Guyana Times Daily - November 28, 2015

saturday, november 28, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

saturday, november 28, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Specialty Hospital flip-flop

Tender process violated – Fmr. Finance Minister

BY ALEXIS RODNEY

The new A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government has breached the country’s procurement and tendering process in its bid to ensure the Fedders Lloyd company secure the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) initiated Specialty Hospital project, leading to mounting allegations of corruption and illegality from several quarters of society.

This is the position of former Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill who said Guyana will surely receive less, while paying for more, when the India-based construction company undertakes the construction of the still controversial Specialty Hospital.

In fact, because of the absence of a transparent procurement process, it has significantly marred the entire procedure.

The former Minister when contacted by Guyana Times said he feared the economy would be cheated by this new development.

“I will need to see what is this negotiated contract with Fedders Lloyd, to know if we are getting what the original bid that we prepared, that we wanted, if we are getting that or we are getting less and paying more. I suspect that we are getting less and paying more,” Edghill told this publication on Friday.

He said Government has already demonstrated this with the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion project, where instead of a new terminal built, Government has moved to renovate, at a much higher cost.

Speaking on the bidding process, Edghill cautioned that it could not have been transparent, since it is not in keeping with the procurement Act.

“Fedders Lloyd could not be considered a suitable bidder because when they bid-

ed for the contract, they were outrightly disqualified from the process because they offered two prices as against one. And that was against the rule in the procurement process”, the former Minister informed.

However, Government is arguing that the contract is a new one, since there has been new negotiations taking place between itself, the Government of India, and the Indian Exim Bank. But the former Minister said this could not be because in the new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), it states that Fedders Lloyd will assess the work that is already done.

“Suppose Fedders Lloyd underestimate the work done. It was supposed to be an independent consultant that would estimate the work done and put a value to it. It cannot be the contractor taking over. Further, for them to say that they are racing against time that is why they are going soul sourcing without public tender is the biggest fallacy the nation has been told because they have kept back this project over the years.”

PSC support

Edghill said his Party will be pushing for the full transaction between Government and the construction company to be made fully public.

Contacted also for a comment on the transparency of the process, Head of the

Private Sector Commission (PSC) Norman McLean told Guyana Times that as far as he was concerned, there was no problem.

“They had a bidding process before, where we lost $4 million to Surrendra. I don’t see a problem. Do you want them to go over the same bidding process again?” he asked. According to McLean, for Government to go over that bidding process, it could take months and even cost the economy a hefty sum.

Legal arguments

Meanwhile, PPP/C Executive and former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall speaking with Guyana Times on Thursday reminded that the project was conceived and planned by the PPP/Civic Administration. According to him, it involved three players, including the Government of Guyana, the Government of India, and Indian Exim Bank.

Nandlall said Guyana’s Government was required to make available the land for the hospital to be built and carry out preparatory works on the site.

“When the PPP/Civic Administration budgeted money to do this preparatory

work, the APNU/AFC sliced it out of the National Budget for three consecutive years. They advanced innumerable reasons, both in and out of Parliament, why this project should not proceed. Only three months ago they announced the “official scrapping” of the project. The reason given then was that as a nation, we are not ready for this type of health care and they pledged to divert the financing into the improvement of primary health care”.

Nandlall said the APNU/ AFC Government has “made a full circle”. He said it will now have to justify to the public the reason for its rejection of the project.

“Regardless of how they proceed, their position now clearly confirms that their postures on matters of national importance are not based on principle and upon merit but on what is politically exigent at the time. Their new found support for the Amaila Falls Hydro Project after slaughtering it in the National Assembly and elsewhere including, calling it “criminal” only three months ago, is but yet another example”, he related to this publication.

Editor(ag): Michael Younge

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

Do

not reverse our good record

Over the past month, several families have initiated legal proceedings against three local hospitals, claiming that their negligence resulted in maternal and neonatal deaths and in two instances resulted in injuries to newborn babies.

Following several of these occurrences we have heard Health Minister Dr George Norton announce that investigations were launched to determine culpability.

As a matter of fact in one instance the Minister announced that those responsible could face criminal charges if it were concluded the injuries sustained to a newborn was as a result of negligence by hospital staff. It is commendable the Health Minister is taking such a firm stance on the issue.

In January 2015, the United Nations Development Programme report on Guyana’s progress on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with respect to maternal health in Guyana, stated that the country has succeeded in reducing the number of maternal deaths and increasing the availability of skilled health personnel at births. The report also commended Guyana for the increase in antenatal care coverage.

As a matter of fact Guyana is currently assessed as having the potential to meet the MDG target of reducing the maternal mortality ratio by three-quarters. According to the World Health Organization in developing countries nearly half of all mothers and newborns do not receive skilled care during and immediately after birth. As such, the report by UNDP shows that as a country we have made significant progress with respect to our maternal healthcare system.

However, the recent incidences of mothers suffering as a result of reported negligence by hospital staff is very disappointing.

According to media reports, Sumarie Balwant of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, lost her baby following claims that nurses at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) refused to deliver the baby, saying she was not ready.

In another instance, GPHC is being sued by Pholmattie Ramjattan whose baby suffered injuries after a nurse allegedly dropped the newborn onto the ground.

In yet another instance, lawsuit against the Davis Memorial Hospital is pending after a 33-year-old mother and her newborn child died allegedly at the hands of negligent nurses and hospital staff.

Adding to this, Parbatee Ramdat of Reliance Village, Essequibo Coast, Region Two is in the process of taking legal action against the Suddie Public Hospital after her newborn baby suffered a fractured shoulder and hand during delivery.

Therefore, while it is commendable that our Health Minister is taking a firm stance with respect to culpability and responsibility, the fact that families are still suffering at as a result of alleged negligence is still unacceptable. We need to examine within the Healthcare System what are the deficiencies and address these as quickly as possible.

Guyana’s maternal health record is very good, as a nation we have come a far way with respect to our maternal health care. As such the Health Minister should ensure he carries that baton of improved maternal health.

The key priority in maternal health is the improvement of the quality of care offered by the healthcare team, including nurses and obstetricians. As such the task is now left to Dr George Norton to ensure there are increased availability of specialist staff trained in obstetrics and gynaecology and wider geographic coverage of skilled medical staff.

There is no doubt he is capable but it is time he has a tight rein on the healthcare staff in Guyana so as to ensure we do not go backwards on our already good maternal healthcare records.

The Specialty Hospital: public procurement and transparency slaughtered

Dear Editor,

The nation learnt that the Minister of Finance, a few days ago, signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the continuation of the Specialty Hospital. The nation will recall that this was a project conceived and brought into fruition by the PPP/Civic Administration. It involved three players: the Government of Guyana, the Government of India, and the Indian Exim Bank.

The Government of Guyana was supposed to make available the land where the hospital is to be situated and to do certain preparatory works on that site. When the PPP/Civic Administration budgeted money to do this preparatory work, the APNU+AFC sliced it out of the National Budget for three consecutive years. They advanced innumerable reasons, both in and out of Parliament, why this project should not proceed.

Only three months ago they announced the “official scrapping” of the project. The reason given then was that as a na-

tion, we are not ready for this type of health care and they pledged to divert the financing into the improvement of primary health care. They have made a full circle. In so doing, again, they have vindicated the PPP/C. They will now have to swallow and if they care to, justify to the public, their rejection of this project. Regardless of how they proceed, their position now clearly confirms that their postures on matters of national importance are not based on principle and upon merit but on what is politically exigent at the time.

Their new-found support for the Amaila Falls Hydro Project after slaughtering it in the National Assembly and elsewhere including, calling it “criminal” only three months ago, is but yet another example.

Under the PPP/Civic Administration, a public procurement process in accordance with the Procurement Act and the loan agreement with the Indian Exim Bank, was undertaken in relation to

this project. That process produced Surrendra Engineering Limited as the successful bidder. Fedders Lloyd participated in that public procurement process but was disqualified at an early stage, in accordance with the law and rules which governed that particular procurement process.

At the time, the leader of the AFC led a public campaign advocating a case for Fedders Lloyd in the National Assembly and elsewhere. At the time, it was publicly revealed that he was hired to do so. I do not recall any denial from him then.

Fedders Lloyd was never the second bidder in that process as some are trying to make out. They were disqualified at a very early stage on technical grounds. In addition, they have been publicly associated with and connected to the Alliance for Change. This company is now handpicked by an APNU+AFC Government to do this project, the value of which is several million US dollars.

While in Opposition, the same APNU+AFC served this

nation with a daily diet of the importance of public procurement, transparency, accountability and their indispensability to good governance which they promised the electorate. I guess it remains merely a promise. I say so because this is not an isolated incident but is one link in a chain of projects done ultra vires the Procurement Act where billions of dollars are being paid to friends and cronies without resort to any public or transparent process. I cite as examples the 200 odd million dollars paid to auditors who were handpicked by a minister to do forensic audits and millions paid to similarly selected contractors to clean the city of Georgetown. Where are the self-anointed champions of transparency and accountability in public office? Oh … I just remembered, they are also the financial beneficiaries of non-transparent processes.

Mohabir Anil Nandlall MP Attorney

What Kwayana said

Dear Editor,

Much about the national conversation on race/ethnic issues continues to puzzle me. In a letter published in “Kaieteur News”, Eusi Kwayana referred to the nobility of the African who “came out of slavery with dignity”. I do not believe anyone denies this but it was the example used as to the “nobility” that has me confused.

He wrote that assassinated WPA founder Dr Walter Rodney “justified all that is noble in African Guyanese and struck a blow against the entrapment in race politics” by standing up in defence of Arnold Rampersaud.

I believe Rampersaud was falsely accused of killing a policeman during the Burnham regime and both the PPP and Rodney came to his defence. (He was not convicted.)

From all that I have learned about Rodney, he was

a man of right thinking and right action and he would have defended anyone who was falsely accused, ie, the person’s race would never have mattered.

It is, therefore, puzzling as to why an admirer of his such as Kwayana would view Rodney’s moral action through racial lens and reduce it to a mere act of transcending race.

Kwayana seems to belong to that group of African and Indian Guyanese who continually accuse Indian Guyanese of racism because we have not yet performed the “cleansing” act that would prove us noble. This would be the act of supporting an African Guyanese who stands falsely accused.

The expectation ignores the realities and truths of our race politics of which Kwayana is very aware. Since the Indian experience in Guyana is one of being attacked and violat-

ed by African Guyanese where then do we find an African Guyanese whose cause we can defend and be therefore “transformed” into noble beings?

Kwayana et al see no nobility in Indian Guyanese defending ourselves against rapists, murderers, arsonists and robbers because their racial lens are blind to all injustices perpetrated by their own.

I believe Kwayana was among those who once penned a solitary letter to distance themselves from the anti-Indian terrorism emanating from Buxton at the turn of the century and for which he and the other letter writers have been made heroic. Distancing themselves, mind you, never once translated into standing with us and defending us. The fact that the same letter writers bewailed the marginalisation of their African

brethren by the PPP/C government, a perceived injustice that was offered as justification for terrorising Indian Guyanese, has been overlooked and their single letter is now forever held up against us as testament to their heroism and nobility. It appears also that the nobility stands eternal even when the “noble” have all decamped and are now comfortably seated with their own within the bosom of the PNC as Kwayana himself admits in his letter, stating that they are the Coalition’s “slim majority”. So much for the AFC’s 11 per cent! The victory was given by the WPA’s camp and Kwayana’s words cannot ever be easily dismissed. He is the Black Sage of Buxton, after all, and is very knowing.

Shanie Jagessar

Workers divided on success of GuySuCo strike

BY ANDREW CARMICHAEL

Sugar workers of Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) are of the view that even though the strike has been called off, they have achieved one of their objectives despite not getting the sugar company to change its position on its Annual Production Incentive (API) offer.

GuySuCo is offering API at a ratio of 85,000 tones sugar produced for one extra day’s pay. The workers through their union, the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) had been pushing for a ration of 32,500 tones for one extra day’s pay.

A one-week countrywide strike followed as workers pushed their demand. Following a meeting at the

union’s General Council on Wednesday, a decision was taken to call off the strike despite GuySuCo’s reluctance to meet and renegotiate.

Factory worker at Albion Estate and a member of GAWU’s General Council Michael Inderdat says the union was coming under pressure to call off the strike. According to him some work-

ers had indicated their intention to break the strike.

“So we can’t hold the strike any longer, you wouldn’t get the strength if you hold the strike… some people will say that they will go along, some people will start to burn out. Now you getting the Christmas holiday coming and people worrying that they ent gon get anything

from GuySuCo.”

On a personal level, Inderdat says he thinks the union was able to indicate its support for the workers and also send a signal to GuySuCo that it will carry the fight to them.

“I think GuySuCo is using delaying tactics with this wages, dem a wait till the crop finish and then

dem na gon talk nothing. But normally you does got to try during the crop to force GuySuCo to start the negotiations. According to the trade union regulation act when you send your proposal, two weeks after you suppose to start the negotiations and within two months you suppose to finish the negotiations. But this na happen this time, dem ah breach all the collective agreement and everything.”

Meanwhile workers have expressed mixed feelings that the strike has been off called and they will be returning to work today. Some say it is time to start earning again while others say the strike was in vein.

According to one cane harvester Joshua Appadu at Albion Estate, he is disappointed. “Me feel so bad the

strike call off, because under the condition we na get no talk yet and we ask fo one week strike and we decide that one week is one week, and the week end today and we resume to work tomorrow… During the strike the workers were not able to achieve anything, especially the harvesters because dem ent get no result come out of the strike but we ask for the strike to be relieved because they say one week strike and we go through strike. But people na mind that dem na earn nothing fo the week but the one week strike show the solidarity dey on.”

Workers say it was a signal to GuySuCo that the company needs to address their concerns very early next year because the union is in unity with the workers.

Guyanese in new Republican PAC in US

Dear Editor,

A new Hindu Political Affairs Committee was formed last week to influence the political direction of the Republican Party as well as politics in general in the United States. It is called the Republican Hindu Coalition (RHC) and its formation has been lauded by Guyanese and other Hindu Americans. It is the first of its kind.

There are no formal Guyanese political affairs committees in the US. IndoGuyanese tend to link up with political groups from India to influence policies relating to Indian Americans while Afros link up with Black (or Caribbean) American groups or directly lobby Black American politicians.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was chosen as the chairman of this newly-formed Republican Hindu Coalition launched on November 17 at a five star hotel in Washington DC.

Some 600 prominent Indian Americans, some Indo-Caribbeans included, attended the launch. This republican group counters sev-

eral Indian political groups that support the Democratic Party.

Several Republican heavyweights were at the launch including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Republican Ed Royce, chairman of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee; and Pete Sessions, chairman of the House Rules Committee. Other influential Republican included Sens Rob Portman of Ohio, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire; and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.

The programme began with the traditional Hindu ceremony of lighting of lamps that precedes Indian events. The RHC is the brainchild of Chicago based businessman Shalabh “Shalli” Kumar, a multimillionaire. Shalli is a major supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The group seeks to promote conservative principles such as free markets and limited government, with a focus on how they relate to Indian Americans. It aims to promote closer relations between the US and India. The organization is moulded after groups like the Republican Jewish Coalition

and The Muslim coalition.

It plans to spend big in next year’s elections.

Kumar, a registered Democrat until 1979, told the media he was prompted to form the political group because he feels “Democratic leaders are undermining the economic recovery with regulations, and dropping the ball overseas”.

He noted that while many Hindus are ideologically conservative-leaning, they have not yet mobilized to vote for Republicans. He said: “Hindu Americans tend to be like other minorities when it comes to voting — they are Democrats or are neutral, or they just don’t vote”.

Kumar, chairman of AVG Advanced Technologies, plans to educate Hindus to switch their support to the republican party. Kumar said Hindu Americans are “prolific donors to political campaigns, but they contribute on an individual basis so efforts are scattered. We currently have very little influence on policy-making. With the forming of the RHC, we will finally have a platform from which Hindu American voices can be heard”.

Kumar has reportedly already donated $2 million to launch this new PAC, and said the RHC expects to raise $10 million to donate to various Republican presidential and Congressional candidates. He has urged all Hindu Americans and other Indian Americans, especially those supportive of the Republican Party, including Indo-Caribbeans, to make their political expenditures through the Coalition, rather than individually.

Kumar told reporters the coalition has received a great deal of support from the Republican National Committee and high-ranking congressional Republicans. Republican spokesman Ninio Fetalvo told the media: “The RNC continues to welcome all efforts from Republicans to further engage Indian American communities across the country. Community organizations help our party grow and play a significant role in giving Indian Americans the opportunity to express their ideas for the party”.

Newt Gingrich told the audience of: “An organization like the RHC could dramatically

change history”. He urged the group: “to help activate Indian Americans not involved in politics. A lot of first-generation folks feel more comfortable and feel more engaged and more involved if they network with fellow people from their background”.

Gingrich also praised Kumar for forming this political group: “What Shalli is doing is really making us move towards bringing together people from all over the country, giving them a chance to get involved in politics and, in the process, really beginning to give us an opportunity to have a much different Republican Party that’s much broader based”.

Senator McConnell noted how glad, “he was that India was moving away from socialism and toward free market principles”. In recent years, Indian Americans have become influential in American politics donating tens of millions of dollars to politicians annually to both parties.

Sampat Shivangi, co-founder of the RHC, said that although it is a Hindu group, the Coalition is open to people of all

faiths who have an interest in the India-US relationship. The Coalition will lobby to increase trade and business connections between India and the US, pointing out that India’s economy is over $2 trillion. The RHC is hoping that, “in light of the 2014 election of the business-minded Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the US and India can draw closer on a number of issues, including getting the US to rely more on India for manufacturing rather than China”. Some issues Kumar feels will be resolved with a better US-India relationship include fiscal discipline; the free enterprise system; limited government; a strong national defence; and a strong posture against terrorism globally.

The group plans to organise a congressional delegation to travel to India after they formally launch the coalition next month.

Guyanese American Hindu leaders are urging Guyanese and other Indo-Caribbean Hindus to support the RHC.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Page Foundation

BY JAMES LEHMAN, MSW

What do you do when your spouse doesn’t parent the same way you do? Handsdown, this is one of the most frequently asked questions we receive at Empowering Parents (EP). “I want to set limits and give consequences, but he thinks I’m being too hard on our children,” said one mother recently. “I’m tired of being the bad guy all the time!” Not only is that unhealthy for your relationship, it’s not good for your children, who often use that lack of agreement to take advantage of the situation.

James Lehman, MSW, sat down with EP Editor Elisabeth Wilkins to talk about this difficult issue. Read on to see why fighting with your spouse over parenting actually undermines your own authority in the long run.

James, why do so many people end up at odds about how to parent their children?

JL: To me, marriage is like a book. There are many pages in the marriage, with different pages representing different aspects of your life. You have parenting, household duties, extended family, and of course, your relationship with your spouse and children.

I think it’s important for you to realise that it’s natural for parents to end up on different pages; some-

times infrequently, sometimes often. People will disagree about a lot of core issues in a marriage; it’s very normal for two adults to see the world in two different ways. But things that are subtle differences

different ball game. I think people have to really take a look at themselves and step back and say, “Our children are very important to us, so we need to come together on this.” It’s very important to come up with a cohesive

these roles are to being an effective parent.

James, you talk a lot about limit-setting in your articles and your programs. Why do you see it as being so critically important for both

can become more burdensome over time. So often, something that starts out as a little conflict can grow until you and your spouse aren’t on the same page in dealing with that issue –for some reason, you aren’t able to develop a common strategy for dealing with the problem. This may be okay in some instances –let’s say you keep your car very clean but your spouse is a little more lax, and the two of you learn to live with that. But when it comes to your children, it’s a whole

plan to which you both adhere—or your child is liable to fall through the cracks of your lack of agreement. And this is especially true when you have a child with behavioural problems, because besides putting extra stress on a marriage, you need to be united in teaching that child firm, clear rules.

I believe the three main parenting roles for both parents are the Teaching, Coaching and Limit-setting roles. In fact, I can’t stress enough how necessary all

parents?

JL: It’s simple: the world has a lot of limits. There are a lot of rules around how you treat other people, how you handle your finances, how you act at work. I think children need to learn to respond to those limits from both parents from a very early age. Part of socialisation for children is learning that there are rules, with consequences and rewards attached. And by the way, by “socialisation,” I mean how your son or daughter should transform from be-

ing an individual child to being an adult member of a larger group or society. That larger group can be a student in a classroom, a family member, an employee at a corporation or somebody riding a plane with 300 other passengers. Children need to learn how to handle those situations when they become adults. That’s why both parents need to set clear expectations and limits on their children’ behaviour.

The problem is that a lot of parents aren’t modelling this right now. They may be saying “You’ve got to respect authority” but then they give a policeman the finger with their six-yearold sitting in the car. That’s why I always stress the importance of being a role model to parents.

I personally believe in a process where children are given responsibilities, taught how to accomplish those responsibilities and then held accountable for meeting their responsibilities. So for parents, that means you give clear instructions to your children, do whatever it takes to make sure your child understands what’s going on, and then you hold them accountable for maintaining the level of performance that you expect. An example might be how they should treat their siblings. You tell them what the rules are: no hitting, for instance. You make sure they understand

how they are supposed to behave, and what happens if they don’t – what the consequence will be. And then you hold them accountable and follow through. You have them make amends if necessary.

What about when parents disagree about how to give a consequence or discipline their child?

JL: If you and your spouse disagree over how to handle your child’s behaviour, it should never be discussed in front of your child – period. Realise that when one parent undermines the other parent in this way, it hurts both parents. That’s because your child is going to question both of you. Sometimes, children feel like they have to choose sides. And not only that, they’re going to feel insecure that the two of you don’t seem to know what to do – because after all, if you knew what to do, you’d be agreeing. So these things have to be handled privately.

It’s the same way that you can’t disrespect the teacher’s authority without undermining your own later on. The attitude that, “Well, my teacher is stupid and I don’t have to listen to him,” quickly becomes, when your child gets to adolescence, “My parents are stupid and I don’t have to listen to them.” And so the more you disrespect other legitimate authority figures, the more you’re undermining your own authority.

James, let’s say you haven’t been on the same page with your spouse as much as you’d like up until now, but you want to start working together more. What’s the first step?

JL: I think the key is to start by finding one thing you can both agree on and go from there. When I worked with parents in my office, I’d say, “Get together as a couple and work at one item at a time. Let’s just deal with one thing: bed time, for instance, or how your child has been breaking things when he’s angry.”

So take one thing that you can agree on and then start making limits on that – and being supportive of each other. I think that if you can agree on one thing, it’s easier to move on to another. Once one thing is working, you can build some momentum and form the basis of an agreement on parenting your child. (empoweringparents.com)

TO BE CONTINUED

WPO calls for Charrandass’ resignation

– mounts protest against his abuse of women

BY ANDREW CARMICHAEL

The Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) on Friday staged a protest demonstration outside the office of attorney and Member of Parliament Charandass Persaud, in what they claim is the parliamentarian’s abuse towards women.

The group displayed posters outside the Essex Street office in New Amsterdam.

The women who were supported by several males chanted slogans as they lobbied for the removal of Persaud from public office.

Recently, Persaud penned a letter to the media expressing his disgust over statements allegedly made by head of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha Dr Vindhya Persaud saying he “felt like hauling her off the stage”.

The statement brought public outrage among several sections of society with many calling for a public apology.

It is alleged that Persaud when contacted by the media for a comment on his position said: “Tell them for me, that if they want me to apologise, let them come and kiss my ass…,”

and supporters

On Friday the protesting group was no longer calling for an apology but for his resignation.

Executive member of WPO, Bijulee Moti told this publication it was not the first time the lawyer had been publically disrespectful to women. Enough is enough she said.

“Charandass in Region Six has done it to one of our leading administrators of the hospital and it was then just before International Woman’s Day… He was not an PM then, he was a leader of the AFC and he came out assaulting Dr Sharma and being very disrespectful, calling her all types of names and so. And so the WPO has condemned him and we have called on the AFC to come out and condemn that kind of behaviour. And he did it again; this reckless Charandass did it again. This time he did it to another woman, and this time he did it to a woman who has been it the highest forum representing women of this country.”

Motie was making reference to Dr Vindhya Persaud who is the head of Dharmic Saba. The WPO representative says both Persauds have a right to express their views when it comes to religion and religious festivals: “But you know what I am against, is that when he was so disrespectful and

he was called by many other individuals and organisations condemning his behaviour, you know what he said to the people; he is an AFC MP..., you could kiss my A... .”

Long time friend of the beleagured parliamentarian Gloria Beharry was also part of the picketing group on Friday. She says she was there because she feels the

hurt for her women folk.

“Mr Charandass, he is my buddy friend, but what, he is overdoing it now. For the past three consecutive years he has been abusing women. The first was Mrs Mustapha, the second Dr Sharma, now it is Dr Vindhya. I think that he should understand that he don’t have the right to abuse these women because some day he might

come and abuse me.”

But apparently women are not the only ones who are claiming abuse by the Attorney.

Chairman of the Justice for the Unjust, Deon Thomas, says he too experienced the wrath of Persaud, even when he was on his side. “For the past 20 years I have been protesting the PPP government. I

is one man don’t dea in this political thing. I came to Mr Charandass as an NGO Chairman and I ask Mr Charrandas that I hearing something, what is the explanation you got; you got to hear from both sides. He turn and tell me that he don’t have time with what people say. He even challenge me fo fight he; tell me that this is a private office and if I go an disgrace the office I gon see wha he gon do… He is a disrespectful big man and I is an AFC member campaigning all three elections for the AFC… and I don’t need MP like he. I want Mr Granger to know that when I voted for change I voted to get rid of PPP because we don’t need people like that in parliament.”

Persaud told sections of the media on Thursday that it was only President David Granger who can make him offer an apology.

Teen killed after struck off bike – another injured as driver flees scene

Police are looking for the driver of a vehicle which struck two persons off of a motorcycle, killing a teenager, before fleeing the scene. The accident occurred shortly after 23:30h Thursday on Sheriff Street, Georgetown.

The dead teen has been identified Travis Bollers, 17, of Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown. According to reports, Bollers was the pillion rider with his cousin, Quacy McCalmon. They were riding south from the Seawall and at the junction of Sheriff and Pike Streets, a vehicle made a sudden turn into Pike Street, strking the men off the motorcycle.

Guyana Times understands that Bollers was not wearing a helmet at the time and sustained severe head injuries. It was reported that

the teenager’s head had a gaping wound and his brain was oozing out.

Meanwhile, his 22-yearold cousin of Lodge, Georgetown, sustained minor injuries about his body. This newspaper was further told that after the two men were struck, the driver of the vehicle, believed to be a white Toyota Tacoma or Ford Raptor, came out and looked at the injured men. He then went back into the vehicle and drove away.

The two men were taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where Bollers succumbed to his injuries sometime after midnight.

Speaking with this newspaper, Bollers’ brother Eon said they are desperately trying to gather information about the vehicle that caused the accident and the

person behind the wheel. He has even took to social media pleading with persons who were around when the accident occurred to come forward.

“Right now the police doing their investigations and we are trying to see if we could get any information

about the driver because my brother was unconscious after they get knock and my cousin (McCalmon) was traumatise after he see Travis in that state so he too didn’t get to look at the driver,” the man told this newspaper.

Eon went on to say his uncle had passed by the scene and informed them of the accident. He noted that his cousin went there and, with the assistance of a passerby, took the two injured men to Hospital.

“My older brother went to the hospital first and then he called us. When we got there, the doctor told us that the injuries were severe and he did not make it,” Eon related. This publication understands that investigating ranks are trying to obtain surveillance footage from the scene to identify the vehicle.

saturday, november 28, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Lindener on $130,000 bail for break and enter

AWisrock, Linden, resident was on Friday placed on $130,000 bail by Magistrate Fabayo Azore when he appeared in Court Five charged with two counts of break and enter and larceny.

John Broomes, 40, a road construction worker of 130 Wisrock Housing Scheme, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which read that on 21 November at Wisrock Junction he broke and entered the shop of Shenika Maury and stole a cooler; a knife; and a number of alcoholic beverages all to a total of $26,860.

He was also slapped with the indictable charge which read that on

Thursday 26 November at 476 1B Wisrock, he broke into the dwelling home of Shaunda Mc’Greggor and stole a number of household articles inclusive of a gas stove, a gas bottle, a microwave, a blender and other electrical items, in addition to groceries all to a value of $166,000.

The details surrounding these charges were not divulged however, Police Prosecutor Simone Payne made no objections to bail.

Broomes was granted bail in the sum of $65,000 on each charge. The matter was transferred to Court One where it will appear before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on December 7.

2 on break and enter charges

Two men were on Friday placed on $50,000 each after they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates' Courts before Magistrate Fabayo Azore in Court Three to answer to separate charges of Break and Enter and Larceny.

Paul Marceano, 41, of 12 Burnham Drive charge read that on Friday 13 November at 20 Buck Hall, Linden he broke and entered into the dwelling house of Jessie Waldron and stole a articles inclusive of a microwave and clothes all to a value of $115,000.

Meanwhile, David Marlon, 29, a mason of

775 One Mile, Wismar, Linden was slapped with the indictable charge which read that on 23 November at 109 One Mile Extension, Wismar, he broke and entered the dwelling house of Jackie Bacchus and stole a flat screen television valued at $89,899.

The Administration of Justice Act was applied and the men denied the allegations. There were no objections to bail and the Magistrate granted them their pre-trial liberty in the sum of $50,000 each.

The matter was transferred to Court 1 for December 7.

North Ruimveldt man on bail for robbery, escaping lawful custody

Aresident of North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was on Friday placed on $75,000 bail by Magistrate Alex Moore after he appeared before him in Court Ten of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with robbery and escaping lawful custody. David Christian, 21, a porter of 3726 North Ruimveldt, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which read that on Tuesday 1 September at North Ruimveldt he robbed David Christian of a cellu -

lar phone valued $99,000.

He was also slapped with a charge which read that on September 2 at the East La Penitence Police Station he escaped from lawful custody, while pending criminal charges.

Eyew tness Changing gears…

….in real world

Your Eyewitness believes in giving Jack his jacketeven if it’s a jacket he might’ve discarded. Some people just don’t know when they’re on to a good thing. Take NICIL. This was the entity PNC had formed back in the day when Greenidge was Finance Minister and Jordan was some worker bee in the back rooms.

They’d just been ordered by the IMF to privatise the companies the PNC had nationalised in its drive to control the “commanding heights of the economy” –Guyana Stores, GAC, GPC, GT&T, etc etc. Well when you sell off a company the government gets paid, no? Well, not if its Guyana Stores… but that’s grist for another mill! However, the IMF, knowing the proclivity of Third World politicians to spend other people’s money like there’s no tomorrow (mostly to benefit themselves!), insisted the money be placed in a govt-owned private company - to be invested. This was NICIL.

In this way, rather than blowing the money on wine, women and song, NICIL raked in dividends that could be invested to produce more money – or placed in the Consolidated Funds for current spending. The trouble is, while trying to score political points to get into government, the present lot of politicians screamed NICIL was “siphoning off funds” to the then PPP/C government officials. And whatever wasn’t siphoned off, was being invested “unwisely” to benefit cronies.

The Magistrate scheduled the trial to commence on Monday, February 1.

On the robbery charge, the accused was granted $50,000 bail while the escape charge attracted $25,000 bail.

The Administration of Justice Act was applied and the accused denied both allegations.

Lindener on bail for larceny

Astoker was on Friday placed on $75,000 bail when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with larceny.

Carl Roberts, 35, of Linden was not required to plead to the indictable charge which read that on October 12 at Kuruni Highway, Linden, he stole a number of articles inclusive of two brush cutters valued at $90,000 each, two spray cans valued $125,000 all to a total of $557,000, property of Narine Company Ltd.

The details of the charge were not divulged in Court and the Prosecutor made no objections to bail.

Bail was granted by Magistrate Fabayo Azore of Court Three in the sum of $75,000 and the matter was transferred to Court One for December 7.

The govt launched audits of NICIL to identify the “siphoning” scoundrels and as the populace waited with bated breaths for steel bracelets and orange jumpsuits to be handed out, they became blue in the face!! There was either no “siphoning” off and they’d been “throwing talk” at the PPP. Or as some cynics mutter, they’re now siphoning the Big Bucks into their own pockets.

The government-as-opposition APNU/AFC swore on a stacks of bibles that NICIL had to be closed down. And the money, they hinted, would be shared to the masses! Well, the good citizens of Guyana can now stop “bating” their breath and exhale: the Minister of Finance just declared that in no way, shape or form, will NICIL be shut down!! NICIL is “necessary”.

Well, this Eyewitness disagrees with those who want to gloat and crow “Y’all were wrong!!”. He says that it takes a big man to say, “I wuz wrong” all on his own. So our hats off to Jordan. And to his detractors (including this Eyewitness) we quote Emerson, “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.”

We now hope this will be an object lesson to all those who insist on believing their own BS... . As the Gambler one crooned, “You gotta know when to hold it and you gotta know when to fold it”.

Now is the time to fold all the silly campaign rhetoric.

…unnecessarily

In the sugar industry, however, it does seem the Sugar Worker Unions misread the hand they were holding when they decided to “fold it” on the sugar strike. They responded to the wail that “the industry ain’t doing so well”. It might very well be comatose… but what does that have to do with the price of bread?

If things are as bleak as management are saying it is, then the workers will be on the breadline in any case. So what do they have to lose if the company goes deeper into debt? Does $1 billion more mean much when you owe $94 billion? This Eyewitness believes sugar workers might as well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb.

At least they’ll have a good Christmas, with mutton selling at over $1000/lb!

…on names

Well, well, well. So your Eyewitness won’t be able to take his main squeeze to make out at the “Burnham Botanical Gardens”. Looks like the Mayor-for-life –seeing his time was nigh - might’ve overplayed his hand. You gotta KNOW what’s in your hand!!

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

Seniors made to wait hours for new pension books – others walked in and got served

“They told me to go back home after three hours, and they had the book right there” – says 95-year-old Pensioners of East Canje, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) are heavily criticising the system implemented by the staff of the Social Protection Ministry in the distribution of the 2016 Old Age Pension books.

The existing system saw scores of senior citizens having to wait long hours just to receive pension books.

Pensioners began assembling at the Canefield/ Enterprise Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Office around 04:00h, some drenched in the early morning showers, as they waited for the doors to open at 06:00h to uplift their books.

where I am from, you have Reliance, you have Adelphi, Bananaland, Bettsy Ground and Gangarram, they had one line for each village and time like now this place de clear since midday and that was the system they had,” he explained, as he called for the return of the old system.

Davis noted that the system has been changed with only one line being operated with only makes matter worse for everyone. “They should work the system that they had before. What I am saying is that if you have a system it has to be better or let it remain, not down. This system today gone down the drain…Previously they use to have four different tables; one table will look after two villages, that is how they did it. But now the four of them on one table and the people coming there and the people coming there and you take a seat and sit down and you don’t know what’s going on in front there. They are not even calling names; they did not give a number, is a blind leading a blind,” he stated.

Rajpattie Ramlogan, 95 years old, said the officers told her to go home and that the pension book would be delivered to her home. However, she refused to do so because of past experiences. According to the woman, officers last year, told her to go home as they promised

The wait continued until the Social Protection Ministry staff arrives around 09:00h. Venting their frustrations, some pensioners told Guyana Times that they remained at the NDC office, waiting for an additional three hours, before receiving their books, while others who arrived later than they did, received their books before them.

This newspaper understands that there is no order in the system and that later comers can simply walk up to the counter where they will be immediately attended to.

Pensioner James Davis is calling for the distribution system to be revised at once. “My contention is that previously, up to last year when they distributed the books you have Canefield

you come here, this one say go so, so I stand up all the time. Nobody looking at you. Me must be move about 10 time,” Bhogh complained, noting that she gave up and left without her pension book.

Contacted for a comment on the matter, Region Six Regional Chairman David Armogan said he will be discussing the matter with the relevant stakeholders and will most likely move to implement a new and improved system.

to deliver the pension book to her house. However, the book arrived four months into the New Year, resulting in her missing her pensions for the first three months of the year. Consequently, Ramlogan was adamant not to have a repeat of last year’s experience. She waited in the long line until she received her pension book.

Another 95-year old, Harold Bishoo described the system as “tormenting”, and “frustrating”; noting that he only endures the “confusion” because he desperately needs his pension.

Additionally, Bibi Bhogh of Canefield, East Canje explained that she arrived as early as 08:00h yet at around 13:00h, she still did not receive her new pension book.

“When you go this one, she say Canefield dea so, when

Region 10 Land Selection Committee

Regional Chairman dubs it “rubber stamp”

BY UTAMU BELLE

Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice)

Regional Chairman Renis Morian is questioning the importance of the Regional Land Selection Committee which formed part of the August 2012 agreement signed between the previous Administration and the region. The Committee was established by way of Motion under the stewardship of former Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon, in an effort to give assistance to residents and farmers seeking help with regards to land ownership in the region.

However, works of the Committee came to a standstill recently when Morian took office. Solomon had contended that Morian, his predecessor, was now tasked with the responsibility of the Committee.

However, the Regional Chairman recently stated that he is uncertain of his role regarding the Committee, when prompted by Councillor Owen DeSouza to shed light on its status during the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) statutory meeting earlier this month.

DeSouza was at the time seeking assistance on a number of issues involving farming malpractice at the Dakoura Creek water

site which is a main source of water for some residents at Block 22, Wismar, Linden.

Rubber stamp

When questioned by Guyana Times on Tuesday, with regard to agricultural development in the region and any possible collaboration with the Land Selection Committee, Morian said he is unsure of the importance of such a Committee. He said given the situation with lands being owned and controlled by numerous agencies, the Land Selection Committee is basically a “rubber stamp”.

“The truth of the matter is, I am yet to see the importance of a Land Selection Committee. The

RDC don’t issue lands. I brought the Minister of Housing to Region 10 to share some of the land issues that residents have. There are residents that are waiting 10 years for a title, waiting 10 years for a plot of land, when Region 10 is blessed with acres of land...there are lands owned by NICIL (National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited), there are lands that are under Housing (Ministry). There are lands that are under so many different agencies”, the Regional Chairman stated.

He said he was advised to seek the assistance of a lawyer regarding the issue, however the Government would have to foot the bill, since the region is not in a position to do so. Nevertheless, he said lists of applicants for land titles are sent to his office at the RDC, which would often times include persons from outside of the region.

One agency needed

“But truly speaking, the whole issue of land regionally needs to be centred at one agency... one agency should be responsible for lands, and then we would see the importance of a Land Selection Committee, but as it is right now we have inherited a system that was cha -

otic and has marginalised residents in Region 10”, he further stated.

The Regional Chairman added that there are issues regarding land in the region which were brought to his attention and while he intends on seeking a solution, the region is not yet ready to take on a Land Selection Committee. He then made an appeal for issues to be handled at the level of a central agency.

“I’m making an appeal... to the Government and Cabinet, especially in the area of Region 10, to look to have one agency look at the whole matter of lands... we would like to see an effective and viable Land Selection Committee, not a rubber stamp,” the Regional Chairman emphasised.

Linden M&TC to take full control of MackenzieWismar bridge

As the cash strapped Linden Mayor and Town Council (LM&TC) continues to look for ways to boost its income and revenue base, the possibility of taking back full management of the Mackenzie-Wismar bridge is now being explored. Linden Town Clerk Jenella Bowen and acting Town Clerk Tessa Ragbeer confirmed to Guyana Times on Monday that the municipality may take full control of the bridge which links the Mackenzie and Wismar shores of Linden. Bowen also stated on Thursday that the topic was up for discussion at the Council’s statutory meeting on Wednesday. However, the municipality is presently awaiting responses from key players.

Presently, the LM&TC which has part responsibility for the bridge, only receives a percentage of the income generated at the bridge, which is also partly managed by the Linmine Secretariat and the National Industrial Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL).

The complete management of the bridge should mean that all of its revenue will be directed to the LM&TC, which is publicly known for being in dire financial straits for the past few years. Bowen and Ragbeer during an interview with Guyana Times on Monday said that the financial woes of the Council, which only receives a meagre annual subvention, still continues.

saturday, november 28, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Body washes up at Kingston Seawall

The body of another male was washed ashore at the Kingston seawall, behind the Marriott Hotel.

The discovery was made around 14:00h on Friday by personnel at the hotel. The male is of African descent and believed to be in his

investigators removed it.

According to reports, the body was still fresh when it was retrieved as a bloodlike substance was seen oozing out of the mouth. Investigators believe the man had died recently and have not ruled out foul play. Ranks at the scene were

less than a month after two bodies were found a short distance away. The bodies of the young couple were found earlier this month in the vicinity of the CID headquarters, Eve Leary.

They were later identified as Kavita Ackloo, 19, called ‘Shevon’,

late 20s to early 30s. He had facial hair and was clad in a blue check shirt and underwear – his pants nowhere to be found.

Reports surrounding the incident are sketchy and up to noon, the man’s identify was yet to be known.

When Guyana Times visited the scene, the body was lying on the shore in the water. Sometime after

examining the body for marks of violence but it was unclear whether any were found.

Various reports/theories were emanating from the scene, with persons saying a life jacket was seen some distance from where the body was found, while others commented the man may have been a vagrant.

This discovery comes

of Cummings Lodge, Georgetown, and Ramesh Beharry, 18, called ‘Boy’, of Good Hope, East Coast Demerara.

A bucket containing a poisonous chemical was found in close proximity along with several packets of medications, leading police to conclude the couple committed suicide.

Economic crises deepen…

69.7% Guyanese unable to repay mortgages

Hundreds of Guyanese are on the verge of losing their properties as a result of inability to pay their mortgages, as the local economy continues to flounder, according to People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament Irfaan Ali.

Ali said based on data in his possession of his own investigations from many financial institutions, nonperforming loans or loans where the borrower failed to pay instalment for three months, have increased by 69.7 per cent in 2015 and continues to skyrocket.

“The non-performing loans moving from $8.8 billion to $20 billion, and as I said that was the halfyear figure of the Bank of Guyana and over the last quarter it has not improved, it has deteriorated further. Some institutions would have been setting aside resources in excess of 100 per cent of that of 2014 for bad debt. These are the numbers we are having and that is a serious indication as to what is coming out of the financial sector and the banks themselves. So from the macro side, those are some of the numbers that present a worrying trend for us,” Ali told a recent news conference.

Ali said there are a number of factors which are responsible for this crisis, including the fact that the new government has not created employment, but

rather it has placed hundreds of persons on the breadline directly an indirectly.

He used as an example the discontinuation of the 100 Homes Project, which would have direct employment for more than 300 Guyanese, many of whom may have loans.

Another area that is responsible for the increase in non-performing loans, ac-

cording to Ali, is the current crisis in the rice industry, where many farmers are millers are already having their assets repossessed by financial institutions.

“A lot of the rice farmers and millers have huge loans in the banking sector, they have their assets pledged to those loans and the banks will have no other choice but to come down hard on the rice farmers,” Ali said.

Further, the increase in non-performing loans can be linked to the slowdown in economic activities as many businessmen with huge loans are unable to make their payments as business transactions have slowed tremendously.

Another factor which is attributed to this fiasco is that of the increase in unemployment, as many large employers were forced to retrench their employees, again many of whom may be holders of mortgages.

GTU wants Govt to accept proposal for counsellors

The Guyana Teacher’s Union (GTU) says it hopes government would accept the proposal it put forward, to utilise teachers within the public school system to be used as School counsellors rather than employing persons “out of the bloc”.

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine last month had indicated he had plans to establish a Central Counselling Body and have trained counsellors in each school across the country. The Minister had posited that high rise of violence in society was finding its way into the school system, pointing out that there was an urgent need for counsel-

lors within these schools to help create an environment of learning.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Thursday GTU General Secretary Coretta McDonald related that there has not yet been any consultation on this matter between GTU and the Education Ministry, but related that the union had suggested that teachers be used who had undergone studies in social work at University of Guyana since they are not being paid in school by the Ministry of Education, as they do not recognize such degrees.

JC Secondary School

Teachers reject bicycle shed classroom

Several teachers attached to the Johanna Cecelia Secondary School in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) have refused to teach the Grade 10 students of the school, stating that the area is not conducive for learning.

Guyana Times was informed that the students were put under the bicycle shed by the school’s Headmaster Alex George, after they complained of the classroom being hot. The move under the shed was a temporary one to accommodate the children and to relieve their physical discomfort as a result of the heated classroom, but from all indications, the bicycle shed has become the classroom for the children.

the move to have the children placed in an area where rain falls, bicycles are parked and noise from the streets poses a distraction to their learning. Despite several complaints made to the Headmaster, the situation remains unchanged.

closed, hence making it into a classroom, and another area should be provided for the accommodation of the bicycles.

distraction from the road.

There is said to be two garbage drums filled right next to the ‘classroom’ as well.

Guyana Times was informed that the classroom the children occupied previously has now been given to the ancillary staff. When teachers questioned the Headmaster about whether the children will return to their respective classrooms, given the fact that the rainy period is upon us, the Headmaster told staff members that taking back the classroom from the cleaners would mean him practicing double standards.

She continued: “We suggested that rather than employing new persons from out of the bloc, you might as well use these teachers that you have who have already completed their degree programme”.

According to her, the suggestion was the schools be placed into a cluster which would allow for each school to be evenly serviced.

“Because for now, you could not have a counsellor in every school. If you cluster the schools, you will be able to relate to every school, at least three schools would be serviced”, she posited.

President David Granger himself had stated it was his desire to have teachers who are trained in counselling, to be part of this plan.

“There are some students who come from very disturbed backgrounds and it’s very difficult to control them; at the same time we’re trying to move away from corporal punishment so there must be some means of ensuring that the problems with which some students enter the classroom… are dealt with in a sympathetic manner by the teachers,” the President said recently on a televised programme.

According to the President there is no point having a counsellor who would “sit in a room all day waiting on a problem to arise. It means that a teacher can have that responsibility.”

“We suggested that they use these same teachers, do some more in-depth training with them and use them as the point person to be counsellors in school. But we are not sure where they are with the proposal that we have put forward”, McDonald told Guyana Times

This move by the Headmaster came in for much criticism from parents who have children attending the school. One parent said that she is not satisfied with

The children have also made their own complaints, stating that if the Headmaster sees it fit to put them under the shed, then they are of the view that the shed should be en-

According to a teacher who wishes to remain anonymous, the children are left outside and although rain splashing on them in downpours, no intervention is being made.

That teacher said she had refused to teach the children, since it is unacceptable to have the children exposed to the rain as well as the noise

Many teachers are of the view that the shed which was allotted to the children to occupy is not conducive to learning, and is merely what it was initially build for – a bicycle shed. They are therefore calling on the Education Ministry, through the Department of Education to intervene into the matter.

New woman Commonwealth Secretary General appointed

The Commonwealth appointed its first female Secretary General on Friday when leaders chose Dominica-born lawyer Patricia Scotland to take over the running of the 53-country organisation.

At their biennial summit in Malta, Commonwealth Heads of Government chose Scotland, a former Attorney General to the British Government, to take over from Indian diplomat Kamalesh Sharma on April 1, 2016.

“I am incredibly proud to be the first woman to hold the post of Secretary General,” Baroness Scotland of Asthal told a press conference.

“Can I just say what a huge privilege and a pleasure it is for me to be entrusted with one of the most burdensome but wonderful roles that there is in the international world?” the 60-year-old asked rhetorically.

“There is much to do but I hope all 53 of us will look together at the vision, will look at what we need to do on climate change, on education, on science and technology and we will make this a better world for our children.”

While Queen Elizabeth II is the head of the Commonwealth, the Secretary General’s duties involve representing the organisation globally and promoting its values and principles, chiefly democratic standards and development.

A Secretary General can now serve a maximum of two four-year terms.

When Scotland takes over from Sharma, she will get the keys to the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Marlborough House headquarters in London, close to Buckingham Palace.

Sharma, 74, will return to Delhi when his second term expires. “I’m a hard act to fol-

low but I’m sure she can do it,” the career diplomat said of his replacement.

Scotland moved with her family to London aged two.

A prominent lawyer, she became a member of the British Parliament’s upper House of Lords in 1997.

She then held various Government roles under Labour Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, including becoming the first female Attorney General, a post that dates back centuries.

Scotland had eventually secured unanimous support for the Commonwealth post, said Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who oversaw the process. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Grenada gets US$2.7M after IMF review

Grenada will benefit from an additional US$2.7 million disbursement from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) following the institution’s third review of the island’s economic performance under an Extended Credit Facility (ECF) programme.

The IMF said the decision was taken after the country met all performance criteria for end-June 2015 and all structural benchmarks for the third review were implemented.

“Half-way into the au-

thorities’ three-year reform programme, fiscal sustainability and growth prospects are gradually improving. The authorities are on track to achieve the first primary surplus in a decade,” it said.

“Supported by the recent private debt exchange, the debt-to-GDP ratio is projected to decline to 90 per cent at end 2015, down from 107 per cent in 2013.

Economic growth is projected to remain robust at about 3.5 per cent (at market prices) in 2015, reflecting expanding agriculture output and solid external

demand for Grenada’s tourism services.”

The Fund stressed that continued implementation of the structural reform agenda is critical to improve Grenada’s long term fiscal prudence and growth prospects.

Reform of the Public Sector during the remainder of the programme would also be essential, it added, to safeguard the fiscal adjustment gains attained thus far and ensure a sustainable reduction in the Government’s personnel expenditure. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Jamaica’s Financial Secretary dismisses reports of Public Sector job cuts

Jamaica’s Financial Secretary Devon Rowe has dismissed reports that Government plans to send home Public Sector workers.

This follows a Jamaica Observer newspaper article that there were clear indications the Portia SimpsonMiller Administration was likely to implement the cuts to stay within the International Monetary Fund (IMF) target of nine per cent wage to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio by March 2017. This, as the recent increase in compensation packages to Public Sector workers was expected to push up the ratio.

In a statement, Rowe stressed that “under the current Heads of Agreement signed this year for the 2015/17 contract period, there are no planned

Jamaica’s Financial Secretary Devon Rowe

job cuts”. He added that the measures which the Government was considering included management of vacant positions, voluntary retirement and voluntary separation.

In addition, Rowe said, “Reform measures which include technology-aided processes are underway as part

of the Public Sector transformation and modernisation programme. The public has already begun to benefit from several reforms and modernisation programmes such as, the Revenue Administration Integrated System (RAiS), Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) and a Central Treasury Management System (CTMS), and importantly the modernisation of the Accountant General’s Department.”

Rowe continued that the recently concluded wage agreements were part of a broader strategy of Public Sector reform and were designed to enhance the delivery of public services which are integral to the success of the overall goals of the Economic Reform Programme. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Cubans protest new Ecuador visa regulation

Hundreds of Cubans protested at the Ecuadorian embassy in Cuba on Friday, a day after the Andean nation announced they would need visas to enter the country as of December 1.

The Cubans waved their passports and plane tickets and said they were angry because they had already bought tickets under the previous no-visa policy of Ecuador and wanted passage or their money back.

An Ecuadorian diplomat told the crowd they would have to go online and get

a 90-day tourism visa and speak to the airlines about refunds. Cuban Police secured the embassy, which they said was closed. There was no violence.

“Now they are saying we can’t travel to Ecuador because of the Cubans who are skipping out. That’s not our fault!” said Ivan Balera, 51, who said he spent over $1000 on his ticket.

Ecuador said it made the decision at a regional meeting on Tuesday in El Salvador to discuss the future of thousands of Cubans

stranded at the Costa RicaNicaragua border en route to the United States.

“We decided to impose the visa requirement for Cuban citizens in order to discourage the flow of people seeking to reach the United States,” Ecuador’s Foreign Minister Xavier Lasso, told reporters on Thursday.

Thousands of Cubans have traveled to Ecuador over the past decade, some to purchase goods for resale at home and others to settle.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Caricom to push for special consideration at climate change conference

Chairman of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and Prime Minister of Barbados Freundel Stuart says next week’s Conference of Parties (COP21) negotiations in Paris will see the grouping pushing for special treatment for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

“We will advocate strongly for special consideration to be given to the unique circumstances of SIDS and reaffirm the need for Caribbean countries to receive improved and prioritised access to public, grantbased financial support to address climate change,” he declared.

“We cannot afford to allow the international community to squander the opportunity of the Paris Climate Change Conference.”

In a message released ahead of the negotiations which begin on November 30, Stuart detailed the effects of climate change on

the region, and said a number of “critical things” must emerge from the Paris agreement.

“First, all countries must agree to take individual and collective action to curb greenhouse gas emissions in order to limit the average temperature increase to one point five degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels. Any temperature rise above this will endanger the survival

of the world’s most vulnerable countries, including those of our Caribbean,” he said. Stuart said the region also wanted to see all countries committing to cooperation, through regular reporting, verification and updating on mitigation and should provide support to the particularly vulnerable small island developing states and least developed countries. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

OAS Secretary General calls for immediate

end

to violence in Venezuela

The Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, on Thursday condemned the killing in Venezuela of the Secretary General of Acción Democrática Guarico, Juan Manuel Diaz, and called for an immediate end to the violence in the country.

“The violent death of any person is a heinous act that we cannot accept. The killing of a political activist, moreover, leaves us all more vulnerable, and signals that we are all real victims, not just potential victims,” Almagro said.

He emphasised that the killing of a political leader is a deadly wound to democracy and a succession of violent acts in an electoral process can be a mortal blow to nearly any kind of democracy.

The incident is not an isolated episode, but one that occurred in conjunction with other attacks against other Opposition political leaders in a strat -

egy to intimidate the Opposition.

“In truth the entire society is affected by fear and it has shaken the entire international community,” Almagro said. Recently, there have been many complaints of lack of guarantees in the electoral process such as those made by the OAS Secretary General himself in a recent letter to the President of the Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE), Tibisay Lucena.

“We ask the Government to act now, we ask for the end of all violence; we ask that the electoral process be transformed into a celebration and not an exercise of force, violence and fear; we ask for the most absolute guarantees for everyone,” the Secretary General added. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Guyana eyes deeper ties with Netherlands, Singapore

– as new woman Commonwealth Secretary General appointed

President David Granger and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge who are attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2015) in Malta, seized the opportunity to hold key bilateral meetings in the margins of the conference, even as the body elected a new Secretary General, Baroness Patricia Scotland, a Dominican by birth who has held the position of Attorney General in Britain, to replace outgoing Secretary General, Kalamesh Sharma.

Though Guyana had thrown its support behind Antigua and Barbuda’s candidate, Guyana-born Sir Ronald Sanders, President Granger said in an interview with the Guyanese press corps, that the new Secretary General was selected in a clean and clear process and Guyana and all Commonwealth countries must support the Baroness:

“I am assured that the Commonwealth’s decision is going to receive the support of the member states and this is the way forward. We are looking to the future and we believe that the Commonwealth must rally around its Secretary General… and we are committed to working with the Secretary General for the improvement of the Commonwealth.”

Following the opening cer-

emony of CHOGM 2015, at which Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II addressed the leaders, President Granger, along with other Heads of Government, attended the first Executive and working sessions in addition to a special session on climate action.

Bilateral Meetings

Importantly, President Granger and Minister Greenidge held a bilateral meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam. President Granger said though Guyana has enjoyed good political relations with Singapore for a number of years, there has been limited trade and economic relationship.

“Singapore is rich in education, rich in technology and we would like to develop relations with Singapore so that Guyana could be assisted in developing the infrastructure that we need, particularly in the hinterland so that we can [have] access to our resources”, the President said.

Minister Greenidge added that investment potential was a key focus of the discussions and described the meeting as useful. He said: “The Prime Minister was very responsive and we agreed to have a mechanism that will allow us

to concretise these inter-proposal projects.”

Guyana also discussed with the Singaporean delegation the Iwokrama International Rainforest Centre, in the context of increased attention on issues related to climate change globally. The President said: “The important thing is that for nearly 25 years Guyana has put on the table the offer of the Iwokrama International Rainforest Centre and we feel that Singapore, as a member of the Commonwealth, could help to advance the work that we are doing in Iwokrama.”

On the agenda of the meeting was also the Venezuelan threat to Guyana’s territory. President Granger relat-

ed that the Prime Minister was briefed on the developments with regard to the work of Secretary General of the United Nations to ensure a resolution is reached, even as Guyana seeks a juridical settlement.

In other bilateral meetings, Minister Greenidge met with the United Kingdom’s Rt Hugo Swire, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Though he was unable to go into details, Minister Greenidge described the meeting as fruitful.

He said Guyana and the United Kingdom used the opportunity to exchange information on areas of common interest and to confirm the

mechanisms for deepening partnerships.

Minister Greenidge also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Bert Koenders, where the discussion centred heavily on the Netherlands’s Candidature to the United Nations’ Security Council. While Guyana discussed several areas of possible support, Minister Greenidge was keen on discussing the Netherlands’s role were they to gain a place on the Security Council.

“We went on to discuss issues such as the areas where the Netherlands would be interested in rendering assistance and more importantly, also, we were discussing mech-

anisms by which we might cooperate and, in the event that the Netherlands gets on the Security Council, the types of things that it would be promoting and that it would be working on. We drew to their attention our interest in having countries on the Security Council who don’t forget that there are small States that need to have their interests represented. We need advocates in the corridors of power who don’t leave behind those small states that helped them get elected,” the Minister said. Guyana also held meetings with the Maldives as well as informal discussions with other Heads of State and is expected to have other similar engagements, including with Uganda. Additionally, President Granger remains confident that the Commonwealth will make a Declaration that is favourable to Guyana and indicated that it is likely to be part of the final Communiqué, following the meeting: “That has always been guaranteed. The Commonwealth has never let us down and there is no reason to believe that that support will drain away… we don’t take it for granted but I think they are aware of the plight of Guyana and they too are committed to having the controversy resolved. I would say that they are in strong support of Guyana’s territorial integrity.”

Business Exposition opens with pomp and ceremony

The inaugural Business Exposition was launched with much pomp and ceremony on Friday, with saw thousands of persons gathering at the Sophia Exhibition Centre, Greater Georgetown.

The event was declared open by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo in the presence of fellow Cabinet Members, various Government officials, Members of the Diplomatic Corp and scores of patrons. The three-day exposition is being held under the theme, “Guyanese Products and Services – Our Gateway Forward”.

Addressing the gathering, Prime Minister Nagamootoo commended the idea of hosting such a forum, which introduces persons and potential entrepreneurs to the world of small businesses.

He noted that every business starts small and climbs

its way up the latter, referring to Gafoors, whose owner Sattaur Gafoor, gave a detailed presentation on the “dos and don’ts” of starting a business.

Tender Process Violated...

According to Nandlall, under the PPP/C Administration, a public procurement process in accordance with the Procurement Act and the loan agreement with Indian Exim Bank was undertaken in relation to the project. That process, according to him, produced Surrendra Engineering Limited as the successful bidder.

“Fedders Lloyd participated in that public procurement process but were disqualified at an early stage, in accor-

dance with the law and rules which governed that particular procurement process,” the former Legal Affairs Minister said.

He added that at the time, the leader of the AFC led a public campaign advocating a case for Fedders Lloyd in the National Assembly and elsewhere.

“To date, I do not recall any denial from him. Therefore, Fedders Lloyd was never the second bidder in that process as some are try-

“The small businesses have always carved a niche for themselves even while you have, side by side, big giant

from page 3

ing to make out. They were disqualified at a very early stage on technical grounds. In addition, they have been publicly associated with, and connected to, the Alliance For Change. This company is now handpicked by an APNU/AFC Government to do this project, the value of which is several million US dollars”.

Only on Thursday, the Opposition Party’s Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, said the new agreement between Government and the Indian

businesses because the creativity, the talents, the ingenuity starts with the small humble first efforts,” he stated.

company “reeks of corruption”, as it serves the interest of its own.

According to him, a single source company could not be awarded a contract that is $18 million.

“How could you ask the person that is making the proposal to you to do the assessment of work done. The proper thing to do was to seek the independent assessment by a consultancy firm of work that has been done before, do new bills of quantity and then go

According to the Prime Minister, the theme of the exposition is positioning Guyana to shine a light on small initiatives. He mentioned the business of “dog food” which has become a thriving venture.

“We are making innovations,” the First Vice President declared, while adding that his Administration began encouraging such innovations as soon as it got into office, with forums such as the National Cane Farmers Conference, meeting with Toshaos and other Indigenous leaders, and meeting with women and youths.

Nagamootoo said, in doing all of this, his Government wants to send the message to the populace that they are about growing the economy and stimulating jobs. “After all for me, a business responds to a need for a profit. You are not doing it for free and when you make it a profit, you pay your taxes, you help the State

to provide services, you help to grow the country, to develop your society,” he added.

In other words, the Prime Minister noted, the small business entrepreneurs has an advantage, not only to be a progressive business person, but also to contribute to the growth and development of the country, while they themselves develop as well.

The Business Exposition, which cost approximately $38 million, is a collaborative effort between the Public and Private Sectors. At the launch last week, it was revealed that no foreign companies will be participating in the Business Expo with respect to having booths on display, but they would be investing in the Expo or financing small businesses.

The objective of the exposition is to create awareness and open new markets for local products.

out to tender”, the Opposition Leader said.

According to the MoU, Fedders Lloyd will review the works already started, conclude a design of the hospital that is acceptable to the Government, and commit to fully equip the facility on completion of its construction. The company also undertakes to commence work on the facility immediately following the signing of the MoU.

The Specialty Hospital, a project initiated by the PPP/C

Administration, is aimed at catering for complicated surgeries, ranging from heart operations, organ transplants to cosmetic surgeries. In 2012, an US$18 million contract was awarded to India-based company Surendra Engineering, which was tasked with designing and building the controversial facility. The funding was provided by the Indian Government through a Line of Credit.

saturday, November 28, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

Charity Hospital falling apart

– lacks water, shortage of HIV kits

Despite the Public Health Ministry spending huge sum of monies to upgrade various public hospitals throughout the entire country, the Charity Oscar Joseph Hospital in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) needs urgent attention as it lacks essential conveniences to facilitate health services. There is presently a lack of adequate space for patients, a shortage of HIV kits, poor water resources and air conditioning units.

Currently, nurses and doctors are forced to go beyond their line of duty to execute their work effectively. Doctors are forced to fetch water whenever there is delivery and mothers are forced to deliver their babies in a hot room which has no air conditioning unit. This practice can result in the mothers contracting bacterial infections. According to a doctor, the conditions health professional are forced to operate under is poor of way below standard.

“Imagine if you have to do a delivery, a doctor will be sweating profusely just to do that delivery, due to the lack of water also sometimes you have to wait for the labourer to fetch water to you, this is just unacceptable for a hospital standard,” the medical officer related.

On a recent visit to the Hospital, Guyana Times observed almost all departments within the hospital had buckets filled with water. Whenever inquires were

made about the purpose of the buckets of water, this publication was told by staff that water was not coming from the taps, so the water had to be fetched in for use.

“If you want to hear my honest opinion about Charity, honestly this place need a total overhaul, basic services cannot even be provided, rooms lack AC, water can’t even come out of the tap, there is so much that needs to be done,” one staff member commented.

Most of the rooms that accommodate patients are cramped and without air conditioning, as well at the room doctors usually use when not seeing a patient. It is without ventilation, an AC unit or a fan.

When Guyana Times questioned a senior official of the medical facility about the lack of water, the official, who wished not to be named, stated that the water is usually pumped in the tanks so the various departments can have access to water in the taps.

However, when this is not done, no water can be accessed in the building unless it is brought in via the buckets. It is unclear is any one person has the responsibility of ensuring the water is pumped into the tanks.

The Charity Oscar Joseph Hospital is the main medical hub for persons living in the Pomeroon and Region One (Barima-Waini) district. The Hospital is sought out by many living on the Essequibo coast who wish to access medical care.

Essential services such as ultrasounds, eye tests and certain blood tests are not available at the medical institution and persons are forced to spend extra to ac-

cess these services at the Suddie Public Hospital.

Falling apart

At the moment, the Radiologist attached to the

Hospital is forced to work in deplorable conditions.

This member of staff is forced to fetch her own water and sits behind a door that separates her from the

radioactive rays that are emitted from the machine. She is also shares this room with another doctor.

Driver killed after truck topples down hill

Aman was killed on Thursday morning after the truck he was driving toppled down a hill in the Lethem, Region Nine, area.

Dead is Ravi Persaud, 27, a businessman of Lot 192 Seventh Street, Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara. According to re-

ports, Persaud was heading out from Chinese Landing at Siparuta with a trailer of lumber when the accident happened sometime around 08:00h.

According to the man’s father Mookesh Persaud, who owns a sawmill in the

interior, he was told his son and a porter were the occupants on the truck and they were heading down a hill when his son apparently lost control of the truck, causing it to topple over. The man noted that the hill was not a steep one hence the truck turned over once.

He added that Ravi, the youngest of two sons, was pinned under the truck while the porter managed to escape any serious injury. Persaud added that when the porter called out to his son, he did not respond so

the porter walked some distance from where he was able to hitch a ride to the police station.

“The Police went to the scene and they had to cut the truck to get him (his son) out. They then take his body to the Mabura Police Station,” said the grieving father, who travelled to the area after receiving several phone calls about the accident around 11:00h Thursday.

The man recalled that when he got to the area, he went straight to the po-

lice station and transported his son’s body to Linden. Persaud indicated to this newspaper that his son sustained severe injuries to the back of his head.

The man noted his son is an experienced driver as he has been doing so for many years. Ravi leaves to mourn his parents, brother, and wife whom he married only in August.

Ravi Persaud’s death was the first of five recorded on Thursday. Four other persons were killed in three separate accidents.

Immigration Team emerges victors at 16th Smellie Cup competition

The Immigration team on Friday evening secured victory at the 16th Annual Smellie Cup competition with 252.7 points. The competition final was held at the Tactical Services Unit Square, Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, and saw four teams competing to test their knowledge in first aid. The four member teams were the Felix Austin Police College A Team, Felix Austin Police College B Team, the Tactical Services Unit Team and the Immigration Team.

During the competition, each team member was given a theory question such as “the causes of unconsciousness, the treatment of a dislocation, the signs and symptoms of shock, and the general treatment for fractures”. The entire team was given a practical emergency scenario to which they

had to deliver first aid treatment.

This simulation saw each team implanting measures to treat an injured person who suffered a broken arm, broken finger and several abrasions about the body, due to a motorcycle accident.

The teams implemented crowd clearing techniques and traffic control demonstrations before attending to the casualty. Subsequently, they began improvising to create tools such as neck braces.

Their performances were judged by a panel consisting of Dr B Wilson and Dr E Reid of the Georgetown Public Hospital; Dr YP Narine of the Brickdam Medical Center and D Lewis of the Red Cross. In the end the Immigration Team emerged victorious, copping the $100,000 cash prize and

trophy, followed by the Felix Austin Police College A Team who won $75,000 with 229.4 points. The Felix Austin Police College B Team copped third posi-

tion and $50,000 with 212.3 points and the Tactical Service Unit Team came in fourth with 204.7 points, taking home $25,000. The best first aider prize of

$50,000 went to Woman Constable Caesar of the Immigration Team.

At the event, Commissioner of Police (ag) Balram Persaud under-

Foster Care Month awareness reaping benefits

B y A keem G reene

Under the theme “Give the Gift of Love and Protection and Foster a Child Today”, the Childcare and Protection Agency has seen some positive results as more parents have come on board.

Probation and Social Services officer at Childcare Agency Felina Mickoo on Friday revealed that “over the month, we have seen more persons come onboard the Foster Care programme; we have had persons calling in and querying how they can be a part of the programme.”

The Month had a series of campaigns geared towards sensitising the public about the need for Foster Care Parents.

A focal point of the month is to encourage more persons to come on board as there is a need to build a larger reservoir of Foster Care parents.

Director of the Agency Ann Greene in an invited comment to Guyana Times said: “there is a need to create a larger pool of Foster Care parents in Guyana; it is more beneficial for the child to be in a family environment than be institutionalised.”

Officials at the agency stated there are currently 170 children in Foster Care, spanning 108 families. It was reported in 2014 that there were 800 children in institutional care, a number that has undoubtedly grown.

Probation and Social Services officer

Monique Meusa echoed the words of the director as she too posited the notion that Children are better off in family setting: “When in family care, more attention can be given and there is a greater chance for their emotional needs to be catered for”.

Meusa further went on to show the comparisons between family care and institutional care stating that in the institutional homes, many groupings occur and individual attention could be difficult, as compared to a family situation whereby there is a higher possibility of personal interaction. In addition, it was mentioned

that many times children have been through horrendous ordeals and would be in need of family to care take of them.

When quizzed about the possibilities of whether foster parents can file for adoption, Meusa explained it is possible but that engages a different aspect of the Agency, and persons would have to file for adoption and afterwards be engaged in the various protocols that follow.

Meusa also indicated that a stipend is given to the foster care families to aid in the care of the children and that foster children on most occasions are allowed to keep ties with biological parents.

Foster Care is the act of rearing a child who is not your own biological or adopted child. It involves providing for the daily needs and care of the child, creating a family environment that offers supervision, guidance, nurturing and discipline, in the same way biological parents would care for their children.

The Childcare and Protection Agency launched in 2009 can be commended for their various actions in dealing with protection of the country’s children as prime importance and that their best interests are being provided for.

Today the Agency will be having a family fun day as part of the Foster Care Month’s activities at the YMCA ground on Camp Street from 11:00h where all are invited.

scored the importance of Police Officers being educated and trained in the administration of first aid as they are usually the first responders at an accident or crime scene.

“This competition started way back in 1931 so it has a long and rich history. And the fact that we can upkeep this tradition and this competition speaks a lot of the longevity of this organization,” he stated. He related that this year’s performances showed an improvement in the training of participants and as such, he highlighted the need for the continuity of the competition.

He also encouraged all officers and members of the public to be trained in first response, or first aid as it is commonly called.

Charity Hospital falling...

On the floor, the tiles have become upraised, with many missing, leaving the concrete beneath visible.

The Psychotherapist also complained of the humidity in her room, stating that she made a request for an air conditioning unit to be installed in her room, since she perspires profusely whenever she is attending to a patient. At the counselling section of the institution, there is lack of HIV kits and priority is given to only pregnant mothers.

No functioning operating theatre

The Charity Hospital usually has to rush emergency cases coming out from the Pomeroon River to the Suddie Public Hospital, since at the moment; the Hospital does not have a functional operating theatre, although there is a room allotted for such. If there should be an emergency, then that case could result in the death of the patient since the hospital is not equipped to deal with emergency cases. Many times, persons have to incurred additional expenses since medical attention had to be sought at the Suddie Public Hospital.

Residents are calling on Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton to intervene and see to the overhaul of the Charity Oscar Joseph Hospital. Most of the concerns raised were already submitted as complaints to regional officials, but to date, nothing has been done.

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

You will be feeling passionate. A current relationship will blossom. If you are single, don’t refuse an invitation that has the potential to lead to an introduction to someone special.

Something you think is a bargain will not turn out so well. You will be remorseful if you spend your hard-earned cash and don’t receive what you are expecting.

Remind yourself of the positive things in your life. Dwelling on past regrets or missed opportunities will leave you depressed. Moving forward works better if you stop looking back.

Maintain your self-respect. Take a deep breath and consider your words before you end up saying things you regret. A senior family member will offer sage advice.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Short-tempered colleagues will make your workspace volatile. Many negative repercussions will transpire if you don’t remain neutral. Protect your reputation and position. Focus on making peace, not preparing for battle.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Don’t be so hard on yourself. You don’t need to feel melancholy if one of your projects or proposals is rejected. Keep trying and something or someone better will come along.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

A business or pleasure trip will result in mishaps. Make the best of whatever situation you face and avoid losing your temper. A sense of humor will bring good results.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Your zest for life and adventure will make you susceptible to the lure of a risky venture. Exercise common sense before you take on something that will hurt your status or reputation.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Being too demanding will alienate the people you wish to collaborate with. If you have concerns, voice them, but not in such a way that you drown out everyone else.

(Jan. 20Feb. 19) (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

Pick up the slack if a family member or colleague is overwhelmed with responsibilities. Insurance, estate or bureaucratic issues will be complex and confusing, but you must deal with them.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

Don’t let emotional blackmail dictate your actions. Stand your ground when you are in a battle of wills with anyone who opposes you. Younger family members will be demanding.

You will get the help you need if you approach the right people. Improve your list of contacts by joining service groups, engaging in community affairs or attending professional seminars.

Diamond Mineral Water Hockey Festival

GCC men and vets off to cracking start

GCC got off to a cracking start as this year’s Diamond Mineral Water Hockey Festival commenced last Thursday evening at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.

The Bourda club posted two wins in the Veteran and Men’s divisions with the latter being another exciting match-up with the outcome hanging in the balance until the very end.

The Old Fort Shooting Stars shocked the Hikers Ladies with their first ever victory over the Veteran side in the opening matchup of the Ladies division, while YMCA of Barbados in the Veterans division and the Pepsi Hikers Men completed the evening’s winners.

In the feature match of the evening, Old Fort and Bounty GCC squared off in the Men’s first division competition. The two teams had recently played to an exciting draw in the just concluded GT&T national championships and were

back to settle the score.

Although the game began somewhat scrappy as both teams struggled to put together any meaningful attacks, GCC secured a penalty stroke in the 18th minute, which was converted by Kevin Spencer, who ended as the game’s top marksman.

Spencer followed his opening goal with a pair of unanswered goals as he sent a well-placed shot high into the Old Fort net almost immediately upon resumption and scored a rebound in the 23rd minute. Old Fort’s John Abrahams, who was having a quiet night thus far, kept his team’s hopes alive with a goal in the 28th minute to bring the score to 3-1.

failed to make use of several chances created and paid the price with the surprise end result.

YMCA of Barbados got off to a successful start in this year’s campaign to hoist the Carib Veterans trophy. The two sides, YMCA and Old Old Fort, featuring only players over the age of 35 years, managed to entertain the crowd with trickery, good hockey skills and amusement.

Although Old Fort would score two more through Dwight Sullivan and a brilliant solo effort from Jason Clarke, Spencer’s heroics were not complete until he stole the ball from an errant pass to finish a swift counterattack with his fourth goal of the evening. GCC secured the full three points at the end of the match with a 4-3 victory.

The other Men’s match of the evening saw a spirited effort from the National Under-21 selection as they held defending champions

Seven games on this weekend

The Enterprise Busta Sports Club (EBSC) Busta Cricket Festival will continue this weekend, with seven games at various venues on the East Coast of Demerara.

The three games today will see Avish Auto Sales playing Golden Achievers at 09:30h at the Enterprise ground, East Coast

Demerara; Buxton tackling Strathavon at 13:00h at the same venue; and host Enmore coming up against Golden Grove from 13:00h.

On Sunday, Bravados will play the winner of the Buxton/Strathavon game at 09:30h at Enmore, and Better Hope will confront the winner of the Enmore/ Golden Grove clash at 13:00h at the same venue.

At 09:30h at Enterprise, Enterprise A will play the winner of the Avish Auto Sales/Golden Achievers match, followed by Enterprise B versus Enterprise XI at 13:00h.

Meanwhile, during last weekend’s games, Strathavon, Buxton, and Enterprise A and B all gained walkovers from Fairfield, Confusion XI, Ogle Masters and Mon Repos respectively.

Below are the summarised scores from the oth-

er games.

Enterprise XI defeated Helena by 81 runs.

Enterprise XI 172-4 in 20 overs (Bhaskar Yadram 88, Kamesh Yadram 28, T Singh 3-24) Helena 91-8 in 20 overs (D Singh 25, S. Mohan 20, A Kissuer 2-18, P Balkissoon 3-17).

Better Hope defeated Mahaica by 168 runs. Better Hope 250-7 in 20 overs (Ricknauth Rooplall 138, Christopher Deonarine 56, Dashan Persaud 3-33) Mahaica 82 all out in 13.1 overs (Steve Chand 41, Nandram Banswari 16, Sachin Singh 3-3, Jayadev Mahan 3-6).

Bravados defeated Ogle Masters by 30 runs. Bravados 155-6 in 20 overs (Marcus Watkins 43, K Bovell 42, Nigel Estriado 38, V Moorchan 2-4) Ogle Masters 125-7 in 20 overs (Andre Gomes 58, Seepaul Sanichar 23, R Merell 2-27).

Pepsi Hikers within reach for most of the match before conceding a 5-3 victory.

Young Aroydy Branford produced another dazzling display of hockey skills and scored all three of the goals for the Under-21 side. The Hikers however, used their normal composed passing game to pick apart their junior counterparts with five goals from Devin Munroe (two), Randy Hope,

Robert France and Colonel Heywood.

Macaela Harding proved to be the star of the lone female match, which featured the young Old Fort Shooting Stars against the Hikers. Harding was the source of several raids on the Hikers goal throughout the match and managed to score a penalty corner 13 minutes into the second period to give the Stars a 1-0 victory. The Hikers

While the YMCA appeared to tire in the closing minutes, their two goals through former national Ralph Watson and Beaumont Trotman remained unanswered by Old Old Fort at full time giving the Bajans a 2-0 victory. GCC Vets made light work of the Hickers with a 6-3 victory in the other Veterans clash. Dwayne Scott led the GCC score sheet with a hat-trick, while Philip Fernandes added a double and Alan Fernandes a single. Devin Munroe, Jerry Bell and Robert Fernandes were the goal scorers for the Hickers.

Matches will continue throughout the weekend with the three finals set for Sunday from 17:00h.

Scotiabank Kiddy Progression One Cricket…

James leads Two Brothers Primary to victory

Junior James cracked 61 to spur Two Bothers Primary to victory over Kawall Primary, while Vive la Force Primary defeated Nismes Primary, as the GCB/Scotiabank Kiddy Progression One Cricket continued in the West Bank Demarara zone. In the first match of the West Bank Demarara zone, Kawall Primary batted first and scored 118-5 in their 14 overs, as Khemraj Nohar top scored with an entertaining 55, which included four boundaries and five sixes. He was well supported by Rayan Latchman, who scored 30, which was laced with five fours. Bowling for Two Brothers Primary, Saffrana Rasheed had 1-2.

In reply, James led Two Brothers as he smashed a blistering 61 out of the 1191 his team scored, as they reached the target in the 14th over. His innings was decorated with three well-

timed fours and eight towering sixes. Rayan Latchman took the only wicket to fall. In the second match at the Wales ground, Vive la Force won the toss and batted first, scoring 117-9 off 14 overs. Danish Seepersaud was the top scorer with 19 runs. Bowling for Nismes Primary, Tyreca Wallace snared 2-2. Nismes Primary managed 83-6 in their 14 overs with Emmanuel Phillips hitting a top score of 20. Bowling for Vive la Force, Vaneeta Mangal had 1-1. Matches will continue on Monday when Saraswat Primary plays Patentia Primary at the Wales Community Centre ground.

National Schools Championships

Upper Demerara/Kawkwani (District 10)

win their 14th title of the championships

Yaw, Samuels smash 400 metres record

By TreisTon Joseph

Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani (District 10) better known as Linden were announced as the 2015 edition champion of champions of the National Schools’ athletics, swimming, cycling and teachers

Turning to the final day of action on the track, national star, Jason Yaw of

championships that concluded on Friday at the National Stadium, Providence.

North Georgetown smashed the boy’s under-20 record by more than a second using a brilliant first 200 metres to set up his record-breaking run of 48.7s; topping the old record of 49.8s set by Stephan James in 2012.

District 10 amassed 71 points to dethrone North Georgetown (District 11) who finished second on 59 points. Corentyne (District 6) and East Georgetown finished tied for third on 47 points while South Georgetown (District 13) and West Demerara (District 3) finished tied on fifth with 46 points.

South Georgetown Dequawn Vancooten finished second in the event in a time of 50.4s while Devas Samlall of New Amsterdam (District 15) was third in 50.5s.

North Georgetown’s Avon Samuels broke her second record of the championships, this time in the girl’s under-18 400 metres with a time of 59.5s, eclipsing her own record on 1:00.2s.

Daniel Williams of District 10 broke the boy’s under-16 400 metres record with a time of 51.0s to better the 51.8s mark set by Yaw in 2012.

East Georgetown’s Cassie Small looked in fine form with a win in the girl’s under-16 400 metres winning in a time of 1:00.5s while Tandika Hyanes finished second with a time of 1:01.3s. Kemmely Chapman was third in 1:01.6s.

Samuel Lynch of North Georgetown tumbled to victory in the boy’s under-400 metres with a time of 51.3s while Dennlie Gray ran away with the under-20 400 metres in a time of 1:03.1s.

District 10’s Deshanna Skeete topped District 11’s Yessenia Andrews in the girl’s under-14 400 metres with a time of 1:02.6s while Andrews barely lost with a time of 1:02.7s. Princess Brown was third in 1:04.5s.

16 games on this weekend at MoE ground

competing in the

The second edition of the Smalta/ Public Health Ministry’s Girls Under-11 football tournament organised by the Petra Organisation, will continue this weekend with a total of 16 games at the Education Ministry ground on Carifesta Avenue, Georgeotwn.

Action will commence at 10:00h on both days, and due to the fact that last weekend’s games were washed out, the organisers are looking to maximise on time, which means the schools will have to play twice this weekend.

Two games will be played simultaneously today, with

West Ruimveldt tackling St Angela’s and FE Pollard coming up against Tucville in the first two match-ups.

North Georgetown and Winfer Garden will go headto-head at 10:45h, while at the same time, St Pius will trade skills with St Margaret’s. Forty-five minutes later, Smith’s Memorial will face Enterprise, and St Stephen’s will come up against St Ambrose.

The final two games will commence at 12:15h and will bring together South Ruimveldt and St Agnes, and Stella Maris and Sophia.

On Sunday, Tucville will

square off with St Angela’s in the opening game, followed by Stella Maris against South Ruimveldt 45 minutes later.

FE Pollard and West Ruimveldt will collide at 11:30h, followed by Sophia against St Agnes at 12:15h; St Margaret’s against Winfer Garden at 13:00h; St Stephen’s versus Smith’s Memorial at 13:45h; St Ambrose against Enterprise at 14:30h; and St Pius versus North Georgetown at 15:15h.

The 16-team, round-robin, knockout tournament has medals and trophies up for grabs.

Deron Roberts was in a class all by himself for North Georgetown winning the boy’s under-14 400 metres in 57.9s, Dexter Pellew of District 10 was second in 58.3s. Jamaal Browne of Corentyne was third in 58.8s.

Meanwhile in 5000 metres action Matthew McKenzie of North Georgetown claimed his sec-

ond gold medal of the championships with a winning time of 17:31.4s. The female 3000 metres open was won by Shontel Hinds of District 10 in a time of 11:52.0s.

Meanwhile in relay action, East Georgetown won the male 4x100 metres relay in a time of 45.9s after New Amsterdam were disqualified for running out of their lane. East Georgetown

also won the female version of the event in 52.1s. At the closing ceremony, Coretta McDonald of the management committee for the championships noted in closing challenged the major stakeholders to show action for sport instead of the constant lip singing in order to really move the sport to a new level.

Mobile Wizard 10/10 –

teams look to gain upper hand at ruby ground this

The Mobile Wizard 10/10 organised by the Guyana Softball League, in collaboration with the West Demerara body will continue this weekend at the Ruby ground, National Park, Georgetown. This week, teams are going to take this opportunity to settle grudges and gain valuable points on their way to the next round.

Ocean View XI versus Vipers XI

Both teams are evenly matched and this game is going to see the teams pushing each other to the limit. Ocean View XI will depend heavily on skipper Avinash Shradanandan who is just finding form and with the hard-hitting Adrian Ramsammy blasting 58 in quick time in their last match, will be looking to pile it on the Vipers team. The bowling is what they will be worried about, after their two front line bowlers and others part timers can falter, since a lot of runs can result from this. On the other hand, Vipers XI are also coming into their own and play as a tight unit with team spirit high and the batting and bowling looking solid up front but it is their ability to focus throughout the match that throws them off and ultimately lose matches. They seem to have worked on this aspect and will look to this match to put another win under their belt.

United Muslim Youth versus Super Street Reloaded XI

United Muslim Youth is a team to watch as they have created an upset by beating Omesh XI last week and are turning out to be one of the

weekend

teams to watch in this tournament. They are well rounded and their fielding has come on in the last game. Younis Ali has led his team well and with exciting players like wicketkeeper/batsman Akram Samad and Zaheer Hanif showing off their abilities to the fullest they seem hard to beat. The whole team is made up of genuine all-rounders and can be unbeatable when they put it together. Super Street Reloaded XI are coming into some form and have played with a passion never seen before and have gained some fans with their showing. They will be looking to attack their opponents early in order to put them on the back foot. This game should go down to the wire ,as both teams are expressing satisfaction in the quality of play in their last match.

Power XI rides high on emotions, and are a very moody lot. This team will be hoping the setting will be a positive one, in order to come out victorious. In their skipper Ravi Singh they possess one of the bowlers who can turn the ball a long way at reasonable pace and can upset the batting of their opponents. He is also a frontline batsman and his performance can make all the difference in this match.

Zeeburg Warriors have shown that they have the ability to withstand any pressure thrown at them but it is their batting that is of concern. The frontline batsmen have not really lived up to expectation but their skipper Arif Khalil has vowed to change that and will carry the burden of the batting. The bowling

has shown they can limit any team under 100 and will hope it can turn out in their favour. This match will go down to the wire.

Irfaan XI versus MetemMeer-Zorg XI

Irfaan XI will look to get ahead in this match as they fell short in their last outing as some of the talented players in their midst were not given the opportunity the last time around. The batting according to their skipper Imran Hack will be re-jigged and that will solve some of the problems they faced last time around. Metem-Meer-Zorg XI are a young and determined bunch, having faced some of the front runners already, will look to show the same determination this time around and that can bring them victory. They are very talented and have impressed so far with their attitude, which makes them one of the teams for the future.

Meanwhile, three teams from the West Coast will head our this weekend en route to Linden to play against three strong teams from the mining town. The teams are Wolf’s Warriors, Cross breed XI, and Brickery All Stars.

Additionally the winner of the one ball “manto” for the day will enjoy $1000 in credit, compliments of Miss Love Trading and T- Shirts from Mobile Wizard. The Manof-the-Day will be given one bottle of Champagne compliments of V&P Supermarket, the man with most runs for the day will receive one footstool Pouf from Rohan Furniture Establish. (akeemg@guyanatimesgy.com)

Caribbean Boxing Championship underway

On Thursday evening, Minister within the Education Ministry Nicolette Henry, officially declared open the Caribbean Boxing Championship under the theme “One Voice, One Goal, One Caribbean.”

This competition, which is being held at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, brings together 13 teams from the Caribbean. They are Anguilla, Antigua, The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Jamaica, St Maarten, St Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.

In her remarks, Minister Henry recognised that this is the first time in decades that such a large contingent is in Guyana for the sport of boxing. She expressed her belief in a quote by Nelson Mandela, which states “Sports has the power to change the world.”

“Here in Guyana we have taken a bold step of merging education with sport because we the Government believes that integration of sport and education can beat poverty, underdevelopment and ignorance and can give people the tools to help themselves,” Minister Henry posited.

Additionally, this merger she said, seizes the pow-

er and potential of sport to ensure that ‘education and sport for all’ has a lasting impact on all people of this country.

The Minister acknowledged that boxing is a sport that has a proud history and tradition in Guyana whereby the country has earned an Olympic medal and more than four world titles. In this regard, it is hoped that the tournament will be the first step in re-energising the sport in the Caribbean region.

The competition seeks to bring out the best in Caribbean boxers and at the same time functions as a selection tool for the 2016 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Director of Sport Christopher Jones, in his remarks expressed his hope that Guyana can medal once again at the Olympics. He added that he expects to see good boxing during the competition. Jones also commended the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association for playing its parts in hosting the activity.

Steve Ninvalle, the President of the Guyana Boxing Association, recalled a meeting held earlier this year where the heads of the Caribbean boxing associations met and commenced

plans for this competition. He added that as a unified force much more can be expected from Caribbean amateur boxers.

Already much is being done to develop the sport of boxing in the Caribbean. This effort is being driven by a Steering Committee that was set up by the Caribbean Boxing Association. The committee is led by Kathy Harper-Hall from Barbados.

While addressing the gathering, she commended Guyana from taking up the responsibility of hosting the competition on short notice.

Harper-Hall illustrated that more attention is being placed on young boxers because the sport almost died several years ago. As such, competitions like these are crucial to the sport.

Head of the Guyana Olympic Association, KA Juman Yassin, noted that these competitions help with the qualifying component of international tournament. Yassin urged the boxers to stay clear of doping, especially since no boxer in the Caribbean has ever been found guilty of such.

Meanwhile, the managers of the French Guiana team presented special tokens to Ninvalle and Harper-Hall for their efforts in boxing development.

Minor League 10/10 for primary schools

– opening set for today

The Guyana Softball League will organise a Minor League 10/10 softball cricket tournament for primary schools on the West Coast of Demerara. The tournament will be sponsored by Rohan Furniture Establishment of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo; Omesh Parboo General Store and promoter Nigel.

The competition will be played for trophies and medals and will be on a round robin basis. The aim of the tournament is to allow the younger talent to shine and the individual players to gain confidence in playing cricket, thereby going on to bigger things. This tournament has been in the making for some time now and has finally been realised.

Most of the primary schools have been encouraged

by the exhibitions matches held in tandem with the Mobile Wizard 10/10 and the attention and response received have been tremendous. The GSL saw it fit to ensure that new talents were exposed in order to have continuity and interest in softball cricket. Communities across the West Coast of Demerara have supported the 10/10 in numbers and it is hoped that with bigger things to come, it will be a joy to see younger talent bursting through and representing the area fully when this current crop of players hang up the gloves. So says Coordinator Prem Persaud who is a teacher at the Leonora Primary School. Primary schools from Windsor Forest to Parika will be involved and other schools wishing to take part can gather information from GSL

‘Let’s invest more in female cricket’ – Foster

Long-standing Secretary/CEO of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), Hilbert Foster, has made a strong appeal to cricket clubs and administrators of cricket in Guyana to place more emphasis on the development of female cricket.

Foster expressed disappointment that the RHTY&SC is the only cricket club in Guyana which is placing emphasis on female cricket and blasted cricket authorities in Guyana for their neglect of the only section of the game, which is a shining star in West Indies cricket.

Foster stated that while the male section of the West Indies cricket continues to be a source of major disappointment, the females under the captaincy of Stephanie Taylor continues to shine on the world stage.

Guyanese Tremayne Smartt, Shemaine Campbelle and Subrina Munroe are all part of the West Indies female team, and Foster stated that they do not have any cricket to play all year long. Noting that the Rose Hall Town Metro Team won the female cricket championship in 2009, Foster bemoaned

Guinness

the fact that no other national or local female tournament has been organised since then.

The RHTY&SC, Foster stated, would be investing heavily into female cricket in 2016 and would be organising several tournaments. At the moment, the club is hosting a three-match series between itself and a makeup team from Tucber Park for the Isabella Smartt/ Bernadette King memorial trophy.

He expressed gratitude to Carl Moore for accepting his challenge to form a female team and assembling females from across Berbice to play the tournament. Foster noted that the RHTY&SC undertakes

Street football

–

GSL Youth Coordinator Prem Persaud

Youth Affairs Coordinator Prem Persaud on telephone numbers 611-6903 and 2683501 or Leonard Harprashad on numbers 646-0568 and2682458. All teams will assemble at the Leonora Primary School ground today for the opening and the start of the first round.

an unbelievable 200 major programmes/projects every year under 15 sub-headings, such as charity, anti-drugs, youth development, pro-education, HIV/AIDS and job creation, among others and still has the capacity to fulfil its mandate to develop female cricket.

Foster said he finds it very difficult to understand why clubs which only concentrate on cricket cannot develop a female section. He issued an appeal to male cricket administrators across Guyana to stop gender discrimination and to start investing more into female cricket.

The RHTY&SC, he stated, would be willing to share its experience with other clubs as at the moment, it is been forced to organise matches against male junior teams for its female players.

The Rose Hall Town Metro team was first established in 2008 and over the years has produced over 30 players for Berbice, Guyana and the West Indies.

The list includes Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Plaffiana Millington, Melanie Henry, Nikita Toney, Shaneta Grimmond, Tessa Park, Trishanie Cort and Shakita Gajnabi among others.

Georgetown leg…

Round-robin action wraps up tonight

Action in the Georgetown leg of the Guinness Greatest in the Streets football competition is set to continue this evening with eight games at D’Aguiar Park.

This is the final round of matches in the round robin stage, which means the teams will know by the end of the night which one will advance to the knockout round.

The action will kick off at 19:00h, and if the trend of the previous five nights is to

continue, then patrons are in for an exciting evening of football, featuring the top street footballers of the city.

Channel Nine Warriors will face off with Cross Street in the curtain raiser, followed by East Front Road against Castello Avengers half hour later.

At 20:00h, Laing Avenue will clash with West Back Road, followed by Globe Yard versus Old School Ballers before the regular interval.

Upon resumption,

Festival City Warriors will collide with Albouystown B at 21:00h, while North Ruimveldt will trade skills with Leopold Street 30 minutes after.

Albouystown A and North East La Penitence will meet at 22:00h, while West Front Road and Alexander Village will put a wrap on the evening’s proceedings when action starts at 22:30h.

The winner of the Georgetown leg will advance to the national playoff next year.

Government onboard with Stag Elite League

– sponsors $4 million first place prize

The Government of Guyana recently announced its alliance with the Stag Elite League, following a meeting between Guyana Football Federation (GFF) President Wayne Forde, first Vice President Brigadier (rtd) Jullian Bruce Lovell and Minister of State Joseph Harmon.

It was during the meeting that Harmon, a long time lover of the game, stated that the Government of Guyana will sponsor the League’s first place prize of $4 million.

The first part of the League, the Genesis phase, will conclude on Sunday at the Leonora Stadium, West Coast Demerara, when Slingerz FC come up against rivals Alpha United. The winner will pocket the Government’s contribution, while the loser will take

home $2 million.

In the third place playoff, Pele FC – beaten 3-1 by Alpha United in the semi-finals – will come up against Fruta Conquerors, which lost 2-0 to Slingerz.

According to a release from the Ministry of the Presidency, Minister Harmon pledged the Government’s commitment to supporting the work of the GFF.

The GFF President outlined to the Minister, his plans to erase lawless practices from the football fraternity in Guyana and restoring the game to its former glory.

Forde lauded Minister’s Harmon intervention and added that the GFF will be working closely with the Government of Guyana to aid in the development of the game.

Ramdhani surges to 102 in the world

The Guyana Badminton Association is overwhelmed at the news that top local male player Narayan Ramdhani is now ranked 102 in the world.

This amazing achievement was done during his participation at a number of international tournaments in 2015, and he was able to get higher rankings due to improvements in his game plan and standing up to higher world-class payers.

The 17-year-old Ramdhani’s last international tournament was the Suriname International earlier this month, which saw him making a positive move in the world ranking.

This is the first time a

Sun Burst/EBFA U-17 League…

Grove trounce Soesdyke 4-1; Herstelling into semis

Defending champions Grove Hi Tech have sent an ominous message to those teams that are eyeing their Under-17 title when they opened their account with a 4-1 win over Soesdyke Falcons at the Grove playfield.

Second half substitute Joel Dick, who replaced scorer of the first goal, Kevin Dalton, slammed home a hat-trick to secure a solid win for the home team. Herstelling Raiders on the other hand, advanced to the final four without breaking a sweat as their opponents, Mocha Champs, failed to show up.

Grove wasted little time in showing their intentions, with Dalton hitting the back of the nets in the 11th minute. Grove, winner of all the tournaments that the EBFA played in 2014 at the Under-13, 15, 17 and senior levels, have only won one

of three tournaments so far this year, the Stag sevena-side, which concluded on Saturday last.

The Grove players are eager to halt titles slipping from them, and Dick’s performance underscored this aim.

The Under-17 national player wasted little time in making his presence felt after replacing Dalton. He rocked the nets in the 44th,

48th and 50th minutes to seal the win for Grove. Soesdyke however, did stand up and showed flashes of brilliance.

They were able to pull one back through substitute Kevin Marshall.

The competition will continue this weekend at the same venue with a doubleheader on today. Mocha Champs will open proceedings against Diamond

United at 13:00h with the winner guaranteed a ‘final four’ place. In the second match at 14:30h, Agricola Red Triangle will be going after their second win in as many matches when they face Soesdyke Falcons. One match will be contested on Sunday when Grove Hi Tech takes on Kuru Kururu Warriors.

Guyana’s top male player Narayan Ramdhani

Guyanese player has gained such status in Badminton, and the Guyana Badminton Association is extremely happy that the sport is bringing accolades to Guyana.