Guyanatimes 8 december 2017

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Friday, December 8, 2017

Issue No. 3416

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Govt opened secret account to receive US$20M oil bonus

PPP/C condemns firing of P8 almost 4000 sugar workers – int’l financial services provider for sugar SPU selected

Page 9

…evidence shows bank account was set up in 2016 to facilitate deposit

3 cops from Bartica charged P8 …for allegedly stealing miner’s money

P11 CCJ overturns Guyana’s Appeal Court decision

…in GGMC refusing to renew miner’s permits

AFC must make ‘hard decisions’, supports firing of workers – Ramjattan

Police P7 unearth 125lbs ganja in Alberttown house

Page 5 Sugar workers and their families, including children, brave the rains as they protested outside Parliament Building on Thursday

Norway-Guyana deal still on the table – Harmon

Page 3

…US$14M to be released for alternative projects

Cane cutter killed by speeding car Page 2

Hanoman leaving GuySuCo CEO post “long overdue” – P2 GAWU …deems performance “miserable”

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friDAY, december 8, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Hanoman leaving GuySuCo CEO post “long overdue” – GAWU

…deems performance “miserable”

By Shemuel Fanfair

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he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has categorically spoken out against the tenure of outgoing Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Errol Hanoman whose upcoming departure was recently disclosed to State media by the Corporation’s Chairman, Professor Clive Thomas.

It was indicated that Hanoman will leave his post by the end of this year when his contract with the Corporation expires.

Professor Thomas was quoted as saying that the departure had nothing to do with the hundreds of workers recently receiving letters of redundancy.

However, the workers’ main representative body, GAWU, maintained that Hanoman should take responsibility for much of the

Outgoing GuySuCo CEO Errol Hanoman

industry’s prevailing issues.

“His performance was miserable, he should have gone a long time, it’s overdue,” GAWU President Seepaul Narine briefly expressed in an invited comment on Thursday.

Hanoman resigned from the GuySuCo CEO position under the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government

in 2010, after just one year serving in the post. It was reported that on that occasion, he cited personal reasons for departure. Nevertheless, industry veteran and GAWU President Komal Chand shared similar sentiments as Narine, telling Guyana Times on Thursday that the outgoing CEO has led the industry on a downward path, whereby production of sugar had slumped to the lowest level in over 20 years.

“He inherited a production of 231,000 tonnes of sugar that was planted [under] the past regime in 2014 and that sugar was reaped in 2015; and since then, the industry has gone on a tail spin. He received $32 billion in two-and-a-half years and he could hardly produce 150,000 tonnes of sugar,” the GAWU President strongly expressed.

In 2015, production reached 200,000 tonnes but at the end of December last year, it was announced that 2016’s numbers (183,652

tonnes) was the lowest production since 1990 when 129,920 tonnes of sugar production was recorded. The 183,652 tonnes for 2016 was well below the set target of 242,000 tonnes, which was affected by El Niño earlier in that year.

Chand told this publication on Thursday that this reduction in production coupled with other factors, has caused the industry’s decline which has been long been described as operating under a cash-strapped status.

“He is answerable for the decline in production and for all the decisions that led to the alienation of the workers. He has deprived them of their benefits. He has demotivated the workforce and he has done a lot of wrongs that he put together,” Chand claimed.

The sugar industry veteran further highlighted the conflicts that have ensued between Special Purposes Unit (SPU) and GuySuCo over the firing of workers. Chand said Hanoman

GAWU President Komal Chand

should have never been allowed to return to his post after his past resignation.

“Hanoman is isolated and his exit has now become a reality. He shouldn’t have come back in the first place since he was sent away by the last Government in that post. It dawned on him that he’s isolated. Everybody who worked with him and now the Special Purposes Unit is now having serious conflict with him. He cannot account for his stewardship,” expressed the GAWU President.

Speaking on the steps Government should take to salvage the industry, Chand indicated that dismissed workers could be rehired so that they could properly provide for themselves and families.

“We hope that these workers will be quickly rehired because they are facing very difficult times [with

regards to] putting their children in school and to live. We hope that the thousands of workers who got their letters of dismissal would be quickly rehired so that there could be some satisfaction for them and their families,” urged Chand.

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

Harmon had said that closure of the Rose Hall Estate in East Canje, Berbice will occur sometime next year.

With regard to the Skeldon and Enmore Estates, he said the SPU will have to conduct evaluations, surveys and inventory assessments before any steps are taken to actually sell. However, the redundancy of workers was fast-tracked in the last few weeks.

Nearly 2000 Skeldon workers received redundancy letters and around 1500 Enmore workers were similarly let go. The Wales Estate was closed in December 2016 but in that case, the workers were certain of the impending closure since January of that year.

Cane cutter killed by speeding car …on Anna Catherina Public Road

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34-year-old cane cutter was killed just before midnight on Wednesday after he was struck by a speeding car on the Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara Public Road.

The dead man has been identified as Winston Domingo of Water Pump Street, Anna Catherina.

According to reports, the accident occurred sometime around 23:55h.

Guyana Times understands that the father of one had gone to the shop to make a purchase and was returning home when the accident occurred.

Domingo was on a bicycle proceeding West in the direction of motor car PVV 4420 along the southern driveway of the road, reportedly at a very fast rate.

It was reported that the front left side of the vehicle collided with the rear of the victim’s bicycle. As a result of the impact, the cyclist fell onto the car’s windshield then onto the roadway while the bicycle broke into two parts.

The victim was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital in an unconscious state and was pronounced

Dead: Winston Domingo

dead on arrival. His body is presently at the Ezekiel’s Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Domingo, who is originally from Aishalton, Rupununi, leaves to mourn his wife and three-year-old child.

Meanwhile, a breathalyser test was administered to the driver of the car involved in the accident but no alcohol was found in his breath.

Nevertheless, the 20-yearold driver of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo remains in custody and is expected to be charged.

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friDAY, december 8, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Friday, December 8 – 09:00h-10:30h and Saturday, December 9 – 10:00h-11:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

…US$14M to be released for alternative projects

Friday, December 8 – 08:05h-09:35h and Saturday, December 9 – 09:10h-10:40h.

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery to heavy showers can be expected throughout the day, with sunny intervals in the late afternoon. Thunderstorms are expected to return in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 24 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly to East North Easterly between 3.12 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 07:58h and 20:16h reaching maximum heights of 2.45 metres and 2.48 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 01:26h and 13:47h reaching minimum heights of 0.60 metre and 0.83 metre respectively.

wednesDAY, december 6, 2017

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7,2017

DAILY MILLIONS 02 06 21 24 25 LUCKY 3 2 0 7

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how the partnership between the two countries could continue to yield benefits. He noted that Guyana has already advanced work on all aspects of the joint concept notes, which include the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) and the European Union Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (EU-FLEGT).

By Samuel Sukhnandan

FERRY SCHEDULE

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Norway-Guyana deal still on the table – Harmon

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he innovative forest conservation for money Norway-Guyana deal is “well and alive”, but will be redirected to a number of different viable projects, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon told the National Assembly on Thursday while making his contributions to the 2018 National Budget debate.

Harmon announced that the Kingdom of Norway has agreed to release US$14 million for a Sustainable Land Development and Management Project. In addition to that, some US$17 million will be released for several Information and Communications Technology (ICT) projects, while funding for the Amerindian Fund and Amerindian Land Titling project is ongoing.

“Financial delivery on projects added between May 2015 and 2017 has improved to 35 per cent in just half term and this Government expects to reach more than 60 per cent delivery by the end of 2018,” Harmon told the National Assembly while providing an update on the facility. According to him, Norway has also extended the Guyana REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF) Trustee Account that ended in December 2016 to December 2021. He said 285 grants and 120 loans have been approved under the Micro and Small Enterprise Project as against the previous two-year figures.

The release of these funds forms part of the US$80 million, which was earmarked for the Amaila Falls Hydro Project. However, the Government has made its intention known that it does not wish to proceed with it.

Instead, the funds will now be channelled to a number of different ‘clean energy’ initiatives.

Harmon reminded that these considerations emanated from a December meeting in Paris, among delegations from Norway and Guyana and representatives from the

Hydropower

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). It was at that meeting that Guyana’s position was reiterated; that it cannot support the Amaila project.

He noted that this was mainly on account of a number of unresolved issues regarding the viability of the venture and concerns on the least cost of the project, which was started under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government.

The Government has said too that it did not intent to attract any debt.

When the new Government took office in 2015, it decided to review the feasibility of proceeding with the project with the intention of creating a Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) and a Renewable Energy Transition Roadmap, to add to the joint concept of the Guyana-Norway concept.

“Mr Speaker, the importance of the Norway Agreement to the advancement of Guyana’s green agenda cannot be overemphasised and as a result, I have, as recently as yesterday (December 6, 2017), sent a letter to the Honourable Minister of the Environment of the Kingdom of Norway, Mr Vidar Helgesen requesting his consideration for a meeting of Environment Ministers of Guyana and Norway,” he told the House.

The State Minister noted that the aim of the meeting was to further discuss

In addressing the issue of hydropower, Harmon said that it would form part of Guyana’s renewable energy mix which includes solar, wind, biomass, and bagasse.

He said the Government also remained committed to delivering close to 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025.

The Minister said based on the request from Norway, it was agreed that an independent assessment be conducted on the Amaila Falls Hydro Electricity Project by the firm Norconsult. The report of that assessment produced evidence that the configuration of the project was not fit.

“The evidence from the Norconsult Report indicates the reason why we need an energy mix. Amaila is no silver bullet. The focus is hydropower generation. Hence, the consideration of the options for hydropower and there are equally competitive alternative hydropower solutions.”

The Minister also stated that Norway would give support to the Guyana Power Light (GPL) for its efforts to improve energy efficiency, as this overall is a low-carbon initiative and could get GPL to qualify for monies from

the GRIF. The GRIF goes back to an agreement signed in November 2009, in which Norway agreed to provide Guyana with up to US$250 million by 2015, in performance-based payments for avoided deforestation in support of Guyana's Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

The Government has been pursuing a national energy policy and refining the Renewable Energy Transition Roadmap. “In the meantime, it makes sense to use our natural resource – natural gas, coming on stream than to flare it; natural gas that uses modern efficient plants emits 50-60 per cent less carbon into the atmosphere than other fossil fuels such as oil.

So, hydropower generation is alive and we are committed to delivering such solution to the nation,” Harmon added.

Since the agreement was signed, Guyana has earned US$190 million.

Some US$69.8 million had been transferred to the GRIF while US$80 million was transferred to the IDB for the Amaila project.

Norway had strongly supported the Amaila project, which was the flagship project of the previous PPP/C Administration’s LCDS and was envisioned to deliver a steady source of affordable, reliable, clean and renewable energy. The project was supposed to eliminate at least 92 per cent of Guyana’s energy-related greenhouse gas emissions and it was said that this would likely make Guyana the world’s number one user of renewable energy by 2017.

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friDAY, december 8, 2017

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

Bittersweet Christmas

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s the Budget 2018 debate continues in the National Assembly, the coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government will be hard pressed to defend its decision to send home thousands of sugar workers weeks before Christmas.

Thousands of workers attached to the Skeldon factory and the East Demerara Estate (EDE) located in Enmore, East Coast Demerara have been issued termination letters by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Not surprisingly the blame/unaware game has started.

On Tuesday, Minister of State Joseph Harmon quickly pointed out that Cabinet was not aware of the decision to send home workers, and, as such, was taken by surprise when the decision was reported in the media. Minutes later, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder said it would make no sense to keep those estates in operation, and indicated that he is all supportive of the move to dismiss the workers, adding that Cabinet was not surprised.

From these two most senior Government ministers’ responses, are Guyanese to believe that the APNU faction of Government is not aware of what the AFC section is doing? In colloquial language “left hand doesn’t know what right hand is doing?” Certainly, this smells of lack of communication and coordination within Cabinet.

Guyanese has one coalition Government, not two sides of Government; but, disappointingly, it seems as if the reality is that there are two factions.

However, as the Administration continues in confusion over who knew and who did not, thousands of workers have been left on the breadline.

Just a few weeks ago, workers hung on to hope after the Government announced that the closure of the Rose Hall and Enmore estates would be pushed to sometime in 2018, but all hope was shattered over the past week when the workers received their redundancy letters.

As a matter of fact, that hope had escalated when the Government itself had said that the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) which was established under the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) to manage the privatisation/divestment process of the GuySuCo is yet to carry out works at the Rose Hall Estate to determine the way forward with the factory.

But according to letter that was leaked to the media, it was that very Special Purpose Unit that gave direct instructions to the sugar company to send the workers home.

The correspondence read, “I write to inform you that after numerous and careful discussions among the SPU team, it was decided that extending the date for the transfer of the three estates, viz Skeldon, Rose Hall and East Demerara (Enmore) beyond 31st December, 2017 would not be practicable…the SPU team has decided that we would prefer to stick to the agreed date of 31st December, 2017. The extension of the date beyond 31st December, 2017 for the transfer of the three estates to the SPU would cause a lot of operational and financial issues and difficulties.”

This begs the question of whether or not the SPU was given the authority to make independent decisions and give instructions that would directly affect the livelihood of thousands of Guyanese without having to inform Government.

During presentation of the White Paper on the sugar industry back in May, the Agriculture Minister had said that even with major restructuring of the industry, GuySuCo is required to retain many of its workers for all operations on the merged estates, or factories; and those employees are to receive leased lands from the sugar company to engage in crops to be decided by both GuySuCo and the Ministry of Agriculture. Well, now that workers have been given the boot despite promises of being retained, we await to see if they would be given the land, as promised.

2017 will go down in our history books as a dark year for our sugar workers.

A silent one-day vigil of 800 buckets, carefully arranged in an installation by WaterAid to symbolise the number of children that die daily due to the lack of clean water in the world at Potters Field, Tower Bridge

The AFC's betrayal of sugar workers continues Dear Editor, An anonymous letter writer described me as ‘a confused complainer’ because I exposed Moses Nagamootoo’s hypocrisy with regards the plight of the sugar workers. He, Nagamootoo, had said at a rally in Canje (ironically the first set of workers in Berbice to be given redundancy letters) that, “Guyanese should light a candle for sugar workers… sugar workers are being screwed”. Now that the sugar workers are being ‘royally screwed’, where is Moses?

Of course, he is not busy parting the Red Sea, that was done a long time ago!

He divided the people and was rewarded with his ceremonial crown.

The unknown letter writer then went on to state that Nagamootoo has a ‘history of standing up for sugar workers’. Nagamootoo in his 2012 Budget speech had said that he was threatened with expulsion because he came to the rescue of the sugar workers. However, he should now recognise and accept the fact that ‘the standing up’ itself is now his-

tory. The real Nagamootoo has now emerged and the ‘standing up’ is for himself only, and no one else. Selfpreservation can seal lips and harden hearts. It is now fitting to recall his own words taken from his 2012 Budget speech, ‘a classic case of the classical proverb, “I see not, I hear not, I speak not”, this is the case of the proverbial monkey’.

Today he stands condemned by his own words! It is so unfortunate since I was a great admirer of this man’s zeal as a statesman.

Would the late Dr Cheddi Jagan have stood silently while many of the sugar workers and their families face dire poverty and starvation?

Nagamootoo is a self-proclaimed disciple of this great man.

In 2012 Nagamootoo had bragged that the ‘PPP no longer hold the Jagan standards…we have it over here, the Alliance For Change….’ Moreover, apart from Nagamootoo’s reverberating silence, the AFC’s Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder agreed with GuySuCo’s heartless decision to serve redundan-

cy letters to hundreds of sugar worker at Rose Hall and Skeldon Estates before Christmas. He arrogantly insisted that this decision was in keeping the White Paper, ignoring the fact that the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had assured the sugar workers that closure of the Estate will be delayed until next year. Is there a disconnect among the Ministers of Government? How could the Agriculture Minister ignore the human aspect of the decision?

President Granger at the UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, stressed that, ‘people must come before profits’, but I do hope that this can be seen as a general guideline of his Government’s policies.

However, the manner in which sugar workers are being treated for some time now would suggest otherwise. This maxim does not apply to sugar workers.

They are expendable because they are deemed to be ‘the raiders of the Treasury’!

There seems to be reluctance on the part of the Government, especially

the Minister of Agriculture and the Prime Minister to meaningfully engage sugar workers at Rose Hall and Skeldon Estates and try to alleviate some of their fears and try to convince them how they will continue to benefit from the privatisation/diversification process.

Many of the sugar workers who were given termination letters do not have of savings and take groceries on credit during the out of crop period, hoping to pay off during crop time. I know these things because I live among them and my father was a cane cutter and my mother, a weeder at Albion Estate. I also worked as a cane cutter and a cattle ranger for some time at Albion Estate to make ends meet. A final question: Are the redundancy letters to sugar workers just a ploy for the Government to now take up the saviour’s role?

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf (FCCA; MBA) RDC Councillor, Region 6 Former Cane Cutter

Christmas season worst possible period to fire people from their jobs Dear Editor, Christmas season is the worst possible period to fire people from their jobs, because finding another job is most difficult during the end of year period; no company hires now.

As I hear others, the termination of workers

at Skeldon and Rose Hall (Canje) and elsewhere has put a damper on Christmasrelated festivities. As I travel around to supervise an opinion poll being conducted by NACTA, there are adverse effects on families and communities on terminating people just before Christmas.

The description people have of this Government about job layoffs is not good. They ask what kind of people would fire thousands of workers just before Christmas. Some describe it as heartless.

On the Corentyne, people ask where are Moses Nagamootoo, Khemraj

Ramjattan and Charandass Persaud? Why aren't they speaking out against the firing and closure of estates?

As I travel from Berbice to Wales, where many have lost their livelihood, a shadow of gloom hangs over families and entire communities.

CONTINUED ON page 5

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friDAY, december 8, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

AFC must make ‘hard decisions’, supports firing of workers – Ramjattan

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he passivity of the Alliance For Change (AFC) in the face of the move to close sugar estates and issue redundancy letters to workers was vigorously defended by that party’s co-founder, Khemraj Ramjattan, who has insisted that Guyana's sugar sector has a terminal illness that the Government cannot cure.

He made this statement during his opening contribution to the 2018 budget debates in the National Assembly on Thursday.

Despite a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the sugar industry having recommended that no estates be closed, Ramjattan invoked that very CoI to support his contention.

“This party must make hard decisions in relation to sugar. And so it is important that when you do the analysis, as the Commission of Inquiry had done -- when you did the consultation with NAACIE and GAWU, and when you have all the facts; like a good judge you, have to make a decision as to where it will go from there,” Ramjattan said.

“And we have made the decision that we are going to ensure that we lighten the transition, knowing that we cannot continue to pour money into that industry. It is important that all of them will be better for it in the long

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

term. It is a terminal illness, in relation to sugar today; it is not (attracting) the price it used to have internationally. If you win the elections in 2020, you can bring back sugar. And you want bet me you can't bring it back?” In May 2017, Government announced plans to close the Enmore and Rose Hall sugar estates, sell the Skeldon Sugar Factory, reduce the annual production of sugar, and take on the responsibility of managing the drainage and irrigation services offered by GuySuCo. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, had said at a post-Cabinet press briefing that closure of the sugar estates would be pushed back to 2018. Harmon had said that closure of the Rose Hall Estate in East Canje, Berbice would occur sometime next year. With regard to the Skeldon and Enmore

estates, he had said that the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) would have to conduct evaluations, surveys and inventory assessments before any steps are taken to actually sell those estates.

Recently, the minister had also stated that before GuySuCo had moved to issue redundancy letters to the affected sugar workers, such a major decision should have at least been discussed with the other Cabinet members, so as to plan accordingly. He said he believes that at least some kind of notification ought to have been given to the workers who are being made redundant.

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

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

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

AFC's relevance

Ramjattan was also sub-

jected to resounding heckles from the parliamentary Opposition regarding the AFC's relevance as a coalition partner. This is after months of being sidelined from major decisions by APNU, but the minister was adamant that the AFC still has a purpose in the coalition party.

“I want to say that our country took a turn for the better in 2015 because of certain decisions made by (us).

We started talks with the APNU. And today we are here.

Your remarks that we are being chewed up is not true,”

Ramjattan stated.

In an effort to bolster the AFC's relevance, Ramjattan pointed to Minister of Public Infrastructure, former AFC General Secretary David Patterson. He also referred to Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman and Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, who was consistently heckled and referred to as a “rubber stamp”

by Opposition members, was also held up by Ramjattan as an example of the AFC's vi-

brancy and involvement in Government.

“We are doing (things) with our coalition partner that will (benefit) Guyana. Greater things will come with the oil sector. And so I wish to make that point.”

Over the past months since the coalition Government has been in power, the AFC has been repeatedly sidelined by the APNU. The most recent incident was the sidelining of the AFC nominee for the post of Commissioner on the Guyana Elections Commission in favour of a WPA member.

Linden businessman granted bail for trafficking narcotics

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he 28-year-old father of three was shackled, hands and feet, and brought before the court of Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, accompanied by his lawyer, Dexter Todd, on Thursday afternoon.

Akin Perry, of Wismar, Linden, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on December 5, 2017, at Blackwater Backdam, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), he was allegedly in possession of 490 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Perry’s lawyer in an application for bail indicated that his client was a firsttime offender with a sta-

ble family and occupation as a dredge and shop owner in the Blackwater mines. In addition, Todd said that the suspected narcotics were not found in his client’s possession, but when the Police arrived on the scene, the bag containing the illicit substance was found on a bench at the defendant’s shop, which the lawyer deemed to be a “common place for all customers”.

Todd argued that Perry was arrested merely because he was in close proximity to the area, where the drug was found and the fact that one other person was charged (the taxi man who brought the accused to the shop) indicates that someone else may

have been responsible.

Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore unfolded a vastly different version of events to the court, claiming that the Police sighted the accused exiting the motor car and was prompted to conduct a search on his person after he began to act in a suspicious manner. Police reports state that the illicit substance was found in a haversack belonging to the defendant, contrary to the defence’s submission.

Bail was granted to Perry in the sum of $300,000 and the case was transferred to the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court in Region Eight to be heard on January 16, 2017.

Only animals fire people at Christmas Dear Editor, The Finance Minister has a favourite expression where he states that his Government has kept the economy growing at an average of 3% when “most of our neighbours have been facing economic and financial crises, with low, no, or negative growth rates”.

But you really have to be wickedly disingenuous or totally dumb to celebrate your 2.9% growth with a GDP per capita of US$4,456 per annum, and compare it to that of Barbados with their GDP per capita of US$16,096 per annum, which is growing at an average of 1.6%.

Let us humour this minister for once, and hope he walks away more aware but

hopefully bring a swift end to these silly statements from him. If the minister’s numbers are to be believed, his GDP growth is generating an average of US$129 per year in new wealth for each person in Guyana; while Barbados is generating US$258 per year.

So even at that lower growth rate, the average Barbadian is walking away with twice the amount of new wealth in his pocket. So what really is this Minister talking about? It is mathematically stupid!

You cannot invent economic well-being with words, it requires progressive public policies continually. When one looks at this 2018 Budget, it lacks strategic depth, and will generate more empty rice

pots across this country, because it is an anti-working class budget and it is an anti-business class budget. If you starve the private sector and the workers to feed the political fat cats, then you are destroying the economy, because you are stalling the engine of growth to feed the consumers of growth. How difficult is this to understand, Mr. Minister?

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

dinary man observing? He is observing Mr. Granger spending hundreds of millions on himself in all kinds of idle and wasteful projects, like Durban Park (G$1.5 billion), a Green State House (G$150 million), a Green Prime Minister's Residence (G$100 million), a Government travel and hotel budget (over G$800 million in 2017, and expected to increase in 2018), and so much more in wasteful and reckless spending of taxpayers’ money.

So why should the ordinary man work harder, when he cannot even get a Christmas bonus?

Why should the workers bend their backs some more, when the fat cats in the Granger administration are

Christmas season worst possible...

People are in a mourning state, as though someone from their family has just died. There is no sign of a celebratory mood as the country approaches the Christmas season. It is most depressing to lose your livelihood during the happiest time of the year, and it was carried out by people who called themselves Christians at a time when we celebrate a popular Christian festival -- a season of giving and sharing, and one in which we try to make other people’s lives better.

Many are asking where is the voice of the church leaders for the heartless firing of workers during this season dedicated to celebrating Jesus’s birth.

People I interacted with in the directly affected communities, as well as in other parts of the country, say the Government is crude and shows signs of evil for terminating people on the eve of Christmas. People have likened the Government to the Grinch and Scrooge. And they also query whether there’s something much darker about

this firing. Many note there may be fiscal reasons for laying off workers, but not at this joyful time of the year, when children and family members are looking forward for gifts and a bright year end. Also, from an economic standpoint, it is penny wise and pound foolish to fire workers when there are no alternative forms of employment; money will not circulate to make it a bountiful Christmas for businesses in those affected communities, or nationally.

The Government will suffer from irreversible reputational harm, which far outweighs the cost savings for laying off workers at this time of the year.

Those still on the payroll may be asking: “Am I next?”, and this will serve as a disincentive towards maximum productivity. People will not be motivated to work, knowing they will be fired soon.

Many I spoke with say the termination could have come after Mash (February) and Phagwah in March. A few

enjoying most of the milk for doing so little work?

Today, there is an army of officials drawing all sorts of perks and cash from the Treasury for doing very little, while, at the same time, there is no money for the sugar workers.

Right now, some 700 of an expected 7,000 sugar workers have been sent home for a dark Christmas. This Christmas 2017 will be remembered as a season of infamy for the people in the Berbice area. December 2017 is truly the month to “light a candle” for the sugar workers of Guyana, and Mr. Granger and Mr. Nagamootoo, who are today leading the process that is causing the workers to per-

ish today, are the responsible people for this economic hardship.

They could have delayed the decision by 3 months and study the options some more; it was the human thing to do.

Only animals fire people at Christmas.

So, Mr. Nagamootoo, the time is now to borrow Ricky Singh’s words, and as we observe this Christmas, let us all “Light a Candle” for the Subramanian family and the other 700 workers who were fired effective December 29, 2017 by your Granger Government.

Regards, Sase Singh

from page 4

more weeks of salary won’t have affected the Government or GuySuCo that much more.

This would have given the workers some time to prepare themselves for closure of the estates, or joblessness. It would also have boosted the economy. There are no readily available jobs out there; so a few more weeks on the payroll would have given people time to find alternative sources of earning income.

Let’s be practical and realistic: no one is hiring during

Christmas or the New Year, especially when the economy has been in a slump. Businesses are complaining that shopping has been down from last year, so demand for goods is not there, especially when money is not circulating. Jobs will not be created to absorb some 2500 laid off workers.

The Government should reconsider its decision to put people on the breadline.

Yours faithfully, Vishnu Bisram

6

friDAY, DECember 8, 2017

Page

By Monica Burns

D

o your students turn the pages of a book or swipe the screen of a tablet as they read a new story? When children scroll through a blog post, how do they know when to pause, click, share, or talk about what they’ve read?

Today’s readers are diving into text in ways we simply couldn’t imagine a decade or two ago. They navigate a new world of print and digital reading material, and our work as educators is to prepare them to grow and shine as readers.

4 tips for using technology in reading instruction

Learn about their interests to give them a choice in what they read: Students have interests big and small, and giving them a choice in the texts they read can help them explore current interests and learn about new things.

You can poll the class t to gauge student interest as you build a classroom library, or use virtual exit slips to get a feel for topics students would like to learn more about. Using this information, you can help guide students toward high-quality books of interest or give them the time and space to explore your classroom or school library.

Provide access to a wide variety of texts: With a digital device in their hand, it’s easier than ever for students to search for an article, blog post, or ebook on a topic of interest. Helping them grow to be curators of high-quality reading material is important.

Students who have the world at their fingertips can benefit from guidance as they search for new reading

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

materials. You might introduce them to the reading recommendations in a tool like MoxieReader as they search for a new book, or incorporate weekly book shares into your schedule utilising a tool like Flipgrid.

Find mentor readers to inspire them: We often turn to mentor texts to help students grow as writers by learning from strong examples from different authors. Students need mentors as readers as well. They may have people in their lives who share their experience as readers and love for different genres, but you can try to provide them with mentors.

A Google Hangout or Skype call with a fellow book lover can help students value lifelong reading habits. If you have a friend who is a literature professor, or if there are alumni of your school with a passion for reading mystery books or another genre your students show an interest in, you can set up a video conference and have them come into your class virtually to share their love of reading.

Foster a community of supportive and encouraging fellow readers: Students who are surrounded with readers who are passionate about reading online news articles or listening to picture books being read aloud can view themselves as members of a reading community.

You might read a print book to your class and pause for a backchannel discussion. Set up a backchannel room and have students, working in pairs, join the room. You can give them a prompt before or during the reading and have them discuss it with their partners before typing in their single agreed-upon response. This way students can practice both talking to the

person next to them face-to-face and participating in an online space to comment about a book.

Alternatively, your reading community might extend outside of the walls of your classroom, leveraging the power of social media to tweet and share reading experiences. Many authors can be found on Twitter, and you or your students can post tweets that tag those authors. If your students pose a question for an author, they’re not guaranteed a response, but they will be practicing a range of skills as they tweet.

As you work to combine both print and digital reading experiences, you are preparing students to navigate a new world as readers. This is powerful, important work that crosses grade levels and content areas.

Some things haven’t changed

Even in a world with all this technology, it’s still important to allow time for reading in class. Although carving out time in our days is easier said than done, think about the moments in your day when your students are reading independently. Is it just the right amount of time, or not enough? Do students have time to peruse and choose what they read?

Setting aside time on the schedule shows students you value their reading lives and encourages them to spend time in new books and old favourites.

The tips above are adapted from Taming the Wild Text: Literacy Strategies for Today’s Reader, a book I co-authored with LitWorld founder Pam Allyn earlier this year. We wanted to explore how to make the most of the wide range of reading opportunities available for students. (edutopia.org)

By Christopher Bergland

L

ong before scientists knew that aerobic exercise increases the amount of gray matter in the brain, Louisa May Alcott (18321888) prophetically observed a link between physical fitness, motor-skill agility, and a more "lively" brain. Over a century ago, the author of Little Women described the benefits of “running wild” in the woods at her family home near Walden Pond or chasing a hoop around Boston Common in the mid-19th century. Louisa May Alcott once said: "Active exercise was my delight from the time when a child of six I drove my hoop around the Common without stopping, to the days when I did my twenty miles in five hours and went to a party in the evening. I always thought I must have been a deer or a horse in some former state, because it was such a joy to run. No boy could be my friend until I had beaten him in a race, and no girl if she refused to climb trees, leap fences, and be a tomboy . . . My wise mother, anxious to give me a strong body to support a lively brain, turned me loose in the country and let me run wild."

Recently, a cutting-edge study was published in the journal NeuroImage which corroborates that the Alcott mother-daughter dyad was right about the link between active exercise and a “lively brain”. The researchers from University of Granada (UGR) found that children with better physical fitness and motor-speed agility also possessed greater volume of gray matter and did better in school.

To the best of their knowledge, the researchers believe this is the first time in history that brain imaging has identified a correlation between a child’s level of cardiorespiratory fitness, motor speedagility, brain structure, and academic performance.

This research is part of the ActiveBrains Project, which is a randomised clinical trial involving more than 100 overweight/obese children led by Francisco B Ortega. "Our work aims at answering questions such as whether the brain of children with better physical fitness is different from that of children with worse physical fitness and if this affects their academic performance," Ortega explained in a statement. "The answer is short and forceful: yes, physical fitness in children is linked in a direct way to important brain structure differences, and such differences are reflected in the children's academic performance."

Ortega and his UGR colleagues have identified that physical fitness in children (especially aerobic capacity and motor ability) is associated with a greater volume of gray matter in several cortical and subcortical brain regions.

More specifically, aerobic capacity was correlated with greater gray matter volume in frontal regions (premotor cortex and supplementary motor cortex), subcortical regions (hippocampus and caudate nucleus), temporal regions (inferior temporal gyrus and parahippocampal gyrus) and the calcarine cortex. All of these regions are important for the executive function as well as for learning, motor and visual processing.

The UGR research also identified a link between motor-skill ability and greater gray matter volume in two regions essential for language processing and reading: the inferior frontal gyrus and the superior temporal gyrus.

According to Irene Esteban-Cornejo, a postdoctoral researcher at UGR and the main author of this paper: “Gray matter volume in the cortical and subcortical regions influenced by physical fitness improves in turn the children's academic performance. Physical fitness is a factor that can be modified through physical exercise, and combining exercises that improve the aerobic capacity and the motor ability would be an effective approach to stimulate brain development and academic performance in overweight/obese children." The researchers see their latest research as a clarion call for policymakers overseeing educational and public health institutions. They state this call-to-action emphatically: "We appeal both to politicians, who make educational laws that are increasingly more focused on instrumental subjects, and to teachers, who are the final link in the chain and teach Physical Education day after day. School is the only entity that gathers every children in a mandatory way for a period of at least 10 years, and as such, it's the ideal context for applying such recommendations.”

The authors of this study conclude by reiterating that their ActiveBrains project is "at the disposal of educational and public health institutions for talking about possible measures and putting them into action." Hear, hear! (psychologytoday.com)

7 Education Ministry to work with Int’l Narcotics Board news

friDAY, december 8, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

…to tackle drug use in schools

T

he Education Ministry will be working along with the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) to clamp down on the use of drugs among students in schools across Guyana.

A team from INCB, comprising Stefano Berterame and Dr Raul Martin del Campo Sanchez, met with Chief Education Officer (CEO) Marcel Hutson and other senior officials of the Education Ministry on Thursday at the Brickdam boardroom.

During the meeting, the two parties discussed how they can work together to eradicate and mitigate drug use in schools across the country. Further, the INCB wanted to be apprised of where the Ministry was with regard to the Drug Production and Trafficking Legislation.

According to the INCB officials, such feedback is necessary so that they can proffer advice and make recommendations to the Education Ministry where necessary.

It was further revealed during the meeting that 39 teachers from 20 schools within Georgetown have been trained to integrate

CEO Marcel Hutson along with the INCB representatives and other officials from the Education Ministry posed for a photo after the meeting

drug prevention training and strategies within the existing curricula for secondary schools.

In 2017, the focus was mainly on conducting sensitisation sessions in schools that were vulnerable to drug use.

Currently, the Education Ministry is working out the modalities to address referral protocols and preliminary screening for students and teachers who are suspected drug users.

The Pan American Health

Organisation (PAHO) and the World Health Organisation are currently assisting the Ministry with this process.

A study conducted in 2013 on the prevalence of drug use among secondary school students in Guyana has revealed an alarming trend showing that students as young as 12 years old are engaged in the use of both licit and illicit substances.

The Secondary School Drug Prevalence Survey Project was done by the

Police unearth 125lbs ganja in Alberttown house

F

our males are currently in Police custody after they were found with over 56 kilograms (125 pounds) of compressed ganja.

The discovery was made sometime around 10:30h on Wednesday during a sting operation carried out by ranks of the Guyana Police Force’s Major Crime Unit.

According to Police reports, the officers went to a house located at Third and Albert Streets, Alberttown, Georgetown, where they executed the operation and unearthed the marijuana.

The four suspects remain in custody, and are assisting with the investigations that are on-going.

The 125 pounds of compressed ganja unearthed during the sting operation

Organisation of American States (OAS) InterAmerican Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), in collaboration with the Government of Guyana. Some 1890 students from 28 schools participated in the study – 92.5

per cent from public schools and 7.5 per cent from private schools. These students were from Grades 8, 10, 11 and Sixth Form.

Approximately 43.8 per cent of the participants were between the ages of 11 and 14.

The report indicated that alcohol, cigarettes, inhalants and marijuana were the most commonly used drugs among the student population. It was noted that 19 per cent of the students have admitted using an illegal drug at least once in their lifetime, while 52 per cent said they have consumed alcohol. However, the findings showed that there was a higher prevalence of drug use among private school students.

The following percentages of participants also admitted to using these other drugs once in their lifetime: 10.8 per cent of the participants admitted to having used inhalants/solvents; 16.8 per cent used tobacco;

6.6 per cent used marijuana: 3.2 per cent used tranquilisers; 1.6 per cent used ecstasy and 1.4 per cent used cocaine. Eighteen per cent of these students are from public school, while some 24.5 per cent are private school students.

However, 7.6 per cent of the students said they have tried an illegal drug for the first time within the past year (dated from when the survey was done). More alarmingly, it was outlined that students as young as 10 years, eight months are using inhalants, while those 12 and above were using substances such as alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana.

Most of the students said they usually get alcohol from shops, while marijuana and cocaine were acquired from friends and relatives.

Moreover, marijuana was found to be the most accessible illegal drug, while cocaine was the least accessible.

8 NEWS

friDAY, december 8, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPP/C condemns firing of almost 4000 sugar workers – int’l financial services provider for sugar SPU selected

T

he Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on Thursday expressed its deep concern and condemned the firing of almost 4000 sugar workers from the Skeldon, Enmore and Rose Hall factories, including junior staff, supervisors, and clerks.

The Party said while thousands were now without a job and on the breadline, thousands more were indirectly affected by what it described as a “callous decision”.

“The firing of the sugar workers comes less than a month after the coalition Government assured that the closure of estates, including Rose Hall and Enmore, will not be done in 2017. The coalition Government also assured that it would have considered the “best interests of sugar workers” before decisions are made, in relation to the sugar sector’s future,” a statement from the PPP/C said.

The PPP/C said it also noted the comments by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who claimed that he was surprised at news of the firings, but when pressed, admitted that there was knowledge about the move at the Government level, since the Agriculture Ministry is part of Government.

“The PPP calls on the [A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change] APNU/AFC coalition Government to take immediate measures to address the plight of sugar workers…The PPP rejects the Government’s arguments about available fiscal space to continue support for the sugar industry, making the decision to fire thousands of sugar workers a political one,” the statement

upon us, workers must not be adversely affected and the offer of severance must be thoroughly detailed and presented to the workers now,” it also added.

SPU

Representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers – the international financial services provider selected to undertake a valuation of the Guyana Sugar Corporation assets – meeting the SPU last month

added.

The Party also called on all sugar workers to remain vigilant ahead of the ‘struggle’ to reverse these decisions, which the PPP/C described as discriminatory since they cannot be supported by any rational thinking or evidence-based assessment.

Also adding its voice to the issue was the minority party in the coalition Government, the AFC, which said in a statement that it remained deeply concerned for the welfare of sugar workers who were likely to be affected by the changes contemplated by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

The party said it would insist that as per the requirements in law, severance must be in place and in addition to that, due consideration should be given to: an offer of land leases for alternative economic engagement, access to small concessional loans for said alternative engagement and access to extension services and markets for agro-processing.

“The party recognis-

es that the State Paper on GuySuCo which was laid in the National Assembly in May outlines certain actions, which are necessary and unavoidable if the sugar industry is to be regularised and become sustainable,” the AFC said on Thursday.

The party said it was cognisant that GuySuCo has been engaging with the workers and their unions for some time now regarding actions which are necessary, and called on GuySuCo to intensify this initiative to ensure that all workers were adequately briefed, counselled and are presented with all the necessary information regarding the future status of GuySuCo and the sugar sector.

“The party recognises that the future of GuySuCo is of paramount importance and the Government must continue to pursue those options for the sugar industry which is not a burden on the national treasury. The AFC looks forward to an amicable resolution to this issue, but insists that as the Yuletide season is

Meanwhile, the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) under the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL) announced also that PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has been selected as the international financial services provider to undertake a valuation of GuySuCo’s assets.

In a statement issued to the media on Thursday, the SPU said that selected tenders were invited from PwC, Ernst & Young, Deloitte, and KPMG. However, KPMG did not submit a tender. The other three firms all made presentations to the NICIL/SPU evaluation team.

After the presentations were concluded, the evaluation team selected PwC. According to the SPU, all negotiations with PwC have been completed and a contract is expected to be signed

by December 18, 2017.

PwC, ranked as the most prestigious accounting firm in the world for the last seven consecutive years, will be conducting the valuation of all assets under the control of GuySuCo, in addition to providing other advisory and financial services.

After the valuation exercise, PwC is expected to develop an investment prospectus, which, through the SPU, will be distributed to all interested investors. PwC will also be tasked with ensuring a level playing field for all interested parties and stakeholders.

3 cops from Bartica charged …for allegedly stealing miner’s money

T

hree officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) were on Thursday morning arraigned for simple larceny before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The charge was read to Delon Sobers, 24, of SoesdykeLinden Highway and Tevon Hedley, 23, of Mackenzie, Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), in the absence of their alleged accomplice, Neil Yarris, who failed to make an appearance before the court.

It is alleged that the trio stole $500,000 cash from gold miner Brian Atkinson on October 11, 2017 at Bartica, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni).

Defence attorney Mark Conway told the court that on the day in question, both of his clients were on duty while further contending that noth-

Charged: Delon Sobers

Charged: Tevon Hedley

ing was recovered in their possession.

Meanwhile, Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers posed no objection to bail and the Chief Magistrate granted same to the accused men, fixed in the sum of $70,000 while ordering that the matter be transferred to the

Bartica Magistrate’s Court for trial. This case is expected to be called again on December 15, 2017.

Conditions of bail require the defendants to report to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters once per week pending the outcome of

the trial.

According to media reports, the three ranks who were attached to the Bartica Police Station had reportedly arrested the Virtual Complainant (VC), who is the General Manager of his family’s mining operations.

Atkinson had at the time of his arrest some $1.2 million in his possession, the proceeds of a gold sale that his father reportedly did not authorise.

Further reports by the VC indicate that the policemen while transporting him to the Bartica Police Station, allegedly attempted to cut a deal for his release.

According to Atkinson, after he refused the deal, the officers reportedly took the monies anyway.

Upon arrival at the Police Station, the VC discovered that the cash was short by $500,000 after it was counted in his presence.

The sharper steel…

B

…for sugar workers ack in the day, when Rodney offered some real opposition to the PNC dictatorship by mobilising ordinary Guyanese across the ethnic divide, Burnham warned him about his “sharper steel”. We know how that ended, don’t we? In case you forgot, Rodney CoI, which the PNC deep-sixed, told you who was behind it all. But that wasn’t the first deadly, revengeful act of Burnham. A few years before, when sugar workers led a historic 135-day strike that compelled him to recognise GAWU, Burnham was livid!

He deployed his “sharper steel” on them.

He closed down Leonora estate, which had been the bastion of PPP strength and militancy in the sugar belt since the 1960s. Burnham shut it down in 1976, as soon as the strike was called off. And it is against this precedence we must analyse the actions of President Granger in the sugar belt, since he’s vowed to continue the “legacy” of Burnham. But Granger has one important difference from Burnham’s modus operandi -- and it is now in operation for you to see.

When the sugar workers in 2015 -- especially from Berbice -- refused to fall for the blandishments of Nagamootoo, who was then joined at the hip to Granger as leader of the PNC, there was no overt public warning from Granger. Nagamootoo?? He’s just a toothless granny!! While, like Burnham, Granger doesn’t practise turning any other cheek. Unlike Burnham, he believes revenge is best served cold. And you can’t get colder than firing 2000 sugar workers in Berbice, from Skeldon and Rose Hall, without any warning!

This is the Burnhamite “condign” treatment that are the wages of opposing the PNC. And we have only seen the beginning. Granger is convinced the PPP will not be able to mount any effective protest against it.

Like in the sixties, the PPP has no numbers they can mass (or amass) in Georgetown -- which international observers and the diplomatic community could see if they come out into the streets -- and then react to it.

Sugar workers can march up and down all they want out in the deep country in the sun -- it’s like a tree falling in the middle of the forest with no one to hear the sound, much less yell, “TIMBER!!!”. Did it fall?

If it were the PNC supporters who were being thrown into the streets - like fish out of water to convulse and die - you bet there would’ve been violent protests in Regent Street, with maybe a building or two burnt to the ground for good measure!

In the meantime, the PPP MPs can’t even protest in Public Buildings!!

…in housing During the ongoing Budget Debate, there are some interesting tit-bits being thrown out. If they’re linked together, they provide a useful window into the mentality of the PNC. (Your Eyewitness finds it tiresome to keep on talking about “APNU” and AFC, when in reality they’ve got less effect on governance than a gnat sucking away on the hide of an elephant!!)

First, the Govt criticised the much-acclaimed drive of the PPP to hand out over 50,000 house lots to Guyanese of all walks of life. The PNC says more than half aren’t occupied with houses, or even shacks. THEY, on the other hand, claim they’re giving out HOUSES!!

Sounds good, right? You don’t get a lot; you get a house -which is what you want! But you know what they say about things “too good to be true”! There’s always a catch!! And with the houses, buyers have to be PREQUALIFIED to even APPLY!!

So 2/3 of the folks won’t even get a house-lot!! …for Police?

Ramjattan says the police are gonna be charged for damaging their new Chinese cars. The Berbice Traffic Dept revealed how this will be “policed”. After each rotation, a checklist will have to be submitted to the desk sergeant.

So who’ll guard the guardians?

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

News

9

friDAY, december 8, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Despite vehement denials

Govt opened secret account to receive US$20M oil bonus …evidence shows bank account was set up in 2016 to facilitate deposit

By Samuel Sukhnandan

A

lthough Finance Minister Winston Jordan had claimed that there was no advance payment made to the Government by United States oil giant ExxonMobil, a confidential document seen by the Guyana Times now proves that the Administration was fully aware of receiving the signing bonus granted by the same company, while a request was also made to open an account at the Central Bank to facilitate a deposit.

A missive dated September 20, 2016 and addressed to the Governor of the Bank of Guyana has this subject: “Signing bonus granted

by ExxonMobil – Request to open bank account”. It shows that Finance Secretary at the Finance Ministry, Hector Butts, has requested that a foreign currency account be opened at the Bank in order to receive a deposit in the form of a ‘signing bonus’ to be given by ExxonMobil.

The letter stated, “This account should not be treated as part of the Bank’s reserves.

Instead, the proceeds should be held in the currency of the deposit, that is United States dollars, and invested in secured interest-bearing securities.”

The missive also listed the signatories to the account: Hector Butts, Finance Secretary at the Finance Ministry; Louise Bouyea, Deputy Finance Secretary at the Finance Ministry; Jawahar Persaud, Accountant General (Acting) at the

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

Finance Ministry; and Jennifer Chapman, Deputy Accountant General at the Finance Ministry. The letter was also copied to Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman.

At a press conference held two weeks ago, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo demanded that Government come clean on this signing bonus, stating that he could ‘reasonably confirm’ that it was true, especially since members of Government have neither confirmed nor denied the allegation when confronted.

“They received this money, it seems, almost a year ago.

If this turns out to be true, then I believe that the entire Government should resign; because if you cannot be transparent about receipts from a company or from any company in Guyana, particularly a company in the extractive sector…,” he said.

Jagdeo told the press that

coming clean on receipt of this signing bonus is perhaps the most appropriate thing to do, especially since Guyana was now seeking membership of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) -- an organisation that promotes open and accountable management of oil, gas and mineral resources.

He also queried the whereabouts of the money. “If this turns out to be true, and the Government received the money and (Finance Minister) Winston Jordan did not know about this, then where did the money go? And if he does know about it and he lied to the country, saying he did not know about it, then that is just as bad.”

The Opposition Leader has said he is still planning on asking ExxonMobil about the bonus when he meets with its representatives. He noted that

the matter is of grave concern if it turns out that Government did in fact receive money from ExxonMobil and did not tell the nation.

Jagdeo had promised to place this issue on the front burner until the truth was revealed. He said the issue has languished in the media because no one felt that any Government would make such a move.

Not long after Jagdeo had made these statements, Minister Jordan had responded to say that such a claim is “a figment of the imagination”, and that there is “no agreement for any bonus”. He told sections of the press that the Government did not request such a bonus.

The coalition Government has been tight-lipped on its dealings with ExxonMobil amidst calls for more transparency regarding the oil and gas sector.

Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman has also been tight-lipped in regard to receipt of this alleged bonus.

Repeatedly avowing release of the oil contract between Guyana and ExxonMobil could have national security ramifications, and the Government has been “advised” against such a course of action. Trotman has said the decision to release the contract is not his to make, but Cabinet’s.

The allegation about Government receiving this bonus was first made by Chartered Accountant and Attorney Christopher Ram. Ram had said that this pay-

The missive sent by the Government of Guyana requesting the opening of a bank account to facilitate the deposit of Exxon’s US$20 million bonus for signing the contract

ment may be one of the reasons why Government was not disclosing the new contract between itself and the US oil giant.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon had only last week announced that the contract would be made available for public scrutiny by the end of

December. Giving reasons why the Government has now decided to release the contract, Minister Harmon said the administration took into consideration the need expressed by citizens for greater inclusiveness, and the need for information-sharing in the interest of transparency.

10 news

friDAY, december 8, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Granger tells UN forum ‘people before profits’ …yet sends home thousands from GuySuCo same day – Ramsaroop

T

he hypocrisy of the David Granger-led A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance

For Change (APNU-AFC) coalition Government has reached staggering, if not dangerous proportions, in

the light of what transpired this past week with the single largest retrenchment of workers in Guyana’s recent

history.

The scathing conclusion was arrived at this past week by Economic Advisor to the Opposition Leader, Dr Peter Ramsaroop.

He was at the time weighing in on the recent termination letters which were issued to more than 3000 workers of the Guyana Sugar Corporation

“…Ask yourself why else would Granger demolish any chances he has of securing those 3000+ crucial votes in Berbice, if he did not already have a plan in place to rig the elections,” – Dr Ramsaroop (GuySuCo).

News of the retrenchment came on the same day that President Granger was on the African continent, pontificating to those leaders, the need for the principle of ‘people before profits’ - a policy he said, was being upheld in Guyana. What crass hypocrisy!

Economic Advisor to the Opposition Leader, Dr Peter Ramsaroop

The President, according to Dr Ramsaroop, “was being less than honest since on that same day, the nation learnt that thousands of sugar workers in Berbice were being sent home.”

Head of State David Granger addressed the United Nations Environment Assembly, held in Nairobi, Kenya with the objective of combatting pollution in the extractive sector. In his address, the Guyanese leader espoused that people “must be at the heart of the development of our natural resources… people must come before profits.”

Dr Ramsaroop has since observed that there “was

in my opinion a blatant attempt to cover up by the Government’s chief cook, bottle washer, now chief propagandist spinner.”

He was referring to Minister of State Joseph Harmon, who when cornered in the corridors of Parliament Building over the dismissals of literally thousands of workers, said he read about it in the newspapers as did everyone else.

“Minister Harmon wants this nation to believe that a wholly Government-owned entity, with a Board of Directors which was recently installed by the newly installed Government, took a decision to send home 3000 workers without communicating such a decision to the actual owners… He must be joking,” Ramsaroop posited.

Speaking to the Government’s contemptuous display of hypocrisy and arrogance in its handling of the nation’s business and the treatment of its assets, Dr Ramsaroop posited “he (Harmon) had the gall to tell this nation that the Cabinet was not informed of this decision… What next is going to happen only for Minister Harmon to come and say Cabinet didn’t know.” continued on page 14

news

S RAIGHT T

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friDAY, december 8, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

CCJ overturns Guyana’s Appeal Court decision …in GGMC refusing to renew miner’s permits

By Shemuel Fanfair

Bridging the gap: The chasm that’s killing Guyana

E

veryone agrees that strategic execution is important, but the disconnect between strategy-making and strategyexecution continues to plague this People’s National Congress (PNC)-dominated Government across all sectors.

Irrespective that this 2018 Budget is the biggest ever, what is sorely missing from this document are the ideas that can competently secure optimal value for money. Thus, billions are wasted every year on expenses that have negligible impact on the people: such an overseas travel and accommodation by Ministers to useless trips, like a mercury conference, which the President attended in Switzerland. On many occasions, it appears that the intended beneficiary of the 2017 spending programme in the Public Sector was not the ordinary people, but a PNC/Alliance For Change (AFC) elite political cabal, their friends, and their families, as this small group of under-100 PNC/AFC folks enjoy a good life.

In the real world, a nation’s leadership typically drives strategy-making; but from his performance over the last 30 months, we must not expect much from President Granger. Like his predecessor, former President Ramotar, they unfortunately are both unfit and under-skilled for the job at hand.

There is now enough evidence to prove that he is incapable of setting the required strategic direction for the nation, and that is why we are seeing so many pageants in the presidential function today; it is all a diversionary tactics to hide Granger’s incompetence.

If one were to ask Granger the hard question on the goals and developmental metrics of his Government, it is clear as day he would float. If one were to ask him to define his strategy as a President, he may say, “Taking the Guyanese to the good life”.

But what is the good life? And how does he plan to take the people there?

You see, unless you can define the mission and lay out the “HOW”, you are nothing but a loser as a CEO; and clearly, this is the role Granger seems to have acquired a “legal transport” over – a political loser. An economy must be project managed; and like him or hate him, this is where Bharrat Jagdeo shone.

It is clear as day that President Granger is unaware of the details of the workings of the Public Sector Implementation Programme (PSIP), and this is his fundamental failing. Rather, he has outsourced it to two other gentlemen; Harmon (a lawyer) and Jordan (who calls himself an economist). But clearly, in their competition for power, they have collectively bungled the entire project management process. So, in the final analysis, there is little alignment between the strategy and the required projectbased work; and thus the strategy is difficult for the ordinary public servant to understand.

If the public servants who have to do the day-to-day detailed implementation are struggling to understand the strategy of the Government, then they are not adequately enabled to proceed appropriately at delivering value and results.

The bottom line remains that Granger does not offer adequate clarity to connect the dots between the works the implementers are responsible for executing, and how those relate to the desired strategic outcome. Thus, unless Granger learns his job quickly, this economy is doomed.

Today, all we are observing is the prioritisation of the pageantry projects, like repainting State House rather than fixing the productive sectors, like the sugar industry. The praxis for the entire decision-making process under Granger is extremely flawed, because he is spending billions of dollars on projects that will not be generating money, but would be sucking even more money from the economy.

My grandmother left me with an elementary skill many moons ago – you must always invest in real estate, and never in fancy, expensive cars. At the London Business School, this principle was confirmed by real evidence, with the professor clarifying why this strategy is important to expand wealth.

If one observes this 2018 Budget, it has just under a billion dollars in travel, hotels, and food for the big boys. But what is startling is if one observes the Ramotar years vs the Granger years, one would see exposed the backward mentality of Granger (shine clothes and nice dresses while the ordinary people are put on the breadline on the sugar estate). There is no better explanation of this backward pageantry mentality of Granger than by exposing that he would have spent three and a half times as much as Ramotar on State House over a three-year period, as the table below extracted from the 2018 Budget exposes.

It is clear that Granger does not get the fact that “pageantries” do not feed and house the nation. Even Burnham knew better on how to serve the people. Wither Guyana under Granger?

Please share your thoughts at sasesin1@yahoo.com.

he Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has effectively overturned the Guyana Court of Appeal’s decision which favoured the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) issuing a Cease Work Order (CWO) to miner Wayne Vieira in 2010 after refusing to renew his permits for gold mining in the Chinese Landing/Tassawini Village.

In a decision handed down on Thursday, the Caribbean Court instead upheld the High Court’s original ruling agreeing that the GGMC had no authority to issue a CWO directing Vieira to cease all work under his mining permits because he had no agreement with the Indigenous village.

This decision comes less than one week after the application was heard on December 1, 2017 by the CCJ Bench, which comprised its President, the Right Honourable Sir Dennis Byron, and the Honourable Justices Wit, Hayton, Rajnauth-Lee, and Barrow.

The Judges in making their determination noted that, allegedly unknown to the Commission, Vieira had made several attempts since 2009 to secure a new agreement with the Village Council, but his efforts proved futile. These wide-ranging efforts included engaging former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, who, according to the CCJ’s facts, was the Minister responsi-

ble for mines and minerals. Thursday’s ruling highlighted that the CWO was issued on November 26, 2010 under the Mining Regulations because of the absence of an agreement with the Village Council, as was required under the Amerindian Act. “According to the CWO, the Mines Officer deemed the stoppage to be ‘absolutely necessary’ for the maintenance of the public peace or for the protection of the State’s, or private persons’, rights. Mr Vieira successfully challenged the decision to issue the CWO in the High Court before Justice Insanally, who determined that the order could only be issued in relation to breaches concerning the Mining Act and not the Amerindian law,” an excerpt from the ruling stated.

After Justice Insanally ruled in the matter, the GGMC then appealed to the Court of Appeal and won the case. Vieira, thereafter, challenged the Appeal Court’s decision at the CCJ. Upon reviewing the Act, the CCJ noted that it has determined that “the Minister responsible for the Mining Act could not make regulations under that law with a view to aiding or enforcing the requirements of another law – the Amerindian Act”.

Based on this review, the CCJ duly de-

termined that the Mines Officer was not authorised to issue the CWO under the Mining Regulations for a violation of the Amerindian Act. The CCJ restored Justice Insanally’s decision, noting that Vieira was awarded costs in all three courts.

According to court documents filed in 2013, Vieira noted that in June 1995, he purchased the tract of land described in the 4 Medium Scale Mining Permits (MSMP) at public auction held in Georgetown for the sum of US$100,000 paid in Guyana dollars.

He claimed that on or around September 14, 2012, he “went to pay for the prescribed annual renewal for the three mining permits, but he was told by the cashier and other persons from the Land Management Department that they were instructed by the senior officers of the GGMC not to accept any payments from Wayne Vieira.”

Vieira, in his sworn affidavit, had further claimed that on October 29, 2012, he had attended a meeting with acting GGMC Commissioner Karen Livan, and GGMC’s legal adviser, Mrs Noble. He claimed that Livan, at the time, told him that she was “instructed by the Minister of Natural Resources, Mr Robert Persaud, not to accept any rentals from him and that the GGMC had appealed against the Order of Court and that nothing could be done until the matter was heard in court”. It was contended that other persons were mining in the area despite Vieira’s refusal. He was represented by Jamela A Ali and Sanjeev J Datadin while Nikhil Ramkarran represented the GGMC.

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friday, december 8, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

A

s the Christmas Season fast approaches, the management of Guyana’s Number One Entertainment Spot, Palm Court has been working around the clock to make sure partyholics have the best holiday season; one that will be filled with lots of memories and excitement.

As part of its promotion, the night club will be hosting several concept parties featuring some of the best Caribbean artistes that are known for rocking the house a n d setting the place on fire.

The first of a series of parties is on Saturday evening and is dubbed, “All I want for Christmas is a bubba-long” featuring the man him-

self, King Bubba.

On the weekend starting December 15, there will be back-to-back parties featuring Trinidad’s Soca Queen Destra on December 15 and Skinny Fabulous on December 16. The partying continues on December 23 with Nailah Blackman who is known for her hits, “Bila mami”, “Sokah” and “Workout” with Kees.

However, patrons will ring in the New Year with the King of Dancehall, Beenie Man. He is set to perform on December 31 and will undoubtedly be one of the Old Year’s Night parties dancehall fans would not want to miss.

Advance tickets for all the events cost $2000 and on the day of the event, patrons will pay $3000. Tickets will be available at the night club on Main Street.

C

hristmas is definitely in the air and some of the main features around this time of year are the food, décor, and the children visiting Santa Claus among others. For the second time around, Banks DIH is doing again but much bigger and with more excitement. Come this Saturday and Sunday, the beverage company will host its second annual Santa’s Enchanted Christmas Village at Demerara Park.

Already, preparations are moving apace to create that suitable environment that will leave children breathless. The décor is expected to be amazing with a few new features that will definitely add that special touch to make the area especially festive but more so, one that will be talked about for a long time.

Apart from meeting and greeting Santa and Mrs Claus, the children will have an opportunity to snap a photo with them and receive presents.

In addition, the children can have fun with the cartoon characters in attendance, as well as on the bouncy castle and trampoline. There will also be a story corner, food, drinks and ice-cream bars. Face painting will also be done on site.

Tickets to see Santa cost $500 (gift is included).

Admission for adults is $500. Tickets are available at all Quick Serve outlets – Stabroek, Main and Camp Streets). The action gets underway at 15:00h on both days.

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Clash 2018

mpire Media Inc is once again pleased to host the highly anticipated Armageddon Clash 2018.

Armageddon 2018 will be built around the concept of the champions’ league and world cup, since the DJs competing would have earned their spot in the clash.

The clash will be fiercely combatted by six DJs for a chance to win $1.2 million, a trophy and bragging rights. This event will take place on January 27, 2018 at the National Park, with Deejay Magnum, Selector Face, Deejay Delon, Deejay Keston, Deejay Versatile and Deejay Dauren competing for the top honour.

The deejays will compete in four rounds

of battle. After every round, there will be an elimination process. The last round will see the two best deejays battling for the cash prize.

The objective of Armageddon Clash is to further promote and keep alive the art form of sound clashes in Guyana, in the most dynamic way, while putting our local Selectors and DJs on the map; both regionally and internationally. Tickets to the event cost $1000 and are expected to be released in January.

For more information, you can visit their Facebook page “Empire Media Inc.” or send an email to empiremediainc1@gmail.com.

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, december 8, 2017

Aidonia

I

ts Christmas and the clubs are rocking into the year with the best they have to offer their supports, who have been with them throughout the year.

Already, Palm Court has a line-up of entertainment and Club 704 is not being left behind.

Demarco

Ishawna For the next few weekends, the parties will get crazier and the fans are getting all hyped to celebrate the festive season with some great parties.

Beginning December 16, Club 704 is poised at hosting a party called “Glow”, which will fea-

ture Jamaican Dancehall artiste Demarco. Adding the vibes at the party will be Deejay Tallest, Deejay Avalanche, Deejay Breeze, Gully Ras and one of the most versatile selectors, Selector Diamond out of BOOM FM. Advance tickets for the par-

ty cost $2000 and more at the door on the evening of December 16. There will be specials on Hennessy and Moet White Ice. The partying will continue on December 22 with “Equal Right” featuring Ishawna out of Jamaica.

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Bunji

On December 26, the house will be brought down by soca sensation Bunji Garlin with a party called “Big Bad Soca”. The final party for the year is billed for Old Year’s Night and is titled “Ignite”, with live performance

by Aidonia.

G

race Allia Hutson, also known by her stage name “The Olive” is a member of KAST Talent Management and is the next big thing for her generation.

Poetry, singing, rapping, acting and modelling are among her talents and for her, it does not stop there.

She aims to discover what other hidden talents she may have by trying new things every day. She found her passion for the performing arts by participating in the annual and biennial drama and music festival.

Hutson is 22 years old, stands 5’4’’ tall and weighs 115 lbs. She is a former student of Queen’s College and Bishop’s High and is currently attending the University of Guyana pursuing a diploma in Public Communications.

From there she intends to read for a degree in law to achieve her goal of becoming a family lawyer.

She previously completed an internship at Safe TV, Channel 2 as a journalist and will now be seeking employment at other media houses while attending classes.

Writing music and poems are not just hobbies for “The Olive” but also a mean of activism for self-growth and a platform to cope with the struggles of depression and anxiety.

“Many p e o p l e don’t know this but every day is a constant battle to stay afloat in a river of emotions but I use my gifts as a reminder to myself that I’m here for a purpose which includes inspiring people like me who also struggle,” she noted.

She is currently an advocate for women empowerment and is part of the ‘Girl Build Girl’ movement spearheaded by Gabriella Chapman.

The #letsTalkWithGabby blogs will feature young girls with various struggles and recommendations to overcome.

Hutson’s intermediate goals are to take up entrepreneurship as a hobby and more excitedly, she will soon release a few songs. In addition, it is her dream to complete her book of poetry to be published and become even closer to God.

G

avin Mendonca’s “Creole Rock Snow Ball” continues to grow as we roll into Christmas. The homebred Guyanese musician has released his second studio project – a four-song EP titled “Hung Up On Your Cross” out of Kross Kolor Records.

The EP, although released for the Christmas Season, is not a typical Christmas record. While the songs are not directly aimed at Christmas, they revolve around the main themes of Christmas in Guyana: love, family, togetherness and tradition.

The title and artwork of the EP plays on the ‘cross’ which represents all of his dreams and ambitions, which he will carry with him forever, not as burdens, but with love.

These tracks include: Hung Up On Your Cross – this is the title track of the EP. It is about one of the main feelings – unwavering love. More so, it is about the ultimate Christmas gift – falling in love with the girl of his dreams.

Refuse To Go – this is Mendonca’s favourite. This song is influenced by the iconic Guyanese folk song “Small Days’.

Mendonca’s birthday happens to be Christmas Eve so Christmas time has always been extra special for him. This song is about always remembering the child inside, the original you; to know that you are never alone because he/she never left, but just grew up a bit. Mendonca’s jokingly warns

“Don’t grow up, it’s a trap!”

Cause Is Christmas – this song has become a Guyanese Christmas classic over the last few years, first featured on ‘Kross Kolor Records: Christmas With Us Vol. 2’ back in 2015. A festive song about Christmas in Guyana.

How To Build A Tree House – this is another song that is actually a bonus feature, and a sneak peek into Mendonca’s next full length studio album – Creole Rock: Punks and Pirates – scheduled to be released in April 2018.

Not so long ago, Mendonca spent a number of days at Kaieteur Falls where he filmed a music video for this song, which will be released in January of the New Year.

A music video for the title track is currently in production and will be released just before Christmas. For the video, the talented guitarist partnered with Ransford Simon, who was the best graduating student of the Certificate Programme at the ER Burrowes School of Art in 2017.

The EP is currently available as a digital album only, and can be purchased for US$4.99 by visiting www.creolerock.com/ store. All are encouraged to support the local creative industry, and the artistes who pour their hearts and souls into their work; not for big money, but for the love and satisfaction of accomplishing their dreams.

14 news

friDAY, december 8, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Teacher’s death probe

Police have done ‘great work’ in charging taxi driver – says acting Crime Chief

D

espite taxi driver Matthew Munroe denying the charge of being implicated in the murder of school teacher Kescia Branche, acting Crime Chief Paul Williams has applauded the efforts of his officers in detaining the suspect, even as he continues to claim he was not involved.

Williams, in responding to inquiries of whether or not substantial evidence was available in the apprehension of the 47-year-old man, indicated that Police were acting on legal advice.

In doing so he alluded to the intensive probes currently underway, saying, “With Kescia Branche alleged murder that is a matter that took us some time to really and truly do a thorough and a comprehensive investigation.”

As such, the acting Crime Chief pointed out, “If that

The accused taxi driver, Matthew Munroe appearing in court

investigation did not satisfy the requirement of a charge, on the basis of legal advice, it would not have happened.

So definitely seeing that someone is being charged, the Police would have done great work.”

Munroe on Wednesday appeared before the

Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the charge of murder committed on the Richard Ishmael High School teacher.

This is as Police are contending that the car from which Branche’s body was allegedly dumped on Cemetery Road belonged to Munroe. With that, the taxi driver was taken into custody on November 30, 2017, just as he returned from the United States.

However, Attorney George Thomas, who is representing the 47-year-old man, told the court that his client denied committing the crime. In fact, Munroe is holding out that he was not in the jurisdiction at the time the crime was committed.

However, Williams told the media that, “Persons can say things, and if there wasn’t any evidence to

ter the incident. Police say that the taxi drive could not have provided information on his whereabouts on the night the woman was brutally attacked. However, Munroe has claimed that his cellphone which was confiscated contains records to solidify his alibi.

Police thereby requested one month to complete the case file and as a result, the case will continue on January 9, 2018.

Dead: Kescia Branche

link him or his presence in Guyana during and at the time of Kescia’s death, there will be no legal advice in that aspect for him to be charged. So whoever is saying otherwise is doing so on the basis of speculation.”

The acting Crime Chief confirmed that Munroe had left the country, shortly af-

Meanwhile, also implicated were four Police ranks who were seen in the company of Branche on the night of the attack, but they were questioned and subsequently released.

Nevertheless, the acting Crime Chief indicated that further investigations into the involvement of the Cops are underway and from that, actions will be taken accordingly. (Ashraf Dabie)

Granger tells UN... from page 10

Dr Ramsaroop, in seeking to point the danger of this practice being embraced by the APNU/AFC Government, said had reporters not cornered the Agriculture Minister literally minutes after speaking to Minister Harmon, the charade might have worked.

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder told reporters that nobody should be surprised since the move to retrench the workers is in keeping with a white paper he had presented to the House.

Minister Holder told reporters bluntly there will be no planting of canes and as such there will be no work at the Rose Hall and other Estates.

“Remember it was Harmon who said only recently that Government had put off the closure of the estates until 2018… well folks, the Agriculture Minister laid it bare when he clarified that 2018 in relation to the closure of the estates meant January 1.”

The Economic Advisor was adamant however, “it is the President himself who has to shoulder the blame for this… such a decision could not have been taken without his knowledge and approval and the true hypocritical nature of the once aloof statesman (President Granger) is now being revealed.”

He questioned how else does a person explain, President Granger going to Africa, preaching about the importance of people before profits – no doubt in reference to oil revenues – and on the same day back home thousands in Berbice woke up to the news that they are now jobless.”

Dr Ramsaroop, said “the events of the past week signal a turning point in Guyana’s history, since the President is now operating not only with impunity and disregard for the laws of the country, but with a clear disregard for constituencies – the people that vote at elections.”

He posited, “any student of political science in their first semester would tell you that the firing of 3000

Berbicians days before the Christmas holidays, represent not only 3000 lost votes for the Government come elections, but 3000 families directly impacted with a loss of income days before Christmas… this was indeed a heartless act on the part of this Administration.”

The Economic Advisor is convinced, however, that the answers as to President Granger’s “boldness in his actions and callous disregard for Guyanese who did not vote for him can be found in the Budget presented for 2018.”

He told Guyana Times that at present, the Government speakers are engaged in a process of obfuscation and given the voting divide in the House, it is unlikely that anything the Opposition advances will be taken on board. The oneseat majority, with a few hundred votes will prevail.

The analyst said instead of listening to politicians’ attempts to score political points and press coverage, a careful look should be had at the actual figures which are now publicly available.

Dr Ramsaroop is committed to providing a complete analysis of the 2018 Budget, adding that “President Granger’s arrogant actions, disdain for and treatment of the sugar workers in a functioning democracy spell the end of the coalition at the helm. Such bold and hypocritical stances being taken by this Administration must lead people to wake up and really ask serious questions.” He said, “before getting into the corruption and mismanagement of the nation’s resources, there are several specific allocations or in some cases non-allocations of monies in the 2018 Budget that are causes for concern.” The Economic Advisor concluded by again reminding of the recent shenanigans at the Guyana Elections Commission, a situation compounded by a cut in its budget for 2018 by almost $1 billion – “2018, a year it is supposed to run off Local Government Elections after which general elections are to be held.”

News

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friday, december 8, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Budget 2018 debate

“I am not a chhatri!” – Henry

…excuses mix-up of Diwali, Phagwah dates

and Nelson Mandela quotes while thanking her staff at the Ministry, the Minister repeatedly broke down in tears.

By Jarryl Bryan

T

he afternoon’s session of day four of the 2018 Budget debate got underway with the Opposition Members of Parliament roasting the Government’s education policy – especially towards the hinterland.

While breaking down in tears, Education Minister Nicolette Henry launched a robust defence of not only the Government’s budget and her sector, but also instances in the past when she confused the dates of two of Guyana’s national holidays.

In her rebuttal, Minister Henry noted the magnitude of the budgetary allocation for the education sector while questioning the merits of the $10,000 ‘we care’ cash grant the coalition Government discontinued.

Henry was faced with constant heckles; however, regarding her previous faux pas in which she fumbled the dates of Diwali and Phagwah during pub-

The hinterland

Education Minister Nicolette Henry

lic speeches. In response, Henry said: “I am not a chhatri, so I may not know when is Phagwah and Diwali. But I know what it takes to run an education sector.”

A dogged Henry forged on against the consternation of the Opposition side, even noting some of the projects being rolled out, including a condition survey to be used to ascertain the state of educational facilities, to de-

termine the scope of maintenance works needed on a national basis.

“I have to say, Mr Speaker, that while we have not gotten everything right, we have always put the people first. Transforming the education system is not easy and we will encounter challenges along the way. But it is a necessary journey that we will have to take.”

Using Mahatma Gandhi

But the rosy picture painted of education in Guyana was contradicted by People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament, Allister Charlie, who lambasted the Government for what he referred to as the under-funding of school projects in the hinterland.

According to Charlie, the so-called “good life” being promoted by the Government was not being experienced in the hinterland and, in fact, less was being done for Indigenous people now, than ever before.

The MP took the Government to task for a number of stalled infrastructure projects, including those related to the education sector. He pointed to a number of projects that

PPP/C Member of Parliament, Allister Charlie

have rolled over into 2017 and have not started.

“These projects are the construction of the Tabatinga Nursery School in the municipality of Lethem; Aishalton Nursery School in the Deep South of Rupununi; Quiquan Nursery School in South Pakaraimas and teachers’ quarters in Sand Creek, South Central Rupununi.

It is public knowledge that

the contractor has received final payments for the projects pending 10 per cent retention.

“Yet, all capital projects remain at standstill and incomplete. The opening of the new nursery school and teachers’ quarters was highly anticipated by parents, teachers, and the disappointment is indescribable. Where is the Minister of Education? You and your government have promised transparency. What is happening here?” he questioned.

Henry has been involved in a number of mix-ups during her tenure as Junior Education Minister with responsibility for culture.

These included the mix-up of seating arrangements for the political Opposition during the 2016 Jubilee celebrations at D’Urban Park, causing the Members of Parliament to walk out. This was followed by Minister Henry confusing Phagwah with Diwali during a public engagement.

IAC slams Education Minister’s disdainful ethnic comment

…calls for apology

T

he Indian Action Committee (IAC) has said it is “shocked and outraged” by the insensitive ethnic remarks made by Education Minister Nicolette Henry in the National Assembly on Thursday, December 7, 2017 during her Budget Debate presentation.

The IAC, in a statement, said it recognises that this Government minister has been in a controversial situation before, when she referred to ‘Phagwah’ as

‘Diwali’, but the organisation had at the time excused the minister’s lapse, given that she was new on the job, even though, as a Guyanese, she should have known the difference for many years.

The IAC has said that in this instance, having watched and listened to the video of the minister’s comment, in which she said the following words: “I am not a ‘chhatri’ so I may not know when there is Diwali or Phagwah...”, this performance by Minister Henry is

being viewed as one which demonstrates an arrogant disdain for things Indian, thus illustrating unbecoming behaviour on the part of a Government minister.

The IAC says it strongly feels that Minister Henry is out of order, and has insulted more than half of the population of Guyana, who are persons of Indo-Guyanese origin.

The IAC has said it cannot make any sensible connection in the minister’s usage of the term ‘chhatri’, on

the one hand, and Phagwah and Diwali on the other hand, given that the term ‘chhatri’ refers to one of the main Hindu castes of India, and Phagwah and Diwali are distinct festivals of India, and are national holidays of Guyana.

The IAC said it is “extremely bewildered by this

statement of the Minister, given the fact that she was already embroiled in a controversy regarding the festivals of Phagwah and Diwali earlier in March this year, and the organisation, this time, will not excuse this Minister for her gross insult to Indo-Guyanese”.

The IAC, in light of

this uneducated outburst, has lost all confidence in Education Minister Henry, and is calling upon President Granger to ensure that she makes a public apology to all persons of Indo-Guyanese origin who have been insulted by her insensitive ethnic comment.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, december 8, 2017

Regional

Argentina Judge calls for arrest of exPresident Cristina Fernández for treason

A

Judge in Argentina has accused the former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of treason and called on the country’s senate to permit her arrest and trial for allegedly covering up Iranian involvement in a 1994 bomb attack on a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires.

Judge Claudio Bonadio accused Fernández on Thursday of seeking to negotiate a secret deal to obtain trade concessions with Iran in return for camouflaging Tehran’s role in the attack on the AMIA Jewish centre that killed 85 people and left hundreds wounded. The arrest warrant is based on a 2015 investigation by the

Cristina Fernández on December 9, 2015. Her arrest warrant is based on a 2015 investigation by Prosecutor Alberto Nisman, who died in mysterious circumstances

prosecutor Alberto Nisman, who died under mysterious circumstances only a few days after presenting his charge against Fernández in court.

Nisman was found lying

in a pool of blood on his bathroom floor on 18 January 2015, soon after accusing Fernández and Timerman of “being authors and accomplices of an aggravated cover-up and obstruction of jus-

tice regarding the Iranians accused of the AMIA terrorist attack”.

Nisman’s accusations were based on phone taps on close allies of Fernández, who he said conspired in a plot to negotiate an “oil for grain” trade deal if Argentina dropped international Interpol arrest warrants against senior Iranian officials accused of planning the bombing.

Initial Police reports and autopsies found no sign anyone else had been present when Nisman died, and federal police said the prosecutor shot himself. But last month Taiano said that a re-examination of the evidence showed that Nisman was murdered. (Excerpt from The

Massive gun bust!

– probe under way after 119 firearms destined for J’ca found at Miami airport

Guardian)

Antigua-Barbuda to host Caricom-Cuba summit today T

The guns seized at the Miami International Airport in Florida, United States that were destined for Jamaica

H

eads of Government of the Caribbean C o m m u n i t y (Caricom) and Cuba will hold the sixth CaricomCuba summit in Antigua and Barbuda on Friday.

The meeting will be cochaired by the chairman of Caricom, Prime Minister, Dr Keith Mitchell of Grenada, and the president of Cuba, Raúl Castro.

This meeting marks 45 years of diplomatic relations between Caricom and Cuba, and will examine is-

sues of regional and global importance including climate change adaptation and disaster risk management.

A memorandum of understanding will be signed between the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and Cuba’s Agency for Civil Defence, which will provide opportunities for closer collaboration, especially following the devastating impact of the September 2017 hurricanes across the region, and the

increased focus on climate change resilience.

Friday’s discussions will also review the status of the decades-old Caricom-Cuba cooperation in commercial and economic areas. Trade relations between the two parties were strengthened in November 2017 with the signing of the second protocol to the Caricom-Cuba trade agreement. The protocol expands reciprocal duty-free market access to more than 320 items including meat, fish, dairy prod-

ucts, fruits, vegetables, beer, rum, cement, soap and apparel.

Cuba, a significant development partner, has supported the Community in building its human resource capacity through scholarship programs offered in several areas of study, including health and medicine, sports, agriculture and trade.

The summit will conclude with the adoption of a Caricom-Cuba joint declaration. (Caribbean News Now)

Inaccurate info led to T&T’s blacklisting

I

nformation presented to the Global Forum that led to Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) being named as a tax haven and subsequently being blacklisted “is not accurate, and is not an accurate reflection of our status,” says Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley.

Asked in the House of Representatives yesterday what measures Government will be adopting to deal with the issue, Rowley said the matter was being dealt with

by Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, who had made a lot of progress with respect to T&T’s qualifications.

Al-Rawi, he said, has addressed this issue several times over the past two to three weeks. The blacklisting, he said, “is the outcome

of inactivity on the part of the Government of T&T.” At this point in time, he said, T&T does not report to the Europe-based Global Forum. To give clarity to the situation, he said, in 2011 under the previous administration, T&T chose to subject itself to the Global Forum oversight.

“In 2014, T&T reinforced that position but did nothing to put us in a position to execute that commitment.

Therefore now we have been lumped by those in that basket,” he said.

What was not being said, he said, “is that in the last 24 months, this Government has done yeoman service in trying to bring us to a position to avoid these kinds of labels.” (Trinidad Newsday)

he Jamaica Constabulary Force and its law enforcement counterparts in the United States are now conducting a major investigation following the seizure of more than 100 illegal firearms at the Miami International Airport in Florida.

The guns and more than 200 assorted rounds of ammunition were destined for Jamaica, a release from the Police’s Corporate Communications Unit said on Wednesday.

The Jamaica Observer has since learnt that the guns were destined for Montego Bay, St James, the parish that has recorded more than 300 murders so far this year. The guns and ammunition were dis-

covered by US Customs and Border Protection (CBT) and Outbound Enforcement Team (OET) at the US airport.

The Police reported that the CBT and OET were conducting routine security screening at the airport on November 13 when two blue barrels and two cardboard boxes, which were listed as comprising household and food items, were found to contain 119 firearms and 267 assorted rounds of ammunition.

Four rifles were among the weapons, with the other 115 being pistols.

The Police say several accessories for firearms, including handgun backstraps, magazine parts, pistol grips, and buttstocks, were also seized. (Excerpt from

Jamaica Observer)

Belize to reduce climate vulnerability with IDB assistance

B

elize will seek to reduce its vulnerability to climate change and risk with the implementation of climate resilience measures in the tourism sector and the improvement of disaster risk management governance, through a US$10 million loan from the InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB). The project is expected to directly or indirectly benefit 103,503 people living in Belize City and Caye Caulker.

Based on losses as a share of GDP, Belize is one of the countries most affected by extreme meteorological events – mostly hurricanes and tropical storms – in Latin America and the Caribbean. Between 1930 and 2016, the country has been hit by 16 major tropical storms, or one every five years on average, which af-

fected 287,670 people and caused US$635 million in losses. The tourism sector is particularly vulnerable to climate risk, and the situation could worsen in the future due to climate change.

The programme consists of two components. The first will seek to reduce climate change risk in the tourism sector. It will include studies and investments to reduce floods in the Orange Street area of Belize City, an area with a comparatively high climate risk. Planned works include a pumping station, the installation of floodgates in canals to control water flow, and actions to control coastal erosion in Palapa Gardens beach on Caye Caulker. The second component deals with disaster risk management governance and climate change adaptation. (Excerpt from Caribbean

News Now)

friDAY, december 8, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

North Korea says US threats make war unavoidable, China urges calm

T

wo American B-1B heavy bombers joined large-scale combat drills over South Korea on Thursday amid warnings from North Korea that the exercises and U.S. threats have made the outbreak of war “an established fact.”

The annual US-South Korean “Vigilant Ace” exercises feature 230 aircraft, including some of the most advanced U.S. stealth warplanes. They come a week after North Korea tested its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) to date, which it says can reach all of the United States.

North Korea’s foreign ministry blamed the drills and “confrontational warmongering” by US officials for making war inevitable. “The remaining question now is: when will the war break out?” it said in a statement carried by North Korea’s official KCNA news agency.

“We do not wish for a war but shall not hide from

A US Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to Hill Air Force Base, Utah, conducts a training flight with F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to Kunsan Air Base, South Korea over the city of Gunsan, in South Korea

it.” China, North Korea’s neighbor and lone major ally, again urged calm and said war was not the answer, while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said North Korea wanted direct talks with the United States to seek guarantees on its security, something Moscow was ready to facilitate.

Lavrov said he had passed on Pyongyang’s desire for direct talks to U.S.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson when the two met on the sidelines of a conference in Vienna on Thursday.

“We know that North Korea wants above all to talk to the United States about guarantees for its security. We are ready to support that, we are ready to take part in facilitating such negotiations,” Interfax news agency quoted Lavrov as saying. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Italian man 'poisoned family members after joining cult'

I

talian Police have arrested a man who allegedly used a rat poison ingredient to kill members of his family because they were

"impure". Mattia Del Zotto, 27, is accused of sprinkling the toxic chemical thallium in the food of his paternal grandparents and aunt, who

died.

Five other relatives are in hospital receiving treatment. Del Zotto was detained in the Monza, near Milan, after Police reportedly found receipts on his computer.

After his arrest he confessed that he had wanted to "punish impure people", according to prosecutors.

His mother told investigators he had recently joined a cult, according to local media. Thallium, a soft metal, dissolves in water and is odourless and tasteless.

(BBC News)

After 6 years in jail, Gaddafi's son Saif plots return to Libya's turbulent politics

S

aif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of the former Libyan dictator, is seeking to make a comeback after years in detention, and claims to be leading a military campaign against terrorist groups around Tripoli.

Gaddafi was freed in June after six years as the prisoner of a militia in the town of Zintan following the Natosupported uprising in 2011 that led to the killing of his father, Muammar Gaddafi, and the fragmentation of the country. Saif Gaddafi was once the heir apparent of the Libyan regime, a London School of Economics graduate touted as a moderniser who mixed with British high society. Now, he stands accused of ordering the killing of protesters as the Gaddafis fought desperately to hold on to power. But in recent weeks

17

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi pictured in 2011. Observers said they doubted the dictator’s son would be able to muster enough loyalists to pose a serious threat to the capital

he has told a longstanding US contact he was gathering a force that had taken control of the coastal town of Sabratha – and claimed he would fight his way to Tripoli.

“Saif al-Islam is inside Libya and is committed to his word, which he gave to all Libyans in 2011, when

he said that he will remain in Libya to defend its territory or die a martyr for it,” a spokesman for Gaddafi said in a written statement, supplied through the US contact who had extensive dealings with him before the fall of his family’s regime. (Excerpt from The

Guardian)

Palestinians "ready to sacrifice" for Jerusalem

H

undreds of Palestinians marched through Bethlehem in a "day of rage" protest against Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, as anger over the controversial decision continues to spread across the occupied Palestinian territories.

Israeli military forces shot tear gas and rubber bullets at Palestinian protesters in Bethlehem on Thursday, and at least seven youths were injured in

the clashes, including one small child.

Men, women and children participated in the march, which was among several held in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, as well as in major cities across the region, throughout the day.

Palestinian leaders also declared a general strike across the Palestinian territories. Trump announced on Wednesday that he was recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital and that he

would begin the process of moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to the city, to the disbelief of Palestinians and world leaders.

No country currently has its embassy in Jerusalem.

West Jerusalem was seized by Israel during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, when more than 750,000 Palestinians were expelled from historic Palestine, referred to by Palestinians as the Nakba (catastrophe) when Israel was officially founded. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Rajasthan attack: India arrest over 'love jihad' killing video

P

olice in the western Indian state of Rajasthan have arrested a man who allegedly hacked another man to death and set him alight before sharing video of the apparent religious attack.

In a second video, the man is seen justifying the incident to "protect the honour of Hindus against Muslims".

Police have identified the suspect as a Hindu. His victim was Muslim. Internet services have been suspended in parts of the state and people have been urged to stop sharing the video.

Police have been deployed in large numbers to keep the peace. It's not clear when the attack happened.

The suspect is seen in the video justifying the incident to "protect the honour of Hindus against Muslims"

In the video, the suspect Shambu Lal warns Muslims, saying: "This is what will happen to you if you do 'love jihad' in our country."

The term has been pop-

ularised by radical Hindu fringe groups, who accuse Muslim men of participating in a "conspiracy to turn Hindu women from their religion by seducing them".

(Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, december 8, 2017

ARCHIE

Trust in yourself and your ideas if you want to move for(March 21ward with your long-term plans.

April 19) Your knowledge and intelligence will help you win any debate you face. Personal change looks promising.

ARIES

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

An emotional situation based on half-truths will leave you in a quandary. Look for unusual ways to compensate someone being left out or hurt by what’s transpired.

A business or personGEMINI al relationship will take an (May 21upward turn.

Discuss your June 20) thoughts and you will be able to iron out any difference and set your plans in motion.

A business trip or educational pursuit will help you (June 21- decide what direction you July 22) should pursue. Follow your dreams and let your heart be your guide.

CANCER

Peanuts

Attend networking funcLEO tions or work-related fes(July 23- tivities that will give you a Aug. 22) chance to show off what you have to offer. Your intelligence and confidence will not go unnoticed.

An investment, bonus or gift VIRGO will come from an unexpected (Aug. 23source. Visitors or changes to your Sept. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

living arrangements will make life complicated. Someone from your past will surprise you.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Pay more attention to the way you look and feel.

An update or makeover will lift your spirits and help you prepare for the upcoming festivities. Romance is highlighted.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Offer peace and love instead of overreacting to someone’s story that may or may not be true. Be patient, listen and observe in order to avoid a mishap.

A personal investment will SAGITTARIUS pay off. Celebrate your good for(Nov. 23- tune with someone you love. An Dec. 21) emotional promise will lead to benefits and a positive change in lifestyle.

WEDNESDAY’S

solution for LAST PUBLISHED Puzzle

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

Showing empathy and offering suggestions should be the extent of the help you offer a person or cause if you want to avoid being taken advantage of or donating more than you rightfully should.

Keep your life simple and AQUARIUS your emotions controlled.

(Jan. 20- Don’t be tempted to get inFeb. 19) volved in someone else’s plans, especially if it will cost you. Romance will improve your personal life.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Don’t take chances when it comes to how you earn your keep. Be straight about what you can offer, and work hard to build a good rapport with your affiliates.

friDAY, december 8, 2017

19

Stokes, Hales

Pride crawl to 174-2 on called up for Australia ODIs opening day B

en Stokes and Alex Hales have been named i n

Ben Stokes is currently representing Canterbury in New Zealand

England's one-day squad for the five-match series against Australia in the new year.

Stokes, 26, has not played since being arrested following an incident outside a Bristol

nightclub in September.

He is not available for selection until the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decides whether to charge him.

Once a decision has been made, the England and Wales Cricket Board will decide on disciplinary action.

Hales is facing no criminal charges for his involvement in the Bristol incident but he too could be disciplined by the ECB. Being named in the squad does not mean either will play in Australia.

Stokes remains part of England's Ashes squad despite not travelling with the team.

Instead he is playing domestic cricket in New Zealand for Canterbury while a legal decision is made.

The first one-day international in Australia takes place on 14 January in Melbourne.

England's one-day squad to face Australia reads; Eoin Morgan (captain), Moeen Ali, Jonathan Bairstow, Jake Ball, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood. (BBC Sport)

…Red Force bowled out for 243 Hurricanes vs Pride at Warner Park ery slow half-centuries from Shayne Moseley and skipper Shamarh Brooks were the hallmarks of the first day of the Windies Professional Cricket League (WPCL) game between the Barbados Pride and the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Warner Park in St Kitts & Nevis.

Sent into bat, the Pride ended the day on 174 for two, with Moseley not out on 70 from a mammoth 225 deliveries.

Anthony Alleyne, 21, had forged a partnership with Moseley worth 33, before he went leg before wicket to Rahkeem Cornwall.

Determined to ensure there was no slide Moseley hunkered down with skipper Shamarh Brooks, who even-

V

bowled out about half-hour before the close of play on day one.

Campbell, the Windies “A” Team opener, returned to finish not out on 14 and fellow left-hander Trevon Griffith was not out on two, as they batted through until stumps were drawn in fading light.

The Scorpions are missing Nikita Miller, whose 23 wickets and stubborn lower-order batting in the previous two matches has sparked a Scorpions revival. The leftarm spinner flies out of the Caribbean this week destined for New Zealand, where he will be a part of the West Indies One-day International squad for a series of three matches against the hosts.

The Scorpions had concerns about the ability of their bowling to take 20 wick-

Samuels scores Windies will be worse third half off without Holder – century of BPL Sir Vivian Richards M arlon Samuels third half century of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) helped the Comilla Victorians to a 25-run win over the Sylhet Sixers and gave his side a place at the top of the standings.

The Victorians scored 170 for four from their allotted 20 overs after being sent in to bat at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.

Liton Das slammed 65 from 43 deliveries to top score for t h e Victorians, while Samuels offered more than a little support with 55 from the same number of balls as his partner.

Samuels struck five boundaries and two sixes on his way to the total, while Das had six fours and three blows that went over the rope.

Samuels’ 55 means he now has 334 runs in the BPL at an average of almost

67.

In reply, the Sixers stumbled to 145-7 from their 20 overs, with another West Indian, Andre Fletcher, struggling at the top of the order to get to 25 from 30 balls. The only other offer of resistance came from Sabbir Rahman with his 31 from 20 deliveries. (Sportsmax)

Sir Vivian Richards

W

est Indies batting great Sir Vivian Richards believes the Windies team, losers of their first Test against New Zealand, will have a harder time of things when the second Test begins on December 9.

Windies lost the first Test by an innings and will be without their cap-

tain Jason Holder for the second Test that starts on Saturday in Hamilton.

Holder has been suspended for one Test and fined 60 percent of his match fee, and his teammates fined 30 percent of their match fees for maintaining a slow over-rate during their innings defeat to New Zealand in the first Test in Wellington.

Richards, the only Windies captain never to lose a Test series, believes it will be harder for the inexperienced Caribbean side without their leader.

“It’s going to be tough and especially since he is the captain; and it would have some effect on whether or not the confidence factor is there and especially after losing the very first one, you wouldn’t want to lose again,” Sir Vivian said.

“This is the best which we have at present so he would certainly be missed with that lineup.”(Sportsmax)

John Campbell tually went caught by Devon Thomas, off the bowling of Cornwall for 79 in the penultimate over of the day.

Brooks’ innings comprised of nine fours and three sixes, while Moseley has sent fielders scurrying to the boundary the same number of times but is yet to clear the ropes in his patient knock. Jonathan Carter has joined Moseley at the crease and will resume battle on day two today.

Rahkeem Cornwall, so far, has taken 2-58, with his side having used seven bowlers on the first day.

Scorpions vs Red Force at Sabina Park John Campbell grabbed 4-40 from 17.5 overs with his part-time off-spin and fast-medium bowler Derval Green snared 4-45 from 19 overs, as the Red Force were

ets – but Campbell and Green eased their worries.

Jeremy Solozano hit the top score of 62 for the Red Force, Ewart Nicholson supported with 50, Amir Jangoo made 39 and Tion Webser added 29 before the visitors’ innings closed quietly.

Red Force started solidly with Jangoo and Solozano sharing 71 for the first wicket, but they stumbled to 110 for two at lunch.

Nicholson led a recovery in the afternoon session, sharing 73 for the third wicket with Solozano before his dismissal triggered a mini collapse and Red Force went in to tea on 188 for five.

After the break, there was token resistance from the rest of the Red Force batting, as Green and Campbell worked their way through the tail and tightened the Scorpions’ grip.

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

friDAY, december 8, 2017

Law wants total improvement from Windies

S

– Southee returns to potent attack

tuart Law expects to see a much-improved display from West Indies when they face New Zealand in the second Test in Hamilton beginning tonight Caribbean time.

West Indies must improve all aspects of their game if they are to level the Test series with New Zealand in Hamilton, according to head coach Stuart Law. The tourists slumped to an innings and 67-run defeat in the opening match in Wellington, the Windies suffering costly batting collapses as New Zealand flourished.

Having been put in to bat Law's side were skittled for 134 in the first innings, losing all 10 wickets for 75 runs having been 590, Neil Wagner (7-39) ripping through their line-up

with an inspired spell of pace bowling.

Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme and Tom Blundell put the visitors to the sword in New Zealand's reply, and when asked to bat again the Windies came up short.

They made a solid start with Kraigg Brathwaite's 91 at the top of the order giving them a platform while Shimron Hetmyer played a classy innings on his way to a maiden Test half century. However, 231-2 became 319 all out as wickets tumbled all too frequently – something Law is keen to eradicate.

In the Windies second innings, the Caribbean side lost their last eight wickets for 88 runs.

"When we do happen to lose wickets, we tend to lose them in clumps," Law

said ahead of the second and final Test getting under way at Seddon Park on Saturday (New Zealand time).

"We talk about it quite often. We don't want to do that, obviously.

"We can get to 40s and 60s, but they don't win you games – 140s and 160s is where you want to be."

It was not just West

he added.

"We've got some good pace, we've got some quality swing and seam bowling.

We've got to match their intensity, their passion and desire.

"If we can do that, and I am sure we can, we can give a great account of ourselves."

On the other hand, New Zealand’s pace attack that Shimron Hetmyer thrilled everyone with his stroke play

Tim Southee is back but may not play

Raymon Reifer’s left-arm variety may be considered

Indies' batting display that disappointed Law in Wellington. Their bowling - which will be shorn of suspended captain Jason Holder in Hamilton - also lacked the hostility the Australian wanted.

"I'd like to see us being a little more aggressive,"

inflicted an innings defeat on West Indies in the first Test in Wellington will be boosted further by the return of Tim Southee for the second Test. Southee had missed the first Test due to the birth of his child and was replaced by George Worker, who did

not find a place in the XI in Wellington.

New Zealand played three quicks in the first Test - Trent Boult, Matt Henry and Neil Wagner and all contributed with wickets in both innings.

While Boult picked four wickets in the match and Henry collected three, Wagner finished with career-best 7 for 39 in the first innings before picking another two in the second innings. They also had the medium-pace services of Colin de Grandhomme and played Mitchell Santner as the specialist spinner so with Southee in the equation now there must be selection issues.

With Jason Holder being suspended for the second Test due to a second slow rate offence within the past 12 months, the West Indies will have an enforced change at least and will likely go for leg-spin-

ner Devendra Bishoo.

However, left-arm seamer Raymon Reifer’s debut can’t be ruled out especially if the conditions at Hamilton suggest the need for a such armory.

West Indies squad reads; Kraigg Brathwaite (Captain), Sunil Ambris, Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Roston Chase, Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Kieran Powell, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach.

New Zealand squad reads; Kane Williamson (capt), Trent Boult, Tom Blundell, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner.

The first ball is expected at 18:00h Guyana Time.

Ronaldo wins 50th Ballon Dominoes d'Or to equal Messi today, cricket R Sunday T

he Ministry of Foreign Affairs sports organizer, James “Father” Lewis has unveiled a packed weekend of sports namely cricket and domino.

The competitions are opened to government Ministries and agencies and other organisations with the and will begin today with the knock out domino competition with the Ministry of Business trophy and cash prizes are up for grabs.

Interested teams have until the 15:30h deadline today to register for the competition; it will be held in the Ministry’s parking lot in Charlotte Street from 16:30h.

On Sunday, teams will suit up and take to the National Cultural Centre tarmac from 09:00h for the Ministry of Social Cohesion’s Knockout Tape-ball competition where trophies, cash incentives and medals will be ripe for the taking.

Interested teams for the domino and cricket competitions can contact Lewis on telephone numbers: 6726179, 628-1656 or 666-5857.

eal Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the winner of the Ballon d'Or for the fourth time in five years.

Cristiano Ronaldo equalled Lionel Messi's five Ballon d'Or awards after retaining football's most prestigious individual prize for the second year running.

The 32-year-old was named France Football's player of the year for the fourth time in five years after a brilliant 2016-17 in which he won LaLiga and the Champions League with Real Madrid.

Ronaldo also became the all-time leading scorer in Europe's top five leagues when he reached 366 goals in May to overtake Jimmy Greaves.

His two goals in Madrid's Champions League final victory over Juventus also took the Portugal star past 600 career goals, while Messi only reached the 500 mark for Barcelona six weeks earlier.

"I'm very happy. To get this prize in Paris is a great experience," he said.

"It's marvellous. It's a great moment of my career. It's something I wish I have every year.

"We had a marvellous year. I was the goalscorer of the Champions League, so I want to thank my teammates. They were important for me.

"And also thanks everybody who helped me to be in great form during the season."

The Ballon d'Or is voted for by a jury of 173 journalists from around the world and presented by France Football, having ended its six-year partnership with FIFA, which ran from 2009 to 2015.

Ronaldo and Messi jointly hold the record for the most Ballons d'Or, having won five each and dominated the top two places in the standings since 2008.

The last player to beat either of them to the award was Kaka in 2007 and since then the pair have thrived on a rivalry that has defined a generation.(Sportsmax)

Cristiano Ronaldo equalled Lionel Messi by winning his fifth Ballon D'or on Thursday in Paris

friDAY, december 8, 2017 | www.guyanatimesgy.com

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21

Trophy Stall Doubles serves off this weekend

T

he Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) and Trophy Stall have teamed up for the 8th edition annual Doubles tournament which commences this upcoming weekend at the National Racquet Centre in Georgetown and at the Le Resouvenir East Coast Demerara courts.

The categories will see players contesting in the; Men’s Doubles, Ladies Doubles, Mixed Doubles and Men’s Over 45. Suited mostly for the seasoned doubles players, the format is re-

garded as the most intense in the game, which requires a battle of skills, power and excellent hand work at the net.

Trophy Stall has been a valued partner in keeping this form of the game alive. This will be the last tournament for the year on the Association’s calendar.

Proprietor of Trophy Stall, Ramesh Sunich recognized the state of play tennis is currently facing and the association has continued to work with degrading facility but players brave the cir-

cumstances to have fun and engage in battle for the titles.

This year will showcase high drama and battles as players contend in the last tournament of the year to finish the season strong in hopes of securing their spot at the top of the ranking table.

Cricket West Indies

hit with more resignations

C

hairman of the Cricket West Indies’ (CWI) medical panel, Dr Donovan Bennett, has resigned.

The chairman’s resignation comes in the wake of the resignation of Dr Akshai Mansingh, who said his relationship with the board of the Cricket West Indies was no longer tenable.

To heap more problems on the head of the CWI, Bennett’s resignation also came along with that of Dr Renee Best.

According to Bennett, there could yet be more resignations, adding that he also had difficulties with the CWI. “It [the resignation] has to do with some difficulties in carrying out our responsibilities. I don’t think we got the type of support or respect that was due to voluntary professional people,” said Bennett.

“It’s the appropriate move to make to give the president (Dave Cameron) room for him to have the type of panel that he is comfortable with,” he added.

While there are issues, according to Bennett, there is no ill will toward president of CWI, Dave Caribbean.

“I don’t have any bitter feelings. I’m still hoping one day to be able to serve

West Indies cricket. There’s a vacuum now, I hope they can fill it. I’m even prepared to help in whatever way I can until they reconstitute a panel,” said Bennett, who described his relationship with Cameron as cordial.

“I wouldn’t say the relationship with the president is great, but I would say that it is quite good and cordial,” he said.

Despite the cordial nature of the relationship, Bennett still feels there were elements of the professional interaction between the entities that suggested a lack of respect.

“Having said that, when you have professional people working for you, you should basically respect their professional ability and allow them to do the job you ask them to do,” said Bennett.

Bennett and Best’s resignations mean Dr Anyyl Goopesingh is the only remaining medical doctor on CWI’s medical panel.

The panel is completed by Windies physio, CJ Clark; strength and fitness coordinator, Ronald Rogers; CWI chief executive, Johnny Grave; COO, Verlyn Faustin; and Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams. (Sportsmax)

GLTA President Grace McCalman, Jamal Goodluck and Davi Sunich of Trophy Stall at the symbolic handing over ceremony

Foo bowls Albion to big win …Sinclair, Karim also among the wickets

T

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Senior 50 over competition continued over the last weekend at venues across the Ancient county with wins for Albion, Rose Hall and Blairmont.

At the Port Mourant Community Center, hosts Rose Hall Town Youth Sports Club (RHTYSC) defeated Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) by 8 wickets.

Batting first, UCCA managed 70 runs all out in 26.2 overs with Balram Persaud 20, Lakeram Latchman 17 and A. Hemchand 12, the main scorers.

Bowling for the RHTYSC, Keon Sinclair took 5 for 39 off his 10 overs, Eon Hooper 2-13 off 8 overs and Sean Pereira 2 -2 of 2.2 overs. In their reply, the RHTYSC batsmen reached the target in just 16.1 overs and losing two wickets in the process. Batsmen Jason Sinclair was left not out on 48, while Junior Sinclair scored 14. Bowling for UCCA Lakeram Latchman and Devendra Budhoo took one wicket each.

At the Albion Community Center, Albion defeated Skeldon Community Center by 9 wickets in their match which was reduced to 45 overs per side.

Batting first, Skeldon Community Center scored 86 all out in 20 overs after Gajendra Nauth and Zekiel Gordon were the only 2 to reach double figures with 22 runs apiece.

National p l a y e r Jonathan Foo took 5-24 in 5 overs with Kelvin Omram 2-19

and a wicket each from Steven Kamaludeen and Balchand Baldeo sealing the deal for Albion, who in reply were led by Kandasammy Surujnarine’s 63 and received support from Adrian Sukwah who scored 18 as Albion cruised to 87-1.

In Western Berbicce, Blairmont defeated Bushlot United by 10 wickets.

Batting first, Bushlot was bowled out for 82 runs in 19.5 overs.

Bowling for Blairmont, Javid Karim took 5-20 in 7 overs, while D Mc Calmont and Waqar Hassan took 2 wickets each, in their reply, Blairmont reached the target in just 6.5 overs with Z. Inshan scoring 34 and Martin Singh 47 not out.

Jonathan Foo

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

friDAY, december 8, 2017

GABF/ National Basketball Club Championships, Road to Mecca IV

O

n the third night of Guyana Amateur B a s k e t b a l l Federation’s National Club Championship “Road to Mecca IV”, the Half Mile Bulls and Pacesetters were the latest victors after contrasting encounters.

In the double header on Wednesday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, Half Mile Bulls took on Rose Hall Jammers in game one and promptly walked all over the latter in a lop sided win much to the delight of the sprinkling of spectators.

Michael Turner “turned” on the heat with a game

Action between the Plaisance Guardians (White) and the Pacesetters

high 31 points and was well supported by Kevon Welch as they helped their side, the Half Mile Bulls to an 81-53 victory over the

Jammers.

Michael King was the only Rose Hall player to touch double figures as he scored 12 points with

Mickel Lewis sinking nine while David Hope and Kevon Emmanuel had eight points each.

In game two the

Plaisance Guardians gave a good account of themselves but fell short as they lost to the Pacesetters 64-78.

The winners had solid performances from the entire team with Stephan Gillis leading the way with 19 points. Gillis received solid backing from Nathan Saul with 18, Joslyn Crawford and Sherlon Legall with 10 points each.

Trenton Woolford was once again the standout for Plaisance as he racked up 15 points while Akeem Crandon and Calvin Nurse contributed 13 points apiece.

The tournament continues tonight at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall from 19:00h with defending champions Bounty Colts taking on Amelia Ward Jets and Victory Valley Royals battling Retrieve Raiders.

The top 10 clubs in Guyana are battling for over $1M in prizes with the victors set to pocket $600,000 and the championship trophy. The defending champions of the tournament are the Bounty Colts. The tournament will culminate with the grand finale on Christmas Eve (December 24).

Lack of National Sports Policy Therefore, my aim is to keep hitting this one nail on the s we get clos- head continuously until the er to the end of relevant authorities see it fit another year to address what has become of mixed fortunes for a glaring issue in Guyana’s sport in Guyana, there sport community; the lack of still remains a a National Sports Policy. glaring Guyana is full of raw talb u g ent and potential but withbear. out any firm plan for the development of our young athletes; that is all it will remain as, just potential.

That being said the Minister of Social Cohesion responsibility for Minister of Social Cohesion with Sport, Dr George Norton with responsibility for on Wednesday rolled out Sport, Dr George Norton his ministry’s plan for 2018

By Michelangelo Jacobus

A

West Indies are the defending World T20 Champions

T

rinidad and Tobago has the opportunity to bid to host matches in the 2018 ICC T20 Women’s World Cup with the West Indies set to defend their world title.

The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) hosted a stakeholders meeting at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain last Friday with potential bid partners.

The list of invitees included Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of National Security, Customs, Police, Fire, Private Security, Hotel providers, Transport providers and stadium owners (QPCC and BLCA).

At the meeting the TTCB presented the pertinent information in relation to service providers within the different sectors and is expecting that quotations will be sent in by Tuesday 5 December so that the final bid can be prepared and submitted by December 8.

hurting young athletes

World Junior 400m Silver Medalist Daniel Williams has been nothing short of spectacular over the last year both locally and internationally

T&T yet to decide on Women’s World T20 bid

The TTCB bid (if successful) is likely to cost the government around TT$1m (half for group stage matches and half for semifinals and finals) with various guaranteed and waivers expected.

The return on the investment though is significant given that at least five (5) teams will be hosted in Trinidad and Tobago for a minimum of 10 days with a minimum guarantee of at least 175 hotel rooms being booked for the respective teams during the group stage hosting period.

That figure can be increased to another five days if T&T is granted the semifinals and final. At least 104 additional rooms will be required for match officials and media personnel along with the TV Production and broadcast crews.

In addition to the hotel rooms, the event will provide employment for at least 300 persons directly along with service providers and other suppliers thereby ensuring that government’s

investment will realize a handsome return.

The T20 World Cup also offers the opportunity to showcase Trinidad and Tobago to the world as over 180 million fans watched the 2017 ICC Women’s 50/50 tournament. All matches will be televised live. The broadcast will be carried globally guaranteeing international exposure for the country whilst providing more opportunities to promote the sport tourism agenda.

The tournament will also create the opportunity for valuable foreign exchange to enter the economy, thereby assisting in stimulating the economy through cricket. Next year’s event will be the first ever standalone Women event at this level as traditionally the women’s game has piggy backed on that of the men’s. The bid now hinges on the Government and the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket making the submission on or before Friday 8th December.

and while it included some positives such as facilities being built in different regions of the country, we are yet to see the materialization of a National Sports Policy.

This is where a National Sports Policy is supposed to be of utmost importance, the outline of any good Policy should be to address the structures, programmes and infrastructure required for recreational and high performance sport and how best to facilitate and support the achievement of sport objectives over a period of time.

I can point to a country that is easily half the geographical size of Guyana; Iceland whose population is in the area of 330,000.

Iceland’s performance in sports internationally has risen steadily over the last decade or so; more specifically in football. From being ranked 112th in the world in 2010, Iceland’s national football team has risen a staggering 93 places up ranking 19th as of July 2017. In addition they have also qualified for their first world cup slated for 2018.

How did a country that small rise so steadily in the space of time since 2010? A vested interest from their government in sports and heavy investment in infrastructure, that’s how.

Gudian Thordarson a national Icelandic coach embodied this best when he said “I think the biggest thing is the facilities we’ve got now.”

The country has facilities in every single district, however along with those facilities; the government has brought in highly qualified coaches.

Thodarson maintained “this is not something that has happened out of the blue, we have qualified coaches all the way down to the youth level.” It is not only in football that Iceland has been doing well in but also in other sports such as basketball and handball.

Promising young athletes such as World Junior 400m Silver Medalist Daniel Williams is certain to leave the country in the new year as he seeks greener pastures in the USA, the same could be said for Chantoba Bright who has been head and shoulders above her competitors in the jumping pits not only in Guyana but in South America and the Caribbean.

A Sports Policy would ensure that such athletes have the same opportunities and access to high level coaching and further development right here at home in Guyana. While “Jack must be given his jacket” the development of sport facilities country wide should not be a marker for the development of sport but Minister Norton should push for the country to develop a National Sports Policy. In 2018 we can only hope that the Minister whose vision for sport has so far been unprecedented has the support that is needed to put Guyana on the map.

guyanatimesgy.com

friDAY, december 8, 2017

23

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

Permaul 5-for triggers Volcanoes collapse A

ce left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul rocked the Windward Islands Volcanoes with his 24th First Class 5-wicket haul; as defending champs Guyana Jaguars wrapped up a commanding opening day in their sixth round match of the Digicel Regional Four-Day Tournament at Providence on Thursday.

Guyana in their first innings were 78-2 at close of play with opener Tagenarine

– Jags trail by just 39 runs

The Jags leading wicket-taker this season, snatched 5-40 which was instrumental in the Volcanoes horrendously imploding for a first innings total of 117 in 54.3 overs. Windwards skipper and opening batsman Tyrone Theophile hit three fours and a six in his top knock of 33 but looked scratchy on the easy-paced track in good weather for cricket.

Supporting Permaul were Jaguars all-round pacTagenarine Chanderpaul is very composed in his brief innings so far

Roland Kato is smartly taken by wicketkeeper Anthony Bramble off of Sherfane Rutherford

Chanderpaul on 27 not out and Vice-captain Vishaul Singh on 7 not out, trailing the visitors by just 39 runs heading into the second day.

Permaul, the 28-yearold who played 6 Test for the West Indies, bounced back from a below-par game against Barbados in the previous round at Providence, which was dominated by the fast-bowlers, to take his third five wicket haul this season and his personal tally to 31 scalps.

ers Keemo Paul (1-19) and Sherfane Rutherford (227) who continues to impress while junior left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie snapped up two quick wickets for 11 runs.

Openers Chanderpaul and Chandrapaul Hemraj put on 48 for the first wicket with the in-form Hemraj stroking six beautiful boundaries before his middle stump was uprooted by the lively Lewis; who also bagged the big wicket of

the Jaguars Captain Leon Johnson who was out caught for 4 heading towards the end of the day’s play.

Chanderpaul and Singh then knuckled down and warded off any further threats to see Guyana safely to stumps.

Earlier, after winning the toss and electing to bowl, the Jaguars bowlers were on point during their opening spells, especially Permaul who seemed to be on a quest to make up for the previous round which was dominated

by his quicker teammates.

Rutherford drew first blood when the tournament’s leading run-scorer; opener Devon Smith was caught behind by wicket-keeper Anthony Bramble.

Theophile and Taryck Gabriel, shared a 22-run partnership before the topedged a slog straight to Motie at mid-on, ending his brief innings.

The 50 had come up for the Volcanoes but Permaul who was now hitting his straps, bowled Miles Bascombe for a 16-ball duck on the stroke of lunch to end the session at 55 for 3. The opening stanza was clearly won by the three-time champions.

Theophile remained calm and found the ropes three times and even hit the first six of the innings off Permaul in the 15th over.

The West Indies A spinner however, got his vengeance shortly after when he trapped the Windwards

skipper leg before wicket, leaving the visitors reeling at 4-71.

Volcanoes barely caught a break before Rutherford

got into the action for the second time when he broke Roland Cato’s edge for Bramble to complete a regulation catch standing back. Downell Hector then succumbed to an LBW decision courtesy of Paul while Permaul disturbed the stumps of Kyle Mayers shortly after. Dennis Smith (20) and Shane Shillingford (12), launched a brief counter-attack with a 33-run stand which briefly kept the Jaguars at bay before Motie joined the act and removed both batsmen. Permaul then grabbed his fifth scalp when his skipper held onto a sharp leaping catch to remove Delorn Johnson to wrap up the innings.

Day two begins at 09:30h and admission is free.

SCOREBOARD Stumps Day 1 Volcanoes 1st Innings Devon Smith c wkpr Bramble+ b Rutherford 16 T Theophile* lbw b Permaul 33 T Gabriel c Motie b Permaul 4 M Bascombe b Permaul 0 R Cato c wkpr Bramble b Rutherford 10 D Hector lbw b Paul 1 K Mayers b Permaul 1 Dennis Smith c wkpr Bramble b Motie 20 S Shillingford lbw b Motie 12 D Johnson c Johnson b Permaul 6 S Lewis not out 0 Extras (b-0, lb-6, w-0, nb-8) 14 Total (All out; 54.3 Overs) 117 FOW: 1-28, 2-50, 3-55, 4-71, 5-72, 6-75, 7-75, 8-108, 9-117, 10-117

Bowling Joseph 6-2-140, Paul 11-3-19-1, Permaul 21.3-5-40-5, Rutherford 102-27-2, Motie 6-1-11-2 Jaguars 1st Innings T Chanderpaul not out 27 C Hemraj b Lewis L Johnson* c Smith b Lewis 04 V Singh not out 07 Extras (b-4, lb-1, w-0, nb-6) 11 Total (For 2 wickets; 30 Overs) 78 FOW: 1-48, 2-63 Still to bat: S Chanderpaul, A Bramble, K Paul, S Rutherford, V Permaul, G Motie, K Joseph Bowling: D Johnson 8-5-7-0, Lewis 8-3-32-2, Mayers 124-33-0, Shillingford 2-1-1-0 Position: Guyana Jaguars trail by 39 runs with 8 first innings wickets remaining

Guinness "Greatest of the Streets" Georgetown…

T

he Georgetown Zone of the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” is now down to the business end with the quarter-finals slated for tonight at the parking lot of the National Cultural Centre, none of the four quarter-final fixtures promises more fireworks than that of the Future Stars versus Bent Street clash.

The two sides are similar in their energetic high octane playing styles and will be sure to have their respective supporters on edge.

The two teams who will face each other in the final match of the night progressed from the round of

Future Stars, Bent Street bracing for electric quarter-final clash 16 in contrasting fashion as Bent Street scored a single goal against Ol Skool Ballers. If Bent Street’s win was hard earned, Future Stars made it look easy as they demolished a hapless Kingston by five goals to nil.

Bent Street will look to Captain Okanie Fraser who has been their standout player time and again; if Bent Street is to go toe to toe with the Future Stars juggernaut they will need Fraser at his brilliant best.

One factor that makes Future Stars the powerhouse that they are is that they have a team of players who can up the ante on any given night to dastard-

Tonight’s quarter-finals promise fireworks on the tarmac of the National Cultural Centre

ly effect. The likes of Jamal Cozier, Akeemo Anthony and Keron Solomon are all players who can upend a

game on its head to the benefit of their team.

Meanwhile defending champions Sparta

Boss look to have an easy match against Queen Street Tigerbay but no team can be taken for granted at this stage.

Two other exciting quarter-final matches on the night features Gold is Money taking on Rising Stars while Leopold Street will clash with newcomers California Square.

The losers from the round of 16 will have a shot at redemption and $50,000 in the “Plate Section” of the tournament with Trap Squad taking on GTI Ballers, North East La Penitence facing Norton Street, Ol Skool Ballers versus Kingston and North Ruimveldt look to top-

ple Upsetters. (Michelangelo Jacobus)

Fixtures are as follows:

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

Plate Section

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

FRIDAY, december 8, 2017

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

guyanatimesgy.com

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

Permaul

5-for triggers Pg 23

Volcanoes collapse – Jags trail by just 39 runs Volcanoes’ pacer Sherman Lewis bowled a fiery spell to Jaguars captain Leon Johnson late on the opening day at Providence

GABF/ National Basketball Club Championships, Road to Mecca IV

Half Mile Bulls, Pacesetters Pg 22

record latest victories Plaisance Guardians performed admirably but fell short against Pacesetters on Wednesday night at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall

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