Guyana Times Daily - August 24, 2015

Montrose granny murder Suspect implicates son as paymaster

blasts UG for lack of research on suicide

monday, august 24, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Irfaan Ali refutes Kaieteur

News car-taxes claims

Former Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali has debunked the Kaieteur News that he acquired several motor vehicles while he was a sitting Member of the 10th Parliament without paying relevant taxes.

Ali had taken to his Facebook page on Sunday to highlight that he has the documentation to prove that his acquisition was legally garnered.

as a Member of Parliament in the 10th Parliament. This concession was recommended and approved by all the relevant authority. I was shocked when this officer approached me on Friday night after the Parliament to inform me that I will be receiving a letter from GRA on Monday asking me to pay taxes on this vehicle,” Ali wrote on his Facebook page. He said his actions have

“It was brought to my attention by a senior GRA official that instructions have been given to institute taxes on motor vehicle I acquired through legal means

been consistent within the laws of Guyana and as such he was “putting the country on notice that these targeted actions to silence” him would not succeed. “I am prepared to deal with

and have all the documents to justify the stated facts. I anxiously await the purported letter. I have nothing to hide or fear so would never succumb to any threats,” Ali declared.

He posted a copy of the letter dated March 3, 2014 and signed by GRA Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur, which states in no uncertain terms that “Members of Parliament are granted tax exemptions from the payment of Customs duty under Section 23 of the Customs Act Chapter 82: 01, the zero rating of Value Added Tax under Sub section (1) … it further stated that a

Member of Parliament may be entitled to one or two motor vehicles for every sitting of Parliament, that if a motor vehicle is older than four years and is acquired during the first year of the new sitting, then the MP is eligible for another on the second motor vehicle”

Further the letter states that “in this regard, your [Ali’s] request to acquire a tax exemption in the 10th Parliament can be accommodated since according to our records, you were last granted tax exemptions on a motor vehicle on March 4, 2011, during the ninth Parliament”.

GT&T customers still receiving bogus calls

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited (GT&T) continues to grapple with scores of reports from customers claiming that they have been continuously receiving phone calls from strange numbers with callers informing them that they have won prizes in a promotion.

Customers are now fearful that the perpetrators might have their personal information and as such, have started to take precautionary measures given the present crime wave in the country.

The unknown callers, however, from reports received are more interested in conning consumers into believing that they have won monies in a promotion. One such call was received by a media worker during last week.

During the conversation, the caller informed the customer that he had won two Samsung S5 mobile phones and $500,000 in an ongoing promotion by the telephone giant.

The media operative from the inception knew that it was a bogus call, but played along. The caller stated that the conversation had to be 20 minutes long to ensure the procedures are followed. During the conver-

sation, noises were heard in the background which suggested that the call was not made from an office.

The bogus caller informed the customer that before the process was completed, he must purchase 30 $1000 mobile GT&T cards, placed them in an envelope and drop them off at the BlackBerry Office on Brickdam, Georgetown.

At this point in time, the media operative asked the caller if he knew the name of the person with whom he was having the conversation and he responded in the negative, but gave the number he called.

The media operative reportedly threatened to disconnect the call but he was told that if he did, he would be disqualified from the competition. Eventually, the caller disconnected the call when the media operative informed him that he was going to contact the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the phone company to verify the call.

When contact was made with GT&T Public Relations Officer Allison Parker, she noted that the company receives reports on a daily basis about bogus calls and warned customers not to adhere to the requests that are

APNU, AFC still discussing way forward in contesting LGE

– Govt insists ball in “GECOM’s court” on date

While A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) are yet to make a decision on whether they will be contesting the local polls as a coalition or independent of each other, Government continues to insist that the ball was “in GECOM’s court” in terms of determining a date for hosting the Local Government Elections (LGE) this year.

AFC General Secretary David Patterson, who is also the Public Infrastructure Minister, told the Guyana Times that this was still being discussed at the level of the respective parties. “We are still discussing it. As soon as we have made a decision, we will inform the pub-

lic but as of now that matter is still being discussed,” he indicated.

While the two parties are yet to make a formal decision, political commentators have stated that any decision by the AFC, which is married the APNU, to contest the elections independently would result in the exposure of the extent to which its constituency has declined since the May 11 elections.

Guyana can go to polls.

GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally, told this publication following a statutory meeting on Tuesday last that no “decisions” were made in relation to the holding of the LGE. He said while he read and saw reports attributed to Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, he was not aware that the issue of setting the date or time frame for the elections was one that was scheduled to be discussed in a formal way by GECOM at its planned statutory meeting.

Dr Surujbally advised that the Commission did discuss the legal lacunae that stand in the way of successful holding of the elections, but these issues were known to all the stakeholders who

being made by the callers. Parker went on to say that the phone company has managed to pinpoint some of the numbers that are being used to call customers and was shocked in some instances. Several of the calls, she noted, emanated from the Camp Street Prison. Officials of the phone company have since met with prison officials to discuss the issue.

She urged customers to report the bogus calls at once to the phone company along with the numbers so that GT&T can investigate, encouraging them not to fall prey to the predators.

In fact, Dr Henry Jeffrey told this newspaper that this decision would depend on how the two political parties see their longterm future as a coalition.

“If they see themselves as a group together in the long term, then they will go to these elections and contest together. However, if they do not, then they would be contesting the upcoming elections in the regions separately. It all depends on how both parties see themselves together in the future,” Dr Jeffrey explained.

Meanwhile, as it relates to the setting of a date for the hosting of Local Government Elections, the Government and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) are yet to decision on how soon

had interest in the holding of local polls. He explained further that the Commission continued to do what it could at this time to prepare for the elections whenever they would be held.

Meanwhile, when contacted subsequently, Minister Bulkan maintained that Government was awaiting advice from the elections body on how soon the elections can be held.

“We want to hold it as soon as possible. We are waiting on GECOM to tell us how soon we can hold it. Once we get that word, we are prepared to name a date… the ball is in GECOM’s court,” he stated.

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Monday, August 24 – 12:00h-13:30h and Tuesday, August 25 – 13:30h-15:00h

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

Monday, August 24 – 11:00h-12:30h and Tuesday, August 25 – 12:25h-13:55h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Heavy rainfall can be expected in the morning and afternoon hours. Partly cloudy skies can be expected in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East to East South-easterly between 0.89 metres and 3.12 metres per second.

High Tide: 11:31h reaching a maximum height of 2.17 metres.

Low Tide: 04:54h and 17:26h reaching minimum heights of 0.97 metre and 1.06 metres respectively.

Govt satisfied with partial fulfilment

Today marks 100 days since the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government was elected, and so it comes under scrutiny regarding the fulfilment of its 21-point promise, which was supposed to be delivered within its first 100 days in office.

With only approximately 15 of those promises partially accomplished, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said the Administration would give itself an “A” grade for the success achieved so far. “We have considered it and based on our own check-

list, we are extremely comfortable with the work we have done and the accomplishments we have made under that plan,” he told Journalists on Friday.

Several key promises such as an overall “phased” reduction of VAT, the Berbice Bridge tolls, and “significant” increases of the salaries of Public Servants, teachers, Police ranks and nurses, have had to be radically modified downwards. The liberalisation of the Information and Communications

Technology (ICT) sector was also not addressed. The inability of the Government to adopt “a long-term sustainable economic development plan to realise the vast potential of this country” was evident in the ad hoc budget just presented.

However, the coalition Government did come in for much commendation from various sections of Guyanese society on the efforts it has put into fulfilling the promises made on the elections campaign trail. These were the sentiments related to Guyana Times by civil society organisations and individuals when contacted. They also expressed the view that the Government was distracted by other pressing matters upon assumption to office; hence, it could not have focused entirely on the promises.

Head of the Indian Action Committee (formerly Indian Arrival Committee – IAC),

Neaz Suban, pointed out that the APNU/ AFC Administration has achieved at least twothirds of its promises, and this was commendable in light of the challenges it has encountered.

Suban stated that despite the expectations for the Administration to fulfil all of its promises, it was not a “bad achievement”.

“People had expectations of a 100 per cent delivery, but obviously Government would have had challenges in delivering … [the citizenry] is still expecting that the rest of the promises to be delivered at the soonest,” he related.

For his part, Head of the African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA), Dr Eric Phillips, said the APNU/AFC coalition inherited something entirely different than what it was expecting; hence, it was preoccupied dealing with those matters and had less time to focus on the 100-day plan prom-

ises. Nevertheless, he said, the Government did manage to implement some of the easier pledges as it worked on paving the path to complete the others. “They did not meet all the promises made and it’s understandable why they haven’t delivered, but they are doing things to make sure that they will be able to fulfil commitments without any hindrance,” he opined.

According to Phillips, one of the major hindrances in the Administration not being able to fulfil its promises was the uncertainty surrounding the election which went on for

about a month after Poling Day on May 11.

Professor Daizal Samad, in assessing the Government’s performance, told this newspaper that the APNU/AFC coalition was “severely hamstrung” by financial issues; hence, it could not have adequately pursued its 100-day plan. He noted that one could not simply implement plans for the future unless one cleared the rubble in one’s path.

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

Creeping party paramountcy

The move by the Government to reduce the time for the PPP Opposition to scrutinise the Budget, line by line, from seven days to three days has been criticised by even commentators considered friendly to the APNU/AFC Government. What made the change even more egregious was that in the last Parliament, when the now Government was in opposition with a majority, they had changed the schedule for their budget scrutiny to seven days. If it was good for themselves in opposition, why is it suddenly now "bad"? The excuse offered that they need the four days to "get going" cannot hold water.

Whatever the real motives, the effect of the action to truncate examination of the Government spending more than $200B will have a chilling effect on the institutionalisation of democracy in Guyana. The PNC Government had rejected the notion of an effective Opposition by dubbing the latter as the "Minority Party" even as they declared the "paramountcy" of the governing "majority" party over the Government.

Back at the beginning of the millennium, when the PNCR had bludgeoned the PPP Government to the table, they insisted on the importance of an Opposition scrutinisingGovernmental operations. Subsequent constitutional changes instituted four Sectoral Committees to perform that function from an operational standpoint. The Budget-scrutiny process, was also strengthened by creating an Office of the Opposition staffed to assist the Opposition in this process, much as the staff of the various Ministries do for the Government.

It is now clear that combined with the move to deny Governmentspeakers' time-extensions to make presentations while routinely granting them for the Government's speakers, violates the democratic maxim - auditor et alters pars - "the other side must be heard". The concatenation of this stifling of the Opposition in Parliament with the mass firings of individuals identified as "PPP supporters" in the Public Service and replacing them with loyalists of the APNU/AFC coalition, further signals the return of the old PNC "party paramountcy".

Many of the firings, after all, were done by fiat of Ministers, rather than going through the administrative procedures established to ensure justice and due process. The cleansing, whether "ethnic" or "political", has gone beyond quasi-autonomous agencies and has percolated into Governmental corporations such as GuySuCo and GPL. Even though the previous Government had been trenchantly criticised by the newGovernment when in Opposition, they imposed the same 5% increase on Public Servants without consultation with the trade unions. To rub salt into the wound, the increase took effect only from July 1st rather than Jan 1st as was customary under the PPP.

What makes the actions of the Government even more alarming to a democratic culture is that they are diametrically opposed to the statements of the major partner in the coalition on the need for a "more inclusive" Government for Guyana given the fractured nature of the society. The insistence of the PPP for more "trust" to be developed between APNU and the PPP before they would sign on to discussions of power sharing, now appear very prudent given the peripheralisation of the AFC from any real power and authority in the Government.

The largest partner in the APNU is the PNC and both the WPA and to a lesser extent the AFC has been at odds with that partner in the decision making process after they won the elections. The WPA went on record to point out that they could not even secure a meeting to articulate their concerns about strategy. The Cummingsburg Accord between the APNU and the AFC has been so clearly violated that no further comment is necessary.

As is inevitable with the development of party paramountcy, even within the PNC there has been a centralisation of power to a core of ex-army officials. Citizens of all political persuasions must insist that the drift from democratic norms to party paramountcy be halted forthwith.

Ending African Cultural Marginalisation

Dear Editor,

I wish to continue a discussion that was initiated earlier with Mr Eric Philips of ACDA. What follows was offered in 2008, as I watched the chickens coming home to roost from the heady days of the Buxton Resistance. I mentioned, inter alia, the seduction of young Africans by “political sophisticates” (Mr Kwayana’s phrase) for the fast life of nihilistic violence.

“And it is to this destruction of African social capital that I wish to comment today: why is it that we have this pool of young Africans who can so easily be seduced by the “dark side” of violence and nihilism. And let us not kid ourselves – they are not confined to Buxton. We have seen reverberations in Agricola and we will see more all across Guyana once we do not get to the root of the malaise. Once this pool is in the society, we will see politicians, who are either opportunistic or who have genuinely given up on the present system to deliver justice, dipping into it.”

During slavery, a hierarchical, pyramidical society was created in which class and race were coincident: Europeans/Whites at the top, followed by Coloureds/mulatto - all perched on top of the African slaves, who were chattel owned even by some Coloureds, and defined the condition of “marginalisation”. With the abolition of slavery, not much changed –excepting that very quickly,

the Portuguese and Chinese were inserted even ahead of the Coloureds, to the latter’s great chagrin. The masses of indentured Indians were initially seen as sojourners and outside the grand order. They retorted by utilising their own criteria for assigning status and became a self-contained community up to the end of indentureship. U pward mobility was defined for the African masses as “joining the coloured stratum” through the prescribed routes of education, “marrying up (lighter complexion) and “proper behavior”. Most of the rest internalised the racist premises of the society remained culturally as well as economically marginalized.

This was a very rigid system that lasted well into the independence era – by which time the Indians had largely accepted many of the premises of the society and had begun to enter its bastions, setting off the fears in the Coloured elite that has survived into the present. The agitation by the League of Coloured People in the 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s that Indians were invading the Civil Service, was symbolic of this fear.

For the longest while, the African lower classes could maintain some self-respect by looking down at the heathen, miserly, uncouth “coolie” as he was called. But with the evident success of the latter group - by the criteria of the evolving economy - a great questioning of African

group worth was precipitated. Comparative studies have shown that when exhortations to compete are made to the lagging group, they exacerbate the humiliation of the colonial experience (much less the slave experience) of the backward group by signalling that the group they had despised had now actually mastered the modern skills necessary for success more completely than they.

The Coloured middle class, like most classes, has historically been consumed with its own preservation and has historically undermined the lower class African community by co-opting those individuals from the lower classes who demonstrated initiative and drive. While the middle class has been severely decimated from the seventies, their orientation towards the lower class Africans have remained almost unchanged. They are expendable cannon fodder.

And we arrive at the child-soldiers of Buxton and Agricola, and potentially in other African communities in Guyana. Their experience of being marginalized, which has historical antecedents–and possibly present triggers – can easily be pandered to by “political masterminds” who are mostly from the comfortable middle class. Any program to address the results and consequences of the marginalisation of the ordinary African must deal with their cultural dislocations as well as their economic marginali-

sation– they are dialectically related. Elder Eusi Kwayana’s ASCRIA was a valiant effort to deal with the former problematic but the Co-operative approach to deal with economic empowerment, echoing Ujaama socialism, foundered in its own contradictions. The African lower class and all Guyana, lost “corn and husk”. We welcomed the formation of the African Renaissance and we believe that the Government has to work with such groups – making sure they are “grounded” in the African Community, if progress is to be made. The work of rebuilding psyches will not be accomplished with proclamations. On possible (and charged) present economic discrimination, we suggested last week the introduction of the “disparate impact” test that deals with institutional biases and require no proof of intent.

India is in the midst of introducing an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, in the wake of a study that demonstrated the “disparate impact” of discrimination on the Muslim community there. Activists here should also devote some energy to the related policy of Affirmative Action in areas where a historic pattern and practice against a particular group can be demonstrated, and for which we called since 1990.

Sincerely, Ravi Dev

Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness

Dear Editor,

To our circle of contacts in London, the political field in Guyana remains fascinating. We were entertained by the latest antics in the House last Friday. I was intrigued by the Prime Minister’s assessment

of Mr. Jagdeo’s performance as being an attempt to “cuss and run away”. To me it was a very long “cuss” - over 90 minutes of it which I saw as the equivalent of a filibuster. Every new Government needs time to settle down, if

only to try to decide on its priorities. On the other hand, let the Government remember the wise words of Sir Winston Churchill “If we open a quarrel between the present and the past, we shall be in danger of losing the future.”, the Chinese equivalent

being “It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness”.

Let us not let go of all of our dignity - less of the “pot calling the kettle not-white”.

Sincerely, Geralda Dennison

Regional flags will increase Guyana’s territorial vulnerability

Dear Editor,

One notes with interest the Government’s move to create a flag for each administrative Region. However, it has againexcluded the people from the decision-making process, on a matter which engages their identity.

In a country where progress is undermined by ethnic tensions resulting in a divided electorate, the Government should be promoting this “unity” which it promised and for which so many voted, instead of indulging in such contradictory acts.

Guyana is still in the process of developing a nationState, one where there is a shared common sentiment of belonging to a national identity, but which is presently undermined by socioeconomic and ethnic factors. In Guyana, where most regions can be distinguished by ethnicity, promoting regional flags increases the country’s vulnerability to ethnic divisiveness. For instance, in Regions Four and Ten, flags will represent a dominating Afro-Guyanese population, in Regions 2 and 3, a majority of Indo-Guyanese and in Regions 7, 8 and 9, a majority of Amerindians. The question is, what are the flags’ intended purpose in a country of “six peoples”? Economic development and competitiveness?

This is a demonstration that the APNU/AFC has coalesced with a juvenile purpose of “unity”, juvenile as it is deprived of serious consideration for the root causes of ethnic divisiveness. Subsequently, any actions deriving thereof with the goal of achieving unison will crumble, unless the Government’s intent is focused on captivating attention rather than making solid investments in a foundation for the country’s future.

Besides putting the country at risk of sinking further into ethic divide, the Government omits that the creation of regional flags will forge regional identities. But, how can the Government forge identities independently from the will of the people? In Regions 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, inhabited by Amerindians, has the Government thought of conducting national consultations to ensure that regional identities are not invented at the detriment of the cultural identities of Guyana’s first peoples? It was reported that in Region One, the proposed flag was predominantly green and yellow, rejected by many Amerindians who saw a political ploy by the Government, and who identify more to red and black, their main ancestral and spiritual indigenous co-

lours. In addition, for regions inhabited principally by Amerindians, imposing regional flags without their Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) would be a violation of internationally upheld norms and practices guaranteed by the UNDRIP.

To complement the issue of cultural identity, there’s the question of national territorial integrity. Essequibo is already the epicenter of the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy, in which the Venezuelans illegally consider the “Venezuela Essequibia” as part of their national territory. Granting regional flags to Essequibo, and by extent a certain level of decentralisedadministrative autonomy, will increase Guyana’s vulnerability to separationist movements, especially if inhabitants of those regions do not feel represented by or do not identify to the Government of Guyana and a national Guyanese identity.

Many Amerindian villages of Region Eight, predominantly inhabited by the Patamona, have objected to the demarcation of their titled lands unless each village was extended, ideally to cover the entire administrative Region so that it would legally belong to them. In this case, the people of Region Eight have manifested a strong sentiment of belonging to their cultural identity and ancestral heritage, which is used as a justification for becoming fully autonomous. However, to some, it also threatens Guyana’s national and territorial integrity which could accentuate separationist sentiments. In short, creating regional flags to promote economic development and competition among regions is bereft of substance pending the adverse repercussions which would ensue. Guyana is still emerging from underdevelopment incurred not only because of its divisiveness as a people, but also from want of a sustainable economy and industry which to date, is hindered by high energy costs among others. Consequently, the APNU/ AFC attempt to further decentralise governance is neither an immediate nor long term solution to Guyana’s developmental issues but instead augments the country’s vulnerability. Again, this Government has failed at contextualizing the situation of Guyana, and as such, in its aspirations to imitate the models of Western developed countries, has overlooked the causalities which molded these economies.

Sincerely, De Sa

Only few will benefit from the “good life”

Dear Editor, Having listened to the 2015 Budget debate I am satisfied that the PPP/C is in the good hands of Bharrat Jagdeo. Guyanese are quite fortunate to have a Statesman of such high calibre representing their interests.

It is criminal and deceptive to talk about a green economy while terminating the Amaila HydroElectric Project but what is more criminal is the blow to old age pensioners and school chilen.

The Government’s argument for getting rid of the old age pensioners’ GPL and GWI subsidies is that only around 7,200 old age pensioners were benefiting from such subsidies. It is therefore concluded that in order to benefit the majority, the minority must suffer. The Government also argued that the sum total allocated to such subsidies

was not fully utilised, therefore, since approximately $500 million was used then the whole sum should be taken out of the Budget. How could a Finance Minister who claims to prepare a budget to enable all Guyanese to live a ‘better and good life’ treat our senior citizens with such disregard and disdain? Is the Finance Minister Jordan telling our old age pensioners that it is a crime to own your own house?

This conclusion is supported by the fact that Old Age Pensioners actually paid their rates and taxes and repaired their homes from the savings garnered from the GPL and GWI subsidies. The APNU/AFC manifesto spoke of “significant increase in Old Age pensions” within the first 100 days of leadership, but the Government deceptively failed to mention that the GPL and GWI subsidies

would be taken away with a sleight of hand. With regards to our school children, the Government is again murdering a great initiative which is aimed at assisting our parents to send their children to school. Does this Government feel that a paltry increase of $500 in uniform subsidy is enough to send children to school? The main reason why some parents don’t send their children to school on a regular basis is because of money. The $10000 “Because We Care” voucher went a far way in assisting them, especially large families. If the initiative was indeed a “political gimmick” by the PPP then shouldn’t the APNU/ AFC try to outdo the PPP?

Moreover, Jagdeo pointed out that the $12 billion increase in revenue is more than enough to provide for the old age pensioners, school children and

pay a decent wage increase to everyone! Then in the APNU/AFC manifesto they claimed that ‘they will reduce ‘procurement fraud’ and this will bring in an additional $28 billion. The Vice-President, Khemraj Ramjattan, is on record telling Berbicians that this money will be used to pay sugar workers and public servants 20 percent wages and salaries increase. Is the APNU/AFC Government now stealing this sum?

In conclusion, the 2015 Budget, as Jagdeo brilliantly pointed out is about “digging holes to fill holes”. This is not skilful and intelligent budgeting.

Finally, how could Minister Jordan present a bigger budget with fewer benefits for our people to live a “good life”?

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf

Mr Hegash’s next letter should support reparatory justice

Dear Editor,

I welcome the responses of both Ravi Dev and Harry Hegash to my letter on the hidden historical facts of African Entrepreneurship and the 200 plus years of free labour 400,000 plus lives lost in building Guyana.

I have some empathy for Mr. Harry Hegash who seems to be in denial of the true historical facts of African entrepreneurship in Guyana because, as in the past, and even today, many falsities are taught under bottom houses by those whom want to support racism and African stereotyping and marginalization. These falsehoods are what keeps us in the prison of racism that now exists. Mr Hegash, of course, has not challenged any of the facts I wrote but quite subtlety tried to change the topic by writing “Mr. Phillips misrepresented what I wrote by reproducing selective quotes out of context”.

Mr Hegash also completely misunderstood President Granger’s words to African Guyanese. This too is normal because most individuals, old and young in Guyana, still don’t understand the African experience.

Mr Hegash has reinterpreted President Granger’s statement that Africans should become more entrepreneurial like their ancestors who built the Village Movement to mean that Africans should become more like Indians. We have heard this before but the reality is that Africans

don’t want to be Indians and can’t. And wouldn’t.

If President Granger was truly saying to Africans as Mr Hegash believe that they shouldn’t want State intervention to correct historical wrongs and African marginalisation, then I ask Mr Hegash,was the President also saying that Guysuco shouldn’t have received the $12 billion? Or that private sector Indian rice farmers shouldn’t receive the $23 billion off taxpayers’ funds?

It seems, that Mr Hegash’s thesis is that the Government shouldn’t correct historical wrongs but should now, after years of African oppression, treat each group in Guyana equally and have them compete against each other in an entrepreneurial fashion.

What hetries to hide is that the 95 percent ownership of the economy by Indians was not because of entrepreneurial prowess but because of 170 years of advantages given to them, the Portuguese and Chinese.

To say President Granger should now treat each group equally and that Africans should be

more entrepreneurial is grossly insulting to the President’s intelligence especially since he is a historian. Mr Hegash knows Africans will not be able to compete on an uneven playing field when their competitors own banks, assets and influence bought by money and other means.

History has shown us that much wealth has been created for Indians because of racism. Much wealth has been created in the last 23 years by the greatest transfer of State wealth in Guyana by the PPP to Indo-Guyanese. Add this to the reality that 60 percent of our economy is underground and controlled by a few Indian groupings. This is our economic reality as Dr Clive Thomas stated years ago that“there is the existence of a cabal or coterie of persons comprised mainly, but not exclusively, of selective crime bosses, State officials, and security personnel, elements of the criminal justice system and political bosses, advisors and other insiders.”

Sugar has received and will continue to receive billions of dollars. Rice is now receiving billions of dollars. These are not industries that will create wealth for Africans. Rather the billions of dollars from the Treasury, paid in large part by African Guyanese, is just a continuation of the extraction of wealth from African to benefit others. If Mr Hegash wants a just society and a society in which all Guyanese are all treated as socially and economically equal, and in which historical wrongs are corrected, then he would write his next letter in support of reparatory justice.

Yours truly,

Mr Hegash is also very deceptive in suggesting that Africans should take more entrepreneurial risk but refuses to comment on my fundamental issue: namely, thatIndians, Chinese and Portuguese in Guyana should support the Government providing reparatory justice in the form of land, a banking license and equal access to all Government contracts to address historical wrongs and the economic genocide and racism that existed over the last 23 years.

Eric Philllips

Page Foundation

Take back your children: How to teach and get respect

William J Doherty

Response 3: (delivered with a stern reprimand): “Who do you want to call anyway? You are on the phone far too much. You should be doing your homework.”

This counterattack appears strong, but misses the main point: The problem of the moment is not Eric’s phone use but his disrespectful question. To simply assert parental authority over his phone use would make him resentful and would not teach him about this disrespectful action or forestall his next.

I have made my share of mistakes as a parent, but somewhere I learned to have an instant awareness when one of my children is talking disrespectfully to me — and to make that the point of my response. So here’s what I said, making eye contact and speaking firmly: “You don’t get to ask me that question, and particularly in that tone of voice.”

The discussion was over. Eric absorbed my comment and then went to the other room to make his phone call. I did not name the person I was on the phone with. I did not defend myself. I did not counterattack. I did not make Eric defend his question. I did not punish him.

What I did was to directly defend and assert my right to respect as a parent. And I did not feel angry at him during the rest of the evening. During the subsequent years ahead we had the normal parent-adoles-

cent hassles, but he never spoke disrespectfully to me again.

If I had taken a different path that evening, one that would lead to similar encounters in the future, my son’s adolescence and our family life might have been much different.

Teaching respect to young children

Four-year-old Jason developed the annoying habit of demanding his food. At dinner, he would shout, “Pour me milk!” or “Give me more French fries!”

It’s not as if Jason had an impulse control disorder. He was a model of appropriate behaviour in preschool where the standards for politeness were clear and consistently enforced.

How did Jason’s parents respond to his demanding behaviour? Often they tried to shut him up by immediately fetching what he demanded. Other times they got irritated with him and told him to ask nicely — but they still fetched his food without making him ask politely. Psychologists describe this as reinforcing the child’s behaviour. Parents whose children treat them disrespectfully will eventually start to fear and resent their children. Parents will start withdrawing emotionally, or become punitive. They will have explosions of anger they feel bad about later. Or they will become sarcastic and passive-aggressive.

How did Jason’s parents turn around his behaviour

at meals? They firmly challenged him every time he asked for something rudely and waited for him to politely restate his request before giving him the item.

that signals “something’s got to change here — right now.” Without anger, parents are wishy-washy in the face of their children’s wilfulness. Fear of show-

If he refused to ask politely, they withheld the food item and went about finishing the meal. Jason eventually learned the meaning of “polite,” and the incidence of demanding behaviour at the table declined drastically.

Why anger-free parenting doesn’t work

To many parents, anger is one short step away from verbal and physical abuse of children. But anger is a normal human emotion

“Sweetie, I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be back there.”

The boy stood and waited for her to arrive. Leaning over the fence, she put out her arm and said, “Jeffrey, come. Please get out of there. Those are flowers you are standing in, and you are too near the tracks.”

Motionless and defiant, the boy just looked at her. “Here, take my hand,” she pleaded. Still no movement. It was clear that the child was enjoying this moment of stubborn victory.

As my wife and I continued our walk, I looked back for a while to see if there was any progress. The mother was leaning as far as she could over the fence and begging her son to take her hand, while he stared at her.

Scenes such as this one point out the danger of anger-free parenting. Trying to remain cool and rational in a situation of defiance and danger makes parents look foolish.

ing anger to our children is at the heart of the impotence problem among many contemporary parents.

Recently I observed the following scenario: A boy (about four) and his mother were walking on the beach. The boy ran ahead. He went under a fence and into a flower garden that was about six feet from a 30-foot drop to the railroad tracks below.

As she approached her son, I heard the mother say to him in a very mild tone,

Problematic advice from the “Experts”

No parenting expert would have supported the mother’s pitiful pleading approach to this problem, but how would experts suggest she respond?

Thomas Gordon’s Parent Effectiveness Training would tell the mother to calmly deliver an “I message” such as, “I get very scared when I see you standing there because it’s dangerous.”

(Part three)

The assumption is that your child will spontaneously decide to cooperate if you express your true feelings.

But what if your child, like the boy behind the fence, is enjoying seeing you afraid in demonstrating your lack of control over him? Sharing your vulnerable feelings is not going to get the job done in that case.

The Consequences Approach

Another major school of parenting advice from the 1970s (written about extensively by Haim Ginott) would recommend a “consequences” approach. You would give your son a choice: If he continues to stand there, he is choosing to accept a negative consequence you have promised. You could tell him that there will be no more walks this week unless he cooperates.

Children mostly know when they are off base, and feel safer when their parents step in assertively.

Laying out consequences and waiting for the child to make a choice is a normal technique for effective parenting. When your teenager won’t do the dishes in a timely fashion, it’s generally better to connect the chore with a consequence — say, no watching TV or talking on the phone that evening — and let the child choose to cooperate. Continued non-cooperation means escalating consequences, until almost all kids will decide it is less hassle to do the dishes.

A limitation of the consequences approach to discipline, however, is that it is not powerful and immediate enough for some situations. The defiant little boy in the flower bed required a stronger response than the mother laying out the consequences for his continuing to stand there. In moments of wilful confrontation, some children don’t care about future consequences — they want things their way right now, thank you. In these situations, discussing future consequences rather than rising to the occasion comes across as weak. What most of the rational, anger-free parenting advice misses is the importance of occasional angry power assertions by a parent? I say “occasional” because research has clearly pointed out that rigid, authoritarian parenting (“I’m the boss; be quiet and do what you’re told”) that doesn’t explain the reasons for a directive or allow kids to express a point of view, is counter-productive because it tends to breed anxiety and rebellion. (www.catholiceducation.org)

“Coolie

Bully” racist slur

Ramsammy says all Indian Guyanese insulted

...demands Nagamootoo resigns

“Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo cannot excuse himself – he insulted not only the Leader of the Opposition, he insulted all Guyanese East Indians and East Indians everywhere. Calling former President Bharrat Jagdeo a “coolie bully” is not only derogatory to Jagdeo, but is deeply injurious to all East Indians and is a fatal blow to the efforts of many to promote unity of Guyanese people.” This is according to former Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy in the wake of the comment made by the Prime Minister on Friday during the Budget debate.

He said even as the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) continued to “self-righteously proclaim that they want a unified nation and they are willing to work for unity, Moses Nagamootoo exposes the racist slant of APNU/AFC. In case anyone thinks I am going overboard and I am being too sensitive, imagine someone from the PPP/C calling any of the prominent African Guyanese leaders in APNU/ AFC a “nigger bully”. There

Administration, the former Health Minister said, Nagamootoo will be asked to resign. “This does not stop me from demanding that Nagamootoo resigns his position in Parliament,” he continued.

“To make this outrage even more preposterous is that he used the floor of the Parliament to insult the majority ethnic group of our country. For those East Indians who voted for APNU/AFC, they must register their disgust and let Nagamootoo know that he

will be such an outrage and vigorous calls for him or her to be charged for racist remarks. The call for that person’s resignation from Parliament would blare on all TV stations and radio stations and would occupy the headlines of all our newspapers.”

Incidentally, the Guyana Human Right Association is quiet, Dr Ramsammy added.

“Transparency International is in a fog and is on a hiatus from Guyana’s politics. Commentators like Christopher Ram and others are selectively deaf and dumb. The diplomats of ABC countries will argue this is a personal matter and they have no right to interfere in a sovereign country’s national politics.”

The truth is if there is any decency in this

cannot get away with this racist vulgarity.”

Dr Ramsammy said the matter was even more troubling because Nagamootoo on the campaign trail in New York shortly before the 2015 elections denied he was a Guyanese East Indian. He insisted that he was a Guyanese, even as people like “David Granger and others at the same meeting refused to similarly deny their African origins and insist they too are simply Guyanese”. The former Minister alleged that “they are saying that Guyana has no place for East Indians. Their position is that East Indians must reject their East Indian identification if they want to fit into the fabric of a Guyanese society. African Guyanese do not have the same obligation”. Dr Ramsammy named

Nagamootoo as the chief architect of this “heinous proposition”.

He said he immediately rejected that “terrible” suggestion then and remained resolute that as a proud East Indian he was as Guyanese as Nagamootoo or any APNU/AFC member. He added that he proudly served his country as a Guyanese citizen, but was never ashamed nor felt any need to cast his culture and ethnicity aside. “As strong as I feel and as proud as I am as an East Indian, I have always been 100 per cent Guyanese. I was a part of the PPP/C and I remain part of the PPP/C and one of the reasons is that Cheddi Jagan and the PPP always remained resolute in that no one had to cast aside his or her ethnicity and culture in order to be a 100% Guyanese.”

Dr Ramsammy called on former Attorney General

monday, august 24, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Montrose granny murder

Suspect implicates son as paymaster

Collin Allen, the main suspect in the Montrose, East Coast Demerara murder that claimed the life of Carmen Ganesh, has alleged that the elderly woman’s son was the mastermind behind the brutal crime.

Allen, who was arrested on Saturday in Guyhoc Park, Greater Georgetown, said he was promised $700,000 by the son of the deceased to commit the act.

The alleged mastermind, who has been taken into Police custody, has denied his involvement in the murder of his own mother.

He reportedly told investigators that the first time he saw Allen was one day after his mother was killed. He said he was in the yard clearing up the area in order to hold the wake for his dead mother when he saw the suspect peeking through the fence.

At that time, he said, he knew Allen was the murderer since he had seen the footage from the surveillance cameras taken of his mother’s killer. He immediately raised an alarm and the man rode away, so he and his relatives gave chase, but they did not see him.

Ganesh’s son later lodged a report at the Sparendaam

Police Station.

However, the suspect, who is being interrogated, had another story to tell.

He claimed that after committing the act, he went in search of the dead woman’s son to collect his money. He also claimed that as part of the job, he had to search the house for documents pertaining to a piece of land that the woman owned, but he came up empty handed.

Investigators are continuing their probe into the allegations made by the suspect, but a senior Police rank told the Guyana Times that there were some inconsistencies in the stories being told by the suspect.

Investigators will also

check to verify whether or not the elderly woman had insurance policies and a will as they continue their probe. Two other persons were arrested on Saturday evening, but were subsequently released.

Police believe that the woman’s murder was the result of an attempted robbery, since the suspect confessed that “it is easy” to rob houses on the East Coast.

They also believe that they have the right person since at the time of his arrest, Allen was wearing the same clothes he had worn the day the woman was murdered.

The entire ordeal was caught on Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras that were mounted at strategic locations in the house. The Police are also trying to ascertain whether or not the suspect was wanted for any other robberies that were committed on the East Coast of Demerara. Guyana Times understands that the suspect may be a “junkie”.

The body of Ganesh, of Lot 121 Montrose, was found in a pool of blood with a gash to her head and a cloth tied around her neck on Saturday, August 1 in the home where she lived as a caretaker. A knife was found

close to the elderly woman’s body.

Information reaching this newspaper revealed that Ganesh’s daughters did not see her for the entire Saturday morning, which was unusual; hence, they went to the house and called out to her. However, their calls went unanswered and the gates were locked; hence, they could not get into the yard.

The daughters’ suspicions were aroused, so a grandson of the now dead woman was summoned, who scaled the fence. As he entered the yard, he saw his grandmother lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen and immediately raised an alarm.

Sisters in court for ‘banking’ brother

One sister was fined and the others placed on self-bail on Friday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after ‘banking’ their older brother, who allegedly assaulted the youngest sister.

Cynthia Frank, 28; Odia Frank, 26; and Ayesha Frank, 19, of North Sophia, Greater Georgetown were all brought before Magistrate Annette Singh to answer the assault charge.

Police Prosecutor,

Corporal Adduni Inniss explained to the court what happened on August 17. She stated that a misunderstanding had developed between Ayesha and her brother, Keavin Frank, after which Odia dealt him several lashes with a cutter (a sharp object) and pelted him with a glass bottle, along with her sisters.

Although Odia admitted to the offence, she said she and her sisters were simply defending themselves

after their brother’s attack on Ayesha. The hairdresser stated that herself and Cynthia found Keavin beating Ayesha, a mother of two, like she was a child and they reprimanded him for it; however, he persisted, so she intervened.

Her brother got upset at this and fired several lashes at herself and Cynthia. He even threatened to burn down the house, she said.

Magistrate Singh sub-

sequently fined Odia $7500 for the offence she had committed. Her sisters pleaded guilty as well and were each released on their own recognisance. They are expected back in court on September 9 for their trials. Their brother was also charged with assault on his sisters; however, he was not present in court to answer the charge. Magistrate Singh issued an arrest warrant for him.

Nagamootoo's self hate…

...and the Indian "N" word

Your Eyewitness was shocked - but not surprisedthat Moses Nagamootoo, Vice President and Prime Minister of Guyana used the racially offensive term "Coolie" to describe former President BharratJagdeo. And of all places - the National Assembly of Guyana. But US President Barrack Obama did say, "you can put lipstick on a pig...but it's still a pig", no?

Nagamootoo always presented an image of crassness and crudeness and even as he hurled accusations of the same at Jagdeo, his Neanderthal intonations and hatecontorted face made it clear he was projecting his tortured inner demons. Here in the 21st century, with the charges of ethnic and racial discriminations flying furiously in our country - and the same beamed in from the U.S. daily,what kind of man would descend into such despicable gutter language?

A man who could boast in the same hallowed halls of Parliament, that he yelled at his grandson, "shut yuh soand-so mouth!!". That's who. A man who could gratuitously inform a New York audience that, honoured by the Global Organisation of People's of Indian Origin, he told them, "I am not an Indian". That's who. A man who is so lacking in self esteem that he projects his self hate on the group he came out of. That's who.

Nagamootoo tried to share blame for the use of the odious term "Coolie" by noting that it had been used by Joey Jagan, who was in the visitor's gallery as he spewed his hatred at Jagdeo. It was true that DrJagan's prodigal son had uttered the words "Coolie Bully" to Jagdeo during the last elections. But most folks dismiss Joey Jagan with a rueful shake of the head and a muttered "Da chap head na good"! What's Nagamootoo's excuse?

Well, he could always say he was singing for his supper! Guyanese know that with even neutral observers like Clairmont Lye condemning the ethnic discriminatory actions of the APNU/AFC government, it's two Indians -Nagamootoo and Ramjattan who've been tasked to rebut. But it's more than that. Nagamootoo (and Ramjattan) are so filled with self-hate that they hope their Uncle Tom's behaviour will redeem their lost psyches.

Then there's what Nietzsche described with the French term, "ressentiment". "The man of ressentiment is neither upright nor naive nor honest and straightforward with himself. His soul squints; his spirit loves hiding places, secret paths and back doors...he understands how to keep silent, how not to forget, how to wait."

The "Coolie" slur is only the beginning: the ressentiment of Nagamootoo will continue to boil over. Beware!!

...and obsessive comparison with others

For the man of low self-esteem and self hate like Nagamootoo, he'll constantly be comparing himself with those around him...as he constantly looks for "slights and put downs" - which sadly are all mostly in his own fevered mind. Take his "explanation" as to why he insisted that he get a raise - which is not ACTUALLY a 100% raise so it's OK!!

The man (OK...your Eyewitness knows he's taking liberties with the term!!) actually had the temerity to announce that he just wanted $100 (doesn't matter is its U.S. or GY) more than the AG!!!

Can you believe it? This is straight from the psychiatrist's couch! Why does his salary have to be greater than the AG's. Why does this irk him so? HE IS PM and VP!!

And for a man with no self esteem, the salary discrepancy eats away at his mental equilibrium like a canker.

Nagamootoo's one sick dude!

...and pitiful self denial

And why was Nagamootoo so pi55ed at Jagdeo? Well that's his default state since Jagdeo accepted to return to Parliament as Opposition Leader. How's you feel, dear reader, to see the fella who bitched slapped you senseless for a decade right in front of you!!

OUCH!!

Police at Mahaicony accused of taking bribe

– to end investigation into fatal accident

Police ranks at Mahaicony Police Station, East Coast Demerara are accused of taking bribes and not carrying out their duties as they should with respect to a recent accident at Now And Never, Mahaicony, ECD that left one dead and four injured.

The accident which occurred on July 12, 2015 has left Ramdass Rayan Singh, 25, of Now and Never, Mahaicony ECD dead while Rawle and Richard Chichester and Rawle and Quacy Shepherd all of Now and Never, Mahaicony would have sustained injuries.

Vanessa Singh, wife of the dead man blast the police ranks for their unprofessional behaviour. She claimed that to date, no police ranks visited her home to take a statement and every time she called at the station to enquire about investigations, she was given the royal runaround.

“They would shout at me over the phone and say they fed up of me calling and they would slam down de phone but not they say investigations continuing”, the woman stated. She believes that the police ranks had taken money from the relatives of the man who was driving to end the case.

She claimed that one day after the accident, Rawle Chichester who was reportedly driving he vehicle at the time of the accident visited her home to enquire whether or not he can tell the police that her husband was driving the car at the time of the accident.

“My husband can’t drive… my father got a car and no time did my husband ever try to start the car… I refuse for he to tell the Police that… he say that if he tell the Police

meh husband de driving, then he wouldn’t have to go to jail,” she told Guyana Times On the night of the accident, she recalled her husband going into the back seat of the car with Richard Chichester and Rawle Shepherd. Her husband was in the middle, she stated. The car was driven by Rawle Chichester, while Quacy Shepherd was the frontseat passenger. The woman claimed that after she refused to conspire with them, they have since stopped talking to her family.

Another young man who was in the car claimed that he was approached by the Chichesters (money in hand) to implicate Singh as the driver of the motor car. He said that he refused. The young man also alleged that a sum of money was collected by Police ranks from the Chichesters as a bribe to not pursue the matter.

More than one month after the accident, Guyana Times understands, the Police have not taken statements from the persons who were injured. The wife of the

dead man wants justice for her husband.

On the evening of July 12, Singh was killed when the car in which he and his four friends were travelling slammed into a concrete fence at Mahaicony. It was reported that the five men left their homes and were on their way to another village to drop off some money for a friend when the accident occurred.

The driver, who was allegedly speeding, reportedly lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a turn and subsequently slammed into the concrete fence.

Singh sustained severe head and other injuries and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital. Quacy Shepherd reportedly sustained a broken hip and Rawle Chichester ruptured his stomach. Richard Chichester and Rawle Shepherd were treated for minor injuries and sent away.

The five men were reportedly seen imbibing at a popular shop in the area earlier in the day.

Ramsammy says all...

He added that the Speaker of the National Assembly failed to implement the laws that prevent any MP from using racist language in our Parliament. “Now the PPP/C must call on the Speaker to take action against Mr Nagamootoo and Mr Nagamootoo must be taken before the Committee of Privileges for abusing the privileges that Parliament bestow on him. He has brought disrepute to the hallowed halls of our Parliament.”

Dr Ramsammy stressed that the “odious” behaviour of Nagamootoo in Parliament cannot be allowed to slide, particularly in the circumstances that exist in Guyana today. He charged that APNU/AFC has selectively fired large numbers of persons because they are associated with the PPP/C and most of them are East Indians.”

The charges of ethnic cleansing against this

Administration have been loud and the evidence against this Administration for being unfair towards East Indians is compelling,” he added. He said the comment demonstrates “the underlying ethnic tension that presently exists in Guyana”. “He demonstrated that APNU/ AFC does not care what East Indians think. Guyana is their kingdom and they will do whatever they want,” Dr Ramsammy alleged. He said the coalition railroaded its way into Parliament, sought to restrict debate on the 2015 budget and has broken all established norms in the running of Government.

The former Minister said Governance Minister Raphael Trotman emphatically admitted that “they now have their hands on the “kingdom”. In saying that the PPP/C needs to reconcile themselves with the fact that the “kingdom” is no longer in the PPP’s hands, he ex-

Peters Hall teen allegedly kidnapped by contractor

A15-year-old Dolphin Secondary School student of Lot 56 Back Street, Peters Hall, East Bank Demerara was allegedly kidnapped by a contractor on Saturday evening as she went to purchase pudding from a food vendor in the village.

Tiffany Mc Beth reportedly left home about 18:30h in the company of a cousin to purchase the snack, but never returned home. She was last seen wearing a pair of long black jeans, a red top and slippers as she entered a motor car bearing registration number PHH 5769. The car is purportedly owned by a father of four of Diamond Housing Scheme, EBD. The teenager and the man are allegedly having an affair.

Lauren Mc Beth, the mother of the missing teenager, is calling on the man to return her daughter unharmed. She explained that her nephew allegedly knew about the affair between her daughter and the married man. Only on Saturday evening, the contractor sent home $5000 for the young lady with her cousin who works with him, the worried mother stated.

The mother related that about 18:30h, her phone rang but the caller disconnected when she answered. She later learnt that the number was that of the contractor. She stated that the young woman and her cousin went to purchase white pudding and channa, but after some time, she saw the young man approaching the house and enquired about her daughter and was told that she was left on the road.

“I tell meh nephew to make sure that Tiffany come in back with him and not to leave her on the road… after I see he coming in back alone, I panic and like I sense something ain’t right,” the woman cried during the phone interview.

She said that after constant attempts to contact the man on his mobile, he even-

tually answered but denied having the teenager with him, claiming that he was a married man and would not indulge in such activity. After that, his mobile phone was turned off.

Mc Beth further stated that she made contact with the man’s wife who claimed that they did not live together and he lived by his sister. Calls to his sister revealed that he did not return home on Saturday evening.

In tears, the mother urged the contractor to ensure her daughter’s return. “I nah know if she dead… I not know she whereabouts nothing… I just want see meh daughter,” she stated.

The Police have been informed of the developments and they have launched an investigation. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Tiffany Mc Beth is asked to contact her brother, Richard Mc Beth on telephone numbers-694-4883 or 667-5791 or the nearest Police station.

posed how APNU/AFC sees Guyana and their role as government. It is a fiefdom and they will rule this fiefdom as they see fit”.

“But the PPP never saw our role in Government as being emperors and we never saw Guyana as our “kingdom”. We never thought that Guyana was a fiefdom for anyone. We saw Guyana as a nation made up of people of different ethnicities and culture, different religion and different political persuasion. We tried to govern a country where all citizens can see themselves as equal.

Clearly this Government is portraying itself by words and deeds that they govern Guyana differently. We may all be Guyanese citizens, but we are not all equal under APNU/AFC. The lead person for APNU/AFC in Parliament has again affirmed this position.... More than 200,000 Guyanese voters cry shame on Nagamootoo,” Dr Ramsammy concluded.

Samad blasts UG for lack of research on suicide

The University of Guyana has been denounced as useless in the area of research by former Director of the University of Guyana Berbice Campus (UGBC), Professor Daizal Samad.

Samad was at the time exploring the possibility of a correlation between depression, suicide and the Indian community and made reference to the lack of statistical and analytical data available on the issue of suicide in Guyana.

It was during a one-day suicide prevention stakeholders’ conference organised by The Caribbean Voice (TCV) on Friday that he made the remarks, pointing out that the University of Guyana, the country’s prime tertiary institution, has no curriculum or department in place to conduct research on issues impacting the lives of Guyanese – unlike other universities across the globe.

“The University of Guyana is useless, because nothing is coming out of it, nothing at all,” Samad said. His pronouncement was in relation to a question asked

by Swami Aksharananda:

“Is there a correlation between depression and the Indian community?” as he sought to clarify a growing perception among many stakeholders.

Samad welcomed the question, noting that it held much validity, given that records point to predominately Indian villages as the suicide capital of the country in Essequibo and Berbice.

“There is validity to the question…but to answer the question specifically, that’s where we are going wrong, there are no statistics in this place. Nobody is doing any study on it; the University of Guyana is useless because nothing is coming out of it, nothing at all.

“But what we do know is that Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) especially is the epicentre of

suicide and within Berbice, there is a place called Black Bush which is the epicentre, so we know those things. But you are pointing to a very important issue: the lack of research and studies on this,” the Professor contended, noting that Guyana could only move forward in an impactful way once there is a clear understanding of the drive of individuals to commit suicide- whether or not it is related to one’s culture.

A representative from a US-based non-profit organisation called Depressed Black Gay Men (DBGM) also contended, amid a tense atmosphere, that individuals desirous of engaging in activities to aid in deterring suicidal mindsets and working with people with suicidal tendencies must examine the socio-cultural factors that drive the particular aspects of suicide, including depression.

“Why is it that Indian men of a particular age are committing suicide? If that’s the case among black people, why is it that black men are committing suicide?” he questioned, indicating that these factors were all important in determining why someone would want to end their life and it was only through understanding the challenges facing individuals of a particular group that one could truly help.

The representative noted that persons did not have to be categorised only by ethnicity, but could be grouped according to sex, gender, age, or any other similarity. His point mirrored the old proverb “birds of a feather flock together”, meaning that a particular grouping is likely to have several elements in common and among those elements were reasons why

someone may want to commit suicide.

“You do have to look at the socio-cultural dynamics … Guyana needs to do a mapping of the socio-cultural factors that play into and contribute to depression… What are the factors that contribute to depression among black gay men? …

What percentage of the 2014 reports were members of

[the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community] LGBT?” he highlighted, noting that these were all important data in understanding the issue and one could only help solve the problem if the issue was understood.

He also made reference to the University of Guyana and the lack of work being done in this area. On this note, he challenged the institution, and challenged others to challenge the institution, to develop courses of this nature in order to get more trained personnel who can actually contribute meaningfully to their communities in this regard.

TCV representative Norkah Carter in direct re-

Govt satisfied with...

“They have financial constraints and had to clean up the mess that existed when they took office. Those are severe constraints,” he declared. However, Samad said Government was working assiduously to fulfil its other promises although it would take some time.

On this note, he underscored that the coalition needed to put the “right people in the right places” and hold them accountable in order to achieve what it desired, noting that this mistake had cost the previous Administration.

Among some of the promises fulfilled by the APNU/AFC Administration were: The reduction of the Berbice River Bridge toll, which was slashed

from $2200 to $1900 for minibuses and passenger cars, along with a 10 per cent reduction in the toll for all other types of vehicles. The revised tolls will take effect from September 1. Additionally, the Administration increased the Old Age Pension by some $4000; however the increase has taken the place of the $15,000 subsidy for electricity and water.

As promised, a task force on crime and security were established, while a Code of Conduct for all parliamentarians and officials holding public office was introduced.

The Government also sought to host the Indigenous People’s Rights and Resources Conference,

sponse to the question posited by the Swami believed that suicide should be viewed generally as a social problem rather than an East Indian problem.

“Are East Indians the larger population for committing suicide; yes. There have been several studies which say that Guyana as a whole has an issue with mental illness… Certain areas in Guyana are highly populated by certain ethnic groups, if someone does a comprehensive study according to the regions, you will find out that everyone is within the same margin because, think of it, when you divide East Indians and Afro-Guyanese, what’s the ratio… I am not here to say it’s an Indian problem or a black problem or anybody’s problem…I am here to say it is a Guyanese problem and let’s do something about it… Now you may argue all you wish…but all I want to know is when that 12-yearold child texts me at 4:00am in the morning, I don’t see an Indian child. I just see a child hurting. It’s a personal problem, it’s a social problem,” she posited.

the National Rice Farmers Conference and the Cane Farmers Conference. Government has also announced significant increases in salaries for public servants; the reduction of the presidential pension and other benefits; waiving of duties on equipment for small-scale miners; passing of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Act; the return of a television station licence to Linden and the establishment of investigative commissions on corruption among others.

However, fixing a date for the early holding of Local Government Elections (LGE) is among the other promises yet to be fulfilled.

Times Notebook

Ominous signs we are veering towards dictatorship and backwardness

The new Government has made a discouraging start and after three months, the citizens lack confidence that the new administration can maintain the almost twenty years of steady economic and social growth. The PPP/C will also argue that the foundation on which the social and economic development was built was the formidable adherence to democracy.

The new administration is already steering Guyana away from democracy, quite like the PNC which firmly entrenched our country within the bosom of dictatorship. The APNU/AFC style points to an administration that has a strong propensity towards limiting freedom.

The behavior of APNU/ AFC in Parliament this past week, leaves a sour taste in the mouths of the thousands

who remember how hard it was to fight the Burnham and the PNC dictatorship. For those who believed that the APNU/AFC might have rejected the PNC’s past, their behaviour this past week has been a disappointment

Other than the stark reminder of a fearful past before 1992, the administration has exposed that it is too comfortable with lies, total fabrications and misrepresentations.

They discontinued the Because We care Program which provided parents with $10,000 per child in school. In their 2015 budget, APNU+AFC told the Guyanese people that the program would be replaced by an increase in the uniform voucher that each child has been getting for more than a decade under the PPP/C. They claimed that the lumping of the grant within the

uniform voucher program would be a more efficient way of helping people. But the thousands of Guyanese who were, therefore, looking forward to an almost $10,000 increase in the uniform voucher were deceived. The increase in the uniform voucher program was $500. This government is guilty of voodoo economics, just as it practiced when APNU/AFC was in Opposition. How can $500 be equated to $10,000?

Also, pensioners were made to believe that they would give a significant increase in the old age pension. Pensioners knew that the PPP/C always increased the old age pension with each budget. This time, because of the promise made by the APNU/AFC, they thought it would be an unprecedented increase. What they weren’t told is that they have actually cut the benefits of pen-

Teachers to receive OLPT laptops from Govt within weeks

Selected teachers can expect to benefit within a few weeks from the provision of laptops promised under the Government’s One Laptop Per Teacher (OLPT) Project.

This is according to Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, who, during last week’s budget debate, told this publication that the Administration was hoping to begin the distribution process “quite soon”.

He explained that while not all of the laptops have yet arrived and were in Government’s possession, some of these educational tools were already in the country.

It is expected that these laptops would be given to the teachers before the commencement of the next school term.

Earlier this month, Governance Minister Raphael Trotman had announced that these computers which were ordered by the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government under the One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) initiative would be given to teachers instead.

According to Minister Trotman, such a move would be tied to a programme which ensured that the selected teachers

utilise the learning tools for training in improving their methodology or delivering their curriculum in a faster, electronic manner.

He had also disclosed that teachers from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) would be the first beneficiaries.

Emphasis would be placed on those teachers who were still being trained or those who have recently concluded training.

“I believe in the first instance we would like to target teachers that are currently in the Cyril Potter College of Education. Those that are perhaps pursuing degrees or diplomas at the University of Guyana… Then we will roll it out from there,” Minister Trotman had stated at that time.

Lamentable

When this decision was made public, a number of families lamented the new Administration’s position on this matter, as they believed that the children should have been the beneficiaries as was the case under the PPP/C Government.

Many parents who could not afford to supply their child/children with such modern learning equipment were gravely disappointed by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change

(APNU/AFC) move.

The PPP/C, in response to this move, had explained that the OLPF was conceptualised and implemented with the visionary aim of bridging the information and telecommunication gap, not only between those on the coastland and interior of Guyana but also between Guyana and the rest of the rapidly technological world.

It had stated that an enabling environment would be created for parents, guardians and other family members to become more involved in children’s academics if they were given the opportunity of having one laptop in their home.

It was also hoped that under the OLPF project the possession of a laptop would enhance and encourage research and learning approaches in academia and general social studies.

The achievement gaps between children of poor or working class families and those from high-income families would be narrowed.

The OLPF Project was launched in Guyana in January 2011. The Government at the time had planned a distribution of about 90,000 computers to poor families across the country over a three-year period.

sioners. While they received a slight increase in the pension, their water and electricity subsidies were removed. They gave a much smaller increase than they promised, but took it back from the subsidies.

The people of Berbice and the Berbice River Bridge users also were also lied to. Before the elections many of the Ministers and MPs frequently promised Berbicians that they had the power to reduce the tolls to equal the Demerara River Bridge tolls. Now they say that the Berbice River Bridge is a private sector economic venture and that they can only recommend that the Bridge Authority reduce the toll, exactly what the PPP/C had said from the beginning. But in a cruel misrepresentation they said that the Authority agreed to lower the toll.

With regards to the Amaila Hydro Project, the Government claimed it ended the project because it would have cost Guyana about $US150 million over a twenty year period. Yet they refused to give us details on who did that study and when. The truth is there is no such study and, in fact, Guyana was set to save about $5 to $9B per year in subsidies to GPL once Amaila came on board. More important Guyanese citizens and businesses would have paid less for electricity.

Rice farmers were promised $9,000 per bag of paddy and told farmers they would expand the market for rice into more high priced areas. Now the Government claims that finding new markets isn’t its responsibility but that of millers. They lied that they budget-

ed $23B for the rice industry when in fact the $23 billion was the value of the rice market in Venezuela and it would have been money that Guyana owed Venezuela for oil that would have been utilized. We lost the rice market and we aren’t buying oil from Venezuela. There is no $23 billion in the budget for distribution to the rice industry.

Finally, the ethnic cleansing being implemented is a matter of grave concern. The security issue is killing our country. The Government is too comfortable with trampling on people’s freedom and rights. We are sounding the warning and we hope people are looking on with the keenness necessary at this time. Readers are invited to send their comments by email or Facebook to times. notebook@gmail.com.

Consideration of Budget Estimates commences today

After one week of debates on the A Partnership for National Unity /Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) proposed Budget for 2015, the National Assembly will commence the consideration of the Budget Estimates today

On August 10, the coalition Administration unveiled its inaugural Budget for the remainder of this year, which accounted to a whopping $221 billion. One week after, the debate on the document commenced in the Legislature that saw both Government and the Opposition parliamentarians making their arguments for and against the Budget.

The consideration of the estimates was fixed to last for three days instead of the seven days allotted after the 33-seat Government had suggested that the estimates be considered and completed in three days, a move which did not sit well with the

to defeat accountability and transparency.

Jordan defends budget Meanwhile, after some nine and a half hours, Finance Minister Winston Jordan around midnight on Friday closed off the 2015 Budget Debate, defending his first Budget saying that it was a vehicle on the road to a “good life” for Guyanese.

On August 10, the APNU/ AFC Government unveiled its inaugural Budget for the remaining of 2015. One week after, the debate on the document commenced in the Legislature that saw both Government and the Opposition parliamentarians making their contributions.

Jordan made his presentation in the absence of the PPP/C Opposition, who had walked out of the National Assembly following the end of its Leader’s presentation, which was be-

People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Opposition.

On Friday last, the business sub-committee met to discuss the issue in the Chambers of House Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland.

Guyana Times was informed that during the meeting, Government not only refused to stick to the Standing Order, which allows for a maximum of seven days, but further dismissed the Opposition’s proposal for a five days period as a compromise.

Following the refusal of this compromise, the PPP/C went on to further offer a reduced time of four days along with extended hours, but this too was rejected by the Government as it used its one-seat majority to approve the three days.

Opposition Member of Parliament, Irfaan Ali, had pointed out that despite all of its talk of having an inclusionary government, the APNU/AFC administration has showed that it is trying

fore Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s contributions in protest over the change in parliamentary traditions that saw the Opposition Leader speaking before the PM.

According to the Finance Minister, while the Administration had promised a phased reduction in the burdensome Value Added Tax (VAT), this could not have happened as it would not have brought relief to poor people as intended. Instead, Jordan outlined that Government sought to remove the tax on 21 additional consumer items, a decision that will cost the Treasury a whopping $700 million.

The Finance Minister pointed out that reducing the tax immediately would be reckless and irresponsible on Government’s part; therefore, a study would have to be conducted first.

“We got to have a study, this is one of our major tax earning categories... You don’t

just go cutting it and hoping something happens,” he outlined.

Furthermore, the Finance Minister disclosed that the APNU/AFC Administration has sought to establish a Tax Review Committee, adding that the members have already been appointed and are tasked with conducting a comprehensive study of the tax system.

The Minister disclosed that the members of the Tax Committee include: Accountant Christopher Ram; lecturer at the University of Guyana, Dr Thomas Singh; former Deputy Commissioner of Inland Revenue and former Deputy CEO of GT&T, Godfrey Statia, and economist Dr Maurice Odle, who has been appointed the chairman.

He explained that the Committee would be given four months to compile an interim report on the tax system and tax administration. Jordan noted that “when we analyse these measures and their effects, it can be concluded that we have put more money into the pockets of the ordinary man and woman”.

Meanwhile in his presentation, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo predicted that Guyana’s economy would “flat line” given the structure of the Government’s Budget which he also called “mediocre”, “vague” and “vacuous”. However, in response, the Finance Minister debunked the comments, calling them “nonsensical” ranting.

He stated that the Opposition Leader seemed to be the only one who thought the coalition Government’s Budget was “underwhelming” since the feedback on the streets was positive.

Jordan pointed out that the Budget constructed by the Administration, as any other budget, reflects the

Guyana recognised as leader in chemicals management within Caribbean

By Kristen MacKlingaM

Guyana has once again been put in the spotlight, this time being recognised as the leader in chemicals management within the Caribbean as was revealed at the Regional Pesticides Board Meeting this year.

priorities of the nation. “The APNU/AFC Government have taken the bold step in that direction. We have laid out a plan for the first of our many terms in Government,” he remarked.

The Minister added that “the electorate gave us a mandate to clean up the mess and give our country a fresh start, a chance to breathe”. On this note, he warned that the former PPP/C Government should be afraid of the many audits ongoing into its governing of the country, noting that the discoveries have started.

“Over $600 million disappeared between Office of the President and the Public Service Ministry; a manager and board member paying themselves millions of taxpayers’ money; another manager of the same debtridden agency that normally requires a huge transfusion of cash every year earning $6 million a month; free gas to acolytes and fellow travellers of the PPP; and so the discoveries continue. I say to members of the opposite side, be afraid of these audits and be very afraid. The forensic audits are here to say,” he cautiously declared.

Moreover, Jordan outlined that the APNU/AFC Government would continue those projects that the previous Administration had initiated, since millions of taxpayers’ monies have already been injected into them. He noted that those projects that are ill-designed and ill-conceived would be reviewed.

In addition, he outlined that the budget is a pro-people one that contains probusiness and pro-poor strategies that will benefit all Guyanese.

Commencing on today, the National Assembly will be considering the Budget Estimates for the next three days with each sessions running from 09:00h to 23:00h daily.

This is according to Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, who on Friday stated that this feat was made possible through support from the Government and the allocation of financial resources towards protecting human health and the environment while ensuring sound chemicals management.

He stated that the Board was presently developing a comprehensive “Pesticides Manual” which will be used in conjunction with importers and distributors to educate this very important group.

Guyana Times was told that Guyana was currently one of only three countries with an effective certification programme for pest control operators, and it was now certifying these professionals at the basic and intermediate levels.

“The Board will be continuing its public awareness initiatives to enlighten the general public on the benefits and risks associated with pesticide use. Training annually educates 1500 farmers and farm workers, 150 pesticide vendors, 100 pest control operators, 100 Customs Officers and stakeholders from the pesticides input industry and the Guyana Police Force. Training and capacity of laboratory staff is still a key component of the 2015 Budget along with maintenance of the labs’ specialised equipment,” the Agriculture Minister said.

More training

He emphasised that Government’s 2015 budget catered for further training in three specific areas for technical expertise development – residual analysis, methodology development and validation, and postgraduate pesticide risk management for inspectors.

This publication was further told that the staff component of the Board would expand, especially in the area of inspectors, to better manage use of toxic chemicals since the use of these has grown tremendously over the years.

“Initiatives have already commenced to register all toxic chemicals and to educate the general pub-

lic on regulation requirements…All chemicals that are imported for uses in Guyana are then distributed through a monitored network of licensed vendors countrywide. In 2014, these vendors were trained through the Board’s education programme, so as to ensure that they possess the relevant knowledge to work with chemicals and are licensed on an annual basis,” Minister Holder noted.

It was also explained that in 2014, the Board continued its pesticides awareness programme in secondary schools. This programme allowed for the establishment of Pesticide Awareness Corners in more than 40 schools in various regions nationwide.

The Agriculture Minister said the Board has continued its training and awareness programme which targeted pesticide users throughout Guyana, training them on the safe handling, use, storage and disposal of these chemicals through the use of World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

To date, a total of 14,231 farmers, farm workers, housewives, youths and other pesticide users have benefited from such training along with personnel protective equipment (PPE).

“These training courses continue to date and are aimed at protecting human health and environment from the unintentional risks associated with pesticides’ use. They also encourage the development of proper practices by pesticide users…To encourage proper storage practices among pesticide users, the Board launched an initiative which saw the distribution of 175 pesticides storage cabinets to pesticide users countrywide,” Minister Holder added.

Indian High Commissioner urges youths to preserve their culture

– gifts books to the Cove and John Ashram, Hindu College

India’s High Commissioner to Guyana, Venkatachalam

Mahalingam on Sunday urged youths at the Guyana Sevashram Sangha (Cove and John Ashram) to preserve the Indian culture and not to forget the many struggles their ancestors went through.

Amerindians want Govt to pay attention to their social issues

Amerindian leaders have called upon the Government to address issues that have been significantly affecting their communities, with some saying that they felt deprived of their rights.

ers would have to travel miles to another creek just to have clean water.

books that were

Mahalingam was at the time visiting the Ashram (located some 15 miles from Georgetown) for the first time. In his address, he said that he was impressed with the pristine and clean environment of the Ashram. Speaking directly to the youths, he urged them to read more and enhance their knowledge about their ancestors, cultures and traditions.

The Ambassador also donated 240 books which will be placed at the Ashram’s Library and used by students of the Hindu College. During the presentation, he expressed that he was blessed to make the donation, and asked youths to read the Hindu epics (Ramayan) and learn the Hindi Language.

Swami Shivashankarananda, Administrator of the Cove and John Ashram, welcomed the Commissioner and urged him to make more visits to the institution.

Meanwhile, Principal of the Hindu College, which is located in the Ashram’s compound, Rajkumarie Singh, thanked the Commissioner for the donation which she said came at an opportune time. Singh said the books will benefit the school and further enhance research in the Hindi language, noting that the College’s students write Religious Education as a Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination subject. At the end of the usual morning service\hawan, the India High Commissioner was given a tour by Swami Shivashankarananda. He was garlanded and honoured with a shawl by members of the Ashram. He also took the opportunity to sign the Ashram’s visitor book.

Toshao Elvis Williams of Riverview, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) told the Indigenous People’s Rights and Resources Conference, which saw the leaders interfacing with representatives of State agencies, including the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC); the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC), and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission

He explained that one of the issues that affect Amerindians in his community is land titling. He shared that many had applied for their lands to be titled and most of them are still waiting. The Toshao added those whose land was titled was not titled to its full capacity.

Williams further said that the river’s water can no longer be as freely used as they were accustomed to, since the mining companies have greatly contaminated the water source, and now all they are left to do is to wait and hope for the rains. He noted that during dry seasons, villag -

Toshao Williams stated that he was hoping that the relevant authorities would step in and handle the situation quickly. He asked that pipes and pumps be installed in the communities so persons can have access to clean water without hassle.

Another leader, Devery Thomas of Arrow Village also shared concerns about concession of land titles. Thomas said parts of the community have been sold off to mining companies without the knowledge of the village residents. He begged the question, “Who gave the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) permission to sell our land?” Thomas added that the community is growing and it has been seeking an extension of its lands to no avail.

Expressing similar sentiments, Toshao Jaden Jacadus of Aranaputa village stated that lands have also been taken away without permission.

Toshao Rudolph Simon of Rockstone Village, Region 10 told the conference that his community has been applying for communal land titling for some “18 years now”. He added that as an indigenous person, he feels as if his rights are being deprived.

Toshao Daniel Auguilar of South Rupununi informed that illegal mining was a great issue in his community. He added that there were about some 30 excavators present in and around his community, and villagers did not know what to do about the situation.

Auguilar said that an issue that upset him greatly was the influx of foreigners, mostly Brazilians, bearing Guyanese identification cards and licensed firearms when there were persons in his community who were yet to receive birth certificates.

Several other members of the National Toshaos Council shared similar views and more, such as one plot of land being sold to several persons, and the very serious issue of water pollution caused by mining companies. One Toshao explained that these mining companies have been given cease orders within several communities which they ignored.

The Amerindians leaders are pleading with the Government of Guyana for assistance in these matters. Although the various agencies’ representatives stated that they would look into the matters, the Amerindian leaders stated that they have been complaining to these organisations for years, but no change has occurred.

Caribbean Diaspora, US officials to address issue at Florida Conference

The Venezuela/Guyana border controversy is one of three issues up for discussion at a forum in Miami, Florida titled “Florida Conference on Current Caribbean Issues: The Diaspora Discussion” where the Caribbean Diaspora community, business executives, the academic community and US elected officials will participate.

Vice President and Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge will be the guest of honour at the event and is slated to deliver the keynote address. He is also tasked with the responsibility of leading the discussions on the panel that will focus on the discussions surrounding the Guyana/Venezuela border controversy.

The Conference is a follow-up to the issues identified earlier this year during Legislative Week in Washington DC and will focus on current issues of concern to the Caribbean Region and its Diaspora.

The Venezuela/Guyana boundary controversy has been a pressing topic of concern since May when

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro issued a decree purporting to claim much of Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

The situation escalated as Venezuela continued

Former Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud

to press its claim in light of Guyana’s rightful defence of its sovereignty. Both countries have embarked on individual missions, seeking support from as many nations as possible. Caricom, the Commonwealth, the United States and the

United Kingdom have indicated their support of Guyana’s sovereignty.

Members of the diplomatic community have already urged both nations to resort to a peaceful settlement of the issue, while encouraging constructive dialogue regarding the claim. Guyana wants the matter to be taken to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) where the controversy will be settled once and for all. However, Venezuela favours the continuation of the United Nations good officers process of

UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon has extended an invitation to both Heads of Government to attend the UN General Assembly in September to discuss the issue.

Guyana’s President David Granger is yet to confirm whether he will be attending.

Meanwhile, the Florida Conference will address other issues such as the challenges and opportunities for the Caribbean and its Diaspora in the context of normalisation of US-Cuba relations and Dominicans

of Haitian descent and the Dominican Republic’s expulsion plan. Those expected to be present at the event and lead discussions on various topics include former Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud; Ambassador Richard Bernal of the InterAmerican Development (IDB); Ambassador Matthew William, former Grenada Ambassador to Venezuela; Dr Mark Kirton, International Relations

Institute, University of the West Indies; Mayor of Miramar Wayne Messam and Florida District Court Judge Ali B Majeed. The Conference, hosted by the Washington DC based Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) and the Greater Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Harlem company, will take place on September 10 at the Miramar Cultural Centre, City Hall Complex, South Florida.

Tropical storm warnings, watches in effect for portions of Caribbean as weaker Danny gets closer

Tropical storm warnings have been issued for Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis and Anguilla as Danny, which was downgraded to a tropical storm Saturday night and continues to weaken, approaches the Eastern Caribbean.

Tropical storm watches are in effect for Saba and St Eustatius, St Maarten, Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra and the US Virgin Islands.

The watches issued earlier for Guadeloupe, St Martin and St Barthelemy have been discontinued.

“Tropical storm force winds are expected within portions of the warning area by late tonight [Sunday]. Danny is expected to produce two to four inches of rain over the Leeward Islands, the US and British Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico through Tuesday,” the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said.

Danny is carrying maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour, and is located 275 miles east of Guadeloupe and 310 miles east southeast of Antigua. The storm was moving toward the west near 15 miles per

Gang

hour.

“A westward to west north-westward motion is expected over the next 48 hours. On the forecast track, the centre will move near or over portions of the Leeward Islands late tonight or early Monday. Some weakening is

forecast during the next 48 hours,” the NHC said.

After passing the Leeward Islands, Danny is expected to approach Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands tomorrow night or early Tuesday morning. (Excerpt from caribbean360.com)

violence leaves 14 prisoners dead in El Salvador

At least 14 inmates have been killed in an El Salvador jail after violence erupted between two factions of a notorious gang, an official has said.

The killings on Saturday at Quezaltepeque Prison, about 30 kilometres north of the capital San Salvador, were linked to an internal dispute involving the Barrio 18 (M-18) gang, a spokesman for the presidency told the AFP news agency.

The prison was placed on lockdown and security ramped up, as about 50 people with relatives in the jail descended on the facility, some weeping and others demanding to know the identities of the dead.

A state of emergency was declared for 72 hours at the jail and authorities insisted that they were in full control of the situation.

Prison officials were alert-

PNM’s

Relatives gather outside Quezaltepeque jail demanding information after violence between factions within the Barrio 18 gang [Reuters]

ed when some members of the ‘Revolutionaries’ faction of the gang failed to return to their cells, said Eugenio Chicas, the Communications Secretary for the presidency.

Security agents and Riot Police found their bodies among some rubbish bins, added Chicas, labelling it “a purge”.

“There has been an in-

ternal confrontation,” said Chicas.

The Directorate General of Prisons, on Twitter, said it was “presumed to be an act of purification among gang members”.

The deaths underline how gang violence has made El Salvador one of the most dangerous countries in the world. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

plan to cut VAT bad idea

– UWI lecturer

Trinidad and Tobago stands to lose billions in revenue if the People’s National Movement (PNM) is victorious in the September 7 General Election and implements its promised 2.5 per cent reduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT). In an interview Saturday, senior economics lecturer at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine campus, Dr Roger Hosein said the country’s fiscal deficit

was likely to widen.

Hosein said his concern was that “by reducing VAT in a context of already lower property taxes could adversely affect the state’s fiscal revenue position”. Hosein said, using Central Bank figures, if we compared what existed today with the 2006-2007 fiscal year, we were losing about US$80 million a year in property tax. He said because there had not been much conversation in the manifestos about expenditure cutting,

“the economy’s fiscal deficit can likely widen”.

On Friday, deputy political leader of the United National Congress (UNC), Dr Roodal Moonilal, delving into the PNM’s manifesto, said the removal of VAT on food items would cost the country TT$5.5 billion in revenue in five years. “Today they want to remove VAT and we have calculated if they [do that] we will forgo TT$5.5 billion over five years,” he said. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Venezuela state under martial law

The Venezuelan President has declared a state of emergency in a border region near Colombia following an attack by smugglers in which three soldiers and a civilian were injured.

President Nicolás Maduro said there would be 60 days of martial law in five municipalities in the state of Tachira.

He also said the closure of the border, announced on Thursday, would be extended until further notice.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has criticised the move.

Santos said ordinary people on both sides of the border, including children, would suffer the most.

“If we cooperate, the only ones to lose are the criminals, but if the border is closed, there is no coordination and the only ones to gain are the criminals,” said Mr Santos.

The Colombian President said ordinary people from

both sides of the border would be the worst affected.

Petrol and food smugglers have increasingly clashed with Venezuelan officers.

The BBC’s Daniel Pardo in Venezuela reports that Maduro said Colombian paramilitary groups regularly travel to Venezuela, generating chaos and shortages in order to destabilise the revolution.

Maduro said an extra 1500 soldiers had arrived to reinforce the area.

“This decree provides ample power to civil and military authorities to restore peace,” he said in a broadcast on state television.

On Wednesday, three Venezuelan Army officers and a civilian were injured in riots with Colombian smugglers.

Venezuela closed its border with Colombia for the first time last year.

Tensions run high along the porous 2200-kilometre (1370-mile) border. (BBC News)

Itau boss sees no cause for Rousseff impeachment – newspaper

The chief executive of Itau Unibanco

Holding SA, Brazil’s biggest bank by market value, said he does not yet see justification for President Dilma Rousseff to be impeached.

Last week hundreds of thousands of Brazilians demonstrated against Rousseff’s Government and an opinion poll showed two thirds of those questioned said they would support her impeachment. Political rivals have sought to lay the groundwork in Congress to

remove her from office.

But in an interview published on Sunday, Itau’s Roberto Egydio Setubal said: “Nothing I have seen or heard until now makes me believe there are conditions for impeachment.”

Hobbled by an economy believed to be in recession, political gridlock that has slowed efforts to restore growth, and a corruption scandal over state-run energy company Petroleo Brasileiro SA, or Petrobras, Brazil is currently facing its biggest economic and politi-

cal crisis in three decades. But Setubal is one of a growing number of prominent business people who say Rousseff’s impeachment would just stoke instability. He told the Folha de S Paulo newspaper there was not enough evidence to link her to a massive kickback scandal around Petrobras, and that accounting tricks in the Government’s 2014 budget, now under scrutiny by a federal auditor, are not severe enough to justify her removal either. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Argentina to restore 4000 artefacts to Ecuador and Peru

Argentina has said it will return more than 4000 archaeological artefacts to Ecuador and Peru.

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said the pieces had been stolen and should be returned to their rightful owners.

“We are doing something unusual, really special,” she said during a ceremony at the National Museum of Fine Art in Buenos Aires.

Fernandez urged other countries to follow the example.

“It is an honour and a pleasure to restore the cultural wealth of countries such as Ecuador and Peru in a world where such wealth has so often been taken away,” she said.

“One can see in the great museums of the world piec-

es from Greece, Syria, Egypt, Asia and even Latin America, and which have not been returned.”

The announcement was made during a ceremony in Buenos Aires, in the presence of the Ecuadorean and Peruvian Ambassadors.

Fernandez said Argentina was the first South American

nation to make such gesture. But she did not specify when the artefacts would be returned.

Last year, Yale University in the United States returned dozens of Inca artefacts. The University had reached a deal in 2011 to return thousands of items after a long dispute. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Streams of refugees flow into Macedonia from Greece

Hundreds of refugees have passed through the Macedonian border from Greece unhindered a day after Police used stun grenades in a failed bid to prevent them from crossing.

Al Jazeera’s Andrew Simmons, reporting from Gevgelija on the Macedonian side of the border, said the refugees were boarding trains to take them from Macedonia to Serbia.

The refugees hope that by taking trains through Serbia, they will make it to Hungary and other European Union member

states.

Al Jazeera’s Jonah Hull, reporting from Idomeni on the Greek side of the border, said the railway between the two nations was working again on Sunday.

“It is calm here. There is a free flow of movement as the Macedonian Police allow small groups through,” he said.

“There are lines and lines of refugees making their way to this point and there is no sign in the bigger picture that this flow is going to stop or slow down anytime soon.”

Police and security remained at the border on Sunday, checking the refugees’ belongings and bags as they allowed them to pass through.

Our correspondent said that while hundreds on Saturday night had managed to cross the border by sprinting through open fields, many others had been sent back to Greece, where they alleged harsh treatment from Macedonian Police and showed Al Jazeera their injuries. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Egypt security forces clash with striking Policemen

Scores of Policemen have staged demonstrations in Egypt’s Nile Delta to demand outstanding bonuses are paid and better employment benefits in a rare show of protest since President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi came to power last year.

Protesting officers closed six Police stations in the province of Sharqiya and broke into the security directorate to protest against the authorities’ failure to meet their demands.

“Protesters stormed the security directorate after [officials] called in Riot Police to disperse them,” a security source told Turkey’s Anadolu news agency.

Al-Ahram, a local newspaper, said the Central Security Forces fired tear gas to disperse lower-ranking Police Officers camping at the directorate.

The officers, who have been on strike since Saturday, responded by firing warning shots into the air, the newspaper said.

At least four people were reported injured in the clashes.

The Police Officers chanted slogans calling for the dismissal of the Interior Minister and the head of the Sharqiya security directorate.

The Policemen have been demanding the payment of bonuses for the months of June and July, along with access to the same hospitals used by higher-ranking officials. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Philippines: Typhoon Goni leaves trail of destruction

Ten people have been killed as Typhoon Goni dumped torrential rain in the northern Philippines, triggering landslides and floods, officials say. Several were killed when houses were submerged under rocks and mud. Others are reported missing in flooded areas.

Thousands of people have been evacuated to higher ground and some domestic flights were cancelled.

At one point, Typhoon Goni was packing winds of winds of up to 195 kilometres per hour.

It is the ninth of an average of 20 that hit the Philippines each year, the country’s weather bureau said

However it weakened as it moved northward off Taiwan’s east coast, AFP news agency said. It is the ninth of an average of 20 that hit the Philippines each year, the country’s weather bureau said. (BBC News)

Around the World

Beirut protesters call for fall of Lebanese Government

Thousands have gathered in Beirut a day after Police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons at demonstrators who were protesting against what they call Lebanon’s “political dysfunction”.

Protesters camped overnight in the Lebanese capital’s Riad al-Solh square waiting for Prime Minister Tammam Salam’s response to Saturday’s police violence.

In a televised address on Sunday morning, Salam said members of the security

forces will be held accountable for the violence against protesters. Salam also called on an emergency Parliament session on Thursday to deal with the country’s ongoing political crisis.

“I have been, like many other fellow Lebanese, patient enough, but yesterday’s outcry should not be ignored,” he said.

“I was never in this for a position in Government, I am one of you. I am with the people. Do not pit this conflict [as] one camp against the other. Target all the politicians.”

Angered by Salam’s speech on Sunday, a number of the protesters chanted: “The people want the fall of the regime”.

Al Jazeera’s Jamal Elshayyal, reporting from Beirut, said the protests had drawn people from across Lebanon’s political divide.

“This is very much a grassroots movement that has come out on to the streets...there seems to be a very significant movement forming here in Beirut. (Excerpt from

France train shooting: Police question suspect

French Police are questioning Ayoub ElKahzzani, a 25-yearold Moroccan accused of carrying out Friday’s attempted attack on a highspeed Thalys train between Amsterdam and Paris.

The suspect, who was restrained and held on the floor by passengers, is said to have links to the “radical Islamist movement”.

He can be held for four days without being charged.

Security measures aboard Thalys trains have been stepped up.

After a meeting of its national security council on Saturday, Belgium said mixed Franco-Belgian security patrols would be increased on board the Thalys trains, which link major cities in the Netherlands and Belgium to Paris.

Patrols and security

Security measures aboard Thalys trains and at Belgium’s international train stations have been stepped up

checks will also be boosted at international train stations, and more baggage checks will be carried out.

The suspect boarded the Thalys train in Brussels, and Belgian prosecutors are carrying out an anti-terrorism investigation of their own.

The suspect, who is being questioned near Paris, was flagged up to French authorities by their Spanish counterparts in February 2014. He is reported to have lived in France, Spain, and Belgium and to have travelled to Syria. The incident happened on a Thalys service near the northern French city of Arras on Friday. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

China share slide: Pension fund to invest in stock market

China plans to let its main State pension fund invest in the stock market for the first time, the country’s official news agency, Xinhua, has reported.

Under the new rules, the fund will be allowed to invest up to 30 per cent of its net assets in domesticallylisted shares.

China’s main pension fund holds 3.5 trillion yuan (US$548 billion), Xinhua said.

The move is the latest attempt by the Chinese Government to arrest the slide in the country’s stock market.

The fund will be allowed to invest not just in shares but in a range of market instruments, including derivatives. By increasing demand for them, the Government hopes prices will rise.

The Shanghai Composite Index closed down more than four per cent on Friday

after figures showed monthly factory activity contracting at its fastest pace in six years. It capped a tough few days for Chinese investors, with the index down 12 per cent on the week. Chinese shares are now down more than 30 per cent since the middle of June.

Earlier this month, the Chinese central bank devalued the yuan in an attempt to boost exports. (Excerpt from BBC News)

India’s gold demand could hit 950 tonnes as prices fall

India’s gold demand might reach 950 tonnes this year as lower prices spur buying during the peak festival season and for weddings, the world’s biggest gold refiner, Valcambi, said.

Stronger demand in the world’s second-biggest gold consumer could sup-

port global prices, which rebounded this week after hitting a 5-1/2 year low under US$1100 an ounce in July.

Valcambi chief executive Michael Mesaric said gold demand would be strong this year. “It could be between 900 tonnes to 950 tonnes,” he said on the side-

lines of the International Gold Convention in the city of Panaji in Goa state. Demand for gold jewellery is usually robust in the final quarter as India celebrates festivals such as Diwali and Dussehra, when buying the metal is considered auspicious.(Excerpt from Reuters)

monday, august 24, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

New Registrar to boost diversity of UG student population

Dr Nigel Gravesande, an analytical professional with approximately three decades of experience at executive levels in tertiary education, the Public/Private Sectors and diplomatic relations, has been appointed the new Registrar of the University of Guyana (UG).

Dr Gravesande, an alumnus of the University, already has in store several plans to further develop the institution to make it into the premier tertiary academy in the region.

One such plan is to promote greater diversity of the student population of the University. Dr Gravesande plans to focus on attracting students from Community Colleges and Sixth Forms from across the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Region.

Dr Gravesande envisions having strategic linkages with other regional and international tertiary institutions where the University of Guyana can benefit from diversified and wider human resources, and other technical assistance which can improve the university experience in Guyana.

21

Also, forging relationships with other prime universities across the world can contribute to the expansion of the University of Guyana’s resource base through strategic arrangements with industry and organisations.

Other plans include undertaking a detailed assessment of the current operations and policies of the registry with the aim of enhancing the operations in order to deliver more quality service to students and

villages benefit

other stakeholders of the University; to contribute to the enhancement of a student-centred, friendly environment in which student services are delivered in a more efficient and effective manner; to promote broader and deeper involvement of industry in curriculum development and enhancement so as to prepare graduates for the world of work; and to develop a structured programme of community service for all students.

The University is already undergoing some massive developmental transformations. In April, contracts were awarded for several projects to commence on the Turkeyen campus. The first contract is for the establishment of a Business Development Unit and Research Innovation Fund (RIF) which would aid in building the capacity of aspiring entrepreneurs through training in short courses and advance the capacity to develop innovations that can be commercialised and have an economic impact.

In addition, several faculties were to be rehabilitated; these include the

faculties of Agriculture, Forestry, Technology, Natural Science and the School of Earth and Environmental Science.

Dr Gravesande has served as Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Industry from 1991-1993. Thereafter, he became the Director of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Ministry of Finance and Trade in Grenada. He was then assigned as the Director of International Economic Cooperation of the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Grenada until he was promoted to Director of the Ministry.

He also served for two years as Director of Tourism on the Grenada Board of Tourism from 1997-1999.

His most recent post was Registrar of the TA Marryshow Community College in Grenada, which he had occupied since 2002.

Dr Gravesande is taking over from former Registrar of the University Vincent Alexander. Alexander was appointed Registrar of UG in 2009 and he occupied this post until his retirement in December 2014.

from Amerindian Development Fund

...56 others being processed

Amerindian Development Fund (ADF) Project Manager Imran Khan on Wednesday revealed that 21 of the 67 villages visited for the “scoping” phase of the Project have already benefited from funding for the implementation of their Community Development Plans (CDPs).

Mining Week commences with walk

Under the theme, “Science & Engineering Solutions for Safety, Security & Success in Mining”, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commissions (GGMC), commenced its annual Mining Week celebration with staff members walking from the Bank of Guyana to the Square of the Revolution on Sunday morning. The activities are set to continue today and Tuesday, with a National Mining and Quarrying Conference, and exhibition at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal, at 08:00h. Other fun activities for the coming week are set to be held in Port Kaituma, Mahdia, and Bartica.

The week’s activities will conclude on August 29th to celebrate Pork Knockers day at the Bartica Golden Beach Pavilion.

Mining Week in Guyana is a yearly event that seeks to highlight the significant contributions of the mining sector to Guyana’s economy, society and culture.

At last year’s opening ceremony of the weeklong event, then Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Robert Persaud stated that there are more Guyanese and nonGuyanese who want to get involved and be a part of the development of the industry. He had stated that he was optimistic about people’s growing confidence and interest in the sector, and noted that since Mining Week celebrations the previous year there has been significant progress made, as the industry has become more resilient and able to cushion the effects of price movement.

LIAT cancels flights in face of storm

RThe ADF was established to provide funding to support the socio-economic development of Amerindian communities and villages through the implementation of their CDPs. The proposed projects vary in nature but can be categorised into the following broad sectors: agriculture including processing, village infrastructure, tourism, manufacturing, village business enterprise, and transportation.

Khan was at the time addressing a gathering of Amerindian Village leaders and Toshaos at the National Toshaos Council Meeting at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

Khan, at the meeting, explained to the leaders the process of obtaining funding for such ventures. “There are two very simple criteria for your CDP to qualify as a CDP…..it must be income generating – it must make money…and the other criteria is that it must benefit your community as a whole,” he explained. He further stated that the process of applying for funding was quite simple: the village must have a bank account and hold a public meeting where minutes and attendance are

Boosting traffic safety

Members of the Regent Street branch of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) on Sunday morning, after repainting pedestrian crossings along Woolford Avenue in a move to boost traffic safety in time for the new school term

taken to agree on a CDP. He explained that after a management team of six to eight persons is appointed, the “scoping mission” where the ADF team visits the community to analyse the Plan takes place. After that stage, the team works out an implementation plan as well as the work and budget plan and the grant agreement is signed. It was revealed that every aspect of the plan is reviewed in terms of financial activities and progress to prevent fraud and misappropriation of funds. Proceeds from the project would go towards improving the lives of villagers.

Khan stated that the programme has been very beneficial to many villages thus far. He explained that 160 villages and communities have applied to the ADF. He revealed that in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), 24 communities were visited and five of those received the first tranche of the cash grant while in Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni), eight communities were visited and seven benefited. In Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), eight communities were visited and one has received the grant. In Region One (Barima-Waini), 20 communities were visited and eight of those are expected to receive their grants in the near future, while in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), the scoping process has recently been completed.

egional airline LIAT has cancelled several flights on account of Tropical storm Danny, which is sweeping through the Caribbean. Danny is carrying maximum sustained winds of 50 miles per hour, and is located 275 miles east of Guadeloupe and 310 miles east southeast of Antigua. The storm was moving toward the west near 15 miles per hour.

“A westward to west north-westward motion is expected over the next 48 hours. On the forecast track, the centre will move near or over portions of the Leeward Islands late tonight or early Monday. Some weakening is forecast during the next 48 hours,” US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said.

Cancellations for Monday, August 24:

LI 362

Barbados to Antigua

LI 368

Antigua to Anguilla

LI 369

Anguilla to Antigua

LI 364

Barbados to Dominica to Antigua

LI 309

Antigua to St Lucia

LI 771

Antigua to St Lucia

LI 581

Antigua to Dominica to Barbados

LI 328

Barbados to St Kitts

LI 521

Antigua to Barbados

LI 329

St Kitts to Barbados

LI 310

St Lucia to Antigua to St Maarten to Tortola

LI 315

Tortola to St Maarten to St Kitts to Antigua

LI 523

Antigua to Dominica to Barbados

LI 512

Barbados to Antigua

LI 526

Antigua to St Kitts to Tortola to San Juan

LI 560

Barbados to Dominica to San Juan

LI 561

San Juan to Dominica to Barbados

LI 524

Barbados to Dominica to Antigua

LI 550

Antigua to St. Kitts to St Maarten to St. Thomas

LI 553

St Thomas to St. Maarten to Antigua

LI 508

Antigua to St Kitts to St Maarten to Tortola

LI 509

Tortola to St Maarten to St Kitts to Antigua

For more information please check the airline’s website.

GMSA calls on Government to reconsider Rudisa payment

The Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association (GMSA) has called on Government to re-examine its decision to pay some US$6 million (some $1.2 billion) to Surinamese beverage company Rudisa, as part of an agreement for reimbursement of the environmental tax.

The Private Sector body, in a release, on Sunday said Government should consider the unfairness this move will bring to Guyanese, who will be paying the company “twice” as they are already paying the environmental tax on every bottle of Thrill purchased.

In May last year, the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) had ordered Guyana to pay the Surinamese beverage company some $1.2 billion, for imposing the controversial “environmental tax” on each non-returnable bottle imported into the country. Rudisa, along with its local distributor Caribbean International Distributors Inc, claimed that the tax is against the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, a view which the court held.

However, Rudisa had informed the Court that it would write off the payments if the Guyana Government sought to amend the legislation. The previous People’s Progressive Party/ Civic Administration had taken the amended bill to Parliament but it was voted down by the combined parliamentary Opposition.

Government’s failure to repay the money in a timely manner has resulted in the cost being racked up by an additional $4 million, to a total of $1.6 billion. Minister of State, Joseph Harmon disclosed that the total of

US$7.72 million ($1.6 billion) also includes interest to the tune of US$338,000, as well as legal cost of some US$120,000.

Government last month, however, was able to have the amount slashed by some $1.5 million, after President David Granger met with representatives of the company. The President was also able to seek an extension on the allotted time to make the payment.

But the GMSA said Government needed to reexamine the ruling by the CCJ and most of all, to apply the appropriate penalties ascribed by the laws of Guyana for Rudisa’s admitted under-invoicing of exports to this country.

“The GMSA's Board of Directors and some members viewed the entire video recording of the court proceedings and we offer the following observations and recommendations”:

1. Under cross examination by the then Attorney General of Guyana, the Chief Financial Officer of Rudisa admitted that the company has consistently under–invoiced its beverage exports to Guyana, but he claimed ignorance that this action was an infringement of Guyana’s domestic Laws.

2. The lawyer representing Rudisa admitted to the Court that the environmental tax of G$10 per bottle was actually passed on for several years to Guyanese distributors and consumers. This is a clear violation of the administrative protocols governing the procedures for implementing the tax. One protocol stipulates that the exporting company (Rudisa in this case) should absorb the cost and not transmit it down the

chain to consumers.

During the proceedings at the CCJ in 2013/4, Guyana was unable to provide verifiable proof that Rudisa's tax was indeed passed on to Guyanese retailers and our consumers. This unfortunately influenced the Court’s negative ruling. The end result is an agreement reached between Rudisa and the new Government of Guyana for a penalty payment which is only slightly lower than the costs recommended by the Caribbean Court.

The GMSA is of the firm view that the two infractions mentioned above - the under-invoicing of exports and the onward transmission of the tax to Guyanese retailers/consumers, merit a serious review by the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). Most importantly, Government must demand that Rudisa pays the required fines and penalties as stipulated in the laws of Guyana.

The Private Sector body further said it was highly probable that Rudisa may very well end up owing the people of Guyana after these penalties are factored in.

“We ask the authorities to consider the full implications of the CCJ’s ruling against Guyana. No one could ignore the fact that the beverage industry is a very competitive one in the domestic market. Guyana boasts of several large- scale beverage manufacturers who market in direct competition with every imported beverage. These local companies were also caught in the E-tax net which placed an even greater strain on their operation costs and revenue sales”.

FFTP donates road safety gear to Berbice Police, other groups

Food For The Poor (FFTP) Guyana Inc has come on board to support Police and other organisations in their fight to ensure that our roads are safer. The FFTP recently donated road safety vests, footwear and jackets to the Regional Road Safety Council (RRSC) of Region Six, (East BerbiceCorentyne), the Police, Prisons Service and the Fire Department.

The presentation was made at the St Francis Community Developers, which is FFTP’s main partner in Region Six. Four hundred and twenty-six pairs of shoes were presented, 1000 boxes of shoe polish, 1300 vests and 600 jackets.

RRSC Chairman Mustapha Ali expressing thanks on behalf of the organisation and the Police, noting that previously only some members of the committee were able to effectively function as committee members on the road at nights given the danger to

which they are exposed during night operations. Now those on patrol will be easily recognised because of the reflectors on the vests. The equipment, he added, will go a far way in enhancing the committee’s effectiveness.

Meanwhile, he noted that big plans are on stream for Road Safety Month which will be observed in the month of October.

Officer-In-Charge of traffic B Division (Berbice), Assistant Superintendent Budhnarine Persaud, in brief remarks, outlined the need for persons to use the roads wisely. Unfortunately, many persons have not been doing so. However, so far this year, there has been a reduction in road deaths in the Division.

Last year in Berbice, seven pedestrians had died on the road at this time of the year compared with one this year.

According to Persaud, the consumption of alcohol while using the roads is a major concern of the traf-

fic department. “Sometimes our strength is not there to tackle it, but we are improving. We have a reduction in road death so far for the year with 11 deaths compared with 16 last year.”

Persaud said there was an urgent need to get drivers to practice defensive driving. He noted that accidents have a lot to do with attitude and not necessarily experience. What he said is needed is education which Ali also highlighted. Ali outlined a series of educational programmes that the RRSC has undertaken.

In thanking FFTP and St Francis Community Developers, the Assistant Superintendent urged more persons to come on board to tackle some of the lawlessness which occurs on the roads in Berbice. “In the newspaper you see sometimes a lot of groups addressing domestic violence and suicide; we need persons to assist us in our intelligence gathering as it relates to drunk drivers.”

NA Lions Club honours top Berbice NGSA students

The New Amsterdam Lions Club, in collaboration with overseasbased Doctor Tulsi Dyal Singh, recognised the top Berbice performers at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations.

The top students in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne), along with the top students from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), were honoured at a simple ceremony held at the New Amsterdam Lions’ Club recently.

Several years ago, Dr T Singh took the decision to recognise the efforts of the outstanding achievers in Region Six and t later extended it to Region Five. Travis Isaacs Of All Saints Primary topped Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) with 525 points and was awarded a place at Queen’s College, while the top student for Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) was Lallchan Gajadhar of Rosignol Primary scoring

522 points and earning a place at Queen’s College. Daniel Somrah with 517 points was second in Region Six followed by

Devin

In Region Five, second went to Anthony Sukra of Blairmont Primary, who secured 521 points. The other top performers in that region were Suraj Singh of Novar

Primary, Anisha Persaud of Zealand Primary, Eon Duncan of Rosignol Primary along with Sarah Gamble,

Ramnauth and Anusooya Singh. Past President of the

club, Ramesh Maraj, in giving a brief overview of the Project, said the Club was impressed with the students’ performance, and told Dr Singh that the Club needed a partner to work with to acknowledge the efforts of the students. Maraj said the New Amsterdam Lions Club has in the past placed emphasis on the development of academic achievers, while Dr Singh has been assisting in the development of education in Berbice for decades.

He also noted that Dr Singh is currently partnering with the Club in its eyeglass recycling project through other Lions Clubs in the United States. The students each received a package containing equipment which they will need when they enter their new school next Monday.

Dr Singh, a Berbice High School alumnus, has been instrumental in the development of his old school and other schools in Berbice by providing millions of dollars in equipment and books.

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

CANCER

Don’t let insecurity prevent you from moving forward with your creative ideas. You will receive all the encouragement and assistance you need from people who believe in you.

Create a tangible plan before you make any changes to your residence. Go through all of the steps necessary to ensure the right result. Acting in haste could result in unnecessary expense.

Don’t make decisions based on what other people say or do. You know in your heart what is right for you, so go after it without hesitation. Love is in the stars.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Seemingly insignificant health issues can escalate over time. Take a close look at your daily routine. If your lifestyle is unhealthy, it is up to you to change it.

Never forget that you have the ability to influence others. Share your good fortune with those around you by maintaining an optimistic outlook and refusing to let people or events get you down.

You will be surprised by someone’s uncharacteristic comment or move. Reevaluate the motives behind certain actions and consider your next move. Don’t reveal personal secrets.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

You will have financial problems if you aren’t cashconscious. Refrain from lending, borrowing or taking on unwarranted financial responsibilities. Love and romance are in the cards.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Reflect and take action regarding your past dreams. Take the first step and keep moving forward. Introduce yourself to people who have similar professional interests. Attend seminars or business functions.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Any competition you face will have trouble keeping up with you. Don’t allow anyone to steal your thunder. Focus on your own success, not someone else’s.

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

You can avoid aggravation if you keep your plans hidden from others for the time being. By close observation, you will choose the ideal time to present what you are up to.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

With the right business partner, your innovative idea will become a lucrative turning point. Effective networking will yield positive results and allow you to share your ideas.

Tread lightly when dealing with emotional issues. Now is the time to make positive changes to your living arrangements. Don’t wait for someone else to make the first move.

Ennis-Hill wins World Championships heptathlon gold

Britain’s Jessica EnnisHill produced a display of immense focus and fortitude to be crowned world heptathlon champion once again and complete a remarkable sporting return.

The 29-year-old Olympic champion only decided to compete in Beijing within the past month, having returned to training only last autumn after the birth of her son Reggie.

But she steadily built a near-unassailable lead over the first six events and then stormed through to win her 800m heat in two minutes 10.13 seconds to amass 6,669 points and leave Canada’s Brianne TheisenEaton trailing 115 points down in silver.

Latvia’s Laura IkaunieceAdmidina was 38 points further back in bronze.

The British one-two that had seemed a genuine possibility after the first day of competition disappeared when Katarina JohnsonThompson dramatically fouled out of the long jump, the fifth event.

Johnson-Thompson slogged through the final two events under duress but was in tears at the end, her hopes of a first senior global medal dashed by a combination of inexperience and inaccuracy.

I would have been happy with a bronze!’

Ennis-Hill was clearly stunned with her win and told BBC Sport that she would have been happy with third place.

“This is definitely one of

the greatest moments of my career, I still can’t believe it,” she said. “Me and coach Toni (Minichiello) spoke about coming here, and we only wanted to come if I was able to compete for a medal.

“We spoke about the bronze medal and that it would be amazing for a silver medal, but we never spoke about gold. I kind of thought it was a little beyond me this year.

“There were doubts before the Anniversary Games but performing in London showed me I was making progress. If I’d come away with a bronze I’d have been so happy, so to win gold is unbelievable.

“This has been the hardest year ever. There were different pressures going into London 2012, but here juggling all my mummy duties has been even harder.

“I want to thank everyone for their help and sacrifices in helping me get back to being the athlete I was.”

How Ennis-Hill won gold Ennis-Hill, 29, began Sunday’s second day by recording a season’s best of 6.43m in the long jump, just nine centimetres off her personal best, and then threw 42.51m in the first round of the javelin to open up a gap of 86 points over Nadine Broersen of the Netherlands in the silver medal position and 94 over Theisen-Eaton in third.

That equated to a cushion of just under six seconds over the field in the 800m, and with Ennis-Hill boasting a personal best three and a half seconds faster than Broersen’s and more than a second faster than that of Theisen-Eaton, the race was effectively a coro-

nation.

Yet nothing about this win should be taken for granted, with a gold medal here arguably more impressive even than her Olympic triumph of 2012.

Where her rivals either underperformed or cracked under the pressure, EnnisHill was by contrast relentlessly consistent - a solid 12.91 seconds in the 100m hurdles, an equal season’s best with 1.86m in the high jump, 13.73m in the shot put and 23.42secs in the 200m.

While several women have come back from childbirth to win distance-running titles, no multi-eventer has ever come back to win a world title.

And when her training was repeatedly interrupted by Achilles problems in the first half of this year, the Briton’s hopes of even getting a qualifying score for these World Championships seemed remote.

Only an improved showing over the sprint hurdles at the Anniversary Games at the end of July persuaded her and coach Toni Minichiello that it was worth travelling to China, and then with a target of a podium place rather than a repeat of the world title she won in 2009.

After she had come past Theisen-Eaton in the home straight of the 800m, she fell to the track with her hands over her face. A road back that began with a 15-minute bike ride last November ended on a warm Beijing night in fairytale fashion.

(BBC Sport)

Sebastian Coe elected IAAF president

Former Olympic 1500m champion Lord Coe is the new president of the IAAF, the body that governs world athletics.

The 58-year-old Briton beat rival Sergey Bubka, a former Olympic pole vault champion, by 115 votes to 92.

One of Coe’s first tasks will be to deal with the fallout from a series of doping allegations to hit athletics.

Double Olympic champion Mo Farah and Olympic 1500m silver medallist Steve Cram have backed their countryman to make a positive impact. Following his election, Coe tweeted that, after the birth of his children, this was the most “momentous moment” of

his life. The former chairman of London 2012, Coe replaces 82-year-old Senegalese Lamine Diack, who has been in charge for 16 years.

Who is Lord Coe?

One of Britain’s finest sportsmen, having won gold medals in the 1500m at the 1980 and 1984 Olympics and set numerous world records

over both the 1500m and 800m.

His battles and rivalry with fellow Brits Steve Ovett and Cram during the 1980s became legendary and increased the popularity of middle-distance running enormously.

Coe has also been a Conservative MP, worked for Fifa and was a key figure in London’s successful bid for and staging of the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.

He was appointed an MBE in 1982, an OBE in 1990 and accepted a life peerage in 2000.

An IAAF vice-president since 2007, he becomes only the sixth president in the organisation’s 103-year history. (BBC Sport)

Hamilton eases to Belgian GP win ahead of Nico Rosberg

Lewis Hamilton beat Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg to take a dominant win at the Belgian Grand Prix to extend his championship lead.

The world champion converted pole position into a lead on the first lap and was in control throughout, taking his sixth win and extending his lead to 28 points.

Lotus’s Romain Grosjean took third after a rear tyre failure on Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari with two laps to go.

Vettel was holding off the Lotus on a one-stop strategy when the tyre exploded. It was the same tyre that had failed on Rosberg’s Mercedes during Friday practice.

The failure, though, prompted a furious reaction from Vettel, who was one of several leading drivers to express their concerns about tyre safety at the drivers’ briefing after practice on Friday.

Hamilton stamps his authority on Rosberg

Hamilton was on pole by nearly half a second from Rosberg and his advantage continued into the race.

He was helped by Rosberg being delayed by the Force India of Sergio Perez and Daniel Ricciardo’s Red Bull, who beat him off the line from fourth and fifth places on the grid, as thirdplaced Valtteri Bottas’s Williams dropped back.

But early pit stops for Perez and Ricciardo put Rosberg into second place by lap nine, by which time Hamilton was 8.3 seconds in front.

The lead stayed stable until they made their first pit stops, Rosberg coming in first in lap 12 and Hamilton on lap 13, the advantage of coming in first allowing Rosberg to reduce the gap to 3.4 seconds.

Hamilton had a brief concern when Rosberg somehow closed the gap by a sec-

ond while the field was being controlled by the virtual safety car after Ricciardo’s car broke down on the pit straight on lap 21. But once the race was restarted a lap later, Hamilton soon stamped his authority on Rosberg, stretching the lead from 2.6secs on lap 23 to 5.4secs five laps later.

There, Hamilton stabilised the gap and cruised to his sixth victory of the year, out of 11 races to start the second half of the season in the perfect manner.

Grosjean shines, but Vettel is furious with Pirelli Vettel, fresh from his victory in the last race in Hungary, was the only driver to try to make a one-stop strategy work.

He chose, like the dominant Mercedes not to stop under the virtual safety car, unlike most of his rivals. But unlike Mercedes, he did not stop again for fresh tyres.

That promoted the fourtime champion to third, ahead of Grosjean and Perez, but as the Ferrari driver nursed his tyres to the end the Lotus closed in and Vettel’s tyre exploded as he was trying to resist him.

“Things like that are not allowed,” he told BBC Sport’s Lee McKenzie. “If that happens 200 metres earlier, I am not standing here right now.”

The result, especially impressive as Grosjean had to fight up from ninth on the grid following a fiveplace gearbox penalty, was a welcome boost for troubled Lotus, fighting off financial legal challenges as they try to keep the outfit afloat.

Plus it was three years since the Frenchman received a one-race ban at the Belgian Grand Prix for causing a spectacular accident at the first corner, which saw his Lotus somersault on to the cockpit of Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari. (BBC Sport)

Rahane, Ashwin lead India dominance

There was no fairytale finish to Kumar Sangakkara’s Test career as R Ashwin dismissed him for the fourth time in four innings, on his way to picking up two wickets that gave India a big push towards a series-leveling victory at the P Sara Oval. Set 413 to win in three-and-ahalf sessions, after a declaration march led by an Ajinkya Rahane century, Sri Lanka were 72 for 2 at stumps on day four.

Sangakkara struck two trademark boundaries off Ishant Sharmaa whip off his hips and a checked drive down the ground - but didn’t have too much of an answer to another of those perfectly-pitched Ashwin offbreaks. It dropped onto a perfect length, on an offstump line. Right through the series, Sangakkara has been unsure of whether to go forward or back to this ball. He went forward this time, didn’t get close enough to the pitch of the ball, and it turned, kissed his outside edge, and nestled in second slip’s hands.

Ashwin’s first wicket had less to do with his skill as an offspinnerKaushal Silva popped a full-toss to short midwicket - but his bowling con-

stantly asked questions of Sri Lanka’s top order. Dimuth Karunaratne, in particular, struggled. He misread his flight on multiple occasions, and found himself playing a long way in front of his body when the ball dipped on him, sending a leading edge popping dangerously to-

wards mid-off on one occasion. He also had an lbw appeal turned down - with the ball looking likely to miss leg stump - when he went back to try and cut an arm ball that skidded through and cramped him. He hung in, though, and found his groove, to the extent of striking three fours

off him in the 19th over of Sri Lanka’s innings - two drives down the ground, having used his feet to get to the ball, either side of a powerful square sweep. With Angelo Mathews moving to a typically unobtrusive 23 at the other end, Sri Lanka ended the day with a small measure of hope.

But their hopes of chasing a less-than-daunting target had disappeared much earlier, over the course of two important partnerships involving Rahane. First, he briskly extended his second-wicket partnership with M Vijay to 140, the 73 runs they scored in the morning coming off 93 balls. Then, after Tharindu Kaushal had removed Vijay and Virat Kohli in the space of 48 balls, he added 85 with Rohit Sharma for the fourth wicket.

Vijay and Rahane had batted with a degree of understandable caution on the third evening, making sure India didn’t fritter away the initiative of an 87-run first-innings lead. Having swelled the cushion to 157 for the loss of only one wicket, there was a perceptible change of gear.

India’s batsmen had defended or left 86 - or

close to 49% - of the 176 balls they had faced on the third evening. On the fourth morning, the figure was 45 off 160 - just over 28%. The in-out fields allowed for a steady flow of singles, but they didn’t really help Sri Lanka stem the boundaries.

Rahane went deep in his crease in the third over of the morning to shorten the length of a Rangana Herath delivery and whip him square of midwicket for four, and stepped down the track six overs later to lift him over extra cover. Not long after, Vijay

picked up two sixes in two overs, with a pull off Dushmantha Chameera and a lofted hit over midwicket off Kaushal.

As the morning wore on, Vijay began limping through his singles - possibly due to a return of the hamstring troubles that had kept him out of the first Test. It was later learnt that both Vijay and Wriddhiman Saha, who had retired hurt with a hamstring strain in the second session, were ruled out of the remainder of the series. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

India 1st innings 393

Sri Lanka 1st innings 306

India 2nd innings

M Vijay lbw b Kaushal 82

KL Rahul b Prasad 2

AM Rahane c †Chandimal

b Kaushal 126

V Kohli* lbw b Kaushal 10

RG Sharma c Mubarak b Kaushal 34

STR Binny c Thirimanne b Prasad 17

WP Saha† not out 13

R Ashwin c †Chandimal b Prasad 19

A Mishra c Mubarak b Prasad 10

UT Yadav not out 4

Extras (lb 4, w 3, nb 1) 8

Total (8 wickets dec; 91 overs) 325

Did not bat: I Sharma

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-143, 3-171, 4-256, 5-262, 5-267*, 6-283, 7-311, 8-318

Bowling: KTGD Prasad 15-043-4, HMRKB Herath 29-496-0, PVD Chameera 14-063-0, AD Mathews 2-1-1-0, PHT Kaushal 31-1-118-4.

Sri Lanka 2nd innings (target: 413 runs) JK Silva c Binny b Ashwin 1 FDM Karunaratne not out 25 KC Sangakkara c Vijay b Ashwin 18 AD Mathews* not out 23 Extras (lb 4, nb 1) 5 Total (2 wickets; 21 overs) 72 To bat: HDRL

Victory sends off Clarke and Rogers on a high, England celebrate

Aflirtatious Ashes series which has often been seductive without delivering much in the way of serious loyalties, so much so that the urn might have been sponsored by Ashley Madison, lent its loyalties for the final time to Australia as they claimed the fifth Investec Test by an innings and 46 runs.

There has been much to enjoy over the five Tests in a series watched by capacity crowds - and lovers of Test cricket will delight in that - but history is likely to judge this hit-and-miss series one of the more insubstantial affairs between two teams possessing striking inconsistencies - loved for their skill, unlikely to be hailed for their resilience.

Alastair Cook, England’s captain, will make light of that, content that after a 5-0 whitewash in Australia the Ashes have been regained. “I honestly believe this is a highly-talented group of players,” he said. “Being underdogs helped us and allowed us to play with a bit of freedom. It has been a very different

Ashes series: two-anda-half day Test matches with one side getting on top and the other unable to respond, but I am very proud of the lads.”

As if to reveal this trait, all five matches have been one-sided. As well as this victory margin - an innings and 46 runs, Australia found further consolation in London when they won by 405 runs at Lord’s. England dominated by 169 runs in Cardiff, eight wickets at Edgbaston and an innings and 78 at

Trent Bridge. The ability to fight back in adversity has been strangely lacking. It has not been a series to be holding tickets for the final day.

Rain delayed Australia for nearly three hours on the fourth day - not many batsmen on either side can claim to have done that to bowlers during this series - before Peter Siddle, appearing in the final Test like a battlehardened guest star from a more sober age, took the last two wickets to finish with 4 for 35 and 6 for 67

in the match.

England’s winning margin was clipped to 3-2 and properly so. Stuart Broad, the leading wicket-taker in the series, is followed by four Australians. Joe Root is the only England batsman in the top four runmakers.

But England won some decisive passages of play, not just Stuart Broad with eight wickets on a heady first morning at Trent Bridge, but also the man who pipped him for the Man of the Series award,

Joe Root, who struck centuries at Cardiff and Trent Bridge. The citation from Australia’s coach, Darren Lehmann, praised: “Outstanding knocks in bowler-friendly conditions at key moments.”

Chris Rogers, one player whose resilence could be taken for granted, was Australia’s Man of the Series. It has been hard work: the wickets have been tough and England have bowled pretty well,” he said. “I am a very proud Australian but it’s quite fitting for me that I get to finish up in England,. England has been pretty good to me.”

Pitches at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge shamelessly played to England strengths. England, although they are far from being a strong Test side, can be an exciting one and they can be grateful to have regained popularity and come away with the spoils. Considering the disenchantment that surrounded English cricket after a feeble World Cup challenge, the director of England cricket, Andrew Strauss will more than settle for that.

Michael Clarke, although saddled with an Ashes record of five defeats in seven, at least retired knowing that for his farewell appearance the dressing room had responded to his leadership. “But this was not about me,” he said. “It was about the need to show determination. We are very proud of the result, although Alastair and England deserve a lot of credit.” (Cricinfo)

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Grenadian James through to semis

Olympic champion Kirani James of Grenada powered into the semi-finals of the men’s 400 metres after winning his heat at the IAAF World Championships here Sunday.

The 22-year-old clocked 44.56 seconds to win heat four, ahead of Olympic silver medallist Luguelin Santos of the Dominican Republic who finished second in 44.62.

Trinidadian Lalonde Gordon, ironically also the bronze medallist at the London Olympics, was third in 44.97.

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Rising star Trinidadian Machel Cedenio also advanced after finishing second in heat one in a time of 44.54 seconds, behind winner American David Verburg in 44.43.

Jamaican Peter

Matthews clocked a personal best 44.69 for fourth, to also advance to the next round.

His compatriot Rusheen McDonald was second in heat two in 43.93 to be one of five to qualify, while fellow Jamaican Javon Francis

Man City top Everton

Manchester City maintained their flawless start to the Premier League season to go top of the table with victory at Everton.

Aleksandar Kolarov and substitute Samir Nasri struck after the break to make it three wins from three for City, who have yet to concede a goal as they lay down another marker that they are determined to reclaim their crown from Chelsea.

Everton, buoyed by a fine win at Southampton last weekend, gave City a real run for their money but David Silva had already hit an upright before Kolarov took advantage of poor goalkeeping from Tim Howard to take Raheem Sterling’s pass and score at the near post on the hour.

Vincent Kompany came to City’s rescue late on when he cleared Gareth Barry’s header off the line and the destiny of the three points was settled when Nasri played a neat one-two with Yaya Toure to lift a finish over the advancing Howard with two minutes left.

as reigning champions and paid the price for complacency setting in.

It may have been the loss of that title and the criticism that came with it but there was not a bit of complacency here as they came to Goodison Park, where they have struggled so badly in the past, and came away deserved winners.

ulation about his Everton future with Chelsea reportedly considering a fourth bid to take the 21-year-old England defender to Stamford Bridge having had a third offer of £30m turned down.

It is easy to see why Everton insist he will not be sold - and why Chelsea will not go away in their pursuit of a player they see as the heir apparent to John Terry at the heart of their defence.

City demonstrated their credentials with their comprehensive victory over champions Chelsea at Etihad Stadium last Sunday and this was just as impressive as they emerged unscathed from a potentially hazardous visit to Goodison Park.

Manchester City have ominous look

This was the sort of game where Manchester City were so often found wanting last season, caught short on trips to Liverpool and Manchester United - as well on visits to Burnley and Crystal Palace.

There was a sense that Manuel Pellegrini’s team were resting on their status

City showed strength as the back when required in the face of a very good Everton challenge, with Eliaquim Mangala faring much better against Romelu Lukaku than he did last season and showing he will not step aside easily for £30m new boy Nicolas Otamendi, and real class in attack.

With Yaya Toure rejuvenated, Silva, Sergio Aguero and Sterling have licence to be expansive and after showing they could be a force at home with their dismissal of champions Chelsea, this was a real show of strength at Goodison Park, a ground where no-one has an easy ride

John Stones shows touches of class

John Stones went into this game shrouded in spec-

Stones was easy on the eye, showing great composure on the ball and a willingness to mix it in the tackle that shows there is steel beneath the elegant exterior. He is still progressing, however, and it showed in one of two moments when his willingness to play his way out of trouble led to an anxious moment and also when he was involved in a mix-up with young Everton team-mate Tylas Browning that led to a chance for Jesus Navas.

Stones showed enough elsewhere, though, to illustrate exactly why he is so coveted and regarded as a player with a glittering future for club and country. (BBC Sport)

monday, august 24, 2015

Lady Jags draw with Cuba

The Guyana women’s national football squad played to a 1-1 draw with Cuba on Sunday in the Dominican Republic to end the Group Four firstround campaign.

After squashing St Kitts and Nevis 8-0 and now the 1-1 draw against Cuba, Guyana will have to wait for the result of the Cuba versus St Kitts and Nevis game to know whether or not they advance to the next round.

However, Cuba will have a tall task ahead them as they will have to defeat St Kitts and Nevis by more than eight goals to advance; if the Cubans are unable to accomplish that feat, then the Lady Jags will advance to the next round.

The Cuba versus St Kitts and Nevis clash will take place on Tuesday.

Head Coach Mark Rodrigues believes that the women “played really well”, but will be keeping their fingers crossed on Tuesday.

GFF’s Normalisation Committee visits Linden with aim of football development

Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Normalisation Committee Chairman Clinton Urling, along with FIFA Development Officer Howard McIntosh and other officials of the GFF, visited Linden on Saturday in order to formulate development plans with stakeholders.

However, the meetings never materialised owing to Linden policymakers having to attend to other urgent matters.

The region’s policymakers, including the parliamentary representatives and Regional Chairman Renis Morian were expected to meet with the Normalisation Committee to discuss football development in the region, including the upgrading of facilities, installation of artificial turf and the establishment

of a football technical centre. Nevertheless, the visiting team scouted several locations in Linden to assess the needs of the community and what could be done to develop the community. The sites included the Bayroc Community Centre, the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground and the Christianburg Community Centre.

According to a GFF press release, Urling was not discouraged that the meetings did not occur and commented that “it’s not debilitating or something that will deter us from fulfilling our mandate which says that we should invest in the communities outside of Georgetown and develop their football infrastructure”.

The GFF Normalisation Committee Chairman further added, “Linden is important to the GFF not just

the administrative side of it, but also to expand on the infrastructure that exists presently. But we need to meet with stakeholders to ensure the GFF can have some agreement with them so that we can begin those infrastructure works. FIFA requires, at minimum, either a user requirement for the properties or a lease for us to put down any significant investment.”

Urling also pointed out that on Tuesday, August 25, one of FIFA’s Technical Inspectors would be in Guyana to primarily conduct work at the GFF’s Providence facility, but the Federation would “bring him to Linden to test the soil samples and make recommendations on suitability to the GFF and FIFA and which is the best area to invest”.

Josiah-Tanner wins another 5k

Overseas-based distance veteran Euleen Josiah-Tanner won yet another 5k event on Saturday in Georgia, USA.

Josiah-Tanner clocked a comfortable time of 18:23 to win the female version of the event, while placing second overall.

“The race was really great for me and felt great throughout the event,” Josiah-Tanner told Guyana Times Sport

Josiah-Tanner will also look to up her level of competition in preparation for the host of 10k events slated for Guyana in September as well as the South American 10k.

Josiah-Tanner, a regular feature in both the AINLIM and Courts 10ks, will have her hands full when both events get rolling next month against the likes of Alika Morgan and Andrea Foster.

Williams wins Cincinnati Masters for 69th singles title

World number one Serena Williams beat third seed Simona Halep to win the Cincinnati Masters on Sunday.

The 33-year-old won 6-3 7-6 (7-5) to see off Romania’s Halep, 23, who had already secured second seeding for the US Open by reaching the final.

Halep broke Williams in the opening game of the match, but the Wimbledon champion fought back, winning five straight games, and took the first set.

They traded breaks to take the second set to a tie break, which Williams won.

“Thanks to Simona for playing such a great match,” said the American, who took victory in one hour and nine minutes.

“I don’t get great support everywhere I play, but I get

so much love here I want to keep coming back.”

Halep said: “It was amazing for me to play in the final. Congratulations to the champion.”

The world number three threatened early in the second set when earning three break points in the opening game, but Williams rescued each one.

It was then Halep who

was rescuing match points in the tie break, before Williams secured a second successive Cincinnati title. It was the 69th singles crown of her career.

That moves Williams, who heads to the US Open looking for a calendar-year Grand Slam sweep, ahead of Evonne Goolagong and into fifth place in the all-time list. (BBC Sport)

Woods slips two shots off lead at Wyndham Championship

Tiger Woods is two strokes off the lead after round three of the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina.

The 39-year-old was joint leader at the halfway stage in his quest for a first title since the 2013 WGC Bridgestone.

USA’s Jason Gore shot an eight-under 62 for a twoshot lead on 15 under par, with England’s Paul Casey on 12 under.

Woods, who has fallen to 286 in the rankings, carded three birdies in a 68, dropping his only shot when he three-putted the final green.

The 14-time major champion is tied on 13 under with Sweden’s Jonas Blixt (62) and American Scott Brown (66).

Woods is currently 187th in the FedEx standings and only the top 125 qualify for next week’s Barclays tournament.

The former world number one could move up sufficiently with a second-place finish and he began his third round in style with a birdie from inside 10 feet at the opening hole.

Playing partner Tom Hoge put his approach even closer but missed his birdie

opportunity and mixed five bogeys and three birdies in a 72 that saw him drop to a share of 21st place, six adrift.

Woods made 15 pars, with a remarkable save at the 10th when he missed the green to the right, had to take a drop in deep rough to get relief from the grandstand, chipped out 24 feet past the flag and holed the putt.

But his run of 28 holes without a bogey came to an end at the 18th when his return effort from six feet lipped out and he will be in the penultimate group in the final round.

GSSF hosts outdoor archery session

participants

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

International archer/ coach Diego Torres continued his stint in Guyana with an outdoor archery session on Sunday under the auspices of the Guyana Sport Shooting Federation (GSSF).

The eager participants braved the scorching heat of the day to test their skills at outdoor archery at the recently-commissioned Synthetic Track and Field facility after undergoing indoor sessions at the National Gymnasium last week.

Torres said the current group was being tutored on the fundamentals of the sport, and was being given a solid foundation that could propel them to high-performance archery.

The Colombian Coach said while the current model of bows that he has developed is inexpensive and is made with material easily found in Guyana, the training is in line with Olympic norms and practices.

The bows are fabricated from PVC.

Torres said he was impressed with the participants, noting that they were very receptive and fast learners.

GSSF President Vidushi Persaud said the Federation was happy to have the services and expertise of Torres to introduce the sport to Guyanese in a structured way.

She said the ultimate aim was to have the sport expanded countrywide whereby regional competi-

tions could be held, as well as national tournaments.

Persaud said the programme to develop archery in Guyana will be ongoing, as the GSSF was determined to have a cadre of archers to choose from to one day represent the country at international events.

The GSSF and World Archery Americas collaborated to have Torres in Guyana to conduct various seminars for members of the Federation: the focus of which are archery safety, the fabrication of PVC bows and teaching the correct form for target archery.

Seminars are geared to give participants the knowledge as to how to further develop this longstanding Olympic sport by making low-cost bows, which will

Federer wins 7th Cincinnati Masters title

Roger Federer beat world number one

to win his seventh Cincinnati Masters title on Sunday.

The 34-year-old Swiss, who knocked out Britain’s Andy Murray in the semi-final, recorded a 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 win.

Djokovic lost the first set on a tie break, and the 28-year-old Serb then double faulted at break point in his first service game of the second set.

Federer, who will now be the number two seed at the US Open, held serve to win in one hour 30 minutes.

“We really get the best out of each other,” said Federer, who made it an 87th tour-level title.

“We have improved a lot playing against each other over the years.

“It’s very special for me. I will try my best to come back for many years to come.”

With the victory, Federer denied Djokovic from com-

pleting the set of all nine ATP Masters titles and took a 21-20 edge in career headto-head meetings.

“I really hope he (Djokovic) can win here one day,” added Federer. “He deserves it.”

The win will also give Federer confidence going into US Open, which begins on 31 August, where he will be seeking a sixth title at Flushing Meadows and his first since 2008. (BBC Sport)

then be used for training and local competitions.

Torres had indicated last week that he was very happy to work with a lot of beginners as no “bad habits” would already have been cultivated with respect to form, which are significantly harder to remedy.

The first phase of the seminar which concluded Wednesday saw participants instructed in handson fabrication of PVC target archery bows, complete with stabiliser system.

Members were trained in the safe use of power tools and handling chemicals in order to shape and assemble the low-cost archery tools.

This phase materialised several PVC bows for use by the members of the GSSF.

Nineteen individuals participated in this phase and are now able to continue the project which is now present in four countries, namely Colombia, Bolivia, Paraguay and Guyana.

The second phase of the seminar involves members receiving expert coaching in the correct form of archery, and safety instructions using the newly-fabricated bows at both indoor and outdoor facilities.

Archery Guyana will officially be launched today at the Carifesta Sports Complex at 10:30h.

Burnham Memorial Basketball Tournament

Bulls top Guardians in Tournament’s opener

The Half Mile Bulls held their nerve to top the Plaisance Guardians 77-73 on Saturday evening when the Burnham Memorial Basketball Tournament tipped off on Sunday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

With the Plaisance Guardians trailing by two points and just 9.3 seconds left on the clock, Terrence James of the Bulls stepped to the stripe to nail two clutch free throws to put the Linden-based side up 77-73.

A bad inbound pass by the Guardians on the next play ended their chances of trying for a miracle win.

Top guard Terron Welch led the Lindeners with a team-high 19 points, while James supported with 16 points. Chipping in with 10 was Michael Turner.

Meanwhile, Nikkoloi Smith dropped a game-high 39 points in an offensive onslaught that failed to help his team win. Trenton Woolford also dropped 16 points for the Guardians in the close loss.

Smith was hot out of the gates scoring 13 points in the opening stanza, helping the Guardians to an early 19-14 first-quarter lead.

With Smith on the bench to start the second quarter, it definitely seemed like he was the engine of the team as Bulls outscored the Guardians 22-12 in the second period to head into the

Michael Turner

halftime break with a 36-31 lead.

The third quarter saw both teams trading buckets in a back-and-forth period that saw some physicality especially in the paint. However, ending the third period with a 56-51 lead, the Bulls held on to their lead in the final period to claim the win despite being outscored 23-22 by Guardians.

In the second game of the evening, Colts defeated the Amelia’s Ward Jets by a 6054 margin.

The winner of the tournament will walk away with $100,000 and the championship trophy while the secondplace side will pocket the respective medals and $60,000.

The third-place finisher will also receive a trophy, medals and $40,000. Accolades will also be awarded for the Most Valuable Player, Best Uniformed Team and Most Disciplined Team.

Bolt by a whisker, strikes 100m gold to retain world title

Usain Bolt once again produced his best when it mattered most to retain his 100 metres world title and reassert his status as the number one sprinter on the planet at a rocking Bird’s Nest Stadium on Sunday night.

The Jamaican had strug-

Back at the arena where he first exploded onto the world stage at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, however, Bolt surged past the in-form American over the last 30 metres and crossed the line in 9.79 seconds, his fastest run of the year.

“I came out here, relaxed,

gled for form and fitness all season, stumbled his way through the semi-finals and got nowhere close to the times that his rival Justin Gatlin had been posting.

no stress and brought it home. My aim is to be number one until I retire and therefore I am pushing myself and pushing myself,” said the 29-yearold after striking his trade-

mark “Lighting Bolt” pose.

“It is all about running the race and getting it done. You can call that race rusty. I could have run faster. This title means a lot to me. It has been a long season with me coming back from injury.”

Gatlin finished second in 9.80 to take silver as he did at the world championships in Moscow two years ago, while young guns Andre de Grasse of Canada and American Trayvon Bromell finished together in third place in a time of 9.92.

They will both be awarded bronze medals after running identical times down to a 1000th of a second.

“I am speechless, all I can say is wow!” said de Grasse, whose time was a personal best.

American Mike Rodgers was fifth in 9.94 while Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell and Jimmy Vicaut were sixth, seventh and eighth in 10 seconds dead.

Su Bingtian, who received the loudest cheers at the start of the race as the first Chinese to reach the final of the blue riband sprint at a global championships, finished last in 10.06.

The victory for Bolt will be an undoubted boost for a sport which has spent three weeks locked in a public relations crisis over allegations

of widespread doping among athletes.

With Gatlin, who has twice served bans for the use of banned substances, being one of four convicted dopers in the final, a victory for Bolt

in six major global championships going back to 2007.

He was disqualified from the shorter race at the Deagu world championships in 2011, however, and flirted with a similar mishap when

speed.

“I feel good, on the last five metres I kind of stumbled and it cost me my momentum,” said Gatlin, a world and Olympic champion before his second doping ban and the

proved to be more significant than who was the best sprinter.

“I understand why (people thought it was important for me to win),” Bolt added. “But as I said, I wanted to do it for myself. It was a big deal.”

Bolt, the reigning Olympic champion and world record holder, has now not been beaten in the 100m or 200m

he stumbled out of the blocks in the semi-finals earlier on Sunday.

There were no mistakes when it came to final, though, and, he powered down lane five to edge Gatlin at the line.

The 33-year-old American will perhaps regret dipping for the line quite so far out, a move which disrupted his rhythm and reduced his

rise of Bolt.

“Everybody wants to come out and win but I got nabbed by the great Usain. I’ll have a day off and come back and be prepared for the first round of the 200.”

Bolt will go for successive world championship sprint sweeps in Beijing with the 200 metres final scheduled for Thursday. (Reuters)