Guyanatimes 14 october 2017

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Issue No. 3361

PRICE

AG's Chambers admit Deputy Solicitor was targeted

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Used tyre dealers urge review of ban for 2018 budget P12

Page 3

…as association unveils plan to reawaken street protests

City Hall wins case against ‘Dread Shop’ Page 7

Students critical following Corentyne smash-up Page 14

…K&VC food shop, Lance Photo Studio to be dismantled

Govt to set up CDC warehouses countrywide Page 13

Govt instructs municipalities to return unspent monies P11

…Linden Mayor cries foul

Repeat offender back in jail P8 President decides where he holds activities – Harmon

…wants Nandlall to P9 show evidence PNC using State resources

Duo nabbed with gun, ammo P11 Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Colonel (ret'd) Chabilall Ramsarup perusing some of the exhibits that were on display at the Civil Defence Commission's International Day of Disaster Reduction 2017 observance

Business Summit

Lack of confidence blamed for low investment – Opposition MPs Page 11

1 in custody for D’Urban Street businessman’s murder P9

2 news

saturDAY, october 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

GuySuCo claims downsizing will create “cash positive” by 2020 T

he Guyana Sugar C o r p o r a t i o n (GuySuCo) says it is moving to reduce its dependency on Government’s subvention as it begins reorganising for downsized operations.

“What we are looking to do is to become cash positive. By 2020, we are hoping to stop our dependence on the Government for these subventions we’ve been asking for,” Finance Director and Deputy

Chief Executive Officer of GuySuCo, Paul Bhim, said.

The Government – both present and past -- has provided to the cash-strapped GuySuCo subsidies to the sum of $32 billion over the last three years, and is still expected to provide these subventions over the coming two years.

However, at a press conference hosted in the National Communications Network’s (NCN’s) studios, Bhim said GuySuCo would

be relying on value-added sugar production to achieve its cash neutrality target.

“With the three estates that (are) remaining, we’re looking to maximise our revenue from the value-added sugar – that is, sugar sold to Caricom, which is mainly bagged sugar and packaged sugar,” Bhim is quoted as saying by the Department of Public Information.

At the Albion Estate, GuySuCo will focus on bulk sugar, co-generation, and

molasses. Production of bagged and packaged sugar will be done at Blairmont; while, at Uitvlugt Estate, GuySuCo will focus on bagged and plantation white sugar.

GuySuCo is also hoping to supply the local market, which consumes approximately 20,000 tonnes.

The corporation is additionally looking to move into new markets, particularly for plantation white sugar, which is a substitute for

Finance Director and Deputy CEO of GuySuCo, Paul Bhim

refined white sugar. There is potential at Uitvlugt Estate for increased sugarcane cultivation, GuySuCo Public Relations Officer Audreyanna Thomas noted.

GuySuCo is looking to tap into the Caribbean

market for plantation white sugar. Bhim pointed out that the Caribbean Community (CariCom) annually imports approximately 190,000 tons of refined white sugar. While 10% of refined sugar is used for manufacturing foods and beverages, he said, “the rest could come from plantation white sugar”.

Downsizing the sugar industry to three estates is among recommendations outlined in a State paper on the future of the sugar industry. The end result will see GuySuCo comprising three estates complete with sugar factories. The estates would be Blairmont, West Bank Berbice; Albion-Rose Hall in East Berbice, and Uitvlugt-Wales in West Demerara.

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saturDAY, october 14, 2017 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, October 14 – 13:30h-15:00h and Sunday, October 15 – a night retraction at 01:00h and a day retraction from 14:30h-16:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, October 14 – 12:35h-14:05h and Sunday, October 15 – 13:30h-15:00h.

AG's Chambers admit Deputy Solicitor was targeted

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 during the morning, while sunny weather can be expected in the afternoon. Clear to partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening, with temperatures expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to East North-easterly between 2.68 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 12:19h reaching a maximum height of 2.20 metres.

Low Tide: 05:37h and 18:15h reaching minimum heights of 0.94 metre and 1.05 metres respectively.

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Former Deputy Solicitor General, Prithima Kissoon

T

he Legal Affairs Ministry and Attorney General’s Chambers has defended its decision to fire the Deputy Solicitor, Prithima Kissoon, and claims she mishandled a number of key Government cases, including a case related to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

She was the subject of a 15-month long investigation by the Legal Affairs Ministry. Kissoon broke her silence and accused Attorney General Basil Williams of a whole host of workplace atrocities, causing her to lodge a formal complaint with the Public Service Commission (PSC) in January of this year.

She was handed a termination letter six hours before the life of the Commission came to an end on August 31, without that constitutional body looking into the complaint.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams, in his defence of the firing of Kissoon in a public missive, has since accused her of bungling numerous high profile cases, in addition to other acts of dereliction of duty and insubordination.

The Ministry confirmed that the Deputy Solicitor was targeted in an investigation from November 2015 to January 2017, “after it was discovered that Ms Kissoon, who was tasked with the responsibility of conducting cases of grave importance to the State’s interest, had committed several breaches and violations under the rules and regulations of the Public Service Commission.”

The Ministry contends the breaches include improper preparation and drafting of legal documents, disobeying instructions, failing to attend court in several critical matters, gross dishonesty in official dealings, improper conduct and dereliction of duties.

The Attorney General’s Chambers in the statement on Friday said that Minister Williams blames Kissoon for not being present in court for key cases as well as misleading himself and others over the matter.

Kissoon broke her silence this week, as the very public spat between the Attorney General and her came to a crossroads on the August 31, 2017.

Attorney General, Basil Williams

Lamenting the situation, the now former Deputy Solicitor General in her now public statement said, “A new PSC will convene and the complaint against the Attorney General, Mr Basil Williams, SC will 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.

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, october 14, 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

Is history repeating itself?

T

he International Organization for Migration (IOM) said recently that the speed and scale of people fleeing Myanmar has triggered a humanitarian emergency in Bangladesh, where hundreds of thousands of refugees now depend on humanitarian assistance for shelter, food, water, and other life-saving needs.

According to the IOM-hosted Inter Sector Coordination Group (ISCG) of aid agencies, an estimated 536,000 people have fled Myanmar and arrived in Cox’s Bazar over the past 47 days. The United Nations has said that, prior to the August influx, infrastructure and basic services in Cox’s Bazar were already under strain as it hosted over 200,000 displaced Rohingya.

“These people are malnourished, and there is insufficient access to clean water and sanitation in many of the spontaneous sites. They are highly vulnerable. They have fled conflict, experienced severe trauma, and are now living in extremely difficult conditions,” the IOM said.

The Rohingya crisis is one of the worst Human Rights disasters of the modern world. As stated before, in many ways, it is a replay of the Nazi terrorization, expulsion and murder of the Jewish people, which occurred in the 1930s and 1940s. A few countries, such as Denmark, protected their Jewish citizens, but no country in the 1930s condemned on the international stage the Jewish persecution. When the condemnation did come, it was too late.

It is only now -- when half of the Rohingya population has been brutally driven out from their homes; their villages destroyed by fire; many killed, wounded and raped -that the United Nations and some countries have spoken out against the persecution of this ethnic minority by the Myanmar (formerly Burma) Military.

The Rohingya people are Muslim by religion, small farmers and peasantry, and there are no rich and powerful Rohingya. They are extremely peace-loving people. They number about one and a half million. The Myanmar Military and Government have long been persecuting the Rohingyas.

They have been denied their citizenship, and many years before the eruption of the present crisis, they were harassed and public opinion was encouraged to hate them.

According to a recent United Nations human rights report, brutal, well-organized, coordinated and systematic attacks have been carried out against the minority Muslim Rohingya community with the intention of not just driving them away, but also preventing their return.

The [UN human rights] team has documented consistent accounts of the Myanmar security forces surrounding or entering villages or settlements, sometimes accompanied

by Rakhine Buddhist individuals, firing indiscriminately at Rohingya villagers, injuring some and killing other innocent victims, setting houses on fire, and announcing in other villages that the same would befall them if they did not comply with the order to immediately abandon their homes.

The UN report also cites testimony from witnesses that security forces committed extrajudicial and summary executions, rape and other forms of sexual violence, torture and attacks on places of worship. Specific attacks particularly targeted the educated in the Rohingya society, such as teachers, businessmen, religious and community leaders – “people with influence” – in an effort to diminish Rohingya history, culture and knowledge.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, who described the Government operations in northern Rakhine state as “a textbook example of ethnic cleansing,” also urged the Myanmar Government to immediately end its “cruel” security operation. By denying the Rohingya population their political, civil, economic and cultural rights, including the right to citizenship, he said, the Government’s actions appear to be “a cynical ploy to forcibly transfer large numbers of people without possibility of return.”

The destruction of the Rohingya community is a most shameful and shameless episode in human history. The silence of the international community has been very disappointing, if not shocking. The international community must act now. The authorities in Burma must not be allowed to get away with the atrocities meted out against an ethnic minority of its own populace.

Guyana Telephone Telegraph (GTT) as part of its “PinkTober” celebrations to make Internatioanl Breast Cancer Month, held an event with special giveaways on Friday. The celebration also marked No Bra Day with a concept where men wore pink bras in support. In photo, Hits and Jams Director Kerwin Bollers, Pulse Entertainment CEO Robbie Singh, GTT Chief Executive Officer Justin Nedd and other patrons at GTT Camp Street Store donned their pink bras

Troubles of City Hall Dear Editor, Hearing the incessant cries that more money is needed, emanating from the Georgetown Municipality, one wonders if they would ever be satisfied with whatever revenue they receive. It is a totally bankrupt institution which has racked up debt and credit everywhere.

They cried out for a container tax, and even though they are not entitled to it, the shipping companies give them millions and millions of dollars extra revenue each month.

They earn a considerable amount of revenue from the Abattoir, yet, for over ten years, they are still to acquire a stun gun to humanely slaughter animals.

They earn millions of dollars each month from the municipal markets, yet these markets must be the most rat-infested, dirty, unsecure, dark, unsafe markets in the world.

They are now charging separately for refuse collection, which is double taxation, as property rates also cater for refuse collection;

yet Georgetown is a garbage city, with a few old garbage trucks barely crawling around town.

There is a black hole at City Hall that can never be filled.

Just look at the Kitty Market. What has happened to the grandiose and fanciful ideas of the Town Clerk, who last promised to have it completed and opened to vendors by mid-July 2017; who said that they had received more than 170 applications from citizens who wish to set up new stalls in

the market’s ground floor; and that it would feature a traditional health centre, an office for rates and taxes, and even space for the community councillor.

I hope their plan is not for the central Government to bail them out and complete that structure, or to step in and take over that market. The limited repairs done so far are riddled with faults.

Sincerely, Shanta Singh

GuySuCo’s inability to produce a sufficient quantity of cane Dear Editor, The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) sees it necessary to respond to a letter by the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc (GuySuCo) which appeared in the local press on October 12, 2017 under the title “GAWU must refocus on the business of sugar”.

The company’s spokeswoman accused our Union of having no responsibility. We expected GuySuCo to be wiser than this. Seemingly, the Corporation is slipping, or maybe has run out of things to say. Any rational person can see right through GuySuCo’s ill-considered statement.

Our Union has a proud record which attests to its responsible, principled, and forthright stance on matters. These facts very much throw cold water on the Corporation’s baseless and unsubstantiated statement.

But this is the face of the ‘new GuySuCo’ our Union and the workers must now-a-

days contend with.

Though it is well known, we wish to make it clear as day that the GAWU is very much aware of its foremost moral and legal responsibility -- to ensure that the workers’ rights, conditions, and benefits are respected, and not trampled upon. We do not need a condescending lecture from GuySuCo. We also wish to repeat that we remain open to discuss matters of concern with the Corporation. We have never shirked from any such engagements. But moving in this direction would require the Corporation to abandon its arm’s length approach to the Union, which it adopted since October, 2015, when we began to press for a pay rise for sugar workers for year 2015.

The Corporation’s officer, in our view, sought to put an ignoble spin on things when she sought to address the delay in paying the workers’ wages on September 15.

The Corporation goes on expressing its disquiet over

the workers’ protest activities to demand the payment of their wages. We ask what is wrong with workers demanding what they worked for, is rightfully theirs, and which they justifiably require to make ends meet?

Just a few months ago, quite correctly, several teachers picketed outside of the Region #5 office, demanding payment of their salaries, which were withheld. Those teachers were not criticized by the Ministry of Education or the Government. We ask why the sugar workers should receive different treatment. But, again, it serves to further expose the contempt held by the Corporation’s hierarchy towards the workers, their concerns, and their plight.

The missive then comes to the core of the matter in continuing to lay the groundwork to blame the workers and the Union for the very poor production level which is anticipated this year. In recent times, the

GAWU has drawn attention to this propaganda ploy

by GuySuCo as it seeks to shift blame and find a scapegoat for its utter failures. Ms Thomas rightly says, “More sugar that is produced and sold, the more it will alleviate the Corporation’s financial dilemma”. This succinct statement very much sums up the Corporation’s problems – its inability to produce a sufficient quantity of canes. The fact remains that the Corporation does not have the canes in the fields to reach its targets. How else does one explain that the production target has shifted from about 200,000 tonnes sugar at the beginning of the year to around 175,000 tonnes sugar in or around July, 2017, and which most likely will be about 150,000 tonnes when production ceases at year-end?

Yours truly, Seepaul Narine General Secretary GAWU

guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, october 14, 2017

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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

Several inaccuracies Slothfulness in approval of building design

by Sase Singh Dear Editor, The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) would like to respond to a letter published in the local press under the title “The reason why Guyana needs Tax Reform”, which was submitted by Mr Sase Singh; and to correct several inaccuracies mentioned in the letter on the rate of Corporation Tax. The GRA wishes to remind the writer and the general public that Section 10 of the Corporation Tax Act was amended in 2017 to reduce the Corporation Tax rate for non-commercial companies from 30% to 27.5%. Additionally, provisions were made in the Act for a dual tax rate for companies carrying out both

commercial and non-commercial activities. For these companies, the non-commercial activity of the company shall be taxed at the rate of twenty-seven and one- half per cent, and the commercial activity of the company shall be taxed at a rate of forty per cent.”

This reduction was a direct response to complaints raised by the manufacturing sector on the high rate of tax in the sector, and appeals for a decrease in the Corporate Tax rate in order to improve their competitiveness, both locally and overseas.

Please note that if the correct Corporate Tax rate was used in the letter, the arguments posited by the writer for tax avoidance,

transfer pricing, and enhancement of the investment climate would be refuted.

Members of the public are urged to visit the Guyana Revenue Authority’s (GRA’s) website at www.gra.gov.gy for upto-date information on rates of taxes and recent tax reforms.

Further contact can be made with our Tax Advisory Services Section on +592 227 6060 Ext. 1200 to 1204; or persons can send us a message at gravat@ gra.gov.gy or www.facebook.com/guyanarevenue.

Sincerely, Public Department Guyana Authority

Relations Revenue

Govt officials serving selves rather than nation

Dear Editor, As I travelled around earlier this month and engaged people about rating the Government, there were many complaints that politicians (Government officials) behave as though being in politics is about serving self and one’s family, rather than community or country.

In looking at the behaviour of several Government officials, people form an opinion that individuals enter into politics as a means of quickly getting rich. But it was not this way pre-independence, when people served with pleasure and hardly looking forward for gain.

Today’s politicians are very arrogant, and think highly of themselves when the truth is people have little respect for many of them.

Today, politicians seek office primarily to exercise power. Entering government is not about service to (everyone in a) community and the entire coun-

try. Rather, it is about serving self, friends, family, and to some extent one’s race. This is quite different from the time of Jagan or Gandhi – political leaders who were incorruptible and who served to elevate people’s lives. They were about service to nation, and not to ethnicity.

In Guyana, politicians use office for self-enrichment. People have commented that corruption is pervasive in this administration.

It is noted that the rate of return on political investment is huge -- many enter government as paupers, and within a few years become multi-millionaires.

Advice to politicians: please start giving selfless service to the nation.

Politicians should try to build a progressive team of people around them, people who are concerned about building and living in a better country. Upon entering office, they should help build a better nation than what

they found.

Politicians should conduct business above reproach. They should serve at their office with dedication, commitment and integrity. They should be open to constructive critique and not be thin-skinned. They should raise the standards of Government service to a higher level than what they found, instead of degrading the office.

In sum, politicians have been serving themselves.

They are urged to focus on service and not self.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Dear Editor, Permit me space in your daily to express my concerns and frustration over the slothfulness shown to our business in a simple matter of the approval of a building design.

We have applied to the Neighbourhood Democratic Council office, which is the Buxton/Foulis, this NDC has responsible for the approval of building and structures in our local area. The design was submitted along with supporting documents, and relevant fees were paid.

We were informed by the lovely staff at the NDC that because of the type of build-

ing we requested approval for, they don't have the authority to approve. This is because of some Local Government law that states only family dwelling house can be approved bu the NDC offices.

The NDC then sent the design to the Central Housing and Planning Authority for further consideration and approval, which I understand is protocol.

Editor, it has now been over six months, and we are still awaiting a response from the CH&PA on this simple matter of a storage bond design approval. This

storage bond, when completed, will create employment for over fifteen residents from the community of Bachelor’s Adventure on the lower East Coast of Demerara.

If this country is serious about business and growing the economy, we need to move faster with these simple hindrances to doing business here in Guyana.

We are kindly asking the relevant office to look into this matter and give consideration to our plan, so work can commence.

Sincerely, Ravin Ramoutar

Mr President, act now and remove barriers to hemp cultivation Dear Editor, We, the Executives and Members of the Region 10 Industrial Hemp and Agriculture Farmers Group, are peeved that the beneficial herb industrial hemp is illegal, even though communities, the economy and the environment can benefit tremendously from it.

Over 300 Region 10 farmers and other residents are calling on our President, David Granger, to legalise hemp, contending that industrial production would create jobs for the hundreds of unemployed youths around Region 10.

More importantly, too, being a green initiative, it will complement

the Government’s push for a green environment and green economy.

As we observe Hemp Awareness Week 2017, the group strongly believes that industrial hemp can become the chief cash crop of Linden and Region 10, ushering in a period of great economic and environmental benefits to the Region.

With no large-scale job creation initiative ongoing in Linden, and consistent with the continuous call by President Granger for persons to go into agro-processing and other value-added production, we are confident that cultivating industrial hemp is the way to go.

Processed industrial hemp can be used for large

scale production of bio-fuel, and if legalized, the herb would not only power, but empower, Linden and Region 10.

In addition, hemp, when value-added, could produce vehicles, textiles, food products, building materials, medicines, cosmetics, animal food, and hemp flour, among other thing.

Please, Mr President, act now and remove the barriers to enable the cultivation of this amazing crop and the manufacture of over 25,000 hemp products.

Do not wait for 2020, the expected gas and oil boom.

Yours sincerely, Aaron Gardner Chairman

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saturDAY, october 14, 2017

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By Martin L Kutscher, MD

D

oes reading on a screen interfere with in-depth learning?

Yes! Let’s examine four reasons: Screens lack the tactile experience.

Hypertexts are distracting and are hard to navigate.

Shallow reading becomes the norm.

Digital distractions are right there on the machine.

Reading on a screen lacks a tactile experience

Reading is a multi-sensory experience. According to research, the brain’s act of reading uses not just sight, but also the act of touch.

There is something about holding a physical page of material that makes it more absorbable. “The shift from paper to screen doesn’t just change the way we navigate a piece of writing. It also influences the degree of attention we devote to it and the depth of our immersion in it.” (Carr 2011).

Foundation

if you are just trying to continually refine your search for specific information.

However, hypertexts seem to a major detractor when attempting to read a longer, cohesive text.

“Research continues to show that people who read linear text comprehend more, remember more, and learn more than those who read text peppered with links.”

(Carr 2011) As just one of many research examples, 35 adults were given a short story to read in the usual linear text format, and were compared to another 35 adults who were given the same story to read in a ver-

Reading on a screen makes it harder to navigate and orient oneself

Hypertexts are one of the web’s most important tools. Indeed, hypertexts are the reason that the web is called “the web.” The user jumps from one spot to another with the click of the mouse, and then to another, and then to another – forming a web of jumps. Often, exactly where you are, and how you got there, may not be exactly clear. That’s fine

guyanatimesgy.com

sion with hypertexts such as would be found on a web page. Even though the hypertext readers took longer, 3 out of 4 reported problems following the text, compared to just 1 out of 10 readers who were given the linear

text.

In addition to hypertexts, there is another feature of reading on the screen that makes it harder to find where you are while reading. Given a screen’s ability to scroll, to alter the size of the text, to alter how many columns it presents, etc. (i.e. continually change what the reader sees), it is hard to form a reliable visualisation

of the material. You can’t just say to yourself, “It was at the bottom of the left side of the page towards the back of the book,” because the next time you access the material, it may not be in the same spot visually. Long articles are not broken down into pages, further confounding

the reader’s sense of where she is in the piece. All of this matters since “a good spatial mental representation of the physical layout of the text leads to better reading comprehension” (Greenfield 2015). The miniature screen on a smartphone only compounds the problem. Many people find it easier to flip through the pages of a book or printout than to re-locate

the spot on a screen.

These negative effects of hypertext reading are not inevitable, though. Using a navigational support structure may be helpful. Certain reader characteristics, such as the ability to see the “big picture,” prior knowledge of the subject, and increased interest in the subject all help mitigate the confusion.

(Loh 2015)

Digital technology may lead to shallower comprehension

In traditional printed books, the author has (presumably) spent considerable time devising a logical story or line of reasoning.

As the reader works his way through the book, he can stop and ponder about the unfolding material.

When he is finished thinking about what he just read, the book is still there-ready to lead the r e a d e r again along a lengthy, f u l l y thought out trail of logic.

Hypertexts are the death of an author driven line of reasoning. They take you all over, from place to place, author to author, subject to subject— and rarely return you to your jumping off point of that well thought out, comprehensive text that you started out with. Instead, the viewer finds himself skimming sites (ie, shallow reading) as he jumps around looking for the next quick rewarding tidbit. Indeed, the average web page holds the reader for 18 seconds.

Search engines are part of the problem as well. Don’t get me wrong. I love Google.

I couldn’t function anymore without it. Or PubMed for my medical research. Or Amazon’s book search feature. It’s just that they take us right to the direct hit, which for many of us is all we read. This, again, avoids the surrounding logic intended by the author, and we may also miss the context of that direct search hit. A review of university student reference citations in their research papers showed that 46 per cent were to the first page of the source, and 77 per cent were to the first three pages.

College students doing research almost never get past the first three pages! (Baron 2015) This is yet another source of potential shallow reading.

After conducting a survey of the research habits of 400 Canadian students, the study authors concluded students felt that online materials were fine for picking up specific elements of materials, but that for engaging in substantial work, print books were preferred. Print gave a sense of the whole

(Baron 2015).

There is concern that the reliance upon shallow reading may interfere with the development of deep reading skills such as thoughtful pondering, critical analysis and inferential thinking.

It is feared that neurological connections required for deep reading such as brain areas involved in visual processing and phonological processing may not be made in those people who learn primarily via shallow reading (Loh 2015).

Reading on a digital device is distracting

Reading on an Internet enabled device or with pre-loaded videogames is highly distracting. Ninety per cent of students felt that they were more likely to be multi-tasking while reading digitally, while only one per cent felt that a hardcopy would make them more likely to multi-task.

Nine per cent felt the medium (electronic or paper) didn’t matter when it came to multi-tasking.

Readers clearly prefer hard copy reading (even if it weren’t a better learning tool) Although there is plenty of evidence that digital reading, especially online, interferes with learning, the evidence is still somewhat inconclusive. It is pretty conclusive, though, that readers prefer reading on a hard copy vs via digital screen by 89 per cent vs 11 per cent, and will choose a hard copy over a digital version if given the choice. The numbers are fairly constant whether surveying US, Japanese or German students.

It appears that the length of the material plays into the preference. Students didn’t care which medium is used when engaging short texts such as newspaper articles. However, 92% of US students preferred hardcopy for long schoolwork texts as well as for long pleasure reading texts. Students prefer the experience of feeling the pages, being able to know where they are in the text, the ability to flip back and forth, and even the smell of the book. They liked the idea of personalizing their possession with handwritten notes. They appreciated less eyestrain. (Baron 2015) They also appreciated not being distracted by all of those things that their digital device could take them to with a click of a button.

Neuroscientist Baron concludes, “Given these findings, I can only wonder why the educational establishment is pushing students toward digital reading.”

(Baron 2015) (psychologytoday.com)

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saturDAY, october 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

City Hall wins case against ‘Dread Shop’ …K&VC Food Shop, Lance Photo Studio to be dismantled

Flashback: The demolished Dread Shop

O

ver one year ago, City Hall dismantled the popular ‘Dread Shop’ at the Stabroek Market area near the Route 42 minibus park, resulting in the owner, Anthony Forde, filing legal action.

Town Clerk Royston King has now said that the Court has ruled in favour of the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown (M&CC) in this matter.

“The City has won cases against Lancelot Kennedy – that’s the gentleman who’s operating the photo studio on Stabroek Market Square – (and) against the Dread Shop and the K&VC Food Shop. In the case of Lancelot Kennedy, he has until the 26th of November to remove.

In the case of K&VC, he has (been given) no time, and

we will serve him the requisite notice and perhaps 7 or 8 days later he will have to move,” King told the Mayor

Hall dismantled the popular shop after the Council noted that the area in which the Dread Shop was located fell within the council area, as is described under the Municipal and District Councils Act, Chapter 28:01.

City Hall had said the proprietors of the demolished shop “had been informed by the Council that they were required to vacate the said area, and had been given reasonable and sufficient notice to so do.”

However, the shop owner had said he had never been given notice to vacate, and that the late President Burnham had given him permission to remain at the site when the former leader held the portfolio of Prime

The Island Snackette and Pizzeria is schedule for relocation

and City Council at Monday’s Statutory Meeting.

In May of last year, City

The Lance Photo Studio is scheduled for removal

Minister. Forde, through Attorney Nigel Hughes, had filed an injunction in the Court of Appeal, but City Hall, feigning ignorance, had proceeded with the demolition.

Following the demolition, The Island Snackette and Pizzeria, formerly K&VC Snackette, was left standing; but now the Town Clerk is saying that that entity also would have to remove. Additionally, Lance Photo Studio is scheduled to be removed from November 26, after the Municipality won its Court cases against both businesses.

Several calls to Attorney

Hughes’s phone have gone unanswered.

Demico sidewalk vending

On Friday last, King issued a handbill to vendors

selling on the western side of Demico House, at the Stabroek Market Square, informing them that they would be unable to vend at that location from October

10. However, Deputy Mayor Lionel Jaikarran, Chairman of the M&CC’s Markets Committee, has stated that the committee is unaware of any such decision.

Turn to page 10

8 NEWS

saturDAY, october 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Youths urged to protect themselves from cyber predators, cyberbullying

T

he Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU) hosted a “Youth in ICT Day” to bring the curtain down on an enlightening five days of tech talks for Internet Week Guyana. Secondary and tertiary level youths joined others from community ICT hubs near and far at the Pegasus Hotel.

Information technology (IT) professionals and technicians from Guyana and the Caribbean discussed digital skill development and paths governments should take in order to “release the potential of the digital economy.

The professionals also shared several guidelines and techniques for playing a meaningful role in the Global Mobile App revolution.

CTU Communications Specialist Michelle Garcia presented several tips and guidelines for youths to protect themselves from cyber predators and cyberbullying. These included customizing their privacy settings; pro-

Minister Cathy Hughes

tecting their passwords; being careful of what they share online in terms of photos and videos; blocking bullies; saving the evidence; speaking to a trusted adult; avoiding unsafe sites; and increasing their knowledge of in-

ternet security.

Lydia Mosie, a CTU Consultant, reminded the students that their devices serve a much wider purpose in research, jobs, business, and entertainment, among other areas.

And Public Telecommunications Minister, Cathy Hughes, highlighted some of the initiatives that that Ministry has on stream, including the provision of internet connectivity in schools, creating more ICT hubs, and passage of the Telecommunications Bill, the Department of Public Information reported.

The ‘Youth Day’ saw students from Berbice, Essequibo and Demerara secondary schools, the University of Guyana, the Teachers Training College, youth and women ICT groups, and several private training institutions.

Activities for the week were held under the general theme, ‘Building the Internet Collectively’.

Businessman charged for stealing motor van

S

ixty-six-year-old Leslie Chand of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown was yesterday arraigned before Georgetown Magistrate Leron Daly to answer charges of larceny.

It is alleged that on August 16, at East La Penitence, Georgetown, he stole a motor van val-

Leslie Chand

ued $2.4 million, property of Layne Bailey. Chand denied that he had stolen the motor van when the charge was read to him by the magistrate. The court heard that Chand had sold the vehicle to Bailey, then reportedly stole it and resold it to another person.

He was also charged with allegedly stealing

Terrence Green’s 16-pennyweight gold chain valued at $160,000.

However, his attorney told the court that his client is vehemently denying the allegations being made against him. As such, he was granted bail on both charges to the tune of $380,000. He is expected to next appear in Court on October 21, 2017.

Repeat offender back in jail

R

epeat offender Asif Mohammed, recently released from

prison after serving an 18month sentence for larceny, was on Friday sentenced

to six months’ imprisonment by City Magistrate Leron Daly after he admit-

Asif Mohammed

ted to stealing an air conditioning (AC) unit valued at $125,400, property of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

The court was told that the act was committed on October 8th, 2017.

Unrepresented by legal counsel, Mohammed casually told Magistrate Daly that view while he was at the medical facility, he noticed parts of the unit hanging in full view, and accordingly he took it.

Police Prosecutor Sanj Singh revealed that Mohammed was arrested after he was observed by security at the hospital removing the unit.

Mohammed was previously jailed for stealing a gold chain and diamond ring. As such, the six months’ sentence was handed down to him.

The plot thickens…

I

…on elections rigging t looks like folks are finally listening to your (barefoot) Eyewitness crying in the wilderness (so it seemed!) about the ground being laid for first delaying, and then rigging if necessary, the scheduled 2020 general elections. As he’d explained, the two-year delay – like the one from 1990 to 1992 – will ensure oil is flowing by then, and (hopefully) the good times are rolling.

If, in fact, the latter scenario plays out, there will be no need to rig – whether with a scalpel or a sledge hammer.

But crucial to everything is to drag out the elections.

And as a Government filled with military types, they aren’t just rolling out a single plan. There are plans A, B, C and the entire alphabet drafted to handle all possible contingencies.

In play right now is the “delay option” through foot dragging and digging in of heels on the GECOM Chairman.

Apart from the mice playing with (and eating out) the cheese while the cat’s away, if a chairman isn’t found by 2020, then there will be no legitimised elections. Delaying the elections then becomes the ONLY option feasible, no?

But we just heard about another delay option… which sounds even more convincing to your Eyewitness.

It’s so good it could even be Option A. This is the “need for constitutional change” option. The international community – A,B,C,D and the whole alphabet soup of countries - has pronounced on the need for constitutional change. Seminars have been held. (Pliable) front groups have been formed to push the (fine) point. The Government insists it “believes” in constitutional change.

The PM Minister’s even been allocated $80 million dollars for countrywide “consultations” on the subject – after a high-powered group held a year of hearings and came up with a raft (or a canoe) of proposals. A hint about this new “delay option” came when Prezzie dismissed those proposals as being gathered behind four walls! He – a man who launches CoIs sitting within four walls at the drop of a beret – insisted the entire country must be canvassed! Presumably in open spaces. Hence the $80 million. But nothing’s been done since by the PM, and even though he’s no Speedy Gonzalez, the delay is ominous.

So, at a high-powered gathering, the ex-chair of the AFC (who just happens to be the fella who led the “four walls” constitutional initiative) opined there ain’t no way consultations would be completed by 2020. His successor as AFC Chair, who just happens to be the Public Security Minister, stoutly asserted there ain’t no way he’s going to ALLOW any delays on elections.

Really?? And exactly how will this be done? Holding his breath?? …on trade Your Eyewitness has been following the emanations from the Business Summit sponsored by our Private Sector. Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, for instance, was on the critical panel on trade. Incidentally, this fella Greenidge takes his designation much too literally. Being a “Foreign” Minister doesn’t mean he has to be “foreign” all the time!! Or is it he and Prezzie can’t be in the same hole at the same time??!!

Anyhow, Greenidge moaned about us not breaking out of the traditional EIGHT primary products (he expanded on Prezzie’s “six curses”) and wondered when our Private Sector would get its act together. But hold it!

What about that Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) he negotiated on behalf of CariCom with Europe? Wasn’t this supposed to ensure “value added” gets shipped to Europe?

Jagdeo was upset with the deal, but Greenidge said “not to worry”!! Yeah right!!

Incidentally, whatever happened to the big bucks that came via “Aid for Trade” to help the Private Sector add value?? …on Police Top Brass If one CoI’s delivering results, it’s the one into the alleged assassination plot against Prezzie. The recommendation is to axe the entire top brass. So, is a sergeant to take over?

Cause Ramjattan said, unlike TT, Guyana’s not looking foreign.

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

News

9

saturDAY, october 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

President decides where he 1 in custody for D’Urban holds activities – Harmon Street businessman’s murder

…wants Nandlall to show evidence PNC using State resources

were “forced” to attend the anniversary celebrations.

“All these expenses are going to be passed off as expenditures of the Investiture Ceremony, which took place the day before. The proximate cost is about $10 million,” Nandlall alleged.

However, asked by reporters to comment fur-

Minister of State Joseph Harmon

I

n the aftermath of allegations that Government has been using State resources for party activities, eyebrows have again been raised when the People’s National Congress (PNC) annual bursary awards exercise was held at State House on Thursday.

Commenting on why the event was not hosted at Congress Place, where it is usually held, State Minister Joseph Harmon posited that President David Granger is allowed to make decisions that are convenient to his schedule.

“Well, that’s a decision which His Excellency the President made. He is the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, and depending on what is convenient to him, based on his schedule, the President will determine where he holds any activity,” Harmon told reporters on Friday.

The hosting of a par-

ty event on State property comes days after Opposition Parliamentarian Anil Nandlall accused the PNC of utilising State resources to fund its events.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, the former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister claimed that the PNC, whose leader is President Granger, is using the National Treasury as a piggy bank. His comments were occasioned by that party holding its 60th anniversary celebration at the National Cultural Centre on Saturday.

According to the Opposition MP, all the amenities of the state-owned facility were utilised, and not a cent was paid by the PNC. “Everything was paid for by the taxpayers,” he said, while adding that persons were flown from across the country and from overseas to attend the event. He claimed that even public servants and army officers

Opposition MP Anil Nandlall

ther on allegations made, Harmon called on the Opposition to produce evidence that the Coalition Government is indeed utilising State resources to facilitate party activities.

“Well, I would like to know where Mr Nandlall got that information from.

(But) let him produce the evidence, because, like I said, the PPP is in the habit now of throwing out these wild assertions without any evidential basis. Let Mr. Nandlall come and produce the basis,” the State Minister said.

H

ours after 64-yearold Godfrey Scipio of D’Urban Street, Georgetown, was shot dead in front of a hotel in Kitty, Georgetown on Thursday evening, one man was arrested and is being interrogated in connection with the incident.

This was confirmed

by Division Commander Marlon Chapman on Friday, who also stated that although a man who fits the description of the shooter is in Police custody, the Police still have a lot of work to do in confirming whether he is indeed the shooter.

He noted the investigators are grilling the suspect.

Guyana Times understands that the Police have been making efforts to retrieving CCTV footage from buildings in the vicinity of the shooting and once the Force is in possession of such, it will be reviewed with the hope of identifying the perpetrator(s).

On the night of the fatal shooting, the well-known businessman was reportedly leaving the hotel in the company of a female and as he approached his motorcar, he was accosted by the lone gunman who arrived on a motorcycle.

Murdered businessman: Godfrey Scipio

Initially, the incident seemed as though it was a robbery since the gunman relieved the businessman, who is also called “Saga” of the gold chain he was wearing but Police are now working on a theory that Scipio’s death might have been a hit.

After relieving the man of his jewellery and other valuables, the perpetrator reportedly fled the scene but not before shooting the businessman to the right-side of his abdomen.

Scipio fell to the ground and was picked up and taken to a private medical facil-

ity where he subsequently died. From reports received, he died as a result of severe damage to his intestines.

Guyana Times was told that one of the man’s sons arrived in Guyana on Thursday afternoon to surprise his father but instead he was given the worst surprise of his life.

At the dead man’s house on Friday morning, the aggrieved son was too distraught to speak to the media and instead requested that the media to leave.

Relatives of the dead man are still in shock and could not say what caused the fatal shooting. At the hospital, they claimed that they received the news of the incident and rushed to the medical facility only to find him dead.

They are at a loss, noting that they were told conflicting stories and as such, are requesting that the authorities carry out a thorough investigation into Scipio’s death.

In April 2011, the businessman was shot at Cummings Lodge during a shootout after four armed men discharged rounds during a robbery.

Investigations are ongoing.

10 news

saturDAY, october 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Former PS hauls Govt to court over dismissal …seeking $36M in damages

T

he dismissal of a public servant by the coalition Government has provoked legal action, with a former Permanent

Secretary (PS) of the Public Health Ministry mounting a legal challenge against the state more than two years after he was dismissed.

Through his attorney, former Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, Leslie Cadogan, who served as Permanent Secretary in

Former PS, Leslie Cadogan

the Ministry of Health before he was dismissed with effect from September 1, 2015, is seeking compensation in excess of $36 million.

According to court documents seen by this publication, Attorney General Basil Williams has been named as the respondent.

The writ sets out that Cadogan is seeking a declaration that he was wrongfully and unlawfully dismissed by the Defendant; and damages in excess of $18 million for unlawful dismissal.

The former PS is also seeking damages in excess of $18 million for breach of contract; exemplary damages, costs of the court pro-

ceedings, and “interest pursuant to Section 12 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Chap 6:02, at the rate of six per cent (6 per cent) per annum from the date of filing to the date of judgment, and thereafter at the rate of four per cent (4%) per until fully paid.”

According to the writ, Cadogan was contracted to perform the functions of PS from November 7, 2014 until December 11, 2017 at a monthly salary of $566,480.

His other emoluments included paid electricity, cellular and residential telephone service, as well as 24 hr security at his official place of residence.

The writ notes that “if the person engaged shall be compelled by reason of ill-health (not caused by his own misconduct) to resign from office, or if at any time it shall be certified by a duly qualified medical officer employed by the Government that he is incapable by reason of infirmity of mind or body, of rendering further efficient service in Guyana, the Government shall pay him/her salary up to the date of such a certificate, but he/she shall have no further claims on the Government.”

It adds that if the con-

Attorney General Basil Williams

tracted PS had neglected or refused to comply with any order for any cause other than ill health, and became unable to perform any of his duties; or shall disclose any information respecting the affairs of the Government to any unauthorized person; or in any manner misconduct himself,” the Government could terminate the contract.

According to Nandlall in the writ, the defendant has been denied over $15 million in salary from September 2015 to December 2017, as well as emoluments such as gratuity and vacation allowance.

Chinese Ambassador calls on President

China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Cui Jianchun and his Deputy Chief of Mission, Yang Chenqi paid a courtesy call on President David Granger on Friday. During their discussions at State House, the two sides discussed several areas of cooperation. This follows a meeting that was held between the Head of State and the Ambassador in March earlier this year

City Hall wins...

The handbill, bearing the name of King, informed the vendors: “The Mayor and City Council will remove any and all persons selling on the western side of Demico any time after October 10, 2017”, and informed the vendors that they would be forcibly removed if they do not comply with the instructions given.

At Monday’s Statutory Meeting, King said the move to clear the vendors from that area came after repeated complaints from the management of Banks DIH. “We also have reports of increasing incidents of larceny and wounding of persons.

It is our responsibility to clear the area of all those objectionable activities. This would not affect the night vendors, and would only affect those on the western sidewalk of Demico House,” King said.

The last time vendors were removed from the Stabroek Market/Demico area was in May 2016, ahead of Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary celebrations.

They were given temporary accommodation at a vacant plot of land at Hadfield and Lombard Streets. But a few months later, the owner of the land, Hareshnarine “Chiney” Sugrim, evicted the occupants

From page 7

of that land and locked the gates.

Mayor Patricia ChaseGreen has said she has no problem with removing the vendors from where they currently operate, since they were once evicted from there. “We are just moving them back to the old place of vending. I do not want the Constabulary to go down there with no brute force and ignorance and damage people’s property,” she said.

When Guyana Times visited the area, the vendors had all been removed, and it is unclear where they have been relocated.

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saturDAY, october 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Business Summit

Lack of confidence blamed for low investment– Opposition MPs

A

s the curtain came down on the 2017 Guyana Business Summit on Thursday, some attendees were left with the impression that a lack of confidence may be the main reason for Guyana not being able to attract both local and private business investments, which would help to create economic growth.

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Nigel Dharamlall, who was part of a panel that discussed Sourcing Capital/Capital Market Development, raised this concern, stating that if the political climate is not stable, and if there is no positive indicator, investors may not want to come.

The MP told the gathering it is a fact that there is a high possibility investors do not have any confidence in the current Government and the business climate in Guyana, and this is good enough reason why they do not feel the need to commence businesses here.

While access to capital could also be a contributing factor, Dharamlall said, those issues present only part of the problem of limited business investment in Guyana since the new Government assumed office. He said this image needs immediate change.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the summit, Opposition MP Juan Edghill said discussions must focus on moving the private sector from the current situation it is in right now and getting the economy booming. “Let’s get confidence going! Get

Opposition MP Nigel Dharamlall

the correct signals sent and (take) advantage of all the opportunities that exist, and ensuring that the political climate is conducive for both local and foreign investments in Guyana,” he admonished.

Edghill also said that while the initiative is good on the part of the private sector, he feels that Government officials imposed themselves on this summit. “We have had feature addresses by every minister that showed up, many of them not dealing with the specific issues or answering the questions that were posed by the chairman of the PSC in his address at the opening session,” he clarified.

According to the former junior finance minister, President David Granger did not engage the private sector on those matters. He also observed that the President’s address spoke to the very simplistic approach to investment, something that the private sector is fully aware of, including things like innovation and institutional capacity strengthening, which

Opposition MP Juan Edghill

according to him are very mundane.

“I would hope that the investment of human and financial resources to bring this off is not wasted, and that there is a follow-up discussion. I would propose, from the parliamentary Opposition, the private sector preparing a document coming out of the conference, and continue to engage both Government and the Opposition to get to an agreed consensual way forward,” he added.

But a member of the Private Sector, Deodat Indar, said many people were pleased with the outcome of the summit, and think that it was a huge success.

He said, “We believe it’s a start to a national institutional framework for conversation and dialogue, and we will ensure that the plan would be to (identify) items as priority, evaluated and implemented as far as practical.” The aim, he said, is to have a national dialogue and a working together to improve the economy.

Govt instructs municipalities to return unspent money …Linden Mayor cries foul

L

inden Mayor Carwyn Holland, who is also president of the Guyana Association of Municipalities (GAM), has strongly objected to an instruction handed down by Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Communities Ministry for municipalities across the country to return unspent money to the Communities Ministry.

During a press conference, Holland noted that the municipality was in the process of procuring two compactor trucks to deal with sanitation woes and move ahead with contracts when it was instructed to return unspent money to the Ministry.

He said he has since consulted with GAM to look into the situation.

“As President of GAM, I would have had discussions with several mayors, and would have received complaints from several municipalities which are holding strong that, for the first time now, in years, they have to send back unspent money to the Ministry of Communities.

They are objecting strongly to that. This (directive) will not only affect Linden, but

many towns across Guyana,” Holland predicted.

He added that he would have heard complaints from municipalities, such as Corriverton and Rose Hall Town, which had already allotted sums of money for various ventures before being instructed to return same.

Holland explained that the Georgetown and Bartica municipalities do not have such complaints. He said that while the Communities Ministry should take some responsibility for the decision, the PS is more responsible.

Holland is calling for an explanation for the “sudden change”.

According to Holland, the second half of the funding for 2016 was received only around September, at which time the Linden municipality was in a transition stage in regard to administration, and there also was the issue of the former Town Clerk being sent on administrative leave.

“We were told by the PS, verbally, not to spend.

Several times we requested this instruction in writing from the PS, (but) we never got it. However, what we

got now is an instruction to send back monies, even after the understanding that we would have procured machinery (compactor trucks)...

When the PS came here, the PS claimed that the Ministry would not do the procurement... So we now have to do that procurement again.

That is stymieing our development,” he charged.

Holland disclosed that the Linden municipality has not sent back any unspent money, neither does it intend to do so. The total money unspent from last year, he noted, is around $8 million; while the total from 2014 to 2016 is just over $13 million.

“Our ground is that we’re a statutory body.

Municipalities are not called upon to return any monies.

These are grants given to municipalities to serve their communities... We’re looking at the decentralization of power, and I do not believe that is the way to go,” Holland said.

He has called on the ministry to retract the instruction, which is strongly opposed by GAM, and supports the call for a meeting between GAM and the Finance Ministry.

Duo in custody for illegal gun, ammo

T

wo persons are currently in Police custody after they were found in possession of an illegal firearm and matching ammunition on Thursday night.

According to Police reports, ranks of an Anti-

Crime Unit were on patrol in Albouystown, Georgetown when they intercepted and conducted a search on a motor car.

Two suspects, respectively 24 and 30 years old, were subsequently arrested after a .38

revolver and four live rounds were discovered in the vehicle.

Neither man was licensed to carry a weapon; and accordingly, they were both arrested.

The duo remains in custody, assisting with this investigation.

12 news Used tyre dealers urge review of ban for 2018 budget saturDAY, october 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

…as association unveils plan to resume street protests

Protesters outside State House, agitating against the used tyre ban

I

n the wake of a meeting with Government officials, the Guyana Used Tyres Association (GUTA) is urging the Government to announce a review of the controversial ban in its budget. And it is prepared to protest for this measure to be included.

According to Vice President of the GUTA, Mustaak Mohamed, a meeting was recently held with Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, during which the minister emphasised protecting the environment in explaining the Government’s stance.

“But you have to think about the poorer class people

in the country. We are asking them, for the 2018 budget, to review the restriction on used tyres; because they are reviewing the sugar estates, they are reviewing the VAT on private schools, why they can’t review the used tyres? So (we will) go and protest,” he related in an interview on Friday.

Mohammed also revealed that a protest is being planned for this month end. It would be the latest in a number of protests that followed Government’s announced restriction on the importation of used tyres, effective from April 1, 2017.

The used-tyre indus-

try reportedly provides employment for approximately 5,000 persons, and contributes in excess of $100 million in revenue. The GUTA has consistently stressed that as many as 5,000 persons are at risk of becoming jobless if the ban on used tyres is left in place.

In April 2016, hundreds of concerned stakeholders had signed a petition to persuade Government to rescind its decision to ban the importation of used tyres into the country, but the measure was allowed to move forward.

In explaining the new measure, the Guyana

Banks DIH hosts medical outreach

A participant being advised on breast cancer

B

anks DIH Limited, in collaboration with the Public Health Ministry, held a medical outreach at the Demerara

Park, popularly known as Thirst Park, on Friday, in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Speaking with the

media, Banks DIH Communications Manager Troy Peters said the initiative behind the exercise was to bring awareness to Guyanese about various illnesses and diseases.

Peters noted that response to the medical outreach has been overwhelming.

Some of the services that were offered were oral health care; breast and cervical screening; pap smear; HPV testing; VIA (visual inspection using acetic acid), vaccinations against HPV, and blood pressure testing.

The Banks family is planning to move this exercise across the country, so that more citizens can benefit from this initiative.

Revenue Authority (GRA) had indicated that the restriction applies to used tyres on motor vehicles including motor cars, vans, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), pick-ups, buses, and other similar vehicles.

As it relates to tyres imported separately from motor vehicles, only new tyres would be allowed into the country. When the used tyres are presented with the vehicles, they can be allowed entry with the vehicles once they have a minimum tyre depth of 6mm.

As if cognizant of the unpopularity of the move, GRA had pointed out that Customs duties on new tyres have been reduced from 30 per cent to 15 per cent, while the VAT has been reduced from 16 per cent to 14 per cent. This measure took effect from February 1, 2017 and is in keeping with the

Used tyres

promotion of a green economy and the protection of the environment.

After the initial phasein period, importers of used tyres that are on vehicles when they do not adhere to the stipulated standards will be fined $10,000 (car, van, minibus) and $15,000

(pickup and SUV) per tyre, inclusive of spare not in conformity with the specifications.

The restriction does not apply to tyres for trucks, lorries, vehicles used in the agricultural and industrial sectors, and special purpose vehicles.

GuySuCo to implement alternative livelihood programme

T

he Guyana Sugar C o r p o r a t i o n (GuySuCo) is examining programmes targeted at redundant employees and communities affected by the downsizing of the sugar industry.

Public Relations Officer of GuySuCo, Audreyanna Thomas, said the corporation has developed an alternative livelihood programme targeted at workers who would be affected by the transition to scaled-down sugar production.

On Friday, officials of GuySuCo, during a press conference, declared that the alternative livelihood programme is aimed at securing employment for workers made redundant as estates are amalgamated or closed. One component of this programme is contractual opportunities. “We’re examining those opportunities to determine which of those might be available for our employees to become engaged in and provide us with services,” Thomas explained.

At year’s end, employees at the East Demerara and Rose Hall estates will become redundant. It is expected that some 1,500 persons will be made redundant by end-of-crop season.

Over at Rose Hall, GuySuCo is examining amalgamating employees at Blairmont and Albion Estates to reduce the number of employees during the downsizing.

Over at the Wales Estate, GuySuCo has already paid severance to 389 persons, while 340 cane harvesters and support staff were transferred to Uitvlugt.

“We’re looking at what opportunities are there within the corporation as it relates to these contractual services, so that we can make those opportunities available to the employees,” Thomas explained.

GuySuCo will also commence “a massive skills training programme” to reskill redund a n t em-

ployees. Some 500 employees from the Wales and East Demerara estates have been tapped for participation in this exercise.

Thomas said that, currently, 100 employees have indicated an interest in being retrained in areas such as sewing, cosmetology, caring for the elderly, catering, mechanical and electrical works, and small business management, among other areas.

When it begins operations at the Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt estates, it is expected that GuySuCo would retain some 10,000 workers in addition to the skeleton staff at Wales, Rose Hall and Enmore Estates who are

manning the corporation’s pumps and other infrastructure.

Meanwhile, GuySuCo is facilitating the implementation of a sustainable community programme to mitigate the setback in communities surrounding the Rose Hall and Enmore estates, which are winding down operations preparatory to closure.

On Thursday, Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma had announced that the Special Purpose Unit (SPU) that has been established to diversify and privatise the assets of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) would also be responsible for finding employment for workers deemed ‘redundant’, who would have to be released.

The total loss of jobs has been bandied as high as 10,000, but according to Minister Sharma, the full tally of persons who would become redundant as a result of the additional closures should be no more than 1,500. He, however, did not outline what Government would do to assist those 1500 persons to be gainfully employed.

Since the decision was taken to close several estates and factories, sugar workers and their unions have been at loggerheads with Government regarding the future of thousands of workers. Workers have since lamented, in several media reports, the hardships they are already facing as a result of Government’s decision regarding closure of estates.

news

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saturDAY, october 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt to set up CDC warehouses Aspiring criminal lawyer sworn in to the Bar countrywide …as first response to natural disaster

Minister of State Joseph Harmon, addressing the gathering at the ceremony in observance of International Day of Disaster Reduction 2017

F

ollowing widespread natural disasters that hit the Caribbean and the massive flooding which took Guyana’s interior regions by surprise just months ago, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, has indicated that Government has moved to establish disaster relief warehouses in each of the 10 administrative regions of Guyana.

This announcement was made while he addressed the gathering at the ceremony held in observance of International Day of Disaster Reduction 2017, when he emphasized the importance of Guyana being prepared to take on the effects of natural disasters in light of the recent devastations that have hit the country. This, he noted, therefore means that Guyana can no longer ignore threats

posed by these phenomena.

Even as he applauded the efforts of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) in rushing to the aid of the rural communities which were recently affected by flooding, the Minister underlined the need for better systems to be put in place to provide for prompter responses should such circumstances be repeated.

“In the event that our roads become cut off, we will be able to have in the region themselves the heavy equipment and materials that are necessary to ensure that life and living can be sustained.

That’s a very important feature, and we have taken it seriously,” Harmon disclosed.

This matter of having systems in place is especially important, given that the CDC is at the moment mainly stationed in Georgetown and

had, in the past, been greatly delayed in its disaster relief and rescue efforts in outlying regions.

Stemming from that concern, the Government has already commenced preparing for the commissioning of a first response property bond in Region Nine.

“We have already started work in some regions, in particular Region 9. At Lethem, land has been allocated, and we’ve got a plan drawn for the building; and during the course of 2018, the resources will be provided for us to complete that structure,” he outlined.

Expanding on the topic, Harmon said, “In all of the other regions, where the CDC has already started training, started prepositioning items, it basically gives us a heads up; it gives us a first jump in the event that there is a disaster that takes place in any one of the communities.”

Mere months ago, communities in Regions Seven and Eight were severely affected by flooding, and were left waiting days for rescue and relief, given that CDC officers were unable to gain access to the affected areas. As such, this initiative is aimed at taking necessary precautions in preparation for the occurrence of natural disasters, reducing the extent of damage and, most importantly, preventing the loss of lives.

Newly admitted Attorney Nikita DaSilva, joined by Senior Council Robin Stoby (right) and Attorney Kashir Khan (second from left) as well as a colleague of Khan’s Chambers Law Firm. Also in photo is Justice Navindra Singh (second from right)

F

ollowing six years of continuous academic pursuits, 26-year-old Nikita DaSilva on Friday kick-started her dream of becoming a professional within the legal arena.

This is as the legal Bar of Guyana continues to welcome a number of young professionals, allowing DaSilva to officially start her career as a legal practitioner.

The 26-year-old, who has a strong passion for criminal law, commenced her ascend to the Bar while pursing A level courses at the School of the Nations.

Immediately after, DaSilva earned herself a spot in the LLB programme at the University of Guyana, after which she took on her Legal Education Certificate (LEC) at the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad.

In light of the tremen-

dous effort and dedication required, the young enthusiast expressed delight in finally being admitted to the Bar. She told Guyana Times that, “It feels great. I feel very happy and fortunate to be here to celebrate this significant day of my life.

Obviously, it could not have been possible without my amazing support system; my family, my friends and my lecturers.”

Having accomplished her goal, the young lawyer outlined her intentions to contribute to the legal and justice systems of Guyana.

“My objective is to provide legal services to the Guyanese people. In the future, I plan on doing a lot of pro bono matters where Guyanese people who cannot afford legal representation will be able to seek justice,” she relayed, mo-

ments after being granted her place at the Bar. Presenting her petition to the High Court were Senior Council Robin Stoby and Kashir Khan, who both encouraged the newly inducted lawyer to display courage in her practice.

Meanwhile, granting her admission was Justice Navindra Singh who indicated that DaSilva presents as the prefect candidate to fill the gap existing in criminal lawyers in Guyana.

Adding to that, the newest addition to the Legal Bar of Guyana advised those seeking to follow in her footsteps to embrace the value of hard work.

Attorney Nikita DaSilva who hails from a background of well-known entrepreneurs, is now the first in her family to become a professional in the legal fraternity.

Public Health Ministry hosts HPV vaccination awareness Optique gives the gift of vision

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edical officials within the Public Health Ministry have hosted a special meeting with parents at the Mae’s School in Subryanville, Georgetown, where discussions were held on the importance and accompanying benefits of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccines.

This comes against the backdrop of the HPV vaccination programme’s October re-launch, which is being facilitated by the Ministries of Public Health and Education.

The Human Papilloma Virus is sexually transmitted by both males and females, and it causes cervical cancer, which is most common in women under the age of 35. Dr Surendra Persaud of Caribbean Surgery, who moderated the hour-long session, informed the gathering of some of the signs of cervical cancer, which include bleeding after sex; bleeding after menopause; unusual vaginal discharge – with or without blood; swelling on one or both upper thighs, and pelvic pain coupled with weight loss.

Dr Persaud also addressed Government’s plans to make the HPV vaccine available to all girls aged 9 to 13 during this month, whereby some 36,000 girls will be

Dr Surendra Persaud

targeted. The gathering was told that the vaccine will be given in 2 doses 6 months apart, and that it is most effective in persons between 9 and 16 years old. He noted the benefits of early detection, noting that screening can prevent 60-80 per cent of cervical cancers.

Other medical personnel present at Mae’s highlighted the “negative publicity” that the campaign attracted in the past. To this end, it was emphasised that the HPV vaccine “does not promote promiscuity”. However, during the question-and-answer segment, one parent questioned the reasoning behind giving the vaccine to teens and pre-teens that are not sexually active. Dr.

Persaud, however, countered that the early vacanation is a matter of immunity.

“If we are protecting you against something, there’s a science behind how long you need for your body to develop the immunity,” he noted.

The two HPV vaccines on the market are Gardasil and Cervarix, and both vaccines protect against HPV-16 and HPV-18. Gardasil also protects against HPV-6 and HPV-11 which cause 90 per cent of genital warts.

In Guyana, 27 in every 100,000 women die of cervical cancer annually, with women between the ages of 15 and 39 being the most atrisk group.

Each year, cervical cancer affects about 500,000 women, and causes about 260,000 deaths across the world.

Screening by pap smear or visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) aims to detect precancerous regions in the cervix, and to treat them so that the cancer does not develop.

The re-launching of the HPV Vaccination Campaign sees a host of local nurses, midwives, doctors and practitioners from both the public and private health sectors in Guyana being encouraged to educate persons about HPV and the benefits of the vaccination.

A staff of Optique Vision fits this little girl with a brand new pair of spectacles

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s Guyana joined the rest of the world in celebrating World Sight Day, children from Bless the Children Home were recipients of free spectacles, complements of Optique Vision Care.

Optique has, over the past month, provided screening for the children by a paediatric optometrist at the orphanage. An assessment was made after the screening, and it was determined that twelve of the children

were in need of spectacles.

Some of the cases were hyperopic and myopic, which basically means near- and far-sighted.

Optique’s Manager Neon Barry noted that these conditions can affect the vision of children in school and also when they are involved in extracurricular activities. The team, he stated, was able to work along with an entomologist at the Georgetown Public Hospital to provide screening for a

number of other eye-related ailments.

“The aim is to benefit them in the future, and provide them with the basic tools that they need to further develop themselves in their academic ventures,” Barry noted.

This initiative, started five years ago, is geared to provide some 100 children with spectacles each year.

It is hoped that the exercise could be done on an annual basis.

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saturDAY, october 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Students critical following First Lady’s business workshop expanded Corentyne smash-up

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t least eleven persons have been transferred from the Port Mourant Public Hospital to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital after two cars slammed head-on during the school rush hour on the Corentyne highway on Friday.

Injured are Vernon Pestana, 16; Jamal Kingston, 17; Shake Luke, 21; Delray Watts, 30; Alliana Ibrahim, 17; Naketa Coretta, 19; Rosanna Adams, 20; Beyonce Victor, 15; Senita Bahadoo, 22; Royden Gray, 31; and Savita Persaud, 44.

Guyana Times was told that two of the students are in critical condition, and that several doctors were called out as hospital staff members were pushed to the limit to cope with limited space, curious onlookers, and concerned parents and other relatives.

Most of the injured were cramped in the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital.

Earlier, the Port

One of the cars involved in the accident

Mourant Hospital was overwhelmed as several vehicles kept turning up with injured persons following the accident.

Reports are that at about 16:00h on Friday, the two cars collided head-on on the Letter Kenny Public Road, Corentyne. An eyewitness said one of the cars was racing at the time of the collision.

This publication understands that motor

car HC 6647, a silver-coloured Toyota Premio driven by someone identified as ‘Hooper’ and ‘Rosay,’ was heading in an easterly direction tailgating a green Toyota Premio reportedly being driven by one ‘David,’ also called ‘Boon’.

Both drivers were at the New Amsterdam Hospital awaiting treatment up to press time. Police are investigating the accident.

(Andrew Carmichael)

More help needed to tackle teen pregnancy in hinterland – DCMO Dr Boyle explained that the regional variations within Guyana indicate that in the urban communities, there is a 10 per cent teenage pregnancy rate as opposed to 22 per cent in rural areas. In the hinterland areas, such as Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), teenage pregnancy is estimated at 40 per

oral contraceptives at hinterland health centres might not necessarily be the best solution; since it is not feasible for teenagers to travel for days to access the nearest health centre or district hospital. She suggested that the best-case scenario would involve scheduled medical team outreaches into these remote locations, to provide long-term contraceptive options.

Earlier this year, Chief

cent.

The DCMO reported that the current rate of teenage pregnancy in the hinterland is as a result of insufficient universal primary healthcare services. She underlined the fact that the Public Health Ministry must go the extra mile to identify the bottlenecks and overcome this issue, ensuring service delivery in these hard to reach communities is achieved.

Boyle opined that simply ensuring the availability of

Medical Officer (CMO), Dr Shamdeo Persaud observed that approximately 41 per cent of teen mothers live with single parent mothers; another 24 per cent reside with grandparents, while about seven per cent live with a father alone.

The Public Health Ministry in 2016 launched the Adolescent Clinic Day/ Community Parenting Support Group in an effort to address teenage pregnancy.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO) Dr Karen Boyle

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ore emphasis and cooperation of medical practitioners are necessary to tackle teenage pregnancies in Guyana. This was underscored by Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO), Dr Karen Boyle during a recent training programme for medical graduates.

According to the United Nations Population Fund – formerly the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) – the rates of teenage pregnancy in the Caribbean, particularly Guyana, is the second highest in both the Caribbean and Latin America; with 97 per 1000 population as against 73 per 1000, which is the average rate in the Caribbean.

irst Lady Sanda Granger has announced that the long-anticipated Trainer of Trainers programme for her Self-Reliance and Success in Business workshop will get underway this November.

The First Lady made this announcement at the closing ceremony of the 21st such workshop, which was held in Mocha-Arcadia this week.

“We’re going to have… over 65 persons… and we will train them so that they can go back into the communities and train other women in their areas… They will come, they will spend their time together, learn, and then they will [take the programme] back to their communities,” the First Lady outlined.

She said that two sessions of the Trainer of Trainers programme will

First Lady Sanda Granger

be held in Georgetown from November 6th to 17th.

Turning to the 40 women who successfully completed the Mocha-Arcadia weeklong workshop, the First Lady congratulated them and encouraged them to use their talents to create a better life for themselves and their families.

“Every closing of a workshop of this nature is a moment of excitement for me, because it tells me that the women of Guyana are not standing still, and [that] they’re beginning to think outside the box. We recognise that women throughout the length and breadth of Guyana…have the talent, and they can move things forward,” she said.

The graduates, overcome with gratitude, surprised the First Lady -- and Facilitator from Interweave Solutions (Guyana) Incorporated, Sanjay Pooran – by singing their version of “To Sir with Love” and Betty Wright’s “Thank You for the Many Things You’ve Done”. The First Lady and Pooran, both moved to tears, were warmly embraced by the graduates during the performance.

Guyanese law student excels at Hugh Wooding

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uyanese law student Saeed Abdool Hamid who graduated from the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) with a Legal Education Certificate on Saturday last has copped several top awards for his outstanding performance.

Among these are the coveted Guyana Government Prize for the Best Performance by a Student from Guyana, but other awards include: The Book Specialist Prize (Best Overall Performance – Academic and Extracurricular Activities, shared with George Charlemagne) and The Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh Prize for Best Performance in the Human Rights Law Clinic.

Hamid also made the Principal’s Roll of Honour for achieving six or more ‘A’ grades from the 11 courses carried during the two years of study at the Law School.

He has since proceeded to the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, United Kingdom (UK), to pursue a Master of Laws (LLM) in International Human Rights Law, which concludes in August 2018.

According to Hamid, winning these awards while serving as President of the Human Rights Committee, Public Relations Officer of the Student Representative Council, and a member of the Gavel Newsletter Editorial Team was no easy task.

“If there is anything I hope persons take from my experience is that the LEC programme is difficult; but with a passion for learning, the right mind-set and support system, you can ex-

Saeed Abdool Hamid

cel. It is important to have a well-rounded experience and to never let an opportunity escape your grasp,” he advised.

In reflecting on his success, Hamid said, “It’s fair to say that resources at UG may not be the same as UWI or at other universities; but each year we emerge successful -- whether it is at UG or wherever else we take our post-graduate education -- because of the hard work instilled in us by the lecturers.”

He further stated, “While the programme at UG offers a good balance of courses, providing students with ample public speaking opportunities and theory, students ought to take public speaking opportunities more seriously, as it is a crucial part of the HWLS programme.

UG provided me with a solid foundation to understand what it means to meet the demands of your teachers, and how to do so effectively.”

Hamid, a product of St Roses High School, believes in the mantra: “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”

However, while rigorous study schedules and limited distractions were major contributors to his success, he underscored the importance of having a balance between studies and leisure time.

Furthermore, he sought to recognise the impact his lecturers – both at UG and HWLS – have had on his success, as well as support from his family, friends and classmates.

He went onto to say, “My intention is to return home to Guyana and make a difference. They say lawyers are social agents of change, and I intend to take full control of that capacity, whether it is through litigation – at first the criminal justice system -- or even the United Nations, I will be happy working wherever I can achieve that objective.

And when the time comes, I will be equally happy to give back to the University by teaching the next generation.”

Hamid’s advice to current law students is: “As much as you may be tempted, do not take for granted the advice given to you by lecturers.

They ask for you to prepare for each seminar or tutorial because they know what lies ahead of you in the future, and they want the best for you. Learning is about trial and error, and the more you make the effort, the easier it would be to excel.”

Meanwhile, his father, Shaheed Hamid, is pleased with his son’s performance.

He said, “Saeed has made his family and The University of Guyana extremely proud of his remarkable achievement.”

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saturDAY, OCTOber 14, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

“St Maarten will rise better Agri-census to improve agricultural data collection than before…” – PM Marlin

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From left: Reuben Robertson, FAO Representative; Joylyn Nestor-Burrowes, Permanent Secretary (ag); and Camilo Saavedra, International Consultant at the launch of the Steering Committee Meeting

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he Agriculture Ministry in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) today launched the Steering Committee Meeting at the Ministry’s boardroom, Regent Street.

According to the Permanent Secretary (ag), Joylyn Nestor-Burrowes the Agriculture Ministry and the FAO with funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will conduct an agriculture

a picture of the country’s agricultural sector for the reference date. It will also yield sampling frame for the design of probabilistic surveys, benchmark data for the follow-up and evaluation of agriculture policies and projects, thus becoming an integrated national agricultural statistics system,” Nestor-Burrowes said.

The census will aim to increase the country’s capacity to monitor agricultural policy areas like food

plementation of the census.

The Agri-Ministry, FAO and other stakeholders have been building capacity to understand the context of which an agriculture census will be conducted.

“To be able to implement an agriculture census, all of the stakeholders must be on the same page…we have been working with the agriculture ministry to develop a comprehensive project document which points to the scope of the agricul-

t Maarten is said to be the world’s smallest inhabited island divided between two nations; French Republic: Saint Martin and Kingdom of Netherlands: Sint Maarten. It was completely wrecked on September 6, by the fierce Hurricane Irma.

Residents have been working assiduously, with international aid, to rebuild the nation over the past month. In an exclusive interview with the island’s (Kingdom of Netherlands) Prime Minister William Marlin explained that the journey has been lengthy but “St Maarten, with very short time, will rise to the levels we were before and become even better.”

According to Prime Minister Marlin, 95% of the buildings, businesses; and lives have been severely affected. However, many schools and businesses opened last week and the process to rebuild the country has begun. The Princess Juliana International Airport, which has not been renovated, was opened to international flights Tuesday, 10 October. The Harbor was opened and will open to cruise ships on November 11, on the national holiday – St Maarten’s Day. The recovery process has begun, with electricity being restored for the greater part of the island, and water is available throughout the island. “Even though our storage tanks have been compromised and some water you cannot drink from the tap – not that it is not healthy,” Marlin said. He added that residents are advised to boil water before consumption.

The government of St Maarten has since brought in a reverse osmosis plant that filters water from the city lines and converts

St Maarten Prime Minister William Marlin

it into potable drinking water, hence there is “an ample supply of drinking water,” Marlin stated.

A lot of wreckage can be seen around the city, but workers and residents have been collaborating to move piles of debris in the nights to various dump sites.

“St Maarten is still a number one destination, not just a destination for tourism, it is a great place to live and to work particularly because of the dollar rise economy that we have,” Prime Minister Marlin reiterated, noting that with time and collaboration the island will remain a tourist destination haven.

The government of Guyana and local airlines have been sending relief flights and supplies to the island. Some 24 Guyanese nationals have returned from the hurricane-stricken island. JAGS Aviation Inc. has sent two flights to the island free of cost, while Trans Guyana Airways brought two sets of evacuees.

Climate change – a focus for Fire Prevention Week

T Stakeholders attending the launch of the Steering Committee Meeting at the Agriculture Ministry Boardroom

census, to address weaknesses and gaps in the current agricultural statistics and to improve agricultural data collection.

A Department of Public Information release stated the Ministry of Agriculture has been selected by the government to be the implementing arm for the census; to be executed under the national oversight of the Bureau of Statistics.

“We need to put what is referred to as a sub-layer framework for the management and implementation of the census, where all decisions that would be made on the census will be done by this body that has the administrative authority given by the National Bureau of Statistics,” FAO representative, Reuben Robertson said.

The last agriculture census was conducted some sixty-five years ago, hence the need for a new one.

“The census will provide

security, higher and sustainable income for farmers, ensuring better prices for agricultural produce, for facilitating access to domestic and international markets and increasing farm mechanisation, among others.

It will also provide a framework for the overall social and environmental dimensions of agriculture and rural development including aspects relating to health, education, housing, rural development, water supply, electrification of rural areas and transportation networks.

Robertson said in 2015, the FAO responded to a request from the government for technical assistance in the implementation of an agriculture census. He noted, since 2016, the organisation has been working along with International Consultant, Camilo Saavedra to provide technical assistance for the im-

tural census and the cost,” Robertson underscored.

Preparation of the project document has been arranged and the government has received approval from the IDB for the financing of the census. The administration has since recommended that FAO be the service provider for the implementation for the census. This, however, is still in the negotiation phase.

Robertson explained his organisation is planning ahead, as there are critical timelines for certain activities prior to implementation of the census. These include workshops with stakeholders and training sessions.

The composition of the steering committee will consist of major stakeholders of the Finance Ministry, National Bureau of Statistics, Agriculture Ministry and representatives from the farming community.

he Guyana Fire Service (GFS) is placing its focus on the effects climate change is having on the environment as it formally observes Fire Prevention Week for the 43rd year. Hence, the theme for this year’s observance is “Embrace Fire Safety: Safeguard your environment to promote sustainable development.”

It was reported by the Department of Public Information, Fire Prevention Officer Andrew Holder explained that the theme was chosen, taking into consideration the recent natural disasters that plagued some Caribbean islands.

Holder underscored that effects of climate change are universal and everyone has a role to play in safeguarding the environment.

“The message we want to send to the population is that for example when you light your small fires let’s say in your backyard, it sends toxic fumes into the atmosphere and that act damages the ozone layer which invites or make way for natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and tornados” he explained.

This year’s focus will revolve around the business community. He reported a

Fire Prevention Officer Andrew Holder

decrease in the percentage of fires set by children, however, there has been a significant increase in fires started by adults.

According to Holder, the increase in the number of fires started by adults is often resorted to as a means of settling domestic disputes and cautioned homeowners and residents against such acts.

Additionally, as part of fire prevention week, the GFS has been conducting a number of unannounced fire drills at various government agencies. Holder stated that while some government agencies responded positively towards the exercise, others did not. The fire prevention officer emphasised that all government agencies and businesses must approach

the evacuation exercise seriously.

“It does not necessarily have to be a fire, it could be a disaster of any other nature.

It could be a bomb threat, it could be someone who decide to storm the building with a gun. Anything that happens at your place of work or even your home, you must have a way of taking yourself, your workers, your family to safety.”

Some of the other activities planned for fire prevention week which concludes on October 20, 2017, include educational lectures in schools and a man-in-thestreet outreach that will see firemen and women interacting with the public to test their knowledge and disseminate information on fire prevention techniques.

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, october 14, 2017

Regional

T&T Prime Minister under Mexico prison riot: UN fire for woman grooming talk calls for investigation

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golf course is like a woman, so you have to groom her every day otherwise it turns into a pasture.”

This was the statement Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley made as he defended Government’s decision to spend TT$3 million to upgrade the Chaguaramas Golf Course during his contribution to the Budget debate last night.

However, within minutes of his utterance he was taken to task by social media users for the comment, with some calling it sexist. This is the latest statement made by Rowley which has drawn the ire of people on social media.

Last month Rowley was taken to task for his use of the word “jammetry” in describing the actions of Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar in the Petrotrin “fake oil” scandal. In

Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley

February, he was chastised for telling women involved in domestic violence

relationships to choose their partners better, saying, “I’m not in your bedroom...”

In the build-up to the 2015 General Election, Rowley also came under fire for a “dog and cyat” statement he made, which was also viewed as a sexist attack on women and Persad-Bissessar.

Among the expenditure for this fiscal year in the Budget, was a TT$3 million allocation to the Planning and Development Ministry for the upgrade of the Chaguaramas course.

“Making a big issue of TT$3 million in a TT$50 billion budget to fix the single public golf course in Trinidad and Tobago, when of course Barbados has five or six golf courses and that is what makes them an attractive location, a golfing destination for highend tourists and long stay tourists,” Rowley said. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Huge spike in global carbon emissions linked to El Niño

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huge spike in carbon emissions seen in the past couple of years has puzzled scientists, since there was no evidence of a rise in human activities, like fossil fuel burning, that might explain it.

But new satellite data shows that the weather phenomenon El Niño is to blame, because it led to dry spells that put stress on plants and trees across the tropics, and

made it harder for them to perform their important role of absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Experts warn that in the coming decades, climate change could lead to even more such warming in the future, as severe droughts and heat waves become more common across the planet.

The 2015-16 El Niño was one of the strongest on re-

cord, and led to the biggest increase in annual concentrations of carbon released into the atmosphere in some 2000 years, according to the NASA-led study published Thursday in the journal Science.

In those two years, the tropical regions of Africa, South America and Asia released 2.5 billion tons more carbon into the atmosphere than they did in 2011, it

said.

These increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide were 50 per cent larger than the average increase seen in recent years.

Excess heat and drought related to El Niño in the tropics of South America, Africa and Indonesia “were responsible for the record spike in global carbon dioxide,” NASA said in a statement. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Peru Opposition-ruled Congress approves Kuczynski’s new Cabinet

Peru’s President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (C) poses with newly sworn-in ministers after a ceremony at the government palace in Lima, September 17, 2017

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eru’s Opposition-controlled Congress approved President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski’s new Cabinet with a 83-17 vote of confidence on Friday, the latest resetting of relations between the Executive and Legislative branches in his year-old

Government.

Congress, dominated by the rightwing Popular Force party, ousted Kuczynski’s previous Cabinet in September in a dispute over a teachers strike and school curriculum that emphasises gender equality.

In response, Kuczynski formed a more socially conservative Cabinet led

by Prime Minister Mercedes Araoz, one of his vice presidents and a lawmaker in his party.

Several Opposition lawmakers wished Araoz’ cabinet luck during more than 14 hours of debate before the vote of confidence.

Kuczynski, a 79-year-old former Wall Street banker, took office in July 2016 promising to modernise Peru and strengthen its economy. But his first year in office has been marked by clashes with Congress and slowing economic growth.

Araoz told local broadcaster RPP on Friday that the Government is planning to revise tax policies to look for ways to close loopholes that have dragged on public revenue.

Araoz said on Thursday that she is going to ask Congress to grant her cabinet special powers to legislate economic policies. (Reuters)

World Bank says Region on course for modest growth

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espite the recent impact of natural disasters, the World Bank says the Latin American and Caribbean region remains on course to record modest economic growth for the first time in six years.

The bank’s Chief Economist for Latin America and the Caribbean Carlos A Végh issued the projection yesterday in the wake of two powerful category 5 storms, Irma and Maria, which devastated Anguilla, Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica

and St Martin last month.

With these islands currently struggling to get back on their feet, he said the Bank was still anticipating regional growth for 2017.

However, he noted that the resumption of positive growth was mainly due to the recovery in South America, which is expected to grow by 0.6 per cent in 2017 and 2.2 in 2018 after two consecutive years of negative growth in which real GDP fell by 1.2 per cent in 2015 and 2.9 per cent in

2016.

The World Bank official also touched on the financial institution’s response to last month’s hurricane devastation. He revealed that the bank was in the process of finalizing assistance packages for Barbuda and Dominica which were hardest-hit.

In the meantime, Végh said the bank had disbursed US$23 million, US$20 million of which had gone to the relief efforts in Roseau. (Excerpt from

Caribbean360)

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he UN has called for investigation into a prison riot in Mexico that left more than a dozen people dead. The death toll rose to 17 on Wednesday night following clashes inside Cadereyta jail in Nuevo Leon state earlier in the week.

The UN cited other recent prison revolts as a reason for a “complete and exhaustive” report . State authorities said they are open to cooperating with human rights organisations.

They previously said lethal force was needed to regain full control of the facility, near Monterrey. About 250 inmates battled security forces during the disturbance, local media report.

A UN statement urged authorities “to clarify the tragedy that has occurred and to grant justice to the

victims and their families”, according to El Universal newspaper.

“Do you want somebody responsible? I am responsible,” state security spokesperson Aldo Fasci told reporters.

He said attempts to mediate with inmates who took three guards hostage had failed. However, he insisted no direct orders were given to start shooting. Officers were following protocol, he said. He also said a police officer had a lung seriously injured when a prisoner attacked him with a “rod”.

The UN statement referenced a 2016 a riot at Topo Chico prison, which left 49 people dead, and another violent outbreak at Apodaca prison in 2012, where 44 people died. Both prisons are in Nuevo Leon state.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Venezuela to hold landmark vote as it seeks to end crisis

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enezuelans vote on Sunday in regional elections seen as a key test for both President Nicolás Maduro and the Opposition alike after months of street protests that failed to unseat him.

The Opposition, unable to sustain the protests in which 125 people were killed between April and July, is seeking a big turnout which experts say could give them victory in the vast majority

elections in 2015 which gave it a majority in Parliament.

Ex-presidential candidate and key Opposition figure Henrique Capriles is among those calling for a massive turnout.

“Get out and vote, win and free the country from the dictatorship of Maduro,” said Capriles, the outgoing governor of Miranda province.

The Opposition Democratic Union

Maduro signalled this week that Sunday’s vote would effectively be a vote in support of the assembly, forcing even its staunchest critics in the Opposition to recognise it

of Venezuela’s 23 states in the vote to elect governors.

International powers accuse Maduro of dismantling democracy by taking over state institutions in the wake of an economic collapse cause by a fall in the price of oil, its sole significant source of revenue.

Sunday’s polls are the first contested by the Opposition since legislative

Roundtable coalition (MUD) finds itself having to lift its own discouraged support base. They have seen Maduro’s hand strengthened after he faced down the protests, forming a Constituent Assembly packed with his own allies and wresting legislative power away from the Opposition-dominated national assembly. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

saturDAY, october 14, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

17

Around the World

UNESCO selects France’s Iran nuclear deal: Donald Trump ‘decertifies’ 2015 pact Azoulay as new chief

Trump’s move puts the onus on Congress to restore sanctions and dismantle the deal

U

S President Donald Trump has refused to certify Iran’s compliance with a landmark 2015 deal curtailing Tehran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

Trump – who opposed the agreement between Iran and world powers, including the US, from the outset – on Friday said that Iran was

not living up to the spirit of the accord, despite the UN nuclear watchdog repeatedly confirming that the country was complying with its obligations.

“We cannot and will not certify make this certification,” Trump said during a speech from the White House as he laid out an aggressive new strategy to-

wards Iran.

“We will not continue down the path whose predictable conclusion is more violence, more terror and the very real threat of Iran’s nuclear breakout,” he added.

Trump’s move does not immediately pull the US out of the deal but pushes action to the Republican-controlled US Congress.

Legislators now have a non-binding 60-day period to debate the accord and decide whether to re-impose sanctions, which would put the deal at risk.

Trump said he wanted Congress to toughen US policy towards Iran, but added that if “we are not able to reach a solution... then the agreement will be terminated”.

He also accused Iran of destabilising actions in the Middle East, and singled out the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s main military force, for sanctions.

(Excerpt from Al jazeera)

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he United Nations’ cultural agency selected former French culture minister Audrey Azoulay as its new chief on Friday, handing her the keys to revive UNESCO’s fortunes after the United States pulled out.

Azoulay edged Qatar’s Hamad bin Abdulaziz alKawari after the fifth round of voting and the decision will now be put forward for approval to UNESCO’s 195 members on November 10.

A sudden announcement on Thursday that the United States was quitting over perceived anti-Israel bias meant that whoever wins the top job would inherit a body in turmoil, with huge questions over its future funding and mission.

“In this time of crisis we need more than ever to support, strengthen and reform UNESCO and not leave it,” Azoulay told reporters, saying she would modernise the organisation.

France’s Audrey Azoulay, the newly-elected Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)

“If I‘m confirmed...the first thing I will do is to restore its credibility, restore the faith of its members and its efficiency so it can act.”

Azoulay, who will replace Irina Bokova, a Bulgarian who has led the body since 2009, will have to try to restore the relevance of an agency born from the ashes of World

War Two, but increasingly hobbled by regional rivalries and a lack of money.

The 45-year-old, a former minister under President Francois Hollande, has the political background, and knows the cultural and communications’ sectors well having dedicated much of her career to them. (Excerpt from Reuters)

SA President Zuma must face corruption North Korea revives Guam threat ahead of charges, court rules

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outh Africa’s President Jacob Zuma must face charges of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money laundering, the Supreme Court of Appeal has ruled.

It agreed with a lower court ruling last year that prosecutors could bring back 783 counts of corruption relating to a 1999 arms deal.

The charges had been set aside eight years ago, enabling Zuma to become President. The President has always maintained his innocence. In a statement,

Zuma’s office said the ruling was “disappointing”, but anticipated. The President now expected South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to consider representations from his legal team before making a decision about whether to prosecute him, it added.

The charges relate to Zuma’s relationship with a businessman, Shabir Shaik, who was tried and found guilty in 2005 of soliciting bribes from a French arms company “for the benefit of Zuma”.

South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma

Zuma and other government officials have been accused of taking kickbacks from the purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats and other arms. Charges were first brought against Zuma in 2005 but dropped by prosecutors in 2009.

Last year, the High Court in the capital, Pretoria, ruled in a case brought by the Opposition Democratic Alliance that he should face the charges. Zuma went on to lodge a challenge with the Supreme Court of Appeal.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Harvey Weinstein: US actress Rose McGowan makes rape allegation

T

he scandal deluging Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has deepened after US actress Rose McGowan publicly accused him of raping her. In a series of tweets, McGowan also accused Amazon Studio chief Roy Price of having ignored her when she made the allegation earlier.

Amazon has put Price – himself accused on Thursday of sexually harassing a female producer – on leave of absence.

Weinstein denies any sexual assaults. There was no comment from Price.

Police forces in the US and UK Police have launched investigations into sexual assault allegations against Weinstein.

Addressing Amazon Chief Executive Jeff Bezos on Twitter, McGowan – who has appeared in Scream,

The Black Dahlia and TV series Charmed – criticised the company for doing business with Weinstein.

“I told the head of your studio that HW raped me,” she wrote. “Over & over I said it. He said it hadn’t been proven. I said I was the proof.”

Price was separately accused by Isa Hackett, a producer on one of Amazon’s shows, of having lewdly propositioned her in a taxi and at a corporate dinner in 2015, the Hollywood Reporter writes.

Hackett reported the incident to Amazon executives immediately, she was quoted as saying, and an outside investigator was brought in.

She was not told the outcome of the investigation but did not see Price again at any events involving her shows, she added. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

US-South Korea drills

N

orth Korean state media on Friday renewed a threat to launch missiles towards the US territory of Guam, warning that “reckless moves” by the US would compel Pyongyang to take action.

North Korea first said it was examining a plan to target the Pacific island in August after US President Donald Trump warned the isolated regime would “face fire and fury like the world has never seen” following a US intelligence assessment that North Korea had produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead.

The latest warnings from Pyongyang follow weeks of rising tensions, which prom-

ise to escalate further when the US and South Korea joint naval exercises begin Monday.

Joint military exercises are particularly infuriating to Pyongyang. The North Korean government views them as a dress rehearsal for an invasion – even as the US insists they are purely defensive in nature.

The KCNA report listed a string of perceived US provocations -- including a litany of bombastic threats from President Trump, recent deployments of a US nuclear submarine and aircraft carrier to the region, and a new round of “high intensity” US and South Korea joint naval drills. (Excerpt from MSN)

Man-eating Indian tiger faces ‘shoot-to-kill’ order

A

court in India’s western state of Maharashtra has upheld an order to kill a twoyear-old tigress responsible for killing four people.

Wildlife activists had challenged a shoot-to-kill order issued by the state forest department on 23 June.

The tigress was first captured in July after killing two people and injuring four in the town of Brahmapuri, in Maharashtra.

It was set free in Bor Tiger Reserve, but has since killed two more people.

Dr Jerryl Banait, who opposed the order to shoot the big cat, told the BBC that he would challenge the verdict in India’s Supreme Court.

Animal rights activists insist the tigress should be

The two-year-old tigress is responsible for killing four people

tranquilised and moved to another location. But panic is growing among the locals in its territory. Forest offi-

cials who have been tracking the animal, which is named Kala, said it has covered more than 500km (310

miles) since entering the reserve on 29 July.

India is home to 60 per cent of the world’s tigers, which are threatened by loss of habitat, and poachers who kill them for body parts used in traditional Chinese medicine.

With increasing human encroachment into their reserves, tigers often compete for resources with nearby villagers, leading to conflict.

Tiger deaths have steadily gone up in recent years.

In 2015, Indian officials reported 80 tiger deaths, compared to 78 in the previous year.

Most attacks on people are chance encounters gone wrong, and the victims are rarely dragged away as prey. (Excerpt from BBC News)

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guyanatimesgy.com

saturDAY, october 14, 2017

ARCHIE

A pleasure trip will do you good. You’ll get a differ(March 21ent perspective on life if you April 19) interact with people from diverse backgrounds. Romance is on the rise.

ARIES

An investment will tempt TAURUS you. Don’t go into debt on a (April 20- risky venture. Children will May 20) offer insightful information that should be considered before you make a game-changing decision.

dilbert

Thoughts should lead to GEMINI (May 21- actions that will improve June 20) your home life, making it more comfortable and convenient. Make a point to discuss your plans and feelings with a loved one.

(June 21July 22)

You’ll be tempted to follow the crowd. Take a closer look and consider what you stand to lose if a deal doesn’t unfold as expected. Say no and cut your losses.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Share your feelings and be open about your plans.

Not everyone will agree, but at least you will know who is willing to help.

CANCER

Peanuts

Calvin and Hobbes

WORD GAME

Take care of personal busiVIRGO ness with shrewdness. Don’t (Aug. 23gamble with your assets or Sept. 22) take a chance of getting hurt emotionally, physically or financially. Caution and integrity will keep you safe.

Learn from those with LIBRA (Sept. 23- more experience. Pitching in Oct. 23) to help someone you respect will put you in a good position. Discipline and dedication will pay off.

SUDOKU

Problems will develop if SCORPIO you haven’t updated your per(Oct. 24sonal papers or taken care of Nov. 22) crucial responsibilities. Don’t wait for someone to complain.

Set your sights on the big SAGITTARIUS picture and inch your way to(Nov. 23- ward it. Don’t lose patience Dec. 21) or let anyone or anything distract you from reaching your goal. The experience will be enlightening.

A silent partner will not CAPRICORN be as quiet as you had hoped.

(Dec. 22- Protect your assets and get Jan. 19) your paperwork in order.

Trust only in yourself, and negotiate on your own behalf.

solution for LAST PUBLISHED Puzzle Make positive changes to AQUARIUS an important relationship. A (Jan. 20- plan will put you in a good Feb. 19) position to make a financial move that will ease stress and help you advance.

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

Revamp your plans and PISCES (Feb. 20- strategize with the people March 20) who will be affected by the decisions you make. Don’t burn bridges or quit your job without having another position in your pocket.

saturDAY, OCTOber 14, 2017

– Pacey Joseph among the wickets

T

he opening “Test” at the Trelawny Multiplex in Florence Hall, Jamaica seems to be heading for a draw after Sri Lanka ‘A’ batted all day to close on 201 for 7 still trailing West Indies ‘A’ by 163 runs in their first innings.

The hosts declared on their overnight score of 384 for 8 and their lively opening bowlers went to work and immediately reaped success.

Guyanese speedster, Keon Joseph got a wicket with his first ball when opener Sandun Weerakody was snapped up by skipper Shamarh Brooks in the second over of the reply. Local boy, Sheldon Cottrell then joined the party and in tandem with Joseph the visitors were uncomfortably placed at 33-2.

After sensible batting from skipper, Dhananjaya Silva Sri Lanka ‘A’ fought back bravely to end the day

Sri Lanka ‘A’ captain, Dhananjaya SIlva hit 3 sixes and 10 fours on his way to 104 at Trelawny Multiplex on Friday

on a respectable 201-7 from 53 overs. Silva hardly got

support at the other end and rode his luck to bring

up his 11th First Class century late on day three.

Skipper Silva was desperate for partnerships and found middle order batsman, Wanidu Hasaranga to add 63 for the fifth wicket which turned out to be the best for the innings.

When the visitors’ mainstay, Silva was dismissed shortly after reaching three figures the West Indies ‘A’ were looking to wrap up the innings but only got Chamika Karunaratne before stumps.

When play resumes today on the final day, West Indies ‘A’ will no doubt be looking to remove the remaining three wickets for the addition of few runs before having a second dash to make a game out of the contest.

Joseph, Cottrell and leg-spinner Damion Jacobs all have two wickets while Rahkeem Cornwall has one.

19

SCOREBOARD West Indies ‘A’ 1st Innings (Overnight 364-8) M Hodge st S Weerakkody b M Pushpakumara 13 J Campbell st S Weerakkody b S Jayasuirya 56 S Brooks* run out (S Weerakkody) 19 V Singh lbw b A Fernando 81 J Hamilton+ lbw b M Pushpakumara 6 S Ambris c A Fernando b C Karu naratne 106 R Cornwall c S Jayasuriya b C Ka runaratne 36 D Jacobs st S Weerakkody b M Pushpakumara 15 S Cottrell not out 2 K Joseph not out 1 Extras: (10b 3lb 8w 8nb) 29 Total: (For 8 wickets declared, 120 Overs) 364 DnB: Reynard Leveridge FoW: Hodge 1-44, 2-76, 3-127, 4-145, 5-281, 6-332, 7-354, 8-363 Bowling: A Fernando 16-337-1, L Kumaraa 16-1-63-0-3, M Pushpakumara 36-6-1043, C Karunaratne 21-1-61-2, S Jayasuriya 17- 3-43-1, D De

Silva 6-1-9-0-0, W Hasaranga 3-0-15-0, D Shanaka 5-2-19-0 Sri Lanka ‘A’ 1st Innings R Chandragupta c Hamilton b Cottrell 11 S Weerakkody+ c Brooks* b Joseph 0 D Da Silva* c Campbell b Jacobs 104 C Asalanka c Ambris b Joseph 10 D Shanaka c & b Cottrell 20 W Hasaranga c Brooks b Cornwall 24 S Jayasuriya not out 12 C Karunaratne lbw b Jacobs 0 M Pushpakumara not out 10 Extras (b-3, w-1, nb-6) 10 Total (For 7 wickets, 53 Overs) 201 DnB: L Kumara, A Fernando FOW: 1-1, 2-33, 3-73, 4-108, 5-171, 6-181, 7-181 Bowling Cottrell 13-2-412 (nb-1), Joseph 8-1-28-2 (nb-5), Leveridge 10-2-280 (w-1), Cornwall 13-1-681, Jacobs 9-0-33-2 Position: Sri Lanka ‘A’ trail by 163 runs with 3 wickets in hand

Superb Malik gives Pakistan opening win – Babar strokes 6th ODI ton

P

akistan reasserted their dominance in the UAE with a crushing win in Dubai over a Sri Lanka side that has seen ODI wins excr u c ia t ing ly hard to come by in 2017.

Shoaib Malik

A century from Babar Azam - back playing his most favoured format - and a blistering 81 from Shoaib Malik saw Pakistan set Sri Lanka a stiff target of 293. They were never really in the chase, losing half the side for 67, with Rumman Raees and Hasan Ali leading the 83-run rout and handing them their eighth consecutive loss in the format.

Upul Tharanga won the toss and opted to bowl when most - Sarfraz included - considered fielding under the scorching Dubai an unappealing prospect.

But Sri Lanka's opening bowlers Suranga Lakmal and Lahiru Gamage backed up their captain with a stellar opening spell, characterised by subtle swing and consistent line and lengths that deprived

Pakistan of scoring opportunities. Ahmed Shehzad

fell in what is becoming increasingly predictable fashion, getting bogged down by 11 dot balls, before coming down the wicket to Gamage and gifting midwicket a simple catch.

It wasn't until Babar, who had managed to hang in despite struggling for rhythm, and the streetsmart Malik came together, that the momentum took a clear shift in Pakistan's favour. The running between the wickets was excellent, and Malik was destructive when he decided to take the aerial route, with even the tricky Dhananjaya rendered ineffective towards the close of the innings.

The bowling looked particularly toothless as Babar and Malik set themselves up for the finish, even if they were unable to come up with the sort of power-hitting the innings required at that stage. For their part, Sri Lanka were superb in the field, in stark contrast to the series against India, with fielders in the infield throwing themselves around and saving several runs.

It wasn't until the last six overs that the big runs really began to leak, but along with it came regular wick-

ets that stymied Pakistan's charge in the slog overs.

Where once 300 looked a formality, Pakistan ended up scrambling to reach 292.

Even so, the target was a formidable one, and Sri Lanka began with a clear, positive intent. Upul Tharanga and Niroshan Dickwella sought to take advantage of the Powerplay in a way Pakistan had not, hitting five fours in the first 19 balls. But from the moment the first wicket fell, Dickwella poking at a ball from Raees that nipped away from him, the rot set in. The run rate began to drop sharply; just five runs were scored off the next 24 deliveries. Raees was the most menacing and accounted for Dinesh Chandimal's wicket too, the ball swinging back into the right-hander and trapping him plumb in front.

Tharanga looked thoroughly unconvincing once Mohammad Hafeez came on, surviving numerous lbw appeals in a phase when the middle of his bat completely disappeared from the game.

After being worked over for a couple of overs, the Sri Lanka captain was put out of his misery by Hafeez with

a ball that skidded on and thudded into his off stump.

Two overs later, Hasan Ali dismissed Kusal Mendis and

Milinda Siriwardana off successive deliveries, effectively putting the game to bed.

(ESPN Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Pakistan Innings (50 Overs Maximum) Fakhar Zaman b Dananjaya 43 Ahmed Shehzad c Dananjaya b Gamage 0 Babar Azam c Mendis b Lakmal 103 Mohammad Hafeez c Perera b Vandersay 32 Shoaib Malik c Dananjaya b Lakmal 81 Sarfraz Ahmed*† c Tharanga b Perera 1 Imad Wasim not out 10 Hasan Ali not out 11 Extras (lb-2, w-9) 11 Total (For 6 wickets, 50 Overs) 292 Did not bat: Rumman Raees, Shadab Khan, Junaid Khan Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-75, 3-124, 4-263, 5-266, 6-269 Bowling Lakmal 10-047-2 (w-3), Gamage 8-049-1 (w-2), Dananjaya 8-051-1 (w-2), Perera 8-0-68-1 (w-1), Vandersay 10-0-47-1, Siriwardana 6-0-28-0 Sri Lanka Innings (target: 293 runs from 50 overs) N Dickwella† c †Sarfraz Ahmed

b Rumman Raees 19 WU Tharanga* b Mohammad Hafeez 18 LD Chandimal lbw b Rumman Ra ees 4 HDRL Thirimanne lbw b Rumman Raees 53 BKG Mendis c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Hasan Ali 2 TAM Siriwardana b Hasan Ali 0 NLTC Perera c sub (Faheem Ashraf) b Shadab Khan 21 A Dananjaya not out 50 JDF Vandersay c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Hasan Ali 25 RAS Lakmal not out 7 Extras (b-1, lb-3, w-6) 10 Total (For 8 wickets, 50 overs) 209 Did not bat: PLS Gamage Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-34, 3-55, 4-67, 5-67, 6-108, 7-132, 8-200 Bowling Junaid Khan 6-0-280 (w-1), Rumman Raees 9-149-3, Mohammad Hafeez 10-2-32-1, Hasan Ali 9-0-363 (w-3), Shoaib Malik 5-0-190, Shadab Khan 7-0-26-1 (w2), Imad Wasim 4-0-15-0 Result: Pakistan won by 83 runs Player of the Match: Shoaib Malik (Pakistan)

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saturDAY, october 14, 2017

Test, ODI leagues approved by ICC

A

genuine Test match world championship and an ODI league will be introduced to international cricket after both were given in-principle agreement by the ICC Board on the final day of the governing body's meeting in Auckland.

While some details remain to be fleshed out, including the points system and the full week-by-week Future Tours Programme, the first two-year Test championship com-

three away, with all series being of a minimum two matches' duration but able to be expanded to as many as five to cater for encounters such as the Ashes.

The first ODI league, featuring the game's top 13 limited-overs nations, will commence in 2020-21, running for two years leading into the 2023 World Cup, before converting to a three-year league in each cycle beyond that. The 13th place in the ODI league will

India are currently the number one ranked Test Team

prising the game's top-nine teams will begin at the conclusion of the 2019 World Cup, with the top two teams by April 2021 to play off in a championship final.

Each competing country will play in six series over that time, three at home and

be taken by the winner of the ongoing ICC World Cricket League Championship. Each competing team will play in eight series over that time, each one being played over three matches. The days of lengthier ODI series appears to be over.

Shashank Manohar, the ICC chairman, said that member countries had moved with the times by accepting the need for greater context for international cricket, responding to the demands of broadcasters, sponsors and fans. "I would like to congratulate our members on reaching this agreement and putting the interests of the development of the game first," he said.

"Bringing context to bilateral cricket is not a new challenge, but this is the first time a genuine solution has been agreed on.

"This means fans around the world can enjoy international cricket knowing every game counts and in the case of the ODI league, it counts towards qualification to the ICC Cricket World Cup." While all Test championship matches will be played over five days, the ICC Board also approved the trial of four-day Tests in bilateral series up until 2019, following South Africa's request to play a match over that distance against Zimbabwe during their forthcoming home season. A set of playing conditions for four-day Tests is set to be drawn up by ICC management in coming weeks. "Our priority was to develop an international cricket structure that gave context and meaning across international cricket and particularly in the Test arena. This has been delivered and every Test in the new League will be a five-day Test format," the ICC chief executive David Richardson said. "However throughout the discussions about the future of Test cricket

ICC CEO Dave Richardson it became clear that whilst context is crucial we must also consider alternatives and trial initiatives that may support the future viability of Test cricket.

"The trial is exactly that, a trial, just in the same way day-night Tests and technology have been trialled by members. Four-day Tests will also provide the new Test playing countries with more opportunities to play the longer version of the game against more experienced opponents, which, in turn, will help them to hone their skills and close the gap with the top-nine ranked teams."

"This is a significant point in time for ICC members and our collective desire to secure a vibrant future for international bilateral cricket. The approval of both leagues is the conclusion of two years of work from the members who have explored a whole range of options to bring context to every game. The ICC Board decision today means we can now go and finalise a playing schedule for the first edition as well as the points system, hosting arrangements and competition terms." Numerous questions remain about how the new league structures will unfold, particularly around the fraught issue of bilateral cricket ties between India and Pakistan. (ESPN Cricinfo)

Regal Sport SportsMax to broadcast supports hurricane relief cricket match ‘Saints’ S cricket team portsMax, as part of the aid it is providing to victims of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, will broadcast a charity match between the T&T Red Force and the United Caribbean XI in Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday, October 14 at the Queen's Park Oval.

The match is being played to raise funds for the countries devastated by the hurricanes’ passage in early September.

The Sports Company of TT (SporTT), together with the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) and the Queen’s Park Cricket Club, are partnering in a relief effort, approved by Cricket West Indies.

"In these trying times, SportsMax is led to support any initiative that will help our brothers and sisters to piece their lives back together," said SportsMax CEO Oliver McIntosh.

"The organisers are to be commended for conceptualizing this relief effort and the Home of Champions is proud to be on board,” he added. The Red Force team will be captained by Kieron Pollard and will feature T&T

Keiron Pollard and Darren Sammy will go head to head at Queen’s Park Oval on Saturday

stars, Darren Bravo, Lendl Simmons, Evin Lewis, Sunil Narine, Shannon Gabriel and Jason Mohammed among others.

Darren Sammy will captain the Caribbean XI that will have the likes of Dwayne Smith, Johnson Charles, Fidel Edwards, Jerome Taylor and 2011 World 100-metre champion Yohan Blake.

Tickets for the match went on sale at all NLCB outlets from Tuesday, October 3. Tickets for adults are TT$100 and children under-12, accompanied by an

adult, get in for free.

Meanwhile, a 'Cricket Hurricane Relief Fund' has been set up at First Citizens Bank. The account number is 2441289 and members of the public and corporate sector can contribute directly into this account at any First Citizens branch.

Patrons can also contribute canned goods, books, clothes and water at the match venue in the collection bins provided in all stands.

Corporate businesses can also get involved by purchasing the sponsorship

of each of the 40 Overs at TT$20,000 per over.

The respected international accounting firm, PriceWaterhouseCoopers has offered their accounting and auditing services for this event to ensure transparency and accountability.

The full teams participating in the charity match are as follows: Caribbean XI: Dwayne Smith – Barbados; Johnson Charles – St Lucia; Andre Fletcher – Grenada; Chadwick Walton – Jamaica; Andre McCarthy – Jamaica; Rovman Powell – Jamaica; Daren Sammy – St Lucia; Ashley Nurse – Barbados; Sulieman Benn – Barbados; Kesrick Williams – St Vincent; Fidel Edwards – Barbados; Jerome Taylor – Jamaica; Shane Shillingford – Dominica; and Yohan Blake – Jamaica.

T&T Red Force: Evin Lewis, Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Denesh Ramdin, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Nicholas Pooran, Sunil Narine, Samuel Badree, Ravi Rampaul, Kevon Cooper, Rayad Emrit, Jason Mohammed and Shannon Gabriel. (Sportsmax)

Regal Sport Manager Telisha Ousman (far right) shares a photo with students and a teacher after the presentation

I

n keeping with their pledge for cricket development in Guyana, Regal Sport made a heartfelt donation to the Saint Stanislaus College cricket team on Friday morning.

The donation of one cricket bat, a pair of gloves and a pair of batting pads were presented to the exuberant students during a brief ceremony at 69 Seafort Street, Campbellville the head office of Regal Sport.

The contribution was warmly welcomed by the students who are now more equipped to participate in upcoming tournaments.

Meanwhile, Manager of Regal Sport, Telisha Ousman said that her company will support positive life styles and as such wasted little time when approached for the donation. Ousman reiterated that if the students can balance academics and sport they are on their way to leading positive life styles.

sports

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V-Net Communications T20 Blast…

Expectations high ahead of final

– fans urged to come out in their numbers

F

rom seven teams it is now down to a clash between San Souci Jaguars and G Square Cavaliers to determine the champions of the seventh annual V Net Communications T20 blast at the Wakenaam Community Centre Ground on Sunday.

Jaguars’ captain Sidique Mohamed, told Guyana Times Sport on Friday, that though they are being touted as the favorites, they are not getting ahead of themselves. “We don’t have any thoughts of overconfidence, we will be going out and play basic cricket and if we apply ourselves correctly, we know we can come out victorious.”

Led by Nokta Moses who made an unbeaten 102 – the only century of the competition to date- they convincingly defeated Cavaliers during the preliminary stages. However, Mohamed is still wary of the surprise the opposition can spring even though Cavaliers have never won a match against them.

Given the small size of the ground, the captain, stated that his team’s bowling needs to come good. The lanky seamer also stated he will continue to look for good performances from Moses who has been exceptional

intact. We have a good chance of winning but we have to focus on our fielding. If there is one thing we need to improve on it’s our fielding.”

Narine hopes his batters Satnarine Sahadeo and Satrohan Shiwnandan can continue their impressive form.

Meanwhile, Managing Director of V-Net Communications Safraz Sherifudeen expressed his pleasure with the level of intensity shown by teams.

This year’s tournament had

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an additional team and the format allowed for more sides to showcase their talents.

The organizer is hoping that fans come out in their numbers and support the final, stating that it is too close to call now and nothing but a thriller can be on the cards.

The winning team will pocket $100,000 and the championship trophy while the runners-up will receive $50,000 and the corresponding accolade.

Match time is 11:00h.

Calm before the storm! G Square Caviliers Captain Lakeran Narine (left) and San Souci Jaguars captain Siddique Mohamed with the championship trophy at the Wakenaam Community Centre Ground on Friday

with both bat and ball.

On the other side of the coin, Caviliers skipper Lakeran Narine contended that his team has a good chance of winning should they play a “well all-round match.”

“Our team is in great form; our batting is lineup is doing well. Our bowlers are

Early preparations for a surface which is expected to produce high scores and some purchase for the bowlers as well

East La Penitence Ground to undergo Zone trials begin on massive makeover Monday in Berbice T

he Chairman of Selectors for the Junior Panel of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), Leslie Solomon has announced that trials for the upcoming BCB under 15 50 over competition will commence on Monday October 16, 2017. Players born on or after September 30, 2003 are asked to take note of the following fixtures:

VACANCIES Job opening for Cosmetologist, Esthetician and Barbers at Nalini’s Hair Salon. Contact us via email at nalinissalonandspa@gmail.com.

21

Monday October 16, 2017 - New Amsterdam /Canje at the Berbice High School Ground at 15:30h The ground was dug up and relaid in preparation for the expected transformation

T

he East La Penitence community ground has been earmarked for a major restoration project following Friday evening’s commissioning by Minister of Social Cohesion with responsibility for Sport Dr George Norton and Director of Sport Christopher Jones.

Mayor of Georgetown, Patricia Chase Green was among other dignitaries present at the reopening ceremony at the community ground which has been used predominantly for football over the years. However, the venue will be transformed into a multi-complex sport facility in the days to come as was confirmed by Jones.

Jones told Guyana Times Sport that the ground will have a new cricket pitch, a beach volleyball surface, a new basketball

court with rings and possibly a strip dedicated for athletics and most importantly lights.

The Sport Director also confirmed that the fence around the entire ground will be repaired; adding that he hopes the move will help to foster more sporting activities in the community and beyond.

Jones further added that he hopes to carry out similar projects at other grounds around the city as it is important for every community to have a functioning, well-kept facility to house sports and other activities which promotes social cohesion and unity.

While no specific time frame was given for the completion of the project, the government representatives were confident that it will be completed in a timely manner.

Tuesday October 17, 2017 - Western Berbice at the Bush Lot Community Center at 15:30h Thursday October 19, 2017 - Lower Corentyne at Albion Community Center at 15:30h Friday October 20, 2017 - Upper Corentyne at Port Mourant Community Center at 15:30h

All Clubs are hereby informed of the following zone allocations:

Upper Corentyne: Skeldon to Nigg

Lower Corentyne: Nigg to Seawell

New Amsterdam/Canje: Seawell to Mara The sessions will seek to identify a 20-man squad to represent each zone in the upcoming competition. Managers and coaches will be assigned shortly.

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

saturDAY, october 14, 2017

ABCA Independence Tri20 Tournament 2017…

Winning title will boost Guyana’s confidence – Griffith A

ssistant Coach of the Guyana T20 team, Rayon Griffith said now that his team is in the finals of the Antigua/Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA) Tri20 series, it’s crucial for them to complete the task of bringing home the title which will increase momentum ahead of the Regional season.

Speaking with the former National pacer on Thursday, Griffith told Guyana Times Sport that he is proud of the strides made by the reigning Regional Four Day Champs in the ongoing T20 tourney.

He added that while the competition is only contested among Guyana, Jamaica and the hosts Antigua, it is still important for the South Americans to win and build that momentum needed to compete well during the 2017/18 Regional season, specifically the Super50 competition.

“It’s very important for us to win this title. Not all the teams are participating but we would still like to win it so the players ’confidence will build heading into the Super50.

For them to win and improve in their game and take the experience forward in their career because confidence is a main factor for the players, once they get the confidence it will be great for them,” said Griffith.

After winning three out of their four games to date, with the most recent being a 4-wicket win over the Jamaicans, Griffith admitted the while the team was a bit rusty in the beginning, the youngsters have stepped up to the challenge and have been heavily supporting their senior teammates.

Griffith explained “I’m satisfied with the teamwork; it’s a good experience for the players who are still learning.

In the opening department young Sherfane Rutherford has taken up that role, he looked the part and he has been playing the part with Robin Bacchus as well. Our main concern was opening department because everything else has been okay for us.”

With Guyana more renowned for their skills in the 4-day format of late, their reputation in limited overs cricket has

been contrasting as they have failed to secure the Regional 50-over title since 2005 and Griffith, who has spent time with the West Indies A as the Assistant Coach in the past, believed that fire shown by the youngsters during this series which has made him confident of winning the finals.

“I think with the younger players they will play with more of a free, clear mind, more energy and they’re more fearless so you’ll get the best out of them. However, the senior guys have been doing well, they have been playing well around the junior guys while helping them to get better,” stated Griffith.

Jamaica, on Thursday night beat Antigua Master Blasters to secure a spot in tonight’s final against Guyana which will be played under lights from 19:00h at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.

However, having already beaten both sides, Antigua twice, the coach believed that Guyana can win regardless of who they face once they can maintain their bowling form.

“I think we have been coming along well in this competition because the in first game our guys were a bit rusty and we didn’t bowl well. The bowlers then found their way so now it’s about them going out and [playing] good cricket and bowling in the finals as they have been doing in the last few matches,” he ended.

Now that both sides have each other’s number in the series, the final encounter between these two sides will make for a thrilling match with Guyana the favorites. The last time these two sides met, Guyana won by 4 wickets and Veerasammy Permaul picked up his second MVP award while Sherfane Rutherford scored 50, making the aforementioned two players to look out for.

But Jamaica still have a number of big guns in their side and with skipper Chadwick Walton, Andre McCarthy, Steven Taylor, Trevon Griffith and Odean

Rayon Griffith is backing Guyana to return home with the ABCA T20 title Smith to name a few being in the side, Guyana will be keen on not taking their opponents lightly come Saturday night.

Guyana squad reads; Leon Johnson (Captain), Veerasammy Permaul (V/Capt.), Robin Bacchus, Gajanand Singh, Chanderpaul Hemraj, Jonathon Foo, Anthony Bramble, Kemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford, Steven Jacobs, Ronsford Beaton, Romario Shepherd, Ricardo Adams, Christopher Barnwell and Ramaal Lewis.

Jamaica will come from; Chadwick Walton (Captain), Andre McCarthy (Vice-Captain), Fabian Allen, Peat Salmon, Jermaine Harrison, Jamie Merchant, Chris Lamont, Chris Powell, Oraine Williams, Nicholson Gordon, Oshane Walters, Paul Harrison, Steven Taylor, Trevon Griffith and Odean Smith.

Courts/Malta Pee-Wee Football Tournament 2017…

Red hot Sophia Primary hunting 3rd straight win 10/14/2017 Round 3

The intensity continues today with round three action at the home of Pee Wee Football, the Thirst Park ground

T

he first of 18 games will begin at 10:00h this morning when Victoria Primary tackle Mocha Primary to signal the start of the third round of the Courts/ Malta Pee competition at the Banks DIH Thirst Park ground.

Among the teams in action today are tournament first timers Sophia Primary and St. John’s Bosco Children’s Home, former champions St. Pius Primary and defending champions St. Angela’s Primary.

After recording back to back wins in the opening rounds, Sophia will be looking to extend their dream run when they take on Marian Academy. However, they will have their work cut out since Marian Academy are fresh off of their 7-0 whipping of Winfer

Gardens last week.

Two-time defending champions, St Angela’s Primary will look to capitalize on Winfer Garden’s low form and confidence to get back to their winning ways after suffering a 0-1 defeat last week to Sophia while Tucville will be looking for maximum points after playing to a draw in round two with FE Pollard Primary. Their opponents this week are former champions, St. Pius.

The match of the day will no doubt be between St. John’s Bosco Children’s Home and La Parfaite Harmonie Primary who are both coming off of big wins in round two.

St. John’s punished Goed Fortune 11-0 while La Parfaite Harmonie tormented J.E. Burnham 4-0 to set up the huge clash today.

Thirst Park Match # 10:00 hrs Victoria Primary v/s Mocha Primary 33 10:00 hrs St. Ambrose Primary v/s Smith Memorial 34 10:45 hrs Den Amstel Primary v/s Colaaco Academy 35 10:45 hrs Redeemer primary v/s Grove Primary 36 11:30 hrs Supply Primary v/s Enterprise Primary 37 11:30 hrs Timerhi Primary

Fixtures v/s Maes Primary 38 12:15 hrs F.E Pollard Primary v/s Soesdyke Primary 39 12:15 hrs J.E. Burnham v/s Plaisance Orphanage 40 13:00 hrs Goed Fortune v/s Parfiet Harmony 41 13:00 hrs South Ruimveldt Primary v/s School of the Nations 42 13:45 hrs St Agnes Primary v/s North G / T Primary 43 13:45 hrs Winfer Garden Primary v/s St Angeles Primary

44 14:30 hrs West RVDLT Primary v/s St. Margarets Primary 45 14:30 hrs Marian Academy v/s Sophia Primary 46 15:15 hrs Stella Marris Primary v/s St. Stephens Primary 47 15:15 hrs Tucville Primary v/s St. Pius Primary 48 16:00 hrs J.E. Burnham v/s Goed Fortune 49 16:00 hrs St John’s Bosco Children’s Home v/s La Parfait Harmonie 50

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saturDAY, october 14, 2017

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Pan-Am Indoor Hockey Championships 2017…

Defending Champions ready for all comers

By Michelangelo Jacobus

D

efending male and female champions at the International Pan American Indoor Hockey Championships, Canada, have warned that they will not be complacent in their defense of their titles.

The champions had their first training session at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Friday and already looked at home on the plastic tile surface; however the climate seemed an instant humbug.

Guyana Times Sport caught up with coach of the women’s team, Louis Mendonca after the team’s training session and he expressed hope of his team securing the lone world cup spot up for grabs while retaining their title.

When asked about the climate, Mendonca noted; “It is going to be a factor for all the teams that don’t train in this kind of weather, it’s a bit different, right now in Canada, indoors is played for us in December and March, around the world it is played when it is much more cooler, so it is going to

be a factor but a factor for everybody but we must overcome.”

Coach Mendonca pointed out that while there are three or four (Argentina, USA, Canada and Uruguay) teams that historically vie for the top spots at the tournament, his side will have to be at their best at all times as any given day teams like Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago or Barbados could upset them.

Canada will field a fairly new women’s side with seven players making their international debut as the old guard is currently on College duty in the Outdoor season.

Meanwhile Scott Sandison, who was a player at the last Pan American tournament and is now coach of the men’s team revealed that as defending champions there will be added pressure on his side but pointed out that they have prepared as best as they can.

“There are a lot of good teams here, we know that and we have come prepared to try to play our best against those teams, Argentina beat us at the last PanAm so they are a big threat, they also travelled to Canada a couple

GCB/ Jaguars 3-Day League 2017…

Ivan, Baldeo tons demoralise Georgetown – No play at Bush Lot

Defending Champions: the Canadian Men’s National team

of years ago and played a tournament against us so we know they are a good team. Trinidad always has good skills, good players individually, of course Guyana on home turf means a big difference, and they were bronze medalists at last Pan-Am so they are going to be a strong team, it’s up to us to be as good as we can be and see what happens” Sandison ex-

plained.

He stated that his side will be evaluating and doing every possible thing to get the gold medal and seal a berth at the 2018 world cup. The male team will be led by captain Ken Pereira who is a seasoned campaigner with the Canadian record for the most caps with 400 under his belt.

Canada is the defending Men’s

champions having defeated USA in 2014 in Uruguay while Guyana beat Argentina on penalties to finish third. The Canadian women are defending champions as well having beaten Argentina while USA defeated Uruguay for third place. This year’s championships are being contested at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall from October 16-22.

“You will not be left out in the cold” – Minister Norton

B

alchand Baldeo and Rajiv Ivan smoked centuries as Upper Corentyne imposed themselves onto Georgetown by seizing command of the match with a day remaining, when the final round of the GCB/Jaguars 3-Day Franchise League continued at the Port Mourant Ground.

Baldeo, who resumed on 73, went on to score 107 from 133 balls with 12 fours and 2 sixes while the left-handed Ivan, a former national T20 player, cracked 102 with nine fours and three maximums as Upper Corentyne racked up a monstrous 440 all out in 91.3 overs.

Kandasammy Surujnarine who made 54 on the opening day, middle-order batsman David Latchaya who grafted 69 and Joshua Ramsammy 42, were the other notable scorers for the Berbice unit.

Georgetown’s bowlers, who have been doing well in the competition, were put to the sword by the Berbicians with opener Shemroy Barrington being the surprise performer with the ball, snatching up 6-38 from 9.3 overs.

Georgetown, who made 274 all out in their first innings, were reduced to 115-6 in their second innings, 51 runs behind after pacer Clinton Pestano sliced through the batting order to claim 5-38. Raymond Perez mirrored his first innings score of 41 while Captain Paul Wintz’s 24 was the next best score.

Shiv Chanderpaul

East Coast vs. East Bank at Everest After batting first, East Coast ended their first innings and opening day on 1843 thanks mainly to the pair of Amir Khan (69*) and Kamesh Yadram (57*) who will resume their innings today. West Indies U19 batsman Bhaskar Yadram earlier chipped in with 38. West Demerara vs.

Essequibo at Tuschen Essequibo were 127-4 at the end of stumps on the first day with the veteran Shiv Chanderpaul solidly placed on 62 not out and his partner Chaitram Persaud 27, looking to push on. Jamal Gomes snapped up two wickets for West Demerara who managed to knock off the Essequibo top-order; Kevon Boodie (29), Kemol Savory (15), Vijai Surujpaul (05) and Kevin Christian (04).

West Berbice vs. Lower Corentyne at Bush Lot – no play due to rain.

Social Cohesion Minister, Dr George Norton (seated second from right) with the athletes and officials from the contingent to South American Youth Games

M

inister of Social Cohesion, Dr George Norton on Friday met with the Guyanese contingent of athletes and officials who recently returned from the South American Youth Games in Santiago, Chile.

“I want to assure you (athletes) that we (government) will not leave you out in the cold to fend for yourselves and only for us to have the glory” Minister Norton declared.

He also revealed that he craved the idea of being present at the airport to welcome home the returning athletes but apologized for his absence as he was out of the country at the said time.

He singled out young boxer Keevin Allicock noting that it was unfortunate the flyweight boxer could not compete, the Minister nevertheless urged him to continue striving for more despite the obstacles in his way.

The Minister urged all the athletes

to continue working hard and not to look at the mistakes but instead to look to the future as the government will afford all the possible support to them.

Meanwhile Permanent Secretary (Ag) in the Ministry, Steve Ninvalle applauded the entire team saying that they were all good ambassadors of Guyana. He pointed out that in all the recent international youth events Guyana has medaled and this means that the country is doing something right.

“I want to urge everyone to put their shoulders to the wheel, because exactly what we put in that is what we will take out.”

Deshana Skeete secured Guyana’s only gold medal when she ran the race of her life and clocked her personal best in the Girls 400 Metres. Skeete clocked her fastest time of 57.28s as she chased down Brazilian Jessica Vitoria De

Oliveira Moreira (57.54s) to cross the line and secure gold.

Kenisha Philips snared silver in the Girls 100 and 200 metre events while Jermain King also won silver in the Boys 100 metres.

Guyana was also represented in badminton and table tennis, with Priyanna Ramdhani doing well to reach the quarter-final stage in the Badminton Girls Single category, while her male compatriot, Tyrese Jeffrey, was knocked out in the opening stages.

Miguel Wong and Nickolus Romain were both early round casualties as well, in the male table tennis competition.

In some controversy, young flyweight boxer Keevin Allicock and Christopher Moore were ineligible to participate, as the Games Committee ruled them out due to age stipulation changes made.

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

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2017

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“You will not be left out in the cold” – Minister Norton Minister George Norton presents South American Youth Games gold medalist Deshauna Skeete with NSC’s honorary medal

Silva leads fight after WI ‘A’ declare

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– Pacey Joseph among the wickets The lively Keon Joseph made Dhananjaya Silva uncomfortable during his innings

Pan-Am Indoor Hockey Championships 2017…

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Defending Champions ready for all comers The Canadian Women’s team practised at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Friday

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