Guyanatimes 29 july 2017

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Saturday, July 29, 2017

Issue No. 3286

Broadcast Bill: an attack on press freedom – Jagdeo Page 3

…warns broadcasters not to sit idly by

Lusignan escapee found in pit latrine

Assassination claim not properly investigated – acting Top Cop Page 2

Page 7

New wing of High Court commissioned

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

NOC escapees charged for P12 robbing Govt MP Tobacco P12 Company slams Govt for lack of consultations

… but pledges to abide by law

Guyana P10 prepares to go digital

Page 14

Ogle’s airport service fee to be charged by airlines P9

UG launches Diaspora P11 Centre The newly-commissioned wing at the High Court, Georgetown. Inset: Chancellor (ag), Yonette CummingsEdwards and President David Granger along with Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George (right) cutting the ribbon at the opening on Friday

GECOM chairmanship

Anti-money laundering

3rd list to be Guyana’s fight gets US submitted next support week See story on page 9

Page 13

…US$150,000 for training for FIU’s iBase software

CXC launches 1st interactive mobile app P11

2 news Assassination claim not properly investigated – acting Top Cop A saturDAY, july 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

cting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine has opined that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) did not properly investigate Andrif Gillard’s allegations that businessman Nizam Khan had offered him $7M to kill President David Granger.

The acting Commissioner placed his opinion on record when, on Friday at the Ministry of the Presidency, he took to the stand to testify before the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) that is investigating the allegation.

Ramnarine said he was discharging the duties of Commissioner of Police (ag) when the matter was first reported, and he had ordered Crime Chief Wendell Blanum to personally supervise the investigation.

Gillard had, on March 29, gone to the Public

Security Ministry with the hope of meeting Minister Khemraj Ramjattan to report the alleged plot, but the minister was out of the country. Gillard was, however, referred to the CID Headquarters at Eve Leary.

Ramnarine said that after he was briefed on the incident, he attempted to contact Citizenship Minister Winston Felix, who was acting in Ramjattan’s capacity, but those efforts were futile. He was, however, able to contact the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, to whom he related the information in police possession.

He noted that an investigation immediately commenced, and, at about 16:00hrs, he was informed that Nizam Khan was in custody. At around 20:00hrs, he had received a call stating that President Granger wanted a briefing the following day.

Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine

At about 05:30hrs, while receiving the daily crime briefing from Crime Chief Blanum, it was indicated to him that Blanhum had ordered the release of Nizam Khan.

The acting Commissioner said the police were not in possession of any informa-

tion that would have suggested Gillard’s claims were dishonest; and as a result, he had asked why Nizam Khan was ordered released, and was told that Khan had promised to return the following day to assist with investigations.

Ramnarine told the com-

mission he had assured the President that all steps were being taken to guarantee the President’s safety, and was asked for a written report to chronicle the investigation.

He said Commissioner Seelall Persaud resumed duty on April 1, and following a debriefing, he, Ramnarine, informed Persaud of the report, which was unfinished.

Persaud told Ramnarine to provide him with all the information and he, Persaud, would compile the report and send it to the Commander in Chief.

Ramnarine said he had not been consulted on the issue of bail, and if it were up to him, he would surely not have granted Nizam Khan bail.

“We have held people for 72 hours for far less serious offences,” he told the CoI. On the night of March 29, Imran Khan, brother of Nizam Khan, behaved in a disorderly manner at the CID HQ and was subsequently arrested. During his arrest, his cellphone rang and it indicated that Commissioner Persaud was calling; and following that conversation, the investigating detective, Prem Narine, received a call instructing him to release the Khan brothers.

Ramnarine told the com-

mission that the following morning, when he was receiving the daily crime briefing, the crime chief did not provide any information on the investigation. He said he had to ask for an update, and was told that Blanum had released the Khan brothers.

‘Not properly investigated’ Having ordered the Crime Chief to supervise the investigation, Ramnarine said, he had felt that investigation would be through. He is now saying that he felt the investigation was not properly conducted because several senior officers had become involved therein.

“I have now come to learn that he (Blanum) may have been influenced on the very afternoon of the 29th (of March), and that is to say specifically by the Commissioner (Seelall Persaud), who was on leave…because of the association of the Commissioner of Police and Imran Khan and Nizam Khan fundamentally. So, taking into account all the circumstances surrounding the conduct of this investigation, my sincere answer would be, ‘No, it was not properly investigated’,” Ramnarine revealed while being questioned by Commission Chair Paul Slowe. turn to page 11

news

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saturDAY, july 29, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Saturday – July 29 –09:00h-10:30h and Sunday – July 30 –09:30h-11:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday – July 29 –08:00h-09:30h and Sunday – July 30 –08:45h-10:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Weather: Sunny conditions followed by thundery and heavy rain showers, with clear skies in the evening.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging between East South-easterly and Easterly from 1.78 metres to 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 08:37h and 21:00h reaching maximum heights of 2.43 metres and 2.37 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 14:33h reaching a minimum height of 0.83 metre.

WEDNESDAY, July 26, 2017

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Broadcast Bill: an attack on press freedom – Jagdeo …warns broadcasters not to sit idly by

T

he Broadcast (Amendment) Bill 2017 was laid in the National Assembly on Thursday, but concerns have been raised about its far-reaching powers ever since it was revealed to contain provisions that compel private media to air Government broadcasts.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, during a press conference on Friday, zeroed in on the bill -- which he referred to as an “expropriation of property and time” – adamantly contending that even when the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was in office, it would not have dared make such a bill law, even though TV stations had refused to air programmes the then Government was willing to pay for.

“You would recall that when the coalition Government was in charge of the Parliament, between 2012 and 2015, they argued that GINA (Government Information Agency) was carrying too many Government programmes and that (a) minister doing their work was propaganda,” Jagdeo said.

He reminded that the then Opposition, which had a oneseat majority in Parliament, cut the GINA budget, leaving that entity penniless.

“At that time, a minister visiting a project was propaganda. Now the GINA budget is bigger than it was before, and private radio stations and television stations are required to give one hour per day for free to the Government to broadcast those programmes,” Jagdeo lamented.

Touching on the 24-hour timeframe that a broadcasting entity has to register with the Guyana Broadcasting Authority (GBA) its objection to carrying a particular broadcast, Jagdeo noted that a “win-win” situation has been created for the Government, because even if the GBA rules that the broadcast is not a public service announcement, the only outcome would be that the Government has to pay for its airing.

“So it doesn’t say, ‘You can’t carry it’, ‘(Government) just have to pay for it’. So automatically the Government gets your time, whether it is a (PSA) or not, for free; or they

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

can pay for it. You don’t have any control over (that situation).

“This,” he continued, “is the beginning of the expropriation of public airwaves and getting Government propaganda to all parts of this country for free. These are just two elements of this bill that we will have to oppose.”

Jagdeo urged broadcasters not to sit idly by and allow the Government, through its oneseat majority, to get its way with the passage of the bill; but broadcasters should seek recourse through the courts.

“This will not stand anywhere; it’s tantamount to expropriation of property in respect to the power it gives the authority to take away people’s licences and, secondly, to expropriate the times they have on television,” the Opposition Leader said.

The Bill

Part two of the bill sets out that broadcast agencies will be mandated to broadcast public service programmes for a total of up to one hour daily. Broadcast agencies will be airing these public service programmes free of cost and as requested by the Government between 6:00hrs and 22:00hrs.

It is also states that the GNBA reserves the right to direct a broadcasting agency to broadcast emergency notices or disaster warnings for any length of time, and regularly during peak or prime advertising time periods, depending on the nature of the emergency and having regard to public safety.

A broadcaster will have the right to file a complaint with the GNBA within 24 hours of being asked to broadcast a programme free of cost if, in the agency’s judgment, it is not considered a public service broadcast programme.

The GNBA, according to the draft provisos, “shall investigate and determine a complaint, and issue a ruling that the programme can be reasonably considered a public service broadcast programme, and direct the broadcasting agency to air the programme free of cost”.

Further, the broadcaster can “be granted an interim order to broadcast the announcement as a public service broadcast programme;

breach of their licence.

When contacted about the missing penalty, GNBA Chairman, former Magistrate Leslie Sobers, indicated that in the absence of a general penalty clause, punishment for arbitrarily refusing to air a PSA would be up to the courts.

Reapply

Revoking the 2014 broadcasting regulations, the Act also puts those broadcasters who are already licensed at the mercy of the authority.

It mandates that any licensed entity carrying out broadcast services immediately before the act went into effect will have no choice but to reapply within thirty days

“This will not stand anywhere; it’s tantamount to expropriation of property in respect to the power it gives the authority to take away people’s licences and, secondly, to expropriate the times they have on television” – Jagdeo and where the programme is not so considered to be a public broadcast programme”, the GNBA can order payment of regular programme cost for broadcasting the said programme.” But there is even a warning for broadcasters daring to oppose the legislation: the bill states that any broadcaster the GNBA finds to have “arbitrarily refused” to broadcast a public service broadcast programme without lodging a complaint has committed an offence.

However, there is no mention of what the penalty for said breach actually is.

Reports have indicated that the draft legislation contained provisions for the GNBA to deem the broadcaster in

for a licence in accordance with the amended law.

“Where a person fails to make an application for a licence within the time specified, or where an application for a licence is not granted by (GNBA), he shall immediately cease to carry on the broadcasting service,” Section Nine, subsection three of the bill states.

Failing to cease operations if they are not granted a new licence by the GNBA would cause to be imposed on that broadcaster, on summary conviction, a fine of $1M and imprisonment for one year. In addition, all machinery and equipment used for broadcasting by the entity can be seized.

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saturDAY, july 29, 2017

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

A wake-up call to treat NCDs as a serious matter

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he issue of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the impact they are having on countries, particularly those in the Caribbean region, recently took the spotlight once again when a leading health expert, Dr Alafia Samuels, disclosed that, based on a recent study, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago were found to have the highest mortality for premature cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the Americas.

For Guyana, in particular, this is indeed quite worrisome, and must serve as a wake-up call for the authorities here to take the issue of fighting NCDs more seriously; as, from all indications, efforts in this regard are being weakened or minimized to some extent.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), of all the major health threats that have emerged over the years, “none has challenged the very foundations of public health so profoundly as the rise of chronic non-communicable diseases”. Due to poor lifestyle choices -- such as tobacco use, alcohol abuse, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity -NCDs have resulted in large numbers of young people dying.

Another significant number has also fallen ill, and therefore cannot contribute to their families or the development of their communities in any way.

Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases -- once linked only to affluent societies -- have affected, and continue to affect, every country in the world; with the poor suffering the most due to the lack of proper medical care and access to drugs etc. In 2007, CARICOM leaders signed what they described as the “ground-breaking” Port of Spain Declaration, aimed at uniting countries to stop the epidemic of NCDs. The declaration was recently evaluated by a team which included Dr Samuels and other regional and international experts.

Based on the Caricom Health Commission team’s findings, Dr Samuels noted, death from non-communicable diseases of persons between the ages of 30 and 69 in the Caribbean is double the rate in North America. The expert noted that of the four areas, the region was able to record success in only one, which was having tobacco consumption reduced. The other three areas, she added, are worse than they were 10 years ago, when the declaration was signed.

She pointed out that the risk factor across the region remains poor, and is even more worrisome among children.

In relation to Guyana’s case, while there have been some positive moves in tackling NCDs -- such as finalising the Tobacco Control Legislation etc. -- some experts believe that enough is not being done in the fight against NCDs. It could be recalled that there was an NCD Strategy in the years 2003-2008, and again in the period 2008-2015, which had outlined a comprehensive and effective programme to fight NCDs. It is not clear if these strategies are still being used as a guide by health authorities.

Former Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, was recently quoted in this newspaper as saying that some of the crucial programmes that were previously in place to tackle NCDs appear to have been reduced or totally abandoned.

He in particular pointed to the aggressive education and awareness campaigns that were very visible some years ago. Also, community health fairs, school programmes and other initiatives which were used to address such issues as positive lifestyles are becoming less visible. These are all useful strategies in ensuring the message of healthy lifestyles continues to reach everyone in every community across the country. From all indications, they are being done in a limited fashion. However, we believe that for such efforts to be successful, they must be done on a consistent basis, utilising the most effective methods. Discussions surrounding NCDs should constantly be kept on the national development agenda, where serious efforts should be made at all levels to reduce the large numbers of persons suffering or facing death. On this basis, there is need for more collaborative efforts among all stakeholders, including support from private sector bodies, to tackle NCDs, since all of them are affected by loss of labour force etc.

The findings of the recent study which places Guyana as having the highest mortality for premature cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the Americas is yet another reminder that we cannot afford to treat chronic NCDs lightly.

With the spirit of CPL in the air, players of the Guyana Amazon Warriors visited one of the flagship stores of the new signature sponsor GTT on Friday. In photo, Rayad Emrit takes time out to take a photo with this young fan and his mother

Constitution restricts Diaspora from elective office Dear Editor, With reference to diaspora engagement, it is noted that the current so-called Burnham Constitution almost completely excludes the diaspora from political participation. There are restrictions on members of the diaspora running for office and being MPs, etc.

This makes it all the more necessary for the diaspora to push ahead for constitutional reform and, more importantly, for inclusion of members of the diaspora in the Constitutional Reform Commission. This will be the only way for the diaspora to be included in the political development of our country.

In the 2001 Constitutional amendment, both the PNC and PPP passed that amendment to restrict Guyanese in the diaspora from seeking elective office. It was not accidental that the two par-

ties wrote and approved the amendment without even consulting the diaspora. The Government talks engagement, but doesn’t walk the talk. The Government calls on the diaspora to invest, but puts roadblocks along the way to discourage members of the diaspora from investing. The Government runs circles around members of the diaspora when they come to invest in the country. Deep down, by their attitude and the insult heaped on the diaspora, the Government could not care less about the diaspora. When in opposition, the party seeks diaspora contributions and engagement.

But when in Government, it has no role for the diaspora. Both parties are guilty of that sin. The parties simply don't want us in the diaspora to be politically involved in Guyana. They sought our role and involvement to liberalise

the economy and return the country to democratic rule.

Without the diaspora involvement, the country would not have experienced democratic change in 1992 or 2015. But once democracy was restored in 1992, the two dominant parties shut out the diaspora from political involvement.

It will be recalled that, in the 2006 election campaign, the AFC promised to appoint two of its MPs from the diaspora, but none was given seats. The promise was repeated in 2011, and yet again the AFC failed to honour the promise. In 2015, APNU +AFC promised three parliamentary seats and diplomatic postings to the diaspora.

No seat was given to members of the diaspora, although the PPP did appoint a diaspora member or remigrant as an MP. The current coalition has appointed two members of the diaspora to diplomatic

posts -- in Dubai and Delhi.

The diaspora is interested in politics of integrity, inclusion and national development. For the diaspora, country comes before self. This is quite unlike the political parties, which are more interested in themselves, and not the country or national development. Inclusive politics has been missing in their political agenda. They seemingly don't want members of the diaspora around. How else can one interpret the exclusion of the diaspora in the politics of the nation? If the parties are serious about including the diaspora in political and economic development, then they immediately need to abolish that 2001 amendment that restricts the diaspora from seeking elective office.

Yours faithfully, Vishnu Bisram

Another missed opportunity for dialogue Dear Editor, On Thursday, the US Congress passed a bill on tougher sanctions against several countries, including the Russian Federation. Last year, the American administration expelled 35 Russian diplomats and closed down two compounds belonging to our country under “spying” and “election meddling” allegations. All these measures not only run counter to fundamental principles of international law, diplomacy, and basic courtesy, but also are detrimental to the economic and political interests of America, let alone European and other countries whose voices have been blatantly disregarded.

This stance is yet another proof that the United States is still harbouring the idea of superiority and unilateralism in the post-Cold War era, which is a disturbing sign to the international community.

Over the last decades, the Russian Federation has proved itself a valuable and committed partner, a country willing to take up emerging challenges in collaboration with other members of the international community. To this end, it has been working hard to improve bilateral relations with the US, strengthen economic ties and cooperation on the most pressing issues of the international affairs, including terrorism, WMD non-proliferation, transna-

tional crime, and cyberspace security.

In this sense, it is regrettable that the US brass is passing up this opportunity for joint action, and instead is opting for using the Kremlin as a scapegoat in internal political bickering. Not only that, it seeks to limit Russia’s cooperation with foreign partners, thus threatening their businesses and national interests.

Despite this severe neglect of generally recognized diplomatic practices, Russia has been patient, restrained, and willing to restore the RussianAmerican relations to an acceptable level until this day.

However, it is clear now that Russia-phobia has carried

the day in the American decision-making. Therefore, the Russian Government has requested that the American diplomatic and technical staff currently employed in the US diplomatic missions in Russia be reduced to 455 officials by September 1, which corresponds to the Russian personnel in the USA. Starting August 1, all storage facilities in Moscow and the country house in Serebryany Bor will be unavailable to the US Embassy. In the event of further unilateral action on behalf of the US, additional retaliatory measures will follow.

Sincerely, Embassy of the Russian Federation to Guyana

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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

National security has been compromised

Dear Editor, The current crisis in the security sector, brought on by the recent escape of some of the most dangerous prisoners in Guyana’s prison population from the temporary Lusignan holding facility, has gripped the nation in a frenzy of fear – not irrational, but justifiable fear -- because, from corner to corner of Guyana, practically on a daily basis, there are stories emanating of violent crimes, especially armed robberies and murder in the commission of such crimes.

These people have to live.

They have bodily needs that they have to fulfill, and they have a history of wresting the wherewithal of those needs by any means possible; so the average Guyanese have been targeted to provide for those needs.

The tears of the nation are flowing to rival the floods decimating nations worldwide, but these are rivers of blood flowing from eyes that are drenched with the pain from

hearts wounded to unbearable proportions by the loss of loved ones, most often in the prime of their lives, brutally taken by the beasts in human form who, while robbing persons of their property, cash and other resources, have no qualms about robbing them of their lives also.

A country’s security sector bears the most responsibility for the protection of citizens from criminal elements, thus anyone tasked with the mandate of managing this vital sector should prove, over time, meritorious in the functionality and efficiency of the various arms of Government, comprising his portfolio. However, from the inception of the appointment of Khemraj Ramjattan as Security Minister, there has been one critical incident that compromised the nation’s safety after another.

The calls are escalating, even from his own party’s supporters, that he should resign, or be re-assigned, because he

has clearly failed to deliver on his primary mandate – to protect the nation and formulate policies that would strengthen the various arms under his watch.

He defends the indefensible and excuses himself with one ridiculous postulation after another, when the fact is that he is unable to perform to expectations. There may be many flaws in the system; but the fact of the matter is that the buck stops at Ramjattan.

His most recent utterings, while acknowledging this fact, disclaims blame on his performance and ascribes same to departmental heads, while not naming names at this point in time. There has been an inkling that the re-allocated prisoners were not securely housed at Lusignan. From previous actions of the prisoners, who proved that they are desperate enough to use desperate measures to escape, why was security not reinforced to a requisite quantum, bearing in mind Ramjattan

has absolute access to soldiers and police ranks who could be deployed to address emergency situations at an instant? Did he make periodic checks to inspect the situation and gauge for himself the dire need for additional security forces? If so, why did he not act forthwith, to bring the situation under control and have the prisoners under scrutiny at all times? Digging a tunnel in what should have been a tightly guarded zone should have been a detectable activity, sending alarm bells in the hierarchy of the prison administrative system. So where did the system fail?

Heads should roll after this latest ludicrous fiasco, and the first that should go, according to popular opinion, is that of Ramjattan. The public has absolutely no confidence in him as head of the security services.

Regards, Alister Charlie Member of Parliament

Optimising municipal expenditure Dear Editor, Cities all around the globe are introducing wide-ranging measures to optimise municipal expenditure in the face of the current economic challenges worldwide.

Some of these measures include a freeze on hiring new staff, stricter controls on overtime, curbs on various expenses, and a cut in spending on all municipal-organized events. The City of Ottawa, the capital of Canada, cut 75 managerial and 102 unionized staff positions late last

year, to save money. The city of Hamilton took the step of cutting 23 management and other jobs so as not to raise property rates.

The Plymouth City Council in the UK has made up to 200 people redundant, and has cut about £15 million from the capital programme as it seeks to balance its budget. A further 100 council posts left vacant since last year will also be axed.

In Tallahassee, about 47 city positions will be eliminated from next year’s budget,

to make up for a $4.5 million funding gap. And the list goes on and on.

But in our ‘Garden City’, Georgetown, the story is quite the opposite. In the face of bankruptcy, heavy debts, and the delivery of very poor services, our City Council has decided to vastly increase its expenditure by hiring more garbage contractors to add to the others to whom they owe millions of dollars; by hiring many, many more persons to senior positions; by travelling frequently overseas, and by

upgrading small sections to bid departments.

This has to be some new and bizarre economic concept that would upturn all of the theories and concepts taught in economics, and one which central Government seems willing to allow.

One just has to enter any municipal office at any time of the work day and one would see scores of employees just idling.

Sincerely, Shanta Singh

Why doesn’t Guyana have a Food Safety Law? Dear Editor, Among the issues discussed at the recent Diaspora Engagement Conference were trade and investment, and the role the diaspora can play in helping to attract investment into Guyana, as well as assist in finding markets for local products and produce.

Diaspora communities, apart from being sizable markets themselves for local products, usually play a useful role in introducing others in their neighbourhoods, workplaces, and places of worship to products from their homeland.

For many countries, diaspora communities represent sizable markets. It is for this reason that the Caribbean diaspora lobbied hard to ensure that trade and investment were included in the recent new US Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act, and specifically speaks to the issue of market access. In Guyana’s case, several of our fresh fruits and vegetables for which there are big markets in Queens and Brooklyn alone are denied entry because we do not, and cannot, meet the food safety and other phytosanitary measures required by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

In order to meet these measures, a number of processes and inspections from farm to fork have to be part of a food safety policy, and must be in a set of regulations which the exporting country, in this case Guyana, must have in place.

In recent discussions with US officials, in my capacity as president of the Guyanese American Chamber of Commerce (GACC), about helping Guyana with training and equipment to move this process forward, it was pointed out that Guyana does not have a Food Safety Law,

which should first be enacted before any meaningful assistance could be provided. I am informed that the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) has approved funding for a laboratory which, once operational, would be a key component of Guyana’s preparation to meet international requirements for exports of produce and food products.

So my question is: why doesn’t Guyana have a Food Safety Law? Brief research which I undertook revealed that a Food Safety Bill was drafted in 2013 arising from the IDB-funded Agricultural Export Diversification Programme (ADP). Usually reliable sources tell me that this Bill has languished ever since, due to “turf” competition between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health, a situation that has spanned both the former and the current administrations.

A requirement that would provide for millions of dollars of agricultural produce should not languish because two ministries can’t decide which would be “head honcho” of the proposed Food Safety Authority for which the draft Bill provides. Expanded exports of agricultural produce and products will not only earn foreign exchange for Guyana, but will generate hundreds of jobs as well as provide increased income for our farmers. I hope the cabinet of President David Granger will address this issue with a sense of urgency.

If, for any reason, my usually reliable source has not fed me reliable information as to why this Bill is languishing, then I hope the relevant authority would explain the delay.

Sincerely, Wesley Kirton

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Foundation

Doorways into activism

–- books can give children an entry point to taking action in the outside world by providing examples of how to address bullying, bias, and injustice

By Jinnie Spiegler

I

n The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade, by Justin Roberts, Sally has keen observation skills that enable her to see a lot of mean behaviour and bullying – and one day she decides to take a stand. (For ages 3–6) In Maddi’s Fridge, by Lois Brandt, Sofia enlists her mother in seeking to help her friend Maddi, who doesn’t have much food in her refrigerator because her family is poor. (For ages 4–8) In Separate Is Never Equal, by Duncan Tonatiuh, Sylvia is excited about her first day at her neighbourhood school, but she and her siblings are prevented from attending because they’re Mexican. Her family organises a lawsuit that brings about an end to segregated schooling in California. (For ages 6–10) These characters – both real and fictional – have something in common. They find ways to combat bias or injustice. They take action. (The Anti-Defamation League has information and educator discussion guides for all of these books.)

The books, spanning from picture books to young adult literature, highlight the ways people can act as allies on a personal level or engage in activism on a larger scale. Allies are those who speak out on behalf of or take actions that are supportive of someone else, and activists get involved in activities that are meant to achieve political or social change.

Because books can resonate with children, they can serve as important tools in helping children feel powerful and take action. When children are targeted or witness bias, bullying, and injustice, it can be difficult for them to know what to do. They may stay silent, stew in their anger, or feel demoralised and powerless. As they seek out strategies to deal with bias, discovering books that inspire them to be allies and activists can make a difference.

Over the past several years, there’s been an increasing

awareness about the need to have diverse books in homes and schools in order to provide young people with both “mirrors” to build self-esteem in their own identities and “windows” to let them understand people who are different from them.

There has been less emphasis on what we might call “doorway” books, literature that illustrates what actions young people can take to challenge the bullying, bias, and injustice they see in their lives. These books are doorways in that they provide an entry point to taking action in the outside world. They can provide historical and current day role models of people who experienced and witnessed injustice and then went out to confront it.

Books can be an outlet and a tool for helping young people understand that they can make a difference as they explore how to address bias, hate, incivility, and injustice. As they look for strategies to address inequities in schools, communities, and society as whole, books about social justice and ally behaviour provide models, stories, and inspiration.

As you read books with young people, consider these ideas for implementation to extend the learning: Read-alouds, book clubs, and discussions: No matter the age, children enjoy being read to, and doorway books are wonderful opportunities to learn about allyship and activism and achieve reading goals at the same time. You can also divide students into book clubs and have them read different books and then come together as a class to talk about common themes and where the books diverge. Acting out favourite scenes is another way to extend the learning.

Written responses to literature: You can use discussion questions as writing prompts, have students write the next chapter or pages of the book as they imagine it, write diary entries of their favourite character, or write book reviews.

Social action projects: Use the stories and student writing as springboards to discuss issues of bias and injustice. Discuss which issues require action and develop action plans for doing something about them.

Technology: Use video, social media, blogs, photography, and other technology to engage students in a different way. Use video to record a book talk, use Twitter and Instagram with tweens and teens to engage them in learning more about the subject or find out what others are saying about the book, or have students create a class blog about the different doorway books they read.

Connections between history and current events: These books can provide an opening to learn more about history as well as current events that connect with the subject matter of the book. When students have questions or want to dig deeper into the content, they can be engaged in research projects about the history related to the text. (Excerpt from edutopia.org)

Sibling Fighting: 5 ways to teach your children to get along Continued from Friday

By Kim Abraham & Marney Studaker-Cordner

I

Ensure restitution f one of your children harms a sibling or takes something from them, make sure there is a consequence. For example, if Jake breaks Tyler’s game, he needs to pay for it. If he can’t pay for it, give him opportunities to earn the money from you to pay Tyler. Or, Jake may need to give something of his own, that he values, to Tyler. This accomplishes two things: Jake becomes the one who pays the price for his own actions (instead of Tyler) and Tyler learns there is justice in your home. Now, some parents may say, “Are you kidding?! If I took something that belonged to my ODD kid and gave it to his sibling, World War III would be declared!” But don’t allow your Oppositional Defiant child to

hold family members hostage for fear of retaliation. In the real world, if your ODD child steals from or harms others, there’s restitution. If you decide the form of restitution we recommend would be hard to stick with or truly dangerous, identify another form of restitution that will fairly compensate the child who was wronged in the first place and then follow through.?

Be proactive by identifying triggers Help your kids, particularly your ODD child, identify situations that seem to be particularly upsetting or that provoke an argument between siblings. Then help your children identify ways to cope with those situations or avoid them altogether.

Show your ODD child how managing his anger or emotions actually gives him more control in a situation than by reacting to someone else.

The Game of Life A family is like a sports team playing the game of life together. Not all the players get along. Not all the players like each other. But that’s not a ticket to be mean or disrespectful.

Your role as a parent is to model good sportsmanship, teach skills and intervene when necessary. If one of the players fouls a teammate or refuses to follow the rules, your job as The Coach is to bench that child temporarily in a time out. (You can’t trade him to another team, no matter how much you may want to in the moment –and unfortunately The Coach isn’t allowed to hide out at the hot dog stand until the game is over!) Even though at times we need to be able to laugh at what feels like the absurdity of parenting, we are interested in justice as parents – but we’ll take the quiet whenever we can get it! (Excerpt from empoweringparents.com)

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saturDAY, july 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Lusignan escapee found in pit latrine O

ne of the remaining five inmates on the run after escaping from the fenced-in pasture at the Lusignan Prison earlier this week was in a messy situation Friday afternoon as Police ranks hauled him out from a pit latrine at his Kitty, Georgetown home.

According to information released by the Police, 25-year-old Pascal Smith, a murder accused, of Lot 123 Barr Street, Kitty, was recaptured around 12:30h after ranks of the Joint Services received information that he was hiding there.

It is believed that the man went to the house to visit the mother of his child.

Upon seeing him, the woman reportedly contacted the Police.

With his arrest, the Joint Services have been successful in recapturing nine of the 13 escapees, who fled through a hole under the fence at the fenced-in pasture at Lusignan between Sunday night and Monday morning. While there are three layers of security at the penitentiary, the men were able to escape during the downpour in the wee hours of Sunday.

It was reported that the men escaped from the fenced-in swampy pasture of

Recaptured escapee: Pascal Smith

the Lusignan Prison by digging a hole under the perimeter fence. The hole, which was about five feet in length and another five feet in depth, was located within an area that was cordoned off with zinc sheets as a makeshift pit latrine for the inmates.

However, the freedom of most of this group of escapees was short-lived as seven of them were recaptured during the course of Monday by ranks of the Joint Services. They were since charged and appeared at the Cove and John Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, facing charges of escaping from lawful custody.

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

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

The four other escapees: Teshawn McKenzie, Royan Jones, Jason Howard, and Odel Roberts, pleaded not guilty and were remanded until their case is called again in August at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court. The men told the court that they escaped from a pasture and not a prison, arguing that the only reason they did so was because of the conditions they were forced to stay in.

Meanwhile, another escapee, Kendall Skeete, 25, was recaptured on Wednesday morning at a relative’s abandoned house in Wisroc Housing Scheme, Wismar, Linden.

According to Police reports, the Police Anti-Crime Squad, acting on confirmed information from its intelligence network, swooped down on the Wisroc residence and was able to apprehend the fugitive without any use of force.

Skeete, who was in prison for the murder of a Goed Fortuin, West Bank

four are the escapees from the Camp Street facility.

Jurisdiction

Demerara man back in 2008, was allegedly trying to make his way into the interior.

Meanwhile, efforts are continuing for the recapture of the remaining four fugitives. Additionally, the Joint Services are also still hunting for the four inmates who were among the group that initially escaped from lawful custody on July 9 after staging an attack on correctional officers at the Camp Street

Prison and setting the penitentiary alight.

So the eight escapees currently on the run are: Clive Forde, called “El Sinkie”; Shawn Harris, called “Shawny”; Kerry Cromwell; Paul Goriah; the alleged mastermind behind the Camp Street fire, Mark Royden Durant; excop Uree Varswyck; Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander, and Cobena Stephens. The last

On Friday, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan told media operatives that he believed the men were still in the jurisdiction. This is in light of reports that some of the escapees had fled the jurisdiction.

“Intelligence is going on (in terms of recapturing the escapees) and there is no intelligence that is indicating (they fled the jurisdiction). Somehow, we believe that they are still in Guyana probably harboured by people and I’m urging members of the public do not – these are dangerous men and they could do the society tremendous harm. Obviously, they will need your support, do not support them,” urged Minister Ramjattan.

In its efforts to recapture the inmates, the Guyana Police Force is pleading with the public and relatives of these escapees to inform law enforcement of any relevant information as to the whereabouts of the fugitives.

The authorities are also urging the escapees to surrender themselves to avoid any serious confrontation that is likely to result in the use of force.

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saturDAY, july 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Linden, Kwakwani courts to benefit from magisterial district services T

he communities of Linden and Kwakwani situated in Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) will soon join with other areas across the country in benefiting from services offered at magisterial districts.

As such, a number of legal services would be decentralised and offered at both the Linden and Kwakwani Magistrates’ Courts. The move will also see an increase in the number of days court is held at the locations. The Linden Magistrate’s Court, which was reconstructed in 2014, was expected to benefit from becoming a magisterial district since then and services such as payment for child support were expected to be undertaken; however, this to date has not become a reality. To date, persons from

The Linden Magistrate’s Court, which was commissioned in 2014

both Linden and Kwakwani would have to travel to West Demerara to access various services. Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland noted, however, that with the services coming on stream, they would bring much-needed relief to members of the communities.

"No longer would persons with issues in Linden have to travel to West Demerara

to have certain licence passed or to make certain payments, etcetera. It can now be done right in Linden.

Most of these services that you had to travel to West Demerara to access would be done now in Linden," he said.

Holland stressed that he was very pleased with the soon-to-be-realised development since leaders would

have been advocating for this for many years.

"We're also happy that persons will no longer have to travel to Georgetown.

You have persons with petty issues, persons who are just seeking a licence to get something done. They would usually have to travel on a particular day, at a particular time to go all the way to West Demerara. So, it has been hard for Lindeners for many years and this is great news for them.

I want to thank Madame Chancellor for this progress, because I know the burden which will be lifted off the backs of Lindeners,” Holland noted.He added that the Chancellor of the Judiciary has been working very hard to bring the development on stream and the town of Linden was equally ready to welcome it.

Smoke…

A

…and cancer sticks t long last, we have a piece of legislation to help us deal with that insidious “slow poison” known as “cigarettes”. Your Eyewitness has long harboured a suspicion that the Indigenous peoples -- who were “discovered” by Columbus and soon exterminated from the West Indies --had their revenge on Europeans by passing on the use of tobacco to them!! The Amerindians used tobacco only occasionally, for religious purposes!

Even though James I of Britain denounced -- in his polemic of 1604, titled “A Counterblaste to Tobacco” -- the use of tobacco as a "custome lothsome to the eye, hatefull to the Nose, harmefull to the braine, dangerous to the Lungs, and in the blacke stinking fume thereof, neerest resembling the horrible Stigian smoke of the pit that is bottomelesse,” nobody listened to him!

After all, there were big bucks to be made from the “blacke stinking fume”!! Soon Africans slaves were hauled over the Atlantic to grow tobacco on PLANTATIONS - to keep up with the demand for the addictive stuff that created its own market!!

The colonies that would become the United States of America soon became the biggest producers of tobacco, and eventually the largest producers of cigarettes. Fast forward to the middle of the 20th century, and medical research began to show the harmful effects of tobacco on the lungs etc, via the 4000 odd (very odd!!) chemicals produced when tobacco’s burnt. The wonderful ingenuity of US democracy -which changed the concept “bribery” to “lobbying” -- soon kicked into gear on behalf of the US tobacco companies, to convince the public that cigarettes were actually not just “sexy”, but GOOD for them!!

But with the evidence showing that even ‘second hand” smoke from those around folks could give them cancer, the manufacturers had to do something! They couldn’t just give up all those profits, could they? They looked around and saw that the natives in what was now the “third world” didn’t know better. Why not sell it to THEM? After all, they wanted to live just like the Americans and Europeans, didn’t they?

And so said so done. With the First World exporting the cancer sticks, after 50 years, we’re now the biggest smokers on the planet! But finally, we’re taking action against this scourge. We now have “The Tobacco Control Bill 2017”, which bans smoking in all indoor workplaces, indoor public places, and public transport.

We hope our citizens will get wise to what’s really in their interest and support this ban.

Your Eyewitness never got into smoking after, as a youth, he answered a question posed by the philosopher Bertrand Russel.

“Can you imagine a cow inhaling smoke from burning grass? He couldn’t!! …and tension Just when you thought the smoke had cleared from the Camp St ruins, it seems to have stuck in the eyes of the law enforcement personnel who’re looking for the convicts who absconded. (You can’t REALLY call fellas who WALKED OUT the front gate of the prisons “escapees”, can you? They just “left”!!) The ones from the Lusignan Cow Pen are real “escapees” - they did things the approved way - like digging tunnels under the noses of the guards, and stuff!!

But back to our protectors with smoke in their eyes.

What else can you say when a bunch of them - armed to the teeth - shoot and kill a fella who was running away from their menacing shouts? What else was this chap expected to do? Stand still and be shot, like what happens to folks of a certainty ethnicity in interactions with the police in the US? Is anybody keeping count of all the false arrests, beatings, shootings, and search-and-seizures those folks have been subjected to after July 9th? …and mirrors By the time you read this, the coronation of VC Griffith would’ve taken place. But rather than the promised “500 national, regional and international representatives”, just the faithful ones showed up!!

Courtiers-to-be?

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saturDAY, july 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ogle’s airport service fee to 3rd list to be submitted be charged by airlines GECOM chairmanship

next week

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said he was in the process of finalising his third list of nominees for the chairmanship of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), which he hopes to submit some time next week. He is hopeful that President David Granger would select one of the names on the list when submitted.

“I had committed to submitting a third list publically and with the President, and I believe that I should continue with that process.

Clearly, we will have to discuss at some point in time the profound nature of the ruling, but I am hoping that from this third list, that someone would be chosen and then it would become a moot issue,” Jagdeo told the media on Friday.

He said he has made substantive progress on his current list of names and indicated that he was yet to meet with President Granger on the list in question.

“I am getting difficulties; good solid professionals, people who don’t want to be in the political domain… don’t want their names to become political football,

they are very reticent about having their names go up and then in the public, people are told that they don’t meet standards of impartiality or independence or they don’t have the skills to manage what is essentially a technical job not a political job,” he said when asked about difficulties he was experiencing to get persons to agree to be on the list.

President Granger has already refused two lists submitted by the Opposition Leader, but Jagdeo is hopeful that an agreement would be met.

“We had identified that should have started already, but there has been no attempt on the part of the Government to trigger that process because the work was supposed to be done simultaneously on discussing the way forward should the current set of names not meet the favour of the President,” Jagdeo added.

Only recently, businessman Marcel Gaskin moved to the court to seek clarity on the constitutional requirement for the appointment of GECOM Chairman and acting Chief Justice Roxane George ruled

against President Granger’s interpretation of Guyana’s Constitution for the appointment of a GECOM chairman, saying that there was no preference for judicial persons.

Justice George agreed with lawyers for the Leader of the Opposition, who was named in the court proceedings and the Guyana Bar Association that there was no validity to arguments that the person should be a judge, former judge or person eligible to be a judge rather than merely being any other fit and proper person, and that persons from each category are equally eligible for the post.

The acting Chief Justice said the Opposition Leader could not be fettered to name persons from the first two categories and that the President should give reasons for the grounds of his refusal of nominees.

In response to the ruling, President Granger said that the Chief Justice gave her interpretation of the law and he would continue following his interpretation of the Constitution.

Jagdeo said that he would await the written ruling from the acting Chief Justice before he made any further pronouncement on that matter. He added that at some point it would become imperative that the President and he discuss the ruling.

GCAA Director General, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Egbert Field with OAI CEO Anthony Mekdeci (seated); LIAT CEO Julie Reifer-Jones and other officials following Monday’s meeting

T

he newly-implemented airport service fee charged on passengers flying out of Guyana through the Eugene F Correia International Airport (EFCIA) will now be covered in the airline tickets’ price.

This was done after the new fee came into focus when the airport operator advertised that it will be collecting the fee directly from passengers effective

July 1, 2017 for the maintenance of the airport facilities. The fee, which all international passengers will be required to pay, will be in the sum of $3600 for adults and $2400 for children aged seven and under.

However, Ogle Airport Incorporated (OAI), while attempting to streamline its revenue collection, did not take into account that some passengers could have been charged twice

nor that its action would infringe on the ease of travel for passengers had the fee been charged directly to passengers.

As such, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the OAI have been in talks with the regional airlines operating out of the Airport to have the fee be charged on the tickets and not separately by the Airport. turn to page 13

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saturdAY, july 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana prepares to go digital …as broadcasters are urged to move away from analogue systems

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roadcasters in Guyana are being streamlined to embrace the transition from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting.

Towards the end of 2020, Guyana should at least begin the transition process in keeping with international standards.

Owners of television stations and broadcasters were on Friday taken through the roadmap to this process, when they gathered at the Police Training Centre, Camp Street, Georgetown.

Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes

Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes, under whose Ministry the workshop fell, reminded that technology was moving at an alarmingly fast rate the world over. However, Guyana has been somewhat slow to embrace these changes.

“The reality is in today’s world we either prepare or change, or we will be left behind,” she warned.

In Guyana, the broadcasting system remains in analogue mode, while many

Participants at the workshop on Friday at the Police Training Centre

parts of the world have already transitioned to digital terrestrial television.

Hughes said whether it was embraced or not, the reality is unless Guyana begins manufacturing its own equipment, it will be left behind.

“So there’s no question about how we have to move or the direction we have to move in. The issue is how can we plan for it? How can we discuss the changes maybe in business models in technology? And how can we move toward a unified sector forward?

According to the Minister, the close-off date for the transition in many parts of the world is 2020, leaving just three years for Guyana to come up to speed. She said the transition has already begun in the developed countries and has even caught on in neighbouring Suriname.

She, therefore, urged the movers and shakers of the broadcasting sector to become aggressively involved.

Going through the roadmap which was developed a few years ago, Managing Director of the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU), Valmiki Singh explored what was happening globally. The United Nations Agency for Information and Communication Technology has established some guidelines for the transition and had even offered its assistance to many developing countries, including Guyana, to develop their roadmap.

The project is funded by the Republic of Korea and had initially included a number of meetings with the Caribbean Telecommunication Union (CTU) among others. The roadmap, he explained, has three stages: preparation,

development and implementation. Two of these stages have already been completed.

“We really are at the stage of implementation… we have a document on our hands and we need to get moving with implementation,” Singh said, continuing that before this could even come into effect, the understanding of broadcasters needed to be raised.

According to Singh, while the switch-off time from analogue is set around the world for 2020, the earlier it is done in Guyana, the better.

“We don’t manufacture equipment and if we want to prolong this, we may very well have to do that, because at some point in time, the manufacturers of this equipment will stop making this equipment and will stop putting the analogue tuners in the television sets,” he said.

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saturDAY, july 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

CXC launches 1st interactive mobile app UG launches

T

he Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has launched its first ever interactive mobile connect application (mobile app) in an effort to foster wider opportunities for the Caribbean youth.

The job landscape for the millennial is said to be looking up with the new app, “CXC Connect”, reputed to be an efficient and effective tool for students who will find themselves in the world of work.

With this newly launched Connect app, not only will students be able to access examination results as soon as they are released, but via their smart phones and other mobile devices, they would be able to carry them in their pockets wherever they go.

Students, parents, and even educators have previously complained about the late arrival of examinations’ results, although efforts have been made to release grades early; this new

app will reduce that waiting time to an all-time significant low.

Launched in Barbados on Thursday, the app would be available to students as early as August 12. Students, who sat the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) during the May/June 2017 exams will be able to utilise the app to access their results on August 12. Those students who wrote the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) exam would be able to access

their results via the app on August 15, 2017.

Assistant Registrar, Webmaster Ayodele Pompey, gave a demonstration of the app at the launching event. He said that apart from examination results, students can also get information, advice and guidance via CXC Connect.

In terms of the app benefiting persons who sat CXC exams prior to 2017, Pompey said there is currently no archive for past students, but that should be ruled as an addition to the second or third generation versions of the CXC connect app.

Assassination claims...

Attorney for Nizam Khan, Christopher Ram, objected to the line of questioning from Slowe, citing the need for the Commission to retain an attorney to ensure the proper line of questioning is observed. Slowe acknowledged Ram’s concerns, but continued questioning Ramnarine about his opinion of the quality of investigation conducted.

During his testimony, Ramnarine also revealed that he would have seen Imran Khan in the company of Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, and he had

later learnt that they share a somewhat business relationship. Currently on leave, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud is expected to appear before the CoI on Monday.

CoI Chair, Paul Slowe, indicated that he had received a letter informing that a separate lawyer may represent Persaud, while Senior Counsel Ian Chang will represent the interest of the Guyana Police Force.

Meanwhile, following the testimony of journalist Travis Chase, during which he had alleged that while working at

from page 2

News Update he was arrested following instructions by then Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, editor of News Update, Romel Roopnarine, has since disputed this evidence, claiming that Chase was arrested following a report made by a staff member to the effect that Chase had stolen her friend’s camera.

Chase has since been fined for the offence of larceny.

The public hearing continues on Monday, and Slowe is expected to hand over his report to President Granger on August 18.

“One of the things the app does is to enhance the communication perspective between CXC and its various stakeholders, students included. Part of that whole process is to be able to deliver information as it happens”, Pompey said.

Regard results and the timing of results, the assistant registrar said CXC has always been seeking to shorten the time cycle from the examination to the results. He assured that is something that will be on-going.

“But with respect to the app, whatever result immediacies we can be able to improve on, certainly the app will provide that information at that time. For example, if we determine in the future -- and I believe that this is something that we will be able to do -- if we determine that we can be able to enhance our delivery times, the app will be the most ideal thing to use.”

In terms of what the future holds, he reiterated: “There will definitely be a shortening of time.”

Parents and guardians can also receive tips to help their children, and be guided on charges using the mobile app. CXC is in 19 territories, and Cleveland Sam -Assistant Registrar, Public Information and Customer Services -- described the new app as “a marriage of technology and education” and “a start of something exciting”.

Diaspora Centre

V

ice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Ivelaw Griffith, has symbolically launched a Diaspora Centre to be attached to that institution of higher learning, as the University of Guyana on Friday drew the curtains on its first Diaspora Engagement Conference.

This development stems from the successful outcomes of the now-concluded forum, which prompted the University to explore the possibility of maintaining the impact by establishing the Centre here in Guyana.

During Friday’s proceedings, Vice Chancellor Griffith, in unveiling plans for the Diaspora Centre -- currently in the pipeline -- detailed the basis of the Diaspora hub, which will be housed off the premises of the University.

“The Centre has to do with the fact that one of my commitments for this conference is that what we discussed, what we decided, should not stay here only for this week.

We need to have a mechanism to institutionalize, to take forward… and the Centre will be that mechanism,” he conveyed.

Outlining the objectives of the Diaspora Centre, the Vice Chancellor detailed the services which will be offered once the facility is operational.

“We’re envisaging the Centre to be a Centre that does research, outreach, instruction. We are working towards finding a programme of

activities, but we did not want to wait till we have everything settled to get going, so this is a symbolic launch; the Centre is now open for business,” Griffith relayed.

Dr Griffith noted that while a physical Centre is not yet in place, teams have already been deployed to commence the preparations. He indicated that, with the current need for space at the University of Guyana, the Centre is likely to be housed off campus. However, a specific timeline has not yet been established for the physical establishment of a building.

“Well, we’re working on the basis of making it happen as quickly as we can; because the energy, the interest, the passion reflected here -- and the wonderful suggestions, not only of things that the Centre can do, but things the Centre can do with regional institutions, Government entities, within Guyana, outside of Guyana -- we want to be able to have a certain momentum kept,” he highlighted.

Working to secure financing to initiate construction of this Diaspora Centre, the University of Guyana will be targeting entities such as the Caribbean Development Bank and the Guyana Tourism Sector.

The Diaspora Engagement Conference, initiated this year, has seen members of the Guyanese diaspora gathering with the possibility of establishing this as a biannual event.

12 news Tobacco Company slams Govt for lack of consultations saturDAY, july 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

… but pledges to abide by law

By Jarryl Bryan

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ne day after the passage in the National Assembly of the Tobacco Control Bill 2017, which will clamp down on smoking in Guyana, one of Guyana’s largest tobacco companies has come out in support of the legislation.

However, it is not unqualified support, as the company took a swing at the Government for lack of consultations and the clauses of the bill.

According to Demerara Tobacco Company (Demtoco) Managing Director Maurlain Kirton, the company is in support of regulations on the tobacco industry, in keeping with the World Health

Demtoco Managing Director Maurlain Kirton

stated on Friday. “We remain opposed to the ban of selling in trays.”

The company said that it was further disappointed that it was not given the full opportunity through formal consul-

Member of Parliament, Clement Rohee

Organisation’s Framework Convention in Tobacco Control (WHO/FCTC).

“We remain very concerned that the Bill in many clauses infringes on the rights of ordinary citizens and discriminates against many who are seeking to earn their livelihood from the trading of a legal product,” the company

tations to advance its views, aimed principally at attaining balance and removing elements of discrimination and other measures that are too draconian.

It struck an optimistic note, however, noting that it was not too late to have the Bill sent to a Special Select

Committee in Parliament.

Using Jamaica as an example, the company expressed that this was to resolve the contentious parts of the Bill.

According to Demerara Tobacco, the Bill does not go into effect for the next nine months and it promised to work with its customers, retailers, wholesalers and distributors to educate and help them transition.

“So, it is business as usual, while the company, industry and country prepare for an effective start-up date of around May 2018,” it stated.

Lack of consultations and not seeking the buy-in of affected stakeholders have seen the Government face significant backlash over the past few months. The company’s concerns regarding consultations mirror those of the stakeholders about the Land Rights Commission of Inquiry (CoI).

Bill passed Years in the making, the Bill passed during Thursday evening’s sitting of the National Assembly with most of the Opposition party abstaining from the vote. In her presentation, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence argued that the Bill would rectify Guyana’s failure to fulfil its international and constitutional commitments.

“Guyana has no tobacco control legislation and has fallen way behind in the implementation of its obligations under the WHO FCT, under the Port of Spain declaration and its constitutional commitment to safeguard the health of its people,”

Lawrence said in her address.

She added that Guyana had failed to honour its obligation.

However, Opposition parliamentarian Clement Rohee took the Government to task for failure to provide updated statistics on smoking in Guyana. He noted that if such statistics were available, they should be distributed.

“One cannot speak in abstraction when seeking to convince us that smoking and tobacco is bad, but there are no statistics. This is one of the weaknesses of the presentation. We are told for example that tobacco is the leading cause of death.”

“This may be so in the WHO data. But in the Guyana context, do we have specificities in the form of data about smoking affecting minors? Do we have specificities in form of data in respect to smoking in (different) locations? I want to believe that if this data is available, then it should be presented in the House, so we can be convinced on the basis of fact rather than fiction.”

Acknowledging that the Bill was initiated by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), the former Minister also explained that it was intentionally never tabled

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence

because of outstanding issues.

One of Rohee’s concerns with the Bill was persons being given Police powers to arrest and haul defaulters into the Police Stations. In addition, he expressed worry about small-scale dealers.

Provisions Among the provisions of the Bill is a ban on smoking in indoor workplaces, public transport, stadiums, parks and national sites. In the Bill, smoking is also prohibited in any area within five metres of a health-care, educational or child-care facility.Part Five, Section 16 (3) states: “Any person who smokes in any place where smoking is

prohibited commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $10,000 for the first offence, and $20,000 for any second or subsequent offence.”The Bill provides for a number of other fines and penalties, ranging from $200,000 and six months’ imprisonment. Corporate bodies can also face fines of up to $9 million for infringing on the ban regarding advertising.

The Bill also regulates the sale of cigarettes, as well as prohibits all forms of tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion. It also provides for the creation of a National Tobacco Control Council that will provide advice to the Public Health Minister.

NOC escapees charged for robbing Govt MP

T

wo juveniles from the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) on the Essequibo Coast, who reportedly escaped from the facility on July 25 and allegedly went on a robbery spree, were on Friday arraigned before Suddie Magistrate Ester Sam to answer break and enter and

larceny charges.

The 16-year-old resident of West Coast Berbice and a 17-year-old resident of La Parfaite Harmonie on the West Bank of Demerara admitted to breaking and entering the Johanna Cecilia, Essequibo Coast home of Member of Parliament Haimraj Rajkumar on July

25, and stealing boots, perfumes and clothing cumulatively valued at $129,000.

The duo was recaptured on July 26 by public spirited citizens.

Following their guilty plea, the magistrate ordered probation reports to be prepared before sentence is handed down.

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saturDAY, july 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Anti-money laundering

Guyana’s fight gets US support … US$150,000 for training for FIU’s iBase software

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s Guyana continues to embark on efforts aimed at reducing and eradicating money laundering and other financial crimes, the Unites States Government, through its Department of State, pledged support to the country’s fight against such transgressions, which are international threats.

This is the result of a partnership established between the US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the Guyana’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) which will allow for training and support services to be provided as Guyana installs the recently-acquired iBase software.

The iBase technology offers an intelligence data management application that enables the FIU to capture, control, and analyses multi-source data gath-

Finance Minister Winston Jordan joined by US Ambassador Perry Holloway at the ceremony hosted in honour of the partnership agreement

ered from various entities.

However, with the introduction of this advanced approach to Guyana’s anti-money laundering regime, the US has committed to offering training for analysts who will be managing the sophisticated software.

On that note, the Finance Ministry on Friday hosted a presentation ceremo-

ny, during which the US Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway officially acknowledged and committed to the collaborative approach towards the fight against financial crimes in Guyana.

Present also at the ceremony hosted in the boardroom of the Finance Ministry was the FIU Director, Matthew Langevine.

Langevine outlined that the primary role of the FIU was to request and receive information from financial and non-financial entities “and in some cases individuals, who we refer to as reporting entities. We analyse this information/intelligence, complete and share reports with an opinion of whether or not our subjects are to be investigated for money laundering.”

He went on to say that the insights will then be sent to law enforcement agencies, with the corresponding body being the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU). The information is generally gathered from a wide range of reporting entities which comprise banks, insurance companies, lottery companies, non-profitable organisations, among others.

Additionally, Finance Minister Winston Jordan, in his address to the gathering,

Prisoners cautioned against acting “foolishly” – Ramjattan

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pproximately 400 inmates from the Camp Street Prison were separated from the “real bad ones” and transferred to the Mazaruni and Timehri Prisons some two weeks ago. And though there has since been no incident or disturbance at either prisons, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan is cautioning all prisoners against being emboldened to act stupidly.

Ramjattan said there are old buildings at those holding facilities, and both the Public Security Ministry and the security forces are proverbially keeping their fingers crossed that the situation remains as calm as it has been. Since the fiery destruction of the Camp Street Prison, word has emerged that the old prison at Mazaruni would be rebuilt, but Ramjattan has posited that this would not be easy.

He told media opera-

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

tives on Friday: “(The) longterm solution (to the current situation) would be making back the old prison that we are talking about at Mazaruni, but we are also hoping that we are going to get an increase in people coming out of jail because they would’ve served their sentences, and also some

rehabilitation at the Camp Street; but those things might be difficult, it might have to be a long-term situation in that tarmacked area.”

Ramjattan said that even though “we have difficulties making buildings quickly”, word was given by engineers who stated that they are capable of erecting prisons within a couple of months. He also noted that the security forces have presently been working overtime. Updating the public on the transfer of 86 prisoners from the Lusignan, East Coast Demerara (ECD) pasture area, Ramjattan disclosed that the prisoners have calmed down.

“We are hoping for success. The situation in the prison itself has calmed down. We have done a number of things which have comforted them, especially (allowing) the self-support that they used to get and so

Ogle’s airport service fee...

With this new arrangement, the airlines will have to remit the monies collected for the fee to the Airport.

On Monday, local authorities wrapped up discussions with LIAT Airlines.

“The outcome of the meeting saw both sides agreeing to have the International Air Transport Association (IATA) register the Airport Service Fee in the IATA’s Global Distribution System and for same to be collected

by LIAT and remitted to the EFCIA. As a consequence, effective September 1, 2017,

all bookings and ticket sales will include the airport service fee in the price of the ticket,” a release from the GCAA stated.

The agreement reached between the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of OAI and LIAT will not result in passengers being charged double and will facilitate the ease of travel for passengers, the Aviation Authority outlined.

Monday’s meeting was chaired by GCAA Director General, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Egbert Field,

on from their relatives and friends; (those thing) have helped the situation. They also know that there are a lot more people around the perimeters, so I don’t think that they will try anything foolish,” Ramjattan opined.

Pandemonium broke out at the Camp Street Prison on July 9 when prisoners set that facility on fire, occasioning its complete destruction except for a newly built brick building which is still standing intact. In the ensuing confusion, a number of prisoners managed to escape from lawful custody, including convicted murderers Mark Royden Durant, also called Royden Williams; Uree Varswyck, Stafrei Hopkinson Alexander and Cobena Stephens -- all deemed armed and dangerous. That incident resulted in the death of Prison Officer Odinga Wickham, who lost his life after he was shot by prisoners during the breakout.

from page 9

and included OAI CEO Anthony Mekdeci; EFCIA Deputy Airport Terminal Manager, Phillip Lynch; LIAT CEO Julie ReiferJones; LIAT Country Manager Orin Walton; LIAT Pricing and Revenue Manager Gavin Bovell, and GCAA Director of Air Transport Management, Saheed Sulaman.

Meanwhile, Guyana Times understands that the GCAA and the OAI are currently in talks with the two other airlines offering regional flights – GUM Air and

Trans Guyana Airways – to iron out how the airport service fee will be imposed on their passengers.

A top aviation official explained that because these two airlines are not members of IATA, they could not enter into the same arrangement as LIAT. As such, meetings are expected to continue with these smaller airlines to determine whether their passengers would be charged separately or the fee would also be included in the ticket costs and the airlines would remit same to the Airport.

indicated that money laundering and similar offences have, over the years, intensified – thereby emphasising the need for the operations of the FIU. Moreover, he noted that the iBase technology was much needed to aid in the anti-money laundering mission.

“The scale of money laundering and terrorist financing has risen globally resulting in an increased potential macro-economic and security risk in countries where these illicit activities are prevalent. There is no doubt that the employment of advanced technology has aided in the detection of money laundering activity, thus allowing measures to be implemented,” Jordan relayed.

Acknowledging the significance of this investment made by the US Government, the Finance Minister expressed appreciation for the support.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Holloway commended Guyana on the acquisition of the iBase software, especially given its potential in detecting, deterring and protecting against financial crimes. With that, the US representative explained the extent of his country’s investment.

“The training and support will be pro-

vided by International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation, at a cost of just over US$150,000, and has been contracted after close collaboration and coordination with Guyana’s independent Financial Intelligence Unit, which recently purchased the iBase software.”

Holloway further conveyed, “The acquisition of the iBase software by the FIU and the training and support services provided by the US Government will enhance all of these efforts.

This tool will significantly enhance the capabilities of the FIU in Guyana in its mandate and mission of combating money laundering and terrorist financing, and protecting the local financial sector from being infiltrated with proceeds of crime.”

While applauding the strides made by the Guyanese Government towards this mission in the past year, the US Ambassador pledged continued commitment to the cause saying, “The US Government is pleased to continue its support of the anti-money laundering efforts of the Government of Guyana.”

The training of analysts to manage and operate the iBase financial investigation technology is expected to commence in September.

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saturDAY, july 29, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

New wing of High Court commissioned T

he new wing of the Supreme Court in the county of Demerara, which will assist in expediting backlogged cases, was officially opened by President David Granger

Court, Commercial Court and Civil Court.

Former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh, has been credited with being the visionary behind this new establishment.

President David Granger along with Chancellor (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards and Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George touring the new facility on Friday

at a simple ceremony on Friday.

This section will house the Family Court, Land

Remarking that the opening of this new wing represents a new chapter in the country’s quest to im-

prove the judicial system, President Granger noted that the new establishment will ensure the smooth administration of justice in a timely manner.

“This (new wing) will ensure the smooth administration of justice and, moreover, that the public have access to justice in a timely and inexpensive manner. From it you’ll see the heart of the administration in favour of justice for all,” the Head of State said.

The President added that Guyanese now have an additional avenue where justice will be granted, especially in specialised cases.

He said the construction of the new wing at the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature represents another investment in ensuring access to justice, as it helps to overcome the complexities of litigation by providing access to specialised courts to those with such cases.

Chancellor (ag) of the

The newly-commissioned wing at the High Court

Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards, said the opening marks the start of a modern era of justice in Guyana. She noted that it is her hope to continue to improve the judicial system in Guyana.

Also delivering brief remarks at the commissioning was President of the Guyana Bar Association, Kamal Ramkarran, who revealed that further plans to improve the justice sys-

tem are afoot in that a new Legal Practice Act which would provide discipline and training for lawyers is currently in the pipeline.

“The entire system of civil justice has been completely revamped with the implementation of the civil procedures rules in February of this year, which replaced rules that were in place for almost 62 years. As such, we welcome this new building, especial-

ly since it brings the Land Court which has been for many years on Brickdam; and we look forward to a stronger and more effective legal system in which this building will play a small but significant role,” Ramkarran declared.

Following remarks, the Chancellor, with assistance from the President, cut the ribbon to declare open the new section of the Court.

MACORP supports MoSC’s US Embassy’s youth arm hosts exchange programme in Rupununi Youth Expo and Volunteer Fair

A

s the Ministry of Social Cohesion (MoSC) embarks on a one-week Exchange Programme in the Rupununi communities, Machinery Corporation (MACORP) pledged its commitment to the development of Guyanese human resources as the company presented financial support towards the initiative. During the course of the next month, the Social Cohesion Ministry will be implementing a youth exchange programme, which will provide a capacity-building opportunity for young Guyanese of the Rupununi regions.

The programme, which will be conducted at the St Ignatius Secondary School, Lethem, will see the participation of scores of youths between the ages of 16 and 25.

As the Ministry partners with several companies within the Private Sector, MACORP on Thursday presented a cheque to subject Minister George Norton, during a simple ceremony hosted at the company’s East Bank Demerara location.

During the handing-over ceremony, Liaison Officer of the Social Cohesion Ministry, Shabir Ali explained that from August 13 to 20, the Ministry will be hosting its first-ever inter-village Social Cohesion Exchange Programme for over 160 young people from 23 villages in the South/ Central Rupununi, including Lethem and surround-

T

MACORP Product Support Manager Guillermo Escarraga presenting a cheque to Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton

ing communities.

In his address at the handing-over ceremony, Dr Norton commended the work of MACORP, noting that it was setting the standards for other companies such as US oil giant ExxonMobil as it relates to contributing towards the development of the country.

“I want to thank MACORP for the help that they have lent us, and we see this as being mutual to both of us. We certainly need your help, particularly for what we are out there to do in Rupununi area, an area that might have been neglected for some time that we hoped to change.

So, I am indeed grateful for this company coming on board so readily and in the means in which they did so,” expressed the Minister.

Also speaking at the presentation was MACORP Product Support Manager Guillermo Escarraga, who pledged the company’s

commitment to the development of Guyanese human resources.

As such, Escarraga noted that MACORP was honoured to play its part in the execution of this exchange programme in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). The Manager stated that the company was pleased to collaborate on the initiative, adding that it looked forward to helping to develop the most important resource, “which is our Guyanese talent” .

The one-week Social Cohesion Exchange Programme will allow for developmental training sessions to be conducted, after which participants will return to their homes with the task of implementing projects within their communities.

This is the first such initiative for the Social Cohesion Ministry, which may lead to similar efforts being executed on an annual basis.

he Youth Action Network of the Embassy of the United States of America and Youth Ambassadors Guyana 2015 hosted a grand Youth Exposition and Volunteer Fair at the Umana Yana on Wednesday, and US Ambassador to Guyana, His Excellency Mr Perry Holloway, pledged continued support to the development of Guyanese youth.

Scores of young enthusiasts flocked the Umana Yana during the activities, which commemorated International Youth Day 2017 by showcasing the work of youth organisations so as to inspire young Guyanese to become involved in service to their country.

More than 10 non-governmental organisations participated in the Volunteer Fair, each proudly exhibiting their work as young leaders of Guyana, while the expo provided an opportunity for groups to present their ideas as they sought to implement projects throughout the country. Addressing the audience at the Wednesday gathering, Vice President of the Youth Action Network, Ashraf Dabie, also a member of the Youth Ambassadors Guyana 2015 Team, underlined the accomplishments of YAG 2015 while pointing out what prompted his teams to implement a number of youth developmental programmes across Guyana.

He detailed the implementation of four service-capacity-building initiatives -- the most recent wrapping up at the Youth Exposition – which were realised by allowing the six participating groups of the Guyana Youth and Social Entrepreneurship Program (GSYEP) to present their service project ideas. This was as they competed for a chance to be among the two top ranked

Members of the Youth Ambassadors Guyana 2015 Team are joined by the judges and winners of the GYSEP project pitch

groups to be awarded additional coaching by the business experts of the Master Class Institute, led by Dr Rosh Khan.

Also speaking at the event was the President of the Youth Action Network, Malcolm Wills, who outlined the mission of his organisation while sharing the achievements of the group ever since they came into existence, back in 2013. And in delivering the feature address, US Ambassador Perry Holloway commended the work of the participating groups, and indicated that the US would continue to support the efforts of young Guyanese as they seek to impact change within their communities.

“When I see all these smart, energetic, motivated young people trying to do things to better themselves, to better the people around them, and to better their country, I realise that there is hope for Guyana; and, by extension, there is hope for the rest of the world. So I do really enjoy coming to events like this,” the US Ambassador posited. Alluding to a 2015 United Nations report which stated, “Citizen Volunteers help make governments more responsive and accountable to their citizens. Volunteerism

adds immense value to your country’s economic output”, the US Ambassador acknowledged the work of young Guyanese, especially those present at the event, and pledged his country’s commitment to continue investing in Guyanese youth. He said, “The US Embassy will continue to play (its) part to empower young people (through) our youth development initiatives, such as the Youth Ambassadors Program and the Youth Action Network.

We continue to see the positive returns of these initiatives when emerging leaders such as many of you here today come back from your training and are committed to fulfilling your social responsibility towards the development of your country by making positive contributions in your own communities.”

The US Embassy’s Youth Exposition and Volunteer Fair marked the first event to be hosted in celebration of International Youth Day this year, and established a precedent for similar initiatives to follow. The annual recognition and celebration of the accomplishments and contributions of young people to their respective societies will be observed around the world on August 12.

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saturDAY, july 29, 2017

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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.

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AIBA closes offices after president no-confidence vote

AIBA President Wu Ching-Kuo

E

mployees of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) were locked out of their offices on Wednesday with president Wu Ching-Kuo set to be ousted from his role, according to an AFP journalist.

Security guards have been blocking access to the AIBA offices in Lausanne.

A notice pinned to the door and signed by an interim executive committee said that a motion of no confidence had been called against Taiwan's Wu.

AIBA, which organises amateur boxing including Olympic competitions, has been struggling with instability and financial difficulties.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, AIBA had said that an extraordinary congress would be held within the next three months.

"Dear AIBA employees. Please be informed that the AIBA executive committee have passed a motion calling for a vote of no confidence in the current AIBA president, Wu Ching-Kuo," the notice said.

"In addition, motions were passed enabling the establishment of an interim management

commitee (IMC) to manage the work of AIBA and AIBA headquarters and the organisation of the extraordinary congress.

"Consequently in this moment of transition it has been decided to close the office for the remainder of this week. The staff are being offered these three days as holidays."

Wu, who has been head of the federation since 2006, is blamed for causing financial irregularities by his opponents, who believe AIBA is on the brink of bankruptcy.

No AIBA officials could be contacted on Wednesday. (AFP)

Bolt could reverse retirement Ex-heavyweight champion Fury decision, says Gatlin appears to have retired again

B

U

sain Bolt could be tempted to reverse his decision to retire from athletics after next month's world championships, his American sprint rival Justin Gatlin said on Friday.

The great Jamaican, who has won eight Olympic and 11 world championship gold medals, is planning to quit the track after competing in the 100m and 4x100m relay in the global event in London.

However, Gatlin, who was beaten by Bolt in the last two world championship 100m and 200m finals and at last year's Olympics in Rio, believes the 30-year-old could one day find a return impossible to resist.

"Why not? He has that rock star mentality where he can travel the world, have fun, party in different places and then say: 'I want to take this seriously one more time'," Gatlin told reporters at the U.S. team's training camp in Birmingham.

"He has the opportunity to come back,

once he leaves he can have a year of rest and say: 'I love track so much I can't leave it too soon'."

The 35-year-old Gatlin, twice banned for doping violations, has only beaten Bolt once in a world championship final, in 2005 in Helsinki when the Jamaican was still a teenager.

But with the main man of athletics due to depart the sprint scene, Gatlin predicted an exciting new era.

"It makes you a little more jittery. Who's going to step up to fill that void, who's going to rise to the occasion and want to be the next superstar?" he said.

"Now you're not worried about the Usain Bolt Show. Now you're more concerned about the head-on competition, people rising to the occasion and saying: 'I will do it for me and my family now I have the opportunity to run from the front'." (Reuters)

Mullings hopes for world title chance after second Contender win

ritain's former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury appears to have hung up his gloves again in a post on Instagram.

"Been very blessed in my life & career achieve the upmost in boxing, was a [sic] epic journey along the way.

Thanks to all the fans that supported & believed in me along the way," he wrote.

"Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. THE END." The 28-year-old, who has an unblemished 25-0 record, became WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and IBO world champion when he defeated Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015 but has not fought since, having pulled out of two planned rematches.

In June 2016 he was charged with doping offences

by UK Anti-Doping, allegations he denied.

In October that year, Fury appeared to announce his retirement on twitter, only to then retract the statement shortly before giving up his titles, saying he wanted to focus on dealing with mental health issues.

The next day, Fury had his license temporarily withdrawn by the British Boxing

S

Board of Control, a move which his trainer and uncle Peter Fury said could be "a blessing in disguise".

In March 2017, Fury suggested he could make a comeback and when compatriot Anthony Joshua beat Klitschko at Wembley the following month, the new world champion said he wanted to fight Fury, a challenge which Fury accepted on twitter. (Reuters)

akima Mullings, after claiming his second Wray and Nephew Contender series title last night, is hoping that the opportunity to challenge for a world title, will come his way this time around.

Mullings, who won the series in 2014, was expected to be able to grab opportunities to showcase his talent on the world stage very soon. It didn't happen.

Now Mullings, at 35 years old, has proven among middleweight fighters, heavier, stronger than his natural welterweight classification, that he is a better fighter than he was in 2014 with a classic display in the final against Canadian, Phil 'The Assasin' Rose. This time around, Mullings hopes he will finally get his time to shine among the stars.

Speaking on the SportsMax Zone on Thursday, Mullings said he understood the control promoters had in deciding the fate of a fighter and hoped that at some time in the next six months, one would invest in the obvious talent he shows. Mullings, though, while hoping for a fight in the next six months, isn't considering retiring anytime soon, saying he has remained young and that his age shouldn't be counted in numbers.

(SportsMax)

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saturdAY, july 29, 2017

Injured Djokovic will come back mentally stronger, says Cash T

welve-times grand slam champion Novak Djokovic’s enforced injury break gives him enough time to rediscover his intense playing style and will also make him mentally tougher on his return, former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash has said.

The 30-year-old Serb said he will miss the rest of the tennis season, including next month’s U.S. Open, to recover from a right elbow

Puyol urges Neymar to explain intentions amid PSG speculation

injury.

“It will take time for him to get his intensity back,” Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon singles champion, told the BBC. “Djokovic’s style is very similar to almost everyone else on the circuit, but he was just that bit fitter, that bit more flexible, that bit more mentally tough.

“It is probably just what the doctor ordered, to take time off. After so many un-

A

believable years, 2017 has been poor for him.”

Djokovic has struggled over the last 12 months on the court, losing all the grand slam titles he held simultaneously after winning the 2016 French Open. He also lost his world number one ranking to Andy Murray at the end of last year.

Cash believes Djokovic should not be expected to return from his injury layoff as spectacularly as Roger

Federer, who came back from a long-term knee issue earlier this year to lift Australian Open and Wimbledon titles.

“It won’t be like Roger Federer, who was winning Grand Slams straight out of the blocks after he came back, but some time next year he will be playing well again,” Cash added.

“He will be very sensible and make sure he is ready when he does come back.”

(Reuters)

Butt strikes gives Australia’s women first win over US A

second half goal from Tameka Butt fired Australia’s women’s team to a 1-0 win over the United States in a friendly in Seattle on Thursday, their first ever victory over the world champions.

The Matildas withstood huge pressure from the top-ranked Americans in the first and last quarters of the Tournament of Nations clash but Butt’s cool 67th minute finish after a defensive mix-up proved decisive.

Former FIFA Player of the

Year Carli Lloyd almost grabbed the equalizer with a searing drive in the 70th minute but outstanding Matildas goalkeeper Lydia Williams parried it away with one of a string of clutch saves.

A first defeat for the threetimes World Cup winners and four-times Olympic champions in 28 meetings with Australia is sure to pile even more pressure on coach Jill Ellis, who had been under fire after two previous home losses this year. (Reuters)

Kenya names London line-up after meeting anti-doping deadline

K

enya announced the final list of competitors heading to next month's world athletics championships in London, with d o u b l e Olympic 800 meters gold m e d a l i s t and world c h a m p i o n flying the flag.

T h e announcement came after Kenya failed to meet two deadlines to submit anti-doping materials, under a strict new testing regime, because some athletes were racing in the Diamond League circuit.

They were given a final deadline of Saturday, according to the AntiDoping Agency of Kenya.

"We are happy to announce that all the doping procedures have been completed today and we

are ready to depart for London on Tuesday," Jackson Tuwei, Athletics Kenya chairman, told reporters.

Kenya's reputation for middle and long distance running has been tarnished by failed doping tests among its elite athletes, including former three-times Boston and Chicago marathon winner, Rita Jeptoo, and Jemimah Sumgong, the first Kenyan female to win an Olympics marathon gold medal.

The International Association of Athletics Federations has demanded that each Kenyan athlete must submit to three urine tests and one blood test.

Middle-distance runners Ferguson Rotich, Kipyegon Bett and Emmanuel Korir will be heading to London but Michael Saruni will not.

"Technical officials have advised us that his form is wanting," Tuwei said.

Another to miss the trip is Nicholas Bett, the defending 400 meter hurdles champion who was ruled out due to injury. (Reuters)

Neymar

s speculation of a world-record transfer to PSG continues, Carles Puyol has told Neymar to speak about his Barcelona future.

Neymar needs to speak about his Barcelona future with speculation over a world-record move to Paris Saint-Germain continuing, believes former team-mate Carles Puyol.

The Brazilian forward did not answer questions about his links to PSG at a sponsorship event in Miami on Friday, although he has featured for Barca in

Carles Puyol

their pre-season matches.

Former captain of the Catalan giants Puyol believes it is time Neymar, who stormed out of a training session following a bust-up with Nelson Semedo, spoke up about his intentions

amid talk of a €222million switch to France.

“I do not know what’s going to happen,” Puyol told Marca. “He’s the one who has to talk and explain what he wants to do, because I cannot control him.

“The decision should be taken by him. I am not responsible for the club so I do not know if they have decided something.

“I do not know if he has dreams of leaving, but it’s harder for a player to do stay with the same team for their whole career. Football is changing but there are still cases: [Lionel] Messi, [Sergio] Busquets, [Andres] Iniesta. I think he has love for the shirt but then there are other factors.”

Puyol said he thinks the new Barca coach Ernesto Valverde will stay true to the club’s values after he succeeded Luis Enrique at Camp Nou. “Luis Enrique did a great job, he won a lot of titles with a great team,” the former captain added. “Now another coach comes in.

“The football ideals of ??the club will not change. It will have its nuances, as with every coach, but the idea is the same. His teams have worked very well.

Let’s see how he is doing. He has a spectacular squad, I am sure he will be fighting for all the titles.” (SportsMax)

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– RAN’s North vs South Championships G

uyana’s National 15s Rugby team (The Green Machine )will take on USA South Panthers today in the RAN’s (Rugby America’s North) North vs South Championship Final from 14:00hrs in the National Park.

While Guyana had defeated the same opposition in Atlanta in 2014 to claim their maiden championship via their Captain Ryan Gonsalves’ historic penalty kick, the Green Machine will be looking for the twopeat in front of fans on home soil.

The locals have been hard at work on the technical aspect of their game as they are well aware of the USA South Panthers game strategy and physical fitness.

Gonsalves has urged fans to come out

Furnished 3-bedroom upstairs at 57 Turkeyen, US$700. Peter 2563887/693-1832

in their numbers as the crowd support is a very important factor to the team.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday Gonsalves had pointed out; “With having a huge crowd support at home, it really brings out the best in you as a player.

You want to play and do your best in front of your home crowd. What goes for me goes for everyone in the team as well, they feel the same about playing home,” Gonsalves said.

“We are more happy to be playing the USA South Panthers here at home rather than to be playing Mexico at home in Mexico. Actually, this is a bonus for us, and we’re going to use it to the best of our advantage, and we really look forward to Saturday’s game,” the captain added.

Position

Surname

1 Loose Head Tyrell 2 Hooker Cummings 3 Tight Head McArthur 4 Lock Schroeder 5 Lock David 6 Blindside Angus 7 Openside Staglon 8 No. 8 Adams 9 Scrum Half Gonsalves 10 Hamilton Outside Half 11 Wing Corbin 12 Center Broomes 13 Center Butts 14 Wing King 15 Full back Adonis 16 Front RowV Kitt 17 Issacs Front Row 18 Res David 19 Res McKenzie 20 Res Mayers 21 Res Prowell 22 Res Crawford 23 Res Downer

Reserves

Rahaman Williams James Mars

First Name

Jason Rickford Rondell Dwayne Kevon Jamal Richard Vallon Ryan Peabo Avery Godfrey Claudius Patrick Lancelot Cyon Ahmed Toby Osie Ronald Cloyd Allen Dillion

Joseph Grantly Akino Kesta

Dutch Football Coaches wrap up training course, 26 coaches presented with certificates

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wenty-six football coaches from various parts of Guyana on Friday received certificates after completing a one week training course.

The course was facilitated by Suriname’s Vice Director at the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs Kenneth Jaliens and The Netherlands Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) Instructor Andre Simmelink.

The 26 participants were exposed to new coaching methods both on and off the field.

The Government through the National Sports Commission (NSC) benefitted from the training provided by the Government of the Kingdom of The Netherlands through the World Coaches and International Social Programme of the KNVB. The two Dutch coaches also paid a visit to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge on Friday at his office.

A release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that applauded the timely visit of the instructors since Guyana was in need of assistance in sports, especially in football.

Speaking to the local media Simmelink explained that while the coaches were open to learning new methods, he understood the challenges they faced with the lack of equipment. “In this situation, it is better to play smaller groups to facilitate more complex playing and decision-making in the field,” he said.

Simmelink added that while the training focused on developing coaching methods on the field, yesterday the coaches also participated in an exercise to demonstrate their ability to impact players beyond football. “You are more than a coach,” Simmelink declared. “You can influence players by addressing problems and social issues that they have.”

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturdAY, july 29, 2017

World record AG meets with GCB, – Minister Henry plans stakeholders meeting with Ombudsman breakers to collect W

Attorney General Basil Williams and Education Minister with responsibility for sport Nicolette Henry meet with GCB officials and stakeholders of cricket

By Delvon McEwan

A

ttorney General Basil Williams and Minister of Education (ag) Nicolette Henry met with representatives of the Guyana Cricket Board and Cricket Stakeholders to shed light on a recent court order that could pave the way for possible GCB election.

The main agenda of the meeting was to start a process that would result in the holding of elections among other measures. The GCB has not held election since 2009; a situation that has raised concerns from stakieholders.

According to the Attorney General, who was at the time reading the ruling of Justice Nareshwar Harnanan relating to a court order against an injunction filed by the GCB to prevent the Attorney General and Minister of Culture Youth and Sport from enforcing the cricket

administrators act; “This matter came up for hearing on this day and upon hearing Attorney-at-Law for the Plaintiffs and Respondents, it is hereby ordered that the matter be declared abandoned and incapable of being revived”, which is deemed a final order by the AG.” Williams also noted there are a lot of court orders which prompted the birth of the act for matters he believes should have been settled.

“As I said too, there were a lot of court actions long before the Act came into being. In fact, that is why the Act came into being. To settle what should have been settled by all the stakeholders and we hope there will be a genuine intention to resolve the issues. And in this time of mediation, ladies and gentlemen it is time you all get together and resolve the issue. Because you see what happens when it goes to court? Things are

further delayed.”

Minister Henry who has responsibility for sport, stated that she will act within the powers granted in her ministerial capacity to ensure due process takes place.

“As you are aware this is a legal matter and I had to be first of all guided by the Attorney General as to the outcome and the deliberations in the court. Having received the guidance from the AG, I will certainly act within the powers granted to me as the Minister with responsibility for sport to ensure that due process takes place. And since there is no current impediment to the holding of those elections I will certainly provide the necessary permission so that that process could take place.”

Henry plans to meet with the appointed Cricket Ombudsman, Dr. Winston McGowan subject to his availability as early as next week.

Talks between them are projected to ensure that some form of normalcy is brought back with regards to the burning issue that has been on-going for years and has in many ways hampered the development of the sport.

Meanwhile, following yesterday’s meeting, GCB, Secretary, Anand Sanasie said his entity is willing to move away from the issues that have hampered the sport, but disclosed that they are concerns that need to be addressed before elections could materialised including amendments to the Cricket Administration Act..

Meanwhile, Ronald Williams who represented other stakeholders applauded the hhosting of the meeting and added that stakeholders are looking forward to the next step.

“Now that the injunction is out the way, there is a clear path in moving forward,” Williams declared.

US$100,000

hen Usain Bolt broke the world records for the 100 and 200 metres at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin, he collected US$100,000 each for both new marks.

Bolt clocked 9.58 seconds for the 100m and 19.19 over 200m, and these two marks still stand. The bonus payments are presented with the support of two of the IAAF's partners: TDK (for the men's events) and Toyota (for the women's events).

The World Record Programme will continue at this year's meet in London, where athletes achieving a world record will still be eligible for a special World Record Award of US$100,000, offered by TDK and Toyota.

The performance, the IAAF said in a release, must be an improvement on the existing world record.

Performances that equal the existing IAAF world record will not be eligible for a world record award.

The last world record award to be presented with a bonus was Ashton Eaton's 9045-point tally in the decathlon at the World Championships in Beijing two years ago.

TDK's involvement with the IAAF World Championships goes be-

yond the world record award as the Japanese electronics company has been the main bib sponsor (men's events) for all 15 previous editions and will maintain that involvement in London.

Another Japanese company - Toyota Motor Corporation - has offered the same sponsorship package for the women athletes since becoming an IAAF partner in 2003 ahead of the World Championships that year in Paris.

More than $7 million will be on offer in London.

PRIZE MONEY

Individual Events

Gold: US$60,000 Silver: US$30,000 Bronze: US$ 20,000 Fourth place: US$ 15,000 Fifth place: US$ 10,000 Sixth place: US$ 6,000 Seventh place: US$ 5,000 Eighth place: US$ 4,000

Relays (Per Team)

Gold: US$80,000 Silver: US$40,000 Bronze: US$20,000 Fourth place: US$16,000 Fifth place: US$12,000 Sixth place: US$8,000 Seventh place: US$6,000 Eighth place: US$4,000 (Jamaica Gleaner)

Guyana U-17s lose to Mexico – Centrobasket U-17 Championships

T

he Guyana Under-17 basketball team suffered their third straight loss of the Centrobasket championships on Friday despite taking the game to Mexico.

Playing in their third and final Group A game against Mexico, the National U-17s showed more fight as compared to their first two games in which they lost heavily to Puerto Rico and the Bahamas but was defeated 74-63 by Mexico..

In the first three quarters against Mexico the Guyanese were outplayed as it showed at the end of each. At the end of the first quarter Mexico led 21-8 as the Guyanese failed to make any sort of offensive impact. However, in the second quarter they came out with intent and scored 21 points.

Mexico would again have the upper hand and ended the quarter leading 46-29.

Mexico then quelled the brief attacking impetus that the Guyanese had managed in the second quarter restricting them to a paltry 13 points while scoring 21 themselves to lead 67-42 at the end of the quarter.

Guyana led by Nigel Bowen and Kevon Wiggins stifled the Mexicans in the final quarter while scoring 21 points compared to Mexico’s 7, but by then it was too late as Mexico eventually won 74-63.

Bowen was the leading scored for Guyana racking up 21 points and 10 rebounds and received valuable back up from the ever present Kevon Wiggins who had 22 points and 7 rebounds.

The main man for Mexico was Moises Andriassi with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists while Javier Gonzalez was the other main contributor with 15 points.

The top two teams from Group A and B will now face each other in the Semi-finals today with the Final being played on Sunday in Santo Domingo.

Guyana’s Nigel Bowen (left) drives to the basket against Mexico

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, july 29, 2017

GTT CPL tickets giveaway T

hree lucky customers won Caribbean Premier League tickets for local matches in a GTT promotion as the telephone giant launched its ticket promotion yester-

day.

GTT retail store at Camp and Robb Street was the ideal place to be earlier if you wanted to win tickets to the ‘Biggest Party in Sport’, the Hero’s Caribbean Premier League.

The three lucky customers were rewarded for shopping in the store with two tickets each to CPL matches as they also benefitted from a photo opt and a met with members of the Guyana Amazon Warriors.

The ticket promotion was the first of its kind in a series in the build up to the local matches which will get underway on August 17.

Tracy Smith, GTT Vice President of Retail Sales noted it was the kick-start event for the CPL and urged GTT customers to get involved in the various activities that will run up until August 14.

The next stop is GTT office at 55 Brickdam today between 11:00h and 12:00h.

The Guyana leg of the competition begins in just 19 days away.

GTT Vice President of Retail Sales, Tracy Smith and Guyana Amazon Warriors player Gajanand Singh name one of the winners

England vs South Africa

Stokes, RolandJones put hosts on top B

en Stokes struck a sparkling century and debutant Toby

Roland-Jones took a sensational 4-39 as England seized control of the third

SCOREBOARD

England 1st innings AN Cook lbw b Morkel 88 KK Jenningsc Elgar b Philander 0 T Westley c du Plessis b Morris 25 JE Root (c) c †de Kock b Philander 29 DJ Malan b Rabada 1 BA Stokes c Rabada b Morkel112 JM Bairstow † c du Plessis b Rabada 36 MM Ali c †de Kock b Morkel 16 TS Roland-Jones lbw b Maharaj 25 SCJ Broad c Amla b Rabada 3 JM Anderson not out 1 Extras 17 (b 7, w 3, lb 7) Total 353 all out (103.2 Overs) Fall of wickets:1-12 (KK Jennings, 3.3 ov), 2-64 (T Westley, 22.5 ov), 3-113 (JE Root, 38.2 ov), 4-120 (DJ Malan, 43.6 ov), 5-183 (AN Cook, 64.2 ov), 6-258 (JM Bairstow, 81.4 ov), 7-279 (MM Ali, 90.3 ov), 8-316 (TS Roland-Jones, 97.2 ov), 9-331 (SCJ Broad, 100.3 ov), 10-353 (BA Stokes, 103.2 ov) Bowling: M Morkel 28.27-70-3, VD Philander 17-6-32-2, K Rabada 26.0-485-3, KA Maharaj 15-1-61-

1, CH Morris

17-1-91-1

South Africa 1st innings D Elgar c †Bairstow b Roland-Jon es 8 HG Kuhn lbw b Roland-Jones 15 HM Amla c †Bairstow b RolandJones 6 Q de Kock † c Stokes b Roland-Jo nes 17 F du Plessis (c) lbw b Anderson 1 T Bavuma not out 34 CH Morris c & b Anderson 2 KA Maharaj c Cook b Stokes 5 K Rabada b Broad 30 M Morkel not out 2 Extras: 6 (nb 2, lb 4) Total: 126/8 (43 Overs) Yet to bat: VD Philander Bowling: JM Anderson 10-516-2, SCJ Broad10-4-28-1, TS Roland-Jones 11-3-39-4, BA Stokes 7-1-26-1, JE Root 2-05-0, MM Ali 3-0-8-0 Fall of wickets:1-18 (D Elgar, 8.4 ov), 2-23 (HG Kuhn, 10.3 ov), 3-30 (HM Amla, 12.6 ov), 4-47 (Q de Kock, 16.3 ov), 5-47 (F du Plessis, 17.1 ov), 6-51 (CH Morris, 23.3 ov), 7-61 (KA Maharaj, 26.1 ov), 8-114 (K Rabada, 39.3 ov)

Test against South Africa on day two at The Oval.

Stokes' flawless 112, which included three successive sixes in the course of bringing up three figures, helped the hosts to 353 all out.

Roland-Jones then ripped through the South Africa top order as the Proteas slumped to 61-7 before closing on 126-8, still 28 runs shy of the follow-on target.

Though the weather forecast is mixed for the weekend, Joe Root's men look set to take a 2-1 lead in the fourmatch series.

That would represent another familiar swing in the fortunes of the England side, who won handsomely at Lord's only to be annihilated at Trent Bridge.

South Africa were hampered by the absence of Vernon Philander, the pace bowler sent to hospital after a stomach complaint worsened, while their batting was decimated in ideal conditions for pace bowling.

Philander will spend Friday night on a drip and is unlikely to play any part on Saturday. (BBCSPORT)

Abhinav, Kohli extend India's lead to 498

I

23

Crix gives boost to Warriors with hampers donation

I

Head Coach Roger Harper collects the hampers from Crix Marketing Supervisor Elisa Howard

t was a simple but yet significant event on Friday as one of the corporate sponsors of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Massy Industries under their Crix brand made a donation of several healthy packed hampers at the National Stadium, Providence.

Marketing Supervisor Elisa Howard explained that the gesture was about them encouraging the players to live a healthy lifestyle and contended that the packages will be of great usage to the team given that they will be going into battle for championship honours.

Operations Manager of the Warriors Omar Khan expressed gratitude for the support and posited that it was essential that corporate Guyana support the team given that it is a two way round where the both the team and the players benefit from the partnership.

The Warriors are currently involved in the one-week preparation camp ahead of their first match on August 5 in Florida against the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

Dilruwan Perera was stranded eight short of a maiden Test century © AFP

ndia declined to enforce the follow-on turned just enough to miss the outside edge after securing a 309-run first-innings and hit off stump. At the non-striker's end lead, and extended it by a further 189 was Perera, stranded eight short of a maidruns at stumps on day three. Virat Kohli en Test hundred. His proactive approach and Abhinav Mukund, whose careers have had led Sri Lanka's fight in the morning sestraced vastly different trajectories since sion, in which they scored 135 runs at just they made their Test debuts in the same over four an over, while losing three wickmatch six years ago, led India's second-in- ets. nings effort, adding 133 for the third wickPerera, batting above No. 8 for only the et at 4.48 an over. The partnership came to sixth time in 31 Test innings, did his best to an end in the last over of the day, Danushka make up for the absence of the injured Asela Gunathilaka getting one to go with the an- Gunaratne from Sri Lanka's line-up, showgle from around the wicket to trap Abhinav ing not just the skills to survive but also an ability to take calculated risks and keep the lbw for 81.

With India unlikely to stretch their sec- scoreboard moving. He showed early intent ond innings for too much longer, Sri Lanka against the spinners, stepping out to Jadeja face a gargantuan task on the last two days. in the second over of the day and hitting him The highest successful chase at this venue flat, over the non-striker's head. Not long is 99. The highest score made in a fourth in- after, he went down on one knee and slognings here - win, lose or draw - is 300. The swept the left-arm spinner over midwicket. weather could well be the only thing in the That was to be the first of four sixes from home side's favour.

Perera, two each off Jadeja and R Ashwin.

(Cricinfo) Abhinav, who is likely to miss the next Test should KL Rahul return from illness, showed off the timing that has yet to fully assert itself in his so-far stopYet to bat: AM Rahane, India 1st Innings 600 start career, stepping out to HH Pandya, WP Saha †, Sri Lanka 1st Innings 291 clip Dilruwan Perera against R Ashwin, RA Jadeja, UT India 2nd Innings the turn, hooking Lahiru Yadav, Mohammed Shami S Dhawan c Gunathilaka Kumara between long leg and BOWLING: N Pradeep b Perera 14 deep square leg, and using 10-0-44-0, MDK Perera A Mukund lbw b Gunathilaka 81 12-0-42-1, CBRLS Kumara 11-1the pace adroitly when given CA Pujara c Mendis b Kumara 15 53-1, HMRKB Herath 9-0-34width.

0, MD Gunathilaka 4.3-0-15-1 V Kohli (c) not out 76 Ravindra Jadeja ended Sri Fall of wickets:1-19 (S Dhawan, Extras 3 (w 2, lb 1) Lanka's innings nine balls af3.6 ov), 2-56 (CA Pujara, 16.5 TOTAL 189/3 (46.3 Overs) ter lunch, beating Kumara's ov), 3-189 (A Mukund, 46.3 ov) defensive bat with one that

SCOREBOARD

SATURDAY, JULY 29, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

GTT CPL tickets giveaway

Guyana Amazon Warriors players, from left to right, Rayad Emrit, Gajanand Singh, Steven Taylor and Steven Jacobs were on hand to meet and greet fans as well as hand over prizes

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