Guyanatimes 27 june 2018

Children of WBD exsugar workers get $2M in donations P13

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Issue No. 3606

PRICE

Sovereignty of the people case

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Decomposed body found in GRA parking lot

CCJ overturns Guyana’s Court of Appeal decision

See stories on pages 3 & 12

P11

Coastguard slapped with causing death charge P8

…Jagdeo outlines criteria for future PPP presidential candidate

Brothers die in WCD accident

Page 10

Bartica woman remanded for narco- P8 trafficking

Wanted P11 Berbice man found hanging from tree

Taxi hijacked in P11 Eccles No need to call an ambulance to the scene of this accident. In what appeared to be a fender bender, this car driver failed to give way to the First Responders' vehicle resulting in the collision of the vehicles at the corner of Camp and Middle Streets, Georgetown on Tuesday afternoon

Boxing Day murder

Husband, wife jailed for 80 years

Page 7

Jordan unfazed by $330B Page 9 public debt

…says Guyana’s debt to GDP ratio on par with int’l standards

Police withdraw charges against 3 murder P16 accused Lone gunman robs porter P11

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news

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wednesDAY, june 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, June 27 – a night retraction from 04:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Thursday, June 28 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, June 27 – 16:00h-17:30h and Thursday, June 28 – 16:35h-18:05h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light to thundery showers can be expected throughout the day and in the evening, interrupted by partly cloudy conditions. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly North-easterly to North-easterly between 1.34 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 03:39h and 16:06h reaching maximum heights of 2.55 metres and 2.44 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:41h and 21:52h reaching minimum heights of 0.66 metre and 0.77 metre.

SATURDAY, June 23, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS N

06 07 08

15 22 25

26 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2018

DAILY MILLIONS 03 08 13 17 26 LUCKY 3 8 9 4

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Afternoon Draw DRAW DE LINE

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Evening Draw

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

Sovereignty of the people case

Jagdeo outlines criteria for next PPP presidential candidate

By Jarryl Bryan

T

he decision in the case of the Attorney General versus Cedric Richardson was announced on Tuesday amid much public interest.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who was the subject of much debate regarding the ruling, remains unmoved by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) upholding, among other things, term limits for Guyana’s Presidents by six to one.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Jagdeo maintained that despite the ruling, he would remain the General Secretary (GS) of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). He noted that the ruling has nothing to do with his position as GS. Jagdeo pointed out also that when he left office as President in 2011, it was in keeping with the law on presidential term limits. The former President stressed that he would continue to abide by the law and that at the appropriate time, the PPP would select a presidential candidate.

“The CCJ ruling has been interpreted in a particular way, but it is still our law,” Jagdeo stressed. “As someone who has always complied with our law, the same situation remains today.”

In fact, Jagdeo made it clear that he was not keen on certain aspects of being President. While he has no problem with the idea of listening and addressing the concerns of the ordinary people as President, he admitted he disliked the superficial form and ceremonial trappings that came with the position.

Jagdeo, who served as President from 1999 to 2011, noted that he would continue to play an integral part in the Party. According to the General Secretary, he will continue to broaden the demographics of persons coming to his party and maintained that if the PPP/C returned to Government he would play a formal role.

Jagdeo refused to speculate on what specific role he would play in the next PPP/C Government. He would only say that he would contribute through helping to guide and formulate policy, according to his experience.

While Jagdeo noted that the Party has never placed all its eggs in one basket when it came to the electoral ticket, he declined to cite potential presidential candidates.

However, he did highlight that the Party’s next presidential candidate will have

to be a “hard-working” person, who is courageous and has good management skills.

“I see many people I like for that position. These people are hard-working, have great management skills and are courageous. That’s what I think a President should be,” Jagdeo related.

When he was asked directly whether he would support former President Donald Ramotar as the Party’s presidential candidate, Jagdeo would only reiterate his ideals of presidential criteria.

The case

The constitutional challenge case brought by Georgetown resident Cedric Richardson in February 2015 had sought the Court’s interpretation of the National Assembly’s changes to Article 90, as those related to four restraints on the freedom of choice by citizens at national elections.

Richardson argued, through his lawyers, Emily Dodson and Shawn Allicock, that the amendment – Article 17 of 2000 – unconstitutionally curtails and restricts his sovereign and democratic right and freedom as a qualified elector to elect a specific person of his choice as the Executive President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

Richardson had also contended that the limit was unconstitutional and illegal. He sought the Court’s

PPP GS and former President Bharrat Jagdeo

interpretation to determine whether a referendum on the amendment should not have been held, instead of the two-thirds majority in the National Assembly having the power to decide the limit on the number of terms.

Former acting Chief Justice Ian Chang had ruled in July 2015 that the alteration of Article 90 by Act No 17 of 2000, in substance and effect, undoubtedly diminished the democratic rights of the electorate in electing a person of their own choice as President.

He had noted that such an amendment needs a referendum and is invalid and without legal effect for reason of non-compli-

ance. He further ruled that Act 17 of 2000 seeks to dilute the pre-existing democratic rights of the electorate to elect a President of their choice. As such, while the Constitution provides for representative democracy, such representative democracy cannot encroach on popular sovereignty from which it derives and which is entrenched by the requirement of the referendum.

However, the High Court’s decision was appealed by the Attorney General’s Chambers and former Speaker of the House Raphael Trotman, both of whom were named as respondents in the court action. They asked that the ruling be “wholly set aside”.

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

Supporting local products

W

hether one shops in the locally-owned supermarkets or the ones that are foreign-owned, it continues to surprise many to see the number of foreign products which are enthusiastically sold as against the same type of local products. A quick glance at the shelves in most of the supermarkets in Georgetown and its environs will show that in spite of several campaigns carried out previously to encourage consumers to ‘buy local’, more foreign products are being offered to consumers, sometimes even at higher prices.

Sometime back, members of our editorial team conducted a small survey in an attempt to find out why the local products were not more in evidence on the supermarket shelves.

Supermarket managers, though not dismissing the quality of local products, claimed it was easier to stock foreign products and that consumers have a preference for such products, and as such, there is a greater turnover.

It should be noted too that many local producers claimed that the supermarkets would buy only limited quantities of their products despite the fact that their prices were competitive. The Consumers Association has said that consumers are enjoined to have ‘value for money’ and that if the local product is of good quality and being offered at a competitive price when compared to foreign ones, then the local product should be bought. The consumer advocates went on to point out that buying local products generates wealth and employment locally, and provides as much social as economic benefit to communities and the country as a whole. Shoppers and consumers are, therefore, enjoined, in their own ultimate interest to buy local once they receive value for money.

Buying local is something which all countries, even the wealthy ones such as the United States, advocate in one guise or another despite talk about globalisation and free trade.

Buying local is of ultimate benefit to the consumer himself.

And it is easy to buy local if one analyses and compares the local product with its foreign equivalent.

In doing such comparison, one should begin with food and drink. Food products produced locally are fresher and more nutritious and in most cases organically produced.

Local vegetables are much less expensive than the foreign ones. When fruits are not in season, they are often not as competitive as the foreign imports. For example, at the moment, it is better value to buy grapes or apples than avocado pears, which are overpriced. However, when local fruits are in season, they offer a much better buy than any foreign import.

In essence, while we are not advocating that supermarkets or other retailers should limit the choices to consumers in any way, many consumers would agree that some local products are as good as, or even better than the foreign ones, but yet as a result of long indoctrination they almost mechanistically buy the foreign ones.

That being said, we just cannot assume that consumers would change their attitude to local products overnight. It requires much effort from both the Government and the mainstream Private Sector to encourage persons to support local products. While there have been campaigns in the past to encourage persons to buy local, such efforts were limited; they were basically ‘food fairs’ with minimal participation from local companies and citizens.

Additionally, some analysts have pointed out that the vast majority of the local manufacturing initiatives have been undertaken at a small scale, with minimal financial investment. In most cases, there is hardly enough money allocated towards ensuring that those local products are effectively marketed.

One should also take into consideration that many Guyanese consumers are now moving in the direction of online shopping. Added to this is that consumers are being influenced by huge multi-media advertising which has proven to be a major challenge for advocates who are seeking to encourage and promote the use of local products.

Government must show that it is really serious about pushing local products and encouraging citizens to consume what they grow by allocating the necessary resources that would seek to ensure a suitable environment is created to support the development and marketing of local products.

The US Navy flight demonstration squadron, the Blue Angels, perform during the Vectren Dayton Air Show in Dayton, Ohio (Reuters)

Pot cannot call the kettle black Dear Editor, In Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), there are three ‘gentlemen’ who have been referred to as the “three AFC musketeers” in the Moving Guyana Forward chat group, and they are marketing themselves as the mouth pieces of Ministers of the Government, feeling that they could capitalise on the gullibility of some residents, thereby reaping the fruits of corruption.

In Guyana generally, there is an accepted norm that once you are seen in the company of the Ministers, interacting and probably drinking together, then you are in a position to get favours from these Ministers. These three Alliance For Change (AFC) executive members are always in some Minister’s company when they visit Region Six; misleading some people to conclude that these charlatans can extract favours from the Ministers on their behalf.

One of these AFC members used the CIIP workers as though they were his private employees and is now a

‘secret’ contractor in the region. The other works with the Public Infrastructure Ministry and has been collecting bribes from contractors to get them contracts from Public Infrastructure Ministry; while the third one is a professional conman who collected bribes from a businessman from Albion and one from Skeldon offering to get them chicken import licences among other ‘services’. These ‘gentlemen’ have been the subject of much discussion in the Moving Guyana Forward chat group.

Recently, these three AFC members made visits to Manchester, Albion, Kildonan, Black Bush and other People’s National Congress and People’s Progressive Party strongholds, offering to build streets and install street lights if the residents could only sign up as AFC members, which some residents have been doing. This matter was raised at our Regional Democratic Council (RDC) statutory meeting since April this year and the

Regional Executive Officer (REO) had promised to investigate the matter since it is the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and the RDCs function to make budgetary proposals for these works and not some AFC members. Therefore, for these AFC executive members to do so is fraudulent misrepresentation and misleading. The AFC is ‘dead meat’ and this is a sinister strategy to show that the AFC’s membership is actually increasing and not dying as foretold by Ramjattan.

I also spoke to some contractors who expressed their utter disgust with the corrupt behaviour of the ‘musketeers’. They claimed that any time they see these guys they have to hide since they are forced to fork out thousands of dollars to buy drinks at some popular liquor restaurant; be it Rose Hall or Skeldon. These guys have expensive appetites as well!

These contractors claimed also that the profits they make have to be shared in so many ways making the con-

tracts unprofitable!

Last Saturday, one of these guys was on television addressing the privatisation of the Guyana Sugar Corporation and made some statements which are quite contrary to what is said by the Special Purpose Unit and the Agriculture Minister. He claimed to actually know the name of the buyer of Skeldon Estate. This was meant to let the public feel that he is very close to the decision makers so that the public will have more confidence in him when he does his ‘field trips’.

These AFC executive members are expert marketers and have created their own niche in the ‘corruption market’ in Guyana and their leaders are silent since they are also members on the Moving Guyana Forward chat group and are aware of everything written in this letter. But the ‘pot cannot call the kettle black’!

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councillor, Region Six

Disregard for taxpayers by the APNU Government Dear Editor, I am pursuing a doctoral degree with a distinguished university and I struggle financially to pay the tuition and other fees. It is also a challenge to meet the high academic standards set by the university which includes exhaustive and comprehen-

sive research.

According to one of Guyana’s online news sites, Junior Ministers of Education and Public Infrastructure, Nicolette Henry and Annette Ferguson, are currently pursuing studies in the United States and United Kingdom, respectively and

have racked up $3.3 million so far. Other beneficiaries include former Education Ministry Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam, currently pursuing education policy studies in Jamaica to the tune of $946,000; and the daughter of the former Education Minister, Alicia Roopnaraine, was listed

as a first year psychology student in the UK, with a Guyana Government scholarship valued at $2.5 million.

Ms Henry has had the audacity to place a “Dr” in front of her name though she has not completed the academic requirements. continued on page 5

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Thank you, Exemplary lives of 2 mentors China Dear Editor, I read with much interest in the June 25, 2018 edition of a national newspaper that the 13th Chinese Medical Brigade had completed its mission and was being commended for its continued service to Guyana. To my knowledge, the medical brigade would have helped tens of thousands of Guyanese over the decades during its operations in Guyana. The Chinese Medical Brigade would have provided doctors, but also medicine and expensive equipment, which many Third World nations like Guyana cannot afford. This was and continues to be a great initiative conducted by one of the most advanced economies in the world, China.

As a patriot and investor in Guyana, I believe our partnership with our Chinese friends has proven to be fruitful. The countless scholarship opportunities for our young people in areas of agriculture, medicine, architecture, engineering, and administration have advanced our educational infrastructure to produce professionals which competently serve our Public and Private Sectors locally.

Periodically, Chinese corporations would even sponsor visits of youths from Guyana and other Third World nations to China in order to open their understanding of the Chinese civilisation. My own son, Dr Rosh Khan, went to one such conference last year and this trip changed his entire perspective on life, technology and the world.

Several signed agreements between Governments and foreign Chinese businesses would have resuscitated our dying economy in many instances, re: In 2008, during the global economic crisis was taking place, foreign direct investments, commerce and trade with China helped to keep Guyana afloat along with several other key sectors. Currently in our economy, the Chinese supply affordable building materials, clothing and food at competitive prices which have allowed all classes of our society greater spending power.

The Chinese in retrospect

have liberated our local market.

Globally, the Chinese are known to be military strategist, scholars, scientists, philosophers, inventors, doctors, farmers etc.

A key hallmark of its civilisation has been to protect its land but never invade or harm foreigners or their land. Their philosophy has remained peace and harmony. Having visited China twice before, it is still not enough to learn of the great history, magnificence and the contribution of their people.

The image of China is becoming like that of a SciFi fantasy, having been to the Shanghai Expo, Guang Hazhou, Hebei and other parts of New and Old Beijing and seeing the contrast between the old and the new. I recall one night I was invited to participate in a folk dance and cultural evening. This inspired me to advise the Guyanese Government to open the Botanical Gardens daily, decorate it with lights and allow musicians and artists to display their decent, creative work.

I wish to commend the Chinese populace for the great example they continue to be to the world, historically and even contemporarily.

Welcome to Guyana, 14th Chinese Medical Brigade, the Chinese Embassy and the Chinese Government. We should recognise also, that they have one of the largest technological firms, Huawei, and it would be amazing if this company can partner with some youths to take Guyana to the next level. I even wish to add that we should partner with the Chinese in forsaken areas and to make access to medical treatment easier in the interior. Guyana will soon become a greater tourist attraction and so, investing in resorts and play parks will see great profits, the Chinese industrialists could play a significant role in its design and construction.

China’s humanity is so deep, and their discipline is amazing. Thank you China!

Yours sincerely, Roshan Khan Sr

Dear Editor, Recently, two men – whom all who knew them would agree they were role models, not only to the people from Aurora, Essequibo Coast but for the entire country – Ramjohn Mohamed Khan, called “Uncle Johono” or “Johano Majey”; and Gladstone Augustus Mack, familiarly called “Brother Mack” and “Uncle Mackie”, died about a month of each other.

“Uncle Johono” lived for 105 years and “Uncle Mackie” for 107. They were both farmers, devoted husband and fathers, had the same number of children – 10 – were community minded, worked very hard to educate their children, and similar earning habits and religious convictions were very strong.

Aurora Village, on the Essequibo Coast, has traditionally and will always be

agriculture based; rice cultivation and ground provision, as well as greens, and other vegetables. “Uncle Johono” was a rice farmer; he and my father were very good friends, their rice farms were close so as a lad in company with my father, we would walk to and from our home with “Uncle Johono” and would also visit each other’s watch house.

Those were the days when the farmer ploughs the land with his bull, plants the rice, cut it by hand, fetch with bull and slide, mash it, wind it, bag it, fetch it again then sell it; the entire process was manual. Now, the entire process can be mechanical. “Uncle Johono” was also during all those days a member of the church committee, and later became the Imam of the Aurora Masjid.

As for “Uncle Mackie” or “Brother Mack”, he was a ground provision farmer

whose farm land was about eight miles away from his home and the only means of transportation was by boat, and before he bought a seagull engine he would sail or paddle his boat with his produce to the market place. My father and “Uncle Mackie” were good friends too, and their farm lands were next to each other, so as a boy I was fortunate to spend a lot of time in his company. When I became a farmer decades later, I got a lot of advice from him as it relates to farming; he was always a member of the farming group and strongly believed that together we aspire, together we would achieve. He was tireless in his advocating for better prices for farmers’ produce, yet he found the time to be at church every Sunday and in the absence of the priest, would conduct services at the Methodist Church in the village.

Aurora, a place known to have produced many academics, doctors, lawyers, head masters and head mistress, entrepreneur, etc but when any discussion takes place, “Uncle Johono” and “Uncle Mackie’s” names have to be mentioned. It is interesting to note there were other persons in the village that lived close to the century landmark. The two men are at the top for many, many reasons.

The amount of people, from all walks of life, race and religion, who attended their funerals and paid tributes, expressed condolences and sympathy to their children and other relatives were a testimony to the exemplary lives both of these men lived and may their souls rest in peace.

Yours faithfully, Archie W Cordis Resident of Aurora

Disregard for taxpayers by...

Her justification for placing those letters before her name was because, as she claimed, “I am a doctor of scholar…at a Laureate University in the US”. I called the contact number given at that school website (1-866-4528732) and I was directed to a “Walden University.” I inquired how I could become a “doctor of scholar” and the person at the end of the phone informed me that there is no such entity.

I queried about doing a PhD in public health. I asked if they would consider an undergraduate degree from another country accompanied with an incomplete Master’s degree from a small, unrecognised college. I could not get a straight answer and was eventually directed to a website that required my details. It became obvious quickly that this appeared to be a sham school after spending hours trying to get straight forward infor-

mation.

I did a bit of research into this ‘university’ and discovered it is a virtual diploma mill. In other words, if you pay the hefty tuition and other fees, you are virtually slated to get a piece of paper that says “Dr” besides your name. See reviews of the institution at https://www.gradreports.com/colleges/walden-university?stars=1#review-list-header.

Students who attended that institution commented: “The school is unprofessional; they do not reply to emails”; “they are interested only in getting your money, not educating you”; “they keep you enrolled for many years to take your money” and “the institution is a diploma mill to get a doctorate without doing any work.”

It is a blatant disregard for the taxpayers by the APNU Government – especially in a poor country such as

from page 4

Guyana, to dole out millions of dollars on scholarships to favoured persons connected with the Government.

The situation becomes more asinine considering the dubious nature of the “Laureate University” (Walden) which appears to be a factory to embellish one’s name with “Dr” – and that which comes at a premium price.

Taxpayers need a detailed report of what each scholarship recipient has accomplished academically so far, what projects have been completed, curriculum details, requirements of the institution to gain a doctorate, research undertaken, and the title of the dissertation.

Where are those who assumed the roles as the conscience of Guyana?

Why are they silent on this matter?

Sincerely, Devanand Bhagwan

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By Rick Hanson, PhD

Friend or Foe? The Practice: Be friendly.

Why? Friendliness is a down-to-earth approach to others that is welcoming and positive.

Think about a time when someone was friendly to you — maybe drawing you into a gathering, saying hello on the sidewalk, or smiling from across the room. How did that make you feel? Probably more included, comfortable, and at ease; safer; more open and warm-hearted.

When you are friendly to others, you offer them these same benefits. Plus, you get rewarded yourself. Being friendly makes us feels confident and happy, with a positive take on other people.

When we're friendly, we move toward the world instead of back away from it. And it encourages others to be less guarded or reactive with you, since you're answering the ancient question from millions of years of evolution – friend or foe?

– with an open hand and heart.

In its own quiet way, ordinary friendliness takes a stand that is almost subversive these days: that the world has many more opportunities than threats, that most people want the best for others, that simple informal human connections tie this battered old planet together much more than jumbo corporations or mass media flickering on the walls of our upholstered caves.

How?

You can be friendly with intimates and strangers, co-workers and in-laws, babies and bosses — even those you know only in the abstract, like people on

Foundation

the other side of the world. Of course, it is not always appropriate to be friendly with someone, such as an adversary, or someone who would misunderstand you.

But opportunities for greater friendliness are probably all around you this week.

To warm up your brain's circuits of friendliness, you could try one or more of these: Recall being with someone who cares about you.

Remember when someone was friendly to you.

Bring to mind a time when you were friendly to someone.

Get a sense of the posture, movements, gestures, and facial expressions of a person you know who is naturally friendly.

Relax your body into a feeling of friendliness: leaning forward a little, rather than back; softening and opening your chest, face, and eyes; breathing goodwill in and out.

Then look for everyday opportunities to be friendly. Often you'll just give a smile, handshake, or nod – and that's plenty. Maybe it's offering a few minutes to talk. Or a morning hug, or goodnight kiss. Or an extra touch of warmth in an email.

Stretch yourself, but stay with-

in the range of whatever is authentic.

Remember that friendliness is not agreement or approval; it does not mean you have given up on whatever your stances may be in the relationship. Friendliness does not equal friendship; in truth, most relationships are with friendly acquaintances.

Consider your family and friends.

What about being more friendly with your lover or mate? Having worked with couples for many years, it's painful to see how often basic friendliness is a casualty in a long-term relationship. Or being more friendly toward parents, siblings – or your own children? Again, it's startling how easily friendliness can be crowded out of our most important relationships by busyness, little irritations and hurts, or weariness from working too hard. But bits of friendliness, sprinkled here and there, can be absolutely transformational in a relationship. Try it and see!

Also consider being friendlier toward people you might normally ignore or treat with distance, even coolness. Such as wait staff in restaurants, someone shuttling you to the airport, or – breaking the big taboo – strangers in an elevator.

Last and not least, there is friendliness toward animals (“great and small, seen and unseen, omitting none”) ... plants ... your body ... and yourself.

Even friendliness toward inanimate objects: greeting the door before you open it, the ground about to meet your feet; not slamming the drawer in, but instead wishing it well; welcoming the cup rising to your lips.

See what happens. Take in the rewards, like one small log after another, fuelling that warm glowing fire on the hearth in your heart. (psychologytoday.com)

P

lay with letters, words, and sounds!

Having fun with language helps your child learn to crack the code of reading. The tips below offer some fun ways you can help your child become a happy and confident reader. Try a new tip each week. See what works best for your child.

Talk to your child

Ask your child to talk about his day at school.

Encourage him to explain something they did, or a game he played during recess.

Say silly tongue twisters

Sing songs, read rhyming books, and say silly tongue twisters. These help kids become sensitive to the sounds in words.

Read it and experience it

Connect what your child reads with what happens in life. If reading a book about animals, relate it to your last trip to the zoo.

Use your child's name

Point out the link between letters and sounds.

Say, "John, the word jump begins with the same sound as your name. John, jump.

And they both begin with the same letter, J."

Play with puppets

Play language games with puppets. Have the puppet say, "My name is

Mark. I like words that rhyme with my name. Does park rhyme with Mark?

Does ball rhyme with Mark?"

Trace and say letters

Have your child use a finger to trace a letter while saying the letter's sound. Do this on paper, in sand, or on a plate of sugar.

Write it down

Have paper and pencils available for your child to use for writing. Working together, write a sentence or two about something special. Encourage her to use the letters and sounds she's learning about in school.

Play sound games

Practice blending sounds into words. Ask "Can you guess what this word is? m - o - p." Hold each sound longer than normal.

Read it again and again

Go ahead and read your child's favourite book for the 100th time! As you read, pause and ask your child about what is going on in the book.

Talk about letters and sounds

Help your child learn the names of the letters and the sounds the letters make. Turn it into a game!

"I'm thinking of a letter and it makes the sound mmmmmm." (readingrockets.org)

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wednesDAY, june 27, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Boxing Night murder

Husband, wife jailed for 80 years

Vishawantie Ragnauth

Nyron Thakurdyal

By Shemuel Fanfair

ceased man was standing and cursing by himself when he was attacked.

In probation reports presented to the court, two contrasting life circumstances were disclosed. For Thakurdyal, it was stated that he migrated with his family to the United States in 1985 but was deported on a narcotics possession charge in 2003. However, the court learnt that he obtained a work permit and lived in The Bahamas for nine years where he did construction work. He later returned to Guyana where he sold hygienic products, making a living for himself.

Thakurdyal came from Berbice and lived at Industry, East Coast Demerara, where he commenced the relationship with Ragnauth, whose past was described as “abusive”. In her report, the court heard that Ragnauth, a waitress, was mother to three children. It was observed that she was verbally and physically abusive to partners and during her second relationship, her husband whom she married according to Hindu rites, fled the home due to her abusive nature.

Neighbours described the North Section, Canal Number Two native as an

T

wo weeks after being unanimously found guilty by a 12-member jury, Vishawantie Ragnauth, 38; and her reputed husband, Nyron Thakurdyal, 39, were on Tuesday sentenced to 40 years each in jail for murdering Ragnauth’s uncle.

The couple was found guilty of the murder of 39-year-old miner Sunil Ramsundar on December 26, 2014, at Skull City, Patentia, West Bank Demerara.

Moments after Justice Sandil Kissoon disclosed the term of imprisonment; the woman fell to her seat in tears and was escorted out of the courtroom in the same emotional state. Her accomplice, meanwhile, reacted to his sentence without much reaction.

Ragnauth had earlier told the court that she was sorry for what happened and begged for forgiveness, while fellow killer Thakurdyal expressed his remorse and sympathy, telling the court he wanted to be a “constructive father” to his six children. Attorney Lisa Cave, who appeared for the prosecution, however deemed Ramsundar’s killing as senseless and unprovoked, stating the now de-

alcoholic who often behaved “disorderly”. The court heard that the woman allegedly sold marijuana and cocaine in the neighbourhood.

After Attorney Hughes’ plea of mitigation, Justice Kissoon indicated that rather than 60 years, he started at a base of 50 years, in keeping with a recent Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling. He subtracted a total of 10 years for time spent on remand, expression of remorse and Hughes’ plea which had appealed for mercy.

The facts of the matter stated that Ramsundar was killed after he attempted to settle a dispute between his sister, his niece and his niece’s reputed husband.

Around 22:00h on that fateful night, Ramsundar’s sister was being assaulted by her daughter Vishawantie and her partner, Nyron.

At that time, the now deceased man asked his sister why she was crying, and upon learning about the assault, the man approached his niece for an explanation. However, this quickly turned into a heated argument, during which Ramsundar was stabbed about his body. Nyron Thakurdyal held the man while Vishawantie stabbed him. A teenaged eyewitness said that she passed the kitchen knife to her spouse who completed the attack.

Ramsundar collapsed on the spot and was pro-

Deceased: Sunil Ramsundar

nounced dead on arrival to the West Demerara Regional Hospital. After the duo stabbed the man, they ran away and flagged down a passing car. That vehicle happened to be that of an off-duty Policeman who said

he heard the male offender say via his cellphone that he just “jook-up” someone.

He then drove them in the Wales Police Station where they were subsequently arrested.

Meanwhile, Government Pathologist, Dr Vivekanand Brijmohan in his testimony gave the cause of death as shock and haemorrhage; and a stab wound to the neck. The pathologist had told the jury that there were injuries to the right forearm, right chest, left part of the neck and jaw, noting that a puncture to an artery caused excessive blood loss.

The late Ramsundar was described as a hard-working individual.

8 news

wednesDAY, june 27, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Bartica woman remanded for narco-trafficking

T

he 58-year-old mother of one, who was apprehended by ranks at her Bartica Old Housing Scheme home last week with a large quantity of cocaine and cannabis, was on Tuesday remanded to prison.

Roxanne Carrington of Lot 63 Old Housing Scheme, Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The woman denied that on June 23, 2018, she had in her possession 2555 grams of cannabis and 1451 grams

Roxanne Carrington

of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

The prosecution is con-

tending that ranks swooped down on Carrington’s home and found the drugs hidden in two separate rooms, one occupied by her and the other by a miner, who was renting a room at the woman’s house.

Reports are the women reportedly told Police that the prohibited substances did not belong to her, but belonged to the man whose name was given as Royston Smith.

Her Attorney, Latchmie Rahamat informed the Court that Carrington would rent rooms to persons coming out of the interior.

At the time of the dis-

Man who stabbed ex-lover to stand trial in High Court

C

leveland Williams, a 46-year-old father of one who allegedly stabbed the mother of his child, was on Tuesday committed to stand trial at the High Court.

The D’Urban Street, Georgetown resident was committed by city Magistrate Judy Latchman after a prima facie case was made out against him.

Following the decision, Williams told the Court: “I’m not a troublesome person; I just got myself into this problem accidentally.”

He was charged for unlaw-

Cleveland Williams

fully and maliciously wounding Loshanna Boyce on April 17, 2018 at D’Urban Street, Lodge with intent to murder

her.

Reports are Boyce had just taken the couple’s daughter to school when the incident occurred.

The two were said to be arguing when Williams whipped out a knife and stabbed the woman several times.

He, however, denies wilfully stabbing Boyce, explaining that they were fighting and ended up in a nearby trench where she was accidentally stabbed.

Williams had previously taken out a restraining order after a report of domestic violence.

covery of the drugs, Smith, along with a woman, Betty Mohan, was occupying rooms.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield revealed that at the time of the discovery, the woman had explained that she was keeping the drugs for an unknown person.

Bail was denied, and the defendant was remanded to prison. The case will continue on July 12, 2018 at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

Coastguard slapped with causing death charge

Accused: Esan Trim

T

he Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coastguard who reportedly drove his car recklessly on Sunday last killing a pedestrian at a Police roadblock was on Tuesday arraigned at the Leonora Magistrate’s Court.

Twenty-eight-year-old Esan Trim stood before presiding Magistrate Christel Lambert and denied two charges read to him.

He denied driving motor vehicle PLL 5680 on June 17, 2018 in a manner dangerous to the public, causing the death of 35-year-old Roopchand Charles.

He also denied that he was over the legal limit of alcohol on the day of the accident.

Reports are Trim struck Charles as he was speeding along the De Willem, West Coast Demerara (WCD) Public Road as he was crossing the road after he was stopped by Police.

Following the accident, he was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

In her bail application for Trim, Attorney Latchmie Rahamat explained that CCTV footage showed Charles walking into the path of the vehicle.

Bail was not objected to by the prosecution, and was granted in the sum of $310,000.

The Coastguard will return to Court on July 24, 2018.

According to the dead man’s brother, “the Police wanted money and he was crossing the road to give them a raise when he was killed”.

However, the Police had stated that an unlicensed pistol with four matching rounds was found on Charles.

With respect to the pistol found, the dead man’s brother stated that he believed it was planted.

The spigot…

T

…of money for the PNC he oil isn’t here yet…but that hasn’t stopped the PNC Government from opening up the money spigot like those old-time pork-knockers of yore! But since the six-sisters of the traditional economy, according to President Granger, are ailing and not delivering as they used to do into the Consolidated Fund, where’s the Government getting the money from? Well…duh!!... borrowing of course!! Dangling the prospects of future oil revenues, the Government has tapped into the World Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and the local commercial banks!!

So what if our foreign currency reserves have plummeted while our debt has skyrocketed?? Let’s live in the moment Baby!! Just like their Founder Leader Burnham taught them during his (rigged) stint at the wheel. His spigot was the nationalised sugar and bauxite industries he thought could be cash cows to service his massive borrowings. By the time he was finished, Guyana was bankrupt with an external debt of US$2.1 billion, which at the time made us the most Highly Indebted Poor Country – on a per capita basis!!

And is anyone surprised the spigot only delivers its money to the PNC faithful and their friends? Naah…that’s the way the PNC’s (money) cookie always crumbles!! Back then, it was high-paying jobs in running (into the ground!!) the 80 per cent of the economy they controlled for the shirt-jacked PNC elites. Tractors and pigs and cows for coops were doled out to make the “small man become the real man”.

Today, the PNC’s turned on the money spigot with a vengeance!! Imagine they have paid $265 million in rental for that bottom-house warehouse in Sussex Street!! A Minister had to resign and offer an apology, but that didn’t stop the spigot…it kept on pouring out cold cash. Why? The bag man’s a PNC financier who’s backed by a big one in the party!! Another $400 million was added to the Demerara Harbour Bridge to make it four lanes rather than three… but no change, of course, for the “Ming Swing” to direct the spigot into the pockets of another PNC financier with the same name!!

Then we heard of six “special” prosecutors paid retainers of $2 million each – and then chalking up $20,000 per hour if they appear in court. They have to be very, very SPECIAL to be raking in such fees, all right!! They were hired, however, not by the DPP – the constitutional office responsible for prosecutions – but by the Attorney General, who himself earns as much as the President. Your Eyewitness figures he has to cough up big bucks since he’s admitting he can’t do the job!!

And this is only, like with icebergs, the spending we can SEE!! … of power Suddenly, Nagamootoo’s become quite garrulous.

Sadly, it’s only about the man he considers his bete noir – Jagdeo. He says Jagdeo’s obsessed with power!!

Now isn’t that like the “kahari” calling the pot black!!??

Nagamootoo’s whole life was consumed with becoming President – mainly by becoming a lap dog for Jagan and his wife Janet. But when Jagan finally returned to power in 1992, he gave Nagamootoo the most junior of Ministries – Information!!

But rather than introspecting about the flaw Jagan had discerned, he enrolled in law school to get some credentials, which, he thought were the lacking ingredients. Didn’t help…for the simple reason that Nagamootoo was never honest enough to admit he wanted power.

As Burnham had said, “Any politician who says he’s not interested in power is either a fool or a liar”!! In Nagamootoo’s case, Jagan decided he was both.

And that’s why even though he shed crocodile tears about the passing of “Pa”, Janet chose Jagdeo over him!!

As a PM who was shafted by Granger, he’s still coy about power!! Maybe he likes shafting? …of the old boys’ network Since your Eyewitness had already predicted it, he’s not surprised at the CCJ’s ruling…which COMPLETELY avoided the “Basic Structure” of the Constitution.

The old boys’ network of the Caribbean has kicked in.

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

News

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wednesDAY, june 27, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Jordan unfazed by $330B public debt

…says Guyana’s debt to GDP ratio on par with int’l standards

By Jarryl Bryan

G

uyana has gotten a US$35 million ‘Development Policy’ line of credit from the World Bank, but with the country already owing billions of dollars to external creditors, questions are being raised about exactly what Government is doing about lowering the debt.

According to Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who was recently interviewed on the sidelines of Parliament, said Guyana’s public debt rate is actual-

debt to GDP. The Finance Minister did not mention any steps Government was taking to mitigate the debt rate.

“The Government… the external debt at the moment is well below 60 per cent of GDP. It’s still below 50 per cent of GDP. So not bad…

The international threshold… is 60 per cent. So don’t even bother…”

The World Bank group approved the US$35 million Development Policy Credit to support Guyana’s efforts to strengthen the financial sector. The money will also

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

ly nothing to worry about.

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

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

Pressed on exactly what the Government is doing to bring down the debt, Jordan would only allude to the international threshold of

go towards improving fiscal management to better prepare the country to benefit from its newly-discovered oil and gas reserves and transform its oil wealth into human capital.

But during a press conference on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo was incredulous at the purpose of the loan.

Making a point that spending millions of US dollars and bringing in foreign experts for this purpose was unnecessary, Jagdeo, an economist, challenged the Government to provide him with a legislative drafter and he would develop fiscal policies for the oil sector within a month.

Public debt

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

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

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

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

“At the end of December 2016, multilateral creditors continued to be the predominant creditor category, accounting for 59.7 per cent of the external debt portfolio, a slight decrease from the 2015 position of 60.6 per cent. Bilateral lenders and commercial lenders represented 38.8 per cent and 1.5 per cent of the public external debt portfolio, respectively,” the Ministry explained.

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

In 2012, the public external debt was $277.8 billion but by early 2015, that had been reduced to $236 billion. In similar manner, the domestic debt had been reduced from $93.4 billion in 2012 to $81.6 billion in

The public external debt stock

2015 before a sudden flare up in the figures after the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change took office.

Who do we owe?

But who does Guyana owe all this money to? The report notes that Guyana’s four main external creditors are the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Stateowned Export-Import Bank of China (China EXIM Bank) and Venezuela State-owned oil company

(PDVSA).

Together, they constitute some 77.7 per cent of Guyana’s public external debt stock, as at end-December 2016, with the IDB the most dominant creditor.

According to the report, the IDB has an average share of 42.0 per cent of the debt portfolio.

The CDB is Guyana’s second largest creditor, accounting for 12.6 per cent of total public external debt.

The Export-Import Bank of China follows closely behind the CDB with a 12.5 per cent share of external debt,

while Venezuela’s PDVSA accounted for 10.6 per cent.

Important to note is PDVSA has recently been declared to be in default of its debts by a Trade group in the US. There is some amount of consolation, however, with the report noting that Guyana’s total debt to GDP ratio declined by approximately two per cent – from 48.4 per cent to 46.6 per cent. This is an indicator of how well a country, in this case Guyana, can repay its debts through its GDP without incurring more.

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wednesDAY, june 27, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Brothers die in WCD accident

A

former employee of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and his teenage brother were killed on Tuesday after they were run over by a minibus in the vicinity of the Den Amstel Police Station, West Coast Demerara (WCD).

Dead are Shemon West, 28, and Shalum Allen, 19, of Lot 8-9 Fellowship, WCD. Reports are the two brothers were returning home on a pedal cycle from the Leonora Police Station after uplifting car documents when they met their demise.

Preliminary investiga-

Hospital. When Guyana Times arrived on the scene, which is a stone’s throw away from the Den Amstel Police Station, the traffic ranks were taking measurements on the road.

The mother of the two dead men was in the police station giving her statement while their eldest brother, Seon Moses, was being consoled by his wife.

Moses, who is an engineer at the GGMC, said he was not too familiar with the circumstances of the accident, but recalled receiving a phone call from a relative informing him that his brothers had died in an accident.

The bicycle that the two men were riding when they met their demise

tions revealed that a minibus bearing registration number BVV 8882 had stopped to put off passengers and as the two brothers were in the process of overtaking, the vehicle suddenly drove off.

However, in the process, its right-side front hit the left handle bar of the bicycle thus causing the two men to fall onto the roadway. It was at this time another minibus with registration plates BVV 7042, which was heading in the opposite direction, drove over them.

The teen reportedly died on the spot while his brother, a father of two, succumbed at the Leonora Cottage

Without hesitation, he left his place of employment in Georgetown and trav-

Howzatt?

The traffic ranks taking measurements at the scene

Dead: Shemon West

Dead: Shalum Allen

“My small brother had a gaping wound to the back of his head…the other had laceration to his body which suggested that he might have been dragged several feet…,” the grieving brother stated.

Moses explained that his brother had previously worked at the GGMC. “Up to this morning

ed. A friend, Shawnan Mc Donald, told this publication that Allen took a minibus to Leonora Police Station to uplift the documents.

He noted that after collecting the documents, West convinced his baby brother to ride home. “From what eyewitnesses say, the ‘pit bull’ driven by “Short Man” of Tuschen was speeding,” Mc Donald explained.

The two minibuses were seen parked in the compound of the Den Amstel Police Station. Following the accident, breathalyser tests were administered to the two drivers. None of drivers were under the influence. They however, remain in custody as Police continue their investigations.

The bodies of the two men were taken to the Ezekiel Funeral home awaiting a post mortem examination.

(Bhisham Mohamed)

The two minibuses involved in the accident

elled to the Leonora Cottage Hospital where he saw the bodies of his two brothers.

He confirmed that both had sustained severe head injuries.

(Tuesday), I liked a photo on Facebook with my second brother and my daughter…

This is unbelievable and words cannot explain how I feel at this moment,” he stat-

S

atiricus wondered what all the tension was all about.

His buddies, who were waiting for him at the Back Street Bar, had been having sleepless nights as to when the decision would come down. But he’d already told them what to expect. The problem was they didn’t believe him. They thought his leader Rum Jhaat was just carrying on with “Rum Shop talk” when he’d said there would be no third term.

“I told you fellas Rum Jhaat knew what he was talking about!!” exclaimed Satiricus, even before he took his seat with his friends. “The decision was in the bag, he said!!”

“Sato, wha’ me waan fuh know, a how come Rum Jhaat bin know?” asked Cappo. “Like ‘e a wan fartune tella, or wha’?” “’E na none fartune tella,” said Bungi heatedly. “Me tell ayuh de whole Cee Cee Jay fix!!”

“How could you say such a thing?” replied Satiricus, just as heatedly. “These are Judges of the highest integrity!!”

“Sato, maybe so,” said Hari quietly. “But weren’t the CariCom leaders who went along with Burnt Ham rigging for 28 years also honourable men?”

“You’re talking about apples and oranges!” exclaimed Satiricus. “Those were politicians; these are Judges.”

“Me fr’en’, apple and aringe – all-two a dem a fruit, you know,” said Cappo. “An’ in de Carib-yan paliti-shan and judge come fram de same pack a cyard!”

“Budday! Na da Bajan Prime Minista bin seh all dem Cee Cee Jay judge a “palitishan in robe”??” said Bungi.

“I don’t believe you fellas!” exclaimed Satiricus. “So maybe we should go back to the Privy Council as our top Appeal Court?

“Damn right, we should!!” said Hari, in an uncharacteristically loud voice. “The Privy Council don’t have any ‘skin in the game’!”

“And what skin the CEE CEE Jay have in Guyana?” demanded Satiricus truculently.

“Budday, wid dem country sinkin’ and abee ile money comin’ in soon, dem know de Pee an’ See gat jab fuh dem!” said Bungi.

“De Mustache man na hiyah some a dem a’ready!!?” said Cappo.

“Just like de Bannuh fix up dem Haitian !” concluded Bungi.

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wednesDAY, june 27, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Lone gunman robs porter F

orty-five-year-old Eckmond Pounder, a porter of Lot 53 Fourth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, was on Tuesday morning relieved of his personal belongings by a lone gunman who entered his home.

According to information received, Pounder was at home when he was confronted by the perpetrator who was wearing a white jersey

and a blue pair of jeans. At the time, he was brandishing a black handgun.

However, the lone gunman demanded the victim hand over his laptop computer, mobile phone and money. Out of fear for his life, the victim complied and handed over the computer; but not satisfied, the perpetrator snatched the victim’s mobile phone from his hands, after which he pushed his hands

Wanted Berbice man found hanging from tree

The now dead man, Lionel Thomas, and Owamawattie Alves in happier times

S

ixty-two-year-old Lionel Thomas, who set the house of his ex-wife on fire in an attempt to kill her, was on Tuesday morning discovered hanging from a dunks tree (also known as a dungs tree) at his farm at Rose Hall, Corentyne, Berbice.

The Ankerville, Port Mourant, Corentyne, resident was taken to Ramoo’s Funeral Home where his body awaits a post-mortem examination. It is suspected the man committed suicide.

On Wednesday last, Thomas attempted to kill his ex-wife using a knife, a piece of wood, and a broken glass, before allegedly setting fire to a $27 million house, reducing it to rubble.

The victim, 47-year-old Owamawattie Alves, also called “Ann”, sustained injuries and was rushed to the Port Mourant Hospital where she was treated and admitted.

The mother of four told Guyana Times that she walked away from the 28year relationship two years ago, but the now dead man has been stalking her every move.

According to Alves, the relationship was very abusive and she decided in 2016 to put an end to it after her husband was jailed for two years for abuse perpetrated against her. She said ever since his release from prison, he has been threatening to kill her.

She related that on June 16, 2018, while she was at the Port Mourant Market, he approached her with a cutlass and threatened to end her life, but she was able to escape and reported the incident to the Police.

There were several other instances where by she was attacked and terrorised by the now dead man.

The woman lived with her 17-year-old daughter in the house that was reduced to rubble on June 20.

Port Kaituma man remanded for narco-possession

A

mason was on Tuesday remanded

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after he was reportedly found with 393 grams of cannabis in his possession.

Shabeer Mohammed, 37, of Port Kaituma, North West District (NWD) and Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown, denied that he had the drugs in his possession on June 21 at Four Miles, Port Kaituma.

His attorney, Tiffany Jeffrey told the Court that the drug was found 50 feet away from her client in bushes while her client was travelling in a motor car.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield objected to this

and revealed that the car in which the father of one was travelling was stopped

by Police, and he exited the vehicle and attempted to sneakily hide the drugs in a clump of bushes at the corner of the roadway.

When a rank who noticed him made checks, two black plastic bags with the drug was found and as such, he was arrested.

He reportedly told ranks at the Police Station that “the lady want weed, so I went up the road for the stash”.

As such, he was remanded to prison. The case will continue on August 6, 2018 at the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court.

into the man’s pocket and relieved him of a $1000.

After taking the items, the gunman assaulted the victim,

causing injuries to his left eye.

After the ordeal, the suspect exited the house and made good his escape. A report was lodged at the Alberttown Police Station and the victim was taken to seek medical attention. He was subsequently treated and set away.

The Police have since questioned several persons in the area.

Up to press time, no arrests were made.

Taxi hijacked in Eccles

A

n Albouystown, Georgetown taxi driver was on Monday evening robbed of his silver-grey Toyota Allion motor car bearing registration number HC 2675 by two men pretending to be customers.

The victim is Muhammad Edun, of James and Hogg Streets Albouystown. Based on information received about 21:55h, the 27-year-old man was sitting at the

base of R&J Taxi Service in BB Eccles, East Bank Demerara – when one of the suspects entered his car and requested to be taken to Industrial Site, Eccles, EBD. While on their journey, the suspect who was sitting in the back passenger seat reportedly pulled out a dark-coloured metal object, placed it to the right side of the victim’s face and instructed him not to move.

Shortly after, a silver

grey Raum drove up alongside the taxi from which a man exited and entered the backseat of the taxi.

The taxi driver was ordered to drive for some distance, before being told to stop and exit the car. Upon doing so, he ran off into the nearby bushes to escape the hijackers.

The two men then drove off with his car.

The matter was reported to the Police and an investigation was launched.

Decomposed body found in GRA parking lot

T

he decomposed body of a male was on Tuesday morning found in a clump of bushes in the parking lot of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Camp and Lamaha Streets, Georgetown.

The body is yet to be identified. It was clad in a green jersey, cream long pants, and a pair of black long boots.

Based on reports received, the discovery was made about 08:00h by a civilian who noticed a stench emanating from the area.

The Police were called in and an investigation was launched. After some time, a crowd had gathered to get a glimpse of the body as it was being moved.

The body did not have any marks of violence. It was taken to the Lyken Funeral Parlour to await identification and a post-mortem.

12 news

wednesDAY, june 27, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Sovereignty of the people case

CCJ overturns Guyana’s Court of Appeal decision

T

he Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) on Tuesday ruled 6-1 in the Attorney General v Cedric Richardson case, holding that the presidential term limit in Guyana is constitutional.

The Court overturned the decision of the Guyana High Court and the Guyana Court of Appeal, which had ruled that amendments to the Guyana Constitution, which essentially limits the number of times a person could be elected President of Guyana were improperly done.

All seven Judges of the CCJ heard the appeal. The majority decision was delivered by separate judgements from CCJ President, Sir Dennis Byron; Justice Adrian Saunders; and Justice Jacob Wit. On the other hand, Justice Winston Anderson offered a dissenting judgement.

Challenge

Cedric Richardson had originally challenged the amendment on the basis that he should have the right to choose whomsoever he wanted to be President. He also stated that the amendment disqualified Jagdeo, who had previously served two terms as President, from running for office in upcoming elections.

Richardson argued that the amendment was inconsistent with his rights under Articles 1 and 9 of the Constitution, which declared that Guyana was a “sovereign democratic state”. He said that in order for the National Assembly to amend the Constitution, the amendment had to be supported by

CCJ President, Sir Dennis Byron

a majority vote in a referendum. He said that no referendum was held before the amendment in 2000 and therefore the amendment was unconstitutional.

He had noted in his challenge that with the changes, then voters of Guyana would have a choice of four classes of persons that were barred

by Act 17 of 2001. Amended Article 90 had specified that (A) only a citizen by birth or parentage can qualify to be the President; (B) a person must be residing in Guyana on the date of nomination for election; (C) a person must have been a resident for seven years immediately before that date, and (D) citizens of Guyana who have served for two terms as President were barred from re-election.

In the ruling on Tuesday, the majority’s view was that Articles 1 and 9 of the Guyana Constitution did not confer on citizens an unlimited right to choose the Head of State. The Court vindicated that democratic governance

allowed for reasonable qualifications for eligibility to be a member of the National Assembly and hence to be President. This was supported by objective, international standards of what a democratic state entails.

The CCJ also stated that new qualifications can be introduced by valid constitutional amendments and that the National Assembly had the power to amend the Constitution by a vote of at least two-thirds of all members of the Assembly, without having to hold a referendum to decide on this matter.

Justice Winston Anderson, in his dissent, agreed with the Court of Appeal of Guyana that the amendment was unconstitutional. He claimed that the decision resulted in the exclusion of probably thousands of otherwise eligible Guyanese citizens from being elected as President, without seeking the approval of the people by referendum. He said it was an unacceptable constraint on the sovereignty of the people of Guyana to choose their President as provided for in Articles 1 and 9 of the Constitution of Guyana.

The CCJ examined the historical background of the amendment to the Constitution and in its ruling noted that it was passed unanimously by the National Assembly during Bharrat Jagdeo’s term in office.

The CCJ said it felt that it was clear that the amendment did not emerge from the desire of any political party to manipulate the requirements to run for the office of President. Rather, the Constitution was amended

after extensive national consultation and therefore represented a sincere attempt to enhance democracy in Guyana.

Guyana’s Court of Appeal ruled in February 2017 that the constitutional amendments by Parliament to limit the number of times a person could serve as President were unconstitutional.

During that February decision, then acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh, was supported by Justice of Appeal BS Roy in upholding then acting Chief Justice Ian Chang’s decision that the amendments were unconstitutional.

The decision which the

Appellate Justices upheld signalled that an amendment to the Constitution on presidential term limits, which was enacted when the National Assembly altered Article 90 via a two-thirds vote in 2000, needs a referendum to make a final decision.

This enactment was recommended by an across-theboard Constitutional Reform Committee of 2000/2001.

This Committee received both Government and Opposition input, and the reform received bipartisan support.

Attorney General Williams had appealed the Appeal Court’s landmark ruling in February 2017 that

declared that sovereignty resides in the people and not in the Parliament; and as such, certain fundamental clauses in the Constitution that serve to define its substantive nature can be altered only by a referendum of the people.

AG Williams and his colleague, Raphael Trotman, challenged the ruling in the CCJ. The decision to refer the matter to the CCJ was presided over by acting Chancellor Yonette Cummings-Edwards, Appellate Judge Dawn Gregory and then High Court Judge Rishi Persaud.

The appeal was successful.

Several Lindeners fined, license suspended for DUI

S

everal drivers appeared before Magistrate Clive Nurse at the Linden Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday and were fined for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), while another had his licence suspended.

Floyd Wilson, 49, of Lot 20 Gardina Street, Mackenzie had his licence suspended for 12 months in addition to being fined $10,000 or face an alternative sentence of a week in prison, since it was the second time he has been convicted for the offence.

The court heard that on June 1, 2018, while on the Washer Pond Road, Mackenzie, he drove motor car PSS 9186 while being over the prescribed limit of alcohol consumption.

A breathalyser test administered by ranks showed that he had 39 micrograms of alcohol in his system at the time. He pleaded guilty to the charge. Meanwhile, Anthony Stephens, 34, of 215 Blueberry Hill, Wismar,

Linden, was also charged for drunk driving.

The court heard that on June 24, 2018, he drove motor car PMM 4353 along the Washer Pond Road, Wismar, while under the influence of alcohol.

Stephens pleaded not guilty to the charge and was represented by Attorney Yondessa Welcome who made an application for reasonable bail to be granted.

The attorney noted that her client is a teacher and father of four with just one prior offence. He was granted $5000 bail and is set to return to court on July 11 for the commencement of his trial.

Additionally, Leon Mosely, 37, of 86 Wisroc Housing Scheme, Wismar was fined $7500 for similar offence. The court heard that on June 24, 2018, he drove motor car PPP 885 along the Washer Pond Road, Mackenzie while having 62 micrograms of alcohol in his system.

He pleaded guilty to the

charge. Failure to pay the fine will result in an alternative sentence of one week imprisonment.

Finally, Sydney Henry, 38, of 27 Dangou Hill, Wismar, was fined $7500 or an alternative of one week imprisonment after pleading guilty to driving under the influence of alcohol.

The court was told that on June 23, he drove motor car PRR 4854 along the Washer Pond Road while having 67 micrograms of alcohol in his system.

Police in E Division (Linden-Kwakwani) continue to crack down on persons driving under the influence of alcohol.

Drivers are being reminded that the legal limit of alcohol when driving is 35 micrograms. Drivers in default on the first occasion will face a fine of $7500, while on the second occasion their driver’s licence will be suspended for one year and on the third occasion their licence will be permanently suspended.

news

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wednesDAY, june 27, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Children of WBD ex-sugar workers get $2M in donations A

s former sugar workers and their families continue to face the many impacts resulting from the Wales Sugar Estate closure, 22 of the affected children who attend the nearby Patentia Secondary School received donations of items totalling $2 million.

Nearly two years after the official shutting down of operations at the Estate, many sacked sugar workers are still dealing with reduced employment and financial challenges.

As a result, some parents chose to rotate sending their children to school which caught the eye of the education officers.

Recognising many of these concerns, an over-

seas-based businessman, through prominent Attorney-At-Law Christopher Ram, made the timely donation.

Among the items are stationery supplies and haversacks; one student from the distant community of Free and Easy was given a bicycle to travel to school.

Headmistress Collette Reedon, who has been stationed at the school for about one year, says that these timely donations give the school a more positive image while assisting parents in the community who have encountered difficulties.

She told Guyana Times that a study was conducted to select the students

Twenty-two students at Patentia Secondary School, West Bank Demerara received donations from an overseas-based businessman after many parents lost employment at the Wales Sugar Estate

who were most in need.

Attorney Ram noted that four other schools on the West Bank of

Demerara are slated to receive similar donations while there are also plans to give a few scholarships

to students.

Wales Sugar Estate officially ended operations in December 2016. To date,

GT man nabbed with illegal gun, ammo at Mabura

A

n Alberttown, Georgetown, resident was on Tuesday afternoon arrested at Mabura Police Check Point, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) after he was found to be in possession of an unlicensed .32 Taurus semi-automatic Pistol with 12 live matching rounds.

The 40-year-old man was reportedly in a motor vehicle when it was stopped and searched by Police ranks at the check point. He is expected to make his court appearance by the end of the week.

Only recently, the Police stated that a total of 55 illegal firearms were taken off the streets up to the end

A section of the students at the handing over on Tuesday morning

May, when compared to 64 for the corresponding period last year.

The majority of guns seized were pistols – 33 in

total. Most of them – 27 – were reportedly confiscated by ranks in A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara).

many of the workers have not been paid severance packages.

14 NEWS

wednesDAY, june 27, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Police, Public Service Commissions

National Assembly adopts nominees for constitutional bodies

T

he National Assembly on Monday evening adopted the nominees of the Police and Public Service Commissions, paving the way for President David Granger to appoint the nominated Commissioners.

Chairman of the Standing Committee on Appointments and Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton, moved the motion for the adoption of the eleventh report of the Committee. That report was presented in the House in April.

The report recommended retired Assistant Commissioners of Police, Paul Slowe, Clinton Conway, Vesta Adams and Claire Jarvis as nominees for the Police Service Commission.

The nominations came from the Association of Former Members of the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Police Association.

The life of the last Police Service Commission came to an end in September of 2017 and there have since been calls for its reconstitution. In fact, concerns were further raised after there were no promotions of senior officers last year.

New members of the Police Service Commission have already been selected.

It was in January of 2018, that Police Commissioner (acting) David Ramnarine had called for the body to be put in operation as soon as possible.

Before the life of the last Police Service Commission ended back in September of 2017, President David

Retired Assistant Police Commissioner, Paul Slowe is one of the nominees to the Police Service Commission

Granger had ordered in July of that year, to put a hold on the promotion of senior ranks.

Public Service Commission

Meanwhile, the House also adopted the Committees nominees for the Public Service Commission (PSC).

Vincent Bowman and Mortimer Livan were put forward in the eighth report of the Committee which was published in March.

The life of the Public Service Commission had expired in August 2017.

Last year, the President had ordered a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Commission which found serious breaches in the operations of the previous Commission.

Previously, the non-appointment of the Commission had been blamed for instances of delays in the public service system. For instance, this was one reason cited when Regional Executive Officer (REO) of Region Three

(Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Denis Jaikarran, appeared before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) at the National Assembly.

The Audit Office of Guyana had found inordinate numbers of contracted employees in the system.

Providing an update on the situation, the PAC was informed that they managed to regularise 102 contracted persons in 2016. The regional authorities claimed that confirmation of the remaining 182 contracted employees is dependent on the PSC. “Before the Commission went out of commission, we were able to propose persons who were on contracted employment, be placed on the permanent establishment,” Jaikarran had said, adding that the remaining employees were employed last year.

According to the report, “Amounts totalling $2.592 billion were expended on Employment Cost for 2016.

According to the National Estimates, the regional ad-

ministration had a staffing structure of 2165; however, the actual staff of the regional administration exceeded the authorised strength by sixty-four.”

In response, the head of budget agency had indicated that the regional administration has already taken steps to move its employees over to the permanent establishment and this process is expected to be completed by the end of October 2017.

It was recommended that the regional administration continue the process of moving staff over to the perma-

Trade unionist Mortimer Livan has been nominated for the Public Service Commission

nent establishment in order to minimise the number of staff employed on a contractual basis in keeping with circularised instructions.

Last month, Granger had revealed that he planned to meet Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo in a short while, where appointments of persons to both of these Commissions would be included in the agenda. This is in keeping with the Constitution of Guyana.

Since then, there has been no word on a date for the meeting and Granger is presently overseas. (Jarryl Bryan)

Magistrate expresses frustration with Police slothfulness in prosecution

Nakool “Fyah” Manohar and Premnauth “Sinbad” Persaud being led away from court

B

erbice Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh has expressed frustration over the slothfulness in the prosecution with charges brought against two Corentyne men in connection with the deadly piracy attack.

Two weeks ago, the Magistrate had called the Police a bunch of jokers while presiding over the case and again on Tuesday, while not uttering his feelings, he was no-

ticeable frustrated when the case came up before him and the Police did not have the file jacket.

Nakool “Fyah” Manohar and Premnauth “Sinbad” Persaud are before the court for the alleged murder at sea of Tilliknauth Mohabir and Mahesh Sarjoo between April 27 and May 3, 2018.

However, on Tuesday, when the matter was called at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court, the prosecution asked for a temporary adjournment, claiming that the Police ranks were on their way from Georgetown with the file jacket as well as the other accused, Alexander Dienhart.

After midday the matter was called again and the court was told that the file did not arrive; and as such, Attorney Joel Edmond representing Manohar argued that it was unfair to his client who is imprisoned.

“It is the same reoccurrence at each hearing,” Edmonds said, while asking that the matter be adjourned until July 11, giving the Police enough time for the matter to move forward.

The matter cones again on July 11.

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wednesDAY, june 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

16 news

wednesDAY, june 27, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

D’Edward Mandir shallow grave murder

Police withdraw charges against 3 murder accused

O

n Tuesday, Police in Berbice were forced to withdraw charges against the three men who were accused of the Mandir shallow grave murder.

As the matter was called, the officer to swear to the evidence was absent. Hours later, when the matter was called for the second time, it was observed that it was filed for the New Amsterdam Court and not the Blairmont Magistrate’s Court.

In light of this, Magistrate Rondell Weaver requested for the jacket to be filed properly.

That had to be done at Fort Wellington.

When that was corrected and came before the court, the

The accused: Antonio Balrup and Satrohan Madray

Magistrate said she had no jurisdiction to hear the charge as prepared. The prosecution then sought advice from the DPP and then returned to court with only two of the accused.

Magistrate Weaver then asked for the third accused since there were three names on the file jacket.

Upon his appearance at the court, it was stated that Antonio Balrup, and Satrohan

Madray are accused of killing Saeed Hamid at D’Edward but Asif Hamid was charged with accessory to the crime.

Due to the fact that Hamid is a prisoner at the New Amsterdam Penitentiary, the Magistrate ruled that the matter was out of her jurisdiction and could not read that charge to the accused.

Police Prosecution, Inspector Bernard Brown at that time told the court that the prosecution was only going ahead with the charges against Balrup and Madray.

However, the Magistrate said she could not separate the charges since they were jointly charged and as such, the charges were withdrawn.

The Magistrate had earlier vented her frustration as her patients ran out having to wait for more than six hours and up to then the prosecution was not able to present a charge which she could read

Accused Asif Hamid

to the defendants.

Meanwhile, as one of the accused was being taken to the court, he claimed that he was severely beaten by the Police.

His mother, Seeta Madray, who also was detained as the Police investigated the alleged murder of the Corriverton butcher, said her son was placed under pressure to make certain ut-

terances to the Police.

“My son said, Mummy!

They put plastic bag over my head, they scotch tape over my mouth, they bandage my hand and they shock me fo say things wha me na know.”

Saeed Hamid was supposed to testify against his son, Asif, in connection with the murder of Henry Lallman, whose body was found in a shallow grave under a mango tree in Hamid’s yard.

Lallman had disappeared and during investigations, Police stumbled upon the man’s partially decomposed body after they were informed that he went to Hamid’s home and never returned.

It is believed that Hamid while in prison met Madray and they plotted to prevent the now dead businessman from giving evidence against him.

On April 16, 2018, the senior Hamid left his Corriverton home and never returned.

news

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wednesDAY, june 27, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ramsammy’s Ruminations Troy Resources considering The continuing scandal of the MoH warehouse – total misconduct in office

exploring other projects

L

ast week, I promised to write about the clear misconduct in office of the Infrastructure Minister. His handling of the new Demerara River bridge is beyond scandal, corruption and ineptness.

It is clearly misconduct in office. I felt I could have deferred highlighting that gross example of misconduct in office last week, choosing, instead, to highlight one that affected the lives of Dr Leslie Ramsammy rice farmers. The continuing misconduct in office of the Agriculture Minister, who has gone AWOL as millers and, therefore, farmers, are owed about $2 billion for rice they exported to Panama more than one year ago, forced me to defer writing about the Demerara bridge scandal. I am about to break my promise and again defer writing about the Demerara bridge scandal because there are so many examples of misconduct in office right now.

There is the misconduct in office of the Ministers of Citizenship and Foreign Affairs, with thousands of Haitian citizens gone missing in Guyana, raising suspicion that there is an unholy plan to provide them with citizenship in order for them to vote in 2020; part of the plan to rig elections. There is misconduct in office of the Communities Minister, usurping power to change Amerindian villages into Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, raising suspicion that he is planning to gerrymander the Local Government results later this year.

There is the misconduct in office of the Education Minister, with the National Grade Six Assessment results which the Ministry has had in their possession for some time now, but has withheld without any legitimate reason, raising suspicion among many that the Education Ministry is tampering with the results.

There are so many examples of misconduct in office that had I been writing a column dedicated to misconduct in office on a daily basis, I would face the dilemma everyday of which one to choose. They are all egregious, all with significant negative impacts on our people and country. In the midst of choosing which of the many examples of misconduct in office I wanted to highlight for this column, came news that the Public Health Ministry has paid out between July 2016 and March 2018 more than $264 million as rent for a house in Georgetown that they claimed they needed as a medical warehouse. This is the actual rent they paid. It does not include the VAT payment that the Government is paying on behalf of the owner of the building. It does not include the cost of air conditioning and the cost of security which are costs the Ministry assumed.

That scandal started with Minister Norton in 2016. It was corruption so easy for people to discern as it is easy to know that water is wet. Renting a house from a political affiliate and donor is bad enough, but renting a house at a cost which paid out for the house with less than two months’ rent is criminal. The new Public Health Minister in late 2016 claimed that the contract will be terminated. But it is now more than 18 months since that promise was made. The current Public Health Minister tells Parliament this week that her Permanent Secretaries, in October 2016 and October 2017, wrote to the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) donor who is the owner of the property giving notice of “quitting” the contract.

But the Ministry which had paid the first six months’ rent at a cost of almost $13 million per month in advance, even before the man had purchased the building for $25 million, has been dutifully paying the rent every month. From July 2016 to March 2018, the Minister has supervised a Ministry that has paid out more than $264 million in only rental charges. This is clearly abrogation of duty and misconduct in office. The taxpayers have been burdened with paying out more than a million US dollars for a building that cost the owners less than US$5000.

The owner is being paid almost $1300 per square foot even after the Ministry informed the owner of the building that the contract will be terminated since October 2016. What is more egregious is that the building has never been certified as a legitimate drugs bond. The Ministry had an option in 2016 of paying $237 per square foot for a building that has been internationally certified as a medicine warehouse. The Ministry had used that internationally certified building for free for almost a decade. But the internationally certified warehouse is owned by NEW GPC, which tops the list on APNU/AFC’s black book and the non-certified one is owned by an APNU/AFC donor. This is beyond misconduct in office.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman

N

atural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman said Government will give its support to Australian mining company, Troy Resources, if it chooses to pursue other areas of production. The company has been exploring gold in Guyana through its “Karouni Project” since 2014.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Troy Resources, Ken Nilsson, said on Monday that the gold mining company could go into other areas of production by the end of the year. He made the disclosure during a visit by Minister Trotman and his team, to his Karouni, Region Seven mines, the Department of Public Information stated.

“We are continually looking to see if there are any other projects in Guyana that we could actually get involved in,” he told the Minister and his team.

However, he stressed that this can only happen at the end of the year when the company is in a better position to “free up more money.”

At the moment, Nilsson said the company has been investing heavily on the training on locals, which he stressed will be good for them if the company has to move on.

“They are not working for Troy Resources, they

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are working for themselves.

Because job satisfaction and security all depends on your input,” Nilsson said about the local employees of the company. The Guyanese

workforce at the company amounts to about 90 per cent.

Minister Trotman said the company has been doing an exemplary job over the period it has been in Guyana.

He said there was no reason why the Government would not support the efforts. “… there is an intention to remain in Guyana to provide jobs, we know that 90 per cent of the workforce here is Guyanese, so we are happy about that. It is about giving back, about adding value, about ensuring Guyanese have work,” the Minister told DPI continuing that the Government is “prepared to sit and work with them to look for new ar-

Troy Resources CEO Ken Nilsson

eas for mining.”

Minister Trotman said Government is “quite pleased with the company’s work ethic, noting that there are frequent engagements between the two.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, june 27, 2018

ARCHIE

Share information and put an effort into taking care (March 21- of matters that can affect you April 19) emotionally. Don't feel you must spend money to make an impression. Romance is favoured.

ARIES

Preparation is the key to TAURUS your success. Gather infor(April 20- mation and scout for the best May 20) people to help you reach your destination. A little finesse will go a long way.

dilbert

Fix any problems swiftGEMINI ly. Your ability to multitask (May 21will stand out when compared June 20) to your competitors. Personal improvements and gains look promising. Rewards are heading your way.

If you put your imagination to work, you'll come up (June 21- with a plan that will encourJuly 22) age you to bring in more cash or better handle your personal finances.

CANCER

Peanuts

Look before you leap. Alter LEO your life for the right reasons, (July 23- not to please someone else.

Aug. 22) Avoid excess, greed and arguments.

Calvin and Hobbes

Don't make excuses. Take VIRGO care of your responsibilities (Aug. 23and move on to the things you Sept. 22) really want to do. A change will do you good if it's carefully considered and executed properly.

If you keep busy, you'll LIBRA (Sept. 23- stay out of trouble. Don't let Oct. 23) an incident make it impossible for you to take care of the things you need to accomplish.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Alter your life to make SCORPIO it easier to accomplish your (Oct. 24personal goals. Personal Nov. 22) contracts and joint ventures don't have to be standard.

Add what's most important to you.

Take control of your perSAGITTARIUS sonal finances. Refuse to let (Nov. 23anyone talk you into someDec. 21)

TODAY’S WORD — NEOLITH (NEOLITH: NEE-uh-lith: An ancient stone implement.)

thing you don't really want to do. Put more energy into fitness and health. Romance is highlighted.

Average mark 24 words Time limit 40 minutes Can you find 34 or more words in NEOLITH? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — HOSPICE

solution for last published puzzle hope hose scope ship shoe shop

spec spice peso pish poise pose

posh chip chop chose cope copies

copse echo epic epoch epos

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

Express your thoughts CAPRICORN and feelings and expand on (Dec. 22- old ideas that can bring about Jan. 19) positive changes. Someone will surprise you with an offer of support or an interesting suggestion.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Just because someone asks you to do something doesn't mean that you must oblige. If it doesn't fit into your plans or could disrupt your schedule, say no.

If you let your creativity take control, you'll come up with a positive way to handle challenges you face at work or at home. Stifle your emotions to avoid a misunderstanding.

wednesDAY, JUNE 27, 2018

19

Dramatic late goal salvages Argentina’s World Cup hopes M

arcos Rojo scored a brilliant late volley to send Argentina through to the last 16 of the 2018 World Cup with a dramatic victory over Nigeria in St Petersburg.

A lacklustre Argentina were on the verge of an embarrassing exit, before Manchester United defender Rojo surged into the area to place Gabriel Mercado’s cross into the bottom corner.

Lionel Messi, who had scored a brilliant opener, jumped on Rojo’s back as he sprinted away in delirious celebration, joined by the entire Argentina bench in the corner.

It was a result they scarcely deserved after a poor second-half showing, epitomised by Javier Mascherano’s error that allowed Victor Moses to equalise with a penalty. But once their ragged de-

fence had held on to the final whistle, the Argentina players embraced each other in

t h e centre of the pitch, waving to their vociferous fans, a disjointed side united for now.

Messi’s magical touch

Given Messi will be 35 during the next World Cup in Qatar in 2022, victory here has at least staved off a miserable end to what could well be his last chance to win the tournament.

The Barcelona striker, whose hint of a smile during the pre-match anthems was a stark contrast to his pained expression prior to the 3-0 defeat by Croatia, produced a

sup e r b first-half performance.

His opening goal displayed all his talent and composure. With Ever Banega looking to go over the top from deep, Messi cut sharply right and surged in behind the defence, with the Sevilla midfielder picking him out with a terrific pass.

Messi’s first touch to cushion the ball on his left thigh was sublime, the second off his left boot to draw it away from Kenneth Omeruo exquisite, the finish into the far corner with his right emphatic.

Elsewhere he was efficient, threatening to create openings with every quick touch, and could have had a second but for Nigeria keeper Francis Uzoho’s tremendous save to tip a free-kick onto the post.

With Argentina’s players reportedLionel Messi celebrates his superb first half goal

ly at odds with boss Jorge Sampaoli, it was perhaps telling that Messi delivered a second team talk to his side in the tunnel just before coming out for the second half.

His words failed to inspire them, with Messi increasingly isolated, but the little master had at least given his teammates the foundation to salvage their World Cup hopes.

“It is very hard to see how Argentina can stand up to the French – if they are going to mount any challenge, it will have to be like it was four years ago when they played on individual talent,” said BBC Sport’s South American football expert Tim Vickery.

“France will not be too concerned about playing Argentina.”

Argentina will face Group C winners France in the last 16 in Kazan on Saturday, while Group D winners Croatia, who secured top spot by beating Iceland 2-1, play Denmark. (BBC Sport)

Iceland exit World Cup as Croatia advance I

celand failed in their attempt to reach the World Cup knockout stages for the first time as Croatia secured a late win to top Group D on maximum points.

The Nordic nation knew they had to win to stand any chance of reaching the last 16 and their colourful support looked dejected in Rostov-on-Don where their side missed key chances late in the first half.

Alfred Finnbogason and Birkir Bjarnason both went close before the interval, but Milan Badelj stylishly slammed home for Croatia after the break. That forced Iceland to chase the game and they hit the bar through Sverrir Ingason before Gylfi Sigurdsson won and converted a penalty to level when Dejan Lovren handballed.

In the dying minutes, with Argentina leading Nigeria 2-1 some Alfred Finnbogason side footed wide from 18 yards late in the opening 45 minutes 1100 miles away in St Petersburg, Iceland knew a win would see them – against a side sporting nine changes from Spirited Iceland’s missed chance jump ahead of the South American nation in With a population of around 300,000, their last game – will perhaps feel like an second place. But their attacks became less Iceland’s achievement in becoming the opportunity wasted. frequent as Croatia took more control and smallest nation to reach the World Cup unHeimir Hallgrimsson’s side were the lowIvan Perisic – one of only two players to re- derstandably saw their fans wear faces of est scorers of the European sides who qualitain his place from the win over Argentina – pride and disappointment on the final whis- fied automatically for the tournament and a fired across the keeper to win it for Croatia tle. lack of end product undoubtedly proved key in injury time.

They arrived in southern Russia know- in their exit. They had grown into the openHis side now faces Denmark in the last ing even a win may not be enough if Nigeria ing 45 minutes as a Croatian side showing 16 on Sunday, while Argentina will play had beaten Argentina, but the manner in little intent ended the period on the back France on Saturday. which they missed chances at key moments foot despite having 65 per cent possession.

Finnbogason side footed fractionally wide into the side netting from 18 yards, Bjarnason could only drive against the legs of keeper Lovre Kalinic and Aron Gunnarsson was denied by a one-handed save on the stroke of half-time.

Badelj made them pay as, moments after rattling the bar from 30 yards, he powered a shot into the ground which flew into the net.

The instant fight shown epitomised the qualities which have endeared Iceland to so many, with Ingason heading to force a save and then planting another header onto the bar from the resulting corner.

Sigurdsson lifted home a penalty which Lovren conceded with his first touch on the pitch but Iceland – perhaps finally feeling the effects of long spells out of possession, succumbed to Perisic’s powerful leftfoot strike. Defeat added pain to their exit but, as was the case in Euro 2016, they have remained competitive on a grand stage.

Croatia has now won three World Cup matches in a row for the first time and in doing so, win a group at the tournament for the first time also. They look set to arrive in Nizhny Novgorod for Sunday’s meeting with Denmark fairly fresh and certainly dangerous. (BBC Sport)

20

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wednesDAY, JUNE 27, 2018

Peru go out of 2018 World Cup in style P

eru recorded their first win at a World Cup finals since 1978 as they beat Australia in the last match of the tournament for both sides.

Australia needed to defeat already-eliminated Peru and hope France beat Denmark in order to reach the last 16, but the South Americans went ahead with a fine, low 15-yard volley from Andre Carrillo.

Excellent defending from Anderson Santamaria denied Mathew Leckie a closerange equaliser as Australia struggled to create clear-cut chances.

Peru Captain Paolo Guerrero, only able to play in the tournament after a tribunal overturned a

14-month drug ban, s e a l e d the victory when he spun and shot into the far corner.

Christian Cueva also hit a post for Peru late on as they finished third in Group C above Australia, while France qualified as group winners after their goalless draw with Denmark.

Peru had played eight World Cup finals matches without a win since they beat Iran 4-1 on June 11, 1978, and this victory was only the fifth in their history.

Guerrero scores World Cup goal after overturned ban

Peru were playing in their first World Cup tournament since 1982, although their qualification had been fortunate as they had lost 2-0 against Bolivia in qualifying, but that result was given as a 3-0 Peru win as the Bolivians fielded Paraguayborn Nelson Cabrera as a late substitute.

Nevertheless, more than 40,000 Peruvians travelled to Russia and they have been

Peru’s Andre Carrillo and Mile Jedinak of Australia battle for possession during the critical game

determined to enjoy every moment.

Once again their fans made for a terrific atmosphere in Sochi, even though 1-0 defeats to both Denmark and France in their opening two games meant they had no chance of progressing.

Carrillo’s volley gives Peru their first goal of 2018 World Cup

It only took 18 minutes for the South Americans to take the lead when Carrillo, who spent the 2017-18 season on loan at Watford from Benfica, connected perfectly with Guerrero’s cross for their first goal of the competition.

Their second came just five minutes after the break when Peru’s record goalscorer Guerrero doubled his side’s lead. The 34-yearold had been set to miss the World Cup having been given a 14-month ban after testing positive for cocaine, although Guerrero has always maintained his positive test in October 2017 came after drinking con-

taminated herbal tea.

His ban was overturned just before the start of the tournament after the captains of group rivals Australia, Denmark and France wrote to FIFA asking them to lift the ban. It was a fully deserved result for Guerrero and his team to give his country’s supporters the win they desired.

No goal at a fourth World Cup for Cahill

For Australia it was a disappointing way to bow out of the competition and they have now only won twice in 16 matches at World Cup finals. Mile Jedinak, who had scored both of their goals from the penalty spot in Russia, shot well over the top early on before Peru scored their first.

Peru defender

Santamaria did excellently to produce a goal-saving challenge at the near post to deny Leckie after Robbie Kruse’s low cross had beaten goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.

Not even the second-half introduction of ex-Everton forward Tim Cahill could give Australia a way back into the game.

The 38-year-old, who had not featured in Australia’s opening two games, was aiming to become only the fifth man in World Cup history to score in four World Cups after Brazil’s Pele, German duo Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose, and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo. However, Cahill did not have a chance, although he could have been picked out by Aziz Behich, who decided to shoot instead and pulled his effort well off target. (BBC Sport)

Denmark and France advance after goalless draw

A

draw was good enough to see a muchchanged French side top Group C, while Denmark knew a point would be enough for them too, even if Australia beat Peru.

That scenario resulted in a game that lacked ambition, chances and any element of danger, not helped by news midway through the first half that Peru were winning in Sochi.

The fans in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium were initially enthusiastic enough, especially the redshirted Danes who packed one end.

But they saw little in the way of goal-mouth excitement, with the first shot on target arriving in the 39th minute, when France’s Antoine Griezmann turned to fire a tame effort at Kasper Schmeichel from the edge of the area.

Denmark did fashion the best chance of the first half, when France keeper Steve Mandanda just beat Christian Eriksen to Andreas Cornelius’s excellent low cross.

But their only shot on target came after 54 minutes when Mandanda spilled Eriksen’s freekick. The Marseille keeper recovered before Cornelius could capitalise on the rebound.

Both sides stepped up their safety-first approach as the second half progressed – bringing jeers and whistles from many neutrals in the stadium – to ensure they got the result they desired.

France, who rested midfield trio Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi and Corentin Tolisso – all of whom were a booking away from a ban – will play the runners-up in Group D in Kazan on Saturday.

That could be any one of the four teams, while Denmark’s fate is a little clearer after Peru’s 2-0 win over Australia confirmed their qualification in second place. Age Hareide’s side will play the Group D winners, either Croatia or Nigeria, in Nizhny Novgorod on Sunday.

France enjoyed almost 70 per cent of the

possession, but were unable to find a way through against Denmark.

France must wait to find their rhythm France had won their first two games without really finding their rhythm and Didier Deschamps’ decision to make six changes meant that was always unlikely to happen here either.

There were some brief glimpses of the quality that Deschamps has at his disposal, thanks to Griezmann’s intelligent movement behind the Denmark defence, and right-back Djibril Sidibe’s runs up the right flank.

Liverpool target Nabil Fekir also showed some nice touches when he replaced Griezmann for the last 20 minutes, and did come close to breaking the deadlock when he fired into the side-netting.

But otherwise there was little urgency on display, and no sense the France players had any desire to clinch their third successive win.

Denmark through – but not in style Denmark are into the knockout stages of a World Cup for the first time since 2002 and are unbeaten in their past 18 games, but this display will not have allayed the critics of their head coach Hareide.

Norwegian Hareide’s pragmatic approach has already annoyed Danish fans and media alike, and a performance like this one is unlikely to make him many new friends.

A bright start, that saw Middlesbrough’s Martin Braithwaite make some incisive runs down the right wing, soon petered out as Denmark defended in numbers.

Even with Australia 2-0 down and Denmark’s progress virtually assured, Hareide’s side dropped deeper as the second half progressed and made their intentions clear. (BBC Sport)

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Chahar, Agarwal sink Windies A team by 7 wickets

Deepak Chahar

M

Mayank Agarwal

ayank Agarwal stroked a century while seamer Deepak Chahar snapped up five wickets to hand the Windies A team a seven-wicket defeat in the ongoing Tri-Series.

After losing to the hosts England Lions team, the Caribbean side suffered another defeat as the combined force of Agarwal and Chahar proved too much for the Island Boys in a low-scoring match.

Batting first, it was a gutsy 64 not out from Devon Thomas and a robust 45 from Guyanese opener, left-hander Chandrapaul Hemraj ,which saw Windies A to 221 all out in 49.1 overs. Chahar, the star with ball in hand, grabbed a magical 5-27 from his 10 overs, finding meagre support from a few of his teammates who grabbed a wicket each.

Captain Jason Mohammad scored a decent 31 while all-rounder Rovman Powell hit 24 as they rounded off the primary scorers for Windies A team. Chasing a low score, the Indians were equal to the task as the 27-year-old Agarwal set the tone for the chase with a sublime knock of 112 from just 102 balls with 11 fours and 2 sixes.

Shubman Gill saw things home for India with a composed innings of 58 not out with nine boundaries, along with the ever-aggressive Rishbah Pant who cracked 18 off 10 with two sixes and a four.

It was a day to toil for wickets as the Windies. Left-arm seamer Dominic Drakes was the most successful operator with the ball, grabbing 2-37, with Chemar Holder chipping in with 1-48.

Agarwal has now shot to the leading run-scorer position, racking up some 402 runs at an average of little over 100 while Chahar’s 11 wickets gave him the edge over his teammates for most wickets. India A currently sit on two points while the Windies will desperately want to grab their first point.

Meanwhile, the West Indies will look to rebound from their back-to-back losses when they play the Indians again on June 29. (Clifton Ross)

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ouston Rockets point guard James Harden thanked his mother for being his “backbone” as he was crowned Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2018 NBA Awards.

The 28-year-old beat the Cleveland Cavaliers’ four-time MVP LeBron James and the New Orleans Pelicans’ Anthony Davis to the prestigious award.

This is the first time Harden has claimed the MVP award, and he is the third Rockets player to win it.

Harden’s mother, Monja Willis joined him on stage as he collected his award. “We only get one life and I’m happy she’s my mom,” said Harden.

“I’m not getting emotional.

I’m not doing all that, but she’s Houston Rockets point guard James Harden shows off his my backbone,” he continued.

MVP trophy alongside his mother

Harden scored an average of 30.4 points per game last season, adding 8.8 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game.

The Rockets won the Western Conference, but were beaten by eventual NBA champions Golden State Warriors in the play-offs.

Philadelphia 76ers point guard Ben Simmons was named the NBA’s Rookie of the Year, while Utah Jazz centre Rudy Gobert won the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Dwane Casey was crowned Coach of the Year after guiding the Toronto Raptors to first place in the Eastern Conference. He was sacked by the Raptors in May following their second consecutive second-round loss to the Cavs. (BBC Sport)

Pakistan to continue playing in UAE as deal with Emirates Board struck

A

potential souring of one of the most incident-free relationships in world cricket appears to have been staved off for now, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) reaching an agreement that will see Pakistan continue playing its home matches in the UAE. The dispute originally started with a potential clash of matches after it was announced the Afghanistan Premier League would be played in October, clashing with Pakistan’s home series against Australia and New Zealand.

However, the ECB confirmed that it would not host any league during a Pakistan bilateral series or the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

After discussions between the two boards, a statement was released saying the UAE would continue to play

host to Pakistani cricket. In addition, the ECB committed to “a significant reduction” in the costs the PCB would incur in hosting cricket in the UAE. This is expected to include, among other things, venue hiring costs, security costs, sharing of gate receipts and catering.

Earlier this month, the ECB had announced it would partner a T20 cricket league in the UAE, a development the PCB was unhappy with. The PCB wanted the ECB to keep the winter window reserved exclusively for Pakistan. An agreement appears to have been struck, with that proposed T20 league – as well as the T10 league, which had its inaugural edition last year – to be played between December 10 and January 10.

There are no scheduled Pakistan fixtures in that time slot. However, de-

spite this resolution, the PCB has already decided none of its contracted players will be made available for any of these leagues. Last year, after a bitter dispute between the PCB and some PSL franchises, the PCB agreed to allow contracted players to take part in the four-day T10 league in December.

It is understood that the ECB agreeing to not hosting any league concurrently with Pakistan’s international series or the PSL was of particular important to the PCB, who worried about the devaluation of their product if several other leagues were ongoing in the UAE at the same time. The PCB had also demanded that there should be a sizeable gap between the ECB’s T20 league and the PSL to avoid hampering commercial rights. (ESPNCricinfo)

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wednesDAY, JUNE 27, 2018

Guyana survive double over-time for CBC win C

lad in green, the male national basketball team on Monday evening endured two rounds of overtime to clinch their second victory at the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships/FIBA Americup pre-qualifiers in Suriname.

Early on in the matchup, Guyana found themselves with an eight-point deficit to St Vincent and the Grenadines, a lead that often extended within the first two quarters of the game, but the local boys dug deep to put on another stellar performance at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo.

With a few keen words from Coach Junior Hercules and a change of their game plan, Guyana found themselves back in the game after trailing St Vincent.

By the end of the third quarter, both teams were tied up on 62 points. With Guyana capitalising on

The national men’s basketball team

quick plays and SVG using their height advantage, the match-up could have swung either way, but as fate would have it, the scores remained tied on 81 at the ring of the final buzzer. However, it is

no secret that the narrative of the game would have been different had Guyana been consistent with their free throw opportunities. The local team were only able to sink fewer than 50 per cent

of their 34 attempts.

Going into their first overtime, Guyana had a newfound burst of energy which they used to match every shot that the SVG made.

Another tie on 96 meant

that the Stanton Rose-led Guyanese side would have another shot at victory.

Producing a series-high 41 points, the 18-yearold captain copped a critical rebound near the end-

ing of the second overtime.

Surrounded by the five St Vincent and the Grenadines players, Rose set up Ray Victor’s last two-pointer, which turned out to be the winning points of the game.

The nail-biting match-up eventually ended on 102-104 in Guyana’s favour.

Alongside Rose’s stunning 41 points, which consisted of nine three-pointers, Ray Victor contributed 15.

This is the second win in two games that Guyana have recorded – the first being a 93-64 blow-out victory over Grenada. In that match-up, Kevon Wiggins’ 18 points and Shaine Webster’s 16 points allowed the Guyanese team to get away from Grenada at an early stage in the game, a lead that the Grenadian team were never really able to recover from.

In their next CBC encounter, the national team will play Suriname later today at 21:00h.

BCB wraps up one-day spin clinic T

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) last weekend wrapped up their one-day Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh Coaching Programme for spin bowlers from the Ancient County.

More than 50 potential spinners hailing from Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, Albion, Port Mourant, Rose Hall Canje, Upper Corentyne, Kendall’s Union, Blairmont, Tucber Park and Number 73 attended the clinic facilitated by veteran Level Three Coach Winston Smith.

Smith honed in on the importance of spin bowling, targeting the various biome-

Attendees pose for a photo following the Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh/BCB spin bowling clinic

chanics of the trade which gave the attendees, includ-

ing national youth player Kevin Sinclair, Keith

Simpson, Seon Glasgow, and Jonathan Rampersaud,

a wider base of knowledge.

Following the successful

exercise, the Coach hailed the respective clubs for continuing their drive to help produce more stars from the county, while thanking them for working closely with the BCB. The spin clinic was another drive by the BCB to ensure their players are well-rounded and properly prepared for cricket. The programme is set to culminate with a batting clinic in the New Amsterdam and West Berbice areas.

Meanwhile, the BCB expressed gratitude to Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh for throwing his support behind the successful event.

Kusal, Dilruwan steer Sri Lanka in nervous chase to level series T

he Pereras – Kusal and Dilruwan – put on a luck-filled but plucky 63-run partnership to haul Sri Lanka to victory on the fourth afternoon of the third Test. There were heart-stopping moments for Sri Lanka in this session, particularly when their best batsman Kusal Mendis was hit in front of the stumps before the team could get off the mark on the day.

But although Jason Holder completed an outstanding five-wicket haul at his home venue, and despite the relentless pressure the West Indies quicks created, Sri Lanka’s seventh-wicket stand held firm. Kusal Perera, having returned from his brief stint in hospital the previous night, made a measured 28 not out off 43 balls – by far his most consequential innings of the series. Dilruwan showcased

Kusal Perera and Dilruwan Perera

the fight for which he keeps getting picked, surviving 68 balls as he staggered to an unbeaten 23. Between them, this pair only hit four inten-

tional boundaries. One of those was Dilruwan’s slap over mid-off, to reach the target.

Sri Lanka will take par-

ticular satisfaction from this victory, it having come in such trying circumstances. Three of their senior-most batsmen were missing from the XI – opener Dimuth Karunaratne was injured, Angelo Mathews was at home attending the birth of a child, and Dinesh Chandimal was suspended.

The absence of this experience almost told in this chase as batsmen threw wickets away in the final sessions of day three, but large helpings of good fortune helped ease Sri Lanka’s path to victory the following afternoon. Dilruwan could have been out several times, edging a ball through the slips, sending a leading edge just wide of cover, and almost playing Kemar Roach on to his stumps. Kusal Perera played and missed plenty himself, and was hit painfully on the hand by Miguel

Cummins, to add to the discomfort from his nasty collision.

But somehow, while the Pereras were at the crease, most of the dangerous deliveries missed the edges of their bats or passed by

the stumps, and Sri Lanka inched home. There were leg byes, byes, glances just past the keeper, and nervy singles into the infield.

The runs were not pretty, but they were important.

(ESPNCricinfo)

SCOREBOARD West Indies 1st innings 204 and 2nd innings 93, Sri Lanka 154 1st innings and 2nd 144-6 (40.2 overs, target 144) won by 4 wickets Sri Lanka 2nd Innings (target: 144 runs) MD Gunathilaka c Bishoo b Holder ML Udawatte lbw b Roach DM de Silva b Holder BKG Mendis lbw b Holder ARS Silva c Smith b Holder N Dickwella †b Holder MDK Perera not out

21 0 17 25 1 6 23

MDKJ Perera not out 28 Extras: (b 8, lb 15) 23 Total: 144/6 (40.2 Overs, RR: 3.57) Did not bat: RAS Lakmal (c), CAK Rajitha, CBRLS Kumara Fall of wickets: 1-9 (ML Udawatte, 2.3 ov), 2-30 (MD Gunathilaka, 8.1 ov), 3-48 (DM de Silva, 12.5 ov), 4-50 (ARS Silva, 14.5 ov), 5-74 (N Dickwella, 18.4 ov), 6-81 (BKG Mendis, 24.6 ov) Bowling: KAJ Roach 10-1-33-1, ST Gabriel 9-1-26-0, JO Holder 14.2-4-41-5, ML Cummins 6-1-17-0, D Bishoo 1-0-4-0

wednesDAY, JUNE 27, 2018

T

guyanatimesgy.com

Rayad Emrit says Sohail Tanvir makes his job so much easier

he Guyana Amazon Warriors have come close to winning the Hero Caribbean Premier League, but they have never got over the line, having been losing finalists in 2013, 2014, and 2016.

In 2017, they finished in third place despite a poor start to the tournament. Rayad Emrit, the man that stepped into the captaincy when Martin Guptill returned home for family reasons, felt that they did well to make the playoffs.

“I thought having to win the last five games to qualify to the knockout stages; I think we came up pretty well. We didn’t get the start that we wanted, I thought if we had gotten a couple of wins where it came down close in the last over – we had a couple of games coming down to the last over that we needed eight runs and we didn’t go through the line. I think if we had those victories it would have been a different season, but all in all I thought it was pret-

Females impress at ExxonMobil Under-14

A

s the female division of the ExxonMobil/Petra Schools’ Under-14 tournament got under way, the expectations of many were low, given that many of the young ladies did not have previous exposure to a competitive platform in the sport of football.

However, the eight teams showed up and showed out on Saturday, to prove that they are just as good as their male counterparts.

The day’s activities started slowly with a walkover handed to Tucville Secondary. It was then a battle of defensive play when New Campbellville Secondary and South Ruimveldt Secondary met.

Both teams went back and forth with several commendable attempts on the part of the young ladies; nevertheless, w h e n t h e

allotted time was up, the score remained 0-0.

East Ruimveldt Secondary later cruised to a 2-nil victory over Uitvlugt Secondary, but one of the best performances of the tournament came from the Charlestown team. Although it was just a one-nil victory, Charlestown exhibited an impressive team effort of defensive and attacking play. <<<Guyana Times Sport>>> caught up with

23

Charlestown’s public relations personnel, Choella George, who shared a bit of insight on the creation of their female under-14 team.

She even disclosed that the team had a head-start on their training. “We actually would have started training at the beginning of the year, not pertaining to the competition but just that we’re trying to develop sports in Charlestown, and what really happens, you would find most of the boys interested in sports, so we’re trying to arouse the girl’s interests,” George said.

Admitting that some of the girls were already familiar with the sport from the Under 11(pee-wee) level, George noted that Charlestown’s focus was on improvement of skill and development.

“We would have worked in all the areas, refreshing the memory and developing the skills and making it known to the others who weren’t so familiar with the sport.

Everybody is interested in football, but to actually play it, it’s a different area, a different understanding.”

Going forward, the Charlestown team have already identified some aspects of their game that can be improved, but they are still confident that they can come out victorious.

“Their performance did reflect well on their training; there are small areas that we need to work on and we’ll do that for the next game,” George stated.

ty decent coming down to the back end of the tournament.”

Looking forward to the 2018 season, Emrit thinks that the additions that they made to their squad at the draft mean that they can get close this year as well. “We always there to win the trophy. I think the hunger is still there; to be honest it’s just that we haven’t been finishing well, and coming down to the back end of the tournament where we need to finish well, that’s where we don’t.

“It’s a bit different this year, we have Shoaib Malik who has the wealth of experience, with him coming in to the team, especially with the batting, he knows how to win games and hopefully he can do that for us. We have a decent bowling attack. Rashid Khan isn’t there, but Imran Tahir is there as well as Sohail Tanvir. so I think we’re covered pretty OK.” The Amazon Warriors had three of the top five wicket-takers at the 2017 tournament, with

Emrit himself finishing third on the list with 15 victims. The man with the most wickets was Tanvir, who has been retained by the Guyanese team for 2018. Emrit says having Tanvir bowling at the other end makes his job easier.

“Tanvir knows how to swing the new ball; a lot of guys don’t swing the new ball in the Caribbean. On his day, when he starts swinging it, he causes a lot of trouble for the opponents. He started to swing the ball later on in the tournament and that’s where we got our momentum. If he can do that from the start, definitely he’ll be a handful again.

“It’s easy when he does the job; it’s easier for the other guys at the end, even though it’s going to be a lot of pressure on us to maintain the pressure. It’s always easy having a bowler like that at the other end. He’s been brilliant and as I said, if he can do the job again for us, it’ll make the other bowlers’ job a lot easier.”

Emrit ended.

5th Olympic Day Cycling Meet pedals off Saturday

N

FLASHBACK! Dr Karen Pilgrim (centre front) along with winners from the 2017 Olympic Day Cycling Meet

ational Cycling Coach Hassan Mohammed in collaboration with the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) will host their annual Youth Olympic Day Cycling Meet set for Saturday.

Five exciting categories will feature some of the best young prospects competing for the top honours when they converge at the inner circuit of the National Park from 09:30h.

Among the categories riders will do battle in are: BMX Boys 6-9 years (2 laps); Boys 9-12 years (2 laps); Boys 1214 years (3 laps); Mountain Bike (5 laps) and 12-14 juniors and juveniles (10 laps).

The event is hosted in recognition of Olympic Day, which was observed on June 20. Last year, Nigel Duguid

won the 10-lap feature event in a time of 24 minutes and 36 seconds, with Curtis Dey and Jason Cameron finishing second and third respectively.

Jonathon Ramsuchit won the 12-14 category while Jeremiah Harrison won the 9-12 BMX Boys and Lumesh Singh 6-9 Boys. This event, which forms part of the celebration of Olympic Day worldwide, was included in the Olympic Charter in 1978, encouraging all National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to organise activities which promote the Olympic movement.

Mohammed also indicated that this event would sprout new talent who would like to get involved in the sport and could benefit from the 42nd “Teach

Them Young Programme”, which rides off from July 9 to September 1 in the National Park.

The yearly programme, which is held during the summer vacation, targets schoolchildren but is not limited to them as Mohammed pointed out the event is open to anyone interested in the sport.

To be a part of the action is simple, all you need is protective gear, especially a helmet, as well as a bicycle in working order.

Hassan explained that the programme is absolutely free and all that is required is to be registered. Persons desirous of registering can do so at the National Park or at the National Sports Commission.

The programme has

groomed 95 per cent of the cyclists who have represented Guyana including current Secretary General of the GOA, Hector Edwards, who was part of the inaugural run of the programme in 1976.

As the years rolled by, it has groomed the likes of Marcus and Noel Fiedtkou, Byron and Burtram James, Godfrey Pollydore, Dwayne Gibbs, Linden Dowridge, Robin Persaud, Eric Sankar and Tyrone Hamilton, Troy Humphrey, Alex and Reginald Mendz, Junior Niles, Geron Williams, Warren McKay, Raynauth Jeffrey, Michael Anthony, Hamza Eastman, Raphael Leung, and Jamal John.

The programme will run Monday to Friday from 09:00h to 11:00h.

wednesDAY, JUNE 27, 2018

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

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Kusal, Dilruwan steer Sri Lanka in nervous chase to level series Pg 22

Pg 23

Rayad Emrit says Sohail Tanvir makes his job so much easier Flashback! Hero CPL 2017- Rayad Emrit and Sohail Tanvir have a chat

Pg 19

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