Guyana Times - Wednesday, July 25, 2018

15 THE BEACON OF TRUTH

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

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Issue No. 3635

PRICE

5 bandits killed during shootout with Police

Page 9

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

P12 Govt seeking legal advice before talks with BBCI – Patterson

Skeletal remains at Puruni

Miner P14 slapped with murder charge

Adrian Daly

Levi Braithwaite

Jermaine Doobay

Timothy St Hill

Ian Forde

…high-powered weapons recovered

Police probing domestic violence Public debt increases report against

by US$19M ...as external debt repayments are growing Minister’s son 2018 first quarter

Page 16

Page 3

Bar Association bashes SARA’s Deputy Director over “threat” to Judiciary P7

Massy security guard killed in hit-and-run after leaving P14 worksite Commissioner urges restructuring of GECOM powers P16

– calls for ability to reassign boundaries to be transferred

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

2018 first quarter

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

Wednesday, July 25 – a night-time retraction at 03:30h and a day-time retraction at 14:30h-16:00h and Thursday, July 26 – a night-time retraction at 04:00h and a day-time retraction at 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, July 25 – 15:10h-16:40h and Thursday, July 26 – 15:50h-17:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery showers should give way to light rain showers followed by sunny intervals in the late afternoon.

Thundery showers are expected to return in the early evening hours followed by partly cloudy skies.

Temperatures are expected to range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South South-westerly to East North-easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 15:07h reaching a maximum height of 2.31 metres.

Low Tide: 08:39h and 20:54h reaching minimum heights of 0.82 metre and 0.90 metre.

SATURDAY, July 21, 2018

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TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2018

DAILY MILLIONS 04 10 18 23

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Evening Draw

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

Public debt increases

by US$19M – as external debt repayments are growing

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ublic debt is on the rise, and it has been revealed that external debt repayments are also on the rise. This is according to the recently released Bank of Guyana Quarterly Report and Statistical Bulletin, which pegged the hike in public debt at US$19 million.

The report divides this debt into external and domestic. External debt increased by 1.5 per cent from a December position of US$1.241 billion to US$1.265 billion.

“The rise in the stock of external debt was on account of higher disbursements by multilateral creditors, specifically, IADB and CDB, for financing of social and economic infrastructural projects,” the report states.

Domestic debt, on the other hand, increased to $89.5 million, from a December position of $88.8 million.

Domestic debt, the report notes, increased because of a hike in treasury bills by 1.3 per cent. “(This) resulted mainly from a 1.5 per cent growth in the stock of the 364-day treasury bills during the first quarter,” the report adds.

Repayment Repayment of this external debt, according to the report, grew by some US$24.3 million to US$85.3 million.

This is a rate of 59.1 per cent when compared to the corresponding period of 2017. This was not the case for domestic debt.

“Domestic debt service payments fell by 14.6 per cent to $726 million, resulting mainly from a 23.2 per cent reduction in interest payments for treasury bills.

Interest payments for the 182- and 364-day bills fell by 38.7 per cent and 17.6 per cent to G$36 million and G$358 million respectively.”

“This position resulted mainly from competitive bidding, primarily amongst the commercial banks, compounded with lower interest yields during the review period,” the report outlines as a telling indicator.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who was recently interviewed on the sidelines of Parliament, had said that Guyana’s public debt rate is actually nothing to worry about.

Jordan had contended that as the economy grows, it could actually take on more debt.

“You must stop looking at debt in absolute terms; debt must be looked at in relative terms. You look at debt to GDP (Gross Domestic Product), debt to revenue or something. As the economy grows, it can take on more debt. So it’s not a question of the absolute amount of the debt, it’s the relative

Public debt is on the rise

amount,” Jordan told this newspaper.

Pressed on exactly what the Government is doing to bring down the debt, Jordan would only allude to the international threshold of debt to GDP. The Finance Minister did not mention any steps Government was taking to mitigate the debt rate. A subsequent statement had however reinforced this point.

The Public Debt Annual Report released by the Finance Ministry last year had highlighted that, since 2015, there has been a 4.1 per cent rise in Guyana’s indebtedness to creditors. The report details that Guyana’s total debt, inclusive of external and domestic, increased to $330 billion as at December 2016.

The Ministry attributed this to disbursements from the Export-Import Bank of China towards the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project, as well as monies from multilat-

eral creditors.

A breakdown of the figures shows that total external debt amounted to $240 billion, a 72.6 per cent bite out of the total public debt.

On the other hand, domestic debt stood at $90.6 billion, or 27.4 per cent of the total.

“At the end of December 2016, multilateral creditors continued to be the predominant creditor category, accounting for 59.7 per cent of the external debt portfolio, a slight decrease from the 2015 position of 60.6 per cent.

Bilateral lenders and com-

mercial lenders represented 38.8 per cent and 1.5 per cent of the public external debt portfolio, respectively,” the Finance Ministry explained.

“Although the nominal public debt increased, the total external public debt to GDP ratio declined from 36.1 per cent as at end December 2015 to 33.7 per cent as at end December 2016, as a result of GDP growth outstripping the rate of growth of public external debt stock,” the Ministry said, in justifying the increase.

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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

OppositionGovt dialogue

S

ince 1997, Guyanese at home and abroad have been calling on the country’s two main political parties to hold meaningful and genuine dialogue, which would see them resolving their ideological and philosophical differences with the aim of putting the country first.

The citizenry had also supported a wave of constitutional reforms as proposed by the National Assembly in the early 2000s, as a key step towards building trust, inclusionary democracy, and political consensus among the country’s key political parties and interest groups.

However, despite the best efforts of some key independent personalities, agencies and external forces -- including former United States President Jimmy Carter -- the Peoples National Congress Reform (PNC/R) and the Peoples Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) have not been able to broker any agreement or deal that could be dubbed ‘solid’ enough to usher in a period of true political reconciliation, healing and appeasement.

As a matter of fact, for years, successive PPP Administrations under the presidencies of Janet Jagan, Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar continued to engage their Opposition counterparts on a number of matters, as adumbrated by the letter and spirit of the Constitution.

While there was minimal progress recorded on some fronts, many of the more substantive issues remained unresolved because the two sides could not agree or arrive at comprises that could see them moving ahead without either side feeling deceived, defeated or wounded. The fact that the country has been without a substantive Chancellor of the Judiciary since 2005 and confirmed Chief Justice since 2015 is enough evidence of the inability of the two sides to arrive at a plausible agreement even when the Constitution compels it.

Also, whenever these engagements conclude, there is a return to the normal status quo and the resumption of the trading of infantile and puerile political barbs that sometimes do nothing to build the country up or move it out further away from being described as ‘racially and politically polarised’ or ‘divisive’. In fact, the continuing political wars between the PNC and PPP have deepened the rifts and conflicts among different sections of our society, to the point where some are disillusioned and others are going through a state of hopelessness, because they feel that democracy is not delivering the ‘goods’ that it should.

The populace, recognising this, utilised their ballots back in 2011 and 2015 to shift the dynamics and demand results. They changed the configuration of the Legislature, and then who comprised the Executive. They demanded an end to partisanship and political grandstanding by compelling the two parties to dialogue more and talk more.

It is in this context that the decision by President David Granger on Thursday last week must be seen. The President has now publicly committed himself to leading discussions with the PPP on a number of areas, inclusive of oil and gas and the environment. He made the decision after the PPP continued to highlight that Prime Minister Nagamootoo cannot lead the talks because he is viewed as not in a position to make any serious or binding commitments on behalf of the coalition Government.

While many are disappointed that more pertinent issues, such as constitutional and electoral reform, were not singled out first for special talks, they are satisfied that talks are still going to take place. And when these talks do materialise, the President and the Opposition Leader must ensure that they do not fail, and that a lot of care and caution is taken whenever discussing sensitive issues that could impact future talks -- the notion of trust and dream of enhanced political cooperation between the PNC and the PPP.

More than 400 young dancers lit up the National Cultural Centre stage with spectacular performances when the National Dance Company held its annual production “Studio to Stage” on Saturday evening (Carl Croker photo)

Scrap the Guyana Prize for Literature

Dear Editor, I am delighted to respond to Mr Al Creighton’s letter, ‘’Guyana Prize took variety of initiatives to assist writers living here”, published in sections of the media on July 12, 2018. He responded to my question about the delay of the award ceremony for last year; that’s a year now lagging behind because of a lack of funding from the Government. How does he expect me to know that, may I ask? Yet he compares this incompetent prize to literary awards abroad.

This Prize was established in 1987 by President Hugh Desmond Hoyte when this nation was actually the poorest in the Western Hemisphere, and one wonders why this Prize for Literature in a starving nation.

Maybe Desmond Hoyte had a motive to invite the literary brains that migrated abroad for publication and literary exposure.

When Wilson Harris won the Guyana Prize in 1987, Mr. Hoyte asked Harris to remain here to work. Harris told Hoyte his offer was not lucrative enough. I believe Hoyte had a political motive

behind the Guyana Prize for Literature, that’s why this new administration should scrap this Prize and use the money to educate our young scholars.

Since the inception of the Prize, in 1987, Mr Al Creighton has been the Secretary and Administrator of this Prize for 30.5 years.

May I say he is the judge, jury, and executioner of this Prize? I don’t know of any award in this world which ever retains the services of one man or woman for over thirty years; and he is not even a born Guyanese.

My major contention with this award is the incestuous clique of judges alternating as judge one year then entrants/winners the next year, monotonously like a spinning perpetual ‘’yo-yo’’, and he has the mind to tell the Guyanese people that this practice of judges becoming entrants is a normal procedure with literary awards abroad. That is absolutely ridiculous! This man is deceived, and he is lying to our Guyanese people.

In my opinion, any literary award in the world where judges are alternating as entrants is a fraud that needs

to be scrapped.

Editor, I am currently a judge for the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2018. I was sent from Cambridge University 12 pages of judging criteria for this award. The criteria is very confidential; no one in my family read it, and no relative or my children is an entrant. So, as a senior judge, how will it look if I submitted an entry next year for this award? I cannot, because I am barred from entering.

Mr Creighton cannot see the morality, ethics, and integrity of this spurious literary award, because he has compromised the standard of this award to give it to an incestuous clique of friends, along with some scapegoat incompetent writers here in Guyana who have written ‘’literary pornography’’ to receive US$5000 for ‘blue book’ literature.

I am calling for a CoI into this award. It is a fraud, and I am willing to take the stand against Al Creighton and his corrupt committee, to defend this award for the rights and dignity of our Guyanese writers who are robbed and cheated by corrupt and compromised judging. Maybe

we need a referendum in Parliament to scrap this award. I am willing to debate it pro bono.

I wish to quote from a past Guyana Prize winner, Ryhaan Shah, from her Guyana Times Sunday Column of July 22, captioned ‘’Revamping the Guyana Prize’’. “‘The Prize appears to be controlled by cronies who alternate as judges and winners, thus keeping the Prize and monies awarded within a favoured clique. I had no interest in having my work judged by a prize committee whose integrity was questionable’’.

It takes a very honest mind to pen these words after reading this debate between myself and Mr Al Creighton.

This Prize, which costs millions, needs keen scrutiny from the Government.

For the good of this nation, this Government must do the honourable thing and scrap The Guyana Prize for Literature.

Regards, Reverend Gideon Cecil (Author, Poet & Literary Critic)

APNU/AFC unconcerned about working class

Dear Editor, The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) was indeed most upset and disturbed by the seeming belligerent attitude shown by the APNU/AFC Government’s disapproval of a motion to have reinstated a Ministry of Labour. The motion was tabled by the Parliamentary Opposition following a call that was reiterated by the trade union movement at

the May Day 2018 Rally. It is a call which the Guyanese workers, through their representative organisations, have been making over the last three years, but which has largely been ignored despite the several credible rationales provided for going in the direction that the motion proposed.

The FITUG had expected that on this occasion, in spite of previous expressed views -- given the nature of

the issue and more so the venue where it was raised -- the Administration would have soberly assessed the motion and given it support. That expectation was dashed, however, as shown by the contributions from the Government side; and, of course ultimately, its vote in the House. Rather than advancing any convincing arguments for its stance, the Administration tangentially invoked several red

herrings, and did not, from our point of view, address the substance of the matter.

Maybe this course was chosen because the Coalition Government, we believe, could not defend its indefensible position in not having a Labour Ministry. The noteworthy fact that even the minister reputedly responsible for labour did not contribute to the debate says a great deal. continued on page 5

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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

There are no real criminal cases to be made (Part 1)

Dear Editor, Articles such as “Minister Sharma laments SOCU sloth”, and “Sharma annoyed by SOCU’s performance with forensic audits”, which appeared in the local press, are the latest in about two years of weekly and sometimes daily haranguing declarations and denouncements by many members of our Cabinet and Government in Parliament, committing to jail the members and administrators of the past PPP/C Administration.

There has been no lacking in expressions of determination; and from time to

time, as little, if any, progress is evident, we have had glimpses of the contentious blame game being played out between the various actors: Honourable Ministers, the Guyana Police Force, SOCU, SARA, the Police Legal Adviser, the overseas expert adviser, the DPP, and anyone on whom some blame could be hung, for the seeming lack of progress with the touted charges.

This lament, the expressions of dissatisfaction and annoyance, the blame game, altogether would prompt experienced persons to wonder whether a number of the actors are not begin-

ning to question how much substance there may be in these allegations of corruption; whether in the passion of the aftermath of our 2015 elections, mountains were not being made of molehills in the forensic audits.

But no one wants to blow the whistle, no one wants to bell the cat!

Editor, perhaps it is time that Honourable Minister Sharma opens his mind to the possibility that, really, there are no criminal cases of any substance to be made.

And so too, perhaps, should all of us Guyanese open our minds.

As former President

Donald Ramotar allowed very early, we all only being humans -- and Guyanese at that; some levels and instances of corruption were likely to happen, (suspicious cases would need to be investigated) but the allegations of corruption of a hundred billion dollars each year (about half of our national budget) against PPP/C Ministers and Administrators was very grossly exaggerated. a It is time we recognise that these wild corruption charges took root in the context of intensely adversarial political contest (PPP/C going it alone as a minority Government after our 2011

Let us not waste time on ignorance of outsiders

Dear Editor, Allow me to express my disappointment with a few articles and videos on Guyana surfacing online, and especially on social media.

These opinions from outside Guyana are juicy to the readers and viewers. The article in New York Times on Guyana’s oil stirred our guts, but few of us had the courage to rebut the arguments, although a few opinions are a matter of concern that we need to address.

There are a few videos on Guyana’s oil being circulated on social media, and they are damaging the image of

our beautiful Guyana. These video presentations are very interesting, but from an outside perspective. I believe that everyone is entitled to their opinions. Someone else’s opinions must not derail our belief in ourselves as a strong, compact nation.

However, there is no harm in discussing other opinions; and if they are true, let us utilise them for the betterment of Guyana.

Some persons believe that once you have a pencil, you are a writer, or once you have a camera, you are a journalist. This is untrue in this highly social me-

dia-driven world. I mean to say, anyone can post anything online, and there are always people who buy this with less or no wisdom. That is where we have a problem. It is true that oil is in Guyana, but it must be a concern for Guyanese, and not for others to tell us what we should do or what we will become. We, as Guyanese, must be strong at this time, and not give in to external pressure. Whatever people speak, we know who we are.

Let us stand together as a nation, and not as Indoand Afro-Guyanese. We are a nation of multiple diver-

sities, and let this be our strength during these crucial times. Let us help our leaders, both ruling and opposition, to come to the table to guard our wealth and resources. This way, we can truly channel our resources for the betterment of our country. Just ignore anything that is not true, and take only what is true.

Let us not waste time on the ignorance of outsiders; rather, let us believe in our strength. Our strength is their ignorance.

Sincerely, Arun Williams

APNU/AFC unconcerned...

The outcome, though a major disappointment for the nation’s workers, only served to confirm the Federation’s publicly expressed view regarding the Administration’s anti-working class nature. On too many occasions, we could not have helped but point out the disregard for many of the commitments the Coalition had made to the workers during the elections campaign. Time-honoured and longstanding practices, even international con-

ventions and our country’s laws, have simply been ignored by the present-day Government. Moreover, one cannot ignore the increased cost-of-living burdens workers are now made to bear, which further illustrate the Administration’s unsympathetic view to the working people’s plight. This latest act against the workers of Guyana is just another glaring example of the Coalition’s scant concern for the workers’ interest.

The FITUG, in spite of

the Administration’s intransigence, firmly upholds and reiterates its position that a Ministry of Labour is a necessary and required institution. We wish to remind the Administration that actions

from page 4

speak louder than words.

Sincerely, Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG)

elections), and fundamental differences in the policies and attitudes to inculcate and nurture development of our people and country.

There was intense frustration and anger among then Opposition members and supporters when, after the Opposition passed a motion in Parliament forbidding the expenditure of Government/ Consolidated Fund money on the Marriott, the PPP/C found a legal and legitimate way to complete a first phase of the Marriott Hotel project utilising money obtained from the sale of shares in GTT, all transactions falling within the umbrella of the PU/NICIL group. Would we Guyanese and Guyana have been better off if the Marriott had been abandoned halfbuilt, somewhat like the intended Cacique Hotel aback of the Ramada Georgetown Princess at Providence?

Editor, the charges laid

against my colleagues: the former Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh and the former CEO of PU/NICIL, Mr Winston Brassington, are nothing but clutching at straws. There is no allegation of any money reaching their pockets or the pockets of any other. None did. They carried out, in a lawful manner, legitimate decisions of our PPP/C Government. The development of Guyana and Guyanese altogether has been our purpose and our driving force, and in the pursuit of which, we exercised even-handedly and openly the judgement and discretion that were lawfully and legitimately within our authority.

Sincerely, Samuel AA Hinds Former Prime Minister and Former President

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By Erin Leonard, PhD

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ate-night tears, shrinking self-confidence, disinterest in previously cherished activities, and statements like, “I hate myself” and “I can’t do anything right,” are signs your child may be involved in a toxic friendship.

Children who act toxic are often referred to as bullies, and are frequently stereotyped as overtly aggressive.

Yet in reality, these children can be discreet about the psychological war they wage.

Sweet to their victim in the presence of adults and teachers, they may wait patiently to do their dirty work behind closed doors.

This dynamic is frequently replicated within the friendship. Initially, the child who has toxic tendencies is kind to their friend, which instils a sense of trust. Soon, his or her comments become degrading and biting, leaving the friend stunned, hurt, and convinced they are the problem. So, the friend grovels and succumbs to the toxicity, desperate to be viewed favourably again, which compromises their self-esteem.

An equally toxic tactic a child utilises involves social control. They plan a social activity, excluding one friend, and brag about the event on social media or at school, delighting in the fact that the friend is now aware she was not included. Other children tend to go along with this because they don’t want to be the next person

Foundation

excluded from the group if they disagree. At the social gathering, the child talks about the excluded friend behind her back, aligning her own friends against her.

It’s difficult to believe a child is capable of such manipulation, but as a child therapist, I have witnessed this scenario for years. Goodnatured children are emotionally dismantled, while an egocentric child jockeys to gain control over the social scene.

Of course, the child with toxic ways is not completely aware of what they are doing. They feel small and insecure so they compensate with narcissism, vanity, a victim mentality, and attempts to exile the child that threatens their fragile self-esteem – the child with a deep emotional constitution.

People who purposely utilise toxic means to sabotage someone who threatens their self-esteem usually lack sincere remorse and empathy. Ironically, these are the qualities that they exploit in their friend. Because the friend has a conscience and has empathy, they absorb the attacks on their character and accept the blame.

Convinced they are deserving of the mistreatment, they remain in the friendship.

What can parents do?

The following tips can help if you suspect your child is involved in a toxic friendship: Attempt to capture the

toxicity of the friend’s disparaging comments. (Toxic comments attack a person’s character or are degrading.)

Discreetly monitor communications and social media. The other child will attempt to be sly about their antics.

Ask your child, “Would you ever do that to anybody?”

If your child’s answer is “no”, their friend probably has toxic ways. Highlight this for your child.

Help your child get space.

Provide your child with multiple outlets to establish friendships in different social circles, so they are not dependent on the child with toxic tendencies for social activities.

Do not confront the other child’s parents unless

there is plenty of evidence.

Children with toxic habits have been excused and enabled. Confrontation may make your child’s situation worse.

Empathise with your child. Support your child.

Spend as much time with your child as possible. Make them laugh and tell them stories about when they were younger. Remind them of who they are.

Find an experienced therapist.

Protect your child, and support her sense of empathy and conscience. Defend her identity. Foster her selfworth by validating her selfless and thoughtful acts.

Stay by her side and love her until the end. (Excerpt from psychology-

today.com)

I

n this science fair project, construct batteries from various fruits and test them to see which one will produce the most electric current. Then, determine if it would be practical to use fruit as a natural source for generating electricity. Safety: The fruits used in this project should not be eaten. Care should be taken when handling the metal electrodes, LED and alligator clip leads.

Materials

Various fruits (such as a lemon, grapefruit, orange, tomato) Multi-meter LED Alligator clip leads Tri-fold cardboard display board Copper and zinc electrodes (optional) Small 1.5 volt electric hobby motor

Procedure

Prepare the fruits for this project by squeezing them on all sides with the hands. Make sure not to squeeze too tightly and break the skin!

Stick the zinc electrode all the way into the first fruit to be tested.

Place the copper electrode on the opposite side.

Connect the longer of the two LED leads to the copper strip and the shorter lead to the metal strip using a pair of alligator clips.

Observe and record what happens.

If the LED lights up, also record how long the LED stays lit.

Measure the current using the multi-meter.

Remove the zinc and copper electrodes and wipe off any excess juice.

Repeat the same procedure using a different fruit. Record the results for each time.

For a more scientifically-accurate investigation, the entire processs should be repeated twice more.

Calculate the average current produced by adding the values from the three independent results and dividing the sum by three for each fruit.

Record the data in a table similar to the one shown.

Research Questions

What is a wet cell battery?

Why do placing two dissimilar metals into a fruit produce an electric current?

Which fruit-cell produced the most electricity? Which fruit-cell produced the least?

Did changing how far in the electrodes were make the current increase or decrease?

Did putting the electrodes closer together make the current increase or decrease?

Did putting the electrodes farther apart make the current increase or decrease, or stay the same?

Did the size of fruit make a difference? If so, did the size make the current increase or decrease?

How long did the fruitcell provide electricity to light the LED? Citrus fruits are acidic, which helps their juice to conduct electricity. What other fruits and vegetables might work as batteries?

Would fruit juice minus the fruit work as an electrolyte? (education.com) Send your answers to Summer of Reading @facebook

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Bar Association bashes SARA’s Deputy Director over “threat” to Judiciary

SARA Deputy Director Aubrey Heath-Retemyer

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tate Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) Deputy Director Aubrey Heath-Retemyer continues to face a backlash for comments he recently made, this time with the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) condemning him for saying that members of the Judiciary needed training so that the Agency’s work could get done.

In an interview with a national newspaper that was published on Sunday, Heath-Retemyer lamented an apparent resistance by judicial officers to access information from commercials banks, something which is key to the work of the anti-corruption agencies, including the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU).

However, the Bar Council of the GBA in a statement on Tuesday bashed the Deputy Director of SARA, saying that his comments could be construed as a “threat” to members of the Judiciary as well as an attempt to direct the work and functioning of the country’s legal system – something he should avoid.

Apart from the situation being alarming and of grave concern, it was also against Article 122 (a) (1) of the Constitution, which states that the Judiciary exercise

its functions independently, and free from political, executive or any other form of direction and control.

“In Guyana, as HeathRetemyer should be aware, justice is done when the Judiciary applies principles of law to evidence proved in court. Since the Judiciary does not exist to do the bidding of the Executive, the rights of Guyanese citizens and the application of the rule of law take precedence over the granting of remedies in a speedy manner to the liking of the Executive,” the Association posited.

The Bar Council went on to contend that “any insinuation that the Judiciary is somehow lacking in knowl-

edge is unjustified, without merit and could dangerously shake the confidence of the public in the ability of the Judiciary. Guyana is a democracy where the law is applied by an independent and impartial Judiciary whose function includes restraining unlawful excesses by the Executive, including Mr Heath-Retemyer and SARA/SOCU. If that agency is not satisfied with the legal requirements in discharge of its functions, then the Bar Association assures the public that the fault does not lie with the Judiciary and/or its training.”

The GBA further posited that there was no place for comments like those made

by SARA’s Deputy Director, while adding his action should equally be condemned by the Government for not being its view of the Judiciary and by the cit-

izens of Guyana as being an unjustified attack by an agent of the Executive on the independence of the Judiciary and in violation of the principle of separation of powers.

Stating its confidence in the ability of the Judiciary and its commitment to at all times stand guard and rebuff such attacks, the Bar Council is also calling for Heath-Retemyer to retract his comments and apologise, while also further refraining from making any similar comments in the future.

On Sunday last, former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall had also condemned the remarks made

by Heath-Retemyer and blamed the situation of banks being reluctant to act in supplying the information requested on the fact that several pieces of legislation 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,” Nandlall had pointed out. He noted that the issue was brought to the attention of his successor, current Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams, who he said, “is incapable of taking advice”.

Moreover, the former AG posited that both HeathRetemyer and SARA’s Director, Dr Clive Thomas, are unlawfully occupying their offices. He explained that the SARA Act provides very clearly that the Director and Deputy Director of the Agency be appointed through a parliamentary process and while transitioning provisions were made for those heading the Agency to continue to act for a limited period, that time has “long expired”.

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wednesDAY, JUly 25, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Cocaine in gas cylinder

2 jailed for 4 years each

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hirty-three-year-old Mark Gomes and 38-year-old Mohamed Kadir who were jointly charged for the possession of 2.25 kilogram of cocaine found hidden in a gas cylinder were on Tuesday sentenced to four years in prison after they appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The men were charged, along with Ryan Fowler, who had pleaded guilty to the allegation and was jailed for four years.

It was reported that two vehicles parked in the vicinity of Sheriff Street, Georgetown were being observed by ranks attached to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU). At approximately 19:45h, the ranks noticed Kadir exiting one of the motor cars, carrying a yellow gas cylinder. He moved to the other vehicle that was occupied by Gomes and Fowler.

The three suspects were stopped by the investigators

Mark Gomes and Mohammed Kadir

who conducted a search, resulting in the illegal substance being discovered.

However, the two accused were given the opportunity to tell their side of the story before the Court and in an unsworn statement, Kadir first explained that he was called by Gomes to meet a friend who was encountering mechanical issues on his vehicle.

He told the Court that when that friend (R Fowler) showed up at a shop on

Sheriff Street, Georgetown with Gomes as a passenger, CANU ranks reportedly pounced on them.

According to Kadir, he was unaware as to why he was arrested until much later. He told the Court that Fowler had told him and Gomes that the drug found belonged only to him.

Gomes’s story meshed with what was related by Kadir.

Their Attorneys, Glenn Hanoman and Mark Waldron in summing up their case

stated that the prosecution’s case was based on the reliability and credibility of one witness and called for a nocase submission.

However, in her rebuttal, CANU Prosecutor Konyo Sandiford said that the case against the defendants was proven beyond reasonable doubt.

Only four days ago, the father of Mark Gomes, Andre Gomes, called “Zipper,” was freed of drug trafficking charges by Magistrate Leron Daly, who ruled that CANU had been unable to support its allegations against Gomes with enough evidence to warrant a conviction.

The elder Gomes, 57, of Craig Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, had been arraigned on trafficking in narcotics charges after a search carried out at his residence had allegedly unearthed 992 grams of cocaine, a quantity of cash, jewellery, and other valuables.

It’s a gas…

T

…to sell Enmore he PNC must be rolling in mirth now that Enmore Estate hasn’t only been shut down and allowed to turn to bush, but it’s now been officially put on the block to be hocked -- lock, stock and barrel!! Some folks are asking if that sequence “made sense”: run the estate down into “bush” and then put it up for sale.

Of course it makes sense…if you’re the PNC! What this means is that some company favoured by them will be able to argue with a straight face they got Enmore at a ridiculous bargain basement price because it was “so run down”!!

As Raphael Trotman once described such favoured companies…at one time or other, they make “political investments” for the party of their choice. And they hit the jackpot when that party gets into Government! But back to Enmore and the PNC. Because of its history, Enmore – like Leonora on the WCD – was always seen as a redoubt of the PPP. There was Kausilla the Martyr of Leonora in 1964, of course, to remind the PPP faithful of the perfidy of the PNC. And it didn’t surprise anyone when the latter shut down that estate in its first round of downsizing sugar back in 1976.

We all know about Enmore because of Dr Jagan’s oath at the graveside of the 5 protesting sugar workers killed in 1948. And Enmore has stood with the PPP ever since. Now when it’s resold…expect that link to be deliberately severed at the neck. And we know this can happen in any number of ways – the first one being beggars can’t be “choosers”! And right now, with 5700 of them fired in one fell swoop, with no jobs in sight, ex-sugar workers are certainly beggars!

One thing we can predict for sure is GAWU ain’t coming back with those folks who’ll be rehired at Enmore! Apart from the PNC’s and the buyer’s druthers, the workers themselves at that location were turned off by the lack of aggressiveness from the union.

But your Eyewitness was rather taken aback by some of the claims the SPU is making on the estate. 85 percent mechanisation? Say what??!! Is this a sop to the buyer that they won’t need too many workers? With the rainy seasons now extending year round…they’ll be lucky to have 30 per cent mechanisation!! And zero for harvesting!!

Another claim was Enmore has a 60,000 tonne sugar producing factory!! Are we living in an alternate universe? Firstly, how will they get 60,000 tonnes of sugar from 6,900 hectares of land? Has Enmore EVER produced even HALF of that total??

Looks like someone’s been having a gas, smoking weed even before it’s been legalised!! …with injecting gas!!

Your Eyewitness has kvetched before, on the proclivity of the Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, to mouth off on matters of which it is obvious he doesn’t have the foggiest notion! Take his continued insistence of talking about landing gas from Exxon’s Stabroek field to fuel a mega-power generation plant – even though the oil giant insists it makes better economic sense to pump back the gas into the field to bring up more oil.

Now this technique isn’t exactly cutting edge; in fact, Norway has used it successfully for over three decades to deliver an additional 4billion equivalent of oil from the North Sea!! Has Patterson even asked Exxon what’s the cost/benefit ratio of using that option?? And that maybe he can build a new power plant with the extra money??

Does Patterson even know that the gas pumped back won’t be going anywhere - and will be recycled until the oilfield is depleted?

In the end, he’ll have a gas field is he still wants some gas!! …with oil reserves up Well, it’s official…we now have OVER 4 billion barrels of oil reserves. So can we start celebrating? That uppity NYT reporter – with over 30 years of oil experience -says there’s a lot to be done before that.

But what does he know??

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

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wednesDAY, JUly 25, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

5 bandits killed during shootout with Police …high-powered weapons recovered

By Bhisham Mohamed

F

ive armed bandits who were allegedly attempting to rob a house at Pattensen, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown were shot dead during a gun battle with the Police in the wee hours of Tuesday.

The dead men have been identified as: Timothy St Hill, 38, of Warlock, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown and also of Diamond New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara; Andrew Daly, 40, of Westminster, West Bank Demerara; Levi Braithwaite, 31, of North Ruimveldt and also of

firm whether either Forde or Doobay had brushes with the law.

Preliminary reports from the Police detail that at about 03:00h on Tuesday, the five men were attempting to break into a house owned by a Guyanese who resides in Florida. The men had already cut the locks to the gate of the property, located at Lots 8 and 9 Pattensen, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, and had entered the compound.

But as they attempted to gain access into the house, the caretaker and his family were alerted, and quickly retreated to a secure room in the house, from where they

caught in the exchange of gunfire, and he collapsed on the ground. Seconds after, a white motorcar drove up, and two occupants exited and opened fire on the Police. The Police took cover and returned fire. Both males fell,” the acting Police Commissioner explained.

He further related that an AK-47 assault rifle and two magazines taped together were found close to the motorcar. In addition, a quantity of live rounds and two rifles were found in close proximity to the two men who were shot in the yard.

Also at the scene, three mobile phones, a pair of gloves, a nipper, two crow-

The car used by the bandits being towed away by Police

Albouystown, Georgetown; Ian Forde, and Jermaine Doobay.

Well-known criminal St Hill was charged in 2015 for possession of firearm and ammunition, and in 2016 was arraigned for narcotics possession. In 2017, he was slapped with attempted robbery and break-and-enter charges. In 2018, he was charged for setting on fire the Grove-Diamond Police Station while in custody.

According to Police, St Hill was instrumental in providing medical supplies, foodstuff and clothing to the notorious Camp Street prison escapees.

Levi Braithwaite was arrested in 2017 for armed robbery; while Daly was charged for break-and-enter and larceny in 2017.

The Police are yet to con-

called 911.

At an emergency press conference, Acting Top Cop, David Ramnarine, explained that at the time the 911 call was received, an anti-crime patrol unit in ‘C’ Division was aware that a CID Headquarters plainclothes patrol was in the vicinity of Sophia, and when they contacted them, the two units joined forces and proceeded to the location.

“They proceeded rather cautiously, by ensuring that the vehicles were secluded in a particular area…

As they arrived at the location, two men were seen in the yard with rifles. Police challenged them, the men opened fire on the Police, and (the Police) returned fire… Both men fell.

“A third man who was in the house ran out and was

bars, a hacksaw, four warheads, a pair of slippers, an identification card, tope, bank cards, a membership card to Princess Casino and other items were found.

The Police also retrieved 24 spent shells of two different caliber weapons at the scene.

The acting Top Cop also related that the front wall of the building was riddled with bullets, and several bullet holes were seen.

The shot men were transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where they were pronounced dead on arrival.

When Guyana Times visited the medical institution, a number of relatives of the dead men were seen in the mortuary area, waiting to get a glimpse of the bodies as they were being trans-

Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine addressing members of the media hours after the shooting. Also in photo are Assistant Commissioner (Administration), Maxine Graham; Assistant Police Commissioner (Operations) Clifton Hicken, and Crime Chief Paul Williams. On display are the items recovered at the scene of the shootout

ported to the Lyken Funeral Home.

The relatives of the dead men accuse the Police of cold-blooded murder. They claim St Hill was seen in the company of a top-ranking of-

ficer of the Guyana Police Force on Monday evening.

Guyana Times was told that the men were after a safe which contained money in the house at the time of the attempted robbery.

Information, however, remains sketchy as to how the men became aware that there was a safe in the house. turn to page 14

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wednesDAY, JUly 25, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Selling drugs S

atiricus was very despondent. Once again he was going to have to face the music at the Back Street Bar, and the music wasn’t Dhakka Dalay!! But as he’d done before when placed in similar circumstance, he decided that offence was the best form of defence.

“Can you believe how some people ungrateful?!”

Satiricus exploded as soon as he sat down and reached for his beer.

“Tek am easy, Sato,” advised Cappo, who was working on his third beer. “A wha’ yuh a taa’k abou, maan?”

“I’m talking about how some politicians forget quickly about favours people do for them,” Satiricus responded.

“That’s real low!”

“Yuh a taa’k parable-parable or wha’?” asked Bungi.

“Who fuget wha’ favah?”

“Don’t you guys remember when my KFC party needed a new headquarters, the fella who built it for them?” Satiricus asked. Everyone nodded.

“Well imagine they just charged the man for selling unregistered drugs to the Big Hospital!” said Satiricus in rising tones.

“An’ wha’ Rum Jhaat do?” asked Cappo, in surprise. “’E na even tu’n up fuh represent de man?”

“It’s not Rum Jhaat’s fault,” said Hari. “He can’t even represent himself!”

“But na only Rum Jhaat,” pointed out Bungi, with a smile. “When dem bin open de buildin’, na Tratman seh de maan mek wan “political investment”?”

“I can see you’re surprised, Sato ole friend,” said Hari.

“But this was long in coming!”

“What you mean?” demanded Satiricus aggressively.

“Well, not only last year the same chap bring in real drugs, like cocaine, from some other company’s licence?” asked Hari, as Cappo and Bungi perked up their ears. “And he was charged?!”

“Yes,” conceded Satiricus.

“That was the writing on the wall, Sato,” said Hari.

“An’ wha’ de writin’ bin seh, Hari?” asked Bungi.

“That the KFC is dead meat to the Pee an’ See!” chuckled Hari, who was in a real garrulous mood. “They don’t have to take care of KFC financiers!!”

“Back to back, belly to belly; KFC doan give a damn – deh dun dead already!!’ cackled Cappo!!

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wednesDAY, JUly 25, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Diaspora policy languishing before Cabinet – Greenidge – says "absent-mindedness" partly to blame

A

policy to have overseas-based Guyanese contribute to their homeland has been languishing before cabinet. According to Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, this is due to priorities and a bit of ‘absentmindedness’.

The policy in question is the Diaspora Engagement Strategy, especially important considering the current development of the oil and gas sector. But according to Greenidge during a press conference on Monday, cabinet is yet to have a look at the strategy.

“That paper has been before cabinet for the longest while, and cabinet has not been able to look at it for reasons that have to do with priority, and perhaps a little bit of absent-mindedness; because it’s been done a long time ago,” Greenidge had explained.

Government had caught flak, and the average age of the cabinet had come under the microscope after former Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), Justice (retd) Cecil Kennard, was asked by Government to step down from his post, re-

President David Granger with cabinet after being elected in 2015

portedly because of his age.

President David Granger had reportedly asked Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan to write Kennard, asking him to resign.

Political commentator Dr David Hinds had said that if Government has a policy on age, then it needs to make it known while explaining the reasoning behind Kennard’s displacement.

“I know of many people in Government service who are nearing 80 and doing good work. There are also some Ministers who are not too far away from 80 years old; should they be removed from Cabinet because of their age? I think

not,” he had pointed out.

Meetings Meanwhile, Greenidge explained that successful visits and meetings have been held in Georgia and New York, United States of America and Toronto, Canada. There, the Guyanese delegation met with professional bodies and international companies such as NCR

Automation. He was also questioned about exactly what the diaspora meetings would accomplish, and whether they were related to the oil and gas sector.

“The discussions with the diaspora do not focus on local content for the oil and petroleum sector. There are discussions, for example in Toronto and Florida in general. In Toronto, a number of agencies and diaspora groups which perhaps spe-

cialise in assisting members of the diaspora getting access in business and utilising their technical skills, we met with those, and they indicated in what capacity they can help.

“And that information has been passed both to the University, the GTI, the Ministries of Business and Agriculture, to follow up with these persons and groups so they can collaborate and make use of the

information being provided. We also met with a couple of firms who are interested in collaborating but in their case, they offered training in a variety of areas.”

Last year, it was announced that consultation would be carried out with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). These discussions were all with the view of creating the strategy.

2 before court for alleged underage sex crimes

A

s reports of alleged sexual activity with children continue to gain attention, two other persons in West Demerara were slapped with sexual assault charges on Tuesday.

Deoraj Persaud appeared at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court and was placed on $300,000 bail for allegations of engaging in sexual activity with a family member.

And Bhimeshwar

Bissondial was arraigned for the rape of a child under 16. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $300,000 bail. Both matters have been adjourned to August 8, 2018.

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wednesDAY, JUly 25, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt seeking legal advice before talks with BBCI – Patterson

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

Legal Affairs Minister and AG Basil Williams

ublic Infrastructure Minister David Patterson is currently awaiting legal advice from Attorney the General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, before engaging the Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI).

BBCI Chairman Dr. Surendra Persaud disclosed two weeks ago that the com-

pany is facing bankruptcy, and as such had made proposals to increase its tolls by as much 300 per cent in some cases, to keep the Berbice Bridge afloat.

Toll increases have been strongly opposed by Government, but Minister Patterson has said due consideration may be given to this matter. He said last week that Government

P

would continue to engage the BBCI for alternative solutions that do not include passing on increases to consumers.

“No at the moment… the Attorney General is providing some legal advice, and at the end of that, I will engage them and move forward from there,” the Public Infrastructure Minister told the Guyana Times on Tuesday, adding that he has indicated this to the BBCI chairman.

In his objection to the toll increase proposal, Patterson last week pointed out that Government was already subsidising the Bridge, and giving it more financial support might be a major task.

However, he added that the Coalition Government has an obligation to the people of Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) to ensure that there were no increases.

“We have a commitment to the people of Berbice. The Berbice Act that was passed

Despite rejecting the proposed 300 per cent toll increase, Government has said it would continue to work with the BBCI to ensure that the Bridge was sufficiently maintained and is safe for vehicular and marine use.

Based on the announcement made by the BBCI with regard to the proposed increase in tolls, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has announced his disagreement with the proposal, but has since encouraged the co-

the Government approached a shareholder (Demerara Distillers Limited) to buy its shares, it took some time before a decision was made as to whether they should sell.

“It took a year before the shareholder voted and gave us permission to buy the shares. I think one of the problems at that time is that DDL bought shares at $40 million and they sold it for $45 million. The 24 per cent persons didn’t want to have a precedent yet, whereby they make a minor profit

alition Government to buy more equity in the Company.

Jagdeo reasoned that Berbicians could not afford the steep increases that the company has proposed at this time. He said this was mainly so because the BBCI was contractually obligated to maintain the Bridge. Instead, he thinks that Government could buy out other shareholders, so the Bridge becomes publicly-owned.

“Secondly, subsidise the increase that should take place in the toll, so they give an injection into the company so the rate remains flat.”

This formula, according to Jagdeo, would entail taking over the debt of the Bridge and securing greater equity in return.

But Patterson has said that while a fare increase is something Government is totally against, it has caused some delays in the past. He recalled that when

on it,” he added.

The Minister explained that Government was made an offer by another shareholder who was interested in selling his shares, but under the condition that he got all the profits he would have been entitled to for the entire period of over 20 years.

Patterson said the proposal was not feasible, and therefore Government could not give it due consideration, as it would have cost an exceptional amount.

In the July 9th application to Government, the BCCI requested that the toll increases take effect from August 1. The new tolls proposed by the BBCI would see cars and minibuses paying $8040 to cross the Bridge; pickups, small trucks and four-wheeldrive vehicles $14,600; medium trucks $27,720; large trucks $49,600; articulated trucks $116,800; and boats $401,040.

BBCI Chairman, Dr Surendra Persaud

stopped any other means of transporting cars across the Berbice River. So, therefore, obviously it is the Bridge, and obviously, we can’t leave persons stranded. And we have to do whatever we have to do to ensure that it is sustainable,” Minister Patterson said.

That therefore leaves the Government with no option but to subsidise the BBCI.

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wednesDAY, JUly 25, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Jury to decide fate of accused in Atlantic Gardens murder him twice as he passed and looked at her. Her mother

Accused: Richard Stanton

Deceased: Patricia Sanasie

efence Attorney Mark Waldron and Prosecutors Tiffini Lyken, Narissa Leander and Seeta Bishundial have presented closing arguments in the Richard Stanton murder trial and it is now up to the 12-member jury to determine whether the defendant is innocent or guilty.

Stanton is accused of executing Patricia Sanasie three years ago in front of her Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home.

Presiding Judge Brassington Reynolds will this morning sum up the case before handing it over to the jury for deliberation. On Wednesday last, the prosecution closed its case and on Friday, Justice Reynolds overruled the defence’s no-case submission.

During a one hour presentation to the jury on Monday, Stanton led his own defence via an unsworn statement from the prisoner’s dock.

He professed that he was not a killer and that he was not born to kill anyone. He said that he was working at his sister’s establishment, the Dynasty Night Club, at the time Police first picked him up in January 2015 and when they re-arrested and charged him in April 2015.

Stanton told the Court that he grew up watching

his mother being abused by males and because of this, he did not have it in him to hurt anyone.

He was picked out of an identification (ID) parade (as Number 3) by the late woman’s daughter, Ramona Sanasie who was driving the car the night her mother was killed. Stanton disputed Police saying that some of the persons in the line-up were not similar in features to him.

Sanasie was killed as she exited her vehicle and was about to open her gate at her home. A year prior to the woman’s death, a similar attempt was made on her husband’s life, and she and her brother were implicated.

One of the investigators, Detective Constable Samuel Headley testified last week Tuesday that several of the exhibits which he had lodged at the Sparendaam Police Station after he had given evidence during the Preliminary Inquiry at the Magistrate’s Court had gone missing. The jury was told that the ballistics report and two warheads which were removed from Sanasie’s body during a post-mortem examination cannot be located.

Ramona Sanasie told investigators that a “big built” man exited a silver Toyota Raum, and she saw

D

was reportedly shot to her chest, abdomen and neck,

among other areas, and was pronounced dead on arriv-

al at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

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wednesDAY, JUly 25, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Massy security guard Miner slapped with killed in hit-and-run murder charge after leaving worksite Skeletal remains at Puruni

A

Victim Petal Hafez

38-year-old miner was on Tuesday remanded to prison

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts slapped with a murder charge.

James Allen, of Two Friends Village, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

The Court heard that between June 28, 2018, and July 8, 2018, at Thomas Island, Bartica, Allen murdered his ex-lover, Petal Hafez.

According to facts presented, the woman’s skeletal remains were recently discovered along a trail

in Bartica, Puruni River, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

He was remanded to prison, and the matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court for August 16, 2018.

On Saturday last, Police exhumed the remains believed to be Hafez’s to facilitate a post-mortem.

According to Pathologist Nehaul Singh, he was unable to determine the cause of death, but noted a crack in the skull. As such, Dr Singh’s findings were inconclusive.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Monday last, Hafez’s daughter explained that her mother left home about the second week in May for Thomas Island, Puruni and they last heard from her on June 2, 2018.

After the discovery on July 8, 2018, the Police arrested Allen in connection with the murder. The man was allegedly arrested based on his history of reportedly abusing women in several interior locations.

The badly decomposed body was found in a shallow grave. A bag containing the woman’s clothes was found close to the body, but there was no form of identification.

It was reported that a

A

Accused: James Allen

security personnel stumbled upon the remains while heading to an Internet café to make a telephone call. He reported the findings to the Police a few days later. As such, a party of Police ranks were dispatched to the scene to conduct preliminary investigations.

Owing to the state of the remains– clad only in a brassiere with some remnants of flesh, identification was not possible.

On this note, the grieving daughter noted that samples of the remains were sent overseas to determine the identity of the deceased. She is positive the remains are those of her mother.

female security guard attached to the Massy Security Service was on Tuesday evening killed in a hit-and-run accident at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown.

The woman has been identified as Mona London, who worked with the company for several years, and reportedly had been stationed at the Movie Towne Construction site at Turkeyen at the time of her demise.

Based on reports received, the woman had been relieved by her colleague at about 19:00h, and had left the construction site and was heading home when, while crossing the Turkeyen main access road, she was struck down by a dark-coloured SUV which was speeding in the direction of

Georgetown.

The woman was flung several feet in the air, and landed on the roadway, sustaining severe head injuries.

She reportedly died on the spot, while the vehicle did not stop to render her assis-

tance.

The woman’s body was picked up and taken to the Lyken Funeral Home to await a post mortem, while the Police have launched an investigation into the fatal accident.

Jury sees gun used to shoot Kitty man

P

resent and former ranks of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) have identified the service pistol which was used to shoot electrician Devon Howell.

At the High Court on Tuesday, it was confirmed that then colleague Jonathon Williams was given the weapon at the Army’s Camp Ayanganna headquarters. This was revealed at Alistair Woolford’s trial which continued at the High Court.

Woolford is facing a manslaughter charge as it is contended that he discharged a loaded firearm at Howell with intent to murder him. The matter is expected to conclude later this week.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, the 9mm semi-automatic silver pistol that was used to shoot the Kitty, Georgetown electrician at his friend’s nearby D’Andrade Street residence, was presented in court.

Williams, the weapon holder, who left the gun on top of a refrigerator to use Woolford’s washroom, had testified the gun was the one he retrieved from Army headquarters. GDF Private

Accused: Alistair Woolford

Dennis Fung and fellow rank Cliff Johnson both confirmed that the silver pistol was the one Williams had taken.

The gun was tendered into evidence by Policeman Oswin Semple who charged the defendant Woolford and held a confrontation with him and Daniel Fletchman, who witnessed Woolford shooting Howell. All four men, including Williams, were friends. Fletchman only Monday recalled witnessing Woolford pointing the gun towards Howell, who spun around before falling to the ground.

Semple told the court Tuesday that after he charged Woolford, the accused replied that Howell was playing with the gun and he was on his phone and was not focusing on him. Later on, Woolford reportedly said that he proceeded to take the GDF service pistol and he squeezed it and it accidentally hit Devon to his neck.

According to Semple’s recollection, the defendant told Police that he, Woolford, “John” and Howell went into a cousin’s car which transported them to the hospital. It was relayed that “John” took the gun and carried it back to the Army base.

Howell was shot on November 21, 2014. He was hospitalised after the incident, and succumbed to his injuries three weeks later on December 8, 2014. Howell reportedly received injuries to his upper spinal cord, and died without regaining consciousness. Woolford is represented by Attorneys Compton Richardson and Hewley Griffith. Attorneys Mandel Moore and Abigail Gibbs are prosecuting the case.

5 bandits killed during...

Pattensen residents recalled being awakened by the sound of gunshots. One man told the media that after hearing gunshots, he immediately contacted 911 to make a report, and was told that the matter was already reported and that ranks were already at the scene.

Another man posited that the standoff between the Police and bandits lasted for quite some time, and

after the ordeal, they became aware that five bandits were shot and killed.

“I living here all meh life, and this never happen.

I happy that they catch the bandits, because they (bandits) does only know to jump people house, rob them and kill them,” the man related.

The acting Police Commissioner explained that the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is in the process of

from page 9

questioning the ranks who were involved in the shooting incident.

Meanwhile, he commended the lawmen for their bravery in protecting the citizenry, while noting that their efforts must be recognised, since, during the ordeal, they did not retreat, but rather put up a fight. No Police rank was injured during the shootout with the bandits.

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15

wednesDAY, JUly 25, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ramsammy’s Ruminations NTC should be more involved in The APNU/AFC Government has formally confirmed its anti-working class DNA

J

uly 20, 2018 is another day of infamy under APNU+AFC; another of those days of infamy that are mounting at an unprecedented rate since May 2015. APNU+AFC voted against the re-establishment of a Ministry of Labour. A PPP motion with the total alliance of the united trade union movement in Guyana was vigorously opposed and voted against by APNU+AFC. Prime Minister Nagamootoo, who has represented himself as the champion of workers, especially sugar workers, Dr Leslie Ramsammy voted against the motion to formally accept that a Ministry of Labour is a necessity.

July 20, 2018 saw APNU+AFC betraying the workers of Guyana. People who sit in the cabinet representing themselves as pillars of the working class; people like Nagamootoo, Keith Scott, Ramjattan, Charandass Persaud, Harmon, Volda Lawrence, Amna Ally shamelessly raised their voices against the workers. It was an ugly, reprehensible assault against workers and the working class. Shockingly, Rupert Roopnaraine, a senior member of Cabinet, and his fellow-WPA MPs totally rejected the WPA’s historically storied unity and alliance with labour.

Since May 2015, Guyana has suffered from the non-existence of a Ministry of Labour. With the refusal of APNU+AFC to support a legislative declaration that maintaining a Ministry of Labour is a commitment of all governments in Guyana, APNU+AFC reaffirmed its anti-labour stance. The legislative action was intended to ensure that workers of Guyana, representing more than half of the population of Guyana, have a Government ministry that is dedicated to protecting and promoting their rights and give them a seat in the Cabinet. APNU+AFC rejected the notion that workers should have a seat in the Cabinet. This APNU+AFC legislative posture formally breaks, or at the very least weakens, the tri-partite arrangement in place to protect and promote the rights of workers.

Interestingly, BIG BUSINESS has a seat in the cabinet. The Ministry of Business protects and promotes the legal and regulatory framework for BIG BUSINESS. APNU+AFC has given high prominence to this ministry by naming the President’s son-in-law as the minister with responsibility to protect and promote the environment for BIG BUSINESS. I have no quarrel with the Granger-led APNU+AFC administration allowing entrepreneurs to have a seat in the Cabinet through the Minister of Business. The reformation that started with the PPP Government in 1992 to formulate and create a seat in the Cabinet -- where employers and entrepreneurs have a seat in the Cabinet through a Minister of Business -- is a good and necessary one. Transformation to strengthen the Ministry of Trade and Commerce, rejecting it from having a legislative role to control, limit and punish business -- a role it played under the PNC Government -- to formally recognising its commitment to protect and promote business, is a good thing.

But giving business a seat in the cabinet should not diminish and abrogate the right of workers to have a seat in the cabinet.

Since May 2015, APNU+AFC has consistently diminished the role of labour in the cabinet. It refused to name a Minister of Labour, it made labour an increasingly ignored department in the Ministry of Social Protection. Even in colonial days, the presence of labour in Government was recognised. Persons like Ashton Chase, Jocelyn Hubbard, Janet Jagan, Henry Jeffrey and Nanda Gopaul have been Ministers of Labour, with a prominent role in the Cabinet. Cheddi Jagan, Forbes Burnham, Janet Jagan, Desmond Hoyte sat in cabinet as Presidents with labour imprimatur.

With its formal rejection of its responsibility to seat a Minister of Labour in the cabinet, APNU+AFC allows people to better understand a legacy of anti-workers policy and actions.

When it closed the four sugar estates and uncaringly left more than 5,000 workers without jobs, it was an anti-working class move, a move reinforced by its refusal to honour severance payment to workers. When it refused to honour its pre-2015 election 20 per cent wage increase commitment to workers, including sugar workers, it was exposing its anti-working class posture. When it refused to deal with teachers’ salaries, and tell them they must be patient, APNU+AFC proudly brandished its anti-working class genes. When it did not take action to protect security guards who were not being paid, it was building on its anti-working class DNA. When it failed to secure the rights of cleaners in schools, it proudly underlined its anti-workers’ legacy. When it introduced more than 200 new taxes and VAT on more items, it was acting against the working class. With EXXON in place, I wonder whether the table for EXXON to abrogate the rights of workers is being carefully laid.

community development – Allicock

T

he recently elected executive of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) has awakened many questions as to what is in store for the indigenous people, and as such, the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister has expressed that he would like to see more development in the hinterland communities.

Speaking with media operatives on Monday, Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock noted that he is expecting a greater relationship between the ministry and the council, so as to ensure that their plans for the next three years are materialised successfully.

“My expectation is that the relationship would be strengthened, so that we could achieve the plans for the NTC. I expect a more business-like approach towards community development, and for the NTC to focus on the development of the communities, helping

the communities to be able to achieve their goals,” Minister Allicock said.

He further stated that while a lot of funds has been injected into the hinterland communities, there had been a lack of involvement from the previous council. As such, there is an expectation that better collaboration can be shown on the part of the new executive body.

“We have invested a lot of funding, including (in) equipment, for indigenous communities’ development, and it (the outcome) is not what we have expected -- The outcome and the output -- and it is because of the lack of more involvement of the NTC to help their communities understand the aim and the drive behind investing in those communities,” the minister explained.

The Ministry is now reportedly working towards crafting initiatives that can foster development in hinterland regions while at the

Newly-elected NTC Chairman Nicholas Fredericks

same time allowing those regions to remain independent.

This new team, the minister says, has showcased a willingness to make this progression.

“We have embarked upon an economic drive in communities, because we’re moving away from the dependency syndrome; and I find that,

from my observation, we have a team that is pro-development. I’m expecting that we would have a better outcome for these next three years,” he said.

The new executive body was elected last week during the NTC conference.

Toshao Nicholas Fredericks of Shulinab was elected Chairman, while Toshao Paul Pierre of Kwebanna was voted as the Vice Chairman. Toshao Russian Dorrick of Yupukari was elected Secretary.

The newly elected head contested for the post unopposed, and received unanimous support from the toshaos. The new executive comprises 20 persons from all the Amerindian villages.

During his inaugural address, Fredericks called upon his team to work together to address the needs of, and make representation on behalf of, Guyana’s first peoples.

16 news

wednesDAY, JUly 25, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Commissioner urges restructuring of GECOM powers – calls for ability to reassign boundaries to be transferred

GECOM Commissioner Robeson Benn

F

ollowing the recent restructuring of 14 Local Government Areas by the Communities Minister, a People’s Progressive Party Commissioner at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is recommending that the power to do so henceforth reside with the commission.

According to PPP Commissioner Robeson Benn in a statement on Tuesday, Minister Ronald Bulkan’s actions raise key questions, which include whether the Commission can afford to stand aside and do nothing. According to Benn, the Commission cannot, and he therefore proposes that the issue of re-districting and GECOM’s role be put on the agenda.

“There was a perception that with impending/up-

coming Local Government Elections (LGE) 2018, efforts were underway to redraw the electoral map in favour of the ruling or incumbent party, resulting in a distortion of the political intent of the voters of an LAA and a reduction in fair representation of electors,” Benn wrote.

“Since gerrymandering is done with the intent of maximising supporters’ votes while minimising those votes of an opponent, it is partisan, and therefore undemocratic and abhorrent.

Moreover, and worst yet, the decisions and actions arising out of the installation of a gerrymandered Council are mostly likely to be unrepresentative and despotic, posing risks to the governance of the area and the body politic concerned.”

Benn recommended that GECOM be assigned the role of determining elections’ boundaries. He also advocated a name change for the entity… to the Guyana Elections and Boundary Commission (GEBC) “GECOM, as a Constitutional Commission, cannot afford to continue to (be subject to) allegations of lack of transparency, or as ‘the poodle’ of the incumbent in power – whichever party that incumbent may personify.”

“GECOM, also, should

to gerrymander boundaries to suit (A Partnership for National Unity) APNU,” Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had said at a previous press conference.

“They want to gerrymander the boundaries by splitting an NDC like that, creating two new NDCs so they can win in these areas. That is what is happening now because they fear anoth-

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan

not continue to be exposed to litigation risks, directly or joined, in relation to simple, avoidable, and transparent practices which enhance its role as the electoral body.

It is already embroiled in controversies related to the 2015 National Elections and the Ganga Persaud Petition to those elections,” Benn reminded.

In June of this year, an order to remove constituencies from 14 areas was gazetted at the behest of Bulkan.

Since Local Government Elections are fast approaching, the Opposition has since accused the Government of gerrymandering. It is something Bulkan has denied.

“We are very concerned with attempts to tamper with the (Neighbourhood Democratic Council’s) NDC’s Local Government bodies

er crushing defeat,” he had added.

The creation of the new towns and NDCs was said to be part of the Administration’s policy and vision of fostering national development via regional and local empowerment, given Central Government’s stated commitment to a philosophy of decentralised governance; but the PPP thinks

otherwise.

The APNU/AFC suffered a crushing defeat in 2015 at LGE when the PPP received 30,000 more votes than both parties. The PPP also won 48 of the 65 NDCs and tied in seven others. In summary, the party won or tied with 55 of the 65 areas that were contested. They also won three towns, except for the newly created ones.

Police probing domestic violence allegation against Minister’s son

P

olice in F Division (Bartica) are currently probing a report of assault involving the son of a Government Minister.

Guyana Times understands the male and his girlfriend got into an altercation on Saturday. “One pelt one and the other assaulted the other hand,” a Police source related.

This newspaper was told

that the matter was reported and an investigation has been launched against both parties. So far, statements have been obtained as the probe continued.

Meanwhile, F Division Commander Kevin Adonis has refuted reports that he was ordered by the Minister to release her son after he was arrested. A local online news entity re-

ported on Monday that the Minister had threatened the Commander to have him fired if he did not keep the matter quiet.

However, Adonis dismissed the report.

“Nothing of the sort [happened], it is contrary to what happened,” the Commander told this publication when contacted on Tuesday.

“Juckers” among illegal items found during NA Prison raid

R

anks of the Prison Service, assisted by ranks of the Police Force, conducted yet another search at the New Amsterdam Prison on Tuesday evening, and have unearthed a number of illegal items, including several “juckers”.

The search, conducted between 16:45h and 18:12h on Tuesday, was headed by Assistant Police Superintendent C. Singh.

A number of contraband items were also found.

These include: eight improvised weapons/juckers; 146 Ziplock bags containing marijuana to the total quantity of 292 grams; five cigarettes; seven lighters; six cellular phones; 12 phone chargers, and three SIM cards.

“This is yet another in our series of searches to make the prison safer. Please note that efforts are constantly being made to prevent the items from entering the prison,” Prison Director Gladwin Samuels said on Tuesday.

The smuggling of contraband items into prisons remains a pervasive problem within the system.

Nevertheless, authorities have been working to curb the practice, and those efforts have resulted in several prison officers being caught facilitating the illegal trade, which is said to be a “big business”.

In fact, Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, disclosed during a press conference earlier this month that five prison officers have been relieved of their duties after they had been fingered in the May 1, 2018 incident

Some of the illicit items found during the raid at the NA Prison

in which a parcel containing cannabis had been thrown into the Lusignan Prison Holding Bay area. “…We also have five officers who have been interdicted from duty following the May 1 matter at the Holding Bay, where our CCTV footage would have revealed that a number of what is suspected to be contraband items were thrown into the Holding Bay facility… Based on the reviews we would have conducted, it is clear that the officers were working in collusion with each other in order to facilitate the movement of the suspected contraband into the prison,” Samuels explained.

Samuels further dis-

closed that legal advice has been sought from the Director of Public Prosecutions on the way forward; and he has decried the behaviour of such ranks.

“It is quite disturbing!

It is quite embarrassing, to have to face these situations on a daily basis. But this is not a situation whereby the prison administration is failing to act. The reality of it is, despite we would do vetting and so forth, these prison officers are drawn from communities…and for some strange reason, despite they’re given their dos and don’ts, they allow themselves to be sucked into the financial gains that these activities can bring you,” he said.

wednesDAY, JUly 25, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

Greece wildfires: At least 74 dead 2 Mexican as blaze “struck like flamethrower” Journalists killed in separate attacks S urvivors of the wildfires that have killed at least 74 people in Greece have described how they were forced into the sea by a blaze that "struck like a flamethrower".

"The flames were chasing us all the way to the water," said one victim.

Meanwhile, the bodies of 26 adults and children who apparently died hugging each other were found close to the sea.

As the search for missing persons continues, a website has been set up to help relatives trace their loved ones.

Hundreds of firefighters have been battling the flames, which have been fanned by winds of up to 60 miles per hour (100 kilometres per hour) and have devastated the seaside village of Mati, engulfing homes and vehicles.

Mati is located in the Rafina region which is popular with local tourists, es-

T

People attempt to escape the wildfires near the seaside village of Mati

pecially pensioners and children attending holiday camps.

A number of roads and evacuation routes were blocked by fire and footage of motorists escaping the area shows them driving through thick smoke.

One survivor, Nikos Stavrinidis, told ABC News that despite the air-condi-

tioning in his car, he could still feel the heat from outside as he travelled on a highway.

"We were driving along the road going into smoke, then all-of-a-sudden the flames were at the side of the car," he said, adding: "All the houses on the hill beside the highway were completely burnt out."

Dimitri Piros, director of medical services for Ekav, Greece's nationwide ambulance service, told the BBC that people had suffered horrific injuries because of the speed of the fire.

It is Greece's worst fire disaster since 2007, when dozens of people were killed in the southern Peloponnese peninsula. (Excerpt from BBC News)

wo Mexican media workers were murdered in separate attacks, bringing the total number of Journalists killed in Mexico so far in 2018 to at least eight.

Ruben Pat Cauich was shot dead on Tuesday in a south-eastern resort town on Mexico's coast amid increasing violence in the area.

Pat Cauich was the chief of Playa News Aqui y Ahora, a Facebook-based online news site run from Playa del Carmen in the coastal state of Quintana Roo. According to officials, he was shot around 06:00h local time (11:00GMT) outside a bar. Emergency services pronounced him dead upon arriving at the scene.

"Municipal Police have made contact with staff from the Attorney General's office in order to carry out relevant

investigations," Solidaridad municipality said in a statement.

Pat Cauich was the second Playa News journalist killed in less than a month after his colleague, Jose Guadalupe Chan Dzib, was shot dead on June 29.

According to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Pat Cauich had been beaten, detained overnight, and threatened by Police in June.

He often reported on Police and, prior to the detention, had written an article accusing local officers of colluding with a criminal gang.

Pat Cauich's killing came as news emerged on Tuesday that Luis Perez Garcia, an 80-year-old journalist and presenter, had been killed last week. (Excerpt from BBC News)

US to give farmers Laos dam collapse: Many feared dead as floods hit villages US$12B trade war bailout

T

he United States has unveiled a US$12 billion plan aimed at helping US farmers hurt by the intensifying trade war.

The aid is intended to protect the industry as countries raise taxes on US products such as soybeans in response to new Trump Administration tariffs.

The US plans to provide subsidies to farmers and buy unsold crops, among other measures.

President Donald Trump had promised the aid after fierce criticism from farmers, an important part of his support base.

Trump has said his tariffs – which he earlier described in a tweet as "the greatest" – are intended to pressure countries to change their policies toward US exports.

In a speech on Tuesday, he said farmers would be the "biggest beneficiary" of the disputes after countries strike new deals.

But the agriculture industry, which draws about 20 per cent of its income from exports, said the President's approach is hurting demand for its goods and causing long-term damage to relationships with buyers. (Excerpt from BBC News)

A

The surge of water submerged homes and forced villagers to seek safety on roofs

t least 20 people have been killed and more than 100 are missing in flooding following the collapse of an under-construction dam in south-east Laos.

Workers found the hydroelectric dam in Attapeu province was partially damaged on Sunday, and villagers living nearby were evacuated.

The dam collapsed late on Monday,

sending flash floods through six villages.

More than 6600 people have been made homeless, Lao News Agency reported.

Pictures showed villagers and young children stranded on the roofs of submerged houses.

Attapeu is Laos' southernmost province, and borders Cambodia and

Vietnam.

It is known for agriculture, rich trees and wood-based industries – and hydropower is one of its major exports.

The dam that collapsed is part of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric power project, which involves Laotian, Thai and South Korean firms.

The subsidiary dam, known as "Saddle Dam D", was part of a network of two main dams and five subsidiary dams.

SK Engineering & Construction, a South Korean company with a stake in the project, said fractures were first discovered on the dam on Sunday, before it collapsed: Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding, the main Thai stakeholder, said in a statement that the dam "was fractured" after "continuous rainstorm[s]" caused a "high volume of water to flow into the project's reservoir".

As a result, water "leaked to the downstream area and down to Xe-Pian River" about five kilometres (three miles) away, it added. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Israel shoots Nicaragua unrest: Ortega denies down Syrian warplane as Golan responsibility for deaths frontier heats up N

I

srael said it shot down a Syrian warplane that crossed into the occupied Golan Heights on Tuesday, but Damascus said the jet was fired on as it took part in sorties against rebels within Syria.

The incident added new fuel to weeks of tensions over the Golan, a strategic plateau between the two old enemies and where Israel has been on high alert as Syrian Government forces, supported by Russia, close in to re-

gain rebel-held ground.

Israel worries Syrian President Bashar al-Assad may defy a 1974 UN armistice that demilitarised much of the Golan, or let his Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah reinforcements deploy there.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Syrian jet had been in “gross violation of the separation of forces between us and Syria”. Israel “took appropriate action” he said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

icaraguan President Daniel Ortega has reiterated he will serve out his term until 2021, despite more than three months of protests that have seen nearly 300 deaths.

Ortega told Fox News in an interview broadcast on Monday that moving up the elections – a demand of the protesters – would "make things worse".

"We were elected by the voters," said the 72-year-old leader, who has ruled Nicaragua for a total of 22 years since his Sandinista revolution toppled a US-backed dictator in 1979.

"To move up the elections would create instability, insecurity and make things worse," he said.

Ortega and his government have been accused of using heavy-handed tactics to curb the anti-Government

A pro-government student union voiced support for Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega [Oswaldo Rivas/Reuters]

demonstrations. Rights groups said authorities have arbitrarily arrested hundreds of people in its crackdown on the protests.

Ortega also said he was ready to continue a dialogue mediated by the Roman Catholic Church, despite his previous attacks on it. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, july 25, 2018

ARCHIE

ARIES

Look for the positive in

(March 21- whatever situation you face.

April 19) Don’t let anyone put unfair

demands on you or press you to do more than your share.

Socialize with people who share your interests.

Keep moving forward, reTAURUS gardless of what others are (April 20- doing. Problems at home or May 20) with a friend should be looked at seriously. It may be time to reevaluate your current associations.

dilbert

A business trip or educaGEMINI (May 21- tional journey will open your June 20) eyes to a host of new possibilities. Before you leap into action, do your research and fact-checking to ensure success.

Getting along with people and surrounding yourself (June 21- with those you find inspiraJuly 22) tional will make a difference to the outcome of any venture you take on. Personal gains look promising.

CANCER

Peanuts

A clear-cut passage should LEO be your plan. Replace extrav(July 23- agance with moderation, and Aug. 22) irritability with energetic and purposeful plans. Step away from bullies and those who are less than reliable.

Personal change will boost VIRGO your ego and give you the in(Aug. 23clination to socialize and Sept. 22) network more. The people you encounter can help you bring about positive change.

Romance is on the rise.

Calvin and Hobbes

Do something industriLIBRA (Sept. 23- ous. Keep moving and accomOct. 23) plishing to avoid interaction with someone who is prone to complain or ask for too much.

Take care of responsibilities to avoid repercussions.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — LITTORAL (LITTORAL: LIT-er-ul: Of or on a shore, esp. a seashore.)

Average mark 29 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 41 or more words in LITTORAL? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — ABNEGATE

abate abet agate agent agnate ante bane bang bate bean

beat beaten been beet began beget bent beta neat negate

eaten enate gate gene genet gnat tang teen

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

Stick to the basics and SCORPIO rely on past successes to help (Oct. 24you make wise choices. Don’t Nov. 22) let what others do anger you.

Work on personal improvements instead of trying to change others.

Secrets will be reSAGITTARIUS vealed if you aren’t cautious (Nov. 23Dec. 21) when sharing information.

Someone you think you can trust will use persuasive or devious tactics against you.

Don’t be gullible.

solution for last published puzzle

Don’t sit idle, but follow CAPRICORN through with your plans.

(Dec. 22- Changes at home or at work Jan. 19) will lead to greater opportunities and personal gains. Plan to celebrate with someone you love.

Keep a level head when AQUARIUS dealing with people who are (Jan. 20- unpredictable. Taking desperFeb. 19) ate measures when dealing with how you earn your living or how you treat those you work alongside will backfire.

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Participation will keep you in touch with people who can help you bring about positive personal change in your life. Share your intentions and feelings with someone you love.

wednesDAY, JUly 25, 2018

19

CWI opens door for Narine, Pollard and A

return to the West Indies ODI team is a distinct possibility for the Bravo brothers, Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard, following discussions between the players and Cricket West Indies (CWI).

The development could potentially pave the way for the players to be involved in the 2019 World Cup. The development has been aided by a board decision to

Bravo comeback into team

move their next domestic 50over competition to October this year, instead of February 2019 – a switch that means there will be minimal clashes between the Super50 and the various domestic Twenty20 leagues Caribbean stars are such an integral part of.

The players have been asked to play in the Super50, perform and push for a recall.

"The overall message to Pollard,

the Bravo brothers and Narine was 'come and play in the Super50 Cup', so that Courtney [Browne, chairman of selectors] and his selection panel will have all the players in system playing," Board CEO Johnny Grave told ESPNcricinfo.

"This will not only increase the standard and hopefully give the panel a headache, but will help our selectors better gauge and assess our young players

if they're scoring runs against Dwayne Bravo or Sunil in the final overs or getting Darren [Bravo] and Pollard out."

Browne told ESPNcricinfo he was looking forward to seeing the players in action. "It's a very important tournament for us in preparation for the World Cup. People that want to put their names in the hat for consideration would need to play Super50 and perform."

The Windies team could see the return of some of their limited-overs stars

Although far from resolved, this would represent a distinct thaw in the relationship between the Board and players in what has been a difficult year.

It began with Narine, Pollard and Darren Bravo choosing the Pakistan Super League (PSL) over helping West Indies in their World Cup Qualifiers, a decision that left Grave and CWI "hugely disappointed".

Matters escalated in April when the Bravo brothers, Pollard and Narine claimed they were denied an opportunity to help the Caribbean after being ignored for a hurricane relief charity game between West Indies and a World XI side.

Even then, however, Grave had spoken of meeting with the players after the IPL to discuss futures, meetings which have now taken place. This breakthrough of sorts continues Grave’s policy of building bridges with disaffected players. Last year's amnesty resulted in Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels returning to the team, Andre Russell's recent selection into a West Indies squad, improved player contracts and now this olive branch.

"Jimmy Adams [director, cricket operations] and I met with Dwayne, Darren, Pollard and Narine's agent in Trinidad," Grave said. "We met with them individually because they all have different circumstances. I would describe the meetings as positive, as everyone was looking to the future rather than the past.

"We talked through our entire schedule, not just now and to the 2019 World Cup, but also through all the matches and tours scheduled up to the World T20 in Australia 2020.

"We asked the players individually to take time to consider the requirements of Cricket West Indies, where we are going with the teams and how we are looking to prepare for international series.

"We have asked them to send us in writing a summary of their reflections confirming their availability and commitment to play for the Windies in

different formats of the game."

The scheduling switch of the Super50, Grave said, was not aimed at getting the quartet to play, but the result of a holistic review of the domestic system.

"We changed the contractual year to start July 1st, so that the off-season would be April-June when we would do new contracts, appraisals and renewals, while players in the system can do their core conditioning work, as well as obviously have a break," Grave explained.

"So now we start contracts in July and go almost straight into CPL. Hence in the review, it just made sense to continue with white-ball cricket by having the Super50 in November with October to prepare for the change in format.

“Only because we are hosting the ICC Women's World T20 in the Caribbean, it meant moving the Super50 to October for this year."

That switch has coincided with the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) moving to January, instead of its November slot. Grave said CWI had discussions with Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on the matter, as West Indies are due to tour Bangladesh in November.

"It has transpired that the only league we will be clashing with this year is the Afghanistan League, but you are always going to clash with some T20 league whenever you schedule it," Grave said. "But it has potentially fallen at a good time as we used to clash with both the Big Bash and Pakistan Super League.

"We had discussions with BCB around when the BPL would be, as we are touring them in November. We were very clear to them our Super50 was in October and it would be less disruptive for us if the BPL was played in January.

"That's probably the only tactical thing we have done with our schedules to assist players in having this window available to play for us in the Super50." (ESPNcricinfo)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesDAY, JUly 25, 2018

Maxwell “shocked” and “hurt”

by fixing allegations G

lenn Maxwell has spoken about his anger at being linked to allegations of spot-fixing in an investigative documentary, while also revealing he has previously reported suspicious on-field events i n International Premier League (IPL) matches to anti-corruption officials.

An Al Jazeera exploration of corruption in cricket alleged that Australian players were involved in spot-fixing during the 2017 Ranchi Test against India, in which Maxwell made his first Test century after being recalled.

While the documentary did not name Maxwell, match footage included left little doubt that he was one of two Australian players being accused.

Maxwell said he had been informed by Cricket Australia that the documentary was going to air, but was not questioned by anti-corruption officials about allegations of spot-fixing to meet a preplanned number of runs in a "bracket" of overs on the first day of the match.

It is believed that an International Cricket Council (ICC) investigation into the documentary's various allegations is still ongoing, amid haggling between the governing body and the filmmakers over hours of raw footage collected by Al Jazeera. The possibility remains that Maxwell may still be interviewed about Ranchi.

"I was shocked. I was a bit hurt by it as well," Maxwell told SEN Radio. "To have these allegations about your involvement in a game where you've only got happy memories about it, great memories ... I still remember the feeling after hugging Steve Smith after getting my maiden Test hundred.

"To have that tarnished by these allegations was pretty devastating and obviously there's absolutely no truth to it whatsoever. It was 100 per cent unfair; to tarnish one of the best moments of my career was pretty brutal.

"The only thing they could have done worse was tarnish that [2015] World Cup win.

They're two of the best moments of my career. To say I'd done anything untoward in that game, when I'd just finally got back in the Test side –- I'd worked my absolute backside off –- to say I'd do anything to ruin that would be absolutely ridiculous."

The relevant portion of the documentary was sent to Maxwell to view in the days before it went to air. Asked whether he was interviewed by "cricket authorities"

Glenn Maxwell

about the match, Maxwell said he was "told on the phone they were going to air it", but replied "they actually didn't" when queried over whether or not anti-corruption officers from Cricket Australia (CA) or the ICC had formally approached him for questions about the veracity of the allegations.

"If [Al Jazeera] mentioned any names, they would be taken down pretty heavily," Maxwell said. "They didn't mention any specific names, but did basically say the time of the game, which was my involvement. You could see it was the gear that I was using, and there wasn't anyone else using that gear in that game.

That was certainly very hard to take."

Speaking about his involvement in other tournaments, Maxwell indicated it was not uncommon for him to report "anything untoward" to anti-corruption officers. Asked whether he had seen things in overseas Twenty20 leagues that were enough to have his "antennae up", Maxwell replied "100 per cent".

"I've been very honest with them [anti-corruption officers] the whole way through with the IPL," Maxwell said.

"If I've ever seen anything untoward, I always sat down with them, had a long coffee and just talked about everything to make sure nothing ever, ever comes back to me.

"If there's anything slightly amiss, I always give them a call and make sure they have every bit of evidence they can possibly have. There's some things you see in the game of cricket where you're always just a little bit unsure. All the things you do hear in the game, and when it comes out later on, you go, 'Oh, I swear I could have noticed that while I was watching it'.

"It was probably easier when I was Captain and I was able to see the way the game was going, and the instructions that I was giving players, and the way the game was moving, I could actually work it out a little better. There wasn't really anything untoward in the season I was Captain, but you could certainly tell from opposition stuff and that's why I reported certain things." (ESPNcricinfo)

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Chess Openings Cont’d The Danish Gambit

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Heineken Golf tourney set for Saturday

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sports

LGC President Aleem Hussain and Heineken Brand Manager Darshanie Yusuf during the official launch

T

he highly-anticipated Heineken Golf tournament will tee off on Saturday, July 28 following some overtime work by the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) groundsmen.

Unexpected rainfall last week left golfers chomping at the bit as the tournament was postponed at the very last minute. However, with perfect weather expected all week, it is certain that all the top players including defending eight-time Guyana Open Champion Avinash Persaud; former twotime Guyana Open Ladies Champion, Dr Joann Deo; Lusignan Open Champion Papo Haniff and others.

Other high-profile golfers expected to be on show include: LGC President Aleem Hussain, Patrick Prasad, Ian Gouveia, Kassim Khan, Richard Hanif, Paton George and strong challengers from Team Banks DIH, Team Scotiabank, Team Crown Mining, and Team Macorp who will be vying for the top honor.

ANSA McAL is the distributor of Heineken, a global leading beer brand, and has been a staunch supporter of the LGC and the game for more than a decade, and Brand Manager Darshanie Yusuf has pledged the company's continued involvement in the years ahead.

Yusuf expressed her satisfaction at the growth

of the game and the interest it has drawn in recent months. "Golf has become the talk of the town and with the addition of free lessons for beginners and summer programmes for children, we feel that golf will dominate the sports landscape in the years ahead," she said.

The LGC President and members of the Executive Committee expressed their continued gratitude to ANSA McAL, long-time corporate sponsor and active members of the LGC, and stated that without the support of Managing Director Troy Cadogan, a lot of the plans for 2018 would not have been possible.

Trophies for the top two players in each category along with prizes for Best Gross score, Nearest to the Pin and Longest Drive (for which Managing Director Troy Cadogan is a strong contender) will be up for grabs and a variety of prizes will be available for players and spectators throughout the event.

Tee-off time is set for 12:30h, and the public is urged to join the great atmosphere with Team Heineken who will be on hand to encourage the players, give away prizes and promote Heineken drink specials all day long and to make sure that everyone has a grand time.

T

he Danish Gambit is a notoriously wild gambit Jessica Clementson beginning with 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3 The general fact about gambit lines is that the side giving up material is very aggressive in its approach and is looking to cook up something before the position simplifies.

Danish Gambit, in particular, is the one where white aims to quickly develop his minor pieces and generate some sort of an attack on black’s king-side. The main line

proceeds with black accepting the extra pawn, and white recapturing with his knight on b1. Some lines also include declining the gambit, and playing 3…d6/d5/Qe7.

The unsound nature of this gambit was proven using engines, and that is why it isn't played at the top GM level. It became clear that if black plays logically accurate moves against this opening, white’s attack could be easily nullified leaving it with absolutely no compensation for the lost pawn.

However, the Danish Gambit could be a useful weapon against weaker players who fall into the traps that these gambits set out. Also, if there’s some sort of a time constraint, and moves are needed to blitz out, it could potentially work like a charm.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesDAY, JUly 25, 2018

Auto Exhibition returns with “Platinum Auto Expo”

Cyclists gearing up for summer events

T

Flashback! 2017 winners, organisers and family at the 13th Regan Rodrigues Memorial Road Race

M

ainstream auto exhibitions will return to Guyana in a big way as the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club gears up to host its “Platinum Auto Expo” next month.

The lucrative competition will allow for mechanics, technicians, graphic designers and vehicle owners (cars, buses and bikes) to show off their prized and fully decked out vehicles.

Come August 5, vehicles will be judged in various categories such as graphics, face and sound, just to name a few. The competition currently has a total of 27 categories, all of which will have a trophy or cash prize attached for the winners. In the sound department the organisers are contemplating the use of technology over the human ear, so as to

The head table at Tuesday’s launch

make the competition much fairer.

Guyoil, under its Super 95 brand, and ANSA McAL, under its Stag brand, are on board as the major sponsors of the event.

“ANSA MCAL believes in innovation and achieving excellence in anything that we do. As such, we believe that Platinum will deliver an exhibition to the highest standard. We expect that throughout the years there will be an increase in qualitative development within this industry and we look forward to cooperation,” ANSA McAL’s Saekwon McGarrell said.

For other attractions, the event will feature performances by popular entertainers such as “Granny Ivelaw”, “Chiney Man” and “Chow Pow”. Also, several businesses will have their

products and services on display.

The organisers have collaborated with the Malteenoes Sports Club, which is adjacent to the GMR&SC. The grounds of Malteenoes will be used for parking, and the organisers have guaranteed that all security measures are in place for those who wish to utilise the facility.

The registration fee stands at $1500 and interested persons can contact the organisers on 617-2651 or 627-2369 or register at Golyn and Sons.

Registration is currently opened and will remain open until 12:00h on competition day, August 5. Patrons can uplift their tickets at Golyn and Sons locations, A Ally and Son, M&M Snackette and Medicare Pharmacy.

he 15th Seven Seas 11-Stage Cycling Programme, sponsored by Massy and organised by National Coach Hassan Mohammed, will pedal off at the National Park from August 4-15.

Mohammed, the veteran cycling coach, will again help to exhibit Guyana’s vast talent on two wheels with a number of top cyclists billed for the event.

The 2017 edition saw Raul Leal winning the senior 35-lap race while Nigel Duguid emerged winner of the junior 10-lap category.

Meanwhile, the 14th annual Regan Rodrigues Memorial 46-Mile Road Race sponsored by Ricks and Sari Industries will ride off on Sunday, August 5, starting from the West Bank at the Harbour Bridge to Bushy Park and back.

Rodrigues was a former champion motor racer and cyclist as well as a former President of the Guyana Cycling Federation.

Last year’s champ, a top rider in the senior category, Jamaul John will be looking forward to a repeat while junior winner Briton John will also seek to emerge champ as he did last year.

1st CAC 2018 medal: Fernandes and Khalil take bronze

in squash women’s doubles

The Guyanese contingent

T

he dominant duo of Ashley Khalil and Taylor Fernandes created history on Tuesday when they secured Guyana’s first Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games 2018 medal in Barranquilla, Colombia.

Despite not doing so well in their individual matches, Fernandes and Khalil teamed up to form Guyana’s women’s doubles squash team. In their quest to the medal, the dynamic duo defeated Dominique Haywood and Jada Smith-Padmore of Barbados 2-1, but were knocked off the path to the gold medal when they suffered a tough semi-final loss to Maria and Laura Tovar of Colombia.

The men’s squash team also had a bit of luck when they defeated Panama’s team. Jason Ray Khalil had a 3-0 win over Adrian Padro while Seth Sunil experienced the same fortunes

against David Gonzalez.

They are expected to come up against the Jamaican team today. A women’s team will also have a match-up today with Colombia.

Over in the pool, two of Guyana’s athletes swam their hearts out in their two events. Andrew Fowler clocked 27.01s in his 50-metre butterfly event while Jamila Sanmoogan registered 1.03.93 in her 100m freestyle. They will hit the pool again tomorrow for the men’s and women’s 50m freestyle.

In the taekwondo arena, Guyana’s Adrian Spelling missed out with a loss to Mexico’s Bryan Salazar.

After a thrilling victory over the Dominican Republic during the weekend, the national men’s hockey team went into their encounter with Mexico full of confidence, hoping to defeat the bronze medal squad.

In the beginning of the

match-up, Guyana displayed high levels of determination, executing strong defence tactics which surprised the otherwise indestructible Mexican team.

In a twist of fate, Mexico managed to break down the Guyanese defence which set up their first goal from Francisco Aguilar a little before half time. The Mexican team were much better in the second half, registering two more goals, a feat the Guyanese team could not manage.

However, the national team’s semi-final dreams are not over since they still have one more chance to make it. They will compete with Guatemala today, in a deciding game.

On the other hand, the female national hockey team lost their last match to Mexico 2-0 on Wednesday, which means they will not advance out of the pool-play stage.

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, JUly 25, 2018

23

Guptill ready for fresh challenge with the Tridents

M

artin Guptill is getting ready for the upcoming Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), where he will be playing for his new team, the Barbados Tridents. The tournament runs from August 8 to September 16, and Guptill thinks the Tridents are well placed to compete with a new-look squad for 2018.

“I think it’s exciting; there’s some worldclass players in there, both local and international, so I’m looking forward to getting over there. I’ll be batting again with Dwayne Smith, the way it was in Guyana a couple years ago. You know he’s an exciting player who gives the ball a bit of a whack at the top as well. We’ve got some exciting all-rounders with Shakib Al Hasan, Roston Chase also Jason Holder as well, so it is an exciting team to be a part of and I am look-

ing forward to getting over there.”

As well as an opening partnership of Smith and Guptill, there is Hashim Amla in the middle order. Guptill is looking forward to linking up with the South African stroke-maker at this year’s Hero CPL. “I played with Hashim in IPL last year and I got to bat with him in a few games, to watch the master at work down the other end was an experience, and I am looking forward to hopefully batting with him again over at CPL.” Guptill will be playing his home games at Kensington Oval, one of the most famous grounds in world cricket, when the Tridents arrive in Barbados for their five home games between August 25 and September 2. Tickets for all the matches are selling fast and can be purchased at www.cplt20.com.

Hosts looking to tame Tigers under lights W

indies will be eying a rebound win after losing the opener at Providence to a ruthless-looking Bangladesh when the second match, a day-night affair, bowls off on Wednesday afternoon.

Windies were handed their first loss of the tour thanks to Tamim Iqbal’s 10th ODI ton and some top innings from veterans Shakib Al Hasan who hit 97 and wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim who creamed 30 from 10 balls to take the visitors to 279.

Skipper Mashrafe Mortaza and

a good comeback for the home team, as the series progressed.

Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see if the Windies, who left out Guyanese all-rounder Keemo Paul and opener Kieran Powell in the first game, tinker with a possible team change.

Jason Mohamed and Rovman Powell both failed the Windies in the first game as Devendra Bishoo and Alzarri Joseph, a spinner and a fast bowler, ended on 29 each and shared an unbroken half-century stand, which was not enough to save their

Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan will look to replicate their feats from the first ODI

Mustafizur Rahman, who returned to the side, shared six wickets as they blew away the Caribbean side with the Captain bagging four victims. With the historic daynight match just hours away, Windies will quickly need to rebound and regain their momentum from the Tests.

Guyanese Shimron Hetmyer made a gritty top-score of 51 after the second top-scorer Chris Gayle was run out for 40 and the Windies middle-order, which appeared shaky, failed to power their side home.

Skipper Jason Holder, following the loss on Sunday at the post-match press conference, blamed poor fielding among other factors for the loss, but anticipated

team.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, are unlikely to change their winning combination as their side appeared well-balanced in the first game. Their batsman with the exception of Tamim, Shakib and Rahim will now be tasked with showing their skills come match two.

The Tigers will look to keep their momentum and go two up in the three-match series and rebound from the Test series loss while Windies will desperately want to shrug off any remnants of Sunday’s game and get their minds right ahead of the day-nighter set to bowl off from 14:30h on Wednesday, July 25.

“It’s a lovely ground to play. I’ve had a bit of mixed results there, but I’m looking forward to getting there. It is one of the iconic grounds of the West Indies, so I’ve loved playing there in the past with different teams, and to have it as my home ground this year I’m looking forward to getting out there and hopefully showing the home fans what I can do.”

Guptill had been a Guyana Amazon Warriors player since 2013 and he says he has mixed feelings about playing against a franchise that he feels attached to. “Amazon Warriors have been good to me for four years; you know, it’s a fresh start for me this year and it’s kind of good for me in a way, I get to experience different people in a different set-up and I’m looking forward to get-

ting in to it.”

When asked about what makes the Hero CPL so special, Guptill said it was the atmosphere in the Region that makes it a great tournament to be a part of. “I guess it’s the laid-back nature of the Caribbean. The people there make it a lot of fun. You’re not putting too much pressure on yourself when you’re over there – you’re just relaxing and enjoying the experience.”

“I guess you could say it’s one of the nicest places in the world to be playing and to be based on Barbados is pretty cool. I’ve loved every minute of being in Barbados, being there with other teams. so to be there this year and have it as my home base is pretty cool, you know, and, um, can’t wait to get there and get amongst them.”

WEDNesDAY, JUly 25, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Hosts looking to tame Tigers under lights

Pg 23

The spotlight will be on Shimron Hetmyer as he continues his form against Bangladesh

Pg 23

Guptill ready for

fresh challenge with the Tridents

Auto Exhibition returns with "Platinum Auto Expo" Pg 22

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