Guyana Times Epaper - Friday, August 31, 2018

CC&PA to launch advertisements P13 in 4 Amerindian languages Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, August 31, 2018

Issue No. 3672

PRICE

ExxonMobil discovers more oil offshore Guyana

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Page 11

Gunmen P10 storm home of carjacked victim ...escape with cash, other valuables

Leslie James takes charge of Guyana Police Force Page 3

4 Deputies appointed

Nigel Hoppie

Lyndon Alves

Maxine Graham

Paul Williams

Govt could afford to pay teachers an increase – Jagdeo Page 7

…urges them to cut wasteful spending of public funds

Salary impasse talks fail after 3rd conciliation Page 15

$80 vat included

Justice P16 William Ramlall tipped for PCA chair

P16 VAT amendment contradicts Minister’s budget speech commitments – GMSA

Infested rice fields at Hague see major improvement P14 – GRDB

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BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, August 31 – 05:00h-06:30h and Saturday, September 1 – 08:30h-10:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, August 31 – 07:05h-08:35h and Saturday, September 1 – 07:50h-09:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers can be expected in the morning, with sunny intervals can be expected in the afternoon. Partly cloudy to clear skies can be expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly and Northeasterly to North North-easterly between 1.34 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 07:23h and 19:40h reaching maximum heights of 2.62 metres and 2.60 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 00:55h and 13:15h reaching minimum heights of 0.55 metre and 0.65 metre respectively.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS M

02 07 08

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FREE TICKET

19 Bonus Ball

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2018 DAILY MILLIONS

07 09 13 21 26 LUCKY 3

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DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

Leslie James takes charge of Guyana Police Force …“It’s something I always wanted”

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ormer Commander of A (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara), C (East Coast Demerara) and D (West Bank DemeraraEast Bank Essequibo) Divisions Leslie James was on Thursday sworn in by President David Granger as the Police Commissioner.

The executive decision was made following consultations with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on the same day.

Speaking to members of the media at State House, the 52-year-old James said he has always wanted to be Police Commissioner.

“This moment is a moment I’ve always waited for and now being appointed Commissioner of Police, (I will function) without favour, affection, malice or illwill,” he committed.

James added that he is fully aware of his mandate which includes ensuring that all of the laws of Guyana are maintained and that public peace is kept in a “professional and unbiased manner.”

“I will execute the office of Commissioner of Police and ensure that persons in the Diaspora and overseas to be assured of their respective security,” James assured the nation.

On tackling the scourge of crime, the newly appointed Top Cop said the Guyana Police Force will be maintained as intelligence-led.

He said too that the Force will ensure the country, its environs, borders, interior locations be crime-free as much as possible.

“I will be meeting with my team and we will sit, deliberate and strategise. I’m aware of the concerns of crime and fear and incidence of crime but we will be dealing with those matters,” he outlined.

James holds a host of qualifications including a Law Degree obtained from the University of Guyana (UG) in 2006 and a Diploma in Public Management he acquired in 1998 from the said institution. He is also currently enrolled in the Commonwealth Masters Public Administration

Leslie James was on Thursday appointed as the new Police Commissioner

at UG. The new Top Cop also headed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) from April 2014 to June 2015 during the time he functioned as Assistant Commissioner Law Enforcement.

It was said that James’ appointment takes immediate effect along with the appointments of four deputies – Lyndon Alves, Maxine Graham, Nigel Hoppie and Crime Chief Paul Williams.

When President Granger presented the list, David Ramnarine, who has been acting in the capacity for almost two years, was not included.

Earlier this year, Ramnarine was one of the many law enforcement ranks questioned at a Paul Slowe-headed Commission of Inquiry into an alleged plot to assassinate President Granger. The most recent Top Cop retiree, Seelall Persaud, was said to be a friend of the man who supposedly hatched the plot.

Slowe recommend disciplinary action for several top-ranking officers and he was later selected to head the Police Services Commission (PSC). Persaud departed the Force in February 2018 and Ramnarine stood in the post until Thursday’s swearing in of James.

The new Top Cop’s four deputies will be responsible for four areas of the Force; these are operations, admin-

istration, law enforcement and special branch/ intelligence. President Granger who is the head of the Armed Forces said “I think the process has resulted in the best five being selected... I think this is the best outcome and they are all fit and proper persons to lead the Police Force”. After the meeting concluded, President Granger said the responsibilities of the four deputies will improve the Force’s efficiency.

“What we have done today is we have not only appointed a Police Commissioner but we have also improved the architecture of the Police Force so that instead of having a flat structure; we now have clearly defined responsibilities in those four deputy Commissioners. So, things will be better. I am sure there will be better performance in those areas and other officers can now look forward to, in due course, filling those appointments.

It will help to enhance the specialisation of the Police Force. It will help to spur the career mobility of officers and I am convinced that the efficiency of the Police Force as a whole will be enhanced,” the Head of State said.

The President said he expected to meet with the new Commissioner and deputies on Thursday to discuss their appointments to each of the four areas identified.

“I was not interested in having a foreigner head the Guyana Police Force. I felt that we had local talent. I think the process has resulted in the best five being selected to lead the Force and I will be meeting later today with the Commissioner and deputy Commissioners.

I think this is the best outcome and they are all fit and proper persons to lead the Police Force,” Granger added.

Reports were that Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan recommended Ramnarine for the post of Top Cop though he was not considered for the post or that of the Deputy Commissioner. Meanwhile, in a press conference held following the announcement, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo revealed that he questioned the President as to why Ramnarine was not considered for the post and was told by Granger that there are specific reasons.

Those reasons, were however, not revealed.

The President in recent weeks professed that he wanted an “unbribable” officer to head the Force.

Assistant Police Commissioner Clifton Hicken and Marlon Chapman were among those interviewed for the top post.

The Guyana Police Force was established 179 years ago. (Shemuel Fanfair)

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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

Dealing with trauma in our society

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ver time, numerous cases of domestic violence have been reported in the Guyanese media. Many were brutally killed in some instances. Unfortunately, it continues despite awareness efforts and the much touted training of law enforcement officers, who are expected to be the first step of recourse with regard to the lodging of complaints.

There is more than a subtle irony in the continuance of this societal scourge in spite of the relentless efforts and the plethora of available mechanisms to inform and educate. The problem is much larger than what appears in the news, including the social media outlets, as many cases go unreported. This therefore gives much credence to the appearance of an underestimated reality.

Many reasons have been made known for what can deter an abused victim from seeking the intervention of the law. Among them, in no specific order of impact, are aspects of culture, shame, dependency and its redounding lack of empowerment for some, and the lack of confidence in law enforcement itself, precipitated by the reported trivialising of the issue in some instances.

One may posit that education is a primary concern. On the other hand, one can argue that education has been more profound in recent times. Pertinent would be to ask the question if the other factors subvert the heeding of educational messaging. While the answer may be assumed, it would make for interesting and informative research.

As is contemplated, the magnitude of the impact on children cannot be underestimated. Many have cruelly been made witnesses to the horrific assaults on their mothers, and to a lesser extent their fathers. Those ghastly images, especially for some who watched as life was snuffed out, are not only lasting, but are profoundly traumatising.

When young minds are so broadsided, the impact, if not managed, lingers for life. Not that they are erasable, but with meaningful and sustained interventions, the trauma can potentially be mitigated, thereby aiding in better shaping of lives.

The entire spectrum of what therefore constitutes counselling then becomes vital. This naturally raises the question of the availability of adequate intervening mechanisms.

While it is always heartening to hear that surviving victims and witnesses to such horrific incidents would be counselled, it would be very informative, for the benefit of all, to know the extent of what is available and offered. Realistically, expectations cannot be for what obtains in the developed nations; however, there must be something tangible, in keeping with available resources, with upgrades foremost in planning.

This is not in any way suggesting that there isn’t an effective mechanism. However, counselling can be an extensive process for some, depending upon the circumstances. Given the plethora of incidents that unfortunately continue, and which would make added demands on the system, the question of adequacy of trained staff, needed facilities, and support systems becomes more pertinent.

Not too long ago, the country had the unenviable tag of having the highest rate of suicide per capita. Prior to that categorisation, some aspects had made news internationally, prompting a local organisation to call for suicide to be made a national priority, given its impact on society and the trauma it imposes on surviving relatives.

It was stated that the declaration would not only bring additional focus, but would have positioned the issue to be afforded the necessary resources for its mitigation.

It wasn’t going to be a panacea to stop suicide; but, effectively structured, it increases the potential across the country, with the assistance of stakeholders, to maximise effectiveness of information gathering for targeted intervention. It would also increase confidence in the support system, to help break social inhibitors where necessary, and to better edify.

It is no different for domestic violence. While there is a disadvantage in being unable to accurately quote figures based on extensive research, if available, on the amount of people lost, injured and disfigured, and those scarred for life as a result of domestic violence, it must be extremely high in proportion to our population. Clearly, the highest number would be those who are left traumatised.

This, therefore, must be seen as a serious cause for concern, and a compelling reason for consideration to be declared a national priority. This is an apolitical issue, and is not confined to any one group, thereby making it less difficult to garner national support. In such small societies, the impact permeates throughout and away from just the families.

Children reading and learning about incidents through television and social media are in many ways impacted too, especially if one of their own is affected. In the context herein, the pervasiveness and impact of trauma cannot, and must not, be underestimated. That of road accidents must also be taken into account, for too much is at stake for people and the nation.

The Chiung Water Fall in Kato, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) (James Deeges photo)

It would not be prudent to criticise the new teachers

Dear Editor, I crave your indulgence to be offered some space in your newspaper to express my opinion on the concerns raised by some parents regarding the contingency plan that may be activated by the Education Ministry, should strike action proceed.

Understandably, a few parents are concerned that trainee teachers or teachers now yet graduated from the Cyril Potter College of Education may not be competent enough to teach their children.

I believe the concern of these parents is based on the lack of experience that these teachers may have in the classroom and in schools generally. However, I urge parents to be rational.

Every teacher has his or her first day, whether during

times of an industrial relations impasse or not.

So it would not be prudent to criticise the new teachers saying that they cannot handle the work since the teachers that will be striking also had their first day as well. Secondly, parents must remember that strikes do not last forever, hence, the new teachers are substitutes and the substantive teachers for the respective classes will return and continue from where the substitute would have left off.

Debasing the competence of our teachers is debasing the quality of education and training that is delivered at the CPCE, an institution that has been training teachers since the 1920s. The same college that trained the majority of teachers that have indicated

their willingness to strike.

At this point Editor, I wish to condemn the comments made by a parent at a recent engagement on the teachers' strike action that was held by the Education Ministry at Queens College.

The parent said “The Children will chew them up”; them meaning the CPCE students.

As a parent, my priority at this moment is the continued progress of my children’s education. During this dispute, I and my children are held as human shields between the warring factions.

But I am going to point something out. The integrity and focus of that Education Minister, says to me that she does not intend to be side-tracked by histrionics and people who present strategies that are not

even based on basic mathematical national economics.

I believe that my children’s education path is very safe with this Minister because she understands that quality Education is for all Guyanese and that includes my children.

For the first time in generations of my family, I see a future for my children in education. The Teacher’s Union needs to understand that they are part of this transformation and an uninformed demand is very different from intelligent negotiations.

May the gods bless the Teachers’ Union with wisdom and the Ministry with patience. Together we rise, divided we fall.

Sincerely, Tracy Franklin Parent

Conflicting statements emanating from the Commissioner General Dear Editor, Conflicting statements emanating from the Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs about fraud in the Remigrant Concession Scheme are a source of much confusion.

Mr Statia of the GRA alleges that one-in-three applications is fraudulent (https:// www.kaieteurnewsonline. com/2018/08/24/scams-in-

volving-re-migrants-gonefrom-bad-to-worse/) whilst Minister Greenidge asserts, “Our records do not suggest that you have had any dramatic infringements, primarily because we at Foreign Affairs, in defining re-migrants, do not go outside the law,” (http://dpi.gov.gy/minister-greenidge-sheds-light-onremigrants-process/) .

Editor, I have no cause to doubt the Honourable Minister, and it is clear from

reading the statements of Mr Statia that his agenda is to make or influence Government policy.

“Mr Statia said he is a proponent of tax credits being applied in Guyana…They are simple and easier to administer.” So here we have a public officer attempting to make policy when his job description clearly directs him to execute the policies of the Administration. This, Editor, is caused by the lack of clear

policy from the APNU+AFC Administration. This situation prevails in every aspect of the Granger Administration.

What is the policy on Culture?

Sport? Job creation? Welfare?

Immigration? Education?

In the absence of written policy, one usually relies on pronouncements from the President and members of the Cabinet. In this case, they all too often seem unaware of each other’s thoughts and/or actions. Continued on page 5

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

Hypocritical Freddie Kissoon (Part 2) Dear Editor, Although Gail Teixeira is a household name in Guyana, not much is known about this lady who has dedicated so much of her life to the land of her birth and its people. She is not one to blow her own trumpet.

From the early age of 14, Gail migrated to Canada with her parents. Years later, she met Dr. Cheddi Jagan while he was visiting Toronto in 1976. Obviously impressed with the work she was doing in support of the People’s Progressive Party, Dr Jagan, after consultation with the PPP Secretariat, invited her to return to Guyana to be his Personal Secretary. The rest

is history. Cheddi Jagan must have seen something in this young woman that made him make such a bold move. Throughout the years that followed, the astuteness of Dr Jagan and the PPP has not been let down by the choice they made, as they gained a woman who has been trustworthy, disciplined and loyal to the party, and dedicated to the people of Guyana, the country of her birth.

The Gail Teixeira I know never flinched when the issues of principle were at stake, even when she was attacked both physically and publicly, as some people did not then understand the position of the People’s

Progressive Party. Years later, the PPP has now been vindicated.

Freddie Kissoon maliciously and falsely attacks Gail Teixeira as an “ideological Stalinist”. In fact, Stalinism died since 1953.

The newly formed PPP of 1950 never supported or defended Stalinism, and Gail Teixeira was a toddler when that era ended, thankfully.

As an adult, she has always stood up for human rights and the respect and dignity of people. Her life has been dedicated to Parliamentary Democracy.

But by now we should all recognise that Freddie Kissoon is deliberately dropping these loaded terms

for a reason; he is the ‘Pied Piper’ playing to someone else’s tune, and sending signals to anti-PPP forces, both internal and external, that Gail Teixeira would not be acceptable. These forces know too well that it was the PPPC -- despite the “communist bogey” accusations of the 1960s -- that moved this country forward as never before in the 23 years of its successive administrations, as it did when in Government in the early 60s. These same forces are now watching closely at the demise of Guyana again under an undemocratic, inept and corrupt APNU+AFC Coalition Government.

In his column, Freddie

Kissoon -- as usual -- praises the late PNC Leader Forbes Burnham, and demonises Janet Jagan. Kissoon seems to have a fetish about Mrs Jagan, as he repeatedly attacks her -- a great woman leader of Guyana, who is recognised internationally as one of the revolutionary women of the 20th century.

In this case, Kissoon uses this to opportunistically attack Gail Teixeira.

Kissoon refuses to accept that, in 1997, Guyanese voted overwhelmingly for Janet Jagan when she was at the age of 77; giving her an even larger majority than her husband had received in 1992.

He conveniently ignores

the fact that Burnham robbed the people of this country of their dignity and the right to have their voices expressed freely and fairly at elections held in 1968, 1973 and 1980.

This was repeated

by Hoyte in 1985. When Burnham died, he left the country broken, fractured, and on its way to bankruptcy. The Historian David Granger and the former PNC Minister of Finance, Carl Greenidge, can both testify to this, but that would never happen.

Sincerely, Harry Gill PPP/C Member of Parliament

The Amaila Falls Hydropower Project Conflicting would have solved all of this statements...

Dear Editor, I am reading the news for the day, and I see the bold headline captioned “Essequibians walk out of meeting with GPL.” It is quite a depressing scene to behold persons, utterly devastated by the constant blackouts, have as a last resort appealed to the state-owned GPL for some redress, only to be further frustrated by an endless supply of lame excuses from its representatives.

It is a situation that would cause even the coolest of individuals in this country to become seriously irate. The point is: you cannot plan an event; say, a wedding, a church service, or anything for that matter, without that lingering backward thought in mind that there would be a blackout at some stage of the event. This is the naked truth, and it has tortured us these three doomed years of Coalition rule.

The citizens’ utter frustration stems from the fact that, prior to 2015, all of us in this Guyana were recipients of a continuous and affordable electricity supply. With the ushering in of the Coalition and the so-called “good life”,

we are now saddled with this retardation that would not go away.

The plain truth, which this present regime cannot run away from, is that the PPP/C brought us out of those hellish years of the Guyana Embarrassing Corporation (GEC) into the marvellous light of success and enlightenment; but from what obtains at the present moment, we have gone right back into those PNC years of doom and gloom, where blackouts are our main concern.

So what has this Government achieved in its three-plus years of illegal occupation, and the answer comes back: Nothing!

As someone said, this PNCled Coalition has chalked up on its debit side a series of failures that make the 28 years’ rule of Burnham pale into oblivion. You are talking about every conceivable sector contracting while the hard life exponentially increases.

The situation is more distressing when you realise that everything in the economy functions on a power base; without it, everything grinds to a halt whenever a blackout occurs. In this regard, the

economy has since been on a backward trend.

Is this ‘the good life’? Is this the flourishing economy the PNC has fashioned for us?

I say, “Hell, no! From all appearances, it is the horrible life!”

Compare the present scenario with the progressive and visionary Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, and you will get the real picture as to where we are going. The PPP/C has left us an internationally accredited project which has been the envy of many a First World nation.

Hydroelectric power generation is cheap, reliable, and environmentally friendly. It is something which, if it had been pursued, would have put all of our energy matters to rest. But the PNC, with no plans of their own in that vi-

sion-less mindset of theirs, purposefully scrapped this project and ushered in the intendant evils we now see on a daily basis. Instead of implementing this world acclaimed project, the PNC, for political expediency coupled with vindictiveness, closed that important chapter in our history.

Guyana is doomed to failure. We see it and experience it in every facet of our economy. Our only hope comes from the strength and resilience in the populace out there to break away from the decadence and make an about change for the good.

The Year 2020 will soon be here. Come on, people; let us get back on to the beaten path of success.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

It has been over three years of patent mismanagement, policy questions keep piling up; Cabinet entertained a Minister’s presentation of an ‘unsolicited’ approach, then approved the Minister’s direction of the C.E.O of the Demerara Harbour Bridge Company to hand over $161 million dollars without knowledge or approval of the company board. Is this a new policy? Why is Conservation International involved in Guyana’s Sovereign Wealth Fund consultations? What is the policy basis for such a decision?

The Venezuelan homestead in Region 1? Editor, I do hope these examples

from page 4

provoke thought and discussion, as the complete list would be onerous.

Editor, the other issue arising from the conflicting information is that the Commissioner General has provided patently false information to the public, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Apart from a mild rebuttal of the GRA claim issued by the DPI, will any disciplinary action be taken against the Commissioner General?

This will be an interesting policy decision. “Nature abhors a vacuum”…Aristotle Respectfully, Robin Singh

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H

ere are some tips on how to begin teaching the 1-2-3 process:

Introduce the idea Start the conversation by using the examples in Thursday’s article. Read it together and ask for reactions.

Will it be easy or hard? Is he or she already doing some of it?

Is there something he or she would like to get better at?

Get buy-in Brainstorm about what might be easier or better if your child was more organised and focused. Maybe homework would get done faster, there would be more play time, and there would be less nagging about chores. Then there's the added bonus of your child feeling proud and you being proud, too.

Set expectations Be clear, in a kind way, that you expect your children to work on these skills and that you'll be there to help along the way.

Make a plan Decide on one thing to focus on first. You can come up with three things and let your child choose one. Or if homework or a particular chore has been a problem, that's the natural place to begin.

Get comfortable in your role

Foundation

For the best results, you'll want to be a low-key coach.

You can ask questions that will help children get on track and stay there. But use these questions to prompt their thought process about what needs to be done.

Praise progress, but don't go overboard. The self-satisfaction children will feel will be a more powerful motivator. Also, be sure to ask your child's opinion of how things are going so far.

start seeing tasks as a series of questions and answers.

Suggest that they ask these questions out loud and

Start thinking in questions Though you might not realise it, every time you take on a task, you ask yourself questions and then answer them with thoughts and actions. If you want to unload groceries from the car, you ask yourself:

then answer them. These questions are the ones you hope will eventually live inside a child's head. And with practice, they'll learn to ask them without being prompted.

Work together to come up with questions that need to be asked so the chosen task can be completed. You might even jot them down on index cards.

Start by asking the questions and having your child answer.

Later, transfer responsibility for the questions from you to your child.

Q: Did I get them all out of the trunk?

A: No. I'll go get the rest.

Q: Did I close the trunk?

A: Yes. Q: Where's the milk and ice cream? I need to put them away first.

A: Done. Now, what's next?

Encourage children to

Things to remember It will take time to teach

children how to break down tasks into steps. It also will take time for them to learn how to apply these skills to what

needs to be done. Sometimes, it will seem simpler just to do it for them. It certainly would take less time.

But the trouble is that children don't learn how to be independent and successful if their parents swoop in every time a situation is challenging or complex.

Here's why it's worth your time and effort: Children learn new skills that they'll need – how to pour a bowl of cereal, tie shoes, match clothes, complete a homework assignment.

They'll develop a sense of independence. Children who

dress themselves at age four feel like big children. It's a good feeling that will deepen over time as they learn to do even more without help.

From these good feelings, children begin to form a belief about themselves – "I can do it."

Your firm but kind expectations that your children should start tackling certain jobs on their own send a strong message. You reinforce their independence and

encourage them to accept a certain level of responsibility.

Children learn that others will set expectations and that they can meet them.

This kind of teaching can be a very loving gesture. You're taking the time to show your children how to do something – with interest, patience, love, kindness, and their best interests at heart. This will make children feel cared for and loved. Think of it as filling up a child's toolbox with crucial life tools. (Excerpt from kidshealth.

org)

H

ere is what you will need to make homemade ice cream in a baggie: 2 tbsp sugar 1 cup half & half (a simple blend of equal parts whole milk and light cream available in supermarkets) 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 cup coarse salt or table salt ice

Gallon-sized Ziploc bag Pint-sized Ziploc bag Mix the sugar, half & half and vanilla extract together. Pour into a pint-sized Ziploc baggie. Make sure it seals tightly.

Now take the gallon-sized Ziploc bag and fill it up halfway with ice and pour the salt over the ice. Now place the cream filled bag into the ice filled bag and seal.

Make sure it is sealed tightly and start shaking. Shake for about five minutes (or eight minutes if you use heavy cream instead of half & half.)

Open the gallon-sized bag and check to see if the ice cream is hard, if not keep shaking. Once the ice cream is finished, quickly run the closed pint-sized baggie under cold water to quickly clean the salt off the baggie.

Open the baggie and pop in a spoon.

Hope you enjoy your homemade ice cream in a baggie as much as we do! (Adapted from Disney Family Magazine)

7 Govt could afford to pay teachers an increase – Jagdeo news

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– urges them to cut wasteful spending of public funds

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f Government cuts back on its exorbitant spending and end some of the corrupt contracts it currently has, then it would be able to pay increases to the country’s teachers’ without raising the current level of expenditure.

This is the firm view expressed by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo who told media operatives on Thursday at his weekly press conference that it is in the interest of Guyana that a new multi-year contract for teachers’ be secured. He said this avoids the hassle of negotiations on an annual basis.

“I believe that there is money to fund a lot of what the teachers have been asking for, without increasing overall expenditure in the budget,” he stated pointing firstly to a corrupt contract which costs the Government $170 million annually.

He was referring to the controversial Sussex Street, Albouystown, Georgetown, house used as a drug bond which is rented from a campaign supporter of the People’s National Congress (PNC) for $14 million monthly.

The Opposition Leader reasoned that that sum could cover the request by teachers to increase clothing allowances from $8000

to $21,000. The task force set up by President David Granger has only recommended $16,000.

“So, I urge the President to address this matter urgently and I said to him, you have been stressing the importance of education and so now it is the time to address the teachers concern urgently,” he stated.

Jagdeo, a former President, said that if the Government had committed to creating such a task force, then it must adhere to its recommendations or findings. He said he has had a look at the report from the task force which did not recommend all that the teachers wanted. However, the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) is calling for these very recommendations to be implemented.

“I thought the report is very reasonable, in terms of affordability. And the teachers themselves have said that. And I’ve seen from the Union that 40 per cent was their starting point. I’ve also heard double digits for one year and a single digit for the remaining period of the agreement,” he recalled.

The Opposition Leader has debunked claims that the teachers and their union are acting unreasonable, stating that they have been waiting for three years to

meet with Government.

He therefore criticised Government for sensationalising the 40 per cent figure and not saying that teachers are prepared to accept lower.

In providing a further break down of how the demands of the teachers could be met, Jagdeo said he has even taken a look at the budget estimates to come up with how spending could be curtailed to facilitate the request.

In comparing seven items from the current expenditure column between 2014 and 2018, Jagdeo said there are enough monies that are being wasted that could be reduced and used to meet the demands.

He pointed to the celebration of national and other events, where in 2014 $477 million, while in 2018 $911 million has been budgeted. For dietary (food) this was $3.6 billion and in 2018 it is now $5.2 billion.

The other category (operating expenses) showed that it was at $1.8 billion in 2014 and in 2018 $2.6 billion.

“If you add those three that’s $2.8 billion increase alone,” he pointed out.

Further, for travel, in 2014 it was $1.4 billion and it is now $2.1 billion. This indicates a growth of $732 million per annum. As for

vehicle spares and service, in 2014, $853 million was budgeted but in 2018 it has moved up to $1.34 billion.

Other transport and travel was $874 million in 2014

which has now gone to $1.3 billion. Rental of buildings in 2014 was $795 million and now $1.39 billion. This totals $2.2 billion.

“In these seven heads alone, we have increased expenditure of $5.1 billion. We could easily cut these and find money to pay the teachers wages and restore the one month allowance to the Discipline Forces, pay the debunching for the teachers, housing allowance, all of these things… just here,” he explained.

He continued, “But worst of it all, this Government

has the gall to go out and talk about teachers being greedy and they want duty-free and all of that… when they without working a single day, they took a 50 per cent increase for themselves and their salaries have gone to close to $1 million per month.

They also have State vehicles and duty-free and go and lecture teachers.”

Jagdeo said while he doesn’t agree with all the demands of the teachers, he feels they deserve to be treated respectfully.

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fridAY, august 31, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

"Sex Man" gets 25 years for raping teen in church bus

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n electrician to whom some refer as “Sex Man” was on Thursday jailed for 25 years on a rape charge. The sentence was imposed by Justice Joann Barlow after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a physically challenged woman.

Wazir Ali, also called “Bucko” and “Electrician,” of Lot 50 Martin Luther Scheme, New Amsterdam, committed the act between March 26 and April 7, 2015.

The victim had attended church, and was being taken home with the church bus, which Ali drives. However, instead of dropping off the teenager, he took the other occupants to their homes, but reportedly stopped the minibus in a desolate area and requested to have sex with the victim.

The victim reportedly slapped Ali, who in re-

Convicted rapist Wazir Ali

taliation vacated the driver’s seat, went into the seat in which the teenager was seated, and committed the act.

When the victim saw her attacker at court, she mumbled something to him, but due to her speech impediment, only the word ‘KILL’

was recognisable.

During her evidence, she broke down emotionally and court had to be adjourned.

She was taken to the lobby, where she had to be subdued by a sister and her mother, who for more than an hour had to keep her body against the victim’s in order to keep her calm.

The court was adjourned for the day with no further testimony from the victim, but the following day she continued her evidence in the company of a senior teacher of the Special Needs School.

A probation report on Ali referred to himself as a role model, possessing a likeable personality. His family members, residents in the community, his pastor, church members, school, and prison officials all spoke highly of his character.

Those, however, were not

the words used to describe the accused as he was being led into the court room on the first day of the trial.

Residents of the community had flocked the court when the trial opened, but by the time Ali was sentenced, it was only family members who remained; most of whom expressed alarm when the trial Judge handed down the 25-year sentence.

The judge believed that he was brought up in church and knew right from wrong, but chose to commit the act on a woman whose reasoning ability is below her age.

Justice Barlow said the court must send a strong signal to others. The message must be that this type of behaviour has to stop.

The Judge also ordered that while in jail, the 26-year-old Ali should be exposed to programmes for sex offenders.

Linden duo to stand trial for simple larceny M

toto Razack, 38, of 14 Section ‘C’, Christianburg, Wismar and Sherwin Johnson, 31, of Lot 36 Stewart Path, Wismar, Linden appeared before Linden Magistrate Clive Nurse on Tuesday last jointly charged with the offence of simple larceny.

It is alleged that between Thursday, June 28, and Friday, June 29, at Christianburg, Linden, the two men stole ten sheets of zinc, three pinewood doors, and three pairs of louvre frames belonging to the Guyana National Industrial Corporation.

Razack was represented by Attorney René McDonald, while Johnson was represented by Attorney Yondessa Welcome.

Facts of the case indicated that Johnson was plying his trade as a transportation provider when he was hired to collect the items.

The trial into the matter is set to commence on September 19.

Self-interest…

A

…is national interest

lot of people seem to be getting their buktas and drawers into a knot over China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), after the Government signed an MOU with the Chinese Govt. China’s being painted as the big, bad wolf about to devour Little Black Riding Hood with our basket of (future) oil revenues!!

China’s suckering us into taking out massive loans for infrastructural projects we can’t afford. And when we can’t repay the loans, they’ll step in and take over.

Now, why is this picture as distorted as one by Picasso on drugs? Firstly, why do we refuse to accept that EVERY country will act to further its own interests? So, of course, China’s funding infrastructural projects around the world with its grand BRI to serve its interests!! What do we expect the Chinese to do?? Dole out billions and billions out of the goodness of their hearts?? Sorry, dear reader, that’s not how the world worked; works, or will ever work!! China has trillions of hard currency sloshing around in its treasury after running up surpluses with the rest of the world – especially the US. It’s using that money not just to buy raw materials and other primary products on the cheap from Africa and the rest of the Third World, like us (bauxite); but to further its strategic interests. Right now, the BRI will assist the Chinese to ship their products to their markets cheaper and faster – and via infrastructure under their influence (at worst) or under their control (at best)!!

Like in Sri Lanka. For those countries borrowing to build infrastructure, it’s up to them – like with every other borrower – to figure out whether the investment will generate enough revenues or benefits to pay back the loan. It’s just like you and that car loan; if you can’t pay, the bank will repossess the car!!

How come we haven’t been protesting about building that road from Georgetown to Lethem through borrowing from Brazil?? Are we going to generate enough revenues to pay that loan? What if “no”? But the Chinese are making loans very attractive, because the BRI is essential to the next step in their strategy to surpass the US and the rest of Europe economically.

Singapore, for instance, in 1965 considered Europe as their hinterland to ship manufactured goods. China’s even more audacious; it’s now moving from basic manufacturing to technological innovation.

And the BRI makes the entire world China’s “hinterland”!!

…and self-responsibility

Your Eyewitness continues highlighting the unfair attack by David Hinds on President Granger after the latter suggested African Guyanese shouldn’t be “liming” or looking for handouts, but should become economically self-sufficient. Yesterday we mentioned the direct injection of $4.6 billion to support agriculture in four African-dominated villages. We also mentioned the $68 million allocated to launch IDPAD-Guyana under the Chairmanship of Vincent Alexander from Cuffy 250, the same organisation that Hinds launched.

Right after President Granger donated $17+ millions for Emancipation Day celebrations, IDPAD-G conducted massive “One stop Business Conferences” in Georgetown (Critchlow Labour Institute); Linden and New Amsterdam.

There, prospective African entrepreneurs were exposed to the Guyana Marketing Corporation, Guyana Revenue Authority, IPED, the Small Business Bureau, Citizens Bank and others. They were exposed to the requirements for obtaining loans; the steps to register businesses; how to craft business plans etc…etc.

In Linden, Eric Phillips from the African Business Roundtable explained the “10-10-10 economic Plan”.

The 14 businesses being launched would generate a 10% growth rate to Region 10 and create 5000 jobs.

So, what more could the President do? Give handouts?

…and conflict of interest

How could the Ministry of Social Protection “conciliate” in the impasse on teachers’ salaries when its Labour Department participated in negotiations that led to the impasse??

That’s not exactly “conciliatory,” is it?!!

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

News

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fridAY, august 31, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Jagdeo says he was not granted enough time to consult on CoP selection – says President had “specific reasons” for not choosing Ramnarine

From left: Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, Attorney General Basil Williams and President David Granger met on Thursday at State House

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ow that a substantive Commissioner of Police (COP) has been appointed in the person of Leslie James, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has said he has neither an adverse nor positive opinion of the selection, since he was not granted enough time by the President to consult.

“This impeded on my constitutional authority,” he said, noting that he brought that to the President’s attention on Thursday when he met with him at State House.

According to Jagdeo, he was assured that measures would be put in place to safeguard against a recurrence of correspondences being delayed.

Jagdeo recalled receiving a call from the President inviting him to a meeting, which he agreed to attend.

On Tuesday, he received a correspondence from the President, in which Article 2:111 of the Constitution of Guyana was cited.

“Having received the correspondence on Tuesday, looking at it, I realised that pursuant to the Constitution and the constitutional defi-

nition of meaningful consultation, the President had not met that definition; and I caused a letter to be sent to his office, pointing this out to him -- that he needed to indicate who is going to fill what posts is required by the constitution,” Jagdeo recounted.

Further, the Opposition Leader said, on Thursday morning he received a letter from the President, in which he indicated that James would be the new Commissioner of Police.

“He wanted him to be the Commissioner of Police, since, having received that -- although I was hoping to get it in advance, so I could have solicited a more informed view about the candidate, or his nominee -- nevertheless, I attended the meeting, because I wanted to ensure I fulfilled my constitutional role, and this matter had been pending for a very long time, and I think it's important that we get people to full substantive posts,” Jagdeo explained.

During the meeting, the President indicated his preference, according to

Jagdeo. At that time, the Opposition Leader said, he used the opportunity to ask several questions, and raise concerns about the lateness of the correspondence and how it impeded his ability to have some form of consultation with others about the potential of the nominees.

He said, “The President undertook that in future there would be a long enough lead time to avoid the occurrence or the recurrence of such a situation, because I said it does impede or this -- impeded on my constitutional authority to consider the matter carefully and talk to others.”

Jagdeo told media operatives that he has heard from various people at various points in time about the individuals (nominees). “And I do know many of them, because they have been in the Force for quite a long time, and I did not intend to raise rumours or conversations that people shared with me that can’t be substantiated by evidence at consultation, because I would do injustice to the individuals concerned,” he added.

Selection process

The Opposition Leader further argued that the President did not have an adverse position to any of the nominees, because he did not have a chance to go through the process; so he went a bit further to find out from him the process that led to his decision.

“So he said to me that the test was a basic test, that it was designed for Grade 6.

He asked the Ministry of Education to design a test for Grade 6, and that he will share with me some of the basic things, that it was more just of an assessment of general knowledge,” Jagdeo explained.

The process was conducted by the President, Attorney General Basil Williams, and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.

has “specific reasons” for not choosing former Acting Police Commissioner David Ramnarine for the Top Cop position.

He nevertheless assured Jagdeo that the findings of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into his (President’s) alleged assassination plot last year had not tainted the nominees.

Jagdeo said he questioned the Head of State as to what role the former Assistant Commissioner of Police, and recently appointed Head of the Police Service Commission, Paul Slowe, played in the selection process.

Slowe had been the Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into the alleged plot to assassination the President last year.

told media operatives.

The CoI report completed by Slowe had, among other things, recommended that then substantive Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud be forced to resign, or be removed if he refused.

Ramnarine was acting as Police Commissioner when the allegation was levelled, and he told the CoI he felt a proper investigation was not conducted.

As such, the report also recommended that sanctions be imposed against him for his failure to ensure that a proper investigation was conducted.

Jagdeo, at that time, had indicated his belief that Slowe had “had an axe to grind,” and was acting on the basis of vendetta.

He also drew attention to the fact that the now PSC

President David Granger (seated centre at left) and Attorney General Basil Williams (left) during the consultation with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and Members of Parliament, Irfaan Ali and Gail Teixeira on Thursday

Jagdeo further noted that Granger explained that the assessment was not “pitched at a level to disqualify” nominees, but to gather information on their “general knowledge.”

Meanwhile, President David Granger has said he

“I asked about the role of Paul Slowe, and whether the COI would have tainted some of the nominees…He assured me that Paul Slowe recused himself at the Police Service Commission when some of the nominees were discussed,” Jagdeo

Head had in fact served on the Coalition’s campaign team in the last General Elections held in May 2015.

“He was put there to do a hatchet job on the leadership of the Police Force, destroying professionalism,” Jagdeo had said.

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fridAY, august 31, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Gunmen storm home of carjacked victim – escape with cash, other valuables

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lmost three weeks after bandits pretending to be passengers had carjacked a taxi at Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara (EBD), three gunmen stormed the car owner’s Diamond, EBD home on Wednesday evening, and escaped with a quantity of cash and valuables.

According to information received, the incident occurred at about 23:30h. The owner of the hijacked car, identified only as a businessman, reported that the

three perpetrators entered his home from a back door that had been left open.

He alleges that he had closed his shop earlier in the evening and had gone to sleep with his wife and grandson in the house.

However, he was reportedly awakened by one of the bandits, and observed that his seven-year-old grandson was being forced to divulge where the family’s cash and valuables were.

The bandits also reportedly threatened the young child. Guyana Times was

told that the businessman, not aware that the suspects were armed, acted hastily and grabbed a cutlass, but was quickly disarmed by the three men.

The perpetrators then fled the scene with a number of mobile phone cards and an undisclosed sum of cash. Investigations are ongoing.

In mid-August, the victim’s new white Premio motorcar, HC 8993, which was being driven by a 30-yearold taxi driver at the time, was stolen.

The car that was stolen

It was reported that Terry Persaud of Diamond, EBD, at about 17:00h, was working taxi in Diamond Scheme when he picked up two suspects -- described as a slim male and a mixed race female- at the Diamond Tarmac.

The duo requested to be taken to Friendship, East Bank Demerara, to pick up the other suspect (described as a chubby male).

At Friendship, the appar-

ent couple sat in the back seat while their chubby accomplice occupied the front passenger seat.

Persaud recounted that as he proceeded in a southerly direction, in the vicinity of Garden of Eden, the slim male placed a cold object behind his neck and demanded that he stop the car. He also threatened to shoot Persaud.

The man, fearing for his life, immediately com-

plied, and the chubby male grabbed Persaud’s hand and pulled off his wedding ring, before taking away his cell phone and money.

The victim was then ordered to exit the car.

Upon doing so, he began running in a northerly direction as the suspects fled the scene in the stolen car in a southerly direction. So far, no one has been arrested in connection with the crime.

GTT employees highlight concerns over mercury spill

…say mercury level alarmingly high in their systems

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mployees attached to the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) are raising concerns over the alarmingly high mercury levels found in their systems, due to a mercury spill in April last at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).

Employees from both GGMC and GTT were affected by the spill, which caused several workers to seek medical attention.

According to the workers, in May last, a colleague complained of feeling unwell, and discovered that his body had an alarming amount of the metal (mercury) only when he visited a private health institution.

Another employee stat-

Sections of the GTT building can be seen with the thick black substance (mercury) several months after the spill

ed that after the incident, an email was sent out by the Human Resources Department of GTT, but it failed to explain the severity

of the spill and the potential harm that spill can cause to the human body. continued on page 13

S RAIGHT

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News

fridAY, august 31, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

ExxonMobil discovers more oil offshore Guyana U

It is a matter of G$934 million more By: Sase Singh; M.Sc. - Finance, ACCA.

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he average salary of the majority of teachers was just around G$71,709 in 2017. With such a salary, the cause and reasons were enough to negotiate a proper raise for the teachers by way of the collective bargaining process.

What the GTU is doing has nothing to do with politics.

Actually, the leadership of the GTU does have a pro-PNC history, so I see no reason why they would want to undermine their historical sponsors. So this issue is not political, but purely bread and butter.

The facts speak to the reality that the GTU is being extremely reasonable with the Government, because this is what the GTU has publicly declared: 1. Their opening proposal is based on the recommendation of the Granger- appointed High-Level Team, which suggested a wage increase of 40% for the first year. What the GTU has made clear is that it is prepared to accept a reasonable counterproposal from the Government. But this G$700 million "take it or leave it" package is HIGH NONSENSE from President Granger and his team. It offers less than 7% to the average teacher, which translates to as little as G$43 per day in additional takehome pay for those at the bottom of the scale. That cannot even buy a sweet drink in today’s world.

Why can’t the Government offer at minimum an additional G$934 million, and this case can be closed for the next 3 years.

Why G$934 million? Such a number, when added to what is already on the table, would offer most teachers an increase of between 15% and 20%; and that is a fair option, since, clearly, the 40% is unaffordable.

2.

The GTU then said it is happy to settle for 5% each in the 2nd, and 3rd years and call it “George” for the three years’ package. That is a fair and reasonable position, unlike the Government’s position. The Government is offering G$700 million only for the 1st year, suggested that the increases for the 2nd and 3rd years be cancelled, and is only open to negotiations on any further increases for the period September 2018 and beyond. This is an anti-working class stance taken by the Granger Government as it attempts to deny the teachers increases for 2016 and 2017, and the first 9 months of 2018.

There is enough evidence that the Granger Administration’s priorities are out of order. If they are to immediately conduct an expenditure review of public spending to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of their current practices, they will find enough money to meet not only the needs of the teachers, but all public sector workers.

All empirical evidence points to the fact that the more people graduate from high school, the greater the positive impact on economic growth. A study by the Alliance for Education, a Washington DC-based think tank, proved with evidence this fact.

How do these student graduate? BY MAGIC? Without the right coaching and guidance from a human leader in the classroom, the nation would suffer. If truth be told, the teachers are collectively adding more value to the society than the politicians. So why can’t the teacher get a 15% increase when the politicians got 50%? It was Minister Harmon who had no apologies to make for the 50% that President Granger granted his ministers, so where is his empathy today?

We must stand with the teachers; and, as parents, we must do some homeschooling to support this strike for a just wage in this era of gross unfairness.

The Way Out!

· The Government must put more money on the table.

They can afford to provide about 15% - 20% to the teachers. · More non-financial benefits must be offered, such as full scholarships for up to 100 teachers to attend UG every year; 100 bursaries for free scholarships for the children of teachers every year to study the sciences ONLY; along with 500 free house lots for teachers in the system for more than 5 years. Of course these non-financial benefits must be secured on a competitive basis, and must be distributed proportionately between urban, rural and hinterland teachers.

Conclusion

This strike is Guyana’s struggle. This strike is about bread and butter for the future generations, and this strike is about bringing back respect to the collective bargaining process and the role of trade unions in a just and democratic society. This Granger Government is very disrespectful to the workers of Guyana, and we must offer solidarity to the teachers, both in spirit and financially, to ensure that all workers secure their just rewards. I call on the GTU to set up a “CROWD FUNDING” site so the Diaspora can contribute to the teachers’ strike support fund. This struggle belongs to all of us. Better must come!

Please share your thoughts at sasesin1@yahoo.com.

S oil giant ExxonMobil has made its ninth discovery offshore Guyana, marking its fifth discovery on the Stabroek Block in the past year and proving a new play concept for potential development.

The discovery was made at the Hammerhead-1 well, where approximately 197 feet of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone reservoir were encountered.

The well was safely drilled to 13,862 feet depth in 3,373 feet of water.

The Stena Carron drillship began drilling on July 27, 2018.

President of ExxonMobil Exploration Company, Steve Greenlee, said the Hammerhead-1 discovery reinforces the potential of the Guyana Basin, where ExxonMobil is already maximizing value for all stakeholders.

Greenlee said the development options for Hammerhead will take into account ongoing evaluation of reservoir data, including a well test.

Hammerhead-1 is located approximately 13 miles southwest of the Liza-1 well, and follows previous discoveries on the Stabroek Block at Liza, Liza Deep, Payara, Snoek, Turbot, Ranger, Pacora and Longtail.

Those previous discoveries had led to the announcement of an estimated recoverable resource of more than 4 billion oil-equivalent barrels discovered to date.

It also creates the potential for up to five floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels producing more than 750,000 barrels per day by 2025.

ExxonMobil has said there is potential for additional production from significant undrilled targets, and there are plans for rapid exploration and appraisal drilling.

A second exploration vessel, the Noble Tom Madden, is due to arrive in Guyana in October to accelerate exploration of high potential opportunities, and will commence drilling at the Pluma prospect.

Liza Phase 1, which is expected to begin producing oil by early 2020, will use the Liza Destiny FPSO vessel to produce up to 120,000 barrels of oil per day.

Construction of the FPSO and subsea equipment is well advanced.

Pending Government and regulatory approvals, Phase 2 is targeted for sanctioning by the end of 2018.

It will use a second FPSO designed to produce up to 220,000 barrels per day, and is expected to be producing in 2022.

A third development, Payara, will target sanctioning in 2019 and use an FPSO designed to produce approximately 180,000 barrels of oil

President of ExxonMobil Exploration Company, Steve Greenlee

per day as early as 2023.

In May 2015, Exxon confirmed its significant oil discovery at its Liza 1 exploration well, where more than 295 feet of high-quality oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs were encountered.

Exxon’s oil find in Guyana has attracted international attention, with a number of seminars being held over time.

Drilling of Payara began on November 12, 2016, with initial total depth reached on December 2, 2016. In January of 2017, the oil giant had announced it had struck oil in its Payara-1

well, targeting the same type of reservoirs as the well’s Liza counterpart.

Before that, the company had announced that it had made its third significant discovery in its drilling explorations offshore Guyana. Its partner, Hess Corporation, had noted that the Liza 3 exploratory well’s net value could be US$6.2 billion based on calculations from the Bank of Montreal (BMO) Capital Markets.

In late June 2016, Exxon’s drilling results at Liza 2 revealed more than 58 metres of oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs in Upper Cretaceous formations. The well was drilled to 5475 metres at 1692 metres water depth.

Drilling results confirmed recoverable resources to be between 800 million and 1.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent. Data from the Liza 2 well test is being assessed.

Work has been ongoing to build Guyana’s institutions and systems, although Government has faced criticism for the pace of this progress.

In addition, assistance is being provided by the IMF to boost Guyana’s administrative capacity to handle the expected inflow of revenue.

ExxonMobil’s affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, is operator, and holds 45 percent interest in the Stabroek Block.

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fridAY, august 31, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Business Ministry releases new fare structure for minibuses …minibuses mandated to display same

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he Business Ministry on Thursday released the new fare structure for several minibus zones, following the recent announcement of a $20 across the board increase which is expected to take effect from September 1.

In a release, the Ministry said “all minibus operators are required to by law to display the fare structure in their buses”.

Among the zones whose fare structures were released were 31 (Georgetown to Patentia); 32 (Georgetown to Parika); 40, 41, 45, 46 (Georgetown to Kitty/ Campbellville, South-North Ruimveldt/Guyhoc, Main Street, Lamaha and Albert, Lodge); 44 (Georgetown to Mahaica); 47, 48 (Georgetown to Back Road, East and West Sophia); and 42 (Georgetown to Timehri).

For the zones which were not listed, the Ministry advised that they should contact the head of United Minibus Union, Eon Andrews.

The Ministry renewed its call for commuters and drivers, as well as conductors, to honour the new fare structure. Plans were first announced by the Business Ministry on August 20 for a $20 increase.

The President of the United Minibus Union (UMU), Eon Andrews, said during an interview with

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin

Guyana Times, he is satisfied with the Ministry’s decision to implement a $20 increase. He said, “It might not be a lot, but we are satisfied.”

In June, the President of the Minibus Union submitted a proposal for not only a fare increase, but for several other requests to ease the pressure on minibus drivers.

Although the call for a fare increase came at a time where fuel prices were constantly escalating, Andrews had noted that the call for the additional money was not only due to the fuel prices, but several other issues.

Because of this, the Union’s President said even if the fuel prices lower, he would not be willing to drop the transportation costs.

“We are saying that, yes, there are increases in many

other things. We are not basing our argument on fuel, because we don’t control that in this country,” he said.

Guyana Times understands that the Union had initially requested $20 for short drop bus drivers and $40 for drivers who traverse the longer routes.

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) has labelled the $20 across the board increase in minibus fares as a burden on the beleaguered working people.

The Union’s statement came one week after the Government made the announcement of a fare hike.

According to FITUG, although it accepts that the operators have found themselves in a difficult position, taking into consideration the ban on used tyres and increases in the costs of licences and fitness in addition to other increases, the new increases, depending on the route, could work out to as much as a 25 per cent hike in fares.

The Union pointed out that it believes the new fare structure would now require workers and their families, depending on the number of buses they would have to take, to fork out as much as several thousands more per month on transportation, though promised the ‘Good Life’ by the ruling coalition Government.

CJIAC to test new terminal arrival building

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anagement of the Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC) will be conducting trial runs on the new Arrivals Terminal and Boarding Bridges between 13:00h on Friday, August 31, and 10:00h on Saturday, September 1, 2018.

The objective of these tests is to ensure all systems under the passenger treatment/loading conditions are acceptable to allow the identification of final opportunities for improvement ahead of the proposed official opening of the terminal.

The 4,891-square-metre terminal features 10 passport control booths, one elevator, one escalator stair, two functional boarding bridges, three baggage car-

ousels, a spacious Customs area, and a public greeting hall to welcome the arrival of families and friends.

In light of this activity, motorists will now park in the parking lot adjacent to the new Arrivals Terminal building. The fees for the various types of vehicles re-

main the same. http://www. cjairport-gy.com/airport/airport-parking-0.

In addition, motorists will not be allowed access under the Arrivals Canopy to uplift passengers. This is to analyse the readiness of the collection of passengers, which was proving difficult in previous experiences.

It is the extended desire of CJIAC management to ensure the new terminal operations attain the most favourable efficiencies, be stress-free, and offer supple passenger movement and superior service to all its users.

The CJIAC, in a release, thanked the public and the motorists for their patience and co-operation.

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fridAY, august 31, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

CC&PA to launch advertisements in 4 Amerindian languages …can lower child abuse in hinterland

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n an effort to lower the alarming rates of child abuse cases in the hinterland region, the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) will be launching advertisements in four different Amerindian languages as early as next month during the observance of Child Protection Week.

This is according to Director of the Agency, Ann Greene during a recent interview with Guyana Times.

According to Greene, the rates of child abuse in Amerindian villages are alarmingly high. In fact, she said most of the 481 cases of child sexual abuse occurred in Regions 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) and Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

She explained, “The most challenging thing for us is this sexual abuse in Hinterland communities.

If you look at the stats, our data shows out of the 481 (cases of sexual abuse) the rate of abuse is highest in Region 10 followed by Region Seven so we want to concentrate heavily on that in our programmes”.

Greene said she is aware that in some communities, underaged sexual activities are accepted, although it is against the law, and so awareness, especially in Amerindian communities, is crucial.

“There is a gap between culture and law. There are some things that are social

CC&PA Director, Ann Greene

norms and cultural practices but it’s not in keeping with the laws of the land… in some communities there is a high tolerance level for under aged sexual activities. Sixteen years is the age of consent, but it doesn’t say that grown men should be having sex with 16-yearolds. They may be paedophiles,” she pointed out.

Important to note, the Director said, is the laws of Guyana were not only crafted for the children on the coast, but also for those in the hinterland regions.

She added, “So we can’t hear people (are) getting charged here (on the coasts) for various acts and (in) another group things are happening there and nothing is not happening”.

The Agency, according

to her, has been exhausting several efforts to educate and re-educate citizens on the issue of cultural practices.

She said, although persons are entitled to their culture, the practices put children at risk.

This year’s Child Protection Week will commence on September 23 under the theme ‘Supporting families to prevent child abuse through education and community involvement’.

Several other major activities and programmes are being finalised and prepared for the much anticipated event. Among the major plans, the CC&PA will be launching its child abuse registry, which will be helpful in providing information in relation to a person’s biography.

Greene pointed out that the perpetrators of sexual abuse will be publicised and exposed to the public, who will be able to access the requisite information on the Internet.

She explained, “People were clamouring for that and so I gave a commitment to launch the child abuse registry. It is really to put online the persons who would have commit offences against children. If anybody wants to employ anybody, you could run the child abuse registry”.

“A lot of information will be made available through the registry (like) the type of abuse, the person’s age, their

name, where they’re from and so on, because when we set up this database we can do drafts and look and see where the abusers are. We can pull up the map and see where they are,” she related.

As of June 2018, Guyana recorded an increase in reported cases of sexual abuse against children. Greene went on to explain that she

believes the high number exposed itself only due to intensive work by the Department.

According to her, “It’s not an increase to say it is more now than what it was before because we got more awareness, we got more channels to report. We encourage persons to report more so when we do all these programmes and all these awareness and

so on, put in a hotline and all of that, the reports would increase, but it does not signal that there is more child abuse this year than last year”.

She sought to point out that she believes the figure exposed is just a ‘tip of the ice berg’ since abuse, especially sexual abuse, is often hidden and goes unreported.

GTT employees highlight...

from page 10

“There was no indication from management that persons should have testing done to ensure that the metal did not affect those who work in the building.

There was one individual who voiced their concerns about the incident with the HR Department, but (the concerns were) quickly dismissed by management, who told the individual that no one else (had) made any complaints, and as such, that person should not raise an alarm amongst other staff”, an employee told the <<Guyana Times>>.

Recently, the workers noted that after receiving several other complaints from staff members about feeling unwell, six workers were randomly selected and sent for testing at a private laboratory.

The blood samples were sent overseas, and when the results were returned, it con-

firmed that the workers had mercury in their systems.

The workers are claiming that the company’s Health & Safety Officer asked that the information be kept secret, so as not to cause panic among their colleagues.

Recently, it was reported in sections of the media that the company has been urging its staff to get tested; but this, they claim, “is far from the truth”.

“There was no email sent to the employees of the company encouraging them to be tested. There was a meeting held to inform employees with regard to the hazardous material that was spilled”, it was contended.

The GTT employees are also contending that they had received no financial assistance from the company in their moment of distress; but it was reported that “through its company’s medical plan, GTT contin-

ued to provide assistance to employees”.

“The cost of a mercury test is $20,000, the medication is $31,000, and lab tests $39,000. There are persons who are on medical leave, receiving treatment for mercury toxicity, which was paid at their own expense. There was an individual who was hospitalised, and another was fired,” Guyana Times was made to understand.

When Guyana Times contacted the company’s Public Relations Specialist, Jasmin Harris, she noted that they are fully aware of the situation and are working along with the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Social Protection, Department of Labour and Ministry of Natural Recourses to return the situation to normalcy.

Harris also noted that an investigation has been launched. (Yanalla Dalrymple)

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fridAY, august 31, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Infested rice fields at Hague see major improvement – GRDB

A

lthough rice farmers in Hague, West Coast Demerara, are complaining of little improvement to several acres of rice fields, which are reportedly infested with bugs, the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) has confirmed that major improvements have been recorded since the agency intervened.

This was related to Guyana Times by General Manager of the Rice Board, Nizam Hassan, on Thursday, while noting that there is evidence of such improvements.

He however stated, “It is too early to say whether or not the crop will be of the standard

when it is time for harvest, which should be just about four weeks from now”.

According to Hassan, the discolouration which was first observed on the plants is now fading, as the plants are beginning to become greener, due to the treatment recommended by the GRDB and constant monitoring.

One farmer, Ganga Persaud, who has 60 years of experience in the field said, “There are some improvements but not too much to be happy about. The rice, since GRDB officials from research came, they went there and they uprooted some plants

and took some water samples and they looked at it and they strained the water and found some dead worms”.

Persaud argued that the officials ‘routinely checked’ for the usual pests, something which he believes is not the real reason for the plants’ state. He said, “They did not look for is what they did not find”.

The farmer said he believes the field has a soil problem. “There is a soil problem because of the three conditions the crop has to work with, the weather condition in water and mud”.

He said he observed that

The GRDB claims the discolouration has improved, as seen in this image

The state of the rice field before GRDB’s intervention

most of the rice fields which are very low tend to attract the bugs.

Persaud admitted that the GRDB has been monitoring the affected fields but still fear the bugs may get the best of the fields since other farmers have been complaining of the very same bug affecting their rice fields.

The farmers initially claimed that some 120 acres of their lands were being affected by a termite infestation but GRDB later dismissed this claim, saying that advice was given to the farmers to drain the fields and apply systematic pesticides, but the farmers refused to do so.

The GRDB said it determined that the farmer needed to drain the field, apply a systematic pesticide; in this instance, it was recommended that Pronto and Regional at the recommended rates be used.

Hassan said a subsequent visit by the GRDB showed that the farmer had water weevils and had not been spraying with the required pesticide recommended by the team.

The GRDB head claimed that the farmer also admitted to not draining his field despite being advised to do so and was, in fact, applying a contact insecticide instead, rather than a systematic pesticide. Based on a report compiled by an investigating team, dead water weevil larvae were found on the roots of some plants, the GRDB noted, adding that only one farmer, and 3.4 acres of rice fields, was presently affected.

Guyana Times reported that close to 15 rice farmers were affected and lost much of their crop in the villages of Hague, Den Amstel, and several other areas.

Omar Dhanny, a farmer who cultivates about sev-

en acres of land at Hague, had said he and other farmers exhausted all efforts to address the situation, but to no avail.

“This here affects me a lot, because this amount of rice here what damage for me, I already (gone) through all the doses of fertiliser and I already sprayed about six times. If you calculate, it is a lot of money, and nobody don’t know if we gonna get anything from the Rice Development Board,” he pointed out earlier this month.

In recent years, farmers across the country have been earning reduced profits for their rice, especially with the collapse of the PetroCaribe (rice for oil) deal with Venezuela. Government has sought alternative markets such as Mexico and Panama.

However, millers are delaying payments to farmers owing to challenges with ready access to payments from the foreign markets.

news

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fridAY, august 31, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Over 60 benefit from Region 4’s “Back-to-School” project

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ore than 60 students have benefited from the receipt of school supplies, courtesy of the Department of Education, Region Four (Demerara Mahaica) on Thursday.

The event was held at the Quamina Primary School in Beterverwagting, ECD, and catered for children from nursery, primary and secondary schools.

The students, all drawn from the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara, were outfitted with a wide range of school supplies in an effort to ensure that they are ready for the ac-

ademic year opening on Monday, September 3, 2018.

The project, dubbed “RDC’s DoE Back to School Bag Packs”, was sponsored by the Regional Chairman’s Office, Department of Education, and a number of private individuals and companies.

Originator of the project, Regional Education Officer (REDO acting) Tiffany Favourite-Harvey, in addressing the students, disclosed it is a project that she had long envisioned.

She noted that she was very excited to execute the project, and the quality of

Regional Education Officer (REDO acting) Tiffany Favourite-Harvey, along with Regional Vice Chairman Earle Lambert and Regional Executive Officer (REO) Pauline Lucas, pose with some of the students who received bag packs

Teachers’ strike

Salary impasse talks fail after 3rd conciliation T

he third round of conciliation at the Social Protection Ministry’s Labour Department did not attain the desired outcome, as both the Education Ministry and the Guyana Teachers’ Union (GTU) held steadfast to their positions.

As such, the nationwide strike where teachers are demanding increased wages remains enforced which was confirmed by GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald on Thursday.

“The strike continues,” she asserted, following the meeting which was chaired by operatives of the Labour Department.

The GTU had earlier expressed no confidence in this labour team since it comprised Government officers who were advocating on the Education Ministry’s behalf.

The first conciliation meeting did not go off as planned as the GTU was a no-show but

the second round held earlier this week ended in impasse.

When the interested parties engaged in discussions for a second time on Thursday, the Education Ministry came equipped with ‘position paper’ outlining its terms why conciliation should be exhausted before arbitration commences.

The Ministry proposed again that both parties be allowed to benefit from conciliation in accordance with the labour laws. Like the Union, it also proposes that there be no victimisation by either side.

The Ministry wants all public pronouncements to be accurate and shared between both parties. Finally, it wants both parties to decide on the chairman for an arbitration panel or tribunal should the Labour Minister pursue this course of

Mark Lyte

action.

According to a release issued on Thursday, Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle maintained that the conciliatory process must be exhausted before arbitration can take place, having reiterated his earlier plea to the Union to

call off the Strike so that the conciliation process can continue. The Social Protection Ministry said in light of the differing positions, the meeting was adjourned.

Teachers are seeking increases of 40 per cent under a multi-year arrangement up to 2020. However, Government maintained that it just cannot afford this proposal. Classes are scheduled to open from Monday, September but it is unclear how many teachers will be present in the classroom. Government, as stated by Education Minister Nicolette Henry, is moving full steam ahead with its contingency plan which will see striking teachers being substituted with recent Cyril Potter College Education graduates,

trainees and retired teachers.

However, some parents are of the view that their children could be shortchanged by the Government’s decision.

This position was shared with former CPCE lecturer and Mathematics teacher, Tamashwar Boodhoo who suggested Thursday that Government’s proposal could run against stipulations. “Someone has not done their homework and provide poor advice to this poor lady. Trainee teachers cannot take school registers. The law is clear you must be employed by the TSC (Teaching Service Commission) or the school board or the Ministry of Education in order to do take attendance in school,” Boodhoo noted.

He observed that a register is a legal document that can be used in the courts and that there are guidelines that govern the marking of attendance registers. He claimed

that trainee teachers are “not allowed to make daily log entries in the school log book” adding that retired teachers are similarly prohibited unless they are issued contracts.

The educator noted too that credit hours are required for graduation since these students will be losing class time.

He stressed that “there is nothing in the training manual” that allows for first-year trainee unsupervised practice in the classroom.

“I am disappointed that the CPCE administration agrees to put the trainees in the classroom unsupervised.

It was the same administration that had trainees repeat classroom practices because of unsupervised practicum,” he pointed out.

the items donated is second to none.

She disclosed that a wide range of items were being distributed because as a mother herself she can relate to the difficult challenges faced by parents in preparing their children from the new school year.

The official stressed that with increasing economic and other challenges and difficulties, it continues to pose significant challenge for parents and guardians to provide the items needed for the students, thus she felt that her department getting involved in such a project was noteworthy and critically important in ensuring that more students are able to attend school regularly.

Among the items the students received were school bags, books, stationaries, undergarments, school uniforms, shoes and socks. Several parents and students expressed gratitude and appreciation for the support being given by the Department of Education. They note that

it is timely, considering the many harsh economic challenges that parents are confronted with these days.

One parent was moved to tears with her three children received what she described as “everything that they needed for school”.

Parent Sharon Nurse was very emotional, noting that as a mother of three young children, she continues to endure grave challenges and difficulties in being able to send her children to school.

She thanked the REDO for what she dibbed “a very good gesture”, stressing that she has urged her three children to do their best so that the support given would not go wasted.

“As a mother of a 15, 11 and 5-year-old, I am very happy today to be receiving the things, because my daughters got from panties, tights, bras to uniform, right down; and I am very happy with it. I can tell you that being able to get these things have certainly saved me the stress and hardships that I am face with,” Nurse said.

She noted that she is confident several other parents may be equally happy and grateful as she is, because many parents are confronted with grave challenges. Therefore, she said, she would like to encourage the Department of Education, Region Four, to continue this initiative.

She added that it is noteworthy, and needs to be highly commended by all concerned. She expressed gratitude also to those companies and individuals who would have supported the initiative.

Another parent, Norma Singh, who has lost her son to drowning some months ago, was very emotional, and thanked the REDO for what she said was a kindhearted gesture, but, more importantly, a sign that the REDO understands the role of parents and what they can endure.

“I can’t stop thanking REDO Harvey for what is happening here, as yet again this Department of Education have truly understood the challenge and difficulties of parents like myself, and have stepped up to lend a helping hand,” she said.

Among those in attendance, to help in giving out the bag packs, were Regional Executive Officer (REO) Pauline Lucas and Regional Vice Chairman Earle Lambert.

Harvey expressed gratitude that she could have executed such a project, which was coincidentally held on her birthday.

She declared, "This is the best birthday for anyone to have, as I can truly give back on a day like today. I can tell you that there is nothing better I could have asked for on my birthday".

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guyanatimesgy.com

fridAY, august 31, 2018

News

GO-Invest projects $107B from investments by year-end …only executed $12.5B for first half

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he Guyana Office for Investment (GOInvest) is expecting $107 billion in investments by the end of this year, but figures from that agency demonstrate that only $12.5 billion in projects have been executed for the first six months.

Chief Executive Officer of GO-Invest, Owen Verwey, made this announcement on Thursday while noting that while it is indeed a slow start, most of the projects which would reach in benchmark amount are in the pipeline to be executed in the latter part of the year. For the 20 investment agreements that were completed, 12 of them are said to be local, five are foreign, and three are joint ventures.

“The agency expects to facilitate or work on investment-related activities somewhere around the $107 billion mark for the year. From January to June, we facilitated and executed a $12.5 billion in investments. Those numbers

reflect a slower start than expected. There are quite a few projects that are in the pipeline that we have been entertaining and facilitating discussions with.”

So far, a number of projects have been approved, which will add to the future investments. Upon approval, the projects are referred to other partnering agencies, which will complete their part.

Verwey divulged that some partnerships have been established among the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GL&SC), the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) and the Business Ministry.

He further said, “The Guyana Revenue Authority and GO-Invest work in partnership to deal with investment incentives as (they) relate to the exemption of import duties and taxes, and as (they) relate to fiscal incentives for tax holidays and other things like that.”

Chief Executive Officer of GO-Invest, Owen Verwey

Over 500 potential investors or exporters were mentioned as those who are seeking assistance to execute their trade and for the projection assumptions, it is expected that investments will be made in the agriculture sector, since agro-processing businesses are on the increase. Nine local businesses in this sector have been supported, and the aforementioned five foreign projects were are also within this sector.

Additionally, the agency is under the assumption that the decision taken by Barama Company Limited to end its forestry operations would result in the availability of that concession to investors. As such, investments are in process.

From discussions with the NICIL-SPU regarding the privatisation of lands from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) estates, GO-Invest is expecting that there will be ac-

commodation for private bargaining in the four estates, since these efforts will be exceeding in the second half of 2018.

Meanwhile, more shorebased activities and local participation of business in the oil and gas sector are anticipated. When asked about the areas which were of interest to foreign investors, Verwey highlighted that many are interested in the acquisition of temporary lands. However, he was uninformed of the zones which might be of interest.

“One of the big areas is land. They are looking for land for their operation, and in some cases the land is not permanent. They need it for two to three years only, and after that something different. At this stage, they need the land for the piping and other related activities.”

The GO-Invest CEO posited that there has been a continuation in the amount of investments that were made throughout the years,

and the figure continues to increase by a positive fraction.

“It continues on a trend that started and we thought would’ve either slowed or stabilised between 2017 and 2018, but it continues to increase significantly.

Interest is strong, and people are continuing to look into this direction for investment opportunities,” he explained.

One of the challenges being faced right now is manufacturers not being standardized, or the other necessary requirements that are important to an emerging oil and natural gas sector.

Up to this time, 47 businesses have been matched with foreign clients for the supply of gold, diamond, coffee, coconut oil, heart of palm, peppers, fruit pulp and clay bricks in exports for the time being magnified.

In 2017, the agency had projected some $154 billion, which was estimated to create some 5,725 jobs.

VAT amendment contradicts Minister’s Justice William budget speech commitments – GMSA Ramlall tipped for PCA chair E xecutives of the Guyana Manufacturing and Service Association (GMSA) recently met with the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) with the aim of reviewing tax measures.

Through an official release, the body highlighted that it engaged GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia on the impact several Value Added Tax (VAT) measures have on the manufacturing sector.

The GMSA was led by its President, Shyam Nokta and including board member Ramesh Dookhoo and chair of the Forestry and Wood Processing Sub-Sector Rafeek Khan. They met with the GRA team on August 16, 2018.

This meeting followed the GMSA already registering several concerns to Finance Minister Winston Jordan in

GMSA President, Shyam Nokta

June this year regarding the impact of the amendment to the VAT Act in January on some sections of the manufacturing sector with special focus on exports.

According to the GMSA, the amendment contradicted what Minister Jordan said in his budget speech.

The GMSA held that the forestry and wood processing sector are affected by VAT which it says serves as a dis-incentive to producers who primarily manufacture for export.

“It comes at a time when the forestry and wood processing sector is facing several challenges, including the deplorable state of interior roads and when there is strong push for more value adding to target external markets,” the manufacturing body noted.

According to the release, the Commissioner General indicated that in keeping with the Minister’s pledge of no new taxes, the Amendment was intended to improve administrative efficiency of VAT administration that GRA is exploring ways to address the issue and requested that the GMSA explore other avenues with as opposed to “making broad statements”.

The GMSA however, said that VAT is adversely impacting key economic sectors. It said too that it took the opportunity to raise other issues pertaining to tax administration, including the implementation of the new scanner system and processing times.

The body said that it put forward a request for incentives for manufacturers in

J

GRA Commissioner General Godfrey Statia

relation to energy and renewable energy technologies, in addition to a list of procedural issues relative to facilitating the smooth flow of businesses.

The body also addressed the excise duty on Indigenous wines in keeping with the Government-stated policy of incentivising local manufacturing in addition to the excise taxes on Shandy whereby the current structure is not in line with other Caribbean territories which “disadvantaged Guyana’s producers”. The GMSA said it remains hopeful that the GRA will give active consideration to the issues raised and make recommendations to the Finance Minister on the way forward.

ustice William Ramlall has been tipped to be the new Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), replacing retired Justice Cecil Kennard.

President David Granger on Thursday wrote to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo with intentions of appointing Justice William Ramlall to the said position.

This appointment is expected to be made in accordance with Section 3 (1) of the Police Complaints Authority Act, Chapter 17:02.

The retired High Court Judge acted in the said capacity for 16 years specialising in criminal and civil law, particularly in the areas of analysis and assessment of evidence, the writing of judgements and the interpretation of statutes, among other skills.

Ramlall also led a successful private practice, also served as a Magistrate for several years in addition to a State Counsel in the Attorney General’s Chambers and a teacher of Commercial Law. The retired Judge attended the University of Guyana, where he read for the Bachelor of Laws Part One before proceeding to

Justice William Ramlall

the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, where he completed Parts Two and Three.

He is also the holder of a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School and was a part of several professional training programmes.

Ramlall also attended a USAID sponsored programme on money laundering in Saint Lucia, a United Kingdom judicial studies board sponsored programmed in criminal and civil litigation, a USAID sponsored programme in mediation and dispute resolution and was trained in Commercial Court matters.

guyanatimesgy.com

W

hile Guyana does not experience the seasonal weather as North America, such as summer, over the years Guyanese – mostly promoters – have adopted the western term to promote concept parties. One of such party is titled “Summer Washdown” slated for the Giftland Mall

parking lot, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, this evening.

The event will feature, Jamaica’s reggae and dancehall recording artist I-Octane who is no stranger to Guyana. He has performed at several events in various sections of the Capital City as well as the

Guyana National Stadium.

At the concert this evening, he is expected to belch out some 2018 tunes such as “Unfair Games”, ”One Dance” and “Weh De Fire Gone”. However, he is also known for his hit tunes, “Love You like I Do”, “Touch Me and Go” and “Prayers”.

Patrons are in for a treat

friday, august 31, 2018

as the artiste is ready to send shockwaves through the Giftland parking lot.

He will be sharing the stage with Guyana’s own, Natural Black. He too is no stranger to the parting arena as he is well known for his tunes “Can’t Mix Intelligence”, “Songs with Feelings”, “Jah Jah Bless” and “Life be the

Same Way”.

The line-up also includes Super Ray and Stitchie One man bands. Setting the tone for the night will be Damon and Andre; Deejay Fresh; Gully Ras and Selector Diamond; David Hype; Deejay Magnum; Deejay Sean and Green Dongs.

Early bird tickets cost

$1500 in advance while VIP tickets cost $5000 and are available at the Giftland Mall; Colors Boutique, Robb Street; all White Castle Fish Shop outlets; Just Your Size Boutique, Orange Walk; and others.

If you did not buy tickets in advance, more will be charged at the gate.

”

P

ulse Entertainment – the leading Entertainment Group – is doing it once again with another concept party titled “Obsession” at the Strip Restaurant and Bar, Giftland Mall, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown on Saturday evening. It will be a night to remember with some of the best deejays in the house.

The main mix masters who will be on the console all night are Entertainer Kerwin Bollers and Rawle Ferguson. They are known for their hyped deejay skills and are bound to leave you with the best experience.

During the evening, there will be specials on all highend liquors, including Ciroc, Johnny Walker, Absolute Vodka, Moet Champagne, and Hennessy.

Patrons are encouraged to buy in twos and benefit big from the deals. Specials on the bottled vodka start at 20:00h and end at 22:00h.

Advance tickets to the event cost $1500 and $2000 at the door.

T

he biggest comedy show, “Nothing to Laugh About 11” – which recently took the country by storm with its 11th edition – successfully hosted the production in Essequibo two weeks ago. Now the attention is placed on Berbice, with three exciting shows.

These shows will be held today at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI); on Saturday, September 1 at the Sheldon Back Centre Ground; and on Sunday, September 2 at the Feroze

Fun Park, Number 6 Village, West Coast Berbice.

It will be three nights of exhilarating fun and excitement and patrons are urged to come prepared for an evening of laughter.

This year, the show is directed

by Maria Benschop and has an allstar cast including Michael Ignatius, Lyndon “Jumbie” Jones, Kirwyn Mars, Leza “Radika” Singh, Clemencio Goddette, Chris Gopaul, Mark “Chine Man” Kazim, Leon Cummings, Kijana

Lewis, Simone Persaud, Mark LukeEdwards, Jermaine Grimmond, Zoya Moore, Ashley Alfred, and Sonia Yarde.

As usual, the show will straddle all the divides; be it politics, race or religion. It is a show that is not afraid to push the boundaries and that is probably why it is the most anticipated show every year.

Tickets cost $1000 for adults and $500 for children. Patrons are advised to be on time as the show will begin at 20:00h sharp.

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friday, AUGUST 31, 2018

F

ourteen-year-old Nawaz Hamid Khan of Marty’s Ville, Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, and a student of Cummings Lodge Secondary School, is one Guyana’s young blooming Qaseeda singers.

He has been singing since he was seven years old and has developed a voice that everyone enjoys. This talented singer has performed at many functions with the most recent being at the Bath Settlement Mosque in the semi-finals of the National Qaseeda Competition.

At that competition, he placed first and earned the opportunity to represent Guyana at the International Qaseeda competition slated for Suriname on October 21.

From now, leading up to the competition, the young man will continue to focus on his pieces and is optimistic that he will be successful. Apart from singing, he also teaches the art form to the children in his community.

Nawaz Khan is inspired by Atif Aslam’s renditions; one of the greatest artistes in the world from Pakistan. He credits his success to his parents – Abdul Hamid and Nalima Nesha and the Al-Fasailiah Foundation Nasheed Group of which he is a Mureed (member).

He is the youngest of three siblings who love to play cricket.

His favourite food is dhal and rice with curried beef while his favourite colour is red. As a young singer, he advises his peers to follow their dreams and be the person they want to become.

He also encourages them to be themselves and always aim for the stars. Nawaz can be followed on Facebook and Instagram as Nawaz Khan.

he encouraged them to record their own music.

“Kish” as she is fondly referred, was introduced to music producer and Chief Executive Officer of DP Records, Darrell Pugsley, with whom she collaborated to produce the song “Pressure Wine” – her very first record and one she wrote.

She made her solo career debut on February 21, 2017, at Stag Stage; coincidentally on her birthday. Her performance created the kind of buzz every artiste hopes for.

She left her audience satisfied but thirsty.

“Kady-Kish’s” live performance at Chutney Glow 8.0 on Saturday, September 22 at the Amazura Concert Hall, Queen New York

he fifth edition of “Confidence Become You” with Sonia Noel begins on Friday, August 31, at We Own Space, South Ruimveldt.

It is a personal and professional development programme that assists person in giving the world the best version of themselves.

Personal and professional development is a lifelong process. It is a way for people to assess their skills and qualities, consider their aims in life and set goals in order to realise and maximise their potential.

We live is a world where negativity and toxic environments get you down but when you have self-esteem and self-confidence, you can be victorious.

There is a difference between self-esteem and self-confidence. Self-esteem refers to how you feel about yourself overall; how much esteem, positive regard or self-love you have. Self-esteem develops from experiences and situations that have shaped how you view yourself today.

Self-confidence is how you feel about your abilities and this can vary from situation to situation. I may have healthy self-esteem, but low self-confidence about situations involving Maths (this is true).

When you love yourself, your self-esteem improves, which makes you more confident.

When you are confident in areas of your life, you begin to increase your overall sense of esteem. You can work on both at the same time.

This programme teaches you how to develop you core message and win from the in-

After that performance she was asked by the show’s promoter to perform the following night at the international version of the event where she created an even bigger buzz, going on the perform for other audiences and major events throughout Guyana.

“Kish” has released other songs including “How I Do It”, “Be Wise and Rise” and her most recent “Without You”, produced by Darrell Pugsley. She is in the studio recording more music for her fans which she is anxious to release. The singer songwriter is determined to have a long-lived music career thus she is taking time to learn her new environment and keep in sync with its ever evolving features. She is currently managed by the DP Records label.

side because winning is an inside job. Time management, goal setting and fashion tips are on the agenda.

“I have combined my trainings from three of the best in the business – John Maxwell, Lisa Nichols and Les Brown into a transformational programme. I have seen this programme transform lives and that is a fulfilling purpose” Guyanese fashion icon and author, Sonia Noel stated.

Great leaders are confident in themselves, their vision and in people. A confident leader give people confidence. ““Confidence Becomes You” made me start my own business and I came first runner-up in a pageant”, said Dr Colleen Bovel.

Women and men from varying background benefited from this empowering programme and are now preforming at another level in their respective businesses and other careers.

“Doing this programme contributed to the success of the recent Expo in Trinidad because I had the confidence to communicate well with buyers” Debbie Argyle.

The best investment is in yourself and the next “Confidence Becomes You” class in on September 8 and all are invited to register. Information is available through social media.

Noel recently delivered a very motivation speech at the Scotia Bank Staff Rally at the Pegasus on developing a champion mindset .The designer seems to be thoroughly enjoying her new career path of beatifying from the inside out.

The delegates in the Miss Youth Ambassador Pageant

E

K

ishana “Kady Kish” Ferguson is a Guyanese singer/songwriter who was born on February 21, 1999. She first performed for an audience at her nursery school graduation.

She continued throughout her school life, dancing and singing at school events.

In Fourth Form, she entered the school’s Mashramani competition. The songstress placed first at the regional and national levels, impressing someone who would later influence her singing career.

Remo Bowen, owner of the Fame Band – the band that backed her performance at the school’s Mashramani competition – offered her a place in the band which could only be obtained after she had completed her secondary education. Five months after completing CSEC, Bowen contacted the singer and soon after she claimed her position as a vocalist in the band.

He saw the potential of his band members and wanted to propel their careers further, thus

T

Sonia Noel with some of the facilitators for the event

ight young ladies will take to the stage of the National Cultural Centre on Saturday evening as they vie for the title of Miss Youth Ambassador of the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

The contestants are Nicola Alleyne representing Alberttown Operation Youth Group; Kizieya Phillips of the Albouystown Faith Base Youth Club; Alia Liverpool of the Mocha Rising Star; Alia Beverney of Central Georgetown Youth Group; Asia Glasgow representing the Good Success Craig Youth Group; Collyann Primo of the East Ruimveldt Youth Group; Tamara Gordon representing Circuit Circuitville, Yorrowakbra West; and Shania Carter of Tiger Bay. The pageant is part of the Guyana Police Force’s social crime prevention strategy where pageantry is used to empower and reform young ladies in the communities.

The objective is to mould and built the delegates’ esteem and confidence to create a positive change within their communities. The pageant is slated to commence at 18:00h.

Admission to the event is absolutely free.

FRIdAY, august 31, 2018

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Hero Caribbean Premier League 2018…

Patriots, Stars match abandoned due to seepage onto pitch A

fter a series of inspections following heavy rain at Warner Park, Umpires Langton Rusere, Gregory Brathwaite and Nigel Dugid and Match Referee Denavon Hayles have decided because of seepage onto the wicket it’s not fit for play and there is no indication that there would have been an improvement before the latest allowable start time.

As a result match 21 of the Hero Caribbean Premier League between St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and St Lucia Stars on Thursday night was called off and both teams have shared the points.

The encounter was heating up to be a firecracker since

St Lucia Stars Captain Kieron Pollard (left) and Patriots Captain Chris Gayle with match officials on the pitch at Warner Park when the game was officially called off

both teams would have been pressing for maximum points to advance to the play-offs.

The result meant that the Stars now has five points and move to fifth on the table, one point and place ahead of Barbados Tridents.

However, with just one match remaining at the preliminary stage of the tournament they are all but eliminated since the Patriots have moved to seven points in fourth place and still has the option of adding more points.

Only the top four teams will advance to the play-offs.

The Tridents who get into action tonight still have four matches in hand but could also face elimination if they don’t

get back to their winning ways soon.

The next match at Warner Park is on Saturday when the Patriots host second placed Trinbago Knight Riders who are on eight points and there is hope that the weather will improve enough to allow a full game.

It is the first washed out game for the season and history has repeated itself since there was a similar result last year when the rain came and ended the game abruptly after 8.1 overs of the Stars innings.

It is the second home match for the Patriots who end their preliminary campaign after also hosting the Tallawahs and Tridents.

Curran rescues England but India on top S

am Curran salvaged England after their top order failed again on the first day of the fourth Test against India in Southampton.

Some fine India bowling coupled with woeful England batting left the hosts 86-6 after they won the toss.

But 20-year-old Curran, recalled to play only his fourth Test, made a spirited 78 to drag them to 246.

He shared stands of 81 with the returning Moeen Ali, who battled to 40, and 63 with Stuart Broad.

Curran was the last man to be dismissed, leaving India to survive four overs and close on 19-0, 227 behind.

Although the tourists are in the stronger position, England would have been in much deeper trouble had it not been for efforts of Curran, who kept them afloat on a day when the ball moved throughout.

Despite England not being at their best with the new ball, England still have a chance of fighting back into the contest if their bowlers can find similar assistance to that enjoyed by India.

England, who lead 2-1, will seal the five-match series with victory on the south coast.

Even though he is still new to international cricket, Curran is no stranger to rescuing England. His 63 in the second innings of the 31-run win in the first Test dragged them from 87-7 and helped earn him the man-of-thematch award.

Still, he was left out of the third Test at Trent Bridge in favour of Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes, the latter after

India bowlers had a clinical day in the field as England were dismissed cheaply

he been cleared of affray.

Restored to the team in Southampton because of an injury to Woakes, Curran played an innings full of the qualities that have characterised his short career: determination, sound judgement and no little flair.

With England struggling, Curran demonstrated the

confidence and solidity lacked by some of his team-mates, rebuilding with Moeen, who himself showed patience in his first Test since March.

Initially strong square of the wicket, Curran opened his shoulders after Moeen fell, delighting the crowd by fetching off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin over mid-wicket for

SCOREBOARD

England 1st Innings AN Cook c Kohli b Pandya 17 KK Jennings lbw b Bumrah 0 JE Root (c) lbw b Sharma 4 JM Bairstow c †Pant b Bumrah 6 BA Stokes lbw b Mohammed Shami 23 JC Buttler† c Kohli b Mohammed Shami 21 MM Ali c Bumrah b Ashwin 40 SM Curran b Ashwin 78 AU Rashid lbw b Sharma 6 SCJ Broad lbw b Bumrah 17 JM Anderson not out 0 Extras: (b-23, lb-9, nb-2) 34 Total: (All out; 76.4 Overs) 246 Fall of wickets: 1-1 (KK Jennings, 2.1 ov), 2-15 (JE Root, 7.1 ov), 3-28 (JM Bairstow, 12.6 ov), 4-36 (AN Cook, 17.1 ov), 5-69 (JC Buttler, 26.3 ov), 6-86 (BA Stokes, 34.4 ov), 7-167 (MM Ali,

59.3 ov), 8-177 (AU Rashid, 64.3 ov), 9-240 (SCJ Broad, 73.6 ov), 10-246 (SM Curran, 76.4 ov) Bowling: Bumrah 20-5-463 nb-1), Sharma 16-6-262, Pandya 8-0-51-1 (nb-1), Mohammed Shami 18-2-512, Ashwin 14.4-3-40-2 India 1st Innings S Dhawan not out 3 KL Rahul not out 11 Extras: (b-4, w-1) 5 Total: (For no wicket; 4 Overs) 19 Yet to bat: CA Pujara, V Kohli (c), AM Rahane, HH Pandya, RR Pant †, R Ashwin, I Sharma, Mohammed Shami, JJ Bumrah Bowling: Anderson 2-13-0, Broad 2-0-12-0 Position: India trail by 227 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the innings

six and hitting the pace bowlers down the ground.

Only the danger of running out of partners made his batting more agricultural and by the time he was bowled by Ashwin, he was England’s second-highest run-scorer of the series.

India outplayed England in the third Test at Trent Bridge and rewarded their successful team by fielding an unchanged XI for the first time in 46 matches.

For long periods, they picked up where they left off last week, carrying a consistent threat with the ball and catching well to take the chances England offered.

Their four fast bowlers once again bowled with pace, pushing the ball to a full length to take advantage of the movement on offer.

Only when Curran reversed the momentum did India wilt slightly. Pandya was expensive and Ashwin at

times ineffective.

In addition, England’s cause was helped by 23 byes as wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant struggled behind the stumps.

However, dismissing England for such a modest total gave the tourists the upper hand and a potentially tricky period for openers KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan was made easier by England’s width. (BBC Sport)

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FIDE presidential candidate slated to visit Guyana …Grand Master advocates for his opponent

T

he Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) will have a difficult decision to make when they are called on to cast their ballot for the next president of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) at the 43rd Olympiad slated for Batumi, Georgia next month.

Georgios Makropoulos who is one of the presidential candidates has already made advances for a visit to Guyana sometime in the near future. This revelation was made by the GCF President Attorney-at-Law James Bond during the visit of Moldovan Grand Master Victor Bologan.

“Georgios Makropoulos, he is also scheduled to visit us and this is whether or not he wins or loses in the FIDE congress in the elections coming up,” Bond boldly stated.

On the other hand, as a part of the Grand

President of the Guyana Chess Federation James Bond (left) and Moldovan Grand Master Victor Bologan

Master’s visit, he took the time to make a case for Makropoulos’ opponent in the presidential race Arkady Dvorkovich. Dvorkovich who has an impressive resume

in both chess and politics, stood as the deputy prime minister of Russia, heads an organizing committee for FIFA, and has family ties in the world of chess. As such

Bologan is a part of his team and presented some of the plans that Dvorkovich has for chess.

“Dvorkovich is a very well connected person he knows

prime ministers, presidents, CEOs of most global corporations and he already has commitment from them for 3M Euros budget for a development fund.”

He went on to explain, “If he distributes it to 150 countries who are in the development stage, then you will have about 20,000 Euros per year as support. And this is the minimum he’s guaranteeing if he’s elected for the next four years.”

Bologan blatantly admitted that there has been speculation about Russian ties, and took the time to clear the air on that issue as well.

“There is a big concern about Russian money, Russian influence, Russian politics, our opponents they love this rhetoric. But if you look at his team, it’s completely international. The team is strong not only from a management point but also a grand master point of view,”

the grand master said.

Touching on the civility that the Federation wants to uphold President Bond noted that he is planning on upkeeping a great relationship with both sides. “And that is the relationship I intend to establish with Grand master Bologan. That even if Mr. Dvorkovich does not win there is still that relationship between us.”

Not allowing himself to disclose who the Federation would be voting for, Bond concluded that the decision will be based on what is best for the Federation and the development of Chess in Guyana. “However we believe that the when the executive committee sits and discusses, we’re here to listen to ideas and listen to the pitch and then we will of course cast our ballot as to who we think has the best interest of Guyana’s federation at heart.”

Floodlight cricket Annual Maurice Solomon Golf returns to DCC tonight Tourney tees off on September 1

T

Ramesh Narine is expected to feature for Floodlights tonight at DCC

he momentum is picking up in the Back to Eden, Permaul’s Trading, Khans’s Trading and Trophy Stall sponsored softball tournament with four matches over the weekend beginning tonight at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground in Queenstown, Georgetown.

It will mark a return for Floodlights Masters who will take on Parika Defenders from 19:00h. Floodlights were out of the spotlight over the recent weeks but will suit up for this crucial match tonight against the visitors who is heading into the game with some form and momentum.

The Defenders defend-

ed their home ground wonderfully last Sunday when they put a sound trashing on Success Masters by 71 runs at the Saleem Community Centre ground. The hosts batted first and scored a commanding 168/7 from 20 overs.

Muneshwar Balgobin and Davanan Kanna made 27 runs apiece while Raymond “Orange Juice” Karim took 2/19 for the visitors.

In reply, Success were knocked over for 97 in the 16th over with only Mark Fung showing some fight with 35 runs. Kannan returned to pick up 3/12 while Kabesh Persaud was equally destructive with 3/16 for the home team.

The second match of

the day between Parika Defenders and Narine Masters was washed out without a ball being bowled after heavy and persistent rain made the outfield unplayable.

After tonight’s encounter, the tournament will continue on Sunday at the Malteenoes Sports Club ground, Thomas lands Georgetown with three matches. In the over-45 category, Narine Masters battle Regal Masters at 10:00h then Tropical Springs Masters take on Wellman from 14:00h.

At 13:00h there will be a lone female fixture with 4-R Lioness taking on Trophy Stall Angels.

LGC President Aleem Hussain receives the sponsorship check from a representative of Maurice Solomon & Company; in the presence of Solomon (sitting) and other staff members

A

ction at the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) greens continues this Saturday, September 1 when the annual Maurice Solomon and Company 20th Anniversary Golf Tournament tees off at 12:30h.

Tons of prizes will be at stake when some of Guyana’s best golfers assemble in support of Solomon, an avid golfer and perhaps the LGC’s longest active member. His company has provided auditing services for the club for many years and Solomon himself has been an active member, winning several times in his category in 2018.

The tournament will

be played in three categories and special prizes will be awarded for longest drive, nearest to the pin, Best Gross and Best Net overall and is open to players of all handicaps. A special invitation is extended to clients and friends of the Company, members of the ex-pat community and visitors in Guyana especially those who have never visited the magnificent grounds at the Lusignan Golf Club.

The LGC has been transformed in 2018 having hosted more than 25 tournaments so far and the next few months will see an increase in activity at the club as almost every major company in Guyana is set to

host a golf tournament leading up to the 2018 Guyana Open set for November 3 to 4.

A massive marketing campaign will be launched next week and players from more than 12 countries have registered to participate in an effort to wrest the Men’s and Women’s title from Guyanese reigning champs.

Meanwhile, fans will be able to obtain free tickets that will allow them an opportunity to win one of more than $500,000 in prizes during the Guyana Open tournament by participating in putting contests at the Giftland Mall, Pegasus, Marriott, Princess and Grand Coastal hotels.

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New talent spotted as GCA Cricket Clinic concludes – Johnson plans to make it an annual feature

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Coaches and participants pose for a photo after the one-day cricket clinic at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground, Bourda. Leon Johnson is standing at the centre

By Timothy Jaikarran

W

est Indies left handed middle order batsman Leon Johnson on Thursday August 30, 2018 concluded a successful one-day cricket clinic held in collaboration with the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA).

The well attended clinic took place at the former international venue, Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Bourda with participation from clubs within the GCA. The clinic targeted young cricketers between the ages of 15 and 18 and Johnson who himself is a GCC member said it was his way of giving back. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while, a form of giving back to clubs in the association that I’ve grown up playing

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in. When I was younger, I was given the same opportunities to learn and develop, so it’s only right that I give young talented players those same opportunities,” the Guyana Jaguars captain told Guyana Times Sport at the conclusion of the clinic.

The 31-year old Johnson further stated, “Out of the session we saw some very talented players from as far as the East Coast [of Demerara] and we earmarked them so we can invite them to come down to Georgetown and play for one of the clubs here.”

The exercise was blessed with brilliant weather that allowed the coaches adequate time to focus on the various techniques in both batting and bowling with the 32 participants.

Also speaking with

Guyana Times Sport was budding fast bowler from the Muslim Youth Organization (MYO), Byron Bowen who spoke of his experience. “I learnt various bowling techniques such as run up and wrist position. I love the way the coaches placed emphasis on our catching techniques as well.” Young Bowen was in high praises for the clinic and the work done by all of the coaches including President of the Georgetown cricket Association, Roger Harper.

The clinic attracted players from 11 clubs that fall under the GCA. The beneficiaries of the first clinic are; Trevon Jones, Jeffery Blair, Jeremiah Benjamin, Raymond Bandhu, Jamual Michael, Akeem Clark, Noel Haynes, Devon Allen, Daveanand Khemraj, Andrew Samaroo, Ajay

Gainda, Shafeek Khan, Dwayne Dick, Chandrapaul Ramraj, Navindra Persaud, Zechariah Mootoo, Joshua Gardner, Niron Bissu, Bryon Bowen, Ryan Ronaldo, Shane Niles, Amernaut Wickham,Chad Shiverattan,Wayne Bollers, Tuen Hicks, Kester McAllister, Kareem Whitney, Daniel Mootoo, Jason Holder, Garrick Persaud and Tameshar Permaul.

Overwhelmed by the response, Johnson said he is looking to keep the clinic going on an annual basis where players from across the country may be exposed to the sessions as well.

Former West Indies players Roger Harper, Reon King and Clyde Butts as well as Mark Harper, Darien Best and Peter Persaud were the coaches.

Guinness Cage Street Ball Championship

Semi-final and finale shifted

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sports

he semifinals and final of the highly competitive Guinness Cage Street ball has been rescheduled to Friday September 7 at the Haslington Market Tarmac, East Coast Demerara.

The news of the adjustment was revealed by Director of the tournament and Coordinator of Three Peat Promotions, Rawle Welsh.

“It is unfortunate that the matches had to be shifted from its initial date.

We sincerely apologise to the fans that have supported us throughout the duration for the inconvenience.

However, we now have a better opportunity to promote the matches and we are confident that the fans will come out and support the finale,” Welsh stated.

The conclusion of the tournament was initially scheduled for tonight with semifinal action between Broad Street and Uprising and Sparta Boss and Leopold Street with the winners advancing to the grand finale but just like the fans, the players will have to wait a little longer to get on the court.

Welch also added that, “We are expecting a mammoth turnout for two ex-

Teams will have to wait a little longer before renewing their rivalry

citing matches. Uprising, the lone remaining entrant from the East Coast is expected to defend home turf against the experienced Broad Street unit in a match that will surely captivate the fans. On the other hand, the Sparta Boss and Leopold Street encounter is another chapter in their long standing rivalry, with the match a virtual final. Anyone on the night could prevail and feature in

the championship match.”

The tournament’s intention is to forge integration among the participating communities in an effort to create a better understanding among its people.

Among the entities in support of the cause are: Banks DIH under its Guinness and Power Wine brands, Clarks footwear giants Chetsons, E- Networks Inc., KSM Investments, Yhip’s Bakery, Brass

Aluminum & Cast Iron Foundry [BACIF], Ray’s Auto Sales, Insurance Brokers Guyana Limited [IGBL], Y.K. Investments, Trophy Stall, Express Shipping, Woodpecker Products, National Sports Commission, ‘C’ Division of the Guyana Police Force, Jai Signs & Auto Designs, Gaming Authority, Julius Variety Store and C & C Prestigious Styles.

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

FRIdAY, august 31, 2018

Hero Caribbean Premier League 2018…

Amazon Warriors

hunting struggling Tridents in return clash while their opponents who are tightly placed at third, are seeking an easy path into the playoffs

By Clifton Ross

M

atch 22 of Summer’s Biggest Party will see a recharged Guyana Amazon Warriors looking to reclaim their spot as table-leaders; when they seek revenge against the Barbados Tridents; a side which handed them their first lost in this year’s tournament.

One of the stars of the tournament so far, Sohail Tanveer reminded the masses of his ability to score runs at a canter when his unbeaten 37 off 20 guided the Warriors to a tense 4-wicket win over the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, a few nights ago.

The Tridents are currently hovering in second to last position but will feel some sense of comfort after they were the team to break the Warriors unbeaten streak during the opening stages at Providence in Guyana. Shai Hope, who has remained a key figure with the bat smashed 88 while left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer, who following his 5-fer against the Amazon Warriors has been under pressure; were the match-winners.

A shift to home conditions did little to boost the Tridents luck as they continued to endure woes

at the expense of their remaining opponents.

With original skipper Shoaib Malik back home preparing for the Asia Cup, all-rounder and new captain Rayad Emrit has to absorb the pressure tenfold; especially with his bowling going downhill for the first time in the last match.

The selection process for the second encounter will be interesting with opener Chadwick Walton under immense pressure having not made a significant score since the tournament began. Warriors star batsman Shimron Hetmyer remains a big player in the situation, being the leading scorer for his team and the best batsman.

New Zealand opener Luke Ronchi seems to be peeking as he opened up with some stylish strokes in the previous encounter and could have a big score coming soon while South African power-hitter Cameron Delport seems to be finding his feet, after recently joining the squad.

The Warriors bowling will revolve around the South African star Imran Tahir who is fresh off a 4-wicket haul while Aussie Chris Green continues to play his utility role well. However, all-rounder Keemo Paul who has been a match-winner for the Warriors is expected to miss out due to a minor thigh injury while his replacement in the starting XI may see a recall for Sherfane Rutherford or a debut for Romario Shepherd.

Jason Holder’s men on the other

hand will desperately be seeking a complete reversal of luck after starting their campaign on a good note. Since arriving at home at the Kensington Oval, the Tridents have lost all three of their matches which could

leave them vulnerable due to their dip in form.

Overall they have just two wins and four losses but could spring a surprise on the Warriors should Hope and Martin Guptill, who seems to have found his mojo again with 73 in his last game; click at the top of the innings.

Steven Smith will have to step up in both departments while Nicholas Pooran’s fire-power will be needed after he played a blinder against the Warriors early on and the big man Hashim Amla could turn his fortunes around.

In the bowling department, the Tridents will fancy their chances with the Pakistani left-arm pace duo of Mohammed Irfan and Wahab Riaz, skipper Holder and Chemar Holder in good form along with frontline off-spinner Ashley Nurse.

The night encounter in Bridgetown will be crucial for both sides, the Warriors will not want to slip up as they lost to the last place St Lucia Stars a few games ago when they were sitting in the number one position. The Tridents meanwhile will not want to suffer another loss and possibly slip at the bottom of the table. Match 22 is expected to bowl off at 20:00h.

Moore praises young champions after record 5th title win

By Clifton Ross

G

uyana Under-19 Head Coach Julian Moore praised his young side for another Regional milestone after the 5-time Regional 50-Over champions returned home of Thursday, following their dominance in this year’s Cricket West Indies (CWI) Championships.

Moore and his team led by skipper Bhaskar Yadram defeated the hosts Windward Island in their final match on Wednesday at Arnos vale in St Vincent and the Grenadines, to win the coveted limited overs title for the fifth straight year.

The Guyanese finished with

27.8 points, 5.5 points ahead of Trinidad & Tobago and Moore told Guyana Times Sport following their arrival at the Eugene Correira Airport on Thursday, that he was proud of his boys despite not retaining the 3-Day title.

“Obviously we went with a motive to win both tournaments it didn’t go our way in the 3-Day. We did some soul searching and the guys were pumped up to go and win the one day tournament to redeem themselves and we did just that,” the Coach said.

The stars of the match were Kevelon Anderson who 4-26 with pacers Qumar Torrington 3-26 and Joshua

Julian Moore

2-23 helping to mow down Windwards for 105 in 33.5 overs. Kevin Sinclair, the in-

form Guyanese stroke maker then hit 39 and shared a third-wicket stand of 63 for the third wicket with Sachin Singh who made 27 not out to help Guyana lift another Regional title.

Speaking on the perfromances of the players, Moore was overly excited at the prospects of a few of his players making the future West Indies U19 team after they managed to mature to a championship level during the tournament.

“I think a lot of the guys did well, we can point to everyone and say they have a bright future, once we have the right systems put in place. Bhaskar has a

long way to go and Joshua Persaud and Ashmead Nedd have played U19 for West Indies before so it’s just about those players transitioning to the senior levels”.

Moore explained.

The former youth batsman was further pleased on the way his players went about their business, further pointing out that he was confident from the inception with regards to Guyana continuing their dominance at the Regional senior and junior levels. “We got Qumar Torrington, Joshua Jones who took the most wickets for us in the one day tournament. Traditionally Guyana has always been a good

bowling side but this year our pacers dominated along with Yadram and Anderson, the especially pacers led from the front so I think we have a lot of talent but we have to nurture it and push it forward.”

Concluding his interview, the Berbician said he now plans to continue working with his players while he will also be on a mission to further develop his prowess as a national cricket coach.

“It’s always important to win for your country and I’m proud of myself and the guys especially the contributions of the GCB. So I’m satisfied with the run I had so far”, he ended.

Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation 2018

GBA medal haul reaches 12

– Priyanna Ramdhani takes gold again

T

he Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) will be very content on their trip home, as they will have 12 medals to show for the hard work they have put in over the past three weeks.

The Caribbean Regional Badminton Confederation (CAREBACO) championships which served off on the August 17 with the Under 19 category, saw some of Guyana’s top players showcasing extraordinary talent and skill. What made the trip even more gratifying is that fact that it is the first year of participation for many of the players.

After Priyanna Ramdhani’s haul in the Under 19 competition, the 16 year old went on to dominate the Senior category and made her last and most successful stop in the Under 17 tournament this week.

The podium was indeed Ramdhani’s second home

Medals: Priyanna Ramdhani8 medals (5 gold, 2silver and 1-bronze) Narayan Ramdhani2 bronze Jonathan Mangra- 1 bronze Mishka Beharry- 1 bronze

this week as she first copped gold in the Girls doubles division based on points.

In the Under 17 girl’s singles final, Ramdhani met with and defeated Suriname’s Chaista Soemodipoero in straight sets 21-6, 21-7 to cop her second gold in the competition.

The third time was a charm for the teenager as she entered the girl’s mixed doubles competition with her Trinidadian partner Vance Juteram.

The duo completed two straight set of 2115, 21-7 against Jair Naipal & Erisa Bleau of Suriname to take the final gold medal.

After having medaled in the Under 17, Under 19 and Senior championships Priyanna Ramdhani’s performance can be considered as one of the best in the entire CAREBACO competition for 2018.

The GBA has expressed extreme happiness with the performance of their players given that it is first time they

are playing and medaled in the Seniors International and also it is also the first time they won the Under-19 International.

Priyanna Ramdhani and Mishka Beharry display their medals in the Under 17 and Under 11 championships

Heritage Games to open on September 21 at Everest

Archery at the Heritage Games is growing and is now an integral part of the games

I

ndigenous Heritage month 2018 was officially launched under the theme “Proud of our Indigenous identity – celebrating in unity,” and one of the key items on the calendar of events is the highly anticipated Indigenous Heritage games.

The month long activities in recognition of the indigenous people of Guyana will reach its peak when the annual games commence on September 21 at the Everest Cricket Cricket ground on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown.

The event has now grown to three days and will end on

Sunday September 23 with the traditional male football final under floodlights.

Over the three days, more than 500 athletes from the various regions of Guyana will converge in the nation’s capital, Georgetown to compete in archery, football, volleyball and cricket for bragging rights, trophies and cash prizes.

In 2017, Port Kaituma of Region One took the male football title while Parima of Region Seven ran away with the top prize in the female football championships. On the cricket pitch, Mahdia of Region Eight were declared champions

23 Savory spurs Rising Stars to Invitational T20 semis D guyanatimesgy.com

FRIdAY, august 31, 2018

and Pakuri of Region Four won the title in the female category.

On the volleyball court, Moruca of Region One made a clean sweep of both categories after some impressive performances.

In addition to the highly competitive events, athletes and spectators will have the opportunity of some fun with the novelty games throughout the three days.

Some of the side attraction events are; fire wood bursting, fire lighting, lime and spoon, ‘gam,’ hot tuma pot eating, Piwari drinking, turtle tug-o-war and wrestling.

efending champions Imam Bacchus Sports Club and Rising Stars are through to the semi finals of the South Essequibo Cricket Committee Invitational T20 tournament following quarterfinal victories on Sunday last.

Imam Bacchus Sports Club defeated Walton Hall by 28 runs in their encounter at the Imam Bacchus ground. Imam Bacchus Sports Club took first strike after winning the toss and scored 110-9 after the game was reduced to 16 overs.

Yougeshwar Lall struck three fours and two sixes in scoring 33 while Parmesh Parsotam made 25 with two fours and one six. Uvindra Balgobin captured 4-15 and G. Singh 3-20.

In reply, Walton Hall were restricted to for 82-8 with Rana Persaud scoring 18; Vishwanauth Lall and Balgobin 14 each. Khulraj Persaud snared 3-15.

Rising Stars beat Jaguars Sports Club by 86 runs in their matchup at the said venue. Rising Stars batted first and posted 1655 off their allocation of 17 overs. Kemol Savory stroked three fours and a simil a r number of sixes in scoring 51 while Ricardo Peters made 30 (3x4) and Quintin Sampson 23. Javed Azeez picked up 2-10.

Jaguars replied with 79-9. Norman Fredericks scored 18; R. Ramdass had 3-14, B. Ramjass 2-10 and Sampson 2-15.

The semi finals will be played on Saturday at Imam Bacchus ground; the host will play New Opportunity Sports Club at 10:30h and Rising Stars will take on Reliance Hustlers at 14:00h.

FRIdAY, august 31, 2018

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The Guyana Under-19 cricket team, along with Director of Sport Christopher Jones (right) and GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie (left) pose with the Golden Arrowhead following their return home after winning the CWI regional 50-overs title for a fifth straight year

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