Guyana Times Daily - October 1, 2015

thursday, october 1, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Sod turned for reconstruction of Umana Yana

– to be completed in six months

The reconstruction of the Umana Yana is expected to be completed within the next six months. This is according to Minister within the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, Valerie GarridoLowe.

On Wednesday, the Minister made the announcement at the sod-turning ceremony for the reconstruction of the heritage site. The sod was turned by Toshaos Lennox Shuman and John Derrick at the High Street, Kingston location.

Speaking at the event, Minister Garrido-Lowe said that it was a significant occasion to mark the ending of Indigenous Heritage Month.

“It was historic in 1972 when the Umana Yana, 55 feet in height, was built for a visiting foreign delegation as a conference centre and it was a total disaster and a sad day in 2014 Heritage Month, the ninth of September, that this

building was burnt down… due to electrical problems,” Garrido-Lowe said. She added that the rebuilding of the Umana Yana was a reminder that the nine indigenous nations were the first peoples of Guyana.

She added that the first Umana Yana was built without nails by the Wai-Wai na-

tion, adding that “once again the Wai-Wais will be constructing the new Umana Yana, supported by the village of Moraikobai and the people of St Cuthbert’s who will be providing the materials.”

She expressed her appreciation for Education Minister, Dr Rupert

Roopnaraine whom she revealed designed the new building.

Public Infrastructure

Minister David Patterson also made some brief remarks, emphasising how pleased he was that the Ministry would be playing a part in the reconstruction of one of Guyana’s most re-

vered monuments. He revealed that the reconstruction project was budgeted to cost $60.7 million and would be a joint initiative between the Public Infrastructure Ministry and the indigenous people. He also revealed that the Public Infrastructure Ministry would be involved in the construction of the building’s foundation, stating “we are expecting to raise the foundation by 12 inches above the existing one so that it can withstand all the elements. $9.2 million of the $60 million will be tendered, and that will start very shortly, for the foundation”.

He added that the villages of Moraikobai and St Cuthbert’s Mission would be providing the leaves for the construction of the roof, revealing that $16 million was budgeted for the installation of solar panels to provide the structure with power. He further revealed that the master builder would be Collin Andrews, of the WaiWai people, who he called on to ensure that the Umana Yana was completed in a timely manner. “We expect it to be complete by the end of the first quarter of 2016, in six months’ time…well in time for our independence

anniversary,” he said in closing his presentation. Also present at the event was Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes, who stated that the Umana Yana played an important role in Guyana’s history and heritage. “Myself, along with most Guyanese, felt the tremendous loss when this historic building went up in flames. A lot of visitors to Guyana that I had the pleasure of showing around, for them…this was a regular path,” she reflected. “Today is really a celebration; it is a celebration that we are going to put back that very, very important landmark in our city. It is important that it is rebuilt in the same manner, by the same experts,” she stated. The iconic benab was completely destroyed on September 9, 2014 when a fire of unknown origin swept through the structure, reducing one of Georgetown’s most prestigious landmarks to mere ashes. The Umana Yana was erected for the Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers Conference in Georgetown. Thereafter, it served as a VIP Lounge and recreation centre, and was in constant use as an exhibition and conference centre.

driving – granted $40,000 bail

Member of Parliament Dharamkumar

Seeraj was

Wednesday placed on $40,000 bail after appearing before Magistrate Rhondel Weaver at the Fort Wellington Magistrate’s Court on a dangerous driving charge.

It is alleged that on Thursday, September 17, at Bath, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (MahaicaBerbice) on the Public Road, he drove motor pickup PMM 5895 in a manner dangerous to the public.

The court was told that the Member of Parliament was in the process of overtaking a vehicle, when he collided with another vehicle, lost control and crashed into an abandoned truck parked on the road. Seeraj was at the time travelling from Bath, East Canje, Berbice for a meeting when the accident occurred.

Seeraj, of Lot 17 B Eccles, East Bank Demerara, who is being represented by another parliamentarian, Priya Manickchand, plead-

ed not guilty to the charge. Manickchand, in a bail application, said the defendant was a responsible citizen of the country and would not skip court hearings. She argued that Seeraj has been cooperating with the Police, and was the one who reported the accident to law enforcement officers and assisted with transporting them to the scene. Manickchand also made an application for the results of a breathalyser test carried out on the defendant, but the court could not provide it.

Attorney Manickchand said the defendant has been serving as the General Secretary of the Rice Producers Association and has a fixed place of abode, is married to a stable woman like most “of us” and is a father of two adult children. She asked for bail to be in a reasonable sum. The prosecution did not object to bail which was granted in the sum of $40,000. Seeraj will have to return to court on October 29. Parliamentarian charged

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Thursday, October 1 – 05:00h-06:30h

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

Thursday, October 1 – 06:30h-08:00h and Friday, October 2 – 07:20h-08:50h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Jelante Pharmacy tax drama

Mayor Green wants wife’s $10.2M tax payment reimbursed

– conflict of interest, subversion of rule of law feared – Glenn Lall, Chris Ram continue to owe millions

sisted that the owner of the property must be “compensated” for monies which the previous Town Clerk Carol Sooba “extracted in violation of a Council’s decision”. According to Green, the “injustice” must be corrected.

Low Tide: 00:03h and 12:20h reaching minimum heights of 0.30 metre and 0.51 metre respectively. Winds:

High Tide: 06:30h and 18:45h reaching maximum heights of 2.78 metres and 2.79

parking chaos and controversy at the level of the City Council, Mayor Hamilton Green appears to be abusing his power in a clear “conflict of interest” manner to influence the Council to reimburse the $10 million in backdated taxes his wife Jennifer Basdeo-Green was mandated by law to pay for her property Jelante Pharmacy on Mandela Avenue and Jamoon Drive.

According to the minutes of the Statutory Meeting of the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown, which was held on Monday, Mayor Green in-

Observers contended that not only is his directive a reflection of a conflict of interest, it represents a serious case of abuse of power and it is outright ultra vires and illegal.

If this motion is approved by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, a series of unfortunate events could ensue where the Rule of Law will ultimately be undermined and the image will be portrayed that any government official can be exempt from facing the full force of the law.

An approval of this motion could also set the tone for the outcome of the pending tax evasion cases of Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram and Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall where they too could be exempt from the penalties of the law for the millions of dollars they owe altogether to the City Council.

Last year, when reports surfaced that the Mayor’s wife had owed the municipality millions of dollars in taxes, Green had initially denied this allegation. Continuously, the Mayor had bitterly complained that Town Clerk Sooba was deliberately attacking him and his family.

Thereafter, reports surfaced that Mayor Green was seeking to write-off the debt which he finally admitted was owed by his wife. Based on reports, after Sooba refused to write off the debt, it was then the Mayor increased his calls for her to demit office. Then, finally in November, his wife paid off the full $10.2 million she owed the City Council in rates and taxes. At the time, Sooba had noted that the Mayor’s wife had set the pace for the other tax evaders including Lall and Ram to follow. One of the first acts of the new Government was to boot Sooba from office. Ram is indebted to the Council for $11.3 million for properties on Waterloo Street, Georgetown, while Lall and his wife owe millions in taxes for a Lot 24 Saffon Street, Georgetown property.

After the Council sued the abovementioned persons, the matter was taken to court, but to date a settlement was yet to be reached.

Man intercepted with 12kg of marijuana in Berbice

Police on Wednesday busted a man with 12 kilograms of marijuana in his motorcar along the West Coast Berbice (WCB) public road.

According to information reaching Guyana Times, at about 00:10h on Wednesday, ranks on Police patrol conducted a search on a motor vehicle at Ross Public Road, West Coast Berbice and discovered the stash in several black plastic bags. The man is expected to be charged shortly.

Only recently, a party of Policemen on mobile patrol conducted a search on a minibus at Rosignol, WCB, and unearthed 1.510 kg of

marijuana. At the time of the operation, the six occupants of the minibus, including the driver, were arrested and subsequently charged.

According to information received, the driver claimed he was hired to transport the men to a location on the West Coast of Berbice. The Police in B Division (Berbice) have declared “war” on the illegal drug trade, which has been dominant in the Berbice and Canje Rivers.

To date, several marijuana fields have been destroyed along the Canje and Berbice Rivers, but the real drug dealers have managed to evade law enforcement.

In August, member of

the Police Narcotics Branch and ranks of B Division (Berbice) destroyed about 300,000 marijuana plants at Hendrax, Berbice River.

The ranks were conducting a drug eradication exercise in the area, during which four fields measuring about 20 acres, with marijuana plants cultivated between one and eight feet in height, were discovered.

Along with the 20 acres, another 880 pounds of dried marijuana and 13 nurseries were destroyed. In addition, six camps were also burnt.

Views

Editor(ag): Michael Younge

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

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

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

Editorial

For a just and final settlement

The speeches of Heads of States, especially those from the smaller States, at the annual UN General Assembly are frequently pro-forma and elicit little interest in the wider world. President David Granger's 2015 presentation, in which he focused on "The security of small States in the international system" in general and the security of Guyana amidst threats from Venezuela, however, might just prove to be the exception to an unwritten rule.

After the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon had arranged for the President of Guyana to meet on the sidelines with his Venezuelan counterpart President Maduro, most observers assumed that further developments on moving the process forward on the border controversy precipitated by Venezuela would await the team from the UN that was assigned to visit Venezuela and Guyana. President Granger, however, had other ideas.

He utilised the opportunity presented to make a powerful appeal for support for Guyana's case by aligning its cause with firstly the mission of the UN itself, and secondly, the specific role of the latter to protect small States such as Guyana in the international arena. In the reference to the UN, the President reminded his audience that the institution was founded in the direct aftermath of WWII and was overtly dedicated to the mission of having nations settling their disputes through peaceful means rather than violence.

While President Granger did not explicitly quote it, he was referring to Art 33 of the UN Charter: (1) "The parties to any dispute, the continuance of which is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security, shall, first of all, seek a solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice.

(2) The Security Council shall, when it deems necessary, call upon the parties to settle their dispute by such means."

Mr Granger then proceeded to quote from the United Nations General Assembly Resolution (A/RES/49/31) which was adopted on May 9th 1994 and which explicitly outlined the responsibility of the UN to protect small States against the depredations of larger states. Buttressed by this institutional justification for the intervention of the UN to resolve the controversy on the Essequibo border, the President than gave the background of the series of Venezuelan aggressive actions, starting in 1968 and continuing into this year, against Guyana to press its claim that the "full and final" arbitration award of 1899, was "null and void".

Against the foregoing, the question has to be asked as to what exactly are the Terms of Reference of the Commission the UN Secretary has dispatched to the Governments of Guyana and Venezuela. Those ToR's cannot be outside the ambit of the menu of measures in Article 33. Since President Granger has unambiguously reiterated that Guyana is looking towards a judicial settlement so that the Venezuelan albatross can be removed once and for all times from its neck, there is nothing that add to that request.

However in the absence of a clear mandate, there have been some reports that the team is coming down to "mediate" between Guyana and Venezuela. Some have insisted that it is an "inquiry" into the facts of the controversy. It is our considered judgement that after almost fifty years, there are not any facts that have not been aired. As for a possible "settlement", with our stand since the Geneva Agreement of 1966 being that the Arbitral Award of 1899 is "full and final" and not to be the subject of any discussion, the only option would be for Venezuela to produce new evidence that the Award was null and void due to fraud. Venezuela has been unable to do so up to now and nothing has changed in the last few days.

Guyana must continue to stand firm and continue its diplomatic initiatives.

Granger’s and Dev’s “unity”

Dear Editor, I noticed President David Granger addressing the UN attired in a dark Nehru style jacket and I

was impressed by its similarity to the style popularised by former ROAR MP Ravi Dev.

Such unity in sartorial

elegance might be the best starting point for meaningful dialogue.

After all, as a nation we have tried just about ev-

erything else.

Sincerely, Shanie Jagessar

GRDB Extension Officers in Anna Regina allegedly not committed to rice farmers

Dear Editor,

As a former rice extension officer and farmer of Region Two, it was brought to my attention that the young extension officers at the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Anna Regina branch, are not visiting the farmers’ field to examine the bug population and the high infestation. Inside sources told me that these officers are imbibing alcohol during working hours in the company’s boardroom and farmers claimed that when they visit the office there are no extension officers at the front desk to received their complaints and act on it.

In my tenure there were 6 extension officers, monitoring the region’s rice industry: 3 from the GRDB and 3 from the RPA. In the morning we would report for duty at the branch office and occupy our desks which is located in an open space where the farmers can meet with us and discuss their problems and book their seed paddy from Burma research station. Our duty was to listen to farmers’ complaints and record it in our diary and the office log

book. In the afternoon we would then visit the field with the farmers and have a firsthand look the problems .We would then advice the farmers what preventative measure to use.

We would report the problems to our respective head office and the research department if we couldn’t solve it. This would result in a team from the Burma research station then visiting the Region. We would then go into the affected plots with the rice farmers and walk inside the crop to determine the cause, then advice the farmers which drugs to use to eradicate the disease .We would continue follow up visits to the fields every now and then and report it back to the research division if there is any improvement or deterioration of the plot .Each extension officer was designated with a certain district of thousands of acreages to monitor and compile a monthly report which we would then forward to our head office.

The only time the staff would use the GRDB boardroom, would be for our monthly meetings or if there were grading courses for

millers which usually were conducted by personnel from the quality control department from Georgetown or Burma research station. Every week we would prepare a worksheet with work done during the week, then submit that report to our respective organisations. This was our routine activity as extension rice officers. RPA officers would also visit contracted farmers’ seed plots and visit farm schools in different parts of the region. A weekly meeting would be held with the farmers informing them how to cut costs through improved production. When the crop would have reached 70 days, started to flower and was at the milking stage, we would go into the fields to conduct a bug sweep with a net.

The amount of bugs caught inside the net would be recorded and an estimate of the bug population as well as an analysis of the impact it could have on crops would be done. The farmers would then be advised on how much drugs and mist spray they should use on their plots. When the plot is ripe, a round circular iron instrument would

be tossed at random in the field, following which we would inspect the plant population and ripe grains on each stalk. This gave us an idea whether the seeds used to broadcast in the field were too much or not. The farmers were then advised on how much pounds of seed paddy to use in their fields. Today extension officers are allegedly not conducting these tasks. The rice industry is in a serious crisis and needs dedicated officers to guide the farmers. If the industry fails, all Guyana will suffer. The Government has been subsidising the millers and farmers to keep the industry afloat but already farmers are indicating that they will not go back to the land if the situation remains where they cannot make a profit. This allegation needs to be investigated by the general manager of the board. We cannot allow the industry to falter or all Guyana will suffer. There should be a concerted effort from all stakeholders to halt such a situation.

Sincerely, Mohamed Khan

Political vengeance against the PPP/C will not succeed

Dear Editor,

What is the State Assets Recovery Unit (SARU) business about besides wasting time and tax payers’ money and political gimmickry by the APNU/AFC Government.

SARU seems to have been created to politically target members of the former Peoples Progressive Party (PPP) Government and perceived supporters and affiliates in this socalled State assets recovery exercise which is dying before it actually begins. If SARU is being implemented it would definitely become a boomerang and instead expose PNC, APNU

and AFC’s Party hacks. Is this the basic reason why Dr Clive Thomas the Head of SARU, said that the unit cannot function due to the lack of necessary legislation? Notwithstanding Dr Thomas’s excuse for SARU being currently defunct it just shows the lack of logical reasoning by the APNU/AFC Government in their spiteful political vengeance against the PPP/C which will definitely not succeed and will be channeled into the cesspit of history.

Yours faithfully, Victor Jarvis

Former Tain residents hold Cultural Sangam and Recognition Dinner in NY

Dear Editor, Bronx Vishnu Mandir was the venue for the Tain Clifton & Johns SEVA Foundation’s 3rd Annual Reunion and Recognition Dinner last Saturday. The event entailed a congregational Hawan and Cultural Sangam followed by the award ceremony and dinner.

The Foundation is a social outreach organisation comprising of former members of the Tain Hindu Mandir and the Tain Hindu Youth Organisation located in Berbice, Guyana, currently residing in the U.S.

It is committed to providing children and families much needed assistance in areas of re -

New REOs working outside public service rules?

Dear Editor, The newly appointed Regional Executive Officers seem to be working outside of the Public Service Rules, Fiscal Management and Accountability Act as well as the Procurement Act.

Regional Executive Officers have been appointed to the various regions without any induction to the Regional systems and the ways in which the Regional systems are functioning. All the recent appointed Regional Executive Officers were involved more in’’ political work’’, than administrative work.

The Regional systems are different from a Ministry. The region deals with different programs and activities, while a Ministry carries out one program. As such, REOs’

will have to have the necessary skills and experience to ensure that those programs are carried out effectively and efficiently in keeping with the Laws of Guyana.

It is important for the Communities Ministry to act very quickly to organise an induction workshop for the newly appointed Regional Executive Officers. The Communities Ministry can partner with the Finance Ministry and the Ministry of Presidency. Both Ministries have experienced persons to guide the new REOs. The Finance Ministry Acting Secretary, is well rounded in public financial process.

The public service offers service to the public in a Bureaucratic structure. Firstly, it is hierarchical,

which means there are clearly ordered levels of management, where lower levels are subordinate, or answerable, to higher levels. Second, the public service is governed by a set of objective laws, rules and procedures as the basis of authority and direction. It is important that the REO become acquainted with these processes.

Induction training for the new REOs will help them to understand their roles and responsibility as Accounting Officers for a Budget Agency. It will also help them to understand the functional systems of the Public Service and its standard operating procedures.

Concerned staff Ministry of Finance

ligious, social, educational, and recreational activities; it also provides targeted support to enhance social mobility for deserving peoples of all races and class, while partnering with other similar groups to achieve its objectives.

The Foundation is approved as a 501(c) (3) Charitable Organisation by the IRS and enjoys full recognition as a charity with Full Tax Exemption Status. All donations made to this Foundation are tax deductible which can be deducted on one’s personal income taxes.

In its short three years of existence, the Foundation raised through donations, approximately $25,000 and donated it to needy individuals and institutions in Tain, Nepal and the Philippines for relief work. Among contributions are: food hampers for seniors in the TCJ community, text and children books, grass cutters, microphones, cricket gear, 200 water guns and 200 bottles of powder for Phagwah at Tain Mandir. It also built a bicycle rack and security hut for the Tain Primary School, sponsored a holiday get together, helped in the construction of a storage facility for the Tain New Scheme Block 4 cricket club, co-sponsored the 2014 Diwali Program and sponsored Parents Day for the seniors at the Hindu Charities Inc. Additionally, it assisted in the relief efforts in the Philippines and

Nepal through the Seva International, continuously sending clothing for the needy in the community of Tain Clifton and Johns while assisting with the funding of the Saraswati Vidya Niketan Science Lab in West Demerara. The Foundation also donated wheel chairs to Port Mourant Community Hospital and helped several individuals with medical expenses in the community.

The historic 3rd Reunion organised by the TCJ Foundation commenced with a congregational Hawan led by youngsters. It was followed by a cultural Sangam showcasing the talents of its members and others in the singing of Bhajans, Kirtans, cultural Songs, classical dance, poetry, humor, drama, fun item and meaningful messages delivered by prominent individuals.

I was invited as the Chief Guest and was delighted to be present at the Vishnu Mandir for the first time and applauded the group for its impressive achievements. I committed to support the group and spoke on behalf of the SEVA I have engaged in.

A special guest in the dignified presence of Sri Gopichand Sanduja of New Delhi graced the event and delivered a short message in classical Hindi that was translated by Pandit Beesram. Gopichand remarked how impressed he is with

the cultural and religious retention of IndoCaribbeans. He was particularly impressed with the singing of classical religious and Bollywood songs noting they were sung just like Rafi, Kishore, Lata and other singing icons of India.

A special feature of the reunion was the presentation of a long service Award of Recognition and Appreciation, given to Pandit Jagat Persaud, a well-known and well-loved indefatigable SEVAK who hails from Ankerville, Port Mourant. Pt. Beesram noted that Jagat’s selfless contributions towards the advancement of dharma both in Guyana and the USA are “commendable and admirable”.

Following the three hours long program, attendees were treated to a sumptuous dinner.

The TCJ Seva Foundation invites members of the public to get involved in this great outreach work for it is convinced that, as declared by Bhagwan Sri Satya Sai Baba, Gram Seva is Ishawar Seva, meaning that service to humanity is service to God.

The TCJ Seva Foundation, according to its current chairman Bhai Devendra Nauth Sewdat (Krisho), has a group of very committed and professional volunteers. The Foundation takes pride in its transparency and accountability.

Sincerely, Vishnu Bisram

Page Foundation

By Michael Godsey

hen Susan Cain

Wpublished Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking nearly four years ago, it was immediately met with acclaim. The book criticises schools and other key institutions for primarily accommodating extroverts and such individuals’ “need for lots of stimulation.” Much to introverts’ relief, it also seeks to raise awareness about the personality type, particularly among those who’ve struggled to understand it.

It seems that such efforts have, for the most part, struggled to effect much change in the educational world. The way in which certain instructional trends – education buzzwords like “collaborative learning” and “project-based learning” and “flipped classrooms” – are applied often neglect the needs of introverts. In fact, these trends could mean that classroom environments that embrace extroverted behavior –through dynamic and social learning activities – are being promoted now more than ever. These can be appealing qualities in the classroom, of course, but overemphasising them can undermine the learning of students who are inward-thinking and easily drained by constant interactions with others.

The University of Chicago library announced that in response to “increased demand,” librarians are working with architects to trans-

form a presumably quiet reading room into a “vibrant laboratory of interactive learning.” One writer on Top Hat, a popular online resource for educators, argued in a post last month that “cooperative learning strategies harness the greatest part of human evolutionary behaviour: sociality.” And earlier this month, Cal State University, Dominguez Hills, promoted their installation of “active learning classrooms” with “multiple desk formations” in which “Professors must change their mindsets” because “the lectures should be designed to learn by doing.” Hamoud Salhi, a Professor and acting Associate Dean, explains, “This project is not just about changing the classroom environment; it is also about changing how instructors approach teaching.”

Meanwhile, some advocates for “active learning classrooms” write about “breaking students and fac-

Introverts

“feel at their most alive and their most switched-on when they’re in quieter, low-key environments.”

ulty out of their comfort zones” like it’s a good thing, and other teachers continue to conflate introversion and an inability to self-advocate. Dartmouth’s Institute for Writing and Rhetoric advertises a pedagogy that “seeks to overhaul the model of education” and challenges students to “forego passivity in favour of contribution and participation... students must overcome isolation in order to learn to write.” And Liz Sproat, head of Google for Education – an organisation that doesn’t see a profit

when students simply read quietly and think introspectively – situates “the increase in collaborative working” as an agreed-upon premise in an article on ComputerWeek. com, one that Google can make more “cost-effective.”

This growing emphasis in classrooms on group projects and other interactive arrangements can be challenging for introverted students who tend to perform better when they’re working independently and in more subdued environments. Comprising anywhere from one third to about half of the population, introverts sometimes appear shy, depressed, or antisocial, when that’s not always the case. As Susan Cain put it in her famous TED Talk, introverts simply “feel at their most alive and their most switched-on and their most capable when they’re in quieter, more lowkey environments.” I started reflecting on this recently after observing classes at a public high school in California. (I teach English at a different public high school and visited the school as a professional-development activity.) All but four of the 26 teachers I witnessed had their students arranged in groups or with partners. Such formations aren’t necessarily irreconcilable with the needs of introverts, but these arrangements can inherently enable noisy, distracting conditions that make learning particularly difficult for certain students. (The Atlantic) TO BE CONTINUED

By MarGaret siMMs

“Nosingle factor is more important in the life of a child than the love and support of caring, committed adults.” – My Brother’s Keeper Task Force Report to the President, p7.

On Father’s Day, the role of fathers is even more in the spotlight, largely because of the recent release of the report from President Obama’s task force and a near-concurrent publication from a group of foundation executives called “A Time for Action: Mobilizing Philanthropic Support for Boys and Young Men of Colour.”

Two-thirds of black children and one-third of Hispanic children are growing up in households without a father living with them. However, the fact that a father does not live with his children doesn’t mean he is completely absent from their lives – or that he wants to be absent from their lives. In fact, over 60 per cent of lowincome dads report seeing at least one of their children daily.

Researchers who have been looking at this issue and talking with mostly young noncustodial fathers find that generally, men want to be a part of their children’s lives. ‘In Doing the Best I Can’, Kathy Edin

recounts many stories of fathers who think that having a child is a blessing and supporting their children both financially and emotionally is something they really want to do.

Similar sentiments come through in other studies as well. Recently, some of my Urban Institute colleagues met with young men involved in a fatherhood programme. When asked why he was trying to be a better parent, one young man expressed a feeling that most of the group shared: “We didn’t have a father, and we don’t want to see our children go through that, too.”

Going beyond learning from their father’s mistakes

But often these young men don’t have the resources or knowledge about how to be the best fathers – how to earn enough to provide financially, how to be emotionally and developmentally supportive of their children, and how to make their relationship with their child’s mother work to the benefit of the child. Instead of letting them “learn from their father’s mistakes,” as some of them are trying to do, they could benefit from more structured support from the community and the Government.

There are many fatherhood programmes designed to help noncustodial fathers get job training and develop co-parenting and parenting skills. If programmes like these are effective, they will help these men become a more positive force in their children’s lives.

Fatherhood behind bars

Being a good father is more challenging for fathers who are in jails or prisons. One of every nine black children, one of every 28 Hispanic children, and one of every 57 white children has an incarcerated parent. Often, these parents are incarcerated a long way from home, and it is difficult to build or maintain bonds during this time, making it nearly impossible to resume a healthy parentchild relationship once they come home.

The federal task force behind My Brother’s Keeper recommends several steps prisons can take to help incarcerated parents build their parenting skills and stay connected to their children. If these programmes can help noncustodial fathers be a positive force in their children’s lives, Father’s Day will be a happy one for mothers, sons, and daughters, as well as newly empowered fathers. And it will make every day a better one for families as well.

(www.urban.org)

Diversion of Specialty Hospital funds

Indian High Commissioner still awaiting new project proposal

Some two months after the Government of Guyana was told by the Indian Government that they would have to submit a new proposal for the primary health care improvement project, which will use the funds from the Specialty Hospital Project, the Indian High Commissioner to Guyana Venkatachalam Mahalingham has said he is yet to receive the proposal from Government.

Speaking to Guyana Times on Wednesday, the Indian High Commissioner stated that he has had previous talks with the Government on the matter but there has been no update as of lately.

Meanwhile, in an interview about two weeks ago, Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton told this newspaper that Government was able to acquire the approval of the Indian Government to divert some US$14 million from the Specialty Hospital Project into primary health care. This will see modernisation and rehabilitation works being done at three major secondary hospitals in the sector – the Bartica Hosptial, the West Demerara Regional Hospital and the Suddie Public Hospital.

However, before the work can commence, Government was informed that they need to design a project propos-

tion had announced that it will be scrapping the Specialty Hospital project initiated by the previous Administration and divert the remaining US$14 million into the primary healthcare sector.

However, the Indian Government had objected to the redirection of the funds approved for the construction of a Specialty Hospital, insisting that the new Administration would have to request a new line of credit to carry out those plans.

al to be submitted to the Indian Exim (Export-Import) Bank for the funds to be redirected into this new project. According Dr Norton, Government has since appointed consultants to conduct a study and an evaluation of the three projects.

“We have started this and as soon as this process is completed, we will present the information to the Indian Government,” Minster Norton stated. The Public Health Minister pointed out that he cannot say when this process is expected to be completed but noted that the proposal will be presented to the Indian Government early next year.

Back in June, the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coali-

Finance Minister Winston Jordan had previously explained to this newspaper that they were informed by Indian High Commissioner that the approach the Government of Guyana had taken was against the rules and procedures of the Exim Bank of India.

“He (Mahalingham) said that we cannot use the funds from the Specialty Hospital Project for any other projects than what it was intended for, even if the project is in the same health sector. So now we have to close that line of credit and make a request for a new one to fund the primary health care improvements, which is of priority for us,” the Finance Minister had stated.

Meanwhile, High Commissioner Mahalingham had previously indicated to the Guyana Times on several

Education CoI Commissioners still to be selected

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine on Wednesday stated that he was now in the process of selecting the panel to lead the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Education Sector.

He was at the time responding to questions posed by Guyana Times on the probe. The Minister said that he was anxious to have the process started as soon as possible.

“At the moment we are identifying people to be on it (the Commission). Over the past three or four days, we have made contact with most of the people we have identified and we should get it going very soon,” Dr Roopnaraine stated.

According to the Minister, he would like to see the probe commencing in two weeks’ time.

In July, Minister Roopnaraine had announced that he was establishing a probe into the operations of the education system. The Commission is mandated to investigate and hold hearings across the country on the state of the sector, and provide a report outlining recommendations for the enhancement of education delivery.

Dr Roopnaraine said as the new Minister, he needed to know more about what had happened to an education system that was once the pride

of the Caribbean and further afield. He explained that he was – by no means – trying to say that the system has collapsed and was not wellequipped with experts, a cadre of dedicated teachers, and willing students.

Meanwhile last month, the Education Minister had stated that the findings from the Inquiry would be used to design an effective education reform process. He had pointed out that the CoI into the Education Sector would give parents, students and other stakeholders countrywide the opportunity to make contributions to the reform process.

Dr Roopnaraine had stated that the education reform process cannot be designed out of ideas but needed experienced and evidence, which

would be gathered through the Inquiry. “We can’t design an educational reform process out of our heads. That’s something, I think, that really has to be based on the experience of people and the evidence that the Commission of Inquiry gets,” he stated.

However, the Minister pointed out that the Commission did not have a narrow focus. Dr Roopnaraine reiterated his dissatisfaction with the fact that the schools and classrooms were almost exclusively devoted to academic instruction, noting that he wanted to see far more rounded education in the schools.

“So, all of this will encompass the Inquiry. To what extent we believe that bringing music back into the school will produce a more rounded child? To what extent we believe that enhancing physical education and encouraging sports is going to result in a better educated person,” he pointed out.

Moreover, the Education Minister stated that the reform would not happen overnight but needed time to be implemented and enforced. “Based on everything we hear in the Commission, based on the audit findings we have on our desks, based on all of these things, we will be able to design an education reform process in the key areas that need to be addressed,” he stated.

occasions that the funds are available for Guyana, noting that his Government is just awaiting the new project proposal from Guyana to fulfil the necessary procedure before releasing the funds.

The previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration had entered into an agreement with the Indian Government to construct the Specialty Hospital, with a line of credit granted by India to the tune of US$18 million. Some US$4 million has been already expended on certain preliminary works.

According to Jordon, Government will also have to move to close this US$18 million loan, which means that the US$14 million will be returned to the Indian

Government and Guyana will only have a debt of US$4 million.

The Special Hospital was aimed at catering for complicated surgeries, ranging from heart operations, organ transplants to cosmetic surgeries. The PPP/C Administration had conceptualised project as the opening venture into “medical tourism” which is now a multibillion industry, that caters to patients from the high cost developed world hospitals. In 2012, the contract was awarded to India-based company Surendra Engineering Corporation Limited, who was tasked with designing and building the controversial facility.

The current Administration which was on the Opposition side of the House during the 10th Parliament, had heavily criticised the project. The now Vice President and National Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, but then leader of the Alliance For Change had represented a competing firm Fedders-Lloys in their bid to secure the contract. The PPP had brought to the notice of Parliament the clear conflict of interest but the matter was not entertained by the privileges committee in the Oppositioncontrolled house.

The coalition had even

cut the $1.25 billion that was budgeted for the hospital in 2013. The PPP/C had only escaped with $34.4 million as supplementary funding for the hospital in the 10th Parliament only by the absence of the coalition’s Member of Parliament (MP) Volda Lawrence when a vote had been taken for the funds.

However, citing instances of alleged fraud and delays, the Donald Ramotar Administration last year announced that it had terminated the contract of the India-based company and subsequently filed a lawsuit against it for failing to honour its obligations. Government is yet to recover close to $1 billion from the company.

As against the medical tourism rationale, However, the new coalition Government said with the current state of affairs in the health sector, it is better that the construction of hospital be put on the backburner.

“The current thinking is that the monies being spent on the Specialty Hospital are better spent on the primary health care system. We have hospitals that are in need of funding including at the West Demerara Regional hospital and the hospital at Mabaruma also,” Minister of State Joseph Harmon has stated.

thursday, october 1, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Alberttown man remanded on firearm charges

A23-year-old man was on Wednesday remanded to prison after he appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with the unlawful possession of firearm and ammunition.

Daren John of Lot 141 First Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which alleged that on September 28, at the Brickdam Police Station, he had in his possession one .38 revolver with six matching live rounds of ammunition, four 9mm rounds, and two .32 rounds without being the holder of a firearm licence.

According to the particulars presented by

Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones, the father of one was driving along Thomas Street, Georgetown when he was stopped by a traffic rank to conduct a breathalyser test. The traffic rank noticed an object in the accused waist. He further explained that the accused realising that the Police noticed the gun, ran back to his car and drove away. This resulted in traffic ranks contacting their counterparts on patrol and the vehicle was subsequently intercepted and taken to the Brickdam Police Station where the illegal cache was unearthed in his car.

In court on Wednesday, Prosecutor Jones objected to bail citing the gravity and nature of the

charge; as such, the accused was remanded to prison and will make another court appearance on October 12.

Only recently, two men were arrested following the discovery of a large cache of arms during a raid at Black Water, Mahdia Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

The men, who were subsequently charged, were stopped at a road block along the Black Water Trail when fourteen 12 gauge shotgun cartridges, seventy six .38 rounds, one hundred .9mm rounds and 150 .32 rounds of ammunition, were discovered in their possession. The ammunition was found in bags the miners had in their possession. During the court proceedings, the men claimed

that they were heading to the Bartica Police Station to hand in the weapons and ammunition as part of the gun amnesty programme implemented by the Public Security Ministry. They were placed on self bail and the matter was transferred to the Bartica Magistrate’s Court.

In the last few years, an increasing number of serious crimes including murder and robbery have been executed by armed persons. The National Security Ministry has instituted an amnesty programme designed to have illegal weapons and ammunition turned in, but the response has been disappointing. That amnesty has been extended to October 14.

Man accused of stealing from cousin

Aman was on Wednesday placed on $70,000 bail by Magistrate Ann McLennan after he appeared before her in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with stealing from his cousin.

Collin Klass of South Ruimveldt, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that between September 27 and 28 at South Ruimveldt, he stole five pairs of sneakers, an electronic curling iron, one chair and five pairs of sandals from Althea Squire, his cousin. He was also charged for stealing a digital camera property of Wallace McKay. The items value $191,000. When the charge was read, Klass pleaded not guilty. Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones told the court that both parties reside at the same house. He then requested that the accused be released on substantial bail. As such, he was granted $70,000 bail and was placed on a bond to keep the peace. The case will be called again on October 19.

Miner wanted for two murders arrested at Mowasi Backdam

Aminer who was wanted in connection to two murders, was on Wednesday morning arrested at Mowasi Backdam, Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

The suspect has been identified as Mark Atkinson, also called “Bungo”, of Red Hill Barima, North West

District (NWD). He was wanted for the murder of Jossmar Perriera Silva who was shot and killed at Mowasi Backdam on September 5. He was also wanted for the murder of Daniel Lima Lira, who was killed on September 12, at Burning Square, Kanawaruk.

At the time of his arrest,

an unlicensed .38 revolver with six matching rounds of ammunition along with 340 grams of cannabis were found in a black haversack he was carrying. He also was in possession of a motorcycle that allegedly belonged to one of the victims.

Guyana Times understands that Atkinson was

also wanted for armed robbery committed on Sean Sampson on September 17, at Burning Square, Kanawaruk Backdam. Based on reports received, Atkinson was the main suspect in the murder of Silva and the robbery committed on Sampson. Further investigations will be conducted in the case of Lira.

Eyew tness Spinning wheels...

...on job training

It's said that "new brooms sweep clean" and this new Government's been talking a lot about "job training" - even a National Service! But this Eyewitness is really concerned about all the money the Government and NGO's and foreign Governments and the private sector and the multilateral and bilateral financial institutions and everybody else and their uncle have already been spending on "Job training".

Trust this Eyewitness it adds up. The World Bank alone spent some US$9B last year on job training and when you add on all the money all the above-mentioned others throw at the "problem" you're talking about at least 3 times that number. The thing is folks look around and they see scads and scads of other folks not working. Big problem, no? We're told that in Guyana alone 40% of the youths are out of a job. SO WHAT TO DO?

Well if people aren't working then TRAIN them for jobs so they can work and get money and settle down and live happily ever after, no? Problem solved, all right. But not so quick...has anyone checked to find out if the above story is right? Fact of the matter is it's not - and a new study that your trusty Eyewitness stumbled over proves its case. Seems that with all the training going on there's very little evidence that it helps with securing jobs for the trainees or that they provide the ancillary benefit touted by these sort of problems - leaving a life of crime. It's like putting the cart before the horse: there are no jobs available for the newlytrained youths - who end up more frustrated and pissed at the world.

In Guyana, the US Embassy's been running a job training programme for young people who'd run afoul of the law (but not too seriously): "Skills and Knowledge for Youth Employment" (SKYE). This programme, operational since 2012, is trying to kill two birds with one stone: transmitting skills and moving young fellas away from crime. It recently came to attention when they stepped up to take responsibility for "training" the 40 youths President Granger had pardoned.

The question is one that not only the US Government should ask - and Obama has recently expanded the programme - but Guyana and other "beneficiaries" as well. How many of the graduates have gotten jobs and gone on to lead productive lives? If we go by the cited study, "very little" would be the answer. We date then to do this study! And for sure the spending's far out of whack with the results.

The solution? Give money to folks, that'll create jobs.

But this administration would never do that, would it!?

...on sugar

Some folks don't know to quit when they're ahead. Just yesterday we reported that Sase Sigh had kissed and made up with his ex-colleagues in the AFC. And had consequently landed a gig at the Kronic pushing a pen. Not as much money as Ramaya who'd also quit but hey!! Ramaya had fed the multitudes from Georgetown many a times when they went "over theriver": Duck curry and Dholl Puri!

Anyhow our paper was barely dry when we saw Sase Singh had transferred his pen to the Muckraker! And was carrying on at a rate about sugar. Does this mean Sase Singh had quit the STC again. Hardly! You've got to remember there's very little difference between the Kronic and The Muckraker these days. Birds of a feather will help out their soul mates.

But why sugar? Jeez!! Did you read that piece yesterday? Sugar means Skeldon and Skeldon means dumping on Jagdeo.

And there nothing Sase Singh and Mohan Lall like doing better!

...on vendors

Seems this administration's determined to exterminate vendors. Pity. Rather than "skills training", give these entrepreneurs some funds and just watch them transform Guyana.

It was done in Peru. By women. But then they won't be captive protestors!

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

PPP stands with private cane farmers

– says GuySuCo’s action will force farmers into ‘penury’

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in a strongly worded statement on Wednesday called on private sugar farmers to resist attempts by the Government to force them into penury and to reduce their economic benefits from the current crop, as it made it clear that it stood in solidarity with scores of affected farmers and thousands of families.

Currently, the private cane farmers of the Upper Corentyne are protesting for GuySuCo to waive its 30 per cent cost, which the estate takes from them, as a fee for reaping their cane, the use of punts, the transportation of cane to the factory, and for fertiliser supplied.

The PPP maintained that the private cane farmers, like rice farmers, will be forced into penury instead of being provided with badly needed assistance from Government.

“This is another example of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance

For Change [APNU/AFC] Government turning its back on another group of agricultural producers who have been producing significant amounts of both cane sugar and rice for local and overseas consumption,” the Party said in its statement on Thursday.

The Party stated too that “this retrograde step by GuySuCo is a glaring example of how, as a result of bad agricultural policies and its non-commitment to consult with stakeholders in the agricultural sector”,

farmers are bound to suffer economic hardship.

Breaching promises It argued strongly that the Government was now breaching all of the promises it made to the farmers at various agricultural forums, as nothing was being done to deal fairly and transparently with the concerns raised by those affected by the financial crisis grabbing the industry.

“The PPP is of the view that any depreciation of the economic benefits of the cane

farmers and the rice farmers must be stoutly resisted since both have been left to fend for themselves without any help from the Grangerled Administration.”

The Party reiterates its call to the Granger-led APNU/AFC Coalition to pay “close attention to the demands of the workers and farmers in the agricultural sector, since to a large extent, agriculture still remains the backbone of the economy”.

The PPP said that the struggle of the cane farmers, sugar workers and rice farmers would intensify in the months ahead as the APNU/AFC Administration continues to ride roughshod over their rights to a decent livelihood explaining that “the ‘good life which Granger spoke about during his elections campaign has once again proven to be a mere campaign slogan since Guyanese from all walks of life continue to suffer on a daily basis from the anti-working people policies of the APNU/AFC Coalition Administration”.

Argentina to assist with preserving DNA samples, computer forensics

The Government of Argentina has offered to provide training to Guyanese professionals in the area of DNA preservation practices as well as computer forensics.

This was the outcome of a meeting between Argentine Ambassador to Guyana, Luis Martino, and Public Security Minister, Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan on Wednesday at the Public Security Ministry’s Brickdam office.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the development of a cooperation project between the Governments of Guyana and

Argentina relating to security issues.

During the meeting, the Public Security Minister indicated to the Argentine Ambassador that Guyana would welcome training assistance for the staff at the Guyana National Forensic Laboratory (GNFL) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in the areas of the preservation of biological samples for DNA study and computer forensics.

In response, Ambassador Martino informed the Minister that Argentina was willing to assist Guyana in the two areas.

Nagamootoo jets off to Texas on sudden “leave”

... public not informed; speculation rife

After only four months since the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government acceded to office, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has reportedly proceeded on “leave.” Information received by this publication indicated he has left for Texas, USA.

The public was not officially informed of this decision however; Guyana Times understands that the discussion about the Prime Minister’s leave occurred before President David Granger left for the United Nations General Assembly in New York, a week ago.

Upon President Granger’s return to Guyana on Wednesday, Nagamootoo immediately left the country for Texas, where he is not known to have relatives. Details surrounding the reason for Nagamootoo’s leave were unable to be confirmed up to press time.

This newspaper was also unable to confirm whether the duration of the leave granted to the Prime Minister is indeed two weeks or whether it could be

Argentina to assist with...

Furthermore, Ramjattan also underscored that piracy has been affecting Guyana’s fishermen and he intended to strengthen the Maritime Wing of the Police Force to combat the problem. He asked the Argentine Ambassador to share with Guyana Argentina’s experience and expertise in combating piracy.

Ambassador Martino acknowledged that Argentina had much experience in the area of piracy and as such, agreed to the Vice President’s request in this area as well.

In addition, the two dignitaries further discussed Argentina’s House of Justice (HOJ) initiatives which pro-

longer. Guyana Times understand that several engagements during the next two weeks which the Prime Minister had confirmed attendance are being cancelled. This would lead to the presumption that it was something unexpected and urgent that necessitated the Prime Minister’s rushed exit from the country. Speculation is rife in the country as to these reasons.

The recent return of Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green, from Texas following medical treatments for his eyes had led to some to segue from correlation to causation. Concerns have also been raised time and time again about the manner in which public officials, and moreso Ministers of the new Government, are travelling overseas under the claim that they are travelling on “official” business. There has been talk by the Government of the country re-acquiring its own airline, which would facilitate such travel, as was frequent during the People’s National Congress regime (19641985) of Forbes Burnham.

from page 9

vide vital social services to citizens in need of such services, and the possibility of Guyana benefiting from Argentina’s assistance in the areas of best practices among others.

Minister Ramjattan went on to share his vision of having an HOJ located initially in Regions Two (PomeroonSupenaam) and Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Again, Ambassador Martino stated that he would make arrangements for an exploratory mission from Argentina to Guyana with regard to the areas of cooperation discussed between him and the Public Security Minister.

Guyana’s mining industry hazardous – Health Minister

Guyana has soaring numbers of occupational hazards in its mining sector and as such, there is need for more training and education to be done in this area. This is according to Health Minister, Dr George Norton, who was at the time addressing the 54th Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) Directing Council in Washington DC.

Dr Norton on Wednesday told the gathering of health professionals that the issue of workers’ health was another great area of concern for the Guyana Government.

“Like a number of other member states in the Region, we also have a high proportion of people employed in the informal sector; those who are exposed to hazardous working conditions and those who suffer from occupational related injuries and disease,” he stated.

Directing his focus towards mining, Dr Norton pointed out that those employed in the bauxite mining sector are exposed to high levels of air pollution which ultimately result in a high prevalence of chronic respiratory illness.

In relation to the gold

mining sector, he highlighted that countless accidental deaths were being recorded, ranging from drowning following accidents involving vessels piloted by unlicensed captains to persons being buried under loose earth as walls of excavated pits collapse. He noted that malaria was endemic in the sector and hence considered an occupational hazard. Further, Dr Norton noted that the malaria disease also affected those residing in the rainforest areas, where a majority of the population was of indigenous heritage.

Recognising these challenges, the Minister committed that the Guyana

Cove and John’s

Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) would continue to work with the relevant agencies to ensure the various mining laws were enforced and everything was done to reduce the rates of occupational hazards in the sector.

Meanwhile, the Minister also alluded to the risks within the field of agriculture which was another major source of employment for most Guyanese. He noted that the incidence of occupational injuries was extremely high among sugar cane harvesters and others in the agricultural sector.

“We have noted that in general, suicide rates

are high in Guyana but apparently higher among those working in the agricultural sector, and may be associated with greater accessibility to herbicides,” he related.

In conclusion, the Minister said the Guyana Government would continue to ensure workers’ safety was a high priority and would, therefore, support the proposed resolution on the Plan of Action on Workers’ Health.

“We are convinced that the proposed strategic lines of action are all relevant and can be used in our efforts to improve workers’ health in Guyana,” he stated. (devinas@guyanatimesgy.com)

Ashram donates wheelchairs to differently-abled in Berbice

In an effort to reach out to the less fortunate and to provide a comfortable life for persons living with disability, the Cove and John Ashram presented five wheelchairs to persons with disability in Port Mourant Village, East Berbice.

The donation was a collaborative effort between Cove and John Ashram and Food For The Poor (FFTP) Guyana Inc.

Receiving wheelchairs were Ramrattie Roopnarine, Kousil Surujnarine, Parbattie Persam, Jermey Gopal and Lachhmi Ragnarine. These persons were previously bedridden and depended on others to help them. With the wheelchairs, they can now move about without much help.

Presenting the wheelchairs to the differentlyabled persons was administrative head of the Guyana Branch of the Sangha, Swami Shivashanranandaji Maharaj. Maharaj said that it was a monthly feature for the Ashram to partner with

the NGO to assist persons with wheelchairs.

He added that FFTP has, over the years, been very supportive towards

the Ashram’s humanitarian work in extending its help to the less fortunate. The spiritual leader, during the presentation of the wheel-

chairs, reminded the recipients that life was precious and one could only move through their challenges with prayers. He encouraged persons to read their scriptures and to keep God close. He also gave them assurance that the Ashram’s doors were always open to offer help or guidance in whatever way they may need.

Parbattie Persam, in accepting her wheelchair, thanked the Ashram and FFTP for the timely donation. She said previously she was bedridden and many times she would want to go outside her house, but was unable to do so by herself.

The Ashram also recently conducted a medical outreach at Port Mourant, Berbice. Food hampers were also distributed to less fortunate persons in the area. The medical outreach was made possible through the partnership of the NEW GPC Inc, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), Chest Institute, and FFTP.

Education Ministry, Council for TVET host fair for students

The Education Ministry, in collaboration with the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), hosted a Technological and Career Fair on Wednesday to boost the interests of students.

The event saw secondary schools and post-secondary institutions across Guyana participating in the first-ever Technological and Career Fair, showcasing innovative projects using recycled and waste materials, while highlighting the various technical and vocational career fields.

It was held under the theme “Conversion of solid waste into economic waste”.

not new in that they have been considered a vital input of the technological, vocational and educational system in those countries whose productivity and competitive advantage ranks highest as it relates to Gross Domestic Products, and economic development internationally,” he stated.

Williams stated that Guyana was recently invited to participate in a TVET competition by neighbouring Brazil, but opted not to participate until such a competition was hosted locally in order to boost its preparedness to venture overseas.

According to the Chairman, Guyana faces immense challenges in cre-

Some of the outstanding projects featured at the fair include a coconut chandelier by Carnegie School of Home Economics; use of wood chips for power generation by the Mahaicony Technical and Vocational Training Centre; an aluminium recycler made by the New Amsterdam Technical Institute and a model of an ethanol plant by the GuySuCo Training Centre.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairman of the Council for TVET, Clinton Williams, told the gathering that the fair was an avenue to drive competition among the students, pushing them to do their utmost best in coming up with innovative ideas.

“Technological fairs are

ating an environment that allows for increased appreciation and training as a vital ingredient for increased productivity. “We have now recognised that there exists gaps between occupational and skills demanded by both the private and public sector in Guyana, and those skills being supplied by formal and non-formal institutions in Guyana,” he noted.

Williams pointed out that this phenomenon was caused by factors such as migration, poaching among sectors, new technologies and new emerging sectors. Moreover, in order to maintain quality assurance and reliability, he said that there needed to be standardisation of the skills being pro-

Heart surgery patient bemoans Health Ministry’s slothfulness

The family of a 33-yearold man who is awaiting life saving heart surgery now fears the worst as the Health Ministry is yet to provide the necessary financial assistance it had promised, even as the deadline for the procedure approaches.

Orin Sutton, a father of three, is scheduled to undergo surgery on October 11. However, Sutton is yet to receive monies promised by the Public Health Ministry to assist him in offsetting the expenses of the surgery. The total cost of the surgery is $2 million and the family has succeeded in raising $500,000 via public assistance. The Ministry promised to assist Sutton with $1 million.

duced.

On the other hand, the Chairman of the Council for TVET also disclosed that Guyana was given clearance to award the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) in additional to the national CVQ that was being issued locally. This allows the holders to practise their skills not only in Guyana but in the Caribbean as well.

Meanwhile, Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine highlighted that TVET was the central pillar for the plans Government had for Guyana’s education system. He outlined that the Ministry intended to make TVET active in all secondary schools, noting that an all-round quality education was integral in every child’s development.

“It is the express intention of this Ministry that this programme becomes truly universal, present and active in every secondary school in the country,” Minister Roopnaraine remarked.

Speaking on behalf of President David Granger, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin outlined the importance of TVET to the Business Ministry. He noted the fact that the Council was tasked with developing a curriculum for TVET to address the needs of the business sector as well as the labour market.

“This makes the work of the Council very important to the Business Sector, and, therefore, very important to the Ministry of Business. Building skills and capacity to meet the needs of a growing economy is vital to sustaining growths and even more vital for developing a strong, competitive manufacturing sector that can add value to our raw materials and even in this case to our waste materials,” the Business Minister mentioned.

According to the man’s cousin, Denisha Sutton, although the family has requested information from the Ministry on the monies promised, they are yet to receive word.

“When I visited the Health Ministry like two weeks ago, the clerk told me that she forgot to submit the request… his surgery date coming up and I don’t know where we gonna get this money from,” Sutton explained.

Owed to the slothfulness of the Ministry’s approach to the situation, Sutton is once again appealing to the public for assistance.

She explained that her cousin, who is a taxi driver in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), has three young children and is in need of heart valve replacement surgery. She added that Sutton had the heart defect for most of his life but only recently became aware of his condition. The surgery is scheduled to take place at the Caribbean Heart Institute in Georgetown.

According to Denisha, her cousin took ill suddenly and was rushed to the Linden Hospital Complex, but later transferred to

the Georgetown Public Hospital. He was further referred to the Caribbean Heart Institute where the gravity of his condition was detected.

In addition to urging the Health Ministry to provide the promised assistance in a timely manner, the family is pleading with the public to help the father stay alive. Donations can be made to Account 218824440 at Citizens Bank or his relatives who can be contacted on telephone numbers 6652613 or 665-6343. (devinas@guyanatimesgy. com)

Essequibo rice farmers warned against double parking

Some of the trucks parked along the roadway

Following numerous complaints from commuters in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) about rice farmers double parking on the shoulder of the roadways, Deputy Traffic Officer in the region, Matthew Craig has announced that these farmers will be charged for obstruction of traffic, if the situation persists.

Craig said that it is illegal for drivers to park in such a manner without regard for fellow road users.

He also said that millers should advise truck drivers to occupy one side of the road as opposed to both sides, which impedes the smooth flow of traffic.

According to Craig, patrols in G Division

(Essequibo coast/Islands) will be conducting frequent rounds at the rice mills to ensure farmers comply with the traffic laws.

He added that he is aware that the millers do not have proper parking facilities to accommodate the farmers but is seeking the farmers’ cooperation to avoid the obstruction along the roadways.

thursday, october 1, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

GPSU wants Govt to do more – GPSU President

..."relevant, reliable and accessible Public Service" needed – Minister Harmon

Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU)

President Patrick Yarde has taken the new Government to task, stating that it was time that public servants begin receiving compensation for their contribution, thereby bringing an end to their impoverished lifestyles.

Yarde was at the time speaking at the opening ceremony of the 21st Biennial Delegates’ Conference of the GPSU held under the theme, “Enhancing the process of the restoration of dignity and professionalism in the public service” at the Arthur Chung International Convention Centre on Wednesday.

The Union President lamented what he described as the extreme difficult circumstances employees of the Public Sector continue to endure year after year, with little or no support from Government.

“We expect that the employers of our members understand that what we seek is an end to the days of the

impoverished public servant,” Yarde told the auditorium of Government officials and representatives of the various public service entities.

He said it was time that public servants be afforded the opportunity of earning an income that could allow them long holidays overseas and lifestyles that would be comfortable for themselves and families. He said the GPSU was, however, thankful for the support already shown by the new Administration and promised to take the new

Administration to task, engaging Government at every level, to see a complete restoration of the Public Service Union and its service to the employees.

“The road we seek cannot be built in a day. We understand that something will take longer. What we want to ensure is that our recommendations for advancement is taken seriously,” he said, continuing that the Union welcomed the proposals put forward by the new Government.

Meanwhile, Yarde bashed the previous

PPP/C awaiting Govt’s response on Public Service CoI format

Commissioners during Tuesday’s sitting

The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is still to hear from Government on the request it had made via a letter, raising issues about the format of the ongoing Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Public Service.

The Party’s General Secretary Clement Rohee told Guyana Times on Wednesday that Government was still to respond to his Party’s proposal, upon which its participation was dependent.

His Party’s recommendation, he said, was the recruitment of a suitable and qualified consultant to prepare a report on the matters identified in the terms of reference. This, he explained, has been communicated to Government.

The PPP/C had received a written invitation from the CoI for it to participate in the hearing which has already begun. However, at a recent press conference, Rohee said while the PPP/C was interested in participating in the Governmentsponsored CoI there were

systems that must be put in place. He said the Party felt that the CoI was an “unsuitable tool” by which the terms of reference that were published could be achieved.

The CoI, which commenced last Tuesday, has been established to inquire into, report on, and make recommendations on the role, functions, recruitment process, remuneration and conditions of service for public servants. It is also expected to determine measures to improve the efficiency of the public service. Also, there is to be a detailed examination of how salaries and wages are determined and allocated.

The Commission is expected to have a life of three to five months with the possibility of a renewal should the Commissioners feel the need for more time. The public hearings, which are open to the general public for oral presentations, will be conducted at the Secretariat Building of the Public Service Ministry on Waterloo Street,

Georgetown.

The Commissioners include Professor Harold Lutchman, Sandra Jones and Samuel Goolsaran.

Meanwhile, the roles and functions of Permanent Secretaries came under review on Tuesday as the Inquiry continued. The Inquiry, under the chairmanship of Professor Harold Lutchman, saw the fifth day of hearing at the Public Service Commission Secretariat, Georgetown.

Permanent Secretary of the Tourism Ministry Derrick Cummings was questioned on the responsibilities of all PSs, whether they should have political connections, and whether or not they should hold subject Ministers responsible for things done.

Speaking to the Terms of Reference, Cummings explained that many permanent staff now preferred to be employed under the contractual system, which allows for a 22.5 per cent gratuity under six-month recourse among other provisions. The hearing continues on Friday.

People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government, which, he said, had turned a blind eye to the plight of the working class.

This included the overall “politicisation of the Public Service Commission (PSC), the effect of the nonfunctioning Public Service Appellate Tribunal, the erosion of formal employment and blatant discrimination and victimisation”. He said he hoped the new Government did not follow the same pattern.

Double standards

“This Union will not embrace double standards. We call for an end to lip service… we not only desire better emoluments but a restoration of dignity to the public service,” he added.

The GPSU President also pressed Government to return the Public Service Appellate Tribunal. This will give workers in the Public Sector the freedom to appeal decisions which lead to their dismissal.

Its call for the Tribunal to be resuscitated, he said, had fallen on deaf ears. The Tribunal was squashed some 20 years ago.

Yarde said the Union had put forward several proposals to the previous Administration for the 2015 national budget. According to him, some had to do with Government funding for various projects; however, the Union was most disappointed when it was found that every proposal had been put on the back burner.

“We are seeking to engage the Government on those matters,” he assured the public service representatives.

But the newly-elected

Government had announced a five per cent increase in salaries for public servants without even consulting the GPSU which said nothing about the continued breach of the collective bargaining agreement.

The Union was silent on the action of the Government although it had argued that any five per cent increase could be deemed “starvation wages” and had unsuccessfully fought the previous Government tooth and nail for all workers to earn at least $100, 000.

Minister Jordan had announced that effective July 1, 2015, the minimum salary in the public service would be $50,000 per month, while public servants who earned more will receive a five per cent salary increase plus an additional $5000 monthly as of the same date.

Keynote address

Meanwhile, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, who delivered the keynote address declaring the threeday conference open, said Government remained committed to the overall wellbeing of every public servant in Guyana, noting that Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the collective bargaining process.

“I just want you to know that on this side you have a caring Government. The Government cannot function without the public servant. You are involved in one of the most important tasks of public life: the delivery of public service. Services such as education, health and public security all depend on you,” Harmon said.

He related too that Government took “very seriously” public servants, their morale, and their benefits that have been approved. He said a new roadmap would be laid out which would indicate the type of public servant the new Administration was looking for.

“If we are to have an efficient public service we must be frank about the things that we need. This Administration has taken very seriously the public servant and the benefits that are to be accrued by working

in the public service.

“A public service that is relevant, reliable and accessible; that is responsive to the needs of the people. In addition to its functions of delivery, it is also an institution of historical knowledge. This knowledge and experience must be available to a political administration.”

The GPSU has a proud history and is said to be one of the oldest unions in Guyana. With a membership of over 10,000 with 80 branches countrywide, the GPSU came into being on June 8, 1923, when 110 civil servants met in St Andrew’s Hall in Georgetown and unanimously passed a resolution approving of an approach being made to the Governor to sanction the formation of the British Guiana Civil Service Association (B.G.C.S.A.).

Its Industrial Relations activities began during an era when the country was administered by a Colonial Administration based in Great Britain via by a Governor and other functionaries here.

In 1972, the name was changed from Civil Service Association to the Public Service Association. In 1975, there was a merger with the Medical Employees Union (M.E.U), and the name of the Association was changed from the Public Service Association to the Guyana Public Service Union, (GPSU).

Drunken husband lands in court for threatening reputed wife

An East La Penitence man was on Tuesday released on self bail after he appeared before Magistrate Dylon Bess at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with threatening behaviour and abusive language.

Eon Rafeek of 292 Freeman Street, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge, which alleged that on September 25 at Freeman Street, he

made use of threatening behaviour and abusive language against his reputed wife, Ali Moses.

The court heard that on the day of the incident at about 20:00h, Rafeek kicked in the door to the house and used abusive language against Moses. It was further related that the woman became afraid and called out to neighbours who came to her rescue.

The 46-year-old man

told the court that on the day of the incident, he went to a nearby shop and upon his return home his wife refused to open the gate since he was intoxicated. He said this led to an argument. Magistrate Bess granted the accused $5000 bail, but he begged the Magistrate to reduce his bail since he cannot raise that sum. He was then released on his own recognisance. The matter will return to court on October 13.

Pharma supplies… NEW GPC performance exemplary versus other suppliers’

– KN fabricating news pieces, misleading public

The principals of the NEW GPC INC have strongly refuted the publication of a Kaieteur News article in its Wednesday edition which they say are riddled with “lies, misinformation and half-truths” about the shipment, procurement and guarantee of pharmaceuticals and supplies.

The Kaieteur News article claimed that the “NEW GPC and others must deliver over $600M owed for drugs or else," purporting to summarise the views of Public Health Minister, Dr George Norton on the subject of "undelivered drugs".

The newspaper claimed that the Minister "has already alerted the Chambers of Attorney General Basil Williams on the need to take this matter before the court and to send a strong message to “appalling” defaulters like NEW GPC".

In view of the importance of pharma supply to the wellbeing of the nation, and the 180 persons the corporation employs, the Guyana Times called the New GPC

for a comment and it refuted in total, the claims of the Kaieteur News.

A senior official there pointed out that the Kaieteur News was basing its sensationalisation of the issue by referring to the Auditor General Report of 2014.

"At the moment NGPC is only servicing contracts for [Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation/Ministry of Health] GPHC/MOH for 2015. Contracts for 2014 and all earlier years have been duly completed. There is no truth to this KN report, “the official said exasperatedly.

He continued, "Both MOH and GPHC owe NGPC monies. MOH has debts going back as far as 2008 for items delivered...."

On the specifics of the article in reference to banking guarantees and deliveries, the official referred the newspaper to its press release of June, pertinent portions of which are excerpted below.

"The NEW GPC has never defaulted on any of its contracts to the MoH and GPHC”.

In reference, to purchas-

es by the GPHC, the report itself stated that there were Banking Guarantees to the tune of $500 million against the major contract for $871.169 million of which $716.290 million was paid.

The $500 million was thus obviously more than adequate to protect the contract since at the end, according to the Auditor General Report, there is only $2.982 million (0.003% of the contract) of supplies to be delivered. It meant that at no time there was need for the full amount of the contract to be guaranteed.

What is interesting, however, is that of the nine other suppliers including the International Pharmaceutical Agency (IPA) and PAHO, (which the KN studiously avoided mentioning) responsible for 423 purchases, there was only a SINGLE Banking Guarantee of $71 million.

Deliveries

More alarmingly, $192 million (or 45 per cent) of the items ordered from the nine other suppliers, including

IPA, was not delivered. For NEW GPC the figures are 13 per cent which can be explained by the AGR's reference to the New GPC warehouse as the "Ruimveldt offsite" and insists on storing its stocks there although MOH/GPHC are constantly reminded to remove.

This is ironic since the year before the Government at great expense had constructed a warehouse at Diamond and no pharmaceuticals were to be left at NEW GPC's warehouse.

At that time, the NEW GPC had called for all of the Government's pharmaceuticals to be removed from its facilities, since THESE WERE BEING STORED AT ABSOLUTELY NO COST.

Against the foregoing, Guyana Times called on Minister Norton to ascertain whether he had in fact described NEW GPC's performance as "appalling" when it appeared to be exemplary as compared to the other suppliers.

Dr Norton, unfortunately was said to be out of the country.

Digicel makes donation to Santa Aratak mission schools

As Indigenous Month celebrations wind down, Digicel Guyana on Wednesday donated several school packs and other goodies to students and teachers of Santa Mission Nursery and Primary schools.

The school has over 60 pupils in the nursery and primary sections. During the visit, Digicel representatives distributed school packs and gifts to the teachers.

Apart from treating the young ones at Santa Mission, Digicel also paid a visit to the oldest resident of Santa Aratak, Joseph Barker, who is 87 years old and now a retired elder of the Brethren Assembly of God which he founded.

The telecommunications giant surprised Barker and his wife who were found relaxing in their hammock with a hamper and some Digicel gifts.

The Barkers have seven sons and two daughters and has been married for over 60 years. Barker is very proud of his 20 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren.

During the surprise visit, Barker stated “thank you Digicel, I have a Digicel phone and I use it all the time to call my children, but I get a fancy one now I don’t know how to use all them things on it but I does make calls good with it.”

Santa Aratak was highlighted as this year’s Heritage Village for the month long Indigenous Heritage celebrations. This village is 157 years old and is known to be one of the oldest Amerindian settlements

Members of the Digicel team pose with pupils of the Santa Aratak nursery and primary school

in Guyana.

Digicel has been generous in their support of Indigenous communities

across Guyana where they have coverage. Only recently the telephone giant sponsored the Indigenous Day

of Sport which was part of Indigenous Heritage Month activities that is traditionally observed in September.

thursday, october 1, 2015 |

Guyana joins in celebrating Caribbean Youth Day 2015

“With the right tools young people can become the agents and leaders of development and peace in their communities.”

This view was expressed by the Minister within the Education Ministry, Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, Nicolette Henry, as she delivered the feature address at the Caribbean Youth Day 2015 symposium, on Wednesday morning at the National Library in Georgetown.

Minister Henry reminded the young attendees that young people are at the heart of national development. She said that youths, who constituted more than 15 per cent of the population, have a key role to play in the process of development.

Caribbean Youth Day 2015 is being celebrated under the theme, “Refocus, Reinvent, Reinforce Youth Integration for a Stronger and Sustainable Caribbean.” This year’s theme is set in the context of the United Nations post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. It is one that recognises that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development.

As agreed by the UN in a resolve to free the human race from the tyranny of poverty and want and to heal and secure the planet, the agenda sets out 17 goals and 169 targets to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path.

Observing that these goals and targets were

recently debated at the 70th UN General Assembly, Minister Henry said the observation of Caribbean Youth Day 2015 is an opportune time to continue educating the population, including the youths, about the 17 proposed goals and 169 targets.

“It is also an opportune time to strengthen partnership and the inclusion of everyone, towards the achievements of the goals and targets,” she said.

According to Minister Henry, the symposium provides the opportunity to increase collaboration and participation in achieving the SDGs by the merging of resources, tools and techniques.

“There is also the potential to bridge initiatives for youth and national development and to facilitate civil society organisation taking a lead role in addition to the traditional implementation and monitoring measures of the SDGs,” Henry pointed out.

The symposium was organised by the Education Ministry thorough its Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, in collaboration with the Guyana National Youth Council. (GINA)

Transporter in custody for East Ruimveldt execution

Relatives of Dexter Griffith who was killed execution style on Tuesday evening in Warlock, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown is claiming that the father of four was brutally murdered for no reason.

A brother of the dead man, who requested that his name be withheld, is calling on the Guyana Police Force to investigate the shooting, noting that his brother was a decent man who always kept out of trouble. He said that his brother, who was a mason, did not deserve to die in such a manner.

Griffith, of Back Circle, East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was reportedly shot about nine times by a lone gunman who con-

fronted him while he was hanging out with friends in an alleyway, a short distance away from his home. The gunman was reportedly transported to the area on a motorcycle. According to reports

reaching Guyana Times, after the 36-year-old man was shot, he attempted to escape the gunman but collapsed in a drain located a short distance from the scene. As he was lying on the ground, the gunman reportedly walked up to him and pulled the trigger a few more time hitting him to the back.

He was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Investigators have since retrieved at least six .9mm warheads at the scene.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times on Wednesday that the man who transported the shooter to the area was arrested and was being interrogated.

At the home of the dead

man on Wednesday, Fabi Glasgow, his sister, told this newspaper that she was at home when she heard the sounds of gunshots about 19:30h coming from the alleyway. Recollecting that her brother went in that direction, she stated, her mother ran out of the house and she followed suit.

She said as they rushed to the scene, they saw persons running for cover, but shortly after realised that her brother’s motionless body was lying in the drain. He had bullets wounds to his face, chest and back.

Glasgow related that the family was still in a state of shock and was curious to find out the motive for the shooting.

“It is something that he always do… as soon as he

comes home from work, he would go and lime with his friends,” she stated.

She admitted that her brother was previously arrested for possession of narcotics and was charged and remanded to prison. She stated that he was subsequently released.

The grieving sister described her brother as a willing and helpful individual, who always assisted people in need. His body is at the Hospital mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination on Friday.

He leaves to mourn his four children, reputed wife, mother and siblings.

The Police have launched a manhunt for the prime suspect as they continue their investigations.

Regional

UK to send Jamaican prisoners back home and build new jail on island

More than 300 Jamaican prisoners serving time in jails in the United Kingdom (UK) will be sent back to their homeland in another five years to continue serving their sentences, under a new deal between the two countries.

The Prisoner Transfer Agreement

was concluded after years of negotiations as Prime Minister David Cameron made the first visit by a UK Prime Minister to Jamaica in 14 years.

The agreement provides for the transfer of prisoners who have received sentences of four years or

more and who have 18 months or more left to serve in custody. As of June 30, 2015, there were 619 Jamaican nationals in prisons in England and Wales, approximately 60 per cent of them serving sentences of four years or more, including indeterminate sentences.

The UK will also provide £25 million (US$37.8 million) from its existing aid budget to help fund the construction of a new 1500-bed prison in Jamaica, overcoming one of the sticking points in the negotiations which had been the conditions in existing prisons in Jamaica.

The jail is expected to be built by 2020, at which time the return of Jamaican inmates will begin. Welcoming the agreement, Cameron said: “It is absolutely right that foreign criminals who break our laws are properly punished but this shouldn’t be at the expense of the hardworking British taxpayer.”

(Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Belize PM calls snap elections

After just over threeand-a-half years into his Government’s current term of office, Belize Prime Minister Dean Barrow has called early general elections.

“I have today [Monday] advised the Governor General to dissolve the National Assembly and to fix Wednesday November 4, 2015, as the date for the next general elections,” Barrow announced on Monday evening.

Nomination day will be October 15. Having secured a period of restoration, Barrow said, he believed the time had come to ask for a fresh mandate.

“The clean-up having been completed, the UDP [United Democratic Party] must focus now exclusively on the positive, on forwarding opportunity and change,” he said.

The November 4 general election will be the earliest

election ever in Belize, coming just three years, eight months after the March 7, 2012, poll when Barrow’s UDP won 17 seats in the National Assembly to the opposition People’s United Party’s 14.

Barrow explained he views the four-year point as the marker and the election is therefore not too early in terms of that yardstick.

“This particular juncture seems to me to be right.

We’ve had a string of elections already in this current year.

Everybody knew that the election was coming sooner rather than later. It struck me that let’s get it over and done with, so that whoever wins can then concentrate fully on the business of governance, on the business of development, on the business of improving people’s lives,” he said. (Caribbean News Now)

65% of new HIV/Aids cases in T&T are young adults

Approximately 65 per cent of all new HIV/Aids cases recorded from 2007 to 2011 in Trinidad occurred in people between the ages of 25 to 49 years.

According to officials of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Ministry of Labour and Small Enterprise Development, this could have a negative impact on the national workforce currently estimated to be around 700,000.

Delivering the opening remarks at the first of four public consultations on the revision of the National Workplace Policy on HIV/Aids at the House of Angostura, Laventille, on Tuesday, Tania Parrott admitted the policy which governed behaviours in the workplace had not been reviewed since it

was first adopted by Cabinet in 2008. But Parrott, manager of the national HIV/Aids Workplace Advocacy and Sustainability Centre (HASC), assured: “The revision of the National Workplace Policy on HIV and Aids will ensure that it remains consistent with national and international HIV and Aids priorities, new trends, research and guidelines with respect to the HIV epidemic.”

Claiming a multi-sectoral approach to manage HIV and Aids within the labour force was critical, Parrott urged the stakeholders present to move forward together to update national guidelines that would govern the workplace response to dealing with employees who were diagnosed with HIV/Aids.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Call for development of regional health and wellness sector

Now is the time for the Caribbean to capitalise on the multi-trillion dollar health and wellness industry, said executive director of the Caribbean Export Development Agency Pamela CokeHamilton.

She was giving the opening remarks at a recent two-day Caribbean Aid for Trade and Regional Integration Trust Fund Spa and Wellness Project close-off meeting held in Courtyard by Marriott, Hastings, Christ Church and hosted in collaboration with the Caribbean Development Bank and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development. The aim of the project was to review the results to date and identify the next steps of the implementation strategy to support the region’s health and wellness tourism industry. Coke-Hamilton told regional industry practitioners the Caribbean had a strong history as a major tourist destination and consequently tourism is the most significant contributor to many of the economies across the region.

“The onus was on us in the Caribbean to take ownership and responsibility for the diversification of the industry to ensure that the region benefits from the changing demands of visitors,” she said. The global spa and wellness industry is said to worth some US$2 trillion according and as such CokeHamilton said “we must address issues such as ensuring that across the region, international standards are being implemented, that the Caribbean brand is receiving adequate visibility and representation in key markets and that the policies and regulatory frameworks are in place to facilitate the development of the sector”. (Excerpt from Nation News)

Peru declares state of emergency in mining region

Peru declared a 30-day state of emergency in the Apurimac region on Tuesday after four people were killed during anti-mining protests.

The four were shot dead in clashes between police and protesters at the Chinese-owned Las Bambas mine project. Locals fear the US$7.4 billion (£4.9 billion) copper mine project will cause environmental damage to the Andean area.

The Government said extra troops would be sent to Apurimac

“to restore internal peace”. While the state of emergency is in force, Police are able to search homes without a warrant and freedom of assembly is suspended.

It is the second time this year a state of emergency has been declared in Peru to quell anti-mining protests.

In May, a state of emergency was declared for 60 days in the province of Islay in Arequipa after protests against the Tia Maria copper mine turned deadly.

The protests in Apurimac be-

gan on Friday. They escalated on Monday when some of the estimated 2000 demonstrators tried to move onto land owned by the mining project near the town of Challhuahuacho. Fourteen protesters and eight police officers were injured.

Locals are angry about changes to the project’s environmental impact plan, which they say they were not consulted about. They say that under the new plan, the area and its groundwater are at risk from contamination. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Jamaica reports hand, foot and mouth disease outbreak in schools

An outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease has been confirmed in Jamaican schools.

The South East Regional Authority says it’s closely monitoring cases in at least three schools in Kingston and St. Andrew and six schools in St. Catherine and health departments in the respective parishes have been working closely with the schools to minimize the spread of the disease. The schools have also been given guidelines for the management of the disease and public health inspectors have been deployed to the schools to assess the situation.

Hand, foot and mouth disease is a viral illness common in infants and children. Symptoms include fevers and blister-like eruptions on the tongue, inside the cheek, poor appetite and sore throat. There is no vaccine to protect against the viruses that cause the disease. (Caribbean360)

Antiguan Govt to settle Kuwait debt

Government has announced that it will settle the country’s longstanding debt to the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development.

The debt, which dates back to the mid to late 1990’s, provided loans to the country for the construction and renovation of the parallel taxiway at the airport, the repair of All Saints Road, and the construction of American Road to Airport Road. Browne as well as the first Deputy Prime Minister Charles “Max” Fernandez signed off on the new financial arrangement, Monday, with the Chairman of the Fund’s board, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. In response to the development, Leader of United Progressive Party Harold Lovell, said the debt is one of two that the United Progressive

Party failed to resolve during its time in office. He explained that the Government had been unable to come to agreeable terms with the Western Asian fund.

“This is one of the relationships that predated the UPP administration. It’s a debt that we met and during our 10 years it’s the only one, with the exception of the one with Trinidad & Tobago, that we had not resolved from the administration before our time,” he said.

“We were not satisfied with the terms they were offering us and that is why it remained unresolved.”

Lovell stopped short of saying whether the move was a step in the right direction, citing only that he had “no difficulty” with the sitting Administration’s plans to service the debt. (Excerpt from Antigua

Around the world

Russia confirms first airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria

Russia said it launched air strikes against Islamic State group in Syria on Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin secured his Parliament’s unanimous backing to intervene to prop up the Kremlin’s closest Middle East ally.

Moscow gave Washington just an hour’s notice of the strikes, which set in train Russia’s biggest play in the region since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, a US official said.

Targets in the Homs area appeared to have been struck, but not areas held by Islamic State, the US official said. The Russian Defence Ministry said however that its attacks were directed at Islamic State

military targets.

Putin said the only way to fight “terrorists” in Syria was to act preemptively. Russia’s military involvement in the Middle

East would only involve its air force and would be temporary.

The Homs area is crucial to President Bashar alAssad’s control of western

Indian man lynched over beef rumours

Syria. Insurgent control of that area would bisect the Assad-held west, separating Damascus from the coastal cities of Latakia and Tartous, where Russia operates a naval facility.

A US-led coalition has already been bombing Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, but Putin derided US efforts to end the Syria war at the United Nations on Monday, suggesting a broader and more coordinated coalition was needed to defeat the militants.

Russia has been steadily dispatching more and more military aircraft to a base in Latakia, regarded as an Assad stronghold, after the Syrian Government suffered a series of battlefield reverses. (Excerpt from France24)

Chinese ‘parcel bombs’ kill seven in Guangxi

At least seven people have been killed and dozens injured in a series of explosions in a small town in the southern Chinese region of Guangxi.

Seventeen bombs went off in a number of places in Liucheng county, including government buildings.

Photographs posted online show a large plume of smoke coming from one partially collapsed building.

Authorities say they are not treating the attacks as terrorism. A 33-year-old man is being held as a suspect. The suspect’s surname is Wei, according to the state-owned Guangxi Daily newspaper.

A prison and a supermarket were among the other buildings hit in the attacks.

Unverified photographs

posted on social media show what appears to be substantial damage; in one, a five-storey building has been almost completely destroyed. Debris was strewn over a large area.

A Police statement said that – over a two-hour period in the afternoon – more than a dozen explosions took place in and around the town of Dapu.

The local authorities say they are investigating the possibility that bombs may have been put into parcels and then posted.

Lethal attacks on public targets in China are sometimes carried out by individuals with an unresolved medical or legal grievance, the BBC’s John Sudworth in Beijing reports. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Obama urges world leaders to hold course against ISIL

AU50-year-old man in northern India has been killed in a mob lynching allegedly over rumours that his family had been storing and consuming beef at home.

Mohammad Akhlaq was kicked and beaten with stones by a group of men in Dadri in Uttar Pradesh state on Monday night. Akhlaq’s 22-year-old son was also seriously injured in the attack, and has been admitted to a hospital.

Six people have been ar-

rested in connection with the incident. Police are probing who spread the rumour.

The slaughter of cows is a sensitive issue in India as the animal is considered sacred by Hindus, who comprise 80 per cent of the country’s 1.2 billion people. Uttar Pradesh is among a number of Indian states who have tightened laws banning cow slaughter and the sale and consumption of beef.

The beef ban has also provoked outrage with many ques-

With ‘ring of fire’ at EU border, some EU lawmakers want better defence

European Union countries should be required to defend each other given the growing conflicts on their borders, center-right EU lawmakers said on Wednesday, urging Governments to consider a collective defence policy similar to NATO.

As the EU confronts the failure of its neighbourhood policy and faces conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the biggest political grouping in the European Parliament called for an EU equivalent of NATO’s Article 5, which considers an attack on one member as an attack against all.

“The security environment necessitates that European defence stops being a paper tiger and becomes a fully-fledged policy providing equal security... for all member states,” the center-right European People’s Party (EPP) said in a policy paper.

“To the South and east Europe is facing an arc of instability. The expected ring of friends became a ring of fire,” it said, referring to the Ukraine crisis with Russia and wars in the Middle East which have displaced millions of people – hundreds of thousands of whom have sought refuge in Europe.

(Excerpt from Yahoo! News)

tioning how the Government decides what is on their plate.

Akhlaq’s family said the family had stored mutton, and not beef in their fridge. The police have taken the meat and sent it for testing, reports said.

“Some locals spread rumours that Akhlaq had cow meat at his home and engaged in cow slaughter. Following the rumours, they attacked his home,” senior local official NP Singh told The Indian Express newspaper. (Excerpt from BBC News)

S President Barack Obama has urged members of a US-led coalition to hold course in its fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) against a backdrop of growing Russian military deployments to bolster Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s Government.

Obama said the US-led coalition had grown to 60 nations with the addition of new members Nigeria, Tunisia and Malaysia and had beaten back ISIL from a third of the terrain it once controlled in Iraq.

“We’ve seen that ISIL can be defeated on the battlefield where there is sound organisation and a Government and military that is coordinating with this coalition and with our diplomatic efforts,” Obama told leaders at a summit of an anti-ISIL coalition.

“It will require diligence, focus and sustained effort by all of us.”

Talks start for surrender of Burkina coup leader: government

Burkina Faso’s Government said on Wednesday it had started negotiations to persuade the leader of a shortlived coup to surrender, a day after he took refuge in the Vatican’s compound in the capital.

General Gilbert Diendere fled just before Government troops raided barracks held by his forces in Ouagadougou, wiping out the last vestiges of his bid to take over the West African nation.

“Negotiations are under way for his surrender to the authorities,” the Government said on state

television. Security forces were also still searching the barracks, it added.

Diendere’s forces – members of an elite presidential guard unit – raided a cabinet meeting on September 16 and detained interim President Michel Kafando, the Prime Minister and several Cabinet members.

Thousands of people took to the streets of the capital and other cities demanding an end to the rebellion which was condemned by regional and world powers. Troops loyal to the Government moved in and ended the coup a week later. (Reuters)

ISIL fighters are being beaten in northeast Syria and have been repelled from almost all of the Turkey-Syrian border across which thousands of foreign fighters have travelled from overseas to swell its ranks, Obama said at UN headquarters.

“Like terrorists and tyrants throughout history ISIL will eventually lose because it has nothing to offer but suffering and death,”

Obama said. “Those who are labouring under their control, it is a stark and brutal life that does not appeal to people in the long-term.”

Obama did not talk about Russia’s growing military presence in Syria, but said that he was willing to work with Moscow, Tehran and others “to begin a transition process” that would involve a “new leader” to replace Assad.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Portugal brain drain spells lasting headache for election winner

Portugal heads into a national election on Sunday with a sounder economy than four years ago. But the austerity that made it more competitive has led to a mass exodus of youthful talent that will set back the recovery regardless of who wins.

Emigration has become a major campaign issue in a tight-fought election race that has no clear winner in view. The Opposition has promised to bring back the best and brightest. But with the conditions that caused them to flee seemingly entrenched, notably an unemployment rate affecting one in three young people and available jobs often badly

paid and without firm contracts, that promise will be tough to keep.

A total of 485,000 people left Portugal between 2011 and 2014, including almost 200,000 as permanent emigrants, with most aged 30 or under, according to official data.

Even as the main Opposition Socialist candidate Antonio Costa poses with young supporters in “I don’t want to emigrate” T-shirts or opens a “Vote for Return” portal trying to capture the expatriate vote, many of those who left doubt that Portugal will provide enough well-paid, careerbuilding jobs any time soon.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

thursday, october 1, 2015|

Firearm amnesty period extended

–

new deadline October 14

Scheduled to end on Wednesday, the onemonth gun amnesty programme was extended for a further two weeks. The initiative will now conclude on October 14.

The initiative was launched as a means of allowing persons in possession of illegal guns and ammunition to hand over these without fear of prosecution. Since its inception, 78 firearms and 1500 rounds of ammunition was handed over to the Police.

In a recent interview with Guyana Times, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had said that given the programme’s success, a justification can be amounted for an extension.

The Minister also warned that if persons did not take advantage of the amnesty programme, they would face the consequences provided by law.

consideration by our policy makers,” he added. Tests, he noted, have already begun on the weapons and to date, none were linked to any crime.

a particular crime is another story,” the Commissioner disclosed.

Upon the announcement of the amnesty programme, former Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee stated that the Government was wasting its time in this regard, as no success will be had from this crime fighting initiative.

While he himself was a crusader for the initiative, Rohee said that international experience and advice from his consultants here have proven this idea to be troublesome.

Despite efforts violence against women still rampant in Guyana –

Health Minister tells PAHO Conference

Violence against women continues to of deep concern in Guyana where crimes such as trafficking in persons, murders, rapes and domestic abuse continue to spiral out of control. This depressing situation is only compounded by the weak enforcement of laws against offenders and the inadequate measures available to protect women.

This was the message conveyed by Health Minister, Dr George Norton during the Pan American Health Organisation/ World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) 54th Directing Council on Tuesday in Washington DC.

mortality,” he stated.

Dr Norton also made reference specifically to the mortality rates among Guyana’s indigenous population, which he noted, were also extremely high.

“As a person of indigenous heritage, this is extremely painful to me as an individual. This does not mean that I am not pained by the high rates among fellow Guyanese of other ethnicities, but the disparity among the indigenous peoples would indicate some amount of inequity and fly in the face of our goals to achieve universal access to health services,” he said.

In most cases, the guns and ammunition collected during an amnesty are destroyed, but Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud stated that once the ballistic experts give clearance that the guns were not used in the commissioning of a crime, the Guyana Police Force can apply to the authorities to have them added to their stock.

The Police Chief explained that once a gun has been linked to an offence, the Police can and would reopen an investigation into the particular matter.

“We will be advised by our ballistic experts and we will provide a report for

The Commissioner further stated that those who would have surrendered their illegal weapons during the amnesty programme will have absolute immunity. The immunity, however, only relates to possession of firearms, but not the crime it might have been involved in.

“If the firearm is linked to

The gun amnesty initiative was launched on September 1, as part of Government’s plan to curb the number of illegal firearms circulating in the country. As of September 26, the programme had yielded 64 shotguns, six pistols, six air rifles, one revolver and one AK-47 rifle. Additionally a total of 1512 rounds of ammunition and ammunition components were handed over to the Police between September 1 and September 26.

With the exception of B (Berbice) and G (Essequibo coast/Islands) Divisions, all the other Police Divisions have seen some sort of activities, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum had said.

In the A Division (Georgetown/East Bank Demerara) 12 firearms were handed over; C Division (East Coast Demerara) one firearm; D (West Coast Demerara) one firearm; E Division (Linden/ Kwakwani); and in F Division (Interior locations) a total of 63 firearms were submitted.

Persons interested in handing over firearms, ammunition or explosives can do so between 09:00h and 16:00h daily at Police stations.

Hinterland communities to benefit from improved facilities

The Education Ministry is collaborating with the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry to improve over 50 sports facilities in the hinterland.

Minister within the Education Ministry, Nicolette Henry, during a recent interview, explained that the collaboration was through the Ground Enhancement Project.

She noted that the project aimed to ensure that facilities in the hinterland were functioning effectively so that students and residents in the area could use them. “I have received from the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, a list of over 50 facilities that we intend to

support with regard to finances,” Henry said. She added that the enhancement is not only in the area of sports, but also for additional recreational and other purposes.

Also speaking on the issue was Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, who highlighted that although the Government was hoping to establish multi-purpose centres across the country, the hinterland was the first target area and hopefully, this can be effected before the end of the Government’s first term in office.

He noted that the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry was currently working with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)

to identify and develop the football talent in the hinterland. “Work has already started in terms of identifying those hinterland communities that have the talent, with the view of extracting and exposing them to the nation and the region as well,” Jones said.

Jones added that the GFF was looking to see whether or not its international governing body, FIFA, is prepared to fund facilities in those outlying areas.

Reflecting on his visit to Upper Mazaruni, Jones stated that the talent in the hinterland was exceptional and at times, surpassed that on the coastland. Jones was accompanying President David Granger on the visit.

The Minister pointed out that violence against women in Guyana was still rampant despite the efforts being made by a few organisations.

“Our new Government, which has only been in office for four months, recognises violence against women as a human rights violation and has identified the need for a serious action plan to counter the increasing frequency of violence against women,” the Minister stated.

Most recent available official statistics, from the year 2013, revealed that by the end of June, there were 29 domestic violence-related murders, with 21 female victims. Based on newspaper reports, these numbers have increased drastically with more violence being

sexual enslavement in Guyana’s hinterland, where the population is principally indigenous and gold mining, the main source of employment,” he told the gathering of health professionals as he again lamented the inadequate enforcement of legislation and the absence of a coherent national plan.

“Our Government has noted that despite the passage of legislation such as the Domestic Violence Act and the Sexual Offences Act in our country in the past, violence against women continues to be a national epidemic,” he noted.

Maternal mortality rates

During his presentation, Minister Norton also made reference to Guyana’s maternal mortality rates. He

National plan

In light of this growing problem, the Minister told the conference that the new Government would work assiduously and “leave no stone unturned” to arrest and reverse both the high maternal mortality being experienced by Guyanese as well as violence against women.

perpetuated against elderly women.

Minister Norton, during his brief presentation, alluded to the efforts being made by several organisations across Guyana to eliminate this scourge and raise awareness of the issue, but conceded that these efforts were not enough to lower the soaring rates of abuse.

“For example, as a result of the efforts of the Guyana Women Miners Association, which was led by the Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection of our new Government, several women and teenage girls were rescued from

noted that the 2014 document “Trends in Maternal Mortality” estimates that the rate increased significantly over the 1990-2013 period in Guyana.

“We continue to have an unacceptably high rate, being one of very few countries with exceedingly high maternal mortality rates in the Americas. Although no specific studies have been done in our country, we are aware of findings from Canada and by the [Centre for Disease Control] CDC in the United States which suggest that partner violence can be an important contributor to maternal

On that note, Dr Norton said Government would be moving towards crafting a national action plan on violence and the introduction of educational and enforcement initiatives to reduce the rates. Moreover, the Minister recognised PAHO’s proposed Strategy and Plan of Action on Strengthening the Health System to address violence against women and would be using it as the framework to develop its own plan.

“We support the proposed resolution on the Strategy and Plan of Action on Strengthening the Health System to Address Violence against women…,” he stated, noting that Guyana could not combat the issue alone.

“We wish to appeal to PAHO and our brothers and sisters of this region to assist us in our own efforts to address violence against women as well as in each and every one of our member states,” the Health Minister concluded. (devinas@guyanatimesgy.com)

Garrido-Lowe calls on Amerindians to preserve their customs

– at Mainstay Heritage Day

By IndrawattIe natram

Minister within the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, Valerie GarridoLowe urged Amerindians at Mainstay/Whyaka community to preserve their culture.

During her feature address, at the Mainstay Heritage Day celebration on Tuesday, Minister Garrido-Lowe said that a people’s identity was their customs and traditions and stressed that preservation of such was important.

She urged them to stand united and as one people

fight the odds in society, encouraging Amerindians to be proud of their identity.

“Never be ashamed of who you are. Reflect where you come from and where you will be going, celebrate and enjoy your month to the fullest,” Garrido-Lowe said.

She said that being new in the Ministry, she was impressed at the Heritage Month launch and the many celebrations organised by the various communities. The Minister highlighted her admiration for the creative and artistically designed costumes that were put on display by the cultural groups.

Garrido-Lowe told the indigenous people to be proud of their achievement as the first people of Guyana and to look to the future with optimism, noting that youth programmes were being implemented by the Ministry to educate indigenous youths to make them more qualified and marketable.

Meanwhile, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) Chairman Davenanand Ramdatt, who represented the Regional Administration at the cele-

bration, said Guyana’s history could not be completed without the contribution that Amerindians have made towards the development of the nation. The Regional Chairman stated that as one moved across Guyana one would recognise that there has been

tremendous transformation in every Amerindian community. He called for more networking between the Regional Democratic Council, Village Councils and the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry.

He strongly believes that more development is needed within the communities, but pointed out

Unity

Mainstay/Whyaka Toshao and National Toshaos Council (NTC) Chairman Joel Fredericks said the village has come a long way, but there was more to be achieved. The Toshao said that as people we needed to take life seriously and regard it as precious.

Fredericks called on his community to unite and work together towards

Section of Mahaicony Branch Road impassable – residents demand emergency works

By rajIv BIsnauth

Asection of the main Mahaicony Branch Road in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) is currently impassable and angry residents and concerned citizens, some of whom as vehicle owners – minibus and taxi operators – who use the roadway on a daily basis are calling on the relevant authorities to look into their plight.

The deplorable condition of the thoroughfare, which runs along the right bank of the Mahaicony River has brought out the anger and ire of frustrated residents.

Hundreds of school children and workers depend on the Branch Road to get in and out of the village. When Guyana Times visited the scene on Tuesday, it was evident that a rice truck was trapped in the centre of the road, creating a build-up of traffic for almost five hours.

Speaking with this publication on Tuesday, Paul Persaud, a resident of the area is blaming the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) for the damage to that section roadway which has resulted in it becoming impassable.

“GWI has to be blamed for this state of the road, they run pipe lines on both sides of the road, and to make matters worse, there is a leakage right at the impassable section, and no one seems to care,” Persaud said.

Another resident who gave his name as Mark (only name) said numerous complaints were lodged at the

Regional Democratic Council (RDC), but nothing has happened.

“I have made several complaints to the RDC about this road for the past two months, it’s our only way of getting in and out of here, but no one even visit to see what is going on. I don’t even know the new Regional Chairman, who is he, how he look like, he never come in this branch road,” the irate resident said.

The minibus operators and taxi drivers have already reduced the frequency of their trips from twice a day to once a day and clearly the problem of mobility here presents a tremendous challenge on a daily basis for these residents.

Vishnu Singh, a taxi driver, said

damage incurred to his vehicle is too much, resulting in him seeking other means of a livelihood. “Parts fuh car expensive and until this road mek up, me na wok back taxi,” he related.

“The situation of the road is a burden to us because in case of an emergency, nobody can come in to get out that easily because of the condition of the road… We fed up with this,” another resident said.

To this end, residents are calling on the RDC, along with the Ministries of Communities and Public Infrastructure to address their concerns. Failure to remedy the situation, residents said, means they will be forced to take protest action.

their development, calling on them to break some barriers that were hindering development.

“We are the first people. We are preserving our culture; we know that from the beginning, we don’t have to let anyone tell us, we have been preserving our forest long now,” he said.

Mainstay Heritage Day, which concluded the Heritage activities in the Region, was held under the theme “Preserving our customs and traditions”.

Activities included a camp fire, and fishing, birding, fire and wood-cutting competitions with a cultural programme that featured singing and skits.

Hundreds of persons joined with the Amerindian community on Tuesday in celebrating its Heritage Day in a jolly atmosphere that fostered togetherness. Participants were seen in their feathered head dress and Amerindian attire indulging in the taste of piwari and Amerindian delicacies.

Community grounds being rehabilitated

The Georgetown Green Volunteer Corps, initiated by the Mayor and Council (M&CC) of the City of Georgetown, has commenced the cleaning of all community recreational grounds located in the City.

The group, consisting of private citizens and members of the business community, has so far rehabilitated that the Roxanne Burnham Gardens and East Ruimveldt Community Playgrounds.

An estimated $500,000 from the Council’s coffers was expended, as the group removed overgrown bush from both grounds.

In a release, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) announced the commencement of a programme to reclaim its verges, parapets and other open spaces in Georgetown. “The Council is working assiduously to clean and clear all recreational parks and grounds under its Control,” the release stated.

The Council explained that it recognised the need for restoration of all playgrounds and parks. The provision of recreational grounds in various communities has a number of social, economic and health benefits for the populace.

The parks and community grounds promote social cohesion and encourage youth involvement in sport, and in keeping with this thrust, the Council has resuscitated its sport and culture group which had been dormant for many years.

Georgetown Town Clerk Royston King added, “Green Volunteer Corps gives citizens the opportunity to be a part of the restoration and transformation process in the city.”

The Council continued by mentioning that many parks and other recreational faculties in Georgetown have been neglected for many years because of lack of funds. Additionally, although some of the recreational facilities were handed over to community groups for management, over the years many of these groups have either became defunct or dysfunctional, thus the grounds have not been cleaned and maintained regularly.

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

CANCER

Love is in a high cycle. A social or cultural event will give you a chance to meet compatible personal or professional partners. Let your energy and magnetism lead the way.

Someone from your past will cause you to rethink a situation you are currently facing. If you have strayed too far from your intended target, consider setting a new goal.

If emotions are running high, you should take a breather and rethink your position. Shopping, sightseeing or visiting a friend will help you put your situation into proper perspective.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Lending or borrowing money or possessions is discouraged. Take a closer look at your bank account. Keep some funds in reserve to cover an unexpected expense. A safety net will ease stress. Make the most of your good will and generosity and offer your services to a charitable organization. Your charm and sincerity will encourage people to join your cause. You can make a difference.

You may feel like pampering yourself, but remember that overindulgence or overspending will put you at a disadvantage. Don’t let your temper get the better of you.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

You’ll find inspiration if you travel or attend a conference or trade show. Visiting new places and exploring various philosophies and cultures will spark a creative concept.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Financial gains are possible if you are proactive. Go over contracts and agreements carefully. Property deals should be considered as a source of extra income. Make your money work for you.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

You will end up in an awkward position if someone you care about feels stifled. Trying to win every discussion or top any achievement will not lead to happiness.

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

Take it easy. You need rest and relaxation if you want to be at your best. Some quality downtime will help you regroup and plan an unbeatable strategy.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

You will be the star of the show. Others will be drawn to your sense of humor. When possible, include younger family members in your plans. Romance is in the stars.

You will be resentful if a family member is being secretive. In order to reduce the tension, you should initiate an honest dialogue without being critical or overbearing.

Deonarine “happy” to link up with Red Force

New Red Force signing, Narsingh Deonarine, has expressed his delight in joining the Trinidad and Tobago franchise and is confident of his new team winning the West Indies Cricket Board Regional Four-day tournament.

The exciting all-rounder joined the Red Force after the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) negotiated a trade with the Leeward Islands Cricket Association (LICA) in exchange for the services of opening batsman Nkrumah Bonner.

“I am very happy and delighted about being selected for the Red Force because it has been a challenge for myself and my family when playing for Guyana in terms of the new set-up of Caribbean First-Class cricket.

“Being contracted, and my family being in Trinidad was very difficult. My two children are two years and eight months old. My son is now starting school so my wife and I put a lot of thought into it and I decided to move over to Trinidad.

“I was lucky that Trinidad was able to get me with the swap with Bonner so I am very happy to be a part of the Red Force squad,” said Deonarine.

He said he was looking forward to this new chal-

lenge and was sure Trinidad and Tobago will be at the top of the table at the end of the 2016 regional cricket season. “We have a good group of experienced play-

ers and talented youngsters in the squad which will make us tough to beat,” said Deonarine.

He also expressed his gratitude to the TTCB

and LICA for coming to an agreement which allows him to play top class regional cricket and to be closer to his family.

“The TTCB and LICA must be commended for the manner in which they worked together to ensure that I can play cricket and be with my wife and children. I have a young family and it was critical for me to be there to support my wife and be a father to my children.

“As a professional cricketer you have to make a lot of sacrifices but I did not want my family to suffer when there was an opportunity to play regional cricket and be with them,” said Deonarine.

He said that his wife Aneesa, who is the daughter of former West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago mystery spinner, Inshan Ali is overjoyed that he is in Trinidad representing the Red Force.

“My wife is very happy because Trinidad is her home and I will be here to help raise our family. When I played for Guyana she always said that she wanted me to do well, but that she remains a Trinidad and Tobago supporter. Now she can support me and the team I play for,” said Deonarine confidently. (windiescricket)

FA still backing Platini for FIFA role

The Football Association says it will continue to back Michel Platini’s bid to become president of FIFA, despite his links to a corruption inquiry.

Investigators are probing payments made to the Uefa president by FIFA counterpart Sepp Blatter.

The FA announced in July it was backing the Frenchman for the role and said on Wednesday: “We are still of that view.”

However, it added: “Events of recent days have raised a number of issues which do need to be fully examined.”

Platini, 60, is being treated “in between a witness and an accused person”, say Swiss investigators.

The FA board met on Wednesday and later said it maintained its “unanimous” support for Platini.

Blatter has said he will step down from football’s world governing body

in February, with Platini among those who will stand for the post.

Explaining its support for the former France international, the FA said: “We thought he was an excellent pres-

ident of Uefa and could bring those same leadership qualities to FIFA.”

But it stressed: “We are following the ongoing investigation initiated by the Swiss attorney general which Mr Platini is co-operating with in full.”

Swiss prosecutors are looking into a payment made to Platini in 2011 for work he completed for Blatter almost a decade earlier.

Last week, Swiss prosecutors announced they were investigating Blatter on suspicion of criminal mismanagement in relation to that payment.

The attorney general’s office said he was suspected of signing a contract that was “unfavourable to FIFA” and making a “disloyal payment” to Platini.

Both men have denied any wrongdoing.

The pair is also facing an investigation by FIFA’s ethics committee over the issue. (BBC Sport)

Ronaldo equals record in Real win

Cristiano Ronaldo equalled Raul’s alltime goals record for Real Madrid and took his career tally to 500 with two against Malmo in Sweden.

The Portugal international opened the scoring in the Champions League Group A match when he latched on to Isco’s pass and clipped the ball home.

The 30-year-old added a second late on with a simple finish after he was teed up by substitute Lucas Vazquez.

Ronaldo’s second saw him draw level with Raul’s club total of 323 goals.

“To equal this record for Real Madrid is great. I am glad to come to Sweden and score again,” Ronaldo said.

“The most important thing is to win. It was a tough game, Malmo were difficult, but we controlled the game and scored two goals so we are happy.”

Real Madrid’s victory over the Swedish champions

maintained their 100% start in the Champions League, having beaten Shakhtar Donetsk 4-0 in their opening match thanks to a Ronaldo hat-trick.

Paris St-Germain are behind Real on goal difference after they also made it backto-back wins with a 3-0 victory over Shaktar in Lviv.

Former Spain striker Raul, now with New York Cosmos, hit 323 goals in 741 appearances for Real between 1994 and 2010. However, Ronaldo has needed a mere 308 games to match him having joined Real from Manchester United in July 2009. He has also matched Raul’s Champions League tally of 66 goals for Real Madrid and is the competition’s top scorer with 82 goals - five more than Barcelona’s Lionel Messi on 77.

Ronaldo’s second goal was the 500th of his career in his 753rd match for club and country. (BBC Sport)

Cameron calls on PCL to provide WI replacements

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Dave Cameron has called on WICB Professional Cricket League (PCL) to fulfill its mandate of providing the region with quality players.

Several players expressed a lack of desire to play for the regional Test team in light of the new and controversial Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), signed between the WICB and West Indies Players Association (WIPA) last year.

With promising players like Lendl Simmons refusing to suit up for current wages and the possibility of more to follow the president expressed a hope that readily available

replacements can be found.

“I’m always concerned about what players want to play, that’s why we are developing our structures via the new Professional Cricket League (PCL) – so we will have replacements,” Cameron said.

“…as long as the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TT CB) and other territories live up to their mandate we will have replacements.”

With the availability of several players uncertain for the near future either due to age or the threat of the Twenty20 game, which has proven to be a more lucrative format, there are concerns that several positions in team lack adequate back-up. (Digicel Sportsmax)

Simmons asked to answer ‘breaches of confidentiality’

Phil Simmons has not been fired, but he has been asked to answer “breaches of confidentiality”, according to the WICB chief executive Michael Muirhead, after the West Indies coach was suspended because he had alleged outside interference in the selection of the ODI squad for the tour of Sri Lanka.

Muirhead said they hoped to reach a decision on Simmons’ future in the next seven days.

“What has happened with Phil Simmons is most unfortunate, rest assured he has not been fired,” he said. “Let us say he has been called to answer breaches of

confidentiality and bringing the WICB into disrepute. He will be given a fair hearing by a panel and a decision will be made within the boundaries of our own HR policy.

“During the process he will continue to enjoy the full benefits of his full remuneration. The mater will be dealt with in an expeditious manner and it is our intention to have a decision within the next seven working days.”

Clive Lloyd, the West Indies chairman of selectors, also issued a statement saying such outbursts could not be excused. Simmons had said that he and Lloyd had

been in agreement about wanting Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard back in the ODI squad, but had been outvoted 3-2 by the other selectors.

“Phil has apologised to all for his recent public statements and how strongly he would have felt on certain selection matters of the team,” Lloyd said. “We agreed - at times - that we will have a difference of opinion, but we cannot condone such outbursts. Therefore, we will always seek discussion and dialogue at every stage of the selection process and work towards the best interest of West Indies cricket.”

Simmons was suspended on Monday, two days after his outburst in which he said he had not been given the best ODI squad even though the captain Jason Holder also wanted Bravo and Pollard in the team. His comments came before the squad was officially announced by the WICB. An email from Muirhead informed Simmons of his suspension with immediate effect, six months after he had taken up the job. Former fast bowler and selector Eldine Baptiste was handed the role of interim coach for the tour of Sri Lanka. (Cricinfo)

MCC revises fielder movement Law

The MCC has confirmed an update to the Laws that allows a fielder to make a “significant movement” before the striker has played the ball. The ICC, in consultation with the MCC, had already introduced a playing condition to this effect last year, which came to light after Steven Smith took a catch to remove Fawad Ahmed in an ODI in Abu Dhabi.

Previously, under Laws 41.7 and 41.8, Smith’s movement would have resulted in a dead ball, with “significant movement ... before the ball reaches the striker” deemed as “unfair”.

They have now been replaced by a single Law 41.7, governing movement by fielders other than the wicketkeeper. The change is designed to promote “intelligent fielding” and allows a player to move if it becomes obvious a batsman will play the ball in a certain direction.

The decision of the umpires to allow Smith’s catch during the 2014 match between Pakistan and Australia caused some controversy, until it became known that the ICC had adapted the Law to allow a

degree of movement. This has now been taken into account by the MCC’s latest revision of the Laws.

John Stephenson, MCC’s head of cricket, said: “As the Guardian of the Laws and Spirit of cricket, it is important that MCC continues to keep pace with the game’s development, and that’s why we have made these changes to the Laws. Steve Smith’s excellent catch in Abu Dhabi last year illustrated that such skilful anticipation by a fielder should be within the Laws of the game, and these changes now make that the case.” (Cricinfo)

BCB makes last-ditch appeal to Cricket Australia F1 2016 season to start earlier after team complaints

In what is likely to be a final effort to save the Bangladesh-Australia Test series, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said that Cricket Australia (CA) should factor the promised unprecedented levels of security before making a decision. The BCB is bracing for a message on the future of the series from CA on Thursday.

In the statement, BCB president Nazmul Hassan said that he has not give up hopes of the tour taking place after VVIP security, the kind provided to heads of states, was assured to the Australia team. Since the Australians declined to travel on September 28, security and intelligence agencies in Bangladesh have gone out of their way to assuage the CA security team which was in the country earlier this week.

“We have left no stone unturned in providing assurance regarding security for the Australian team,” Hassan said. “The Bangladesh government has committed to additional security on top of the substantial and elaborate arrangements in the BCB’s standard Security Plan for international cricket. For the Australia team the level has been confirmed as VVIP which is equivalent to security accorded to head of states and is unprecedented for any international side.

“We are still hopeful that a fresh date for arrival of its team will be declared by CA and we will see some exciting cricket on the ground soon. The cricketers, fans and everyone associated with cricket deserve that. Risks of untoward occurrences and threats are an unfortunate reality in today’s world

and can happen anywhere.

That is why we have placed utmost importance on preventive methods and action. We firmly believe that there is no reason for this tour to not go ahead after the extensive effort that has gone into the security arrangements.”

The BCB said cricket teams visiting Bangladesh were given high priority by security agencies. It cited the example of the World T20 and the Women’s World T20 hosted by the country last year where 26 teams took part two months after severe violence erupted across the country.

Despite all the efforts made by the BCB and the Bangladesh government, however, Australia have sent out enough suggestions in the last few days that indicate they could be pulling out of the tour. (Cricinfo)

The latest version of the 2016 Formula 1 calendar has next season starting two weeks earlier than originally planned, in Australia on March 20.

The Melbourne race was originally scheduled for April 3, the latest start to an F1 season in decades.

But teams complained about the compressed schedule caused by trying to cram in a record 21 races.

Australia will be followed by Bahrain, China and Russia at two-week intervals, with the British Grand Prix on July 10.

The revised schedule for what was described as an “updated provisional calendar” - suggesting there could be further changes at a later date - was released following a meeting of F1’s legislative

body, the world motorsport council of governing body the FIA, on Wednesday.

The list also sees a date change for Malaysia, moving it two weeks apart from the Singapore race with which it had originally been twinned.

Singapore organisers objected to the races being back-to-back because they felt it would negatively affect their event to have another race so close geographically on the following weekend.

And a mid-season break of four weeks has been reintroduced after a decision to cut it to three was criticised by teams, saying it would make the workload on mechanics intolerable.

In other notable changes, the new European Grand Prix in the Azerbaijani capi-

tal Baku will be on June 19, a week after the Canadian race in Montreal.

The season ends in Abu Dhabi on November 27 as originally scheduled.

A number of rule changes were announced.

Tweaks to the rule regarding track limits, after controversies about drivers going beyond the lines demarcating the edge of the circuit, will include a requirement for drivers to “make every reasonable effort to use the track at all times and may not deliberately leave the track without a justifiable reason”.

And a change has been made to engines for next season to try to make them louder, following criticisms that the new

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Latchman (62*), Ramdat (515) highlight latest action

The in-form Lakeram Latchman struck a solid fifty for Number 73 Young Warriors and Deoprakash Ramdat claimed a five-wicket haul for Corriverton in the latest round of the Upper Corentyne 4R T20 cricket competition in

At the Number 73 ground, Number 72 All Star batted first and scored 107-9 in their 20 overs with Devendranauth Jairam hitting a topscore of 29. Bowling for Number 73 Young Warriors, Chanderkumar Ramjass took 3-23 off four overs and Latchman 2-21 also off four overs.

In reply, Number 73 Young Warriors reached 1104 in 17.2 overs with Latchman returning to hit 62 not out, while extras were 21. Bowling for Number 72 All Star, K. Joseph took 3-13 off three overs.

In the second game at Number 73 ground, Number 73 Young Warriors were bowled out for 75 in 19.2 overs batting first against Corriverton. Latchman again topscored, this time with 19.

Bowling for Corriverton, Ramdat bagged 5-15 off four overs and Eric Phillips took 2-6 off 3.2 overs. In reply, Corriverton reached 76 off 9.3 overs with Clavern Beresford scoring 41 and Amzan Appalsammy 24 not out.

Bowling for Number 73 Young Warriors, Latchman took 2-11 off three overs.

Over on the Number 72 ground, Number 69 Vikings defeated Number 72 Cut and Load by eight wickets. Number 72 Cut and Load batted first and scored 101 all out in 17.3 overs with H. Persaud making 27 and R. Persaud 18.

Bowling for Number 69 Vikings, Latchman Roopchan took 3-10 off four overs, Wadikar Ramrattan bagged 2-8 off two overs and Totaram Persaud 2-14 off 3.3 overs.

In reply, Number 69 Vikings raced to 106-2 off 10 overs with former Guyana Under-19 batsman Viendra Gooniah hitting 46, Latchman Roopchand 29 and V. Lallbeharry 20.

Over at Scottsburg, Scottsburg United defeated Number 72 All Star by six wickets. Batting first, Number 72 All Star were bowled out for 83 off 15 overs.

A. Hemchand top scored with 41. Bowling for Scottsburg United, Aaron Jeffrey took 3-21 off three overs, Raymon Lowenfield took 2-20 off four overs and Oden Kyte 2-10 off three overs.

Scottsburg then raced to victory at 84-4 off 16 overs with Jeffrey hitting 33 not out and was supported by Shaun Jackman 16 not out. Bowling for Number 72 All Star, D. Deochan took 2-18 off four overs.

In other results, Number

52 Survival defeated Number 58 Riot Squad by 114 runs; Number 69 Vikings defeated Number 70 A by eight wickets; Springlands defeated Number 72 Cut and Load by six wickets; Corriverton defeated Scottsburg by seven wickets; Yakusari Caribs defeated Number 59 by 14 runs; Yakusari Caribs defeated Number 58 Riot Squad by 23 runs; and Number 52 Survival defeated Number 59 by 49 runs.

The competition is being sponsored by Ricky Deonarain of 4R Bearing of Georgetown and is being organised by the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA).

The competition started with 20 teams spreading from Yakusari to Crabwood Creek playing in four zones with the top two teams in each zone advancing to the knockout rounds.

The preliminary phase is being played on a home and away basis with the winner taking home $100,000 and trophy. The final will be played under lights at the Crabwood Creek Sports Complex.

Huge wins for Port Mourant and Blairmont not enough

Despite huge wins in the final round in the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) sponsored Tenelec Inc. 50-over first division cricket competition, both Port Mourant and Blairmont have failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Port Mourant churned out a massive 225-run victory over a hapless Edinburgh side, while Blairmont humbled Bush Lot Rising Star by 185 runs.

Port Mourant, after winning the toss and electing to take first strike, scored a massive total of 315-9 off 45 overs. The total was build around an attractive 75 from Lloydel Lewis, 51 each

from Chanderpaul Hemraj and Joshua Ramsammy, while Dimitri Cameron and Avishkar Sewkarran scored 33 and 24 respectively.

Bowling for Edinburgh, pacer Joseph Giddings took 4-34 and Shafiq Khan had 2-31.

In reply, the home team was bowled out for a disappointing 90, with only Deonarine Seepersaud offering resistance with 19.

Young pacer Cameron returned with the ball to take 3-14. He was supported by Manoj Looknauth, who took 3-28, and A. Khan 2-28.

At Bush Lot, Blairmont scored a daunting 295-4 off 42 overs. Mahendra Singh hit a top score of 75. He received support from Zameer Inshan, with an unbeaten 53, Nick Ramsaroop (39), Nigel Trotz (39), Javed Karim (37) and Parmanand Ramdhan (35).

In reply, Bush Lot Rising Star scored a disappointing 111 all out in just 18 overs, with Glenroy Fraser scoring 51. Ramdhan returned with the ball to bag 5-6 off four overs, while Derek Cadogan supported with two wickets.

The final two preliminary matches to determine

the winners and runners-up of Zone A and Zone C will be played this Saturday at the Bush Lot and Port Mourant grounds respectively.

West Berbice will oppose Police at Bush Lot, while Albion Community Centre and Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets will clash at Port Mourant.

The playoff matches will be held next Saturday at three venues across Berbice with the winner of Zone A to host the runner-up of Zone C; the winner of Zone B will be at home to runner-up of Zone A; and the winner of Zone C will take on the runner-up of Zone B, who will have home advantage.

thursday, october 1, 2015

Crandon aims to produce more international players

By Rajiv Bisnauth

With one eye on defending his team’s Regional Firstclass title, Head Coach of the Guyana Jaguars franchise, Esaun Crandon, says his main aim during the upcoming West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Professional Cricket league (PCL) FourDay tournament is to produce more international cricketers for the West Indies team.

From a personal perspective, Crandon said his desire this season is to ensure each player realises his full potential, with the aim of ultimately wearing the maroon West Indies uniform in the near future.

“Yea definitely, while our first goal is to defend the title, obviously one of the goals set out is to produce players to play at the highest level, but having said that it’s a process, and we are willing to go through that process,” Crandon said.

He added, “It will not be that easy, it will talk a lot of hard work from the players individually as well as the support staff, but we are prepared for the hard work.”

Under Crandon’s watch, Guyana has produced three new West Indies players, namely batsmen Assad Fudadin and Rajendra

Chandrika, and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul.

It was also under Crandon’s tenure that legspinner Devendra Bishoo, all-rounder Narsingh Deonarine and middle-order batsman Leon Johnson earned recalls to the senior West Indies team.

“We did well last year and we are trying to continue this year because we are not only looking to win, but to produce players for the West Indies so people can judge us not only for winning, but for producing West Indian players,” Crandon pointed out.

He continued, “One thing

I want this year from my players is for them to get out of the 400/500 runs [aggregate]. I want them to aim higher to get 800 or 1000 runs. I also want them to come out of 20 and 30 averages and go for 40 or 50. I think for our fast bowlers this year, I really want to see them dominate. I know the wickets are not conducive, but that’s where the skills as a bowler come in for the different surfaces where they will have to know how to adjust, bowl in the right areas and be patient.”

Meanwhile, Crandon is confident that the discipline displayed by the cricketers during the recent training sessions is a positive sign.

According to Crandon, the players have shown vast improvement over the few weeks in perfecting their game in time for the tournament, which is set to bowl off on November 6.

“I am pleased with the level of fitness and improvement shown by the players,” Crandon declared.

Two four-day practice games are planned before the final squad is selected. The Guyana Jaguars will begin the defense of the title against the Windward Islands Volcanoes at the National Stadium. (rajivb@ guyanatimesgy.com)

Over 100 athletes registered for Guyana Marathon

Over 100 local and foreign athletes have already finalised their registration for the first staging of Guyana Marathon, set for November 14 at Santa Mission.

That’s the word coming from one of the chief organisers, Leslie Blacks, who informed this publication of Wednesday that plans for the event are coming along fine, with over 65 foreign athletes already confirmed to participate.

Blacks, one of the most successful local coaches, pointed out that participants

are expected from Canada, United States of America, England and several territories in the Caribbean.

He further stated that funds garnered from the one day event will go directly towards the Santa Mission Elementary School.

Corporate support has also been streaming in for the event, with GTT “Do More” recently injecting $1 million to join with entities such as Banks DIH Limited, Marriott Hotel and Impressions as partners in the initiative.

The event, which will

Floodlight/Media game in memory of fallen journalist

The Floodlights team and Guyana Media XI have agreed to play Friday’s highly anticipated feature 20-over ‘hardball’ cricket match at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, Queenstown, in memory of the sport journalist Calvin Roberts.

Roberts, a former captain of the Guyana Media XI, passed away in May this year after suffering from renal failure.

This will be the third time the two teams will be meeting, and it is seen as a winner-takes-all game after the results were shared in the first two encounters.

The first game- a ‘hardball’ encounter- was easily won by the Guyana Media XI, while the return match- a softball showdown- was won the Floodlights team.

At the conclusion of game

two, a coin toss was held at the DCC ground to determine which version of the game will be played during the ‘final’, and the Guyana Media XI won the right to have a ‘hardball’ match to break the deadlock.

The highly anticipated game will bowl off at 19:00h, and trophies for the game will be provided by Ramesh

SPR Enterprise 40-over cricket…

Sunich of the Trophy Stall.

XI will be led by opener John Ramsingh of NCN.

Floodlights squad: Ricky Deonarain (Captain), Dharam Persaud, Steve Naraine, Surendra Nauth, Rakesh Goverdan Arjune, Reaz Hussein, Richard Persaud, Anil Beharry, Lalta Gainda, Khalid Baksh, Loyd Rooplall, Nafjohn Samlall,Wayne Jones and Romeo Deonarain. The Manager is Rohan Boj-raj. Guyana Media XI squad: John Ramsingh (Captain), Shahrukh Imran, Ishaka Jackman, Rajiv Bisnauth, Daniel Singh, Avenash Ramzan, Treiston Joseph, Zaheer Mohamed, Clifton Ross, Orlando Charles, Ravi Persaud, Diquan Murray, Rawle Toney, Jermaine Neblett, Rene Stoby and Merthel Sammy.

Ramlakhan stars but ECCCC endure mixed fortunes

Young batting sensation Vishwanauth Ramlakhan amassed 193 runs in three innings, emerging as the most consistent batsman for his team, but Enmore Community Centre Cricket Club (ECCCC) endured mixed fortunes in the SPR Enterprise 40-over cricket competition.

After a 45-run defeat at the hands of Strathavon, ECCCC rebounded to beat Mahaica by 63 runs and Fairfield by 54 runs.

Batting first, Strathavon made 225-9 with K. Alphonso and G. Hemraj scoring 39 and 38 respectively, while Chandraban Semangal bagged 3-36 for ECCC.

ECCCC then replied with

comprise a Marathon, Half Marathon and a 10K, will be the first of its kind in the Santa Mission area.

The Marathon will commence at 08:00h, which will be followed by the Half Marathon starting at 09:00h and the 10K at 10:00h. Among the local athletes that will be on show are Kelvin Johnson, Alika Morgan and Cleveland Forde.

Interested athletes can register at www.guyanamarathon.com, and queries can be forwarded to guyanamarathon@gmail.com.

177, being bowled out in 33 overs. Ramlakhan and R. Singh contributed 66 and 59 respectively, while J. Tyndall bowled Strathavon to victory with figures of 6-17.

Playing against Mahaica,

ECCCC rattled up 252-8 with Ramlakhan making a blistering 87, while skipper Bheemraj Ramkhelawan made 47 and R. Singh 39. C. Chamannauth picked up 3-30. In reply, Mahaica fell for 189 with R. Shrikishun getting 38 not out, while Yuvraj Dyal, who was part of the successful Suriname team recently, claimed 3-22. In the match against Fairfield, ECCCC posted 156 with Ramlakhan topscoring with 40, while Ramkellawan made 38. R. Singh took 4-33 for Fairfield, who managed 102 all out.

Off-spinner Christopher Surat was the chief destroyer with 5-14, while Dyal picked up 2-12.

EBDCA T20 competition starts Saturday

Competitive cricket will make a return to the East Bank of Demerara as the East Bank Demerara Cricket Association (EBDCA) is set to bowl off a Twenty/20 tournament for all teams affiliated to the EDBCA. On Saturday from 09:30h Laluni Sports Club will take on Sand Pipers Sports Club, while at 13:00h Herstelling Sports Club will engage

Uprising Sports Club. On Sunday from 09:30h Providence Sports Club and Farm Sports Club will battle in the first game, while Combine United Sports Club will come up against Herstelling Sports Club in the final match of the day.

All matches this weekend will be played at the Farm cricket ground, marking a timely return of competitive cricket to the venue. Matches will be played with white balls and teams will be decked out in coloured uniforms.

Guyana Softball Cup 5 set for grand launch today

Officials of the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) will today unveil plans for the staging of the fifth edition of Guyana Softball Cup 5, which is set for October 30 to November 1.

Organised by the GFSCA, the tournament has grown to become the country’s premier softball cricket competition, attracting top teams from Guyana and North America.

Vice-president of the GFSCA, Ricky Deonarain, during an interview with Guyana Times Sport last week, said that preparations for the three-day competition were ongoing, and the GFSCA members will be meeting on a regular basis during the coming weeks to finalise the finer details of the tournament.

Already, 10 foreign teams from Canada, New York and Florida have confirmed their

participation, Deonarain revealed. The GFSCA is aiming to attract a total of 24 teams to compete in the two categories, Open and Masters, which would mean the remaining 14 would come from Guyana.

The names of the 24 teams are expected to be announced at today’s launch.

In 2014, local sides made a clean sweep of the two titles, with West Demerara’s Wolf’s

Warriors winning the Open division and Floodlights copping the Masters trophy.

The competition was first held in 2011, and since then Cotton Field Wild Oats, New York All Stars, Trophy Stall and Wolf’s Warriors have won the Open category, while Regal, Savage, New York Better Hope and Floodlights have lifted the Masters trophy. (aramzan@guyanatimesgy.com)

Mangal leads EBSC to win over Central Renegade

Rohan Mangal turned in a dominant allround performance last weekend to lead Enterprise Busta Sports Club (EBSC) to an easy win over Central Renegade Sports Club (CRSC) of Trinidad and Tobago.

In a feature T20 match at the Enterprise ground on

the East Coast of Demerara, the visitors batted first and chalked up 141-7 off the allotment of 20 overs. Narine Bidhesi led the way with a brilliant 81, while Mangal claimed 3-19 off four miserly overs. Nandalall Seebarran supported with 2-21. EBSC then knocked off the target with an over to

Stag Elite League...

spare with Mangal leading the effort with an even fifty, while coach/player Latcham Yadram was unbeaten on 44 when victory was achieved.

Trophies for the game were donated by Guyana Beverage Company, and Mangal collected one for being voted Man-of-the-

Pele snatch another win; GDF/Conquerors draw

By TreisTon Joseph

The third round of the Stag Elite League concluded on Tuesday evening when Pele FC toppled Buxton United 3-1 and Fruta Conquerors drew with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) 2-2 at the Tucville Community Centre ground in Georgetown.

Pele displayed another 90 minutes of attacking form, using their experience and ability to control the pace of the game to top an inexperienced Buxton United team, who have not lost three games on the trot in the League.

The game started poorly for Buxton United as their inability to hold the defensive line was exposed early by Pele with a Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson strike that rocked the back of the net in the fourth min -

ute.

Buxton United responded with a counter attack down the right wing that resulted in a Clive Andries strike in the 24th minute to put the teams back on level pecking.

However, just before the conclusion of the half, Buxton United’s inexperience raised its ugly head once again with yet another blunder, as Julian Joseph capitalised to score in the 42nd minute to close the half 2-1 in favour of Pele.

Ronel Gordon’s goal in the 55th minute would be the insurance for Pele’s victory; earning them a hard fought three points. Meanwhile, the second game of the evening was another thrilling contest as Trevon Lythcot’s crucial strike one minute after GDF scored helped the home side to a fighting

draw.

While Conquerors scored last, they initially scored the first goal of the game through Kwame LaFleur in the 23rd minute.

The highly competitive and fast-paced encounter would continue with the game’s next crucial moment being an Eusi Phillips’ equaliser in the 34th minute as the half ended 1-1.

On resumption for the second half, GDF looked dangerous and were rewarded with their persistent play with another goal from Phillips in the 60th minute.

However, one lapse of concentration from GDF after their celebrations was enough for Lythcot to pull off a game-saving equaliser. The tournament will continue over the weekend at various grounds across Guyana.

South American 10K set to be bigger and better

By TreisTon Joseph

The 13th edition of the South American 10K is set to have a massive improvement in participation and prestige, as was disclosed at the launch on Wednesday at its Secretariat on Light Street.

Match. Meanwhile, the Enterprise Legends Softball Club will host Amar Shaktie Cricket Club of Suriname later this month. The two sides will be involved in three games on the weekend of October 10-11 at the Enterprise ground, with trophies and cash incentives at stake.

At the press conference where Banks DIH Limited was introduced as the first major sponsor of the event set for November 8, President of the Athletics Association of Guyana, Aubrey Hutson, noted that all 12 of the South American countries have given their commitment to participate in the event.

“We expect greater participation...we have received commitments from all 12 of the South American countries, as well as calls from the United Arab Emirates, as well as an increase in the number of Caribbean countries,” Hutson revealed.

Hutson also disclosed that the event has been revamped, with the overall winner now being crowned at the conclusion of the three legs, thus creating more participation.

There will also be no categories at the event, while 16 and under athletes have been debarred from participating.

A points system will be introduced where the athlete accumulating the most points will receive the overall crown as well as an extra US$1500.

Hutson in his remarks also thanked Banks DIH Limited for the support. “We are appreciative and grateful to Banks for answering the call as our first sponsor,” Huston mentioned.

Meanwhile, with the event being sponsored under the Rainforest Waters and Powerade brands, Banks DIH Water Brand Manager Errol Nelson stressed the beverage company’s commitment to sport.

“Our sponsorship of this South American 10K race demonstrates our steadfast involvement in the development of sport in Guyana and in particular athletics. Our involvement in the event will be in the form of creating the awareness of the brand along with providing refreshments for the athletes and ground staff,” Nelson noted, as he wished the event success.

The South American 10K will have three legs, with the first beginning on October 31 in Suriname before coming to Guyana on November 8. The final leg will be held on November 16 in Panama.