Guyana Times 7 August 2017

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, August 7, 2017

Issue No. 3294

PRICE

Mid-year report

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

GPL records $17B in revenue for 2017

Aruba Airlines begins servicing Guyanese P16 market

Page 7

– despite power outages, poor service delivery P8 Political will, not CoI, needed for prison reform – Ramkarran

Linden teen drowns in Demerara River

At Better Hope

Ex-GDF rank chops off uncle’s head – reportedly confesses Page 2 to heinous crime

Page 16

4-vehicle collision leaves 5 injured in Mahaicony P14 accident

President Granger vows to complete Burnham's plans

Page 5

… at 32nd commemorative service

Sunday morning’s commemorative service at the Seven Ponds, Botanical Gardens, Georgetown, was held in observance of the 32nd death anniversary of Guyana’s First Executive President, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham

Kato School ready for Govt flagged for Sept opening – Harmon Page Financial Paper No. 2

‘double dipping’ money for SARA

– as PPP highlights breaches of Page 3 Fiscal Accountability Act

11

Berbice duo arrested with 11kg cannabis P16

Photographer robbed at gunpoint P11

2 news

monDAY, august 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

At Better Hope

Ex-GDF rank chops off uncle’s head – reportedly confesses to heinous crime

By Kizzy Coleman

A

former rank of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on Sunday confessed to the heinous crime of beheading his uncle, following a series of family disputes.

Twenty-seven-yearold Dwayne Tappin, called “Waynie”, confessed to decapitating his 51-year-old uncle, Randolph Seenauth at 125 South Better Hope, East Coast Demerara (ECD) at around 16:30h on Sunday.

Neighbours were reportedly awakened by a loud commotion coming from the property and the Police were called to investigate.

However, the gruesome discovery was made by the lawmen who reported that the dead man’s body and head were discovered in different parts of the bloodied house.

Guyana Times understands that after hacking his uncle, Tappin fled the scene but later surrendered himself to the Police. When this publication arrived at the crime scene, Tappin was at the time being escorted by investigators to locate the cutlass he used to kill Seenauth.

Speaking with neigh-

The house in which the murder occurred

bours to ascertain what motivated the crime, most revealed that they were unaware of what transpired and were shocked after learning what had transpired in the home.

One neighbour said Seenauth would be seen in the area and described him as a very quiet individual who would do odd and ends for a number of villagers.

However, when this newspaper visited the dead man’s sister, Indra Seenauth, she revealed that the murder was committed because of a property dispute in the family.

Indra Seenauth explained that she is the own-

er of the property in which her brother lived and is his caregiver, as he is epileptic.

The distraught woman said that the property was given to her by her mother who passed away in 2005 with instructions that she care for her other relatives (documents which were seen

by Guyana Times).

However, Seenauth disclosed that ever since her mother’s passing, there have been a number of “fights” in the family for the property.

“My mother allowed my sister to live at the house with her. However, she used to treat my mother bad and cuss my mother and so, she

and her children. So my mother go and change her paper, the transport and everything, she put everything in my name. The whole village in Better Hope can tell you, when my mother died, I take care of my brother and sister them. But my sister, the one who son kill my brother, was never pleased and would always cause trouble,” Seenauth told this newspaper.

The prime suspect, Dwayne Tappin, is the son of Indra Seenauth’s sister, and is said to be an employee of the Ministry of the Presidency.

Tappin, reportedly with the assistance from other

family members, would occasionally break into the dead man’s house and assault him. Indra noted that several reports were lodged at the Plaisance Police Station to attest to this.

She said that on several occasions, her brother’s life and her own have been threatened. Seenauth said, “I start to keep away from the property because they keep telling me that they gon kill me. So I ask my brother to come out for his food, I does ask neighbours to watch over him or sometimes my daughter does go and check up on him”.

Recently, the property dispute matter was reportedly called to ourt and Seenauth was granted the property. This publication was told by the woman that coupled with that, the confessed murderer threatened to commit the act because of an incident which occurred two Fridays ago.

Tappin, along with two other male friends broke into the property and were allegedly involved in misconduct with a 14-year-old girl. The incident was reported to the Police.

“Two weeks ago he and two other bai carry a girl at 11:00h in the night and (al-

Dwayne “Waynie”, murderer

Tappin, called the confessed

legedly) rape she. The Police came in and the girl pointed out who rape she and he (Tappin) staining my brother and seh how my brother tell the Police,” the woman tearfully explained.

Seenauth added that since that incident, Tappin threatened on several occasions to end the man’s life.

“When me go and see my brother this morning, ow god, his head deh one side and his body deh laying another side, he didn’t deserve that,” Seenauth cried.

Investigations into the gruesome killing are continuing and Tappin is expected to be charged shortly.

news

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monDAY, august 7, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Monday, August 7 – a night time retraction of 04:30h and a daytime retraction of 14:30h-16:00h and Tuesday, August 8 – a night time retraction of 05:00h and a daytime retraction of 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Monday, August 7 – 16:10h-17:40h and Tuesday, August 8 – 16:45h-18:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected during the morning, while light rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected in the afternoon.

Clear skies can be expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 24 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Ranging from Easterly to East South-easterly and East North-easterly between 2.23 metre to 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 04:09h and 16:34h reaching maximum heights of 2.57 metres and 2.52 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:08h and 22:22h reaching minimum heights of 0.62 metre and 0.68 metre respectively.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 5, 2017

LOTTERY NUMBERS O

02

04 05

17

18 24

11 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

DAILY MILLIONS 13 14 15 21 22 LUCKY 3 3 9 2 Afternoon Draw

2

9

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Evening Draw

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

Financial Paper No. 2

Govt flagged for ‘double dipping’ money for SARA – as PPP highlights breaches of Fiscal Accountability Act

L

ast Thursday, Government pushed financial paper No. 2 through the National Assembly, seeking more than $2.5 billion in supplemental funding. In that process, however, it breached the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA).

Former Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Juan Edghill, speaking at a press conference on Saturday, disclosed that the FMAA had been breached, and referred specifically to the $89.8 million sought for the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) under the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

“I asked the Minister of Legal Affairs on what authority are appropriations being made, when no appropriation had been made in the original budget of 2017,” Edghill related.

“He couldn’t answer! The Minister of Finance tried to offer some arguments, even asking me if I’m suggesting something illegal was done.”

Edghill continued: “I want to read from the Fiscal Management and Accountability Act (FMAA), (specifically the part dealing with) authority to vary annual appropriations. The law says that when you vary the budget (submit an appropriations bill), new appropriations shall not be created.

Section 22 (1) of the FMAA states: “The Minister may reallocate spending authority among annual appropriations during the fiscal year to which the appropriations relate, subject to the following restrictions” A perusal of the Act shows that appropriations can only be varied across programmes within the re-

PPP/C Member of Parliament Juan Edghill

Attorney General Basil Williams

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

lated budget agency. It also states that an appropriation for any programme cannot be varied by more than 10 per cent of the total sum. And subsection ‘D’ adds that “new appropriations shall not be created.”

SARA was known as the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) before passage of the State Assets Recovery Bill 2017 in April. SARU had previously received allocations from budget 2017, and questions are being raised over the need to seek more money.

According to Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams, the unit fell under his ministerial responsibility and, as such, the Ministry would be making the purchase of the two pick-ups and furniture and other accessories to be turned over to SARA. Questioned on the allocations that had been made to SARU, the Legal Affairs Minister was unable to provide any answers since, according to him, the Unit fell under his remit only from May, 2017.

“Do you know what this means, ladies and gentlemen and tax payers?”

Edghill asked. “This is dou-

ble-dipping. SARU has already received appropriations for the entire year under the Ministry of the Presidency. You now have SARA, the same thing as SARU, now under the Ministry of Legal Affairs,” he explained.

“They are appropriating $89 million for current expenditure for an entity that has already had money appropriated towards it. They broke the law by creating a new appropriation rather than transferring the money. So that money will remain in the Ministry of the Presidency, and God knows where it will go,” Edghill detailed.

A total of $89.9 million was voted as current expenditure, to cater for salaries, rental, utilities and other such recurring expenditure. These sums of

money were represented as Line Item 52-521: Subsidy and Contribution to Local Organisations from the Legal Affairs Ministry, under Current Estimates.

Under Capital Estimates, $13 million were approved for the purchase of two pick-up vehicles for the unit, because the agency “does not currently have any vehicles”.

Another $13.4 million were approved for the purchase of furnishing and other equipment for the property being rented to house the agency.

By the end of the session related to the Legal Affairs Ministry and SARA, in excess of $115 million had been approved by the coalition Government to operationalise SARA, despite the protestations of the Opposition.

4

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monDAY, august 7, 2017

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

Realistic community policing

W

ith the recent spate of jailbreaks, the plague of endemic crime, its causes and what ought to be done to contain and reduce it, they continue to be national burning issues. The Police had launched several initiatives over the last few years, which unfortunately have not yet made much of an impact. The President had signalled to the judicial system – through at least three rounds of pardons – that possibly too many persons were incarcerated for what he considered to be “petty crimes”.

But no initiative was taken.

Maybe a new approach towards crime fighting needs to be taken. Back in 1982, the Harvard Sociologist, James Q Wilson, co-authored a paper ‘Broken Windows’, which took a contrarian position to the then received wisdom on crime – which still holds sway in Guyana. Maybe, belatedly, the Government ought to look at Wilson’s analysis and the recommendations that flowed out of it.

Up to that point, everyone focused on the “root causes” of crime. Crime would not decrease, it was emphasised, until the social and environmental “causes”: poverty, racism, bad housing, poor education, inequality, etc, were addressed. Not surprisingly, the Police loved the idea since it absolved them from ever reducing crime in absolute terms. Their stock answer to the stubborn, high and growing crime figures was: “it’s society’s fault; society messed them up” and “rehabilitation” should be the riposte.

With the US’ experience showing that incarceration – even conjoined with rehabilitation, maybe it is time the pre-emptive ‘Broken Windows’ alternative be considered.

Wilson derived both his inspiration and the name from a widely-observed phenomenon. “Social psychologists and Police Officers tend to agree,” Wilson and Kelling wrote, “that if a window in a building is broken and is left unrepaired, all the rest of the windows will soon be broken. This is as true in nice neighbourhoods as in rundown ones.”

“Window-breaking” does not necessarily occur on a large scale because some areas are inhabited by determined “window breakers”, whereas others are populated by window lovers; rather, one unrepaired broken window is a signal that no one cares, and so breaking more windows costs nothing. (It has always been fun.)” What’s true of windows, Kelling and Wilson argued, was also true more generally of “untended” behaviour in a community. Wilson was saying that culture matters.

A stable neighbourhood of families who care for their homes, mind each other’s children, and confidently frown on unwanted intruders can change, in a few years or even a few months, to an inhospitable and frightening jungle. A piece of property is abandoned, weeds grow up, a window is smashed. Adults stop scolding rowdy children; the children, emboldened, become rowdier. Families move out, unattached adults move in. Teenagers gather in front of the corner store.

The merchant asks them to move; they refuse. Fights occur. Litter accumulates.

At this point it is not inevitable that serious crime will flourish but many residents will think that crime, especially violent crimes, are on the rise, and they will modify their behaviour accordingly. They will use the streets less often, and when on the streets will stay apart from their fellows, moving with averted eyes, silent lips, and hurried steps.

“Don’t get involved.”

In essence, Kelling and Wilson were arguing that minor crimes, if unpunished, led to major crimes and massive social breakdown. The goal of “Broken Windows policing” is to allow neighbourhoods to police themselves and reduce crime. The role of Police through this type of “community policing” is to reduce fear through foot patrol, maintaining order, and the judicious use of officers’ discretion. In so doing, they would only be responding to the previously unacknowledged demand in poor and at risk communities for the same sense of lawfulness enjoyed in wealthy areas.

We all know these communities.

While our “community policing’ initiatives have adopted their name from “Broken Windows” policing, they have entirely missed its essence. In the latter months of 2015, then Commander Hicken adopted what appeared to be a more authentic model. This should be expanded in at-risk communities across the country.

Red, Hot, Sun: In Bogra, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, women harvest and sort through red chilli peppers and dry them in the sun

Geographic’s Your Shot photographer, MD Tanveer Hassan Rohan)

(National

The Maha Sabha is strong and well Dear Editor, Over the last few days, several letters have flooded the press, expressing the view that the Maha Sabha has become dysfunctional and its priest is somewhat deemed unfit for the position he currently holds as priestin-charge of the said organisation.

Mr Editor, I wish to rebuke and debunk all the negative and incorrect statements issued by those individuals. The Maha Sabha is strong and well. Like every other functioning organization, the Maha Sabha has several internal problems, but I see no reason why these problems should be highlighted in the media.

If persons have suggestions to make, then the Sabha welcomes such, but we would not tolerate persons who seem to have several ulterior motives to tarnish the reputation of our prestigious organisation.

Editor, I grew up within the environs of the Sabha, and, over the years, I am witness to tremendous service that the Sabha does for Hindus all over Guyana. My advice to these persons - all of whom seem hell bent on painting a bad picture of the Sabha - is why not come on board and lend your expertise?

So far, I have never seen or heard of any of them at any of the Sabha’s outreach programmes, or any other event facilitated by the Sabha. So far, all that I’m getting from these individuals are the bitterness and resentment that have probably been locked away within them for many years.

Instead of doing nothing but criticising and hiding behind your pens, come forward and get in the action.

That’s what the Hindus of this country need, not another critic!

Editor, in terms of the priest of the Sabha, I have

had the distinguished honour of watching him grow into a defender of our faith and a gem of sanatan dharma. Our priest is a young and industrious individual, and like many of us youths, his journey on the path of becoming a pandit has not been easy. Yet he picked up the reins of the Sabha at the tender age of nineteen, at a time when the Sabha was without a priest, and has since overseen several projects, including erection of the Sabha’s multi-million-dollar complex located on Lamaha Street.

Editor, our priest is not perfect, but he has made several efforts of his own to reach out towards his fellow Hindu brothers and sisters, to give and lend a helping hand to anyone he comes across. We definitely need more like him in Guyana.

We at the Sabha stand firm: we will not give up our young priest for anyone

else. Instead, we will work with him and ensure that he grows.

Finally, I would like to pose a question to all those persons who are using their pens as weapons against someone who does much for his religion. What have you done so far to uphold your dharma? Does it benefit the common Hindu out there when you sit behind your fancy degrees and doctorates and lambaste a pandit?

Instead, I urge you to use your education, use your cutting edge intellect, to inspire change for the Hindus.

It was Ghandhiji who once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world”.

Stop fighting down those who are trying, and start making a change.

Long live the Maha Sabha!

Yours faithfully, Pandit Yogeshwar Mathoo, B sc Soc

M&CC has long been a failed institution

Dear Editor, Once again, the garbage contractors have had to withdraw their services due to hundreds of millions of dollars being owed to them, and the Council hardly making any effort to alleviate this debt.

What is new? In fact, this time the Council, through its administrative officer, is trying strong arm tactics of nullifying their contracts if they don’t continue working without pay.

Would that same administrative officer or any of his more than eight hundred colleagues continue to work in spite of not being paid for two years?

One wonders, however, with so much works contracted out, why is there need for so many workers?

Or are some of them phantoms or dummies?

Let us face it: the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown as an institution is, and has been, a failed institution for some time now. How many more hundreds of millions of dollars do they owe the power company, water authority, their fuel suppliers, etc?

Council is up to its ears in debt, but continues to spend lavishly on itself.

With bodyguards, luxury vehicles, frequent foreign travel, they continue to

abuse the City’s resources for personal use. The overtime at M&CC is appalling.

It must be the only place in Guyana where the overtime is rivaling the overall employment cost. Additionally, the issuance and use of fuel is inordinately high, but this is not surprising, as fuel is issued to private vehicles when they are going on their retreats, etc.

The Government of Guyana, a few years ago, handed over seven new garbage trucks to City Council.

And what did they do with them? They actually failed to maintain and repair them, then sold most of them recently to these very contrac-

tors that they owe for little or nothing, and now have the audacity to say that they are going to nullify the contracts and take back the service and do it themselves.

With what? Donkey carts?

Why is the Ministry of Communities turning a Nelson’s eye to these situations? When will they stop bailing out the Council and force them to curtail their profligate expenditure.

When will they have them audited and be more accountable? Is this the way our capital city should be run?

Sincerely, James Mc Onnell

5 President Granger vows to complete Burnham's plans news

MONDAY, AUGUST 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

… at 32nd commemorative service

P

resident David Granger on Sunday morning paid tribute to Guyana’s first Executive President and founder of the People’s National Congress (PNC), Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, OE, SC, on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of his death.

The annual wreath laying ceremony was held at the Mausoleum at the Seven Ponds in the Botanical Gardens, where the former President was laid to rest.

President Granger in his remarks said the late Forbes Burnham will always be remembered with reverence for his fight against inequality, pov-

erty, illiteracy and other social ills, which affected the lives of the ordinary Guyanese.

backward colony of British Guiana when he entered office on 14th December 1964 up to his death on

President David Granger lays a wreath at the Mausoleum where the late President was laid to rest

A section of the attendees at Sunday morning's commemorative service

“We recall Forbes Burnham’s courageous campaign to transform the

6th August 1985. Forbes Burnham described his mission as “...a struggle…

against poverty, ignorance, unemployment, hunger and exploitation…”

According to Granger, Burnham launched a process of national transformation to eliminate the inequalities associated with

economic, geographic and demographic disparities.

“Forbes Burnham’s policy of national transformation was based, in part, on providing easier access to public education,” Granger posited.

He noted that the institutions which were established by the late President still sustain social change and the evidence of his monumental achievements is visible everywhere, particularly in the University of Guyana at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown; the Cyril Potter College of Education, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown; the Cooperative Training College at Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke/Linden Highway; the Technical Institute at New Amsterdam, Berbice; the first hinterland secondary school at St Ignatius, in the Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo); the extension of free education as an entitlement and the Teaching Service Commission; and the production of local textbooks, among others.

TURN TO PAGE 7

Eagerly awaiting the M&CC’s finances need to be audited Paul Slowe CoI report

Dear Editor, I attended numerous sessions of the Commission of Inquiry into the alleged plot to assassinate President David Granger, presently been conducted by Paul Slowe, retired Assistant Commissioner of Police. I listened keenly to the contrasting testimonies of the numbers one to three senior officers of the Guyana Police Force; the Crime Chief, his Deputy, the Head of the Major Crimes Unit, several other police ranks and civilians. At times I got the distinct impression that some of the persons were not really testifying, but were instead they “testilieing.”

I listen for one word in the testimony of the investigators: ‘interrogate’. I did not hear it. Hope the transcripts will prove me wrong.

Instead, I heard the words opinion and suggestion been used instead of order, instruct, command, or even direct.

The word interview keeps wringing in my ears, as it was mentioned frequently during the hearing.

Is it that the police are interviewing suspects instead of interrogating them?

I am wondering if the police are afraid that when they interrogate suspects they will breach the Judge’s Rules or, more so, come into conflict with their own training manual on Human Rights in

Policing.

If law enforcement officers are to conduct effective investigations into major crimes, including a threat to kill the President, and the word interrogate does not readily come to mind or is not uttered, then the investigations will be prosaic.

Shocking issues and concerns emerging from the CoI have left me with the indelible impression of their potential to not only rock the foundation, but the apex of discipline in the GPF. No wonder there was a call for an inquiry.

Please permit me to mention that the chairman has been conducting the inquiry in a truly professional manner, even though the Leader of the Opposition described him as a junior officer who is inquiring into matters involving the Commissioner of Police and other senior officers, and that he has to deal with a battery of eminent attorneys-at-law, including a former Chief Justice.

Those who know Paul Slowe and worked with him will tell you about his professionalism. I eagerly await the conclusion of the inquiry and the Slowe report.

Yours faithfully, Clinton Conway Assistant Commissioner of Police (Retired)

Dear Editor, There exists within the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown a very grave, consequential and unlawful state of affairs, which immediately needs to be dealt with by the relevant authorities to bring a speedy end to the exploitation and suffering of the employees of that institution.

In clear violation of the laws governing the Guyana Revenue Authority, the National Insurance Scheme, the credit unions and other allied entities in this country, the administration of the Georgetown Municipality deducts ‘pay as you earn’ (PAYE) taxes, national insurance contributions, credit union and pen-

sion scheme deductions from the pay packets of employees, and either withholds these deductions for an inordinate period of time, or, in some instances, does not remit them at all.

This is done in order to delay or offset costs associated with their mammoth payroll, which they cannot afford each month; so, by withholding payment of these sums of money that they deduct from their employees, they use it as a saving through a process of deferred payment.

In the case of the NIS, the Human Resources Department routinely makes elementary errors such as providing incorrect NIS numbers; spelling em-

ployees’ names incorrectly, and providing employees’ names without their NIS numbers.

These supposed mistakes are very costly to Council’s employees–both financially and in terms of lost time – as they have to endure unacceptably long delays and, worse, no benefits for hospitalisation, treatment and medication.

For the GRA, it is the same situation, whereby millions in deductions are not paid over routinely, and many employees discover this only when they file their returns and are told that their taxes are not paid.

They then have to spend weeks running between City Hall and GRA to have this

egregious situation sorted out.

I call on the Guyana Revenue Authority, the National Insurance Scheme, and all the other entities to stop giving the M&CC a free pass, and ensure that entity is made to face the full force of the law as would be applicable to other defaulting private institutions.

It is time that law and order be restored at City Hall.

It is time for an audit to be undertaken on the City’s finances, and it is time for a Commission of Inquiry to be held there to root out nepotism, corruption maladministration, and graft there.

Sincerely, Sean Moniz

6

monDAY, August 7, 2017

Page

N

ot everyone likes organised sports or team sports. If this sounds like you, don’t sweat it.

We’re going to talk about what keeps some children from liking sports. With a few changes, you might find out that there is a sport out there that you could like. But if not, we’ll suggest other fun ways to stay active.

Learning about sports

Sometimes, children feel that they don’t like sports because they might not understand how to play them or they haven’t had much practice doing them.

Sports can seem complicated because of all the rules and special equipment. Even the fields and courts they’re played on come in different shapes and sizes and have confusing-looking lines drawn on them.

People spend many years learning about favourite sports and practicing how to do them well. So don’t feel bad if you don’t know the difference between a “corner kick” and a “goal kick” in soccer. If you want to learn more about a sport, you might ask your mom or dad about camps or programmes that introduce children to new sports. These may be better

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

than just joining a team that starts playing games right away without much explaining first.

Gym class and intramural programmes at school also can be a way to try new sports with a mix of children. Another way to learn about a sport is to watch instructional videos or DVDs or check out library books that explain the rules and offer suggestions for children learning to play them.

If you have an older friend or family member who’s good at a sport, you might ask him or her to help you practice.

Some sports are just good to understand, even if you never want to play on a competitive team. For instance, you might play softball or volleyball, just for fun, at a summer picnic.

A bad sports experience

Some children don’t like organised sports because they were once on a team and they didn’t have fun. Maybe all of the other children seemed to know what they were doing and you felt unsure. Or maybe you didn’t like the pressure of competing against other teams, where you know one team is going to win and the other is going to lose.

Competition can bring out some intense emotions.

Sometimes, children on a team get so fired up about winning that they may yell or get upset at a player who makes a mistake. This can be stressful – especially if it’s you who made a mistake!

But everybody makes mistakes sometimes and no one should tease you for it. If they do, it’s a good idea to talk with the coach or your mom or dad. Sometimes children need to be reminded about being

understanding and respectful to each other.

Parents and coaches also can get upset about a game situation and put too much pressure on children. Children might feel confused and stressed out during games if they’re not quite sure what they should be doing.

But team sports also can be a great experience. Children get to improve their skills and feel that team spirit as they work together toward a common goal.

If you’ve had a bad experience with a team, maybe it’s time to try a new sport or a new league. Some leagues and programs emphasize skill building over competition – and some leagues don’t even keep score!

The right sport

There are dozens of sports, so you might not have found the one for you yet. Lots of children try soccer and baseball. But what if your best sport is going to be volleyball, cheerleading, or gymnastics? You’ll have to try it and find out.

Some children are naturally graceful. Others are strong.

And still others have great aim. Different sports require different skills, so you’ll want to try different sports to find one that suits you. Some activities you might not think of as sports, such as karate or cheerleading, but they are great for staying active.

If you don’t like being on a team that much, you might consider individual sports. An individual sport means a child does the sport on his or her own. You can do these sports competitively or just for the fun

of doing them.

Here’s a list individual sports: * cricket * swimming * diving * running * wrestling * gymnastics * golf * tennis * in-line skating * biking * martial arts * football

of

What’s the big deal about sports?

some

You might wonder why grownups want you to try sports and be active. There’s a good reason: Playing sports is a great form of exercise and exercise keeps your body healthy.

We’ve already talked about the many sports to choose from, but there’s even more good news – many other non-sport activities can provide exercise and keep you active, including: * playing at a playground * raking leaves * jumping rope * dancing around your bedroom * walking your dog * working in the garden * washing the car You also might find that by limiting your use of electronics – TV, computer, and cellphone – you’ll just naturally be more active.

So, no, you don’t have to play a sport, but you might still find one you like. The most important thing is to be an active child. And you have a world of activities to choose from. Somewhere out there is a special one that’s just right for you! (KidsHealth)

The importance of SPORTS for CHILDREN (Continued from Sunday)

• They learn to respect authority, rules, team colleagues and opponents.

• Sport is an important learning environment for children.

Numerous studies have shown that children who play sports perform better at school. It is also within sport that peer status and peer acceptance is established and developed.

• Sports experiences help building positive self- esteem in children.

• In addition, participating in sports can be a helpful way

child should first get used to sports, accept it and get to like it so it can become part of his and her everyday life.

Results, achievements, medals and awards may come later on, though they require a lot of hard work, discipline and sacrifice.

Also, it is important to allow your child to discover and explore other interesting things too besides sports so they don’t feel suffocated at your constant nagging how sports is good for them. Let them see the values of sports for themselves.

Know that the essence of sports is to unite

of reducing stress and increasing feelings of physical and mental well-being, as well as fighting against juvenile delinquency, conflict and aggressive outbursts. The point is to keep the body in good health in order to be able to keep our mind strong and clear.

When children learn positive life lessons through sports, there is no doubt they will become honest, reliable adults who will try to help others in need at any moment.

We cannot stress enough how important it is to NOT impose unrealistic expectations and hard achievable goals on children from the start.

Kids should participate in sports not for instant success and results, but rather to develop their physical and intellectual skills. Otherwise, forcing the child to play some sports may create a counter-effect and as a result make them develop an aversion to sports in general.

Instead, let your

all the people worldwide, regardless of their social background, their financial status and the country they come from.

So if you think that you need money in order to play sports, you are wrong!

Sport is not a privilege of wealthy people. In less rich parts of the world you can see children running for a handmade ball on dusty streets, or racing on the road from home to school and back. For them too, sport is an inexhaustible source of inspiration and happiness.

As long as your child is involved in sports activities, he is in the world where he tries to be as best as he can be.

All his senses, the locomotor system and intellectual capacities are engaged. By playing sports your child will not only become stronger physically but mentally too.

Best of all, he will learn how to overcome any obstacles and challenges that will come his way.

Isn’t that what we all need? (novakdjokovicfoundation.org)

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MONDAY, August 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Mid-year report

GPL rakes in $17B in revenue for 2017 – despite power outages, poor service delivery

By Jaryl Bryan

D

espite the frequent power outages and poor service that plague consumers, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) managed to improve its revenue collection by raking in $17 billion in the first half of 2017.

The whopping sum represents an increase from $14.7 billion for the same period in 2016. According to the 2017 mid-year report released by Government, the increase in revenue is as a result of more timely payments.

The report also details that expenditure increased from $9.3 billion in the first half of 2016 to $12.6 billion in the same period this year. This increase, according to the report, is due to higher costs for Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO).

It also states that the weighted average cost rose to US$48.70 for the half year; an increase from US$30.50 as at June 30, 2016. Other expenditure included some $500 million the utility company repaid Government for loans.

But with the increased revenue, the company’s outlook for the year has improved. According to the report, the budgeted deficit of $5 billion is now expected to be lowered to $771 million.

The report said there was a marginal increase in the production of electricity to 394,832 MWh in the first half of the year. However, the report acknowledges that the company’s techni-

Acting CEO of GPL, Renford Homer

cal performance remains plagued with problems.

“At the half year 2017, the 12-month rolling average of total losses was 29.6 per cent, a slight increase from the half year for 2016 when the total losses was 29.3 per cent,” the report stated.

“In a continued effort to promote the stability and reliability of existing power grid, $1.38 billion has been advanced for the rehabilitation of 328 km of low and medium voltage distribution networks in the first half.”

The report reveals that works are expected to commence in the second half of the year, with GPL expecting the work to improve power service delivery to approximately 22,000 of its customers. The work includes plans to rehabilitate an additional 580km of the distribution network.

But even as GPL seeks to

improve its infrastructure, service disruptions continue to raise the ire of customers. It is understood that as of March 2017, there were 29 complaints from GPL customers at the level of the Public Utility Commission (PUC).

GPL therefore comes in second on the list of complaints, behind only Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT).

Last month, frustrated businessmen from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) met with staff from GPL at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), where they vented their anger at the constant and prolonged power outages on the Essequibo Coast.

With the northern side of the Essequibo Coast hardest hit, the businessmen pointed to the plight of residents in Charity, who have suffered in the dark for days.

Essequibo Chambers of Commerce Chairman Deleep Singh, representing entrepreneurs, noted that a number of businesses suffered tremendous losses as a direct result of the blackouts. They questioned whether GPL would compensate them for their suffering and losses.

On Thursday last, after much outcry from citizens, the company stated that “a botched tree trimming exercise and a burnt jumper” were among the reasons for the electricity woes.

GPL’s Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Renford Homer, also explained that shutdown of the Demerara-Berbice

Burnham’s fight against...

FROM PAGE 5

“Forbes Burnham will always be remembered with reverence. We renew, on this solemn commemoration of his death, our collective commitment to continue his campaign against poverty, ignorance, unemployment, hunger and exploitation…,” President Granger said.

Meanwhile, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, Basil Williams, who also serves as Chairman of the PNC, in his brief tribute, said the late Prime Minister and first Executive President of Guyana was a giant of history, who transformed not just a nation but also the Caribbean.

“Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham was a consummate statesman and a freedom fighter whose keen commitment to the development of Guyana and its people is undeniable. Burnham played a significant role in shaping the political, social and economic landscape of Guyana. It was under his

Sunday morning’s commemorative service at the Seven Ponds was held in observance of the 32nd death anniversary of Guyana’s First Executive President, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham

leadership that Guyana attained political independence and Republican status. It was also under his leadership that many of the transformative infrastructural developments of Guyana materialised.

Under Burnham, Guyana’s status in international and regional affairs was elevated and respected,” Minister Williams said.

Burnham served as

Prime Minister of Guyana from 1964 and as President from 1980 until the time of his death in 1985 at the age of 62. He was a lawyer, a politician, and a father of six.

The event was attended by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, other Ministers of the Government, members of the diplomatic corps as well as representatives from the 10 administrative regions across Guyana.

Interconnected System (DBIS) had resulted in a generation shortfall occasioned by reduced generation reserve.

Homer also explained that when the demand was about 84 megawatts, there were 87 megawatts available for generation, which left only three megawatts of reserve capacity, instead of the normal 20 megawatts.

Moreover, the machines at Skeldon and Garden of Eden were being overhauled, whilst the one at Kingston was undergoing routine maintenance.

Power upgrades

At a year-end press conference, Homer had announced that some $3 billion would be spent by the company towards the construction of four new substations.

GPL has said upgrades and new substations are expected by 2018

He had stated that this formed part of $6.6 billion that had been set aside for works to improve service delivery of the company; $3 billion for the new sub-

stations and $1.4 billion for renovation works to existing substations.

According to Homer, these works are expected to be completed by 2018.

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monDAY, august 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Political will, not CoI, needed for prison reform – Ramkarran

... calls for more modern, proactive approaches to reduce prison numbers

W

ith a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the prison system done only last year, as well as a number of reports and plans for reform completed over the years, it is the political will to enact prison reform that is needed from the Government, in-

cent memory.

According to Ramkarran, there is no shortage of information on what the Government needs to do to address overcrowding, repeatedly cited as a problem within the prisons. He stressed that a further study would only repeat recom-

What was left of the Camp Street Prison after the recent fire

stead of another expensive CoI. This is according to former House Speaker and veteran political activist, Ralph Ramkarran, commenting on the Government’s decision to launch another CoI in wake of the recent fire that gutted the Camp Street Prison and preceded two of the worst jail breaks in re-

mendations that numerous reports have produced.

“In 2001, a comprehensive report by a British team on prison reform was made.

It found overcrowding, violations of human rights, inadequate alternatives to incarceration, poor conditions for prisoners and staff, and minimal scope for rehabilitation...”

The former Speaker of the National Assembly noted that, in the same year, the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) had produced a 10year Strategic Development Plan for 2001-2011. This came after reports, workshops, retreats and visits were done.

“In 2002, the Carter Center presented a report calling for a review of the criminal justice system, including the system of imprisonment. Also, in 2002, the Kennard Commission of Inquiry into the February 2002 jailbreak concluded that it would not have occurred if the prisoners had been transferred to Mazaruni,” Ramkarran reminded.

“In 2004, the Report of the Disciplined Services Commission chaired by Justice Ian Chang made 28 recommendations for improvements to the prisons: increase staff, increasing the capacity of Mazaruni to deal with dangerous prisoners, and other (things),” he pointed out.

Ramkarran also pointed to a 68-page report made in 2009 by a team led by Lloyd Nickram, a Management Specialist in the Public Service Ministry. According to him, the report made much of the same recommendations as the previous reports, and identified the main cause of chronic overcrowding as the large number of remands and imprisonment for petty crimes.

Added to this body of reports, Ramkarran noted, the Georgetown Prison Visiting Committee reports to the Minister responsible for Public Security on an annual basis. He observed that the crux of their reports would include reiterations of overcrowding and other problems.

According to Ramkarran, there is also the Patterson Commission, which the coalition Government launched after the fire last year that claimed the lives of 17 prisoners. That CoI also made recommendations which have only been partially implemented, Ramkarran pointed out.

“There are approximately 2,000 prisoners in the five facilities: in Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Mazaruni, Lusignan and Timehri. Of these, 35 per cent is on remand awaiting trial. The Georgetown Prison at Camp Street was designed to accommodate 600 prisoners, but held in the vicinity of 1,000,” he said.

“Violent incidents or escapes have occurred in Georgetown, New Amsterdam and Mazaruni in the past. There was always a great fear among

Drowning…

T … in garbage

Former Speaker of the House, Ralph Ramkarran

those responsible for security that Camp Street could explode at any time. The problem of overcrowding was well known,” he argued.

More creative policies

According to Ramkarran, the short-term tasks that could have brought immediate relief would have been the substantial reduction of prisoner population by modern, non-custodial sentencing laws and policies for minor offences.

He also noted the need for a more creative policy with regard to bail, and an annual review by the Director of Public Prosecutions of every case of a prisoner awaiting trial for more than two years.

“None of this was ever done,” he said. “The Government did not appoint a permanent multi-agency task force on prison reform to drive the process of reform, without which it has been, and will continue to, languish in bureaucratic inertia,” Ramkarran declared.

“The most important factor, however, is political will and governmental parsimony. At the best of times, the prison and the judiciary are the two step sisters who are starved when funds become scarce. They do not bring in votes at election time, so they receive no political priority,” the Senior Counsel stated.

The fire which razed the Camp Street Prison occurred on July 9, resulting in over 1000 prisoners being displaced. While some were moved to Mazaruni or granted early release or bail, a contingent had remained at Lusignan under stringent circumstances.

That was until a second jail-break occurred at the Lusignan holding area.

And while the authorities have managed to capture all but four of the 17 prisoners who were on the run, corrective measures prompted the Government to seek more than $500M in supplemental funds from the National Assembly last week.

he Brazilian economy’s crumbling, and Brazilians are in the throes of a corruption-induced political crisis. However, back in the 70s, they were in a worse situation; they were stuck in a stagnant economy, all of that plus hyper-inflation and a mountain of debt. By 1980, inflation was NINE TIMES what it was in the 1960s; yet the Government didn’t worry: it was Hakuna Matata all the way - no worries, no cares!! They continued blithely borrowing from the mainly U.S. banks, which were flailing around to lend the funds that were piling up in the newly launched OPEC economies.

Brazil could afford to not give a damn and thumb its nose at the U.S. banks, because the Brazilians figured those banks were hooked. With them being in hock for so many billions, the banks couldn’t just walk away, could they? They were now in a ‘relationship’!

When your Eyewitness read, on Sunday morning, of the Town Clerk thumbing his nose at the garbage collectors, he was reminded of the Brazilian gambit.

The City now owes its two private garbage collectors $300 million - which is a lotta moolah in any language.

And once again, the latter threatened to quit picking up the dirt unless City Hall started to significantly make a dent in that number. They’d done the same thing last month, but resumed after a few days, after promises were made. Obviously, the promises weren’t kept; but this time Royston King pulled the Brazilian gambit!!

He informed the garbage collectors if they went ahead with their threat they would be violating their contract, and they could consider their contract terminated!!! The garbage collecting companies are beside themselves. This was a “man bites dog” scenario to them!! King knows the garbage collectors can’t walk away from $300M…they’re now in a “relationship”, like Brazil and the U.S. banks!!

So how’d that work out eventually? Well, the World Bank and the IMF stepped in and lent money to Brazil to pay off the U.S. Banks! City Hall DOES have friends in high places, but will they pay off their $300M debt? Your Eyewitness doubts the PNC-led coalition Government’s going to step up to the crease. So what’s Royston King to do?

It’s clear he’s learnt more than a thing or two from the American Grifters - who had him sign away the City to Smart City. King now knows the devil is in the details of the contract! And the details with the garbage collectors’ contracts apparently DOESN’T give them the option of withholding services.

So we have an irresistible force meeting an immovable object. And the citizens of Georgetown will get it in the (stinky) end!

…in stonewalling

It was a shad, shad shituation in Parliament the other day. Here, in the supposedly highest forum of democracy in the land, where our leaders are supposed to set a standard for the rest of us peons on how to serve our country, a great travesty of justice was committed; and -not for the first time -- by the individual who is supposed to be above the fray in the August assembly of legislators: the Speaker of the Assembly.

Which citizen in the land doesn’t want to hear about how many Ministers are receiving $500,000 rental allowances? Or under whose auspices were such payments authorised? So the question was tabled by the PPP. But even though the Speaker accepted that the timing, format and all procedures were OK, he disallowed the question being answered!

Why? He ruled the question wasn’t on an “urgent” matter!! So, what about the citizens’ burning need for info about their taxes being spent?

That’s not an “urgent” matter?

…in corruption

If you thought smuggling tattoo machines and such like into our prisons under the noses of our authorities was daring, what do you think about that illegal airstrip just found in the Rupununi near the Sante Fe mega farm??

Didn’t the GDF sweep the area last Sept when Prezzie visited?

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

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monDAY, august 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Assassination CoI

Top Cop’s lawyer wants Police Legal Advisor to appear before Commission …Ram continues to call for Ramjattan to give evidence

By Lakhram Bhagirat

A

ttorney Glen Hanoman, representing the interest of Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud in the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the alleged plot to assassinate President Granger, has formally requested CoI Commissioner Paul Slowe to have Police Legal Advisor Justice Claudette Singh (ret’d) appear to give evidence before the Commission.

Justice Singh has advised the Guyana Police Force at every juncture of the investigation into this alleged plot, reports of which first surfaced on March 29 last, when Andrif Gillard alleged that his neighbour, Nizam Khan, had offered him $7M to kill President Granger.

“I want to put on record a formal request for the Police Legal Advisor to be sought. And I know you (Commissioner Slowe) have already ruled, but just for the purpose of the record, I feel that she certainly played an important role throughout this investigation. And she came to some legal opinions that may be very helpful to the Commission, especially her opinion on the offence being investigated. So I think that she has something important,” Hanoman said.

“Even though you have mentioned that they will have their minutes and written pieces of advice, my understanding is that there may have been a lot of oral advice that have not been documented. I believe that Unit (the Major Crimes Unit) have a daily rapport

Attorney Glen Hanoman

CoI Commissioner Paul Slowe

with this particular adviser, and I was told that, almost on a daily basis, oral advice was sought on the way forward in this case, and I think those things should be highlighted,” Hanoman added.

“Noted!” Commissioner Slowe responded.

Meanwhile, Attorney Christopher Ram, who represents Imran Khan, continued fighting for Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan to be invited to give evidence before the commission. Ram notes that “a collection of issues not only makes Ramjattan’s contribution compelling, but extremely valuable”.

He added that the Minister’s comments about the incident and inquiry warrants his presence, and he noted that if the Commission does not call Ramjattan, it would “seriously compromise its own work”.

While he acknowledged the request, Slowe said he would continue to be guided by the Terms of Reference of the CoI.

“I will be guided by these (ToRs) because these are the terms that I have to seek to get witnesses and evidence. So while I hear what you are saying, as I said before, I intend to be very open, impartial, and bring all those who are necessary for me to address these terms.

“As I said, a decision has not yet been made, and I will go through it and see the benefits he can bring in terms of us addressing the terms,” Slowe promised.

Minister Ramjattan had, on Thursday, said he does not see how his testimony would contribute to the work of the Commission.

The CoI seeks to do the following: Inquire into persons, places, times, circumstances and events by and through which allegations and reports came to be made of an intention to assassinate the President.

Investigate the full range of the actions and responses of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to the reports, and determine the extent to which such ac-

Police Legal Advisor, Justice Claudette Singh (ret’d)

tions were conducted or executed with due diligence.

Determine whether any person, and in particular officers of the GPF, had information before and after reports were made of a plan to assassinate the President; and whether any such officer(s) had communicated that information to a superior authority.

Commissioners will also record and report on what official action was taken on the basis of the information received; and whether there

Attorney Christopher Ram

was due diligence by the officers of the GPF in the investigation of the plan to assassinate the President.

Determine whether there was failure, neglect or omission to thoroughly and properly investigate the plan to assassinate the President; and determine whether such failure or omission was intentional.

The Commissioners would also seek to determine the extent to which persons are culpable for the failure or neglect of officers or persons involved

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

in the investigation to discharge their responsibilities; and recommend action to be taken against persons found to be blameworthy.

Moreover, the commissioners would recommend steps that can be taken to prevent recurrence of such an incident; and identify systemic issues, if any, in the GPF’s competence to investigate matters of this nature.

The report is due to be submitted to President Granger on August 18.

10 news

mondAY, august 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

City Hall’s financial woes

Situation does not warrant our involvement – Harmon ... “we cannot afford $60M extra per month” – Mayor

M

inister of State Joseph Harmon said while the Government is concerned about the current financial situation at City Hall, it does not warrant their involvement at this point in time. Garbage contractors Cevons Waste Management and Puran Brothers Disposal pulled their services for the second time in less than a month after being owed over $300 million.

At his post-Cabinet press briefing on Friday, Harmon said the issue is a pressing one since the Government would not like to see garbage piling up in the city.

He however noted that the Communities Ministry and the Mayor and City Council have the resources and capacity to address the situation.

“It is something that is of concern to us…. the question

of payment with these waste management companies always seem to be an issue with the City Council and has been going and coming,” he said.

“Eventually they arrive at a solution that is mutually beneficial and they resume so I am saying while we are concerned, it is not a situation that would require us getting into the situation right now. I think we are still benefiting from services and removal of waste from the city and I would prefer the Ministry of Communities and the City Council be given an opportunity to resolve that and the question here is payment for past services and I think there is always a mechanism in negotiating those payment arrangements,” Harmon added.

Puran Brothers Disposal Inc and Cevons Waste Management decided to

Georgetown Mayor, Patricia Chase Green

withdraw their services to City Hall, as the lack of payment to the companies continued despite promises to be paid.

According to the companies in a joint statement on Saturday, the issue of non-payment for services rendered has been a long-standing one. The companies revealed that City

Hall’s debt dates as far back as 2015 and promises proffered by the Council have not been honoured.

The straw that broke the camel’s back, however, dates from July 12, 2017 when the companies resumed work after a four-day suspension of services over the same issue.

They stated that their return is conditional based on a meeting that would have been held to discuss payments. However, despite assurances from the Communities Minister, the companies said there has been no such meeting nor has the municipal authorities “shown (any) inclination to meet with us.”

In a telephone interview with Guyana Times, Mayor Patricia Chase Green said City Hall cannot afford to clear its debt at this time since they have other financial obligations to honour. She explains that they met with both companies on Friday last and told them of the financial complications.

“They are saying that we need to pay them that money in six months. It will be very difficult for us to find $60 million extra to pay on that $300 million, plus pay or salary bill plus pay our current indebted debt to them which is like $43 million plus pay other contractors who are doing other works in the city, plus maintaining whatever it is in the city of Georgetown,” she said.

“We said to them ‘look it will be very difficult to do

that in six months, could we not negotiate and move forward’. They both said at that meeting that they are not willing to go forward with that, they want their money and so they are withdrawing their services and they were not willing to continue with any other discussion,” Chase Green added.

She said the companies are demanding they be paid before the resumption of their services.

Sometime in December 2016, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) appealed to the Government for a $600 million bailout and they did not accept the appeal. Out of that $600 million, $300 million was for the contractors.

“There is an emergency crew that was set up on Friday; there are going to be systems that would be out in place and I would appeal to citizens to don’t dump garbage along the streets,” she said.

For quite some time, the M&CC has been accused of being cash strapped, and on multiple occasions, work around the city has had to be halted since the municipality was unable to pay workers.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the Council and its partners (the contractors) reached an agreement, which in substance said that the City Treasurer would focus on payment of the current accounts while working to find an arrangement to settle the outstanding debts for 2016 while avoiding service disruption.

The Council has said that it would be putting alternative measures in place for garbage collection, and urged residents to ensure they properly dispose of their waste and await the arrival of the garbage collectors. They also say that the Treasurer’s Department would be intensifying its revenue collection drive to recover money owed to the city.

At a meeting with stakeholders in April 2017, the Mayor had informed that the Council is cash strapped and requested businesses pay more for commercial waste disposal. Mayor Chase Green had told business folks that City Hall cannot afford to keep up with the weekly amount of $1.8 million to clear commercial waste.

Though there have been talks of the implementation of a new fee for commercial waste, City Hall officials have remained mum on just how much they are proposing to charge. Notwithstanding, the Mayor threatened that should businesses refuse to pay the new fee, City Hall will have to resort to using the law to discipline them.

Town Clerk Royston King noted that even if citizens pay all of their outstanding taxes, the Council would still fall short of enough money to cover everything it has to do.

King said the implementation of a new fee is in order because the service of waste disposal is a very expensive one that the Council cannot afford at the moment.

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monDAY, august 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Kato School ready for September opening – Harmon

A

fter years of being mired in controversy surrounding its structural standard, remedial works on the Kato Secondary School have been completed, and all is set for a September opening.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, told re-

declared.

Contract for construction of the Kato Secondary School, worth $728.1 million, was in late 2012 awarded to Kares Engineering Inc., and works commenced the following year with a completion date set for April 2015.

However, completion of the

had been poorly constructed, such as bad timbers; exposed electrical outlets; cracking stairways and walls; termite infestation, and exposed steel.

And Albert Rodrigues, Managing Director of Rodrigues Architects Ltd., had explained in the technical report that the proj-

The newly completed Kato Secondary School

porters at Friday’s post-Cabinet press briefing that the Certificate of Practical Completion was issued by Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, who some two weeks ago had led to Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) a task force comprising technical experts from the Public Infrastructure and Education ministries to inspect the works done to fix several defects on the building.

“They had declared that it will be ready for occupation, and I think they were in the process of moving furniture into it. I believe (that) for the September school reopening, that school will be ready for utilisation,” Minister Harmon

project was delayed on two occasions.

A technical audit conducted subsequently had found that approximately 60 per cent of the project was defective, with another 30 per cent just over the borderline. Only about 10 per cent of the project was structurally sound.

Among issues highlighted in the report was that the contractor had prioritised cost effectiveness over professional competence, and had used inadequately qualified consultants for the project.

During a media tour done last August, Architect Davendra Doodnauth of Rodrigues Architects Auditing Company had pointed out jarring evidence that the building

ect was flawed from the design phase. The auditing firm had estimated that remedial works on the Region Eight school could rack up a bill of in excess of $140 million, and would take some six months to fix the deficiencies.

Kares Engineering subsequently undertook to have the remedial works done, and have since completed same.

During last month’s inspection, Minister Ferguson said she and her technical team were satisfied with the standard of the repairs done to the facility.

“With me I have technical support staff from the ministry, who would have visited before, visited during the remedial

works, and who are here today; and based on what was reported thus far, and based on what I’ve seen, all the remedial works have been done to satisfaction,” the Junior Public Infrastructure Minister had said during the site visit.

The newly completed Kato Secondary School has 56 classrooms, each capable of accommodating at least 35 students. There are four communal dorms for students; four self-contained matron’s quarters; eight teacher’s quarters with two bedrooms each; an admin building; an auditorium; an Information Technology (IT) laboratory to accommodate 15 work stations; and 34 toilet and urinal facilities.

Having completed the remedial works, Kares Engineering has a contractual agreement wherein any defects occurring on the building within one year would be fixed at no additional cost to Government.

Toshao of Kato, Clifton Pereira, expressed elation at the school being finally completed and ready for utilisation.

“I’m anxious to see the reopening of the school in September, so that the children can benefit from it,” he said.

The Toshao would previously have voiced his concerns about delays in completing the facility, pointing out that the Paramakatoi Secondary School is severely overcrowded and students in the community were being forced to attend schools as far away as Sand Creek, Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo).

Photographer robbed at gunpoint … in close proximity to presidential motorcade

A

local photographer on Sunday morning took to social media to report a brazen attack in which he was held at gunpoint and relieved of his possessions the vicinity of Vlissengen Road, Georgetown.

The former media operative, Dwayne Hackett, was at the time making his way to a nearby shop when the robbery transpired.

Hackett indicated that en route, at around 07:15h, he noticed a man on a bicycle approaching in the opposite direction along the street. The man then stopped, seemingly to urinate but subsequently turned around and pulled out a gun directed at him instead.

Hackett relayed, “I

heard the gun being cocked as he turned to me and demanded, “Gimme all that yuh gah”.”

The photographer indicated that he had in his possession a total of $2200 with which he was about to purchase coffee along with other items.

Hackett continued, “That he took. I quietly walked away as he rode off on his bicycle. I did not look back to see where he went.”

Moreover, the victim went on to say that he was greeted by a lone Police Officer about 100 metres away from where the incident occurred, who was at the time among a presidential motorcade heading to the Botanical Gardens for the commemoration of the 32nd death anniversary of

Photographer Dwayne Hackett

former President Forbes Burnham.

Despite the rank being stationed in close proximity to where the armed robbery took place, Hackett was advised to make an official report at a Police

station.

On that note, the photographer expressed in his Facebook post, “I really feel it’s a waste of time to go to the station.” Nevertheless, he conveyed that the Police have taken his statement and an investigation has been launched.

Meanwhile, in an interview with Guyana Times, Hackett pointed out that while he received no physical injuries, the experience was a traumatising one.

This was not the first armed attack against the photographer as he told this publication that back in February of 2015 he was among a group of persons who was robbed by a gang of armed bandits, caring AK47s at Grove, East Bank Demerara.

China’s Xuzhou City seeks friendly relations with Linden

Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland interacting with officials from China

F

ollowing a recent visit to China by Linden Mayor Carwyn Holland, leaders of the Xuzhou City Government have expressed an interest in creating a friendly exchange city relationship with the bauxite mining town.

A correspondence to the Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) indicated that Xuzhou’s Vice Mayor, Bi Yurui; and Yao Cong, Head of the American and Asian section of Xuzhou Foreign Affairs Office, met with the Linden Mayor at a welcome banquet and were impressed with his presentation on the bauxite mining town.

As such, the leaders have expressed deep interest in establishing friendly relations and have since dispatched a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to the LM&TC. They are presently awaiting response with suitable amendments from the municipality. The MoU has since been perused

by Councillors within the LM&TC. Vice Director of Xuzhou Foreign Affairs, Sun Weimin, has reportedly in-

dicated that arrangements will be put in place to have an official signing ceremony in Guyana or in China, provided that the LM&TC responds with the amendments to the draft MoU. According to Holland, the establishment of such friendly relations may see Linden benefiting in various areas, such as with annual training exchanges between municipal Councillors and youths, capacity building for staff and assistance with developmental projects within the town. He noted that the document which was received via email was left with the Council for amendment and ratification. However, the Mayor who is presently on vacation was unable to say if any action has been taken so far.

The LM&TC has embarked on a twinning initiative since last year which the Mayor noted is aimed at building friendly relations with cities around the world, as a means of building its capacity and receiving much needed assistance as well as to attract much needed foreign investors to the town.

(Utamu Belle)

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MonDAY, august 7, 2017

News

Educational facilities Nagamootoo touts investment to be rehabilitated in Guyanese youth …Government officials join reunion at nationwide – special needs school for West Demerara alma mater, JC Chandisingh Secondary School

T

o further boost Guyana’s education sector, several schools across the country will be rehabilitated to ensure children have a better learning environment.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon recently announced that Cabinet has approved funds and awarded contracts for some school to be revamped, and a new one to be constructed.

After a survey was conducted in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Minister Harmon said it was discovered that “there are many children with disabilities across the region that were in need of special skills training.” As a result, Cabinet has awarded some GY$27 million to SNK construction services to build a special needs school at Schoonord, West Bank Demerara.

The school will cater for

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

skills training, and entail a disability-friendly physical structure, essential for children with special needs. According to the Department of Public Information, this project

was awarded under the Communities Ministry.

Under the Education Ministry, Cabinet has approved US$134,000 for the reconstruction of St Rose’s High School in Georgetown.

The contract was awarded to Bynoe-Wiltshire partnership, Minister Harmon noted.

The Bina Hill Institute of Learning, located in the Annai District, Region Nine (Upper Takatu-Upper Essequibo) will soon have a new female dorm, the Minister said. Cabinet had granted a total GY$36 million to BK International Inc for the construction of the first female dormitory. This contract under the Indigenous People’s Affairs Ministry caters for two dormitories.

However, this will be the first to be constructed. The institute houses approximately 100 male and female students equally.

W

hile joining the celebration on Saturday, as the alumni of the J.C. Chandisingh Secondary School at Port Mourant on the Corentyne Coast in East Berbice hosted yet another reunion, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo took the opportunity to charge the gathering of both past and present students in attendance to pledge commitment to the development of Guyanese youth.

Highlighting the importance of investing in young minds, and its positive impact on the nation, the Prime Minister conveyed, “We must invest in young people so they can become better than who we are or could not have been.” He said this paves a way for the success of the emerging leaders of Guyana, and by extension the entire nation.

4-vehicle collision leaves 5 injured in Mahaicony accident

F

ive persons, including a fiveyear-old, were rushed to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Saturday morning following an accident involving four vehicles on the Novar Public Road, Mahaicony.

Nicola Campbell, 37, of Evershore Village,

Corentyne; Nandanie Singh, 20, of West Coast Berbice; Uncar Singh, five, of West Coast Berbice; Frida (only name given), 51, of Lot 61 Corentyne; and Shenise Phillips, 18, of La Parfaith Harmonie, West Bank Demerara were those injured.

The incident occurred at around 14:35h and in-

volved a minibus, two motor cars and a minivan.

According to reports, minibus BLL 5553 was at the time being driven

by Datt Narine Bisnauth, 50, of Lot 13 Airy Hall, Berbice. The minibus was said to be proceeding West along the southern side of the Novar Public Road when it stopped to put off passengers.

Guyana Times understands that the bus was in the process of moving off, when the driver disclosed to Police that he felt an impact on the ride side of his vehicle.

As a result of the impact by motorcar HB 9806, Bisnauth lost control of his vehicle, spun and collided with vehicles GPP 6485 and PRR 5620.

However, Roxanne Rose of Kilturn Village,

Corentyne, who was the driver of the motorcar which allegedly struck the minibus, is giving a different account of what transpired.

According to Rose, Bisnauth made a U-turn across the road and collided with the right side front door of her vehicle which caused him to lose control of his vehicle.

Following the accident, the five injured were taken to hospital where Campbell and Phillips were treated and sent away.

The other three injured were however rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where they are now admitted as patients.

One of those seriously injured is said to have broken her hand and hip. The Police are currently investigating the matter.

PM Moses Nagamotoo presenting a token to President of JC Chandisingh Global alumni, Rishi Persaud at the reunion

Commending the work of this prestigious Region Six high school, the Prime Minister highlighted the accomplishments of some past students, especially in recent years. He described the school as one of excellence which continues to produce outstanding students, some of whom go on to establish themselves as international top rankers within their various fields.

“You have passed through the J. C. Chandisingh, benefiting from an education that was inaccessible. J. C. Chandisingh is one of the schools in Guyana which can credit itself for training great people. You’re all proud alumni of J. C Chandisingh,” relayed the Prime Minister.

Echoing the sentiments of the Prime Minister, feature speaker at the event, Mrs Seeta Nagamootoo, herself a past student of this prestigious educational institution, revisited aspects of her high school life there, and applauded the efforts of those who had contributed to the accomplishments of what now is one of the county’s leading secondary educational institutions.

She posited, “Though things have changed, we are all proud of the J.C. Chandisingh…it helped to make Guyana a better place.”

She went on to thank the past teachers for their hard work, especially given the technological barriers which existed back in her days.

Also present at the

reunion was another Government official who is a member of the J.C Chandisingh alumni, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan. He indicated the many ways in which his experiences at the school aided in his advance to the top of public office.

Minister Ramjattan emphasized the importance of remembering where you came from, while stating that he is now equipped with many cultures from the school.

“It is important to pay homage to such a school.

I remember when I used to read plenty days; but it was because of that kind of education and discipline we had that (that) generation, I feel, was extraordinary and will go places,” Ramjattan said.

Meanwhile, as part of the festivities, Prime Minister Nagamootoo was awarded as an honorary student of the institution, while Minister Ramjattan was recognised by his alma mater as an outstanding member of the alumni. Additionally, top ranking athletes were decorated with medals, and the homecoming queen for 2017 was crowned by Mrs Nagamootoo.

The J.C. Chandisingh Secondary School was commissioned in 1938 as the Corentyne High School, but was renamed in 1980 as a tribute to former headmaster Joseph Chandisingh. Saturday’s event marked 21 years since the school’s international alumni has been in existence.

15

monDAY, August 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say about

I SAY...

Who should accept responsibility for the recent prison breaks?

I

n the two years of this current Government, there have been four prison breaks or riots so far – twice at the Camp Street Prison; Lusignan and the juvenile centre in Essequibo.

No one has been held accountable for any riots or breakouts. In light of these recent attacks on prison facilities, we asked persons who they believe should be held responsible for these embarrassing prison breaks. Here are some views from the public:

Nicklaus Malik “The entire judicial and prison system is to be blamed; no one person or thing is responsible. The Guyana Prison Serve is a time out zone when it should be a rehabilitation system. The prisoners just do their felony, get sentenced and come out with the same mindset and opinions and this goes on in an endless cycle.”

Aaron Prince After the first fire caused the death of 17 prisoners and a CoI was held spending millions of taxpayers’ dollars, were the recommendations of the CoI implemented? I Guess not because the next fire, the prisoners managed to burn the entire Camp Street Prison down. Two weeks later, 13 prisoners escaped from the Lusignan facility, causing more chaos. Now they want over $700 million to build back.

President Granger and Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan are equally responsible.”

Eli Hazel, Telecommunications worker, New Amsterdam “I think the Minister of Public Security should be held responsible for these prison breaks. One of the

things that I have noticed is that they need to beef up their security and they need to change their strategy in dealing with prisoners because the prisoners are seeing and hearing what is happening in prisons around the world.

There are too many reactionary works being done; when something happens then they react. I think our prison service starting from the Minister, they need to be proactive and to take a special interest in dealing with prisoners because at the end of the day, the country will lose. When these prisoners get out there, they can do any crime knowing that they are cut off from the society, they will not care for anyone but themselves.”

Jamal Deen “President Granger said that it was an accident waiting to happen but yet neither he nor the Minister of Public Security did anything to prevent it. Yes, while the PPP/C neglected the prison, this Government is at fault. I blame the current coalition Administration for the embarrassing prison breaks.”

Arjune Singh “The Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan, already took the responsibility.

However, the Government should not have negotiated with the prisoners in the first incident, after the first fire at the Camp Street Prison.”

Karran Ramsammy “To be honest, we don't know who to blame currently because it seems [that] the Government’s negligence never seizes to impress us.”

Mohammed Reiaz Shariek In my view, the Government at large is totally responsible for this unlawful act of the prisoners. To justify this I make reference to the release of prisoners by the President for what he claimed to be petty crimes. On top of it all, no names were given of those released and what were their convictions. As such from the release of the very first batch the unrest had begun. If you all can sit and contemplate how the unrest began and why it began then, the only person responsible for this is the President and his associates.

Jessica Brathwaite “I don't think anybody is responsible for that, because you can't watch the prisoners all the time and more than likely they would know what they're doing and when to do it. And I believe that they did it just because some got away, so they were trying their luck too.”

Tommy Chan

“I believe that a lot of Guyanese do not prepare for worst case scenarios and when shit happens they don't know what to do or how to take remedial actions. So each person that has an affiliation with the Guyana prison system has to accept some amount of responsibility.”

Phillip Rose, Pastor, New Amsterdam I think the Minister of Public Security should be held responsible and he needs to call for help; he needs not to work alone because he cannot handle the prison alone. I am saying to the President that you need to have more people handling that Ministry than simply the Minister. If not, when these men get out there they may form gangs and find ways to survive and that will be a real headache… They need to have a proper plan for the prison system and not to be falling prey to the prisoner’s actions.”

Michael Alicock “Whoever is responsible for security in this country should be held responsible for the jailbreak situation.

The first jailbreak that it had, they should've put measures in place right away to either transfer the main prisoners, like those who got convicted for like seven, eight years to a maximum facility and those who got convicted for minor crimes, they should have put them somewhere else. When the prison burn down, right away they should have put measures in place. I am not blaming the Government; I'm blaming the person who is in charge of security because they would have been appointed to do the work.”

16

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monDAY, august 7, 2017

News

Top judicial appointments still on front burner – Harmon

M

inister of State, Joseph Harmon, has stated that substantial appointments of top positions within the judiciary are still on the front burner.

At last week’s post-Cabinet press briefing, Minister Harmon told reporters that the Administration is committed to having a functioning judicial sector. To this end, he highlighted President David Granger’s presence at the recent opening of the New Magisterial District in Linden and at the recent commissioning of a new wing at the High Court in Demerara, as well as the appointment of both Appeal Court and High Court judges last month.

“So what we want to say is that it is important for us to have a very functional judiciary, and that this Government will take all the necessary steps to ensure that the judiciary is well resourced, that it has the complement of judges that is needed, and that the appointment of senior officers within the judiciary will be given the attention it deserves at the level of the President,” Minister Harmon said on Friday.

He went on to say that in regard to the appointment of a substantive Chancellor

of the Judiciary and Chief Justice, consultations will have to be held between the Leader of the Opposition and the Head of State. He added that the two officials will determine a convenient time to have such talks.

Back in March, President Granger had sworn in Appeal Court Judge Yonette Cummings-Edwards as acting Chancellor and Puisne Judge, and Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire as acting Chief Justice.

These appointments came following the retirement of former Chancellor Justice Carl Singh, in February and former Chief Justice Ian Chang’s retirement last year. Justice Cummings-Edwards was initially appointed acting Chief Justice after Justice Chang retired. However, her post in the judiciary was bumped up a notch to become the second female Chancellor.

The appointments of Justice Cummings-Edwards as acting Chancellor and Justice George as acting Chief Justice were made effective since February 24. According to the Head of State, the appointments were made following “meaningful consultations” with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, in accordance with the Constitution.

Berbice duo arrested with 11kg cannabis

Aruba Airlines begins servicing Guyanese market

A

ruba Airlines on Sunday made its inaugural flight to Guyana, with some 150 passengers on board, marking the beginning of its service in the Guyanese market. Roraima Group of Companies is handling the

According to Roraima CEO, Captain Gerry Gouveia, the airline would be operating here, flying three times weekly, but he noted that they are still in the probation phase. He added that they would officially launch the service in a

The Aruba Airlines aircraft during touchdown at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (Gerry Gouveia photos)

The Aruba Airlines aircraft that made the inaugural flight to Guyana

airline from this end and was very instrumental in the application process.

few days.

Aruba Airlines was founded in 2006 and cur-

rently has in its fleet an Airbus 319, two 320 and, on order, two Embraer ERJ 145. The Airbus 320 has the range to ply the Aruba/New York route. JetBlue uses the same type of aircraft to ply the Aruba/JFK route.

Aruba Airlines’ network includes Venezuela, several cities in Cuba and Miami.

There is good traffic between Guyana and Cuba and, with

links to four cities in Cuba; it will haul in more traffic between Guyana and Cuba. In addition, that will only increase because more Cubans will visit Guyana and Suriname to shop.

The airline hopes to use its Aruba hub, which houses a US Homeland and Border Control immigration office there, to link passengers to its network.

Linden teen drowns in Demerara River

– body yet to be recovered

By Utamu Belle

P

anic and grief filled the community of Burnham Drive, Wismar, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-

Nineteen-year-old Esther Weekes

Berbice) just after midday on Sunday, as 19-year-old Esther Weekes reportedly died by drowning in the Demerara River, in the vicinity of Burnham Drive and Silvertown, Linden.

Weekes, of 14 Burnham Drive and a former student of the Christianburg/ Wismar Secondary School was with her aunt and cous-

in in close proximity to the river when tragedy struck.

As of late Sunday afternoon, Police, public spirited citizens and family members were still trying to retrieve the body, but their searches came up empty-handed.

According to Weekes’ aunt, Sheryanne DeJonge – who was with her at the time of the incident – the deceased had been bathing and playing around with DeJonge’s 11-year-old son on a strip of concrete which leads to the river. The area along the river is in the vicinity of a popular hotel and is also in close proximity to their home and one which the family would frequent regularly. The woman recounted the tragic ordeal in between tears.

“Must be by the water went down so low, the two of them was playing and like I ain’t even know because they went playing and laughing and thing. And like my son fall in. Me ain’t know if she go to hold he or what but both of them go down and I see they head come up and I start shouting for them to push towards land,”

The section of the river where Weekes drown

she stated.

The distraught DeJonge noted that both went down and back up several times and she kept urging them to push towards the land.

While her son was able to do so, Weekes was not so fortunate. In tears, the woman noted that her niece went down, stressing that she was unable to reach her since she herself could not swim.

She said the Police arrived on the scene about an hour later but were unsuccessful in retrieving the body.

Police E Division (LindenKwakwani) Commander, Fazil Karimbaksh, when contacted, noted that the deceased went out into the deep end of the river and

disappeared underneath the water. He noted that persons were reluctant to offer any valid form of assistance, since they could not swim.

Karimbaksh said a search was however conducted by the Police boat and residents but the body was not recovered as of Sunday afternoon. At the home of the deceased, family and friends gathered as they wept openly. Weekes’ mother who arrived home some time later to the news of the tragedy wept uncontrollably. A relative explained to this newspaper that while the river was relatively “low” at the time, the deceased appeared to have drowned due to its persistent current.

Venezuela arrests over ‘uprising attempt’ The compressed marijuana that was found

P

olice ranks in B Division (Berbice) have arrested two persons after they were found in possession of several packages of compressed marijuana on Saturday night.

According to the Police Force’s Public Relations Officer, Jairam Ramlakhan, the ranks were acting on information received when they went to a fenced yard

at Number 51 Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

While there, they conducted a search during which they unearthed a quantity of dried cannabis. The narcotic was confiscated and when weighed amounted to 11 kilograms.

Two persons who were found on the property were arrested and taken into custody. They are currently being processed for court.

A

rrests have been made in Venezuela after soldiers tried to launch an uprising against President Nicolás Maduro.

An attack was launched against a military barracks in Valencia in the north-western Carabobo state.

Two attackers were killed and at least 10 were arrested, Maduro said.

A video released on social media showed uniformed men saying they were rising against a “murderous tyr-

anny”. Venezuela has seen months of protests. “This is not a coup but a civil and military action to re-establish constitutional order,” said the leader, who gave his name as Juan Caguaripano.

Cabello said full control had been restored at the Fuerte Paramacay military barracks. The ruling Socialist Party’s deputy leader, Diosdado Cabello, called it a “terrorist attack” on Twitter.

Army chief, General Jesus Suarez Chourio said:

“What happened today was a terrorist, paramilitary, mercenary attack paid for by the right [the opposition] and its collaborators, paid for by the North American empire” - a reference to the US, which has denounced President Maduro’s recent actions.

Despite the reported arrests, Juan Carlos Colina, a reporter with the Venezolana de Prensa newspaper, told the BBC that loud explosions continued to be heard at the base in the

early afternoon, local time.

In his short speech, the rebel leader said that his group – which he called the 41st Brigade – was standing against the “murderous tyranny of President Nicolás Maduro”.

He named young people who have died after attending anti-government protests: Neomar Lander, Geraldine Moreno, Juan Pablo Pernalete and “lots of others with their cardboard shields”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

monDAY, August 7, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

Israel moves to North Korea: China urges neighbour to stop missile tests close Al Jazeera, ban its journalists

C

hina’s foreign minister has told his North Korean counterpart that Pyongyang should stop carrying out nuclear and missile tests, hours after fresh sanctions were agreed by the United Nations Security Council.

Wang Yi said he urged Ri Yong-ho to abide by UN resolutions in a meeting on Sunday in the Philippines.

He did not say how Ri replied.

Saturday’s resolution banning North Korean exports and limiting investments in the country was passed unanimously. Wang said sanctions were needed,

Wang Yi said his talks with North Korea’s foreign minister were “very thorough”

but “are not the final goal”, and he urged dialogue. He said he had told North Korea to remain calm, and not provoke the international com-

munity with more tests.

The Chinese envoy also urged the US and South Korea not to increase tensions, saying that the situa-

tion was at a “critical point”, but also a juncture at which talks could be resumed.

US envoy to the UN Nikki Haley earlier said North Korea was facing “the most stringent set of sanctions on any country in a generation”. Pyongyang tested two intercontinental ballistic missiles in July, claiming it now had the ability to hit the US. However, experts doubt the missiles can hit their targets. The tests were condemned by South Korea, Japan and the US, and prompted the drafting of the new UN sanctions. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

Eiffel Tower: Police stop man with knife defying security

A

young French man who recently was discharged from a psychiatric hospital is under investigation for glorifying terrorism after he brandished a knife and tried to breach security at the Eiffel Tower, authorities said Sunday.

No one was hurt in the incident late Saturday,

though the tower was briefly evacuated, according to a statement Sunday from the company that manages the monument. The tower reopened as usual Sunday morning.

A judicial official said the man tried to force his way into the secure zone, held out a knife and said “Allahu akbar,” the Arabic phrase for

“God is great.” He was quickly surrounded by security forces and surrendered, the official said. A Paris police official said no shots were fired.

Both officials weren’t authorized to be publicly named.

While the man is accused of glorifying terrorism, the incident is being investigated as a common crime and not by anti-terrorism inves-

tigators, the judicial official said, because of his history of psychiatric problems and because authorities have no reason to believe he was part of a network or planning an attack.

The suspect was born in Mauritania in 1998, but has French citizenship, the official said. His name wasn’t released. (Excerpt from MSN)

I

srael is moving forward to revoke media credentials of Al Jazeera journalists and close the network’s office in Jerusalem, the country’s communication minister has announced.

Ayoub Kara made the announcement on Sunday during a press conference in Jerusalem, where Al Jazeera was barred from attending.

“We have based our decision on the move by Sunni Arab states to close the Al Jazeera offices and prohibiting their work,” Kara said, adding that the channel is being used by groups to “incite” violence – accusation that the network has denied.

Kara said he expects Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, to consider his request in the next session.

The Doha-based media network denounced the

measures from a country that claims to be “the only democracy in the Middle East”. “Al Jazeera stresses that it will closely watch the developments that may result from the Israeli decision, and will take the necessary legal measures towards it,” it said in a statement.

It also denied the charges its coverage of al-Aqsa Mosque unrest was unprofessional. Al Jazeera’s Scott Heidler, reporting from Jerusalem on Sunday, said that the request to revoke the credentials cover all the networks journalists in both the Arabic and English channels.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been threatening to shut Al Jazeera’s operations in the country, accusing the network of inciting violence against Israel. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Emmanuel Macron under fire for UN condemns brutality of Yemen conflict plan to give wife ‘first lady’ role after airstrikes on civilians

A

top United Nations (UN) official in Yemen said reported airstrikes in which at least 12 civilians were killed, including children, were an example of the “disregard” for civilians’ safety shown by all the combatants in Yemen’s civil war.

The civilians were killed and 10 others wounded in Sa’ada province after attacks on a house and a private vehicle, the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen Jamie McGoldrick said, citing reports from fellow aid groups.

Reuters reported on Friday that three women and six children from the same family were killed in an air strike by the Saudi-

led coalition on their home in the area, according to a local health official.

A spokesman for the

Saudi-led coalition did respond to a request a comment. Yemen been torn apart by a

not for has civ-

il war in which the exiled government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, is trying to push back gains made by the Iran-aligned Houthi group which controls most of the north, including the capital Sanaa.

The new incidents were an example of the “brutality” of the conflict, McGoldrick said in the statement in which he expressed deep concern.

Saada, a stronghold of the Houthi group, has been repeatedly hit by air strikes since the coalition of Arab states joined the civil war in March 2015. They see the war as an attempt by Iran to expand its influence in Yemen. (Excerpt from Reuters)

rity threats such as North Korea.

Japan is the only country to have suffered atomic attacks in 1945.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, speaking at the annual ceremony at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park near the ground zero, said Japan hoped to push for a world without nuclear weapons in a way that all countries can agree.

Japanese officials have

criticised the UN Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty as deepening a divide between countries with and without nuclear arms. None of the nine countries that possess nuclear weapons took part in the negotiations or vote on the treaty.

Japanese officials routinely argue that they abhor nuclear weapons, but the nation’s defence is firmly set under the US nuclear umbrella.

Japan suffered two nuclear attacks at the end of the World War II by the United States – in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and in Nagasaki three days later.

The bombings claimed the lives of 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 74,000 people in Nagasaki. Some died immediately while others succumbed to injuries or radiation-related illnesses weeks, months and years later. (Excerpt from France24)

People stand on the debris of a house at the site of a Saudi-led air strike on an outskirt of the North-western city of Saada, Yemen August 4, 2017

Japan marks 72 years since atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima

J

apan today marks 72 years since the world’s first nuclear attack on Hiroshima, with the nation’s traditional contradictions over atomic weapons again coming into focus.

The anniversary came after Japan sided last month with nuclear powers Britain, France and the US to dismiss a UN treaty banning atomic weapons, which was rejected by critics for ignoring the reality of secu-

Emannuel and Brigitte Macron: during his campaign he promised to ‘clarify’ the role of the President’s wife

T

he French President, Emmanuel Macron, is facing a people’s revolt against plans to give his wife an official “first lady” role. More than 150,000 people have signed a petition against the move that would give Brigitte Macron an office, staff and an allowance from the public purse.

The rebellion comes as Macron’s popularity continues to plummet. Polls last month showed he had dropped seven percentage points with only 36 per cent of French people saying they were happy with their new leader. At the same period in their mandate Macron’s predecessors François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy were at 56 per cent at 66 per cent respectively.

During his presidential campaign, Macron promised to “clarify” the role of

the French President’s wife by giving them an official status, describing the current situation as a “kind of French hypocrisy”.

Neither the FrenchCconstitution nor accepted protocol gives the President’s partner an official status, leaving them to create a role as they see fit.

They are allowed an office, staff, security guards paid for out of the Elysée budget and estimated by the official auditors at about €450,000 (£406,000) a year.

Creating an official title would create a separate budget for the president’s partner. The plan has struck a particularly discordant note in France coming as Macron prepares to force his “morality” law, banning parliamentarians from employing wives and family members.

(Excerpt from The Guardian)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, august 7, 2017

ARCHIE

Offering your assistance will result in unexpected fa(March 21- vors. Pay it forward and make April 19) a difference to someone in need. A business trip or meeting will turn into a learning experience.

ARIES

Don’t feel you must inTAURUS dulge someone if you don’t (April 20- have the time, patience or May 20) means to do so. Feelings of guilt will be due to someone’s manipulative tactics. It’s OK to say no.

dilbert

Let experience be your GEMINI (May 21- guide to a better future. Put June 20) greater effort into how you run your home and take care of your professional responsibilities. Say little, but do a lot.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Use your excellent memory and intelligence to get your way. Refuse to get swept up by emotional spending that will lead to stress and disappointment when the bills come in.

Partnerships will encourage personal growth and bring about opportunities that will help you excel. A steady pace will ensure that you reach your destination and derive the most benefit from your efforts.

Put a little muscle behind VIRGO (Aug. 23- your ideas and push to get Sept. 22) things done. You can make a difference to someone in need of a little nurturing and emotional support.

Participate in events or LIBRA activities that will help you (Sept. 23get ahead.

Collaborate with Oct. 23) people you feel can bring value to a project or idea you want to pursue.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Weigh the pros and cons of SCORPIO any situation you face at work (Oct. 24or home before you share your Nov. 22) opinion. You are best off not getting into an emotional discussion.

Aim to please and you will SAGITTARIUS get the recognition you deserve.

(Nov. 23- Your dedication and hard work Dec. 21) will pay off. Traveling, attend-

ing meetings and mixing business with pleasure will lead to advancement.

SATURDAY’S WORD --

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Be open to self-improveCAPRICORN ments. Take criticism se(Dec. 22- riously and do whatever it Jan. 19) takes to get ahead. Money matters are best handled with care. Joint ventures are not favored.

Negotiate personal and AQUARIUS professional contracts to (Jan. 20- bring about positive changFeb. 19) es that will improve your life and income. Your dedication and contributions will be rewarded.

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Hidden matters will disPISCES rupt your plans. If uncertain(Feb. 20March 20) ty prevails when dealing with one of your peers, you should ask questions. It’s better to know where you stand before you make a personal choice.

MonDAY, august 7, 2017

19

Marvellous Moeen takes the game away from persevering Proteas S

outh Africa dominated much of day three at Old Trafford until Moeen Ali’s superb counter put England firmly in the driving seat once again.

Moeen Ali launched a destructive counter-attack to put England in firm control of the fourth Test and dash South Africa’s hopes of staging a remarkable recovery.

The all-rounder - who starred with the ball to finish off the third Test with a hattrick - crashed an unbeaten 67 from 59 balls including three sixes as England closed day three 360 ahead on 224-8 and, weather permitting, set for a 3-1 series success.

It was an end result many w o u l d have anticipated heading to Old

Trafford on Sunday but, under mostly leaden Manchester skies, the Proteas made the most of the conditions to claw their way back into contention until Moeen’s morale-sapping contribution.

Having conceded a first-innings deficit of 136, Morne Morkel (2-39) and Duanne Olivier (3-38) were particularly impressive in bringing South Africa back i n t o t h e Moeen Ali’s half century put conSouth Africa to the sword test, England 289 ahead when the seventh wicket fell.

But Moeen - dropped at slip by Dean Elgar off Keshav Maharaj when just 15 - had other ideas, taking the attack to the tourists to the delight of an increasingly raucous crowd, who took particular pleasure in the left-hander thrice depositing his spin counterpart over the ropes.

Rain then brought an early end to proceedings which had begun in satis-

factory fashion for England, who needed just 22 deliveries to claim the final wicket as Stuart Broad (3-46) ousted Olivier.

As the hosts looked to build on their commanding lead, Keaton Jennings was fortunate when put down on 0 by Elgar off Kagiso Rabada (2-37).

Morkel helped alleviate South Africa’s disappointment by dismissing Alastair Cook for 10 in the next over, before also removing Tom Westley (9) courtesy of an edge to gully.

South Africa struck again after lunch as Jennings (18) played a lazy waft at Rabada and was held at slip, leaving his series average at 15.87 after eight innings.

Temba Bavuma put down a tough chance sprinting back from point to reprieve Dawid Malan, who failed to make the most of his second opportunity as he gave a bat-pad catch off Maharaj (1-92) to depart for six.

Joe Root was making seemingly serene progress towards a fifty but fell one

short in playing on from Olivier, who picked up a second as Ben Stokes - having earlier survived a halfchance to Heino Kuhn at midwicket - nicked to slip for 23.

Olivier had his third after tea when Jonny Bairstow (10) pulled straight to Rabada at deep fine leg but South Africa were made to rue putting down Moeen.

Moeen went on the counter - going to fifty with

his second six off the spinner, which he sent onto the England balcony where it was caught by a smiling Bairstow.

Rabada removed Toby Roland-Jones (11) and Moeen lofted Maharaj over midwicket for another maximum to further underline England’s position of strength before the rain that had threatened since lunch finally arrived.

(Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD England 1st Innings 362 South Africa 1st Innings 226 England 2nd Innings AN Cook c de Bruyn b Morkel 10 KK Jennings c Amla b Rabada 18 T Westley c sub (AK Markram) b Morkel 9 JE Root (c) b Olivier 49 DJ Malan c de Bruyn 6 b Maharaj BA Stokes c du Plessis b Olivier 23 JM Bairstow † c Rabada b Olivier 10 MM Ali not out 67

TS Roland-Jones c Maharaj b Rabada 11 SCJ Broad not out 0 Extras 21 (b 9, lb 9, nb 1, w 2) TOTAL 224/8 (66.2 Overs) Yet to bat: JM Anderson Bowling: M Morkel 12-2-3915.2-42, K Rabada 37-2, KA Maharaj 27-5-92-1, D Olivier 12-5-38-3 3.16 Fall of wickets:1-16 (AN Cook, 6.1 ov), 2-30 (T Westley, 10.6 ov), 3-55 (KK Jennings, 24.2 ov), 4-72 (DJ Malan, 29.3 ov), 5-129 (JE Root, 42.5 ov), 6-134 (BA Stokes, 48.3 ov), 7-153 (JM Bairstow, 52.6

Thompson run out of the medals, Bowie claims 1st World title T ori Bowie won the 100 meters at the world championships and made it 2-0 for the United States over Jamaica in the battle for sprint supremacy.

The victory marks the first time that the United States has won both men and women’s sprints since 2005, when Justin Gatlin and Lauren Williams made it to the tape first.

Twelve years later, Gatlin was again the spark, with Bowie follwing suit, throwing her chest forward with a final lunge to nip MarieJosee Ta Lou and win in 10.85 seconds. Talou ended with a time of 9.86 seconds.

Once over the line, she fell on the track without a clue whether she had won gold.

“I had no idea,” Bowie said.

Dafne Schippers, the 2015 world champion in the 200, took bronze in 10.96.

Two-time Olympic champion Elaine Thompson was a big favorite to add more gold for Jamaica but was never a factor and finished fifth in 10.98.

Thompson, in a trackside interview, said she started poorly and never recovered.

Ta Lou’s teammate, Murielle Ahoure, was just out of the running, clocking the same time as Thompson, while Michelle-Lee Ahye of Trinidad and Tobago was sixth in 11.01. Ahye’s teammate, Kelly-Ann Baptiste was last in 11.09, behind Brazil’s Rosangela Santos. (Sportsmax)

American female sprinter Tori Bowie dominated a powerful field to win Gold in London at the World Championships

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

MondAY, AUGUST 7, 2017

Timothy Bradley Dazzling Dutch Women’s Euro 2017

retires from boxing

defeat Denmark to claim title T he Netherlands won their first major women’s international tournament after a thrilling victory over Denmark in the Euro 2017 final on home soil.

Denmark led through Nadia Nadim’s early penalty but the Dutch soon levelled as Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema tucked in.

Lieke Martens put the hosts ahead with a precise 20yard finish, but Denmark’s Pernille Harder slotted in to equalise.

Dutch captain Sherida Spitse blasted in a free-kick to make it 3-2, and Miedema sealed a historic triumph late on.

Surprise finalists Denmark had pushed for another equaliser late on, as Sanne Troelsgaard went close with a swerving half-volley which dipped past the right-hand post.

But the Dutch, backed by the majority of a sold-out

T

Timothy Bradley (left) in one of his bouts with Manny Pacquiao

imothy Bradley, whose only two defeats came against Manny Pacquiao, has retired from boxing.

Two-weight world champion Timothy Bradley has announced his retirement from boxing.

The 33-year-old, whose only two career defeats came in his second and third bouts with Manny Pacquiao, held titles in both the light-welterweight and welterweight divisions during a career that saw him win 33 of his 36 fights - 13 by knockout.

Bradley has not fought since his last encounter with Pacquiao in April 2016 and has now elected to bring the curtain down on his time in

the ring.

“It is no secret that a life of any professional athlete is not an easy one - yes it comes with a lot of fame and fortune but also comes with fear and fatigue. A balance that has to be achieved by ambition and maintained through perspective,” he wrote on Instagram.

“For over twenty three years, Boxing gave me purpose and it defined me.

Dedicated to my craft and fuelled by my passion for the sport, my love for my team and my admiration for all of you who supported me day in and day out - I was able to give 100% of myself to be the best and to always get up when I was knocked down.

“It was the biggest challenge in my life but I embraced the sacrifice with every victory and milestone reached.

“Boxing gave me roots, it kept me off the streets, it gave me confidence, it taught me how to be a man and face every challenge head on and take the good with the bad.

“Yes I missed holidays, birthdays, even missed hearing some of my children’s first words but more than time, it took my blood, sweat and tears, all things I can never get back. Which is why turning the page for me is bittersweet.

“That once in a lifetime purpose to wake up every

day and give 100% is now fuelled towards something else - my family. I find my strength in them, my peace and most importantly, unconditional love.

“I wake up wanting to spend all my time being a father, being a husband and being free.

“Although that square circle I lived to dance in everyday gave me so many smiles and blessings, it could never outweigh the smiles and blessings I receive from my wife and children.

“It’s now my turn to support them and encourage them to live their dreams and I couldn’t be more excited for this next chapter.”

(Sportsmax)

Dutch skipper Sherida Spitse put her side ahead for the second time

28,182 crowd in Enschede, never looked in serious danger of conceding again and put the game beyond the Danes when Miedema scored the fourth.

It sparked a party atmosphere inside the FC Twente Stadion where virtually every home supporter was wearing the national team colour of orange.

An emotional Miedema appeared to be in tears in the final few seconds of the match, before the stadium erupted when the final whistle was blown.(BBCSPORT)

India batter Sri Lanka by an innings to clinch emphatic series win I ndia moved into an unassailable 2-0 lead in their three-Test series in Sri Lanka, following an innings and 53 runs battering in

Colombo.

India wrapped up a series victory over Sri Lanka in convincing fashion in the second Test, winning by an innings and 53 runs with a day to spare in Colombo.

Sri Lanka were asked to follow on having posted only 183 after India declared on 622-9 and, despite a much better showing in their second innings, it was not enough to bring the tourists back to the crease.

Opener Dimuth Karunaratne racked up

141 runs - a marked improvement on his first-innings 25 - as Sri Lanka put up a creditable fight, but he was one of five victims to fall to the excellent Ravindra Jadeja (5-152).

The result moves India into an unassailable 2-0 lead in the

Sri Lankan batsman when following on.

Karunaratne saw Malinda Pushpakumara (16) and captain Dinesh

Chandimal (2) fall in quick succession early on day four before he was himself caught

by Ajinkya Rahane off a Jadeja delivery.

Angelo

Mathews (36) followed Karunaratne back threeto the pavilion 11 balls match series later and only another ahead of the final Test couple of overs passed in Pallekele beginning before Dilruwan Perera on Saturday.

(4) suffered the same Karunaratne had comfate. bined with fellow centuNiroshan Dickwella rion Kusal Mendis (110) (31) and Dhananjaya to give Sri Lanka hope on de Silva (17) put up Saturday and, while the some resistance but latter perished 10 minthe writing was alutes before the close on ready on the wall, day three, the former and Ravichandran added 49 runs to Ashwin’s seventh his tally - the third wicket of highest score by a Ravidra Jadeja was India's danger man on day four

the match sealed Sri Lanka’s fate as the Nuwan Pradeep (1), struggling with a hamstring injury, skied to first-Test

hero Shikhar Dhawan at mid-on.

India’s win follows their 304-run demolition of Sri Lanka in the first Test.

(Sportsmax)

SCOREBOARD India 1st Innings 622/9 declared Sri Lanka 1st Innings 183 Sri Lanka 2nd Innings FDM Karunaratne c Rahane b Jadeja 141 WU Tharanga b Yadav 2 BKG Mendis c †Saha b Pandya 110 PM Pushpakumara b Ashwin 16 LD Chandimal (c) c Rahane b Jadeja 2 AD Mathews c †Saha b Jadeja 36 N Dickwella † c Rahane b Pandya 31 MDK Perera st †Saha b Jadeja 4 DM de Silva c Rahane b Jadeja 17 HMRKB Herath not out 17 ANPR Fernando c Dhawan b

Ashwin 1 Extras 9 (lb 5, nb 2, w 2) TOTAL 386 all out (f/o) (116.5 Overs, 472 minutes) Bowling: UT Yadav 13-2-391, R Ashwin 37.5-7-1322, Mohammed Shami 12-3-270, RA Jadeja 39-5-152-5, HH Pandya 15-2-31-2 Fall of wickets:1-7 (WU Tharanga, 2.6 ov), 2-198 (BKG Mendis, 54.5 ov), 3-238 (PM Pushpakumara, 72.2 ov), 4-241 (LD Chandimal, 73.5 ov), 5-310 (FDM Karunaratne, 95.4 ov), 6-315 (AD Mathews, 97.3 ov), 7-321 (MDK Perera, 99.3 ov), 8-343 (DM de Silva, 105.4 ov), 9-384 (N Dickwella, 115.1 ov), 10-386 (ANPR Fernando, 116.5 ov)

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21

Nestle Milo 2-day training with FC Barcelona coaches

King wins opportunity of a lifetime

M

artin King outshone his counterparts to win an opportunity of a lifetime -- to train with Barcelona Football Club, compliments of Nestle Milo.

Beepats, local distributors of Nestle Milo, organized a one-day football skill tournament, which was held on July 29 to ascertain a winner. This event was made a success through the tire-

Nestle Milo Caribbean is one of the official sponsors of the FC Barcelona team this year. Out of this sponsorship, the opportunity was given to five children within the Caribbean to train with the Barcelona coaches for two days. Fortunately, one of the prizes was awarded to Guyana as a means of developing sports.

To win this prize,

less work of brand manager Renita Sital and her team.

Children between the ages of 7 and 12 years were invited to participate, and made to go through three skill sets: dribbling, short passing and control. As they went through the drills, they were judged (GFF coaches) based on skill and accuracy, and were awarded points based on their performances. At

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Milo Brand Manager Renita Sital (back right) and Nestle Representative and GFF President, Wayne Forde (back extreme left), pose with the 10 winners of the tournament

the end of the tournament, the judges’ scores were tallied, awarding the first place to Martin King, who would have recorded a total of 215 points.

Martin will be accompanied by one of his parents/ guardians. Aside from the main prize, ten consolation prizes entailing US$75

and US$50 were awarded.

Thanks to Nestle Milo and FC Barcelona, this opportunity was made possible.

First Place”- Martin King (Age 12) – 215 points, 2ndRenaldo Abrams (Age 12) – 160 points, 3rdMakhaya Munroe (Age 12) – 155 points, 4th- Shaquille Dalrymple (Age 8) – 140

points, 5thKeshawn Andrews (Age 12) – 140 points, 6th- Daniel Lowe (Age 12) – 135 points, 7thShane Dalrymple (Age 8) – 130 points, 8th- Akeem Francois (Age 7) – 130 points, 9th- Malik Barker (Age 10) – 130 points and 10th- Clarence Lucius (Age 12) – 125 points.

Fearless Bowie has double in sights Guyana dominate day after diving to 100m glory one against Windwards T

CWI Regional Under-19 4th Round

G

uyana under-19 proved superior to Windward Islands on day one of their fourth round clash of the three day segment of Cricket West Indies Regional Under-19 Tournament yesterday in St. Kitts.

At close Guyana were well placed at 89-1 which is 64 runs behind Windward first innings total of 153 all out. Batting all-rounders Javed Karim and Kevlon Anderson are the batsmen at the crease on 45 and 24 respectively.

Raymond Perez is the batsman back in the hut.

Earlier left arm orthodox spinner, Ashmead Nedd bagged five wickets to finish as Guyana’s best bowler.

Spinners dominated for the Guyanese as Kevin Sinclair, Ritchie Looknauth and Kheshram Seyhodan all accounted for a scalp apiece.

Guyana started this round in second place after a win and two draws in the previous rounds.

Ashmead Nedd

he 200m is next on Tori Bowie’s list at the IAAF World Championships and she is confident of a strong showing after a golden 100m.

Tori Bowie feels fearless after claiming gold in the IAAF World Championships 100 metres final on Sunday.

The American dived across the line to beat MarieJosee Ta Lou by just one hundredth of a second with a time of 10.85 seconds, falling to the floor in the process and taking Murielle Ahoure with her.

Bowie improved upon her 100m bronze in Beijing and silver at the Olympics in Rio last year in the sensational finish, and it built her confidence ahead of her participation in the 200m.

“The dive doesn’t feel too good now,” said Bowie. “But that has saved me at championships in the past. I never give up until I’m over the line.

“Ta Lou went away fast but she always is. It didn’t bother me and I just kept pumping my legs and arms until the finish.

“I have a few cuts but I’ll be ready for the 200m. I’m

not afraid of what is to come.”

The build-up to the final was dominated by talk of a burgeoning rivalry between Elaine Thompson and Dafne Schippers.

A woeful start from Thompson in which she appeared t o drag her feet resulted in her finishing fifth, but Schippers edged out Ahoure for the bronze.

The Dutchwoman was delighted to have placed in the top three of what proved to be a strong field.

“From lane nine I was far away from my competitors so I am very happy to get a medal from the outside lane,” said Schippers.

“My start was not great.

The blocks were slightly down when I drove out.

Maybe I was unfortunate.

But I made it back into the race.

“I knew it was going to be tough. Everyone has been running well, so it was going to be difficult to get in the medals, so I’m happy to do it.” (Sportsmax)

22

Do not rule out the Warriors so early

By Delvon McEwan

T

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

mondAY, AUGUST 7, 2017

he Guyana Amazon Warriors have recorded two abysmal batting performances which unfortunately have resulted in their repeated losses against St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots in their first two matches of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2017 campaign.

Fans must, however, remain positive and keep faith in the team, because the boys will bounce back.

It might, at this time, seem a difficult task, but the Warriors possess the tenacity to rebound from such a troubled start. However, it is not going to be a simple process, because, unlike the four other editions of the League, each Franchise has spent prodigiously on developing their team, to provide balance in their playing 11.

The Warriors might seem a deflated unit after Saturday and Sunday’s outings, but they are not. In fact, they could be a force to reckon with during the remainder of the League, but they must first win at least one of their two matches on the road against St. Lucia Stars or Trinbago Knight Riders, before they commence their home matches at the midway stage of the event on August 17.

At home the Warriors

boast the impressive statistics of approximately 70 % wins in 13 completed matches, which breaks down to nine successful outcomes as compared to four losses at Providence.

In their home games, they are slated to play Trinbago Knight Riders, St. Lucia Stars, Barbados Tridents, and Jamaica Tallawahs. The Tridents have successfully campaigned here once in as many matches, while Warriors hold the advantage against both Knight Riders and Stars with three wins in four matches apiece. Only Tallawahs have won more than one

A solid performance with the bat is eagerly anticipated from Babar Azam

match here, as the tally stands two in their favour against one to the Warriors out of a total of three completed encounters.

Apart from home advantage, where the Warriors utilize their spinners to their benefit, the coaching staff led by former West Indies player and Coach, Roger Harper, frequently play important roles with critical thinking.

They make use of the resources they have, although all their departments might not be as fruitful as their bowling department.

Shortly before the tournament commenced, the Warriors suffered a major

setback when their 2016 batting star Chris Lynn withdrew because of injury.

He was replaced by Babar Azam, who is still fresh into his international career and is not much known for his T20 prowess. Adding to the Warriors’ hiccup, skipper Martin Guptill missed the second match because of an injury he sustained in the first match.

These hindrances occurred within a short time span, and Harper and his team adjusted quickly to be competitive in both matches. With their next match scheduled for Friday against Knight Riders in Trinidad, a better perfor-

mance is imminent from the three-time finalists.

However, their batting department must work to improve those errors made in the first two matches.

Therefore Azam must provide the impetus that is required of him as well as the remainder of the middle and lower order.

If the Warriors improve to win four of the next six matches scheduled to be played, then they could regain momentum, revive the hopes of their fans, and be on a path to the playoffs. At this moment, however, it is too early to judge the most consistent team in CPL history.

West Indian batting unconvincing against Kent 2nd-string R

ookie seam-bowler Charlie Hartley celebrated his Kent recall with career-best figures of 4 for 80 as the county’s second-string bowling attack made West Indies toil for runs on the opening day of their tour match in Canterbury.

After losing four wickets in the morning session, the visitors re-grouped in the mid-session courtesy of half-centuries by Shai Hope and Jermaine Blackwood, only to slide either side of tea to a modest 265 all out in

the face of some respectably tight county bowling.

In the four overs through to stumps, Kent lost opener Daniel Bell-Drummond caught behind off the fourth ball of the reply from Alzarri Joseph to go into day two on 1 for 1.

In praising the makeshift Kent attack Shai Hope said: “It was pleasing to get some runs under my belt but Kent bowled some pretty disciplined lines and lengths and didn’t give us much.

“It wasn’t the easiest pitch to bat on either, is was

a bit slow and you had to be fifth boundary, Kyle Hope as patient as possible espe- dragged a full-length delivcially during that period ei- ery from Ball onto off stump ther side of lunch when they via the bat’s toe end and his bowled really well. pad. He trudged off a deject“There was a bit of seam ed figure having played-on movement and a bit through for the third time on tour. the air, but at different Ball struck again in his stages. At the start it was next over havswinging then later in ing left-hander the morning it startShimron Hetmyer ed seaming. As a caught low down batting side, we off a firm-handneed to get biged push drive ger first-innings by keeper Adam scores than this Rouse for an eightto set up games, ball duck. but this is still The tourists good progress displayed some because we all much-needed want time in resolve in the the middle to mid-session learn as quickly courtesy of as possible before a fifth-wickthe Tests.” et stand Hartley, clearly deof 70 betermined to enjoy tween Shai only the third firstHope and class appearance of Jermaine his career and his Blackwood. first red-ball match Hope, who in over three years, looks set opened Kent’s to play bowling with gusin this to after the tourists electmonth’s ed to bat first. openHe sent ing Test back both against West Indies’ England, openers witha day-night Shai Hope in 10 overs. clash at K r a i g g Edgbaston, hit Braithwaite, only four fours captainin his 107-ball ing in place of the rested Jason Holder, fell to Hartley’s 19th ball of the West Indies 1st Innings match, caught half-forward KC Brathwaite (c) lbw b and late with his defensive Hartley 8 push to an off-cutter that KOA Powell lbw b Hartley 13 thudded into his left-pad.

KA Hope b Ball 36 Then, with their total on SD Hope c Ball b Riley 57 36, Hartley struck the front SO Hetmyer c †Rouse b Ball 0 pad of left-handed Kieran J Blackwood lbw b Hartley 50 Powell who looked distinctSO Dowrich † runout (Hartley)15 ly displeased by the bowler’s RA Reifer c Hunn b Riley 13 send-off as well as the umD Bishoo c †Rouse b Gidman 23 pire’s lbw decision.

AS Joseph lbw b Hartley 31 The West Indies found ML Cummins not out 8 runs and boundaries hard to come by, indeed, the ropes Extras 11 (lb 3, nb 3, w 5) went unfettered for 13 overs TOTAL 265 all out (83.4 Overs) as the home attack mainBowling: MD Hunn 16-4-480, CF Hartley 17.4-4-80-4, CJ tained a tight grip.

Haggett 14-2-46-0, AJ Ball 11Third-wicket partners 2-27-2, AEN Riley 17—37-2, and Bajan brothers, Shai WRS Gidman 8-2-24-1 and Kyle Hope, appeared Fall of wickets:1-9 (KC content to bat time but, afBrathwaite, 3.1 ov), 2-36 (KOA ter adding 38 and just after Powell, 9.1 ov), 3-74 (KA Hope, pulling a short one for his

50 before he departed for 57.

Kent offspinner Adam Riley, playing his first firstclass game in over a year, got one to bounce and brush Hope’s outside edge for Ball to snaffle a regulation slip catch. It was Riley’s first first-class wicket since 2015.

Blackwood moved to his 90-ball 50 with six fours just before tea but, two deliveries later, went back to a full delivery and became Hartley’s third lbw victim of the day and send the visitors in at the break on 178 for 6.

Hartley was in the thick of the action again soon after tea when his throw from square leg ran out Shane Dowrich after a calling mixup with Raymon Reifer.

The West Indies’ tail wagged a little thereafter, but Riley bagged a second scalp when Reifer sliced high to mid-off then Will Gidman picked up his first scalp of the day by having Devendra Bishoo caught behind after prodding at a leg-cutter and Hartley returned with the new ball to win his fourth lbw appeal of the day to end the resistance of Joseph for 31.

At the start of the day Zack Crawley, the 19-yearold batsman from Tonbridge School, was given a firstclass debut and presented with his Kent 2nd XI cap by former Kent and West Indies player John Shepherd. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD 25.6 ov), 4-78 (SO Hetmyer, 27.5 ov), 5-148 (SD Hope, 49.6 ov), 6-178 (J Blackwood, 58.6 ov), 7-183 (SO Dowrich, 60.6 ov), 8-201 (RA Reifer, 65.3 ov), 9-233 (D Bishoo, 76.6 ov), 10265 (AS Joseph, 83.4 ov) Kent 1st Innings DJ Bell-Drummond c †Dowrich b Joseph 0 SR Dickson not out 1 Z Crawley not out 0 Extras 0 TOTAL 1/1 (4 Overs) Yet to bat: SW Billings (c), WRS Gidman, AJ Ball, AP Rouse †, CJ Haggett, AEN Riley, CF Hartley, MD Hunn Bowling: AS Joseph 2-2-01, ML Cummins 1-0-1-0, RA Reifer 1-1-0-0 Fall of wickets:1-0 (DJ BellDrummond, 0.4 ov)

guyanatimesgy.com

MonDAY, august 7, 2017

23

Hero’s CPL 2017

Amazon Warriors misfire as Patriots complete double

T

he slowest T20 half-century of Chris Gayle’s career wound up being an incredibly valuable one as St Kitts and Nevis Patriots defended 132, including seven off the final over, to beat Guyana Amazon Warriors by four runs in Florida. Two runouts on either side of a Carlos Brathwaite yorker in a chaotic last over sealed a second win in two days for the Patriots.

Gayle struck 85 off 52

six balls Gayle hit to or over the rope in his innings came off full tosses. However, he still only had 15 dots in his 55-ball unbeaten 66, searching for singles far more than usual to take Patriots to 132 for 3. They needed every bit of Gayle’s output after fellow opener Evin Lewis, who scored a T20 century on this ground a year ago against India, struggled to 4 off 15.

Amazon Warriors captain Martin Guptill sat out with a left hamstring

with Chadwick Walton in pursuit of Patriots’ 132 for 3.

The Central Broward Regional Park was the site of one of Taylor’s two T20 centuries for USA, but after scoring 7 on Saturday, he only managed a skewed two over point that came off his first ball facing Samuel Badree. Five dots of pressure followed before the American charged down the wicket. Badree was expecting it, and bowled slightly wider and flatter. Devon

Patriots’ fast bowler Sheldon Cotterrel sends off Chadwick Walton with his traditional salute after dismissing him for 10

balls on this ground five years ago against in a then record score of 209 for 2, against New Zealand. On this weekend’s pitch, timing the ball off the wicket was difficult. Three of the

J

strain. It meant that USA captain Steven Taylor, who grew up 20 minutes away in Miramar and has spent most of his life playing on the Lauderhill wicket, was promoted from No. 5 to open

Thomas collected for a simple stumping.

One of Mohammad Nabi’s nicknames in Afghanistan is “The President” for his icon status. Both he and Rashid Khan went wicketless on

day one in Florida, and Rashid endured a frustrating time in the field again on Sunday, finishing with 0 for 36 in four overs.

It took 11.2 overs of the second innings before Nabi finally took the first wicket by an Afghan in the CPL. Nabi had conceded just eight off his first two overs and two balls into his third, Babar Azam tried to take him over Brathwaite at long-off. But the Pakistan batsman was beaten in flight and a simple catch was taken to create a bit of CPL history. After his 0 for 17 on Saturday, he ended with 1 for 18 on Sunday.

Fabian Allen came on as a sub fielder for Brandon King and pulled off an early contender for catch of the tournament, perhaps even the catch of 2017.

Jason Mohammed was on 41, with 31 needed off four overs and seven wickets in hand. Two overs earlier, Jason Mohammed had carved Brathwaite over cover for six. He tried to find that region against Hasan Ali at the start of the 17th.

Mohammed timed the ball fairly well but struck it much squarer as it hung up in the crossbreeze. Allen was cover sweeping and tracked 20 yards before flying through the air, reaching out with his preferred left hand to pluck an absolute stunner.

Allen showed he was human after all though, just one over later. Gajanand Singh drove to Allen, who fumbled a collection on the

boundary and then compounded the error with a horrendous relay that beat Thomas and the backup fielder for two costly overthrows in a tense chase.

Amazon Warriors needed eight off the final over with five wickets in hand and Gajanand on 28. After a single first ball by Rayad Emrit, Brathwaite fired a yorker down leg for a wide.

Emrit called Gajanand through to steal another run, but Thomas fired a direct hit to remove Emrit.

A single by Sohail Tanvir put Gajanand back

on strike. But the batsman was bowled as he tried to ramp a Brathwaite yorker, to elevate the tension in the ground. New man Veerasammy Permaul missed a swipe on a delivery angled through his legs - another bye was attempted to try and get Sohail Tanvir through to strike, but Thomas struck with a direct-hit again. Amazon Warriors now needed a four from Rashid off the last ball to force a super over.

But he couldn’t get bat on Brathwaite’s full one off the last ball. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots Innings CH Gayle (c) not out 66 E Lewis st †Walton b Jacobs 4 Mohammad Hafeez run out (Paul/†Walton) 11 BA King run out (†Walton) 39 CR Brathwaite not out 2 Extras 10 (lb 2, w 8) TOTAL (20 Overs, RR: 6.60)132/3 Did not bat: DC Thomas †, JL Carter, Mohammad Nabi, Hasan Ali, S Badree, SS Cottrell Bowling: Sohail Tanvir 4-0-30-0, SA Jacobs 4-1-221, RR Emrit 4-1-24-0, Rashid Khan 4-0-360, KMA Paul 4.-0-18-0 Fall of wickets:1-14 (E Lewis, 3.5 ov), 2-33 (Mohammad Hafeez, 7.3 ov), 3-130 (BA King, 19.5 ov) Guyana Amazon Warriors Innings CAK Walton † c Lewis b Cottrell 10 SR Taylor st †Thomas b Badree 2 Babar Azam c Brathwaite b

Mohammad Nabi 21 JN Mohammed c sub (FA Allen) b Hasan Ali 41 G Singh b Brathwaite 28 KMA Paul c †Thomas b Cottrell 4 RR Emrit (c) run out (†Thomas)9 Sohail Tanvir run out (†Thomas)1 V Permaul not out 0 Rashid Khan not out 0 Extras 12 (lb 3, w 9) TOTAL 128/8 (20 Overs, RR: 6.40) Did not bat: SA Jacobs Bowling: SS Cottrell 4-0-28-2, S Badree 3-0-15-1, Hasan Ali 4-0-19-1, CR Brathwaite 4-041-1, Mohammad Nabi 4-0-181, Mohammad Hafeez 1-0-4-0 4.00 Fall of wickets:1-12 (CAK Walton, 2.3 ov), 2-12 (SR Taylor, 3.3 ov), 3-67 (Babar Azam, 11.2 ov), 4-102 (JN Mohammed, 16.1 ov), 5-111 (KMA Paul, 17.3 ov), 6-127 (RR Emrit, 19.1 ov), 7-128 (G Singh, 19.4 ov), 8-128 (Sohail Tanvir, 19.5 ov)

McCarthy, Sami fire Tallawahs to 1st win

amaica Tallawahs took the occasion of Jamaica’s Independence Day to claim their first win in Florida, by 12 runs over Barbados Tridents.

After posting the highest total of the weekend, Tallawahs appeared to be a lock to defend 154 before Kieron Pollard gave them some late jitters, blasting 62 off 33 balls, with six sixes. Tridents needed 25 off the last two overs with Pollard still at the crease, but Mohammad Sami had him sky a catch to point for his fourth wicket to end any doubts about the result.

On Saturday, Ravi Rampaul had Kumar Sangakkara caught driving at backward point. Later in the match, Kane Williamson took a salmon-leap catch on the midwicket boundary. On Sunday, the two characters and storylines converged.

Having collected a golden duck a day earlier, Sangakkara nearly fell without scoring again, but this time, his drive off

Wayne Parnell pierced the gap past Williamson, who was patrolling backward point. After being driven through cover for four early in the second over, Ravi Rampaul dropped short to Sangakkara, who middled a cut, only for Williamson to fling himself to his left and snaffle a one-handed stunner.

After the fall of Sangakkara, Andre McCarthy and Lendl Simmons put on 51 for the second wicket to take Tallawahs to 65 when drinks were called for at the 10-over mark. Whatever energy-booster Wahab Riaz drank had the desired effect when he came out in the 11th and took three wickets in four balls.

A pull by Simmons, on 30, was intercepted by a leaping Kieron Pollard at midwicket. Wahab then angled in a fuller delivery to Imad Wasim that beat him for pace and pinged him in front. After Rovman Powell was able to leave the hattrick ball alone outside off,

Wahab followed with one tighter on off-stump that Powell dragged on. Two dots

to Shakib Al Hasan rounded off a triple-wicket maiden. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Jamaica Tallawahs Innings LMP Simmons c Pollard b Wahab Riaz 30 KC Sangakkara (c) † c Williamson b Rampaul 12 AM McCarthy c Khan b Parnell 60 Imad Wasim lbw b Wahab Riaz 0 R Powell b Wahab Riaz 0 Shakib Al Hasan not out 44 JA Foo not out 0 Extras 8 (w 8) TOTAL 154/5 (20 Overs, RR: 7.70) Did not bat: K Santokie, GE Mathurin, KOK Williams, Mohammad Sami Bowling: WD Parnell 4-0-261, R Rampaul 4-0-37-1, Wahab Riaz 4-1-32-3, AJ Hosein 3-0-23-0, Shoaib Malik 3-0-260, I Khan 2-0-10-0 Fall of wickets:1-14 (KC Sangakkara, 1.6 ov), 2-65 (LMP Simmons, 10.1 ov), 3-65 (Imad Wasim, 10.2 ov), 4-65 (R Powell, 10.4 ov), 5-149 (AM McCarthy, 19.3 ov)

Wahab Riaz was in control with the ball for Tridents

Barbados Tridents Innings DR Smith c Powell b Mohammad Sami 20 KS Williamson b Imad Wasim 7

Shoaib Malik run out (Mathur in) 8 AJ Hosein run out (Mohammad Sami) 12 KA Pollard (c) c McCarthy b Mohammad Sami 62 N Pooran †b Mohammad Sami 0 CD Barnwell c Foo b Williams 13 WD Parnell c Foo b Shakib Al Hasan 1 Wahab Riaz c Imad Wasim b Mohammad Sami 1 I Khan not out 4 R Rampaul c Simmons b Santokie 3 Extras 11 (lb 1, w 10) TOTAL 142 all out (20 Overs, RR: 7.10) Bowling: K Santokie 4-0-411, Imad Wasim 4-0-20-1, Mohammad Sami 4-0-12-4, KOK Williams 4-0-40-1, Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-28-1 Fall of wickets:1-10 (KS Williamson, 1.6 ov), 2-23 (Shoaib Malik, 4.3 ov), 3-48 (AJ Hosein, 9.1 ov), 4-51 (DR Smith, 10.4 ov), 5-52 (N Pooran, 10.6 ov), 6-102 (CD Barnwell, 16.1 ov), 7-124 (WD Parnell, 17.5 ov), 8-132 (Wahab Riaz, 18.3 ov), 9-134 (KA Pollard, 18.6 ov), 10-142 (R Rampaul, 19.6 ov)

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

MONDAY, AUGUST 7, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Hero’s CPL 2017

Pg 23

McCarthy, Sami fire Tallawahs to 1st win Andre McCarthy spearheaded Tallawahs’ batting with a scintillating half century

Pg 23

Amazon Warriors

misfire as Patriots complete double

Chris Gayle’s presence at the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Franchise is already serving well as they won their opening two matches for the first time since entering the League in 2015

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