Guyanatimes 11 october 2017

NEW GPC donates to Guyana Fire Service

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Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Issue No. 3358

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Deputy Solicitor General fired over Attorney General’s vendetta ...denied due process

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Freedom Radio hauls Broadcast Authority to P9 court

Page 3

...challenges ‘theft’ of airwaves, onerous increase in fees

...handed termination letter 6 hours before PSC life ended

Employer, 2 others remanded for killing Berbice labourer

Taxi driver P16 remanded for 13lbs of ganja

Page 8

CANU officers fall sick attempting to dispose of cocaine Page 2

Major drug shortages hit Region 2 P15 …health centres in Pomeroon affected

Turbot-1 well find

ExxonMobil still to quantify recent oil discovery P13

The mission to dispose of more than $300 million worth of cocaine in the Atlantic Ocean was aborted, owing to difficulties encountered by officers of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit. In photo, officers preparing the drug for disposal

Wales Estate closure

Page 13

Sugar workers, families facing financial ruination

“Vehicle for Page 7 corruption” speeding forward – Opposition Leader

…as plans to sell-off sugar assets without valuations start

UG salary hike

Unions P2 refuse to sign agreement Hurricane relief efforts

Evacuations to be completed by weekend – Harmon P17

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CANU officers fall sick attempting UG salary hike to dispose of cocaine Unions refuse …mission to dump over $300M in cocaine in sea aborted

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he Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) on Tuesday set out to the Atlantic Ocean with the intention of dumping more than $300 million worth of cocaine, but owing to difficulties encountered, the mission was aborted.

Initially, just over 318

enforcement unit was only able to dispose of 44kg.

The remainder, 273kg was returned to CANU headquarters where it will remain in storage until a decision is taken with respect to other means of disposing same.

Before the team left for the Atlantic Ocean,

…claim UG violated initial promise

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The cocaine being loaded onto a vehicle to be transported to the Coast Guard Wharf

The cocaine being prepared for disposal

kilograms of the illegal substance had been packed and readied for disposal, but owing to the difficulties encountered, the drug

the whitish substance was tested and proved to be cocaine in the presence of media operatives.

CANU Head, Major

to sign agreement

General Retired Michael Atherly explained that the cocaine was tendered as evidence in 77 court cases that have been completed. The cocaine was seized in various raids and operations between November 2013 and January 2017.

However, after travelling into the Atlantic Ocean, members of the team started to experience nausea, resulting in some vomiting on account of the stench of the illicit drugs.

Upon realising what was happening, the head of

the team aborted the mission and ordered that the vessel return to the Coast Guard Wharf at Ruimveldt.

On arriving at the CANU headquarters, the cocaine was once again weighed and placed into secured storage.

A member of the team noted that other options would be considered in the hope of destroying the drug, while noting in the past, burning was also done. A decision will be made once the options are debated.

he negotiations between the administration of the University of Guyana (UG) and the workers are at a standstill, as the sides could not find common ground on the terms of the proposals since the respective unions have rejected the final offers of six per cent and eight per cent increases. These increases were reduced from Government’s budgeted recommendation of 15 per cent for this year.

Guyana Times reported that the relevant unions – UG Workers Union (UGWU) and UG Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) – while initially willing to accept the financial part of the deal, were hesitant to accept the ‘performance’ aspect of the agreement.

According to reports that surfaced on Tuesday, the unions refused to sign the agreement on the basis that the criteria calling for performance to be considered was a ‘violation’ of previous agreements between unions and the UG administration.

This debate between the unions and UG’s administration has been ongoing for the last several months and it reached the point where the workers staged several protest actions, demanding substantial salary increases, and called for academic and non-academic staff to receive upticks of 23 per cent and 25 per cent respectively. UG noted in late September that obligations, including benefits such as allowances for travelling, entertainment, uniforms and academic materials; study leave (salary and housing for three months); sabbatical leave (salary and housing for 12 months); leave passage; and duty allowance for Deans, Heads and Co-coordinators would have been met if the

staff had accepted the deal.

The increases would have been retroactive to January 1, 2017.

On Friday last, UG’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith told Guyana Times that he had insisted that performance of staff members be considered before the payments were disbursed.

“We gave the final offer (Friday) and the sticking point is not so much the percentage increase, the sticking point is that I’m insisting that performance be part of that agreement and they (the unions) are saying no [so] I’m saying we’re not going to have any agreement,” the Vice Chancellor had affirmed.

Professor Griffith also maintained that staff with outstanding grades for students should not be paid increases until those grades were submitted.

It was on August 30 that the unions’ learnt of the administration’s offer which followed negotiations that began on July 12. Guyana Times was informed that upon the university’s disclosure of the performance criteria, the unions informed members that if they are not in agreement they can go to conciliation.

In 2016, the workers said while the UG administration claimed it had no money to pay benefits, including 10 bursaries for their children who performed with distinction at national exams, it was at that time able to find “over $8 million to increase the salaries of statutory officers who had joined the university some eight months prior. To this end, it was highlighted that the take-home pay of certain categories of staff amounted to approximately $1 million per month.

news

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BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, October 11 – 09:30h-11:00h and Thursday, October 12 – 10:30h-12:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, October 11 – 08:30h-10:00h and Thursday, October 12 – 09:40h-11:10h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected in the morning and early afternoon hours followed by sunshine in the late afternoon. Partly cloudy to thundery showers are expected in the evening, with temperatures expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly between 3.12 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 08:25h and 20:43h reaching maximum heights of 2.41 metres and 2.43 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 01:53h and 14:14h reaching minimum heights of 0.62 metre and 0.89 metre respectively.

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Deputy Solicitor General fired over Attorney General’s vendetta ...denied due process ...handed termination letter 6 hours before PSC life ended

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he Public Service Commission (PSC), with a mere six hours remaining before its term expired, terminated the services of Deputy Solicitor General Prithima Kissoon, after arrogating on itself the powers of the President to invoke a Commission of Inquiry (CoI) later used as the basis for her dismissal.

This course of action was taken despite the PSC never pronouncing on the complaints filed against Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams.

The revelations have been made public by Kissoon, who in a chronology of events shared with Guyana Times, said she remained silent throughout the ordeal since her complaint against Williams to the PSC, because public servants are prohibited from making comments in the public domain, but now that she has been dismissed “this shackle is removed”.

The very public spat between the Attorney General and his Deputy Solicitor General had made the news in recent months, but came to a finale on August 31, 2017. Exactly six hours before the life of the PSC came to an end at midnight on August 31, 2017, Kissoon was served with a dismissal letter at 18:00h at her residence by the Personal Assistant of the Attorney General, Andrea Marks.

This was subsequently followed by an official dismissal letter on the letterhead of the PSC. Lamenting the situation, the now former Deputy Solicitor General in her now public statement said a new PSC would convene and the complaint by her against the Attorney General would never have been addressed.

According to Kissoon, “my good name has been filched, my character assassinated, my career that I worked so hard to build in the public service for the past 10 years lays shattered at my feet, but my integrity and ethics are rock solid.”

Kissoon had her services terminated purportedly at the recommendation of ‘an illegal’ CoI that had been set up by the PSC. According to the now former Deputy Solicitor General, “realising that the life of the PSC was about to expire, the PSC acted arbitrarily and ultra vires its powers when it purportedly appointed a Commission of Inquiry...It is only the President who can appoint a CoI, which must be duly gazetted and follow the rules

Former Deputy Solicitor General Prithima Kissoon

of the procedures under the Commissions of Inquiry Act Chapter 19:03.”

She said this unlawful CoI was constituted with indecent haste on August 18, 2017, and issued a summons on August 21, 2017, for Kissoon to appear before it on August 23, 2017, and the PSC came out with the verdict of dismissal on August 31.

Kissoon was sent on leave earlier this year with the permission of the PSC, but had later found that the Legal Affairs Ministry Permanent Secretary objected to her leaving the country while on leave and a decision was taken to withhold her salary.

The debacle came to the public’s attention in January 2017 when Kissoon lodged a formal complaint to the PSC against the Attorney General.

She said Attorney General Williams “had vis-

ited upon her harassment, verbal abuse and had effectively prohibited her from performing her duties all in an effort to oust her from her post as the Deputy Solicitor General, whether by lawful or unlawful means, and was seeking their intervention and a remedy against the conduct of Mr Basil Williams SC, the Attorney General”.

She was informed in March 2017 by the PSC that she should proceed on administrative leave with immediate effect, pending the outcome of investigations into several court matters that she had conduct of.

The AG had launched a probe into cases which Deputy Solicitor General Kissoon was involved in, following a ruling handed down by the Court of Appeal, dismissing a Statesponsored appeal against a High Court decision that quashed a private criminal charge against Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

The Appeal Court ruled that the appeal was null after Kissoon had conceded to

Attorney General Basil Williams

a claim by Jagdeo’s lawyer that the Attorney General was not a proper party to the proceeding.

AG Williams has since blamed Kissoon for the outcome of the case.

However, although he has blamed Kissoon for the loss, Solicitor General Sita Ramlall, in a letter to the editor, had pointed out that Williams had insisted to Kissoon and herself, that he be named as the plaintiff in the appeal when he was not a party.

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wednesDAY, october 11, 2017

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

Traffic congestion

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raffic congestion continues to be a major challenge in large and growing metropolitan areas all over the world. And in spite of several efforts being made

by Governments and other development partners to remedy the situation, it is more than likely that traffic congestion will become significantly worse in the years to come. Both the economy and school systems require that people work and go to school during the same time resulting in road transport systems being overloaded.

Here in Guyana, traffic congestion in the city and its environs is almost unbearable, especially during morning and evening ‘rush-hour’ traffic. These days, it is normal to spend more than an half hour in the traffic when going or coming from work or school, especially in areas along the East Bank and East Coast corridors where there is a huge build-up of traffic almost daily.

Not only is the traffic situation adding to people’s personal frustrations, it is certainly having a negative impact on the level of output of our citizens, both students and workers. For example, production hours are lost by way of employees coming to work late or the fact that they are so tired and stressed the next day after spending long hours either waiting for transportation or stuck in traffic.

The establishment of new housing schemes across the country and the increasing numbers of vehicles being imported have contributed significantly to traffic congestion in and around the capital city. Thousands of persons have now been relocated from the city to suburban and rural areas where they were allocated house lots to build their homes. Most of these persons have to travel back to the city where they work or their children attend school.

Also, many persons are now opting to purchase their own vehicles. They use these vehicles to commute to work and conduct their daily errands. In fact, within the last seven years or so, there has been a five-fold increase in the number of vehicles traversing our roads.

However, the road network expansion programme, even though improving, still cannot accommodate this massive increase in the number of vehicles using our roads.

Traffic congestion cannot be eliminated completely; it is the way modern societies operate. However, there are certain steps which could be taken to immediately minimise the impact traffic congestion has on citizens and their ability to get to their destination with minimal delays. For example, the authorities could work to ensure that there is more Police presence in certain areas to properly direct traffic in order to ensure a smooth flow.

In some areas leading in and out of the city, there is hardly any Police presence and some motorists use the opportunity to break the rules. There could also be more diversions where there is heavy traffic build-up.

As a long-term solution, an effective way to address the challenge is to continue expanding the road network in the country, especially in areas that are heavily populated. At present, there are too many vehicles, too few roads, and too little space, especially in the capital city. There is no doubt that once completed, the East Bank/East Coast road expansion project will bring much relief to the travelling public. It is expected that the new roadway will serve as a corridor for communities on the East Bank of Demerara, including Perseverance, Mocha, Providence, Eccles, and Peter’s Hall as well as Aubrey Barker Road. Instead of going through the hectic Georgetown traffic, the new road link will allow drivers the option to divert from the East Coast and onto the bypass road to access the East Bank of Demerara.

The authorities must continue to look at ways in which the road network in Guyana could be further expanded, improved, rehabilitated and maintained. In addition to easing traffic congestion, this could result in a reduction of the large number of road fatalities in the country.

NEW GPC donates to Guyana Fire Service As part of Fire Prevention Week, the NEW GPC on Monday donated pamphlets on prevention of fire to the Guyana Fire Service. In photo, Guyana Fire Service (GFS) Officer Andrew Holder receives the donation from Marketing and International Business Development Associate Elisabeth Ram in the presence of members of the GFS and other staff of NEW GPC

Appoint GECOM chair now

Dear Editor, An opinion survey I conducted for the North American Caribbean Teachers Association (NACTA) last week found that the overwhelming majority of the nation wants President David Granger to appoint, without any further delay, the Chair of the Guyana Elections Commission from the latest (third) list of six nominees submitted by Opposition Leader Dr Bharrat Jagdeo last month.

GECOM has been without a Chair since last February, when Dr Steve Surujbally resigned from the position. The Commission’s critical election work has been largely suspended since that time.

Jagdeo nominated twelve potential chairpersons, but they were all rejected by the President as not being “fit

and proper” because they were not all former or sitting judges or potential judges.

The Chief Justice recently ruled that the Chair does not have to be a judge, as President Granger had required.

Dr Jagdeo submitted a third list, comprising a judge, potential judges and a former GECOM Chair. Almost all of the respondents interviewed in the poll are in agreement with the Chief Justice that any fit and proper person can be appointed Chair of GECOM, and that the nominee or appointee does not have to be a judge. They are of the view that all 18 nominees of the Opposition Leader are qualified to be Chair of GECOM, and that the President should not further hold up the appointment from the latest list.

Voters express suspicion

that the Government is dragging its feet on the appointment of GECOM Chair as a strategy to delay elections, due by mid-2020. Without a Chair, GECOM cannot engage in registration of voters and prepare a new list for an election. Respondents also voiced concerns that, without a Chair, there could be contamination of the electoral list, with ineligible registrants that could affect the outcome of an election.

The poll randomly interviewed 392 likely voters, to yield a demographically representative sample of 43% Indians, 30% Africans, 16% Mixed, 10% Amerindians, and 1% other races of the population. The poll was conducted by using the live interview method. The results of the poll were analyzed at a 95 per cent significance level, and a statistical sampling er-

ror of plus or minus four percentage points was found.

Asked if they support the ruling of the Chief Justice that the Chair of GECOM can be any fit and proper person who is not necessarily a judge, former judge, or qualified to be a judge, 79% concurred, with only 3% disagreeing and 18% not offering a response (largely not having knowledge about the issue).

Asked if the President should appoint the GECOM Chair now, 85% said yes, with 2% saying “no” and 13% not offering an opinion. But many expressed reservations on whether the President would proceed to appoint a Chair, because they feel he wants to choose his own person to head GECOM. Sincerely, Vishnu Bisram

Mechanisms must be in place to prevent abuse

Dear Editor, The Caribbean Voice (TCV) supports CPIC Monique’s call for civil society to get involved in the campaign against child abuse. We also agree that tackling child abuse in all its forms – physical, sexual, emotional and psychological – needs “outreach, family-based prevention and home visiting, and school-based models to meet families where they are and to help them build their new lives and hopeful futures”.

Indeed, mechanisms must be put in place to foster the involvement of civil society.

One such mechanism is our Youth & Student Workshop, which has been endorsed by the Education Ministry and already has been taken to a number of private schools, but for which we are awaiting permission to take to public schools across Guyana. This workshop focuses on arming young people with alertness and awareness with respect to abuse and violence (domestic, gender-based, sexual, physical, substance-relat-

ed, online) and equip them with knowledge, self-esteem, self-confidence and coping skills to face challenges and stress.

Within this context too, we expect to soon launch a National Youth and Students Essay Contest, also endorsed by the Education Ministry that would become annual.

This year’s focus is on suicide, with the aim of getting young people to engage in primary research and information eliciting within their communities and in developing models for redress thereby becoming change agents on the social landscape.

Meanwhile, the media – traditional and social – recently publicised a case of corporal punishment that left a student bleeding and in pain. There have been many similar cases over the years and this begs the following questions: Are doctors required to report such cases of child abuse to the authorities for investigation, or is it simply a question of parents seeking redress without assistance?

Why is the cane still used in Guyana, when the country that exports it has banned its use in the classroom?

Did this teacher teach his students homework/study skills, or he just expects his students to know how to do homework and study? Did this teacher have or considered having a conference with the parents? Did this teacher have or considered having a discussion with other teachers of this child so as to find out whether any perceived behaviour is across the board or only unique to his/her instructional time/subject? Can the administration in a private school immediately relieve a pedagogue of his/her duties or agree to a psychiatric evaluation/mental status evaluation when these kinds of mental aberrations occur?

The bottom line is that there should be a clearly defined process of disciplinary action by the Education Ministry to address corporal punishment that must also include possible psychological help for any teacher who displays the tendencies inherent in the actions

of this particular teacher.

TCV needs to point out that a training workshop on “Classroom Management Without Corporal Punishment” was offered free of charge to the Education Ministry in the previous Government and also to the current Government. The previous Government pulled the plug at the last moment after TCV and the VSO (which has since pulled out of Guyana) had put measures in place for the workshop.

The current Government has not acknowledged our offer to date.

A network of non-governmental, community-based and faith-based organisations can be a critical element in the fight against abuse. And Voices Against Violence, the loose umbrella of some 60-plus such entities, that organises the annual Anti-Violence Candlelight Vigil, already provides such a vehicle for networking and collaborating.

Sincerely, The Caribbean Voice

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

Lincoln Lewis’s baseless accusations Dear Editor, The ramblings of Lincoln Lewis, published on Sunday, October 8, 2017, under the headline “Responding to Bharrat Jagdeo’s baseless accusations”, demand a response – because Lewis, on one hand, states that comments made by the former President were baseless, yet, on the other hand, makes baseless accusations of his own.

Lewis’s ranting includes that: “Jagdeo has been involved in numerous violations and transgressions while serving as President of this country and he must be held accountable for the abuse of the privilege granted to him by the people.” He

would do well to substantiate his claims.

Lewis goes on to object to the criticism that he, and others, is making a ‘profession’ of representing the interest of Afro-Guyanese people. But then he follows this with a reference to what he stands to gain from testimony he gave to the ongoing Commission of Inquiry into lands – that being his inheritance of land at Kingelly Village, West Coast Berbice – land he claims was bought by his great-great-greatgreat grandfather Cudjoe McPherson – land currently occupied by over 150 families. Whose interest is he representing here?

Lewis’s efforts at ‘repre-

sentation’, according to him, are not about ‘colour and race’. But the GTUC head should answer the existing questions about where and how his ‘representation’ was advanced and what he benefited from, including on the matter of inveigling himself into a position to access duty-free concessions. While he attempts to divert focus by saying that Jagdeo can “only see issues through the lens of race” and says that Jagdeo “flaunts and parades most, if not all, of the characteristics of an ethnic entrepreneur”, the Guyanese people will not be fooled, more so, those who have worked with Mr Lewis.

Probably, the most disturbing of Lewis’s baseless

accusations is that: “During his (Jagdeo’s) tenure, he executed policies, programmes and acts to make Africans feel they have to grovel and lose their dignity and respect to gain anything in society.” This is the comment coming from a man who accused a former President of seeing issues “through the lens of race” in Guyana. This is the comment coming from a man who ignores basic facts. The fact is that AfroGuyanese have experienced greater economic mobility under successive People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administrations.

One has to ask whether such a comment, after Jagdeo’s visit to Region 10 – long

considered the base of the People’s National Congress – is intended to attempt to diminish the fact that Jagdeo has done what this APNU/ AFC Government has not done, which is to engage Guyanese, regardless of race, religion, gender or any other differentiating factor.

The facts surrounding former PPP/C Government interventions in Region 10 and the bauxite industry are a matter of public record, and Guyanese will not accept the distortion of facts, Mr Lewis.

Even Lewis’s attempt at ‘balance’ in his article is based on distortion of facts.

Lewis jumps to the conclusion that there was a competition between him and

Jagdeo for the attention of bauxite workers when the former President intervened to support the workers, and goes on to talk about ego.

This comment reads more like a case of Lewis being the one with the injured ego, since his ‘imagined’ sense of competition and ego are the first things he talks about in his article.

Lewis’s comments can only be chalked up to be the latest in a string of ‘ridiculous’ and unsubstantiated talk from the usual culprits, from whom the Guyanese people can expect nothing else.

Sincerely, Baldeo Mathura

All does not seem well Blackout, lack of at the IDB local office water and bad roads

Dear Editor, The Finance Ministry has on numerous occasions over the recent past alluded to poor project and performance for the Public Service Investment Programme. Last week, a high-level IDB mission, led by its senior Vice President, was also in Guyana to review the IDB bank portfolio as it relates to IDB performance in Guyana. Many people have been blaming the current Government for not doing enough in terms of investment and economic activities.

The Finance Minister recently was seemingly very upset at the slow pace of implementation of the Public Service Investment/Improvement Plan or activities. Huge sums of monies remain unspent despite being provided for in the budget. No fault, of course, to the policymakers but rather the implementing agencies and PSs. I do hope the state of affairs improves. The Opposition PPP has been using this as a weapon against the Government.

But while the state of affairs of the Public Sector projects is bad, the state of affairs of project implementation at the IDB Guyana is appalling and shocking. No wonder the pace of implementation of many projects is at a standstill in many cases. The IDB was supposed to help the Government with public projects. But rather the IDB has found itself wanting and in a state of total despair. One just has to look at the recent country strategy report that gives an overview of the Bank’s performance in terms of portfolio management and one would see the alarming rate of disbursements and project implementation at the bank level. With this low level of project implementation and thus project disbursement, the Public Service Investment Programme is bound to fail.

(Please see extract from the IDB Country Report for Guyana).

There is also growing concern over the Bank’s performance as it relates to partici-

pation or funding of contracts whereby the procurement that has been executed has been deemed not transparent or there is lack of transparency in the contract award and yet the Bank finds itself funding the particular project. The GPL Smart Meter Project is one such example. Recently, the Leader of the Opposition signalled his intention to write IDB Washington about some of the same issues being highlighted about the Bank’s funding being used for projects which the procurement executed lacks or seems to lack transparency. All does not seem well at the IDB local office.

Sincerely, Christine Cadogan

Dear Editor, Mabaruma in Region One (Barima-Waini) is a new town and we, the people, were looking for improvement, but things have gone from bad to worse, blackout is now the order every day.

We get water for one hour every other day. Kumaka is the market area where when it rains, it is always muddy and slushy and garbage is scattered.

The Town Clerk needs to implement a proper garbage disposal strategy. Many of the roads are in a bad state of disrepair, especially the Barabina Road – there are holes and the holes are so deep and muddy that no vehicle, minibus, hire car or

even tractor would go into the village. There is only one secondary school in the town and it is out of the village of Barabina.

On school days, the secondary school children have to take off their foot wear and walk on the muddy road to and from school and at month-end, the old age pensioners have to cross the big holes and muddy road to collect their pensions and then buy their needs and fetch them home, because no vehicle will take them and their goods back into Barabina.

The Town Clerk is a senior citizen who does not move around much and does not

travel to these areas. He lives in a hotel room and the hotel has its own power generator, so blackout does not bother him. The hotel has its own workers to clean garbage in its area, so that is not his problem.

I believe that if those in authority had wanted to improve the living standard of the people and that is the reason the place was made into a town, it is only wise for them to employ people who have skills and energy to address the problems and bring development to the town.

Yours respectfully, J Hernandes

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eeing news about upsetting events – like gruesome murders, mass shootings, natural disasters and terrorist attacks – can make kids worry that something similar could happen to them or their loved ones. It also can make them fear some part of daily life (like thunderstorms) that they never worried about before.

Parents can help kids deal with these disturbing stories and images.

Talk together about what they watch or hear and put frightening information into a reasonable context.

Foundation How to Talk to Your Child About the News a focus on violent stories, the news can make the world seem more dangerous to kids than it really is.

How can parents talk about the news?

To calm children's fears about the news, parents should be prepared to deliver the truth, but only as much truth as a child needs to know. The key is to be honest and help kids feel safe.

There's no need to go into more details than your child is interested in.

Although it's true that some things

How can the news make kids worry?

Unlike movies or entertainment programs, news is real. Depending on their age or maturity level, kids might not yet understand the differences between fact and fantasy.

But by the time they're seven or eight, what kids see on TV can seem all too real. For some, coverage of a sensational news story is internalised and becomes something that might happen to them. A child watching a news story about a bus bombing or a shooting in a crowded public place might worry, "Could I be next? Could that happen to me?"

Natural disasters can be personalised in the same way. Kids who see footage of floods from a hurricane may spend a sleepless night worrying about whether their home will be OK in a rainstorm.

TV and the Internet "shrink" the world and bring it into our homes. With

guyanatimesgy.com

– like a natural disaster -- can't be controlled, parents should still give kids space to share their fears. Encourage them to talk openly about what scares them.

Older kids are less likely to accept an explanation at face value. Their budding scepticism about the news and how it's produced and sold might mask anxieties they have about the stories covered. If older kids are bothered by a story, help them cope with these fears.

An adult's willingness to listen sends a powerful message.

Teens also can be encouraged to

consider why a frightening or disturbing story was on the air: Was it to increase the programme's ratings because of its sensational value or because it was truly newsworthy? In this way, a scary story can be turned into a worthwhile discussion about the role and mission of the news.

What else can help?

Keep an eye on kids' TV and online viewing habits to monitor what they hear and see. Other tips: Discuss current events with your kids regularly. It's important to help them think through stories they see or hear about. Ask questions: What do you think about these events? How do you think these things happen?

Watch the news with your kids to filter inappropriate or frightening stories.

Anticipate when guidance is needed and avoid shows that are graphic or inappropriate.

If you're uncomfortable with the content of the news, turn it off.

Put news stories in context. Broaden the discussion from a disturbing news item to a larger conversation: Use the story of a natural disaster as an opportunity to talk about philanthropy, cooperation, and the ways that people cope with hardship. Was an event an isolated incident or related to something else? This helps kids make better sense of what they hear.

Talk about what you can do to help.

After a tragic event, finding ways to help those affected by the tragedy might give kids a sense of control and feel more secure. (Kidshealth.org)

How to talk to teens:

3 ways to get your teen to listen

ou know the drill: you’re trying to talk to your teen about curfew. Or dinner. Or absolutely anything –and they pretend they can’t hear you.

They start an argument with you, or give you an eye roll and a "Whatever." Or they turn up their music. They won’t lift their eyes from their screens. They scoff or grunt in your general direction. There’s no eye contact, no acknowledgement, and absolutely no hint of, “Yes, Mom, I understand what you’re saying to me.”

“Your teen tunes you out because he can –after all, you can’t force him to listen.”

curfew, in a sense your child wins. This is because he’s moved you off of the curfew issue (where he actually doesn’t have any power) and into an arena where he does have power: choosing to ignore you.

In other words, if your teen can draw you into a power struggle, he won’t have to hear about the rules.

If your tween daughter can appear to not be listening, she can later claim complete lack of knowledge of the rules. And if they’re clearly not listening to you, how can they be held accountable?

They may as well stick their fingers in their ears, shut their eyes tight, and say “La la la la la—I can’t hear you!” like an over-grown toddler.

Why it can be so hard to communicate with teens

Power struggles, rudeness and indifference

By Megan Devine

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Look, defiance and annoying behaviour is par for the course when you’re parenting teens. I’m not talking about abusive behaviour; I mean those little everyday acts of defiance. This is when your child tunes you out, rolls their eyes, and refuses to speak clearly in whole sentences. Do you know why teens do this? They do it because they CAN! Understand that ignoring you gives your child a sense of power. As James and Janet Lehman tell parents, “Your kids watch you for a living.” In other words, they know what pushes your buttons. Ignoring you makes them feel as if they have a little bit of control in a situation where they might feel they have none. One of the only things entirely in their control is where they focus their attention. They tune you out because they can; they do it because you can’t force them to listen.

The trick here for parents is not to engage in the battle of inattention. As with any power struggle, the more you try to make your teen behave the way you want, the more your child will resist. If you get into an argument about his rude indifference, rather than (for example) about following

Given that feigning indifference and refusing to engage in polite conversation is typical during the teen years, how can you effectively communicate with your kids so they will hear you?

Here’s one way to deal with your teen’s lack of listening skills: act as if they hear you. If you know your child has no hearing deficiency and does not currently have ear phones on – and you are speaking clearly in a language she also speaks –assume she can hear you.

Look at her and state your rules and expectations clearly and calmly: “In order to have the car in the morning, you have to be back home by 9 pm tonight. I know you want the privilege of driving, so be sure you make it home by 9.”

If she claims she didn’t hear you when she wanders in at five past ten, instead of arguing about her listening skills, you can say: “You know the rules. You didn’t make it home by nine, so no car in the morning. You get to try again tomorrow night.

In by 9, you get the car the following day.” Don’t get sucked into a power struggle with her. If she tries to pull you in, turn around and leave the room. (Excerpt from empoweringparents.com)

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wednesDAY, october 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

“Vehicle for corruption” speeding forward – Opposition Leader …as plans to sell off sugar assets without valuations start

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xpressions of interest have been invited by the Special Purpose Unit, tasked with the divestment of assets of the sugar industry, via advertisements in the local dailies. And the “vehicle for corruption” – as dubbed by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo – has put not only Skeldon, Rose Hall and the Enmore factories on the chopping block, but have also included the Wales Estate.

At his last news conference, Jagdeo made clear that established procedures for the divestment of State assets are being ignored.

He explained that the structure included a unit staffed by technical personnel, who reported to the Privatisation Board, composed of representatives of the labour movement, the Private Sector and consumers – who then made recommendations to the Cabinet on privatisation undertakings.

More worrying, according to him, is the absence of valuations of the assets put on the chopping block by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Special Purpose Unit. “Deals will be made there with no valuation of the assets and one day we wake up and all of it is gone... this means it will go from the Special Purpose Unit to a few Ministers and then to a buyer without valuation.... how can you sell an asset without doing a valuation... this Special Purpose Unit is a vehicle for corruption,” Jagdeo said.

Wales Estate

On the issue of the Wales Estate, the APNU/AFC Government announced the closure of the estate. It then

off) of assets owned by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

The advertisement makes clear that the Unit is acting on behalf of the Government of Guyana and

indicated that there would be diversification efforts at the estate, which has not happened. Now Wales is on the chopping block, as indicated by the advertisement.

The APNU/AFC has presented no detailed plan to address the state or future of the sugar industry, other than an eight-page ‘State Paper’ – of which, four and a half pages deals with the history of the sugar industry in Guyana. The remaining pages briefly details plans for merger of sugar estates, the Guyana Sugar Corporation’s recovery of drainage and irrigation costs from the Government of Guyana and plans for divestment.

Government’s own Commission of Inquiry, which recommended the non-closure of sugar estates, has also been ignored.

Still opposed

Meanwhile, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) – the largest body representing sugar workers – has indicated that it plans to approach the courts to prevent the sale of the sugar industry’s assets and also endeavours to prevent the closure of more sugar estate; the Wales Estate being the first to go.

GAWU President, Komal

Chand, told this publication that there is an opportunity and willingness for stakeholders to come together and resolve issues perceived as problems, particularly given that there are solutions that could be worked out in the best interest of the sugar workers and the country as a whole.

Unnamed partner

Additionally, the advertisement also noted that the Special Purpose Unit is “partnering with international professional financial services firm to provide technical and financial advisory support” – in an effort to ensure transparency. However, the firm is not named.

Notably, the Special Purpose Unit is operating with a multimillion-dollar budget. A whopping $130 million was approved by Government majority on July 7, 2017 for the Unit.

The details on the ‘Special Purpose Unit’, which is included in the Financial Paper, states that the Unit will need the monies for the “provision of employment costs, utilities, professional and legal fees, advertisements, office space, operating supplies, furniture and equipment.”

The Unit is tasked with the divestment (sell-

the letters of interest would be a first step in the process of “finding/shortlisting interested individuals or entities of all construct with an interest in any one of, combination of, or the group of es-

tates/factories mentioned”.

November 3, 2017, is the listed deadline for persons or companies, individually or part of a joint venture/consortium or independent developers to express interest.

8 NEWS

wednesDAY, october 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

IN THE COURTS Employer, 2 others charged for killing Berbice labourer

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wo teenagers and a block maker were on Tuesday charged with the murder of a Bloomfield, Corentyne, Berbice labourer whose body was dismembered and burnt.

A businessman, his 16-year-old son and a 19-year-old employee have been jointly charged with the murder of the Bloomfield Village resident.

Bharrat Ramsaywack, 42, a cattle farmer and businessman of Number 55 Village, along with his teenage son and Mohanlall Sewsankar, 19, a labourer were jointly charged with the capital offence.

It is alleged that between October 2 and 6, 2017, at Number 55 Village Corentyne, Berbice, they murdered 21-yearold Mahendra Ghanie of Bloomfield Village,

Bharrat Ramsaywack

Mohanlall Sewsankar

Corentyne.

The trio was unrepresented and said nothing to the court during the proceedings.

M a g i s t r a t e Rabintranauth Singh remanded Ramsaywack and Sewsankar while the teenager has been sent to a ju-

venile holding facility.

The matter has been transferred to the Number 51 Magistrate’s Court and will continue on October 18.

Reports are the Police have since received confession statements from the trio.

It had been reported that the 21-year-old

Mahendra Ghanie, also known as “Sanjay”, of Lot 198 Bloomfield Village, had gone to the home of his employer on Monday to collect $70,000 which was owed to him. However, he never returned. This prompted family members to launch a search for him.

It was also reported that one of the suspects had confessed that he and his sons accused Ghanie of stealing two of their goats and one of his sons lashed him to the head with a piece of wood, allegedly resulting in his death.

In an attempt to dispose the body, they allegedly chopped the deceased into pieces and then took the dismembered body parts to the side of the yard on Monday evening and used dried coconuts and dried palm branches to burn it.

Attempted murder accused remanded

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wenty-nine-year-old Curt Kendal of Lot 474 Section B, Nonpareil, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Tuesday appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after being on the run for months after a shooting incident.

The father of one appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts and denied the attempted murder charge, which was slapped on him.

The charge stated that on

February 3, 2017 at Mandela Avenue, Georgetown, while in the company of another, Kendal discharged several rounds at Christopher Marks in an attempt to murder him.

Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore objected to bail being granted, telling the court that Kendal has been on the run.

However, the accused denied this allegation and told Magistrate McLennan that he was out of the country and was unaware that he was wanted

by Police.

He explained that it was only in September that he was contacted by his mother who received a summons for his arrest and, as such, he flew back to Guyana immediately.

The Chief Magistrate denied bail and remanded Kendal to prison. The case will continue on October 17.

His alleged accomplice, Samuel Adams, of Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was charged in March for the of-

fence.

He was additionally charged for the attempted robbery of Ramroop Ramnauth of his valuables and for robbing John Bryan of some $3 million on December 6, 2016.

Adams is also currently on remand.

After 2 years on the run

Man slapped with narco trafficking charge

A

wanted man who was recently nabbed

by Police after being on the run for two years was on Tuesday taken to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Kennard De Jonge, 34, stood before the Chief Magistrate, Ann McLennan to answer to the charge of cocaine possession while aboard a Dynamic Airways flight destined for New York.

The charge stated that between February 1 and February 2, 2017 at Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD), De Jonge had in his possession 1.3 kilos of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. The drug was discovered on board the flight when a colleague of De Jonge, a former bag handler attached to Roraima Airways, observed a small package hidden in the cargo of the plane.

A wanted bulletin was issued for De Jonge in February.

The 34-year-old man was remanded to prison. The case will continue on October 19.

Hearts…

D

…bleeding for killers

id you, dear reader, know yesterday, was “World Day against death penalty”. Yep!! There’s a day for that also. Well if the UN took time to declare such a day, maybe we ought to think a bit about it, shouldn’t we? One of the local worthies, who makes a living at this sort of thing, declared that the death penalty is about “revenge” rather than “deterrence”.

Well, golly Miss Molly! If a person’s already been killed, what’s the use to HIM on whether the killer’s deterred from killing again?? The poor person remains as just “dead meat”. Your Eyewitness isn’t about to speculate about any hereafter…just about justice for the dead in the here and now. Why label the act of retribution “revenge”?

God said he’s the one to dole out retribution - not that its wrong, didn’t he? So our state’s simply executing (pardon the pun) God’s will for HIS inattention. (The killer WAS allowed to do his dastardly deed, wasn’t he?)

Anyhow the local bleeding heart echoed the worthies at the UN and declared “no state should execute its citizens”. How about sentencing 1700 workers to a slow death by closing down Wales estate without providing any alternative employment? That’s OK? Doesn’t malnutrition lead to a shorter lifespan and death? Aren’t some going to be plunged into despair and kill themselves? Shouldn’t she condemn these executions of the state?

And then what does the UN say about the hundreds of thousands of citizens being killed by bombs dropped from five miles in the sky or from drones controlled from 10,000 miles away? Shouldn’t there be a day of mourning for the executions and condemnation for those states commit such atrocities?

The problem with most bleeding hearts, they get caught up with the information they’re fed from up north and just unthinkingly regurgitate it. Banning executions is now the popular “Liberal” cause. But wasn’t it Liberalism that introduced hangings to begin with? Right here in Guyana, thank you? Tomorrow we’ll be commemorating the Maafa or Holocaust against People of African Origins.

Wasn’t it a Liberal Britain that was one of the main perpetrators of these mass killings that were worse than executions? Will the bleeding hearts show up at the seawall?

The point of it all, is hanging and other forms of executions are all part of an interlinked Liberal order that every now and then pretends to reform itself (like “abolishing” slavery) but its beat of overriding oppression has only morphed into another, deadlier, form.

What we need is not reform - but root and branch change where the poor and powerless are given justice.

And a Liberal order ain’t gonna do it.

…beating for gambling

Looks like this government’s left hand mightn’t know what its right hand is doing but not to worry - its heart isn’t divided for sure: avarice and greed are the watchwords!!

The latest eruption is over these gambling slot machines - otherwise known as “one-armed bandits”, for good reason. They rob you as good as an choke-and-rob artiste you may encounter in the (dark) streets, when you pull down that “arm”.

Seems the government - via its dynamic Finance Minister - bypassed the legally authorised entity regulating gambling in the country and authorised the Guyana Lottery Company to install the aforementioned one-armed-bandits in bars across our (now despoiled) land! And why would the FM do this if it means breaking the laws of Guyana? Well, he said Guyana would get 24% of the take, by encouraging Guyanese to gamble away their hard-earned money.

Your Eyewitness therefore has a suggestion. Why doesn’t the FM ship coke to the states? That’s also illegal - but the return is 2400%!!

…falling in love

Jagdeo criticised Trotman’s lacklustre performance at COP 25 in Paris back in 2015. What he didn’t know was Trottie and a member of the delegation found the charms of “Gay Paree” too distracting.

Now they’re married. Isn’t that sweet!!

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

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wednesDAY, october 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Freedom Radio hauls Broadcast Authority to court ... challenges ‘theft’ of airwaves, onerous increase in fees

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reedom Radio Inc has filed a constitutional challenge in the High Court, over the Administration’s imposition of an ‘onerous’ increase in the annual broadcasting fee and the expropriation of its airwaves during ‘prime time,’ for Government broadcasts.

Nandlall and Associates on Tuesday filed the legal challenge calling on the court to place on hold the enforcement of several provisions in the Broadcasting Act until the determination of the Judiciary.

Freedom Radio Director, Irfaan Ali, in a sworn affidavit filed by former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall, claims that provisions in the Broadcast Act, expropriates the business’s airwaves causing it to lose on its revenue during ‘prime time,’ this, without compensation.

Unconstitutional

Ali in his affidavit seen

by Guyana Times, states Freedom Radio Inc is in the business of selling airtime for reward and the provisions looking to be enforced by the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) are not only onerous but are in fact unconstitutional since it violates guaranteed and protected rights and freedoms.

The coalition A Partnership for National

Freedom Radio Director Irfaan Ali

Unity, Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration had amended and recently assented new broadcast legislative provisions.

These provisions compel local broadcasters to broadcast Government programmes under the ambit of ‘public service programmes.’

The ‘public service’ programmes were heavily criticised during the parliamentary debates on the amendment and were lambasted as tantamount to nothing but Government propaganda.

Freedom Radio Inc is owned and managed by the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP), which in its legal challenge notes, “between the hours of 06:00h and 22:00h are considered prime-time; this means that these hours at-

tract the highest rates of rewards.”

The affidavit documents that an hour during this period can easily be sold at a more competitive rate – higher depending upon the particular day of the week – and as such the demand

by Government in fact ‘expropriates’ money from Freedom Radio without compensation.

Freedom Radio argues in its legal challenge that the move is in fact unconstitutional since it violates fundamentals rights and freedom which enjoy protection under the Constitution of Guyana.

Onerous fees

Freedom Radio Director Ali, in filing litigation, has also pointed to the drastically altered fee regime which is now being charged under the principal Act. Ali in the sworn affidavit stated that the fees have been increased to $7.5 million annually, up from the $2.5 million previous payments.

Freedom Radio Inc previously paid $2.5 million annual for its Broadcasting Licence in addition to another payment of $633,600 for its Spectrum/Frequency.

These fees were paid over to the then National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU); the predecessor to the Guyana Broadcasting Authority

which came into being with the assent of the amended broadcasting laws by Head

of State David Granger.

Under the new regime, the Administration intro-

duced a zoning system and charges fees for each zone. turn to page 10

10 news

wednesDAY, october 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt collects $900M in taxes for oil and gas activities

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he Finance Ministry has collected approximately $900 million in taxes from activities connected to oil and gas for the first half of 2017.

This was revealed by Finance Minister Winston Jordan during a press conference held at the Ministry’s boardroom on Monday. Minister Jordan was responding to questions posed by the media.

Companies in the oil and gas industry have to pay withholding taxes. The tax is paid to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).

It is a tax levied on income (interest and dividends) from securities owned by a non-resident.

Minister Jordan noted

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

that the sum “might have been the resolution of one or two issues that were pending with some of the companies”.

These taxes are in ad-

dition to the revenues that Guyana is expected to begin collecting when oil production commences in 2020. The Government has a production sharing

agreement between Exxon and its partners and itself.

Guyana will receive a royalty of two per cent on gross earnings and benefit from 50 per cent of the profits from the sale of petroleum once production commences in 2020.

Meanwhile, the Finance Minister noted that the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) will be available for public consultation early next year. He noted that the Ministry is currently reviewing comments from partners before it is submitted to the commonwealth consultant, who helped in the initial drafting of the legislation for the establishment of the SWF.

Freedom Radio hauls Broadcast Authority...

According to Freedom Radio in its challenge, with the new zoning system, the fee “for a broadcasting licence to broadcast in the very areas that it is now transmitting would skyrocket from $2,500,000 annually, to over $7,500,000 annually.

Damages

Freedom Radio has since approached the court calling for a Conservatory

Order, prohibiting the Broadcasting Authority, from implementing or acting in accordance with – in any manner whatsoever – enforcing the provisions of the Broadcasting Amendment Act 2017, Act No 20 of 2017, until the hearing and determination of its Fixed Date Application filed.

The company in is application is also looking to have a Judge award damages in excess of $1 million for

breach of the Radio Guyana Inc’s – a duly registered limited liability company – fundamental rights and freedoms.

The political Opposition had on Friday last reminded that despite calls from the Guyana Press Association, Caribbean Association of Media Workers, Reporters without Broader and other major organisations representing the cause of journalism and freedom of the

from page 9

press to the Government to withdraw the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2017, “the Government ignored all these calls, passed the Bill in the National Assembly.”

President Granger has since assented to it and upon the directions of the Prime Minister; the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA) has begun to enforce its provisions.

Hang ‘em high!!

S

atiricus was still on a roll now that his old buddy Cappo had returned from his (illegal) sojourn in New York. He, Cappo, was keeping the fellas’ throats quite lubricated at the Back Street Bar with the greenbacks he’d brought back. That he also regaled them with his life and times in the Big Apple didn’t hurt. Cappo, on the other hand, was interested in what had gone down in his native land in his absence. Thus, the conversation and the beer flowed like Amaila Falls.

“Suh wha’ time Rum Jhaat a close dong bar now?”

Cappo wanted to know. “Me know ‘e cyaan close dong abee Back Street Bar…but me wan’ fuh tek ayu a Tong fuh wan drink!”

“Still two o’clock in the morning,” Hari smiled. “But you know by then you’re long gone under the table!!”

“But wha’ mek ‘e a close bar an’ ‘e guvment a open gamblin’?” asked Cappo. “Gamblin’ mo bad!”

“Really?” asked Satiricus. “Why you think so?”

“In New Yark, dem open wan casino whe all dem Guyanese live in Queens,” Cappo reported. “Yuh nah wan’ fuh know wha’ happen!”

“Tell abee, na,” said Bungi, who sounded all proud and proprietary about his old cane-cutting partner.

“All dem Guyanese bais who use fuh drink pan Liberty Avenue now a get free drink a de casino,” said Cappo.

“That sounds good,” said Satiricus.

“But now dem cyan drink AN’ gamble!” reported Cappo. “An’ den tu’n mo’ bruks dan Begga’ Man Polo!!”

“But we had a casino already running in Guyana, Cappo,” said Satiricus. “And that didn’t happen here.”

“Like yuh fuget only las’ year me guh a New Yark,” said Cappo with a laugh. “Abee ardinary Guyanese cyaan go and gamble a da casino!”

“But Cappo,” interjected Bungi, “if abee can drink and gamble all abee money, abee guh tu’n jus’ like New Yark!”

“Suh who seh Rum Jhaat and ‘e guvment na wan fuh bring progress?” said Cappo, as even Satiricus laughed.

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wednesDAY, october 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Jagdeo forewarns of face-off at Business Summit today ...says Ministers will not have Speaker’s cloak of protection

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he political Opposition intends to confront Ministers of Government in a noholds-barred face-off without the protection of the Speaker of the National Assembly when the Private Sector Commission (PSC) Business Summit gets underway today.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo recently telegraphed his Party’s agenda for the confrontation for the Government Ministers – listed as panellists – to be fully prepared.

Jagdeo was at the time speaking at a media engagement hosted at his Church Street office and affirmed his Party’s keen intention on participation in the process since he was assured there would be “robust discussions on topical issues. It is on this assurance we agreed to participate”.

Putting the Government on notice, Jagdeo said: “We are saying what we will focus on so the Ministers can come prepared...we had enough sound-bites in Parliament. And the good thing is that at the Business Summit, we will not have a Speaker who gives Government a cloak of protection and truncates our questioning.”

Telegraphing the Opposition’s list of demands, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) leader spoke to taxation, energy, Government procurement, the oil and gas sector, and a list of other issues.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

According to Jagdeo, “public procurement will be a major feature – the lack of transparency, the breaches of the Procurement Act and Cabinet’s continued participation in the award of contracts”.

Speaking to the PPP’s decision to participate in the Summit, the Opposition Leader reminded that “Government procurement is the largest source of economic activity for the Private Sector...

So procurement has to be part of a Business Summit.

In every panel, on procurement issues, we will be seeking answers.”

The PSC’s Business Summit is touted as a ‘multi-stakeholder approach’ to bring together the brightest and most experienced in all sectors.

Chairman of the Trade

and Investment Committee of the PSC, Deodat Indar had told the media that the Business Summit “...will not be another talk shop.

This is not where people go to grandstand or any form of pageantry. This is serious business. We expect that the seven panels that we set up will be armed with experts to dissect issues, trends, analyse and project and suggest actions to reduce decline.”

According to Jagdeo, the PPP/Civic will be fully represented in each of those panel deliberations.

On the energy sector, the Opposition Leader noted that Government would be interrogated on issues ranging from the hogging of billions since the reduction in fuel prices was not passed on to consumers and the business community.

On the area of taxation, Jagdeo said the Opposition would be interrogating the Ministers present on not only figures but policy.

The Opposition Leader also laid out an ultimatum to Head of State, David Granger – who is slated to address the opening today. “...not another speech about the good life for Guyanese; not another speech about the Green Development Strategy, not another speech about how agriculture in the hinterland is the new frontier; not another speech about the need to export more value-added products; and not another one on guava cheese and plantain chips.

This is all we are getting from the Government

– a good speech from Government that means

nothing to the Guyanese people.”

12 news

wednesDAY, october 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

New parking meter renegotiation committee

7 Councillors selected, public names pending

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ollowing much delay, the new special committee to re-negotiate the controversial Parking Meter Contract with Smart City Solutions (SCS) has been selected and is expected to be-

gin their work very soon. The committee would be chaired

by A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Councillor Akeem Peter.

Mayor Patricia Chase Green, along with a majori-

ty of the city Councillors, voted for APNU’s Councillor, Noelle Chow-Chee to be Vice Chairman at Monday’s statutory meeting. The other members of the new committee are Councillors Oscar Clark,

Councillor Noelle Chow-Chee

Councillor Akeem Peter

Mayor Patricia Chase Green

Jameel Rasul, James Samuels, Heston Bostwick and Ivor Henry.

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Councillor, Bishram Kuppen was also nominated but declined to take up a position on the committee.

Chase Green has mandated that the new committee comprise of two members of the public. The names of the public nominees have been submitted to the Office of the Town Clerk and the CVs along with the names are supposed to be circulated to the Councillors to vote on.

The new committee, according to the draft Terms of Referance, would be tasked with engaging Smart City Solution with a view to renegotiating the terms of the agreement entered into between the parties and more specifically to seek to take into account the concerns raised and addressed in the reports of the Special Committee in relation to costs,

fines, enforcement, profit-sharing, areas, times and other factors identified in relation to the project and any other relevant actions as the committee may, in its discretion, determine or as may be suggested by the general council. Upon completion of the negotiation period, the new committee would have to prepare a report and present it to the Council at a meeting called for that purpose, setting out the proposals and or agreements arrived at.

The M&CC had entered into a contract with Smart City Solutions Inc on May 13, 2016, for parking meters to be implemented in Georgetown.

A committee was previously set up on April 26, 2017; one month after Government suspended the paid parking initiative.

The life of the Parking Meter Re-Negotiation Committee ended when it submitted its final report and finding to the Mayor of Georgetown

on August 2, 2017, and later circulated to all Councilors.

The report made three recommendations, which included renegotiating the contract with SCS, scrapping the entire project and awaiting the outcome of the pending court cases.

On September 7, 2017, a vote of 13:5:7 in favour of continuing the metered parking systems with a renegotiated contract was taken. Following the vote, the Council agreed to appoint a Special Select Committee consisting of seven Councillors and two members of the public with expertise and experience in the accounting, law and engineering fields to meet with SCS. They would discuss the terms of the agreement with a view to renegotiating it in light of the findings and recommendations made by the previous committee that carried out an examination of the project and reported its findings to the Council.

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wednesDAY, october 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Wales Estate closure

Sugar workers, families facing financial ruination E

ver since the closure of the Wales Sugar Estate in December of 2016, some 1700 workers have been directly affected, and thousands of persons in the Wales and surrounding communities have been indirectly affected. Almost 10 months after the shutdown of the Estate, many workers claim that they are having difficulty gaining consistent employment even as they continue to cope without receiving their termination benefits.

These issues were reiterated on Tuesday when sugar workers and housewives gathered at the headquarters of the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) in Kingston, Georgetown where they complained of not hav-

“It ain’t easy for people right now in Wales and all what we asking the Government to do is ensure that we get we severance because we deserve it.” – Romeo Charles, former sugar worker awaiting severance pay

Struggling Wales residents along with GAWU officials on Monday

ing enough funds to meet their basic needs or to cover the educational needs of their children.

“If you [are] willing to do a business, nobody won’t support the business, because the finance not coming and people don’t even want to shop because of the

Turbot-1 well find

ExxonMobil still to quantify recent oil discovery

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uyana’s fifth oil discovery was announced last Thursday, but the actual resource size of the recent discovery will not be known until 2018. the barQuantifying rel equivalent of Guyana’s most recent oil find at the Turbot-1 well by ExxonMobil will require further analysis of the data that was collected, Exxon’s Public and Government Affairs Director Kimberly Brasington explained to the Department of Public Information (DPI).

Drilling of Turbot-1, which is located in the Stabroek Block, began in August by ExxonMobil affiliate Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited.

A reservoir of 75 feet (23 metres) of high-quality, oil-bearing sandstone was encountered.

“What our announcement indicated is that while drilling we encountered hydrocarbon. And so, because everybody is watching so closely now, we didn’t want to wait,” Brasington noted. By the end of September, Turbot-1 was drilled to 18,445 feet (5622 metres) in 5912 feet (1802 metres) of water. In fact, drilling of Turbot-1 is ongoing.”

However, Brasington cautioned that data generated from Turbot-1 is not sufficient “to say with certainty the volume of oil equivalent barrels in this new field.

“They’re already looking at the data, but they are going to finish up at Turbot and continue to assess all the data they gathered from drilling this well. And then we will come back in 2018 to drill a second well that will help us to calibrate and be in a better position to announce what we think is the estimated resource size,” Brasington explained.

The company’s decision was similar during the exploration of the Liza and Payara

Exxon’s Public and Government Affairs Director, Kimberly Brasington

fields. Announcements on the barrel equivalent of the hydrocarbon found in those fields were made after the subsequent drilling of Liza-2 and 3 and Payara 2.

The Liza and Payara fields together with the Liza Deep and Snoek wells place Stabroek Block’s gross resources between 2.25 billion to 75 billion oil equivalent barrels.

As Exxon and its partners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC Nexen, continue exploration in the Stabroek Block, “there is more unknown, uncertainty” in the geology on the ocean floor as exploration moves away from the Liza field, Brasington said.

Turbo-1 is located 30 miles east of the Liza Phase One project. Even the newest drill field, Ranger is located further from the Liza and Payara groupings.

“Ranger is exciting. It’s another unknown…the geology under the ground, it looks different. We’re optimistic and excited, and our partners and everybody wants to continue exploring,” Brasington said.

Meantime, the Stena Carron drillship should be moving to the Ranger filed over the next two weeks.

children and the expense in the home. I have a son who writing CXC and everyday he got SBA, use the Internet, ink but we can’t get it because me ain’t working, the husband ain’t working so we glad if we could get we severance,” a mother living in the area pointed out.

Another aggrieved housewife and mother of five, Salima Bacchus shared similar sentiments, saying that her husband, Haseer, a former cane cutter, is only finding work in carpentry some-

times for one or two days a week. She further lamented her difficulties in being able to pay her bills.

Gordon Thomas, an extug captain at the Estate, was one of the few who secured his severance package, but he felt that it was necessary to support his fellow workers. At the GAWU gathering, he noted that the community of Wales was a far cry from the prosperous area which was seen in the past.

“It pains us that communities and people that were

once so vibrant, happy and joyful are now forced to contend with greater unemployment, crime, destitution, misery, staring poverty and other anti-social behaviour,” Thomas lamented. He noted that workers who used their severance to purchase cars were contending with saturation of the market, coupled with fewer passengers travelling on the roads.

He highlighted that many of his colleagues who were able to secure jobs in the wake of the closure are confronting issues of “lesser wages” and “reduced work opportunities”.

Father of six, Romeo Charles had worked with the

Estate for 20 years before being retrenched. He said that many residents were going hungry but were afraid to admit their plight.

“It ain’t easy for people right now in Wales and all what we asking the Government to do is ensure that we get we severance because we deserve it. It’s not something that we begging for. We work we whole life with GuySuCo tirelessly and it not we fault that the estate close, is they close it,” Charles observed.

After several months, the High Court is still to list the severance matter before a judge. (Shemuel Fanfair)

14 news IMPACT Justice Project to discuss formation of regional Indigenous body I wednesDAY, october 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

ndigenous peoples of the Caribbean Region are meeting in Guyana to discuss the possible formation of a Caricom Association of Indigenous Persons.

According to Director of

the IMPACT Justice Project, Professor Velma Newton, the meeting is a follow-up to one held in Belize in 2016, where several persons indicated their desire to have such an organisation established.

She noted that a similar organisation was formed in 1990; however, it was no longer functional.

Newton said her agency was prepared to offer support should a consensus be reached on the formation

Professor Velma Newton

of a Caricom Association of Indigenous Persons.

However, what forms the support will take are yet unknown, as the newly-established organisation will be capable of raising its own funds and ensuring its sustainability.

Minister within the

Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, Valerie GarridoLowe noted her satisfaction that such a meeting was being held in Guyana.

One area of concern that the Minister highlighted was the training of paralegals to represent Indigenous persons in Guyana. She dis-

closed during an interaction with inmates of the Camp Street Prison it was revealed that most of them (Indigenous persons) were incarcerated because of poor legal representation.

Meanwhile, Dr Sharon Le Gall, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of the West Indies who focuses on Intellectual Property Rights, disclosed that Indigenous groups were advocating for the right to their cultural property. Dr Le Gall noted that it was important that persons were aware of these international developments and through their Governments, participate in all the negotiations and discussions.

The three-day activity will also cover The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

news

15

wednesDAY, OCTOber 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Major drug shortages hit Region 2 Ramsammy’s Ruminations …health centres in Pomeroon affected Bulkan’s “own deliberate judgment” cannot mask APNU/AFC’s ethnicbased HR policy

P

resident David Granger insists Guyana does not need the Diaspora’s “barrels, but their brains”. No doubt Guyana can benefit from the return of Guyanese bringing their talent, experience and wealth as an investment in their home country. But Granger must explain who really he is inviting to come home, because there is ample evidence that hundreds of Guyanese with impressive academic qualifications and significant experience are being sidelined, terminated without cause and are being harassed and Dr Leslie Ramsammy intimidated. Overwhelmingly, these Guyanese are sidelined based on an ethnic bias.

For even those who hated the PPP, it is becoming increasingly difficult to deny there is an ethnic-based human resource policy in Guyana today. Mr Christopher Ram recently signalled this growing concern. Hundreds of Indo-Guyanese have lost their jobs since May 2015. One of the examples Ram used was Collin Croal, whose experience and academic qualifications easily surpass those of any of the present Permanent Secretaries. Ram offered several examples to show that ethnicity is a primary reason why hundreds of public servants lost their jobs or have been subjected to intimidation and harassment. Ms Gail Teixeira added the examples of the more than 2000 Amerindians.

Outside the obnoxious ethnic-based discrimination practised by APNU/AFC, there is also the troubling shift towards authoritarianism. Minister Bulkan, in an obnoxious defence, responded to Ram, claiming that in regards to his Ministry, he acted in his “own deliberate judgment”. Bulkan in his arrogance is oblivious of the standard norms for transparency and accountability. Public Service appointments, terminations and disciplinary actions, including for Permanent Secretaries, are subjected to clearly delineated processes and can never be simply via the “own deliberate judgments” of any Minister.

Appointments must be through a process, and termination must be subjected to cause. Only in a dictatorship can appointments and terminations be through a Minister’s “own deliberate judgment”. But this “own deliberate judgment” nonsense cannot justify the clearly ethnic-based human resource policy clearly evident in the Public Service. Incidentally, this is reminiscent of Desmond Hoyte’s declaration that he could have fired Aubrey Norton because Norton was his “creature”.

Someone added the example of Michael Khan who was fired at the GPHC to the list highlighted by Mr Ram. I would like to add the example of Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, who was fired as the Chief Executive Officer of Berbice (Region Six) Regional Health Authority. Dr Mahadeo is a physician with more than 35 years’ experience, all of which have been in the public service across Guyana. He served as a primary care physician, a hospital head of department, a hospital administrator, a Regional Health Officer (RHO) and the CEO of the Berbice Regional Health Authority.

In the last listed position, he served for a decade, with major successes. Berbice attained almost 100 per cent immunisation rates and maternal mortality was zero for five of those years.

This clearly well-qualified officer with a track record of success was terminated and replaced by a person who has no qualification or experience in public health or medical science.

His only qualification is that he is an activist and was on the list of candidates for APNU/AFC. He happens to also be an AfroGuyanese. The public service requirements for that position require a medical degree with five years of experience or a medical degree with a Master’s in Public Health. Evidently, this is another example of Bulkan and APNU/AFC acting in their “own deliberate judgment”, dismantling all the requisites and replacing them with an ethnic-based political appointment system.

Bulkan and APNU/AFC, even if they were uncomfortable with Mahadeo because of his PPP links, as was the case with Croal, also by-passed the next three persons in line in Region Six – Dr Vishalya Sharma, the Medical Superintendent of New Amsterdam Hospital; Dr Vineshri Khirodhar, in charge of Port Mourant Hospital, and Dr Haripersaud Chand, in charge of Skeldon Hospital. These persons have the qualifications and experience that fit the requirement for the job and which are far superior to the person who was appointed. The inconvenient truth is that they were all Indo-Guyanese. Incidentally, Dr Sharma was not only by-passed, she was replaced by another Afro-Guyanese, another person without any health care experience, who took over at New Amsterdam Hospital.

Granger, this past week in observing the 60th anniversary of the PNC, made it clear once again that his vision is the return of the PNC’s “Burnhamite” policies that stymied Guyana’s development. This includes party paramountcy (now emblazoned as “own deliberate judgment”); dictatorship and, unfortunately, an ethnic-based human resource policy. These insidious policy platforms spell disaster for Guyana. Guyanese must be prepared to fight dictatorship. It is not coming. It is here.

P

eople’s Progressive Party Councillor Arnold Adams has reported at the Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) Regional Democratic Council (RDC) statutory meeting for the month of October that there are major drugs shortages within the region. Addressing his fellow Councillors, Adams said the majority of drugs are short supplied to the Suddie Public Hospital from the MMU; explaining that when this happens, health centres throughout the coast are left without essential medicines.

“Suddie Public Hospital is the hub for medication dis-

tribution, it’s the mother if they don’t have then all other centres don’t have, people are suffering and we need to address this issue,” Adams said.

Adams, who is the Chairman of the Health and Sanitation Committee, said over 90 per cent of drugs are in short supply at the hospital. He said basic injections as well as saline are also scarce. Adams further related that many patients are often asked to purchase their own medications from pharmacies, which he described as unacceptable.

At the meeting, Adams called on the Public Health

Minister to investigate the massive drugs shortage within the region.

Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt, in commenting on the issue said an analysis of the region’s budgetary allocations and expenditures for 2017 shows that Region Two was given $186,099,000 in its 2017 Budget. Of this amount, Ramdatt said only $2 million was released up to the end of September 2017.

He therefore said that it must be made clear that the Regional health officials have done all that is necessary to secure the much-needed financial resources to procure

drugs and medical supplies.

At a recent meeting held at the Finance Ministry, the matter engaged discussions and a commitment was given that available funds from the region’s allocation will be released.

Ramdatt said while he is pleased with such a decision, his major concern is for the authorities to closely review the systems that are in place so that Region Two can have adequate medical supplies.

He said the reality is quality health care and the people are affected while adequate financial provisions are available in the budget.

City Hall shuts down 5 businesses for violations

By Lakhram Bhagirat

T

he Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Georgetown, on Monday took the decision to suspend the operations of five businesses in the City for various health and safety violations, with the common thread being the owners operating unregistered businesses. Four of the business folks have a three-month period to get themselves in order while another has six weeks.

The decision was taken at Monday’s statutory meeting at City Hall when four of the five operators appeared before the full Council. This is the first time, since its election, that businesspersons appeared before this Council.

Acting head of the M&CC’s Meat and Hygiene Food Department, Abiola Baker, charged Orin Isaacs and Luanna Noel, Rajkumarie Singh, Brian and Deon Carter, Nadia Singh and Peggy Hoenkirk of violating the city’s food and health codes. Baker and Isaacs operates a soup snackette in Castello Housing Scheme, West La Penitence; Rajkumarie Singh has a food restaurant at Sheriff Street; the Carters operate a bakery and restaurant at Sophia; Nadia Singh a burger snackette at Sheriff Street; and Hoenkirk a liquor and food restaurant at Duncan Street.

None of the five businesses has the necessary documentation that would permit operation of any sort, more so a business that deals with food. Some of the outlets that are being closed have been notified since 2015. In addition, the employers and employees failed to produce valid food handlers’ certificates and Baker reports that they would prepare ready to eat foods in the unsanitary conditions using unsanitary utensils.

Georgetown Mayor Patricia Chase Green allowed each of the business owners the chance to defend themselves and to tell the Council why they should not be permanently shut down.

As a result of their explanations, they were given a

six-week suspension pending their registration. These businesses have been operating their businesses for approximately 10 years.

Chase Green told the Council that although these businesses fall within their constituencies, they should look at the bigger picture when voting on the resolution since the wider public’s health is involved. She added that she is in no way trying to permanently close down businesses hence the reason for her suspending the operations until they can comply with the health and operational codes as set out in the laws of the municipality.

The issue of non-compliance of the regulations and bylaws governing food establishments is something that has been ongoing for years. The M&CC continues to play its role in ensuring that citizens who are pur-

Acting head of the Meat and Hygiene Food Department, Abiola Baker revealing the details of the charges against the business owners

chasing fast food are consuming food that is prepared in sanitary conditions. Only recently, the M&CC held a workshop with persons

who operate food business on safe food practices. They were also encouraged to get their food handlers’ certificate.

16 news

wednesDAY, october 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Taxi driver remanded for 13lbs of ganja A

New Amsterdam, Berbice taxi driver was on Tuesday morning remanded for narcotics trafficking.

Hybrabad Ally, also called “Zaman”, 59, of Lot 40 Edinburgh Village, East Bank Berbice, appeared before Magistrate Alex Moore

in a New Amsterdam Magistrate’s Court.

It is alleged that on October 9 at Highbury, East Bank Berbice, he

had in his possession 13.5 pounds of ganja for the purpose of trafficking.

Ally denied the charge.

Defence Attorney Charrandass Persaud told the court that Ally had dropped off a passenger and then realised the passenger had forgotten a bag in his car and was on his way to take it to the passenger when he was stopped.

He was refused bail, and the case was scheduled to continue on November 4.

The prosecution is con-

Taxi driver Hybrabad Ally

tending that on October 9, a party of Police Officers led by Deputy Commander, Senior Superintendent Edmond Cooper, acting on information, went to the East Bank where they saw the defendant approaching in a grey 212 Carina motor car at Highbury. The vehicle was stopped and a search was carried out by Cooper. A white salt bag was found in the trunk, with three transparent bulky parcels containing the suspected marijuana.

news

17

wednesDAY, october 11, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Hurricane relief efforts

Evacuations to be completed by weekend – Harmon …as affected Guyanese begin returning home

T

he first batch of evacuated Guyanese from the hurricane-hit British Virgin Islands (BVI) returned home on Monday aboard a Trans Guyana Airways flight and were welcomed by Minister of State Joseph Harmon, Citizenship Minister Winston Felix, Civil Defence Commission head Chabilall Ramsarup and representatives of Trans Guyana Airways.

As the Trans Guyana Airways flight landed

dicated that returning citizens who do not have any relatives or place to stay would be given accommodation at the Hugo Chávez Centre in West Berbice.

“Once the news got around that we are bringing people home the number of persons in St Martin moved from 43 to 116. We understand that will happen and people now have a clear understanding that the Government of Guyana is working with the Private Sector and we are go-

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon and Citizenship Minister Winston Felix welcoming those who have been evacuated

at the Eugene F Correia International Airport on Monday and brought with it three adults and seven children, tears of joy began to flow coupled with sighs of relief from relatives.

Those evacuated from the hurricane-ravaged island are Randy Ragnauth, Avril De Santos, Nanshalee Foxe, Brianna Foxe, Nia Ashanti Gill, Rhondalisa FlattsGill, Jared Newman, Janice Callwood, Coran Penn and Cameron Foxe.

Minister Harmon was there to welcome them home and noted that it was the second flight that brought Guyanese home. He said in the coming days, there will be more flights facilitated

by Trans Guyana Airways and Jags Aviation to bring Guyanese home. He said Government is working to have the flights returning Guyanese home completed by this weekend.

Additionally, Harmon in-

ing to do everything in our power to ensure that our citizens are cared for,” Harmon told reporters. Meanwhile, Minister Felix explained that the Ministry is focused on assisting citizens who lost their personal documents while adding that they are also focused on getting the right documents for children who need to attend school. “We will be assessing the documentation needs for those who lost their passports and birth certificates and generally for information purposes to have an idea of all who return. There are children whose schooling must be addressed and that information would be collected tonight and tomorrow. We will continue interviewing them and do all that are necessary,” Felix said.

During the hurricane, Guyanese businessman Derek Ragnauth lost his life.

His son, Randy, was one of the evacuees and told reporters that he experienced storms

Mother of 8 missing

C

ardel Darrell of Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara, has been missing since September 30, 2017, according to her husband Shelton Davis. The 42-yearold mother of eight reportedly left home to escort her mother to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport and was dropped off at the Stabroek Market Square destined for home but never returned.

Davis said he has been checking all the possible places for his wife but is yet to find her. He added that his wife suffers from hypertension and he is fearful for her health.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Cardel Darrell is asked to contact the nearest Police Station or call Davis on 625-0491.

Missing: Cardel Darrell

before but the hurricane was beyond his imagination.

He said during the storm, he was at this sister’s home and that although the house

was protected, the force of the winds destroyed the building.

He added that his father had stayed behind at his business and the following morning

they learnt of his death.

Several of the relatives of the evacuees said that they are thankful for the assistance rendered and are now

putting into place systems to make them more comfortable.

Another group of persons arrived in Guyana on Tuesday evening.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, october 11, 2017

ARCHIE

You'll have trouble containing your emotions. Think (March 21before you act on an assumpApril 19) tion that could cost you an important friendship. Keep your thoughts and secrets to yourself.

ARIES

Do

something

different.

TAURUS Lend a helping hand or take (April 20- a unique approach to the way May 20) you utilize your talents and

dilbert

skills. Touch base with an old friend, loved one or colleague.

By searching for alternative GEMINI ways to use your skills, you will (May 21discover a moneymaking opporJune 20) tunity. Put pressure on anyone you feel can contribute to your plan or connect you to someone who can.

You'll face opposition and

CANCER pressure when it comes to im(June 21- portant partnerships or dealJuly 22) ings with children or unpredict-

Peanuts

able individuals trying to take advantage of you. Don't pay for someone else's mistakes.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

An unexpected situation will strike an emotional chord that will make you want to do something to make a difference. You'll be met with opposition if you aren't prepared.

Be open to what outsiders VIRGO suggest.

A physical approach to (Aug. 23life and what's expected of you Sept. 22) will show that you have it in you to finish what you start.

A unique approach to the LIBRA (Sept. 23- way you use your skills or do Oct. 23) your job will open a window of opportunity. Use reason, but don't shy away from doing things differently.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Open up about the way SCORPIO you feel and what you want (Oct. 24to do. Sharing with someone Nov. 22) close to you will encourage you to follow through with your plans. Romance is highlighted.

Be creative when dealing SAGITTARIUS with lending, borrowing or do(Nov. 23- nating. Look at every angle Dec. 21) and consider where your cash will have the greatest effect. Be careful. Physical mishaps are apparent.

Emotions will surface if you

CAPRICORN don't get to pursue what you (Dec. 22- want. Be creative in the way Jan. 19) you approach income opportu-

solution for LAST PUBLISHED Puzzle

nities. Taking baby steps will have positive results. Avoid impulsive decisions.

Do something creative or AQUARIUS unusual that will get you in(Jan. 20- volved in an act of compassion.

Feb. 19) Keep your actions simple and affordable, but directed where your effort is needed most.

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

Get involved in a creative PISCES (Feb. 20- process that will help you deMarch 20) velop hidden skills and artistic desires. Children will play an interesting role in a decision you make. Romance is highlighted.

wednesDAY, OCTOber 11, 2017

A

ustralia’s Jason Behrendorff took four wickets for 21 in an inspired spell of fast bowling to set up an eight-wicket win over India in the second Twenty20 international on Tuesday, squaring the three-match series at 1-1.

The touring side, who lost the one-day series 4-1 and the first T20 by nine wickets, reached their target of 119 with 27 balls to spare at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.

Playing only his second international match, the 27-year-old Behrendorff scythed through India’s top order after Australia captain David Warner won the toss and chose to bowl.

The left-arm paceman dismissed opening batsman Rohit Sharma and India captain Virat Kohli in his first over and then took the wickets of Shikhar Dhawan and Manish Pandey to reduce the hosts to 27-4 inside the first five overs.

“It was unbelievable.

Bowling four (overs) up-

Behrendorff takes 4-21 as Aussies level series front doesn’t happen too often and I was lucky to do it,” Behrendorff said during the innings break.

“Bowling upfront and swinging the new ball is my strength and it is an honour to be opening the bowling for your country.”

India never recovered from the terrible start and were all out for 118 in their 20 overs. Kedar Jadhav scored 27 and Hardik Pandya made 25 in the only notable contributions with the bat for the hosts.

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa kept the pressure up on the Indian middle order, picking up two for 19 in his four overs.

Australia lost openers Warner and Aaron Finch early in their chase, giving India hope of an unlikely win but Moises Henriques and Travis Head then combined in an unbroken stand of 109 for the third wicket to take them to victory.

Henriques hit four sixes and an identical number of boundaries to remain

unbeaten on 62 for his second half century in T20.

Head was not out on 48 as Australia completed a con-

vincing victory.

Hyderabad will host the deciding match of the series on Friday. (Reuters)

SCOREBOARD India Innings (Maximum 20 Overs) RG Sharma lbw b Behrendorff 8 S Dhawan c Warner b Behrendorff 2 V Kohli* c & b Behrendorff 0 MK Pandey c †Paine b Behrendorff 6 KM Jadhav b Zampa 27 MS Dhoni† st †Paine b Zampa 13 HH Pandya c sub (Christian) b Stoinis 25 B Kumar c Henriques b CoulterNile 1 Kuldeep Yadav c †Paine b Tye 16 JJ Bumrah run out (†Paine) 7 YS Chahal not out 3 Extras (lb-5, nb-1, w-4) 10 Total (All out, 20 Overs) 118 Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-8, 3-16, 4-27, 5-60, 6-67, 7-70, 8-103, 9-115, 10-118 Bowling Behrendorff 4-0-21-4, Coulter-Nile 4-0-23-1 (w-2), Tye

4-0-30-1 (nb-1), Zampa 4-0-19-2 (w-1), Stoinis 4-0-20-1 (w-1) Australia Innings (target: 119 runs from 20 overs) AJ Finch c Kohli b Kumar 8 DA Warner* c Kohli b Bumrah 2 MC Henriques not out 62 TM Head not out 48 Extras (w-2) 2 Total (For 2 wickets, 15.3 Overs) 122 Did not bat: GJ Maxwell, MP Stoinis, TD Paine †, NM Coulter-Nile, AJ Tye, A Zampa, JP Behrendorff Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-13 Bowling Kumar 3-0-9-1 (w-1), Bumrah 3-0-25-1, Pandya 2-013-0, Kuldeep Yadav 4-0-460, Chahal 3.3-0-29-0 (w-1) Result: Australia won by 8 wickets with 27 balls remaining Player for the match: Jason Behrendorff (Australia)

Rock thrown at Australia's team bus A

ustralia batsman Aaron Finch has tweeted a picture of their team bus with a broken window, saying a rock had been thrown at the vehicle as they were leaving the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.

ESPNcricinfo understands that no one was hurt. Police protection around the team hotel was increased following the incident.

The following statement appeared on Finch’s twitter page “Pretty scary having a rock thrown through the team bus window on the way back to the hotel!!”

Australia had beaten India by eight wickets with 27 balls to spare and were on their way to the hotel, according to Finch, when the incident occurred. They had a similar scare in Bangladesh a couple of months ago, with authorities believing street children had thrown something at their bus. The BCB immediately increased security for the Australian team to ensure there were no further mishaps. (ESPN Cricinfo)

19

The Complete Venus Fly – A “Mating Net” Based Trap Around “Double Check”

I

n its most simple form, the “Venus Fly Trap” mating net looks like our first diagram; however, this “mating pattern” can occur in practical games in a number of different forms – so learn it well! It all starts with 1.Nf7+ by white, forcing the response 1...Kg8. Now, white seems to be faced with a tough position: The Queen on d5 is under attack, the Knight is attacked by the King, and

any “passive move” might allow ...Re1, delivering a back rank checkmate to the white King. What can white do? Well, as you will learn – arguably the strongest chess move possible in a game is the double check.

The Smothered Checkmate Climax!

White plays 2.Nh6++.

Now, we see a beautiful picture: The Queen on d5 is hanging, the Knight on h6 can be taken, and if black could, he/she would not hesitate to deliver check along the first rank. But none of those things are possible when the King is in double check! The only way out of a double check is for the King to move to safety. Regardless if both the pieces giving check are capturable, there is no way to take both pieces with one move. The black King must run to safety with 2...

Kh8 (2...Kf8 simply allows 3.Qf7#) and now white delivers the final blow: A

Queen sacrifice that forces black to “smother” his royal majesty! 3.Qg8+ Rxg8 and 4.Nf7 is checkmate!

Double Check is the King's Worst Enemy – ONLY HE Can Save Himself!

To provide further proof that the double check truly is a King's worst enemy, we move onto a practical example where the white King finds himself checkmated in the middle of the board (in the Opening no less) despite the seemingly improbable circumstances that both black's “checking pieces” are capturable (one in multiple ways). Black plays the crushing blow 1...Nf3++ and checkmate! Note that 1...Nxd3++ was also double check, but doesn't measure up because the white King can escape to d2. Despite both the f3Knight and the e7-Queen being “under enemy fire” they are both helping to deliver checkmate!

We finish with two well known puzzles where a discovered double check led directly to a forced checkmate. Again, we call these “mating nets” because once the net is thrown against the enemy King, it is only a matter of time before the net closes.

White starts off with 1.Rg8+!!. After: 1...Kxg8 (1...Kh7 allows 2.Nxf6+!

Rxf6 3.R3g7 checkmate) 2.Nxf6++ (not 2.Nxh6++ because 2...Kh7 escapes the net and it is white who now loses) 2...Kh8 or f8 and 3.Rg8# White sacrificed the Rook on g8 in order to force the black King onto a square that allowed the discovered double check to take place.

White's “mate in 3” was totally forced!

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesDAY, october 11, 2017

Dilruwan spins Sri Lanka to 2-0 series win

– Pakistan’s 15-year streak broken

L

ike waves breaking upon a cliff, Sri Lanka's bowlers kept coming at Pakistan, until eventually, the hosts fractured and tumbled into the

sea. So tantalisingly had the match been poised overnight, perhaps the ending was even a little anticlimactic. Sri Lanka's margin of victory was 68 runs - a

comfortable win by most standards. Though Sarfraz Ahmed and Asad Shafiq had begun confidently, the visitors needed only 5.5 overs to break that partnership,

Sri Lanka celebrate their first series win early on the fifth and final day

and about 90 minutes in all to wipe out the lower half of the Pakistan innings. The series had been swept, completely unexpectedly, 2-0.

Dilruwan Perera was Sri Lanka's primary bowling figure on day five, as he had been throughout the innings, claiming two further wickets to complete a fourth career five-wicket haul. He also took that vital wicket of Sarfraz to break the mighty resistance Pakistan's sixth-wicket partnership had mounted.

Rangana Herath, who had had an uncharacteristically quiet fourth-innings until then, took two wickets of his own, and Suranga Lakmal had Shafiq caught at slip. After the battering Sri Lanka had received at home, at India's hands, this series victory must surely rank among the most surprising results of their Test history. On the Sri Lankan balcony, support staff were ecstatic, while on the field Dinesh Chandimal led elated celebrations. The joy was justified: not counting the win in a one-off Test against Zimbabwe, this was Sri Lanka's first Test series victory in almost a year.

Pakistan, meanwhile, have had a disappointing start to life post Misbahul-Haq and Younis Khan.

Sarfraz and Shafiq needed

to see out seven overs before the second new ball became available, but Sarfraz's wicket exposed the tail prematurely. That Shafiq progressed to an outstanding 11th Test hundred was almost forgotten in the final wash-up. He finished on 112 off 176 balls. The partnership with Sarfraz was worth 173. For the first time, Pakistan have lost a Test series since moving base to the UAE. For Sarfraz, it was a return to earth, after his cap-

taincy had begun so successfully with the victory at the Champions Trophy.

For Chandimal, a victory in the first full series he has captained - the Zimbabwe match was a one-off, and he had not played the first match against India - has helped put some belief in his team, a quality that had previously been lacking. A series that was enlivened by a litany of twists has thrown up a startling result. (ESPN Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Sri Lanka 1st innings 482 (Karunaratne 196, Chandimal 62, Perera 58, Dickwella 52; Shah 6-184) Pakistan 1st innings 262 (Ali 59, Sohail 56) Sri Lanka 2nd innings 96 (Riaz 4-41) Pakistan 2nd innings (Overnight: 198-5; Target: 317 runs) Shan Masood c Dickwella b D. Perera 21 Sami Aslam c K. Mendis b Gamage 1 Azhar Ali c K. Silva b Prade ep 17 Haris Sohail c Dickwella b D. Perera 10 Asad Shafiq c K. Mendis b Lakmal 112 Babar Azam c K. Silva b D.

Perera 0 Sarfraz Ahmed c Pradeep b D. Perera 68 Mohammad Amir lbw b D. Perera 4 Yasir Shah st Dickwella b Herath 5 Wahab Riaz c Chandimal b Herath 1 Mohammad Abbas not out 3 Extras (lb-1 nb-5) 6 Total (All out, 90.2 Overs) 248 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-36, 3-49, 4-52, 5-52, 6-225, 7-230, 8-244, 9-244, 10-248 Bowling Lakmal 14-4-351, Gamage 16-5-29-1(nb-3), Herath 22.2-3-57-2, Pradeep 11-3-21-1 (nb-1), Perera 26-198-5, Mendis 1-0-7-0 (nb-1) Result: Sri Lanka won by 68 runs and took the series 2-0

T20 Global League players being considered for BPL

A

few Bangladesh Premier League franchises are considering reviewing their squads for the 2017 tournament and are looking to sign players freed up by the postponement of South Africa's T20 Global League. The franchises that have shown most interest in doing so are looking to replace those Pakistan players who will miss the first two weeks of the BPL: the Pakistan Cricket Board had last month made it mandatory for its centrally contracted players to participate in the domestic National T20 Cup. Comilla Victorians have Rumman Raees, Faheem Ashraf, Shoaib Malik, Hasan Ali and Fakhar Zaman on their roster, while Khulna Titans had signed on Shadab Khan, Junaid Khan and Sarfraz Ahmed. Fast bowler Mohammad Amir is part of the Dhaka Dynamites squad, while Usman Khan and Babar

Azam have been signed up by Sylhet Sixers.

ESPNcricinfo has learned that Comilla and Khulna are already looking for replacements from the players available in the T20 Global League pool. The inaugural edition of the South Africa league, which was scheduled to begin on November 3 and would have clashed with the BPL, was postponed to November 2018 by Cricket South Africa.

Other BPL teams, however, have been restricted by the budget that they have already spent on their current squad before and during the BPL draft.

Players from the T20 Global League who could be of interest to BPL owners include marquee names like AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy. Franchises would look at players like Jason Roy, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Smith, David Miller, Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Bravo

and Alex Hales.

Dhaka's CEO Obeid Nizam said that despite a nearly complete squad, the franchise is keen on signing more big names. Dhaka are considered to have one of the strongest teams on paper, having already signed up Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine, Shane Watson and Shahid Afridi.

"I have been told to look to sign some big names," Obeid said. "We already have several top players in our side but there are certain cricketers we would like to have in the squad."

An official from another franchise, however, said that while their existing squad is set they will scout for replacements, if required. At the moment, Chittagong Vikings have the fewest foreign players and it's likely the franchise will try and enlist more to strengthen their squad. (ESPN

Cricinfo)

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21

Concentration, patience keys to success - Persaud

By Clifton Ross

F

ormer National U19 all-rounder Akshaya Persaud said role model Shivnarine Chanderpaul has been a great influence in his career thus far, adding that his success in the ongoing GCB/Jaguars 3-Day League was attributed to his more mature approach to the game.

The 20 year-old told Guyana Times Sport during an exclusive interview on Tuesday, said that the advice he has received from the veteran Chanderpaul, who he refers to as “Pops” is one of the main reasons he was been in sublime form during the League.

He noted that the invaluable bits of cricket knowledge are critical for young players who tend to take a careless approach and look to score from the word go.

“To be honest, he (Shiv) is my role model and I address him as Pops. When you go into bat he helps with the pressure he would tell you about playing proper shots. He would advise me in any situation to try and hit the balls in ‘V’ area and to keep the ball on the ground until I get my eyes in and look to score,” Persaud explained.

With 510 runs at an average of 72.85 and scores of 41, 9, 43, 33, 151*, 20, 51, 61, 101*, along with 4 wickets and 9 catches, the West

Bel Air Lions Club to host mega Domino competition – funds raised will construct a bus shed

T

he Lions Club of Bel Air in collaboration with Clear Water will be holding a Domino Competition on November 4 and 5 at the Club House Enachu Street, Section K Campbellville Georgetown.

The competition is open to all Domino teams with the winners set to pocket $250,000 and a trophy. The second placed team will win $140,000 and a trophy while $60,000 and a trophy will go to the third placed team.

The Most Valuable Player over the two days will walk away with $10,000 and a trophy.

Entrance fee is $15,000 per team with all proceeds going towards the construction of a Bus Shed on Vlissengen road.

For more information, please call Lion Boyce on 642 8179, Lion Orlando on 661-1235, Lion Joseph on 685-1009 or Mark Wiltshire on 665-5855.

The official launch will take place today at 14:00h at the Club House in Enachu Street.

Demerara captain has been one of the premier performers this season with the bat and credited his new approach as supplementary reasons behind his success.

“Well I think so far the tournament has been pos-

…Chanderpaul is a role model Jaguars academy contract, which has reinforced a level of confidence for him as a player and now captain.

“Well as a Captain peo-

weight because it’s a total team effort,” Persaud added.

A former student of the Saraswati Vidy Niketan School, the young all-rounder said playing the League has further allowed him to settle in and bat for long innings. Persaud said he also records and review videos

Akshaya Persaud is a very useful left-arm bowler and works hard to keep improving

itive for me because I had starts and didn't capitalize on them. The approach called for a lot of patience and respect for the bowlers and since then I got two centuries and my goals from then was to score big hundreds and don't get out,” he noted.

West Demerara are currently third on the points table and Persaud indicated that it was the Guyana U19 call up, his addition to the Guyana Amazon Warriors T20 franchise and him acquiring a Guyana

Akshaya Persaud said Shiv Chanderpaul or ‘’Pops” as he calls him, has played a huge role in his career

ple expect you to lead from the front, I got 155 last year and I tried to make it a norm and be consistent in the field with bat and ball. The experience so far has been good, I was skipper last year and I would tell the guys that they’re 11 players in the side and it’s a team effort so we don’t depend on one person to bat everyone have to pull their

of his training to help perfect his flaws, adding that the Coaches have spent endless amount of training which has done wonders for a number of cricketers.

He continued, “It all comes back to my preparation, working on techniques, I used to work at LBI facility and have someone record my session so I could work on turning my flaws

into perfection. When I got the contract I was selected for West Indies U19 training camp and from then to now, coaches Crandon and Griffith have been good and they keep pushing you to be the best,” the 20-year old lamented From an academic, non-cricket perspective Persaud who resides at Cornelia Ida has been doing well off the field, taking nearly three years off of cricket to secure 14 subjects at CXC. A staunch Hindu, Persaud has also been doing charity work for Hindus for Selfless Service (HSS).

He wrapped up his interview by giving special thanks to his family while encouraging young cricketers to make education a priority. “I would like to thank my family, especially my parents for the support and guidance throughout my career so far because without them a lot of things would not have been possible.”

“Also to the young aspiring cricketers, I would encourage them to take their education very serious because we won't play cricket forever in life. I made a lot of sacrifices for my education because I stopped playing cricket for 2-3 years to write CXC exams where I wrote 14 subjects and passed all with grades one to three,” the Everest Cricket Club’s First Division Captain ended. Persaud will be in action this weekend when West Demerara take on Essequibo in the seventh and final round of the Jaguars 3-Day League at the Tuschen ground.

GFF/NAMILCO hands over U-17

tournament trophies to RMAs

Hafeez Khan presents the trophies to Gidel Austin (East Demerara FA) in the presence of GFF President Wayne Forde

T

he nine representatives of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Regional Member Associations (RMAs) received trophies for the GFFNAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National U17 Intra-Association Tournament even as the tournament is wrapping up

in some associations.

This was done in the boardroom of the GFF on October 4 by the President Wayne Forde and Marketing Consultant of the National Milling Company of Guyana (NAMILCO), Hafeez Khan.

In brief remarks, while Forde acknowledged some of the challenges experienced

by the RMAs during the tournament especially relative to the inclement weather, he pointed out that the construction of the GFF’s National Training Center will address this. He, however, emphasized the importance of the RMAs executing the tournament in the established timeframe: “Everything is connected to something. For example, the U17 NAMILCO tournament connects to the CONCACAF U17… it simply means that if you execute within the timeframe, your players will not be left out of the selection process. We want each and every one of you to not be left out.”

Khan, while noting NAMILCO’s contribution, encouraged the RMAs to seek regional sponsorship to offset beverage and other minor expenses related to the tournament: “When a community gives you money, you have to show what you did with the money so that they can give you more.

If you account for the money received from the community, your chances of getting more will increase. We, at NAMILCO, are looking for results. It is time you look at yourselves and what you can do in your community.”

During the meeting, the representatives shared their feedback, including positives, about the tournament’s execution and generally expressed that they have seen significant improvement in the quality of football over the duration of the tournament.

They expressed that the IntraAssociation league model is a great feeder for the national programme.

The GFF-NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power National U17 IntraAssociation Tournament is an ongoing tournament, which seeks to among others develop youth players as part of the player development pathway to the senior national team.

22

postponed GUYANATIMESgy.COM

wednesDAY, october 11, 2017

Troubled Global T20 League

– organisers cite issues with broadcast deal and title sponsor

C

ricket South Africa’s (CSA) troubled T20 Global League has been postponed to 2018 in an embarrassing climbdown for the organisation which launched the tournament amid great fanfare in London in June.

Failure to secure a suitable broadcast package and a title sponsor meant CSA stood t o

CSA Chief Executive Tony Irish

Players and owners strike a pose during the T20 Global League Launch in London

lose about $25 million (18.95 million pounds), representing roughly half of the organisation’s cash reserves

In an article published by ESPNcricinfo on Tuesday, it is understood that the CSA have already notified the eight franchises that the competition has to be pushed back. The franchises were told that the delay in securing a stable television broadcast deal and central rights sponsorship for the tournament were the main reasons for the postponement.

South Africa Cricket Association’s (SACA) Chief Executive Tony Irish, said “This has a very significant impact on a large number of local and overseas players, all of whom have signed contracts to play in the league.

Some players turned down other opportunities in order to commit themselves to these contracts. We will be looking at all implications of this for players, including what compensation should

be paid to them,” he stated.

We have not come to this decision lightly," CSA's acting CEO Thabang Moroe said. "Having discussed it with all our stakeholders including the franchise owners, we believe that the interest of the league should be our first priority. We have re-assessed our strategy and believe that postponing the first edition of the T20 Global League to next year will serve us well. We will regroup and come back stronger and better."

The South African Cricketers Association (SACA), has called for an "independent review" into what has caused the postponement of the T20 Global League. ""SACA is well aware of the fact that this will also affect various other groups including franchises, coaches and stadi-

um owners. I think it will be necessary for CSA to appoint its own independent review into what has actually transpired here as there are significant implications across South African cricket."

The event faced numerous logistical challenges, coupled with securing a broadcast deal or a title sponsor. Also, there was no indication that any of the current owners, seven of whom are overseas, would withdraw from the event.

Moroe met with the franchise owners on at least one occasion and was confident they remained committed to putting the tournament together.

A number of top international players had been signed for the 2017 competition, including England oneday captain Eoin Morgan and former England batsman Kevin Pietersen.

The six-week tournament, due to feature eight teams, was scheduled to run from November 3 to December 16.

Former CSA CEO Haroon Lorgat left his job suddenly last month citing a clash with the organisation’s board, widely reported in South African media to be about his role in setting up the T20 Global League It is understood that SACA have since launched an inquiry into the matter.

DCC beat TSC by 2 wickets D

emerara Cricket Club (DCC) beat Transport Sports Club (TSC) by two wickets this past Sunday when the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) continued its 1st and 2nd division 2-Day competitions.

Playing at home, DCC won the toss and chose to field, knocking over TSC for 150 in the first innings despite Joel Spooner’s 51. Dexter George snapped up 4-31, Carlton Jaques 2-14 and Xafie Smith 2-38 for DCC, as other contributions from Transport came from; Anthony Antonio (30) and Akeem Redman (24).

DCC in their first innings were rocked for all out with veteran Dennis Squires making 50 and Smith 19. Mark Baptiste ripped through DCC’s order to end with 6-20 while Spooner chipped in with 3-35.

Batting a second time, TSC were steamrolled for 65 with only Mark Ramsammy defying with 15 as Smith returned to bag 6-21 but TSC with a lead of 32 left DCC needing 98 to win.

The home side finished on 98-8 with George (44 not out) and Jaques 20.

Spooner claimed 4-25 and Azeem Azeez 3-15 but their hauls proved futile as they inevitably lost. The action continues this weekend.

Mark Baptiste claimed 6-21

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, october 11, 2017

Digicel Cancer Awareness Cycle Meet 2017…

Over $900,000 up for grabs

–Cancer Institute set to benefit big time

23

GFF brightens football in Bartica

GFF and BFA officials at the handing over ceremony

T

L-R: Evolution Cycling Club President Keith Fernandes, Cancer Institute representative Dr Syed Ghazi, Digicel Marketing Manager Ramesh Rupchand and Digicel Communications Manager Vidya Sanichara

O

n the morning of Sunday October 22, cyclists will converge at the outer circuit of the National Park in Georgetown in a bid to pocket cash prizes and trophies to the value of $900,000 when the sixth annual Digicel Cancer Awareness Cycle race pedals off.

At the official launch of the event on Tuesday afternoon at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), Marketing Manager of Digicel, Ramesh Rupchand had some heartening news for the Cancer Institute of Guyana. “This year, the registration fees we get from the event, we (Digicel) are going to match it as a company, we are going to make that contribution to the Cancer Institute of Guyana, we are very happy to be doing this,” Rupchand revealed.

Meanwhile, President of the Evolution Cycling Club, Keith Fernandes announced that this year’s meet will feature seven categories.

Those categories are a race which will feature Digicel’s staff, Mountain Bikers and Novices (5 laps), Seniors (35 Laps), Juniors (35 Laps), the Over45 and the Under-45 (10 laps).

The Evolution Cycling Club is now in its third year of collaboration with Digicel at hosting the event. Fernandes pointed out that as such it has become an event that cyclists in the country look forward to; he also noted that with the end of the cycling season not far away, Guyana’s top cyclists will be a part of the event. He explained that the cyclists are proud to be a part of the awareness raising event.

Registration for the event is $2000 but cyclists may contribute more towards the cause. The race will begin from Irving Street then proceed north to Carifesta Avenue, then West along Camp Road before moving east along Thomas Lands to complete a lap.

The defending champion in the feature event (Seniors’ 35-lap race) is Team Coco’s Jamaul John who held off Raul Leal last year to win the event in a time of two hours, 54 minutes and 11.72s. However with Geron Williams and Raynauth “Obeah Man” Jeffrey back on the local scene, John will face an uphill task if he is to retain his title. John currently sits on top of the Guyana Classification table and has been very successful over the past year.

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) presented eight flood lamps to the Bartica Football Association (BFA) on the October 7 as a part of a plan to aid in the development football in the region.

This presentation was done by Richard Groden, GFF’s Advisor, to Carmel Williams, Third Vice President of the BFA and GFF’s Executive Member at the Regional Administration Building’s compound (Bartica).

In brief comments, Groden said: “the GFF, in recognition of the important contribution the BFA has made to the development of football over the years, has undertaken to do its part in facilitating the ongoing work of the organization.

With that being said, we believe the donation of these lighting fixtures being donated today will further improve the efforts by the Federation to simulate football activities within Region seven.”

Williams expressed her gratitude for this investment while outlining some of the challenges experienced to execute games in the region. In like manner, the Regional Chairman, Gordon Bradford, and the Regional Electrician, Lennox Fredricks, who were also present at the handover.

They all expressed their support for the investment and pointed out that works to integrate the lights are underway in the form of already-planted posts.

This is the second flood-lamp presentation made to a GFF’s Regional Member Association – the first was Buxton United FC – as part of the Executive Committee’s strategic mandate to develop football infrastructure in the region.

Windies “A” hunting revenge

–1st “Test” begins today

S

Rahkeem Cornwall's off-spin caused lots of trouble for the Sri Lankans in the past

hamarh Brooks said one of the major aims of Windies “A” was to stoutly defend home soil against Sri Lanka “A” and avenge the series loss the side suffered when they faced the same opponents in their backyard two years ago.

The Windies “A” captain was speaking on the eve of the start of the three “Test” series which opens today at the Trelawny Multiplex in Jamaica, where all of the matches, including three One-dayers, will be staged.

Brooks was also at the helm of Windies “A” when they lost a hard fought, threematch series 2-1 last October in Sri Lanka and this was one of the things uppermost in his side’s mind, as they prepared for the first “Test”.

When quizzed about the players’ approach to the series, Brooks said: “The players have been pretty excited. We had a camp in Antigua and it went pretty well. It was pretty strenuous and it was a good blow-out for the players coming back off of whiteball matches. It helped to get them back into the groove of red-ball matches, so it went very well. We arrived last week in Jamaica to complete our preparations for the series.

On the value of “A” Team matches, he said: “It is a valuable experience. Coming on the back of our expanded first-class season, getting the opportunity to play against this type of opposition is a good experience and good exposure for our players. It is a very important litmus test to indicate where is our game at that period of time, so it is very important level of the game. I think we have a good, balanced side. I can’t say that batting or bowling is our strength. I think we have a good, all-round unit.”

Brooks also spoke of his personal goals, “In a nutshell, amass as many runs as I can and try to be as consistently prolific as I can be,”

the Barbadian reasoned.

On how conditions will affect strategy, he said: “Practising on the surfaces adjacent, it looks like it will be a good pitch. It would appear that both the fast bowlers and the spinners can get some amount of assistance from the surface. It seems like there will be some bounce for the fast bowlers, once they are prepared to put in the hard work, but I believe we are a well-rounded side and whatever conditions we are presented, we should be able to adapt and execute.” On the definition of success, other than winning the series, Brooks said: “Sticking together – this will be the key. We have been playing with and against each other for some time, so we should have a pretty good understanding of each other and enjoy each other’s company. We have built up a strong camaraderie from the time we assembled for the camp two weeks ago in Antigua, so team unity will be important. We cannot take the Sri Lankans for granted.

There are some pretty good players in their team, especially when you look at the numbers, so sticking together and backing each oth-

er will play a vital role in us being triumphant in this series.”

Squad; Shamarh Brooks (Captain), Vishaul Singh (ViceCaptain), Sunil Ambris, John Campbell, Yannic Cariah, Rahkeem Cornwall, Sheldon Cottrell, Jahmar Hamilton, Montcin Hodge, Damion Jacobs, Keon Joseph, Reynard Leveridge and Oshane Thomas.

Team Management Unit; Graeme West (Head Coach), Dwain Gill (Team Operations Manager), Corey Collymore (Assistant Coach), Khevyn Williams (Physiotherapist), Zephrynus Nicholas (Fitness Coordinator) and Dinesh Mahabir (Video Data Analyst).

Schedule 1st “Test” – Trelawny Multiplex, Jamaica - October 11 to 14 2nd “Test” – Trelawny Multiplex – October 19 to 22 3rd “Test” – Sabina Park, Jamaica – October 26 to 29 1st One-day Match – Sabina Park – November 1 2nd One-day Match – Sabina Park – November 3 3rd One-day Match – Trelawny Multiplex – November 5

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

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Digicel Cancer Awareness Cycle Meet 2017…

Over $900,000 up for grabs

Pg 23

– Cancer Institute set to benefit big time Flashback! Jamaul John fended off a stiff challenge from Raul Leal to win in 2016

Windies “A” hunting revenge

Pg 23

–1st “Test” begins today Fast bowler Keon Joseph will be looking to pick up where he left off when the teams last met

Pg 21

Concentration, patience keys to success – Persaud …Chanderpaul is a role model

Akshaya Persaud celebrates one of his tons

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