Guyanatimes 7 december 2017

Social activist is GTT’s latest millionaire P16

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Thursday, December 7, 2017

Issue No. 3415

1500 Enmore sugar workers fired

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Man jailed for fondling 7-year-old P17

Page 3

…as widespread termination continues in sugar belt

$148M for Small Business Bureau in 2018 Page 9

Taxi driver charged for killing Kescia Branche

Without any relief plan

Mass termination of sugar workers disastrous – IAC

Page 8

P16

High-level security conference seeks to break “threat networks”

Page 16

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo among officials at the opening of the two-day Caribbean Nations Security Conference at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, during which top military officers from 16 nations will meet to intensify collaborative efforts

Border controversy

Greenidge to meet with Venezuelan counterpart

Page 5

NBS $79M appeal P15 ruling set for Dec 19

MP criticises Govt over millions spent on education P7 CoI

2 news

thursDAY, december 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

“We have a vision for the extractive industry” – Broomes

…sweeps aside criticisms of mining sector

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udget debate 2018 was spiced up on Wednesday with the presentation of Junior Natural Resources Minister Simona Broomes, who said her Government has a vision for the extractive industry, accusing the previous Administration of leaving the industry in a mess.

Broomes told the

National Assembly that the Government is also working on making the sector more transparent; one that promotes accountability, has a level playing field and does not discriminate against women miners, and one that can someday become free of human trafficking.

Speaking passionately before the House, the activist

turned Minister said the coalition Government will also work with all stakeholders in the industry more closely.

The aim, according to her, is to also formulate a policy that will guide the extractive sector in future years.

“Mr Speaker, within that framework, one of the things we had inherited was the fact where there was no oneness in the sector. The small miners cried out for bullyisim and all the (isims). But we are in the business of fixing and it is this Government that brought about the syndicates,” Broomes asserted.

The syndicate project was undertaken as a means of making mining lands available to small miners who could not afford a claim on their own. As a syndicate, small miners now have access to the concessions being offered to other mining groups in the sector.

In providing an update on this initiative, Broomes said to date there are 13 syndicates, and out of this amount, there are 339 registered members. This means there is employment for 2635 people and based on the number of dredges, some 10,000 plus households are also benefit-

Minister Simona Broomes during her presentation in the National Assembly on Wednesday

ing.

“It is because of a vision, come 2018, all miners in the sector can look forward to the good life. Mr Speaker, in this year’s budget consultation, the miners came together and we are happy to report that despite dealing with a divided sector… social cohesion is at its best in the extractive sector,” she added.

Speaking about the reduction in Tributor’s Tax for medium and small-scale miners from 20 per cent to 10 per cent effective from January 1, 2018, Broomes said this is another good initiative of Budget 2018.

However, it was the coalition Government that introduced through the Guyana Revenue Authority the imposition of the Tributor’s Tax for persons engaged in the gold or diamond mining industries who are rewarded for their labour under the tribute system which includes drivers and sailors, among others.

The Minister also gave her commitment that Government will continue to place focus on promoting better health and safety standards in the extractive industry and will continue to work towards making all mining operations in Guyana fatality free.

The Natural Resources Ministry, she said, will also embark on the training of miners to improve their mining practices and reduce mining-related fatalities by some 80 per cent.

“On the same day that His Excellency (President David Granger) was sworn in, there was pit cave in where 10 miners lost their lives… that is what this Government is heading to 100 per cent fatality free. We are an ambitious Government,” she said to the applause from her colleagues.

The Minister noted that

there are also allocations in the budget to improve the efficiency of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the regulatory agency for the mining agency.

She noted that $86.1 million has been budgeted for a ‘tail ends’ management project, while $36 million will go towards the monitoring of water quality in communities in and around mining districts.

Broomes also added that $140 million will be spent to improve inspection and monitoring by the Mines Division, $419 million for the Mines Inspectorate Division and $50 million for the Land Management Division.

“This Government is ensuring that adequate information is at the GGMC that we will be able to improve the mining sector by having information to give to the miners,” the Minister stated.

Minister Broomes used the opportunity on Wednesday to brush aside criticisms of the sector, adding that miners are happy because the Government has listened and reasonably addressed their distresses based on all the initiatives that have been included in Budget 2018.

EBD man jailed for 56 months

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26-year-old man who robbed a businessman of $28 million will be spending the next 56 months behind bars.

Andre Vieira was jailed on Wednesday by Magistrate Judy Latchman after he was found guilty of robbery under arms.

The prosecution contended and successfully proved that Vieira along with two others committed the armed robbery at Craig, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Vieira along with Winston

Andre Vieira will spend the next 56 months in jail after he was convicted of armed robbery

McKenzie, 35, of New Scheme, Eccles, EBD; and Feyaud Hamid, both of Meadow Bank, EBD, initially denied that on May 20, 2017, at Craig and being armed, they robbed Dai Zhung of a minibus valued $2.3 million, a quantity of fish glue valued $25 million, three cellphones and $500,000 cash; all totalling $28,780,000.

They have since been on trial, however, the other two accused in the matter were both set free when Magistrate Latchman found them not guilty of the said offence.

3 1500 Enmore sugar workers fired news

thursDAY, december 7, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Thursday, December 7 – 08:30h-10:00h and Friday, December 8 – 09:00h-10:30h.

…as widespread firing continues in sugar belt

By Samuel Sukhnandan

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, December 7 – 07:25h-08:55h and Friday, December 8 – 08:05h-09:35h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to light showers can be expected throughout the day, with sunny weather in the late afternoon. Thundery showers are expected to return in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 25 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North Easterly between 4.02 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 07:05h and 19:20h reaching maximum heights of 2.57 metres and 2.64 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 00:35h and 12:53h reaching minimum heights of 0.46 metre and 0.70 metre respectively.

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undreds of workers attached to the East Demerara Estate (EDE) located in Enmore, East Coast Demerara, have been issued termination letters by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), as the plans announced by Government earlier this year to close the sugar estate starts to take effect.

A senior official of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) confirmed this with Guyana Times on Wednesday, stating that workers are devastated by the move, as they are now contemplating how they will spend the holidays and whether they will get new employment in 2018.

The official, who requested anonymity, explained that the first batch of workers who are mostly engaged in other activities besides harvesting and factory duties were issued with their termination letters in September and given one month’s notice. These workers have since been paid.

“We can say about two weeks ago they all received their cheques. It’s about five different gangs. Some got 75 people, another one 120, another one 30. Some of them are fertilisers and some do other work in the fields. But that set, it’s about 250 people that get fired first,” the official explained.

However, those who worked in the factory, tillage, workshops and the actual harvesters, began receiving their termination letters about two days ago. While all workers at the EDE have not been issued with termination letters, a large majority of the workers there will be going home by year-end.

The Union official told this newspaper, “Factory alone got 230 who get their letters and tillage 125, the workshop 75 people got letters. About 187 harvesters got their letters too and all of them will be working up to December 31, 2017. On average, it’s about 1500 plus workers going home.”

Only on Wednesday it was reported that termination letters were issued to over 2000 workers at the Skeldon Estate. It is expected that more persons will receive letters during the course of the week. This move follows on the heels of the similar notice given to Rose Hall Estate workers about one week ago.

Meanwhile, in a leaked correspondence between the Special Purposes Unit (SPU) of the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) and GuySuCo dated November 29, 2017, it shows the SPU giving direct instructions to the company’s Chief Industrial Relations Manager.

The correspondence read, “I write to inform you that after numerous and careful discussions among the SPU

team, it was decided that extending the date for the transfer of the three estates, viz Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Demerara (Enmore) beyond 31st December, 2017, would not be practicable.”

It went on to state that, “the SPU team has decided that we would prefer to stick to the agreed date of 31st December, 2017. The extension of the date beyond 31st December, 2017, for the transfer of the three estates to the SPU would cause a lot of operational and financial issues and difficulties.”

While recognising that this directive may pose some challenges, the SPU said that it hopes for a smooth transition process and that it would be ready to assist in whatever way possible.

In May 2017, Government announced plans to close the Enmore and Rose Hall Sugar Estates, sell the Skeldon Sugar Factory, reduce the annual production of sugar, and take on the responsibility of managing the drainage and irrigation services offered by GuySuCo. Despite these moves, Minister of State Joseph Harmon at a post-Cabinet press briefing stated that the closure of the sugar estates will be pushed back to 2018.

Harmon had said that clo-

sure of the Rose Hall Estate in East Canje, Berbice will occur sometime next year.

With regard to the Skeldon and Enmore Estates, he said that the SPU will have to conduct evaluations, surveys and inventory assessments before any steps are taken to actually sell.

Recently, the Minister also stated that such a major decision should have at least been discussed with the other Cabinet members so as to

plan accordingly. He said he believes that at least some kind of notification ought to have been given to the workers who are being made redundant.

It was recently reported that the Private Sector Commission (PSC) has submitted a proposal for the acquisition of the East Coast Demerara estate.

A statement from Head of the SPU, Colvin HeathLondon, last month detailed that an international accounting firm would be recruited to evaluate GuySuCo’s assets for privatisation and divestment.

Last month, GuySuCo announced plans to retrench 2500 workers by the end of this year. GAWU says the downsizing and subsequent closure of sugar estates would lead to the loss of more than 15,000 jobs, and the potential threat of poverty for between 50,000 and 100,000 people.

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thursDAY, december 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

Needed oil contract details

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arlier this month, after extreme pressure on the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change coalition Government by a wide range of organisations representing citizens’ interests, we were informed by the former that they will finally release the oil contract that was renegotiated with the Exxon syndicate.

The Government had thrown up several, sometimes contradictory reasons for stonewalling on the requested information, including the now ubiquitous “confidentiality clause” of contracts. In February of this year, this newspaper was the first to call for the release of the terms of the contract in this space on February 13, under the caption “Oil Fiscal Regime”. Unfortunately, the only other detail released subsequently was that the royalty would be “doubled” to an underwhelming two per cent. We republish our request for details. “…the concern of most citizens is not just when the oil and its revenues will be flowing but what will be the quantum of the latter. The answer to that question does not only depend on the price of oil on the world market – important as that is, even to the Overseas Oil Companies (OICs) to make their FID – but also on the fiscal regime our government will apply to the oil revenues. Presently, all the Guyanese people have been told is we will be receiving “50 per cent of the profits”. While on its surface this may appear adequate, there needs to be a much more granular fiscal regime to ensure Guyana receives its fair share of revenues.

Typically, Government’s taxation policies, in the words of one French Finance Minister, is “to pluck the goose with the least amount of hissing”. In other words, to encourage the OICs to invest in exploration, development and production which necessitate huge up-front costs, which can only be recovered if they strike oil and are then allow them to recover those costs – which would now be capitalised – along with a decent rate of return (RoI) on their investments.

As we have pointed out before, it was very surprising when our Government renegotiated the contract with ExxonMobil after the massive 1.4 billion barrel field had been confirmed; it reverted to the 50/50 profit split the People’s Progressive Party had agreed to back in 1999, when Lisa was not even a gleam in anyone’s eye. With the goose in the hand, at a minimum, it was expected a royalty would have been imposed on gross revenues. Typically, this is between 7-15 per cent and guarantees revenues for our resource that would be exhausted. In an oil market that is very volatile and hovering around production costs – and made more so with US President Trump’s encouragement of US shale oil production – 50 per cent of profits may not amount to much. It is hoped that in the contracts for the exploitation of new blocs, royalties would be imposed.

We have not been told whether Additional Oil Entitlements (AOE) have been made part of the contract.

This standard clause in the contracts of most oil producing countries adds an element of progressivity to the fiscal regime in that the state collects additional revenues if the after-royalty, after-tax, inflation-adjusted Rate of Return (RoR) to the OICs exceed a stipulated level. The base RoI, for instance could be set at seven per cent, which is par for the industry, and would allow Guyana to share in windfall profits if the price of oil spikes for some reason.

We also need to know what is the rule on the carrying forward of losses and capping of exploration and development costs recovery. This must be balanced between encouraging the OICs to invest and discouraging them from reducing the profits that must be shared with Guyana since these are only calculated after those costs are deducted. Similarly, were interest expense capped? If not, this would encourage thin capitalisation so that the OIC, in effect would be siphoning away funds in the guise of interest payments and again reducing declared profits.

There are several other features such as “ring fencing” and “transfer pricing” that we hoped were addressed in the present fiscal regime.

The students of the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Center were all smiles as they danced to tunes played by the Guyana Police Force on Wednesday morning as they were entertained with Christmas carols by the Police Force’s choir and band

Nagamootoo should light a candle for the sugar workers Dear Editor, The Finance Minister has a favourite expression where he states that his Government has kept the economy growing at an average of three per cent when “most of our neighbours have been facing economic and financial crises, with low, no, or negative growth rates”.

But you really have to be disingenuous to celebrate your 2.9 per cent growth with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita of US$4456 per annum and compare it to that of Barbados, with their GDP per capita US$16,096 per annum which is growing at an average of 1.6 per cent.

If the Minister’s numbers are to be believed, his GDP growth is generating an average of US$129 per year in new wealth for each person in Guyana; while Barbados it is generating US$258 per year.

So even at that lower growth rate, the average Barbadian is walking away with twice the amount of new wealth in

his pocket. So what really is this Minister talking about?

You cannot invent economic well-being with words, it requires progressive public policies continually. When one looks at this 2018 Budget, it lacks strategic depth and will generate more empty rice pots across this country because it is an anti-working class budget and it is an anti-business class budget. If you starve the Private Sector and the workers to feed the political ‘fat cats’, then you are destroying the economy because you are stalling the engine of growth to feed the consumers of growth. How difficult is this to understand, Mr Minister?

What this 2018 Budget is lacking is enough executable plans to kick-start the economy but most importantly, it lacks adequate incentives to motivate a people to push themselves to the point that they are more productive and wealth generative. Rather what is the ordinary man

observing? He is observing Mr Granger spending hundreds of millions on wasteful project like D’Urban Park (GY$1.5 billion), a Green State House (G$150 million), a Green Prime Minister's residence (G$100 million), a Government travel and hotel budget (over G$800 million in 2017 and expected to increase in 2018) and so much more in wasteful and reckless spending of taxpayers’ money.

So why should the ordinary man work harder when he cannot even get a Christmas bonus? Why should the workers bend their back some more when the ‘fat cats’ in the Administration are enjoying most of the milk? Today there is an army of officials drawing all sorts of perks and cash from the Treasury for doing very little while at the same time, there is no money for the sugar workers.

Right now, some 2000 of an expected 7000 sugar workers have been sent

home for a dark Christmas.

Christmas 2017 will be remembered as a season of infamy for the people in the Berbice area. December 2017 is truly the month to “light a candle” for the sugar workers of Guyana and Granger and Nagamootoo who are today leading the process that is causing the workers to perish today are the responsible people for this economic hardship. They could have delayed the decision by three months and study the options some more; it was the human thing to do. Only animals fire people at Christmas.

So Nagamootoo the time is now to borrow Ricky Singh’s words and as we observe this Christmas let us all “Light a Candle” for the Subramanian family and the other 2000 workers who were fired effective December 29, 2017, by your Government.

Regards, Sase Singh

Left hand isn’t aware of what right hand is doing

Dear Editor, On reading the articles in the December 6 editions of sections of the media about sugar workers being fired and rift in Government over GuySuCo’s layoffs, it seems like the Government’s arm of management, Cabinet, is playing Christmas pantomime with the lives of hundreds of sugar workers.

One section of the media reported the Agriculture Minister as saying “he was not surprised at the decision of GuySuCo to issue redundancy letters to the Rose Hall workers” and the Minister of State as saying “the handing out of redundancy letters by GuySuCo to Rose Hall work-

ers has made at least his faction of the Government – the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) – nervous”, and “that this is something that at least could have come to the Cabinet and give us some notification before time”.

Another section reported the Minister of State as saying “Just like the citizens of this country, I read of it in the newspapers and I myself was a bit surprised that a major decision like that would not have come to Cabinet”.

This is unbelievable!

Imagine hundreds of sugar workers have been given letters that brought their employment to an end and one of the most senior Ministers

of this Government would only know of it on reading the newspapers like the ordinary citizens of this country. You can’t be serious Sir. Cabinet, the core of management for the Government, in this matter shows that its function lacks coordination.

From the reports in the press, it is obvious that the Agriculture Minister is the only one from Cabinet who is aware that hundreds of sugar workers have been given marching orders.

The active working population in this country is not that huge that when hundreds of workers are being displaced, it goes oblivious to the Government.

Something has to be terribly wrong with the chain of com-

mand and the communication feedback mechanism that goes with it.

A simple shake-up in the stores on Regent Street is known by the average man and woman on the streets throughout this country; so it’s unbelievable that almost 2500 workers have been sacked in the sugar industry and Cabinet is saying that it was not aware.

The people of this country deal with a Government, not two factions of government – AFC and APNU; so it matters not if AFC is aware of the redundancy and APNU isn’t. It’s a case of left hand isn’t aware of what right hand is doing on the same body.

CONTINUES ON page 5

thursDAY, december 7, 2017

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News

Border controversy

Greenidge to meet with Venezuelan counterpart …says no ‘penny pinching’ in addressing territorial issues

By Lakhram Bhagirat

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lated to make his Budget 2018 presentation on Friday, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge was forced to bring forward his contribution on Wednesday after the United Nations (UN) Secretary General’s Special Representative on the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy, Ambassador Dag Halvor Nylander, scheduled a meeting in Antigua for Friday.

Greenidge told the National Assembly that the meeting is expected to be much more of an informal level to determine a way forward as it relates to addressing the issue surrounding the disputed territory.

He noted that Guyana and Venezuela had to formulate teams to further the negation process and it is those members that are expected to meet.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry has been unable to confirm the attendance of the Venezuelan representa-

Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge during his Budget 2018 presentation

tives but President Nicholás Maduro is expected to be in Antigua at the same time.

The Minister said Guyana’s team consists of 10-14 persons inclusive of persons with international experience in the fields of international and maritime laws along with constitutional laws. He noted that the negotiation process is an expensive one but a vital one since one cannot afford to be “penny-pinching” in defending Guyana’s territorial in-

tegrity.

He also lauded the Opposition for their contribution to the negotiation process, much to the agreement of his Government colleagues. The Minister noted that while he is not at liberty to get into the nitty gritty of the negotiation process, he can reveal that the talks have so far been focused on proposals, ideas and concerns.

Greenidge informed that Nylander has com-

mitted to sticking to his word of taking the issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Guyana is relying on the decision by then United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon that the border controversy over the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal, if not resolved by the end of 2017, then the matter would be taken to the ICJ honouring Guyana’s request.

In February this year, Norway’s Nylander has been selected to represent Secretary General António Guterres in the Good Offices Process. Nylander had visited Guyana a number of times to hold talks with President David Granger and Foreign Minister Greenidge, among others.

Relations between Guyana and Venezuela have worsened ever since oil giant ExxonMobil announced in 2015 that it had found oil in Guyana. Venezuela has staunchly been against oil exploration in Guyana’s Stabroek Block, where

End to blackouts certainly not around the corner Dear Editor, Power outages or put more popularly ‘blackouts’ have long become part of the Guyanese national psyche.

For years now, Guyanese have lived with blackouts to the extent that they have developed a physical, material, spiritual and psychological sense of both depreciation adaptation to power outages and its socio-economic consequences on their everyday life and livelihoods.

Robert Badal, Chairman of the Guyana Power and Light Company (GPL), in an interview in late November 2017, made a gallant effort to explain away the spate of lengthy power outages the nation continues to experience on a daily basis. Badal, while pointing to GPL's obsolete physical infrastructure, technical challenges and human resource shortcomings failed to recognise the underlying impact of these deficiencies on people's daily lives and their long-term social psychological implications for the nation as a whole.

Nowadays, with cheap Chinese manufactured electronic items available to many low-income families and with many middle-income families improving their economic standing, along with the opening up of new housing schemes during the 23 years of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, these developments cumulatively have resulted in our

increasing dependency on interrupted power supply.

The demand for electricity has grown exponentially and it will continue to grow throughout the country, but more particularly, in the coastland areas.

From all indications however, it appears that Guyanese will not, for the longest while, ever experience stable and sustained supply of electricity much less at a cheaper price. The end to blackouts is certainly not around the corner. We still have a very far way to go.

Regrettably, before 1992, during the People’s National Congress dictatorship, after 1992 during the PPP/C Administration and now with the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change in office, none of these Governments, despite their best efforts, have been able to take Guyana out from the blackout syndrome.

Whenever blackouts occur, the vulnerabilities of our country are brought to the forefront. Compounding the problem further, is the increasing urbanisation of the coastland as well as the changing demographics in the country as a whole.

With blackouts come spoilt food, incapacitated security systems and petrol stations, downtime at cybercrime units, computerised Government departments and airline offices. Such eventualities could result in food poisoning, identity fraud and

theft, high incidences of crime especially break and enter and larceny, as well as a halt to the production process.

Badal and the Board of Directors of GPL can be deemed as woefully lacking in their appreciation of the psychological impact of power outages on various classes and social strata of the Guyanese citizenry. Badal missed the mark even though he grudgingly confessed in his interview that "the company's customer service in all its aspects has been found wanting".

The occurrence of a blackout while a patient is on an operating table and the non-availability of stable and continuing power supply providing light so, critical for the surgeon and his team, can result in the death of the patient.

In Guyana, there is absolutely no information about deaths occurring under such circumstances. That does not mean it never happened.

Compounding the problem further is the fact that of recent, GPL's power outages,

known to last for as long as eight to nine hours, a length of time that would put any standby generator under tremendous pressure.

But the impact of power outages on the health sector is only one of its many devastating manifestations.

GPL's thread-worn narratives to assuage the collective pain and suffering of Guyanese, viewed in the context of social psychology is misplaced.

The sum total of the Guyanese people's collective emotions, will, habits and traditions under the extant socio-economic conditions have, cumulatively, rejected GPL's palliatives as insufficient and unsatisfactory.

Guyanese are of the view that these palliatives have not and will not suffice so long as power outages/blackouts sponsored by GPL continue to wreak havoc in the personal and collective lives of every Guyanese man, woman and child.

Yours sincerely, Clement J Rohee

ExxonMobil found multiple oil deposits.

In fact, Venezuela’s National Assembly had approved an agreement to reject the oil exploration activities in March 2017.

Venezuela, with almost 40 times the population of Guyana and a territory that is several times bigger, claimed in 1968 the entire territorial sea of Guyana by means of the Leoni Decree, which has never been withdrawn.

In 2015, the Government of Guyana requested then UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, to take steps toward resolving the controversy. In 2016, because of a stalemate on the matter, the outgoing Ban Ki-moon agreed with his successor, Guterres, to continue to use the Good Offices Process until the end of 2017 as a means of arriving at a settlement.

It is with this intention that Guterres appointed Nylander as an envoy to resolve the border controversy. According to the mandate of the Personal Representative, “If, by the end of 2017, the Secretary General concludes that no significant progress has been made towards arriving at a full agreement for the solution of the controversy, he will choose the International Court of Justice as the next means of settlement, unless the Governments of Guyana and Venezuela jointly request that he refrain from doing so.”

Guyana has maintained that the only way to settle the controversy is by way of a juridical settlement at the International Court of Justice. Venezuela’s claim to two-thirds of Guyana has escalated over the years, with various shows of aggression and harassment.

Left hand isn’t...

The laying off of 7000 workers of the various categories will bear a humongous cost to the industry on payment of redundancy allowances.

Conservatively, it would cost approximately $4.0 billion, and of immediate those at Skeldon and Rose Hall will cost $1.5 billion. Who will fund this cost – Government or GuySuCo? Or is the company expecting the displaced sugar workers to keep their severance cheques as souvenirs for their service?

Interestingly, the Agriculture Minister is quoted at his budget de-

from page 4

bate speech that the current cane yield of 55 tonnes per hectare and will increase to 78.43 in 2018, an increase of 43 per cent. It would be interesting to know what interventions will be employed to reverse this trend to such massive turnaround. The nation therefore looks forward to this promise. Let’s hope that this is not another false projection by the company, as in the past years it was never even remotely near to any of its estimates.

Yours faithfully, Selwyn Narinedatt

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Page

Foundation Empowering students to curb bullying

– standing up to bullying can be frightening, but students can use these low-risk strategies to support peers who are bullied

By Jinnie Spiegler

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ullying often takes place where there are no adults around, in transitional spaces like hallways and stairwells. It also occurs during recess, in the cafeteria, on the way home from school, or online when a child is alone in their room. Despite these conditions, less than 40 per cent of young targets of bullying notify an adult –a percentage that decreases as kids get older.

Obviously, schools and school staff need to do their part to prevent and address bullying, including establishing policies that reflect district/state guidelines, assessing bullying at their school, monitoring hot spots, encouraging reporting, and educating the school community.

But another approach is to empower students to prevent and interrupt bullying by teaching them how to act as allies.

What it means to be an ally When we think of the word ally, we often picture someone who directly challenges the person doing the bullying.

But most young people find confrontation difficult because it takes a lot of selfconfidence and assertiveness. Many kids – like many adults – are not going to speak out against aggressors.

Young people need to learn specific actions they feel they can realistically take when faced with bullying. These are effective and less risky than confrontation, and can be used by those students who want to do something but feel unsure in the moment.

Support the target. This can be as simple as encouraging the targeted person to report the incident, and/or accompanying them to tell an adult. It can also include reaching out to the targeted person face-to-face or via text and saying

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something like, “Hey, I’m sorry that’s happening,” or “What they did wasn’t cool.” Research demonstrates that support strategies like these are more likely to lead to positive outcomes for the targeted student.

Don’t participate. This may sound like passive bystanding, but is actually an effective form of active nonparticipation.

For example, if a group of kids in the cafeteria are laughing at someone, a nearby student can make a point not to laugh, or say something like “Let’s not go there,” and change the subject. In doing this, the non-participating student sends a powerful message to counter the bullying behaviour while sending a message of support to the targeted student. Further, if one child takes the initiative to voice support, it can give others the courage to follow suit. This creates a groundswell of nonparticipation, which can stop bullying in its tracks.

Tell a trusted adult. Many students don’t notify adults because they don’t think it will do any good or they think it could even make things worse. A key to creating an environment where students feel safe to report bullying is to make adults more approachable by taking the issue seriously, letting students know you are available to talk, really listening when they come to you, and remaining discreet. Confidentiality can go a long way toward preventing retaliation. Encourage students to tell a trusted adult in their lives about bullying or harassing behaviour they experience or witness. Make sure your school has safe and confidential procedures in place for reporting bullying incidents, and communicate these to all students.

Get to know people instead of judging them. This is an important one. Especially during the tween and teen years, many bullying episodes are identity-based, which

means students are targeted based on aspects of their identity (eg, appearance or body size, race, religion, disability, etc). To create a safe classroom climate, it is critical to explicitly teach about identity, diversity, and bias.

Be an ally online. When young people see bullying happen to someone online, they can explicitly not contribute and leave the group – it will be noticed. Students can support the target by reaching out with a message of support. Students can also take a screenshot of a bullying conversation and report it to an adult. Finally, young people can spread their own inclusive, nonbiased, and respectful messages, either by responding to bullying comments or by creating original ones.

Teaching strategies Educators can teach these strategies in a few ways: Turn a bullying or name-calling incident into a teachable moment by discussing what happened and how one can act as an ally.

Use children’s and young adult literature that provides examples of ally behaviours and how they made a difference. Teach explicit lessons that explore identity-based bullying, prevention strategies, empathybuilding, and activities that help students practice the skills of being an ally with roleplays and scenarios. The Anti-Defamation League has some helpful real-life examples in a 20-minute online course for educators.

In 100 years, we may not be remembered by the subject matter we taught, but those generations of young people will remember whether they felt like they belonged, whether they felt safe and included, and whether all aspects of their identity could be shown in school and elsewhere. We can stop bullying once and for all by creating a compassionate cadre of allies among our students. (edutopia. org)

How to teach children about civic engagement – research shows link between civic engagement and well-being in youth

By Amber A Hewitt, PhD

C

ivic, or citizenship, education is a necessary precursor to civic engagement.. According to the US National Assessment of Educational Progress report (2014), only 23 per cent of eighth grade students performed at or above the level of proficiency in civics.

So, what is civic education?

Lin (2015) summarised the literature on citizenship education and provided the three definitions below.

1. Citizenship education refers to instructional practices, representing a variety of learning activities, which promote democratic thinking.

2. Citizenship education involves role pay, such as debate, where youth can critically engage and understand abstract concepts of democracy.

3. Citizenship education can include service learning programmes where youth address community needs though design and implementation of a service project.

Before we discuss tips on how to facilitate civic engagement, let’s first examine the relationship between civic engagement, youth outcomes, and parenting. Research on parenting and youth civic engagement has focused on four parental behaviours: modelling civic behaviours, emphasising civic values, having political discussions, and providing a supportive home environment (Bebiroglu, Geldhof, Pinderhughes, Phelps, &Lerner, 2013).

One study showed that youth who actively sought out information, were selfcritical, and were open to new experiences had higher scores on civic engagement and positive youth development (ie, competence, confidence, character, connection, and caring). Other studies show that community engagement may have mental health benefits for youth (Wray-Lake, Shubert, Lin, & Starr, 2017;

Wray-Lake, DeHaan, Shubert, & Ryan, 2017). Research specific to marginalised youth, suggest that parental and peer support may facilitate marginalised youth’s belief in their ability to create change and their desire to work for social justice (Diemer & Li, 2011).

So, how can parents and caregivers promote citizen education and civic engagement in youth? Here are some ideas: 1. Parents and caregivers should first ask themselves the following questions: a. How often do you talk about current events or things you have heard about in the news with your family and friends? b. How often was politics discussed around your house when you were a youth or teenager?

2. Ask youth questions about current events in a manner that facilitates critical thinking skills and emotional competence.

3. Validate the lived experience and perspective of youth in relation to social and political issues. For example, avoid being dismissive or ignoring their thoughts 4. Help youth form their own opinions regarding sociopolitical issues and encourage democratic dialogue.

5. Empower girls to engage in social action. Boys are often socialised to be more assertive and girls are often socialised to acquiesce with the status quo.

6. Encourage youth to critically examine “the way things are” by asking question that highlights diverse viewpoints or facilitates perspective taking.

7. Encourage youth to identify a social problem, or need, in their communities an brainstorm an action plan that involves working with others.

8. Introduce youth to their local policy makers by attending community and political events.

“We, the people," includes our youth too. (psychologytoday.com)

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thursDAY, december 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Budget 2018 debate

MP criticises Govt over millions spent on education CoI G

overnment was heavily criticised during day three of the Budget 2018 debate for spending millions on a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the education sector.

Speaking specifically about the education sector, Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Africo Selman, a former member of the main partner in the Government, on Wednesday said it was a waste of taxpayers’ dollars.

While agreeing with the need for reform and innovation across all levels of education delivery as stated by Finance Minister Winston Jordan during his budget presentation, Selman said this must be done in a way that the most vulnerable groups of children – those living in the far-flung areas – benefit.

The Opposition MP noted that the final report has not yet been submitted.

“This, I dare say, is deception. Millions of taxpayers’ dollars were spent on this inquiry held in 2016; we are at the end of 2017 and yet the final report is missing in action and a single man is $4.8 million richer.

Where are we heading?”

Selman told the National Assembly that this wasted money could have been better utilised and some of that total sum could have been pumped into improving Guyana’s premier teacher training institution, the Cyril Potter College of Education, and other important areas.

“It is time our children in the Public Sector no longer be subjected to frequent teacher absenteeism, poor curriculum delivery, shortage of text books and materials, and non-submission of grades at the tertiary levels. I urge that this final report be delivered and made public in the shortest time possible.”

Selman, an educator, said that in order to ensure that each child was afforded the best possible education, there was a dire need to continue to add to the pool of trained teachers.

This year, 450 graduates will join the trained teach-

Opposition Member of Parliament, Africo Selman

ers’ workforce and 37 untrained teachers will complete the teacher upgrading programme, to prepare for the trained teachers’ certificate programme. In 2018, an additional 335 trained teachers are slated to join the workforce.

“Mr Speaker, we can do everything I have just mentioned and more, but there is still one thing that will prevent us from achieving the good life as it relates to education – that is, ensuring that teachers are available in all corners of the country. Too often, as we go out to the hinterland regions, the stories of quality of living comparisons to the coastland abound from our education officials,” she told the House.

Selman noted that basic food items are much more expensive in the hinterland compared to the coastal region and in some cases, teachers have to travel miles to get the basic supplies.

Quality

In order to ensure that we improve the quality of education and the opportunities for our young people, the MP said the availability of good teachers was vital – they must be retained. As such, the 80 per cent increase in the remote area incentive as stated in Budget 2018 is inadequate, she added.

“These excerpts speak a lot to the ordinary man.

How can this Honourable Minister come before this House and tell us this.

Wasn’t the Commission

of Inquiry Report expected to address some of these very issues? It appears, Mr Speaker, that instead of dressing and treating our wound, every day this Administration adds a bit of salt,” the MP further stated.

Selman said it was her firm view that there must be a teacher’s training college or centre in every region of Guyana. This will ensure equal access to training opportunities. This initiative, she said, will ensure that those in the hinterland will not be left out and there will be no need to travel to the coast.

“The huge sums of monies spent on the

Commission of Inquiry could have been used to lay the foundation for such an initiative. My Speaker, the Administration has to be smart about its approach to education, something it has failed miserably at since it took office in 2015 – one disaster after another.”

She continued, “I dare say, Mr Speaker, if the Honourable Minister of Finance is serious about giving life to the budget theme, “the journey to the good life continues”, then establish a training facility for teachers in all ten administrative regions. This will be the start of a good life.”

Selman said aside from

training, focus should also be centred on improving salaries and enhancing teaching environments, especially those of teachers working and living in the hinterland. “Can a teacher taking home $80,000 a month enjoy the good life?

Can a teacher in the hinterland who has to walk miles to get to the classroom be on the journey to the good life?” she questioned.

The Opposition MP has advised Government to adopt the Caricom Human Resource Development Strategy which Caricom Heads of Government approved in July this year.

This Strategy is intended

to prioritise the construction by 2030 of a globally competitive, innovative and integrated education system to drive growth and development in all Caricom States.

“Indeed, all Caricom Member States, including Guyana, were intimately involved in the preparation of the Strategy. I submit, Mr Speaker, that Guyana’s goals are not dissimilar to the goals of this Strategy, so let us stop wasting money on a Commission of Inquiry that may never deliver and use the funds to begin the rollout of the Caricom Strategy tailored to the needs of Guyana.”

8 NEWS

thursDAY, december 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Taxi driver charged for killing Kescia Branche L

ess than a week after returning from the United States, the taxi driver who was implicated in the brutal murder of a Richard Ishmael school teacher was Wednesday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Matthew Munroe, of Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the capital offence in shackles.

With a grave look on his face, the father of six stood before Chief Magistrate McLennan as the indictable charge was read to him.

Dead teacher, Kescia Branche

Taxi driver Matthew Munroe

The charge stated that on November 7, 2017 in Georgetown, Munroe murdered Kescia Branche.

Attorney-at-Law George Thomas, who is representing the 47-year-old man, told the court that his cli-

ent, who has been in custody since November 30, has denied committing the crime, holding out that he was not in the jurisdiction.

In an attempt to form an alibi, Thomas claimed that his client’s mobile phone was confiscated by the Police and records can prove his claims.

However, Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield requested one month to complete the case file. This submission was granted by the Chief Magistrate.

The case will continue on January 9.

The Police are contending that the car from which Branche was allegedly dumped reportedly belonged to Munroe. Upon receiving that bit of information, the Police immediately named him as a person of interest.

After spending some time in the United States, the man returned and presented himself to the Criminal investigation Department in the company of his lawyer.

The Police stated that during interrogation, Munroe could not have provided information on his whereabouts on the night the woman was brutally attacked and more so, failed to give Police information on his missing car bumper.

Twenty-two-year-old Branche, of Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown, was discovered lying at Princes Street and Louisa Row in Georgetown on the morning of November 5.

She succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital two days after her discovery as a result of brain haemorrhaging and blunt trauma to the head.

According to reports, Branche had left home for a night of partying.

She left her threeyear-old son in the care of a friend, who revealed that Branche told her that she intended to go to Palm Court to meet a male friend.

The teacher later returned home, but subsequently left again. She told her friend that she would be home by 02:00h, but never returned.

She was last seen leaving a nightclub on Lamaha Street in the company of two Police ranks.

The father of the woman’s son was also arrested after the teacher’s mobile phone was found in his possession.

He, along with four cops, were questioned about her death, but were later released on station bail.

Forked tongue…

Y

…on sugar ou could’ve knocked your Eyewitness down with a feather! He’d just read a report of President Granger’s speech at an environmental meet in far-off Kenya.

There, he extolled the virtues of his “Green Guyana” – which couldn’t have taken long since the gist of that “plan” is to paint public buildings green – the colour of his PNC! The President declared, “People, therefore, must be at the heart of the development of our natural resources.

People must come before profits.” Could you believe it??!!

This from a man who declared “sugar days done” before the elections, modified his rhetoric to sucker Nagamootoo and Ramjattan into bed, then promptly reverted to his original plan!

When he decided to shut down half of GuySuCo, weren’t the 7000 sugar workers to be thrown into the streets “people”?? Didn’t they bleed? Didn’t they feel?

Was it because most of them were Indian Guyanese who supported the Opposition? But they were still “Guyanese” and he’s President of all Guyana, isn’t he?

But you may say, dear reader, Granger was talking about the use of “natural resources”, not sugar. But sugar and all agricultural pursuits DO use a natural resource – indeed, one of our most valuable – SOIL! Your Eyewitness understands sugar MUST make profits – and sugar hasn’t been making profits. But didn’t the President’s CoI recommend the Government inject funds into the industry for three years to bring it to a point of sale? Why hasn’t he explained deepsixing that recommendation?

Then we have this good-cop/bad-cop routine from Harmon and Holder. After the latest show of bad faith by the Government – to renege on the promise not to fire more workers THIS year – exploded like a rotten egg, Minister of State Harmon went into damage control mode and claimed: “Wasn’t us in the Cabinet – we don’t know anything about it: “We’re surprised!”

Minister of Agriculture Holder promptly responded that maybe Harmon might be surprised but Cabinet couldn’t possibly be. If there was a State-paper that pronounced on the closures in GuySuCo, hadn’t it been discussed in Cabinet? But, this is just hair splitting, since in any case at least 7000 sugar workers will be fired with no new employment in sight.

There are some suggesting it’s a PNC vs AFC split, since “Harmon is PNC” and “Holder is AFC”. The former would now be the “kinder gentler” party since it’s Holder who jumped the gun on the firings. Don’t be fooled. As was revealed, Holder was never known to be “AFC” and in any case, was personally appointed by Granger.

The bottom line remains: the PNC is still putting profits ahead of sugar workers! …on tax The EU just came up with list of 17 countries that are “blacklisted” for being “tax havens”. The list included four Caribbean countries – Barbados, Grenada, St Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. Now this goes to show you the level of hypocrisy that typifies the international system. We’ve had two scandals busted in the last few years – the Panama Papers and the Paradise Papers and they clearly show that the EU, Britain and the US are the whales in the tax haven scams and the 17 countries identified are comparative minnows.

There are at least four EU members that should’ve been on that list – not to mention Britain and her dependencies and the US. Another 47 countries have been placed on a “greylist”, which included some other jurisdictions in the Caribbean that have been hit by hurricanes and have been given till next February to pull their socks up.

It’s just another case of different strokes for different folks, with the rich countries getting the softest stroke possible! …on pensioners Two years ago, the Minister of Social Services announced with great fanfare they’d cull foreign-based Guyanese from the list of persons eligible to collect pension. The money saved would boost local pensions.

What happened after the Minister was transferred?

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

News

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thursDAY, december 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

GSDS awareness workshop targets Local Govt officials inclusion in the GSDS,” the Regional Chairperson said.

UN Resident Coordinator Mikiko Tanaka said that though this was the starting point of the countrywide awareness workshop, the strategy could be considered quite ambitious.

Meanwhile, Ndibi Schwiers, Director of the Department of Environment, Ministry of the Presidency, said that the focus of the GSDS created a different pathway for the

ronment.

“We have the benefit, or we have the gift of hindsight. We are in a very fortunate position as we can now learn from those societies. We can do what they did not do, the Green State Development Strategy is intended to bring together all of our sector policies and various sector strategies,” Schwiers said.

She added that the lack of policies and strategies when dealing with the econ-

United Nations Resident Coordinator Mikiko Tanaka

A

seminar held at the Grand Coastal Hotel at Le Ressouvenir, East Coast Demerara (ECD), on Wednesday is seeking to accelerate the Government’s Green ‘economy’ agenda in the regions.

The Administration and the United Nations (UN) Environment Programme have partnered to host the one-day awareness forum on the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS).

Region Four Chairperson Genevieve Allen explained that the forum, the first of its kind, targets a wide cross-section of local government officials in order

to promote leadership and ownership of the strategy.

Allen urged the participants to emulate the recommendations of the workshop and to implement them in their respective communities, in order to propel the Government’s agenda.

“We will hope that you will not allow the conversation to conclude within these walls, but that you take this conversation to all the corners of Guyana, that you will engage all the stakeholders, constituencies at all levels within your community so that coming out of these deliberations, we can have contribution for

Region Four Chairperson Genevieve Allen

Director of the Department of Environment, Ministry of the Presidency, Ndibi Schwiers

country regarding its coming oil production market as opposed to other countries that did not implement policies to safeguard their envi-

omy and development of a country could lead to a catastrophe hence the implementation of the GSDS. Schwiers reiterated that

$148M for Small Business Bureau in 2018

I

n 2018, the Small Business Bureau (SBB) intends to implement a programme, where it will register companies that meet certain criteria with regard to standards and quality. These companies would form a list of companies that the Bureau can recommend to larger companies looking to sub-contract or contract Smallto-Medium Enterprises (SME.) This was announced by Business Minister Dominic Gaskin during his budget presentation to the National Assembly. Minister Gaskin noted that over the years, the SBB has demonstrated the capacity to manage business development programmes successfully.

He also disclosed that advertisements will be placed at the Bureau on behalf of these companies to promote them to larger enterprises.

“These larger enterprises can contact the Bureau whenever a business opportunity arises, and the Bureau would then recommend the qualified companies in this sector of activity. If successful, this can be a great programme to promote the small businesses of Guyana,” Minister Gaskin explained.

Additionally, $100 million has been allocated towards the establishment of the Small Business Development Fund. This will serve as a revolving loan fund to address the needs of businesses that cannot meet the requirements of the traditional banking system.

According to the

Department of Public Information, Minister Gaskin said the effective revolving nature of the fund will limit the erosion of its capital. This, he said, will be achieved through careful screening of applicants prior to referral to the programme; frequent review of the performance of the re-

volving fund; favourable interest rates; and shorter repayment periods (not more than one year) to allow for timely revolving of funds.

using the GSDS would holistically ensure that benefits are reaped from the country’s resources as a way to guarantee the good life for future generations.

The aim of the GSDS is to guide the country’s economic and socio-cultural development by diversifying the economy, and reducing dependence on traditional

sectors, while creating new sustainable income and investment opportunities.

This Strategy also aims to achieve the goals set in Agenda 2030 – the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to attain the establishment of a Green Economy assured by the Government. (DPI)

Thursday, DECember 7, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

National Hardware introduces its massive furniture SALE where a LAYAWAY PLAN IS AVAILABLE, ongoing throughout the Christmas season; it’s the festive season when you can enjoy lots of discounts and giveaways at National Hardware, on Water Street and Industrial Site, Ruimveldt. Come and enjoy BIG DISCOUNTS in all of our departments – toys, household items, decorations, tools, electrical, PVC/hardware.

Opening every Sunday until Christmas for your convenience, enjoy late shopping every day of the

week.

Join Us This Saturday, December 9, 2017 from 11:00 am for the Grand Black Friday Drawing; See If You Are A Lucky Winner.

Sale is on! Come on down to National Hardware Today! Lots of discounts and giveaways; cash in on great deals every day throughout the holiday season!

With the hustle and bustle of this upcoming season, Best Buy Variety Store is the one possible place where you get your one stop hardware shopping needs met. They offer tools, building materials, household appliances, furnishing items, electronics – you just name it, they have it! For the best prices, the best quality and the best service, stop off at Best Buy Variety’s convenient location at 21 Section B, Non Pariel, ECD and give ‘em a try. Also feel free to call their customer-friendly operators at 270-4204!

11

thursDAY, december 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Pawn In Comfort, conveniently located on 64 Sheriff Street, Georgetown (opposite Survival Supermarket), is the Pawn Shop that You Can Trust to either help you Clear your garage or Crowd Your Wallet so if you have gold, They Pay Cash! Be assured that they have the Lowest Interest Rates In Town. So put your money where you need it for quality goods from quality people with quality service guaranteed. The Best Deals. Remember, Pawn in Comfort wants the stuff that you don’t and they’ll pawn just about anything. So go ahead and visit Pawn in Comfort for Your Total Money Needs today or simply go check their Facebook page out @pawn in comfort or simply call 680-4633 for any of your questions, queries or concerns!

LED light bulbs can save you money not only because they are roughly 80 per cent more energy-efficient than other bulbs, they also produce far less heat than metal halides, CFLs, and incandescent light bulbs.

While originally a cooler blue tone than incandescent bulbs, LEDs now come in daylight and warm white colours, so you can more easily replace your existing bulbs without altering the colour of your room.

LED lighting also offers a superior colour rendering index (CRI), so you can see the colours of your artwork or makeup more accurately.

LED replacement bulbs are durable and ecologically friendly. Did you know you

can recycle LED bulbs and reduce your carbon footprint up to one third? LEDs outlast the competition, staying bright for up to 11 years of continuous operation.

This means less time climbing ladders trying to replace those hard-toreach bulbs in vaulted ceilings.

LEDs are one of today’s most promising technologies. * No mercury, making them a cleaner alternative to fluorescent and CFL lamps. * The lowest energy consumption of any lighting product to date. * Light quality equal or superior to traditional lighting products. * Last 20 times longer than some traditional lighting products.

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thursDAY, december 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

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thursDAY, december 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Emergency power generators are necessary in buildings requiring a constant source of electricity, such as airports, hospitals and hotels. Additionally, department stores, office buildings and businesses in countless other industries have begun purchasing emergency generators as a simple precaution. In today’s connected world, downtime often means lost revenue.

Having an emergency backup generator prevents you and your business from suffering inconvenience and revenue losses.

Power is vital. It is necessary for medical facilities such as hospitals and doctor offices to have access to power in order to continually maintain care for patients. Lives could be at stake if the facility is without power.

Permanent standby generators are backup power systems that are installed as part of facilities’ electrical wiring.

These will automatically activate seconds after power failure, and shut off once the utility source is restored.

Many businesses simply cannot afford to wait out another power outage. Many companies opt to prepare by installing the proper type and capacity of generators to protect their companies and investments from devastating losses.

The team at Industrial Supply of Guyana (ISG) can help you select which type and capacity of generator is best suited for your facility and your unique needs. Our large and constantly changing inventory allows us to quickly deliver the item that you need. We are your one-call resource for

mission critical backup power needs, for both prior planning of backup power needs or for quick delivery and installation in emergency conditions.

Contact us and avoid having to deal with another power failure.

Industrial Supply of Guyana Inc Office # 592-265-7311 or 592-265-7315 Visit our website www.isgy.biz “The best opportunity to make the right choice”

14

thursDAY, december 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Undoubtedly, personalised gifts have become a huge contender in the gift-giving market. And why not? If simply engraving the special person’s name or adding a few heart-touching lines can make an ordinary gift special, it is definitely worth a try. After all, it is all about adding your sentiments to the gift, right?

Do you remember how we used to shop before these gifts came into our lives?

– Guess what a person

wants – Go to shopping malls and spend a couple of hours finding the right gift – Head home emptyhanded feeling tired – Pick anything, and finally – Disappoint the person with an unexpectedly lame gift Personalised gifts and cards can be gifted to almost any person, be it men, women, kids, or the elderly; this special thing is meant for everybody.

So, next time you buy a gift

occasion is what makes it a perfect thing for all.

So, is this why it has become the talk of the town?

Yes, it is quite extraordinary to pick something that can be personalised, but why should one go for such gifts only?

Well, there are quite a few facts to justify the beauty of such gifts! for someone, there will be no confusion in picking the right one as personalised gifts

come in handy for almost any occasion. Yes, now this is something that will reduce

your stress while buying a gift for your loved ones. The fact that such gifts suit every

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The time is coming for any home over 15 years old to get a new look, new functionality, and energy efficiency. It can be a fun family project, or something you schedule to have done while the family goes on a vacation. Either way, it’s an exciting time to enjoy a new home, without moving to a new house!

One of the first things to consider in home renovation is what is the style you are going for? Are you looking to keep the same look, or give the house a whole new personality? Once that is decided, it will become more fun and less stressful. Replacement windows and doors are key to home renovation, and can be a huge part in giving the home a whole new look. More than that, it will help the house look like new.

When purchasing replacement windows for your home, knowledge is key. Windows can vary drastically, from their energy ratings to the quality of construction and even the level of professionalism that is taken when making a selection and handling installation.

Quality construction and installation A top-quality window will last you – and your home – for years to come. Don’t skimp when it comes to buying quality constructed windows. Sashes must be reinforced, fusion welded and multichambered frames to ensure longevity and durability. Look for glass that offers maximum insulation and blocks the sun’s harmful UV rays, which will help protect the interior of your home.

Additionally, a window is only as good as the company in charge of fitting and installing it. An improper fit can mean leaking water, bowing, and potential damage to the window itself in years to come. Because windows are not a one-size-fits-all purchase, Royal Glass Aluminum windows and doors are always custom made specifically for your home.

Are Royal Glass and Aluminum works awning or casement windows the right choice for your home?

Contact us today and schedule a free consultation to find out!

News

15

thursday, december 7, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

NBS $79M appeal ruling set for Dec 19 A

fter refusing to pay a past employee an awarded sum of $79 million for wrongful dismissal, the New Building Society’s appeal against former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Maurice Arjoon will come up for ruling by Justice Rishi Persaud at the Appeal Court of Guyana on December 19.

During Wednesday’s proceedings at the nation’s highest court, the parties, who appeared were Arjoon and one the representing

attorneys, Siand Dhurjon; while NBS Attorney, Senior Counsel Ashton Chase, was also present.

It was recently disclosed that December 5 was the date set for ruling but after discussions with both parties, Justice Persaud set December 19 as the new date for ruling on the matter. After the announcement of the new date was made, Arjoon swiftly exited the courtroom.

It has been five years since the former CEO took

NBS to court for his outstanding pension and other benefits. Arjoon had originally sued the lending agency for some $550 million in damages on the following grounds: that he had been wrongfully dismissed from his post, and that his former employer had withheld pension and other benefits due him.

The former top official was fired from his position 10 years ago in connection with a Magistrate’s Court matter wherein he, NBS

“Never lose focus or your passion or purpose in life” – CEO Hutson to Region 4’s top performing teachers, students

T

op performing teachers and students from Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) were awarded for their outstanding achievements at the Department of Education’s regional award ceremony at the National Cultural Centre on Tuesday.

Delivering the feature address, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Marcel Hutson, said the event is not only held to recognise the top performers but also to encourage them to continue on the path of self-development. The CEO encouraged the young awardees to aim high when pursuing lifelong goals and to never lose focus on their passion or purpose.

“To those being recognised today, I would like to say remember your future is what you make it. The door to your future is right before you and as you aim high, you will certainly reach your goal.”

Hutson also thanked the retiring teachers for their service, adding that they should impart their knowledge to their junior peers, so they could better assist students to attain new heights academically.

Acting Regional Education Officer (REdO) Tiffany Favourite-Harvey said the Department of Education strongly believes the dedication, commitment and success of persons should be celebrated.

Highlighting some of the region’s educational achievements this year,

Chief Education Officer, Marcel Hutson

Favourite-Harvey spoke of the implementation of the mathematical intervention plan that resulted in a 41 per cent overall pass rate as op-

department for their hard work this year. She noted that through the Government’s commitment towards ensuring that all Guyanese are given the opportunity for education, many goals were achieved, particularly making the region a leader.

“His Excellency David Granger mandated us that we should lead the other regions and Ms Harvey, because you are part of us, it means that you are also mandated to lead in education in our region and lead the other regions; hence all of the success and achievements,” Allen said.

She added that these achievements will strengthen the Department of Education.

The awardees included schools highlighted for

Some of the graduates from the Education Management Course

posed to 11 per cent recorded from the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

Meanwhile, Genevieve Allen, Region Four Chairman, congratulated the team at the

outstanding performance at the National Grade Six Assessment, top performers at CAPE and CSEC, as well as teachers who completed the education management course among others. (DPI)

Onika Peters (third place), Valedictorian Shawndell Ferreira and Sinika Rambaran (second place) from the Education Management Course

Dismissed NBS CEO Maurice Arjoon

Operations Manager Kent Vincent and NBS Assistant Mortgage Manager Kissoon Baldeo were all accused of conspiracy to defraud NBS of $69 million. The court matter was eventually dismissed, and Arjoon and the co-defendants took the financial institution to court in 2011. Having been

dragged out for more than five years, the High Court matter was initially listed for decision on November 29, 2016; but it was only after repeated articles in this regard had appeared in the media that the court handed down its ruling on July 17.

High Court Judge Justice Brassington Reynolds ruled in the dismissed CEO’s favour, awarding him more than $79 million in outstanding payments and benefits. The court also ruled that he should be paid a monthly pension of $372,498 from July 1 onwards. The Judge further ordered that the former CEO should receive financial compensation for the damages he had suffered; and moreover, that he was entitled to his pension and severance benefits, in accordance with provisions stipulated in the laws of Guyana.

The NBS had contended

that an unauthorised withdrawal of nearly $70 million had been made from an account that its client Bibi Shamina Khan held.

The NBS’s issue with the withdrawal was that it was made through a Power of Attorney, and the company had implicated Arjoon for misconduct. The court in its determination contended that the NBS had failed to provide evidence that supported its claim of misconduct, whether serious or otherwise.

Arjoon, who told media operatives that he was sick, had claimed that he was setup on the fraud allegations because he allegedly refusal to approve a loan of some $2 billion applied for in 2006.

He had also noted that the investigation into the fraud allegations was conducted later that same year, implicating him as CEO, as well as the co-defendants.

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News

High-level security conference seeks to break ‘threat networks’

G

uyana is hosting this year’s Caribbean Nations Security Conference (CANSEC) during which top military officers from 16 nations will meet to intensify collaborative efforts with the aim of dismantling the “threat network” created by extremists groups.

The regional security seminar is sponsored by the United States’ Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) and provides a platform for dialogue among chiefs of de-

that emphasise collective action and cooperative solutions. It is built upon the foundation of information sharing. It is inclusive and principled, binding together like-minded nations who share common values and a commitment to work together. Throughout the years, those values and shared commitment have been the common thread linking all of our initiatives, programmes, training, exercises, and operations,” he stated.

According to Admiral

US Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway; Chief of SOUTHCOM, Admiral Kurt Tidd and GDF Chief-of-Staff, Brigadier Patrick West at the conference on Wednesday

fence and public security ministers aimed at examining threats to Caribbean stability and improving regional security cooperation.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the twoday conference, Chief of SOUTHCOM, Admiral Kurt Tidd, noted that while regional and global threats have evolved, at the same time, security cooperation has grown to bind nations globally.

“This network was born of sustained engagements

Tidd, collective investments made by the partners have made the hemisphere more secure with improved coordination at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels.

The SOUTHCOM Head pointed out that while the untapped potential of the threat network was tremendous, greater integration and linkages could have all sorts of cross-cutting effects.

On this note, he called on the participants to work together to further address the most pressing security chal-

Head of SOUTHCOM, Admiral Kurt Tidd, during his address at the opening ceremony of the two-day conference

lenges facing the Region today.

“By aligning our security efforts with the work being done by our civilian agencies and NGOs, we not only improve community resiliency and extend governance where it's needed most, we help deny criminal networks sanctuary and freedom of movement. By integrating and sequencing our respective operations and activities, we can sustain pressure against illicit networks...

And aggregate the impact of individual mitigation and preparedness efforts,” Tidd stated.

The two-day conference is being held at the Marriott Hotel under the theme: “Unifying Regional Action to Counter Trans-regional and Transnational Threat Networks”.

Brigadier Patrick West, Chief-of-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), which is the co-host of the CANSEC, outlined that the threats posed by organised

networks and increasing funding of illicit trades and illegal activities need to be dealt with collectively with support from partners within and beyond the Atlantic.

Brigadier West posited that the presence of major partner nations at the conference was testimony of a commitment to build capacity in the Region to counter these threats, especially since its vulnerability can create a gateway for illegal activities.

Moreover, the Chief-ofStaff outlined that global connectivity has also created conditions for dependence and inter-dependency on cyber space.

“The Region has experienced and continues to be challenged by increasing threats of cyber-crime. The security forces are, in many instances, way behind the perpetrators of these crimes and we need now more than ever to be able to be in step with or ahead of this new level of technological challenge within the Region. As their network grows, ours must grow stronger. As they find ways to exploit security weakness, we must strengthen our bonds,” he asserted.

According to Brigadier West, the security forces, along with concerned partners, must seek to find new initiatives to deal with the various emerging challenges and find ways to break their linkages.

Meanwhile, delivering brief remarks, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, emphasised on the importance of cooperation in tackling the various threats fac-

Without any relief plan

ing the Region.

He noted that such support has created a counter-network with participating nations partnering to share information and resources to tackle trans-regional and transnational crimes – something which Guyana has benefited from.

In fact, the Prime Minister noted that through such networking, local law enforcement has successfully undertaken major interceptions in areas such as narco-trafficking, corruption and even piracy.

This is the 16th

pants from: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago are taking part in the conference with representatives from Brazil, Canada, France, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom as observers.

Among the regional organisations also attending the forum are: Caribbean Community (Caricom);

A section of the participants at the 16th CANSEC being held at the Marriott Hotel in Guyana

Caribbean Nations Security Conference, and Guyana is the first South American nation to host the forum.

In addition to Guyana and the US, partici-

Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA); Regional Security System (RSS) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Social activist is GTT’s latest millionaire

Mass termination of sugar workers disastrous – IAC

T

he Indian Action Committee (IAC) has come out in strong condemnation of the mass termination of sugar workers, without any relief plan, saying this is “disastrous”.

The Committee recalled that in a press statement issued in March 2017, it expressed the organisation’s extreme concerns regarding the distressed state of the sugar industry in Guyana, especially in light of the anxieties oppressing the minds of thousands of sugar workers whose livelihoods were seen to be in jeopardy as rumours of the closure of a number of sugar estates permeated the society.

The IAC said that, eight months later, it has witnessed and is continuing to witness the despair of workers of Wales, Enmore, Rose Hall and Skeldon sugar estates, all of which have been closed after March 2017.

The IAC, in anticipation of the severe economic

problems that would beset thousands of unemployed sugar workers, urged the Government of Guyana to pay those workers – who would become unemployed due to estate closure – their severance which is due to them by law; to retrain these unemployed workers using monies that would otherwise have been used to upkeep these now closed estates; and to transfer a portion of lands of these estates to the unemployed workers so that they could make a new start in life and independently seek their own economic wellbeing.

The IAC said it recognises the National Budget 2018 as being the largest in the history of the country and is confident that monies can be found to ensure that these thousands of dislocated sugar workers do not suffer any extended period of economic deprivation with the negative consequences for individuals, families, and

society as a whole that come with these extreme circumstances.

The IAC, which is not in the business of solving the problems of the sugar industry, nevertheless feels strongly that the organisation must raise its voice in defence of all those sugar workers and their families, and their dependents, and all other persons who will be indirectly adversely affected by their dislocation, especially since the vast majority of these persons appear to be voiceless and more so, since those organisations which had benefited for decades from the moral and financial support of these ordinary workers have seemingly fallen silent as these generally ‘die-hard’ supporters begin to despair.

The IAC believes the time has come for Government and the company to set out in clear language what they plan to do to safeguard the livelihoods of the workers

and the communities.

The IAC wishes to remind the Government that when the bauxite industry was in crisis prior to the arrival of RUSAL and BOSAI, the then Government with financial support from the European Union established LEAP (Linden Economic Advancement Programme) to support Linden and the rest of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) in those depressed times of economic despair; the organisation is calling upon the coalition Government to establish a similar entity to deal with the sugar industry in its current crisis.

The IAC, in conclusion, is adamant that if the coalition Government goes ahead and privatises a number of the sugar estates, that through some remedial plan for the workers of the industry and other beneficiaries, they have a viable option to benefit from the divestment of GuySuCo.

Beatrice Mittelholzer, the newest GTT million-dollar smile promotion winner

C

harity-Usara Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Chairperson Beatrice Mittelholzer is now a millionaire as GTT million-dollar smile promotion continues countrywide.

The elated Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) resident said she never believed she would have been the winner, but was nevertheless thankful to have won the million dollars.

Mittleholzer, a mother of two and grandmother of 15, on Monday evening at the Charity Essequibo leg of the promotion, said she will be donating a portion of her winnings to address some of the social issues affecting

youths and the elderly on a daily basis. To become a millionaire, customers who top up their phones electronically with $1000 or more in a single transaction, purchase a data plan for a $1000 or more, pay any GTT bill in full and on time, sign up for or upgrade a Blaze plan, or purchase a GTT SIM will be entered for a chance to win.

The promotion next heads to New Amsterdam, Berbice on December 15 and will return to Georgetown for the grand draw on December 18, where the communications giant will select four winners for a million dollars each.

The four previous winners were from Georgetown, Mon Repos, Linden and Bartica.

thursDAY, december 7, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

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News

INCB briefed on Guyana’s Ruling set for February anti-narcotic policies F Freedom Radio challenge

reedom Radio Inc’s constitutional challenge against the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) increasing the annual broadcast fee and imposing Governmentmandated broadcasts during prime time hours is set for ruling on February 15, 2018.

The matter came up for hearing at the Supreme Court on Wednesday when acting Chief Justice Roxane George, SC, ordered both sides to put their submissions to the court in writing.

Attorney for the applicant, Anil Nandlall has until December 15 for his submissions in writing to the court while Attorney General Basil Williams has until February 8 to submit his response to Nandlall’s submissions. The acting Chief Justice indicated thereafter that the matter was fixed for ruling on February 15, 2018.

In the constitutional challenge that was filed on behalf of Freedom Radio Director Irfaan Ali, Nandlall and Associates are calling on the court to place on hold the enforcement of several provisions in the Broadcasting Act until the determination of the Judiciary. The sworn affidavit, filed in Ali’s name, claims that provisions in the Broadcast Act expropriate the business’s airwaves causing it to lose on its revenue during ‘prime time’,

Freedom Radio Inc Director, Irfaan Ali

without compensation.

The affidavit states Freedom Radio Inc is in the business of selling airtime for reward and the provisions in question are not only onerous but are in fact unconstitutional since they violate guaranteed and protected rights and freedoms.

The coalition Administration earlier this year enacted broadcast legislation which compels local broadcasters to broadcast Government programmes under the ambit of “public service programmes”. Freedom Radio Inc, which is owned and managed by the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP), had highlighted in its legal documents that “between the hours of 06:00h and 22:00h are considered prime-time; this means that these hours attract the highest rates of rewards”.

Man jailed for fondling 7-year-old

A

Diamond, East Bank Demerara man was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for incidentally assaulting a seven-year-old girl.

Anansuaruddin Khan was charged for the offence in July, and his trial came to an end on Wednesday.

Magistrate Judy Latchman handed down the sentence at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The 36-year-old man was told that the Court believed the evidence presented by the prosecution and as such, he was found guilty as charged.

The charge had stated that between June 1 and June 30, 2017, in Georgetown, Khan indecently assaulted the seven-year-old girl. The accused was granted $150,000 bail on his first

The radio station contends that an hour during this period can easily be sold at a more competitive rate – higher depending upon the particular day of the week – and as such, the requirement by Government in fact “expropriates” money from Freedom Radio without compensation. The Opposition station argues that the move was in fact unconstitutional, since it violated fundamentals rights and freedoms, which enjoy protection under the Constitution of Guyana.

The applicant further highlighted that the fees have been increased to $7.5 million annually, up from the $2.5 million of previous payments. Freedom Radio Inc previously paid $2.5 million annually for its Broadcasting Licence in addition to another payment of $633,600 for its Spectrum/Frequency. These fees were paid over to the then National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU), the predecessor to the Guyana Broadcasting Authority which came into being with the assent of Head of State, David Granger to the amended broadcasting legislation.

Under the new arrangement, the Administration introduced a zoning system and charges fees for each zone. According to Freedom Radio in its challenge, with the new zoning system, the fee “for broadcasting licence to broadcast in the very areas that it is now transmitting would skyrocket from $2,500,000 annually, to over $7,500,000 annually”.

appearance.

According to reports, Khan was entrusted by the girl’s mother to collect the child from school each day, dropping her home. However, he reportedly committed the act during one of their trips home. This was reported to the mother by the child. As such, the woman made a report to the Police, and Khan was arrested and charged.

A

s efforts continue locally to combat the illicit drug trade, representatives from the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) were recently briefed on the work being undertaken by the Guyana Government.

The general role of the INCB is to promote Government’s compliance with the international drug control conventions and to monitor the functioning of the international drug control system in the interest of the international community.

A team from INCB, including Dr Raul Martin del Campo and Stefano Berterame, met with Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan on Tuesday at his Brickdam office. Also present at the meeting were representatives of the Ministry’s National AntiNarcotics Agency (NANA).

During the meeting, Minister Ramjattan in-

formed representatives of the Government's efforts in addressing drug trafficking and illicit production of drugs. He specifically mentioned the establishment of NANA, which is responsible for: planning and implementation of national drug policies; to reinforce the national Drug Information Network (DIN) to improve national drug information systems and rationalise strategies; and implementing the 2016 -2020 National Drug Strategy Master Plan (NDSMP), which addresses Demand Reduction, Supply Reduction, Control Measures, Institutional Strengthening and Policy Coordination as well as International Cooperation.

The Public Security Minister also informed the team of those projects under the purview of the Ministry to advance citizen security in Guyana.

These include the United

Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project to Strengthen Evidencebased Decision Making for Citizen Security in the Caribbean – CariSECURE, aimed at improving the quality, comparability, reliability and use of information management systems to inform citizen security policy and programme.

He also enlightened the team about the Cooperation Programme between Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union on Drugs Policies (COPOLAD) project that will strengthen the capacity of National Drug Observatories (NDO) to elaborate their National Report.

During the meeting, discussions were also held in other areas of assistance that can further strengthen law enforcement agencies in addressing drug trafficking and illicit production of drugs.

GPL has been giving back to customers amid challenges – acting CEO

A Anansuaruddin Khan

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, Dr Raul Martin del Campo and Stefano Berterame (right and left of the Minister respectively) and NANA representatives at Tuesday’s meeting

midst numerous challenges, the Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) has been achieving its targets while giving back to customers.

Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Renford Homer told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that since 2014, the company has spent $4 billion annually on its customers.

The company’s financial position is largely premised on the benefits from lower fuel prices. Homer explained that towards the end of 2014 and in 2015, there was a drastic reduction in fuel prices and “admittedly” that aided GPL’s financial position.

“We introduced not only a five per cent reduction in tariffs but we also increased

fuel rebates by an additional five per cent bringing a net effect of savings to customers of approximately 20 per cent,” Homer explained.

In addition, the savings also negated the need for government subvention and enabled the power company to repay $1 billion in 2015, and 2016 towards its debts.

The power company’s revenues are about $28 to $29 billion annually. Though the company has been able to save monies from the reduction of fuel prices, it is still not financially stable, the acting CEO said.

Homer pointed out that “as we stand as a utility, even though our financial position is stronger prior to 2014, it is not one that has positioned us to bring

Acting Chief Executive Officer of GPL, Renford Homer

into play all the things that are necessary to move our company and its infrastructure… from its current state to that which is desired state.”

As challenged as the

power company is, it still uses its limited resources to fulfill its commitments which include planned maintenance. This, Homer stressed, is critical for the upkeep and prevention of defects on the network.

“When we go out there and we have to take the power off that is for the safety of our customers, we will have a planned maintenance programme in the new year. Our network doesn’t lead us to alternate routes rather than taking off the entire network but maintenance is a must,” the acting CEO underlined.

Homer disclosed that new methods of communication will be employed in 2018 to better sensitise and inform citizens of the importance of routine maintenance.

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thursday, DECEMBER 7, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

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THURSDAY, december 7, 2017

Serena enters Sri Lanka bat to fighting draw Australian Open I after giving birth – India denied 2-0 series victory

S

erena Williams has entered the Australian Open in January, tournament director Craig Tiley has said.

The 36-year-old won this year's event in Melbourne while in the early weeks of pregnancy and gave birth to a daughter in September.

Tiley told the Herald Sun the 23-time Grand Slam winner is "very likely" to return to tennis in Melbourne.

"She's got her visa, she's entered, she's practising," he said. "There's no question she'll be ready in our view."

Williams, who has won the Australian Open times, has posted on social media that she has

seven returned to training.

Australia's ahead of Serena in "She wants to break "It would be a pretty do that." (BBC Sport)

Margaret Court, with 24, is the only player still terms of Grand Slam singles titles. a record that is Margaret Court's," added Tiley. significant accomplishment for her to be able to

Serena Williams won her seventh Australian Open in January while newly pregnant

Pybus being considered for Bangladesh Head Coach

f their two most experienced batsmen led Sri Lanka’s firstinnings fight, their fifth-day heroes were two newer faces.

Dhananjaya de Silva scored his third hundred in only his 11th Test, and Roshen Silva made an unbeaten 74 on debut, their efforts leading Sri Lanka to a fighting draw at the Feroz Shah Kotla.

It was a heartening result, given that Sri Lanka came here right after suffering their worst-ever defeat in the second Test in Nagpur. Neither Dhananjaya nor Roshen played that game, and their displays here may have made fans back home wonder why the former isn’t yet a settled member of Sri Lanka’s top order and why it took 103 first-class games for the latter to convince the selectors of his ability.

India took only two wickets on the fifth day, of Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal, their two first-innings centurions.

They never once picked up two wickets back-to-back: Chandimal and Dhananjaya

Dhananjaya da Silva stuck around long enough to bring up his third Test century

wasn’t troubled, as he ignored anything wide of off stump and ducked or swayed to avoid the short ones. India brought back spin, and Roshen immediately brought up his fifty, stepping out and driving Ravindra Jadeja to the cover boundary.

India had a greater chance of dismissing the impulsive Niroshan Dickwella at the other end, and the wicketkeeperbatsman, playing all his shots despite the match situation, gave them one clear-cut

of hairy moments - a missed sweep out of the rough off Jadeja, a top-edged sweep off R Ashwin - but nothing resulting in a chance, and the players eventually shook hands with 35 minutes left of the last hour.

India were right on top, with five wickets down and more than half of the day still left to play, but if there wasn’t too much experience left in Sri Lanka’s line-up, there definitely was plenty of quality.

– Simmons also shortlisted

India’s quest for record-equalling series win began strongly on the fifth morning as Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Angelo Mathews in the sixth over (AFP Photo)

Mushfiqur Rahim and Richard Pybus (right) speaking to reporters back in 2012

R

ichard Pybus arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday to be interviewed for the position of Bangladesh's head coach.

He is no stranger to the role, having been in charge for a few brief months in 2012.

Pybus, who was seen sitting with BCB president Nazmul Hassan and watching the second BPL game of the day at Shere Bangla stadium, is on a shortlist of candidates the BCB is hoping to meet in the near future. ESPNcricinfo understands that former West Indies coach Phil Simmons is one among that list.

"He [Pybus] is in our short-list," Akram Khan, the cricket operations committee chairman, said. "We will finalise it after talking with all the [BCB] directors. We don't want to hast-

Trinidadian Phil Simmons previously served as Head Coach of Ireland and West Indies

ily make a decision, as we want to take a coach for 2-3 years. We have three or four coaches in our shortlist. We are thinking of interviewing all of them.

But we will finalise it after

talking to [Pybus]."

Pybus was Bangladesh's head coach from June to October 2012 before he left, rather unceremoniously, due to issues relating to his contract and interference from the BCB directors.

He said at the time: "My position was undermined consistently by interference from the board, some of whom were not only obstructive, but seemed to be completely ignorant of cricket." Pybus has also served as director of cricket for West Indies.

The Bangladesh head coach position has been vacant since Chandika Hathurusingha tendered his resignation in October.

Neither the BCB nor Hathurusingha has revealed the exact reason for the development. (ESPNcricinfo)

added 112, Dhananjaya and Roshen 58 before the former retired hurt, and Roshen and Niroshan Dickwella an unbroken 94.

It was a reflection of how well Sri Lanka batted, but also of how little help there was for either seam or spin on one of the most benign fifth-day tracks seen in India in recent times.

With five overs left for tea, India were given a small opening when Dhananjaya walked off the field, having struggled through most of the second session with a thigh injury that inhibited his footwork and running between the wickets. They took the second new ball in the last over before tea, and began the final session hoping it would give them some much-cravedfor bite and bounce.

But Roshen, whose nimble feet and unhurried manner were reminiscent of Sri Lanka’s current batting coach Thilan Samaraweera, was just as assured against India’s quicks as he had against their spinners. A Mohammed Shami lifter hit him on the gloves and he inside edged Ishant Sharma into his box, but otherwise he

chance with the final hour looming. Stepping out of his crease to Jadeja, he missed one that hit the rough outside his off stump but refused to turn. The ball beat Wriddhiman Saha too, and thudded into his chest rather than settle in his gloves.

Dickwella kept playing his shots, which led to a couple

After the opening Test at Kolkota was drawn, India won the second by an innings and 239 runs to complete a 1-0 series win and the teams will now turn their attention to the limited overs segment of the series with the first of three ODIs on Sunday December 10 at Dharamsala.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD India 1st Innings 536-7 decl.

Sri Lanka 1st Innings 373 India 2nd Innings 246-5 decl.

Sri Lanka 2nd Innings (target: 410 runs; Overnight 31-3) FDM Karunaratne c †Saha b Jadeja 13 S Samarawickrama c Rahane b Mohammed Shami 5 DM de Silva retired hurt 119 RAS Lakmal b Jadeja 0 AD Mathews c Rahane b Jadeja 1 LD Chandimal* b Ashwin 36 ARS Silva not out 74 N Dickwella† not out 44 Extras: (b-5, lb-1, nb-1) 7 Total (For 5 wickets; 103 Overs) 299 Did not bat: MDK Perera, PLS

Gamage, PADLR Sandakan Fall of wickets: 1-14 (S Samarawickrama, 5.5 ov), 2-31 (FDM Karunaratne, 15.1 ov), 3-31 (RAS Lakmal, 15.4 ov), 4-35 (AD Mathews, 21.6 ov), 5-147 (LD Chandimal, 54.6 ov), 5-205 (DM de Silva,) Bowling: Sharma 13-2-320, Mohammed Shami 156-50-1, Ashwin 35-3-1261, Jadeja 38-13-81-3 (nb-1), Vijay 1-0-3-0, Kohli 1-0-1-0 Result: Match drawn Series Result: India won the 3-match series 1-0 Player of the Match: Virat Kohli (India) Player of the Series: Virat Kohli (India)

sports

thursDAY, december 7, 2017 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

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UDFA/ GT Beer Year-End Tournament…

Exciting 10-team tournament set for Sunday kick-off – Recent Inter-Association winners rewarded T

he 5th Annual GT Beer/Upper Demerara Year-end football tournament was launched on Tuesday and will kick off in the bauxite mining town of Linden on Sunday with the traditional march past of teams and two opening matches at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

Defending champions Silver Shatta FC will be among ten teams competing for top honours in the tournament which will climax on January 1 (New Year’s Day).

The other competing teams are three-time champions Winner Connections, Topp XX, Netrockers, Kwakwani, Amelia’s Ward Panthers, Botofago, Blueberry Hill United, Eagles United and HiStars.

Matches will be played on December 10, 13, 17, 22, 27 with the semi-finals set for December 27 and the grand finals on January 1.

President of the Upper Demerara Football Association Terrence

Representatives of the winnimg teams of the just concluded UDFA Inter-Association tournament received their prizes while officials of Banks DIH Limited and the UDFA share the moment

Mitchell said the tournament has been organised as part of the UDFA mandate to develop its members spiritually, mentally and encourage them to pursue a healthy lifestyle.

He urged community in-

volvement and urged football fans from around the country to support the tournament.

Communications Manager Troy Peters said that Banks DIH Limited through its GT Beer Brand has remained committed to

the development of football in Region 10.

“Our commitment to Region Ten is evident as we continue to foster closer relationships with the residents of this community.

Apart from the annual GT Beer tournament, Banks

DIH also sponsored the just concluded Inter-Association tournament organised by the UDFA which has showcased some of the nation’s top players. We look forward to another very exciting tournament this year,” he added.

GT Beer Brand Manager Jeoff Clement, Outdoor Events Manager Mortimer Stewart executives of the UDFA, teams and officials were also present at the launch.

Over $2 million is cash and prizes will be up for grabs.

Meanwhile, the winners of the Inter-Association tournament organised by the UDFA were rewarded during Tuesday’s cerewmony.

Upper Demerara took home the GT Beer Trophy and $1 million dollars top prize with runners up West Demerara receiving$600,000 and a Trophy third place Essequibo Football Association collecting $400,000 and a Trophy.

The Ashes, Australia 2017-18…

Sinclair bowls Starc, Hazelwood blow Rose Hall to another semi-final England away – Australia go 2-0 up

J

P

acer Keon Sinclair bowled Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets to an 8-wicket win over Upper Corentyne, thus advancing to the semi-finals of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) 50-Overs 1st Division Tournament.

Playing at the Port Mourant Ground, Sinclair claimed 6-29 from eight overs as Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets registered their third successive victory after defeating Albion and Skeldon in the earlier rounds.

Upper Corentyne won the toss and were put on the back-foot when Sinclair removed Davendra Budhoo 01 and Munesh Lalu 02 to leave them tottering at 5 for 2 in the 4th over, to which things went downhill as they were knocked over for 73.

Sinclair received support from Eon Hooper and National Under-19 captain Shawn Pereira, who claimed two wickets each.

In response, Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets was given a solid 52 runs opening partnership by brothers Jason Sinclair and National Under-19 opener Kelvin Sinclair. Sinclair, with an unbeaten 50 with six beautifully struck boundaries then saw Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets to 74 for 2.

Rose Hall Town Gizmos &

osh Hazlewood snuffed out England’s hopes of a remarkable second Ashes test triumph with two wickets in the first 16 balls of the final day as Australia wrapped up a 120run victory in brilliant sunshine at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday.

England, with six wickets in hand, needed 178 runs to win the maiden day-night Ashes Test and level the series at 1-1 but fell well short of their victory target and will head to Perth 2-0 down with three matches to play.

Keon Sinclair

Gadgets who currently heads Group ‘B’ of the competition would play their next match versus Port Mourant next Saturday at the Port Mourant Ground from 09.00 hours.

The Rose Hall Town Gizmos & Gadgets Team would consist of Shawn Pereira (captain), Clinton Pestano (vicecaptain), Jason Sinclair, Kevin Sinclair, Junior Sinclair, Kevlon Anderson, Royston Crandon, Keith Simpson, Eon Hooper, Keon Sinclair, Sylus Tyndall, Chanderpaul Govindan, Mahendra Gopilall, Jonathan Rampersaud and Vickash Subramanie.

SCOREBOARD

Australia 1st Innings 442-8 decl.

England 1st Innings 227 Australia 2nd Innings 138 England 2nd Innings (target: 354 runs; Overnight 176-4) AN Cook lbw b Lyon 16 MD Stoneman c Khawaja b Starc 36 JM Vince c Handscomb b Starc 15 JE Root* c †Paine b Hazlewood 67 DJ Malan b Cummins 29 CR Woakes c †Paine b Hazlewood 5 MM Ali lbw b Lyon 2 JM Bairstow† b Starc 36 C Overton lbw b Starc 7 SCJ Broad c †Paine b Starc 8 JM Anderson not out 0

Extras: (b-7, lb-5) 12 Total: (All Out; 84.2 Overs) 233 Fall of wickets: 1-53 (AN Cook, 19.5 ov), 2-54 (MD Stoneman, 23.3 ov), 3-91 (JM Vince, 33.6 ov), 4-169 (DJ Malan, 59.5 ov), 5-176 (CR Woakes, 62.2 ov), 6-177 (JE Root, 64.5 ov), 7-188 (MM Ali, 70.6 ov), 8-206 (C Overton, 80.1 ov), 9-224 (SCJ Broad, 82.6 ov), 10233 (JM Bairstow, 84.2 ov) Bowling: Starc 19.2-3-88-5, Hazlewood 20-7-49-2, Cummins 20-6-39-1, Lyon 25-6-45-2 Result: Australia won by 120 runs Series result: Australia lead the 5-match series 2-0 Player of the Match: Shaun Marsh (Australia)

Australia celebrate going 2-0 up in the Ashes

Left-arm quick Mitchell Starc mopped up the tail with the new pink ball to take five for 88, his eighth five-wicket haul in tests, but Hazlewood shared the plaudits after his key early intervention.

The paceman delivered a hefty blow when he removed Chris Woakes with the second ball of the day and two overs later landed a knockout punch when he had Joe Root caught behind before the England captain could add to his overnight 67.

“If I‘m being honest, I was a little nervous last night,” said Australia captain Steve Smith.(Reuters)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursDAY, december 7, 2017

BOA/Independence Invitational Games 2017

Archery Guyana finish 4th

…Martinique crowned champions

Archers get ready during the early stages of the competition

O

ver 20 archers from across the Caribbean converged in Barbados for the second annual Barbados Olympic Association’s Independence Invitational Games on November 25 and 26.

The tournament was hosted by the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA) in association with national sporting federations to commemorate Barbados’ 51st anniversary of Independence at two different locations: Coverlet Terrace, Bridgetown, and Codrington College, St. John, Barbados.

Archery teams were drawn from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Martinique, Guadeloupe and Guyana for the two days of battle and high level competition.

Guyana was represented in its first regional Archery tournament

by Archery Guyana’s member, Dwayne Grovesnor.

Competitors shot over 3,000 arrows throughout the event, in both recurve and compound men and women categories. The tournament commenced with 12 rounds consisting of 6 arrows in each round during heavy rainfall and the unpredictable wind conditions.

At the end of the first day, Guyana’s Grovesnor and Trinidadian Lallo were the only two not securing a bye thereby having to compete against each other. Their set wound up to a score of 5- all which then called for an exciting one arrow shoot off. Grovesnor then shot 9 which meant that Trinidad needed 10 to take their specific match but luckily for the Guyanese, he did not secure this so Guyana moved for-

Dwayne Grovesnor represented the Golden Arrowhead proudly

Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Georgetown Zone…

ward to face Martinique.

In his next contest, Grovesnor was unable to secure a win against Martinique to join Trinidad in the Finals.

The exciting Finals on Sunday was between Trinidad and Tobago and Martinique for the gold and silver while the battle for the bronze medal was between Guyana and the host, Barbados.

Guyana started off leading in the first set but the Bajans came back to tie at two. After a cat and mouse game, with scores being levelled after every round, the scores reached four. Regrettably, in the final set Barbados took the set and therefore winning the Bronze Medal by one point.

Martinque emerged the Gold medalists.

BFA/GT Beer, Candy Boss 8-a-side Football

Future Stars, Sparta advance Police arrest to quarter-finals Corriverton A

s was expected, all the big names are through to the quarterfinal stage of the Georgetown leg of the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” football tournament following the round of 16 which was contested on the parking lot of the National Cultural Centre on Tuesday night.

Pre-tournament favourites, Future Stars and defending champions Sparta Boss had contrasting victories while Gold is Money also looked dangerous in advancing to the business end of the tournament.

The Future Stars who played a high pressing and energetic game dominated Kingston throughout their game, netting five goals without a response from their outmatched opponents.

Usual suspect, Jamal Cozier netted a brace while Kevin Griffith had a “Guinness Goal” as well and Kingston’s own goal added to their drubbing. Cozier’s strikes came in the sixth and 21st minutes while Griffith netted in the 27th minute with the own goal coming in the 26th minute.

Defending champions, Sparta Boss were made to labour for their 2-0 victory as they needed a late double strike from veteran baller Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson to bail them out

Teams were not prepared to slack up on Tuesday night in the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” at the National Cultural Centre tarmac

against newcomers Norton Street. Richardson’s goals came with a minute of each other in the 24th and 25th minutes respectively.

Meanwhile, Gold is Money were rampant in their 5-0 drubbing of GTI Ballers, Deon Alfred’s brace along with a Jamal Pedro strike and a Michael Pedro Guinness Goal got them into the quarter-finals. Alfred scored in the fourth ad 20th minute while Jamal’s goal came in the seventh minute.

Michael Pedro sealed the deal with a sharp strike in

the 25th minute.

In other games Queen Street Tiger Bay needed penalties to get past Upsetters after the scores were locked 0-0 at the end of regulation time. Jamal Williams ensured that his needle got Rising Stars past North Ruimveldt; his goal came late in the game with the clock at 22 minutes.

Also needling their opponents were California Square and Leopold Street.

First Meshach Barrat got California Square past Trap Squad with his goal in the

20th minute and Okanie Fraser’s goal also in the 20th minute was good enough to see Leopold Street win against Ol Skool Ballers.

Bent Street needed a single goal from Travis Lyken in the dying moments of their game against North East La Penitence to book a quarter-final spot.

The quarter-finals will be played on Friday (December 8) at the same venue from 19:00h with a number of exciting clashes promised.

The losers of the round of 16 will have a chance to win $50,000 in the plate section; that segment of the tournament will also begin on Friday. (Michelangelo Jacobus)

Fixtures are as follows: Gold is Money vs Rising Stars-21:00h Leopold Street vs California Square-21:30h Sparta Boss vs Queen Street Tigerbay 22:00h Future Stars vs Bent Street-22:30h

Plate Section

Trap Squad vs GTI Ballers-19:00h North East La Penitence vs Norton Street-19:30h Ol Skool Ballers vs Kingston-20:00h North Ruimveldt vs Upsetters-20:30h

O

Links

realla Falcons will clash with Beacons in the first match at 19:00h while the second game will see Edinburg Gunners opposing Soccer City at 21:00h.

Edinburg Gunners secured two contrasting victories last weekend in battles against Rosignol United and Republicans FC. The Gunners humbled Rosignol United 3-0 with Joseph Giddings scoring a double in the 22nd and 25th minutes while Renaldo August hit home the third goal in the 41st minute.

Sherlock Phillips and Sherwin Nicholson netted in the 16th and 21st minutes respectively as Gunners edged out Republicans 2-1.

James Isaacs scored the consolation goal for the Republicans.

Police went on a goal rampage against Corriverton Links beating the Corentyne side 4-0.

Rawle Haynes scored back to back goals in the 7th and 8th minutes to give his team a 2-0 lead at half time. Junior Gordon and Rawl Thornhill then put the issue beyond doubt with strikes in the 43rd

and 49th minutes of play.

In the current points standing, Monedderlust lead Group A with nine points followed by Mahaica Det. And Golden Stars FC locked on three points while Orealla Falcons are yet to record a point.

Georgetown Police lead Group B also with nine points followed by Black Sharks on four points, Mahaicony FC one point and Corriverton Link yet to record a point.

In Group C, Beacon s FC lead with six points followed by Orealla ‘B’ and Arsenal on five points each, Berbice Police four points and Hopetown FC one.

In Group D, Edinburg Gunners lead with nine points followed by Rosignol on 6, Republicans 3, Young Strikers also on 3 and Soccer City yet to score.

Two teams will advance from each group to the knockout stage. The final is set for New Year’s day.

Meanwhile, on Sunday Republicans will square off with Rosignol United at 19:00h while Hopetown will tackle Berbice Police at 21:00h.

guyanatimesgy.com

thurssDAY, december 7, 2017

23

CWI/Digicel Regional 4-Day Championships 2017-18…

Jaguars hunting maximum points from out-of-sorts Volcanoes E

suan Crandon, the Guyana Jaguars Head Coach wants three-time defending champs to brush aside the Windward Islands Volcanoes when the second half of this season’s Regional 4-Day tournament begins today at Providence.

Despite a stern test in round five, the Jaguars still managed to maul the Barbados Pride handsomely by eight wickets, which took their total overall points to 86.4 heading into their next assignment against bottom of the table the Windward Islands Volcanoes.

With much momentum under their belt having just suffered one mixed result by virtue of a draw which they suffered at the hands of the Leeward Islands Hurricanes in round three; Guyana have been their usual hard-to-beat selves and the coach expects his unbeaten record will go unblemished by the end of round 7 where they face the

Hurricanes again, ahead of the Christmas holiday break.

The Jaguars versus Volcanoes clash is a tale of two contrasting sides with Guyana leading the table while the islanders dangle in last place. The Volcanoes have lost four matches to date, despite having a seasoned bunch of players representing their franchise, while Guyana on the other hand has won four matches.

Windwards poor performances this season have relegated them to last place but Crandon still doesn’t think it’s wise to not underestimate their opponents even if they might be under the weather.

“We have to stay focused as a unit, obviously Windward Islands have not been playing good cricket this season, we are going to capitalize on them being low on confidence and try to keep them down,” said the Coach.

Crandon said that he

will not be looking at the Guyana/Windwards match as a possible walk over for the defending champs but rather a good opportunity for his players to utilize the home conditions and keep the streak at home alive. “It’s always important to capitalize on your home advantage; we know our conditions better than any team who will be coming here to play us. The important thing for us is to gain as much points as we can form these two games, it will put us in a very good position for the latter half of the tournament,” explained Crandon.

With a few big players missing due to international duties, the Jaguars have called upon their younger crop of players to take charge in the absence of the senior guys and the junior Jaguars have risen to the occasion according to Crandon.

While most of the senior players like Leon Johnson,

Guyana Jaguars Coach Esuan Crandon

Vishaul Singh, Shivnarine Chanderpaul seemed to have been hitting form over the past few rounds; the likes of Kemo Paul who bagged 9 wickets against the Pride in a spirited MVP performance, Sherfane Rutherford who has been equally as good in both departments and opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul who hit back-to-back fif-

ties against Barbados; all earned praises from their Coach who expects them to repeat come Thursday.

The Volcanoes have been terribly out-of-form, not managing a win since the season got underway despite having a few household names in the side.

Former West Indies opener and one of the most prolific run-scorers in Regional cricket Devon Smith will be the key for the Volcanoes with 501 runs from just five matches and a highest of 185 not out.

Apart from Smith, no other batsman has scored a hundred this season with batsman Roland Cato’s 90 being the second highest score. Ex-West Indies Test spinner Shane Shillingford with 21 victims to date will lead the bowling as the most senior operator with the ball.

The last time these two sides met earlier in the tournament, Guyana eased to a 7 wicket win after

Rutherford grabbed 6-32 and scored 51 with Anthony Bramble 90, Singh 119 and Chandrapaul Hemraj 50 were the match-winners.

Today’s match will bowl off from 9:30h at the Providence, National Stadium and admission to the venue is free.

Windwards Volcanoes: Tyron Theophile ( Captain), Tarryck Gabriel, Miles Bascombe, Shermon Lewis, Delorn Johnson, Kyle Mayers, Roland Cato , Shane Shillingford, Audy Alexander, Devon Smith, Donwell Hector, Dennis Smith and Kenneth Dember.

Guyana Jaguars squad: Leon Johnson (Captain), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Vishaul Singh, Anthony Bramble, Keemo Paul, Akshaya Persaud, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Veerasammy Permaul, Gudakesh Motie and Keon Joseph

Mini-Slam tennis serves Hing lights up final Small-bore shoot off December 9

Flashback!!! Last year’s Mini-Slam winners

T

he Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) will be hosting its 2017 Mini-Slam Red Ball mini competition on Saturday December 9 at the National Gymnasium.

The tournament which runs from 09:00h to 13:00h will target all beginners aged 10 years old and under. Played under RoundRobin rules, a number of trophies are lined up for Best School, Best Boy/Runner-up and Best Girl/Runner-up.

Last year’s Best Boy was award was given to

Ricky Romascindo of St. Gabriel’s Primary with second place being awarded to Maxim Leacock of St. Paul’s Primary. Best Girl was Ngina Garnett of Success Elementary while runner-up was Maliyah Rambarran of the New Guyana School.

Newcomers Buxton Youth Developers received the award for the Best School which is the prize for the school which best adopt mini-tennis as Physical Education in addition to fully participating in the annual competition.

Meanwhile, Coordinator of the Schools Tennis Initiative program, Shelly Daly-Ramdyhan who has been in contact with primary school institutions and clubs, said she’s upbeat ahead of what usually is a large turnout for the event.

The competition which usually attracts new players from clubs and primary schools is used as a hunting ground for spotting talented children who are targeted for joining performance club programs to start technical training.

S

Recipients of prizes from the GuyanaNRA/Small-bore Section year-end championships

mall-bore Captain, Dale Hing along with fellow marksmen Azaad Hassan, Roberto Tiwari, Joshua Ramlakhan and Surujbali Persaud highlighted the Guyana National Rifle Association’s (GuyanaNRA) year-end-championships.

The competition which concluded on December 3 at the Timehri Ranges; saw Hing accumulating some 889.7 points followed by Hassan in second with 862.17, Tiwari third place 778.68, Ramlakhan fourth with 788.88 and Surujbali Persaud 728.05 points in 5th place.

Also, there was intense competition in the Action/Combat Pistol event contest-

ed over four stages; saw veteran shooter Ryan McKinnon racking up 288 points in the A-Class category with Hing highlighting the B-Class category with 236 points.

The .22 Precision Pistol Shoot was the first to have been contested over three weekends: November 11th, 18th and the finals on the 25th at the Tactical Service Unit Range, Eve Leary. Participants shot at 7,10,15,20 and 25 metres. Overall scores posted would have been a combination of scores gained at the .22 Caliber Precision Pistol Shoot, the Practical Pistol (IPSC) Shoot and the Action/Combat Pistol Shoot.

THURSDAY, december 7, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

CWI/Digicel Regional 4-Day Championships 2017-18…

Jaguars hunting maximum points from out-of-sorts Volcanoes Pg 23

Guyana Jaguars Vice Captain Vishaul Singh takes a sharp catch during practice on Wednesday while Captain Leon Johnson admires his work at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence

BOA/Independence Invitational Games 2017

Archery Guyana finish 4th Pg 22

…Martinique crowned champions Dwayne Grovesnor (extreme left) and archers from around the Caribbean take aim at the BOA Independence Invitational Games

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