Guyana Times - Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Gandhi’s 149th birth anniversary Guyana to release P13 commemorative stamps in celebration

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

Issue No. 37045

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

PRICE

Rejected Guyana rice

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

GRDB dropped the ball – former …urges authorities to act Minister swiftly to keep market secure Page 3

Another Essequibo man miner killed to serve life after pit imprisonment collapses for child rape Closure of Skeldon Sugar Estate takes toll on Corriverton businesses Page 7

Page 2

Demerara P2 October Assizes opens …set to draw highprofile cases

Juvenile courts to be established throughout Guyana P12 Relatives shocked P11 at death of miner found in Puruni

Page 10

Prosecutors, investigators being P12 trained to fight money laundering As the closure of Skeldon Sugar Estate takes effect on the business community in Berbice, several stalls within the Corriverton Market were closed as the vendors have chosen not to open for business rather than operate at a loss

2 more Guyanese busted with cocaine at JFK Page 9

Corentyne roadway Page 9 taken over by farmers “drying” of response from Police paddy ...lack upsets commuters

Venezuelan remanded P8 for stabbing Region 1 man

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Demerara October Assizes opens …set to draw high-profile cases

Complainant is female while Pearson’s accuser is male.

Another pending case relates to that of La Parfaite Harmonie pastor Joseph

Essequibo man to serve life imprisonment for child rape

known as “Mango Man”, who met his demise in August 2007.

It was reported that four gunmen terrorised his Craig

Jailed: David Alexander (centre)

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Acting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, in the process of inspecting the guard of honour at the South Road entrance of the High Court in Georgetown (Adam Baksh photo)

T

he judicial backlog is slated to see a reduction as the October Criminal Assizes opened at the Demerara High Court on Tuesday with traditional horsemen and marching policemen. It is expected that several high-profile cases currently before the court could come up for hearing.

Acting Chief Justice Roxane George, the High Court’s most senior judge, was on hand to take the salute and to inspect the guard of honour at the final opening of the Demerara Criminal Assizes for 2018.

Justice Sandil Kissoon is sitting once again in the Demerara High Court, while Justices Jo-Ann Barlow and James Bovell-Drakes have been also placed at the October session.

Several high-profile matters are pending, including the case of former Bishops’ High School teacher Coen Jackson and popular transgender personality Otis “Otisha” Pearson who were separately committed to stand trial for separate charges of sexual activity with a child under 16. In the case of Jackson, the Virtual

Persaud, who was accused of allegedly raping one of his female church members.

High-profile death row inmate for the 2008 Bartica massacre, Mark Royden Williams, called Smallie, also has to be tried for his alleged involvement in the murder of Kumar Singh,

Milne, Cove and John, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home and shot at the man and nine other family members. This case was scheduled to be heard at previous sessions, but was frequently delayed owing to pre-trial matters.

man who claimed that he was heavily intoxicated when he raped a child under 16 in 2015 was on Tuesday sentenced to life imprisonment by High Court Justice Jo-Ann Barlow, who termed his crime “the worst of the worst”.

The offender, David Alexander was 31 years old at the time he committed the offence. The girl, who was eight at the time, was left in his care on February 24, 2015 in the county of Essequibo.

Alexander, who entered a guilty plea upon presentation of the indictment by Prosecutor Abigail Gibbs, said he was very sorry for his actions and noted that he has been “suffering” on remand for the last three years.

Justice Barlow, however, sentenced him to life, saying that she could see no mitigating factors as Alexander’s crime was among the worst the court has seen.

The Judge also ordered that he be exposed to counselling sessions and sessions

to assist with his alcoholism.

Justice Barlow said too that Alexander’s excessive alcohol use was “no excuse” for committing such acts, as one should be able to control his or her faculties when imbibing. She further noted that the evidence in this particular case was overwhelming.

Alexander, through his attorney, Clyde Forde, said that he did not know what he was doing as he was drinking for most of the day in question.

The court, however, considered that the girl needed surgery after the offender raped her. In the girl’s impact statement, read by counsellor Ira Ali, she said she felt hurt, sad and afraid of Alexander as she believed he was going to return and kill her.

“I felt frightened he would come back,” the now pre-teen girl said in her statement.

State Counsels Tiffini Lyken and Seeta Bishundial also appeared for the prosecution.

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

Wednesday, October 3 – 12:30h-14:00h and Thursday, October 4 – 13:30h-15:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, October 3 – 11:20h-12:50h and Thursday, October 4 – 12:45h-14:15h.

Rejected Guyana rice

GRDB dropped the ball – former Minister …urges authorities to act swiftly to keep market secure 50,000 tons annually in the initial period and for this to be increased in subsequent years,” Ramsammy explained.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

Shocked

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected throughout the day, with clear skies expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 21 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 12:36h reaching a maximum height of 2.24 metres.

Low Tide: 05:54h and 18:31h reaching minimum heights of 0.90 metre and 1.00 metres respectively.

SATURDAY, september 29, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS E

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TuesDAY, OCTOber 2, 2018 DAILY MILLIONS

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

Former Agriculture Minister Leslie Ramsammy

T

he Panama rice market was established under the previous Administration through Government to Government negotiations but for the years of business between the two countries, only recently was a large shipment of rice rejected.

In an interview with Guyana Times, former Agriculture Minister Leslie Ramsammy made it clear that someone in authority – more so the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) – dropped the ball by allowing the wrong rice to be shipped to Panama.

He expressed fears that by so doing, the market has now been put in jeopardy and Government is not acting proactively enough to fix it.

Ramsammy recalled that he visited Panama as the then Agriculture Minister in 2014, where he entered discussions on Guyana exporting rice to the country. He noted that at the time, Panama’s rice came largely from the United States and the country importing directly from Guyana would have positive effects on the price to consumers.

“The new Panamanian President had not yet taken over. The transition was going on for the swearing in of the new President. A mutual friend introduced me to the man who was leading the transition. We had a discussion about trade with Panama and general collaboration in agriculture.”

“In particular, we talked about rice. At the time, almost all of the rice Panama was importing came from the USA. We discussed the possible import of rice from Guyana.

Since Panama was part of the Central America free trade arrangement with the USA, we recognised that there would be some difficulties overcoming the limitations that the free trade arrangement posed.

“The President of Panama met with me personally and invited his Minister of Agriculture to attend the meeting. After meeting for about an hour, the Panamanian President instructed the Minister of Agriculture to immediately take me to meet with other officials and to ensure that arrangements are completed to import rice from Guyana.”

“He also insisted that we meet with him again that afternoon to report on progress. We completed all arrangements for Panama to initially import packaged rice amounting to

Ramsammy also noted that the Private Sector was invited to visit Panama in order to negotiate deals for themselves.

Some took that option. The arrangement, according to Ramsammy, included pre-shipping testing for quality. Fast forward to today and the former Minister expressed shock at what is happening now. He noted that if he was the current Agriculture Minister, he would “be on the next flight to Panama to provide assurances.”

“I am shocked that more than 20 containers of rice

Current Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

Venezuelan market in 2015, the Panama Market was not a perfect replacement but was a good buffer. We can expand

Rice packed and ready for shipment

shipped to Panama was rejected. Someone dropped the ball and risked a critical market for our rice. With the loss of the

this market and provide a relatively good price. In my time, I ensured that there was someone dedicated to ensuring all

the prerequisites were met. I wanted to make sure that nothing represented a risk.”

“It is a market that should be rigidly monitored to make certain that Panama is happy.

I sent an officer to Panama every time a shipment was made.

He worked with Panamanian officials to ensure things were seamless. We invited and hosted Panamanian officials in Guyana before any shipment was made. All of these arrangements have been discontinued.

The Panama market is of critical importance and our nonchalant approach is risking this market. For a (Government) so obsessed with frivolous [Commissions of Inquiry] CoI’s, this requires a CoI.” It is understood that another shipment is expected to leave these shores soon for that country. This was related to Guyana Times by the President of the Guyana Rice Exports and Millers Association (GREMA), Rajindra Persaud following a meeting with rice millers held at the John Fernandes head office on Water Street, Georgetown on Monday.

According to Persaud, in about another two weeks, Guyana will be required to resend some 20 containers of rice to the foreign country. The initial shipment of rice was rejected on arrival in Panama since it did not meet the stipulated specification as was outlined by that country.

Since the story exploded on the front pages, GRDB General Manager Nizam Hassan has maintained that the Panama market is not under threat and steps to strengthen systems are being taken. However, stakeholders have called for a comprehensive investigation and the resignation of the GRDB board and current Agriculture Minister Noel Holder over the debacle.

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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

Poverty line T

his month Guyana will be joining the rest of the United Nations member countries in commemorating International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Through Resolution 47/196, adopted on December 22, 1992, the General Assembly declared October 17 as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The UN invited all States to devote the Day to presenting and promoting, as appropriate in the national context, concrete activities with regard to the eradication of poverty and destitution.

The resolution further invites inter-governmental and NonGovernmental Organisations to assist States, at their request, in organising national activities for the observance of this important day. The resolution requests the Secretary General to pursue, within existing resources, the necessary measures to ensure the success of the Day's observance by the UN. People of all backgrounds, beliefs, and social origins gathered every year since 1992 on October 17 at various places to renew their commitment to eradicating poverty and to show their solidarity with the poor. October 17 presents an opportunity for the world to acknowledge the efforts made

by Member States as well as the poor in their struggle to overcome poverty. It also allows Member States, as well as the poor, a chance to make their concerns heard. And it allows the world a day to recognise that poor people are the first ones to combat poverty in their own ways.

According to the UN, some one billion people live in extreme poverty and more than 800 million endure hunger and malnutrition. The UN has noted that poverty was not simply measured by inadequate income. It is manifested in restricted access to health, education, sanitation and other essential services and, too often, by the denial or abuse of other fundamental human rights. The poor are marginalised in government participation.

As pointed out by former Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, poverty is both a cause and consequence of marginalisation and social exclusion. To fulfil the promise of the 2030 UN Agenda not to leave anyone behind, Member States must address the humiliation and exclusion of people living in poverty in governance. Governments need to be reminded that humiliation and exclusion are powerful drivers of social unrest.

It is the duty of all Governments and societies to address systemic socio-economic inequalities and to facilitate the governmental engagement of all people living in extreme poverty. Governments must provide them a role so they can help themselves, their families and their communities to build a more equitable and meaningful life as well as a sustainable and prosperous future for all.

In Guyana, too many citizens are still considered living below the poverty line, and many more are still waiting to access the opportunities that would allow them to lift themselves out of poverty. Even though President David Granger has said before that Guyana has enough resources to banish poverty forever, the nation is still waiting to see what concrete plans and programmes are being put in place by the Administration to eradicate poverty and to create “the good life” for all that was promised.

The Government must come up with plans to improve education and expand Guyana’s economy to create job opportunities. This is a basic condition to lift people out of poverty as well as, in the process, promote socio-economic equality.

Guyana is not a poor country in terms of natural resources.

Guyana’s hinterland possesses bountiful natural resources. But despite this endowment, the country remains underdeveloped and mired in poverty. It is plagued by poor infrastructure and environmental hazards.

It is also noted that there is a wide disparity in development and in household income between the hinterland and the coastland regions and between urban and rural areas; urban areas are more developed and have much higher household incomes. Efforts must be made to reduce this gap if the nation is to become a more equal nation in terms of urban versus rural areas and/or hinterland versus coastal regions.

Building a sustainable future requires Governments as well as people to intensify efforts towards eradicating extreme poverty and ensuring that everyone can fully exercise their human rights. The full participation of the poor in decision making that impacts on their lives and communities must be at the centre of Government policies and strategies to build a sustainable future.

As the world celebrates the birth anniversary of one of the greatest mass leaders of the world, Mahatma Gandhi who is admired globally even today, almost seven decades after his death, Guyanese craftsman Phillip Joseph grasps this opportunity to showcase to the world some of his original pieces that he was inspired to sculpt using just a woodblock and a chisel. The craftsman for more than 30 years spoke of how he was inspired to carve the sculptures which took from two days to two years to be made (Dexter Ceres photo)

Investment urgently needed in Guyana Police Force Dear Editor, On my recent visit to the Police Headquarters in Brickdam, where I was pursuing the enforcement of a warrant, I was very surprised to see the lack of infrastructural investment in the Police’s facilities.

Many of the buildings needed to be renovated and the facilities provided to the hard-working officers were not very encouraging. It is somewhat understandable why the Police Force is not currently at world class levels of performance. As the saying goes “our surroundings become us”.

We have seen many infrastructural investments occurring around the country, but the urgently needed investment in law and order

in lagging. This is essential for the consistent attraction of foreign direct investment and the sustainability of gains in standard of living improvements. It is important that we remember that we will be also competing with safer countries for tourists, and even though the tourists may be nature lovers they usually expect a dependable and secure environment that has robust law and order infrastructure.

The Chinese Government has been very generous to the nation by providing many of the urgently needed equipment for the Police, but it is now up to our Government to improve the working conditions of the hard-work-

ing officers across the nation. One of the best places to start is Brickdam. This will help set the tone for the level of excellence expected within the Force and could be followed by investments across each division’s headquarters. Many of the facilities need to be renovated and this may be accomplished by simply replacing broken windows, rotting wood and fixing of internal driving surfaces.

Some of the stations’ entrances and gates need to be fixed and the flag poles at various locations appear to be in need of supplies.

While visiting Orealla, I decided to see a friend who had just been stationed there and was quite astonished at the entrance to the

Police station. When rain fell, it would flood and the building was rotting in a number of spots. This did not bode well in providing a positive impression that the country was strong against any potential threat from Suriname, whose patrols would visibly pass by the Police station in speed boats quite often.

It is my hope that as the reduction of the crime rate continues to be systematically attacked by the Police Force, they will be able to benefit from additional professional motivation by increased investment in their facilities as infrastructural plans are implemented.

Best regards, Jamil Changlee

Tip of the iceberg of improprieties that exist at City Hall Dear Editor, The recent hubbub that has surfaced about the contentious leasing of a Sussex Street Wharf by the Town Clerk to a shipping company whilst the municipality is not the bona fide owner of that property speaks to the exploitation, duplicity and bullyism that occurs on a daily basis at City Hall and is the mere tip of the Iceberg of many such improprieties that exist within that institution.

Remember the parking meter fiasco when the Town Clerk handed over streets in the City, that did not belong to the municipality but rather to the Ministry of Public Infrastructure to the parking meter company, had parking meter spaces

marked out, meters planted and were illegally collecting fees from motorists until that scandalous initiative was halted? Remember they had parking spaces marked out less than 15 feet from the corner and in other places where the traffic laws did not permit.

But this waterfront area is not the only one that should be investigated, checks should be made on the area aback of the City Constabulary Training School (formerly the House Service Department) on Water Street, that the City Council did not officially approve being farmed out to anyone and the wharf that upper Robb Street runs into.

The reserve lands that run alongside the Lamaha

Canal behind the residences located on Jacaranda and Lama Avenues in Bel Air Park which belong to the Guyana Water Inc and not the municipality is another classic example of illegal squatting facilitated by the Council who did not only give them permission to carry back their rear fences all the way to the canal taking in acres of land and making it part of their private estates, but the Council allowed them to put up buildings, put down swimming pools, tennis courts and other structures illegally.

One can only hope that with these revelations of land grabbing, of illegal seizure and distribution and misrepresentation of true ownership and control

would cause an investigation to be launched into the tract of land that runs contiguous to Aubrey Barker Road and some places is to the south of Nelson Mandela Road which is a designated open space which has been farmed out by the Council unlawfully in many instances to friends and relatives of office holders of the Council.

Attention should also be paid to the plot of reserve land located on the Southeastern side of Francois and Sheriff Streets for which the owner of a party services company is being courted by a prominent member of Council for the illegitimate transfer of same.

Sincerely, Shanta Singh

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Brazilian military training Guyanese counterparts in drilling methodology

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team of 48 military personnel from neighbouring Brazil was received and officially welcomed by Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Monday in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo). The team will be drilling eight wells in eight South Rupununi communities, in a joint project with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and other local stakeholders, to provide water security to the villages during the dry season.

The military team will also host three days of training for members of the Guyana Defence Force, Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and hydro-meteorological services, to familiarise them to the methodology of drilling in preparation for them to work side by side with the

Director General (ag) of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig in discussion with members of the Brazilian Army

Brazilian military team.

“The whole aim of this operation is to have knowledge transfer.

So, they will do theory followed by supervised practical; then they will be required to drill two wells by themselves. Until all the participants would have completed 384 hours of training then they will be given a certificate. So, it’s a very rigorous training and a serious operation,” Director General (ag) of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig told the Department of Public Information (DPI).

The Brazilian Army Engineering and Construction Battalion (BEC) arrived in Guyana on Monday. The team is putting the final arrangements in place to commence drilling on October 4.

The project is a collaboration among 15 agencies and aims to bring relief to the named hinterland communities while the Brazilian engineers transfer knowledge to their Guyanese counterparts.

Among the beneficiaries are personnel from the Guyana Police Force, Customs and Immigration, and the Ministries of Public Health and Public Infrastructure.

The wells will be drilled at Aishalton, Chukrikednau, Karaudarnau, Achiwuib, Awaruwaunau, Maruranau, Shea and Baisahidrum and will have a depth of 250 metres (800 feet).

They will be handed over to the Government of Guyana on November 28.

Challenges in Public Service labour, industrial relations Dear Editor, In the public service and the expanded State sector, and statutory bodies, industrial relations and collective bargaining are more regulated and restricted by legislation or practice than in the Private Sector. With the introduction of structural adjustment type measures in some countries, including the reduction of public expenditure in the Public Sector, industrial relations drifted from the traditional system. Deviations and new practices by agencies of the State challenge the free collective bargaining model and autonomy of the negotiating parties through greater State direction, intervention, regulation, legislation and remuneration policies.

These developments are understood against the emergence of the dominant, public service and growing State enterprises through nationalisation, or through the creation of national entities/agencies. In these situations, governments, as employers of major sections of the work force, exercise significant influences in industrial relations under the notion of promoting the na-

tional interest in the wider community.

In some countries, much to the disquiet of trade unions and workers, Government as a employer, promoted changes in the system without legislation within the context of an apparent voluntary framework in the collective bargaining process. In other cases, changes were introduced by legislation. In the State sector, greater control and regulation are imposed on collective bargaining, and these affect wage fixing and remuneration settlements in particular. Governments are implementing unilateral wage policies through rigid wages guidelines. As a consequence, both the trade unions and the managers of the State enterprises lost their autonomy in collective bargaining.

On labour standards, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Declaration of Labour and Industrial Relations Principles, based on international labour standards and other international instruments, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, are the relevant labour standards.

The Caricom Declaration on Labour and IR is an important policy guide on labour matters and can contribute to the conduct of industrial relations both in the Public and Private Sectors. This Declaration is also consistent with Caricom’s Charter of Civil Society, expanded on labour standards, and is intended to be used as the basis for the development of national labour policies, and to inform the enactment of modern labour legislation in member States.

For labour relations in the public service, the right to bargain collectively as defined in ILO Conventions Nos. 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining, and 151 on Labour Relations in the Public Service, ratified

by Caricom Countries and Guyana are International Treaties, raise several questions in connection with the approach by public authorities. For example, an administrative direction whereby the conclusion of an agreement is subject to prior approval of a Government authority, or modifying conditions agreed and written in collective labour agreements, or preventing negotiations of such conditions as may be considered desirable, constitute infringements of the right to bargain collectively. Restrictive measures that render it extremely difficult for wages to be settled freely through collective bargaining in the Public Sector can be justified on the grounds of exceptional circumstances of a serious

economic nature. However, this could be justified only for a limited period and kept to a minimum.

Convention No 151 with its Recommendation No 159 provides for: protection of public employees’ right to organise; non-interference by public authorities; negotiation or participation in determining terms and conditions of employment; and machinery for settling disputes concerning terms and conditions of employment.

This Convention 151 provides for public servants to have the same rights of representation and negotiations in Industrial Relations as outlined in Convention 87 and Convention 98 in keeping with good labour relations between public authorities and public service unions/associations.

Settlement of disputes in the public service: The settlement of disputes relating to the determination of terms and conditions of employment shall be sought through negotiations between the parties or through independent and impartial machinery such as conciliation/mediation, and arbitration (Convention No 151 – Article 8). In keeping with the provisions of this Guyana ratified Convention, the persons or bodies competent to negotiate on behalf of the public authority concerned and the procedure for giving effect to the agreed terms and conditions of employment should be given a full mandate to finality.

Yours faithfully, Samuel J Goolsarran

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Foundation

By Denise Mann

happy to see them."

rom the Brady Bunch and Partridge Family to the Cleavers, Cunninghams, and the Huxtables, images of happy families have rarely been in short supply. We all have ideas about what they should look like.

Happy family secret number 2: Swap stories "When your kids come home, ask them what happened in school and have a story for them," he says. "If you come home dejected and not really interested and then five minutes later the TV is on, why would they be happy to see you?"

The bottom line, he says, is that when you come home, your kids have to come first.

"You must drop everything you are doing and always come home with something to share with your kids, whether a story or even the smallest vignette," he says. "This way you give your kids something to look forward to. The great bane of family life is boredom and that is what leads to dysfunction, affairs, and kids wanting to be with their friends over family."

F

Does yours fit the portrait of a happy family? If not, don't despair. Now WebMD is letting you in on a few of the secrets to a happy family. You, too, can experience some of the domestic bliss that seemed previously reserved just for TV families.

Happy family secret number 1: Enjoy each other The essence of a happy family is that they truly uplift each other and that all comes down to how they treat each other, says Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, a New York-based family and relationship counsellor and host of The Learning Channel's Shalom in the Home. "There is a joy that characterizes their interaction," says Boteach, father of eight children and author of several books, including the forthcoming Shalom in the Home. "Parents come home and the kids are happy to see them and when kids come home, the parents are

Happy family secret number 3: Put the marriage first "Set a real example of love," Boteach says. "The relationship and marriage must come first." Think Carol and Mike Brady of the Brady Bunch and Cliff and Clair Huxtable of the Cosby Show.

There are many families where kids always come first, says Boteach. Then they become substitute providers of

love, he says. "That's an unfair burden to put on a kid."

It's also bad for families,

he says, "because kids will move out of the house eventually."

Happy family secret number 4: Break bread together Families that eat together, stay together. It's that simple. "Family dinners are essential," Boteach says. "It's a time to connect." Have a minimum of four family dinners per week, he suggests.

Happy family secret number 5: Play together

"Have one or two unifying activities that the family does together on a nightly basis," Boteach says.

He suggests bedtime stories for young children or reading a chapter from a novel to an older child.

Happy family secret number 6: Put family before friends "In happy families, family comes before friends," he says, "The camp counsellor understands something that

parents don't and that is that caring for kids also has to be fun. Give rules, but understand that kids need fun, too.

When kids get bored and listless, they start looking for excitement out of the home and that is when friends become more important. Friendship is important, but subordinate to family."

Happy family secret number 7: Limit children's afterschool activities Today, growing numbers of kids are overscheduled and participate in six or seven after-school activities per week.

The mother becomes a chauffeur and the children are never home at the same time.

This is not a recipe for a happy family, Boteach says. "If your kids grow up not knowing how to do ballet, they will be OK. No after-school activities is an extreme and too many activities is the other extreme, but moderation is where we should aim." Create your own after-school activities as a family, he suggests. For example, take your kids rollerblading, bike riding, or swimming after school as a family.

Happy family secret number 8: Build and honour rituals "Families need rituals," Boteach says. Rituals can be religious, national, or even family-specific, he says.

Barbara Fiese, PhD, professor and chair of psychology at Syracuse University in New York, agrees. "Happy families have meaningful rituals and are not stressed out by them," she says. "They can be unique to your own family such as going for bagels on Saturday morning, a weekly pizza night, or even a family song. Rituals tend to bring family members close together because they are repeated over time."

To work, rituals need to be flexible, she adds. "They can't be rigid," Fiese says. "If the bagel place is closed, you have to go someplace else."

Happy family secret number 9: Keep your voices down Remember that children thrive on stability. "There has to be a calm environment at home," says Boteach. "Talk to your kids, give them strict rules, and punish children when necessary, but don't lose control and yell. If you yell at kids that shows you are out of control and you create a non-peaceful environment."

Happy family secret number 10: Never fight in front of the kids TV viewers never really saw Carol and Mike Brady go at it, did they? While some fighting or bickering may be inevitable, try to keep it away from the children, Boteach says. "If your kids see you fight and argue, apologize and say, 'We are sorry you had to see it. Daddy and I just had a disagreement, but everything is OK now.'"

Happy family secret number 11: Don't work too much All work and no play does worse things to a family than make it dull. "If you are away all the time and don't prioritise your kids, your kids will internalize feelings of insecurity," says Boteach. They'll begin to believe that they're not valuable enough.

Happy family secret number 12: Encourage sibling harmony Sibling rivalry can be divisive. "I try to speak to my kids about how fortunate they are to have siblings," Boteach says.

Happy family secret number 13: Have private jokes Happy families have inside jokes, Syracuse's Fiese says, "Jokes and nicknames symbolize that this is a group that you belong to and serves as a shorthand for larger experiences," she says.

Happy family secret number 14: Be flexible "This is easier said than done," says Fiese. "But by their very nature, families change so you have to be open to change in membership and age," Fiese says. "Somebody gets married, somebody dies, somebody remarries and teenagers are no longer children and young adults are no longer teenagers, but they are all still part of the family."

Happy family secret number 15: Communicate Rose J Perkins, EdD, associate professor of psychology at Stonehill College in Easton, Mass., says that a happy family communicate with one another. "Frequently families are set up where everyone tells the mom and then the mom sends the message, but in a happy family, there are more flexible, open lines of communication."

In happy families, "all the members of family unit are able to communicate openly," she says. (webmd.com)

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wednesdAY, october 3, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Another miner killed after pit collapses …Minister orders immediate enforcement operation to address mining issues

Dead: Lennox Douglas

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nother miner died in Guyana’s interior after the mining pit in which he was working collapsed at Issano Backdam, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

Dead is Lennox Douglas, 33, of Canvas City Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Speaking with Guyana Times on Tuesday, the miner’s younger brother, Jermaine Douglas, said his brother recently started working at the location and was self-employed.

He said the family received sketchy information about what transpired from the Police. According to the young man, the Police said they are questioning other persons who were also working at the location when the tragedy occurred.

Jermaine said he was told that while working, "very hard mud" fell on his brother, which pinned him to the ground. The younger Douglas further related that his brother was later taken for medical attention but was pronounced dead on arrival. "At this time, we don't have much information.

We are still waiting on the young men to come out of the lockups to say what really transpired,” he told Guyana Times. He added that his brother has three children.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Natural Resources Ministry said it has taken note of this most recent mining tragedy. It added that Minister Raphael Trotman has ordered an immediate enforcement operation to be conducted jointly by the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission and the Ministry’s Compliance Division’s Corp of Wardens, to address problems of this nature in the mining areas where there has been an increase in legal and illegal mining activities and accidents. The agencies are expected to provide a report upon completion of the operation, the Ministry added.

In September, two miners lost their lives after they were covered by mud when a pit in which they were working caved in at the Mowasi Backdam, Konawaruk, Potaro, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni).

Dead are Deon Sproston, called “Jersey Joe”, 36, of Lot 133 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and a miner only known as “Shawn”.

The incident occurred at about 20:00h on September 17.

A mining pit in Guyana’s interior

This publication understands the two men and other persons were working the walls of the pit with metal detectors searching for gold while it was raining heavily.

While working, a large portion of the pit wall suddenly broke off and fell on both men, covering them alive.

In January, 23-yearold Handel Payne, also called “Daggie”, of Kaneville Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD) died after the mining pit in which he was working at 35 Miles, Konawaruk Backdam collapsed.

Information reaching Guyana Times revealed that Payne and others were working in the mining pit when a piece of the mud wall col-

lapsed behind them, striking Payne in the mid-section. He reportedly fell unconscious by which time the water began to rise rapidly. He was submerged and subsequently drowned. He was later pulled out and rushed to the Mahdia Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

In April, a miner named Kevin Adams, 25, of Linden,

Region 10 died at Chinese Creek Backdam, Mazaruni River, after a pit caved in and buried him alive.

One month later, in May, Ken Ranny, 20, a resident of Kamarang, Upper Mazaruni River, died after he was covered by mud after the wall of a mining pit in which he was working collapsed at Pepper Camp Backdam, Upper Mazaruni River.

Again, one month later, in June, miner Elmo Adams died after he too was covered alive after the walls of a pit in which he was working caved at Imbaimadai, Upper Mazaruni.

Back in 2015, 10 persons died in a mining pit in the Konawaruk area after it collapsed. The incident saw 17 miners being buried under a pile of dirt and rubble but seven managed to escape alive with varying injuries.

The others remained trapped under the dirt where they perished. The 10 miners were Leyland Jones, Jason Trotman, Vick Bernard, Frank Bernard, Desmond Martins, Raymond August, Brian Bank, Trevon Phillips, Nanmore Kurt and another man identified only as “Michael”.

The deaths were blamed on heavy rains in the area, improper mining design and poor safety practices at the mining camp.

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Venezuelan remanded for stabbing Region 1 man

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Venezuelan man was on Tuesday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when he appeared before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged for unlawful wounding.

Alpidio Gozman, 50, is accused of stabbing Jose Dia during an altercation, which occurred on September 22, 2018.

Gozman was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on September 22, 2018 at Port Morawhana, North West District, Region One

(Barima-Waini) he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Jose Dia with intent to maim, disfigure, and cause grievously bodily harm.

According to the prosecutor, Gozman and the Virtual Complainant (VC) were involved in a heated argument when the defendant armed

himself with a knife and dealt the VC several stabs about his body, including to his abdomen. The VC was rushed to the Mabaruma Regional Hospital where he received medical attention. The matter was reported to the Mabaruma Police Station and the Venezuelan was arrested and charged.

Chief Magistrate McLennan remanded Gozman to prison until November 19, 2018. The case was transferred to the Mabaruma Magistrate’s Court.

Guyana’s…

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…Domesday Book ack in 1086, William the Conqueror, who’d conquered that country 20 years before to become its King – hence “William the Conqueror” – decided to have a “Great Survey” made of his kingdom. As was recorded at the time: “Then, at the midwinter [1085], was the King in Gloucester with his council ... (and had) a large meeting, and very deep consultation with his council, about this land; how it was occupied, and by what sort of men. Then sent he his men over all England into each shire; commissioning them to find out “How many hundreds of hides were in the shire, what land the king himself had, and what stock upon the land; or, what dues he ought to have by the year from the shire.”

William’s main purpose was to make sure he knew what was under his dominion so he could squeeze as much taxes as he could from his new Saxon subjects. After his assessors scoured the land, they recorded their assessments in a book that became known as the “Domesday Book”. That’s how they spelt “Doomsday” back then!! Eventually, “there was no single virgate of land, nor indeed one ox nor one cow nor one pig which there was left out”!

It earned its name because the finality of the assessment was just like that which is exacted on the “Day of Judgement”, which no man, woman or child can escape!! It was described thusly by a contemporary: “for as the sentence of that strict and terrible last account cannot be evaded by any skilful subterfuge, so when this book is appealed to ... its sentence cannot be quashed or set aside with impunity. That is why we have called the book ‘the Book of Judgement’ ... because its decisions, like those of the Last Judgement, are unalterable.”

Well, it now appears Guyana will be getting its own “Domesday Book”…but since we’re not in the Medieval age, let’s call it like it is – the Guyana Doomsday Book!!

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, as part of the PNCled Government that from their highhandedness and unilateralism obviously see themselves as “conquerors” of Guyana in 2015, has just announced he hired a Canadian firm for $335 million to “value” all properties in Guyana for the purpose of taxation!!

Now imagine this Government having the temerity to launch this potentially totalitarian enumeration of its potential loot, and has hired the Canadian consultant by sole sourcing!! In both the substance of the deed, and its execution there was absolutely no consultation with stakeholders. But then, this is par for the course with the PNC, isn’t it?

The Domesday Book culminated the Norman Conquest of England. Will it be the same for the PNC and Guyana? …ignorance of Gandhi Yesterday was Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday…and as usual, there was a small function at the Promenade Gardens near the statue of the great man was erected.

That’s a pity! For a country like Guyana with all its divisions and conflicts always simmering beneath the surface, it would do a world of good for Gandhi’s life and teachings to be more widely circulated here.

Take his famous statement that if we follow the principle “an eye for an eye” then pretty soon we’ll all be blind. Doesn’t this rather pithily describe why we’re still “blind” and at the bottom of any world ranking you want to pick? Now, the problems might be that too many politicians see Gandhi as a saint. But really, Gandhi was a politician!! And a very effective one at that, since it was largely due to his efforts India became the first country in the British Empire to become independent!

So will our politicians read Gandhi and stop sticking each other in the eye?? Not likely! …and sugar production The Government says GuySuCo’s production is “on target”. Uitvlugt met its target ONCE in six weeks; Blairmont TWICE in eight; Albion five out of seven and they’re on target??!!

The sum is greater than the parts??

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

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wednesdAY, october 3, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

2 more Guyanese busted Corentyne roadway taken over by farmers “drying” paddy with cocaine at JFK

Odessa Edmondson

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wo more Guyanese are facing drug trafficking charges after they were separately busted at the John F Kennedy (JKF) Airport in New York, United States with cocaine.

Guyanese business owner Luke Kendall, was nabbed with cocaine pellets in his stomach upon his arrival on September 20, 2018, in the United States.

According to reports, Kendall arrived on a flight from Georgetown, Guyana and was subjected to a routine search by immigration agents at the airport. He was reportedly visiting the United Stated to purchase items for a business that he usually operates for his mother.

However, when the man was asked by the agents to provide names and contact numbers for the persons he was visiting, those persons indicated that they had no idea Kendall was visiting. By this time, the ranks ordered the man to undergo an X-ray examination after which it was revealed that he had ingested cocaine pellets.

Further examinations showed that the drug mule had more than 200 pellets

containing the illegal drug, which he swallowed. He later admitted to swallowing more than three pounds of the substance.

Kendall was charged and arraigned with the offence on September 24, 2018, before Magistrate Judge Steven Tiscione. His preliminary hearing is set for October 8.

Meanwhile, a young mother of Ituni, Upper Demerara River, is similarly facing drug trafficking charges after she was apprehended at with some 200 cocaine pellets in her stomach two Saturdays ago. The wom-

Airport. The couple allegedly attempted to smuggle hundreds of cocaine pellets into the US, after arriving in New York on a flight from Guyana on September 23.

The husband was reportedly approached by officers to do an X-ray and just then, his partner in life and crime reportedly spilled the beans that they had ingested cocaine pellets. The East Coast Demerara couple both cumulatively had well over 200 cocaine pellets in their systems, with the contents of an excreted pellet testing positive for cocaine. Reports indi-

...lack of response from Police upsets commuters

These drivers are forced to share their lane with the paddy being dried on the roadway by farmers

R Cocaine pellets

an, Odessa Edmondson, who travelling with her baby, was intercepted by US Customs and Border agents.

Agents observed Edmondson perspiring and acting in a suspicious manner which led agents to question her further. It was then that the young woman reportedly admitted to ingesting the pellets, revealing that she was going to be paid some US$6000 to smuggle the drugs into the United States. Edmondson reportedly excreted the pellets weighing over three pounds.

As such, charges have since been filed against her.

Guyanese Kurt and Maria Bruney were recently nabbed in similar circumstances when they were both busted by US Customs and Border officers at the JFK

cate that a sum of US$6000 was promised for his efforts, which was a similar amount to that of the suspected Linden mule.

These individuals follow in the footsteps of several locals who were busted in the US attempting to smuggle drugs. The majority of the mules have been identified as women and they would often blame their economic and single-parent status for drug smuggling. However, Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) Deputy Head Lesley Ramlall recently outlined that one’s economic circumstances is no excuse for drug smuggling. As reported in sections of the media, CANU is working closely with the US immigration unit to probe the “cocaine ring”.

esidents of Berbice, especially those living along the Corentyne Highway, are complaining bitterly about the drying of paddy of the roadways, stating it must be a hindrance to commuters.

According to residents, what is more worrying is the lack of response for Police to enforce traffic laws in the region. Guyana Times was told that the Police response to the continued drying of paddy on the Corentyne Highway poses the question as to whether the Police are making attempts to put an end to the practice which endangers all road users.

The issue was recently raised at a recent community meeting and has since sparked heated debate among hire car drivers and other road users. Responding to the issue, Divisional Traffic Officer Superintendent, Assistant Timothy Williams said the Traffic Department is very concerned over the issue as he urged farmers not to dry their paddy on the roadway.

However, Williams asked the farmers not to place huge objects such as tyres, concrete

ty at Number 56 Village which cleans and dries the paddy.

The cost has been reduced from $500 per bag to $320 per bag. Farmers who dry their paddy on the road pay labourers $280 for each bag.

It is only at the paddy drying facility that they can get it cleaned of all the unwanted particles.

Regional Councillor Gobin Harbhajan says farmers need to respect the law and in these modern times farmers should stop being lazy by drying pad-

The empty paddy drying facility at Number 56 Village

blocks and drums near the paddy on the road. Further, Williams said his main concern is for drivers who traverse the road daily and the Traffic Department has embarked on a series of awareness programmes.

Meanwhile, vehicle operators continue to use the Corentyne Highway in fear as they are being forced to share sections of their lane with beds of paddy taking up almost half of the carriageway.

The Guyana Rice Development Board has set up a seed paddy drying facili-

dy on the road in front of their homes. He is advocating the use of the seed paddy drying facility at Number 56 Village.

The facility also dries paddy the traditional way. The drying floor can accommodate 3000 bags of paddy and that service is free. There is also a smaller drying floor at Bengal.

There are also seven rice mills situated along the Corentyne Highway in Region Six which have drying floors.

In addition to those, there are two more situated in the Black Bush Polder.

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wednesdAY, october 3, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Closure of Skeldon Sugar Estate takes toll on Corriverton businesses Finding Bapu

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Inside the Corriverton Market, where some vendors have chosen to close their businesses

he closure of the Skeldon Sugar Estate has taken a toll on the business community in the bordering town of Corriverton, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Nine months after the estate was closed, businesses are recording very low sales and many of them are operating at a loss.

Following the closure of four sugar factories last year, and the displacing of almost 5000 workers, several communities recognised a slowdown in commercial activity.

Last year, 1851 workers were sacked from the Skeldon Sugar Estate, 1181 from the Rose Hall Estate, 1480 from the East Demerara Sugar Estate and 251 from the Wales Sugar Estate.

The impact on Corriverton

as a result of the Skeldon closure is being referred to as great.

During a visit to the market area by Guyana Times, business persons complained about the low sales as they struggle to keep their heads above water.

“The reality is that income has been slashed by more than 50 per cent so that the business can continue to keep its doors open,” this newspaper was told by one business person.

Additionally, some persons reported that they were forced to reduce their staff while others have given staff reduced working hours.

The town, in which the estate once operated, is used to being a hive of activity but now the only movement is mainly due to the town’s geo-

graphical location in relation to Suriname – this keeps the commercial activity going in Corriverton.

In the market, the reality is evident. Some stalls were closed. Vendors reported that it is not profitable to operate every day. The market was in the past the busiest part of the town but now shows a dramatic change owing to the closure of the sugar estate.

Many of the operators there told Guyana Times that some days they record no sales. Fish vendors claim they are now spending more money on ice than they spend on purchasing fish. This, they explained, is so because of the length of time it takes to sell the fish they buy.

“Me use to buy one bakie fish and sell it out before afternoon. Now I only buying

one bucket and it taking me three days to sell out... leave out how much I go to throw away,” one vendor told this publication.

Another one said since the estate closed, the Corriverton market has become very slow.

There have also been reports of persons in communities being barely able to provide one meal per day for their families and cannot find even meager jobs.

According to one businessman, despite the reality which the people on the Upper Corentyne are being faced with, attempts are not being made by the Government to put a comprehensive programme in place to assist the community.

(Andrew Carmichael)

atiricus was in a quandary. Yesterday had been Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, and he and the fellas hadn’t done anything to mark the occasion. He’d been reminded when he went to the office and his editor sent him to cover the ceremony honouring the father of the Indian nation at the Promenade Gardens. He was impressed to be reminded about the Mahatma and wondered what the fellas waiting for him at the Back Street Bar thought.

“Me na gat none problem wid Gandhi,” said Bungi when Satiricus posed the question. “’E do plenty t’ing fuh India.”

“Yes, da true but Gandhi na wou’da like how abee a drink beer ev’ry day!” pointed out Cappo, as he chugged his beer slowly.

“I’m not sure about that,” said Hari. “He was against people getting drunk and behaving bad!”

“But you fellas only talking about the man’s serious side,” protested Satiricus.

“Yuh mean ‘e bin gat wan nex’ side?” laughed Bungi.

“He was a very funny chap,” said Satiricus. “Want me to tell you an incident I heard yesterday about the funny Gandhi?”

“Guh ahead,” said Cappo. “Me gat fuh hear dis!”

“Here goes,” said Satiricus. “When Gandhi was studying law in London, a white professor named Peters, really disliked him.

One day, Peters was having lunch at the dining room when Gandhi came along with his tray and sat next to the professor.

The professor said, “Mr Gandhi, you do not understand, a pig and a bird do not sit together to eat.”

Gandhi looked at him and calmly replied, “You do not worry professor. I’ll fly away,” and he went and sat at another table.

The angry Professor decided to take revenge and the next day, wrote on Gandhi’s exam paper the word “IDIOT” and returned it to Gandhi.

Gandhi took the exam paper and sat down at his desk. A few minutes later, he got up, went to the professor and told him in a dignified polite tone, “Mr Peters, *you signed the sheet*, but you did not give me the grade!”

“Let’s drink to the funny Gandhi!” said Bungi, as they all laughed.

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wednesdAY, october 3, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Relatives shocked at death of miner found in Puruni

Dead: Kelvin Royo, called “Bayley”

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he bereaved family of a gold miner, whose body was recently discovered with multiple chop wounds at Puruni Landing, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), are shocked at the incident and are calling for a thorough investigation to be launched by Police.

The body of 52-year-old Kelvin Royo, called “Bayley” of Ann’s Grove Village, East Coast Demerara (ECD), was found on October 1. The man’s body bore wounds to his head, back and throat.

Guyana Times was told that he was killed sometime between September 30 and October 1.

Speaking with this newspaper on Tuesday, the dead man’s wife, Shonette Andrews, said the family is

still trying to come to grips with the shocking revelations surrounding her husband’s gruesome death.

According to Andrews, it was the first time that her husband spent more than eight months away from his family.

The visibly distressed woman said she is not sure of what transpired but was only told of his death after her son received a text message from a friend informing him of his father’s death.

“I was sleeping when my son wake me up and told me how someone send a text and tell him how his father got chopped up after that I saw the picture of him laying with chops all over his body. I don’t know what happened, I can’t say,” the grieving woman said.

Andrews noted that her eldest son, who was also in the interior with his father, had only returned home two days prior to the incident.

“When my son came out, I asked him for his father and he told me that he will be coming out in two days’ time since he wanted to make some more money before he comes out. However, after the two days pass, my children started asking for him and we tried calling but we didn’t get him.”

Alleged narcotrafficking lands woman on remand

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woman who reportedly had ganja in her possession at the Bartica Police Station was on Tuesday remanded to prison when she appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The charge against Elcy Indra Vigilance of Lot 67 C Wismar Housing Scheme, Linden stated that on September 29, 2018 at Bartica Police Station she had in her possession 489.9 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. The 25-year-old woman denied the charge when it was read to her.

The prosecution’s case was that on September 29, 2018 about 16:40h two Policemen noticed the wom-

an acting in a suspicious manner at the Bartica Ferry Stelling. The Constables approached her and invited her to the Police station, which is a short distance away to conduct a search of her belongings.

During the search, a yellow plastic bag wrapped in clear scotch tape which contained leaves and seeds were unearthed. As such, he was arrested and charged.

In court on Tuesday, the Police Prosecutor objected to bail citing the seriousness and prevalence of the offence. Chief Magistrate McLennan upheld the prosecution’s submission and remanded Vigilance to prison. The case will continue on October 17, 2018 at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

Grieving Shonette Andrews still trying to come to grips with the death of her husband

She said that her husband’s body was supposed to be flown out of the interior on Tuesday for the post-mortem examination but added that there were some delays. The body is expected to arrive in the city today for the PM at

Georgetown Public Hospital mortuary.

Additionally, she noted that her husband’s uncle has since gone into the area to gather more information.

Police have since launched an investigation.

Toshao calls for Govt assistance for Wakapoa village

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he Amerindian Community of Wakapoa, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) on Friday last held its Heritage Day festivities as celebrations of Indigenous Heritage Month came to an end.

Guyana Times visited the community known as “St Lucia's Mission”, an island in the Wakapoa community, which houses the Village Council building, a nursery, primary and secondary school, two shops and a health centre.

Toshao of the village, Howard Cornelius, used the opportunity to relate that the community needs urgent help and is calling on Government to pay more attention to Amerindian communities.

Additionally, he said most of the young people in the community are migrating due to the lack of jobs.

He added that the school dropout rate in the village

is also high. According to the Toshao, the community’s doctor lives about six miles away from the health centre and has to travel every day, while the newly built doctor’s quarters is yet to be furnished.

With a population of over 2500 residents, the Toshao is of the view that the community needs better medical services to its residents, who in most cases have to travel to the Essequibo Coast to get medical attention.

One of the most important needs in the community presently is transportation and he is appealing to Government to provide outboard engines which will assist in transportation in and out of the community.

Residents during the festivities were treated to a rich cultural presentation with Indigenous songs, poems, dances and music, which was followed by games and other activities.

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wednesdAY, october 3, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Prosecutors, investigators being trained to fight money laundering

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rosecutors from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and investigators from the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) on Tuesday morning commenced training in State Assets Recovery and Antimoney Laundering at the Police Officer’s Training Academy.

The course is being run by experts from the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) and focuses on evidence gathering, successful prosecutions and the confiscation of assets and cash from criminal elements.

British High Commissioner to Guyana, Gregory Quinn is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying that the overarching objective of the training is to ensure

DPP or the Police legal adviser and that file being referred for charges.”

The British High Commissioner said the

United Kingdom remains committed to supporting Guyana in all areas relating to the security sector reform.

Juvenile courts to be established throughout Guyana

Prosecutors and investigators at the training course being hosted at the Police Officer’s Training Academy

that those involved in organised crime are prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

“Criminals have to know that there can be no impunity for such crime. It is also relevant [to know that] cracking down on money laundering doesn’t just mean a successful prosecution that put people in jail, it also involves hitting crim-

inals where it hurts them most; in their pockets.”

According to the British High Commissioner, money laundering supports a variety of criminal activities, including drug running, corruption, extortion and terrorism. He said it is imperative that states prosecute every money laundering case uncovered.

Advisor to the Special

Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), Dr Sam Sittlington said justice is often delayed because of the lack of due process.

“We see a lot of cases getting to court and failing in court. We see failings within the files that go to the DPP. We don’t want files to come back to us for amendments or corrections. We want one file going one time to the

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overnment has plans to construct courts throughout Guyana that will specialise in juvenile justice, with one likely to be set up in Georgetown and another next year in either Berbice or Essequibo.

This is according to Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, who was the keynote speaker at a sensitisation workshop on the Juvenile Justice Bill on Monday. Ramjattan noted that an analysis of the cost involved will have to be done. But the plan is to have these special courts spread throughout Guyana, but in a phased manner.

“We want a special kind of Magistrates’ Court where you’re going to have the children dealt with. And so you can’t go and build courts all over the place. And so we starting with Georgetown, then next year, more likely than not we’re going to have in Berbice or Essequibo, and then we’ll have one in Linden and probably one in Lethem.”

“So it must take a phased implementation. That takes money. And then the staffing of the courts, because the Judiciary will say fine we need some more monies in view of this paradigm shift… so all of these things are so important to see the actual realisation of the juvenile justice regime.

Four Magistrates, including Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan, had attended a study tour in another jurisdiction to observe the operations of their Children’s Court back in 2017. The tour was intended to show the best practices and the pitfalls to ensure that Guyana’s system is efficient and adheres to international standards.

Currently, all matters involving juveniles are held in camera. Thus, members of the public are not allowed in the chambers. In addition,

strict rules govern the publication of information that relate to juveniles.

In February, acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonnette CummingsEdwards had disclosed that various agencies including non-governmental organisations were consulted last year to share their thoughts on how these effectively these matters were being handled.

“We have to see the situation from all angles, so we have had courses… the Magistrates do their best but they are some persons who come to court and say they have made up with the perpetrator and they do not wish to proceed and that is their right.”

She had also said training was ongoing for Magistrates since the bulk of the domestic violence cases are dealt with in the Magistrate’s Court. However, those that result in felonious wounding, murder or manslaughter are handled at the High Court.

Further, the acting Chancellor had alluded to the fact that having specialised courts to deal with juveniles, sexual offences, domestic violence and other sensitive matters will eliminate re-victimisation and trauma for victims, as well as the speedy disposal of the cases.

She said as an example, in any given session of the November 2017 established Sexual Offences Court there are over 100 cases to be tried coming from the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

“There is also a component which comes through the Ministry of Social Protection and we are working with them in that regard for a Victim Support Unit and we are working with all stakeholders in relation to the Sexual Offences Court,” she added.

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Gandhi’s 149th birth anniversary

Guyana to release commemorative stamps in celebration

Persons gathered at the Mahatma Gandhi monument in the Promenade Gardens, Georgetown on Tuesday during his birth anniversary celebration

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s Guyana joins India and the rest of the world to celebrate the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, commemorative stamps will be printed in celebration.

This announcement was made by Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam Mahalingam during a commemorative ceremony at the Promenade Gardens, Georgetown on Tuesday. He added that the Government of India was seeking to take Gandhi’s birth anniversary celebrations to a larger scale.

October 2, 2018 marks the 149th birth anniversa-

ry of the great Mahatma Gandhi and International Day of Non-Violence. A large gathering made their way to the Promenade Gardens to celebrate the birth anniversary of Gandhi, who greatly impacted the world with his philosophy of peace and non-violence.

In addition to the releasing of Gandhi’s commemorative stamps, other activities planned include the publishing of a Mahatma Gandhi anthology; a vegetarian food festival; planting trees on June 5, 2019 – World Environmental Day; showcasing digital projects featuring Mahatma Gandhi, which are present-

ly showing at the Giftland Mall, and reaching out to schoolchildren from various schools. Meanwhile, 31 students across four schools in Guyana also participated in a Mahatma Gandhi essay competition.

Outstanding essays were written by Aleysha Ally and two other students who received certificates, presented by Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence on Tuesday.

Among those who were at the event on Tuesday were Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes, Minister Lawrence, former President Donald Ramotar and prominent entrepreneur Yesu Persaud.

Gandhi was born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi on October 2, 1869, in Porbandar, India. He died on January 30, 1948, in Delhi. He was an Indian lawyer, politician, social activist, and writer who became the leader of the nationalist movement against the British rule of India. As such, he came to be considered the father of his country. Gandhi is internationally esteemed for his doctrine of non-violent protest (satyagraha) to achieve political and social progress.

West Dem Secondary, Belle West Primary record highest student attendance

Students of the West Demerara Secondary School who were honoured for their regular and punctual attendance at school

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he West Demerara Secondary School and the Belle West Primary School have retained their top positions with student attendance for the academic year 2017-2018. Both schools had topped their levels for the 2016-2017 years. Topping the nursery level for the year 20172018 was Bagotville Nursery School.

These schools, among others, were honoured on Tuesday at the Department of Education, Region Three’s Annual Attendance Awards Ceremony held at the West Demerara Secondary School.

According to the senior schools welfare officer for the region, Azharuddin Zahaur, the main concern for the Welfare Department is to ensure that learners are in school.

He said there are about 20,000 learners in the region.

Zahaur explained that every month a list is sent to the department containing names of students that have achieved less than 75 per cent attendance.

According to Zahaur, there are 1500 learners who have not

achieved 75 per cent. He noted, however, that the Welfare Department will continue to work with schools, students and parents to ensure students attend school regularly and punctually.

He said the department usually visits schools and conducts truancy campaigns to educate children about the benefits of being in school. Zahaur said last year, the Department of Education honoured 600 students who achieved 95 per cent and above in attendance.

However, he added that this year, the numbers have increased whereby 1000 students have achieved 95 per cent and above in attendance.

Moreover, the Regional Education Officer (REdO), Annesta Douglas said the awards ceremony was designed to be a part of the activities for Education Month. She said it is important to recognise the efforts of parents, guardians and children that have made exceptional attendance records.

She said, “every school day counts in a child’s academic life. A missed school day is a lost opportunity for many

things”.

Further, she said when children stay away from school, that reduces the impact of even the best teacher’s ability to provide learning opportunities.

Delivering the feature address was Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO) Primary, Owen Pollard. He said the goal of the Education Ministry is to ensure that every child is given the opportunity to receive the best possible education.

He said high attendance benefits the child as it contributes to improved academic performance. He added that children also benefit from improved social skills as learners are given a better chance to interact with peers and teachers.

Some of the other schools that were honoured were Meten-Meer-Zorg Nursery School, Anna Catherina Nursery School, New Annlegt Nursery School, Bagotville Primary School, Saraswat Primary School, Mc Gillivray Primary School, and Zeeburg Secondary School.

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wednesdAY, october 3, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

GAWU stands with oppressed, working-class citizens …as body celebrates International Action Day

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he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has joined with the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) and millions of workers in observing International Action Day (IAD) which is held on October 3.

In an issued statement on Tuesday, the Union stated that it stands with “the oppressed peoples and the working-class of the world,” hoping that the world will operate based on economic justice, democracy, peace and humane social relations.

IAD 2018 is being observed under the theme “Ensure social security and free healthcare for all”.

Speaking on this year’s IAD theme, GAWU highlighted the plight and circumstances redundant sugar workers in Guyana are facing following the closure of estates in the last two years.

“Many Guyanese were

Over 190 million persons were unemployed at the end of 2017 according to the International Labour Organisation

touched and very moved by the circumstances the jobless sugar workers and their families, especially the children, now must contend with. Across our country, people are finding themselves, more and more, in such difficult and hard conditions. Added to that, we see our country’s social protection institution – the NIS – finding itself in difficulties as well. Recent news reports

advised that the NIS will record an $854.9 million deficit this year. This for the workers is worrying news and one which, the authorities must give undivided attention to,” GAWU outlined.

“GAWU recognises and supports a revitalised struggle by the international working-class around the question of unemployment and underemployment. We believe employment is an in-

dispensable condition for a worker to lead and enjoy a full and satisfying life. We are quite aware that unemployment is a phenomenon inherent in the capitalist system and its final solution is tied up to realising profound changes of that profit driven socio-economic system,” the union body added.

The WFTU-sponsored IAD which has been observed for a number of years coincides with the WFTU’s foundation in 1945. GAWU speaking on the importance of the day said it brings into focus matters of serious concern to the global working-peoples and the world’s peoples generally.

It added that the IAD 2018 comes 10 years since the global capitalist system entered its most far-reaching and devastating crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. This referred to the financial meltdown of 2008.

“A decade later none of

the contradictions which produced the financial crisis has been purposefully addressed, much less overcome. Moreover, the very policies carried out to prevent a total meltdown of the financial system, involving the outlay of trillions of dollars by the US Federal Reserve and other major central banks, have only created, according to concerned economists, the conditions for an even bigger impending disaster,” GAWU stressed.

The body warned against the threat of war in the South China Sea, Middle East including Syria and in East Europe with Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

“We see major military activities in the South China Sea. And, in several other countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia, conflicts and war-mongering seem to be the new norm of mankind’s existence. In the coun-

tries so afflicted, not only do the people suffer greatly but there also are consequences for those countries’ future and for democracy,” GAWU noted.

The body also spoke out against the scourge of unemployment, reminding that over 190 million persons were unemployed at the end of 2017 according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO). It said too that last year around 42 per cent of workers worldwide are estimated to be in vulnerable forms of employment while more than 300 million workers in emerging and developing countries said to be in extreme poverty.

GAWU further called on stakeholders to implement measures to combat the threat of climate change which is now a more “regular occurrence” on the planet.

Broadcasting Authority begins clampdown T he Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has begun hauling in broadcasters for perceived breaches to the law and the Authority’s guidelines; with two of them being referred to the governing board for possible sanctions.

It is understood that the Special Investigative Committee of the GNBA conducted preliminary hearings with six delinquent broadcasters. According to a statement from GNBA, they were in breach if the Broadcasting Act of 2011 and published guidelines.

It is understood that the broadcasters flouted rules concerning good taste and decency and the broadcast of obscene language in songs during prime-time hours. Since the passage of the Broadcast Amendment bill, GNBA has been vocal in warning broadcasters to become compliant with the law.

The Act empowers GNBA to pursue fines of up to $1million and prison terms of one year for breaches of the law. In its release, GNBA also warned that the Special Investigative Committee would continue its crackdown on errant broadcasters. Besides recourse to the courts, the Authority in of itself has the power to cancel or suspend broadcast licences when necessary.

“The Authority stands vigorously against fundamental breaches of the broadcasting legislation, in an effort to ensure the national airwaves are reflective of local and international best practices in broadcasting, with due sensitivity to those vulnerable groups in our society and more so, adherence to our legal and social obligations. The Authority’s Special Investigative Committee is poised to deliver on its mandate, and will continue to

The Guyana National Broadcasting Authority

address these matters, in an assiduous manner,” the Authority warned.

“It is important to note that the power is vested in the Authority, through the Broadcasting Act of 2011, to suspend or cancel broadcast licences, as the Authority deems appropriate, following the necessary inquiries. GNBA wishes to emphasise the fact that the Broadcasting Act, Section 30, provides recourse for broadcasters. Importantly, “a person aggrieved by a decision of the Authority, made under Section 28 and 29, may appeal in the same manner as if it were an order of a Magistrate, except that the appeal shall be made to the full Court of the High Court.”

Part two of the Act sets out that broadcast agencies would be mandated to broadcast public service programmes for a total of up to one hour daily. Broadcast agencies will be airing these public service programmes free of cost and as requested by the Government between 06:00h and 22:00h.

The Bill also states that the GNBA reserves the right to direct a broadcasting agency to broadcast emergency notices or disaster warnings for any length of time, and regularly during peak or prime advertising time peri-

ods, depending on the nature of the emergency and having regard to public safety.

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

But there is a warning for broadcasters daring to oppose the legislation: the Bill states that any broadcaster the GNBA finds to have “arbitrarily refused” to broadcast a public service broadcast programme without lodging a complaint has committed an offence.

The Act also mandates that any licensed entity carrying out broadcast services immediately before the Act went into effect will have no choice but to reapply within 30 days for a licence in accordance with the amended law.

Failing to reapply means a cessation of service.

On the other hand, failing to cease operations if not granted a new licence by the GNBA will, on summary conviction, earn that broadcaster a fine of $1 million and imprisonment of one year. In addition, all machinery and equipment used for broadcasting by the entity can be seized.

news

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Ramsammy’s Ruminations Guyana Airways hosts job fair in Linden Minister Noel Holder Y is a Minister, but is he the Minister of Agriculture?

M

inister Noel Holder is listed as the Agriculture Minister in President David Granger’s Cabinet. But for the last three and a half years, he has been mostly missing in action.

On those few instances that he decides to show up and speak, he disowns the responsibility for agriculture.

This past week, he briefly showed up and spoke out on the $30 billion loan taken Dr Leslie Ramsammy by the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) on behalf of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo). The normally gentle Minister was belligerent in his rare speaking-out foray. He claimed he does not know anything about the $30 billion loan, does not know where the money is, does not know who has the money and, “frankly”, he “does not want to know”. This is the Agriculture Minister who has responsibility for sugar, claiming he does not want to know about a loan taken for sugar; a loan that might well be the largest loan ever taken by this nation’s Government.

It is irresponsible that the Minister does not want to know about this loan. It is scandalous for the Minister insisting he has no information about the loan. It is illegal that a loan has been taken for sugar and the responsible Minister has not signed off. Something is smelly for the Agriculture Minister to ask where is the $30 billion. The SPU has had a disbursement of $17 billion for almost a year now, paying an interest of 4.75 per cent. GuySuCo already owes hundreds of millions as interest on the loan. Yet, the Agriculture Minister loudly proclaims he “frankly” does not want to know. As Agriculture Minister, I would have kicked up a stink to know.

This irresponsible behaviour demands his resignation. I am confident that the Granger Administration did not want the Minister to know and that the SPU did not engage the Minister in any discussion about the loan. I sympathise with the Minister, but hold him responsible, because clearly, he did not want to know.

In the meantime, GuySuCo had to wait for nine months before a Board was appointed and throughout all that period, the Minister was silent and even complicit in the non-appointment of the Board. In the absence of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) was appointed. The Minister was not involved in the appointment and learnt of the appointment of Dr Davis as the CEO the same time as all of us. Just as with the loan, he was sidelined in the appointment of the CEO and now he has further been sidelined with the appointment of the Board.

This week it has been revealed that the $30 billion loan was arranged by a “fixer” and the cost for fixing the loan was $116 million. This is a Corporation that cannot find money to pay wages of sugar workers on time. Late payment of wages for sugar workers is no longer a rare thing, happening often these days, twice in the last month alone. No one in Government has anything to say about the late payments and has sought to find money to pay wages on a timely basis – a violation of the law. For a cash-strapped Corporation, the pay-out of $116 million to “fix” a loan seems irresponsible. In fact, the first use of the $30 billion loan is to pay the “fixer”.

But the Minister has nothing to say and the SPU head says it is only a “storm in a teacup”.

The Minister is recklessly AWOL [absent without leave] as Republic Bank announced it is suspending disbursement of the remaining $13 billion of the loan because the SPU has used the loan in contradiction of the terms of the loan. The Minister in his usual style, has not found it necessary to speak out on the “hijacking” of a GuySuCo property in La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara, by the SPU/NICIL to establish a swanky “rum shop” for the privileged in Government to hang out. We know that even the docile GuySuCo management is outraged by this “hijacking”, using GuySuCo funds taken from the $30 billion loan to create a swanky “rum shop”. The Minister needs to stand with GuySuCo and not be docile.

It was encouraging to see the Minister venturing out to “speak” his mind. But it is not like he does not want to know anything about sugar, he wants little to do with agriculture.

Take his silence over the Panama rice scandal. Twenty containers of rice shipped to Panama has been rejected and the Minister is quiet, nothing to say. Many of us are asking: Do we have a Minister of Agriculture?

ouths of Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) recently took advantage of employment opportunities offered by the Guyana Airways Corporation Inc as the company held a job fair for residents in the mining town.

The initiative, which was hosted in collaboration with the Linden Enterprise Network (LEN), saw youths being given priority in filling out application forms for various vacant positions at the entity. Guyana Airways Inc Human Resources Director Shevanna Carrero said it was a means of assisting the community’s youths in finding suitable employment.

“We’re here to basically extend an application process to the town of Linden, because we know that Linden is a little stifled in terms of

Lindeners filling out application forms during the job fair

employment for young people...So far, we’ve got a good response in terms of the application process,” she noted. She added that overall, the company was seeking to employ over 1000 persons in various capacities.

“So far, we have already had 4000 applications pro-

cessed,” she explained. As the company grows and extends its air service to other countries, Carrero said more employment opportunities would be made available to more Guyanese youths. The company has offered employment opportunities for pilots, flight attendants, air mar-

Steelpan music ignites Botanical Gardens …as 8 schools participate in friendly performance

A section of the students who participated in the friendly steel band presentation called “AMITY” at the Botanical Gardens, Georgetown

E

ight schools from across Guyana on Sunday participated in a friendly steel band presentation called “AMITY” at the Botanical Gardens, Georgetown.

The mini concert brought the curtains down on Education Month 2018.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Administrator Lorraine Barker-King in her opening remarks expressed that the event was held to focus particularly on the art form, since the Ministry was a strong advocate for arts in schools. To compound this, she noted that Guyana was the only Caribbean territory that has a unit specific for the arts in the Education Ministry. The unit of allied arts was awarded by the Guyana Cultural Association of New York for its highly commendable work as an educational enabler in expanding expressive arts in the Guyana school system. This event was held under the theme, “Education for a good life through innovation and STEAMS”.

The Dolphin Secondary, West Demerara Secondary, North Georgetown Primary, Lodge Secondary, St Rose’s High, The Bishops’ High School, President’s College and GBTI Buxton Steel Orchestra brought the Botanical Gardens alive with sweet music.

“AMITY” was designed to create a common platform for exhibiting the skills of students in the art form of steel pan. It endeavours to promote an atmosphere of friendship, love, peace, and tolerance among Guyanese.

The programme aims to pro-

mote the expressive arts of dance, drama, music, visual

arts and physical education in schools.

shals, engineers and clerical staff among others. In spite of controversy whereby the company is currently battling with the Deeds and Commercial Registry to keep its initial name, the company continues to make moves in promoting the airline.

Recently, it placed several banners across Georgetown demonstrating the company’s determination that it was here to stay. The company has so far hired 120 Guyanese. Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Colin Abrams recently told Guyana Times that as the company sought to sort out the name of the airline, it was moving ahead with promotional work since this went a long way in telling the Guyanese people that the airline was soon to commence operations here. In August, Guyana Airways had announced that it was hoping to commence operations this month (October) and would see daily flights to a number of Caribbean destinations and eventually the United States of America.

However, the company landed in the controversy with Government after its name was struck from the Companies Register since its name was identical to two other companies which operated as flag carriers for Guyana. The company’s CEO has since threatened to take the Government of Guyana to court over the matter.

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wednesdAY, october 3, 2018

Regional

Trinidadian who tried to steal plane in Florida New hummingbird species is being deported and banned from US entry spotted in Ecuador

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he Trinidadian aviation student who tried to steal an American Airlines plane at an airport in Florida last month, is to be deported to the land of his birth tomorrow, and will be barred from entering the United States again, under a plea deal he reached with prosecutors.

And law enforcement officials in the twin-island republic say they’re prepared for his return home. Nishal Sankat – the 22-year-old aviation management student at Florida Institute of Technology and son of former principal of the St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies, Professor Clement Sankat – on Monday pleaded guilty to the charge of burglary of a conveyance. Prosecutors dropped charges of trespassing and

Nishal Sankat at his court appearance on Monday

grand theft.

He was sentenced to time served at the Brevard County Jail Complex – 12 days – where he had been on suicide watch; and ordered to pay US$909 to cover the cost of the Melbourne Airport Police Department investigation into the inci-

dent which took place at the Melbourne International Airport in Orlando, Florida.

His commercial pilot’s licence, which he received in January, is also being revoked.

Sankat, a dual citizen of Trinidad and Tobago and Canada, had no prior crim-

inal history.

In the early hours of September 20, 2018, he got out of his car – which he left idling – outside the Melbourne International Airport, jumped the perimeter fence and boarded a plane which had been parked for maintenance. He was confronted by a maintenance supervisor and a technician aboard the aircraft and was subsequently arrested by Police.

The incident triggered an airport security lockdown which lasted five hours.

Prosecutors said Sankat planned to steal the plane to harm himself. Professor Sankat had told the media in Trinidad and Tobago after his son’s arrest, that he had been very depressed earlier that week. (Excerpt from

Caribbean360)

UAE to fund renewable energy projects in the Caribbean

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he United Arab Emirates (UAE) is proceeding with US$34.5 million in grants to fund renewable energy projects in the Caribbean that are built to withstand Category-5 hurricanes and located for enhanced resilience.

The UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and Environment Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi made the announcement at the second annual Bloomberg Global Business Forum, held on the sidelines of the recent 73rd Session of the United

Nations General Assembly in New York.

The US$34.5 million comes on the heel of US$15 million of projects announced last year. Al Zeyoudi described plans for seven new projects in Belize, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia. He also announced that the UAE had increased its allocation by 50 per cent to the rebuilding of the Barbuda power system, devastated by Hurricane Irma, in order to relocate and strengthen its main plant,

where a solar and battery solution will be installed.

The Minister additionally announced that the UAE will allocate US$12 million for the next cycle of the fund, to be launched in January 2019 at the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

In tandem with the Bloomberg Global Business Forum, Minister Al Zeyoudi also participated in the One Planet Summit organized

by President Emmanuel Macron of France. The UAE is a core member of a sovereign wealth fund working

group on carbon accounting, announced under the summit.

UAE foreign aid for renewable energy has reached nearly US$1 billion since 2013. In addition to the UAE-Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund, the UAE notably has launched the US$50 million UAE-Pacific Partnership Fund, which has implemented projects in 11 Pacific island countries, and runs a US$350 million soft loan facility with IRENA. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Jamaica and Russia sign visa waiver agreement

J

amaica and Russia have signed a reciprocal agreement to waive the visa requirement for travel to their respective countries. The agreement will allow mutual visits of citizens of Jamaica and Russia for up to 90 days per year for tourism, cultural exchange or business purposes.

Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith signed the agreement with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergei Lavrov in the margins of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

“Both Minister Lavrov and I agreed that the Visa

Abolition Agreement will not only facilitate increased people to people exchanges, but will support the growth of tourism. We were both pleased to note in this regard, that new flights commenced this year between Moscow and Montego Bay,” she said.

Johnson Smith said the signing of the reciprocal Visa Exemption Agreement brings parity in terms of ease of travel for nationals from both countries, noting that a 2014 arrangement had allowed entry into Jamaica by Russians, which arrangement had also been clarified by the new agreement.

She said the agreement would undoubtedly facil-

Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith signed the agreement with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergei Lavrov in the margins of the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York

itate increased trade and economic activities between the countries, and allow nationals the opportunity to

travel more easily to either country for pleasure. (Excerpt

from Caribbean360)

The male of the species has a dark blue neck and a white breast with a black stripe

A

new species of hummingbird has been spotted and identified in Ecuador by a multinational team of ornithologists. The bird has been named Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus, or blue-throated hillstar, for its deep blue neck and is about 11cm (four inches) long.

Ecuador, which is rich in biodiversity, is home to 132 hummingbird species out of the more than 300 in the world. Ornithologists say there are only about 300 blue-throated hillstars and that the species is in danger of extinction.

Francisco Sornoza is the ornithologist who led the team of researchers from Ecuador, Venezuela, Denmark and Sweden which made the discovery.

He told Agence France Press news agency that he had a hunch it could be a hitherto unknown species as

soon as he spotted it through binoculars in the barren south-western highlands of Ecuador.

The area is historically poorly explored by ornithologists and the population of blue-throated hillstars is relatively small. Its habitat at an altitude of between 3000 metres to 3700 metres (10,000 to 12,000 feet) between the provinces of Loja and El Oro near the Pacific Ocean is threatened by mining. Sornoza, who has been studying hummingbirds for more than 30 years, said it had a slightly curved beak which it uses to reach the flowers of the chuquiragua, a shrub also known as the “flower of the Andes” or “flower of true love”.

It can consume up to double its weight in nectar and its heartbeat drops at night to deal with the cold temperatures, he said. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

T&T Govt says Sandals hotel project will spur economic growth in Tobago

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he Trinidad and Tobago Government says the construction of the 750 room Sandals and Beaches Resort represents a major turning-point for the economy of Tobago.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert, delivering the TT$51.7 billion national budget to Parliament on Monday, said that the hotel will be owned by Trinidad and Tobago and equity partners and is in keeping with the objectives of the newly established Tobago Tourism Agency that is already developing and marketing the Tobago tourism product as a leisure-based location.

“Within this framework, the Sandals Golden Grove Tobago Project represents a major turning-point for the economy of Tobago. The Sandals and

Beaches Resort will be built at Buccoo/ Golden Grove,” Imbert said, adding that it will be managed and operated by Sandals Resorts International.

He said the resort will have approximately 500-750 rooms and up to 2,000 permanent employees with significant linkages to the local economy.

“The economic impact of Sandals will be substantial, including estimated income to the Government of US$80 million per year in taxes and other payments. The project will add significant value to the tourism industry as we continue our drive towards sustainable economic development and diversification away from oil and gas,” Imbert told legislators.

Debate on the budget begins on Friday. (Jamaica Observer)

St Lucia to improve health coverage with World Bank loan

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he World Bank’s board of executive directors has approved US$20 million from the International Development Association for strengthening Saint Lucia’s public health care system by improving accessibility, efficiency and responsiveness of

key health services. The heath system strengthening project will roll-out a package of health services, introduce financial incentives to improve service delivery, as well as upgrade health infrastructure and scale up preparedness and response for public health

emergencies. Life expectancy has increased in recent years and reached 75 years in 2015.

However, non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and heart diseases have increased and remain the leading cause of mortality. Recent outbreaks of chikungunya and

cases of zika have also highlighted gaps in public health preparedness and response.

Specifically, the project aims to ensure that at least 100,000 people on the island of 178,000 inhabitants are registered to the National Health Scheme by the end of

the project. It also ensures that at least 60 percent of diabetic and hypertensive patients over 18 years old are treated according to national protocols in public primary health care facilities. In addition, primary health care centres will be equipped to serve

as the first point of detection for selected infectious diseases. The project is financed by a US$ 20 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) with a final maturity of 40 years and a ten-year grace period. (Excerpt

from Caribbean360)

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guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Prehistoric art hints at First woman Physics lost Indian civilisation Nobel winner in 55 years T

he discovery of rock carvings believed to be tens of thousands of years old in India's western state of Maharashtra has greatly excited archaeologists who believe they hold clues to a previously unknown civilisation, BBC Marathi's Mayuresh Konnur reports.

The rock carvings – known as petroglyphs – have been discovered in their thousands atop hillocks in the Konkan region of western Maharashtra.

Mostly discovered in the Ratnagiri and Rajapur areas, a majority of the images etched on the rocky, flat hilltops remained unnoticed for thousands of years.

Most of them were hidden beneath layers of soil

and mud. But a few were in the open – these were considered holy and worshipped by locals in some areas.

The sheer variety of the rock carvings have stunned experts – animals, birds, human figures and geometrical designs are all depicted.

The way the petroglyphs have been drawn, and their similarity to those found in other parts of the world, have led experts to believe that they were created in prehistoric times and are possibly among the oldest ever discovered.

"Our first deduction from examining these petroglyphs is that they were created around 10,000BC," the Director of the Maharashtra state archaeology department, Tejas Garge, told the

BBC. The credit for their discovery goes to a group of explorers led by Sudhir Risbood and Manoj Marathe, who began searching for the images in earnest after observing a few in the area.

Many were found in village temples and played a part in local folklore.

Garge says the images appear to have been created by a hunter-gatherer community which was not familiar with agriculture.

Dr Shrikant Pradhan, a researcher and art historian at Pune's Deccan College who has studied the petroglyphs closely, said that the art was clearly inspired by things observed by people at the time. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Iraq names new President and premier, ending deadlock

I

raq’s Parliament on Tuesday elected as President Kurdish politician Barham Salih, who immediately named Shi’ite Adel Abdul Mahdi Prime Minister-designate, ending months of deadlock after an inconclusive national election in May. The presidency, traditionally occupied by a Kurd, is a largely ceremonial position but the vote for Salih was a key step toward forming a new Government, which politicians have failed to do since the election.

Under Iraq’s Constitution, Salih – a British-educated engineer aged 58 who has held office in both the Iraqi federal and Kurdish regional governments – had 15 days to invite the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc to form a Government. He chose to do so less than two hours after his election.

Since Saddam Hussein was toppled in a 2003 US-

T

T

he Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to a woman for the first time in 55 years.

Donna Strickland, from Canada, is only the third woman winner of the award, along with Marie Curie, who won in 1903, and Maria Goeppert-Mayer, who was awarded the prize in 1963.

Dr Strickland shares this year's prize with Arthur Ashkin, from the US, and Gerard Mourou, from France. It recognises their discoveries in the field of laser physics.

Dr Ashkin developed a laser technique described as optical tweezers, which is

used to study biological systems.

Drs Mourou and Strickland paved the way for the shortest and most intense laser pulses ever created. They developed a technique called Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA). It has found uses in laser therapy targeting cancer and in the millions of corrective laser eye surgeries which are performed each year.

Speaking to the BBC, Dr Strickland said it was "surprising" it had been such a long time since a woman had won the award. However, she stressed that she had "always been treated as an

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Catalan leader issues ultimatum to Spanish PM over independence Barham Salih, Iraq's newly elected president, delivers a speech at the parliament headquarters, in Baghdad, October 2, 2018

led invasion, power has been shared among Iraq’s three largest ethnic-sectarian components.

The most powerful post, that of Prime Minister, has traditionally been held by a Shi’ite Arab, the speaker of parliament’s by a Sunni Arab and the presidency by a Kurd.

A former Vice President, Oil Minister, and Finance Minister, Abdul Mahdi

now has 30 days to form a Cabinet and present it to Parliament for approval. He faces the daunting tasks of rebuilding much of the country after four years of war with Islamic State militants, healing its ethnic and sectarian tensions, and balancing foreign relations with Iraq’s two major allies - Iran and its arch-foe the United States. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Indonesia quake, tsunami death toll climbs to 1347 he death toll from an earthquake and tsunami on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia has climbed to 1347, according to the country's disaster management agency, as rescue teams scramble to search for survivors buried in the rubble from the deadly disaster.

Authorities and aid workers struggled to reach the affected areas made inaccessible by damaged infrastructure on Tuesday, four days after the disaster hit Palu, a small city about 1500km northeast of the capital, Jakarta, and other parts of Sulawesi Island.

Dr Donna Strickland shared the prize for discoveries in laser physics

equal", and that "two men also won it with me, and they deserve this prize as much if not more than me".

The award comes a few days after a physicist gave a "highly offensive" lecture at the Cern particle physics laboratory in Geneva in which he said that physics had been "built by men" and that male scientists were being discriminated against.

He has since been suspended by the research centre.

Dr Strickland called the physicist's remarks "silly" and said she never took such comments "personally".

The last woman to win the physics prize, German-born American physicist Maria Goeppert-Mayer, took the award for her discoveries about the nuclei of atoms.

Polish-born physicist Marie Curie shared the 1903 award with her husband Pierre Curie and Antoine Henri Becquerel for their research into radioactivity.

The award is worth a total of nine million Swedish kronor (£770,686; US$998,618).

Some remote areas have been largely cut off after Friday's magnitude 7.5 quake triggered massive tsunami waves, destroying roads and bridges; their losses have yet to be determined. More than 65,000 homes have been damaged and at least 60,000 people have been displaced and are in need of emergency help, according to the government. "Experts here say that just by looking at the devastation, one must expect the number of those dead to rise in the coming days because many areas remain unreachable and the full extent of

the devastation has yet to be realised," said Al Jazeera's Jamela Alindogan, reporting from Makassar, a port city in eastern Sulawesi.

Earlier, President Joko Widodo called for reinforcements in the search for survivors, saying everyone had to be found. About 1700 homes in one Palu neighbourhood were swallowed up, with hundreds of people believed buried, the national disaster agency said. Among those killed in the area were 34 children at a Christian bible study camp, a Red Cross official said. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

T

he Catalan President, Quim Torra, has threatened to withdraw his crucial parliamentary support for Spain’s minority Government unless it offers a new plan for regional independence by the end of the month.

His ultimatum to Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish Prime Minister, came a day after protests to mark the first anniversary of Catalonia’s unilateral independence referendum ended with riot Police charging towards demonstrators outside the regional parliament.

Torra, a hardline nationalist who has been accused of stoking up the direct action that marred the commemoration, said the

region’s patience “is not infinite” and called for a meeting as soon as possible.

“If there is no agreed mechanism by November, then the pro-independence parties will no longer guarantee stability in the Spanish Parliament to Pedro Sánchez,” he told the Catalan Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.

Sánchez came into office through a vote of no confidence in the conservative administration of his predecessor, Mariano Rajoy. But to do so, he had to rely on the support of Basque and Catalan nationalists.

As Sánchez’s Socialist Workers’ party has only 84 of the 350 seats in Spain’s parliament, it is reliant on

smaller nationalist parties to pass the budget and other key parts of its legislative agenda.

However, the Spanish government dismissed the threat on Tuesday evening.

Its spokeswoman, the education minister, Isabel Celaá, told Torra that while negotiations on greater Catalan self-government remained on the table, the Sánchez administration would not be dictated to.

About 180,000 people were estimated to have gathered in Barcelona on Monday to mark the anniversary of the referendum and show their support for Catalan independence.

(Excerpt from The Guardian)

34 migrants drown in Mediterranean shipwreck, 26 survivors - UN

S

ome 34 migrants have died in a shipwreck in the western Mediterranean, which 26 people survived, the UN migration agency said on Tuesday, citing the Moroccan navy and a

Spanish aid agency.

Joel Millman, spokesman of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), told Reuters: “The boat was adrift since Sunday with 60 people aboard. At least 34 have drowned, it

looks like there were 26 survivors.”

The information came from the Moroccan navy and a Spanish non-governmental oragnisation Caminando Fronteras, he said. (Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesdAY, october 3, 2018

ARCHIE

Start a dialogue with someone who can help you (March 21- with the lifestyle changes April 19) you want to make. A debate will give you plenty to think about and will help lead you to make a wise choice.

ARIES

An emotional shock is TAURUS best controlled. Anger will not (April 20- help and may lead to a change May 20) of heart. If you love someone, give him or her space to think matters through.

dilbert

Work hard, play hard GEMINI (May 21- and don’t get caught up in June 20) what others do. Gossip could lead to a costly mistake that will disrupt your relationship with someone in charge.

How you approach others will make a difference. Use (June 21- your imagination and charm July 22) to attract someone you’d like to do business with or get to know better.

CANCER

Peanuts

Say what’s on your mind LEO and discuss your intentions (July 23- and plans with others. It’s Aug. 22) best to have approval before starting something so you can avoid setbacks.

A change at home or to VIRGO your lifestyle will lead to in(Aug. 23teresting developments.

Sept. 22) Children and people from your past will offer intriguing alternatives.

Calvin and Hobbes

Consider the best way to LIBRA (Sept. 23- get a job done and get movOct. 23) ing. Taking a unique approach will be a learning experience and will leave a lasting impression.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — DIAGONAL (DIAGONAL: dye-AG-uh-nul: Denoting a straight line joining opposite corners of a square, rectangle, etc.)

Use your strength, knowlSAGITTARIUS edge and experience to help (Nov. 23- you get things done on time.

Dec. 21) You can ward off a change you oppose by stepping up and taking the reins.

Average mark 30 words Time limit 40 minutes Can you find 44 or more words in DIAGONAL? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — REALTY rale rate real relay rely earl early aery alert alter arty late later

layer lyrate lyre tale tare teal tear teary tray trey yare year

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Take a break to gain perSCORPIO spective on something you (Oct. 24are trying to accomplish. An Nov. 22) emotional situation can be resolved if you do something thoughtful that others will appreciate.

solution for last published puzzle

Put a new spin on the way CAPRICORN (Dec. 22- you treat someone you work Jan. 19) or live with to convince him or her to accept, or at least try, the changes you are considering.

Stick to what you know AQUARIUS and can afford. Refuse to let (Jan. 20- changes that someone else is Feb. 19) making disrupt your plans.

Say no to a costly joint venture.

Put all your ideas on the PISCES (Feb. 20- table and consider your best March 20) plan of attack. A kind gesture will win favors as well as someone’s heart. A romantic evening will be rewarding.

wednesdAY, october 3, 2018

19

South Africa Women’s tour of West Indies…

T20 champs hitting form as series winds down – looking to wrap up series tonight

D

efending World T20 champs West Indies Women will be hoping for brilliant weather as they seek to finally wrap up a dominating T20 home series against the South Africans when the fourth T20 bowls off tonight at 19:00h.

A soggy outfield at the Brian Lara Stadium at the same venue on Sunday resulted in the third T20I being abandoned without a ball being bowled.

South Africa are desperate for a win to keep their hopes of a series victory alive, after the world champs eased to a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, with just a game left apart from tonight’s encounter.

Windies have been savage leading up to the Women’s World Cup hosted in the Caribbean next month. The Proteas have been playing well, but the class of leading T20 spinner Anisa Mohammed, Captain Stafanie Taylor, Hayley Matthews, Deandra Dottin and others have been a handful as they continue to dominate their opponents.

Dottin, with nine wickets, is the leading wicket-taker while South African Marizanne Kapp could be gunning to surpass the Windies seamer and add to her seven wickets. Natasha McLean, who played an unbeaten innings of 40-odd to see the Windies home in the second game, is the leading run-scorer with 80 runs, gapping Kapp, who also comes in second on the batting charts with 44 runs.

Both sides have been playing to their best with some individuals from the ODI series not returning the same form in the shorter version. The Windies have shown great strength in their batting department with a number of big players like Shemaine Campbell not being called upon in a crisis.

South Africa have looked good since their arrival a few weeks ago and skipper Dane van Niekerk herself has been in tremendous form as she ended the ODI series as the leading run-scorer with 176 runs. Her returns in the T20s have been small as herself and the likes of Laura Wolvaardt have not yet fired, but could play big innings tonight.

A win at Tarouba in tonight’s highly-anticipated day-night affair will seal the series for the hosts who

Marizanne Kapp

Natasha McLean

look to find their form and the right combination in the side ahead of their title defence which is quickly approaching. West Indies won the first match by 17 runs

before romping to an emphatic nine-wicket win in game two, but were forced to sit back as torrential rains prevented play a few days ago. (Clifton Ross)

Beaton, Ramkissoon among top karatekas at GKF senior national championships

Karatekas of the 2018 National Senior Championships pose following a successful tournament

T

he Guyana Karate Federation (GKF) concluded a successful Senior National Championships this past Sunday as Keith Beaton, Roger Peroune and others shined during the daylong competition.

The Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) came alive with top perfromances by the fighters in the two categories – Kata (forms) and Kumite (sparring).

The competition commenced with the Kata, which saw exceptional performances as Jayanti Ram emerged winner in the Female 14-17 Kata, earning herself the first place, with Jessica Callender and Rehuma Holder placing second and third respectively.

In the Male 14-17 Kata, John McGrath copped the first place as Roy De Younge and Trevon Miller came in second and third. In the Female 18 and Over Kata, Wanda Agdomar came out on top, while Kristine Ramkissoon and Aolione Griffith placed second and third respectively.

The Male 18 and Over Kata saw the match for the coveted first place between last year’s finalist and 2017 champ Peroune and Malcolm Francis (2017 runner-up).

Peroune brought his A-game and earned the first-place spot once again, Francis placed second and Otho Harris placed third.

First place in the Female

Team Kata went to Team Association do Shotokan Karate-Guyana (ASK-G) comprising Agdomar, Ramkissoon and Griffith.

Second place was taken by Team Guyana Karate College (GKC) – Genoveva Buelna, Ram and Nalini Rampersaud.

Male Team Kata saw Team ASK-G comprising Peroune, Francis and Avinash Ramgolam coming out victorious; earning second was National Martial Arts Association (NMAA) with members Rodwell Alleyne, Ryan Alleyne and Dillon Hyman and Team Berbice Shotokan Karate Dojo (BSKD) with members Mahadeo Ramotar, Shemar Parkinson and D’Andre DaSilva placed third.

The Female 14-17 Kumite saw Callender gaining first place and Reheima Holder placing second. In the Male 14-17 Under 68kg Kumite, Shakeem Walcott earned first place, Kevin Bradford second and Roy DeYounge third.

The Male 14-17 68kg and Over category saw Mark Wong placing first, Trevon Miller and Jerral Barker earning the second and third positions respectively. The Female 18 and Over minus 61kg Kumite saw Ram placing first in this division and Buelna earning the second place. The Female 18 and Over minus 76kg Kumite saw Griffith placing and Agdomar earning second.

In the Female 18 and

Over, 76kg and Over Kumite, Ramkissoon earned first place and Rampersaud second. In the Male 18 and Over, Under 67kg category, Ryan Alleyne won first place, Ramgolam second and Harris third.

The Male 18 and Over, Under 84kg Kumite saw Parkinson win first place, Angelo Harris second and Rodwell Alleyne third. In the Male 18 and Over, 84kg and Over contest, Beaton won first place against Dillon Hyman who came in second (the two athletes have met in the finals of the senior nationals on numerous occasions) with Samuel Monroe earning third.

In Female Team Kumite,

first place went to Team ASK-G comprising Agdomar, Ramkissoon and Griffith, and second place was taken by Team GKC – Buelna, Ram and Rampersaud.

Male Team Kumite saw Team NMAA featuring Rodwell Alleyne, Ryan Alleyne and Hyman came out victorious, earning second was Team ASK-G, with Beaton, Parkinson and Ramgolam.

Meanwhile, the organisers extended gracious and heartfelt thanks to the National Sports Commission (NSC) for all the assistance it offered leading up to this exceptional competition and thanked the volunteers, athletes, and the public as well.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesdAY, october 3, 2018

2018/19 CWI Regional Super50 Cup Round 1…

Defending champs, Red Force collide in opening round – Windies B, Canada battle in 2nd match

W

indward Islands Volcanoes will commence their title defence against exchamps Trinidad & Tobago Red Force in their backyard, while West Indies B tackle Canada in the round one clash of Group A teams.

Match one at the Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago, will see the champs looking to open up their account with a win while the star-studded Red team will most certainly be out gunning to upset the champs from the get-go.

Skipper Denesh Ramdin will feel relaxed with a full, fit Nikhil Dutta

squad, m i x e d with seniors and upcoming stars.

With Cricket West Indies (CWI)

making mandates for international selection through domestic performances, many franchises see the return of a number of big international players.

The Red Force is no different with Kieron Pollard, Lendl Simmons, the Bravo brothers Dwayne and Darren, Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine and

Test opener Kyle Hope.

Pollard, Lewis, the Bravos, Simmons, Mohammed and Ramdin accounting for the core of the batting while Narine, who usually operates as an opener these days, could also play a big role in both departments along with fellow spinners Imran Khan and Kharry Pierre. Pacer Ravi

Over title. Despite their lack of big names, the Volcanoes are still a fiery unit in both departments. Their batting will, and has always, revolve around the veteran Windies opener Devon Smith, who has been the leading run-scorer for the past few seasons or among the top five.

Tyrone Theophile,

Ronsford Beaton

Kieron Pollard

Jason Mohammed all set to feature in this year’s tournament. The international bevy of batters in the Red Force could see the champs chasing a big score if the Trinidadians bat first.

The team also include dynamic wicket-keeper Nicholas Pooran and former West Indies

Rampaul who has been doing some time in England and the veteran Rayad Emrit will be trusted with the new ball.

Windwards, while not decked out with the big names such as their opponents, showed that cohesiveness and confidence within the franchise are their tools for victory as they upset the Barbados Pride last season to claim their fourth 50-

ex-Windies batsman Kirk Edwards and Kaveem Hodge will be looked upon to shoulder majority of the batting responsibility along with Smith. The Volcanoes make up for their lack of real fire-power in the batting arena with some class limited-overs bowlers. Windies seamer Kesrick Williams; left-arm pacer Obed McCoy, who had a good 2018 Hero Caribbean Premier League

(CPL); seasoned left-arm swing bowler Kyle Mayers and former Windies off-spinner Shane Shillingford will form a potent bowling unit.

It will be important for both sides to get their respective campaigns underway; Windwards mainly because they are the champs and the Force owing to them playing the opening game and the majority of the Cup in Trinidad and Barbados.

Over at the Brian Lara Cricket Ground, a few miles away, Windies B, who have been on a limited-overs role this year, will lock horns with the Canadians. Both sides recently engaged in a number of invitational games and tours over the past few months with the Caribbean side being the slightly better team.

The B side are without regular captain Anthony Bramble, who is the Guyana

Jaguars Vice Captain and Wicket-keeper but the likes of Kimani Melius, veteran Marlon Samuels, the ex-Windies U-19 World Cup winning pair of Guyanese Tevin Imlach and Bajan Chemar Holder, Yannic Cariah and others add variety to the team.

The Windies side will also see a return to regional cricket for Guyanese/Windies pacer Ronsford Beaton, who could use the tournament as a launchpad back into the Windies team after remodelling his bowling action. Canada will be no slack side as they have been playing good cricket over the past year while producing stars like mystery spinner Nikhil Dutta, who played CPL in the past, Nitish Kumar and Guyanese Dillon Heyliger who is a top batsman. Both matches are set to bowl off at 14:00h. (Clifton Ross)

Lindeners urged to support ICC Women's World T20

W

ith the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women's World T20 slated to commence in Guyana next month, Lindeners were on Tuesday urged to be part of the action as a cricket sensitisation outreach headed to the mining town in Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice).

The World T20 which is themed, "Watch this", will bowl off from November 9 to 24, with the top 10 teams facing off in the first-ever standalone Women's World Cup. Media facilitator John Ramsingh, who was part of the activity, said the aim was to sensitise the public to make residents aware that the tournament was headed to Guyana and to encourage attendance.

He noted that the tournament was a very significant one, with lots of players who are now kick-starting their ca-

reers on the international scene, while others are looking to end theirs on a high note.

The sensitisation, he said, aims at ensuring persons from all walks of life across the country get an opportunity to be part of the

games. "It's the first time that the Women's World Cup would be played by itself.

Previously, it used to be played alongside the men's tournament...so, it is the first time it will be a stand-alone tournament.

Windies are the defending champions and it is an opportunity for them to defend their title at home. Guyana is going to be a very important venue, because … we have matches here – we have the opening matches that are very important.

We're going to get off on a winning note before we move off to St Lucia and Antigua where the finals will be," he explained.

Ramsingh said tickets for the matches were currently on sale online and would be physically on sale from October 29. The tickets, he pointed out, are being

Media facilitator John Ramsingh poses with the staff of Republic Bank

sold at the affordable cost of $500, as he noted that this is another reason why persons should show support.

During the activity, the sen-

sitisation team handed out flyers and met with persons in the community. Residents were also afforded the opportunity of taking photos

with the ICC Cricket Bat. The team also met with staff of Republic Bank, which is a major sponsor of the game in the Caribbean.

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21

Corporate hospitality for ICC Women’s World T20 T

he International Cricket Council and Cricket West Indies announced their partnership for the corporate hospitality for the upcoming ICC Women’s World T20 tournament in the West Indies.

Goddard’s Catering Group will be responsible for delivering the VIP hospitality experience for the first round matches at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia as well as the semi-finals and final at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua. GK Inc has been appointed to deliver the VIP catering experience for first round matches at the National Stadium in Guyana.

Goddard Catering Group has been a major player in the region for several decades and has worked at various levels in cricket, including the ICC Cricket World Cup 11 years ago. GK Inc. has been involved in corporate hospitality catering at international cricket events in Guyana since their inception in 2011.

Pedro Corbin, Regional Manager Caribbean Operations, Goddard Catering Group: “Goddard Catering Group is extremely proud to be associated with Cricket West Indies (CWI) once again on the world stage, having been appointed as the official Hospitality Caterer for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2018 in St Lucia and Antigua.”

“The success of the company’s involvement in the ICC Cricket World Cup [2007] has no doubt played a great part in this decision.

This speaks to the professionalism the company has displayed in being a part-

ner for these international events.”

Ramdeo Kumar, Managing Director of GK Inc said: “We are extremely pleased to be associated with this mega sporting event, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, and we look forward to hosting all our local and foreign guests at the matches – giving them a big Guyanese welcome – our world renowned hospitality and a piece of black cake and taste of pepper-pot. This event will boost Guyana’s presence on the world’s tourism landscape and our team is eager to play our part in ensuring the guests enjoy the games and have an unforgettable experience.”

The tournament’s corporate hospitality will feature the “ultimate suite package” and promises a worldclass, high-qualify spectator experience at three fantastic venues. Guests will be able to sample the finest cuisine and premium beverages as well as view the game from the best vantage points available.

This is the sixth edition of the ICC Women’s World T20 tournament and the second time it is being held in the West Indies. This is the first stand-alone Women’s World T20 after the previous five editions were held along with the ICC Men’s World T20.

Windies are the defending champions, having won the last edition in India in April, 2016. Australia have won the tournament three times while England and the Windies have won it once each.

The hosts are placed in Group A along with England, South Africa, Sri

Pedro Corbin

Nelecia Yates

Lanka and Bangladesh, while Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Ireland are in Group B. The tournament will run from November 9 to 24 and matches will be played at National Stadium in Guyana; the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia and the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua.

ignated deejay, cultural displays, food and drinks.

Ticket prices have been set at US$40 (EC$100) for the semi-finals and US$60 (EC$150) for the finals.

Taslim Gordon, Director of MYST Carnival said: “MYST Carnival has been involved in cricket for more than a decade. We remain committed to increasing the love and passion for the game and cricket attendance. Cricket, like carnival, fosters Caribbean unity and integration and for that we are happy to be partnering with the CWI on the upcoming WT20 to maximize the nexus between carnival and cricket.”

Nelecia Yeates, Head of Commercial for the ICC Women’s World T20 said: “We welcome MYST Carnival to the tournament as our official host of ‘De Party Stand”. They are the right fit. They know what the cricket fans love and the atmosphere we require in the party stand, and they can deliver. They have an amazing team and we know they will provide the right vibes for our local spectators and visitors.”

Party stand!

The International Cricket Council and Cricket West Indies, on Tuesday, announced their partnership with MYST Carnival as the official party stand operator for the ICC Women’s World T20 2018 in the West Indies.

MYST Carnival has been a key player in Antigua and Barbuda’s carnival scene for several years and is seen as the ideal fit to host “De Party Stand” for the semi-finals and final. These matches will be played on November 22 and 24 at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.

The concept of party and cricket originated in Antigua in the 1980s and it will form a key part of the spectator experience for the upcoming event, with all-day entertainment by artistes, a des-

Brathwaite to lead CCC in Super50

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sports

indies T20 skipper, Carlos Brathwaite, will not be with his Barbados Pride in this season’s edition of the Cricket West Indies Super50 competition.

The all-rounder has been asked, instead, to guide the progress of the Combined Colleges and Campuses Marooners.

The team is filled out by a number of players who have been there and thereabouts, producing good performances from time to time.

Players like Kyle Corbin, Nicholas Sookdeosingh and Amir Jangoo are expected to take leading roles, along with the likes of Yannick and Kjorn Ottley.

However, there still is a fair bit of inexperience in the squad with players like Jermaine Levy, Jonathan Drakes, Linton Buchanan, Nicholas Kirton and Ojay Shields yet to make names for themselves.

The Marooners will open their campaign at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill campus in Barbados against the Jamaica Scorpions, as part of a Zone B double header on Thursday.

In the other game on the day from Group B, Barbados and the Leeward Islands will square off at the Kensington Oval, while the United States, the other team in the group will remain idle.

The Scorpions will be lead by, once again, by veteran spinner, Nikita Miller.

He will be supported by Chris Gayle, Chadwick Walton, and Rovman Powell.

The Scorpions are potentially a very powerful side when the inclusion of Fabian Allen, the returning Nkrumah Bonner, pace bowlers Oshane Thomas and Jerome Taylor, as well as spinner Christopher Lamont, who showed himself to be a dangerous customer in the Hero Caribbean Premier League when he got a game for the St Lucia Stars. (Sportsmax)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesdAY, october 3, 2018

BCB/ANSA McAL Skyy Vodka 20/20 Tournament…

RHT, Upper Corentyne advance to final H

igh-level cricket returned to the Upper Corentyne area on Sunday, and residents turned up in large numbers to witness the semi-finals of the 2018 Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Skyy Vodka 20/20 Tournament at the Number 69 Vikings Ground.

The stands were packed to capacity while spectators also lined the boundary

Shawn Pereira

boards around the Ground.

Upper Corentyne and Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets advanced to the final after recording victories over Albion and Skeldon.

Both games were closely contested as all four teams fought all the way, to leave the large crowd on their feet.

In the first match, Albion, batting first, were restricted to 104 all

out in 20 overs. Ritesh Umroa (22), national player Jonathan Foo (21) and Ramesh Kassinauth (18) were the principal scorers while Upper Corentyne’s Devendra Budhoo took 2-15, Devendra Chatterpaul claimed 2-19 and A Roopchand bagged 2-20.

Albion, expertly led by Foo, defended the small total with purposeful bowling and fielding, but two attacking innings from Rishi Persaud (39) and Latchman Roopchand (35 not out) saw Upper Corentyne to 106 for 6 from 19.3 overs.

National Under-19 left arm spinner Kevin Umroa took 3-18 while off-spinner Karran Arjpaul picked up 2-19.

In the second semi-final, Skeldon won the toss and surprisingly invited RHT to take first strike despite the Number 69 pitch proving difficult for stroke playing.

National Under-19 players Kevin and Junior Sinclair added 32 for the first wicket in six overs before Errol Byass trapped Junior Sinclair lbw for 7.

RHT then slipped to 323, after losing two more wickets for no runs. They eventually struggled to 63 for 6 at the end of the 13th over before National Under-19 player Kevlon Anderson produced a classy

The victorious Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets Cricket Team

innings of 45, which included a single boundary.

He received crucial support from all-rounder Keith Simpson (20) to add 50 for the seventh wicket. RHT reached 125-8 from 20 overs as medium pacer Jermaine Reid took 4-12 while Byass supported with 2-30.

Skeldon began their chase aggressively and raced to 50-2 from six overs as Naresh Deo (34) and Ryan Ramdass put up two

GFF does bit for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

A

s Guyana observes Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has once again collaborated with the Guyana Cancer Foundation to spread awareness of the issue of breast cancer in Guyana.

This year’s partnership began on October 1 when two members of the National U-20 team – Javier Smith and Adrian Aaron – took time from their daily training to participate in the annual tree-wrapping exercise on Camp Street, Georgetown.

“I feel proud to participate in this activity to spread awareness of breast cancer,” said Smith at the conclusion of the event.

“Breast cancer affects everyone even though women are more directly affected. I was happy to be among those who wrapped the trees this year to raise the level of consciousness among persons about this condition,” the defender added.

Aaron, who participated in the activity for the first time, said he was also proud and happy to participate: “I was also delighted to see so many persons having an interest in breast cancer awareness and trying to educate others about it. It was

National U-20 players Adrian Aaron (left) and Javier Smith engage in some tree wrapping in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

also good to have footballers as part of this important activity. Hopefully next year, I can be a part of it too.”

The tree-wrapping exercise was held between Lamaha and Church Streets.

Among those also present were First Lady Sandra Granger, Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green, Health Minister Volda Lawrence, members of the diplomatic corps and other representatives of corporate Guyana and civil society respectively.

This is the third year the GFF, as part of its corporate social responsibility, is partaking in Breast Cancer Awareness Month activi-

ties. The first year saw the Golden Jaguars participating in the tree-wrapping and outfitted in pink jerseys as part of their warm-up session for the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) 2016 Scotiabank Men's Caribbean Cup Championship match against Jamaica.

This year, the GFF will also participate in the “Pink Friday” and “Pinktober Walk/Run” activities respectively even as the National U-20 team prepare for the group qualifiers of the CONCACAF Men’s U-20 Championship being held November 1-22 at the IMG Academy, Florida, USA.

good cameos. However, the introduction of Captain and leg-spinner Shawn Pereira changed the course of the game as he spun webs around the confused Skeldon batsmen to end with 5-9 from four overs.

No other Skeldon batsman reached double figures as the home team were bowled out for 88, much to the disappointment of the large crowd. Eon Hooper and Kevin Sinclair took two

wickets each for 10 and 21, respectively.

The grand finale is scheduled for Sunday, October 14, at the same venue. Albion and Skeldon are scheduled to battle for third place while the winner of the tournament walks away $100,000 richer.

BCB President Hilbert Foster was full of praise for the massive turnout of spectators while he was also very impressed by the co-

operation of the Number 69 Vikings Cricket Club.

The Club, with the help of overseas donors, undertook emergency work at the venue valued more than $700,000 to accommodate the final of the tournament sponsored by ANSA McAL under its Skyy Vodka brand.

Foster also committed to taking more major First Division matches to the area in the future.

BCB/Raffik Construction 100-Ball Tournament…

RHT, Albion reach historic final T

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) created history when it became the first Cricket Board in Guyana and the West Indies to host a 100-Ball Tournament, which involves 14 six-ball overs and two eight-ball overs. The Tournament has now reached the final stage, with arch-rivals Rose Hall Town (RHT) Bakewell and Albion Community Centre Cricket Club set to battle for the prize.

They both easily won their semi-final matches, with Albion Community Centre Cricket Club crushing Chesney Cricket Club by nine wickets while RHT breezed past Courtland Cricket Club by 110 runs.

The Berbice cricketing public is accustomed to seeing these two teams in a Berbice final with several promising talents on both sides.

Playing at the Chesney Ground, Albion routed the home team for a meagre 48.

Chesney Cricket Club lost the kingpin of their batting, Imran Khan in the third over when he was caught and bowled by left arm spinner Mahendra Chaitnarine for six with the score on seven.

They never recovered as the Albion spinners never released the pressure which was backed up with brilliant fielding.

Avinash Deonarine

Erva Giddings

Surendra Kissoonlall

(11); S Khan (13) and Imran Kamaladin (10) were the only players to reach double figures as Chaitnarine’s 3-9 and Joshua Harrichand’s 3-12 were impressive for the opposition.

Albion, in response, raced to 50 for 1 in 4.3 overs, with Ritesh Umroa unbeaten on 30 and Jeetendra Outar not out on 11. Ramesh Kassinauth was the only batsman dismissed, bowled by Narine Deonarine for 8.

Edwards. National Under-19 player Junior Sinclair and the elegant Surendra Kissoonlall then added 101 for the second wicket before Sinclair was dismissed for a well-played 48.

Kissoonlall went on to score a classy 63 while Berbice Under-19 Player Keith Simpson supported with 27. J Johnson took 2-31 for Courtland as RHT reached 179 for 5 from their allotted 100 balls.

Courtland, in reply, were destroyed by West Indies left-arm female pacer Erva Giddings and National Under-15 off-spinner Jonathan Rampersaud. Giddings took 4-15 from four impressive overs while the talented 14-year-old Rampersaud took 3-6.

Meanwhile, the BCB will announce the date and venue for the final shortly.

Popular businessman and contractor Mohamed Raffik is the sponsor of the Tournament.

A t the Area H Ground, RHT won t h e toss and batted first.

They lost their in-form captain, Kevin Sinclair on the first ball of the innings when he was caught and bowled by Leyland

wednesdAY, october 3, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana close out Caribbean Championship with bronze A

Chelsea Edghill in action

fter an amazing week at the 60th Caribbean Table Tennis Federation (CTTF) Senior Championships in Jamaica, the Guyanese team ended their 2018 run on a high note, copping three bronze medals.

National men’s champion Christopher Franklin, Trenace Lowe and Chelsea Edghill were the only Guyanese who made it into the semi-finals of the senior singles round and although they did not make it into the final, the trio played their matches valiantly to clinch the bronze.

In the semis, Lowe suffered a loss to the dominant Dominican

Exciting Intermediate Championships set for this weekend

GABA President Steve Ninvalle

A

s the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) prepares for a weekend of heated punches and jabs, Association President Steve Ninvalle promises that the Lennox Blackmoore National Intermediate Championships will be filled with excitement.

The annual event, which is opened to all intermediate gyms, will see a rise in participants in 2018.

“We expect to have over 50 boxers participating in the intermediate competition,” Ninvalle revealed.

T h e G A B A President

23

went on to disclose that this year’s competition was even more special given that gyms from more remote areas have indicated their participation.

“It is historic in the sense that it is the first I think in such a competition in this country that we’re going to have gyms participating from Region Eight, Region Nine and Region One,” he stated.

Added to those areas, boxers hailing from Regions

Three, Four, Six, Seven and 10 are already billed for this weekend’s action.

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) gym are expected to return to defend their championship.

However, the competition will be stiff as their old adversaries, Republican Gym (Prisons) are also making their return after a hiatus, owing to their gym being destroyed in the Camp street fire.

“It is expected to be three nights of exciting boxing and then we’ll turn our attention to the National Open,” Ninvalle related.

The National Open in mid-November will act as a precursor to the Caribbean Championships, which are slated for December 6-9.

The first punch will be thrown at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, at 19:00h on Friday, October 5. The competition will run until Sunday, October 7; admission is $1000 for ringside and $500 for the stands.

Highlighting that the competition is part of the developmental process, Ninvalle noted: “The more competitions that they have, is the better for them [the athletes]. We’ll be able to have a panoramic view and see what some of the deficiencies that they might have are and what are their attributes.”

Rising star Keevin Allicock of the Forgotten Youth Foundation’s gym was last year adjudged best youth boxer while GDF’s Kevin McKenzie copped the best elite boxer accolade.

Lennox Blackmore, who the competition was named after, won Guyana’s first Commonwealth title in October 1977 after he pummelled Nigerian Jonathan Dele on points in Lagos to lift the lightweight title.

Republic’s Yasiris Ortiz 3-4. Ortiz eventually went on to take the gold medal in the women’s singles. The first set was Ortiz’s 11-4, but the second went to the Guyanese 14-12. The match became intense when Ortiz took two sets 11-5, 11-4, but Lowe struck back with two of her own, 118, 11-5. Lowe almost tasted victory, but narrowly missed the last set, losing 11-13 to the eventual winner.

Edghill was pitted against another strong Dominican Republic player and suffered the same fate as her countrywoman losing 9-11, 3-11, 6-11, 2-11. Edghill’s bronze will add to her well-deserved Under-21 gold medal.

Over in the male singles, another Dominican Republic athlete was the one to stop Guyana in their tracks as Samuel Galvez edged past Franklin 9-11, 10-12, 9-11, 5-11. Despite the loss, Franklin played brilliantly to push his opponent to four sets.

At the senior Caribbean Championships, Guyana won two silver medals in the male and female teams categories, two bronzes in the women’s doubles, three bronzes in the men’s and women’s singles and the highlight of the tournament for the locals was the gold medals from Shemar Britton and Chelsea Edghill in the male and female Under-21 category.

Mixed fortunes for Chess Olympiad team T

he Guyanese contingent at the 43rd World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia continues to experience mixed fortunes as both the male and female teams struggle to hold on to some consistency.

The teams have now completed eight rounds of games and although they looked promising in the sixth recording their first win, the chess players continue to drift between wins and losses.

After a bleak showing in the earlier rounds, the Guyanese team surprised their opponents in the form of Rwanda with a scintillating victory. Guyana’s highest ranking male Anthony Drayton continues to excel at the competition, as he led the charge in the ground-breaking win. Drayton executed the Guicco Piano on his opponent Fidele Mutabazi. Control of the game went back and forth between the players, but it was the higher ranked Drayton who had better tactics.

The experienced Taffin Khan also got a taste of the sweet as he brought in Guyana’s second win. The Guyanese candidate master capitalised quickly on a number of his opponent’s Maxence Murara’s falters to secure the game.

New to the international team is Glenford Corlette who made an impressive showing for himself. Corlette pressured Alain Niyibizi into making silly moves after a lethal attack on his castled king. Corlette went as far as sacrificing his queen, and his match was seen as one of Guyana’s best.

Despite not being able to clinch the win, Loris Nathoo settled for a draw against Urwintwari Murara, paving the way for Guyana’s 3.5 -.5 win.

The women showed similar grit in their encounter with Tanzania. With no less expected of her, Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Maria Varona Thomas conjured a Sicilian defence that demolished the opposing Asha Kondo.

With the young Nellisha Johnson and Sasha Shariff going down to Zahabiyah Ebrahim and Alapati Navini Choudary respectively, it was up to the experienced Sheriffa Ali to save face for the Guyanese women. Her lengthy encounter with Bertha Samson resulted in a stalemate, giving the women a 2-2 draw.

In the next round, the positions were switched for the Guyanese as the women won and the men missed out.

In their 3-1 win over the Mauritius team, Johnson showed her true potential

Anthony Drayton

after coming back from the edge to take her opponent’s queen. Ali had similar luck, taking apart Essoo’s Scandinavian defence for the win. Shockingly, Varona Thomas was unable to get past her lower ranked adversary, thus settling for a draw. The youngest, Shariff also copped a draw resulting in their 3-1 win.

The men’s figures looked similar, but this time they were on the lesser side, losing to Malta 3-1.

Khan, Nathoo and Corlette all lost to their rivals from Malta, and it was Drayton who clinched Guyana’s only point in the game. Drayton with the Sicilian Defence in his corner took control of the game.

The eighth round held more promising prospects for Guyana’s men as they now met Tanzania. Both Drayton and Khan recorded wins against Yusuf Mdoe and Albert Njau respectively. Nathoo and Corlette had better rounds than their previous, settling for draws against Hemed Mlawa and Nurdin Hassuji, resulting in their 3-1 win.

However, the eighth round was not as good for the women who went down 5.3-.5 to Kenya. Playing against Joyce Ndirangu, Varona Thomas was the only player to salvage a half point for Guyana, as the other ladies Ali, Shariff and Johnson lost.

The Guyanese team have three more rounds of play remaining.

WEDNESdAY, october 3, 2018

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

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Lindeners urged to support ICC Women's World T20

Page 20

Member of Parliament Jermaine Figueira holding the cricket bat and posing with students who will be attending the ICC Women's World T20 games here in Guyana

Mixed fortunes for Chess Olympiad team Page 23

South Africa Women’s tour of West Indies…

T20 champs hitting form as series winds down – looking to wrap Page 19

up series tonight The Guyanese chess team in Batumi, Georgia

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