Guyana Times October 9 2018

Guyanese named P13 1st nonBritish MU’s Worldwide President Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 3710

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

PRICE

GTT lost billions from Digicel Suriname link – CEO

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

City Hall owes $150M to garbage collectors P10

See stories on pages 3 and 11

…still awaiting 4G spectrum 2 years later

GECOM’s hiring practices

Retired Justice Stanley Moore to lead ERC’s probe

Page 9

– team expected to wrap up investigation before LGE

Page 7

Berbice mason stabbed to death

Pensioner dies in Princes P3 Street collision Prison officers being paid to expose rogue colleagues P2

Shop owner charged for attempting to bribe cop P8 World Bank team to draft Systematic Country Diagnostic for Guyana P7

Dangerous situation: This truck attempting to cut across the one-way at Houston, East Bank Demerara caused a traffic jam after the container it was transporting slipped from its trailer much to the discomfort of commuters (Dexter Ceres photo)

Wages impasse

Obeah, Govt bows to pressure: President finally witchcraft, meets with GTU, Education Ministry Page attempted 9 suicide offences …proposes 10% increase for 2016, 8% for 2018 for judicial review Page 2

“Fake” doctor P10 fined for pretending to be heart specialist LGE 2018

P5

President launches Region 2 campaign

2 news

tuesdAY, october 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Obeah, witchcraft, attempted suicide offences for judicial review legal changes. However, the AG’s Chambers has said these activities are intended to impact the Criminal Justice System by increasing the use of Alternative Sentencing in the Criminal Justice System.

It was outlined that objectives will be achieved through both amendments to existing legislation and

T

UK consultant Peter Pursglove

he Attorney General’s Chambers has announced proposals to review the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act after Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams and his team met with UK consultant Peter Pursglove, who is here under the Support for the Criminal Justice System Programme (SCJSP).

According to a release from the Legal Affairs Ministry on Monday, Pursglove’s proposed amendments will include the decriminalisation of some current offences and

Attorney General Basil Williams

the recommendation of alternatives to imprisonment in respect of certain summary offences, especially minor and non-violent crimes.

The AG’s statement has indicated that crimes such as vagabondage, vagrancy, obeah, witchcraft, roguery, criminal defamation and attempted suicide are decriminalised in other countries, and such changes have not impacted negatively on public safety. It is not clear if public consultations will be carried out to determine whether or not to effect these

the drafting of entirely new legislation. The statement further observed that many of these referenced offences carry a sentence of imprisonment for persons found guilty.

“In such cases, decriminalising the behaviour and dealing with it outside the criminal law has not resulted in any negative impact on

public safety. Other offences may no longer warrant the imposition of a sentence of imprisonment, and may now be dealt with by way of fine or other non-custodial sanctions,” the AG’s Chambers noted.

The Attorney General was quoted as saying that a prison sentence is usually an inappropriate sanction, es-

pecially for non-violent, minor offences. He said various alternatives have been implemented in other jurisdictions; such as bail, seizure of travel documents, periodic reporting to Police or other authorities, electronic monitoring or curfews, and conditional and suspended sentences.

Prison officers being paid to expose rogue colleagues

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s the Guyana Prison Service continues its quest to stamp out corruption, the route to success has been spiced up with prison officers now being rewarded with incentives valuing as much as $25,000 to expose criminal activities.

This was announced on Monday by Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels, via a statement to the media.

“The Ministry of Public Security and the Guyana Prison Service would like to see officers speak out on corruption at all levels. As such, Officers are encour-

aged to help in this fight. For all those officers who come forward with details that can result in detection and prosecution, they will be given an incentive of between $15,000 (and) $25,000,” he said.

The Director’s statements come at a time when the smuggling of contraband into prisons has peaked in recent days. Last Saturday, the Joint Services carried out a countrywide search at the various penitentiaries.

The raids were conducted at the Georgetown, Lusignan, Mazaruni, New Amsterdam, and Timehri prisons.

Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels

The six-and-a-half-hourlong exercise, which commenced at 06:00h, resulted in the discovery of over 275 contraband items, ranging from weapons and cellphones to homemade wine and pepper sauce.

A full list of the contraband found included 28 cellular phones; in excess of 30 cellphone chargers and batteries; six USB cables; four SIM cards; a memory card; and four earplugs; along with a quantity of cigarettes and cannabis; 84 cigarette lighters; ashtrays, and 20 smoking utensils.

In addition, over 65 improvised weapons, five pairs of scissors, a staple machine and a quantity of razor blades, nails, wire, sand paper and small boulders were found. The ranks also unearthed 24 metal spoons, a tattoo machine, two mirrors, playing cards, as well as bottles of homemade wine and pepper sauce.

Except for the Lusignan Prison, there was no other incident during the exercise.

At the East Coast Demerara penitentiary, inmates in the Holding Bay hurled stones and other objects at the Police and prison ranks; however there were no inju-

ries reported.

Contraband smuggling has long been a perennial problem within the local prison system, and this is compounded by the fact that both prison and Police Officers are facilitating the illegal trade, which is said to be “big business”.

While the authorities have been struggling to curb the illegal practice, there has been a breakthrough in the apparent network among rogue officers. In fact, only last week, two prison ranks were fingered in contraband smuggling at two separate facilities.

One of the officers was caught on camera with a parcel containing 1032 grams marijuana and 39 packs of cigarettes, which was thrown over the fence at the New Amsterdam Prison and been hidden in the facility’s kitchen. He later admitted to committing the act.

The other rank was taken into custody after an inmate at the Timehri Prison was found with a container of 584 grams of marijuana in the compound. The prisoner said he was given the narcotic by the officer, who has since denied the allegation.

Meanwhile, last month, four Prison officers were arrested after they smuggled a bottle of rum and a pack of cigarettes into the Lusignan Prison the weekend prior.

These officers were subsequently charged and interdicted from duty.

Furthermore, five other Prison officers were relieved of their duties back in July after they were fingered in an incident wherein a parcel containing cannabis had been thrown into the Lusignan Prison Holding Bay area.

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BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, October 9 – a night retraction at 04:30h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h and Wednesday, October 10 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Tuesday, October 9 – 16:35h-18:05h and Wednesday, October 10 – 16:50h-18:20h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected throughout the day. Clear skies are expected in the evening, with temperatures ranging between 21 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

Winds: South South-easterly to North North-easterly between 2.23 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 16:41h reaching a maximum height of 2.85 metres.

Low Tide: 10:17h and 22:37h reaching minimum heights of 0.42 metre and 0.34 metre respectively.

GTT lost billions from Digicel Suriname link – CEO G

TT is estimating its loss from the bypass link Digicel was reportedly using from Suriname to get data service to be billions of Guyana dollars.

The link in question has since been shut down by Surinamese authorities and this is said to be behind disruptions in Digicel’s service.

At a press conference on Monday, GTT CEO Justin Nedd shied away from suggestions his company had a hand in its competitor’s woes.

“I do know that they have been working with the operators in Suriname to ensure operations are done in an above-board manner. The Surinamese regulators are doing their job. It’s not unusual for operators and regulators to communicate, but with respect to how they execute their mandate, that’s within their purview,” he said.

Nedd would only admit that GTT has complained

about the trans-border link to the Guyana Government.

According to Nedd, GTT did not commence or threaten legal proceedings against Digicel.

On the matter of capacity, Nedd maintained that his company was able to provide the same service to Digicel.

He referenced times when GTT itself has provided the network for data services in neighbouring countries.

“I am very confident that we have the capacity and in fact, I would like to reiterate that in 2018, we carried all the Internet traffic for Suriname, French Guiana and Guyana. And the network was resilient enough to do it.

“Because there were outages in Suriname and French Guiana at the same time… given the architecture of the Guyana network, it provided enough utility to carry that traffic. So I don’t believe it’s a matter of capacity and I want to dispel that notion.

Our network can handle the

GTT is maintaining it has the capacity to service Digicel’s data needs

traffic.”

After GTT raised the issue, the Public Telecommunications Ministry had previously questioned whether GTT had the capacity to provide Digicel with the data service link. Digicel customers have over the past few days been severely affected by the breakdown, with services like electronic to- up no longer available. Calls to Digicel officials went unanswered.

In a previous release, GTT had stated: “We stand ready to work with Digicel to restore their connectivity as soon as possible. We have made commercial offers to Digicel over an extended period to provide capacity that would resolve, or have avoided, their current network failure. We have not taken any legal action against any Digicel Suriname or the Surinamese Government.”

Pensioner dies in Princes Street collision SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2018

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pensioner has become the latest road fatality after he was struck down by a motorcyclist at the intersection of Princes and John Streets, Georgetown on Sunday evening. The dead man has been identified as 66-year-old Orin Roberts of Lot 23 John and Norton Streets, Georgetown.

Based on reports received, the pensioner had been seen standing in the corner of Princes Street, waiting to cross the road, while the motorcyclist, a West Bank Demerara resident, was proceeding along the same roadway.

As the motorcyclist approached John Street, he lost control of the motorcycle, and it crashed into the pedestrian.

As a result of the collision, the pedestrian and the motorcyclist fell onto the roadway and sustained injures about their bodies. They were both picked up in an unconscious state by public-spirited citizens and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where they were examined by a doctor on duty, who recommended, based on their injuries, that they should be admitted to the medical facility.

The pedestrian succumbed a few hours later, while the motorcyclist’s condition is regarded as critical. The body of Roberts is at

the GPHC mortuary awaiting a post mortem. An investigation into the accident has been launched.

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

Third party politics

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n 2005, the Alliance for Change (AFC) party, which was then considered ‘the third force’, promised to liberate Guyanese from the politics of divisiveness, hate, revenge, race and immaturity. It promised to work hard to usher in a period of unprecedented development, should it enter Parliament or become Government, by focusing on poverty reduction, the implementation of modern constitutional reforms, strengthening Government and State agencies, and paving the way for a new political culture wherein consensus and compromise as well as putting Guyana first would be paramount.

As the years went by, the AFC and its ‘third force’ politicians, rallied against Government corruption. They accused the then ruling People’s Progressive Party (PPP) of incompetence, abuse of power, executive lawlessness, and condoning corruption.

Raphael Trotman, the late Sheila Holder and Khemraj Ramjattan were considered by some as the new beacons of hope in the Guyanese society. The AFC rose to fame and continued its political work, vowing to never betray the working class people of this country; and, most importantly, never to join a coalition with the PPP or the People’s National Congress (PNC).

After all, the AFC resented both parties, and blamed them for the socioeconomic and political conundrum that Guyana was facing. As history recorded it, many Guyanese, especially those of mixed ancestry, bought the message of the AFC and gave them the votes they needed to taste parliamentary power. This happened despite boisterous warnings from the PPP that the AFC could not be trusted because those at its helm where defectors from the major parties, and were bitter, untrustworthy, revengeful, and thirsty for Executive power.

Sheila Holder died before the AFC underwent transformation under the leaderships of Trotman and Ramjattan. When she departed this world, the AFC was still a party that had the potential to force the other two main political relics into oblivion, because of the freshness of the AFC’s untested approach mixed with its promise to shake up the Government bureaucracy and engineer real change.

Now the party has become one of the biggest disappointments in Guyana’s political history, thereby beating the United Force and the Working People’s Alliance from the top slots after they, too, had failed to keep their momentum and deliver the kind of change this country needs to progress.

The post-2011 AFC is no longer the ferocious tiger guarding the public’s interest and purse. Instead of declining A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU’s) offer to join the coalition, which had the People’s National Congress (PNC) as its senior partner, those at the helm of the AFC became discontented with their lot. They wanted to taste Executive power. They wanted to use that power to wreak havoc on the PPP. There was no other mature political voice within the AFC to challenge their desire.

Moses Nagamootoo entered the pageant after failing in his last-ditch attempt to wrest the presidential candidacy position from other senior comrades in the PPP party. He later succeeded in wresting power away from more suitable persons in the AFC, like Cathy Hughes and Raphael Trotman, to become the coalition’s Prime Ministerial Candidate in the 2015 General and Regional Elections. The decision was now obvious, as both the AFC and PNC were on the same wavelength. They now shared a common interest, and it was not about delivering meaningful change to the masses, but rather securing their individual political futures.

Nagamootoo is now Guyana’s first Prime Minister without a serious portfolio.

The AFC is now justifying and defending every single executive abuse by the Government in which it serves. For the first time in 10 years, its leaders now are at the lowest point of their political careers, because they lack the moral authority and integrity to lecture the PPP or any other important stakeholder on matters pertaining to transparency, accountability and good governance.

The AFC appears happy with this coalition arrangement, but 2020 will prove how happy its supporters and financiers are with status quo.

AFC can be considered as part of the annals of history that will never be forgotten, because of its failure as a third force and a failed attempt at conciliatory politics. It did not have the political patience or discipline to break the trend of domineering politics.

The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) is seen over the sky near Rovaniemi in Lapland, Finland (Reuters/Alexander Kuznetsov)

Insulting the intelligence of citizenry Dear Editor, Whenever one is faced with an explanation of what's going on at the Georgetown Municipality, the choice is always between incompetence, corruption and conspiracy. The latest news is that the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has not had financial audits into its affairs for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018.

This, according to its Internal Auditor, is in complete violation of Chapter 28:01 of the Laws of Guyana, which states, “The City Council and the Town Council shall, not later than the thirty-first day of March in every year, submit to the Minister a report in writing containing an account of all monies received, expended, and applied during the preceding financial year.”

Of course this is not the most shocking, unusual, or monumental of revelations

coming out of City Hall, as everyone in Georgetown -except maybe for the thirty City Fathers and Mothers sitting around the horseshoe table -- is well aware of this; but the question to be asked is: what work and tasks did the Internal Auditor and the not insignificant number of staff assigned to her do for the last three years; since, according to her, the requisite documents are never submitted to her for auditing. Has the Auditor and the staff of her division just been twiddling their thumbs for the last three years whilst being well compensated?

And the next question is: what did she then do about it? Did she formally bring to the attention of the Town Clerk, the Mayor, the Minister of Communities and the Auditor General of Guyana the existence of this indefensible and appalling state of affairs? Or is she

only raising the alarm now that there is a Commission of Inquiry?

But most worrying in all of this is that, during the period referred to, 2016-2018, Central Government has pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into the system; property rates and other municipal charges have risen sharply; new taxes, such as the container tax, have been levied upon the citizenry, bringing in hundreds of millions additionally; and yet the Council, over the last three years, has been, and is always, broke and bankrupt.

Citizens would like to know whether the Internal Auditor has been afforded the opportunity to audit the income and expenditure of the recently held 175th Anniversary celebrations of the city? I seriously doubt it. This present City Council will never willingly allow an

audit there, as all hell would break loose when one is forcibly done.

It would be interesting to know how the internal Auditor was recruited, and whether she is competent and qualified to carry out those responsibilities effectively. Such a determination should also be of the competencies of the other staff of the Internal Audit Section.

The most egregious of all these goings-on is the fact that some of the 30 Councillors in key positions, who sat idly by and allowed such a travesty to occur, are now seeking to be re-elected to another three-year term with the usual ‘pie in the sky’ promises. These persons are in effect just seeking to insult the intelligence of the citizenry.

Regards, Jermain Johnson

Integrity Commission, GRA have a responsibility to Guyanese Dear Editor, With information recently coming to the fore, some as a result of the long overdue and recently launched Commission of Inquiry into the operations of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown, I believe the need has become even more critical for the recently reconstituted Integrity Commission to turn its attention to the policymak-

ers and administrative officials of the Georgetown Municipality if it is to improve public confidence in the integrity of persons holding senior positions at City Hall.

A section of the media has recently reported the purchase, by a senior officer of the Georgetown Municipality, of a $30 million home on the East Coast of Demerara, but failed to

mention that the same officer had also purchased another ostentatious property in the Diamond, East Bank Demerara area, among others in Georgetown; in addition to massively upgrading yet another property that he owns in the South Ruimveldt Park area, all in just the last three years.

How could an officer who lived in a very modest and unfinished home three years

ago, and for which his salary could easily be checked, move from having difficulties with his bankers for outstanding debts to owning several properties overnight, and to having other assets and investments, both locally and overseas, without coming under the microscope of the Guyana Revenue Authority for unexplained wealth? continued on page 5

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LGE 2018

President launches Region 2 campaign P

resident David Granger on Monday told residents of Anna Regina and neighbouring communities in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) that Local Government Elections (LGE) are not about winning or losing but about empowering citizens.

The Head of State was at the time speaking at a com-

munity meeting held at the Anna Regina car park on the Essequibo Coast.

As such, the President noted the need for competent persons to be elected to the municipality and for residents to move away from voting on the basis of party politics. He called on residents of the town to vote for people who are going to develop Anna Regina,

thereby ensuring Region Two became the powerhouse it was destined to be.

“When we are in government, we don’t say this is PPP (People’s Progressive Party) municipality or a PPP Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), we say this is a part of Guyana and we help Guyanese wherever they are,” the Head of State said.

The crowd of mainly schoolchildren at the meeting on Monday

He made it clear that “this government is a government for the whole country” and so, no matter the outcome of the November 12, 2018 elections, “we will continue to help Anna Regina to be a better town”.

The President pointed to improvements within the township and noted that Regional Executive Officer (REO) Rupert Hopkinson knew his responsibilities.

Government, he stressed, has three tiers – local, regional and central – which have to work together to ensure that

The President distributing bicycles at Anna Regina

Integrity Commission...

Why has no net worth analysis been done of this individual and other municipal officers? Why is this individual and his colleagues not being made to demonstrate that these multiple homes, vehicles and other luxury assets were acquired using legal sources of income?

Additionally, the children of these nouveau riche

are being sent to the most expensive private schools, whilst the other staffers -- who are being paid late every month -- are barely eking out a living. These nouveau riche are unbelievably cruel and indifferent towards their underlings.

And the revelation of the massive wealth acquired by this officer is just merely

scratching the surface of the problem at City Hall. Many other senior officers and policymakers have acquired properties and other assets from the proceeds of corruption.

How much longer must the citizenry put up with the Council’s corrupt elite and their brash display of wealth? The Integrity

from page 4

Commission and the GRA have a responsibility to ensure that any stolen wealth, bribe, kickback and other inducement acquired by corrupt municipal officials is frozen, and ultimately returned to the citizenry from whom it was stolen.

Sincerely, Roseanne Rodgers

citizens benefit and enjoy the good life.

But while this is ideal, President Granger pointed to the fact that Regional Chairman Devanand Ramdatt was absent from the community meeting. “Look around, you think the Regional Chairman for Region Two is here? He is not here. That is the problem in Guyana. The President is here, the neighbourhood is here, but the middle piece is not here. That is what we have to solve in this country. All three levels have to work together if we are to move this region forward,” he declared.

Further, the Head of State said the time has come when residents must think of the future and look towards developing the Region.

The President assured those gathered at the Anna Regina car park that his government and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) were prepared to work to improve the town.

“I want people to get rich; I want people to open enterprises, to develop all parts of Guyana, but [I want]Anna Regina ,which has so many advantages, to take the lead, be-

cause you have the experience of being part hinterland, part coastland,” President Granger is quoted by the Ministry of the Presidency as saying.

He noted that over the years, Anna Regina has struggled because of poor leadership while assuring that better leadership was on the horizon.

Moreover, President Granger said it was his vision that Anna Regina would have its own municipal aerodrome so that business persons from the Caribbean could land in Anna Regina, conduct their business in the morning and leave before nightfall.

Meanwhile, Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson also spoke to the importance of LGE and local democracy.

At the conclusion of the community meeting, President Granger presented some 20 bicycles to school-aged children of Anna Regina and neighbouring communities. The handing over of the bicycles is part of the Public Education Transport Service (PETS).

Social Protection Minister Amna Ally was also present at the community meeting.

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Page

Foundation

Part 1

By Kim Abraham & Marney Studaker-Cordner

S

ome of the highest rated television series for adolescents and teens today focus on what would happen if society was suddenly thrown into the ultimate test for survival – like surviving the zombie apocalypse. How would you stay alive if you had to hunt and grow your own food, search for fresh sources of water and live without electricity, using only your wits and skills? The truth is most kids don’t possess those extraordinary life skills, let alone the mundane ones we all need to make it in the real world – like balancing the chequebook.

Over the past several decades, our society has moved increasingly toward “doing for” our children rather than “teaching how”. Are there things you’re doing for your child that he or she is capable of doing for themselves?

How many children today know how to patch holes in a pair of jeans or prepare a meal from scratch? In our world of instant gratification, it’s so much quicker to run to the mall for a new pair of pants, microwave a frozen dinner or hit the drive thru, where your food is two minutes and 20 feet away.

If your 10-year-old child or grandchild has ever shown you how to work your computer or phone, you know that the generation we are raising now is bright and full of promise. Their skillset is often based in technology. Don’t get us wrong. Those are great, necessary skills to have in today’s world.

But what about those other skills? The ones that get us through power outages, budget crunches, stressful situations with people and daily tasks that require perseverance and problem solving? How can we strengthen this generation’s foundation of life skills?

A culture of caretaking

Over the past several decades, our society has moved increasingly toward “doing for” our children rath-

er than “teaching how”.

Why? Well, to start with, because we can.

In the “Old Days”, children played an essential role in the survival of the family. They helped farm the land, took care of the younger children, gathered eggs and prepared meals.

Over time, a child’s role became less of contributor and more of receiver. Instead of earning material things once worked toward as a family (computers, televisions, phones), expensive items became Christmas and birthday gifts.

Schools began giving more and more homework, focused on the skills needed for today’s modern world (advanced maths, computer science, communications) and there was a movement away from classes such as Home Economics and Family Life. Remember sewing pillows and measuring ingredients in Home Ec? Building bookcases in Woodshop class? Today’s 11-yearold is spending hours at night learning Algebra, something most of us didn’t encounter until high school.

Meanwhile, our culture focuses less and less on teaching our children the skills we all grew up learning. They simply don’t know how to do some of the things we ask of them. And let’s face it, sometimes after working 8-10 hours, it’s just easier to clean the bathroom ourselves rather than try to teach a 15-year-old who cries, “But I don’t know HOW to clean the toilet!”

Assess your child’s skills: it’s never too late to learn – or to teach

Do a quick mental assessment of your child’s basic life skills knowledge. There are no set rules on what a child of certain age “should” know. It’s a judgment call. As parents, we want

to prepare our children for “the Real World.” Much of that world is dealing with technology; but much of it isn’t. To start, you can pick a skill you think your child would be interested in or good at. What are his strengths or things she enjoys? Or are there some skills you think would be valuable for your child to have, that he or she hasn’t learnt yet? Doing laundry from start to finish (sorting whites from colours, measuring detergent, knowing what is washed in cold versus hot)? Making a sandwich? Chopping vegetables for a salad? Working with a sibling to wash dishes? (This is also an opportunity to learn skills of cooperation and managing emotions such as frustration and irritability!) Shopping at the grocery store and staying within a budget?

Using the post office to mail an actual letter? One mom we know expressed shock that her 23-year-old son had no idea how to make out an envelope: “He wasn’t sure where to put the address!”

Think about what’s reasonable for your child’s age and be careful not to underestimate their abilities. Are there things you’re doing for your child that he or she is capable of doing for themselves? If so, the next time your daughter needs to return some jeans at the mall, instead of taking them up to the sales clerk yourself, consider coaching her through it, from walking up to the counter to showing the receipt, to actually making sure she gets the correct amount of money back. (Excerpt from empower-

ingparents.com)

By Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD

F

or parents, it can be exasperating when children do things they know they’re not supposed to do. It’s tempting to lecture them. We want to share our wisdom. We hope our children will have an “Aha!” moment, see the error of their ways, and never make that mistake again.

Maybe if we explain it long enough and thoroughly enough, our point will sink in!

What’s wrong with lecturing?

The problem is that lectures don’t work. Educational researchers have known for years that students learn better from active engagement with a topic than from lectures.

Similarly, research on parenting shows that lecturing, nagging, scolding, and talking at children or teens don’t inspire cooperation. It never feels good to hear – especially at length – how displeased someone is with us and the many ways we fall short of expectations. When lectures are long and frequent, kids are likely to respond by feeling defensive or resentful, and they just stop listening.

Lectures leave kids stuck feeling “bad”. As parents, we need to be on the side of helping our children grow and learn.

What to do instead of lecturing your child By asking good questions, we can help them think through difficult situations, so they can move forward in positive ways. Avoid accusatory questions along the lines of “Why did you do that?” “What were you thinking?” or “What’s wrong with you?”

Children don’t have good answers to these.

Instead of asking backward-looking questions that rehash past sins, focus on forward-looking questions that encourage good choices now or next time. Here are ten possibilities: What is your job right now?

What do you need to do to be ready for ____?

What’s your plan for getting that done?

How will you remember to ___?

What can you do to help her feel better?

How can you make amends (or show him you’re sorry)?

What can we do to prevent this from happening again?

What would you like to do differently next time?

What is the kind thing to do now (or from now on)?

How can I help?

Don’t go through the whole list; that would feel like an overwhelming interrogation. The point is that by asking, rather than lecturing, we help children think. We also show our faith in our children’s ability to move forward in a good direction. We won’t always be around to tell our children what to do, but through gentle questions, we can help guide them so they learn to think things through on their own. (psychologytoday.com)

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Berbice mason stabbed to death T

he body of a Corentyne, Berbice mason was on Monday morning found on a dam separating Numbers 68 and 60 Villages.

Dead is Mahindra Sooknanan, also called “KI”, of Lot 36, Section A, Number 69 Village, Corentyne. Reports are that the young man’s body was discovered about 06:30h with approximately seven stab wounds and it was taken to the Skeldon Hospital Mortuary.

Reports are the 20-yearold was imbibing with a friend on Sunday evening.

The friend has since been taken into custody and has reportedly confessed to killing his drinking buddy. In his confession, the suspect reportedly told investigators that Sooknanan made remarks about his wife which angered him and led

Dead: Mahindra Sooknanan

to the murder.

“From how the grass in the drain tumble up, look til’ where they find him.

Like he run away… one person couldn’t carry out that attack alone. Another one had to catch him when he run away and like they lash

he in he head,” a resident near the crime scene said.

When Police arrived on the scene, the brother of the suspect was among the onlookers. Based on information received, the Police arrested the man, who allegedly told investigators that it was his brother who did the stabbing, and that he had gone to Crabwood Creek. Police were taken to a house at Crabwood Creek, where the suspect was arrested.

Meanwhile, the dead man’s father, Chandrica Sooknanan told Guyana Times that his son had left home to visit a close relative about 18:00h on Sunday. He said that his son then left the relative’s home and was seen at a pool shop in the area.

He said he knew the two brothers with whom his son was imbibing.

World Bank team to draft Systematic Country Diagnostic for Guyana

World Bank officials: Senior Strategy Officer of Latin America and Caribbean, Lars Johannes; Senior Economist of the World Bank Group for Latin America and the Caribbean, Johannes (Han) Herderschee; and Programme Leader for Caribbean Countries, Abha Prasad, meeting with Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence on Monday

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team of specialists from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group met earlier today with Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence to gather information deemed critical to the development of a Systematic Country Diagnostic (SCD) for Guyana.

This is in keeping with the World Bank’s 2030 goals of ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperity in every country.

Recognising the importance of public health in any country’s development, the team of specialists engaged Minister Lawrence on matters pertaining to the sector.

Johannes (Han) Herderschee, Senior Economist of the World Bank Group for Latin America and the Caribbean, explained that the initial meeting with the minister is to discuss the SCD and to ensure that systems related to public health are taken

into consideration.

Systematic Country Diagnostic (SCD) reports are prepared by World Bank Group staff in close consultation with national authorities and other stakeholders.

The SCD is a diagnostic exercise to identify key challenges and opportunities for a country to accelerate progress towards development objectives that are consistent with the twin goals of ending absolute poverty and boosting shared prosperity in a sustainable manner.

“An SCD sets out what are the constraints in what we call inclusive growth -- that’s growth which includes a broad section of society and the bottom 40 per cent of the people -- and to design policies and support that could better benefit (the country); and of course health is an important factor of these discussions,” Herderschee explained.

Minister Lawrence, in a brief comment to the Department of Public

Information, indicated that while the World Bank Team is looking at challenges in the health sector, there is the hope of technical assistance being provided.

“I trust that after this deliberation we will be able to have some assistance, technical assistance. You know, one of our top priorities in terms of our challenges is human resources, and retaining those human resources at the highest level,” the Minister said.

The SCD is intended to become a reference point for client consultations on priorities for World Bank Group country engagement.

As of June 30, 2014, SCDs are required prior to sending a Country Partnership Framework (CPF) to the Board.

IFC is a sister organisation of the World Bank, is a member of the Group, and is the largest global development institution.

“Most time is see them, they are on horses chasing cows into the backdam or bring them out,” the grieving father said.

Back in June last year, Mahindra’s youngest brother allegedly stabbed a taxi driver to death at Line Path, Corentyne after the taxi driver had reportedly made derogatory remarks about his 15-year-old sister.

The body of the young man is currently at the Skeldon Hospital Mortuary awaiting an autopsy.

(Andrew Carmichael)

Mahindra Sooknanan’s grieving parents

Man charged for assaulting ex-wife F orty-eight-year-old Ray Peters was on Monday arraigned before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman on a charge alleging that on October 6, 2018, at Leopold Street, Georgetown, he unlawfully assaulted his former reputed wife Sheneece Dash.

The unrepresented man denied the charge.

According to the prosecu-

tor’s case, the virtual complainant was walking along Leopold Street, Georgetown on October 6th instant when Peters ran up to her and blocked her path. In the ensuing argument, he allegedly pushed her several times.

The VC reported the matter to the Police, and her former reputed husband was arrested.

The VC, in tears, told the

court that Peters is always in the habit of assaulting her whenever he sees her, even though their relationship ended months ago.

As the Police Prosecutor did not object to Peters being placed on bail, Magistrate Latchman released Peters on $100,000 bail, and set the case for continuation on November 6.

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TUESdAY, october 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS

Shop owner charged for attempting to bribe cop Who will

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wo months after being arraigned on a charge of robbery-under-arms, an Albouystown, Georgetown shop owner found himself again before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, slapped with two other charges, one of which was attempted bribery committed on a Police officer.

Twenty-seven-year-old Christopher Gonsalves stood before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday and denied the two charges that were read to him.

The first charge stated that Gonsalves willfully attempted to obstruct the course of justice by offering

$150,000 to Police Sergeant George so as to prevent the institution of a charge against him -- on October 3, while he was at the Brickdam Police Station.

Another charge stated that, also on October 3, while he was in the vicinity of Punt Trench Dam in Albouystown, he had in his possession 530 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Prosecutor Quinn Harris informed the court that on October 3, ranks were carrying out a sting operation in Albouystown when they visited the shop at which the accused usually operates. During the sting

operation, a rank went into Gonsalves’ shop and asked if he had “weed to sell”.

According to the Prosecutor, Gonsalves then left the shop on a pedal cycle, and returned about five minutes later with a “bulky plastic bag” which contained the suspected cannabis.

He was subsequently arrested with the ganja after the plainclothes rank identified himself as a Police officer. The prosecution is also contending that on arrival at the Brickdam Police Station at about 16:00h, Gonsalves requested to speak with the officer in charge; and it was then that he made the brave

attempt to bribe the Police sergeant with $150,000 which he had in his possession. He was further slapped with the present charge after the said sum of cash was lodged at the station.

Unrepresented by legal counsel, Gonsalves told the court that he never tried to bribe the officer with the money, but rather he told the officer to “hand the money ($150,000) over to my family, since I was in the lockup.” He was placed on $200,000 bail for the bribery charge, but was remanded to prison for the possession of narcotics charge. The matter has been adjourned to November 5.

Prosecution closes case in young teacher’s murder

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Dead: Kescia Branche

he prosecution on Friday closed its case in the Preliminary Inquiry (PI) into the charge against Matthew Munroe, the taxi driver accused of

murdering 22-year-old Kescia Branche.

Branche had been found in an unconscious state in the vicinity of Princes Street and Louisa Row, Georgetown, and was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where she died two days later.

According to presiding Magistrate Judy Latchman, Munroe will return to court on October 10, when his attorney is expected to make submissions.

Monroe is accused of murdering Branche, a teacher, on November 7, 2017 in Georgetown.

Attorney George Thomas, who is representing the 47-year-old Monroe, told the court that his client, who has been in custody since

Murder accused: Matthew Munroe

November 30, 2017, has denied committing the crime, and is holding out that he was not in the jurisdiction at time the crime was committed.

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

The Prosecution is contending that the car from which Branche’s body was dumped reportedly belonged to Munroe. Upon receiving that bit of information, the Police immediately named Munroe as a person of interest. After spending some time in the United States, the man returned and presented himself to the Criminal Investigation Department in the company of his lawyer.

The Prosecution is contending that during interrogation, Munroe could not provide a proper alibi on the night the woman was brutally attacked; and more so, he failed to give Police information on his missing car bumper.

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

She died as a result of brain haemorrhaging and blunt force trauma.

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

She left her three-yearold son in the care of a friend, who revealed that Branche told her she had intended to go to a popular night club to meet a male friend. She told her friend that she would be home by 02:00h, but she never returned home. She was last seen leaving a nightclub at Lamaha Street.

The father of the woman’s son was also arrested after the teacher’s mobile phone was found in his possession. He, along with four cops, were questioned about her death, but were all later released on station bail.

watch…

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…the watchmen? ne problematic of democracy has been when giving ultimate power to any person or group of persons or institution has been the worry that they’ll then abuse that power, unrestrained by any control.

During antiquity, it was expressed in the Latin phrase, Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? – Who will watch the watchmen??

In the bitter battle over in the US for their Senate to confirm Kavanaugh as a Justice of their Supreme Court, both sides knew exactly what was going on: President Trump was “packing the court”. Meaning, he was pushing a nominee whose record on judicial decisions was solidly “conservative” and “right wing” – like Trump – and expected the Republican-dominated Senate to go along with the like-minded Justice.

He wasn’t proven wrong!! And the US Supreme Court now has a built-in majority of conservative Justices who’re expected to promote the ideological bent of Trump on issues that’ll be coming before them. Now while all Presidents who preceded Trump wanted to have Justices of their apex court sharing their orientation, the “packing” was never done so blatantly and in a country that was so divided ideologically. The danger lies in the fact that in the US, the Supreme Court ends up pretty much creating most of the law on social issues – through sometimes rather creative methods. For instance, their famous “right to privacy” was discerned by one Supreme Court in “the penumbra of the Bill of Rights”!! Who will now watch the watchmen??

Trump himself exemplifies the cleavage of a right-wing upsurge against the Liberal paradigm that had dominated in the US for decades. One issue that will prove to be a lightning rod has been what the liberals had described as “the right of a woman over her body” as decided by the Supreme Court in the case of Roe v Wade in 1973. Women from then were able to legally have abortions until the foetus was “viable”. Conservatives oppose this position vehemently, stressing, “the right to life of the child” and thus opposing abortions. The division is summarised as “pro-choice vs pro-life”, but extends into almost every facet of life – political, social, economic. Kavanaugh’s confirmation, therefore, presages a seismic shift in US social positions.

But while we’ve all been transfixed on the fight over US Supreme Court Judicial appointments, very few Guyanese have been commenting on President Granger’s determined effort to unilaterally appoint our top judicial officer – the Chancellor. Granger’s attack dog, Basil Williams, hounded Justice Carl Singh from the office and now has sidestepped his own acting appoint who was bumped up.

He wants an ex-GDF squaddie turned Judge to fill the spot. “Packing” doesn’t get more blatant than that!! …coastal agri?

Guyanese can’t complain that the PNC didn’t tell them about their plans for agriculture. Since it was dominated on the coast by supporters of the PPP, in their manifesto they announced they were pushing “hinterland agriculture”.

And we know supporters of the PPP are notoriously tied to their homes and family and aren’t about to relocate to the “bush”! After facilitating the movement of THEIR supporters to those locales, the PNC mightn’t even NEED gerrymandering!!

Agri Minister Holder just announced he’s setting up “agricultural stations” in interior locations to provide seedlings, etc, for a host of crops. Expect other goodies to follow – like back in the “co-op” days to make the “small (PNC) man into the real man”!! But that wasn’t their entire plan to kill coastal agri – Candidate Granger had announced he’d privatise sugar but pretended to change his position on the entreaties of the AFC. But as soon as the vote was counted – wham!! There went four sugar estates!!

Now we know why fired coastal sugar workers weren’t facilitated to enter into cash crops! …Ramnarine’s back?

Khemraj Ramjattan, the putative Public Security Minister, wants ex-COP (ag) Ramnarine to return and work under five persons who were his juniors!!

Your Eyewitness hopes Ramnarine, unlike Ramjattan, has a modicum of self-respect!!

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

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TUESdAY, october 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

GECOM’s hiring practices

Retired Justice Stanley Moore to lead ERC’s probe

– team expected to wrap up investigation before LGE

Wages impasse

Govt bows to pressure: President finally meets with GTU, Education Ministry …proposes 10% increase for 2016, 8% for 2018

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he Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) on Monday said it was currently in the process of investigating employment practices at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and has assembled a team to do so.

In a statement from the Commission, it was announced that a special investigative team has already begun work on the case. The team is being headed by retired Justice Stanley Moore, who served as a Home Affairs Minister under former President LFS Burnham.

It also includes former Deputy Commissioner of Police Lloyd Smith and human resource consultant Jairam Petam. According to the ERC, the team was given a period of three weeks to complete their investigation and submit a report. But it is understood that during the process, they requested an extension, which has been granted.

In a brief interview with <<Guyana Times>>>, ERC Chairman, Dr John Smith noted that the team was looking to wrap up its work before Local Government Elections (LGE). Local polls expected to be held on November 12.

GECOM Commissioners Bibi Shadick, Sase Gunraj and Robeson Benn had written a letter of complaint to the ERC. They contend that there is an ethnic imbalance at GECOM, and hiring practices are being manipulated in favour of one group.

The ERC has since met Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, and the matters were raised. The entity also met with President David Granger.

At a recent press conference, GECOM Chairman, retired Justice James Patterson had said that qualifications ultimately trumped race when filling vacancies.

When asked whether deliberate efforts to achieve racial diversity were being made,

President David Granger locked in talks with GTU executives – Mark Lyte and Corretta McDonald – and the Education Ministry’s team led by Minister Nicolette Henry at Monday’s meeting Retired Justice Stanley Moore will be heading the investigation into GECOM’s hiring practices

Patterson contended that deliberate efforts were being made to get the best people and he has “no apologies” for that.

Other work

Besides its work on the GECOM case, the ERC confirmed that it has met with senior officials of the Guyana Defence and Police Forces and the Fire Service.

Meetings were also held with Councillors of Regional Democratic Councils across Guyana.

“The Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC), since it was re-established earlier this year, continues in its efforts to engage national stakeholders across the country. Councillors of the Regional Democratic Councils of Regions Two, Three, Five and 10 were also visited by the ERC at their respective offices at Anna Regina, Essequibo, West Demerara, Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice and Mackenzie, Linden,” the Commission explained.

“Meaningful discussions on the promotion of harmony, unity, and good relations were held and agreements reached for collaboration on this national venture.

Related suggestions were also offered for the ERC’s consideration in delivering its mandate. Similar meetings are planned for other Regions

this month.”

The ERC is a constitutional body established under the Herdmanston Accord.

It works with persons and agencies to promote harmonious ethnic relations. The Commission also deals with complaints, promotes training in racial harmony, and fosters a sense of security, among all ethnic groups.

It is understood that since its resuscitation, the ERC has been flooded with requests. Some of the earliest issues that engaged the Commission’s attention were the now resolved allegations of discrimination at Mae’s Schools and claims of ethnic imbalance at GECOM. The Chairman had informed this publication a few months ago that the Commission was in the process of refining its work plan, looking at its legal framework, and recruiting to bring its staff complement to working strength.

Retired Major General Norman McLean, one of the members of the Commission, had said that despite the challenges, the Commissioners are committed to working as a team to ensure that social cohesion was truly realised.

This, he had said, is the main objective of the work programme that is being drafted.

Similar sentiments were also expressed by the other Commissioners.

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ays after Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo advised that President David Granger take a stand on the impasse regarding teachers’ salaries, the Head of State on Monday met with the Guyana Teachers Union (GTU) and the Education Ministry.

The President met with the GTU and Education Ministry team where he put forward a proposal for teachers. During the meeting, the President said he would like to have the issue resolved at its earliest.

During an interview following the meeting, the Head of State said that there have been some “hiccups” with the negotiations.

“We are aware of what has been taking place.

Unfortunately, there have been some hiccups, but we now seem to be coming to the end of the road. There seems to be a wide area of I would say common acceptance of what needs to be done,” Granger said.

He pointed out that on Friday, the GTU met with the Ministry whereby the two again sought to iron out the kinks of the matter.

“At my meeting with the Union, the Minister went over those points (discussed

between themselves and the GTU) and we have agreed that the two sides will meet again on Wednesday…the intention is to create the basis for an agreement between the two sides as early as possible, possibly by Friday,” President noted.

The Head of State went on to say that it is important for this matter to be addressed at the earliest date possible as “teachers have expectancies”.

“They are not being ignored or anything. We, of course, expect that the Teachers Union consult with its members and the Teachers Union expects that we, the Government, consult with the Ministry of Finance.

So we have reached a broad area in which, I would say that there is common ground. I don’t want to call it an agreement, but we have reached common ground and I think the people of Guyana could look forward to an amicable resolution within days.

It is a forward-looking agreement,” he added.

Meanwhile, GTU on its Facebook page on Monday afternoon stated that Minister Henry revealed a new offer of 10 per cent increase for 2016 and eight per cent for 2018.

“She also indicated that an offer of $350 million is made to settle debunching for the period 2011-2018.

Teachers to be placed in scales as of January 2019.

Payments for debunching and 2018 will be made in December while retroactive 2016 increase will be made in January 2019 if agreed,” the GTU stated in its post.

Granger was forced to intervene this time around as teachers were being mobilised by the Union to be on standby for more protest action.

The President’s meeting with the parties came days after Opposition Leader Jagdeo made a recommendation for the President to meet with educators. This most recent call by the Opposition Leader is the third occasion he advised that the President should intervene.

Jagdeo had warned that the issue could have gotten out of hand, should Granger not intervene.

The Union threatened more strike action after the Labour Department unilaterally appointed Professor Leyland Lucas to chair the arbitration panel to resolve the dispute between the two sides. continued on page 15

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City Hall owes $150M to garbage collectors “We have an outstanding $73 million, and that’s for services provided within the period of June to date.

So far, we haven’t got any positive outcome on the way forward in receiving payments,” General Manager of Puran Brothers Disposal, Khalesh Puran, disclosed.

Business Development Supervisor of Cevon’s Waste Management, Morris Archer, also nodded at the rates which have not been

General Manager of Puran Brothers Disposal, Khalesh Puran he Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has added to its outstanding debts to various entities with some $150 million being owed to its two major solid waste collectors, Puran Brothers Disposal and Cevon’s Waste Management.

During a visit to the Haags Bosch landfill site on Monday, senior representatives of the solid waste management companies indicated that they have not been paid for services to the Council since the second quarter of 2018.

The outstanding payment due to Puran Brothers Disposal is about $73 million, while Cevon’s Waste Disposal is owed $75 million.

It was indicated that the companies have been engaged in discussion with the Council on numerous occasions, but there has not been any fruitful discussion on how these payments would be made. This has resulted in the companies contemplating whether they would provide services for another month, given that severe losses are being incurred for operational costs and payments to employees.

Business Development Supervisor of Cevon’s, Morris Archer

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erating until they are paid, this newspaper was told.

“We are contemplating a way forward together, be-

cause it’s affecting our working capital. To work for four months without receiving payments is kinda tough on us, because it’s a lot of costs behind these services that we provide,” Puran posited.

For one of the collectors, the monthly operational expenditures is somewhere around $15 million.

A letter has been sent to the Communities Ministry, alerting officials there about the situation with the objective that these monies would be paid before the ending of 2018.

This information comes at a time when the administrative body at City Hall is being probed for mismanagement of funds. There are

also some instances when large sums of money received have been unaccounted for.

City Hall’s financial woes date back to many instances when both Puran Brothers and Cevon’s were left with no other option than to withdraw their services until outstanding payments have been liquidated. Staffers have been retrenched and later rehired whenever this option has been exercised.

For the past months, there have been talks in regard to implementing a fee for routine garbage collection in Georgetown; this is presently done at no cost attached. (Rupadai Seenaraine)

“Fake” doctor fined for pretending to be heart specialist

A City Hall

paid. He explained, “City Hall owes us $75 million, and that reflects from payments due from May 2018 to current.”

These expenses will increase during the upcoming holiday season, and it is more than likely that the collectors would cease op-

43-year-old man was on Monday granted bail by Magistrate Judy Latchman when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts slapped with a simple larceny charge.

Prem Chan admitted that on October 4, 2018 at Eccles, East Bank Demerara (EBD), he falsely pretended to be heart specialist, Dr Mahendra Carpen in order

to obtain the sum of $100,000 from Frank Shanicharara.

The prosecution contended that on October 4 about 12:00h, Chan called the Virtual Complainant via telephone pretending to be Dr Carpen asking for a donation of $100,000 for a heart patient. The VC, realising that he was being conned, asked the caller to visit his business place to uplift the money. The VC then called

the Police, and Chan was caught red-handed.

In court on Monday, the unrepresented man claimed that he committed the act since he was frustrated. He claimed that he was making little effort in raising money for his own heart surgery. He was fined $100,000.

Failure to pay the fine will result in him serving six months in prison.

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TUESdAY, october 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Two years later

GTT still awaiting 4G spectrum – CEO – optimistic of competition in liberalised sector

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espite reports circulating in 2016 that Government had granted GTT approval for a 4G spectrum, the company is still awaiting this approval in order to bring faster internet service to its customers.

This is according to GTT Chief Executive Officer Justin Nedd, who communicated this news during a press conference on Monday at the Herdmanston Lodge.

Nedd was optimistic of the changes liberalisation will bring, and has said GTT has plans of its own to upgrade services.

“Competition is good!

Competition in the space of a fair and level playing field is absolutely great for customers and operators. It makes operators like GTT really look and ensure (there is in operation) an operation focused on the customer,” Nedd has declared.

“I would say GTT has been moving in that space. We’ve upgraded the mobile network to 3G. We’re awaiting spectrum for 4G. We’ve rolled out Fibre to the Home to more than 50,000 homes. We’re working on our customer experience.”

It is understood that, as at August, the company has expended US$20 million on its Fibre to the Home (FTTH) project roll out. And the cap-

Public Health Ministry adopts new drug in fight to eliminate filaria

The Mass Drug Administration exercise

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he Public Health Ministry is set to add a third medication to two pills which are currently used in Mass Drug Administration (MDA) in the fight against Lymphatic Filariasis (LF).

Ivermectin is an oral medication which paralyses or kills the microfilariae gradually. This medication is used to treat certain parasitic worm infections in the human body. Also, it can be regarded as a more effective treatment regimen for sterilising the adult worm in the lymphatic system which later on in life causes Filaria. The other pills currently prescribed are Diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and albendazole.

According to Dr Fabu Moses-Stuart, the National Coordinator for the Neglected Infectious Diseases (NID) attached to the Public Health Ministry, this intervention will come on stream in 2019. The introduction of Ivermectin will be preceded by an accessibility study where Vector Control

Services will oversee a random house-to-house survey in which people will be asked their views on the new pill.

“Ivermectin, in combination (with DEC and albendazole), has been proven to present superior parasite killing effects on microfilariae which includes sterilisation of the adult worm for longer periods of up to two years with one single treatment,” Moses-Stuart is quoted by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying.

She added that the addition of this third pill to the prevention regimen for filaria “shortens the course needed for MDA from five years to only two years if done correctly”. This new pill has little to no side effects in an individual and significantly reduces the heavy worm burden present in the body.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), in 1987, the manufacturer of Ivermectin – Merck & Co, Inc – declared that it would donate it free of charge for as long as needed. This unprecedented donation is adminis-

tered through the Mectizan Donation Programme, which works with Ministries of Health and other partners to distribute the drug.

At the launch of the MDA against filaria, the NID National Coordinator indicated that the Public Health Ministry has actually adopted three new interventions within the last year, intensifying efforts in the fight against filaria.

This, she said, was backed by strong scientific evidence and supported by empirical evidence from countries within and outside of this Caribbean region. The other two interventions, along with the use of Ivermectin, are the remapping of the other six regions not yet targeted for MDA and lymphatic drainage and limb reduction.

GTT CEO, Justin Nedd

ital expenditure price tag is said to be steadily rising.

Level playing field

The CEO, meanwhile, noted the importance of a level playing field when it comes to the legislative framework.

He, however, observed that for some time now, operators have not been playing by the same rules.

“We would expect the same tax structure and regulations for the players. I think that’s very fair. GTT has been here for over 20 years, and I believe that we have a good relationship with the customers. And we will continue to grow that relationship. But in order to really work with the customer and make us prosper, we need solid equitable regulation,” Nedd explained.

This framework, according to Nedd, must also include fairness when it comes to pay-

ing taxes. While he stressed that he did not mean the taxes were unfair, he pointed out the importance of companies shouldering their fair share of the tax burden.

“What we want is: if we are paying one tax rate, then all the players in the sector should pay the same. And that is something every business would want in their industry… The sector is already liberalised, it’s just that some people don’t play by the same rules,” he said.

It is understood that negotiations with GTT and the Public Telecommunications Ministry to lift the monopoly will conclude by year end.

In January of 2018, it was reported that negotiations with the GTT and the Ministry to address the lifting of the monopoly were effective.

These negotiations began in 2016, when the intention of ending the 26-year-old monopoly on the fixed line market was discussed. Liberalisation, once in place, would ensure there is fair competition and regulation among all enterprises in the business sector. It is, however, heavily dependent on the settlement of a US$44 million tax claim against GTT. Atlantic Tele Network, GTT’s parent company, made mention of this in its quarterly filings to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including a sum of US$5 million for an adverse

Public Telecommunications Minister Cathy Hughes

decision against the telecoms giant.

“GTT is also involved in several legal claims regarding its tax filings with the Guyana Revenue Authority, dating back to 1991 and regarding the deductibility of intercompany advisory fees as well as other tax assessments,” the report had stated.

“The company maintains that any liability GTT might be found to have with respect to the disputed tax assessments, totalling $44.1 million, would be offset in part by the amounts necessary to ensure that GTT’s return on investment was no less than 15 per cent per annum for the relevant periods. The company believes that some adverse outcome is probable, and has accordingly accrued $5.0 million as of June 30, 2018 for these matters.”

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TuesdAY, october 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

$253M upgraded Haags Bosch landfill to benefit commercial stakeholders …obtains new equipment to aid composting

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The new tarp-deployer

he Communities Ministry recently expended some $253 million to upgrade the Haags Bosch landfill site at Eccles, East Bank Demerara, and legislation is soon to be enacted to benefit its commercial stakeholders.

Speaking to media operatives on Monday during a visit to the area, Site Supervisor for the Communities Ministry, Lloyd Stanton, explained that the Solid Waste Management Strategy is currently at the last stages of being finalised. This will lead to the process of legislation being enacted, after which the Haags Bosch landfill site would be ready

to welcome commercial stakeholders.

“In terms of whether or not we will get to (the stage of) people paying (for the collection of their refuse), the answer is yes. We’re hoping to get ‘the strategies’.

For those of us who are au fait with what’s going on as it relates to waste management, we’re in the process of finalising that Solid Waste Management Strategy, and as soon as we get that ‘strategy’, then we can go to legislation. As soon as that legislation comes in place, there will be a phased system of payments, probably starting with commercial,” he explained.

The contract, which was awarded in April of 2018, initiated from steps to rehabilitate the dumpsite after a fire had erupted there back in 2015. The landfill was commissioned in 2011 to replace a similar setup at Mandela, Georgetown, which used to pollute areas of the city that are contiguous to the dumpsite. The Haags Bosch landfill site has since served as the main disposal site for solid waste.

While giving a synopsis of the current operations, Stanton noted that the site caters for 12 metres of landfill waste with an additional 3 metres underground.

However, as the need pro-

gresses, interventions can be made for the waste to be piled at an increased height.

As of now, monthly operational costs are pegged are some $21 million.

“When the entire area is 15 metres, we can still go up further if we don’t have space. There is a relative limit that is set by the supervisors and operators at the site,” Stanton explained.

According to him, if the waste is piled higher, there are chances that a garbage slide can occur. This can be prevented by maintaining a relative slope.

“We’re okay right now.

We’ve never had a garbage slide, but there was a fire in 2015 which everybody know about,” he said.

The workers on site are subjected to regular medical evaluation to reduce the risk of fatalities occurring at the landfill site. On a yearly basis, only approximately two cases of health complications are reported, which is a noteworthy sign.

“The direct safety, in terms of personal safety, is

Offloading a garbage truck onsite at Haags Bosch landfill

among the areas that we’re trying to improve on…If we were to be graded based on Third World (standards), we’re around 95 per cent,” said Stanton.

One principal equipment recently obtained by the contracted company, Waste Solutions Landfill Incorporated, to assist with the composting is a tarpaulin-deployer. The machine covers the compost material at the end of the day, elimi-

nating the need to place soil over the collected garbage, and increasing the volume of waste that can be stored.

“Over the years, we used to use soil as a daily cover, and we’ve realised that the daily cover used to be placed in such a way that we would place a layer of soil at about 12 inches. We realised that we’re losing valuable airspace that garbage can go in,” Stanton explained.

(Rupadai Seenaraine)

“Fix It” gets 13 years for 2015 attempted murder

the court.

After relating his story with near perfect subject and verb agreement, and using many adjectives, Justice Reynolds said Henry was a waste of a good human be-

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Quincy “Fix It” Henry

ourda Market handyman Quincy “Fix It” Henry, who reportedly stabbed a man for refusing to give him $100 which he had requested, was on Monday sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment by Justice Brassington Reynolds at the Demerara High Court.

The prosecution’s case was that on September 20, 2015, somewhere around the Merriman’s Mall at Bourda, Georgetown, someone asked Troy Bacchus, known as “Fletcher,” for a $100; and seeing this, “Fix It” also requested the same sum, but Bacchus refused his request.

This angered Henry, who stabbed Bacchus once to the neck.

Two weeks ago, an unrepresented Henry pleaded guilty to the charge just when his trial was set to begin. In a lengthy ex-

planation before sentencing on Monday, he admitted to stabbing Bacchus, but claimed it was done in self-defence, and said the victim had attacked him with a ‘2x4’ piece of wood.

Henry said he was gambling on the day in question, and had an exchange of words with Bacchus. The victim was present in court, and was seen sobbing at various intervals. “Fix It” further stated that Bacchus was hammering him, but left the scene when he saw Henry with a knife. He claimed that it was sometime after this that Bacchus returned with the piece of wood and started hitting at him.

“He was being very aggressive to me although I said to him that I didn’t want no story...I try to take the wood, and I fire a jook to he neck,” the offender told

Victim: Troy Bacchus

ing, and that he was a victim of his circumstances.

A probation report read

by Probation Officer Anand Sharma revealed that Henry’s parents separated and migrated individually to the Caribbean. As a child, “Fix It” lived in Barbados with his mother, but was deported after his sister reported his abuse of cocaine to the authorities. After his return in 2009, he continued using the prohibited drug, did odd jobs, and lived around Bourda Market.

Henry developed problems with hearing over time.

The State’s case was presented by Attorney Tiffini Lyken.

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tuesdAY, october 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyanese named 1st non-British MU’s Worldwide President

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uyanese Sheran Harper defied tradition when she became the first non-British resident to be elected as the Worldwide President of the 142-year-old Mothers’ Union (MU). The MU has over four million members in 84 countries across the globe.

The elections were held under the revised Constitution, approved by the Privy Council in April 2018, designed to ensure that governance practices meet the latest standards required and that the Board truly reflects the global nature of the movement.

In addition, 11 Trustees have been elected from within 11 zones worldwide: five from the Provinces within Britain and Ireland, and six

from outside. The Board will also have the flexibility to appoint four trustees with specific skillsets to complement the experience and expertise of the elected members.

“I am delighted to accept the role of Worldwide President for the new triennium. I feel very excited and privileged and I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our members who voted to make this dream a reality,” Harper, who will take up her new position in January 2019, is quoted as saying by the Anglican Communication News Service.

MU’s CEO, Bev Jullien said that they were extremely excited about the results, adding that not only would Harper bring

Sheran Harper

her global experience but they now also had a diverse board with members from eight different countries for the first time. Additionally, this is the first time that a man is included as a board member.

The current Worldwide President, Lynne Tembey, has overseen the constitutional changes together with the current Board, and she will continue in the post until the end of December 2018.

“I thank God for his abundant blessings and his unfailing loving guidance. I pray that the Lord will continue to guide members and leaders everywhere and especially Sheran and the new Worldwide Board as they take up leadership of the Worldwide Mothers’ Union for the coming three years,” she said.

Harper, wife of famous Guyanese cricketer Roger Harper, said she was proud to be leading an organisation that was making a difference in the lives of over

three quarters of a million people worldwide.

“Mothers’ Union is as relevant today as it was 142 years ago as the call to support families globally is now even greater. We are working alongside Governments and other organisations in tackling issues which affect families wherever they are. In remote areas, where there is no access to social services, it is often Mothers’ Union that is leading the way,” Harper told the Anglican Communication News Service.

Harper studied at the University of the West Indies School of Physical Therapy. She undertook her Clinical Practice at Guy’s Hospital in London and then worked with the Health Ministry in Guyana where

she opened and managed new physiotherapy departments in hospitals throughout the country and lectured on the Rehabilitation Therapists Programme.

She stopped working in this area 17 years ago to focus on her calling of serving the MU. She has served as a volunteer at all levels from parish, to diocese and to province and is currently a Worldwide Trustee.

Until recently, she was the Worldwide Parenting Trainer where she rolled out Mothers’ Union Parenting programmes in 23 countries across the globe. Her expertise is often called upon and she has been a spokesperson in her region for Mothers’ Union on various inter-faith and international panels and forums.

School safety, disaster risk management priorities for Education Ministry

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chool safety and disaster risk management are top priorities for the Education Ministry, in order to create safe environments for children and teachers.

This was accentuated at the opening session of a four-day event being held by the Education Ministry in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and in partnership with the Presidential Agency on International Cooperation of Colombia.

The Mission is geared at facilitating the transfer of risk management and school safety between Guyanese and the Colombian contingent.

According to District Education Officer Sherwin Blackman, Coordinator of the Mission, the partnership started over a year ago between the Education Ministry, EPA and the Government of Colombia.

He said the goal is to create a mobile system to teach risk management and firstaid for the benefit of schools.

District Education Officer Sherwin Blackman

Officer (Region 10) Marcia Paddy, who said that, in May 2018, a representative from the Education Ministry (Sherwin Blackman) and the EPA had represented Guyana in Colombia in an exploratory visit to gain experience in disaster risk management in schools.

“This was with the understanding that Guyana will do its part in imple-

The representatives from Colombia at the Mission engagement

He further stated that when discussing the issue of risk management, it must be understood not only in the context of natural disasters, but other social issues.

Delivering the feature address on behalf of the Minister of Education was Regional Education

menting processes that will result in safer and greener educational facilities; that the education sector will work towards the continued reducing of risk at schools, and establish an ideal yet adaptable approach to risk management at the school level”, Paddy noted.

She said the plan to address these issues is not haphazard in any way. Paddy further explained, “It is a structured, in-depth process that encompasses a variety of approaches and synergies.

The Ministry of Education recognises the significance of risk management and school safety in the promotion of best practices of risk management.”

Additionally, she noted that, in 2017, the following three schools participated in a competition and were assessed locally based on the vulnerability assessment. These schools were Diamond Secondary, South Ruimveldt Secondary and Tucville Secondary.

Following this competition, Paddy said, action plans with recommendations for improving each of the named school’s safety and disaster risk reduction plan were designed.

Moreover, she noted that the Model Safe School Programme is being piloted at three other schools; these are St. John’s College, Richard Ishmael Secondary School and Dolphin Secondary School.

She said the long-term expectations as a result of the training are geared at the development of comprehensive protocols for risk management equipment and to ensure teachers and students are trained as first responders with basic firstaid skills.

Executive Director of the EPA, Dr Vincent Adams, said Guyana is a blessed country. He noted that, save for floods, the country is not affected by any major natural disaster.

Despite this, he reminded that Guyana is still vulnerable, since it is below sea level. As such, he noted that risk management and risk analysis will teach Guyanese, especially children, how to be prepared, and what to do if certain situations arise.

Executive Director of the EPA, Dr Vincent Adams

Dr Adams added that with climate change being inevitable, preparedness is necessary.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig,

Director General of the Civil Defence Commission, said children are an important group, since they are strong and resilient, adapting to stresses that weaken most adults. However, he noted that children are still vulnerable.

He said educational facilities need to be retrofitted to make the environment safe.

According to the Director General, this needs to be done at both private and public schools, and with instruments that are simple, applicable and adaptable.

Further, he said that personnel within the school system, including teachers, need to be trained and equipped to protect those persons who come under their charge.

Secretary-General of the Guyana Red Cross, Dorothy Fraser, noted that training

Regional Education Officer Marcia Paddy

in the areas of risk management and school safety is imperative, so that young people, parents and teachers can know how to prevent disaster and administer aid.

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tuesdAY, october 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Appeal Court-ordered retrial of Lindeners share recommendations Terry Kissoon begins Tuesday on oil and gas sector

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Deceased: Troy Smith

ust over two months ago, the Appeal Court remitted several murder cases wherein accused persons had been found guilty by 12-member juries. The first of those High Court retrials commences today, Tuesday, in the case of Terry Kissoon, who has been issued

the death penalty by Justice Diana Insanally after he was found guilty of killing Troy Smith in 2013.

He is indicted on allegations that he shot and killed Smith over a stolen motorcycle between July 30th and 31st 2010, at Smith’s Thomas Street, Kitty residence.

Reports are that the two men had ended up in a heated confrontation after Kissoon had accused Smith of stealing the vehicle. Police reports also stated that Kissoon gave Smith 24 hours to return the vehicle, but then he allegedly took out a handgun and shot Smith in the abdomen before reportedly making his escape.

However, when prosecutors presented the indictment before Justice Sandil Kissoon on Monday, the defendant denied the murder charge once again by entering a not-guilty

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Murder accused: Terry Kissoon

plea. As such, a new 12-member jury panel has been selected to hear the case which begins today.

Kissoon is being represented by Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos, who will defend him over the next several days. Lisa Cave and Orinthia Schmidt are appearing for the prosecution.

Meten-Meer-Zorg Islamic Academy 9th Graduation …100% pass rate at NGSA for the 1st time

indeners were on Saturday given an opportunity to join in the creation of a process which would allow citizens to exercise influence over ways in which Guyana’s oil and gas revenues would impact society.

This opportunity was made possible through a public consultation hosted by Policy Forum Guyana (PFG), a partner in the programme Shared Resources Joint Solutions (SRJS). The ‘Open Space’ initiative, hosted at the Egbert Benjamin Centre in Mackenzie, Linden, aims at generating national consensus among ordinary Guyanese on how the “mega-revenues” expected from the country’s oil and gas sector can best deliver to the future of all Guyanese.

It was the second in a series of five initiatives which are set to be conducted across the coastal regions in New Amsterdam, Anna Regina and Corriverton in the coming months. The PFG team to Linden was spearheaded

by Coordinator Benita Davis, Mike Mc Cormack, Tatyana Abrams and Shevona Strain.

According to Davis, the Open Space method is an excellent way to engage all citizens in a discussion on a complex issue like oil and gas. Apart from the ordinary people educating themselves about the consequences of oil and gas, Davis said, the event is also a valuable learning opportunity for many of the volunteers from Linden who may be experiencing the Open Space technique for the first time.

The longer-term aim of the initiative, she explained, is to revive a collective belief among Guyanese that things could be different. “Rather than resigning ourselves to each one striving as individuals to better their own position within the existing society, if citizens act together, they can renovate society as a whole,” she explained.

Among those present at the activity were several groups, including the Linden Youth leaders, Connection

Youth Group and the Linden Youth Network. The groups engaged in discussions that were centred on developments they would like to see in the community and across the country coming from oil and gas revenues. This included the future development of Linden’s economy and job availability for graduates, among other things.

They also embraced the opportunity to share issues and recommendations.

Davis said the Open Space events have a twoyear timeline set in three phases. These are (1) to create a national consensus on the common future to which all Guyana aspires, (2) to create a national consensus around priority mega projects best suited to advance the realisation of the common vision developed in phase one; and (3) to undertake environmental and social impact assessments, feasibility studies and cost of the projects identified in Phase two.

Health threat at school

Nothing will be done until “formal complaint” is lodged – Education Ministry

The teachers of the Meten-Meer-Zorg Islamic Academy sharing a moment with Education Minister Nicolette Henry following the graduation exercise

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t its 9th Annual Graduation Exercise held on Sunday last, the Meten-Meer-Zorg Islamic Academy celebrated the 100 per cent pass rate of its students who had sat the 2018 National Grade Six Assessment.

Head-teacher of the school, Brother Hasib Azeez, described the performance of the students as commendable. Delivering a report on the school’s performance, he said the school has been growing from strength to strength as it continues to promote good morals and values.

He said the goal of the institution is to transform an empty mind into an open mind. He said that this year is the first time the school has achieved a 100 per cent pass rate at NGSA. According to Azeez, 26 per cent of the students who had written the examination have been placed at senior secondary schools in Guyana.

Further, he noted that the school’s Parent- Teachers Association (PTA) has also seen 100 percent improvement regarding the attendance of parents at meetings.

Besides the historical performance at the Grade Six examinations, Azeez also congratulated the students who

had written the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate examination (CSEC) for their stellar performance.

Education Minister Nicolette Henry, in delivering the feature address at the graduation ceremony, told the gathering that all the hard work has been worth it.

She said Sunday’s graduation was more than the gowns and outfits, but rather the feeling of accomplishment. “It is the awareness that all of your sacrifice and efforts achieved the desired results,” Minister Henry noted.

Further, the Education Minister noted that education plays a major role in the growth and progress of a society. She said, “It is one of the key components that can make or break a culture’s advancement. If citizens of a society are educated, they can provide significant contributions in the fields of arts, literature, science, technology, oil and others, and help establish a well-rounded and stimulating community.”

Henry congratulated all of the graduates on their achievement, and reminded that Guyana welcomes progress in all forms, since it indicates growth as individuals,

communities, and the nation as a whole.

Meanwhile, Region 3 ViceChairman Ayube Inshan urged the graduates that, as they continue on their path, they should embrace good values, morals and principles.

Regional Chairman Dennis Jaikaran said although the students must be congratulated, the parents, teachers and guardians must also be congratulated for their support and hard work.

Delivering the Charge to the graduates was Sister Zohorah Singh, who advised the children that they should not let the excitement of success and youth make them forget the Creator. She asked that they use their talents not only for personal gain, but for the development of the world.

The school’s top student at this year’s NGSA was Zackiea Ali, who secured a place at Queen’s College, while the top student for the school at CSEC was Kaecia Winter.

The school also awarded students from all of the classes who performed exceptionally at the school’s internal examinations. Those who participated in the Spelling Bee Competition and Science Quiz were also recognised during the function.

The Diamond Secondary School

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lthough students of the Diamond Secondary School -in Second Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, EBD -- are reportedly being sold contaminated food, the Education Ministry, in a statement to this publication, disclosed that nothing can be done to address the issue until an official complaint has been received by the School’s Board of Governors.

The Ministry disseminated this statement one day after the Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) of the school complained bitterly of the issues affecting the children there.

While the Ministry acknowledged that it had indeed received a letter from the PTA in regard to the matter, it said, “A letter was prepared by the School Board Coordinator of the Ministry of Education advising the PTA of the school to share the concerns with the School’s Board of Governors.”

According to the Ministry, the letter detailing the issues was also directed to the School’s Board of Governors, which to date has not responded. The Ministry is adamant that the issue cannot be addressed until an official complaint has been filed by the School’s Board of

Governors.

The disgruntled members of the PTA recently penned a letter to this publication expressing grave concern about the present health threats existing at the institution.

The PTA is threatening to take legal action — and even protest action — as the body believes the students are being exposed to harm, and even diseases, as food which is being sold to the children is allegedly contaminated.

They are also complaining about parapets which have been destroyed – a situation which bothers parents who wish to park their vehicles as they await their children; and the non-highlighting of speed bumps in the streets, which results in great inconvenience to both drivers and pedestrians.

They claim that several letters have been sent to the Education, Communities, Public Infrastructure and Public Health ministries, but their complaints have always been ignored.

The PTA threatened: “If no action is taken by your Government, we shall initiate protest action, starting at the UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) and PAHO (Pan American Health Organisation) office, and we shall be meeting

shortly with our attorney… to explore legal remedies.”

According to the PTA members, relevant letters were sent to the various ministries before the beginning of the new school term in September. In one of the letters, addressed to Education Minister Nicolette Henry and seen by Guyana Times, the PTA complained of the food vendors who sell outside the school’s compound.

The body stressed: “Since 2011, at PTA meetings, we have repeatedly raised the issue of the school’s administration allowing vendors to sell food items over the front drain of our school to children.”

It was explained that parents are especially concerned as there is a septic tank which drains sewage directly into that very drain which is in front of the school.

The PTA members are now calling on UNICEF and PAHO representatives to visit the school to get a firsthand look at the issues affecting the students.

They are even calling for the Head Mistress (HM) and teachers to be investigated, as they accused the head teacher of accepting money from the vendors to sell outside the school’s premises.

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tuesdAY, october 9, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Investigation launched into Police beating in Linden

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olice in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) are investigating the circumstances surrounding an incident that occurred on Monday and involved a Linden taxi driver allegedly being beaten by Police ranks attached to the Mackenzie Police Station.

The incident, alleged to have occurred at the Wisroc-Amelia's Ward minibus park in Linden, reportedly occurred in full view of the public, and was recorded by bystanders, who posted the incident on social media. According to reports, the incident was sparked after the taxi driver, accosted by ranks for a minor traffic violation, failed to report to the Mackenzie Police Station.

In a cell phone video which was posted on social media and was viewed by this publication, the ranks could be seen attempting to arrest the driver by handcuffing him and forcing him into a Police vehicle. A rank was also observed hitting the driver as he was being led to a Police vehicle. By then a large crowd had gathered, and several other ranks were observed on the scene.

This driver, who later spoke to this publication at the Mackenzie Police Station, related that he had stopped his car at a corner, and was accosted by Police who had advised him to park further up the road.

He explained however, that the only place he could have driven to was inside the park which is located a short distance away, since according to him there was no other space available.

Govt bows to...

The driver went on to state that when he got there, the Police started to write him a ticket for failing to stop 30 feet away from the corner.

The driver added that he was then told that another offence was being added after he questioned why the process of writing him a ticket was taking so long. He said he was then told that he was required to proceed to the station, to which he said he refused since according to him he viewed it as a ticketable offence.

Following the incident, a number of persons who witnessed the altercation turned up at the Police Station alleging that "Police brutality" was meted out against the driver. "This is a quiet, quiet boy! If you see how he (Police) kick he up!" one person alleged. "They can't do that to this boy! If they make this boy walk out of here without any satisfaction, we taking a bus and we going Eve Leary, to the Commissioner, because they wrong!" another irate resident stated.

'E' Division (Linden-Kwakwani) Commander Anthony Vanderhyden has said the matter is being investigated. He said a case file was being prepared to be sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice on the way forward in relation to the incident. The Policemen involved in the incident were on Monday questioned and were also required to give statements, along with the driver and other witnesses. Detectives have also questioned persons who were on the scene.

from page 9

Although the Education Ministry has threatened legal action should teachers return to the streets, the GTU said it is ready to walk the stairs to the courtroom as it is confident that it has not breached any laws, since according to the Union, the teachers’ salary negotiations have not yet reached the arbitration stage.

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) and the Guyana Trades Union

Congress (GTUC) have since vocalised support for the Union’s call for better wages for teachers. The GTU has in fact called for Minister with responsibility for labour, Keith Scott to apologise for his unilateral appointment of a chairman to the arbitration panel and for humiliating the Professor.

The last nationwide teachers’ strike took effect on August 27 during schools’ preterm activities and lasted for a

little under two weeks, as the Ministry gave into pressure and agreed to arbitration on September 6, 2018.

The Union has been clamouring for the Education Ministry to honour a proposal for a 40 per cent increase in salary for 2016, 45 per cent in 2017, 50 per cent in 2018, 50 per cent in 2019 and 50 per cent in 2020 be granted to all categories of teachers/educators.

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harad Navratri 2018 is just around the corner and preparations to celebrate the grandeur and power of the Hindu divine feminine Goddess Durga are in full swing.

This year, the festival of Sharad or Maha Navratri dates are October 9, 2018 to October 18, 2018. The festival is celebrated in different ways in different parts of the Indian subcontinent. This is the second of the two most important Navratris of the year. Also known as the Sharad Navratri, it lasts for nine nights and 10 days. It is a postmonsoon autumn festival. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival falls in the month of Ashvin, which, according to Gregorian or Victorian calendar, coincides with the months of September or October. The themes of victory of good over evil are common in the folklores and stories attached to the festival of Sharad Navratri. Different parts of India may have different versions of the mythological tales related to Navratri.

Sharad Navratri is the most widely celebrated of the total four Navratris (two festive Navratris and two gupt or secret Navratris) celebrated by Hindus annually. The two festive Navratris - Vasant Navratri and the Sharad Navratri- are indelible parts of the Indian culture. The word Navratri literally translates to 'nine nights' in Sanskrit, named after the holy period. Sharad Navratri is followed by the festival of Dussehra or Vijayadashmi and the festival of lights Diwali or Deepawali.

Navratri 2018: Significance of Sharad Navratri Sharad Navratri marks the end of monsoon and is observed during the lunar month of Ashvin. In some parts of India, it is celebrated after the autumn harvest and in some others, during the harvest. The festival celebrated the victory of Goddess Durga against the demon Mahishasura. Each day of the festival has its own significance.

The festival is solely dedicated to the celebration of the all-powerful Goddess and her nine female avatars.

Here's a day-wise significance of Sharad Navratri 2018: Day 1; October 9: The first day of Navratri 2018 is called Pratipada and is dedicated to Shailaputri or daughter of the mountain. The holy colour of this day is red, and it depicts action and vigour.

Day 2; October 10: The second day or Dwitiya celebrates power of Brahmacharini, which is the unmarried avatar of Goddess Parvati. The holy colour of the day is royal blue, which represents calmness.

Day 3; October 11: Chandraghanta is the avatar of Goddess Parvati celebrated on the third day of the Sharad Navratri. It is named so after the half-moon she adorned her forehead with, after she married Lord Shiva. The colour of the day is yellow.

Day 4; October 12: Chaturthi or the fourth day of Sharad Navratri celebrates Goddess Kushmunda, who represents generous endowment of vegetation on Earth. The holy colour of the day is green.

Day 5; October 13: Goddess Skandmata is worshipped on day 5 or Panchami. The holy colour of the day is grey.

Day 6; October 14: This is the day of Goddess Katyayani- the warrior Goddess with four hands. The holy colour of the day is orange.

Day 7; October 15: Saptami or seventh day of Navratri is the day of Goddess Kalaratrithe most ferocious form of Goddess Durga. The colour of the day is white.

Day 8; October 16: Ashtami is a special day in the nine-day period, when nine prepubescent girls are invited to Hindu households and fed a special prasad. The Goddess Mahagauri reigns supreme on this day and the holy colour of the day is sky blue.

Day 9; October 17: The last day or Navami of Sharad Navratri celebrates the Goddess Siddhidaatri, commonly known as Saraswati. The name Siddhidaatri literally means the giver of siddhi or enlightenment. The colour of the day is pink.

Navratri 2018: Foods to Eat and Special Fasting Foods Navratri celebrations vary from state to state. A number of Hindu families fast for varying periods during Navratri. During the fasting periods, only certain foods are allowed and a number of foods and spices are banned from consumption.

Typically, fasting devotees give up consumption of grains for most part of the day, partaking in a specially prepared fasting meal only once a day. The rest of the day, they eat only fruits and special vrat snacks, prepared from sendha namak or rock salt. Only some food grains, vegetables and spices are allowed during the Navratri fasting period. These include grains like buckwheat and water chestnut flour and certain tubers like potato and sweet potato.

Desserts made from sabudana or sago and fox nuts or makhanas are common preparations during Navratri fasts.

Other commonly prepared fasting dishes include sabudana vada or sabudana tikki, kuttu or buckwheat flour pooris, potato curry, sweet potato halwa, etc. While the consumption of sugar is allowed, consumption of table salt is banned during Navratris.

Happy Navratri 2018!

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesdAY, october 9, 2018

Regional

Venezuela says jailed lawmaker committed Far-right Brazil candidate snubs ‘peace and love’, suicide, Opposition says he was killed readies for bitter runoff

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enezuela’s Government said on Monday a jailed Opposition lawmaker killed himself by jumping from the 10th floor of the state intelligence agency (SEBIN) where he was being held, while critics called the incident a murder perpetrated by authorities.

Municipal lawmaker Fernando Alban, 56, was jailed last Friday for alleged involvement in the explosion of two drones during a military parade in early August led by President Nicolás Maduro, Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said in a post on Twitter.

“At the moment he was going to be transported to court, while he was in the SEBIN waiting room, he jumped from the window of the building and fell, causing his death,” Reverol wrote.

That account differed slightly from the one offered by Chief Prosecutor Tarek Saab, who said in televised statements that Alban had asked to use a bathroom and jumped from there.

The Opposition First Justice party, to which Alban belonged, said it was holding Maduro’s Government responsible.

“With great pain and thirst for jus-

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Friends and colleagues of Caracas City Councillor Fernando Alban Salazar gather outside the headquarters of Venezuela’s SEBIN intelligence service on Monday, October 8 (EFE-EPA/Miguel Gutierrez)

tice we tell the people of Venezuela ... that Councilman Fernando Alban was murdered at the hands of the regime of Nicolas Maduro,” the party said. It did not provide evidence for its charge or say how it believed he was killed.

First Justice said Alban’s arrest

was owing to statements he made at the United Nations General Assembly last month in New York denouncing humans rights violations in Venezuela.

The Government had previously given no reasons for his arrest. (Excerpt from Reuters)

razil’s far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro said on Monday he would stick to his hardline agenda on guns, crime and graft in the second round of the election due on October 28, alarming senior statesmen and human rights advocates alike.

Bolsonaro, a former Army captain and veteran lawmaker, nearly won the presidency outright on Sunday, taking 46 per cent of votes against leftist Fernando Haddad’s 29 per cent, part of a swing to the right in Latin America’s largest nation.

As neither candidate won an outright majority, Bolsonaro will face Haddad, the former mayor of Sao Paulo representing the Workers Party (PT), in the second-round vote.

Some Bolsonaro supporters called on him to moder-

ate his message to ensure victory, but the candidate said he would not ease up on an anti-establishment message that has resonated with voters. The world’s fifth most populous country has been roiled by years of rising crime, recession and graft scandals.

“I can’t turn into a Little ‘Peace and Love’ Jair, which would be betraying who I am,” Bolsonaro said in a radio interview. “I have to keep being the same person.”

His words were a thinly veiled swipe at former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who dropped his fiery leftist rhetoric to win the presidency in 2002, dubbing himself the ‘Peace and Love’ candidate.

Lula, who founded the Workers Party and was President until 2010, is serving 12 years in prison for a bribery conviction. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

Haiti quake death toll rises Coffin with severed chicken head found outside T&T court building to 15, and 300 injured

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People injured in an earthquake that hit northern Haiti late on Saturday sleep in a tent, in Port-dePaix, Haiti, October 7, 2018

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n earthquake that struck Haiti on Saturday killed 15 people, injured another 300 and destroyed 40 houses, Jerry Chandler, head of the Caribbean country’s civil protection agency, said on Monday.

Chandler was speaking at a news conference to re-

port on the human cost of the relatively shallow, magnitude 5.9 quake, which hit the north of the impoverished country late on Saturday.

The tremor caused widespread panic in the north and was one of the strongest to shake Haiti since a 7.0 magnitude earthquake

struck near the capital Portau-Prince in 2010. That quake killed tens of thousands of people.

A magnitude 5.2 aftershock on Sunday afternoon sent people rushing into the street in Port-de-Paix, the coastal town that bore the brunt of Saturday’s earthquake. (Reuters)

University CEO accused of duping students arrested in Barbados

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he head of a medical school in Barbados, wanted in India for allegedly bilking thousands of dollars from students, has been taken into Police custody amidst investigations into operations at the university.

Washington University of Barbados’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Gopi Venkat Rao was taken into Police custody last Friday, led away in handcuffs from the campus which is located at a re-purposed hotel, Casa

Grande Hotel, in the eastern parish of St Philip.

Approximately 200 students, mostly drawn from India, had gathered for nearly three hours as a high-level Government team – which included Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Cynthia Forde, Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of People Empowerment Neil Rowe, and officials from the Ministries of Labour, Health, and Education, and the Welfare Department –

broke the news.

Media outlets India Times News Network and The Hindu newspaper reported on September 29 that more than 200 students were duped by an educational consultancy firm of which Venkat is the owner.

Six of Venkat’s staff members were arrested in India, and Police launched a hunt for the director, his wife Nikita Venkat and an associate identified as Zameer, The Hindu reported. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

ourt and Police investigators are reviewing CCTV footage in an effort to determine who placed the severed head of a chicken tied to a small black coffin at the entrance of the Port of Spain Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

The items were found by the authorities as they were opening the gates of the court. Officers said while security guards were hesitant to remove the items, it was eventually scooped up and placed in a garbage bag which was quickly thrown in a dumpster.

One court officer said

the items were placed in the area where a fight erupted between two women and a police prosecutor last week.

NEWSDAY newspaper said it had spoken to a magistrate about the incident and that the court official said that the challenge would be to determine the person’s intention in placing the items in front of the court.

But the Trinidad Express newspaper quoted Spiritual leader and herbalist Trevor Sayers, as saying he believes “it is some sort of sacrifice or it is about some law that is about to be abolished.

“The bird deals with law and changing of time and symbols. A coffin represents marriage. Normally we say death but it is a marriage” he told the newspaper.

Sayers also predicted that Trinidad and Tobago would mourn the death of a prominent person.

“I am seeing that it will have a death next year of someone particularly in high authority. I think it might be an ex-president or ex-prime minister. It could even be someone currently sitting in this country,” he told the paper. (Excerpt from CMC)

Jamaican fashion pioneer Ivy Ralph passes

W

orld-renowned Jamaican fashion designer Ivy Ralph passed away early Monday morning. She was 90 years old.

Ralph, who was in Nuttall Hospital, died at approximately 03:45 h, OBSERVER ONLINE, was told. Regarded as a pioneer of Jamaica’s fashion industry, Ralph won worldwide acclaim when she created the Kareeba suit in the early 1970s.

“It was an idea I had as a child, a more comfortable style of dress for men.

I wanted to help them get away from the jacket-andtie routine, to something far more comfortably suited to the island’s climate,” Ralph is quoted in her biography.

Jamaica’s then Prime Minister Michael Manley, the bio explained, “saw the

Ivy Ralph

ensemble and immediately sought out Ralph. The rest, as the saying goes, is history. It took off like wildfire, everybody wanted a Kareeba and she was busy night and day just trying to keep up with the orders, exporting to Saks Fifth Ave, B Altman, and top boutiques across the USA and the Caribbean”.

The Kareeba, which was the subject of an article in the New York Times on March 24, 1976, was embraced by world leaders and celebrities, among them Barbados’ Prime Minister Errol Barrow, Guyana’s President

Forbes Burnham, Tanzania President Julius Nyerere, the king of Swaziland, World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Muhammed Ali, and American pop star Michael Jackson in his young days. In 1999, the Jamaican Government invested Ralph with the Order of Distinction for outstanding contribution to the promotion of fashion for export.

On Sunday, the Observer reported her equally famous daughter, Sheryl Lee Ralph, as saying that her mother was not in the best of health.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

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guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

"Trump": Kavanaugh sex assault claims were 'all made up'

U

S President Donald Trump has said the sex assault claims made against his new Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh were a "hoax" and "all made up".

The Republican President condemned Democratic calls to impeach the Judge as an "insult to the American public".

The Democratic leadership has distanced itself from the calls by two of its rank-and-file lawmakers.

Justice Kavanaugh was confirmed by the Senate on Saturday, in a 50-48 vote that largely followed partisan lines.

As he left the White House for an event in Florida

President Donald Trump: "The main base of the Democrats have shifted so far left we'll end up being Venezuela"

on Monday, Trump said: "So I've been hearing that now they're thinking about impeaching a brilliant jurist.

"A man that did nothing wrong, a man that was caught up in a hoax that was

set up by the Democrats using the Democrats' lawyers and now they want to impeach him."

He added: "I think it's an insult to the American public."

The allegations against the nominee were "all made up, it was fabricated and it was a disgrace," Trump said.

Speaking at a Police convention in Orlando later, the President said the allegations against the justice were "brought about by people that are evil". It was unclear if he was referring to the accusers, their lawyers or Democratic lawmakers.

Immediately following Professor Christine Blasey Ford's testimony last month about her alleged assault to the Senate, Trump called her a "compelling" witness.

But he later questioned her credibility and mocked her at a rally. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Turkey's Erdogan tells Saudis to prove missing Journalist left Istanbul consulate

T

urkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Monday called on Riyadh to prove its claim that Saudi Arabian Journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who has been missing since last week, left the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

The disappearance of Khashoggi, previously a prominent newspaper editor in Saudi Arabia and an adviser to its former head of intelligence, has sparked global concern, particularly after

Turkish sources said over the weekend that authorities believed he was killed inside the consulate.

Khashoggi left Saudi Arabia last year, saying he feared retribution for his criticism of Saudi policy in the Yemen war and its crackdown on dissent.

He entered the consulate in Istanbul last Tuesday to get documents for his forthcoming marriage. Saudi officials say he left shortly afterwards, but his fiancée, who

was waiting outside, said he never appeared.

“We have to get an outcome from this investigation as soon as possible. The consulate officials cannot save themselves by simply saying ‘he has left’,” Erdogan told a news conference in Budapest, where he is on an official visit.

Erdogan, who said he was personally following the case, added that Turkey had no documents or evidence regarding the case.

A Saudi source at the consulate has denied that Khashoggi had been killed at the mission and said that the accusations were baseless. The consulate has also denied that Khashoggi was abducted.

U.S. President Donald Trump, in the first expression of concern by his administration on Khashoggi’s disappearance, said he was troubled by reports about the Journalist’s fate. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

Landmark UN climate report warns time quickly running out

T

emperatures could rise by 1.5 degrees Celsius as early as 2030 if global warming continues at its current pace and the world fails to take rapid and unprecedented measures to stem the increase, experts warned in a landmark United Nations report on Monday.

The report is seen as the main scientific guide for Government policymakers on how to implement the 2015 Paris Agreement, which aims to limit the rise in global average temperatures to "well below" 2C above pre-industrial levels, while seeking to tighten the goal to 1.5C. The report was finalised at a special meeting in South Korea last week.

Meeting the 1.5C limit would demand "rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented change in all aspects of society", the panel said. Temperatures would be 1.5C higher between 2030 and 2052 if the world continues at its current pace, it warned.

The report triggered calls for policymakers to immediately end all fossil fuel subsidies, set a price on carbon, and adopt renewable energy and green technologies.

"This report is not a wake-up call, it is a ticking timebomb," said Gro Harlem Brundtland, Acting Chair of The Elders in a statement.

"Climate activists have been calling for decades for

Florida urges residents to brace for 'lifethreatening' hurricane

Clouds cover nearly all of Florida in this US Government satellite image

O

fficials are warning residents along Florida's gulf coast to prepare for a possibly "life-threatening hurricane", which is due to strike later this week.

Hurricane Michael may reach category three strength before it arrives in Florida, possibly on Wednesday, and will then move up the US East Coast.

Michael, which is the 13th named storm of the season, is already lashing Cuba with strong winds and heavy rains.

Officials in areas hit by Hurricane Florence warn of damage from the rains.

North Carolina may re-

ceive 1 to 3 inches (2 to 7 centimetres) of rain, officials say, which could trigger flash flooding due to the existing level of saturation in the ground from Hurricane Florence, which struck North and South Carolina last month.

Michael's current wind speeds are 75 miles per hour (120km/h). It is approaching the US at a pace of 7mph.

Forecasters with the US National Hurricane Centre in Miami warn that the hurricane will continue to move over warm waters, which may cause it to generate winds reaching 111mph by Tuesday night. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Skripal attack: 2nd Salisbury suspect named

T

A view of dried-up Lake Poopo affected by climate change in Oruro, Bolivia [File: David Mercado/Reuters]

leaders to show responsibility and take urgent action, but we have barely scratched the surface of what needs to be done.

Further failure would be an unconscionable betrayal of the planet and future generations."

Temperatures have already risen an average 1C since the mid-1800s as industrialisation fuels the growth of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2), the main greenhouse gas blamed for climate change. (Excerpt from Al

Jazeera)

he name of the second suspect in the Salisbury case is actually Alexander Mishkin, the BBC understands.

The Bellingcat investigative website says the man who travelled under the alias Alexander Petrov is in reality a military doctor working for Russian intelligence, the GRU. Last month, Bellingcat named the first suspect as Anatoliy Chepiga, a claim rejected by Russia.

Russian ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned in March.

The British open-source

website said it had identified the suspect using testimonies from people the suspect knew and a scanned copy of his passport.

It said both his real passport and the false passport he travelled to the United Kingdom on in the name of Alexander Petrov carried the same date of birth.

Bellingcat claims he was recruited by Russian intelligence while he was completing his medical studies, and made several trips to Ukraine, including during the 2013 unrest. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

9 arrested for beating up Indian schoolgirls

A

t least nine people have been arrested following a mob attack at a girls school in the north-eastern Indian state of Bihar, Police say.

Local reports said some 34 schoolgirls were treated in hospital after a crowd of teenage boys, their parents and locals beat them up on Saturday.

The girls from the govern-

ment school in Triveniganj had earlier admonished local boys for sexually harassing them.

As of Monday, six boys and three women were in custody, Police told media.

They suspect another eight to 10 unidentified people were also involved in the mob attack against the girls, believed to be aged between 10 and 16.

Sexual violence against women and girls has been the subject of protests across India in recent years

Police said on Monday that several schoolgirls were still undergoing treatment in hospital, but would be discharged soon. Students playing on the grounds of their boarding school in Saupaul district, 250 kilometres (160 miles) from the state capital Patna, caught a group of boys sneaking in and asked them to leave. When the boys refused and began sexually

harassing them instead, the girls argued back and some physically remonstrated with the boys, who retreated.

Police say a group of the boys then returned with their parents and other locals, armed with bamboo sticks and iron rods. They broke into the school and attacked students and teachers, who tried to call for calm, Police said.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesdAY, october 9, 2018

ARCHIE

If you try to understand what others are going (March 21- through, it will be easier for April 19) you to do what’s right for all concerned. Your help will be appreciated.

ARIES

A delay may annoy you, TAURUS but it will turn in your fa(April 20- vour in the end. Don’t lack May 20) patience; simply bide your time. Wait and be ready to act when the time is right.

dilbert

Live and learn. Someone GEMINI (May 21- may lead you astray if you June 20) ask for suggestions or help.

Take the initiative and go to the source if you want to know the truth.

Let down your guard and listen to what others have to (June 21- say. You’ll be offered options July 22) that will spark your imagination and encourage better relationships with the people you love most.

CANCER

Peanuts

Don’t assume that you LEO know what’s going on around (July 23- you. Someone will go to great Aug. 22) lengths to cover up something that could greatly affect a decision you make.

You’ll learn through obserVIRGO vation and hands-on experi(Aug. 23ence. You will have a personSept. 22) al growth spurt that will lead to a positive lifestyle change.

Love and romance will improve your life.

Calvin and Hobbes

Take care of matters that LIBRA (Sept. 23- will influence your home life Oct. 23) or standard of living. Put in the time and effort to fix up your surroundings and add to your comfort.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — ALOPECIA

SUDOKU

Look at what you can acSAGITTARIUS complish, not at what you (Nov. 23- cannot. Having a positive atDec. 21) titude will help you keep negative individuals from interfering in your affairs.

Determination will encourage personal change.

(ALOPECIA: al-oh-PEESH-uh: Loss of hair.)

Average mark 24 words Time limit 35 minutes Can you find 34 or more words in ALOPECIA? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — COOPERS cero coop cope coper copse core corps corpse crop oops peso poor pore

pose poser prose epos rope rose scoop scooper scope score sore spoor spore

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

Emotions will mount, SCORPIO and arguments will erupt if (Oct. 24you aren’t careful with your Nov. 22) words and reactions. Don’t judge others or start something you will live to regret.

solution for last published puzzle

Don’t stop when you CAPRICORN (Dec. 22- should be sprinting. Explore Jan. 19) your options and try new things. Show emotion and express your thoughts. Live life in the moment and to the fullest.

Beware of anyone makAQUARIUS ing unrealistic offers. Change (Jan. 20- should take place because you Feb. 19) want it to, not because someone is pressuring you to do something that you don’t like.

Take advantage of whatPISCES (Feb. 20- ever comes your way. Set up March 20) meetings and negotiate with confidence. Let others know your worth. Embrace love and make a commitment.

tuesdAY, october 9, 2018

19

Rutherford, Hemraj included in Windies squad for India

– Darren Bravo, Pollard back in T20I squad

B

atsman Darren Bravo is set to represent West Indies in any format for the first time in two years and allrounder Kieron Pollard for the first time in a year, on the T20I leg of the ongoing India tour.

Chris Gayle, who will be playing the Afghanistan Premier League and will be playing the T10 league after that, made himself unavailable for selection for the India and Bangladesh tours, Cricket West Indies (CWI) said in a release, but he remains available for the home series against England early next year and the World Cup. Andre Russell was picked for the T20Is, but not the ODIs because he "has been ruled out of all 50-over cricket due to injury".

Bravo and Pollard's inclusions were the result of talks between CWI and a handful of estranged high-profile players, with a view to having the big names feature in the World Cup in England next year. These players had fallen out with the board for various reasons, the primary one being the clash between playing domestic cricket and overseas T20 leagues.

The board had said availability for regional tournaments was a requirement to be picked for the West Indies squads, causing a rift with the players who are highly sought after by the T20 leagues. However, this year,

with the World Cup in mind, the board decided to bring forward the domestic 50over competition to October

Dwayne Bravo and Lendl Simmons, who'd also committed to playing the Super50 along with Darren

Darren Bravo

instead of February 2019 - that switch means there will be minimal clash between the Super50 and various T20 leagues. CWI said if the players play the Super50 and perform, a World Cup call-up is open for them.

Bravo and Pollard, did not feature in the squads for the India tour. CWI chief executive Johnny Grave had said earlier that the stiff competition for the allrounders' spot in the line-up meant Dwayne Bravo would have to work

that much harder to break through.

Spinner Sunil Narine also remains on the sidelines for now.

The ODI squad features three uncapped players in opener Chandrapaul Hemraj, allrounder Fabian Allen and pacer Oshane Thomas. Allen and Thomas will stay on for the India T20s too, along with other newcomers in left-arm pacer Obed McCoy, left-arm spinner Khary Pierre and the big-hitting Sherfane Rutherford.

Batsman Evin Lewis, who'd turned down a central white-ball contract last week, is in both squads. Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who is on the road back from a stress fracture of the back he suffered late last year, has been included for the ODIs pending a fitness test.

Joseph was included in the Test squad for India too, before being ruled out after two fitness assessments.

Oshane Thomas was one of the stars of the CPL earlier this year. Playing for Jamaica Tallawahs, he claimed 18 wickets at an average of 17.66 while hitting speeds upwards of 145kph.

Rutherford, playing for Guyana Amazon Warriors, put on a display of six-hitting that has lifted him into international reckoning.

Against Trinbago Knight Riders - and Dwayne Bravo - he was particularly brutal,

smashing 45 off 13 balls. He also scored a hundred in the Global T20 Canada in July - 134 not out off 66 balls against an attack that included Tim Southee, Sheldon Cottrell and Andre Russell.

Pierre and McCoy have also been picked based on their CPL performances, while Allen and Hemraj have shown form with West Indies' A and B teams. Pierre picked up 11 wickets in just seven games at 13.36, with an economy rate of 5.65, to finish among the top ten wicket-takers despite playing significantly fewer games than others on the list.

West Indies' chairman of selectors Courtney Browne said the selection panel had one eye on the World T20 in 2020 too, hence the raft of new faces in the T20I squad.

"With the 2020 ICC World T20 two years away and the limited amount of T20 Internationals within the next year, the panel believes at this juncture it is time to invest in the young players that have emerged over the last two years from Windies A and B teams, along with 2018 CPL. "The panel believes that this new group of cricketers, in addition to their cricketing skills, will have the athleticism needed to improve our fielding, which will be vital to our success.

The selection of a young group two years prior to the World T20 gives the coaching staff time to help them with their skills and for the team to develop into a cohesive and competitive unit."

(ESPNcricinfo)

Hong Kong trio charged under ICC Anti-Corruption Code

Ballon d'Or 2018…

Messi, Neymar and Mbappe added to shortlist

L

ionel Messi, Neymar and World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe are among the final players named on the 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist.

They are joined by Mbappe's France team-mates Hugo Lloris, Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane, as well as Croatia star Luka Modric, who won the World Cup Golden Ball.

Modric's international team-mates Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Rakitic are also on the shortlist, as are Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

Completing the final 15 nominees for France Football's prize are Real Madrid's Marcelo and Sergio Ramos, Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak and Barcelona forward Luis Suarez.

Mbappe scored 21 goals for Paris Saint-Germain last season before starring in France's triumphant Russia 2018 campaign, netting three times on their way to the final and then again in the 4-2 win over Croatia that sealed their second World Cup triumph.

The teenager is also on the 10-player shortlist for the inaugural Kopa Trophy, a new prize for the best player under 21, which is judged by stars including Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi.

Messi and Neymar did not enjoy World Cups as memorable as Mbappe's, but they were instrumental in Barcelona and PSG's respective title wins.

Other players vying for the 2018 Ballon d'Or include last year's winner Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Harry Kane, Eden Hazard and Antoine Griezmann. (Sportsmax)

Kieron Pollard

H

Kylian Mbappe

ong Kong’s Irfan Ahmed, N a d e e m Ahmed and Haseeb Amjad were provisionally suspended on Monday after being charged under the International Cricket Council’s AntiCorruption code.

The ICC said in a media release that the three players had been charged with 19 counts of breaching the code, including “fixing or contriving” aspects of Hong Kong’s World Cup qualifi-

ers against Scotland and Canada in January 2014.

Irfan and Nadeem were also charged with “influencing results or progress” of matches during the 2016 World Twenty20 campaign.

Irfan faces nine charges, while Nadeem and Haseeb are each charged with five breaches of the code.

Irfan was suspended for 2-1/2 years by the ICC in April 2016 for failing to report “approaches to engage in corrupt conduct”.

The three players have two weeks to respond to the charges. (Reuters)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesdAY, october 9, 2018

Regional Super50 Tournament 2018…

Hemraj’s mighty triple humbles Windies ‘B’ SCOREBOARD

C

handerpaul Hemraj celebrated his selection to the Windies’ One-Day Squad for the Tour of India with his maiden Windies Super50 Cup hundred in a tidy, all-round performance to lead Guyana Jaguars past Windies “B” by nine wickets on Sunday last.

Hemraj hit an undefeated 103, and grabbed a pair of

Christopher Barnwell Chanderpaul Hemraj

wickets as 10 times champions Jaguars clinched their first victory of the 2018-19 Tournament.

Nicholas Pooran hit his third straight half-century, and Kyle Hope supported with an even 50 as Trinidad & Tobago Red Force survived a scare from Canada to log a two-wicket victory.

Playing at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy and

chasing 193 for victory, Hemraj and fellow opener Trevor Griffith got the Jaguars off to a brisk start.

But Griffith was caught behind off Windies’ Under-19 World Cupwinning pacer Chemar Holder for 14 in the seventh over, to leave the Jags 40 for one.

It was the only success for the Windies “B” bowlers, as Christopher Barnwell

came to the crease and shared a 153-run unbroken second-wicket stand with Hemraj to take the Jaguars over the finish line.

Hemraj ended with 12 fours and two sixes from 80 balls, and Barnwell collected one four and three sixes in an unbeaten 61 from 71 balls as the Jaguars reached their target with 130 balls remaining.

Earlier, T&T-born pair

of Keagan Simmons and Kirstan Kallicharran both made 44 to lead the Windies “B” batting, before the composite side was bowled out for 192 in 47.1 overs after they were put in to bat.

Hemraj bagged 2-28 from six overs, Windies leftarm fast-medium bowler Raymon Reifer snared 2-30 from 7.1 overs, and leftarm spinner Veerasammy Permaul took 2-47 from 10 overs.

Meanwhile, at the Queen’s Park Oval, Pooran followed up scores of 89 and 75 in the first two matches with 66 from 45 balls, and Hope made 50 from 84 balls, as Red Force limped over the line with 56 balls remaining.

Pooran and Hope put on 104 for the fourth wicket to put Red Force on course for victory, but Sukhdeep Brar snatched 3-39 in six overs to transform the complexion of the match.

Red Force tumbled from 161 for three in the 33rd over to 192 for eight in the 39th over before Rayad Emrit and Khary Pierre got them over the line.

Earlier, several batsmen got starts without carrying on, as Canada reached 207 for seven from 50 overs, after they chose to bat.

David Jacobs led the way with 37, Navneet Dhaliwal and Bhavindu Adhihetty

West Indies B Innings (50 overs maximum) K Melius c †Bramble b Reifer 20 K Simmons b Pestano 44 KA Kallicharan c Pestano b Lewis 44 MN Samuels (c) b Rutherford 6 Y Cariah retired hurt 8 TA Imlach † c †Bramble b Permaul 6 L Julien lbw b Permaul 5 OF Smith c Johnson b Reifer 32 AS Joseph c Reifer b Hemraj 10 BNL Charles c Shepherd b Hemraj 2 CK Holder not out 0 Extras: (b 1, lb 5, w 9) 15 TOTAL: all out (47.1 Overs, RR: 4.07) 192 Fall of wickets: 1-37 (K Melius, 9.3 ov), 2-94 (K Simmons, 24.4 ov), 3-106 (MN Samuels, 27.3 ov), 3-134 (Y Cariah, retired not out ), 4-134 (KA Kallicharan, 34.1 ov), 5-139 (L Julien, 35.2 ov), 6-162 (TA Imlach, 41.2 ov), 7-185 (AS Joseph, 44.6 ov),

made 32 apiece, Harsh Thaker scored 25, Nikhil Dutta added 23, and Brar got 21 for the Canadians.

Emrit was the most suc-

8-191 (BNL Charles, 46.4 ov), 9-192 (OF Smith, 47.1 ov) BOWLING: C Pestano (6-113-1), RA Reifer (7.1-0-302), V Permaul (10-0-47-2), R Shepherd (5-0-22-0), CD Barnwell (4-0-15-0), RA Lewis (7-1-25-1), SE Rutherford (2-0-61), C Hemraj (6-0-28-2)

Guyana Innings (target: 193 runs from 50 overs) TA Griffith c †Imlach b Holder 14 C Hemraj not out 103 CD Barnwell not out 61 Extras (lb 1, nb 4, w 10) 15 TOTAL (28.2 Overs, RR: 6.81) 193/1 Did not bat: V Permaul, C Pestano, SE Rutherford, RA Reifer, A Bramble (c) †, LR Johnson, RA Lewis, R Shepherd Fall of wickets: 1-40 (TA Griffith, 6.4 ov) BOWLING: AS Joseph (50-43-0), CK Holder (7.2-048-1), BNL Charles (10-051-0), OF Smith (5-1-37-0), KA Kallicharan (1-0-13-0)

cessful Red Force bowler with 3-58 from 10 overs, Pierre collected 2-30 from 10 overs, and Ravi Rampaul took 2-41 from 10 overs.

Kyrgios rows with umpire in surprise Shanghai Masters exit

Pee Wee Round 2 showcases promising youths

A

Nick Kyrgios has won four ATP titles

T

he Pee Wee Under-11 School’s Football tournament continued this past weekend at the Ministry of Education Ground in Carifesta Avenue, where Guyana’s youngest crop of football talent was on show.

With a shower of goals on Saturday, the youngsters showed that Guyana’s football future is indeed bright. In the first match of the day, Mae’s Under 12 met with Sophia, whom they barely brushed past in a 1-0 win. Both teams showed encouraging promise with several impressive plays, despite Sophia not being able to finish with a goal.

On the other half of the playing field, Golden Grove Primary staged a full onslaught on St Stephen’s Primary, with Bryan Wharton’s hat-trick leading his team to a 6-0 victory.

F.E. Pollard and South Ruimveldt Primary had to settle for a draw.

Duquan Thom and Collin Saul of their respective schools ensured their teams

A Marian Academy striker controls possession of the ball in his team’s campaign

netted two each, for the sharing of the match points.

It was refreshing to watch Kaden Wellington play. Hailing from St. Pius Primary, the youngster singlehandedly netted 4 handsome goals to secure for his school a 4-0 victory over Redeemer Primary.

Last year’s runners-up, Marian Academy, showed they are still a force to be reckoned with, registering yet another victory. Malik Barker’s triple and Asher Adams’s triple set up a 7-0 mauling of Clonbrook.

Reigning champions West Ruimveldt, obviously still strong contenders in the 2018 tournament, played marvellous group football to soar to a 3-1 win over Beterverwagting.

Also in winner’s circle was Enterprise Primary with a 3-0 win over Victoria, while Tucville Primary whipped Den Amstel 4-1. Matthew Murray’s quad of goals ensured that

Mocha Arcadia would sail to a smooth 5-0 victory over J.E. Burnham Primary.

Timehri Primary also secured a round 2 win over Ann’s Grove.

St Ambrose demolished Genesis Primary (La Parfait Harmonie) 5-1, owing to young Joseph Henry’s hat-trick of goals.

The Boscoe Orphanage at Plaisance rebounded with a 1-0 win, edging past Smith’s Memorial. North Georgetown upset St Margaret’s Primary, registering a 5-0 win.

After a 9-0 win last week, St. Agnes were pumped and ready to repeat the effort this week, but were treated to a walkover in their match with Craig.

Also in walkovers, Colaaco were awarded a walkover against Grove, and Soesdyke won via walkover in their match with Goed Fortuin.

The Pee Wee action will continue this Saturday, October 13, at the Ministry of Education Ground, Carifesta Avenue.

ustralian Nick Kyrgios was involved in a prolonged argument with French umpire Damien Dumusois during his first-round exit at the Shanghai Masters.

The 23-year-old world number 38 was beaten 4-6 6-4 6-3 by American qualifier Bradley Klahn, ranked 104.

Dumusois told Kyrgios a point in the second set was "really borderline," appearing to suggest a lack of effort.

Kyrgios reacted by saying "I don't care" and told Dumusois "you have no right to tell me that it's poor".

He later sarcastically asked Dumusois "was that borderline?" after serving an ace.

Kyrgios lost five straight games from 4-4 in the second set in a match that lasted one hour and 17 minutes.

It is the third successive year in which the Australian has gone out of the tournament in controversial fashion.

Last year, having ear-

lier received a warning for smashing two balls out of court in frustration, he stormed off midway through his first-round match against Steve Johnson.

He was later fined $10,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct.

In 2016, Kyrgios patted the ball over the net several times when serving and began walking back to his chair before a serve from opponent Mischa Zverev had landed, leading to boos from the crowd.

He was then fined $16,500 for his behaviour in the 6-3 6-1 defeat.

During his second-round match at the US Open in August, Kyrgios was given a pep-talk by umpire Mohamed Lahyani when he was trailing Pierre-Hugues Herbert by a set and a break.

The Australian fought back to win while Lahyani was suspended from two tournaments by the ATP who deemed him to have "compromised the impartiality that is required of an official". (BBC Sport)

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sports

21

GMR&SC ‘Test and Tune’ geared for October 21 G

uyana’s top drivers and riders will have a chance to test their machines ahead of the Guyana Motor Racing and Sports Club’s (GMR&SC) ‘Ignite’.

The club has announced an official event just two weeks away, and it is expected to give drivers and riders a chance to iron out the kinks in their machines.

According to a statement from the club, the event is expected to offer drivers and riders a chance to test their machines in a race-like environment ahead of the final round of the Caribbean Motor Racing Championships.

The statement continued, “We have also set the admission as free for those who want to come and have a look. We are always trying to attract new spectators, and we feel this is one way of doing that.”

Among the local competitors are Mark Vieira, defending Group Four champion Andrew King, Danny

Persaud, Rupee Shewjattan, Rameez Mohamed, Chet Singh, Shiraz Roshandin, Matthew Vieira, Raviero Tucker, Team Mohamed’s (Superbike champions), Kevin Deodass, Anand Ramchand and Adrian Fernandes.

The entities pledging support to the event in-

clude GBTI, B.M. Soat, Noble House Seafood, Stag Beer, Air Services Limited, Guyoil, Palm Court, Handin-Hand, Ramada Hotel, Survival Supermarket, Club 704, Sheriff Security, EC Investments, Prem’s Electrical, Nexus Machinery, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Choke Gas Station, Japarts,

R. Kissoon Contracting, E Networks, Miracle Opticle, Bikers’ Bar, Samaroo Investments, Innovations America, Superbet, Agriparts and KGM Security Service.

The club is expected to launch the event within days, with just over a month remaining until the event.

A case for India to play all 3 openers in Hyderabad?

E

ven as the presentation was in full flow, on only the third day in Rajkot, Mayank Agarwal was out in the nets, taking throwdowns. The 27-yearold pushed his weight back in line with a short ball and crunched it in the direction of cover. The sound of bat on ball was astonishing and for a moment you wondered if he wished he could have played it wearing whites instead of training gear.

The second and final Test of the series against West Indies starts on Friday and it is quite possible that Agarwal will get what he wants. At this point, India appear to be committed to the openers they've chosen in this squad. Only last week the captain Virat Kohli said: "We will give these guys enough space and chances to feel comfortable at that position. We want them to be comfortable about what they are doing."

And while all three are immensely talented, only one has been properly tested at the highest level, which isn't ideal, especially for a team just about a month out from a tour of Australia.

The advantage - if that's even the right word - is that conditions there shouldn't be tough to bat in. Statistically, it has been the best place to bat in over the last five years and the average patnership for the first wicket is north of 40. But if India have decided to continue with Agarwal, KL Rahul and Prithvi Shaw as their openers, they need all three to get as much game time as possible. And

Lokesh Rahul punches with a high elbow

there is only one Test between now and the first one in Brisbane. That Test is in Hyderabad, where all three could very well make the XI. Agarwal is uncapped but with his weight of runs over the last year or so - he made over 1000 in first-class cricket in November 2017 alone he deserves a game. India too need to see what they can get out of him at Testmatch level.

Shaw became the youngest Indian to make a century on debut in Rajkot and his back-foot play suggests he might enjoy batting on pitches with pace and bounce. But one innings does not a player make, so India will need more information on their 18-year old upstart.

Rahul, by contrast, fell in the first over, continuing a sequence where he's been bowled or lbw in eight successive international innings. He's received some brutish deliveries in this

stretch and while Shannon Gabriel's in Rajkot may not have been on the same level as, say, Sam Curran's at The Oval, it did seam in off a length, which meant the batsman had less chance of picking it, not least because it was delivered at over 140 kph.

Early on in England, Rahul kept falling into this trap possibly because he was preoccupied with the threat of the outswinger. Now it seems as if he's being caught in the crease, slow to move his feet. All of this usually happens at the start of his innings - a time when most batsmen are vulnerable but Rahul is especially so. He has been dismissed before his 25th delivery in 23 of his 49 Test innings. And if that stat has got into his head, it can do far more damage than any technical issue.

It seems worthwhile to note that his best innings in England - 149 at The Oval came when he simply react-

ed to the ball, and his best innings in Test cricket so far - 90 against Australia on an up-and-down Bengaluru pitch last year - was the result of simple focus and quick footwork. Back then, he didn't seem like a batsman who was putting pressure on himself because he believed he was in form, and made he made nine fifties in one 11-innings stretch.

He probably lacks that confidence right now, and only time in the middle can bring him that.

So who goes out then?

Ajinkya Rahane? He's going through a lull himself and needs to get out of it before India have to travel again.

Cheteshwar Pujara? He will no doubt be vital when they travel abroad, but he looked like India's most competent batsman next to Kohli in England and he reiterated that form in Rajkot, where he made 86 off only 130 balls. India can trust that his form won't fade.

What about Kohli? It won't be the worst decision; he sleepwalked to his 24th Test century at the SCA stadium and unless he fancies a 25th by the end of the week, he could very well take a break. Or could it be one of the bowlers? Having only four options to turn to in the dry Hyderabad heat doesn't really sound helpful. The team management has a difficult decision to make and we'll get to know all about it on the day before the Test, when India have promised to announce their XII. (ESPNCricinfo)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesdAY, october 9, 2018

Guyoil/Tradewind Tankers U-18 Tournament…

4 teams taste victory on opening day Guyoil Marketing Executive Ashmin John takes the kickoff honours in the presence of Petra’s Troy Mendonca, Mark Alleyne and the competitors

T

he first ever Guyoil/ Tradewind Tankers Under-18 tournament got underway in the blistering sun on Sunday morning with four teams gaining their first points in the competition.

The eleven-week tournament will feature 12 schools from Georgetown, East Bank, East Coast, West Coast and Linden vying for a chance to equip their school with funding for a project of their choice.

Co-Director of Petra, Troy Mendonca, took some time out of the opening ceremony to shed some light on the Organisation’s need to host such a tournament.

"We at Petra Organisation would have recognised the need for such a programme if we want to, as a nation, improve our football internationally," Mendonca stated.

Mendonca has expressed grat-

itude to the sponsors: Guyoil, Trandewind Tankers, and ANSA McAL under their iCool, Lyrix and Smalta brands, for making Petra’s vision of the tournament a reality.

"At this point in time, we are very grateful to Guyoil, in association with Tradewind Tankers, ably supported by ANSA McAL, for giving us the opportunity to present to you this under-18 football tournament," Mendonca said.

Detailing Guyoil’s commitment to community service throughout the length and breadth of Guyana, Marketing Executive Ashmin John, who also spoke at the event, noting that the company was elated to jump on board.

“We just thought there is no better way to invest in communities nationwide than to partner

with the Petra Organisation in encouraging youths from all across the country to develop their skills in football,” John stated.

She highlighted the continuous hard work of the organisation, stating, "We are extremely proud to be in such

GABA Rainforest/Malta Supreme League…

good

company of the Petra Organisation, based on the quality of tournaments coordinated over the past couple of years."

In the same breath, the marketing executive thanked Petra for approaching Guyoil for their support.

"So, once again, I'd like to thank the Petra Organisation for doing such a wonderful job in football," she declared.

When the first whistle blew, Annandale and Vergenoegen Secondary took to the field to battle.

Markel Matheson started the scoring in the third minute, and a hat-trick from Omari Glasgow set up Annandale’s 4-1 win. The only reply from Vergenogen came from Romel Modus.

Coming all the way from Linden, Christianburg made good

on their travels with an absolute trashing of Uitvlugt Secondary.

Three from Tyrise Lewis, two from Andre Mayers, and one apiece from Jermaine Mason, Randy Pickering and Felix Innis sealed Christianburg’s 8-0 victory.

Taking the place of Friendship Secondary, Charlestown entered the competition with confidence, and capitalised on their opportunity. A lone goal from Raymond Bandhu secured them their first win of the tournament against Marian Academy.

The final match of the day saw Queen’s College and Queenstown Secondary being paired. In this encounter, Jarrell Dos Santos was QC’s hero with a pair of goals.

Try as they might, Queenstown could only muster Tyrese Hart’s one goal, resulting in a 2-1 win for QC.

NBS 2nd Division 40-Over Tournament…

Pacesetters suffer Trojans rewarded for 8-win streak mixed fortunes T B asketball action continued over the past weekend at the Burnham Hard Court in Georgetown, where the Rainforest Water/Malta Supreme/Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association’s (GABA’s) First, Second and Under-23 division leagues were staged.

The Pepsi Sonics bowed out the Eagles in the U-23 Division, then the Colts defeated Sonics’ 1st Division team on Saturday.

Sunday saw the Pacesetters lose to Plaisance Guardians in the 2nd Division match, while the Division 1 Pacesetters squad scored a win over the Nets.

Pacesetters managed to win one of their two games to end their night on a high.

In the first match of the night, Pacesetters succumbed to Plaisance Guardians 60-72 in a high-intensity show. At the half, the Guardians led 3217, after which the game looked like it could be anyone’s game. In the third, it was more of the same. Even though Pacesetters were a bit more accurate, they were still outscored 15-21.

In the fourth, Pacesetters tried hard to fight their way back from the 21-point lead,

but it was a little too late for them, and they lost by 12 points.

Pacesetters’ Troy Davids put up 23, while Mark Rose supported with 13 points and George Yearwood, 10.

Guardians’ win was attributed to team effort, with Torrence Daniels top-scoring for his side with 18.

The final match of the night saw the Pacesetters off to a shaky start, the Nets being neck and neck with them, but the former prevailed 89-84. Scoring for the Nets, A Austin was excellent with 31 points, and he received support from Pelham Doris (17) and Hoydhayl Stewart (16).

However, their efforts were not enough, as the Pacesetters, showing unity, were able to convert more opportunities given to edge them out.

Pacesetters’ Michael Turner had 18, while Dave Causway put up 15 and Nathan Saul had 14.

On Saturday, the Eagles flew away with the match against the Sonics, winning 83-54. Captain Lemuel Grant was the only one who put up some fight with 12 points; the Sonics were outplayed in every department.

Eagles showed their superiority as they flexed their muscles on the opposition.

Sherland Gillis top scored with 18, while his captain Shamaar Huntley assisted with 14.

In the other match, the 1st Division Sonics side were searching for a highly unlikely win, but they followed in the tracks of their U23 counterparts and lost to the Colts 62-51.

Sonics led 20-14 after the first quarter, but the opposition’s defence got better as the game progressed. Sonics were then outscored in the next three periods 1015, 10-17, 11-16 respectively, to proverbially snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Colts’ Sheldon Thomas and Shane

Webster h a d 12 and 13, while Sonics’ Jason Samires top scored with 19.

he New Building Society’s (NBS’s) Second Division 40-Over Cricket tournament concluded last weekend with the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) being adjudged winners of the finals.

Playing on home turf, they outclassed the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) by 49 runs, thanks to the heroic efforts of National player Ashmead Nedd.

The spoils were shared among top individual performers, with the University of Guyana Trojans being rewarded for their 8-win streak, which finally was broken by the even-

Ashmead Nedd in his follow through

Omesh Danram receiving his prize for outstanding performance

tual champs in the semifinal round.

At the end of the finals, Nedd was awarded for best bowling figures in the game, being 4-22. The UG Trojans’ run landed them a monetary award, while Omesh Danram was adjudged the Most Valuable Player of Zone A for having scored 245 runs

at an average of 40. This feat has earned him a spot in the Cricket Guyana Inc Franchise.

Dennis Heywood claimed 16 wickets, the most for the tournament; while Akeem Redmond of Transport SC was awarded the best fielder of the tournament.

Sent in to bat first on Saturday, DCC compiled 183

all out in 38.1 overs. Sachin Singh was the anchor of the innings with 39 runs. He was well supported by Raymond Perez (34) and Ashmead Nedd (29).

Gavin Singh (3-42) and Mario Persaud (3-34) led the bowling attack for GCC, as Ronaldo Ali Mohamed pitched in with 2 for 39.

Set a modest total of 184 for victory, GCC botched the chase. Resistance came only from Deonarine Seegobin, who remained unbeaten on 53 as he watched everything around him crumble. GCC were bowled out for 134 in 36.3 overs, as Nedd decimated them with his 4 wickets for 22 runs, and received excellent backing from Xaviee Smith with 2 for 29. (Timothy Jaikarran)

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesdAY, october 9, 2018

23

ICC Women’s World T20 2018, West Indies…

Berbice Expo feels the "Watch This" vibes

T

he 14th Annual Berbice Expo and Trade Fair got off to an exciting start on Friday, October 5th at the Albion Sports Complex ground on the Corentyne with an informative and captivating opening ceremony filled with cultural items.

The important aspect of the four-day event was mixed with presentations from prominent persons in the Business community.

It is no secret that Guyanese have a deep passion for cricket, and that passion is amplified in Berbice, as was evident when the members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Guyana leg of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s World T20 opened their booth as part of the expo.

After the opening ceremony, during his official walk-about, Minister Gaskin visited the Women’s World Cup Cricket

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin collects his souvenir “Watch This” tee-shirt from one of the models on Friday night during the Berbice Expo at Albion (WWT20||John Ramsingh photo)

pitch, picked up the ball and delivered a perfect first ball Yorker that sent the stumps crashing. This caused him to be the first winner of a tournament souvenir tee-shirt.

After that display of ministerial cricketing prowess, hundreds of curious spectators swarmed the makeshift cricket pitch, which was comprised of stumps and boundary boards, to get firsthand information on the November 9 to 24 tournament, and also to test their skills at batting, bowling and fielding for the opportunity to win branded souvenir tee-shirts.

The drills were conducted by former Guyana and West Indies fast bowler Colin Stuart, who is part of the LOC. Stuart was joined by Cricket West Indies Regional ‘Sportainment’ Manager Jahmal Thomas; Marketing and ‘Sportainment’ Manager (Guyana) Rayad Boyce, and Media Facilitator

Unique Arts performing "Watch This" on stage during the opening ceremony of Berbice Expo on Friday night at Albion (WWT20||JohnRamsingh photo)

Members of the Organising Committee of the Women’s World T20 having a quiet moment at the Berbice Expo on Friday night at Albion. From left are John Ramsingh, Jahmal Thomas, Rayad Boyce and Colin Stuart (WWT20||JohnRamsingh photo)

(Guyana) John Ramsingh, along with the ‘Watch This’ models who interacted with the fans.

Earlier, during the formal opening ceremony, when the Honourable Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, delivered the feature address to the gathering of spectators and booth holders, the Unique Arts Dance Troupe performed the theme song for the Women’s World T20, ‘Watch This’.

It left both spectators and officials wanting more, resulting in the heavy traffic later experienced on the cricket pitch. The 10-team tournament bowls off on November 9 at the Providence stadium with three matches and a super concert.

Performances are expected from Patrice Roberts and Shenseea -- the artistes who gave us ‘Watch This.” Tickets are currently on sale on line at http://worldtwenty20. com ,

while the local box offices will open on Monday October 29.

In all, there are five official warm up matches and eight World Cup matches scheduled for Guyana at Providence from November 4 to 17. St Lucia will also host preliminary matches, while the semifinal and final are slated for Antigua.

The Berbice Expo and Trade Fair, organised by the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, ran from October 5 to 8 and featured exhibition from local businesses in the manufacturing and service industries.

This year’s activities were held under the theme, “Advancing economic progress through professional standards and entrepreneurship”.

Guyana jumps 26 places in chess rankings

– 1st Guyanese elected to International Ethics Commission

T

he 43rd World Chess Olympiad which recently concluded in Batumi, Georgia could be seen as Guyana’s most successful Olympiad yet, with a number of historic occurrences having occurred over the two-week period.

While the competition was coming to a close, Members of the Guyana Chess Federation, President James Bond and Yolander Persaud, found themselves engrossed in the happenings of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) General Assembly. Here, Persaud was said to have fallen in love with the Ethics Commission; and seeing this, Bond began his campaign for what would be the first Guyanese representative on the international body. Coming out of a considerable pool of fifteen nominees, Persaud eventually made it to the top five, after two rounds of voting.

Persaud is the first Guyanese to serve on any FIDE body.

Sharing with media operatives, President of the

Guyana’s contingent to the 43rd World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia

GCF noted, “It was our sole purpose to put Guyana on the map of FIDE, and this is the start. We have now made strategic alliances, and the Federation is poised

for impacting administrative changes in the months ahead.”

And when the overall review of team performances was released, Guyana again

found herself scoring success.

The Open team, consisting of Anthony Drayton, Taffin Khan, Loris Nathoo and Glenford Corlette,

racked up 9 points, a vast improvement from their five in the 42nd Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2016, and the 6 in Tromso, Norway in 2014.

Taffin Khan ended on a high for the team with 6.5 individual points; Drayton was close with 6 points; and the first time players at the Olympiad, Nathoo and Corlette, registered 3.5 and 2.5 points respectively. This resulted in the team placing fourth in their category, the first time that Guyana has made it into the top ten in their last three Olympiads.

As for the women’s team, which comprised of Maria Varona Thomas, Sheriffa Ali and teenagers Nellisha Johnson and Sasha Shariff, they also played to a massive improvement. With 7 points this year, the women have recorded a one point improvement over their 6 in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2016.

Being the most experienced of the lot, Varona Thomas and Ali racked up 6.5 and 4.5 points respectively. Playing a commend-

able hand for their first such international tournament, 17-year-old Nellisha Johnson copped 3 points while 14-year-old Shariff had 1.5.

Taking individual performances into consideration, Guyana finished 138th out of 184 participating countries.

Given that they finished at 164th in 2016, this means that Guyana has made a 26 place jump in 2018. This has been the most improved performance of Caricom countries for 2018, given that both Aruba and Bahamas have dropped 18 places, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica have dropped 15 places, Barbados has dropped 7 places, and Bermuda has dropped by 4.

The only other teams to record improvement were Haiti and Suriname who jumped 5 and 2 places respectively.

Chess will continue to be alive in Guyana, as the Federation has already planned a packed calendar of events for 2019.

tuesdAY, october 9, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

ICC Women’s World T20 2018, West Indies…

Page 23

Rutherford, Hemraj included in Windies squad for India Page 19

Berbice Expo feels the "Watch This" vibes

Page 23

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin during his visit to the Women’s World T20 booth at the Berbice Expo on Friday night at Albion (WWT20||JohnRamsingh photo)

Regional Super50 Tournament 2018…

Hemraj’s mighty triple humbles Windies B

Page 20

Guyana jumps 26 places in chess rankings Page 23

– 1st Guyanese elected to International Ethics Commission GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, NEWS HOTLINE: 231-8063 EDITORIAL: 223-7230, 223-7231, 231-0544, 225-7761 SPORT: sport@guyanatimesgy.com SALES AND MARKETING: 231-8064 - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.