Guyana Times Daily - July 6, 2015

Crime escalates

Regent St Mall owner gunned down at home

...killers spotted leaving scene on bicycles

By Bhisham mohamed

Owner of the Regent Street Multiplex Mall was shot dead allegedly by a group of bicycle bandits moments after returned to his La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara home early Sunday morning.

Ganesh Ramlall, 48, of Lot C La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara, was shot at least seven times, including once to his head. The killing of Ramlall has come amidst an upsurge in violence across the country, with Public Security Minister, Khemraj Ramjattan admitting last week that it would take an herculean effort to contain the situation.

According to information received, the businessman was out with his friends at a BBQ in a neighbouring village and upon his return home at about 00:30h, he went to collect a plate as well as use the outside washroom. While doing so, Ramlall was attacked by gunmen who discharged a round, hitting the washroom door. Guyana Times understands that the businessman might have attempted to run into the bot-

tom flat of the house form which he had emerged and was riddled with bullets. He dropped a few metres from his back door where he was left to die.

This publication was told that four men were seen leaving the area on bicycles. One source revealed that the men joined a waiting car behind the village and then drove eastwards. Police investigation has so far revealed that the men also took away Ramlall’s licensed firearm, jewellery and wallet before escaping. Ramlall’s wife was too devastated to speak to the media, however a niece of the dead man, told Guyana Times that her uncle returned home about 00:30h and opened the door to the bottom flat of the house and went in. Within seconds, she stated that he left to use the outside washroom as well as

to collect a plate to maybe eat some of the BBQ chicken he had brought home. She then recalled hearing the sound of a gunshot and she, along with her aunt and cousin, immediately locked the adjoining

door to the upper flat of the house and stayed upstairs. There, they telephoned for the Police as her uncle was shouting at the top of his voice for “Thief! Thief”.

She recounted that they heard about six other gunshots and the place became silent, but they did not take the risk of opening the door until they heard the neighbours calling out to them. As they opened the door, they saw Ramlall lying in a pool of blood on the tiled floor close to the backdoor. Relatives and neighbours rushed the man to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. The niece told this publication that the Police did not arrive at the scene until about one hour later. The Den Amstel Police Station, she noted, is just about a 10-minute drive from the scene.

She added that at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, there was no proper system in place to cater for emergencies, relating that her uncle was placed on a stretcher, but there were no porters to take him into the facility. Sonia recalled her uncle leaving home about 15:00h to join his friend as per normal every Saturday. He reportedly went to the wake for a friend in Herstelling, East Bank Demerara after which he attended a barbecue at Cornelia Ida.

Stunned

The shooting has sent shockwaves through the West Coast village. The father of one was described by all as a gem. He had only last week attended the graduation of his daughter at Queens College after completing her CAPE exams. Ramlall was a noted philanthropist a staunch Hindu and was a benefactor of the village Mandir, a block from his home. He had worked his way from owning stalls in the Stabroek Market, where he was one of the largest importer of clothing from Cuarcao and Panama, to owning a Mall. The small village of La Jalousie is mostly populated by relatives of Ramlall. Ryan Saywack, a close family friend, in a Facebook

post, stated that he was dumbfounded and left speechless when he heard the news that one of his role models and surrogate father was killed by bandits. “It ripped my heart and soul out. All I could think of was how and why. How a man of such worth could be taken in three seconds. Why was a man with such heart given no mercy? He was a man of character, loyalty, respect, gratitude, humbleness, and, most of all, a man with the warmest heart of all,” he lamented. Ramlall’s body was taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Home to await a post-mortem examination. He leaves to mourn his wife, daughter, seven siblings and other relatives. Police are continuing their investigation into the shooting incident. Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud hours before the shooting had recommitted the Guyana Police Force towards tackling the scourge of crime, telling ranks following a parade to mark the Force’s 176th Anniversary that the time for excuses was over, as more and more resources were becoming available to the entity to make Guyana safer. Ramjattan on Friday had acknowledged that a “herculean effort” was needed to solve the current crime situation, admitting that the new Government may have underestimated the gravity of the situation before gaining access to office. Back in 2011 and in 2012, Ramjattan, who was then an Opposition politician, had severely criticised then Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee for not doing enough to control the crime rate in the country. Ramjattan had lambasted Rohee and the then People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Administration for failing the people and not being able to properly administer his responsibilities as security minister. It has been just two months since Ramjattan has been appointed Guyana’s Public Security Minister and already he has been facing the same criticisms as Rohee from an impatient citizenry anxious to enjoy a safe and secure society.

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Saturday, July 4 – 05:30h-07:00h and Sunday, July 5 – 05:30h-07:00h

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

Saturday, July 4 – 05:45h-07:15h and Sunday, July 5 – 06:30h-08:00h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Winds: East North-easterly between 3.12 metres and 4.47 metres per second.

High Tide: 05:57h and 18:27h reaching maximum heights of 2.79 metres and 2.68 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 11:59h reaching a minimum height of 0.42 metre.

Caricom stands with Guyana

… against extension of Venezuelan revanchism

Caribbean leaders have expressed solidarity with Guyana and have called on the Government of Venezuela, “in the spirit of friendship and cooperation”, to withdraw the elements of Decree 1787 as they apply to the territory and maritime space of Caricom states.

The regional leaders had gathered for the 36th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in Bridgetown, Barbados between July 2 and 4. President David Granger had used his speech at the opening ceremony last Thursday to plead with his colleagues to support this country over the issue which threatens Guyana’s economic growth.

Venezuela has been adamant in its claims on Guyana’s territory, including its maritime zone, which was recently found to have oil in what appeared to be high quantities when exploratory work was carried out by the United States oil giant ExxonMobil in early March. Despite an 1899 arbitral award which was the final determiner of the border between Guyana and Venezuela, the Bolivarian Republic claims that the area under exploration is within its territory.

Guyana, through its new Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge, had in-

vited the oil-rich nation to move toward judicial settlement of its contention of the 1899 award. Granger, in an earlier announcement, had said that Guyana would be taking the route of judicial settlement no matter the cost, since the area which Venezuela is claiming has an abundance of natural resources.

The Heads of Government, following the summit which ended on Saturday, reaffirmed the inviolability of international treaties, agreements, awards and legal instruments and made particular reference to those international legally binding instruments that establish international boundaries.

They also noted the negative implications the decree could have on several other Caricom countries. “Heads of Government called for adherence to accepted principles of international law in relation to the delineation and delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf in the Region. Caricom states do not accept any unilateral proclamation which is inconsistent with international law,” the leaders said in a communiqué following the summit.

They emphasised that Caricom states have legitimate territorial and maritime entitlements which conform to international

law, noting that these must be respected.

Huge threat Granger on Thursday told the opening of the summit that years of “naval superiority” should not be allowed to suppress the law, noting that the actions, as demonstrated by Venezuela, must be condemned.

“Guyana assures the representatives of the international community here today of its adherence of international law. We assure the Secretary General of the UN, we assure the Secretary General of the

Commonwealth, and the Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (Caricom), that Guyana today and, for all times, will pursue the principles of mutual respect for each other’s territorial sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-appearance in each other’s internal affairs and mutual cooperation for peaceful coexistence between neighbours,” Granger told his 14 colleagues who listened with rapt attention.

Editor: Nigel Williams

Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Caricom backs Guyana

Guyana is only one of two countries among Caricom's fifteen members that actually commemorate the launching of the regional organisation: today is a public holiday. Even though we were among its more financially challenged members, we provided the headquarters for the institution to forge Caribbean unity. Then Prime Minister of Guyana, Forbes Burnham had been one of the founders of Caricom and every subsequent Guyanese leader of whatever political persuasion has never questioned this country's commitment to the organisation established 42 years ago.

Over the weekend, that commitment was rewarded when at the closing of its annual regional summit Caricom issued a strongly-worded statement within its communiqué. This supported Guyana against Venezuela's extension of its border controversy with this country in the form of its maritime Decree 1787. It was not coincidental that the decree, which purported to extend Venezuela's authority and sovereignty over practically the entire north Coast of South America was issued on May 26, the day of our independence. The decree also affected other members of Caricom such as Suriname on the east and T&T and Barbados in the north.

While noting the friendly relations in trade and other areas of national life - obviously alluding to the PetroCaribe Initiative of Venezuela that provided oil at concessionary financing rates to Guyana and several other Caricom members - the statement on Decree 1787 did not mince words: "Heads noted in particular the negative implications which the Decree has for the peace, security and development of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Heads of Government further noted the negative implications of the decree for several other Caricom countries. They called for adherence to accepted principles of international law in relation to the delineation and delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf in the region. Caricom States do not accept any unilateral proclamation which is inconsistent with international law. They emphasized that Caricom states have legitimate territorial and maritime entitlements that conform to international law and that must be respected."

The statement concluded: "Heads of Government therefore call upon the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in the spirit of friendship and cooperation, to withdraw those elements of Decree 1787 insofar as they apply to the territory and maritime space of Caricom States.” This statement demonstrates that notwithstanding the challenges and disappointment that Caricom has generated in terms of the wider aspirations towards unity and integration, the fact that fifteen sovereign States can speak with one voice does mean something in the modern State system.

There is strength in numbers.

That strength was affirmed by the presence of the SecretaryGeneral (SG) of the UN, Ban Ki-Moon at the summit and his promise to appoint a mission to visit Guyana and Venezuela to "assess the situation". The initial controversy precipitated by Venezuela over the legally demarcated borders with Guyana had been placed in the hands of the UN Secretary General's "good offices" where it had unfortunately languished. As part of the Geneva Agreement signed with Venezuela on the controversy, the UN SG also has the option of sending the matter to other fora for settlement - including to the International Commission of Jurists, for a "judicial settlement".

The previous PPPC administration had signaled its desire for Guyana to embark on this latter route and at the Caricom Summit President Granger reaffirmed this position to the UN SG. It is expected that the modalities of proceeding towards a judicial settlement will be discussed with the pending UN mission. Caricom also engaged Venezuela in bilateral talks on Decree 1787, between Caricom leaders and Venezuelan Vicepresident Jorge Arreaza and Foreign Affairs Minister Elias Jaua Milano, but this was evidently inconclusive.

Guyana is enmeshed in a very complicated international manoeuvre in which each State has its own interestincluding the U.S. which can assert theirs via Exxon which is drilling for oil in the region covered by Decree 1787. Caricom's involvement can only help.

History cannot be erased

Dear Editor, If one looks at the history of this country to determine which of the two main political parties stand by way of credibility and good governance, only one political party stands to claim that title and that is the PPP/C. It has a record of restoring the democratic process while lifting this country out of abject poverty and placing it among the sisterhood of progressive nations. This is undeniable proof that it is the party of, and for the people of this great country.

The coalition is a one-man show run by the PNC, a party that decimated the economy

with its rampant corruption and authoritarian rule. Agriculture grounded to a halt, education faltered while those who managed to get an education ran away overseas for a better life.

A general breakdown in infrastructure and telecommunication prevailed. This party cannot untangle itself from its record. Their old habits have resurfaced as they have dismissed over 50 people who they claim are PPP/C political appointees. These persons are hardworking Guyanese, who have made an honest contribution towards the development of this country. While

some may have been political appointees, they were all part of the development strategy of this country and removing them is not ridding the country of corruption, but instead creating a void where progressive thinkers are concerned. This is victimisation and witch-hunting in its purest form.

But far more important is the motive behind these forced removals.

Guyanese now wake with the fear of who will be fired next. This fear has forced many to openly pledge allegiance to the coalition.

The Prime Minister (and

puppet) Nagamootoo was recorded as saying that the Chronicle is now a newspaper that is reporting the truth meaning that what is being dictated by the administration. Letters voicing public opinion, such as mine, are as such filtered and discarded. Despite the efforts of the PNC to tarnish the reputation of the PPP/C, Guyanese cannot be fooled. The PPP/C is the only political party in the history of Guyana to have gained credibility through serving the people. This cannot be erased from history.

Neil Adams

The basis for free and fair elections in Guyana

Dear Editor,

The Guyanese society is highly politicised. From revolts against the colonisers to the fight for independence and the struggles for equal rights under the Burnham dictatorship, Guyanese were always invested in shaping this country. Even as we fought these battles, our lives couldn’t be untangled from the grips of the West.

Although the nature of our battles evolved, those fighting in the arena remained the same. Since the end of the PNC era, Guyana has had open access to international markets, benefiting from healthy developing foreign policies, fuelled by the growing South-South cooperation and regional development. What hasn’t changed, however, is the raison d’être of certain superpowers vis-à-vis Guyana.

The transparency of the last elections is questionable. GECOM failed either to investigate the fraud or to cooperate in its investigation. The final results were announced five days after elections were held, during which repeated attempts by the PPP/C to have the ballots of several regions recounted failed to attract support from the civil society, the Private Sector and the diplomatic community. Even before the evidence

of fraud was presented to GECOM and the public, the diplomatic community dominated by the US bellowed that the elections were “free and fair”. When evidence of fraud was unveiled to GECOM and the diplomats, the elections were still proclaimed to be “free and fair”, and the idiom “to fall on deaf ears” was never more beautifully expressed.

The historical similarity with the situation which led Burnham to become Guyana’s Prime Minister and President from 1980 to 1985 is disturbing. The Kennedy Administration having deprived Jagan of any chance to accede office did everything in its might to give Burnham power which included ordering Britain to support its decision, carrying out undercover operations in Guyana to create politico-ethnic segregation and seducing him with promises to secure his loyalty (or so they thought). Pre- and neocolonial powers turned a blind eye to the manifestations of the will of the Guyanese people when they allowed Burnham to grab control of Guyana in 1964. Once in power, Burnham ensured that he stayed there through repeated rigged elections at the grand embarrassment of the USA until the Carter Administration decided that

the image of the US would suffer if it didn’t intervene to fix things. Subsequently, the first free and fair elections weren’t, as the previous APNU campaign deceitfully chanted, at the initiative of Hoyte.

The 2015 case is similar because the US is still engaged in a war which extends beyond the realm of ideology since it’s intrinsically tied to the increasing scarcity of natural resources. Guyana attracts the interest of the USA two-fold (at least). First, it’s bordered by Venezuela, Brazil and Suriname, representing a major geostrategic interest in the realm of ideologies. Foreign policy and a strong left-wing socialist Chavismo movement in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela caused relations with the US to dwindle into one of US imposed boycotts and embargos, internationally voiced disdain and finger pointing, and an anti-imperialist, anti-capitalist Venezuelan discourse. Undeniably, any opportunity to befriend Venezuela’s next door neighbour must be seized. While the USA through Guyana reinforces its power in a predominantly leftwing socialist South America, it might in turn offer its protectorate to our country where some 62 per cent of our territory is claimed by Venezuela.

Guyana’s pristine forests and rich deposits of minerals including a nascent oil industry in the vicinity of the Guyana-Venezuelan maritime border are also quite attractive.

This can explain why the US was quick to declare “free and fair” elections while rebuking evidence of fraud stirring a long buried, unforgotten sentiment of injustice among those who recall the US interference in the very birth of our country and the role it played in creating an ethnically divided electorate, causing severe long-term psychological and physical prejudice to Guyanese.

It also explains why Maduro was quick to attack the Granger Government less than one month after it was elected.

Considering the political dejà-vu, one must question how a country where good governance struggles to establish itself over steady foreign interference, poor social and political infrastructure and an ethnically divided electorate could gain control of its national sovereignty as prescribed by international law. Maybe the answer lies in how we manage to fight our old demons.

De Sá

Freedom

fighters should be recognised by the PPP/C and the Government

Dear Editor, I write to acknowledge and thank journalist and rights activist Dr Vishnu Bisram for recommending that myself, Pandit Rampersaud Tiwari, Pandit Birbal Singh, former Attorney General Sir Fenton Ramsahoye, and former Home Affairs Minister Balram Singh Rai be recognised with national honours for our contribution to the independence movement of Guyana (published in Guyana Times, June 15). We are deeply humbled by this recommendation. Dr Bisram also recommended national honours for several other distinguished personalities living abroad (Arjune Karshan, Chuck Mohan, Vassan Ramracha, Dr Baytoram Ramharack) who consistently laboured for the freedom of Guyana from the clutches of the PNC dictatorship. Dr Bisram himself is deserving of national honours given his life-long history of struggle for Guyana while in the country and abroad. Few contributed as much as Dr Bisram in the Guyanese Diaspora for the struggle for the restoration of democracy during the dictatorship. He is well-known for his exceptional service, volunteerism, advocacy, and activism in community affairs long after the others have abandoned community development. And his journalistic contributions to Guyana are unmatched by anyone in the Diaspora.

I remember the work and the struggles of Pandits Tiwari and Birbal Singh as well as Balram Singh Rai and Dr Fenton and the humiliation they suffered at the hands of the British. I worked with them. I was a PPP activist for national independence. It is well-known that I was imprisoned at Sibley Hall due to my political activism. I was physically abused and as a vegetarian almost starved as consideration was not given to my religious diet. Let me point out that Moses Nagamootoo was trained as a youth activist under my tutelage and he knows of the roles these individuals played.

These gentlemen were committed to the struggle for restoration of democracy in Guyana during the dictatorship and were regular visitors at my Arya Samaj Mandir near Hillside Avenue and 145 Street in Jamaica and at other religious affairs as well as at public events educating the public about abuses in Guyana and soliciting support for their struggle to liberate Guyana from the throes of dictatorship. Ramharack, Ramracha and Bisram penned countless articles exposing the oppression of the Guyanese nation. They internationalised the struggle for free and fair elections the way few did. They even advocated abroad for the oppressed in Guyana. They were among a handful of political activists who took time off their jobs and abandoned their families to

carry out countless protests including in front of the UN and at different places in America against the illegal Government of Guyana. They contributed personal funds to the struggle for the restoration of democracy in Guyana. In addition, they strongly influenced the US State Department to force Desmond Hoyte to hold free and fair elections in October 1992 resulting in the PPP returning to office after 28 years. Because of the struggle of these honourable figures, Guyana became free and the people gained economically, socially and politically. Presently, some of these same political activists are in forefront to save and ensure democracy in Guyana following the May 11 elections amid allegations of rigging. It is an injustice that these prominent and distinguished Guyanese were never recognised for their work. The PPP owes them an apology and the new government should correct this injustice by honouring these heroes. All of the nominees and more, such as Melvin Carpen, Ravi Dev and Joe Kanhai, among others, are worthy of national recognition devoting countless hours in grassroots activism for free and fair elections. It should also be noted that Vishnu Bandhu participated in the anti-dictatorial struggle for several years in NY before re-migrating to Guyana to launch a political party, and he is also worthy of honours. I would also like to add Moses Bhagwan to that list of deserving nominees and a few others who are still alive who fought the colonial power for our independence. The contributions of all the activists to Guyana are immeasurable in supporting free and fair elections, transforming the lives of the nation. Those who struggled for Guyana should be recognised for the important roles they played in our freedom and the restoration of democracy as we can never thank them enough for their service to the nation.

Yours truly, Pandit Ramlall

Guyana’s education system on the verge of collapse

Dear Editor,

Unfortunately the myriad of problems facing Guyana’s education system remain hidden behind the just-closed doors of all public schools across the nation. Those problems would greet the nation when those same school doors re-open on August 31, 2015. In black and white it may have been a ‘successful’ year for education; however, in reality there are severe constraints which can be related only by teachers.

While Guyana’s education system is more (student) performance- driven, little if anything at all was made mention of the thousands of students who were promoted to higher classes without making the prerequisite percentage score of 50 per cent. Across-the-board promotion signals the first blow to the education system given the fact that many schools were forced to promote students to a higher level even though those students did not perform well in the previous class.

The past year in education was riddled with poor management and indifference. The cadre of education

planners within our system may have the academic qualifications to run one of the most complex education systems in the world; however, applying that knowledge is another story. Possessing post-graduate degree letters doesn’t mean one can contribute effectively to enhancing the education system better. The education system continues to be in shambles year after year, while those at the higher levels praise a system that is heavily reliant on results.

In the seventh month of the calendar year, teachers are yet to be paid their annual increases and other benefits. This form of unconcern for the nation builders of Guyana is most unsightly. There’s a chance that these mightn’t even be paid when the schools re- open.

In this system parents play a minimal role in the development of their children, treating the school system as a ‘daycare’ that would magically create intelligent beings from 8.30 am to 2.30pm daily. New policies and systems are being implemented topdown without consultation and feedback from teachers.

These policies aren’t evaluated and adjusted to suit the needs and purposes of children.

The dozens of research work of undergraduate and graduate students of the University of Guyana are hidden after they are produced. Research done by students address these issues. It bewilders me as to why our education planners don’t refer to this research when they sit in their air conditioned offices to draft and frame education policies.

There is also a breakdown of communication and coordination between education institutions such as the university and the teachers’ training college.

We may celebrate the achievements of students, but that’s as far as it would go. Guyana’s education system is on the verge of collapse, and the new Government needs to act.

Partnership must include all stakeholders (communities and parents as well) to enhance the system. The ultimate aim in any education system should be to stimulate teachers to stimulate the children to learn.

It’s easy to sit back and complain, but getting in the mix and being a part of the solution takes courage and also effort. Teachers are some of the most hardworking people in Guyana considering that they have to be secretaries, cleaners, judges, lawyers, statisticians, mommies, daddies, counsellors and baby sitters on a daily basis.

Parents and society therefore must pull that veil of separation that exists proverbially between them and the school and truly embrace the process of education in very way.

Guyana’s education system has the people with the skills and ideas to push the nation forward. We can get to that place where we want to be. We know what is holding us back and needs to change what has to be changed and continue what merits continuity.

But many of us are afraid of changes; the first and foremost change – to listen and pay more attention to the situation on the ground.

Yours truly, Leon Suseran

Guyana Police Force’s response to erroneous article published in Sunday Chronicle

Dear Editor,

Cognisant of an article published in the Sunday Chronicle (Sunday July 5, 2015), under the caption “Several ranks of ‘Special Organised Crime Unit’ fail polygraph tests”, the Guyana Police Force categorically states that the Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud, DSM, has been misquoted during his interaction with media representatives at the Police Headquarters last Friday, and that the headline and information contained in the article are misleading.

The Police Force is clarifying that the Commissioner did tell the press that ranks from certain units are po-

lygraphed each year, but he made no mention of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), even though

the ranks from SOCU are polygraphed as well.

Ivelaw Whittaker,

Page Foundation

Creative summer learning ideas

By Samantha Cleaver

Starting off right

Summer math activities

Help students maintain their math skills and keep them thinking in numbers all summer long.

For Grades K–3:

Shopaholic: What can you buy for $5 at the corner store? From the ice cream truck? In a hardware store? At the beach?

Change it up: Start collecting change in a jar on the first day of summer. On the last day, estimate your change, count it, and plan a special purchase.

Summer patterns: Create patterns using summer items (popsicle sticks, shells, flowers). Or, draw patterns in the sand or dirt using a stick or your hands. See how long you can carry out your pattern — along the length of the sandbox, or across the grass.

Napkin fractions: Fold paper towels or napkins into large and small fractions, from one-half to 1/16. Use markers to label and decorate the different fractions.

Design hunt: Keep an eye out for shapes, patterns, and designs when you’re out and about. You never know what you’ll find in the architecture at the airport, the shopping mall, or even the grocery store.

100% delicious: Use ice cream to make fraction sundaes. Can you make an ice cream sundae that is one-half vanilla and one-half chocolate? What about one-third chocolate, one-third vanilla, and one-third strawberry? Can you cover a scoop of ice cream with one-quarter each nuts, sprinkles, cookie crumbs, and gummy bears? Or can you eat a bite of ice cream that is one-half chocolate, one-half vanilla? For older children, calculate the percentage of each ice cream flavour in the sundae.

For Grades 4–8:

Record-breakers: Use a stopwatch to time yourself running, roller blading, swimming, or biking. Then try to beat your time. Be sure to keep the distance you’re moving the same for each trial. Graph the results. (You may need a partner for this.)

Where will you be? Using a map, calculate where you will you be if you travel 20, 50, 100, or 1,000 miles from home.

How many ways? As you’re exploring your neighbourhood during the summer, how many routes can you take to the school, the grocery store, the mall, or your friend’s house? The catch: No backtracking, and you must take a new route each time.

Let’s eat: Prepare a meal or dish for the family. Before you go to the supermarket, find a recipe, write what you need and how much. At the supermarket, choose the best-priced option.

Summer reading activities

These ideas will keep children engaged in reading, writing, and thinking creatively even on the hottest days.

Water writer: Using a pail of water and a brush, have kids write words on the blacktop or sidewalk.

Sell summer: Tell children: Try a new product or activity and write about it. How would you describe it? Would you recommend it? Create an advertisement to sell it to others.

Plan a trip: Have children use the Internet, travel guidebooks, brochures, and maps to plan a dream day, weekend, week, or month-long trip.

Summer sleuth: Have children follow a story in a newspaper during the summer, or investigate a local story (e.g.,

an upcoming fair). Tell children: Write about the event as it unfolds so that you have it documented from start to finish.

Play it: Take an adventure book with a clear plot (The Phantom Tollbooth, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, etc.) and invent a board game based on it.

Comic strip: Write a comic strip about a fictional character or yourself. See how long you can keep the strip going. Read classic comics for inspiration.

Summer science fun

Summer is the perfect time for children to explore their extracurricular interests, like science. Here are some activities that will have children hypothesising all the way to September.

Map the weather: Keep a running log of the weather. Include temperature, humidity, clouds, precipitation, wind, air pressure. Can you predict what the weather will be tomorrow?

Invent a recipe for a summer drink and share it with your friends. For example, the Citrus Sizzler: 1/2 cup Sprite, 1/2 cup pineapple juice, 1 spritz lime juice.

Museum gallery: Collect rocks, shells, or other natural objects to organise, categorise, and label. Present your own natural history museum.

Hot-weather inventor: Design an invention that you can use during summer. Some ideas: sunglasses that change colour from red to yellow to blue, or a new beach toy.

Answer a question: How long does it take an ice cube to melt outside in the summer heat? In the refrigerator? In an air conditioned room?

Float or sink: In a pool or the bathtub, hypothesise which items (soap, dry sock, bottle of shampoo, rock, etc.) will float or sink. Test your hypotheses. (Excerpt from Scholastic.com)

How you can help children solve problems

By ellen Booth ChurCh

AAs a supporter:

cknowledge children’s efforts, letting them know that what they are doing is important. Offer verbal support: “Look at all the different ways you’re trying to make that piece fit in your puzzle. You’re working hard to figure it out, aren’t you?” At times, nonverbal support may be all that’s needed – a smile, an understanding nod, or a thumbs up can show support and encourage children to continue in their thinking process.

Remember too, that just by sitting quietly next to a child, you can communicate: “I understand what you’re doing, and I know it’s important.”

Create accepting environments where children feel free to express their ideas without fear of being wrong or of not being taken seriously. Make sure your setting is a protective “laboratory” where children know they can experiment and practise problem-solving skills throughout each day.

Give children opportunities for open-ended play activities in long periods of time. Create opportunities for children to initiate and solve their own problems and plenty of time to test out possible ideas and solutions.

As a facilitator:

Watch for times when children are engaged in problem solving and interject provocative questions to propel them into new ways of thinking. Remember open-ended, divergent questions have many pos-

(continued from Saturday)

sible answers and, so, invite children to think and problem solve. Closed-ended, convergent questions have right and wrong answers and can actually block children’s thinking processes. (See “What Makes a Good Question?” below).

Encourage children to express themselves. Rather than telling children about what they can make at the art table today, try showing them the materials and inviting them to brainstorm ideas. You might say, “I need your help. I brought in this bag full of art materials. What do you think we can make?” Then let children act on their ideas and make whatever they choose, offering your suggestions too. This approach is a very successful way to help children feel comfortable solving problems. When they see that you don’t have one “right” answer or method in mind, they can move past fears of being “wrong” and draw on their wonderful creative thinking. Provide a variety of problem-solving experiences. Offer games, puzzles, discussions, literature, and projects that children design – a wide range of activities that inspire creative and critical thinking and encourage children to stretch their minds.

As a model:

Think about your own approach to problem solving. Whether you’re aware of it or not, children are always watching you. They observe how you deal with problems as examples of ways they might solve problems themselves. Talk about problem solving. When problems arise in the room, discuss your thought processes as you work through the problem. For example, you might say, “I have a problem. I planned to put out fingerpainting materials today, but we’ve run out of finger-painting paper. What do you think we should do? Should we use different paper? I wonder how that would work? Should we wait until tomorrow because I can buy some tonight? Or maybe I could ask the teacher next door if she has some we could borrow.”

In other words, model fluid thinking and a positive attitude as well as a process for solving the small problems of everyday life. And involve children further by asking them to suggest their own solutions. Emphasise the vocabulary of problem solving. As you speak with children, use the words problem, think, ideas, and solve. Children will begin to use them to define and describe their own thinking. Be willing to make mistakes. It is reassuring to children to discover that adults make mistakes too. So let children see some of the mistakes you make, then ask them to help you solve the resulting problems. They feel important and, at the same time, learn that making mistakes isn’t really such a bad thing after all. Instead, it’s an opportunity for learning. (Excerpt from Scholastic.com)

Fire ravages Alberttown house

…damage estimated in the millions

Afire suspected to be electrical in origin completely ravaged the upper flat of a two-storey wooden and concrete building in Fourth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown in the wee hours of Sunday, causing millions in damage and a family of six to make alternative living arrangements.

The fire, which started about 02:30h, reportedly originated in the front of the four-bedroom home and engulfed the entire flat within a few minutes.

At the time of the fire, there were three young men in the house. According to sources, the young men –the son of the homeowner and his cousins – were awakened by the smoke and had no time to salvage any household items. The owner of the house and his wife, along with their daughter, were in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) when the house went up in flames.

The daughter, Zoya Khan, told Guyana Times

that she and her parents received a call from her brother about 02:34h on Sunday informing them about the fire. As speedboats in the

Saturday morning, her two cousins and brother were warned to check all electrical outlets and stove before retiring to bed. This was re-

area did not operate in the night, they had to wait until the sun rose to travel to the city.

She noted that they recently renovated the house to the tune of millions of dollars. She added that upon departing from Bartica on

portedly done.

Khan’s parents were not at home when this newspaper visited the scene, but one of their sons who was on site assessing the damage told Guyana Times that his two cousins and another brother who were at home

at the time had to run down the back steps to safety.

“They say after they realise the house was on fire, they telephone the Fire Service [the Alberttown Fire Station] which is separated by a fence [from the home], but they were told that the driver was sick,” he stated. After some time, firefighters from the Central Fire Service responded to the report, but by the time they arrived, the upper flat of the house was already engulfed in flames.

This, he noted, was unacceptable since a quick response by the Fire Service could have resulted in a portion of the building being saved. He also highlighted that several days ago, the electrical wire in front of the house was sparking and despite the family making a report to the Guyana Power and Light, no one came to

look into the matter.

He is of the opinion that given the fact that there was an arc welding shop close to the house, there have been

some fluctuations in electrical current in the area and this might have caused the fuse in the house to trip.

Two nearby buildings, including the welding shop, were damaged by the

dog

ty. The Guyana Fire Service has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fire.

Caricom stands with...

He said his country faced a huge threat, recalling that “Decree Number 1787”, promulgated by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, was timed to coincide with the country’s independence anniversary on May 26 this year and his inauguration. “The decree sticks in my throat like a bone. It lays claim to much of the coastline and most of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Guyana. This decree has dire implications for the entire Region, but most particularly, the eastern states including Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.”

Caricom’s grave concerns

Meanwhile, as a result of these concerns, and in an effort to have the rights and entitlements of the affected Community Member States fully respected, a delegation of Heads met with the Vice President and Foreign Minister of Venezuela to express the Community’s grave concern about Decree 1787.

They recalled the numerous agreements in the area of trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people contacts which bind the Governments and peoples of Caricom and Venezuela together.

They recalled too that

just under a year ago on September 8, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne, in his capacity as Chairman of Conference, had written to President Maduro, encouraging Venezuela to redouble its efforts at an early delimitation of the maritime boundary between Guyana and Venezuela. Browne had also encouraged Venezuela to assist in the finding of an early solution to the controversy which emerged from the Venezuelan contention that the Arbitral Award of October 3, 1899 that established the boundary with Guyana was null and void.

BASS officers in pickle after shooting death of labourer

Two officers of the controversial Berbice Anti Smuggling Squad (BASS) have been arrested after allegedly shooting dead a labourer who was helping to offload a boatload of smuggled items at the Number 66 Foreshore, Corentyne on Friday night.

Police, in a release, said an investigation is being conducted into the circumstances surrounding the death of Charles Caesar, 40, of Line Path, Skeldon, who was found about 00:55h on Saturday on the foreshore of the Number 66 Village, with a suspected gunshot injury. He was taken to the Skeldon Hospital where he succumbed while receiving medical treatment, the release stated.

Reports are that the man was shot by members of BASS. This publication understands that at the time of the shooting, Caesar and

others were offloading a boat containing smuggled goods. According to Deon Fraser, who was contracted to discharge the boat, he employed six men to assist. The 17-year-old told Guyana Times that it was some time after 20:00h when they started working. He said while taking the items from the boat and placing them into a minibus, BASS members arrived, fired a shot into the air, and instructed them to lie on the ground.

However, Caesar, who was taking boxes from one person and handing them to another, got his feet entangled with a piece of rope beneath the water. Fraser said as Caesar bent to loosen the rope, another shot went off. “As soon as that second shot went off, I fall forward,” the young man related. Fraser also claimed to have heard two other gunshots. Meanwhile, the 60 cases of Aloe drinks and six cases of dates which were in the minibus were seized as the fishing boat fled the foreshore. The six men were ordered to enter the bus leaving the injured man behind. According to Fraser, they were initially taken to the BASS office where personal information was taken from the six of them and then they were taken to the Skeldon Police Station. “When they carry we to the station, they ain’t tell the Police of any shooting or anything went on out there. We did not say anything because we thought when they finish, they would go back for the man, but they didn’t go back

…” Fraser explained, noting that the BASS officers told the Police to put each of them on $10,000 bail.

Fraser’s sister, Tamika, told this newspaper that after paying the bail for her brother, she set out to look for Caesar who she thought would have been walking home. “We driving slow looking to see if we gon see he on the road and we stop in some of dem bar to see if he call in there,” she said. When they reached Number 66 Village with no sign of him, she said, they were about to turn around when a decision was made to go to the foreshore.

helped to stop the bleeding. . The injured man was taken to the Skeldon Hospital where he was immediately seen by a doctor. Tamika said that the doctor did her best but Caesar had already lost a lot of blood. “I see the doctor looking at him and then start to panic, and then they say everybody clear the room. Next they come and ask for the next of kin. When I go to the doctor, she tell me that he bleed out and the vein collapsed.”

Tamika said she reported the matter to the Police who said that BASS did not report any gunshots being

“It was dark because it was close to midnight and we looking and then I hear like a groaning sound. So I take the cell phone and use the light and see is Caesar lie down with half of his body in the water, but he was unconscious,” Tamika said. She then found a piece of tarpaulin and used it to bandage the wound, which

fired. Two officers were later arrested and told an investigator that only one warning shot was fired into the air. An inspection revealed that one bullet was missing from one of the two BASS officers’ firearms. Investigators who combed the scene later discovered two spent shells matching a 9mm pistol.

Brazilian chopped to death at Chinese Creek

ABrazilian national was reportedly chopped to death on Saturday evening at Chinese Creek, Puruni, Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) during an ar-

gument with another man. The man has been identified as 57-year-old Antonio Rodriguez Da Silva of Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown. According to information

received, Da Silva and the suspect who escaped had an argument during which he was chopped about his body and fell to the ground. Owing to the extent of the injuries inflicted on his

body, Da Silva lost a lot of blood and subsequently died.

A team of Police ranks has been dispatched to the area to conduct an investigation into the incident.

Eyew tness The Enforcer...

...of Cummingsburg is missing

When the Cummingsburg Accord was being hammered out, there were clearly stated concerns by the AFC about linking up with APNU - since it was practically just a non de plume for the "PNC". In the always colourful language of AFC's leader Khemraj Ramjattan, such a move would turn them into "dead meat". And only three years before, Ramjattan's handpicked Presidential candidate Nagamootoo, had been declared as an unreconstituted and irredeemable cryptoPPP. What could've changed since?

So Ramjattan drew a line in the sand. As a longtime lawyer, knowing of the powers of the Guyanese presidency, he demanded that either Nagamootoo became "Presidential Candidate" or "no deal". He even slammed the table when he said it, to show how serious he was. And as a fella who'd slammed dominoes on tables as he drank his way through Guyana, Ramjattan was quite a slammer. However, when the Cummingsburg Accord was announced and - lo and behold (not "lol" and behold!) - Granger was announced as Presidential Candidate, Ramjattan was asked whether water had washed out his line in sand.

Not so, he replied sternly, as is his wont when he made excuses. He pointed out that APNU had agreed to the appointment of the most eminent scholar and gentleman - even higher than Granger, who was just "an officer and a gentleman" - as the enforcer to all the "tenets" of the Accord. Now lest that some doubt the word of your humble Eyewitness (who is not a scholar, officer or gentleman) he'll quote from the Muckraking KN - mouthpiece of both AFC and APNU.

After pointing out that Lutchman had to ensure the divvying of the seats in the 60/40 ratio, it continued: "The coalition agreed that the Representative of the List will be assigned other responsibilities such as ensuring that the TENETS of the Cummingsburg Accord are upheld by both of the political groupings." The Stabber reported that Lutchman "would have to ensure that the agreements between APNU and the AFC as it relates to the National Assembly and OTHER MATTERS are honoured."

So now that the TENETS of the Accord have been more violated than any of the working girls dragged out of the bush by Simona "I is" Broomes, inquiring minds want to know what's the eminent Dr. Lutchman doing about it? And he can't excuse his inaction by Nagamootoo and Ramjattan's saying they're enjoying the violations, whether for fringe benefits or not. Violations are violations and the least that the good Doctor can do is to "tell it like it is". Not to do so would vitiate all the nice words he uttered about helping democracy in Guyana.

He'd be participating in its rape.

...of media fairness?

Now, after the violations of Nagomootoo's "powers" - as spelled out under the Cummingsburg Accord, - he was dropped a crumb in the form of being "responsible" for information. Note that he wasn't officially made into a "Minister of Information" - he was just delegated some residual power inherent in President Granger. And so Nagamootoo has come to a full circle - a circle with a 23 year diameter - to where he was with the PPP in 1992.

Anyhow, he immediately assured the nation that the State media under his control would not be a lapdog for the government; presumably as it was during the PPP regime - because Nagamootoo explicitly said so - but not as under the former PNC's time, because they weren't mentioned. So your Eyewitness was intrigued to see two new columnists in the Chronicle - David Hinds from the WPA (a member of APNU) and Sase Singh of the AFC.

ça ne change plus....?

The Enforcer...

Even though he moaned that the spiking crime rate needs a "Hercules", Minister Ramjattan sounded more like Dirty Harry when he threw out this warning to the drug lords: "We're gonna get you. Come what may, we're gonna get you!” "Dirty Ramo"?

Bandits run amok in Corentyne

...shoot, rob victims in double attack

Armed bandits continue to run amok in Corentyne, Berbice, and on Friday evening, they robbed two families, during which time one man was shot and several others beaten.

The bandits wore masks, and villagers said such indicated that they were determined to conceal their identities, because they were likely residents of the community or nearby villages. Friday’s attack is the latest

in a series of robberies committed on the Corentyne, Region Six, (East BerbiceCorentyne).

Market vendor Norbert Raphael, 39, said he was at home with two of his nephews when the men entered their yard in Bush Lot Farm by cutting a hole in the back fence. According to him, one of his nephews, David, had just gone out of the house when what appeared to be a gunshot was heard. At that time, his sister thinking

CDB affirms support for transformative regional projects

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has announced its support for the 2nd Biennial Community Development Partnership Forum & Exhibition (CDPFII), which will bring together 400 delegates for discussions on driving development through community partnerships in the Caribbean Region from July 5th to 8th in Trinidad and Tobago.

Participants include Ministers of Government from across the Region, policymakers, private sector stakeholders, members of the community and civil society organisations, and development partners, including CDB. I a statement the Bank said it is a committed supporter of CDPF-II, having agreed to provide funding that will facilitate the participation of representatives of Ministerial Delegations from CDB’s Borrowing Member Countries and Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) implementing agency staff. CDB will be represented by Deidre Clarendon, Division Chief, Social Sector Division and Darran Newman Belgrave, Portfolio Manager, BNTF.

“CDB continues to build strategic partnerships to drive transformative community development in the Caribbean Region. Through CDPF-II, we have the opportunity to discuss with key stakeholders the issues and challenges of implementing community-based programmes, and to explore solutions for reducing poverty in Caribbean communities. Community participation and local ownership help

that something was wrong with David ventured into the yard and came face to face with masked men. “She make a big noise and right away I know is thief, so I go and push in the door and try to brace it, but one of them reach and tell me don’t shut the door. So I say, ‘Sorry Sir, you could push the door and come in,’ and then I see two of them come in the house.”

The men then stole from that house three gold rings during which time several gunshots rang out from the

yard.

As two of Raphael’s nephews were returning home, they were confronted with strange people in the yard and enquired what they were doing there. They were answered with a gunshot which hit Derwin Lord in the face. He managed to escape and made it to the road. With assistance from his brother, he got a car and was taken to the Port Mourant Hospital where he was seen by a doctor and subsequently transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital. His condition is listed as stable.

Relatives were only aware of the shooting of Lord after the bandits had left. The robbery spree continued at the house next door where Bibi Bissember, 56, was held up. According to Bissember, she went to the window to look outside and was confronted with a man pointing a gun at her. He told her to go and open the back door and she complied. She told this publication that the masked man

and two others entered her house and immediately ordered her to take off the jewellery she was wearing at the time. She handed to them eight gold rings, three pairs of gold bangles weighing 36 pennyweights, two gold bands, one gold chain worth US$2000 and a pair of gold ear rings.

Bissember said she pleaded with the men not to take her wedding ring, but they insisted. They also re-

moved a cellular phone, other jewellery and $110,000 from the house before leaving. According to Bissember, a fourth man also entered the house and during that time she heard more shots coming from outside the house, suggesting that there were at least two more persons involved in the robbery. The men made good their escape before Police arrived. Investigations are in progress.

strengthen the impact of our investments; we’ve seen this evidenced in the projects we implement through the Basic Needs Trust Fund,” said Deidre Clarendon, Division Chief, Social Sector Division at CDB.

The BNTF is a CDB grant-funded programme that contributes to poverty reduction in targeted communities in 10 countries, by providing infrastructure and livelihood enhancement services. The Fund drives cooperation and agreements between community-based organisations, representative local government, village councils, consultants and contractors, small businesses and ministries and other development partners.

During CDPF-II, CDB representatives will hear firsthand of the tried and tested implementation modalities in community-driven development in the region as community and civil society organisations, practitioners and professionals share experiences and knowledge on their community-based development initiatives. The event includes sessions and workshops spanning hot-button topics in community development such as Sustainable Community-based Food Production/Agriculture, Sustainable Communitybased Tourism and PublicPrivate-Community Partnerships for Community Entrepreneurship and Innovation. CDPF-II is an initiative of the Ministry of Community Development, Trinidad and Tobago and takes place at the Hilton Hotel and Conference Centre, Port of Spain.

Caricom Summit concludes with promise to build vibrant economies

The 36th Regular

Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) held in Bridgetown, Barbados July 2-4 came to an end on Saturday, with regional leaders pledging their support to several initiatives that could see the Caribbean Region moving forward.

Under the theme “Caricom: Vibrant Societies, Resilient Economies”, the three-day conference, which was chaired by Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, saw the attendance of heads of all 15 Member States of Caricom, including Guyana’s President, David Granger.

In keeping with the ongoing reform process, Heads of Government continued their review of procedures and decision-making in the Community with a view of enhancing the efficiency with which the Community conducted its business so as to ensure greater effectiveness in the implementation of its decisions.

In particular, Heads of Government adopted principles to guide the identification of Caricom candidates for international positions, including a provision to establish a search committee when nec-

essary. Heads of Government agreed to continue their review of the Community’s procedures at their 27th Intersessional Meeting in 2016, a prepared communiqué reported.

New era of sustainable development

Leaders promised to build vibrant societies and resilient economies and “chart a new era of sustainable development for the Region and the world”. The leaders, however, said they looked forward to the financial resources geared at assisting developing countries in addressing their major development challenges, including those which will arise from implementation of Post2015 Development Agenda and the SAMOA Pathway; trade liberalisation; global environmental degradation, in-

cluding climate change and global security issues. They welcomed the intention of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, transform the world to better meet human needs, and the necessities of economic transformation, while protecting the environment, ensuring peace and realising human rights.

Climate change and the Region

Under discussion at the Summit too was the issue of climate change, which leaders had agreed, represents an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to human societies and the planet.

Recalling that as low-lying and small island countries recognised by the convention as being particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, Caribbean countries

have continued to emphasise, together with other Small Island Developing States (SIDS);the need for ambitious and urgent action to address climate change.

The leaders have urged all Parties to the convention, with developed countries taking the lead, to work with urgency and purpose to achieve an ambitious, comprehensive and meaningful outcome in December 2015 at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP -21) in Paris, France.

It was emphasised too that the recently-capitalised Green Climate Fund (GCF) should play a critical role in facilitating the Caribbean countries’ access to financing to promote the paradigm shift towards low-carbon and climate-resilient development pathways.

Meanwhile, Heads of Government considered and

endorsed the establishment of the “Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE)” as the implementation hub for sustainable energy activities and projects within the Region, particularly taking into account its sustainability and its governance structure. They also accepted the offer of the Government of Barbados to host the Centre.

They also welcomed the proposal presented by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, for the establishment of a Multi-Donor Energy Co-Financing Facility for Caribbean Sustainability, designed to support the transformation of the Caribbean Community’s energy sector away from fossil fuels to alternative and renewable energy, thereby facilitating the use of cleaner energy, the development of more competitive industries and a more prosperous Caribbean economy.

EU blacklist

More pointedly, the regional leaders expressed their strong objection to the recent decision by the European Union (EU) to “blacklist” eight Member States and all Associate Members of Caricom on the pretext that there was no cooperation on tax matters

with the EU countries. They viewed that decision as being without foundation or merit, in light of their continued efforts to comply with the “onerous and unilateral regulatory measures” developed by the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) which sets international standards on tax cooperation. They further noted that Caricom States were members of the OECD Global Forum, which requires as part of its Members’ good standing, agreement to the adoption and implementation of the OECD Multilateral Convention on Mutual Assistance in Tax Matters which provides for the Automatic Exchange of Information, and that the OECD had not blacklisted any of the Caricom countries on the EU list. In light of the potential adverse effects of such a listing on the financial services in the Region and the implications for economic growth, Heads of Government demanded that the EU withdraw the listing immediately. Heads of Government accepted the invitation of the Government of Belize to host the 37th Intersessional Meeting of the Conference at a date to be announced.

Times Notebook

A broken education system in Guyana –Minister Roopnaraine strains credulity

Minister Rupert Roopnaraine disdainfully pronounced the other day that the education system in Guyana was close to collapsing when he took over the leadership of that ministry less than two months ago. We believe that Minister Roopnaraine lacks credibility on this matter. His duty as Minister of Education is to make the education system of Guyana better than it is today and make it serve each Guyanese child. But Minister Roopnaraine didn’t inherit a broken education system. Indeed, he inherits one that’s stronger than at any other time in our country’s history, whether it’s our colonial history or our post independence history. The new Minister of Education should be honest about this fact.

Education for children at present nursery, primary and secondary levels, exceeds levels of such education than at any other time in our history. More Guyanese citizens are accessing tertiary and post graduate ed-

ucation than ever before in Guyana. A greater diversity of tertiary and post graduate education programs is available through in-school education programs or distant learning. There’s also greater access to technicalvocational training than anyone would have imagined just less than a decade ago. At all levels, public and private sector programs are transforming the skill-levels of the Guyanese citizens –young and old.

When Dr Roopnaraine was a boy, he was able to attend an elite high school although he was one of less than 10% of Guyanese children who could even benefit from secondary education. Cheddi Jagan and the PPP/C initiated a transformation in the early 1960s that today see most of our children with access to high school.

We produce our own lawyers, doctors, dentists, engineers, accountants and managers. We even train pilots. Our nurses are trained at higher levels. We train our own specialists in surgery, orthopedics, trauma, medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics

and gynecology, and psychiatry. The diversity of education opportunities are such today that Dr Roopnaraine would not have imagined when he left high school.

Much of the success that has led us from being a country with limited opportunities for a limited number of Guyanese to now where vast education opportunities are available to most Guyanese comes from the vision and the platform that Cheddi Jagan and the PPP/C initiated in the 1960s. The expansion of programs resulting from investment in the last twenty years by the PPP/C Government today is one that APNU+AFC has a chance to make even better.

Let’s remember that out of the eight CXC top awards given in 2014, Guyana won four and one of those was attributed to the overall top CXC student in Caricom. In 2013, our children won five of the eight awards and no country has won more of the top CXC awards than Guyana over the last decade.

This has resulted from an improved investment mi-

lieu for the education sector. From just about $8US per capita in 1991, Guyana today invests over $200US, more than 25 times it did in 1991. The education sector commands close to 20% of the entire national budget today, compared to about 4% in 1991. It is the reason why most of the schools have been reconstructed or rehabilitated and new schools have been constructed. The Education Ministry has massively invested in infrastructure and technology so that our teachers and students could benefit from modernization.

A goal of any education program is to achieve Universal Access to Education at all levels. Guyana has long surpassed the goal of 100% access to primary education. In terms of secondary education, Guyana has emerged from just above 30% in 1992

to greater than 95% today.

More than 70% of our children have access to nursery education, one of the highest accesses in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The education sector has increased the training of teachers through in-service training and pre-service training. From less than 30% trained teachers in our schools in 1991, there are now more than 75% trained teachers.

Many schools in our hinterland have a hot meal feeding program for children while on the coast have there’s a juice and biscuit snack program in place. A Free Textbook Program in Guyanese schools is not new, but before 1991, it was a promise not kept. Guyanese schools are increasingly utilizing ICT as an education strategy. Many schools have computer labs and most children today have access to a

computer. This has been bolstered via the One Laptop Per Family Program. From where we stand, the education system of Guyana does not appear to be close to collapsing. Indeed there are weaknesses to be corrected and strengths to be enhanced. There are standards and quality regulations to be put in place. But to dismiss the achievements of the PPP/C administration is cheap politics. The best way of securing his own legacy is for Minister Roopnaraine to build on the successes of the last twenty years. Can he move the APNU+AFC Government to make the investment in education that is necessary? Or is he setting the stage to justify his failure to better the successes of the PPP/C?

Readers are invited to send their comments by email or Facebook to times. notebook@gmail.com.

monday, july 6, 2015

Youths must become crusaders for national reconciliation – Dr Roopnaraine

Government, through the Education Ministry, on Saturday brought together a wide cross-section of youths, and private and civil society members, for a two-day working session, aimed at advancing the process of finalising the National Youth Policy and the broad themes of a National Youth Action Plan.

Day One of the session

opened at the Arthur Chung International Convention Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, with Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine charging the youths present, to become crusaders for national reconciliation. The Minister, addressing the youths, said in his mind there was no more sacred task confronting youths and Guyana than that of healing of the

nation. “We have a nation that is always hovering on the brink of self-destruction; we need to heal this…we need to reconcile,” Minister Roopnaraine said, speaking of the divisions that have characterised Guyana since the 1960s.

Dr Roopnaraine pointed out that Guyanese youths have inherited this fractured and polarised society, and that Guyana cannot

move forward as a nation without once again reclaiming and regaining that united anti-colonial democratic movement that it had in the fight for independence. “It is what we in the Government committed ourselves to, it was what inspired the formation of our Government,” Dr Roopnaraine said. He noted that the latter movement to national reconciliation came about by the reconciliation of the Working People’s Alliance and the People’s National Congress, two warring parties. “Some of you may be too young to know something about the bitterness of the fight that these two parties were engaged in,” the Minister told the youths. He explained that in the 1970s, led by Dr Walter Rodney of the WPA, a national movement was developed and “we entered into the most furious conflict with the People’s National Congress”. He noted, however, that the day

came “when we recognised the need for reconciliation”, and from these two warring parties, came the movement for national unity and the bedrock of this alliance, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU.)

Although the country has been developed to this point, there is yet much to be done, Dr Roopnaraine noted. “We still live in a society where there is too much suspicion between major sections of the society,” he said. “I am convinced and I believe that you must be convinced after all this time and all this experience that without joining forces, without in effect becoming one nation, and devoting ourselves to the construction of that one nation, we as a country will falter.”

He urged the youths to embark on this crusade of reconciliation and to “embrace a crusade of love and neighbourliness”.

Youths are the “here and now”

Addressing Government’s recognition of the importance of providing a framework for positive development of all Guyanese youths, Minister

He noted that the journey of persons like Forbes Burnham, Cheddi Jagan, Walter Rodney, Martin Luther King Jr, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Fidel Castro and Barack Obama all began in earnest during the days of their youth. “They did not come to where they reached by accident … they were inspired and nurtured in their youth,” he said.

He promised that Government will offer avenues for such nurturing for Guyanese youths. “… we are going to listen to you, take your recommendations, work with you as partners, in making this society one that we can all be proud of,” he said.

Meanwhile, Presidential Adviser on Youth Empowerment Aubrey Norton, in his presentation, noted that these working sessions were intended to encourage serious discussions on the question of the National Youth Policy and a National Action Plan. “It is important for us to recognise that we are here for ideas to clash, and not personalities,” he said. “….we welcome the clash of ideas,

Roopnaraine noted that youths were not only the future, but the “here and now”.

In terms of basic arithmetic, Guyanese under 35 years of age make up 70 per cent of the national demographics and are disproportionally affected by “every ill thing that our society has to offer”, the Minister noted.

“… this process that you are embarking on is engaging youths to find solutions about these problems,” the Minister said, adding that he needed an action plan.

“…What I am interested in is implementation, any report that comes to me that does not have a programme of implementation and an action plan is not a report that I am going to spend a lot of my time on,” the Minister said. Highlighting how critical it is to empower youths to make meaningful contributions to Guyana’s sustainable development, Minister Roopnaraine pointed out that “the sustainable solutions and actions, for society in a stage of crisis or pre-crisis, have always come from young people”.

we welcome free and, frank discussions that allow us to disagree, but then arrive at a consensus on the way forward,” he added.

Norton noted that Government has already shown that it has the political will to ensure young people develop a policy by their participation. He said that the intention was to make sure that “we place youth work on a professional footing.” “…the intention is to professionalise youth work so that young people can be involved in youth work; well-trained, well-prepared … young people who are in a position to represent themselves and not necessary be presented by someone else,” he said.

The two-day session, which will see presentations and also youths being involved in panel and groups discussions on the National Youth Policy and a National Youth Action Plan, is being convened in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

AG promises to address Hugh Wooding woes

…as students cry discrimination

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams has committed himself to resolving the ongoing challenges between Guyanese law students and the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) vowing that he will explore all available options.

This commitment was communicated to 25 of the 27 Guyanese students currently attending the Hugh Wooding Law School (HWLS) in Trinidad and Tobago when they paid a visit to the Minister during the course of last week to raise several issues and concerns about their education in relation to tuition, discrimination and disadvantages faced in pursuit of their Legal Education Certificate (LEC).

Sherry Hewitt, who serves as secretary to the group, raised the issue of fee payment, while other students raised concerns about immigration, course content and late arrival of the Guyana student list to the Trinidad immigration department.

According to the students, the number one challenge to the pursuing of the LEC is the tuition fee which amounts to TT$65,792 ($2.2 million in local currency or US$11,000) per student. They noted that they were now required to pay the full tuition at the beginning of the September semester each year as opposed to 50 per cent in September and 50 per cent in January of the following year as previously ob-

tained, making it exceptionally difficult to study.

The students also requested help from the Attorney General to address the courses of Family Practice and Procedure, Legal Drafting and Interpretation for secondyear students in relation to the unique Roman Dutch system of land titling in Guyana as opposed to Trinidad’s laws.

According to the Guyanese students, the two courses have a high rate of failure at the law school; hence, their desire for a tutor who has knowledge of Guyana’s laws.

The issue of immigration was also highlighted, since students were turned back by the Trinidad immigration owing to the late submission of the list of Guyana students accepted to the law school.

In the meantime, they are requesting scholarships for their final year with the understanding that they will serve for a contracted period. Of the 27 current students attending the HWLS, only one is the recipient of a Public Service Ministry scholarship.

Fee payments

The Attorney General shared with the students how different it was when he studied at the Law School.

In empathising with the students, Williams promised to explore what help they needed to address the issue of fee payments and the accommodation of more Guyanese students, since the top 25 stu-

2 Bills on agenda for 4th sitting of National Assembly

The second reading of two important Bills is scheduled for the fourth sitting of the National Assembly in the first session of the 11th Parliament on Thursday, July 9.

The Constitution Amendment Bill No 1/2015, first published on June 18, 2015 and read on June 25, 2015, relates to 222A of the Constitution and seeks to provide financial autonomy to several service commissions, as well as the Chamber of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The Bill, to be read by Attorney General Basil Williams, also seeks to amend the Third Schedule relating to Article 222A of the Constitution, to provide financial autonomy to the Judicial Service Commission, the Public Service Commission, the Police Service Commission, the Teaching Service Commission, the Public Service Appellate Tribunal, the Public Procurement Commission, and the Office of the Ombudsman in addition to the aforementioned.

This Bill overall seeks to enhance the functioning of these entities, by guaranteeing and strengthening their administration and control of monies allocated to them to

dents were selected out of a total of 80.

The students explained that the issue was not one of space as was being peddled by the School since six Trinidadian students were placed in the Guyanese class after the academic year had commenced.

Impasse

Days after the Council for Legal Education had stated that it would not be guaranteeing any of the 25 places usually offered to Guyanese students at the end of the degree programme at the Turkeyen Campus of the University of Guyana last year, its Chairman Jacqueline Samuels-Brown had said that the placement issue was not one that was of pure bias, but one of space and accommodation for the students who stay on campus. Samuels-Brown had said that UWI had, in the past, released statements alluding to changes in teaching methodologies, teaching content and

the poor conditions of the facilities afforded to students as well as the overcrowded nature of the law school. In light of this, she noted that the school had initiated precautionary safety measures before facilitating students and it was on these grounds that the decision was taken to accept the students only if space was available.

Samuels-Brown had noted that the Council was facing a monumental task in finding accommodation and facilities for students, as the law school was built to accommodate some 200 students, but

was facilitating approximately 400 students.

Longstanding agreement

As part of a longstanding agreement between the Council and UG, every year, 25 automatic places are reserved for UG students at the Law School.

It was understood by this publication that the original agreement had initially expired in November 2012, but at the request of the Government of Guyana, it was extended until 2013.

Negotiations were scheduled to take place to facilitate

the 2014 batch of students. However, this discussion never took place until the matter arose last year. Although provisions have been made for 2015 , current UG law students remain concerned over the future relationship between UG and the Hugh Wooding Law School. Former Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall had assured some time ago that a long-term solution will be instituted to prevent future limbo. As it stands, talks are being held on the possibility of Guyana establishing its own law school here.

carry out their functions pursuant to the Constitution. The second Bill, also first published on June 18, 2015 and read on June 25, 2015, seeks to repeal the Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Act of 2009, and in its place, install a regime of benefits and other facilities to be accorded to Executive Presidents after they demit office.

This Bill will slash, if passed, several benefits for Guyana’s former Presidents Samuel Hinds, Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar.

The new Bill seeks to put a tight cap on the benefits that the former leaders can enjoy at the expense of the state’s coffers. Of particular interest is the pension for the Former Presidents. The proposed Bill has not slashed the pension allocation from $1.2 million; however, the Bill limits other expenses incurred for utilities such as telephone, water and electricity. There are numerous annual Reports that will be circulated at Thursday’s sitting. These include the mid-year report of 2014, and those from agencies in the natural resources and environment sector, several companies such as Guyana National Printers, and National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited, Atlantic Hotel Inc, and the National Insurance Scheme.

Pope lands in Quito at start of South America tour

Pope Francis landed in Ecuador’s capital Quito on Sunday to begin an eight-day tour of South America that will also include visits to Bolivia and Paraguay.

On his first visit as pontiff to Spanish-speaking Latin America, the Argentinaborn Pope is scheduled to conduct masses in both Quito and the coastal city of Guayaquil before flying to Bolivia on Wednesday.

His trip will focus on the issue of poverty, the Vatican said.

The pontiff will also travel to Bolivia and Paraguay, but not his home country of Argentina.

The Vatican said the decision not to visit the continent’s larger nations reflected the Pope’s interest in the “peripheries”.

Pope Francis is the first leader of the Roman Catholic Church to come from South

America.

In 2007, before becoming Pope, he told a gathering of Latin American bishops that they were living in the most unequal part of the world.

During his previous visit to Latin America in 2013, he addressed millions on Brazil’s Copacabana Beach as part of a Catholic youth festival.

Ecuador’s left-wing President Rafael Correa called the visit “an honour”. (Excerpt from Reuters and BBC News)

Prime Minister Browne fears impact of Baha Mar on Antigua

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has said he fears there could be implications for Antigua and Barbuda after the developer of the Caribbean’s largest resort filed for bankruptcy.

That US$3.5 billion Baha Mar resort in Nassau, Bahamas, includes US$2.5 billion of funding from the Export-Import Bank of China.

Chinese firm YIDA International is planning a similar US$2 billion development on Guiana Island, off Antigua and Barbuda, and surrounding areas.

“The Baha Mar will

have some implications for the rest of the Caribbean in terms of Chinese Private Sector investments. I’m aware that Yida (Zhang) is in the market to raise his funds; I’m quite sure it will have some effect. However, we hope that he’ll be successful in raising the financing,” said Browne.

The Bahamian Prime Minister Perry Christie cut short his presence at the Caricom Heads of Government Meeting in Barbados to address the issue which he said is a warning to all Caricom states.

“One single large inves-

tor can, when it collapses, throw an entire country out of whack,” Christie said.

“This most recent event pains me greatly, because of the threat to 2500 jobs for young people just taken onto the workforce and 3000 more who anticipated entry into the workforce by the end of the summer,” he added.

Prime Minister Browne said the resolution to the deal will decide the level of impact it has on Antigua and Barbuda and the rest of the Caribbean. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)

Cuba’s Fidel Castro makes rare appearance

Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro has appeared in public for the first time in more than a month.

State television showed images of Castro at a meeting with cheese experts near the capital, Havana.

Fidel Castro, 88, handed power to his younger brother Raul in 2006 after struggling to recover from illness.

His appearance comes days after Cuba and the United States announced they were reopening embas-

sies in each other’s capitals on July 20.

Castro is rarely seen in public, and secrecy about his health means his public appearances are scrutinised by the media.

The historic thaw between the old Cold War enemies was announced on December 17, in joint media conferences by Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro.

There was no immediate comment from Fidel Castro, and analysts said the rapprochement would not have

happened if he was still in power.

Just over a month later, he broke his silence in a letter published in the Cuban Communist Party newspaper, Granma.

“I don’t trust the policy of the United States … but this does not mean I reject a pacific solution to the conflicts,” he wrote.

Relations had been frozen since the early 1960s when the US broke links and imposed a trade embargo on Cuba. (BBC News)

Haiti President wants Dominican Republic to negotiate agreement on deportations

Haitian President Michel Martelly is calling on the Dominican Republic Government to come to the negotiating table to hammer out a Memorandum of Understanding on the handling of the deportation of Haitian descendants.

Since the expiration of the June 17 deadline for legal residency in the Dominican Republic, Martelly said Haiti has had a very difficult time coping

with the number of people who have been haphazardly crossing over the border it shares with the Dominican Republic.

“After what we have experienced these last three days, we are very concerned. Haitians are coming, probably voluntarily, but under pressure because they’re coming at any time. [It’s] no good for us,” the President told the media during the three-day meeting of Caricom Heads of

Government meeting in Barbados that wrapped up Saturday.

“We’ve been trying to get a protocol with the DR so we can agree on who’s coming, when they’re coming, how they’re coming, how many are coming. Lately we have realised that they’re coming at one in the morning, they come all over the border. Two nights ago 21 people came. They seem to be Dominicans since they had no papers.” (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

TT PM launches Operation Restore 2

An early morning joint effort by officers from the South Division, South Western Division, Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF), Guard and Emergency Branch and the T&T Defence Force led to four arrests in Enterprise, Chaguanas, on Saturday. News of the arrests came even as Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and top cops visited the area Saturday for an impromptu walkabout in the hot spot.

Even as Persad-Bissessar announced plans to launch Operation Restore 2, the deployment of a combined national security force in the Enterprise area, word came of the arrests that would go some way to easing the tight grip of crime on the community.

Central Division Senior Superintendent Johnny Abraham confirmed that four men were arrested in connection with the wave of gun violence in the Enterprise area over the past month.

The Sunday Guardian learnt of the arrests through villagers gathered at Postman Grounds, Enterprise, for the impromptu visit by PersadBissessar. Persad-Bissessar was surrounded by a tight

knot of security which included National Security Minister, retired Brigadier General Carl Alfonso; acting Commissioner of Police, Stephen Williams; Chief of Defence, Staff Major

Around the World

Greek voters overwhelmingly reject bailout terms

With two-thirds of the votes counted, results show Greeks have rejected the terms of international bailout by 61 per cent to 39 per cent.

Voters had been asked on Sunday whether to accept or reject the country’s multi-billion euro bailout deal with the European Union.

Polling booths closed at 16:00 GMT on Sunday, with 10 million Greeks eligible to vote. With 65 per cent of the total votes counted, the “No” vote was leading with 61.2 per cent, against 38.2 percent for the “Yes” vote.

Senior German conservative Michael Fuchs told the Reuters news agency that Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had caused a “disaster”. “I very much regret the result,” Fuchs said by telephone.

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis is conferring with the country’s bankers over what to demand next from the European Central Bank, a Ministry spokesman confirmed to the

AP news agency. Al Jazeera’s Barnaby Phillips, reporting from Athens, said the result shows a “much better” outcome for Tsipras and could embolden the Prime Minister to go back to Europe and de-

China rolls out emergency measures to prevent stock market crash

China’s stock markets face a make-or-break week after officials rolled out an unprecedented series of steps at the weekend to prevent a full-blown stock market crash that would threaten the world’s second-largest economy.

The Government is anxiously awaiting the market opening on Monday to see if the new measures will halt a 30 per cent plunge in the last three weeks, or if panicky investors who borrowed heavily to speculate on stocks will continue to sell.

In an extraordinary weekend of policy moves, brokerages and fund managers vowed to buy massive amounts of stocks, helped by

Several

China’s state-backed margin finance company which in turn would be aided by a direct line of liquidity from the central bank.

China has also orchestrated a halt to new share issues, with dozens of firms scrapping their IPO plans in separate, but similarly worded statements over the weekend, in a tactic authorities have used before to support markets.

“After the 28 companies suspended their IPOs, there will be no new IPOs in the near term,” the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said in a statement on Sunday night. (Excerpt from Reuters)

dead

in suicide bombing at Nigerian church

Asuicide bomber has attacked a church in the restive northeastern Nigerian city of Potiskum, in Yobe state, killing at least five worshippers, a Police Officer and witness have said.

The bomber entered the uncompleted Redeemed Christian Church of God on Sunday, in the Jigawa area on the outskirts of the city, and detonated his explosives, killing the worshippers, including a woman and her two children as well as the Pastor.

“Four worshippers died instantly while the fifth victim gave up shortly after she was taken to hospital,” a Police Officer involved in the evacuation told the AFP news agency.

“The victims included a woman and her two children, the Pastor and another worshipper,” added the officer who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Garba Manu told AFP the bomber arrived at the church on a motorised rickshaw disguised as a worshipper and detonated his explosives as soon as he entered the church.

“I saw when the bomber alighting from a motorised rickshaw and entering the church and as soon as he entered a loud explosion ripped through the church which is under construction,” he said. “I saw him walked into the church and he didn’t raise any suspicion.” (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

mand a better deal for Greece.

However, Phillips said that many European leaders had previously indicated that they “cannot trust, and cannot do business” with the Tsipras Government. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Technology can magically transform lives – PM Modi

As part of the “Digital India Week” that he launched on July 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday pushed for productive use of technology and social media and said it could potentially transform lives of all people.

“To me technology used wisely is a catalyst to magically transforming the way we live. The future belongs to social media. It is egalitarian and inclusive,” Modi said during an online interaction with tech enthusiasts on how to make India a digitally-empowered knowledge economy.

“India is yearning for a digital revolution. Effort towards ‘Digital India’ is all encompassing and aimed at transforming lives. The

entire nation has joined hands to make the dream of ‘Digital India’ a reality,” the Prime Minister said, four days after the launch of “Digital India Week”.

Modi said he found it extremely “refreshing” logging on to social media after a day’s hard work and that he was gladdened by the response to Sunday’s “Digital Dialogue” — the phrase which he used for the interaction, with a hash tag by the same name.

Modi had invited tech enthusiasts to share their ideas and inputs on “Digital India” using the hash tag, and that he answered some of the questions on forums such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. (Excerpt from Times of India)

Captured New York fugitive moved to prison from hospital

Captured prison escapee David Sweat was released on Sunday from a New York hospital where he had been treated for gunshot wounds and moved to a prison more than 250 miles from the one he fled, authorities said.

Sweat, captured last Sunday following a threeweek manhunt, will be locked up alone in a cell for 23 hours a day and placed on suicide watch at Five Points Correctional Facility in Romulus, in the state’s Finger Lakes region, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said.

The pair, both convicted murderers, had lived in prison in so-called honour housing which offered limited privileges to prisoners considered to be well-behaved.

In their brazen breakout, Matt and Sweat cut holes in their cell walls, climbed down a catwalk, slipped through a steam pipe and emerged from a manhole outside prison walls, authorities said. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Sweat, 35, and accomplice Richard Matt escaped from maximum security Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York on June 6. Matt, 49, was shot and killed by a federal agent on June 26 about 27 miles (43 kilometres) away from the prison.

More than 1350 evacuated in Spain as wildfires spread

More than 1350 residents have been evacuated in Spain’s north-eastern region of Aragon as a wildfire spread through a pine forest amid a lingering heat wave, a local official said.

Five villages were evacuated on Sunday as flames devoured hills located 375 kilometres north-east of Madrid, said Javier Lamban, the President of Aragon.

The evacuees, who included residents of a retirement home, were transferred to nearby towns.

Meanwhile, the fire department in the north-eastern region of Catalonia said it was combating a wildfire in Cardedeu, 40km north of Barcelona, and had destroyed two houses and several cars, although no one was injured.

Weather stations across Spain had first warned people on June 27 to take extra precautions as a heat wave that was due in the country would increase the risk of wildfires.

About 500 firefighters using almost 100 pieces of equipment, including aircraft, were fighting the flames, which were being fanned by windy conditions and creating a large plume of smoke. The fire, which broke out on Saturday afternoon, has already burned close to 8000 hectares of forest in a remote area, according to Agriculture and Environment Ministry Spokesman Modesto Lobon.

monday, july 6, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

Govt clears air on Haags Bosch landfill dispute

– says improved sanitary conditions remain goal

Communities Ministry

Permanent Secretary

Emil McGarrell has pointed out that improved sanitary conditions were the Ministry’s goal for solid waste management. He was at the time speaking on the current dispute between the Ministry and the contractors of the Haags Bosch landfill.

The Permanent Secretary told a press briefing at the Ministry’s Kingston Office on Friday that while this was the current focus, one must not forget that solid waste management was a national issue which had to be addressed by all. As such, the Ministry will work to strengthen its local organs such as the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), in order to ensure a better quality of service was given to the people.

In a press release, which was circulated at the press conference, the Ministry stated its position on the matter, since it has become a topic of interest for the media, as well as the public. The release emphasised the Government’s steadfast position that a contract was never signed with BK International, but between Government and a joint venture with BK International and Puran Bros Disposal Services. “In November 2009, GoG (Government of Guyana) signed a contract for the construction and management of the Haags Bosch Landfill Site with a joint venture between BK International/Puran

Several aspects of the project were also left incomplete since 2012, Government says

Bros Disposal Services (BKI/ PBDS).”

It also identified the fact that work commenced in January 2010, and to date a significant portion was yet to be completed. Further, the contractors did not comply with several requirements.

“In April 2012, after it became clear that several contractual requirements were not being complied with … the contract signed between Government and BKI/PBDS joint venture mandated a minimum compacted waste density of 700kg/m3. The Bomag K351 compactor provided by BKI/PB was incapable of compacting the waste to the mandated density…

In an MoU [Memorandum of Understanding] between the Ministry and the joint venture … it was agreed that the Ministry would acquire a new

landfill compactor. However, for the MoU to be effective the joint venture needed to provide a new bulldozer and a tracked loader … but from all indications, the contractor did not provide a new bulldozer and a tracked loader…”

Slip failure

Further, this resulted in a challenge to the partnership, because, although the contractor did not adhere to the terms of the MoU, it was expected the Government would pay at an increased rate as stipulated in the MoU. “As such, the Ministry is challenging BKI/PBDS joint venture to indicate to the public the location of the equipment that was agreed to in the MoU.”

Negligence was also a major part of the contractor’s violation of the contract. The release claimed, “The facts are

that a slip failure occurred in the slope of the leachate treatment pond …The failure was owing to the contractor’s negligence, since the excavation was left open for an extended period. This led to the slope becoming supersaturated and the subsequent development of negative pore water pressure resulted in slope failure.”

As it relates to payments, the press release stated that, “The project has a history of late payments due to (in) action of the joint venture. In fact, BKI/PBDS, by letter dated June 6, 2012, had suspended the contract due to non-payment. The Ministry had withheld operations payments for January to May 2012, due to non-compliance

issues.” It added that “BKI/ PBDS letter of April 18, 2012, requested permission to suspend construction on Cell 1. Cell 1 was initially scheduled for completion of construction on January 31, 2011. On August 16, 2012, BKI/PBDS indicated its termination of the contract with immediate effect. However, the termination letter was withdrawn ... GoG by letter of August 27, 2012 indicated that BKI/ PBDS had failed to provide a performance bond for the operations for 18 months.”

The Government had issued a letter to BKI/PBDS in 2012, identifying parameters and data to be presented by the contractor. These included: measurements of waste

volumes and waste volumes recycled, surface and ground water and air quality among others. According to the statement, “There is no evidence to indicate that these issues have been adequately addressed to date.”

Several aspects of the project were also left incomplete: “Addendum of June 28, 2012, signed by BKI/PBDS mandated completion dates for several items, including the leachate treatment system and sedimentation ponds, all of which remain incomplete… The contract mandates submission of monthly and quarterly monitoring data for the landfill. This has been honoured mostly in the breach by BKI/PBDS.”

Jamaican cleared of ex-cop’s

Jamaican national Relvin McLean, who was charged with the attempted murder of ex-policeman Ravi Outar during a shoot-out at Rose Hall Town in Corentyne, Berbice, had the charge against him withdrawn following advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). He has now come forward to clear his name.

McLean ,who spoke to Guyana Times on Friday, said that he had been wrongfully accused, stained and charged for the crime which he did not commit nor had any knowledge of. He said while he was not yet certain as to whether he would pursue any legal action, he was seeking to clear his name.

Outar, a former Police Constable of Second Street, Rose Hall, was shot five times when a lone gunman opened fire on him at approximately 20:30h on June 10, as he was sitting in front of his bar, Outar’s Pool Hall and Bar at Rose Hall, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne). Medical officials at the

Georgetown Public Hospital confirmed that the 38-yearold died after the area where a bullet was lodged, close to his heart, became infected.

In May 2002, Outar and three other ranks of the Guyana Police Force were shot after they were ambushed and came under fire from the 2002 Mash Day prison escapees –Andrew Douglas, Dale Moore, Shawn Brown, Mark Fraser and Troy Dick. At the time, the ranks were investigating the movement of a suspicious vehicle at Coldingen, East Coast Demerara.

Police had claimed that McLean transported the gunman to the scene of the shooting that claimed Outar’s life.

On June 29, McLean had appeared at the Albion Court before Magistrate Marisa Mittelholzer, where an indictable charge was filed by Detective Lance Corporal 18302 Beharry.

According to McLean, on June 15, he was walking his girlfriend to work in Rose Hall, when Police ranks approached and informed him that he was

murder

wanted for questioning in relation to the shooting. He said that they provided no further information, but insisted he proceed to the Police Station with them. When he resisted, they advised him not to create a scene.

“Meh tell dem meh know nothing about it. They tell me they will investigate it for the next 72 hours. After the 72 hours passed, they couldn’t come up with nothing, then they say they get a call from Georgetown to charge me for the shooting. It was devastating, it wasn’t easy. They had no evidence, the Police and Prosecutor; everybody lied just to charge me,” McLean said. He said he was born in Jamaica, but has been residing in Guyana for the past five years, because his girlfriend lived here.

He noted that the story had appeared in all media outlets and it was upsetting having persons call, even from his homeland, questioning him on the incident. “It stain my reputation. I gotta clear my name,” he passionately expressed.

GTA, Red Cross Society hold first aid training for hotel staff

The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) in collaboration with Guyana Red Cross Society hosted a three-day First Aid/CPR Training for local hotels and their staff.

About 17 hotels with 34 employees benefited from the workshop.

Speaking to this publication, GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh said, “First aid CPR is a mandatory requirement for all of our hotels, accommodation establishments and interior resorts for tour guides. The laws of Guyana specify that there is a need for all hotels to have trained first aid staff because emergencies and accidents can occur at any time. It is their duty as hosts to ensure their guest are safe at all times.”

Haralsingh added, “Having trained employees to render first aid CPR is very, very critical to our tourism industry and our workplaces as well, and that is why we are helping to do this, because capacity building is an impor-

tant part of what we are doing.”

Internationally recognised

At the end of the three days, participants will receive an internationally recognised certificate that they can boast about. They are all required to take both written and practical examinations before they receive the certificates. Upon receipt of the certificate, all of the beneficiaries will be able to help if someone is drowning or choking.

Red Cross First Aid Coordinator Devaughn Lewis said: “The Guyana Red Cross wishes to encourage more persons and more hotels to get trained in first aid and CPR because it is a requirement by law.”

He explained that persons who wish to learn this life skill can just go in to Red Cross and start their training. Red Cross has a monthly training that persons can sign up for: there is a morning class on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00h to 12:00h and

there is an evening class on Mondays and Wednesdays from 04:30h to 06:30. There is a small cost attached to the programme, but if companies and organisations send more than 15 individuals they will receive a 15 per cent discount. In closing, Lewis said it was extremely important for persons to learn first aid because “first aid is a life-saving technique that you can learn easily, it can not only save your life, but it can save the lives of those around you”. He urged persons to download a first aid app on their smart phones that will teach them everything they need to know about first aid by searching for “3cv. be/shareguy” and for persons who want to know more about natural disasters they can check out “3cv.be/sharegyh”.

The Tourism Ministry, in collaboration with the first aid team at Red Cross, has been doing similar projects for a number of years. This time, this project will be taken to hotels in Essequibo, Berbice, Linden and even the interior.

Venezuela maritime decree

US pledges support to Guyana on Venezuelan aggression

Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy here, Bryan Hunt has assured the Guyana Government and the people of Guyana that Washington was committed to extending its support in the ongoing border controversy between Guyana and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

“We stand with the Government of Guyana and ExxonMobil as they work together to extract natural resources in a responsible manner that protects the environment,” he said.

Hunt was at the time addressing the invitees at the celebration of the 239th birth anniversary of the Unites States of America at the Marriott Hotel on Thursday evening.

This is against the backdrop of President David Granger expressing his wish to meet with Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro to facilitate discussions with the aim of having the recent decree issued by the latter withdrawn.

Just recently too, the Commonwealth said it stood as one and spoke with one voice in its commitment to Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as it offered full support for the position adopted by the

Government against spurious and illegal claims made by the Venezuelans.

President Granger last Thursday appealed to his regional counterparts, petitioning them to lend their full support to this country given Venezuela’s threats against Guyana’s sovereignty. His plea was for solidarity with Guyana, over the decades-old controversy. It was Granger’s first major speech to an international audience since being elected and also his first Caricom summit as Head of State. He used much of the speech to condemn Venezuela’s provocation and warned Caricom if it did not take a stand, it risked becoming a spent force.

“We yearn for the security of the United Nations and a sense of international law to bring a peaceful end to Venezuela’s rejection of the validity of the boundary which has been defined as a full and final settlement and which all parties at that time vowed to accept,” Granger told attendees at the Summit on Thursday.

He said years of “naval superiority” should not be allowed to suppress the law, noting that the actions as demonstrated by Venezuela must be condemned. “Guyana assures the representatives of the international community here today of its adherence of international law. We assure the Secretary General of the UN, we assure the Secretary General of the Commonwealth and the Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (Caricom), that Guyana today and for all times will pursue the principles of mutual respect for each other’s territorial sovereignty, mutual non-aggression, mutual non-appearance in each other’s internal affairs and mutual cooperation for peaceful coexistence between neighbours,” he continued Granger told the Caricom

heads that his country faced a huge threat, noting that “Decree Number 1787”, promulgated by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, was timed to coincide with Guyana’s independence anniversary on May 26 this year and his inauguration.

Just over a week after the discovery of oil was made in Guyana’s territorial waters by the US oil giant ExxonMobil, the new decree issued by the Venezuelan Government purported to claim ownership of Guyana’s territorial waters in the Atlantic Ocean off the Essequibo Coast. “By this decree, the Venezuela Government has also created the so-called “Areas of Integral Defence of Marine Zones and Islands”.

These zones stretch into part of Suriname’s maritime space and maritime waters claimed by other countries. This latest action by the neighbouring country comes in the face of President Maduro’s discomfiture over oil exploration and concessions granted by Guyana to the US oil and gas giant, to explore some 23,000 square kilometres of the Stabroek Block. The new decree covers the location where the drilling exercise is being conducted.

More than 30,000 US visas issued in 2014

The United States Embassy here in Georgetown has issued more than 30,000 visas to Guyanese to visit and study that country.

According to US Chargé d’ Affaires and acting Ambassador, Bryan Hunt, who was at the time addressing invitees at the 239th anniversary celebrations of the United States at the Marriott Hotel on Thursday, those were the figures for only the past year.

“In our consular section, from last year at this time to now, we have issued over 30,000 non-immigrant visas and we are encouraging

more Guyanese to visit our wonderful country to see firsthand the many bonds that unite us,” the diplomat said as he endeavoured to describe some of the many areas of partnerships which the two countries share.

He noted that while the number is past 30,000, Guyanese should not in any way be deterred since the Embassy wished for more students to study in that country.

“We want more Guyanese to study in the US and be a part of the 100,000 strong initiative and share perspectives on issues such as climate change, entrepreneurship and govern-

ance,” he further said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo who was at the time acting in the capacity of President while President David Granger was at the 36th Caricom Heads of Government Meeting in Barbados, registered his satisfaction with the announcement, especially the fact that opportunities were afforded to young Guyanese to pursue education in the United States.

“Our Government welcomes the open door policy that allows thousands of our people to visit the USA,” Nagamootoo expressed. For the year 2014, the US is-

sued over 9.9 million nonimmigrant visas worldwide. Hunt, however, did not mention the number as it relates to those who were rejected or those who were granted resident visas. As many as 30,000 Guyanese continue to migrate to the USA annually. According to a recent research, more than half of the people of Guyana origin, over 700,000 individuals, have emigrated; 350,000 chose to relocate to the USA while more than 100,000 Guyanese have already become United States citizens by fulfilling the statutory requirements of naturalisation.

GTUC salutes Caribbean citizens on Caricom Day

The Guyana Trade Union Congress (GTUC) has saluted citizens of the Caribbean on the occasion of Caricom Day being observed today.

In a message the union said “as we mark the 42nd anniversary of Caricom, the community is reminded the intent of the Founding Fathers is to harness the cultural, economic, social and political will of the people within the region as a force for their collective empowerment. The instrument

that established Caricom is grounded in a philosophy guided by time-honoured principles and is expected to be used in protecting every element in our collective determination. It means that while we may advance our individual cause, this has to be done in recognition of our collective aspirations.”

According to the GTUC as members of this community “we share a common history of brutal slavery, indentureship and colonialism that was repelled by our forebears.

The members of this community are today independent countries, having severed the yoke of colonialism, which cemented the necessity of working together towards common goals, but more so to make real the aspirations of the Founding Fathers.”

The union said when the Founding Fathers- Forbes Burnham, Errol Barrow, Eric Williams and Michael Manley- came together on 4th July 1973 to establish the Caribbean Community and Common Market it was

monday, july 6, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Caricom continues to be relevant – GAWU

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) has extend greetings and well wishes to all Guyanese and other Caricom citizens on the occasion of Caricom Day 2015.

Below is the full text of GAWU’s message

The Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom) which now stretches from Bahamas, in the north, to Guyana and Surname, in the south, and encompassing some 14 million people demonstrates the growth and enduring fraternity we have experienced since its establishment. This Institution now in its fortysecond (42nd) year, in our view, continues to have a relevant and important role with respect to the integration of the Caribbean and also to confront the several challenges that currently beset our Region and still others that threaten us.

driven by the leaders’ recognition that our destiny is intertwined, as such it requires all swimming together or risk sinking separately. Thus, any temptation to pursue individual interest at the expense of the collective must not lose sight of the principle that underpins the establishment, survival and growth of the individual is hinged to the collective. Together we aspire! Together we achieve! Happy 42nd to the people of Caricom.

We are also of the view that two (2) of Caricom’s important pillars – the free movement of people and unhindered trade among members – at this time require more attention. The meeting of the Heads of Government always provides an opportunity to explore, review and make decisions to set up mechanisms to pursue the objectives of Caricom. With militarization and military adventures going on apace in the wider international arena, we cannot feel insulated from its consequences or isolated from the schemes of certain countries. This day offers a timely reminder that at the 2014 meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), an organization in which Caricom nations are members, there was the declaration for Latin America and the Caribbean to be a “Zone of Peace”. In keeping with this sentiment it is implied and expected that disputes should be peacefully resolved and dialogue and negotiations be the preferred tools to arrive at settlement of disputes between and among nations.

Though we have many critical issues that require our collective attention and co-operation – security, economic, energy, climate –and yet others, the GAWU looks at the tomorrows of our Region with optimism. Gradually, but surely, we are forging ahead and all the while, essentially we have stayed united while zealously safeguarding our democratic institutions and promoting democratic norms and practices.

FAO’s DirectorGeneral at the 5th Global Review of Aid For Trade

Global trade can play an important role in improving food security and nutrition and in fighting poverty and hunger while the use of sciencebased public standards is essential to ensure food safety, FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva told participants in the World Trade Organisation’s 5th Global Review of Aid For Trade.

According to the FAO Director-General, food safety is particularly important in trade since it serves to instil confidence in consumers and in importing countries with regards to traded products. On the other hand, food safety incidents, or plant and animal trans-boundary disease outbreaks can have negative impacts on public health, on trade, on peoples’ livelihoods and on countries’ economies.

This is why FAO is engaged in the effective implementation of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures of the WTO (SPS) which are necessary to facilitate safe trade in agricultural products, Graziano da Silva told a panel discussion in Geneva on Tuesday.

FAO plays a unique role in this regard, hosting the Secretariats of two international standard-setting bodies, the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) and the Joint FAO/ World Health Organization Codex Alimentarius Commission, known as Codex, which sets international food standards. Developing the scientific advice to ensure that the IPPC and Codex support the strengthened engagement of developing countries in the standard-setting process is also a FAO priority, as is helping to develop the capacity of countries to reliably implement these standards. The fact that safe trade requires sound international standards based on science and that countries need to be able to implement these standards was emphasized during a meeting between Graziano da Silva and WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo. The WTO and FAO chiefs agreed that both their organizations should continue to work together on how sound international standards help ensure food safety and support farmers.

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

CANCER

Business and investment opportunities will work in your favour. Get in touch with your financial adviser regarding ways of safeguarding your income. Romance will enhance your life.

Joining a group or an organisation that interests you will introduce you to likeminded people. Check your community calendar for intriguing events and make a worthwhile contribution.

Attention to detail will help you get through your professional duties without having to go back and fix something you overlooked. Colleagues may not be impressed with your extra efforts, but your superiors will.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Get in touch with people from your past who have come to mind. Unexpected news will brighten your day. Mediate between quarrelling friends or family members, but don’t meddle.

Don’t allow others to take advantage of you. Added stress will lead to emotional or health problems. Say no to a request if the asking party is being unreasonable or you are too tired.

You could end up in a vulnerable position if you let down your guard. Keep your personal information a secret. Be careful what you say to whom, and protect your reputation.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Be optimistic about your future. Your ingenuity will enable you to make the best of ever-changing conditions. Love and romance are highlighted. If you make the first move, you won’t be sorry.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Be diplomatic when presenting your thoughts and ideas to your peers. Selfimprovement projects will boost your ego. Take time for personal pampering and the ones you love.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Don’t allow jealousy to cloud your judgment. Negativity and gossip must be avoided. Make sure you have all the facts in place before you reveal your true feelings.

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

You need a break. Make plans to spend time with close friends and have a little fun. Rewards and incentives will encourage you to do a better job.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

Keep checking the job market for a position that interests you. Circumstances fluctuate daily, making it vital that you are always ready to effect a change when an opportunity presents itself.

Furthering your education or taking an apprenticeship programme will lead to a higher- paying position. Travel can be the catalyst that sparks your interest in a new career.

Copa America: Chile end trophy drought at the expense of Argentina

Argentina suffered more final heartbreak as Chile won the Copa America in a penalty shootout.

Chile finally won their first major trophy to spark jubilant scenes in Santiago as Argentina were beaten 4-1 on penalties in the Copa America final on Saturday.

Gonzalo Higuain and Ever Banega missed from the spot in a shootout at Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez Pradanos following a drab goalless encounter, as Argentina endured more heartbreak almost a year after losing the World Cup final against Germany.

Higuain blasted high over the crossbar and fellow substitute Banega’s tame effort was saved by Claudio Bravo, so Alexis Sanchez had the chance to end Chile’s long wait for a Copa title and the Arsenal forward did so in style with a cheeky effort.

Four-time runners-up Chile celebrated in style as Argentina were left to reflect on what might have been once again, as their 22year wait for a major trophy goes on.

Argentina have now lost two of the last three Copa finals and Lionel Messi - the only Argentina player to score in the shootout - is still to lift a major trophy at international level.

A capacity crowd generated a tremendous atmosphere and Chile, coached by an Argentinian in Jorge

Sampaoli, appeared to be inspired as they made an encouraging start.

Eduardo Vargas’ longrange strike flashed narrowly wide before Sergio Romero got down to his left to keep out Arturo Vidal’s volley following a swift Chile break.

Chile goalkeeper Bravo was then called into action to keep out Sergio Aguero’s close-range header after the striker had got on the end of Messi’s dangerous free-kick.

The game was being played at a frantic pace and Vargas should have done better when he raced onto a ball over the top of the Argentina defence, but blasted high over the crossbar.

Argentina suffered a blow when Angel di María pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring in-

jury just before the half-hour mark, with Ezequiel Lavezzi replacing the Manchester United winger - who missed the World Cup final due to a thigh problem.

Lavezzi had a great chance to make an impact when Aguero cut the ball back into his path just before half-time, but the ParisSaint Germain forward shot straight at Bravo.

Both sides were lacking quality in the final third, but Sanchez almost conjured up a moment of magic to win it when he showed great technique to volley just wide of the far post seven minutes from time.

Argentina had one final chance to snatch victory in normal time when Lavezzi’s cross had a little too much on it and Higuain could only fire into the side-netting at full stretch beyond the back

post two minutes into time added on.

Sanchez had the only opportunity in the first half of extra time when he raced away following a mistake from Javier Mascherano, but shot just over the crossbar under pressure from the covering Pablo Zabaleta.

Lavezzi appealed for a penalty when he went down under a challenge from Francisco Silva with five minutes remaining, but referee Wilmar Roldan saw nothing untoward and it came as no surprise that the game would be settled by a shootout.

It was advantage Chile when Higuain fired Argentina’s second spotkick high over the bar, then Banega’s poor effort was kept out by Bravo to allow Sanchez to win it. (Digicel Sportsmax)

Upsets unlikely as big guns set for Wimbledon last 16

Rafa Nadal may have left the stage but the smooth progress into Wimbledon’s second week of the remaining members of tennis’s established powerbase suggests further upsets are unlikely in the men’s last 16 on Monday.

The ‘Big Four’ have been whittled down to a top three, but for Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy Murray, who were largely untroubled in their opening matches, there seems no end on the horizon to their dominance at the All England Club.

The trio, along with Nadal, have had a monopoly on the Wimbledon title after Lleyton Hewitt beat David Nalbandian to lift the Challenge Cup tro-

phy in 2002. On the evidence of the first week, only Stan Wawrinka, winner of two of the last six majors including last month’s French Open, looks capable of stealing a march on the top three.

The hard work of maintaining promising starts, however, is likely to begin with more testing encounters on Monday.

The relentless retriever Djokovic faces the towering figure of Kevin Anderson, Federer’s quest for a record eighth Wimbledon title continues against Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut and Murray faces the huge-serving Ivo Karlovic.

French, German presidents tried to influence World Cup votes – Blatter

The embattled president of FIFA, the governing body for world football, told a German newspaper the presidents of France and Germany tried to exert political pressure before the World Cup was awarded to Russia and Qatar.

Sepp Blatter has become entangled in a corruption investigation of the sport’s governing body, which involves the decision to hold the World Cup in the two countries. Blatter has not been accused of any wrongdoing, but he has retained an attorney.

In a story published on Sunday, the newspaper Welt am Sonntag quoted Blatter as saying: “Before the World Cup was awarded to Russia and Qatar, there were two political interventions.

correctly quoted.

Europe football chief Michel Platini has repeatedly said that nobody had asked him to vote for Qatar. “Neither Sarkozy nor anyone,” he told the newspaper L’Equipe a year ago. However, the head of UEFA also said that he and Sarkozy had a lunch with Qataris.

“It’s true that, when I was invited for a lunch in private with the president and I found myself with Qataris, I understood that there was a subliminal message. But I’ve never been asked to vote for them,” Platini told L’Equipe. Blatter announced on June 2 he would step down as FIFA’s president after an election that is likely to happen this year or early next.

“Mr (Nicolas) Sarkozy and (Christian) Wulff tried to influence their voting representatives. Therefore, we now have a World Cup in Qatar. The people who decided this should also take responsibility,” he added.

No one was immediately available at Sarkozy’s office or Wulff’s office to comment.

Welt am Sonntag reported, however, that Wulff had denied trying to influence the vote in his book.

In May, Swiss authorities arrested seven FIFA officials as part of an investigation into a global bribery scandal. The U.S. Department of Justice has now asked that Switzerland extradite the seven to the United States.

Also in May, U.S. prosecutors announced they had indicted nine current and former FIFA officials and five sports marketing businessmen in connection with a corruption investigation.

Welt am Sonntag quoted Blatter as saying the German football federation, DFB, had “received a recommendation (from Wulff) that Germany should vote for Qatar for economic interests”.

FIFA said Blatter was

Blatter also told the paper he needed a “recovery phase” and said he was limiting his travel plans because of the investigation.

“I won’t take any travel risks until everything has been cleared up,” he said. He did, however, say he would go to Moscow at the end of July for the draw on the qualification games for the 2018 World Cup are held. “I will go there,” he said.

A U.S.-based layer said last week Blatter would not travel to Canada for Sunday’s final of the women’s World Cup for personal reasons. Reuters was unable to determine why Blatter had decided not to attend the final in Vancouver.

Some lawyers with experience in international criminal cases have said Blatter would be ill-advised to travel after the U.S. indictments were announced.

Blatter said he did not mind criticism but “tirades of hate hurt”.

“I am now here to fight. Not for myself but for FIFA ... I am afraid that they want to destroy FIFA ... A work that I helped create,” he was quoted as saying. (Reuters)

Mathews builds commanding position for Sri Lanka

Angelo Mathews was the rock in Sri Lanka’s middle order once again, soaking up all the pressure Pakistan created, and rebuilding from 35 for 3 to take the hosts to a commanding position. Upul Tharanga, Jehan Mubarak and Dinesh Chandimal sup-

SCOREBOARD

Sri Lanka 1st innings 278

Pakistan 1st innings 215

Sri Lanka 2nd innings

FDM Karunaratne

b Rahat Ali 10

JK Silva c Misbah-ul-Haq

b Ehsan Adil 3

WU Tharanga c Azhar Ali

b Yasir Shah 48

HDRL Thirimanne

b Rahat Ali 0

AD Mathews* not out 77

J Mubarak c Azhar Ali

b Yasir Shah 35

LD Chandimal† not out 39

Extras: (b 4, lb 9, w 3) 16

Total: (5 wickets; 69.4 overs) 228

To bat: KTGD Prasad, PHT Kaushal, RAS Lakmal, N Pradeep

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-22, 3-35, 4-80, 5-161

Bowling: Rahat Ali 15-3-58-2, Ehsan Adil 14-4-46-1, Imran Khan 10.4-2-27-0, Yasir Shah 25-4-70-2, Azhar Ali 5-1-14-0.

ported their captain as Sri Lanka gradually stretched their lead to 291 until bad light ended play on another rain-hit day.

It was typical Mathews resistance, blocking and blocking most of whatever Pakistan hurled at him, working the ball into gaps for singles and twos, and exploding into the odd emphatic boundary against the run of play. The few times he was beaten during his 177-ball stay, he shrugged and concentrated harder.

The pitch slowed down as the day progressed, although the legspinner Yasir Shah started turning and bouncing it from the line of off. Although Yasir gave it everything in a 25-over spell of 2 for 70, Sri Lanka dearly needed this effort from their captain to recover from the jolts Rahat Ali and co had

delivered.

Sri Lanka had taken two overs to dismiss last man Imran Khan in the morning, making absolutely no attempt to target Sarfraz Ahmed, who was left stranded on 78. But Rahat led a stirring fightback from Pakistan after they had conceded a 63-run first-innings lead.

Ehsan Adil played his part but Rahat was the standout bowler for Pakistan, bowling with sustained pace and control, varying his lengths and extracting bounce and movement off the pitch and in the air.

Consistently taking it away from the left-handers, Rahat straightened two rippers past the defenses of Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne, the latter’s 11-ball duck ending with a swinging yorker.

Using the short ball sparingly, Rahat created doubts in the minds of the batsmen, and both Karunaratne and Thirimanne were caught half-forward after being beaten numerous times. Thirimanne was also hit on the base of the arm guard as he ducked into a lifter, and had to take treatment on the field.

Adil created similar issues for the right-handed Silva, hitting a tight line and length outside off and moving it away. Silva is a difficult batsman to bowl to,

his tendency to play with soft hands ensuring most edges don’t carry to the cordon. But the kind of effort Pakistan were putting, and the zip they were generating, even Silva could not avoid nicking one for Misbah-ul-Haq to take a sharp, low catch at first slip.

Rain reprieved Sri Lanka immediately after the third wicket fell, and Tharanga and Mathews batted positively upon resumption in the few overs until lunch.

Mathews survived a review for leg-before off Rahat at the stroke of lunch, but Pakistan did not review when Imran hit Tharanga’s pad first ball after the interval. They were probably confused by the two sounds, but one of them was that of Tharanga’s bat crashing into his pad. Tharanga was on 29 then, and went on to hit a few more boundaries in a 47-ball 48 before popping one off the inside edge to short leg off Yasir.

Rahat, in such fine rhythm in the first session, was introduced in the second only after Tharanga fell. His second and third spells lacked the threat of the first, and it was Adil who created problems for Mubarak with a hint of reverse, beating the left-hander often outside off.

Mubarak was solid after another shower forced tea to be taken early, and played some superbly-timed drives through extra cover. (Cricinfo)

Du Plessis’ half century seals win on tough pitch

South Africa’s attack out-thought and outclassed Bangladesh’s steadily improving pack to defend a total of 148, more than half of which was scored by Faf du Plessis, who was unbeaten on 79 off 61 deliveries. On a dry surface that offered no pace and minimal turn, runs had to be ground out and no-one other than du Plessis, and to a lesser extent Rilee Rossouw, showed the patience required to do that.

Still, Bangladesh would have initially been pleased with their efforts in restricting South Africa to under 150. What they did not bargain for was being skittled out for less than 100 after South Africa’s second-tier attack enforced a stranglehold of their own. South Africa’s seamers, sans Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander, adjusted their tactics to suit conditions and the two spinners - JP Duminy and Aaron Phangiso - benefited from the pressure they created.

Kyle Abbott announced South Africa’s intention to attack despite the dead pitch when he began with an over of short balls. Tamim Iqbal got the fourth one away for four but only managed to glove the sixth to Quinton de Kock to begin Bangladesh’s slide.

That approach set the tone and Kagiso Rabada, who started off bowling length, soon realised he needed to emulate up. He delivered a searing bouncer, Soumya Sarkar could not control the pull and JP Duminy at deep square leg had a simple catch.

Abbott and Rabada continued with that line of attack to keep Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim fairly quite but Wayne Parnell offered some release. He went full for half of his first over, allowing some respite, but David Wiese put the choke back on with slower balls and back-of-length deliveries.

Unlike Bangladesh, who had begun their bowling with spin, South Africa waited until the seventh over to bring Aaron Phangiso on. At first, it seemed that was where Bangladesh could get back into the game. Mushfiqur and Shakib plun-

Upsets unlikely as big guns...

Having cruised into the last 16 without dropping a set, world number one Djokovic’s renowned return will be tested by the serving of Anderson, whose recent form has prompted a surge up the rankings to a careerhigh 14.

“I think he is probably playing the tennis of his life all in all,” Djokovic said of the South African after easing past Bernard Tomic in the third round.

The Serb’s elastic-limbed defence has been untroubled

in his three opening skirmishes, yet Anderson has weapons and can test the best if they are not on their game.

Party Tricks Federer pulled out the party tricks in the opening week and laid down an early marker for the accolade of shot of the tournament with an outrageous lob from between his legs over Sam Querrey in his second round match.

Having followed that by taming the huge-serving

Sam Groth in four sets, he heads into week two with the prospect of surpassing Pete Sampras and William Renshaw as the only man with eight Wimbledon titles looking plausible.

Not that the Swiss maestro is allowing himself to get excited about the possibility.

“This is more something like you talk about for a couple weeks, it’s gone again, then you have to wait a year if you don’t do it,” he said.

Murray, champion in

dered 11 runs off Phangiso’s first over to demonstrate how comfortable they were against slower ball.

But they may have got too comfortable. Mushfiqur tried to charge Duminy in the same way but the bowl-

fore handing Mashrafe

a catch at cover. De Kock was in a similar hurry and took over as the aggressor against Nasir. On his first attempt, de Kock managed to drag the ball past mid-on for two. On the

SCOREBOARD

South Africa innings (20 overs maximum)

AB de Villiers c Mashrafe

Mortaza b Arafat Sunny 2

Q de Kock† c Litton Das b Nasir Hossain 12

F du Plessis* not out 79

JP Duminy c Nasir Hossain

b Arafat Sunny 18

DA Miller lbw b Shakib Al Hasan 1

RR Rossouw not out 31

Extras:(lb 2, w 2, nb 1) 5

Total:(4 wickets; 20 overs) 148

Did not bat: D Wiese, WD Parnell, KJ Abbott, AM Phangiso, K Rabada

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-31, 3-77, 4-90

Bowling: Arafat Sunny 3-019-2, Nasir Hossain 4-0-371, Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-24-1, Mustafizur Rahman 4-0-30-0, Sohag Gazi 2-0-16-0, Mashrafe Mortaza 3-0-20-0.

Bangladesh innings (target: 149 runs from 20 overs)

Tamim Iqbal c †de Kock b Abbott 5

er saw him coming, fired one in on the pads and had him caught at deep midwicket. Duminy also accounted for Sabbir Rahman, mostly thanks to de Kock, who took a diving catch off an attempted reverse-sweep, which initially hit the wicketkeeper on the thigh.

Phangiso did not go unrewarded either. Nasir Hossain hit a tossed-up delivery straight to short cover as Bangladesh began the second half of their innings with still needing 92 runs.

from page 19

2013, has suffered a couple of wobbles in matches against Mikhail Kukushkin and Andreas Seppi, but has looked comfortable enough not be unduly worried by 23rd seed Karlovic.

As for fourth seed Wawrinka, the Swiss has made a habit of scything through the early undergrowth of grand slams almost unnoticed and with his majestic backhand should have too much for Belgian David Goffin. (Reuters)

The last five wickets fell for 25 runs as South Arica’s seamers were rewarded for their guile. Wiese took pace off, Parnell found a hint of reverse swing and there was even a run-out, effected by none other than AB de Villiers, who would have wanted to make up for his lack of contribution with the bat.

De Villiers was used in the opening position and the experiment may still require some work. He was overly attacking from the getgo, even as Arafat Sunny cramped him for room, and only managed two runs be-

Soumya Sarkar c Duminy

b Rabada 7 Shakib Al Hasan c Parnell b Wiese 26 Mushfiqur Rahim† c Miller b Duminy 17 Sabbir Rahman c †de Kock b Duminy 4 Nasir Hossain c Rossouw b Phangiso 1 Litton Das c de Villiers b Wiese 22 Mashrafe Mortaza* c de Villiers b Rabada 5 Sohag Gazi run out (de Villiers/Wiese) 3 Arafat Sunny not out 1 Mustafizur Rahman b Parnell 1 Extras:(lb 2, w 2) 4 Total:(all out; 18.5 overs) 96 Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-13, 3-50, 4-56, 5-57, 6-71, 7-86, 8-93, 9-94, 10-96 Bowling: KJ Abbott 2-0-10-1, K Rabada 3-0-28-2, WD Parnell 2.5-0 -12-1, D Wiese 3-012-2, AM Phangiso 4-0-21-1, JP Duminy 4-0-11-2.

second, he lifted it over the covers for six. But on the third, he sliced it into the hands of cover point to leave du Plessis and Duminy with a damage-limitation job. In the midst of the pair’s rebuilding, Bangladesh introduced pace for the first time, in the sixth over. Mustafizur Rahman showed the rest how to make use of conditions which offered very little, by holding back his length a touch and making use of the cutter. He conceded just two runs in that over and South Africa were being tied down. Du Plessis and Duminy upped the ante immediately after that. They took a four off each of the next four overs and concentrated on rotating strike to lift the run rate to seven an over by the halfway stage. More importantly, their partnership remained intact and South Africa went into the second half of their innings with eight wickets in hand. With acceleration the aim, Duminy fell on his sword when he tried to hit Sunny over mid-on.

(Cricinfo)

Dentures provided in 72 hours from as low as $4500. Contact Dr B Stuart, 209B Charlotte St, Lacytown. Tel: 225-5034

Shalom Driving School, lot 2 Croal Street, Stabroek. Enjoy 20% discount. Phone: 227-3869, 622-8162, 644-7052, 227-3835

YOU COULD ALSO OBTAIN AN INTERNATIONAL DRIVER’S PERMIT COVERING OVER 130 COUNTRIES (LIKE US ON FACEBOOK) Tel: 6447050/619-0106/227-3869/2273835

FOR SSEE OR CXC ENGLISH.

696-7467

SUCCESSFUL RESULTS AT YOUR EXAMS WITH YOUR OWN PRIVATE TUTOR FOR SSEE OR CXC ENGLISH. CALL: 696-7467

PRIVATE CUSTOMS BROKERAGE TRAINING CERTIFICATE COURSE. 29 JUNE 2015; REGISTER NOW AND SAVE. CALL: 223-1506/6817567/694-8322

Private Custom’s brokers certificate training course. All importer/ exporters and others who trade is on the increase globally and locally. Learn how to prepare custom documents. Date :4th August 2015 (for three weeks). Classes from 2:004:00 pm and 5:00-7:00 pm (optional). For more information call:6948322 or 223-1506. Register early and save$$$

Available: Fresh long-stemmed roses, fresh dried and silk floral arrangements, gift items, bridal boutiques and wreaths. Nesha’s Flowerland. 78 Church Street (opposite St George’s Cathedral). Tel: 2273553/225-3315

Clean Garden earth. Also excavating, grading and leveling done. Call 6279977

20 tons heavy duty trailer – 2.7 million; Call: 678-6022 or 613-9277

Caterpillar skid loader 246B low hours – 6.6 MILLION; Call: 678-6022 or 613-9277

Caterpillar back hoe /loader with extended arm 8.6 million; Call: 6786022 or 613-9277

2002 Volvo dump truck heavy duty with Cummings engine low hours mileage 5.2kmi, 8.9 million; Call: 678-6022 or 613-9277

For sale by lot: Lot (1): 2 bath tubs, bathroom fittings and fixtures & toilet set; shower fittings - $150,000 and Lot (2): 1 Dell desktop computer and HP scanner - $25,000. Call 225-2676 or 601-5285.

10 Acres cultivated with animal and poultry rearing. Capacity for 30,000 birds with well for water and completely developed. Going concern with potential to earn immediately. Sheep, Ducks, Turkeys, and Rabbit also reared on Farm. Price 100 million(Negotiable) . C A l l: 601-1235

YELLOW PAGES

monday, july 6, 2015

CuTTINg

Professional Key Shop, 125 Carmichael Street, Georgetown. Phone: 225-3923, mobile: 6213249. We cut any type of key, service and repair all types of locks. Get your extra key today.

Immigration & Visa Services We handle all Canadian, USA and UK immigration and visa matters. Self sponsorships, holiday/visitor’s visas, work permits, students visas, family, class, immigration forms, embassy enquiries, appeals for refused cases, US green card lottery, business class waivers, pardons, etc. Get your visa approved. High success rate. Balwant Persaud & Associates. Certified Immigration Consultants, 68 Sixth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown (Between Cummings & Lights Sts) Tel: 225-1540, 622-8308, 655-3105. Email: balwantpersaud@yahoo.ca

Silva’s Optical. For Your Eyes Only, Look Better See Better. Phillip A Da Silva OD, Shannon L Da Silva OD, Natalie Da Silva OD. 248 South Road, Bourda. Phone: 227-3529, Linden: 444-6376, Corriverton: 339-3536, Meten-Meer-Zorg: 275-0322, Grand Cayman Islands: (345) 943-1515 for the perfect trendy touch.

One property Ogle, One property Anna Catherina, One property Good Hope. Contact: 222-3060/6735546/622-6448/679-0987

Two storied 22ft x 45ft transported concrete property. UPSTAIRS 2 bedrooms , kitchen, toilet, bath. DOWNSTAIRS SEPARATE 2 bedroom apartment, Fully grilled, Block ‘8’ Monrepos, ECD. 20 MILLION. TEL: 625-1514 OFFICE 321-7255

House plans & estimates, weeding of grass and spraying done within 48hrs. Call: 216-0671; 622-0267; 692-8464

Repairs and spare parts for fridge, freezers, A/C, washers, gas stoves, etc. Call Nick tel # 683-1312 or 6273206

Khemraj & Son -landscaping & plant nursery. Lot 77 Independence Street, La Grange, West Bank Demerara. Landscaping, planting grass, weeding, killing wood ants, killing roaches, rats & mealy bug, treat plants, coconut trees and flowers, cleaning ceiling, grafting coconut plants: 18 months bearing period, treating land, grass & spraying grass, grafted papaya plants: 6 months bearing, grafted cherry plant, sour sop & sapodilla, cutting big trees & removing, treated mould for sale & flower plants for sale. Tel 627-5969/ 603-1134

Surinamese spiritualist. Resolving all problems. Money, love, blockage etc. Call 223-6834/600-7719

Truck Radiator - $50,000, Jacuzzi (used) - $50,000, Tankless Water Heaters - $190,000, 25 KVA Generator (no Engine) - $225,000, Industrial Motors – Various Sizes. Contact: 623-1392.

Suriname’s Astrology, Palmist and Hindustani Spiritual Healer, solve all purpose problems, 100% confidential guaranteed. Phone: 602-8997 HEPHZIBAH MINISTRIES 24 hrs Prayer Line 322-5081,337-4510,3374259,337-4583,337-3070,337-5103. For healing, deliverance, financial difficulties, marriage issues call now. Jesus Cares.

GR Taxi, 24 hours. Phone: 2257878, 219-5000 or 227-2100

SMALL OFFICE/BUSINESS SPACE, STABROEK AREA. TEL: 2312619/691-7164

One 240 sq ft business place in Hadfield Street to rent (close to Louisa Row) Tel : 231-6982

Two bedroom upstairs apartment. $60,000 monthly with parking. Couples preferable. Tel 233-2607 / 644-7089

Three Storey 75ft’x 30ft’ bldg, open floors, 2 offices, 2 washrooms, driveway. 25B Princess St, Charlestown. Tel : 223-0654, 225-0605

Two Self contained single bedroom furnished apartments for rental. Self contained 7 bedroom bungalow idea for family/ guests/ students local or overseas long/ short term rental. Contact # 622-7097 / 624-7111 TAxI SERVICES

Audi A4, PSS series, good condition. Price 2.6 million(negotiable) Phone 610-7665, 613-6498

JUST ARRIVED: TOP QUALITY RECONDITIONED VEHICLES; TOYOTA NOAH; TOYOTA VOXY; TOYOTA IST (NEW SHAPE); SUZUKI SWIFT; DAIHATSU MOVE (660CC); MERCEDES BENZ C200 KOMPRESSOR; COROLLA AE100 WAGON; TOYOTA HIACE MINIBUS RZ; PITBULL-STYLE FREEZER VAN; LAND CRUISER (FULLY LOADED); MAZDA PROCEED 4WD EXTRACAB PICK-UP; TOYOTA HILUX 4WD EXTRA CAB PICKUPS - 3RZ, 5L, 3L SOLID DEFFERNTIAL; MITSUBISHI CANTER TRUCKS 4 TONS FREEZER; 3 TONS OPEN TRAY; 2 TONS 4WD; NISSAN ATLAS 2 TONS OPEN TRAY TRUCK. PRE-ORDER YOUR UNITS EARLY AND GET THE BEST PRICES. FULL AFTER SALES SERVICES AND FINANCING AVAILABLE. DEO

MARAJ AUTO SALES, 2 CHIMNEY ROAD, CHATEAU MARGOT, ECD. 624-0762, 220-5177. A NAME AND SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST

Powell, Fraser-Pryce dominate in Paris with fast times

Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell ran the second fastest 100m of the year to win the Diamond League meeting in Paris.

Powell ran a season’s best 9.81 seconds to beat France’s Jimmy Vicaut, who equalled the European record of 9.86.

The 32-year-old Powell beat the 9.84 he ran in June’s Jamaican national trials.

American Justin Gatlin has run the fastest time of the year at 9.74. Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce made it a double for Jamaica with victory in the women’s 100m.

Usain Bolt, who missed the Paris meet through injury, also withdrew from the Diamond League race in Lausanne on 9 July because of a pelvic injury, but the 28-year-old says he will defend his 100m and 200m titles at August’s World Championships in China.

In the women’s 100m Fraser-Pryce ran 10.74, the fastest time in the world this

year, beating her own mark set at the Jamaican trials.

New Zealand shot putter Valerie Adams suffered her first loss in almost five years of competition as she made her comeback from a double shoulder injury at the Stade de France. It ended a run of 56 successive victories for the 30-year-old, dating back to August 2010.

The double Olympic and four-time world champion had last competed in the 2013 Brussels Diamond League.

She then had surgery to repair her left, non-throwing shoulder and right elbow in September 2014. Adams finished fifth in Paris, behind Germany’s Christina Schwanitz, who won with a personal best of 20.31m.

“I’m happy to be back,” Adams said. “I took the risk and came to compete against the best current girls.

“I knew the winning streak was in danger and I lost it, but I do not feel that sorry. We can start again.”

Hamilton wins British GP brilliantly after late rain

Lewis Hamilton battled through a bad start and late-race rain to win an action-packed British Grand Prix

Hamilton had to pass both Williams cars after a bad start and losing a place following a safety car period.

But the Mercedes driver fought back to take the lead at the first pit stops.

Rain made for a chaotic end to the race but Hamilton came through to win from team-mate Nico Rosberg - extending his championship lead to 17 points - and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.

Felipe Massa took fourth ahead of Williams team-mate Valtteri Bottas, Red Bull’s Daniil Kvyat was sixth, Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg claimed seventh and the second Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen came eighth.

The world champion’s fifth win of the season was greeted with roars of delight from the capacity 140,000 fans.

Hamilton admitted the

Mercedes’ bad starts had “made the race for the fans” and, as thousands streamed on to the track to salute him on the podium, he said: “Thank you for coming out today and making my whole weekend, I really wanted to do it for you guys. I couldn’t have done it without you. I’m so elated. You can’t imagine how happy I am. I was tearing up on the last lap.”

Hamilton’s path to victory was far from smooth, however, as Massa leapt into the lead past both Mercedes from third on the grid.

Hamilton fended off a challenge from Bottas for second on the first lap, at the end of which the safety car was deployed because of a pile-up at the first corner, involving both Lotuses and both McLarens.

Three of the four cars were taken out of the race in one go, with Lotus teammates Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado appearing to collide and McLaren’s Fernando Alonso half-spin-

ning as he took avoiding action and collecting teammate Jenson Button, whose car also retired. Alonso was able to continue, but needed to pit for a new front wing, although the late rain shower helped the double champion beat Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson to finish 10th and score his first points of a difficult year in the uncompetitive and unreliable McLaren-Honda.

At the restart, Hamilton tried an aggressive move on Massa immediately after the safety car line, which indicates the place from which drivers can begin to race and at Silverstone is on the entry to the final Vale-Club corner complex.

But Hamilton overcooked it, ran briefly off the track, and Bottas took advantage and sneaked through into second.

Bottas was initially told he could not try to pass Massa, only for Williams to relent and allow them to race.

Orealla whip JC Chandisingh 11-0

– St Ignatius rout Sand Creek 7-0

Orealla signalled their intentions at this year’s Digicel Nationwide School Football Tournament with an 11-0 win over JC Chandisingh Secondary on Sunday at the Skeldon Community Centre Ground.

Led by a helmet trick from Clizon Hinry and a hattrick from Erwin Russel, the boys from the Corentyne River dominated the one-sided affair.

Russel scored twice in the first half to help Orealla secure a 5-0 half time lead. It took Orealla 11 minutes to get used to the grass having played all of their football over the past year on sand

before Camiron Edwards sent them into the lead with a well-directed shot which brushed the hands of goalkeeper Mondella Jonas before rocking the back of the net.

It took another 12 minutes for Orealla to score again when Russel scored his first and the flood gates were then opened. Andriz France scored in the 27th and 33rd minute and then Russel returned in the 40th minute. Hinry scored in the 48th, 59th, 66th and 67th minute. Russel also added to the goal feast with one from the penalty spot in the 57th minute. Edwards returned and scored in the 73rd minute.

Meanwhile, St Ignatius moved into the final of the Region Nine (Upper Essequibo-Upper Takutu) playoffs after crushing Sand Creek 7-0 on Saturday, at the St Ignatius Community Centre Ground.

St Ignatius was led by a treble each from Gary James, who netted in the 19th, 47th and 90th minute and Brandon Parks in the 22nd, 65th and 77th minutes.

Orlando Francis completed the rout with a solitary strike in the 62nd minute of play which allowed St Ignatius to set up a date with reigning regional champions Annai.

Essequibo suffer second heavy defeat

Essequibo’s female senior team suffered their second consecutive heavy defeat at the hands of hosts Demerara on Sunday in round two of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) senior female intercounty 50-over tournament.

Essequibo’s decision to bat first backfired for the second time in two days as they were sent packing for 29 in 17.1 overs at the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Ground.

Davena Goberdhan was the only one to reach double figure. She made 12.

Mandy Mangru (55) and Leana Harris (4-7) were the chief destroyers for Demerara. In reply, the hosts reached 30 without loss.

Demerara will play Berbice in the final round today.

Mohamed confident ahead of regional U-17 tournament

– urges teammates to play as a unit

By Rajiv Bisnauth

ational Under-17

Ncaptain Ronaldo Mohamed exuded confidence that his team would do whatever it took to win the fourth edition of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) regional tournament.

“We are a promising side. We are confident of doing well in the tournament,” he said, prior to the team’s departure for Trinidad and Tobago Sunday morning.

The talented all-rounder urged his teammates to play as a unit, as this was the only way the team could excel.

Speaking about the players in the squad, Mohamed said: “We have a talented squad with capable batsmen and wickettaking bowlers.”

The captain affirmed the team’s all-round ability, stating “the batsmen have the ability to build an innings and occupy the crease. The bowlers are good enough to restrict oppositions, we have a variety to choose from.”

Meanwhile, Manager

Earlier, GABF President Nigel Hinds, who wished the teams success, shared that the time was now, “What I would like to say is the sense that the time is now in all of our endeavours.

“This is the time that we must plant the seed and do the hard work and then we will benefit from the har-

Nazeer Mohamed said the squad has had adequate preparation leading up to the regional championships and he was confident that Guyana would perform outstandingly.

“The players are committed and eager to do well. I am confident the players will do a good job. They are supporting each other and the team spirit is high. We have some talented players who can hold their own in any given situation,” he said.

The six-team tournament will be played from

July 7 to 14 and will comprise five rounds and 15 50over matches. The participating teams are the traditional regional teams: Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago and Windward Islands.

Guyana will be in action on Tuesday against Jamaica. The Guyanese will then play the Windward Islands on July 8, Barbados on July 10, the Leeward Islands on July 12, and hosts Trinidad and Tobago on July 14.

Barbados are the defending champions after winning the tournament last year.

Guyana full squad reads: Ronaldo Mohamed (Captain); Bhaskar Yadram; Ramnarine Chatura; Raymond Perez; Ashmead Nedd; Timothy Mc Almont; Sagar Hathiramani; Adrian Sukwah; Steve Deonarine; Asif Ally; Richie Looknauth; Sylus Tyndall; Joshua Persaud; Kevin Sinclair; Joshua Jones; Gavin Boodwah; Tameshwar Motiram and Romain Muniram.

vest,” Hinds told the aspiring national stars.

Mayor Hamilton Green and Permanent Secretary of the Department of Sport, Alfred King both urged the teams to give of their best and reminded them that they were all winners.

Meanwhile, the YBG honoured Kwakwani Coach Ann Gordon with a plaque

for her service to youth basketball while naming seven ambassadors for youth basketball that included the likes of Akeem Kanhai, Ginelle Ifill, Dominic Vincente and Kiev Chesney. The tournament tipped off with four games that will feature in Tuesday’s edition of Guyana Times Sport

ECCB, GCA on board with Caricom Championship

Two prominent cricket boards in the East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) and Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) have joined forces with the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)-organised Caricom Championship.

The one-day tournament will now be played on Sunday, July 19 at the Albion Sports Complex.

Proceeds from this event will be used mainly to organise a three-day FirstDivision cricket competition for teams in Berbice.

At a simple ceremony held in Georgetown recently, ECCB President Bissoondyal Singh, a former Vice President of the Guyana Cricket Board, said that he had a discussion with Roger Harper and other members of the GCA and they willingly agreed

to help the Berbice Cricket Board in its effort to host three-day cricket.

In a joint statement, both cricket boards said that they were aware that no subvention was given to the BCB for over five years, and as a result, they thought it fitting to assist. They themselves were suffering the same fate, the release said, despite the fact that the International Cricket Council (ICC) provides monies for cricket development around the world.

In response, Malcolm Peters speaking on behalf of the BCB thanked the ECCB and the GCA for their generosity.

He emphasised the importance of the longer version of the game for proper development of the young players. He said

Lara launches batting masterclass ahead of CPL 2015 final

West Indies legend and Hero CPL T20 ambassador, Brian Lara, has today announced that he will be giving an exclusive cricketing masterclass to thousands of children from Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday 25th July, the eve of this year’s Hero CPL final.

Lara, who still holds the world records for the highest ever score in first-class cricket (501 not out) and the highest individual score in a Test innings (400 not out), will deliver the masterclass at the iconic Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad, the venue for this year’s Hero CPL final.

Commenting on the announcement, Brian Lara said:

“Passing on my skills and experience to youngsters is something that has always been really important to me and I’m excited about this chance to work with all these talented kids in my home town. CPL is all about inspiring West Indians of all ages to get ex-

the teams were selected in such a manner that all of the top players in Berbice will be on show.

Young Warriors/ Rose Hall CC/Edinburgh Combined will tackle Upper Corentyne/Skeldon Combined in the opening.

Game two will see Albion CC taking on Bermine/Police Combined. Game three is Port Mourant versus Bush Lot/ D’Edward Combined.

Game four will see Blairmont/West Berbice Combined playing Rose Hall Town.

cited about cricket again, and I hope events like this will help us find our next generation of cricketing legends.”

Damien O’Donohoe, CEO of the Hero Caribbean Premier League, commented:

“Brian is a living legend and it’s going to be amazing to see the positive impact his masterclass will have on the local kids who will attend. This year’s CPL has seen thousands of children entertained and inspired by the best cricketers from the West Indies and across the world. The CPL players have attended schools across the region, speaking to the children about what it takes to make it to the top of whatever profession they choose. Brian’s masterclass will be the perfect way to sign off this programme of events with the children of Trinidad and, fingers crossed, we may even identify the next Brian Lara while bringing the biggest party in sport to the Queen’s Park Oval”. (CPL Release)

Bissoondyal Singh hands over the sponsorship cheque to Malcolm Peters in the presence former West Indies Vice Captain Roger Harper, former national selectors Claude Raphael and Albert Smith and others that this form of cricket will help players to concentrate for long periods thus toughening their mental strength. This competition will not only help Berbice but Guyana and the West Indies as well.

Peters hopes that the new Government will act swiftly and bring an end to the cricket fiasco in Guyana.

Eight top T20 FirstDivision teams in Berbice will compete in the 10-over knockout competition with the final of 20 overs to be played under lights for a top prize of $80,000 and a trophy. The runner-up will receive $40,000 and a trophy, with the losing semifinalists copping $15,000 each. The Man of the Match in every game will be re-

warded. Action will commence at 10:00h sharp.

The participating teams are Upper Corentyne/ Skeldon, Port Mourant, Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, Albion, Young Warriors/Rose Hall Centre /Edinburgh, Police/ Bermine, Blairmont/West Berbice and Bush Lot/ D’Edward.

The Board said that

The winner of games one and two will play in the first semi-final while the winner of games three and four play the other semi-final.

Many gate prizes will be up for grabs for fans, with a well-stocked bar and musical entertainment.

To promote the game, 15 passes each will be given to eight schools in the Lower Corentyne area. Entrance is $300 for adults, children under 12 free.

YBG launches NSBF in grand fashion – Roopnaraine declares event open

By TreisTon Joseph

outh Basketball

YGuyana (YBG) launched its 10th edition of the National School Basketball Festival (NSBF) on Sunday with an impressive opening ceremony at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH).

After a colourful march past featuring all of the teams in the one-week tournament, YBG CoDirector Chris Bowman made it known that the main purpose of the organisation and, by extension the NSBF, was to “build rounded student athletes”. Bowman, who noted

that “development” was the main focus, recognised his main sponsors: Digicel, Beharry Group of Companies and Banks DIH for their roles in keeping the programme alive, and pledged to work along with the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) in order to improve the sport.

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, who declared the event open, stated that all “monies that will be spent on sport will first and foremost be for the athletes”.

Roopnaraine congratulated the YBG for an excellent job and pledged to

work along with the organisation. He said he intended on improving the level of sports, since he believed there has been a “decline” across the country.

Further, the newly-installed Education Minister noted that his administration would actively work to ensure that students were not just academically inclined but well rounded in other areas such as sports and music.

In his closing remarks before declaring the event open, Roopnaraine urged the athletes to engage in “fierce” but “fair” competition.

Hero CPL All-Star charity game raises US $10,000 for education charity in St Kitts and Nevis

The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has announced that the All-Star charity cricket match, which featured greats of the game like Sir Viv Richards and Brian Lara alongside celebrities, politicians and upcoming CPL players, raised $10,000 (US) for the St Kitts-Nevis National Education Foundation (SKNNEF).

SKNNEF is a non-profit organization that seeks to provide deserving disadvantaged students with an opportunity to receive an excellent education. The Foundation’s goal is to award 30 scholarships to disadvantaged students in the Federation and today’s donation will make a vital impact in helping them reach that goal.

The match took place at Warner Park, St Kitts on Thursday, July 2nd between the Prime Minister

of St Kitts and Nevis XI and Sir Vivian Richards XIproving a huge success with fans and players alike. The many memorable moments from the evening included, Manchester United legend, Dwight York dismissing record breaking batsman (and his close friend) Brian Lara, along with Sir Viv Richards walking out to bat in front of an electrified crowd.

The match marked the pinnacle of an exhilarating two weeks in St. Kitts and Nevis, with Warner Park hosting ten Hero CPL matches from 30th June11th July. The game boasted a stellar list of all-star names, including former English fast-bowler Darren Gough; Indian spin legend, Murali Kartik; former West Indies batsman, Daren Ganga; Ashes winning Australian, Damian Martyn; former New Zealand cricketer and sports commentator, Danny

Morrison and his fellow commentator and former West Indies paceman, Ian Bishop. These legends were joined by three current CPL coaches; Simon Helmot and Stuart Williams, alongside one of the best West Indies women’s cricketers in the region, Stafanie Taylor.

Damien O’Donohoe, CEO of the Hero Caribbean Premier League commented; “The night proved a massive success - bringing fans, players, legends and supporters together to enjoy the Biggest Party in Sport while raising money for this fantastic cause. We were joined by some great names from the worlds of cricket and entertainment who made it an unforgettable evening. I’d like to thank everyone who took part for their support and I’m proud that the money raised will have an impact on changing lives for young people in St Kitts and Nevis.” (CPL Release)