Guyana Times - Monday, July 30, 2018

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3640

Monday, July 30, 2018

PRICE

Govt’s notice of early budget aimed at influencing LGE votes – but says track record of – Jagdeo coalition’s failure is clear

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Speeding driver hits holidaying French teen at Wales P12

Page 3

Man kills father-in-law after he intervened in domestic dispute

Page 2

Bandits raid Zeelugt P2 home

– escape with appliances, money

Govt says SWF Green Paper for P13 Parliament by August

– to be reviewed by Cabinet on July 31

After 5 months...

Wakenaam rice farmers finally paid

P9

A chef attached to Foodmaxx showcased his talent by baking bread in the shape of various animals, which were displayed on the lawns of Castellani House, on Vlissengen Road and Homestretch Avenue, for the second annual "Caribbean Cookout" (Carl Croker photo)

Drunken man perishes as home goes up in flames Page 11

Man chops reputed Page 8 wife, mother-inlaw after being prevented from choking 4-year-old

Sexual Offences Act

Child rights activist pleased P10 with Appeal Court ruling

2 News

mondAY, JUly 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Man kills father-in-law after he intervened in domestic dispute

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farmer was on Saturday killed by his son-in-law after he reportedly intervened in a fight between him and his wife at Port Kaituma, North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini).

The dead man has been identified as 67-year-old Dennis Williams of Canal Bank, Port Kaituma.

Based on reports received, about 03:00h on Saturday, the 36-yearold suspect and two of his friends were consuming alcohol outside his home and as time swiftly went by, he allowed the two friends to

stay over.

His wife and daughter later ventured out into the yard to use the washroom and it was then the suspect accused the woman of leaving the house to see his friends. As such, he began to beat her and created a fracas.

Upon hearing the commotion, her father who resides nearby crossed the river with his boat and stopped the man from beating his daughter. To avoid a reoccurrence, Williams reportedly stayed with his daughter until the break of day.

Around 06:30h, Williams

was returning home in his boat and it was at this time his son-in-law got into a fit of rage and ran him over with a boat. Williams fell into the water and disappeared.

A search was launched and the now dead man’s lifeless body was pulled from the canal. He sustained severe injuries to his head as a result of the hit he received from the boat.

He was taken to the Port Kaituma Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The suspect was arrested and was expected to be charged with murder.

Bandits raid Zeelugt home – escape with appliances, money

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Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) family is now counting the losses suffered after bandits broke into their home and made off with several appliances and a quantity of cash.

The incident occurred in the wee hours of Saturday after Denis Ferrier and his wife left their Phase Two, Zeelugt home to ply their trade at the Meadow Bank Wharf, Greater Georgetown.

Guyana Times understands that the couple secured their home and ventured out just after midnight and upon their return around 08:00h on the day in question, they found their two-storey home broken into.

“When we were leaving, we took off all the lights,

but after returning home, we saw the lights on. Then when we came inside, the house was ransacked,” Ferrier related to this newspaper.

He added that from checks made around the house, it was discovered that bandits entered the home after removing several louver panes from a window located at the back of the bottom flat.

According to Ferrier, the perpetrators took off with his flat-screen television from the upper flat, two amplifiers and four gas bottles from the bottom flat.

The couple are also missing $250,000 One relative indicated that it appeared as though the perpetrators knew the victims’ movements as they broke into the house only af-

ter the couple left.

Ferrier told this newspaper that he went to report the matter at the Leonora Police Station, and the ranks there took his statement and sent him away, promising to visit the house to process the scene. However, up to Saturday evening, no one had shown up.

Efforts by this publication to contact senior officials from D Division (West Demerara) for a comment on the matter proved futile.

Ferrier further related that this is the second time he has been robbed and he has received the same treatment from the Police.

He noted that his vehicle was broken into and ‘cleaned out’ sometime back and the Police had shown no serious interest in investigating the matter.

3 Govt’s notice of early budget aimed at influencing LGE votes – Jagdeo news

mondAY, JUly 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, July 30 – 05:00h-06:30h and Tuesday, July 31 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

– but says track record of coalition’s failure is clear

Monday, July 30 – 06:00h-07:30h and Tuesday, July 31 – 06:25h-07:55h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers and heavy to light rain showers are expected to prevail. Thundery showers are expected to return in the early evening hours followed by a period of light rain showers before partly cloudy skies dominate.

Temperatures are expected to range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 05:53h and 18:15h reaching maximum heights of 2.62 metres and 2.54 metres.

Low Tide: 11:51h reaching a minimum height of 0.61 metre.

SATURDAY, July 28, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS M

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5 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

DAILY MILLIONS 01 16 17 20 LUCKY 3 7 4 2

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Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

inance Minister Winston Jordan has announced plans to present an early budget, but Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has said the coalition Administration is still ignoring technical problems associated with an early presentation, and has not learned from the past.

Jagdeo said Minister Jordan may be pushing the presentation of Budget 2019 ahead of the Local Government Elections (LGE), which have been set for November 12, 2018.

He said this may be so far many reasons, but mostly to do with the fact that Government may want to use that to influence the elections.

“I thought that maybe they are trying to catch the Local Government Elections; to present a budget with a few goodies to influence people on how they vote. That is still very likely, knowing how this Government operates. It makes a lot of promises and has a poor track record of fulfilling those promises,” he said.

Jagdeo, General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), said the larger issue is that Government continues to ignore the fact that early budgets do not make any sense.

“The issue is: when you go to the Parliament, you go to debate the framework, and the country expects a discussion on the economic performance in the cur-

rent year; and based on that performance you will move forward. This is not what we are getting,” Jagdeo declared.

He argued that, in presenting an early budget, the numbers included are not final year numbers; rather, they are numbers related to growth by sector, among others things. But those figures are up to the time when the budget is presented, and the actual numbers are made public only until the following year.

Jagdeo pointed to previous budgets to make the point that after they had been presented, they had undergone several revisions of the growth rate -- in some cases four time -- because the final figure was much lower that the projection made.

For 2017, initially Government had projected that Guyana’s economy would have grown by a 3.8 per cent growth rate for 2017. This projection was reduced to 3.1 per cent. It was then revised downwards again to 2.9 per cent. The actual performance, 2.1 per cent, was disclosed earlier this year.

Jagdeo, himself a former Finance Minister and President, said the fiscal deficit also varied substantially when the actual numbers were presented. He said if one were to look at the components of the fiscal deficit, one would see a massive change in current and

capital expenditures, as well as revenue.

“We had false figures on revenue and expenditure, therefore the fiscal deficit numbers were false. The numbers were patently false figures,” he said. As such, he said, on the external side, the balance of payments’ numbers also changed massively.

Jagdeo recalled that when the actual outcome was seen, it was worse by

Assembly.

He asserted that there will be a month of “basically the Government being able to do what it wants, because it would have come to Parliament with a figure, but that figure would have had projections.”

The former Junior Finance Minister, Juan Edghill, has also maintained that Government’s early budget was a means of evading public scrutiny, and

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

US$200 million. According to him, this could be a recurring problem.

Jagdeo noted that the balance of trade was also distorted. As such, he said, if the Minister -- and by extension, the Government -- is serious about presenting budgets that would have some impact and meaning, then it should wait until January, and they can have actual numbers to work with.

“We have a Minister who says nothing about the concerns that have been raised.

What we will have is another debate on numbers that look great, but in a month, when the actual numbers are available for the year end, we will see a totally different picture,” he reasoned.

Previously, Jagdeo had said that an early budget puts the PPP parliamentarians at a major disadvantage when debating the financial expenditures of the Government in the National

a means by which to hide their underperformance.

Edghill maintained there was no haste for an early budget presentation, noting that, historically, the country’s budget was presented in the first quarter of the fiscal year.

Government recently admitted that despite some slight improvement in the Public Sector Investment Projects (PSIPs), “tremendous” challenges continue to be faced, particularly with foreign-financed projects.

Jordan has said it is not where he wants it to be. Compiled annually, the PSIP contains capital investment projects funded under the domestic capital budget, and projects financed through external aid.

In February this year, a critical analysis of PSIPs between 2014 and mid-2017 revealed that the performances of many projects left much to be desired.

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mondAY, JUly 30, 2018

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

Emancipation Day

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his Wednesday, Aug 1st, is “Emancipation Day”, and it serves to remind us that this nation was founded on slavery, the paradigmatic instance of human inequality. Settlement by the Europeans of what is now known as Guyana started in the second decade of the 17th century, when the Dutch enslaved some of the Indigenous Peoples they encountered along the Pomeroon and Essequibo rivers.

As with the Spanish who preceded them in other parts of the “New World”, they soon switched to importing slaves from West Africa to fill the labour demands of the plantation economy they were developing. Ironically, the Indigenous Peoples were now hired to recapture slaves who escaped into the jungles in their quest for freedom.

Dutch plantations soon spread to the Berbice and Demerara rivers, and it was not until the fertility of those soils was exhausted, almost two centuries later, that the critical decision to move to the coast was made. While this may be of surprise to some, given the present nature of our settlement patterns, it must be understood that the Guyana coastland, then and now, is at least 5 to 6 feet below sea level at high tide.

The land was inundated with salt water, and, over the millennia, had been formed from sedimentation of the silt brought thousands of miles away from the discharge of the Amazon River. The Guyana coastland was actually uninhabitable mangrove swamps, which had to be drained and “empoldered” to accommodate plantations.

It was a matter of fortuity that the Dutch had vast experience in effectuating exactly such land rehabilitation from waterlogged soils back in their homelands, utilising a combination of dykes/dams and digging ditches/canals.

While the labour in the Netherlands was supplied by the Dutch inhabitants, in Guyana, African slaves were dragooned to perform that mammoth task.

Cuffy’s 1763 Rebellion should remind us that, in the second half of the 18th century, most plantations were still “up river”. By the time the British finally took possession of the three colonies of Essequibo, Berbice and Demerara in 1814, after those colonies had changed hands several times between the British, the French and the Dutch from 1796, most plantations had moved to the coast.

Therefore, when the 82,000 African slaves were finally freed in 1838 after their 4-year “Apprenticeship”, the “movement off the plantations” was confined to the coast, and this is where the “village movement” took hold.

Unquestionably, Emancipation was a seismic event in Guyana in more ways than one. Notably, it was a decision based on economics rather than on the “humanitarian” impulses of the British, as has been touted by their historians. This circumstance had long-lasting repercussions in the freed African population.

Britain wanted to move from mercantilism to “free trade”, to open up new markets for her manufactured goods; but equalising the duties on sugar from other producers, such as Brazil and Cuba which still practised slavery, meant the West Indian planters would face tremendous pressures after they would have lost their price advantage for the British market. After the British Government compensated the planters for losing their “slave property” (but did not compensate the “property”), many of them abandoned their plantations and left Guyana.

The remaining planters feared the freed slaves would decamp the plantations after Emancipation, and hedged their bets by importing Portuguese indentured labour from the impoverished island of Madeira and freed African slaves from the smaller West Indian islands such as Barbados.

In the latter locales, there was no alternative source of employment, and the Guyanese wages were comparably higher, even as local African workers started to move off the plantations.

These locals successfully struck for higher wages in 1842, but this only increased the rate of abandonment of plantations; and in 1847, when they struck again, the planters held off their challenge. The Portuguese, West Indians, Africans (seized from slave traders) and Indian indentureds provided the labour, and by the following year, most Africans had moved off the plantations.

Guyana had become a “plural society” after Emancipation, with all the challenges that implied.

This trio performs a skit during “Freedom Fest” which was held at D’Urban Park, Georgetown to raise awareness on the subject of human trafficking. The event was coordinated by the Social Protection Ministry in observance of World Trafficking In Persons Day (Dexter Ceres photo)

Restoring our national pride a matter of national importance Dear Editor, Regarded by many as one of the finest buildings in the Caribbean, and claimed to be the most beautiful example of Gothic architecture in the capital city of Georgetown, Guyana, City Hall is in dire need of extensive repairs and restoration. That is a fact no one can deny.

After years of neglect and lack of maintenance, this 128-year-old magnificent structure, built in the 19th century between 1887 and 1889, has been allowed to ‘fall apart’ before our very eyes. Claimed to be the most beautiful example of Gothic architecture, it has become a landmark for tourists visiting Guyana.

How could this have happened?

Unable to prevent the further deterioration and possible collapse of this historical heritage site, allegedly due to resource constraints coupled with the lack of maintenance over the years, there can be no excuse for further delay. After restoring local democracy in 1994 following its electoral victory in 1992, the PPP/C restored local democracy to its rightful place.

Those who try to deceive portray a different story.

This is a matter of national importance, and must be given the priority it deserves. The City Hall is not only a National Treasure, but is also regarded as a World Heritage Site.

Mr. Francis Maude, a specialist Conservation Architect, conducted a public session at the Regency Hotel last year, where plans for the new design were outlined at a session organised by the National Trust of Guyana.

Mr. Raghunandan Krishnanand, a Guyanese anthropologist by profession, and I participated in the discussions, which included

Ms. Nirvana Persaud, the CEO of the National Trust; the Head of the Guyana Heritage Society; a representative of the National Archives; students of architecture from the University of Guyana, and their lecturer Mr. Hernandez.

Representatives of the University of Florida explored using the latest 3-Dimensional laser technique to investigate how to proceed as accurately as possible with the preservation of this deteriorating structure.

A meeting was later held this year at Moray House, located at the corner of Quamina and Camp Street, where they presented and discussed their findings.

The final two-day workshop held in May 2018 was aimed at saving the historic but decrepit City Hall, as the final plans were presented to participants.

The Guyana National Trust, in collaboration with a team headed by Mr. Francis Maude, and Mr. Ed Morton whose specialty is structural engineering, and including Ambassador of the European Union Delegation, Jernej Videtic, were participants; as were the Mayor, Town Clerk and City Engineer, among others.

According to the Head of the National Trust, Nirvana Persaud, who launched the session, the aim of this workshop was to focus on preparing a comprehensive restoration and sustainable conservation management plan for the restoration of City Hall.

This Plan, funded by the European Union (EU), was intended to guide City’s Hall refurbishment, and its sustained preservation is now ready for implementation.

Town Clerk Royston King had reportedly stated this of workshop on Wednesday:

“An estimate that was done years ago had put the repair works at more than $400 million, which would have increased significantly over time.” The city, it was reportedly said, will be exploring a public-private partnership to fund the works, and is expected to consult with various stakeholders soon.

It is now in the national interest to implement this plan as a matter of national importance.

So, where we do go from here needs serious consideration if we are to succeed in a project of this magnitude.

The recommendation on the way forward in the form of a motion presented at the statutory meeting of the Council held on Monday 23rd July 2018 was jettisoned by the Mayor, who had chaired a special meeting earlier.

The Mayor insisted that the motion was not necessary, as a decision to form a broad-based committee with her as the head had already been made.

Issued with the threat of forcible eviction, I decided to leave in protest. Not to be undone, the Mayor, apparently in a fit of anger, ordered the City Police to escort me from the Chambers out of the duly constituted statutory meeting, and also to escort me out of the compound in what I consider unwarranted and highly unprecedented action.

This is certainly not the way to achieve unity at the level of the Municipality.

It is recommended in the aborted motion that it is essential that this structure be restored and maintained in its original vintage state as far as possible. Steps to be taken to achieve success in the actual rehabilitation of this project should include: 1. Establishing a broad-based action commit-

tee to plan implementation; 2. Efforts to garner needed resources; 3. Transparent and accountable mechanisms to ensure efficient and effective monitoring and implementation.

It is further proposed that the above process must involve consultation with important stakeholders at all levels and stages of this operation, emphasising integrity and checks and balances be put in place to ensure integrity and proven track records of contractors be first established.

It is further recommended that this broad-based action committee be composed of nominees from the Georgetown Municipality; Central Planning and Housing Authority (CHPA); Central Government, including the Parliamentary Opposition, the Guyana National Trust, The European Union, Civil Society, Private Sector, the Guyana Heritage Society, and the Diaspora.

This is the Georgetown Municipal Council’s dilemma. Things are falling apart both ‘literally and figuratively’ as it prepares for the upcoming Local Government Elections scheduled for the 12th November 2018. This is not an issue of garnering funds alone, or even votes; much more is involved. As the saying goes, ‘there is more in the mortar than the pestle can pound.’

The Kitty Market renovation, which is still incomplete after nearly three years of slothful activity, with little or no accountability of money spent, scope of work undertaken, or a comprehensive work report or plan seen or examined by full Council, is still not available to Councillors, much less citizens.

Continued on page 5

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Refreshing openness from ExxonMobil, but solid SWF urgently needed Dear Editor, I must commend ExxonMobil for being open with us by releasing the exciting news that the Stabroek Block will yield over four billion oil equivalent barrels, an increase from an earlier estimate of 3.2 billion oil equivalent barrels.

This is fantastic, because ExxonMobil could have hidden this find; but it appears to me that they want to be open and fair with the Government and people of Guyana, and I compliment and thank them for adopting this approach.

Exxon has reported that Liza Phase 1 will produce 120,000 barrels of oil per day, and Liza Phase 2 will have the capacity to produce 220,000 barrels of oil per day.

This is monumental.

To put it in perspective, Trinidad and Tobago does not have the capacity to produce oil at this daily rate with 100 wells. We have to understand what this means to Guyana economically. The Guyanese people need to prepare themselves for this flush of wealth, and learn how to invest money wisely and make more wealth.

I sincerely hope that Guyana’s oil revenue will trickle down to the ordinary man. I also hope money from our oil bonanza goes towards noble initiatives, such as upgrading

the University of Guyana to the highest level, to make it a world class institution where people from around the world, even from developed countries, would want to come and study. I look forward to Guyana having modern institutions of technology and top-of-the-line schools with the best laboratories and equipment to produce sterling minds.

I also hope the oil wealth would be used to provide opportunities to those who have lost jobs through no fault of their own, such as the GuySuCo workers, who are now on the breadline.

Some of the oil money should go towards improving and modernizing struggling sectors of our economy. A primary beneficiary should be agriculture, which has been a significant contributor to our economy for decades, and has provided several generations of people with food on their tables. It should be diversified and developed to a level that puts Guyana in contention once again to be the ‘bread basket of the Caribbean’.

Our agriculture industry can benefit greatly from the incorporation of new initiatives such as hydroponics. We can also develop new breeds and seeds, initiatives to make agriculture more vibrant and efficient, so we can increase exports and

get more foreign exchange, as well as create jobs in the sector for young and old persons.

This would be a perfect opportunity to promote entrepreneurship among our people. Our manufacturing sector can also be expanded, allowing us to develop cottage industries and even larger manufacturing operations, so that we can make our own packaging materials and other inputs, which we are currently forced to import.

But I am concerned about politicians being in control of our oil revenue, because I know how much some of them crave power and wealth. Just take a look at Equatorial Guinea, an oil producing nation in Africa that discovered oil about two decades ago. The average citizen is still poor, while the politicians have filled their pockets.

The country’s oil riches have not, in any way, improved the lives of ordinary Equatorial Guineans, because the government has squandered enormous wealth on foolish projects like highways to nowhere and empty 5-star hotels, while filling the pockets of family members. The president’s son, Teodorin Obiang, is reportedly filthy rich, and his global assets are said to be in excess of

US$300 million, while the people suffer.

So, yes. Some politicians elevate their relatives and friends to positions of power and authority, where they can benefit for themselves.

Some establish fake industries and businesses that are really under the control of greedy political powerhouses in government, who want the entire nation’s wealth for their personal benefit.

Equatorial Guinea also fell victim to the infamous ‘Dutch disease’, which refers to countries letting their economies become overly dependent on boom-industries and neglecting other sectors.

This leads to a massive imbalance in exports, and extreme vulnerability to oil market trends, which is what happened to the Dutch after the discovery of rich natural gas deposits.

They relied too heavily on petroleum exports, and this reduced other exports disproportionately, with dire consequences for other sectors, especially manufacturing. In the case of Equatorial Guinea, oil accounts for more than 95% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Secondary sectors represent about 2 per cent of the GDP, and manufacturing represents less than 1 per cent.

We don’t want this to happen here. We want the oil money to trickle down to

the common man, and we want a diversified economy, with strong agricultural and manufacturing sectors. God knows, we deserve it after enduring many long, hard years in Guyana, despite our agriculture, despite our gold and other minerals.

As I see it, there are enough questionable Government decisions and actions for patriots to be suspicious about allowing Government to have total control of the nation’s oil wealth. That is why I and other concerned Guyanese are so anxious for the nation to set up a proper Sovereign Wealth Fund that is not under political control; that is run by highly educated and experienced persons representing multiple interest groups; and with appropriate checks and balances in place to avoid corruption and mismanagement of our oil money.

In fact, I believe Guyana’s ability to put in place a well-crafted and independently managed Sovereign Wealth Fund, with full accountability and transparency and full public support across all ethnic, political, religious and other divide, is the single most important factor that will save this nation from going down the same road as Equatorial Guinea and other nations infected with the dreaded

Dutch disease.

As I wrote several times before, Guyana’s vast reservoir of oil revenue will definitely fatten the eyes of every corrupt politician and official. Even those who are not yet corrupt will be exposed to enormous temptation. How many would be unable to resist? We need to bear this in mind when setting up our Sovereign Wealth Fund or any other agency that controls or monitors our oil funds.

ExxonMobil’s apparent transparency is commendable, and that company has the opportunity to etch its name in Guyana’s history, and leave a legacy of honour and dignity not only for the credibility and welfare of the company itself, but also for the prosperity and happiness of the Guyanese people.

To do so, the company must be a good corporate citizen and assist any administration in power to educate citizens about crime prevention, and help put in place mechanisms that ensure crime is not exacerbated, like in Trinidad and Tobago, where I believe oil riches became a curse and blight to the economy because it came with massive corruption and criminal violence that is now firmly entrenched.

Sincerely, Roshan Khan Sr

Dictatorship and false promises in local democracy Dear Editor, The recently held inaugural National Conference of Local Democratic Organs (NCLDO) is definitely a living example of extravagance, and was a complete waste of taxpayers’ money.

The huge publicity by the APNU/AFC coalition Government, boasting about the hosting of this NCLDO conference, is to divert attention from the critical issues that are affecting the various Local Authority Areas and to use the opportunity to campaign hypocritically that the APNU/ AFC are strong advocates of local democracy, which is way beyond the truth .

President David Granger visited Fyrish on March 16th, 2018 and told local officials that his Government is committed to working with local democratic or-

gans (RDCs and NDCs) to find workable solutions.

He also announced that he would convene a regionwide conference, engaging regional and local officials with the view to addressing the problems that are being faced at the local level, so that citizens at community level can enjoy a higher quality of service from their respective local democratic organs.

These were the commitments made by President Granger publicly, and they were definitely not fulfilled by the hosting of the NCLDO; instead, he inform officials that they have to be self-sufficient, imposing autonomy, which means that in order to sustain the Local Authority Areas, the local leaders must increase burdens such as taxes, fees etc. on the struggling Guyanese

people in various LAA areas.

Since the first Local Government Conference in 2015, numerous issues where raised by local leaders; to date, Minister Ronald Bulkhan has done nothing to address those issues.

He also failed to comply with local democracy, and encouraged REOs in various regions that are being managed by the PPP to disrespect local democracy and impose policies that are not approved by the Regional Democratic Council. This minister has brought the Local Government System to irrelevance since 2015.

This is the first time in the history of Guyana that an elected Regional Democratic Council (Region Five) cannot function effectively.

President David Granger and Communities Minister

Ronald Bulkhan are imposing new NDCs and municipalities down the throats of people in the new LAA areas without any consultation. This is a new form of dictatorship.

Imagine, at a meeting

by GECOM in a new NDC, Caracas-Wyburg area, the residents were so dissatisfied with GECOM just coming to inform residents about the LGE elections by imposing demarcation of various constituencies without any consultation with the residents. The Government never even consulted with residents that the area would be a new LAA area.

On Local Authorities Amendment Bill #9/2018, our Regional Member of Parliament, Cde Zulfikar Mustapha, mentioned in his presentation that there was no consultation in the

Restoring our national pride a matter of...

The citizens of the Municipality of Georgetown are anxious for change and development. We can truly make Local Government Reform the catalyst for change and development it is intended to become, once local representative democracy is given a chance to evolve and grow rather than being stymied on almost a daily basis.

The Restoration of City Hall is a project of national and international Importance, providing an opportunity for all of us to work together to make this a dream we can realise.

The refusal to accept the re-sub-

mitted Motion on the Restoration of City Hall, and the futile attempt to silence me as a duly elected Councillor at the last Statutory Meeting from presenting views on how we should proceed with the restoration project is not new.

The real issue of why I left the meeting in protest is the view that there should be a decision for a broadbased committee to be established and headed by the Mayor, Her Worship Patricia Chase Green. This does not stand, since the Special Meeting from where this recommendation was made

from page 4

was non quorate.

In other words, this decision is not valid, since there was no quorum when it was made (see minutes of Special Meeting held on Thursday July 12th in the Council Chambers. After being silenced again, I left, saying clearly to all present, ‘I am leaving this meeting in protest.’ As a result, the meeting lacked the required quorum. This is the issue being contended. It makes me wonder where we are heading.

Yours sincerely, Khame Sharma

formation of these specific LAA areas, and about the 'big stick' method used by Minister Bulkhan to dictate the formation.

The APNU/AFC coalition Government is trying to convince the international

communities and the world that they are advocates of local democracy, which is a fallacy.

Regards, Zamal Hussain

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monDAY, JUly 30, 2018

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Foundation

…give your kids the skills they need to tackle life’s toughest challenges

By Amy Morin

W

hen my first book, 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, hit the shelves, readers kept asking me the same question over and over again: “How do I teach my kids how to be mentally strong?”

I was thrilled to learn so many adults were invested in helping their kids build mental muscle. As a psychotherapist, I’ve seen countless adults endure years of suffering because they lacked the basic skills they needed to deal with hardships, setbacks, failure, and rejection.

So I was excited to write 13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don’t Do as a guide to help parents give up the common parenting habits that are robbing kids of mental strength. The sooner we start teaching kids about mental strength, the more equipped they’ll be for the realities of adulthood.

Here are five golden rules for raising mentally strong kids.

Make it a family priority to take care of your mind Most parents talk to kids about the importance of caring for their bodies. They tell them to brush their teeth and they talk about eating healthy and getting exercise.

But few parents talk about the importance of caring for their minds.

Make it a priority to build mental muscle too. Perform mental strength exercises as a family and talk about the benefits of becoming mentally stronger.

Also, make it clear that sometimes you might need help from a professional.

Just like you visit a dentist to take care of your teeth, you might need to see a therapist

to help you take care of your mind.

Talk about feelings Studies show 60 per cent of college students say they were academically prepared for college, but not emotionally prepared. The vast majority of these young adults say they wished their parents had invested more time in teaching them how to deal with uncomfortable feelings, like disappointment, anxiety, and loneliness.

Aside from saying “angry” or “excited,” most parents rarely mention feelings.

Consequently, kids aren’t learning to identify their feelings and aren’t gaining the coping skills they need to deal with those feelings.

Incorporate feeling words into your everyday conversations. Acknowledge how you’re feeling and help your children

identify how they’re feeling.

Talk about how those emotions affect your decisions and proactively teach them how to manage those emotions in a healthy way.

Teach your child how to think realistically When your child says “I’ll never understand Maths,” it can be tempting to say, “Oh of course you will, honey.” But offering words of reassurance without teaching your child how to reassure himself isn’t helpful.

When your child expresses self-doubt, excessive self-blame, catastrophic predictions, or exaggeratedly

negative thoughts, teach him how to think differently.

Show him how to recognise unhelpful thoughts and reframe them in a more realistic way (changing BLUE thoughts to true thoughts is a helpful exercise).

Explain that your thoughts aren’t always true and that sometimes it’s important to prove your brain wrong.

Share how you think sometimes too, and show your child that you don’t always listen to your brain.

Say something like, “I keep thinking I’m going to mess up when I give that presentation at work.

Then, I remind myself that I am prepared and if I work hard, I can do a good job.”

Role model how to take positive action Kids need to know that they can behave contrary to their feelings. In fact, their behaviour can change their feelings.

If your child has had a bad day at school, she can choose to do something when she gets home that will help her feel better. Or, if she’s upset she got cut from the team, she can choose to practice more so she can get better.

Be a good role model and show your child that you behave contrary to your feelings sometimes. Say things like, “I am feeling kind of tired right now, but I know it’s a good choice to go make dinner for us rather than just sit here and watch TV.”

Actively engage in problem-solving It can be tempting to swoop in and solve kids’ problems for them. But they need opportunities to practice building problem-solving skills.

Resist the urge to bail your child out when he encounters a problem. Instead, encourage him to develop his own solution. Let him make mistakes sometimes. Natural consequences can be some of life’s greatest teachers.

Problem-solve issues together as well. Whether your child is struggling with a specific behaviour problem or she is having trouble getting along with the kids at recess, brainstorm at least five solutions as a team. Then, help

her choose a solution to try.

Build mental strength as a family Make it clear that everyone needs mental strength in life – not just kids. Talk about strategies to become mentally stronger and turn mistakes and problems into teachable moments.

Just make sure your kids don’t confuse being strong with acting tough. Denying pain or refusing to show emotions isn’t strength.

Mental strength involves becoming your best self, and we all have room for improvement. Show your kids that self-development is a priority in your life and you’ll make it a priority in their lives too. (psychologytoday.com)

Summertime activities for kids

Make your own guitar U

se recycled household items to make a simple and fun guitar with your child.

Materials

1 cereal box or shoe box.

1 recycled paper towel tube.

Scissors.

Craft knife (optional).

8 rubber bands.

2 crayons.

Directions

Gather your craft tools and materials to get started.

Using the craft knife or scissors, cut a 3-4 inch circle in the centre of one side of the cereal box. You can use a container top to trace a perfect circle or just get it close by eye. This hole will act as your sound hole.

Punch two sets of six holes in a straight line at each end of the box using the craft knife, scissors or small screwdriver, but do not make them too big. These holes should be close to the box edges and approximately 1/2 inch apart from each other to allow room for string vibration.

Now, using the craft knife, cut six V-shaped grooves into each crayon as shown below. The rubber band will sit in these grooves when attached.

Cut the crayons to hold the guitar rubber bands in place.

Cut six rubber bands. Thread them through the small holes on one side of the box and tie knots from inside the box to keep them from pulling out. Then stretch each rubber band across to the matching hole on the other side and again, thread it through using a screwdriver. Secure each rubber band with another inside knot.

Next, cut an X, roughly the size of the paper towel tube at the unopened end of the box. Gently press the flaps inward and continue adjusting until the paper towel tube fits snug and tight.

Then, secure the crayons in place with the two remaining rubber bands to lift the “strings” up from the box.

Play music with your homemade guitar!

Great job! Of course, you can customise the look of your guitar with painting or gluing pictures on it, but the best part of this craft is hearing your toddler sing a play their original songs!

(myteachingstation.com)

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mondAY, JUly 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Money changer robbed, shot Elderly couple nabbed with large amount of ‘bush rum’ at Suddie by 2 motorcycle bandits

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oney changer Rockford Richardson, also called “Bigger”, of Freeman Street, East La Penitence, Georgetown, has been shot to his left thigh and relieved of $120,000 that he had in his possession.

Based on reports received, on Sunday at about 13:33h, two bandits on a motor cycle confronted the 60-year-old Richardson as he was plying his trade in front of Silvie’s Building on Longden Street, Georgetown.

The pillion rider -armed with a gun -- reportedly jumped off the motor cycle and demanded that Richardson hand over the money he had in his possession. Fearful for his life, Richardson reportedly handed over the cash; and the bandit discharged a round that hit Richardson to his left thigh before jumping back onto the motor cycle which sped away.

Richardson was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was admitted a patient in the Accident and Emergency Unit. His condition is listed as stable.

Money changer Shawn Nurse was killed earlier in 2018

The Police have since retrieved a .32 spent shell at the scene, and are now hunting for the two men.

Earlier in the year, popular money changer Shawn Nurse, called “Fabulous,” who plied his trade on America Street, Georgetown, was shot dead by a man who attempted to rob him.

The 47-year-old Nurse, late of Lot 33 Shopping Plaza, South Ruimveldt Georgetown, was sitting in a chair at the corner of Avenue of the Republic and America Street when he reportedly was approached by a man wear-

ing a red hoody and a pair of brown pants. The man whipped out a handgun from his waist and demanded that Nurse hand over his cash.

Nurse, who just two months previously had been robbed, refused to do as demanded, and the perpetrator shot him to his head before quickly escaping from the scene.

Three men have subsequently been arrested and charged for this murder. Kerwin Dos Santos, George Hope and Kacey Heyliger have been accused of killing Shawn Nurse on February 4th at America Street, Georgetown during the course or furtherance of a robbery.

A

letter was recently published in a section of the media under the caption “Bush rum sold under the noses of the police”. That letter precipitated an investigation which has resulted in two persons being arrested.

Based on reports received, an elderly couple was arrested on July 27 after several bottles of spirited liquor and a five-gallon jar with what is suspected to be illicitly distilled liquor ('bush rum') were found at their Suddie Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast home. The couple was, however, released on bail pending legal advice.

It was reported in the letter that a woman was operating her 'bush rum' business in close proximity to the Suddie Police Station.

The woman, who also lives a few houses away from the Deputy Vice Chairperson for the Region, was reportedly engaged in open selling of bush rum and shop rum.

The letter writer stated that the woman was a large scale dealer in 'bush rum' operating from her home, and many underage persons were purchasing and imbibing the illegal substance.

“While it is against the law for a juvenile to make purchases of any alcoholic beverage from a licensed

shop, alcohol can be made readily available from the “illegal selling” of the commodity, with detrimental effects more so on the youngsters”, the author of the letter related.

He added that the woman was doing a lucrative business in violation of the law.

As such, he made an appeal to the Police to protect the community, and moreover, requested that the Customs and Excise Department take the appropriate action against the perpetrator.

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mondAY, JUly 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Man chops reputed wife, mother-in-law after being prevented from choking 4-year-old

T

he peace and tranquility of the wee hours of last Saturday in the community of South Success Squatting Area, East Coast Demerara were completely shattered when Julian “Troy” Sergeant, a 36-year-old labourer, suddenly awoke from slumber and inexplicably began to strangle four-year-old Nathania Browne.

Sergeant shares a common-law relationship with 19-year-old Tiffany Mc Beth, and the two have been together for the past two years.

Preliminary investigations revealed that a few days ago, Mc Beth’s mother, 64-year-old Lorraine Mc Beth, visited her daughter Tiffany and brought along her 4-year-old granddaughter, Nathania Browne.

Mc Beth and her mother reportedly made several frantic attempts to prevent Sergeant from further injuring

Julian Sergeant and Tiffany Mc Beth

the child, but he allegedly attacked the two women with a kitchen knife, inflicting injuries on them.

The ruckus disturbed neighbours, who summoned the Police, but Sergeant fled the scene before they arrived. Howbeit, he was nabbed by Police moments later.

The two women and the child were taken to hospital, and were admitted and treated, but were subsequently discharged.

As investigations continue, the Police are yet to determine what may have caused Sergeant to behave in such a manner. Up to late Sunday evening, the man did not give a reason for his actions.

He is due to appear in court sometime today to answer to the charges that were instituted against him.

Family members are left seeking to find a motive for Sergeant’s actions.

Fisherman granted bail for threatening neighbour

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fisherman who had threatened his neighbour during an argument was hauled before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with threatening behaviour.

Andy Markool was accused of threatening to kill Shamattie Arjune during an argument on July 23, 2018 at her Lot 115 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown home.

The two had reportedly

had several incidents previously which caused Markool to be placed on a six-month bond which he breached.

However, the 47-yearold man of West Ruimveldt, Georgetown denied the al-

legation when he appeared before Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

As such, he was placed on $10,000 bail and was ordered to return to Court 11 on August 3, 2018.

Driver who asked passenger to “come out” of bus charged

A

bus driver found himself before the courts after he reportedly asked a passenger to disembark his minibus.

Christopher Singh, 44, a minibus driver who resides on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD), admitted that on May 24, 2018 at the Route 42 Bus Park, he disturbed the public by not allowing Everton McCullen to

travel in his vehicle.

In defending himself, Singh noted that the Virtual Complainant entered the bus with a large object that blocked the entrance.

He explained to Magistrate Judy Latchman that he requested that McCullen move, but he refused causing the other passengers to walk out of his minibus.

Singh further explained that a heated argument ensued and the two eventually ended up at a Police Outpost where the matter was reported.

The defendant told the court that he was unaware as to why he was being charged when he was not in the wrong. A not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf following his explanation.

However, in McCullen’s version of the incident, he requested a seat in the bus, but the bus driver refused even though he offered to pay for the seat.

Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris had no objections to bail, but asked that it be substantial since the defendant was unwilling to attend court. Bail was granted in the sum of $10,000.

Singh is expected to make his second court appearance on August 3, 2018 before Magistrate Annette Singh.

Miner charged for unlawfully wounding sister-in-law

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man who injured his sister-in-law, thus causing her to be hospitalised was brought before the courts charged with unlawful wounding.

Lawrence Benjamin of the North West District (NWD), Region One (Barima-Waini) appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and denied the allegation against him. The Police stated that on July 14, 2018 at Barima Karibo, NWD, Benjamin unlawfully wounded Abena Gouveia causing her actual bodily harm.

The man who appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan was remanded to prison for the offence, and was expected to again appear in court on August 6, 2018. The matter was transferred to the Mabaruma Magistrate’s Court.

Free…

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…to starve e’re all preparing to CELEBRATE Emancipation Day. But we really ought to ask ourselves what exactly was achieved by “Emancipation”. In slavery, we know some folks – mostly blacks - were the property of other folks – mostly whites. But what came afterwards?? The fella behind the free trade argument that precipitated Emancipation – Adam Smith – argued that labour would now be “free”. Interestingly, he suggested this in 1776, the same year the Americans decided to launch their war of Independence!

“Free” labour, Smith claimed, would be more efficient than slave labour, since owners of plantations and the labourers could now bargain in a “labour market” that would most efficiently decide on labour’s “worth”. A half-century later, not long after the abolition of slavery, when such matters had moved from the realm of theory to practice, Karl Marx, a close student of Smith, remarked sardonically but presciently: free labour was “doubly free” – free to work or free to starve!!

And that’s what we saw right after Emancipation, and what we’re seeing today. The ex-slaves, for instance, exercised this “freedom” to move off the plantations -- the site of their degradation for centuries. But were they free to work? Yes, but at wages determined by the planters, who brought in “indentured labour”, which they could control because of their “bound” contract! The ex-slaves were forced to eke out a living as best they could – outside the sugar economy.

After Indentureship, THEY were now “free” – but their experience showed Marx was right: they were “free to starve”! Throughout the 19th century and into the 20th, sugar wages kept getting smaller and smaller – but the workers had nowhere to go but starvation street!! That their survival instincts kicked in worked in favour of the planters. They rented small plots of land from the estates and planted rice, which soon expanded into an industry.

They caught fish in the canals; reared poultry and sheep/ goats, etc, and survived to work at the subsistence wage on the estates.

But at least they worked for a wage that provided a minimum safety net against total starvation. So, on Emancipation Day, let’s spare a thought for the 5700 sugar workers fired by GuySuCo directly - and the other 2000 indirectly from cane farmers. They’re now free to starve!!

Imagine, this PNC Government trumpeting the significance of Emancipation, yet failing to see the cruel irony of the tragedy that’s unfolding in the sugar belt??

They glibly talk about the “callousness” of the colonial order in denying the ex-slaves a living. But what about the land and credit promised to sugar workers when the estates were to be shuttered?

Are they not also men and our brothers? …to borrow and spend Finance Minister Jordan says the Government is “cautious” about borrowing!! If what’s going on in this PNC-led Government’s debt portfolio is “caution”, God help us all!! In macro terms, let’s remind Jordan that in 2015 they inherited a debt load of 47.9 per cent of GDP!!

The following year, that grew to 48.3 per cent, and in 2017 it jumped to 53.4 per cent. Hello!!! Do we see a trend here??

In this year alone, the Government’s MoUs on financing show us where their head’s at as far as borrowing’s concerned. There’s that US$900 million line of credit from the Islamic Development Bank; and then, only yesterday, we heard of an undisclosed mega financing from the China Belt and Road initiative on infrastructure. The World Bank’s US$35 million for getting the financial architecture right and the US$30 million bond for GuySuCo might seem like small potatoes to the new financial wizards with oil dollars in their eyes; but these things add up.

When you least expect it, it’ll bring you down when you can’t sustain repayment schedule.

Like when oil prices plummet? …to lie Even though it was announced that Raphael Trotman’s no longer responsible for oil, he just can’t let go! He just told a whopper on Dr Valerie Marcel, a Chatham House fellow.

He claims she recommended a “National Oil Company” for Guyana. No way Jose!! says Dr Val!!

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

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mondAY, JUly 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 9 flooding aftermath

59 evacuated residents return as clean-up continues – assessment to go on for 2 more weeks

Region Nine Chairman Bryan Allicock

T

he Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) is reporting that the 59 residents who were displaced by the recent flooding in the area have returned to their homes.

In a brief interview with Guyana Times on Sunday,

Regional Chairman Bryan Allicock revealed that the cleaning continued as many of the roads in the area were damaged by the flooding, which occurred over the past several weeks. He said that a ‘core workers’ group was overseeing the Region’s clean-up efforts.

Allicock said that the water has completely receded, but observed that some farmers in the Region suffered losses, especially cassava crops. He, however, noted that many of the producers had taken precautions and harvested their crops when the flooding began.

“The Rio Branco (River) is not flowing back here into Guyana because of the dryness of the Amazon. We are monitoring the weather reports every day over in Brazil, but the rains are here with us, in the Kanuku Mountains,” he noted.

When asked about the financial damage assessment,

Acting CDC Director General, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig

he indicated that it would be too early to give a figure as to the extent of losses persons in the various communities suffered as the after-effects of the flooding were still being felt. This publication understands that this assessment would take into consideration the extent to

After 5 months...

Wakenaam rice farmers finally paid

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fter five long months of repeatedly having their hopes dashed, rice farmers on the Essequibo Island of Wakenaam were finally paid for the produce they had sold a popular miller on the Essequibo Coast.

Their payment comes approximately five weeks ahead of harvesting for the current crop, due in early September.

Before this payment was effected, farmers had vented their frustrations at the prolonged delay, saying that the end of this crop would have passed without them being

paid. However, as media reports highlighted the months of non-payment the farmers were being made to endure, the farmers finally received the monies that were owed to them.

According to information received, the Essequibo rice miller handed out several cheques on Thursday last.

Even as they are satisfied at having been paid, farmers say they continue to face difficulties in trying to repay loans taken to acquire fertiliser, fuel, and equipment.

The farmers had earli-

er disclosed that the miller had, since March, milled their paddy into rice. Guyana Times had reported that farmers on the Essequibo Coast were also owed, and it was related that many there had also received cheques.

The five months it took the miller to discharge his obligation to the farmers is said to be a violation of the Rice Factories (Amendment) Act of 2009, which says that farmers should not wait longer than the mandatory 42 days to be paid for their paddy.

Turn to page 14

which food security is being threatened in the Region by the losses which were incurred. He noted that in early July some 20 farms were inundated with over three feet of water.

Information obtained suggested that several farmers are engaging in dialogue with the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry with the aim of seeking compensation for their damaged crops.

Allicock explained that the Region was encountering difficulty in reaching some of the far-flung communi-

ties owing to lack of access to communications technology. As such, the assessment will last for about two more weeks to ensure that the concerns of all in the Region get addressed.

The 59 residents who were evacuated from their homes for safety reasons were in shelters for about three weeks. Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, who is acting head of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), told this newspaper earlier this month that based on his knowledge, there were

no reports of outbreak of diseases.

The flooding resulted from several rivers, particularly the Takutu River, overtopping because of heavy rainfall in the region and over in neighbouring Brazil, which had resulted in the overtopping of the Rio Branco. The CDC had delivered supplies which included water purification tablets, collapsible bottles, detergents and cleaning supplies, bedding and blankets.

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mondAY, JUly 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Sexual Offences Act

Child rights activist pleased with Appeal Court ruling

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recent Court of Appeal ruling which overturned the decision of former Chief Justice Ian Chang in relation to amendments to the Sexual Offences Act of 2010 has been welcomed by Women and Child Rights Commissioner Nicole Cole, who says she is whol-

ly heartened by the ruling which was handed down last week, and that the decision taken by the Court is synonymous of a progressive society.

“This ruling is absolutely brilliant for us as a society that would like to be seen as progressive, prosperous, and humane; that seeks to

ensure the most vulnerable are protected,” Cole stated.

The case stemmed from a High Court ruling which outlined that a magistrate’s decision to send rape accused Ray Bacchus to stand trial in the High Court based on a paper committal was unlawful.

Attorney Mursaline

Bacchus had claimed that the paper committal, which is an amendment made to the Sexual Offences Act, undermines the rights of his client, based on the provisions in the Constitution.

He claimed that the amendment does not allow his client to test the credibility of witness statements

Women and Child Rights Commissioner Nicole Cole

at the magistrate’s courts through cross examination.

Chang had ruled in favour of Bacchus’s arguments: that the amendment to the Sexual Offences Act 2010 were unlawful; but the ruling was challenged by the State, and a decision was handed down last week.

In June, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, presented her arguments in Court and gave reasons for her contention that the amendment to the Sexual Offences Act were not unconstitutional.

The DPP contended that the provisions of that part of the Sexual Offences Act, Number 7 of 2010, which purports to give jurisdiction and power to the magistrate to commit an accused person to a High Court trial based on a paper committal, does not contravene the rights of that person based on Article 144(1) and 144(2) of the Constitution.

The article 144(1) and 144(2) of the Constitution reads, “Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be permitted to defend him or herself before the court in person or by a legal representative of his or her own choice.”

She noted that in paper committals the accused is afforded a fair hearing, in that in a matter of months his case will be set for trial in the High Court, whereas in the case of Preliminary Inquiry, the process takes much longer. In that regard, the DPP contended that the paper committal benefits both the victim and the accused.

Cole said she agrees with the decision even more so because sexual violence, especially against children, is occurring with impunity every day in Guyana, and it must be stopped.

She said, “There must be no mercy for the merciless and men who rape children, who destroy dreams of happy childhood, leaving death and destruction in the lives of Guyanese children!

“It’s a vicious, predatory cycle whereby (mostly) adult men prey upon both girls and boys sexually, and

the law must be seen as a deterrent for their abnormal pedophilia appetite.”

Meanwhile, Cole recalled that the Guyana Human Rights Association has done research dating back to 2004, which points to low, and in some cases no, convictions for sexual offences in Guyana’s judicial system.

She said this new Sexual Offenses Law was therefore seen as revolutionary in capturing those paedophiles who prey upon children, while reminding that women and children endure the brunt of sexual violence.

The Child Rights Commissioner also pointed to recent statistics from the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA), which points to over 400 cases of abuse against children reported in the first six months of 2018.

“Those 238 reported child rape cases for the month of May, 2018 should occasion nausea in us as a nation… Where are we headed as a society if we fail to protect our children from sexual predators?”

In the previous year, the CCPA reported that there were 841 sexual abuse (rape) cases, with 722 girls and 119 boys experiencing sexual violence. Toddlers were included, as 11 boys in the 0-3 category were reported to the CCPA as being victims of sexual abuse, and there were 32 boys in the 4-7 category.

“46 boys in the 8-13 category and 30 boys in the 14-18 category. There were 28 girls in the 0-3 category reported to the CCPA as being victims of sexual VIOLENCE, with 61 girls in the 4-7 category; 275 in the 8-13 category; and 358 in the 14-18 category for the year ending 2017,” she added.

Cole said that for the month of January, the CCPA recorded 9 boys and 79 girls as victims of sexual violence. “This points to a pattern of widespread paedophilia in Guyana!” she added, making calls again for a Sexual Offences Register to be operationalised in Guyana, to help identify ‘sexual predators.’

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MONDAY, JUly 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Drunken man perishes as home goes up in flames T

he charred remains of 64-year-old Fizal Ally, also called ‘Zool’, were removed by coroners from the rubble at Lot 10 Bissoon Street, Better Hope South, ECD after his home went up in flames on Sunday at about noon.

Reportedly home alone at time of the blaze, Ally, who had shared the flat wooden house with his 54-year-old wife Anita Looknauth and

building, no one knew that the man was in the house.

After the blaze had been extinguished, there was the gruesome discovery of Ally’s badly burnt body in a lying position. At no point in time did anyone hear any scream emanating from the house, and as such, everyone believe that the man might have slept through the ordeal on the floor of the house.

When Guyana Times ar-

down, which did not allow me to see what was happening over at them (victim) house.

But the place start feeling unusually hot, so something tell me watch over”.

As she looked out, she started to get weak after seeing the entire house engulfed in flames. “I start to tremble because I became so afraid; because me know the people them!” she cried. She told Guyana Times that she

What remained of the house after the fire

persons surmise that the fire might have been started by a kerosene stove that was left alight. Guyana Times has also been made to understand that whenever the man is drunk, he would threaten to burn down the house.

Coroners removing what remained of Fizal’s body

her 15-year-old grandson Randy Ally, had reportedly been seen consuming alcohol earlier in the day.

The couple’s neighbour noticed the house on fire at about noon, and raised an alarm. Neighbours formed a bucket brigade to attempt to put out the blaze, but were forced to retreat because of the intense heat. Within 15 minutes, the wooden structure had been reduced to rubble.

As the fire continued to consume the remnants of the

rived at the scene, residents stood in disbelief as the undertakers were removing the man’s remains. A woman who occupies a second house on the same property confirmed that the now dead man and his wife had been consuming alcohol earlier in the day. However, the wife left for work while the man stayed at home.

This woman recalled sitting in her verandah and feeling a sudden heat. Giving details, she said, “Anyhow, I had this leatherette pulled

ran out of the yard and started to scream, “Fire!”

“By the time everybody come out and started to try and out the fire, it was already long gone…but the heat was so much that I also had to run out of my house… We had to soak our house too, because of the heat,” she revealed.

This neighbour thinks Fizal may have passed out due to being drunk, as she had heard no scream coming from the house.

While the cause of the fire is yet to be determined,

The couple is said to have been living in the area for the past six years, since the owner of the property -- sister to the now deceased -had built the house for him and his wife. The dead man’s sister reportedly resides overseas.

It is unclear whether the deceased had been a father, but his wife is said to be a mother of one child.

The man’s wife was escorted to the Police Station as an investigation was launched into the deadly fire.

12 news

MONDAY, JUly 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Stock Exchange legislation with AG’s Chambers – Jordan ... shortage of human resource contributing to delay

G

overnment has revealed that legislation for Guyana’s Stock Exchange is currently sitting in the Attorney General’s Chambers, and has taken a back burner to other pieces of legislation partly because the AG’s Chambers are short of human resources.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan explained during a recent press conference that the bill has been drafted for a while now. In fact, it was there long before recently passed bills like the Cybercrime Bill.

“The comprehensive bill for the stock exchange has been drafted a while now. It is with the Attorney General’s Chambers.

Comprehensive bits of leg-

islation have been drafted. Those are also with the Attorney General’s Chambers.

The AG’s Chambers are challenged by way of human resources, and so those bills have been relegated in terms of priorities so that other bills can get in, such as the amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Bill.”

“Last week (it was) the Cybercrime Bill,” he pointed out. “The week before, (it was) my four financial bills, and so on. So a number of bills have overtaken the Stock Exchange Bill, (which) was there well before those bills came out.

There are other bills that will overtake them, like the Sovereign Wealth Fund.

But eventually, sometime

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

next year, we are hoping to pass comprehensive legislation for the stock exchange,” Minister Jordan detailed.

Locally, the Guyana

Association of Securities Companies and Intermediaries (GASCI) is the recognised stock exchange. It is a self-regulatory organisation registered with the Guyana Securities Council to carry on business as a stock exchange and an association of securities companies and intermediaries.

GASCI consists of four member firms which provide broker services for customers who wish to buy and sell shares on the stock market, and these are Trust Company (Guyana)

Ltd, Guyana Americas Merchant Bank Inc, Beharry Stockbrokers Ltd, and Hand-in-Hand Trust Corporation Inc (formerly GNCB Trust Corporation Inc).

Trust Company (Guyana) Ltd, Beharry Stockbrokers Ltd and Handin-Hand Trust Corporation Inc are also represented on the Board of Directors of GASCI. The member firms of GASCI are registered as brokers with the Guyana Securities Council.

Jordan also noted that, from henceforth, the bank

will be assuming an increasingly more prevalent role in the management of the economy. An example of this is credit unions.

According to the Minister, there will be moves to bring these unions under the purview of central bank.

“Right now, consideration is in respect of credit unions. You know, those are quite a few, but we’re trying to bring those under the purview of the central bank in terms of supervision,” the Minister explained.

driver operating a ‘silver car’ hit her.

Her mother was said to have witnessed the entire ordeal. According to eyewitness reports, the girl was tossed into the air for a few seconds, but was spared from hitting the road as she ended up on a heap of sand that was near the road’s shoulders.

This publication understands that she was picked up in an unconscious state and rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH). The teen suffered lacerations to her body, especially to her legs.

It was also related that moments after the accident, a Police rank was present at the scene, as he was driving a vehicle in the same direction when the accident occurred.

Reports are that the driver, who was identified as a Wales resident, was taken into custody and later transported to the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station, where he remains in custody. The Police have confirmed that an investigation was launched into the accident.

The teen remains in hospital, but is said to be in stable condition.

Speeding driver hits holidaying French teen at Wales

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visiting French 14-year-old girl is now hospitalised after a motor car reportedly struck her while she was walking along the Wales, West Bank Demerara Public Road on Saturday.

The vising child has been identified as Trista Bernard.

While information remains sketchy, Guyana Times understands that the teenager and her immediate family members were visiting relatives in the Wales area and were in the process of crossing the public road when a reportedly speeding

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MONDAY, JUly 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt says SWF Green Paper for Parliament by August

– to be reviewed by Cabinet on July 31

T

he Green Paper on the Natural Resources Fund (NRF), which will deal with the question of management of anticipated oil revenues starting in 2020, is anticipated to be laid in the National

be done when Cabinet next meets on July 31.

“We will revise the paper in time for presentation to the last Parliament, which is on or before August 10, 2018,” he explained, adding that the draft legisla-

and then we will revise the bill and make it ready for Parliament,” he explained, adding that the bill will be laid in the National Assembly by the year end.

In referring to some of the announcements made

The SWF/NRF Green Paper will be laid in the National Assembly next month

Assembly next month.

This is according to Finance Minister Winston Jordan, who told reporters on Friday that the Green Paper -- a report on Government’s proposals -was presented to Cabinet to be reviewed. According to Jordan, a second review will

tion for the fund is with the Attorney General’s Chambers.

“Once the AG’s Chambers (are) finished with that bill, it will get its review at Cabinet, and then we will put it out for consultations. We will take back whatever comments,

in a press statement issued

by Government through the Finance Ministry, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo recently said he still did not agree with the model being proposed for the Natural Resource Fund, which could cater for a representative from the

Opposition.

“We don’t want politicians -- we ourselves -- to manage this money. This fund has to be independently technically managed -not by politicians again and stored at the Central Bank. We have a problem with that model; it departs radically from best practices, like (obtains in) Norway and the other countries,” he added.

Government has said that legislation in relation to the fund could be laid in Parliament before the end of the year, as indicated in Budget 2018. It said that the proposed legislation addresses two main issues: stability of the economy, and saving for future generations. Advice on this fund is being sought from the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank,

and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Jagdeo has also criticised the Government for peddling a political assessment of the oil and gas sector. “The real substantive matters are still not being addressed,” he said, while noting that Finance Minister Winston Jordan has been engaged in a lot of fluff talks with members of the public on this matter.

14 news

MONDAY, JUly 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Emancipation Day observances

Linden's 2nd annual 'Freedom Fest' launched

L

inden is this year again observing Emancipation Day with the hosting of 'Freedom Fest'.

Member of Parliament (MP) Jermaine Figueira is collaborating with the Right Start Foundation to host this second annual celebration of Emancipation Day in the community in this unique way.

The celebration, which will be observed on July 31 and August 1, will showcase an array of African culture, including food, music, fashion and dance. It was officially launched on Saturday.

Having recognised that there was no serious focus on the celebration of Emancipation in 2017, MP Figueira, with his brother and friends, decided to put together a small event. The initiative was well received, and support for its continuation started to pour in.

"Since then, we have decided to make it an annual event; this year being the second (year of its staging)

Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira and others at launch of the Linden Freedom Fest activity

with a different focus", MP Figueira outlined.

He said the idea this year is in keeping with His Excellency President David Granger’s vision of holistic community development. The focus will be on the promotion of a family-oriented activity both in support and recognition of African heritage and

culture.

"It is our desire, in promoting this important event, to encourage our people to recognise that Emancipation is not about freedom from slavery alone, but (from) every aspect of oppression, and moreso mental bondage.

“We, the people in this community, (which) is pre-

dominantly of African descendants, must recognise the importance of accepting

and appreciating (ourselves), and recognising each other as brothers and sisters…. Help them by supporting their businesses to build the economy of their brotherhood, their families, and evidently the community", he explained.

Additionally, the MP noted that Emancipation Day celebrations should largely be about people staying at home and participating in noteworthy family activities: having fun; consuming healthy, enjoyable foods; and partaking of educational experiences in a safe, clean and family-oriented environment.

This year's event will be hosted at the Wisroc playfield at Wismar, and will see representation from all eight constituencies of Region 10, including Linden, Rockstone,

Kwakwani and Ituni.

It will also see numerous competitive activities, including cook-outs, best village, largest contingent in African attire, best dressed family and couple, best dressed male and female child, among other things.

"We are very much thankful for the assistance given to us from the various ministries and businesses; for (their) coming on board to make this event a success. Special thanks to Minister Harmon for personally contributing in a massive way, making it possible for all the constituencies in our township to participate. Next year it is promising to be bigger, and we are aiming for His Excellency to be in attendance", the MP noted.

Wakenaam rice farmers...

from page 9

According to the Act, the manufacturer (miller) is required to pay the paddy producer (the farmer) half the amount due him upfront, and the rest within two weeks of receiving that farmer’s paddy. However, the situation has garnered its share of complications, as millers continue to hold out that Government-owned entity the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) owes them over $2 billion in outstanding payments from Panama deals dating back to 2017.

Head of the GRDB, Nizam Hassan, later claimed that GRDB is not responsible for payment delays from buyers in Panama. His superior, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, said, “Millers should desist from using the farmers as a bank.”

Minister Holder and Hassan met the Panamanian Institute of

Agricultural Marketing on March 18, 2016, and a commitment was announced for Guyana to supply an increased quota of rice.

“Our Government is extremely pleased that you (Panama) are happy with the services we (GRDB) have been supplying since the commencement of our relationship…

I would like to assure you that the GRDB will continue to provide the same excellent and professional service to your Government,” Minister Holder had said following that meeting.

The Guyana Rice Millers Association (GRMA) has maintained the position that millers are signing agreements with GRDB, which has a Government-toGovernment arrangement with Panama, and as such, GRDB has an obligation to pay millers.

GRMA Head, Leekha

Rambrich, observed in June that GRDB was violating laws that govern the sector, with particular focus on its delayed payments to millers under the Panama deal.

He posited that with the signing of the Panama contract, the GRDB “is committing itself to a six-month payment plan”, whereby rice would be obtained and payments would come six months after. Rambrich contends that this would be tantamount to withholding payments from farmers.

Millers had outlined that they were operating in overdraft. Guyana Times reported that banks requested a payment schedule in which millers outlined how they would pay back the funds.

Reports are that GRDB promised to pay millers for Panama payments since September last year, but revised the payment deadline to April 30, 2018.

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monDAY, july 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

In light of numerous officers being charged for various criminal offences, do you think that there should be an advanced screening process in their initial evaluation?

Collis Lymerick

Delroy Johnson

“I think the screening process should be continuous, because most officers tend to show their true colours after the training is finished; that’s not to say all officers are rogue and corrupt though.”

“No. I believe the criminal offences they commit are cultured during their training and tenure. There must be systems in place that reduce the influence to commit these offences

by Officers.”

Gavin Garette

“They should get one [screening] every six months and another one before they get promoted.”

Rawle Carroll

Ramesh Dookoo

“Advanced screening is always a good thing; however, routine checks throughout their careers will help to detect and deter those bent on breaking the laws.”

“Criminal behaviour by Police Officers in Guyana has become a norm and this needs to be checked and fixed urgently.”

Mohammed Deen

Caesar McAlmont “Not necessarily, because people always find a way to trick the system.”

Mark Felix

“I think the entire process needs overhauling, because there are some officers who cannot even take a statement which proves their inability to read or write properly. And generally, Police Officers do not know to speak to civilians. Thirdly, if you ever go into a Police Station, especially the Leonora Police Station, you would be surprised to hear the behaviours of the Officers there. They would be cursing to the top of their voices, having no regards whatsoever for the civilians there.”

“My question is: how is this so-called screening process being conducted in the first place? Because I know of someone personally who got a Police job three months after being deported from the United States and not only is this person a Police Officer, this person is a detective and I am saying person, because I am not trying to open a case on anyone, but Guyana is just ridiculous to the 100th power.”

Esan Fernandes

Godfrey Williams

“Some civilians who have been aspired to apply themselves into a law enforcement career and environment as a civilian were one step away from being caught with their hands in the cookie jar, but have managed to make it through the hiring employment process and graduated from the [Guyana Police Force] GPF academy. Now, they’re empowered with a badge and a gun to enforce the laws of the land with the full authority of the Commissioner of Police, but instead of recognising the nobility of their professional responsibilities, they consciously choose to aspire towards the criminal elements of their lower humanity, causing the honourable and noble profession of service and protecting citizens to suffer. This is what I personally believe are all those found to be in violation of the oath they took should suffer the consequences of the very laws they’ve sworn to uphold with the heaviest of hand, regardless of rank or notoriety – from the Commissioner of Police to the Police Officer walking the beat; there should be no exceptions.”

“They should [do advanced screening], because persons wouldn't know where they come from and the family and so on. So, maybe if they come from a very bad background that no one knows about and simply we just put them into the force, it’s then that their background shows up and stains the Force.

It is better to check their background because we would know the type of persons serving as protectors in our country.”

Seetahal Rambharat

“I think they should do the screening, because they just can’t pick up people from anywhere and put them in a disciplined force and they are indisciplined [sic]. I think the Police them should do some research. It would be helpful, because if you screen them, you do some investigation in the village they say they're from and thing like that to know their background and then they can accept them into the Force.”

Ezra Peters

Kwofai Chu

Roman

“I think they should do better background checking other than just rejecting persons with tattoos and letting a person who have about 10 relatives in their family as known characters to the Police into the Force. Those are the same ones that tip off their criminal relatives on who to prey on next!”

“I think there is initial screening evaluation from the inception, but it’s not done thoroughly. There should be heavy penalties for officers that are caught being involved in criminal activities. After all, they are the ones who are supposed to keep order in society and provide the public with a sense of safety at all times.”

“My thoughts are, is the Public Security Minister and his staff ensuring that there is some sense of professionalism in the work conducted by the so-called Police Officers which harass quite a number of our Guyanese citizens each day? We understand the requirement is just a secondary education, so in that case, many of them are just uneducated. I think there should be more than just a secondary education and a quarterly screening process which would determine their own development for the safety of our fellow Guyanese.”

16 news

monDAY, JUly 30, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Water levels in Kwakwani City Council launches “City Week” in observance decrease by 6 feet of 175th anniversary

City Hall

R

Helpless residents in Kwakwani are negotiating their next move

esidents in Kwakwani, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraUpper Berbice) have finally received the answer to their prayers as the water levels have almost returned to normal according to Assistant Regional Executive Officer (AREO), Leola Narine.

Narine, in an interview with Guyana Times, stated that despite the water levels dropping tremendously, communities such as Lamp Island and Park Road continue to be affected by floodwaters, owing to the fact that they are in close prox-

imity of the Berbice River.

She, however, reported that most of the residents have been able to return to their livelihoods.

The AREO noted that there have been three reports of illnesses in the area with two of them being rash-related.

She said that the illnesses were not serious, but the patients were being monitored by medical personnel in that Region.

“We currently have medical supplies on the ground to ensure that we are able to deal with any sickness-

es which may arise,” Narine pointed out.

According to her, Environmental Health Officers have donated detergents to the residents so as to kill the germs and the stench left behind from the floodwaters.

On another note, the AREO expressed her appreciation to all those who assisted Kwakwani residents in their time of need.

Kwakwani residents were losing hope after being unable to see soil for more than two months.

Hundreds of hampers

were distributed among the villagers over the period, since they were unable to reap their agricultural produce.

More than 300 households were affected by the disastrous situation and although the residents have adopted adaptive measures, most homes were completely flooded resulting in them being forced to move to higher ground.

The flooding in Kwakwani started in April and intensified over the months owing to heavy rainfall coupled with the overtopping of the Berbice River. Persons living on Lamp Island and the Waterfront are the most severely affected.

The water rose as high as eight feet in some areas and was receding slowly. Residents were forced to utilise boats as their main mode of transportation, since the roads were inundated.

T

o commemorate its 175th Anniversary, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) officially launched its “City Week” celebrations on Friday evening at the Stabroek Market Square.

At the launch, both youths and older citizens were treated to a musical explosion by several disc jockeys and the One Man Band.

The Week, which is expected to start on August 19, 2018, will be one filled with various activities showcasing the diversity of the city.

According to Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green, the objective of Friday’s initiative is to bring awareness to the citizens of Guyana and to also have every citizen participate in the activities.

“We have come a long way from when we were ruled by the Dutch. There were many complaints (for example)about the city flooding as soon as rain falls,

so now we have gone from that era and we are now trying to improve in other areas as well,” the Mayor explained.

It was also noted that before the week-long festivities commence, the M&CC will engage in a clean-up exercise in Georgetown, particularly around the Stabroek and Bourda Market areas.

On August 19, the day will start with a church service at the St George’s Cathedral followed by an opening ceremony at Stabroek Market Square.

Some of the other activities planned include an arts & craft exhibition on Main Street, a health fair, cocktail reception and a beachfront party at the Guyana Marriott Hotel.

It was noted that most of the funding for these activities will be sponsored by several different companies.

The “City Week” celebration will be branded and “promoted as a tourist attraction”.

monDAY, JUly 30, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Cambodia election: Ruling party claims landslide

T

he party of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has been in power since 1985, says it has won a landslide victory in a general election that lacked any serious challengers.

The Cambodian People's Party (CPP) said it had won 80 per cent of the vote, giving it at least 100 of 125 seats.

Election staff say turnout was 82.71 per cent.

Critics have called the vote a sham as the Cambodia National Rescue

17

Prime Minister Hun Sen – seen here casting his vote – says he wants to rule for at least a decade longer

Party (CNRP), which narrowly lost the last election, has been dissolved.

The United States and European Union were also among those questioning

the credibility of the vote, but the CPP said 19 other parties had stood.

In a statement on his Facebook page, former CNRP leader Sam Rainsy, who is living in exile abroad, said "a victory without a contest is a hollow one".

"The result of this false election conducted in a climate of fear is a betrayal of the popular will," he said.

Official election results are reportedly not expected until mid-August. (Excerpt from BBC News)

New York Times tells Trump: Don't call reporters enemies of the people

T

he publisher of the New York Times has urged President Donald Trump not to continue labelling reporters "enemies of the people", saying it could "lead to violence" against the media.

AG Sulzberger was reporting a meeting with Trump at the White House.

The meeting was intended to be offthe-record, but Sulzberger said Trump broke this with a tweet on Sunday.

In his tweet, the President said he had had a "very good and very interesting" meeting with Sulzberger.

"Spent much time talking about the vast amounts of Fake News being put out by the media & how that Fake

News has morphed into phrase, 'Enemy of the People.' Sad!" the tweet read.

He did not refer to his own repeated use of the phrase.

The New York Times released its statement after Trump tweeted, saying it had decided to "respond to the President's characterisation of their conversation". (Excerpt from BBC News)

Zimbabwe's Mugabe backs Opposition on eve of election

F

ormer President Robert Mugabe said he would vote for Zimbabwe’s Opposition in today’s election, turning on one-time allies in the Government ahead of the first vote since they ousted him in a de facto coup.

The election will see 75-year-old President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a long-time Mugabe ally, face 40-year-old Nelson Chamisa, a lawyer and pastor who is vying to become Zimbabwe’s youngest Head of State.

Mnangagwa accused his former boss of striking a deal with the Opposition Leader, but did not provide

any evidence.

“The choice is clear, you either vote for Mugabe under the guise of Chamisa or you vote for a new Zimbabwe under my leadership and ZANU-PF,” Mnangagwa said in a video on his official Facebook page.

Polls, which are unreliable, give Mnangagwa, a former intelligence chief and Defence Minister, only a slim lead over Chamisa, making a runoff on September 8 a possibility.

“I said I can’t vote for those who have caused me to be in this situation ... so there is Chamisa left,” Mugabe said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Indonesia earthquake: 14 dead on tourist island of Lombok

PAHO, partners Nicaragua protests: Thousands show support launch new course to improve nutrition for Catholic Church programmes in the C'bean

Demonstrators urged the Church to continue speaking out against Police repression

T

housands of anti-Government protesters in Nicaragua have taken part in a march to show support for the Roman Catholic Church.

The Government accuses Catholic Bishops of siding with the Opposition and encouraging protests.

Followers of other religious denominations and non-believers joined the march in the capital, Managua.

More than 300 people have died since protests against President Daniel Ortega began in April.

"Justice!" and "Freedom!" were some of the slogans shouted by demonstrators.

"Our temples will always be open to those who need them," said Monsignor Carlos Avilés.

"The Church will continue to support dialogue, even if it is criticised for that," he added.

Nicaragua's Roman Catholic Church has been acting as a mediator in talks between the Opposition and the Government.

It has called for an end to violence on both sides, but has been critical of the way the authorities handled the unrest.

Government supporters held a rival march elsewhere in Managua. (Excerpt from BBC News)

The programme is aimed at preventing malnutrition “in all its forms”

T

he Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) says it has partnered with George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health and the Yale School of Public Health, with financing from the Government of Canada, in launching a new course to improve nutrition programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean.

PAHO said the programme was also aimed at preventing malnutrition “in

all its forms”.

The course, “Evaluation and Quality Assurance of Nutrition Programmes”, a mixed online/on-site course, began this month on the PAHO Virtual Campus for Public Health.

Thirty-five professionals from the Health Ministries of Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru were selected to take part in this initial four-month training, which includes a one-week on-site workshop in Ecuador in December 2018. (Excerpt from CMC)

about six explosions.

“This is deeply disturbing after a period of relative calm. We will make sure that we meet the violence with the appropriate force,” said National Security Minister Wayne Caines said after arriving at the scene.

Former Premier Michael Dunkley, the Shadow Minister of National Security, said he knew Grier as a constituent and friend, adding: “We were stunned, devastated and saddened to lean of another senseless murder.”

Bermuda records 1st murder for 2018

B

ermuda recorded its first murder so far this year when a 30-yearold man was gunned down late Friday.

The Police who released details on Sunday identified him as Taylor Grier.

Grier died when he was

gunned down in Hamilton late Friday by a gunman, who opened fire at the junction of Court and Elliott Streets after arriving on a motorcycle with another person.

A bystander told Police that he did not see the shooting or suspects, but heard

(Excerpt from CMC)

A

Some homes have completely collapsed

powerful earthquake has struck a popular tourist destination in Indonesia, killing at least 14 people.

The 6.4 magnitude quake hit the central island of Lombok just before 07:00h local time (00:00h GMT) on Sunday.

The island attracts tourists from around the world to its beaches and hiking trails, and is located about 40 kilometres (25 miles) east of Bali.

More than 160 people are injured and thousands of homes are damaged, officials say.

A Malaysian tourist

who was on a hiking trip to Mount Rinjani is among those killed.

The US Geological Survey said the epicentre of the earthquake was 50km (31 miles) north-east of the city of Mataram, in northern Lombok.

It was followed by more than 60 smaller earthquakes, with the largest recorded at a magnitude of 5.7.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the country's disaster agency, said that most casualties occurred when victims were hit by debris and falling blocks of concrete. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

Mali begins presidential vote count amid simmering insecurity

V

ote counting began in Mali on Sunday evening after an election to determine whether President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita will win a second term, amid ethnic and jihadist violence that has dramatically worsened since he came to power five years ago.

Two dozen other candidates were contesting the presidency in a largely Saharan desert nation that has been fractured

by a Tuareg rebellion and Islamist militancy across its north and central zones since the last poll in 2013.

Insecurity is such that in some parts of Mali, the vote simply did not happen, and the European Union observer mission urged the Government on Saturday to publish a list of places that would be unable to vote, to quell suspicions by candidates of “fictitious polling stations”.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, july 30, 2018

ARCHIE

ARIES

Take a proactive ap-

(March 21- proach when helping others.

April 19) Offer suggestions as well as

incentives to get the support you need to get things done on schedule.

Focus inward and make TAURUS changes that will help you (April 20- hone your skills, add to your May 20) qualifications or update your appearance. Personal growth will improve your attitude.

dilbert

Traveling, attending busiGEMINI (May 21- ness meetings or resolving a June 20) pending matter with a friend or relative should be on your agenda. Now is not the time to let someone mislead or take advantage of you.

Make physical changes that will help you get into (June 21- shape, or adjust your attitude July 22) so you can take advantage of your cultural background, knowledge and experience.

CANCER

Peanuts

Speak up, share your LEO plans and listen to advice, but (July 23- when it comes time to make Aug. 22) a decision, you must rely on your knowledge and experience to help you make the best choice.

Don’t rule anything or VIRGO anyone out. Positive change (Aug. 23is within reach. Someone or Sept. 22) something unusual will spark your interest and motivate you to try something new.

Calvin and Hobbes

Pour your energy into LIBRA (Sept. 23- something you believe in.

Oct. 23) Make changes at home that will make your life more comfortable, affordable or convenient. It’s up to you to make things happen.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Don’t get railroaded into SCORPIO something you don’t want (Oct. 24to do.

Anger will stand in Nov. 22) the way of productivity.

Concentrate on what’s doable, and reject high-pressure tactics.

Take care of matters perSAGITTARIUS sonally.

If you trust some(Nov. 23one else to speak or negotiate Dec. 21) on your behalf, you will miss out on benefits you deserve.

Emotional deception or manipulation is apparent.

A unique approach to the CAPRICORN way you earn your living or (Dec. 22- handle your cash will be luJan. 19) crative. Don’t be afraid to try something new or get into a joint venture.

solution for last published puzzle Speed things up a bit and AQUARIUS see how much you can ac(Jan. 20- complish. Partnerships look Feb. 19) promising. Discuss plans and find out where you stand.

Distance yourself from inconsistent or erratic individuals.

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Dream a little dream and turn your ideas into reality. A joint venture will spark your imagination and encourage you to use your skills differently. A physical improvement will lift your spirits.

monDAY, JUly 30, 2018

19

Hungarian Grand Prix…

Hamilton wins to extend title lead L

ewis Hamilton won a tense strategic battle at the Hungarian Grand Prix to head into Formula 1’s summer break with a 24-point championship lead.

Ferrari appeared to blow their best chance to challenge the Mercedes driver, delaying a pit stop for Sebastian Vettel long enough to lose their advantage over Hamilton’s teammate Valtteri Bottas and emerge behind the Finn.

It was a critical error that could have cost Vettel second place - but he fought back and passed Bottas with five laps to go.

Bottas misjudged an attempt to defend from Vettel, who passed on the outside on the run to Turn Two. Trying to keep the place from too far back, Bottas locked a wheel, slid onto the kerb, hit Vettel and damaged the Mercedes’ front wing.

Vettel emerged unscathed and Bottas carried on, only to have another contact with Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo when the Australian tried to pass around the outside at Turn One and Bottas locked up and slid into him.

Bottas’ troubles allowed Kimi Raikkonen to come through into third place behind his Ferrari team-mate, while Ricciardo passed him on the last lap to take fourth.

Despite the late drama, the big picture is that Ferrari have now lost two races in a row that they might have won in different circumstances.

Two wins in a week for Lewis Hamilton – and two driver of the day. He was superb at the front, driving a measured race thanks to excellent strategy from Mercedes and questionable judgement from Ferrari

Hamilton’s advantage with nine races to go is almost a race victory and puts him in a strong position for when the season re-starts in Belgium at the end of August.

How did Hamilton and Mercedes do it?

Mercedes went into the race pondering how best to maintain the first and second positions they earned thanks to rain in qualifying - had it been dry, they were resigned to the Ferraris being faster.

Mercedes accepted that Ferrari would be faster in the race, too, so it was a case of how best to play the strategy to try to keep Hamilton

in the lead.

Hamilton and Bottas led from the start and Vettel passed Raikkonen to run third in the early laps.

The Mercedes were on the ultra-soft tyres, while Vettel was on the more durable softs, planning to run long and attack at the end of the race.

The plan was working well for a while. An early pit stop for Raikkonen on lap 14 triggered a response from Mercedes a lap later with Bottas, and now Vettel was in second behind Hamilton.

But the world champion’s tyres were hanging on better than might have been feared and he held an eight-second lead over Vettel until begin-

ning to lose time shortly before his pit stop on lap 25.

That put Vettel in the lead, and by lap 29 the German had enough of a lead over Bottas to make a pit stop and re-emerge in the lead.

But Ferrari preferred to wait, to ensure he did not have too long to run on the ultra-soft tyres in his final stint.

They arguably waited too long. For a few laps, Vettel had five seconds in hand beyond the 20 seconds that would be lost in a pit stop, but from lap 35 Bottas began to eat into Vettel’s advantage.

The Finn then unleashed a fastest lap on lap 38, two

seconds quicker than he had been going before, and when Vettel pulled into the pits on lap 39 it was now touch and go whether he would get out in front.

A problem fitting the left front wheel delayed Vettel and ensured he emerged behind the Mercedes.

From hoping to attack Hamilton, Vettel now had to try to find a way past Bottas.

Vettel closed in at Turn One, Bottas squirmed under power on the exit and Vettel got the run on the Mercedes into Turn Two. Bottas then seemed to lose his head.

Not only did he clash with Vettel but he made another error in the incident

with Ricciardo, who despite being forced off track caught the Mercedes again. Bottas was ordered by his team to give the place back, perhaps hoping to avoid a penalty when the stewards investigate after the race.

Bottas was given a 10-second penalty but it made no difference to the result.

Ricciardo drove well to fight from 12th on the grid to finish fourth for Red Bull, despite the damage from the Bottas incident. Their second driver Max Verstappen retired from fifth place in the early stages with the latest in a series of engine problems, causing the Dutchman to swear into the radio at his frustration at the repeated problems.

Pierre Gasly took a strong sixth for Toro Rosso, from the same place on the grid after excelling in qualifying, ahead of Haas driver Kevin Magnussen.

And there was finally some good news for Fernando Alonso on the twotime world champion’s 37th birthday. McLaren made the same strategy as Vettel work beautifully, jumping Alonso and team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne ahead of Renault’s Carlos Sainz, Haas’ Romain Grosjean, Toro Rosso’s Brendon Hartley and Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg to take eighth.

Sadly, for the under-pressure Vandoorne, after his best race for some time, the Belgian’s gearbox broke with 19 laps to go and he had to retire. (BBC Sport)

Rooney scores 1st DC United goal and breaks nose

F

ormer England striker Wayne Rooney scored his first goal for DC United and also broke his nose in a 2-1 home win over Colorado Rapids in the MLS. The 32-year-old scored the opener when he sent a shot through ex-Manchester United team-mate Tim Howard’s legs.

Kellyn Acosta equalised before Howard twice denied DC captain Rooney.

A Niki Jackson own goal in the 90th minute gave DC United the win before Rooney broke his nose while defending in stoppage time.

He later tweeted he was “delighted to score my first goal for

He had to watch the final few minutes of the game as the running repairs were completed

DC United”, adding that he had acquired “a broken nose and five stitches”.

DC United coach Ben Olsen praised the forward’s impact since his arrival from Everton last month.

“I don’t think it’s the first time he’s bled in a game. He is a tough guy and I think that he will shake it off,” Olsen said.

“He has been fantastic in every aspect, in every way that we want him to be with this group - with his leadership and goal-scoring ability. Hopefully, it can continue to get better.”

DC United remain bottom of the Eastern Conference in MLS. (BBC Sport)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, JUly 30, 2018

GABF awards CBC Championship team T

he Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) hosted its awards ceremony for the senior men’s team that historically won Guyana’s first Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championship gold medal last month in Suriname.

The team, which played unbeaten in the tournament, was led on all fronts by 18-year-old Stanton Rose, who was the youngest captain in Guyana’s basketball history. His outstanding performances led to him being adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the competition held at the Anthony Nesty Sporthal in Paramaribo.

During his address at the simple but significant ceremony at the resurfaced Burnham hard court on Saturday night, Rose said, “It was a pleasure leading you guys and my country to the Caribbean Championship and I will keep working, so I can do it again in the future.”

Guyana are now ranked 95th in the world after winning the tournament, moving up from the 117th position which they had prior to claiming the CAC title.

Overseas-based Kevon Wiggins was the youngest player on the team, aged 17 years, and he was the top scorer in Guyana’s first

A few of the awardees from the 2018 CAC Senior Men’s Championship team

group game. During his brief address, he noted that he was proud to be part of a championship winning team at such a young age, and noted that he would always represent Guyana, because here is

where he belongs.

Coach of the team, Junior Hercules explained that the key ingredient that was missing in the past that this 2018 team had was that the players believed that

they could win the tournament. “I hope that this victory will inspire the future generation of ballers in Guyana.”

“To be successful at basketball

you need three Ds: determination, dedication and defence. And, defence is what took us to the title,” Assistant Coach Dennis Clarke added.

GABF Vice President Kenrick Thomas, who played a major role in the resurfacing of Burnham hard court, honoured the players’ desire to win every game.

Meanwhile, GABF President Nigel Hinds thanked the players for their dedication and hard work while acknowledging the Coach and his efforts.

Hinds mentioned the significance of the Road to Mecca championship and the warm-up series in Barbados which were pivotal during Guyana’s preparation. He thanked all the sponsors, including Ministers Joseph Harmon and David Patterson who contributed $1 million each out of pocket, towards the team’s costs for participation in the event.

At the end of the ceremony, each player, along with the coaches, was awarded $100,000.

Meanwhile, the commissioning of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC)-owned but GABFmaintained Burnham hard court capped off the evening.

The court recently underwent an $11 million resurfacing project, which was funded by the GABF.

Thomas wins 2018 Tour de France G

eraint Thomas became Britain’s third winner of the Tour de France when he crossed the finish line in Paris.

The Team Sky rider, 32, follows Sir Bradley Wiggins in 2012 and four-time T o u r champion Chris Froome as Britain celebrates a sixth win in seven years.

Alexander Kristoff won the final sprint finish on the ChampsElysees as Thomas crossed the line arm-inarm with Froome after three weeks of racing.

He beat Dutchman Tom Dumoulin by one minute 51 seconds, with Froome third.

The Welshman, who rode in support of Froome in each of his four wins, had built up that lead over the previous 20 stages and Tour convention dictates that the yellow jersey is not challenged on the final stage.

“When I rode on the Champs-Elysees for the first time in 2007, that was insane - just to finish the race and just to be a part of it,” Thomas told ITV. “To now be riding round winning it is just incredible. It’s just a whirlwind. I seem to be floating around on cloud nine.

“Maybe when I’m 70, sat in a corner of a pub telling some 18-year-old what I used to be, it will sink in.

– Froome finishes 3rd

It’s incredible, the stuff of dreams.”

Froome was heavy favourite to become the fifth rider to win a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title.

He came into the race as defending champion and holder of all three Grand Tour titles, having won the Vuelta a Espana last September and the Giro d’Italia in May. However, he was only cleared to race the week before the Tour started, after his an-

ti-dopi n g case was dropped by cycling’s world governing body, the UCI. The 33-yearold was under investigation after more than the permitted level of legal asthma drug salbutamol was found in his urine during his Vuelta victory.

But his hopes of matching Eddy Merckx’s record of four consecutive Grand Tour victories were ended in the Pyrenees mountains in the final week as

Thomas proved the strongest rider.

The final 116km stage began in Houilles, to the north-west of Paris, and the riders took a leisurely pace into the capital before embarking on eight laps of the city centre.

Team Sky led the peloton into Paris, having allowed France’s Sylvain Chavanel to ride clear for one lap in his final Tour in recognition of his achievement of com-

pleting a record 18th race.

Six riders built an advantage of about 45 seconds but they were eventually reeled in on the final lap, with 6km remaining.

World champion Peter Sagan’s Bora-Hansgrohe team-mates did the bulk o f

and Germany’s John Degenkolb.

Thomas rode over the line a few seconds later, alongside Froome, the man he dethrones as champion.

Thomas’ Tour pedigree

Thomas’ victory comes in his ninth Tour, one fewer than the record for most appearances before winning, held by 1980 winner Joop Zoetemelk of the Netherlands.

Thomas first rode in the Tour in 2007, when he finished 140th of the 141 finishers.

Like many British riders, he raced on both the track and the road in the ear-

ly part of his career, winning two Olympic and three world team pursuit titles on the track between 2007 and 2012.

His sacrifice in helping Froome win four Tours has meant Thomas’ best finish before this year was 15th.

He has also been dogged by bad luck. He fractured his pelvis on stage one in 2013 but rode the remaining 20 stages to help Froome win; in 2015 he crashed head first into a telegraph pole; and in 2017 broke a collarbone on stage nine.

This year, he has ridden a near faultless race to cement his place among Britain’s greatest cyclists.

(BBC Sport)

Final standings: 1. Geraint Thomas (GB/Team Sky) 83hrs 17mins 13secs 2. Tom Dumoulin (Ned/Team Sunweb) +1min 51secs 3. Chris Froome (GB/Team Sky) +2mins 24secs 4. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Team LottoNL-Jumbo) +3mins 22secs 5. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned/Lotto NL-Jumbo) +6mins 8secs 6. Romain Bardet (Fra/AG2R La Mondiale) +6mins 57secs 7. Mikel Landa (Spa/Movistar) +7mins 37secs 8. Daniel Martin (Ire/UAE Team Emirates) +9mins 5secs 9. Ilnur Zakarin (Rus/Katusha-Alpecin) +12mins 37secs 10. Nairo Quintana (Col/Movistar Team) +14mins 18secs

the chasing, hoping to help the winner of the green points classification jersey to a first win in Paris, but Norwegian Kristoff outsprinted Frenchman Arnaud Demare Geraint Thomas holds the Welsh flag as he celebrates on the podium

Stage 21 results: 1. Alexander Kristoff (Nor/UAE Team Emirates) 2hrs 46mins 36secs 2. John Degenkolb (Ger/Trek-Segafredo) same time 3. Arnaud Demare (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) 4. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor/Team Dimension Data) 5. Christophe Laporte (Fra/Cofidis) 6. Maximiliano Richeze (Arg/Quick-Step Floors) 7. Sonny Colbrelli (Ita/Bahrain-Merida) 8. Peter Sagan (Svk/Bora-Hansgrohe) 9. Andrea Pasqualon (Ita/Wanty-Groupe Gobert) 10. Jasper de Buyst (Bel/Lotto-Soudal)

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its last survey. Cameron says Cricket West Indies is in a gradual process to ensure that the support system to include but not limited to coaches, sports science staff, technical staff are in place to match this growth.

The growth, he says “will set the tone for more people in cricket to earn a living from being a part of the industry and as part of the rollout plans are being put in place to up skill across the board to include administrative, technical and the policy leaders.”

Several levels of capacity building are taking place at the administrative, technical and policy positions and Cameron believes “this kind of up skilling, while a process, is in keeping with international standard and the continuous evolution of sport as a business.

There is an existing partnership with the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) which continues to coordinate sessions and workshop to keep players aware while facilitating educational opportunities with UWI and other academic institutions.”

The CWI president, while hoping the teams go back to the number one position, is in the meantime, happy with the steady movement up the rankings and wants “no matter who we play, we should be competitive with the results going more towards the WINDIES.” He acknowledges that the national boards without a sustainable club structure is challenged to grow its cricket but wants the players to “get involved in grassroots sessions held in your island/country on a regular basis.” He has also suggested more young players become members of their cricket associations. (SportsMax)

Mustafizur Rahman picked for West Indies T20Is

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and he is proposing that Corporate Caribbean come on board to support the men and women who ply their trade on the pitch.

He also anticipates the region will support the WINDIES Women, defending World Twenty20 Champions.

This is the first stand-alone tournament of its kind. The “Watch this” campaign was launched in Antigua, Guyana and St Lucia on Thursday, July 26. In welcoming the world to the West Indies this November, the CWI president is confident of the women’s ability to successfully defend the title.

Under the Cameron-lead team, the Federation of International Cricketers Association, global players’ representative body for cricket, is reporting that the organization has moved from 20 professional male players in 2013 to 177 based on

ustafizur Rahman will stay on with the Bangladesh squad for the three T20Is starting July 31 in St Kitts. Abul Hasan, who had replaced the left-arm fast bowler for the series against Afghanistan in June, has been left out.

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resident Dave Cameron says CWI has laid the foundation for the sport to springboard into the future.

President Dave Cameron says CWI has laid the foundation for the sport to springboard into the future.

Coming off what could have been considered two of the best months on the field for West Indies Cricket in a long time, President of Cricket West Indies (CWI) Dave Cameron, thinks this “should create important motivation for the team and the region as the Cricket World Cup 2019 gets closer.”

For the period October 1, 2018, to September 30, 2019, the teams will compete in 118 days of international cricket (men and women), the highest in the last four seasons. The Windies will play India, Bangladesh, England before contesting the ICC World Cup. Meantime, the Windies Women will host the ICC World Twenty20 and they will compete against South Africa, Pakistan, England and India in a mix of home and away series.

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CWI President Cameron eyeing a brighter future

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sports

The series opener will be followed by two T20Is at Lauderhill in Florida, which has hosted a number of West Indies internationals and Caribbean Premier League matches in recent times.

Bangladesh’s T20I squad: Shakib Al Hasan (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Mehidy Hassan Miraz, Nazmul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Abu Hider, Abu Jayed, Ariful Haque

(ESPNCricinfo)

Mustafizur Rahman

ICC to help Zimbabwe Cricket settle outstanding player dues

T

he ICC has confirmed the release of funds to Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) to enable the board to pay outstanding dues owed to its players and staff, including the players’ match fees. This payment, announced via a ZC release on Saturday, is part of the ICC’s package of measures to help the debt-stricken board get back on its feet.

ZC and the ICC are still working out the full details of the payment plan, which was first announced at the ICC’s annual conference in Dublin earlier this month. “Payment plan proposals will be discussed and communicated to all outstanding creditors

Blessing Muzarabani celebrates a wicket with his team

once this process has been concluded,” the release said.

“This brings welcome relief to the current staff and players

and is the first step in the recovery process of cricket in Zimbabwe to its former health and strength.”

Zimbabwe played their

two most recent series - a T20I triangular involving Pakistan and Australia, and an ODI series against Pakistan - without a number of senior players, who made themselves unavailable for selection after ZC failed to meet the players’ June 25 deadline for a payment plan for two months’ outstanding salaries and their match fees dating back to their tour of Sri Lanka in 2017.

ZC will now hope the players return to the fold ahead of Zimbabwe’s next international assignment, a tour of South Africa starting late September for three ODIs and three T20Is. (ESPNCricinfo)

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, JUly 30, 2018

Lashley, Subhan and Haniff dominate Heineken annual Golf Tourney

From left: Club President Aleem Hussain, ANSA McAL Managing Director Troy Cadogan, Bholawram Deo, Maurice Solomon, Ayube Subhan, Nazeem Haniff, Richard Haniff and Club Captain Chatterpaul Deo

Richard Haniff accepts his trophy

azeem “Papo” Haniff won the tie in the Championship Flight, while Ayube Subhan won the tie in his B Flight as Mark Lashley swept the C Flight, in Saturday’s Heineken Annual Golf Tournament.

Under the much-appreciated Flights Format, the golfers competed fiercely for one of the top two places in their category as prizes were awarded for first and second

pro only on the back nine.”

ANSA McAL, through its Heineken brand, has been supporting the Lusignan Golf Club and sponsoring tournaments for five consecutive years. Managing Director Troy Cadogan, who celebrated his birthday on the day of the Tournament, has been distinctively unfailing in causing the company to continue to be of great support to the Club over the years.

N

Best Net performances in each of the three categories: A or Championship Flight, h/cap 0 - 9; B Flight, h/cap 10 – 18; and C Flight, h/cap 19 –28. Prizes were also awarded for the Longest Drive and the Nearest to The Pin. Winners in the day’s play were: C Flight – first Lashley 75/24, second Maurice Solomon 82/22 while B Flight saw Subhan win with scores of 70/18 and second was Bholawram Deo

70/18.

In the A Flight, it was Haniff who dominated the greens with 71/7 and Richard Haniff (71/9) who won the Longest Drive with Subhan capturing Nearest To The Pin. “Papo” Haniff, prior to his departure for Suriname as a Coach several years ago, was a ninetime Guyana Open winner and also a five-time consecutive winner of the Lusignan Open.

He explained that having been off golfing for some five years, he began playing again in December last year and has been steadily regaining his professional form. Meanwhile, Richard Haniff expressed that he was “very happy to be in the A or Championship Flight”, and considered it “a great achievement to be in the single-digit handicap group, and even more impressive to compete and lose to a former

LGC President Aleem Hussain thanked Heineken and ANSA McAL for their continued support, and expressed appreciation for the initiative the company has taken throughout the years in helping sports in Guyana.

Managing Director Cadogan was on hand to congratulate and encourage the golfers, and welcomed them to share in his birthday celebration at the Club immediately after the Tournament.

Entries continue to climb for Platinum Auto Expo GCB gives financial A

s entries continue to flow in, organisers of Platinum Auto Expo are expecting a huge turnout as preparations intensify for the August 5 event at the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club (GMR&SC), Thomas Lands.

The Expo, which has been absent from the calen-

dar of entertainment events, for some time is anticipated to see intense rivalry among competitors in all 27 categories.

Organiser Mahendra Boodhoo, speaking recently, said the event was expected to attract some of the best vehicles in terms of glitz and glamour, while those

with the fancy lights, shining rims and cleanest sound systems will all have the opportunity to win prizes.

Boodhoo, a former racer and President of the GMR&SC, noted that the occasion was one whereby families could come out and enjoy a day of fun, while the occasion also presented an

opportunity for those with a deep appreciation for excellent-looking vehicles and those who just love to compete in such competitions.

He added that the Expo was open to all and over $1 million in cash prizes and trophies would be up for grabs for winners in the respective categories.

Boodhoo said competitors were currently working feverishly to excite the fans, with thorough preparations.

Among the categories to be contested are: Best Antique Bike, Mini Extreme Face Out Cars, Best Rims, Best Graphic Bus and Car, Cleanest SUV, Best Technician, and Biggest Bike.

Additionally, Boodhoo disclosed that fans would be entertained throughout the day with displays set to commence at 14:00h, while gates will be open from 12:00h.

Patrons wishing to buy tickets in advance please be advised they will be sold at a cost of $1500.

Also, a star-studded lineup of local entertainment talent will grace the stage, including “Granny Ivelaw”, “Chiney Man” and “Chow Pow”.

Interested persons can contact the organisers on 617-2651 or 627-2369.

Some of the sponsors on board are: A Ali & Sons, GT Motorsports, Stag Beer, Caribbean Motor Spares, and Ramchand Auto Spares.

support to WBCA

From left: WBCA President David Black and GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie

T

he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) continued its mandate of supporting local clubs around the country, with the West Berbice Cricket Association (WBCA) being the latest beneficiary.

The WBCA held a twoweek cricket academy at the Fort Wellington Secondary School during the month of July which catered for youths ages 10 to 19. The academy included lectures and cricketing activities which kept kids engaged in the programme.

The GCB last Friday as-

sisted the WBCA in its efforts to mould aspiring cricketers from a young age. GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie personally made the financial donation on behalf of the Cricket Board to WBCA President and National Youth Coach David Black at the GCB office at Regent Road, Bourda.

Sanasie and the Board hoped that the donation would go a long way as the GCB supported the sporting initiative and wished the WBCA all the best in its efforts to keep cricket alive in West Berbice.

monDAY, JUly 30, 2018

Hetmyer a “breath of fresh air”

guyanatimesgy.com

– former Windies wicketkeeper

F

ormer Windies wicketkeeper turned commentator Jeffrey Dujon has hailed the performance of young Windies batsman Shimron Hetmyer as a breath of fresh air.

With the regional team often struggling to put runs on the board for the past several months, Hetmyer contribution with the bat has been significant at times, with the player averaging 40.81 in 11 matches after making his debut against New Zealand last year.

The 21-year-old’s tremendous talent was on display in a hard-fought second One Day International (ODI) against Bangladesh earlier this week where he showed plenty of maturity to craft a hard fought 125.

The century was the second of the player’s ODI career but more importantly held a faltering Windies together. The team went on to win by three runs to level the series at 1-1.

“I was impressed with Shimron Hetmyer, not just the score he got but how he got it. For a youngster like that to take that kind of responsibility and really be the engine for the innings was really good to see. I haven’t seen that in a long time,” Dujon told the SportsMax Zone in an exclusive interview.

With the World Cup only a few months away the former player believes the team should step up its pursuit of a much more explosive batting line-up.

“Hetmyer has been a breath of fresh air…but if you look at the scores that the Windies have been making in ODI cricket these days they are way below par.”

(SportsMax)

Berbice claim “Dassy” inter-county trophy

B

The victorious Berbice team strike a pose with their prizes

erbice claimed the 2018 “Dassy” 20-over white ball four-team inter-county one-day competition trophy after beating arch-rivals Demerara by 30 runs on Saturday at Keele Top Ground, Toronto.

Berbice chose to bat first after winning the toss and reached a moderate 106 all out in 16.3 overs, but Demerara were skittled out for 76 in the penultimate over.

Only Ian Baldeo with 14 for the runners-up offered any resistance as Andy Persaud snatched four wickets for 14 runs from his four overs and was supported by Riaz Kadir, who collected two for 16 off three overs.

Earlier, Berbice, led by former Guyana skipper Damodar Daesrath, struggled for runs as they lost wickets at regular intervals.

The experienced Yadram Bogh played responsibly though to score 28, laced with three sixes.

Captain Troy Gobin, an ex-Guyana youth batsman, finished with two wickets for 12 runs off his three overs.

Persaud was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP).

In the preceding two semi-final matches, Berbice beat Essequibo by 18 runs while Demerara got the better of defending champions Canadian All-Stars by four wickets.

Berbice 158-7 off 20 overs: Farouk Hussien – 40 and Daesrath 28. Essequibo, in reply, 142-8 off 20 overs: Narindra Mandolall 61 not out; Andy Persaud 3-15 (3).

Canadian All-Stars 1177 off 20 overs: Rabindra Diaram 28 and Anil Samuel 24; Ramo Malone 3-18 (4) and Troy Gobin 3-31 (4). In reply,

Demerara made 118-6 off 19 overs: Surajpaul Deosaran 37; Diaram 2-10 (4).

Berbice received a trophy and Cds$2000, and Demerara collected a trophy and Cds$500. Persaud received a trophy for being the MVP in the final.

Bogh was given a trophy for the most runs in the final while Persaud also took home a trophy for the most wickets in the final.

Mandolall captured the prize for the most runs for the day and the highest individual score as well. Most wickets for the day went to Persaud while Samuel was given a trophy for the best catch of the day.

Organiser Daesrath was full of praise for the generosity of the sponsors in 2018. The competition was inaugurated in 2017. (Ravi Madholall)

23

monDAY, JUly 30, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Hetmyer a “breath of fresh air” – former Windies Pg 23

Shimron Hetmyer

wicketkeeper

Pg 20

GABF awards CBC Championship team Basketball supporters came out to the GABF ceremony and witnessed the recommissioning of the Burnham Basketball Court

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