Guyana Times Epaper - Friday, October 5, 2018

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2500 persons to benefit from low-income homes Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Friday, October 5, 2018

Issue No. 3707

NIS will collapse if it pays unemployment benefits – Jagdeo Page 3

...says Minister Jordan’s idea absurd and unrealistic Border controversy

Page 9

Canada remains supportive of Guyana’s territorial case

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Some MPs P12 submit declarations to Integrity Commission – Chairman …wants to amend aspects of the Act

DEMTOCO on ‘compliance drive’ for new tobacco laws – new MD P7

IICA celebrates 43 years in Guyana

Minister Holder says IICA has greatly assisted agriculture P15 sector

Albouystown youth remanded for shootingrobbing dog P8 food vendor

Community Health Workers, Midwives and Doctors of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) along with the PAHO/WHO consultants and REO Denis Jaikaran at the beginning of a two-day workshop hosted with the aim of reducing maternal deaths from haemorrhage in the Americas

Motorcycle bandits strike again, rob welder of US$5000 Page 7

3 nabbed

by CANU with 5kg cocaine

Page 16

Vendor charged for $1.4M gold P8 heist Over 2000 lbs P9 of trash collected during Coastal Cleanup

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fridAY, october 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, October 5 – a night retraction at 01:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Saturday, October 6 – a night retraction at 02:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, October 5 – 13:40h-15:10h and Saturday, October 6 – 14:35h-16:05h.

NIS will collapse if it pays unemployment benefits – Jagdeo …says Minister Jordan’s idea absurd and unrealistic

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals can be expected throughout the day, with clear skies expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 21 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

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

High Tide: 13:45h reaching a maximum height of 2.39 metres.

Low Tide: 07:09h and 19:39h reaching minimum heights of 0.79 metre and 0.83 metre respectively.

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Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has rubbished the idea proposed to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) by Finance Minister Winston Jordan to consider issuing unemployment benefits, stating that it was not only unrealistic but had the potential to cause a collapse of the Scheme.

At a recent event to mark NIS’s 49th anniversary, the Minister urged the NIS Board to consider the proposal and have it implemented for a short period of at least six months. He said it could help address the country’s social and unemployment problems.

But Jagdeo has said that the idea did not take into account the current financial status of the Scheme and its ability to meet its current obligations. He noted that the last actuarial report recommended that focus be placed on building the reserve to avoid a deficit.

In fact, it was disclosed in that report that the life of the Scheme should come to an end in 2021/22 unless strategic plans for revenue earnings and expansion of the investment portfolio were effectively implemented.

“What has happened since is that this Government has fired 7000 sugar workers, many others.

Let’s say maybe 20,000 more have lost their jobs. Take of the 20,000, just take another 8000 who were paying NIS, so those are people who are not contributing to NIS,” he explained.

This translates to decreased inflows for NIS and a payout that would remain constant or increase. In the last financial statement issued by the Scheme, it showed a deficit of over $800 million.

“So, we are already in a deficit, getting worse and then the Minister says pay unemployment benefits. This would cause the

Scheme to collapse immediately. Because if you have to pay unemployment benefits now on top of your routine obligations to individuals, that would cause a collapse of the NIS and every single Guyanese who are making contributions will be at risk.”

The former Head of State noted that Minister Jordan was not too concerned about increasing the intake at NIS to make it more viable, but was suggesting spending more. As such, Jagdeo described the idea as absurd and one that did not result from realistic thought.

He said, “And when this Government is generating a significant part of the unemployment. But he could spend $1.6 billion increase on dietary (food) rather than putting that towards NIS… or he could say the $544 million increase in rental of buildings for Government, we will give this to NIS.” NIS Finance Controller Jacqueline Scotland, who, along with other senior officers appeared before the Parliamentary Sectoral Committee on Social Services in August, had revealed that NIS stood to lose $414 million in earnings this year owing to a combination of factors.

Scotland disclosed that the Scheme’s current fund stood at $31.9 billion as at June 30. It was also noted that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is one of the largest defaulters, owing in excess of $1.5

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

billion to NIS. However, NIS General Manager Holly Greaves told the Committee that the sugar company had paid off the debt, except for $250 million in accumulated interest on the outstanding amount. Greaves said the Scheme planned to take legal action against GuySuCo

to recover the money. It has served a demand notice. “We intend to move to the court to get it,” Greaves stated.

NIS has implemented a debt management section to pursue persons who owe the Scheme. But, even with this new system, there are fears about continued slippage of contributions, as against the payment of benefits. This year, NIS is expected to pay out $23.6 billion, with contributions projected to reach $23.2 billion.

With the closure of the Skeldon, Rose Hall, Wales and East Demerara factories, which saw close to 5000 workers being fired, NIS could see significant loss of contributions. And with an aging population, NIS has incurred an increase in payments of at least $2 million each year. As such, NIS could move to recommend an increase in payments in the near future. (Samuel Sukhnandan)

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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

GECOM’s posture

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he spate of reforms that begun in the early 1990s were intended to drastically transform the manner in which elections are administered in Guyana at the local, regional and national levels. Those reforms were also specifically designed to ensure that Guyanese could have confidence that their will was being protected and reflected in the outcome of elections which should at all times be transparent, free and fair.

This is exactly the reason behind a decision to put enough measures in place to ensure that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) is insulated from Executive interference in the performance of its functions. And by virtue of Article 226 of the Constitution, GECOM, like other constitutional Commissions, shall not be subject to the direction and control of any other person or authority. As a consequence, schedules for the conduct of general, regional and Local Government Elections are decided upon by the Commission once a date for the election is announced by the President.

Also, it is the Commission which decides on the location of polling stations and counting centres; assignment of voters to polling stations, arrangements to be made in and around polling stations and counting centres and all related matters. It is also the Commission’s responsibility to correct any reported deficiencies and valid objections made before, during or after the staging of elections at any level.

As of late, there have been a slew of criticisms from the main Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) about the process and the alleged indifference displayed by the Commission to flagrant violations of electoral law and time-honoured procedures as well as practices.

The PPP has been raising alarm across the country too that there may be sinister plans in place to rig the upcoming Local Government Elections because of GECOM‘s posture and its unwillingness to assist the Party in addressing the concerns of many of its candidates.

GECOM too, surprisingly, has been quite in the midst of many of these allegations offering only basic and blanket comments to media personnel who enquire about the entity’s rationale behind many decisions that appear odd.

Even though Nomination Day concluded last week, GECOM has not yet offered an official reason why it could not remove people’s names as backers and candidates before the deadline was arrived at, despite them stating publicly that they were fooled into signing lists for the A Partnership for National Unity, the Alliance For Chance and to a lesser extent the PPP. The entity has failed to address concerns raised about the disappearance of its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at critical intervals of the electoral process when duly appointed Commissioners were seeking their intervention to resolve various problems.

Surely, these two most senior GECOM officials understand the ‘danger of the single story’ being told by the PPP and reported in the press and on social media.

Their integrity demands that they immediately address all of the concerns of the Opposition and ruling parties contesting the upcoming polls.

Integrity in public life also demands that they do all that is necessary to sanitise the voters if there are dead people, non-nationals and overseas-based Guyanese contained therein.

GECOM cannot allow the Opposition or any stakeholder to get the impression that it is losing its independence or becoming politically biased. It can illafford a resurgence of the view that its officers were being compromised and part of a process that allows for rigged elections at the local level. The entity must be seen at all times professional and completely independent as the Constitution envisages.

It must understand that the blunders made at the 2015 elections are still fresh in the minds of many and the PPP’s campaign to expose anything it deems sinister has not ended. This means that GECOM must assert its creditability and salvage its reputation if any stakeholder is to back the results that will emanate from the upcoming LGEs.

Some of the locally produced products on display at the open Day hosted by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), on Thursday in celebration of its 43 years of existence in Guyana (Adam Baksh photo)

Guyana has most abusive and burdensome vehicle tariff system Dear Editor, In letters to the Editors of Stabroek News, Kaieteur News and Guyana Times, published on September 30, 2018 with the apt captions of “Working Class Guyanese relegated to drive old vehicles” and “Guyanese relegated to drive old vehicles”, there is a response published on October 4, 2018, captioned “Taxes have been reduced for approximately 90 per cent of vehicles imported into Guyana”, and there are attached two tables that are as confusing as cricket is to the American from Wisconsin.

The letter was signed by my friend and colleague, the Commissioner General of GRA, Mr Godfrey Statia.

Of course the GRA article was published in the nation’s newspaper, Guyana Chronicle, and headlined “GRA debunks Nigel Hinds claims”. Chronicle is eager to publish a response, but not the original letter. I avoid sending them letters; the Guyana Chronicle masquerade is decades old.

The GRA letter, written in a scattered and obscure manner, leads me to think that Mr Statia did not write the letter. The stringing together of a web of words and references that are not related to the core of my contention -- that Guyanese are relegated to drive old vehicles -- speaks for itself. And may I add that Guyanese are priced into seeking low-cylinder-capacity vehicles that tend to be low technology, have poor safety records, and are underlined by subpar performance and the

need for constant repairs and maintenance?

The GRA tables focused on vehicles 2000cc and under, disregarding the tax rates for vehicles over 2000cc that I included in my previous letter, and which most Guyanese would love to own; relegation to third class status indeed.

The GRA letter writer -and I use this term respectfully -- is apparently not the Commissioner General of GRA, as his written submissions are of premium quality. The letter writer veers off into Government’s scrabbling, mystifying and seemingly inexplicable experimentation for a Green Guyana Economy, eco-friendly vehicles such as electric, hybrid and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vehicles. “Guyana is poised to take the lead in the region and soon implement the most modern version of the Harmonised System (2017) version of the Common External Tariff (CET)…” another heavyweight handed segway; unrelated to the essence of the subject matter; another pie in the sky.

Then we have the oxymoronic claim that a 3000cc “economy class” vehicle is also a “high end” vehicle, such as the Mazda SkyActiv…

Where in the world can you obtain new or newish vehicles such as a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry for cost, insurance and freight (CIF) of US$7,500, as mentioned in the GRA letter, without getting the dregs and discarded vehicles from the developed countries?

GRA then proudly shows

in the table that revised cumulative taxes for vehicles under 2000cc and less than four years old attract a revised cumulative tax rate ranging from 65 per cent to 82 per cent, virtually double any vehicle tariff in the region. Are we Guyanese not being treated most unfairly? To quote from the GRA letter: “GRA, with its limited capacity, is sometimes overwhelmed…” Lo and behold, GRA is now responsible for auditing Exxon Esso’s pre-contract costs. Why are we digging Government’s policy graves that diminish the capacity of Guyanese to thrive?

Allow me to digress to a more personal matter, due to the insinuations in the GRA letter. When I re-migrated to Guyana in November of 2011, I was granted duty free concession on a 2006 Lexus 330. On December 13, 2014, on my way down from the Vryman’s Erven Basketball Court in Berbice, I was on the verge of crashing into the elevated road median located at Perseverance, MahaicaBerbice, around 8:00 pm, in what visually was a pitchdark night. Fortune favoured me that night, as I veered off the road and smashed into a massive mango tree; three air bags inflated, two on my side and one for my friend and passenger, Linden Hunte, the technology and safety features of the vehicle saved our lives. The vehicle was virtually totalled/ written off. The good neighbours in Perseverance took us to the Mahaica hospital, where our minor injuries were treated.

After having the vehicle parked in my garage for approximately one year, it was sold for $1.5 million, with all the necessary documentation given to the buyer… Some two years after the sale, I was contacted by a GRA officer and told that a vehicle in my name was seized.

It appears that the buyer had brought in a much newer Lexus 330 from Suriname and used the number plates from my wrecked Lexus and other documents to import the vehicle, without paying the sky-high taxes. Why does Suriname pay a 25 per cent to 40 per cent tax rate?

The last I saw of the Lexus imported from Suriname was at GRA Headquarters in late 2017, still bearing number plates from the wrecked Lexus.

Regarding my lack of French/au fait relating to the vehicle tariffs, I will say a noose of a different size is still a noose.

Guyanese are paying world beating vehicle tariff rates that are injurious, self-defeating, and draconian to the spirit and soul of the Guyanese people. Ask the Antiguan, Surinamese, Trinidadian, Barbadian or Jamaican, and then we see how we are cursed with these nonsensical vehicle import tariff rates pre- or post2016.

Let me conclude by hereby giving GRA the right to waive confidentiality rules relating to me, and permit publication of a ‘shame on you’ list relevant to me.

Sincerely, Nigel Hinds

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

Let us be inspired by October 5, 1992 to reverse the negative trends of this regime Dear Editor, October 5, 1992 has gone done in our history as one of the most important dates in Guyana. The election of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to power marked a radical change in our country; a change that saw the beginning of prosperity for our people and nation.

The PPP/C had inherited a bankrupt country. Our foreign debt was the biggest in the world per capita. It is apposite to quote here a sworn affidavit by Mr. Carl Greenidge, who was the last Minister of Finance of the PNC regime. He said, “…

Guyana is one of the poorest countries in the world and the second poorest in the Western Hemisphere.

As a consequence, it is classified by the World Bank as an IDA-eligible country, requiring grants and highly concession loans for development purposes. By 1989, Guyana’s external debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio was approximately 925 per cent, with approximately US$1.9 billion in debt, including US$1.4 billion in arrears, owed across the spectrum to international institutions, foreign country donors, commercial banks and other creditors. In 1990, the external debt to export ratio was 951 per cent. Between 1986 and 1990, Guyana’s average annual debt service payments were 153 per cent of fiscal revenues.”

He went on to say, “……

During the mid-1980s, the Government had fallen into such serious arrears with its multilateral, bilateral and other lenders that lend-

ing from institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the World Bank, as well as bilateral lending, was cut off…”

Guyana had become a Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC). That situation seemed almost impossible.

The PPP/C Administration worked tirelessly with all stakeholders to halt the decline and reverse the trend. By the time the Party left office in 2015, Guyana had not just stopped the downward slide, but we became an Upper Middle Income Developing country.

This is what the IMF and World Bank said of our country. We must all be proud of this great achievement.

While the PNC hurricane damaged every sector of the country’s social and economic life, the sugar industry went through the fall gamut and bore the full brunt on PNC/APNU+AFC vindictiveness and spite.

By 1990, the PNC regime had so mismanaged the industry that we were importing sugar. Production had slumped to just 129,000 tons.

Since the PNC was going to sell the industry for pepper corn, at a meeting with the GAWU in 1990, the PNC economic adviser Kenneth King told the union that the PNC regime was selling for US$45 million. However, the regime had to do a lot of work before the buyer could take it over. It was then they hired Broker Tate to prepare the industry for privatisation.

After taking office in 1992, the PPP/C reversed the tide. Production went

well above 300,000 tons. It had reached 331,052 tons just before the floods of 2005 and 2006.

The industry then had to confront a series of challenges. First were the floods in 2005 and 2006, then came the drastic cut in the price of sugar sold into the European Union by some 36 per cent.

Then there were the issues with the new Skeldon Factory, which Broker Tate was responsible for.

It was clear that the industry needed to be restructured. GuySuCo began a programme to do just that. A lot of work had gone into mechanisation in the fields, and to add value to sugar and sugar-related products. Already, the industry was giving much power to the Guyana Power and Light.

Plans were afoot to refine sugar, set-up another distillery, and also to produce ethanol. Molasses was being bottled and sold as health food. The industry had established two packaging facilities -- at Enmore and Blairmont.

Cost-cutting measures such as producing liquid fertiliser and compressing the bagasse for burning in the factories to substitute for wood were being put in place.

The plan was to break even by 2017, and to begin to once more make a financial surplus by 2018.

The industry was on track to achieve this goal.

That could have been seen by the performance in 2015.

In that year, the production targets were met and even surpassed at some estates.

The PNC-led APNU regime abandoned the plan and moved to close the sugar

industry. So far, they have shut down three estates.

In order to ensure that the industry dies, they are saddling it with more huge debts. Thirty billion dollars were borrowed from the commercial banks, which they said were to be put into the remaining estates. However, from all the information available, not much is getting to the industry.

Instead, the money is being squandered in fun projects like the bar, swimming pool and other facilities for the elite in the regime to enjoy. I understand that such a facility is benefit constructed at LBI. This is nothing short of criminal.

After all, more than seven thousand workers have been sacked in the industry. They have not even been paid their severance. However, the rulers are in party mood, they are determined to have a good time at the people’s expense. They are building facilities to ‘sport’, while workers and their families are on the brink of starvation.

How can one understand this callous attitude of the regime?

In the first place, it goes to their policy of racial and political discrimination.

The PNC-led APNU hates the sugar workers because of their historical militancy and the fact that the majority are Indian Guyanese.

Recall that the PNC was the main recruiter of scabs for Bookers before nationalisation. It was one of those scabs who drove the tractor that killed Kowsilla during the 1964 strike for union recognition. This latest act is not only against sugar workers, but also against the work-

Property evaluation: Another burden being placed on suffering Guyanese Dear Editor, The Government of Guyana (GoG), through its Ministry of Communities, is carrying out an axiological survey; or, simply put, an assessment of properties housed in its municipalities.

Starting with the New Amsterdam Municipality, GoG hopes to sweep through the rest of Guyana on an upgrade in property evaluation and the concomitant tax regime.

In the ministry's agenda, most of the laws governing property evaluation in our towns and city are antiquated and direly need an upgrade so as to bring in expensive foreign valuators to add that "authenticity flair" to their tax dealings. They have dressed up this exercise under the Municipal Property Assessment Canada (MPAC), so they can now have that free rein to tax the daylight out of

Guyanese.

The story they are giving us is that this valuation upgrade is going to bring in well-deserved revenues hitherto denied the municipalities by the parasitic rich. But is this the real story; is this the situation that would play out when the real taxation begins? I am afraid not! What is going to happen is additional hardships would be put upon the struggling poor when the upgrade sinks in.

What is going to happen is that more and more of the urban poor property owners would have to put their properties up for sale, because they would not have the means to pay up. Is this the new and improved Guyana we are talking about? Is this the good life?

The fact of the matter is you cannot categorically say you are taxing the rich without hurting the poor.

The poor are bound to come

out losers in any of this arrangement, that's what these idiots do not understand. Poor people form the majority in any community, that’s a fact of life no one can deny; and this backward, idiotic scheme, wherein a few rich property owners are going to make a government arbitrarily up taxes, the end result is bound to bring harrowing consequences, as it already has. The poor are most of us, and as such we are the ones who would face the brunt of the attack.

This Government is cash-strapped for reasons they have created themselves through those wasteful spending sprees and poor initiatives. They lack a modicum of management skills, and have a further lack in economic drive; this has resulted in all of their plans turning out to be total failures, while the populace wallows in poverty or near poverty. This incom-

petence stinks to the high heavens!

Whatever this Government does, you just have to cross-reference to the Burnham era, and you see a carbon copy and a replication of failures and hardships.

People are taxed on the ability to pay; however, in Guyana it is quite the opposite, persons are taxed and given additional burdens when they really do not have the means to pay. A tax-fatigued nation such as ours is stretched to the limit. Guyanese are now flat against the ropes, and it is at this very same time that this PNC-led Government is administering more body blows in the new property tax regime. I say: in times like these we need a saviour, in times like these we need the Lord. Heaven help us all here!

Respectfully, Neil Adams

ing class and trade unionism in general. Their anti-working class positions are on full display in sugar, and with the teachers.

The second aspect is the class nature of the regime.

This group can be described as the bureaucratic capitalist elite. They intend to use their positions in the state apparatus to enrich themselves. They will do so using several means.

First they have given themselves huge increases in salaries. That was also seen in sugar, where people in their eighties and nineties, all close to the APNU/ AFC, were given millions in salaries.

Apart from the hiked salaries, huge allowances are taken by the elite. In the short period of just three years, the regime’s elite ones have become very, very rich.

They have also created alliances with some businesses. Recall the Drug Bond, or the hundreds of millions in procurement without tenders, and also the Guyanese/ American business people procuring for the regime’s Ministry of Health. This is but a small sample where the smell of corruption is very high.

It is widely believed that this alliance with some shady business people is creating huge wealth for the elite.

Another suspicious method is the court settlement taking place. The case of BK International, where approximately one billion was paid to that company on a mere threat of litigation was made public. People cannot be blamed for thinking that something stinks here. This

is but one that has seen the light.

Already, we are seeing the negative impact of this regime’s performance due to a combination of corruption, incompetence and poor policies.

Our debt has started to climb once more. It was less than 40 per cent of our GDP in 2014. Today it is almost 80 per cent of our GDP. I have noted that Minister Jordan stated that Guyana’s debt is the lowest in the region, and we should not be worried. He said this in response to an observation by the Leader of the Opposition.

This is a case of history repeating itself. I recall, in the early 1970s, Cheddi Jagan, in Parliament, was warning that the growing debt was dangerous to social and economic development.

Forbes Burnham then got up to answer, and said that we could borrow because we were credit-worthy.

That wild spending and borrowing then pauperised us. We are on the same road once again.

As we observe October 5, 2018, we must take courage and inspiration in what a free and democratic people can achieve, as was demonstrated by the PPP/C’s 23 years in office. We must take strength and work to reverse this trend that is leading our country back to poverty, nakedness and crime.

October 5, 1992 is a reminder that this trend can be reversed.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

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By Andrea Orr

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ennis, soccer and track. Piano and band. Throw in the additional commitment of weekly Sunday school, and it sounds like a lot, especially to anyone who was raised to just go outside and play. But here’s what I’ve found: Even with aftercare until at least 18:00h every weekday, the demands of homework, regular reading, a pretty busy social calendar and a pet, there remains enough downtime in my nine-year-old daughter’s life that I still have to restrict screen time. And that’s in a household that doesn’t have many screens.

If there’s one parenting cliché more common than that of the overbooked child whose spare time is filled with sports practice, tutoring sessions and music lessons, it’s the one about the pasty kid who languishes in front of video games starved for exercise, fresh air and human contact. Considering that alternative, is being busy so bad?

Many educators, researchers as well as exasperated parents are embracing the benefits of the scheduled lifestyle, especially in this day of so much digital temptation.

Antidote to “Screenagers”?

“Downtime has become screen time,” argues Delaney Ruston, an internal medicine doctor and filmmaker who created “Screenagers”, a 2016 documentary that explores the challenges of parenting in a digital world. One of the main myths Ruston says her film exposes is the notion that children are overscheduled.

Of course, there is value in sitting in a corner reading, playing board games, climbing a tree or just daydreaming. But the reality is that in most homes, screens of one sort or another compete fiercely with all those unstructured activities.

(You can, after all, play a video game in a treehouse.) Among the more alarming statistics, some children today spend more time looking at a screen than they do in school.

On the other hand, engaging kids in soccer, band, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts or even cotillion is a pretty sure way to sever

Foundation

the screen connection, at least for a few hours. And that in itself is a big benefit, even without the added advantage of physical exercise, learning an instrument or improving table manners.

Researchers have been pushing back for some time against this notion that children spend too much time in scheduled activities. A 2008 report on “The Overscheduling Myth” from the nonprofit research group Child Trends, found that “contrary to popular belief, research rejects the notion that most or even many children and youth are overscheduled and suffering as a result.” That report referenced a long list of benefits of scheduled activities, from higher selfesteem to lower rates of drug and alcohol use over time. It also found that children who are involved in multiple activities are usually able to maintain a balance in their lives. Typically, they still spend more time on schoolwork and other unscheduled activities such as informal games, household chores and watching television.

Today, of course, the television is the least of the worries of any parent concerned about screen time. And while individual parents may wage war against screens, too often, the screen wins. Many children carry phones and are required to do a lot of their homework in front of screens, meaning they have a constant source of distraction in front of them.

There’s a tendency among parents to beat ourselves up over our overbooked days. Even as we commit our kids to another lesson, club or sport, we are drawn to articles that ask “Are kids depressed because they don’t just play anymore?” The reality, however, is that while the “just play” model of childrearing may seem more organic and idyllic, that ship has pretty much sailed.

Ruston stresses that parents who have the time and the money to get the kids engaged in activities are the privileged ones. Now that many households of all income levels have some sort of Internet connection, she says the real digital divide is between those families who have technology in relative balance, often with the help of other organised activities, and those who spend too much time on

screens because of a lack of alternatives.

At Alice Deal Middle School in Northwest Washington, sixth-, seventhand eighth-graders can chose from about 70 different after-school activities, from choir to poetry cafe, debate and meditation. It’s a roster that Principal James Albright says is largely designed to “fill the hour between 3:30 and 4:30”.

“I feel there is a legitimate need,” he says, arguing that even a full school day leaves a lot of empty hours to be filled.

“School starts late and ends early and at 3:30, a lot of kids don’t go home to parents. I want families to feel like their kids can stay after school to do something different.”

While Albright has actively encouraged schoolteachers to offer clubs, he says that he is not advocating for a highly scheduled lifestyle so much as working to ensure that children are safe, and involved in something they enjoy rather than going home to an empty house. “Idle time can be a great thing,” he concedes. “But I don’t know that we manage it well with technology.”

Most educators and researchers agree there’s no optimal number of activities; it depends on the kid. And even those who advocate for multiple activities still encourage parents to make some time for their children to just be bored. “For some children, having scheduled activities when screens are hard to resist can be hugely beneficial. But the ultimate goal should be to have a mix of activity and unscheduled downtime,” says Josh Golin, executive director of the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood. “It’s important to let kids be a little bored and see what comes out of that boredom.”

Even as I list all my daughter’s activities, I understand that many of her peers have a lot more going on. And as somebody who fully appreciates the value of downtime, I do think that it’s entirely possible for a child to be too busy. Yet in our house, even though we don’t have any video games and often can’t find the charger to the Kindle, screens do seem to find their way into that elusive downtime. Recently, I prodded my daughter to practise piano, only to discover that she was practising piano— on my phone. (washingtonpost.com)

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our child may not tell you she feels overwhelmed with activities and school work. But headaches or stomachaches could be signs that she's feeling stressed. Is she not eating well? Is she moodier than usual? Not sleeping so well?

It may be time to cut back on some commitments.

Sit down with her and map things on a family calendar so you can see how much is going on. Decide together which activities are more important and then limit them to a few days a week.

Kids should have at least a little time every day when they can do anything – or nothing. Encourage your child to read, listen to (or make) music, ride a bike, or take a walk – whatever helps him recharge his batteries. No matter how old they are, kids need time to relax.

And TV, video games, and computer time don’t count as relaxation. Work with your child to limit his screen time to less than 2 hours a day.

It depends on the kid, but between homework and activities, kids have been having less and less free time since the early '80s. If your child is already super busy, think twice before he adds on another sport, lesson, or club.

Along with time to recharge during the day, you should make sure your child has enough time to settle in for a good night’s sleep. Help them make time to do something relaxing, like a warm bath or reading, before lights out.

If your laid-back kid is suddenly hyper or your well-behaved child now causes trouble, it could be stress. A change in behavior can mean there's too much going on and your kid is having trouble handling it.

Help him deal with stress in a healthy way – taking walks, listening to music, or doing yoga can work well.

Playing sports or a musical instrument can help a child get better grades. But the simple act of eating dinner together at home seemed to better predict whether kids would have higher scores in school, according to one study.

So while it may be tempting to pile on the extra-curricular activities to help your kid get ahead, the answer is to slow down! Schedule family dinners whenever you have a night without practices or meetings.

Keep a family calendar of everyone's commitments. There should be some days without anything on the schedule. Let everyone have some free time.

Having time to recharge and relax is part of living a healthy life.

Forcing kids to "stick with it" doesn’t always teach perseverance or commitment. It may set them up for a lifetime of overcommitting.

Learning how to balance activities and school is an important life skill, too. Talk to your child about why she wants to quit an activity. If her grades or well-being are at stake, consider letting her drop out.

Next time, help make sure she knows what she's getting into before she signs up. If she knows what to expect before she starts, it also may make her more likely to stick with it. (webmd.com)

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fridAY, october 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

DEMTOCO on ‘compliance drive’ Motorcycle bandits for new tobacco laws – new MD strike again, rob welder of US$5000 A

fter months of back and forth within the Public Health Ministry, the Demerara Tobacco Company (DEMTOCO) is now on a ‘compliance drive’ in preparation for the new Tobacco laws, according to its newly appointed Managing Director, Christopher Brown.

The Tobacco Control Act became law back in August 2017 after passage in the National Assembly and subsequent assent by President David Granger. The Public Health Minister was tasked with drafting the regulations that would guide the industry in implementing certain aspects of the new legislation such as ‘no smoking’ signs and packaging and labelling of tobacco products.

But for months, DEMTOCO, a major player in the local tobacco industry, had been awaiting these regulations which the company needs in order to be compliant with the new legislation.

However, Brown recently told reporters on the sidelines of a reception held to familiarise him with local stakeholders that the company has since been able to iron out these issues with the Public Health Ministry.

“We have received those regulations and we have

DEMTOCO’s Managing Director, Christopher Brown

prepared all the requisite labelling and packaging arrangements flowing from those regulations that need now to be placed on our packs. That aspects of the regulations don’t come into effect until February 2019 so we are now in the process of producing, transforming and getting our packs compliant with those new regulatory requirements,” he stated.

According the new Managing Director, while the company intends to wait until the 2019 enforcement date to release the new packaged products into the market, it has been, in the meantime, sensitising stakeholders on the new laws.

“We have already sensitise our customers, retailers and wholesalers on how the

new packs are going to look in terms of the graphic pictorial health images that are going to be on them and other matters that will change,” he noted.

Ask whether stakeholders have a general understanding and acceptance of the changes that the new tobacco laws enforces, the DEMTOCO boss disclosed that there are still some uncertainties among citizens.

“I think they have some concerns and they have questions, and that is why we’ve had discussions with them to educate them and advise them, and to hear their questions. And in cases where we ourselves cannot answer, we have our legal counsels, both locally and globally, to help us walk through those issues,” he added.

Initially, DEMTOCO had some concerns with aspects of the draft legislation but since it has become law, the company is ready to be compliant.

“We have put [our concerns] on the table already as it relates to the Government and we are not about to be in any confrontation on any issues. So we have accepted the legislation as is and as was passed, and we are working with all our stakeholders now to be compliant,” Brown posited.

Moreover, the newly appointed Managing Director further outlined that the company is yet to see any impact on the volume of its sales because of the new tobacco laws.

As part of the phased implementation of the new legislation, the Public Health Ministry initiated an aggressive education and awareness campaign to sensitise the public of the new laws.

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wo motorcycle bandits on Wednesday attacked and relieved a welder of US$5000, along Princes and Chapel Streets, Georgetown.

Twenty-six-year-old Richard Shaw of Lot 9-B Albouystown, Georgetown, was reportedly driving his motorcar PHH 9410 at about 21:15h and as he negotiated a speed bump, he was attacked.

The two perpetrators, according to information received, rode up alongside Shaw’s vehicle on a white XR motorcycle and pointed a gun at him. Fearing for his life, Shaw stopped the car and it

was then the men demanded that he hands over his wallet.

Not satisfied, the pillion rider dismounted the motorcycle and commanded the victim to hand over a black plastic bag which was in the back passengers’ seat of his car.

That bag, according to the victim, contained the money.

After being given same, the two men got back unto the motorcycle and quickly escaped South on Princes Street. A report was made at the East La Penitence Police Station and an investigation was launched.

No arrests were made.

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fridAY, october 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Albouystown youth remanded for shooting-robbing dog food vendor

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n Albouystown welder, Naresh Samaroo was on Thursday remanded to prison for the attempted murder of dog food vendor Shane Cooper.

The 21-year-old man was not required to plead to the indictable charge when he made his appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman.

The charge stated that on September 24, 2018, while in the vicinity of Stevedore Street, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he caused grievous bodily harm to Shane Cooper with intent to commit murder.

Defence Attorney Latchmi Rahamat, in an application for bail, told the court that Samaroo was held beyond the 72hour detention period.

The Police Prosecutor, however, informed the court that the accused was

Attempted murder accused Naresh Samaroo being escorted by Police out of the courtroom

positively identified as the perpetrator who committed the heinous act and as a

result, objected to bail being granted to the accused.

Magistrate Latchman upheld the prosecution’s submission and refused bail to Samaroo. The matter was adjourned until October 17, 2018 when the accused will appear before the Chief Magistrate.

Cooper, of Bamboo Drive, Meadow Brook Squatting Area, was shot to his abdomen and left leg during the attack.

The 26-year-old man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery.

Based on reports, the incident occurred about 20:40h at the corner of Aubrey Barker Road and Stevedore, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown while Cooper was plying his trade as a dog food vendor. After committing the acts, the suspect fled the scene in a waiting motor car.

Vendor charged for $1.4M gold heist

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31-year-old vendor was on Thursday hauled before the courts to answer to a charge of robbery after more than $1 million worth of gold jewellery was stolen.

Leonard Farley, of Lot 3 Grove Public Road, East Bank

Demerara (EBD), denied the charge when it was read to him

by Magistrate Judy Latchman.

The court heard that Farley on September 29, 2018 at Black and White Bridge ,Tucville, East La Penitence while being armed with a knife robbed

Wayne Brakes of four gold chains valued $664,000, eight gold chains $600,000 and a gold band valued $205,000, a total value of $1,469,000.

Defence Attorney George Thomas informed the court that his client was nowhere

near the area when the incident occurred and as such, made an application for bail to be granted in a reasonable sum.

However, Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman remanded him to prison until October 10, 2018.

Speaking…

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…to (Granger) himself? he “Guyana Review” was founded by David Granger in 1993, after he lost his “Security Advisor to Desmond Hoyte” job with the ousting of the PNC from Government. At sometime around 2007, it started to be published by the Stabber News; but with the identical stable of writers and orientation of its coverage – plus no advertising -- Granger had to be still running the show.

After all, the Stabber’s owners are noted tightwads, and your Eyewitness doesn’t see them throwing out 16 pages quarterly as a public service duty!!

Anyhow, the latest edition of the Guyana Review just came out, and it featured a long and meandering interview with --surprise!! -- David Granger! The tone of the interview was so obsequious your Eyewitness swears he almost gagged over several questions. First of all, Granger was addressed as “Excellency” in every question! Not “Mr President” or “Mr Granger”, but just “Excellency”! It was so cringy that you could be forgiven for thinking you were in North Korea!

The substance of the questions – such as they were -- was in the same oleaginous mode. Take this one, for instance: “Excellency, it occurs to me that you are now the leading presidential expert on coalition governments. (!! Sic!) I do not think anybody comes close to you in managing coalition governments in Guyana. (!! Sic!)” Can you believe this? Which other president of Guyana ran a coalition Government, so he can be compared to Granger?? Forbes Burnham, that’s who. And he’s long dead and entombed at Seven Ponds!

For all his vaunted humility, Granger simply simpered: “I would not call myself an expert…”!! He contradicted himself when he claimed he and his coalition partners in APNU and in the Government were successful because they “share a common vision”!! So now the members of WPA should know why Granger doesn’t call meetings of his APNU partners: when you share a vision; you’re in synch and totally sympatico!! There isn’t even a need to hold meetings, since the way Granger carried on, he and his partners had achieved a ‘mind meld”, like we see on Star Trek!!

More pointedly, he described some specifics from this “shared vision”, which included “our commitment… in terms of eradication of unemployment”! Yep! That’s right! “Eradication of unemployment”! Your Eyewitness wonders if Granger’s coalition partner Nagamootoo is sympatico with this, after 7000 sugar workers were FIRED and thrown into the unemployment ranks.

But don’t be disheartened. Granger claimed he passed up on addressing the UN General Assembly because, among other domestic issues, he wanted to deal “with the problems in the sugar industry”!!

Your Eyewitness knows Ministers Holder and Jordan will now be happy the GuySuCo bond issue will finally be settled!?! …on labour’s place The problem when you speak to yourself is you may let slip some things you wouldn’t have wanted to, because you believe no one’s listening. Happened to Granger in his solipsistic interview! Asked about differences of opinion in his Cabinet, Granger smirked that these are always settled harmoniously!! Like with the WPA and the Roopnaraine demotion? Fact of the matter is, he’s dealing with such pygmies – in comparison with his PNC – Granger knows they have nowhere else to go.

So they’ll yap at his heels, but then soon give up!! Like Nagamootoo.

But Granger also explained his “success” with his Cabinet thusly: “Actually, it is a very small Cabinet, with just 15 Ministries.” A Junior Minister like Keith Scott, who runs the “Labour Department”, is under the “Social Protection” Minister, and doesn’t even get to speak directly to Cabinet about “labour’s” travails – even if he wanted to.

And it’s this relegation of the working peoples of this country to a footnote that’ll be the legacy of this PNC Government.

Power to the people! …on corruption in City Hall Asked about “corruption” in City Hall, with a specific mention of the “wharf with three owners”, Granger said, “It’s an urban legend”!!!

Meaning, it’s just a story with no basis in fact!! So why the CoI??

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

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fridAY, october 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Over 2000 lbs of trash Canada remains supportive collected during of Guyana’s territorial case Coastal Cleanup Border controversy

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he Canadian Government says it remains supportive of Guyana’s decision to seek a legal settlement on the border controversy with its neighbour Venezuela.

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee, said her country had welcomed the decision by United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres to send the matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Now that the matter is with the world court, the Canadian diplomat says her country awaits the decision, but will continue to back Guyana which is looking to have the matter resolved peacefully.

“We believe that is the right avenue and we await the results of the ICJ decision. We welcome that Guyana has said that it will live by the decision of the ICJ and we are supportive of Guyana’s position that the rule of law must apply,” she stated.

Chatterjee told Guyana Times that she has also noted that Guyana has sought Canadian legal advice on the matter and her country is also happy about that.

“We welcome the fact that Guyana is seeking legal expertise from Canada to assist with the territorial issues against Venezuela and Suriname,” she added.

In November 2015, Guyana Goldfields, a Canadian gold company operating the Aurora gold mine, had received formal notification of possible legal action by the Venezuelan Government in

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee

relation to its operations in Guyana.

The company has said that Venezuela warned it against mining on land "belonging to them", even though the land is within Guyana's borders as agreed by both countries under the 1899 arbitration agreement.

In a letter reportedly sent by Venezuela's ambassador to Canada, the company was warned that their mining operation was "infringing on the territorial sovereignty of Venezuela".

President David Granger, subsequently accused Venezuela of trying to scare away foreign investors and called for the country to stop meddling in the country’s business.

The mine is one of Guyana's largest investment projects, employing hundreds of people. The company has been developing the Aurora mine, located in the North-West area of Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), for almost two decades.

Nevertheless, in February of this year, the

company announced plans to expand its operations by constructing the country’s first underground mine. This development, it said, should occur within the next four years, and the investment would see a whopping US$120 million being pumped into the project.

When work commences on the underground operations, there would be need to increase the workforce by 75 to 100 persons, which would create job opportunities for locals.

One day after the UN had announced it would be sending the border case before the ICJ for a judicial settlement, Venezuela had rejected the move.

But President Granger has vowed to leave no stone unturned to secure a successful outcome for Guyanese by utilising all the resources necessary to adequately prepare for the case.

Government has maintained that the issue is a legal one and needed to be settled through those means.

The border controversy gained new life when United States-oil giant ExxonMobil announced in 2015 that it had massive quantities of oil in Guyana.

Venezuela has staunchly been against oil exploration in Guyana’s Stabroek Block, where multiple oil deposits were found by ExxonMobil, and has since laid claim to the Essequibo region.

Venezuela has long made claim to around 40 per cent of Guyana's territory, and extended its maritime claims in 2015 after oil was discovered in disputed waters.

Venezuela's current border claim is widely regarded to be a violation of international law. The matter will be heard at the ICJ.

I

n excess of 909 kilograms (2000 pounds) of garbage have been collected from the coastland as Guyana successfully participated in the worldwide observation of the 33rd Annual International Coastal Cleanup.

In collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Caribbean Youth Environmental Network (CYEN-Guyana), a series of activities were organised and executed which allowed Guyanese to partake in the campaign to clean the environment and gather information about the coastal ecosystem. The event saw approximately 300 volunteers from organisations and

schools, joining efforts to collect and record coastal debris.

The clean-ups were conducted at the Kingston Seawall and Number 63 Beach over the past four weeks.

“This data is crucial as it will be processed and used to inform policymakers on developing measures to protect our coast and marine ecosystems. Additionally, it will be forwarded to Ocean Conservancy, who spearheads the event, to be published in an annual global Report on Marine Debris.

Among the trash collected were numerous plastic and glass bottles, tyres, cigarette butts and tins,” a release by the EPA stated. continued on page 12

10 news

fridAY, october 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

2500 persons to benefit from low-income homes T

he Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) will construct 2500 low-income houses in the coming months using a loan that was obtained from the InterAmerican Development

Bank (IDB).

This was related at a sensitisation programme held on Thursday at the Regency Hotel on Hadfield Street, Georgetown. According to CH&PA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lelon Saul, the

homes will be constructed at a cost of less than $4 million each, for persons who are most in need.

“The programme basically will target low-income communities and these communities basically are the

CH&PA CEO Lelon Saul

Sophia, Cummings Park area going along the East Bank…”

Also among the areas to benefit are Westminster, West Bank Demerara; Eccles and Farm on the East Bank Demerara along with Success on the East Coast of Demerara as well as Agricola,

Greater Georgetown.

It was pointed out that persons will be eligible to have a home built if they earn $75,000 or less per month, are citizens of Guyana, already own transported land, and are vulnerable, in that they are exposed to the weather, are single parents or even live in areas prone to overtopping of sea walls.

While the CH&PA has taken on the responsibility of providing materials and labour for construction, the beneficiary will be required to make an equity share contribution of $100,000 and pay small fees for costs related to obtaining a housing plan.

They will be required to make an application to the CH&PA, which will subsequently visit their home to check that the applicant’s present home is uninhabitable.

The homes will be

Some of the houses previously built by Housing Ministry

built under the CH&PA’s Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility Programme.

Under this programme, subsidies of as much as $500,000 will also be granted to persons using the same criteria to improve their homes. These improvement works will include upgrades to walls, roofs and other necessities.

Saul was keen to note that “adequate housing should not be dealt with flippantly, rather it should be seen as a right to live somewhere in security, peace, and dignity”. While the home improvement component of the programme will cost US$10 million, another aspect that will see infrastructural work being done such as the installation of solar powered street lights, construction of walkways and other projects will cost US$16 million.

S RAIGHT Team Granger and the dark side of the sugar business By: Sase Singh; M.Sc. - Finance, ACCA.

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Introduction HY is it so hard for any business transaction in the State Sector to be done ethically in Guyana?

After closing 4 sugar estates and destroying the lives of some 10,000 families in rural Guyana, the sugar industry is no closer to being stable. After borrowing G$30 billion partially in the name of those same people on the breadline, we find that the “arranger of the loan has already collected fees of G$116 million, and the bond trustee (has collected his/her) fee of some G$60 million, but the industry is no closer to stability. So, before a dollar was disbursed to GuySuCo (the intended beneficiary), some G$200 million was leaked to various non-valueadded sources. Where is the value for money spent?

Why did Team Granger go to market for G$30 billion for the sugar industry? I was advised to invest in some identified projects, to stabilise what is left of the functional sugar industry, including some capital works at Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt, a co-generation plant and a white sugar plant. But has any of these sums of money started to progress any of these projects? We are reading that the first tranche of the funds was misappropriated to pay off another bank loan. How is this possible? The bottom line remains that Team Granger is proverbially digging a hole to fill another, as if such financial semantics is the solution to the challenge in the industry. The approach is rookie at best!

With such financial strategies being practised by Team Granger, the debt-ridden, loss-making, mismanaged GuySuCo is no closer to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. The enormity of the challenge confronting the company (including low productivity, substantial financial deficits, a demotivated staff, increased levels of debt, and low raw-sugar prices) means that, more than ever before, GuySuCo needs to be able to focus on moving up the value chain as a means to maximise investment returns without distraction. But this is exactly what is NOT HAPPENING under Team Granger.

The quarrel over this money continues to serve as a blight to the turnaround of the sugar industry. Too many people in the sugar industry, NICIL and the Ministry of Finance are not thinking at a strategic level, but that is a prerequisite when you are dealing with such a complex project.

GuySuCo’s only reliable tangible assets today are its lands (which are under sea-level and are subject to flooding if the D & I system fails). Any sensible banker would know the bank can lend to the industry only on the future cash inflows from the intended investments. So if he lends the funds to build a co-generation plant, he wants to see a co-generation plant being built; not a sports club, or an overdraft at another bank being paid down.

What was done in GuySuCo by the new management team -- by taking money intended for capital works and reallocating it for current expenditure -- is tantamount to fraud, and it really stains the reputation of the current CEO, Dr Harold Davis. He must clean up this propensity within the GuysuCo hierarchy to engage in blatant misappropriation of funds. The company did it before with the workers’ tax deductions and social security payments, which were never paid to the GRA and NIS respectively.

The fundamental feature of every business is to provide profits to the shareholders and stakeholders, but in GuySuCo’s case, for years no one seemed to have benefited from it, save and except the politicians and their business buddies. That is how it was 10 years ago, and that is how it is today, and a change of Government achieved absolutely no gains for the shareholders and the workers.

Actually, they are all worst off today under this Granger Government than they were under the PPP. What we are seeing today is an intensification of the dark side of the business, as there remains weak corporate governance (can you imagine GuySuCo had no board for six months?) and massive acts of continued misappropriation of funds becoming a cultural norm, rather than an exception. Will GuySuCo ever learn from its past mistakes?

Please share your thoughts at sasesin1@yahoo.com.

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fridAY, october 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Jagdeo defends criticisms of Granger’s policies – says he “enjoys my respect, it’s his policies we are critical of”

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

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iven President David Granger’s recent concern about being criticised by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo and his party, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Jagdeo has clarified that the criticisms are targeted at the President’s policies and not him as an individual.

Jagdeo stressed that Granger was chair of Cabinet and was responsible for policies in the Government, unlike ceremonial presidents who do not have to account to the electorate. He explained that Granger held executive power and was the final decision-maker in the current

Government.

President Granger had told a section of the press that former Presidents should not be criticising the current President because they had their time to govern. He also recalled Jagdeo and other Opposition parliamentarians disrupting his speech in Parliament and heckling him.

But Jagdeo maintained that Granger’s concerns were unfair because he (the President) has been critical of the PPP as well. “Our president is an executive president and, therefore, has to account for the policies that his Government is pursuing. So, it is not because we hate President Granger as an individual; in fact, as a Guyanese we share common history, common blood, everything else. But we have to point out the deficiencies of his Government,” the Opposition Leader stated.

Jagdeo said too that while the President has facilitated discourse with him, particularly to look at constitutional matters, he was more concerned with finding a solution to the issues he had raised with him. “It is what he has done about those issues that

are affecting the nation and if he has done nothing about them – although they are affecting the lives of hundreds of thousands of our people all across Guyana, then we have to be critical of him,” Jagdeo explained.

In listing some of these concerns, the Opposition Leader noted that Guyanese at large have been dissatisfied about a $60 billion increase in taxes on food, water, electricity and machinery for the productive sector. Jagdeo said he has also raised concerns about increased borrowing, citing the $100 billion overdraft at the Bank of Guyana, US$150 million of development borrowing, $30 billion bond for the sugar industry, and the failure to issue titles to Amerindian lands.

“So, bringing these things to the attention of the President is not personally disparaging him. The attention that we bring to the public and to him on these matters is to basically ask him to account for his policies,” Jagdeo added, explaining that other issues of concern to Guyanese include the fate of fired sugar workers and those employed in the local bauxite industry. “We have nothing personal against the

President David Granger

President, but we have to get answers to these issues. I will be abdicating my responsibility as Leader of the Opposition if I did not raise these issues,” Jagdeo added. Nevertheless, he said he was committed to working with the Guyanese Head of State on any matter of national importance aimed at bringing progress and/or relief to the Guyanese people.

“Let me make it quite clear here that President Granger enjoys my respect as would any Guyanese, and he – in spite of our concerns about the last elections – he is the President of this country at this point in time and we must all respect that,” Jagdeo stated.

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fridAY, october 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Some MPs submit declarations to Integrity Commission – Chairman ...wants to amend aspects of the Act

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hairman of the Integrity Commission, Kumar Duraisami, has stated that only some Members of Parliament (MP) have so far submitted their declarations to the Commission.

Speaking at its first press briefing on Thursday to update the public on the work of the Commission, Duraisami, an attorney and former Land

Court Judge, explained that the Commission is now trying to get the agency fully equipped to carry out its mandate which includes ensuring public officials declare their assets annually, as required by law.

So far, it was disclosed a total of 1296 letters and declaration forms sent out to public officers – 69 to the National Assembly; 407 to

the various Ministries; 242 to the 10 administrative regions and 576 to the various constitutional agencies. However, only 248 forms were returned to the Commission.

Asked specifically about those received from MPs, Duraisami said not all of the MPs have been complying and sending in their declarations.

Integrity Commission Chairman Kumar Duraisami (centre) along with Commissioner Rosemary Benjamine-Noble and Secretary Amanda Jaisingh at Thursday’s press conference

“Some of them [have submitted their declarations] but I can’t tell you how many. Most of them, I expect, will be complying soon,” he stated.

The Chairman could not give a specific number or say whether these compliant MPs are from the Government’s or Opposition’s side because they are yet to go through the 200 plus forms received since they only moved into their new office in Subryanville, Georgetown, two weeks ago.

However, he lamented that the MPs are not the only ones with outstanding declarations.

In fact, Duraisami outlined that since June, they have been giving several extensions to allow defaulters to comply with the integrity laws. He further added that consideration is now being given for another two-month extension to ensure all those who are required to declare their assets are able to do so, reminding that these per-

The new Integrity Commission office at Fifth Avenue and Church Road, Subryanville

sons can be taken before the courts if they fail to make their declarations.

Moreover, Duraisami posited that while the Commission had a secretariat in place prior to the appointment of the Chairman and Commissioners back in February, persons were not submitting their declarations as required since the law says that the declarations should be made to the Chairman of the Integrity Commission.

In fact, it was revealed that over the past few years, there have only been between five to 20 submissions annually, with only six declarations of assets in 2017.

Nevertheless, having been occupying limited space at the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) since its reconstitution earlier this year, the Integrity Commission recently moved into its new office located at Fifth Avenue and Church Road, Subryanville, and efforts are now being undertaken to secure additional staffing including a legal and compliance officer; two investigators; accountants and a host of other administrative staff.

“We don’t have employees in place right now to run this Commission… We got some advertisements done and we’re hoping to interview some of these applicants before the end of this month so that we can get the organisation fully running sometime thereafter,” Duraisami stated.

The Commission was previously unable to make these employments since they only recently secured a supplementary budget.

The Commission aims to improve public confidence in the integrity of persons in public office by ensuring that they submit their declarations in compliance with the Integrity Commission Act. To this end, the Chairman posited that having pursued the laws governing the operations of the Commission, they have identified some ar-

eas which they feel needed to be amended and so they will have to make the necessary recommendations to the Prime Minister, who has responsibility over the Commission.

Among the issues they have so far identified, the Chairman stated, is the fiscal year of the Commission, which runs from July 1 to June 30 with the deadline for declarations stipulated at June 30. The Chairman noted that they would like this change to coincide with the fiscal year of the Guyana Revenue Authority (January 1 to December 31) and its deadline for the filing of tax returns – April 30.

Furthermore, the head of the Integrity Commission disclosed that they are also looking at the list of public officers who are required to file a declaration of their assets such as board members.

Duraisami referenced a specific case where the chairperson of a Board challenged the declaration because her services were voluntary and she was not receiving a salary.

In addition, the Chairman also indicated that another area they have to look at is the Guyana Police Force whereby only the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners are required to make declarations. However, he noted that they would want to extend this to include the Divisional Commanders as well as the Crime and Traffic Chiefs.

Duraisami added that the same consideration is being given to the GRA, in an effort to rope in those branch managers in the various regions to declare their assets. He mentioned too that officers at the Lands Registry will also have to be included in this bracket since they current have no obligations to make any declarations.

“So we are looking at a broad spectrum of areas where corruption is likely to occur,” the Chairman of the Integrity Commission asserted.

Over 2000 lbs of trash...

FROM page 9

Other groups also coordinated campaigns in Linden and other sections of Georgetown.

International Coastal Cleanup is the world’s largest volunteer effort to clean the coast, and the EPA indicated that it was grateful to have provided meaningful support to the participating organisations.

The Agency, in partnership with CYEN, also engaged in a rigorous campaign targeting 14 schools in Georgetown and Berbice along with the

University of Guyana’s Tain Campus.

These sessions were aimed at raising awareness on the importance of the clean-up exercise.

The organisation indicated that it was hopeful that future clean-ups would see a reduction in the amount of debris collected as an indication of positive behavioural change towards the environment. The data analysis once completed will be made available to the public.

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fridAY, october 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

3 new passport offices to be up and running by the end of 2019 – Minister Felix

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itizenship Minister Winston Felix on Thursday disclosed that his department is working to establish passport offices in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) by the end of the 2019 fiscal year. This is in keeping with the Administration’s vision of decentralising vital public services in capital towns.

The Minister on Thursday visited the Essequibo Coast to get a first-hand look at the plot of land that has been identified by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission

(GLSC) in the town of Anna Regina where that region’s passport office will be located.

“Last year, at an outreach conducted by the Minister of State, the issue of passports and the challenge to travel to Georgetown was raised by many residents and I made a commitment that all efforts will be made to remedy this situation in keeping with President’s wish to have Government services easily accessible in capital towns," Minister Felix stated.

The identified plot is centrally located; with the Anna Regina Police Station, the GLSC Office

Citizenship Minister Winston Felix (third from left) discusses the construction of the building and parking facility for the passport office with engineers and technical officers

and the Guyana Revenue Authority Office within close proximity.

“Since Anna Regina is a capital town, we will bring the service to Anna

Regina. This will cut out the unnecessary travelling to Georgetown; it will bring the service to Essequibians, thereby reducing the time they have to wait, as well

as the cost involved in travelling,” Minister Felix stated.

Meanwhile, the new passport offices at Linden and New Amsterdam are

serving residents well and have significantly reduced the hassle and crowds at the Georgetown office. The Minister recalled that only a few years ago, the lines at the central location would extend all the way to Barrack Street, Kingston.

He said that upon entering Office, President David Granger created the Department of Citizenship and directed that one of its first tasks must be to eliminate this unnecessary everyday struggle.

Since then, more equipment was procured for the Immigration Office to improve efficiency and the decentralisation programme commenced.

Ebini farm gears up to reap 100 acres of corn ferent regions of Guyana will gain many opportunities in becoming knowledgeable about the agriculture

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Corn cultivation at Ebini

s food security and exports remain vital aspects of Guyana’s economy, New Frontier (NF) Agriculture has announced that its farm at Ebini, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), is set to harvest its test crop of approximately 100 acres of corn. The crop was planted in July and according to the group, it paves the way for the planting of two crops for 2019.

In fact, NF Agriculture disclosed current projections for a first crop of 600 acres with the possibility of a larger second crop. Speaking in Georgetown while making preparations for the harvesting at Ebini, NF Agriculture Spokesperson, Fabiana Buckley, said “we are very satisfied with the results from this test crop since it confirms the potential of the agricultural lands here in the intermediate savannahs. We are going to continue to invest in this area as Guyana makes advances in agriculture and other areas.”

Buckley also said that “we are committed to providing employment for residents in the village. As we grow, we are committed to supporting the local community and making direct contributions to substance farmers operating in the area.”

NF Agriculture said too that all of the corn to be harvested this month has already been sold to local stockfeed producers. It observed that its short-term goal is “to be able to provide all of Guyana’s local stock-

feed needs by 2020.”

“In the medium-term, NF expects to be able to supply the [Caribbean Community] Caricom market with corn for their stockfeed industry. Beyond that, the longterm goal is to expand to provide exports beyond the Caribbean,” a statement from NF noted.

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder who visited the farm last month expressed satisfaction with the progress made at Ebini by NF Agriculture, as he met with the company’s staff which comprises nearly all locals, save for one “foreign family”.

“NF Agriculture, while focusing on high yield, is also investing heavily in sustainability and in using techniques and products that are environmentally friendly. The seeds being used at Ebini are produced using a seed technology which makes the crop highly resistant to pests. This in turn reduces the need for the use of harmful pesticides,” the statement further outlined.

It was earlier this year that a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between NF Agriculture Inc and investors of Lucas do Rio Verde which will see the commencement of an agricultural village in Guyana’s Intermediate Savannah.

This development will see the construction of a research institute, bioethanol stations, the large-scale agricultural production of corn and soybean, banking institutions, among other initiatives.

“Consequently, students from across the dif-

industry, enabling us to better compete in agriculture on the world stage. The company, which began work in

Guyana in 2016, has had a positive impact thus far on the surrounding communities and intends to have an

even greater impact in the coming months and years,” NF Agriculture committed.

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Canal No 2 Polder road finally rehabilitated ter the growth of moss and aquatic plants negatively affected drainage.

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A section of the resurfaced road

fter multiple reports in the media about the state of the Canal Number Two Polder access road, residents have confirmed that repair works were done.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Thursday, a resident of the area, Mark Itwaru indicated that much relief has come to the community after their road was resurfaced with asphalt.

“Presently, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure come and repaired the road and they resurface it and patch whatever had to patch and so forth.”

He noted that while they were happy with the improved road, it seemed as though the works were incomplete since seven speedbumps in the area remained

unpainted. As such, it is of concern to those who traverse the roadway.

“The piece of road that they do, they put speed bumps on the road and they didn’t identify the speed bumps properly. In the night, it does be very hard to make out the bumps. They just make it with the asphalt and they leave it like that,” Itwaru said.

He added, “They put two small reflectors and you don’t see that from a distance. It’s very hard to pinpoint the speed bumps. They need to paint it so that you can be able to identify that you approaching one because is about seven in the areas that they do.” The unlit roadway spans some seven miles, and multiple calls have been made for street-

lights to be installed, since the many animals that wander along the road have been the cause of several accidents.

“The only concern we the villagers have to say is that [in] certain areas we need streetlights. That is our biggest concern in the village. During the night, the road is one road in, and we don’t have much streetlight,” Itwaru said. “The streetlights there presently is what residents put on. We would be happy if the Ministry can be able to put on some streetlights to bright up the road. The animals would normally be on the roads and sometimes you don’t see them.”

Previously, it was reported that the main canal was also in need of clearing af-

IICA celebrates 43 years in Guyana

Minister Holder says IICA has greatly assisted agriculture sector

Agro-processors at the IICA’s open day at its Brickdam office

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s the celebrations of Agriculture Month continue, the InterAmerican Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) on Thursday celebrated 43 years of existence in Guyana.

The organisation held an open day at its headquarters at Lot 8 Brickdam, Georgetown to give the public insight about its work.

Speaking at the event, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder expressed gratitude to the organisation for the much-needed assistance the Ministry has received over the years.

He highlighted that the IICA was one of the oldest institutions found in Guyana (it is older than United Nations Guyana).

Holder added that the IICA has assisted in training of staff, the production of sheep, and setting up the services of the Guyana Marketing Association among many other services provided. Additionally, Holder mentioned that the IICA would continue to play a major role in the agricul-

ture sector in the future.

Earlier, IICA Representative Wilmot Garnett highlighted the work the institution has been doing in Guyana. Garnett explained that over the years the institution has strived to modernise the agriculture sector in Guyana through innovation and the introduction of new varieties of crops.

He added that the institution has worked with the Mexican Government to provide scholarships for Guyanese to study biotechnology to support mainly the coconut industry.

While the IICA is expecting the Guyana Food Safety Bill to be passed, it seeks to build wealth in rural communities.

Even though the IICA has lost the fish market to the United States of America, the new medium-term plan 2018-2022 seeks to develop family farming since 70 per cent of farming and agriculture in Guyana is family operated. continued on page 16

Efforts have been in progress to have the canal cleared. “I see they come and

clean the trench, but it don’t look like they finish as yet,” Itwaru noted.

16 news 3 nabbed by CANU with 5kg cocaine fridAY, october 5, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

while Gouveia was the driver of another motorcar with registration plates PLL 5213. At the time, a box was being transferred from one car to the other.

Ranks of CANU swopped down on the operation and intercepted the box which contained five suspected bricks of cocaine and beauty soaps.

Upon weighing the suspected cocaine, it amounted to 5.582 kilograms.

However, the home of

Singh was subsequently searched and a further 6.6 grams of suspected cocaine, along with US$5000 and GY$3 million were found.

In addition, one Taurus Revolver with matching ammunition and one Pistol with matching ammunition were discovered in another section of Singh’s house.

The three suspects are in custody and are expected to be arraigned with cocaine trafficking today.

Some of the items that were unearthed by CANU ranks

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gents of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) on Wednesday afternoon intercepted two motorcars on the Rupert Craig Highway in the vicinity of the Kitty seawall, Georgetown, with a quantity of cocaine, guns and ammunition. As a result of the operations, three males were taken into custody.

They are Aundre Singh of Lot 779 Section B, Block

X, Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara; Clifford Gouveia of Lot 14 Little Abary, East Coast Demerara; and Oneil Charan, of Lot 47 Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, Georgetown.

Based on information received, Singh and Charan were in a white Premio motorcar bearing registration number PSS 8977 along the Rupert Craig Highway,

Phone lines, Internet services to be restored in Kuru Kururu shortly

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fter weeks of being without phone line and Internet services, GTT has promised to have the area’s amenities up and running by next Tuesday.

This was related by the company’s Public Relations Officer, Jasmin Harris.

Guyana Times understands that more than 10 streets and just about 500 residents in Kuru Kururu on the Soesdyke Linden Highway have been without landline and Internet services for close to one month, after a post fell and destroyed the cables. Residents who attend the University of Guyana (UG), complained of not being able to get access to the Internet to complete their assignments, while secondary school students chimed in with the same cry. A business owner in the area who requested her name be withheld told Guyana Times that she relies on the Internet to conduct her daily activities.

Another resident in the village said, “We already paid phone bill, paid Internet bills and can’t get any service”.

A mother who lives alone with her two baby girls ex-

plained that she trembles with fear each night as the crime rate has been increasing over the past weeks in that village.

“If anything to happen, we cannot call anyone unless you have a cellphone,” she added.

This newspaper was told that the community’s primary school is also without telephone service which would have forced teachers to find alternatives in cases of emergency, over the past week.

GTT’s Public Relations Officer recently confirmed that the community is without these services. Harris explained in a previous interview with this publication that the issue has been ongoing for a few days and that they are working to rectify the situation.

She also said based on reports, just about 50 customers are being affected by the collapse of the service.

According to her, a cable in the village went down due to inclement weather conditions.

She assured that the residents received an advisory informing them of the situation and reassured that the matter will be remedied in a timely manner.

Kuru Kuru deplorable roads

Buses resume transporting schoolchildren

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fter children were forced to walk at least two miles to get to and from school for several days, buses transporting these students to the Kuru Kuru Primary and Secondary Schools on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway have resumed their services as a section of the deplorable road was rehabilitated.

This was related by a teacher at the school on Thursday during an interview with Guyana Times.

According to him, “They (the contractors) only did a part of the road so the buses have resumed working and so the children are transported directly into school at the moment”.

Those buses, he related, would have resumed working a few days after the workers began doing upgrades to that section of the road.

It was further pointed out that there seems to be plans to fix other parts of the road as was related to him by the equipment operator. To add to that, the teacher said he even observed some materials which is most likely going to be used to fix the roads.

While the residents remain thankful for the works being done to the road, they also clamoured for the rest of the road to

A section of the road that was being rehabilitated

be properly fixed to avoid future mishaps. School buses were forced to halt their services late last month after the roads became so bad that the buses almost toppled a number of times on the bumpy roads, lined with holes described as ‘craters’. Parents became fearful upon learning what almost happened to their children on their way to school and staged a protest, which triggered the rehabilitation works. The parents had vowed to continue industrial action until the authorities looked into the situation.

It was explained that, “The buses used to go directly into the compound but due to the condition of the road they have to walk in…they are left to walk about two miles in because the entire journey is approximately two and a half miles. The entire journey (from when the bus turns off the Linden Highway) is about two miles”.

At that time buses used to transport the children up to where it is safe for the vehicles, which is about half mile and would offload the children to continue their journey by foot.

Minister Holder says...

The symbolic planting of trees and cutting of cake were done by the Agriculture Minister and Minister within the Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings, at the IICA open day, where a variety of local agricultural products from various agro-processors were on sale. Students of the Carmel Secondary School were also present at the IICA open

day.

The IICA has been operational in Guyana since 1975.

The international organisation supports the efforts of its Member States to achieve agricultural development and rural well-being. The institution is fully focused on making agriculture competitive and sustainable in the Americas. The IICA has been instrumental,

from page 15

along with the Agriculture Ministry, in the introduction of the model dairy farm at the St Stanislaus College Farm, and presently represents 15 organisations.

Two cross-cutting issues that have been identified as essential components for the IICA’s future work are gender and youth, and innovation and technology.

guyanatimesgy.com

M

iss Earth Guyana 2018, 24-year-old Xamiera Kippins, left Guyana’s shores and has arrived in the Philippines where she will be competing with 89 beauty ambassadors from around the world for the title of Miss Earth 2018.

Since her arrival in the Philippines, the Guyanese beauty ambassador has been involved in several photo shoots and other engagements.

The pageant is set to be held between October 6

and November 3. The preliminary competitions will be held leading up to the grand coronation.

The Miss Earth pageant is an international environmental event channelling the beauty pageant entertainment industry as an effective tool to promote environmental awareness.

Because many people admire and aspire to be a beauty queen, Carousel Productions, Inc believed beauty queens would be good and effective advocates for worthy causes. To give life to this vision, Carousel Productions Inc organised and launched in 2001 the Miss Earth beauty pageant; a beauty event whose raison d’etre was to have its candidates and winners actively promote and get involved in the preservation of the environment and the protection of Mother Earth.

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s Ambika Ramraj – Miss Guyana World 2018 – prepares to head to Sanya, China, to compete in the international pageant later in the year, the organising committee has planned a fundraising event for Saturday, October 6, at Parc Rayne, Rahaman’s Turn, Greater Georgetown.

The event titled, “Runway to Sanya 2018” will feature works by some of the best designers in Guyana.

The reigning beauty queen is expected to cop the spotlight with her great personality and beauty.

During the formal evening, the beauty queen will be mixing and mingling with her fans and well-wishers. The evening will also comprise a lavish dinner as part of the package for the fundraiser. Tickets for the event cost $5000 by reservations only. To secure that space, those interesting are asked to contact the organisers on telephone number 644-5551.

friday, october 5, 2018

the Miss Earth pageant also aims to showcase and promote various tourist destinations. Every year, 80 to 90 candidates from all over the world compete on beauty and knowledge of environmental issues.

The winner of Miss Earth will serve as the ambassador to environmental protection campaigns worldwide.

Now in its 17th year, Miss Earth continues to build its reputation as the most relevant and worthwhile beauty event in the world, setting a legacy of beauty and responsibility.

Beauties for a cause

Apart from a strong emphasis on environmental protection programmes,

The pageant is a search for the most beautiful women of the Earth to serve as a role model dedicated to upholding the advocacy of preserving and restoring Mother Earth.

Guyana’s representative to the pageant hails from La Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara (WBD). She is no stranger to pageantry, having participated in several, including Miss Guyana Universe.

uyana’s most celebrated and popular make-up artiste, Vincent Shelto, will this weekend engage members of the public for his first ever make-up seminar.

The event is set to be held at De Impeccable Banquet Hall located at Brickdam, Georgetown, on Sunday, October 7. The session starts at 13:00h and will conclude at 17:00h after which the participants will be presented with certificates.

The event is organised to give the public firsthand insight into the work of Shelto. He is known for his eye-catching work which took sections of society by storm.

To provide that stunning look that captivates a particular audience, Shelto might be the best choice.

He has done make-up for a number of brides, beauty queens and for persons who just wanted a personal photo shoot. A name that can stand by itself when it comes to make-up is undoubtedly, Vincent Shelto.

This event was carefully planned to coincide with breast cancer awareness and it is only fitting that those who are eagerly awaiting to make a grand entrance on Sunday wear pink and remember to dress to impress.

To be a part of the seminar, one must purchase a ticket at the cost of $10,000. They are available at Master Piece Studio, Sharon’s Building, Charlotte and King Streets, Georgetown; and from any Shoe Heaven outlet.

The seminar is sponsored by Fairy Faces Make-up Store; Smile Designer’s Dental Care, Nalini’s Salon, Milani Cosmetics and Amanda’s Bridal and Costume Jewellery.

For more information about the seminar, feel free to contact Shelto on telephone number 690-6253.

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friday, october 5, 2018

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en beauties from the Ancient County (Berbice) have been shortlisted to vie for the title of Miss Berbice 2018. The pageant which was launched last week in Berbice will see the 10 del-

egates being unveiled to the public on October 30, where they will be sashed by their sponsors at State House, New Amsterdam.

The pageant has moved away from being a one day affair and

Delegate number 1

Delegate number 2

Name: Omeica Bindah Age: 16 years old Village: Adventure Village, Corentyne High School: Corentyne Comprehensive High Hobbies: Singing, dancing, reading novels and interacting with her peers Platform: Suicide awareness and prevention

Name: Keba Henry Age: 18 years old Aspiration: Civil engineer Village: Glasgow Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice Hobbies: Reading, exploring nature Platform: Cyberbullying

Delegate number 6

Delegate number 7

Name: Jamace Alexis Hinds Age: 17 years old Education: New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) Aspiration: Plumber Proud resident: Caracas/Vryheid Village, West Canje, Berbice Hobbies: Dancing, travelling, swimming, and reading Platform: Domestic violence

Name: Natoya Rawlins Age: 18 years old Profession: Junior librarian Proud resident: Springlands, Skeldon, Corentyne Hobbies: Going on tours, meeting new and interesting people, reading and indulging in nature Platform: Education

F

rom ‘cracking’ jokes backstage to being the most recognised Guyanese comedian, not only in Guyana but regionally, Kirk “Chow Pow” Jardine also has a special touch of creating and producing shows which not only wow his audiences but create an atmosphere which is safe, secure and conducive to wholesome entertainment.

One such signature event is the Chow Pow Comedy Jam. The Comedy Jam first came to stage at the Lichas Hall in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) to a sold out audience.

will now run for five days. After the sashing, the delegates will head to the Skeldon Heritage Resort for the swimsuit competition, followed by the costume extravaganza on November 18, at the Rose Hall

Primary School.

The next event will take the form of a family fun day on November 21, at the All Saints Ground and finally, the grand coronation will be held on November

24 at the Albion Sports Complex Ground. On the night of the pageant, the delegates will showcase their talent, intelligence and elegance.

Delegate number 3

Delegate number 4

Delegate number 5

Name: Amesha Ramkishun Age: 18 years old Aspiring Nurse Village: Blairmont, West Bank Berbice Hobbies: Reading, dancing, and singing Platform: Teenaged pregnancy awareness and prevention

Name: Cintiana Harry Age: 26 years old Occupation: Typist/clerk Village: Kilcoy and Chesney, New Scheme, Corentyne Hobbies: Dancing, writing stories and poems, storytelling, games, making new friends and reading Platform: Poverty

Delegate number 8

Delegate number 9

Name: Julieanna Clinket Age: 17 years old Pursuing: General Office Administration Village: Belvedere Village, Corentyne Hobbies: Reading, listening to music and socialising Aspiration: Accountant Platform: Child abuse

It was highlighted that there is a need for the mining town of Linden to have a bigger theatre to host such events.

The show then moved on to find a home at the Garage Bar and Grill on Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt Gardens, and patrons loved the move.

The move to the Garage Bar was to get rid of the dress code, which is always in effect at the National Culture Centre; this allows persons to freely move around the venue, enjoying their favourite beverages and the scrumptious BBQ that is the signature of the Garage.

Fans loved the move, as they flocked the venue and the shows never disappoint.

The acts are carefully selected, mixing the seasoned comedians with the best of the newcomers and add-

Name: Priya Anjiloi Age: 16 years old Profession: Cosmetologist/ make-up artist Village: Miss Phoebe Port Mourant Hobbies: Make-up artistry, browsing the Internet, socialising, cooking etc Platform: School drop-out

ing a twist of sort to create a different look than the “other” comedy shows.

At one show, the special feature was Mr Guyana, Kerwyn Clark, being serenated by Lisa Punch while he displayed his magnificent physique in an amazing pose routine, much to the delight of the women folk present.

But for some time now, for reasons beyond Jardine’s control, there was no Comedy Jam and fans were left to wait to enjoy stand-up comedy.

Well, that will all change on October 27, when Chow Pow’s Comedy Jam returns to its home at the Garage.

It is the right time to have a comedy show, says Jardine. “There are so many things to have a laugh about; some good, some bad and we know that the people are just waiting to hear what we the comedians have to

Name: Serona Joseph Age: 23 years old Education: University of Guyana, IDCE Village: Fort Ordnance Scheme, East Canje Berbice Hobbies: Reaching out to people that need help Platform: Drug abuse awareness

Delegate number 10

Name: Rameshwarie Devi Jairam Age: 21 years old Studying: Information Technology Aspiring Teacher Hobbies: Reading, dancing and socialising Platform: Women’s empowerment

say and how we are going to say it”.

“However, the show will not allow profanity, yes no “Crawfording” allowed but for sure he is not going to be left out and how about the “Fari” that stole the pig… hahahah,” the producer added.

Meanwhile, the cast in now being finalised and their names will be released shortly but what we Jardine can disclose is that there will be a special segment dedicated to women; it will include the reigning calypso queen Onika Joseph, actress Sheron Cadogan-Taylor and Facebook media sensation “Melly Mel”.

Early-bird tickets will go on sale on Monday at the Garage and will cost $1000. Is there going to be an overseas act? Your guess is as good as mine. Chow Pow’s Comedy Jam, “yuh gon laff til yuh belly hut yuh”.

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BCCI, PCB brace for ‘landmark’ dispute panel judgement T

he ICC panel hearing a dispute between the PCB and BCCI could potentially deliver a “landmark” judgement with reverberations for all intersections between sports and politics.

A three-person dispute panel, set up to arbitrate the PCB’s claims for monetary compensation for two bilateral tours the BCCI didn’t honour, finished proceedings in Dubai on Wednesday.

There is no indication when the panel, headed by Michael Beloff QC and including legal heavyweights Jan Paulsson and Dr Annabelle Bennett, will return a verdict though it is not unusual in such cases for it to take anywhere between four and six weeks.

Lawyers from both sides presented their cases over three days that began in what was described as a “tense” and “formal” atmosphere and which remained “intense” throughout. A couple of officials likened it to the tension of an India-Pakistan limited-overs encounter.

The dispute centers around an agreement the two boards signed in 2014 to play six series over eight years between 2015 and 2023. That agreement was the price the BCCI paid for the PCB’s approval of the Big Three governance changes; those changes were first voted in before being reversed.

India and Pakistan fans revel before the first ball

The PCB is claiming compensation of USD 63 million for two series it was supposed to host in November 2014 and December 2015 as per the agreement, but which eventually did not take place.

The primary reason for the BCCI’s refusal to tour is political. Ties between the two countries have been strained since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and BCCI officials have made it clear that the decision to tour ultimately hinges on the Indian Prime Minister’s office.

To that end, the appearance of the most high-profile witness at the arbitration, Salman Khurshid, India’s

foreign minister at the time the agreement was signed.

Officials and witnesses are under strict instructions to not talk publicly about the proceedings but Khurshid explained to the panel that it was “beyond the control” of cricket boards to organise a bilateral series in the troublesome prism of IndiaPakistan relations.

“I gave my expert evidence to the ICC panel and explained how the Indian government reacts to situations where security of people are under threat,” Khurshid told the Hindustan Times. “Fortunately, when I was minister we didn’t have to deal with such (crisis)

China Open 2018…

Kerber out, Osaka through to quarter-finals

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Kerber is the world number three and won Wimbledon in July

erman second seed Angelique Kerber is out of the China Open after losing in three sets to China’s Zhang Shuai.

The Wimbledon champion won just seven points in the third set as she lost 6-1 2-6 6-0 to the world number 45.

Japan’s Naomi Osaka, the US Open champion, will play Zhang in the quarter-finals after beating Germany’s Julia Gorges 6-1 6-2.

Meanwhile, Petra Kvitova, who lost in the

first round in China, booked her place at the season-ending WTA Finals.

It came after Czech Republic’s Katerina Siniakova beat Dutch world number 11 Kiki Bertens 6-4 6-3 in Beijing, ensuring Kvitova will finish the season inside the world’s top eight and qualify for this month’s finals.

Denmark’s world number two Caroline Wozniacki, who has also qualified for the WTA Finals, beat Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit 7-5 6-4. (BBC

Sport)

issues but irrespective of governments, I could express how one would react to fulfilling obligations that’s beyond the control of cricket boards.”

The BCCI also argued that the agreement was a letter of intent that would only become a binding agreement once government permission had been granted. The PCB’s counter was that under English law it suffices as an agreement.

Khurshid was one of five witnesses the BCCI called up.

Among the others were Sanjay Patel, the board secretary and signatory to the agreement, Sundar Raman, a key figure in the ICC revamp, and Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI administrative

head who was a conduit between the board and government.

Also appearing was Shashank Manohar, the ICC chairman who was BCCI president in 2015 when one of the series was scheduled (Manohar, in fact, had shown an inclination to play the series subject to government approval). His appearance as a BCCI witness while ICC chairman raised eyebrows the PCB was unhappy with his role as a mediator in one of the good-faith meetings the boards had before this panel was set up. Conspicuous by their absence, however, were N Srinivasan, the BCCI president at the time of the agreement, and the then secretary Anurag Thakur. None of the witnesses were current BCCI officials.

The PCB, in contrast, called upon just Najam Sethi, their board chairman at the time, and Subhan Ahmed, the chief operating officer. At least to PCB eyes that witness count is illustrative of the two approaches to the case: the PCB simplifying and focusing on what it believes matters most - the agreement letter and the BCCI going beyond that and into the circumstances in which it was created and under which it could operate.

Only two outcomes are now possible - that the PCB wins its claim or it doesn’t.

The panel cannot force the lost series to be rescheduled. But as much as the money, both boards - and the ICC - will be relieved to receive some long overdue clarity on cricket’s most compelling but presently moribund rivalry.

The pair are not going to meet in Test cricket’s new showpiece event, the twoyear Test Championship starting next year. They are not scheduled to meet in the following two-year cycle either, or in the concurrent ODI league. That confines the rivalry to ICC limited-overs events and other multilateral tournaments such as the Asia Cup for the foreseeable future.

Written closing arguments now have to be submitted to the panel within a week, into which new arguments could be introduced based on the evidence presented over the last three days.

Officials expect the decision to have an impact beyond cricket. The issues at play of government involvement, of the sport being used as a tool for diplomacy but also being held hostage to politics - resonates in several other sports. Any decision here reached by a heavyweight panel with accomplished legal minds - could be used hereon as a precedent in other sports where geopolitics cannot help but get entangled. (ESPNcricinfo)

UFC 229 Conor v Khabib: Russian says he will win fans over Nurmagomedov focused on his takedowns and ground offence at Wednesday’s public workout

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habib Nurmagomedov says he will win over the fans and insisted they will “love him” as he prepares to fight Conor McGregor in Las Vegas.

The undefeated 30-yearold Russian is defending his UFC lightweight belt against former two-weight champion McGregor.

Nurmagomedov was given a hostile reception by the mainly pro-McGregor crowd at

Wednesday’s open workout.

Addressing the crowd, he said: “Three days. You’re going to like me.”

Nurmagomedov added: “I know you’re going to love me.”

Ireland’s McGregor, 30, is returning to the Octagon after almost two years out and having lost a boxing fight to Floyd Mayweather in August 2017.

At the public workout at Vegas’ Park Theater, he

introduced his son Conor Jr and then focused on his striking technique, in contrast to Nurmagomedov, who practised takedowns and ground offence.

Speaking afterwards, McGregor said: “Saturday night: You’re in for a show, trust me on that. I’m going to take his head off. Trust me. I’m coming for that man’s head from the bell.” (BBC Sport)

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

fridAY, october 5, 2018

BCB/Elizabeth Styles Under-21 tournament…

Intense final expected from RHT Gizmos & Gadgets, Blairmont T

he historic Port Mourant Cricket Ground will be the venue for what is expected to be a colossal clash between two titans each vying to be the Under-21 champion of cricket in the Ancient County.

The final match in the Berbice Cricket Board/ Elizabeth Styles’ Under-21 tournament bowls off tomorrow, and this final encounter will feature the unstoppable Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets cricket team coming up against the unmovable Blairmont Community Centre cricket team.

The teams are naturally arch-riKevin Sinclair

vals. Each has pummelled Tucber Park Cricket Club and Albion Community Centre respectively to advance to the highly anticipated final of the tournament.

The Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets team appears stronger on paper, but cricket matches are won by the team that plays better on the day of the contest.

National Under-19 players Kevin Sinclair, Junior Sinclair and Kevlon Anderson will spearhead a strong Rose Hall Town batting side, and will receive support from all-rounders Keith Simpson, Chanderpaul Govindan, Mahendra Gopilall, Tyrese Sealey and the highly talented Jonathan Rampersaud, who at 14 years old is the youngest franchise player in Guyana.

The Rose Hall Town

Gizmos & Gadgets bowling will be spearheaded by pacer Sylus Tyndall and Kevlon Anderson, while off spinners Kevin Sinclair, Jonathan Rampersaud, Tyrese Sealey, Junior Sinclair and left-arm spinners Keith Simpson and Jeremy Sandia will offer a lot of support.

Blairmont Community Centre have, on a number of occasions, proved they are no walkover. Having defeated the talented Albion Community Centre on their home turf in the semifinal recently, they have in skipper Javed Karim a capable

all-rounder who can change the course of any game with his batting and left-arm medium pace.

He will receive support from Marvin Prashad, Seon Glasgow, Nigel Deodat, Fawaz Gafoor and Wazim Ishan.

The Blairmont Community Centre spin attack could, on the day, visit severe problems on the powerful Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets batting line-up.

However, it must be considered that Rose Hall Town easily defeated Blairmont in the Berbice Cricket Board

New York Business Group Under-19 Final, with Kevin Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Keith Simpson and Junior Sinclair being the outstanding performers for the champion.

The winner of this tournament will pocket $70,000 and a trophy; the runner-up will pocket $35,000 and trophy, while the man of the final would receive a cash prize and trophy.

Bissoondyal Singh, representative of Elizabeth Styles, will be present to hand over the prizes after the game has been concluded.

ANSA McAL/Lucozade ‘Handicap’ Squash 2018…

Tourney opens with top performances from youngsters

T

he Guyana Squash Association’s (GSA’s) Lucozade Handicap Tournament which is being sponsored by ANSA McAL Trading has seen some 40 participants gearing up to showcase their skills in the Open and ‘A’ categories of the competition.

Wednesday night’s opening round saw big name competitors like Nyron Joseph, Regan Pollard, Deejay Dias, Stephen Xavier, Ashley Khalil and Taylor Fernandes putting on a show to intimidate the competition. Many of the players will be starting with significant minus points, and will have to show stamina, patience and sheer talent

Mohryan Baksh

to overcome their opponents.

In Category ‘A’, some of the younger players will be pitted against Sarah Lewis, Abosaide Cadogan, Maddison Fernandes and Kirsten Gomes. With no di-

vision for the girls and boys, draws will also see Gianni Carpenter, Nicholas Verwey and Mohryan Baksh meeting any range of other contenders with positive points.

Among the opening night’s highlights was the encounter that featured the young Baksh beating Lajuan Munroe in two sets 15-8, 158, while the young Maddison managed a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Lucas Persaud, surging to two consecutive sets to end the stats 12-15, 15-12, 15-12.

Play, meanwhile, continued on Thursday night, and continues this evening, with earlier starts set for Saturday and Sunday morning.

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the Windies B break the 300-run mark.

Left-arm medium pacer Romesh Don registered the first five-wicket haul of the season for 31 runs for Canada who also saw left-arm orthodox bowler Salman Nazer take 3 for 60.

Facing a daunting total Canada made a game of it as Rodrigo Thomas (63), Srimantha Wijeyratne (57) and Harsh Thaker (52) took them close.

However, two wickets each from Chemar Holder, Odean Smith and Carriah restricted Canada to 292 for 8.

(Sportsmax)

Strathavon, Enterprise storm into final I

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Samuels’ ton leads Windies B to close win over Canada W

sports

Rajendra Chandrika

commanding all-round performance from Guyana’s national player Rajendra Chandrika, to storm into the finals. Winning the toss, Enterprise elected to bat first, amassing 119-8 at the end of their allotted 20 overs, with Chandrika scoring a wellplayed 56.

The most successful bowler for Lusignan was Emran Khan, who bagged 3-18.

Lusignan required a runa-ball for victory in their innings, but crumbled to 85 all out, as Enterprise proved able and capable enough to thwart Lusignan’s enterprise.

Askhaya Persaud top scored with 39; while Vivian Albert, who took 3-11, and Chandrika, who bagged 2-15, returned to do

damage with the ball.

In the second semi, Strathavon were faced with the uphill task of battling Enmore in a low-scoring thriller, which saw the former coming out victorious.

Batting first, Strathavon were limited to 97-7, with Z Salim contributing 19, while Enmore’s Rudolph Singh bagged 2-14 and Chris Surat 2-13.

In reply, Enmore were skittled out for 82, with Ameer Khan (19) being the only batsman to offer resistance, while G Hemraj claimed 3-11.

Strathavon will now face Enterprise in the final, while the third place showdown will see Enmore and Lusignan battle for supremacy.

BCB/NBS 2nd Division 40-Over tourney bowls off on Sunday – 80 teams involved

A

fter an absence of two years, the popular New Building Society second division 40over tournament will be making a return to Berbice Cricket with matches scheduled across the Ancient County on Sunday, October 7.

A total of 80 teams have registered for the tournament, which will be played on a roundrobin basis, with teams being divided into seventeen zones. Each zone will have four or five teams, and the top teams in each zone will advance to the playoff stages.

Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President, Hilbert Foster, has expressed delight that this tournament will again be played, as it will involve almost all of the villages and townships in the county.

This Berbice second division tournament involves a mixture of youthful and experienced players, as it serves as a nursery for the county’s eleven first division teams.

As part of its cricket developmental programme, the BCB has put into place a series of measures to make sure that a high level of discipline is maintained: All teams are expected to be at venues by 10:45 hours, and walkovers shall be granted half-hour after the scheduled start of play.

Teams failing to be present at 10:45 hours to spin the toss shall forfeit their rights to the toss.

All players shall be attired in whites, and failure of players to wear whites shall result in their teams losing the match.

Teams who grant walkovers would be banned from playing for the rest of the year.

Teams will be allowed a maximum of three

first division players who have played three or more 50-over matches, while under-19 players shall not be considered first division players.

No non-Berbician shall be allowed to play in the tournament. The Cricket Board will be paying close attention to the competition as it seeks to unearth new talents for the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board’s junior cricket tournaments in early 2019.

Among the teams that would be taking part in this tournament are Blairmont, D’Edward, Cotton Tree, Achievers, Police, Young Warriors, Edinburgh, Rose Hall Canje, Albion, Chesney, Whim, Topoo, Fyrish, Courtland, Ramnarine Memorial, No. 48 Challengers, Cut and Load, Dukestown, Skeldon, Crabwood Creek, No. 69 Vikings, and Muslim Youth Organisation.

The tournament will feature players such as Kevin Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Clive Harry, Javed Karrim, Seon Glasgow, Leon Swammy, Kevin and Ritesh Umrao, Antonio February, Mahendra Chaitram, Lakeram Latchman, Sherain Murray and Errol Byass, as they are expected to play active roles for their teams during the tournament, The tournament is being sponsored by the New Building Society at the cost of over $700,000. This financial institution has four branches in Berbice, situated at New Amsterdam, Rosignol, Rose Hall Town and Corriverton.

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

FRIdAY, october 5, 2018

BCB launches DDL Pepsi 50-over 1st Division tournament T

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) is forging ahead with the hosting of competitions for this year.

Eight tournaments have already been completed, with another eight expected to be completed in a few weeks.

On Thursday, the BCB joined hands with beverage giants Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) to launch the Pepsi 50-over cricket tournament for first division teams in the Ancient County.

The tournament was launched at the DDL office in Georgetown, and BCB President, Hilbert Foster, hailed the launching of the tournament as another day in the remarkable rebirth of Berbice Cricket.

Foster hailed the investment of DDL and Pepsi into Berbice Cricket, and said the BCB is delighted to be associated with the popular international brand.

The tournament will be contested by eleven clubs, including the recently reformed Young Warriors Cricket Club, and contesting clubs are to be divided into

Ramnaresh Sarwan

two zones.

West Berbice, Blairmont Community Centre, Police Sports Club, Young Warriors, Rose Hall Canje and Tucber Park are slotted in Zone A, while Zone B consists of Albion, Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets, Port Mourant Cricket Club, Skeldon Cricket Club and Upper Corentyne Cricket

Club.

The tournament is roundrobin-based with the top two teams in each zone advancing to the semi-finals.

This tournament bowls off on Saturday, October 6, with five matches across Berbice The Berbice Cricket Board is planning to complete the tournament by the end of November, 2018.

Featuring in the tournament will be players like Clinton Pestano, Veerasammy Permaul, Anthony Bramble, Gudakesh Motie, Romario Shepherd, Keon Joseph, Javed Karim, Raun Johnson, Kevlon Anderson and Alex Algoo.

Marketing Manager of DDL, Larry Wills, has said that DDL and Pepsi are pleased to be associated with Berbice Cricket. He said that Pepsi is known around the world for its support of sports, and expressed confidence that the tournament would be a great success.

Wills also said that DDL invests heavily in sports, as it views this as an invest-

ment in the development of youths.

The winning team and the runner-up team would each receive attractive prizes and trophies. Teams are

reminded that only one non-Berbician is permitted to play for the entire tournament for a club.

The BCB has also extended its gratitude to for-

mer West Indies Captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, who played a great role in the board acquiring the sponsorship.

Limacol KO Football Tournament…

Police, Pouderoyen to battle for spoils tonight A ll roads lead to the Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue this evening, where the final encounter in the Limacol Knockout Football tournament 2018 season will be played between Police FC and Pouderoyen FC, who have battled relentlessly through the competition to arrive at this place in the highly anticipated final.

The competition started with a total of twelve teams, namely: Guyana Police Force, Pele Football Club, Northern Rangers, Mahaica Determinators, Campton, Georgetown Football Club, Riddim Squad, Buxton Stars, Santos, Pouderoyen, Grove Hi Tec and Beacons Football Club.

They were divided into three groups, and a no-holds-barred competition followed as each team tried their best to lay claim to the first prize of $600,000 and concomitant bragging rights.

Despite missing out on ending at the top of their group, Police played well during the tenser quarterfinal and semifinal matches to book their place. Their last encounter, which was with the agile Riddim Squad, saw them playing a great defensive game, separating Riddim Squad from the goal throughout the game. The Police players even went above and beyond the call of duty, acting as goalkeepers on many instances when Riddim Squad were within inches of scoring.

Nevertheless, the lawmen posse’s scoring seemed to be off-target in the last game.

Known as a team to capitalise on the second half, Police were able only to connect one goal for their win.

Hailing from the West side, which some consider the best side, the Pouderoyen boys have fought their way out of a tough group (Santos, Grove Hi Tec and Beacons) to make it into the quarterfinal. In the semis, they met with the resilient and experienced Santos side, who held an advantage over them, having demolished them in their group encounter. Pouderoyen showed their worth by keeping Santos at bay and longing for a goal even after the 90 minutes had expired.

This evening’s clash of the two top teams is sure to become a seismic event. Both teams possess great knowledge of ‘knock ball,’ a tactic that has proven to be helpful in the tournament. Police will rely on their excellent striking, as will Pouderoyen.

Having made it to the final last year (against Western Tigers) and missing out, Police would want to arrest any negative change in their fortunes this time around.

On the other hand, the youthful West side team are hungry for their first win.

With both teams determined to take home the $600,000 cash prize, this final will be one for the books. The action kicks off at 21:00hrs.

Earlier on, at 19:00hrs, the third place play-off will take place between Santos and Riddim Squad. Those teams will battle for the third prize of $150,000. Second and fourth place will receive $300,000 and $100,000 respectively.

The tournament is sponsored by the New GPC under their Limacol brand.

Holder injured ankle in West Indies’ pre-season camp – Nic Pothas

W

est Indies endured a tough start to their tour of India, losing their captain Jason Holder to an ankle injury on the morning of the first Test in Rajkot. Their fielding coach Nic Pothas has revealed that Holder picked up the injury in the third week of September, when he was in Dubai, training with his team to prepare for this tour.

“I am not in a position to discuss Jason’s injury, but he felt something in Dubai in our pre-season camp,” Pothas said.

“Obviously, it has not settled down as much as he or the medical staff would like. He will be monitored on daily basis, and we will wait and

see how that pans out.”

With Holder unavailable, and Kemar Roach leaving the tour temporarily following the death of his grandmother, only one frontline fast bowler in West Indies’ squad - Shannon Gabriel - had played more than one Test. Keemo Paul and the debutant Sherman Lewis came into the XI in Rajkot, and West Indies struggled to bowl to plan early on.

Pothas defended his team’s tactics, and thought the bowlers did fairly well to control India’s scoring rate in the second half of the day. (ESPNcricinfo)

Jason Holder

guyanatimesgy.com

FRIdAY, october 5, 2018

23

Prithvi Shaw’s punchy debut hundred headlines India’s dominance I

t was coming, wasn’t it?

After racking up the records in school cricket and domestic cricket, 18-year-old Prithvi Shaw marked his Test debut with a commanding 99-ball hundred - the third fastest (in terms of balls) on debut. Shaw also became the youngest Indian - and fourth overall - to hit a century on debut. He smashed more records and a depleted West Indies attack at the SCA ground in Rajkot, where he had cracked a ton in his maiden first-class game in January 2017.

The local boy Cheteshwar Pujara was happy to ride in Shaw’s slipstream - although he struck at 66.15 - and seemed set for a hundred of his own, but fell 14 short, when the other debutant Sherman Lewis had him nicking off. Captain Virat Kohli, returning to the side after being rested for the Asia Cup, made an

u n b e ate n 72 off 137 balls to cement India’s dominance.

Not so long ago, Shaw himself had admitted to his technique not being the most perfect. Yet, he’s found ways to thrive by trusting his strong back-foot strokeplay. This was

on display in his first knock in Test cricket: he picked off 76 of his 134 runs in front of square on either side of the wicket.

Shaw’s first runs came via a crisp back-foot punch through the covers, and his first boundary came via an even crisper back-foot punch through point. The punchy shots weren’t just reserved for the back foot. Shaw also crunched the ball on the up off the front foot whenever West Indies’ seamers overpitched.

Having progressed to his first fifty off 56 balls, he cranked up the tempo further and raised h i s second o f f 43 balls.

His celebratory fist pump perhaps wasn’t as

punchy as his shots, but it still made Kohli and Rahane stand up and applaud in unison from the dressing room.

KL Rahul, the senior opener, had fallen to a sharp inducker from Shannon Gabriel for a duck in the first over. The recent trend of Rahul falling to incoming deliveries has been of particular concern for India: he has now been out lbw or bowled in his last

Daniels helps Guardians defend territory against Sonics – Trojans remain winless

I

t all went down as the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association’s (GABA’s) leagues continued on Tuesday at the Burnham Hard Court in the city. The night saw the Ravens battling it out with the UG Trojans in the first division, and the Sonics going up against the Guardians in the U-23 division.

Starting off the night in the U-23 division, the Sonics faced the uphill task of battling the Guardians; it was never going to be easy for the Sonics. In the first quarter of the match, it was back and forth for both teams, but the Guardians managed to slip past the Sonics 26-18 in the first period, leaving the Sonics searching for victory in the next two periods.

However, it did not go the way of the Sonics, as they lost 1728 and 14-34 in the second and third quarters respectively.

Scoring for the Guardians was Terrence Daniels with 27 points. He was ably supported

by Israel Yaw (16) and Akeem Crandon (15); while, for the Sonics, Lemuel Grant top scored with 21 and captain Troy Glasgow pitched in with 11 points.

In the first division match, Trojans went down against the Ravens as they faced yet another winless match in their season’s encounter, losing 6549. The match started off like any other match, with the Ravens taking the lead in the

Terrence Daniels

first period 13-11, then outscoring the opposition in each quarter until the showdown was over. Captain Dominic Vincente led the Ravens with 14 points, while Tyrone Hamid put up the same number.

The Trojans showed lack of form and commitment, having numerous opportunities to convert, but being unable to so do. The highest score of the night came from Captain Selvaughn Mosely, who had 13.

The action continues on Saturday with the Sonics playing the Eagles in the U-23 division at 18:30h, and the Colts clashing with the Sonics in the first division at 20:30h.

eight Test innings. He also burned a review when replays confirmed that the 143.5kph thunderbolt would’ve crashed into middle and leg.

Pujara, for a change, didn’t have to grind for his runs.

H e

eased himself in with three fours in four balls, including a trademark bottomhanded drive Virat Kohli is overnight at the crease on 72

that purred away straight of mid-on. He even flicked a bottle of water out of his pocket and sipped coolly on it. A half-volley here, a halftracker there, and West Indies were feeling the heat - both literally and figuratively - on a 39-degree day in Rajkot.

T h a t t h e y were

without t h r e e of their frontline quicks played a part. Alzarri Joseph continues to recover from a stress fracture of the back suffered late last year. Kemar Roach has not yet rejoined the team after leaving the tour following the death of his

grandmother, and captain Jason Holder also pulled out with an ankle injury on the morning of the match. Kraigg Brathwaite led the visitors in Holder’s absence.

West Indies, though, found some respite when Lewis removed Pujara to end a 206-run stand and Devendra Bishoo had Shaw chipping a return catch for 134 off 154 balls, two minutes before tea.

The legspinner tightened up after the break and bothered Rahane with turn - or the lack of it. Rahane was also uncertain against the extra pace of Gabriel before unfurling a

velvet-smooth straight drive off the fast bowler.

At the other end, Kohli was more sure-footed, and kept his side ticking with riskfree shots. He was only beaten twice, in 137 balls, and his stand with Rahane grew to 105 before Chase found Rahane’s bottom edge with one that skidded away from around the wicket.

West Indies took the second new ball in the next over, but Kohli and Rishabh Pant, who ventured a couple of aerial hooks, saw out the day without any further hiccups.

(ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

India 1st Innings PP Shaw c & b Bishoo 134 KL Rahul lbw b Gabriel 0 CA Pujara c †Dowrich b Lewis 86 V Kohli (c) not out 72 AM Rahane c †Dowrich b Chase 41 RR Pant † not out 17 Extras (b 9, lb 1, nb 4) 14 TOTAL (89 Overs, RR: 4.08) 364-4 Yet to bat: RA Jadeja, R

Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, UT Yadav Fall of wickets: 1-3 (KL Rahul, 0.6 ov), 2-209 (CA Pujara, 42.6 ov), 3-232 (PP Shaw, 50.2 ov), 4-337 (AM Rahane, 83.3 ov) BOWLING: ST Gabriel (18-1-661), KMA Paul (10-1-41-0), SH Lewis (12-0-56-1), D Bishoo (30-1-113-1), RL Chase (16-067-1), KC Brathwaite (3-0-11-0)

fridAY, october 5, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Limacol KO Football Tournament…

BCB launches DDL Pepsi 50-over 1st Division tournament

Page 22

BCB President Hilbert Foster receiving the sponsorship cheque from DDL’s Marketing Executive Larry Wills

Page 23

Prithvi Shaw’s debut century was laced with 19 boundaries

Police, Pouderoyen to battle for spoils tonight Page 22

Prithvi Shaw’s punchy debut hundred headlines India’s dominance

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