Guyana Times 27 July 2017

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

Issue No. 3284

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, July 27, 2017

PRICE

Carpenter’s murder PI

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Attorney arrested in action-packed day

Ms Renaissance pageant exemplifies womanhood – President P13

Page 2

Ex-cop freed of Ruby Backdam murder

… as poisoned teenager appears in court Half year report

Forestry sector earns US$19M Page 10

$80 vat included

P8

Vandalised cables

GTT offers $1M reward for information Page 10

Warriors fitness!

Roopnaraine’s rescinded resignation was not WPA decision P9 …will not “weaken party” – Hinds

GCAA launches investigation into fatal plane crash P12

NOC breakout

Escapees rob APNU/AFC P7 MP

Crunch time! Guyana Amazon Warriors got down to business on Wednesday afternoon at the National Stadium, Providence to be in optimum shape for the upcoming Hero Caribbean Premier League (Carl Croker Photo)

Recaptured: Lusignan Prison escapee nabbed in Linden …7 charged, 3 jailed on escaping charges

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…tell court they escaped from pasture not prison

Police kill man mistaken for prison escapee

P7

2 news

thursDAY, july 27, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Carpenter’s murder PI

Attorney arrested in action-packed day … as poisoned teenager appears in court

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he teenager who is the key witness against murder accused Marcus Bisram in the Faiyaz Narinedatt murder trial and who was poisoned turned up at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, but before he could take the stand, he had to leave for medical reasons.

As the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) was about to commence, an attorney was also arrested by the Police for trying to interfere with the course of justice in what could be described as a day of high drama.

Attorney-at-Law Chandra Sohan was taken into custody after State Prosecutor Stacy Goodings accused him of obstructing the course of justice.

Attorney Sohan, who is not on record as represent-

Marcus Bisram

ing the five accused, told the court that two witnesses who had previously testified did indicate to the court that they did not wish to rely on the further statements which they had given to the Police, but on the first set.

Goodings argued that Sohan was not a part of the trial and hence his utter-

ances should not be entertained. However, defence Attorney Sanjeev Datadin reminded the court that all State witnesses have a right to additional legal advice and all Sohan was doing was acting in the interest of the two witnesses.

The two witnesses were initially picked up as suspects along with the five defendants and detained for four days. Sohan is alleging that after four days in custody, they were given statements to sign and were ordered to sign them if they wanted to be released.

In the initial statements, those witnesses claimed that they knew nothing of the murder. The two in question are now witnesses for the State.

Following the intervention by Sohan, he was arrested and taken into custody.

The prosecution is contending that he was trying to persuade one or more witnesses to not tell the truth.

The prosecution is push-

Attorney-at-Law Chandra Sohan

ing to have him charged.

Meanwhile, Attorney-at-law Datadin told the court that he had reviewed a video, which was submitted by one of the persecution’s witnesses and challenged it in court on the grounds of its admis-

sibility. The court is to also look at the video as the PI continues.

The five men charged: Radesh Motie, 39; Diadatt Datt, 18; Harri Paul Parsram, 49; Orlando Dickie and Niran Yacoob 37, are before the court for the November 1, 2016 killing of Faiyaz Narinedatt, a carpenter of Number 70 Village, Corentyne.

The State is contending that Narinedatt was killed and his body was subsequently placed along the Corentyne Highway at Number 70 Village and run over by a car to make it appear as if he was the victim of a hit-and-run accident.

Bisram has since been arrested by law enforce-

ment officials in New York and is being detained pending a hearing in a New York court.

While Bisram’s relatives filled the courtroom, outside family members of the dead carpenter held a peaceful picket calling for justice.

On Wednesday afternoon, habeas corpus proceedings were filed in the High Court in Georgetown for Sohan, who is a former magistrate released on his own recognisance. Following the filing of those proceedings by Attorney Sase Gunraj, the court ordered that the Police produce him at 09:30h today. However, the Police have since released him on his own recognisance.

Taxi driver charged for abducting passenger

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taxi driver was on Wednesday slapped with an abduction charge and taken to appear before Magistrate Fabayo Azore to answer to the charge.

Joel Witter, 26, of Lot Block “Y”, Golden Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), denied committing the act.

The charge against him alleges that on July 19,

2017, at South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, while being in a public place, he was hired by Vanessa Joseph to take her to Providence, EBD, but he took her somewhere else. He was also charged for making sexual advances towards the Virtual Complaint.

The defendant was placed on $25,000 and was scheduled to reappear in court on August 9.

news

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thursDAY, july 27, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, July 26 – 05:00h-06:30h and Thursday, July 27 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, July 26 – 06:00h-07:30h and Thursday, July 27 – 06:40h-08:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Sunny conditions followed by thundery showers and heavy rain showers, with thundery showers returning in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging between Easterly and East Southeasterly from 2.68 metres to 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 06:26h and 18:50h reaching maximum heights of 2.73 metres and 2.62 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 12:24h reaching a minimum height of 0.52 metre.

Recaptured: Lusignan Prison escapee nabbed in Linden …7 charged, 3 jailed on escaping charges …tell court they escaped from pasture not prison

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ome three days after escaping from the Lusignan Prison, murder accused Kendall Skeete was nabbed in Wismar, Linden, on Wednesday morning, now bringing the total of recaptured escapees to eight.

Skeete was found at an abandoned house in Wisroc Housing Scheme, Wismar, at approximately 11:15h on Wednesday.

According to Divisional Commander Fazil Karimbaksh, the Police AntiCrime Squad, acting on confirmed information from its intelligence network, responded and was able to ap-

and on the exterior, there are members of the Guyana Defence Force.

The Guyana Prison Service has come in for harsh criticisms after it was revealed that on the exterior of the prison, there was thick vegetation, which the escapees used to their advantage.

However, the freedom of most of this group of escapees was short-lived as seven of them were recaptured during the course of Monday by ranks of the Joint Services.

They have since been charged and appeared at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, fac-

Sentenced: Jamal Forde

Sentenced: Jamal Joseph

Charged: Odel Roberts

prehend the fugitive without any use of force.

A cordon and search was also conducted on the building where the murder accused was discovered alone. Skeete, who was in prison for the murder of a Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara man back in 2008, has since been transferred back to Georgetown.

Skeete, who hails from Wismar, is believed to have been trying to make his way into the interior.

Commander Karimbaksh noted that Skeete cooperated fully with the Police and confirmed that he indeed escaped from the Lusignan facility.

The 25-year-old murder accused was among 13 inmates, who fled through a hole under the fence at the walled pasture at Lusignan Prison between Sunday night and Monday morning.

While there are three layers of security at the penitentiary, the men were able to escape during the downpour in the wee hours of Sunday.

It was reported that the men escaped from the fenced-in swampy pasture of the Lusignan Prison by digging a hole under the perimeter fence. The hole was about five feet in length and another five feet in depth.

The first layer of security, <<<Guyana Times>>> understands, is the actual prison security, then there are the Police ranks who are overlooking the criminals

ing charges of escaping from

that they escaped from a pasture and not a prison,

arguing that the only reason they did so was because of the conditions they were forced to stay in.

Efforts continue to recapture the remaining five fugitives on the run. Additionally, the Joint Services are also on the hunt for the four inmates who initially escaped from lawful custody on July 9 after staging an attack on correctional officers at the Camp Street Prison and setting the penitentiary alight.

In total, the nine escapees are: Clive Forde, Shawn Harris, Kerry Cromwell, Pascal Smith, Paul Goriah, Mark Royden Durant, Uree Varswyck, Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander, and Cobena Stephens.

Charged: Royan Jones

Charged: Jason Howard

Charged: Teshawn McKenzie

Recaptured: Kendall Skeete

WEDNESDAY, July 26, 2017

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lawful custody.

During the arraignment, three of the men pleaded guilty and were sentenced to one year’s imprisonment.

They are: 22-year-old Jamal Forde, Jamal Joseph and 19-year-old Winston Long.

The presiding Magistrate, Peter Hugh told the men that because they did not waste the court’s time, their sentence was set at the minimum end of the scale and not the three years’ maximum.

Meanwhile, the four other escapees: Teshawn McKenzie, Royan Jones, Jason Howard, and Odel Roberts, pleaded not guilty and they were remanded until their case is called again in August at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.

The men told the court

Sentenced: Winston Long

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thursDAY, july 27, 2017

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

Aggressive Tourism

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he United Nations 70th General Assembly has designated 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

Expressed simply, sustainable tourism can be defined as, “Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.”

The 2017 designation marks a unique opportunity to raise awareness on the contribution of sustainable tourism development among public and private sector decisionmakers and the public, while mobilising all stakeholders to work together in making tourism a catalyst for positive change.

In the context of the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the International Year aims to support a change in policies, business practices and consumer behaviour, towards a more sustainable tourism sector than can contribute to the SDGs. Guyana has, in the past, made significant strides towards the promotion of Sustainable Tourism, and the destination has been recognised for its efforts; Guyana’s Rupununi region had justified the resources poured into its development, as it copped the regional spotlight by winning the 2012 Caribbean Excellence in Sustainable Tourism Award. The award from the Caribbean Tourism Organisation and Travelmole (CTO/ Travelmole) was accepted by Guyana’s Rupununi Learners Inc, for improving the quality of life of the district’s inhabitants.

In 2011, this award was shared by the Surama Eco-Lodge, also located in the North Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo). This tourist destination was recognised by the CTO for harnessing the economic power of the visitor industry in a responsible and sustainable way. The 2011 award was shared with Barbados’ Harrison’s Cave. Guyana’s Karanambu Lodge Inc were among the big winners of the TravelMole 2013 sustainable tourism awards handed out by the CTO. The country, for the second consecutive year, emerged as the big winner, copping three of the six prizes presented. These awards pointed to the hard work and commitment of stakeholders in Guyana and to the policy direction of the Tourism Ministry and Authority.

President Granger, in his remarks at the Annual Awards Dinner of the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana last year, acknowledged that the promotion of eco-tourism would be essential to the enlargement of our national economy over the next two decades and beyond, and he assured that his administration would work towards ensuring that the sector would be developed more deliberately and more methodically over this period.

He emphasised also, that Guyana’s eco-tourism product, however, cannot be developed without improvement in investment, infrastructure and information technology. He therefore called for investment by the private sector to develop more eco-resorts and lodges, and to open new attractions.

He assured that the Government would aggressively court investment for the eco-tourism sector. While there has been private sector investment, the slowdown in the economy has resulted in little returns on those investments and with the added taxes, many companies are grappling with introducing higher rates at the risk of losing business.

Sustainable tourism development requires the informed participation of all relevant stakeholders, as well as strong political leadership to ensure wide participation and consensus building. Achieving sustainable tourism is a continuous process and it requires constant monitoring of impacts, introducing the necessary preventive and/or corrective measures whenever necessary. Clearly, 2017 will be a challenging year and for the Tourism Sector, and as Guyana moves towards a sustainable development path, it will be up to the Government to ensure viable, long-term economic operations, which will provide socio-economic benefits to all stakeholders, which are fairly distributed, and which includes stable employment and income-earning opportunities.

Guyana is set to host the four prestigious Hero Caribbean Premier League games next month. These games will serve as a platform for the promotion of tourism. Guyana will benefit both from both financial and international exposure through these games. It is time we aggressively move towards the promotion of its tourism sector, and move away from simply acknowledging the country’s potential.

The Indian Monument Gardens came alive on Tuesday afternoon with rich Indian cultural dances put on by the ‘Uttar Pradesh Folk Troupe’ out of India. The troupe mesmerised the audience with five splendid dance performances

Romanex defends Marudi mining agreement Dear Editor, Romanex Guyana Exploration Limited would like to point out the inaccuracies contained in the news article carried on July 24 in Guyana Times, titled “Marudi Mining Agreement…bash Natural Resources Ministers for lack of action”.

1) A Mediation Agreement was initiated by the Minister of Natural Resources and was signed by a number of stakeholders in April of 2016. The Agreement was intended to provide small miners, who were working illegally on a property and in an environmentally unacceptable manner and in violation of the mining laws and regulations with an opportunity to work under the Mining Licence Holder – Romanex. It is in fact a ground-breaking approach to incorporate large and small-scale miners as one that could work well if all parties approach it with good faith as intended.

A number of small miners have already taken advantage of this opportunity, whilst others are taking advantage of lapses in enforcement. Certain persons who are also large businessmen in the area seem to have com-

mitted to derail the process in order to further their own agendas while other opportunists are trying to derail the process due to the fact regulated mining requires accountability.

2) Romanex is ready to begin work and indeed has attempted to do so with the start of our Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). We are only awaiting cessation of illegal mining and when that occurs, it will then serve to launch the opportunities for small miners as envisioned under the Mediation Agreement.

Miners who are mining in a lawful manner are not being held back at all by the Ministry, GGMC or Romanex and in the last few months declared production of 910 ozs to the company.

Additionally, Romanex has had to since suspend the ESIA field work due to the continuous non-compliant, environmentally damaging mining activity, which is not conducive to baseline studies. There are areas of the Mining Licence where the miners could work at present and they are well aware of this. It is their decision to work in the illegal and dan-

gerous tunnels.

3) Complaints in the article about Minister Trotman appear to be mischievous and the miners certainly have nothing to complain about with regard to the Minister’s efforts to accommodate their requests. Contrary to what was reported, the GGMC has offered to facilitate the relocation of illegal shops to a landing cleared and prepared

by Romanex at the request of the miners at a public meeting in Lethem in November last. The move is long overdue and has been given multiple extended deadlines by the Ministry, none of which has been adhered to by the miners or shop owners.

4) Romanex is well funded and the statement in the “news article” “financially strapped” is erroneous and mischievous.

5) No workers from Romanex have “not been paid in months”. This statement is patently false and libellous.

6) No Romanex employee or management is a “Facilitator”.

Facilitators are Ministry appointed to attempt to achieve compliance with the Mediation Agreement and the only mining that Romanex has asked

to be stopped is mining that is environmentally unsafe and damaging.

7) Persons identified in the ESIA are not benefiting as they should because of the illegal activities that are preventing the company from moving forward for security and environmental/social impact reasons, including Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and drug sales. Romanex has requested that the miners participate by identifying the “culprits” and requesting they be evicted from the area.

The Ministry of Natural Resources said it is committed to doing what is necessary to ensure that miners have a livelihood and are able to work without compromising the integrity of the environment or infringing upon the rights of communities within mining districts. Romanex is similarly strongly committed and would welcome an early meeting with all stakeholders in the Marudi Mediation Agreement to put an end to these wholly untrue and malicious claims and to move the process forward.

Sincerely, Marshall Mintz Romanex Guyana

Opportunities exist for GuySuCo to have a secure future

Dear Editor, One of the daily newspapers on July 19, 2017 carried a report titled “Berbicians informed of ‘New GuySuCo’ plans for Rose Hall Estate”.

In the report, GuySuCo’s Communication Officer, Ms Audreyanna Thomas is reported, among other things, to have said “that the New GuySuCo will include, the Plantation White, which will be evaluated

to replace the low priced bulk raw sugar”.

After reading the report, I did some research where I learnt that Plantation White is a new form of white sugar, which is produced in a non-traditional manner. My reading also advised me that Plantation White is not a product that has gained much traction, since it is still lacking many characteristics to be considered as White

Sugar in a contemporary sense.

Having had this much information, it is incomprehensible that GuySuCo is going along a path to possibly produce a product, which is not accepted by the market. Furthermore, what is GuySuCo’s contingency should the new Skeldon owner set up a sugar refinery and produce true White Sugar. I recall that the Indian investors who visited the Skeldon factory, ac-

cording to the press, expressed the idea to have a refinery established there.

It is disturbing for me, Editor, that GuySuCo which has so much opportunity for a secure future is just giving it away to foreigners, who will take even more wealth from Guyanese.

Yours sincerely, Patricia Persaud

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GuySuCo policies pushing away workers Dear Editor, The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has followed several press reports, which focused on the various community meetings organised by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) at a number of estates. Those meetings we recognised from the pictures appearing in the media seem to be very poorly attended despite what we understand are great efforts by the management to organise and encourage workers to attend. We wonder whether the Corporation doesn’t find it strange that its highly-marketed encounters see just a handful of workers in attendance.

From all appearances, it seems that the chickens are coming home to roost. The actions of the Corporation in the last two years have not been helpful in maintaining the generally positive relations between GuySuCo and the

workers and their representative organisations. Certainly, workers being forced to work at their 2014 rates of pay in year 2017; or the significant curtailing of their Annual Production Incentive (API) in 2015 and its outright denial in 2016; or certain changes to the Weekly Production Incentive (WPI) scheme significantly restricting workers benefiting from the scheme; or the denial of the opportunity for workers to obtain trade union education or to be granted paid-release to attend their Union’s Congress; or the haughty and arrogant approach taken to their concerns at the workplace, among other things, have all not been helpful in encouraging a positive approach to the industry’s ‘best minds’.

From the press reports, we have recognised that the management continues to lament the turnout of cane cutters, but does not seem to offer any

rationale whatsoever for the situation. Certainly, it seems GuySuCo’s ‘best minds’ are more reactive than proactive.

Though turnout is said to be around 60 per cent, we hasten to ask GuySuCo what percentage of cane cutters qualified for Holiday-with-Pay (HWP) benefit in the 2017 first crop and the 2016 first and second crops. It should be noted that in order for workers to receive this benefit, they (the workers) must work a certain number of days each week or accumulatively over the crop. The sharing of such data we believe would be instructive in bringing greater clarity to the matter.

It is also a known fact that the industry does not offer year-round work. For instance, the 2017 second crop will see estates operating for not more than 16 weeks.

When the first crop, which lasted about 10 weeks, is taken into account, it means that

workers would only be offered in-crop employment for about half of the year. This is a far cry from what prevailed in the past when the two crops lasted about 35 to 38 weeks per year. Even in the cropping period, they are uncertain about the situation they would face when they arrive to work and whether their rights would be respected. The workers, quite obviously, will seek to secure alternative employment in order to augment their incomes and maintain their families.

Undoubtedly workers’ commitment, when taken together with assault on their benefits and threats to their livelihood that they now face, will obviously wane.

This situation is not new or unique to the sugar industry and it is almost like déjà vu. We recall a similar situation prevailed in the latter 1980s and the workers returned to work when their

Gross incompetence at the penitentiaries Dear Editor, In the aftermath of 13 prisoners escaping from the temporary captivity of the Lusignan Prison that reportedly occurred sometime during the night that borders July 23 and 24, the Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, openly accepted responsibility for the incident, but simultaneously bluntly refused to resign. Two weeks preceding this incident, an inferno, caused during a prisoners’ riot, resulted in the decimation of almost the entire Camp Street Prison and the escaping of some eight prisoners, four of whom are still at large, of which one has committed the most heinous crime in the history of this country. Almost a year ago, another conflagration at the Camp Street Prison resulted in 17 prisoners being burnt to death.

These three incidents oc-

curred under the watch of Minister Ramjattan, but he would not consider resignation as an option, since as he said “resignation was not a word which he associates himself with”, and in his adamancy, he further stated: “I am a fighter and will still be here when all is over.” Fine words, indeed.

Editor, when the nation is being gripped with fear and sleeplessness each night, knowing that almost 10 of the most notorious convicts are on the loose, it’s not about Minister Ramjattan expressing his intention that he will not resign. It’s about providing the people of this country with a sense of security and peace, something that he has miserably failed to do in the discharge of his duties.

If Minister Ramjattan really wants to know whether the people of this country wishes for him to remain in his job as

head of national security, then it’s easy. Go for a poll by an independent, impartial pollster, and ask the people to answer a simple question “Do you wish for Khemraj Ramjattan to remain as Minister of Public Security?” Yes or no.

The 13 prisoners that escaped from Lusignan did not adopt anything high-tech on their way to freedom. All they did was burrowing their way in sodden dirt through a hole dug under the concrete wall. Quite reminiscent of Steve McQueen’s classic movie “Great Escape”. With all those visits by those responsible for national security, couldn’t someone envisaged this happening or will there be another Commission

of Inquiry to determine what implements and methodology were used to dig the hole?

Minister Ramjattan said he was “embarrassed” from this incident. The nation has no reason to empathise with him being “embarrassed”, for it has been one mishap after another under his watch.

Editor, with the many former Army and Police Chiefs that make up the senior functionaries of this Government, it is not only an embarrassment, it is gross incompetence that the management of our penitentiaries and their inmates become an elusive responsibility.

Yours sincerely, Selwyn Narinedatt

rates of pay and benefits were aligned with reality in the early 1990s. Even before that, the sugar barons allocated abandoned cane fields to workers to pursue peasant farming in order to assist them during the out-of-crop periods. It is perplexing that the Corporation having recruited in recent times several individuals who were associated with the industry in the pre and post nationalisation period of 1976 have not recognised

this reality and sought to employ corrective measures, but rather they seek to embrace policies that have pushed, and will continue to push, workers away from the sugar company. No wonder, the New GuySuCo Community Outreach Programme is so sparsely attended.

Yours faithfully, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

Heritage Village plans for 2017 totally inconsiderate, unacceptable Dear Editor, The Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana (TAAMOG) is reliably informed that the one-week of Amerindian Heritage celebrations at Heritage Village, Sophia will now only be held for three days (September 1-3, 2017). This is totally inconsiderate and unacceptable since Indigenous peoples from Guyana’s ten administrative regions will converge at Heritage Village to display their products, cuisine, beverages and handicrafts and within three days, many of these items will not be sold out leaving Indigenous vendors and exhibitors at a total loss and disappointed with Amerindian Heritage Month September 2017.

TAAMOG is, therefore, appealing to the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs (MoIPA) to abandon its reckless decision made without consulting Indigenous vendors and instead reschedule Amerindian Heritage Month

September 2017 celebrations at Heritage Village, Sophia from September 1-10, 2017.

In this regard, TAAMOG proposes two simple solutions: (1), the MoIPA manages the Heritage Celebrations at Heritage village from September 13, 2017 and (2), the Indigenous Peoples caucus (NTC& Amerindian organisations) takes over from September 4-10, 2017. If this is not possible with the MoIPA, then another venue will have to be sought.

Amerindian Peoples Heritage Celebrations in September of every year are not about sadness, but joy and happiness in the displaying of their cultural heritage passed down to them by their ancestors. But it seems apparent that the MoIPA is slowly moving away from the culture of Indigenous peoples. Wake up MoIPA! Yours sincerely, Peter Persaud

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Foundation

By Rob Henderson

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he Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget is renowned for his stage theory of development. According to Piaget, children advance through stages of moral reasoning as they mature.

To study moral reasoning, he presented young children with stories. One story was about two characters. One character innocently opens a door and accidentally breaks 15 glasses. A different character attempts to sneak some cookies while his mother isn’t looking and breaks one glass.

Most children said the first character was “naughtier” because he broke more glasses. After collecting many responses to various stories involving morality, Piaget stated that children are unable to take intentions into account when judging the morality of others.

They focus on events, not intentions.

Should Heinz steal the drug?

The psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg also put forth a stage theory of moral development. Kohlberg presented children with moral dilemmas to determine how children think about right and wrong.

For Kohlberg, young children aged 2-10 determine right and wrong by citing punishment or reward. If something brings punishment, it’s bad.

Take the Heinz dilemma, which Kohlberg presented to young children: In Europe, a woman was near death from cancer. One drug might save her, a form of radium that a druggist in the same town had recently discovered. The sick woman’s husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to

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borrow the money, but he could only get together about half of what it cost.

He told the druggist that his wife was dying and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later. But the druggist said, “No.” The husband got desperate and broke into the man’s store to steal the drug for his wife. Should the husband have done that? Why? Most young children said Heinz shouldn’t steal the drug. When asked why, they would give answers like, “He shouldn’t steal the drug because he might get caught and be punished.”

Many responses to such dilemmas strengthened Kohlberg’s stage theory that young children draw on external sources for moral guidance.

Children care about intentions

But more recent research shows that stage theories are misleading. For instance, studies show that if researchers emphasise the intentions of characters throughout a story, along with the help of pictures or toys to help children understand, then children incorporate intentions into their judgments.

One reason why intentions must be emphasised is that it is difficult for children to recall every detail, including intentions, in a scenario. If children are not prompted to recall the intentions behind an individual’s actions, they base their judgments on the most recent feature in a story— the outcome.

But how much do intentions and outcomes matter? Consider the Knobe effect. Research with both children and adults suggest that the judgment of an

intention can change depending on the outcome of an action.

In fact, our beliefs about other people’s intentions changes depending on if the outcome of their action is good or bad. If the side-effect of an action has a bad outcome, both children and adults are more likely to think the person intended to do it.

side effects are intentional? One answer is norm violation.

The philosopher Richard Holton claims that our intuitions about intentions are explained by whether an action violates or upholds a norm. If a norm is violated, we view the action as intentional. But if a norm is upheld, we do not view the action as intentional.

Put differently, we think people effortlessly uphold norms, but make a conscious effort to violate them. One norm in society is to avoid upsetting others. If we do something without caring that it will upset someone, we are violating a norm.

Children are moralists, too

In sum, recent research suggests that children’s moral reasoning is more complex than previously thought. Early studies using moral dilemmas were flawed because of their complexity and a misunderstanding of children’s cognitive capabilities.

When questions are posed in a clear and understandable way, children mirror the adult tendency to weigh both intentions and outcomes in their moral judgments.

Children are moralists just like the rest of us. (psychologytoday.com)

Andy and His Frog

In one study, children aged three to five were told stories where a character’s actions had a good outcome and another character whose actions had a bad outcome. An example: Here is a boy named Andy, and he’s over at his house. And here is a girl named Janine, and she’s over at her house. And look what Andy has with him – he has a frog. Now Andy loves frogs, but Janine hates frogs. Now listen very carefully. Andy knows that Janine hates frogs and that she will be really upset when she will see the frog.

Andy does not care if Janine will get upset. He is going to bring the frog over anyway.

Researchers asked children if Andy intended to make Janine upset. Four and five year olds were more likely to respond “yes.” They also told children another story. This time Andy brings a frog to Janine’s house, knows that “Janine loves frogs” but does not care if Janine will be happy. In this case, children were more likely to say Andy did not intend to make Janine happy.

The morality of side effects

But why are children and adults more likely to say actions with bad

O

ne of the biggest culprits, I believe, of lingering physical effects from childhood abuse is stress.

Children who have been abused experience physical and emotional distress and trauma.

The physical damage may mend and heal, but the emotional reaction to this trauma often remains active and forceful. Fear, uncertainty, anger, and frustration can be the by-products of abuse that don’t fade but instead build over time. A person in constant stress mode sees danger everywhere and security nowhere. A person under stress is a reactive person who may not wait to consider the full situation – a condition of shoot first, ask questions later.

Do you try to forget the abuse you suffered as a child because of how it makes you feel? Does thinking about those times cause your heart to race, your palms to sweat, your hands or feet to tingle? Do you find yourself going into highstress mode even when others don’t exhibit the same level of concern? Do you sometimes feel yourself threatened by circumstances or other people?

Once the danger has passed, is it harder for you than for others to come down from that heightened sense of alert? Does it feel better or safer to be on alert rather than relaxed?

The body’s response to stress is an all-hands-on-deck call to action for physical systems, meant as a short-term answer to danger. Living in stress-mode for the long term creates a physical drain on those systems, which can lead to physiological difficulties later in life.

Working with survivors of childhood abuse, I’ve seen physical conditions I believe are

derived, in part if not all, from a continuation of heightened stress. This belief, which I’ve developed over 30 years of counselling, appears validated by research.

A recent UCLA study published online in 2013 by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that “searchers suggest that toxic childhood stress alters neural responses to stress, boosting the emotional and physical arousal to threat and making it more difficult for that reaction to be shut off.”

Children who have been abused enter a state of stress and distress, which changes the way their brains react to circumstances and stresses later in life. They become hardwired to hyper-react and have a difficult time standing down.

The American Psychological Association lists a cornucopia of negative health effects due to stress, such as muscle tension; headaches; asthma attacks; rapid breathing leading to panic attacks; cardiovascular problems; hypertension; inflammation of the circulatory system; higher cholesterol levels; increased epinephrine and cortisol levels; adrenal fatigue; insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes; heartburn; gastrointestinal distress; irritable bowel syndrome; erectile dysfunction; irregular, painful, or absent menstruation; increased menopausal hot flashes; and reduction in sexual libido.

Because of the close connection between what we experience and how we feel, those who have survived childhood abuse need to be aware of the potential for health problems today to be linked to abuse from the past. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

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thursDAY, july 27, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Police kill man mistaken for prison escapee A

35-year-old father of two is now dead after he was fatally shot by ranks from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) who mistook him for one of the Lusignan Prison escapees. The incident occurred on Tuesday at Doch Four on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).

Dead is Charles “Charlie” Peters of Lot 184 Melanie Damishana, ECD. According to reports around 13:00h on Tuesday, Police on mobile patrol observed Peters walking along the road, so they stopped him and requested he subject himself to a body search.

The Police reported that during the pat-down, the dead man attacked them and as a result, he was shot. <<<Guyana Times>> understands that ranks claimed that the man looked like one of the prison escapees.

The man was rushed to the Enmore Health Clinic and later transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

He subsequently succumbed to his injuries around 01:00h on Wednesday.

Peters’ sister, Vanessa Peters, told this publication that the family received a call informing them of the incident after which they immediately rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

“When we go the Hospital we see he lie down there; the doctor called me and she say that she have to amputate the hand and let I sign and we sign. We deh whole afternoon at the Hospital and when we come home and around 12:00am

(Wednesday), they call we saying that he get a crash, let we come. When we deh like by the road end ‘bout 01:15am she call and say don’t come, he dead,” the grieving woman related.

She said that they were told that her brother was shot by the Police, but the Police were yet to contact them informing them of the incident. She described her brother as a pleasant person and someone who had a clean criminal record.

he was very much mentally stable. His body is in the Georgetown Public Hospital morgue awaiting a post-mortem expected to be conducted on Friday. On Thursday last, Joint Services ranks invaded the home of Constable Carloid Austin and terror-

21:30h, about 60 heavily armed ranks surrounded his home. The ranks began to search the premises while holding the man’s wife and 10-year-old child at gunpoint. Austin was allegedly beaten and sustained several injuries.

NOC breakout

Escapees rob APNU/AFC MP

A

“We want the truth”

Peters’ brother, John, called on the Police to release the information regarding the shooting in its entirety.

“We need to know the truth of everything and we don’t need anybody to lie or cook up anything, because is my small brother, he don’t thief,” John said.

He said that when they visited the Cove and John Police Station to get information regarding the incident, the officer in charge related that C Division (East Coast Demerara) Commander Calvin Brutus would be visiting the family.

“He don’t walk with no knife anything…I am hoping that everything will come out to be the truth,” he added.

When this publication visited the area where Peters was shot, several persons related that the Police had no reason to shoot at the man. An eyewitness (name withheld) related that she saw no reason for the shooting and would have shout-

ised him and his family.

Constable Austin is stationed in the construction unit of the Police Force at Eve Leary and usually goes home to his Powis Crescent home at Amelia Ward, Linden on the weekends.

On Thursday last, around

Charles “Charlie” Peters

ed to the Police not to shoot at the man, since he was known in the community.

“This guy was never a threat for no one even the Police. They already had him; they searched him and they let him go, but one of the Police keep saying that you got to lie down on the floor. The boy jump in the gutter and when he came out of the gutter, all of them start pointing guns at him and say that to lie down on the f*&#ing floor and the guy got up and ran. He like he ran about 10-12 feet from them and they shot him twice,” the woman related.

This newspaper was told that Peters would sell coconuts and frequent the area.

He leaves to mourn his two children, ages 10 and 13, along with his other relatives.

The family related that contrary to media reports that Peters was a “junkie”,

Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) parliamentarian Haimraj Rajkumar was robbed by three juveniles who escaped from the New Opportunity Corps (NOC).

Reports reaching Guyana Times revealed that the three juveniles escaped from the detention centre on July 24.

Following their escape, the youngsters went on a robbery spree.

This publication was told that the escapees broke into Rajkumar’s office at his

Johanna Cecelia residence and carted away clothes, a laptop and fragrances. Following the incident, one of the teens was caught at the back of the MP’s home. Police sources confirmed that the teen admitted that he, along with the two others that escaped from the NOC, robbed the MP, who is also an attorney-at-law. Prior to robbing the MP’s home, the trio robbed other homes in the area. In one instance, they stole clothing from a home in Suddie and charged their attire.

One of the three was being Region 2 MP Haimraj Rajkumar

A section of the New Opportunity Corps

held at NOC awaiting trial for murder. Information revealed that the escapees assaulted one of the guards attached to the institution, and then made their escapes. While one has been nabbed, the two others are on the run. Police in G Division are on the hunt for them.

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thursDAY, july 27, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Ex-cop freed of Ruby Backdam murder

T

he murder trial of former Policeman Ruel Brandon, who was said to have killed an East Bank Essequibo (EBE) seaman nearly two years ago, ended before a High Court judge on Wednesday.

The State had sought to establish culpability for the murder of seaman Davonan Sookram, of Bushy Park, Parika, EBE, whose decomposed body was found on July 31, 2015 in an area along Ruby Backdam, EBE, with two bullet wounds to the head.

However, Brandon’s attorney, Nigel Hughes presented a no-case submission, which was upheld by Justice Nareshwar Harnanan. As such, Brandon was freed into the waiting arms of his wife and other relatives.

Earlier in the trial, the caution statement that

Brandon was said to have given Police was ruled inadmissible. Several of the prosecution’s witnesses had testified in voir dire.

Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh, who had performed the Post Mortem Examination (PME) told the 12-member jury that Sookram died from gunshot injuries to the head and noted that the bullets entered the front of the head and exited through the back of the head. The Pathologist had also estimated that Sookram would have died between 36-48 hours prior to the discovery of his body.

The prosecution had sought to establish that on July 27, 2015 around 15:30h, Brandon had collected Sookram from his home and the man was not seen again. Brandon was accused of the execution-style

Former Policeman Ruel Brandon was acquitted on Wednesday

murder of Sookram which Police said occurred between July 27 and July 31, 2015. Reports at the time stated that the death was the result of a drug deal gone bad.

During the trial last week, a Police Detective

witness had indicated to the jury that on August 3, 2015, he and other ranks, acting on information, went to an auto bodywork shop at Zeelugt, EBE, where the owner, “Paquito” had directed him to a silver-grey motor car employees were working on.

The jury had heard that the PNN 1235 car believed to have been driven

by Brandon had sand, loom and other particles lodged in its upholstery work. At the time of Sookram’s demise, Ruby Backdam was not asphalted. Police said that when found, the car was not dusted for fingerprints as it would have been “contaminated” by that point. State Counsels Siand Dhurjon and Shawnette Austin presented the prosecution’s case in association with Lisa Cave.

Prosecution closes case in Basil Morgan’s murder trial

S

uperintendent of Police, Trevor Reid was the final witness called by the State in the Basil Morgan murder trial at the High Court in Georgetown.

On Wednesday, Reid testified about the investigations that he carried out as an officer within the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in connection with the murder of Woddet Roberts, called “Buck Man”, who was killed during the course of a robbery between November 3 and November 4, 2009.

After the senior Police

rank concluded his testimony, State Counsel Tuanna Hardy closed the prosecution’s case. Morgan was believed to have been part of a gang that carried out several terror-related crimes almost nine years ago which reportedly included the setting fire to a public building – the Supreme Court of Judicature’s Registry Department.

Police also said that Morgan, being part of the gang, robbed and tied up occupants of a Toyota Tacoma vehicle along the LindenSoesdyke Highway and in that process, Roberts was

Accused: Basil Morgan will soon know his fate

killed. However, the State only instituted the murder indictment relevant to the demise of Roberts.

Morgan has denied the murder accusation. He will know his fate soon.

Morgan is being represented by defence counsel Lyndon Amsterdam.

The accused’s alleged accomplices, David Anthony Watson, called “Tupac”; Randy Mars, known as “Ratty”, and Jafar Simpson, were sentenced to 19 years’ imprisonment in April 2017 after pleading guilty to manslaughter for Roberts’ killing. They were additionally sentenced for other terror-related crimes. Meanwhile, gang leader Colin Jones admitted guilt for the 2009 terror acts and was sentenced to 80 years’ imprisonment for the offences he committed between 2009 and 2010.

The case is being presided over by High Court Judge James Bovell-Drakes.

Too much…

Y …money?

our Eyewitness is kinda confused…a bit more than usual, that is!! Here it is, the Government’s taking serious stick from the populace for taxing and VATTING everything not nailed down – AND YET THEY CAN’T SPEND THE MONEY THEY’RE RAKING IN? What’s going on?

Finance Minister Winston Jordan can’t complain about “late budgets”, which his predecessors used to have – but still spent every penny allocated. Jordan insisted on bringing out his budgets so EARLY the departments know what they can spend even before the new year!! But hold it!! Maybe THAT’S the problem??

The poor Dept Heads are harangued so mercilessly to submit their spending estimates early, they had to just pluck numbers from the (thin) air?? Jordan just doesn’t get it, does he? As a “numbers man” from the bowels of the Budget Office, he doesn’t understand a budget isn’t just a matter of allocating numbers. Those numbers have to be realistically articulated with the projects listed on their line items.

If in the three of the Budgets he’s presented up to now, the money just ain’t getting spent, rather than berating his bureaucrats for being late, shouldn’t he have enquired of them where the problem lay? If he’s inviting people just to come and listen to his irrelevant bloviation can he expect them to arrive early – all bright eyed and bushy tailed?? What’s the point of them submitting numbers when they know it’s just “make believe”?

Most of the people from within and without executing bodies, who had the institutional memory and expertise to get projects completed have been removed. Take, for instance, one high-profile project where the money couldn’t be spent – the Indian Arrival monument at Palmyra. The engineering specifications, etc, were already produced as well as contractors who had experience in such structures, identified. Yet a contractor all the way from Linden, with absolutely no experience was selected – and it’s still not clear whether he ever received the engineering plans. Money not spent!

In the pharma area, bids from GPHC and the Health Ministry were solicited and then shelved at least halfa-dozen times during 2016. Resulting in money not being spent in that year – and then in the ‘emergency” created, handed a $605 million contract to a Trini company in 2017!! Your Eyewitness has a bit of advice for the Government in general, and Jordan in particular.

And he won’t even submit a bill for it.

Cut back your taxes. This will leave more money in the hands of the citizenry – and they certainly know how to spend it!

Government spends its budget; citizens pay less taxes – and the economy’s boosted!

Win-win all around.

…Jumpy Police

Guyana’s becoming an increasingly dangerous place to live in. And ironically, it isn’t on account of those escaped, hard-core criminals from Lot 12 Camp Street and more recently, of Lusignan Cow Pasture. It’s the Joint Forces Patrols who seem to have very itchy fingers!

And it ain’t funny. First, there were those bullets fired aback of Port Mourant – all the way in Berbice. Someone claimed to’ve seen a bandit in the backdam, the Joint Forces sprang into action, shots were fired, but as of today – NO ESCAPEE!! But at least nobody got hurt.

Then the action switched back to Demerara after those 13 hard-core inmates slithered out of the Lusignan Cow Pasture!! While seven were nabbed, one innocent man has been shot, another beaten and roughed up, and hundreds harassed at roadblocks.

The worst feature, of all, is men of a certain age and ethnicity are being profiled – and getting the short end of the stick wielded by the Joint Forces.

And the PPP can’t be blamed now, can they?

…pain

Your Eyewitness extends sincerest condolences to Prison Officer Wickham, who was murdered by the escapees, and recently buried. And, of course, to the other Officers chopped. Their families must be rewarded for their sacrifice in the line of duty.

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thursDAY, july 27, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Roopnaraine’s rescinded resignation was not WPA decision

…will not “weaken party” – Hinds

T

he decision taken by Dr Rupert Roopnaraine to rescind his resignation on Wednesday last was not guided by the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Executive Member Dr David Hinds has said.

Dr Roopnaraine’s rescindment occurred three days after he submitted his resignation to President David Granger.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday at Rodney House in Queenstown, Georgetown, Hinds told media operatives that Dr Roopnaraine did not need to consult with the WPA and the decision of whether or not the former Education Minister chose to remain in his position was left solely up to him.

“Our position is that as our representative, we defer to Dr Roopnaraine, we defer to his judgment as to whether he can continue to function in office. He remains our first choice to represent us in Government and we defer to his judgment on whether he

WPA Executive David Hinds

can continue,” Hinds noted.

The WPA member explained that Roopnaraine’s initial reason for submitting a resignation letter was due to his deteriorating health.

“The Government announced that the reason is ill health and we concur. That was the reason we discussed when we met with him to discuss his initial decision to resign.”

Hinds said one of the con-

ditions put forward by the President, which contributed to Dr Roopnaraine remaining in Government, was that he would be given more assistance. He did not specify how different this assistance will be from that he received while at the Education Ministry.

“No, he would not be getting more assistants than other Ministers are getting.

Ministers have a staff; they have Permanent Secretaries, all of those things and they said they would ensure that those things are in place for him, so it is not about any special thing for him; at least that’s not our reading,” he said.

When questioned as to what may have caused the President to convince Dr Roopnaraine to remain in office, and if it may have been because he (the President) was not open to the idea of having someone with a more “forceful or radical” personality, Hinds said he did not have evidence to support that statement.

Minister Dr Rupert Roopnaraine

“We have heard that in the wider society and people are free to make their judgment or the other, but we have not arrived at that position in the party,” the WPA Executive said, while maintaining that the WPA held Dr Roopnaraine as its first choice to represent the party in Parliament and the Government.

Man charged for causing death of reputed wife

A

n East Bank Demerara (EDB) man, who allegedly drove his motorcycle in a dangerous manner and reportedly caused the death of his reputed wife, who was his pillion rider at the time, was on Wednesday charged and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Lawrence McGarrell, 24, of Lot 66 Golden Grove, EBD appeared before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan and Magistrate Sunil Scarce to answer to the seven charges brought against him.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on July 23, 2017 at Providence Public Road, EBD, he rode motorcycle CJ1957 in a manner dangerous to the public thereby

causing the death of Gaitri Sahadeo.

The other six related charges were read by Magistrate Scarce, which stated that on the same day at the same location, the defendant rode without third-party insurance and without a driver’s licence, failed to wear a safety helmet, rode and carried the pillion rider without a safety helmet, rode while under the influence of alcohol and rode the motorcycle without the owner’s consent.

McGarrell was granted bail on the causing death charge in the sum of $100,000 and was scheduled to reappear before Magistrate McLennan on August 9, 2017.

However, he initially pleaded guilty to the other six charges, but when ques-

Dead: Gaitri Sahadeo

tioned by Magistrate Scarce, he explained that he was still mourning his reputed wife and was unable to think clearly. McGarrell further added that he was ap-

pearing in court for the first time and did not fully understand the system and as such, not-guilty pleas were entered on his behalf.

He was granted bail in the sum of $20,000 each for the six charges, and was expected to reappear before Magistrate Scarce on August 8.

Sahadeo, 20, was killed at 00:30h on July 23, 2017 when the motorcycle suffered a blowout.

He was said to be proceeding south along the eastern carriageway when the accident occurred.

Sahadeo, who reportedly sustained injuries to the head, was picked up in an unconscious state and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where she succumbed while being treated.

However, Hinds posited that the former Education Minister’s rescinded resignation did not “weaken the party”. “We do not think that his withdrawal of his resignation weakens us in any way,” he explained, while speculating that Dr Roopnaraine might have considered the President’s request.

Further, Hinds indicated that the issue of the party only holding one position within Government was discussed during a WPA members’ meeting held on Sunday last.

“There are different views in the party as it relates to that and on Sunday, we talked a lot about that. But we are guided by the principle that we are not in politics or in government for the sharing of spoils.”

However, he said that the WPA did recognise the importance of representation in the Government, “because once you’re represented in Government then you have a forum and you have the capacity to influence directly what happens in Government”.

Nevertheless, Hinds told the media that the party has not been “bargaining for any new position”.

Meanwhile, another party executive, Tacuma Ogunseye, expressed “cautious optimism” that the WPA would have greater influence in several Government poli-

cy decisions going forward if regular meetings of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) were held.

The APNU executive, at its meeting last Saturday, July 22, 2017, its first since the May 2015 General and Regional Elections, agreed to meet every two months, but no agenda has yet been made.

Ogunseye said President Granger, in his capacity as APNU Chairman, accepted full responsibility for the failure to hold meetings. On the other hand, Hinds said several grievances were raised at the WPA meeting, but declined to disclose those grievances.

On June 13, 2017, it was announced that Roopnaraine would be removed from his post as Education Minister and reassigned to head the Department of Public Service within the Ministry of the Presidency. While no reason for this relocation was given, many had speculated that it had to do with Roopnaraine’s deteriorating health. However, some days after being reassigned, the Senior Minister refuted those claims, saying that “nothing was wrong with his health”.

Dr Roopnaraine is one of the longest-serving WPA members and has served as one of the leaders of the party, along with founder Dr Walter Rodney, Dr Clive Thomas and Eusi Kwayana.

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thursdAY, july 27, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Vandalised cables

GTT offers $1M reward for information

I

n light of repeated wilful damage to its fibre-optic cable network, GTT has disclosed that the company would be offering $1 million for information that would lead to the incarceration of the vandals.

This was disclosed by GTT Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin Nedd at a press conference at the Public Telecommunications Ministry on Wednesday.

“We hope that with the reward; we get more people coming out to say what they saw that will lead to the conviction of criminal elements and the reward is $1 million,” Nedd stated.

The CEO believes that rogue elements are continually sabotaging the company’s fibre-optic network and noted there were four such instances of sab-

Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes (centre); GTT CEO Justin Nedd (right) and another official

value unlike copper wire, which is often vandalised. He stressed that the vandals “know what they are doing” and added that the damage to the cables was destroying the country’s communications infrastructure and Information Communications Technology (ICT) growth.

“What we have is damage to the nation’s infrastructure by

“All should be allowed to conduct legitimate and responsible business” – Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes otage recorded over the last 10 days. The affected communities included Mahdia, Linden, Mabaruma, Bartica, Kwakwani and Ituni where mobile, and Internet and landline telephone services to over 20,000 homes were disrupted.

Nedd explained that the damaged fibre-optic cables were like pieces of broken glass, which, according to him, have no

criminal-minded organisations or individuals who don’t want to see our country progress. It is clear that we have enemies and having enemies means that we stand up for something. The recent spate of sabotage will only impair ICT growth and growth of Guyana,” the GTT CEO told the media briefing.

Under the nation’s laws, persons who destroy vari-

ous categories of communications equipment are liable to a misdemeanour and can face up to two years in jail. Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes told the media gathering that Government intended to deal with the perpetrators, and noted that more CCTV cameras would be placed in key areas across the country to catch the culprits. She noted that tele-medicine, online-based school projects and the general ability of the public to access online services were all hindered.

“Anybody that is callous and uncaring to cut a cable that prevents people in the event of a personal emergency, who can’t even pick up the phone to make call; students that might be preparing now for mock exams – whatever the scenario is, it is totally unacceptable and we will deal with the perpetrators,” the Minister strongly expressed.

She reiterated that Government would go to the full extent of the law to ensure that the practice was stopped and

she further appealed for fair competition in the sector.

“We will go the full extent of the law. If this happens to be some warped sense of competition, I want to say that in the spirit of fair competition and trade, all should be allowed to conduct legitimate and responsible business,” she noted An active investigation into the destruction is ongoing, but the company maintained its si-

lence on individuals or institutions it possibly suspects of the reported “sabotage”. The company explained that it has spent some $50 million over the last 12 months – money which it said could have gone to improve bandwidth services, but stressed that the damage would not slow its progress.

The hotline number to report vandalism is 0908.

Half year report

Forestry sector earns US$19M

N

atural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman, said that the forestry sector brought in an estimated US$19M in the first half of 2017 adding that it is significantly less owing to the fact that one of the major exporters no longer operates in the industry.

Trotman explained that the sector is going relatively well and that they are on target to bring in good earnings from foreign exchange. He added emphasis is now “on sustainable development, sustainable use of our forest so Guyanese can expect less logs being shipped out.”

The minister explained that the earnings so far are less than previous years because one major exporter no longer operates in the industry. However, he added that local loggers would have to raise the bar not just provide uneven measurements and crude cuts.

Local loggers are also expected to benefit from “the

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

surge in demand” from the Government’s housing programme which is about to come on stream soon. The restriction on the importation of pinewood is also considered as an incentive for local loggers to be more competitive on the local market.

The Minister stressed that the restriction does not mean that pinewood would be banned outright from entering

Guyana.

The Natural Resources Ministry is currently conducting consultations to finalise the National Forest Policy and Statement. Minister Trotman said that these documents are expected to be finalised by September.

“They can help us to formulate policy a little better,” he said.

Efforts are also underway to finalise the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the European Union (EU).

Adherence to the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) would mean greater access to European market for Guyana’s lumber, particularly greenheart. The VPA is expected to be finalized by the end of the year.

The FLEGT system mandates countries to use the Wood Tracking System to tag logs and their stumps so that when it reaches the point of export it could be traced backed to the origin to ensure its legality. continues on page 11

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thursDAY, july 27, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

WPA calls for charges against Donald Rodney to be dropped …urges Govt to accept CoI report

T

he Working People’s Alliance (WPA) is again calling for the State to exonerate Donald Rodney from all charges brought against him in relation to the death of his brother and founder of the party, Dr Walter Rodney.

This call was repeated at a press conference held on Wednesday, when Executive Member of the WPA, Dr David Hinds stated that the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry (CoI) was discussed at a party meeting held on Sunday last, when members called on the executive to address that issue.

Hinds also reminded that the party had passed this resolution before, on June 13, 2017.

Donald Rodney was convicted for being in possession of an explosive device, which killed D. Rodney and served an 18-month sentence. He was reported to have been the person to witness the explosion which killed his brother.

“We are requesting that those charges be withdrawn and the party has mandated us to pursue that matter,” Hinds told media operatives.

Meanwhile, when asked whether the Walter Rodney CoI was discussed at the recent A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) meeting that was called following concerns raised by the WPA, a major party in

Granger “to take the necessary steps to end this chapter of our history”.

Nevertheless, the WPA had urged the President to accept the Walter Rodney CoI report.

The party, a member of the seven-faction APNU, was partly founded by Rodney, a historian and educator, who met his demise some 36 years ago in the bomb blast.

The WPA, since Dr Rodney’s

Donald Rodney

the coalition, WPA Executive Member Tacuma Ogunseye said: “It wasn’t formally raised, but the President (David Granger) in conceding the need to address the various grievances raised by the WPA – when he mandated the person to deal with it, he made it very clear that all the issues and those related to Rodney were up for resolution.”

A CoI had been set up on February 8, 2014 to determine who was responsible for the death of the world-renowned historian by examining the circumstances which led to the bomb blast.

With the submission of a report by the Commission, which did not point to any one person or entity, the WPA called on President

death, had been calling for an investigation into the death of its leader.

Throughout the 17-month long CoI, whose Commissioners included Jamaican Queen’s Counsel Jacqueline SamuelsBrown and Trinidad-based Guyanese Senior Counsel Seenath Jairam, the People’s National Congress had been pointed at as the major player behind Rodney’s death.

The Report stated that given all the relevant facts, events and circumstances

Forestry sector...

The system is not new to Guyana since they have been mandating loggers to tag their produce so they can track them to ensure it is within their licensed agreement.

The EU FLEGT Regulation of 2005 empowers the European Commission to negotiate Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) with timber-exporting countries; under these agreements, VPA part-

ner countries ensure they only export to the EU legal products carrying FLEGT licences.

A Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) is a legally binding trade agreement between the European Union and a timber-producing country outside the EU. The purpose of a VPA is to ensure that timber and timber products exported to the EU come from legal sources.

set out, Commissioners could do nothing else but establish that William Gregory Smith was not acting alone but had the active and full support, participation and encouragement of, and/or was aided and abetted by the Guyana Police Force (GPF); the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) – both agencies of the State – and the political directorate, including Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, in the killing of Dr Rodney.

Rodney, a globally respected political and social

activist, died on June 13, 1980, after a walkie-talkie he was examining exploded in his lap.

It was the theory of those close to the founding WPA leader that the man he had somewhat come to trust, Smith, a then GDF Sergeant and communications expert, had planted an explosive in the device Rodney was expected to test. It was claimed too that the Government of the day, the PNC and its leader, Burnham, had used Smith to carry out the attack.

from page 10

The agreements also help timber-exporting countries stop illegal logging by improving regulation and governance of the forest sector.

For two weeks in June, representatives from government, the private sector, indigenous peoples’ groups and civil society organizations, travelled to regions across the country and gathered views of some 150 stakeholders, who assessed

the main sections of the VPA. Guyana has made substantial progress on its VPA since negotiations began in December 2012.

The VPA aims to address the illegal trade of timber.

Once ratified, the VPA will commit both parties to trade only legal timber and timber products and will cover Guyana’s domestic market as well as its exports to the EU.

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thursDAY, july 27, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

GCAA launches investigation Assassination claim CoI into fatal plane crash Policeman stands

F

ollowing the death of Captain Collin Winston Martin, who died after the aircraft he was piloting crashed at Eteringbang, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has commenced its investigation to ascertain the reason for the deadly accident.

A team from the GCAA travelled into the area on Wednesday to examine the crash site and the mangled aircraft.

Roraima’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Captain Gerry Gouveia when contacted told Guyana Times that he would await the findings of the investigations and could not say what the preliminary assessment of the crash was.

He, however, noted that the GCAA was solely authorised to release any information about the incident. Attempts to contact Director General of the

GCAA, Retired Colonel Egbert Field proved futile.

It was reported that another plane was flying behind Captain Martin’s aircraft and there was no communication of any distress that the veteran pilot might have faced. The other pilot was questioned by the authorities.

Further, while he did not want to speculate, Colonel Field had stated shortly after the incident was reported that the now dead pilot would have made a good judgement call in estimating his approach and he did think that the weather was a problem.

However, in addition to GCAA’s investigation, a probe was also launched

by Accident Investigation Group as well as officials from Roraima Airways.

Martin, a Chief Pilot attached to Roraima Airways, was killed on Tuesday afternoon after the aircraft he was piloting took a nosedive

by his charge recommendations

into thick vegetation around the Eteringbang Airstrip.

The 40-year-old of Lamaha Gardens was alone at the time if the accident. He was reportedly heading to Eteringbang from Ekereku after a day’s work of shuttling fuel. At the time, he was piloting a Britten-Norman Islander aircraft with registration number 8R-GRA.

P

Condolences

Meanwhile, as messages of condolences continued to pour in following the death of the veteran pilot, President David Granger in a statement expressed his sadness upon learning of the passing of Captain Martin.

“Prior to his employment at Roraima Airways, Captain Martin served as a member of the Guyana Defence Force, having joined on March 1, 1995.

He was commissioned as an Officer on November

Dead pilot: Major Collin Winston Martin

12, 1995 and served for 17 years, attaining the rank of Major before retiring on May 4, 2012,” the release stated.

As such, the President extends sincere condolences to the wife of the late pilot – Dr Roberta Martin; his daughter, Rebecca Martin; his mother and other relatives, as well as Captain Gerry Gouveia and the staff of Roraima Airways.

olice Corporal Keon Benjamin of the Criminal Investigation Department Major Crimes Unit told the Commission of Inquiry (CoI), into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger, that he would have written a report recommending false information charges against Andrif Gillard – the man who told Police about the alleged plot.

On March 29, Gillard reported that businessman Nizam Khan offered him $7 million to assassinate President Granger, an allegation which Khan vehe-

various persons and very little action was taken.

Investigations also reveal that there was a burning issue between Gillard and Khan, but Khan for reasons better known to himself never reported it.”

The report, which was read during the CoI, stated, “It is somewhat strange that Andrif have been involved in several encounters with Khan [but] never seen it fit to report it to the Police or indicate to anyone the offer to assassinate the President, Mr David Granger. While on the other hand, Andrif offered to pay Baldeo the sum of

Police Corporal Keon Benjamin

mently denied.

Benjamin told Attorney Christopher Ram, who represents the family of the man accused of making the offer, that he made the recommendation in a report to the Assistant Commissioner with responsibility for law enforcement.

Benjamin, who had played a role in the arrest of the brother of Nizam Khan, had not recalled submitting any report into the matter until CoI Commissioner Paul Slowe, showed the document to him.

Parts of the report made reference to the report from witness Leon Baldeo, who claimed Gillard offered him $50,000 to support his story.

The Corporal was asked to read paragraph 16 of the report which states “… for that facts at hand it is clear that Andrif Gillard’s allegation, which is a serious one, is fictitious and an act of dissatisfaction on the part of the Police at the Golden Grove Police Station, since the records at the station show, that several reports were made at said station by Andrif on

$50,000 to support his unfaithful claims. This, however, got worse when Lloyd Adams, a friend of Andrif, indicated in a statement that Andrif told him via telephone that he was not being truthful. The telephone records clearly and strongly suggested this conversation took place.

Therefore, I strongly suggest that Andrif Gillard be charged with the offence of giving false information to the Police.”

Benjamin said that he stood by the recommendation of the report.

Inspector of Police, Suraj Singh, who was in charge of the Major Crimes Unit for a few days during April while Mitchell Caesar was away, also testified before the Commission.

However, it was determined that Singh’s role was minor in the matter, as he only designated tasks after the file was sent back from the Police’s legal advisor for aspects of the investigation to be completed.

The CoI hearing continues today and the report is expected to be submitted to President Granger on August 18.

news

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thursDAY, july 27, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ms Renaissance pageant exemplifies Linden Mayor raps Central Govt over arbitrary decisions womanhood – President

…calls on Ministries to respect localities

L

inden Mayor Carwyn Holland has expressed grave concern over ongoing construction of several building projects within his community, which he noted was being undertaken through Central Government and various Ministries without any consultation with the Linden

would see is that roads are blocked, people are working, etcetera, and the Council is not informed,” the Mayor said.

He noted that while the Council was not against any form of development within the township, the rule of law must be maintained.

"Not because it is from a

from the municipality, because they say it's (buildings are) either from the Region or Central Government.

Who is really in charge of the township? What are we elected to do? Are we elected to just sit back and watch anything happen and no one answering?” he asked, while stating his belief that

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President David Granger is flanked by contestants of the Ms Renaissance 2017 Pageant

Ongoing construction of a building within the compound of the Charles Roza School of Nursing in Linden

Mayor and Town Council.

Referring to the construction of a building within the compound of the Charles Roza School of Nursing and several others, Holland said these projects were being executed with total disregard for the municipality and municipal laws.

He noted that before such projects were executed, an application was supposed to be made to the Council so that the projects can be approved and overseen by its Buildings Department. He noted, however, that this was not the case with these buildings, and several such buildings, of which the municipality has no record.

Holland said the law applied even to Ministries and it was the Buildings Department which would give the initial green light.

"A lot of times, there are contracts given out from Central [Government] and at the regional level and we are not aware of it. All we

ministry, you show total disregard. We're incensed because our buildings inspector and the Council would have written a letter as it relates to the building going up at the Nursing School and the Council would have enquired about this structure; however, they had a runaround for several months; meanwhile, this building continues to go up...Eventually they're told, it's not being done through Linden, it's being done through Central Government," he said.

Holland further stated that the concern was that the municipality would be unaware of anything in relation to these buildings or if they confirmed to the specified building standards. He said the Buildings Department would have recommended that a cease letter to be sent; however it was met with total disregard.

"The contractors on the ground are very vocal and dismissive with these orders

cohesion starts with simple things such as these.

"I am wondering if the rule of law has changed, whereby projects can just be handed down into a town... if something goes wrong, it's the people who running the Mayor and Town Council that would be blamed...this is wrong and it has to stop.

If we're going to strengthen local governance, we need to start with respecting local governance. We have to put back power in the hands of the people who represent," Holland said.

He went on to state that in many cases, constituency representatives were not informed of developments in their constituencies as he made the call for local organs to be respected and for answers to be provided in relation to these buildings.

"I would like to call on all the Ministries to start respecting the localities and local leaders," Holland maintained.

Outboard engines donated to Indigenous communities

S

everal Indigenous communities have received outboard engines and other equipment, under the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry capital programme.

The Ministry recently presented 40-horsepower outboard engines to St Cuthbert’s Mission /Pakuri, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Siparuta, Region Six (Mahaica-Berbice); and Malali and Hururu in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

In addition to the outboard engines, the Malali community received a solar freezer, musical instruments, a solar panel and agricultural tools, while St Cuthbert’s Missio n benefited from musical instruments and sports gear.

Kangaruma, Region Seven and Kaitapin, Region Eight

Management Development Officer Sharon Hick handing over an outboard engine to Malali Village Toshao Wilbert Hall

(Potaro-Siparuni) also received brush cutters.

Last month, the villages of Yarakita and Sebai, Region One (BarimaWaini), each received a tractor and trailer to boost their agriculture drive.

Masakenari, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) also received a truck, which was acquired under the Community Development Plan (CDP).

The truck will provide a trucking service in Deep South Rupununi.

According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, these initiatives are part of Government’s intention to reduce the culture of dependency within hinterland villages, thereby, creating a sense of economic independence among the Indigenous population.

resident David Granger on Wednesday recognised the Ms Renaissance Pageant as one that exemplifies not only womanhood but the sanctity of motherhood, individuality, and the achievements of women.

The Head of State made these remarks during a courtesy call by the contestants of the Ms Renaissance 2017 Pageant at State House. The Head of State said that given the level of interpersonal violence in the country, the Pageant reinforced the need for women to be more respected in society.

“I do hope that pageants like this one could help to restore respect among our

people, and it has to start in our homes. It starts with the boys; they must learn to respect women and that starts with respecting their mothers. [The pageant] also offers a lesson for young boys when they see women, mature, responsible and beautiful, appearing before them not just as objects of lust or flesh, but as symbols of maturity and what we stand for in Guyana,” President Granger is quoted as saying in a release from the Ministry of the Presidency.

The President said that too many people today resorted to violence easily.

Hence, he is hopeful that a pageant such as the Ms

Renaissance would serve as a positive reinforcement that women should be valued.

Pageant Coordinator Negla Brandis expressed gratitude to the President for accommodating the contestants and offering words of encouragement and advice. A token of appreciation was presented to President Granger, who also presented tokens of his own to the contestants.

The Ms Renaissance 2017 Pageant will be held at the National Cultural Centre on August 19. It caters to women, who are 30 years and older. The Pageant is in its eighth year and is held bi-annually.

14

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, july 27, 2017

News

Hope for The Nation donates medical supplies to Public Health Ministry

T

he charitable organisation Hope for The Nation Foundation on Wednesday donated some $60 million in medical supplies to the Regional Health Services (RHS) Department of the Public Health Ministry.

The supplies included examination gloves, identification wristbands – mother/infant, convertor bouffant caps, foam pitchers, post- partum kits, gauges, disposable nasal masks, and ICU medical 20-drop administration sets.

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence lauded the local organisation for the medical supplies. “While the Government of Guyana continues to prioritise and mandate health care in its budgetary allocation, the donation from the Foundation will make a difference in the quality of health care provided to the people,” the Minister is quoted as saying in a statement from the Ministry.

“This is the type of partnership that the Ministry looks forward to with NGOs and other kind-hearted persons because not only Guyanese come to give back, but other persons come to assist us in one way or the other. It is these gestures that help us to add steps to the ones that have been outlined to us through the budgetary

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence accepts the donation of medical supplies from Otello Perreira. Also in photo are Permanent Secretary Colette Adams and RHS Director, Dr Kay Shako

process. This helps to take us a little further every time,” Lawrence said.

She said the multimillion-dollar gift would aid the Ministry in bridging the gaps in service delivery.

“It is these gestures that help us to see our holes as reachable. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the staff of the Ministry of Public Health, but more so on behalf of the doctors and the nurses and the supportive staff who will feel very happy to ensure that they have lots of equip-

ment and supplies available to them, so that they can be able to carry out their functions,” the Minister said.

The Minister thanked Otello Perreira, Secretary of the Foundation with strong global ties, for reaching out to the Public Health Ministry, noting that the organisation was happy to be a ‘benefactor’ of such items.

Perreira explained that the Foundation was focused on fighting poverty, hunger and diseases, hence collaborations with the Government Ministries and other agencies were vital.

RHS Director, Dr Kay Shako, in an invited comment, said the supplies would be distributed to help alleviate problems in the most problematic areas, cit-

ing that the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the country’s sole referral hospital, which is also a self-operating entity.

“The items will be distributed accordingly to the Suddie Regional Hospital, Region Two; West Demerara Hospital, Region Three and the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, Region Four,” Dr Shako said.

The Hope for the Nation Foundation is a registered non-profit organisation working closely with Cross International, headquartered in the USA, and other charitable global organisations. The Foundation was founded in 2016 by Orin Varasum, a Guyanese by birth who now resides in Florida, USA.

Pre-trial detention

T&T expert continues study on alternative methods

…focuses on reducing prison population, youth detention

W

ith the aim of reducing the population within the local prison system, Trinidadian expert Peter Pursglove, SC, has returned for a second round of consultations this week in an effort to garner the relevant information and data to complete a study on alternatives to pre-trial detention.

Pursglove was contracted under the Government of Guyana and the InterAmerican Development Bank’s Citizen Security Strengthening Programme (CSSP).

The consultant is currently meeting with a number of senior Government functionaries, members of the Judiciary and magistracy, technical officers from

Consultant Peter Pursglove, SC, with members of the Judiciary and the magistracy during one of the sessions with stakeholders

relevant Government departments and Ministries, along with stakeholders from civil society and Non-Governmental Organisations. These meetings started on July 24 and will conclude on July 28.

The study is expected to contribute to a reduction in prison overcrowding and prevent further criminalisation of youths, since it will contribute to the design of a structured pre-trial opportunity programme.

From the consultant’s preliminary consultations with stakeholders, it was recognised that currently there was no structured diversion programme in Guyana and that resources would have to be allocated by Government if such programmes were to be established. However, before proceeding to design and to implement such a programme, it is necessary to gather and analyse the relevant statistical and other types of information available relating to the various offender groups that may be targeted by any diversion programmes.

Among the consultant’s task are: reviewing criminal laws in order to flag for legislative review any offences that need no longer be classified as criminal acts or which may now be decriminalised; collecting and analysing the relevant statistical information relating to the various offender groups that may be targeted by any diversion programmes; and consulting on the possibility of developing a diversion strategy aimed at diverting certain types of offenders out of the criminal justice system.

He will also have to investigate the possibility of establishing a pilot diversion programme for the mentally ill to ensure that offenders with mental health problems who enter the criminal justice system are identified and directed towards appropriate mental health care; examining the prospects of establishing a diversion strategy for alcohol and substance abusers aimed at curbing alcohol and drug-related crime; and exploring possibilities for the use of restorative justice as a diversion mechanism and alternative to imprisonment in respect of matters that would otherwise be subject to criminal sanctions.

Citizen security and crime reduction are leading policy priorities of the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. In this regard, the Government, with assistance from the IDB, has developed a CSSP that focuses on the prevention and reduction of crime and violence, and Public Sector and civil society capacity building. As part of the CSSP, the consultant was hired to conduct research on models and good practices in the field of pre-trial detention and specifically to explore and present alternatives to pre-trial detention that are harmonious with the criminal justice processes in Guyana.

thursDAY, july 27, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

F

r o m t h e doors of her first flower shop in Washington, DC, to her current two locations in her native land, Yasmine Deonauth of Nesha’s Flowerland has been providing beauteous creations of flowers, nature’s jewellery, to lift hearts and spirits for decades.

Her entrepreneurial spirit was evident early on, as she opened Nesha’s, so named because of her mother-inlaw, right after high school in a business space the family owned. “It was right after high school and I was looking for something to do and I decided hey why not open a flower shop in the business place we already had.”

Her inspiration? The

flowe r s her husband would bring her on weekends.

These beautiful blooms were very affordably priced compared to the US$10-US$15 charged for bouquets and Deonauth saw and seized the opportunity to enter the market.

When she remigrated to Guyana, Deonauth decided to set up several ventures outside of a florist shop including wood processing and furniture making operations as well as a farm in Canal Number One Polder, West Bank Demerara. However, after being unable to source reliable labour, she decided to return to flowers and

opened up her first flower shop in Hunter Street, Albouystown. “It was a nice adventure,” she said. “I really liked what I did there, because I introduced so many young people to flowers...”

“Flowers have held various symbolic meanings throughout history, dating back perhaps much longer than the 17th Century. They are still used to communicate feelings much easier than we ourselves might be able to. Indeed, flowers are the quickest way to show that you care,” the business explains on Facebook.

“At Nesha’s Flowerland, we take flowers personally.

Every bouquet, corsage and floral arrangement is made by experts who are passionate about flowers and gift giving. Each arrangement is imbued with an exceptional

Business News

Billion-dollar bitcoin fraud suspect arrested

A

Russian national has been arrested in Greece suspected of being member of a gang that has allegedly laundered billions of dollars using Bitcoin.

Police said 38-year-old Alexander Vinnik was held on a US warrant near the northern city of Thessaloniki.

The gang is believed to have used the digital currency to launder at least US$4 billion over several years.

Vinnik is said to be the "brain" behind the illegal operations. He has so far made no public comments.

Laptops, mobile phones, credit cards and tapes were found in the hotel room in the tourist resort of Halkidiki, where the suspect was arrested.

Local media reports say that Greece will soon begin negotiations with the US about Vinnik's extradition.

Bitcoin is a digital currency that operates completely online.

Each Bitcoin is basically a computer file which is then stored in a "digital wallet" app on a smartphone or computer.

Unlike traditional currencies such as the US dollar, Bitcoin has no central bank and is not backed by any Government. (BBC News)

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana Cur

Buying

Calculated at 94% purity, June 29, 2017

Selling

GBP

$268.83

$272.24

CAN

$164.67

$166.58

USD

$205.98

$208.44

$ 239.79

$242.85

EURO

USD

$1243.50

Gross

$242,626

Net

$225,643

Indicators as on July 26, 2017 Indicators

US$ per barrel

Crude Oil

$50.20

Price

USD

Rough Rice

$269.79/ton

London Sugar

382.00/ton

Live Spot Gold

Change %

+3.19 Change %

+1.01 -2.87 USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1260.40

$1261.40

Low/High

$1243.10

$1264.20

Change

+0.30

+0.02%

Business Concept – Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) Rate of increase in the value of a quantity (such as an investment), compounded over several years. A firm's CAGR, for example, is one of the main numbers tracked by security analysts. (Business Dictionary)

touch and every gift item is hand selected with the special needs of our customers in mind.” Deonauth believes that customer service, as well as quality, is of paramount importance and her advice to would-be entrepreneurs is to ensure you take care of your customers and satisfy their needs. “Money is not everything. Be as nice and pleasant as possible, because if you treat one customer nice,

that person will tell 100 persons and you will always have customers.” With that philosophy, the soft-spoken Deonauth has built Nesha’s Flowerland into a powerhouse of floristry in Guyana, one of the go-to local flower shops, providing beautiful arrangements, from the grand to the simple and elegant, for weddings, birthdays, parties, Valentine’s Day and other special occa-

15

sions or “just because”. Her clientele has stayed loyal and grown through location changes and the destruction of the business by fire, and she recently opened a second location at Guyana’s largest mall, the Giftland complex at Pattensen, Greater Georgetown, which is open until 09:30h for those last-minute flower emergencies. The shop also offers several options, including delivery and ordering on Facebook, to make it easy to get your flowers, which customers are very appreciative of, with one woman raving on Facebook: “I have been receiving flowers from Nesha for over five years now; great flowers, would recommend anyone...

Hubby does overseas purchase ‘n I get it delivered to my address...” You can even choose from a wide variety of vases to hold your bouquets.

Quality, business acumen and great customer service – an unbeatable combination.Contact: 78 Church and Carmichael Streets, Georgetown, (opposite St George's Cathedral); 2273553; Facebook @neshasflowerlandguyana

Investors’ Guide

Wall Street mints records after Fed, strong earnings

U

S stocks climbed modestly on Wednesday to record closing highs after the Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged and strong earnings reports from Boeing and AT&T. The US central bank's statement did not dramatically sway Wall Street's major indexes, which hit alltime peaks on a busy day of corporate earnings reports. A slide in financial shares held back gains for the S&P 500.

As broadly expected by investors, the Fed maintained its benchmark lending rate and said it was continuing the slow path of monetary tightening. It said it expected to start winding down its massive holdings of bonds "relatively soon" in a sign of confidence in the US economy.

"The Fed decision of itself was fairly expected and had no real impact on the market," said Rick Meckler, President of LibertyView Capital Management in Jersey City, New Jersey. "But I think in a broader sense the willingness of the Fed to move cautiously has provided some protection against the market selling off."

The Dow Jones Industrial

Average rose 97.58 points, or 0.45 per cent, to 21,711.01, the S&P 500 gained 0.7 points, or 0.03 per cent, to 2477.83 and the Nasdaq Composite added 10.57 points, or 0.16 per cent, to 6422.75. In its statement following a two-day policy meeting, the Fed's rate-setting committee indicated the economy was growing moderately and job gains had been solid. But it noted that both overall inflation and a measure of underlying price gains had declined and said it would "carefully monitor" price trends. Following the statement, traders' bets that the Fed would raise rates at its December meeting stood at only 38 per cent, according to Thomson Reuters data.

"They are, I don’t want to use the word 'trapped' because the market has kind of bailed them out with one event or another, but they are in a tough spot here for the rest of 2017," said JJ Kinahan, chief market strategist at TD Ameritrade in Chicago. "Even that last hike looks like it might be a difficult one to make."

Financials, which tend to perform better when interest rates rise, ended down 0.6 per cent.

Telecommunications were the best performing

sector, propelled higher by a 5.0-percent gain in AT&T after its results.

Boeing shares soared 9.9 per cent after the plane maker posted quarterly profit and cash flow well ahead of Wall Street estimates. The stock gave the biggest lift to the Dow and the S&P 500.

Facebook Inc surpassed quarterly profit and revenue estimates on Wednesday as the social media giant found more ways to attract advertisers to its mobile app including its centrepiece product, the Facebook News Feed, sending its shares to an alltime high. The company's stock was up 1.6 per cent at US$168.25 after the bell.

Through Wednesday's close, the share price had climbed nearly 44 per cent this year.

Total revenue rose 44.8 per cent to US$9.32 billion, beating the average forecast of US$9.20 billion among analysts tracked by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. With about one-third of the S&P 500 having reported results, earnings are now expected to have climbed 9.9 per cent in the second quarter, up from a projection of an eight-per cent rise at the start of the month, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. (Reuters)

16

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, july 27, 2017

Regional

US sanctions Venezuelan officials, one killed in anti-Maduro strike

T

he Trump Administration imposed sanctions on 13 senior Venezuelan officials as the country’s Opposition launched a two-day strike on Wednesday, heaping pressure on unpopular President Nicolás Maduro to scrap plans for a controversial new congress.

With clashes breaking out in some areas, a 30-yearold man was killed during a protest in the mountainous state of Merida, authorities said.

Venezuela’s long-time ideological foe, the United States opted to sanction the country’s army and police chiefs, the national director of elections, and a vice president of the State oil company for alleged corruption and rights abuses.

But US President Donald Trump spared Venezuela for now from broader sanctions against its vital oil industry, although such actions were still under consideration.

US officials said the individual sanctions aimed

Demonstrators use a tyre on fire to block a street at a rally during a strike called to protest against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s Government in Caracas, Venezuela July 26, 2017

to show Maduro that Washington would make good on a threat of “strong and swift economic actions” if he goes ahead with a vote on Sunday that critics have said would cement dictatorship in the country.

The leftist leader was also feeling the heat at home, where neighbours gathered from dawn across Venezuela

I

portees in our society. We are strengthening the capacity of the local authorities to mainstream migration planning and service provisions,” Montague said.

On the matter of rehabilitation, he said the Government is continuing

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olice in Brazil say one of the child actors from the acclaimed film “City of God” is a suspect in Sunday’s killing of an officer in one of Rio de Janeiro’s shantytowns, or favelas.

Ivan da Silva Martins played a small part as a gang member in the film.

He is now 34 and is thought to control drug trafficking in the Vidigal favela.

The film was released in Brazil in 2002, exposing to the rest of the world the bitter reality of crime, violence

and poverty in Rio’s favelas. Martins was one of many boys and teenagers recruited from the city’s poorest quarters to work as actors in the film.

He is now believed to be feared by the Vidigal community where Police says he is known as Ivan the Terrible.

“City of God” Director Fernando Meirelles said he had gradually lost contact with all the young actors, but told O Globo newspaper that he was “saddened by the news”.

from Reuters)

to put measures in place to reform prisoners and reduce repeat offending, which is currently at 47 per cent.

Montague also said that inmates have been reclassified to separate hardened criminals from low-level offenders. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

The film begins in the early 1960s and follows the life of a young boy who becomes a drug lord in Cidade de Deus (City of God), a favela in the outskirts of Rio. It became a surprise blockbuster and received four Oscar nominations.

Fifteen years later, violence is again on the rise in Brazil, particularly in Rio de Janeiro.

The Policeman shot dead on Sunday, Sergeant Hudson Araujo, was the 91st officer killed this year in the state of Rio. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Barbados PM says he’ll meet with unions, Private Sector, but not in secret

to block roads with rubbish, stones and tape, while many stores remained shut.

“It’s the only way to show we are not with Maduro.

They are few, but they have the weapons and the money,” said decorator Cletsi Xavier, 45, helping block the entrance to a freeway in upscale east Caracas with rope and iron metal sheets. (Excerpt

Prisoners in Jamaica to get conjugal visits but officials getting tougher on jailhouse crime nmates at Jamaica’s jails may soon be allowed conjugal visits.

Minister of National Security Robert Montague did not say when that would begin, but said on Tuesday it would happen under his watch.

“I am determined and insistent that we are going to start conjugal visits and some persons ask me why, but we must treat with (incarcerated persons) in a humane way. A lot of us (say) that we are Christians but true Christianity is when you do for the least amongst us, so we are working on that,” he said.

A conjugal visit is a scheduled period in which an inmate is permitted to have private time with a visitor, usually a legal spouse.

Montague announced the plan to go that route during a presentation at the Jamaica 55 Diaspora Conference on Monday.

He also disclosed that cellphone jammers and security cameras have been reinstalled in the island’s prisons in a bid to reduce criminal activities by inmates.

Additionally, he said, the Ministry is working on the regulatory framework for the deportation policy.

“We are strengthening our emergency safety net by effectively reintegrating de-

Brazil: “City of God” actor wanted for killing Rio Policeman

Prime Minister Freundel Stuart

T

he trade unions and Private Sector will get a meeting with Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, but he has made it clear it will take place in the full glare of the public.

A day after more than 20,000 Barbadians took to the street in a protest march in which the island’s four major trade unions and the Barbados Private Sector

Association (BPSA) were united in their call for dialogue on burdensome tax measures imposed in the Budget earlier this year, Stuart said he would communicate to the social partners when that meeting would take place.

A meeting of the Social Partnership had already been scheduled for August 18, but Stuart did not say

whether he would set an earlier date.

He was clear, however, that it would be no private meeting.

“Whenever that meeting is held, it is not going to be held in secret. It is going to be a nationally televised meeting where Barbadians can hear what the Government is about, what the social partners are about – both the labour movement and the Private Sector,” the Prime Minister said in Parliament Tuesday as he spoke on a resolution table by the Opposition Barbados Labour Party which called on him and his Government to convene a meeting of the Social Partnership.

Opposition Leader Mia Mottley further urged Stuart not to wait until August 18 to meet because the issues require “urgent dialogue”. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Trinidad: Court OKs Caribbean Court of Justice sets 2 death row inmates free CLICO liquidators

T

T

he Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has granted freedom to two Barbadian men who were on death row for a 2006 murder.

The Trinidad-base court quashed the convictions of Vincent Edwards and Richard Haynes, who had been in jail since their arrest in 2007, ruling that they could not be upheld because the only evidence presented by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was insufficient.

The only evidence linking the appellants to the murder was oral confessions they allegedly made to Police Officers in separate interviews at a police station July 19, 2007, almost a year after Alleyne’s shooting death.

Their attorney, Queen’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim, had argued that the evidence was unreliable and, as such, the Judge should have dismissed the case against the appellants.

The CCJ considered

The Caribbean Court of Justice

whether a defendant may be convicted in circumstances where the only evidence against him is a disputed and uncorroborated oral confession allegedly made to investigating police Officers while the accused was in Police custody.

In its judgment, delivered by Justice Winston Anderson, the court acknowledged that prior to the Evidence Act which was passed in 1994, there was case law that supported the position that a man could be convicted of an offence where

the sole evidence against him was an alleged oral confession, provided that the jury was warned that such a conviction may be unsafe. But it also highlighted that the purpose of the Evidence Act was “to reform the law relating to evidence in proceedings in courts” and to apply “standards that are more stringent than the common law, [compel] the judiciary to be guided by fresh approaches and [require] the executive to make available to the police new technologies”.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

he Trinidadian Government has won its bid to appoint a pair of provisional liquidators for CL Financial (CLF).

Delivering an oral judgement at the Hall of Justice, Port-of-Spain, Tuesday evening, Appellate Judges Peter Rajkumar, Charmaine Pemberton and Andre Des Vignes reversed the decision of High Court Judge Kevin Ramcharan, who had rejected the Government’s application last week.

As part of its ruling, the court allowed the Government’s lawyers and those for a group of shareholders opposed to the move to wind up the company, to determine the remit of the liquidators.

The liquidators selected by the Government are Hugh Dickson and Marcus Wide of international accounting firm Grant Thornton.

In their discussions, head of the State’s legal team Deborah Peake, SC, explained that the provi-

sional liquidators will have less power than traditional liquidators, as they were merely hired to assess the company’s assets and ensure they are not disposed of pending the determination of the petition to wind up the company.

If successful with the petition, which is also before Ramcharan, the Government will then be able to appoint traditional liquidators who would seek to sell the company’s assets in order to repay Government its remaining TT$15 billion debt and the debts owed to other creditors. Under the agreement, almost all of the decisions of the provisional liquidators will have to be approved by the court.

At the start of the hearing, the shareholders sought to withdraw their move to retake control of the company’s board, which was the catalyst for the Government’s action in making the winding up petition. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

thursDAY, july 27, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

Trump: Transgender people Pakistani Police arrest “can’t serve” in US military 20 for ordering

U

nited States President Donald Trump says transgender people cannot serve in “any capacity” in the military.

He tweeted that he had consulted with military experts and cited “tremendous medical costs and disruption”.

The Obama Administration decided last year to allow transgender people to serve openly in the military.

But in June, Defence Secretary James Mattis agreed to a six-month delay in the recruitment of transgender people.

As is often the case, the announcement came in a series of tweets.

Trump said: “After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government

will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the US Military.

“Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with

the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.”

But the measure will not go into effect immediately, as spokesperson Sarah Sanders told reporters at a White House press briefing.

The implementation policy has to be worked out, she said when asked if troops on battlefields would be immediately sent back to the United States.

This was “a military decision” said Sanders, adding that it is “not meant to be anything more than that”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Obamacare: First Republican healthcare bill fails in US Senate

T

he US Senate has rejected a Republican plan to replace President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare policy.

The 57-43 vote defeat marks the start of a dayslong debate on a sweeping overhaul that critics fear could deny healthcare to millions of Americans.

The Better Care Reconciliation Act (BRCA)

was crafted over two months but attention now turns to other options.

President Donald Trump has urged Senators to pass a bill, without indicating which one he supports.

A repeal-only bill, which would consign so-called Obamacare to history in two years, to give time to Republicans to devise a replacement, could be debated

and voted on next.

But that measure – which non-partisan analysts say will take health insurance from more than 30 million people – has already failed to win enough support in the Republican party.

Other attempts to replace Obamacare have collapsed in recent weeks due to divisions in the party.

President Trump had

made scrapping the policy a key campaign pledge. He says the system is “torturing” Americans.

He secured a victory on Tuesday when the Senate agreed to allow the debate on health care legislation reform to go forward, but only after Republican VicePresident Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote in support of the bill. (Excerpt from BBC News)

France wildfires force UN report accuses Saudi coalition of deadly migrant mass evacuation

‘revenge rape’

P

akistani Police have arrested 20 people in Punjab province accused of organising a village council that ordered a man to rape a 16-year-old girl in revenge for the earlier rape of his sister, according to officials.

The suspects were arrested from near the central city of Multan on Wednesday, and a hunt for seven more suspects was under way, Malik Rashid, the local Police official heading the investigation, told Al Jazeera.

“It was not a formal village council, like has happened in the past,” he said.

“It was just a gathering of uncles and aunts [of the first victim] from that village, in the same area.”

Cases had been registered regarding the two rapes, he confirmed.

The maximum pun-

ishment for rape under Pakistani law is the death penalty. Alternately, convicts may face imprisonment of up to 25 years.

The suspects were arrested from near the central city of Multan on Wednesday.

On July 16, a 12-year-old girl was raped while working in the family fields just south of Multan, according to one of the police reports.

Following that attack, members of the victim’s family gathered together and resolved to rape a member of the alleged attacker’s family in revenge, said Rashid.

“On the night of July 18, 2017 at about 2am I was sleeping with my children in my house when [...] my 16-year-old daughter was taken away [by three men],” said the second victim’s mother in a police report.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Russia, EU bristle at proposed new US sanctions on Moscow, warn of action

boat attack off Yemen

U

nited Nations investigators accused a Saudi Arabia-led military coalition of carrying out a deadly March attack on a Somali migrant boat off Yemen and said the alliance had become a cover for some states to avoid individual blame, according to a confidential report seen by Reuters on Wednesday.

the more than 140 people onboard.

“This civilian vessel was almost certainly attacked using a 7.62 mm calibre weapon from an armed utility helicopter,” the investigators, who monitor sanctions in Yemen, wrote in a 185-page report to the UN Security Council on Monday.

“The Saudi Arabia led

“We’re still not out of the woods yet” – a tourist who witnessed the wildfires

W

ildfires in south-eastern France have forced the evacuation of 10,000 people overnight, officials say.

Hundreds of firefighters have been deployed to battle the fires near Bormesles-Mimosas, in the country’s Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.

France earlier asked its European Union neighbours for more help fighting the fires.

Some 4000 hectares (15.4 sq miles) of land have burned along the Mediterranean coast, in the mountainous interior and on the island of Corsica.

“The evacuations, at least 10,000, followed the progres-

sion of the fire,” a fire official was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.

“It’s an area that doubles or triples its population in summer,” the official added.

One of the worst fires is raging in an area near the popular resort of SaintTropez.

In Corsica, hundreds of homes have been evacuated.

Overall, more than 4000 firefighters and troops backed by water bombers have been trying to extinguish the flames since Monday.

At least 12 firefighters have been injured and 15 Police Officers affected by smoke inhalation, officials say. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Somali refugees who survived an attack on a boat off Yemen’s coast in the Red Sea hug each other as they sit at a detention centre in the Houthi-held port of Hodeidah, Yemen, March 22, 2017

The coalition fighting the Iran-allied Houthi militia in Yemen has denied striking the boat in the Red Sea near the port of Hodeidah. The investigators said the attack killed 42 people and injured 34 of

coalition forces are the only parties to the conflict that have the capability to operate armed utility helicopters in the area,” the report said. It said the helicopter was likely operating from a naval vessel. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Russia President Vladimir Putin

R

ussia warned it was edging closer to retaliation against Washington after the House of Representatives backed new US sanctions on Moscow, while the European Union said the move might affect its energy security and it stood ready to act too.

The lower House of the US Congress overwhelmingly voted to impose new sanctions on Moscow on Tuesday and to force President Donald Trump to obtain lawmakers’ permission before easing any punitive measures on Russia.

“This is rather sad news from the point of view of Russia-US ties,” said Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman. “We are talking about an extremely unfriendly act.”

He said President Vladimir Putin would decide if and how Moscow would retaliate once the fresh sanctions became

law, while Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister warned the move was taking bilateral relations into uncharted waters, killing off any hope of improving them in the near future.

The sanctions still need to be approved by the Senate and by President Donald Trump himself.

But Bob Corker, Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on Wednesday the measure was likely to become law “very, very soon”.

Trump, who has found his presidency embroiled in a distracting row over his associates’ alleged ties to Moscow and is on the defensive over accusations Moscow helped him win election last year, has said he wants to mend relations with Russia that are languishing at a post-Cold War low.

Trump denies any collusion between his campaign and Russia. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, july 27, 2017

ARCHIE

Partnership prospects are apparent, but before you get (March 21- involved, question the value April 19) of the connection and how equitable you feel it would be.

Don’t let anyone take advantage of you.

ARIES

Mix and mingle.

TAURUS Communication will lead to (April 20- new friends and opportuniMay 20) ties. Short trips or educational pursuits are favored. Don’t get frustrated and angry when you should get moving.

dilbert

You’ll be tempted by GEMINI (May 21- someone pushing an idea, inJune 20) vestment or financial package your way. Consider the motives behind the offer before you make a commitment.

Don’t let emotions intervene.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Make alterations to the way you live or to your home, but stick to a set budget.

Don’t let an emotional matter convince you to pay for someone else.

Don’t miss out just because someone is putting demands on your time. Take care of your responsibilities so that you can do the things that you enjoy.

You’ll be faced with a deVIRGO (Aug. 23- cision that will affect your Sept. 22) personal or professional life.

Consider what needs to be done and use diplomacy to find a suitable solution.

A sensitive situation will LIBRA mount if you don’t clear the (Sept. 23air.

Communicating honestly Oct. 23) and observing body language will make it easier for you to know your options and bring about change.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Listen carefully and don’t SCORPIO form opinions until you have (Oct. 24all the facts. Acting on an asNov. 22) sumption will get you into trouble. Take precautions while traveling or discussing religious or political concerns.

A deal will excite you. Get SAGITTARIUS the facts and consider the (Nov. 23- odds. Don’t take a risk. Get Dec. 21) all the details and make a calculated choice based on facts, figures and economic trends.

Partnerships will need CAPRICORN a little tweaking if expecta(Dec. 22- tions are not being met. Talks Jan. 19) may not be easy, but they will be necessary.

solution for Last Published Puzzle A moneymaking opportuAQUARIUS nity looks good. Explore your (Jan. 20- options and consider all the Feb. 19) angles that will ensure your success. Get the most for the least by focusing on what’s important.

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

Keep a clear head when PISCES dealing with peers. Pick your (Feb. 20March 20) side of any debate carefully.

High energy and enthusiasm will be signs of promise and opportunity.

thursDAY, july 27, 2017

Hamilton

can equal F1 pole B record in Hungary

Lewis Hamilton

I

f all goes to plan for Lewis Hamilton in Hungary this weekend, the Mercedes driver will equal one of Michael Schumacher’s alltime records and head into Formula One’s summer break as sole leader of the championship.

Hamilton remains a long way off Schumacher’s record 91 race wins but Saturday’s qualifying at the Hungaroring could see him equal the great German’s hitherto unmatched 68 pole positions.

A 58th career win for the Briton, and sixth at the circuit outside Budapest, on Sunday would send the triple world champion off on vacation with at least a six-point advantage over Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.

Four-times champion Vettel has led since winning the Australian season-opener in March, jointly with Hamilton after China, but the German arrives in Hungary only a point clear after 10 of 20 races.

Hamilton, beaten by now-retired team mate Nico Rosberg to the 2016 title, but winner in Hungary, has not led the championship on his own since last September but has the momentum after a crushing home victory at Silverstone.

“There’s lots more things that can come up in the future but I think the team’s really energised,” he said after winning from a career 67th pole position, adding that Mercedes had “absorbed all the energy” from the fans at Silverstone.

“So I hope we can take that into the next races.”

Mercedes are 55 points clear of Ferrari in the constructors’ standings but team boss Toto Wolff was wary of suggesting the champions were the favourites again rather than being the ‘underdogs’ he had talked of after Monaco.

“The moment you say

that, you go to the next race and are slapped in the face,” the Austrian told reporters.

“It is tricky. Our car is not always easy to set up and we have become much better at doing so in a great team effort.

“But I’d like to see Budapest and how the car works on a low speed, high temperature track and then maybe have a more complete picture.”

Minimise Mistakes

With 250 points still to be won in the drivers’ championship, Wolff said it was too early to pick a favourite.

The key, he said, was to extract every inch of performance and minimise mistakes, mindful that Russia and Monaco had not worked out for Hamilton despite every expectation of success.

“With these new regulations it’s not set in stone that it works like it has done in the past,” said Wolff.

“Going into the summer break with a lead is nice.

But there was a very famous Austrian skier who was always sector world champion but never won the championship.

“So I’d like to have the gap (lead) before the holiday, but it doesn’t mean anything for the world championship.”

For Vettel, Hungary is a chance to rebuild his advantage at a track that also holds good recent memories -- in 2015 the Ferrari driver won after Hamilton started on pole.

Finnish team mate Kimi Raikkonen, for whom Budapest is almost a home race, and compatriot Valtteri Bottas in the Mercedes will also be strong contenders, as will Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo.

“I love that track and it has always been a good one forme,” said Ricciardo, who won in 2014. “We’ve got lots more grip this year so it’ll be a bit more fun.” (Reuters)

arcelona striker Neymar has been cleared of any criminal charges in a long-running tax evasion case in Brazil, a Brazilian court said on Wednesday.

A judge in Sao Paulo said there was a “lack of just cause” in the case that alleged he underpaid income tax between 2011 and 2014.

Neymar’s father and agent said Wednesday’s decision was a major victory.

“It is with great happiness that we received the news of the shelving of the Public Ministry’s case of tax evasion,” Neymar Snr. said in a statement sent to Reuters.

“The process is officially closed (and) that proves the legality of all our acts.”

Neymar could still, however, have to pay substantial sums to Brazil’s tax office.

Brazil’s federal tax office charged Neymar in 2015 with evading 63 million reais ($19.94 million) in taxes due on income earned from the Santos and Barcelona soccer clubs and sponsors between 2011 and 2014.

Neymar appealed last year and a court ruling in

his favour in March halved the penalty of 200 million reais in fines, back-taxes and interest that Brazil’s tax office had slapped on the player.

This was separate to the criminal prosecution brought by federal prosecutors, which has now been shelved.

“These were four years of unfounded accusations that me, my family and the employees of my companies suffered through, in every possible way,” Neymar’s father said in his statement.

“Although many people doubted it, there is justice in our country. Charge by charge, one after the other, they were knocked down by our defence, leaving it explicitly clear that we did not avoid paying one cent of tax.

“I hope we can now concentrate on our work and that my family has the peace it deserves.”

Neymar’s future on the pitch is the subject of speculation, with the player linked in Spanish, French and Brazilian media with a transfer to Paris St Germain.

Neymar, an idol in Brazil who led the Olympic team to glory at the 2016 Rio Games, said last week

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior has been cleared of any criminal charges in a long-running tax evasion case in Brazil

he was happy at Barcelona but he has yet to state definitively where he will play next season.

Widely considered the outstanding player of his generation in Brazil, Neymar led Santos to the Libertadores Cup for the first time since Pele played for the club.

He then moved to Barcelona in 2013 where he has formed one of the most deadly forward lines in football alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

He is currently on a pre-season tour with Barcelona, where he has won two La Liga titles and a Champions League, in the United States and is expected to play in Wednesday’s match against Manchester United in Maryland. (Reuters)

Monaco in talks for contract extension with £160M striker Mbappe M

onaco are in talks with 18-yearold France striker Kylian Mbappe over a contract extension, says vice-president Vadim Vasilyev.

Mbappe, who is under contract until June 2019, has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid.

Manchester City have also been linked, but BBC Sport understands they are reluctant to pay the reported 180m euro (£160m) asking price.

Vasilyev said the Ligue 1 club Monaco have had several “serious” enquiries.

But he added: “We are in discussions over a contract extension with Kylian and we hope to reach an agreement.”

Mbappe, who has won four caps for France, scored 26 goals in all competitions for Monaco last season.

Earlier in July, Monaco said “important European clubs” had made contact with the player without their permission.

Monaco may ask world governing body Fifa and the French league to consider disciplinary action, but Fifa said it has not received a complaint.

BBC Sport understands Manchester City are the only English club accused.

“We haven’t reached an agreement with any club for Mbappe,” Vasilyev said.

“We are negotiating to extend his contract but you mustn’t push the player too

19

Kylian Mbappe scored 26 goals in 44 games for Monaco last season, providing 14 assists

hard. We must allow him to take his time, not rush things.

“There is too much media pressure. I remind you he’s only 18.”

Vasilyev also described Thomas Lemar, a key target for Arsenal, and Fabinho, who has been linked with Manchester United, as “essential” players who are “staying with us”.

Reggae Boyz want to make history – Lawrence

A

fter striking for one of the most important goals in Jamaican soccer history, Kemar Lawrence was in no mood to celebrate.

Immediately after taking a 1-0 lead in the 88th minute of the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals at the Rose Bowl on Sunday night, the Reggae Boyz huddled together for a few seconds prior to Mexico restarting play.

“I reminded the guys that the game is not finished yet and we needed to see this game out,” Lawrence said about the brief meeting.

Jamaica did and booked berth against the United States in Wednesday’s final at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

That’s Kemar Lawrence – all business. Midfielder Michael Binns was ready to take the 24yard free kick, but there was an intervention. “I stepped back and it was like God spoke to me and said, ‘Kemar, go and kick the ball’,” said Lawrence. “I just said to Binns, ‘I want to kick it’ and he’s like, ‘All right.’ “ Goalkeeper Andre Blake, whose seven saves buoyed Jamaica, watched it all unfold.

“I had perfect view,” he stated. “It was a great shot, a great moment. I’m very happy for the kid. He stepped up in a big moment when we needed someone to make a play for us.”

Lawrence dedicated the goal to his late grandmother Norma Seymour, who passed away in March at 60-years-old. “After the goal that was all I thought about -- my grandmother,” expressed the New York Red Bulls star. “Just wish she was there to see that moment.”

A day after his heroics, Lawrence was looking forward, not backward. “The guys had some laughter last night,” he concluded. “That’s all over now. We know the goal at hand. We know what we want to do and we want to make history. There is only one way to do that and that’s beating the USA.”

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursdAY, july 27, 2017

Dhawan, Pujara make Djokovic Sri Lanka suffer will not play again

S

hikhar Dhawan made a majestic quick-fire 190 off only 168 balls and Cheteshwar Pujara also scored a century as India dominated Sri Lanka.

Shikhar Dhawan made his highest Test score with a rapid century and Cheteshwar Pujara also scored a magnificent hundred as India piled on the runs on a painful first day of the series for Sri Lanka.

Dhawan was only brought into the squad after Murali Vijay was ruled out of the tour due to a wrist injury and the left-hander grasped his opportunity in style on day one in Galle.

The destructive opener – playing his first Test this year – made a brilliant 190

SCOREBOARD India 1st Innings S Dhawan c Mathews b Pradeep 190 A Mukund c †Dickwella b Pradeep 12 C Pujara not out 144 V Kohli (c) c †Dickwella b Pradeep 3 A Rahane not out 39 Extras: (w 4, nb 3, lb 4) 11 TOTAL: for 3 (90 Overs) 399 Yet to bat: UT Yadav, HH Pandya, WP Saha †, R Ashwin, RA Jadeja, Mohammed Shami Bowling : N Pradeep 18-1-643, Kumara 16-0-95-0, D Perera 25-1-103-0, Herath 24-4-92-0, Gunathilaka 7-0-41-0 FoW: 1-27 (A Mukund, 7.3 ov), 2-280 (S Dhawan, 54.1 ov), 3-286 (V Kohli, 56.4 ov) Sri Lanka XI: U Tharanga, D Karunaratne, K Mendis, D Gunathilaka, A Manthews, Asela Gunaratne, N Dickwella (wk), 8 D Perera, 9 R Herath (capt), 10 N Pradeep, 11 L Kumara

off only 168 balls and the classy Pujara was still there

T

Shikhar Dhawan and Pujara added 253 runs for the second wicket

on 144 when India closed on 399-3, Nuwan Pradeep taking all three wickets.

Dhawan was dropped on 31 by Asela Gunaratne, who could miss the rest of the series after fracturing his thumb while attempting to cling on at second slip, and went on to score a fifth Test hundred.

The powerful Dhawan added insult to injury, scoring 126 runs in a punishing afternoon session for Sri Lanka, and the prolific Pujara cashed in on a flat pitch with another exquisite innings as the tourists made their second-highest score on day one of a Test.

Abhinav Mukund got his chance at the top of the order in the absence of the unwell KL Rahul, but fell cheaply when he edged Pradeep (3-64) behind after Virat Kohli won the toss.

Dhawan was given a lifeline when he put down by Gunaratne, who was left in agony as his participation in this match at the very least came to a premature end.

The aggressive Dhawan was in one-day mode, using his feet superbly and was unbeaten on 64 to take the top-ranked side on to 115-1 at lunch, with Pujara looking ominously untroubled.

Dhawan cut loose after the interval, demonstrating the full range of strokes he has in his repertoire as the runs came all too easily, and Pujara was also in majestic touch.

A sweep for four took Dhawan to three figures, almost two years after his previous Test century at the same venue, and Pujara continued to show great timing as he eased to 50.

Sri Lanka’s stand-in cap-

tain Rangana Herath looked short of ideas with the free-scoring Dhawan in such imperious touch, but after hitting 31 boundaries in a stunning knock, the opener gave it away by driving Pradeep to Angelo Mathews at mid-off just before tea to end a stand of 253.

Kohli was given out caught behind for only three attempting to hook Pradeep following a successful review from Herath, but Pujara made Sri Lanka suffer and raised his bat to celebrate yet another hundred after finding a leg-side gap to pick up two.

Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane (39 not out) added 113 for the fourth wicket by the time India – who handed a debut to Hardik Pandya – closed in a commanding position. (Sportsmax)

in 2017

welve-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic will not play again in 2017 because of an elbow injury.

Former world number one Djokovic, 30, retired injured during his Wimbledon quarter-final match against Tomas Berdych on 12 July.

He said then he had suffered an elbow problem for over a year and An elbow injury has ruled a half.

“Professionally this the 12-time grand slam tittle is not an easy decision winner out for the season for me, but I’m trying to look at the positive side,” said the Serb, who is currently world number four.

In July, Djokovic won the Aegon International in Eastbourne - his 68th title but his first since January.

He suffered a shock defeat by world number 117 Denis Istomin at January’s Australian Open, where he was defending champion, and then lost his French Open crown when he was beaten by Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals in June.

Djokovic said he would spend the time building up his fitness and strength, as well as working on areas of his game he felt needed to be improved.

“I want to play professional tennis for many years to come,” he added in a message on his Facebook page.

It means Djokovic will miss the US Open, which starts at Flushing Meadows on 28 August, and where he was champion in 2011 and 2015.

His absence from Flushing Meadows ends a run of 51 consecutive appearances at Grand Slams.

“All the doctors I’ve consulted, and all the specialists I have visited, in Serbia and all over the world, have agreed that this injury requires rest,” said Djokovic.

“A prolonged break from the sport is inevitable. I’ll do whatever it takes to recover.

“My elbow is hurt due to excessive playing, and it troubles me constantly when serving, and now when playing forehand as well.

“My body has its limits, and I have to respect that and be grateful for all that I have achieved so far.

“At the beginning of my career I was facing health issues, but over the years, and with a lot of patience and dedication, I found a solution.

“That’s the approach I take to this situation, and I firmly believe that I will come back stronger.”

Coach Andre Agassi has committed to stay with Djokovic for the 2018 season. (BBC)

US team to lean on Dempsey in Gold Cup final W

hen the crowd of 45,516 at AT&T Stadium rose to its feet and roared at the sight of Clint Dempsey walking over to the fourth official as a secondhalf substitute, Jozy Altidore knew what to expect.

“He’s a guy everyone in the stadium knows, including Costa Rica,” the Toronto FC forward said. “He’s going to cause for defenders to give him attention. If you look at the goal, two or three guys, as soon as he turns, go to him and space opens up for somebody else. He’s a guy who can still make a difference and we’re happy to have him.”

Dempsey didn’t just make a difference in a 2-0 win over Costa Rica in the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals Saturday night, he also made history. On a free kick in the 82nd minute,

the Seattle Sounders forward scored his 57th career goal for the United States, tying the alltime record set by Landon Donovan.

“He does it for himself, he does it for his family, but we’re riding this wave with him. He’s taken us on an incredible adventure, a journey,” remarked Colorado Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard after the game. “No one is happier for him than us. We’re proud of him. We want him to get this record. Landon’s greatness is incredible. For ‘Deuce’ to catch him tonight and for us to be a part of it, we’re thrilled and thankful to be along for the ride.”

Even at 34 years old, Dempsey still has that ability to alter a game as he showed against the Ticos to help the United States reach the Gold Cup final for a 10th time.

“His knack for finding space, for being able to make a play to get somebody else a chance to score a goal from nothing himself, he’s done that on so many big days,” Toronto FC midfielder Michael Bradley said.

Dempsey didn’t say much in the locker room after the final whistle. That’s not his style. His greatest statements are made on the field and Altidore is sure there’s more to come against Jamaica in tonight’s final.

“Clint is a guy who likes to keep to himself. He’s not a guy who is going to look for all the attention and we know that,” Altidore said. “Everybody is happy for him and trust me, there’s one more goal for him. He knows the job isn’t done for him yet and everyone will be pushing for him to get that record.”

(Sportsmax)

Clint Dempsey

sports

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Ronaldo Ali-Mohamed

onaldo Ali-Mohamed scored an unbeaten fifty and took two for 62 to help Guyana trounce the Leeward Islands by 63 runs on the final day of their Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional U-19 tournament in St Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday.

Playing at the Verchilds Cricket Ground, Guyana started day three with a lead of 221, before declaring on 172 for 6 in 54 overs, with Alex Algoo giving support with 36 to set the Islanders a target of 293.

The home side folded to 229 all out, as

the left-arm spinner led the way with 4 for 30 while off-spinner Richie Looknaught chipped in with 3 for 58.

On day 2, bowling his medium pace, Ali-Mohamed collected 5-11 from 13 overs to spearhead Guyana’s attack as Leewards Islands folded for a paltry 100 all-out off 48.2 overs in their first innings.

Kevin Sinclair with 3-33 supported AliMohammed with his part-time off-spin.

Guyana will now play Trinidad and Tobago on Friday in their second-round match.

Ashmead Nedd

Dr Scotland, Sheriffudeen, Gaskin and Panchu receive RHTY&SC awards

S

peaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland on Friday last headed a list of five outstanding Guyanese to receive the Dolphin Award of Excellence - -the highest award of Guyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC), MS. The others were Mahadeo Panchu, Noreen Gaskin, Radesh Rameshwar and Safraz Sheriffudeen and together they receive the award from RHTY&SC President Keith Foster.

L o n g - s e r v i n g Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster, at the presentation ceremony, disclosed that the Dolphin Award of Excellence was the highest of the Club’s 12-award scheme and was specially reserved for only 30 awardees. The awardees are selected by a five-member panel headed by Foster and Vice President Mark Papannah based on their contribution to Guyana’s development, role model status and relationship with the Club.

The Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) stressed that the number of awardees could only be increased by a two-

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland receives his award from RHTY&SC President Keith Foster

V Net Communication CEO Safraz Sheriffudeen receives his award

thirds majority vote of Club members at a Special Meeting. Earlier awardees include President David Granger, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, Ministers Volda Lawrence and Amna Ally, Bakewell General Manager Rajiv Ganga, Busta General Manager Robert Selman, ANSA McAL Country Manager Beverly Harper, Namilco General Manager Bert Sukhai, ScotiaBank Marketing Executive Jennifer Cipriani, Journalists Franklyn Wilson, Claude David,

is the Managing Director of Kares Engineering Inc and recently donated the prizes for the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Green Economy Tournament. Rameshwar also donated close to $1 million worth of school bags towards the Patron’s Fund. Sheriffudeen is the visionary behind V Net Communication and currently serves as its CEO. All of the awardees along with Engineer Satyna Kishun and Marketing Consultant Azeeze Khan were also inducted as honorary members of the dy-

Sean and Avenash Ramzan and Gregory Rambarran.

Dr Scotland, apart from being the Speaker of the National Assembly, also had a long and successful career as a Guyanese diplomat, while Panchu has served Guyana well in the rice sector and is now the CEO of KSM Investments, a company that is making a massive contribution towards the construction sector in Guyana.

Gaskin is the CEO of Sentinel Security and a long-time sponsor of the Club, while Rameshwar

namic organisation.

The Club, Foster stated, strongly believes in honouring heroes in their lifetime and also honouring its sponsors for their support of the Club’s numerous activities.

All of the awardees expressed gratitude to the Club for the honour and stated that they were proud to be inducted as honorary members of such a progressive organisation, which on a daily basis changes the lives of youths, the less fortunate, and the elderly.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursdAY, july 27, 2017

Caribbean Motor Racing Championships

Mohammed’s Enterprise ‘Prince’ hoping to extend reign

By Akeem Greene

T

eam Mohammed’s Enterprise rider Bryce Prince seems to be the crown jewel in the Seaboard Marine Caribbean Motor Racing Championships (CMRC) as he is yet to be beaten and is seeking to continue his dominance when he rides this weekend for Guyana in the second round in Trinidad and Tobago.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sport, the Yamaha R6 rider made it clear that he was hoping to maintain his sublime performances.

“Going into Trinidad I feel great, the track in Jamaica really suits my riding style, so I don’t know what to expect in Trinidad.

We have been very dom-

CWI Regional Under-15

Guyana dismissed for 51 to lose low scorer

G

uyana’s Under-15 team went down to Leeward Islands Under-15s by 36 runs in a low-scoring encounter on Wednesday at N o r t h S t a r s Ground in Crab Bryce Prince riding the Graves Yamaha at Jamwest, Jamaica (Mikey Spice photo)

Motorsports and will compete his season in America ‘on his own’.

It possibly gives the 24-year-old more opportuni-

by Group two and three driver Rameez Mohamed (Toyota Starlet & Honda Civic); Group Four driver Andrew King (Mazda RX-7) and Group two driver Azaad Hassan (Toyota AE91).

The championships will move to Barbados on September 3, then to Guyana for the final leg on November 12.

Last year, Trinidad and Tobago, who lost the title in 2015 by eight points to Guyana, recorded a whopping 1481.5 points, out-

scoring the second-placed Barbados team by 793 points.

Barbados’ tally at the end of the four rounds was 688.5 while Guyana finished third on 648.5; Jamaica (492); Cayman Islands (60) and CAMS/USA rounded off the points standings.

However, in the twowheel category, Guyana soared to the top of the table, accumulating 647 points with Trinidad being their closest challenge on 169 points.

GTT Tape Ball Tournament

17 teams for final day action Bryce Prince has not lost any of his CMRC races since riding for Guyana in November 2016

inant, winning six out of six races so far in the Caribbean. It is great for our confidence and we look forward to Trinidad,” he stated.

At the first round of the Championships in May at the Jamwest Circuit, starting the day on pole, he romped home unbeaten and in the process, set a new Superstock record of 1:15.5s.

Reflecting on his outing in Jamaica, the rider revealed: “It was very great to be able to raise the bar by setting a new track record in Jamaica. Lots of fans. I wasn’t fond of the amount of time on the grid though.”

Prince, who is the reigning MotoAmerica Superstock 600 Champion, has severed ties with Meen

ties to execute his skills for Guyana , which he contends is a way of raising the bar.

“As with any series we always want to elevate the bar; racing with faster people will elevate the speed of the riders in the Caribbean, which is a good thing for outlets sport.”

He is currently sixth in the MotoAmerica Bazzaz Superstock 1000 point standings. He has finished on the podium two times and finished inside the top five five times in the first 12 races of 2017.

Prince is extremely grateful for the support of Mohammed’s Enterprise which extends to him riding in the United Sates, and is encouraging fellow riders to come for the experience and challenging tracks.

The rider will be joined

Action from last Sunday

T

he final day of action in the GTT Tape Ball Knockout Tournament is billed for Sunday at the National Park Tarmac, where there will be one match prior to the commencement of the super 16 round.

The champions will be determined from those teams who have survived after the four days of competition out of the more than

100 teams who entered for a shot at the inaugural title.

In the lone match remaining before the start of the super 16, Eccles All Star and Queenstown Masjid will battle for the final spot in the final 16.

Following the super 16, the quarter-finals will be played, followed by the semi-finals and the grand finale.

The teams making up the

15 that have already qualified for the final day of action are: Doosan Vipes, Enmore Stars, Rising Stars and Modern Media (East Coast); Invaders, Specialist, Rising Star B, South Side, West Dem 08 and Spartans (West Demerara); PSI Legends, Ruimveldt Sports Club, GT Strikers, Outlaws and CJIA B (Georgetown). Action is scheduled to get underway at 08:30h

Hill, Barbados as the entire first round of Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Under-15 Tournament was plagued with low scores.

Romel Retemiah (3-16) and Gaurav Ramesh (312) spearheaded Guyana’s bowling attack to dismiss their counterparts for 87 all out in 38.4 overs after they opted to take first strike.

The Guyanese took five catches and affected three run-outs in an excellent fielding display that was on par with their bowling, as only Jaivani Carty (24) reached 20 in the entire match.

Guyana’s reply suffered two early setbacks when they lost Shemar Yearwood for four and Ricardo Ramdehol without scoring.

However, skipper Marvan Prashad (13) and Anthony Williams seem to have other plans, adding 27 runs in 4.2 overs. Unfortunately, Prashad fell on the stroke of lunch as the Leeward Islands opened a gateway to the middle and lower order.

Subsequent to the resumption, only Mark Ramanand of the other batsmen managed to get off the mark as seven of the Guyanese in total failed to score in their team’s total of 51 all out in 15 overs.

Rasheed Henry and Kenny Sutton bagged four wickets apiece for Leewards.

In the other matches, Jamaica defeated Trinidad and Tobago by 43 runs, while Windward Islands lost to Barbados by four wickets.

Batting first, Jamaica scored 120 all out in 44.2 overs, while T&T were dismissed for 77 in 40.2 overs at Rubis Sports Club, Brighton, Barbados.

At Police, Weymouth, Barbados made 104-6 in 38.5 overs in response to Windward Islands’ 103 all out in 50 overs.

Action is scheduled to continue on Friday with Guyana set to take on T&T, Barbados will do battle with Leeward Islands and Jamaica will meet Windward Islands.

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, july 27, 2017

Head Coach Roger Harper and Assistant Coach Esuan Crandon got a chance to assess the players (Akeem Greene Photo)

By Akeem Greene

G

uyana Amazon Warriors’ oneweek pre-season camp commenced on Wednesday at the National Stadium, Providence with the management using it as an opportunity to test their fitness. The intense training is ahead of their first match of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on August 5 against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in Florida.

Several of the players arrived late Tuesday to assemble for the camp, which is headed by Coach Roger Harper and Assistant Coach Esuan Crandon.

The other members of the support staff

are Jason Pilgrim (Physio); Clinton Jeremiah (Fitness Coach) and Kurlyn Smith-Nicholas (Masseuse).

Crandon, in addressing the media on Wednesday, contended that an early start to preparation would be critical since it would give those in charge a chance to assess each player.

“Preparation is always important; we have a week together, so we are trying to put in everything we can to get them gelling together.”

The team will continue to have sessions throughout the week to judge their fitness.

Responding to questions regarding their quest for a maiden championship, the Coach

23

Up and down! Fitness Coach Clinton Jeremiah made much of the afternoon session on Wednesday (Akeem Greene Photo)

underscored the importance of taking it one day at a time, and cementing the basic skills needed for success which essentially means being consistent.

Given the team’s first match is at 11:00h in Florida, in conditions that are expected to be humid, Fitness Coach Jeremiah stated that they would be having practice sessions at the aforementioned time to build fitness and he was confident that the players would adapt due to the experiences of playing before at the Central Broward Regional Park.

After playing in Florida, the team head to Trinidad and Tobago, then St Lucia before returning home for four matches.

On the 17th of August, they play the

Jamaica Tallawahs; after which they play arch-rivals Trinbago Knight Riders two days later. The Warriors then clash with the Barbados Tridents on the 20th, and will have their final home match against the St Lucia Zouks on the 22nd.

The Amazon Warriors squad comprises Martin Guptill, Rayad Emrit, Sohail Tanveer, Babar Azam, Jason Mohammed, Chadwick Walton, Rashid Khan, Steven Taylor, Keon Joseph, Gajanand Singh, Roshon Primus, Veerasammy Permaul, Assad Fudadin, Steven Jacobs, Steven Katwaroo, Keemo Paul and Muhammad Ali Khan.

Quashed injunction paves way for GCB elections

I

n the wake of a peaceful protest on Monday in front of the Attorney General’s office where former cricketers, administrators of the game, and cricket enthusiasts from various parts of the country chose to protest the operations of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), it was revealed that the injunction which was filed by the GCB and other parties preventing the Attorney General of Guyana and the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport (now the Minister of Education) from enforcing the Cricket Administration Act has been quashed.

According to a court order made available at a press con-

ference on Wednesday, which was held to up the heat on the Government to act on the issue, the matter was quashed on June 16, 2017.

The order, which was granted by Justice Nareshwar Harnanan stated: “This matter came up for hearing on this day and upon hearing Attorney-atLaw for the Plaintiffs and Respondents, it is hereby ordered that the matter be declared abandoned and incapable of being revived.”

On Friday, Attorney

General Basil Williams will host the GCB officials and the stakeholders at his office to discuss the way forward.

However, with the injunction quashed and the AG’s meeting with the parties involved, the function of the Cricket Ombudsman (Dr Winston Mc Gowan, who was appointed in January 2015) is expected to be the next vital process. He is faced with the task to regularise operations at the three county boards before calling the GCB election.

Meanwhile, prior to the revelation of the development in

the court, prominent Guyanese, social activists, administrators of the game, and cricket enthusiasts assembled to discuss the relevant means for a positive path going forward.

Due to the many concerns on the matter that have been circulated in the media frequently, Dr David Hinds noted the urgent need to discuss the matter with his party, the Working People’s Alliance, which is a member party of APNU, that formed the coalition Government with the AFC, so to put an end to the impasse.

Following the meeting with the AG, information will be provided to the public by the stakeholders.

Sports is no longer our game, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s our business

THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Warriors commence camp

with spotlight on

fitness

Pg 23

Dr Scotland, Sheriffudeen, Gaskin and Panchu receive RHTY&SC awards Pg 21

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland receives his award from RHTY&SC President Keith Foster

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