Guyanatimes 28 june 2018

Govt signs US$17M pact with Japan to improve electricity P7 supply Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Issue No. 3607

GAWU takes Govt to court over 50% severance

PRICE

Page 3

…demands full payment owed to 4283 workers

GuySuCo's $30 billion bond

Bond detailsPage "shocking" 10 – Opposition Leader

...interest higher than on treasury bills

Tenant shoots landlord during row over unpaid GPL bill Page 7

Non-Communicable Diseases Commissioners urged to get grassroots views Page 5

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Small P9 businesses facing major rivalry from Chinese – SBDF

Bandit nabbed in latrine after WCD robbery P2 IMC takes back GPSU Credit P2 Union

12lbs ganja unearthed in shipment from P14 US

No threatening levels of mercury found at GGMC – PAHO/WHO P10 team

From left: PAHO/WHO Representative Dr William Adu-Krow, Healthy Caribbean Coalition President, Sir Trevor Hassell; Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence; Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings; Executive Director of Healthy Caribbean Coalition Maisha Hutton and Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud along with the Commissioners of the National Presidential Commission for Non-Communicable Diseases

Gunmen invade EBE home Page 2

…escape with large quantity of cash, jewellery

No bank account, no pay – GuySuCo tells Uitvlugt workers, pensioners Page 9

After running for 8 years, “Jinga Harry” nabbed P14

by Police

2 news IMC takes back Gunmen invade EBE home GPSU credit union …escape with large quantity of cash, jewellery A A thursDAY, june 28, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

s the tussle over present and past management at the Guyana Public Service Cooperative Credit Union Limited (GPSCCUL) continues, the High Court in an order has re-instated the Government-installed Interim Management Committee (IMC) at the body.

This new move comes after High Court Judge Gino Persaud discharged a previous interim order – which was granted to the old management – to have a stay in the decisions of the IMC until the matter was resolved.

The new order therefore means the Governmentinstalled Chief Cooperative Development Officer and Commissioner, Perlina Gifth, is back in charge of the co-op. Guyana Times understands the Police were present to accompany the new management as they took control on Wednesday at the body’s Hadfield Street, Georgetown headquarters.

The issues stem from allegations on financial improprieties where officials were accused of excessive spending for bonuses and travel, tuned the sum of $32 million. Some even alleged that a senior official at the Guyana Public Service Union (GSPS) paid

The GPSU credit union headquarters in Hadfield Street, Georgetown

out some $700,000 in bonuses to himself.

The shareholders during their picket earlier this week said the evidence has been passed on to the relevant authorities, as the multimillion-dollar probe gets underway. They called for greater transparency at the body as one member even claimed that he received no dividends for the five for which he contributed to the credit union.

In late May, then Chairman of the GPSCCUL, Patricia Went vented her frustrations when it was revealed that Government installed the interim committee. She explained that the matter was rooted in the demand by the Department of Cooperatives for an undue

payment to the Audit and Supervision Fund for years 2002-2013 of an alleged balance of over $49 million.

However, according to another member, Jermain Hermanstyne, documents were allegedly removed from the office before the interim committee first took office.

He had vowed to continue to advocate for transparency at the Union. Guyana Times was provided with a list of eight names of persons, which the picketers say are part of the alleged financial improprieties. At one point, the doors on the credit union’s building were locked as several documents were retained for assessment.

n East Bank Essequibo (EBE) couple is now left counting their losses after three gunmen invaded their place of business and robbed them of a large quantity of cash and jewellery.

The couple, 37-yearold Anansa Grimes; and her husband, 44-year-old Beniday Gonsalves along with their daughter were at the Naamyrck, EBE business when the incident occurred at about 20:50h on Tuesday.

Reports are the men went to the business establishment on Tuesday but

left. A short while after, the three men returned and held the couple’s daughter at gunpoint.

Guyana Times as told that Grimes heard her daughter screaming in the house which is attached to the business. Upon checking, she saw the men in the house.

However, before she could raise an alarm, one of the men pointed a gun to her head and demanded that she hand over the family’s valuables.

According to reports, the woman handed over a quantity of gold jewellery, cash – both US and Guyana

currencies – along with cellphones and phone cards valuing over $1 million.

After hearing the commotion, Gonsalves went into the house but was quickly attacked and beaten before he too was ordered to hand over his valuables.

He was relieved of a gold chain valued $335,000, a diamond ring valued $100,000; GY$35,000; two cellphones; US$120 and €50.

The gunmen then quickly made good their escape on foot in an unknown direction.

The matter is being investigated by the Police.

Chinese restaurant robbery

Bandit nabbed in latrine after WCD robbery

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anks of D Division (West Bank Demerara-East Bank Essequibo) were able to apprehend two of three bandits who reportedly attacked and robbed the proprietor of the New Hong Kong Restaurant on Tuesday night.

One of the men has since confessed to the robbery.

Reports are the three men armed with cutlasses invaded the Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara restaurant at about 23:00h on Tuesday.

The Chinese proprietor was robbed of an undisclosed sum of cash and cellular phones. Following the robbery, an alarm was raised

and Police who responded promptly were able to comb through the area. One of the bandits was found hiding in a latrine with the cutlass.

Another suspect has since been apprehended and both men are said to be cooperating with the Police as they continue with their investigations.

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thursDAY, june 28, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, June 28 – 05:00h-06:30h and Friday, June 29 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, June 28 – 16:35h-18:05h and Friday, June 29 – 17:00h-18:30h.

GAWU takes Govt to court over 50% severance …demand full payment owed to 4283 workers

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light cloudy skies with light rain showers can be expected throughout the day, with sunny intervals to partly cloudy skies expected in the evening.

Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South-easterly to Easterly and East Northeasterly between 1.78 metres and 4.91 metres.

The Rose Hall Sugar Estate

High Tide: 04:17h and 16:44h reaching maximum heights of 2.58 metres and 2.46 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:18h and 22:29h reaching minimum heights of 0.63 metre and 0.75 metre.

The Skeldon Sugar Estate

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ix months after Government paid out only 50 per cent of severance payment to several categories of sugar workers, the legality of this move is being challenged by the workers’ union – the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers (GAWU) – which is calling on the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to pay all monies owed to its dismissed employees.

In legal documents seen by Guyana Times on Wednesday, it was observed that the 4283 workers attached to the Skeldon, Rose Hall and the East Demerara Sugar Estates are calling for their full severance payments.

Earlier this year, sugar workers whose severance packages were $500,000 or less were paid in full under a supplementary budgetary provision of $1.931 billion in an effort to provide severance packages to the fired workers. However, workers earning more than that specified amount were paid half of their severance and do date, Government still owes workers the money.

This outstanding payment is at the centre of the civil case.

In the legal documents, it was outlined that the redundant workers were to receive their redundancy allowance/ severance payment no later than December 29, 2017, which was in keeping with the letter of Section 21 of the Termination of Employment and Severance Pay Act (TESPA). The legal team, which is led by Attorney Anil Nandlall, stated that the over 4000 workers were paid only a portion of their severance payments.

The lawyers highlighted that even while this was ongoing, GuySuCo transferred all of its assets for those three estates under the Finance Minister to the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) as per notice published in the Official Gazette (Extraordinary) of Guyana on December 30, 2017.

Lawyers also observed that GuySuCo has been collateralised as security for a $30 billion loan that it has or is borrowing from commercial banks. The attorneys are seeking an order from the court to direct the respondents –GuySuCo and NICIL, their officers, servants and agents – to “pay forthwith to the said 4280 employees of GuySuCo – and members of the Applicant, all severance or redundancy payments or allowances due, owing and payable under the provisions of TESPA. They are also seeking costs. The matter comes up for hearing on July 20, 2018, at 13:45h, before Justice Fidella CorbinLincoln, at the High Court.

Apart from Nandlall, Manoj Narayan, Sasha S MahadeoNarayan, Rajendra Jaigobin and Anuradha Deodasingh are all representing the applicants in this case.

It was in January that People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo announced that his party was ready to fund any legal challenge that sugar workers would bring against Government for their full severance. At that time, he pointed out that separate severance payments are “illegal” and called for the Government to follow the law in its entirety.

The issue of 50 per cent severance came in a presidential address to the National Assembly read

by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo at the January 10, 2018, sitting of the National Assembly. The coalition Government closed all,

but the Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt estates which was not in keeping with a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the industry that recommended no closures.

However, Government has long held out that the “re-organising” of the sugar industry was necessary since the billions of taxpayers’ dollars have been expended to aid the ailing sector.

Since the closure of the estates the Government has been heavily criticised for not having a clear direction to steer the terminated workers. In fact, many observers had called for the Administration to conduct social impact studies before such decisions are taken.

(Shemuel Fanfair)

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, june 28, 2018

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

Extravagance: A factor in the economic downturn?

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here have been, and continue to be, serious concerns over national spending since the Government took office in 2015.

While the D’Urban Park and the Sussex Street controversies may have come to epitomise these concerns, what continues to be revealed is equally alarming. Just recently, it was disclosed that Special Prosecutors are receiving some $20,000 per hour for services rendered and a $2 million retainer against fees and costs.

This is not suggesting that legal skills must not be adequately compensated. However, in the current circumstances it would be difficult not to question the amounts offered. This is against the backdrop of a contracting economy which has forced growth projections to be downgraded on more than one occasion. That is part of the bigger picture and when specific areas are closely examined, the economic situation appears much direr.

The impact of the closure of sugar estates and the firing of thousands of workers continue to hit hard on many households and by extension, communities across the country. It may be safe to state that Guyanese who are not familiar with life on the sugar belt may not fully grasp the gravity of what continues to unfold there through the forced economic squeeze and its daily worsening.

Much has been said about the ongoing devastation inflicted by the plethora of new taxes which further cripple workers and naturally redound negative effects on the national economy; hence, it is a possible contributing factor for lower growth. Simply put, the nation’s workers have had unnecessary economic burdens foisted upon them resulting in an evaporation of disposable income thereby lowering standards of living and regressing progress.

Local and international trade have also taken a hit, and one of the eventualities is job loss which would further compound a worrying situation. With a bleak outlook, one would not only ponder on what the future holds, but would also question what precipitated the situation and whether it could have been avoided.

This has to be viewed from what transpired in the beginning of the Government’s tenure. Guyanese were shocked at the seemingly unnecessary expansion of ministerial portfolios and the now infamous 50 per cent increase in salaries for them. The D’Urban Park Project began around the same time with millions eventually ploughed in to accommodate just about two national events annually. It should be noted that all the details of this project are yet to be revealed.

Just recently, it was reported that some $265 million was spent on rental of the Sussex Street bond, the use of which, reportedly, should have been discontinued some time ago. While reasons have been offered for continuation, validity may pose an issue. Also, it was reported that some $850,000 has been paid as monthly rental for a property in the city earmarked for the Law Reform Commission, with its latest status being “almost” set up.

While none can argue against the need for advance preparation, in the context of what has unfolded on aspects of Government spending and the questionable situations it triggered, the rental since six months ago for the Law Reform Commission seemed to have delivered another such circumstance.

When all of these, plus the reported exorbitant house rental for some officials, seemingly extravagant international travels and other areas of public funding are taken holistically, questions over whether most of that financial resource could have been channelled to mitigate current austerity measures appear far more relevant.

Had some been made available to help bolster sugar before closure of estates, the harsh economic impact on the fired workers, their families, and the thousands who indirectly depended on the industry could have possibly been avoided.

Extravagance, therefore, becomes the watchword. From all that have occurred, it makes a compelling case with a difficulty in trying to understand the rationale, given current realities. For those who lived in the pre-1992 Guyana it can appear a repetition of history.

During aspects of that period, extravagance seemed routine at the expense of the masses. The downward spiral of the economy, aided by that and some poor policy decisions, was profound. It resulted in economic hardships, a period during which some basic food items were banned.

Currently, while there is no ban on items in a free market economy, many are forced to curtail spending on commodities and services which could have been afforded just a few years back. There will be situations in almost every society, including Guyana, where a section of the populace would be so unable; but that is inherently due to existing poverty. Under the current circumstance, people are being moved from a position of affordability to poverty as a result of some national fiscal policies.

How big a factor extravagance is is yet to be determined. However, one can posit that if sums deemed unnecessarily spent were used differently, then some of the economic challenges could have been mitigated. As borrowing continues seemingly unabated, a worrying end result looms, bringing into focus the adage: the mode of transportation best suited for a particular type of economy.

Experiencing the peacefulness and tranquillity of picturesque Kwakwani. This creek “Bush Pool” becomes a hotspot on weekends and holidays with hundreds flocking it to have a good time with their relatives and friends while enjoying the fresh black water from the Berbice River (Photo by Rayston Downer)

Crime wave in Wales-Patentia

Dear Editor, Crime is an aspect of life that all citizens must deal with as it seems to have been around as long as civilization itself. Crime has ravished communities for centuries and one assertion is that crime is more prevalent in poor inner-city neighborhoods than it is in equivalents that are more affluent. Finding the root source of this plague has been on the minds of criminologists and others for centuries. This is because the control, reduction, and prevention of crime has been a major problem in our society and many oth-

ers. There have been many different angles that have been studied as the potential cause of crime.

Currently, the three major aspects include a lack of education, living in poverty, and being raised in a single parent home. Each of these perspectives offer insight to crimes but it seems that none can stand alone. Crime is a complex issue that may stem from many sources, but a lack of education, generational poverty, and the rupture of family structure each seem to play a prominent role in criminal activity.

Since, the closure of

the Wales Sugar Estate, crimes, crimes and more crimes are the talk of the village, recently a prominent business man was robbed, 65-year-old pensioner was robbed, even the little detergent, clothing in the backyards are now gone missing, to me and others this is an act of desperation. No jobs, no opportunities, are presented in the lives of these villagers, so the way to eat, and to feed some of their families are to steal and rob.

I guess the prediction made by the People’s Progressive Party is so true; it’s now a village that

is left behind the back of the APNU administration, it’s a ghost town so to speak, depression and thoughts of suicide are on the minds of many because of the lack of resources.

Villagers are complaining that the privatized companies are now cutting their wages, our village needs another source of hope, to this administration where is good life you promised, its nearing to election and there’s no sight of the good life.

Sincerely, Pt Surendra Tiwari

CCJ makes Parliament sovereign over the people Dear Editor, The majority of Guyanese was shocked and demoralised by the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), when a majority decision of the CCJ denied Bharrat Jagdeo a third term presidency.

The ruling by the CCJ indicates that the justice system in Guyana needs to be urgently fixed since both courts – the High Court and

the Court of Appeal – ruled in favour of a third term presidency. The CCJ ruling also indicates that the rights of the Parliament is sovereign over the rights of the people. The erosion of the rights of the people can lead to a dictatorship.

This ruling, showed that the CCJ is compromised since there is alleged close affiliation of some members of the CCJ and

members A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government.

Meanwhile, statements made by the Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo that the former President is battling for survival is actually referring to himself for his personal survival in the APNU/AFC coalition Government. Jagdeo is a dynamic leader and could

be considered as one of the most successful Presidents in Guyana and must remain at the leadership of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) to ensure supporters remains confident of supporting the PPP to win the 2020 Regional and General Elections.

Sincerely, Zamal Hussain

thursDAY, june 28, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

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News

Shallow grave murder

Murder charge slapped against 2 Berbice men A

ntonio Balrup and Satrohan Madray, the two men accused of killing Corriverton butcher Saeed Hamid were slapped with a murder charge on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, there was a delay in the reading of the charges after the Police Officer who had to swear to the evidence was absent.

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

In light of this, Magistrate Rondell Weaver requested that the jacket be filed properly. That had to be done at Fort Wellington.

When that was corrected and returned to the court on Tuesday, the Magistrate said she had no jurisdiction to hear the charge as prepared.

The prosecution sought advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and then returned to court with only two of the accused.

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

The accused: Antonio Balrup and Satrohan Madray

However, on Wednesday, the Police finally got their administrative matters sort-

ed out and the charges were read to Balrup and Madray by Magistrate Weaver

at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court.

The men were represented by Attorney-at-Law Marceline Bacchus. They were remanded to prison and the case was scheduled to continue on July 17, 2018.

Guyana Times was told that the third person, Asif Hamid, the dead man’s son, would be charged at a later date as an accessory to the crime.

Saeed Hamid was supposed to testify against his son in connection with the murder of Henry Lallman, whose body was found in a

shallow grave under a mango tree in Hamid’s yard.

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

It is believed that Hamid while in prison met Madray and they plotted to prevent the now dead businessman from giving evidence against the former. On April 16, 2018, the senior Hamid left his Corriverton home and never returned.

30 CJIA food vendors participate in food safety training

Dr Colin James, Coordinator- EOC addresses participants at the food handlers training

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hirty food vendors, who vend at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at Timehri on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), were participants of a two-day food handlers training exer-

cise which was hosted by the Veterinary Public Health Department (VPH) of the Public Health Ministry, as a measure to improve the safety of the food that is being sold to consumers.

The training commenced

on Wednesday and the food handlers were briefed on the negative impact of unsafe food and food-borne diseases that is growing around the world and being blamed for some 80 percent of deaths globally.

One of the coordinators, Dr Colin James related, “The negative impact of unsafe food is enormous and it also creates a vicious cycle of disease and malnutrition, particularly affecting infants, young children, elderly and the sick,” James said.

While unsafe food and food-borne diseases constitute a significant public health problem, food diseases impede socioeconomic development by straining health care systems and harming national economies, tourism and trade.

“Food safety incidents, or plant and animal trans-boundary disease outbreaks have had negative impacts on public health, on trade, on peoples’ livelihood and on countries’ economies over the years,” he added.

James confirmed that a

Non-Communicable Diseases Commissioners urged to get grassroots views

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embers of the National Presidential Commission for NonCommunicable Diseases must go out into communities to become more familiar with what the issues are surrounding their mandate.

That was the call by the Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence at the opening of a capacity building workshop at the Guyana Marriot Hotel, the aim of which is to help the commissioners better understand their roles and responsibilities.

Lawrence told the commissioners “if we are to counter the adverse effect of our people’s health and economic life, there is need to reach out to our communities and initiate the fight there against the chronic and non-communicable diseases. The commissioners, to my mind, need to be fully cognizant of this role and responsibility and must seek to have evidence-based data on what pertains in each of the regions.”

She stressed the im-

President of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition, Sir Trevor Hassell

portance of knowing what should be treated in the various regions as it is not a one size fit all situation. “What are we treating? What age groups are most affected?

These are information that should be shared with you so that you can plan in order to effect the necessary changes that are needed within these various regions.”

President of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition Sir Trevor Hassell told the commissioners that they have an obligation to achieve the goals of the commission which are not unique to the Caribbean but also to the

world. “What we are hoping to do is to share with you our experiences and seek to see how we can assist the commission in going to another level.”

Commissioners Avonie Lekha-West and Ricardo Banwarie said that they are looking to make the most of the capacity building workshop. Banwarie who represents the Ministry of Social Protection said: “Based on our work at Social Protection, I expect to benefit from it so that I will be able to take back all the information as it relates to the clientele that we serve at the Social Protection Ministry.”

Lekha-West from the Ministry of Business and Tourism said she hopes to have a better understanding of what she is required to do in her capacity. “My whole expectation from the workshop is that we will be able to understand our role and function in society as NCD and we will be able to integrate with the HCC in terms of how we operate and ensure that our face is out there and people understand what we are about.”

Also present at the workshop were Minister within the Ministry of Public Health Dr Karen Cummings, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, Executive Director of Healthy Caribbean Coalition Maisha Hutton and PAHO/WHO Representative Dr William Adu-Krow.

The National Presidential Commission is aimed at reducing the incidence of NonCommunicable Diseases such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease and chronic lung disease. The commission, which was launched last year, is chaired by President David Granger.

large proportion of ready-toeat foods are being sold by informal sector operators, especially street vendors who offer it at low prices and provide essential services to workers, shoppers, travellers, school children and low-income earners. The consumption of these foods is common in many urbanised countries.

He told that participants that in responding to the health challenges related to food safety, the MoPH strives to support food vendors to ensure that the foods supplied are safe and nutritious.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) of CJIA Andre Kellman, applauded the ministry’s effort and urged participants to take the lessons learnt and put it into practice.

“As international air-

port, vendors need to be very mindful of the travelling public because we are being constantly verify for international standards”, Kellman said.

Additionally, Manager of Lotus Restaurant Davieanie Bhim, stated that she plans to reinforce all food safety and hygiene rules in keeping with the regulations of the MoPH. She noted that within the two days, a total of eight staff from her restaurant will participate in the food handlers training.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) notes that access to safe and nutritious food is central to sustaining life and promotion of good health. The organisation estimates that every year, food and water-borne diarrhoeal diseases kill about 2.2 million people.

The training will continue today.

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thursDAY, JUNE 28, 2018

Page

By Jenni Yuill

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his is a day charged with nervousness and worry and for those who don’t have the results they wanted it really can feel like the end of the world, especially when surrounded with peers who might be celebrating success Last night was likely not a fun one for young people as they anxiously awaited their exam results. For many this morning the wait will have been worth it as they open much-deserved fantastic results, securing them the future they wanted. But for others this morning will have brought with it disappointment and uncertainty and it is to those students in particular I want to say that, without belittling your understandable upset, it really doesn’t matter; this does not define you.

However bad things may seem right now this will not destroy your future and it is very likely that today has set you on a path for great things ahead.

Or, indeed, the many other days in your life totally aside from this one will set you on that path.

As a school teacher for 17 years I’ve seen my fair share of results days; the tears of joy, relief and disappointment, the ashen faces, the huge grins.

Although it is more years ago than I care to remember I can still recall very clearly the day I received my own results.

This is a day charged with nervousness and worry and for those who don’t

Foundation

have the results they wanted it really can feel like the end of the world, especially when surrounded with peers who might be celebrating success. This may feel like failure; it isn’t.

For many of my own students this has been gruelling years of study and immense pressure. Like I am sure many other teachers across the country are, I am rooting for my students and share the disappointment of those who did not, for whatever reason, achieve the grades they desired.

For my less conscientious students it is a tough lesson to learn, although it is a lesson nonetheless and one that many have moved on from with grace and determination. Perhaps the bitterest pill of all to swallow is for those who learn that hard work does not guarantee success and this can seem a great injustice.

A grade on a piece of paper (or a screen) may be the culmination of years of study but tells us very little about the individual who achieved that grade. What it very much does not measure is the worth of that individual, their char-

acter, their wit, their ideas, their intelligence, their kindness, their attributes, their skills and all of the things that make them the person they are.

The things that are by far the most enjoyable aspect of my job as a teacher as I get to know the students I am privileged to work with.

Just as disappointing results do not measure the worth of an individual nor do they equal ruined futures and failure.

Indeed, some will attribute their future success to today’s disappointment, be that because it gave them the shock they needed in order to work hard from this day forward or because it set them on an unexpected path.

Options exist, whatever the grades.

Regardless of the grades, there will be better days than this one and there will be worse ones too. It is just one day. (Adapted from the Independent)

Math! That’s great!” Try to find at least one good thing to say to your child. Even if the entire exam slip is completely rotten, something like, “I know you’re trying your best,” can go a long way in making your child feel loved.

By Pam Myers, BSEd

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very parent wants to know that their child is smart. Whatever your child’s age, you want what’s best for your child. When your youngster brings home a report card or exam slip, it’s natural to hope that your little one’s grades are good.

Unfortunately, for many families, this isn’t the reality. Whether your child has one bad grade or an entire slip of bad grades, it’s important that you demonstrate to your child that you still care.

Focus on the good

For some parents, an easy response to bad results is, “I can’t believe your grades are so bad” or “What were you thinking?”

Remember that for children, exams can be incredibly intimidating and scary.

Instead of focusing on one bad grade or all of them, try to point out the positive aspects of your child’s performance. For example, you could say, “This gives you something to strive for,” or “I noticed you got a ‘B’ in

Get your child the help he needs

Sometimes kids just need a little extra help.

Whether your child struggles with Maths, history, or science, it’s important that you recognise when a traditional education isn’t working. While some parents might choose to provide the help at home, others find that tutoring can be quite helpful. A private tutor or even group sessions might prove to be helpful.

Remind your child that no one is perfect

Was there a time when you failed? Have you ever struggled to get good grades? Did you ever feel like your parents were disappointed in you? Why not talk with your child about it? Let your little one know that you know what it’s like to feel alone. Let your youngster know that you’ve felt scared, sad, and disappointed before. Everyone makes mistakes. No one is perfect, no matter how hard they try to be. Let your child know that you’re still proud of them, even if the results weren’t perfect.

(Adapted from childdevelopmentinfo.com)

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thursDAY, june 28, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt signs US$17M pact with Japan to improve electricity supply G

uyana and Japan on Wednesday signed a US$17 million aid agreement that will help in improving the electricity supply to several wards in the capital city of Georgetown.

The project dubbed ‘Introduction of Renewable Energy and the Improvement of Power System’ will see the installation of a PV system and energy management system at the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Headquarters.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL), Albert Gordon, told the media at the signing that he is confident the new system will help GPL to reduce the frequent outages.

“Our top priority as we said is to reduce the number of outages and this particular project will help in terms of improving reliability and losses also improving voltage levels. But it is part of a set of projects we are implementing,” Gordon said.

By 2023, transmission loss could be reduced to about 1,600,000 kilowatts/ year through the provision of substation equipment and distribution lines.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge commended the timeliness of the contribution by Japan and said

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge (right) shook hands and exchanged signed agreements with Japanese Ambassador Mitsuhiko Okada (left) on Wednesday

it accords well with the Government’s development trajectory.

“The project aims at improving the efficiency of the power system in the City of Georgetown and the surrounding areas by enhancing substation and distribution equipment,” he added.

Minister Greenidge said both the renewable energy and the LED street lamps project will contribute significantly to the green state initiative.

He added that funds would be used for establishing a photovoltaic and an energy management system at the Caricom Secretariat located at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown. The agreement was signed by representatives of the Guyana Government and Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA).

Meanwhile, Minister Greenidge praised Japan for assisting his country over the years in several areas

including technical cooperation, finance and investment cooperation, and as well as grant assistance.

“These projects, I am happy to note, are not only clear manifestations of the excellent relationship that exists between our two Governments but just as significantly have contributed to the enhancement of Guyana’s social and economic development,” he said.

During the signing ceremony, Japan also donated 4716 LED street lamps from a total of 10,865 to the Public Infrastructure Ministry worth US$1.3 million.

Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry Annette Ferguson welcomed the donation and said some 4000 street lamps will be installed throughout Georgetown in the coming weeks.

The Minister said areas throughout the regions have been identified for the installation process to begin, proving lighting to several communities many of which were without street lights for years.

Ferguson believes the gesture will lend to ensuring safer roads and greater public security.

Guyana formally established diplomatic relations with Japan in 1967.

Tenant shoots landlord during row over unpaid GPL bill

A

landlord was on Wednesday morning shot two times to his legs by his tenant after the two had a row over an unpaid Guyana Power and Light (GPL) bill.

Injured is 47-year-old Andrew Doris of Kaneville Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara.

Guyana Times understands that Doris is the owner of a two-storey concrete house and was renting the South-eastern lower half to the 32-year-old suspect.

On Wednesday morning at about 09:00h, Doris reportedly confronted the tenant about the unpaid electricity bill and an argument ensued.

Doris reportedly attempted to lock the sus-

pect out of the section of the house which he occupied.

This allegedly angered the suspect who reportedly whipped out a handgun and fired several shots in the air. The suspect then approached Doris and discharged three rounds in his direction, two of which struck him; one to his left thigh and another to his right knee.

After being shot, Doris reportedly fell to the ground while the tenant jumped on a bicycle and escaped.

Neighbours then assisted Doris and took him to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

The matter was reported to the Police who have since launched a manhunt for the tenant.

8 news

thursDAY, june 28, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Real estate agent slapped with more fraud charges

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22-year-old real estate agent was on Wednesday before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for the second time, this time charged with three counts of fraud.

Basdeo Persaud, of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), denied the charges put to him by city Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

He denied that he fraudulently obtained a total of $320,000 from Rohini Persaud between January 6 and January 19, 2018 pretending that he was in a position to obtain for her a plot of land.

Basdeo Persaud

He further denied obtaining $140,000 from Mohani Ramdeen for the same purpose between February 27

and February 30, 2018.

The women reportedly filed reports with the Police after they saw a news item about Persaud being charged. Further, Persaud was also charged for committing the same offence on April 10, 2018 against Anarada Persaud, from whom he reportedly obtained $450,000 for allegedly the same purpose. The woman reported to Police that she paid $450,000 to Persaud in two payments.

She also reported that when she begun construction, she found out that the land was not up for sale. In court on Wednesday, Persaud was

placed on $150,000 bail.

On June 11, the 23-yearold was slapped with a fraud charge after he allegedly took $100,000 from Anarada Persaud by falsely pretending that he was in a position to obtain a plot of land.

On that charge, Magistrate Judy Latchman released him on $100,000 bail. Police Prosecutor Arwin Moore had told the court that after making the initial down payment, the woman had begun building on the land when she was informed that the land was not for sale.

The cases will continue on July 25, 2018.

Barber charged for ganja possession

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28-year-old barber who was reportedly found with 28 grams of cannabis was on Wednesday hauled before the courts.

Curt Holder appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The South Ruimveldt man was reportedly ap-

prehended on June 24, 2018 at East Ruimveldt, Georgetown with the drug.

Holder, however, denied the allegation when he appeared in court on

Wednesday. He was released on $50,000 bail after Police Prosecutor Simone Payne had no objections.

The case will continue on July 25, 2018.

PI into Alexander Village murder commences

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he Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the shooting death of Reona Payne commenced on Wednesday before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Captain, Orwain Sandy is on trial for the murder.

The PI began with the testimony of Police Constable Kevin Noel who is attached to the Criminal Investigation Department’s (CID) Crime lab, who pro-

cessed the scene of the shooting via photographs.

Sandy, 36, reportedly shot Payne 14 times with his service pistol at First Street, Alexander Village, on March 31, 2018, following an argument over infidelity.

The prosecution is contending that the man turned himself in at the Ruimveldt Police Station where he reported what had occurred.

When ranks went to the scene, the body of the mother three children was found

Orwain Sandy

lying on the roadway.

The GDF Captain was later charged for the offence and appeared before Magistrate Judy Latchman.

However, following a request by his Attorney James Bond, Sandy was sent to be mentally evaluated by Dr Bhiro Harry who later declared that he was fit to stand trial for the murder of Payne.

The PI is expected to continue on July 4.

Decisions…

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…from the CCJ ell, the last foot has finally dropped on whether or not the people of Guyana have delegated ALL the sovereignty they possess onto their elected representatives. But the CCJ has unfortunately dropped the foot into some very slushy ground, so one really can’t be sure where it’ll actually end up!! To get a handle what the Richardson case – which the CCJ just decided – was all about, one has to remember that whether a fella can be President of our fair land for more than two terms might’ve been the QUESTION posed by Richardson, it wasn’t really the ultimate LEGAL issue!!

Unfortunately, however, six of the Justices on the CCJ did fixate about the “question” only – and then missed the forest of modern constitutionalism, for the tree of “third term”!! Then again it could be that the decision of Justice Ian Chang in the High Courts – latter affirmed by Justices Carl Singh and BS Roy in the Appellate Court – flew over their heads!!

These judicial worthies based their decision, of course, on the seminal decision of the Indian Supreme Court in Keshavananda. This introduced a new doctrine into Common Law jurisdictions, that there are certain defining features of a Constitution that’re so fundamental to the delineated legal regime that if any one were to be altered by the Legislature – this would be dubbed unconstitutional! It would be like removing the ability of a lamp to give light and still calling it a lamp!!

Can’t work!

One of these features in our Constitutions was the separation of powers. Another was that the sovereignty of the people in our constitution is never completely delegable – and as such, even if the legislature were to follow a prescribed procedure to alter one of those fundamental features – called the “basic structure” of the Constitution – then the court can declare the change “illegal”. We would then have the SEEMING paradox of a “constitutional illegality”!! It’s not that the changes can’t be made, but they would have to be approved either in a referendum of the people or via a constituent assembly.

In Richardson, however, the CCJ majority explicitly refused to adopt this doctrine and insisted on mechanically testing whether the question of restricting the choice of the electors in reference to presidential candidates – actually changed two specifically mentioned “referendum” Articles – 1 and 9 – to such an extent that Guyana was no longer a “democratic sovereign” state!!

Not that “democracy” or “sovereignty of the people” might be IMPINGED, but that the test of the impact of the change was to be an all or nothing proposition!

Before the change Guyana was a “sovereign democracy” and the day after the change, it would have to cease being so!!

Now even the smallest child would know that this is patently absurd!!

The question is why didn’t the CCJ see that? …of the CCJ and race??

Your Eyewitness was floored, to say the least, by the Chronic’s headline summarising AG Basil Williams’ and his legal team’s reaction to the CCJ’s decision as a “big blow to racism”. What the heck does ‘racism” have to do with the CCJ’s decision? Didn’t the CCJ majority say that a major reason for their decision was the NATIONAL consensus that led to the constitutional amendments of 2000, which included the contentious Art 90??

Williams’ outburst, however, gives credence to those who’ve been saying all along that when putatively impartial institutions are staffed by one ethnic group they’ll have a tendency to be wary of the “other”. It’s quite possible Williams and his team must’ve been pushing the line in the Caribbean that Jagdeo and his constituency are “racist” against African-Guyanese.

And by extension, other West Indians of African descent. And muddying all Guyana! …in cricket Why would the Chronic say that changing Harper as the Amazon Warriors Coach was a “snub”. If they’ve been the bridesmaid so many times, but never the bride, shouldn’t the Warriors make a change?

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

9 No bank account, no pay – GuySuCo tells Uitvlugt workers, pensioners S News

thursDAY, june 28, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

everal workers and pensioners attached to the Uitvlugt Estate, West Coast Demerara, on Wednesday picketed their employer’s directives that they will not be paid un-

less they open bank accounts. This was revealed by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) which said the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) must take steps

to improve relations between workers and management.

In the same vein, it called on the State-controlled entity to refrain from compulsion and threats.

GAWU noted that the

Small businesses urged to use technology to expand knowledge

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Central Bank Governor, Dr Gobind Ganga

s Guyana prepares for the benefits from the impending oil and gas industry, Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) are being urged to use technology, not only to expand their knowledge, but to also become more efficient so that they are better prepared to take advantage of the opportunities that would be available when oil production commences.

Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Dr Gobind Ganga, addressing a gathering at the Small Business Development Finance Trust Inc (SBDF), said the future is bright for SMEs in Guyana but asked whether those enterprises are ready to harness the challenges and grasp the opportunities ahead.

To this end, he encouraged small business owners the use technology to expand their knowledge of their respective fields.

“In Guyana, many business opportunities are abound and these opportunities will increase in the near future. The Small and Medium Enterprises have to position themselves to grasp these opportunities. In looking forward to opportunities, focus must not be lost of the challenges these busi-

nesses face. While some may be systematic, some of the challenges can be overcome by knowledge and innovations,” Dr Ganga posited.

Citing a 2016 Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) study which finds that SMEs in the Region are, among other things, disparate, known for deficiencies in quality and consistency; weaknesses in packaging, costing and pricing, the Central Bank head noted that many opportunities are foregone because SMEs are not capable of maximising those opportunities due to weaknesses they exhibit.

Against this backdrop, he called on these enterprises to put their houses in order. Dr Ganga, noted that extensive knowledge of production, markets, operations, finance, innovating and so on, will go a long way in ensuring success.

“While some may argue that formal training is needed in some of these areas, I would suggest that knowledge abounds on the Internet. Knowledge is empowerment and any topic could be researched on the Internet. This freely available knowledge could lead to improved products and services, market strategy, provide links to new markets

and allow for improving efficiencies,” the Central Bank Head stated.

On the other hand, pointing to Government’s initiative to set up Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Hubs countrywide, one of the Directors at SBDF, Mohamed Ali, also encouraged farmers to take advantage of technology.

“Access the Internet and look at market prices what the millers are getting per ton for the rice, see what paddy prices are so you become educated and you can speak armed with knowledge,” he stated.

Ali added too that the use of technology in the agriculture sector can boost efficiency, particularly within the rice sector. “If you go on the net, you will see farmers today are using drone technology… If a farmer has 600 or 300 acres, he need not walk the entire field, he can sit at the back and send the drone up and the drone can show him the status of the conditions of his rice – where is disease and where needs more fertiliser – and even monitor his workers…,” the Director asserted.

He posited that all of these technologies driven measures will also help to reduce production costs.

past and present employees picketed the estate’s administrative office to call on GuySuCo to put an end to coerce them to have their wages and pensions be sent to the bank.

“The State-owned company is now telling the aggrieved that soon they will not be paid unless they submit their banking information to the estate. While we would want to believe the Corporation knows that withholding workers’ wages in an illegal act by itself, GuySuCo’s belligerently disrespectful attitude towards long-standing practices, laws, and even international conventions, in recent times, has us believing that the company is least bothered by the fact and the stain of notoriety,” the Union stressed on Wednesday.

Highlighting the continuing incidence of crime, GAWU said pensioners and workers have expressed fear of being robbed after they

exit the bank. More than that, it was observed that vendors who ply their trade near pay offices would be disadvantaged as well.

The Union body posited that the Corporation’s moves are contrary to the Labour Act which requires at Section 19(1) that wages be paid in money. Section 19(4) of the Act also mandates employers to pay wages at convenient places near to the workplace; something that GAWU says is noteworthy.

Workers, according to GAWU, contend that they will now be forced to expend several hundred dollars weekly in order to travel to the banks at Vreed-en-Hoop and Parika to withdraw their wages. This would be similar to what occurs with most workers that are attached to large entities. GAWU however says its workers and pensioners “worry” that they may be forced to make more than one trip if the ATM is

not working at the time they wish to withdraw their wages.

The Union also claims that one unnamed bank increased its withdrawal fees and added that other banks “may well follow suit”. “[Workers] related that with pay rates frozen in the sugar industry since 2014; lesser work opportunities; and a reduction in incentive payments, among other things, they can hardly bear the costs GuySuCo is asking them to fetch. They said, as it stands right now, they are barely keeping their heads above water as they have been forced to significantly cut their cloth to suit their purse,” GAWU observed.

GAWU on Wednesday said it stands with the workers and the pensioners and calls on GuySuCo to do “what is right and decent and to pay the workers at their regular pay offices as they have been doing for a long time now. To compulsion and threatening attitude of the GuySuCo will not augur well to improve relations between the workers and the management which has been badly beaten over the last three years.”

Efforts to contact the management of the estate for a comment on the matter proved futile.

10 news

thursDAY, june 28, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GuySuCo's $30 billion bond

Bond details "shocking" – Opposition Leader

...interest higher than on treasury bills

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he Private Placement Memorandum for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) $30 billion bond is now with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo. In revealing his thoughts, Jagdeo said that he was shocked by the contents of the agreement, which now leaves more questions than answers.

Jagdeo reminded that several things were said about the agreement. At one time it was called a bond then a loan and then it was later revealed that Government pledged the assets of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), because the Government did not give any explanations.

“I’ve had a copy of the Private Placement Memorandum for the bond – the $30 billion bond and I was shocked,” the Opposition Leader said recently, noting that in reading the memo, he came across details that the pro-

ceeds would be used to fund long-term projects and capital expenditure.

Jagdeo, an economist by training, said the general perception was that Government was raising $30 billion to spend on GuySuCo, on the remaining three estates. However, the memo tells a different story, as it has stated explicitly that the $30 billion that they agreed to will go to long-term projects instead.

“We don’t know what the projects are as yet, but you would recall that this bond is only for five years. So, they’re borrowing on a short to medium term, for longterm projects. You tend to match your borrowing with the life of the project.

Normally, we would borrow on concessional terms for long term-projects.”

He used the example of the road and airport expansion projects, where there is an option of repayment of 20 or 30 years at one and two per cent interest.

These, he said, are long-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

term projects, “so that you don’t have big balloon payments or like payment popping up like on the coupons here.”

However, Jagdeo said in the case of the GuySuCo bond, this was different because, “In five years, at a 4.75 per cent interest, which is 355 basis points above our treasury bill. The Government of Guyana will have to pay back from the

proceeds of NICIL, nearly US$40 million in about five years just to service $30 billion.”

The former Head of State said that the sum could have been used to build an entire Marriott Hotel. “And you would recall the money we were trying to borrow against Marriott, the only collateral was the project itself, not a guarantee

by NICIL but the project itself. If the project fails, the bank takes the project,” he reminded.

In this case, the loan is guaranteed by NICIL, and NICIL would repay the loan and it has a State guarantee. “So, that is it.

The borrowing cost is high, higher by treasure bills… significantly. Imagine the Government can borrow now on T-bills, just over one per cent and they want to

borrow at 4.75 per cent,” he added.

In addition to that, Jagdeo said that the bond would be free and clear of 40 per cent corporate tax, giving the Government a guarantee, which essentially means that it is a tax-free bond to the banks as well.

NICIL’s Chief Executive Officer had recently confirmed that over the next few months, special emphasis would be placed on transforming GuySuCo’s economic misfortune into a situation where it was a fully self-sufficient, viable and competitive enterprise.

He had disclosed that the Finance and Agriculture Ministries and all of the related industry partners were fully on board with the new Board of Directors’ vision for a new value-added industry and modernised

company.

Heath-London explained that when the restructuring plans were at a mature stage, then the real benefits would be realised to ensure GuySuCo’s modernisation and return to profitability.

He spoke about the sale of prime GuySuCo lands around the country and the new approaches that were being employed by his technical officers.

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

No threatening levels of mercury found at GGMC – PAHO/WHO team

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he Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) team assessing the claims of mercury exposure at GGMC has found no threatening levels of mercury at the complex.

Last Saturday, the WHO/ PAHO team briefed Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman and Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence, on their findings.

“The team did say though they are not here to certify that necessarily but they

did say that they found that the levels at the GGMC compound and its environs were below any threatening level.

That I believe is a testament that the job was very well done,” Minister Trotman is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying.

The international team of experts visited Guyana last week and, among other things, assessed the mercury clean-up efforts at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Brickdam complex.

The team comprised of

two industrial hygienists, two physicians and a mining engineer and was headed

by Industrial Hygienist and head of the team, Catherine Beecham.

The team visited Guyana following mercury exposure crisis at the complex. The Guyana Gold Board ceased the burning of gold at the GGMC complex in April following health and safety concerns. The GGB is currently sourcing alternative facilities to conduct its exercises. continued on page 12

11 Small businesses facing major rivalry from Chinese – SBDF news

thursDAY, june 28, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

T

he steady influx of Chinese businesses and the change of consumers’ preference are some of the major challenges that micro businesses are facing, according to Small Business Development Finance Trust Inc (SBDF) Director Mohamed Ali. Speaking at the Trust’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, Ali outlined that SBDF granted a total of $279.3 million in loans last year, compared to $307.3 million in 2016. He noted that the micro-loan sector, which caters for vendors and small shops, was mostly impacted by this decline.

“The very small micro-businesses continue to face major competition from Chinese influx and the shifting of consumer preferences to shop at large and smaller supermarkets for their needs. If you travel around, you will notice a lot more supermarkets are being opened up so the bottom house-style shop business is gradually being eroded. You will also notice that the vending business has declined tremendously,” Ali noted as he read the Chairman’s report.

According to the SBDF Director, the number of loans granted by the Trust has declined in 2017 by 80 when compared to the previous

away from the first crop owing to previous crop losses in 2016, which was mostly due to diseases, drought and carry-over financial difficulties from 2015 when you had low paddy prices and late payments by millers to farmers…However, in the latter part of 2017, many of those farmers who stayed away, returned for the second crop with increased demands; hence, the average loan price was $1.6 million per farmers,” the SBDF Director stated.

SBDF Director Mohamed Ali

year, with females and single mothers, who are the dominant players in the micro-loan sector, being the ones mostly affected.

Of the total amount of loans granted last year, 45 per cent went to the agriculture sector, 30 per cent to retail trade/services, 10 per cent for consumers, and four per cent each for the fisheries, livestock, and manufacturing industries; while two per cent went to other miscellaneous sectors.

In the agriculture sector, a total of $338.8 million was invested, with 199 loans granted to mainly cash crop and rice farmers. This is compared to 225 loans granted in 2016.

“During the early part of 2017, many farmers stayed

these revenues verses 35 per cent in 2016. This means that although we may have generated less revenues in 2016, our retention factor in terms of a surplus was greater than what we did 2016 – bearing in mind this surplus is being reinvested in SBDF… for relending to you our clients,” Ali asserted.

The Finance Trust 2017 records also show that 150 loans were granted to females, which is 22 more than those granted to males; while 117 joint loans were granted.

Moreover, with Government’s allocation of the development, growth and sustainability of small and medium enterprises, Ali pos-

ited that with this new access to capital for budding entrepreneurs coupled with linkages to a national economic strategy, this sector has a major role to play and is committed to providing a better life for all.

Several clients of the SBDF received awards for their successful businesses.

Decline in loans

Meanwhile, Ali pointed out that the commercial sector, which represents manufacturing and fisheries, and carries an average loan size of $206.8 million, has recorded relatively low growth over the years since the Trust is unable to cater for high-value loans given its limited capital base. However, the SBDF managed to grant 17 loans last year, two less than 2016.

Nevertheless, the SBDF Director went on to say that despite the overall decline in loans granted in 2017, the Trust managed to record a surplus in revenues last year.

“In terms of our financial performance, SBDF created a surplus of $28.4 million from revenues…, and was able to retain 37 per cent of

A section of the gathering at the SBDF AGM at the Regency Hotel on Wednesday

12 news High teen pregnancy rates being addressed – Lawrence thursDAY, june 28, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

…creating sexual and reproductive health policy

By Rupadai Seenaraine

I

n keeping with the recommendations that were made by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for the successful reintegration of teenage mothers into the formal school system via multisectorial part-

nerships, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence has announced several activities that the Ministry has been involved in to address these issues.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Wednesday, Minister Lawrence highlighted that there have been efforts between the

two Ministries – Public Health and Education – to spread more awareness and increase the number of teenage mothers back into the school to complete their formal education programmes.

She explained that officials from the Education Ministry have been sta-

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence

tioned at the Adolescent Health Department where the issues surrounding the policy are being dealt with.

Additionally, it was related that a new policy is in the making which will focus on sexual and reproductive health. This was done so as to ensure that teenagers are aware of the circumstances and is hoping to reduce the cases of pregnancies in young girls.

“With regards to collaboration, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education is working at our Adolescent Health

Department on the issues and policies. We are now looking at the sexual and reproductive health policy and the Ministry of Education is a part of that team that is looking at that policy and strategies and plans. I’m extremely happy about that,” she said.

The Minister also highlighted that she is cognisant of the high rates of adolescent mothers in today’s society and these partnerships will ensure that the policy is easily implemented.

“I’m elated that Guyana has taken this high position. This is one of the issues with several women’s organisations groups, we have been fighting for to ensure that these young ladies, who may have made a mistake but they must be able to be given an equal opportunity to enhance themselves and the lives of their child,” the Minister explained.

Earlier this month, UNICEF completed their analysis on a policy which will see the reintegration of teenage mothers into schools.

Some of the other recommendations that were

made included that the counselling programme be strengthened in the schools system and annual programme be provided for these teachers.

Suggestions were also made for the policy to be reviewed every four years to coincide with the Education Strategic Plan.

There, reviews and recommendations would be made for the application and administration of the policy to a reintegration committee, which will be spearheaded by the Education Ministry.

This was in light of the fact that in 2015, studies indicate that some 3712 girls were reported pregnant while in 2016, a total of 3032 were recorded. In both cases, the age range was between 15 to19 years.

That accounts to more than 6000 cases in just two years, which placed Guyana at second ranking on the list of the teenage pregnancy cases in the Caribbean and Latin America.

For 2015 and 2016, more than 6000 adolescent mothers were reported, placing Guyana at second on the list for the Caribbean and Latin America.

No threatening levels of...

from page 10

Minister Trotman noted the recent mercury exposure situation at the GGMC complex is an opportunity to improve how

the mining industry utilises mercury.

“Every effort will be made and that effort has started to ensure that they are protected to ensure that we deal with mercury and its ill effects,” he said.

Concerns at GGMC

Earlier this month, the parliamentary Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had raised questions over the recent deaths of four GGMC staffers; a matter that has seemingly been shrouded in an information blackout.

In a statement, the party expressed condolences to the relatives of the deceased staffers, whose names were given as Dwayne De Jonge (ranger), Latchman Chiti (surveyor), Leroy Green (carpenter) and Clement Proffit (laboratory technician).

According to the PPP, the issue is one that must be addressed urgently by the relevant authorities.

The Party also raised possible links to the mercury poisoning that had afflicted workers at the GGMC during amalgam burning exercises.

According to the PPP, all four men were documented to have been affected by mercury poisoning.

A few months ago, a number of GGMC staffers had walked off the job citing concerns over exposure to mercury. The decision

resulted in the authorities trying to mediate around the issue.

Following the discovery of high levels of mercury in its laboratory, which is in the GGMC compound, the Guyana Gold Board (GGB) had contracted the services of Trinidad-based Kaizen Environmental Services to conduct an independent investigation of the effect of the emission, and that company has said the mercury levels are back to normal.

According to the report, the study was conducted on March 28, 2018, at 10 locations primarily located within the Guyana Geology and Mines Commissions’ compound and the surrounding areas.

“The mercury (Hg) levels monitored at all 10 locations were within the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (US OSHA) eight-hour Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL),” the report stated.

Out of over 130 staffers tested, it was discovered that more than 60 reported high levels of mercury in their system.

Trotman, appearing before the National Assembly’s Natural Resources Committee, had subsequently revealed that the Gold Board had moved its gold burning operations to a private dealer.

news

NGSA results out today T

he 14,551 students who sat the recent National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) will know their fate today as the results are expected to be announced by Education Minister Nicolette Henry at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).

On March 28 and 29, 2018, Grade Six students from both public and private primary schools across the country wrote the examination so as to complete their primary education programme and gain entry into the secondary education system. They were tested in the areas of Mathematics, English, Social Studies, and Science.

Last year, the highest possible score that could have been obtained was 529 marks in the combined subject areas.

The Minister had at that time underscored that 2017’s results were an improvement over 2016’s and she once again observed that efforts would have been employed to ensure that this trend continued.

The NGSA score is calculated by adding five per cent of each candidate’s Grade Two scores in Mathematics and English,

Education Minister Nicolette Henry

and 10 per cent of the Grade Four score in the same subjects.

This is then added to 85 per cent of each candidate’s score in those subjects at the Grade Six Assessment. The combined scores in Mathematics and English were then added to the scores gained in Science and Social Studies.

These students wrote their National Grades Two and Four Assessments back in 2012 and 2014 respectively.

The NGSA was a replacement of the longstanding Common Entrance Examination, which was a one-off assessment at the Grade Six level.

13

thursDAY, june 28, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CCJ to hear cross dressing appeal case today

…Guyana delegation confident of favourable ruling

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15-member delegation from the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) and Guyana Trans United (GTU) is currently in Trinidad and Tobago as the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) prepares to hear arguments and seek clarification on submissions made in the appeal filed by four transgendered persons, who are challenging a ruling handed down by Guyana’s local courts which bars them from dressing in female attire for ‘improper purposes’.

The appeal was launched on several grounds following a ruling handed down by then acting Chief Justice Ian Chang in September 2013 which said that while the act of cross dressing was not a crime, when it is done for an “improper purpose”, it does constitute an offence. That ruling was also appealed at the level of Guyana’s Appeal Court, but the appellants did not have any success as the case was dismissed.

Altogether, the appellants: Quincy “Gulliver” McEwan, Seon “Angel” Clarke, Joseph “Peaches” Fraser and Seyon “Isabella” Persaud are also fighting the British colonial-era law, because they

SASOD Managing Director Joel Simpson

were detained, convicted, and fined by the then acting Chief Magistrate after their February 2009 arrest in Georgetown.

It, therefore, means that today’s hearing will also see oral arguments being made in the final appeal that is challenging the 1893 Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) that deal with matters Against Religion, Morality & Public Convenience which makes it an offence for a man “in any public way or public place, for any improper purpose” to appear in female attire, or for a woman, “in any public way or public place, for any improper pur-

pose” to appear in male attire.

Speaking with <<<Guyana Times>>> on Wednesday from Trinidad and Tobago, SASOD Managing Director Joel Simpson said that those who were part of the delegation were confident that the case would be tried fairly and a favourable ruling eventually handed down.

“We expect to have the opportunity to clarify any points of our submissions that the panel of Judges may have … We would have filed submissions months ago … the hearing could be half day or whole day,” he explained.

Simpson said that the team felt strongly that the CCJ was the platform where they would finally have a fair hearing that was free from prejudice.

“We think that it will be a fair opportunity to have the case heard by an independent panel of jurists who are of high standing and a lot of the arguments that we are raising in this case are very novel to Guyana and the Caribbean, so it calls for a mature level of judicial intelligence,” he remarked.

Simpson said that the case was scheduled to be heard by a full panel as he

explained that the recent rulings handed down by the CCJ have boosted the team’s resolve.

“Well, we are extremely confident and that’s why we filed the appeal. We think so far in the Region in a number of cases that CCJ is showing a track record of being independent in its thoughts while moving beyond the Caribbean and looking at what is happening in the wider world,” he added.

He said that the CCJ, appeared from its disposition, not afraid to make bold decisions and overturn decisions that were made by local courts as he expressed satisfaction in Guyana’s decision made years ago to make the regional body its final court.

The litigants are also fighting against the then acting Chief Magistrate’s conduct when she told the individual appellants that they were confused about their sexuality and should follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, comments which they claim are inconsistent with our Constitution.

Nevertheless, many religious groups argue that the laws should remain intact.

The CCJ hearing will be streamed live on the entity’s website.

14 NEWS

thursDAY, june 28, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

12lbs ganja unearthed 4 hospitals receive $2M equipment donation in shipment from US T

D

The ganja was discovered in a container

rug enforcement ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were called in on Wednesday to investigate the discovery of over 12 pounds (5. 578 kilograms) of marijuana found at the John Fernandes Wharf, Water Street, Georgetown.

According to the Force’s Public Relations Officer, Jairam Ramlakhan, the

narcotic was discovered in a container shipped from Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America.

The drug was seized and when weighed by authorities, amounted to 5.578 kilograms.

Ramlakhan said no one has been detained as yet in connection with the drug find. Nevertheless, investigations are in progress.

he Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC); Linden Hospital Complex (LHC); New Amsterdam Hospital and Suddie Hospital on Wednesday were the recipients of a $2 million donation, which will see the improvement of visual presentations to educate the public.

The four hospitals were each presented with one 55inch television, a DVD player, DVD recordings and wall mounts, which were donated by Dr Lorna Amsterdam.

It was related that Dr Amsterdam has been donating equipment to a number of hospitals for just over a year.

According to the representatives from the hospitals, the televisions will be placed in the waiting areas to educate patients on various health issues, while some would be placed in the ophthalmology department to bring awareness on the different optical conditions.

The ceremony was attended by Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence,

Representatives from the various hospitals receiving the donations

who noted in her remarks, “This is what we’re talking about, giving back to the community. They’re giving back in a very healthy way, because these instruments will be used to bring about awareness of various health issues and also to teach our patients some of the dos and don’ts in terms of keeping their bodies healthy and also keeping their families

healthy.

“It is all-encompassing with what the Ministry’s vision is; trying to ensure that we take health to the people and we want to express our sincere appreciation for these instruments,” she added.

She also highlighted that the hospitals who are recipients of the equipment should value the contribu-

tions that were made and recognise that this addition would add value to the service which they are expected to provide to the public.

The idea behind these contributions is to reach out to Guyanese and educate them on a disease that they may have or the guidelines that are necessary to prevent such diseases.

After running for 8 years, “Jinga Harry” Careless dumping of single-use plastics nabbed by Police

A

Harilall Motilall

man who was sentenced to spend two years in prison in absentia at the Georgetown

Magistrates’ Courts back in 2016 was on Wednesday apprehended by Police.

Fifty-six-year-old Harilall Motilall, called “Jinga Harry”, of Mahaica, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was sentenced to prison after he had discharged a loaded firearm in a public place in July 2014.

During a roadblock set up at Cove and John Public Road, ECD on Tuesday, Motilall was discovered in a vehicle and arrested.

The fugitive will be escorted to the Camp Street Prison to commence his sentence.

harming the environment – Department of Environment

T

he Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Environment (DOE) is calling on citizens to refrain from the careless dumping of garbage, particularly single-use plastics, along Seawalls and other public spaces.

During a visit to the area aback the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Georgetown, Stakeholder Management

Garbage, mainly single-use plastics dumped aback the Marriott Hotel

Coordinator, DOE, Aretha Forde highlighted that most of the garbage dumped at the location and many other sites comprise mainly of harmful plastics.

This, she noted, is harming the environment as single-use and other plastics are non-biodegradable, which means they cannot break down or decay for many years.

“There is no nutrient to return to the soil, this means when the plastic finally breaks down, it breaks down by light, by a process we call photodegradation and so those smaller pieces end up in our waterways,” Forde said.

The smaller pieces of plastic are often eaten by marine life including fish, which are either poisoned by the chemicals contained in the plastic or are eaten by humans, who then become exposed to the toxic chemicals.

The DOE Coordinator noted that scientific studies have shown that the chemicals in these plastics can

cause hormone imbalance and certain types of cancers in humans.

Guyana is going ‘green’ and according to Forde, there is no room for single-use plastics and other materials similar to plastics that are “environmentally unfriendly.”

To raise awareness, the department will embark on a series of national consultations with various stakeholders especially the private sector to inform them about the impending ban on single-use plastics.

“To kick-start the process, what we have learnt from experience that there are several processes that need to be ongoing before we draft legislation,” she pointed out.

The ban on single-use plastics, which is expected to take effect within three years, was proposed to the Cabinet by the DOE. It will prevent the manufacture and sale of single-use plastics in Guyana.

The department will also be working with the private sector to find suitable

alternatives to the plastics, which include black and coloured plastic bags, plastic forks, spoons, cups, water bottles and single-use plastic items.

“We need to get the message out to the students, they are the best carriers of positive messages especially about the environment and we need the general public to come on board,” she noted, adding that citizens will also determine the success of the initiative.

thursDAY, june 29, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

15

“Success is being able to do… those little things that combine to bring about those big end results”

T

o his jobs, large and small, Justin Marcus Hamilton of J Hamilton Residential Design and General Construction brings the same studious intensity and care.

The treasurer of the General Contractors Association of Guyana (GCAG), Hamilton has learnt his business from the ground up, working construction in Guyana

and Trinidad while having studied at the Government Technical Institute (GTI) and the University of Guyana (architecture), but he would not start his business in 2012 until after he resigned from teaching at St Rose’s High.

His name first came up after the last carpenter/ contractor hired to do work at my home left a bigger leak in the roof than the one he was hired to fix, and friends who have had their own contractor trouble recommended him.

“He is good,” one plain-spoken

colleague and friend said enthusiastically.

On first meeting, the bespectacled Hamilton seemed more the teacher he was for 10 years than a typical contractor. One meeting and several phone calls later – after he was convinced he would not be left “high and dry” with only part-payment once work was completed, work began on my project, which turned out superb and was completed one day early, just a little over

the estimated cost (because of price fluctuations) and with no stress.

The 38-year-old former St Mary’s and St Rose’s student, who was born in Herstelling and raised in Bagotville, West Bank Demerara, where he lives to this day, is meticulous in listening to clients before offering his expert advice. He stressed that the clients’ needs and wants must be satisfied and agreement reached on a project outline before work starts, although he is amenable to later changes.

As he measured and remeasured the angle at which to cut the fence posts to ensure they were all even, his sub-contractors spent hours straightening individual links in chain-link fencing so that they laid straight.

“For me, success is being able to accomplish a set outcome for my business, a project I'm doing, or my family...it’s being able to do those little things that combine to bring about those big end results,” he later said.

“I have learnt there is a certain amount of failure every business must endure before it experiences huge success and that failure is good; in fact,

Market statistics Cambio Rates

Gold Prices – Guyana Gold Board

Bank of Guyana Cur

Buying

Calculated at 94% purity, June 27, 2018 Selling

GBP

$274.14

$277.61

CAN

$156.19

$158.01

USD

$207.98

$210.45

$ 241.50

$244.5 9

EURO

USD

$1254.60

Gross

$246,632

Net

$226,901

Indicators as on June 27, 2018 Indicators

US$ per barrel

Crude Oil

$77.62

Price

USD

Rough Rice

$251.79/ton

London Sugar

$350.00/ton

Live Spot Gold

Change %

+1.69 Change %

-0.24 +1.42

USD Per Ounce

Bid/Ask

$1253.00

$1254.00

Low/High

$1250.20

$1260.60

Change

+1.40

+0.11%

Business Concept – Stock A share of a company held by an individual or group. Corporations raise capital by issuing stocks and entitle the stock owners (shareholders) to partial ownership of the corporation. Stocks are bought and sold on what is called an exchange. There are several types of stocks and the two most typical forms are preferred stock and common stock.

The proportional part of a company's equity capital represented by fully paid-up shares.

British term for (1) a fixed-interest government debt security issued usually in denominations, and (2) inventory. (Business Dictionary)

failure helps one to intelligently begin again. Also, to grow a business, one must take risks and be willing to start from the bottom and grow or as we say ‘one one dutty build dam’. I learnt to grow, a business must come out of obscurity, because

people only do business with you if they know you….”

"No business just starts and takes off....when you hear people say that they are lying.

My business has had its share of ups and downs. Business at times has been gruelling for me, but my best year was last year where I did my largest project through the Ministry of

Public Health. My business is still young, but the response is OK for its scale.”

When asked why he started a full-time contracting business after teaching for so long, Hamilton explained, “I always felt that I can do more with what I know and that there was more for me to do than I was doing while teaching. That with my dream of having a family and being able to have the freedom to do the things I love is what got me started…”

While advising budding entrepreneurs to “go out and meet people, tell them about your business and the convenience it offers; to be willing to be flexible and to read daily in your field of business”, Hamilton said Government departments and agencies needed to focus on the problems faced by entrepreneurs and develop effective policies to cater for small businesses.

The proud father of one said his goal was to be the dominant design and general

construction company on the West Bank with outlets all over the country. “I see [my business] capitalising on the opportunities in the emerging oil and gas sector; also providing housing for low-income families…I want my business to dominate in this sector at every scale, so as a small business it must be the number one and likewise, when the scale changes.”

He cited William Harris, Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) and Guyana Institute of Architects executive and university lecturer, as his biggest inspiration. “I got my first break in architecture and construction through him after completing GTI during 19992000...I worked for one year as his assistant.” Hamilton also acknowledged the many other persons who have mentored and encouraged him, including civil engineer Selroch Belfield and fellow GCAG members.

Contact: 676-6667; facebook @ J Hamilton Residential Design & Construction

Investor’s Guide

Wall Street tumbles on renewed US-China trade jitters

U

S stocks fell on Wednesday on renewed uncertainty regarding the US stance on Chinese investments in American technology companies, reversing gains earlier in the session.

At the market open, stocks rose as President Donald Trump said he would use a strengthened national security review panel – the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) – to deal with potential threats from Chinese acquisitions of US technology, instead of imposing China-specific restrictions.

The decision was seen by investors as a somewhat softer approach than plans reported earlier to block firms with at least 25 per cent Chinese ownership from buying US tech firms.

But later on Wednesday, White House economic ad-

viser Larry Kudlow said in an interview on Fox Business Network that Trump’s announced plan did not indicate a softened stance on China.

“The market took that as a sign that the hardline approach to China has not waned,” said Quincy Krosby, chief market strategist at Prudential Financial in Newark, New Jersey.

The S&P 500 technology sector fell 1.5 per cent, weighing the most on the broader S&P 500 index.

Chipmakers, which derive much of their revenue from China, fell even more. The Philadelphia semiconductor index slid 2.5 per cent.

Stocks were pressured further by a rise in the US dollar. A jump in oil prices to their highest in more than three years boosted the S&P 500 energy index 1.3 per cent, but some in-

vestors raised concern that they may have a negative effect on other sectors.

“It was a combination of (trade) and the dollar strength. Oil is really strong today. You’ve a rally in Treasuries, too. A lot of it is snowballing,” said Mark Kepner, equity trader at Themis Trading in Chatham, New Jersey.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 165.52 points, or 0.68 per cent, to 24,117.59, the S&P 500 lost 23.43 points, or 0.86 per cent, to 2699.63 and the Nasdaq Composite dropped 116.54 points, or 1.54 per cent, to 7445.09.

The small-cap Russell 2000 index declined 1.7 per cent. It has recently rallied on uncertainty in trade relations, given that smallcap companies are more domestically focused than their large-cap counterparts. (Reuters)

16

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thursDAY, june 28, 2018

Regional

Mandatory death penalty Galapagos’ Sierra Negra volcano eruption triggers evacuation outlawed in Barbados

T

T

he High Court in Barbados can no longer impose mandatory death sentences on convicted murderers.

On Wednesday morning, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), the island’s highest court, struck down the mandatory death penalty on the grounds that it is unconstitutional.

The judgements, the last which Sir Dennis Byron will deliver as CCJ President as he will demit office next Tuesday, were delivered in a pair of unrelated death penalty cases from Barbados – filed by lawyers for Jabari Sensimania Nervais and Dwayne Omar Severin – that were consolidated because both appeals challenged the murder convictions of each of the men and the constitutionality of the mandatory death sentence for murder in Barbados.

Although dismissing the appeals against their convictions, the CCJ ordered that the appellants be expeditiously taken before the lo-

The Caribbean Court of Justice has struck down the mandatory death penalty

cal Supreme Court for resentencing.

Before examining the issues raised by the appeal, the CCJ considered the state of the mandatory death penalty in Barbados for murder and found that it was indisputable that the country had acknowledged that it had an obligation to remove such mandatory sentence under Section 2 of the Offences against the Person Act. Barbados had also given

undertakings to the CCJ and the Inter American Court of Human Rights to rectify the mandatory sentence.

The CCJ held that Section 11 of the Constitution, which gives the right to protection of the law, was enforceable, and that the mandatory death penalty breached that right as it deprived a court of the opportunity to exercise the quintessential judicial function of tailoring the punishment to fit the crime.

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Mexican Police Force armed with slingshots after guns confiscated

P

olice in a troubled Mexican municipality have been equipped with slingshots and stones after state officials stripped officers of their weapons.

Only 30 officers of the 130-member police department in Alvarado, on Mexico’s Gulf Coast, have passed control tests and been deemed fit for service, prompting the Veracruz state public secretariat to disarm the force, media reported.

Mayor Bogar Ruiz Rosas said the force was made up of mostly new hires, who were scheduled to start

training in the state police academy. Mexican media showed the mayor handing out catapults and small bags of rocks to officers, in a symbolic act of protest.

He insisted the disarming of local police in Alvarado was a political vendetta ahead of the July 1 elections on the national and state levels. “This can only be understood as something political and we have to be prepared to do work in a professional manner,” Ruiz said in a ceremony, where he handed police officers slingshots and small bags of rocks.

The state governor, Miguel Ángel Yunes Linares, who belongs to a rival party and whose son is running to replace him, told media a council coordinating security in the state confiscated the force’s weapons because its members were not accredited.

Veracruz has been the setting for a string of horrors over the past decade, including forced disappearances, mass graves containing the remains of hundreds of people and the murders of at least 20 journalists. (Excerpt

from The Guardian)

Belize praised for ‘visionary’ steps to save coral reef

W

The reef’s Great Blue Hole is popular with divers. The reef is home to a rich variety of tropical fish

orld heritage body UNESCO has removed the Belize Barrier Reef from its list of endangered World Heritage Sites after nine years.

It said the Government of the Central American country had taken “visionary” steps to preserve it. The reef is the second largest in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

It is home to many threatened species including marine turtles, manatees and the American marine crocodile.

UNESCO added the reef to its list of world heritage sites in

1996 but said it was in danger in 2009 following plans by the Belize Government to allow oil exploration in nearby waters.

UNESCO urged Belize to put safeguards in place to protect what Charles Darwin described as “the most remarkable reef in the West Indies”.

Environmentalists organised an informal referendum in 2012 in which 96 per cent of those who took part voted against offshore oil activity.

In December 2017, lawmakers passed a landmark moratorium on oil exploration

in Belizean waters, which makes it one of only a handful of countries in the world with such legislation.

At its meeting in Bahrain on Monday, UNESCO praised Belize’s “visionary plan to manage the coastline”, saying that “the level of conservation we hoped for has been achieved”.

The decision comes just under a year after UNESCO opted not to place the Great Barrier Reef on its “in danger” list, arguing that Australia had taken action to preserve it. (BBC News)

he Sierra Negra volcano on the Galapagos island of Isabela is spewing fountains of lava and plumes of ash. Fifty people have been evacuated from the surrounding area and tourists have been barred from visiting it.

The eruption started after two strong earthquakes opened up fissures in the 1124 metre-high (3688 feet) volcano.

It comes 11 days after the Cumbre volcano, the most active on the Galapagos,

erupted on the uninhabited island of Fernandina.

The Sierra Negra volcano is located on the Southeastern tip of Isabela, the largest of the 18 main islands which make up the Galapagos Archipelago.

The Galapagos which are located about 1000km (621 miles) off the coast of Ecuador are one of the most volcanically active regions in the world.

Sierra Negra last erupted in 2005. Night-time photos showed lava flowing

down to the sea.

The Galapagos National Park authorities said tourists would not be allowed near the volcano or the area of El Cura, but said they were welcome to visit the rest of the island.

Thousands of tourists visit the Galapagos Islands every year, drawn by its unique biodiversity and its pristine environment. The variety of wildlife on the island famously inspired Charles Darwin to conceive the theory of evolution. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

Former Haitian President, coup leader dies

F

ormer Haitian coup leader, Lieutenant General Henri Namphy is dead.

Namphy died on Tuesday in neighbouring The Dominican Republic following a battle with lung cancer.

Namphy, who lived in exile in The Dominican Republic, headed Haiti’s military-dominated Government after the fall of the Duvalier family dictatorship.

He became head of the interim National Council of Government that took

Lieutenant General Henri Namphy

charge of Haiti in 1986 when Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier fled into exile in France.

He also served as President before he was

ousted in a coup in 1988.

His presidency lasted only last three months, and after being ousted, he fled to The Dominican Republic. He was 85. (Jamaica Observer)

Jamaica must stake claim on local marijuana strains, says Minister

S

cience, Energy and Technology Minister, Dr Andrew Wheatley, says Jamaica must stake its claim on all local strains of marijuana for research and development.

Jamaica, it is said, has some of the best or finest marijuana strains in the world, which include the Jamaican Lamb’s Breath (or Lamb’s Bread) and Marley’s Collie.

He said it is believed that one country is “in possession of all our indigenous strains and is doing research on all of them.”

“We have to position ourselves, we have to take on the mantle (and) do what we have to do… as it relates to medicinal marijuana research,” the Minister

stressed.

He was addressing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Jamaican Medical Cannabis Corporation (JMCC) Limited and the National Foundation for the Development of Science and Technology (NFDST) on June 25.

The MoU formalises an agreement between the entities to undertake a project that will identify, isolate and conserve the local strains of cannabis for medicinal use, utilising advanced plant biotechnological, botanical and agricultural methods.

It also aims to strengthen Jamaica’s contribution to the local and international health industries through

the provision of raw materials and value-added medicinal products.

Through the MoU, the Jamaica/Canada-based JMCC have committed to investment of US$2 million in research and development over the next 10 years. The NFDST will receive, manage and disburse the funds to a research consortium that will execute the undertaking.

The consortium will consist of members of the National Commission on Science and Technology (NCST), which is the coordinating body, the Scientific Research Council (SRC), Caribbean Genetics and the Institute of Jamaica, among other institutions to be identified. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Colombia to use drones to fumigate coca leaf with herbicide

C

olombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos on Tuesday authorised the use of drones to fumigate coca leaves at low altitude using the herbicide glyphosate as part of the Andean nation’s battle to eliminate the plant’s use in cocaine production.

Santos, who leaves office in August, approved the measure a day after the United States said Colombia’s coca cultivation had increased 11

per cent to 209,000 hectares (516,450 acres) in 2017 and potential cocaine output had risen 19 per cent to 921 metric tons a year.

Colombia, one of the world’s largest cocaine producers, suspended aerial fumigation using glyphosate in 2015 after the World Health Organisation linked it to cancer.

Glyphosate is a key ingredient in the world’s most widely used herbi-

cide, Roundup, produced by Monsanto Co. Santos’s decision was taken at a meeting in Bogota by the National Narcotics Council, a government body that designs strategies to fight drug trafficking.

Low-flying drones limit the dangers associated with glyphosate, Santos said, adding the government aims to eradicate 110,000 hectares (271,816 acres) of coca this year. (Excerpt from Reuters)

thursDAY, june 28, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

Trump gets chance to Trump-Putin summit agreed reshape Supreme Court by US and Russia in principle M S upreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy is set to retire, giving President Donald Trump the chance to cement a conservative majority on the top court.

The conservative has been a pivotal vote on many decisions including the 5-4 rulings that decided samesex marriage and upheld abortion rights.

In his letter to Trump, Justice Kennedy expressed “profound gratitude” for having served in the highest court.

Justice Kennedy, 81, will retire on July 31, he said in his letter.

He is the second oldest Justice on the nine-member court.

He said his retirement was motivated by his decision to spend more time with his family.

Justice Anthony Kennedy’s retirement hands President Donald Trump a second pick on the US Supreme Court

“It has been the greatest honour and privilege to serve our nation in the federal judiciary for 43 years, 30 of those years on the Supreme Court,” Justice Kennedy wrote.

Justice Kennedy, who was raised in California,

was nominated by President Ronald Reagan and began his term in 1988.

He voted reliably conservative on issues of campaign finance, voting rights and gun rights, but was considered a swing vote on key rulings. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Xi tells Mattis China won’t give up “even 1 inch” of territory

C

hina is committed to peace, but cannot give up “even one inch” of territory that the country’s ancestors left behind, Chinese President Xi Jinping told US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis on Wednesday during his first visit to Beijing.

Xi’s remarks underscored deep-rooted areas of tension in Sino-US ties, particularly over what the Pentagon views as China’s militari-

sation of the South China Sea, a vital transit route for world trade.

But irritants in USChina relations extend to other sensitive areas, including fears of a full-blown trade war between the world economic heavyweights.

Beijing is also deeply suspicious of US intentions toward self-governing and democratic Taiwan, which is armed by the United States.

China views the island as a

sacred part of its territory.

Meeting in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, Xi told Mattis that China had only peaceful intentions and would not “cause chaos”, State television reported.

Both countries’ common interests far outweigh their differences, but on territorial issues there can be no concessions, Xi said, without referring to specific areas.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Thailand cave rescue: Floodwaters hinder search for footballers

R

ising floodwaters are hampering the search for 12 teenagers and their football coach who have been trapped in a cave in Thailand for four days.

Heavy rainfall has caused water levels to rise faster than it can be drained by pumps, frustrating the efforts of hundreds of rescue workers.

The main entrance is now impassable – prompting a search for some other way into the depths of the tunnel complex.

There has been no contact with the group since Saturday.

On Tuesday, navy divers reported seeing fresh footprints inside the cave com-

oscow and Washington have agreed to hold a long-delayed summit between US President Donald Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

The announcement follows a meeting between President Putin and US National Security Adviser John Bolton.

Trump said his meeting with Putin could take place after next month’s Nato summit in Brussels.

The President said the meeting could possibly take place in the Finnish capital, Helsinki.

W

be officially announced on Thursday, Ushakov said.

After talks with the Russian leader, Bolton confirmed at a news conference in Moscow that Trump would meet Putin in the coming weeks.

“President Trump asked me to come and speak to Russian authorities about the possibility of a meeting between him and President Putin,” he said.

Both leaders wanted to use the summit to improve relations between their countries, Bolton said. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

Joe Jackson: Patriarch of Jackson family dies aged 89

J

oe Jackson, the father of music legends Michael and Janet Jackson, has died at age 89, his family said.

Jackson passed away early on Wednesday morning. He had been in hospital for terminal pancreatic cancer, according to media reports.

His death comes just two days after the anniversary of his son Michael Jackson’s death nine years ago.

The family patriarch played a large role in the careers of The Jackson 5, as well as Michael and Janet Jackson.

His death was confirmed on social media by some of his family, including his daughter La Toya Jackson and grandsons Taj and Randy Jackson.

Five of Joe Jackson’s sons

Joe Jackson, seen here with his son Michael, had been in hospital for terminal cancer

– Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael – became the Jackson 5, joined at times by younger brother Randy, who also pursued a solo career.

Three daughters – LaToya, Rebbie, and, most famously, Janet – all fashioned their own pop careers under Jackson’s management, with varying levels of

recognition.

Jackson was the architect of his children’s early successes, but some of them would later say he drove them with a zeal that bordered on abuse, with Michael and others alleging bullying, physical abuse and punishing work schedules.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Iran: Khamenei urges Judiciary to confront those who harm economy

I Rescuers have been battling a downpour

plex, raising hopes for the group’s safety.

But despite the use of powerful industrial water pumps, water levels rose even higher overnight, flooding another chamber of the

cave complex.

Search and rescue teams, cut off from the area they believe the missing boys might be, are searching the hilltops for a chimney or alternative way in. (Excerpt from BBC News)

ran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned against those “who disrupt economic security”, threatening legal action in response to economic protests that began on Monday over the rial’s collapse.

In a statement published on his official website, Khamenei told judiciary officials that while “the atmosphere for the work, life and livelihood of the people must be secure … the judiciary must confront those who dis-

Poland Holocaust law: Government U-turn on jail threat hen Poland made it a criminal offence this year to accuse it of complicity in Nazi war crimes, there was an outcry in Europe, Israel, and the United States.

Anyone found guilty could face up to three years

He told reporters he would discuss the war in Syria and the situation in Ukraine with his Russian counterpart.

Trump last met the Russian President in November in Vietnam on the sidelines of an AsiaPacific summit.

The decision to hold a meeting between the leaders was announced earlier on Wednesday by a Kremlin foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov.

The summit would take place in a mutually convenient third country, with the date and location to

in jail.

Five months later, the right-wing Prime Minister has moved to change the law to decriminalise the offence, describing it as a “correction”.

An amendment to the Holocaust law was quickly backed by the Lower House

of Parliament and now moves to the Senate.

The law had been intended to “defend the good name of Poland”, but from now on it would be a civil, not a criminal offence, the head of Prime Minister’s office, Michal Dworczyk, told pub-

lic radio.

When it was signed by Polish President Andrzej Duda in February there were immediate objections, and he then referred the measures to the Constitutional Tribunal, in effect putting the law on hold. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned against those “who disrupt economic security”, threatening legal action [EPA-EFE]

rupt economic security.”

On Monday, thousands of traders in the Iranian capital’s Grand Bazaar held a rare strike over the rial’s collapse on the foreign exchange market.

The rial’s decreased value is expected to result in an

increase in the price of imported goods and push up the inflation rate.

Iran’s currency has plunged almost 50 per cent in value in the past six months, with the US dollar now trading at around 78,500 in the black market.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, june 28, 2018

ARCHIE

Don’t react to what others do or say without thinking.

(March 21- Diplomacy, consideration April 19) and fairness will be required to avoid opposition. Selfimprovement and nurturing important relationships are encouraged.

ARIES

You’ll have ample opporTAURUS tunity to present and promote (April 20- what you want to pursue. The May 20) individuals you encounter and the places you visit will offer inspiration and positive feedback. Embrace change.

dilbert

Physical improvements GEMINI (May 21- can be successfully made.

June 20) Fixing up your surroundings or updating your look will result in greater confidence and compliments from someone special. Love is in the stars.

Firm up an agreement you have with someone. Holding (June 21- up your side of an arrangeJuly 22) ment will push others to follow suit. Take nothing for granted and leave little leeway.

CANCER

Peanuts

Aggressive behaviour will LEO not be in your best interest.

(July 23- Use your energy wisely and Aug. 22) get the grunt work out of the way first if you want to avoid complaints or interference.

Initiate your plans. Don’t VIRGO be shy or afraid to take a step (Aug. 23into the limelight. You’ve got Sept. 22) what it takes to turn an idea into a reality.

Calvin and Hobbes

Only take on what you LIBRA (Sept. 23- can handle. You’ll be faced Oct. 23) with demanding, critical people if you make unrealistic promises. Avoid indulgent people and excessive spending.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — GUILELESS (GUILELESS: GILE-les: Artless; free of deceit.)

Look inward and considSAGITTARIUS er what you can do to im(Nov. 23prove your skills, image or Dec. 21) lifestyle. Evaluate your relationships and back away from people who bring out the worst in you.

Average mark 18 words Time limit 30 minutes Can you find 26 or more words in GUILELESS? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — NEOLITH

noel noil note eolith leno lent lien line lint lion lithe litho

loin lone loth inlet into then thin thine thole tile tine toil

toile tole tone helot hilt hint hole hone hotel hotline

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

Use your intelligence SCORPIO and make solid plans with (Oct. 24like-minded people. Avoid conNov. 22) flict and people who tend to be bad influences. Put anger aside and direct your energy into achieving positive results.

solution for last published puzzle

Discipline and carefulCAPRICORN ly considered plans will help (Dec. 22- you avoid making a costJan. 19) ly mistake. Walk away from unpredictable situations and people. Focus on maintaining a good reputation and getting positive results.

Being aggressive will AQUARIUS backfire on you. You are best (Jan. 20- off biding your time, being Feb. 19) patient and avoiding an altercation that could ruin your plans. Self-control is recommended.

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Take control of any situation that can affect your reputation, status or relationships with important people.

A change will lead to positive ideas and plans.

thursDAY, JUNE 28, 2018

19

Germany crash out of World Cup after defeat by South Korea T

his, then, is how the world ends, not with a bang but with a whimper. There are certain events so apocalyptic that it feels they cannot just happen. They should be signalled beneath thunderous skies as owls catch falcons and horses turn and eat themselves. At the very least, there should be a sense of fury, of thwarted effort, of energies exhausted. And yet Germany went out of the World Cup in the first round for the first time in 80 years on a pleasantly sunny afternoon with barely a flicker of resistance. There was no Sturm. There was no Drang.

Germany had come to this World Cup not merely as defending champions but as winners of the last summer’s Confederations Cup – with what was in effect a second string.

The overhaul of their academy system was the envy of the world, talent production on an industrial scale. And yet, called upon to score a goal against a disappointing South Korea side that had already lost to Sweden and Mexico, that had lost in qualifying to Qatar and China, they struggled to create a chance.

In the end it was VAR that undid them, Kim Young-gwon’s strike that had initially been ruled out for offside given as a goal when it was realised the ball

Kim Young-gwon scores for South Korea

had been played to him by Toni Kroos. And then, even after that, there was a beautiful farce of a goal, Manuel Neuer caught in possession miles upfield as Son Heung-min chased on to Ju Sejong’s long ball and rolled the ball into an empty net. It was as though football itself was having its joke, the sweeper-keeper who had been such an asset four years ago turned into a liability.

Germany are the fourth of the last five world champions to go out in the group phase but this was as limp a defence as any side had managed. There

was no defining defeat, as Spain had suffered to the Netherlands, just a whole load of baffling mundanity. There was a chance, three minutes from time, to steal a goal as they had stolen a late winner against Sweden in the second game but, presented with a free header eight yards out, Mats Hummels somehow misjudged his effort to the extent that the ball looped wide of his shoulder.

Jogi Löw, the Germany coach, had acknowledged that, while the Sweden game was an improvement, his side had

still had problems in defensive transition, too often leaving the two central defenders exposed.

His solution was to bring Leon Goretzka on to the right of the 4-2-3-1, while restoring Mesut Özil and Sami Khedira, who had both been left out of the win over Sweden. It gives some indication of the difficulties Germany have had that only three outfielders have started all three games. Thomas Müller, who has been struggling for form for a couple of years, was one of the latest sacrifices, the first time he had been left

out of a tournament game by Germany since the semi-final of Euro 2012.

Neuer has also started all three games despite not having played for Bayern since September, when he fractured a bone in his foot. He has not been his usual assured self at the World Cup and, 19 minutes in, he fumbled a free-kick from Jung Woo-Young, before recovering to fist the ball away as Son closed in.

To blame him would be absurd, but equally he is clearly far from his best and in retrospect forcing him back ahead of Marc-André ter-Stegen was perhaps an error.

But he was not the only one.

Neuer’s uncertainty is part of a far greater whole. The German machine has gummed up here; there was no fluency and little cohesion going forward. Perhaps the aim was simply to deny South Korea the counter-attacking chances Germany granted Mexico and Sweden and, in that at least, the gameplan was a success. The gegenpressing was more efficient, but then the opponent was weaker, and there was significant cost in terms of attacking threat.

Not until Goretzka met a Joshua Kimmich cross with a flicked header three minutes into the second half was there a real sense of German threat.

Cho Hyun-woo, though, leapt to

his right to claw the ball away.

The Daegu FC keeper came into the tournament as third choice before being surprisingly selected for the opening game because he is the tallest of the three Korea keepers and the coach, Shin Tae-yong, was obsessed by Sweden’s height.

He gained a cult status in Korea, where his extravagant ginger bouffant has earned him the nickname “Dae-hair”, taking the Korean word for “great” to create a pun on De Gea. Timo Werner volleyed wide soon after but that was a rare spasm of pressure. With news coming through that Sweden had scored and that Germany therefore needed to score, Löw threw on Mario Gomez and then Müller. Immediately those issues in defending against the counter returned and a more incisive side than South Korea would have taken advantage. It could, in truth, have been much worse, and over much sooner. But for Kroos’s brilliant late goal against Sweden, it would have been over a game ago.

In Brazil four years ago, Germany struggled to get the balance right between attack and defence until the quarterfinal. This time, they never quite did and so, inevitably, unresisted, twilight fell upon the gods. (The

Guardian)

Sweden cruise to victory over Mexico as both qualify for World Cup last 16

D

evastated on the pitch, trailing 3-0 after a performance riddled with anxiety and inhibition, with the minutes ticking down on Mexico’s World Cup Javier Hernández did the only thing that really mattered in the circumstances. He pelted over to the touchline and asked his bench the burning question. What the hell is the score of Germany v South Korea? It was 0-0, there was still hope.

This was one of these extraordinary events where emotions were stretched to the fraying edges of reason. In stoppage time in Ekaterinburg the mood transformed, a charge cascading around the crowd. A goal for South Korea! But then the celebrations shrank as news of an offside flag spread. Elation part two came moments later as a referee in front of a television monitor nearly 1,000 kilometers away in Kazan made his decision. Germany’s elimination turned this match into a party in two parts – Sweden were elated, justifiably so, after a superb team performance ensured they top Group F. Mexico’s salty-sweet evening was almost too much for some of their players to take in.

Hernández had called this the alternative Group of Death. But who could have imagined it would be Germany who would fall on their sword. From devastation to elation and

everywhere in between. Only sport can When Guillermo Ochoa casually possible penalty. In an attempt to deal do this. For Sweden it meant so much caught the ball but was adjudged to with another set piece, Hernández after their stressful week, dealing with have handled outside the penalty appeared to control the ball with his their own heartbreakingly late defeat area, Mexico looked agitated. Emil arm. The Argentinian official, Néstor against Germany, emotions running Forsberg’s Toni Kroos impression Pitana, cantered over to consult the high, and racist abuse aimed at one of with a free-kick from a wide angle monitors and returned to point that it their own in Jimmy Durmaz. tested Ochoa, who had to bat the was, in his opinion, not a penalty. Janne Sweden were pumped up from the ball away. The heaving crosses were a Andersson looked close to popping a first minute to last. Over the 90 minutes clear part of the plan, and on a couple blood vessel on the touchline. Sweden Sweden played as if on a mission that of occasions the ball fell invitingly had no option but to force the issue but was about more than just football. In the for Emil Forsberg. But he swept his the chances kept coming and slipping post-Zlatan era, they play with so much shots into the crowd. His range was out of their grasp. more emphasis on the sense of team, frustratingly off key given the space he So, a corner instead of a penalty, and even if they don’t have such an obvious was afforded. after that Sweden were cursing their outlet for moments of individual In the 28th minute the tension luck again. Berg swung a foot at Mikael inspiration. was ratcheted up as Sweden Lustig’s cross and Ochoa was on hand A high press with plenty of called on VAR to with an agile tip over. Marcus Berg came high balls gave them the impetus, make their case close just before half-time, slashing his and Mexico mislaid some of their for a shot into the side netting. easy optimism as they strained Mexico had their moments in impose their game in these the first half, most of them falling to specialist conditions. Nerves Carlos Vela. But finding some rhythm cramped their natural style as – any flow of driving runs and jinking they found themselves worrying moves and disguised passes – proved about Sweden’s aerial threat. frustratingly elusive. Their task The intensity of the situation became deeply concerning five was clear for all to see from minutes after the break. Sweden kick off. It took 15 seconds for worked the ball forwards, helped the first hotly competed ball, and when one of the Mexicans fell over Jesús Gallardo had to put a lot into and more space opened up. Berg’s his jump to challenge Ola Toivonen cross looped on via Viktor Claesson to a high ball. The pair crashed heads. and Ludwig Augustinsson arrived Toivonen was floored and Gallardo at the far post to slam a volley booked.

Andreas Granqvist is congratulated by his teammates past Ochoa. An extraordinary

moment. The left-back had never before scored for his country.

Sweden’s advantage escalated quickly. They were breaking at will, just needing the right final ball, and when Berg was invited to gallop into the area, it was desperation time for Héctor Moreno. The Mexico defender tackled on the stretch but only made contact with Berg’s foot. Referee Pitana pointed to the spot with the flourish of certainty.

Over on the touchline Juan Carlos Osorio plaintively made a television gesture, hoping it might get them out of a hole.

It wouldn’t have made much difference.

Andreas Granqvist, sweat pouring from his brow, stood over the ball. The captain cracked in his penalty emphatically.

Matters regressed for Mexico when they conceded an awkward third.

Dealing with high balls had been a problem all evening and when Sweden’s young substitute Isaac Kiese Thelin nodded on, and in trying to clear the ball snuck off Edson Alvárez’s hand and trickled past Ochoa.

Mexico glimpsed attempts at a comeback through Hernández and Vela but their fate lay increasingly lay with events in Kazan and the outcome of Germany’s game with South Korea. They made the last 16 once again, even if it was with a performance they need to forget. (The Guardian)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursDAY, JUNE 28, 2018

Paulinho, Silva put Brazil through, send Serbia home T

here was joy for Brazil in Moscow and also schadenfreude at one remove as the five-times champions progressed to the knockout stage of Russia 2018 by defeating Serbia on the same afternoon Germany exited the tournament. A projected last16 meeting with the nemesis of four years ago can now be safely placed away in the box of horrors.

Brazil will instead travel south to Samara to play Mexico as Group E winners. And for all the triumphalism towards the end of this game – the cheers as they shuttled the ball around between some dogged, tiring Serbians – there will still be just a little unease about the latest generation to wear that heavy gold shirt.

Brazil played well in phases here, their best moments when Philippe Coutinho controlled the tempo and combined with Neymar and Gabriel Jesus. But there were also periods where Brazil looked callow, lacking in presence in central midfield, where Nemanja Matic and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic were able to dominate the space.

The Spartak Stadium is a tight ground by the standards of this World Cup, clamped beneath the usual needlessly huge roof, a crown of vast grey

Thiago Silva scores Brazil’s second goal tubing swooping around all four sides. On a steamy, close night in Moscow there was the usual din of horns and whistles, the distinct tone and texture of the Brazilian World Cup caravan.

There was a tang of anxiety, too. Brazil have stuttered in patches at this tournament, and defeat would have sent them out at the group stage for the first time since Pelé was kicked around the fields of England. It was the team’s emotional state that had preoccupied the Brazilian press, the opening question at Tite’s

press conference centring on exactly what degree of crying was acceptable, what were the official team blubbing guidelines.

Brazil were unchanged and in yellow shirts again here, a wonderfully potent piece of World Cup iconography whatever the current virtues of those inside them. Serbia made three changes, Milos Veljkovic, Nikola Milenkovic and Adem Ljajic coming into a team that needed to win. And Serbia were brusque and powerful in the challenge, although Brazil’s early casualty, Marcelo, left the field

unexpectedly complaining of illness, to be replaced by Filipe Luís.

Serbia spread the red shirts across the full width of the pitch, looking to pile deep crosses in on Brazil’s under-sized full-backs.

Matic and Milinkovic-Savic played close together in the middle and at times and simply walked through the yellow shirts in an angsty, bitty start for the five-times winners.

Which Neymar would we see here after the paroxysms of St Petersburg? It is worth remembering Brazil’s No 10

Switzerland seal place in World Cup last 16 after draw with Costa Rica

A

fter a week in which not much football has been discussed, Switzerland were probably just grateful to get this game out of the way without any disasters. Serbia’s defeat to Brazil meant they could have lost to Costa Rica and still qualified, but a draw meant they ended the group stage unbeaten, and are through to face Sweden in St Petersburg next week.

Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri’s potential suspensions for their, shall we say, ‘politically spicy’ celebrations after they scored against Serbia, dominated the pre-match debate and while the pair were ultimately allowed to play, for long spells the Swiss looked like a team who had spent the build-up with unwanted distractions.

Goals from Blerim Dzemaili and Josip Drmic sealed things for the Swiss, although the already eliminated Costa Rica were much the more entertaining participant in this game, managing their first goal of the World Cup thanks to Kendall Waston and an incredibly unfortunate own-goal by the goalkeeper Yann Sommer.

Switzerland could have been two down in the opening five minutes had it not been for Sommer. Firstly, he made a decent but semiroutine stop from the occasional Arsenal forward Joel Campbell, then an utterly extraordinary save, low to his right, after Celso Borges thumped a header towards the bottom corner. It was one of those that looked like a glitch in a film: it took a moment to work out why the ball was not nestling in the net.

He could not do anything about Daniel Colindres’s booming shot a few minutes later, but mercifully for the Swiss that kissed the bottom of the bar and bounced back into play.

Costa Rica were already out, but they looked determined to take Switzerland with them.

Not that the Swiss were making a particularly good fist of fighting that option.

They looked disjointed in attack and Shaqiri, a matchwinner in the previous games, was anonymous. But, as seems appropriate in a World Cup that has not made a huge amount of sense so far, they took the lead just after the

remains in recovery, clawing his way back under the lens towards match sharpness. With 24 slowburn minutes gone he produced his first little moment of grace, jinking around Milinkovic-Savic with a smattering of fairy steps, then combining in the tiniest of spaces with Gabriel Jesus to force a shot.

Five minutes later the same combination should have made the opening goal. Neymar whipped a lovely long pass inside Antonio Rukavina. Jesus galloped in on goal, cut inside, then saw his right-footed shot blocked.

Ljajic was booked for a trip on Neymar that drew a series of gymnastic rolls down the touchline, combined expertly with stricken shriek and waving arm. The opening goal was coming, Brazil’s central three beginning to snap together with a little more urgency.

It arrived on 35 minutes, product of another divine intervention from Coutinho, arguably the midfielder of the tournament to date. Serbia had been closing his space near to goal, forcing Coutinho across the pitch on to his left foot. Finally, he dropped deep and picked a dream of a pass over the top.

Paulinho timed his run perfectly and got a toe to the ball as Vladimir Stojkovic rushed out.

Serena Williams 25th seed for Wimbledon

S

Kendall Waston scores the equaliser

half hour. Breel Embolo nodded down a cross at the far post, and Dzemaili was there in the middle to force it home. A remarkably simple goal, to the point that it made a mockery of their previous inertia.

Sommer – the Borussia Mönchengladbach goalkeeper who takes his mind off the pressures of the modern game by writing a blog about gourmet cooking – made another fine save from Colindres, and at points in the first half it looked like he was the only Swiss player who realised this was a World Cup game.

Certainly the men around whom most of the pre-match discussion centred were broadly absent from any meaningful play.

Xhaka and Shaqiri got away with relatively meagre fines after their controversially celebrated goals against Serbia. For all the pair of them did in this game, they might as well have been suspended.

Despite being ahead, Switzerland did not really improve after the interval, and eventually the goal that any neutral wanted arrived. Until just before the hour mark Costa Rica had been the only team who had not scored at this World Cup, but they got their goal when Waston, unencumbered by the inconvenience of being marked to any great effect, headed in from a Campbell corner.

From that point Costa Rica played freely,

without the pressures of striving for a result, more like they were just having fun. While we’ve witnessed so many at this tournament creak under the strain of performing, it was enough to make the coldest heart feel nice and fuzzy. When Campbell tried a rabona for no practical reason, when a sidefooted pass would have been much more simple, you knew they were enjoying themselves.

The game might have wound down into irrelevance, but the last 10 minutes were frantic. Firstly, Drmic looked to have won it for Switzerland, then Costa Rica were given a penalty only for an offside to rule it out. But then, a minute later, Campbell was taken down just inside the box and an actual spot-kick was given. Bryan Ruiz struck the penalty, it hit the bar and rebounded in off a hideously unlucky Sommer. (The

Guardian)

Brazil’s players celebrated with a prolonged 10-man huddle, drawing a few pointed words from Matic. And as Serbia trooped off the task looked ominous, with a need to press in search of two goals likely to leave Brazil with space for their lithe forward runners to exploit.

Neymar should have killed the game 10 minutes into the half as Brazil did exactly that, breaking from a corner though Coutinho, who played a fizzed through pass to Neymar. He delayed. Stojkovic got down well to save.

For a while Serbia began to assert their midfield strength. On the hour mark Alisson fumbled a low ball in from the right and saw the ball fall just out of reach of Aleksandar Mitrovic. Matic was dominating the centre, helped by the fact Brazil more or less leave that whole area to Casemiro and Paulinho, who were hustled by a crush of red shirts.

Fernandinho came on with 25 minutes to play to help wrest back some control, and within three minutes it was 2-0.

Mitrovic tried to cling to Miranda as Neymar’s corner came in but only succeeded in falling over at the near post. Thiago Silva filled the space and bulleted his header high into the net from four yards out. (The Guardian)

even-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams is the 25th seed for this year’s tournament, despite being outside the top 32 in the rankings.

The 36-year-old American is continuing her return to action after giving birth to her first child in September.

Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles winner, has played only three tournaments in the past 12 months and is ranked 183rd in the world.

Slovakia’s world number 32 Dominika Cibulkova has not been seeded.

On Tuesday, Cibulkova said it would not be fair for Williams to be seeded ahead of her.

“I don’t think it’s the right thing to do,” said the 29-year-old. “I think it’s just not fair. I have tried and I should be seeded.

If they put her in front of me then I will lose my spot that I am supposed to have.”

Simona Halep is the top seed, with Roger Federer her counterpart in the men’s draw.

Federer is seeded a place higher than his world ranking, with world number one Rafael Nadal the s e c o n d seed.

With the exception of Williams, all of the women are seeded in line with their WTA ranking.

Williams is seeded one place lower than Maria Sharapova, who s h e was due to meet in the fourth round of the French Open before pulling out because of injury.

Her sister Venus is the ninth seed.

British number ones Johanna Konta and Kyle Edmund - the latter of whom is the world number 18 are seeded 22nd in their respective draws.

Because of different rules in the two draws, Andy Murray cannot be seeded as he sits outside the top 32 in the rankings.

Britain’s three-time Grand Slam champion is returning from a hip injury. (BBC Sport)

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sports

21

IAAF to respect CAS decision on hyperandrogenism rule T

he IAAF has agreed to respect any decision made by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over their ruling on hyperandrogenism.

The athletics governing body ruled in April that female athletes' testosterone levels must be within set limits for a continuous period of at least six months in order to compete alongside other women in track events ranging from the 400 metres up to a mile.

Two-time Olympic gold medallist Caster Semenya challenged the rule, the South African appealing to CAS, with a decision still to be made.

Although the IAAF responded at the time, "ready to defend the new regulations", a second statement now says that CAS' "final decision will be respected" after a meeting with Athletics South Africa.

In the same release, IAAF president Sebastian Coe sought to reiterate the reasoning behind a ruling that would affect athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD).

He said: "We need to create competition categories within our sport that ensures that success is determined by talent, dedication and hard work, rather than by other factors that

IAAF President Sebastian Coe

are not considered fair or meaningful, such as the enormous physical advantages that an adult has over a child, or a male athlete has over a female athlete.

"We therefore need to come up with a fair solution for intersex/DSD athletes wishing to compete in the female category. "[This] is what the new regulations set out to do, based on the evidence the IAAF has gathered about the degree of performance benefit that such intersex/DSD athletes get from their higher levels of circulating testosterone."

(Sportsmax)

Williams looking forward to challenging James at AP Invitational

O

n June 30, Kirani James, the Grenadian 400-metre Olympic and World Champion, wants to add the Aliann Pompey Invitational title on the long list of his accomplishments, but, 18-year-old Daniel Williams will be hoping to make a name for himself in his attempt to out-run the man known as the “Jaguar”.

James, at the JN Racers Grand Prix on June 9, 2018, in Jamaica, clocked an impressive 44.35 seconds to win the 400 metres in his first race in over a year after recovering from Graves’ disease (an immune system disorder that results in the overproduction of thyroid hormones).

The Grenadian’s time of 44.35 seconds is the eighthbest time in the world this year. James’ personal best in the 400 metres is 43.74 seconds, set in 2014.

“I had him down to do the 100 metres and 200 metres, but he said that he wants to do the 400 metres to rub shoulders with Kirani James,” Johnny Gravesande, the coach of Daniel Williams said.

Williams will be joined

by Deshana Skeete and Kenisha Phillips on Guyana’s contingent for the July 10-15 IAAF World U-20 Championships, set for the Ratina Stadium in Tampere, Finland.

Williams qualified for the 200 metres when he clocked 21.21 seconds, a personal best, in the Boys’ U-20 final at the just concluded CARIFTA Games.

The qualifying standard time set by the IAAF is 21.35 seconds.

However, last year, at the IAAF World U18 Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, Williams clocked 46.72 seconds in the boys

Olympian Kirani James

400 metres to win silver for Guyana; the country’s first at the championship which was the last of its kind, given the fact that it has since been cancelled

by Athletics world governing body.

To date, Kadecia Baird owns Guyana’s lone medal at the IAAF World U-20 Championships, running 51.04 seconds to finish second behind Americas Ashley Spencer but ahead of Erika Rucker (USA) in 2012, Barcelona, Spain.

“Given the fact that he’s going to Finland to do the 200 metres, I had him down to only compete in that race on Saturday, but he insisted that he wants to run against Kirani. I mean, he has a mind of his own and I think the

Guyana’s Daniel Williams

fact that he’s that passionate about running the 400 metres, I’ll support him,” Gravesande said.

The qualifying standard time for the U-20 championships 400 metres is 47.70 seconds, and according to Gravesande, the Aliann Pompey Invitational presents a perfect opportunity for Williams to reach the time, especially since he the Linden-based athlete has been “healthy and putting in the work.”

“He has been doing great, even though the weather got us a little bad in terms of using the track, but I think he’s in good shape to really put in a good time,” the award-winning coach pointed out.

Meanwhile, Williams will truly have to show his

worth in the 400 metres on Saturday, with Nigerian Chidi Okezie, the African Championships 400 metres bronze medallist, Guyana’s 400 metres record holder (45.25 seconds) Winston George, US-based Guyanese Stephan James, Arinze Chance, Carlwyn Collins, Dequawn Nkosi Vancooten, Brian Roman, Shawn Semple and Joshua Walcott.

Fly Jamaica, E-Networks, Quality Plus, Banks DIH, the Communities Ministry and SleepIn International Hotel and Casino are among the sponsors for the event.

Race time starts at 15:00h and tickets cost $1000 regular admission, $5000 VIP.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursDAY, JUNE 28, 2018

ICC revenue model favours wealthy cricket nations, says CWI

A

more equitable distribution of ICC revenues, a wider spread of hosts for global events, pooled broadcast rights, and the sharing of bilateral-series revenues between home and away boards; these are the cures international cricket needs, according to a paper authored by Cricket West Indies (CWI) and to be presented at the ICC's annual conference this week in Dublin.

The proposals are part of "Economics of Cricket", a paper that aims to safeguard the competitive balance of international cricket.

It is the second such document the CWI has authored, after a paper in March, which cautioned against the cannibalisation of international cricket by franchise T20 leagues, and urged a review of the system of No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) that players need in order to play in these leagues.

This paper is far broader in reach. Here are some of the key proposals:

et nations won't be able to sustain investment in cricket and player development, infrastructure and administration."

A fairer spread of hosts for ICC events

ICC CEO David Richardson addresses a press conference

Revisit the ICC's revenue-share model

While the financial model adopted by the ICC last year somewhat levelled the field compared to the Big Three model, the CWI argues that it still falls short of an equitable distribution.

The BCCI, for example, is set to receive USD 405 million in the 2016-23 rights cycle, while CWI and five other Full Members will get USD 128 million each.

"Less wealthy cricket nations are disadvantaged by the current ICC distributions model, which has a significant imbalance of distri-

butions and favours already wealthy cricket nations. The gap between wealthier and less wealthy cricket nations is widening and will contribute to less wealthy nations being less competitive, therefore devaluing the international cricket product.

The gap immediately expedites the flight of talent away from bilateral international cricket as the less wealthy cricket nations are disadvantaged in funding their professional domestic and national retainer contracts. In the longer-term the gap will widen further as the less wealthy crick-

From 2015 to 2023, seven major ICC events - three World Cups, one Champions Trophy and three World T20s (one of which, in 2021, was originally supposed to be a Champions Trophy) have been hosted, or will be hosted, by either India, England or Australia (with New Zealand co-hosting the 2015 World Cup).

In the short term, CWI wants ticket revenues from these events to be distributed among all the Full Members, "as is done with broadcast, digital, sponsorship and licensing revenues from such events". In the long term, starting from the cycle immediately following the 2023 World Cup, CWI wants the hosting rights spread more evenly among the ICC's members, and proposes that an Associate Member gets to host every alternate World T20.

An IPL payment recognising the unofficial window for the tournament

There is no international cricket in April and May in the 2019-23 Future Tours Programme (FTP), which effectively means an unofficial window for the Indian Premier League (IPL). West Indies are one of two Test teams who traditionally have part of their home season in April and May, the other being England.

CWI has argued that the BCCI should make a payment to Full Members who have "agreed not to play" international cricket in those two months.

"Whilst the BCCI, through payment of release fees, acknowledges the need to compensate Full Members for "producing the player", there is no similar recognition of the loss of opportunity experienced

by Full Members by giving up two months of the season when they could have played international cricket and thereby earned revenue, or of the additional value added to the IPL by virtue

of being played in an exclusive window, with no conflicting content of a similar standard."

Pooling of commercial rights

Much of bilateral Test and ODI cricket will come under the umbrellas of the World Test Championship and ODI League from 2019.

The CWI wants overseas broadcast rights to all series falling under the 2019-23 FTP and the title rights to the Test Championship and ODI League to be sold on a collective basis, with the revenues going into an ICC FTP revenue pool and distributed among members, "as is done for ICC events".

CWI has further recommended that 20% of the revenue from domestic broadcast rights earned by home boards also go into this pool.

It also wants Full Members to explore the "creation of new communal digital and commercial properties such as an OTT platform, mobile app, fantasy cricket, etc, which can introduce new revenue streams and be similarly distributed among members". (ESPN cricinfo)

LTI unbeaten Archery Guyana hosts successful in LABA/YBG Olympic Day competition Under 19 L tournament

T

he youths of Linden Technical Institute (LTI) surged to yet another victory in order to be crowned the U-19 champs of Linden on Saturday.

Playing at the rain affected Mckenzie hard court, LTI faced off with McKenzie High School, who despite a few ups and downs in the competition, have proven to be a solid team. With promising players on both sides of the court, the match up turned out to be a close one, which had the fans on the edge of their seats.

LTI’s team captain, Jamal Gilkes, seemed a bit off of his usual

amazing performances, netting 4 points.

However, the young man’s rebounds and assists were in the double figures. In Gilkes falter, Dillon Pellew stepped up to

the task and ended the game with 17 points to his name.

On the other hand, Yannick Tappin of McKenzie High led the charge for his team by scoring almost half of their score. When the final buzzer went off, it was LTI who came out victorious with a slim 39-37 victory.

Earlier in the day, a joint effort between Keyon Davidson (15 points) and Jonathan Copeland (14 points) saw Wisburg Secondary ‘blowing out’ New Silvercity secondary 43-24 in the third place playoff.

Kobe Tappin was the lone man in double figures for the losing side with 14 points.

These results mean it will be Linden Technical Institute, McKenzie High and Wisburg Secondary who will be travelling to Georgetown to compete in the Youth Basketball Guyana’s National B a s k e t b a l l Festival.

Expectantly, with a total of 144 points in the tournament and an average of 24 points per game, LTI’s Jamal Gilkes walked away with the Most Valuable player of the tournament.

ike many other sport disciplines, Archery Guyana took the time out over the past weekend to commemorate Olympic Day. In their celebration, the local archers took to the National Gymnasium to compete for medal prizes which were donated by the National Sports Commission (NSC).

Despite getting off to a late start, the local archers, many of whom recently received their Level 1 certificate, were pumped and ready to showcase their ever improving skills. Operating under World Archery rules, the competition kicked off with the blow of the whistle by Director of Shooting Frederick Ewing-Chow.

In the Senior Women’s Class, four ladies competed. They were Shereeda Yusuf, Samira Duncan, Narda Mohamed and Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon.

While in the Junior Class, Jessica Callender was the lone competitor.

Action began with the females starting off the competition with a qualifying round, each shooting five ends of three arrows each (a total of 15 arrows) to qualify for the final round. The three ladies to make it to the final round were Narda Mohamed – 46 points; Samira Duncan – 53 points; and Shereeda Yusuf – 10 points. This final round was hotly contested by the ladies resulting in a tie between Narda Mohamed and Samira Duncan which provided some extra excitement with a shoot-off of one end of three arrows each.

The winner of the shoot-

The winners’ row after the competition

off, and gold medal winner was Mohamed with 16 points, while Duncan got the Silver with six points. The Bronze went to Yusuf. The Junior Class saw lone competitor Jessica Callender taking away the Gold.

In the Senior Men’s Class there were seven competitors.

Antiono Hackette, Colin Loncke, Robert Singh, Ryan McKinnon, Anand Mangra, Umasankar Madray and Nicholas Hing shooting the same five-end qualifying round.

The first four to the targets were Anand Mangra, Robert Singh, Ryan McKinnon and Antonio Hackette, while the other three men were Colin

Loncke, Nicholas Hing and Umasankar Madray. There was heated competition during the first round with the results of the final three men showing McKinnon who gained 106 points ahead of Mangra’s 95, followed by Hing’s 88 points.

The final three-end round saw action with McKinnon, Mangra and Hing contesting the coveted Gold medal ending with Mangra taking away Gold with 83 points ahead of McKinnon’s 72 for Silver, and leaving Hing behind with 65 for Bronze. The only X (10) points of the finals were shot by McKinnon and Mangra, while

Hing shot an X in qualification round.

In an act of benevolence and support, wheelchair-bound potential Paralympic archer Uttamkumar Isurdeen – who met with many of the Archery Guyana coaches and members on Sunday – was afforded the opportunity to try out the Olympic recurve bow under proper instruction. Isurdeen was very enthusiastic about this opportunity and is eager to take up archery as a sport.

Persons who are interested in becoming involved in the Olympic sport of Archery can email archeryguyana@gmail. com.

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, JUNE 28, 2018

23

“Keep Your 5 Alive” returns July 7 O

rganisers of the highly popular “Keep Your Five Alive” Futsal Competition have released the fixtures for the first three nights of action, at the National Gymnasium.

The tournament, now in its sixth year, has grown in status and provides fans with the level of excitement and skill that are synonymous with the shorter format of the sport.

Kevin Adonis, whose idea it was to create the tournament six years ago, said the event is unlike any other played in Guyana where a team’s chances of progressing in the competition depends entirely on its ability to ‘keep its five players alive’, meaning if you lose a game there isn’t a second opportunity to ‘stay alive’.

“The concept is one that I like it allows a team only one opportunity to play for the

– top 32 teams identified

prizes and because of this all the teams come well prepared to play at a high level and so the fans are the real winners,” Adonis said.

According to the organiser, because this is the sixth edition, he is hoping to increase the total prize monies and perhaps even add some incentives for outstanding individual performances.

This, he however, indicated will depend on the support the tournament rec e i v e s from the corporate community.

“I am w o r k i n g hard to make this possible and the f i r s t prize I have in m i n d is $600,000 which sim-

ply means that $100,000 is being allotted for each year that the tournament has been in existence.”

Adonis disclosed that 32 of the best teams in

the country have been invited

including defending champions West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’ and losing finalist Future Stars.

Among some of the other teams making the shortlist are Sparta Boss, Bent Street, Leopold Street and most of the zone champions of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Competition.

Teams will be represented from Georgetown, Linden, Berbice, West and East Demerara and the East Coast of Demerara, m a k ing it a true reflection of wide participation and the current standing of the competition.

The tournament kicks off on Saturday,

July 7, at the National Gymnasium, with five matches scheduled to be played.

On opening night action, Rhythm Stars (Mocha) tackles recently-crowned Berbice Guinness champions Trafalgar and this encounter will be followed by the clash between Agricola and Broad Street.

Kingston, the square off against Swag Entertainment out of Linden, before another Mining Community team NK Ballers take on Sophia.

In the final game of the night, Leopold Street play host to East Coast Melanie Damishana.

The fixtures for the next two playing days are seen below.

On Thursday, July 12, Buxton Diamond engage West Demerara Showstoppers, while the young Uprising team from

the East Coast go up against Linden’s Silver Bullets.

ESPN then collide with East Coast BV, before Ann’s Grove and North East La Penitence take to the court.

The rejuvenated Tiger Bay unit then faces California Square, before Sparta Boss and Tucville bring the curtains down for the evening.

On Saturday, July 14, Albouystown and Upsetters get things going, before Future Stars and Alpha Warriors square off.

Back Circle then tackles Kitty Hustlers, before Linden’s Dave and Celena All Stars go up against Bent Street.

The reigning champs West Front Road then close the night with a clash against Alexander Village.

The launch of the competition will be done on a date to be announced.

Norton hopeful 5 Guyanese named for for final policy Bangladesh encounter today by year end A A fter an almost threeyear wait for the National Sports Policy, it seems as though sportsmen and women are not the only ones who are eagerly anticipating the arrival of the official policy.

Social Cohesion Minister – who is responsible for sport in Guyana – Dr George Norton, has communicated on several occasions that the policymakers are making strides to finalise the policy as soon as possible.

The National Sports policy was a manifesto promise by the current Government in 2015, has been a major concern for athletes over the years. Earlier this month, those athletes were a little bit closer to having their cries heard as the Ministry released a draft of the policy. The area of concern has now shifted to how long it will take for the policy to be cemented and put into action.

In an invited comment with the Guyana Times

Sport, Dr Norton expressed hopes that his Ministry will be able to produce an action ready document by the end of 2018.

“We’re hoping that by the end of this year, we’ll have a printed document.

Of course, while we’ll want it to be as perfect as possible, we know that is not possible and we know that there is always possibility for changes as time goes by,” the Minister said.

However, the process of making sure that the policy is fair and applicable to all sportsmen and women will be lengthy task given that consultations with all or most of the sporting fraternities is necessary. Noting that it may not be perfect, Norton said the policymakers are working well within their time frame.

“This is all in the process of taking it to a green paper state, what I can say to you is that it’s all done with a time frame and we’re living up to that time frame.”

The National Sport Policy will not only cater to making sport more mainstreamed in Guyana but will also provide better resources for athletes, especially those with disabilities.

Additionally, it will seek to expose students to more sport disciplines in schools rather than just track and field.

Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George

s a young, fresh faced Windies side gears up to battle with Bangladesh today, five up-and-coming Guyanese players have been named on the 12-member squad.

The two-day encounter, which is set to bowl off at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua today, will feature the likes of Guyanese Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who is the son of the iconic West Indian batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul; Gudakesh Motie; Vishaul Singh; Romario Shepherd; and former Windies Under-19 captain Shimron Hetmyer who will return to action after leaving the third Windies vs Sri Lanka test early due to an illness.

Another highly anticipated return will be that of Alzarri Joseph who has been off of the playing field for some months now after suffering from a stress fracture in his back during the Windies tour of New Zealand in December 2017. As a part of his recovery, Joseph has undergoing some rigorous training which encompasses work on his bowling, strength and conditioning.

Added to that, he has been testing his skill in domestic cricket within his homeland and is said to be ready and rearing for tomorrow’s

Vishaul Singh

match up.

Joseph made his unforgettable debut in Test cricket during the India tour of West Indies back in 2016. The then 19-year-old churned out a number of magical deliveries to place Virat Kohli’s name next to his first Test wicket.

With six tests and 14 ODIs under his belt, Joseph is expected to bring a wealth of knowledge to the fairly young team. The

two-day match will act as a warm up for the visitors in the Windies vs Bangladesh Test that is slated for July4-8.

The entire 12-member squad includes: Shamarh Brooks – Captain, John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Jahmar Hamilton, Shimron Hetmyer, Alzarri Joseph, Keon Harding, Shayne Moseley, Gudakesh Motie, Romario Shepherd, Vishaul Singh and Odean Smith.

BWJ to host big Domino Competition this weekend

– Brans Security on board

B

oston, Wiltshire and James (BWJ) will be hosting an Open Domino Competition this Saturday and Sunday, at the Dynasty Sports Club in South Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

According to a release from the organisers, all interested teams are invited to participate in the event which carries a first prize of $200,000 and the winning trophy.

Second, third and fourth place finishers will receive $100,000, $50,000 and $25,000, respectively and all prizes are guaranteed.

Entrance fee is $12,000 per team and the Most Valuable Player will be awarded $5000.

Meanwhile, Brans Security

Service added its name to the list of sponsors when Managing Director Harold Brandford handed over a cheque for an undisclosed sum to Mark “Jumbie” Wiltshire, at the entity’s head office on Duncan Street.

Speaking at the occasion, Brandford spoke about his long friendship with Boston, while he also acknowledged the encouraging growth the sport has enjoyed in recent times.

Wiltshire in response thanked the company for its support and promised that the tournament will be run in an exemplary manner, befitting the wishes of the sponsor.

Double-six time is 14:30h and food and drinks will be on sale throughout the day.

Brans Security Managing Director Harold Brandford (right) hands over the cheque for an undisclosed sum to Mark “Jumbie” Wiltshire

THURsDAY, JUNE 28, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Gabriel Jesus of Brazil controls the ball under pressure from Nemanja Matic of Serbia during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group E match between Serbia and Brazil at Spartak Stadium

5 Guyanese named for Bangladesh encounter today

Pg 19&20

Germany ousted, Brazil take care of business

Mario Gomez of Germany and Mats Hummels of Germany react after a missed chance during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia group F match between Korea Republic and Germany at Kazan Arena

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