Guyana Times Daily - September 10, 2015

More Bourda vendors thrown on breadline

“Green treating we like sucked orange” – vendor

By AhreefA BAcchus

The actions

of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council

(M&CC) have placed another group of vendors on the breadline as the Council continues to execute its campaign to demolish stalls and buildings that are allegedly impeding the drainage system in the capital city, even though it appears that there is no proper relocation plan being pursued.

The angry vendors aired their dissatisfaction with the fact that the M&CC made the decision to relocate them by forcefully evicting them from Bourda Street, Bourda, to the parking lot at Orange Walk, without

first consulting them. This decision, they stated, will be of great inconvenience to them as they, and their customers would not have any parking facilities and traffic in the area would be greatly congested.

When Guyana Times visited the selected area for relocation, agents of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council were seen marking off boundaries for the relocated stall owners. The upset vendors at Orange Walk stated that while the City Council had justified evicting the stall owners from their previous location – owing to them impeding works to the drainage system –moving them to the new location would only result in

the same problem arising as they are due to be placed directly in front of the drains.

One vendor who claimed she had supported Mayor Green to picket former Town Clerk Carol Sooba said in disgusted tones, “Green treating we like when you suck orange and throw away de skin. We de skin. But we waiting fuh he!”

“They claiming that the reason they move the people is because they blocking up the drainage system but if they put them here, is the same problem we gon get. Look where they putting them... right above the drain. When they start dumping them garbage, wuh they think gon happen deh, eh?” another vendor stated. The irate man stated that the chosen area where the evicted vendors will be relocated is the area most commonly used by the current stall owners for parking.

The angry vendors also stated that their businesses will be affected by a decline in sales. They stated that with sales at an all time low, their remaining customers will no longer shop at that location as there are no alternative parking facilities. They also related that they fear that robberies may increase as they will now have to walk a far distance away to get to their vehicles and there have been robberies in the past that occurred in

that manner. The vendors further stated that Town Clerk Royston King was in the area and when they confronted him on the issue, he

walked away and ignored their questions. When this newspaper visited his office, he declined to speak to reporters.

Mayor Hamilton Green in a brief interview stated that arrangements are being made to facilitate the relocation of the evicted vendors but at this point, their next move is not definitive.

A state of uncertainty

Meanwhile, the evicted vendors whose stalls were demolished on Monday are left in a state of uncertainty, as they are unsure of what they are supposed to do. The vendors, most of them poor and now frustrated, said that the move by the Central Government and City Council has deprived them of a livelihood and has effectively left them jobless as their stock and other materials were collateral damage as the exercise kicked in, in their absence.

Newly-accredited Canadian High Commissioner meets GECOM Chairman

The newly-accredited Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Pierre Giroux paid a courtesy call upon Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally on Tuesday, September 8. The officials discussed several areas of mutual interest.

Among the issues discussed were matters pertinent to the 2015 General and Regional Elections, continued focus on the possible introduction of electronic tabulation machines,

via the DELIAN Project, to enable faster tabulation and declaration of results of elections in Guyana, and the customary printing of ballot papers/statements of poll and tally sheets in Canada.

At the meeting, Dr Surujbally acknowledged the support received from the Government and people of Canada relative to the conduct of elections in Guyana, and expressed optimism that such gestures would continue to be forthcoming, especially with re-

gard to the upcoming Local Government Elections. Giroux expressed appreciation for the updates provided to him by Dr Surujbally on the Commission’s recent past, ongoing and future areas of primary focus.

He reassured the GECOM Chairman that the Government and people of Canada would continue to be supportive of GECOM, as the Commission strove to honour its collective responsibilities to the satisfaction of all concerned.

thursday, september 10, 2015 |

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, September 10 – 14:30h-16:00h and Friday, September 11 – 14:30h-16:00h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, September 10 – 15:00h-16:30h and Friday, September 11 – 15:40h-17:10h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Winds: East to East South-easterly at 3.57 to 4.47 metres per second.

High Tide: 02:27h and 14:54h reaching maximum heights of 2.34 metres and 2.36 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 08:26h and 20:45 reaching a minimum height of 0.84 metre at each scheduled low tide.

Govt wasting money on CoI

“fishing

expeditions”

– while "real problems" and "plights" of citizens fester – Opposition Leader Jagdeo

ens of millions of dollars are being exhausted on the numerous Commissions of Inquiries (CoIs) launched in almost every agency in Guyana while the ordinary citizen cannot even benefit from a reasonable salary increase. Electricity and water subsidies were taken away from pensioners and children were denied the $10,000 ‘Because We Care’ grant to aid in the purchase of back to school supplies.

According to Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government appears to be locked in a haze, given the haphazard manner in which they keep wasting taxpayers’ monies to launch CoIs while nothing of substance is being done to address the plight of the people of Guyana.

Millions being wasted What’s even more depressing, Jagdeo said, is the fact that most of the reports coming out of the Inquiries will not be utilised by the Administration or relevant

authorities; therefore, millions of dollars are basically being pumped into nothing.

“I am betting you that these reports will sit on some shelf and will not serve any of the real problems that our people now face,” he posited.

Since accession to office, Government launched several CoIs with the aim of detecting flaws and mismanagement in the various state systems and coming up with applicable solutions to the apparent problems in each.

Inquiries are being done into the sugar industry, the education sector, the public service, mining industry, among others. In addition to the Inquiries, more millions are being pumped into state forensic audits into the various state agencies with the aim of discovering alleged “corruption practices”.

But while this is ongoing, Jagdeo pointed out that the country is suffering. owing to the fact that Government is paying no attention to the people.

“I spoke to tons of people, these aren’t just sup-

porters of the [People’s Progressive Party/Civic] PPP/C, they confess openly that they supported the coalition, these are not people hostile to the Government and they’re all hurting out there,” he stated. Jagdeo said the entire country is at a standstill, waiting for a positive indication from Government but to no avail.

“When people feel the Government does not know what it is doing; and it is demonstrated everyday in policy, it is a big worry… People are holding onto their money because why should they spend if they anticipate bad times ahead,” he posited. He reminded that the rice farmers are yet to receive the $23 billion that was promised by the Government; the sugar industry is yet to know its fate; many of the developmental projects are currently stalled; and businesses are hardly investing. He added that many persons are being fired by the coalition Government, resulting in more people on the breadline which will ultimately result in higher

poverty levels.

It is against this backdrop that the former President is urging the new Government to give up the chase and focus on managing the country instead.

Focus on managing the country

“I have one message to the government- get on with the business of managing our country, people out there need a clear signal where this country is going,” he advised.

Moreover, it was already revealed that Government will have to fork out some $50 million from the treasury to pay handpicked auditors Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram and former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran for their works on the forensic audits. More monies will have to be spent on the other auditors and other miscellaneous expenses incurred for these audits which, thus far has been observed to be doing nothing to benefit the country.

CSEC/CAPE top performers meet President Granger

David Granger

President David Granger on Wednesday met with some of the country’s top performers at the 2015 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exam. During the brief interactive session with the students, President Granger stressed on the importance of educating a nation and he spoke of some of his Administration’s plans for the country’s education sector.

At CAPE this year, several candidates recorded outstanding performances. Among the top performers are Cecil Cox, Larissa

Whiltshire and Sasha Woodroffe all of Queen’s College and Shonta Noel of St Rose’s High, who all secured Grade One passes in six units. With regard to CSEC, 47 candidates secured 11 Grade Ones or more.

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

Business as the enemy

One of the relatively unexplored reasons for the underdevelopment of Guyana is the attitude of those in political power, towards the business community. Historically, because the business of sugar production was the raison d'être of the state, which placed the interests of the plantocracy over those of the people that laboured to produce the item, this was the dominant stance of leadership in the independence era. The other major businesses in the colony were generally all aligned in one way or the other to foreign entities that mirrored the sugar industry.

Following independence, the leaders of the two major political parties - the People's Progressive a Party (PPP) and the People's National Congress (PNC) were scathing of the "exploitative" nature of business and in fact competed to be more radical towards "capitalism" and the profit motive that undergirded the "invisible hand" in its markets . By 1970, with the full and enthusiastic support of the PPP, the PNC started a major nationalisation drive to control "the commanding heights of the economy". The state ended up owning 80% of the economy by the end of the decade.

We do not have to rehearse the pitiful tale of the implosion of the Guyanese economy under the philosophy of development enunciated by the PNC as "cooperative socialism". The "cooperative spirit" that was supposedly immanent in the essential being of all the peoples in Guyana, and which would replace the derided "profit motive", failed however to usher in the new age of plenty. There were several "explanations" for the miserable failure of the experiment.

One proffered by Dr Clive Thomas, now Chairman of Guysuco, Presidential Advisor on economic matters and head of "asset recovery", was that the PNC's experiment was not the "real socialism" but "state capitalism". Meaning that the state was operating just as the capitalists had done before and was geared to generate profits. Another model that was supposed to have been closer to the "real socialism" and also bereft of profits was practised by the USSR. But we know too that this model also collapsed.

After 1989 when the PNC under President Desmond Hoyte signed a bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund, Guyana embarked on an "Economic Recovery Programme (ERP) that was premised on accepting the market and its profit motive as the driver of investment and growth. Many persons were surprised that Dr Cheddi Jagan, supposedly a more doctrinaire socialist than Mr Burnham, went along with the programme. Guyana gradually returned to the path of growth, but because of the depths from where the economy had to be dragged, recovery was slow in absolute terms.

One reason for this slow growth was ambivalence some of the politicians towards the new philosophy of "business as the engine of growth". As the new model kicked in, some businessmen made investments with the expectation of "economic returns" for the risks they were taking. But it appeared that the socialist rhetoric, has so poisoned the minds of some that they expected entrepreneurs and businessmen should generate "growth" without any profits accruing to them or their companies. It was akin to a demand to make omelettes without breaking the eggs. One early Minister of Finance in the PPP government actually castigated businessmen on one occasion as "bloodsuckers".

With the return of the PNC-led APNU as the majority partner of the new government many of the individuals, in addition to Dr Clive Thomas, who had derided the market and its profit driver are back at the centre of power. With all due respect to Mr Winston Jordan, his contribution to the just concluded Budget debate demonstrated that he is just a bureaucratic place holder and that it will be old economists like Clive Thomas and Carl Greenidge, who will be in the inner circle advising President Granger who was a proponent of the socialism of Forbes Burnham in which markets and profits were viewed with disdain.

Let’s get on with those Forensic Audits; let’s get them done; let’s clear the table

Dear Editor, Everyone within Guyana and many without would have heard the booming allegations of huge, widespread, deep corruption of hundreds of billions of dollars, against our PPP/ C Administration of the last 23 years. There have been calls for and offers of international assistance to trace those billions of dollars of illegally spent money.

To this I say, let’s get on with those forensic audits as thoroughly, as widely, as deeply and as quickly as could be. Let us welcome and encourage all assistance from bilaterals and multilaterals so that we could have expert and experienced as well as honest and fair audits, as early as possible; for we cannot move forward until those allegations are cleared one way or another.

And I do not have blinkers on. I make no claim that we are angels all, in the PPP and PPP/C; nor do I hold out that any of us is an angel all the time; that we, members all of this society have never succumbed to the pressures and temptations in our society. I say as our President Ramotar said, the reports of corruption have been grossly exaggerated; and I say further, much of these allegations have arisen from misunderstandings and wrong expectations of many and the distorted presentations of others who know better. There could be no moving forward on the issues dear to us all – national cohesion and some form of and sense

of shared governance, until those allegations have been determined. Quite likely you share the concerns about the new, ‘fish-market’ lows remarked upon, to which our Honourable Members descended in the recently concluded budget debate. I doubt that it could have been otherwise, with all those allegations in the air.

Let me confess that I was so hurt during the elections campaign by all the false allegations and abuse hurled against us, and the grotesque distortions of so much that we had worked at for people and country, that I found myself angered beyond recognition. Let me further confess that during considerations about when we, PPP/C, should enter Parliament, my expressed inclination was that we should enter Parliament as soon as the forensic audits would have been completed and declared, but not before. Better judgement and the arguments for participation in our national budget review prevailed.

Regrettably, our last elections evolved into too much of a matter of life and death. There was a letter to the Editor on which I had reflected, with the headline, ‘Why don’t the PPP/C just stand down? Presumably, after twenty three years in Office, there were some sentiments, ‘why doesn’t the PPP/C not declare its innings and take to the field and let the other side have a chance to bat, showing what they could do?’ Perhaps the abuse we felt obliged to hurl

at each other has taken away, even if only temporarily, our right to criticise such an argument.

As much as we wished we could, the flow of abuse could not be turned off just so, on a declaration of the results of the Election. I particularly regretted the vehemence of the new, young Honourable Member from Region 10, in his charges of marginalisation and discrimination against us PPP/C, when clearly Linden/ Region 10 shared equitably in what we had. No doubt he was presenting as he thought he should, but I wondered whether his presentation with all that vehemence and ignoring hard, visible facts, was any less an exercise in racial consolidation than any with which we of the PPP/C have been charged.

Let’s get on with those forensic audits, get them done and out of the way so that we can get back to focusing on growth and development, national cohesion and the practice and a sense of shared governance. Blind faith and hope kept us of the PPP and later the PPP/C going, since that split of 1955 through 1964 to 1992, and through what was unleashed on us in the run up to and after our 1997 elections. Recall too, that reflecting on and taking opportunity of the close returns of the three parties which contested the 1994 Local Government Elections, for the City of Georgetown, we proposed and participated in a trial of ‘ shared

governance,’ in a rotating Mayorship of Georgetown. That trial was collapsed when our turn came.

And recall too, much more recently, in talks during Budget 2012, our PPP/C administration conceded and implemented a larger increase in old age pension but the leaders of the then Opposition abandoned the subsequent agreement to initiate a multiyear phased reform of the electricity supply in Linden. And there was on the table a further step to engage the then Opposition in the allocation of about one third of the revenue from VAT. We were but one step away from a real sharing in governance.

Let us have conditions conducive for national cohesion and a sense of shared governance.

We of the PPP and the PPP/C have been and will continue seeking national cohesion and the practice and a sense of shared governance. We have too much invested, more than any other. But our country cannot go forward now with those serious allegations hanging in the air. These allegations cannot just be dropped or forgotten; they must be determined then removed from the table. Until then, I fear all our meetings would be but a continuation of what we had in our budget debate in Parliament.

Yours faithfully, Mr. Samuel A.A. Hinds Former Prime Minister and Former President of Guyana

Let’s hold our Government accountable

Dear Editor,

Permit me to share my concern with our fellow Guyanese brothers and sisters. It has been over one hundred days since our new Government has taken office. Much has been undertaken and lots have been done thus far, but one should ever forget what that the APNU/AFC Government asked us to hold them accountable, for their actions.

Although some credit must be given to the

Government, attention must be given to our youths because our Guyanese youth population accounts for more than seventy percent of the total sum. More needs to be done in providing more lucrative and meaningful jobs to acknowledge and promote our youth creativity and brilliance that has carried the fight in the 2015 general and regional elections to all corners of Guyana. Today, young people are in a state of shock. Though

Civilised elections in

Dear Editor,

The PNM'S' Afro Trinidadian'-based party won the Election last Sunday night, September 7th, and their leader P.M. Rowley who was victorious over the' Indian- Trinidadian 'based UNC, pledged to be the Prime Minister for all the people in Trinidad. Well, time will tell.

Unlike Guyana's May Election, Trinidad's was tranquil and civilized with

no tension in the Indian community, arising out of fear for the burning of their homes, businesses or even the rigging of Election. The passing of power from one ethnic group to another without racial violence and tension demonstrates that Trinidad and Tobago's civility is greater than most countries, and certainly more than that of their cousins in Guyana, where Elections always take a toll in a storm

they are now silent, they have not forgotten the promises made which should grant them a fair opportunity to learn and to develop in order to grow and get better. While some of us were given the opportunity to grow, it is only fair that we give our young people the same chance. Let’s place some confidence and pay greater attention to the next generation.

Ivan Bentham

Trinidad

of ethnic tensions and violence.

The civility of Trinidad and Tobago's Elections must be credited to all leaders in the society - not only the political ones - and the armed forces of the twin island Republic for their professionalism and commitment to the growth and development of this twin nation.

Sincerely, Vassan Ramracha

Government should respect Berbice Bridge contract

Dear Editor,

The Government has reneged on the contract between the Berbice Bridge Company and the previous administration.

It has indicated its non-intention of raising the tolls and “enriching the shareholders”. It has intimated that the contracted 23 percent return on investment is too high. It claims that it doesn’t want to breach the contracts, but by refusing to adhere to the toll formula, the Government seems to be doing just that.

This Government, in a headlong rush to keep its campaign promises, has made a mess out of this matter. It acted like the proverbial bull in a china shop, announcing new tolls and a startup date without even consulting the bridge company. When it realised that this couldn’t be done

Please return three stolen passports

Dear Editor, November 30, 2010 was the day a navy blue route 42 mini bus (east bank, driven by an elderly Guyanese of East Indian descent along with a young conductor, drove off with my backpack which contained important items and 3 Guyana passports issued to me over the years. The third passport at that time active, would have expired in 2012. I make a special appeal once again to those who might have taken my back -

pack to kindly return the 3 expired passports by simply having them thrown in the post office box of the Guyana Post Office downtown Georgetown. That was the venue my first passport was dropped off at after it was previously stolen.

The following are my 3 expired passports numbers: 505211...A030523.... R0008688

Yours faithfully, T Pemberton

without proper consultation with all stakeholders, it decided that maligning the shareholders would be the best thing to do.

Government has clearly not thought this matter through carefully. If the bridge tolls are a burden on the poorer folks and school children, then why persist to subsidise everyone? The subsidy that the Government proposes, benefits everyone whether rich or poor, Guyanese or non-Guyanese.

If the Government is concerned about poorer folks, then all it has to do, is to select the people it wishes to subsidise and give them a refund of their bridge tolls on presentation of their toll receipts. Similarly, children can uplift vouchers from school or the Government office, and minibuses can exchange these vouchers for cash against each toll receipt, for example, $100 per child. In this way, the poor and vulnerable are targeted for relief and not everyone; the bridge contract would remain unaffected. When I was young, there were bus fare vouchers, little blue tickets that parents

could buy for children at half price, and present to the bus conductor instead of paying the adult fare.

The Berbice Bridge Company is likely to go ‘belly-up’ without the increase, and so will the NIS and all the pension funds invested. So, how does that help Guyana?

On the one hand, Government wants the bridge company to become a distribution agent for subsidies at the taxpayers’ expense. But on the other hand, it wishes to malign the intentions of the investors and seemingly renege on the contract.

How can any investor accept the Government’s position when it has shown such bad faith?

Meanwhile, the bridge company, in businesslike manner, has attempted to negotiate. It has signaled that the tolls could be reduced without a Government subsidy, if the concession period is extended.

Government would do well to negotiate with the bridge company and avoid breaching the contract.

Sincerely, D Bickram

Govt eroding Opposition scrutiny of key sector – PPP

The legislative arm of the Administration which is responsible for holding the Government accountable seems to have been manipulated once again. In this case, the Government Ministers of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) who are responsible for sectors, on Wednesday have taken up seats on Parliamentary Sectoral Committees and this should not be so.

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Member of Parliament (MP), Priya Manickchand, during a media conference held at the Parliament Buildings on Wednesday evening stated that the current Administration has demonstrated unacceptable acts in the National Assembly “throwing the rules of the House out of the window.”

According to Manickchand, major concerns have been raised after a vote was taken in the House on the Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons of a number of parliamentary committees.

The committees and their Chairpersons are listed below:

1. Committee of Constitutional Reform: Chair – Basil Williams (APNU/AFC)

2. Committee of Appointment: Chair – Dr George Norton (APNU/AFC

3. Sectoral Committee (Natural Resources) –Chair – Odinga Lumumba (PPP/C)

4. Sectoral Committee (Economic Services) – Chair – Jaipaul Sharma (APNU/ AFC)

5. Sectoral Committee (Foreign Relations) – Gail Teixeira (PPP/C)

6. Sectoral Committee (Social Services) – Chair –John Adams (APNU/AFC)

7. Sectoral Committee (Security) – Chair – Khemraj Ramjattan (APNU/AFC)

8. Public Accounts Committee – Chair – Irfaan Ali (PPP/C)

“The problem essentially is that nobody anticipated

late the Constitution or any other legal framework to suit its needs and wants.

Guyana Times was told the main problem is that the Government has put officials in the seats where they should not be sitting and for those where they should be sitting they have not done so.

Meanwhile, PPP/C MP, Bishop Juan Edghil, told the media that at the Committee

in their wildest dreams that the government would have 32 seats in Parliament, 26 of which would be named ministers, that by itself is where the problem lies. Nobody thinks that a country like Guyana is going to have 26 ministers…That’s the problem that the APNU/AFC has,” Manickchand further explained.

The PPP/C MP emphasised that when her Party was in power and had the majority of seats; this majority was not a ‘one seat’ one but that of at many more seats.

However, the PPP/C did not use its power to manipu-

of Selection for the Security Selectoral Committee, the APNU+AFC coalition failed to put the Public Security Minister on that committee initially.

“That change was made at 01:30pm before we started Parliament today (Wednesday) because we pointed it out yesterday (Tuesday). We pointed it out and they had Mr Felix on that Committee and Mr Ramjattan was omitted. They have their own internal problems that we can’t help with solving but what we want to ensure is that whenever there is a difference between two sides what

you rely on are the rules,” he elaborated.

This newspaper was further told that while there are differences between the Government and the Opposition and when the rules are to be applied to adjudicate to give a fair outcome; the rules are thrown aside.

Former Housing Minister and PPP/C MP Irfaan Ali has been appointed Chairman of the Private Accounts Committee and Vice Chairman of the Economic Services Committee (ESC) of the National Assembly on Wednesday evening.

The Public Accounts Committee is responsible for examining the audited accounts as presented in the Auditor General’s Report; exercising general supervision over the functioning of the Auditor General in accordance with rules, policies and procedures; nominating the members of the Public Procurement Commission for approval by the National Assembly; and determining the emoluments and allowances of the Public Procurement Commission.

While addressing the media, Ali stated that there are rules and these rules should not be and are not supposed to be abused but this is clearly what the Administration is doing.

He put forward that the APNU+AFC coalition is playing a ‘numbers game’ where they used their oneseat majority to vote on issues in the Parliament whenever a dispute arises. In the end, the Government would get the outcome it desires because presently, the Administration has that one

seat majority power in its favour.

Additionally, Manickchand is calling on the current Administration to be a ‘mature’ one and to respect law and order.

“I want them to comply with the rules that they themselves made… The rules were written by both sides of the House… My disappointment lies in the Government and in the majority,” she maintained.

With regards to possible redress, the PPP/C explained that Parliament is guided by the Speaker of the House and his ruling(s).

According to Edghil, where the Party goes from henceforth is a decision for the Opposition and the PPP/C MPs.

The media was also told that several options are under consideration, with former Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, reviewing legal options.

She added that rules were established for specific reasons and purposes and that the public has the responsibility to hold the APNU/AFC accountable.

Former GuySuCo CEO refutes claims in Guyana Chronicle's article

– asks Dr Clive Thomas to retract statement

Contrary to statements made by Chairman of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Clive Thomas, the energy assets at the Skeldon estate were sold with the Board’s approval and the relevant documents are available to support this pronouncement.

This is according to former GuySuCo Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Raj Singh, who speculated that Dr Thomas was being ill-advised or was simply trying to mislead the public.

In the Chronicle edition of September 9 under the article “GuySuCo board was shut out of Skeldon energy sale deal”, Dr Thomas was quoted as saying “the former CEO agreed with the PPP Administration to sell the energy assets without the consent of the Board.”

But in actuality, Dr Singh said, the Government of Guyana, through a Cabinet decision on February 3, 2015, decided to sell the energy assets. Subsequently, the decision was received by GuySuCo. Then on February 21, 2015, the Board approved a resolution to sell the energy assets.

“Company Secretary Frederick Singh scheduled the meeting of the Board, was present at the meeting, took minutes of the meeting and prepared the resolution titled ‘Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc passed at a special meeting held on the 21st day of February 2015 at the Head Office of the Guyana Sugar Corporation Inc Ogle Estate, East Coast Demerara at which a quorum was present,” Dr Singh stated.

He pointed out that the resolution in paragraph four states “Be it resolved that the Board of Directors of GuySuCo ratifies the decision of Cabinet to sell the aforesaid Co-Generation Plant…..” and in paragraph five, the resolution states “Be it resolved that the Board of Directors authorised Dr Rajendra Singh, Chief Executive Officer of GuySuCo to sign all documents”.

On that note, Dr Singh posited, “Did Clive Thomas consult with Company Secretary Frederick Singh? Is he now willing to retract his misleading statement?”

Govt wants Nagamootoo to lead talks with PPP/C

Even with the snub by the Opposition to hold talks with him, Government on Tuesday said that a delegation headed by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo will be meeting with the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) for talks on national unity.

Governance Minister Raphael Trotman named the team which was expected to meet with the Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to discuss matters of inclusionary governance among other things.

But this move may be a challenge for Government as Jagdeo has already

declared that his Party would not be meeting with Nagamootoo at this level.

The new Prime Minister, back in 2011, parted ways with the PPP/C, of which he was said to be part all of his political life thus far. He had cited an “erosion of internal party democracy, corrupt practices, security lapses and arrogant, autocratic leadership as reasons for his leaving.

On Tuesday, Jagdeo told Journalists that he would not acknowledge any meeting with the Prime Minister. He said he would prefer to hear things from the President and from his office, as he would treat them in a more credible manner than responding to the public “utterances” of Nagamootoo.

“I think he is prone to make those utterances without any real substance to them and I don’t think in this government he is authorised to make any offer to anyone because he can’t even secure commitments that were made to him through the Cummingsburg Accord,” Jagdeo said of Nagamootoo.

Jagdeo said the Prime Minister had used his recent visit to his home village of Whim, Corentyne Berbice to carry out a display of politics.

“I don’t think

Government and transparency Parliamentarians should declare overseas assets – PPP/C leader

INagamootoo can make that offer. I think it was politically done given the bad reception he had in Whim,” Jagdeo related.

Members of the Nagamootoo team include Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan, Chief Whip Amna Ally, Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, State Minister Joseph Harmon, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams and Trotman.

Asked if the stalemate between the Prime Minister and the PPP/C would not hinder the discussion, Trotman responded in the negative, noting that it should in fact be used to bring everyone together.

“There is a school of thought that said that because relationships were acrimonious in the past, it is better to put them to talk immediately so that you do not leave that and pretend and skirt around it.

“I think His Excellency favoured this school of thought and that is to have Mr Nagamootoo, who is seen as a contentious person in the eyes of the Opposition, up there and up front because if we are going to have sincere healing and reconciliation, we have to confront the devils that beset us and lessen the way we dehumanise each other,” Trotman told reporters.

Jagdeo, just over a week ago, had met with President Granger. Jagdeo had indicated that he needed to consult with Party members before a decision could be made on the proposals and also indicate when it would be ready to hold these talks.

He said he would not be responding to those issues, pointing out that there were several points on the agenda presented by the President; however, his Party was interested in raising several other issues including people, wealth creation and discrimination issues.

n keeping with the interest of transparency and accountability, former President and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has renewed a call for all Members of Parliament (MPs) to declare all their assets, not just to the Integrity Commission but to the general public.

This proposal came in light of the many accusations against him and other People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) officials about having large sums of monies hidden away in private accounts.

“I said to the President (David Granger) that since there have been lots of charges about people stashing money abroad…and since we are in this transparency

mode, some of the things we can work on are, first of all, why don’t we get all of our Members of Parliament to make public, not just to the Integrity Commission, but to make public, their assets held outside of Guyana because there are claims that it is difficult to access that because they say you can find things in Guyana, but they have a hard time tracking things around the world,” Jagdeo told media operatives during a recent press conference held at Freedom House, Robb Street.

Additionally, Jagdeo pledged his support for all MPs to make public their payment of taxes during the last 10 years.

“I am prepared to work with the Government to do

that and let’s put a huge penalty for those who lie about this or refuse to submit their information… I am prepared to subject myself to this, in fact I am advocating for this,” Jagdeo committed.

He explained that a law can be passed to allow the parliamentarians to deposit affidavits in the National Assembly so any member of the public can visit and check to see the assets each MP has abroad, noting that similar provision can be made for the public availability of the taxes paid by each MP.

Previously, Jagdeo explained that if such information was made public, then the “wild charges” could then be investigated.

Jagdeo had contended that the A Partnership for

National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Administration ought not to be opposed to a move towards greater transparency and accountability, given public pronouncements on the campaign trail.

“If the Government is in favour of transparency, it should not be opposed to these measures because they enhance transparency…these are some of the ideas I have in mind,” he posited.

The former President proffered the view also that such a move would augur well for Guyana’s development and the PPP/C was prepared to work with anyone on transparency related matters.

Govt wasting money on CoI...

Government has also been engaging in conspicuous spending on events that, again, will not address the woes of the people. It was previously revealed that millions of dollars were pumped into the extravagant inauguration day celebrations for President David Granger. Additionally, it is assumed that an equal amount of

taxpayers’ monies were used for the President’s birthday bash.

Furthermore, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo alone has allegedly cost the State in excess of $50 million after only being in office for some four months. Aside from the $22 million that was spent to purchase his brand new luxury Land

Cruiser – which will be added to his existing fleet of 22 vehicles – the National Budget 2015 has allotted in excess of $20 million for the refurbishing of the Prime Minister’s Official Residence and the Prime Minister’s Office; the same that was humbly occupied by former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds.

While the Government

is engaging in all this spending on themselves; it deemed it impractical to continue with the $10,000 cash grants; to provide a significant salary increase; to keep water and electricity subsidies for pensioners while increasing the pension; or to provide a more meaningful reduction to the Berbice River Bridge tolls.

thursday, september 10, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Charlestown man charged with execution-style murder

An employee of George Jr Pipe and Tanks Services was on Wednesday remanded to prison after he appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court

Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with murder.

Keron Taylor, 24, of Charlestown, Georgetown was not required to

plead to the indictable charge which read that on Friday, September 4, at Albouystown, Georgetown he murdered Senassie Lewis. Prosecutor Deniro Jones requested time to complete the investigation; as such, the matter was adjourned to October 1 for report and the accused was remanded. Lewis, 22, of Vlissengen

Place, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown was shot at least nine times by two men who appeared in front of the Ghetto Flex Bar, James and Albouys Streets, Albouystown, Georgetown on September 4.

According to information received, Lewis was among a group of people at the Albouystown Bar when a car drove in front of the

night spot. Two men exited and opened fire indiscriminately, hitting the four men.

From all indications, Lewis was the target. The two gunmen then calmly walked back to the car and left the scene. The injured men were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where they were admitted.

Miner charged with attempted murder

Aman was on Wednesday remanded to prison after he appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the indictable charge of attempted murder.

Rocky Lex, 30, of Grove Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara was not required to plead to the charge which read that on Sunday, September 6, at Kushi Backdam, Essequibo, he wounded the

Virtual Complainant (VC) Sheik Raman with the intent to murder him.

The particulars of the charge were not revealed in court, however, Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones revealed that the VC is still suffering from his wounds and was recently discharged from the hospital.

The Magistrate remanded the accused to prison and transferred the matter to the Kamarang Magistrate’s Court for September 21.

Fake ATM cards case...

Thirty-year-old Rocky

Brazilian charged for stealing money from GBTI returns to court

The Brazilian national who was previously arraigned before Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for stealing money from a bank using fake ATM cards returned to court on Wednesday where he once again insisted that he is innocent. Ramon Xavier Moriera, 32, a selfproclaimed businessman, previously pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on Monday, August 31, at Georgetown, she stole $60,000, property of the Guyana Bank for

Trade and Industry (GBTI).

Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones had related that the defendant travelled to Guyana through the Lethem route on vacation and he is not a holder of any bank account.

The Prosecutor stated that he was caught on camera on the day that he withdrew the cash and when he returned on the second occasion to make another withdrawal, he was arrested and taken into custody. Prosecutor Jones further revealed that the defendant’s name was on the VISA Card but the pin

number was not registered to him.

With the assistance of an interpreter on his last court appearance, the defendant told the court that he travels from the United States of America to Guyana and conducts trading of clothes and perfumes. He stated that thus far, it has been six days since he has been in Guyana and is currently staying at Hotel Kanais.

Moriera further stated that his bank has a contract with other banks where he can withdraw money. He added that he used the card

More Bourda vendors...

The demolition exercise saw more than 10 stalls at the Bourda Market being dismantled and goods being displaced. The frustrated stall owners lamented that they were not given any sort of notice and were now left on the breadline as their stalls were their only source of income.

Mayor Green had earlier said that the illegal occupants were given notices continuously over the past two years. He stated that

space along Orange Walk, Bourda has been reserved for the relocation of the vendors. He stated that while he was trying to aid in the development of the vendors who he recognise face dire economic and social circumstances, Monday’s activity could not be avoided, as the area that they were occupying is an essential part of the area’s drainage system that needed to be improved, and the presence of the ille-

gal structures would impede on the necessary drainage works.

However, when questioned as to whether or not the stall owners would be compensated for their stalls and goods that were destroyed, the Mayor was evasive stating that it is a “stage operation” and certain factors are still being analysed. He also revealed that several other business places are due to be dismantled as they are built above essential

and made withdrawals in the United States and never encountered such issues.

The defendant was represented by Attorney Paul Fung-a-Fat who related that it is unclear what the offence committed is as his client did not break the law. The Prosecutor revealed that the investigation is not yet complete but the Bank’s Chief Security Officer was present in court and ready to testify. He requested three weeks to complete the investigation which was granted. The matter will return to court on October 2.

drainage channels. Green told this publication that the city is over-congested and as such there will be no compromise in relation to the eviction and dismantling of certain businesses. He noted that there are several highrise buildings that have been constructed above key drainage channels in the city and this is illegal. As such, he explained, these buildings will most likely face the same fate as the vendors’ demolished stalls.

...says Sam

Sam Hinds is from the generation to which Marvin Gaye was an icon and his "Let's get it on.." was an anthem. In a letter to the press - in which he derided the government's campaign of "guilt by innuendo" against the PPP - the former PM challenged the government to "get it on" with their audits . It was all well and good while they were in Opposition, to harp on accusations of "corruption" and "fat cats" to play to the (voting) gallery.

But at some time or other, they either have to put up or shut up and get on with the business of governing the country to improve the lives of the citizenry. And that's what Sam Hinds said to the APNU/AFC Government in his inimitable direct manner. During campaigns most folks may have a giggle at the jibes and picong bandied about - but it does wear thin when you're now the Government.

Governance is serious business. You're in charge of the State and all its institutions - some of which can literally snuff out our lives - or ensure that they're not snuffed out. Take this crime tsunami that's sweeping over the nation right now. Think those victims and their relatives are assuaged by daily accusations of who's suspected of pilferings and featherbedding and are being audited?

Mr Hinds also said "let's get it on" if the Government's serious about "social cohesion". How you're going to "cohere" with folks you're busy throwing mud at? Now this Eyewitness understands some of the supporters of APNU/AFC want blood. As Sam says, what do you expect when for the last three years their leaders' been screaming bloody murder about "corruption" in the PPP government? APNU/AFC can't just sheepishly admit that much of the accusations were fluff and stuff.

And so we have the "audits" - which were never about corruption. Sure there was "corruption"...Sam admitted this and reminded us that the former President admitted it. There's always corruption...once you' dealing with people. It's in our makeup. Even in heaven there was corruption and the ringleader had to be "cast out". But what Sam's asserting is that the high paid auditors - even if they're the same fellas who were making much of the noises on corruption - will be coming up with very small pickings cause that all there is.

So where does that leave us? The APNU/AFC Government should man up and announce the "audit" findings: then admit that the mountain laboured - and produced a mouse.

And get this country back on track. If they can!

...with the vendors

Your Eyewitness noticed his favourite Minister, "I is" Broomes, deigned to check out what's going on right under her nose rather than out in the wilds of Bartica. (Well Bartica HAS to be "wild" if the Minister had to swoop down and extract all those "working girls" from foreign. Since it wasn't TIPS...it had to do with corrupting the morality of all those miners, no?) Anyhow, wearing her trademark fluorescent safety vest (if it's good for the interior, it's good for GT!) the ever vigilant Minister accosted various store owners and sales staff and grilled them on the "exploitation" on Regent Street.

Regent Street, of course, is the trope for greed and exploitation in Guyana. Whenever a petty thief used to be nabbed, Mayor-for-life Green used to ask why the "thieves of Regent St" aren't also in the slammer. So here was "I is" Broomes to bring "peace, justice and the Guyanese way" to our fair city.

This Eyewitness wondered whether "I is" saw the vendors blocking the businesses as a "violation".

... With School vouchers

Because they didn't care, the govt gypped parents of the $10,000 back-to-school special introduced by the PPP. Now on the measly "school voucher" they substituted, they're gypping the store owners over payment.

But then these store owners are bloodsuckers, no?

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

Several injured after accident on Perth Public Road

– 4 air-dashed to the city

After an accident on the Perth Public Road, on the Essequibo Coast, left four persons in critical condition at the Suddie Public Hospital in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), they were been air-dashed to the city after their conditions worsened.

On Wednesday morning at about 07:10h, a speeding minibus collided with a motorcyclist on the Pert Public Road, resulting in the four persons being severely injured. They have been identified as Leon Fetherson, 31, of Darthmouth Village; Onika Grant; Imanie Cecil and Winston Livian.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, the speeding minibus, bearing registration number BTT 6674, and driven by Winston Livian, also known as “Match stick” and was proceeding South towards Anna Regina when it collided with motorcyclist Mohandai, also known as “Knuckles”. The minibus was attempting to overtake another vehicle when the collision occurred. The speeding minibus flipped several times before crashing into a villager’s fence some distance away

from the point of collision. Mohandai was said to be on his way to the backdam when the minibus crashed into him. As a result of the impact, the motorcyclist’s helmet was knocked off and he fell from his bike.

passenger of the minibus at the time of the collision. Grant sustained severe injuries to her head and spine.

According to Livian’s mother, Audrey Garraway, she received the call that her son was involved in an accident. She said her son is 24 years old and is a soldier.

Zane Fetherson, father of the injured conductor, said he received the tragic news early in the morning. Fetherson said he immediately journeyed to the hospital where he saw his son in immense pain. He said his son underwent emergency surgery soon after he was taken to the Suddie Public Hospital. The distraught father stated that his son left very early for work that morning.

Residents who converged on the scene said they heard the loud impact and when they looked out, they saw the mangled minibus. Persons quickly rescued the injured passengers, driver and con-

Mohandai suffered severe injuries to his head, face and other parts of his body.

Additional information revealed that Leon Feterson was the conductor of the minibus, while Onika Grant, a Special Constable, was a

ductor. They were then taken to the Chairty Oscar Joseph Hospital and later transferred to the Suddie Public Hospital. Police visited the scene and the matter is presently being investigated.

Husband arrested for Crabwood Creek robbery –

admits to “setting it up”

By Andrew CArmiChAel

Police have arrested the husband involved in Sunday’s Crabwood Creek, Berbice robbery, and he has told investigators that he had planned the robbery.

Reports are that Krishnadatt Jettoo and his wife were beaten by five gunmen who invaded the couple’s Crabwood Creek home and took away in excess of $5 million in cash and jewellery.

Police in conducting their investigation interviewed the Jettoos and received conflicting reports.

Information reaching Guyana Times indicated that Jettoo told the Police that the men had a long gun, but his nine-year-old son corrected him saying that it was a short gun.

Investigators became interested and started treating Jettoo as a person of in-

terest. They held him as a suspect after learning that the intruders gained entry from the bathroom window which was the only window in the house where the grill was secured with screws.

This was something that only family members would have knew. Also the door to the upper flat was left open when the couple retired to bed.

Jettoo was arrested on Tuesday and taken into custody and later provided investigators with information on the robbery.

Acting Commander of B Division (Berbice), Senior Superintendent Errol Watts, speaking of the investigation, said it was re-

vealed that the couple were going through a divorce and the husband set the criminals on his wife.

“But he never expected that they would have beaten him like that. He was beaten severely, but he was hoping that he would have received a couple slaps so that it would not look as though he set it up. He told us that he never expected the boys to be so ruthless.”

This, the Senior Superintendent noted, was said in the presence of Jettoo’s lawyer. Watts said the Police were going to investigate all robberies. “We will not take anything for granted and ensure that the robbery is not planned internally.”

World Suicide Prevention Day

Mental Health Strategy to be launched today

As the internation-

al community celebrates World Suicide Prevention Day today, the Public Health Ministry will be launching the National Mental Health Strategy – a document comprising various initiatives to be embarked on by all stakeholders towards reducing the high suicide rate in the country by addressing the issue of mental illness.

The launch will be at the Cara Lodge Hotel, Quamina Street Georgetown, and is expected to be done by Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton.

The Caribbean Voice (TCV), one of the pioneering Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that have been making headway in raising awareness on suicide prevention, has been calling on the Government to be more rigorous in its efforts against suicide.

TCV representative Annan Boodram, in a message to the nation on Suicide Prevention Day, renewed calls for the Guyana Government to adapt the Sri Lankan Hazard Reduction Model, which saw the reduction of the country’s suicide rate by 50 per cent in less than a decade.

Some components of the Model include import restrictions on dangerous chemi-

cals entering the country, restricting sale of agro-chemicals to only licensed premises and licensed farmers, and implementing administrative controls to ensure that sales outlets safely store all agrochemicals among other measures. Additionally, calls were made for farmers to participate in educational programmes to inform them about safety measures for storage and usage of chemicals.

On the issue of counselling, another TCV representative Norkah Carter explained that religious leaders like priests, pandits and imams need to get more involved

with communities in order to provide that support needed whenever a community member is in need of someone to talk to. Moreover, she encouraged everyone to become aware of all the suicide warning signs and to help persons who may be displaying such signs.

Generally, the organisation noted that despite efforts being made by stakeholders, Guyana still remained the country with the highest suicide rate in the world.

A recently-hosted National Stakeholders’ Conference on Suicide Prevention had gathered stakeholders together with the aim of combining ef-

forts in order to have a more powerful impact in the fight to reduce suicide.

Thus far, participants (including Help and Shelter, the Indian Action Committee, African Cultural and Development Association, TCV) are in the process of drafting an action plan in which all efforts will be com-

bined to tackle suicide and suicide related issues.

Throughout the conference, it was recognised that more focus needed to be placed on availability of trained counsellors in areas where suicide rates are high; training in empathetic communication; and most importantly, mechanisms to regulate

the sale of agricultural-based chemicals and also systems to ensure safe storage, use and disposal of these chemicals.

World Suicide Prevention Day is observed on September 10 every year, in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides, with various activities around the world.

Guyanese students return from YAP in US

Agroup of secondary school students recently returned from the United States after participating in the three-week exchange Youth Ambassadors Programme (YAP).

This year’s Programme was held under the theme “Youth and Social Transformation” in various US states. The participants representing Guyana were Dolly Chambers, Ashraf Dabie, Joashaha Drakes, Nareema Khan, Hanani Lewi, Natisha Mokutnauth, along with their mentor Royston Alkins.

The group arrived in Brattleboro, Vermont, on August 9, for the commencement of the programme and joined approximately 36 secondary school students and adult educators from other Caribbean countries including The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Programme focused on civic education; community service; youth leadership development through site meetings, experiential learning activities and civic participation at the community level; mentoring by community, business and NGO leaders; volunteer programmes, and homestays with American families. The Programme culminated in Washington, DC on August 30.

During YAP, the Guyanese Youth Ambassadors and their Caribbean counterparts visited several cities, including Washington, DC; Cleveland, Ohio; Rapid City, South Dakota; and Seattle, Washington. One of the main objectives of the Programme was to prepare youth leaders to become responsible citizens

and contributing members of their communities.

In addition, the participants had an opportunity to foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, racial, religious, and national groups and create global networks of youth leaders, both within the participating countries and internationally from countries such as Lebanon and Iraq. The Programme also seeks to promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other citizens of the international community and also to provide a platform to influence the attitudes of the leaders of a new generation.

Community leaders

YAP gives students and adult leaders an opportunity to develop leadership and problem-solving skills that enable them to act as community leaders. The project aims to hone participants’ sense of civic responsibility and foster civic activism. A core goal of the Program is for the student leaders, once empowered, to bring their experience to bear in helping encourage and guide other student leaders through community-oriented service projects. Youth Ambassadors are required to implement follow-on activities upon their return home that will help the participants stay in touch with each other, reflect on their experiences, and integrate what they have learnt into their daily lives.

Upon their return to Guyana, the six youths met with Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy, Bryan Hunt, on Tuesday.

In describing part of his experience, Youth Ambassador Ashraf Dabie shared “though

my highlights in Seattle thus far are defined mainly by my interactions with the homeless, the visit to the Space Needle, exploring the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and touring Chinatown, the activity that was most outstanding to me was volunteering at North West Harvest. At North West Harvest, I, along with two of my Seattle teammates, assisted in the organisation’s daily distribution of food to the homeless and less fortunate.

“This experience definitely opened my mind to the struggles of the less privileged, and direct contact with these anguished people allowed me to truly sympathise with them. It also inspired me to consider the homeless in my country and initiate a similar project in Guyana. That experience singlehandedly achieved programme objectives of enhancing my understanding of diversity and improving civic engagement. I must say, only few are afforded the opportunity to participate in such a generously sponsored and well-implemented programme, and I am honoured and grateful to be among such a minority.”

Meanwhile, Chargé d’Affaires Hunt congratulated the delegation and reaffirmed the US Government’s commitment to work with the Government and people of Guyana on issues that were of mutual interest to both countries and contribute to the improved well-being of Guyana’s most valuable resources –its people – through capacity building and institution strengthening.

Since 2012, a total of 29 students and six mentors have participated in the YAP representing Guyana.

PPP/C offers to “brief” Govt on pending tax cases

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Opposition has put forward an offer to Government to have former Attorney General Anil Nandlall aid his successor in several pending tax evasion cases that would bring in some $20 billion if they were won.

This offer was made by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo during his first meeting with President David Granger and a ministerial delegation from the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition on August 31 at the Ministry of the Presidency.

On Tuesday, Jagdeo told reporters at a press briefing that during the meeting current Attorney General Basil Williams raised issues about files missing from the AG Chambers.

“He (Williams) said that he does not have the files and Anil Nandlall – the former Attorney General – has publicly stated more than once that all the files that are nec-

essary for all the cases are in the office or the institutional knowledge is there. He did not take a single document away,” the Opposition Leader declared.

Moreover, Jagdeo outlined that in order to ensure that the State was successful in the pending tax cases so that it could recover as much as it can, the Opposition was willing to have Nandlall lend his “institutional memory” to the AG Williams.

Govt trying to get hydropower from Moco Moco, Tumatumari

In the face of losing millions of dollars to Norway over the prolonged delay in embarking on a hydropower initiative, Government is still holding out that the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project is too burdensome. However, it is still in the initial phases of pursuing alternatives.

With the apparent sloth of these operations, all the funds initially allocated for the execution of the Amaila project could be returned to Norway if Government does not soon decide which alternative hydropower project it would embark upon.

Government had previously announced that it was examining the practicality of constructing hydro systems at Tumatumari, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and Moco Moco, Region Nine (Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo).

At a recent press conference hosted by Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson, the official position on these potential projects remained the same.

Patterson told media operatives that Government was still examining the other locations. He explained that proposals were already submitted and that he was in the process of examining them. He added that from all indications, these projects would cost the Government less monies.

“These companies said it is viable enough to enter into a power purchase agreement without Government guarantees,” the Minister said.

Public Infrastructure

Minister David Patterson

“We will share all of the institutional memory that we have about those tax cases, because we don’t want the Government to lose those tax cases based on bad legal representation, because it will cause the treasury billions of dollars and us as taxpayers – people of this country. We want to share things with them, we want to work with them on this,” he outlined.

Jagdeo said that he informed those present at the meeting that there were billions of dollars in liabilities to the State tied up in just a few cases in court. He further disclosed that there were about 10 such cases he was knowledgeable about with a whopping $20 billion outstanding in taxes that could

be put into the treasury and directed towards developing the country.

According to the Opposition Leader, this move is reflective of the PPP/

C’s approach in dealing with the APNU/AFC administration. He pointed out that it would not be seeking to block everything or anything that came on the agenda, because it was brought by the Government.

“We will take a different approach from the one that they (Government) took when they had control of the Parliament. They sought to block everything – the Money Laundering Bill, the Amaila (Falls Hydro Project), (Specialty) Hospital or the Airport Project,” he said.

Jagdeo pointed out that the PPP/C Opposition will be supporting things that are national and will seek to benefit the people of Guyana. “We hold them (Government) to the promises that they made to the population and we will vigorously oppose things that we feel are bad for Guyana,” he added.

With regard to the Amaila Falls Hydropower Project, Patterson said if proposals were submitted as to how Government could pursue it at a cheaper cost, it would consider such proposals.

“If we can get the Amaila project completed in a way whereby it is beneficial to the public, we will… if anyone can come up with a different formula…if someone can reduce the costs, it is something we can examine,” he said, noting that it would be criminal to work with the current structure of the project.

The Amaila Falls Hydroelectric Project, started by the Bharrat Jagdeo Administration, was initially expected to deliver a steady source of clean, affordable, reliable renewable energy to meet approximately 90 per cent of Guyana’s domestic energy needs and remove the country’s dependency on fossil fuels.

Furthermore, Patterson said the turbines were operational and the generators were functioning; however, the necessary power supply infrastructure – including substations, would have to be put in place.

september 10, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Berbice Bridge toll issue

Govt, BBCI must negotiate win-win formula – PSC Head

...massive investment needed for alternative crossings

By Devina Samaroo

Though in support of river taxis in Berbice, Private Sector Commission (PSC)

Chairman Norman Mc Lean is urging the Government and the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) to continue having fruitful negotiations with the aim of arriving at a mutually beneficial agreement regarding the reduction of the Bridge tolls.

“We (PSC) had a meeting with the Bridge and we

feel that it is something that can be negotiated and we are encouraging both the Government and the Bridge Company to negotiate on a win-win formula to achieve the objective. Government has an objective to reduce the toll and the Bridge, as I understand it, will accept the reduction, but the spinoff will be that it will have to be a little longer so that will matter, for the two parties have to come up with a formula where there is a win-win situation,” Mc Lean said.

However, he did not comment on a specific possible solution to the current impasse between the two parties – given that if both parties are to move forward, it is going to have to be a give and take situation.

Nonetheless, Mc Lean did indicate that the current fees were not entirely burdensome, making reference to the comparison of the ferry fees and the Bridge tolls that was published in a previous edition of the Guyana Times

The comparison showed

Comparison between the Berbice Bridge toll and the ferry fees

that the Bridge tolls were less costly than what was paid to utilise the ferry service and in addition, travelling via the Bridge cuts time as opposed to travelling on the ferry.

He added that with the introduction of river taxis, persons would now have a choice between two modes of transportation. Also, he noted that if government indeed provided the subsidy for the elderly and the children, then it would be incredibly beneficial to families residing in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne).

However, when presented with the fact that the majority of the Berbice Bridge’s users are actually businesspeople and that they were not going to benefit from lower costs via the implementation of river taxis, Mc

Lean noted that the fares would not be too burdensome- when compared to the cost encountered whilst us-

the implementation of the river taxis. The bodies comprised the Upper Corentyne Chambers of Commerce

ing the ferry.

Meanwhile, the Berbice Private Sector representative bodies already expressed their support for

and Industry (UCCCI); West Berbice Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WBCIC); Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce

(CCCC) and Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCC&DA).

The river taxi service will commence as soon as possible, with the utilisation of existing vessels until it is feasible for other boat operators to come onboard.

The Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) is in the process of examining the crossings at Rosignol and Blairmont to ensure they are safe and to determine if any works needed to be executed before the river taxis begin operations.

It is expected that there will have to be massive investments for the Stellings and ancillary facilities to be brought up to standard to facilitate the return of river traffic. No one has been willing to comment where this investment will come from, since there were no funds allocated in the 2015 Budget. MARAD is also examining the condition of the existing vessels to ensure they meet the required standard.

Climate change stakeholders meet to formulate Guyana’s contribution to UN Conference

The Department of Natural Resources and the Environment on Wednesday held its National Stakeholders Consultation, in an effort to formulate the Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) on Climate Change from Guyana, which is expected to be presented at the United Nations Change Conference in Paris, France in December.

INDCs will be foundational for the Paris climate agreement, demonstrating countries’ intent to decarbonise their economies and invest in resilience.

The event was held at the Grand Coastal Inn and was attended by Adviser on the Environment, Rear Admiral Gary Best; Minister of Governance with responsibility for Natural Resources and the Environment, Raphael Trotman; Permanent Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources, Joslyn McKenzie; Adviser on Sustainable Development at NRE, Clayton Hall; Head of the Guyana Energy Agency,

Dr Mahender Sharma and former Presidential Advisor and Head of the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission, Andrew Bishop.

Representatives from various organisations including the European Union (EU), Conservation International Guyana (CIG), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), Iwokrama International Centre, Guyana Human Rights’ Association among others, were also present.

Minister Raphael Trotman, who declared the discussion open, told the representatives that the engagement was not only timely, but also needed.

According to Minister Trotman, Cabinet had mandated that a task force be set up to prepare Guyana for the Conference in Paris and out of this task force, came a draft document. However, he did not want this document to be the final one and as such, the forum was organised for comments, criticisms and suggestions on how it can be best improved.

He noted that it was always in the best interest of the country for the national stakeholders to be allowed to give their input and advice on a matter of such importance.

“We are happy that this engagement is taking place. All of you are well aware of the need for Guyana to have an Intended Nationally Determined Contribution. You are all well aware of matters of climate change and adaptation and about upcoming

meetings which culminate in December… We felt that this should be brought here for you to give your input and take a position. You don’t have to agree. The important thing is that you have a position on the matter,” Minister Trotman said.

In the meantime, Permanent Secretary of the Department, Joslyn McKenzie, in his presentation told agencies that climate change is one of the defining global challenges of our time and poses a serious threat to

the well-being of humanity and the security of peoples and States. The adverse impacts of climate change, he said, are affecting all countries around the world; developed and developing, alike.

As such, he noted that the fight must be aggressive and it is in this regard that the INDC is crucial.

“The INDC should provide a clear signal to the general public and of course, the international community that Guyana is fully committed to achieving the paradigm shift towards low-carbon and climate-resilient development. The INDC needs to make a long-term commitment to this, making use of both domestic resources and international support… It is essential that Guyana’s INDCs be ambitious, while leading to transformation in the most carbon-intensive sectors and industries,” he said.

Stakeholders who were invited to participate, shared their thoughts on how best they believe, the document can be improved and even pointed out areas, which were

not covered in the draft document.

Shyam Nokta, a consultant, was high in praise for the initiative as he pointed out that the move by the Government should be commended. “I want to thank the Government for taking this initiative. The draft presentation was excellent and I think it covers a lot of critical areas as we move towards making a submission from Guyana,” Nokta said.

Meanwhile, Mr Bernard, a participant, said that while the presentation was most informative, he was concerned that the initial process did not begin with consultations and that a document was drafted before it was seen by the national stakeholders.

“If we are going to combat climate change, we need the support of everyone. It concerns me that this INDC has been drafted but we are now coming together to sit as stakeholders,” he expressed. Bernard said, however, that he was pleased that there was a consultative process being conducted.

Naithram deceived Region 2 – PPP/C Regional Councillors

Alliance For Change (AFC) Councillor and board member of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Naithram, came in for much criticism on Tuesday at the Region Two Regional Democratic Council’s statutory meeting by People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Councillors, about the current situation of the rice industry.

According to Councillors from the PPP/C, the rice industry is in serious crisis, with over 2500 rice farmers living within Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) predominately affected.

According to PPP/C Councillor Sobodh Kishore, the price for rice is declining and no one from the new Government seems to care.

Kishore said rice farmers are still owed millions of dollars from prominent millers along the Essequibo Coast and with the price declining; this crop would not be profitable for rice farmers.

Kishore was at the time responding to Councillor Naithram’s question on the works of the Guyana Rice Producer’s Association (RPA). According to Naithram, the RPA is not representing the interests of rice farmers. Kishore who is also an Extension Officer attached to the RPA said that Association has been doing a lot of field works, giving technical advice to rice farmers as it relates to pad-

dy bug.

He said that under the PPP/C Administration, former President Bharrat Jagdeo had secured the Venezuela market, ensuring that rice farmers received substantial payment for their harvest. Kishore then called on the Grangerled Administration to secure markets for rice farmers internationally.

Another PPP/C councillor Showkat Ali called upon Naithram to be answerable to rice farmers, as he has lead several protest against the PPP/C Government and the rice industry. Ali said it is sad that the Allaince For

Change/A Partnership for National Unity representatives Jinnah Rahaman and Turhane Doerga painted a good picture about the future of the rice industry but now they have disappeared.

Ali said it was under the previous Administration that rice farmers achieved increased rice production and also better prices.

“The rosy photo that was painted by Jinnah and Doerga has now faded, what happened now, why aren’t they representing rice farmers,” Ali questioned.

Another PPP/C Councillor Ranjeev Singh called upon Naithram to explain why the promise of $6000 per bag of paddy is not being honoured. Singh said that Naithram, who is a board member, is claiming that the rice industry is not

in crisis. Singh called upon him to explain the current situation.

“Naithram, you were the one on the TV saying that $6000 rice farmers will be paid, now what happened? You were the one protesting for more money for rice farmers, what happen now? Let your Government secure markets for rice farmers now... PPP/C did what we had to do in our time of power, now we are seeing the Granger-led Administration privatising the industry” Singh said.

In responding to the Councillors, Naithram denied promising rice farmers $6000 for a bag of paddy during the election campaign period. Naithram who is a board member on the GRDB said that the rice industry is not in a “bad” situation and farmers should get a better price for paddy. He said that presently there are over one million bags of paddy in the system and harvesting will soon commence, noting that prices will range between $2800 and $2500 per bag of grade A paddy.

Naithram also defended the GRDB, informing the Council that presently, markets are being sought in Panama and millers have the right to seek their own markets.

RPA Action Committee has no confidence in Agriculture Minister

The A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) aligned Action Committee of the Rice Producers Association (RPA) declared that Agriculture Minister Noel Holder is currently incapable of handling the tasks under his portfolio, and as such, declared that it has no confidence in his abilities to effectively and efficiently manage the agriculture sector.

During a press conference hosted by the controversial RPA Action Committee at the Georgetown Club on Wednesday, its members; Jinnah Rahman and Turhane Doerga both exclaimed that the Agriculture Minister has proven himself incompetent to deal with the issues in the agricultural sector, particularly in the rice industry.

“I have no confidence in the Minister of Agriculture,” declared Rahman.

Labelling the Minister as “de facto”, the members exclaimed that it appears as if the previous Government is still calling the shots within the Agriculture Ministry.

Asked for reasons why the Committee believes the Minister is incapable of performing his duties, Doerga in a startling revelation alleged that Jagnarine Singh, the former Head of the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB), is still conducting businesses on behalf of the Government.

“Jagnarine has tendered his resignation. It was accepted, yet Mr Jagnarine is signing contracts for the GRDB…

what is happening… on July 28, Mr Jagnarine signed a contract in Panama… he is marketing Guyana’s rice for knock-over prices,” Doerga stated; expressing disbelief that the Agriculture Minister is allowing this to happen.

According to reports, Singh had indicated his desire to resign from the Board and Minister of State Joseph Harmon said his resignation was fully welcome.

Subsequently, the Ministry advertised for his replacement.

It was also pointed out that the Minister also allowed People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) persons to return on the RPA Board of Directors, and for this reason, the RPA Action Committee declared no confidence in the Minister.

“Those people who are said to be replaced on the manifesto are back on the Board… the Minister should have taken time to find out, of these

people, who are real representatives… there should have been a proper election of the RPA… he didn’t do that. He didn’t check anything, he appointed the same PPP/C people on the Board. What is this Minister doing? This Minister is doing nothing,” Doerga said.

He also complained that whenever the Committee tries to make contact with the Minister to discuss issues facing the rice industry, he is almost never available.

Consequently, the Action Committee said it will give the Minister “time” to correct his “mistakes” but in the meantime, they will be raising their concerns with President David Granger regarding Holder’s performance.

“I do not want to say that I am calling for his resignation today because I am giving him a window of opportunity,” Rahman said.

Alleged goat thief shot in butt, two others arrested

Arank of the Guyana Police Force has been placed under close arrest after he shot an alleged goat thief in his buttocks on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred around 05:30h at Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

According to Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) Ivelaw Whittaker, the Police were responding to reports of a suspected larceny of goats

at the Helena Number Two Public Road, Mahaica, when they confronted the perpetrators.

Upon arrival at the scene, the ranks observed three men and a woman in a vehicle with two goats. The suspects attempted to escape, but were pursued by the Police. During the chase, one of the men reportedly attacked a rank with a pair of scissors.

In defence, the rank dis-

charged a round at the suspect, hitting him in his butt. The injured man was taken by the Police to the Mahaicony Hospital where he was admitted for treatment.

The woman and the other man were arrested and taken into custody. The Police Office of Professional Responsibility is conducting an investigation into the incident while the rank involved has been placed under close arrest.

Govt ramrods Local Govt Bill through Parliament –

Ignoring the strong objections by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) about being given short notice, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition used its one-seat majority on Wednesday to table, debate and pass amendments to a key local Government law which is essential in paving the way for local elections to be held this year.

The Bill was tabled by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan in the National Assembly for debate and passage. There were 26 Clauses – with the PPP/C proposing 13 amendments to the Bill under the name of Opposition backbencher Charles Ramson Jr and seconded by Member of Parliament Indra Chandarpal. Only two of these amendments were accepted by Government.

The parliamentary agenda and the draft law were circulated on Friday, September 4, 2015, which was five days ago instead of the required six days.

PPP/C Member of Parliament, Bishop Juan Edghill told the House that the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill 2015 should be taken to a Select Committee for ade-

quate consultation.

He explained that the National Assembly cannot be “railroading a very important piece of legislation like this Bill”.

Edghill then appealed for the PPP/C to be given more time for consultation betweens its members about the proposed 26 “significant” changes which were listed in the Bill. The consultation would have revealed whether or not these changes would clash with the Constitution and/or other laws.

He said his Party could not agree to forgo scrutiny at the altar of political expediency by the coalition Government.

It should be noted that the former Junior Finance Minister told the National Assembly that if this important piece of legislation was to be considered, then time was required. This is so as to allow proper interpretation of the views.

Aspects of the legislation such as the changing of the time for Nomination Day and the right of Returning Officers to refuse a recount, are “issues that are not strange to the body politic”.

However, in the explanatory memorandum for the Bill, Minister Bulkan said that the amendments seek to

clear the way for the holding of local polls in December.

No violation Meanwhile Governance Minister Raphael Trotman argued that there was no violation of the rules of the House because they could be suspended to facilitate the swift passage of legislation.

He explained that the country has postponed Local Government Elections for 17 years although it was due since 1997.

Minister Trotman maintained that the House could and should proceed with the debate of this especially, since he was of the view that the Opposition had the capa-

bility and competence to address the said Bill.

He alluded to the fact that the Opposition also had recommendations which it wished to make on Wednesday during the parliamentary sitting.

This newspaper was also told that the amendments included the widening of the definition of an election officer to include a Deputy Chief Elections Officer, a Chief Elections Officer and a Deputy Returning Officer.

Meanwhile, it also widens the definition of identification card to include a card issued during the continuous registration process and inserts a definition of a byelection.

Govt denies undermining; subverting ERC

By Alexis Rodney

Government on Wednesday sought to refute the claims made by former President Bharrat Jagdeo that the establishment of the Social Cohesion initiative was aimed at “usurping the role of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC)”.

Minister of Governance and Patrimony Raphael Trotman said the claim by the former Head of State was a bit strange, giving the fact that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government in the tenth Parliament had failed to appoint the selected individuals for the post.

“In no way, does it supplant or take over or usurp the functions of the ERC. The ERC needs to be appointed very quickly and get busy and so, too, the other rights commissions,” Trotman told Journalists when pressed for a comment.

Jagdeo on Tuesday had contended that the establishment of the department was somewhat taking over the role of the ERC

which has not been in operation for some time now.

He demanded that the new Administration swear in the ERC.

“The ERC has Terms of Reference and the mandate to forge cohesion among our people, through promoting better understanding through building trust. It also has a coercive role and an investigative role so not just a role to bring people together but complaints can be made about cases of discrimination and more. To sit on this Commission, you have to have two-thirds of the National Assembly and it is bi-partisan, where we are forced to work together and these do not come from the political class,” Jagdeo said.

But Trotman, maintaining that the new entity has its rightful place in society, said that the PPP Government under the leadership of former President Donald Ramotar, had failed to appoint the nominees, which he also said took a very long time to process.

He said while there are constitutional barriers to the process, Government

is considering bringing back the same list of nominees to be used as the process had taken months to complete. He said if the Leader of the Opposition would agree to a motion which Government intends to take to the National Assembly, that says the 11th Parliament will endorse the list generated by the 10thParliament, that will be good “because the truth is same players, just that they have changed sides, then we will proceed,”.

“The ERC remains a constitutional entity. Whether you have an Ethnic Relations Commission or not, it is the duty of a responsible Government to seek social cohesion in our society,” Trotman said.

Jagdeo informed media operatives at a press conference on Tuesday that he recently stated to the Deputy Secretary General of the Commonwealth that the international community may have unwittingly participated in an act that would supplant a constitutional protective body and replace it with Executive fiat.

He explained that by replacing the ERC with a Social Cohesion Ministry which will have a large amount of resources, this clearly shows that the Executive will take over the role of the ERC.

“They will have tonnes of resources which I believe that they will use to campaign and they told the international community they will have outreaches. They (Government) have shown how partisan they can be. So they will be both implementers and Judge themselves about breaches,” the former President further stated.

Guyana Times was told that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) did not, and will not, participate in any effort(s) which will undermine constitutional bodies in Guyana.

The Party is of the opinion that the recent hastily put together social cohesion conference emanated out of a promise made to a few donor countries and that this is a ‘cover up’ to hide the actions which are being executed to ‘divide the people’.

It must also be noted that the amendment would grant the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) the legal right to extract the names of eligible voters from the National Register of Registrants and not from the 1992 Voters List.

Local Government Elections in Guyana were last held in 1994.

Insolvent persons

Additionally, Ramson Jr during the debate on the Bill insisted that insolvent persons should not be allowed to contest the LGE and as such called for that section of the local Government law to be removed.

Ramson argued that the Local Authorities Act guards indebted persons from being given the opportunity to lay their hands on the coffers of local Government organs for corrupt purposes.

Moreover with the pace of events in the National Assembly, the PPP/C questioned whether the LGE will be delivered in 2015 as promised, but was provided with no clarity from the Communities Minister.

Opposition Member of Parliament Clement Rohee, in offering his contributions, pointed out that this election would prove to be one of great complexities in the history of Guyana. He noted that this did not daunt the PPP/C’s quest for electoral reforms for future elections, acknowledging that it could not be done immediately. He too raised concerns about the use of ID cards and the introduction of e-voting for transparency in future elections.

Rohee made calls for intense voter education works to be done, saying that not only GECOM but the Government should also play its part in ensuring that adequate resources were made available for an aggressive voters education campaign. In rebuttal, Bulkan outlined that the amendments were not about the merits of local democracy but addressing the deficiencies of the principal act. As he was concluding, all ears were on the Minister in anticipation that he would announce a date for the hosting of Local Government Elections but Bulkan said it would be irresponsible for him to name a date without consulting first with the Elections Commission on its readiness and preparedness. Nevertheless, the Communities Minister promised an early date for the elections.

PP to challenge T&T election results: Extension illegal

While former Opposition Leader, Dr Keith Rowley was sworn in as Prime Minister during a ceremony at Queen’s Hall, Port of Spain, on Thursday, former Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar was challenging the result of Monday’s General Election and asking that it be declared null and void.

She also chastised the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) for what she claimed was a sudden change in the regulations, resulting in the entire process being sabotaged. In a letter issued on Thursday, Persad-Bissessar described the People’s National Movement’s 23-18 victory as unfair. Persad-Bissessar blamed the extended hour granted to citizens as playing a key role in what she maintained was a biased result.

“A decision has been taken to challenge the results of the General Election based on legal advice the People’s Partnership [PP] has received. The challenge is based on the sud-

den decision of the EBC to extend the time for voting from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm throughout the country without any official notification to the People’s Partnership and its constituent parties,” PersadBissessar said. She said the rules which govern a General Election were quite clear, adding that strict adherence to such rules was absolutely necessary to minimise and avoid irregularities. Failure to do so, PersadBissessar added, would result in allegations and perceptions of unfairness and favouritism.

Persad-Bissessar said the PP had also been advised that the decision by the EBC to give an extra hour undermined the legal framework which governed the conduct of the general election and was tantamount of the shifting of the political goal post at the end of the game. “This might have very well affected the integrity of the process and the results in critical constituencies. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Around the world

Migrant crisis: EU’s Juncker announces refugee quota plan

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has announced plans that he said would offer a “swift, determined and comprehensive” response to Europe’s migrant crisis.

Under the proposals, 120,000 additional asylum seekers will be distributed among EU nations, with binding quotas.

It comes after a surge of thousands of mainly Syrian migrants pushed north through Europe in recent days.

Juncker told the European Parliament it was “not a time to take fright”.

Germany, the main destination for many migrants, supports quotas, but some EU countries oppose a compulsory system.

Juncker’s plans were set out in a “state of the union” annual address in which he outlined the priorities of the European Commission.

He opened his speech by admitting the European Union was “not in a good situation. There is a lack of Europe in this union, and a lack of union in this union”.

He said tackling the crisis was “a matter of humanity and human dig-

A group of migrants crossed into southern Denmark from Germany, forcing the closure of a motorway

nity. It is true that Europe cannot house all the misery in the world. But we have to put it into perspective.

“This still represents just 0.11 per cent of the EU population. In Lebanon refugees represent 25 per cent of the population.”

The mass migration has seen

those seeking an end to persecution, conflict and hardship travel from Turkey across the sea to Greece, through Macedonia and Serbia, and then to Hungary from where they aim to reach Austria, Germany and Sweden. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Myanmar President wants ceasefire ahead of elections

Myanmar President

Thein Sein has made his first public appearance since the start of a campaign for November 8 General Elections, meeting leaders of ethnic armed groups for ceasefire talks.

At the opening of the talks in the capital Naypyitaw on Wednesday, Sein stressed the importance of peace in the country’s “transition to democracy” through peace.

“I hope today’s summit will pave the way to signing the nationwide cease-

fire agreement by the end of September,” he said.

Clinching the deal with the armed groups would be a political win for Sein, who made it his top priority, boosting the chances of his ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party in the first General Elections since the end of military rule.

He said that he wanted the ceasefire signed by September 29. Other reports said the agreement could be signed at the beginning of October.

Al Jazeera’s Florence Looi said the former military commander has been “genuinely trying” to push through a ceasefire agreement.

“It’s something his administration has been working hard on,” she said.

While some experts expressed doubt about a deal, others said a deal has been reached with the competing rebel factions.

Representatives of five main groups from about 16 participating in the talks met Sein.

The groups included the Karen National Union, the Kachin Independence Organisation and the Karenni National Progressive Party.

In a statement, rebel leaders called for an “allinclusive” agreement with the Government, saying it is “inconceivable” for any deal that excludes certain key rebel groups. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

PM Modi lines up mega events for Silicon Valley Trip

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take his “Startup India, Stand Up India” call to the Silicon Valley later this month, showcasing success stories of India’s entrepreneurship to the Mecca of technology and startups.

Modi, the first Indian Head of State to officially visit Silicon Valley in several decades, is set to hold

a plethora of programmes during his visit, notably a conclave of Indian startups involved in social businesses, and visits to the offices of Google, Facebook and Tesla. Officials involved in planning the visit said a startup conclave of sorts was in the works. The conclave, aimed at enabling interface between the Indian and US startup ecosystems, would

mainly comprise social impact entrepreneurs, notably in the health sector, they said.

Shashi Shekhar, CEO of Niti Digital, who was also part of Modi’s 2014 poll campaign, said the PM’s visit to Silicon Valley needed to be seen in the context of his recent Independence Day announcement of “Startup India”. (Excerpt from the Economic Times)

Rwandan court to hear case on President’s third term

Rwanda’s Supreme Court has said it will hear a case on whether the country’s President Paul Kagame should be allowed to run for a third term as leader.

The move on Wednesday came after Parliament voted to change the Constitution and lifted a two-term limit amid widespread calls for Kagame not to stand down after his current term.

The proposals were voted on after the presentation of a petition to legislators that had garnered more than 3.8 million signatures in support of the move.

Kagame still has two years remaining before his current mandate expires.

Al Jazeera’s Catherine Soi, reporting from Kigali, said Kagame was widely credited with bringing stability and development to the country after its genocide in the 1990s.

“Parliament is just the beginning of the process, a commission has to be set up to review sections of the Constitution that deal with the presidential term...eventually there must be a referendum where Rwandans will decide for themselves,” she said.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Julianna Kantengwa, a Member of Parliament, said international pressure on Kagame to not stand for the presidency again would not influence Rwandans.

“There’s international pressure for him not to do this. Then there’s pressure from Rwandans for him to run. Who should he listen to? I think the answer is obvious,” Kantengwa said.

Domestic opposition to extending the term limit has come from the Opposition Democratic Green Party, which asked the Supreme Court to block the move by Parliament. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

China jails ‘Qing dynasty Princess’ farmer for fraud

Acourt in China has sentenced a woman who posed as a Qing dynasty princess in order to run a fraud scheme to 13 and half years in jail.

Wang Fengying had called herself “Princess Changping” and claimed to be a descendent of the Aisin Gioro Manchu royal family.

She and her accomplice conned their victims out of more than two million yuan within one year.

They were caught in 2014 after one of her victims complained to the Police.

Wang was also fined 500,000 yuan, said the Lianhu District Court in the central Shaanxi Province on Monday.

The accomplice, Yang Jianglin, received a 12-year jail sentence and a 500,000 yuan fine.

The Aisin Gioro family ruled China from 1644 until the 1912 revolution that top-

pled the monarchy and installed a republican government.

Wang and Yang set up a fake company that bought large quantities of counterfeit US dollars and gold bars, which they told victims was just a small portion of Wang’s assets.

The rest was locked away, they said, and could not be released through usual methods. She said she needed money for “ensuring good relations” to unlock them as well as for delivery fees, according to a 2014 report on her arrest by CNWest news portal.

Investors were told that if they managed to help unlock these assets, the Government would give them a reward three times the value.

Among the items found during a Police raid at Wang’s office were 41 gold bars – it was not clear whether they were fake or real –ancient-looking keys, and a treasure map. (Excerpt from BBC News)

BA fire: Passengers describe terror on Las Vegas flight

Passengers have been describing the terrifying moment a fire broke out on board their London-bound British Airways plane at Las Vegas airport.

People started screaming and rushing to the front of the plane after its take-off on Tuesday was abruptly halted due to the fire, some eyewitnesses said.

All 170 people were quickly led to safety, some with minor injuries.

Aviation officials have started an investigation into why the left engine of the Boeing 777-200 caught fire.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says it has sent a team of investigators to the scene.

General Electric said the plane was powered by two of its GE90 engines and it would also send two of its technical experts to join the investigation.

The company said it was

not aware of “any operational issues that would hazard the continued safe flight of aircraft powered by these engines”, stressing that it had an “outstanding safety and reliability record since entering service in 1995”.

Passengers said they heard a loud bang “like a tyre blowing out”, causing the plane to come to a “screeching halt” at 16:13 local time (23:13 GMT) on Tuesday.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

thursday, september 10, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

Region 2 Vice Chair calls for reduced ferry fares

– says all Guyanese need equal treatment

Region Two Vice Chairman Nandranie Coonjah has supported residents and businesses in their call for the reduction of the ferry fares from Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) to Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

Coonjah, during an exclusive interview, said that with the reduction of the fares, the ferry service would significantly benefit businesses within Region Two.

She said it was very expensive for businesses. Coonjah is of the view if preferential treatment was given to Berbicians, Essequibians should not be excluded from similar reductions.

“I believe that we in Region Two

need equal treatment… lower fares mean business for many persons and I strongly think consideration should be given,” Coonjah said.

Single parents who spoke with Guyana Times said that it was very costly to travel on the ferry.

One single parent, Mala Dhanpat said she has a small busi-

ness and she would normally journey to Georgetown to conduct business. She said sometimes when her bags were finished being weighed, she would end up paying for the weight of a vehicle.

“Even if the vehicle on the boat with no driver you have to buy a passenger ticket, this is quite unreasonable, is business we doing,” another businessperson said.

Residents are calling on the David Granger-led Administration to consider the reduction of the ferry fare in an effort to assist businesses and single parents.

Currently, a ticket on the ferry costs $380 per person and $1140 for a person with an empty vehicle (one way).

A vehicle owner, therefore, has to pay a fee of $2280 for his vehicle and $1900 for five passengers –a total of $4180 – to journey from and to Region Two. Businesses pay

twice that amount when their vehicles are being weighed. A minibus with 15 passengers would have to pay the $2280 plus $5400 for the passengers for a total of $7680 if they wanted to take a trip to Parika.

This fee is massively more expensive as compared to the toll at the Berbice Bridge, and the ferry can only be utilised at weird hours of the day.

On the other hand, persons traversing the Berbice Bridge between Regions Five (MahaicaBerbice) and Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) only have to pay a toll of $2200 and it is now proposed by the Government for this to be reduced to $1900 (return), a reduction of $300 compared to what a person travelling with a vehicle from Region Three to Region Two would pay. Commuters on the Berbice Bridge can travel across at any time of the day or night.

Over $220M to be spent on ferry repairs

– four vessels to be docked this month

The Government of Guyana, through the Public Infrastructure Ministry, is slated to spend over $220 million on the upgrade and repairs of ferries which ply various routes across the country.

This announcement was made by Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson during a media briefing on Monday last.

The Minister explained that the MV Lady Northcote will dock this month for emergency repairs at an estimated cost of $70 million.

The Lady Northcote, which plies the Georgetown-Port Kaituma route, is 77 years old, making it the oldest vessel of the Transport and Harbour Department (T&HD) fleet.

The ferry was docked for about two weeks after it caught fire while on its way to Georgetown from the North West in March 2012. Based on reports, the fire was said to have been caused by an oil leak in its engine room. Following this incident, engineers worked speedily on repairs to the vessel and within 20 days it was operational again.

Furthermore, Minister Ferguson explained that the T&HD will also be docking the MV Sandaka, MV Barima and the MV Kimbia for repairs.

“These repairs are estimated to be 150 million Guyana dollars and the vessels will be docked during the period of September to December 2015.”

The MV Kimbia is a passenger and cargo vessel that has the capacity to transport 200 persons. It is said to be one of the oldest ves-

sels in the maritime public transport system and has served the T&HD for more than 70 years. The vessel had undergone repairs in the Vieira dry dock facility located at Houston, Greater Georgetown in 2009.

A sum of $35 million in capital expenditure was budgeted for repairs on the vessel, but instead a $53 million contract was signed. During the initial repair works, additional problems were revealed and another $30 million of work had to be done. The MV Kimbia was docked again in 2013, at the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC), where it spent several months undergoing meticulous repairs. A $118 million contract was signed for the vessel to be docked at the GNIC facility.

Former President Donald Ramotar had negotiated an agreement with India to have concessional credit to purchase a passenger ferry to help Guyana overcome transportation problems in the northern region. I n addition, the former Administration obtained financial aid from China, a sum of US$14.4 million to procure two new vessels in January 2012, the Sabanto and the Kanawan. These ferries have enhanced accommodation features and greater seating capacity. They are currently operational in the Essequibo River.

The dispensing of funds comes at a time where the Government is seeking to revamp the T&HD. However, much works remain to be done on the various stellings especially Vreed-en-Hoop’s, which continues to be the disgust of passengers.

Good Hope relief structure almost collapsed

– residents fearful of flooding

Residents and rice farmers living in Huis t’Diren and Good Hope in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are fearful of flooding should there be constant rainfall within the area as the koker has almost collapsed owing to erosion. The structure is located some 500 rods (about 2500 metres) from the Good Hope Public Road.

In the midst of the current dry weather, thousands of rice lands within the area are under kneehigh water. The dilapidat -

ed, eroded relief structure is presently closed and according to drainage and irrigation engineers who visited the structure there was nothing that could be done, except the establishment of a new structure.

Its failure has resulted in poor drainage, overtopping of the canal into rice lands in the Good HopePomona area. Rice farmers and other residents in the area complained bitterly about the drainage issue.

If the rainy season begins with the issue unresolved, thousands of rice

farmers will be severely affected.

A delegation headed by Regional Vice Chairman Nandranie Coonjah; National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) engineer Jafaun Permansingh; regional engineer Kenrick Marslow, Good Hope-Pomona Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Chairman Showkat Ali and Regional Democratic Councillor Arnold Adam visited the area.

After ‘roughing it out’ for almost three hours on

the deplorable dam leading to the structure, the team managed to inspect the. At the structure scores of rice farmers gathered voicing their concerns.

According to Regional Vice Chairman Coonjah, she received several complaints on the issue and as such decided to take a firsthand look. Coonjah said that the structure has deteriorated and was not serving any purpose at the moment.

The Region Two administration does not have suf -

ficient resources to construct a new koker, she said, explaining that the structure is beyond repair. Coonjah pointed out that there must be immediate intervention or things could get worse for farmers. She said she would make necessary representation to the Agriculture Ministry for immediate relief.

The sluice when it was in operation provided drainage and irrigation for the Huis t’Diren to Supenaam Creek area.

Flights resume to Kaieteur Falls

– new measures to be put in place for tourists’ safety

More than one week after Gyaneshwarie Laleta Sivinand went missing during a tour at the Kaieteur Falls National Park, tours to the area which had been suspended since this incident resumed.

The Kaieteur National Park (KNP) is now reopened, even as Park Rangers continue to be vigilant for any signs of the tourist. The efforts by the relevant authorities to locate the missing woman or her body have thus far proved futile.

In a press release from the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday, it was stated that Governance Minister Raphael Trotman and Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes had convened a meeting on Tuesday with representatives of The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG); Air Services Limited (ASL); the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA); the Protected Areas Commission (PAC) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) with regard to the closure of the KNP.

This decision to re-open the Park was made follow-

ing the meeting where discussions were held on enhancing safety for visitors of the site.

Guyana Times understands that among the measures which were agreed upon by all present at the meeting was the development of improved protocols with the provision of additional tour guides.

There will also be further training for KNP tour guides and enhanced signage.

According to the press statement, the Department of Natural Resources and

the Environment has expressed its gratitude to the agencies and individuals who played a supportive role in the search operation over the last week.

It was also noted that special thanks must be extended to members of the GPF, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the tour operators for their diligence and cooperation.

“The GDF has completed its search and withdrawn the Special Forces Team from KNP. But the Park Rangers will continue to be vigilant for any signs of the missing woman. Members of communities surrounding the Park are also asked to keep a lookout,” the release also noted.

On September 1, 40-year-old Sivinand disappeared at the Park during a trip to the site. Upon realising that the woman was missing, a search party was dispatched and was subsequently extended to include law enforcement officials as well.

On the said evening, Air Services Limited confirmed that one of its aircraft returned to the Ogle Airport with one person less than it had transported to the loca-

tion. Reports from other passengers on the flight are that Sivinand was seen in tears on her cellular phone while she was on the plane.

Guyana Times understands that Air Services transported two groups of tourists to the Kaieteur Falls. A spokesperson for Air Service Limited had told the media that while the pilots were on the ground, no other aircraft landed or left the location.

This meant that Sivinand could not have left the site by plane.

The discovery of the missing woman was made when the tour guide began distributing chits to the passengers for snacks at the Kaieteur airstrip before they boarded the aircraft to head back to Ogle.

One of the passengers on the trip reportedly stated that the missing woman was with the party when it was returning along the trail from the Falls.

She said that the woman lagged behind and when she was urged to ‘walk up’, she told them that she knew the place since she had been there on numerous occasions prior to that trip.

Six more drunk drivers charged

The Guyana Police Force is continuing its traffic enforcement activities and has named and shamed six more persons for drunk driving.

The men were charged and placed before the courts after they were found to be above the legal limits in terms of alcohol consumption. They all pleaded guilty to the Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charge and were each sentenced to pay a fine of $7500.

On August 2, Ajai Persaud of Lot 106 Springlands, Corentyne, Berbice, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser while driving motor vehicle PKK 9023 on the Springlands Public Road. He was found to be above the legal limit; as such, he was charged and subsequently appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court the following day.

Devon Hinds of Lot 233 Tarlogie Farm, Corentyne, Berbice, was stopped and

tested with a breathalyser on August 1, while driving motor vehicle PLL 978 on the Number 74 Public Road, Corriverton, Berbice. He too was above the legal limit in terms of alcohol consumption and was made to appear at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court two days later.

Meanwhile, Clancy Rose of Lot 87 Queenstown, Corriverton, Berbice, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on July 30, while riding motorcycle CH 2289 on the Number 78 Public Road, Berbice. He

was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol and was charged after which he made an appearance at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court the same day.

While driving motor vehicle PPP 5300 on the Peters Hall Public Road, East Bank Demerara on August 5, Jaligl Morrison of Lot 3736 North Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser. He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He was charged

Guyana wants deals continued with new T&T Govt

With the new Keith Rowley Administration in place in Trinidad and Tobago, the David Granger Administration here has promised to meet with the twin-island Government to continue economic ties.

arrangement has been on a ‘go-slow’ recently, after Venezuela upped its claims to a significant portion of Guyana’s territory – an issue which was settled by arbitration more than a century ago.

and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court the same day where he pleaded ‘guilty’ and was fined $7500.

Additionally, Mervin Lewis of Lot 72 Scottsburg, Corriverton, Berbice, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on August 2, while riding motorcycle CG 4068 on the Springlands Public Road, Corentyne.

He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol and made to appear at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court the following day.

Furthermore, Yadesh Rooplall of Lot 102 Alexander Street, Rampoor, Corriverton, Berbice, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser while driving motor vehicle PPP 7938 on the Springlands Public Road, Corentyne, on August 2. He too appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court the following day.

Governance Minister Raphael Trotman on Wednesday said Government would be taking the soonest opportunity to meet with Trinidad and Tobago’s newest Head of State, Dr Keith Rowley, who was sworn in on Wednesday, to ensure the pledges made between the Governments of Guyana and Trinidad are maintained. After months of heavy political campaigning, Rowley’s People National Movement edged to victory in the September 7 General Election, prevailing over the Kamla Persad-Bissessar-led People’s Partnership (PP) regime 23 seats to 18 seats.

Guyana and Trinidad have had a number of commitments together, with pledges even been made by former Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to assist Guyana in the oil and gas sector.

Guyana, more recently, upped its quota of oil imports from the neighbouring Caribbean country, after its reported shortfall from neighbouring Venezuela from the PetroCaribe deal.

Guyana has, for years, been accessing oil from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela under PetroCaribe deal, but the recent revival of the border controversy by that country could see the deal altogether abandoned. Through the deal, Guyana and Venezuela have been bartering rice for oil. The

Venezuela has become increasingly aggressive, after US-based oil company ExxonMobil reported that it had discovered oil off the Stabroek Block.

“I think the commitment was not between Head of State and Head of State, but country to country. And so even with a change of government we intend to continue and deepen the ongoing arrangement between Guyana and the sister Caricom Country… we will refresh and renew the commitment made with the former Head of State, Ms [Kamla] PersadBissessar,” Trotman assured.

Among the other arrangements between the two countries is the establishment of a joint Commission to initiate and oversee collaboration in construction, education, business and other areas where it would be mutually beneficial to deepen ties.

The two countries under the leadership of both the People’s Progressive Party/Civic and the PP, had agreed to a GuyanaTrinidad farming deal. There had also been a number of projects that were discussed but not yet implemented including plans for the establishment of an ethanol plant here, the establishment of a cheese factory, a meat processing unit and the leasing of land around ponds for the rearing of Hassa and other sweetwater fish.

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

CANCER

Love, money and relationships are looking positive. Expand your credentials through study or travel. The more you do, the more successful you will be.

You will have trouble focusing on work early in the day, so concentrate on taking stock of past events. By re-examining what’s transpired, you’ll find the answers you are searching for.

Formulate a plan to help you reach your goals. This will prevent you from trying to do too much all at once. Organization and proper planning will lead to success.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Personal issues will prey on your mind. Shift your focus to your career prospects. If you can keep your emotions out of the equation, taking on added responsibilities will bring lucrative rewards.

Letting matters unfold naturally will help you avoid headaches. Instead of getting upset over issues you cannot control, open your eyes to other options that will allow you to make progress.

You will receive valuable information regarding a profitable deal. Professional opportunities will open up if you make the most of your networking skills and take decisive action.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Lighten up and have some fun. Put your professional worries on the back burner and spend time with people you care about. Love and romance are looking good.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Not everyone shares your views, so unless you are asked for advice, keep your opinions to yourself. If you don’t, you may be accused of interfering with someone else’s affairs.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Don’t pass up a chance to travel. Monetary gains are likely if you listen to someone with more experience. Don’t let nervous tension or selfdoubt prevent you from getting ahead.

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

Take a break; all work and no play will lead to dissatisfaction. Your career is important, but finding a balance between your personal and professional lives is crucial.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

You will be tempted to put in less effort or cut corners on tasks you don’t enjoy doing, but in the end, you’ll have to redo what you didn’t get right the first time.

It’s time to tie up loose ends. You will receive mixed messages from someone close to you. Financial gains will come your way from an unusual source.

Drayton wins Burnham memorial chess tourney

The Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham memorial chess tournament concluded last weekend with Guyana’s FIDE Candidate Master, Anthony Drayton, emerging as champion at the National Resource Centre on Woolford Avenue.

On the final day of the competition, Drayton, who was in third position coming into the final two rounds, defeated Davion Mars and Alexander Duncan to increase his tally by two points to finish with a grand total of 5.5 points.

Former national junior and senior champion, Taffin Khan, also scored 5.5 points, after earning a bye from Frankie Farley and defeating Errol Tiwari on the final day, but had to be content with the second place after the tie-break system was employed.

Veteran player and former president of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF), Errol Tiwari, was impressive during the sev-

en-round Swiss system competition, collecting five points to take the final po -

After

heading into

final two

At one stage of the tournament, Roberto Neto had assumed the lead and at the penultimate stage was oozing confidence on three points. He managed to add another two points to his tally to capture top honours in the junior category after finishing the tournament on five points. Davion Mars finished second in the junior division with 3.5 points, while Michael Chapp Jumbo occupied the third place spot after scoring two points. They were the only three players to compete in the junior category, and whether the GCF will stage a national junior championship this year is yet to be decided.

Since the tournament was FIDE rated, the participating players will soon earn points to improve the ranking on the world stage. The presentation of prizes to the top performers will take place on Friday at the Carifesta Sports Club, Carifesta Avenue.

No regrets for family-first Haddin

Brad Haddin has said he has no regrets about the way his Test career ended, when he was not reinstated after stepping down from the Lord’s Test to be with his ill daughter. That decision effectively spelled the end of Haddin’s days as an Australia player, and on Wednesday he confirmed that he was now officially retired from international cricket.

While it was fully expected that Haddin, 37, would depart after the Ashes tour, it had appeared likely when the campaign began that he would remain the incumbent gloveman throughout. However, he withdrew from the second Test at Lord’s to be with his four-year-old daughter Mia, who was receiving treatment in a London hospital. Mia had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer when she was only 17 months old, and Haddin had missed the 2012 tour of the West Indies to remain home with his family at the time. In announcing his retirement at the SCG, Haddin said he had no regrets about his decisions and knew that he was unlikely to be recalled after standing down during the Ashes.

Family first

“I’m not dirty ... I’m no different to any other parent in Australia,” Haddin told reporters in Sydney. “Everyone puts their family first and I have no regrets about doing that.

“To me, it wasn’t a choice. I remember saying to [wife] Karina at the hospital that I’ll never play again. She said there was still three Tests to go but cricket is a big business/sport and I’d put myself in a position where I was vulnerable because I walked away. I could live with that because I was needed somewhere else and it was a place that was far more important for me.

“My family needed me at that time and the reality is I was unable to take the field for Australia with the 100% focus I needed. I understood the consequences that went with my decision; I put myself in a position to lose my spot and I don’t regret that, not one bit. I wouldn’t change one thing because I don’t regret one thing that happened.”

Haddin’s wife Karina and children Mia and Zac were at the press conference at the SCG on Wednesday, and Haddin said Mia’s health was heading in the right direction.

“Mia needed surgery [in Sydney] a couple of weeks ago,” he said. “She had some internal bleeds ... but everything is going in the right direction. She’s a normal fouryear-old girl and the surgery will allow for her to enjoy a better quality of life.”

Good company Haddin’s retirement means he will finish his career with 66 Tests to his name, along with 3266 runs at 32.98 and 270 dismissals. That places him fourth on the Australian Test wicketkeeping tally, behind Adam

Gilchrist, Ian Healy and Rod Marsh.

His successor, Peter Nevill, played well on debut at Lord’s, and Haddin said it was apparent when the team headed to Derby for a tour match ahead of the third Test that the selectors were leaning towards retaining Nevill. Haddin said he spoke to national selector Rod Marsh to ensure that Nevill was given enough of a chance in Derby to prepare properly for the Test.

“I’ve been in cricket long enough to know when you’re about to be dropped because people start talking to you

differently,” Haddin said. “I remember saying to ‘Nev’, ‘I’m not playing in this third Test, you’re in’ and he said ‘no, no’ but I said I’d ask Rod because we needed to sort it out. Pete hadn’t kept much in England and I thought if he was playing in the Test he’d need to get used to the conditions.

“What was meant to happen was Rod said we’d share the keeping in that match and I said ‘Rod, I’ve been around for 15 years, if you want me to go out and give you the energy, the perfect keeping game, I’ll go and do that but if you know what’s

going to happen cut the bullshit and tell us - don’t play one off against the other because you know after 15 years what I can do’.

“In the end I made the call. I’m not there to muck around, we were there to play for Australia and we had to prepare the best we could and that meant Nev had to keep. My thought was we were halfway through an Ashes series and this idea about one of us keeping for the first 30 overs when they knew what the decision was, well I thought let’s get on with it, you’ve made your decision and that’s how it unfolded.”

Haddin said now was the perfect time to retire from internationals and first-class cricket, although he will play on for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League. The Sixers confirmed in a press release on Wednesday that Haddin was still a key member of their squad for this summer.

“I’ve only ever wanted to play at the SCG. It’s great to be here today to make my announcement,” Haddin said. “I came to the realisation after Lord’s. I’ve had a privileged run, but I lost the hunger on the Ashes tour. It was an easy decision to retire.” (Cricinfo)

Dhawan to lead India A squad against Bangladesh A

India opener Shikhar

Dhawan has been named captain of the A squad to play a three-day match against Bangladesh A in September. Dhawan had been ruled out of the second and third Test in Sri Lanka last month after fracturing his hand during the first Test in Galle.

Varun Aaron, who lost his Test spot to Umesh Yadav after a profligate showing in Galle, will get a chance to impress in the three-day game. Ravindra Jadeja, left out of both Test and ODI sides after having been a regular not too long ago, got a big break just before the start of the home season. His selection indicated he was still part of India’s plans, and if he can have a good early season, the third spinner’s slot could be his for the taking after a lukewarm performance from Harbhajan Singh.

It has been a good pre-season for the young Karnataka batsman, Karun Nair, whose most notable performance was his sec-

ond-innings century to save a four-day match against South Africa A. He was named in both the threeday and one-day squads, and should also play the other three-day game between Bangladesh A and the Ranji Trophy champions Karnataka.

Nair’s captain in the one-day side will be Delhi batsman Unmukt Chand. Suresh Raina was the only India regular in the squad, but Kedar Jadhav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Manish Pandey and Sanju Samson - all named in this squad - were part of the contingent that won all the three ODIs in Zimbabwe. Leg-spinner Karn Sharma, who missed out on the Zimbabwe tour because of injury, was back too.

Two promising young spinners, chinaman Kuldeep Yadav and off-spinner Jayant Yadav, were also handed a chance to stake claims for an international spot during a busy home season.

The three one-day fix-

tures will be played on September 16, 18 and 20, and the three-day match from September 27 to 29. All the games will be held in Bangalore. Karnataka will play Bangladesh A from September 22 to 24 in Mysore.

Three-day squad

Shikhar Dhawan (Captain), Abhinav Mukund, Karun Nair, Shreyas Iyer, Baba Aparajith, Naman Ojha, Jayant Yadav, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, Shreyas Gopal, Abhimanyu Mithun, Varun Aaron, Ishwar Pandey and Sheldon Jackson

One-day squad: Unmukt

Chand (Captain), Mayank Agarwal, Manish Pandey, Suresh Raina, Kedar Jadhav, Sanju Samson, Karun Nair, Kuldeep Yadav, Jayant Yadav, Karn Sharma, Rishi Dhawan, S Aravind, Dhawal Kulkarni, Rush Kalaria and Gurkeerat Singh Mann (Cricinfo)

Powell runs another sub-10

World Championships

relay gold medal winner Asafa Powell bounced back from his individual letdown by winning the men’s 100m in a good-looking 9.96 seconds (0.3m/s) at the 65th Borisa Hanzekovica Memorial meeting, an IAAF World Challenge at the Mladost Stadium.

After placing seventh in the 100m final at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, Powell rallied to deliver big in helping his fellow Jamaicans to gold in the men’s 4x100m team. Powell was back at his individual best, blowing away a string field to register his 101st sub-10.00

Taylor targets UAE Test return

James Taylor hopes his ODI century against Australia could persuade the selectors to recall him to the Test squad for the tour of the UAE.

Taylor made his maiden international hundred at Old Trafford on Tuesday, conquering a dry track, two spinners and a trio of fiery seamers in the process. With batsmen on both sides struggling to time the ball, Taylor showed admirable skill and composure in manoeuvring the ball cleverly and running like a whippet.

With similar conditions expected in the UAE - albeit against Pakistan’s superior spinners - Taylor hopes the innings showed what he could contribute given another opportunity in Test cricket.

“I’m desperate to get back in the Test side,” Taylor said. “I know we are going to be playing on similar wickets against good spin bowlers in the UAE, so this was nice little reminder of what I have to offer on a turning pitch where it wasn’t easy to score off the slower bowlers.”

Taylor’s two Tests to date have brought modest returns. But an average of 16.00 disguises the fact that he added 147 with Kevin Pietersen during his first innings against South Africa, at Headingley in 2012 - his share was an unobtrusive 34, where he was happy to rotate the strike and allow Pietersen, at his absolute best, to dominate - and was run out attempting a fourth in the run chase at The Oval in his other game. It is too early to come to any conclusions about his ability at

that level.

Some have, though. It is no secret that Pietersen was not overly impressed with Taylor’s technique after their partnership together and it seems others in the England team have similar views. In particular, there has been some concern over his ability to play the short ball, his propensity to play across the line and his strokes outside off stump. A first-class average of 46.59 and List A average of 52.57

But Taylor hopes that his ability to bat either at No. 3 or in a finishing role offers the team a versatility that the selectors cannot ignore. His leadership qualities and ability to read the game situation have already been rewarded by an appointment as vice-captain of the ODI side for the rest of the series.

“I’m a versatile player and I’m willing to bat anywhere in the team,” he said. “I love batting at three and four and I’m glad I got the

suggest none of those issues are causing him too much trouble.

As things stand, though, Taylor’s long-term position in the ODI side is not assured. Despite his fine century, he will know that he was called into the side as a replacement for the rested Joe Root. As the experience of Michael Lumb - who scored a century on ODI debut only 18 months ago, but played only two more games - shows, taking your opportunity is not the same as securing a place in the longer term.

opportunity. The higher I bat in the order the bigger the runs I can potentially score.

“I’ve got so much better over the years at playing the situation. I think that is my biggest strength: adapting to the situation put in front of me.

“We have seen in the innings at Hampshire that I can hit the ball over the ropes when I’ve needed to. But in Manchester I didn’t need to go too hard too early and just sat back and let Eoin Morgan hit the fours and sixes.” (Cricinfo)

MP denies implicating Radcliffe in doping claims

Aseconds 100m race, but his 97th wind legal effort.

It was his 10th race under 10.00 seconds this season, but first ever in Zagreb.

American Mike Rodgers was second in 10.10 seconds, while Turkey’s Ramil Guliyev was third in 10.18 seconds.

Guliyev, who was sixth in the World Championships 200m final, returned later with a stunning 19.88 seconds (-0.4m/s), sixth fastest this year, to win the 200m, a new Turkish national record, his first time under 20.00 seconds, beating his previous time of 20.04 seconds set in 2009.

Meanwhile, three other Jamaicans finished on the podium: in third place on the night was Novlene Williams-Mills in the women’s 400m, Simone Facey in the women’s 100m and Andrew Riley in the men’s 110m hurdles. (Jamaica Observer)

n MP accused by British athlete Paula Radcliffe of implicating her in allegations of blood doping has said that was not his intention.

Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee chairman Jesse Norman suggested London Marathon winners and medallists and “potentially, British athletes” were under suspicion.

Radcliffe, 41, was not named but said she “categorically denies” cheating.

Mr Norman said his comments were “taken out of context”.

“Nothing could be further from the intention of the committee than to have named any athlete - in fact no names were given, no allegations were made, no specific athletes were described, no test results were mentioned,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“In a three-hour hearing what has happened is the press pack have basi-

cally taken this single snippet and run off to Paula Radcliffe and attempted to bounce her into some kind of statement and I think that’s very unfortunate.”

Radcliffe, a three-time London Marathon winner and the only British athlete since 1996 to win the event, issued a statement following the hearing saying she was “devastated” that her name had been “linked to these wide-ranging accusations”.

“By linking me to allega-

tions of cheating, damage done to my name and reputation can never be fully repaired, no matter how untrue I know them to be,” she said.

She said it was “profoundly disappointing that the cloak of parliamentary privilege has been used to effectively implicate me”.

Radcliffe later tweeted: “No way I can reply to everyone but I am humbled and touched beyond words by everyone’s support. Thank you all.” (BBC Sport)

YELLOW PAGES

thursday, sEPtEMBEr 10, 2015

U.S Open 2015… Serena defeats Venus to keep Grand Slam dreams alive

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Serena Williams overcame her sister Venus at the U.S. Open to move within two victories of her first calendar Grand Slam.

The world number one held her nerve to win 6-2 1-6 6-3 and reach the semifinals in New York.

Serena, 33, will play unseeded Italian Roberta Vinci in the last four on Thursday.

The American could become the first player to win all four majors in the same year since Steffi Graf in 1988.

Venus, 35, was playing in the fourth round at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2010, but threatened to derail her sister’s grand ambitions.

The 23rd seed battled back to force a final set, only to see younger sister Serena capitalise on an early service break and claim her 33rd straight win at the Slams.

The Williams sisters had played each other 26 times on the professional circuit, but their 27th contest was as highly anticipated as any.

Serena might already hold all four Slam titles, but her bid to win them all in the same year has elevated tennis in the US sporting headlines.

A lengthy preceding match meant Tuesday’s night session was delayed, and expectancy rose outside Arthur Ashe Stadium as 23,000 spectators waited to take their seats for the night session.

The early excitement was tempered by Serena’s excellent start, but Venus gave a reminder of why she is a sev-

Serena Williams is bidding to become the fourth woman to win the calendar Grand Slam, after Maureen Connolly (1953) Margaret Court (1970) and Steffi Graf (1988). Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) have achieved the feat in the men’s game

en-time major champion by taking it to a final set.

“She’s the toughest player I’ve ever played in my life and the best person,” said Serena.

“It’s going against your best friend and the greatest competitor, for me, in women’s tennis, so it was really difficult for me today.”

Venus said: “Losing isn’t fun, but probably the most gratifying part is I’m still very excited to see Serena have an opportunity to win the four majors.”

The six-time champion began and ended the match in clinical fashion, dropping

to her knees and screaming “Come on!” as she earned a match point and moments later firing down an ace.

After the first 33 minutes, Serena had succeeded in bringing a hush over the huge stadium as she began to dismantle her sister’s game.

Venus came out swinging but her younger sister made the breakthrough at 3-2, and would hit 15 winners and just two errors in a high-class opening set.

Serena has looked understandably on edge throughout her time in New York, however, as she closes in on a landmark achievement.

A double fault saw her slip 3-1 down in the second, and she looked upset as the crowd gave their backing to her underdog sister.

Venus broke again for 5-1 and came though a testing service game to force a final set that had seemed highly unlikely half an hour earlier.

Serena had prevailed in 10 final-set deciders at the Slams already this year though, and survived a tense opening game to then break with three blistering backhand winners.

There was plenty more huge hitting as Venus strained to recover the break, but Serena would not offer up another break point and clinched victory with her 12th ace after one hour and 38 minutes.

“Holding serve in the third set was huge,” said Serena. “She came out blasting and I was defending a lot. She has so much power so it was tough.” (BBC Sport)

Mayweather vows to quit after Berto fight

Floyd Mayweather remains adamant that his fight against Andre Berto in Las Vegas on Saturday will be his last.

American great Mayweather is unbeaten in 48 professional bouts and victory over Berto would see him equal Rocky Marciano’s career record of 49-0.

Many believe the 38-yearold will not be able to resist attempting to break Marciano’s mark, but Mayweather says his health is more important.

“If you stick around too long, anything can happen,” said Mayweather.

“I’m not really worried about losing, but I want to have a sharp mind. You can make a lot of money, but you still want to be able to walk and talk. Number 49 is my last fight.”

Mayweather’s unbeaten streak goes back to 1996, when he joined the paid ranks after winning a bronze medal at the Atlanta Olympics.

And the five-weight world champion, who will defend his WBC and WBA welterweight titles against compatriot

Berto at the MGM Grand, says he does not need to fight on to prove his greatness.

“People said throughout the years I was a coward, I was scared, I couldn’t beat Manny Pacquiao,” said Mayweather, who beat Pacquiao in the richest fight in history in May.

“They gave him so many accolades, called him an alltime great. But all these people had to eat their words.

“If he’s an all-time great, then what does that make me? If they’re saying he’s the fighter of the century, what does that make me?

“I’m going to be ‘The Best Ever’ until the day I die.”

Two-time world champion Berto, 32, goes into the fight as a big underdog, but Mayweather, perhaps wishing to bolster disappointing ticket sales, claims he has a genuine contest on his hands.

“He feels like he has nothing to lose, and when you’ve got a guy that’s put in that situation, it makes him work that much harder because he’s got a chance to be one of the top guys in the sport when I’m through,” said Mayweather.

Meanwhile, British boxer George Groves says taking on the WBC super-middleweight champion Badou Jack could be his last chance to gain a world title.

Groves, 27, was twice beaten by fellow British super-middleweight Carl Froch and brushed off criticism from the now retired former champion before the fight against the 31-year old GambianSwedish boxer, which is on the Mayweather undercard.

After Nottingham’s Froch said Groves was “more or less finished” following their last contest in 2014, Londoner Groves told the BBC: “I don’t think he was the fighter he once was after that fight because he retired!

“I don’t care what he says, he’s not a fighter any more, there is no rivalry. He’s a pundit now and his opinions need to be interesting.

“It’s a must-win fight. I’ve had two attempts at a world title and fell short so I will leave nothing to chance. This time round maybe I won’t get any more chances so I’ve got to make it count.” (BBC Sport)

Fixtures out for Stag Elite League –

Pele

and

GFC

to kick-off historic eight-team event

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

City sides Pele FC and Georgetown Football Club (GFC) are earmarked to go down in history as the two teams to be given the distinct honour of kicking off Guyana’s firstever Elite League, which is set for a grand take off on September 18.

The recently commissioned state-of-theart Synthetic Track and Field and Football Facility at Leonora, West Coast Demerara, will host the double-header on the opening day to signal the commencement of a professional structure for local football.

Pele and GFC, perennial

rivals as they are, will take the field at 17:00h to officially start the League, followed the feature clash at 20:30h between the country’s top two teams at the moment, Georgetown’s Alpha United and West Demerara’s Slingerz FC.

The main game is geared to potentially set the tone for the rest of the eightmonth League, as the two teams are tipped by many in footballing quarters as heavy favourites.

The following day, the action will switch to the Number Five ground in West Berbice where the other four participating teams will swing into action to complete the first round of the League.

The curtain raiser is an East Coast versus Georgetown showdown with Buxton United throwing down the gauntlet to the Tucville-based Fruta Conquerors unit at 18:00h, while Berbice top side Monedderlust FC will look to exploit home advantage against the Guyana Defence Force at 20:30h.

This first phase of the League, which is sponsored by Ansa McAl Trading, through the popular Stag Beer brand, is called the Genesis, and will comprise 14 rounds of competition.

At the end of the 14 rounds, the top four teams will advance to the semi-finals on November 27, while the final will be held two days later.

Other grounds identified to host matches in this

phase of the League are Georgetown Football Club, Enmore Community Centre ground, Demerara Cricket Club, Tucville and Guyana Defence Force.

Apart from securing one of the two spots to represent Guyana at the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship and probably the CONCACAF Champions League, a club could pocket as much as $10 million at the completion of the League.

The League will be split into two- Genesis and Finale- with the club coming out on top taking home $4 million, second $2 million, third $1 million and fourth $500,000. There will also be a $1 million bonus for the club with the most points at the end of both seasons.

gibbs open to helping spinners

Legendary West Indies off-spinner Lance Gibbs wants to see slow bowlers in the region play on better pitches and is encouraging upcoming spinners to seek out his knowledge of the art of spin bowling.

Speaking from his residence in Miami, the 80-yearold was articulating his thoughts on the state of spin bowling in the Caribbean and the recent news that Sunil Narine has opted not to play Test cricket currently due to slight concerns over his remodeled action.

For much of the last decade, spin bowlers generally were the leading wicket-takers in West Indies domestic cricket, but only Narine, Devendra Bishoo and Shane Shillingford (before he was called for chucking) have had an impact at international level.

The revolving door has continued with Chairman of Selectors Clive Lloyd, who happens to be a cousin of Gibbs, giving Barbadian

Jomel Warrican a call-up for the Sri Lanka tour.

“I believe the wickets in domestic cricket are too under-prepared and spinners are being made to look better than they are”, stated Gibbs, who was once Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker with 309 wickets in 79 Tests.

“In my day for example when we played in Barbados or Guyana, spinners had to

work hard for their wickets, because they were very good batting surfaces.

“The wickets in Guyana now and at times in Trinidad turn too excessively, which is not helping in proper development of spinners or batsmen and their ability to play spin.” Gibbs also questioned some of the bowling techniques of domestic spinners.

“When I was thought to

bowl spin, it was to be done with a high-arm action and delivering the ball at shoulder length where you literally would touch your ear.

This is one of the reasons why I believe those three [Narine, Bishoo and Shillingford] have had success [internationally]. He continued: “Other slow bowlers in the region I don’t see this and it’s a big handicap for them because a high-arm action allows a spinners to get bounce,

which is key to troubling batsmen at the highest level.

On Narine, he dismissed suggestions by some that the 27-yearold is only good enough in the shorter formats.

“I might suggest Narine should stop bowling the ‘doosra’ or any other deliveries that may complicate his action and just focus of perfecting the off-break and other line variations, because in my time spinners didn’t bowl that delivery.

“But Narine is certainly good enough to be an equal threat in Tests whenever he feels confident enough in his action to play that format again. I see no reason why he can’t replicate his white ball cricket form,” Gibbs said.

The well-spoken Gibbs also queried why to date his expertise hasn’t been solicited, especially when Australia’s off-spinner Nathan Lyon and Omari Banks did so in the past.

“I have been through the

mill and I believe I have sufficient knowledge to advise any young spinner, especially those in the Caribbean. When I was playing and toured India, I would talk to fellow and established offspinners such as Ghulam Ahmed (India, deceased), Ian Johnson (Australia) and Ray Illingworth and David Allen (England).

“Sir Frank Worrell (deceased) would tell me to leave Ian Johnson alone”, Gibbs recounted humorously.

He closed by imploring Narine and other Caribbean spinners to pick his brain.

“I did this because I wanted to perfect my craft when I went onto the field and it aided me. When Australia came in 2012, Nathan Lyon asked me for advice and one time Omari Banks came to my home in Miami for guidance. So if you in the media can call me, I hope our current spinners would do the same,” the legendary spinner concluded. (Trinidad Newsday)

Degree, Powerade cycling set for this weekend

This weekend will be a busy one for local riders as national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed has planned two cycling events to continue his programme of activities for 2015.

On Saturday, Mohamed will stage the 15th annual DeSinco Trading 11race programme, under the Degree brand at the inner circuit of the National Park.

The event will pedal off at 09:00h and will be headlined by the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational race, which was won by Team Coco’s Raynauth Jeffrey last year in a time of one hour, 16 minutes, 20.06 seconds (01h: 16m: 20.06s).

Some of the other category winners from 2014 were Jamal John (Juveniles), Jaikaran Sookhai (Veterans

Parika, before returning to Schoonord for the finish.

The Veteran, Mountain Bike and Female riders will turn at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground on the upward journey and end at Schoonord.

Team Gillette Evolution’s Orville Hinds is the defending champion, having clocked one hour, 55 minutes, 55 seconds (01h: 55m: 55s) to win the event in 2014.

Albion dissatisfied with Permaul’s omission

The Albion Community Centre Cricket Club (ACCCC) wishes to express its extreme disappointment at the non-selection of Veerasammy Permaul on the West Indies team for the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka.

In a release, ACCCC Secretary Vemen Walter spoke of the club’s dismay at the left-arm spinner’s omission for the series.

“Without any doubt, young Permaul should have been selected to accompany his fellow Guyanese and Albion club mate Devendra Bishoo once there is need for two specialist spinners and with there being no Sunil Narine, Permaul’s omission is very much mindboggling; more so, with the selection of fellow left-armspinner Jomel Warrican ahead of him,” the release stated.

Alonzo Ambrose (Juniors), Ralph Williams (Veterans) and Ozia Mcaulay (Mountain Bikes) were the other category winners.

The top six finishers in the Open division, along with the first three to cross

Under-50), Adrian Sharma (Mountain Bikes) and Toshawna Doris (Boys and Girls Open).

On Sunday, the riders will head to the West Demerara roadways for the fifth annual Powerade 50mile race from 08:00h. The race will commence in front of the Wales Police Station, proceed to Bushy Park,

the line in the Junior, Veteran, Mountain Bike and Female categories will be rewarded. The first Over60 rider to finish will also be recognised, while eight prime prizes will be at stake. Representatives of both companies are expected to witness the events and later assist in the presentation of prizes. (Avenash Ramzan)

The club argued that selections must be based purely on merit and performance and Permaul has undoubtedly fulfilled such criteria as his performance has been remarkable in all formats of the game for Guyana over the years and more so in recent times.

In all regional cricket this year, Permaul has captured 86 scalps in 25 regional matches (FirstClass, List A and T20s.

“This included a record breaking 67 wickets for 943 runs at a mere average of 14.7 in the last Regional First-Class season where he was also the leading wicket-taker. Additionally, he had also been among the runs, rattling up a total of 226 in the lower order at an average of 22.86 inclusive of an unbeaten 86 against Jamaica to showcase his ability with the bat, coupled with him also being among the best fieldsmen in the West Indies,” the release explained.

This is not the first time that Permaul, who has so far played six Test matches against five different opponents, capturing 18 wickets, has had to face the brunt of the Clive Lloyd-led West Indies’ selection panel, as there were two other instances earlier in this year where Sulieman Benn and Nikita Miller were preferred.

The release continued, “Yes, the selectors may want to argue that Permaul had played in two Test matches, one each in the two home series against England and Australia respectively earlier this year,

where he took only six wickets, including a best of 3-43 against England, but the big question is ‘was two Test matches enough for him to be sidelined when he was the top bowler in the Regional First-Class Tournament?”

A quick comparison of Permaul’s bowling performance as against Warrican in the 2014/2015 Regional First-Class tournament shows that the Guyanese is ahead by 18 wickets.

“Further, the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club would also like to take this opportunity to urge the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), to at least commence attending the Guyana Cricket Board’s meetings so that cricketers and cricket generally in Ancient County can have much needed representation. The Club is of the firm view that serious attention needs to be paid where the interest of Berbice cricketers are concerned and once the BCB attends the GCB’s meetings, Berbice cricketers and cricket as a whole will benefit from proper representation, not only at the GCB’s level, but by extension the West Indies Cricket Board,” the release concluded.

GFF meets UDFA on constitutional reform

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Officials of the Normalisation Committee of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) on Wednesday evening travelled to the Mining Town of Linden to meet with members of the Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA) on the issue of constitutional reform.

The meeting was held at the Linden Enterprise Network building on Republic Avenue, and was attended by Chairman of the Normalisation Committee Clinton Urling, GFF’s General Secretary Richard Groden and Assistant General Secretary Diedre Davis, and GFF’s Director of Marketing and Communications Rawle Toney.

According to Toney, the meeting was geared to chart the way forward for the UDFA to have its election after it would have adopted its new constitution. Up to press time, the meeting was ongoing (full details will be available in Friday’s publication).

The GFF’s next stops will be Essequibo and Bartica, two associations the local governing body has direct responsibility for, Toney pointed out.

UDFA ban lifted

In June this year, the Normalisation Committee concluded what had been described by Urling as a "very successful" Extraordinary Congress attended by FIFA's Head of Member Associations, Primo Cavaro.

Hosted at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, members of Congress were able to adopt the amended statutes of the GFF constitution.

They also reviewed and subsequently lifted the sanctions that were imposed on the UDFA executives by the previous GFF administration. Urling had said at a post-Congress press briefing that the meeting was "suc-

cessful" and "very cordial."

"It lasted just about an hour and a half, and we adopted unanimously the new statutues of the Guyana Football Federation. We also lifted the saunctions that were imposed on January 17, 2014, on the UDFA executives. They will now be able to participate in football and football related activities; they won't resume their roles as the executives of the UDFA," Urling had explained.

Those executives were Sharma Solomon, Collie Hercules, Terrence Mitchell,

Wayne Bethune, Rawle Johnson, Jeffrey Trotman, Ansawatt Barrett, Patrick Day and Clive Brushe.

The aforementioned officials of the UDFA were suspended by the Christopher Matthias-led GFF for playing their tournament final on January 1, 2014, at the MSC ground, simultaneously with the Georgetown Football Association’s (GFA) Banks Beer Cup Finals at the Guyana National Stadium.

Congress at the time believed that the two should not have been played on the same day, but the UDFA ex-

plained that the finals being played on New Year’s Day, 2014 meant a lot to the Linden community and as such, went ahead with the hosting of their finals.

Notably, all the associations present at the GFF Extraordinary Congress with the exception of the GFA voted for the suspension to be lifted with immediate effect.

Urling added, "This process today- the adoption of the constitution- is a first step. Again, our mandate continues as the Normalisation Committee. The next step is for us to go to every Member

Association; under the new constitution we have now 22 members, as opposed to before we had 12 members. So we have to ensure their constitution is in order and we also have to serve as the electoral body to supervise all those elections."

Following those elections, the GFF Congress will be held where an Executive Committee will be elected to lead the local governing body forward. It has since been announced that the GFF Congress is fixed for November 14.

WIPA resignation may have hurt Ramdin – Khan

The fact that wicketkeeper/batsman Denesh Ramdin resigned from the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) may have cost him his job as captain of the West Indies Test team.

This according to former West Indies Manager Omar Khan, who says that he understands that many of the senior players have resigned from the players’ body after they again negotiated a poor contract for them.

Khan said: “It is alleged that a number of senior West Indies players have resigned from the Players Association (WIPA) with Ramdin being one of them, and it seems as if this has cost him the captaincy.” Ramdin was replaced by ODI captain Jason Holder last week as captain of the Test team for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. The West Indies play two Test matches, three ODIs and two T20s on this tour and Holder will take charge of both the Tests and the ODIs, while a T20 captain is yet to be confirmed. Whether the West Indies selectors continue with St Lucian Darren Sammy or

choose another candidate is yet to be seen. Opener Kraigg Brathwaite will serve as deputy to Holder for the Test series.

Khan continued: “The relationship between the WICB and the WIPA is known to be very close and it may have been the thinking of the board that they needed their Test captain to be a member of the players body. I hope that this is not the case because if it is, then it is a very

sad state of affairs.”

Ramdin was one of the players who aborted the West Indies tour of India last October over a payment structure dispute between WIPA and the WICB.

“I cannot understand how they could have removed Ramdin from the post of captain. He skippered in 14 Test matches, won four, lost seven and drew three. This record was not bad given the fact that he was re-

building a team,” added Khan.

“All the other international teams have given their captains time to build their squad and it is unfortunate that Ramdin’s tenure has been cut short. The WICB has failed in terms of preparing their leaders. When you look at the other countries, they send their captain and those who they think could become leaders to seminars to develop them. This is not done at the WICB, they just ignore this and once they continue to operate in this manner our cricket will continue to be in the doldrums.”

Khan said he was totally puzzled at the current situation and would like those involved to come clean. “The WICB sends out a press release stating that the directors of the board unanimously agreed to remove Ramdin based on a recommendation from the selectors. Yet one of the directors Azim Bassarath comes out and says that he knew nothing of this and is not supporting the move. At the moment people are trying to fool the people of the Caribbean and it is about time someone speaks the truth.”