Guyanatimes 7 may 2018

E Division headquarters’ modern facility now 80% complete P14

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 3556

guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Monday, May 7, 2018

PRICE

End-of-year report

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Govt rakes in $171.2B in taxes for 2017

Govt accused of trying to outstrip and crowd out P7 Private Sector

Page 3

– MP says Govt spending an obstacle to sustainable growth

– rise in income, import duty, VAT and excise tax collections

Piracy massacre

Jagdeo describes piracy attacks as acts of “terrorism” Page 11

Federal Management P13 Security officer killed in early-morning accident

Region 6 P12 RDC lashes out at Govt for Palmyra monument readiness

– calls on both Govts to work together to address horrific scourge Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo listens to the concerns of relatives of missing fishermen and other Guyanese during a meeting in Suriname on Sunday

Man stabs brother to death during drinking spree GGDMA still to be consulted on tolls for Region 7

Region 3 P12 residents await proper garbage disposal system

Page 16

Guyanese man dies after car crashes at JFK Airport

Page 3

Page 15

P16 Improved warning systems, information sharing needed – Ramjattan …reminded of 2015 promise to arm fishermen; another suspect nabbed

2

monDAY, may 7, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

news

3

monDAY, may 7, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

End-of-year report

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, May 7 – 09:30h-11:00h and Tuesday, May 8 – 10:30h-12:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, May 7 – 09:10h-10:40h and Tuesday, May 8 – 10:30h-12:00h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Thunderstorms are expected throughout the day and the evening, with temperatures ranging between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 6.25 metres.

High Tide: 09:09h and 21:59h reaching maximum heights of 2.19 metres and 2.09 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 15:21h reaching a minimum height of 1.01 metres.

SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS L

01

06

07

08

12

05 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

DAILY MILLIONS 02 07 09 23 LUCKY 3 2 5

4

08

11

12

6

6

Evening Draw

14

– rise in income, import duty, VAT and excise tax collections

W

hile a number of indicators point to Guyana’s economic growth declining, one thing that is not declining is tax collection.

The statistics show that for the year 2017, tax and non-tax collection rose to $194.7 billion.

The 2017 end-of-year outcome report states that tax revenues accounted for $171.2 billion of the overall amount. At the heart of this increase in tax revenues, which account for 87.9 per cent of total revenue, is the Government raking in more taxes than ever.

For instance, there was a $1 billion or 1.4 per cent increase in the collection of income tax; $600 million or a 3.5 per cent hike in import duty collection and a $300 billion or 0.4 per cent hike in Value Added Tax (VAT) and excise tax collection.

“Total non-tax revenues were projected at $23.6 billion; actual non-tax revenues for 2017 were, therefore, closely in line with the projections at the time of Budget 2018. The Guyana Revenue Authority remitted $49.2 billion,” the report states.

According to the report, this is equivalent to 28.8 per cent of tax revenues, compared to 27.9 per cent in 2016 ($42.3 billion). It is

Tax collection is on the rise for the Guyana Revenue Authority

also $2.2 billion more than the estimated sum quoted in Budget 2018.

While tax collection is up, however, other aspects of the report indicate some troubling patterns. For instance, the same report shows that the deficit in Guyana’s balance of payments, an important economic indicator, is on the rise.

Balance of Payments is the record of a country’s fiscal transactions, including imports and exports.

To therefore record a deficit, Guyana would have had to spend more on imports, among other things, than it gained from exports.

According to the report, Guyana’s overall balance of payment in the 2017 fiscal year showed a deficit of US$69.5 million. This is a hike when compared to

US$53.3 million the previous year. And a breakdown of the figures shows stunning disparities.

On the one hand, the current account shows a deficit of US$287.4 million for the year 2017. But in the previous fiscal year, the report notes, this was just US$12.4 million. The report admits that this is because of a negative balance on the merchandise trade account: “The further weakening was due to the negative balance on the merchandise trade account.

Merchandise exports were slightly lower than projected, mainly on account of lower export earnings of gold and other exports in the last two months of the year.”

When Finance Minister Winston Jordan presented the 2018 Budget last

year, he had announced that merchandise imports were estimated to grow by 9.6 per cent. This had been attributed to increased imports of mining machinery, chemicals, fuel, and lubricants. According to the report, imports exceeded the Government’s projections.

“Imports were slightly more than the US$1.59 billion projected at the time of the presentation of the 2018 Budget. As a result, the merchandise trade deficit of US$196.2 million was considerably higher than the projected deficit of US$147.2 million.”

“Notwithstanding, the deficit on the services account was lower than estimated. The improvement in the services account more than offset the weaker balances on both the non-factor services and unrequited transfers accounts,” the report states.

The parliamentary Opposition had previously expressed concern over the increasing deficit in the country’s balance of payments, which it had said would continue to have serious implications for the local economy.

This is coupled with the revised growth rate of 2.1.

The growth rate was attributed to the fact that sugar, bauxite, and gold all underperformed.

Man stabs brother to death during drinking spree

25 7

Afternoon Draw DRAW DE LINE

03

22

Govt rakes in $171.2B in taxes for 2017

16

20

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

P

olice in F Division (Interior locations) are now on the hunt for a man who allegedly stabbed his brother to death on Saturday night during a drinking spree.

The dead man has been identified as 34-year-old

Clinton Henry of Yambay, Eclipse Falls Top, North West District (NWD).

According to reports received, the now dead man and his brother were imbibing in front of their parents’ home.

However, after some

time had elapsed and there were no sounds coming from the men, the now dead man’s wife went to check on them, and found her husband lying on the ground with a stab wound to his head.

The woman raised an

alarm and the injured man was picked up and taken to the Port Kaituma Hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival. His brother has since gone into hiding. A manhunt was launched with the intention of apprehending the suspect.

4

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, may 7, 2018

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

Race and racism

T

he classification of race and its invidious effect of racism are terms that are endemic in Guyanese social discourse, and need to be understood with greater clarity. All classifications are based on some schema that presuppose some value. “Race” was justified by the European classificatory schemes of science, dictating a hierarchical ordering of phenomena and objects from the plants of Linneaus to the atoms of Mendelev.

Race was a key concept formulated during the seventeenth century, and it is not coincidental that it arose during the rise of modern slavery, in which the “Negro race” were the main victims. The concept of race was used as one of many hegemonic elements to convince the subjugated groups to accept their subordinate condition: after all, the “inferior” races were being done a favour as the White man laboured mightily to lift up his “burden”.

At its logical conclusion, it was used to justify the extermination of whole groups, since if evolutionary theory showed that only the “fittest” survived; maybe it was the duty of the self-selected fittest to move the process along. While conquerors have always concluded that the conquered were in some way inferior, it was the first time that the reasons for the inferiority were given as physical characteristics. This invidious notion of race still survives in Guyana, and it is this usage that must be eradicated.

In Guyana, race has been used in the invidious sense from the moment the European arrogantly announced that they “discovered the New World” – implying that the Amerindians living here were not “civilized” enough to appreciate their “discovery”.

This premise was used to justify the seizure of the land of the Amerindians, and paper over the raw use of naked force that accomplished the conquest of groups such as the Incas and Aztecs that had very advanced civilizations. “Race” was being introduced as a discourse to define a group of people as a social formation, in which physical, phenotypic and biological differences were given a social significance – that the Amerindians were inferior in culture and ipso facto inferior as a people. The physical characteristics supposedly determined the group’s behavioural attributes, which were inevitably “inferior”.

This discourse encompassed all other non-white groups as the colonial expansion spread exponentially, and is the beginning of “racism” in the modern sense of the word.

Race and racism were born as inseparable twins: racism could never be disjunctured from race (in the sense that the latter could merely be a neutral descriptive term). The paradigmatic use of racism, of course, was used to justify the slavery of Africans, after the Spanish clerics purported to discover vestiges of a soul in the Amerindians (after they died off like flies and proved unwilling to labour for the Europeans) as so possibly capable of receiving salvation.

The Africans were adjudged to be beyond this pale.

To maintain consistency with the overriding need to define themselves as a superior group, the Europeans in Guyana performed all sorts of semantic convolutions. The categories of race, supposedly immutable, were adjusted in the colonial milieu as needed, and terms such as “Caucasian” – used by the British in other contexts, were jettisoned, since they could have lumped them with the Portuguese and, horror of horrors, the Indians!

The dominant Europeans have oppressed all non-white groups, to one degree or another. Not in the sense that they were merely disliked by the white majority (exhibiting prejudice or racial discrimination), but that they were forced into certain roles by it – roles of subservience. Where the principle of domination (stated or unstated) of the use of power was based on race, it was racism, and this is one of the major legacies that have to be eradicated in the construction of a just and democratic Guyanese state.

“Racism”, it is said, “is racial discrimination backed by the power and resources to effect unequal outcomes based on race.” Sadly, today, racism is now being used by those that suffered from its effects during colonialism to oppress others.

The ten finalists vying for the coveted title of Miss Guyana World were on Friday evening appointed beauty ambassadors for the ten Administrative Regions at the Pegasus Hotel (Carl Croker photo)

Foreign travel by Ministers contributed to Guyana’s failing economy Dear Editor, In the face of critical observations that the Guyana economy was underperforming and was being mismanaged, Finance Minister Winston Jordan, in May 2016, went on the defensive and told the people of Guyana that “the economy is in good shape”. Jordan said then: “It is not a doomed scenario. We are doing reasonably well, and we will continue to do well.”

Between May 2016 and May 2017, Guyana’s gold reserves fell by almost $10 billion, from 14,498,200 to 5,219,500. Between 2015 and the present, the US dollar foreign reserve at the Bank of Guyana fell from US$800 million to under US$550 million.

Recently, Finance Minister Jordan was forced to declare that the economy was in decline. Christopher Ram, financial analyst and political commentator, captured Government’s financial policy as one of “spend, spend, spend, borrow, borrow, borrow.”

It was in this context that former Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill noted that a huge demand for foreign currency to facilitate the travel of a Government consisting of 27 ministers and dozens of technical staff would lead to further depletion of the country’s foreign

reserves.

Referring to funding to meet the foreign travel of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo helps the average Guyanese person to understand the true import of Mr. Edghill’s comment.

In October 2015, Prime Minister Nagamootoo, together with Minister Trotman and a Mrs. Tamara Evelyn Khan, was provided with approximately $660,000.00 for accommodation and meals for a threeday visit to Mexico.

In December 2015, the Prime Minister and the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs travelled to Paraguay. The Prime Minister told the National Assembly, on the 17th November 2017, that the Government of Guyana paid all the expenses associated with the trip in the sum of US$3,900. Of this amount, the Prime Minister explained, the sum of US$2000 was approved for contingencies. That would leave a balance of US$1,900. Airfares, he explained, cost $699,603.

But US $1900 could not yield $699,603. The Prime Minister’s figures did not add up, and the National Assembly did not detect his “Nagamatics”. (See Hansard, 72nd sitting of the National Assembly, Friday 17th November 2017.)

In January 2016, the Prime Minister and his wife, Lady Sita Nagamootoo, holding hands, attended the launch of the Golden Jubilee Independence Anniversary of Guyana in Queens, New York. A security/protocol officer accompanied them.

Government paid all expenses, amounting to US$2,400, plus Gy$982,675. The Prime Minister was provided with US$4,200 for accommodation, meals and out of pocket expenses, plus US$1,000 as a contingency allowance.

The total disbursement for this two-day trip approximates to almost $2,540,675.

Of course, the Prime Minister does not have to account to the Ministry of Finance for the expenditure of this sum.

In November 2016, accompanied by his wife, Lady Sita Nagamootoo, and his personal assistant, Ms. Deann Ali, the Prime Minister travelled to India for three days, and was provided with the sum of US$5,600 for in-transit accommodation and meals.

That sum is approximately Gy$1,148,000. Allowing for in-transit accommodation of two nights by two rooms, that accommodation would approximate to about Gy$143,500. Even if that figure is doubled to Gy$287,000, that would leave the Prime minister, Lady Sita and Ms. Ali with the sum of

Gy$861,000 for contingencies and food over three days !!!.

Then in May 2017, when Prime Minister Nagamootoo visited Guadeloupe, he was accompanied by Lady Sita Nagamootoo. They were provided US$1,250 for out of pocket expense and meals.

Allowing for out of pocket expenses of US$300, it would have left the Prime Minister and Lady Sita with nearly US$900 to spend over three days on food!! One recalls the public declarations of Prime Minister Nagamootoo: that he never travels first class, and never stays in five star hotels, because of his conviction that such expenditures could be applied to doing so much for the poor people of Guyana.

I have identified only one Government functionary and the expenses related to some of his travels. Little wonder that our economy is in the state it is in. Now the expenses related to the Prime Minister’s travels are what he himself would describe as “Fat Cat-style living”.

Now we understand that it is the privileged few who are in Government who are really enjoying the good life while the working class continue to beg the rulers to give them decent wages.

Sincerely.

Selwyn Persaud

Skullduggery ongoing at the GGMC Dear Editor, There is a deliberate attempt by some members of the GGMC to silence me for exposing their corrupt practices. I drew this conclusion from how the Commission addresses matters that are of concern to me in my individual capacity, or when I stand as a representative of the group of bona fide residents of Kurupung.

I came to this realization during a meeting which was organized by the commission-

er to address all matters of concern to me within his organization. At that forum, only one matter came up for discussion -- the issue of a missing claim file.

The matter that was chosen for discussion was serving some members of the commission’s interest, because they are bent on covering up the atrocities of their colleagues.

They were being selective in giving answers, rather than bringing a resolution to all

matters affecting me. At that meeting, I requested an investigation into a missing claim file after I was led to believe by a senior staff that there were two of the same files for me in the system, when in fact there is only one. This was a mistake made by the cashier on my claim licence application receipt.

In attempting to make the correction, a senior mines officer related there’s no issue with having more than one

claim with the same name, because the serial/HO numbers are unique. The missing claim file issue was reported in a letter dated August 14, 2017.

If the commissioner had chosen the letter addressed to him two days prior to the August 14, 2017 letter, he would have been able to touch on critical issues which are beneficial to me and the bona fide residents of Kurupung.

Continued on page 5

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, may 7, 2018

5

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

The fishermen and their families abandoned by their own government Dear Editor, It is unforgiveable the total lack of empathy that our government has shown towards the families of fishermen who were victims of yet another piracy on the high seas. The Government’s timid and uncaring posture is painfully unacceptable, even as this tragedy is still eliciting disbelieve in the population.

Our fishing folks and their families deserve better.

It has been ten whole, long, agonizing days since the story of a massacare at sea in which 16 missing fishermen were feared dead shocked Guyanese and Surinamese.

Some of the dead bodies have been discovered and some of the fishermen are still listed as “missing, feared dead”.

The chances that any of the missing fishermen are still alive are minimal to non-existent. The families of the fishermen are trau-

matized, seeking any kind of information and support.

In Guyana, no organized response has been activated to provide any support to the families. In Suriname, Guyanese families have no support from Guyanese authorities, and must rely totally on the Surinamese authorities.

In the meanwhile, the Surinamese authorities have arrested a number of persons. From all reports, the Surinamese authorities have been very active in their response to the tragedy. We must express our gratitude to the Surinamese authorities.

Truly, this is a tragedy befitting an urgent national response, one that the President and his leading Cabinet ministers should be upfront leading. Instead, the Government has been essentially silent, AWOL, missing in action.

The Guyanese people have

been in total shock, as they continue to be largely in the dark, since the Government has been silent. This is the kind of tragedy in which the Government should have immediately established a centralized support unit on the Corentyne, not only to liaise with various stakeholders, but with the families.

This is the unit to which family members can seek information and support.

Instead, the Government has been silent, content to say that the Police are in touch with the Police in Suriname.

Not a single Cabinet member has made himself or herself available to the families, and none has found it necessary to show up in the area on the Corentyne that is the focal point of this disaster.

The first word out of the Government was when the reporters confronted the President at an event

at the Pegasus Hotel, when President Granger described the incident as a “massacre, a tragedy and Guyana is grieving”. That was last Thursday, seven days since the incident was first reported. The Public Security Minister reportedly quipped one week after the news broke that there is “nothing Government can do”.

In the meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture has been shamelessly silent, and his silence is scandalously deafening. The Prime Minister, who during the 2015 elections campaign was known to extol his fisherman’s credentials, has himself been totally silent. Now, ten days later, the Minister of Public Security has decided to travel to Suriname with a team of senior Police officers.

But his trip is being made only after word began to circulate that the Leader of the

Opposition and a PPP team are on their way to Suriname.

As a nation, it is right for people to demand a more sensitive and caring response from the Government. In this regard, we commend the Leader of the Opposition for the empathy and support he has shown in the circumstance. He has provided leadership when leadership is absolutely necessary. From within minutes of the first report ten days ago, the PPP urged a national response, and has been in close contact with family members of the fishermen, both here in Guyana and in Suriname. Bharat Jagdeo has met with family members in Guyana, and at this time, he and a team are travelling to Suriname to provide comfort and support to the families who must navigate these difficult circumstances.

I am encouraged that the

Minister of Public Security has finally decided that it is also appropriate for him and his team to visit Suriname. It is late in the day, but better late than never. A National Day of Grieving is appropriate, and must be considered.

But a mechanism to provide counselling and support, including financial support to the families, is even more appropriate. Even though they have been missing in action, the time has come for the President and his government to demonstrate that they are responsive to the plight of ordinary Guyanese citizens. The fact is, however, up to this point, the response of the APNU+AFC Government has been nothing less than shameful and a national disgrace.

Respectfully, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Training is the main root of development in the Guyana Police Force

Dear Editor, Training is the main root of development in the Guyana Police Force. Other sectors, even though very important, are just the branches of the tree. Cut the main root and the tree dies. Recently, the media reported on a two-week anti-corruption training funded by the United Kingdom.

The Police and other members of some investigative agencies participated.

Information received is that apart from training to be conducted by the Felix Austin Police College, The Richard Fikal Police College and the Felix Austin Police College ‘B’ Division, numerous other training programmes would be done by overseas facilitators. It is imperative that the Police be adequately trained to efficiently and effectively execute their mandate as set out under Section 3 (2) of the Police Act, Chapter 16:01.

What society expects from their protectors are: to cater for ‘first oil’; securing our western border, and being able to handle emerging security issues and concerns.

However, the Police para-

digm has shifted towards their being more community-oriented. They are now required to not only solve crimes, but problems in the various communities they serve. Hence the community-oriented policing and problem solving (COPPS) approach.

His Excellency President Brig. David A. Granger, in his address to the Annual Police Officers’ Conference 2017, put the role of the Police succinctly, “But we must go beyond and find the causes of crime.

Why is there piracy? Why is there suicide? Why is there murder? Why is there rape?

Why is there trafficking in my division? What are the causes? So stop boasting about how many cases you made, find out how many cause you are able to discover, and let us stamp out the causes, then you stamp out the crime. If you do not know the cause of crimes, then the crime will continue to repeat over and over again.....

“So that is what we have to embark on, a new programme of building partnerships. We have to work with community. We have to know

what people in the community need and think, so that they can become partners and not our opponents. The Police Force has to be friends with the people, so you must be friend with the people, and build a partnership between the Police and the communities, and this will help you to get information and to build intelligence network.”

To be effective the Police must develop excellent people skills, and display good interpersonal relations with the various stakeholders. They are required to interact with their peers, superiors, and subordinates; members of the public; their friends and family. Hence the need for them to develop effective people skills.

Technical competence -the knowledge of law, Police practice and procedure is critical for the Police to be effective, but that is not enough.

According to Bennett and Hess (2002), “Technical competence used to be most important.

Now and the years ahead, people skills are most important.” Woodward and Buchholz

Skullduggery ongoing at...

It seems as though those issues were too sensitive for discussion, and would only lead to more cover-ups. There are numerous letters that were written to be addressed by the commissioner (ag) and his predecessor, which they both stubbornly refused to address. Two of those letters were sent by our then lawyer, now Minister Mr. Joseph Harmon, in January and February, 2014.

Four years have since passed and the Commission is yet to respond to those two letters. I had followed up with several letters of my own, reiterating my request for an investigation into those matters of our concern as a bona fide resident of Kurupung, and in my individual capacity. Most of the requests made went unanswered.

The few that were attempted by the commission

were deliberately prepared with inaccurate information and yielded no result.

At commencement of the last meeting, the commissioner decided to release some of his pent-up energy by telling me that I took my stories to all heights and lengths to state that he has been covering up corruption and this is the last time he’s going to address my situation; and if I am not satisfied, I could take the matter to the court.

He then opened the floor to his colleagues, which comprised three heads of department.

In my opinion, the ulterior motive of the meeting was clearly demonstrated, and that was to BLAME and SHAME me in order to SILENCE me for my reporting, and the request for answers to those atrocities

(1987) explain, “One way to visualize this tactical, people-oriented approach is with a bicycle. The two wheels of a bicycle have different purposes. The back wheel powers the bike, the front wheel steers it. Extending this analogy to an organisation, ‘backwheel skills’ are technical and organizational skills needed for the organization to function. ‘Front-wheel skills’ are interpersonal, ‘people management’ skills. Corporations tend to rely on their backwheel; that is, their technical skills.

Typically, however, when change comes, the response of the organization is primarily back-wheel response: do what we know best. But the real need is for front-wheel skills.

That is helping people understand and adapt to the changing environment.”

Strategic Management is about change. Reform is about change. Change is inevitable. No person or organisation can stop it. View it as opportunity. Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit is. Managers must pay attention to change in

From page 4

which are taking place under his watch.

I also thought the commissioner had a greater amount of stored energy to exhale at the end of the meeting, from the level of energy I felt every time I was interrupted during the course of the meeting. When it was discovered by me that the mistake had actually come from the cashier’s department, the atmosphere in the room changed, and the interruption became more frequent.

I was unable to express myself due to the frequent interruption from members of the group before the commissioner brought the meeting to an abrupt end.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the commissioner had changed from his initial stand of his last hearing on the matter, to a two-week ultimatum to produce relative

documents to support my case, or he would strike out the matter that was in front of him.

I welcome the new normal/beginning by the commissioner on the time limit into dealing with matters, if it is across-the-board and is not conveniently used to his advantage. Although I had supplied the relevant information to the commissioner before the allotted time, his response is still not forthcoming.

I left the meeting with a stronger sense of a cover-up by some officials of the high echelons of the GGMC. I have many reasons to believe that the situation is worse than I previously thought. I do hope my speculations are wrong.

Sincerely, Suffering miner

their environment, and adapt or perish.

The boiled frog phenomenon is very instructive. A classic experiment was done.

A frog was dropped in a pan of boiling water, and immediately jumped out, saving its life. Next a frog was placed in a pan of room-temperature water that was gradually heated to boiling point.

Because the temperature rise was so gradual, the frog did not notice it, and sat contently in the bottom of the pan.

The gradual rising temperature initially made the frog comfortable, but eventually sapped its energy. As the water became too hot, the frog has no strength to jump out.

It boiled to death.

The boiled frog phenomenon suggests that leaders must pay attention to change in their environment, and adapt or perish. I do not know what the Strategic Management Unit of the Guyana Police Force and the Reform Process have in place to deal with change. The former has been quietly doing

some excellent work, but not sharing it with the stakeholders, while the latter went into labour recently.

We expect an excellent delivery. Their plans appear to be top secret. I may be jumping the gun, but I have been on the starting block for some time now, and am a bit nervous. Many reform projects fail because a heavy emphasis is placed on the agents of change, while the victims of change are neglected.

Organisational change takes centre stage while little or no attention is paid to personal change. I hope that the movers and shakers of the GPF would ensure that those who would be affected by the imminent change would be given the necessary coping skills to grapple with the situation. Inculcating people skills in the minds of the Police is a sine qua non.

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

6

monDAY, may 7, 2018

Page

R

aising children is one of the toughest and most fulfilling jobs in the world — and the one for which you might feel the least prepared.

Here are nine child-rearing tips that can help you feel more fulfilled as a parent.

Boosting your child's self-esteem

Children start developing their sense of self as babies when they see themselves through their parents' eyes. Your tone of voice, your body language, and your every expression are absorbed by your children. Your words and actions as a parent affect their developing self-esteem more than anything else.

Praising accomplishments, however small, will make them feel proud; letting children do things independently will make them feel capable and strong. By contrast, belittling comments or comparing a child unfavourably with another will make children feel worthless.

Avoid making loaded statements or using words as weapons. Comments like "What a stupid thing to do!" or "You act more like a baby than your little brother!" cause damage just as physical blows do.

Choose your words carefully and be compassionate. Let your children know that everyone makes mistakes and that you still love them, even when you don't love their behaviour.

Catch children being good

Have you ever stopped to think about how many times you react negatively to your children in a given day?

You may find yourself criticizing far

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

more often than complimenting. How would you feel about a boss who treated you with that much negative guidance, even if it was well intentioned?

The more effective approach is to catch children doing something right: "You made your bed without being asked – that's terrific!" or "I was watching you play with your sister and you were very patient." These statements will do more to encourage good behaviour over the long run than repeated scoldings.

Make a point of finding something to praise every day. Be generous with rewards — your love, hugs, and compliments can work wonders and are often reward enough. Soon you will find you are "growing" more of the behaviour you would like to see.

Set limits and be consistent with your discipline

Discipline is necessary in every household. The goal of discipline is to help children choose acceptable behaviours and learn self-control. They may test the limits you establish for them, but they need those limits to grow into responsible adults.

Establishing house rules helps children understand your expectations and develop self-control. Some rules might include: no TV until homework is done, and no hitting, name-calling, or hurtful teasing allowed.

You might want to have a system in place: one warning, followed by consequences such as a "time out" or loss of privileges. A common mistake parents make is failure to follow through with the consequences. You can't discipline children for talking back one day and ignore it the next. Being consistent

teaches what you expect.

Make time for your children

It's often difficult for parents and children to get together for a family meal, let alone spend quality time together. But there is probably nothing children would like more. Get up 10 minutes earlier in the morning so you can eat breakfast with your child or leave the dishes in the sink and take a walk after dinner. Children who aren't getting the attention they want from their parents often act out or misbehave because they're sure to be noticed that way.

Many parents find it rewarding to schedule together time with their children. Create a "special night" each week to be together and let your children help decide how to spend the time. Look for other ways to connect – put a note or something special in your kid's lunchbox.

Adolescents seem to need less undivided attention from their parents than younger children. Because there are fewer windows of opportunity for parents and teens to get together, parents should do their best to be available when their teen does express a desire to talk or participate in family activities. Attending concerts, games, and other events with your teen communicates caring and lets you get to know more about your child and his or her friends in important ways.

Don't feel guilty if you're a working parent. It is the many little things you do – making popcorn, playing cards, window shopping – that children will remember. (kidshealth.org) To be continued

By Mike Brooks, PhD

I

n a recent article in the New York Times, Journalist Tara Parker-Pope wrote a story titled, "Are Today’s Teenagers Smarter and Better Than We Think?" to counter some of the alarmists who claim that the current generation of teens is “disengaged, entitled, and social-media addicted”. As evidence of her position, she points to the amazingly poised and motivated teens who lead protest marches for greater gun control. So, what’s the story?

Should we worry about “Generation Z” or just, as she suggests, “get out of their way?”

The “moral panic” of every generation

Like many big questions in life, there is not an unequivocal answer to the question of how Generation Z is faring.

Generation Z is often defined as our current crop of teens and college students who are growing up always connected to the Internet, smartphones, and social media. In support of Parker-Pope’s position, one can make a strong case that some of the concerns about Generation Z are overly pessimistic.

Patrick M Markey and Christopher J Ferguson describe how just about every generation of parents goes into a form of “moral panic” over young people’s behaviour in their aptly titled book, Moral Combat: Why the War on Violent Video Games is Wrong. With the introduction of virtually every new form of media or technology (eg, printed books, newspapers, radio, television, rock & roll music, MTV, video games, smartphones, social media), the older generation frets that the younger generation is going down the drain because of how they are using them. As Markey and Ferguson describe, such moral panics generally turn out to be unwarranted.

Nowadays, many parents, researchers, and pundits are worried about today’s youth. In part at least, they blame the overuse (or misuse) of smartphones and social media.

In a recent issue of The Atlantic, the title of an article by D. Jean Twenge captured this sentiment: "Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?" She’s not the only one to express such fears. We have all run across headlines about how smartphones and social media are corrupting our youth.

But is the hand-wringing about today’s teens any different from those of the past? Are such concerns overblown and misguided?

Teens of every generation do amazing things

The impassioned teen leaders of recent protests certainly don't fit the characterisation of teens as “disengaged, entitled, and social media-addicted". The issue is whether we are speaking about individuals or a generation. Certainly, every generation has extraordinary teens who produce amazing accomplishments. This generation is no different. But one can’t take anecdotal evidence to support that Generation Z is doing just fine… or not. After all, the Parkland shooter was a teen, and we don’t want to use him as the representative for what’s happening with today’s teens.

A broader look at Generation Z

If we pull back a bit, we might ask a question such as: How would we know if Generation Z is doing well or not?

Before we even answer that question, we have to agree on some metric(s) for comparison. We must then look at the aggregate data on those agreed upon metric(s) to compare the current generation to previous generations. To determine whether the “kids are all right” these days, what metric should we use? If we use high school graduation, teen pregnancy, or violent crime rates, Generation Z is doing better than previous generations. But is one of those the best metric to examine? (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com) To be continued

news

7

monDAY, may 7, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Govt accused of trying to outstrip and crowd out Private Sector – MP says Govt spending an obstacle to sustainable growth

Opposition MP Irfaan Ali

T

he opportunity of accessing cheap credit due to high liquidity in the banking sector by private investors is no longer a possibility, and private investment is vastly being crowded out by Central Government, former Minister and Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Irfaan Ali has observed.

In raising those points, Ali stated that Government is attempting to outstrip and crowd out the private sector since assuming office in 2015, an action he described as troubling. The former Minister warned that this could largely impact the country’s economic growth and the way business is done in Guyana.

“Thus, so far, it is conspicuous that since taking up office, this Government has attacked every source of funding at its disposal to satisfy its growing budget deficit,” he told this newspaper.

Based on the latest monetary survey, when compared to 2014, of total domestic credit to public sector, Central Government has increased its share by 245 percent, or $69.3 billion. The private sector, on the other hand, had taken a mere 8 percent, or $17 billion.

“This is an indication of a burgeoning Central Government, whose agenda, unequivocally, is to outstrip the private sector of much needed resources. Monies that could have otherwise benefitted private investment, whether in the form of home construction, expansion of business, etc., are now usurped by the Central Government,” he added.

Supporting this argument is Guyana-born, overseas-based Financial Analyst and columnist Sasenarine Singh, who said there is urgent need for change in how Government spends its budgets.

Singh said that, in 2017, Government spent about $1,333,000 per average household on mainly itself and on travel and pageantry projects, and idle, not productive investments.

According to him, very little

was spent on building up the productive capacity of the six sisters (rice, sugar, etc.)

“We all know the Government does not earn these revenues, they take arbitrary decision to say they will tax you so much, and ‘we shall borrow so much in your name,’ to spend mainly on these pageantry, non-value-added projects. But this is the fact: every dollar the Government spends was earned by someone in the private sector, or is going to be paid back by the citizens of this country, as they are called upon to pay the loan,” he explained.

Singh said the more Government spends, thus crowding out the private sector, the less value the additional spending creates. At one-third of the size of the economy, total Government spending is well past the point where additional expenditures add value, he pointed out.

“This excessive level of spending explains why, during the periods when the Government's share of the economy was generally growing, economic growth was slower and household incomes stagnated. Isn’t this the truth for 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017? It is a fact,” he added.

He said if one is to compare today to periods when the Government's share of the economy was flat or declining, when previous presidents curtailed the ratio of the public sector spending as a share of the national economy, economic growth was robust and household incomes grew.

“So this crowding out of

Financial analyst Sasenarine Singh

the private sector will have a catastrophic effect on economic growth, growth in new jobs and increase in the wealth of the people.

And this high nonsense being sold that oil revenue will solve it all is just that -- utter rubbish -- because it will not change the economic fundamentals of the nation, not being productive enough.

The right action is to incentivize the private sector and put them in the front seat of the investment vehicle,” he posited.

In 1993, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita was US$586 per person. By 2013 it has expanded over 500 percent. People saw real growth in the cash in their pockets during those years between 1993 and 2013. But since 2014, it has flattened, as Government spending rapidly expanded but is not backed by a corresponding expansion in productivity and value of production, he explained.

8 NEWS

monDAY, may 7, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Carpenter granted bail on simple larceny charges

F

orty-seven-yearold Anand Bhola of South Section, Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara (WBD) is facing charges alleging that he committed at least two break-and-enter-and-larceny offences in his neighbourbood, involving the sum of $564,000.

The carpenter, who is

also a father of two, appeared at the Wales Magistrate’s Court last Thursday, where he denied the two allegations of stolen property.

The first charge detailed that Bhola, between January 3 and 4, 2018, at South Section, Canal Number Two, broke and entered the premises of Lakeraji Ramdyall and stole items amounting

to $185,000.

Ramdyall’s property included a spray can, one bottle of poison and a weeding machine among a host of other items. Represented by attorney-at-law Paul FungA-Fat, Bhola entered a notguilty plea.

The defendant was further accused of breaking and entering the dwelling house of North Section, Canal Number Two resident Mohammed Rasheed, where he allegedly stole property amounting to $379,000.

This included a laptop computer and two power drills.

Bhola similarly entered a not-guilty plea.

Bhola admitted to Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool that he faced a similar charge before, but claimed that the charge was dismissed. The Police prosecution stressed that the ac-

cused has matters pending, and highlighted that he was previously convicted.

However, Bhola was given the benefit of the doubt, as the prosecution did not present evidence of the supposed conviction.

The prosecution was disallowed from entering two separate charges which were determined to be out-ofdate. Though the Magistrate granted the accused thief $160,000 bail pending trial for the substantive matters, she ordered that he report to the Officer-in-Charge of the Wales Police Station every Friday at 15:00h.

Liverpool adjourned the matter to June 7, 2018 for statements and fixture.

Police were also ordered to return the items recovered which were allegedly stolen.

Birthday party celebration lands drunken driver in court

G

anesh Singh, who rode his motorcycle in a drunken state after he attended a birthday party on April 25, 2018, was fined $7,500 by Wales Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool upon his admission of guilt.

Singh, during an appearance at the Wales Magistrate’s Court last week, accepted that he operated motorcycle CJ 4865 while being over the legal limit of alcohol consump-

tion.

The prosecution disclosed that the offender had a reading of 168 microgrammes, well over the 35 microgrammes limit. Singh told Magistrate Liverpool that he was never charged before.

After brief consideration, she fined the accused, and warned him that he would spend one week in jail if he does not pay the $7,500 fine. His licence was also endorsed, as he was a first time offender.

Poultry farmer accused of threatening La Grange neighbour

A

thirty-six-year-old La Grange, West Bank Demerara (WBD) resident, Oswald Bijulisingh, was released on $15,000 bail last week on allegations that he threatened his neighbour, Shelly Patrick.

Police say the incident occurred on April 30, 2018 at Independence Street, La Grange, where the two persons reside.

Unrepresented, Bijulisingh, a poultry farmer, however denied the accusation when the charge was read to him by Magistrate Rochelle Liverpool at the Wales Magistrate’s Court.

The farmer confirmed that he was previously charged, but was found not guilty of the offence. He will make his next court appearance when the matter continues on July 5, 2018.

Belated…

C

…Security reaction to water-bandits rime’s always been around – including violent crime. But in the first decade of this millennium, it took a whole new dimension with the entry of armed criminal gangs. Mass killings became routine. The denouement came in early 2008, when the Lusignan Massacre took 13 lives; the Bartica Massacre took 15. But Guyanese demanded action to stop Guyanese lives from being snuffed out by criminal gangs which had absolutely no regard for human lives. Within months, the PPP govtdirected Joint Forces had tracked down the killer gang through the jungles and into the coast and executed all its members. The swift response obviously sent such a salutary message to wannabe gang-killer miscreants that none have raised their heads since.

So what’s going to be the response to the “piracy” massacre of 16 fishermen last week?? When this PNC-led Government slid into office in 2015, “piracy” had been a persistent problem on the Corentyne Coast. Unlike the pirates of old, like Captain Morgan -- who’ve been romanticised through the ages for robbing the bullionloaded Spanish Galleons on behalf of his country -- these Guyanese “pirates” can be better described as “waterbandits”. They’re lowlife bottom feeders who prey on poor fishermen grubbing for a living. Their families depend on them, as they take grave risks to bring in their catch from the wild Atlantic at nights.

Generally, the water-bandits brandish cutlasses as they intercept fishing boats laden with catch at the mouth of the Corentyne River. It might not be widely known, but Suriname owns the River all the way to our bank – to where the water reaches at low tide, all the way to 61 Village. That’s right…when you swim out beyond that mark at 63 Beach, you’re in Suriname!! Anyhow all over the Corentyne, fisher folks were at risk from these water-bandits.

The PNC coalition Government – ensconced into office on the backs of the Khemraj Ramjattan AFC, with votes from Berbice, including those from the fearful fishermen – appointed him as Minister of Public Security. Being from 43 Village, he assured the Corentyne fisher folks he’d eliminate the problem. In June 2015 – only a month after being in office -- he went down to Berbice with a phalanx of Policemen and informed the Upper Corentyne Chamber that the most effective solution would be to give the fishermen guns to protect themselves.

He claimed patrols by ship or helicopters would be too expensive to upkeep in what he called a “Wild West” situation in the fishing grounds. Like the cowboys of yore, the fishermen had to be armed.

Well, we understand Ramjattan’s finally decided to visit the Corentyne.

Where are the guns that could’ve prevented the massacre?? Blood might be on Ramjattan’s hands. …top Judicial appointments Asked what he’s doing about making permanent appointments to the two top Judicial positions – the Chancellor and the Chief Justice – PNC Leader and President of Guyana, David Granger, said, “The ball’s in Jagdeo’s court”!! Imagine that!! Clearly, Granger doesn’t accept that, being President of Guyana, that role trumps being the Leader of the PNC. Because to treat the top judicial appointments as a “game” of tennis -- wherein one just lob balls to get the advantage over the opponent -- is to miss the central point of being president: to do the right thing for Guyana, NOT the PNC! And what’s the “right thing” for Guyana, rather than crass gamesmanship?? Suggest Judicial nominees to the Leader of the Opposition, who’s not prima facie objectionable.

Honestly, after packing every possible state position with old (and we mean ooollllddd!!) army buddies, how can Granger think another ex-officer – who imbibed his personal teachings on Burnham’s supremacy doctrine in the army – can be acceptable as Chancellor??

But then it’s all a game, isn’t it? Politrics!! …amends??

Granger’s bigging up of Indian contribution had to’ve been as PNC leader – with one eye on 2020. If he was being President of Guyana, he would’ve offered some hope of employment for the workers at Highbury -- fired with Rose Hall’s closure.

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

News

9

monDAY, may 7, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Jagdeo slams Granger for lack of policies to support growth – accuses him of peddling more platitudes and rhetoric

N

ot only has Guyana’s economic growth rate for the last financial year been poor, it has proved to be extremely disappointing, as the economy has been in a bad state especially over the past three years ever since the coalition took over Government from the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic(PPP/C).

This point was underscored by Opposition Leader and PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo, who recently criticised the David Granger-led Government for a lack of policies to support growth, both at the national and regional levels.

Citing the recent statements made by the President about the need to attract investment here, Jagdeo, a trained economist, stated that “if there is no vision, then there won’t be any growth”.

The former Head of State said Granger continued to “walk in the clouds”, especially given the statement he made in reference to urging people to be innovative and to get out of the mind-set of mining and producing raw materials only when there is clearly no sound policies to help nurture and support this ‘so-called’ vision.

Jagdeo was referring to statements made by the President at the recent Linden Exhibition & Trade

Development Bank loan of US$900 million) which he described as ‘shocking and cause for worry’.

Borrowing

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Fair.

Instead of presenting a thought-out approach that could result in greater progress for Lindeners, Jagdeo observed that the President instead went to the event with more platitudes.

He said the 2.1 per cent dismal growth rate gave a clear picture of how incompetent the current Government was at managing the financial and economic affairs of the country.

Jagdeo said the economic growth figure was low by all standards, and was in no way lending to the growth and development that were required in the country.

He also reminded that the Government had to revise the growth projection three times, and that called into question its presentations

to Parliament regarding the economy.

“So now that it is low, all of the ratios they spoke to us about in the last budget in November would have to be recalibrated. And so the size of our fiscal deficit would climb, our balance of payments in relation to [Gross Domestic Production] GDP will climb et cetera … rather than the Minister of Finance (Winston Jordan) seriously addressing the issues to say what policy-wise can I do to stimulate the economy, he then makes excuses,” he added.

The PPP General Secretary has also taken note of the Government’s intention to collectively borrow approximately $220 billion (the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) bond of $30 billion and the Islamic

According to the Opposition Leader, “This failed approach to national economic management was tried in the past. It led to a bankrupt country and resulted in devastating consequences for our people. I am sure everyone would recall that the external debt was over 900 per cent of GDP in 1992, which was reduced to 36 per cent of GDP in 2015.”

He said the PPP had predicted that this Government would go this route, since “the massive growth in the size of the national budgets, primarily on consumption, could not be financed by the hefty increase in taxation, so this hopelessly-misguided [A Partnership for National Unity] APNU Government had to resort to large-scale borrowing.”

With Guyana’s growth rate regressing, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) recently stepped up and compiled a report detailing several recommendations to put the country on a path to greater economic growth.

The PSC’s “Action plan for the sustainable development of Guyana” report was handed over to Jagdeo and the Government.

President David Granger

An Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)funded quarterly Labour Force Survey done during the period July to September 2017 has revealed that the unemployment rate for persons aged 15 and above was 12 per cent. In addition, the situation for women was found to be substantially worse than that for men.

The survey was done on a total population of 550,831 persons aged 15 years and

above, with some 72.2 per cent living in urban areas.

Given these figures, only 271,068 persons comprised the total employed population during the time of the quarterly survey – 166,873 males and 104,195 females.

Urban workers totalled 188,774, while their rural counterparts numbered 82,294.

Close to 7000 sugar workers were fired by Government last year.

10

monDAY, may 7, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

news

11

monDAY, may 7, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Jagdeo describes piracy attacks as acts of “terrorism” – calls on both Govts to work together to address horrific scourge

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo addresses scores of Guyanese in Suriname over the weekend

O

pposition Leader and People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo and Member of Parliament Anil Nandlall on Sunday in Paramaribo, Suriname met with hundreds of Guyanese, including the families of those who perished at the hands of pirates recently.

Also in attendance were several survivors of the ordeals.

The families and the survivors explained in great detail the horrors that they have endured at the hands of the criminals and expressed great fear that these atrocities would be repeated unless the perpetrators were arrested and brought to justice.

The Leader of the

Opposition expressed condolences on behalf of the PPP to relatives of those who perished, and expressed the Party’s solidarity with all those affected by the tragedy.

He described the attacks as acts of terrorism, and called upon the Governments of Guyana and Suriname to work collaboratively and swiftly in addressing these horrific incidents fully and comprehensively.

He urged that the full force of the law be used to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The former President emphasised that these were exceptionally criminal acts which required an exceptional response from the Government of Guyana and not the lukewarm, run-of-

the-mill approach thus far adopted.

The Opposition Leader also committed that the PPP would do all that it could, both in and out of Parliament, to assist, including working with the Government to bring reprieve to this situation.

Former Attorney General Nandlall, who spoke at the meeting as well, also condemned the horrendous attacks, and pointed out that these were appropriate cases for Government to use “special prosecutors” to prosecute those charged in an effort to secure convictions.

Another public meeting with a different set of affected persons is scheduled to take place today at another location in Suriname.

GLDA donates plants to Kuru Kururu church

Pastor Gladston Bagot (right) receiving the plants from Dr Dwight Waldron

A

team of environmentalists on Sunday visited the Assembly of God Church in Kuru Kururu, on the LindenSoesdyke Highway, where several plants were donated to members in observance of World Earth Day 2018.

Receiving the significant donation was Pastor Gladston Bagot from National Tuberculosis Programme Manager, Dr Jeetendra Mohanlall and Guyana Livestock Development Agency (GLDA) Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Dwight Waldron.

Dr Mohanlall explained that there were many benefits of plants which undoubtedly help to achieve

the objectives of a healthy lifestyle. He encouraged the church to nurture and make use of the plants.

The donation comes as a follow-up activity since Drs Mohanlall and Waldron as well as other doctors from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation conducted a health outreach at the institution where scores of persons benefited from dental services among others.

The team’s mission is to spread health awareness across Guyana.

However, Dr Mohanlall told Guyana Times that the initiative of donating the plants, which started four years ago, was something which was done annually.

He added that the team targeted the church as he believes doing so will have an impact on the small village on the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.

Another section of the fishermen’s relatives at the meeting on Sunday

12 news Region 6 RDC lashes out at Govt for Palmyra monument readiness T monDAY, may 7, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

he current state of the site for the Indian Arrival Monument at Palmyra is being considered an embarrassment to not only East Indians but all Guyanese. This is the view of Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) Vice Chairman Dennis DeRoop.

The site was a topic of discussion at the Region Six Regional Democratic Council (RDC) meeting on Thursday last.

DeRoop posited that the Government has little recognition of immigrants to Guyana. In referring to the site at Palmyra where the base for the monument crumbled while still under construction, the Vice Chairman said he was personally embarrassed at

The structure before it crumbled

what has transpired. As such, he referred to the fact that the Indian Government found it necessary to commit itself to providing the funds for the project since it seemed that the funds the Guyana Government had

made available were all it was willing to put into the project although the project fell through after paying the contractor.

The project was initially estimated at $97 million.

“To me that is a true re-

flection of how much this government has recognised the immigrants to this country… A contract of $97 million and almost $80 million was paid …and I can’t see $8 million there and that is the reason why the Ministry of Public Infrastructure cannot find another contractor to go and complete the work,” the Vice Chairman said.

Regional Councillor Zamal Hussain related that it seemed as though the Guyana Government was doing nothing to ensure it got back the money already paid.

“What is so shocking is that not that the Indian Government will be doing the project now, the whole issue here is what will be done to recuperate the funds that were paid out to the contractor and the Government is telling taxpayers that it is the PPP [People’s Progressive Party] that should be blamed for the design. Every single thing in this country has a [Commission of Inquiry] CoI or it is being rejected. Why is there not an investigation into the project?” Hussain asked.

On April 26, 2017, the Indian Arrival Monument base at Palmyra crumbled two days before a three-ton $35 million bronze monument could have been erected on it.

The $97 million construction was unveiled

by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and Indian High Commissioner to Guyana Venkatachalam

The present state of the monument site

Mahalingham in March last year. The bronze monument, which was built in India, arrived in Guyana in May 2016 and was expected to be in place in time for Arrival Day 2017.

The six-foot statue depicts six bronze figures – three men, two women and a child – illustrating Indians in their everyday life.

Last month, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson led a team, which included two other Government Ministers and a representative of the High Commissioner of India, to the location.

Minister Patterson told the media that a soil test showed that the 17-ton statue was too heavy to lay on the swamp-land. The area was formerly used as a cane field while Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman said the coalition Government inherited a design from the former PPP/ Civic Administration and work commenced based on that plan. He added that

the mistake was to assume that that design would have worked.

However, DeRoop believes that Minister Patterson was very bold in his actions.

“I am surprised that some of our Ministers accompanied the Indian High Commission officials there.

They don’t have no pride to see what a mess they have made here and to go with the Indians and to say that the Government of India will now complete this project. If I was Minister Patterson, I would have buried my head in the sand there. He has no pride and then going and speak with the press; he should have been hiding from the press,” DeRoop told the RDC. He also criticised Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton, who had given a commitment that the project would have been completed in time for May 5, this year. (Andrew Carmichael)

Region 3 residents await proper garbage disposal system

A

lthough residents of Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) have called on the regional administration to implement a workable garbage system, they are of the belief that their calls have fallen on deaf ears.

The calls were made in light of the large generation of waste specifically at the Vreed-en-Hoop stelling area which houses almost 50 businesses and the ferry stelling.

Commuters would from time to time improperly dispose of their waste as they board the boats at the stelling.

Additionally, vendors who use the sides of the roadway to market their produce would leave the remnants stacked alongside the pavements.

Guyana Times was told that persons residing in the communities have indicated that there has been no response from the regional administration on addressing the issue.

“For months now we have been calling on the [Regional Democratic Council] RDC to fix this problem. It affects

The entrance to the Vreed-en-Hoop Ferry Stelling

us, because the garbage that you see at the side of the road is being dumped into the trenches and it remaining there,” a resident stated.

Residents related that at the end of the day when everyone has travelled back to their respective communities, they are the ones who remain in the toxic environment surrounded by trenches that are overflowing with garbage.

One resident related that it was as a result of the dumping of garbage, the village would experience flooding during the rainy season since the drainage system

would become clogged, making it difficult for water to recede in a timely manner.

“We have to clean it ourselves, because if not then, you would get flood and now is the rain season and people have to go to work and school,” said another.

In most cases, the work of the residents is inadequate to the amount of waste being disposed of in an unsightly manner.

As such, the residents of Vreed-en-Hoop are renewing their calls for the authorities to take action against persons who improperly dispose of garbage.

news

13

monDAY, may 7, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

SDGs

Commonwealth SG touts importance of gender equality

– heralds success of 2018 women’s forum

Commonwealth Secretary General, Baroness Patricia Scotland

W

ith gender equality being one of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted in 2015 by the United Nations, how a country facilitates equal opportunities for its women is a major indicator of development.

Speaking during a press conference on Friday, Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness Patricia

Scotland alluded to this very subject. She noted the importance of making gender equality a reality.

“If we are to succeed, then empowering our women and giving our women proper opportunities to make a contribution in all fields -- whether it’s political, business, cultural, civil society -- it’s going to be very important, and our women’s

forum was very successful.”

The 2018 Commonwealth Women’s Forum had addressed the theme of “An empowered future for women and girls”. It was intended to reflect on some of the global challenges still faced by women, as part of a wider commitment to “leave no one behind” in the Commonwealth journey to achieving gender equality by 2030.

When it comes to providing these women with innovative options to choose from, Scotland spoke of specific initiatives that the Commonwealth Secretariat aimed to support and facilitate personal development of.

“There’s an agreement we made with the Global Innovation Fund to create a Commonwealth Innovation Fund of £25 million; that new innovators who may have great ideas can make an application to the Commonwealth Innovation Fund and have their innovations supported,” Scotland

Federal Management Security officer killed in early-morning accident

A

security officer attached to the Federal M a n a g e m e n t Security system was on Sunday morning killed when the car in which he was travelling ended up in a trench at Land of Canaan, East Bank Demerara, after the driver lost control.

Dead is 47-year-old Garfield McPherson. The accident occurred at sometime around 06:20h.

Based on reports received, the driver, a 28-year-

old resident of Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara, was heading to Georgetown, and in the vicinity of Land of Canaan, he reportedly swerved to avoid a collision with another vehicle, but instead lost control of the vehicle he was driving and drove into a trench.

This driver, along with McPherson and another passenger, Diana Mc Garrel, 28, of Bachelor’s Adventure, East Coast Demerara, was pulled from the vehicle and

rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where McPherson was pronounced on arrival.

Mc Garrel and the driver were up to late Sunday evening receiving medical attention, and the Police have begun to investigate the matter. In a press statement earlier in the day, the Police stated that Mc Garrel was killed instead of McPherson, and as such, the Force apologises for this mistake.

A scene from the Women’s Business Expo

had said.

Recently, over 60 women with small businesses were afforded the opportunity to display their products and services. Under the slogan “Girl Power”, the third annual Women in Business (WIB) Expo opened at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown last month.

The event was a collaborative effort between the Sonia Noel Foundation for Creative Arts (SNFCA) and the Women’s Association for Sustainable Development.

In addition to the expo, there was a health, business and technology forum; a ‘charting your course’ and ‘Inspire You’ events, an evening with Sherry Dixon, a

tea party and fashion show, book signing, and a leadership conference.

For the more than 60 women exhibiting their products and services, the WIB has served as a launching pad as they build new bridges and collaborate with each other to further expand their reach.

The entire idea of the two-day exhibition is to empower women to further develop themselves, and not depend on a male counterpart for sustenance.

At the opening ceremony, Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes had urged women to stand up, speak out, and get more involved in the workings of so-

ciety. She had used the opportunity to urge women to take up more positions in society, since they offer a different perspective on every situation.

“Let your voices be heard! We must let our voices be heard. Do not leave the dialogue to a few usual suspects, who want to drown out the opportunities we have been given, and who don’t want to focus on and take those opportunities on how we prepare to get there. It is against that background that I ask each one of you to use your voices to speak up! Speak out and be an agent of change,” she had said.

14 News

monDAY, may 7, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Taxi driver unlawfully E Division Headquarters modern arrested by City Police facility now 80% complete

Photo which shows the car parked within the demarcated boundaries

O

fficers attached to the Georgetown City Constabulary have been accused of unlawfully assaulting a taxi driver on Thursday along Water Street, as he was awaiting a customer outside National Hardware.

Guyana Times was told that Surendra Mohabir parked his vehicle outside of the building located on Water Street, Georgetown, and was standing outside of the car.

Shortly after, he was approached by three Police officers attached to the City Constabulary, who accused him of obstructing the flow of traffic.

Upon questioning the accusations, the man was handcuffed, harassed and walked to the City Constabulary Outpost located on Regent Street.

An eyewitness at the scene, who spoke to this publication, revealed that Mohabir was not guilty of the accusations, since his vehicle, bearing registration plate HB 3474, was parked within the demarcated lines.

At that time, it was also noted that there was no traffic buildup in the area which could have caused a disturbance in traffic.

The matter was brought to the attention of the management of the hardware store.

The owner of the hardware store, Edward Boyer, stated, “They harass the people so much that I think that people coming from out of town will be afraid to come to Georgetown to shop. This has got to stop. It is harassment at its highest.

“The City Council needs to talk to the City Police. This is not a criminal offence.

Do not handcuff people [and] scramble them.

This is despicable. What happened here today (Thursday), we need to stop this sort of thing. We live in a democracy and you can’t do it this way,” he added.

“I think it’s time we complain [to] the Mayor and City Council. They need to teach the City Police not to do this!” he related.

A customer who operates a bus was also harassed by the City Police for the same offence, although his vehicle was parked in the demarcated limits and away from the roadway. However, it was unclear whether he was arrested.

Mohabir was ordered to pay $5000 in bail, and is expected to appear at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on May 11.

The newly constructed E Division (Linden-Kwakwani) Headquarters’

T

he newly constructed ‘E’ Division (Linden- Kwakwani) Headquarters modern facility, situated at Mackenzie, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) is now 80 percent complete, with work expected to wrap up

by June month-end.

Presently, the electrical installation is being done on the building, which is being reconstructed inside the compound of the Mackenzie Police Station.

Work commenced last December after the previous building was demolished to facilitate the reconstruction of a more

modern Policing facility, equipped with all modern amenities.

This was made possible through an $80 million loan from the Government of Guyana, through the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB).

Divisional Commander Anthony Vanderhyden said while the project was expected to take up to 5 months to be completed, this time has been extended to another month.

“We have an extension of June month-end, according to the consultant”, Vanderhyden stated. The larger, two-storeyed facili-

ty measures approximately 135ft by 45ft.

The modern facility, when completed, is expected to bring about an ease in the state of affairs at the Station, since the previous facility was reportedly inadequately spaced and cramped.

As a result, various departments could not be established due to the lack of space at the Police Station.

This issue is expected to be solved when the new building comes on stream.

Presently, the Police department is operating out of makeshift offices within its compound.

GWI launches 16th anniversary promotion in time for Guyana Carnival

A

s the Guyana Water Inc (GWI) celebrates its 16th anniversary, the utility company has launched a special promotion to coincide with the Guyana Carnival which is billed for May 18 to May 27.

During the promotion, which runs from May 7 to May 23, 30 customers who pay their utility bills will be rewarded with tickets to the various concerts and events that will be held during the Guyana Carnival season.

GWI Commercial Relations Officer Andrea

Members of GWI and the Guyana Carnival Committee

Khan was elated about the collaboration with the Guyana Carnival Committee, especially as the company celebrated 16 years.

She further stated that GWI has so far made significant improvements to its system this year. “It’s definitely a year to remember, which will see GWI improving its services even more to its valued customers as well as the firsts such as the firsttime access to potable water in many communities across the country,” Khan related.

Meanwhile, GWI

Managing Director, Dr Richard Van West-Charles noted that this was the first time that the utility company was collaborating with Hits and Jams Entertainment.

“It’s an opportunity for us to put things right and encourage people to pay what you owe and we’re giving back also as people pay us,” he said.

The promotion drawings will be held prior to the events and will encompass every region of Guyana where domestic customers will benefit.

15

monDAY, may 7, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

What could be done to curb piracy in Guyana?

Frederick Minty “Well, I don’t know much about working at sea, but I would hope in light of what’s happening that there are more water patrols. I think all water vessels should be registered and recorded when going out to sea. That way, if they do not return, it will be known by the authorities and unregistered vessels can be easily identified and charged. There should be something like a toll station for boats or like a radio base.”

Ian Campbell “Pirating in my estimation is one of the oldest means of stealing, and mankind is a greedy animal and once you are not contented then greed and stealing is inevitable. To reduce the cases of piracy, Government can improve coastal protection and also implement more severe disciplinary measures that would help curtail the malpractice. Piracy will only be curtailed partially, but never eradicated. Such an intention is a fleeting illusion.”

James Austin (Corentyne) “The fishermen need to provide their own security;

they have to know what is needed to protect themselves out there. Well, if the Government is refusing to give them guns, then they have to come together and protect one another. The thing is that the fishermen are the pirates, so they have to know what to do. One of the things I know that they should do is not be afraid to give the Police information … but they just get this mind-set that fishing is the only thing they can do and if they talk, someone will kill them out there, but until they take responsibility, they will continue to be attacked.”

Leslyn Thompson “We need our Coast Guards to be more vigilant, and to widen their reach in terms of covering of protecting our waterways.”

Suzan Q (Corentyne) “I heard the Regional Chairman calling for guns to be issued to these fishermen; then I am doing a business and I should have a gun because during last year I was robbed.

I think just like how they have the Police patrolling the road, then they should have boats on the water and with satellite monitoring, even at night someone can see when two boats are together and if one speed away, then the patrol can go after them. For piracy, if anyone is found guilty should be life imprisonment.

Keisha Thorman “I think that our fishermen need to be more ready to protect themselves; they should be armed. It is not safe and as such, those measures need to be taken.”

Kaveta Sahadeo “I personally think that fishermen should be equipped with operational radio and other communication devices so that they can call for assistance as soon as they encounter any difficulties such as piracy. There should also be an increase in marine officers to look out for any suspected pirates in the areas where fishermen are operating.”

Lester Glenn “I think there is need for more policing in the waters and better communication with the closest communication point. Or depending on the cargo, armed men on deck.”

Caesar McAlmont “Take those that got caught and make them an example. A strong message needs to be sent to pirates. “

GGDMA still to be consulted on tolls for Region 7

A

lthough Government recently announced plans to implement a system to collect tolls from vehicle owners to help fund maintenance of several roads in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) is still to be consulted on this proposal.

Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson had made the announcement following a visit to the Region in mid-April. He said that the strategy would aid in the maintenance and sustainability of infrastructure.

“Soon we will be finished upgrading the roads. I would hope that we can work along with the Region on this,” he said after inspecting the hinterland projects, the Department of Public Information (DPI) reported.

Patterson visited the Region to assess the two main crossings which link both Mahdia and Bartica.

During the visit, it was observed that work needed to be done on the Amaila Falls road which is heavily traversed, especially by trucks from the gold company. Patterson said the tolls collected would go directly to the Region for the proper maintenance and care of the roads.

GGDMA President Terrence Adams told Guyana Times on Sunday that a committee set up to deal with issues pertaining to infrastructure at the or-

GGDMA President Terrence Adams

ganisation has not received any formal information about these plans. The last meeting that committee had with Government was close to two months ago.

“Usually, they would come to us, but they haven’t.

Most times, they don’t want to increase anything and we oppose it, so they would usually consult. Nobody hasn’t really mentioned anything to me, and I have my office in Bartica and they haven’t told me that I’ll have to pay an increase in toll,” Adams explained.

Giving his personal take on the matter, the miner said he would support the tolls initiative once the authorities take responsibility for regular maintenance and upkeep. “For me, I had always wanted the GGMC (Guyana Geology and Mines Commission) to adopt that particular part of that road

because that road miners are using it to go into the interior. I don’t have a problem…If you have to pay a small toll, but that is a personal opinion.”

Asked whether the idea of having tolls for the area would be a problem for any of the road users, Adams said, “I don’t think people would mind, because it will be cheaper for them…because the cost they will have to pay to repair their vehicles that will help a lot. I don’t think people will want to oppose it.”

Region Seven Chairman Gordon Bradford has thrown his support behind the idea, stating that the Regional Democratic Council would welcome the idea of tolls on the roads. He explained that in previous years the strategy was used in the Region and aided in the preservation of several roads leading to Mahdia.

Bartica Mayor Gifford Marshall, who is also in support of the idea, said that the Ministry would have to be the implementing body.

However, he noted that it was something that his municipality has discussed before. The Town Council will play a major part in crafting the new plan along with Government.

But Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has already stated his objection to this plan, and noted that the productive sector was already under pressure from the harmful policies imposed by

Government since it took office in May 2015. Ordinary Guyanese, he added, are also facing increasing hardship, with more taxes.

“These things harm our people; it is as if specific groups of people are being targeted…as if the Government has no care for the struggles of our people and it harms us economically,” he said.

Region Seven is home to hundreds of persons involved in mining, and the mining sector is already under strain from adverse polices implemented since May 2015.

Only recently, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan had approved the payment of 18 different categories of tolls to the Linden Town Council (LTC) for the use of its roads.

In response to that, Jagdeo said people should not be surprised if traffic into the mining town decreased and the cost of transportation increased, along with the cost of living.

In light of these added expenses to the general public, he noted that these outcomes were inevitable and would only result in the continued hardship of the ordinary man to sustain a livelihood.

Jagdeo remarked that this was yet another of the many counterproductive policies of the Government which only resulted in additional suffering for the Guyanese public.

16 news

monDAY, may 7, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyanese man dies Mon Repos celebrates Arrival Day after car crashes R at JFK Airport

A

Guyanese who worked as a security officer at the John F Kennedy International Airport, New York was in the wee hours of Sunday killed after the car he was driving flipped several times and then burst into flames.

The dead man has been identified as Dayanand Shamsundar, also called “Nan”, formerly of Newtown, Enmore, East Coast Demerara.

The contractor attached to the Allied Universal Security Service was reportedly driving near the intersection of Lefferts Boulevard and Pan-Am Road in Queens when his SUV careened through a fence and

Dead: Dayanand Shamsundar

ing vehicle and taken to the Jamaica Hospital Medical Centre where he subsequently died.

It is not clear what caused the man to lose control of the vehicle, but it was

esidents of Mon Repos on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) came out all decked out in their colourful outfits on Sunday as the community partook in its annual activities to observe the 180th anniversary of the arrival of East Indians in Guyana.

The event, which commenced in the afternoon hours, saw a huge turnout as many embraced the festivities which emerged from days of planning.

Throughout the day, the crowd was entertained by performers who contributed their dances and renditions against a backdrop of splendid spring colours.

Residents of Mon Repos at the event

The mangled car driven by Shamsundar after the accident

into several parked cars in JFK International Airport’s parking lot.

The New York Post reported that the vehicle flipped as it struck the other cars and ultimately landed in another section where it went up in flames.

Shamsundar was reportedly pulled from the burn-

suggested that he might have suffered cardiac arrest while driving to work. A post-mortem will ascertain the cause of death.

Shamsundar reportedly left Guyana several years ago with his family to take up residency in the United States of America.

Dancers entertaining the audience

Many took the opportunity to try a variety of delicacies and most importantly, the prevalent ‘seven curry’, which is known to all Guyanese.

Along with the presentations from residents of Mon Repos and its neigh-

bouring communities, the keynote speech of the event was given by executive member of the Indian Arrival Committee, Neaz Subhan, who noted that the residents of the various communities must be commended for their efforts in

uplifting the traditions and celebrating the arrival of Indians to Guyana.

“This is very important, for it aids in the efforts to ensure that the culture remains embedded. It was in pockets that our foreparents gathered in their

quest to do so. It is important in helping to generate or renew interest especially among the younger generation and for them to be exposed and to learn,” he related.

Meanwhile, other communities across Guyana were also engaged in their celebrations on Saturday.

Residents of Essequibo took the opportunity to traverse the streets in commemoration of this decades-old milestone while displaying the food, clothing, and tools that were brought to Guyana by their ancestors from India.

Arrival Day, which is celebrated on May 5, marks the coming of the indentured immigrants to the then British Guiana – East Indians, Portuguese and Chinese, who must be given credit for helping to shape Guyana into a diverse land of many cultures.

Piracy massacre

Improved warning systems, information sharing needed – Ramjattan …reminded of 2015 promise to arm fishermen; another suspect nabbed

The suspect after his arrest on Sunday morning (De Ware Tijd Photo)

A

s authorities in Guyana and Suriname continue the probe into uncovering the horrific spate of recent piracy attacks for which 12 men are still missing and three bodies have been recovered, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan has observed the need for improved Coast Guard warning systems and information- sharing.

He made these comments on Sunday in Suriname, where he is leading a team of senior Police officials who are meeting their counterparts with the aim of addressing the recent deadly attacks that occurred some 40 miles off the Surinamese coast in that country’s waters.

“[We have] to ensure we have a collaborative effort on solving this crime, and emphasise the lessons to be learnt here for application for what might happen in future.

Maybe we can help in Coast Guard warning systems; information-sharing must be even better,” Ramjattan highlighted.

At the same time, he stressed that law enforcement authorities must pay more attention to when threats are made to fellow fishermen, so that they would have a better gauge in determining who is involved in such crimes.

Based on information gathered during investigations and the accounts of sur-

vivors and relatives of the fishermen, it is believed that the perpetrators are Guyanese.

“It’s basically an enterprise of murder of the most gruesome circumstances,” the minister declared.

Ramjattan further stated he is so far satisfied with the Surinamese investigations.

He even noted that authorities in the Dutch-speaking country are pushing for DNA testing to ensure that all bodies are properly identified.

The minister revealed that Police in Guyana have sought extensions of time to further detain the three suspects held in Corentyne. The latest information revealed has brought the number of persons in custody to 27, following law enforcement officers in Suriname arresting yet another suspect in the Commewijne on Sunday morning.

Reports suggest the suspect has since confessed to his involvement in the attack, claiming he was on a mission, and that his action was based on orders he had received.

His arrest was possible with the assistance of some

fishermen who had known him to be part of a piracy gang. However, several other persons were arrested and are being interrogated in connection with the attacks on the Guyanese fishermen.

To date, seven Guyanese who now reside in Suriname have been arrested along with the three others arrested on the Corentyne. Crime Chief Paul Williams has explained that news coming out of Suriname suggest that the attacks are gang-related.

Two Saturdays ago, four boats were attacked by a group of men, who brutalized the occupants then threw them overboard. Two days later, another boat was attacked, and the captain was reportedly killed. The crew is still missing. Those identified as missing are among those Guyanese who are missing from last weekend’s attack. They include: Ramesh Sanchara; Ganesh Persaud, Vickey Persaud, Glenroy Jones, Bharat Heralall, Ralph Anthony and Tiaknauth Mohabir. The bodies that were recovered are yet to be positively identified. So far,

there have been five known survivors.

Ramjattan was accompanied by Deputy Crime Chief Michael Kingston and Deputy Commander, ‘B’ Division, Wayne De Harte. They are expected to leave Suriname on Tuesday.

Guns for fishermen?

Minister Ramjattan had, in June 2015, expressed support for granting guns and ammunition to fishermen who were willing to combat piracy.

He had explained that those fisherman would have had to lodge their firearms at Police stations upon their return from sea.

To date, it is not clear if this policy was ever implemented. Guyana Times tried several times to contact the

minister on Sunday evening for word on this commitment, but those attempts were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, Region Six (East-Berbice-Corentyne) Chairman David Armogan has called on Government to provide more assistance to family members of the affected fishermen. He also expressed conviction that had the fishermen been armed, the result could have been different.

“We need to look back at that policy if we want fishing to continue to grow. We need to enable these fishermen to have radios first of all, and then we also need to give them firearms,” Armogan declared late last week. (Shemuel Fanfair)

Around the world

17

monDAY, may 7, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Pakistan Interior Minister Iran’s Rouhani warns Trump of “historic regret” over nuclear deal shot at election rally

I

P

akistani Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal has been wounded by an unidentified gunman at an election rally in central Punjab province, according to officials.

Iqbal, 59, was shot in the shoulder on Sunday after addressing the crowd gathered in his native Narowal district, Federal Minister Talal Chaudhry told local TV station Geo News.

Jam Sajjad Hussain, a rescue services spokesperson, told Al Jazeera that Iqbal was getting into his vehicle to leave the rally when a “young man” fired at him “several times”.

“One bullet hit him in the shoulder. He was transferred to the local district hospital, where he is being treated,” he added.

Provincial authorities and Iqbal’s son said the Minister had not suf-

Ahsan Iqbal, 59, was made Interior Minister last year [File: Caren Firouz/Reuters]

fered any life-threatening wounds.

“He is conscious and out of danger,” Ahmad Iqbal told Geo News.

The shooter has been arrested and is being interrogated by the Police. Ahsan Iqbal is being treated at DHQ hospital Narowal.

Television footage showed a prone Iqbal being wheeled into the

Government-run hospital following the attack. He was later moved to Lahore for further treatment.

Chaudhry said that at least one man had been arrested at the scene of the attack, adding that investigations were ongoing.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi’s office issued a statement condemning the attack. (Excerpt

from Al Jazeera)

At least 45 dead in attack on Nigerian village, Police say

A

t least 45 people died in an attack on a village in northern Nigeria, a Police official told Reuters on Sunday, the latest in a string of incidents underscoring insecurity in parts of the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari won Nigeria’s 2015 elections partly on promises to bring security to Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation, but has struggled to fulfil those pledges. He is now seeking a second term in February 2019.

His critics and opponents question his track record tackling the multitude of conflicts that plague Nigeria, from Boko Haram and a thriving Islamic State West Africa insurgency in the northeast, to clashes between farmers and herders in the hinterlands that have left hundreds dead.

It was not immediately clear why the Gwaska village in the northern state of Kaduna was attacked on Saturday.

“Yesterday we recovered 12 corpses and today we re-

trieved 33,” Austin Iwar, Kaduna’s Commissioner of Police, told Reuters by phone.

The village, in the BirninGwari area of Kaduna, lies near an area known for banditry, where thick forests provide remote hideouts from law enforcement.

Those groups of bandits have for years frustrated authorities’ attempts to apprehend them, and in some cases have amassed thousands of stolen cattle and fought off security agent task forces sent to deal with them. (Reuters)

ranian President Hassan Rouhani has warned that the United States will face “historic regret” if President Donald Trump scraps the nuclear agreement with Tehran.

Rouhani’s comments come as the US President decides whether to pull out of the deal by a May 12 deadline.

Trump has strongly criticised the agreement, calling it “insane”.

The 2015 deal – between Iran, the US, China, Russia, Germany, France and the United Kingdom – lifted sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear programme.

France, the UK and Germany have been trying to persuade the US President that the current deal is the

best way to stop Iran developing nuclear weapons.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson was scheduled to travel to Washington on Sunday to discuss the matter with White House officials.

The United Nations also warned Trump not to walk

away from the deal.

However, he has threatened that the US will “withdraw” from the deal on May 12 – the end of a 120day review period – unless Congress and European powers fixed its “disastrous flaws”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Persad-Bissessar: Take allegations about criminal lawyers to cops

A

mid revelations by acting Attorney General Stuart Young that criminal lawyers were helping gangsters run criminal empires, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is calling on him to provide his evidence to the Police rather than staining and defaming the character of Attorneys.

“If he has personal knowledge and if he is a criminal attorney and has knowledge as a criminal attorney of what is happening then take it to the Police,” PersadBissessar said Saturday.

During a contribution in Parliament on Friday, Young told the House: “As a member of the bar now for

“Good to be back,” says Windrush migrant after being kept out of UK for 9 years

A

Jamaican woman has finally been allowed to return to the United Kingdom after what was supposed to be a short visit to the island nearly a decade ago.

Gretel Gocan, who is part of the Windrush generation, said she left the UK to attend a funeral in Jamaica in 2009 and was not allowed back.

Like others from the so-called Windrush generation – named after the ship that brought over the first group of West Indian immigrants – Gretel went the UK with a Jamaican passport containing a stamp giving her indefinite leave to remain.

According to UK reports, her document was stolen in a 2006 burglary and she was told she would not be given a UK passport and would need a visa on her new Jamaican passport.

When she tried to board a flight back to the UK in 2009, she was told she did not have the correct documentation, sparking years of heartbreak for her and her family.

She was eventually granted a passport after the scandal broke recently and the emotional pensioner said it was “good to be back” as family members greeted her at Gatwick Airport last Thursday.

“Seeing her come through arrivals, it was incredibly emotional. It’s been

President Hassan Rouhani (right) says Iran is ready to “confront” any decision made by President Donald Trump

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar

20 years, it saddened me to learn that there are currently persons at the criminal bar who practice in our criminal courts as Attorneys-atlaw who have been facilitating gang members in gang activity and who have been participating in illegal communications with their clients and actually assisting their clients, it appears, in

running their criminal empires.”

Young also called on law enforcement officers to investigate matter expeditiously.

But when asked to produce evidence by Barataria/San Juan Member of Parliament Dr Fuad Khan, Young said the Police were already aware of this and should be investigating it On Saturday, however, Persad-Bissessar expressed scepticism over Young’s claim, saying, “I think it is another kind of statement that contradicts the democratic and judicial process and the role of lawyers in our country.

“If you know an attorney is doing that, why don’t you lock him up? Why is it you keep bad-mouthing people and you doing nothing?

If you know that someone is doing something wrong, then report them to the Police. To make these blanket statements is not right.

It is not the first time Young did this, making these blanket statements and defaming people’s character.” (Excerpt

from Trinidad Guardian)

India Police arrest main suspect after teen burned alive Gretel Gocan is greeted by her great granddaughter Kia Jones (left) son and grandson, Shelumiel

an emotional rollercoaster these past few weeks. We’ve been trying for nine years to sort this out. I’m incredibly happy there’s been a result.

“For such a long amount of time it felt like it was block, block, block when it came to getting her back,” said Gocan’s daughter-in-law.

Cases like Gocan’s came to the fore a few weeks and was dubbed the Windrush scandal”, where many were threatened and targeted by immigration laws intended to create a “hostile

environment” for illegal immigrants, which included deportation and lost access to healthcare and benefits.

The hard-line policy was pioneered after the centre-right Conservative Party retook power in 2010 by then Interior Minister Theresa May. May, now Prime Minister, apologised for “for any anxiety that has been caused” and her government eventually agreed to formalise following the controversy that erupted over the socalled undocumented UK immigrants.

(Jamaica Observer)

I

ndian Police say they have arrested the main suspect in an alleged gang-rape and murder of a teenage girl.

Dhanu Bhuiyan and his accomplices are accused of burning the 16-year-old alive on Friday in the state of Jharkhand.

She was killed after her parents complained to village elders that she had been raped, according to Police.

The elders had told two accused rapists to do 100 sit-ups and pay a 50,000 rupee (US$750) fine as punish-

ment.

The men were allegedly so enraged by the penalty that they beat the girl’s parents then set her on fire.

“The two accused thrashed the parents and rushed to the house where they set the girl ablaze with the help of their accomplices,” Ashok Ram, the officer in charge of the local police station, told the AFP news agency.

Police say they have arrested 15 of the 18 people they want to investigate in connection with the incidents. (Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, May 7, 2018

ARCHIE

Check your motives before you indulge in some(March 21thing that isn’t right for you.

April 19) Following someone else’s lead will result in disappointment.

Be true to yourself and your beliefs.

ARIES

Stay focused on what’s imTAURUS portant, and don’t make un(April 20- necessary changes. Maintain May 20) balance and integrity, regardless of what others decide to do. Patience will lead to greater prosperity.

dilbert

Persuasive tactics will work GEMINI wonders for you initially, but (May 21before you talk big and bold June 20) about what you have to offer, consider the consequences if you cannot deliver. Better to underestimate than oversell.

Make a unique contribution to stand out and be rec(June 21- ognized for your ingenuity.

July 22) Explore new possibilities and meet new friends by participating in functions that interest you.

CANCER

Peanuts

A change may excite you, LEO but consider your choices and (July 23- the possible outcomes before Aug. 22) you make a move. Choose stability over adventure. Don’t worry about someone else’s wishes.

Calvin and Hobbes

Trust your instincts.

VIRGO Participate in something to (Aug. 23learn from the experience.

Sept. 22) Know your limitations and set boundaries that make you feel comfortable. Share with people you trust.

The comments offered LIBRA (Sept. 23- by children, friends or a Oct. 23) loved one will be sincere.

Don’t take offense when you should be using criticism to make yourself better.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

TODAY’S WORD — UPSTAGES (UPSTAGES: up-STAY-jez: Distracts attention from another person.)

Can you find 44 or more words in UPSTAGES? The list will be published tomorrow.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

SATURDAY’S WORD — LATENCY acne ante talc tale teal elan enact neat neatly

cane cant cantle cent clan clay clean cleat cyan

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

add balance and keep you from veering off course. Romance will be nurturing and will lower your stress levels.

Personal change should SAGITTARIUS be your goal. Consider your (Nov. 23objective and whom you are Dec. 21) dealing with. Share personal information only with people you can trust not to reveal it.

Average mark 30 words Time limit 40 minutes

lace lacy lance lancet lane late laten lean lent

Drive, determination and SCORPIO doing things your way will (Oct. 24bring results. Partnerships will Nov. 22)

solution AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

An opportunity to expand a service, skill or talent you have into something that can offer added income looks promising. Clear a workspace at home and turn your dream into a reality.

Emotions will be difficult to hide. Don’t overreact or be indulgent to avoid having a necessary discussion.

Love and understanding will bring far better results.

Don’t make unnecessary changes that will alter your look or give someone the wrong impression regarding what you want. If you are open, you’ll be offered good advice.

monDAY, may 7, 2018

19

Rahul aces chase to end Kings XI's losing run G

iven the short dimensions of the Holkar Stadium, the plausibility of dew impacting spinners in the second innings and the favourable chasing trend this IPL season, Kings XI Punjab had to win two key phases in the game: the toss and their bowling performance. And they did both. R Ashwin chose to chase and the bowlers, led by Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Andrew Tye, stifled Rajasthan Royals to 152, a score well below par in Indore.

Although Royals put in a spirited bowling performance of their own, KL Rahul expertly switched gears to finish with a match-winning 84 off 54 balls, his highest IPL score, to push Kings XI to third on the points table. Royals, with five losses in their last six games, retained their spot at the bottom of the points table.

As an opener in the IPL, Buttler has an average of 30.80 and a strike-rate of 167. At any other position, he has an average of 22.10 and a strike-rate of 134.40. He also scored a 26ball 67 against Delhi Daredevils opening in the previous game.

Also, Royals' average Powerplay score prior to this game, fifth in the IPL. Therefore, it wasn't surprising that Royals promoted Buttler to open.

SCOREBOARD

Kings XI Punjab celebrate after taking a wicket

Royals were desperate for a strong start, but D'Arcy Short and Ajinkya Rahane hadn't quite found their fluency this season. In the first over, Short skewed a heave to mid-on. In the fourth over, Rahane topedged a cut to short third man.

At 35 for 2, with a fragile middle order, Royals had lost a crucial Powerplay battle against Kings XI's spinners.

Sanju Samson, batting at No. 4, and Buttler put Royals back on course with a 49-run partnership. Then, Royals lost another key duel: Samson was bounced out, Stokes was dismissed via a magnificent relay catch by Mayank Agarwal

and Manoj Tiwary, Buttler nicked off to Mujeeb and, one ball later, Jofra Archer was bowled, beaten between bat and pad.

Overall, Royals managed just 65 runs in nine overs after the Powerplay and entered the death overs - the final five of an innings - at 110 for 6. The lower order was scrapping for a score they could defend, which meant they lost another phase in the game.

Prior to this game, Royals scored an average of 10.10 runs an over in the back end, equating to an average of 50.5 runs. At Holkar Stadium, Royals needed plenty more than that,

but they were bare of batting resources in that period.

The lower order added just 42 runs in the final five overs and they finished with 152, which was below the average score at this ground of 188 in T20Is and the IPL since 2015.

Royals lost all three phases in their innings, which meant the game was all but done.

At this stadium, bowling is the harder art and Royals took on the challenge gamely. First, Archer generated speeds in excess of 145 kph in a riveting battle against Chris Gayle.

Archer was hit for two fours before Gayle nailed an uppish cut to point. Mayank Agarwal,

Rajasthan Royals Innings (20 overs maximum) JC Buttler † c †Rahul b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 51 DJM Short c Tye b Ashwin 2 AM Rahane (c) c Gayle b Patel 5 SV Samson c Nair b Tye 28 BA Stokes c Tiwary b Mujeeb Ur Rahman 12 RA Tripathi c Ashwin b Tye 11 JC Archer b Mujee b Ur Rahman 0 K Gowtham c Stoinis b Rajpoot 5 S Gopal run out (†Rahul) 24 JD Unadkat not out 6 Extras (b 4, lb 3, w 1) 8 TOTAL (20 Overs, RR: 7.6) 152-9 Did not bat: Anureet Singh Fall of wickets: 1-3 (DJM Short, 0.3 ov), 2-35 (AM Rahane, 3.4 ov), 3-84 (SV Samson, 10.5 ov), 4-100 (BA Stokes, 12.5 ov), 5-106 (JC Buttler, 14.1 ov), 6-106 (JC Archer, 14.2 ov), 7-114 (K Gowtham, 15.2 ov), 8-129 (RA Tripathi, 17.1 ov), 9-152 (S Gopal, 19.6 ov)

Karun Nair and Axar Patel were also dismissed in a disciplined spell from Royals in the first 13 overs.

At the other end, Rahul was forced to re-evaluate his tempo.

At one point, he was 48 off 43

BOWLING: R Ashwin (4-0-30-1), AS Rajpoot (3-0-37-1), Mujeeb Ur Rahman (4-0-27-3), AR Patel (4-0-21-1), AJ Tye (4-0-24-2), MP Stoinis (1-0-6-0), Kings XI Punjab Innings (target: 153 runs from 20 overs) KL Rahul † not out 84 CH Gayle c Samson b Archer 8 MA Agarwal c Tripathi b Stokes 2 KK Nair b Anureet Singh 31 AR Patel c Short b Gowtham 4 MP Stoinis not out 23 Extras (w 3) 3 TOTAL (18.4 Overs, RR: 8.3) 155-4 Yet to bat: MK Tiwary, R Ashwin (c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AS Rajpoot, AJ Tye Fall of wickets: 1-23 (CH Gayle, 3.2 ov), 2-29 (MA Agarwal, 4.4 ov), 3-79 (KK Nair, 10.5 ov), 4-87 (AR Patel, 12.5 ov) BOWLING: K Gowtham (3-0-181), JC Archer (3.4-0-43-1), BA Stokes (3-0-22-1), JD Unadkat (4-0-26-0), S Gopal (3-0-260), Anureet Singh (2-0-20-1)

balls, with Kings XI requiring 43 off 24 balls. Seamlessly, his stroke-making fluidity changed: he hit five boundaries in his next 11 balls to end Kings XI's two-game losing run, with eight balls to spare. (ESPNcricinfo)

Hardik delivers twice at the death to keep Mumbai alive

A

t the end of a match that fluctuated this way and that and back again, Mumbai Indians are still alive in the IPL. They lost their way after a blazing start with the bat, but managed to set a target just north of 180. At various points during their chase, Kolkata Knight Riders threatened to run away with it, but they kept losing wickets at critical intervals, often to well-directed short balls.

One man made a vital difference on both fronts. Hardik Pandya made an unbeaten 35 off 20 and followed up with four overs full of smart changes of pace to finish with 2 for 19, including an 18th over that went for only six runs. It left Knight Riders needing 37 off 12, and even Dinesh Karthik, who came into this game with a strike rate of 212.50 in chases this season, couldn't pull it off.

At the start, this looked like a 200 versus 200 kind of game.

Sent in, Mumbai got off to a flier, with Suryakumar Yadav and Evin Lewis tucking into a KKR attack that was without its best pace options - Shivam Mavi's finger joined the team's long list of injured fast-bowler body parts this season, allowing Prasidh Krishna to make his IPL debut and whose spinners didn't have too much to work with on a flat Wankhede deck.

By the time Andre Russell, himself underbowled this season

Hardik Pandya holds the Purple Cap with 14 wickets

to preserve his hamstrings, removed Lewis with a slower ball, Mumbai had moved to 91 in 9.2 overs.

Visibly fatigued through the last third of his innings - the physio came onto the field to attend to him - Suryakumar, who had smacked 47 off his first 28 balls, only scored 12 off his last 11 balls at the crease.

Meanwhile, Sunil Narine, who only bowled one over in the first half of Mumbai's innings, had come back into the attack, and dismissed Rohit Sharma, caught at deep midwicket. He had presumably been held back for his match-up against Rohit,

who had scored only 117 off 109 T20 balls against Narine before this game, with six dismissals.

Mumbai's middle order continued to struggle, and they could have ended with significantly less than their 181 if not for Hardik. He combined some innovative shots - including a scoop over his shoulder and a one-handed six over long-off with a couple of fortunate edged boundaries in the last over bowled by the debutant Krishna rather than Russell or Mitchell Johnson - to give Mumbai what proved a vital run cushion.

With Sunil Narine feeling

a little unwell after Mumbai's innings, KKR sent Shubman Gill out to open alongside Chris Lynn. Narine usually invites a barrage of short balls when he opens in T20, and even in his absence Mitchell McClenaghan kept bowling short, as did Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. In all, of the 37 balls Mumbai bowled in the Powerplay (including one wide), 29 were short or short of good length.

It seemed risky, at times, especially when McClenaghan banged it in with fine leg inside the circle, but it worked. Lynn swatted one straight to that fielder, and Robin Uthappa should have been out for 4 when he mistimed another short ball, off Hardik, to mid-on, only for Mayank Markande to put down a sitter.

After a Powerplay full of pace, Mumbai turned to spin and the medium-paced cutters of Ben Cutting. Uthappa and Nitish Rana went after the slower bowlers, and scored 64 from overs 7 to 12.

Uthappa went after Cutting in particular, moving around his crease and hitting him pretty much where he pleased to pick up four successive fours in the 12th over. With Cutting not getting to bat, and keeping out a specialist bowler in Mustafizur Rahman, he seemed set to end up as the selection that cost Mumbai the game.

Uthappa's fireworks,

however, weren't making as much of an impact on the scoreboard as they could have, since Rana was slowing down at the other end. Rana is an

impressive young batsman with a sensational square cut, and he had hit two fours with that shot as well as an uppercut six to race to 22 off 11 balls.(ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Mumbai Indians Innings (20 overs maximum) SA Yadav c †Karthik b Russell 59 E Lewis c Lynn b Russell 43 RG Sharma (c) c sub (RK Singh) b Narine 11 HH Pandya not out 35 KH Pandya c Shubman Gill b Narine 14 JP Duminy not out 13 Extras (lb 1, w 5) 6 TOTAL (20 Overs, RR: 9.05) 181-4 Did not bat: Ishan Kishan †, BCJ Cutting, MJ McClenaghan, M Markande, JJ Bumrah Fall of wickets: 1-91 (E Lewis, 9.2 ov), 2-106 (RG Sharma, 11.4 ov), 3-127 (SA Yadav, 14.2 ov), 4-151 (KH Pandya, 16.5 ov) BOWLING: N Rana (2-0-17-0), M Prasidh Krishna (4-0-39-0), MG Johnson (3-0-25-0), SP Narine (4-0-35-2), PP Chawla (3-0-35-0), Kuldeep Yadav (20-17-0), AD Russell (2-0-12-2) Kolkata Knight Riders Innings (target: 182 runs from 20 overs) CA Lynn c Bumrah b McClenaghan 17

Shubman Gill c KH Pandya b HH Pandya 7 RV Uthappa c Cutting b Markande 54 N Rana c Bumrah b HH Pandya 31 KD Karthik (c) † not out 36 AD Russell c KH Pandya b Bumrah 9 SP Narine c Sharma b KH Pandya 5 PP Chawla not out 0 Extras (b 4, lb 4, w 1) 9 TOTAL (20 Overs, RR: 8.4) 168-6 Yet to bat: MG Johnson, M Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav Fall of wickets: 1-28 (CA Lynn, 2.5 ov), 2-28 (Shubman Gill, 3.1 ov), 3-112 (RV Uthappa, 12.3 ov), 4-115 (N Rana, 13.3 ov), 5-131 (AD Russell, 16.4 ov), 6-163 (SP Narine, 19.2 ov) BOWLING: MJ McClenaghan (4-0-30-1), JJ Bumrah (4-034-1), HH Pandya (4-0-19-2), KH Pandya (3-0-29-1), M Markande (3-0-25-1), BCJ Cutting (2-0-23-0)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, may 7, 2018

Man City lift Premier League trophy after draw with Huddersfield M

anchester City lifted the Premier League trophy amid jubilant scenes despite Huddersfield gaining a vital point in their battle to avoid relegation with a goalless draw at Etihad Stadium.

Walking out to a guard of honour as thousands of blue and white flags fluttered in the stands, Pep Guardiola's side had been expected to collect a routine three points, as the champions faced the 16th-placed Terriers with celebration the tone of the day.

But City could not produce the style of football fans have become so accustomed to this season, with Kevin de Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus going closest in a game of few clear-cut chances.

And while Huddersfield players will have watched the trophy presentation knowing their place in the top flight is not yet secure, they produced a resolute performance worthy of a Premier League future.

As the final whistle sounded, City fans proved they cared little for the result on the day as they spilled on to the pitch on a special occasion for east Manchester, delaying the trophy presentation.

It was not quite a perfect performance for City

on the podium either as the trophy was knocked off the plinth while players jumped on Yaya Toure, the veteran Ivory Coast midfielder who will depart the club at the end of the season.

But no harm was done as captain Vincent Kompany lifted the silverware aloft his third Premier League title as a Man City player.

The Terriers had done their best to spoil the party and contained City in the first half, although De Bruyne almost opened the scoring for the hosts on two occasions.

Alex Pritchard came agonisingly close for the visitors, unleashing a drive from 25 yards out that an outstretched Ederson could only push around the post.

There were few obvious chances for either side after the break as Huddersfield became ever more defensive in pursuit of a precious point, Jesus heading one of City's better opportunities high over the bar as the clock approached 80 minutes.

And as the nerves started to get to the Huddersfield fans, City continued to press, and almost snatched the win three minutes into stoppage time when Nicolas Otamendi's curled effort edged just wide of the post.

While City's coronation

Manchester City Captain Vincent Kompany lifts the Premier League trophy

may be the main talking point of the day, their record-breaking run to the title deserves another mention.

More records could yet fall in their final two matches of the season, against Brighton and Southampton, with only one more goal needed to equal the highest tally in a Premier League season - the 103 scored by Chelsea in the 2009-10 campaign.

For City fans, it is a title-winning campaign that will no doubt go down in club folklore, turning a 15-point deficit to champions Chelsea last season into a runaway success just a matter of months later.

With only two league defeats to his side's name, Guardiola has quickly learned key lessons from his first season in charge in English football.

If he undoubtedly has

vast spending money at his disposal, his talent as a coach has shone through this season as he continually brought out the very best in his players while rejuvenating the old guard at the same time.

Raheem Sterling has perhaps benefited most from the Spaniard's tutelage, having enjoyed the most consistent season of his career with 18 goals to date.

Sunday was an uncharac-

teristically quiet day for the 23-year-old - he was one of only three home players who failed to have a shot.

Guardiola now faces his next big challenge bring back-to-back Premier League titles to the Etihad while making City successful on the European stage.

Pull that off and he will be on the way to going down as one of the greatest managers the Premier League has seen. (BBCSport)

Arsenal thump Burnley in Wegner’s last home game

A

rsene Wenger said his farewell to Emirates Stadium with a thrashing of Burnley to leave in the same way it all began for him as Arsenal manager 7,876 days ago - with victory.

In a season of discontent and occasional open rebellion, this was a day for a united front to celebrate the career of the manager who has brought so much success and style to Arsenal since starting his reign with that 2-0 win at Ewood Park in 1996.

And in a campaign of disappointment that will now be viewed as the end of an era, the last hope of success snuffed out by the Europa League semi-final loss to Atletico Madrid, Wenger at least got the home send-off he so deserved - with a stylish win over Burnley.

The Clarets, who have a wonderful story of their own this season, were outclassed as Arsenal ran out 5-0 winners to give Wenger his 475th win in 826 Premier League games.

This was not the time to celebrate a single victory but to reflect on all the triumphs and pleasure Wenger has brought to Arsenal in almost 22 years, and everyone played their parts perfectly on and off the pitch. The differences of this season were set aside as the good and the great of Wenger's reign came into

sharp focus.

The Emirates was draped in tributes to Wenger, with giant "Merci Arsene" banners outside the ground, while 60,000 red T-shirts bearing the same slogan and the date were placed on every seat.

Wenger, who is clearly departing with reluctance with 12 months still to run on his contract, made his entrance through a guard of honour formed by Arsenal and Burnley players, along with their manager Sean Dyche.

As he made his way towards the centre circle, huge applause reverberated around the arena that can stand as a monument to his footballing wisdom and financial expertise in the transfer market.

There have been fallow years and subsequent fallouts with some Arsenal fans, but this was an occasion viewed through the prism of three Premier League titles - including two league and FA Cup doubles in 1997-98 and 2001-2002 - and "The Invincibles" season of those 38 unbeaten games in 2003-04.

Wenger's seven FA Cup wins have also earned him

Arsene Wenger gives his red club tie to one young fan after his post-match presentation

a place in history and many of the figures central to his achievements were here to pay their own tributes.

Martin Keown and the great France midfield man

Emmanuel Petit were backstage, and perhaps the most poignant sight of all was the return of David Dein to the Arsenal directors' box for the first in 11 years.

It was a reminder of a once-unstoppable partnership between Wenger and the man who brought him to Arsenal - and perhaps things have never been quite the same since vice-chairman Dein left the board citing "irreconcilable differences" in 2007.

And looking on from behind dark glasses was Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke, who, along with Arsenal's board, must replace the man Dein says is "an impossible act

to follow".

In contrast to so much here this season, this was a day of complete satisfaction on and off the field, the sea of 60,000 red T-shirts watching a comprehensive attacking display that was Wenger's trademark from those glory days.

And it was the potent strikeforce Wenger will leave behind that set up this easy win, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette establishing the platform by half-time.

Sead Kolasinac, Alex Iwobi and a second from Lacazette wrapped up sixth place - but this was Wenger's day.

His name swept around

the stands inside the first two minutes, swiftly followed by that of Patrick Vieira, who has been linked as a potential successor.

The other great names who brought glory under Wenger were also recognised in song, from Thierry Henry and Keown to Dennis Bergkamp.

Burnley's fans sang their own tribute to Wenger, but were also quick with a cutting comeback to the adulation by singing "You Wanted Him Sacked" at Arsenal's fans.

Other former Arsenal players, such as Jens Lehmann, Robert Pires, Kanu and Sol Campbell, were there to join in the emotional post-match scenes. (BBCSport)

CLASSIFIED ADS

monDAY, may 7, 2018 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

ACCOMMODATIONS COSMETOLOGY – FULL COURSE $100,000. TECHNICIAN $40,000.

Aracari Salon & Spa, WBD 2643312, 600-3927 Conferences & Retreats – Full Service: Hotel, Catering & Facilities.

Aracari Resort WBD – 264-2946 Alex Wayne Weddings & Anniversaries: Rental or Full Service: Banquet Hall & Catering. Aracari Resort WBD – 264-2946 Alex Wayne Aracari Hotel, WBD (Near Harbor Bridge) – All Modern Amenities – Rates from $25. Phone 264-2946-8

EDUCATION Electronic Course Beginning 1st June. Practical’s. Learn to repair all major electronic appliances including flat screen TVs. Earn extra cash in our spare time. Boost your income. Abdul Electronics. Tel: 2250391/226-6551

FOR SALE Husky puppies for sale at West Bank Demkerara. Call: 611-2378 for enquires.

LAND for sale COMMERCIAL LAND FOR SALE. 17,990 SQ FT. NO 7 BELAIR, WOODLAND VILLAGE DISTRICT, BERBICE. $35 MILLION. CONTACT# 592 639-4644.

One transport land for sale 100x50ft at Hope Town village West Coast Berbice Price 1.2M Contact # 680-1009

property for sale Lot 15 Public Road, #2 Village, West Coast Berbice. 49ft x 10,314ft Length. $18M Non Neg. Contact: 648-7109 or 686-4818 2-flat bedroom wodden building situated at 154 “B” Shell Road Kitty.

2 Lots east of Kitty Market. Tel: 6979418/6702653/2269548

services Shalom Enterprise. Lot 2 Croal Street, Stabroek. Obtain an international driving permit covering 131 countries. Tel: 227-3835, 644-2052.

Join us on Facebook

spirituality & ASTROLOGY Spiritual healing: remove blockages, voodoo, excurse, black magic, spell, business, upliftment, pregnancy, love & marriage problems, clearance, etc. Contact: 694-9569 or 683-5228 Sri Guru Raghavendra Astrology.

Master: VEERA BHADRA. Specialized in: PALM, FACE, PATRA READING & HOROSCOPE BOOK OPENING. An expert in clearing negativity in life by using ancient prayer methods.

Gives complete solution to your problems like: love, children, finance, job, marriage, finance and education. Meet him once to get guidance. All religions are welcome.

Private and confidential. Tel: 6959805 & 652-6427.

taxi services GR Taxi, 24 hours. Phone: 225-7878, 219-5000 or 227-2100

TO LET RGUST Apartments. Single or double occupants. Ideal for students/couples. 1st St., UG Road, Turkeyen, ECD. Call Tele: 222-6075, 222-6076

tRAINING Private Customs Brokerage Training Course From 7th May 2018 Register now Space limited Call 694-8322/ 690-4225

VACANCIES Vacancy exists within the Enmore/ Hope NDC for an OVERSEER. Send application to the above N.D.C. on or before 3rd May, 2018. Requirements: FIVE(5) CXC SUBJECTS, INCLUDING MATHEMATICS AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE, MUST BE COMPUTER LITERATE. AGE: TWENTY-FIVE (25) YEARS AND ABOVE. Application can be sent to: CHAIRMAN, ENMORE/ HOPE NDC, Beezie, Enmore, East Coast Demerara.

sports

21

Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” - Linden

Silver Bullets dethrone Dave & Celina’s

S

ilver Bullets claimed the crown of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Linden zone when they dethroned Dave and Celina’s All-Stars 3-1 on Saturday at the Mackenzie Bus Park Tarmac.

The champions now have a second title under their belt, dedicating Saturday’s triumph to the late Tony Gilbert, a stalwart of the team, who passed away weeks earlier.

After a goalless first half, Omar Williams gave Silver Bullets the lead in the 27th minute. The celebrations continued 10 minutes later as Clifton Halley made it a two-possession game with a shot from the centre of the field.

Not willing to go down without a fight, the champions pulled one back in the

The Mackenzie Bus Park Tarmac witnessed an intriguing evening of futsal

41st minute when Stephon Tappin delivered from the left side a powerful strike which settled into the roof of the net.

However, Silver Bullets would not be denied, as Halley nailed the proverbial coffin in the 44th minute

to complete his double.

Silver Bullets carted off the top prize of $400,000 and the championship trophy.

They also earned a spot in the National Championship.

On the other hand, the dethroned champion

walked away with $150,000 and the runners-up trophy.

Meanwhile, Swag Entertainment crushed High Rollers 4-0 in the earlier third place playoff.

Shane Luckie bagged a double in the 28th and 38th minutes, while Steve

Franklin tallied a ‘Guinness Goal’ in the 49th minute.

With the win, Swag Entertainment pocketed $100,000 and a trophy, while the loser had to settle for $75,000 and the fourth place trophy.

EBFA hosts Coaches Awareness Workshop T

he East Bank Football Association (EBFA), in its continuing effort to ensure that coaches attached to its affiliated clubs are conscious of their roles and responsibilities, yesterday hosted a Coaches Awareness Workshop that was facilitated by the association’s Technical Advisor, Winston Benons.

The activity was held at the Timehri Community Centre and saw participation from eight (8) of the association’s 12 clubs. President of the Guyana Football Coaches Association (GFCA), Sampson Gilbert, delivered feature remarks and declared open the workshop.

Gilbert, who was recently elevated to the presidency of the association, sought to enlighten the participants on the direction the EBFA will be going, so as to heighten coaches’ training and eventual certification.

The National U-17 Coach noted that the history of the game would show that Guyana has always been competitive, and has always pro-

duced good players: “But the one thing we could say from a national perspective is that the level of coaches’ education has caused us to realise where we w e r e , w h e r e we are,

a n d where we could be in a few years.”

He alluded to the fact that the thirteen Academy Training Centres (ATC) that have been established around Guyana are collectively an import-

ant pillar in local development, and coaches have an important role to play in the ATCs’ continued advancement; but they must subject themselves to be appropriately trained.

“In order for you to be a good teacher, you must be edu cated in how, what, where and when; and these academy training centres p r o vide t h e o p portunity f o r us as coache s to work and develo p not only the players, but ourselves. (They give) us the opportunity to work and be educated.”

The attendees were enlightened on their roles and responsibilities as teachers of the world’s most beau-

tiful game, and the importance of being positive role models to their charges.

Benons, commenting on the outcome of the workshop, informed that the objectives were achieved, in that the participants are more aware of what is expected of them on and off the field of play. He also shared that the programme is designed to prepare coaches for eventual certification at the GFF level.

Gilbert also took the opportunity to answer questions from the participants in relation to coaches’ certification, pointing out that the process includes individuals desirous of pursuing such a career showing consistent interest by attending the many ATCs that are held on a weekly basis around Guyana.

He said coaches also need to learn the art of communicating among themselves with the aim of sharing and learning from each other. Integrity and trust, he noted, are also important attributes every coach should possess.

Schultz, Mangru terrorise Essequibo in opener

D

emerara eased past Essequibo by 8 wickets to complete an easy win in round one of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Women’s Senior Inter-County 50 Overs tourney.

Rain threatened play at the Bourda Ground on Sunday, and officials were forced to start play a bit late due to the weather. The delay did little to dampen Demerara’s spirit, as they made light work of the Essequibo ladies in a one-sided affair.

Batting first, Essequibo had little answers to com-

bat the likes of MVP Keysia Schultz, who returned figures of 4-5; while veteran Mandy Mangru claimed 4-19 to rattle Essequibo, whose top scorer was Keisha Tucker with 06.

The chase was a breeze for Demerara, as openers Mangru a n d

Latoya Smith went to work on the bowling, taking the score to 31 before the first wicket fell.

Mangru hit a single four in her 17 before being run out; while Smith, who was trapped leg before wicket, departed for a boundary-less 15.

Although meagre, the knocks by the openers proved to be golden, as little was left for Loshauna Toussaint (00*) and Akaze Thompson (01*) to do; and along with the help of 7 extras, they took the team to 40-2 inside six overs.

The action continues this week.

MVP Keysia Schultz accepting her award from former Guyana women’s player Kavita Yadram at Bourda on Sunday

22 GSSF, NVR Security host successful Practical Shoot T

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monDAY, may 7, 2018

he Guyana Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF) and the NVR Security Services Inc. hosted a successful Open Practical Pistol Shoot last Saturday at the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF’s) Timehri Ranges.

Despite inclement weather, shooters suited up with their rain gear, extra shoes and cleats as they competed in (4) stages. The first stage was called “Services”; it required shooters to engage 2 paper targets, 1 Popper and 3 falling plates.

Stage 2, called “NVR,” consisted of 9 classic targets and 1 No-Shoot (NS) located just above the furthest target. Any hits on NS targets would attract a penalty of -10 points per hit.

The third stage, dubbed “Security”, was adjudged as the most fun stage, with a start position lying flat on one’s back with one hand on each side of a line demarcated on a make-shift bed, with the gun unloaded and placed on either table. The stage consisted of 7 classic paper targets and 2 poppers.

The final stage, named “Inc.”, was declared the most challenging but fun stage.

This stage saw shooters engaging 11 paper targets surrounded by three NS targets; shooting while on the

Ryan McKinnon accepting his first-place trophy following the Shoot

move, giving consideration to ideal shooting positions.

These stages required the shooter to engage as accurately as possible multiple targets that were set up in various scenarios, while

moving to various points and positions; and all the while striving to do so in the shortest possible time.

Points were deducted for any misses and hits on no shoot (penalty) targets.

Pool sharks star in Pool/Snooker 9-Ball Championships

In the end, it was a veteran’s sweep in the Production Division, as GSSF President Ryan McKinnon shot himself to first place with 365.0000 points. Second place was occupied by Michael Blake with 256.8107 points, and Andrew Phang was 3rd with 204.6491 points.

The Limited Division saw the top three spots being sealed by the likes of 1st place 353.3000 points -- Rajiv Latchana; 2nd place 312.8991 points -John Phang; 3rd place 276.0648 points -- Mohamed Qualander.

Following the match, President of the GSSF, McKinnon, delivered the Vote of Thanks, expressing thanks to the sponsors: Mr. Rajiv Latchana, Managing Director of NVR Security Services Inc., to Harold Hopkinson for participating, and for the kind loan of the props and targets for the match.

Also, Guyana Police Force’s (GPF’s) acting Commissioner David Ramnarine; the OC, TSU, and the ranks of the GPF Armoury and TSU were thanked. Additional thanks are extended to Brigadier Patrick West and the GDF for the use of their range facility at Timehri.

NSC striving to decentralise sport A s a part of its mandate, the National Sports Commission (NSC) is striving to decentralize sports in Guyana. In so doing, the NSC has introduced a number of training courses for sports that are not considered mainstream.

During the past week, an international level four coach conducted a level one archery course for local archers hailing from the hinterland regions.

Owing to the success of this course, Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, announced that the commission is seeking to introduce a new sport to Guyana, primarily targeting athletes from Regions One (BarimaWaini), Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), Eight (PotaroSiparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo).

“We’re hoping that before the conclusion of 2018 we can bring into Guyana someone who can do a level one training as it relates to kayaking,” Jones announced.

He explained that the inspiration for this sport came from the fact that students within the hinterland regions often use canoes as

Director of Sport, Christopher Jones

a means of moving to and from school. “The students, to get to school on a daily basis, you would see them on their canoes. Therefore, they are actually built for kayaking,” he explained.

It is the hope of the Sports Department to increase sport participation of students in the hinterland regions. “So we’re hoping to have such a person come to Guyana to conduct those trainings, so those athletes in those Regions: 1, 7, 8, 9, will have an opportunity, like those on the coastline, to participate in sport,” Jones said.

The decentralization programmes will provide equal opportunities for students from both hinterland and coastline to participate in sport.

Marquez wins Spanish Grand Prix to take championship lead

Marc Marquez now leads the overall standing after the Spanish Grand Prix Winners of the Grand Central Sports Bar and the Guyana Pool/Snooker Club 9-Ball Pool Championships

T

he Grand Central Sports Bar and the Guyana Pool/Snooker Club staged their 9-Ball Pool Championships on Saturday 5 May, 2018.

The tournament saw some 26 participants fighting for the top 4 spots and the right to bag the trophies up for grabs.

Coming out victorious

in the end were the likes of Jonathan Parboo, who got 4th place; Ryan Baksh, who got 3rd; Steven Persaud 2nd; and the winner, John, who carted off the first prize Trophy and the prize money.

This tournament showcased the skills of the 9 ball players Guyana has to offer, The organizers held this tournament to introduce to

Guyana a new standard of pool playing, which by the tournament was played with all the international rules and regulations.

Grand Central Sports Bar and the Guyana Pool and Snooker Club would like to thank all who came out to support this game, and would like to congratulate all respective winners.

S

pain's Marc Marquez won his home race to take the lead in the MotoGP championship after Britain's Cal Crutchlow crashed out from pole.

Marquez's title rivals Andrea Dovizioso, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa crashed in the same incident with eight laps left, after Crutchlow had gone out while in fourth place.

France's Johann Zarco

finished a distant second in Jerez to move into the same position in the standings.

Italian Andrea Iannone was third.

Defending champion Marquez, who started from fifth place on his Honda, has now won back-to-back races - the third and fourth grands prix of the season.

The four-time world champion leads the standings on 70 points, while

Zarco has 58. Dovizioso, who led going into the race, dropped to fifth on 46.

Seven-time world champion Valentino Rossi was fifth in a race during which he reached a career milestone by completing the circumference of the planet in race kilometres.

The Italian has covered 40,075km since his debut at the 1996 Malaysian Grand Prix.

guyanatimesgy.com

monDAY, may 7, 2018

23

YBG Regionals kick off to entertaining start

U

nder-19 Youth B a s k e t b a l l Champions, Marian Academy, kicked off this year’s season on a high note, after edging past Government Technical Institute (GTI) at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) on Saturday evening.

GTI proved to be tough opponents, maintaining a level score for most of the game. GTI’s Anton Fileen had a great night, hitting a succession of three-pointers; however, his efforts went in vain after Marian managed to slip past GTI, resulting in a 48-42 victory. Fileen

recorded the highest score of the game with 29 points, whilst Marian’s Timothy Thompson followed closely with 22 points.

Closing off the U-19 category for the night were The Bishops’ High School and President’s College.

President’s College eventually got the better of Bishops’ by recording a 32- 21 victory.

In the Under-14 category, the Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) Cluster played remarkably well, defeating Chase’s Academy 200. Meanwhile, the St. Rose’s Under-14 boys trounced their Bishops’ High School

counterparts 24-8.

On the female side, reigning champs St. Rose’s High showcased their dominance by overpowering the Tutorial High girls 27-5. Similar to their male counterparts, the Marian Academy girls had a successful night by thrashing School of the Nations 20-0.

The YBG Regionals will continue on May 11 at 15:00hrs with North Georgetown Secondary facing off against Brickdam Secondary in the Under-16 category. Later in the evening, Queen’s College will come up against the Tutorial High School.

The Bishops’ High School and President’s College in action

LGC looking to meet GFF to host Awards 50-tournament mark Ceremony by year end – Hussain T

he Wayne Forde-led Executive Committee of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will host its first Annual Awards Ceremony on May 11, to recognize the contributions of key stakeholders to the development of football in Guyana.

The event, which will be held at the Sleep-In International Hotel & Casino in Georgetown, will commence at 20:00hrs and will be preceded by a cocktail hour at 19:00hrs.

GFF President Wayne Forde had this to say on the purpose of the awards ceremony: “The purpose of the event is to return to the GFF’s annual calendar of activities an occasion to honour and recognize the outstanding works and achievements of our members, officials and players; and also to recognize other stakeholders, including our corporate partners, for their contribution.”

As part of the ceremony, mementos will be presented in various categories, including for players, coaches, match officials, clubs and the media. Recognition will also be given to key corporate partners.

L

Lusignan Golf Course

usignan Golf Club’s (LGC’s) President, Aleem Hussain, has said he’s pushing to hit the 50-tournament mark by the end of 2018; following a tremendous start to the New Year.

Due to the abnormal culture of playing more than 10 games within the first three or four month of the year, golfers have instead been treated to roughly 15 tournaments between January and May, including a few double- headers. Hussain told Guyana Times Sport recently that he was aiming to knock off some 50 tournaments by year end.

He said it was due to the overwhelming support from the fraternity, mainly the executives of the club, sponsors and the golfers have been coming out in large numbers to support every weekend event.

With big Opens like the Sanjay’s Classic, Trophy Stall Open, Ganesh Spare Parts Open, Beharry Automotive Open, Torginol Open, Muneshwers Open, and Grand Coastal Hotel Open among others already setting the stage and providing the local pros with playing time ahead of year-end’s Guyana Cup Open, Hussain said it was good to see the support the fraternity had been providing.

Looking at the outcome of things to date, Hussain said, there is need to provide a stronger base for his golfers, as they have not been treated to such over-

whelming competition and consistency in a long time. He further credited the ongoing works at the club as a reason behind the uprising.

When Hussain and his new executives took over back in November of 2017, he had outlined numerous plans for the club, some of which included more competitions, a more professional playing atmosphere, coaching clinics in and out of schools, and to turn the LGC into a 5-star country club were discussed.

So far, the LGC team has accomplished nearly all of its initial plans for 2018. The course, greens and fairways are daily being upgraded and properly manned; courses have commenced in schools as well as at the University of Guyana (UG), and free classes are being provided at the club by some of the best golfers in Guyana.

Regarding the infrastructural aspect of the club’s goal, the entire course’s draining system has been revamped, while the outfield has been buffed to international perfection. A 300-plus car parking lot has, moreover, been installed, and Husain has said the country club aspect should be finalised by this summer.

Going forward, Hussain added that he wants to increase the amount of Opens held to thus further expose the sport to Guyanese and fortify the strong bevy of golfers Guyana currently has in its fold. (Clifton Ross)

monDAY, may 7, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

YBG Regionals kick off to entertaining start Pg 23

The Bishops’ High School and President’s College in action

GSSF, NVR Security host successful Practical Shoot

Pg 22

Winners pose following the GSSF/NVR Security Practical Shoot

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Sport: sport@guyanatimesgy.com Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 SALES AND MARKETING - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.