Guyanatimes 28 may 2018

EU Ambassador praises European cultural ties with Guyana P14

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

Issue No. 3577

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, May 28, 2018

SMART accuses Govt of ‘pussyfooting’ on marijuana law

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

GRA warns against P10 imposters

– urges public to demand ID; payments to only be made at HQ, offices

Page 2

– says it is not serious about changing same

Father, son arrested for murder of ECD labourer …3 murders recorded in 3 days

Page 7

Murder suspect arrested 18 years after crime P8

Suspect P10 in Guyana Goldfields employee’s murder likely for court today

Prison officers busted with P8 ganja

Members of the church in the Anglican Diocese of Guyana congregate for the opening of the 146th Session of the Synod at the St George’s Cathedral on Sunday (Carl Croker photo)

Jagdeo predicts collapse of Page remaining 3 sugar estates

– says Govt’s ad-hoc approach to industry does not inspire confidence

Mother’s Day prison celebrations

Prison Service must be professionalised – Ramjattan Page 9

Fire flattens Soesdyke P11 house

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monDAY, may 28, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

SMART accuses Govt of ‘pussyfooting’ on marijuana law – says it is not serious about changing same

By Samuel Sukhnandan

G

overnment’s aversion to changing local laws in relation to sentencing of persons found with small quantities of marijuana has not gone unnoticed. In fact, the Society of Marijuana Advocates for Reform and Treatment (SMART) has accused the Government of ‘pussyfooting’ on the issue.

SMART steering committee member Nicole Cole told Guyana Times on Sunday that Government is not serious about changing the laws, as there had been enough time to get things in order, but there is detected a clear reluctance.

She said, “They're playing Russian Roulette with the local Rastafari community.”

Cole charged that the Coalition had given its word that it would review the Narcotics Law. The Rastafarian community had tied the review of the law to its political votes when the Coalition had promised to do so. She said the APNU is currently pussy-footing and the AFC has a motion before the National Assembly; but, she said, “Even that motion needs to be tweaked fur-

SMART steering committee member Nicole Cole

ther to free Rastafari from Babylon chains!”

For almost three years, the AFC has still not managed to find support from the APNU to support the motion in the name of AFC parliamentarian Michael Carrington to move the first reading of the Narcotics Drug and Psychotropic Substances (Control) (Amendment) Bill. The motion to have the first reading of the Bill was tabled since December 10, 2015.

The Bill itself has not been made public.

Former AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes, with the help of Attorney Mark Waldron, had drafted the bill, which

seeks to soften the penalties for marijuana possession. That draft bill stipulates that persons who are found in possession of the drug for personal use would be required to pay a fine of $10,000, or perform community service for a period of time, something that is being widely supported.

Cole recalled the Rastafari community meeting with Attorney General Basil Williams sometime in 2016 to pursue the review of the law. The community has also met with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Cannabis Commission which is reviewing the law across the Caribbean. The

SMART steering committee member said Guyana should take note of what is happening in other Caribbean territories in relation to this issue, particularly Jamaica and Antigua and Barbuda.

Recently, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda formally apologized before the Organization of American States (OAS) on discrimination against the Rastafarian community, hoping to improve relations with the religious group. The Government there has also committed to enhancing the rights of that minority group, with hope to review local marijuana laws.

Meanwhile, in Jamaica, while marijuana is illegal, possession of small amounts was reduced to a petty offense in 2015. The country has also established a licensing agency to regulate a lawful medical cannabis industry on the island.

Cultivation of five or fewer plants on any premises is also permitted in Jamaica, where the drug has long been culturally entrenched, although illegal.

Fight

Given the slow pace at

which Government is treating this issue, Cole told Guyana Times, SMART and other Rastafarian groups will not give up, but will continue to fight to ensure that some serious attention is given to that matter, so that Guyana could follow in the footsteps of other countries.

Cole explained that it is Government’s ‘flippant attitude’ that occasioned the recent march by the Rastafari community, calling for their rights to use what they described as the holy sacrament (marijuana) to be recognized. What occurred in 2018 could continue in the coming months, she warned.

“We will never give up the fight to be recognized as a legitimate religious entity, because those rights are enshrined in Art 146 in the Constitution of Guyana, which this Government is denying. We've been ostracized, victimized, vilified, and treated as persona non grata by successive Governments because of our use of the holy sacrament. We are the "dregs of society."

On Thursday, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo announced his support for cus-

todial sentences for small quantities of marijuana to be removed from the law books in their entirety, but maintained that he is not in favour of the legalisation of marijuana for commercial purposes.

Jagdeo reminded that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has made a commitment to support a ‘conscience vote’ should the matter come up for a vote in the National Assembly.

“To send somebody -a young person or even an older person -- to jail for less than a quarter ounce of marijuana, for three years, when we have people who are traffickers, and we have people growing large quantities of marijuana, because they have money they get off from the system,” he explained.

The former President said he is not opposed to having them face some penalty, but he would recommend alternative or non-custodial sentencing, such as: community work and rehabilitation. Jagdeo noted that it was not a contentious issue as that of the death penalty, and could be resolved.

news

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monDAY, may 28, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Monday, May 28 – a night-time retraction at 04:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Tuesday, May 29 – a nighttime retraction at 04:30h and a day retraction from 14:00h-15:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, May 28 – 15:45h-17:15h and Tuesday, May 29 – 16:20h-17:50h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Lightly cloudy skies will prevail throughout the day interrupted by mid to late morning showers and a brief late afternoon sunny interval. Partly cloudy skies will prevail in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 21 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging from East North-easterly to Northeasterly between 1.34 metres and 5.81 metres.

High Tide: 03:29h and 15:54h reaching maximum heights of 2.63 metres and 2.55 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 09:28h and 21:40h reaching minimum heights of 0.57 metre and 0.67 metre respectively.

FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2018

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Jagdeo predicts collapse of remaining sugar estates – says Govt’s ad-hoc approach to industry does not inspire confidence

G

overnment’s handling of the sugar industry since it assumed office in 2015 has received a heap of criticisms not only from the workers themselves but local economists and international experts.

However, to date, nothing has changed, as the two major parties within the coalition Government seem to be at loggerheads when it comes to deciding on a way forward for the industry.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has pointed out that because of the ad- hoc manner in which this once very important sector of the local economy was being handled, there was no doubt that things could only get worse. “How do Government’s actions inspire any confidence? We might just have a collapse of what is left,” Jagdeo declared, making reference to the remaining sugar estates.

First off, Jagdeo noted that months have already passed and the Government was still to decide on a new Board for the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). Of recent, there have been reports of an apparent tug-owar within the coalition over the sugar industry, which is now under the control of a Special Purpose Unit (SPU) that was created under the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) for the divestment process.

In fact, reports had surfaced about disagreements allegedly between Ministers from the two coalition parties regarding the chairmanship and members of the GuySuCo Board. It was reported in early March that Finance Minister Winston Jordan had allegedly proposed for the Head of SPU, Colvin Heath-London to be the Chairman of the new GuySuCo Board after the previous body had expired on February 14. The purported proposal was reportedly not accepted by the entire Cabinet.

At present, there continues to be uncertainty over the GuySuCo Board of Directors; Cabinet is currently looking at some new

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

names. Agriculture Minister Noel Holder has said that Cabinet was still continuing deliberations on the appointment of a Board of Directors for GuySuCo, adding that new names are being looked at and it may take some time before an announcement is made. But Jagdeo, a former President, said, “This is a five-minute decision…bring all the names to the table and make a decision…(David) Granger is taking forever to make a simple decision,” he said.

Confidence

Only recently, the management of GuySuCo sent a complaint letter to Minister Holder, about the SPU, which is tasked with the divestment of assets of GuySuCo as part of the downsizing of the sugar sector. The letter listed 13 areas for attention, which included but are not limited to: the need for clear policy positions on the roles and responsibilities of the SPU and GuySuCo; a clear business model and strategy for GuySuCo and the SPU as a partnership; and refocusing of SPU on creating greater value from GuySuCo’s assets which have been vested.

In that letter, concerns were also raised about the competency of current SPU executives, which according to GuySuCo, seem to lack the requisite expertise to support the sensitive reconstruction process of GuySuCo. It was also noted in that missive that SPU executives may have ulterior motives which are not in alignment with ensuring

the successful transitioning of GuySuCo. Based on this recent public disagreement, Jagdeo has concluded that Government continued to fail to get things right in the sector. “This is a company that employs the most Guyanese in our country…it has the greatest links to our people, our villages, to drainage and irrigation, to foreign exchange earnings…this is a major sector and Government still can’t get things right … it’s like they wake up and make decisions based on what side of the bed they slept on that night,” he said.

The People’s Progressive

letter to President David Granger, the IUF expressed concern about the state of affairs in the sugar sector.

“The IUF said exactly what we are saying…do the studies, then act…do the feasibility, social impact and diversification studies and then proceed with any decision…now we are going to borrow $30 billion when they could not find $5 billion a year to keep the whole company open, and we’re not even sure if it is a bond or loan. we don’t know what they will spend it on,” he posited.

The IUF said also that too many Guyanese men,

Skeldon Sugar Estate

Party (PPP) General Secretary also made reference to a recent letter sent to the President by the Geneva-based International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF). In that

women, and children have found themselves facing tough and difficult times.

For the IUF, hearing first hand from the workers their stories of survival and struggle as they live day in and day out was heart-rending and very moving.

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guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, may 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

HIV/AIDS and the labour force

A

recent International Labour Organisation (ILO) report once again brings to the fore the issue regarding the massive toll HIV/AIDS is taking on the labour force, and the economic and social implications it is causing on many countries around the world.

The report – The impact of HIV and AIDS on the world of work: Global estimates – prepared in collaboration with UNAIDS, examines how the evolution of the HIV epidemic and the scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) have impacted the global labour force, and how they are projected to do so in the future, and assesses the economic and social impacts of HIV on workers and their households.

Worldwide, according to the ILO, the number of workers living with HIV increased from 22.5 million in 2005 to 26.6 million in 2015. Of note is that this figure is projected to rise to close to 30 million in 2020, even if ART is scaled up as projected. It is well known that in addition to human suffering, HIV and AIDS cause billions of dollars in lost earnings, largely as a result of the deaths of hundreds of thousands of workers, which could be prevented if persons are given the necessary treatment and support in a timely manner.

According to the report, the greatest incidence of mortality is among workers in their late 30s. ILO’s DirectorGeneral, Guy Ryder, was quoted as saying that this is the age at which workers are normally at the peak of their productive lives, and these deaths are totally avoidable if treatment is scaled up and fast tracked.

There is some encouraging news, though: the number of workers living with HIV either fully or partially unable to work has fallen dramatically since 2005, and this trend is projected to continue. The total number of those estimated to be fully unable to work is expected to decline to about 40,000 in 2020, from a 2005 level of about 350,000 -- an 85 per cent decline for men and a 93 per cent decline for women. Additionally, the report shows that labour force deaths attributed to HIV and AIDS are projected to fall to 425,000 in 2020, from 1.3 million in 2005. This could be due to the fact that many more people with HIV are now receiving life-saving drugs which help to keep the virus under control.

In the Caribbean region, we can boast of several successes in relation to our HIV response. Programmes to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission, reduce new HIV infections, and treat people living with the virus have yielded encouraging results. Additionally, the Caribbean region has approached the near-universal coverage of antiretroviral medicines to prevent mother-to-child transmission. Some 79 per cent of pregnant women living with HIV now access treatment to prevent passing on the virus. According to official statistics, the Caribbean leads the world in the rates of its reduction in new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths.

Here, in Guyana, there is a steady decline in the number of new reported cases of HIV infection among a significantly higher number of persons coming forward to be tested. The programmes that have been implemented have resulted in significant progress being made, and should certainly be continued.

However, the region, including Guyana, cannot become complacent. The gains made could easily be reversed if a lackadaisical approach is taken in the AIDS fight. It should be mentioned that a recent US report on healthcare delivery in Guyana recommended special attention should be paid to HIV/AIDS, so as to maintain the progress that has been achieved.

In order to sustain the advances made, governments and international donor partners need to put more money and effort towards ensuring that their HIV/AIDS programmes can be sustained. For example, more needs to be done to address the prejudice and social inequities that operate to make some people both more vulnerable to HIV infection and less likely to access prevention, testing, treatment, and care services. Young people, men who have sex with men, and sex workers are among the populations that need targeted investments and more protective environments through a combination of social dialogue and increased tolerance.

In the report referred to earlier, the ILO makes an impassioned call for urgent efforts to close the treatment gaps, step up testing and prevention measures, and ensure workers enjoy healthy and productive lives.

Soca King Machel Montano and Guyanese Soca singer Michelle “Big Red” King perform at the highly-anticipated RevelNation Concert held at the Guyana National Stadium on Saturday evening which saw scores of patrons braving the weather (Carl Croker photo)

National Ophthalmology Hospital is in crisis Dear Editor, The Government has the power to ensure Guyanese pay taxes, but, in return, it must ensure quality services are delivered to the Guyanese people.

Definitely, this is not the policy of this APNU/ AFC coalition Government.

Recently, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence visited the National Ophthalmology Hospital in Region Six and announced the re-opening of this important national hospital, it was later confirmed -- when the Director of Health Services announced at the April statutory Regional Democratic Council meeting

-- that in the next two weeks, the National Ophthalmology Hospital would be reopened for cataract surgeries to the public.

This was welcome news for thousands of poor Guyanese who are awaiting cataract surgeries over two years now. Unfortunately, to date, the National Ophthalmology Hospital has been unable to commence cataract surgeries.

This was confirmed when a senior Government official called the doctors, who said that only screening of patients is been carried out, not surgeries. Definitely, persons who are awaiting services from this National Ophthalmology

Hospital might either become blind or may have to pay privately at an exorbitant price to get their surgeries done, all because of the incompetence of the Minister of Public Health, the Director of Health Services, and the APNU/AFC coalition Government’s incompetence to ensure that the much needed medical supplies were procured to fix this crisis.

We have seen that shortages of the drugs and medical supplies continue to be a national issue, and cannot be fixed because the APNU/AFC coalition Government favour certain suppliers because of huge kickbacks.

Public officials who mis-

lead the public should be held accountable with disciplinary actions. Billions of taxpayers’ monies are being spent to ensure ministers and public officials enjoy the good life, while the poor and vulnerable continue to suffer.

As a representative of the people of Region Six, I urge Guyanese to demand that this National Ophthalmology Hospital be fixed immediately to avert a national crisis.

Sincerely, Zamal Hussain Chairman Regional Health Committee Region Six

Guyanese problem is not unsolvable; it has a solution…

Dear Editor, I pen this letter today about something that has consistently exposed itself over the last 3 years with regard to this Granger regime. It is critical that the poor and the working class understand what is happening in Guyana today, and be allowed to bring power to this truth: the Guyanese problem is not unsolvable; it has a solution. It is just that President Granger remains clueless on this solution.

We have had too many instances of extremely bad doses of political leadership in Guyana for too long.

Accurate history will reveal that the worst of the lot is David Granger. This Granger Government is the worst of them all. I want the nation to appreciate that, with David Granger at the helm of Guyana, it will not get any better, because his priorities clearly are not what are needed to socially and economically transform the nation.

Let me explain my position: Being a President is more than cutting a few ribbons and accrediting a few diplomats here and there.

Being a President is more than wasting G$1.5 billion on

an underused parade ground to host multi-million “mass games-type” marching events like if you are in North Korea.

Being a President is more than riding in siren cars and travelling the world more than 100 times at taxpayers’ expense to attend yet another useless conference, rather than bringing back real investable projects to Guyana.

Being a President is knowing when there is trouble in the economy, and taking decisive actions to bring financial comfort to your people. You do not delay executive action with these myriads of commissions of inquiry; you take progressive action for your people within minutes.

The examples are just too many to illustrate that this Granger government really does not care about the welfare of the poor and the working class. They represent a different class interest, and irrespective of race or religion, once this Granger government is in power, the working class will be suppressed.

The absence of timely and sensible intervention in a place like the sugar industry can be regarded as the biggest crime of this decade, along with a determined ef-

fort by the ruling elite to tell you that there is no money for you. Isn’t this what Mr. Granger told the teachers on May Day 2018? Isn’t this what Mr. Granger told 7,000 sugar workers when, with one stroke of his pen, he condemned them to a life of sustained poverty?

But what have the Granger cabal done for themselves while they marginalize the people? One week after arriving in the office, most of the ministers got a 50% increase, some more, and the Prime Minister of this country got G$20 million per annum plus lavish perks.

Here is a man who has less responsibility than a low level political operator in the former Government, like Kwame McKoy, but is being allowed to drain the Treasury for more than G$100 million during his 5-year term.

This Granger cabal have increased their travel budget since arriving in office by more than G$1.4 billion per year (sourced from the 2018 Budget). But there is more!

The reserves of this country have fallen below US$500 million in 2018 for the first time since 2009, when the economy was much small-

er. Government has run up an overdraft at the Bank of Guyana that surpasses more than G$55 billion, the first time in the history of Guyana, I was advised. Some 85% of the gold reserves were sold, and the money already spent. Some G$20 billion was drained from the profitable state-owned entities and spent. There is a common theme here from this Granger regime: plunder and spend, and when the Treasury is empty, they are planning to move to stage two – increase taxes and borrow more and spend more. I want to caution the Guyanese people that all is not well. You need to look at other countries and observe how their Heads of State are taking action when their economies are in trouble. The university-educated youths of Guyana are aware of these shenanigans from these ruling politicians, and that is why some 90% of them are migrating today, compared to 82% in 2011. That is a clear statement that they see no future with a Grangerled administration. That was my message.

Regards, Sasenarine Singh

guyanatimesgy.com

mondAY, may 28, 2018

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

Abolish the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as Guyana’s final appellate court, for it has failed our people

Dear Editor, I write to convey my serious concern on the decision of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to free the men responsible for the Lusignan Massacre of the charges which were laid against them.

While the massacre may have caused fear to nestle in the hearts and minds of Guyanese men, women and children, the decision of the CCJ on May 11 sent shock waves of terror across the length and breadth of this land of many waters.

Before one endeavours to examine the decision to which the court came, and whether justice was done, one must be reminded of how the case progressed through the courts of Guyana.

On January 26, 2008, Lusignan was forever scarred by the massacre, which claimed eleven innocent lives, five of whom were children.

The Police later arrested several men, two of whom were indicted for the murder of the eleven persons. Following a substantial misdirection and several material irregularities at the Victoria Law Courts, the jury unsurprisingly returned a

verdict of not guilty.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) appealed the acquittal. The Court of Appeal, in agreeing with the DPP, overturned the verdict of not guilty and ordered a retrial in the interest of justice.

Thereafter, the duo appealed to the CCJ; which ruled, among other things, that their acquittal be restored.

It is now that one would attempt to analyse, with brevity, the written decision of the CCJ. The court had many questions to answer before they could have come to a conclusion. It is worth noting that a majority of these questions being answered favourably for one side does not mean that that side has won the case. In this case, twelve (12) issues/questions arose, but the determining issue was the proper test to be applied on a prosecution appeal against an acquittal.

The court posited that the prosecution must satisfy the court that, given on the one hand the nature and weight of the evidence as a whole, and on the other hand the seriousness of the judicial error(s) or procedural flaw(s), it can, with

a substantial degree of certainty, be inferred that had the error(s) or flaw(s) not occurred, the trial would not have resulted in an acquittal of the accused.

Apart from this test, which was strangely devised, the manner in which the court applied it is mind-boggling and most unfortunate. The CCJ found that there were significant irregularities in the selection of the jury, and the failure of the trial judge to order an investigation into the alleged improper communication with a juror constituted a material irregularity.

Moreover, there was a substantial misdirection in the summation to the jury, to the extent that the trial judge failed to properly counterbalance the allegations of Police impropriety, launched by the accused from the safety of the dock, with a direction pointing out to the jury the fact that that allegation was not supported by evidence; and that great caution should have been taken when considering the allegations, since the accused could not have been cross-examined.

How could they have agreed with the Guyana Court of Appeal on these points, YET allow the appeal? IT JUST DOES NOT FOLLOW! Notwithstanding all of these serious errors and flaws, the Trinidad-based court found that the sixteen (16) prosecution witnesses, which included Dwane Williams and Durwin Wright, who both testified as being part of the “Fine Man” gang when the appellants (James Hyles and Mark Williams) took active roles in killing the eleven innocent persons in Lusignan, did not constitute sufficient evidence upon which it could have ordered a retrial. The prosecution had two (2) witnesses, and the credibility of these witnesses IS AN ISSUE FOR THE JURY TO DECIDE, and not this final appellate court.

If this foreign court cannot infer, from the overwhelming evidence adduced by the prosecution, that the jury would have convicted the appellants, then it cannot be depended upon to deliver decisions which are just and of a high quality.

It is no wonder that most of the Caribbean countries have

resisted accession to the CCJ. Guyana, Barbados, Belize and Dominica did not hold referendums to join the CCJ; and governments, fearing rejection because of the current rate at which the court is going, are and will continue to be reluctant to take that course of action. When St. Vincent held a referendum to determine whether their final appellate court should be in Trinidad, they rejected it. The decisions of the CCJ ferment widespread dissatisfaction because of their poor quality, and more and more, the people of Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean are coming to be cognisant of this fact.

The time has come for the CCJ to be abolished, as it has not only failed the people of Guyana, but it has failed them miserably. Guyanese have been forced to deal with the CCJ because it had been left without a proper third court when the Republic abolished the Privy Council in 1972 and replaced it with nothing for thirty years.

In 2001, when the CCJ was established, it was the hope of Guyanese that justices of that

court would have displayed a great degree of erudition and skill. However, this has been proven to be quite far from the truth. Decisions like the one in the Lusignan Massacre case, Sichand Harrychand, AG for Guyana vs. Dipcon all point towards the direction of no-confidence.

Dissatisfaction with the CCJ will intensify, and fewer cases will be taken to it, as justice is not being improved.

The high standards of the Privy Council are not known by this regional court, which is losing the confidence of both the people of Guyana and other Caricom member states every time a decision is handed down.

IN GIVING THE DECISION IT DID, THE COURT ACTED LIKE A FOREIGN COURT, REMOVED FROM THE PEOPLE OF GUYANA, AND PARTICULARLY THE PEOPLE OF LUSIGNAN. Sincerely, Ramesh Girdhire Resident of Lusignan, Guyana

To paraquat or not to paraquat Dear Editor, In a recent letter to the media, former government minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy spoke out against banning of paraquat, which is used extensively in Guyana through gramoxone.

Stated Dr, Ramsammy, “Banning of one pesticide can just result in other pesticides becoming suicidal weapons, since there are many other pesticides used in agriculture that are far more toxic than paraquat.”

Dr Ramsammy’s statement is inaccurate. According to the Pesticide Action Network, “Paraquat is the MOST HIGHLY ACUTELY TOXIC HERBICIDE to be marketed over the last 60 years”. As well, there are 22 different species of weeds in 13 countries that have become resistant to paraquat, which suggests that its effectiveness is gradually being eroded.

Additionally, there are numerous highly effective alternatives to paraquat, and these are being used by many nations, none of which has any

significant pesticide/herbicide suicide rate.

In fact there are many online lists of alternatives to paraquat that have been recommended by various entities, including the WWF, and these are currently in use in many nations, including Argentina and India, major agro-producers.

Also, a number of countries that manufacture paraquat have banned its usage, and some of these nations have larger agriculture sectors than Guyana’s, which clearly indicates that they recognize its inherent dangers to their own populations.

That they continue to manufacture this poison is because there is still a market for it.

Naturally, if that market is eliminated, then manufacturing will be discontinued.

Major agricultural producers China and Brazil have also banned paraquat (which will be completely phased out by 2020), as has the European Union. In fact, 32 nations currently, including Cayman

Islands in the Caribbean, have banned paraquat.

As well, many international organisations, such as Rainforest Alliance, Fairtrade, Forest Stewardship Council, UTZ (a leading coffee certification programme worldwide), the International Organisation for Biological and Integrated Control of Noxious Animals and Plants International (IOBC), and food giants like Dole, United Plantations (one of the largest oil palm plantation companies in Malaysia), Chiquita and the Danish company AarhusKarlshamn, a leading producer of speciality vegetable oils and fats, have banned paraquat.

Paraquat is one of the most common pesticides causing death from suicide. It has a 6070% mortality rate (Seok et al 2009), much higher than any other agents. It is a significant suicide agent in many nations, including Sri Lanka, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, Fiji, Japan, Hong Kong, Samoa, Trinidad & Tobago, Costa Rica, Mexico and China. However,

a study of 250 attempted suicides with paraquat, in Korea in 2007, revealed that only 38% of people had intentionally selected paraquat as the agent; indicating that if paraquat was not available, the survival rate from attempted suicide would be significantly higher (Seok et al 2009).

Furthermore, paraquat is linked to Parkinson’s disease, which can, and often does, catalyze suicide ideation leading to suicide fatalities. Actor Robin Williams is one notable victim of Parkinson’s disease- related suicide.

Many nations that resist measures to restrict use of paraquat and/or to ban it do not have significant pesticide suicide rates. Guyana does.

As well, in many nations that still use paraquat and have significant pesticide suicide rates, there is growing advocacy for its ban, as in Trinidad & Tobago, for example.

So we are puzzled that Dr. Ramsammy would still recommend the use of paraquat-based agro-chemicals, given that this

Handcuffs now translating to investors feeling shackled

Dear Editor, Recent charges against former Government officials who were key operators under the previous Government for private investment have left investors wary of dealing with the APNU+AFC Government.

Recent charges against Singh and Brassington dealing with 3 major investors; pending investigations into over 20 more investment transactions spanning 20 years; and the shackling of former senior Government officials are now translating to investors feeling that they, too, could become trapped when engaging with APNU. Similarly, charges against the Board of Directors of one of the largest Guyanese banks by SOCU has raised questions on whether SOCU is carrying out its mandate in an independent and professional manner, or is simply following political instructions. SOCU and SARA

are increasing being viewed as political, rather than professional. Employees of SOCU no longer see themselves as operating independent of Government, and have taken an attitude of simply awaiting orders.

The newly created SARA, facing legal challenges on its legality, is also strongly opposed by the private sector, particularly given its staffing by former political persons, and the considerable power that the agency has been given at the expense of due process. Dr. Clive Thomas of SARA also seems embroiled over whether he will remain the Chairman of GuySuCo. Fear now stalks the land.

If the Police, including SOCU, do not believe that they can act as an independent and professional agency, but are simply an extension of the political apparatus; if judges fear that any judgment against the Government will be met with

criticism; if media houses feel that if they publish against the Government they may be intimidated or threatened; if the Opposition in Parliament feel that they are being muzzled; if the private sector is fearful of vindictiveness from the Government and SARA/SOCU coming after them; then democracy is under threat.

The Parliament, Police, Judiciary, media, private sector are all key to the checks and balances of a democracy. When these institutions’ independence is under threat, then so is democracy.

It is a fact that no new major investor has been secured by this APNU+AFC Government.

The spate of criticism against the manner of negotiations

by APNU officials with Exxon questions Local Government capacity, expertise, and conduct, and leaves Guyana exposed. The pending $30 billion bond for GuySuCo, shrouded in

secrecy and lacking any transparency and accountability, is also causing potential investors to feel vulnerable.

No less than a full Government guarantee, saddling the Treasury with high cost debt, is now required.

Increasingly, the APNU style of limited engagement with key stakeholders, media, and public, coupled with criticism levelled against it of corruption and procurement breaches, seen alongside handcuffing and threats against former Government officials, is now manifesting itself to investors growing wary of engaging with this Government. As one investor said, we are seeing ominous signs signalling the risks of doing business in Guyana.

No new investors, and domestic capital flight only confirm these risks.

Sincerely, Political observer

is the leading means of suicide in Guyana. Surely, saving a life takes precedence over any other consideration?

TCV is aware of the restrictions in place with respect to paraquat use in Guyana, but the reality is that these restrictions have been ineffective for many obvious reasons, including lack of strict, comprehensive monitoring on the one hand, and the desire for sales trumping safety on the other. And any awareness programme and safe storage campaign that currently exists have minimal, if any impact. Besides, paraquat continues to be used under hazardous conditions that result in high dermal exposure. These conditions include high temperature and humidity, lack of protective clothing, leaking knapsack sprayers, lack of awareness of hazard, lack of control over the workplace, lack of facilities for washing; or medical treatment, and repeated exposure.

Thus TCV continues to urge that the undertaking given by the Pesticide Control Board in early 2015, to roll out an adaption of the Shri Lanka Hazard Reduction Model, be implemented immediately. We also urge that the cabinet distribution programme for farmers be ongoing and continuous, and be accompanied by continuous sensitization and monitoring to ensure its effective usage.

Change is one of the very few constants in life. Thus farmers would have no problem in adapting to use of alternatives to paraquat. Besides, as the Pesticide Action Network points out, “There are numerous designs, management, mechanical and cultivation practices, as well as some plant extracts that can be used instead of paraquat, depending on the weed species and the situation”. These include organic, greenhouse and hydroponic farming, which are much more eco-friendly and which are already on the increase in Guyana.

For rice farmers, there is the “system of rice intensification” (SRI) method pioneered by French priest Henri

de Laulanié in Madagascar in 1983, which is now growing fast as regional governments in China and India join anti-poverty groups like Oxfam to back the method. This method involves stimulating the root system of plants, rather than trying to increase yields in the conventional way by using improved seeds and synthetic fertilizers.

Last year, Dennis Miguel, a Filipino farmer, reaped the equivalent of 10.8 tons of rice per hectare, or four times as much rice as that farmer usually grew on that land. Reports from China, India, Southeast Asia and Africa indicate that average yield increases of 20 to 50 percent are regularly achieved by farmers who adopt SRI. In fact, SRI is now being applied to other crops via a process referred to as the System of Crop Intensification.

TCV strongly urges the Ministry of Agriculture and the various entities associated with rice farming to seek the expertise to introduce SRI in Guyana. The SRI International Network and Resources Center (SRI-Rice), a program at Cornell University, is a good starting point. The benefits extend beyond lack of need to use paraquat, and include greater yields at less cost through safer cultivation methods, and more money in the pockets of farmers.

Meanwhile, TCV continues to include a module on Pesticide Safety: Purchase, Storage, Use and Disposal in our workshops, and we do plan to also do the same in the lay counsellor programme when it is launched next year. As well, we once again express the hope that Government would find it possible to join hands with us when this programme is launched.

Finally, we remind readers that you can help us make this programme possible by donating to our gofundme account at https://www.gofundme.com/ lay-counselor-training-program.

Sincerely, Caribbean Voice

6

monDAY, may 28, 2018

Page

By Jim Taylor, PhD

O

ne of your most important goals as a parent is to raise children who become independent and self-reliant people. Certainly, in early development, your children count on you. As infants, they rely on you for nourishment, cleaning, and mobility. As your children grow, they become more independent in these basic areas of living, but still depend on you for love, protection, guidance, and support. As your children reach adolescence and move toward adulthood, they become less reliant on you and gain greater independence in all aspects of their lives. This process of separation prepares your children for the demands of adulthood. But this progression toward adulthood is not inevitable and is often stymied by well-intentioned but misguided parents.

Foundation

parents hold the belief that they always know what is best and make decisions without soliciting their children's wishes.

Independent children

Independent children differ from contingent children in several essential ways. If your children are independent, you have provided them with the belief that they are competent and capable of taking care of themselves. You offered them the guidance to find activities that are meaningful and satisfying.

You gave your children the freedom to experience life fully and learn its many

Parent and children responsibilities

At the heart of whether you will be raising a contingent or independent child is that you understand the essential responsibilities that you and they need to accept. Taylor's Law of Family Responsibilities states that if family members fulfil their own responsibilities and do not assume others', then children develop into independent people and everyone is happy.

Your responsibilities

Contingent children

Contingent children are dependent on others for how they feel about themselves.

Some parents want to foster this dependence. These parents act on their own needs for power and use control and coercion to ensure that they remain the dominant forces in their children's lives. Contingent children can be recognised in the following ways: Depend on others to provide them with incentive to achieve.

Depend on others for their happiness because they have no ownership of their lives and little responsibility for their own thoughts, emotions, and actions.

Reinforced with inappropriate rewards and no limits, and regardless of their behaviour.

Poor decision makers because their

were allowed to consider various options and, with the support and guidance of their parents, make their own decisions.

i m portant lessons. Independent children can be recognised in the following ways: Intrinsically motivated because they are allowed to find their own reasons to achieve.

Were given the opportunity and guidance to explore achievement activities of their own choosing.

Parents use extrinsic rewards appropriately and sparingly.

Collaborative rather than a controlled relationship with their parents in which the children's ideas and wishes are solicited and considered.

Good decision makers because they

Your responsibilities revolve primarily around providing your children with the opportunity, means, and support to pursue their goals. The psychological means include providing love, guidance, and encouragement in their efforts. The practical means include ensuring that your children have the materials needed, proper instruction, and transportation, among other logistical concerns.

Your children's responsibilities

Your child's responsibilities involve doing what is necessary to maximise the opportunities that you give them.

These responsibilities include giving their best effort, being responsible and disciplined, staying committed, and giving an achievement opportunity a realistic try, as well as completing all tasks and exercises, getting the most out of instruction, being cooperative, and expressing appreciation and gratitude for others' efforts. (Excerpt from psychol-

ogytoday.com)

E

lise Belknap and Richard Hazler’s article, aptly entitled “Empty Playgrounds and Anxious Children”, reviews the growing research documenting the role of play in supporting the development of divergent thinking, practice with numbers concepts, literacy skills like creating narratives, prosocial behaviour, expression of feeling, and problem solving.

Peter Gray in “Free to Learn” discusses the foundational role of play in child development and cites the importance of schooling that features a playful state of mind, choice, and free age-mixing.

Children can conceive of just about anything, including working with art materials, as an opportunity for play. It is through play with material like paints, clay, drawing media, blocks, and cardboard that children can begin the work of developing creativity that emerges and flourishes over a lifetime.

The ArtBreak programme offered a way to integrate guided play into the elementary school day.

Its framework integrates a way to relate to children (using child-centred educational principles drawn from the work of psychologist Carl Rogers) and expectations in terms of group dynamics (the stages of group process). We also considered the potentials of art materials based on the expressive therapies continuum, a theory from art therapy that describes the functions of media according to their degree of fluidity or resistiveness.

For example, fluid media like watercolours and finger paint help children relax and express feelings, while highly resistive media like collage and construction develop problem-solving skills.

Throughout the programme we undertook research to fine-tune our operations and understand how ArtBreak benefited children.

We learnt that children relax in the sessions. For two years we measured changes in fingertip temperature (a reliable biomarker of stress

levels) among students as they entered the studio and then about two-thirds of the way through the session, before they began to wash their hands and clean up. We found an overall significant increase in fingertip temperature, suggesting that the programme reduces child stress.

We also asked teachers to reflect on the ArtBreak programme. Among students who participated, teachers noted gains among seven out of ten participating students in areas of social, emotional, and cognitive growth.

When we asked students to describe ArtBreak and what they learnt, children reflected on fun, imagination, and joy. Many spoke of self-direction. “We aren’t directed.

Your mind is not in a can.”

“We don’t get told what to do, what to make. We have ideas.” Children also spoke of emotional regulation – “If you’re mad, you calm down”; community – “We help each other and that’s fun”; and skill development – “We learn about tools, what you can make with them, being careful with them.” “You use your thinking, you think about what you make.”

ArtBreak is essentially an island of play incorporated into a school day, within whole classrooms and small groups convened for the purpose. Through choice-based guided play with art materials, children have access to breathers in the midst of a stressful day, have opportunities to enjoy the challenge of problem solving that can occur while making art, and experience a restorative artbased play environment.

Any school can incorporate such a programme into its curriculum. With the ArtBreak “how to” book as a practical guide, all it requires of teachers, school counsellors or others is a willingness to offer children art based play in a community of freedom and order that encourages expressiveness, problem solving, and creativity. (Excerpt from psychology-

today)

news

7

mondAY, may 28, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Father, son arrested for murder of ECD labourer … 3 murders recorded in 3 days

A

father and his son, known “trouble makers”, are now in Police custody after they reportedly stabbed to death 23-year-old labourer Brayon Dewakar, called “black boy,” of Lot 128 Mon Repos South, ECD in the wee hours of Sunday morning.

Dewakar was reportedly with his friends at a BarB-Que and lime activity a short distance from his home when the businessman and his son, who was armed with a knife, approached them. It is unclear what transpired, but according to his cousin, Dewakar began to run away when he was ambushed by the due, who dealt him one stab to his right side chest.

Guyana Times was told that, bleeding from the wound, Dewakar jumped a fence and fell into a yard as the two suspects escaped from the scene. He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC), where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Brayon Dewakar

The senior suspect, known as “Turkey,” reportedly went to the Beterverwagting Police Station on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) and filed a report claiming that he was robbed and beaten by the now dead man. He received a medical form and was sent to the GPHC to await treatment for “no visible injuries” when he was arrested. And acting on information re-

ceived, his son was nabbed

by Police ranks in a toilet at his house.

A cousin of the deceased who was at the scene of the altercation told Guyana Times that one of the suspects was heard earlier in the night saying, “I gotta kill somebody at this BBQ here tonight”.

This cousin further informed that the duo are regularly in trouble, and had only last week attacked another man, part of whose face they injured.

Recounting what he knew of the fatal stabbing of his cousin, he said, “I saw my cousin running to the back of these people that had the BBQ yard, then I saw them man this running behind he. By time that I see ‘black boy’ trying to jump the fence to come over in them people this yard, but then catch he before he could jump, and (they) stab he. So by time he reach over the fence, he was already bleeding bad; and he drop down in the mud here”.

Prisoner who allegedly stabbed fellow inmate now hospitalised

A

Camp Street prisoner was on Saturday admitted a patient at the Georgetown Public Hospital after he was found with his face swollen in a cell in the penitentiary.

Based on reports received, Shawn Thom was relocated to another cell in the Camp Street Prison after he allegedly stabbed another prisoner with a mop stick on Friday last.

During routine checks on Saturday, Thom was found in his cell with what appeared to be swelling to the face. While information is limited at this point, an investigation was launched into the incident.

Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels confirmed that Thom was in stable condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital. He could

Camp Street Prison

not provide additional information given that an investigation was ongoing.

Just about a month ago, Samuels had alluded to the Prison Service being strict when it came to upholding the law.

The last incident, however, of a prisoner being beaten was at the Lusignan Prison back in 2017 when murder accused Colin Alleyne was

attacked and severely beaten reportedly by other prisoners.

The man was charged for the murder of a 77-yearold, Danrasie Ganesh of Montrose, East Coast Demerara in August 2015.

Presently, prisoners at the penitentiaries are privileged to have contraband items delivered to them at a cost.

Deorani Dyal

Sharu Dewakar, the mother of the dead man, rushed to the scene, only to find her son panting for breath on the ground.

The distraught woman relayed to this newspaper that she began screaming when she saw the condition that her son was in, and she begged him to talk to her.

She said her son attempted to speak, but she couldn’t understand what he was saying, since was already dying.

“I was sleeping when my sister call for me and tell me to get up and go see what happened to my son. When I go there, I see he lay down in a yard; so I lift him and me she, ‘Blacky, talk to mommy

nah! Talk to mommy nah!’ but he go, ‘Uuhh uhhh,’ that was all,” the woman cried.

She revealed that, with assistance, she and another took Dewakar out of the yard and rushed him to the hospital, where she later found out that he had succumbed.

“At the hospital, them nah tell me that my son died; they said that he okay, but I found out and I start to holler,” the grief stricken mother stated.

Dewaker leaves to mourn his parents, two young sisters, and other relatives and friends.

The knife used in the crime is said to have been recovered by Police in a nearby trench close to the scene.

The two men remain in custody as investigations continue.

Dewaker’s murder is the third to have been committed in the past three days.

On Saturday, 24-year old Edward Bevaney of Lot 115 Ogle Street, Triumph, ECD was stabbed to death by an acquaintance during an altercation at Republic Drive, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The suspect reportedly stabbed him once to his left eye and twice to his chest with an ice-pick. During the altercation, the suspect was

Edward Bevaney

also chopped to his left arm and stabbed one to the left side of his chest.

On Friday last, 20-yearold Deorani Dyal was stabbed to death by her reputed husband in her Lot 123 Hope Low Land, ECD home reportedly in front of her minor son. The suspect, Doonauth Ramlall, later consumed poison and died while receiving treatment at the GPHC. The young woman was found slumped with several stab wounds to her face and chest. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

(Kizzy Coleman)

8 news Prison officers busted with ganja monDAY, may 28, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

– allegedly collected $20,000 for delivery services

T

wo prison officers were arrested on Sunday evening after they allegedly collected monies to deliver two parcels of marijuana to an inmate.

According to Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, he received information that two prison officers had collected a parcel containing marijuana from a civilian while on duty at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

He immediately went to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Brickdam Police Station

and requested help in apprehending the prison wardens.

“An operation was set up and the bus they (prison officers) were travelling in was

stopped on the East Coast bus park area. A search was carried out by Police and the suspected marijuana was found in a black bag in the possession of [one of the]

prison officers,” Samuels said.

The two officers were escorted to Brickdam Police Station, where they were questioned.

During the interrogation, one of the officers confessed to collecting the item from a civilian to take for a prisoner “to eat”. He told investigators that he was paid $20,000 to deliver the narcotics. The marijuana was wrapped in two parcels and when weighed, amounted to one pound. The two prison officers remain in Police custody and are assisting with investigations.

Murder suspect arrested 18 years after crime

I

n 2000, Daniel Singh was brutally hacked to death at his home, and his family is finally getting justice after his killer was arrested on Sunday morning after being some 18 years on the run.

The suspect, Deonarine Bhihari, was picked up by Police on Sunday morning at a Logwood, Enmore, East Coast Demerara residence.

A brief statement from the Police Force reads, “A male being sought by Police since 2000 for the murder of Daniel Singh at Enmore, ECD was this morning apprehended by ranks of ‘C’ Division at Enmore.”

Acting on information received, the Police swooped down on the house and effected the arrest.

The Police were accompanied by a son of the deceased, Deochand, who had been trailing the suspect for several months, and had even put out a reward for information that can lead to his apprehension.

Deochand, a Councillor at Hope NDC, told <<Guyana Times>> that his father’s killer was never apprehended since he had connections with key members of the then Government, who allegedly had facilitated his escape to neigbouring Venezuela.

However, he related that the man returned to Guyana a few years ago because of the crisis in that neighbouring country. He has reportedly since been occasionally spot-

Murdered: Daniel Singh

ted at various places.

Deochand related that when he saw the man at a funeral a few months ago, he began to collect information, and as such, trailed him.

After observing that he was staying at his sister’s house in Logwood, Enmore, Deochand contacted his attorney, James Bond, and Police ranks from the Enmore Station went with them to make the arrest.

“When we got there, the man come out because he didn’t know what we went there for, and when the Police tell he, he tried to run, but they warned him not to, and then they arrested him,” Deochand related.

Deochand said he and his siblings are overjoyed and relieved to have their father’s killer finally brought to justice.

“I spent so much time and

money to get him arrested, and I’m happy it happened,” he expressed.

According to reports published at the time, 49-yearold Daniel Singh, a single father, was living at Hope West, Enmore, ECD with his four children when the incident took place on May 21, 2000. <<Guyana Times>> understands that Singh and Bhihari usually had confrontations, since the suspect and Singh’s daughter, Nalini, had reportedly liked each other but Singh did not approve of this. At the time, the suspect was in his 30s while the young woman was in her late teens.

It is, however, unclear what might have triggered the suspect’s actions.

It was reported that on the day in question, Singh was on the front step when he was attacked by the cutlass wielding man, who also killed three of the family’s dogs while injuring Nalini as well and another one of their dogs during the brutal attack.

One of the then young sons had recalled being awakened by his sister’s screams, and upon looking through the window, had seen the attacker firing chops at his father. At the time, the daughter was shouting at the suspect, asking him what he was doing to her father. The man reportedly then turned his attention to her, also inflicting chops to both her hands. She managed to run out of the yard but he had pursued her.

Murder suspect Deonarine Bhihari

However, she had run into a neighbour’s yard to seek refuge. The suspect reportedly returned to the Singhs’ residence, where two of Singh’s young sons were standing outside watching helplessly as their unconscious father lay bleeding on the ground.

Upon noticing that the attacker was charging towards them, the two young boys ran into the bedroom and locked the door. After realizing that he was unable to get the door open, the man reportedly left the yard by scaling the back fence and making good his escape, going into hiding for over a decade. Singh’s badly injured body was picked up by neighbours who were awoken by screams, and rushed to the hospital where he was admitted and subsequently died a few days later without regaining consciousness.

Bus conductor found hanging at Mahaicony home

A

Route 44 minibus conductor was on Saturday evening found hanging under his two-storey Central Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home.

Dead is 31-year-old Frank Fordyce, called “Monty” of Lot 31 Farm, Mahaicony. His body was discovered around 21:20h on Saturday by a neighbour.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, Fordyce’s next-door neighbour, Atherly Beaton, noticed the conductor under the house and shortly after he realised that the man was hanging from a piece of rope.

The Police were sum-

moned and on arrival, they found Fordyce’s shirtless and barefooted body hanging by the neck. Upon further inspection of his body, no marks of violence were found. As such, investigators are treating the matter as a suicide.

Relatives of the now dead man reportedly told the Police that they were unaware if the bus conductor was having any problems. At the time of his death, Fordyce was living alone.

A former employer, a minibus driver, told this publication that Fordyce had stopped working with him about a month ago and was conducting another

bus. He related that after receiving news of his former employee’s death, he went to his home.

“I was on the road when I hear, so I go to the house and it had a lot of people there already … the Police was there too… I don’t know why he do something like this; I really can’t say,” the man told this newspaper.

Guyana Times was further told that Fordyce was last seen alive about 20 minutes prior to the discovery of his body.

He was removed and taken to the Mahaicony Hospital, where he was confirmed as dead by an on-duty doctor.

The body is at the Lyken

Dead: Frank “Monty” Fordyce

Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination, which is expected to be conducted today.

Floor mats…

A

…and PNC footstools nother day…another humiliation of Ramjattan and Nagamootoo by the PNC. This time it’s about Winston Felix, standing in for Ramjattan as Minister of Public Security, issuing a directive to the Commissioner of Police to send home the Head of the SWAT team. The fella had been caught apparently transporting bootlegged liquor, and while an investigation was undergoing, he’d been reassigned to ‘A’ Division.

Felix said it wasn’t sending a good message to younger policemen, who might want to stick to the straight and narrow. Nothing wrong with that…but unfortunately, there were at least three other instances when other Police officers who’d also been accused of committing infractions were retaining substantive positions while the investigations unfolded. So why wasn’t the sauce for the goose not the same for the gander??

Felix said in effect that the accusations weren’t of the same nature. One would have thought that Felix, a past COP himself, would have been aware that the “sauce doctrine” has been encoded in the notion of “due process” which undergirds our system of law and order. Of course he does!! But the man caught on tape with the Chairman of the PNC, boasting about heading off the Minister of Home Affairs from the Agricola massacre, clearly was driven then – as he is now – by a POLITICAL agenda!!

And, as such, he’s more concerned about the optics of a PNC Government not coming down like a ton of bricks on a Police officer who clearly wasn’t from the PNC’s constituency. It’s payback time, right Bannus??

And we return to the humiliation of Ramjattan when he returns to his desk. He admits he disagrees with Felix’s decision, and damn well he should. Apart from the violation of Due Process rights of the SWAT head, the Minister of Public security DOESN’T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO GIVE SUCH AND ORDER TO THE COP!!!

But Ramjattan swallowed hard and said he wasn’t going to do anything. The point is, however: there’s absolutely NOTHING he can do besides swallowing the humble pie. He knew he had absolutely no power in the coalition the moment Immigration and Naturalisation was hived off from his portfolio and given to Felix – contrary to the Cummingsburg Accord – and he could do nothing about it!!

Point is, Ramjattan and Nagamootoo struck what some thought was a “Faustian Bargain” with the PNC on Valentine’s Day 2015. But in that tale, Faust sold out his values and soul to the Devil for some benefit, like power and riches. Ramjattan doesn’t have any real power, and the “riches” are nothing but a mess of pottage compared to the destruction of his reputation.

He’s just “dead meat”!! …AND BONGO NATION Decades ago, VS Naipaul castigated his nation, Trinidad, for not taking themselves seriously and making themselves into “bongo islanders” (remember bongo drums for creating that jump-up music?) just for the white tourists to gawk at. Or at best to indulge in “transgressive” behaviour they couldn’t get in their own countries – like grinding down with “natives” who might not be strong “top side”, but were sure in touch with their physicality.

Naipaul concluded: “It indicates how strong and ineradicable the wish is, among the bongo islanders, to act up to the tourist image. . . . England is selling itself, its history, its achievements. Trinidad sells only its 'picturesqueness,' its 'cosmopolitan' population, and such tourist concepts harden simplicities and ignorance."

And in the second decade of the 21st century, to celebrate our 52nd year of independence, we’ve decided to import that quintessence of “bongo culture” – Carnival!! This Government can talk all it wants about this being a “private” venture – but look how it was facilitated. And why?? For the same Trini reason: Making Guyana into a petting zoo for tourists!! …FOR BARBADOS Your Eyewitness is surprised at PNC operatives bigging up Mia Mottley’s wipe-out of Freundel Stuart in Barbados.

Didn’t Granger confer Stuart, enemy of Guyanese immigrants, with the OR, Guyana’s second highest National Award, in 2016?

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

News

9

monDAY, may 28, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Mother’s Day prison celebrations

Prison Service must be professionalised – Ramjattan

...acknowledges partying inmates could burn down another prison

T

echnology and the professionalising of the Guyana Prison Service are a few of the strategies Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan has in mind to combat corruption within the prisons.

During an Alliance for Change (AFC) press conference, Ramjattan was asked about the infamous images circulated with inmates at the New Amsterdam Prison partying with an expensive arrays of liquor, as well as gambling and smoking.

Ramjattan expressed the belief that rogue elements of the Prison Service are colluding with the very prisoners they were supposed to guard.

Citing the low salary being earned by prison officers com-

lege graduates who are paid a minimum of US$6400. He contrasted this with local officers being paid a maximum of US$400.

“I honestly believe that this is being done by some rogue elements in our prison system.

The prison warders are doing this, colluding with them (prisoners). There is no doubt in my mind… So you could understand that some of them feel the norm is to go and carry the cocaine for all these big boys, and their families will pay them,” Ramjattan said.

“Honesty also comes from the individual knowing that when you do this, it could be a major security risk. Somebody could get high and then burn down the prison,” the minister also added.

Prisoners displaying drugs, money and cell phones

pared to their overseas counterparts, he noted that some of them see nothing wrong with trafficking.

The minister related that he was able to observe the Prison and Police system while on a recent trip to Phoenix, Arizona as part of the CariSecure work study tour there. Ramjattan described the system as “extremely advanced”, revealing that many of the officers there are col-

Measures

In terms of technology for the prisons, Ramjattan said he would make an attempt to acquire security scanners.

According to Ramjattan, if acquired, the scanners would be placed at the entrance to all prisons, including the prison at Mazaruni, Region Seven.

But the minister cautioned that the equipment was expensive. According to Ramjattan,

gun-related offences.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

he has held talks with Minister of Public Telecommunications, Catherine Hughes, and persons who are inclined to help Guyana in this regard.

“Technology is expensive.

I will try again this year to get the scanner for all these prisons. We understand, too, that we had a scanner for some place and the people just bypass the scanner; so we really have to professionalise our prison warders,” Ramjattan said.

Besides the pictures, a video of the party- loving prisoners had also come to light.

The video had shown some of the same prisoners featured in photos shared on social media, not only drinking alcoholic beverages, but smoking marijuana and costing a significant amount of cash.

In one clip, a prisoner is filmed counting at least 12 single $5000 bills as he places them on a plate that was filled with what appeared to be cannabis and other prohibited substances.

Another clip showed the prisoners boasting about the “sweet life” that they are enjoying despite awaiting trial on rape, murder, robbery under arms, simply larceny, and

Resignations There are those who see the prevailing lack of control in the prisons in the context of 2016’s fire that resulted in the deaths of over a dozen prisoners, as well as last year’s jail break and fire that gutted most of the Camp Street Prison; and they have called for heads to roll.

In particular, the Indian Action Committee (IAC) has called for Ramjattan himself to be held accountable by President David Granger for the continuing lapses in the security sector.

According to the IAC in a recent statement, “Minister of Public Security and Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan has proved himself to be incapable, inept and incompetent to carry out the political responsibility for the prison service, given the spate of unfortunate events which have taken place under his leadership of the sector.”

While Granger had recently expressed worry about the lapse at the prison, the IAC had specifically called on the President to immediately request Minister Ramjattan’s resignation, failing which he should be dismissed. Nor did it stop at Ramjattan.

“The IAC is also of the belief that the Director of Prisons,

Gladwin Samuels, is also incapable, inept and incompetent to administer the prison system of Guyana, and the organisation is calling on President

Granger to request his resignation, or failing which, to dismiss him,” the IAC had said in its release.

10 news

monDAY, may 28, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

GRA warns against imposters – urges public to demand ID; payments to only be made at HQ, offices – says several persons conned in last few weeks

By Jarryl Bryan

B

ogus Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) ‘agents’ have recently fleeced a business of almost half a million dollars in liquor and cash, and the tax agency is warning the public that this is no isolated incident.

According to the GRA in a notice, there have been several instances of these scams in the past few weeks, and these reports have come from the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), East Bank of Demerara (EBD), and West Coast of Demerara (WCD).

“The general public is advised to be on the lookout for persons posing as Guyana Revenue Authority officers who are visiting shops and other business premises to conduct ‘en-

and has reminded the public that all GRA staff members are required to carry identification cards while performing their duties.

“Note the identification number and name of any individual claiming to be from the GRA,” the authority advised. “Verify the legitimacy of the exercise by calling 227-6060 extension numbers 3201-3208 or 4601.”

The tax authority went on to remind that officers of the GRA are not authorised to collect monies from taxpayers, since all payments are to be made to the cashiers at the GRA regional offices and at its headquarters.”

The scam

In November of last year, the Customs, Excise and Trade Operations

An example of alcohol with the Excise Stamp affixed

forcement checks.’ Several of these reported acts have occurred in recent weeks,” GRA warned.

The tax collection agency is urging the public to request proof of identification from any purported GRA officer who shows up at any business place,

(CE&TO) of the GRA made mandatory the application of excise stamps on imported alcohol (excluding beer) and tobacco products. This was in collaboration with the Canadian Bank Note (CBN).

As such, importers, businesses and persons

GRA is urging the public to make all payments at its Camp Street headquarters, or at regional offices

selling alcohol and tobacco products are expected to have these stamps on their products, to verify that the items were legally imported into Guyana.

The aforementioned scam was perpetrated on a 67-year-old caretaker of Amazon Delight, located at Regent and Oronoque Streets, Georgetown. He allegedly was scammed of almost $300,000 in imported liquor and cash by two men pretending to be officials of the GRA. According to ‘Aunty Seeta’, the men turned up at the business place at about 10:00h, fully dressed and carrying badges with the GRA logo. “They said GRA sent them to seize the imported liquor because she didn’t have their [GRA] stamp on it,” she explained.

According to “Seeta”, she was ordered to turn over $150,000 in imported liquor— namely, tequila, whiskey, Black Hennessy, Ciroc, Grey Goose, Apple Smirnoff and Vanilla Smirnoff. Moreover, the men advised her that if she

did not want to face criminal charges, she should pay them $125,000. The woman said she complied.

However, the distraught woman said that after the men had left, she began to feel sceptical about the way in which the men operated.

As such, she contacted the GRA office on Wednesday and reported the matter.

She was then informed that the entity did not order the seizure of items belonging to the establishment. At this point, that the pensioner realised she had been conned.

“I called 911 and they took a statement from me, and the person on the other end of the line told me to report the matter to the Alberttown Police Station,” the woman explained.

The woman has been taking care of the business for the past 14 years, and according to her, this is the first time she has been conned. Both the GRA and the Guyana Police Force have since launched an investigation into the matter.

Suspect in Guyana Goldfields employee’s murder likely for court today

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s Police wrap up their investigation into the murder of Neil Whyte, who was found stabbed to death in his apartment, the confessed murderer is expected to make his court appearance today at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The suspect, who hails from Middle Road, La Penitence, Georgetown and who was employed with a taxi service in Fifth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, confessed to killing Whyte during a robbery.

A Police source told Guyana Times that the completed file on the matter would be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions this morning and once it was returned in a timely manner, the suspect would be arraigned with the murder.

The 28-year-old taxi driver was arrested on Thursday last and confessed to the heinous crime after a few hours of interrogation.

Upon his confession, he led a team of Police ranks to a taxi base in Alberttown where he handed over several items belonging to the now dead man, along with a knife suspected to be the murder weapon. Based on information received, the knife matched one that was missing from a set that was owned by the now dead man.

Investigators believed that Whyte might have put up a fight with his attacker thus the marks on his hands. Hours after Whyte’s body was discovered, a close friend of his was arrested and interrogated about the murder which he vehemently denied committing.

After reviewing all the evidence at their disposal, the detectives realised

Dead: Neil Whyte

that the friend indeed visited Georgetown on the day Whyte was killed, but went to collect a female friend at a popular beauty salon.

Based on information received, after conducting business in the city, the young man drove back to Berbice. At no point in time did he visit the now dead man at his Thomas Street apartment.

His alibi was confirmed

by CCTV footage collected from the Berbice Bridge Company, which proved that the young man crossed the Bridge way before the time Whyte was killed. As such, the young man was released on station bail.

Meanwhile, the post-mortem performed on the man’s body proved that he died from multiple stab wounds. Initially, it was reported that the man was stabbed at least seven times.

His nude and bloody body was found on his bed on Monday evening last. At the time of the discovery, his hands and feet were bound, and several stab wounds were seen on his neck and other parts of the body.

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monDAY, may 28, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Fire flattens Soesdyke house

The house on fire on Saturday evening

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late night fire on Friday evening destroyed a one-bedroom wooden house at Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara.

The fire reportedly started at a house at Dr Charles Estate at Second Street, Soesdyke at about 22:00h, and the building was subsequently flattened. According to information received, no one was living in the house at the time of the fire.

Owner of the house, Nanda Persaud, told Guyana Times that she and her family had vacated the house

bit after,” she said.

The woman noted that although they had left the house, it was fully furnished with a sofa set, a bed, television, refrigerator and gas stove, etc. Everything was destroyed in the blaze.

According to Persaud, it is not yet known how the fire started. She could not say whether anyone had been secretly “shacking up” in the house.

“I can’t say…we usually go and check up on the house, but I don’t know if any ‘junkie’ or so was staying there,”

The aftermath of the fire

about a year ago, and moved in with her mother, who was living alone after her father died.

Persaud related that on the night in question, at around 22:30h, a neighbour informed them of the fire.

“The neighbour came and told us about the fire, and my husband went… “When he got there, the whole house was already on fire, and then the Fire Service came a little

she related. The woman, however, ruled out an electrical origin for the fire, noting there was no electricity at the house at the time.

Persaud further stated that they were planning to demolish the one bedroom wooden house and erect a modern structure.

Efforts to contact officials from the Fire Service for an update on preliminary investigations proved futile.

Greenidge celebrates Independence with Guyanese Diaspora in NY

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he Guyanese diaspora in New York, United States of America celebrated Guyana’s 52 years of sovereignty with a flag raising ceremony on the eve of Independence.

Second Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge, and members of the diplomatic and consular corps were among those in attendance at the flag-raising ceremony, which was held at the Brooklyn Borough Hall Rotunda on Friday.

The Department of Public Information (DPI) has reported that Greenidge said Guyana’s Independence should be commemorated as more than a yearly observance.

“Many of our forebears…sacrificed life and limb in order to achieve that independence. We should value it,” he said.

Guyana gained its independence from Britain on May 26, 1966. Minister Greenidge said independence should be a reflection of our contribution to the country’s development.

The minister added that Guyanese have an indomitable spirit.

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge addressing the Guyanese Diaspora and diplomatic and consular members in New York

“This is part of our task in commemorating it: to look back, but also to look forward; to see how we can contribute at home and abroad to help to assert the Guyanese spirit and the Guyanese image across the world,” Minister Greenidge noted.

The minister encouraged Guyanese in the diaspora to utilise their skills and inherited experience to enrich the Guyanese community wherever they are.

“It is for us as Guyanese to ensure that that image is a positive and constructive one,” he explained.

Guyana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Michael Ten-

Pow, noted that independence is a learning process.

Reflecting on the country’s journey so far, the ambassador said Guyana has within its grasp the opportunity to achieve the good life for this and future generations.

“We’ve always had the resources, we’ve also had the people…now we’re beginning to see something new emerging -- a new confidence in ourselves and what we’re capable of achieving,” Ambassador Ten-Pow said.

This confidence is reflected in Guyana’s recent successes in international arenas of sports and science, he added.

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monDAY, may 28, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Banks DIH records $1.4B after-tax profit in mid-year report

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ocal beverage company Banks DIH Limited has had a stellar performance during the first half of the 2018 financial year, having recorded a nine per cent increase in after-tax profit when compared to the corresponding period last year.

This was disclosed by Banks Chairman Clifford Reis when he presented the Group’s Operating and Financial Results. The company’s Interim Financial Statement for the period ending March 31, 2018 was published in the Guyana Times on Sunday.

According to Reis, the Group’s third party revenue for the six-month period was $15.83 billion, compared to $14.94 billion for the corresponding period in 2017, and representing an increase of $894.5 million, or six per cent.

He went on to disclose that unaudited profit be-

fore taxation for the group during that period was $2.61 billion, as against $2.54 billion achieved in 2017, reflecting an increase of $70.8 million, or 2.8 percent.

Reis noted as well that the unaudited Operating Profit before Tax for the parent company was $2.21 billion, compared to $2.09 billion in 2017; while the unaudited Profit after Tax was $1.43 billion compared to $1.32 billion in 2017, an increase of $119 million or nine per cent.

Meanwhile, Citizens Bank Guyana Inc. also had a similar performance, achieving an unaudited Profit after Tax of $277.7 million, compared to $288.7 million achieved in 2017.

Going forward, the 51 per cent-owned subsidiary of the company, according to Reis, is ready within to respond to the opportunities which the recent develop-

Banks DIH Chairman Clifford Reis

ment within the Petroleum and Gas Sector, and the need for a local content input, will present.

“The improved results achieved by the parent company in the first half year came mainly from the increase in dollar sales, physical growth in case sales, and the efficiencies in manufac-

turing processes derived from capital investment in new plant and machinery for the Production Departments,” Chairman Reis stated.

He went on to highlight that during the period under review, the company continued its capital development strate-

gies with the completion of the New Vehicle Workshop and Parking facility which were commissioned along with its new offices for the Workshop Administration, Environmental and Safety Department, and the Buildings & Property Department.

He added that a new plastics and chipping facility (PET) was also constructed.

Looking ahead in the second half-year, Reis posited that the company proposes to complete another phase of its Solar Energy Programme at the OMG Restaurant, the installation of new biscuit and icecream packaging lines, the drilling of a new water well with storage facilities, and the purchase of trucks and forklifts.

“My fellow shareholders, we can advise with a deep sense of accomplishment that, during the period un-

der review, our beers, rums and water products were awarded gold and grand gold medals by Monde Selection International Quality Institute. Banks beer; GT beer; Rainforest water; XM 5 –Year-Old and 10-Year-Old rums achieved gold, while 12-Year-Old and 15 Year Old Rums were awarded Grand Gold,” the Chairman boasted.

Meanwhile, he announced that the directors have approved an interim dividend of $0.28 per share unit to all shareholders whose names appear on the Register as at 18 May 2018, to the tune of $238 million in total payments.

Reis used the opportunity to thank his fellow directors for their support and guidance, as well as shareholders, suppliers, customers and employees for their confidence reposed in the Group during this period.

Teacher elected 1st female Toshao of St Cuthbert’s Mission

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enior Mistress at the St. Cuthbert’s Mission Primary School, Beverley Clenkian, was recently elected the first female Toshao of St Cuthbert’s Mission, an Amerindian Reservation located in the Mahaica River.

In a race with seven other candidates which saw her garnering 122 votes, the mother of two was elected as the new toshao, while Anderson Clenkian was elected as her deputy.

This Toashao, who said she was approached and urged by fellow villagers to get involved owing to the enormous and significant challenges being faced by residents, declared herself prepared and ready to

serve.

Clenkian disclosed that she was privileged to have served three previous toshaos, as she worked as a councillor on those councils.

“My experience would have been enhanced and moulded by three previous toshaos. I didn’t serve under the last outgoing toshao as I was in the USA at the time of the last election, three years ago,” she said.

Toshao Clenkian declared that her primary focus is to create more opportunities for the youths within her mission, thus providing training and other working opportunities for them.

“I am going to ensure

Regional Chairman Genevieve Allen; newly elected St Cuthbert’s Mission Toshao, Beverley Clenkian; Regional Executive Officer (REO) Pauline Lucas, and Regional Education Officer Tiffany Favourite-Harvey

that the residents here can be able to showcase their handicraft more, thus gen-

11 young entrepreneurs secure funding for their businesses

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s the Social Cohesion Ministry wrapped up its inaugural Youth Business Summit at the Pegasus Hotel, 11 persons were awarded financial grants to kick-start their businesses.

Chairman of the Summit Committee, Ronald Austin, told Guyana Times that the 10 recipients received grants ranging between $500,000 and $1 million, based on their request and the scope of business to be initiated or completed.

He said that after these persons would have presented their business ideas to the panellists, an evaluation was done to select the winners.

The funding for the Summit, which totalled about $12 million, was financed by the monies allocated to the Youth Innovation Project, Austin added.

The first session of the two-day summit saw dozens of young entrepreneurs who

erating tourism-related interest in what they are doing, while at the same time I am going to create opportunities for the youths through training and other exposure,” she promised.

Region Four Chairman Genevieve Allen, in con-

gratulating the new toshao, stressed that with yet another woman occupying a once dominated male position, ample testimony is provided that more women are rising up to the task of leadership.

“This is certainly an indication that our women are taking up leadership roles, and I would like to urge other women to emulate these achievements being made by Toshao Clenkian and others.

Today we have a female REO, a female REDO, and now a female Toshao, which shows that more women are demonstrating that they can lead,” a smiling Regional Chairman noted.

The Regional Chairman declared that with Local Government Elections (LGE) slated for later this year, she would like to see more women coming for-

ward to assume leadership roles. “I remain confident that our women can lead, and lead responsibility and effectively. So let the election of the first female toshao be a motivating factor for you women out there, that you can do if you so choose to. Women are on the rise, and we here in Region Four are prepared to continue paving the way for more women to assume leadership roles and responsibilities; and I am reiterating that I would like to see more women getting involved,” she urged.

The other eleven elected councillors are: Simer Pereira, Timothy Andrews, Neil Henry, Alicia Hendricks, Denise Pereira, Foster Simon, Reone Causway, Julio Pereira, Paul Andrews, Cierre Andrews and Julian Kactow.

4 homeless after D’Andrade Street home goes up in flames

A Director of Youth, Melissa Carmichael-Haynes (centre); and Deputy Director of Youth, Leslyn Boyce (far left), along with the winners of the Jaguar’s Den and the panel of judges

were presented with handson knowledge from experienced individuals about the different aspects of venturing into a new business.

Throughout that day’s proceedings, presentations were made by entities such as the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Commercial Registry, Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), National Insurance Scheme (NIS), Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), GO-Invest and Dr Rosh Khan.

In many cases, young entrepreneurs are unaware of the procedures and support systems which can assist in the establishment of a business enterprise.

According to the coordinators and members of the various ministries, the summit was designed to assist them in critical areas, which included the lack of capital and increased knowledge on the ways to access capital, which can be one of the key hindering factors.

senior employee attached to the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and her three children are now forced to make alternative living arrangements after a fire of unknown origin swept through their D’Andrade Street, Kitty home on Sunday.

At the time of the fire, Ruth Lee claimed that no one was at home, but residents claimed otherwise.

They reportedly told media operatives that the woman’s daughter and two other persons were in the house when they observed smoke emanating from the upper flat of the building. They quickly rushed to safety.

By the time residents rushed to the scene, the interior of the building was already engulfed, but the

The house after the fire on Sunday

residents’ quick response meant they managed to save several nearby houses.

Three fire tenders from the Central Fire Station responded to the report, with the firefighters without

hesitation going into firefighting mode. After some time, the fire was contained to one location. Fire officials have launched an investigation into the blaze.

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monDAY, may 28, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Minister Henry calls on Guyanese to unite as Guyana celebrates 52 years of Independence

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ducation Minister Nicolette Henry has called for Guyanese to unite as one people working as a nation with one destiny while addressing her fellow Berbicians in New Amsterdam on Friday evening at the town’s flag-raising ceremony to usher in Guyana’s 52nd Independence anniversary.

Addressing hundreds who braved the inclement weather to attend the ceremony, which was held at State House, the Minister said Guyanese should use this period to remember the struggles of their ancestors who made it possible for them to enjoy the freedom that they take for granted.

The Minister noted that

Education Minister Nicolette Henry

the peace and happiness which they enjoy in Guyana was made possible by our

fore-parents.

“It is our predecessors – the freedom fighters and nation builders – that made it possible for us to be the masters of our faith and captives of our destiny. We must, therefore, never forget that those men, women, and children; those freedom fighters who came together from every ethnic background, from every religious background to fight for a common goal – the common right of freedom.”

Minister Henry said Guyana was developing at a fast rate in the fields of agriculture, education, technology, and sports and as such, insisted that all Guyanese understand their individual responsibilities.

“We all need to be nation builders to continue the legacy our ancestors left for us.

As we celebrate the gift of democracy, let us resolve to continue the journey of inclusionary democracy and reaffirm our respect for our Constitution. As we look to the future, let us find ways of ending our historic divisions,” Henry stated.

She told the hundreds in attendance that Guyana as a country would not be able to realise its goals if as a people, we remained divided. “I believe that we are better together as one people, one nation with one destiny.”

Also addressing the ceremony were New Amsterdam Mayor Winifred Haywood, who spoke of the strides the

country’s oldest town has made since the country became an independent state while Regional Councillor Phillip Rose highlighted that as citizens, Guyanese needed to do better when it came to social cohesion.

The ceremony also featured a rich cultural presentation comprising dances, poems, a military display and most importantly, the hoisting of the National Flag.

A section of the gathering at the flag-raising ceremony at State House in New Amsterdam on Friday night

Lindeners promised development at Ferguson promises Essequibians no more Independence flag-raising ceremony blackouts at flag-raising ceremony

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inister within the Communities Ministry, Valerie Yearwood on Friday evening told residents of the mining town of Linden that a number of developmental projects were expected to come on stream aimed at boosting their lifestyles.

The Minister made this comment as she addressed scores of people who gathered for the town’s annual flag-raising ceremony.

Quoting the theme of the 2018 National Budget, she reiterated that "the journey to a good life continues" for people in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

According to the Minister, two new schools will be constructed at Bamia along the Linden- Soesdyke Highway at an estimated cost of $133 million. "We're going to be building a nursery school and a primary school at Bamia. So, those

The Golden Arrowhead being hoisted at the stroke of midnight

year, almost $200 million was spent to complete capital works in Region 10. "We have rehabilitation of bridges, schools, health facilities, roads, upgrade of drainage systems...In the coming months, we have road rehab works to be done – $76.5 million; $27.9 million upgrading our drainage system and others,” she added.

Minister Yearwood also boasted of Government's achievements in the Region;

A section of the gathering at the flag-raising ceremony on Friday evening

children on the Highway don't have to come all this distance...," she stated.

Yearwood also outlined plans for the Linden-Lethem Road and the riverfront development. "Right here in Linden, there's a plan that is currently being developed for our waterfront and I can tell you, in our 2018 Budget, upgrade of the LindenLethem Road and I believe we're doing from Linden to Mabura, and the work has started...," she added.

The Minister further stated that over the last

such as improved literacy while pointing to the more than 1000 teachers who have been trained.

"Teenage mothers who dropped out of school, they are now reintegrated into the school system...," the Minister stated while adding that the hot meal programme has been extended to over 172 schools.

Minister Yearwood also noted Information Communication Technology (ICT) programmes were in all secondary schools. In relation to business, she point-

ed out that loans were available through the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN), which she noted has created over 5000 jobs.

The Minister urged Lindeners to cooperate as they moved onto the positive path that was ahead. "...unless we embrace, unless we cooperate, we cannot win...

Linden, there's a beautiful journey ahead of us; Region 10, there's a beautiful journey ahead of us, but we have to learn to travel together," she said.

"Each person, each group has to make the choice to come together for the good of all. We know that the journey that we embarked on in 2015 was never going to be an easy one. After all, life is complex and can be complicated at times...but we believe back then and still do believe now that it is possible...I'm talking about achieving the good life for all Guyanese," the Minister highlighted.

She related that the good life was about removing inequality and providing opportunities for every citizen.

Also in attendance at the ceremony were Junior Natural Resources Minister Simona Broomes, Regional Chairman Renis Morian, and Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell.

The evening was marked by the traditional march past by the Disciplined Forces, cultural presentations and the hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead.

T

A cultural presentation by a group of young people

he Golden Arrowhead was hoisted once again at the stroke of midnight at Damon Park, Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast to usher in Guyana's 52nd Independence anni-

the existing street lights in Guyana, primarily on the Essequibo Coast.

She also promised that Government would work to ensure that there would be an end to power outages

This is expected to be installed before the end of 2018 at the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) branch at Anna Regina.

Hundreds of residents braved the weather to wit-

Members of the military during the ceremony

versary celebrations.

Neatly-dressed military men and women showed their allegiance to Guyana as they marched through the heavy showers to hoist the Golden Arrowhead.

In her remarks, Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson reflected on the many struggles fought by the late LFS Burnham and Cheddi B Jagan for a free and independent Guyana.

She called on the residents to live in harmony and embrace each other for a united Guyana.

At the event, she announced that 10,000 LED Lamps would be imported from Japan to replace

in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) with the installation of a $6.5 million generator.

ness the hoisting of the national flag. They were also treated to a packed cultural programme.

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monDAY, may 28, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

EU Ambassador praises European Contract cane cultural ties with Guyana harvesters want to

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s the European Union celebrates 2018 as the European Year of Cultural Heritage, the EU Ambassador to Guyana, Jernej Videti? lauded the bloc’s historic cultural ties with Guyana.

Ambassador Videtič noted that Europeans across the world were celebrating their customs, traditions, and cultural aspects that they contributed to the world.

At the celebration at Duke Lodge, the diplomat praised the historic ties between his continent and Guyana as he oversaw a two-day workshop that formulated a plan for the restoration of City Hall – a

Gothic Revival-style building that is widely accepted as European in origin.

Ambassador Videtič told the gathering that European historic cities and literary works would be highlighted during the many festivities that would make up the year-long observance.

“The heritage of the EU is a rich and diverse mosaic of rich creative expressions inherited from previous generations of Europeans and our legacy for those to come.

It includes natural and archaeological sites and museums, monuments, artworks, historic cities, and literary works, and the knowledge and practical works

The High Court is one of the Gothic Revival-style buildings that were constructed when Guyana was under European rule

EU’s Ambassador to Guyana, Jernej Videtič

of European citizens,” the Head of the EU delegation here noted.

European architecture can still be seen across Guyana to this day in City Hall, Parliament Building, the High Court and many other buildings across Georgetown, New Amsterdam, and elsewhere.

The Portuguese, Dutch, and English were some of the European cultures that contributed to what Guyana is today, mainly through the movement of other peoples,

both forcibly and voluntarily.

The EU notes that this year a series of initiatives and events across Europe will be held to enable people to become closer to and more involved with their cultural heritage. Guyana Times learnt that even digital achievements such as animation will be showcased.

Ambassador Videtič noted that he launched a book on European-Guyanese heritage in 2017.

“The European Union and Guyana share a rich cultural history. Last year, I was pleased to launch with President David Granger the book aspects of the European-Guyanese heritage,” he noted.

Established in 1993, the EU currently has 28 Member States with an estimated population of over 511 million. However, that number is set to reduce with the March 2019 departure of Guyana’s former ruler, the United Kingdom after that country voted to leave the bloc after a nation-wide referendum in 2017. (Shemuel Fanfair)

Linden Hospital Complex opens new Optometry Unit

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esidents of Linden and other parts of Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) now have improved access to eye care, with the recent opening of a new Optometry Unit at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC).

The facility, which is situated inside the com-

pound of the former LHC building, just next door to the state-of-the-art hospital, will cater for surgeries as well as eye exams and prescription glasses.

Its doors were opened to the public a few months ago. Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell and Regional Chairman Renis Morian were recently given a tour

contribute to NIS

F

Eustace Hunte

ired cane harvesters who were made redundant and then rehired after the Rose Hall and Skeldon Estates reopened their doors have expressed concern over the arrangements they are forced to work under.

Some of these workers are reportedly not covered under the National Insurance Scheme (NIS).

The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) recently gave out contracts to independent firms thus signalling the end of the trade union movement in the sector. This, cane cutters complain, is against the law, since they are already being exploited.

The rewarding of contracts to independent contractors would mean that the workers would not be employed by GuySuCo and eligible for the benefits that go with such employment.

Apart from no union representation, the work-

ourselves because if anything happen to us, they don’t have anything to give us.” More than 4500 sugar workers were made redundant by GuySuCo last year.

These workers were mainly from the Skeldon, Rose Hall and Enmore Estates and are being paid severance. Hunte says as workers they need to feel safe.

“There is no safety,” he reiterated.

As such, he is suggesting that arrangements be put in place for them to pay a percentage of the NIS contribution while the contractor pays the remainder as was previously done by GuySuCo. More worrying is the fact that the harvesters are being paid a flat price per tonne of cane irrespective of how bad the fields are and the distance workers must travel to the estate.

Nevertheless, the workers related that they are paid at a rate of $1000 per ton of cane.

LHC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Farouk Riyasat (centre); Linden Mayor Waneka Arrindell (second from left); Regional Chairman Renis Morian (right); Councillor Denise Belgrave (second from right) and Optometrist Zola Layne in a section of the new facility

of the facility by LHC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Farouk Riyasat.

During the tour, Dr Riyasat outlined that the facility would cater for eye surgeries, including cataract removal. He said surgeries would be conducted in a sterile area (sterilisation unit). Within the Unit are also a pre-anaesthetic area, operating room, post-surgery department (recovery area), and eye examination room, among others.

According to Dr Riyasat, following surgeries, patients will first be taken to the hospital ward for observation.

The Optometrist attached to the Unit, Zola Layne outlined that the facility conducted free-eye testing, but patients were required to "pay a small fee for the glasses".

"We accept NIS vouchers also. This is our new department which we

moved over to just a few months ago and we're very happy…," she stated. The Regional Chairman commended Dr Riyasat and his team, the Public Health Ministry and Government for bringing the facility on stream as he encouraged the use of the former hospital building for various other health purposes. He also urged Lindeners to make full use of the facility. "I guess a lot of people in Linden still don't know (about the facility), and I'm hoping that today (with) our visit here ... Lindeners will be aware that this facility is here that they can access it .. .I am happy that Upper Demerara-Berbice and primarily Linden will enjoy this kind of facility.

I want to encourage residents to make full use of this facility...," Regional Chairman Morian said.

The facility is headed

by Lindener Dr Romesa McDonald.

Eustace Hunte at work at Palmyra

ers are concerned that they now cannot benefit from NIS as they did in the past.

Eustace Hunte, one of the workers fired from the Skeldon Estate who now works on a field at Palmyra, told Guyana Times that with no NIS coverage, he feels unprotected.

“We suppose to get NIS. If we get chop while working here, we have nothing to get,” Hunte related.

“We have to take care of

Hunte related that with GuySuCo they were given $300 extra per bed when harvesting in difficult circumstances. In addition, the workers will not benefit from any of the allowances that were paid to them when they were employed by GuySuCo. Sources close to GuySuCo told this publication that plans were moving apace to have some of the fired workers become contractors.

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monDAY, may 28, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

As Youth Week is being observed, what would you like to see the leaders of the country do for you?”

Ajay Whyte “I would just like if they could get more teachers in the schools who can teach us more good. I think that teachers are very important and they should have more in all the schools. There should never be a time when a classroom is without a teacher, because they are very important to us.”

Dabriah Frank “I would like to see the leaders creating more jobs for young people.”

Filincia Tinnie “As a Guyanese youth I would like to see leaders of Guyana "come off their high chairs" and do more ground work and like into the issues that are affecting us as youths – [for] example: unemployment, abuse.”

Carl Murray “I would like to see the leaders be honest, trustful, and be willing to help anybody.

I would also like if the teachers could help the children work a little more, so that they can improve. One teacher should be writing and one should be like explaining to us what we have to do ‘cause sometimes the teachers does have it difficult.”

Elizabeth Singh “I would want my teacher to give me less homework and even a new teacher would be nice. They should also have more television shows to help us learn more, because we like watching the TV and I think it would help us if they have cartoon things showing us what to do.”

Roshanna Nichols “The leaders of Guyana need to start looking into the education sector more and create more opportunities for youths. So, everybody will be able to be beneficial in the end, ‘cause everyone will be educated and that's what will matter in the end.”

Shanika Rodney “I would like them to put more focus on all children because they are important in developing Guyana.”

Ariana Medas “I would like to see more job opportunities being provided. As a young person and I’m sure others like me would share the same view, we don’t have too many jobs and it’s making us feel stuck.”

Sarah Barton “I would like the Government to make Guyana a better country by making the environment and buildings more improved, and better education for youths.”

Guyana to revive coconut industry

…coordinator dubs prospects “good so far”

S

takeholders recently participated in a discussion to tackle the challenges of the coconut industry as well as lay out their plans to revitalise same with the aim of earning additional revenues.

A formal stakeholder platform meeting was conducted among the various persons and entities who plant and export coconuts, whereby future plans for the industry were discussed.

Regional Coordinator Maurice Wilson highlighted that the project constituted four components – market development, financing and additional funding, niche product development, and production intensification – which will be executed in

phases. As the sector develops, other mechanisms will be put in place to expand the horizons of the products.

“We have some positive

feedbacks that if we are successful in accessing some additional resources, we could defy some more details later on as we get formal commu-

nication from the European Union and CARIFORUM,” Wilson stated.

“We’re anxious to address the matter of financ-

ing for all small and medium-scale entities and we’re anxious to address, to some extent, the broader representation of the issues related to risk management and mitigation,” he added.

Wilson further explained that national stakeholder platforms were created from the inception when the project was founded with the aim of coordinating and accelerating the pace of the developmental phase.

However, there will be some modifications as the sector progresses.

“Over time, we understand that there will be some transitioning issues to improve the maturity and effectiveness of the management and coordination of the

project.”

Many stakeholders were given a chance to share their views on the way forward for Guyana’s emerging coconut industry and their experiences during production and exportation.

As part of the Coconut Project, Guyana will be assisted, along with 10 other countries who share an interest in coconut production.

The project was started in 2013 at the Caribbean Week of Agriculture and is funded by the European Union (EU) and the African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP).

There are also plans to further establish a formal body by appointing a Coconut Board.

16

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, may 28, 2018

Regional

Colombians vote for new president US Venezuela sanctions “to stay” despite prisoner with peace deal at stake

C

olombians voted on Sunday in a deeply divisive presidential ballot that has stirred concern the winner could upset a fragile peace accord with Marxist FARC rebels and risk former fighters returning to combat as they fear for their future.

In the first election since the controversial peace deal was signed in 2016 with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), voters will decide on a replacement for President Juan Manuel Santos, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for ending the five-decade-old conflict.

The leading candidate, right-wing Ivan Duque has pledged to alter the terms of the peace deal and to jail former rebels for war crimes.

Leftist Gustavo Petro, polling second and 10 points behind Duque, has also provoked alarm with pledges to

overhaul Colombia’s orthodox economic policy and redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor.

Trailing them in the often-unreliable polls are mathematician and centrist Sergio Fajardo and former Vice President German Vargas, who has Santos’ support.

If no candidate gets more than 50 per cent, the top two will go to a runoff on June 17. Polls close at 2100 GMT. Campaigning in the traditionally conservative nation has been marked by acrimonious accusations that rival candidates will collapse the economy with socialist policies, force the nation back to the battlefield, or bust the budget by overspending.

The election coincides with a migration crisis from neighbouring socialist-run Venezuela. Colombia

release

U

Presidential candidate Sergio Fajardo (left, at booth) casts his ballot at a polling station as Colombians vote for a new president in Medellin, Colombia, May 27, 2018

is appealing for international support to cope with hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans streaming across the border to flee shortages of food and rising crime as their nation’s economy implodes.

“We are witnessing the most important elections in

Colombia for many years,” said Alejandro Echeverri, a 20-year-old law student.

“For the first time in history, there are candidates offering alternatives and that has generated a very tense environment, one polarised by two candidates.” (Excerpt from Reuters)

Mexico detains wife of drug baron blamed for US heroin scourge

M

exico’s Government said on Sunday it had arrested the wife of top drug lord Nemesio Oseguera on charges of laundering funds for his powerful cartel that is blamed for driving heroin shipments to the United States.

Known as “El Mencho”, Oseguera has risen to become Mexico’s most wanted drug lord after Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was extradited to

the United States last year to face trial.

His wife, Rosalinda Garcia, was detained by marines in the Guadalajara suburb of Zapopon in the Western state of Jalisco, “without a shot fired” after a court ordered her arrest on organised crime and money laundering charges, Interior Minister Alfonso Navarrete told reporters at a media conference.

Navarrete said Garcia “al-

legedly administered resources” for her husband’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel, considered by authorities to be the most powerful Mexican drug cartel, with operations in the United States, Latin America, Africa, Europe and Asia.

In March, US agents in Chicago named El Mencho public enemy No 1 and blamed his gang for using “extreme violence” to ex-

pand their share of the heroin trade. The United States is offering US$5 million for information leading to his capture.

The Jalisco gang has challenged Guzman’s Sinaloa cartel and other gangs in territories across Mexico over drug trafficking routes to the United States, fuelling part of a surge in murder rates to the highest on records going back 20 years. (Excerpt from Reuters)

S Vice President Mike Pence says sanctions will remain on Venezuela despite the release of a US prisoner and his wife on Saturday.

Joshua Holt and his Venezuelan wife Thamy arrived in the US accompanied

by Senator Bob Corker, who helped negotiate their release.

Holt later met President Donald Trump at the White House.

Holt and his wife had been imprisoned in Venezuela for two years on charges of concealing weapons.

“Very glad that Josh Holt is now back home with his family – where he has always belonged,” Pence wrote in a tweet. “Sanctions continue until democracy returns to Venezuela.”

The couple were detained in 2016 at her family’s house in the capital Caracas while waiting for US visas, and accused of hiding weapons.

Both were jailed for two years.

Corker had held talks on Friday with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The US Senator shared a picture of himself with the couple after their release, adding: “We are on our way home.”

Sitting alongside Holt in the Oval Office, President Trump told him he had been “incredibly brave.”

“It’s amazing that you were able to take it... that was a tough situation,” he said with Holt’s family looking on.

Holt said he was “overwhelmed” to be back home.

“I’m just so grateful for what you guys have done, and for thinking about me, and caring about me, just a normal person,” he added.

“It really touches me.”

A spokesman for Maduro said the couple’s release was a “gesture” aimed at improving dialogue between Venezuela and the US. Maduro was re-elected to a six-year term last week, but Washington has refused to recognise the outcome.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Nicaragua unrest: Thousands join renewed anti-Government rallies

New Barbadian PM unveils bigger Cabinet

P

rime Minister Mia Mottley unveiled a Cabinet on Saturday, which has increased significantly in size with the introduction of a number of newly-formed ministries.

In a media statement in the Cabinet Office of Government Headquarters, Mottley announced the makeup of the soon-to-be installed Cabinet of Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries and Government Senators, and addressed the increased size.

“The Cabinet of Ministers will be relatively large because I have not only considered the mandate given to us by the people, but also the scope of the work to be done and the level of expertise that is at our disposal among elected members.

“Given the dire state of our economy and the tremendous

Prime Minister Mia Mottley (centre) with Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office Ruth Blackman (right) and Pat Parris (following) who will be appointed Director of Public Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister, as they approach the Cabinet Office Saturday afternoon

work that will be involved in rescuing and rebuilding this country, the salaries of a few extra ministers is relatively insignificant, given that there will be tremendous savings from the containment of wast-

age and the curtailing of corruption in my Cabinet.”

Mottley, who has taken the position of Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs and Investment, assured that her Ministers will be held to

very high standards of efficiency and productivity. “I have, therefore, opted to share the workload across a significant proportion of the parliamentary group rather than conform to the theory of a small Cabinet, thus creating an unrealistic setting for members to function effectively and to produce in this prevailing environment.”

Appointments announced include Arthur Holder, who will be named Speaker of the Lower House; Leader of Government Business Santia Bradshaw in the Lower House”.

Noting that the traditional “bedrock portfolios” still remain, she explained that her Government also looked to embrace new concepts and opportunities. The cabinet will be sworn in today. (Excerpt from

Barbados Advocate)

Bahamas to host 2018 regional military exercise

T

he Royal Bahamas Defence Force will be hosting the largest military training exercise of its kind next month.

Tradewinds 2018 is an annual regional military training exercise that will be held in The Bahamas from June 14-21.

This year’s exercise will focus on countering transnational organised crime in the

Region.

The main objective of the military event is to foster training for security forces that is “tailored for the Region by the Region”.

The annual exercise is sponsored by the United States Southern Command.

This year’s Tradewinds will consist of 22 partner nations from the Caribbean Region, the wider Americas

and Western Europe.

Additionally, the exercise will consist of over 400 troops from various Caribbean nations that are expected to put their military training to the test.

Phase one of the Tradewinds Exercise will take place in St Kitts Nevis beginning June 3 and culminating on June 13.

This preliminary train-

ing will prepare forces for the final training and implementation phase in The Bahamas, which will consist of simulated terrorist attacks on the island of New Providence.

Tradewinds 2017 was held in Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Bahamas last hosted Tradewinds in 2009. (Excerpt from Reuters)

T

Unrest has resumed after church-mediated talks broke down

housands of protesters have marched in the Nicaraguan capital Managua and other cities to demand the resignation of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo.

Demonstrators blocked main roads, waving placards and chanting slogans.

Weeks of anti-Government protests have led to at least 76 people being killed in clashes with security forces.

The latest rallies took place after peace talks mediated by the Catholic Church broke down on Wednesday.

Four people were killed in clashes on Saturday, Police and witnesses say.

“They want to take us off the streets at the point of bullets,” said protest leader Francisca Ramírez, who led a rally in the north-west city of Leon.

Street protests erupted last month when President Ortega approved cuts to pensions and social security.

He later revoked his plans, but the demonstrations turned into broader unrest against his government.

Ortega says criminals and gang members have infiltrated protest rallies, but Opposition activists accuse him of repression.

President Ortega is a former left-wing Sandinista guerrilla who helped to overthrow the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza in the 1970s.

However, his critics accuse him and his wife of also behaving like dictators.

Talks aimed at easing the crisis began earlier this month, but have so far failed to resolve the deadlock. (BBC News)

monDAY, may 28, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

US and North Korea preparing China anger over US “provocation” Trump-Kim summit in South China Sea

C

A

US team is holding talks with North Korean officials to prepare a possible meeting between President Donald Trump and the North's leader Kim Jong-un.

The talks in the village of Panmunjom, in the demilitarised zone between the two Koreas, are the latest sign that the summit could take place after all.

On Thursday, Trump called off the meeting – due in Singapore next month – citing the North's "hostility".

But both sides have since been working to get it back on track.

On Saturday, Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in held an unannounced meeting. Moon said the North's leader had "again made clear his commitment to a complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula".

Kim Jong-un later spoke

Korean leaders had a surprise "Hollywood" meeting on Saturday

of his "fixed will" that the summit should go ahead.

Trump said things were "moving along very nicely".

The visit by the US delegation was first reported by the Washington Post later on Sunday. The team was led by Sung Kim, a former Ambassador to South Korea, who was to hold talks with North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, the newspaper said.

The State Department

confirmed that the two sides had met at the border. "We continue to prepare for a meeting between the President and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said.

CNN said that the discussions were focused on the substance of the summit, while a separate US team in Singapore was dealing with the logistics. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

Syria war: Russians killed in militant raid in Deir al-Zour

A

t least four Russian combatants have been killed by militants in the eastern Syrian province of Deir al-Zour.

Two military advisers died when the Syrian army battery they were directing was attacked. Five other Russians were injured and two died later of their wounds, the Defence Ministry said.

Syria's army took Deir al-Zour city last November, but Islamic State fighters remain active in the province.

Officially, Russia has lost about 90 personnel in the Syrian civil war.

Scores of military con-

tractors have also died since Moscow began its intervention in support of President Bashar al-Assad in September 2015.

The RIA Novosti agency said that "a few mobile terrorist groups" had attacked the Syrian Army's artillery battery during the night.

The injured are being treated at a Russian military hospital.

The Defence Ministry in Moscow said its forces had killed 43 militants in the fighting.

The United Kingdombased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said the attacks had been carried out by

Islamic State fighters and that 35 pro-Government troops were killed, including nine Russians.

As well as holding pockets of IS fighters, Deir alZour province also marks a division between areas held

by Syrian Government forces and Syrian Kurdish units, including the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces.

After seven years of war, the Syrian Government, backed by Russian and Iranian military muscle, now controls much of central Syria, including the second city, Aleppo. Rebel forces are now concentrated in Idlib. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Italy PM-designate Conte gives up bid for Government

Italian PM-designate Giuseppe Conte is seen as a political novice

I

talian PM-designate Giuseppe Conte has given up his bid to form a government after the country's President vetoed his choice of Economy Minister.

The decision was announced following a meeting between the two men.

Conte, a political novice, was chosen by two populist parties in an attempt to end

11 weeks of political deadlock.

Italy has been without a government since elections on March 4, because no political group could form a majority.

Conte took his list of cabinet choices to President Sergio Mattarella on Sunday evening in the hope of finally being able to form a coalition government. But Mattarella rejected his candidate for

Economy Minister, Paolo Savona, a strong eurosceptic.

Under Italian law, the President has the right to reject the appointment of a Cabinet member, but his decision angered the two-party populist coalition of the League and 5-Star parties, who were hoping to form a government.

Speaking after the meeting, Conte said: "As you have already heard, I have rejected the mandate to form a government that had been offered to me by President Mattarella."

He went on to thank Mattarella and said he had applied himself "to the utmost in this task". Mattarella said he had "agreed and accepted all the proposals except that of the Economy Minister".

He said he would wait before deciding whether to call fresh elections. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

hina's Defence Ministry has protested against what it called "provocation" after US warships sailed near South China Sea islands claimed by Beijing.

US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Reuters news agency that two military vessels came within 12 nautical miles (around 22km) of the disputed Paracel Islands, among a string of islets, reefs and shoals over which China has territorial disputes with its neighbours.

The Higgins guided-missile destroyer and the Antietam, a guided-missile cruiser, carried out manoeuvring operations near Tree, Lincoln, Triton and Woody islands in the Paracels, one of the officials said.

In a statement later on Sunday, China's Defence Ministry said the move "contravened Chinese and relevant international law, seriously infringed upon Chinese sovereignty (and) harmed strategic mutual trust between the two militaries".

China's Foreign Ministry urged the United States to stop such actions [File: China Stringer Network/Reuters]

It also said it had deployed ships and aircraft to warn the US warships to leave, saying they had entered the country's territorial waters without permission.

In a separate statement, China's Foreign Ministry urged Washington to stop such actions.

"China will continue to take all necessary measures to defend the country's sovereignty and security," it added, without elaborating.

The US military did not immediately comment on the operation, but said US

forces operate in the region on a daily basis, Reuters said.

China is pitted against smaller neighbours in multiple disputes in the South China Sea over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global trade and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves.

It has begun building military structures on disputed islands – much to the dismay of other Southeast Asian nations including the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Ireland quietly comes to terms with dramatic change after abortion vote

Messages are left at a memorial to Savita Halappanava a day after an Abortion Referendum to liberalise abortion laws was passed by popular vote, in Dublin, Ireland, May 27, 2018

I

rish people paid homage on Sunday to an Indian immigrant woman whose death inspired a historic vote to repeal Ireland’s strict abortion laws while the Catholic Church rued the outcome saying it showed indifference to its teachings.

In a referendum on Friday, the once deeply Catholic nation voted to scrap a prohibition on abortion by a mar-

gin of two-to-one, a landslide victory that astonished campaigners as citizens of every age and background demanded the change they had spent decades fighting for.

The vote overturns a law which, for decades, has forced over 3000 women to travel to Britain each year for terminations that they could not legally have in their own country. “Yes” campaigners had

argued that with pills now being bought illegally online abortion was already a reality in Ireland.

Hundreds of people on Sunday continued to leave flowers and candles at a large mural in Dublin of Savita Halappanaar, the 31-year-old Indian whose death in 2012 from a septic miscarriage after being refused a termination spurred lawmakers into action.

Katy Gaffney, a 24-yearold baker who travelled home to Dublin from Berlin to vote, stood silently in front of the makeshift memorial crying.

“I am relieved but devastated that it had to come to this,” she said.

Others, many with tears in their eyes, pinned messages to the wall. One read: “I’m so sorry this happened to you before the country woke up. My vote was for you.” Another: “I’m sorry we let you down.

It won’t be in vain.” (Excerpt from

Reuters)

US proposes UN sanctions against 6 senior South Sudan officials

T

he United States has proposed the United Nations Security Council impose sanctions against several South Sudanese Ministers and officials, accusing them of obstructing peace efforts and blocking humanitarian assistance to civilians, according to a draft resolution seen by Reuters on Sunday.

Security Council diplomats are due to meet for negotiations on the text on Tuesday and a vote is scheduled for Thursday. A resolution needs nine votes in favour and no vetoes by Russia, China, France, Britain or the United States to

pass.

The Council sanctioned several senior South Sudanese officials on both sides of the conflict in 2015, but a US bid to impose an arms embargo in December 2016 failed.

In November, Russia said it would be counterproductive to impose further targeted sanctions or an arms embargo on South Sudan.

The proposed measures would freeze the assets and ban travel for the six officials, including Defence Minister Kuol Manyang Juuk; former army chief Paul Malong; Information Minister Michael

Lueth, and deputy chief of defence for logistics in the South Sudan Army, Malek Reuben Riak Rengu.

It also targets Koang Rambang, Governor of Bieh State, who the United States accused of leading military attacks and obstructing aid to civilians; and Cabinet Affairs Minister Martin Elia Lomuro.

South Sudan, which split off from its northern neighbour Sudan in 2011, has been gripped by a civil war sparked by political rivalry between President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, May 28, 2018

ARCHIE

Look for ways to help others. The satisfaction you get (March 21- and the unexpected rewards April 19) you receive will make your time and effort worthwhile.

Embrace a challenge.

ARIES

Don’t get caught up in someTAURUS one else’s fight or inability to (April 20May 20) be consistent or take care of responsibilities. Do your own thing and aim for personal growth and greater independence.

dilbert

Taking a business trip or GEMINI (May 21- surfing the internet in search June 20) of information that can help you finalize a deal or make a decision is in your best interest.

Don’t give up when you should be paying more atten(June 21- tion to new or unique possiJuly 22) bilities. Believe and trust in yourself and your ability to get things done. Personal improvement is favoured.

CANCER

Peanuts

It’s OK to dream big, but LEO you should start being real(July 23- istic when the shovel hits the Aug. 22) dirt. Spending more than you can afford will cause emotional stress and unwanted arguments.

Calvin and Hobbes

Concentrate on what you VIRGO know you can accomplish. A (Aug. 23change will do you good, and Sept. 22) talks with someone quite different from you will give you a different perspective on what’s available.

You will gain the most LIBRA (Sept. 23- if you take the path of least Oct. 23) resistance. Put more energy into doing the work rather than hiring someone else to do it for you.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — WELCOMES

Someone you connect SCORPIO with will offer you sugges(Oct. 24tions that can make a difNov. 22) ference to the way you move forward. Don’t rule out doing things differently or taking on something new.

Common sense will be reSAGITTARIUS quired.

Listen carefully and (Nov. 23be sure you get the gist beDec. 21) hind what someone is saying, or the joke will end up being on you.

(WELCOMES: WEL-kums: Receives with pleasure and hospitality.)

Average mark 17 words Time limit 30 minutes

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Can you find 22 or more words in WELCOMES? The list will be published tomorrow.

SATURDAY’S WORD — GRAMPUS

gasp gaur gram grasp grump guar ramp

rasp rump arms pram puma samp smug

spam spar sprag spur sugar sump supra

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

solution AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

A serious attitude and open communication will help you resolve any uncertainty you may be feeling about someone you love.

Listen to suggestions and make adjustments that will improve your personal life.

Fix up a space that will motivate you to pursue one of your personal goals. Don’t waste your energy trying to change others. Strive for personal perfection.

Invest in yourself. Expand your knowledge and skills to increase your marketability.

Perfecting something you enjoy doing will lead to a higher income. Physical improvements can be made.

monDAY, may 28, 2018

F

inally, the IPL trophy has come back to its spiritual home, Chennai.

The city's franchise d i d run into rough waters but it still boasts the best IPL crowds and the most consistent team, which won its third title with a chase that was as much perfection as it was a tribute to their captain MS Dhoni's philosophies.

Ridiculed as dad's army for picking players a little long in the tooth, Super Kings won the final on a century from the 36-yearold Shane Watson, all but hobbling through for most of his run runs after having taken 11 balls to get off the mark. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rashid Khan, champion bowlers both, went for 17 and 24 in their allotment of four overs each, but that brought no panic to Super Kings' ranks. It was crucial that these two were not given a wicket; a maiden rather than a wicket. Ruthlessly, meanwhile, Watson targeted the young bowlers from Punjab, Siddarth Kaul and Sandeep Sharma, who went for 95 in their seven overs.

If the chase was perfection, Super Kings were asked to dig into their de-

Shane Watson the hero as CSK claim 3rd IPL crown

fensive reserves when they bowled first.

Sunrisers batted a little like Super Kings: take it slow at the start, keep wickets in hand, put pressure on the bowlers and go big a t the death.

Lungi Ngidi and Shardul T h a k u r , though, bowled well to restrict them to just 52 runs in the last five overs.

It was the fourth time CSK had beaten Sunrisers in four meetings this season, an emphatic record against the team that had finished top of the league stage.

Slow start

Super Kings began with a beamer followed by a free hit, but they soon pulled things back. This was a stretch of play where both sides were waiting to see who blinks first. After having lost wickets early in the first qualifier against the same opposition, Sunrisers didn't try anything adventurous against Deepak Chahar and Ngidi, scoring 42 for 1 in the Powerplay.

Dhawan, Williamson look to tee off but...

Having gone at about a run a ball inside the Powerplay, Shikhar Dhawan and Kane Williamson had to become more urgent at some point. Williamson began doing that with Dwayne

Bravo, introduced early again because he has not been at his best at the death.

For Dhawan the opportunity presented itself when Ravindra Jadeja came on to bowl, turning the ball back into him. As expected he went down for the big slog sweep, but he missed and the ball hit the thigh pad to deviate onto his stumps.

Sunrisers 64 for 2 in the ninth.

Runs and wickets keep coming

On the big final day, though, Sunrisers' middle order kept bringing the runs. Shakib Al Hasan did to Jadeja what Dhawan want-

ed to do: take four, six and four in his first two overs.

Williamson kept tapping Bravo for boundaries. Then again, Dhoni's golden touch worked. Karn Sharma, IPL champion for the last two years with Sunrisers and Mumbai Indians, brought in just for this match, had Williamson stumped off a wide ball.

But, again, yet another batsman hit the ground running. Yusuf Pathan hit two boundaries in the first seven balls he faced, and the innings was back on track.

Deepak Hooda fell cheaply but, at 144 for 5, Sunrisers would have backed them-

SCOREBOARD Sunrisers Hyderabad Innings (20 overs maximum) SP Goswami † run out (Sharma/†Dhoni) 5 S Dhawan b Jadeja 26 KS Williamson (c) st †Dhoni b Sharma 47 Shakib Al Hasan c Raina b Bravo 23 YK Pathan not out 45 DJ Hooda c sub (DR Shorey) b Ngidi 3 CR Brathwaite c Rayudu b Thakur 21 Extras (lb 1, nb 1, w 6) 8 TOTAL (20 Overs, RR: 8.9) 178-6 Did not bat: Rashid Khan, B Kumar, S Kaul, Sandeep Sharma Fall of wickets: 1-13 (SP Goswami, 1.5 ov), 2-64 (S Dhawan, 8.3 ov), 3-101 (KS Williamson, 12.1 ov), 4-133 (Shakib Al Hasan, 15.5 ov), 5-144 (DJ Hooda, 16.6 ov), 6-178 (CR Brathwaite, 19.6 ov) BOWLING: DL Chahar (4-0-

25-0), L Ngidi (4-1-26-1), SN Thakur (3-0-31-1), KV Sharma (3-0-25-1), DJ Bravo (4-0-461), RA Jadeja (2-0-24-1) Chennai Super Kings Innings (target: 179 runs from 20 overs) SR Watson not out 117 F du Plessis c & b Sandeep Sharma 10 SK Raina c †Goswami b Brathwaite 32 AT Rayudu not out 16 Extras (lb 3, w 3) 6 TOTAL (18.3 Overs, RR: 9.78) 181-2 Did not bat: MS Dhoni (c) †, DJ Bravo, RA Jadeja, DL Chahar, KV Sharma, SN Thakur, L Ngidi Fall of wickets: 1-16 (F du Plessis, 3.6 ov), 2-133 (SK Raina, 13.3 ov) BOWLING: B Kumar (4-1-17-0), Sandeep Sharma (4-0-52-1), S Kaul (3-0-43-0), Rashid Khan (41-24-0), Shakib Al Hasan (1-0-15-0), CR Brathwaite (2.3-0-27-1)

selves for a reprise of the destruction they executed at the end of their innings in the 2016 final.

Ngidi, Thakur stifle Sunrisers

The carnage began with 16 coming off the 18th over, bowled by Bravo, who signed off with the second-worst economy rate at death this season. The only man worse than him was Thakur, who would bowl the 20th. Ngidi and Thakur, though, bowled two excellent overs with six deliveries not scored off.

Only 18 came off those two overs, and Super Kings had the momentum going into the chase.

Watson plays out Bhuvneshwar

In the last match between these two sides, Bhuvneshwar tortured Watson before taking him out for a five-ball duck.

Yet again, Watson took first strike. This time Bhuvneshwar missed the shoulder of his bat twice by inches in a maiden over. If Watson was under pressure, he didn't show it. He would play out four more dots before coolly off-driving a four off Sandeep.

The pressure, though, resulted in Faf du Plessis' wicket. Williamson went against his usual practice of bowling Bhuvneshwar for two overs at the top, one at the death and keeping one for the middle when he needs a wicket. Watson and Suresh Raina showed great awareness of what was happening.

If they could play this third over out, they would have to contend with only Rashid in

19

the middle overs.

Play out they did, reaching 20 for 1 in five overs.

Carnage

In the sixth over of the chase, the carnage that sealed the win began.

Watson got absolutely stuck into Sandeep and Kaul.

Sandeep's third over went for 15. Kaul made one mistake in his first over, and Watson was all over him.

His over went for 16. At 51 for 1 in seven, the asking rate was back under 10.

Method

Williamson would have ideally wanted to bowl Rashid to two right-hand batsmen, Dhoni preferably one of them, given his struggles against this bowler, but Super Kings just didn't take any risk against him. The next four overs brought: 5, 16, 8, 15. It is easy to tell which of these were bowled

by Rashid.

Carnage again

Watson had brought up his fifty by then, but he wasn't done hurting Sandeep yet. This is a time when Williamson usually goes back to Bhuvneshwar but on this night he couldn't.

Watson launched three sixes and two fours in the 13th over to practically end the chase there. Only about a run a ball was required now, which Watson and Ambati Rayudu managed without a bother. (ESPNcricinfo)

French Open 2018…

Venus and Jelena Ostapenko lose in 1st round

D

efending champion Jelena Ostapenko and seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams went out of the French Open in the first round on Sunday.

Latvian fifth seed Ostapenko was stunned by Ukrainian Kateryna Kozlova, who came through 7-5 6-3.

American ninth seed Williams, a finalist at Roland Garros in 2002, was beaten 6-4 7-5 by world number 91 Wang Qiang of China.

Meanwhile, fourth seed Elina Svitolina beat Ajla Tomljanovic 7-5 6-3.

It is the first time in 78 Grand Slam appearances stretching back to 1997 that Williams has lost successive first-round matches at a major.

"Nobody plans on this," said the 37-year-old, who also went out in the first round at the Australian Open in January. "There are no perfect days in tennis."

Last year, at the age of 19, the then unseeded Ostapenko pulled off a massive coup by beating current world number one Simona Halep to take the

title in Paris.

But this time around, she was beaten in 95 minutes on Philippe Chatrier by world number 66 Kozlova, who had never triumphed over a top-30 player and needed a medical timeout to treat blisters.

"I really didn't expect anything from the match," Kozlova said. "Basically, I have hardly played for two and a half months but I wanted to show what I can do."

Ostapenko becomes only the second women's defending champion to lose in the first round of the French Open in the Open era after Anastasia Myskina in 2005.

Britain's Johanna Konta was also a first-round casualty, going down in straight sets against world number 93 Yulia Putintseva, who won 6-4 6-3 in an hour and 24 minutes.

World number 10 Sloane Stephens, who won the US Open last year, breezed into the second round by beating Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands 6-2 6-0. (BBCSport)

Jelena Ostapenko made 48 unforced errors as she lost in the first round in Paris

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, may 28, 2018

Chris Froome wins Giro d'Italia to claim historic Grand Tour treble T

eam Sky's Chris Froome became the first Briton to win the Giro d'Italia as he coasted home in Sunday's processional stage in Rome.

The 33-year-old is the seventh man to complete a Grand Tour hat-trick after adding Italian success to the 2017 Vuelta and four Tour de France wins.

"For any cyclist this is the dream to have all three leaders jerseys in the space of 10 months," Froome said.

"To have finally won this race, I can't quite believe it myself."

Froome finished 46 seconds ahead of Dutch defending champion Tom Dumoulin in the overall standings.

His victory echoes that of Welsh Olympic gold medallist Nicole Cooke, who won the women's equivalent - the Giro Rosa - in 2004.

Britain's Simon Yates, who led for most of the race and claimed three stage wins, finished 22nd in the general classification, with Ireland's Sam Bennett claiming the sprint finish for a third stage win of his own.

Froome's triumph also means he is only the third man, after legendary pair Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault, to hold cycling's three most prestigious stage

books.

In December a leaked report revealed he had exceeded the permitted levels of salbutamol - an asthma medication that could potentially affect muscle mass during his win in the Vuelta three months earlier.

With cycling's governing body - the UCI - still investigating and Froome deny-

Overall standings:

Chris Froome toasted victory with Team Sky General Manager David Brailsford

races at the same time.

The traditional leisurely pace of the final stage dropped even lower as the peloton, unimpressed by the route over Rome's historic cobbles, succeeded in getting the stage neutralised for general classification purposes.

Riders only needed to complete the 115km, 10lap, loop of the city centre to maintain their place in the overall standings.

How the race was won

The stage was a sedate end to a dramatic campaign for Froome.

Even before the action

had started properly, Team Sky's lead rider had skidded out on a reconnaissance lap during the curtain-raising time trial stage in Jerusalem before another crash on stage eight.

For the majority of the race he seemed to have faded out of contention, slipping out of the general classification top 10 and nearly five minutes off the pace.

Froome admitted that victory was "unlikely" after losing time on the leaders in stage nine. According to Team Sky boss David Brailsford, the Briton came close to abandoning the race altogether.

But Froome continued chasing and produced an extraordinary performance on Friday's gruelling 19th stage as Sky abandoned their usual tightly controlled tactics in an all-or-nothing gamble for the pink jersey.

After foiling Dumoulin's bid for glory on Saturday with another strong ride on Saturday, Froome was assured his champagne-soaked ride into the Italian capital.

Will it last?

Froome's victory comes as he awaits a doping verdict that could force another rewriting of the record

Another England collapse opens door for Pakistan's 9-wicket rout

I

on stage 19 being compared to the rides produced by confessed doper Floyd Landis.

"I can understand the parallels and comparisons being drawn by some people but I have every confidence it will stand," said Froome.

He has encountered hostility from some spectators during the Giro, with one apparently spitting at him

n the end, a good night's sleep was all that Pakistan's rampant cricketers needed. After enduring a few jitters in the course of England's mini-revival on the third evening, normal service was resumed in emphatic fashion on the fourth morning at Lord's.

With Mohammads Abbas and Amir to the fore, Pakistan scalped England's supine lower order with four wickets for six runs in the space of 18 balls, before Imam-ul-Haq and Haris Sohail made light of the early loss of Azhar Ali to stroll across the finish line in an unbroken second-wicket stand of 54.

Pakistan's nine-wicket win was their second Test victory at Lord's in consecutive visits, following a famous win under Misbah-ul-Haq in 2016, but it was arguably even more remarkable given the callow nature of a line-up that lacks any of the great batting stars of their recent history, and a bowling attack which pales in experience compared to that of their opponents.

If there were any nerves in Pakistan's dressing room before the start of play, they were emphatically quashed by Abbas's second delivery of t h e morning. With the new ball around t h e corner, he thudded the old one into the front pad of Jos Buttler, a man who had done so well to take that dismissal out of the equation during his counter-attacking fifty on the third evening.

There was no recourse from DRS, however, and as he trudged off without addition to his overnight 66, England's scant hopes departed with him. Mark Wood had no answer to Amir's wiles when the new ball was taken midway through the next over - he grazed Amir through to Sarfraz for 4.

Abbas then repeated that trick with a mirror-image snick off the left-handed Stuart Broad for a duck, before Amir flattened Dom Bess's off stump to wrap up another woeful collapse. Bess did at least depart with huge personal credit after becoming the third youngest England player to make a fifty on debut - and the youngest, at 20 years and 306 days, to have been picked

primarily for his bowling.

P a k i s t a n needed 64 to win, then. A pretty facile target on the face of it, although few teams are better at making meals of small targets. So, when James Anderson found

the ideal length to pluck out Azhar Ali's off stump for 4, there was a ripple of alarm at 12 for 1, especially with Babar Azam indisposed with a broken forearm.

But Imam-ul-Haq has seen this situation once already on this tour, having marshalled Pakistan's chase in a tense finale at Malahide earlier this month, and as he bedded in at one end, Haris Sohail displayed the fluency that met the needs of the hour at the other, to rush the score along at a fair clip.

In particular, Haris climbed into the spin of Bess, on a hiding to nothing with so few runs to defend. He was driven for three sublime fours to break the back of the chase, before a brace of full tosses in his final over sealed the deal - Haris slammed the first high into Mound Stand for six before slapping the winning four in the same direction.

There is little time for an inquest into England's humiliation - and make no mistake, regardless of Pakistan's excellence, their opponents have been largely woeful - given that the second Test at Headingley gets underway on Friday.

But not only was this Pakistan's eighth Test win in their last 11 against England, it was - incredibly - the first time England had lost the first Test of a home summer since 1995.

Back then West Indies, still led by Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh in their pomp, routed them by nine wickets at Headingley. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

"It was not good enough, if I'm being brutally honest," said Joe Root, England's captain. "We were outperformed in all three disciplines." (ESPNcricinfo)

Haris Sohail and Imam-ul-Haq celebrate Pakistan's victory in the first Test

1. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) 86hrs 11mins 50secs 2. Tom Dumoulin (Ned/Team Sunweb) +46secs 3. Miguel Angel Lopez (Col/Astana Pro Team) +4mins 57secs 4. Richard Carapaz (Ecu/Movistar Team) +5mins 44secs 5. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita/Bahrain-Merida) +8mins 3secs 6. Pello Bilbao (Spa/Astana Pro Team) +11mins 50secs 7. Patrick Konrad (Aut/Bora-Hansgrohe) +13mins 01secs 8. George Bennett (Nzl/Team Lotto NL-Jumbo) +13mins 17secs 9. Sam Oomen (Ned/Team Sunweb) +14mins 18secs 10. Davide Formolo (Ita/Bora) +15mins 16secs Selected other: 22. Simon Yates (GB/Mitchelton-Scott) +1hr 15mins 11secs

ing any wrongdoing, he has raced on.

Froome has been questioned frequently about his use of the drug, with his win

on Saturday's penultimate stage after another brandished a giant inflatable inhaler at him the day before.

(BBCSport)

DC United hopeful over deal to sign Rooney D C United are hopeful of getting a deal "over the line" to bring Everton forward Wayne Rooney to MLS, says coach Ben Olsen.

Everton have given Rooney permission to speak to the American club and a deal has been agreed in principle.

The fo r m e r England captain, 32, is

believed to have been offered a deal until the end of the 2020 season.

"There is interest in Wayne Rooney from our end and I think there is interest from his end too," added Olsen.

Rooney, who still has a year left on his contract at Goodison Park, has visited Washington as part of what is seen as a fact-finding mission.

"Nothing is done, so I don't want to get into talk of arrival until he actually arrives," added Olsen.

"Nothing is ever done in this world, when you're looking at a deal of this scope and size.

"We'll see, but hopefully we can get it done."

The former Manchester United striker made 40 appearances for Everton last season and was top scorer w i t h 11 goals.

Wayne Rooney

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21

Monaco Grand Prix: Daniel Ricciardo fends off Sebastian Vettel for victory D

aniel Ricciardo drove a masterful race to fend off Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari and win the Monaco Grand Prix in a stricken Red Bull.

The Australian dominated the weekend and led from pole but shortly after his only pit stop suffered a power loss at one-third distance.

Ricciardo managed to hold off Vettel for the remaining 59 laps, as Lewis Hamilton took third in his Mercedes.

The result means Hamilton leads Vettel by 14 points in the championship.

Ricciardo moves into third place, 38 points adrift.

Redemption for Ricciardo

Ricciardo had said in the build-up to the race that he felt Monaco owed him a win, following the pit-stop bungle that cost him victory in 2016, but admitted he would have to "earn it".

His words turned out truer than he could have imagined at the time, as a race that had looked to be turning into a relatively easy cruise suddenly became filled with jeopardy.

"Two years later I finally feel like redemption has arrived," Ricciardo said.

"We had a lot to deal with during the race. I felt loss of power and I thought the race was done. I got home just using six gears. Thanks to the

Sebastian Vettel was never far from the rear tyre of Daniel Ricciardo's car throughout the race, but was unable to find a way past

team I got it back.

"There were a few doubts getting it to the end of the race but we won Monaco."

Ricciardo led away from pole, fending off the faster-starting Vettel, and controlled the opening part of the race, making his first pit stop on lap 17, to cover the German's stop a lap before.

With all drivers managing their tyres, and lapping seconds off the limit to ensure they needed to do only one stop, the race seemed already settled.

But then Ricciardo came on the radio complaining of a lack of power. The team said they could see what the problem was - but did not

say to avoid rivals finding out - and told him it would not improve.

It turns out he lost the MGU-K - the part of the hybrid system that recovers energy from the rear axle and redeploys it. Team boss Christian Horner said it cost him 2.5 seconds a lap and 25% of engine power, or about 225bhp.

Ricciardo had held a three-second lead after the pit stops, but now had Vettel right behind him and knew he faced a difficult, exhausting race managing the engine problem while ensuring the German did not get close enough to try a pass.

He was helped by the

arguably ridiculous situation of drivers lapping four or five seconds off their potential maximum pace to ensure their tyres lasted.

This was the case throughout the race, whether drivers were on the fragile hyper-soft qualifying tyres, or on the two harder options, the super-soft and ultra-soft.

As such, the race provided uncomfortable memories of the first six years of Pirelli's tenure in F1, before it was asked to provide more raceable tyres to enable drivers to push harder in the faster, more demanding cars that were introduced in 2018.

Ricciardo was one of the

drivers centrally involved in forcing that to happen, but he will not care about it right now, after finally taking a well-deserved and overdue win at the most prestigious event of the year.

"I don't know how you did that," engineer Simon Rennie said to Ricciardo in congratulating him over the radio on the slowing-down lap.

Horner said: "You have done an amazing job today.

That is right up there with what Schumacher did... and it is payback for 2016."

Horner was referring to Michael Schumacher's drive in the 1994 Spanish Grand Prix, when the German finished second for Benetton with only fifth gear.

Vettel, knowing overtaking was all but impossible, followed in his former Red Bull team-mate's wheel tracks until dropping back in the final five laps or so when his tyres ran out of grip.

Hamilton, who for a time was wrongly concerned the ultra-soft tyres fitted at his pit stop would not make the end, will probably look at the race as relatively successful damage limitation on a weekend Mercedes always expected to be difficult.

The second Ferrari and Mercedes of Kimi Raikkonen and Valtteri Bottas took fourth and fifth. (BBCSport)

Karius unable to sleep after Champions League final nightmare – Police investigate death threats

L

iverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius told fans he was “infinitely sorry” for his two catastrophic errors in the side’s 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League final and said he had struggled to sleep after Saturday’s game.

The German keeper gifted Karim Benzema the first goal by accidentally throwing the ball against the Real forward, and then watching it trickle into his net, and he allowed a shot by Gareth Bale straight through his hands for Madrid’s third goal which ended any hopes of his side getting back in the game.

“Haven’t really slept until now, the scenes are still running through my head again and again.

I’m infinitely sorry to my team mates, for you fans and for all the staff.

I know that I messed it up with the two mistakes

Loris Karius’ errors gifted Real Madrid two goals in the Champions League final

and let you all down,” Karius wrote on Twitter on Sunday.

“As I said I’d just like to turn back the time but that’s not possible. It’s even worse as we all felt that we could have beaten Real Madrid and we were in the game for a long time.

“Thank you to our unbelievable fans who came to Kiev and held my back, even after the game. I

don’t take that for granted and once again it showed me what a big family we are. Thank you and we will come back stronger.”

Karius received the backing of his coach Juergen Klopp after the game but some fans on social media were less forgiving and British media reported that Merseyside Police were investigating death threats made towards the goalkeeper.

“The force takes social media posts of this nature extremely seriously and any offences identified will be investigated,” a spokesperson for the force told the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

“Merseyside Police would like to remind social media users than any offences including malicious communications and threatening behaviour will be investigated.” (Reuters)

22

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monDAY, may 28, 2018

RFA Champions League…

Tabatinga, Gladiators crowned Rupununi champs A fter a thrilling battle with the Paiwomak Warriors Football Club at the Wada’apna Sports Complex in Lethem last Saturday night, Tabatinga Football Club (Tabatinga FC) emerged victors in the Rupununi Football Association’s (RFA’s) Championships.

They literally played their hearts out on the field, and ultimately triumphed over their rivals after 90 fastpaced minutes plus stoppage time.

They bested their North Rupununi rivals by a single goal, scored at the beginning of the second half. The win will see the Tabatinga Football Club representing the Rupununi at the upcoming Indigenous Heritage Games slated for September.

Paiwomak Warriors started strong, dominating possession in the first 20 minutes and managing to get shots out, but most of them were off target. They favoured a counter-attacking tactic, releasing players down the wings to throw balls into the 18-yard box.

Tabatinga FC, however, remained compact and defensive, cutting off space for shots on target. They gained momentum in the last part of the first half by pressing higher up the pitch, winning back possession and looking to take control.

Although competitive, the first half of the game saw no team finding the back of the net. Tabatinga

The Gladiators FC scorers. From left: Vandette Henry, Taina Barjoan, Keziah Muffet and Vanessa Adolph

were more attacking, but failed to capitalize on opportunities to take the lead before the end of the first half.

Paiwomak Warriors remained disciplined, and tried as much to counter attack with stout defence until the half-time whistle.

The second half began with Tabatinga FC redoubling their efforts and pressing Paiwomak Warrriors aggressively. Their strategy was reward in the 49 minute when they earned themselves a corner kick. A poor clearance by

the Paiwomak Warriors defence sent the ball wide and back to the feet of a Tabatinga player, who sent the ball back into the penalty box. The cross found the head of Zaulo Bronze, who headed it past the keeper to the great delight of the Tabatinga FC fans, who erupted in rapturous celebration.

Paiwomak Warriors found themselves in deeper trouble when Orlando Allicock was sent off in the 58th minute, after hitting the face of Tabatinga player Jonathom ‘Alex’ Lima and picking up a sec-

ond yellow card, which earned him a red.

As time progressed, Tabatinga exploited the extra-player advantage by dominating the game and enjoying much of the possession. Undaunted, the Paiwomak Warriors managed a few counterattacks, but ultimately failed to mount a comeback.

As the game approached 80 minutes of active time, heavy rainfall probably assisted the Tabatinga FC to hold on to their lead until the final whistle.

WIFBSC Championship 2018…

Barbados outshoot Guyana in Short Range Match B arbados upset the Guyana National Rifle Team to steal their glory as they won the West Indies Full-bore Shooting Council (WIFBSC) Short Range Match on Saturday at the Paragon Range.

The 8-a-side team battle saw the hosts snatching victory in the 600 Yards range to pip the ex-champs by 8 points, after finishing with 372 compared to the Guyanese on 363. In the 300 Yards, Guyana shot 376 with 27 Vs, while the Bajans managed 368.18.

Following the 500 Yard Range, both teams were neck-to-neck, with the Barbados shooters going hard at their targets to edge Name Sherwin Felicien Peter Persaud Leo Romalho Dylan Fields Ransford Goodluck Lennox Braithwaite Roberto Tiwari Ryan Sampson

On the female side of the competition, Gladiators FC ran away with the finals by netting four goals against the Paiwomak Warriors FC females, who disposed of last year’s winners, Guyana Rush Saints, in the semifinals. The Paiwomak Warriors could manage only one consolation goal before the final whistle was blown.

The result means that Gladiators FC are the new female RFA Champions, and will be joining Tabatinga FC in representing the Rupununi at the upcoming Indigenous Heritage Games.

Awards of the Females’ Best Goal Keeper and Females’ Most Valuable Player went to Vanessa Adolph and Vandette Henry respectively, both of Gladiators FC; while the Best Goal Keeper Award went to Dexter Mentore (Tabatinga FC), and the most Valuable Player Award went to Zaulo Bronze (Tabatinga FC).

The RFA wishes to express heartfelt gratitude to all sponsors and stakeholders of the tournament: Guyana Football Federation, Imon Wirelesss, Sonja and Jude Abraham, Lynkon Trading Inc., Lillian and William, Dayan James, Curtis Charles, Miss Celita, Miss Fay, G & T Store, Andrew Mangroo, Lethem Town Council, Shivon Farias, Paul Williams, Lethem Public Hospital, Referees, Lethem Police Force, former executive members of RFA, and all club members of the RFA.

Lucky fan rides away with Corona Futsal Hero motorcycle

The victorious Barbados team pose after winning the Short Range title on Saturday

their opponents by statics -- 377.24 versus Guyana’s

300 48.4 49.5 46.3 46.5 46.2 49.5 47.1 45.2

Barbados 368.18 Trinidad & Tobago 360.1 Guyana 376.27 Jamaica 362.20 Antigua & Barbuda 348.16 Canada 354.18

370.26.

Heading

500 48.5 48.4 46.2 44.3 48.4 49.4 45.1 43.3

600 47.3 47.2 45.3 40.6 49.5 46.3 47.4 42.2

377.24 380.24 370.26 374.23 369.17 362.21

372.18 1,117.60 372.27 1,112.61 363.28 1,109.81 368.18 1,104.61 349.13 1,066.46 340.11 1,056.50

into

the

fi-

Day Agg 143.12 144.11 137.8 130.14 143.11 143.12 139.6 130.7 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

nal Range, the 600 Yards, Barbados tapped into their experience and their home field advantage to give their team some much needed glory after more than five decades and a tough competition dominated by the Guyanese marksmen.

Star shooter was Barbadian Marlon King, who racked up 147.9 points, while Peter Persaud led the way for the Guyanese team with 144.11. The GNRA team, meanwhile, won the Individual title (Ransford Goodluck) while retaining their Long Range title.

Phillip DeFlorimonte is all smiles as he receives his prize

L

ucky fan Phillip DeFlorimonte officially collected his prize of a motor cycle from Hero Motorcycle representative Devon Pyle and Jacklyn Boodie of the Petra Organisation.

Deflorimonte filled up the coupon which was pulled at the just concluded Corona

Futsal Semifinals.

Throughout the tournament, patrons filled up their coupons and dropped same into a box for drawing.

The prize was sponsored by Hero Moto Corp, while support from Corona and the National Milling Company (NAMILCO) made the tournament possible.

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, may 28, 2018

23

Golden Jags Anna Regina thrash Abram Zuil Captain is UEFA by 10 wickets to retain title ‘A’ Licence certified MoE /GCB/GTM Inter-Secondary School Under-17 Cricket Championship League

C

A

aptain of Guyana's senior men's national team the Golden Jaguars, Samuel Peter Cox, has completed his Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) ‘A’ Licence course.

In doing so, he has become the youngest Guyanese with a UEFA ‘A’ Licence.

A UEFA ‘A’ Licence is a coaching licence mandated by UEFA, the official governing body of European Football. This licence is one level below the UEFA Pro Licence and allows holders to be head coaches of youth teams up to age 18, reserve teams (also known as 'B' teams) for top-flight clubs, and men's professional second-tier clubs.

The victorious Anna Regina Secondary School Cricket Team

nna Regina Secondary regained their Championship crown by thrashing Abram Zuil Secondary by 10 wickets in last Wednesday’s final of the Inter-Secondary School Under-17 Cricket Championships sponsored by the Ministry of Education, the Guyana Cricket Board and the Guyana and Trinidad Mutual Insurance Company

Limited.

In the match, played at the Imam Bacchus Ground, Anna Regina Secondary won the toss and decided to field first, bowling out Abram Zuil Secondary for just 30 runs in a mere 13.2 of their allotted 18 overs. In this poor batting exhibition by the losing side, Saied Haq was the top-scorer with 8 not

out, and no other scorer could pass 5.

It was a clinical bowling performance from Anna Regina Secondary, as Lance Roberts bagged 3-7 off his 4 overs, and Kamesh Lall 3-1 from just one over. In reply, Anna Regina Secondary strolled to 31 without loss in just 8.1 overs. They have retained the championship for three consecutive years.

GSSF strengthens partnership with Guyana Police Force

Samuel Cox displaying his recently acquired UEFA ‘A’ Licence

Rockets, Warriors battle for Western Conference title

From left: GSSF Treasurer Ray Beharry, GSSF Director Aleemul Ali, GPF’s Lonsdale Withrithe, OC, TSU; GSSF Secretary Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon; Asstistant Commissioner of Operations, Clifton Hicken; GSSF Director David Dharry, GSSF President Ryan McKinnon, Senior Superintendent Watts and Senior Superintendent Thomas

D

irectors of the Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) have held a successful meeting with Guyana Police Force Assistant Commissioner of Operations, Clifton Hicken, at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary.

Led by local sharpshooter and GSSF President Ryan McKinnon, the executives of the foundation paid the visit to Hicken, Senior Superintendent Thomas, Senior Superintendent Watts, and OC of the TSU, Withrithe.

Discussions were geared towards mapping out future plans be-

tween the GSSF and the GPF. Plans for the future, along with an update of the progress of the GSSF and its programmes thus far, were discussed among other areas of mutual interest.

The Foundation's executives also reached out to the Force for a more supporting role in assisting with GSSF’s steel challenge shooting as a sport on the GPF sports calendar.

The Foundation had met with members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) a month ago to discuss similar plans for the year 2018.

T

he Eastern and Western Conference finals of the 2018 NBA playoffs are shaping up to be one of the closest back-andforth series in NBA history.

The Warriors forced a Game 7 against the Rockets in the West, while the Cavaliers came back from behind to even the series, also needing seven games to decide the winner of the East.

To put in perspective how unusual it is for both conference finals make it a seven-game series, hasn’t happened in 39 years.

t o i t

Both conferences will need a Game 7 to decide who makes it into the NBA Finals for the first time since 1979, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

Golden State heads into Game 7 after coming off of a huge 115-86 Game6 win Saturday with 35 points from Klay Thompson and 29 from Stephen Curry while the Cavaliers pulled off a 109-99 Game-6 victory Friday behind 46 points from LeBron James.

On Sunday, Game 7 for the Eastern Conference finals returned to Boston while tonight, the playoffs will be decided when the Western Conference finals will go to Houston, with a scheduled start of 9pm.

monDAY, may 28, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

RFA Champions League…

Tabatinga, Gladiators crowned Rupununi champs Pg 22

Champions Tabatinga with their spoils

Shane Watson the hero as CSK claim 3rd IPL crown Pg 23

Pg 19

Chennai Super Kings lift the trophy

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