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Thursday, May 1, 2014

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Guyana revokes work permit of USAID chief

CGX reports US$1.1M first quarter P2 loss

See story on page 15

Ramotar laments Caricom US$4B food import bill

UNDP rolls out anti- P2 HIV stigma initiative in Linden, New Amsterdam Drug shortage continues P3 despite operationalisation of new bond

See story on page 7 President Donald Ramotar greets Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto on Wednesday prior to the plenary of the sixth Summit of Heads of State of Caricom and Mexico (Photo courtesy of Mexican Embassy in Georgetown)

Police launch probe into missing Rodney files

See story on page 14

UG, Minibus Union ink deal to ease late night P9 transportation woes

Reverend Gilbert tells CoI PNC Teenager remanded youths wanted for Mabura businessman’s murder to kill him P16

See story on page 18

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thursday, may 1, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

CGX reports US$1.1M UNDP rolls out anti-HIV stigma initiative in Linden, New Amsterdam first quarter loss

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he New Amsterdam and Linden municipalities on Tuesday embarked on a mission to fight against stigma and discrimination faced by persons infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

The mission which was made possible under the Urban Health and Justice Initiative (HIV CITIES) and supported by the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) aims to support the country to reduce HIV among key populations such as the MSM (Men who have sex with men), WSW (Women who have sex with women) and LGBTs (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transsexuals).

Trevor Benn, Analyst on Governance and Poverty and the United Nations Development Fund, in providing the history of the programme, told the gathering that the initiative first began in 2011 when the Guyana Country Office began the implementation of the Urban Health and Justice Initiative also called the CITIES Projects, in the Georgetown and New Amsterdam municipalities.

He related that during that period, the potential was seen to begin an even more extended programme while pointing out what has been achieved thus far.

“During the initial phase, an assessment of the two townships was conducted and work plans were developed. Several successes have evolved out of this initiative which was launched in October 2013 and has resulted in a firm commitment from the two participating municipalities to issue a municipal declara-

AIDS Secretariat Coordinator, Dr Shanti Singh

tion committing to upholding the human rights of all persons within their municipalities with a focus on key populations,” Benn said.

Head of the A.I.D.S Secretariat, Dr Shanti Singh in brief remarks noted that she was extremely pleased to see that the municipalities have recognised the need for voices for HIVinfected and affected persons, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and their right to be treated equally, regardless of their sexual orientation, race, religion, sexual identity or gender.

Success

She noted that while Guyana has over the years achieved success in reducing the number of persons affected, the fight still continues to smother stigma and discrimination and to afford equal rights inclusive of job opportunities to those infected and affected by the virus.

Meanwhile, Mayor of the town of Linden, Orrin Gordon related that he was happy that the declaration can be signed since his town has over the years

been working tirelessly for the rights of its entire people irrespective of class, race, creed, religion, sexual orientation and gender while noting that the towns now have their work cut out.

“This task we have embarked on is certainly not going to be an easy one.

It will be one that is filled with many obstacles, challenges and trials but we will continue to work to achieve equal rights, basic human rights for our people,” Gordon said.

The Mayor noted that previously HIV-infected persons and the LGBTs would usually face hardship when they are abused and go to make complaints at the Police station. Now, he, however, disclosed, things have changed significantly particularly in the Linden and Berbice towns as the Police are now working alongside the various human rights groups in every step and every initiative they take.

To this end, he charged the Police officers to remain the protectors of the rights of the citizens of a country while emphasising the need for all officers to follow those in the two towns.

Rights

High Court Judge Madame Roxanne GeorgeWiltshire also in brief remarks on Guyana’s role in upholding the human rights of its citizenry, encouraged every person present to take an interest in knowing their rights since the law provides for every individual.

She noted that if citizens remained ignorant of their rights, they will al-

ways face challenges.

“Knowing your rights is very important. The law provides for every citizen at every level but what we find is that many persons are ignorant of their rights and so they accept whatever is done to them even if it involves the violation of their human rights. At the same time, we must learn to respect ourselves and respect others around us. Do not be involved in actions which cause discomfort to other persons,” the Judge urged.

The declaration was signed by a representative from the County of Berbice, Uriel Day (in the absence of the Mayor) and the Mayor of Linden Orrin Gordon.

The declaration states that the Mayor and Town Council shall work with all local and national stakeholders to strengthen partnerships on HIV/AIDS; support and promote 24 hours access to HIV counselling and testing; renounce stigma and discrimination against persons infected or affected by HIV/AIDS at all levels – schools, workplaces and communities; respect the dignity and worth of every person, without distinction on the basis of race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, language, religion, property, birth or any other status; renounce homophobia and support the rights and dignity of all persons regardless of their gender, sexuality or employment to care, treatment and support as human rights; and to encourage the participation of all stakeholders within the municipality in the decision-making processes.

CGX Energy has reported a net loss of US$1,185,644 or US$0.02 per share for the three-month period ending March 31, 2014

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GX Energy has reported a net loss of US$1,185,644 or US$0.02 per share for the three month-period ending March 31, 2014, compared with a net loss of US$1,074,921 or US$0.03 per share for the same period in 2013.

During the first quarter of 2014, CGX Energy continued to focus on cost cutting initiatives and, as a result, the company’s general and administrative costs for the three-month period ended March 31, have decreased by approximately US$19,000 per month to US$436,269.

In addition, management and consulting fees have decreased by US$255,402 to US$543,988, as compared to the same period in 2013.

The company expects general and administrative costs to decrease further in the second quarter, while management and consulting fees are expected to be consistent in the coming quarter as a result of the joint venture process and the company’s ongoing litigation with Repsol Exploracion, SA. According to CGX as announced on February 25, it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Teikoku Oil (Suriname) Co Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of INPEX CORPORATION and PETRONAS Suriname E&P BV (PSE PBV), for rig sharing in

the Guyana-Suriname basin and the company plans to utilise this rig for the drilling of its commitment well under the company’s Corentyne petroleum prospecting licence (the Corentyne PPL).

The reprocessing of the seismic data relating to the Corentyne PPL and the merging of the existing seismic surveys was completed in April. The company is now in the process of re-interpreting the seismic data to delineate a new prospect on the Corenytne PPL with the assistance of Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp and its technical staff. CGX Energy will be providing the new data to potential joint venture partners with a view to farming out the Corentyne PPL. In the short term, the company will likely require additional financing and seek to widen its shareholder base, but still with a view to negotiating farm-out transactions as the primary way to enhance shareholder value.

The company continues to actively pursue and explore strategic joint venture partnerships for all three of its petroleum prospecting licenses in Guyana and has a technical data room open at its Houston office. CGX Energy is a Canadianbased oil and gas exploration company focused on the exploration of oil in the Guyana-Suriname Basin.

News

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thursDay, may 1, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Thursday May 1 from 05:30h-07:00h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on Thursday May 1 from 05:05h-06:35h

WEATHER TODAY

Déjà Vu

Drug shortage continues despite operationalisation of new bond

By Michael Younge

Weather: Light rain showers will give way to sunny intervals during the day with clear skies to partly cloudy conditions in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees to 28 degrees Celsius.

Wind: North easterly between zero and 4.91 metres per second.

High Tide: 04:54h and 17:19h reaching maximum heights of 2.80 metres and 2.67 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:29h and 23:40h reaching minimum heights of 0.46 metre and 0.64 metre respectively.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

LOTTERY NUMBERS H 04 14 20 23 17 22 08 FREE TICKET

Bonus Ball

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Daily Millions

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The Health Ministry’s bond at Diamond, East Bank Demerara

here continues to be a shortage of medical supplies, drugs and pharmaceuticals across the country despite Government’s attempts to ensure that there are significant improvements in the requisition and distribution systems with the commissioning of a spanking new $375 million warehouse facility and bond at Diamond, East Bank Demerara.

The facility was established last May with support from several donor agencies, after Government injected some $120 million to operationalise what it calls the “New Management Materials Unit”.

When questioned late last year about the confusion that was gripping the system at Diamond since the Ministry’s decision to move from the NEW GPC warehousing facility at Farm, Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran said that “teething problems” were being experienced at that time.

He had promised that the situation would have been improved ahead of the commencement of the New Year. But as recent as Saturday, several regional health officials were complaining that the situation has not improved significantly and severe shortages of critical, and most times basic, drugs and medical supplies are still being experienced.

They have reiterated calls for better systems to be put in place to manage the central bond and unit at Diamond. These calls come on the heels of complaints

Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran

earlier in the year that there were shortages which were frustrating the elderly and poor since they could not access various forms of medications and drugs.

Region Two shortages

Speaking with Guyana Times over the weekend, Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud confirmed that the shortage of medical supplies was significantly affecting the quality and reliability of the service offered to Essequibians.

The main pharmacy at the Suddie Public Hospital and the Charity Hospital are the most hard-hit by the shortages. Persaud said upon investigation, it was discovered that the pharmacist in charge did not make the necessary requisition.

The Chairman told Guyana Times that there is a shortage of B-Complex as well as vitamins while relating that the drugs are sourced from Georgetown and are distributed based

on consumption records, pointing out that if the region does not use up its quota for a given month, less is supplied the following month. This system, he said, has some flaws, and the region is working to have them addressed.

This was also confirmed by the Regional Health Officer Allison Brown who said that the Suddie Hospital Pharmacy does not have “basic” medications. Brown reported that the last supply of drugs was received in March this year while revealing that patients are being forced to buy insulin syringes for $120 until they receive a supply of stock.

Additionally, patients who turn up to benefit from the services of the public health system in the regions are being left with no

choice but to source some supplies at private institutions.

Region Ten shortages

“It is a shame that some people are asked to buy medications such as Nystatin, ORS, Antibiotic Eye Drops, Daflon, Simvastatin, Haloperidol, vitamin tablets and injections, Azitromycin, Anti Hypertensive Tablets, Antipsychotics and Antiepileptic drugs which are reportedly in short supply at the hospital,” a health official from the region said. Rationing of supplies is being done in the meantime.

Most of the health centres in Pomeroon and on the Essequibo Coast are reported out of supply of certain medications. turn to page 9

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thursday, may 1, 2014

Views Editor: Nigel Williams Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134 Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Workers’ health and safety

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abour Minister, Dr Nanda Gopaul recently made a strong call for both employers and employees to report any accident that occurs on the work site, as mandated by the Occupational Health and Safety laws.

This was a very timely and relevant call as the Minister was at the time delivering the feature address at a symposium in observance of World Day for Occupational Safety and Health, under the theme “Safety and health in the use of chemicals at work”.

World Day for Occupational Safety and Health was launched in 2003 to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases worldwide. It is an awareness campaign intended to focus international attention on emerging trends in the field of occupational safety and health, and on the magnitude of work-related injuries, diseases and fatalities.

In Guyana, and perhaps this is the case in many other countries, work-related accidents are covered up or taken very lightly. Often employers and employees keep workplacerelated accidents or diseases under wraps.

This may be due to a number of reasons, including some employees are fearful that they may lose their job if they complain to the authorities about their unsafe or hazardous working conditions and employees may be ignorant of their rights as it relates to their own safety. In the case of the employers, they may feel threatened that they could lose their relevant licenses or may be forced to pay huge fines, etc, if they are found to be in breach of the relevant laws.

The authorities cannot make the necessary interventions if they are not made aware of what is happening at the workplace, and both the employee and the employer have a duty to report accidents in a timely fashion whenever they occur.

This, however, does not prevent the Ministry from making impromptu visits to the various worksites to determine whether the Occupational Health and Safety Laws are being adhered to.

The Ministry has the laws on its side and should not wait on complaints only to take action. Regular checks or interviews with workers could provide useful information to the Ministry as part of its efforts to ensure that the working conditions of employees are improved.

Quite a number of Guyanese workers are not covered by any form of insurance, so whenever an accident occurs, or employees get sick at the workplace, they get no benefit. In addition to not getting any benefits, they are also prevented from working for a very long period.

Their families also suffer in the process, especially if the person injured is the sole breadwinner in the home. We join with Minister Gopaul in urging employers to put the necessary safety mechanisms in place to prevent accidents and ensure that workers are covered by insurance.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), in many countries around the world, more than half of workers are employed in the informal sector with no social protection for seeking health care and lack of regulatory enforcement of occupational health and safety standards.

About 70 per cent of workers do not have any insurance to compensate them in case of occupational diseases and injuries.

World Health Assembly resolution WHA60.26, “Workers’ Health: Global Plan of Action”, urged member states “to work towards full coverage of all workers, particularly those in the informal sector, agriculture, small enterprises and migrant workers with essential interventions and basic occupational health services for primary prevention of occupational and work-related diseases and injuries.”

Based on official statistics, work-related health problems result in an economic loss of four to six per cent of GDP for most countries. This is enough to cause policy makers to take corrective action.

The WHO points to the fact that employment and working conditions have powerful effects on health equity. Good working conditions can provide social protection and status, personal development opportunities, and protection from physical and psychosocial hazards. They can also improve social relations and self-esteem of employees and lead to positive health effects.

Swimming with giants Prana ambassador Amy Ippoliti sidles up to a 1500-pound manta ray in hopes of inspiring conservation efforts. Ippoliti’s underwater rendezvous was a chance to showcase the interspecies connection between man and animal, something she hopes will help people understand that these giant animals are worth preserving and protecting – which is becoming tougher than ever due to overfishing (GrindTv)

Robinson disappointed Guyanese on free and fair elections (Part two) Dear Editor, The leaders of the NAR promised to assist us in our struggle for free and fair elections in Guyana, but they broke all their promises. Panday told me when he served as Foreign Minister, he was helpless on the Guyana situation as Prime Minister Robinson was not willing to put pressure on Hoyte to free up the political process.

But Robbie did agree to grant amnesty to illegal Guyanese residing in Trinidad. Robbie told Panday “take your Indian base and go”, convinced the NAR would replace the PNM as the party of Africans and Indians would be in the Opposition. Bas went on to form the UNC in 1988 with almost the entire Indian population rallying with him.

The NAR was subsequently trounced in local and by-elections by the UNC and PNM. And in general elections in December 1991, NAR was completely wiped out, losing all of its seats in Trinidad. Robbie was dethroned playing the race

card. Had he built on the racial harmony started

by Bas, Trinidad would not have had the serious ethnic problems it has faced since 1988.

Robbie made up for the lost love between himself and Bas when he joined Panday to form a coalition government in November 1995 during the 17-17 tie using his two Tobago seats to make Bas the PM. In exchange for his support, Bas promised to make Robbie President.

Two PNM MPs defected joining the UNC Government, with Robbie’s two seats no longer needed in the coalition. But Panday honoured the agreement to make Robbie President.

Conflict developed between the two with Bas calling President Robbie an enemy.

Following elections in 2000 when Panday won a majority, Robbie took days before reappointing Bas as the PM. Attorney General Ramesh Maharaj pressured Robbie to invite Bas to form the Government. Robbie also initially refused to swear

in several of Panday’s appointees as Ministers; again Ramesh forced Robbie to execute the appointments.

Conflict developed between Bas and Ramesh over Ramesh’s insistence that corrupt Ministers be investigated, creating an opening for Robbie to get rid of Bas as the PM. Ramesh and Bas fought over control of the UNC in internal executive elections furthering the internal rift when Ramesh’s slate defeated Panday’s slate of candidates in June 2001 for control of the UNC executive.

Bas refused to accept Ramesh as his deputy. Ramesh continued to demand investigation into corrupt Ministers; Bas fired him in October.

Two Ministers resigned in protest and joined Ramesh. Party members called for reconciliation so UNC could remain in office. Bas expelled Ramesh and his supporters from the UNC and dissolved Parliament triggering elections.

Ramesh formed a new party and contested elec-

tions, not winning a single seat, but pulling enough votes away from the UNC resulting in a tied election 18-18. Robbie urged Bas and PNM leader Patrick Manning to work out an agreement on Government formation.

Bas unwisely signed an agreement with Manning authorising Robbie to choose the PM when as the incumbent, he was the automatic choice as PM. So Robbie was not completely to be blamed for bypassing Bas as PM; Bas received bad advice to sign a foolish agreement.

Robbie got his revenge appointing Manning as the PM. One UNC supporter blamed Bas for his own demise describing him as “reckless” for the breakup of the NAR and for expelling Ramesh and calling early elections that led to his defeat. He noted: “Had Bas used wisdom, the UNC would have remained in power and not lost valuable years (19881995) and (2002-2010)”.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

guyanatimesgy.com

thursday, may 1, 2014

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You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Munroe was given May Day was set aside internationally Ms with one month’s data to commemorate workers’ struggle service free of charge Dear Editor,

May Day was set aside internationally to commemorate workers’ centuries of struggle. The world over, labour not only celebrates but assesses its gains and victories, its setbacks and failures and lays the basis for the future. We in Guyana should have done the same.

In fact conditions are now developing under which positions are being used to pressure and force anyone to defend his personal political choice and union members are forced to march at May Day rallies without their free will. Moreover, workers are coerced to march with their employers. Dr Cheddi Jagan in his lifetime never departed from his conviction and said that everything must be done to advance the interests of the ordinary working man and woman.

It is my firm belief that

the Trade Union Movement must be united to finally realise the interest of the workers. Unfortunately, today we are again experiencing a rift in the Trade Union Movement and the Government because some unions are unhappy with the way the Ministry of Labour is operating. We must return to the days when the reasons we advance for adopting one or another position must be how it affects the workers and not whether it’s considered to be for or against the interests of the unions.

May Day in Guyana and some other countries of the world is a holiday, a day dedicated to the workers of the country. By May Day 1951, the powerful influence for unity cast by the unions forged a united parade in Georgetown. From 1951, the trade union congress began sponsoring the May

Day marches and in 1958 the Government declared May 1 a public holiday, replacing Empire Day, May 24. History records that Dr Cheddi Jagan was a friend and championed the workers’ rights.

He has always struggled with the working people, trade unions and others for better pay and hours of work, for acceptable working conditions, for injury and death compensation, holidays with pay, recognition of trade unions and many other things to improve life for workers and their children.

May Day, for some sections of the local labour force, especially public servants, has lost its importance and relevance to their daily battles and victories for better conditions of work and livelihood. The reasons are all evident – lack of firm conviction and ac-

tion by their trade unions and Government during the past decades. May Day, the international day of demonstration of power, solidarity and gains of workers, has its origin and roots in Chicago, USA, when a country wide strike on 1 May, 1886 immobilised the country’s industrial sector.

Hundreds of thousands of ordinary workers took to the streets and registered their call for more human working and living conditions, and focused on the demand for an eight-hour day. Several peaceful protesters were slaughtered in this act of workers’ solidarity, known as the Haymarket Martyrs. They succeeded in reducing a 12-hour day to 10 hours.

Yours faithfully, Mohamed Khan

Mr Webster was astrong supporter of the security sector Dear Editor, The Ministry of Home Affairs wishes to extend profound sadness at the passing of Mr Ronald Webster, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, on Sunday, April 27, 2014.

As a senior executive of the Private Sector Commission including that of Chairman, Mr Webster was a strong sup-

porter of Security Sector reforms in general and the modernisation process of the Guyana Police Force in particular.

He performed an integral role in the recruitment of civilians for the Strategic Management Department of the Force.

Additionally, Mr Webster partnered with the Ministry of Home Affairs in many of its ini-

tiatives that were aimed at providing enhanced citizen security in Guyana.

The Ministry extends its condolences to Mr Webster’s sorrowing relatives and friends in this time of their bereavement.

Sincerely submitted, Ministry of Home Affairs

Does the Opposition have anything constructive to show?

Dear Editor, Mr Basil Williams’ admission that his party’s number one priority is to regain political power must be a blatant and narrowminded disregard of what the functions of any political group in Parliament should be, and also clarifies the Opposition’s policy of “Slash and Burn” that has informed their recent escapades, which must be contrary to all that is expected of a responsible Opposition.

The Honourable Speaker’s lament to the effect that not much that is positive is coming out of that august House must surely be directed to the party that elected him to that position.

It is left for us to see any improvement in the nature of the debates there.

Again, we may well ask whether our politics are to be forever mired in this quagmire of controversy and

negativity that is responsible for a continuous regression of our national affairs.

If APNU’s ambition is merely to regain control of these, are we not to expect the same type of behaviour from the other side of the House if they succeed in this objective, resulting in similar endless stagnation?

I daresay that the purpose of all political groups that comprise the Government of any state should be to work together to produce what is beneficial for the country as a whole. Power would be won by those in Opposition if and when they have performed so positively in this function that the electorate feels that they can do better than those who held the reins previously.

Does the present Opposition have anything constructive to show in this regard?

Yours sincerely, Roy Paul

Dear Editor, The data service problem which customer Johonel Munroe complained about was actually resolved on April 22 through the intervention of the Chief Executive Officer Mr R K Sharma and our Mobile Sales Coordinator Ms Allison Dundas, after her letter first appeared on April 21 in another section of the media.

The customer’s letter appeared again in the April 29 edition of the Guyana Times (with an editor’s note explaining GT&T’s response).

The fact is that customer Johonel Munroe simply needed to change the data settings on her phone.

Further, in recognition of the inconvenience which the customer would have suffered, admittedly through no fault of ours, GT&T in an act of good faith provided Ms Munroe with one month’s data service free of charge.

We might add that after the problem was resolved, the customer promised to

do another Letter to the Editor” that was supposed to put the entire matter to rest. However, to date, we have seen no such letter published in any of the dailies.

With regard to the customer’s handset which was stolen, the company contacted the Acting Commander (CID) at New Amsterdam who could not confirm that CID Head Office in Eve Leary had made any request to GT&T for the relevant information.

However, we have since advised the Acting Commissioner to make such a request through the Crime Chief. This is the usual procedure.

We would be quite happy to provide the relevant information to Ms Munroe through the Guyana Police Force when such a request is received by the company.

Sincerely, Allison Parker, Public Relations Officer GT&T

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Foundation

How to set smart screen time rules

BY CALVIN HENNICK

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ith a few easy limits, you can use screen time and technology to help your child grow and learn.

My name is Calvin, and I was a screen snob. My wife and I were deeply committed to following the American Academy of Paediatrics’ guideline that children under two shouldn’t be exposed to television or other entertainment media, and we sat in smug judgment of parents who parked their kids in front of the TV. How could they?!

But then our iPad – previously known to our son as the white noise machine that lulled him to sleep at night – somehow found its way into his hands, and he began tapping and swiping.

First, he figured out how to play songs. Then I downloaded a baby shapes app to my phone, and he kept himself busy poking at squares and triangles long enough for me to take a shower.

Instead of being zombified as we’d feared, he was engaged. Soon, he was pushing trucks, putting together puzzles, and playing the piano – all on our touch screens.

His vocabulary exploded, and before he turned two, he knew all his letter sounds, picked up from an alphabet

app. Hard to find fault with that.

Still, we felt guilty whenever we handed off the iPad, worried we were causing him some vague harm. And if we couldn’t hold firm now, what chance did we stand, once he got older, of following that other American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) guideline – that children should spend no more than an hour or two per day on media?

Tired of fretting, I decided to call the experts who’ve studied the issue, and much to my surprise, most of them told me (in slightly more erudite language) that we could all chill out.

Yes, there have been studies that show that too much screen time can cause all sorts of problems. Those are real concerns. But there are also many ways to harness the power of technology into something good.

“There are definitely learning opportunities with traditional and new media.

And we encourage them,” says Ari Brown, MD, an AAP spokesperson who’s heading up the group’s committee on media and children. “But even if all your child watches is the History Channel, you still have to manage that time.”

In other words, it’s all about finding the right balance. And when you choose

great content and set some simple boundaries, screen time can fuel – instead of slow – children’s development, says Michael Rich, PhD, director of the Centre on Media and Children at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Pretty refreshing, right?

Now here’s how to do it.

with your child – sometimes dinner needs to be cooked and bills paid. But it’s another reason it’s so critical to be choosy about what you load on their devices or the DVR. Truly great games and shows can inspire and teach your child, while lousy ones (watched over and over) can

Join ’em

An easy way to transform the quality of your child’s time in front of a screen is to tell them to scooch over and make room for you. Playing and watching together make t h e exper i -

ence social instead of solitary. “You can’t quantify the importance of the discussions this will spark – or the benefits of simply being physically close,” says Caroline Knorr, parenting editor for Common Sense Media, a non-profit group that rates and reviews children’s media.

This isn’t to say that you should feel guilt-ridden every time you can’t do this

sap creativity, spur negative behaviour, and more.

I came across a study in Paediatrics that looked at this phenomenon.

Researchers studied a group of preschoolers to see if their behaviour changed when they swapped their usual TV shows with ones that modelled cooperation, good manners, and other positive social skills, such as Dora the Explorer and Sesame

Street. Sure enough, after six months, the children’s behaviour had greatly improved.

Even video games, long considered an isolating activity, can help children connect – that is, when you’re choosing good ones to play.

Nancy Peske, a mom and coauthor of Raising a Sensory Smart Child, says her 14-year-old and his friends play the world building game Minecraft on a common server. “There’s team work; they’re at each other’s houses,” Peske says. “It’s social.”

One of her son’s friends even called recently to thank him for helping to bail out his flooded virtual house.

Peske says her son simply wanted to do his friend a favour. “That’s totally what you want your kids to do in real life.”

Embrace new technology

There’s no doubt that touch screens have had a huge impact on our everyday lives, and now research is showing that they have some real advantages in helping children learn. That’s because every tap and swipe is interactive, says Dr Rich.

You have to do something to get something. And information children seek out tends to stick better in their brains

than anything spoon-fed. This feature is great for older children, but it’s really exciting for the younger set.

Case in point: A recent study compared how quickly toddlers learned new words via two videos: one that they simply watched and one that asked them to touch the screen. Only the interactive video increased their vocabulary, says researcher Heather Kirkorian, PhD, with the University of Wisconsin. “Just building in that little bit of interest helped the children learn.”

Make a family plan

So it’s pretty clear by now that content is king, and fortunately there’s no shortage of positive, age-appropriate apps, games, and shows. (Find some at the must-bookmark site CommonSenseMedia. org). As for setting those limits, try these tips: Take charge. We know, it’s easier said than done, but you can do it! Steel yourself for a few tears, but take heart in knowing that it only takes a few days to set a new routine. Just make sure that media isn’t crowding out play, schoolwork, and family time.

“It’s about balancing and not assuming that somehow their brains are going to melt in front of a screen,” Dr Rich says.

Be a good role model. When your children see you putting your phone/iPad/ Galaxy away, they’ll get the message a lot faster.

Watch her mood, then set rules accordingly.

Children can get frustrated if they play games for too long.

Find the “sweet spot,” then stick to bursts of play that are under that. Yes, you still want their overall recreational screen time to be under two hours.

Keep screens out of the bedroom. You have to know when and what they’re watching and you can’t do that if they’re behind closed doors.

Screen time rules worth following

* Say no to violent content.

Check out games yourself before okaying a download.

Research continues to show that ones with war themes can lead to aggression. * Nix background TV. Turn it off if nobody is watching. Keeping his (or your) show on in the background is distracting and interferes with healthy interaction. * Opt for active games.

When children are sitting in front of a screen...they’re sitting in front of a screen.

Encourage video games that get them to move while they play. (Excerpt from scholastic.com)

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thursDay, may 1, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

Caricom/Mexico Summit

Ramotar laments Caricom US$4B food import bill P

resident Donald Ramotar said that there is a growing recognition of the importance of agriculture, which was vital for food security and essential in maintaining the political stability of the community as well as the region as a whole.

Speaking at the Third Caricom-Mexico Summit held on Tuesday in Mérida, Yucatan, Mexico, President Ramotar welcomed the announcement made earlier by Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, regarding his Government’s financial contribution to the Inter-American Institute for Agriculture for assistance to Caricom states to support the improvement of the agricultural sector, an important aspect of Caribbean life. President Ramotar reminded the meeting that it was the rise in food prices in Tunisia that had started the crisis which was unfortunately still raging in the Middle East.

Highlighting the challenges which Caricom faced in the agricultural sector, President Ramotar pointed out that despite the many initiatives taken, the Caricom region was still a net importer of food with the food bill amounting to more than US$4 billion per year.

He said that it was clear that the region needed a joint agricultural policy through which member states could complement each other and raise their production to reduce the vulnerability in the sector, in the process

President Donald Ramotar in front row for the official photograph of the sixth Summit of Heads of State/Government of Caricom and Mexico

examining the many problems that have emerged and those that were emerging.

Referring to the impact of climate change on agriculture, President Ramotar cited the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) as a practical example, explaining that since 2004, it was expected that there would be 120 days for land preparation for planting of sugar cane.

“Due to changing weather patterns, the average amount of days per year had been reduced to 80.”

Market access

He said there was also need to have easy access to each other’s markets.

However, to accomplish this, it was necessary to improve the transportation links – maritime and air transport.

Another task was for the community to jointly work

to fight the huge food subsidy by developed countries which results in dumping, thus keeping the countries in a state of dependency.

The Guyanese leader said another challenge was that of making agriculture attractive for young people to become involved. The solution was to introduce more technology into the agriculture sector and for this it was necessary to invest in human resources to produce the modern farmer. The President said that countries of the community must also aim to transform their agricultural products from just being raw materials to agro- industries. This is important to create jobs, both in agriculture and in industry where additional skills would be required and where value would be added.

President Ramotar posited that it was time that the

community begin to consider some form of division of labour in agriculture which would help to broaden the amount of agricultural products that the region could make available to its peoples.

Qualfon

Linked to the development of the agricultural sector and agro-industry was the need for reliable and affordable energy, particularly for processing of agricultural products. In this regard, President Ramotar noted that the community could benefit from Mexico’s experience and expertise.

In acknowledging the strengthened relations between Guyana and Mexico, President Ramotar recognised the active role played by the resident Mexican Ambassador in Georgetown.

He also drew attention

to the investment made by Mexican company Qualfon as the largest single private and foreign employer in Guyana, which was planning to expand its operations, encouraged by its favourable business experience. President Ramotar expressed his appreciation to President Peña Nieto for the warm welcome and hospitality that he was accorded.

He was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali and Foreign Affairs Ministry Director General Elisabeth Harper.

Meanwhile, Barbados’ Prime Minister Freundel Stuart told the summit that sustained development could be attained only in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity and “that is the message that must emanate from our summit”.

Stuart said the spirit of dialogue and cooperation in which the two sides engaged should be an example for all to emulate at a time when there was heightened global tensions citing in particular, the Ukraine and the Middle East.

But those problems, he said, “give us an opportunity to strengthen our determination to make the Caribbean a zone of peace and to present our region as a model for harmonious relations”.

The Prime Minister was one of three speakers at the opening ceremony, including the President of Mexico and Secretary General of Caricom, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque. All speakers struck themes of climate change, in particular disaster risk management, agriculture and the vulnerability of small island developing states.

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thursday, may 1, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

AFC demands meaningful collective bargaining for living wages

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he Alliance For Change (AFC) is demanding meaningful collective bargaining to achieve living wages for unionised workers and has criticised the Government for not upholding this principle over the years.

In its Labour Day message, the party said while there is much that workers can celebrate, having earned the right to workers representation, the momentum of the labour movement since the days of Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, George DePena and others has waned.

“This is not a criticism of our present labour leaders but a recognition of the need to double our efforts so that the workers of this country can enjoy their full rights, recognition and just rewards. The Alliance For Change stands ready to partner with all unions in this regard. Long live our

AFC Leader Khemraj Ramjattan

Trade Union Movement,” the party said.

The AFC also paid tribute to all the workers in Guyana, both in the private and public sectors, with special regards to the thousands who eke out a daily living in the informal private sector; the thousands of vendors, unskilled labourers, push-cart operators, minibus drivers, sanitation workers, the or-

dinary grassroots citizens who continuously struggle to provide a livelihood for their families while providing a valuable service to all.

“We recognise your hard work and the contributions of all of you to this dear country of ours.”

This Labour Day, the AFC calls for focus to be paid to all workers, those in the formal and informal sectors for it is the combined contributions of Guyana’s total labour force, the efforts of all citizens, that will be needed to move this country forward.

Challenges Most workers face the challenges of inadequate wages, high cost of living, veiled threats of victimisation for their political beliefs and a general sense of not being able to provide for ‘rainy days’.

“Our workers, con-

scious of the wholly inadequate Old Age Pension also face the challenge of not being able to take care of themselves financially when they retire.

The institutionalisation by the PPP/C of contracted employees has undermined the public service and trade unionism in Guyana.

Today, to the detriment of workers, trade unions are divided along political lines.

“Some of our unions face uphill battles with a Government that view their representation through political lenses, seeing them as political opponents.

Thousands more of our workers are unrepresented and lack the wherewithal to seek legal recourse to represent their interests. Many more are not even aware of their legal rights,” the AFC said.

Eyew tness Killing the Sheriff...

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...and the deputy he shoe was on the other foot than about what Marley sang, when Rodney was assassinated.

Young people heard yesterday about a time – not so long ago – when it wasn’t only the Police that was gunning down innocent folks, but hired thugs of the PNC Government.

Now it’s easy to go on an anti-PNC riff about the “PNC days” – and this is what some folks fear might be the theme of the Rodney Inquiry. And your Eyewitness is very sensitive to this concern: Justice for Rodney and his long suffering family must be done. But on the other hand, we can’t throw out the baby with the bath water.

Rodney wasn’t killed because he was an individual – he was that, but even more, he was a threat to an order Burnham was seeking to institutionalise in this country.

By the time Rodney was assassinated (sorry, but your Eyewitness, like Karen De Souza, has his opinion on the matter) Burnham had spent 16 years at his project to “mould” Guyana in accordance to his whims and fancies.

So when we talk about the posture and actions of the Burnhamite Police and hired thugs, such as the House of Israel, it’s for our present peace of mind that we ought to examine what transpired and perchance how much still lingers.

What Burnham did was to insist that every facet of national life be controlled. He put a spin, as all dictators will, that this was for the “good of the people”. But it was just his megalomania playing out.

Take the Police, for instance. “Special Branch” was “special” in that it spent a tremendous amount of time and money to spy on ordinary citizens. People in the villages and alleys were recruited to spy on each other – and report what we they heard or eavesdropped back to Special Branch.

When we talk about Police excesses today (not that we must stop railing against it) it’s nowhere near the Police State Burnham created. Brothers ratted on brothers and even children spilled the beans on their parents. Big brother always had an open ear.

And before Rodney, the Sheriff, was killed, several of his deputies, had already been eliminated. The army had its own “intelligence unit” and it was even more extensive than the Police’s.

Gregory Smith had to have been a member of this unit – a mole conducting surveillance on Rodney. And such moles are still operating as free lancers. Remember the unit that apprehended Roger Khan with his surveillance equipment?

Who’d they report to? ...and the country With all the excitement surrounding the Rodney Inquiry, the Opposition’s refusal to even consider the recommendations of the head of CFATF to prevent the financial asphyxiation of Guyana, has been blown off the front pages. But when we think about it...this news’ll probably have a greater impact in our lives today.

Which family in Guyana doesn’t at least get a “top up” from relatives overseas? The banks and financial types call it “remittances” – and with the hoops they have to go through from overseas banks – we’re already experiencing a sharp fall in this lifeline.

But Banks can’t take a chance on “financing terrorists”, can they? Especially when the money’s going to a country that’s not in compliance with the regulations of FATF. And it’s the financial institutions that will first feel the squeeze: it’ll cost them a pretty penny to deal with their overseas correspondent Banks. And you can be sure they’ll pass on the costs to you. Higher processing fees, anyone? ...and democracy Henry Jeffrey quotes commentator Fareed Zakaria, who supports Justice Chang’s point that “the budget can only be approved or denied as a whole”. But then Jeffrey says this is “inappropriate” for Guyana. So what gives his opinion precedence over the Chief Justice? Certainly not because he stamps his foot and repeats his contention six times.

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thursDay, may 1, 2014| guyanatimesGY.com

Drug shortage continues...

UG, minibus union ink deal to alleviate late night transportation woes

From left to right: United Minibus Union President Eon Andrews, University of Guyana, Vice Chancellor Jacob Opadeyi, Registrar Vincent Alexander and UGSS Secretary Saeed Khalil signing the agreement

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he University of Guyana (UG) and the United Minibus Union (UMU) on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will see minibuses being available to students from 07:00h to 21:00h Monday to Friday.

On Saturdays, the schedule is 07:00h to 17:00h.

Students using public transportation have had to endure nightly struggles to get transportation to and from the Turkeyen Campus.

Most of the minibuses plying the route turn off their engines at 17:00h, a time when most UG students are still in classrooms.

Owing to the lack of transportation, students have been utilising a ‘back’ route which leads them to Sophia, where they can easily access public transportation. But this “short cut” as it is commonly called is a hotbed for criminals who usually lurk around the area waiting on the right time to pounce on their victims.

Alternatively, those students who would not take the risk at the back have had to walk from the campus to the Railway Embankment or to the East Coast Public Road.

Many a nights were forced to spend exorbitant fares on taxis to get home.

Improving conditions

Speaking at the signing ceremony, UG Vice Chancellor Jacob Opadeyi said the initiative was born after administrators realised that students and staff alike were made to stand on the roadways and parks at all hours of the day and night after classes; awaiting transportation to get home.

“We were even told of the distance that some students have to walk when they leave classes in the nights. It is not safe for our students to be on the roads so late, waiting to get home and so we are seeking to eliminate this,” Opadeyi said.

Registrar of the University Vincent

Alexander noted that the signing marks yet another initiative facilitated by UG to improve the conditions of service and work of its clients, students and employees respectively.

“Given UG’s location, transportation is a key service for those who work at or attend the university.

Today’s event marks the elevation of that service to another level. We enter into an agreement which is intended to guarantee efficient public transportation to the campus. To have these services available to the university, we are partnering with the United Minibus Union who will be granted exclusive rights to the campus on condition that they provide the service outlined,” Alexander said.

The registrar disclosed that the arrangement entailed “the availability of reliable transportation from 19:30h to 21:30h each week day and from 07:30h to 17:00h on Saturdays. It also provided for the expansion of the service to the East Coast on week days from 17:00h to 21:30h.

“This is an entirely new service that is intended to facilitate our students and workers who reside on the East Coast and who previously had to walk to the public road for transportation and on occasions had to go the East Coast via Georgetown.”

United Minibus Union President Eon Andrews told the gathering that he was happy that the university saw it fit to foster a partnership with them. He assured that the union will ensure that the service offered is one that is reliable and safe.

University of Guyana Student Association Secretary (UGSS) Saeed Khalil also welcomed the initiative. The drivers enlisted will be required at all times to wear the union’s shirts to identify themselves and will be required to help in the maintenance of the roads.

Things are not much different in Region 10, despite the Linden hospital’s inability to make up its mind as to whether there are shortages or not.

Region 10 Health Committee Chairman Maurice Butters said based on a briefing at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) Board Meeting last Wednesday, it was noted that drugs were last supplied to the hospital on March 17.

He added that the hospital has not been receiving drugs on time and no reason was stated for the delay. The Health Committee Chairman told Guyana Times that while a majority of the drugs had been delivered, there is still a shortage of others, but at the time could not name the drugs that were reportedly in short supply. He noted that despite several complaints by patients, the administrators of the hospital are denying there is a drug shortage.

“The management of the hospital is saying that they are not out of drugs. If the hospital is not out of these basic drugs and they are prescribed on people’s prescription, then why can’t

they collect them at the dispensary?” he asked. Butters said at a Board Meeting last month, the hospital managers claimed that the drugs were available, but were “low in quantity”.

He said hospital officials are still awaiting word from Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran on the issue, since based on information received, the Ministry had trained a number of persons in warehouse management; but personnel from the LHC had to be sent to Georgetown to learn about drug identification. “That is one of the problems that the medical facilities countrywide have to face... I believe that something is wrong with the distribution system in the country,” he said.

Region Five and Six facing problems

Over in Region Five, the Regional Administration has been forced to put systems in place to collect its own medical supplies from Georgetown after mounting frustration and complaints from residents.

This was done to prevent the

systemic problems, which leads to shortages. Region Five Chairman Bindrabhan Bisnauth said the region is working feverishly to prevent any reoccurrence of shortages while admitting that more work needs to be done to improve the level of service offered to patients.

Meanwhile, Berbice Regional Health Authority, Chief Executive Officer, Dr Vishwa Mahadeo confirmed that there were shortages at different time periods and different institutions of various supplies.

Nurses at the Mibicuri, Port Mourant and Skeldon hospitals say that there has been difficulty getting cotton wool and gauze. According to one pharmacist who operates in New Amsterdam, patients visit on an hourly basis to purchase drugs which are not available at the New Amsterdam Hospital. He noted that those patients visit his pharmacy with prescriptions from the Health Ministry.

“Back in 2008 and 2009, the situation was better and I never had to go through such a long process or even wait so

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long for simple tablets and medicine,” Doreen Cox,65, told Guyana Times.

She said that the situation is “sickening” and she, like many of other patients want to know what will happen to them if the situation continues to worsen.

“They are not telling us the truth. The doctor saying the Minister said this and that... but we hear that is something wrong at the fancy bond they have at Diamond. It looks like they can’t manage the place,” Khemraj Narine, 60, told Guyana Times.

Minister’s commitment

Back in 2013, Health Minister Ramsaran had told media operatives after a tour of the multimillion-dollar bond that the “principle is to have minimal storage time in distribution of the drugs to the health facilities”. He had admitted then that there was a need to effectively manage all of the systems in place and to embark upon a process of ensuring that all staff members are adequately trained to utilise the system.

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UG Medical School loses full accreditation – students concerned over ‘busy’ Director

year.

Meanwhile, students at the school have begun to express concerns over the matter, relating that they have already invested millions of dollars into the programme.

They noted that as a result of the indecisiveness, the students are now left to suffer despite paying thousands of dollars in tuition as there are shortages in equipment, concerns with the accreditation, classroom issues and several issues which cannot be looked into at the moment.

One student, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, disclosed that the students have been left wondering what will happen, noting that if the accreditation is reversed, the students will not be able to practise their skill anywhere else in the Caribbean while lamenting on the fact that the administration seems to be paying them scant regard.

By Gomatie Gangadin

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tudents of the University of Guyana Medical School are concerned about the demanding schedule of their Director, Dr Madan Rambaran. Some are even fearful that the school could lose its provisional accreditation from the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine (CAAEM).

Dr Rambarran when contacted to validate the claims stated that he could not and would not comment on the matter if Guyana Times could not provide him with the names of the persons who had given the information.

However, Registrar of the school, Vincent Alexander substantiated the reports, disclosing that the Director was indeed facing challenges in his position as he held other positions in several other organisations and his responsibilities at the Medical School required him to be away from those.

“He is also Director for the Post-Graduate Programme at the Georgetown Public Hospital and as Director for the Medical School, he is required to be here and so this means that he cannot pay as much attention as he used to or be there to oversee that programme. So this can be providing him with some conflicts,” Alexander said.

He, however, noted that the Director would have only assumed the position on April 15 and it was much too early to pronounce on the matter and the outcome.

In addition to Dr Rambaran’s busy schedule Dr Emmanuel Cummings, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences confirmed that the University of Guyana’s Medical School is indeed on provisional accreditation until next year from the Caribbean body. He explained that

Dr Madan Rambaran

the situation arose after the university had failed to satisfy some of the minimal requirements which were put forward by the Caribbean authority, but gave assurance that the university was working strenuously to fix the matter.

Failure

“We failed to meet some of the minimal requirements and so the school is on probation until next year, but the university and the Medical School is assiduously working to fix this by then,” Cummings related.

Alexander too related that the provisional accreditation was as a result of the school being unable to satisfy certain requirements of the CAAEM, which included the revision of the curriculum. He did note, however, that while the school was currently in the process of ironing out the issues, the probationary period will last until next

Worried

“I am worried over what will happen. When you look at it, we, the medical students, pay the highest tuition which is $500,000 every year. This does not include the costs for text books and so forth. And I believe that it is unfair that we have a school with a Director who is not paying attention to our needs. Further, if we are not accredited, we will have to stay in Guyana. We will not be able to practise in any of the Caribbean countries and so we remain very concern. We wrote to the administration to find out what is going on and will be happening with the Director and thus far, we have not received a response,” the student lamented.

The students told Guyana Times that they were told by lecturers on the administration that the Director had expressed desire to resign from the position as his work at the hospital is being affected.

Gregory Smith had pardnas in de Harmy

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n life, most people does want a pardna, whether male or female. Some does want both. Some people does call de pardna a side kick. Some side kick does get kick in dem side when dem don’t perform like a side kick.

A preacher seh de other day that is how de Almighty mek mankind. Dem always want somebody by dem side. That was why after He mek Adam, Eve had to come by he side as a pardna. But both a dem turn out to be pardnas in crime when one pardna pick de apple.

Well, it got some people who does have a pardna and still want another pardna. Normally that does be because de pardna not good enough fuh dem or because dem not good enough fuh de pardna. So de pardna-ship does get extended with a outside pardna.

That legacy live on up to today because Guyana got Adumb who gotta pardna who does call he pardna who is a no good pardna. So de pardna-ship done get extended. Adumb is de pardna fuh all de wuk like a slave and it gotta another pardna fuh all de wukkin like a master.

But dem kinda extended pardna-ships does cause problems. A man in Enterprise hear bout a outside pardna fuh he pardna and he went lookin fuh de outside pardna. But when he couldn’t find that outside pardna, he decide fuh tek action pun de inside pardna.

In fact, he tek action pun both a de inside pardna, so now de outside pardna gon have to look all over again.

Even groups of people does want pardna-ship.

Based on de Rodney CoI, de Pee-N-C and House of Israel was big time pardnas. Plus de Pee-N-C had some pardna-ship goin on wid some people who does kill people.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Now it look like Green Jah send he pardna Will Yams to de CoI to talk up fuh he. And even de soldier man Gregory Smith had pardnas in de Harmy when he kill Rodney.

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thursday, may 1, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Police launch probe into missing Rodney files C rime Chief Leslie James said the Police have launched an investigation into the disappearance of seven files relating to the killing of Dr Walter Rodney back in June 1980.

Appearing before the Commission of Inquiry into Rodney’s death on Monday, James had disclosed that seven files containing evidence relating to the killing have gone missing and he was unable to locate them.

He told the Commission that upon checking, he could not locate files one to seven.

Senior Counsel Seenath Jairam questioned whether the WPA files numbered 8-10 were ever disclosed to anybody, organisation or public authority charged with investigating the death of Dr Rodney, such as the International Commission of Jurists and or the Coroner.

James said that he was unaware.

James told the Commission that since being appointed Crime Chief

on April 8, he was entrusted with the responsibility of perusing “all pertinent files relating to the Walter Rodney inquiry”.

These include files from the Special Branch, the intelligence gathering arm of the Guyana Police Force; files from the former Head of the Criminal Investigations Department; and files produced by the Working People’s Alliance (WPA).

According to James, the files were all gathered in 1980, the year Rodney was killed.

Meanwhile, Senior Counsel and Commissioner in the Walter Rodney CoI Seenath Jairam raised concerns about the level of Police work carried out by officers regarding investigation and the laying of charges on the accused Gregory Smith after Rodney’s death.

Contacted on Wednesday on the issue, James again said he never perused the files, and as such, could not say what information they contained. He added that in such a sensitive case, the

files are kept in a secure department; thus, he cannot comment on their disappearance. However, he disclosed that an investigation has been launched into the matter.

Norm

The embarrassing disappearance of files is a feature in the Guyana Police Force and observers have questioned why the Government has not invested in Information Technology for the Force, which would see it not relying on paper files, which corrupt cops have routinely destroyed or hide. James said the Guyana Police Force is going through its strategic management modernisation programme and is in contact with two international organisations to upgrade several departments.

During this period, he posited that various departments will be outfitted with the necessary Information Technology apparatus that will see a more effective re-

Crime Chief Leslie James

cord keeping system than the one that is used presently.

Dr Rodney died in a car in the vicinity of the Georgetown Prison on June 13, 1980, after a walkie-talkie he was holding, which had been given to him by Smith, exploded.

His brother Donald, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, escaped serious inju-

ry. In a subsequent statement, Donald Rodney said that Smith, at that time an acting Sergeant in the Guyana Defence Force, had given his brother the walkie-talkie, and had instructed him to test it near the perimeter of the Georgetown Prison so he could observe whether the extensive metal wall would interfere with the transmission.

According to reports on the fateful day, Donald had revealed that a brown paper bag was given to him by Smith to take to Dr Rodney and he was instructed that Dr Rodney should come out of the car and walk alongside the Camp Street Prison fence to test it. However, Dr Rodney did not do as was instructed and the bomb eventually exploded in his lap.

Gregory Smith disappeared from Guyana soon after Rodney’s death, reappearing in French Guiana.

In 1987, he told reporters in an interview that Rodney’s death had been the result of an accident. He said then that he had joined the Army as a Private in 1975, and was sent to England by the GDF to study electronics.

After building an important Surveillance Unit for the Army, he said, he had been promoted to acting Sergeant.

A charge of murder was laid against Smith when the PPP/C Government was in office on the anniversary of Rodney’s death in 1996.

PPP says it remains champion of working class

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he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is calling on all Guyanese to use the occasion of Labour Day to reflect on how far they have advanced in Guyana in terms of working class unity and economic and social gains.

As a party that originated out of the bowels of the working class struggles, the PPP said it has always embraced a working class orientation.

“It would be recalled that one of the first actions taken by the PPP Government after it won power in the elections of 1953 was to enact the Labour Relations Bill which ultimately led to the suspension of the Constitution by the British Government and the eviction from office of the PPP Government after a mere 133 days in office. It took the return of the PPP to power after 28 years of PNC dictatorial rule before the Bill was finally passed and enacted.”

The PPP said too that it has always championed the cause of the working people, both in and out of office. In this regard, it said it is concerned over the failure of the Labour Movement to get its act together and called on the Guyana Trade Union’s Congress to stop engaging in all manner of dilatory tactics and work earnestly with the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) to heal the rift in the labour movement.

“It is clear that the TUC, instead of genuinely representing the cause of the Guyanese workers, are more interested in promoting an Opposition agenda which is doing harm to the interests of its constituent members and the working class movement as a whole. The PPP takes this opportunity to call on all workers not to allow themselves to be fooled by those who profess to have their in-

terests at heart, but who are doing everything in their power to undermine the economic well-being and unity of the workers.”

Commitments The party said its commitment to the working people of Guyana can be seen in the numerous pieces of legislation passed. Some of these include The Termination of Employee Severance Pay Act, The Trade Union Recognition Act, The Occupational Safety and Health Act, The AntiDiscrimination Act, along with the constant update of the Labour Act and the Holidays with Pay Act. “Our ratification of ILO [International Labour Organisation]Convention on Domestic Workers put us ahead of all the countries in the Caribbean and the recent introduction of a National Minimum Wage, along with a 40-hour work week, gave nearly 32,000 workers who are non-unionised massive increases ranging between 60 per cent to 80 per cent increases. We also adapted to ILO Decent Work Country Programme.”

Moreover, the party said its record of granting annual increases to workers, thus improving real wages, has supassed the expectations of the critics and has not been matched by the undemocratic forces which misruled Guyana for the period 1964 to 1992.

“The PPP takes this opportunity to commend the PPP/C administration for the several measures it has taken over the years to protect the working and living conditions of workers, especially at a time when the working class in other parts of the capitalist world are reeling under the impact of a severe economic and social crisis.”

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thursday, may 1, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Guyana revokes work GT&T plugging $60M into boosting IT at UG permit of USAID chief T

Flashblack! From left to right: U.S. Ambassador to Guyana D Brent Hardt; Alliance For Change (AFC) Leader Khemraj Ramjattan; A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) (MP) Member of Parliament Joseph Harmon; People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) MP Indra Chandarpal; APNU MP Africo Selman; Culture, Youth and Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony; and LEAD Chief of Party Glenn D Bradbury at the launch of the LEAD Project at Cara Lodge, Quamina Street, Georgetown in July, last year

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he Guyana Government has rescinded the work permit and stay of extension of the head of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded International Republican Institute (IRI) Leadership and Democracy (LEAD) Project, Glen Bradbury.

Cabinet Secretary and head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon made the announcement during his postCabinet media briefing at the Office of the President on Wednesday.

In explaining the decision, Dr Luncheon said: “I would want to believe that we can in general speak to the revocation being based on the Immigration Laws of Guyana, the Immigrations Laws of Guyana have been offended by Mr Bradbury and his actions in Guyana. It is a fact that the revocation has taken place but it is equally a fact that Mr Bradbury, a Canadian citizen has had a reputation brought to the attention both of his employerthe US Government through its Ambassador – and to the Canadian High Commission.

Government has long objected to the LEAD Project, complaining that it was not consulted on the final design, but the US Government said extensive consultations were conducted and they are going ahead with the project with or without Government’s support.

Since then, there have been several meetings between the two sides, one taking place only last week to resolve the issue. The action taken against Bradbury would no doubt send a strong signal to Washington that Government means business.

Dr Luncheon also took the opportunity at Wednesday’s press briefing to reiterate the administration’s concerns about the project, something which he raised with US Ambassador D Brent Hardt when they met last week.

Demand The Cabinet Secretary explained that the administration wants a formal response as to the status of the implementation of the project from Washington, adding that the Government is contending that comments made by the US Ambassador on the project were “disrespectful” and “revealing” for the most parts.

He explained that as head of the Presidential Secretariat, he had “advised Cabinet that

it was an amazing assertion (by the US Government) that the Government knew and that the Government and... the public was equally made aware of the implementation of this project”.

He further insisted that the ruling administration is not waiting on a response from Washington to act on the issue, but rather said it will do all that it can to ensure that Guyana’s sovereignty remains intact and is not undermined by foreign influences.

Only on Sunday, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in a statement had called on the US to halt the implementation of the project, while reminding Washington that Guyana has had a long and glorious struggle against foreign domination and dictatorial rule and can, therefore, do without being lectured on the elements of democracy and political leadership.

“It is the considered view of the PPP that the project in its present form will not achieve its stated objective which is to build leadership capacity among stakeholders, but apparently forms part of a much broader political agenda which could undermine the country’s fragile democracy,” the PPP said.

The party, however, had said it is hopeful that good sense will prevail on the part of the US Government and that the sovereign rights of the Government and people of Guyana to determine their own political future will be respected and not frowned upon as is currently the case.

Commitment “The PPP, both in and out of office, has consistently fought for and championed the cause of a free and independent Guyana where the dignity and integrity of the country is preserved and protected,” the party said, adding that “the party is at a loss to understand why a foreign power that lay claim to respect for democracy and self-determination of sovereign states could be so callous in its disregard of the opinion of another sovereign state and continue to persist with a project that does not find favour with the Government of Guyana. The PPP stands firmly behind the Government of Guyana in its rejection of the LEAD Project and calls on the US Government through its Ambassador to end forthwith the continuation of the project and re-engage the Guyana Government on the way forward.”

Last week, Ambassador

Hardt had expressed commitment to sharing the concerns raised by Dr Luncheon on the project with USAID and the State Department. According to a release from the Embassy, the agreement came following further discussions with Hardt and Dr Luncheon.

Bradbury, a Canadian citizen, has been employed by the USheadquartered International Republican Institute (IRI) that has been contracted to implement the three-year US$1.5 million LEAD project The project, which was launched at Cara Lodge, Quamina Street in July last year is aimed at bolstering the functioning of the National Assembly. Its focus is fortifying the National Assembly by encouraging consensus building; and working with civil society and the public to boost citizens’ engagement with the National Assembly and all parties to support the legislature’s role as an effective deliberative body. Hardt for his part at the launch had said that meetings were held with stakeholders from across the political spectrum to help shape the outline of the programme, identify priorities, and chart a path toward successful implementation. He lauded the stakeholders who gave of their time, while positing that their perspectives and feedback have been invaluable in identifying priorities for advancing democracy and strengthening political processes.

he Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) on Wednesday inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Guyana (UG) for the sum of $60 million to further develop the facilities of the Information Technology Faculty.

The agreement was signed by GT&T Chief Executive Office Radha Krishna Sharma and UG Vice Chancellor Jacob Opadeyi in the presence of staff from both organisations.

The MoU will be valid from April 2014 to April 2017, during which GT&T will provide sponsorship funds to UG in the amount of $20 million annually for a period of three years and will be distributed across subprojects.

It will see the delivery of 2 Mbps of dedicated Internet bandwidth to the Centre for Information Technology (CIT) at the university at an overall cost of $1.2 million monthly, the provision of $4.4 million annually to fund capital works identified by the university, the retooling and refurbishing of the CIT laboratory inclusive of the replacement of the 57 computers at a cost of $10 million, the provision of additional equipment (router and access point ) to enhance the delivery and distribution of the bandwidth, the provision of closed user group service packages to UG students and administrative staff with a view of offering savings and greater value for money and the continuation of work study internship opportunities for students.

The CEO RK Sharma stated that on assumption of office, he thought of what could have been done to better the country and the lives of youths and consequently engaged UG administrators to find out what could be done for them to improve the service offered at the institution.

Sharma noted that he had promised to see that a partnership be fostered and

UG Vice Chancellor Jacob Opadeyi and GT&T CEO RK Sharma signing the MoU as Public Relations Officer of the company, Nadia DeAbreu looks on

today that promise has been fulfilled.

He further told the gathering that the company had realised that it was not just a company, but it was a social entity, and as such, had social responsibilities, noting that the two organisations shared a very supportive and cordial relationship over the years and the company would have partnered and contributed to various aspects of the university programmes.

Pivotal “GT&T was very instrumental in the setting up of the Centre for Information Technology Laboratory at the Turkeyen Campus.

When the facility was opened in 2004, we equipped the facility with 57 Dell Pentium, four computers and other equipment to the value of $10 million. The company also provided high speed Internet access to the laboratory. We also facilitate and continue to provide the technical requirements to host the university GY domain. Over the years, we have also partnered with the University of Guyana to provide five annual scholarships for studies in the field of Technology and Natural Science,” he said.

Sharma stated that education was pivotal in moulding the minds of young people and to develop the intellect and academic skills to pave the way for entry into

the work force and a better quality of life, noting that with the partnership, the university will be uniquely positioned to make a contribution that is a life changing experience for young people.

Professor Opadeyi, in offering brief remarks on the partnership, told the gathering that the university belongs to every citizen and every entity in the country, and was not solely owned by any one person or group. On this note, he expressed his appreciation to the company for realising its social obligation, both as a corporate entity and as citizens of the country.

Opadeyi pointed out that the boost is one that is most welcomed since the university will be launching its first online degree programme from September and will be requiring an Internet service which is most reliable.

He thanked the company and urged other entities in the private sector to work with the university so that a better Guyana can be developed. “If the Professor does not come to you, you can come to the Professor.

My door is always opened,” the Vice Chancellor said.

It is expected that the refurbishment of the CIT will commence immediately and the re-commissioning of the laboratory will take place at the beginning of the new academic year in September.

16 news

thursday, may 1, 2014 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Shot rape accused fingered in Teenager remanded for Mabura businessman’s murder Paradise Cemetery murder

J

oel Ross who was shot and killed by Police ranks at the Kuru Kuru, Soesdyke/Linden Highway on Tuesday was a suspect in the murder of Patricia “Cathy” Younge, who was found in a Paradise Cemetery in February.

According to information received, Ross, who was convicted for break and enter and larceny, among other offences, may have committed the act on February 23, as the teenager was heading home from the Mashramani and Float Parade.

DNA samples were taken from the dead man on Tuesday will be analysed to determine whether or not he would have raped and then murdered Younge, formerly of Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.

The teenage was found in the Paradise Cemetery, East Coast Demerara under a tree with her underwear off, her skirt pulled to her stomach and the top she was wearing tied around her neck.

According to information received, the teenager and her boyfriend had been living together for more than a year, a stone’s throw away from where her body was discovered. She reportedly left home on Mash Day just after midday to join her friends in the city to witness the Mashramani Costume and

Murdered: Patricia “Cathy” Younge

Float Parade, but did not return home. Her boyfriend, after she did not show up, began enquiring of her friends as to her whereabouts, but no one knew where she was.

Rape During a search, he found a pair of slippers belonging to the young woman and went straight to the Vigilance Police Station where he lodged a missing person’s report and told them about the slippers.

The Police reportedly accompanied the young man to the area where he found the slippers and after a few minutes of searching the area, the teenager’s body was found.

Meanwhile, the now dead man was accused of sexually assaulting a 29-year-old woman of Haslington, East Coast Demerara on April 21.

The woman reportedly told

investigators that after the man committed the act, he demanded her to use her phone and call him so that he can get her number for further engagements.

The woman reported the matter to the Police and was taken for a medical examination where it was confirmed that she was raped. After a few days, Ross reportedly contacted the young woman and enquired about her health and that he wanted to meet her.

She immediately contacted the Police and a plan was hatched with the intention of capturing the rape suspect.

Guyana Times was told that Ross contacted the woman on Tuesday and they agreed to meet at a location at Kuru Kuru. Police accompanied her but the Police stopped short and the woman went ahead as they neared the location.

As she reached the location, Ross reportedly sprung out of a clump of bushes with a cutlass in his hands, swinging it indiscriminately at the woman. She screamed and the Police ranks were alerted and confronted the man.

In a desperate attempt to escape, Ross reportedly chopped one of the ranks twice and the lawmen responded by shooting him once to his abdomen. He later succumbed to his injuries.

Corentyne man found with cannabis in pants pocket

A

cting upon information on Wednesday, ranks attached to Springlands Police Station arrested a Corentyne man after a quantity of cannabis was found in his possession.

Karmanand Rai, 20, of Lot 155, Number 72 Village, Corentyne, Berbice is expected to make his first court appearance at the Springlands Magistrate's Court on Friday where he is likely to be

charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking.

According to information received, Cadet Officer Jermaine Dufu, along with Corporal Marshall and a team of Police ranks, received a tip off and went to the home of Rai where a search was conducted. At the time, the suspect and his mother were at home.

During the search, the

ranks recognised Rai was acting in a suspicious manner, thus, a search was conducted on his person and the cannabis was found in his right side pants pocket.

He was told of the offence, cautioned and taken into Police custody at the Springlands Police Station.

There, the cannabis was weighed in his presence and totalled 16 grams. He will appear in court on Friday.

J

arrel Reid, 19, of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo was arraigned for the murder of Colin Archibald Mc Lean and was on Wednesday remanded to prison by Magistrate Fabayo Azore.

He was not required to plea to the indictable change which stated that on Sunday, April 27 at Mabura, Region 10, he murdered Mc Lean.

In presenting the case to the court, Assistant Police Superintendent Deneshwar Maindranaught said the men are known to each other and on the day in question, they had an argument, following which the accused became annoyed and dealt Mc Lean several lashes to his head with a piece of wood.

The accused was represented by Attorney Kimberly Yearwood. She told the court that her client had no previous brushes with the law and asked for an early date to file statements and fixture. He will make his second court appearance on May 2 before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry.

The suspect, according to information received, had confessed to the killing after he was arrested on Monday at his Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo home.

Meanwhile, an autopsy conducted on Mc Lean’s body by Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh on Wednesday revealed that

Dead: Colin Archibald Mc Lean

he died from fracture and haemorrhage.

On Sunday last, the small community of Mabura Hill, Region 10 was plunged into deep mourning following the murder of Mc Lean, 52, who was found on his bed lying in a pool of blood with his head bashed in.

Murder weapon still missing

Police confirmed that he was stabbed several times behind his head. The murder weapon has not been recovered though the suspect admitted that he disposed of it on his way out of the area on Sunday morning.

According to information received, the man was discovered dead by a close friend after several attempts to make contact with him proved futile. Further investigation revealed that Mc Lean, who lives alone, was heard screaming in his house in

the wee hours of the morning, followed by complete silence.

The Police, however, are working on the theory that Mc Lean was killed by a man with whom he had an argument on Saturday evening. There was no forced entry and according to reports, a safe was broken into which had a substantial amount of cash.

Reports stated that Mc Lean had confronted the man who apparently had borrowed money from him and had not repaid; thus, the businessman threatened to lodge a report at the Mabura Police Station when electricity was restored. Mc Lean was reportedly killed before electricity was restored at 04:00h. Additionally, based on reports coming out of the community, the suspect was seen leaving the area in a hurry on Sunday morning.

In a release, Police stated that they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Mc Lean, who was discovered in his home with suspected stab wounds.

Mc Lean was described as a good man who did not get into problems with anyone.

He operated a cook shop in proximity to the airstrip and has been living in the area for more than 10 years. He leaves to mourn his wife and daughter who reside overseas and his three siblings.

Guyanese workers not happy – PNCR

T

he People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) said at a time when workers should be able to celebrate the consolidation of their rights, increased wages and benefits they will today lament the absence of any such gains.

In a message to mark Labour Day, the party said Guyanese workers cannot forget that, since acceding to Government in 1992, successive People’s Progressive Party Administrations have allegedly used their majority in the National Assembly to pass legislation designed to intimidate members of the labour movement and undermine the recognised trade union body, the Guyana Trade Unions Congress (GTUC) and have it replaced by the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG).

“In this context, note should be taken of the deliberate policy of encouraging trade unions aligned to the PPP to poach on the preserve of more independent unions in order to marginalise and destroy them,” the PNCR claimed, noting that there has been a continuing and concerted effort to roll back the gains achieved, since the pioneering and foundational efforts of Hubert

Nathaniel Critchlow and other stalwarts who made major personal sacrifices for the achievements of many of the workers’ rights that are now under attack.

“Indeed some anti-working class elements are peddling the idea that trade unions have outlived their usefulness, and that those conditions which Critchlow fought for, such as a living wage and better conditions of work, can be better provided for by employers, such as the Government, themselves.”

According to the PNCR, it should be clear, to all genuine members of the labour movement in Guyana, that it would require unity of purpose to successfully defend their hard earned rights.

Struggle

“As a consequence of the anti-working class policies of the PPP/C Administration, even before the advent of the global economic events, Guyanese workers have been caught up in a vicious struggle to survive and ensure their material betterment.

Indeed, with the introduction of the unconscionable 16 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) in 2007, the cost of living in Guyana spiked, considerably undermining the ability of our workers

to provide for their families and sustain themselves,” the PNCR contended.

Guyanese workers must be consciously aware of the current fragile state of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), which has resulted from the accumulated mismanagement and manipulation, the party charged.

It said in all of the adverse prevailing circumstances which confront the Trade Union Movement, particularly the public servants, careful attention should be paid to the Donald Ramotar PPP/C Administration to reduce the VAT by two per cent; increase public servant emoluments by 10 per cent across the board while committing to the effective re-establishment of normal collective bargaining negotiations; and implementation of the various proposals and recommendations for the reform and modernisation of the public service.

The PNCR said on the occasion of May Day 2014, it recognises the critical role that trade unions have played in the political, economic and social development of the country and urged the movement to remember that such a role can only continue if the Trade Union Movement, as a whole, remains united to protect the interests of all Guyanese workers.

news

17

thursday, may 1, 2014 | guyanatimesGY.com

Non Pareil murder/suicide

Woman died from blunt trauma to the head A

n autopsy performed on the body of Nandanie Mohan, who was found dead in her Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara home on Sunday revealed that she was struck to the head before she was manually strangled.

The post-mortem performed by Dr Nehaul Singh revealed that she died as a result of blunt trauma to the head, coupled with manual strangulation. Her husband, Vickram Ramdin, 34, who was found hanging from the rafter, died from asphyxiation due to hang-

ing.

The couple was found dead in their Lot 155 Section D/B Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara home on Sunday evening by Ramdin’s sister. It was reported that Ramdin was due to make a court appearance the following day to answer to charges of assault, but instead, he took the law into his own hands on Sunday by killing his wife and then hanging himself.

According to information received, the woman was constantly being abused by her husband and would have

Vickram Ramdin and Nandanie Mohan in happier times

PPP team calls on new GECOM CEO

From left to right: PPP Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha, GECOM representative Beverly Critchlow, PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee, GECOM CEO Keith Lowenfield and Vishnu Persaud of GECOM during the courtesy call

P

eople’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Minister Clement Rohee and other party officials on Tuesday paid a courtesy call on new GECOM Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield.

The PPP General Secretary was accompanied by the party’s Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha and PPP/C Member of Parliament Manzoor Nadir while the CEO was accompanied by senior GECOM of-

ficers Beverly Critchlow and Vishnu Persaud.

Rohee congratulated Lowenfield on his appointment and pledged his cooperation to the new CEO and GECOM. The General Secretary reiterated the PPP’s struggle for transparent, free, and free from fear elections and the party’s desire to see elections in Guyana continue to be of that character.

Lowenfield provided a general overview of GECOM’s preparation for

elections, noting that some administrative and legal challenges need to be addressed before Local Government Elections can be held.

The CEO reported that the Sixth Registration Cycle is ongoing and encouraged the parties to participate fully.

The General Secretary encouraged the CEO to launch an aggressive education campaign and to keep political parties updated at all stages of the process.

made several reports to the Police. The man was eventually charged for assault and was due to make a court appearance at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court The bodies were discovered by Ramdin’s sister after she did not see or hear from the couple on Sunday.

She reportedly went to the couple’s home, and as she entered, found her brother hanging from the rafters of the living room.

Upon further checks, she found her sister-in-law’s motionless body on the bed. It is believed that

the man might have committed the act in the wee hours of Sunday morning, but the discovery was made about 21:00h.

A neighbour said that on Sunday evening, she heard screams coming from the couple’s home, but ignored it, since the couple is constantly having domestic disputes.

According to neighbours, a few months ago, the couple had an ugly dispute.

The couple has been married for five years and their union brought fourth two children.

18 news

thursday, may 1, 2014 | guyanatimeSGY.com

Basil Williams reminded Reverend Gilbert tells CoI PNC youths CoI not Court of Law wanted to kill him

By Alexis Rodney

P

R

everend Reuben Gilbert has said that had he not been made aware of the plans by the People’s National Congress (PNC) Government to assassinate him in the late 1970s, he may not have been alive today.

He made the comment during his testimony on day three at the Dr Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry being held at the Supreme Court Library.

Gilbert said since his return from the US to Guyana in 1969, every effort was made by the ruling Government to stifle his growth as he was considered a “security risk”.

He told the hearing that it was about three months before Dr Walter Rodney’s death in 1980, while driving home, that Gilbert’s friend James Daniels, who was also a member of the PNC, had stopped and informed him about the plan. “His exact words to me were ‘they are going to come and kill you tonight’, and the ‘they’ meaning the YSM (Youth Socialist Movement),” Gilbert told the inquiry. According to what was told to him, the party had planned to kill him, and then claim that he had a gun in his possession.

Gilbert said he thought about the issue and then asked his brother, who was also a member of the PNC to stay at his home for the night. He said he did not inform him of the reasons, but then drove his car to the University of Guyana Campus. Upon his return home the following morning, Gilbert said he was informed by this brother that “some people from the YSM came here for you”.

The YSM, Gilbert said, was another tool used by the then Government to register its presence in the country.

He recounted many instances where he was also severely beaten by members of the Riot Squad, suffering two broken ribs. And it was all because he was supporting a meeting held by Dr Rodney.

He said he spent a day in the police station. Asked what may have led to his arrest, Gilbert said he later found out that it was for the possession of guns, a claim he knows nothing of. Gilbert concluded that his trials were numerous but he was able to flee Guyana.

Intuition

Meanwhile, Gilbert also told the three-member Commission that he had experienced an “unexplainable” feeling that his friend Dr Walter Rodney would have soon met his demise, some three days before he was actually killed.

The atmosphere at the time was tainted with lingering fear. Citizens were fearful to even mention a simple word against the

Reverend Reuben Gilbert taking the oath before the Walter Rodney Commission of Inquiry

ruling Government. It had become so severe that Dr Rodney himself had begun expressing some level of anxiety as he was very concerned about the safety and survival of his wife Patricia and their three children.

Reverend Gilbert said the feeling had overwhelmed him so much, he was unsure as to what he should do. “Three days before he was assassinated, I had this feeling, I don’t know. It is not something you can explain and a lot of people don’t believe that there are spiritual forces in the world and you can’t convince them. But I had this intuition and I had this terrible uncomfortable feeling and that feeling was to go and tell Walter that he will be killed.”

Reverend Gilbert said that because of the political atmosphere at the time, opposing bodies of the Government had their movements and freedom of speech restricted.

According to him, members of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) would usually carry on their little meetings during the evening hours. Gilbert recalled that he had visited the WPA’s Tiger Bay Office one evening to meet with Dr Rodney. He said three men had also gone to the office to meet with Dr Rodney, however, he could not say what the conversation was about.

The Reverend said that it was after Rodney’s death, that he realised that one of those men was the accused Gregory Smith. He said that was the first time he would meet Smith.

Reverend Gilbert said sometime later, with some reservation, he finally mustered the courage to tell Dr Rodney about his feelings.

“So I went to the office and he came to the door and he said 'come in' and I said ‘no’, I don’t want to come in, but I do want to tell you that you are going to be killed.”

Gilbert said Dr Rodney dropped his head, then rose up and enquired if he was aware of anyone who may want to kill him, or of any situation that had signalled any such intentions, to which he responded in the negative. Gilbert said he then turned and walked away. According to him, three days later, Dr Rodney was dead.

Close friend

Gilbert revealed he was a close friend to the late historian. And although he was never an active member of the WPA; the political party that was co-founded by Rodney, he had found himself at almost every meeting that Dr Rodney was scheduled to address.

He said one such meeting has stuck out in his mind. It was a massive rally that was being held at the “Bourda Green” where the Police had tried unsuccessfully to break up the gathering. He said the Police had used teargas on the assemblage. It was at that point that Dr Rodney climbed up on a car and instructed those in attendance to lay flat on the grass. He said that instead of leaving the meeting, the supporters remained until the gas had worn off. He recalled other meetings where members of the House of Israel and the YSM would make their presence felt, beating supporters with pieces of sticks.

Dr Rodney was 39 years old when a bomb exploded in his lap on June 13, 1980. Reports are that exarmy Sergeant Gregory Smith planted the bomb that killed the political leader. There have been claims also that Dr Rodney’s assassination was set up by the Forbes Burnham administration, which Rodney had strongly opposed. However, Burnham’s party, the People’s National Congress (PNC) had denied orchestrating the bomb blast.

eople’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chairman Basil Williams on Wednesday told members of the Walter Rodney Commission that they were suspending the laws of the Guyana, since anything was being allowed as evidence at the hearing.

Williams, who is representing the interests of the party during the inquiry, raised the objections when Reverend Rueben Gilbert suggested two reading materials to members of the Commission and the legal team. He had moments before provided evidence surrounding the death of the late Political Activist, Dr Walter Rodney.

Williams said the Commission has relaxed the laws to the extent that people are allowed to “bring all kinds of evidence”. According to him, such evidence may have far reaching consequences.

“Mr Chairman, we have in this Commission, people saying ‘I think this person killed this person, I think this was a member of this organisation’, and what is that, in the order of our law, that is inadmissible evidence. In my opinion, the PNC killed this person… that is inadmissible in a court of law in this country,” Williams argued.

Chairman Cheltenham interjected, stating that the evidence “is not inadmissible here” and that the Commission would make that determination.

Cheltenham said that while he has warned against such practice, it may become “inevitable”, giving the nature of the inquiry.

PNCR Attorney Basil Williams

“We will play our part, but you know as much as I do the context in which we are operating.”

But Williams contended: “Mr Chairman, by the time you do that, this will have international coverage and people whose names have been called have been sullied and have been destroyed perhaps for eternity and that cannot be fair to the Guyanese people.” Senior Counsel Seenath Jairam joined his Chairman, saying that the Commission is bound by the laws of Guyana.

Freedom

He said that a Commission of Inquiry has the freedom to make its own rules. Among the rules of the current Commission of Inquiry is the allowance of persons to give evidence whether by hearsay or by way of opinion. He directed Williams back to the opening statement made by the Chairman. “A body such as a Commission of Inquiry is entitled to make its own rules, we have published the rules and we have been

telling you ad nauseam that one has to appreciate that it’s a long time we’re dealing with and we will sift it and determine the relevance.”

Williams, however, maintained his position, pointing out that there is no law within a Commission of Inquiry that the national laws must go into abeyance.

“The rules are made to guide any procedure, Williams stated, however, when it comes down to making the determination on laws in Guyana, the Commission cannot suspend the laws that were passed in the country’s Parliament.

He said the rules made by any Commission should by no means eradicate the rights of the Guyanese people.”

Cheltenham rebutted, reminding Williams about the flexibility that was spoken of. Commissioner Cheltenham at the opening of the inquiry on Monday had told persons that the investigation into the death of Dr Rodney is not a court trial which has its pre-determined rules of evidence and practices. He had said that anything that was relevant to the Terms of Reference (ToR) would be taken into account with the aim of arriving at the truth, which includes hearsay as well as opinion evidence.

“It is the Commissioners’ firm resolve that this Commission will be conducted with thoroughness and fairness to all participants and the public of Guyana.

The procedural aspects will emphasise flexibility and impartiality, free from the legalism of the courtroom,” Cheltenham announced.

Hararuni Primary School student killed by speeding minibus

R

obin Hernandez, a student of Hararuni Primary School was on Wednesday afternoon killed after he was struck down by a speeding minibus in the vicinity of Yarrowkabra, on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

The accident occurred about 18:00h. Hernandez, 15, sustained injuries and died on the spot.

According to information received, the teenager was riding home on his bicycle when a Route 42 minibus being driven by “Pickering” (only name given) struck him as he was about to cross the road. This newspaper could not confirm where the young man was coming from when the accident occurred.

Nevertheless, the minibus which was out of its zone, was reportedly heading to Linden with a load of passengers for the annual Town Week celebrations.

An eyewitness told Guyana Times that he was

Robin Hernandez

heading home when the bus overtook him at a fast rate of speed.

He said that as he continued his journey, he saw a gathering and the said minibus, a brown Pit Bull type, was parked in the middle of the road. As he slowed down, he said the front of the bus was damaged and a

bicycle was in the corner. It was until he reached home, he was told that it was a fatal accident.

Guyana Times understands that due to the speed, the lad was thrown several feet in the air before landing on the roadway.

The minibus eventually came to a halt and the passengers hurriedly went to the teen’s assistance, but it was too late.

From reports received, he sustained broken arms and legs with a gash to the head. A section of the front of the bus was reportedly damaged while the bicycle is completely mangled. The driver of the minibus was taken into Police custody to assist with investigations.

Hernandez was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Hernandez’s father had suffered the same faith about a year ago. He was killed by a speeding motor car.

thursday, may 1, 2014

19

Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club honours long-standing sponsors

Honorary President of KMTC Justice Cecil Kennard

H

istory was made on Sunday when for the first time in Guyana a horse racing club held an award ceremony for sponsors.

The Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) on Sunday honoured four of its outstanding supporters and some of its dedicated staff.

Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) was recognised for sponsoring events organised by KMTC for the past 40 years. Another longstanding sponsor; Torginal paints Inc. was awarded for support to the club over the

past 25 years while P&P Insurance Brokers was recognised for support to KMTC over the past 20 years. The club also recognised the sterling contribution it has been receiving from Metro Office and Computers Supplies.

Metro has consistently donated $1,000,000 to the club, which has been used as prize monies for races, while P&P Insurance Brokers has been doing likewise.

The trust that these businesses have put in the KMTC is because of proper accountability. That is according to Director of Sport

Neil Kumar. That was also echoed by Honorary President of KMTC Justice Cecil Kennard.

Kumar, speaking at the award ceremony which was held at the club’s Bush Lot Farm Corentyne race track, noted that sponsors need to get mileage and to ensure that their monies are well spent. “You get this when you support the Kennard Memorial Turf Club… You don’t hear about corruption.” He said.

The Director of Sports noted that sport is a business and boasted that very soon it will become the biggest business in Guyana. “We are trying to create an environment for eco-tourism, so that we can have more people coming to Guyana to participate in sport.”

Kumar also challenged the KMTC to have its history documented.

According to Kennard, although the club was formed long before the 1960s, the development of the track started in 1962 on land that was donated by his grandfather Charles Perry. He said the first horse to win a race at the KMTC track was Fair Wind.

According to him, his fa-

Director of Sport Neil Kumar

ther Charles Cecil who died in 1943 had already donated land for the cricket ground.

The KMTC became dormant and was resuscitated in 1978.

Kennard who said he was forced to blow his own trumpet because according to him, if he doesn’t ,no one will, boasted that the Bush Lot Farm track is the cheapest to get into when there is a horse race meeting.

“We cater for the poor man.

The people who win the big money are the rich men… it gives me great pleasure to see families coming out and

having fun… We set prices to cater for the small man.”

Noting that there are no entertainment facilities in that community, Kennard said that horse racing is a major entertainment activity on the Corentyne.

Meanwhile, President of the club, Roopnarine Matadial, said that the KMTC has many plans for the future to develop the facility. Among them and to create a playing area, “Because when families come to races the parents can move around but the children get bored… so they

can go in there and have fun.”

The playing area will be equipped with slides, sea saws swings etc. He added.

Land-filling of the proposed site had already commenced and it is to be located in the inner circle of the track. The playing area should be completed by the end of the year.

Speaking of the reason for hosting the ceremony Kennard said that the club must give back to society.

He also noted that they have already donated land to the Hindu and Christian organisations. “If the Muslims approach us we will also give the application serious considerations.”

Also honoured on Sunday were the oldest worker Ovid Hawke, Elroy Johnson for being a dedicated care-taker and Nikita Rose for being an efficient secretary.

In his response, owner of P&P Insurance Brokers Bish Panday thanked the PMTC for the initiative and congratulated the club for the way in which it is being run.

He also took the opportunity to reiterate the call to have the club’s history documented. (Andrew Carmichael)

Five NOC boxers to compete at novices championships

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ive young boxers from the New Opportunity Corps (NOC) will compete against fellow Guyanese from across the 10 administrative regions in the national novices championships, slated for this weekend at the East Ruimveldt Community ground, popularly known as California Square.

The boxers were introduced to the local media on Wednesday morning in the office of president of the Guyana Boxing Association (GBA), Steve Ninvalle.

They are Andrew Newton, Nicko Jodha, Calvin Barry, Joel Bess and Samuel Forde.

They will battle in the junior category of the championships, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday from 19:00h.

The event is a collaborative effort of the GBA and the National Sports Commission, and accord-

The five boxers (front row, from left): Andrew Newton, Nicko Jodha, Calvin Barry, Joel Bess and Samuel Forde pose with officials of the GBA and NOC on Wednesday (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)

ing to Ninvalle, they are pleased to have the NOC youngsters on board.

Ninvalle, who is also the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Sport

Ministry, said the collaboration between the GBA and the NOC is a perfect example of the role that boxing can play in helping to integrate the inmates of

the facility back into society.

Physical Trainer at the NOC, Lawrence Kellman, boasted that there is rich talent at the facility, and

by extension, Essequibo, noting that the boxers are expected to give a good account of themselves during the two-day event.

Assistant Director of

Youth, Devanand Ramdatt, under whose purview the NOC falls, described the move to have the boxers compete in the novices championships as a “major achievement.”

He said there is an avid interest by the students there to engage in boxing, and he is hopeful the five youths will not just compete, but also come out victorious in their respective categories.

Technical Director of the GBA, Terrence Poole, welcomed the boxers, noting that the NOC is known for producing quality boxers over the years. He said the competition will be stiff and urged the youngsters to give of their best.

The novices championships will attract rivalry in the elite, junior and youth categories for males and a female division. About 60 boxers are expected to do battle. (Avenash Ramzan)

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GCB conducts successful Five defeats in five beginners umpiring seminar for Mumbai Indians Mumbai Indians v Sunrisers, IPL 2014

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Seated from right are course facilitators Nandkumar Shivsankar, Shannon Crawford and Ashook Brijcoomar with the participants of the seminar

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he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) on Wednesday hosted a successful beginners umpiring seminar at the National Sports Resource Centre on Woolford Avenue.

The seminar focused on the fundamentals of becoming an umpire and the preambles and Laws 30-39 which cover dismissals.

Sixteen aspiring umpires attended the seminar, which was conducted by experienced umpires, Shannon

Crawford, Nandkumar Shivsankar and Ashook Brijcoomar.

In an invited comment, Crawford stated that the objective of the session was achieved, adding that he is impressed with the level of interest shown by persons who attended the seminar.

“The demands of umpiring at the higher level is [sic] challenging, so sessions like these are important”, Crawford concluded.

Shivsankar indicated

that the attitude and mental preparation of the umpires are important and will take them through their careers, adding that he was satisfied with the attendance.

According to Territorial Development Officer of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Colin Stuart, the local governing body has aligned itself with the mandate set out by the West Indies Cricket Board to develop the human resources in the various territories.

unrisers Hyderabad gritted their teeth nearly 10 overs without a boundary. David Warner was muzzled so profoundly that he was striking under 100 as late as the 15th over. But then he woke up. He used the slow start as a foundation and collected a half-century that proved the difference. But his patience might have been a mere footnote had Irfan Pathan not delivered a brilliant final over. He had 20 to defend and the first ball sneaked through Kieron Pollard’s defences and seeing the back of a man who hit 78 off 47 balls is usually enough to seal the game, and it was.

Pathan gave away only four runs.

Mumbai Indians were flummoxed by the pace and swing of Dale Steyn and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The asking rate rose north of 10 in the fifth over and at 31 for 3, recovery seemed a remote possibility. Only no one had bothered to cue Pollard in. After a jittery start, he remembered his penchant for brutality. Amit Mishra, a far cry from the one that turned up for India in the World T20, was razed for 27 in the 17th over. Rohit Sharma, who was confident today was the game Mumbai would pull off their much-needed turnaround, began contemplating an improbable victory. But much to the birthday boy’s chagrin, his side just ran out of juice.

Sunrisers were conscious of their batsmen needing to provide better cover to their bowlers, and opted for Naman Ojha

and Irfan to add depth. Ojha smashed the final two balls of the innings for fours and Irfan shouldered the burden of bowling the 16th and the 20th overs with consummate proficiency.

Slower balls, yorkers and a refusal to hand width highlighted his two-over spell which ensured Steyn’s fearsome bursts and Bhuvneshwar’s control were not in vain.

In between though, Mishra braced against a clobbering at the hands of Pollard. The 13th over was biffed for 19 runs and signalled the first challenge from Mumbai. A daunting 87 off 42 was being chipped away.

It didn’t seem to matter whether Mishra gave the ball air or fired it in, Pollard revved up and mauled five of his six sixes off the legspinner, who ended with 0 for 54. At the other end, Ambati Rayudu ensured he wasn’t lost in the slipstream during a 77-run stand for the fourth wicket. The equation was diluted to 31 off the final three overs, but that was when Sunrisers dug deep. Steyn, as ever, delivered when it mattered, ceding only four runs in the 18th, and Bhuvneshwar just seven in the next, to put Sunrisers ahead going into Irfan’s final over. (ESPNcricinfo)

SCOREBOARD Hyderabad T20 innings (20 overs maximum) AJ Finch c Dunk b Khan 16 S Dhawan* c Harbhajan Singh b Khan 6 KL Rahul c †Gautam b Malinga 46 DA Warner c †Gautam b Anderson 65 DJG Sammy c Pollard b Anderson 10 NV Ojha† not out 10 IK Pathan not out 1 Extras: (lb 5, w 12, nb 1) 18 Total: (5 wickets; 20 overs) 172 Did not bat: KV Sharma, DW Steyn, A Mishra, B Kumar Fall of wickets 1-21 (Dhawan, 2.4 ov), 2-38 (Finch, 4.6 ov), 3-149 (Warner, 18.2 ov), 4-161 (Sammy, 18.6 ov), 5-162 (Rahul, 19.2 ov) Bowling: Z Khan 4-0-26-2, SL Malinga 4-0-28-1, PP Ojha 3-0-43-0, Harbhajan Singh 4-0-16-0, KA Pollard 4-0-360, CJ Anderson 1-0-18-2

Mumbai T20 innings (target: 173 runs from 20 overs) BR Dunk b Sammy 20 RG Sharma* b Kumar 1 CJ Anderson c †Ojha b Steyn 1 AT Rayudu c Warner b Pathan 35 KA Pollard b Pathan 78 AP Tare c †Ojha b Steyn 7 Harbhajan Singh c Dhawan b Kumar 1 CM Gautam† not out 4 Z Khan not out 1 Extras: (b 2, lb 1, w 6) 9 Total: (7 wickets; 20 overs) 157 Did not bat: PP Ojha, SL Malinga Fall of wickets 1-6 (Sharma, 1.2 ov), 2-8 (Anderson, 2.4 ov), 3-31 (Dunk, 5.5 ov), 4-108 (Rayudu, 15.2 ov), 5-146 (Tare, 17.4 ov), 6-149 (Harbhajan Singh, 18.4 ov), 7-153 (Pollard, 19.1 ov) Bowling: DW Steyn 4-020-2, B Kumar 4-0-17-2, KV Sharma 4-0-33-0, DJG Sammy 2-0-20-1, A Mishra 4-0-540, IK Pathan 2-0-10-2

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Some of the kids do a poem at the closing ceremony as PS Alfred King, Neil Kumar and Gervy Harry (from right to left) look on

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he National Sports Commission (NSC) in conjunction with the Ministry of Sport brought the curtain down on another successful edition of their Easter swimming camp n Wednesday at the Colgrain Swimming Pool.

The three-week swimming camp saw the involvement of 60 children between the ages of six to 11 being thought the fundamentals of swimming from experienced swimming instructors such as Isabel Cuoso Fals from Cuba, Marcia Rodrigues and Marrissa Wray, with the

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Permanent Secretary Alfred King (right) and Director of Sport, Neil Kumar, pay rapt attention as the children display their swimming skills

sential because swimming is the only complete discipline that when you swim, your entire body is exercised and you are physically fit,” Kumar told the gathering of children and parents.

Further, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sport, Alfred King, who highlighted the work of the ministry to develop the sport ,noted the direction the sport ministry is going to further the development of sport in the nation.

“So right away having just given you a couple or few programmes of what we will be doing you’ll appreciate that the ministry’s approach to sport development is not one of just providing you with facilities, but the enhancing of these facilities by providing competence and quality in instructors and coaches that would see us roll out programmes,” King mentioned.

Meanwhile, some of the participants displayed their newly learnt swimming ability to the applause of their parents, along with King and Kumar.

After five-year absence

Second-division basketball tourney starts tonight

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he Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) will host its first second -division tournament in five years, commencing tonight at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall with action starting from 17:00h.

The tournament, which has been dubbed “SecondDivision mayhem”, will see 15 teams competing for the title in the knockout- style tournament.

Each team will be allowed six senior players along with six juniors as the GABA elite 25 that has been shortlisted for the upcoming inter- association clash later this month will not be allowed to participate in the tournament.

Further, any player who has made a national team in the past will also not be allowed to be a part of the

Michael Singh

tournament, hence giving a chance to some of the lesser known players to participate throughout the tournament, as president of GABA Michael Singh emphasized.

“Basically, it is to give the

lesser players and third -division players an opportunity to play, because if you noticed during the “Road to Mecca”, it was as though [it] had been forgotten but apart from that, Georgetown did not have a second -division tournament in five years,” Singh highlighted.

One team out of the 15 will have an automatic bye to the next round, as the other 14 will battle tonight for a chance to move forward in the tournament.

Meanwhile, the 25 selected Georgetown players will face off on May 5th, which will be the final day of the tournament to showcase their talent for the selectors, who will be present to make the final selection of the team, which needs to be down to 12 players.

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Guyana Legion Stanton Rose evolving into hosts successful point guard of the future fun day

GDF Chief of Staff Brigadier General Mark Phillips

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Stanton Rose rises for a jumper during Kwakwani’s win in the final of the YBG’s Titan Bowl

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udding point guard Stanton Rose of the Kwakwani Secondary School is becoming one of the best point guards at the school level, with his high level of IQ for the game.

Rose, who is being dubbed as a prodigy of the game by director of Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) Chris Bowman, possesses a unique skill set along with an understanding of the

game beyond his years.

The 13 year old, who seeks to become a future National Basketball Association (NBA) star will have an opportunity to impress coaches at a Federation of Basketball International Association (FIBA) - Camp Pass It On, in Istanbul, Turkey in August, which will be sponsored by the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation

(GABF).

The point guard’s oncourt play speaks for itself as he displays a great sense of maturity during plays.

Rose who is now a part of YBG’s elite junior programme will be mentored by former national guard Lugard Mohan, who knows a thing or two about shooting hoops.

Further, Rose’s growth in the game will depend on his

willingness to learn along with the support that he receives and how well he copes in various environments to advance his game at such a tender age.

Meanwhile, as many talented youths have always dreamt of reaching the NBA, Rose is in the perfect situation to realize his dream, especially if he is guided in the right direction.

he Guyana Veterans Legion held its fun day on Easter Sunday at the Camp Ayanganna ground.

According to a release from the Legion,the event was attended by hundreds of patrons,which included World War 11 veterans ;locally based ex-GDF soldiers; members of the North American Chapter; serving soldiers and their families and friends.

The event was graced by the presence of GDF Chief of Staff Brigadier General Mark Phillips. It was indeed an activity-packed day. In addition to the various cui-

sines, mild imbibing and soulful music, there were races for participants aged 45 to 60 plus, not excluding boys and girls aged six to 15 years.

Other activities included a Lime and Spoon Race, walk race, tug-o-war, threelegged race, softball cricket, bun-eating, beer -drinking, musical chairs and needle and thread races, among others.The race for the visually impaired veterans was something to behold,the release added.

It was truly a memorable day of fun and frolic,according to the release.

GCB Inter-County Three-Day Tournament…..

Coaches optimistic ahead of first round

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he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) InterCounty, Under-19 three-day competition bowls off today at two separate venues.

Today’s first round is set for the Enmore Community Centre ground where the President’s X1 will face Berbice, while at the Demerara Cricket Club ground Essequibo will oppose Demerara.

The competition is being used as a yardstick by the junior selectors to pick the Guyana team for the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Regional Under-19 competition scheduled for later this year.

The competition, which began in 1976, has produced all but two of Guyana’s Test players. Clyde Butts and Neil McGarrell are the only two Guyanese players to play Test cricket without participating in the competition.

The competition, which will be contested on a roundrobin basis, is expected to be keenly contested.

Meanwhile, Guyana Times Sport spoke with the coaches on Wednesday.

while Berbice will take on Essequibo at venues to be decided.

The squads are as follows: Demerara: Ronaldo Renee, Bryan Sattaur, Deonarine Seegobin, Rudolph Singh, Ramnarine Chatura, Malcolm Hubbard,

add to that our preparation leading up to this tournament was good, so overall I am confident,” Essequibo coach Vibert Johnson revealed.

“We have a bunch of good guys who are keen and excited on participating in this tournament”, said Berbice

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Gavin Nedd

Hubern Evans

Demerara coach Gavin Nedd said: “I am a bit optimistic; some of the players are seasoned players over the years and I expect them to lead from the front. I am a bit disappointed by not having some preparation with the guys before, but most of the guys have been doing their own work at the club level, so I’m confident they will put up a good account for themselves.

“Our team comprises of [sic] a number of Under-15 and Under-17 players. We have a good bunch of experienced youngsters and to

well as a team.

“Our team is basically made up of players from all three counties but I am confident they will play as a unit,” Amsterdam disclosed.

The second round of the competition will be played from May5-7 with Berbice playing Demerara at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground and Essequibo taking on the President’s XI at the Demerara Cricket Club ground. The final round of the three-day competition, scheduled for May 9-11, will see Demerara playing the President’s X1,

Adrian Amsterdam

coach Hubern Evans, adding that the youngsters are keen on winning the tournament.

The President’s X1 coach, Adrian Amsterdam, believes that the combination of players will work

Vibert Johnson

Kemol Savory, Steven Sankar, Stephon Brown, Keon Morris, Kevin Paul, Daniel Basdeo, Sherfane Rutherford, Tagenarine Chanderpaul. The coach is Gavin Nedd and the manager is Robert Adonis.

President’s XI: Ryan Shun, Sunil Singh, Travis Persaud, Vishwantal Ramlakhan, Richie Lucknauth, Vivian Albert, Ershad Ali, Kelvin Sewpersaud, Ronaldo Mohamed, Michael Shalin, Chavin Moriah, Daniel Lewis, Shivnarine Srikissoon, Avishkar Sewkarran. The coach is Adrian Amsterdam and the manager is David Black.

Berbice: Shimron Hetmyer, Balchand Baldeo, Leon Andrews, Ashkay Homraj, Viendra Gooniah, Arif Chan, David Latchaya, Sharaz Ramcharran, Hakeem Hinds, Parmanand Ramdhan, Martin Singh, Grisean Grant, Dimitri Cameron and Niall Smith.

The coach is Hubern Evans and the manager is Julian Cambridge.

Essequibo: Ricardo Peters, Kemo Paul, Akil Wallace, Akini Adams, Ryan Adams, Avenash Persaud, Mahindra Balbadar, Parmesh Parsotam, Shivindra Hemraj, Paul Williams, Paul Simboo, Keno Harry, Travis Drakes and Jamal Hartman. The coach is Vibert Johnson and the manager is Fibeon Durant.

thursday, may 1, 2014

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Guyana Cricket Board launches website I

nformation on Guyana’s cricket is now just a click away with the launch of the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) website, www.guyanacricketboard.com, which will provide extensive details on all cricket-related topics.

The GCB has partnered with GX Media to construct the site, which, according to Web Developer, Girendra Persaud, has several features, including links to social media and live updates of matches.

Persaud, who has been contracted by the GCB to maintain the site for a year, described it as “the information hub of the GCB” at the launch, which took place on Wednesday afternoon at the GCB Boardroom on Regent Street, Bourda.

Marketing Manager of the GCB, Raj Singh, said the construction of the site began about two months ago when GX Media was contracted for the project.

He noted that users will have access to the board’s constitution, daily news, fixtures and results of matches, among others.

Singh said this is another step by the GCB to professionalise the way cricket is being administered in Guyana, even in the face of several “off-field challenges.”

GCB Secretary and one of the West Indies Cricket Board’s Directors, Anand Sanasie, noted that the establishment of the site is part of efforts to improve the cricketing landscape.

He also pointed out that the GCB is open to suggestions on improving the site

Web Developer, Girendra Persaud, explains a feature on the site to executives and staff of the GCB on Wednesday (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)

over time, adding that it will be very informative with many features.

Meanwhile, a press release issued by the office of the GCB highlighted that the realisation of the website is one of many achievements of the board in 2014.

“This website is being developed in phases with the basic informational and interactive phase now concluded. The next phase would deal with incorporating statistical and scoring software for our players and matches and ultimately our goal is to have live scores for our matches streamed for our viewers,” the release stated.

It continued, “At the present time, this website provides a wealth of information for the cricketing

Soc Sciences, Berbice Campus clash in InterFaculty T20 cricket final today

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he semi-finals of the University of Guyana T20 Inter- Faculty Cricket Competition was played on Tuesday at the Turkeyen Campus.

In the first semi-final, the Faculty of Social Sciences defeated the unbeaten Faculty of Agriculture & Forestry.

The Faculty of Agriculture & Forestry made 158/8 off their 20 overs. Ojasvi Kandhi top-scored with 47,while David Warner chipped in with 34. Bowling for Social Sciences,Dennis Heywood claimed 2/19 off three overs. In reply,Social Sciences compiled 159/2 off 16.3 overs. Leon “Boo” Williams made 77 not out,while Royston Alkins and and Melroy Stephenson weighed in with 32 and 23 not out,respectively.

The second semi-final saw University of Guyana

Berbice Campus – unbeaten to date – defeat the Faculty of Technology.After a late start had resulted in the overs being reduced to 17, Berbice made 109 for 8 off their 17 overs. Andy Mohan lead with 30 and Vishal Mahabir 27; Lloyd George claimed 3 for 9 off four miserly overs. In reply,technology were all out in 16,3 overs for 78. Afzal Baksh resisted to score 36 and Chevraj Boodoo 21; Daryl Thompson picked up 6 for 14 off 3.3 overs.

Today, the final and third- place play-off will be contested between the two top teams – Social Sciences,Turkeyen and the Berbice Campus – and the runners-up, Agri & Forestry and Technology, respectively. The battle for third place will begin at 10:00h and the final at 13:00h.

public. It provides the history and administrative struc-

ture of the GCB, details of the staff and executive body

of the GCB, the 2014 cricket calendar, our administrative structure, GCB’s members and their constituents, our members’ constitutions, our cricket programmes, current news, local, regional and international.”

Presently, the site also features scores of recently concluded regional and local inter-county matches.

“We aim to make this website the number one go-to website for all cricket news for Guyana, our regional and international audience. Our official sponsors are prominently displayed therein and a few have been granted the privilege of free ads for a few months, thus ensuring maximum mileage for these sponsors. Our cricket magazine has also been posted online for those persons who did not secure a hard copy. The site also has several links to its parent body, WICB, ICC and others, along with its Facebook and Twitter accounts,” stat-

ed the release.

The GCB also highlighted that its work over the past year is a reflection of the executives overcoming the various challenges that have confronted them.

According to the release, “The entire cricketing world has had to face up with numerous challenges from various forces, both internal and external. In this regard, the GCB has not been spared having to withstand more than its fair share of challenges and obstacles.”

It added, “Irrespective of these numerous distractions, if we may refer to them that way, the GCB has remained steadfastly focused on fulfilling its mandate of administering cricket in Guyana even whilst spending a fair amount of time and resources in fending off these challenges and laying the groundwork for the changes currently taking place in the cricketing landscape around the world.”

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

Thursday, May 1, 2014

TOP SCORES

IPL T20: Sunrisers 172/5,Mumbai Indians 157/7; Football,Champions League: Atletico Madrid 3,Chelsea 1

Kennard’s Fly Jamaica equips William Memorial Turf Street Warriors baseball team Club honours long-standing sponsors

A representative from Fly Jamaica Airways presents manager of the William Street Warriors Baseball Team, John Ramsingh with a baseball bat and other gears in the presence of other Fly Jamaica representatives and president of the Guyana Baseball League, Robin Singh

F

ly Jamaica Airways presented a large quantity of baseball equipment to Georgetown’s newest baseball team, William Street Warriors.

The presentation was done on Tuesday at the airlines Wings Aviation facility at Ogle International Airport.

Fly Jamaica Airways Bish Panday,Chief Executive Officer of P&P Insurance Brokers, is presented with an award by Sita Singh,a member of the Kennard Memorial Turf club

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istory was made on Sunday when for the first time in Guyana a horse racing club held an award ceremony for sponsors.

The Kennard’s Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) on Sunday honoured four of its outstanding supporters and some of its dedicated staff.

See full story on page 19

representative Yannick Dundas, said “Fly Jamaica Airways gives its support to the Guyana Baseball League GBL). We share Robin Singh’s vision; we understand that baseball can play a very important role in Guyana’s development as a sporting nation. baseball is a fun and disciplined game that can only

help with the development of our youth.”

Manager of the new team, John Ramsingh, thanked Fly Jamaica Airways for the assistance and pledged to make good use of the equipment provided.

President of the GBL ,Robin Singh, said the GBL is pleased to align itself

with a corporation with such exemplary values and will continue to build on this relationship.

The GBL is experiencing a healthy growth with the formation of four new teams on the West Demerara and one in Linden set to be announced shortly.

Five NOC boxers to compete at novices championships

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