Guyana Times 23 July 2018

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, July 23, 2018

Issue No. 3633

PRICE

Govt-Opposition talks

Harmon accuses PPP of being too ‘choosy’ Page 12

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

39% of P14 population connected to Internet – Hughes

...says ICT strategy to be ready for consultations shortly

…says Govt always open to dialogue

PPP plans to table legislation to prevent non-disclosure …of contracts and agreements in the petroleum sector

Non-cambio businesses trading in US dollars

“Don’t just issue P2 reminders, prosecute them” – economist advises Regional Chairman urges Govt to come clean on $264M solar farm P10

Page 3

– says it cannot supply 17 hours of electricity

Balance of payments deficit skyrockets

P7

– US$94M deficit attributed primarily to fuel price hikes

1 dead, 2 injured in WCD smash-up

10-year-old's death

Stepfather released from custody P10

Page 7

In photo, the concrete fence that was destroyed by motor car PTT 6297 (inset right) following the early Sunday morning accident that left Victor Ram dead (inset top left) and two others injured

Berbice man NIS goes from beats wife surplus to deficit to death in 1 year

Page 9

Page 8

– as report shows disparities in revenue and expenditure

GuySuCo Board

We need P9 “forward looking” members – Harmon

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mondAY, JUly 23, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Non-cambio businesses trading in US dollars

“Don’t just issue reminders, prosecute them” – economist advises

…says this is the only “practical” way of addressing the issue

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mid concerns that Guyana could continue to lose foreign exchange earnings especially since local businesses are not abiding by Bank of Guyana (BoG) Act 1998 by trading US dollars, outspoken economist Ramon Gaskin is urging Government to implement the law.

Gaskin said that there would be no specific crackdown on businesses by issuing basic reminders in the media. He believes the only way the issue could be fixed is by ensuring that people are persecuted.

The BoG recently issued a statement expressing its concern that some businesses are accepting foreign currency for the purpose of settling payments for transactions, instead of

Guyana dollars.

“That’s all they are doing. I don’t see it as a clampdown. A lot of people are violating the Act by trading in foreign currency; especially along Regent Street, you can buy goods and pay in foreign dollars,” he said.

The statement said, “The Bank wishes to advise that pursuant to section (20) of the Bank of Guyana Act, 1998, all monetary obligations or transactions in Guyana shall be settled in Guyana dollars.”

The Bank reminded also that only banks and licensed cambios were authorised to conduct buying and selling of foreign currencies while noting that penalties were attached for violations which include fines and imprisonment.

Economist Ramon Gaskin

“The Bank warns that any person contravening the Bank of Guyana Act 1998 and the Dealers in Foreign Currency (Licensing) Act 1989 will be prosecuted,” the notice added.

According to the BoG

Act 1998, the Bank from time to time, by notice in writing, could demand from any person any financial information on foreign transactions. The BoG may require such persons to submit the information to the Bank, but if they fail to supply the information within the time specified or it is wilfully or recklessly withheld, they shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable upon summary conviction to a fine of not more than $175,000 for each day the offence continues.

However, Gaskin said, “But what the central bank needs to do is prosecute people who are violating the law. Prosecute them!

Not put a big statement in the newspaper, because they are not going to read

it.”

The former presidential advisor told Guyana Times on Sunday that a lot of the funds that are received by the traders are kept in foreign currency and are not deposited in the banking system.

“They are probably taken outside of the country and exported. And that is part of the capital flight problem that we are also faced with in this country… all the monies the Cubans are paying,” he added.

This is also contributing to the reduction in the foreign reserves of the country.

He said that if this continued to happen, the country would have to keep borrowing. The Government, he said, will also continue borrowing in foreign currency to help meet the deficit and trade accounts.

“You have to pay for fuel in foreign currency. We have reduced earnings from the export of sugar, and, therefore, the Government will have to keep borrowing all the time to cover the deficit in the trade accounts, because we already have a big deficit on the current account, because we are spending more than we are taking in, and we have a deficit on the capital accounts,” he posited.

Gaskin continued, “So, we operating three defi-

cits here: the current, capital and trade. And once you keep doing that, you will be borrowing all the time.

Guyana is borrowing all the time. We have been doing that for the past 40 years uninterrupted, since 1992 when we inherited a US$2 billion debt and a lot of it written off…and we keep borrowing – again US$1.6 billion in debt, both domestic and external.”

With the recent influx of foreign shoppers into Guyana, Chinese businesses have been receiving enormous sales and have been engaged in trading US dollars. This is something that the BoG said it is aware of because it has had complaints in that regard.

The BoG has also said this is lending to the issue and has cautioned these businesses to desist from it, as it plans to investigate thoroughly.

Only last year, the BoG also issued a notice to unauthorised money changers warning them that if they continue to ply their illicit trade and are caught, they would face the full extent of prosecution under the Dealers in Foreign Currency (Licensing) Act 1989. Their trade came into the spotlight again after shortages of foreign currency saw them hiking their rates last year. (Samuel Sukhnandan)

Lindeners benefit from oil and gas sector training

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s Guyana advances towards becoming an oil-producing nation, lecturers and instructors from the Linden community in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) were beneficiaries of a two- day oil and gas sector training, conducted by the Centre for Local Business Development and the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training.

The interactive training sessions, which were hosted at the Linden Technical Institute (LTI) on Thursday and Friday last, targeted mainly lecturers of the institution, with the aim of promoting an understanding of the process and importance of offshore oil and gas production.

Participants received an introduction to offshore oil and gas, health, safety and environmental-related topics under the three courses which were launched.

Speaking at one of the sessions, Senior Business Specialist attached to the Centre for Local Business Development, Dr Natasha Gaskin-Peters noted that the Centre aimed to build local companies through funding

by ExxonMobil.

She said the Centre would have met with the Institution

last year, and the technical and vocational schools were assessed to ascertain what was available here in Guyana.

“Linden was one of the schools that we have met with and we will continue to work with the technical and vocational schools, as we move along because we know that you guys want to be engaged and want to ensure that your students have the requisite skills for the industry and so this is just the starting process,” Gaskin-Peters said.

Additionally, she pointed out that while the workshop was being piloted in Linden, other communities will soon benefit from the initiative.

Apart from raising awareness on the process and importance of offshore oil and gas production in Guyana, the workshop also sought to enable participants to understand the implementation of strategies to upgrade health and safety.

Participants were engaged by Health and Safety Specialist attached to the Centre for Local Business Development, Allan Lambert.

Other topics discussed included value chains, technologies, local content and opportunities in the new oil and gas industry in Guyana.

news

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monDAY, JUly 23, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, July 23 – 14:00h to 16:00h and Tuesday, July 24 – a night-time retraction of 03:00h and a day-time retraction of 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, July 23 – 13:30h-15:00h and Tuesday, July 24 – 14:25h-15:55h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Cloudy skies should prevail throughout the day, interrupted by light rain as well as sunny intervals.

Partly cloudy to clear skies are expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South South-Easterly to East North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 13:27h reaching a maximum height of 2.20 metres.

Low Tide: 06:57h and 19:19h reaching minimum heights of 0.94 metre and 1.01 metres.

PPP plans to table legislation to prevent non-disclosure …of contracts and agreements in the petroleum sector

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he parliamentary Opposition has plans to table legislation that would seek to create some greater level of transparency and accountability in the petroleum sector, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has said.

Jagdeo stated that he has met with officials of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and the Open Society Foundation, seeking their assistance to table these pieces of legislation in Parliament.

The former Head of State noted that the idea is to have oil companies and Government become more transparent in their transactions and for them to account to the people of Guyana.

“Any money from any oil company… and that the Minister of Finance will have one week or two weeks to gazette the receipt and within a month must notify the National Assembly…and the money is only paid to the Consolidated Fund or to the Sovereign Wealth Fund,” Jagdeo said in explaining the legislation.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

pen again and companies would also have an obligation too.

“If they (companies) don’t notice that they made a payment to the Ministry and they don’t see it in the public domain….these companies will be obligated to disclose,” he explained, adding that the PPP was hoping to draft legislation for tabling in Parliament along those lines.

“That will immediately solve a lot of these issues. So, both the company will have to say it, and the Minister of Finance. And there is a huge

was still looking for drafters while explaining that there were not many skilled persons available to put together such legislation. “… but that is one … there are four pieces of legislation surrounding transparency issues that I am thinking about tabling … in the future,” he noted.

Jagdeo noted that this will be able to safeguard Guyana from experiencing issues of bribery and money laundering especially in relation to the petroleum sector.

This sector will most likely attract greater level of investments over the next few

penalty particularly for the Minister of Finance, who has a fiduciary duty in case that is not done. That is what we hope to have some time,” he further added.

However, the Opposition Leader noted that his Party

years, starting in 2020, when oil production is expected to begin.

SATURDAY, July 21, 2018

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The former President added should any of those fail, the idea is to have laws in place that will see a 10year jail term instituted for non-disclosure of an agreement or transaction. He feels by doing this, such incidents would not be allowed to hap-

Signing bonus

In December 2017, Government had denied receiving an advance pay-

ment from US oil giant ExxonMobil of US$18 million. However, a leaked document that was seen by this newspaper proved that the Administration was fully aware of receiving the signing bonus granted by the same company, as a request was also made to open an account at the central bank.

The allegation about Government receiving this bonus was first made by Chartered Accountant and Attorney Christopher Ram. Ram had said that this payment may be one of the reasons why Government was not disclosing the new contract between itself and the US oil giant. Government had failed to disclose that it had received the money since 2016 and place it into the Consolidated Fund.

Government later brushed aside allegations that it possibly spent or transferred the US$18 million signing bonus it received from ExxonMobil, claiming that there was nothing sinister about that move. Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman did not confirm nor deny allegations that the signing bonus might have been transferred from a private account at the central bank, or spent. The Minister did reiterate that the monies were put aside to deal with a specific matter.

Government had defended its actions saying that the money was placed at the Bank of Guyana, since Government intended to use it to pay the legal team that would represent Guyana’s interest at the World Court regarding the border controversy with its western neighbour Venezuela.

The matter is being challenged by Opposition Member of Parliament Anil Nandlall. Nandlall is contending that Government is in “breach of and contrary to, the letter and spirit of Article 216 of the Constitution of the Republic of Guyana and Section 38 (1) of the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act, Chapter 73:02.” (Samuel Sukhnandan)

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guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, JUly 23, 2018

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

Implicit Bias Racism

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oday, equality has become such a persuasive and pervasive norm that no government would openly admit that it discriminates on the basis of race. Overt racial discrimination, it appears, is passe. Invidious distinctions based on sex, religion, national origin, and lately even age, are now outlawed in many countries. The PPP GECOM Commissioners have alleged there is racial discrimination in the organisation’s hiring practices.

In the implementation of this norm of equality, two concepts have been utilised. Firstly, there has been the standard of equal treatment. Here, individuals equally situated are to be treated equally: the focus is on the individual, and not the group. The decision-maker should be race-blind. In a frequently used analogy, individuals are akin to contestants in a footrace, with the winner being the one who runs the fastest. A meritocracy would be created.

The footrace analogy, however, indicates a problem with the "equal treatment" standard, and suggests the second concept -- equal opportunity. To extend the analogy, it was pointed out that while everyone might now theoretically be starting from the same point, the legs of some might have been damaged simply because they belong to a particular group. The results would thus be a foregone conclusion.

It was considered appropriate, therefore, to sometimes consider the race of an individual to ensure that decisions did not continue to disadvantage a particular race.

There have also been two theories of discrimination to assist in the enforcement of equality – “disparate treatment” and “disparate impact”. The former "is the most easily understood type of discrimination. The employer simply treats some people less favourably than others because of their race, colour, sex, religion, or national origin. Proof of discriminatory motive is critical, although it can, in some situations, be inferred from the mere fact of “differences in treatment.”

"Adverse impact employment practices are facially neutral in their treatment of different groups, but in fact fall more harshly on one group than another, and cannot be justified by business necessity. Proof of discriminatory motive is not required under a “disparate impact theory." Nowadays, the phrase “implicit bias” is a substitute expression.

In Guyana, the recruitment pattern of the Police Force can illustrate many of the above concepts. After the abolition of slavery, the British recruited first Bajans, and then local Africans for the lower ranks, almost to the exclusion of other races; just as prior they had preferred Amerindians. This, of course, was to further their "divide and rule" strategy. The criteria for selection -- such as height and chest measurements, and unmarried status -- combined with the food served while facially neutral, produced a disparate impact on Indians.

On the eve of Independence in 1965, Indians were 20.7% compared with 71.9% Africans in the Force. And this was after the PPP Government of 1957 -1964 had deliberately increased the number of Indians recruited. They had accepted 239 Indians versus 432 Africans from 5,877 versus 9,081 applications respectively; that is, 4.1 per cent of Indian applicants versus 4.7 per cent of African applicants.

The International Commission of Jurists, invited by the PNC to investigate the imbalances in the state sector, concluded that the Police Force should reflect, to a greater degree, the composition of the population.

They recommended that 75 per cent of all future recruits be Indian, until the goal was reached. The ICJ's recommendation reflects the ethos of “equal opportunity”, which seeks to right historical discriminatory wrongs. While the PNC accepted the recommendations of the ICJ, it did not implement them, and actually decreased the number and percentage of Indians accepted. The PNC ceased to make statistics available after 1966, but data collected by Prof. K. Danns showed that between 1970 and 1977, while the size of the Force was being doubled, 92.2 per cent of recruits were Africans, with only 7.84 per cent being Indians.

The ICJ's recommendation also introduced into Guyana, if not in so many words, the concept of "affirmative action".

This is a very controversial concept, both to those whom it benefited and those against whom it discriminated [reverse discrimination].

One of the dance routines performed by the little princesses at the National Cultural Centre when the National School of Dance hosted its annual production titled “Studio to Stage” on Saturday evening (Carl Croker photo)

Use funds seized from criminals to fund fight against crime Dear Editor, Members of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) are doing wonderful work by apprehending drug dealers and smugglers at Guyana’s official ports of exit and entry, especially airports.

I compliment them for doing great service to our country, and I urge them to pay the same attention to other well-known hot spots for smuggling, such as stellings and landings along rivers and creeks.

I believe the huge amounts of cash and valuables seized from drug dealers and smugglers should be used to find new ways to reach the heart of criminal operations. I strongly suggest that a significant portion of seized assets should be used as reward money, or to pay informers and engage private investigators to help in CANU crackdowns with extremely secure confidentiality.

Every citizen knows the names of the ‘Big Bosses' linked to drug dealing and smuggling inside and outside Guyana. Find ways to recruit undercover agents or informers; pay them well, and ensure they are not identified. Residents in every area know who are the drug users, dealers and smugglers living among them. Follow the users to the dealers; follow the dealers to the smugglers; and so on, until you get to the ‘Big Bosses’.

Further, when persons are convicted, the authorities can consider using them as informers to track the bigger dealers and suppliers in exchange for reduced sentences or forgiveness, provided that the information

provided is useful and leads to further arrests.

It hurts me terribly to see the negative impact the drug trade has on crime, and the way it destroys the lives of my people, their families and communities. Many youths start with excessive use of marijuana, then get addicted to cocaine. When they become addicts, they would steal, hurt, and even kill over and over again to get drugs. Some have even murdered their own parents and burned down family homes. Drug dealers also would do anything to secure their business and profits, and do whatever it takes to protect themselves and their interests.

The criminals who do these things get exposed sooner or later. Even the ‘big bosses’ eventually lose their honour, dignity, respect, and even their lives just for piles of dirty money.

Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar was once the biggest drug boss in the world, but he was shot down like an animal, and died in disgrace as a sick scoundrel.

After his death, his family wanted to go into exile, but no country wanted them.

Escobar was called "The King of Cocaine," and some foolish Guyanese used to admire him. He had billions of US dollars, and he used to run Colombia through bribery and murder. Such criminals lose their humanity by hurting others severely, and this curses them and they end up dying in prison or being killed cruelly. Escobar ended up running and hiding, but he was cornered and shot dead without mercy.

The illegal drug trade is

one of the greatest evils ever inflicted upon humanity.

It destroys persons caught up in it, the societies that gets overrun by it, and it infects the core of civilisation.

Drugs do horrendous damage to the body and soul.

Users are not only killing themselves with drugs, they are also murderers or potential murderers, because they would do anything to satisfy their craving.

I respect the work of CANU for bringing constant pain to those trying to get rich quick through smuggling and drugs. I want CANU to continue to go after these criminals relentlessly, and continue to bring great grief upon those who want to enjoy a big life by poisoning people and destroying society for generations.

Alcohol is a legal drug that I think should be illegal. For their own profit, big companies encourage excessive consumption of alcohol, despite clear evidence that alcohol abuse is causing enormous destruction.

Lives have been lost, serious injuries have been suffered, and countless families have been destroyed as a result of crimes committed by persons under the influence of alcohol.

Punishment for serious crimes is too mild in Guyana. When major drug dealers are convicted, too many of them get off with a slap on the wrist. I think 20 years’ imprisonment should be the minimum penalty for serious drug offences, and fines should be triple the value of the drugs involved, with long jail sentences to be applied immediately if

the fines are not paid.

I believe the properties and assets of persons convicted of serious drug crimes should be confiscated immediately upon their conviction. The authorities should scrutinise their estates; and if it can be proved that they transferred any financial or property assets obtained through crime to their relatives, friends, associates or companies, those should be confiscated also.

Large-scale smuggling and drug dealing have expanded and diversified into a number of fake businesses around the country. These criminals have become very vicious, because their money gives them the power to penetrate the highest levels of law enforcement agencies, the legal system, political parties, civic organisations, and even Government.

Criminals get enormously wealthy from crime, and they use it to form companies and corporations to make it easier for them to do crime on an even bigger scale, and pass it off as legitimate business while laundering money at the same time. This is what drives the constant smuggling of items in the country, including drugs, while foreign currency goes out of the country.

I support CANU every step of the way as they fight against these vagabonds.

Use funds seized from criminals to fund CANU’s fight against crime. When the big criminals are caught, jail them for life, because their criminal activities have given so many others a life sentence of pain and misery.

Sincerely, Roshan Khan, Sr

guyanatimesgy.com

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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

They are dismantling the very people, system that are keeping this economy afloat Dear Editor, It is official: Guyana is now a backward and bankrupt place, despite all desperate measures being put in place by its desperate operators to salvage it. I make mention of the announced plan by the regime to force seizure of all dealers in foreign money.

The Chronicle reports that, "The Authorities are clamping down on the rampant acceptance, especially of city businesses, of foreign currency as a payment for goods." The article further states, "The Bank of Guyana notes with some concern that

some businesses are accepting foreign currency for the purpose of settling payments for transactions, instead of Guyana dollars." In this regard, there is a promise of retaliation by the Central Bank in the form of surprise raids made to seize the foreign dollars from those businesses, as well as from the private traders themselves.

The targeted traders are the Cubans, who are doing brisk business here, buying up merchandise on a wholesale basis to take back to their home country. The preferred currency or cash

transaction is the US dollar, of which the state is in dire need.

The Government contends that the hard currency being cashed should flow in a more direct way to the national bank than it is at the present moment. Seeing "Jordan's Treasury" is hard pressed for that "almighty" US dollar, the only solution he can come up with is to resuscitate that draconian law which states that all foreign monies entering this country are the property of the state, and as such should be subject to state regulation, so lay hold of it by taxation.

Wrong! Burnham tried that, and it brought us as a nation to our knees. It never worked then, and there is no way, shape, or form that it is going to work now.

Now, looking at it from that perspective seems good on paper; the law is the law and it must be respected, but what Jordan is not telling the nation is that this law will do one, if not both of the following: drive the foreign currency traders underground, or drive them out of Guyana altogether.

The trader might very well take his trade elsewhere, like going to Margarita,

There must be a broader, deeper shift in the paradigm in the GPS

Dear Editor, I am happy that the management of the Guyana Prison Service is attempting to recruit fit and proper persons for service.

According to Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, applicants are now required to do drug tests before recruitment.

Some have failed the tests. In addition, I recently saw in the daily papers the names, addresses and photographs of some aspirants for the job. All these recruitment tactics, and perhaps many more, are designed to induct suitable ranks into the system, to curb the ridiculous ease with which illicit items are entering the various prisons, and to suppress the rampant corruption in that institution.

However, although this is a commendable and giant step in the right direction, much more needs to be done to bring the existing sad state of affairs at the prisons under control. There must be a broader and deeper shift in the paradigm. In

the recruitment process, the authorities should establish assessment centres where applicants would be assessed by trained assessors.

Sometime ago, I recommended this course of action as part of the Guyana Police Force’s recruitment strategy. There has yet been no movement in that direction.

It is even more apposite for the Guyana Prison Service. An assessment centre is widely accepted for recommending personnel actions in a variety of occupations, including the Prison Service. It is a place where a series of events, exercises or scenarios take place. It is one of the best methods available for selecting suitable candidates for either employment or advancement in law enforcement agencies.

A brief analysis of the recruitment system in the GPS reveals that as long as an applicant has passed the written examination, is medically fit, has produced a clean Police record, is drug free, and has been

cleared by simple background checks, he is guaranteed entry into the prison system. However, there is no testing for unacceptable behavioural traits, and no evaluation for psychological behaviour. Hence undesirables, including psychopaths and others coming from the society with real hustlers' mentality, can easily become Prison Officers.

Over the years, the GPS has come under heavy scrutiny and criticism from Commissions of Inquiry and elsewhere. Non-compliance with some of the CoI recommendations has resulted in fiery and deadly consequences in the prisons.

Several persons in authority have posited statements to the effect that: there are just a few rogue elements that we have to get rid of; If they cannot do the job properly, they should just leave; It is just some rotten apples in the barrel that we have to deal with. Those statements are nothing more than a self-serving, superficial facade intended to draw

attention away from their own failure.

The real issue might not be the rotten apples, but the barrel. Perhaps, it is the barrel that is causing the apples to spoil. There might be the need to change some of the staves, the hoops and/ or the quality of materials that make up the barrel. The task of controlling corruption is to examine the barrel, not just the apples; the organisation, not just the individuals in it; because corrupt Prison Officers are made, not born.

Perry puts the issue succinctly, “Those who serve the public must be held at higher standard of honesty and care for the public good than the general citizenry.

A higher standard is not a double standard. Persons accepting position of public trust take on new obligations, and are free not to accept them if they do not want to live up to the higher standard."

Yours faithfully, Clinton Conway

The US watches…

Dear Editor, President Jimmy Carter’s recent intervention in Guyana’s domestic politics is a refreshing development. It shows that the Carter Center and the US Government are closely monitoring Guyanese politics. Even more importantly, they are following issues of governance, or rather bad governance, which prevails today under the Coalition Government.

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has done a remarkable job in exposing all aspects of mismanagement; incompetence; corruption; and significantly, abuse of power, violations of law, the Constitution, and several undemocratic deci-

sions and actions taken. It appears that it is the latter conduct which is causing the West the most trouble.

No doubt, free and fair elections would be among the priorities of the West.

Every Guyanese who is interested in a better Guyana would find this pleasing.

The PPP needs to continue the excellent exposure of these kinds of actions on the part of the Coalition Government whenever they surface.

The two persons whose work in this area stand out are Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and Anil Nandlall. Jagdeo’s press conferences have been very incisive in revealing the lev-

el of corruption and incompetence in the Government.

Nandlall, almost single-handedly, has been very effective in the press and in the courts in exposing the lawlessness, breaches of the Constitution, and significant violations of democratic practices committed by the Government. The fact that he is representing the cause of persons across the racial divide and has been able to get favourable rulings from a Judiciary believed to be unfriendly to the PPP adds a tremendous amount of credibility to the PPP’s work as an opposition party. Nandlall’s contributions have been invaluable.

However, as 2020 gets closer, the PPP cannot af-

ford to become complacent.

They must press forward even harder, in order to get more international attention. This will require greater contributions from other leaders of the party and Members of Parliament (MPs).

Now that the PPP is about to name its Presidential Candidate, many aspirants have finally crawled out of their shells.

It is a pity that they were not so active for the last three years; but it is never too late. Whoever the candidate is, it is hoped that those who are not selected will continue the hard work.

Yours truly, Khal Morgan

where trading is freer than what obtains here. If the Cubans should ever contemplate that move, then it would be hell on earth for us here in this part of the globe. The Cuban traders are a Godsend to us here in Guyana, and if Jordan is sensible, he would not interfere with that arrangement.

From experience, whenever a state takes that highhanded, ultra-strict control of the movement of foreign monies within its jurisdiction, the end result is quite the painful opposite of what had been intended. Taking complete control would also expose the Cubans to all forms of atrocities, such as bare them forth to the ubiquitous "shoot and rob" bandits that are so rampant in Georgetown.

Jordan needs to remove his head from where it is, and create a climate for foreign investment, so that foreign currency can flow in copious supply into the economy. He needs to initiate fiscal measures like those of the PPP/C Government, where foreign companies were eager to set up bases here, and where our country became a success story.

That is not forthcoming at the present, and we are going

down the road of becoming a pariah state again. With sugar almost dead, rice limping along, mining and forestry contracting by the day, no foreign money is flowing into the national coffers, so Jordan is at his wits’ end to manage.

Finally, the Government needs to take a major part of the blame, because it is the chief culprit responsible for the depletion of foreign reserves. Heavy and excessive borrowing from Central Bank has seen the drying up of reserves there, and no amount of patchwork would change that situation.

But, like I said in the opening paragraph, it is desperation time in this country, and the only way this Finance Minister sees out of it is to add more tax. But no amount of taxation can stem the tide of a failing economy.

This desperation code came into effect as a result of Government's lack of wherewithal to manage the economy, hence its mad rush to get money any which way. It is a frightening place to be, because our country is going nowhere, and as a direct consequence, is doomed to failure.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

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Foundation

Kids glued to screens?

Teach them the art of conversation

By Thomas Lickona, PhD

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ired of asking your kids to put down their phones and look at you when you're talking with them?

Guilty of checking your own phone and half-listening when they’re trying to talk to you?

Wish your child didn’t always answer “Nothing” when you ask, “What did you do at school today?”

Wish family meals were a time for positive, meaningful conversation instead of complaining, bickering, and gulping down food in order to leave the table as soon as possible?

Not happy when you and your spouse go out to dinner and phones intrude on what you hoped would be a chance to reconnect?

Why do we spend so much time staring at our screens and so little really talking to each other?

Could it be that most of us have never learnt the art of conversation? How could we acquire that skill and teach it to our kids?

A Personal Story When our first son was 13, our conversations were characterised by a pattern familiar to most parents. I asked the questions, and he usually gave oneword answers.

“How was school?”

“Fine.”

“How’d the game go?”

“Great.”

One day I said, “You know, I ask all the questions. I’d appreciate it if you’d ask me a question for a change.”

He smiled and said, “Okay, Dad, how are your courses going?”

I realised I had never told him anything about my college teaching, even though that was a big part of my life.

“Thanks for asking,” I said, with genuine appreciation. I told him about the courses I was teaching that semester – how three were going well and why one was a real stinker.

Then I asked him how his courses were going in junior high. It felt like a real conversation.

After that, whether we were cleaning up the kitchen or just had 5-10 minutes in the car, we’d do what we came to call “back-and-forth questions”.

I’d ask him a question, then it would be his turn to ask me one. We would ask about anything we were curious about, ideally an open-ended question that would bring out thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

For example: What’s been the best and the worst part of your day so far? What made it so?

What happened today that you didn’t expect?

What’s on your mind these days?

We’d do this for at least a couple of rounds.

If he wasn’t sure what to ask me, I’d say, “Hey, you can ask me the same question I just asked you.” Soon he was coming up with his own questions.

A new family tradition Back-and-forth questions became a family tradition. I was always struck by the thoughts and information it elicited, even in a short period of time.

My wife and I soon began doing backand-forth questions with each other, whether we were out for dinner or doing a tedious chore like weeding the brickpath in the back yard: What have you been thinking about this week that we haven’t had a chance to talk about?

What did you get done this week that you feel good about?

What’s a project you have in mind for this summer?

No matter how much communicating we had done during the week, back-andforth questions made conversation more interesting and brought out things we hadn’t yet had a chance to share.

How to introduce back-and-forth questions with your kids Don’t give up if your kids resist backand-forth questions at first. You can say: Let's give this a try. Being able to make conversation is a skill that can make any relationship better. People who study communication say the se-

cret of being a good conversationalist is being interested in the other person.

Some people just talk about themselves.

Boring! The way to show sincere interest in somebody else is to ask good questions that draw them out.

Here are 20 questions we’ve found interesting and fun in our family. Some we’ve used in one-on-one conversations; some we’ve posed as “topics” at family meals, where everyone takes a turn responding:

20 conversation starters 1.

What are you grateful for today?

2.

What’s some good news you’d like to share?

3.

What’s something nice you did for someone today?

4.

What’s something nice someone did for you?

5.

What is something you learned today – in school or from life?

6.

What was an interesting conversation you had today?

7.

What’s something you’re looking forward to?

8.

What’s something you’re worried about?

9.

What do you like most about being part of this family?

10.

What do you wish we did more of as a family?

11. What’s the hardest thing about being your age? The best thing?

12. What is a goal you’re working on?

13. What's something a family member did for you recently that you appreciated?

14. What's a problem you're having that you'd appreciate help with?

15. If you could be granted three wishes, what would they be?

16. What are two things other people can do to make you happy?

17. How can somebody help you get out of a bad mood?

18.

What does “success” mean to you?

19. How do you know if somebody is a true friend?

20. Who is someone you really admire? (psychologytoday.com)

Summertime activities for kids

By Carol Shen

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hen you ask my daughter Addie what she wants to be when she grows up, she’ll say a number of things, one of which is wanting to be an architect. When you ask her why she wants to be an architect, she’ll tell you that buildings come in all sorts of interesting shapes and designs. She may also mention that it’d be fun to build dollhouses.

I wanted to help her explore the world of buildings (and dollhouses), so I tried out a framework for helping any child explore a job that they’re interested in. Sometimes you don’t know what your passion in life is until you read about it for the first time, talk to those who do it for a living, and have the chance to explore it. It’s no coincidence that the name

of my blog is Read! Talk!

Explore! – a useful framework to learn about any topic, especially a future career.

“What I want to be when I grow up” framework: Read: Books are a never-ending source of knowledge and fun when it comes to introducing any career to a child. You can find books organised by topic at Start with a Book.

Talk: Have your child talk to someone who actually has the job your child is interested in. Interviewing is a fun way to learn about what someone does.

Explore: Visit a site related to what your child is interested in. For example, we went to the National Building Museum in Washington, DC. Find a toy or activity that gives your child a hands-on opportunity to explore.

Let’s get started – what do architects do?

Read: A great book that introduced Addie to being an architect was Iggy Peck, Architect. Build, Dogs, Build

was another fun read that my four-year-old thoroughly enjoyed. We explored other books such as How a House is Built to learn some of the technical aspects of being an architect. You can find many other books about architecture at Start with a Book’s Builders and Buildings Summer of Reading on facebook.

Talk: Talk to an architect. A good college friend of mine, Jennifer Kimura, is a structural engineer and architect. She’s worked on some high-profile projects. Addie had a short interview with Jenn over the phone. With Addie being 6 1/2, I gave her the following questions to ask: What do architects do?

What do you do at work each day?

What is your favourite part of being an architect?

What is the hardest part of

being an architect?

What buildings have you helped design and build?

Addie came up with her own question: Do architects build dollhouses?

Here was Jenn’s response: “Well, architects create models of what they’re going to build before the building is actually built. Models are smaller versions of a building, like dollhouses are smaller versions of a house. So yes, in a way you could say architects build dollhouses.”

Explore: I took the kids to the National Building Museum, a very kid-friendly museum with a number of interactive exhibits and wonderful gift store. While we went to a museum to explore architecture, just walking around a neighbourhood or city street is already an eye-opening opportunity to see different types of architecture. Have fun reading, talking and exploring with your kids! It’s never too early for your child to explore different careers they may embark on and embrace throughout their lives. (Excerpted from Start With A Book.com)

news

7

monDAY, JUly 23, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Balance of payments deficit skyrockets – US$94M deficit attributed primarily to fuel price hikes

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uyana’s overall Balance of Payments deficit has skyrocketed to US$94 million.

Compared to US$8.8 million for the corresponding period last year, this represents a telling indicator of Guyana’s economic situation.

The recently released Bank of Guyana (BoG) Quarterly Report and Statistical Bulletin, from which the above figures are culled, attributes this Balance of Payments deficit to an expanding current account deficit and to higher fuel prices.

“This was primarily due to an expansion of the Current Account deficit, despite a surplus on the Capital Account.

The deficit on the Current Account resulted from a higher merchandise trade deficit due to higher imports, primarily fuel,” the report states.

Balance of Payments information is statistical data on a country’s fiscal transactions, including imports and exports. To therefore record a deficit, Guyana would have had to spend more on imports, among other things, than it derived from exports.

According to the report, Guyana’s overall Balance of Payments situation in the 2017 fiscal year showed a deficit of US$69.5 million.

This is a hike when compared to US$53.3 million of the previous year. And a breakdown of the figures shows stunning disparities.

On the one hand, the Current Account shows a deficit of US$287.4 million for the year 2017. But in the previous fiscal year, the report notes, this was just US$12.4 million. The report admits that this is because of a negative balance on the merchandise trade account.

“The further weakening was due to the negative balance on the Merchandise Trade Account. Merchandise exports were slightly lower than projected, mainly on account of lower export earnings of gold and other exports in the last two months of the year.”

When Finance Minister Winston Jordan presented the 2018 budget last year, he had announced that merchandise imports were estimated to grow by 9.6 per cent.

This has been attributed to increased imports of mining machinery, chemicals, fuel and lubricants. According to the 2017 report, imports exceeded the Government’s projections.

“Imports were slightly more than the US$1.59 billion projected at the time of the presentation of the 2018 budget. As a result, the Merchandise Trade deficit of US$196.2 million was considerably higher than the projected deficit of US$147.2 million”, the Report detailed.

“Notwithstanding the deficit on the Services Account was lower than estimated, the improvement in the Services Account more than offset the weaker balances on both the Non-Factor Services and Unrequited Transfers accounts,” the report states.

Economy

Jordan was, on January 17, quoted as expressing hope that Guyana would see a rise in exports for 2018. He had noted that growth in the agriculture, fishing and forestry sectors would be driven by expansion in other sub-sectors

1 dead, 2 injured in WCD smash-up

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wenty-year-old auto technician Victor Aditya Ram of Lot 496 Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara was killed in the wee hours of Sunday, while two of his friends are now hospitalised after the car in which they were travelling crashed into a metal signboard before slamming into a concrete fence at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara.

Reports are that 23-yearold Bishram Ramkishore of Lot 29 Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara was driving motor car PTT 6297 along the Vreed-en-Hoop Public Road on the West Coast of Demerara with his friends Victor Aditya Ram and 23-year-old Kevin Henry of Lot 22 Goed Fortuin as passengers. At about 01:50h, while in the vicinity of the Hand-inHand Insurance Company, a pedestrian allegedly began crossing the road, and to avoid hitting this pedestrian, Ramkishore swerved his vehicle.

In so doing, he lost control of the car, and it reportedly crashed into a metal signboard before slamming into a concrete fence that halted its mobility.

All three young men sustained injuries, and were immediately rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where Aditya Ram was pronounced dead on arrival.

Ramkishore is unconscious and in critical state at the Dr. Balwant Singh Hospital in Georgetown, while Henry is receiving medical attention at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH).

Guyana Times visited the home of the dead man, whose father, Surijpaul

Dead: Victor Aditya Ram

Ram, related that based on what he was told, his son was flung out of the car and into the rubble of the broken fence. He explained that in a call he had received at about 01:30h, he was told to rush

the three occupants were all well known to each other.

The man said he was told that someone had attempted to cross the road in front of the vehicle, which prompted Ramkishore to swerve the vehicle to avoid hitting the pedestrian, thereby ending up crashing into the fence of the insurance company.

“I can’t say much, because only a handful people saw, and I could only tell you what they told me,” Ram explained. The man noted that he is unaware of the fate of the pedestrian whose action had allegedly resulted in the accident.

The dead auto technician’s mother was too distraught to speak, and was being consoled by relatives

The car slammed into the fence of the Handin-Hand Insurance Company

to the WDRH because his son had been involved in an accident.

“But by the time we rush there, they tell we that he was pronounced dead on arrival. So like when he fling out of the vehicle he died,” the distraught father disclosed.

Questioned on where Ram was heading at that hour, this father could not say, but he explained that

and friends who turned up at the house upon receiving the devastating news.

Ram has been described by his father as having been a very friendly and loving individual who had had a lot of friends. He leaves to mourn his parents and only sister.

His body is at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post mortem examination even as the Police continue their investigations into the fatal accident.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan had projected a rise in exports in 2018… several months before he revised economic growth projections

except sugar.

That was then. At the 48th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Caribbean Development Bank, in Grenada in June,

almost five months later, Minister Jordan had announced that the previous 3.8 per cent growth projection he announced at the last budget reading would be revised downwards.

“In spite of both domestic and external shocks, Guyana has maintained its positive growth trajectory that has been evident for over a decade. In 2017, the economy recorded a growth rate of 2.1 per cent, reflecting improved performances in the forestry and rice sectors. On the other hand, contractions were witnessed in sugar and the construction and mining sectors”, he had announced.

“The outlook for 2018 is very positive, notwithstanding further declines in the sugar industry. Real growth is projected to be 3.4 per cent,

slightly below the budgeted 3.8 per cent; with increased output in rice, construction, manufacturing, and services sectors,” the Minister said in his speech, calling this a robust performance.

Guyana’s last best growth rate was 5.2 per cent in 2013.

World Bank records show Guyana’s growth rate in 2014 was 3.8 per cent; in 2015 it was 3.2 per cent; and in 2016 it was 3.3 per cent. For 2017, initial projections of 3.8 per cent were revised to 3.1.

This figure then went to 2.9 per cent before the final figure of 2.1 per cent was announced.

Jordan claimed that the poor performance was linked to the dismal figures recorded in sectors including sugar -- a sector the Government itself radically downsized when it came to office.

8 news

monDAY, JUly 23, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Berbice man beats wife to death F

orty-four-year-old domestic worker Sabita Shamnarine of Line Path, Corriverton, Corentyne was allegedly beaten to her head and abdomen by her abusive husband two Sundays ago, and while receiving medical attention at the New Amsterdam Hospital on Sunday last, she succumbed to her injuries.

She reportedly had complained of experiencing severe pains about her body after the beating, and as such was taken to the Skeldon

Hospital, where she was admitted a patient. While in hospital, the woman had reportedly begged not to be sent home, claiming that she was afraid of her husband’s constant abuse.

Hours after being admitted, she reportedly collapsed and slipped into a coma. Her condition reportedly deteriorated, and she was subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital, where she subsequently died.

The mother of three had allegedly been frequent-

ly abused by the suspect, known only as Manoj, in the presence of their five-yearold child.

Last Wednesday, the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) visited the woman’s Corentyne, East Berbice home in an attempt to take the child into protective custody. They found the suspect, ‘Manoj’, imbibing with friends. He reportedly refused to hand over the child to the CPA officers, and the Police were reportedly called in. They arrested

the suspect.

Officials of the New Amsterdam Hospital have reportedly informed the Police of disclosures made by the woman prior to the death. It has been reported that, on several occasions, the now dead woman had to seek medical attention for the injuries she had received as a result of being beaten by the suspect.

Now that the woman has died, the man has been rearrested, and is expected to be charged shortly.

Ex-husband sets lumber yard on fire

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ibi Shaheada Thakur’s $20 million lumber yard at Lot 40 Alliance, Canal # 2 Polder, West Bank Demerara was on Saturday evening set ablaze, allegedly by her ex-husband

Ramesh Thakur; and all that remains now are ashes.

The 39-year-old separated from the suspect about a year ago, and a matter concerning division of property has been filed in the High

Court.

The victim has said she was at home on Saturday when, at about 22:00h, she heard a knock on the window; and as she looked outside, she saw the suspect us-

Allegedly mentally-ill man slapped with multiple charges

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aymond Samaroo was on Friday remanded to prison by Georgetown Magistrate Leron Daly after he had appeared in her court to answer six charges made in relation to alleged simple larceny, assault, and damage to property offences.

The Police contend that on July 19 last, in the vicinity of Owen Street, Kitty, Samaroo unlawfully and maliciously damaged a minibus, property of Vidyah Barrack.

They also contend that on the same day and time, he used abusive language towards Barrack.

Moreover, it is contended that while at the Kitty Police Station, Samaroo used abusive and threatening language to Sita Gorsohy, from whom he had allegedly stolen six cases of bottles.

He has further been accused of behaving disorderly while at the Kitty Police Station.

A known character to the

Police, Samaroo denied all the allegations made against him, and told the court he is mentally challenged.

The prosecutor objected to Samaroo being placed on bail, citing that Samaroo is a character known to the Police and that he has matters pending in court.

Magistrate Daly upheld the prosecutor’s objections, and remanded Samaroo to prison until August 27, when the matter would again be called.

ing a knife to destroy her car, PXX 509.

Soon after that incident, he jumped into his Canter and allegedly drove to the lumber yard and set it on fire.

The victim summoned the Guyana Fire Service upon realising that the business was engulfed in flames, but by the time they arrived on scene, sections of the lumber yard had already been destroyed.

The suspect was arrested, and is expected to be charged shortly.

Sex worker further remanded on armed robbery charge

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ineteen-year-old Godfrey Cox of Princes Street, Georgetown was on Friday further remanded to prison

by Georgetown Magistrate Leron Daly when he reappeared in her court charged with the offence of armed robbery.

The sex worker had pleaded not guilty to the charge when he was first arraigned before the magistrate earlier this month. The charge states that on June 20, 2018, at King and Charlotte Streets, Georgetown, while being armed with a knife, he robbed David Harvey of $65,000 in cash. Harvey was reportedly heading to the Shell Gas Station on Regent Street, Georgetown to pay workers when the defendant attacked him, held him at knifepoint, and relieved him of the cash that was in his pants pocket.

The prosecutor objected to Cox being placed on bail based on the seriousness of the offence and the fact that the defendant has other matters of a similar nature pending in court.

Magistrate Daly has further remanded Cox to August 27, 2018.

Buktas in a knot…

A

…over NYT report on oil prospects s his job demands, your (conscientious) Eyewitness scours the dailies on his phone even before rolling out of bed in the mornings. And he was quite riled up when not one, but THREE Muckraker columnists went ballistic over an article filed on our oil prospects by a New York Times reporter. From what these fellas described, the snotty foreigner “washed his mouth” all over our reputation; which wasn’t exactly stellar to begin with, thanks to the Muckraker’s sensationalism!!

Now, your Eyewitness is as patriotic as anyone out there – he’s still living here, isn’t he? So he immediately googled the NYT to read the libellous (to put it mildly) article captioned, “The $20Billion question for Guyana”. Being a US newspaper, the $ meant US greenbacks, of course.

The sub-headline explained, “This largely underdeveloped country on South America’s northern Atlantic coast is the unlikely setting for the world’s next big oil boom. But is it ready to handle the riches?”

So far so good; and wasn’t this exactly what the Guyanese chatterati had been clamouring about? So your Eyewitness dug into the article, and THERE IT WAS!!

The claim that we had only THREE highways! Now your Eyewitness breathed a sigh of relief, since he’d assumed that for the Muckraker reporters to become so apoplectic, the NYT gringo had actually written we had NO highways, and the “three” was a typo!!

After all, the fella was being VERY kind to say we have three highways!! Do the Muckraker wankers KNOW what are the MINIMUM requirements for a roadway to be dubbed a HIGHWAY? How about TWO lanes in either direction from end to end, plus a 10-foot shoulder? WE won’t mentions clover-leaf exits and such like!! The only one in Guyana that MAY qualify is the West Coast “road”!!

And what’s wrong about describing Georgetown as a “musty clapboard town, which seems forgotten by time, honeycombed with canals first built by Dutch settlers and African slaves”? Even the slums of Harlem are more dapper than Georgetown!! Or that blackouts are more the norm with GPL than anything else? Your Eyewitness thought the writer was being very generous when he concluded: “If all goes well, one of the poorest countries in South America could become one of the wealthiest.”

Was he being snarky when he qualified that assertion?

“But there are obstacles. If history’s any guide, countries that discover oil often waste their opportunity, as the resource blends seamlessly with corruption. Countries with weak political institutions like Guyana are especially vulnerable.” Isn’t this what every Guyanese with some nous has been warning about?

Why’d the Muckraker mavens get their bucktas in a knot? …in the AFC on LGE The Guyanese expression “hold me-loose me” perfectly describes the relationship between APNU and its erstwhile (very!) junior partner, the AFC. The latter’s been screaming, “Hold me!!” and the former’s responded with a nonchalant, “Loose me na?” Back in January, knowing the LGE has to be held this year, but hearing nothing from APNU about whether they’d enter as a coalition, the AFC -via Ramjattan of “dead meat” fame -- pulled a bluff.

He announced the AFC was “pondering” going it alone!! Still no official discussions, even though Granger allowed a noncommittal, “We’re better off together”!!

By February, Ramjattan claimed the AFC and APNU were “exploring” going together – but no talks!! March passed, but in April, Ramjattan claimed the two parties were “set for talks”. Being in charge of the athletic Security Forces, your Eyewitness assumed that after “set”, “go” was up next!!

Sadly, we’re in July; the LGE’s been announced for November, and now AFC leader Trotman has announced: the parties are looking for “common ground”!!

For a grave? …for more LGE funds Under its new Chairman, GECOM claims $2.9 billion ain’t enough to pull off its operation and the LGE. So how about collecting that pilfered $100 million for those “emergency” radios that were never used?

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

News

9

monDAY, JUly 23, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

GuySuCo Board NIS goes from surplus to deficit We need “forward looking” in 1 year members – Harmon – as report shows disparities in revenue & expenditure

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The National Insurance Scheme

ith the release of the Bank of Guyana (BoG) Quarterly Report and Statistical Bulletin, the National Insurance Scheme’s financial position raises several questions, as it has gone from a multimillion-dollar surplus to a multimillion deficit in just one year.

According to the report, NIS’s overall balance reflected a surplus of $152 million at the end of March 2017.

This good fortune has dramatically turned around, however, because at the end of March 2018, the entity was in the throes of a $296 million deficit.

“This was reflective of increases in current and capital expenditures by 15.9 per cent and 38.5 per cent to $5.7 million and $2 million respectively, relative to the increase in revenues by 6.6 per cent to $5.4 million.”

The report also notes that the Public Sector’s net credit position deteriorated by 66.5 per cent to $46.8 million – moving from $28.1 million at the end of 2017. The report blames this on worsening Central Government net credit standings. NIS was also cited in the report, when it comes to net deposits.

“Net credit to the Central Government was higher by 27.1 per cent or $21.5 million to $101.1 million at the end of March 2018. The public enterprises and the other category of public sector, which includes local government and NIS, remained net depositors; increasing by 5.7 per cent and 5.5 per cent respectively at the end of March 2018,” the report adds.

The NIS has been implementing a number of recent changes. Funeral grants were among some of the increases announced by the entity effective from January 01, 2018.

The funeral grant was increased from $40,398 to $44,438; and as it relates

to the increase in minimum payments for Old Age and Invalidity pensions, those provisions have been increased from $27,500 to $30,000 per month.

The NIS had stated in an advertisement that all pensions that are above the minimum payable rate would be increased by two per cent.

The monthly insurable earning ceiling has also increased from $220,000 to $240,000 per month, while the weekly insurable earning ceiling will be increased from $50,769 per week to $55,385 per week.

The insurable earning ceiling is the upper limit on earnings that attract NIS contributions.

In 2017, increases in insurable earning ceiling went from $200,000 to $220,000 per month, and from $46,154 to $50,769 per week.

Additionally, the minimum insurable earning ceiling for self-employed persons contributing to the NIS has been increased from $62,400 to $68,750 per month.

The minimum rate for old age and invalidity pensions has also been increased from $25,000 to $27,500 per month.

- says consultations ongoing

S

tate Minister Joseph Harmon has said that while Cabinet would want to see the Board of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) installed, it wants to have “forward looking” members to head the entity.

At the post Cabinet press briefing on Friday last, Harmon disclosed that discussions are still ongoing on the appointment of a new GuySuCo Board.

“Cabinet would certainly like to see that Board in place. In fact, it is important for good corporate governance that there is a board in place, but we also have to ensure that we have a Board that is forward looking, or not just some persons who many have had some experience in sugar; it requires more now,” the Minister posited.

He said, “In the current environment, you need a mix of persons who have the expertise in that area, but also people who can actually look forward to see where we are going to take this industry; a three- estate industry that has a specific target for sugar production, and how best we can achieve that.

How best do we adjust to the changing situation in the industry? How do we focus on the other value-added [products] other than just sugar? How do we focus on molasses? How do we focus on other issues that the world market is actually demanding?” he asked.

The State Minister further reiterated about other opportunities in sugar cane production. He pointed out that there is need for the local sugar industry to be more cognisant and proactive to take advantage of overseas markets. For instance, he noted that with the region having experienced all of those hurricanes and natural disasters, Guyana is in a unique place to be able to

State Minister Joseph Harmon

provide and produce these items that were need.

Nevertheless, he posited that among the 70 plus Expressions of Interests (EoIs) that have been submitted to Government for GuySuCo’s assets that have been identified for divestment, there were proposals to diversify into much more value-added products.

Last year, Government announced plans to minimise the local sugar industry and divest the corporation’s assets. To this end, a Special Purposes Unit (SPU) which falls under the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) was set up to oversee the divestment plans by way of either selling off or restarting factories with minimal staff to attract investors, both domestic and foreign.

The SPU is currently managing the now closed Skeldon, East Demerara (Enmore), Rose Hall and

Wales estates. However, there have been reports of an apparent tug-a-war within the Coalition of recent over the sugar industry, parts of which are now under the control of the SPU for the divestment process. In fact, reports had surfaced about disagreements allegedly between ministers from the two coalition parties regarding the chairmanship and members of the GUYSUCO Board.

Back in March, NICIL’s SPU had published the new board, naming Colvin Heath-London Chairman, while the other members were Fitz McLean, Komal Singh, Verna Adrian, Vishnu Panday, Annette Arjoon, Arianne Mc Lean, Roshan Khan (Jr) and George Jervis. Two other names were to be added to the 11-member body.

The ad had detailed that the new Board was approved

by Cabinet on February 26, 2018.

However, Minister Harmon had said the same day that there were some issues regarding the timing of the publication, and Cabinet was reviewing the matter.

Since then, “consultations and considerations” of the new GuySuCo Board have being “ongoing”.

In the meantime, HeathLondon has confirmed that, over the next few months, special emphasis would be placed on transforming GuySuCo’s economic misfortune into a situation wherein a fully self-sufficient, viable and competitive enterprise operates. In order to do this, the NICIL sub-body has secured $30 billion, being sought in the form of a syndicated bond, to support GuySuCo and its remaining estates, that is, Uitvlugt, Blairmont and Albion.

Meanwhile, concerns have been raised about Government’s vision for the industry and the genuineness of its actions thus far, since that very $30 billion could have gone into restructuring the industry while keeping all of the estates open and GuySuCo’s workforce employed and engaged.

In fact, the Private Placement Memorandum for GuySuCo’s $30 billion bond has received much criticism from Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. He recently said he was shocked by the contents of the agreement, which now leave more questions than answers.

10 news Regional Chairman urges Govt to come clean on $264M solar farm monDAY, JUly 23, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

– says it cannot supply 17 hours of electricity

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egion One (BarimaWaini) Chairman Brentnol Ashley is urging Government to “come clean” regarding the $264 million solar farm

being constructed in the Mabaruma township.

The project is part of Government’s wider plans to transform Guyana into a ‘Green State’, by using

clean and reliable electricity while simultaneously reducing the fuel bill.

It has been reported that the solar farm, located at Khan’s Hill, is near comple-

tion; and when operational, would allow residents to daily enjoy some 17 hours of electricity.

However, at a press engagement, Regional

Chairman Ashley explained that while the solar farm would provide increased electricity to Mabaruma, that increase would not be as significant as is being promised.

“After assessment, and based on a report coming from our engineers and other persons at the meeting of the Regional Democratic Council, it was disclosed to us that the solar farm is not going to be self-sufficient.

It’s going to have to be integrated with the Gen-sets that already exist, because there’s no sort of battery complement that (would) save the energy coming from the sun to provide electricity. It’s called a hybrid system. As such, what will be expected is: yes, an increase in the hours of electricity, depending on the

Region One Chairman Brentol Ashley

weather; but this will not (accrue) to 17 hours of electricity”, Chairman Ashley explained.

He has therefore requested that Government “come clean” and inform the communities of the capacity

of this multi-million-dollar solar project.

The $264 million solar farm is being constructed

by German firm Meeco. The project, started last year, is being executed in three phases; the first of which has seen extension of the distribution network from its endpoint to a new location in Khan’s Hill. The second stage has catered for site preparation and construction of the fence; and the third phase involves the actual construction of the solar farm.

As part of Government’s plans, other solar farms are expected to be constructed at Lethem in Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo), Mahdia in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni), and at Bartica in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson told the NTC conference last week that some 10 hinterland villages are expected to be equipped with utility-scale solar farms.

“Small areas will be looked at next year. The solar farms will be large enough for all villages in one area.

President (David) Granger already signed a Gy$3.2 billion (US $15 million) line of credit with International Solar Alliance (ISA) for this,” the Department of Public Information (DPI) has reported the Public Infrastructure Minister as saying in response to village leaders who raised concerns on the status of improving their electricity supply.

It was revealed earlier this month that Government has obtained approval to use monies earned from the Norway Agreement to fund a 100 megawatt solar energy project. This megawatt project will see several solar farms being established to feed energy into Guyana’s National Electricity Grid.

The money which Guyana earned for sustaining its rainforests to absorb global carbon emissions was initially earmarked for the controversial Amaila Falls Hydro Project.

10-year-old’s death

Stepfather released from custody

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s investigations continue into the sudden demise of 10-year-old Jonathan Rampersaud who was found hanging in his home at Success, East Coast Demerara, his stepfather, who was previously arrested following the discovery, has been released.

His release came on the day the post-mortem gave Rampersaud’s cause of death as asphyxiation due to hanging. The Police had initially suspected foul play, but are now convinced that the youngster had taken his own life.

Rampersaud’s reason for taking his own life remains unknown. The allegation that he used to be molested by his stepfather has been debunked by the results of the post mortem examination. The child’s biological father had suspected that his son was murdered and then put in a hanging position, but that suspicion has also been put to rest.

The family having come together to bid a final farewell to the lad, the child’s mother, Bibi Ameena Hamid, held out that her reputed husband and her now dead son had shared a loving relationship.

She recalled that on the day in question her husband had suggested she should take the child to her place of employment, since school

Jonathon Rampersaud

was closed for the August holiday, but she had refused to so do, claiming he would not be properly accommodated there. And when she was leaving for work, her son had been in high spirits as he kicked football in the yard.

She received the devastating news of his demise during the day, and rushed home only to see her son dead. No one could say what had transpired, and what might have been the motive for her son taking his life.

The child was found by his stepfather hanging in his room. The stepfather was reportedly imbibing when the lad reportedly used a sheet to hang himself. The Police were, however, called only after the lad’s mother had returned home.

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monDAY, JUly 23, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt blasts NY Times article on Guyana’s oil sector

– says National Resource Fund Act will guide industry

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overnment has noted its extreme disappointment with an article written for the New York Times by Clifford Krauss, entitled “The $20 Billion Question.” It has since responded to several of the inaccuracies and the writer’s depiction of Guyana, its people, and their way of life.

In a statement issued by the Finance Ministry on Sunday, it said that it would not address what it described as the “laughably simplistic and selective description” of Guyana. The Ministry said the claim that “the civil service is corrupt” was also an insult to the majority of hardworking and honest public servants.

The Ministry noted that the writer’s assertion that “foreign bank developers

have told the Government that legislation to create a sovereign wealth fund ... lacks sufficient regulatory controls to avert corruption” and that “the legislation is in limbo,” and has denied stating that this was not the case.

While acknowledging that there were certain dangers surrounding resource-rich countries, the Government said it has extensively researched the issues of the resource curse. It said that is the reason why they are engaged in crafting the National Resource Fund Act (NRFA).

“We have asked for advice from several international institutions, including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Commonwealth Secretariat,” it explained,

noting that the proposed legislation addresses two main issues: stability of the economy and saving for future generations. This, according to the Ministry, is laid out in a Green Paper, which will be presented to the National Assembly.

“The NRFA, which will be laid in Parliament before the end of the year as indicated in Budget 2018, is the culmination of many lessons learnt around the world by resource-rich countries over the past 100 years.”

The Ministry said it would address the transparent handling of, and accounting for, the oil-related funds from them being deposited in the NRF to their spending which can only be done via the Annual Budget approved by the National Assembly.

The Fund itself is to be

Nandlall raps AG on competing legislation

– after SARA complains

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

SARA Deputy Director Aubrey Heath-Retemyer

Attorney General Basil Williams

ormer Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall has sought to highlight one of the consequences of not holding adequate consultations with the necessary stakeholders when crafting legislation.

Nandlall picked up on comments made by the Deputy Director of the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA), Aubrey HeathRetemyer, in an article published on Sunday in a national newspaper. HeathRetemyer was lamenting the apparent resistance by judicial officers to access information from commercials banks, something which is key to the work of the anti-corruption agency. However, Nandlall explained that while he may not know the facts of the individual cases, one of the reasons why courts were reluctant to act in supplying the information requested was as a result of several pieces of legislation that are clashing.

“Some [legislation] require the bank to maintain clients' confidentiality and, therefore, prohibit them from disclosing the information requested, while some require the bank to make the disclosures,” he pointed out.

The former Legal Affairs Minister noted that the Anti-Money Laundering/

Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) legislation caters for the latter situation, and clashes with laws that support the former. This, he noted, was brought to the attention of his successor.

“When [AML/CFT Bill] was being debated in the National Assembly, I drew these inconsistencies to the Attorney General's [Basil Williams’] attention … Of course, our Attorney General is incapable of taking advice.

All he does is take the draft Bills which come from FATF (Financial Action Task Force) and CFATF (Caribbean Financial Action Task Force) and table them in the National Assembly and then clumsily boast to those whom he continues to mislead that he satisfies another international requirement,” the former Legal Affairs Minister posited.

According to Nandlall, he had outlined that such inconsistencies were supposed to be reconciled after consulting with the banks and that appropriate formulation which balances the competing interests, should have been arrived at when the Bill was being debated in the House, and sent to FATF and CFATF for their approval.

“That’s how it was done by many countries that faced the same problems … [But] these

statutory implosions will continue unabated until there is an initiated input at the AG Chambers. Rest assured that will not happen while the current configuration continues,” Nandlall asserted.

On the other hand, the former Legal Affairs Minister went on to highlight too that both Heath-Retemyer and the SARA Director, Dr Clive Thomas, were unlawfully occupying their offices.

He pointed out that the SARA Act provides very clearly that the Director and Deputy Director of the Agency shall be appointed through a parliamentary process. “Since that Act came into force, that process was never activated. A transition provision in the Act allowed the Director who operated in the Agency before the Act came into force, to continue to act in that office for a limited period. However, that period has long expired.

Neither was appointed by the National Assembly process mandated by the Act. Therefore, Mr Retemyer and Dr Thomas are unlawfully holding offices and are receiving public monies as remuneration,” Nandlall stated while asking why “crime and unlawful conduct” were not being investigated by the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

F

managed by the Bank of Guyana and overseen by a committee that encompasses several independent interest groups, including a representative nominated by the Leader of the Opposition.

Quarterly reports on its activity will be presented to Parliament. “We are confident that the NRFA will fully address these legitimate concerns,” it added.

Returning to the other issues raised in the article,

the Ministry said they created an impression that the Government and the country were hapless and unable to deal with the new oil sector.

“We acknowledge there are serious human skills deficits, but the Government is proceeding carefully and methodically towards First Oil. The National Resource Fund will be in place before 2020,” it responded.

Despite the article’s narrative of a “Poor man wins

the lottery; disaster ensues”, the Ministry said it also drew attention to some of Guyana’s most pressing challenges and raised the question of how Guyanese saw themselves and the country.

“It is time that as Guyanese, we reject the single story being told about us, no matter who tells that story. We must look towards the future with hope in our heritage, in the legacies of our ancestors and in the path that is being crafted for us now.

I urge Mr Krauss to take a closer look at our country, its proud and resourceful people and our resilience in the face of the odds,” the statement issued said.

Since the publishing of the article, scores of Guyanese have taken to social media to air their concerns and have heaped criticism on the New York Times and its writer. A majority of Guyanese believe that the writer’s description of Guyana is totally inaccurate and seeks to make Guyana out to seem as one of the worst countries on earth.

They believe also foreigners should not be allowed to get away with such untruths.

12 news

monDAY, JUly 23, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt-Opposition talks

Crime-fighting strategy

Harmon accuses PPP Former AG urges tougher of being too ‘choosy’ penalties for violent criminals …says Govt always open to dialogue

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inister of State, Joseph Harmon recently stated that the Administration has always been committed to dialogue with the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Opposition, who he accused of “picking and choosing” when to engage Government.

“President [David Granger] has always made it clear that we are interested in dialogue and that we believe, we believe that all of the resources of this country, Government, Opposition, Private Sector and all the stakeholders are necessary for us to move this country forward. So, dialogue is something which he openly wishes to be associated with and will take every step to ensure that we can continue to have dialogue in this country,” Harmon said.

He was at the time responding to questions about President Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo coming to an agreement to engage on matters of national importance.

However, the Minister of State went on to accuse the Opposition of being selective when participating in national discussions.

“The Opposition has been very selective in the matters in which they wanted to deal with. In the appointment to Boards and Commissions, they have chosen the ones they will go to. At meetings, to which they were invited, they have chosen the ones to which they will come, and so it’s basically been sort of a picking and choosing by them,” Harmon pointed out.

On Thursday last, it was revealed that the intervention of former United States

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

President Jimmy Carter had resulted in the two Guyanese leaders agreeing to have a dialogue on national issues.

Following a meeting with the Head of State, Jagdeo explained that the PPP was refusing to have such engagements with Government under the auspices of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, because the Party felt that he did not have the power to make commitments and decisions on behalf of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Administration. “[The impression out there is that] we are unwilling to engage, because we don’t like Nagamootoo… [But] that’s absolutely not true, it is not the individual, but his inability to make commitments that we cannot accept. I pointed out to President Carter that the AFC can’t even secure a meeting with APNU … to discuss the Cummingsburg Accord.

Secondly, Nagamootoo has no substantive or serious portfolio … and that is the reason why (we refused to meet),” the Opposition Leader explained to media operatives on Thursday.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo

However, Minister Harmon said that the PPP has always disrespected Prime Minister Nagamootoo, who is also the first Vice President.

“Well, the Opposition, as you know, has always try to disrespect our Prime Minister.

Our Prime Minister, of course, has actually treated that with dignity and aplomb in the way he executes the functions of his office, but they’ve actually said some very terrible things sometimes about our Prime Minister in the National Assembly,” the Minister of State outlined, while praising Nagamootoo for carrying out his responsibilities with efficiency.

Nevertheless, Harmon noted that to avoid any further hindrances in engaging the PPP, President Granger has committed to personally leading future talks with the Opposition.

During Thursday’s meeting, the Head of State proposed three topics – crime, environment and oil and gas – for the first set of talks with the Opposition. Jagdeo said he would be discussing these areas with his party’s Executive and would get back to the President.

– advises Govt to recruit, utilise UG law students for prosecution

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utting tougher penalties in place for violent criminals and burglars, strengthening policies for granting bail for such offences, and recruiting University of Guyanatrained law graduates for employment with the state are some of several measures being proposed to combat crime.

These proposals were made by Attorney General Anil Nandlall who, in his recent writings, noted that the former Government had implemented many security reforms and had started to implement some of these very propositions. In the absence of any new, coherent security strategy being rolled out, Nandlall urges these measures be considered.

“There is a need for immediate statutory reforms specifically designed to increase the severity of penalties in relation to crimes of violence, robberies, breakand-enter, burglaries,” he outlined.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall stated that the former PPP Government was on the way to implementing some of these very reforms

serious offences, then special prosecutors should be hired to prosecute.

Indeed, there have been cases of Police prosecutors being employed to go up against lawyers at the level of senior counsel. And there have been instances where those matters were of a high-profile nature.

Human resource

Nandlall also highlighted that there are over a

fice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Nandlall also advised that improvements be made at various Police stations.

Even temporary detainees have periodically complained of terrible hygienic conditions while in police custody, including cases of detainees being made to sleep on floors, and having limited access to toilet facilities.

“The facilities at Police Stations must be improved,” Nandlall stated. “Simple facilities like more telephone lines should be installed.

Police station numbers must be posted at conspicuous places within the communities, and each station must be equipped with the ability to attend to calls and reports made in a timely fashion.

“The 911 emergency call system must function efficiently 24 hours a day. Each division must be equipped with a SWAT team numbering not less than two dozen, fully equipped to deal with

Since the handover of the Security Sector Reform Action Plan (SSRAP) report in January, there has been little said regarding its implementation

“Comprehensive sentencing guidelines need to be promulgated with an emphasis on mandatory custodial sentences and against the imposition of concurrent sentences for certain types of offences, for example robberies, break-and-enter, burglaries,” Nandlall declared “The enactment of a Bail Act -- a draft of which ought to be with the Chief Parliamentary Counsel -which permits the grant of bail in respect of the aforementioned offences ONLY IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES; the recruitment and training of students who have completed the LLB programme at University of Guyana but are not, or have not yet gone on to Law School...”

Nandlall urged that these graduates be placed in the prosecutorial arm of the State to prosecute serious offences in the magistrates’ courts. He also advised that if state counsel cannot prosecute in relation to the most

thousand trained Police officers within the Guyana Police Force whose training is being squandered behind tasks civilians could do. He observed that this is despite the Force being under-strength.

“These officers should be transferred to active duty.

For example, the drivers, the dispatchers, the messengers, the secretaries, the clerks, the telephonists, the office assistants; even the persons who feed and bathe the horses and dogs, are all trained Police officers.

These functions can easily be performed by civilians,” Nandlall opined.

He is advising that the commander of each Police division be equipped with a legal advisor resident within the division. This advisor, he noted, should function under the supervision of the Senior Legal Advisor to the Police Force, who is stationed in Georgetown. In this case it is Justice (retired) Claudette Singh, and in collaboration with the nearest of-

exceptionally dangerous situations,” Nandlall added.

Since United Kingdom security expert Russell Combe, who was hired to assist with the Security Sector Reform Action Plan (SSRAP), presented the final report to President David Granger in January, little has been said about the report’s implementation.

Only two months ago, the US State Department had assessed the crime threat in the capital of Guyana as being “critical.” According to the latest 2018 Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) 2018 Crime and Safety Report, Guyana, with a population of just 750,000, has a general crime rate that “is above the US national average.”

It said criminal activities continue to be a major issue, with serious crimes such as murder and armed robbery being common. The report added that “criminals regularly use weapons, despite a rigorous licensing requirement to own firearms.”

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monDAY, JUly 23, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt to look into high mercury levels in Region 9 – as over 200 residents affected

O

ne day after the Chairman of Region Nine (Upper Takutu/ Upper Essequibo) complained about the high levels of mercury present in the region and affecting more than 200 residents in the Rupununi, Government, through Minister of State Joseph Harmon at last week’s post cabinet press briefing, has committed to look into the situation.

Minister Harmon has said that while he does not have any information on the issue, he would engage the Natural Resources and Communities Ministries to ensure that the matter is looked into.

“This is something that the President has actually been very firm on – the question of the use of mercury, particularly in the gold and diamond mining industries, where they use that in the extraction of (the minerals).

“I don’t have the specific details of [this particular case], but what I can say is that wherever that has occurred, the Government will take very clear and decisive actions in regard (to having the situation addressed),” he assured.

Region Nine Chairman, Brain Allicock, disclosed at a press conference on Thursday that the situation

Region Nine Chairman Brian Allicock

of high mercury levels in the Rupununi was discovered following studies and surveys conducted by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in collaboration with the South Rupununi District Council earlier this year. Villages in close proximity to areas with mining activities have been targeted.

Allicock declared the situation is so severe that the metal has been detected in the systems of an entire village of some 200 residents, the contamination having occurred by the village using contaminated water.

“Actually, one hundred per cent of the people in Para Bara are contaminat-

ed. That’s like 200-plus persons. There’re some other traces within nearby communities… some in Aishalton.

They did several tests using the hair [of residents].

Samples were sent overseas too, to be analysed further, and they came up with the same type of results, with the indication as to where [is contaminated],” Allicock noted.

Chairman Allicock explained that these villages are being affected because the ‘head water’ is contaminated, and as a result of the outflows of the rivers, the contamination gets into all the rivers. However, he noted that the only river not yet contaminated is the Rupununi.

Chairman Allicock blames the presence of mercury in the region’s water network on illegal mining activities, which he said are proving to be difficult to eradicate.

“There is a lot of illegal mining that cannot be controlled, even though we have rangers and so. There’s a network where, by the time I send our guys in -- the military and the Police – everybody knows they’re going, so whatever they have, they put away and hide,” the Chairman revealed.

Business Ministry to decide on fare increase after analysing operational costs

I

n an exclusive interview with Business Minister Dominic Gaskin on Friday, it was related that the Ministry of Business is analysing the cost involved in the operation of minibuses before responding to a proposed hike in fares made by the United Minibus Union (UMU).

The Minister said, “I know we are working on an analysis of the cost associated with operating minibuses, so that we can determine for ourselves whether the request for a fare increase is justified, and what that fare increase should be, if it is needed”.

Speaking specifically about a five-year moratorium on the importation of minibuses suggested by the UMU, Gaskin said he believes there ought to be more statistical information relative to passenger volume in order to facilitate a decision that would actually benefit the sector.

“If something like that is going to be done, it needs to be structured a little differently. Rather than a moratorium on the importation of buses, (there should) be some sort of limit on the amount of licences being issued, because you can’t condemn people to the same old bus for five years. And that (moratorium) doesn’t make sense, so it has to be dealt with. There needs to be solid data on passenger needs, passenger vol-

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin

ume on the different routes, to really determine whether that is something that is going to work to the benefit or the detriment of the industry, and of the passengers also,” Gaskin explained.

A proposal for not only a fare increase, but several other requests, was presented to Minister Gaskin back in June by head of the United Minibus Union, Eon Andrews, with the hope of addressing the several issues plaguing the sector.

The two parties have since met, and are expected to decide on a way forward by the end of July, according to the Minister, who said he has ‘given his word’.

The fare increase came at a time when the prices for fuel were fluctuating and increasing significantly. The head of the UMU had, how-

ever, informed that the fare increases suggested by him was not solely because of the fuel price increase, but because of a number of other issues, which include the hike in maintenance costs for minibuses.

As a result of this, the UMU head had made it clear that the proposed fare increase of as much as $40 would not change even if the cost for fuel decreases.

According to Andrews, it is not the UMU’s vision to exploit commuters, but rather to set fares which are “fair to everyone”.

He said he is aware of cases wherein passengers are being made to pay transportation fares that have been increased by as much as $60, when all that the UMU has requested is a $20 increase for short drop drivers, and $40 increase for drivers who travel longer distances.

“We are concerned, because if they (minibus drivers) take action, it means that especially the travelling public, although it is free-man transportation, they will punish. There may be persons who may react to those increases, and you know there might be some violence and Police story and these kinds of things. So I don’t think that’s the way anybody wants us to go, so I think that the Government ought to do something quickly,” the UMU president posited.

He also highlighted that there are mining activities ongoing in certain restricted areas, but he said the miners have documents purportedly issued by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

Probed in this respect, the GGMC has denied issuing documents authorising mining activities in restricted areas, despite signatures and stamps being attached to those documents.

“I don’t know if they have a similar stamp from GGMC anywhere else that they’re using to stamp these documents with signatures too…

[But] the thing is, it’s our people that are suffering; not the people on the coast; not the ministers out here, but our people; and that’s what we have to address. How do we help our people to come out of those situations?” a concerned Allicock questioned.

This is not the first report of mercury contamination coming out of the Region.

Last week, officials from the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) decried “wilful” damages being registered on its infrastructure by illegal miners, saying this action is not only disrupting distribution services to communities such as Mahdia, but can also prove to be harmful to residents utilising water from those breached waterlines.

“We don’t know what

GWI says illegal miners are breaching infrastructure and putting residents at risk for mercury poisoning

chemicals these miners are using, and if those chemicals get into the pipes, (they) could get to the communities. And these same miners will have families residing in Mahdia, and they won’t want to have chemicals which are dangerous to (people’s) health getting into the lines and then getting to (their) family members or friends or (their) loved ones. So that is one of the risks that are facing us right now,” GWI’s Planning and Implementation Director, Ramchand Jailall, highlighted.

Last year, at the 1st Conference of parties to

the Minamata Convention on Mercury in Geneva, Switzerland, President David Granger recommitted to eliminating the use of mercury in Guyana by 2027.

Against this backdrop, Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman on Friday disclosed that he has restricted the importation of 30,000 kg of mercury into Guyana from Mexico, given the increasing cases of mercury contamination occurring within the hinterland regions, coupled with the incident wherein employees of the GGMC and Guyana Gold Board have suffered from mercury poisoning.

14 news 39% of population connected to Internet – Hughes monDAY, JUly 23, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

…says ICT strategy to be ready for consultations shortly

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cknowledging that it may sound like a low number, Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes disclosed on Friday that slightly less than 40 per cent of Guyana’s population has Internet connectivity.

She made this admission in the National Assembly as she defended the frequent

statements in the public domain regarding Guyana’s fledgling Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector.

“I know in the press, I’ve been carried talking about our drive to provide connectivity. We’ve connected all the Ministries at this point in time. Over 150 government agencies, over 195

schools and we’ve created and opened in communities over 125 ICT hubs where there’s free Internet access,” she said.

“The Internet penetration rate in Guyana today stands at 305,007 persons.

That means that 39.6 per cent of the current population of this country are using and connected to the

Internet. It might sound low, but it’s over 300,000 persons.”

Hughes stated that while persons may say there was an absence of a strategy, it actually has not been put out for consultation. But according to the Minister, that does not mean that things are not happening, as she be-

lieves there is enough indication and discussion about a strategy.

“It’s my pleasure to say that the Ministry of Public Telecommunications is close to completing and bringing an ICT strategy out for consultations,” she related. “But in the meantime, I want to say that almost four or five times a month we demonstrate in a tangible way how that strategy is working.”

Earlier this month, the Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) had hosted a road show in collaboration with the Ministry in various regions across Guyana. Some of the activities that were featured included an e-agriculture workshop, community outreaches, a cyber-security workshop, and an ICT youth fair.

ICT strategy

At a recent press conference, Hughes had announced that the

Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes

to continue to modernise our current legislation and policy frameworks and we have to evolve our education methods and delivery for the 21st Century environment.”

Meanwhile, it was announced that the training of personnel in the various fields of communication will also be done to highlight the intervention mea-

Guyana’s internet connectivity rate is 39 per cent

Government would be formulating a policy framework expected to bridge the gap which exists between the hinterland and coastal communities and steer Guyana into the 21st Century.

“The Ministry of Public Telecommunications is developing the policy framework for the full utilisation of ICTs for our national development. This framework at a microeconomic level seeks to facilitate sustained economic growth and poverty reduction; promote social justice, transparency and equality; mainstream gender in national development; empower the youths and disadvantaged groups; stimulate investment and innovation and create universal access,” Minister Hughes had stated.

She had noted that the benefits of the policy are goals which Guyana should work towards. However, the framework will only be effective if the current legislation is modernised, along with the development of the current ICT arrangement.

“These, of course, are lofty goals which we’re determined to uphold and deliver. We recognise, however, that like every other policy initiative of this nature, there are going to be challenges. We have to continue to develop our ICT infrastructure. We also need

sures that are being taken by the Ministry to transform Guyana into a digital nation.

“We are creating a digital Guyana. We know that we have to look critically at our human resource development and strategies and so our commitment to training will take us all there,” she had also said.

The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) had noted in its end-of-year report that formal complaints against GTT totalled some 296 complaints for 2017, even more than the Guyana Power and Light (GPL).

“The complaints received from GT&T followed the same trend as previous years with the majority of complaints received pertaining to technical issues.

GTT has advised that the company is in the process of providing new technological installations to some of the areas which were previously served by the obsolete Fixed Wireless System (FWA),” the report had noted.

“Data service via Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology is being offered to the Essequibo Coast. Areas such as La Grange on the West Bank of Demerara that was once served by the obsolete FWA system benefited from Fibre to the Home (FTTH),” the report had added.

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monDAY, july 23, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

What do you think could be done to decrease the number of robberies that regularly occur at the various bus parks?

Ryan Munroe

Kayshore Khemraj

“There are a lot of things that can be done, or I should say put in place to reduce the number of robberies on the bus parks. One, I think surveillance cameras should be placed and when they are installed, thieves might feel uncomfortable to snatch a person’s chain and all these things. Also, I believe they should increase Police patrols in the area and the drivers themselves and even conductors need to be more serious about passengers and the work they do in general.”

Keshanie Ghansiam

“The bus parks should be organised and more Police Officers and other securities should be present to monitor those areas.”

Caesar McAlmont

“Having more Police stationed at the suspected or wellknown points might help in keeping criminals away.”

Simy Ramjattan-Boodram

“Well, I believe there’s a simple solution to the problem: put more Police Officers on the parks. I believe that will help to reduce a significant amount of robberies that occur on the bus parks.”

Denisia Liddell

“I think the Police should have regular stop-and-search exercises at these minibus and car parks. Also, setting up of cameras in these areas would help in identifying criminal activities.”

Karishma Adhari

“Well, there are too many robberies happening on the bus parks. What they need to do is improve the Police patrol.”

“I think they shouldn't have touts on the bus parks; they are too much and they people cannot know the difference between the thieves and bus touts, as they attack you with the same aggression. Secondly, I think there should be more police around those particular areas, because most of the time, you would see a police finding a comfortable spot and they lag in that area all day. The parks aren't that big if you have Police patrol the areas on a more regular basis, it could decrease the rate.”

Savetrie Goulcharran

“They should have more Police patrols and consider security cameras where robberies occur more often (especially around Demico and the market areas).”

Stephon Dookhan

“I would say the increase of more Police patrols and greater sanctions for thieves.”

Guyana People’s Militia 1500-plus strong – Harmon B ased on questions posed by the parliamentary Opposition about the Guyana People’s Militia, the National Assembly was told that 1608 persons have been recruited into the resuscitated group.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said these persons were recruited at various levels, and they were between the ages of 18 and 35, and physically and mentally stable for entry. These persons, he said, are not forced to join the Militia, but do so of their own free will and are paid $2829 per day.

Thus far, 36 persons have been recruited from Region One (Barima-Waini); 154 from Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara); 365 from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); 204 from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice); 405 from Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne); 93 from Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni); 42 from Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni); 45 from Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 264 from Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

According to the Minister, re-

cruitment teams are deployed to the various regions to sensitise persons on the programme and to recruit those interested. Special consideration is given to highly-skilled retired military personnel and skilled professionals.

Advertisements are also placed on social media, radio, and television

and flyers are distributed to attract interest.

The officers are required to attend specialised training three times per week in the regions. The training entails personal drills, map reading and navigation, jungle and weapons training, internal security, national policy and more.

Eighteen years after it was disbanded, the Guyana People’s Militia was reactivated on December 1, 2015 in keeping with the defence policy of the six-monthold administration.

At the relaunching, the then Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Brigadier

Mark Phillips explained the advantage of having the Militia as a separate entity rather than being part of the GDF as the 2nd Infantry Battalion, as since August 1997.

The Chief-of-Staff said several drill halls countrywide would be rehabilitated and Regional Companies would be strengthened through recruitment and the provision of more leadership training for officers and senior non-commissioned officers.

The Militia was first established in 1976 in accordance with the Defence Act at a time when the country had been facing internal and security threats.

An estimated 1000 persons have been recruited in 2014 and 2015. Phillips said a number of the 55 persons who went Absent Without Leave (AWOL) have since been taking steps to return to duty.

Government also expects to boost the GDF’s Engineer Corps to be involved in infrastructural development in the hinterland. The GDF plans to acquire more aircraft and patrol vessels during the next few years.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, JUly 23, 2018

Regional

T&T CJ’s misconduct case to be Mexico President-elect writes Trump, urging swift conclusion to NAFTA talks heard in Privy Council today

C

hief Justice Ivor Archie’s challenge of the Law Association’s investigation of allegations of misconduct against him comes up for hearing at the Privy Council in London this morning.

Archie’s appeal will be heard by Lady Hale and Lords Reed, Kerr, Wilson, and Sumption.

Archie will not be in London for the hearing.

The issues the Law Lords will be asked to determine are whether section 137 of the Constitution provides the sole basis for investigating the conduct of the Chief Justice and removing him/her from office; if not, whether section 5 of the Legal Profession Act gives the Association the authority to conduct an investigation into the CJ’s conduct.

They are also being asked to determine if the Association’s investigation of Archie was tainted by pre-judgment or bias and whether the probe was

Chief Justice Ivor Archie

carried out unfairly and in breach of the principles of natural justice.

According to the facts before the Judicial Committee, since November, Archie has been the subject of allegations of serious misconduct in the media, suggesting that he has corruptly and knowingly used his office in concert with convicted felons for their benefit.

The Association on

November 29, established a committee to substantiate the facts on which the allegations were based and to report back to its council.

Following correspondence requesting the Chief Justice to give his response to the allegations, and after a decision on February 23, was taken to continue to take steps in the inquiry, Archie filed for judicial review.

He claimed the investigation was outside the Association’s statutory powers, and the decision to investigate him had the appearance of bias.

After Archie received permission from the local appellate court to take his challenge to the Privy Council, the Association also agreed not to hold a special general meeting to discuss a report on the investigations of a sub-committee and the advice given by its external counsel. (Excerpt

from Trinidad Newsday)

Barbados looking to achieve green energy target by 2030

E

nergy and Water Resources Ministry P e r m a n e n t Secretary Jehu Wiltshire is of the view that Barbados’ target of becoming a 100 per cent green and carbon neutral island state by 2030 is one that can be achieved.

Addressing participants at a meeting of the National Energy Task Force Sunday morning under the theme: “Implementing and Transitioning to Renewable Energy: Critical Sign-Posts 2030”, Wiltshire told those in attendance: “We need to walk this road together. We

realise if Barbados is going to reach the point of becoming a small developing state, energy is absolutely critical to this process and we are going to seek to achieve this target with your help”.

Remarking that the target of Barbados becoming 100 per cent “green” by 2030 might be considered by some persons as “pie in the sky”, the Permanent Secretary reaffirmed that the target was one that “we are going to achieve”.

The Ministry hosted the stakeholders’ task force

Holness arrives in Namibia to traditional welcome for official State visit

J

Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness arriving in Namibia

amaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has arrived in Namibia to a warm traditional welcome from officials there.

The Prime Minister, in a post on Twitter, said he was pleasantly surprised by the welcome and the gesture of a birthday cake to mark his

46th birthday on Sunday.

Holness' visit to the country is reportedly to discuss areas of mutual cooperation with Namibia inclusive of sports, culture and visa exemptions.

Culture Minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange is accompanying the Prime Minister on the trip. E

meeting with the aim of moving from policy to acquiring financing and implementing the necessary measures to achieve the 2030 target.

During the meeting, stakeholders discussed how to develop a framework that would operationalise the Barbados National Energy Policy 2017, which speaks to significantly reducing Barbados’ reliance on fossil fuels and the island reaching its target of 100 per cent renewable energy by the year 2030. (Excerpt from Barbados Nation)

M

exican Presidentelect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador sent US President Donald Trump a letter calling for a swift conclusion to NAFTA negotiations and pledging his wish to reset relations between the two countries, Mexican officials said on Sunday.

The letter was delivered during a recent meeting in Mexico with senior US officials, and details were disclosed once Trump had received it, said Lopez Obrador, a leftist who won Mexico’s July 1 presidential election in a landslide.

In a news conference with Lopez Obrador, Marcelo Ebrard, the President-

elect’s proposed Foreign Minister, read a copy of the letter, which states that the incoming administration’s aim was to “start a new chapter in the relationship between Mexico and the United States, based on mutual respect.”

Lopez Obrador, who takes office on December 1, also called for the countries to redouble their efforts to wrap up talks to modernise the 24-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement, which includes Canada.

“Prolonging the uncertainty could stop investment in the medium and longterm, which clearly would challenge economic growth,”

Lopez Obrador wrote in the letter.

Trump has been antagonistic to Mexico over trade and immigration. Talks to renegotiate NAFTA began nearly a year ago after Trump called for the agreement to be renegotiated to better serve US interests.

Talks, which had effectively stalled as Canada and Mexico struggled to accommodate US demands for major changes, will resume on Thursday in Washington.

Former World Trade Organisation (WTO) economist Jesus Seade will accompany the Mexican delegation as Lopez Obrador’s representative, Ebrard said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Cuba’s draft Constitution omits the aim of building communism

A

draft of Cuba's new Constitution omits the aim of building communism, although it keeps the Communist Party as the guiding force of the one-party system, as well as recognising private property and opening the door to gay marriage.

Cuba's National Assembly in the capital, Havana, debated this weekend a draft of the document to replace its current Constitution, reflecting political, social and economic changes.

Once lawmakers have approved the draft, it will be submitted to a popular consultation. The final document, which could include changes, will then be put to a national referendum.

The current draft omits a clause in the 1976 Constitution on the ultimate aim of building a "communist society", instead simply focusing on socialism.

"This does not mean we are renouncing our

Cuba’s Parliament discussed a number of constitutional changes [Abel Padron/Agencia Cubana de Noticias via AP]

ideas," National Assembly President Esteban Lazo was quoted as saying by Staterun media.

Cuba had simply moved into a different era following the fall of the Soviet Union, he added.

Former Cuba Ambassador to the European Union and professor at the University of Havana, Carlos Alzugaray described the developments as "a positive step".

"Change is important on everything that refers to the

Cuban constitutional order ... but now we will need a broad legislative agenda, so these laws are properly executed," he told Al Jazeera from the Cuban capital.

"We will have to see what comes out of all this discussion."

The draft also appears to strengthen political institutions and create a more collective leadership structure, after nearly 60 years of rule by late revolutionary leader Fidel Castro and his younger brother, Raul. (Excerpt from Al

Jazeera)

PM Rowley softens stance on ganja decriminalisation

J

ust because the issues of the decriminalisation and legalisation of marijuana are not a priority for the Government at this time, it does not mean the matter cannot be dealt with, Trinidadian Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley has said.

Rowley made the statement in a WhatsApp conversation with Guardian Media Limited following his receipt of a petition by cannabis activists calling for marijuana to be legalised in T&T. On Friday, Head of the Caribbean Collective for Justice, Nazma Muller delivered a petition to Rowley with 10,000 accompanying signatures calling for the legalisation of marijuana.

Rowley assured Muller that a meeting, which will include Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, would be scheduled to discuss the way forward on the matter.

At a recent post-Cabinet press conference, however, Rowley had stated that the issue of the decriminalisation and legalisation of mar-

Trinidadian Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley speaks with Caribbean Collective for Justice Head Nazma Muller after he received a petition from her on his arrival to Parliament on Friday

ijuana was not a priority for his Government.

The Government had also previously denied a request by a Caricomappointed group to have a national consultation on the issue of the reform of marijuana laws.

Similar requests across the Region

were accommodated and the committee subsequently produced a report which suggested other Caribbean countries where the issue has not already been addressed were ready to support amendment to laws to allow for the legalisation of marijuana.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

monDAY, JUly 23, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Ex-Trump aide denies FBI claims he was Russian agent

O

ne of President Donald Trump's ex-foreign policy aides says allegations that he worked with the Russian Government during the 2016 US election are "misleading".

The FBI believed Carter Page was "collaborating and conspiring with the Russian Government" at that time.

His alleged relationships with Russian intelligence officials are highlighted in court applications which led to him being put under surveillance.

Trump said it appeared that his campaign was illegally spied on.

But he provided no evidence to support the claim.

The newly-released surveillance applications were granted and renewed by several different judges sit-

Carter Page was put under surveillance in October 2016

ting in a court authorised by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa).

The court, which has the power to authorise wiretaps and surveillance of suspected foreign spies, is one of the most secretive institu-

tions in the US. The FBI released the previously secret document cache on Saturday night following Freedom of Information requests by several US organisations.

It contains 412 pages of

heavily redacted material which includes the surveillance applications, their later renewals, and warrants surrounding the investigation into Page.

"The FBI believes that Page has been collaborating and conspiring with the Russian Government," the October 2016 application to the court states.

According to the documents, "the FBI believes that the Russian Government's efforts are being co-ordinated with Page and perhaps other individuals associated with" Trump's presidential campaign.

It also said Page "has established relationships with Russian Government officials, including Russian intelligence officers".(Excerpt from BBC News)

Hundreds of White Helmets evacuated from Syria to Jordan

H

17

undreds of White Helmets rescuers and their families have been evacuated from Syria to Jordan overnight with the help of Israel, the United States and European countries.

Also known as Syrian Civil Defence, the White Helmets operate in rebel-held parts of war-ravaged Syria.

The request for the evacuation

came as the volunteers and their relatives were threatened by advancing forces of the Syrian Government in the south of the country.

The evacuees were transported on Sunday to Jordan, from where they are expected to be resettled in Europe and Canada in the coming weeks.

Jordan's Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi said on Twitter that 422 people

were evacuated, instead of the initial 800 cleared for the operation.

A non-Jordanian source familiar with the agreement told Reuters news agency the original plan had been to evacuate 800 people, but only 422 made it out as operations were hampered by Government checkpoints and the expansion of Islamic State in the area. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Several dead in Kabul suicide blast as exiled VP Dostum returns

Civilians, including a child, and security force members were among the casualties

A

t least 14 people have been killed and more than 40 wounded in a suicide bomb blast near Kabul's international airport that struck minutes after Afghan Vice President Rashid Dostum returned to the country from more than a year in exile, Police said.

Kabul Police spokesman Hashmat Stanekzai said the blast on Sunday went off near the main airport entrance, where supporters had been waiting to greet Dostum as his motorcade passed on its way to the city

centre.

Dostum, who was travelling in an armoured vehicle, was unharmed in the blast, which was claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group.

"The blast happened right after Dostum's convoy left the airport," said Stanekzai.

Civilians, including a child, and security force members were among the casualties, according to Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

India scraps tampon tax after campaign South Africa shooting: 11 taxi drivers killed in ambush I

G

unmen in South Africa have killed 11 taxi drivers in an ambush, Police say.

The men from Gauteng province were travelling to Johannesburg on Saturday night when their minibus was fired at.

The dead men, and four more who were critically injured, were returning from a colleague's funeral in the coastal region of Kwa-Zulu Natal, police said.

The motive is unclear although rivalry between groups running minibus taxi routes in South Africa has led to violence in the past.

Minibus taxis are the most popular form of transportation among South Africa's population of 55 million.

Police spokesperson

Minibus taxis are the most popular form of transport in South Africa

Brigadier Jay Naicker said the vehicle was attacked between the towns of Colenso and Weenen, in the coastal province.

"The vehicle was ambushed. There were 11 fatalities and four were seriously injured and are in hospital," he told reporters.

"There has been a lot of taxi violence in the area, but

we are still investigating who the perpetrators were."

The targeted attack comes days after deadly shootings in Johannesburg, South African media reported. In one week, a taxi owner reportedly with "no enemies" was shot dead in his vehicle, and two others were killed while travelling under a police escort. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Magnitude 5.9 quake injures nearly 290 in western Iran

A

magnitude 5.9 earthquake hit western Iran on Sunday, injuring at least 287 people, hours after two quakes struck Hormozgan province in the south, the official Iranian news agency IRNA reported.

Houshang Bazvand, Governor of the affected province of Kermanshah, told IRNA that eight of the injured had been hospitalised and the

rest were released after treatment.

State media said the two earlier earthquakes, with magnitudes of 4.7 and 5.7, had damaged buildings in a few villages without causing casualties.

Morteza Salimi, head of rescue at Iran’s Red Crescent, said damage from the two earlier quakes appeared to be light. “Reports indicate that

some walls have collapsed, but extensive damage has not been reported,” Salimi told IRNA. Iran is crisscrossed by major geological fault lines and has suffered several devastating earthquakes in recent years. Last November, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake hit western Kermanshah province, killing at least 620 people and injuring thousands. (Reuters)

ndia has scrapped its 12 per cent tax on all sanitary products following months of campaigning by activists.

The announcement comes a year after the Government introduced the tax, known as GST, on all goods – including the 12 per cent duty on menstrual hygiene products.

Campaigners argued the tax would make them even more unaffordable in a country where an estimated four out of five women and girls already have no access to items like sanitary pads.

The news was welcomed by campaigners.

Surbhi Singh, founder of Sachhi Saheli, a menstrual health awareness charity, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation: "This was a most-awaited and necessary step to help girls and women to stay in school, their jobs, to practise proper menstrual hygiene.

"This will help them to grow, to show their true potential."

Periods are one of the leading reasons why girls drop out of education in India, while many others are forced to stay at home because they can't access sanitary products.

Some women use cloth

or rags – which, if not clean, can increase the risk of infections.

So when the government branded tampons and sanitary pads a luxury item, with a 12 per cent tax, it sparked an immediate campaign to get the measure revoked, including court challenges and petitions – one of which got more than 400,000 signatures.

Period poverty is not only a problem affecting women in India. According to charity Plan International UK, one in 10 disadvantaged girls below the age of 21 cannot afford sanitary products. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Somali father defends FGM after daughter, 10, dies

T

he father of a 10-year-old girl who died after undergoing female genital mutilation (FGM) in Somalia has defended the practice.

Dahir Nur's daughter died of blood loss on July 17, two days after being taken to a traditional circumciser.

But he told Voice of America (VOA) "people in the area are content" with FGM even considering the dangers, adding it is the country's "culture".

According to Unicef, 98 per cent of girls and women in Somalia have undergone FGM. This is despite Somalia's constitution prohibiting – although not outlawing – the practice, which involves the partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons and can cause profound health problems.

Dahir Nur said he did not want to pursue charges, and held no one to blame for his daughter's death

Dr Abdirahman Omar Hassan, director of Hanano hospital in the city of Dhusamareb, told VoA he had never seen "anyone who was mutilated like that in my life". (Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, july 23, 2018

ARCHIE

ARIES

Travel plans can be made.

(March 21- Whether it's business or pleaApril 19) sure, observe your new sur-

roundings and use what you see to inspire you to accomplish what you set out to do.

A change of plans may take TAURUS you by surprise. Use your in(April 20- telligence instead of anger to May 20) find alternatives or solutions that will make whatever situation you face better.

dilbert

Look at your options and GEMINI (May 21- study the best way to take adJune 20) vantage of whatever you are faced with. Don't be too quick to make a change that could have lasting repercussions.

Personal improvements can be made. A domestic or (June 21- physical change that will imJuly 22) prove your life should be initiated. Reconnect with old friends, and an opportunity will arise.

CANCER

Peanuts

Dealing with someone you LEO are in a joint venture with (July 23- should be handled carefully.

Aug. 22) Listen and discuss the ups and downs of any decision that needs to be made.

A pragmatic approach when VIRGO dealing with friends or associ(Aug. 23- ates will be required. Don't let Sept. 22) personal emotional issues infil-

Calvin and Hobbes

trate into what you are trying to accomplish. Choose to be productive.

Quickly clear up any finanLIBRA (Sept. 23- cial discrepancy, institutional or governmental issue, or Oct. 23)

medical matter that's pending.

Someone close to you is keeping a secret or may be ready to reveal one of yours.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — FLAMMABLE

Keep an open mind when SAGITTARIUS dealing with peers or fami(Nov. 23ly.

Knowing what you are up Dec. 21) against will make it easier to understand all sides of an issue. Talks will lead to resolutions.

(FLAMMABLE: FLAM-uh-bul: Easily ignited and capable of burning.)

Average mark 23 words Time limit 40 minutes Can you find 33 or more words in FLAMMABLE? The list will be published tomorrow.

SATURDAY’S WORD — CHINCHILLA

call chain chic chichi chili chill chin china

chinch cilia cinch clan clinch clinic clinical hail

hall hill inch nail laic lain lilac anil

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

Be the solution, not the SCORPIO problem.

Offer to help or take (Oct. 24over and get things done your Nov. 22) way. Be creative, and you will solve any challenge that comes your way.

solution for last published puzzle

Leave well enough alone CAPRICORN when dealing with sensitive (Dec. 22- issues or negotiations. Look Jan. 19) inward and work on matters that will make your life better instead of trying to change someone else's.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Take care of business.

Whether dealing with a partnership issue or putting your heart and soul into doing the best job possible, your passionate approach to finishing what you start will be rewarded.

Use insight and incentives when dealing with others, and it will be easier for you to get around any obstacles or opposition you face. Keep your emotions well hidden.

monDAY, JUly 23, 2018

19

Thomas keeps yellow

jersey as Magnus wins stage 15 M

agnus Cort dominated a three-man sprint to win stage 15 of the Tour de France as Geraint Thomas retained the overall lead to take the yellow jersey into the race's final week.

Denmark's Cort broke clear with Bauke Mollema and Ion Izagirre inside the final 6km on the run-in to Carcassonne.

As the strongest sprinter

Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford said that they 'support and accept' the decision by race organisers.

"Gianni is desperately disappointed in his behaviour and knows that he has let himself, the team and the race down," he said.

"We will address this incident with Gianni once the Tour is complete and decide then if any further action should be taken.

Stage 15 results

1. Magnus Cort (Den/Astana) 4hrs 25mins 52secs 2. Ion Izagirre (Spa/Bahrain-Merida) same time 3. Bauke Mollema (Ned/Trek-Segafredo) +2secs 4. Michael Valgren (Den/Astana) +29secs 5. Toms Skujins (Lat/Trek-Segafredo) +34secs 6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita/Bahrain-Merida) same time 7. Lilian Calmejane (Fra/Direct Energie) 8. Rafal Majka (Pol/Bora-Hansgrohe) +37secs 9. Nikias Arndt (Ger/Sunweb) +2mins 31secs 10. Julien Bernard (Fra/Trek-Segafredo) +2mins 38secs

General classification after stage 15

1. Geraint Thomas (GB/Team Sky) 62hrs 49mins 47secs 2. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) +1min 39secs 3. Tom Dumoulin (Ned/Sunweb) +1min 50secs 4. Primoz Roglic (Slo/LottoNL-Jumbo) +2mins 38secs 5. Romain Bardet (Fra/AG2R La Mondiale) +3mins 21secs 6. Mikel Landa (Spa/Movistar) +3mins 42secs 7. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned/LottoNL-Jumbo) +3mins 57secs 8. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar) +4mins 23secs 9. Jakob Fuglsang (Den/Astana) +6mins 14secs 10. Dan Martin (Ire/UAE Team Emirates) +6mins 54secs of the trio, Cort duly held off his rivals to claim his first Tour stage win.

Team Sky's Thomas still leads team-mate Chris Froome by one minute 39 seconds.

Dutchman Tom Dumoulin is third overall, 11 second further back, with only four of the remaining six stages likely to determine who will win the Tour.

However, Team Sky were dealt a blow when Gianni Moscon was disqualified from the race for hitting another rider.

Team Fortuneo-Samsic said the 24-year-old had punched their rider Elie Gesbert after 800m of Sunday's stage.

Last year, Moscon was suspended by Team Sky for six weeks after racially abusing a rival and he was also disqualified from last year's world championship road race after hanging onto a team car.

In a statement, Team

"I would like to offer my sincere apologies to both Elie Gesbert and Team Fortuneo Samsic for this unacceptable incident."

Following the second rest day on Monday, there are three tough mountain stages in the Pyrenees and an individual time trial to come, while stage 18 is a flat course and the final day is a processional run to Paris.

"It is rattling through quite nicely and I am looking forward to the rest day," Thomas told BBC Radio 5 live.

"I am not even thinking about winning the Tour de France. I am not even contemplating it.

"There are three big days to go and a hard time trial to come. I will take each day and each climb as it comes and we will see what happens."

Cort calls it right With this stage being one of the last opportunities for

Magnus Cort Nielsen celebrates as he crosses the finish line

the breakaway to go the distance in this year's Tour, there were multiple attacks and counter-attacks off the front of the peloton in a frenetic first hour of racing.

Britain's Adam Yates, now chasing stage wins after dropping down the standings, twice broke away but was dragged back each time, with a 29-man breakaway containing no threats to the overall leaders finally establishing themselves up the road.

Direct Energie's Lilian Calmejane made a long solo effort over the Col de Sie before he was caught, and team-mate Fabien Grellier countered with TrekSegafredo's Julien Bernard.

Bora-Hansgrohe's Rafal Majka then crested the Pic de Nore, being used for the first time in Tour history, alone before he was reeled in on the flat run-in by seven chasers, containing two riders each from Astana, Bahrain-Merida and TrekSegafredo plus Calmejane.

Those three teams shed Majka and Calmejane but it was Astana who played the situation best - with Michael Valgren helping compatriot Cort get into the leading group and shutting down attacks behind.

And Cort, who won two flat stages in the 2016 Vuelta a Espana, duly did the rest, leading out the sprint to secure back-toback stage wins for Astana following Omar Fraile's victory on Saturday.

Sagan all but wraps up green World champion Peter Sagan was again part of the break, claiming third place

at the intermediate sprint to take an unassailable lead in the green jersey points classification.

The Slovak is now 282 points in front of second-placed Alexander Kristoff, with only a maximum 280 points available

over the remaining six stages.

He pulled a record 100th green jersey at the presentation and now just needs to finish the race to equal Erik Zabel's record of six points classification wins at the Tour.

With the breakaway initially unable to drop Sagan on the Pic de Nore, it even looked like he might contest for a fourth stage win of this year's Tour before the steep gradients finally saw him drop back.

There was no movement in the general classification - Ireland's Dan Martin attacked at the bottom of the final climb and gained a minute at one stage but was brought back long before the peloton rolled into Carcassonne, 13 minutes after Cort.

After Monday's rest day, Tuesday's stage 16 takes the race 218km from Carcassonne to Bagneresde-Luchon, including a brief 15km dip into Spain.

In his stage-by-stage guide for BBC Sport, Mark Cavendish said: "The breakaway could go to the end again. Or Team Sky might want to get to grips and put their dominance in before the big showdowns in the Pyrenees."(BBC Sport)

Molinari holds

off stars to win Open

F

rancesco Molinari has become the first Italian to win a major, holding off a pack of star names to claim The Open Championship at Carnoustie.

Molinari produced a faultless final round of 69 in windy conditions on the Scottish links to finish eight under.

He finished two ahead of four players, including home favourites Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy, tied on six under.

Tiger Woods finished five under after leading midway through the round, with Jordan Spieth on four under.

Molinari, 35, emerged from a six-way tie for the lead, when all the players were either on the back nine or in the clubhouse, to lift the Claret Jug. The Europe Ryder Cup player started the final day three shots adrift of overnight leaders Spieth,

– Woods finishes 6th Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele, but maintained composure while his rivals all dropped shots in a thrilling battle for the lead.

"It is absolutely amazing," Molinari said. "I think it will take a long time to sink in. It has been a great week.

"The course bit me a few times in the first two days, but to go bogey-free around this track at the weekend is incredible."

Molinari, ranked 15th in the world, had been tipped by a number of experts before the tournament as a player to watch at Carnoustie - and he proved them right with an assured display over the four days.

Despite a modest Open record, he had been backed on the strength of a fine few months that saw him claim the PGA Championship at Wentworth - his biggest win on the European Tour - and his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Quicken Loans

Classic.

Steady opening rounds of 70 and 72 took him into the weekend, before a stunning 65 on Saturday propelled him into contention.

Molinari stressed the importance of making pars on Sunday in an interview after his third round, and he fulfilled his target by beginning with 13 pars in succession in testing conditions.

That steady sequence was ended with a birdie on the par-five 14th, before a glorious approach on the 18th allowed him to pick up another shot.

After finishing his round, Molinari looked anxious as he waited in the scorer's cabin, watching nearest remaining challenger Schauffele bogey the 17th.

The 24-year-old American needed to eagle the last hole to force a playoff, but his approach landed short, allowing Molinari to celebrate with his caddie and wife. (BBC Sport)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, JUly 23, 2018

UG claim inaugural Brij Parasnath National

College Athletics title T

he well-organised and trained University of Guyana athletics team proved too strong athletically and combined to celebrate an historic victory at the inaugural Brij Parasnath National College Athletics Championships, which were held at the Leonora National Track and Field Centre on Saturday.

There were many exciting duels and outstanding performances, but the UG athletes dominated most of the events with Osafa Dosantos and Ruth Sanmoogan declared Champion Male and Female Athlete, respectively.

And both Emanuel Archibald (UG) and Chantoba Bright (Mackenzie High) were equally impressive in their respective specialty.

UG topped the 12 competing academic and training institutions and finished with 328 points. They were followed by Leonora Technical and Vocational Institute with 100; Sophia Training Centre, 77; New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) and Vrymen’s Erven Training

Emanuel Archibald

Centre joint fourth with 63, Linden Technical Institute 43, Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) 40, Mackenzie High School 36, New Amsterdam Secondary 23, Georgetown American University 18, St Rose’s High 17 and President’s College.

Dosantos topped his male counterparts with 36 points.

He won the shot put and discus, and was second in the high jump and javelin.

Sanmoogan was the leading female with 38 points. She registered a unique triple with heart-warming victories in the 100, 200 and 400

metres and was second in the long jump.

Dosantos threw the iron ball 15.13 metres and triumphed over fellow UG teammate Tramaine Beckles, who heaved it 13.64m while Rich Skinner (CPCE) was third with a 12.98m throw.

Dosantos hurled the discus winning distance of 37.92m, but had to settle for second to Beckles in the javelin with a throw of 47.45m.

Beckles won the gold with a 54.58m throw.

In the high jump, Dosantos cleared the bar at 1.70m for silver while Tortique Boyce of Leonora Technical Institute took the gold with 1.95m.

In the 100-metre dash, Sanmoogan was unchallenged and posted a winning time of 12.41 secs. She finished ahead of Leonora Technical Institute’s Tonya Rawlins (12.51s) and UG’s Kim Chan (13.40s).

However, Sanmoogan had to find an extra gear and reserves to stave off the challenge of Rawlins and field event specialists Bright who looked dangerous when she moved to front when they turned for the homestretch

drive. Sanmoogan clocked 25.27 secs for the gold while Rawlins (25.66) and Bright (25.74) had to settle for the silver and bronze medals.

Sanmoogan (58.84 secs) was fully tested in the 400 metres, but prevailed over UG teammate Kenisha Prescott (59.85) and Rawlins (1:03.54).

Guyana’s latest sprint sensation Archibald missed the 100m dash, which was won by his UG teammate Owen Adonis in 10.87 secs.

But the speedy Archibald showed his class with a comfortable victory in the 200 metres by cruising home in 21.49 secs ahead of Daniel Williams (21.59) and Adonis (21.83). He eased off the pace with 60 metres to go after he had blazed the first 100 and the curve to lead his rivals by over 10 metres as they straightened for the drive to the line. Archibald followed up with a heart-warming and fantastic leap of 8.07m to claim the gold from Anthony Carl Williams (Leonora TI) 7.00m and Ronardo Greene (Linden TI) 6.40m.

Bright shone brilliantly with gold-medal performances in the long jump and tri-

ple jump events. She registered 6.27 metres in the long jump and was engaged in a ding-dong tussle with Sanmoogan who had to ac-

College and bett e r e d Ronardo Greene of Linden TI (1.61m).

UG’s Tamar Charles scored double wins in the Women 1500m (6 min. 14.49 secs) and 3000m (13: 47.05) with Chantoba Bright

cept the silver with a leap of 6.04m.

Bright was just too good in the triple jump, and claimed the gold medal with 12.23m.

She also won the high jump with a clearance of 1.67m and was the lone entrant and competed with the male athletes to register her mark. She would have gotten a bronze among the guys as she finished with equal height as third-place Jesse Thomas of President’s

CPCE’s Renita Pedro the silver medallist in both events with times of 6: 16.26 and 14: 17.05 respectively.

Harvey Daniel (Leonora TI) also copped double gold in the male 1500m (4 min. 42.40) and 5000m (17: 39.40). Cindy Fraser (New Amsterdam TI) took double gold in the shotput (8.68m) and discus (27.48m) and silver in the javelin (19.26m) to Mikeyla Skeete (Sophia Training Centre) who won the gold with 19.31 metres.

Hamilton wins after

Sebastian Vettel crashes out

L

ewis Hamilton took a sensational victory in a thrilling, rainhit German Grand Prix as Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel crashed out to gift the Mercedes driver a 17-point lead in their championship battle.

Vettel had been cruising to victory ahead of Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas until rain started to fall with about 25 laps to go.

The downpour, affecting only part of the track, turned the race on its head and brought Hamilton into the mix when he had been looking at a fourth-place finish after starting 14th following a hydraulic failure in qualifying.

Hamilton began to carve into the advantage of the three leading drivers - Vettel, his Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen and Bottas - as chaos erupted down the field.

And then, as the rain became heavier, Vettel lost control at the Sachs Kurve

Sebastian Vettel's stricken Ferrari is cleared from the gravel trap

hairpin in Hockenheim's Stadium section in front of tens of thousands of his home fans, bringing out the safety car.

The four-time champion swore over the radio as he took in the potential damage to his title hopes.

Hamilton pulled away at the front following the safety car period, but only after Bottas was told to back off an initial challenge and hold position.

Behind the Mercedes one-two, Raikkonen took

third while Max Verstappen was fourth for Red Bull despite making two pit stops to change tyres in three laps amid the confusion caused by the rain.

It was a remarkable result in a remarkable race, which had started as a damage-limitation exercise and ended with his 66th career victory - and one of his best.

"Get in there, Lewis," his engineer Peter Bonnington said as the chequered flag fell. "Miracles do happen."

"Great job by you guys,"

Hamilton said, but it had been far from smooth sailing for the world champion.

Hamilton's win was later put in doubt after he was summoned to the stewards to explain a driving misdemeanour but he escaped with a reprimand.

The race was thrown into disarray by the rain and Mercedes were not immune from the chaos, as evidenced by a breathless radio exchange when the safety car was deployed following Vettel's crash.

Hamilton was told to pit, then told the team Raikkonen was pitting in front of him and was told to stay out, which became "in, in, in, in!" as he aborted and cut across the grass to rejoin the track. "Hey, man," Hamilton said, expressing his opinion he could do without that sort of confusion.

"Just go for it," Bonnington replied. Hamilton's 219th career race was remarkable in a number of different ways.

He made his soft tyres last 42 laps even as he carved through the field, and Mercedes decided to pit him for the softest ultra-soft tyres even though they knew rain was imminent.

The team gambled on the rain only hitting part of the track and they were exactly right. Many backmarkers gambled on wet tyres but the leading runners all stayed out, and Hamilton began to gain on the three men in front of him.

It looked at one point as if he had the pace to win

even if the rain got any worse - but it did. Vettel was trying to maintain his lead and was pulling away from Raikkonen with 15 laps to go. But then, two laps later, as the rain spread across more of the track, Vettel slithered slightly wide on entry to the Stadium hairpin and could not keep the car on track.

He slowly hit the barrier on the exit and punched his steering wheel in dismay, knowing this was a potentially decisive moment in the title race of his own making. "I don't think it was a huge mistake," Vettel told Sky Sports. "It's not like I will have huge difficulties sleeping because I made a big mistake. We didn't need the rain. "We have a strong car, so we can be as confident, more confident, than anybody else. It was one of those moments. My mistake.

Apologies to the team.

"Small mistake, big disappointment. The tyres weren't fresh, but it was slippery for everyone." (BBC

Sport)

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Georgetown contingent seeks redemption

A

s preparations intensify for this weekend’s start of the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” national play-offs, the excitement associated with the event has reached fever-pitch and fans are eagerly awaiting the commencement of play.

The Guinness-sponsored street tournament, now in its ninth Edition, has become the most talked-about event in the shorter version of the game, and the organisers cognisant of this fact have been steadily looking at ways to improve the experience for spectators, while also seeking to increase the lucrative prize monies that are on offer.

Georgetown teams have generally ruled the roost in the competition’s history, but Linden’s Dave & Celena All Stars ended that dominion last year and will no doubt be aiming to duplicate that performance to erase any lingering suspicion of a fluke.

On the other hand, with Georgetown’s aura slightly tarnished, other zone winners will feel inspired by the Lindeners' performance and raise their level of play as well to ensure that the trophy goes elsewhere.

However, this could instigate the cadre of teams that has qualified to represent Georgetown to lift their game and the mere thought of the resulting rivalry is what could inspire strong turnout of the respective teams’ supporters.

Bartica Zone winner Disconnection Crew, with their Brazilian connection have been touted to be the spoilers in this year’s competition, while the defending champs Dave & Celena All

Stars, East Coast champions Uprising, and Berbice champions Trafalgar showed enough class to make the tournament interesting.

As usual, West Front RoadGold is Money, who are the reigning Georgetown champions, having beaten the most successful team in the tournament’s history, Sparta Boss in their zone final will also attempt to prove that their undoing of the Bosses was no fluke, while Sparta Boss will be looking to restore that imposing record that made them the most feared team in the format.

With the provision of seating accommodation for fans, the organisers are predicting an even bigger turnout than previous years as they seek to broaden the diversity of the fanbase.

“We are constantly reviewing past tournaments and we felt that seating accommodation was one of the ar-

eas that we needed to improve and fans will see an improvement in this area when the final is hosted at the National Gymnasium,” Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste assured.

Baptiste said they have every intention of making this year’s national play-offs as inclusive as possible and all the stops were being pulled out to ensure that the tournament’s legacy is protected and preserved.

Last year saw the introduction of colourful uniforms and balls in keeping with the new trend seen internationally and this year promises to be no different.

The tournament opens on July 27 at Pouderoyen Tarmac, West Demerara and then moves to Haslington Tarmac, East Coast Demerara on August 1, before the final showdown set for August 4 at the National Stadium.

Ozil says he no longer wants to play for Germany A

Ilkay Gundogan (L) and Mesut Ozil (2nd L), along with Everton’s Cenk Tosun (R), pose with the Turkish president

with fellow Germany international Ilkay Gundogan.

Both Ozil and Manchester City’s Gundogan are of Turkish descent.

Ozil says he and

Gundogan talked about football with the president.

Afterwards, photographs were released by Turkey’s governing AK Party in the build-up to elections in the

country, which Erdogan won outright.

Many German politicians questioned Ozil and Gundogan’s loyalty to German democratic values.

Germany has previously criticised the Turkish leader’s crackdown on political dissent following a failed coup.

Ozil said he would have been “disrespecting his ancestors’ roots” had he not posed for photographs with the Turkish president.

He added that he and his family had received hate mail, threatening phone calls and comments on social media. (BBC Sport)

Houston Rockets looking to secure Carmelo T

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Guinness “Greatest of the Streets”…

rsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil says he no longer wants to play international football for Germany.

In a lengthy statement, the 29-year-old said treatment he had received from the German Football Association (DFB) had made him “no longer want to wear the German national team shirt”.

He also claimed he was being blamed for Germany’s disappointing World Cup. In May, Ozil was criticised after being photographed with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a London event.

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he Houston Rockets feel confident that they will land 10-time All-Star Carmelo Anthony, who is expected to be bought out by the Atlanta Hawks after being traded there by the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Speaking at separate functions, Kia NBA Most Valuable Award winner James Harden and general manager Daryl Morey believes Anthony would b e a good addition to a team that was one win away from the NBA Finals.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Harden said at an event in Houston believes getting Anthony would benefit a team.

“It would be a great acquisition for us,” said Harden, who did run into Anthony at Paris Fashion Week last month when Harden was making the rounds with teammate P.J. Tucker. “Melo’s a proven vet. He just wants to win at this point, so it would be great for him to be on our team. The current roster we have now, we’ve got good guys back and we keep making forward progress.”

Harden also responded to changes on the team, as it lost key defensive players in Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute in free agency.

The Rockets signed former Rookie of the Year Michael CarterWilliams and forward James Ennis. (NBA.com)

Carmelo Anthony

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, JUly 23, 2018

West Indies v Bangladesh 1st ODI at Providence…

Tamim, Shakib, Mortaza help

Bangladesh draw 1st blood at Providence SCOREBOARD O

By Clifton Ross

Bangladesh Innings (50 overs maximum) Tamim Iqbal not out 130 Anamul Haque c Nurse b Holder 0 Shakib Al Hasan c Hetmyer b Bishoo 97 Sabbir Rahman st †Hope b Bishoo 3 Mushfiqur Rahim † c Bishoo b Russell 30 Mahmudullah not out 4 Extras 15 (lb 7, w 8) TOTAL 279-4 (50 Overs, RR: 5.58) Did not bat: Mosaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Anamul Haque, 1.3 ov), 2-208 (Shakib Al Hasan, 44.3 ov), 3-221 (Sabbir Rahman, 46.3 ov), 4-275 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 49.5 ov) BOWLING: AD Russell (9-0-621), JO Holder ( 9-0-47-1), AS Joseph (10-0-57-0), AR Nurse (10-0-39-0), D Bishoo (10-0-522), JN Mohammed (2-0-15-0) West Indies Innings (target: 280 runs from 50 overs) CH Gayle run out (Mahmudullah/ Mosaddek Hossain) 40 E Lewis c Mahmudullah b

Mashrafe Mortaza 17 SD Hope † lbw b Rubel Hossain 6 SO Hetmyer c Shakib Al Hasan b Mustafizur Rahman 52 JN Mohammed c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Mehidy Hasan Miraz 10 JO Holder (c) c Mosaddek Hossain b Mashrafe Mortaza 17 R Powell c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Mustafizur Rahman 0 AD Russell c Mahmudullah b Mashrafe Mortaza 13 AR Nurse c Mahmudullah b Mashrafe Mortaza 7 D Bishoo not out 29 AS Joseph not out 29 Extras 11 (b 4, lb 1, w 6) TOTAL 231-9 (50 Overs, RR: 4.62) Fall of wickets: 1-27 (E Lewis, 8.4 ov), 2-41 (SD Hope, 12.1 ov), 3-81 (CH Gayle, 21.3 ov), 4-111 (JN Mohammed, 28.2 ov), 5-141 (SO Hetmyer, 35.2 ov), 6-141 (R Powell, 35.3 ov), 7-151 (JO Holder, 36.5 ov), 8-163 (AD Russell, 38.5 ov), 9-172 (AR Nurse, 40.4 ov) BOWLING: Mashrafe Mortaza (10-1-37-4), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (10-0-37-1), Rubel Hossain (8-0-52-1), Mosaddek Hossain (7-0-22-0), Mustafizur Rahman (8-0-35-2), Shakib Al Hasan (7-0-43-0)

pener Tamim Iqbal punched his 10th One-Day International (ODI) century while Shakib Al Hasan narrowly missed out on his own as Bangladesh crushed the Windies by 48 runs in Sunday’s opening match at the Providence National Stadium, Guyana.

After losing the Test series 2-0, the Tigers resumed their winning ways in a format which is more tailored to their style of cricket, as they outplayed the Caribbean side in the first of three ODIs in the series.

It was a mixture of grit and aggression as Iqbal ended on 130 off 160 balls with 10 fours and three sixes.

He shared a resurgent and revitalising second-wicket stand of 207 with Shakib Al Hasan, who hit six fours in his 97 to take the Tigers to 279-4 in 50 overs.

It was hard work for the Windies bowlers as the misfielded and dropped catches added to the bowlers’ turmoil. Spinner Devendra Bishoo ended with 2-52 in a brave effort. The Caribbean side who looked spot on in

Guinness Cage kicks off on August 8 T

– Chetsons already on board

he need to integrate communities all across Guyana has been the recurring theme among politicians, village leaders and the wider society for a long time now and many initiatives have been advanced to do so.

Sport has been one of the vehicles advocated to break down age-old barriers that prevent cohesion among villages and communities and when Three Peat Promotions stage its second Annual Guinness Cage Competition on the Haslington Tarmac on August 8, it will mark another opportunity to aid in fostering camaraderie and understanding among the various communities.

The promotional group, which hosted its inaugural tournament last year at the National Gymnasium, will take over the Haslington Market Tarmac on the East Coast of Demerara on this occasion in response to the overwhelming requests from teams that are based on the East Coast.

Co-principal Rawle Welch said the staging of this year’s tournament on the East Coast was due in large measure to the re-

quests by several teams that are based along the East Coast corridor, as the bulk of the invited teams would come from those communities.

“We have invited a total of 24 teams and a minimum of 12 will come from the East Coast villages, while the remainder will comprise teams from Georgetown, Linden and West Demerara and they will compete in the tournament, which we have dubbed “The East Coast Best against the Rest”,” Welch disclosed.

The fans, he said, are the best anywhere, well-behaved and very supportive of events and according to the organiser, the promotional team had no hesitation in its decision to reward the communities for their support and love over the years.

“Many feel that the East Coast teams are not on par with teams from the other communities, but the time has arrived for all to put up or shut up because as someone who has had the privilege to witness all the communities across the various regions, I can confirm that the East Coast teams have improved immensely and

should not be considered pushovers anymore,” Welch stated.

He said he anticipated some riveting rivalries over the five days of competition as the hosts look to repel the challenges of visiting teams.

Over $800,000 in prize monies and trophies will be up for grabs, while lucky fans will have the opportunity to win prizes over the five nights of competition for their support at the bar.

“Every night, we will have a winner among the fans and this will be awarded to the fan that buys the most buckets of the sponsor’s beverage,” Welch added.

Clarks footwear giants Chetsons has already pledged its support, while a commitment of support has come from Queensway Security Services; E-Networks Inc; KSM Investments; Yhip’s Bakery; Brass Aluminium & Cast Iron Foundry (BACIF); Ray’s Auto Sales; YK Investments; Trophy Stall; Woodpecker Products; National Sports Commission; C Division of the Guyana Police Force; Julius Variety Store and C & C Prestigious Styles.

the Tests, were unable to channel the same fire the Tigers did in their innings and were kept to 231-9 in 50 overs.

Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza was the pick of the bowlers, returning to the team in a match-winning way.

Guyanese Shimron Hetmyer resisted with a top-score of 52, followed by Chris Gayle with 40, and 29 apiece from the unbeaten tail-end stars Bishoo and Alzarri Joseph as their 50-partnership ended prematurely.

Bangladesh’s star pacer Mustafizur Rahman returned to action with 2-27.

Windies’ chase got underway with some feisty shots from Evin Lewis (17), who looked dangerous but played a soft shot and was easily caught by

Mahmudullah to give the Bangladesh skipper his first wicket.

A circumspect-looking Gayle was then joined by Shai Hope, who also appeared a bit watchful, but the “Universe Boss” would soon get into the action when he thumped off-spinner Mehedy Hasan Miraz for his first six. Mosaddek Hossain would then manage another breakthrough when he trapped Hope LBW for just six runs.

Homeboy Hetmyer joined Gayle with the score at 41-2 and the left-hander quickly secured his first boundary thanks to a classy pull through mid-wicket off Hossain which also took Windies well past 50 in the 15th over. Gayle’s and Hetmyer’s partnership ended with a mix-up as the former was run out thanks to some clinical work between Mahmudullah and Mosaddek Hossain.

Jason Mohammed had a brief stay at the crease, departing stumped for 10 by Mushfiqur Rahim off the bowling of Mehedy. Unfazed by the previous dismissals, the Berbician Hetmyer pleased his Guyanese crowd when he raised his bat to acknowledge a solid fifty under pressure.

His demise came at the hands of Sabbir Rahman, who was operating with such precision that he went on a hat-trick after he followed up his first wicket with that of Rovman Powell, who edged a moving delivery into the gloves of wicket-keeper Rahman.

The wheels began to fall off the Caribbean wagon as Holder who smashed

a six off his opposite number Mortaza, was then removed the following ball by the Bangladeshi skipper for 17. After hitting a six and four and looking ominous, Andre Russell (13) became Mortaza’s third victim.

The Windies innings eventually came to a screeching halt when Mortaza removed Nurse for seven, but Bishoo and Joseph counterpunched with a last-wicket partnership of 59 not out, the best for their team, but in vain.

Bangladesh’s batting redemption Batting first on an overcast morning, Bangladesh opener Anamul Haque perished to Holder for a threeball duck, holding out to Ashley Nurse as the weather quickly changed, stopping play briefly before covers were back off. After resumption of play, things were steady for the tourists with the senior pair of Iqbal and Shakib at the crease. The first boundary of the Tigers innings came compliments of Iqbal, who crunched Russell through the covers.

Joseph managed to spark the hopes of another dismissal as Iqbal was put down in the cov-

ers during the 1 1 over, spurring a s e ries of missed opportunities with Tamim surviving backto-back drops. The first off Nurse went past both the wicket-keeper and slipsman Gayle, then Gayle had one pop out of his clutches off the bowling of Joseph.

The two senior players shook off the near misses and raised Bangladesh’s as well as their own 50 in the 14th over. The duo settled in nicely and kept their running between the wickets on point, as they kept the occasional boundaries coming.

A smashing drive back over Nurse’s head saw the Bangladeshis register their first maximum, courtesy of Ibqal, who was just a few shy of fifty.

After a nightmare start and multiple dropped catches, the visitors put on a 100 with the pair also reaching their century partnership. Not long after, Iqbal reached another ODI half-century while

his partner Shakib followed soon after as he reached his career 16th fifty with a four off Bishoo.

Boundaries continued to flow from both ends with the Caribbean side’s bowlers having to tussle and toil during their spells. Shakib looked on course to a ton, but played an uncultured shot that was swallowed by Hetmyer, just three short of a hundred.

The flurry of boundaries increased after Iqbal reached his hundred, the Windies bowlers haemorrhaged a number of boundaries as Iqbal and Rahim found the ropes and beyond.

Rahim hammered Holder for two fours and a six before Russell disappeared a few times the following over courtesy of Iqbal. Rahim’s onslaught of 30 off 10 ended after he attempted a reverse paddle, but picked out a diving Bishoo, as Mahmudullah pulled the last ball for four to end their innings.

The second of two ODIs will bowl off at Providence on Wednesday, July 25 from 14:30h.

Shakib Al Hasan

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, JUly 23, 2018

23

Scenes from the first ODI between

Bangladesh and West Indies Mashrafe Mortaza during his delivery stride

Bangladesh players celebrate after taking another West Indian wicket

Evin Lewis gets choked up by Mashrafe Mortaza and scoops one to Mahmudullah (not in picture) Shimron Hetmyer is adjudged the Quality Player-of-the-Match

They seemed to enjoy seeing the younger generation compete (Photo: Courtesy of windiescricket)

Rain halted play‌ but not for long

monDAY, JUly 23, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

West Indies v Bangladesh 1st ODI at Providence…

Mashrafe Mortaza celebrates with teammates (Photo: Courtesy

of windiescricket)

Tamim, Shakib, Mortaza Tamim Iqbal celebrates reaching triple figures (Photo: Courtesy of windiescricket)

UG claim inaugural Brij Parasnath National College Athletics title Pg 20

help Bangladesh draw 1st blood at Providence Pg 22

Guinness “Greatest of the Streets”…

Pg 21

Georgetown contingent seeks redemption

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