Tuesday april 18

Guyana to host Suriname Art Expo

P16 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3185

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

PRICE

“Water is life, but this water is killing us!”

Page 7

Soca singer Benjai injured in Guyana Page 8

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

P9 Guyana prepared to counter US nixing of HIV funding

– Dr Cummings

…Hubu residents drowning in concerns

Govt to identify new Ombudsman by month-end Page 2

Pages 12 & 13

Guyana-bound passengers left stranded at JFK P8 …as another Dynamic Airways flight delayed

GAWU to P17 continue to agitate over closure of sugar estate …members “nervous” about future

President David Granger exploring his inner child at the National Park as he happily helped in raising a kite. Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo also had a fun-filled Easter Monday, as he enjoyed the cool Atlantic breeze at the Anna Catherina seawall

Manickchand dubs Govt’s VAT on education policy “senseless” Page 2

Govt divided over VAT P16 on private education P10 Region 2 manufacturers, agro-processors benefit from food safety symposium

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Manickchand dubs Govt’s VAT Govt to identify new on education policy “senseless” Ombudsman by month-end

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ormer Education Minister Priya Manickchand has described Government’s decision to impose the Value Added Tax (VAT) on private education as “senseless and unimaginative”.

Manickchand told Guyana Times on Monday that the situation begged the question whether the David Granger-led Administration planned to stick with the promises it had made with respect to education.

Under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government, the “Because We Care” Education Grant was introduced to the public school system in 2014, while Manickchand was Minister.

The initiative saw parents receiving $10,000 for each public school student annually that aided the schooling of children at the nursery, primary and secondary levels.

To be eligible, children had to be registered with a public school.

Manickchand recalled that when the then PPP/C Government had introduced this new initiative, not only did it receive popular support, but the then A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) Opposition parties had conceded that it was a sensible decision.During that period, both parties, according to her, had suggested to the PPP/C Government that they should also extend the grant to include children attending private educational institutions.

The then Government had expressed its willingness to consider the recommendation, on the basis that APNU and AFC felt that “private school students were poor”.

Manickchand told Guyana Times that the Government’s new position on VAT on education, therefore, highlighted the grave “vindictiveness” and “flip-flop” approach that were evident each day.

“So, one year before you came into office, you said private school students were poor and are deserving of cash grants, an omission we had made as a government. One year later, you come in, and tax the hell out of them and their parents,” she noted.

The former Education Minister said it was “really sad” that parents were now being forced to consider how they would meet the monthly or termly school fees, in addition to

Former Education Minister Priya Manickchand

surviving the increased taxation implemented by the new Government.

She said, “The average schoolchild (private school) has to pay $25,000 more in school fees. That is 50 lunches they are taking out of that child’s lunch kit. To do what? To fund extravagance by the Government? Travelling, travelling with large delegations. I mean, if we can cut back on that, then we can give our children the education that the Government said when they were campaigning.”

Manickchand continued, “It is really quite a shame. It is unnecessary. It is almost a punishment to the parents (and children) who want to do better for their children, so that these children can do better for Guyana.”

Although the policy has received widespread condemnation, Government remains firm on keeping the 14 per cent VAT that was applied to private education effective February 1, 2017.

Cabinet has taken the decision that the VAT on education will remain for the rest of 2017; however, during its 2018 budget planning, a review of the VAT regime would be done.

The PPP/C has made it clear that if it was reelected to office in 2020, it would reverse this and other policies it deemed unnecessary that were imposed on Guyanese by the coalition Government.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon

The late Justice Winston Moore was Guyana’s last Ombudsman

Outgoing Chairman of Police Complaints Authority (PCA), Justice Cecil Kennard

he Office of the Ombudsman is expected to be filled soon. State Minister Joseph Harmon has revealed that Government will be making an announcement to this effect by the end of April.

“We’re still in the process of identifying that person, and we believe that by the end of April we will be in a position to make that announcement,” Harmon told reporters at last week’s post-Cabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency.

This pronouncement by the State Minister comes months after he had said that Government would have appointed a new Ombudsman within the first quarter of 2017. At the time, he had noted that the appointment requires “careful consideration” and consultations with the Opposition Leader, in accordance with the law.

“I can say to you that, in fact, we are looking at several persons: which ones we have basically decided on, what are the names of the persons we are likely to put up; but we would have to

discuss that with the Leader of the Opposition, and to get his ‘buy in’ on it,” Harmon had stated.

The last Ombudsman, Justice Winston Moore, died in September 2016. He had been appointed to the position in January 2014. The ombudsman’s office is an independent, impartial body providing free services in investigating complaints that haven’t been solved by an organisation or public body against which the complaint is directed. The role of the ombudsman is also to investigate complaints of cases that have been handled badly or unfairly by another agency, thereby making someone suffer as a result.

Minister Harmon told reporters on Thursday last that Government is also looking to fill the chairmanship of the Police Complaints Authority. It was revealed back in January that outgoing Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), Justice Cecil Kennard, had been asked to step down from the post because of his age. While his termination letter was dated December 31, 2016, Justice

Kennard had requested, and was given, additional time on the job to wrap up his unfinished work. He is expected to officially step down by this month end.

Minister Harmon has further outlined that Government wants to fill several other public service posts that are vacant, including that of the Public Service Appellate Tribunal, which he noted has been languishing for many years under the previous administration.

“We’re looking to ensure that that body is also activated, because in the absence of that, public servants who want to challenge their dismissals and so on have to engage in the expensive process of going to the High Court, and in many cases, the system does not produce the kind of results that they are looking for in a very timely manner,” he noted.

The State Minister noted that these and other appointments are on the front burner of the current administration, and all these issues are expected to be addressed very shortly.

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tuesDAY, APRIL 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, April 18 – 09:30h-11:00h and Wednesday, April 19 – 11:00h-12:30h.

Govt divided over VAT on private education

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, April 18 –08:25h-09:55h Wednesday, April 19 – 09:50h-11:20h.

and

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected throughout the day, interrupted by light rain showers in the late morning and early afternoon hours. Partly cloudy skies to clear skies are predicted for the evening hours.

Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Easterly to north-easterly between 3.57 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 08:45h and 21:30h reaching maximum heights of 2.27 metres and 2.15 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 14:54h reaching a minimum height of 0.94 metre. ………………

SATURDAY, April 15, 2017

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President David Granger

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s resistance continues to the imposed 14 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on private education, Government seems divided on its stance.

Although Cabinet has already ruled that a review of the education tax will take place until next year, the Alliance For Change (AFC) arm of the coalition Administration intends to challenge that decision.

According to Leader Raphael Trotman, the AFC will be advocating for the review in light of the negative feedback received regarding Cabinet’s decision to keep the VAT on private school fees.

“The AFC is going to be pushing for a review and, as I said, we hope it comes sooner rather than later, but, at the end of the day, we are a part of a coalition and are aware that sometimes pulling one string has corresponding consequences,” Trotman, a senior Government Minister, is quoted as saying in another section of the media.

Trotman explained that the issue was debated at Cabinet, but at the end of that deliberation, a decision was made to maintain the VAT on private education.

According to him, it is easier to make a decision than to reverse it.

“It is akin to pulling a thread in a fabric,” Trotman told another newspaper during an interview.

Efforts to contact Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine for his views on the AFC’s resilience proved futile as all calls to his phone went unanswered.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, during the recent post-Cabinet press briefing, disclosed that Cabinet, which usually made unanimous decisions, agreed that the education tax would remain for 2017, but would be reviewed for 2018.

“The views of stakeholders were reported to Cabinet, and Cabinet took into consideration those views which were made public at that forum; and after having a full discussion on this matter, it was the decision of Cabinet that the VAT on private education would remain in accordance with the budgetary projections for 2017,” he stated.

He noted, however, that it would be reviewed for the 2018 National Budget, for which preparations would commence in June.

The initial announcement of this position was made during the “consultations” held between Government and stakeholders who have been vigorously protesting against the tax on private tuition.

Following that announcement by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, distraught and disappointed stakeholders stormed out of the consultation, and have threatened to continue their resistance against Government in various

forms.

Several protest actions have since been held, with concerned stakeholders lashing out at the Administration for wasting their time and holding a window-dressing exercise.

They are not satisfied with Government’s decision and have pledged their commitment to continue to oppose the education tax.

In fact, a protest is being organised for Wednesday outside the Ministry of the Presidency on Vlissengen Road.

President David Granger, during the most recent broadcast of the “Public Interest” programme, said persons needed to be more patient, tolerant and reasonable. The Head of State explained that in fulfilling a campaign promise, his Administration reduced VAT by two per cent and, therefore, it had to find ways to generate revenues which would be lost from that reduction.

But Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, at his Party’s weekly press conference on Monday last, pointed out that Government could afford to drop the imposed VAT on private education, which became effective on February 1, 2017, by slashing spending in unnecessary areas in order to maintain its desired revenue stream.

According to Finance Minister Winston Jordan, Government has projected it would earn over $350 million per year from the VAT on private education. He has contended that the education tax was necessary, because a number of private schools did not pay their full share of existing taxes, but Jagdeo argued that such an

AFC Leader and Government Minister Raphael Trotman

explanation defied logic.

According to the Opposition Leader, Government seems to have its priorities backward, since it could save much more than $350 million per year if it immediately rescinds the salary increases and lavish benefits given to Ministers.

“The salary increases that Ministers took in addition to their benefits will be more than $350 million alone! Are they saying that they have greater priority in terms of needs to State funds than the 20,000 students in Guyana who are going to private institutions?” Jagdeo queried.

Jagdeo has further slammed Government over other “unnecessary spending”, such as the $3.5 billion tax write-off to Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL); sums of money being spent on the “fixing up” of State House and the Ministry of the Presidency; and also the $12.5 million of taxpayers’ money being handed to AFC financier Larry Singh for the Sussex Street bond, which could have otherwise been utilised to bolster revenues instead of taxing private institutions.

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Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Dismantling the sugar industry

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n spite of the coalition leaders’ promise to keep the sugar industry alive, adopting the “sugar is too big to fail” mantra, the steps they have taken so far seem intended to dismantle this vital industry, which is the mainstay of entire communities.

Today, along with entire estates, the livelihood of sugar workers and the survival of thousands of families are on the chopping block.

During the tenure of the previous Government, despite the challenges facing the survival of the industry, sugar workers’ pay packets were assured, as were their incentive bonuses, no matter how small. Also, their retirement benefits were cast in stone.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration was determined to sustain the industry, and it strove with a multiplicity of interventions to make sugar production viable again.

At the commissioning of the packaging facility at Enmore in May of 2011, then President Bharrat Jagdeo, addressing Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) management and staff, and workers in the industry’s ancillary services, reiterated his pledge that the PPP/C government would always provide sustained support to “…an industry in which you work, an industry that provides a living for thousands of people, an industry that contributes to our national economy in innumerable ways; in fact, 16 per cent of our [Gross Domestic Product] GDP comes directly from this industry”.

One can draw parallels to indicate the quantum of this amount and its importance to the national economy. In the United Kingdom, for instance, the financial sector contributes just five per cent to that country’s GDP, yet, when there is turmoil in that industry, it threatens to create decades of stagnation in that economy and economies related to it.

“So the sugar industry is vital for Guyana, not just for sugar workers, but there are some realities to this industry, and the path to success will not be easy…but we have to succeed…there is no other choice,” Jagdeo warned.

As he reminded his audience, “We have kept the sugar industry alive in Guyana when sugar industries right across the world – including in the Caribbean – are failing.”

In the waning years of the millennium, several Caribbean islands scrapped their sugar industries in the wake of difficulties faced as a consequence of the European Union (EU) price cuts several years prior. As a result of these unilateral price cuts, Guyana’s sugar prices were 36 per cent less than they were five years prior, which resulted in approximately $9 billion (US$45 million) in lost or reduced revenue every year. Detractors had a field day, increasingly, pessimistically prognosticating doom-and-gloom scenarios and advocating relinquishing the sector because they envisaged the problems and challenges in the sugar industry as being insurmountable.

However, the then President adamantly assured the stakeholders of the industry that working together Government, workers, and management could make the industry once again successful, despite the very difficult environment – apart from the price cuts. He cited as one of the major challenges facing the industry, the high level of volatility and erratic weather patterns due to global warming. Since then, turnaround plan after turnaround plan has been tried with limited success and billions in subsidies.

Some argue that the industry is a drain on the economy and should be rationalised. Others believe that the naysayers and doom-and-gloom prophets are fulfilling their own prognostications of the imminent closure of the sugar sector, and are relishing sounding the death knell of the survival systems of entire communities, because their perception is that sugar is a PPP/C enclave and destroying the sector would be dismantling the support base of the PPP/C, disregarding the fact that their own supporters are also being affected.

An objective observer might argue these myopic and destructive Government partners are visionless, and refuse to conceptualise the magnitude of success that a sustained and committed effort can engender in the sector. As for leadership, it is widely felt that they lack the basic skills to lead a country to prosperity, and can only project fiscal policies that are punitive and demoralising to the national psyche.

These young men posed with their large kites at the National Park on Monday as Guyanese from all walks of life enjoyed a day of kite flying (Marceano Narine photo)

Thoughts to ponder on Dear Editor, This APNU/AFC Administration has kept none of its campaign promises, and its officials do not even pretend to care what they say or do. They also do not seem to even care what the people think of them.

Some of those campaign promises are: (1) Workers never got the 20% increase in salaries, but they (the Government) gave themselves more than 50% increase within a few months of getting into office. In 2016, ‘smart’ Winston Jordan gave the workers a 5% increase, then conned them by making the increase effective from July 2016, with no retroactive increase.

That is to say: the increase was effective for half the year; so, in reality, the workers got only 2.5% for 2016. The increase this year is also another big con.

(2) They promised the pensioners a big increase, but when they did give the increase -- of about $3,000 per month -- in the same

breath, ‘smart’ Jordan terminated the pensioners’ electricity and water subsidies. Then, this year, he placed Value Added Tax (VAT) on water and electricity, an added cost and burden to the pensioners.

(3) Government gave the school children $1,500, then cut out the $10,000 that the PPP government was giving to them.

Therefore, in reality they lost $8,500.

(4) The Government cut the VAT by 2% -- from 16% to 14% -- but then applied VAT on over 150 items that never had VAT during the tenure of the PPP Administration, and that is inclusive of VAT on private education! And if you go to a private doctor or hospital, remember what the goodly lady minister said, “If you can go to private means, you have the money, pay the VAT.” Remember what the ‘bright’ Jordan said: VAT on education is not a tax, but just a tool to broaden his tax base. What the hell does that mean? He is still collecting tax on education.

(5) The Government promised rice farmers $9,000 a bag for paddy.

Today they are getting $2,000 or less per bag.

Also, the cost of production has gone up with the increase in price for fertiliser and the cancellation of all duty-free concessions.

On top of that, President David Granger told them that rice production is your private business, find your market, but that was after this fancy government destroyed their profitable Venezuelan rice market.

This they did to please ‘Uncle Sam,’ who is financing the Venezuelan opposition M.U.D with millions of US dollars to get rid of President Maduro all because of their oil. If we are not careful we can have a proxy war with Venezuela.

(6) The Government said sugar is too big to fail.

But as soon as they began administrating, their tune changes and they are closing down the estates, starting with Wales, then Rose Hall and Enmore, and the selling of Skeldon. Can someone please explain to me: If sugar has failed and

has no future whatsoever, how come businessmen as far as India and as near as Trinidad and Tobago, and whoever else the PM’s sonin-law will find want to invest in our sugar industry?

Do they have money to waste? Or are they stupid?

Only our government ministers are the real smart men to see the future, with the chief psychic economist pronouncing the death of sugar.

But I believe that their real reason for destroying the rice and sugar industries is because that is where the PPP strength lies. So this APNU/AFC Administration believes that, if they destroy both the sugar and rice industries, they will make the people really frustrated and dissatisfied, hopefully against the PPP for being unable to help them.

They are hoping that by this way they will be able to get rid of the PPP. They care nothing about the sufferings of the workers, farmers and their families - they are collateral damage at the political altar. continued on page 5

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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

A Trinidadian strikes down a Guyanese wimp Dear Editor, For me to strike down a semi-literate newspaper letter-writer like Baboo Freddie Kissoon is like using a sledgehammer to kill a fly. And indeed Baboo Freddie is like a fly who feeds off the filth of the back-dam to further infect the body politic of Guyana.

For the first time – and I hope it would be the last – I would dignify this semblance of a man named Baboo Freddie by responding to his letter. In his letter, he seeks to ridicule and belittle three national icons of Guyana. Ravi Dev, Ryhaan Shah and Swami Aksharananda are also heroes in the Indian diaspora.

Baboo Freddie wrote that Ravi Dev “is a stuck record that has become a jaded and faded mandarin.”

The meaning of mandarin in this context is “a member of an elite or powerful group or class, as in intellectual or cultural milieus.”

Unwittingly, Baboo Freddie has confessed that Ravi Dev was once important, powerful and influential in the Guyanese society.

I have known Ravi Dev for decades and have been impressed by the breadth and depth of his intellect.

The University of Guyana (UG) should have awarded Ravi Dev an honorary doctorate a long time ago.

Baboo Freddie is no match for this former New York attorney. I am sure Ravi Dev can beat Baboo Freddie to a frazzle in any writing or debating contest.

Baboo Freddie also wrote that Ryhaan Shah “is a tenth rate writer of fiction…” Baboo Freddie is so blinded by hate for Indians and for himself as a/an (black) Indian that he can-

not see beyond his tainted spectacles. If Ryhaan were a “tenth-rate writer of fiction”, how was she able to publish her novel, A Silent Life, with the prestigious Peepal Tree Press in England, and her second book, A Death in the Family, by Cutting Edge Press in the UK? If Ryhaan were a “tenth-rate writer of fiction”, how was she able to win the Guyana Prize for the Best First Book in 2007?

It is clear that Baboo Freddie cannot be objective and it is no surprise that he was fired by UG as a social sciences tutor. Since his dismissal in 2012, he scrimps out a living day by day by frog-hopping as a columnist from one Guyanese newspaper to the next. In 2009, the Guyana Revenue Authority had to issue a notice to him for outstanding property taxes.

Unlike Ryhaan Shah, he does not have a book to his name. Someone should advise Ryhaan to keep her books under lock and key because Baboo Freddie is reported to have stolen 88 books from the National Library in Guyana perhaps to re-sell (See Stabroek News, October 18, 2009).

Baboo Freddie also wrote that Swami Aksharananda condemned Moses Nagamootoo and Nigel Hughes for inciting African youths to beat Indians during a violent protest at Agricola in October 2012.

Baboo Freddie wrote that the racially incited protest never happened: “Nothing of this sort happened. We would have it on the historical record…” As a letter writer, columnist and former tutor, Baboo Freddie should know that not all (perspectives of) events are

recorded in newspapers and books. Every school child knows this fact.

Alternatively, Baboo Freddie must provide evidence that Swami made those accusations. If he cannot, he must be hauled before the courts. He is known to have lost an appeal in a libel case in 2011 and was ordered not to repeat the allegations in question, and to pay a $40,000 fine.

Baboo Freddie also wrote that Swami “owns a school where the students numbering in the hundreds are all East Indians.” It is obvious that Baboo Freddie has not visited Swami’s prestigious, private Hindu high/secondary school. I have visited the school twice and saw African, Christian and Muslim (in hijab) students. I have photos to prove that Baboo Freddie is peddling dangerous and divisive lies.

Clearly, Baboo Freddie needs psychological or even psychiatric help. He seems to suffer from ethnic self-hatred (auto-phobia) which is expressed by extreme dislike for one’s own ethnic group. Social psychologists use the terms “internalised oppression” and “false consciousness” to describe this form of personality disorder. As a writer, Baboo Freddie should read the book Jewish SelfHatred by Sander Gilman who discusses the feelings of self-loathing and shame of individuals with low self-esteem.

Sincerely, Dr Kumar Mahabir, Assistant Professor University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) Ph D Anthropology, University of Florida

Thoughts to ponder...

This is sheer dirty politics. This Government is wielding an economic axe in great hope of getting rid of the PPP; and they don’t care a damn about the difficulties and hardships their actions and policies will cause to the people of this country, and the severe damage they will cause to the economy.

(7) Hamilton Green, after he received his undeserved $20 million-plus pension, has now become a spokesperson against Pradoville 2; but he has forgotten that during the PNC dictator Forbes Burnham’s rule, he took six house lots and the Government’s sheet iron pilings that were for the sea defence project and enforced his property. He got off ‘scot free’, but the Minister of Works at the

time was penalised.

(8) What did President Granger hope to achieve when he rejected the Opposition Leader’s list for the position of Chairman of GECOM? He took a long time, and has not put forward his concept of the quality/type of person he wants to be Chairman of GECOM, but his ideas go against the 2003 Constitution.

Where can you find a totally independent or neutral person? For once you have voted at a General Election, you cannot be totally independent or neutral.

However, such a person can function professionally and be neutral.

Is it, as the Opposition believes, that he wants to put his own chosen person to rig the 2020 elec-

from page 4

tions? But do the actions of this ‘smart’ Administration give the impression that they want elections within the next two and a half years? Does it not look as if the President is stalling for time in order to stretch this process as far as possible?

Then link this GECOM problem with the Constitutional Reform programme that the ABC countries are now subtly pushing, stretching both out beyond 2020, hopefully to the time when the oil money will come in? Does he want to do as Desmond Hoyte did and gain another two years to rule? Maybe we would not be able to have the General Elections until about 2022-2023 or so.

Yours sincerely, Chandra Shekar Azad

Is this what we can expect from the Public Service Training College?

Dear Editor, I invite readers to take a hard look at the long (and naturally very costly) advertisement that appeared in last Sunday’s print media inviting prospective students to enrol with the Bertram Collins College of the Public Service of Guyana.

It is my considered view that if this is an example of the level of training and therefore the quality of service we can expect from graduates of the college, then we might as well scrap the idea of having such a college, and so save any further dip into our depleting treasury!

The advert is steeped in antiquity. To even say so is to clothe it in undeserving literary garb. Its anachronism depicts an image straight out of the ‘Dickenson era’, when messages and mis-

sives were delivered by hand and on horse-back from the senders as widely dispersed as those in the far-flung regions of Guyana, and as envisaged by the author(s) of the advert under review.

Just imagine asking applicants of both genders (which is a must in our ‘liberated society’) to ‘buckle-up’, mount their steeds and rush off from Essequibo or Corentyne to hand deliver their applications into a letter box in some obscure building in South Georgetown! And furthermore, in this ‘choke & rob’ age, to risk being relieved of their horse when dismounting to drop off the applications!

Aren’t the authors of the advert aware of the facilities of ICT? Don’t they know that traditional letter-writ-

ing has long given way to the e-mail?

If the Public Service College will be operating in such a backward mode, do we really need it? It is fair to assume that such a college would promote the delivery of empathetic services for the public. Where is there any evidence of ‘empathy’ on the part of the framers of the advert?

One can go on to write the ‘proverbial book’ on the deficiencies and irritants of this advert, starting with the many opening questions, some of which are downright silly and rather misleading; but I’d be happy to engage instead in a face-to-face chat, if those concerned are so inclined.

Sincerely, Nowrang Persaud

GFF is never an organisation devoid of compelling drama Dear Editor, The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) is never an organisation devoid of compelling drama, and most of it is self-inflicted by administrators who lack leadership skills and have authoritarian instincts.

The recent imbroglio in which the nation’s most successful and well-resourced clubs refused to participate in the top elite competition, and actions subsequently taken by the GFF’s leaders – to refuse an independent arbiter permission to investigate and settle the matter – continue to perpetuate and reinforce this conviction.

As reported in most of the dailies on Sunday (April 16), one of the judicial arms (the first instance, disciplinary committee) of the GFF ruled that the executive arm was incorrect in its interpretation of the rules of the federation. Instead of responding and notifying its members, and the public, that while it does not agree with the ruling, it would respect the constitutional process and lodge a formal appeal (which is mandated within 3 days, as per the disciplinary code) to the Appeal Committee of the federation, the executive committee responded with a response of “consternation” in relation to the disciplinary committee’s findings, adumbrating that the committee has no authority to adjudicate, and went on to repeat why the executive committee’s interpretation of the rules is the correct one.

The separation of powers doctrine in democratic institutions can be a very difficult pill to swallow for most engaged in the system. Most often, executives feel that they have the solution to every problem and they are the end-all of every decision, only to be brought down to earth

when the judiciary rules. No amount of screaming and shouting on what the executive feels, or making reference to the opinions (not rulings) of external bodies – in this case FIFA and CONCACAF – will change the stark reality that the appropriate internal and constitutional body has adjudicated on the mat-

ter. The only action from the executives that will suffice is to use the constitutional process available to them, as the aggrieved clubs did, and formally appeal the decision.

Sincerely, Clinton Urling Former Chairman GFF

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By Susan Perry, PhD

Continued FROM MONDAY

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– but is waiting for bigger rewards always the best option?

By Katherine Schreiber and Heather Hausenblas, PhD

D

o you struggle to control your impulses in the moment, choosing smaller but more immediate rewards (a lesser sum of money, say, or a more immediate temptation like chocolate) rather than holding out for larger rewards (more money, greater odds at fitting into those skinny jeans)?

For decades, the thinking has been that if only we could all hone our willpower muscles, we'd all be able to say more no's to shorter term gains — and thus reap more benefits associated with waiting. A new study

by University of Berkeley researchers Adrianna Jenkins and Ming Hsu has recently discovered an alternative to the now classic "willpower approach to holding our horses when making decisions. It involves reframing our options so that we fully understand (and perhaps feel) the consequences of our choices, as opposed to proverbially biting our tongues.

Jenkins and Hsu conducted two experiments in which they tested the effects of re-framing on subjects’ willingness to wait for larger rewards. In the first, Jenkins and Hsu asked 122

participants to rate the desirability of various rewards which were presented independently (ie, Option A: $8 tomorrow; Option B:$10 in 30 days) or as a sequence (ie, Option A: $8 tomorrow, $0 in 7 days; Option B: $0 tomorrow and $10 in 7 days).

When options were framed independently participants were more likely to choose the sooner, smaller reward. (This replicated previous research.) But when options were presented in a sequence participants were more likely to hold out for larger ones.

Jenkins and Hsu then repeated the experiment with 203 additional participants.

This time, however, they were curious about how being presented with either frame would influence the degree to which participants imagined the consequences of their actions. So they split all subjects into two groups and presented one with an independent prompt (this time the stakes were higher: Option A: $100 tomorrow; Option B: $120 in 30 days) and the other with a sequential prompt (Option A: $100 tomorrow and $0 in 30 days; Option B: $0 tomorrow and $120 in 30 days). Afterward, each participant was asked to rate how vividly they had

imagined receiving each amount ($0 tomorrow, $100 tomorrow, $0 in 30 days, $120 in 30 days).

As expected, Jenkins and Hsu found that reframing the receipt of rewards as a sequence (instead of as independent events) lead to greater imagination of potential outcomes. What’s more, imagination of longer term outcomes was equally strong as it was for shorter term outcomes in the sequence condition. This contrasted with a greater focus on short-term rewards seen in the independent condition and also in prior research on short and long term rewards.

Finally, Jenkins and Hsu wanted to see whether the imagination triggered by seeing reward options as sequential relied upon different brain regions than did willpower, that long assumed mechanism of hanging in for the long haul. So the researchers snuggled 42 participants into an fMRI scanner and exposed them to independent and sequential prompts.

When subjects mulled over sequential prompts they displayed more activity in regions of their brains associated with imagination (namely: the medial pre-

frontal cortex, posterior cingulate, and hippocampus).

Though the researchers were well aware that activation of these areas alone cannot rule out the contribution of other processes apart from imagination upon the greater exertion of patience resulting from considering options in a sequential frame, they believe that the combination of self-reported imagination and the activation of the above “regions of interest” implicate imagination as a strong contributor to waiting for more.

"We know people often have difficulty being patient," Jenkins said in a press release. "Our findings suggest that imagination is a possible route for attaining patience that may be more sustainable and practical than exerting willpower."

In other words, rather than relying solely on willpower next time you’re faced with an option to wait to receive a larger reward, it may be worth your while to deploy imagination — that is: envision the benefits of the later reward and envision the downsides of getting a reward sooner but having less of it to enjoy as time goes on. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

. Buy a copy of The Way Things Work Now: From Levers to Lasers, Windmills to Wi-Fi, a Visual Guide to the World of Machines, a 400-page illustrated book, revised and updated, by David Macaulay with Neil Ardley (originally published in 1988). This intriguing book both tells and shows clear explanations for every kind of machine. Readers (or pre-readers with parental help) learn what goes on inside a door lock as it's being unlocked, how a can opener uses its toothed wheels as gears to get the turning force of the handle to where it is useful, how a vacuum cleaner uses air pressure, all the digital stuff (music, TV, GPS), up to showing the insides of a nuclear reactor. (Even I kept thinking, "Cool!")

9. What would your child take with him for a month on a desert island? Ask for realistic reasons for each choice.

Prompt with questions such as, "How would you prepare food?", "How would you go to the bathroom?", and "What could you take that would help you get off the island?"

10.For the child with an interest in vehicles, provide plenty of materials to design creative versions of these vehicles. One 5-year-old likes to make "airplanes" out of elaborate combinations of large boxes and chairs. How about designing a cockpit, a pit stop for a race car, or a train station out of furniture, sheets, and odds and ends?

11. Kids can design miniature see-saws. A see-saw is a kind of lever. Demonstrate how to place a piece of wood, such as a ruler or yardstick, on a fulcrum (the pivot point, a small non-round object). Have your child experiment with balancing objects of different weight on each end of the see-saw by moving the fulcrum closer to one end or the other.

12. Ask your child to design a contraption in which each part acts on the next in some way. For example, he might balance an incline (a ruler) on some blocks. When he rolls a marble on the incline and it falls down, it lands in a paper cup that is itself balanced precariously. When the cup falls, make something else happen.

13. A life-size maze can be concocted in a bedroom or the yard. Gather string, blankets, boxes, chairs, and so on, and suggest that your child design a zigzag course for you, a sibling, or a friend to walk or crawl through when she's done.

14. Find an old chair and invite your child to turn it into something else by decorating it, gluing odd parts onto it, or, if feasible, taking it apart and putting it together in an imaginative way. Talk about other common objects that can be re-purposed similarly, with no limits on imagination.

15.How about creating an art work that responds to touch, wind, or gravity? Your child could combine small discs of any material, strings, buttons, pieces of wood, and so on. These can be arranged in some kind of frame, or hung up in the form of a mobile. Search garage sales or flea markets in search of suitable found objects to include in the artwork.

16. Make up a silly game, using mallets, balls of various kinds, boxes, or any household object or toy that inspires an idea. Part of the fun for your child will be deciding on the rules for her made-up game.

17. It takes creative powers to come up with directions for "10 Ways Not to..." do or make something. For instance, say he's just learned to build a sand castle. He can list everything that can be done wrong while building a sand castle ("Start with dry sand. Build a 20-foot structure. Sit on the castle to tamp down the sand.")

Above all, have fun together exploring the boundlessness of the imagination, as well as the limits of the physical world. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com)

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tuesDAY, APRIL 18, 2017| guyanatimesgy.com

“Water is life, but this water is killing us!” …Hubu residents drowning in concerns Station and were receiving potable water, but everything changed with the coming of a new government. Their grid was taken off the Vergenoegen Pump System and they were then connected to a small station right in Hubu. But according to the residents, the shallowness of the well linked to the station in Hubu is the likely reason for the contaminated supply they are getting.

Challenge

One of the residents displaying a jug of the discoloured water received from the taps

By Devina Samaroo

W

ater is life; but for the residents of Hubu Backdam, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), say the supply they are receiving from the country’s main utility company is causing much health risk for them.

Gone are the days when the people of Hubu enjoyed potable water. Instead of progressing, their community seems to be inundating in issue after issue.

When Guyana Times visited the area on Monday, residents came out in large numbers to voice their concerns, and many were already in the depths of despair while others were on the brink of ‘losing their minds’ over the water woes.

Residents found it highly unacceptable that they were paying for foul and discoloured water, which they cannot use for cooking, washing, bathing, drinking or cleaning purposes. In fact, many calls have been made to the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) by residents of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) who, was for a considerable period of time, were forced to use water of poor quality.

Komal Narine, who is considered one of the village leaders, challenged the ministers and those in authority at GWI to use the quality of water they are receiving, daring them to endure the struggles.

“I dare challenge the minister or any relevant personnel to come and see for

Lakeram Dankumar demonstrating that the water looks clear when it flows from the tap but changes colour when the particles are settled

themselves. I want them to drink or use this kind of water that we are getting.

Let’s see if they can survive from this that they are giving people to use,” he expressed as he turned on the tap in his neighbour’s backyard, displaying the unclean water. Narine believes his community is grappling with a water crisis, and is imploring the relevant authorities to intervene with urgency before the situation surpasses its current unbearable stage.

Expense

GWI’s Hubu Well Station

In February, the water company announced that it would be installing a total of eight mobile generators with an electrical ring system at three well sites, which would see the residents, including Hubu dwellers, benefiting from an improved water supply.

Elder residents told this publication that they were once connected to the Vergenoegen Pump

sils, everything does get red with this water. Since this new government take over, this is the water we getting. Before, we used to get water from Vegae (Vergenoegen) and we cudda cook and clean and do all kinds of things with this water,” said one of the residents, known as Aunty Marcy.

She said she normally purchases approximately six bottles of water per week in order to cook. “In addition to that, I have to pay the water bill. Every month the water bill gonna come, and if you don’t pay, they gonna cut you off,” she stated.

Aunty Marcy also vented about how badly the water stains anything it touches, and the extra time, money and energy it takes to remedy the prob-

For some residents, they are burdened with additional expenses, in some cases $12,000 to $20,000 per month, in order to treat the unfiltered tap water, or purchase supplementary water in order to survive. “If you have to store this water in the black vat, you have to get like 1-2 gallon bleach every other day.

All your dishes and uten-

lems. “Look, the other day I used the water to pressure wash my shop, and now I have to go paint back…the water stained it up,” she explained.

Trench water

According to another resident, Lakeram Dankumar, he prefers to use the trench water rather than the water being supplied by GWI. “You can’t bathe with this thing.

This thing stink bad, bad, bad. You can’t bathe them lil pickney with this thing.

They skin does break out.

The water stain up your concrete and the tile, it staining up your wares.

You so shame fuh give people something to eat or drink, cause of how it leaving your wares,” Dankumar explained exasperatedly.

His family normally relies on the rain water stored in the black tanks; however, he said, it is always worrying, as there is no other comfortable alternative when the tank runs dry. “Sometimes, to tell you the honest truth, I does prefer to use the trench water,” he declared.

Residents have been battling with the poor quality of water for the longest while, hoping that it was a temporary problem; but months have gone by and no solution is forthcoming, despite GWI’s recent commitment. GWI’s Regional Divisional Manager, Martin Garrick, in an article published in February,

Komal Narine speaking with Guyana Times about the water woes affecting the community

“I dare challenge the Minister or any relevant personnel to come and see for themselves. I want them to drink or use this kind of water that we are getting. Let’s see if they can survive from this that they are giving people to use” – resident conceded that the quality of water is of interest to the water company and needs to be improved urgently.

Residents are calling on GWI and the relevant authorities to expedite the improvements to the water system, so they can once again enjoy a normal qual-

ity of life, one in which potable water does not seem like a luxurious amenity only to be afforded by the rich.

It must be noted Hubu is a large farming community which supplies large amounts of cash crop to the rest of Region Three.

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tuesdAY, APRIL 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana-bound passengers left stranded at JFK …as another Dynamic Airways flight delayed

M

ere days after Dynamic Airways had been slapped with a G$24 million fine as a result of flight delays and other issues, another of its flights was delayed on Monday.

A number of passengers who had hoped to be home in time to celebrate Easter Monday in Guyana were left disappointed after the airline cancelled a flight destined to Guyana from the John.

F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Reports are that the passengers were already on board the aircraft, but after some time were told that they had to disembark and reclaim their luggage.

Further reports are that the co-pilot did not show up for work, and as such the flight had to be rescheduled.

When contacted, local representative of the airline, Gerry Gouveia, said the Dynamic flight, along with those of a number of other airlines, was delayed. He said a co-pilot did indeed report sick, but the flight was still able to depart JFK at 14:00hrs on Monday afternoon.

Dynamic Airways was only a few days ago fined US$120,000 by the US Department of Transportation (DoT) for delaying its flights and for procrastination in processing passengers’ refunds. In the order that was served on the airline on Thursday

last, DoT said violations by Dynamic Airways in relation to “regulations on public charter operations with respect to providing prompt refunds to passengers after flight cancellations”, and (failing to) promptly notify passengers of the cancellations were responsible for the airline being fined. The violations also constitute violations of the regulations which prohibit unfair and deceptive practices, and unfair methods of competition in air transportation.

Back in December of last year, the airline was also slapped with a lawsuit after hundreds of passengers were left stranded in Guyana as well as in New York because Dynamic had cancelled its flights. The airline has since pledged to provide better service.

Soca singer Benjai injured in Guyana S oca singer Rodney Le Blanc, popularly known as Benjai, was reportedly hit with a bot-

tle to the outer part of the face following a concert at a popular night spot on Main Street, Georgetown.

Soca Singer Benjai

The injuries he received to his face required 25 stiches.

Reports are that the singer was sharing a photo moment with fans outside the popular night spot when an argument erupted between a member of his entourage and a patron.

This newspaper was told that a car allegedly reversed close to the singer and his associates, and a person from his entourage tapped on the trunk of the vehicle to alert the driver than he should stop the vehicle. This act allegedly enraged the

driver, who exited the car with his friends and became embroiled in a confrontation with the member of Benjai’s entourage.

The singer attempted to calm the situation and was hit to the head with a beer bottle by one of the men who had exited the car. He was rushed to a city medical facility, where he was treated; and he later left the country for his home in Trinidad. A report was made to the police, but it is not clear if anyone was arrested.

Investigations are, however, continuing.

Overkill…

I

…at Enmore

f anyone needed proof of the clear and present danger posed to our nation and its future by SARA, as presently organised, then its Enmore “extraction” of 15 old computers from the NDC has to be the smoking gun. Like the song from the “Sound of Music” advises, let’s start from the very beginning. Shall we?

The state assets to be recovered by SARA should’ve been already stolen or pilfered, or snogged or whatever.

No? Meaning, we should be talking about “past tense” actions. But the Enmore NDC merely DISCUSSED, at a statutory meeting, the SELLING of the used computers.

Was the procedure for buying and selling used equipment by the NDC violated?

These things can happen, we know; but does this violation of procedure amount to “stealing”?? Or did it warrant the summoning SARA?? A buyer getting a good deal on a sale can say he “got a steal,” but is it actually “stealing”??

In an EASTER MONDAY editorial, the Chronic claimed the “NDC Chair would benefit”. Now, on other days, it would be okay; but the Chronic wouldn’t lie on Easter Monday. Would it? Jeez! What does it profit a man….?

But we return to the need for “past tense” actions before SARA springs into action -- as specified in the legislation. (Which hadn’t been passed then, but we’ll let that slide for now.) Who decided that a POSSIBLE crime which MAY be in the process of being committed falls within the mandate of SARA? Well, with the panoply of powers possessed by the director, it would have to be him. Wouldn’t it? The director can do “ANYTHING” which he considers appropriate once he deems it incidental to the discharge of his function!!

And not only that, he can delegate his immense powers to anyone he feel he wants to. So here you have it: either Thomas, Director and the co-leader of the WPA; or his Deputy Director, Retmeyer, launches -on info supplied by the APNU NDC Councillor Deochan Singh -- a search and seizure operation against a PPPdominated NDC. Without the warrant that’s supposed to protect the innocent. “We got information that these computers were there, and that they were not in use, and that some people on the NDC were about to get rid of them; whatever get rid of means – selling them or giving them away – I don’t know.”

Even if we give Thomas and his deputy the benefit of the doubt, isn’t this like using a hammer to kill a mosquito on the head of your suspect? If there’s “reasonable cause”, shouldn’t it have been balanced against the ‘reasonable doubt” that Retmeyer himself articulated?

But that isn’t what SARA is about. Is it? GET PPP!!!

…in the Assembly

Those sympathetic to Raphael Trotman’s “Holy Thursday” excuse for truncating the SARA debate must’ve exclaimed, “Holy Moly!!” when they heard the real dirt. And dirt it was. Now, first of all, don’t think that, because the fellas and felines had been yakking away from 2-9pm, they would’ve been starving.

Don’t forget that afternoon break for dinner, which dents the Assembly Budget by $1.7M a pop! And that figure was back in the day when Chivas Regal wasn’t served!

But back to the Holy Thursday cut-off of the debate at 9pm by Trotman. He didn’t just gag Nandlall, who was the legal point-man for the PPP on this legislation -- which violated so many legal rules it seemed to be a question to test third-year law students -- it also gagged PM Moses Nagamootoo, who’s insisted he always should get “last licks”. Nagamootoo also looked fit to be tied, since Trotman expropriated his role to call off the debate!! Does the Nassau Accord pip the Cummingsburg Accord?

And the dirt? Govt MPs drinking and cavorting from Holy Thursday into Good Friday!!

…on bounty money

To incentivise SARA operatives, they get a 25% cut on state assets seized. So what are they gonna do with the 3 3/4 old computers if they win their case against the Enmore NDC? Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

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tuesDAY, APRIL 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana prepared to counter US nixing of HIV funding – Dr Cummings

T

he United States (US) has announced that it would cease pumping money into the fight against HIV/AIDS in Caribbean countries, less than a month after pulling funding from the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF).

Guyana is one country which benefited from the US President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the US $15 billion initiative to combat global HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria primarily in 15 HIV Caribbean countries hard hit by these scourges. This fund has been in existence since 2003, but now directors of America’s global fund to fight AIDS around the world say they can no longer justify supporting the upper middle-income countries of the Caribbean, and have ordered fund terminations from as early as this year.

Guyana’s status However, junior Minister in the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Dr Karen Cummings, told Guyana Times on Monday that Guyana is safe in this regard, as Government has been putting contingencies in place for such an occurrence, because it has been expected.

“We have been putting systems in place to phase it in gradually as we strive to embark on our univer-

Junior Public Health Minister, Dr Karen Cummings

sal coverage in terms of our 90/90 plan --- that of seeking to ensure that 90 per cent of the persons who are HIV positive are tested, and those who are tested are treated, and those treated have the viral suppression as well.”

She said the MoPH is still in the program, and is “trying to scale up”. “I would say that we have it under control in the sense that there is funding. We are phasing it in, and we continue to have retroviral to meet the demands of those who are HIV positive,” she explained.

“We are still working with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), and the National AIDS Program Secretariat (NAPS) to assist us in this regard. So we have

it under control. We also have global funds for HIV, TB and malaria,” she told Guyana Times.

The Bahamas, which at just over 3% has the highest population prevalence of HIV in the Englishspeaking Caribbean, will have its funding cut entirely in September 2017, followed by Barbados in 2018. Meanwhile, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago will have their funding slashed to historic lows for two years, before their allocations end in 2019.

Of the middle-income Caribbean countries, only Jamaica will be spared from cuts, but under strict conditions. Far fewer people living with HIV in Jamaica receive treatment than in the other upper-middle income Caribbean countries, and estimates are that more than 3 in 10 Jamaican men who have sex with men are HIV positive. To address this, PEPFAR says, it will move 67-75 per cent of its Caribbean regional budget to the island between 2017 and 2019. In exchange, Jamaica will have to meet ambitious targets to curb its epidemic, or PEPFAR will leave the English-speaking Caribbean region entirely, including the member countries of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.

In the Caribbean, PEPFAR contributes to the cost of HIV prevention pro-

grammes; drug procurement; and the treatment, care and psychosocial support of people living with HIV and AIDS. The Fund also works with community organisations to target HIV prevention and care for LGBT people and commercial sex workers who are on the periphery of direct government programmes.

PEPFAR’s interventions are further supported by health experts at US diplomatic missions, where some vacant posts have already been frozen as a result of the claw back.

PEPFAR’s moves now increase the burden on regional governments to bring their HIV/AIDS epidemics under control, even as public finances in several of the affected countries have already been stretched. With the exception of Haiti, which will retain its PEPFAR funding entirely, a complete regional pullout would leave a US$9 million gap in financing for the Caribbean’s response to HIV and

AIDS, based on PEPFAR’s 2014/15 expenditure levels.

Despite s o m e progress, the picture of the Caribbean’s HIV/AIDS response is mixed. Prevention messages that focus on abstinence and condom use are mainstays of national health campaigns, and costly interventions such as drug prophylaxis to prevent HIV infection are off the radar for most. Moralistic views and discrimination against the LGBT community are effective barriers to healthcare, and the prevalence of HIV among these marginalised groups can often run times higher than in the general population.

Strong progress and adoption of international best practices -- such as the Barbados decision to treat all people living with HIV, regardless of the stage of

their disease -- have been largely supported by PEPFAR funds.

Central governments will now have limited time to ensure sustainability of these gains, and to finance gaps after the departure of US aid.

While PEPFAR’s directors made no explicit link between their decisions and President Trump’s dictates to cut America’s levels of foreign aid, the repeal of PEPFAR’s reach in the Caribbean follows the administration’s decision to cut funding to the United Nations Food and Population Fund, as well as its removal of federal dollars from Planned Parenthood and other international development programmes.

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tuesDAY, april 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Region 2 manufacturers, agro-processors benefit from food safety symposium

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SBB official Audrey Gomes speaking to participants

cores of agro-processors, local manufacturers and small business personnel residing along the Essequibo Coast in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) were on Thursday last educated on food safety fundamentals – compliments of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), in collaboration with the Small Business Bureau.

The aim of the symposium was to provide business personnel with technical assistance so that they can become more competitive as well as adhere to national and international food standards.

Giving opening remarks at the symposium was head of conformity assessment from the GNBS, Rodlyn Semple, who said that those in the food business need to understand their require-

ments so that they could provide healthy foods to buyers.

Semple, speaking to participants in the boardroom of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC), said there were programmes streamlined by the GNBS to assist

businesses. Mention was also made about a hazard critical analysis control system, under which persons are educated on hazards that can affect the safety of foods.

Semple, during her presentation on the topic of food safety fundamentals, said foods were exposed to foodborne pathogens owing to acidity, temperature, time, oxygen, moisture among other unfavourable conditions and if the standards and food safety concepts were not maintained then persons consuming such items could become sick. As such, Semple said food must be handled very carefully when thawed, cooked, cooled or reheated.

She also informed participants that food could

become hazardous by contamination from chemical, physical or biological hazards.

She pointed out that some of the symptoms of foodborne illnesses include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever.

Giving a presentation on the functions of the Small Business Bureau (SBB) and its role in the development of small businesses was Audrey Gomes. Gomes recalled that in 2004, the Government of Guyana passed the Small Business Act, with the mandate of providing incentives and support programmes for small businesses. As a result, Gomes said the SBB and the Small Business

Participants at the food safety symposium

Council (SBC) were set up, with the latter acting as an oversight and advising body to the Bureau. As such, she said the Bureau was responsible for fulfilling the mandate of the Small Business Act. The SBB has been offering its services to the public via business management training, export workshops, formal business registration guidance, and facilitation to attend trade shows and exhibitions.

Gomes also outlined to the participants the criteria of accessing assistance from the SBB which is that the business must have 25 or less employees, have $20 million or less in total business assets, or have $60 million or less in gross annual revenues.

Small businesses can benefit from collateral guarantees, interest subsidies, grants, technical skills training as well as business management training from the SBB. Those restaurant owners that participated commended the efforts of the GNBS and SBB for bringing awareness via the interactive session. Many of them believe that the symposium was very educational and informative.

The entities that participated at the forum include Caricom Rice Mills, Persauds’ Bakery, Original Juice, WD Mall, Pomeroon Women’s group, and Adventure Manufacturing Group.

(Indrawattie Natram)

Mr President, please recall those controversial Govt scholarships…

T

he recent release of information from the Department of Public Service within the PNC-led coalition regime -- that a more transparent process would be applied to evaluate and award scholarships -- is a nudge towards fair governance which many Guyanese have been waiting for.

This is a positive move in a positive direction. The release may untangle the noose around the necks of those persons who have applied for Government scholarships but have been denied simply because they do not have anyone from the inside to advocate for them, or simply because they do not carry surnames like Roopnaraine, Henry, Ferguson and Halley. The applicants are probably breathing much better now, since they are aware that their applications were Dr Lomarsh Roopnarine not evaluated fairly.

Added to this is that one has to be living under a rock not to know that the process of evaluating and awarding Government scholarships has been marred by, and mired in, corruption and nepotism. In case you have forgotten, the following is what has happened not too far back: Junior Education Minister Nicolette Henry was awarded $3.36 million to pursue a PhD in Public Health; Junior Public Infrastructure Minister Annette Ferguson was awarded $3.38 million; Education Minister Rupert Roopnaraine’s daughter, Alicia, was awarded $2.58 million; former Chief Education Officer Olato Sam was awarded $946,000; and Guyana Chronicle Board Director Tabitha Sarabo-Halley was awarded $3.4 million, according to Guyana Times and public information. One US dollar is worth approximately Gy$230.

Now, the reasoning behind awarding these scholarships, and scores of others, is that, in layman terms, the ministers will become more knowledgeable and skilled to perform better at their various assigned posts. I have not laughed loud for a while, but this comical declaration has sure tickled me, because this is one of the hundreds of ridiculous explanations this regime dishes out to the Guyanese public. I am all out for educational opportunities, since we all benefit from them. However, the President’s legerdemain in defense of awarding Government scholarships to his party loyalists is based on everything except sound judgement and sound leadership. May I ask if these ministers weren’t supposed to be well trained or skilled before they were given these Government positions? Or is it that these individuals campaigned so hard for the regime that they are entitled to Government’s this-and-that?

May I also add that the recipients of the Government scholarships under discussion are not of any decent repute and acumen? If they were, they would have said something, or at least showed some remorse to the tax-payers.

What is disturbing is that those persons who had applied, especially the disadvantaged and under-privileged, never had a chance to receive a scholarship when they thought they had one.

There has to have been one applicant whose application matched or was superior to the application of Minister Roopnaraine’s daughter. I would love to have the opportunity to re-evaluate those applications in light of the thought that my experience with evaluating grant applications for the National Endowment for Humanities (NEH) as a Program Officer, as well as for the Virgin Islands Humanities Council, would bring some fairness to the table.

What is more disturbing is that those persons who were denied a scholarship have no outlet to voice their opinions. Nor do they have people advocating and championing for them to ensure justice.

No one seems to care. But, every year, these persons live with the expectation that they may receive a scholarship. Sad, isn’t it? There ought to be an independent committee dedicated to ensuring that there is a practice of equity between the greedy and needy as far as awarding scholarships is concerned.

There is a larger problem here; that is, the awarding of Government scholarships drawn from tax-payers based on nepotism and the denial to others is tantamount to theft, which is a crime against the state. This is why the Government does not feel comfortable probing deeper into these cases of theft, because it may reveal more than what it wants the public to know. This is shallow governance.

We are now faced with two situations that demand two solutions. The first is that the recipients of these dubious Government scholarships should do the right thing and return their scholarships to the Government, or the Government should recall the scholarships that were awarded on a ‘greasing the palm’ syndrome. I do not see this happening.

The second is that the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) and the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) should at least investigate what transpired in handing out Government scholarships.

Doesn’t theft of Government scholarships demand a forensic auditing? If not, what sort of a message are these crime-fighting units sending to the public? I do hope it is not that this regime is immune from auditing -- a national political infection Guyanese cannot stomach anymore. In the meanwhile, please do not applaud the release of information on transparency in awarding scholarship yet, since it may very well turn out to be one in the pantheon of promises this regime feeds the public daily. We have to apply the taxing wait-and-watch approach, which has now become a way of life in Guyana. (lomarsh.roopnarine@jsums.edu).

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tuesDAY, APRIL 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

Women’s rights activist wants Guyana to introduce femicide law …says “women deserve greater protection”

By Samuel Sukhnandan

W

omen’s Rights Activist Nicole Cole is urging the Government to impose tougher punishments on those who murder women and girls as part of efforts to stem high levels of violence against women.

Cole, who sits on the Women and Gender Equality Commission (WGEC), told Guyana Times in an exclusive interview on Monday that Guyana should create a ‘femicide law.’

Several countries, including neighbouring Brazil,

have introduced similar laws, dubbing as femicide violence against women and the killing and maiming of women solely because of their gender. Femicide, as a criminal act, has already been incorporated into legislation in many Latin American countries, where violence against women is widespread.

Cole says it is important to distinguish “femicide” from “homicide”, as most research conducted in countries with high rates of femicide doesn’t consider the act as such. “Femicide is the sexist violence against women because of a patriarchal

system that believes in the inferiority of women themselves,” she explained.

The WGEC official told Guyana Times that femicide is not just the murder of women, but the murder of women because they are women. She noted that in many cultures and societies like Guyana’s, this form of violence has long been accepted and encouraged.

Cole says that if Government is serious about addressing this scourge, implementing new measures through this new law would help to reduce the number of women being killed annually

at the hands of their spouses, lovers or family members.

She acknowledged that certain laws in Guyana offer some level of protection to women, but expressed her belief that having a separate law to address this issue would offer greater protection to women.

“Women deserve greater protection in this country,” she said. “Tackling violence against women is not an overnight job. It does not change the underlying cause of the violence: the range of macho culture which stands in direct opposition to gender equality.”

Linden, Kwakwani to benefit from cottage industries

T

he communities of Linden and Kwakwani in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) may soon benefit from the setting up of cottage industries, to aid in the support of local farmers and the "buy local" initiative.

Deputy Director of Community Development Councils (CDCs) and Regional Councillor, Sandra Adams recently highlighted the initiative and urged members of the Regional Agriculture Committee to encourage farmers in the said communities.

Farmers have recently formed themselves into various farming CDCs in areas such as Dalawala, West Watooka, South Amelia's Ward and Moblissa. Adams said the cottage industries would see the utilisation of various cash crops and poultry products, which will be packaged to make it easier for consumers and to encourage members of the community to support their own.

"I want to encourage the Agriculture Committee to push the farmers since I'm aware of some cottage industries that we are looking

to set up; where people will take those produce and we can attempt for it to be all local. You can buy from the farmers right here – cut up the vegetables, peel the provision and package them to go to the market…Women like me who are working and want to cook when you get home, you can go and pick up something that is already cut up, already peeled, already seasoned, go home and put your additives to it and make an easy job. So those are cottage industries that we are working on,” she said.

She added that two industries of such nature would be set up in Linden and another at Kwakwani (Upper Berbice).

"We need to push the farmers because we are saying to them that the vegetables and whatever must be bought locally, so as to stimulate the economy,” Adams noted. (Utamu Belle)

Commissioner at Women and Gender Equality Commission (WGEC), Nicole Cole

Cole pointed to the recent case involving a 29-year-old woman from Parika, East Bank Essequibo who was allegedly strangled with a bed sheet by her reputed husband. She said that if Guyana had implemented a femicide law, it would probably have deterred the perpetrator, and other men like him, from committing such acts, while at the same time provide greater protection to the victim and other women faced with similar situations.

According to the World Health Organization, violence against women – such as intimate partner violence, rape and emotional abuse – poses a significant public health problem in every country. The most extreme form of violence against women is femicide. Unfortunately, because cases of femicide are underreported or misidentified as general homicide, the true prevalence of this crime is not known.

12

tuesDAY, APRIL 18, 2017 | guyan

Scenes from Easter

Kite flying: a tradition th

‌as thousands take to parks, seawa

By Ashraf Dabie and Indrawattie Natram

A

fter weeks of anticipation and preparation, thousands of enthusiasts took to the well-known spots across the country to participate in the Easter tradition of kite flying on Monday.

Open spaces across the coastline of Georgetown were decorated with the eye-catching works of art floating gracefully in the air, even as scores of welldecked-out patrons commingled in parks and along the seawall.

The sky was adorned with an array of colours as uniquely crafted kites were raised in celebration of Easter. While some participated in kite flying as a religious tribute to the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, others were merely enjoying a tradition that has, over the years, become uniquely Guyanese. The numbers of kiteflying enthusiasts at parks and open spaces across Georgetown remained constant, and even increased this year, as persons travelled distances to fly their kites.

At the National Park, young children were in evidence eagerly assisting in the raising and flying of kites as favourable winds swept the decorated frames into the air. The older folks shared in the excitement as they battled with kites in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours, some clearly works of ingenuity.

As open spaces became congested, many contested to keep their kites in the air, thus the atmosphere became engulfed with the rhythmic buzzing of kites dancing in the skies.

However, the occasion extended beyond flying of kites.

Easter presented the perfect opportunity for families, friends and various social groups to assemble at the parks, national grounds and seawalls to share in the fun, laughter, meals and drinks as they socialised, bonded, and even established new relationships.

Moreover, this occasion offered entrepreneurial ventures wherein vendors, photographers and various entertainment service providers capitalized on the large gatherings in these public spaces. One religious dance group even utilized this occasion to raise funds to offset their upcoming initiatives.

to put which at the long. O even ing the is an friends tinue t challen The manag tic stru which locatio of crea The case in was a t

Stealing the spotlight on Monday was a group of friends carrying a gigantic box kite through the park. The group transported the kite in the back of a canter coming all the way from Mon Repos on the East Coast of Demerara. Speaking with <<Guyana Times>>, the young men explained that the kite was a collective effort of the entire group, and that it took them just about three days

traditi tinues sub-cu aspect of Chr Guyan ents a that ex tion is throug Wh traditi nicking

13

18, 2017 | guyanatimesGY.com

er 2017 celebrations

ion that never grows old

s, seawalls to raise kites

fect opfriends s to asational o share als and d, bonded new

sion ofentures raphers ent serd on the se pubs dance s occaet their

ght on friends ox kite group he back he way e East peaking >>, the hat the ffort of that it ee days

to put together the structure, which extends to about five feet at the base and beyond ten feet long. One member of the group even indicated that fashioning these unorthodox creations is an Easter tradition of the friends, and each year they continue to take on an even bigger challenge.

The group successfully managed to launch this gigantic structure into the air, after which they moved on to another location to showcase their work of creativity.

The grand kite flying showcase in Georgetown on Monday was a true representation of the

tradition of Easter, which continues to transcend the various sub-cultures in Guyana. This aspect of culture is reminiscent of Christian influences in the Guyanese society, but also presents a reminder of the diversity that exists, as yet another tradition is celebrated by the masses throughout the country.

While some continued their tradition of kite flying and picnicking this year, others were

introduced to a new excitement for the first time, one which will surely have a lasting impression.

Essequibo The skies of the Cinderalla county of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) were quickly transformed into a kaleidoscope of colours as hundreds of persons raised their kites at different locations throughout the Coast, dotting the skies. Families converged at various beaches, ball fields, seawall spots and open places to celebrate the festive season of Easter.

It was evident that most families celebrated the joyous occasion in panic style, spreading mats on the sand and putting out their eatables, beers and cocktails.

Guyana Times visited several villages, including Charity, Golden Fleece, Abram Zuil, Anna Regina and Taymonth Manor, and the atmosphere at each village was excitement and joy.

Persons clad in brightly coloured outfits were seen happily picnicking, flying their kites, and generally enjoying themselves in an atmosphere of bonhomie. At Charity, the market area was packed with persons walking and shopping kites.

The usual Monday Charity market was busier than usual, with persons doing last-minute Easter shopping. The clubs at Charity, namely Xenon and Purple Heart, were packed with persons enjoying themselves dancing to various chutney and soca music. Every year these clubs are hot spots for Easter activities, and this year was no different.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

14

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesdAY, april 18, 2017

Regional

Venezuelan Army vows loyalty Jamaica: Legislation coming to increase to embattled President fines for farm theft V T enezuela's Defence Minister has declared the Army's "unconditional loyalty" to President Nicolás Maduro, who ordered troops onto the streets ahead of a major protest by opponents trying to oust him.

Vladimir Padrino Lopez made the comment on Monday before thousands of pro-Maduro militia members at a rally outside the presidential palace, where the President thanked the Army and civilian backers for their support.

"Loyalty is repaid with loyalty," said Maduro.

Venezuela is bracing for what Maduro's opponents vow will be the "mother of all protests" on Wednesday, after

President Nicolás Maduro has denounced his opponents as "traitors" [Miraflores Palace via Reuters]

two weeks of violent demonstrations against moves by the leftist leader and his allies to tighten their grip on power.

The centre-right Opposition has called on the military – a pillar of Maduro's power – to turn on the

President amid an economic and political crisis that has triggered severe food shortages, riots, and looting.

On Sunday night, Maduro ordered the military onto the streets to defend the leftist "Bolivarian Revolution"

launched by his late mentor Hugo Chávez in 1999.

"From the first reveille, from the first rooster crow, the Bolivarian National Armed Forces will be in the streets ... saying, 'Long live the Bolivarian Revolution,'" he said in a televised address.

Maduro denounced his opponents as "traitors" and praised the military's "unity and revolutionary commitment".

Despite his announcement, there was no sign of soldiers on patrol on Monday in Caracas, though State TV showed images of army units marching in formation in the capital as the Defence Minister watched.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Paraguay President drops re-election bid

T

he President of Paraguay, Horacio Cartes, says he will no longer seek re-election after his bid to change the Constitution triggered rioting.

He said he had been inspired by Pope Francis's call for peace and dialogue.

Demonstrators set fire to

the Congress building last month in protest at a secret Senate vote to allow second terms.

Paraguay suffered under decades of dictatorship until 1989 and many oppose presidential re-election.

Senators say they will continue to campaign for a vote in the lower house.

They argue that Paraguay is the only country in Latin America that does not allow second terms and it needs to modernise its Constitution.

During the riots, Police shot dead a demonstrator which triggered calls for crisis talks backed by Pope Francis.

They fell apart when the main Opposition, the Liberal Party, boycotted them.

The conservative President had the backing of his leftist rival Fernando Lugo, who was president from 2008 to 2012 and also wants to run again. (BBC News)

Brazil's Odebrecht to pay US$2.6B fine for corruption A US judge has formally fined Brazil's engineering giant Odebrecht US$2.6 billion in a corruption case centred on the country's State oil company, Petrobras.

The fine was a plea bargain deal agreed last year with the US, Brazilian and Swiss authorities.

The Judge said Brazil will receive US$2.39 billion, with the rest going to the Swiss and US authorities.

The US charged Odebrecht with bribery in 12 countries in Latin America, with some bribes flowing through US banks.

Odebrecht, and its affiliated petrochemical company

Braskem SA, pleaded guilty in December in a deal designed to draw a line under the company's wrongdoings.

Monday's order comes as the company tries to negotiate plea deals with other Governments so that it can be allowed to tender for future major infrastructure projects.

The countries include Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Panama and Portugal.

In Brazil, Latin America's largest construction company was one of a group of contractors alleged to have conspired with politicians and oil com-

T

year.

In Cocoa Bay, north of Manzanilla, the retreat is slightly more accelerated at 1.45 metres annually.

“The country is shrinking in some parts but it might be expanding in others, but the number of areas where it is shrinking is a lot more than the areas where it is expanding,” said Michele Lemay, Integrated Coastal Zone Management Specialist at the InterAmerican Development Bank (IADB).

and the police at the Jewel Paradise Cove Beach Resort and Spa, Runaway Bay, St Ann recently.

He said the Ministry would be strengthening the traceability of livestock through the National Animal Identification and Traceability System and other agricultural produce through the receipt book system.

“To make this work, we are asking Police Officers across Jamaica to take the fight to the praedial thieves.

We are asking for rigorous investigation of praedial larceny cases, regular patrols of farming districts and an increase in Police presence in areas where praedial larceny is prevalent,” Samuda said.

He noted that the Police will be asked to do regular stop and search of vehicles transporting agricultural produce and to ensure the legitimacy of agricultural receipts. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

CCJ denies corruption allegations

CCJ President, Sir Dennis Byron (left) with Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit (second right) Odebrecht is negotiating plea deals in 12 Latin American countries

pany executives to take billions in bribes and kickbacks from Petrobras.

The charges against Odebrecht stem from a three-year investigation into Petrobras which has led to the arrest of dozens of busi-

ness leaders including CEO Marcelo Odebrecht, who is serving a 19-year jail sentence. Brazilian President Michel Temer said he expects some of his Ministers to resign after they were implicated in the investigation. (BBC News)

Warning from IDB expert: Trinidad is shrinking

rinidad is shrinking and changing as it becomes increasingly vulnerable to storms, flooding and other natural disasters which cause coastal erosion and the retreating of the shoreline.

In Columbus Bay, in West Trinidad, the coastline has retreated by 150 metres since 1994, losing 6.5 hectares of land.

In the western part of Guayaguayare, the shoreline retreats annually by approximately one metre per

he Jamaican Government is looking to amend the Agricultural Produce Act to increase fines for offences from a maximum of J$250,000 to J$3 million or up to five years imprisonment.

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Karl Samuda, said the move is part of strategies to combat praedial larceny.

He said the amendments will include a redefinition of praedial larceny to include livestock, fisheries, lumber and other classes of agricultural produce.

“Farmers have been working very hard to provide for their families and we have to do everything within our power to offer them protection from those who would simply want to rob them of their produce and livestock,” he noted.

Samuda was speaking at a praedial larceny workshop for clerks of the courts

Lemay has spent much of the past two decades in the Region, doing research on coastal erosion and providing expertise on the subject.

In an interview at the IDB office in Port-of-Spain, Lemay said at a national level, in the last decade, from 2005 to 2015, there had been a five-fold increase in Trinidad of storm events, erosion and flooding when compared to the decade prior.

She said this also coincided with an increase in coast-

al erosion. “T&T is becoming more vulnerable and when you think about the cost of this in terms of getting to work, taking kids to school, damages to property and household, you see the more obvious effects,” she said.

“It happened in Matelot and Grand Riviere, before that it happened in Manzanilla and Mayaro. We found that the frequency of erosion and flooding in the coastal zone has increased considerably, even in Tobago. (Excerpt from Trinidad

Guardian)

T

he Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has issued a media statement denying allegations of corruption made by Dominican lawyer and show promoter, Cabral Douglas.

"Mr Douglas' claim of a politically motivated decision appears to stem from the presence of the court’s president at the 16 to 17 February 2017 inter-sessional meeting of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom). The President of the court, who is also the Chairman of the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC), attended this meeting with members of the RJLSC to present information to the plenary of heads on the commission’s behalf. Such a meeting is an institutional feature of relationship between the court and Caricom,” the CCJ said.

Douglas had previously lodged an official complaint with the RJLSC citing nu-

merous alleged irregularities stemming from the recent decision of the court in Cabral Douglas v Dominica (CCJ).

Such alleged irregularities included but were not limited to bias/political interference resulting from CCJ President, Sir Dennis Byron, not only attending the Heads of Government meeting referred to, but announcing that the court had reached a decision, in favour of the defendant country, Dominica, from the same meeting in the presence of the defendant’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit.

Douglas noted in response that, as the CCJ confirmed in its statement, Byron was in fact in the presence of the defendant Prime Minister at the material time of the court’s announcement in favour of the defendant, and was probably why he never attended his own court to deliver its decision. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

tuesDAY, april 18, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

North Korea threatens more missile tests

Vice Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol

N

orth Korea will continue to test missiles, a senior official has told the BBC in Pyongyang, despite international condemnation and growing military tensions with the United States.

"We'll be conducting more missile tests on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis," Vice Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol told the BBC's John Sudworth.

He said that an "all-out war" would result if the US took military action.

Earlier, US VicePresident Mike Pence warned North Korea not to test the US. He said his country's "era of strategic patience" with North Korea was over.

Pence arrived in Seoul on Sunday hours after North Korea carried out a failed missile launch.

Tensions have been escalating on the peninsula, with heated rhetoric from both North Korea and the

US. Han told the BBC: "If the US is planning a military attack against us, we will react with a nuclear pre-emptive strike by our own style and method."

North Korea has accelerated its nuclear and missile tests in recent years, despite international condemnation and United Nations sanctions.

Its aim is to be able to put a nuclear warhead on an intercontinental ballistic missile that can reach targets around the world, including the US. US President Donald Trump has said that will not happen, and stepped up pressure on the isolated North.

He has sent a navy strike group towards the Korean Peninsula, and the US and South Korea are moving ahead with the early deployment of a controversial missile defence system.

5 US states hunt Facebook killer A

US gunman who shot a grandfather on the street apparently at random and posted the footage on Facebook could be anywhere, say investigators.

The suspect, Steve Stephens, said in another video post that he had killed 13 people and would kill more.

He shot dead 74-year-old Robert Godwin in Ohio as the victim walked home from Easter lunch on Sunday afternoon.

Police have asked residents of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania to be on the alert.

Cleveland police department have issued a photo of Mr Stephens, 37, on its website, describing him as a black male, 6ft 1in (1.9m) and 244lb (110kg).

He is thought to be driv-

(Excerpt from BBC News)

swats away Western criticism of referendum

A

States and European Union.

The main Opposition party rejected the result and called for the vote to be annulled. Thousands of people marched through at least three neighbourhoods of Istanbul, some chanting "Thief, Erdogan", "no to the presidency" and "this is just the beginning" after calls on social media for protests in several cities.

Late on Monday, Cabinet extended a state of emergency by three months, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus told reporters – the third such extension since a failed coup attempt last July.

Election authorities said preliminary results showed 51.4 per cent of voters had backed the biggest overhaul of Turkish politics since the founding of the modern republic.

Sources in Erdogan's palace said US President Donald Trump had telephoned to congratulate him.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

The suspect said he was looking for victims in a video posted on Facebook

ing a white Ford Fusion, but may have switched cars.

Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams told re-

porters on Monday that Stephens, who has a licence to carry a concealed firearm, is armed "without a doubt".

Cleveland officials have also offered a US$50,000 reward for information that leads to his location.

Nine schools in Philadelphia were placed on lockdown on Monday after Police received multiple calls reporting a possible sighting of Stephens.

Police have yet to verify the reports.

His mobile phone signal was last tracked on Sunday afternoon in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said in a press conference on Monday morning: "Steve is still out there some place… we're still asking Steve to turn himself in, but if he doesn't we'll find him."

FBI Special Agent Stephen Anthony said: "Quite frankly, he could be in a lot of places."

(Excerpt from BBC News)

St Petersburg attack: Man who trained bomber arrested near Moscow

A

suspect accused of helping to carry out the St Petersburg metro bombing has been detained near Moscow, Russian security officials say.

Abror Azimov, who was born in 1990 and is from

Central Asia, was held in Odintsovo district west of the capital.

He is the ninth person to be detained in connection with the attack, which killed 14 and wounded more than 50 earlier this month.

It was carried out by

Kyrgyz-born Russian Akbarzhon Jalilov, 22.

Abror Azimov is believed to have trained Jalilov ahead of the suicide bombing, Russia's Tass news agency reported.

He was carrying a pistol and a package containing

two smartphones at the time of his arrest, reports said.

The other eight people detained in connection with the attack – six in St Petersburg and two in Moscow – are also from Central Asia. (Excerpt from BBC News)

“The Fate of the Furious” breaks global box office record

T Triumphant Erdogan defiant Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denounced the West's "crusader mentality" on Monday after European monitors criticised a referendum in which he won sweeping new powers.

Erdogan, whose narrow victory laid bare the nation's divisions, told flag-waving supporters that foreign election observers should "know their place" and Turkey did not "see, hear or acknowledge" criticism that the vote did not live up to international standards.

Sunday's vote ended all debate on forging a stronger presidency, said Erdogan, who argues that concentration of power is needed to prevent instability.

Opponents accuse him of leading a drive toward one-man rule in Turkey, a NATO member that borders Iran, Iraq and Syria and whose stability is of vital importance to the United

15

he Fate of the Furious” has raced to the top of the box office chart – breaking an international record in the process.

The eighth film in the action thriller franchise took an estimated US$532.5 million globally over the Easter weekend.

The figure makes it the strongest worldwide debut ever – marginally overtaking the US$529 million taken by “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”.

However, the film's US

takings were down sharply on the previous movie.

Furious 7 opened with US$147.2 million in the US when it was released in 2015 – but the latest instalment of the series debuted with US$100.2 million.

“The Fate of the Furious” – titled “Fast & Furious 8” in some territories – stars Dwayne Johnson and Vin Diesel, who said he felt "grateful, humbled and blessed" after the film's success. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Vin Diesel said he felt "humbled and blessed" after the film's success

Hundreds of Palestinians in Israeli jails begin hunger strike

A protester waves a Palestinian flag as he sits on a chair during clashes with Israeli troops following a protest in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem April 17, 2017

H

undreds of Palestinians in Israeli jails began a hunger strike on Monday in

response to a call by prominent prisoner Marwan Barghouti, widely seen as a possible future Palestinian

president.

Palestinians termed the open-ended strike a protest against poor conditions and an Israeli policy of detention without trial that has been applied against thousands since the 1980s.

Israel said the move by the prisoners, many of whom were convicted of attacks or planning attacks against Israel, was politically motivated.

The protest was led

by Barghouti, 58, a leader of the mainstream Fatah movement of the Palestine Liberation Organization, serving five life terms after

being convicted of murder in the killing of Israelis in a 2000-2005 uprising.

The strike, if sustained, could present a challenge to Israel and raise tensions between the two sides as the 50th anniversary of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip approaches in June. Israeli troops and settlers pulled out of the Gaza Strip, now run by Hamas Islamists, in 2005, but peace talks on the creation of a Palestinian state collapsed with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in 2014.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

16 News

tuesDAY, april 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

World-renowned FranklinCovey Shaddick’s appointment to GNBA organisation launched in Guyana being processed – Harmon

The signing of documents & License Approval between Melvin Roseval, the FranklinCovey Partner and Dr Rosh Khan, the CEO of FranklinCovey Guyana

F

ranklinCovey, the global leader in management, leadership, and organisational behaviour, has officially launched in Guyana.

The authorised licensee is Dr Rosh Khan, an internationally certified business consultant and the current Chief Executive Officer of the Masterclass Institute and SocialRank Media. He was selected for the FranklinCovey licence based on his transformational work with small and medium enterprises in Guyana.

FranklinCovey is a global company specialising in performance improvement, specifically helping organisations and individuals achieve results that require a change in human behaviour. It is also a publicly-traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

The company has global expertise in seven core ar-

eas: leadership, execution, productivity, trust, sales performance, customer loyalty and education. Its world-class training has been provided to clients that include 90 per cent of the Fortune 100 (an annual list of the largest public and privately held companies in the United States); more than 75 per cent of the Fortune 500; thousands of small and mid-sized businesses, as well as Government entities and educational institutions. Some of their clients include the Marriott, Copa Airlines, Microsoft, FedEx, HSBC, Virgin, Sony, and Maersk.

FranklinCovey has more than 100 direct and partner offices providing professional services in over 150 countries and territories. More than 100 million people worldwide are benefitting from their accredited programmes and tools.

As their official local rep-

resentative, Dr Khan shared his thoughts and vision for FranklinCovey Guyana.

“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr Stephen Covey was the beginning of it all for me. That book sold over 30 million copies around the world and was dubbed ‘the business book of the century’. It transformed not only my company but my life. To now hold this licence is an absolute honour and also a signal of the hard work ahead.

At this pivotal moment in our country, we must build our capacity and step up in every way we can.

That level of transformation will not come from any one leader or organisation.

It needs to come from within us all. It must be inside-out.

How we achieve this is documented in the timeless, proven, and character-driven principles of FranklinCovey’s programmes,” he said.

According to Dr Khan, “they are the very principles that have transformed companies, launched movements, empowered public institutions, and educated over 100 million people around the world. If we are to be truly competitive as a country, we must empower our citizens with the right mindsets, skillsets, and toolsets. FranklinCovey Guyana looks forward to making its mark and doing its part for Guyana’s transformation.”

FranklinCovey Guyana will be launching its first public event in the coming weeks, aiming to educate members of Public Sector, Private Sector, and civil society on its transformational concepts and systems.

I

n light of criticisms emanating from Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo in relation to the appointment of People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) appointee Bibi Shaddick, former head of the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), to serve on the board of that entity, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, explained during a post-Cabinet press briefing that the appointment is currently being processed.

Explaining at his party’s press conference last week that Shaddick had been selected to serve on the Board of the GNBA “for continuity”, given that “she can explain things”, Jagdeo had lamented that the process of her appointment was being held up because Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, under whose purview the GNBA falls, had to wait for Minister Harmon’s approval before making the appointment.

“That’s what I am talking about,” he had said. “(The appointment) is provided for, they announced it, it is probably gazetted; now we can’t go ahead because he (Nagamootoo) still needs to go and wait outside of Harmon’s office to get it approved,” Jagdeo had remarked, even as he added that Nagamootoo is a “lightweight” in Government.

According to Harmon, at last week’s post-Cabinet press briefing, the Opposition had submitted its candidate after the other board members had been sworn in by the Prime Minister, hence Shaddick’s appointment is currently being processed. He was quick to point out that the Opposition had, in the past, taken a position that it would not take up any of the statutory seats allotted to it on the various State Boards until Government ended what it called “witch-hunting” of citizens. “So, as a result of that, (on) many of these boards they never took up these offers,” Harmon explained.

He further explained that, in regard to Shaddick’s appointment, there is a process through which that has to go. “Every member of the Authority is recommended by the responsible minister, and (the recommendation) comes to Cabinet and Cabinet gives its no-objection. After that is done, (the appointment) is published in the Official Gazette, and based on that publication, an instrument is created, signed and issued by the Prime Minister to the member of the board,” Harmon explained,

Opposition’s representative on GNBA, Board Bibi Shaddick

noting that the other board members have had to undergo a similar process.

The State Minister posited that the Opposition cannot just appoint Shaddick one day and look to have her sitting on the board the following day. “(It) is not going to happen. The work of the Government is done in a structured way, and what I can assure you is that the matter is now being addressed.

I believe (that), very shortly, the Official Gazette publication will be made, and Mrs Shaddick will be sworn in very shortly, I can say that. But we don’t believe that the function and the work of Government must be stymied in certain ways just to facilitate the Leader of the Opposition deciding on when he wants to do things and when he will do it. It has a process, and we’re working the process, and we ensure that Government’s business is conducted in a transparent and timely manner,” Harmon declared.

He also pointed out that the APNU+AFC Coalition has not forgotten its position on radio licences that were illegally granted.

“We have appointed a new GNBA Board, and that Authority understands what the position of the APNU+AFC Administration is on the matter, and I can assure you and that they are looking into it right now,” Harmon posited.

Guyana to host Suriname Art Expo

G

uyana will this week be host to a group of Surinamese artists from the Federation of Visual Artists Suriname (FVAS), who will be showcasing their work between April 19 and 21 at the Umana Yana, Main Street, Georgetown.

The three-day event is a collaborative effort between the Governments of Suriname and Guyana and the Caricom Secretariat.

The exhibition, titled “Suriname Art Expo 2017”, is part one of an exchange programme between Suriname and Guyana in the field of Visual Art. The second part of the exchange will be a return visit of Guyanese artists to Suriname.

Works by artists Anand Binda, Robbert Enfield, Glenn Fung Loy, Soeki Irodikromo, Sri Irodikromo, Dakaya Lenz, and Dhiradj Ramsamoedj, among others, will be showcased at the event.

The Federation of Visual Artists in Suriname and

the Suriname Art Expo 2017 are supported by the Department of Culture of the Education Ministry, Science and Culture, the Foreign Affairs Ministry of the Republic of Suriname and the Caricom Secretariat.

The Caricom Secretariat acted as a liaison between the Governments of Suriname and Guyana, and provided technical advice and promotion for the event.

Speaking to the reason behind the Secretariat’s involvement, Deputy Programme Manager Culture, Riane De Haas, pointed to an excerpt from a Caricom paper which stated that the arts exchange programme fits within the framework of the Community’s Strategic Plan 2015-2019: ‘Repositioning Caricom’. Culture is seen as a pillar for building economic and social resilience, as well as strengthening Caricom identity and spirit of the Community. Culture is a unifying force in regionalism and is import-

ant to the success of the Caricom Single Market and Economy. Culture promotes social cohesion and inclusiveness, and contributes to wealth creation and the reduction of poverty”, De Haas read.

The Federation of Visual Artists in Suriname is an art organisation comprising of visual artists and art promoters. Founded in 1998, the FVAS today networks on both local and international levels. The FVAS has initiated, organised and participated in many art exhibitions, art events and festivals, educational projects on art and environment, and other community art projects.

For the past five years, the focus of the FVAS has mainly been on national community art projects and international exchange programmes. Because of the interest in international exchange, the FVAS initiated an exchange programme with neighbouring country Guyana.

news

17

tuesDAY, APRIL 18, 2017 | guyanatimesgy.com

GAWU to continue to agitate over closure of sugar estate

…members “nervous” about future

T

he Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has vowed to cripple planned efforts to close the East Demerara Estate (Enmore Estate), in the name of restructuring.

GAWU President Komal Chand told Guyana Times on Monday that the Union was in the process of amassing workers to take to the streets in massive protests against this move.

Chand said while the Government had made the proposal to close the Estate, it did not clearly state if it would go ahead with those plans. However, GAWU members are of the opinion that the Estate will be closed.

“The information we are getting from the ground is that this will be a reality,

because already, they are not doing a lot of important work to have the Estate functional next year,” Chand explained.

The top GAWU official, who met with sugar workers on Friday, told Guyana Times that members were nervous about their future and about securing alternative employment.

While the Union has been engaged in some level of protests over the past week, particularly in Enmore, Chand stated that the numbers were likely to grow in coming weeks and months.

“They hope that they will draw support from the residents and others, with the view to build a strong protest because that might be one of the ways to get Government to rethink its

GAWU President Komal Chand

position,” he added.

Chand explained that if the protest attracted enormous crowds like the parking meter project protests in Georgetown, it would send a

strong message to the coalition Government.

He also pointed to the situation in French Guiana, where citizens came out in large numbers to protest high unemployment, crime, high cost of living and a lack of investment from France.

While the Government has promised to present a white paper on the sugar industry to Parliament, Chand believes it is deliberately delaying, so that the issue would be debated by the end of 2017.

“The Government is trying not to bring the official position to the public and one of the reasons is because they want the matter brought by yearend,” he told this publication.

As it stands, there is much resentment in the sugar belt and workers are

highly demotivated, Chand said. This is mostly owing to the fact that they have much uncertainty about their future.

“They have not received any increases for the past two years. The Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is now complaining about poor turnout. They are so demotivated,” he added.

GuySuCo has long complained that poor labour turnout has contributed to reduced sugar production.

The industry is facing its toughest times with production just over 180,000 tonnes last year. This is the lowest production GuySuCo has recorded since 1990.

A decision was taken last year to close the oldest estate, Wales, on the West Bank Demerara.

The operations have since partially been integrated with the Uitvlugt Estate.

Workers attached to the now defunct Wales Estate are still awaiting full payment of outstanding severance package benefits.

Government had said the Wales Estate was closed after billions of dollars were accrued in losses over the years. At high-level sugar consultations held last year between Government, GuySuCo, the Union and the Opposition, the Administration had disclosed that only three estates would be kept functional.

Sugar has remained one of the biggest foreign currency earners, along with rice and gold in Guyana.

(Samuel Sukhnandan)

Mahdia to receive improved water supply R

esidents of Mahdia, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) who were complaining bitterly of water woes that were affecting them are soon to benefit from improved water supply.

The Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) team, along with several officials from the Communities Ministry, visited the area on Saturday last and met with the residents who were assured of better days.

The visit was aimed at reaching a consensus on the community members identified to work along with GWI, as well as the short, medium and long term recommendations made for the improvement of the Mahdia water supply system.

During the visit, residents lamented the need to pay large sums of money for water to be delivered to them and the current water distribution system which they say catered only for some sections of the area.

A section of the gathering during the consultations

Speaking at the small gathering held at the Mahdia Secondary School, Junior Communities Minister Dawn HastingsWilliams urged residents to work together with the water company for an improved water supply.

She expressed confidence in GWI that it would fulfil all commitments of providing water to all the residents of Mahdia, while commend-

ing residents for boldly voicing their concerns.

The Minister noted that residents’ involvement was critical to the realisation of Government’s goal of developing sustainable communities.

Addressing the residents, GWI Managing Director, Dr Richard Van West-Charles, who headed the water company’s team to Mahdia, assured resi-

Kite flying: a tradition...

At Anna Regina, many persons constructed Bar-BQue stalls, maximizing on the season’s opportunities to earn an extra dollar.

Sellers were seen from as early as 9:00 am making makeshift tents. Families began visiting the Anna Regina Seawall at about 13:00 hours.

Kites of all colours, sizes and shapes took to the skies at Golden Fleece sea wall as both adults and children joined in the celebrations. Children were competing with each other to see whose kite would fly the highest. Golden Fleece Sea wall attracted a very large gathering of kite-flying enthusiasts, and the hype of activities

saw many persons from throughout the region converging there.

One kite that stood out at Golden Fleece beach was a 15-footer made by R Ganesh Mining Enterprise.

Artistically made and designed, the kite advertised the businessman's activities as well as Guyana's diverse culture. Many persons were amazed to see this gigantic kite gracefully floating overhead, and smartphones and cameras clicked constantly as photographs of the kite were taken.

Miner Ganesh said he would be happy to have any other business challenge his kite in size and beauty. He said he would

build an even bigger kite next Easter. This kite, he said, was built collectively

by Cricket Team RG. For those who didn't have kites, Easter presented them an opportunity to visit the beach, socialise and catch up with friends.

In the evening, a big ‘Lime’ with several deejays blaring songs from huge music systems was the main celebratory event, as it set the mood for socializing of all sorts.

The Easter holiday is a favourite of many Guyanese. It fosters togetherness, unity and family fun as we celebrate the Resurrection of the Messiah.

dents that the GWI was committed to ensuring a constant water supply to the entire population of the community.

However, he warned residents that they have to be responsible and to ensure that pipelines were not further damaged in order to prevent leakage.

He highlighted that some 60 leaks were found in just two days. As such, a team from Georgetown would be deployed in Mahdia to identify and repair more leaks.

Owing to the existence

of leakages and the high demand, many residents were left without water in Mahdia.

Constant disruptions and low level of service on account of pipelines being broken during road works and by miners; clogged lines; unauthorised connections and the dry season contribute to the lack of water supply in the community. Saturday’s meeting stemmed from GWI’s visit to Mahdia last month to commence the planning process.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, April 18, 2017

ARCHIE

Don’t let what others do tempt you. You are best off (March 21- doing your own thing. A probApril 19) lem you have with whoever is in charge is best kept to yourself.

ARIES

Learn all you can and apTAURUS ply it to what you are trying (April 20- to accomplish. Put one foot May 20) in front of the other and keep moving until you reach your destination.

dilbert

Don’t let people get you GEMINI down or take away from what (May 21you are trying to accomplish.

June 20) If someone makes it difficult for you to function, you may want to reconsider the relationship.

Use common sense and exercise caution when deal(June 21- ing with partners or someone July 22) showing signs of inconsistency. Pull in the reins and keep a close watch on extravagance in others and yourself.

CANCER

Peanuts

Emotional situations will LEO surface at work if you or a col(July 23league is impulsive or unrealisAug. 22) tic. Think before you act or respond.

Calvin and Hobbes

Taking a short trip or spendVIRGO ing time with someone who (Aug. 23Sept. 22) could provide knowledge and insight into something you want to pursue will pay off. Look over personal contracts. Make a commitment to someone you love.

Put your time and enLIBRA ergy into positive pursuits.

(Sept. 23You’ll make progress if you Oct. 23) stay focused and dedicated.

Finishing what you start will help you avoid criticism.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Personal alterations can SCORPIO lead to gains if you are pas(Oct. 24sionate about the changes you Nov. 22) enact. Don’t rely on someone else to take care of your responsibilities.

Think twice before you do SAGITTARIUS or say something you’ll regret.

(Nov. 23- Concentrate on making personDec. 21) al changes instead of trying to change others. Understanding and integrity will be required when dealing with others.

solution for Last Published Puzzle

Question anyone trying to CAPRICORN force through a plan or idea (Dec. 22without offering sufficient Jan. 19) grounds for doing so. It’s your right to demand facts and figures before you get involved.

You’ll end up spending AQUARIUS more or owing more if you ha(Jan. 20ven’t properly taken care of Feb. 19) your personal investments or taxes. Dealing with institutions and government agencies will require finesse.

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

Explain what you want PISCES (Feb. 20- and what you expect. Being March 20) evasive will not help you get ahead. Show your ability to adapt, understand and take charge. If you want something, go after it.

tuesDAY, aPRIL 18, 2017

19

Vivo Indian Premier League 2017…

Bhuvneshwar’s 5 trumps Vohra's 95

M

anan Vohra defied a pitch of inconsistent pace and bounce and a situation stacked against his team to produce one of the IPL's great backs-to-the-walls innings. His 95 off 50 balls revived a floundering chase, taking Kings XI Punjab to within 15 runs of victory,

but Bhuvneshwar Kumar would ensure he wouldn't be able to finish the match, taking two wickets in the 19th over to finish with 5 for 19.

In the end, neither of them would be involved in what became the nerviest finish of the season. Eleven off six balls usually favours the chasing side, but seldom

SCOREBOARD Sunrisers Hyderabad innings (20 overs maximum) DA Warner* not out 70 S Dhawan c †Saha b MM Sharma 15 MC Henriques st †Saha b Patel 9 Yuvraj Singh c †Saha b Patel 0 NV Ojha† st †Saha b Cariappa 34 DJ Hooda c Sandeep Sharma b MM Sharma 12 Mohammad Nabi c Miller b Sandeep Sharma 2 Rashid Khan not out6 Extras (b-1, lb-4, w-6)11 Total (6 wickets; 20 overs)159(7.95 runs per over) Did not bat: B Kumar, BB Sran, S Kaul Fall of wickets 1-25 (Dhawan, 4.6 ov), 2-50 (Henriques, 9.1 ov), 3-50 (Yuvraj Singh, 9.2 ov), 4-110 (Ojha, 15.3 ov), 5-140 (Hooda, 18.4 ov), 6-146 (Mohammad Nabi, 19.3 ov) Bowling: Sandeep Sharma 4-0-35-1, I Sharma 4-0-230 (w-3), MM Sharma 4-0-252, KC Cariappa 4-0-38-1 (w1), AR Patel 4-0-33-2 (w-1) Kings XI Punjab innings (target: 160 runs from 20 overs)

HM Amla lbw b Kumar 0 M Vohra lbw b Kumar 95 GJ Maxwell* c Warner b Kumar 10 EJG Morgan b Mohammad Nab i 13 DA Miller b Rashid Khan 1 WP Saha† b Rashid Khan 0 AR Patel c Dhawan b Henriques 7 MM Sharma c Dhawan b Kumar 10 KC Cariappa b Kumar 1 I Sharma b Kaul 2 Sandeep Sharma not out 5 Extras (lb-4, w-5, nb-1)10 Total (all out; 19.4 overs) 154(7.83 runs per over) Fall of wickets 1-0 (Amla, 0.1 ov), 2-16 (Maxwell, 2.5 ov), 3-57 (Morgan, 8.1 ov), 4-62 (Miller, 9.4 ov), 5-62 (Saha, 9.6 ov), 6-82 (Patel, 13.4 ov), 7-127 (MM Sharma, 16.2 ov), 8-144 (Cariappa, 18.1 ov), 9-145 (Vohra, 18.3 ov), 10-154 (I Sharma, 19.4 ov) Bowling: B Kumar 4-0-19-5 (nb-1), BB Sran 2-0-29-0 (w1), S Kaul3.4-0-26-1 (w-3), Mohammad Nabi 4-0-28-1, Rashid Khan 4-0-42-2 (w1), MC Henriques 2-0-6-1

is a chasing side nine down at that stage. Siddarth Kaul conceded four off the first two legal balls, slipping in two wides, but pulled himself together to send down the perfect yorker with six needed off two. Ishant Sharma couldn't put bat to it, and Sunrisers just about held on to their undefeated home record this season.

Difficult pitch, quiet Powerplay A pitch full of cracks turned out slower than is usually the case in Hyderabad, with some balls skidding through and others stopping with tennis-ball bounce. Kings XI's seamers looked to exploit this by bowling at the stumps and pitching just short of a good length.

Denied the drive-able ball, the batsmen couldn't play square with too much confidence either - given the line and the tendency of the ball to keep low. Sunrisers only scored 29 in the Powerplay, hitting just one four and losing the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan, caught behind off the glove looking to pull Mohit Sharma.

Warner adapts and prospers Spin came on for the first time in seventh over, and David Warner immediately picked up his first boundary with a reverse-sweep off KC Cariappa. In his next over, he switch-hit him for six. By the end of Sunrisers'

innings, all but two of Warner's nine boundaries would come behind the wicket.

Wickets kept falling at the other end Axar Patel dismissed Bhuvneshwar Kumar is pumped up after dismissing Manan Vohra Moises Henriques and Yuvraj Singh off succesboth Mohammad Nabi and up his fifty in the previous sive balls in the 10th over Rashid Khan. They bowled over, the 15th, Vohra went - but Warner, with a bit of expensive first overs - Vohra after Rashid again, pulling help from Naman Ojha, en- and Eoin Morgan took 29 off and lofting him for 4, 0, 6, 6, sured Sunrisers reached a the fifth and sixth overs of 4. Suddenly, Kings XI only competitive total. Having the chase - and Warner had needed 35 from 24 balls. scored only 6 off his first 16 to pull both out of the atBhuvneshwar Kumar, balls - all in the Powerplay - tack. After a quiet over each Act II Warner went at a strike rate from Moises Henriques and Kings XI, however, of 168.42 thereafter to finish Kaul, he brought them back. had already lost six wickunbeaten on 70 off 54.

Nabi struck immediate- ets, and they lost a seventh Bhuvneshwar Kumar, ly, bowling Morgan with when Mohit Sharma sliced Act 1 Interviewed between one that skidded on, and Bhuvneshwar straight to innings, VVS Laxman, the skid would give Rashid two deep point in the 17th over.

Sunrisers mentor, felt 159 wickets in the next over - Two balls later, Vohra timed was a match-winning to- bye bye, David Miller and a back-foot punch so sweettal given the conditions Wriddhiman Saha. Kings XI ly that he hit it to the same and his team's bowling re- were 62 for 5 after 10 overs, fielder on the full, only for sources. As it happened, it and an offbreak from Nabi Shikhar Dhawan to drop it. wasn't the pitch that gave at the start of the next over A big six off Kaul in the next Sunrisers an early wicket could have easily had them over brought the equation but Bhuvneshwar's swing 62 for 6. Vohra, though, was down to 16 off the last two, and full length, trapping saved by the umpire Anil but Bhuvneshwar wasn't Hashim Amla lbw first ball. Dandekar, who saw or heard done yet. KC Cariappa, Glenn Maxwell promot- an inside edge when there for reasons unknown, deed himself to No. 3 for the was none. At that stage, he cided to slog rather than first time this season, and was batting on 32. give Vohra the strike, and Bhuvneshwar dismissed Vohra unrolls his own Bhuvneshwar went through him as well. This time it pitch him with a yorker. Another was the slower ball, coupled Even in the early part yorker - or near-yorker - folwith a change of field - he of his innings, Vohra had lowed when Vohra got back brought third man into the timed the ball better than the strike. It struck Vohra on circle, pushed mid-off back, anyone from either side. the ankle, on the full, right and Maxwell took him on, What he was also doing, in front, as he walked across unwisely. better than most bats- to flick, and Bhuvneshwar Those skiddy Afghan men this season, was pick- had bowled the most importspinners ing Rashid's googly out of ant ball of the match. (Cricinfo) For the first time this sea- the hand. Having brought son, Sunrisers were playing

Morgan on track to face Atletico as Leicester eye another shock

L

eicester captain Wes Morgan has been absent since the Champions League last-16 win over Sevilla but may face Atletico Madrid.

Wes Morgan is winning his battle to be fit for Leicester City's Champions League quarter-final showdown with Atletico Madrid, according to boss Craig Shakespeare.

Leicester captain Morgan has not featured since scoring in last month's stirring comeback triumph against Sevilla in the last 16 due to a back problem.

The Premier League champions are 1-0 down from the first leg and will be without Morgan's regular centre-back partner Robert Huth through suspension.

Shakespeare told a pre-match news conference on Monday that the 33-year-old is progressing well in his bid to lead the hosts out at a soldout King Power Stadium.

"The final decision will be made tomorrow," Shakespeare said. "We want to make sure there is no reaction to today's training.

"He has trained the last three training sessions in which the intensity has been greater [in] every one.

"I am pleased with how he has progressed. I would like to find out from the player how his thoughts are.

"But my eyes tell me this morning we both should be fairly pleased how he has come through.

"We're in the tie and it's only 1-0. We need to make sure that we create more, but we also need to be mindful of their players.

"Come tomorrow night we'll be ready both physically and mentally."

A raucous atmosphere and a performance of relentless intensity saw Leicester turn a 2-1 deficit against Sevilla into a 3-2 aggregate win in the previous round and left-back Christian Fuchs is relishing trying to make life difficult for another LaLiga opponent.

"I don't think anybody wants to come here. We're the underdogs but we want to take our chance," said the Austria international when he spoke alongside Shakespeare.

"We'll see how the game goes. We’re focused for now but we'll obviously try to give everything.

"We all know Atletico are a great team. It's down to us if we want to advance. There's a lot of pressure always but we're just looking forward to the game."

(Sportsmax)

Wes Morgan

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesDAY, april 18, 2017

Vivo Indian Premier League 2017…

K

Pandey, Yusuf give KKR top position after tense chase

olkata Knight Riders displayed the batting depth that has made them one of the most consistent sides in the IPL, pulling off the highest successful

off 31, Daredevils scrambled hard and brought it down to eight required off three balls, which Pandey managed with one ball to go. That this came on a pitch markedly better

The Samson slowdown

Sanju Samson is the only man with a century this IPL. Even in that innings, he went through a curious pattern: a flying start of 35 off 19, then only 13 off the next 19, and then the final kick.

Once again, the moment spin came on, Samson went from 27 off 12 to just 12 off the next 13 balls. The problem with such slowdowns is, you put yourself under pressure to make up later in the innings, and not always do you get that chance. Here he edged Umesh Yadav, and 36 for 0 in three overs had now become 63 for 2 in 7.5 overs.

The Nair slowdown

Yusuf Pathan and Manish Pandey steadied Kolkata Knight Riders' chase after an early loss of wickets

IPL chase for a side losing three wickets in the first three overs. Yusuf Pathan and Manish Pandey rescued them from 21 for 3 with the first century fourth-wicket partnership in the IPL for a team three down for under 25. The end didn't come without hiccups, though: after Yusuf fell for 59 off 39, leaving Knight Riders 38 to get

A

for hitting the new ball, and against arguably the best bowling unit of this IPL so far, made it even more special. Daredevils, the slowest side in the middle overs seven to 15 - were once again left to rue that slowdown. A blinder from Rishabh Pant 38 off 16 - gave them a finishing kick, but that only took them to a fighting total.

fter storming to Guyana’s first 100m gold medal at the 2017 CARIFTA Games 2017 being held in Curacao Linden’s Compton Caesar had a chance to rewrite the history books once again in the 200M event by winning both titles on Monday.

However, Caesar running out for lane two gave a hint in the early stages that he could run off with gold again but had to settle for bronze after clocking a time of 21.57s just behind Trinidad and Tobago’s’ Jerrod Elcock

Compton Caesar in action at the CARIFTA Games

Ever since his Test triple-century against England in December, Nair is yet to put together an innings of 30 in any format of official cricket. More than the lack of runs, though, it was his sub-100 strike rate that hurt Daredevils. Even though Shreyas Iyer batted fluently at the other end, the runs just didn't come fast enough for the hosts. Iyer was run out trying to manufacture a second and keep the strike, and Nair just had to hit out and expose his stumps for a 27-ball 21. Daredevils 110 for 4 in 15, having scored just 57 in the last nine, lower than their usual middle-overs rate of 7.22 an over.

The knock

Pant is not just knocking at the door for the Champions Trophy selection.

He is thumping at it with a tree trunk. In one of the rare bowling errors from Knight Riders, Umesh Yadav bowled

(21.54s) and Cayman Islands Jamal Walcott (21.29s).

Likewise, Chantoba Bright settled for Bronze in the Girls U18 Triple Jump, with a distance of 12.35m.

Bright, who won gold in the Long Jump, finished behind Jamaicans Lamara Distin (12.40m) and Latavia Brown (12.74m) Similarly, Anferne Headecker who won silver in the under-20 1500M finished seventh in the 800M, as Barbados Jonathon Jones (1:51.51s)

a whole over - 17th - of regulation pace to Pant. The challenger to MS Dhoni's slot in India's limited-overs sides then peppered all boundaries for 6, 4, 6, 6, 4 to consign Umesh to his worst IPL over.

Sunil Narine and Nathan Coulter-Nile, though, followed up with exceptional overs. Narine, who bowled two overs inside the Powerplay for just eight runs, took out Angelo Mathews in the 18th to end up with figures of 4-0-20-1.

In the 19th, Coulter-Nile did the opposite of Umesh - bowling slow and away from the batsmen as opposed to fast and within their reach - and took out Pant, and missed out on Chris Morris twice with catches going down.

Damage control, though, had been done.

The partnership

It was all Yusuf and Pandey now. Yusuf bolted first, taking on Morris and Pat Cummins, who provided him regulation pace.

Then the two targeted Amit Mishra, picked as the only spinner ahead of Shahbaz Nadeem, who has gone at 4.9 an over this IPL. They kept finding the boundary, never letting the asking rate go beyond nine.

The closing gambit

Yusuf, though, fell with the job unfinished. With 34 required to score in the last five, Daredevils managed overs of six, six, six and seven. This was Cummins and Morris with lessons learnt from their earlier mistakes, bowling slower ones repeatedly, one of them getting Suryakumar Yadav caught

took gold ahead of Jamaica’s Jackson, Agerian (1:52.07) and Lidji Mbaye (1:52.59) of Guadeloupe; countryman Samuel Lynch had finished in fifth a time of 1:56.52s.

Meanwhile, Matthew Mckenzie’s time of 18 minutes, 52.28 seconds (18:52.28) was just good enough for sixth place in the Boys U20 5000M, which was won by Dominic Dyer ( 15:55.02) of the Cayman Islands.

Kalique St Jean from Antigua was third, clocking 16:02.77.

In the 400x400M relays, the quartet of Kenisha Pillips, Claudrice McKoy, Onesha Rogers and Bright had to managed to place fifth with a time of 3:52.24s. The event was won by the Jamaicans in a time of 3:38.73 while Bahamas (3:41.24) and Trinidad and Tobago (3:43.05) rounded off the top three.

At the end of the Games Guyana managed to capture eight medals (four Gold, one silver, three bronze) as compared to 2016 where they finished with a total of five medals (two bronze and three silver).

at mid-off. The last ball of the 19th over was bowled at regulation pace, but it was a yorker, which meant Pandey was off strike at the start of the last over.

Now Zaheer took the gamble. Eight to defend in the last over is not a lot, and with Chris Woakes on strike, Zaheer went to Mishra. Mishra responded beautifully with a flighted wrong'un and legbreak first up. The legbreak got Woakes stumped. Now there was big tension in the dugout. Narine walked out and calmly took a single. It was now down to Pandey to see through what

he

had started.

Having bowled three flighted deliveries so far, Mishra now fired one in at the sight of a specialist batsman. Pandey was expecting it. He went deep in his crease, and drilled it over long-on. Perhaps Mishra would have been better off keeping it slow because it had become really hard to generate power into shots by now. He didn't, and Pandey was there to cash in. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Delhi Daredevils innings (20 overs maximum) SV Samson c †Uthappa b UT Yadav 39 SW Billings c †Uthappa b Coulter-Nile 21 KK Nair b Coulter-Nile 21 SS Iyer run out (de Grandhomme/†Uthappa) 26 RR Pant† c Gambhir b CoulterNile 38 AD Mathews b Narine 1 CH Morris c UT Yadav b Woak es 16 PJ Cummins not out 3 Mohammed Shami not out 0 Extras (b-1, w-2)3 Total (7 wickets; 20 overs)168(8.40 runs per over) Did not bat: A Mishra, Z Khan* Fall of wickets 1-53 (Billings, 6.1 ov), 2-63 (Samson, 7.5 ov), 3-106 (Iyer, 13.2 ov), 4-110 (Nair, 14.6 ov), 5-145 (Mathews, 17.2 ov), 6-153 (Pant, 18.1 ov), 7-167 (Morris, 19.5 ov) Bowling: NM Coulter-Nile 4-0-22-3 (W-1), CR Woakes 4-0-31-1, UT Yadav 4-0-531, SP Narine 4-0-20-1 (W-1), Kuldeep Yadav 3-0-29-0, C de Grandhomme 1-0-12-0

Kolkata Knight Riders innings (target: 169 runs from 20 overs) G Gambhir* c Mathews b Kha n 14 C de Grandhomme c Billings b Khan 1 RV Uthappa† c †Pant b Cummins 4 MK Pandey not out 69 YK Pathan c & b Morris 59 SA Yadav c Khan b Cummins 7 CR Woakes st †Pant b Mishra 3 SP Narine not out 1 Extras (lb-3, w-8)11 Total (6 wickets; 19.5 overs)169(8.52 runs per over) Did not bat: NM Coulter-Nile, Kuldeep Yadav, UT Yadav Fall of wickets 1-5 (de Grandhomme, 0.5 ov), 2-19 (Uthappa, 1.6 ov), 3-21 (Gambhir, 2.5 ov), 4-131 (Pathan, 14.5 ov), 5-152 (SA Yadav, 17.5 ov), 6-160 (Woakes, 19.2 ov) Bowling: Z Khan 4-0-28-2, PJ Cummins 4-0-39-2 (W1), CH Morris 4-0-30-1, A Mishra 2.5-0-26-1 (W-1), Mohammed Shami 3-0-28-0 (W-2), AD Mathews 2-0-15-0

Fitzgerald, Hiralall standouts at Easter Darts Festival

The respective winners pose with their accolades in the presence of the organisers

N

ational Champion Sudesh Fitzgerald and Rosetta Hiralall were on the winning side of the Guyana Darts Association (GDA) Easter Festival which was held at the Maltenoes Sports Club (MSC) on Saturday.

Fitzgerlad won the male title and trip to Arrow Point, ahead of Luis Miguel Ramirez- Merlano and Anil Lachhman in second and third respectively.

In the female category, Hiralall won a trip to Kaieteur Falls after she came ahead of Shondel Hyles and Victorine Chandro .

In the Luck of draw doubles, the Fitzgerald/ Hyles combination surged to first place while Ramirez - Merlano/ Natisha Fordyce and Sherwyn Greene/Mark Fenty came in second and third respectively.

The organisers expressed great appreciation for the support of Roraima group of companies, Bonnie's supermarket, New Airport Grill and Bar, KV contracting services and PFI Supermarket.

21

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesdAY, april 18, 2017

Champion of Champions Inter-County Tournament

Kippins leads Permaul’s Berbice to title

By Romario Samaroo

T

hroy Kippins’ Man of the Match performance in the finals of the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association Masters Inter County

T20 tournament led Permaul’s Berbice to the title on Sunday at the Ogle Community Centre Ground, East Coast Demerara.

The occasion marked a timely return of inter-county softball cricket after an absence of more

The victorious Permaul’s Berbice

than two decades.

The clash of the biggest over45 years and older players on the local softball scene saw a spectacular turnout from fans who got their money’s worth as Berbice posted 143 for the loss of nine from their allotted 20 overs while Wellman’s Demerara fell just three runs short of their target in a thrilling chase that went down to the wire.

The Berbice innings got off to a shaky start with former first class player David Harper removing both openers, Khemraj Sumair (02) and Eon Abel (03) while Ramesh Narine removed Jagga Bhoj (04) to have Berbice struggling at 24-3. Soon after captain Verrapen Moonsammy was run out for 8 that allowed Kippins and Rudolph Baker to the crease who added 70 for the 5th wicket.

When Ramo Malone had Kippins bowled for 34 soon after Baker went for 33 allowing

Ravi Lutchman to make a quickfire 15.

In the end, Jagdesh Persaud took 2-16 from their four overs while Harper bagged 2-15 from three overs to have the best returns for Wellman’s Demerara.

In response, the opening pair of Malone and Mahendra Arjune added a fast 17 for the opening wicket but when Arjune feel by playing a wild shot to Kippins it brought in Jagdesh Persaud who unsettled the Berbice bowling in his way to a well-crafted 39 before falling to Ravi Lutchman in his first over.

With Harper and captain Wayne Jones at the crease, the pair looked to be rotating the strike frequently however a breakdown in communication saw the run out of Jones who was stranded trying to take a second run that was never on the cards for 19. At that point Demerara required 29 from 24 balls that eventually went down to

Super 4 Massive Easter Football…

T

game on.

Like he has done on so many occasions including the earlier semifinal, Trayon Bobb had to come to the rescue of his side and did so in fine style when he banged in the winning goal in the 37th minute.

Uitvlugt downed old nemesis Den Amstel FC in their semifinal encounter compliments of the lone strike coming off the boot of Trayon Bobb. On the newly laid Den Amstel field which is tipped to be one of the better surfaces on the West Side, Uitvlugt went into the match with memories of their humiliating loss in the Den Amstel Mash Cup final to the former.

The 20/20 format of the semifinals also made the action more exciting, Uitvlugt it was though that dominated the home team even as they squandered many opportunities but eventually made one count with 8 minutes left on the clock, Bobb making no mistake in netting.

The first semifinal went down to the wire between Eagles FC and Pouderoyen and when the allocated 40

Director of Sport Christopher Jones (7th right); D-Division Commander Leslie James (3rd right); and GFF Third VP Thandi McAllister (stooping left) join Promoters Alex Green (right) and Akantunde Rudder (2nd left) and the victorious Uitvlugt Warriors FC on Sunday night at the Den Amstel ground

Demerara requiring seven from the last over.

R a v i Lutchman, with ball in hand and seven runs to defend stifled the batting side to only have three singles coming off his over and eventually see Berbice take the title by four runs. Kippings was awarded man of the match after returning figures of 2-23 while Lutchman took 2-14 from their four overs.

Eastman ecstatic for Pan-Am 2017

By Romario Samaroo

– Eagles taken down 2-1 ournament MVP Trayon Bobb led Uitvlugt Warriors to the $100,000 first place prize whilst also winning for himself $20,000 when the Super 4 Massive Easter Football Fiesta, featuring West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) top four clubs was played on Sunday night last at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground.

Uitvlugt defeated Eagles FC of Stewartville 2-1 in the final after both had disposed of their respective semifinal opponents on a beautiful Easter Sunday night and witnessed by a colourful crowd.

Eagles, still smarting from their semifinal win over Pouderoyen were harbouring thoughts of another upset win on the night but it was Uitvlugt which drew first blood to dampen the spirits of the energetic Egales.

Daniel Floy scored in the 6th minute to give his side the psychological edge. Eagles never sat back despite trailing and silent the Uitvlugt fans on 33 minutes when they equalized through a Daniel Clark goal; it was

Man of the match Throy Kippins

minutes had elapsed, the score was still deadlocked. In the ensuing kicks from the penalty mark, Eagles prevailed 3-2 to earn their place in the final.

It was the Stewartville based club second win over their more seasoned rivals in as many matches following their third place win in the Den Amstel Mash Cup. In the 60 minute third place match that brought together the semifinal losers, Den Amstel made light work of Pouderoyen coming out 2-0 winners on account of goals from Dwayne St Kitts in the 29th minute and Keswyn Fraser in the 46th minute.

Prior to the final, the teams were met by Director of Sport Christopher Jones, Guyana Police force D-Division Commander Leslie James, Guyana Football Federation Third Vice President with responsibility for the WDFA Ms Thandi McAllister along with Super 4 Massive’s Alex Green and Akantunde Rudder aka Rigget.

The presentation will be held tomorrow at the Den Amstel Community Centre from 17:00h.

H

amza Eastman, fresh off consecutive victories is pumped and ready to blaze the trail when he participates in the Pan-American games 2017 which is slated for May 4-7.

Eastman, who has been in immaculate form of recent times was named as part of a seven-man team that will depart Guyana’s shores for the Dominican Republic where they will take part in the Pan American road cycling championship.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport on Sunday, Eastman said his main objective is to continue to show the talent Guyana has and make his country proud.

“I always want to, you know make Guyana be recognised by going to those games, remember our country is very small and those things but I always want to do good for Guyana just make Guyana be recognised by the world, it doesn’t matter if we don’t win but once people know Guyana is here and participated well.” Eatman said.

When looking at the team that will be heading over to the island, the Cocos rider noted that there are some exceptional talent amongst the group and it is likely that they will do well. He emphasised on his other two club

mates who have been doing well of recent.

Headlining the team which would have been selected based on participation in the Guyana Cycling Federation’s races so far this year is Eastman’s Team Cocos riding mate, Jamal John who has been in outstanding since November, 2016.

The other riders who have all been turning in encouraging performances to date this year are Paul DeNobrega (Digicel Team Evolution) who dominated the early part of 2017, Junior Niles (Team Coco’s) who has shown he is still a fierce competitor going arguably unchallenged in the veterans division, Raphael Leung (We Stand United) who has shown good prospects, Dwayne Gibbs Jnr. (Kaieteur) and Andrew Hicks (We Stand United) who has already shown he is ready to go pedal to pedal with the big boys having recently moved into the senior category.

Leung, Hicks and Gibbs will be contesting the Under-23 category which will be a 140Km race on May 6, while John, DeNobrega, Eastman and Niles will be aiming to bring glory for Guyana in the Elite segment of the race on May 7 which will be a 170Km battle.

There will also be individual Time Trials but the Guyanese would not be participating.

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, april 18, 2017

23

CWI/PCL Digicel Regional 4-Day Tournament 2016-17

3-peat complete – Volcanoes demolished inside 3 days

By John Ramsingh

A

comprehensive victory by the Guyana Jaguars over the Windward Islands Volcanoes on Easter Monday at Providence have given the Jaguars an unassailable lead in the points standings and the Digicel Regional 4-Day title for the third straight year.

The hosts needed only 45 minutes on day three to take the final five Volcanoes wickets for the massive win by an innings and 122 runs with more than a day and two sessions to spare.

The visitors needed a monumental effort from their lower order to make a contest of the 10th round match and with international player Devon Smith unbeaten on his 54th half century, there was a slight hope of pushing the game deep into the penultimate day at least.

The Volcanoes resumed on 102-5 with Smith on 60 and Kyle Mayers one but their stay in the middle was very short. In beautiful weather, Mayers took 13 runs off the first over of the day which was bowled by left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie from the Players

Man of the Match, Keemo Paul

Pavilion End including a six over long-off and a cover drive for four.

Mayers played one shot too many and in the next over, the second of the day he edged a short ball from Keemo Paul to Assad Fudadin who dived forward to claim his prize, however the batsman stayed his ground. After consulting with Umpire Zahid Bassarath at square-leg, Mayers was subsequently given out by Umpire Shannon Crawford to give Paul his first wicket in the second

innings in his first over of the day.

Next in was Shane Shillingford who continued the assault on Motie taking 11 off of the next over including a six and a four. However, after a quiet period Smith was also undone by the fired up Paul in the next over. The Grenadian got a short slower ball from Paul and was in the shot too early as the ball took the leading edge and flew to gully and into the waiting hands of Rajendra Chandrika. Smith gone and the Jaguars’ celebration had begun.

Larry Edward joined Shillingford and after blocking out a maiden from Paul drove hard back to Motie who held on to the sharp chance and all of a sudden in the day’s seventh over the visitors were 136-8. The tall rangy figure of Delorn Johnson then drove the next ball straight back to Motie who took it inches from the ground diving to his right and was on a hat trick with last man Sherman Lewis walking out. The hat trick was averted and Shillingford took the attack to the young Jaguars bowlers in the next two overs before Paul had the last laugh when Lewis was adjudged LBW at the start of the 47th over of the in-

nings. champions took 21.6 points Shillingford was left uneaten from the match to hold on to the on 35 which came off of 24 balls Headley/Weekes trophy the prize with five fours and two sixes when for Regional Four -Day supremacy. he ran out of partners.

The Jaguars still have a match Motie who picked up two wick- in hand and will take on the ets just before stumps on day 2 for Leeward Islands Hurricanes bejust three runs from four overs had ginning on Friday at the Guyana a contrasting spell on day three National Stadium, Providence. where he went for 42 runs from five overs while pickExtras (lb-4, w-1, nb-1) 6 Windward Islands ing up his Volcanoes 1st Innings 95 Total (All out, 46.1 overs) 162 two scalps Guyana Jaguars 1st Innings 379 FOW: 1-25, 2-67, 3-80, to fin4-96, 5-100, 6-115, 7-131, Windward Islands Volcanoes 8-136, 9-136, 10-162 2nd Innings (Overnight 102/5) ish as the Bowling: Shepherd 6-2-14-1, DS Smith c R Chandrika b K Pau pick of the l 61 Jacobs 4-0-14-0, Paul 8.1-1Jaguars T Theophile b R Shepherd 10 36-3 (nb-1, w-1), V Permaul bowlers J Robinson lbw b V Permaul 18 11-4-23-1, Rutherford 8-0with 4-45 26-1, Motie 9-4-45-4 A Fletcher c and b S Rutherford5 while Paul Result: Guyana Jaguars won S Ambris*+ c R Shepherd b G took 3-36 by an innings and 122 runs Motie 8 to finPoints: Guyana Jaguars 21.6 (12 K Hodge c R Shepherd b G ish with for victory + 4 batting points Motie 0 match fig+ 3 bowling points + 2.6 pace K Mayers c A Fudadin b K Pau bowling points), Windward ures of l 14 Islands Volcanoes 4.8 (0 batting 9-64 folS Shillingford not out 35 points + 3 bowling points + lowing his 1.8 pace bowling points L Edward c and b G Motie 5 6-28 in the Player of the Match: Keemo D Johnson c and b G Motie 0 first inS Lewis lbw b K Paul 0 Paul (Guyana Jaguars) nings.

T h e

SCOREBOARD

– Powell earns recall T

he Selection Panel of the West Indies Cricket Board announced on Monday a 13-member squad for the first Test of the Brighto Paints presents the Q Mobile Cup Series against Pakistan, starting on Friday at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica.

The squad sees the selection of Guyanese batsmen Vishaul Singh and Shimron Hetmyer and a recall for opener Keiran Powell.

Both Singh and Hetmyer have been in tremendous form in the regional tournaments and in the tour match against the Pakistanis Singh made a delightful 134 not out while Hetmyer made 97.

On the composition of the squad, Courtney Browne, chairman of the selection panel, said, “After winning our previous Test which was against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, the panel felt that we should stick as close as we possibly can to that squad.

We have a young Test squad which was admirably led by Jason Holder during the last series and, though there are some noticeable absentees, we believe that the players will give a good account of themselves especially in their own backyard.

We are happy to be able to give a recall to Kieran Powell for one of the opening slots, although he did

not have the best regional firstclass season. He showed for the President’s XI that his experience can add value to our team. In addition, we have included two uncapped players, Shimron Hetmyer and Vishaul Singh, with a view to exposing players that we believe have earned an opportunity to play for West Indies.

We also recognised the performance of a number of other players whose names came on the table, largely because of noticeable performances in the Digicel Regional 4-Day Tournament. We encourage them however, to continue to work hard and keep selection pressure on the incumbents as the R4Day and our A-Team programme remain the feeding ground for our Test team.

On the selection of Hetmyer: Shimron has shown a lot of maturity during this season of regional games and also within our A team. It is really satisfying to see someone that only a year ago was leading our Under-19 squad to the ICC Youth World Cup title progress so quickly to be considered for a place in the squad. We want to wish the young man well and hope that he like all the others can grasp the opportunity when it presents itself.

On the selection of Powell: We

Devendra Bishoo

are happy that Kieran is once again available as an option for us to open the batting. West Indies cricket has invested heavily in him over the years and with the void of openers within the Caribbean, the panel felt a need to fast track him through our A-Team programme last year with a view in helping him to bridge that gap.

On the selection of Singh:Vishal has been one of the more consistent batsmen in the Regional 4-Day Tournament over the last few seasons and had a very good A-Team series against Sri Lanka last year.

His hundred over the weekend for the WICB President’s XI against the Pakistanis helped to fortify in our minds that he has a place in our squad. He gives us the option of a solid middle-order batsman around whom our more free-scoring players can bat.

SQUAD: Jason Holder (Captain), Devendra Bishoo, Jermaine Blackwood, Kraigg Brathwaite, Roston Chase,

Miguel Cummins, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Kieran Powell, Vishaul Singh Team Management Unit: Stuart Law (Head Coach), Joel Garner (Team Operations Manager), Roddy Estwick (Assistant Coach), T o b y Radford

Keiran Powell

(Assistant Coach), Andre Coley (Assistant Coach), Rajindra Dhanraj (Spin B o w l i n g Mentor), C.J. C l a r k (Physiotherapist), Ronald Rogers (Strength & Conditioning Coordinator), Jeffrey Gay (Massage Therapist), Dexter Augustus (Video Data Analyst), Philip Spooner (Media Relations Manager)

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

TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

CWI/PCL Digicel Regional 4-Day Tournament 2016-17…

3-peat complete

– Volcanoes demolished inside 3 days

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The winning moment! Keemo Paul and the Guyana Jaguars celebrate the fall of the final Volcanoes wicket at Providence on Monday (John Ramsingh photo)

Shimron Hetmyer

Vishaul Singh

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Hetmyer, Singh in West Indies Test squad – Powell earns recall GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Sport: sport@guyanatimesgy.com Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 SALES AND MARKETING - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.