainable development.

The First Lady told the youths that some of the issues the country will face as a result of climate change

can be addressed through the formal education system. However, the vital human element needed to guide and implement policies needs to be buttressed by instilling moral values in the people.

“In essence, our children have to be nourished in every sense of the word from early childhood. They must be trained in behaviours which recognise and respect the intrinsic value of every human being. These behaviours must be underlined and reinforced as they enter the formal education system; so that, while pursuing academic achievement, our young people develop an ingrained sense of what is good and just,” the First Lady said.

Following her presentation, the First Lady had a brief interaction with her audience. At the close of the session, the Guyana National Director of Public Affairs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Sister Rowena Bowen, presented her with a token of appreciation for her words of advice and her willingness to participate in the session.

Scavenging through garbage for a daily bread … Minister concerned for safety of dumpsite workers

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inister within the Communities Ministry, Dawn Hastings-Williams, has expressed concern for the safety of workers engaged in activities at the Haags Bosch Landfill site aback Eccles, East Bank Demerara after a visit to the facility on Friday.

About 40 ‘pickers’ per day scavenge through the dumpsite on a daily basis, searching for reusable materials and valuables among the piles of what have been discarded at the Haags Bosch facility, and what they earn for their activities is dependent on their findings among

the garbage. The pickers are generally on the lookout for both plastic and glass bottles which can be resold for recycling or reusing. However, on a lucky day, pickers may come across valuables such as cash or jewelry which was mistakenly taken out in the trash.

These pickers ply their trade in a high-risk zone, made even more dangerous by the presence of heavy duty machinery. And they are also susceptible to a number of health threats, given the filthy environment in which they work.

While speaking to media

operatives at the Eccles facilities on Friday, Minister Hastings-Williams highlighted her concerns after realising that such operations pose both health and safety hazards.

“My greatest concern is the health of the pickers. I think we need to have a proper system in place whereby we can monitor their health,” the minister expressed. “These are human beings just like us, and they find it a pleasure because they are working for survival.”

Minister HastingsWilliams even took the op-

Pickers scavenging through the garbage offloaded by the disposal trucks

portunity to speak with some of the pickers, and relayed what she was told by one of the workers. “He said he enjoys doing the work because it brings in dollars for him,” she reported.

The minister noted that the pickers provide a necessary service in the waste management system, and proper facilities should be in place to ensure the integrity of their health and safety, especially with the dangers existing at the dumpsite.

Accordingly, she posited, “We need to ensure that their social welfare, their health, is properly addressed, be-

cause they are doing work for us. We are putting out all the waste, and when it comes here, they do the separation.”

Commenting on the facilities provided for the pickers at the Haags Bosch landfill, Site Supervisor Lloyd Stanton outlined the precautions taken to ensure the safety of the workers.

“The pickers are not supposed to be working in close proximity (to) the machinery. We have two contractors that are supposed to be in place during the working hours of the site to ensure the safety of the pickers,”

Stanton noted.

“Because most of them have come over here from the Mandela dumpsite, they would’ve already been aware of the risks and hazards of getting too close to the machinery. So you will find they of themselves don’t get too close, and we encourage them not to get too close,” he explained.

Stanton did indicate that accidents do occur. Therefore, in an effort to limit disastrous outcomes, medical facilities available to the workers include trained first aid practitioners present on site. He even pointed out that monthly health evaluations were conducted for everyone engaged at the landfill.

However, even with the provisions in place to prevent accidents at the landfill, two deaths have been recorded at the Haags Bosch dumpsite. It is with that in mind that administration of the Eccles facility continues to embark on efforts to limit, if not prevent, accidents at the disposal site. These include collaboration with medical institutions for the provision of health care, as well as workers’ education, which is set to continue in October.

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saturDAY, july 22, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Prison escapees

9th Biennial Caricom-UN General Meeting

1 detained as manhunt UN Secretary General lauds leads to Linden Caricom strategic goals

… recaptured prisoner was using public transportation

Captured: Cornelius Thomas

Captured: Desmond james

he police have, on Thursday, arrested one person in Linden in connection with providing sanctuary for one of the escapees of the Camp Street Prison.

However, while this is a breakthrough in efforts to

Based on information received, the murder accused was found hiding in a shack.

“D” Division Commander Leslie James had said the captured fugitive, who was armed with a knife and sporting some clothing,

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lice.

“The manhunt is an intelligence-led operation,” Persaud said. “Yesterday we had some information which led us to Linden. A person was arrested who was not one of the escapees. And then we had a confrontation with Stafrie Alexander at Port Mourant.

Other activities are still on-going,” the commissioner has said.

Commissioner Persaud was unable to confirm that Alexander was wounded in the encounter with police at Port Mourant, but he noted that police reported discharging rounds and seeing blood afterwards. “He’s alone!” the top cop emphasized. “They’re all alone, meaning they are separate

Still at large: Mark Royden Durant, Uree Varswyck, Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander and Cobena Stephens (missing in photo)

recapture all the fugitives who are on the loose, it has emerged that recaptured prisoner Desmond James was using public transportation before his re-arrest.

During a media briefing at the Public Security Ministry on Friday, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud revealed that James, now back in lawful custody, has told the police details about his escape.

Debunking reports that James had been assisted by a female to escape, the Police Commissioner said: “We have a story from James. Another escapee would have given him money, which he used to take public transportation to go to that location.”

James was re-captured on Friday, July 14 by ranks of the “D” Division at Canal #1 West Bank Demerara.

had “indicated that he was heading to Essequibo.”

According to a neighbour, the man was seen camping out at the location-- said to be located on Government Reserve in Cameron Dam -- since the previous day. The police were contacted, and during a sweep of the area, the 24-year-old escapee was arrested.

Manhunt

Expressing confidence in the police manhunt for the fugitives, Persaud related that the public has thus far been helpful, and that every reported sighting has been evaluated by the police on its own merit.

He and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan have appealed for anyone with information to relay same to the po-

from each other.”

Just days after James’s capture, murder accused Cornelius Thomas was on Monday recaptured while hiding out in “C” Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown.

His arrest was initiated by information relayed to members of the Guyana Police Force, who swooped down on an area in the community and effected the arrest.

Now that two of the six wanted men have been recaptured, the hunt continues for the alleged mastermind of the prison breakout: Mark Royden Durant, called “Royden Williams” and “Smallie”, along with excop Uree Varswyck, Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander, and Cobena Stephens.

Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres (gesticulating) at the 9th Biennial Caricom-UN General Meeting, New York

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nited Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, lauded the Caribbean Community’s (Caricom) leadership on their tackling of several global issues as the 9th Biennial Caricom-UN General Meeting got underway in New York on Thursday.

“This year marks the 25th anniversary of the decision by the General Assembly to grant the Caribbean Community observer status. Since then, we have worked productively together and, today, our organizations are both undergoing processes of review and strategic planning to better face the challenges of a changing international reality. We are grateful to have benefited from your leadership on many pressing global issues,” the General Secretary said.

He highlighted Caricom’s spearheading of the General Assembly’s discussion on non-communicable diseases, citing the adoption of a series of recommendations adopted, to address the rise of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), at the recently concluded Caricom Heads of Government in Grenada.

This year marks the 10th Anniversary of the Port-ofSpain Declaration – ‘Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)’. It was a launching pad for NCDs to become a feature on the United Nations (UN) Agenda, and in 2011 the United Nations General Assembly adopted a polit-

ical resolution on the fight against the prevention of NCDs globally.

While the Heads of Government of Caricom at their recently concluded 38th Regular Summit recognised that the Community had not sufficiently advanced the recommended actions with regard to the Declaration, they recommitted themselves to the promotion of healthy lifestyles to combat the epidemic of NCDs. Guterres also described the Community as “pioneers” in elevating awareness on climate change, with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) serving as a symbol of Caricom governments working together to address the specific vulnerability of Caribbean states.

“You have highlighted the need to protect the world’s oceans and the special circumstances of the Small Island Development States,” he said, adding that the ambitious outcomes produced from the UN Oceans Conference on SGD 14 needed concrete follow-up to ensure that all nations work together to meet their obligations.

The UN SecretaryGeneral said he was hopeful that the meeting’s discussions would identify areas for stronger cooperation towards reaching the Community Strategic Plan’s 2019 goals of improving economic, social, environmental and technological resilience, as well as strengthening governance and coordinating foreign policy among Member States.

“As you know, the United Nations is also in a process of wide-ranging reform encompassing the development system, the peace and security architecture and our internal management.

Our main objective is to serve countries better, and to support your efforts to achieve national priorities, including the Sustainable Development Goals. We are also seeking to strengthen the regional policy backbone and our partnerships with regional organizations,” he told the Caricom leaders.

While praising the cooperation of the Caribbean Community, the UN Secretary General said that more UN presence is expected in Haiti.

“A new mission will be deployed soon to accompany the Haitian Government as it consolidates the progress achieved together during in the past few years. We will continue to count on your strong support as we strive to help Haiti to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and address the cholera epidemic,” he stated.

He also commended the sterling contributions of Caribbean nationals whom he said featured prominently among his senior advisers and the UN leadership including, Guyana’s Catherine Pollard, Under-SecretaryGeneral of the General Assembly Affairs and Conference Management; and Trinidad and Tobago’s Sandra Honoré, Special Representative and Head of MINUSTAH.

Blackout woes continue

GPL blames fallen suspension insulator for blackout … power restored in all communities

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he Guyana Power and Light (GPL) said a fallen suspension insulator on a 69KV transmission line in Sophia, Greater Georgetown, resulted in fault conditions on three transmission lines, causing electricity interruptions in Demerara and Berbice on Friday.

The incident occurred sometime around 08:15h. The power

company, in a statement, said restorative efforts commenced around 09:00h and all affected customers were repowered by 12:00h.

The statement added that customers in Lamaha Gardens, Greater Georgetown; Sophia, Greater Georgetown; and Success, East Coast Demerara experienced delayed power out-

ages. The extended delay was due to remedial works on the structure bearing the damaged

line hardware which concluded around 13:00h and power was subsequently restored approximately 30 minutes later.

The company also takes this opportunity to assure customers that significant resources are being directed towards addressing the vulnerability of the transmission network to faults of this nature, the statement concluded.

Following the blackout, several persons took to social media to complain about the constant power outages.

The power outages are not only limited to the fallen or faulty power lines rather sometimes villages would be hours without power with no explanation from the company.

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saturDAY, july 22, 2017

News

Guyana gets US$295,000 Govt working to get Sovereign CDB grant for “smart” Wealth Fund right – Harmon T agriculture T he Board of Directors of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) approved a grant of US$295,000 for the development of a framework, which will guide the development and implementation of measures to adapt to the impact of climate change on the agriculture sector in Guyana.

“The project will help the Government to identify specific crops and crop varieties that are most suited to particular regions, as well as activities that are specific to these regions that can be implemented to adapt to the effects of climate change. This will assist the Government in better planning investment programmes in the agriculture sector,” Deidre Clarendon, Division Chief, Social Sector Division of the CDB said. The project is scheduled to be implemented over a 16-month period and is consistent with the CDB’s strategic objective of supporting inclusive sustainable growth and development, as well as the Bank’s corporate priority of supporting agriculture and rural development. The agriculture sector is a significant contributor to the gross domestic product (GDP), and employs a large portion of the population. Climate change can have a significant effect on the sector, as most agricultural production is concentrated along the coastal

plain, which is on average 1.4 metres below sea level at high tide.

Rising sea levels, increased in the intensity and frequency of rainfall and higher temperatures associated with climate change are already negatively affecting agricultural production. This techn i -

c a l assistance project will allow the Government to identify areas that are the most vulnerable to climate change and to adopt new climate-smart agricultural practices.

Back in 2015, the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) had announced that approval was granted for a $5 million ClimateSmart Agriculture Fund (CSAF) for the Caribbean and Latin America to encourage Private Sector companies in the region to invest in projects that increase farmers’ incomes while addressing climate change. It was

created in partnership with the Global Environment Facility (GEF); the goal of the CSAF is to unlock greater Private Sector investment in sustainable land use and climate resilient agribusiness.

The concept of climate-smart agriculture was coined by the Food and Agriculture Organisation in 2009 and is defined as “agriculture that sustainably increases productivity, resilience, reduces or removes greenhouse gases and enhances achievement of national food security and development goals.”

Climatesmart agriculture is a business model that increases agricultural output, while maintaining or lowering amounts of inputs, such as land, water or fertiliser.

However, climate-smart agriculture investments, however, face a number of hurdles in the access of finance, including lengthy payback periods, as well as significant barriers to information on sustainable practices.

Because of these challenges, climate-smart investments may be put off indefinitely, perpetuating poor land-use management, additional greenhouse gas emissions, increased vulnerability to climate change, and lower incomes for small producers.

36% unaware they have HIV – UNAIDS

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n the Caribbean, more than one third (36 per cent) of people living with AIDS/HIV (PLWA) do not know it, said a statement announcing the UNAIDS annual report “Ending Aids” published yesterday.

“Community-centred strategies are urgently needed to reach those who have not yet been diagnosed.” Last year the Caribbean had 310,000 people living with HIV. That year saw 18,000 new HIV infections, while 9,400 people died of an AIDS-related illness.

“Between 2010 and 2016, the number of AIDS-related deaths in the region fell by 28 per cent.” The statement said, in the Caribbean last year some 52 per cent of people living with AIDS/ HIV were getting treatment.

“There were less than 1,000 new HIV infections among children in the Caribbean in 2016.”

UNAIDS said how the region is progressing to the 2020 target of having 90

per cent of PLWA knowing their status, 90 per cent of diagnosed people accessing treatment and 90 per cent of those treated achieving viral suppression (90-90-90).

Viral suppression means the HIV virus in their blood is at undetectable levels thereby helping their health and preventing transmission to other people.

In the Caribbean, 64 per cent of PLWA know their status, 81 per cent who know their status access treatment, and 67 per cent of people on treatment achieve viral suppression.

“The region has achieved remarkable progress in expanding HIV services,” said UNAIDS. The Caribbean has achieved strong progress in getting PLWA onto treatment and so reducing deaths due to AIDS, but gaps remain.

“In the region, four of five (81 per cent) of people living with HIV who know their status are accessing antiret-

roviral therapy.

This means the region as a whole is doing a fairly good job at starting people on treatment following diagnosis.

“Haiti is the only country in the region to have achieved the second target – at least 90 per cent of diagnosed people on treatment.” The statement noted a 52 per cent drop in AIDSrelated deaths in the region over the past decade due to HIV treatment coverage.

“Another positive note is that the scale has tipped and more than half of all people (52 per cent) living with HIV in the region are on antiretroviral therapy.

However, there is still a significant proportion of people (48 per cent) not yet accessing treatment.”

UNAIDS urged more efforts to keep PLWA in care once they have begun treatment, and lamented that one-third (33 per cent) of people on treatment do not achieve viral suppression. (T&T Newsday)

he establishment of Guyana’s Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) requires careful analysis to ensure its application meets local conditions, Minister of State Joseph Harmon cautioned.

“This administration, we are taking our time. We’re trying to get things right, because we believe in the interest of the people of this country we have to establish these funds, we have to establish all of these processes in a sound way that can stand scrutiny for years to come,” Minister Harmon said at Thursday’s post Cabinet press briefing.

According to the Government’s Department of Public Information, the Minister stressed that in the best interest of Guyanese the government is looking at best practices around the world and tailoring the SWF to “our own local conditions”.

“So I don’t think that it is something that somebody can dream up in one

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

afternoon, or in a month to say well, look here it is,” the Minister pointed out.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has enlisted the assistance of several international agencies and countries to help in the development of the oil and gas industry. Guyana’s SWF has benefited from input by Chatham House and oth-

er well-established fund management countries and agencies. The Ministry of Finance is also working on finalising the Fund.

Meanwhile, Minister Harmon expressed confidence in the judiciary to deal with issues that may arise in the oil and gas industry.

“Our judges are trained in the law but there are some specific issues which will arise from this area of development and clearly our judges, I’m sure, will adjust to it,” the Minister said.

Minister Harmon noted the judiciary is on an upward trajectory and the judiciary service has also been building its capacity through training.

The government has been putting measures in place to ensure good governance of the oil and gas industry as well as ensuring an independent judiciary through budgetary independence and the meritorious appointment of judges.

Green Generation Guyana Project heading to Regions 1, 2

… school children targeted

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s the green agenda moves forward, more primary school students are set to benefit from the Sanitation Management Unit of the Communities Ministry’s ‘Green Generation Guyana Project (3G)’.

Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Public Relations Officer (PRO) at the Ministry, Danielle Campbell-Lowe said the next phase of the project begins in October and will target students in Mabaruma and Anna Regina. Some $1 million is being spent to execute the project.

“The Green Generation Guyana Project is an awareness project that was developed with the aim of encouraging school aged children to adopt safe waste management practices. We believe children are one of the main conduits of lifestyle changes and promote change, hence the reason why we targeted primary school children,” Campbell-Lowe said.

Campbell-Lowe explained that the Unit would sensitise the children on safe waste management practices and teach them waste management concepts of; waste separation, reuse, recycle and rethink.

The Unit also distributes two colour coded bins for each school, with organic and inorganic labels.

The project was

Communities Ministry PRO, Danielle Campbell-Lowe

launched in August 2016 by Minister Dawn HastingsWilliams at three summer camps along the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway. Since then, over 200 students from 20 primary schools across Guyana have benefitted from the project.

The Unit will also host a summer camp which would also fall under the green generation banner. The Green Generation Guyana (3G) camp will be piloted in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), “and we’re hoping that next year and years to come other regions would come onboard and would be able to run off their own camps in the August holi-

day,” Campbell explained.

The camp will commence from August 1425 and some 60 students from four schools in Region Three will be targeted.

Additionally, CampbellLowe added that it is the Communities Ministry’s intention to develop Guyana with a modern waste management system inclusive of recycling and reusing. “Because we know that Guyana doesn’t have a recycling system as the magnitude of other countries so, we’re hoping to move into that arena and we’re hoping that the agencies can get on board with us in this regard.”

SATURDAY, july 22, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

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News

Indian cyclist reaches Guyana through Lethem border ‌travelling world for HIV/AIDS awareness, Indian culture

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he Indian national and philanthropist, 34-yearold Somen Debnauth, has reached Guyana after riding the rough terrain from Brazil to Lethem in Region Nine. He is currently on a World Bicycle Tour Programme spreading awareness on the epidemic of HIV/AIDS, and highlighting aspects of the Indian Culture.

Debnauth began his World Bicycle Tour in India on May 27, 2004, and has so far travelled through 132 countries (including Colombia), completing 148,500 kilometres of travel on his pedal cycle from India. His main objective is to raise awareness on HIV/ AIDS, in particular among poor people in urban, rural and tribal areas, and spread the message of peace and humanity with Indian culture through his planned tour of 191 countries, which he expects to complete by end-2020 covering almost 200,000 km and reaching almost 20 million people. His campaign is currently supported by personal donations and Indian companies.

He recently completed his facilitated tour in Colombia and Ecuador, and is hoping to traverse Guyana to neighbouring Suriname next. In an interview with Guyana Times, Debnauth said his cycling passion birthed right after acquiring his Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology at the University of Calcutta. He has also obtained the 'Visarad' degree in Fine Arts at the University of Sarbabhartiya, Calcutta, West Bengal, India.

He intends, in 2017-2018, to visit countries in South America, the Caribbean, Central and North America. In 2018-2019, he intends to visit?Canada, Russia, Siberia, Mongolia and China, Korea, Japan, Philippines, New Zealand and Australia; and in 2020 he intends to visit Sumatra, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar and Bangladesh before returning to India on May 27, 2020.

Asked what prompted him to ride for HIV patients, the wise Debnath said?he was inspired to undertake this mission at the age of 14, when he read the article entitled "AIDS is more deadly than

Somen Debnauth in Georgetown

cancer".

The person referred to in the said article was homeless and was sitting in front of the Medical College of Calcutta, abandoned by its inhabitants and left to die

alone. The article had a great impact on him.

Two years later, Somen decided to get specialised training in WBSACS (Society of West Bengal State AIDS Control) and started awareness campaign on HIV/AIDS education from his own school.

The AIDS-related stigma and lack of awareness about this deadly but preventable disease motivated him more. His first mission was extended to the people of his village, then in India, and it is now a global campaign for him.

He said his desire is to educate people from different parts of society by raising awareness among students in schools, colleges, universities, and also encourage these institutions to begin a chapter on the sensitisation program on HIV/ AIDS, promote the use of needles and syringes among people addicted to drugs, and condoms for sex workers.

Difficulties

During his travels, he has faced many difficulties, including 24 days’ captivity by the Taliban

in Afghanistan. He was robbed six times in Central Asia; faced -35 Degrees Celsius temperature in the former USSR; eight times beaten by skinheads in the wilderness; and lived with one of the most ancient Jarawa tribes in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, of India for 20 days. One of the happiest persons he has met on his journey was a Bangladeshi with 25 rupees per day income per quarter, happily living with his family.

Interestingly, from his campaign funds & Global Village Project, 40 per cent of the funds collected during the campaign is spent on his travel expenses and the remaining 60 per cent is devoted to his Global Village. "I would like to invite all friends and families around the world that I am meeting on my trip to come to India and be in the Global Village," Debnauth has said. Debnauth said he would like to thank the India High Commission office in Guyana for their hospitality, and those who have made his riding journey a success. Somen Debnath is presently in Georgetown.

US to ban Americans from visiting North Korea

S

tate Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement that the ban would be published next week in the Federal Register, to come into effect 30 days later.

US officials linked the move to the death of jailed American student Otto Warmbier.

Once the ban is in effect, US citizens will need special validation to travel to or within North Korea.

Warmbier travelled to North Korea with Young Pioneer Tours. He was arrested in 2016 for trying to steal a propaganda sign and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was returned

to the US in a coma in June and died a week later.

Koryo Tours and Young Pioneer Tours, who both operate in North Korea, revealed on Friday that they had been told of the upcoming ban by the Swedish embassy, which acts for the US as Washington has no diplomatic relations with Pyongyang.

Rowan Beard, of Young Pioneer Tours, told the BBC the embassy was urging all US nationals to depart immediately.

He said the embassy was trying to check on the number of US tourists left in the country.

Nauert's statement said: "Due to mounting concerns

over the serious risk of arrest and long-term detention under North Korea's system of law enforcement, the Secretary has authorised a Geographical Travel Restriction on all US nationals' use of a passport to travelling through, or to North Korea.

"Once in effect, US passports will be invalid for travel to, through, and in North Korea, and individuals will be required to obtain a passport with a special validation in order to travel to or within North Korea.

"We intend to publish a notice in the Fedeal Register next week. The restriction will be implemented 30 days after publication."

Prince George steals show leaving Germany

A

fter five days of city hopping through Poland and Germany with his family, Prince George stole the spotlight on Friday from Prince William, Princess Kate and Princess Charlotte.

George, who will celebrate his fourth birthday on Saturday, had been a bit sleepy and shy as his parents shuttled him from city to city on the five-day royal tour but he could not conceal his excitement today as he stepped into the cockpits of two helicopters.

George saw the helicopters as the royals toured the Airbus facility in Hamburg on their final day in Germany. George, who never misses a chance to watch his father and his uncle,

Prince George climbs into a helicopter cockpit as Prince William and Princess Kate depart Germany

Prince Harry, both helicopter pilots, depart Kensington Palace on the royal helicopter, was in his element.

Charlotte, 2, who has charmed the crowds with

her natural diplomacy -- including ducking into a curtsy earlier this week -- took a tumble and needed some reassurance from her parents today.

Rowan Beard said that the 30-day grace period would "give leeway for any [Americans] currently in

the country as tourists or on humanitarian work".

Simon Cockerell of Koryo Tours told the BBC the

agency would still conduct tours and take Americans until the ban came into effect. (BBC)

16

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, july 22, 2017

Regional

Venezuela crisis: Deadly Miners call off strike clashes as millions join strike in Peru after deal with Government M illions of Venezuelans have joined a general strike called by the Opposition as pressure mounts on President Nicolás Maduro to cancel elections for a new constituent assembly.

Clashes between Police and protesters killed at least three people. More than 300 others were reportedly arrested.

Maduro said the strike was minimal and that its leaders would be arrested.

Since April, when Opposition protests intensified, almost 100 people have died across the country.

Protesters and police clashed in several cities across Venezuela

Protesters barricaded roads in the capital, Caracas, and other cities with rubbish and furniture.

The Opposition said that

85 per cent of the country joined the strike.

But in pro-Government areas of the capital, life went on as usual, with shops open

and streets busy. Public employees also appeared to have worked normally.

In several cities, Police fired tear gas as they clashed with protesters. One death was reported on the outskirts of Caracas while two others died in the northern city of Valencia.

More than 360 people had been arrested across the country, a local rights group said. Colombia, France, Spain, the US and the EU have urged the Venezuelan government to cancel the vote for a new constituent assembly on July 30.

But Maduro has rejected the calls. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Increase in Trinis applying to teach English in Japan

T

here has been an “unprecedented increase in the number of applicants” from Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) to go to Japan to teach English. The announcement was made by the Japanese Ambassador in Port of Spain, Mitsuhiko Okada, during Thursday’s send-off ceremony at his residence in St Clair for the successful 17 T&T nationals who will be leaving for

Japan next week.

There were 64 applicants last year and 78 this year.

Okada said there has also been a “notable increase in the number of successful candidates” for the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) programme.

He said the increase was “evidence of the growing popularity and reputation of this exchange programme.”

Okada said: “There has been

a grounds swell of enthusiasm among Trinbagonians who are eager to experience Japanese culture.”

Some 17 nationals were chosen to go to Japan this year for an initial period of one year to teach at primary and secondary schools across Japan. The period could be extended.

Okada said the teachers are about to adopt dual roles as assistant language teach-

ers and cultural ambassadors of T&T. Since the programme was started in 1987 more than 100 nationals of T&T have visited Japan to teach English.

One of the successful applicants was Sashta Jebodh.

She told reporters she was very excited about the new venture.

She said there should be more cultural exchanges between Japan and T&T. (Excerpt

from Trinidad Guardian)

UnioniSed mine workers march during a nationwide strike to protest the Government’s proposed labour reforms, in Lima, Peru, July 21, 2017

S

triking mining workers in Peru agreed to return to work by Monday after the Government of President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski promised to name a task force to discuss labour laws with them, the Labour Ministry said on Friday.

Unionised miners started the nationwide strike on Wednesday to protest what they described as proposed labour reforms that would make firing easier and workplaces less safe.

The Government has denied that it wants to pass laws that would be bad for workers.

Union leaders called off the strike after five hours of talks, the Labour Ministry said in a statement. A task force that includes Labour Minister Alfonso Grados and union representatives will discuss laws for mining workers over a month-long

period starting in August, it said.

The strike has not affected production at some of Peru’s biggest mines, according to the companies that operate them, but clashes between Police and hundreds of striking miners erupted during protests in Lima on Thursday and Friday.

The National Federation of Mining, Metallurgical and Steel Workers of Peru (FNTMMSP), which organized the strike, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Kuczynski’s year-old Government has also faced strikes by doctors, teachers and judiciary workers in recent weeks. Peru is the world’s second biggest copper, zinc and silver producer, the fourth biggest lead producer, and the sixth biggest gold and tin producer. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Senate in Jamaica approves Bill for Cayman Islands single anti-corruption agency

T

he Senate in Jamaica has approved the Integrity Commission Bill, paving the way for the establishment of a single anti-corruption unit, which will investigate and prosecute corruption in Jamaica.

The Bill was piloted in the Senate on Thursday by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade and Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Kamina Johnson-Smith.

The legislation, which will promote and enhance standards of ethical conduct for parliamentarians, public officials and other persons, was passed with 103 amendments.

It makes provisions for the establishment of an Integrity Commission, which will be responsible for investigating alleged or suspected acts of corruption; preventing, identifying and prosecuting corruption; and monitoring the award and discharge of Government contracts

and prescribed licences.

The new body will have three Directors heading the information and complaints, investigation and corruption prosecution divisions. Among the amendments is the creation of the post of Executive Director to head the proposed Integrity Commission.

This Executive Director will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the affairs of the Commission; coordinating the functions of the Commission; ensuring the timely implementation of the decisions and directions of the Commission; and developing and implementing operational policies and procedures in relation to the functions of the Commission.

Senator Johnson-Smith explained that the Government felt this lone post was a better arrangement than having Directors of the three divisions of the body report directly to the Commissioners, as

speaker arrested outside Florida casino

T

Leader of Government Business in the Senate, Kamina Johnson-Smith piloted the Integrity Commission Bill

was previously stipulated in the Bill.

The Bill will go back to the House of Representatives for approval of the amendments made by the Senate. (Excerpt

from Caribbean360)

Police in Barbados step up efforts to arrest flow of illegal guns

W

ith 19 murders so far this year, 80 per cent of which have involved firearms, the Royal Barbados Police Force (RBPF) has stepped up efforts to rid the streets of illegal firearms.

At a news conference yesterday, Acting Commissioner of Police Tyrone Griffith accompanied by Attorney General Adriel Brathwaite

reported that firearms were used in 15 of the 19 murders committed this year so far.

This compared to 16 of the 22 for all of last year, or 72 per cent of murders. Admitting the force’s concern with the worrying trend, Griffith announced a significant upgrade for the island’s Anti-Gun Unit. “We have increased the numbers as well as retooled

the personnel and that unit is now performing extremely well... to the extent that, with

the assistance of TRU [Tactical Response Unit], the SCATS [Suppressing Criminal Activity Targeting Society] Unit as well as the CID [Criminal Investigations Department],

we have been able to take some 44 firearms off the streets so far for the year,” he said. Griffith also served

notice that another major strategy to arrest the number of illegal guns entering the country is the RBPF partnering with key agencies. The Police Commissioner however quelled concerns about the nature of the crimes, insisting they were not random but stemmed from retaliatory killings by people involved in the illegal drug trade. (Excerpt from

Caribbean360)

he speaker of the Legislative Assembly and former premier of the Cayman Islands, McKeeva Bush, was arrested in Broward County, South Florida, on Monday outside the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek. Bush was reportedly released on a US$1000 bond after he was taken into custody over an altercation with a member of staff.

According to a statement released by the Seminole Police Department: “William McKeeva Bush was arrested by Seminole Police on Monday at 11:02 pm at the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek and charged with simple battery or misdemeanor battery.

“The arrest followed an interview with and sworn statement by the female employee victim and a review of surveillance video. According to the arresting officer, the surveillance video showed Mr Bush allegedly wrapped his arm around the victim’s lower back and forcefully pulled the victim towards his direction.

“According to the arresting officer, the victim alleged [Bush] grabbed her buttocks while pulling her with his right arm.”

Broward County Sheriff’s Office booking photo

In October 2014, Bush was acquitted by a local jury on abuse of office and corruption charges stemming from a three-year investigation that concluded that he abused his government issued credit card contrary to established rules and policy by obtaining personal cash advances totalling $50,000, many at casinos in Florida and Las Vegas.

Bush was charged with 11 counts of official misconduct and breach of public trust in a case that led to his being ousted from office following a motion of no confidence.(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

SATURDAY, JULY 22, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

White House Press Secretary resigns Justin Bieber banned from China

Press Secretary Sean Spicer

W

hite House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has quit, reportedly in protest at an organisational shake-up.

Spicer stepped down because he was unhap-

py with President Donald Trump's appointment of a new communications director, according to reports.

Combative Wall Street financier Anthony Scaramucci has been picked for the role that Spicer partially filled. Spicer's press briefings were a cable news hit, but he withdrew from camera in recent weeks. He told US media that the White House "could benefit from a clean slate".

The shake-up comes amid several investigations into alleged Russian meddling in last year's US presidential election and whether Mr Trump's campaign team colluded with Moscow. The New York Times reports that 45-year-old Spicer "vehemently" disagreed with the appointment of Scaramucci, which he believed to be a "major mistake".

Announcing that he would step down next month, Spicer tweeted that it had been "an honor & a privilege to serve" the president.

The BBC's White House reporter Tara McKelvey says journalists besieged the 18acre complex so they could film Spicer leaving. (BBC)

C

anadian pop star Justin Bieber has been banned from performing in China, according to Beijing's Culture Bureau.

In a statement, the ministry said it was not appropriate to allow in entertainers who have engaged in "bad behaviour."

"Justin Bieber is a gifted singer, but he is also a controversial young foreign singer," it added.

The statement was issued in response to a question recently submitted by a user of the bureau's website.

"We hope that as Justin Bieber matures, he can continue to improve his own words and actions, and truly become a singer beloved by the public," the statement said.

Pop star Justin Bieber (Getty image)

To its list of hostile foreign forces - one assumes ranking somewhere below the Dalai Lama and Taiwanese separatists China has added the name

Justin Bieber.

The news came in a statement from the Beijing municipal culture bureau, answering a question from a fan about why, with the singer about to embark on an Asia-wide tour, no venues have been scheduled in mainland China.

Justin Bieber is indeed "talented at singing" came the reply, but nonetheless it would not be appropriate to allow him to perform, because of what it called a number of incidents of "bad behaviour." It did not elaborate on exactly which of Mr Bieber's run-ins with the law it was referring to. The pop star, who was allowed to tour China in 2013, joins a long list of musicians who have found themselves similarly blacklisted. (BBC)

Palestinians killed as Moscow lawyer who met Trump Jr had holy site tensions soar Russian spy agency as client

T

hree Palestinians have been killed during clashes with Israeli security forces in East Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials say.

Hundreds were injured in the violence, after days of friction over a Jerusalem holy site boiled over.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas said he was freezing all contacts with Israel amid unrest at the site.

Tensions have soared since two Israeli policemen were killed last Friday.

Three Israeli Arab gunmen shot the officers near the holy site known to

Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount. The gunmen were shot dead after being pursued on to the site.

Thousands of police were deployed around the compound on Friday morning, and Palestinian men under the age of 50 were barred from entering the Old City - a measure which is sometimes taken to try to prevent violent protests at the holy site.

Police said they fired tear gas to disperse Palestinians who threw stones and tried to break through a police barricade in the street outside. (BBC)

T

he Russian lawyer who met Donald Trump Jr. after his father won the Republican nomination for the 2016 US presidential election counted Russia's FSB security service among her clients for years, Russian court documents seen by Reuters show.

The documents show that the lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, successfully represented the FSB's interests in a legal wrangle over ownership of an upscale property in northwest Moscow between 2005 and 2013.

The FSB, successor to the Soviet-era KGB service, was headed by Vladimir Putin before he became Russian

Donald Trump Jr

Natalia Veselnitskaya

president.

There is no suggestion that Veselnitskaya is an employee of the Russian government or intelligence services, and she has denied having anything to do with

the Kremlin. But the fact she represented the FSB in a court case may raise questions among some US politicians.

The Obama administration last year sanctioned the

FSB for what it said was its role in hacking the election, something Russia flatly denies, and Charles Grassley, Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has raised concerns about why Veselnitskaya was allowed into the United States at all.

Veselnitskaya and her firm Kamerton Consulting represented "military unit 55002" in the property dispute, the documents show.

A public list of Russian legal entities shows the FSB, Russia's domestic intelligence agency, founded the military unit whose legal address is behind the FSB's own headquarters. (Excerpted from

Reuters)

5-year-old fined for setting Dollar slide deepens, world stocks' hot streak ends up lemonade stand

A

five-year-old girl was slapped with a nearly $200 fine for setting up a lemonade stand on the street near her home in East London.

The girl was happily selling small cups of lemonade for 65 cents and large ones for $1.30 to people streaming by to attend a music festival in a nearby Victoria Park when four local law enforcement officers stormed up to her table, according to her father, Andre Spicer.

One officer switched on a portable camera attached to his uniform and then proceeded to read a lengthy statement essentially telling the young girl she would be fined US$195 (£150) because she didn’t have a trading permit, according to an account of the events Spicer wrote for The Telegraph.

The girl burst into tears, asking her father again and again, “Have I done a bad thing?”

The pair packed up their jugs of lemonade and walked home, with the young girl sobbing the whole way, according to her dad.

Spicer said that the whole situation left his daughter shaken and

T

The five-year-old was left in tears after she was fined (Andre Spicer photo)

afraid.

"I said maybe we can apply for the right permit and do it again at some stage. And she said, ‘That’s a bit scary,’” he told NBC’s News’ British partner ITV News.

The local authorities have since cancelled the fine and apologised. “We are very sorry that this has happened,” a spokesperson

for the local authorities told NBC News’ British partner ITV News.

"We expect our enforcement officers to show common sense, and to use their powers sensibly. This clearly did not happen.

“The fine will be canceled immediately and we have contacted Professor Spicer and his daughter to apologise.” (NBC news)

he weakening US dollar fell to its lowest in more than a year against key world currencies on Friday as investors assessed comments from the European Central Bank and obstacles to US President Donald Trump's domestic agenda, while a global gauge of stocks snapped a 10-session streak of gains.

Gains in the yen, gold and US Treasuries pointed to moves into safe-haven assets rather than stocks, which are considered riskier. Oil prices slid more than two per cent.

The euro built on sharp gains

from a day earlier, rising to near two-year highs against the dollar and undermining European stocks, with Germany's equity index falling 1.7 per cent.

ECB President Mario Draghi said on Thursday financing conditions remained broadly supportive, and that the euro's appreciation had "received some attention."

However, he did not cite that as a problem nor did he directly try to talk the currency down.

US stock indexes ended marginally lower, pulling back from record high levels reached earlier in the week. (Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, JULY 22, 2017

ARCHIE

Use your intelligence to help you get past a differ(March 21- ence of opinion you’re having April 19) with someone close to you.

Utilizing force or pressure will lead to an impasse.

ARIES

A short trip to visit an old TAURUS friend or relative will do you (April 20- good. Listening and observMay 20) ing how others handle the ups and downs of everyday life will help you make positive decisions.

DILBERT

A creative idea may interGEMINI (May 21- est you, but if it isn’t cost-efJune 20) ficient, you may want to reconsider whether to move forward. Someone is likely to disappoint you.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

PEANUTS

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

CALVIN AND HOBBES

WORD GAME

Your intuition will give you a strong sense of direction, but if you let your emotions or a personal relationship interfere, you are likely to make a poor choice.

Deal with matters that concern your health or personal finances. Know what you want to accomplish.

Sending out your resume or using your skills in new ways looks promising.

Offer what you can afford VIRGO (Aug. 23- and nothing more. Too much Sept. 22) of anything can turn into a negative quickly. Emotional situations are best dealt with patiently and without any fuss.

Refuse to let anyone push LIBRA you around or dictate what (Sept. 23you can or can’t do. Set your Oct. 23) sights on personal gains and physical improvements that will help build your confidence.

SUDOKU

A change will do you good.

SCORPIO Attend a retreat or make al(Oct. 24terations to the way you live Nov. 22) to find a way to make the most of your attributes.

Impulsive actions will get SAGITTARIUS you into financial trouble.

(Nov. 23- Don’t make purchases you Dec. 21) cannot afford. If you want to make a change, do so without spending much. Romance is featured.

Emotions can get you into CAPRICORN trouble. Don’t make assump(Dec. 22- tions or do something impulJan. 19) sive without having all the facts you need to make a good decision.

SOLUTION FOR LAST PUBLISHED PUZZLE Using force or being faced AQUARIUS with someone applying pres(Jan. 20sure on you will lead to a Feb. 19) stalemate. Do your own thing and avoid an unnecessary battle of wills.

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

Take part in activities PISCES that bring you pleasure. Your (Feb. 20March 20) interest in others’ actions will lead to new friendships and a chance to collaborate with someone who shares your goals.

saturDAY, july 22, 2017

19

Jamaica 2 Canada 1: Reigning Gold Cup runner-up reach semis S

haun Francis and Romario Williams scored in Jamaica's 2-1 Gold Cup quarter-final win over Canada on Thursday.

It was a case of efficiency as Jamaica advanced to another CONCACAF Gold Cup semi-final after seeing off Canada 2-1.

Canada controlled possession in Glendale, Arizona but 2015 runner-up Jamaica made it count on the scoreboard on Thursday.

Threatening on the break, Shaun Francis gave the Jamaicans a sixth-minute lead at the University of Phoenix Stadium after finishing powerfully from a Darren Mattocks cutback.

Jamaica made it 2-0 early in the second half as Romario Williams curled a shot beyond Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan.

A long-range stunner from Junior Hoilett just past the hourmark gave Canada some hope but Jamaica held on to reach the final four for only the fourth time.

Jamaica made two changes to the team that concluded the group stage with a 1-1 draw against El Salvador. Francis and Omar Gordon were called into the starting XI by Theodore Whitmore as Oniel Fisher and Cory Burke dropped to the bench.

D

Jamaica celebrates a goal Boosted by the inclusion of Orlando City's Cyle Larin, the returning Canada star replaced Lucas Cavallini up front. Russell Teibert and teenage sensation Alphonso Davies returned to the line-up at the expense of Sam Adekugbe and Manjrekar James after qualifying for the quarter-fi-

ouble amputee Liam Malone plans to use advanced technology to go faster than Usain Bolt over 100 metres.

Two-time Paralympic gold medallist Liam Malone has vowed to run the 100 metres faster than Usain Bolt in the next three years.

Bolt smashed the world record to win World Championship gold in style in 2009 and his time of 9.58 seconds in Berlin has not been bettered.

The winner of eight Olympic gold medals, Bolt will retire this year and double-leg amputee Malone plans to use advancing technology to go quicker than the Jamaican in the near future.

New Zealander Malone, who won T44 200m and 400m gold in Rio last year, told BBC Radio 5 live: "I'm aiming for 9.4 seconds.

"In the next three years I'll run faster than Usain Bolt over 100m. "It won't be done in the Paralympics, and I've no intention of ever racing Usain Bolt or able-bod-

nals for the first time since 2009.

Canada bossed possession from the outset, controlling the tempo and proceedings against the Jamaicans.

However, Jamaica were a constant threat on the counter-attack and they struck first, breaking the deadlock in the sixth minute.

ied people, it's about racing against their time outside of the rules and regulations that limit technology.

"That's what I'm focused on at the moment. If you were me and you were bullied as a kid from five to 15, and you had this opportunity to use technology to do something that hasn't been done before, you'd absolutely want to do it and that's what I'm doing."

He added: "The point is that artificial bodies improve at a faster rate than the biological body. Until about nine years old, my legs were basically like a pirate's from the 16th century - wood, rubber, really basic.

"It's only in the last five to 10 years I've had these new forms of technology come through. If blades are allow-ing blade runners to run as fast as able-bodied human beings at this point, what's it going to look like in 20 years?

"It's not just in Paralympic sport.

Artificial bodies is one of the biggest trends in the world - from dying your hair to using contact lenses to hearing aids to breast implants and fake teeth. It really is the future.

"Human beings love customising things and the human body is the pinnacle of something you can customise." (SportsMax)

Liam Malone

Mattocks drove into the penalty area and squared the ball to Francis, who unleashed a rocket past Borjan.

Larin came close to equalising four minutes later but his header from Scott Arfield's free-kick went just wide of the post.

Proving to be a handful on the

break, Jamaica almost doubled their lead but Borjan was quick off his line to deny Mattocks.

Despite Canada having more of the ball, Jamaica were unfortunate not to be 2-0 ahead after Alvas Powell stepped past two defenders and forced Borjan into a low diving save.

The Canadians looked easy on the eye, their short and sharp passing creating half-chances, but Larin was unable to trouble Andre Blake.

Canada's hopes of a comeback were made tougher just five minutes into the second half.

Mattocks was in the thick of the action again, holding up the ball before laying it off to Williams, who curled his shot into the corner of the net from the top of the penalty area.

But Hoilett – afforded time and space on the edge of the box – restored hope for the Canadians when he produced a moment of quality, finding the top corner of the net just past the hour-mark.

Hoilett almost scored again from long range but Blake managed to deny the Cardiff City winger's thunderous attempt as Canada huffed and puffed but could not find the leveller. (SportsMax)

J

amal Shabazz is back in charge of the national women’s programmes. The Trinidad and Tobago Football Asso-ciation (TTFA) announced that Shabazz will fill the breach created by the departure of former T&T women’s head coach, Italian Carolina Morace.

The TTFA said Morace, as well as Nicola Williams had terminated their contracts with the association. They did not offer a reason for the termination. However, media reports coming out of Trinidad said Morace and her entire staff resigned over the non-payment of salaries.

The Italian coach and her staff, Manuela Tessa and Elisabetta Bavagnoli, and Nicola Williams, were not paid for almost four months.

Meanwhile, the TTFA said despite the issues it remains committed to the development of the women’s football and qualifying for the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France and the CONCACAF Under-17 Women’s Championship in 2018 as well as theUnder-17 Women’s World Cup in Colombia in 2019. (SportsMax)

Jamal Shabazz

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturdAY, july 22, 2017

Boasson Hagen takes overdue stage win, Froome rolls on toward victory S ALON-DE-PROVENCE, France (Reuters) - Edvald Boasson Hagen ended a run of near-misses to take stage 19 of the Tour de France on an uneventful day for race leader Chris Froome who moved to the brink of overall victory on Friday.

Norwegian Boasson Hagen ended Team Dimension Data's wait for a stage win this year with a superb solo burst at the end of a hot and humid 222km ride from the Alps into Provence.

He had been pipped at the

T

he Supreme Court in Jamaica has ruled that the Jamaica Olympic Association allow swimmers Jesse Marsh and Emily McDonald, two of the country's top junior swimmers, to compete at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games currently underway in the Bahamas.

The swimmers were being denied places on the Jamaican team because they turned up days late for a mandatory training camp set up for swimmers prior to the Games, and that they did not ‘sleep over’ at said camp, according to reports. The parents of the affected swimmers refused to send their children to the camp with one citing specific concerns.

Allan Roy Marsh, Jesse's father expressed concerns about the standard of the pool at the University of the West Indies.

Marsh, a former swimmer for Jamaica, noted that the pool was not equipped with starting blocks.

It also did not have a 15-metre marker, which swimmers use to gauge their 'pull out', he noted.

M

line in two stages this year and finished third in two oth-ers, but he took matters into his own hands when he attacked a nineman lead group and cruised home five seconds ahead of Sunweb's Nikias Arndt.

Boasson Hagen and Arndt had both taken the shortest line around a roundabout to leave seven other breakaway rivals trailing but the Norwegian was too strong for German Arndt who finished five seconds in arrears. Jens Keukeleire (Orica) was third.

While there was some

excitement at the finish, there was precious little going on behind a day-long 20-man escape group with Froome's Team Sky colleagues form-ing a white wedge at the front of the peloton to keep their leader out of trouble.

Froome had emerged from two grueling days in the Alps with a 23-second lead over Frenchman Romain Bardet and suffered no mishaps on the Tour's longest stage -- the fight apparently gone out of his rivals for the yellow jersey.

Sky's white train followed

sport director Nicolas Portal's instructions to allow the breakaway to stay clear and so avoid what could have been a risky massed bunch finish.

Barring a crash in Saturday's time trial in Marseille, where Froome will be a favor-ite, the 32-year-old will claim a hat-trick of Tour de France titles and a fourth over-all.

Sunweb's Michael Matthews virtually wrapped up the green points jersey and just needs to finish safely in Paris to become the third Australian to win the category.

Attempts at mediation proved equately organized camp, which unsuccessful and the swimmers other athletes did not attend even were omitted from the Jamaican in part, was arbitrary and capriteam that is currently in the cious and in breach of natural jusBahamas. tice.

The judge, who agreed that Their parents took the matter to court and on Thursday, these were serious issues to be the Honourable Mr Justice Laing tried, held that damages would not be an adequate ruled in favour of the swimmers and ordered the Jamaica remedy and that Olympic Association (JOA) the course that would cause to allow them to compete as the least irmembers of the Ja-maica remediable team. harm would Alexis Robinson and Helen Liu, attorneys-Law be to alinstructed by Myers, Fletcher low the injunction & Gordon, represented granted to Marsh and MacDonald.

Marsh and Robinson argued that McDonald the JOA's decision to revoke the on July 18, swimmer's 2017, to allow their parparticipation ticipation in at the CYG the Games, because of to stand. failure to sleepover He inat a rushed dicated Emily McDonald and inadthat he

ONACO (Reuters) - Eight-time Olympic sprinting champion Usain Bolt ran un-der 10 seconds for the first time this year as he narrowly won the 100 meters at the Monaco Diamond League meeting on Friday.

The Jamaican was slow out of the blocks, just as he was in his last race in Ostrava last month, and never managed to put a big gap between him and the field.

He won in 9.95 seconds, three hundredths of a second ahead of American Isiah Young. South Africa's Akani Simbine was third in 10.02.

Before the meeting, Bolt went to Germany to have treatment for back issues that have troubled him for years. It was his last outing before next month's world championships in London where he will race in the 100 meters and 4x100m relay.

Olympic and world champion

weighed the fact that the defendant would not get an opportunity to defend its case at trial, but said that the court had a duty to uphold an individual's rights when injustice had been meted out to him or her.

An elated Robinson said more needed to be done to ensure that parents in these situations” can expect camps to be properly organised and adequate notice and information provided to them in advance.”

Alistair McDonald, Emily’s father while happy at the outcome said some thought needs to be given to having an independent tribunal at the Ministry of Sports so that issues like these do not get all the way to court before being resolved in the best interest of the sport and its participants.

The swimmers are now expected to receive signed condition eligibility forms for Jesse and Emily to the Common-wealth Games Federation, and “we have so advised the JOA”, Robinson said. (SportsMax)

Wayde Van Niekerk won a titanic battle against Botswana's Isaac Makwala to take the 400 meters.

The South African, also the world record holder in the event, made a lightning start, then Makwala recovered to lead coming off the final bend before Van Niekerk powered down the final straight to win in 43.73 seconds.

Makwala's time of 43.84 was a personal best.

Van Niekerk's fellow South African,

Edvald Boasson Hagen celebrates his first win at the Tour de France since 2011

Spain to replace arrested soccer federation boss

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ADRID (Reuters) - The Spanish state is to seek to suspend soccer federation boss Angel Maria Villar, who is under arrest as part of a corruption investigation, a government spokesman said on Friday.

Villar, his son Gorka and two other soccer federation executives were detained on Tuesday on allegations of collusion, embezzlement and falsifying documents. Villar has denied all the allegations.

A judge ordered on Thursday that Villar, a FIFA Vice President, should be re-manded in custody as he presented a flight risk.

The Spanish state's sports body, the Consejo Superior de los Deportes, will meet on Tuesday to discuss Villar's replacement at the top of soccer federation RFEF, government spokesman Inigo Mendez de Vigo said.

"Our aim from the outset was to ensure that everything is working normally at a time when the president and Vice President (of the RFEF) are in custody," Mendez de Vigo told a news conference after the government's weekly cabinet meeting.

Caster Semenya, won a dramatic women's 800 meters in a season's best and meeting record time of 1:55.27.

The Olympic champion snatched the win in the last few meters ahead of Burundi's Francine Niyonsaba and Ajee Wilson, who both set national records.

The trio had been neck and neck down the final straight.

Wilson's 1:55.61 shattered the previous U.S. record of 1:56.40 set by Jearl Miles-Clark in 1999.

Elijah Manangoi upstaged a strong field to win the men's 1500 meters in a year's best time of 3:28.80.

He sped past compatriot Timothy Cheruiyot on the final straight after the two broke clear of the field while Olympic champion Matt Centrowitz was well beaten in ninth.

Manangoi's fellow Kenyan, Emmanuel Korir, also ran the fastest time of the year as he won the men's 800 meters in 1:43.10.

Jamaica's Usain Bolt (centre) competes in the men's 100m race at the IAAF Diamond League Athletics meeting at the Louis II Stadium in Monaco on Friday

sports

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Digicel Schools Football

Waramadong mauls Bartica 6-0 to claim Region 7 title

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ruthless Waramadong side completely outclassed Bartica to win the Region 7 Zone final via 6 goals without response on Friday at the Ministry of Education ground on Carifesta Avenue.

Despite the touchlines being reduced to swamps due to heavy rainfall the previous night, the Waramadong players played attractive and attacking football stringing together sensible passes and created chances.

It was no surprise that Waramadong took the lead in the 9th minute through their Centre Midfielder Whitaker Paul who finished crisply after a cross from the

right flank found him unmarked in the box.

Striker Colin Edwards doubled his side’s lead four minutes later when he struck a right- footed shot from 15 yards out to beat Bartica’s custodian at his near post.

Bartica were lucky not to lose by a larger margin as their keeper made a string of saves to deny the roving Waramadong forwards who constantly peppered him with powerful shots.

Reon McNaughton was the most dangerous of the forwards as he made the left wing his own, constantly making runs and cutting in to unleash his powerful right foot to devastating effects.

The Region Seven champions Waramadong

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(L-R) Devon Nathan, Colin Edwards, Whitaker Paul, Reon McNaughton

It was not long until he added his name to the score sheet after taking on two defenders before shifting on to his right foot to hit the ball low and hard into the back of the net in the 22ndminute. Just before halftime in the 37th minute he produced almost a carbon copy of his first goal as he again cut in from the left flank to strike another low shot at the far post beating the keeper to extend his side’s lead to 4-0.

The ragged Bartica side went into the halftime break without conceding anymore goals, however upon resumption they were

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Guyana schools miss out on semifinal

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Mark Ramsammy

t. Joseph High and School of the Nations lost their final matches in their respective group A and B on Thursday.

Therefore both teams would miss playing in the semifinal although it was just St. Joseph which an outside chance of qualifying.

Lester Vaughn School defeated St. Joseph by 67 runs at Content ground while at Isolation ground; Combermere School beat School of the Nations by 117 runs.

The following are the scores from those matches: Lester Vaughan 138 all out in 29.1 overs (Rashad Armstrong 35, Shaquon Mayers 31, Wayne Lee 12, Stephon Wilson 4-14, Elian Whyte 3-34) St Joseph High 71 all out in 15 overs (Jeremiah Scott

18, Calvin Marcus 6-34, Kashief Ross 2-6) At Isolation: Combermere School beat School of the Nations (Guy) by 117 runs [Match reduced to 30 overs because of wet pitch; 26 overs bowled at cut off] Combermere School 226-8 in 26 overs (Najee Holder 61, Matthew Forde 43, Zidane Clarke 28 not out, Kastun Stoute 27, Thaddaeus Chase 13, Jonathan Doughlin 12, Shakkae Marshall 11, Aviel Tilhu 3-44, Mark Baptiste 2-36, Mark Ramsammy 2-50) School of the Nations 109 all out in 26 overs (Mark Ramsammy 67, Runeko Layne 3-21, Najee Holder 2-9).

The Semi Finals will be contested as follows: French Verandah St Vincent Community College (St. Vincent) versus Lodge School (Barbados) at 3W’s Oval, Cave Hill and

Barbados Cricket League (BCL) Juniors versus Christchurch Foundation School at the Four Square Oval The other 10 Playoff Match-ups will be announced at a later date and are scheduled to be played at the following grounds: Weymouth, Isolation, Empire, Rubis, Friendship, Gall Hill, Bridgefield, Briar Hall, James Bryan and Content

Stephon Wilson

again forced to sit deep in their own half in an attempt to repel the constant attacks of Waramadong’s forwards.

Devon Nathan added his name to the scoresheet in the 56th minute when he hit one from just inside the box to the left of the goalie to make it 5-0 Waramadong. He would return to seal his brace and his team’s victory in the 76th minute with a well taken goal.

The Region Seven champions will now face the Region Three zone winners on Sunday at the Synthetic Track Facility, Leonora.

Man Utd 2-0 Man City: Jose Mourinho hails ‘good training session’

Romelu Lukaku has scored in his past two Manchester United appearances

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anchester United’s pre-season win over Manchester City in Houston was “a very good training session”, says United manager Jose Mourinho.

Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford scored as 67,401 at NRG Stadium watched United win 2-0 in the first Manchester derby outside England.

New signing Lukaku beat City keeper Ederson Moraes to Paul Pogba’s pass on 37 minutes. Then Rashford drove in Jesse Lingard’s pass two minutes later.

“I’m really pleased,” said Mourinho.

“I’m sure Pep [Guardiola] is the same. The most important thing was to give the players high quality training.”

City came close to reducing the deficit when Fernandinho’s long-range shot was tipped over by Sergio Romero. And City boss Guardiola was delighted with the performance of 17-year-old midfielder Phil Foden, who was making his first-team debut.

“I don’t have words to describe what I saw,” Guardiola said. “His performance was at another level. He loves the club. He is a City fan. He is a gift.

“Maybe this season he will stay with us because he is special. Creating chances, always in the best position.”

It was the first derby since the bombing at Manchester Arena on 22 May and both teams wore shirts with the distinctive ‘worker bee’ logo, which will be auctioned off to raise money for the victims. (BBC)

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturdAY, july 22, 2017

Nobrega gearing towards another dominant outing

Kuldeep, Jadeja rip through SL Board President's XI

Danushka Gunathilaka top-scored with 74 AFP

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avindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav claimed seven wickets between them, wiping out a strong Sri Lanka Board President's batting lineup for 187, on the first day of India's two-day practice match. Led by KL Rahul's rapid half century, the visitors then ended the day on 135 for 3. Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane remained not out in the thirties.

Despite the President's XI's modest score, it had been Danushka Gunathilaka, who had made the greatest individual batting impression of the day - hitting 74 off 97 deliveries at the top of the innings. The innings, which featured 11 fours,

may even put Gunathilaka in line to fill the void created by Dinesh Chandimal's withdrawal from the first Test. Gunathilaka has generally been an opener, but has been in excellent form in recent months - mainly in the ODI format. His run-tally of 323 had been the highest in Sri Lanka's recent ODI series against Zimbabwe. In June, he had hit 76 against India in the Champions Trophy as well.

Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep took his wickets largely against the lower order, but figures of 4 for 14 may nevertheless, have raised his chances of playing the first Test. India are unlikely to break up their longterm frontline spin-bowling

Youth Commonwealth Games

Flyweight Allicock medals for Guyana

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uyana flyweight youth sensation Keevin Allicock stormed into the semi-final of the Youth Commonwealth Games following a points victory over Ireland’s Kian Bittles Friday afternoon in the Bahamas.

The quick-fisted Guyanese defeated Bittles by a 4-1 to assure his country of at least a bronze medal and earned a date with Canada’s Jordan Mathieu in today’s semi-final. According to an elated coach Sebert Blake his young charge from the Forgotten Youth Foundation was subKeevin Allicock lime in the ring.“It was a tough fight but Keevin was up to the challenge. We all know that the Irish are very tough but we proved that Guyanese are tougher. I applaud the performance but we know that there is tougher opposition down the road. We are prepared and our aim is to come back home with a gold medal,” Blake said. The AIBA Three Star coach informed that Allicock turned on the heat in the third round forcing the referee to give Bittles an eight count. “I applaud the performance. We now turn our attention to winning the semi-finals,” Blake added. The loss was the first suffered in the ring by Ireland at the games.

pair of R Ashwin and Jadeja, but if pitches are sufficiently dry, there may be a case for playing three spin bowlers.

In fact, Sri Lanka had fielded three spinners in their XI in four of their five most-recent victories at home.

Before Kuldeep wiped out the tail, Jadeja had earlier delivered impactful blows to the opposition.

In the same over, he had removed the President's XI's other half-centurion Lahiru Thirimanne, as well as Dhananjaya de Silva, for a duck. Soon after, he had run out Gunathilaka, and dismissed Ashan Priyanjan as well. Thus reduced from 139 for 1 to 145 for 5, the President's XI could not find the resolve to stop the hemorrhaging of wickets. After Kuldeep and Mohammad Shami wreaked further damage, they were all out in the 56th over.

Abhinav Mukund was bowled by left-armer Vishwa Fernando for a duck, in the first over of India's innings.

Cheteshwar Pujara was also bowled by Fernando, for 12 off 41 deliveries. India recovered quickly through Rahul's half century, however, before Kohli and Rahane carried on at a brisk rate themselves. India's middle order will hope for a long workout on Saturday. (cricinfo)

Steven Nobrega will be “the man” today when the exciting Grass Track series continues at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground

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otor rider Steven Nobrega is hopeful for another splendid outing when the third leg of the Stag Beer Grass Track Championships gets underway today at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground on the Essequibo Coast.

Holding a 75-point lead over the second placed Ravi Ramkumar, who has 55 points, Nobrega returns to a venue for which he holds fond memories, since he swept all the races when he last competed there.

Speaking to Guyana Times Sport on Thursday, the rider, sporting a new YZ 125 bike, said, “The chances of winning the championships are very good. I have a new bike, and (I have) been doing a lot of training both on and off the bike.”

The young rider also made an appeal for all to come out in their numbers and support the event, since in his opinion it is the best even to witness.

Nobrega has expressed his profound gratitude to Secure Innovations and Concepts, Nexus Machine and Fabricating, Gizmos & Gadgets, Fas Graphics, Truck Masters, and Sankar’s Auto Colour for the support he has

been getting from these entities. Events organiser Sheik Yassen, in giving an update on the event, explained that all systems are in place and all riders are ready to thrill the fans. Dismissing any contention that rain would cancel the event, the organiser declared: “Rain or no rain, the action will go on!”

He called on all to come out in their numbers, since the concept of the event is the first of its kind to be staged in the Cinderella County.

At total of 27 daredevils are expected to compete across three different categories, and there will be five professional races (12 laps per race); three Novice races (10 laps per race) and two races for newcomers (10 laps per race).

The other sponsors are ANSA McAL under their Stag Beer brand, Roosters Coconut Water, R. Ganesh Mining, Kahn AutoZone, Savannah Riders Club and Essequibo Biker Boyz. The participation of ALL sponsors is most gratefully appreciated, Yassen has declared. The event is set to commence at 16:00 hrs, with tickets for adults costing $1000, and those for children costing $500.

GTT Tape Ball KO Tournament

Stars highlight first day action

–West Side leg bowls off today

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elecommunications giants GTT bowled off their Tape ball Knockout Competition last Saturday in the lead-up to ‘The Biggest Party in Sports’, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL); and the match involving Enmore Stars was the highpoint of this first day of the tournament.

In the East Coast Zone, played at the National Park Tarmac, Stars blasted their way to 134 without loss in the sevenper-side, six-overs-per-team encounter to record the highest total on the opening day. They defeated Goran Gladiators in the process, restricting them to 58-4.

The following are the results from three of the other matches on the opening day in the East Coast Zone: Doosan Vipers, 80-3, defeated Warriors, 49-3; Modern Media, 64-4, defeated Spartans, 58-3, Rising Stars, 80-2, defeated New Horizon, 711. The overwhelming response from Georgetown on Sunday has resulted in a roll-over to Sunday, July 23, at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac, where play will commence at 9:00h. Results from the second day will be provided in a later publication.

Meanwhile, starting today at Uitvlugt ground on the West Coast of Demerara, twenty-five teams from the West Side will be engaged in what is expected to be thrilling action.

saturDAY, july 22, 2017

Early rush for local CPL tickets

guyanatimesgy.com

23

– as Ticketing and Merchandise Store opens

By Akeem Greene

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uyana’s Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Ticketing Office and Merchandise Store, located at 238 Camp and Quamina Streets, Georgetown, opened its doors on Friday morning to be greeted by a throng of passionate early bird fans, who were all seeking to put to rest the issue of their being present when the action gets underway.

It is to be recalled that Guyana Amazon Warriors Operations Manager Omar Khan had urged fans to purchase their tickets at the earliest possible opportunity, given that there is no restriction on how many tickets one person can purchase.

He told this publication: “All preparations are in full swing for CPL 2017. Lots of excitement (is already in the air, and) people are (already turning) up for their tickets.

Already, (our) phones are ringing off the hook”.

He is advising the public: “Come out early and get your tickets. There is an orderly system in place for you to get tickets. Fans should take advantage of having no hassle.”

Khan also disclosed that the central body for CPL in other franchises considers Guyana a role model in

terms of staging matches. He said Guyana’s ticket sales have started “way ahead of some other venues, who wait (to start selling tickets) until two weeks prior to the start of their first matches”.

Khan contended that the early release of tickets gives all fans an equal opportunity to purchase same, and he said Guyana is the only ven-

seat of their choice, once same is available. Ticketing offices are expected to be opened in Berbice and Essequibo next week.

Warriors’ Media/ Marketing Officer and Assistant Operations Manager, John Ramsingh, explained that children’s tickets will not be on sale, since tickets are being sold

Getting decked out! This fan inspects one of the 2016 team attire replicas on sale (Carl Crooker Photos)

ue which will have seat-numbered tickets, which gives patrons an option to select a

as per seat.

Ramsingh also warned against persons bringing

chairs onto the grass mound, since this may inconvenience other patrons.

Patrons can purchase their tickets from 09:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs Monday to Friday, and from 9:00 hrs to 13:00 hrs on Saturdays. Corporate companies/ organizations wishing to purchase tickets can contact the ticketing office for further details on how to do so.

The cost per ticket for this year’s CPL games are as follows: RED AND GREEN STANDS, Gy$5,000; ORANGE STAND, Gy$3,000; GRASS MOUND, Gy$2,500.

Car passes for inside the stadium are being sold for $1500, while car passes for parking between the stadium and the Ramada Princess Hotel cost $500. each.

Four (4) exciting and high quality games are to be played in Guyana as follows: * Thursday, 17th August : Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Jamaica Tallawahs at 18:00 hrs * Saturday, 19th August: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Trinbago Knight Riders at 12 noon * Sunday, 20th August: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Barbados Tridents at 18:00 hrs * Tuesday, 22nd August:

This smiling fan showcases her tickets after purchase

Guyana Amazon Warriors vs St Lucia Stars at 18:00 hrs The Amazon Warriors squad comprises of Martin Guptill, Rayad Emrit, Sohail Tanveer, Christopher Lynn, Jason Mohammed, Chadwick Walton, Rashid Khan,

Digicel Senior National Squash Championships

Alex Arjoon

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By Akeem Greene

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assy Industries, under their Crix Biscuit brand, have become the latest co-sponsors of the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the 2017 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Unveiled on Friday morning at the company’s Ruimveldt Georgetown location, this partnership seeks to give back to fans, according to Bermudez Manager Alvin Wilson.

“We are proud sponsors of the Amazon Warriors, and Crix is firm on giving back to the Guyanese public by offering various prizes and tickets. We encourage the Guyanese public to come out and support the team”, Wilson declared.

Warriors’ Operations Manager Omar Khan described the agreement as timely, and said it jells with the management’s idea of reaching out to fans.

“We embrace the opportunity, and we thank them for coming on board. We are happy to be here to support their effort, and hope the

Members of the head table (L-R) Steven Jacobs, Manager Omar Khan, Bermudez Manager Alvin Wilson, Assad Fudadin and Massy’s Marketing Supervisor Elisa Howard

Guyanese public does likewise,” Khan said.

Massy’s Marketing Supervisor Elisa Howard gave a detailed explanation on how the public can get involved. She said coupons can be uplifted at several leading local supermarkets.

Persons seeking to enter into the draw have three options. They can purchase two packs of Crix, or four packs of Mini Crix, or one pack of Crix and two packs

of Mini Crix. They will then have to uplift from the cashier a coupon which they would fill out and enter into Crix entry boxes at selected outlets, to win tickets and other prizes.

Participating outlets in Georgetown are: the Bounty Chain of Supermarkets, S &S Chain, Massy Stores, and Ram’s Supermarket.

Participating outlets in Berbice are: Jay’s Supermarket, M. Alli

Supermarket and Gas Station, Price is Right Supermarket and the Good Life Supermarket.

In Essequibo, the participating outlets are: Imam Bacchus Supermarket, Safeway Supermarket #1, B. Jones Supermarket, and G&P Jaigobin Supermarket.

The promotion, going under the tagline “Win tickets for Cricket with Crix”, will conclude with a drawing on August 12.

Steven Taylor, Keon Joseph, Gajanand Singh, Roshon Primus, Veerasammy Permaul, Assad Fudadin, Steven Jacobs, Steven Katwaroo, Keemo Paul and Muhammad Ali Khan.

Joseph stuns Khalil, Arjoon outclasses Fernandes

he 2017 Digicel Senior National Squash Championships continued on Thursday evening at the Georgetown Club Courts with quarter-final matches in the Men’s and Women’s Open, first round men’s plate matches, and round-robin matches in the men’s Veterans categories.

With the exception of one of the top men’s seeds, all other seeded players have reached the semi-finals of the two main draws.

Former national champion Nyron Joseph created a mini upset when he defeated the higher seeded Jason Ray Khalil in their quarter final match, an epic encounter in which both players displayed their amazing talents in long rallies and breath-taking retrieves.

Jason Ray won the first game 11-9 and then the second game 11-7. With Ray leading 10-7 match ball in the third game, it seemed all over for Nyron, but he clawed his way back to 10-all, and finally won the third game 13-11. Nyron then won the fourth game 11-7 and secured a hard-fought victory with his 11-6 win in the fifth game.

Defending champion Alex Arjoon displayed a high level of expertise to defeat Nicolette Fernandes in straight games 11-5, 11-9, 11-1, while Kristian Jeffrey proved too good for Shomari Wiltshire as he defeated him 11-7, 11-4, 11-6.

The number 2 seed, Richard Chin, showed himself no easy pushover with a semi-final win against Jean Claude Jeffrey 11-6, 11-4, 11-2.

In the Women’s Open, all four of the top seeds easily progressed into the semi-final stage. Top seed Nicolette Fernandes defeated Makeda Harding 11-1, 11-5, 11-1, while defending champion Ashley Khalil beat Sarah Lewis 11-3, 11-3, 11-2. Former national champion Mary Fung-A-Fat was too good for Rebecca Low, winning 11-4, 11-0, 11-4; while Taylor Fernandes defeated Victoria Arjoon 11-6, 1311, 11-5.

In the Men’s Plate, Nicholas Narain had to come from two sets down to defeat Regan Pollard 9-11, 8-11, 11-3, 113, 11-4, while Ben Mekdeci dropped a game before defeating Peter Michael De Groot 11-5, 9-11, 11-2, 11-4.

In the Men’s Veterans 35/49 age group, Allan Downes defeated Robin Low 11-4, 12-10, 11-4, and Khalil Alli beat Medhi Ramdhani 11-5, 11-2, 11-8.

In the Men’s Veterans Over-50 game, Joe Mekdeci beat David Fernandes 8-11, 11-2, 11-7, 11-3.

Today’s final round matches start at 16:30 hrs.

SATURDAY, JULY 22, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Early rush for local CPL tickets Pg 23

The rush has begun for a chance to view the “Biggest party in Sport” in Guyana with patrons gathering to get a first grab at their tickets at the office located on 238 Camp and Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Pg 22

Pg 23 Bright smiles! Amazon Warriors’ Manager Omar Khan and Bermudez Manager Alvin Wilson conduct the ceremonial presentation in the presence of Warriors’ Steven Jacobs (left) and Assad Fudadin, along with Massy’s Marketing Supervisor, Elisa Howard

Flyweight Allicock medals for Guyana

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