Guyanatimes 28 june 2017

China donates Zika testing equipment to Guyana Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3255

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

GECOM chairmanship

Diplomats express fears over Granger’s ulterior election motive …extending time in office will have consequences – Jagdeo Page 3

Bandits terrorise, rob Berbice teachers Page 14

WBD man shot during daring daylight Page 2 robbery

As conservancy rises

MMA releases Page excess 14 water flooding rice lands, residential areas

This young boy photographed at Number 30 Village, West Coast Berbice is seen walking through floodwaters to make his way to school on Tuesday. His community is among several that have been hard hit by flooding for almost two weeks now as the EDWC reaches a dangerous level (Dexter Ceres photo)

Sisters, boyfriend to face jury for killing father Page 11

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Cyclist killed in Berbice accident P2 Small businesses need to prepare for oil – Gaskin

P12

Lack of crop insurance hindering agricultural sector – former Minister P12

Chief Justice defers decision on GECOM P9 criteria

…State Counsel presents contradictory arguments

Brassington says he has always been available to SOCU P11

Lethem bus operators decry road condition

P10

2 news

wednesDAY, june 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

WBD man shot during daring daylight robbery A

22-year-old man is now nursing a gunshot wound to his toe after he was shot when three armed men invaded his family’s Westminster, West Bank Demerara (WBD) business place on Tuesday and made good their escape with over $500,000 in cash and valuables.

Reports are that about 09:30h, three armed bandits invaded the popular “White Shop” and demanded cash and valuables.

Speaking with this publication, Narindra Narine said that he was in the shop when the three men entered posing as customers. He told Guyana Times that the men requested to buy plantain and as he was weighing the item, they forced their way into the shop and held him up at gunpoint. He added that the men then took him into the house along with his father and began beating them while ransacking the room for cash.

“Them man take a gun and lash me to me head and them man kick up me father. I had on two gold

Businessman Narindra Narine

ring and a silver band and them take it and they went inside the room and ransack the place, carry way some cash and some jewellery,” he related.

Narine said after the trio emptied the cash register in the shop, they left calmly. However, Narine began to hurl glass bottles and stones at them and in retaliation, the men began firing gunshots in his direction hitting his brother, Suraj Narine, in the toe.

“A car was coming through the street at the same time and they held

the driver at gunpoint, them man take he and the vehicle and them man drive come straight up. When them man drive straight up coming out, them start firing shot and one of the shots end up hit my brother on he toe and he toe end up buss way and them man drive and gone in new road deh and make good them escape,” Narine said.

Suraj Narine was rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where he is receiving medical attention. However, this publication understands that his toe may have to be amputated owing to the extent of the injury.

Narine said shortly after the gunmen left, ranks from the La Grange Police Station arrived and were able to recover the hijacked vehicle, PWW 1516, which was found parked a few streets away. When this newspaper visited the scene, the officers were observed dusting the car for fingerprints.

The family said that in the 10 years they have been operating in the area, this is the first time they have

The popular “White Shop”

been robbed. They added that they have security cameras. They are taking extra security precautions and are calling for regular Police patrols in the area,

since robberies are becoming a norm in the housing settlement.

Residents who witnessed the ordeal said that one of the gunmen was

from the area and would frequent the shop to purchase items. The Police said that their investigations were continuing.

Cyclist killed in Berbice accident

A

cyclist of Line Path, Skeldon, Berbice died on Tuesday when a motor lorry which was attempting to overtake him on the Skeldon Public Road struck him.

Dead is Yatambeo Hiralall, 59, of Lot 7 Line Path, Skeldon.

Reports are the accident occurred about 19:30h on Monday evening as the man was riding with his birds.

Guyana Times was told that Hiralal was proceeding north along the Skeldon Public Road while motor lorry BKK 7698 was proceeding in the same direction.

The motor lorry, which was at the time being driven by a 76-year-old man of Rampoor Village, Corentyne, failed to overtake the cyclist and struck him from behind.

The man after being hit was reportedly thrown some distance from his bicycle.

An eyewitness told the media that he heard a loud noise and immediately rushed to investigate when

Dead: Yatambeo Hiralal

he saw Hiralall lying next to a drain, with his bicycle on the parapet.

He was picked up and rushed to the Skeldon Hospital in an unconscious state but succumbed to his injuries at about 23:00h.

Speaking with this publication, the dead man’s wife, Ramdai Hiralall related that her husband left home at about 18:00h to "ride

out his birds". The grieving woman said she was finishing up her chores when she was informed that her husband was at the hospital.

She related that she rushed to the medical facility where she saw him.

"He didn't get none injury outside, the doctor seh he get internal injury and that he nah get head injury, " the woman said.

According to her the doctors at the Skeldon Hospital informed her that Hiralall would have to be transfer to the New Amsterdam Hospital. However there was no available ambulance at the time.

"Me ask where the ambulance deh but the doctor say about forty minutes more and by time that the doctor come out and tell me he dead.,” the grieving woman related.

Hiralall leaves to mourn his two children and wife.

The driver of the motor lorry was taken into Police custody as investigations into the incident continues.

news

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, June 28 – 08:30h-10:00h and Thursday, June 29 – 08:30h-10:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, June 28 – 07:05h-08:35h and Thursday, June 29 – 07:50h-09:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Thundery and heavy rain showers with light cloudy skies can be expected throughout the day, while light cloudy skies can be expected in the evening. Temperatures should range between 24 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging from South-easterly and South Southeasterly between 2.23 metres and 3.12 metres.

High Tide: 07:31h and 20:03h reaching maximum heights of 2.59 metres and 2.45 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 01:04h and 13:33h reaching minimum heights of 0.71 metre and 0.64 metres respectively.

SATURDAY, June 24, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS B

04 09 12

16 23 28

13 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017

DAILY MILLIONS 12 13 19 20 26 LUCKY 3 1 9 5 Afternoon Draw

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08 12 15 16 17 18 19 DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

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wednesDAY, june 28, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GECOM chairmanship

Diplomats express fears over Granger’s ulterior election motive …extending time in office will have consequences – Jagdeo

T

he international diplomatic community is growing increasingly wary over the machinations of President David Granger with regard to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and should he be moving to have a repeat of the 1990 experience – when then President Desmond Hoyte had his term in office extended by two years – he will have to face a non-compliant opposition – a situation that could plunge Guyana into a constitutional crisis.

This is according to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, who on Tuesday raised the issue of a possible ulterior motive on the part of the President and sought to qualify his position by pointing to the seemingly ever-expanding criteria.

Jagdeo was at the time speaking to members of the media at his Church Street, Georgetown office, where he provided an update on the meetings he held with civil society on Monday last over the submission of a third list of nominees for the post of Chairman of GECOM. Jagdeo also used the opportunity to respond to sentiments expressed by President Granger during his most recent pre-packaged television programme, “The Public Interest” which he dismissed as disingenuous.

He told members of the media, “We will never in that sort of atmosphere (outlined

by President Granger) be able to have a person selected.”

Ulterior motive Jagdeo was reporting on sections of civil society lamenting over the requirement to have all six names on any list submitted to be perfect before any of the names is even considered.

“Listen to how unreasonable this is…if you have five persons on the list perfect according to his criteria and one person is not, then he will not even start considering the names,” Jagdeo said.

According to the Opposition Leader, the strongarm position adopted by the President flies not only in the face of the Constitution, but it also flies in the face of history and precedent which has been accepted in the past by both the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C).

Jagdeo suggested he was now of the opinion, as was the case with many that he would have consulted with, that President Granger may very well have an ulterior motive.

“I believe that he has an ulterior motive.”

The Opposition Leader suggested that by delaying the appointment of a GECOM Chairperson, the President may want to believe that this situation could lead to the delay of the next General and Regional Elections.

the international community as a strategy”, on the part of the Granger Government.

Meanwhile, on his consultations with members of civil society, he reported that the persons who participated in the meetings expressed frustration over the protracted delay and shifting goal-posts on the part of the Executive.

“Civil society shared the same frustration on this matter…many felt the President’s position is unreasonable.”

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo speaking to the media on Tuesday

He recalled a similar experience in 1990, when the PNC’s term in office was extended by two years.

Wishful thinking According to Jagdeo, this situation obtained since it was agreed to by the PPP/C, along with the Carter Centre, to have the elections delayed in order to sanitise the voters list to remove any doubt over the rigging that had obtained in the years leading up to that election by the then PNC Government.

“If he thinks that situation will repeat itself, he is engaged in wishful thinking … if he will delay appointment just to get additional years (in office) he is wrong…. he is not going to find a compliant PPP agreeing to an extending of his term.”

Jagdeo warned that such a situation would lead to a constitutional crisis since the life of Parliament would have to be dissolved on a predetermined date according to the Guyana Constitution.

He said should there be no election called at this time, the country would be plunged into

a constitutional crisis, since there could be no Budget and further, any agreement inked at that time would be illegal and not recognised on his part.

“If he thinks, as some people feel, that this is a plot to delay the elections, then there are consequences,” the Opposition Leader warned.

On the matter of his meetings with members of the international diplomatic community, the Opposition Leader said the signals emanating from the Granger Government were sending worrying signals.

International concerns “I had discussions with people from the diplomatic community, because of the behaviour of the President on this matter where he is departing so radically and departing from precedent over the years…He (Granger) is raising a lot of concerns internationally about the elections,” Jagdeo said.

He told members of the media, “we have started doing work internationally to ensure that the election is free and fair …. people see this in

ACDA absent According to Jagdeo, the members of civil society expressed the view, “we will never have agreement if he continues to hold to the views that he has publicly expressed and many of them think it’s a waste of time to continue what seems to be a charade of sending names to him when he would capriciously, flippantly dismiss names as not being fit and proper.”

Jagdeo reported too that the protracted delay has now led to a waning in enthusiasm of civil society to participate in these activities, since “their views are not going to be taken seriously by Government”.

Jagdeo told media operatives, “they and I recognise that it is going to be increasingly hard to find people who would want to put up their names only to put down nationally, publicly by the President.” He did report that among the groups noticeably absent from the consultations was the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA), which had complained about being sidelined at the first engagement, but was since invited.

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wednesDAY, june 28, 2017

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

A worthwhile investment E xcitement is building as in a matter of weeks, the HERO Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2017 tournament will commence with some of the leading West Indian and international talents set to descend on the Caribbean. Now in its fifth year, CPL is now truly established as one of the leading T20 leagues in the world and compares favourably with the likes of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Big Bash League (BBL).

Based on the composition of the teams so far, the competition this year is expected to be stiff, as some of the best T20 cricketers in the world have been selected to participate in the tournament. In addition to the high level of entertainment provided for families, many stakeholders in the Caribbean; including governments and Private Sector bodies, are very optimistic about the huge potential the tournament has in terms of cricket development in the Caribbean and the development of the Region as a whole.

The massive commercial support given to the tournament so far can never be underestimated. Over the years, the number of commercial partners has increased dramatically; and many of them are already seeing for themselves the significant returns that could be derived from investing and being part of the tournament.

Here in Guyana, telephone giant; Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) has made a bold decision to become the signature sponsor of the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the 2017 tournament. While there was no disclosure on a cost of the sponsorship, the agreement is expected to see the company have the main branding rights for the team as they seek to improve both the spectators’ experiences at the stadium and nurture local cricketing talent.

Important to note also is that, as part of the agreement, the company will fully support their “Future Amazon Warrior” in 15 year-old Berbician Seon Glasgow, who is expected to participate in the Sir Garfield Sobers Schools Tournament in Barbados in July. It must be mentioned that CPL has a history of providing the opportunity for new talents to emerge. Players like young Nicholas Pooran, Rayad Emrit, Sheldon Cotterell and Steven Jacobs, to name a few, who may have flown under the radar or been overshadowed by the bigger names in the Region, have now been given an opportunity to develop their international cricketing career. We believe that with more companies like GTT coming on board, it would make it possible for more young athletes; such as Glasgow, who are not usually given such opportunities to work towards achieving their dreams.

The CPL games here are a good example of the tremendous benefits that could be derived from a sporting event of that magnitude. Guyana, through the CPL has benefited significantly from hosting the event since the inception of the tournament. The games’ economic impact locally has been both direct and indirect.

According to CPL, assessment reports compiled showed that the economy received close to US$17 million last season. The net sum was calculated by looking at the influx of tourists to the country, hotel bookings, vending during the games, and the overall spending of persons during this period. With the Guyana Amazon Warriors success at CPL, Guyana has over the past four years benefited from some US$80 million from the tournament.

Additionally, with tournaments such as these, it is not only the sold out stadiums that warrant the prestige but it is a chance to showcase one’s country on the global market since television viewership would usually span each continent. The tournament has had a global audience for the games through outstanding broadcast coverage on television and radio, in addition to significant presence on social media through Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

CPL has indeed been a success story not only as it relates to the development of cricket, but the potential for growth and the ability to create the kind of opportunities that would seek to improve the lives of citizens. GTT and other companies here that have shown an interest in investing in the games must therefore be congratulated for having the right vision to be part of such an exciting adventure.

Captain Megan Couto (centre) of the Second Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) leads her battalion to makes history as the first woman to command the Queen’s Guard at Buckingham Palace in central London (Telegraph)

Enabling environment for Public Service, justice administration Dear Editor, The challenge of establishing and maintaining a professional and politically neutral Public Service, and constitutional positions with persons of high integrity for effective management and administration has eluded every Government administration from the 1960’s and continuing today in 2017. In spite of principled statements on public administrations from heads of successive governments, no serious attempts have been made to transform and professionalise the public service, and liberate it from the strangle hold and continuing control of the political directorate of the day.

This on going unsatisfactory situation is related to the reality of ethnic and race politics for over six decades by the two major political parties - the PPP and the PNC. Their conduct is often characterised by intense adversarial political contests with no national consensus on major issues.

More recently their conduct has impacted negatively on the independence of the Judiciary and other Constitutional bodies. The Judiciary, judges, magistrates and the chairpersons and members of constitutional and statutory bodies must demonstrate to the public their resistance to political interference in the independent discharge of their constitutional and

statutory duties, and expose to the public such interference in conflict with the law. Their integrity must go before them to rebuild public confidence, and high trust in these institutions.

Judicial officers and holders of constitutional and statutory bodies must be able and courageous enough to let the politicians and political directorate know, in no uncertain or quiet way, that they would reject any political intimidation and not yield to their unwholesome political dictates and wishes outside the law.

In the national interest and the common good for all the citizens of this country, the political parties must work for the required changes in our politics to create more inclusive and broad-based governing structures through constitutional and other legislative changes, if we are in our lifetime, to achieve national unity and social cohesion. The governing authorities of the Executive and the National Assembly must create and foster an enabling environment for public officials in public institutions to function without fear or favour.

The CoI Report in the Public Service 2016, under the Chairmanship of Professor Harold Lutchman draws attention to this continuing situation, in the public service in particu-

lar, and made several recommendations to address the issues. The CoI directs attention to approaches in Commonwealth Caribbean and other states where alternative arrangements are relevant to Guyana in the attempt to restore public confidence in the public bureaucracies and the political directorate. Some of these measures were recommended by two predecessor Commissions of Inquiry but, were not implemented, no doubt to suit the advantage of the political administration of the day.

The CoI notes that the Burgess-Hunn Commission had, as early as 1966, recommended that the constitutionally established Public Service Commission and a Public Service Ministry should function under, “…a Public Service law in which the governing principles are laid down. The basic tenets would be embodied in a Public Service Act.” More pointedly, that Commission had recommended a strong well-structured and capable Public Service Ministry, buttressed by a Public Service Act which clearly defined the functions of a Public Service Ministry as the premier Ministry responsible for public management and administration.

The Lutchman CoI of 2016 pointed out that a Public Service Act is a common instrument in the

search for effective public management and public administration in Caricom countries. The 2016 CoI recommended the enactment and promulgation of a Public Service Law along the lines of the other countries cited. Such a Public Service Law and related Regulations could promote the effective management and administration of the Public Service and insulate and protect it from irregular and undesirable influences, thereby enhancing its status and productive capacity. The Commission also recommended that the Public Service Ministry/ Department and the Public Service Commission should be constituted with professional personnel with high integrity to rebuild trust and confidence in the public administration services. These same requirements are applicable to the Judiciary, Constitutional Service Commissions and Statutory Bodies. The CoI further recommended that urgent action be taken to enact a Code conduct for all public servants. Similarly a legally enforceable code of conduct must be enacted for the Executive Members, Ministers, and Members of the National Assembly, who must be obedient, on pain of penalty, to the requirements of the Integrity law.

Sincerely, Joshua Singh

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wednesDAY, june 28, 2017

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

Duty-free victimisation Worrying factors in threats against critics Berbice cricket (Part 1) Dear Editor, At a public event to memorialise the contributions of the Enmore Martyrs in Richmond Hill, Little Guyana, Queens, NY, on Sunday, a very popular Guyanese chutney singer revealed that agents (staff) of the Government threatened to withhold duty-free concessions to him and other cultural performers for their critique of the Government in the area of music. That New York event on June 25 was also used to discuss issues and the dire situation facing sugar workers, since the organisers felt the massacre at Enmore was intricately linked with sugar.

The popular Guyanabased chutney singer came to New York to record a new CD that has a sugar and rice theme – depressed wages and prices for workers and farmers in both industries and the broken promises of the coalition Government.

He said he felt an obligation to grace the Enmore Martyrs event to give solidarity to those whose lives have been severely affected by the Government’s position on sugar and rice. He sang scripts from the recording.

The singer said the threat to deny him “duty-free” for his recordings will not deter him from

fighting for those affected in the sugar and rice industries.

This regime seems bent on harassing, intimidating, and victimising those who are engaged in resistance against the wrongdoing of the Government. Earlier this month, customs officers at Timehri pulled over this writer and proceeded to levy duty on six pieces of traditional Indian garb, saying only three pieces are allowed – a policy unheard of.

The Government is urged to stop threatening critics and those involved in resistance.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Dismissal of CANU’s former head

Dear Editor, Permit me to register my concern and disappointment on a matter in which I am of the view that it is deemed worrying, in respect to the future political directional dimension our country is heading. This reference is specific to the unjust and unfair egregious politically motivated act of the manner in which the now former head of CANU, James Singh, was relieved of his duties – a portfolio which he held for almost a decade.

During his tenure, he executed his mandate in the highest degree of professionalism and integrity.

The Government when it was in Opposition, they never criticised the workings of CANU under Singh’s leadership; in fact, they renewed his contract for another three years after successfully bringing down one of the country’s biggest drug lords.

CANU successfully executed and achieved its mandate – a notion validated by the fact that Guyana was never listed or blacklisted as one of the failed states within which it has failed in the combating efforts against drug trafficking. He had a zero tolerance approach on corruption and though he is no longer at the helm of the institution, he has left a well-trained and competent team. How is such an act befitting of a man of his calibre in light of the commendable service he has given to his country? A shameless act on the part of the Government – he does not deserve this. I would like to urge the Government to

reconsider this and confer upon him the dignity and respect he commands.

There were absolutely no solid grounds and basis for such a decision. The Public Security Minister cited that it was all part of a restructuring programme developed to strengthen the institution – stemming from some vaguely cited recommendations. This is blatantly appalling against the background that, the Government expended over $50 million in three months on a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the affairs of the Guyana Sugar Corporation.

Arising from the findings and recommendations therein, the Government saw it best to pursue a path contrary to the recommendations of the CoI despite expending millions of taxpayers’ money to have it done. Thus, given the current policies and adversities the country is now facing with the downsizing of the industry – closure of sugar estates – it must be mentioned that those were not the recommendations put forward by the CoI. The question is why then, did the Government waste in excess of $50 million? And if it didn’t see it fit to implement those recommendations – why are they implementing a vaguely referenced recommendation? By whom were these recommendations made and what added value will it bring to the entity?

It would appear that these are all carefully crafted plans by the Government of the day which are in keeping with their own hidden po-

litical agenda and pursuits.

What could be their agenda, we must ask ourselves as patriotic citizens and seek to derive plausible answers. I must commend James Singh for the way in which he received this politically unscrupulous act against him, very calmly, quietly and professionally. It demonstrates the level of his maturity and wisdom.

The Public Security Minister attempted to polish the uncouth act by stating he hopes to re-engage him at some point. I can bet my bottom dollar, those words are weightless and meaningless.

It is just a failed attempt at a cover up statement.

Yours faithfully, Financial economist

Dear Editor, The Berbice Cricket Stakeholder Committee would like to inform the general public of the hijacking of the national game in the ancient county. We are concerned about the direction Berbice cricket is heading and the majority of cricketers and clubs are unaware of who are the persons in charge of the Berbice Cricket Board and when the next cricket tournament would be played at the different levels.

What makes the situation worse is that major clubs like the Albion Cricket Club, Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, Blairmont and Upper Corentyne seek to not been involved in the administration of the game while a cricket club which has not won a major cricket title for over 20 years suddenly seems to be controlling Berbice cricket at all angles. The lead characters in the so called Berbice Cricket Board have no major achievements in administration and two of them are directly responsible for the decline of the game from its all-time high under the presidency of Keith Foster to its present state.

The Berbice Cricket Stakeholders Committee would like to inform Berbicians of the recent development in Berbice cricket over the last three years.

1. Anil Beharry was elected President of the Berbice Cricket Board in December 2014 to replace Keith Foster who was not required to run again after completing three consecutive twoyear terms. The three Vice Presidents elected were D Somwaru, Q Winter, V Walter while Angela Haniff and Vicky Bharosay were elected

as Secretary and Treasurer respectively.

2. Godwyn Allicock of the Port Mourant Cricket Club and David Black of the West Berbice Cricket Association sought and were granted a court injunction against the Berbice Cricket Board on the grounds that two clubs were not supposed to vote due to the fact that their clubs’ names were left out of the Cricket Administration Bill.

3. The Anil Beharryled Berbice Cricket Board was unable to meet for the entire term. According to the Cricket Bill, the term ended in December 2015 after a oneyear term.

4. Anil Beharry in a letter dated January 29, 2017, electronically submitted a letter of resignation. The letter was addressed to the Berbice Cricket Board Secretary and copied to the Secretary Guyana Cricket Board.

5. Resignations to organisations must be accepted by the elected body. No such meeting was ever held.

6. Despite the court injunction still in place, Vice President D Somwaru decided to fire all of the appointed members of the Berbice Cricket Board except for Imtiaz Baccus of the Albion Cricket Club. Those fired were Keith Foster, Rabindranauth Saywack, Julian Cambridge, Albert Smith and Malcolm Peters. Imagine Keith Foster never accepted the appointed position and was shocked when he received a letter signed by D Somwaru as President of the Berbice Cricket informing him that he was fired.

7. The Cricket Bill passed in the Guyana Parliament simply states that

three Vice Presidents shall be elected and does not state 1st, 2nd or 3rd Vice President.

All three Vice Presidents – Somwaru, Winter and Walter – have the same status and one is left to wonder how Somwaru took it upon himself to appoint himself as President.

President 8. Vice Winter has never been invited to any meeting to discuss Berbice cricket since the resignation of Anil Beharry as President.

9. In a letter Somwaru signing as President (ag), invited certain clubs to a special meeting of the Berbice Cricket Board to discuss the following: a) N o - C o n f i d e n c e Motion against the Secretary, Angela Haniff. b) Removal of non-functioning clubs from the membership of the Berbice Cricket Board. c) Acceptance of three clubs into the membership of the Berbice Cricket Board once they apply to do so.

10. The Constitution of the Berbice Cricket Board clearly states that only the Secretary can send notices for special meeting and all motions must be submitted to the Secretary.

The Berbice cricketing public deserves answers and all members of the business sector should be very careful in dealing with these imposters acting as administrators, especially the ones that were defeated at the last Annual General Meeting and who used the court system as a platform to gain power via the back door.

Sincerely, Berbice Cricket Stakeholder Committee

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Foundation

— how to handle the most challenging parenting issues

By Janet Lehman

W

atching my child struggle without stepping in to “fix” things for him was one of the hardest things I’ve personally experienced as a mom, even though I knew it was the best thing for him. And the truth is, from the very beginning, being a mother is a balance of taking care of your kids while letting them grow up and learn from their mistakes.

Your role of simply loving and protecting your baby from pain and discomfort changes to one of accepting that your child or teen will need to experience natural consequences for his or her actions. The hard part (for them and for us!) is that these consequences almost always include some discomfort, disappointment or pain.

“It’s helpful to allow your child to struggle. Change happens out of struggle and in moments of accepting responsibility for our actions.”

Along with the good, the list of tough things we face as parents is long – and as we all find out pretty early, there are so many challenges that we never even considered or knew about before having children!

As a mom and therapist of 30 years, I’ve found the following to be five of the most difficult.

1.“Parent the child you have, and not the child you wish you had.” Many times, we try to parent our kids based on what we think they should be like, and not upon who they really are. Listen, it can be tough and exhausting to have a son with ADHD, or a teen with ODD who’s defiant and disrespectful. Or you might simply have a child who’s very different from you, so trying to see her side of things becomes

a constant, draining battle. You might think, “Hey, this isn’t what I signed up for! Is this what motherhood is supposed to be like?” As a mom and therapist, I know that when you accept that your child is not who you thought she was going to be, a real grief can emerge. You might have to give up certain dreams you had for your child’s future when you realise she’s just not going to take the path you’d hoped she would.

Understand, though, that once you let go and accept who your child is, a different kind of love can develop, because you’ll be able to see her clearly for the person she truly is. I have found that true acceptance is one of the most powerful, loving things a parent can give to their child.

It’s the basis for so many things, including being able to develop and communicate reasonable expectations for appropriate behaviour. Old power struggles fall away, which can give you space to nurture new aspects of your relationship. As an added bonus, when you accept your child for who she is, she can then become better at accepting herself.

2. Letting your child experience the pain and discomfort of natural consequences: I remember feeling terrible when my son, who was a toddler at the time, pushed a door open and fell down some stairs while we were visiting family. We’d all looked away for a split second, and that was all it took. This was traumatic not only for my son, but for us as parents.

I remember realising that I couldn’t always keep him safe from everything. (Thankfully he was only a little bruised.)

Even though it was clearly an accident, I still felt like a bad

parent. These feelings are natural, but it’s important that you learn how to deal with them. The goal for all of us is to learn from each experience and try to be reasonable about what you have control over – and what is beyond your control.

It’s not a good idea to try to protect your child from experiencing the consequences of his actions. Look at it this way: how will your child learn from his mistakes if you take away the natural outcome of a poor choice he makes? In fact, we humans learn through trial and error. We try something, it fails or we get in trouble, and we try another way. We misbehave, someone gets mad, so we stop. If you put up a protective fence around your child and try to fix things for him, how will he learn to do things differently next time? As my husband James Lehman said, “It’s helpful to allow your child to struggle.

Change happens out of struggle and in moments of accepting responsibility for our actions.”

It’s our job as parents to help our kids through these difficult times, but it’s not our job to bear all their burdens for them. This may mean letting your child feel some pain and disappointment of natural consequences if he’s acted out.

You can help him by talking about how he can handle himself differently next time, and teaching him some good coping strategies. By simply letting your child know you’re there for him because you love him, you’re giving him one of the most important things a parent can ever give.

3. Facing judgment, shame and blame from others: If you have a child who acts out and engages in other challenging

behaviours –tantrums, yelling, disobeying you or being annoying and obnoxious – you’ve probably gotten “the look” from friends and strangers alike. You know the one – it says, “What’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you doing something about your child’s behaviour?!” It can make you feel like a terrible mom or dad, even if you know you’re doing everything you can to raise your child the best you know how. And the truth is, others will probably judge you –it’s human nature. If you’re in this situation, it’s natural to worry about your child disappointing you or embarrassing you, and also worry about how others will react to your child’s misbehaviour and blame you.

But when your child is acting out and you’re feeling judged by others, stop and say to yourself, “I can’t read other people’s minds.” If you try to imagine what others are thinking, 95 per cent of the time you’re going to read something negative there. That’s because whenever we’re negative, we interpret other people’s perceptions of us as negative, too. And in these situations we don’t read people’s minds in search of hope. We read them in search of criticism – especially when something is going wrong. So when you feel yourself trying to guess what your neighbour, your motherin-law or your friends are thinking, just tell yourself, “I’m not a mind-reader; I don’t know what they’re thinking.” Stop the tape that’s playing in your head and move on. This is also part of the process of learning how to engage in “positive selftalk,” or talking to yourself in a way that promotes calmness and hope, rather than panic.

(Excerpt from empoweringparents.com)

TO BE CONTINUED

The CSEC Examinations cap

I

t’s been quite sometime since my last article, mainly due to the fact that I have been preoccupied with my own CXC examinations. It is seems suitable then, that I should mark my return with yet another piece (hopefully the last one) on examinations. While I am aware that this proposal has not come quietly (there has been great debate on both social media and print media), it is something I feel strongly about, and as such I am compelled to share my thoughts. Since I have already done a column about “extracurricular activities versus extra subjects”, I’m going try my best not to repeat what I have already written.

That being said, I feel like this subject cap is flawed on multiple levels. It is proposed Ashley Anthony as a solution to the problem of students writing “too many” subjects. However, is this phenomenon a problem?

What are the reasons that we can give to justify it being a problem? Is it that those students who write more than 10 subjects are performing unsatisfactorily? To me, the major concern is that those students who write more than 10 subjects do not have the time to pursue much else than studies. However, is there any research to actually back up this belief? Because personally, the students that I know who have written more than 10 subjects are far more than just academically inclined. They are volunteers, youth leaders, athletes, models, musicians, artists, writers, photographers, and dancers (and these are just the ones that I know from Queen’s College). However, let us assume that this belief is true; that each student, or at least the vast majority of students who write more than 10 subjects do nothing else but study. Is it of our concern? Is it truly a problem? It seems to me how one chooses to spend one’s time (provided it does not cause harm to ourselves and others), is a personal choice. And yes, it can be said that choosing to write a lot of subjects can cause stress which is harmful to one’s self, however, that individual has the ability to control that stress, by opting to write fewer subjects, or by reducing other stress inducing activities in their life. At the end of the day the number of subjects one chooses to write is a personal decision.

Is it fair to take away that personal choice based on the assumptions that students are not rounded? And will taking away that choice result in students becoming more rounded?

Are there facilities in place, which encourage students to take up sports or join clubs? Are students interested in developing other areas of their lives? This is the issue. In my experience, many of my colleagues do not see the value in volunteering or in pursuing an extracurricular activity, such as a sport or an art form. Perhaps we need to give students reasons for why they should pursue extracurricular activities. It seems to me that people believe that children aren’t pursuing any activities because they simply do not have the time, whereas, to me, it is because they do not see why they should. They do not see the benefits for doing so, and perhaps we need to place more emphasis on explaining these benefits to children and encouraging them to take up these activities. People should not be rounded because they are mandated to be, but because they are genuinely interested in the things that they are doing.

Finally, is it fair to say that 10 subjects it the cap for senior high schools, but six is the cap for junior high schools?

This assumes that since a student is in a junior school their abilities are far lower than that of a student in a senior school, and that they cannot possibly manage to do more than six subjects. There is already tension amongst schools, where some students look down upon those in “lower” schools.

This decision will only add to the strife. Additionally, it will increase the pressure placed on students sitting examinations in Grade Six, as the difference of a few marks could result in them being able to write six CSEC subjects or 10.

There is so much more that can be said about this topic, for example the reasons for which students have been opting to write many subjects, or whether these multiple subjects are really preparing students for the world of work or higher education, but I feel no matter which way you look at it, a subject cap is not the answer to the problem of students being one dimensional.

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wednesDAY, june 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Parliament paying rent for 2 Ministers – Sherlock Isaacs

Walter Rodney’s principles

WPA in APNU … denies claims of increased housing allowance has lost its way W … executives now singing for proverbial hile admitting that two Ministers are having their rent paid in full by Parliament, Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs has denied that there was an increase in all housing allowances for Ministers.

In an interview with Guyana Times on Tuesday, Isaacs asserted that housing allowances are enshrined in the law and remain set at $25,000.

However, he has admitted that a monthly sum of $500,000 was

suppers – Jagdeo

T

he Working People’s Alliance (WPA) as a member of the ruling A Partnership for National Unity Alliance has lost its way from the principles of its founder leader, Dr Walter Rodney and its executive members are essentially now singing for their proverbial supper.

This is the blistering observation made on Tuesday by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo who was asked to weigh-in on the recent brouhaha surrounding the demotion of the WPA Minister in Government, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine and the subsequent lukewarm concerns expressed by the party’s executives over the lack of consultations with the party before the move.

To add salt to injury, the announcement was made on the death anniversary of Dr Rodney. Speaking with media operatives on Tuesday, Jagdeo said,“at the end of the day they are all beneficiaries, they will criticise in a perfunctory, peripheral manner the Government and say oh we are not consulted enough but at the core of it, they have given up all the principles they once stood for when Dr Rodney was there.”

Speaking for the first time on the public political spat between the coalition members, the Opposition Leader noted that “now they are defending their perks.”

He identified one prominent member (Desmond) Trotman as now receiving a ‘fat salary.”

The Opposition Leader identified other key WPA members such as Professor

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Founder leader of the WPA, Dr Walter Rodney

Clive Thomas and vocal political activist Tacuma Ogunseye as now earning huge salaries from the Administration.

Drawing direct reference to a recent press conference held by the WPA leadership to lament the non-consultation of the President with the party before removing Minister Roopnaraine from the helm of the largest budget Ministry, Jagdeo told media operatives, “almost all the officials at the table, who met with the President, its either they have a job from the Government earning a lot of money or one of the members of their family now have a scholarship abroad.”

The Opposition Leader was adamant that the WPA has essentially been silenced in the coalition Government since “they have drawn down benefits,” and suggested that they will not staunchly challenge the Administration.”

“They did a faint criti-

cism and people are going all over the country and say look they WPA is standing up for principles... nothing of the sort,” he said.

Jagdeo told media operatives it is for these reasons he has largely ignored the internal conflagrations since the WPA leadership is at the end of the defending individual perks.

He said the situation is reminiscent of the Alliance For Change (AFC) which sat in Cabinet and discussed the 14 per cent Value Added Tax on education only to later seek to make a public reversal.

“If they discuss the budget measures at Cabinet how come the AFC is suddenly calling for a reversal now.”

Jagdeo said the AFC’s track record on such matters includes the controversial Parking Meter Project in the capital city which was originally staunchly supported, a position later reversed.

to rent a house on the basis that she lives “out of town.”

“The housing allowance was not increased. The law says that Ministers within the Government are entitled to occupy, free of rent, a furnished residence provided by the Government,”

Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs

Junior Natural Resources Minister Simona Broomes

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson

paid for Minister within the Natural Resources Ministry, Simona Broomes,

Isaacs explained. “So some Ministers have moved into Government residences, they are paid $25,000 a month.”

He noted that if Statesponsored housing cannot accommodate any other persons, then they would have to rent. Isaacs noted that the housing allowance is separate from the rent-

al. He added that there were two Ministers who have their rent paid in full.

“As far as I know, only two (houses) are being rented for out of town Ministers. That is Minister (David) Patterson and Minister (Simona) Broomes, who was brought by the Government from out of Georgetown.

Minister Patterson is from Linden, Minister Broomes is from Bartica.”

Meanwhile, Isaacs noted that the decision to have the Parliament office pay the rent for the Ministers, instead of the Office of the President, was taken in a bid to centralise the process. turn to page 9

8 news

wednesDAY, june 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS Former cop charged for giving false evidence

A

former Police Constable of Number 67 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, was on Monday placed on $50,000 bail

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, for uttering false evidence at the Weldaad Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that Marlon Chatterpaul on July 28, 2016 at Weldaad Magistrate’s Court, being a witness in the matter of Police v Kenston Charles and Victor Edwards, falsely swore to seeing a black car locked.

Further, on the same occasion, he falsely stated that in the car he saw a coloured plastic bag.

In court on Tuesday, Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore in his submissions said that the former cop was a flight risk.

He informed the court that Chatterpaul had pending matters before the courts and investigations were currently ongoing.

However, bail was granted to the former Policeman in the sum of $25,000 for each charge, and the matter was transferred to Weldaad Magistrate’s Court to continue on July 27, 2017.

Twenty-year-old Edwards of Canefield, Canje and 24-year-old Charles, of Anchor Village, Berbice were charged for allegedly traffick-

ing in narcotics on May 31, 2015, at Washington Public Road, Berbice.

According to reports, Chatterpaul, the main witness in the case, lied under oath and deliberately gave contradictory evidence, thereby facilitating the dismissal of charges against the two men implicated in the trafficking of over seven kilograms of cannabis.

Charles and Edwards were freed in September last as Magistrate Rhondell Weever in her ratio decidendi declared that the judicial decision owed to the deliberate and blatant lies and inconsistent evidence given by the Constable.

The rank had even admitted under cross-examination that he was guided by a corporal to construct his statements to ensnare the two men for trafficking in narcotics.

The Weldaad Magistrate’s Court initially heard that Chatterpaul was en route to New Amsterdam when he saw a white motor car parked on the Washington Public Road with a man (later identified as Edwards) standing three feet away from the vehicle.

In his evidence, Chatterpaul had testified to seeing a road block in progress at the Weldaad Police

Station, so he suspected that the occupants of the car were seeking to avoid it.

H e subsequently searched Edwards and upon finding nothing of substance, proceeded to search the vehicle where he discovered the

suspected marijuana concealed in plastic containers behind the driver’s seat.

However, the former Constable changed his story under cross-examination, subsequently revealing that he had been guided to write the statement by a corporal.

The Magistrate in her summing up stated that the court found that the entire conduct and demeanour of Chatterpaul and his participation in the investigation of the matter of the trafficking in narcotics fell short of being credible and reliable.

Miner remanded for narco trafficking

F

ollowing a recent drug bust at the Stabroek Market Square, Georgetown, 30-year-old Keon Aaron was remanded to prison after he appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday.

Aaron denied the charge which stated that on June 17, he had in his possession 1.24 kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves informed the court that on the day in question, Police conducted a raid at the Stabroek Market area and saw the defendant acting in a suspicious manner. Aaron was reportedly observed entering a car

bearing licence plate PRR 4991 with a white bag.

Aaron’s flight was aborted by the swift response of Police, who intercepted him and searched the car; the bag was found to contain a substance suspected to be the illicit drug.

The man was subsequently arrested and charged with the present offence.

The unrepresented man told the Magistrate that he was a gold miner and had a fixed place of abode in Diamond on the East Bank of Demerara.

He will return to court on July 20, 2017.

Coalitions…

Y

…and AFC ou readers would know your Eyewitness has some serious problems about how the AFC’s been dealing with its larger partner, APNU in the coalition Government they formed back in 2015. Basically, it had to do with how they rolled over and played dead – when none of the agreements encompassed in the Cummingsburg Accord were kept by APNU. But it was like water on duck’s back. The AFC leaders Nagamootoo and Ramjattan (hereafter N&R) came up with all sorts of excuses that just made them look even more hapless – if that were possible!! But your Eyewitness is hoping that what just took place in British politics will open those fellows’ eyes as to what’s effective coalition negotiation. Both N&R, being acolytes of things British, should have no reservations of following suit.

Your Eyewitness already alerted you, dear readers, about Theresa May overplaying her hand when she called for a snap elections in the wake of Brexit. She assumed the anger towards Europe would translate into anger against her political rivals and increase her majority in Parliament. She thought wrong!! She fell short of a majority and had to reach across to the small DUP from N Ireland to support her in Parliament.

Now this was exactly the position between APNU and the AFC prior to the elections in 2015: the former conceded it needed the support of the latter to seize the Government. Now look at what the DUP did as opposed to the AFC – and we’ll see the difference between opportunists and politicians. The DUP demanded 1.3 BILLION pounds to be spent in their constituents over the duration of the Government’s term of office!!

And what did N&R demand for bringing in their 11 per cent from Berbice which took the APNU over the line? Forty per cent of the Ministries in Government, the Prime Ministership (Nagamootoo), and two Vice Presidents –- one of them being Ramjattan of course!!

Nothing as to what should be done for their constituents but only for themselves. Ask not what you can do for your constituents but what your constituents can do for you!!

And that’s why APNU could take the AFC for granted.

They knew after the elections the AFC couldn’t cross the floor – legislation had already closed that option after Trotman and Ramjattan had played that card!! APNU knew whatever they have the AFC, it had to take – even larwah!! Boat already had “gone a watah!”

And we can now understand why sugar was thrown under the bus! All N&R had to do was demand GuySuCo be supported for three years and brought to a point of sale.

Not that their salaries be doubled!! …and perks And just when your Eyewitness thought the scandals spawned by the PNC-led coalition Government couldn’t get any messier…up comes the revelation that in addition to the 50 per cent salary increase given to the 27 Ministers – and counting -- they each received a $500,000 housing allowance!!! Up from the $25,000 that was the limit before they came into office in 2015! That’s a 2000 per cent increase!! TWO THOUSAND PER CENT!!

Now if this isn’t poking a finger into the collective eye of the Guyanese people, what is?? $500,000 monthly is an ALLOWANCE??? What then is a PAYMENT??

The strange thing is – how were they able to accomplish this? Seems they shifted the responsibility for reimbursement of this “housing allowance” to Parliament.

So if they rent – Parliament pays the tab directly. If they have their own house or accommodation, then when they pick up their 50 per cent augmented salary checks, they pick up their $500,000 allowance!!

With this Government, it’s not IF a new scandal is brewing; it’s WHEN will it be exposed!! …and floods Your Eyewitness always knew to this Government – Georgetown IS Guyana. That’s now being ruefully and painfully discovered by its supporters on the East Coast of Demerara.

The boast about cleaning canals to prevent flooding obviously didn’t extend to them!

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

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wednesDAY, june 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Chief Justice defers decision on GECOM criteria …State Counsel presents contradictory arguments

T

he High Court ruling on the validity of President David Granger’s criteria for selecting a Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman has been deferred until July 17, with the legal teams expected to make further submissions over the next few days.

The case was called before Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George on Tuesday, with submissions from a representative of the State; the plaintiff, businessman Marcel Gaskin’s attorney, Glenn Hanoman, and Guyana Bar Association representative, Attorneyat-Law Teni Housty.

The adjournment did not come, however, without spirited arguments from the State counsel and Gaskin’s legal representative. At one point, the State’s counsel was forced to withdraw a section of its written submission after the acting Chief Justice noted its contradictory arguments.

Hanoman expressed worry that the President’s continued disregard of lists of nominees, which were arrived at from a consultative process with stakeholders, was eroding the Constitution. He argued that if indeed the President found the list unacceptable, he should give objective and reasonable explanations for why each person was reject-

Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George

ed.

The Attorney referenced a prior case to make the point that it was also not up to the President to determine fit and proper and that the Opposition Leader, having conducted consultations with stakeholders, had arrived at the best possible ‘fit and proper’ list.

However, the State’s counsel argued that the President did have the prerogative to use his discretion in the matter, as laid out in the Constitution.

Citing an example of a list with five ‘fit and proper’ persons out of six nominees, the acting Chief Justice queried the merits of simply choosing one from the five in the interest of a timely and straightforward selection process.

It was noted that by the

President’s own criteria, the majority of those nominated in the second list were qualified to be Judges, thus rendering the list acceptable. However, the State’s counsel reiterated that determining the acceptability of the list remained the President’s prerogative.

In addition, she argued that the list must be deemed acceptable in its entirety. And in rebutting a previous case cited to dispute the broad discretionary clout of the President, the State counsel argued that the powers of the President of Trinidad differed from those of the President of Guyana.

But when State Counsel also complained about the President being subject to litigation due to his decision, the acting Chief Justice intervened, reminding her that he was in fact not before the court.

During the arguments, the idea of a substitute list was raised as a possible solution to the impasse.

Hanoman floated the idea of names being gleaned from each of the two lists and combined to form a final list. However, arguments about the subjectivity of such an exercise came up.

Fit and proper

Gaskin, a businessman and engineer, had moved to the High Court in

President David Granger

March of this year to challenge the constitutionality of President Granger’s reasoning behind his rejection of Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo’s list of six

nominees.

Gaskin, also the brother of Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, had wanted the court to determine whether Jagdeo’s list of nominees was indeed not “fit and proper” as declared

by President Granger.

Granger has maintained that the list of nominees must include a judge, a retired judge or a person qualified to be a judge. On the other hand, Jagdeo has argued that the nominees do not have to be a judge-type as the Constitution makes provision for another group of persons under the category of “fit and proper”.

The former GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally was not a judge or qualified to be a judge

Businessman Marcel Gaskin

and neither were most of the past chairpersons.

Granger had also accepted nomination to serve as GECOM Chairman several years ago. (Jarryl Bryan)

Parliament paying rent...

from page 7

“Payments were done by several Ministries.

You had Office of the President paying the electricity and maids, the Ministry of Agriculture paying the gardener… This Administration (decided) to have everything paid from the Parliament office.”

The issue of Parliament paying the rent for Minister Broomes came to the fore when she became the subject of a court action initiated by her former landlord, who had taken her to court for rent owed.

Guyana Times obtained a copy of the legal proceedings, which shows the Minister, as co-defendant in default of over $1 million in house rent, reportedly incurred between November 2016 and January 2017.

The plaintiff, Dr Peter Ramsaroop, who has since withdrawn the matter, had initiated legal action against three co-defendants: the Attorney General of Guyana, Basil Williams; the Parliament of Guyana, and the junior Minister, Broomes.

The lawsuit highlighted that on January 13, 2016, the plaintiff, using his Lot 27 Jacaranda Avenue, Bel Air Park, Georgetown property, entered into a written Agreement of Tenancy with the Parliament of Guyana, the second-named defendant – represented therein by the Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly – for the said body to let the premises from February 1, 2016 to February 1, 2017 at a monthly rental of the Guyana dollar equivalent of US$2500 (GYD$520,000).

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wednesDAY, june 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Pomeroon farmlands Lethem bus operators decry road condition flooded M S everal farms along the Pomeroon River in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) are currently inundated due to intense rainfall compounded by high tides.

Farms at Malbourgh, Hackney, Lildale, Martindale and other low-lying areas in the Lower Pomeroon are covered with flood waters.

Farmers have so far lost pear plants, peppers, tomatoes, pumpkins, suckers and young coconut trees that were at various stages of growth.

Meanwhile, schools in the Martindale and Lildale areas have recorded a significant drop in attendance due to breaches in the river dam along the pathway leading to the school.

inibus operators plying the GeorgetownLethem route are crying foul after their repeated calls to have the road network upgraded have been ignored by Government. They are now pleading for the Government to come up with some solutions to remedy the situation.

The operators are complaining about the condition of the road, noting that it is covered with large potholes, and broken and washed away bridges. “The road is deplorable all the way from Linden.

Buses and trucks sticking up

some four months after, the project is yet to begin.

The first phase of the proj-

Pomeroon farmers in floodwaters

an assessment within the area to see what relief can be given to farmers. Farmers have lost hundreds of pear plants and suckers, Regional Chairman said. He also noted that several dams were eroded, creating breaches and major overtopping.

He also called for early intervention by the Agriculture Ministry in assisting flood affected areas, as most of the farmers in those areas depend solely on farming to sustain

The RDC Councillors on a field visit

Members from the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) on Monday visited several areas and inspections were conducted. The team was led by head of the RDC Devanand Ramdatt and was accompanied by Regional Executive Officer, Deryck Persaud; RDC Councillors Vilma Da Silva, Arnold Adams and Hardat Narine; along with regional engineers from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority and sea defence.

Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt said while it is too early to assess the situation, communities in the entire Pomeroon are flooded. He said during interactions with cash crop farmers, the need was expressed for

One of the many potholes that line the road

A farmer holding a pear plant

more emploldering in the area in an effort to strengthen the drainage and irrigation network system.

Ramdatt is calling on the Agriculture Ministry to start

their livelihoods.

Additionally, the Lilydale river dam has been breached.

(Indrawattie Natram)

A truck on the verge of toppling due to an extra-large pothole in the road

right there which is the first part, all the way to Lethem have broken bridges, damaged bridges,” one operator told Guyana Times.

He added that on Sunday one of the bridges “washed away” leaving some buses with passengers stranded.

According to another operator, he has been traversing the road for over 28 years and the present condition is by far the worst he had seen.

The bus operators and truck drivers are complaining that due to the condition of the road, their vehicles are being damaged.

“We have to spend $20,000 to $30,000 on every trip to service our vehicles so it is not good for us,” he said.

At the end of January, the Public Infrastructure Ministry announced that the construction for the first phase of the Linden-Lethem road project, which spans from Linden to Mabura, is expected to commence without a hitch, as the Ministry will be working closely with the UK Government towards the success of the project. However,

ect covers approximately 122.5 kilometres of road from Linden and the construction of a bridge across the Essequibo River at Kurupukari River.

The Government as a part of

cluding drainage) and construction of a new single or dual lane fixed bridge across the Essequibo River at the Kurupukari ferry crossing, which is approximately 600 metres long.

While the proposed road upgrade applies only to one section of the Linden-Lethem road, the capital works on the remaining 331.5km of the laterite road will be undertaken through funding from other sources.

The remaining capital works would fall under additional phases and the Public Infrastructure Ministry disclosed that it has already engaged the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) on possible funding for the stretch of road between Mabura Hill and Lethem.

During the 2017 Budget presentation, Finance

This truck fell through a poorly constructed bridge

a collaborative effort with the UK Government is seeking to engage a multi-discipline and transport sector-experienced consulting firm to assist in the preparation of a two-component capital project.

The components for this capital project include the upgrade of approximately 122.5km of road between Linden and Mabura Hill (in-

Minister Winston Jordan speaking about “infrastructure for integration” noted that an infrastructure network that can support rapid economic development requires huge capital investments.

Efforts to contact both Ministers of Public Infrastructure for a comment on the issue proved futile.

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wednesDAY, june 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Brassington says he has always Sisters, boyfriend to face jury for killing father been available to SOCU

F

ormer Head of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), Winston Brassington has debunked a recent newspaper article that claimed that officials of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) are actively looking to question him in relation to an audit done at the company.

Brassington, in a letter to the editor, said he found it strange that the business of SOCU was being discussed with the media when no effort has been made to contact him, and dubbed the newspaper article inaccurate and false.

“I note that this is not the first time this has happened. Earlier newspaper articles relating to the forensic audits reveal a pattern of collusion between SOCU and certain media (personnel), where matters supposedly under investigation are divulged to select sections of the media and published in a one-sided manner,” he remarked.

The former NICIL Head recalled that the final forensic audit reports on NICIL and Atlantic Hotel Inc (AHI) were serially leaked, weeks before they were released to the NICIL Board of Directors, which in his view was prejudicial

Former NICIL Head Winston Brassington

to a fair and impartial process.

“Regarding SOCU “actively” seeking me, I find it strange, when over a year ago, on April 14, 2016, the attached letter was dispatched by my attorneys to the Head of SOCU, Lt Colonel Sydney James, with a copy to the Commissioner of Police (CoP), with both offices signing for receipt of the letter,” he added.

Brassington also recalled that it was made clear that despite being out of the jurisdiction, he would be available to fully cooperate with any investigation and provide evidence by affidavit or video conference as was neces-

sary to facilitate any enquiries, through his attorney, Mark Waldron.

“To date, no request has been submitted to my attorneys,” he asserted.

Further, since Brassington’s resignation in 2016, NICIL had sought assistance from him on various matters via email, with which he has assisted. He also made reference to a case in 2015, when his team responded paragraph by paragraph to the preliminary forensic audit reports. “In December 2015, I addressed many issues via a press conference in the boardroom of NICIL. I pointed out that NICIL was audited every year under my watch, and clean audit opinions issued. I recall even attending a shareholders meeting of NICIL in 2015 under the current Government, where the 2013 audited accounts were approved,” he stated.

The former NICIL Head, therefore, argued that due process should be followed on matters of interest to SOCU involving him, as he believed that any questions not already answered in prior audit responses or the various publications issued over the years can reasonably be responded to.

T

he two teenage girls, who allegedly planned and executed the murder of their father, 64-yearold Roger Manikam, with reported assistance from a boyfriend and another man, were all committed to stand trial at the next sitting of the High Court.

The four – a 13-year-old along with her adopted sister and biological daughter of the dead man, 18-yearold Nalanie Manikam; her boyfriend, 24-year-old Veeran Lall, called “Adam Dias”; and his friend, Devon Browne, all appeared at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Courts.

The charge against them alleged that on April 2, 2016, at Coldingen Railway Embankment, East Coast Demerara (ECD), they conspired among themselves to murder Manikam.

The four reportedly carried out the heinous act on the evening of April 2 and reportedly confessed to the murder when interrogated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) ranks.

Manikam’s body was discovered wrapped in construction plastic and

Murdered: Roger Manikam

dumped on the Railway Embankment at Coldingen, ECD the morning after he was brutally murdered.

His daughters allegedly lured him into the kitchen of their Non Pariel home where one of them reportedly chopped him with an axe.

Lall reportedly helped the two girls wrap the body of their father in construction plastic and his friend, Brown, assisted in transporting the body from Manikam’s residence.

They then dumped the body on the Railway Embankment at Coldingen.

The two girls told Police that their father, who they

claim was a drunkard, sexually molested them which prompted them to carry out the act.

However, family members of Manikam defended him and claimed that the teenagers killed him for money he obtained from the sale of a lumber yard he previously owned.

When the man’s body was found and investigations commenced into the matter, the two daughters had initially claimed that their father might have been killed after being robbed.

Then they suggested that he might have been returning home from one of his drinking sessions and that his girlfriend should be questioned about it.

However, the involvement of the girls in the man’s murder came to light after Police ranks who were investigating the incident found a piece of rope at the Non Pariel home of the man, which appeared to have been a part of the rope that had been used to tie the dead man up. During questioning sometime after, the two girls reportedly confessed to planning and executing the murder.

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wednesDAY, june 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Small businesses need to Lack of crop insurance hindering agricultural sector – former Minister prepare for oil – Gaskin

Former Agriculture Minister Vibert Parvatan

F

ollowing intense flash flooding in which several farmers lost their crops, former Junior Agriculture Minister Vibert Parvatan said that the lack of insurance for crops has severely crippled the agricultural sector, especially in bad weather. “Here in Guyana, our agriculture, a problem you face, a problem we all face is the fact that there is no crop insurance. It is a difficult subject. When the weather is bad and you lose your crop, you suffer for that; when it is good, everyone celebrates, but in hard times you stand alone,” he said.

He made those comments while addressing small business owners at the Small Business Development Finance Trust (SBDF) Annual General Meeting on Monday.

Parvatan, who served during the Desmond Hoyte presidency, said that agriculture was important for economic sustenance and more emphasis should be placed on crop insurance. He add-

ed that farming was no easy task and urged farmers to be aware of their markets and produce accordingly.

“It would be nonsensical for persons to start producing and selling items without understanding the market. The reason why your business exists is to satisfy the customer and that basic concept must be understood,” Parvatan noted.

“As we look at the economy in Guyana today, we know that we are not singular; generally, in the world today, there is a decline, there are harsh economic realities, there are problems, but there are also challenges and opportunities,” he added. Parvatan said that farming required courage and the struggles of a farmer were often underappreciated.

Over the weekend, following heavy rainfall, several parts of Guyana experienced intense flash flooding. As a result of the high water levels, farmers across the country recorded losses of crops and livestock.

In Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara (WBD), farmers battled with extremely high water and poor drainage. They complained that the water destroyed their crops and as such, they were now requesting the assistance of the Government in order for them to plant again.

The farmers told Guyana Times that they were requesting fertiliser from the Government while they contemplated their next move.

Over in Canal Number One, WBD, farmers are recording large losses. One farmer said that the constant flooding has destroyed his entire pineapple field and called on the authorities to ensure that steps were being taken to remedy the situation.

Throughout the country, the flooding is being blamed on poor drainage and maintenance.

The situation was the same in Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

This pineapple field was completely under water at Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin

B

usiness Minister Dominic Gaskin told small business owners that they needed not to wait on oil, rather they have to prepare their businesses to provide services in order to capitalise on the benefits of the oil and gas sector.

“Everyone is talking about local content and the need for Guyanese to be involved in the opportunities that this new industry will create. As a Government, we cannot afford to wait for oil, we have to prepare for oil, and businesses, whether big or small, must also prepare themselves for oil and the impact of oil,” he said.

The Minister made the comments at the Small Business Development Finance Trust Inc (SBDF) Annual General Meeting on Monday at the Regency Hotel.

Gaskin said that small and micro enterprises were a key component of the economy and needed much attention from all stakeholders.

The Chairman’s report

West Dem highway expansion moving apace …works 70% completed

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espite heavy rainfall, works on the West Demerara road expansion project is moving apace with almost 70 per cent of the project completed.

This is according to the Public Infrastructure Ministry Permanent Secretary, Geoffrey Vaughn.

“There is still some amount of slow truancy of the project in terms of progress and the reasons for that, at this time, is the rainfall. We also having some utility [poles relocation] issues and issues with vendors from Vreeden-Hoop [Stelling Road],” Vaughn said during a recent interview.

However, efforts are being made to have those issues addressed.

The $8.4 billion (US$42 million) project was commissioned in 2015, and scheduled to be completed in the latter part of 2018; however, if the bad weather continued, that deadline may not be met.

Works are being carried out by BK Engineering and

A section of the West Demerara Road

a Jamaican engineering company, Surrey Paving and Aggregate.

The work entails the improvement of approximately 30.7 kilometres of the West Coast Demerara Road from Vreed-en-Hoop to Hydronie, East Bank Essequibo just about one mile east of Parika.

The project is funded by a loan agreement between the Government of Guyana and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

When completed, the roadway will facilitate increased efficiency and safety. Ongoing works in-

clude the rehabilitation of pavements, road widening and provision of additional highway lights and replacement of the Groenveldt Bridge.

Other roads

Meanwhile, the residents of Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme renewed their calls for the authorities to provide some relief as it relates to the deplorable state of the road network in the area. Several calls have been made, but they have all been ignored.

A resident, Bibi Ally, told Guyana Times that the

condition of the road network continued to worsen owing to heavy rainfall and the passage of heavy-duty vehicles.

“They have the big sand truck coming through here and just breaking up the road, and we does try to patch it up, but the hole get too big now, so we just here suffering,” she said.

The residents are complaining that taxi drivers are refusing to traverse the badly affected areas and they are also being deprived of certain goods.

“We have a man that does sell goods (groceries) on a truck and you see how this place bad, he does stop at the road head and we does have to go till there to get the goods,” another resident who only identified herself as Tricia said.

The Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), in its 2017 budget, allocated funds for the development of road networks for a number of settlements. However, the Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme roads were not among those.

highlighted a further decline in vending which affected the SBDF’s performance.

However, the Minister said that the decline should serve as a catalyst to rethink and reinvent the services offered.

“I think there has been an ease in spending, and we have to accept that for whatever reason people aren’t spending as they used to; that doesn’t mean that people are not spending, it means that they are spending in other ways, so these situations are a chance to rethink, to refocus, and do things a little differently,” he advised.

Gaskin encouraged the business owners to know the needs of the market and to supply services based on those needs. Additionally, he urged them to consider the foreign markets, since the local market is small and would not be able to satisfy their production rate.

SBDF Managing Director Manjula Brijmohan called for private and public partnerships to ensure the success of small entrepreneurs.

She added that the small businesses needed much attention and there must be a strategic development plan to ensure their success.

“The local businesses must grow faster for there to be development. Local business must provide jobs and skills necessary to raise income and living standards to help rid of poverty. It requires strong local support and access to financial aid,” Brijmohan said.

SBDF is an agriculture-dominated financial institution, and is committed

SBDF Managing Manjula Brijmohan

Director

to moving fresh farm produce and transforming the waste into small-scale industrial products for export and local markets.

Brijmohan said that everything affected investments and the Government must assist in ensuring that there was a level playing field to facilitate those investments. She added that infrastructure and strategic support from the Government could not be overemphasised and called for better practices to ensure small businesses survive.

“We all need our voices to be heard and our partners to get in the playing ground and come and play the game of moving upward.

We are tired of talking poverty. Guyana has no need to be called a poverty-ridden country; you have so much resource, you have little bit of people and yet you can’t use it? So catch yourself and get on,” she expressed.

The SBDF also awarded its outstanding clients at the function.

Mental health services

Prisoners targeted as peer counsellors

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he Public Health Ministry’s Mental Health Unit is setting its sights on training prisoners who display exemplary behaviour to act as counsellors for their fellow inmates to promote the Unit’s drive to inculcate coping mechanisms.

According to the Mental Health Unit Director, Dr Util Thomas, the Unit is looking into that aspect as a means to motivate inmates to cope well while incarcerated so that they do not attempt suicide or have mental breakdowns.

“They have to learn coping skills, because when they get out of prison, they will have to cope with so much things.

They will go to get jobs; nobody will give them jobs.

People will distrust them and the stress of proving yourself over and over again will be there, so coping skills to them will be a big help,” she stressed. The Georgetown Public Hospital Psychiatric Clinic sees approximately 25 prisoners on a weekly ba-

Director of the Mental Health Unit, Dr Util Thomas

sis for various mental health conditions. Dr Thomas said when these persons would be placed in the prisons and have to wait lengthy periods for trial, their mental well-being is affected and as a result, they often slip into depression, which later affects them if they are proven innocent after trial.CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

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wednesDAY, june 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

China donates Zika testing GTT wraps up the Top equipment to Guyana Up and Win Promotion

Winners of the GTT Top Up and Win Father’s Day Promotion

Minister Volda Lawrence and a Chinese Embassy official shake hands following the signing ceremony

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ublic Health Minister Volda Lawrence on Tuesday accepted some $20 million in medical equipment and supplies from the Government of China to help in the fight against Zika and other infectious diseases.

The equipment will be used in the Reference Laboratory of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

“I want to thank the Chinese Embassy and the people of China for the continued support in the medical field and look forward to other support for the Reference Laboratory,” Lawrence is quoted in a press statement as saying following the signing ceremony at the GPHC. “We are glad to do something in the public health sector for the Guyanese people,”

Economic and Commercial Counsellor, Shen Huiyong of the Chinese Embassy in Georgetown in response to Lawrence’s address.

The equipment included two centrifuges, a PCR machine and a laptop which will support testing for new and emerging infectious diseases locally.

The instruments are accompanied by the appropriate testing supplies including reagents. The vector control services will be boosted with mosquito traps and knapsack manual sprayers to support prevention and control activities.

A team of Chinese specialist comprising Dr Yanping Zhang, Dr Yongjun Jiao, Dr Zhifeng Li and Dr Ye Tian, has been on a one-month stay in Guyana working with the vector control, Reference Laboratory and

the surveillance and epidemiology units to support the prevention and control measures in response to the Zika virus.

The team also conducted training sessions with hospital staff. Some areas of training included the use of MapInfo to show the distribution of disease cases and the density of the mosquito vector. Vector control staff was also coursed in calculating the Breteau Index a measure of disease risk based on the density of the vector in a particular area, as well as identifying mosquito species throughout the life cycle stages.

The laboratory staff was supported in testing of samples for the Zika virus.

During their stay Guyana, the medical team also visited several health facilities in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica).

Prisoners targeted...

“We don’t have a high suicide rate in the prison system, because too much people is there, but when someone is isolated from their life and family, then they are bound to have some mental problems, so this initiative is an excellent one to help them to cope, so they can be reintegrated when they leave the system,” she added.

The Mental Health Unit is equipped with six trained psychiatrists, four psychologists and six social workers. However, in a country with a population of over 750,000, it means that one psychiatrist would have to service at least 100,000 persons. In a country known for its high suicide rate, that is just not enough to combat the range of mental issues among Guyanese.

Additionally, the Unit has been able to train 40 doctors to deliver low-level mental health care to per-

sons and intends to train all registered doctors to do the same. The Unit was formed as a component of the National Mental Health Action Plan.

The National Mental Health Action Plan 20152020 seeks to decentralise mental health care delivery and bring it to the grassroot level. As a requirement, the Unit is mandated to train 80 per cent of the doctors in the mental health Gap (mhGap) programme by the year 2020.

However, Dr Thomas said that they are going one step further and would be training all of the registered doctors to provide mental health care.

The Mental Health Action Plan also seeks to reduce the role of the National Psychiatric Hospital (NPH), in Berbice, reducing the number of beds after deinstitutionalising psychiatric care and transforming

FROM PAGE 12

the Psychiatric Hospital into a rehabilitation centre. The NPH rehab centre would specialise in psychosocial and drug abuse rehabilitative care.

The estimated cost to implement the plan is some $2.34 billion over the fiveyear period.

Another component of the Action Plan is the establishment of the Mental Health Institute, which will provide outpatient services to persons and would see the removal of the Psychiatric Clinic from the Georgetown Public Hospital. The area would be converted into a rehabilitation centre for persons suffering from different mental illnesses.

Construction of the Institute was expected to start on June 1, but heavy rainfall over the past month has resulted in work been postponed, according to a source.

F

ollowing three months of promotions, GTT on Tuesday brought the curtains down on its Top Up and Win Promotion, which was executed in three different phases.

This initiative, which coincides with the company’s “Do More” campaign, saw a total of nine lucky customers cashing in on highly coveted prizes.

As part of the final leg of the promotion, three loyal consumers were on Tuesday presented with their prizes after emerging successful in the Father’s Day phase of the campaign. Walking away with the feature prize was George Mc Intosh, of Bartica Housing Scheme, who is set to journey to Jamaica to enjoy an all-expenses paid trip for two to the beautiful Riu Ocho Rios, Mammee Bay Estate Resort.

Also being showered with eye-catching prizes at the presentation ceremony on the Tuesday were Nayna Champaneriya of Campbellville, Georgetown, and Roxanne Burnett of Zeelugt North Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, who were each

awarded a Samsung Galaxy S8 valued $239,000 as part of GTT’s appreciation for their continuous support.

Speaking at the handing-over ceremony was the company’s Public Relations Officer, Nadia De Abreu, who said “GTT continues to find ways to Do More for customers.”

‘This promotion not only offered our customers an opportunity to upgrade to the latest handsets, but together with Fly Jamaica Airways we have six happy customers taking along someone special on an all-inclusive trip to Jamaica for four days and three nights,” De Abreu explained.

Also addressing the gathering was Fly Jamaica Airlines Commercial Manager Carl Bowen, who expressed delight over the collaboration between the two entities in giving back to Guyanese.

While expressing their delight in being winners in the GTT Top Up and Win Promotion, the three lucky customers all thanked the telecommunications company for its investment in giving back to consumers. “I’m

feeling very nervous and excited at the same time.

I would just like to thanks for staying true to the motto of doing more and giving more,” conveyed the winner of the trip to Jamaica.

The GTT Top Up and Win Promotion encouraged valued customers to recharge their mobile accounts, with each top-up of $1000 giving them a chance to enter the grand lottery.

The Promotion was initiated in April and served as GTT’s Easter promotion which was closely followed by the Mother’s Day leg of the campaign, and eventually wrapped up with the Father’s Day promotion, three months later. This final leg of the competition ran from May 21 to June 19, 2017.

During the course of the campaign, six lucky customers were upgraded with brand new Samsung Galaxy handsets, compliments of GTT, while three loyal account holders were rewarded with the grand prize of a trip to Jamaica, as a result of the company’s partnership with the Guyana-based airline.

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wednesDAY, june 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

As conservancy rises

MMA releases excess water flooding rice lands, residential areas A s rains continue to batter the coastland and other locations across Guyana, farmers and residents in several Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) communities have registered their concerns over being inundated for nearly two weeks. On Tuesday, Guyana Times visited the area and met with many of the residents in the affected villages of Bush Lot, Armadale, Number 30 village and Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice.

This newspaper was told

should be 57GD. Farmers explained that the release has caused the water to overflow and backup into their farmlands, which has resulted in millions in losses.

One farmer, who plants some 300 acres of rice, told this publication that most of his acreage is under water. He explained that the main canal is some 18 inches above the normal level.

“Many spots have given away and water is going from the main canal into the Abary [which] is rising.

Flooding in Number 30 Village, Region Five

that the East Demerara Water Conservancy has reached its maximum level and as such, the Mahaica Mahaicony AbaryAgricultural Development Authority (MMA-ADA) opted to release the excess water into the main irrigation canal. The gauge is near 59GD but its maximum

It has been affecting cattle and rice, farmers are people living here and onto now, we haven’t seen anybody from the Government, nobody from the authorities, to come and tell farmers something,” the man added.

A rice, cassava, plantain and livestock farmer, who gave his assessment of the

continued flooding, observed that it was mismanagement on the part of MMA that led to the inundation.

“This problem we are facing now is a manmade disaster through mismanagement by the MMA because they had failed to maintain the spill wear in the conservancy. They using the main irrigation canal as drainage to release the conservancy [water],” he expressed.

In an effort to combat the overtopping, many farmers deployed pumps in their fields to release water from their farms, and have been pumping the water into the canals in other areas. This has proved a costly exercise and has led to some spin-off flooding as well. A rice farmer, who plants 33 acres of rice and rents several more explained that he spent some $360,000 in excavation and dam construction. Some farmers told this newspaper that they should be compensated for the losses they have faced over the last few weeks.

Additional costs

Chairman of the Region Five Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Vickchand Ramphall who was also in the area on Tuesday echoed the calls that the farmers made, pointing out that since farmers have already paid for the services of the MMA, they should not be compelled to cover additional costs.

“They are paying drainage and irrigation charges to the MMA and I believe they should be provided with the right service so that they should not incur additional expense in draining their fields,” the Chairman observed.

Questioned over the regions response to the flood situation, he maintained that MMA has full control over the farming areas but noted the difficulties that exist in catering to residential locations.

“For the residential areas, the Council has to take [responsibility] that [but] we have a difficulty that is being created by our own people and that is the Regional Executive Officer (REO) is refusing to meet with me to discuss the way forward across the flooding is Region Five.”

The Regional Chairman expressed that the Councilors and officials within the RDC should put personal issues aside and work together on implementing or recommending projects to alleviate the flooding.

“All personal differences should be thrown behind our backs and let us put the people of Region Five first and let us work hand in hand to bring relief to the many families that are affected, to the farms that are under water and livestock that have been suffering during this time of flooding,” Ramphall noted.

Meanwhile, Chairman

An access dam in the Onverwagt backlands, several feet under water

of the Rice Producers Association (RPA) Dahramkumar Seeraj, observed that compounded with recent flooding, Region Five farmers are faced with many financial challenges.

“We know that some of the farmers would have carried heavy losses which are coming against the background where you have increased charges for drainage and irrigation and land rent from $3500 to $15,000 per acre and immediately after the increases, we are faced with a situation where farmers are losing because of flooded conditions,” the Opposition Parliamentarian remarked.

Bush Lot, Armadale, Number 30 Village

Meanwhile, it was also explained that excess water in the main canal is also contributing to immense flooding in Bush Lot, Armadale, Number 30 Village. Farmers

at Bush Lot and Armadale, in much frustration pointed out that their celery plants were covered in flood waters for a few days and will die in the coming days. They expressed much disgust over poor drainage in the communities, noting that the Rosignol sluice is the only of four that is functioning at full capacity.

Residents in Number 30 Village explained that several ducks died due to prolonged flood conditions.

They noted that it was only Tuesday that the flood waters started to recede. Many of the Region Five rice farmers stated that they sought dialogue with operatives within the MMA but alleged that they were told that General Manager Aubrey Charles had to attend to other matters. When Guyana Times visited the MMA office Tuesday, the General Manager and Chairman Kenneth Sealey were both not in office.

Bandits terrorise, rob teachers First phase of lithium

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wo bandits terrorised and robbed two teachers at their Lot 39 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam home early Tuesday morning.

One of the teachers was tied up as the men forced their way into the home through a window and ransacking it, seeking valuables.

Speaking with Guyana Times, high school teacher Malissa Ramdhan said at about 01:30h, she heard strange voices in the lower flat of the two storied apartment which she occupies.

"I can't remember what the guy said but they tied me up,” the shaken woman recalled. She said one of the men used a towel to tie her hands and also to wrap it tightly around her throat to prevent her from screaming.

According to Ramdhan, both men were unmasked and demanded cash and jewellery. "They took whatever I had; money, jewellery laptop... They searched everywhere; book, files, draws and whatever looked like gold they took it and whatever money I had they took it."

According to Ramdhan, the men spent about an hour and a half searching while in-

exploration successful T

A section of the ransacked apartment

sisting that the teacher had a lot of valuables hidden in the apartment after which they left but not before spraying the apartment with a strange chemical leaving the container behind.

Ramdhan said she managed to loose herself but hid in the washroom and tried to protect her eyes and nose from a burning sensation.

She recalled that about 10 minutes later, the men returned and broke open the washroom door and instructed her to accompany them to the upper flat.

She said she was being held at knifepoint and told to call out her cousin.

Khrishna Sookoo, another teacher, who lives in the upper flat, told this publica-

tion that he heard voices in the lower flat but the television was on so he was of the opinion that his cousin had friends over.

"I hear my cousin calling at the door and I looked outside and her with two guys and then one said ‘don’t panic,’ so instinctively I know that it is bandits.”

Sookoo pushed one of the men down the stair and the other in retaliation used a cutlass to chop him twice in the head before he escaped.

The two cousins then raised an alarm. Sookoo was rushed to the hospital. The Police was notified and an investigation has been launched.

In the yard, Police found an empty can of a lachrymatory agent.

he Morabisi Lithium and Tantalum project’s first phase has been completed and deemed a success. This is according to Greenpower Energy Limited Company Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Gerard King.

Speaking with the Government Information Agency (GINA), King said the company is “very pleased with that because it means we can go on and find how much lithium is within that area.” The first phase of this project was conducted from March to June 2017. The collaborative project, between the Australian company, Greenpower Energy, and Canadian-based Guyana Strategic Metals (GSM) Incorporated, aims to explore for rare earth minerals and lithium in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), to see if the area has enough deposits to make it profitable for mining.

Minister within

the Natural Resources Ministry Simona Broomes explained that Guyana is on the right path to be looking forward to Lithium mines, adding that “it is something that is very new… it opens up a different level of opportunities and understanding of our natural resources sector.”

The company also has a Geologist John Watts visiting. Watts is the Geologist from Greenpower Energy Limited who will be working with the GSM team.

Watts explained that the second phase of this project will further explore the types of deposits found, and, “to get some serious work done on the ground, to make the first steps to quantify the amount of Lithium present,” and see if there is enough for mining operations. The process will commence as soon as the dry season begins.

Through the exploration works and inputs a number of jobs will be created with

the second phase.

King added that once sufficient quantities are found, mining operations will commence and Guyana is set to benefit from royalties. “It will take some time because we have to do a lot of measuring and economic studies,” he pointed out. The country is also set to benefit from infrastructural improvements in the hinterland regions.

The Australian company’s visit was prompted by Minister Broomes’ recent attendance to the Latin America Down Under (LADU) in the Western Australia capital, Perth. It was the annual forum that brings together government and Private Sector representatives of the mining sector from Australia and Latin America and the Caribbean. Lithium is said to be the lightest known metal and is commonly used in batteries and many electrical devices and high tech devices.

15 Ramsammy’s Ruminations NEWS

wednesDAY, june 28, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Whistleblower Bill

Govt dragging its feet – Edghill …made laudable promises but lacks political will

M

embers of the coalition Government were once effusive in their commitment to table whistleblower legislation, a crucial law that would ensure that those who dared to expose the wrongdoings of public officials were protected from retaliation by those in power.

In 2015, the Protected Disclosures (Whistleblower) Bill was published on the Official Gazette website. Last year, Attorney General Basil Williams had assured that the Bill would be laid in the House. But over a year later, the legislation is yet to be tabled in the National Assembly.

APNU/AFC made these declaratory statements and floated very laudable ideas,” Edghill said in a recent interview. “But they lack the political will and sincerity for its implementation.”

“If it is true that they would like to prevent and root out corruption wherever it raises its ugly head and to ensure good and clean governance, to protect (whistleblowers) from all forms of harassment and intimidation, then we need to get the whistleblower legislation in place,” Edghill said, nevertheless expressing doubt about the coalition’s commitment to enacting the legislation.

According to People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) parliamentarian Juan Edghill, the Government’s dragging of its feet to lay the Bill in the National Assembly is another example of its duplicity, having been vociferous in calling for its enactment while in Opposition.

“The fact that we don’t have the whistleblower legislation yet in the National Assembly is because the

It has been argued that had this legislation been in place, the recent occurrence in Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) of action being taken against a particular whistle-blower – Nurse Sherilyn Marks – for revealing a People’s National Congress Councillor’s abuse of pain medication (which was reported in the press) would never have

Nurse

Opposition MP Juan Edghill

happened.

It had been reported that Marks lodged two complaints against the Councillor on account of her being granted frequent access to the painkillers at the Fort Wellington Hospital. Marks had reportedly copied her complaint to regional and central government health officials, but there was no action on the complaints.

Instead, Nurse Marks has since been repaid for coming forward, by being transferred. The nurse had been reported attesting to never having requested a transfer. Joseph has since resigned as a councillor.

“The APNU/AFC, when they were in Opposition, talked plenty about that.

Now that they are in Government they don’t even have an Integrity Commission in place,” Edghill said. “They don’t declare their assets, income and liabilities. They don’t bring to Parliament for enactment into law the tools that would create a new landscape to prevent corruption.

“And when you have a situation like what happened in Region Five with

Nurse Marks, (who) was forced to go in a particular direction because of the blatant abuse. And when she brought that to public notice, she became the one that is under scrutiny and pressure. She was transferred and then we heard that she breached a public service rule.”

The Protected D i s c l o s u r e s (Whistleblower) Bill 2015 is described as a bill “to assist in combating corruption and other wrongdoings, both in the Public and Private Sector, by encouraging and facilitating the making by employees of specified disclosures of improper conduct in good faith and the public interest.”

The Bill also sets out “to regulate the receiving, investigating or otherwise dealing with disclosures of improper conduct; to protect employees who make specified disclosures from being subjected to occupational detriment; and for related matters.”

According to Part Two, “a disclosure made by an employee to an employer qualifies for protection if the disclosure is made (a) to the employer, where no procedure for the making of disclosures is in operation; or (b) substantially in accordance with a procedure referred to in Section Eight for the making of disclosures, where such a procedure is in operation.”

The delay in enacting the Bill and the recent saga of the nurse earned Government some scathing criticism from Transparency Institute Guyana Inc, which in a recent statement questioned the Government’s commitment to enacting the crucial legislation.

Laing Avenue robbery

Preemptory trial ordered as prosecution lags

M

Negus Lamaizon

agistrate Judy Latchman on Monday warned the prosecution that if by July 10, 2017, it was not in possession of the relevant statements, the court would consider armed robbery charges against Negus Lamaizon and Kurt Taylor dismissed.

This declaration came

in response to Prosecutor Shawn Gonsalves’ submission that the prosecution was not in possession of the file or statements in the matter, causing further delay.

On April 18, 2017, just a fortnight after he was freed of the Laing Avenue murder of Orin David, Lamaizon had once again found himself before the courts and was remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for four counts of armed robbery.

Guyana Times previously reported that Lamaizon and Taylor were jointly charged with robbing four persons at gunpoint when they allegedly crashed a farewell party on Regent Road, Georgetown, on April 10, 2017.

The particulars of the

charge indicated that the two men, in the company of others and armed with a gun, robbed Adidre Liverpool of gold jewellery valued $220,000 and Robin Tibruce of a cellular phone and jewellery, valued a total of $349,000.

Two other Virtual Complainants (VCs), Lester Andrews and Quacy Waldron, were robbed respectively of one Samsung smartphone valued $160,000 and one Blu cellphone valued $30,000, on the same day at the said location.

The bail application made by defence counsel Adrian Thompson was rejected by the Chief Magistrate.

Murder charges against Lamaizon and his alleged accomplice, Samuel McIntyre, were dismissed by city Magistrate Dylan

Kurt Taylor

Bess on March 30, after the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the two in order that they may stand trial at the High Court. This was largely owing to insufficient evidence and the failure of the 13 witnesses to identify the accused men as the persons who shot Orin David.

The APNU/AFC governance blueprint

– lies, lies and more lies

C

aught with the scandal of $605 million purchase from a hand-picked company, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence now denied she approved the purchase. She blames the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for feeding her a pack of lies. She has absolute responsibility and she knew that the Georgetown Public Hospital Dr Leslie Ramsammy Corporation (GPHC) was seeking to award a contract to ANSA McAL through a sole-sourced procedure. Lawrence was presented with a list of medicines which were clearly and highly overpriced and the list was on an invoice from ANSA McAL. Minister Lawrence quite clearly is spinning the facts when she stated that she did not approve the sole-sourcing from ANSA McAL. But spinning the facts does not change a lie to a truth. C-A-T does not spell DOG, no matter how much you spin it.

Minister Lawrence's denial that she ever approved the GPHC's $605 million sole-sourced, over-priced procurement of medicines is the very epitome of throwing your staff under the bus. Lawrence admitted she approved the fast-tracking of the purchase, but denied approving sole-sourcing from ANSA McAL. According to her, she instructed them to use the established procedure to obtain emergency supplies.

But the request to the Public Health Ministry for an approval to procure a list of medicines, with its proposed prices from ANSA McAL was clearly a sole-sourced request. What kind of procedure did she think she approved?

Similarly, after a number of worrying and egregious emails from Attorney General Basil Williams were exposed, he denied that the emails were from him. He claimed it is someone else's email. These emails are vivid exposure of the wicked strategy that the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) used before the 2015 elections and since, and which they plan to use for the 2020 elections. In the strategy of propagandising, they use lies to paint the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and its leaders as racists, thieves and fraudsters. The emails proposed to use the media and other friendly organisations as part of the APNU/AFC machinery to continue and expand the propagandising. Clearly, the intention is to deflect their failures, incompetence and corruption and reflect them on Bharrat Jagdeo and the PPP. The EMAIL denial is clearly a lie.

But Minister Williams has been the KING of LIES. The list of lies from APNU/AFC is dreadfully long. The Prime Minister recently claimed they never promised anyone $9000 per bag of paddy and they never promised sugar workers 20 per cent pay increase, although tens of thousands of sugar workers and rice farmers have vouched they heard him and other APNU/AFC spokesperson making those promises. There are also tens of thousands of people who heard them say these things at public meetings and on TV, as there are tens of thousands who are looking at YouTube recordings on Facebook of some of their speeches.

Remember when they said the Treasury was bankrupt because of the PPP and then they turned around and gave themselves a 100 per cent pay increase? In just two years, there are dozens of lies from APNU/AFC. If the LIAR CAP fits, then these Ministers must wear it.

Their election campaign in 2014/2015 was based almost entirely on lies. They lied when they promised no sugar estate will be closed. They lied when they said Jagdeo and Ramotar were the highest paid Heads of State in the world.

They lied when they said they would reduce the salaries and benefits, including the pensions of the President and the Ministers. In fact, they increased their salaries, benefits and pensions. They lied when they said there would be no floods under them.

As with their election campaign, now in Government, APNU/AFC's blueprint for governance has been to lie to the Guyanese people. They have lied, misrepresented the facts and misinformed people. It is why I called this Government the KERFUFFLING government. They use a hefty portion of lies with very generous sprinklings of misrepresentation and misinformation to kerfuffle (confuse) people. This has been their modus operandi in Opposition and now in Government.

They have transformed good governance to SPIN. Facts and the truth are not partisan. They are the bedrock of our democracy. A democratic government is transparent, accountable and up-front and truthful with the citizens.

Governments make mistakes, everywhere and throughout history. If you make a mistake, own it and move quickly to fix it. Citizens in any country will be more likely to accept mea culpa and are likely to be more forgiving. But when you lie and expect people to live with your lies, it is the hallmark of a dictatorship.

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wednesDAY, june 28, 2017

Regional

Venezuela crisis: Helicopter Europe stands by Caribbean on climate funding 'attacks' Supreme Court

A

A

A police officer identifying himself as Oscar Perez made a statement on Instagram

helicopter has apparently tried to bomb Venezuela's Supreme Court in what President Nicolás Maduro called a "terrorist attack".

The Government says a Police Officer flew the helicopter over the capital, Caracas, and dropped grenades. Footage on social media shows a helicopter circling over the city before a loud bang is heard.

The officer believed to have seized the aircraft has issued a video statement con-

demning the Government.

There are no reports of anyone being killed or injured. Venezuela is in the grip of an economic and political crisis and there have been almost daily protests against Maduro's leftist Government.

More than 70 people have been killed in protest-related violence since April 1, according to the chief prosecutor's office. President Maduro said grenades had been dropped in the attack and he promised that security forces would capture those behind it.

"I have activated the entire armed forces to defend the peace," he said in an address from the Miraflores presidential palace. "Sooner or later, we are going to capture that helicopter and those who carried out this terror attack."

The Police Officer, who called himself Oscar Perez, appeared on Instagram, flanked by armed and masked men in uniform. He appealed to Venezuelans to oppose "tyranny". (Excerpt from BBC News)

Venezuela’s Maduro warns of war if ‘revolution’ toppled

V

enezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro warned on Tuesday that he and supporters would take up arms if his socialist Government was violently overthrown by opponents who have been on the streets protesting for three months.

“I’m telling the world, and I hope the world listens after 90 days of protest, destruction and death,” Maduro said in reference to anti-government unrest that has led to at least 75 deaths in the OPEC nation since April.

“If Venezuela was plunged

into chaos and violence and the Bolivarian Revolution destroyed, we would go to combat. We would never give up, and what couldn’t be done with votes, we would do with weapons, we would liberate the fatherland with weapons.”

Maduro, 54, was speaking at a rally to promote a July 30 vote for a special super-body called a Constituent Assembly, which could rewrite the national charter and supersede other institutions such as the Oppositioncontrolled congress.

He has touted the assembly as the only way to bring peace to Venezuela. But opponents, who want to bring forward the next presidential election scheduled for late 2018, say it is a sham poll designed purely to keep the socialists in power.

They are boycotting the vote, and protesting daily on the streets to try and have it stopped. Opposition leaders call Maduro a dictator who has wrecked a once-prosperous economy, while he calls them violent coup leaders.

(Excerpt from Yahoo! News)

senior European Union (EU) official in the Caribbean said Europe is ready to continue the global leadership on the fight against climate change, including helping the poor and vulnerable countries in the region. Underlining the challenges posed by climate change, Head of the European Union Delegation to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean States, the OECS, and Caricom/CARIFORUM, Ambassador Daniela Tramacere made it clear that the EU has no plan to abandon the extraordinary Agreement reached in Paris in 2015 by nearly 200 countries.

“Climate change is a challenge we can only tackle together and, since the

Head of the European Union Delegation to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean States, the Oecs, and CaricomCARIFORUM, Ambassador Daniela Tramacere

beginning, Europe has been at the forefront of this collective engagement. Today, more than ever, Europe recognizes the necessity to lead the way on its imple-

mentation, through effective climate policies and strengthened cooperation to build strong partnerships,” Tramacere said.

The 2015 Paris deal, which seeks to keep global temperature rises “well below” 2 degrees C, entered into force late last year, binding countries that have ratified it to draw up specific climate change plans.

The Caribbean countries, the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and the EU played a key role in the successful negotiations.

On June 1 this year, President Donald Trump said he will withdraw the United States from the landmark agreement, spurning pleas from US allies and corporate leaders.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Temer calls graft charge a ‘fiction’ that will hurt Brazil’s economy

P

resident Michel Temer called a corruption charge filed against him by Brazil’s top prosecutor a “fiction” on Tuesday, as the nation faced deepening political turmoil under its first sitting head of state to be formally accused of a committing a crime.

Temer, who was charged Monday night with arranging to receive millions of dollars in bribes, said the move would have a negative impact on Brazil’s economic recovery, possibly paralySing efforts at reform.

The conservative leader said executives of the world’s biggest meatpacker, JBS SA, who accused him in plea-bargain testimony of arranging to take 38 million reais (US$11.4

million) in bribes in the coming months, did so only to escape jail for their own crimes.

“I have been charged with taking bribes without ever having received a cent,” Temer said in a nationally televised speech.

“I’ve never seen any of that money and I have never taken part in planning to commit any crimes.”

Under Brazilian law, now that top prosecutor Rodrigo Janot has charged Temer, it is up to the House of Deputies to vote on whether or not to allow the Supreme Court to try the leader, who replaced impeached leftist President Dilma Rousseff just over a year ago.

Two-thirds of the lower house must vote against

Brazilian President Michel Temer speaks during press statement, at Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil June 27, 2017

Temer for his trial to occur.

Canada ends visa-free travel for Antigua-Barbuda nationals Colombia takes big

T

he Government of Canada has decided to end visa-free travel for citizens of Antigua and Barbuda. This decision reportedly relates to concerns over individuals who obtain passports under citizenship by investment programmes in the Caribbean.

The Canadian High Commissioner to Antigua and Barbuda, stationed in Trinidad, advised Prime Minister Gaston Browne of this development late on Friday prior to an official announcement on Monday. At the time, the Canadian official said that a concern is that Antigua and Barbuda’s citizenship by investment programme is not a residency programme.

In response, Browne pointed to the intense vetting of its CIP system, the revenues to the people of Antigua

(Excerpt from Reuters)

step to peace as rebels lay down guns

C

and Barbuda when the terms of trade and aid have declined and the banking system is threatened.

Despite the end of visa-free travel, the official Canadian government statement said, “Canada continues to welcome visitors from Antigua and Barbuda.” It also stated: “Most approved visa applicants will receive a multiple-entry visa, which allows travellers to visit Canada as

many times as they want, for up to ten years. For each visit, travellers can stay for up to six months.”

Antigua and Barbuda is the last of the countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) from whom the Canadian government has withdrawn visa-free travel, at a time of heightened security over terrorism and refugees. (Excerpt from

Caribbean News Now)

olombia reached a major milestone on its road to peace Tuesday as leftist rebels relinquished some of their last weapons and declared an end to their half-century insurgency.

The historic step was taken as President Juan Manuel Santos travelled to this demobilisation camp in Colombia’s eastern jungles to join guerrilla leaders as they begin their transition to civilian life.

In a short, symbol-filled ceremony, United Nations observers shut and padlocked the last containers

storing some of the 7132 weapons that members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia have turned over the past few weeks at 26 camps across the country. Yellow butterflies were released and an AK-47 converted into an electric guitar rang out plaintive chords in honour of the long conflict’s victims.

Though hundreds of FARC caches filled with larger weapons and explosives are still being cleared out, the UN on Monday certified that all individual firearms and weapons,

except for a small number needed to safeguard the soon-to-disband camps, have been collected.

The day put Colombia one step closer to turning a page on Latin America’s longest-running conflict, which caused at least 250,000 deaths, left 60,000 people missing and displaced more than seven million.

After years of thorny negotiations, the rebels reached an agreement with the Government last year to give up their weapons and transition into a political party. (Excerpt from Yahoo! News)

wednesDAY, june 28, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World Donald Trump and Narendra Modi vow to fight terror together

U

S President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have met for the first time in Washington DC, vowing to fight terrorism together while issuing a warning to Pakistan.

The two leaders, who hugged each other in front of reporters, also praised their countries’ warm relations.

They discussed increasing trade links and security co-operation. Modi was also the first foreign dignitary to have dinner at the White House with Trump.

A White House statement said the two leaders “resolved that India and the US will fight together” against terrorism which they called a “grave challenge to humanity”, pledging to expand the sharing of intelligence and deepen joint counter-terrorism efforts.

They also “called on Pakistan to ensure that its territory is not used to launch terrorist attacks

The leaders spoke to reporters after their first-ever meeting

on other countries”. The leaders said they would strengthen co-operation against threats including Pakistan-based militant groups Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

They urged Pakistan to “expeditiously bring to jus-

tice” those behind the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and last year’s attack on an air base in Pathankot, which Indian officials have suggested were perpetrated by those two militant groups.

India has seen several terror attacks in recent

years which Delhi claims were conducted by Pakistanbased militants.

It has also accused Pakistan of secretly sponsoring some of these attacks, which Pakistan has strongly denied. (Excerpt from BBC News)

At least 24 migrants die as thousands rescued in seas off Libya

R

ed Crescent volunteers recovered the bodies of 24 migrants on Tuesday that were washed up in an eastern suburb of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, as largescale rescues were made in the Mediterranean.

Residents in Tajoura district said the bodies had begun washing up at the

end of last week. Several had been partially devoured by stray dogs, according to a local coast guard official.

The toll was expected to increase as the flimsy boats used to carry migrants as far as international waters normally carry more than 100 people.

Three migrants died in the Mediterranean on

Monday night, a German aid group said, during Italian-led rescue operations in which thousands more were pulled to safety.

About 5000 migrants were picked up off the Libyan coast by emergency services, Italy’s navy, aid groups and private boats on Monday, and rescues were

Africa agriculture pioneer wins 2017 World Food Prize

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frican Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina has won the prestigious World Food Prize for his work to boost yields and farm incomes. Dr Adesina said providing millions of farmers with seeds and fertilisers was vital to boost development.

He added that 98 per cent of the world’s 800 million undernourished people live in Africa. Since 1986, the World Food Prize aims to recognise efforts to increase the quality and quantity of available food.

Dr Adesina told BBC News that he was “very humbled” to win the award. “For me, the award is not just about recognition for me, it is also about putting the wind behind the sails of what still

continuing on Tuesday, according to an Italian coastguard spokesman.

“Despite all efforts, three people died from a sinking rubber boat” and rescue boats in the area are struggling to cope, German humanitarian group Jugend Rettet said on Facebook.

Jugend Rettet (Rescuing Youth) is one of about nine aid groups patrolling seas into which people traffickers have sent more than half a million refugees and migrants on highly dangerous voyages towards Europe over the past four years. (Excerpt from Yahoo! News)

‘Petya’ ransomware attack strikes companies across Europe and US

V

ictims of a major ransomware cyberattack that has spread through the US and Europe can no longer unlock their computers even if they pay the ransom.

The “Petya” ransomware has caused serious disruption at large firms including the advertising giant WPP, French construction materials company Saint-Gobain and Russian steel and oil firms Evraz and Rosneft.

Infected computers display a message demanding a Bitcoin ransom worth $300. Those who pay are asked to send confirmation of payment to an email address. However, that email address has been shut down by the email provider.

“We do not tolerate any misuse of our platform,” said the German email provider Posteo in a blog post.

This means that there is no longer any way for people who decide to pay the ran-

Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo released from Chinese prison with late-stage cancer

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hina’s best-known political prisoner, the civil rights campaigner and Nobel peace prize winner Liu Xiaobo, has been released on medical parole after he was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer.

Liu, 61, is in the late stages of the disease, said Mo Shaoping, his lawyer, who has been in contact with Liu’s family. Liu is being treated at a hospital in the north-eastern city of Shenyang, near where he was being held. Another of Liu’s lawyers, Shang Baojun, said he was diagnosed in May. “This type of late-stage cancer is very difficult to treat, it would have been

Saudi, Qatar ministers spar over Arab nations’ demands

S Access to seeds and fertilisers has proven problematic for millions of farmers in Africa

needs to be done in African agriculture,” he said.

He added that the critical issue that needed to be addressed was that the level of productivity of the African agricultural sector was “so, so low”.

The World Food Prize was founded in 1986 by Dr Norman E Borlaug, recipient of the 1970 Nobel

Peace Prize.

Dr Adesina will receive the US$250,000 prize at the Borlaug Dialogue international symposium, which is held in the US to “help further the discussion on cutting-edge global food security issues and inspire the next generation to end hunger”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

audi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said on Tuesday that there would be no negotiations over demands by the kingdom and other Arab states for Qatar to stop supporting terrorism.

Doha retorted that the allegations against it and demands were baseless and unacceptable. Qatar has previously also said the demands were aimed at curbing its sovereignty.

Asked by reporters on a visit to Washington if the demands were non-negotiable, Saudi’s Jubeir said: “Yes.” “We made our point, we took our steps and it’s up to

som to contact the attacker for a decryption key to unlock their computer.

“This is not an experienced ransomware operator,” said Ryan Kalember, senior Vice President of cybersecurity strategy at Proofpoint.

The attack was first reported in Ukraine, where the government, banks, state power utility and Kiev’s airport and metro system were all affected. The radiation monitoring system at Chernobyl was taken offline, forcing employees to use hand-held counters to measure levels at the former nuclear plant’s exclusion zone.

The food giant Mondelez, legal firm DLA Piper, Danish shipping and transport giant AP MollerMaersk and Heritage Valley Health System, which runs hospitals and care facilities in Pittsburgh, also said their systems had been hit by the malware. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

the Qataris to amend their behavior and once they do things will be worked out but if they don’t they will remain isolated,” Jubeir said.

If Qatar wanted to return to the Gulf Cooperation Council fold, “they know what they have to do,” he said. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt imposed a boycott on Qatar three weeks ago, accusing it of backing militants – then issued an ultimatum, including demands it shut down a Turkish military base in Doha, shutting the Al Jazeera TV channel and curbing ties with Iran. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

Chinese dissident and civil rights activist Liu Xiaobo

easier if it was discovered sooner,” Shang said. “It’s extremely serious.”

Liu was arrested in 2008 after penning a pro-democracy manifesto called Charter 08, where he called for an end to one-party rule and improvements in human rights. Following a year in detention and a two-hour trial, he was sentenced in December 2009 to 11 years in prison for inciting subversion of state power.

Little has been heard from him since. When he was awarded the Nobel peace prize in 2010 he was represented by an empty chair.

Liu Xia, his wife, has been under house arrest since her husband won and has reportedly suffered from depression due to her isolation. She has not been formally charged with a crime despite her nearly seven years in detention. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

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WEDNESday, june 28, 2017

ARCHIE

Just because you are a pioneer doesn’t mean that you (March 21- must indulge in every new April 19) thing or change that presents itself. Careful consideration will spare you angst and unnecessary costs.

ARIES

Help the ones you love.

TAURUS What you do will be well re(April 20- ceived and will put you in May 20) high regard. A business expense should be monitored closely.

dilbert

Keep your emotions under GEMINI (May 21- control and your mind focused June 20) on the changes you can bring about. Don’t count on someone to give you sound advice or offer accurate instructions.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Know your limitations and refrain from taking on too much or overspending on things you don’t need. Stick to tried-and-true means and methods, and avoid confusion.

Look over your financial and personal papers carefully. Don’t give anyone access to your passwords or information that might be used against you. Don’t rely on outside help.

Your instincts will not be VIRGO wrong when dealing with part(Aug. 23nerships, people from your past Sept. 22) or someone you love. Express your thoughts and don’t overdo it, overspend or put up with excessive people.

Make your residence LIBRA homey.

Welcome changes (Sept. 23Oct. 23) that will make your life easier, but make sure you can afford the updates before you begin. Lowering your personal expenses will ease stress.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Being honest about your SCORPIO feelings will lead to answers (Oct. 24to problems that have been Nov. 22) causing you uncertainty and setbacks. Taking a short trip or doing fact-finding is in your best interest.

Emotions will surface.

SAGITTARIUS Don’t dodge issues or offer (Nov. 23- false information just to spare Dec. 21) someone’s feelings. Honesty is a priority and should not be ignored if you want to avoid repercussions.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Sign up for an activity CAPRICORN that will broaden your mind (Dec. 22- or offer innovative life philosJan. 19) ophies that will help you keep a positive attitude and set appropriate goals.

Joint ventures will not AQUARIUS turn out as anticipated. Make (Jan. 20sure you read the fine print Feb. 19) of any deal. Don’t trust what someone tells you regarding money, health or legal matters.

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

Get involved in events PISCES that address issues that con(Feb. 20March 20) cern you. Children will have an impact on your life, offering a different perspective on a situation you face. Live and learn.

wednesDAY, june 28, 2017

19

indecision Bolt unsure of exact Taylor’s did not cost Windies retirement date Women, insists Nation

W

orld’s fastest man Usain Bolt will step away from the sport of track and field by the end of season, but his exact retirement date remains shrouded in mystery.

The 30-year-old is certain

that the London World Championships will be his final appearance at a major games, but has admitted he could still continue the farewell tour at one or two meets after that.

“We haven’t fully made up our mind on what we’re doing yet,” revealed Bolt,

injury, has typically competed in only a handful of races over the past several seasons and in several cases has closed the period following a big win at a major championships. The athletics calendar is normally significantly thinner at that time of year, but Bolt has, on occasion, gone on to make his final appearance of the year at the Brussels Diamond League sprinter meet. The w a s , however, quick to

who had previously suggested the 4x100m relay final on August 12 could be his final competitive race on a track anywhere.

The dominant Jamaican sprinter, often plagued by

point out that the decision was not one that required primary focus at the moment.

“I’m not worrying about that until the World Championships or at least getting close to it,” Bolt said.

W

‘Why not me?’

– Blake feels ready to pick up Bolt mantle

Y

ohan Blake the 2011 World Champion has again stated the case for being the man best able to fill the boots of training partner and world’s fastest man Usain Bolt when he leaves the sport this season.

A few years ago Blake would have seemed the natural choice to replace his compatriot and Racers Track Club teammate Bolt as the king of world sprinting.

However, following a major injury in 2014 and several difficult years, the 27-year-old has seemingly fallen back into the chasing pack. Recently, however, a rejuvenated Blake seems to be showing signs of a return to the form that saw him claim the place of being the world’s second fastest

man. At the recently concluded Jamaica national trials, the sprinter register his fastest time since 2012. Blake looked a cut above the rest and claims he is ready to step into the limelight and take up the mantle.

“When you have a legend retiring someone has to step up and fill the void.

Why not me,” Blake said. I’ve been training hard, I’m feeling fit. I’ve been doing some good work,” he added.

“Usain has been encouraging me every day, he wants me as a Jamaica to be the major force to be reckoned with after he leaves.”

Blake boasts personal bests of 9.69 over the 100m and 19.26 over 200m. (Sportsmax)

The match referee had to get involved in a chaotic coin toss before Australia Women's World Cup match against West Indies Women

est Indies Women’s all-rounder Chedean Nation insists a moment of indecision by as to whether to field or bat from captain Stafanie Taylor having won the toss, had very little impact on the team’s performance.

Taylor who won the coin toss initially told Australia captain Meg Lanning that the Windies would bat first, but seemed to later change her mind after telling commentator Ian Bishop the

team would bowl first. The match referee then intervened to insist that Taylor’s original answer would have to stand. Lanning had hoped the Aussies would have been able to bowl first.

Put in to bat the Windies were later dismissed for 204, a target easily mowed down by the Australians on the way to a comfortable eight-wicket win in the World Cup opener for both teams. Nation was, however, quick to dismiss notions of the skipper’s indecision

costing the team.

“I thought both captains had some confusion so there isn’t too much I could say about that one,” Nation said in the post-match interview.

“It didn’t have an impact on us. Whether we had won the toss or lost it we would have had to both bat and field,” she added.

“We were ready for anything whether we were batting or bowling whatever the skipper’s decision was we were ready for it.” (Sportsmax)

Webb allowed to travel within United States E

mbattled former CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb will be allowed to travel freely within the United States following a successful appeal to a US district court.

Webb, who is facing seven counts of criminal conduct, has been under house arrest at his home in Loganville, Georgia since September 2015. Initially the former CONCACAF boss was not allowed to be more than 20 miles from his home, but saw those restrictions eased in May of last year when he was allowed to travel 50 miles between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. seven days a week “for the purpose of running errands and to facilitate care of his infant son.”

Webb, who was granted a fifth delay of sen-

tence last week and is now scheduled to face the court in January 2018, has been granted further leniency and will be allowed to travel during the period, subject to the approval of

homes within the state of Georgia during the period, again with the permission of federal authorities.

The 52-year-old is also expected to relocate within the state after putting his

the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The former CONCACAF boss was also granted leave to to travel to relatives’

Loganville mansion up for sale, with proceeds expected to go the United States Federal Government as part of a plea deal. (Sportsmax)

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wednesDAY, june 28, 2017

FIFA publishes Garcia World Pacquiao eyeing Cups report after leak Mayweather T rematch, says trainer

A

rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao could be on the cards if the legendary Filipino boxer wins his bout against Australian challenger Jeff Horn this weekend, his trainer said Tuesday.

Pacquiao, who was outpointed by Mayweather in the “Fight of the Century” two years ago, will be the strong favourite when he defends his world title against the unbeaten Horn in Brisbane.

But the Horn fight could be critical to whether the “Pac-Man” secures another superfight with his American

Mayweather you have to look good against Jeff Horn, he has to look good, he has to be impressive.

“I think there is a lot riding on this fight and I feel Manny has to look really good in this fight and the way the training camp went, I

Stadium.

“If there’s a chance, why not. I’m willing, but let’s focus first for this fight,” the 38-year-old eight-weight world champion told reporters when asked about fighting Mayweather again.

“We don’t want to underestimate Horn thinking about another fight, this fight is not done yet.”

Pacquiao, 38, briefly retired last year before making a successful comeback against Vargas in November, and is juggling

A rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao could be on the cards

rival, Freddie Roach told reporters in Brisbane.

“He (Horn) can derail us really badly. Manny is, I think, in a must-win situation. He wants a rematch with Mayweather,” Roach said.

“And I mean to get

think he will.”

Pacquiao was coy about a possible rematch, stressing that his focus was on the World Boxing Organisation welterweight title fight against 29-yearold former schoolteacher Horn at Brisbane’s Suncorp

boxing with his duties as a senator in the Philippines.

Boxing legend Mayweather, 40, is coming out of retirement to fight mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor in August.

(YahooSports)

Serena hits back

after McEnroe ranks her 700th on men’s tour

S

erena Williams has asked John McEnroe for “respect” after the seven-times grand slam champion said his fellow American would be ranked “like 700 in the world” if she had to play on the men’s circuit.

In an interview with National Public Radio on Sunday, McEnroe said 23-times grand slam champion Williams was “the best female player ever” but declined to label her the best overall. “ I f s h e played t h e

Serena Williams

men’s circuit she’d be like 700 in the world,” he said.

“That doesn’t mean I don’t think Serena is an incredible player. I do.

“And on a given day, Serena could beat some players... But if she had to just play the circuit -- the men’s circuit -- that would be an entirely different story.”

Former world number one Williams, who has taken time off to have a baby, responded testily on Twitter.

“Dear John, I adore and respect you but please please keep me out of your statements that are not factually based,” she wrote. “I’ve never played anyone ranked ‘there’ nor do I have time. Respect me and my privacy as I’m trying to have a baby. Good day sir.”

Williams has won the most grand slam singles titles in the professional era, five more than Swiss Roger Federer, the most prolific winner in the men’s game.

She is one short of Australian Margaret Court’s overall record of 24 grand slam titles, which were split between the professional and amateur eras.(Reuters)

he global soccer body FIFA said on Tuesday it had decided to publish the Garcia report into the decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively, more than two-and-ahalf years after the investigation was completed.

The 430-page report lists in great detail the wheeling and dealing which went on behind the scenes in the bidding race.

It said that “flaws” in the process were caused by a “culture of expectation and entitlement” among FIFA executive committee members who held the right to vote for the hosts.

FIFA said its decision to publish was made after the report, compiled by its former chief ethics investigator Michael Garcia in 2014, was “illegally leaked” to a German newspaper.

“For the sake of transparency, FIFA welcomes the news that this report has now been finally published,” it said, adding that the decision was made to “to avoid the dissemination of any misleading information.”

Garcia, who is now an associate judge at the Court of Appeals for the state of the New York, spent 18 months and interviewed 75 witness-

es as he investigated the convoluted bidding process for the two tournaments.

His report was not published but instead handed to the then FIFA ethics judge Hans-Joachim Eckert, who issued a 42-page summa-

fice opened a criminal investigation into the award.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter was later banned for six years following an internal ethics investigation.

The report said Blatter, who has denied any wrong-

FIFA President Sepp Blatter

ry which said there was not enough evidence to re-open the bidding process.

Garcia publicly criticized Eckert’s summary and resigned one month later, in December 2014. FIFA then agreed the report could be published once all investigations against individuals had been completed.

FIFA’s situation took a dramatic turn in 2015 when several dozens soccer officials were indicted on corruption-related charges in the United States, while the Swiss attorney general’s of-

doing, bore “some responsibility for a flawed process that engendered deep public scepticism”, though it also praised him for implementing reforms including those which made the report itself possible.

England, Spain/Portugal and the Netherlands/ Belgium were the other countries bidding for the 2018 World Cup, while Australia, Japan, the United States and South Korea were Qatar’s rivals for the 2022 tournament.

Ravi Shastri to apply for Indian cricket team coach post, favourite for top job

R

avi Shastri has decided to throw his hat in the ring for the India cricket coach’s job. Having the full backing of India captain Virat Kohli and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) officials, he is the clear favourite for the job.

When the BCCI had first asked for applications for the national coach’s position Shastri had not applied for the job but after Anil Kumble decided to opt out of the race, the former India all-rounder has taken a call to go for a second innings.

“Yes, I have decided to apply for the job,” reports quoting Shastri said.

Shastri had done well in his first stint with the India team before losing his job to Anil Kumble, who was selected by the three-member Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), comprising of Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman.

Read | Anil Kumble was impeccable in his role as coach: Committee of Administrators In keeping with the India captain’s wishes of having Shastri as coach, two days after Kumble decided to quit (last Friday), the BCCI extended the deadline to apply for the post of head coach till July 9, paving the way for the former India all-rounder to apply for the most coveted

Ravi Shastri was earlier the team director of Virat Kohli-led Indian cricket team (AFP)

position in coaching in the cricket world.

The BCCI’s official line is that they have re-opened the process because some of the coaches may not have applied earlier thinking that they didn’t have a chance against the highly-successful Kumble.

While it allows Shastri to apply for the vacant post, it is a complicated situation. Sourav Ganguly, who is a member of the Cricket Advisory Committee, which will decide who becomes coach, had a public spat with Shastri over the manner in which the coach selection process was conducted last year.

Read | Anil Kumble gets Abhinav Bindra’s indirect support on rift with Virat Kohli Also, some of the coaches who had initially applied are not happy with the BCCI move. In fact, Virender Sehwag had to be

convinced by some of the Board members to apply for the position.

A report had suggested that former Team India director Ravi Shastri was approached by the Indian cricket board and he sought assurance that he’ll get the job. But, the former India skipper has rubbished the report.

It is no secret that Kohli wants Shastri back at the helm.

The BCCI has said the coach will be appointed before the Sri Lanka series, starting in the last week of July. They have asked the applicants to be available for interview in person or via video conferencing in the week after the last date.

Shastri is in London and is expected to be back in India by the third week of July. Among others to apply for the job are Sehwag, Tom Moody and Lalchand Rajput.(HindustanTimes)

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sports

15 awarded badminton shuttle certificates F

ifteen participants were awarded their Teachers Training Course Certificates as the Guyana Badminton Association successfully conducted the Shuttle Time Programme.

The main focus of the three- day event which was held from June 23rd to 25th at the National Gymnasium and the GOA Boardroom is to make badminton the most popular sport in schools globally.

Guyana is now the 106th country where the Shuttle Time Programme has been conducted.

The Guyana Badminton Association’s used this year’s Guyana Olympic Association Olympic Day series of activities to conduct the Shuttle Time Programme.

Receiving certificates were: Anson Ambrose-St. Roses High School, Abigail Alves-New Guyana School, Candyss Pauldon-Bishops High School, Cleon CritchlowJo-sel Private School, Nema Flue Bess-St. Joseph High School, Kevin SinghAnnandale Secondary School, Al Junior Wilson-Bladen Hall Multilateral School, Denise Stephan- Stewartville Primary School, Sarah Sylvester-ScottSchool of the Nations, Priyanna Ramdhani-Marian Academy, Vanessa Shelto-GBA, Darrell Carpenay-GBA, Ravin SinghGBA).

Meanwhile,(Narayan Ramdhani, Ambika Ramraj, Emelia Ramdhani and Marlon Chung all of the GBA, were awarded the Tutors Training Course Certificates at the conclusion of the course.

The three-day course, which opened on Friday morning at the Guyana Olympic Association boardroom, was conducted by Jamaican Richard Wong.

Wong, who is a BWF Shuttle Time Tutor and Coach, noted that the programme is not indepth and is not structured to

Participants of the shuttle programme with facilitator of the programme, Richard Wong and GBA President Gokarn Ramdhani

make the teachers coaches.

“We want to make the lessons fun, safe and have the kids experience success from the very beginning, and the Shuttle Time has been instrumental in that. The Shuttle Time Programme has been implemented in various countries across the Caribbean, and it actually helped in promoting the sport because it gets, as I said, teachers, P.E teachers or even regular teachers to teach a badminton lesson,” Wong explained.

“The programme is very simple; all the resources have been provided for the teachers

so basically when a teacher takes a Shuttle Time course and decides to implement the programme all they have to do is go back to their school, look in the resources we give them free and just decide what lessons they want to teach,” Wong pointed out.

The target group is Primary and Secondary school teachers, and while the aim is to introduce children aged 5-15 to badminton, the programme can be adapted to any settings.

Shuttle Time is the first such programme to be hosted in Guyana, and it came to fruition following GBA President Gokarn Ramdhani

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making representation at the BWF’s AGM in Gold Coast, Australia, in May 2017.

“It’s going to be a very good course for Guyana, especially for the teachers training the children for CSEC. It is also a basic programme to help us with the development plan for badminton in Guyana because now the teachers will be assisting us to get up the players and then we get them out into the areas and the teams and clubs we would want them to go,” Ramdhani asserted. The Badminton Association, over the years, has been clamouring for the sport to be prominent in schools

nationwide, and Ramdhani believes the hosting of the Shuttle Time Programme is a positive step in that direction.

“Because we’ve tried implementing badminton in a lot of schools for the past 7-8 years; we donated racquets, shuttlecocks and nets…we did programmes for them but nobody never followed up.

So now that we get the P.E teachers, I hope this is a better way to get it more developed,” Ramdhani revealed.

The GBA would like to thank GOA, National Sports Commission (NSC), Banks DIH and Nicholas Fraser of the Ministry of Education.

Malta Supreme 11-race meet to be highly competitive

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fter being overshadowed at the past weekend’s National Championships, top cyclists such as Geron Williams, Orville Hinds, Raul Leal, Shaquille Agard, Hamzah Eastman, Jamaul John and Paul DeNobrega are expected to do fierce battle in this weekend’s upcoming annual Malta Supreme 11-race meet slated for the National Park on Saturday July 1.The event will begin at 09:00hrs and is expected to be well attended coming off the heels of the massive support received

Top cyclists will compete on Saturday at Malta Supreme’s annual cycling meet in the National Park

Fraser excels in waning Novice category D

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elon Fraser excels in a category, the Novice division. This category has faded in recent years as compared to the period when it was introduced by the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA).

This year featured prominent personalities, the likes of Fraser, Liaison to the Crime Chief, who defeated NonPariel Tennis Club President Surendra Khayyam 6-3 to take home the Title. In their semis, Fraser defeated US Peace Corps, Country Director, Kury Cobham 6-3 and Khayyam edged Leonie Sears 7-5 who has improved significantly with only one year of training from Men’s Champ Anthony Downes. Fraser will now advance to Open Categories.

One of the innovations implemented by the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) five years ago was the creation of a Novice category which allowed for persons new to the sport to get a taste of competition and eventually graduate to higher categories. Since professional tennis is a sport with a very high learning curve, this is a way to increase participation in tennis in a rudimentary form.

Whilst participation in the category has waned to an extent, there is still the welcome participation of many persons keen to test their skills against their fellow newcomers.

The Novices certainly would welcome the opportunity to compete against their peers instead of seasoned players and it is hoped that more players would participate to keep the category alive in future tournaments.

In the 2017 GBTI Open Novice Medley Singles, a total of 15 persons matched skills as males and females competed against each other. The inaugural Novice categories in 2011 had featured 32 players. The decline can be attributed to the reduction of active clubs from 11 during that time down to 5 in 2017. This is a stark indication that the sport needs facilities and clubs nationwide to grow. In this regard, the GLTA continues to press the authorities to be non-discriminatory in their support for sports that have over the years managed to successfully hold their own with little or no support.

at the Championship Road race on Sunday last.

The 2017 National Road race champion and time trials winner, Raynauth Jeffrey will not be participating in the feature 35-lap school boy’s invitational, however the competition level should be high as Team Coco, Evolution and Atlantis rid-

ers seek glory.

Representatives of Malta Supreme inclusive of Banks DIH Limited’s Non-Alcoholic Brand Manager Clayton McKenzie are expected to witness the races and be on hand to present prizes.

National Cycling Coach Hassan Mohamed will be facilitating the event.

Delon Fraser (left) and Kury Cobham

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesdAY, june 28, 2017

“Top Gun”

Hopkinson: A Marksman

By Delvon McEwan

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lthough affected by 75% immobility in his right hand in the 80s and with more than 30 years of experience in rifle shooting, “Top Gun” Harold Hopkinson has established himself as one of Guyana’s best in the business of not missing.

He recently reminded opponents that his pseudonym suited well after claiming the top spot in the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) Smallbore Section .22 Precision on Saturday at the Tactical Services Unit Range of the Guyana Police Force.

The marksman has not only dominated locally but he has matched rounds with regional and international counterparts. Therefore due to his accomplishment over three decades Guyana Times Sport saw it necessary to look into the barrel of a `Top Gun’ .

GTS-How long have you been involved in the

sport of rifle shooting?

HH-A long time but retired and came back. As a member of the Guyana National Rifle Association and the Regional Director for IPSC, USPSA it is my vision to hold a level 2 Competition after I come back from the IPSC World Handgun Shoot, which will be held in France in August 2017.

From around early 80s, I had an accident in which I lost the 75% mobility of my right hand. My mentor Mr. Neville Denny told me if you can shoot with your right, you can adapt to your left. I did, I can recall I got released temporarily from the hospital to go shoot at the Seawall with my bandages on my right hand. I came second.

GTS-You said you started in the 80s then retired in 2005, before returning to action three years ago, what prompted you to start shooting initially and what encouraged you to return after you retired 12 years ago?

HH-I was taunted by

Hemant Narine to come back so “Dem lil boy can tear yuh up”. I did and taught them a lesson.

GTS-It is obvious that there is some connection between you and rifle shooting. What is it that holds your interest after so many years?

HH-Just liked firearms as a kid. I remember having a .177 Daisy Air Rifle for my birthday. Guess I culled the Kiskadee population with my youthful ignorance. I am a practical shooter, handguns are my thing. Run and shoot. Speed, accuracy and power are our IPSC game.

Trained by Jamaican Ronald “De Dragon” Brown and part sponsored by Akai Custom Guns, Miami. I travel all over to quench my thirst for competitive shooting.

GTS-Can you talk about some of the changes from the time you enter the sport up to present?

HH-It is now a very serious sport, the firearms are more sophisticated; Custom

speed holsters, titanium barrels, custom made stroked pistols with compensators (makes them shoot like an air pistol) and custom high speed bullets, giving a power factor of over 170. These bullets will blow the slide off a normal firearm.

GTS-What is your vision for the sport?

HH-I would love to own a facility to have Level 3 and 4 Competitions. Our Present President of the Guyana NRA, Brigadier West MSS, is pushing such a project at the GDF Rifle Ranges.

Next, it would be ideal to be equipped to remanufacture our own ammunition.

The cost of ammunition here is prohibitive. One needs to practice with around 1000 rounds a month minimum.

Being able to remanufacture ammunition under very secure and strict conditions is a plus for the sport. Duty free for sporting pistols and accessories. CARICOM need to be involved with sport.

GTS- Could List your major achievements to

date?

HH-Produced the Guyana National Rifle Association’s present logo, the old one was boring. First Handgun Captain and multiple National Handgun Champion, Suriname Open, 2015 Production Champion.

Third Place in Barbados Smoking Barrels 2016, First D Class Florida Open 2016, Grenada 2017. Third Overall production, First B Class, First Super Senior and many more. It is the fun and comradery one experience over seas. I am the only current Certified Range Officer for IPSC and USPSA. GTS-Is there anything that you are yet to accomplish?

HH-Yes to manufacture my own ammunition here, so training can be done in Guyana and not in other countries. Winning the Senior Division in the Open Category (the F1 of pistols) GTS-How costly is it to participate in this sport?

HH-Very costly, see above. Guns are 100% duty.

I paid $365,000 duty here for my Limited gun, which I upgraded to an open gun.

GTS-Would you ever consider being an advocate to promote the sport locally?

HH-I am the Regional Director and do that all the time. I will be holding a six course Level 2 match when I return from France. I already have spent lots and lots of money on props for the sport, poppers, screens, fault lines, falling plates scoring and measuring equipment.

GTS-Being in the presence of a shooter is not always the best option, so how challenging is it for your family to cope with this reality?

HH-We have the safest dangerous sport in the world.

We deal with guns and never have any violence against each other. My family and friends support me, I live for speed and the challenges every country put in front of me. Win or fail it is fun.

We all promote safety and sportsmanship.

Roraima and NSC partner on National Championships “Good Ambassadors” initiative

a major success

‒ GCF President Burrowes

T

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Director of Sport, Christopher Jones and some of the sports awardees at Arrowpoint Nature Resort

he National Sports Commission (NSC) is working on adding Guyanese athletes to the pool of “Good Ambassadors” as they become more exposed to and familiar with Guyana’s tourism product.

This program is being implemented with the help of corporate entities including the Roraima Airways, according to Director of Sport, Christopher Jones during a visit Arrowpoint Nature Resort over the weekend.

Jones commended Roraima’s partnership with his Department and stated that Roraima is the first corporate tourism entity to come on board as a sponsor since the launch of the Tourism Seminar in April of this year.

“Roraima Airways is the first tourism company which has come on board to support our athletes since the inaugural Sports Tourism Seminar. The Department of Tourism is currently working on the Tourism Policy which incorporates sport and tourism. We want to expose our athletes to our local tourism product so when abroad they would be able to

effectively promote Guyana.

And by virtue of Roraima Airways coming on board, this would enhance athletes’ ability to market Guyana’s tourism product. On behalf of the Department, I would like to thank Roraima for supporting our athletes”, the Director of Sport declared.

Arrowpoint, the Award winning 2016 THAG Resort of the year, hosted twenty national Sports Awardees on Saturday June 24.

The Arrowpoint experience included a tour of the Indigenous Village, Sanata Aratak Mission, activities which showcase the way of life of the indigenous people and a brush of Guyana’s wild life.

Speaking on the exposure of the athletes to Arrowpoint Nature Resort, Mr. Jones said; “I think it’s a worthy experience for our local athletes and Guyanese as a whole, because having experienced the best of Guyana’s tourism package one can appreciate their own country more which would create the ripple effect of becoming quality ambassadors. I would therefore, encourage Guyanese in general to explore the tour-

ism package”.

The Director of Sport also used the opportunity to highlight the business potential of sports tourism in Guyana, citing the increasing number of sport tourists to Guyana over the last five years as was referenced by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) at the inaugural Sports Tourism Seminar held in April.

Additionally, he stated that Guyana will host five (5) international tournaments before the conclusion of 2017, one of which will be held on July 15th where athletes from approximately 17 countries will visit to participate in qualifying contests.

“My Department is ensuring that the facilities in Guyana are of a standard that will attract Regional and International tournaments and of course, that too will be twinned with exposing Guyana’s tourism products.

Therefore, the Department of Tourism and tourism companies like Roraima Airways will be able to work on ensuring that in the next five years we can plan strategically for international tournaments,” Jones said.

he Guyana Cycling Federation’s (GCF) Horace Burrowes has said that the 2017 National Championships was a huge success.

“This championship is probably the best championship we had in the country so far. It was kind of technical because a lot of the clubs didn’t adjust yet to the rules added to the championships,” Burrowes said.

The president pointed that the added rules would be beneficial to the cyclists especially if they were to go compete internationally.

“The rules are pretty much to benefit the cyclists in terms of when they travel, when they go outside (abroad), to do different international races so this championship is a major

GCF President Horace Burrowes

success for the GCF.” In recent times there has been an increase in the amount of cyclists who travel overseas to compete at international events and according to Burrowes this has been the GCF’s aim as they seek to develop cycling in

Guyana.

“We’ve been pushing to get cyclists to various events because throughout the years this was not happening. When I got elected this was one of the things I said, we have to start attending all these international events. I took it on myself, I didn’t mind funding them, which I did a couple of times.”

Burrowes claimed that some of the cyclists “understand where we (GCF) is going, and they are really happy with the progress of the federation.”

The most recent National champions Geron Williams and Raynauth Jeffrey have been riding and participating in international events for quite some time while some of the cyclists who participated in the PanAmerican games earlier this year have all been performing admirably locally and abroad.

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, june 28, 2017

23

Malinga gets suspended Get To Know Your ban for breach Guyana Amazon Warriors of contract

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ast bowler Lasith Malinga has been given a suspended ban of six months and fined 50% of the match fee of his next ODI appearance, after a disciplinary inquiry found him guilty of breaching his contract. Sri Lanka Cricket’s decision will have no impact on the fast bowler’s availability for the Zimbabwe series - he was named in the 13-member squad for the first two ODIs. Malinga appeared before SLC’s special inquiry panel on Tuesday, where he accepted the charges against him and tendered a formal apology. A specially convened executive committee meeting then imposed a “1 Year suspension,

By Akeem Greene

suspended by six months (whereby the punishment would be imposed in the event of a similar infraction within the stipulated 6 month period) and a 50% fine of his next ODI match fee,” SLC said in a release.

The inquiry was precipitated

by Malinga’s response to sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekara, who had alleged that Sri Lanka’s poor fielding standards were due to players’ inadequate fitness, in particular their “big bellies”. Malinga had not taken direct aim at Jayasekara in a stinging response, but nevertheless had implied in an interview that the sports minister was no more than an armchair critic, and had not played cricket at a sufficiently

Chris Lynn Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga

high level for his criticism to be taken seriously.

SLC said the fast bowler had twice acted in “contravention of the terms of agreement”, which bar him from making any statements to the media without the prior consent of the board’s chief executive officer: the first violation was around June 19, before a subsequent breach around June 21.

The three-member inquiry panel comprised SLC secretary Mohan de Silva, CEO Ashley de Silva and chairman of the disciplinary committee, Asela Rekawa. (Cricinfo)

Kyle Hope, Sunil Ambris get debut calls for home team

K

yle Hope and Sunil Ambris have been included in a West Indies 13-man squad named Tuesday to play against India in the third, fourth and fifth matches in their fivematch ODI series to be played at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground between Friday, June 30 and Sunday, July 2 with the fifth match scheduled for Sabina Park on Thursday, July 6.

Hope, a 28–year-old toporder batsman is the brother of Windies opener Shai Hope; and Sunil Ambris, a 24-yearold wicket-keeper/batsman.

Batsman Johnathan Carter and pace bowler Keswick Williams have been dropped to make room for the two debutants.

Chairman of Selectors

Courtney Browne believed both players have earned their spots in the squad.

“Kyle opened on our last “A” Team One-Day tour to Sri Lanka and had some very good performances. In addition, he also had a good showing opening the batting for the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force franchise in this year’s PCL competition,” Browne said, while adding that Ambris should held to bolster the West Indies middle order.

“Sunil did well in our Regional Super50 One-Day tournament and also had a good showing in this year’s PCL first-class tournament for Windward Islands Volcanoes and therefore will fit within our

middle o r d e r.

They will be up against a good Indian team and they have an opportunity to show their skills and contribute to a strong team performance.”

The remainder of the squad includes Jason Holder (captain), Devendra Bishoo, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Jason Mohammed, Ashley Nurse, Kieran Powell and Rovman Powell.

India lead the five-match series after winning the second ODI in Port-of-Spain by 105 runs. The first match was abandoned because of rain.

England beat Pakistan as Natalie Sciver & Heather Knight star

E

ngland bounced back from their opening defeat by India to make their highest Women’s World Cup total in a crushing win over Pakistan at Leicester.

Natalie Sciver hit 137 off 92 balls and Heather Knight 106 off 109 - their maiden one-day international centuries - in a total of 377-7 at Grace Road.

After they put on 213, Danielle Wyatt made a brisk unbeaten 42.

Pakistan, who were 107-3 from 29.2 overs when rain came, lost by 107 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern system.

England face Sri Lanka at Taunton on Sunday, a day when all eight teams are in action, with Pakistan facing rivals India at Derby.

England had shown signs of nerves as they lost to India on Sunday, and after Pakistan won the toss and a shower delayed the start by half an hour, Tammy Beaumont was dropped at slip off the first ball of the innings.

Sarah Taylor was trapped lbw by the erratic Kainat Imtiaz, who also had Beaumont caught behind for a scratchy 14.

But with only two seamers available - and leg-spinner

Bismah Maroof off the field with a hand injury - Pakistan captain Sana Mir had little margin for error.

She was also let down by Pakistan’s poor ground fielding, while slow left-armer Nashra Sandhu failed to hold on to a return catch as Wyatt scored freely in the closing overs.

Having come together at 422, Knight and Sciver took the game to Pakistan’s four-pronged

spin attack, taking the route of steady accumulation before gradually cranking up the run rate.

Captain Knight hit well through the off side, but was beaten to the half-century mark as Sciver drove and swept Nashra for four successive fours.

The first six did not come until the 33rd over and, after Knight launched Sadia Yousaf and Mir over the leg side, Sciver eased to a 76-ball century.

Knight brought up her ton with a reverse sweep for four, and her dismissal - caught at

long-off - was the cue for an astonishing display of hitting from Sciver.

In the final over of the powerplay, the Surrey righthander clouted seamer Asmavia Iqbal for three successive sixes.

Although Sciver fell next over, picking out substitute fielder Diana Baig at deep midwicket, Wyatt, whose unbeaten 42 came off 27 balls, and Fran Wilson (33 from 19) punished an increasingly ragged Pakistan.

With rain forecast, England’s priority in the field was to get through 20 overs in order to constitute a match.

Strike bowler Katherine Brunt had been expensive at Derby, but struck with her seventh delivery as Nahida Khan popped a straightforward catch to Sciver at mid-wicket. A slower ball pegged bag Javeria Khan’s middle stump as Brunt’s six-over opening spell cost only 21 runs, and spinner Alex Hartley, with an even more miserly economy rate, trapped Asmavia in front.

Although opener Ayesha Zafar had compiled a patient half-century by the time rain returned, Pakistan were well adrift of the DLS par score. (BBC)

Full name: Christopher Austin Lynn Born April: 10, 1990 Brisbane, Queensland Age: 27 years Playing role: Batsman Batting style: Right-hand bat Bowling style: Slow left-arm orthodox Call name: Lynny

A

dynamo with the bat in hand, Lynn been his kryptonite, with the latest coming set the 2016 edition of the Hero while playing for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) a Indian Premier League earlier this year, after light with some belligerent batting, which he started the tournament in raging form. helped his team reach the final against In preparation for the ‘Biggest Party in eventual winners Jamaica Tallawahs.

Sport” the player has been hard at work in From 12 matches in 2016, he scored effort to perform at his optimum. “After 454 runs at a remarkable average of 45.4. a couple of weeks break from the IPL and His highest score was 86 made against ICC Champions Trophy I’m feeling refreshed the St. Lucia Zouks (now St. Lucia Stars) and can’t wait to get back to Guyana,” Lynn and the Warriors told Guyana Times will be counting Sport. on the his exploits For the fans “The fans of Guyana are sensationyet again in their seeking, to attend, al. It’s a great feeling knowing we bid for a maiden all should be wary are the best supported team in the championship title. of the humongous The player who sixes he can serveCPL and every player appreciates had a stint with the up on any given your support. I hope to see all of you Tallawahs in 2015, is night as he seeks out to as many games as possible seen as the glue to to once again be a formidable topthe tournament’s and then we can all celebrate afterorder that includes leading player with wards. Here’s to another successful New Zealander the bat.

CPL for the GAW!!!”

Martin Guptill and Lynn’s message Jamaican Chadwick for the fans was: Walton.

“The fans of Donning Australian colours has been a Guyana are sensational. It’s a great feeling regularity for Lynn who has appeared in six knowing we are the best supported team in internationals (one ODI and five T20Is). the CPL and every player appreciates your However, his resources are in high demand support. I hope to see all of you out to as due to the carnage he creates in the Big Bash many games as possible and then we can League “down under.” all celebrate afterwards. Here’s to another While the Australian has been in an ever successful CPL for the GAW!!!.” green of form since last year, injuries has

Keon Joseph Full name: Keon Joseph Born November: 25, 1991 Berbice Current age: 25 years Batting style: Right-hand bat Bowling style: Right-arm fast-medium Call name: Buffy

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or the chunk of two years, the hostile the 2016/2017 Digicel Regional 4-day fast bowler has been on the rise with Competition with 24 wickets from six both his pace and performance on matches and a best innings performance the field. While not known for his feats of 7 for 53. with the white-ball, with just three List-A Since then he has been on the regional matches for side’s radar, Guyana, Joseph featuring in the could be the extour match against “It is a wonderful feeling to be back factor the teams Pakistan. in the Warriors team for the second holds with the new Given the new ball along with pitches at the time, I feel so glad and whenever Sohail Tanveer, National Stadium, I get a chance I will be aiming to Rayad Emrit and Providence, have perform at my best for my team and Muhammad Ahsan shown to be very Ali Khan. lively, the visiting please the fans”.

His presence batsmen could be in the team is in handful. not a new one Speaking on since he was a part of the 2013 squad as his return to the team he said: “It is a replacement to the injured Ronsford a wonderful feeling to be back in the Beaton but had no match time.

Warriors team for the second time, I feel so Commonly called ‘Buffy’ by teammates glad and whenever I get a chance I will be and close friends, his usual game plan aiming to perform at my best for my team is simple, bowl extremely fast and get and please the fans”. wickets. Admirably, the former West Indies “Fans should come out and support under-19 player has bowled with greater since we have some exciting players and I accuracy which has seen him earn stints will be running hard for team”. with the West Indies A-team for a tour to The next edition of the “ Get to know Sri Lanka in 2016. your Guyana Amazon Warriors” will be on On that tour he played three four- Sunday and Guyana Times Sport will be day matches and collected eight wickets. unravelling some of the mystery behind That form translated into him ending leg-spinner Rashid Khan.

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

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Get To Know Your National Championships Guyana Amazon Warriors a major success

– GCF President Burrowes

Pg 22

Chris Lynn

The 2017 GCF’s National Championships were deemed a major success by the Federation’s President, Horace Burrowes

“Top Gun”Hopkinson: Pg 23

Keon Joseph

A Marksman Pg 22 Harold “Top Gun” Hopkinson takes up aim

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