Guyana Times Daily - September 1, 2015

Fire destroys Guyoil Gas Station’s Providence Bond

Guyana/Venezuela border controversy… UN mission holds discussions with President Granger

tuesday, september 1, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

$36M for the National Task Force Commission

– works underway to restore Guyana’s beauty

In an effort to restore the country to its former glory by showcasing Guyana’s natural beauty and resources diverse in its forestry, rivers, soil type, minerals and numerous waterfalls, the recently established National Task Force Commission (NTFC) has begun works under its “Project Restore Guyana” initiative.

The NTFC has been awarded thirty-six million dollars by Cabinet for a sixmonth duration until the other budget is presented in 2016, where funding should be continued throughout the next five years. Though the NTFC is yet to receive the monies, work is already underway.

This is according to Retired Major General Joe Singh, who during a media briefing at the Public Infrastructure Ministry on Monday. Singh stated that there has been significant deterioration of many aspects of the Guyanese life including unplanned settlements, inadequate traffic flows, garbage buildup and occasional flooding in many areas.

As such, the National Task Force Commission will be focusing on five important issues which revolve around drainage, traffic management, sustainable urban, rural and hinterland physical structure renewal and solid waste management and derelict vehicle removal.

Last but not least the welfare management of the homeless, addicted and mentally challenged will also be a key issue for the commission.

GuyanaTimes was told that the major failures in Guyana which have affected

the country in the past and continue in the present are the failure to enforce laws and standards, lack of physical planning for growth and renewal and the lack of routine and necessary maintenance.

The general neglect of the poor, homeless, aged, disabled and other unfortunate members of society is also a main part of the reason for the country’s failures.

Singh explained that the mission of the Task Force is to restore Guyana as a land of great attractiveness and prosperity and one which offers a goof life for all its citizens and visitors.

According to Retired Major General Singh, the vision for a rehabilitated, restored and renewed Guyana will see civic pride being restored, all Guyanese enjoying a “good life” and for the country to become a hub for commerce, tourism and development.

Below sea level

As it relates to the issue of drainage, it was stated that the City and six towns all drain into the Atlantic Ocean, all below sea level at high tide. This situation is worsened by alleyways, main and lateral drains, and drainage canals often being blocked by heavy vegetation and solid waste, he explained.

“This problem is compounded by lack of maintenance on sluices and outfalls. Our mission is to develop a drainage mechanism that effectively drains the country during periods of heavy rainfall while reducing the obstructions to economic activity as well as the health and livelihood of citizens... Solid

waste generation is a huge-by product of modern living and can have a negative impact on the quality of life of communities and the environment in particular,” the head of the NTFC noted.

Guyana Times was told that solid waste management seems to be a monumental problem in almost every community, and as such, the NTFC’s mission on this issue is to recommend well developed ‘best practices’ which can be employed in all areas of Guyana. These are to include predictable garbage collection, recycling, conversion of organic waste into compost and the removal of derelict vehicles.

As for the area of traffic management, the problem is that there is an increase in the number of commercial and personal vehicles over the years and ‘urban sprawl’ along the East and West Banks, and the West Coast of Demerara. This has rendered Guyana’s road network and with Georgetown being the only city, numerous people are travelling to and from it every day for business and

leisure.

With this in mind, the NTFC’s mission is to recommend actions to address road safety, traffic congestion and lack of parking as well as to expand the road network while introducing and maintaining sustainability.

Retired Major General Singh further stated that countrywide decay is very visible in many areas of Guyana.

The poor quality of the buildings, national monuments and public spaces, the lack of proper maintenance, along with insufficient space to respond to growing social

demands have degraded living conditions.

“Our mission is to recommend a more balanced national structure that is less environmentally demanding, systems of enforcement against the use of non-environmentally friendly pesticides; and buildings and sites for preservation… For welfare management of the homeless, addicted and mentally challenged as they are encountered in other goals the mission is to recommend actions to address the issue in cases where they affect the implementation of the other goals,” the media was told. It was further stated that the NTFC has already set goals and timelines for its “deliverables.”

Students from city schools brawl…

In September this year, there will be a summary report derived from research and public consultation and in October 2015 there will be a draft restoration plan including detailed plan and budget for phase one activities. November 2015 will see the final restoration plan and between this month to May 2016, the monitoring of the implementation of phase one will be conducted.

Teenager stabs another with bottle over old grievance

One student of Queenstown Secondary School and another of St George’s High School were rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital on Monday afternoon nursing injuries following a brawl on Church Street, in Georgetown. The teenagers who are both 13 years old, reside at Bent Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown.

According to information received, the two teenagers were involved in a heated argument when one of them broke a bottle and dealt one blow to the other, injuring him to the left shoulder. During the scuffle, the aggressor received injuries to his mouth and thumb.

Speaking with Guyana Times, the injured student

from St George’s High School explained that he was in the school’s compound when he saw the other student and enquired about his business at the school.

In turn, the youngster reportedly told him that “mine yuh effing business, before I jook yuh up”. Upon hearing the hostility in his voice, the young man explained that he walked away but was attacked from the back.

“He come from behind and push me, so I turn around and chuck he and the fight start… is then he collect a bottle, burst it and bore me to meh shoulder”, the injured youngster stated. The security guard who was at St George’s High School then rushed to part the two young men. Both of them had blood stains on their uniforms.

On the other hand, the alleged aggressor stated that he was sent to the school to drop off lunch for his sister when he saw the other young man. He stated that the St George’s High School lad started the fight following an argument over an old grievance between the two.

He nevertheless admitted that he broke the bottle and stabbed the other child to his shoulder. By this time, he stated that it was at the point that the guard came and parted them. They both were taken to the hospital where they were treated and sent away.

The matter has been reported and an investigation has been launched into the incident.

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, September 1 – 05:00h-06:30h and Wednesday, September 2 – 05:00h-06:30h

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

September 1 – 06:00h-07:30h and Wednesday, September 2 – 06:45h-08:15h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Berbice Toll reductions on hold…. Govt refuses to consider BBCI’s cash flow challenges

– Directors to meet stakeholders on implications of Government’s demands

Due to Government’s apparent reluctance to honour requests made by the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI), the toll reductions will not take effect from today, September 1 as had been promised by the Finance Minister, Winston Jordan.

The Bridge Company is asking that the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) Administration adhere to the legally binding Concession Agreement between the Government of Guyana and the BBCI which outlines the Toll Formula in which the fees for commuters crossings should be adjusted periodically.

The Company simply advised that any agreement to subsidise the BBCI without honouring the toll adjustment formula set out in the Concession Agreement will result in it defaulting on its obligation to repay debt in 2015 and result in possible insolvency.

However, Government, in a press release issued to the media on Monday, said that it would not approve of such an “unreasonable charge”.

“There now appears to be other forces who want to use the Government as a compensatory mechanism for a faulty investment model of the Berbice Bridge, one that seeks to impose a further 55 per cent increase in tolls on an already suffering population. Such an unreasonable charge will not be countenanced by our Government,” Finance Minister Jordan stated in the release.

The Finance Minister is holding out that unlike what has been stated by BBCI, the Company would not suffer any losses since the government would pay the Company the difference between what is now charged and the reduced charge -

in effect a subsidy to the commuters. However, the Minister did not provide any information to validate his assertion.

He argued that the public was being inconvenienced and urged the Company to move swiftly to reduce the tolls so as to remove the “burden” on the people of Guyana.

The Bridge Company explained, however, that because of the then APNU and AFC Opposition’s successful motion pass a motion to lower the tolls in the 10th Parliament - at a time when the Company had to begin repaying the prin-

ment to investors is required; therefore, the reduction in the tolls, even with Government’s subsidy at the present rate would not allow for the BBCI to meet its obligations and plunge it into bankruptcy.

Since it began its operations, reports indicate that the common shareholders of the Berbice Bridge have never received a single dollar in dividends on their $400 million investment over the past eight years.

Meanwhile, Government, in its release, said the Bridge Company made some inaccurate statements regarding the toll reductions.

cipal on one tranche of its bonds - the PPPC government has not approved for adjusting the toll structure. Consequently, the Company faced tremendous pressures in meeting its financial commitments. Dividends to the preferred shareholder NIS were deferred and as in every year of the Bridge’s operations no dividend was paid to ordinary shareholders. The Company explained that the increase in the demand for cash was supposed to have been met by the increases in the tolls – as set out in the legal agreement.

The Company then explained that in 2015, another $500 million in bond principal debt repay-

The Minister insisted that the Company would not be enduring any reductions, but rather, will continue to receive the full amount of the current approved toll, only now a part would be met by the Government.

Secondly, the Finance Minister denied committing his Government to make way for further discussions on the compromise proposal to extend he concessions period from 21 years to 40 years instead of the increase in tolls – requests which were made to the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration on March 15.

“Contrary to that assertion, my record of the

meeting indicates that I restated the intention of the Government to facilitate lower tolls for users of the Bridge to bring some relief to the people of Regions 5 and 6.

“Mr Ravi Ramcharitar, who led the Company’s team, which included Director Bert Carter and the Company’s CEO and Finance Manager, responded that the Company was not opposed to the decision by the Government, but that the announcement coincided with the need for the Company to have a toll increase,” the Finance Minister said.

He added that an application was made to the PPP/C Government, but no response was forthcoming. It was at that stage that “Ramcharitar presented me with a copy of an incomplete copy (without the attachments referred to in the letter) of the letter of March 15, 2015”.

“I responded that I was prepared to enter into a series of discussions on matters of mutual interest, beginning with the reductions announced in the Budget Speech.

“It was with Mr Ram, and not with me, that the Company indicated that it would like discussions to take place on extending the concession period from 21 years to 40 years, or for the Government to consider its letter to the PPP/C as an application to this Government for a toll increase,” the Minister stated.

The Directors of BBCI have indicated that because of their fiduciary responsibilities to shareholders, debt holders and their trustee, they have to guided by their decision and have to meet them to decide on a way forward apart from the contracted agreement between the BBCI and the GoG.

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

Return of Development Support Communications?

Initially it had been thought that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s upbraiding of the reporter who wrote what became a headline story in the State owned Chronicle that the Government had “blundered” in its Budget presentation in the National Assembly, was done in a fit of personal pique. However, subsequent revelations and announcements indicate that it might have been the distillation of his Government’s policy towards the media.

Even though the Prime Minister afterwards insisted that he did not “upbraid” the reporter, but he was “disappointed... very disappointed” with the story and headline, it appeared to most objective observers as a distinction without a difference. This was emphasised when in an editorial the Chronicle quickly said, “Our newspaper is owned by the State, and is, therefore, expected to editorially support the general thrust of the Government of the day. The Government then has a right to set out the broad parameters within which the paper operates.” The inherent contradictions in conflating “State” and “Government” and their authoritarian implications have been noted by several commentators, including some who are very favourably disposed to the Government.

Within days of the above articulation, Minister of the State, Joseph Harmon announced that the Government was working on a “media policy”, noting pointedly that “the media, as the fourth eState, is an important element in the governance of a country and therefore it is not something you can touch or do as you want.... But what we are saying now is that the media must act responsibly and that if you are reporting on Government business, you must be fair balanced and objective.” It is noteworthy that when in Opposition, Nagamootoo was one of the most vociferous critics of governmental encroachment on what the media published. The challenge had always been who would decide what was “fair and balanced.”

In any country, when policies are articulated, policymakers cannot be oblivious to the history of the area of national life which the policies will impact. In the case of the media, Guyanese have experienced a very checkered history that would suggest extreme caution when seeking to “guide” the “fourth eState”. The Prime Minister’s outburst, the State newspaper’s defence and the Minister of State’s announcement all suggest that Guyana might be revisiting a particular view of the media that was first articulated in the 1970’s.

In 1974, Kit Nascimento, Minister of State responsible for “Information” announced, “as much as we may like, we cannot simply import the libertarian ideas of and concepts of press freedom first voiced by men like Descartes, Locke and Milton, into countries such as ours without examination.” The Government then announced the policy of “Development Support Communications” (DSC) that would guide the media in Guyana.

Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, who had just proclaimed the paramountcy of the party over the Government, and –by subsequent actions such as flying the People’s National Congress flag over the Appellate Court – over the State, said: The Government “has a right to own sections of the media and the Government has a right, as a final arbiter of things national, to formulate a policy for the media so that the media can play a much more important part that it has played in the part of mobilising the people for the development of the people.” Burnham made the fine distinction that Government would not tell the media what not to print or broadcast but to “direct” the media as what to print and broadcast. To achieve this end, Guyanese journalists were to receive a two year subsidised course at University of Guyana in the finer points of the DSC. But whatever the presumably noble intentions to harness the media to the developmental thrust, Guyana’s experience with the DSC policy was tragic. It resulted in total governmental control of the media after the Government nationalised several entities and denied newsprint to others. Government should proceed on this path with extreme caution.

Better must come from State-owned media

Dear Editor, I have been following the discussion of the role and responsibilities of the Stateowned media in Guyana especially against the backdrop of the Chronicle headline issue and the reported but denied decision of the Prime Minister to have the headlines in each day’s edition of the newspaper monitored by a political functionary.

Let me at the outset say that if the reports of the Prime Minister’s decision are accurate then this is a sad day for democracy and press freedom in Guyana. I am aware of the reported level of political interference that existed under the previous Administration but the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Government has taken office with a pledge to lead in the shaping of a new Guyana and certainly political interference

in even the State-owned media does not represent the type of change, in my view, Guyana needs at this time.

State ownership of the media presents challenges to those who function therein as Editors and Reporters. They must strike a balance between dispelling the perception that citizen’s have towards it as the Government’s mouthpiece and serving the citizenry’s interest by producing/publishing content relevant to national development including the efficient provision of social services.

Governments have an interest in remaining in office and often see the state-owned media as a critical vehicle for attaining this objective. This poses a challenge to Editors and Reporters who, unless they are truly professional and brave, find it hard if not impossible to resist political interference. However, Governments

should refrain from political interference in the Stateowned media and let their programmes and track record speak for them instead. This however requires that Stateowned media operatives are professional, objective, experienced, honest, fair, balanced and have a commitment to country rather than political party. Hence there should be an independent Public Media Commission that would oversee the appointment of senior State media operatives and interact periodically with these appointees to review performance and discuss broad content policy. Training of the younger and junior operatives in the media must also be a priority.

Just yesterday on a Facebook page, Lincoln Lewis referred to the cultural penetration that has now facilitated addition to the Guyanese

parlance of Spring Break and Winter Sale. Many of the comments lamented this cultural penetration. But the world is now a global village thanks to ongoing technological developments. Sovereignty in terms of information and communication flow is now legal fiction. This places increased responsibility on local media, especially State-owned and particularly radio and television, to develop and use more local content. This requires investment in the creative industries which must be supported through subventions to the state-owned media as well as Private Sector efforts. Better must come to and from the media in general including the State-owned media houses in Guyana. It is time.

Yours truly, Wesley Kirton

The great mythical progress of GPL

Dear Editor,

In a letter published recently in the media, Samuel Hinds, former Prime Minister (PM) and Minister responsible for Energy and Electricity in the previous People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government, gave insights of the discord which plagued Guyana Power and Light (GPL) during his tenure until he was relieved of his duties earlier this year. It was clear from his missive that the newly elected A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government took over a utility that was dysfunctional and in disarray as Hinds, who lacked transformational leadership with both vision and expertise, failed in his attempts to successfully address the management, operational and financial problems which had plagued GPL over the years.

Significant of his many failures as Prime Minister was the Vreed-en-Hoop Generating Station Project (VGSP). He claimed that when the GPL Board presented VGSP for construction, he had to make a quick decision to have it built in a hurry as it was badly wanted and needed by the PPP Government. His approval for

construction to start was based on his best judgment of what turned out to be questionable cost estimates, a dubious completion date and no detail design of the structure and its foundation. The foreshore site Hinds authorized for the construction of VGSP was at the mouth of the Demerara River, North-west of the Vreed-enHoop Ferry Stelling on a patch of land with poor soil characteristics to build anything on. No load test was carried out to determine the bearing capacity of the piles for the foundation of VGSP and as construction progressed the Engineer noted that as a result of the poor soil conditions encountered during pile driving, longer piles were required to support the load of the generating plant. Accordingly, design changes were made resulting in the slow delivery and increased driving time for longer wooden piles which adversely affected construction progress. To get VGSP back on its completion deadline, Wärtsilä the power plant manufacturer was asked whether concrete piles could be substituted for wooden piles to speed up construction. The answer given was “no’’ as there could

be no substituting as was reported by Hinds. Any change to the design of VGSP had to be approved in the first instance by the Design Engineer and not Wärtsilä. Also, there was no conceivable reason why concrete piles could not have been substituted for timber piles for the foundation of this structure since they are better suited to withstand the harsh environment where VGSP was built and a mixture of pile types to support the given loading was not technically challenging to construct. It is incomprehensible therefore that Wärtsilä, a reputable manufacturing company could have given GPL such an opinion in light of the fact that concrete piles were used extensively to support the loads of many important structures in Guyana.

PM Hinds claims that in his view there was no wasting of time and money in the construction of VGSP although the project experience large time and cost overruns which as he conceded were due to the lack of knowledge and experience of GPL personnel to execute large complex projects. He further failed to have understood that expediency was no excuse for GPL to undertaken projects for which it did not have the competent staff to execute and in the process caused the Utility to chalk-up large time and cost overruns since constructing a complex project without first satisfying clearly outlined procedures for project execution was a recipe for disaster. Therefore GPL made no great progress during his ministerial oversight which he so proudly extolled since the investments he approved to make the Utility reliable and cost effective were wasted on costly undertakings for system improvements which never materialize as the high cost for power, black-outs and brownouts still existed when he exited. It is expected that the newly installed management of GPL by the APNU/AFC Government will make a difference provided that the existing incompetent incumbents are replaced by qualified and competent personnel working as a team to achieve the set objectives of the Utility.

Sincerely, Charles

Sohan

Minister Roopnaraine should acknowledge outstanding performance of SVN students

Dear Editor, Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, in commenting on the results of the May-June 2015 CSEC results and in an apparent reference to the number of subjects written by the two students of SVN (Guyana Times, 8/17/2015), expressed his belief that students are able to cope with “that number of subjects” because the “intensity” of the curriculum has been diluted.

Coming to the first of the Minister’s concern, are our students really writing too many subjects? Before we can adequately answer this question, we would need to know what constitutes “many subjects.” Where does one draw the line between the ideal and excessive numbers? Are there any objective criteria to determine the appropriate number or will limiting the number of subjects simply be an arbitrary and capricious intervention?

Next, we will also need to know the percentage of students who appear for “too many” subjects and the schools they come from. There is one published list of the 47 students who obtained 11 grade ones and more. This amounts to a mere 0.37 per cent of the 12,606 who wrote the examinations, and out of this list of 47 (0.37 per cent), only seven students had 16 and more subjects to their

credit.

Even if one looked at the other larger list of 172 (1.36 per cent) students with eight Grade Ones and more, it appears that only a miniscule number of students opt for “many” subjects at the CSEC exams. If we were to exclude this number, much does not remain to substantiate the Minister’s assertion.

On the diluting of the curriculum, here again the published information does not support such a claim. One simply can’t make a sensible pronouncement on the intensity, or otherwise, of the curriculum based a mere 0.37 per cent of the results. The sample is too small on which to base such a sweeping generalisation. A consideration of the larger list of 172 students leaves us in the same predicament.

Furthermore, it is noted that while the list of the top 47 students is spread out among 11 schools, two schools alone account for 30 of them. Similarly, in the larger list of 172 students six schools alone, four of which are in the city, account for 109 students while 26 schools accounted for the remaining 63 students. Can this justifiably lead one to the “dumbing down” claim?

Can our overall pass rate of 62.72 per cent serve as an indicator of Dr Roopnaraine’s claim? Probably not. Overall

pass rates also do not say much of a school’s performance. A school can have 100 per cent pass rate but all in Grade Threes and another with 90 per cent can have all its students fail English and Mathematics.

Returning to our actual performance, we know that only 35 schools (there are more than 100 secondary schools in Guyana) have recorded a pass rate of 60 per cent and more. What is the story of the other 75 schools or thereabouts? Additionally, of the 35 schools, the results are further skewed by the fact that 10 are in Georgetown, with seven of these having a total average pass rate of more than 90 per cent. In the presence of these stark anomalies, how can we meaningfully speak of curriculum dilution?

It is truly regrettable that Minister Roopnaraine, in his public statements, completely ignored the achievements of Victoria Najab and Vamanadev Hiralal, the two SVN students who topped our country. Instead of sharing in the joy of these two young brilliant scholars of whom all Guyana should be proud, he engaged in what has been perceived as a depreciation, if not a disparagement, of their accomplishment.

Yours faithfully, Swami Aksharananda

For a post-release rehabilitation centre in Guyana

Dear Editor, I read with longing anxiety the story written by Leonard Gildarie, titled “Are we guilty of creating criminals?”

Gildarie allowed his readers a glimpse into his private life by sharing a little of his emotional past. He spoke of the death of his parents at a tender age and made the connection between the possibility of him becoming a deviant statistic and the notorious manner in which our young, first-time offenders a retreated.

His argument is that we need to have programmes that focus more on rehabilitation rather than mere punishment.

Growing up in the ghetto of Laing Avenue (across from Albouystown) to a single parent and being designated as a “troubled youth” before having worked with the Indiana Department of Corrections (USA), both as a Criminologist and Prison Chaplain, have allowed me to witness firsthand, both sides of the realities of which Gildarie wrote.

It was not uncommon to see a youngster enter the prison system accused with a minor offence, only to be released and then rearrested for a worse crime. Offenders often claim to have learnt the criminal behaviour in jail.

Gildarie questioned the availability of statistics

Response to Ingrid Goodman’s letter

Dear Editor,

Regarding Ingrid Goodman’s “Violence is a product of our society”, I felt compelled to refer to two issues raised in her letter: “ethnic related unresponsiveness to social, and mental health awareness”, and “violence is a product of our society”.

Indeed, Guyana is racially diverse, yet we fail to render this diversity as a strength. It is good that the author is making contributions to much needed social and mental health matters. She reported that the majority of folks who showed up for her lectures on social and mental health awareness are of Afro-Guyanese decent and that her experience is also shared by Indo-Guyanese activists, however in small numbers. She then suggested that the lack of attendance by Indo-Guyanese at her lectures indicates a lack of interest. I respectfully disagree. In my opinion, the main underlying reason for the absence of Indo-Guyanese at these meetings is an inability to connect with them. Professionals are well aware that folks will shun mental health interventions if the environment is unconducive, unfriendly or otherwise. Social and mental health issues are highly sensitive and must be given great consideration. In support of this claim, I must point out that the scientific literature overwhelmingly stresses the importance of

racial and ethnic variables as critical determinants that play into the avoidance of mental health seeking. Yet we fail to cue into this.

Guyanese are hurting and the towering suicide rate and alcoholism within the IndoGuyanese community, as well as the disproportionate levels of violence arising out of the AfroGuyanese community speaks volumes. Guyanese need psychological help and some of the problems of this country are a direct reflection of our poor psychological wellbeing.

It is critically important to have a racially diverse work force in a society like ours. However, this has been neglected in our society for almost half a century. We must realise that creating conducive environments specifically tailored to those who need help is pivotal for successful interventions. Multiethnic societies across the world strive for a racially diverse work force compared to the critical lack of diversity in our agencies, such as at the Human Services Ministry. How can this agency be sensitive to social and mental health issues arising from a diverse population when in itself it lacks diversity? Surely, this contributes to our high rates of suicide, alcoholism and other mental health issues. The ongoing racial discrimination within the public service doesn’t help the situation.

Like Ms Goodman, I also believe that violence in this

country is a direct product of its uniquely poor dynamics. Most Guyanese, if not all, irrespective of race or ethnicity, are affected by poverty which is one variable implicated in crime and violence. However, the oddity is that Afro-Guyanese young men are disproportionately involved in crime and violence as widely reported across all news outlets in this country.

In my view, parents as well as society can put a tremendous dent into this problem by instilling better moral values into children. This idea has life to it and can be further supported through an understanding of The Real Root Cause of Violent Crime: The Breakdown of Marriage, Family and Community by Patrick F Fagan, PhD. Moreover, it is heart wrenching that our vulnerable young men are paid a few dollars as hitmen. This too is widely circulated news in this country and our callous society wastes no time taking advantage of the situation. Even, our activists /politicians joined the dysfunctional fray by egging them into violence while protecting their own. So yes, without reservation, I agree with Ms Goodman that violence is a product of the unique dysfunctional dynamics in our society.

In summation, society should understand that all lives are equal irrespective of race. Parents need to be in tune with their children, nurturing them with better moral values

and bringing them in line with the norms of society. Failure to do this will continue to erode our society. We need to immediately halt this kind of atrocity by having frank discussions. Until we engage in such, we will continue to suffer as a nation.

Yours sincerely,

Cecil Dilip Kumar

to helpus forge our crimefighting policies in Guyana. Unfortunately, there isn’t much statistical data available. However, according to the Guyana Prison Service (GPS) Strategic Plan 20102015 “…more youth are involved in crime” and “more youths are coming into the prisons for a number of offenses including those of violence in one form or another.”

The Prison Strategic Plan goes on to note that “these youths are invariably, functionally illiterate, and in many instances, school dropouts from predominantly single parent families.”

Since 2001, this strategic plan was commissioned and funded. It was published in 2011, yet in 2015 the citizens await its implementation.

A precursory observation of the prison system in Guyana will find that more than 60 per cent of the current 1960 inmates are repeat offenders of which 68 per cent – are age 16-35,”. This shows that our youths are going in and out of prison with absolutely no stop-gap methods in place to reduce their re-incarceration.

In reviewing these published statistics and troubling reality, it becomes obvious why President David Granger would take upon himself the humanitarian and conscionable task of reducing the incarceration time of a select group of these offenders. For decades now, the system has failed these troubled youths.

The Prison Strategic Plan, also highlights that “… withinthe time frame (20012010), recidivism has increased by over100 per cent.”

The report noted that, “These trends suggest that the GPS needs to analyse profiles of recidivists as well as conducting a comprehensive review of its rehabilitation programmes.”

The report also promised

that the plan would “contribute to the reduction of recidivism by 50 per cent by the end of 2015,” through “More aggressive rehabilitation programmes.” What we know anecdotally is that since 2010 both crime and recidivism have increased.

In January 2010, the prison population was 2,100. If the plan was implemented, the number of inmates, would have been reduced to about 1100 at the end of 2015.However, as of June this year, the figure stands at 1962. The 40-60 pardoned by the President contributed no noticeable changes to the prison population over the last five years.

It’s not very likely that the new Public Security Minister would have had time to analyse this 35 page report. However, there must be advisors to provide him with this information, as he seeks to structure a comprehensive crime reductionplan.

Gildarie ended his passionate article by noting, “that maybe we need some‘halfway’ facilities for non-violent prisoners. There needsto be a holistic approachin fighting crime…” Ever since 2009 I have been suggesting that Guyana needs a post-release rehabilitation centre. A facility geared at providing a formal transitioning of the inmate, from prison back into society. The facility would be a self-sustaining outfit that provides housing, academictutelage, drug rehabilitation, job training and placement and spiritual formation. I therefore concur with Gildarie and it would have been a travesty of emotional empathy for me to not let him know that I share his pain.

Sincerely, Pastor Wendell Jeffrey

Page Foundation

– make your child’s first days easier by getting organised and staying positive

Whether your child is moving to a new neighbourhood or making the leap to middle or high school, the first few weeks may be filled with anxiety as well as excitement. These 11 tips will help your child make a smooth transition to his or her new school.

1. Make it a team effort

If you’re choosing between a few schools, talk with your child about what each one has to offer. When it comes time to select specific classes, make sure your child is part of the process.

2. Keep a positive focus

As the first day draws near, begin talking to your child about her expectations, hopes, and fears for the upcoming school year. Reassure her that other children are having the same feelings and that she’s sure to have a great year. Present school as a place where she’ll learn new things and make friends.

3. Encourage school involvement

4. Get enough sleep

... finding the right niche can help your child feel happier at school

If your child has enjoyed a vacation of late nights and lazy mornings, getting him up for school on the first day can be difficult. Help make this transition easier

with a friend and scout out safe houses to go to in case of emergency. If you can find out what classroom your child will be in, visit the classroom ahead of time so she knows exactly where to go in the morning. You may even want to call the school in advance to find out about any special first-day procedures.

by starting his school-year sleep routine a week or two in advance.

5. Take a trial run

Take some time before the start of school to make sure you and your child know where to go and what to do on that first morning. Show your child where the bus stop is, or, if she walks, map out the safest route to school, avoiding vacant lots and places where there aren’t a lot of people. Warn your child to always walk

Though you don’t want your teenager to become over-committed, it’s important to encourage participation in one or two activities that particularly interest him. He’s more likely to engage academically if he feels connected through a school activity, club, or sport. Talk to him about his goals for the school year and how he might like to be involved in school outside of the classroom.

6. Stock up on supplies

On or before the first day of school, make sure you or your child finds out what school supplies and materials are required. Most schools should provide a handy list for the lower grades, but if not, take it upon yourself to ask and then purchase the items as soon as possible. Middle and high school students should bring a notebook and pen or pencil on the first day.

7. Prepare the night before To avoid the morning rush, organise what you can the night before. Lay out clothes, make a lunch and assemble any supplies your child may need. Be sure to get everyone up extra early so you’ll have plenty of time to calmly get ready and get out the door on time.

8. Get a healthy start

Encourage your child to eat a good breakfast and pack a healthy snack to help her get through the day.

9. Accompany your little one

Even if your elementary school child will be riding the bus regularly or walking to school, you may want to take him yourself on the first day, particularly if he seems nervous.

10. Introduce yourselves Young children are often shy with a new teacher. If you take your child to school on the first day, you might want to go into the classroom and introduce your child to the teacher. Let the teacher know about any special interests or challenges that your child has.

11. Read up about school Reading books together about school is a good way to establish the reading habit and to start conversations about school excitement and fears. (www.greatschools.org)

BY PATTI GHEZZI

As a parent, you want your children to get good grades. But you also want them to be happy, to have friends, and to enjoy going to school each day.

Making friends is an important part of your child’s school experience and may even have an impact on her grades. If your child has found her niche in her classroom’s social scene, she’s more likely to do well academically, says Sheneka Williams, an assistant professor at the University of Georgia’s College of Education. “Children with that sense of belongingness are not feeling threatened,” Williams says. “They are more likely to be able to focus and feel comfortable at school.”

For some children, making friends comes naturally from a young age. Others struggle to fit in. Even children who usually make friends easily can hit a rough patch when they change schools, are assigned to a different class than their best friend, or get into an argument.

“Just about every child struggles socially at some time and in some way,” says Eileen Kennedy-Moore, coauthor of The Unwritten Rules of Friendship: Simple Strategies To Help Your Child Make Friends. She suggests these steps for helping a child through a difficult social time:

1. Empathise, but don’t overreact

Your son may say he “hates Chris’ guts” one day but be back sitting next to him in the cafeteria the next. Don’t rush

to try to solve your child’s problem. Just listen and give an extra hug.

2. Get the facts

“Children, by definition, lack perspective,” KennedyMoore says. “They may be teased by one person and feel everyone is picking on them.”

Remind your child that disagreements are a normal part of friendships.

3. Respect your child’s personality

“If your child doesn’t want to be the life of the party, that’s okay,” Kennedy-Moore says, adding that this revelation can be hard for a parent who is more of a social butterfly.

4. Offer guidance Some children pick up on social cues easily, while others need more help. For example, your child might not be able to perceive the difference between an accidental slight and an intentional one.

5. Seek help

“If the situation is going on and on and is causing distress, get professional help,” Kennedy-Moore says. A school counselor or paediatrician is a good place to start. Sometimes it’s hard to know whether a child is having serious problems fitting in at school as opposed to just the usual ups and downs. Kennedy-Moore offers this hint: “Do they have someone to sit with at lunch? If they’re comfortable in the cafeteria, parents can probably worry less.”

What parents can do

If your child is having a hard time making friends, it’s difficult to know when to intervene and how much involvement is appropriate. Natalie Madorsky Elman, co-author with Kennedy-Moore of The Unwritten Rules of Friendship, encourages parents to step back as much as possible when a child is having a dispute with a pal.

“Whenever you can, allow your child to resolve their conflicts on their own,” she says. “That is the preferred way.” But if your child is being picked on, bullied, or excluded, you may need to get involved by teaching your child how to handle difficult situations. For children who are being excluded or treated badly, parents can encourage them to find other friends. “It’s important for children to understand they should not want to stay with friends who treat them unkindly,” Elman says. “When a child says, ‘You can’t sit with us,’ the child can respond, ‘I don’t want to sit with you.’ ” Parents often want justice for their child, a resolution that involves punishment for the children who said mean things. But a child can learn more from the experience if she responds on her own, Elman says. “This gives the child a chance to make a choice and stand up for herself.”

(www.schoolfamily.com)

Fire destroys Guyoil Gas Station’s Providence Bond

– millions of dollars in losses suffered as Fire Service launches probe

Millions of dol-

lars went up in flames when a fire of unknown origin occurred at the Guyoil Gas Station, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD) on Monday evening causing significant damage to property.

Around 20:00h, passersby noticed smoke emanating from the bond and immediately sounded an alarm. Witnesses explained that warning sirens instantly went off and workers began organising themselves to address the situation.

Eyewitnesses say the Guyana Fire Service re-

sponded promptly, within 10 minutes, and immediately began to extinguish the fire.

When the Guyana Times arrived on the scene shortly after, four fire engines were there and fire-fighters were busy trying to contain the flames.

Curious and concerned onlookers stopped in their tracks to witness the catastrophic sight before them, expressing fear that the entire structure would blow up.

“I was in the station filling up my tank and then all I see is smoke coming out from the back. Next I know,

explosions start happening and things start pitching up in the air,” a bus driver told this publication.

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle told media operatives that the phones were ringing off the hook at the Guyana Fire Service as people kept calling to report the fire. He said the alarms were instantly sounded and four units responded immediately.

Right away, the firemen realised the tremendous danger of the situation and began to work diligently to prevent the flames from reaching the gas tanks.

“Four units responded…one from Diamond, one from West Ruimveldt and two units from Central Fire Station…right away we went into industrious firefighting operations, because we realised that this is petroleum products we were dealing with, extremely different from a basic house fire,” Gentle explained.

He noted that in excess of $4 million worth of foam and other chemicals were exhausted to contain the blaze, which destroyed thousands of dollars worth of petroleum products.

“This threat we don’t handle lightly, because it has the propensity to expand, to deteriorate or to get into a next phase very

rapidly. This is petroleum products and this does not take any bluff,” Gentle remarked as he lauded the fire-fighters for a job well done.

Up to press time, he was unable to determine the origin of the fire; the investigations will commence today.

Meanwhile, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson also arrived on the scene shortly after to inspect the damage.

Speaking to media operatives, Patterson lauded the Fire Service for a job well done. He explained that he was still at work when he received the message and

felt obligated to visit the scene.

In 2008, an electrical fire erupted at the same facility. Reports indicated that electrical works were ongoing when suddenly, thick black smoke began to engulf the area aback the Service Station. A prompt response from the Guyana Fire Service averted any major calamity from occurring.

Only recently, a fire erupted at the Rubis Gas Station on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, after a fuel barrel burst into flames.

Reports are that a ‘bush truck’ containing several fuel barrels was parked

alongside a pump station when one of the barrels burst into flames. Again, quick response prevented any further damage.

Prior to that incident, a fire had erupted at the Two Brothers Gas Station, Eccles, East Bank Demerara. In this instance, a “bush truck” had burst into flames and the blaze immediately began to spread. Nonetheless, the Fire Service managed to contain the inferno.

Meanwhile, up to press time, there were no reported deaths or injuries as a result of the Guyoil Gas Station fire.

tuesday, september 1, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Teenager faces second conviction for stealing Samsung Galaxy S5 cellphones

Ateenager was on Monday sentenced to 12 months in prison by Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he appeared before her charged with armed robbery.

Shane Thompson, 18, was found guilty of a charge which read that on July 15 at Garnett and Delph Streets, Campbellville, Georgetown, while being armed with a dangerous weapon, that is an icepick, he robbed Virtual Complainant (VC) Casey Nelson of one Samsung Galaxy S5 Smartphone valued $100,000 and $5200 in cash, all to a total value of $105,200.

The Magistrate told the defendant that she had considered his defence as well as the

Prosecutors case and it was her finding that the Prosecutor proved every element of the charge. She stated that it was proven beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant did rob the Virtual Complainant on the day in question.

It was at this point that Police Prosecutor, Corporal Neville Jeffers revealed that the defendant was convicted to serve 12 months for a similar charge in July. The Magistrate, after considering the previous conviction, sentenced the young man to serve 12 months in prison. She informed him that the two sentences will run concurrently and told him that she hope he would be rehabilitated while in prison so that he would come out and be a better person.

Thomson had previously pleaded guilty to a charge which read that on July 13, at Sheriff and Garnett Streets, Campbellville, Georgetown he stole a Samsung Galaxy S5 valued at $90,000, from Amifah Mentore. Mentore and the defendant were

passengers on a route 40 minibus when it stopped at the junction of the aforementioned streets. Both the VC and the accused disembarked. As the VC started to walk away from the minibus, the defendant accosted her and demanded her phone. When she refused, he grabbed it and ran. The woman raised the alarm and public spirited citizens leapt to her defence and apprehended the defendant.

The Samsung Galaxy S5 was found on his person and he was taken to the Kitty Police Station. An investigation was conducted and the teenager admitted to the offence. Thompson had previously told the court that he had taken the phone as his mother was not well and he was hoping to raise some money to assist her.

Shop owner remanded for armed robbery

Abusinessman was remanded to prison on Monday after he appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court

Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with armed robbery.

Linden Hodge, age 43, a shop owner of 63 Cross Street, Alexander Village, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that on Sunday, August

23, at Campbellville, Georgetown, while being in the company of another and armed with a gun, he robbed the Virtual Complainant (VC), Mervin Persaud of one Toyota Premio motorcar valued $2,000,000 and a BlackBerry Curve cellphone valued $10,000, all to a total value of $2,010,000, property of the said VC. Police Prosecutor, Corporal Neville Jeffers revealed that the car

was recovered on the East Bank of Demerara. Jeffers objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the offence.

Magistrate McLennan, after considering the facts, refused the defendant bail and remanded the him to prison.

The matter was adjourned until September 8 when it will appear before Magistrate Alex Moore in Court 10 of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

A bridge...

...too far?

This Eyewitness has a lots of relatives in Berbice. His mother's people came from Number 43 Village. He always wondered if Berbicians didn't mind being living in places not even worth a name. His mother didn't mind. "What's wrong with Number 43?" she'd ask with genuine puzzlement. Your Eyewitness later heard about Concentration Camp victims who also identified with the numbers tattooed on their arms.

Anyhow, all of that was to let you know, dear reader, that your Eyewitness witnessed plenty in Berbice when he was a boy. But before he could "witness" catching crabs and eating "kakabelly" and such bucolic pleasures, he had to undergo "the wait" at the Rosignol Stelling. In bible school your Eyewitness had been promised that "good things come to those who wait". So he figured that the wait, which could sometimes stretch for half a day, was to ensure he reaped "good things" when he finally ended up at his grandmother's farm.

So when he'd become a man and heard there'd be a bridge thrown across the Berbice River, he was ecstatic. His cousins over in Berbice were in seventh heaven: no more would they be accused of living "behind God's back"!! There'd been this now washed-up politician who'd pushed the idea for a bridge, but your Eyewitness dismissed that as a pipe dream. Where'd the Government to get the money? Well before you knew it, the Bridge was funded. And government didn't have to put in a penny, save the roads to the Bridge and such like!

Up came these Guyanese businesses – practically in the entire finance sector. A few bought shares, some gave loans and others bought what were called bonds. Bondholders would receive interest every years and after a while would start being repaid for the original monies expended. Your Eyewitness was dammed proud that Guyana didn't need to go abroad, hat in hand, to beg for financing. THIS WAS A GUYANESE BRIDGE!

But your Eyewitness and cousins knew nothing in life's free... the investors had get back their investment, no? And sure the Tolls were high... but in 20 years, everything would be paid off and the next generation could cross for free! But who wanted to return to that living hell called a "ferry"?

But now the government was threatening the investors' return... just because they'd made promises to get some votes.

This just confirmed your Eyewitness conviction that when something ain't broken - DONT FIX IT! But your Eyewitness has a suggestion. If the Govt's so bent on doing what it wants with the rolls, why don't it buy out the shareholders?

That way the entire country could subsidise his cousins in Berbice!!

...across the aisle

The Budget Debate brought a lot of things to the fore when it came to politics. For one, that there's no love lost between Nagamootoo and the PPP MP's. Now this was to be expected – they say that the most closely related opponents are, the more bitter is the feud. And if your Eyewitness went by the fire in Nagamootoo's eyes when he looked over at Jagdeo – after his eyes strayed everywhere but at the fella in front of him - this feud's more bitter than quinine!

But if, as one reporter pointed out, if Nagamootoo –who represents the Government's business in the National Assembly – keeps on "bumbling" because he's so petrified of Jagdeo, then we're all doomed. Some bridges across the aisle have to be built. And Ramjattan's the man to do this. While he stepped aside for Nagamootoo to be Granger's #2, he's been betrayed something fierce by the man he pushed ahead.

All he has to do is cross the floor!

...to perdition

Infrastructure Minister Patterson says he'll be "lobbying the Government" to bring back the ferries in Berbice. And here we thought the AFC was part of the Government and they discussed such stuff at Cabinet Meetings.

Sometimes chaired by AFC's Nagamootoo!

Man breaks into South Ruimveldt house

– thrashed by residents, remanded by court

Amason was remanded to prison on Monday after he appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with breaking and entering with the intent to commit a felony.

Anthony Ansernee, 20, of 259 East Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that on the night of Friday, August 28, at First Street, South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, he entered the dwelling house of the Virtual Complainant (VC) Natasha Robertson with the intention to steal.

Police Prosecutor Corporal Neville Jeffers told the court that on the night in question, the VC, along with her sister and brother, secured the premise at 20:30h and retired to bed. The fol-

lowing morning at 04:00h, the VC heard a suspicious sound emanating from the lower flat of her house. She alerted her sister and went down to investigate and saw the defendant in the house. She raised an alarm which woke up her brother and neighbours who apprehended the defendant in the yard as he was attempting to escape. The public-spirited citizens then took him to the Police Station where he was taken into custody and charged.

The defendant denied these allegations claiming that he was exercising on a bridge when a bus stopped in front of him and asked if he saw several boys run past him. He said that he responded in the negative and then several men jumped out of the vehicle and dealt him several lashes with a piece of wood.

He alleged that they then drove along the road with him, stopping and asking persons if they wanted to “exercise their hands” by beating him. He claimed that several persons hurled objects at him and hit him during this course.

He further alleged that he was taken to a yard in South Ruimveldt where he was tied up and further tortured. He claimed to have received several chops and blows about the body, while the perpetrators demanded that he tell them where ‘Jason’ was.

He even alleged that he was held under water in a pool in several instances. He said as he did not know who Jason was, he related that he did not know which led to him being further tortured. He said that sometime later, they turned him over to the Police and made false allegations against him. The defendant was visibly wounded and injured as both his arms and his right leg were in casts and several lacerations were visible on his body and face. His right eye was also swollen and red. The Prosecutor justified this by stating that he received the injuries while being subdued by the publicspirited citizens.

The Magistrate, after considering the facts, refused bail and remanded the defendant to prison. The matter was adjourned until September 11 when it will be heard before Magistrate Alex Moore in Court 10 of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Guyana/Venezuela border controversy… UN mission holds discussions with President Granger

Aday after visiting the area in question, the United Nations (UN) Mission, dispatched by Secretary General Ban Kimoon to Guyana, met with President David Granger, along with Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge and Minister of State Joseph Harmon on Monday where a discussion on Government’s position on the border controversy was held.

The UN Mission team which also included United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Representative, Khadija Musa included Chief Americas Division in the Department of Political Affairs, Martha Doggett; Political Affairs Officer Marylene Smeets; Legal Officer from the UN Office of Legal Affairs Diana Taratukhina; and Senior

Mediation Expert from the Office of the Special Envoy for Syria, Sven Koopmans.

Head of the delegation Martha Doggett said the team has come to Guyana to be informed of Government’s views on the next steps so that it could in turn advise the Secretary General of the United Nations, who will then speak to the Presidents and craft a way forward.

While the team is yet to visit Venezuela, Doggett said that the UN has had a number of exchanges with both parties in New York and at the recently concluded Caribbean Community (Caricom) Heads of Government Meeting in Barbados.

At that meeting, President Granger stated that the Good Officer Process and the Geneva Convention which have

Surujbally wants electronic tabulation of LGE results

during a brief phone interview on Monday that electronic tabulation was one of the peripheral suggestions submitted to the Government for review.

“I would like to see electronic tabulation be put in place even if only exploratory,” he stated.

Several observer missions that came to overlook the General and Regional Elections in 2015 had recommended in their reports that GECOM move to electronic tabulation in the interest of time and efficien-

Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM)

Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally said he would like to see electronic tabulation employed during the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE), even if it was in an exploratory way.

He told Guyana Times

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had already raised the issue of moving to electronic voting entirely the next time Guyanese went to the polls.

In fact, Jagdeo already indicated to a visiting delegation of the US Congress that GECOM should move in this direction.

Moreover, in relation to the hosting of LGE, Dr

Surujbally indicated that it would be difficult at this point to determine when Guyanese could go to the polls.

“If the things that I illuminated are not addressed, then of course we will not have it, but if they are done, then of course, we will have it. But again, that would be speculation…so let’s see, let’s see if all of the things, like for example the changes in the laws, if they will be there or if we find that there are certain technical matters relative to the printing of ballot papers, if that can be done…there are several other things that I listed and are necessary, but some of them are peripheral,” he stated.

GECOM, in a release to the media, explained that it could not move forward with its agenda unless the Government made the necessary amendments to several pieces legislation required for the hosting of

these elections.

The statement noted that the Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield made it abundantly clear that the elections body could not proceed to prepare a Preliminary List of Voters for the conduct of Claims and Objections for the purpose of finalising the

respective Registers of Voters that would be necessary to conduct LGE in the 65 Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) and the six Municipalities in Guyana unless Government completed the amendment.

When confronted on the issue, Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan expressed his belief that the legislative amendments were not significantly impinging GECOM’s work and that Government was still waiting on advice from the Commission regarding the announcement of a date for the LGE.

In this vein, Bulkan assured that GECOM indicated that the December 7 date was not in jeopardy, even amid the holdups and delays.

When questioned about the December 7 date, Dr Surujbally made it clear that he was not in the business of speculation.

been utilised in the past, has been exhausted and a better approach is needed to end Venezuela’s aggression, with regard to Guyana’s sovereign territory.

On Sunday the team visited the Essequibo Coast and River, as part of its preparations for consultations today. Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge in an invited comment told Guyana Times on Sunday that the team, headed by Martha Doggett, visited the locations on Sunday, along with the Maburama and Waini regions. According to the Minister, the officials saw that the area was not an “empty expanse of river and land”, but that they have been occupied and utilised since the 19th century.

According to Greenidge, while Guyana’s job is not to argue with the team about what really belongs to Guyana, Government has facilitated the officials and will be cooperating in every possible way. It is their job; he said, to deal with the issue. The team has also indicated that it will be visiting the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, as part of the consultative process.

Venezuela recently began moving throughout the Caribbean seeking out solidarity from the Caricom member states on its claims over the Essequibo. This has not gone down quite too well, as every member country, including its Chair Freundel Stuart of Barbados reiterated Caricom’s deepening and unwavering support to Guyana and the position it holds.

Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro issued a decree ratifying maritime sovereignty over waters within a 200-mile range, including the entire Atlantic Ocean off the Essequibo Coast, as well as part of Suriname’s maritime territory.

This decree sparked a nationwide debate regarding the matter, with various regional bodies and nations calling for the peaceful resolution of the conflict.

Ramjattan allegedly misusing public office

....going after Police Inspector to settle private matter – PPP

There seems to be some personal vendetta brewing involving Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan as he is breaking all the legal conventions to go after Police Inspector Narine Lall, although the case laid against him was dismissed in a court of law.

This is the position of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), through, its General Secretary Clement Rohee, who is also the former Home Affairs Minister.

Lall, along with another officer of the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Mohanram Dulai, was promoted by the Police Service Commission last year.

Back in 2009, the two officers were involved in a scandal that they had set afire methylated spirits on the private parts of then 14-year-old Twyon Thomas, who was taken into custody during an investigation into the murder of former Region Three Chairman Ramenaught Bisram. Ramjattan, who is also an Attorney-at-Law, had represented the teenager in court when the matter was dismissed.

The charge was dis-

missed since Thomas, who suffered serious burns to his genitals, failed to appear in court to give evidence. Thomas was later awarded millions of dollars in damages by a High Court judge in a civil suit.

However, Ramjattan has not been too keen on this, and, using the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) zero-tolerance policy for torture, had pledged to get rid of the “rogue cops” in the Police Force. He had been quite vociferous on the elections campaign trail, prom-

ising that the officers would go, should the coalition win the election.

One of the first things Ramjattan did when he was appointed Public Security Minister was to instruct that the officers be fired. While Corporal Dulai was demoted , Lall’s fate was said to have been placed in the constitutional hands of the Police Service Commission.

At his media briefing on Monday, Rohee claimed that Ramjattan has been moving all-out, disregarding the rule of law to get to the former Police Inspector.

“A principal target of Ramjattan is Lall. Lall’s security of tenure rests with the Police Service Commission. Ramjattan is obviously not happy about this, so he sought to ride over the constitutional authority of the Police Service Commission. He bypassed his colleague, the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, and wrote to the Secretary of the Police Service Commission instructing him to take action against Lall in pursuit of his quarry and above all in keeping with his pecuniary interest,” Rohee said at the

briefing.

He said Ramjattan apparently, without any respect for authority, went after his target, but was rebuffed.

Rohee said no member of the executive can write a

letter to the Secretary of the Police Service Commission telling him what he would like to have done.

“It is highly improper. And so, it seems as though, he has adopted irrespective of who says what, he is going after this man. He is free to do so, but do it in accordance with the laws and Constitution.”

Rohee said Ramjattan was now claiming that he would be seeking out avenues to catch the “rogue cops”. However, “that is a tall order. He plans to use listening devices to eavesdrop on Policemen, who may be involved in illegal activities and corrupt transaction. Isn’t this not another violation of the law and need the approval of the court to instruct such?” Rohee asked.

He said Ramjattan did

not know that departmental politics can be brutal. According to him, internal politics forces more good ranks out of law enforcement, than injury, and frustration than the criminal justice system.

EYDG concludes successful camp

The Enmore Youth Development Group (EYDG) last Friday concluded a successful oneweek camp at the Enmore Resource Centre, compliments of the Education Ministry’s Department of Culture, Youth and Sport.

The second annual camp, which attracted over 40 youths from the area and received additional support from Bakewell and Mohamed’s (Peppy’s) Manufacturing Enterprise, was coordinated by EYDG members Nadira Ramjag and Nandita Singh.

The participants, who were between ages six and 14, were engaged in several activities during the camp, among them tie-dying, making of soap baskets, a treasure hunt, and art and craft.

“The aim of this camp was to empower youths by building their knowledge, confidence and creativity through art, health exercises and competition,” a statement from the EYDG said.

Meanwhile, the group will celebrate its second anniversary on September 6. Since coming into existence in 2013, the group has been focusing on four key areas: education, sport, culture

and environment. However, it has not been all smooth sailing for the group.

“There have been challenges in terms of having to deal with negative criticism from persons in the community; however, this has made us stronger as youths,” the EYDG said.

The statement continued, “We wish to thank all those business persons in Enmore who have supported us generously throughout the year, in particular to all cultural events. Our aim for the second anniversary is to reach out to more youths,

in particular to the various schools in Enmore.”

The EYDG members said they would continue to execute their mandate with the aim of making the community a better place for all citizens.

“Too many youths are dropping out of school and end up being a drug addict and alcoholic at a young age. We want to make a difference. Also to help make this difference, we are asking for the support of parents. Help us so we can help your children to be better citizens,” the EYDG concluded.

Social Cohesion Roundtable talks for Sept 3

With the aim of bridging the gaps created by social, economic and ethnic divides, the Social Cohesion Ministry will stage its first Social Cohesion Roundtable (SCR) at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre come September 3.

This initiative, which is being funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the British High Commission, will pave the way for the development of a strategic framework for the implementation of Guyana’s fiveyear social cohesion plan.

Social Cohesion Minister Amna Ally made this disclosure on Monday in the presence of the British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn; SCR International Facilitator Chris Speis, and former UNDP Social Cohesion Programme Head Lawrence Latchmansingh, who will be among the SCR Local Facilitators.

In her address to the press at the Ministry of the Presidency, Ally said inequality and social barriers continued to pervade society – issues the Social Cohesion Ministry intended to address through its strategic plan.

“This Ministry has a very challenging role, but I believe that we can do it. I be-

lieve that with the support of stakeholders, with support from the people of Guyana and with support from the international community, we are going to achieve this question of bridging the gaps,” she emphasised.

Ally made it clear that if there be need for legislative changes to effectively facilitate social cohesion in Guyana, the requisite changes would be made based on recommendations emanating from the roundtable discussions.

Adding to the sentiments expressed by the Minister, Latchmansingh said the foundation for the strategic plan was laid some 12 years ago by the Social Cohesion Programme, which was facilitated by the UNDP.

Diamond robbery Police promise breakthrough in two working days

Three days after gunmen ambushed and robbed a United States-based family at Diamond, East Bank Demerara, the Police are still to make an arrest as they continue their investigations.

According to Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, Police are conducting their investigations into the robbery and confirmed that no one was arrested.

A member of the affected Ramnarine family when contacted on Monday told Guyana Times that investigators have promised that within two working days, they would have some sort of satisfaction.

Thus far, she stated that the Police have visited the house and taken statements from the victims. She did not wish to divulge any information that was related to them by the investigators, but was holding out that they would wait until Wednesday.

The Ramnarine family arrived in the country in the wee hours of Sunday and as they were about to enter their yard at 11 Street Back-

half, Diamond New Housing Scheme, two armed men confronted them.

One of the men was carrying a handgun while the other had a knife. The bandit with the gun reportedly held the taxi driver as hostage, while the other had the knife to the woman’s neck. Her husband, who had already taken in the luggage and was returning to the car, saw the two men holding down his wife and the taxi driver.

The men reportedly instructed Ramnarine that if he did not hand over the money and the valuables, they would kill the taxi driver. The man complied and handed over a bag that contained US$4000, two smartphones, two tablet devices, medication and important documents including Identification Cards, passports, birth certificates, and travelling documents.

The men then escaped in a waiting motor car that was parked at the next corner. The matter was immediately reported to the Police who carried out searches in the area, but came up emptyhanded.

According to him, a significant amount of work was completed under the programme which came to an end in 2006.

Meanwhile, the British High Commissioner advised that all must get involved.

“This is not just for the Minister, for the Ministry

or for us, or anybody else to control, this is for everybody within Guyana to take responsibility for and to be part of. Everybody in this country has a role and a responsibility to encourage and ensure that there is social cohesion,” High Commissioner Quinn said.

The Social Cohesion Roundtable, which will be held under the theme “Social Cohesion for Lasting Unity and Peace, will feature both local and international experts, with special presentations being made by President David Granger and Sir Shridath Ramphal.

The roundtable discussion, which will come to an end on Friday, September 4, is designed to engage and garner contributions from citizens to enhance social cohesion across the country.

As a result, during this twoday event, practical options, strategies and capacities for building social cohesion and addressing inequalities will be identified, while simultaneously creating national awareness and sensitisation among stakeholders on issues of social cohesion. Additionally, emphasis will be placed on ethnic relations and politics; equality – so-

cial and economic; community safety and well-being, and political participation and governance.

Ahead of the roundtable discussion, regional outreaches were held in Regions Three (Essequibo Islands- West Demerara); Five (Mahaica-Berbice); Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice). While representatives of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) have participated in these meetings at the regional level, it is unclear whether the senior members within the party will participate on Thursday and Friday; however, an invitation was extended.

More than 50 governmental and non-governmental organisations have been involved in the process and are, therefore, expected to be involved.

tuesday, september 1, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

President meets Opposition Leader

PDavid Granger on Monday met with former President and newly elected Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo to discuss several issues affecting the country’s overall development at present.

The meeting, which appeared to be informal, took place at the President’s Office within the Ministry of Presidency at Shiv Chandrapaul Drive in Georgetown.

In a statement issued to the media, the Government said that President Granger saw the meeting as an opportunity to build strengthen the concept of inclusive governance.

He said that his administration is ready to work the opposition in areas that will benefit the Guyanese people.

President Granger also explained that he received full support from Opposition Leader Jagdeo on the issue of defending Guyana’s territorial integrity and sovereignty when the matters were discussed briefly in connection with the spurious claims being made by Venezuela.

Also discussed at the meeting, as a matter of national interest, was the establishment of the five bi-partisan committees. These bodies are the Agriculture Committee, Budget Committee, Border Committee, National Unity Committee and a Security

Committee.

President Granger is quoted as saying that “Once Mr. Jagdeo was elected Leader of the Opposition, I wrote him inviting him [inviting him] to talks, because as Leader of Opposition he has certain Constitutional obligations,” President Granger said. The Head of State added that, there is important work that has to be completed on the packed roster of the Eleventh Parliament, which includes the 2016 Budget and support for the agriculture sector, particularly the rice and sugar industry.

Given the magnitude of these and other matters, the President said, he is pleased that the meeting happened, as it is important to start the process of addressing matters of national interest.

When contacted on Monday evening, Opposition Leader Jagdeo said that the Peoples Progressive Party Civic remains open to having constructive and meaningful dialogue with the Government.

He said that while he did not receive a letter and agenda in relation to, and ahead of the meeting when he was contacted by State Minister Joseph Harmon via a text message, he agreed to meet with President Granger.

The former President was under the impression that he was paying a courtesy call on the President following his appointment

Govt trampling on press freedom —

PPP calls out Nagamootoo

The A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government has been accused of trampling on press freedom in Guyana, an act which it is said was a highlight during the rule of the 1980’ People’s National Congress (PNC) Administration.

People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Clement Rohee on Monday said the APNU/ AFC has been successful in its attempt to overturn the progress made by the PPP/ Civic to allow press freedom.

as Opposition Leader.

Mr Jagdeo said upon arriving at the President’s Office for the meeting, a proposed agenda was presented to him by President Granger.

He immediately committed the PPP/C to participating in the proposed Border Committee as he saw this as an important undertaking.

“I made a commitment that PPP will support any effort by the Govt to preserve Guyana’s territorial integrity”, he remarked.

Asked whether he committed or confirmed the PPP’s participation in any of the other proposed Committees, the former President said that he gave an undertaking to discuss the other matters with his party.

“I expressed reservations about participating in the other committees given what is currently taking place in the public environment. The Government is still in campaign mode and was making all sorts of claims and allegations against us”, Jagdeo said.

He said that there were audits taking place and the Government, which still acting as a political party, was seeking to fulfil their campaign promises.

Jagdeo expressed the view that the Government needed more time to wrap up those activities before meaningfully engaging in constructive dialogue.

“The mood and environment is not right”, Jagdeo said strongly as he said that the PPP will review the agenda proposed by the Government with a view of engaging it in future discussions.

Jagdeo maintained that his party remains committed to labour for a better and more united Guyana and is unwilling to engage in photo opts and meetings for saving face without addressing a gamut of issues that could jeopardize the future of the country and all of the gains made over the last two decades.

Rohee recalled the fiasco involving Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo over a recent Chronicle headline, for which he chastised a reporter attached to the State-owned newspaper.

According to Nagamootoo, the Minister responsible for information further decided to have a “conversation” with the reporter in an effort to drive fear into operatives of the State media.

“Nagamootoo in his usual bullish attitude instructed that all headlines by Chronicle must be approved by his office,” Rohee said.

He said Governance and Patrimony Minister Raphael Trotman was also able to influence the House Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland recently to sanction the independent online news agency Citizens Report, for reporting on an article regarding

Government’s use of State funds for the presidential inauguration.

He recalled the murder of Mirror Newspaper Photographer Father Darke and the banning of newsprint back in 1979, when the PNC Government was at its peak as a dictatorial government. Those, he said, are two examples of the suppression of the press under the PNC Government. He said the PPP/C has worked hard for the return of press freedom to Guyana.

“Today there are four daily newspapers, one weekly, 20 television stations, 20 radio stations, and about 10 radio stations, most of them becoming operational under the PPP/C and Journalists

were allowed to ply their trade without fear.”

He added that Guyana was ranked 62 out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index.

“Freedom of the press in Guyana is sacrosanct and the PPP calls on the Press Association of Guyana, the Caribbean Association of Media Workers and other organisations representing Journalists worldwide to condemn the creeping attempts at suppressing freedom of the press in Guyana.

“We call on the Granger Administration to fulfil its promise of non-interference of the media and allow Journalists to do their work in a free environment,” Rohee declared.

GPHC CEO sent on 100 days’ leave

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Michael Khan was sent on 100 days leave with effect from August 31, allowing for further investigations to be conducted in the operations of the institution which will consequently determine whether he will remain as CEO or be replaced.

During an interview with the Guyana Times, Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton indicated that Government was indeed reviewing the contract of the CEO and that the final results of the investigation would recommend if Khan should retain his position.

Dr Norton explained that the initial results of the audits recommended that certain individuals proceed on leave to allow for a more in-depth audit in the operations.

“When the coalition took over Government, we ran into some difficulties where accounts could not have been made for some departments and the general rule was made where forensic audits were requested… The results of those audits came out – the audit for GPHC came out, those audits recommended that in order for them to continue a more in-depth audit, that

person should be asked to go on their administrative leave,” he stated.

He explained however, that Khan had already requested his leave.

When contacted, Khan told this newspaper that he was unaware that Government was planning on letting him go or that his contract was under review.

The Guyana Times understands that Government was already considering a replacement for Khan – the individual being the former CEO of the New Amsterdam Hospital, Alan Johnson.

Efforts to contact Johnson proved futile.

However, this publication understands that Johnson will soon be heading the GPHC while former Guyana Teachers

Union (GTU) President Colin Bynoe was appointed the new CEO of the New Amsterdam Hospital. Meanwhile, Dr Norton disclosed that government already selected the new Board of Directors for the Corporation.

While he could not at the time disclose all the names of the new Directors, he did explain that the Board has representatives from the Public Service Union, the Nursing Council, the Finance Ministry and the Health Ministry.

In addition, he noted that he had to nominate three persons to sit on the Board – which he already did. Two of the persons nominated are Jeffery Thomas and Mandy Sukhdeo.

Govt’s hurried crime-fighting plan… Gun Amnesty Programme will fail – PPP/C

The Public Security Ministry’s Gun Amnesty Programme is expected to take effect from today, but former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee believes that Government is wasting its time in this regard, as no success will be had from this crime fighting initiative.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said that Government will accept all illegal weapons from individuals who hand them in, adding that these individuals will not face prosecution. While he had then said the Church Movement would be the depository for the weapons, Rohee said, this has now been changed and will see the Police stations being the locations for the activity, with the faith-based organisations overseeing. While he himself was a crusader for the initiative, Rohee said that international experience and advice from his consultants here have proven this idea to be sultry.

“The gun amnesty touted by Ramjattan is bound to fail. Similar programmes were tried in various forms and fashions in various parts of the world with various levels of success. In most cases the programme did not reach the anticipated success”, Rohee argued He listed countries such as Argentina, Australia and Brazil and nine states within the United States of America, where the programme had not gone down too well.

Rohee recalled that while he was Home Affairs Minister, a Task Force on narcotics was established. The members of that Task Force were drawn from the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Defence Force, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit, among others. That Task Force, he said, has had lengthy discussions on the efficacy of the gun amnesty.

“The majority of members were of the view that a gun amnesty will never work in Guyana and that is the reason the Ministry never pushed for it. He said since all the law enforcement officials were not supportive, he as Minister then, and guided by the consensus, decided not to pursue.

“The one month trial will validate the efficacy of this and its applicability under Guyana’s local condition. Whether those who have illegal arms will cooperate is another matter.

Rohee said the sudden change of mind of President David Granger in this regard can be considered a slap in his face, since he had himself said the initiative will not work.

“President Granger had himself declared that the gun amnesty would not work and was not in favour of it and had indicated a preference for “strong intelligence and enforcement instead of that, as it would not bring the desired result. According to him, now under pressure, Granger has somersaulted and has come out in support of the project.”

President Granger had reiterated the importance

of removing illegal firearms from the streets. He had said that there was a large amount of illegal weapons and as such, needed to find the source of these firearms and stop them from whichever countries they are coming from.

“The important thing is to seize more illegal firearms; more important than that is to stop firearms from coming into the country. No point in having an amnesty and the weapons continue to come,” he pointed out.

In its 2015 election manifesto, the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) coalition had promised an amnesty period for persons to hand over unlicensed firearms and ammunition to the authorities without facing prosecution.

In efforts to curb the number of gun-related crimes and rid the streets of unlicensed weapons, the APNU+AFC coalition had outlined in its elections manifesto that it will be implementing an amnesty programme for the surrender of illegal weapons, which will be backed by a “Voluntary Weapons Collection” programme.

ERC work at standstill

Although the Parliamentary Opposition has taken up their seats in the National Assembly, the work of the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) remains at a standstill.

Social Cohesion Minister Amna Ally had said that the David Granger led-Administration was waiting on the Opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Members of Parliament to take up their seats in the House, in an effort to facilitate discussions on installation of ERC Commissioners.

However, in an interview with Guyana Times on Monday, Ally said the Government was unable to meet with the Opposition in this regard. During the 10th Parliament, the Appointive Committee approved the names of those nominated to be ERC Commissioners; however, despite this approval, their appointments

given the strained relations between the two major ethnic groups following the May 11 General and Regional Elections,

the Constitution, ensuring its funding comes as a direct charge on the Consolidated Fund. Staffing and remuneration of staff is determined

Minister Ally’s role would be to devise programmes to help bring the races together. However, Edghill is insisting that the role of Ally needs urgent clarification, since the Ethnic Relations Commission, which is a con-

did not receive the assent of former President Donald Ramotar.

Meanwhile, former Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill continues to object to any ministerial oversight of the ERC.

The gazette identifies Ally as having responsibilities for ethnic relations and not the ERC. President David Granger had said,

stitutional body, is responsible for investigating actions taken by the Executive itself.

“The Constitution is clear; the ERC functions and discharges its responsibilities without the interference, input or direction from the Government of the day,” Edghill, a former Chairman of the ERC said. “Its independence is guaranteed by

by the Commission and not the Government. To have a Minister placed in charge of the Ethnic Relations Commission is to subject this duly appointed constitutional body to the directions of the Executive. This ought not to happen.”

According to Edghill, the Chief Executive Officer and staff of the ERC should not take directions or instructions from any Government official. The Party also urged that the necessary mechanisms for the appointment of Commissioners to the ERC be done, so that this vital Commission can fulfil its constitutional mandate.

3 juveniles recaptured after escaping from La Grange lock-ups

Three teenagers who were in the La Grange Police Station lockups managed to escape on Sunday, but were subsequently recaptured after Police received information that they had returned to their respective homes.

Police stated that about 14:10h, ranks of the Police Station realised that the three juveniles were not in

the cell. Guyana Times understands that the three young men broke the padlock on the cell and walked out of the Police Station. The Police ranks on duty at the time were reportedly not to be seen.

After the three juveniles were recaptured, they gave Senior Police ranks a detailed account of the breakage.

A Senior Police rank stated that an investigation has been launched into the incident and if the Police ranks were found culpable, they would be charged.

Two of the teenagers were remanded having been charged for wounding, and the other had been taken into custody on Sunday morning pending investigations into a report of alleged larceny.

Hinterland Employment and Youth Service Consultations ongoing – programme

Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock on Monday told Guyana Times that the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) will commence on October 1, and not September 1, as was announced by President David Granger at the opening ceremony of the National Toshaos Council (NTC) Meeting.

The Indigenous Affairs Minister stated that the details of the programme were still under review. He added that October seemed to be a fit choice as September was being celebrated as Heritage Month.

He mentioned also that

to commence October 1

since the NTC elections had only just recently taken place, and the new council has just been established; the Ministry’s next move is to have consultation sessions as these sessions play a big part in the establishment of this new programme.

President Granger had announced that the HEYS, which is expected to provide sustainable jobs for young people in hinterland regions, would be launched. The President admonished the promotion of handouts and added that that was not what the Government wished to do as it was a demeaning act.

He stated, “We will en-

sure that although jobs are scarce, young school leavers will be provided with the skills that will allow them to be employed.”

Granger told the indigenous gathering that the economy did not provide employment opportunities for them and the HEYS initiative would replace the Youth Entrepreneurship and Apprentice Programme (YEAP) initiated by the previous Administration in 2013 which he claimed expired in April 2015.

“We are going to ensure that through the Hinterland Youth Employment Programme, young people who were employed as

Community Support Officers (CSOs), and who wish to join our programme will be registered and will continue to receive their stipends,” the President stated. He added that this programme was designed to replace YEAP and assured Guyana’s first people that it was sure to be successful.

The Government of Guyana had dismissed almost 2000 CSOs after questioning the work they were doing and claiming that their operations were found to be political. The Government’s action is now the subject of a lawsuit by The Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana

Dominica Govt orders evacuation of village ravaged by Tropical Storm Erika

Government has ordered the evacuation of Petite Savanne, a village on the southeast of the island that was the worst hit by Tropical Storm Erika.

Five more bodies were found there on Sunday, bringing the death toll from the storm to 25. Petite Savanne was among nine areas that Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit designated special disaster areas.

The Government said priority consideration in the evacuation effort would be given to children, elderly and the physically challenged. Family members in

Several other people are still missing and hundreds have been left homeless after the heavy rains from Erika caused flooding and landslides and collapsed several roads, bridges and buildings. While aid has been arriving in the country, the immediate relief effort has been made more difficult by the fact that there are still communities that cannot be reached.

Additionally, the main airport, the DouglasCharles Airport, has been severely damaged posing further difficulty with access to and from the island. (Excerpt

CELAC calls for return of Guantanamo naval base to Cuba

National coordinators of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), meeting in Quito, Ecuador, from August 26-28, have issued a communiqué calling for the return of the Guantanamo naval base to Cuba by the US.

Reaffirming the proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, adopted at its Second Summit in Havana on January 29, 2014, CELAC said that the United States naval base in Guantanamo has existed

Dozens of Venezuelans shot by police amid crime crackdown

Workers in the industrial complex had been hiding in bathrooms and closets for hours when the shooting stopped. The last of the four suspected thieves, a slightly built man in yellow rain boots, surrendered on the roof, crying out “Jesus saves!”

Police put him into a truck and drove away. But then witnesses watched, confused, as the truck circled back.

A video secretly recorded that rainy day in early August showed police officers taking the man to a concrete alley in the complex where his three companions already lay dead. They held him in place, and then shot him point blank. The video does not show the deaths of the others, but two witnesses told The Associated

Press they saw the trio lined up against a wall earlier in the morning, police pointing guns at their chests.

The slayings raised concerns about a recent crimefighting initiative that aims to take back neighbourhoods overrun by gangs. The program, officially rolled out in July as Operation Liberate the People, already has seen police shoot and kill more than 80 suspected criminals, according to an AP tally based on officials’ statements to the media. There have been no reports of police injuries or deaths during the crackdown.

Human rights groups accuse security forces of carrying out summary executions. But many here also say the Government is right to take a more militarised approach to fighting crime. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

for more than a century on Cuban territory. In the light of the process towards the normalization of relations between Cuba and the United States, which is an element that contributes to the stability of Latin America and the Caribbean, CELAC said that the return to Cuba of the territory occupied by the US naval base in Guantanamo should be a relevant element of that process, through a bilateral dialogue in conformity with international law. (Caribbean News Now)

Cop killed in jailbreak and two ministers on Trinidad Independence honours list

Foreign Affairs

Minister Winston Dookeran and Labour Minister Errol McLeod will receive the country’s highest award, the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, as the twin-island republic marks its 53rd anniversary of Independence today.

Police Constable Sherman Maynard, who was fatally shot when inmates Allan “Scanny” Martin, Christopher “Monster” Selby and Hassan Atwell broke out of the Port of Spain Prison last month, will also be posthumously honoured with the Humming Bird Medal (Bronze) for loyal and devoted service to Trinidad and Tobago.

The three were among 33 named to receive honours at this evening’s Independence Day award ceremony.

Dookeran, Founder and for-

mer Leader of the Congress of the People (CoP) which is part of the ruling People’s Partnership alliance, will receive his award for distinguished contributions in economics.

Dookeran, who earlier this year announced

Colombia ‘to reunite families in Venezuela border crisis’

Colombia is to offer citizenship to Venezuelan relatives of Colombians who have been deported from Venezuela, officials say.

It is the latest move by the Colombian Government to ease a crisis triggered by Venezuela’s closure of a key stretch of their mutual border. More than 1000 Colombians have been deported from Venezuela as part of a crackdown on smuggling in the area.

Some complained about being separated from their Venezuelan spouses.

Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin said that the Government wanted to help those Venezuelans married to Colombians who wanted to move to Colombia.

“We’re going to give them

Colombian citizenship, we want families to live together, not to break them apart,” she told Colombian radio on Sunday. Many Colombians have settled on the Venezuelan side of the border and married Venezuelans and had children there. The 2200km-long border (1400 miles) between the two countries is porous and there has historically been a steady flow of people both ways. But increasing price disparities between goods on either side of the border have generated a thriving smuggling business. Venezuela’s socialist Government subsidises many basic food items and petrol in the oil-rich nation is extremely cheap.

that he was stepping down from active politics, was an economics lecturer for 15 years at the University of the West Indies, served as a senior economist at the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, was a member of the Executive Board of the Inter-American Development Bank, and was also the governor of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean Development Bank. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Brazil Mayor who ran town via WhatsApp wanted for corruption

AMayor in Brazil is on the run after she was accused of siphoning off funds from the school system and running the town remotely through WhatsApp.

Lidiane Leite, 25, lived a life of luxury in the capital of Maranhao state, Prosecutors said. They say her only contact with her town, Bom Jardim, was through daily WhatsApp messages to her Cabinet.

An arrest warrant has been issued against her and her boyfriend, who served as her main adviser. Ms Leite’s lawyer said she was not aware of any wrongdoing.

She was in her early 20s when Beto Rocha, her boyfriend, was banned from running for mayor in 2012 for alleged corruption. Leite

stepped in and was elected. She appointed Rocha as her main adviser and went to live in the state capital, Sao Luis, 275km (170 miles) away.

“She was too young and and inexperienced when she took office,” said her lawyer, Carlos Barros. “She lacked confidence and delegated many tasks to Mr Rocha.” Brazilian media say the couple ended their relationship earlier this year and Rocha resigned shortly after.

Ms Leite went on the run after her name was mentioned in a federal investigation on the misuse of state education funds.

Operation Eden uncovered evidence that some US$4 million (£2.6 million) in funds for Bom Jardim’s schools went missing. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Deadly protest over Ukraine ‘decentralisation’ law

Protesters have thrown “several” explosive devices outside Ukraine’s Parliament in the capital Kiev, killing at least one Policeman and wounding at least 90 people, according to Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.

The unrest erupted on Monday shortly after Parliament backed the first reading of reforms to give greater autonomy to the separatist east as part of a peace deal signed in February.

Anton Gerashchenko, an Interior Ministry Adviser, said attackers had thrown a hand grenade at National Guard troops in what he

called an “act of provocation”.

Some of the injured, most of whom were in uniform, were bleeding and lying on the ground in front of the Parliament. At least one photographer was slightly injured.

Protesters also fired at least one smoke grenade that sent up a thick cloud of black smoke outside the building. Tear gas was used by both sides, the AFP news agency reported.

The constitutional reforms are required under the terms of a Westernbacked deal reached in the Belarussian capital Minsk, which called for Kiev to im-

plement “decentralisation” by the end of this year.

But some critics have branded the moves “unUkrainian”.

A total of 265 legislators voted in favour of the draft legislation at a stormy session of Parliament.

Kiev’s Western allies see the reforms as a way of trying to end the armed conflict in the east that has claimed more than 6800 lives over the past 16 months.

The bill has sparked heated debate in Ukraine where opponents see it as an attempt to legalise the de facto rebel control of part of the former Soviet country’s territory. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Bangkok Police claim reward in Erawan Shrine bomber hunt

Thailand’s Police Chief has announced that he will give a US$83,000 (£53,793) public reward to his own men after they apprehended a suspect in the deadly bombing at Bangkok’s Erwan Shrine.

Somyot Pumpanmuang said the officers deserved it as there had been no public tip-off to help them.

The August 17 blast, which the Government called the worst such attack in Thailand, killed 20 people.

One man has been arrested, and warrants have been issued for two other people. It is not clear if the unnamed man detained by the Police is the chief suspect in the attack. Police have said they do not believe he is the man seen in CCTV footage at the shrine just before the explosion.

Police say the suspect under arrest is a 28-yearold foreigner and that bomb materials were found at his home.

Around the World

Migrant trains reach Vienna, EU asylum rules under strain

Trains carrying hundreds of migrants started arriving in Vienna on Monday after Austrian authorities appeared to give up trying to apply European Union rules by filtering out refugees who had already claimed asylum in Hungary.

In the latest twist in a humanitarian and political crisis that is now testing the survival of both Europe’s open-border regime and its asylum rules, Hungary allowed the migrants, many of them fleeing Syria’s civ-

il war, to cram into at least four trains leaving Budapest for Austria or Germany.

Many of the refugees arriving in Vienna railway station on Monday evening immediately raced to board trains heading on to Germany, as Policemen looked on passively, preferring not to intervene, witnesses said.

A train also arrived in Munich from Budapest on Monday evening. German Police said there were about 200 on board.

“Thank God nobody

asked for a passport ... No Police, no problem,” said Khalil, 33, an English teacher from Kobani in Syria, as his wife held their sick baby daughter coughing and crying in her arms at the Vienna station.

He described how he and his family had been able to buy train tickets in Budapest and were headed for Hamburg, Germany, adding that he was sure of seeing a better welcome there after traipsing across the Balkans and Hungary.

(Excerpt

Rare hurricane hits West Africa

Ahurricane, with winds of up to 140 kilometres per hour (85 miles per hour) has hit the island nation of Cape Verde, off the coast of West Africa.

The Government has grounded all flights until further notice.

No hurricane has ever been recorded further east in the tropical Atlantic.

A hurricane warning has been issued by the USbased National Hurricane Centre (NHC), which predicts coastal flooding due to strong wind and heavy rains from Monday and overnight into Tuesday.

The NHC says the last time a hurricane was recorded hitting Cape Verde was 1892, although it cautions that records were less exact before the advent of weather satellites in the mid-1960s.

Hurricane conditions are occurring in islands in north-eastern

Hurricane conditions are occurring in islands in north-eastern Cape Verde, with northern and northwestern islands due to be hit if the hurricane holds its current course, it adds.

The NHT has warned of flash flooding and mudslides as the storm moves across the islands.

Hurricane Fred is forecast to gradually weaken from Tuesday onwards, and will not affect other West African countries, says BBC Weather’s Sarah KeithLucas.

Cape Verde consists of 10 significant volcanic islands, nine of which are inhabited. (Excerpt from Reuters)

China to open high-speed rail link to North Korean border

China will open a highspeed rail line to the North Korean border on Tuesday, state news agency Xinhua said, the latest effort to boost economic ties despite tension between the countries.

The line, under construction since 2010, will run 207 kilometres (127 miles) from Shenyang to the border city of Dandong, which faces North Korea across the Yalu River, and will shorten the train journey from three and

Police Chief Pumpanmuang said that the Thai Police should be credited for capturing the suspect.

“The accomplished work that led to the arrest is truly the work of the authorities and their investigative abilities.

“This was the work of the Thai authorities, there were no tip-offs,” he added.

Police have issued warrants for a 26-year-old Thai woman, Wanna Suansan, and an unnamed foreign man. (Excerpt from BBC News)

a half hours to just over one hour, Xinhua said.

The new link will “raise the region’s economic competitiveness”, the report cited an unnamed railway official saying.

As much as 80 per cent of trade between China and North Korea passes through Dandong, which is near one of North Korea’s special economic zones on Hwanggumpyong Island.

China has encouraged the development of three special economic zones in North Korea, hoping to tap low labour costs and encourage the North to see the benefits of economic reform, even while publicly rebuking it over its nuclear weapons programme. While there has been little sign of progress in the new economic zones, China continues to improve infrastructure on its side of the border, including building a bridge from Dandong into North Korea.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

India top court lifts ban on Jains’ santhara death fast

India’s Supreme Court has suspended an order of the Rajasthan high court banning santhara – the controversial Jain ritual of fasting unto death.

Earlier this month, the High Court had ruled that the voluntary religious practice of santhara was a form of suicide and, therefore, illegal.

Jains had protested against the order, saying sui-

cide was sin, whereas santhara was religion.

On Monday, the top court said it would take up the issue for consideration.

Legal experts say they expect the case to take several years to come to a conclusion.

Jainism is one of the world’s most ancient religions, and Jain monks lead a life of extreme austerity and renunciation.

Santhara – also known as

sallekhana – is a controversial practice in which a Jain gives up food and water with the intention of preparing for death.

Some human rights activists say the ritual is “a social evil” and should be considered as suicide.

In its order, the Rajasthan High Court agreed that it amounted to suicide and made it a criminal offence.

(BBC News)

tuesday, september 1, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

Back to school

The streets and roadways countrywide were flooded with masses of brightly uniformed students, and their parents and guardians, as they turned out for the first day of school on Monday (Carl Croker photos)

Rice industry in parlous state

Uncertainty follows Govt's inability to pinpoint announced $23B

...Rice producers left in limbo

The rice industry in Guyana, which was deemed the driving force in agriculture, is now in a state of peril as rice farmers and millers throughout the country are uncertain as to their futures as a result of Government’s actions.

Over four weeks ago, rice millers had shipped 6000 tonnes of rice to Panama through the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) and are yet to be paid for this shipment.

This is according to Turhane Doerga of the Rice Producers Association Action Committee, who told Guyana Times on Monday evening that rice farmers are unhappy about the details of the abovementioned transaction.

“The rice millers need to be paid so that they can also pay the rice farmers. Until now we have not even received a letter of credit which is documented proof for the rice millers for them to receive monies for their supplies. In fact, we wrote a letter to them asking about various payments and how we will get our monies including how the recently announced $23 billion for the rice industry will be disbursed,” Doerga stated.

As it relates to the $23 bil-

lion for the rice industry that was announced by Finance Minister Winston Jordan in his budget presentation on August 10, the public is still confused about this declaration and speculation has already arisen as to where this money will come from and when it will be given to the rice industry.

Guyana Times was further told by Doerga that there was no consultation between the rice association(s) and Government as to ‘when, how and where’ the funding would be made avail-

able to those promised. In fact, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration through the Agriculture Ministry has failed to reply to the letter(s) sent questioning the abovementioned issues.

No consultation

Meanwhile, Rice Producers Association (RPA) General Secretary Dharmakumar Seeraj, in an exclusive interview, with this publication on Monday afternoon stated that there was absolutely no consultation between his organisation and the Government as to the $23 billion that was posited by Minister Jordan to be allocated to the rice industry soon.

He stated that he had written the Government letters on various matters and it has not yet responded or communicated with the RPA.

“As it relates to the payment, the only mention of the $23 billion was in the budget speech, when we were going through the estimates in the National Assembly, the Minister of Agriculture clearly stated that there is no money in the agriculture budget for the rice sector. When asked about the

UG students host sickle cell awareness fair

Six final-year students of the University of Guyana School of Medicine Association (UGSMA) as part of their final-year project on Saturday hosted their annual health fair at the Republic Bank parking lot, Main Street.

Group member Faqueeda Watson told Guyana Times that for the final-year project, the students needed to work in groups of six, and her group focused on the outpatient management of sickle cell disease at the paediatric department of the Georgetown Public Hospital and decided to host a public awareness health fair on sickle cell disease. The group comprises Watson, Patricee Douglas, Donielle Douglas, Jousha Ramah, Waveney Charles and Jessica Pereira Bruzon.

They collaborated with the Guyana Sickle Cell Association (GSCA) and discussed with visitors what the disease was and how it af-

fected the body. Watson explained that the group chose to sensitise persons on this area, because many did not understand the seriousness of this disease and not much awareness was done on the subject.

The group shared that screening for sickle cell trait in newborn babies had recently began. This was in collaboration with Paediatrician Dr Winsom Scott, of the paediatric division of the Georgetown Public Hospital. Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. People with sickle cell disease have red blood cells that contain mostly haemoglobin S, an abnormal type of haemoglobin. Sometimes these red blood cells become sickle-shaped (crescent shaped) and have difficulty passing through small blood vessels. When sickle-shaped cells block small blood vessels, less blood can reach that part of the body. Tissue that does not

$23 billion, the Minister of Finance on Friday could not answer where this money is and it is nowhere in the estimates. The only place it appears as far as I can tell is in the budget speech,” said Seeraj.

Guyana Times was also told that as it related to the $5 billion that was reportedly given to the GRDB to pay rice farmers for paddy and rice supplied to Venezuela, some of that money would have had to come from the Consolidated Fund or from other sources.

However, if monies were taken from the Consolidated Fund to make these payments before the passing of the budget then this would be an act of illegality.

Paid

“I am certain that they did indeed pay for the paddy and rice supplied, but I am not sure if it was $5 billion in total, I don’t think they have not cleared the amount. They have paid for over $40 million of paddy and rice supplied in June-July before budget presentation…So the amount that was shipped to Venezuela, almost all was paid for with about $42 million worth of paddy and rice sent to Venezuela and just over $40 million was paid,” the RPA Chairman noted.

receive a normal blood flow eventually becomes damaged. This is what causes the complications of sickle cell disease. There is currently no universal cure for sickle cell disease.

Throughout the fair, a representative of Eureka Lab was present to screen sickle trait for interested persons. The group also provided other health services to the general public including blood pressure testing, blood sugar testing, calculations of body mass indexes, and dental checkups for which they were assisted by more experienced medical practitioners and persons from the Lions Club, the UG School of Dentistry, the national blood bank and the Health Ministry. Additionally, the group shared that they have one final awareness campaign to be completed soon, which will be to paint a mural along the seawalls; at the moment, they are awaiting approval from the Public Works Ministry.

Jordan’s assertions about the ‘inability’ of the PetroCaribe Fund to meet these payments, is demanding that the Administration confirm which funding source would be utilised to finance the amount of over $23 billion.

In a press statement sent by the Opposition Party on Sunday, the PPP/C said it was calling on the APNU/ AFC coalition Government to reveal the funding source and explain what additional support was being provided to the rice industry from this amount of $23 billion other than mere payment to farmers and millers for the rice and paddy that they produce and supply.

The PPP/C cited that during the Budget debate and the period for consideration of estimates, the Government failed to address or answer these questions posed by the Opposition Party.

Minister Jordan was asked in Parliament to indicate the exact Budget agency, programme and line item under which the amount of over $23 billion is allocated in the 2015 budget consistent with the funding source.

Although the Budget has been passed for 2015, the Opposition is still asking the Government to provide it and the rest of the nation with answers to these critical questions.

During the last parliamentary sitting on Thursday, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo lambasted the Finance Minister emphasising that Minister Jordan had ‘dodged’ the questions of where the money was budgeted by using technicalities.

In fact, he stated that while the nation has heard of the billions of dollars that the rice industry was given, Minister Jordan once again ‘dodged’ the question as to whether or not the money came from the Consolidated Fund.

Meanwhile, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), in light of Minister

“And if this money came from the Consolidated Fund in the absence of a Budget he (Minister Jordan) would have committed an ille-

gal act. So if it did not come from the Consolidated Fund, where did it come from? And also if we can’t be told where it came from, did the Guyana Sugar Corporation actually receive money?” he questioned in the National Assembly.

The PPP/C press release on Sunday also stated that in Minister Jordan’s 2015 Budget speech, he stated that his Government had already provided support of $5 billion to the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) for the rice industry.

This was prior to the August 10 submission of the 2015 Budget to the National Assembly.

Guyana Times further understands that the Government was yet to come forward with explanations and answers as to how much financial support was provided by the APNU/AFC coalition Government to the GRDB prior to the passage of Budget 2015.

The PPP/C is also calling on the Finance Minister to make public the information of the source of funding for this support, whether or not the funding was sourced from the Consolidated Fund or the Contingencies Fund. If neither of the two were the sources then the APNU/ AFC owes the public an answer as to the source of funding in this regard.

Guyana Times was told that the Opposition Party was asking the coalition government to release information on the exact date on which this support was released by the Finance Ministry to the Budget Agency concerned and to state what date it was paid over by that agency to the GRDB.

The PPP/C is also calling on Minister Jordan to indicate exactly what additional support was provided to the rice industry from this amount of $5B billion other than mere payments to farmers and millers for the rice and paddy which they produced and supplied.

Dharmic Sabha extends sympathy on passing of Andrew Juman

The creative world in Guyana has become poorer after the passing of Andrew Juman, the owner of Andrew Arts, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha said on Monday. He passed away on Friday last following a heart attack.

The religious body in a release stated that it was deeply saddened by the passing of one of Guyana’s most creative and talented persons who have revolutionised art in general.

The businessman was popularly known for designing and crafting spectacular floats which could be termed masterpieces for the Diwali

Motorcade on behalf of the Beharry Group of Companies.

“He was passionate about the motorcade and dedicated his energies each year to raising

the bar. He won the Best Float and Designer for many, many years and in recent years sponsored a special prize for new designers in an effort to encourage greater participation in an event that was so dear to his heart,” the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha stated. Juman was also involved in the group’s Indian immigration celebrations creating wondrous ensembles to reflect the historical period.

The Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha extends its heartfelt sympathy to his wife Nirmala, daughter Mishal and the rest of his family. He will be greatly missed. Juman will be cremated today.

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

CANCER

You will be impatient and argumentative. Work alone and avoid confrontations. The busier you are, the less time you will have to work yourself into a state of duress.

Financial gains will be made if you do your homework. Put your needs first. Consider the fallout that will ensue if you get involved in a dubious situation.

Make a difference. Get involved with an organization or political group, and set the stage to make beneficial reforms. A romantic encounter will put a positive spin on your future.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Think before you speak. Emotional confrontations are inevitable if you are critical or opinionated. It’s fine to have your own beliefs, but don’t expect everyone to agree with you.

Consider starting a small business or partnership with someone you feel akin to. Present and promote what you have to offer. The right connection will lead to victory.

Improvements to your living quarters will increase their appeal and value. You will find an unusual way to drum up the funds you need to follow through with your plans.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

The more help you offer, the more you will receive. Join forces with others to help a benevolent cause and together you will make a difference.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Ask for a raise, or consider starting your own business. Highlight your unique qualities to those in a position to help you out. Romance is in the air.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Attempting to live up to another person’s expectations is a waste of time. Take the path best suited to bring you self-satisfaction if you want to avoid disappointment and regret.

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

Check out property investments to get an idea of the options available to you as well as the corners you must cut to take on additional expenses.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

Someone you have not heard from lately will surface. Once you finish taking care of your responsibilities, treat yourself to a day trip away from your usual routine.

Things will run smoothly if you go with the flow. Complete your tasks without complaint and offer to help someone who isn’t as fortunate as you are.

US Open leading men cheering for a Serena Grand Slam

Serena Williams is on the brink of the grandest achievement in tennis, the single season Grand Slam, and even the leading men at the US Open championships starting on Monday are cheering her on.

The 33-year-old American, with the 2015 Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon trophies already on her crowded mantle, will be gunning to complete the first season’s sweep of the slams since Steffi Graf in 1988.

The last man to accomplish the feat was Rod Laver in 1969.

“I am sending her good vibes, I hope she does it,” says U.S. Open men’s top seed Novak Djokovic, winner of nine majors.

“She’s a true champion and she’s impressive what she’s managed to do so far at her age to win three grand slams. It’s quite incredible. I know how tough it is, both men’s and women’s tennis. The competition is really

high.”

Victory at Flushing Meadows would lift Williams to 22 career grand slam singles crowns, tying her with Graf for second on the all-time list, two behind Margaret Court.

“I hope she does it, number one,” said second seed Roger Federer, who stands atop the men’s all-time slams list with 17.

“Number two, of course it’s intriguing and interesting to see. You don’t get this kind of an opportunity many times in tennis, so it will be very interesting to follow.”

Rafa Nadal, a 14-times grand slam singles winner, was also absorbed by the historical bid by Williams, who has won the last three titles at Flushing Meadows and would register an Open era record seventh U.S. crown with another triumph.

“She won everything that somebody can win. Amazing the career of Serena,” said Nadal. “She has a unique opportunity to make the

Grand Slam in one year and she’s playing at home so it’s a big opportunity for her.

“She knows how to manage all of this. She knows how to play in this tournament. She has won here many times.”

Williams would become the sixth player to register a Grand Slam following Don Budge (1938) and Laver (1962, 1969) on the men’s side and Maureen Connolly (1953), Court (1970) and Graf (1988).

“If she makes that happen it will be something special for the world of sport,” Spain’s Nadal said.

All three of these leading men have come close to the feat.

Federer won three of the four slams in 2004, 2006 and 2007, falling short all three years in the French Open, losing in the ‘06 and ‘07 finals to nine-times Roland Garros winner Nadal.

Nadal won three in 2010, missing only the Australian Open, while Djokovic won a trio in 2011, lacking the French title.

None of them came to Flushing Meadows with a chance to complete the slam.

Djokovic was asked if he thought he might be capable of a Grand Slam.

“I sincerely hope from your mouth to God’s ears,” the 28-year-old Serb said. “I’ve been close and that gives me enough reason to believe that I can achieve that.” (Reuters)

Boldon takes charge of Richard Thompson

Ato Boldon, a fourtime Olympic medallist and former World Champion for Trinidad and Tobago, will now be trying to get the twin-island republic’s brightest sprint star ready for the Rio Games.

Former Olympic silver medallist, Richard Thompson, is said to have approached Boldon to coach him and T&T’s most decorated sprinter has accepted.

Boldon will also be coaching Khalifa St Fort in a camp in Florida and told news entity the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, that Thompson would be moving there.

The bronze medal-

list from the 200-metres at 1996 Olympics where Michael Johnson famously stormed to a 19.32 World Record, is in Beijing, China for the IAAF World

Championships, as a member of the T&T coaching staff. Boldon is focusing on the relays, in particular, with the women’s 4x100metre team. The T&T star is also analyst with NBC and an IAAF brand ambassador.

According to Boldon, Thompson is aware that he is getting into the twilight of his career and wants to be the best he can heading into the Rio Olympics.

“He called me and said ‘You know what? I do not have too many more chances at this but I want to be at my best for the Olympics, so you would you consider coaching me?” Boldon revealed. (Digicel Sportsmax)

Rousey-Holly Holm to headline UFC 193 in Australia

UFC president Dana White announced the switch Friday night on SportsCenter, saying the promotion believes Rousey-Holm will set the all-time attendance record for an MMA event.

The pay-per-view event actually will take place on November 15 in Australia, in order to maintain the usual Saturday evening start time in the U.S. It will mark the UFC’s first visit to Melbourne and will take place at Etihad Stadium, which hosts the Australian Football League and has a capacity near 55,000.

The title fight was originally scheduled to headline UFC 195 in Las Vegas. A previously announced welterweight title fight between Robbie Lawler (2610) and Carlos Condit (30-8) has been removed from the Australia card, as Lawler suffered a thumb injury.

Ronda Rousey (12-0) is seeking her seventh consecutive title defense. The former U.S. bronze Olympic medalist in judo is coming off a 34-second knockout against Bethe Correia at

UFC 190 on Aug. 1 in Rio de Janeiro.

“Obviously Ronda Rousey was huge for us down in Brazil, she was well received there,” White said. “It did very well on pay-per-view here in the United States, and she’s obviously a huge superstar for us. Australia is an important market for us, so we’re going to bring her out there in our first real big stadium show, and we know she’ll break the record.”

Fighting out of Glendale Fighting Club in Southern California, Rousey has finished three of her past four opponents via knockout.

She set the UFC record for fastest finish in a title fight Feb. 28 by submitting Cat Zingano in just 14 seconds. Holly Holm (9-0) is a former world boxing champion who transitioned to MMA full time in 2013. She trains out of Jackson-Winkeljohn MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is 2-0 in the UFC.

“The scary thing about Ronda Rousey is: As good as she is, she’s still getting better,” White said. “She’s just getting into her prime now, and obviously people are in awe of her talent.” (ESPN)

Mo Farah is GB’s ‘greatest sportsman’ – Brendan Foster

Olympic medallist

Brendan Foster has described Mo Farah as Britain’s “greatest sportsman” after claiming the first distance ‘triple-double’.

Farah added the 5,000m to his 10,000m title at the World Championships - a feat he also achieved at the London Olympics in 2012 and the 2013 Worlds.

Foster said: “Mo is the greatest sportsman that Britain has ever had.”

Farah, 32, responded: “We have had so many legends and to be in the same category as them is amazing.”

Farah has now gone ahead of Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele who is the only other person to claim an Olympic and world ‘double-double’ in the distance events.

Farah now has five World Championship golds, two Olympic golds and five European golds, and is unbeaten on the track outdoors in a major championships since finishing second in the 10,000m at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu.

Foster, working as a BBC commentator at the cham-

pionships, explained why he put the British runner on such a pedestal.

“He’s Great Britain’s most prolific winner of global golds and he’s put former British athletes like Sebastian Coe and Daley Thompson behind him,” he told BBC Radio 5 live.

“Former rower Sir Steve Redgrave [who won five Olympic golds] was part of a team. Mo is on his own and it’s lonely out there. He’s ruthless and we’ve not seen that. We should be enjoying the moment. We’ll never see his like again.”

Farah named Redgrave, ex-footballer David Beckham and former Manchester United manager Sir Alex

Ferguson as his three greatest British sportsmen.

“We have had so many legends and to be in the same category as them is amazing,” he said.

Multiple Olympic and world sprint champion Usain Bolt - who has won gold in the 100m and 200m in Beijing, as well as anchoring Jamaica to the 4x100m relay title - is a friend of Farah and added his praise.

“When it comes to Mo I’m never worried,” the 29-yearold told BBC Radio 5 live. “When you are used to winning and dominating it comes easy.

“He knows what it takes to win and I had no doubt Mo would win.” (BBC Sport)

Sharmas take India to within seven wickets of win

India were seven wickets from their first series win in Sri Lanka since 1993 after Rohit Sharma, followed by lower-order contributions, all but batted Sri Lanka out of the game. The other Sharma, Ishant, having faced a barrage of bouncers from Dhammika Prasad and aggression from Dinesh Chandimal when he batted, came out pumped up and knocked out any thoughts of the target of 386 being

chased down with two wickets in his first spell, including that of Chandimal, who had made slight physical contact with Ishant in India’s innings. It is conjecture if the altercations contributed to Ishant’s hitting the good lengths, but it wasn’t probably wise to expose him to the Sri Lankan bowling. Even at P Sara, India perhaps delayed the declaration and ran the risk of inju-

ries to new-ball bowlers. Sri Lanka were obviously going to bounce them to serve the dual purpose of slowing the scoring down and delaying the declaration, and possibly eliminate the bowler. Prasad, the bowler here, was himself not done any favours: he was hit on the left glove the first ball he batted and had to retire hurt.

With a lead of 380 in the bag, against this Sri Lankan batting, and with rain al-

ways a factor, India would have been expected to declare early in the final session of the day. Still Ishant came out at No. 11, and was bounced and stared at. Except that one of those bouncers was a big no-ball. Ishant didn’t like it, and when taking a single pointed to his helmet, as if to tell Prasad to aim at his head if he means to hurt him. Chandimal made himself a party to the altercation, and seemed to brush Ishant while doing so.

R Ashwin, who had batted as stylishly as Rohit but under considerably less pressure, tried to shield Ishant and opened the face to the last ball of the said over, but only managed an edge to end the innings. Ishant ran off to prepare to bowl in 10 minutes’ time, but Prasad left his team behind and chased him and caught up with him at the end of the players’ tunnel at SSC. The duo had to be separated.

All these bursts of energy from Sri Lanka were sudden on a day they were, more than anything, found wanting physically. It will please Virat Kohli, who has often seen - even when not captain - his bowlers come out

second-best physically after competing for long periods of time. India had their lucky breaks - the rain on third evening when in the middle of a collapse the last of those - but they showed less wear of three back-to-back Tests than their hosts did.

On an oppressively hot day in Colombo - players were often seen fielding with ice-filled kerchiefs around the back of their necks - despite a seaming pitch on offer, Angelo Mathews bowled only six overs out of the 76 India faced, 19 out of 176.1 in the match, which meant little back-up for the two frontline quicks. Spinners bowling 34 overs on this pitch turned out to be easy pickings for India.

On the third evening, Sri

Lanka rode the momentum to reduce India to 7 for 3, and were looking at just one big push in the final hour before putting their feet up. On the fourth morning, they were looking at a long hot day, and couldn’t risk over-bowling anyone. India also had that 111-run firstinnings lead, which meant almost every boundary resulted in a retreat from Sri Lanka.

Having said all that India would still have been pleasantly surprised to see Rangana Herath bowl the sixth over of the day, only the 14th of the innings. He also carried with him the baggage of the six Rohit had hit him for on the third evening. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

India 1st innings 312

Sri Lanka 1st innings 201

India 2nd innings 274

Sri Lanka 2nd innings (target: 386 runs)

WU Tharanga c †Ojha b I Sharma 0 JK Silva not out 24

FDM Karunaratne c †Ojha b Yadav 0 LD Chandimal c Kohli

Vibrant England show nerve in five-run win

In years to come, people will look at the scorecard of this match and presume that Ben Stokes - with modest bowling figures and a peripheral figure with the bat - played nothing more than a supporting role in this game.

But Stokes, with an outstanding catch and a nerveless final over, played a key part in an England victory that continues a remarkable summer that promised little more than pain and has delivered more promise and encouragement than even the most optimistic

supporters could have anticipated.

After a grim 2014 when they lost nine of their 12 T20Is, including a wretched World T20 campaign, new-look England have now won three in a row and have defeated the No. 2 ranked side. Their limited-overs resurgence, a development that looked most unlikely when they were knocked out of the World Cup at the first hurdle only a few months ago, continues.

More importantly, with players such as Stokes involved, they appear to be

SCOREBOARD

DA Warner c Finn b Willey 4 SR Watson b Finn 8 SPD Smith* c Billings b Willey 90 GJ Maxwell c Stokes b Ali 44 MR Marsh b Topley 13

MP Stoinis not out 10

MS Wade† run out (Morgan/ Stokes) 2 NM Coulter-Nile c Rashid b Stokes 0 PJ Cummins run out (Roy/Stokes) 0 MA Starc not out 0

bat: AU Rashid, DJ Willey, ST Finn, RJW Topley

of wickets: 1-17, 2-18, 3-153, 4-168, 5-180

MA Starc 4-0-32-1,

Coulter-Nile 4-0-24-1, PJ Cummins 4-0-25-2, MR Marsh

2-0-21-0, GJ Maxwell 2-0-12-0, MP Stoinis 1-0-13-0, SR Watson

2-0-33-0, CJ Boyce 1-0-19-0.

Australia innings (target: 183 runs from 20 overs)

Extras (lb 5, w 1) 6

Total (8 wickets; 20 overs) 177

Did not bat: CJ Boyce Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-12, 3-124, 4-161, 5-165, 6-172, 7-174, 8-175

Bowling: DJ Willey 4-0-34-2, ST Finn 4-0-39-1, RJW Topley 4-0-35-1, AU Rashid 3-0-320, BA Stokes 4-0-29-1, MM Ali 1-0-3-1.

developing into a team that relishes pressure moments. While some previous England sides have appeared to wilt in the spotlight, here they held their nerve under pressure to secure a five-run victory.

With seven overs to go, it appeared Australia were cruising. Glenn Maxwell and Steven Smith, with his maiden T20I half-century, had added 112 for the third-wicket and the previous four overs had cost 13, 10, 14 and 14 respectively.

But then Maxwell attempted to pull Moeen Ali’s first ball, little more than a dragged-down long-

hop really, for six over midwicket only to see Stokes, dashing round from longon, leap to his right and cling on to an outstanding catch.

It was the moment that changed the game. Reece Topley, impressively calm for a 21-year-old on international debut, bowled Mitchell Marsh with a nicely disguised slowerball delivered out of the back of the hand before Smith miss-hit to mid-on. Nerves spread through the Australian line-up and with Stokes delivering a fine final over - Australia could manage just six of the 12 runs they required

for victory from it - they lost five wickets for 16 runs in the final 14 balls of the innings. Stokes is not the only one in this new-look England side that seems to relish the big occasion.

His captain, Eoin Morgan, has struggled so badly in county cricket that it was decided to rest him for a month prior to this match

But here, coming to the wicket with his side struggling to make progress against Australia’s impressive pace attack, he looked a high-class T20 player in thrashing 74 from just 39 balls. It was an innings that largely vindicated his

decision to rest.

“I’ve been practising for the last 10 days and it’s been really good,” he said. “I feel fresh mentally and physically.

“I’ve never asked for a break before. It had been 11-months without one and, if I’d known I’d be so busy in October, I’d have asked for one before. It’s worked out well.”

With Moeen, who made a career-best T20I score of 72 not out and was given his first international Man of the Match award, Morgan added 135 in 12.2 overs for the third-wicket - England’s fourth highest T20I partnership - to help them recover from a lacklustre start that yielded only 27 runs and two wickets from the Powerplay. At that stage, the Australian attack looked daunting. Pat Cummins, generating fierce speed (he averaged 91 mph), beat Alex Hales for pace with a full toss and then had Jason Roy taken at mid-off as he tried to hit over the top. But life became easier once the support bowlers were introduced into the attack immediately after the Powerplay. Moeen, unhurried and elegant, drove Marsh’s first delivery over extra cover for four and then took 13 off Marcus Stoinis first over in inter

national cricket. (cricinfo)

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Williams set for calendar Slam pressure

Serena Williams is ready to handle the pressure of going for the calendar Grand Slam after going through a similar experience at Wimbledon.

The American, 34, won her fourth straight major title, dubbed a ‘Serena Slam’, at the All England Club in July.

Williams now has the chance for her first calendar Slam of all four majors in a year if she wins the US Open.

“I think Wimbledon gave me unbelievable practice for this,” said the world number one in New York.

“At Wimbledon I was going for the second Serena Slam. That is rare.

“So that really gave me the best practice and preparation in terms of going for the Grand Slam.”

Who has done it before?

Steffi Graf was the last player to win the calendar Slam in 1988, and the only other women to do so were Margaret Court in 1970 and Maureen Connolly in 1953.

Williams has been breaking records ever since she won her first major title at

Flushing Meadows in 1999

- another victory this year and she would become the first woman or man in the open era to win the US Open seven times.

She would also draw level with Graf on 22 Grand Slam singles titles, two behind all-time leader Court.

‘I have always dreamt of winning the Slam’

Asked if she now believes she is the greatest player ever, Williams said: “I can’t sit here and say that.

“I can sit here and say that I’m the greatest player that I’ve been able to be. I do read numbers and I do see numbers. I believe in those numbers.”

Williams, who faces Russia’s world number 86 Vitalia Diatchenko in round one, is the threetime defending champion at Flushing Meadows.

She said that winning the US Open had always been as much of an ambition as a calendar Slam.

“I always dreamt of winning the US Open,” she said. “I have always dreamt of winning the Grand Slam. It was just a dream.

“I never thought I would be close to doing something like that. My dream originally was always to win here in New York.”

Brady, NFL fail to reach settlement in Deflategate lawsuit

Aruling in the lawsuit between Tom Brady and the NFL is likely to come by Wednesday after the two sides failed to reach a settlement.

Tom Brady’s availability for the start of the NFL season is in the hands of Judge Richard Berman after the New England Patriots quarterback failed to reach a settlement with the league in his appeal against suspension.

Brady was suspended for four games by the league back in May after he was implicated in Ted Wells’ investigation into the deflation of footballs in last season’s AFC Championship Game.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell upheld the suspension in July, with Brady subsequently filing a lawsuit through the NFL Players

Association (NFLPA).

The two parties have been in settlement talks for weeks but, after meeting briefly with attorneys for the league and the NFLPA again on Monday, Berman announced in his Manhattan courtroom that no settlement has been reached.

Berman said he will likely announce whether

he will uphold the ban by Wednesday.

The two sides reportedly met with Berman in private for about 40 minutes. The brief session in open court that followed lasted less than 10 minutes, with Berman thanking both sides for their efforts in attempting to reach a settlement.

Brady and Goodell both attended the hearing at Berman’s request. No matter which way the judge rules, the losing side will have the right to appeal. If Berman finds in favour of the NFL, Brady could file for an injunction that would allow him to play for the Super Bowl champion Patriots in their season opener with the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 10 while his appeal is pending.

Mosley floors Mayorga in 6th round of rematch

Sugar Shane Mosley stopped Ricardo Mayorga late in the sixth round Saturday night, winning a rematch between the veteran fighters.

The 43-year-old Mosley (48-9-1, 40 KOs) floored Mayorga with a body shot at 2:59 of the sixth round after largely controlling an uneventful bout at the historic Forum.

The 41-year-old Mayorga (31-9-1) was in unimpressive shape and did little to threaten Mosley, the former three-division champion who had won just one of his previous six fights.

but

Adams replaces Gouviea on Fight Night card

BBCI First Division, 50-over cricket… Destructive Foo leads Albion to win over Edinburg

The Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC) has announced a change to the September 26 boxing card, dubbed “Brawl at the Mall.”

Due to work commitment, Stephon Gouviea cannot honour the ring date, and has been replaced by Terrence Adams to face Keeve Allicock in a fourround featherweight clash.

The four-fight card, which will be held at the spanking new Giftland Mall at Pattensen, will signal the return to the GBBC’s signature event, which was

last held on October 13, 2013. The upcoming card will feature a maximum of 26 rounds of boxing, including a title fight to crown the night’s activity.

Trinidad and Tobagobased Guyanese Iwan Azore has agreed to put his national welterweight belt on the line against countryman Dexter Gonsalves in a 12-round defence, billed as the showpiece of the night. It will be the 31st occasion that the Guyana Friday Night Fights ProAm card will be held.

Azore’s last defence of the title was back in November 2012 when he got past Mark Austin. Incidentally, it was Azore’s last appearance in the ring. The southpaw has recorded 16 wins, five losses and three draws in his 11year professional career.

Imran Khan and David Thomas will collide in a fourround lightweight showdown, while the other fight of the night, a six-round junior welterweight, will bring together Anson Green and Quincy Gomes.

The first bell is set to be rung at 20:00h.

Britton continues dominance with Summer Challenge win

Shemar Britton came out as the senior champions in the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Summer Challenge played at the National Gymnasium which concluded on Sunday.

Kevon Corbin, Nicholus Romain, Tyriq Saunders, Nevaeh Clarkston, Thuraia Thomas, Kaysan Ninvalle and Isaiah Charles were also crowned as champions in various categories.

In the senior’s open final, Britton defeated Orin Hickerson at 12-10, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8, 11-8, 11-3 (4-1) to win the event while joint third place went to Joel Alleyne and Edinho Lewis.

The “B” Class Open final saw Corbin defeating Stefan Corlette 12-10, 9-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-5 (3-2) for the win while joint third place went to Elishaba Johnson and Jamal Duff.

Action in “C” Class Open final concluded with Romain defeating Clarkston 15-13, 8-11, 11-4, 10-12, 11-5 (32) for the win while joint third place went to Brandon Jaikarran and Jamaal Nicholas.

In the 13 years and un-

der boys final, Saunders defeated Terrence Rausch 11-6, 11-8,11-8 (3-0) for an easy win while joint third place went to Ninvalle and Yeudistir Persaud.

Clarkston won the 13 Years and under girls round robin play off, defeating Selenas Jackman (32), Abigail Martin (3-1) and Thomas (3-0).

Second place went to Jackman who defeated Martin (3-0) and Thomas (30) while third place to Martin who defeated Thomas (3-0) and fourth place to Thomas.

The 11 years and under boys final saw Ninvalle dominating as he defeated Isaiah Layne (3-0) while joint third place went to Dhanesh Persaud and Colin Wong.

Meanwhile the 11 years and under girls final went to Thomas who defeated Shorana Roberts (3-0) while joint third place went to Janay Prescod- Johnson and Kassia Liverpool.

In the novices open final, Isaiah Charles defeated Sarah Sanmoogan (3-0) while joint third place went to Mohamed Ali and Danesh Persaud.

Former Guyana T20 batting star Jonathon Foo slammed a belligerent half-century to power Albion to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Edinburg to move into the second round of the Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI) First Division 50-over knockout cricket competition in Berbice.

With the win, the Albion lads have now joined Young Warriors, Port Mourant, Police, Blairmont Community Centre and Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets in the second round.

Foo slammed 61 not out (6x4s, 2x6s), and along with Guyana Under-17 batsman Adrian Sukhwa (36) added 75 for the second wicket to orchestrate the victory.

Winning even more comfortably was Port Mourant, who, after former Under-19 off-spinner Loyydel Lewis with 4-11 from seven overs and medium-pacer Avishkar Sewkarran with 4-18 from seven overs bowled out Skeldon Community Centre for 91. Lewis came back with the bat and scored 42 not out to lead them to a nine-wicket win.

Young Warriors did well to exploit their home advantage on a pitch that had preparation moisture to bowl out Tucber Park for a paltry 90 with medium-pac-

er Vishal Mohabir picking up 3-28 from 10 consecutive overs. In their response, Young Warriors slipped to 33-3 before former Berbice batsmen Maxie De Jonge (40 not out) steered them home.

Berbice off-spsinner Krishendat Ramoo took 4-14 from seven overs to help West Berbice restrict Police to 133. But with their offspinner Kwesi Mickle taking 3-18 from five overs and medium-pacer Michael Campbell 3-21 from seven, Police in turn bowled out West Berbice for 87.

Blairmont Community Centre also advanced after Bush Lot Rising Star withdrew from their first round match. Below are the summarised scores from the games played.

At Albion: Albion

Community Centre beat Edinburgh by seven wickets. Edinburgh 112 all out in 42.3 overs (Jeeraish De Jees 22, Jerome Andrews 20, Sharaz Ramcharran 2-41, Daniel Lewis 2-2, Balchand Baldeo 2-13) Albion Community Centre 114-3 from 18 overs (Jonathan Foo 61*, Adrian Sukhwa 36, Shafiek Khan 2-4).

At Port Mourant: Port Mourant beat Skeldon Community Centre by nine wickets. Skeldon Community Centre 91 in 23 overs (Loyydel Lewis 4-11, Avishkar Sewkarran 4-18) Port Mourant 93-1 in 13 overs (Loyydel Lewis 42*).

At Cumberland: Young Warriors beat Tucber Park by six wickets. Tucber Park 90 in 12.4 overs (Devon Clements 25, Vishal Mohabir 3-28, Kevin Ramdeen 2-15,

Suresh Dhanai 2-19) Young Warriors 95-4 in 28.2 overs (Maxie De Jonge 40*, Kevin Ramdeen 24).

At Edinburgh: Police beat West Berbice by 46 runs. Police 133 all out in 31 overs (Martin Singh 44, Clifton Lindee 23, Krishendat Ramoo 4-14) West Berbice 87 in 23 overs (Kwesi Mickle 3-18, Michael Campbell 3-21).

Meanwhile, the competition will continue this weekend with the three second round matches. On Saturday, Young Warriors and Police will clash at Cumberland, while on Sunday, Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets will play Port Mourant at Rose Hall Town and Albion Community Centre will meet Blairmont Community Centre at Albion.

Motivation key to Bolt’s 2017 prospects

After wrapping up a third gold of the World Championships, Usain Bolt says his presence in 2017 will depend on motivation.

Usain Bolt says he will only compete at the World Championships in London two years from now if he has the motivation to add to his impressive medal collection.

Bolt was part of Jamaica’s successful 4x100 metres relay team on Saturday, adding to his individual 100m and 200m golds in Beijing.

There remains doubt as to whether the charismatic sprinter will seek to add to his 11 world golds in 2017 and Bolt suggested he would not make a decision until after the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro next year.

The 29-year-old will seek to win gold in three events for the third Games running and told reporters: “If I can find some reason to motivate myself one more time, I’ll definitely come to London.

“I asked Michael Johnson one time, why

didn’t he continue in the sport, why did he stop running so early when he was on top, and he said ‘I have done everything that I want to’.

“So I think going to Rio and winning those three gold medals and breaking more records, after that it is

going to be hard to motivate myself to continue.”

Bolt claimed victories over Justin Gatlin in the 100m and 200m - the results deemed by many to represent positive news for athletics due to the American having previously served two bans for dop-

ing.

Gatlin’s United States team were then disqualified in the relay final following a clumsy final handover between Tyson Gay and Mike Rodgers.

And Bolt was again quizzed over his personal relationship with Gatlin.

“I wouldn’t say we are mates, let’s not say that. We’re cool because we are competitors and he is cool after the championships so we do exchange words, I wouldn’t use the word mate, but he is a cool person,” added the Jamaican.

“[To win three golds] means a lot, I came out here to win three golds that was my aim, I told you guys.

“A lot of you guys [in the media] had doubts but I got it done so I am happy about it.

“It’s been a beautiful championships, I’m really happy. I came here to win three gold medals, after all the doubts that people have had through the season, all the injuries that I have been through, and I got it done.”

(Digicel Sportsmax)

tuesday, september 1, 2015

Britton takes double at “Play to Conquer” tournament

National player

Shemar Britton’s obvious class was on show last weekend as he captured two titles in the first-ever “Play to Conquer” table tennis competition organised by Titans Table Tennis Club.

Playing at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue, Britton displayed his outstanding skills to win both the Boys Under-18 and Under-21 Open. In both categories, Elishaba Johnson had to settle for second, while Jamal Nicholas took third in the Under-18 and Miguel Wong completed the

top three in the Under-21.

Stefan Corlette was the winner of the B Class Open ahead of Johnson and Miguel Wong, while Isiah Rampersaud and Scolon Roberts were champions of the Boys and Girls Novices divisions respectively.

Colin Wong, Dhanash

Our Own SC ready for Toronto Cup

By RavendRa Madholall in ToRonTo

Alluding to the fact they have been dominant in the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Club (OMSCC) Over-40, 20over competition for the past three consecutive years, Our Own Sports Club (OOSC) is confident of transforming that status to the upcoming Toronto Cup.

With a plethora of seasoned campaigners in their line-up, skipper Mahendranauth Parasnauth is highly optimistic his team will emerge as the champion in the veteran category when the action bowls off on Friday.

A stalwart of the game, Parasnauth stated that despite this will be a gigantic softball occasion for the first time in Canada, he is hoping that the players will continue with the same degree of commitment and enthusiasm to churn out good performances.

Sunil Dhaniram, Troy Gobin, Shiv Seeram, Desmond Chumney, Jaimini Singh, Orin O’Neil and Parasnauth among oth-

ers are the imposing players to represent the experienced side, and according to the versatile all-rounder, they are capable of making a great impact because of their superb abilities.

“I think we have a good team to lift the trophy, I know it is ‘not’ about big names on paper, you have got to go out there and play competitive cricket from day one,” Parasnauth mentioned.

He is already harbouring thoughts that several teams vying for supremacy have the same intention of dominating and they have great reputation too in this category, so expectations of tough competition are extremely high.

“Every team will come to Toronto with the ambition of winning the Cup, so we cannot underestimate any of them; these teams from New York, Florida and Guyana are equally talented too but I am confident that once we capitalise on home advantage, we should be able to do better,” the right-hander, enthusiastically declared.

Parasnauth, who featured for Demerara at Intercounty softball tournament

on numerous occasions in his native country Guyana, feels since the commencement of their preparations for the this three-day tournament, it has been fantastic and the camaraderie in the camp is also terrific.

They will remain focused with diligent practice sessions and get themselves equipped for this showpiece cognizant of their triumphantly motivated team.

Meanwhile, Parasnauth not only focusing on the game, he has voluntarily been working with the OMSCC, the tournament’s host as a foreign-team coordinator and pointed-out that things have shaped up wonderfully so far to have this Mini Softball World Cup on show.

He related that he and the other members are working tirelessly to run off the tournament which is set to attract 14 teams for both the Over-40 and Open categories.

Matches are slated to be played in Scarborough with the first-round schedules at Ellesmere facility, while an opening ceremony is billed for Thursday at Tropical Business Place, also in Scarborough from 19:00h.

Teams in the Masters are: Guyana Floodlights (two teams), New York, Tri-State Master, Our Own, Masters XI and New York Muslim Softball Cricket Association.

Teams taking part in the Open are: New York, New York Enforcers, Caribbean Sensation, Ontario Softball Cricket League, Dant Cricket Club and Masters/ Cove Sports Club.

Persaud and Sharana Roberts were 1-2-3 in the Under-9 Open, while the Under-11 Boys title was won by Kayson Ninvalle, with Isiah Layne second and Colin Wong third.

Thuraia Thomas took top honours in the Under-11 Girls, with Janay Johnson second and Sharana Roberts third, while the Under-13 categories were taken by Brandon Jaikaran (Boys) and Selenas Jackman (Girls).

The Under-15 Boys division saw Miguel Wong lifting the trophy from Nicholas Romain and Jaikaran, while Navaeh Clarkston won the Girls category from Abigale

Martin and Jackman.

Titans Table Tennis Club President Dwain Dick said the tournament was a resounding success. He noted that Britton was “outstanding” in his play, and lifted the profile of the tournament.

Dick also noted that the two-day competition was able to unearth some exciting talent, among them young Jaikaran, who is better known for his cricketing ability.

GTTA “Teach Them Young” Summer Camp concludes

The Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) in conjunction with the Ministry of Education-Department of Culture, Youth and Sport/ National Sports Commission (NSC) concluded their “Teach Them Young” Summer Camp last Thursday at the National Gymnasium.

President of the GTTA, Godfrey Munroe highlighted that the sessions catered not only table tennis development but life skills as well as describing it as success.

Munroe also noted that the coaches of the camp worked tirelessly for the past seven weeks while encouraging the players to practice what they have learned at the camp.

Gervy Harry, Administration Officer of the NSC, praised the work of the coaches who played a pivot-

al role in the camp and urged the participants to be ambassadors of Guyana.

GT Beer Futsal Tournament

Ministry of Education Department of Culture, Youth & Sports PE Instructor Seon

Alexander Village shine on Day 5

B y T reis T on J oseph

Alexander Village

trounced Globe Yard 7-2 to be the most impressive team of Night Five of the GT Beer Futsal Tournament, which continued on Sunday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

Alexander Village dropped seven goals in the opening game of the night, while restricting Globe Yard to a meagre two goals.

Shem Porter (2nd and 28th minute); Leon Yaw (12th and 29th) and Delon Williams (24th and 26th) led the way with double strikes, while Jermaine Junior scored his lone goal in the 20th minute.

Kevon Gibbs in the fourth and Lionel Grimes in the 15th minute were the two scorers for Globe

Yard in the massive loss.

Game two of the night saw Festival City topping Kitty Weavers 5-3 to grab three points for their group tally.

Daniel Favourite scored a double in the 12th and 28th minute to help Festival City to victory, while Dwayne Lawrence, Eon Alleyne and Solomon Austin scored a goal each in the first, second and 18th minute.

Nigel Denny scored a double in the 11th and 21st

minute, while an own goal in the 25th minute contributed to their tally.

Queen Street Tigerbay topped Agricola 5-4 in a highly competitive game, as Darren Harris (3rd and 27th) and Jason Fredericks (5th and 18th) scored doubles to lead the team to victory. Alpha Fletchman in the 28th minute was the other goalscorer.

The final game of the evening thrilled the crowd as well, with Sparta Boss topping Albouystown 4-3

in a fast-paced match.

Deon Alfred scored a double in the 10th and 26th minute respectively, while Dennis Edwards and Travis Grant recorded single strikes in the sixth and eighth minute respectively.

Scoring for Albouystown came from Devon Dooker, Marlon Nedd and Devon Cassius in the 21st, 27th and 30th minutes.

Action will continue during the course of week.

Erskine, who represented the Director of Sports Christopher Jones, told the youngsters

that not having the right attitude can rob them of a place on teams despite how much talent they have.

Erskine pleaded with the players to not waste the knowledge and to always believe that sports is apart of life as much as academics.

“Those people who say that don’t know the true benefits of sports. Don’t forsake your Education but try to be a balanced person by getting involved in sports.” He noted 62 players registered for the camp, with 90% receiving the Ministry of Education, Department of Culture, Youth & Sport, National Sports Commission Certification of Participation and GTTA Certification of Achievement Bronze Award.

Gandhi and Mandela have future test

named after

Australia and England might have the Ashes but India and South Africa have evoked the memory of two iconic historical figures to name future cricket series between the two countries.

Starting in November, the test series between the countries will be known as ‘The Mahatma GandhiNelson Mandela Series’, an announcement said on Monday.

“For the people of both our countries there is no greater duty than to uphold the ideals of both Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela,” Cricket South Africa Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said in a statement.

“As cricket loving people we must fight hard to win on the field of play but never forget to do battle in the spirit of these two great men.”

South Africa tour India

series

them

for four tests in November and December, preceded by a series of limited over matches in October.

The two countries have played 11 test series since 1992 with South Africa winning six and drawing three. Only the first series comprised four tests. A dispute between the two rival boards saw the last series in South Africa reduced to just two tests in 2013.

Gandhi, who pursued non-violent protest to win Indian independence, lived

in South Africa for almost two decades, working as a lawyer and leading several civil rights protests.

Mandela, who died almost two years ago, spent 27 years behind bars for his fight against apartheid and then became South Africa’s first black president in 1994. (Reuters)