Region 2 gets new REO
Wife in custody for murder of Herstelling joiner
Ramjattan, new Canadian High Commissioner discuss security issues
400 boxes of smuggled chicken seized Kitty resident on $100,000 bail for stealing motor cycle
PPP/C R egion 6 Councillors were never sworn in – PPP
The David Grangerled Administration is still to respond to the offer made by former President and Leader of the Opposition People’s Progressive party/Civic (PPP/C) Bharrat Jagdeo to have former Attorney General Anil Nandlall assist Attorney General Basil
isterial delegation from the A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition on August 31 at the Ministry of the Presidency, had offered to have the former Attorney General lend his institutional memory, to assist in the process.
During the meeting
Williams in several tax evasion cases that are pending and which, if successful, will rake in some $20 billion to the public coffers. Jagdeo, during his first meeting with President David Granger and a min-
with current Attorney General Basil Williams, the Opposition Leader raised issues about files missing from the Attorney General’s Chambers. “He (Williams) said that he does not have the files and
Anil Nandlall – the former Attorney General – has publicly stated more than once that all the files that are necessary for all the cases are in the office or the institutional knowledge is there. He did not take a single document away,” the Opposition Leader declared.
Moreover, Jagdeo outlined that in order to ensure that the State is successful in the pending tax cases so that they can recover in as much as they can, the Opposition is will-
oping the country.
According to the Opposition Leader, this move is reflective of the PPP/C’s approach in dealing with the APNU/AFC Administration. He pointed out that they will not be seeking to block everything or anything that comes on the agenda because they were brought by the Government.
“We will take a different approach from the one that they took when they had control of the Parliament. They sought
ing to have Nandlall lend his “institutional memory” to the AG Williams.
“We will share all of the institutional memory that we have about those tax cases because we don’t the Government to lose those tax cases based on bad legal representation because it will cause the treasury billions of dollars and us as tax payers – people of this country. We want to share things with them, we want to work with them on this,” he outlined.
Jagdeo said that he informed those present at the meeting that there are billions of dollars in liabilities to the State tied up in just a few cases in court. He further disclosed that there are about 10 such cases he is knowledgeable about, with a whopping $20 billion outstanding in taxes that can be put into the treasury and directed toward devel-
to block everything – the Money Laundering Bill, the Amaila (Falls Hydro Project), (Specialty) Hospital or the Airport Project,” he said.
Jagdeo pointed out that the PPP/C Opposition will be supporting things that are national and will seek to benefit the people of Guyana. “We hold them (coalition) to the promises that they made to the population and we will vigorously oppose things that we thing are bad for Guyana,” he added.
One observer pointed out that it is not fair that hundreds of thousands of ordinary citizens with meagre incomes above the threshold level have to pay their taxes when these evidently giant corporations are allowed to evade such gargantuan amounts of taxes. (alexisr@guyanatimesgy.com)
Anew Regional Executive Officer, Rupert Hopkinson, has joined the Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) administration as of Friday, September 11.
Hopkinson who is the son of the first Regional Chairman of Region Two, Kenneth “Baggie” Hopkinson has pledged his support to move the region forward.
According to the new REO, he is delighted to return to his homeland and county of Essequibo to serve the people. His main objective he noted will be to work with Regional Officials to lift the region as well as to foster unity among workers and the people.
The 60-year-old who resided at Darthmouth village said that he attended the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary. After finishing school, he was appointed as the Regional Information Officer. He then left the region to go further his studies at the Tuskegee University in New York where he did a management and economic course. He has Degrees in Science and Economics. He had attained a Masters in the Agriculture Science and
Economics from the Auburn University also in New York. Hopkinson said he is approaching the work with much enthusiasm. He was welcomed by the Region Two Chairman Daveanand Ramdatt and Regional Vice Chairman Nandranie Coonjah. The newly elected Chairman Ramdatt pledged his support to the REO in making Region Two one of the best regions in the country, while Coonjah said that she too looks forward in working with Hopkinson. Hopkinson replaced Sunil Singh.
Aman was on Friday placed on $100,000 bail by Magistrate Ann McLennan when he appeared before her in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, charged with simple larceny.
Lester Hopkinson, 20, of 79 William Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which read that on June 23 at Alexander Street, Kitty, he stole on Honda motorcycle bearing registration plates CG 7708 valued $750,000; the property of the Virtual Complainant (VC) David Troy.
According to Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones, on the day in question the VC returned home to discover his motorcycle missing. He subsequently
made a report to the Police station. Sometime later, Police on patrol duty saw the defendant riding the motorcycle and acting in a suspicious manner. They apprehended him and soon discovered that the motor cycle is the one reported as stolen. He was arrested and told of the charge.
During the court proceedings, the defendant claimed that he was at a food booth having a meal and the motor cycle was parked next to him. He denied knowledge of the motorcycle and stated that he did not steal it. He claimed that the Police pulled over next to the food booth and arrested him. He also alleged that they are trying to pin the offence on him. The Prosecutor made no objections to bail which was granted in the sum of $100,000.
saturday, september 12, 2015 |
The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, September 12 – 14:30h-16:00h and Sunday, September 13 – 05:00h-06:30h
The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, September 12 – 16:10h-17:40h and Sunday, September 13 – 16:40h-18:10h
Parika and Supenaam departure times – 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h daily.
High Tide: 03:49h and 16:07h reaching maximum heights of 2.55 metres and 2.57 metres respectively.
Low Tide: 09:43h and 21:58 reaching minimum heights of 0.66 metre and 0.62 metre respectively.
he Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Friday reported that up to the end of August 2015, the murder toll has risen to 104 when compare to 98 for the same period in 2014 – an increase of six per cent. An addition, five murders were committed thus far in September taking the tally to 109.
The Police also confirmed that serious crime is up by 12 per cent.
Based on the statistics released by the GPF on Friday, a whooping 38 of the total amount of murders were committed in A Division (GeorgetownEast Bank) followed by 19 in C Division (East Coast Demerara) and 17 in B Division (Berbice).
Fifteen of them were committed in F Division (Interior locations), six in G Division (Essequibo CoastIslands), five in E Division (Linden-Kwakwani) and four in D Division (West Bank Demerara-East Bank Essequibo).
In addition, 42 of the murders were as a result of disorderly behaviour while 24 were from unknown causes and 17 occurred during armed robberies. Also, sever person
were killed execution style, 12 as a result of domestic disputes and two by other means.
However, among the serious crimes policed by the Force are murder, robbery under arms, robbery with violence, robbery with aggravation, larceny from the person, break and enter and larceny, burglary, rape, and kidnapping.
At the end of August 2015, robbery under arms overall has increased by three per cent in comparison to the same period in 2014. The statistics indicate that 539 cases of armed robberies involving the use of firearms were recorded, which saw an increase of four per cent, compared to the same peri-
od last year. As well, there were 253 cases of armed robberies where instrument other than firearms were used by the perpetrator. The same amount was reported for the same period in 2014.
However, the Police have stated that 271 reports were made against rapists which saw a whopping 65 per cent increase when compared to 164 cases last year. Other crimes which recorded increases were break and enter, and larceny and burglary. These crimes saw a 13 per cent increase.
As the Force continues its operations, a total of 81 illegal firearms have been recovered up to end of August 2015 comprising one sub-machine gun, 46 pistols, 21 revolvers, six shotguns, six rifles and one pen-gun. This compares to a total of 53 illegal firearms that were recovered unto this time last year.
Meanwhile, in relation to the firearm amnesty programme currently in effect, in addition to the seven guns, 1460 ammo that were handed over in the first week, two 16-gauge shotguns and two matching cartridges were handed
in to F Division (Interior locations); two air rifles and one .32 pistol with 2 matching rounds were received in A Division (GeorgetownEast Bank Demerara); and a .22 air rifle was surrendered in E Division (Linden-Kwakwani). Those that were collected in the first week included 1191 rounds of 7.62x51 ammunition; two .22 Pistols, along with 55 matching rounds of ammunition and three magazines; one shotgun with one cartridge; one 9mm Luger pistol along with nine matching rounds; and one .32 Walter pistol with one magazine along with 193 matching rounds. (bhisham@guyanatimesgy. com)
Attorney Sase Gunraj says that attempts are afoot to tarnish the character and good standing of his client, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), Dr Rajendra Singh.
In release on Friday, Gunraj stated that certain sections of the me -
dia, aided and abetted by “certain” elements in the hierarchy of GuySuCo, have launched a vicious and libelous smear campaign against his client. He noted that even his successor, recently appointed Chairman of the Board Professor, Clive Thomas has joined the bandwagon.
“It is obvious that this campaign is intend -
ed to force my client to withdraw legal proceedings filed by him against GuySuCo regarding his contract of employment which guarantees him a five-year contract of service with GuySuCo,” the attorney-at-law outlined.
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
The Guyanese economy has been on a downward spiral since the May 11 Election period, but unlike the recurrent trend, this "quasi" decline is prolonging, without any prospects of amelioration in the near future. Most analysts expect the downturn to become a full-blown decline, which is defined as two successive quarters of declining growth. We have completed one quarter.
While those in the business sector expect some level of slowdown during the elections as it has always been in the country due to the heavy tensions that reign, what was not expected is this status quo where the economy seems to be hovering at a standstill.
It appears as though this current administration either does not have the necessary expertise to chart a course for steady economic growth and development, or doesn’t have economic growth as a priority. Observers have wondered about who exactly is advising the Government in economic matters and they seem more interested in witch hunting.
In the first case, then it could have handled the Venezuela Guyana border controversy with much more tact and diplomacy, in order to avoid the loss of Guyana’s main rice export market. Now, the rice industry is stagnating, as the new harvest of rice farmers literally has no foreign export market. In addition, the $23 billion promised by the Government to relieve the industry has now led to a confession that the money was for "shipping rice" - much to the frustration of the beleaguered rice farmers. On the Essequibo Coast for instance, where the main means of subsistence remains rice farming, the extent of the damage on the rice industry would be felt by hundreds of families who would be unable to obtain their regular income from crops. One large farmer was said to have committed suicide.
The level of investments in the country is also at a high risk of collapsing. For instance in the gold mining sector, the world price of gold remains low, and the future of the industry remains uncertain due to the anaemic nature of reforms proposed by Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman. The promise to limit the investments of companies in the mining sector so that small scale, local investors may benefit, might be perceived to be hostile to national and international companies which are interested in large scale mining. There is also the question on whether or not small scale investments could compensate for the possible losses in the economy by the limitation of big companies. In the case of foreign investments, bilateral relations with habitual business partners might take a toll.
In the area of green investments, and despite the Government’s promise of “a good life in a green economy”, to date there has been little or no sign of interest in pursuing Guyana’s biggest green initiative, the Low Carbon Development Strategy. Insofar as the LCDS stands, the Amaila Hydro Electric Project has been abandoned, representing the potential loss of US$80 million, almost half of the US$190 million of the revenues earned to date. Amerindians were the direct beneficiaries of a substantial amount of LCDS revenues, and stand to lose should the Government chose not to renew the agreement with Norway.
Another instance where the economy is felt at the lower levels of society, is the decrease in consummation and investment by Guyanese, many of whom have lost their jobs, are affected by slow business, are compelled to leave the country due to escalating crimes or are simply unwilling to invest. The result is that the economy, though at this point it is affected by unfavourable Government policies, is also hindered by a lack of local direct and indirect investments, and a general reduction of consumerism. It is highly likely that speculations and projections of a dismal economy would force consumers to save rather than to spend, reducing the flow of capital in the country and stymying the habitual 3 to 5% growth Guyana has enjoyed for the past 5 years.
Au finale, while the positioning of the country in the race for regional development might most likely be reconfigured, Guyanese, who had grown accustomed to steady economic development and who, through their investments and evolution had learnt to rely on positive Government policies which contributed to a favourable socioeconomic framework for development, are the ones who will feel the negative effects of a stagnating economy the most. When investors, foreign and local alike, would have lost the necessary trust fostered over two decades with the Government of Guyana, it is highly unlikely that demoralised Guyanese alone would be able to lift up the economy.
Dear Editor,
The Government’s gun amnesty policy is well on its way. Whether it yields the anticipated results is left to be seen. Citizens have, thus far, responded and both firearms and ammunition have been handed over to the Police under this policy.
Unfortunately, the Government, presumably, through the instrumentality of the Ministry of Public Security, has failed to promulgate and make public, the extent and parameters of this policy. This is a grave omission which must be rectified with every convenient speed. All that the nation has been fed with regarding this policy, are the sporadic oral utterances of Minister Khemraj Ramjattan. As far as I am aware, there is no document which explains the policy, more particularly, informing of the nature, boundaries and limits, if any, of this policy. Certainly, such a document, if extant, has not been made public. Such a document must be widely published so that both the citizens and their legal advisers are given an opportunity to comprehensively and maturely peruse the terms, conditions, nature, and extent of this amnesty so as to appreciate the perils, if any, to which one is exposed when one submits to it.
There is, I believe a
general and broad understanding that if a person takes in to the Police, a gun and/or ammunition for which they are no valid licences as are required under the Firearms Act, that person will not be charged for any offences under the Firearms Act, for example, being in possession of a firearm and/or ammunition without the requisite licence. However, assuming that the firearm is linked, either by ballistics or circumstantially or otherwise to some other crime, for example, a murder, an attempted murder, a manslaughter or a burglary, would the amnesty extend to those offences, thereby creating a protective cloak of immunity from prosecution in relation to those offences as well? No one is sure, except, perhaps, Mr. Ramjattan, whom I presume is the author of the policy. But clearly, Mr. Ramjattan cannot be the exclusive preserve of this information. The citizenry who are being asked to expose their life and liberty under this policy must be so informed. The State cannot lawfully jeopardize the life, liberty and fundamental freedoms of the citizenry in such a heedless and reckless manner. The Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions ought to be concerned about the vagueness and vagaries which afflict this policy.
Guyana is not the first country to have implemented such a policy. All the goodly Minister needs to do is to look at the legal frameworks which have been established in other jurisdictions where such a policy was executed. As a lawyer, Mr. Ramjattan must be aware of the legal implications of implementing such policy in the vacuous manner in which he has done it. Moreover, this is a Government of many lawyers and it is inconceivable how such a grave but rudimentary error could have escaped them all. On frequent occasions, I have heard lawyers, who hold no other known qualifications other than their legal training, and who occupy high positions in this Government, announcing publicly that the Government will seek legal advice on various matters regarding which the legal positions are both trite and settled. I often wonder what qualified them to land such important positions in the first place, if it was not their legal training since they, apparently, still need legal advice on the most elementary legal issues. Some of these lawyers spent their entire professional life purporting to give legal advice for reward on much more complex issues. Now they need legal advice on the simplest of issues.
Before I close, I want
to take this opportunity to endorse the sentiments expressed by former President, Comrade Donald Ramotar, that the PNC should take advantage of this amnesty and hand over to the Police, the guns which they may still have in their possession received by them from the Guyana Defence Force in the late 70’s. One would readily recall the oral testimony and documentary evidence which were presented to the Walter Rodney Commissioner of Inquiry by the Guyana Defence Force to the effect that over 150 guns, including high powered rifles, were delivered by the Guyana Defence Force to a named leading activist, at the time, of the PNC. This evidence was neither shaken nor contradicted by crossexamination. Neither was evidence led to rebut it. It is now common knowledge that some of these guns were recovered by the Police from the hands of notorious bandits. However, some are still missing. An inspiring example can be set if the PNC would deliver some of these weapons to the Police under this amnesty policy. Indeed, Mr. Ramjattan will certainly win national adulation if he is to call upon them publicly to do so.
Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP Attorney-at-Law
BBCI’s Directors
Dear Editor, I refer to Guyana Chronicle’s editorial captioned: “The Berbice River Bridge Controversy” which bases its argument on a number of false assumptions.
The first assumption is that the Government has the right to fix the tolls of the Berbice Bridge. No Government has any power to invade a company’s articles of association and the powers given there-under. Nor could the Government invade or break private contracts. Thus the Government has no right to unilaterally attempt to change or fix Berbice Bridge tolls.
No investor received any income or dividend from the time the bridge became operational over the last eight years, except NIS who were the only one allowed preference shares. The investors did not get any profits as the editorial falsely implies.
The editorial then went on to say that the present Government was concerned that the last Government “had made lavish concessions to its friends. For example, it has now been revealed that the New GPC, owned by a friend of former President Jagdeo, is one of the largest shareholders”.
This statement is a crude falsity since it is not now that the investors and their shares are known. This was widely known at the time the Company was launched eight years ago and was widely publicized in the media, both print and electronic. And in any case, the Company’s articles is a public document which anyone could see and which any newspaper could publish.
And the other reason for the statement being crude deceit is that the “lavish concessions” given to the shareholders including New GPC have not earned any shareholder (except NIS) one black cent. If the present Government thinks that the New GPC’s shares are “lavish concessions”, I am sure New GPC and other shareholders would humbly and happily sell their shares at par to the Government. If the Government buys the investors’ shares, then Government could provide a free service or a service at very little cost.
The editorial, as an attempt at Government propaganda, falls miserably on its face. The writer claims that the NIS investment was criminal and the NIS investment left the Scheme in fi-
nancial disarray. Yet, the other investors who bought the same shares were claiming to have been given lavish concessions by buying those same shares and were making mercenary profits therefrom. All shareholders will have to be in the same position one way or another.
Except if this issue is quickly settled, it exposes the Government to investors at home and abroad as being unreliable with scant regard for agreements and as a Government which does not have a full and honest commitment to the Free Market. Their equivocation in not passing the Anti- Money Laundering Bill also exposes the Government’s non-commitment to the Free Market.
This debacle could be ended in 24 hours if the Minister of Finance meets with the BBCI’s Directors and shareholders in good faith and agrees to a fair settlement which preserves the financial integrity and solvency of the Company and gives a good reduction in the tolls and not the contemptuous $300. The subvention would have to be realistically improved.
Yours sincerely,
R Sanichar
Dear Editor,
In an address to delegates of an international conference on Hindi in Bhopal that was attended by several Indo Guyanese from the diaspora, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has called for the strengthening of Hindi in India and around the globe. He said Hindi, which developed out of the ancient Sanskrit language, is very important in the digital age and should be learned by Indians as well as by people of other countries. Sanskrit, the mother of dozens of Indian and European languages, is also the language of computers.
Indentured immigrants from India brought Hindi and its Bhojpuri dialect to Guyana and the Caribbean region between 1838 and 1917. Both languages have been passed on their descendants, though it progressively disappeared. Nevertheless, many Guyanese are well versed in Hindi and Tamil, another Indian language brought by Madrasi indentured immigrants prior to 1917. Modi has urged that Hindi be embraced by Tamil speakers, numbering over 75 million, as well as by indigents of other Indian languages like Marathi and Gujarati. There are over one hundred languages spoken in India with some 13 official languages used by Government. English is the
dominant language in India spoken by over 500 million people - the largest English language speaking country in the world.
Prime Minister Modi is of the view that English, Chinese and Hindi will rule the digital world in the coming years. The US, China and India are expected to be the three largest economies by the end of this decade and the three fastest growing digital economies with the largest number of engineers and techies, who are imported by developed economies including the US.
Modi told delegates of the three day Hindi Conference that started on Thursday that “the language market was huge and companies could cash in on it by developing apps at the earliest”. He urged Indians who speak other languages to become learners of Hindi.
“In the days to come, three languages — English, Chinese and Hindi — will be influential in the digital world,” he said. He also said there is a need for enriching it. If we forget Hindi, it will be a loss to the country. “Though my mother tongue is Gujarati, I think at times what would have happened to me had I not known Hindi. I know fairly well the strength of knowing any language.
It is the responsibility of every generation to protect, if possible, conserve its heri-
tage and introduce it to the next generations”, he said. The PM also called for steps to preserve endangered languages around the world and pointed to concerns voiced by scholars that 90 per cent of the 6,000 languages world-over faced the risk of becoming relics from the past. He warned: “If there is no language, how can literature survive. If we don’t conserve and protect our languages, then they will die... become extinct and lead to a situation akin to where we have to watch a film to know what the dinosaur looked like”.
Modi stressed that language should remain inclusive and not exclusive. He recalled how as a tea-seller in Gujarat, he learned Hindi while selling tea to traders of Uttar Pradesh from where most Indo-Guyanese trace their roots. The PM also speaks English and has visited China numerous times although he is not very versed in Mandarin or Chinese. With India and China set to be the dominant economies surpassing the US in a decade, it may be useful for Guyanese to learn Hindi and Chinese to acquire jobs in business relationships with companies of both countries as well as in mastering computer technology.
Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram
Dear Editor,
The National Insurance Scheme is a great one indeed, created by the World Health Organization and commenced by former Prime Minister, Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham. This is one of his great legacies. National Insurance is an important ingredient to a decent, sane and prosperous nation and economy.
I have witnessed how people suffered when employers stole their benefits, or NIS could not pay due to improper computation, destruction of records (old stamp card system), due to factors such as leaking roof as some decades ago.
The National Insurance Scheme is in financial crisis, due to lack of vision from Governments, both current, and past. The inadequate laws or application of laws, lack of prosecution of criminal activities mainly by dishonest employers, who make the contributions by their work forces as a source of profitability for their businesses are all causes of this crisis. The previous NIS Chairman and administration didn’t listen to sound
advice publicly posted. I even had public outbursts on particularly unscrupulous business people, and I’m even ashamed to say that some in the Security Industry, cheat the NIS and the GRA of VAT.
Employers who don’t pay their contributions are numerous in all Guyana. They usurp the contribution of their employees. Where is their humanity and conscience?
When people spend a life time or years serving a business or office, they expect to be protected and cared for when they are ill, so that their families will not suffer. Indeed, there are some quality security companies and other industries, which take pride in contributing to this life enhancing scheme, and even provide private insurance.
Many employers continue to steal workers’ contributions and continue to pocket their part of the contribution which is usually double the workers’ part. Others tender for Government security and other businesses at very low costs, so as to win
contracts and make up for profitability shortfall by stealing the NIS and taxes, or manipulate the two very smartly thereby, creating difficulties for employees and a social dilemma. These dishonest companies and security services need to be black listed.
The Government and the NIS management always ask employers to comply, by appealing to their conscience. The NIS legal team doesn’t get injunctions preventing transfer or sales of assets of companies, businesses or persons who do not comply. However, they should.
Fines are few and too little, whereas theft of NIS is a profitable criminal enterprise.
All illegalities should be penalised. For example, a first offence should be penalised by two years’ jail and a $500,000 fine. Any other offence should cost five years imprisonment and $1 million fine.
Private criminal lawsuits should also be filed.
The President and his Cabinet must know that of the Private Security Act established under former Home Affairs Minister. This act allows for security services to be suspended or
lose their licenses to operate if they don’t remit NIS and GRA to the authorities.
Another dilemma is that we have many illegal entities operating as security services without licenses, and competing with legitimate companies.
This Government has to be aggressive in this area, since the previous Government failed miserably, as it was always trying to encourage payments.
Just imagine, some employers use violence on NIS Inspectors who want to inspect books. How can such people consciously deny their employees the health and comfort in old age? They must be lost in wealth, and have lost their human consciousness.
Sincerely, Roshan Khan
BY JILL RIGBY
What do your children really need from you? Love, guidance, shelter, food, clothing, medical care, and an education. That’s it.
Everything else is a want, a luxury: video games, iPods, cell phones, the latest fashion – whatever new item their friends have.
Today, far too many parents fall for the “nag factor.” They know their children are bombarded by ads telling them to buy certain products and that many parents are buying those products for their children. They know the pressure that comes from their children’s peers, and so they buy their children far more “stuff” than they can even use, all in the hope that their children will fit in and be accepted by their peers.
According to a recent survey of youth commissioned by the Center for a New American Dream, the average 12- to 17-year-old who asks a parent for products will ask nine times until the parents finally give in. For parents of tweens, the problem is particularly severe – more than 10 per cent of 12- to 13-year-olds admit to asking their parents more than 50 times for products they’ve seen advertised. Children have learned if they nag enough for long enough, parents will give in.
Parents, stop falling for the nag factor.
Refuse to overindulge your children
Sadly, our self-absorbed society has told parents to help their children feel good about themselves, that it’s the parents’ duty to make their children happy. But underneath it all, children don’t need parents who make them happy. They need parents who will make them capable.
Dr Connie Dawson, co-author of How Much Is Enough, writes:
“When parents give children too
much stuff that costs money, do things for children that they can do for themselves, do not expect children to do chores, do not have good rules and let children run the family, parents are overindulging.”
Here are some other signs of overindulgence. As you read them, watch for your weak spot:
1. Giving them things or experiences that are not appropriate for their age or their interests:
* Allowing a 5-year-old to dress like a pop star
* Allowing a 12-year-old to watch an R-rated movie
* Removing curfew from a 16-year-old with a new driver’s licence
2. Giving things to meet the adult’s needs, not the child’s:
* A mom buying her daughter the trendiest clothes, because Mom believes it’s a reflection on her own style
* A dad giving his son the “stand out” wheels at 16, so Dad’s friends –as well as his son’s friends – will think he’s “the man.”
* A parent giving his or her children
the best of the best in order to make the parent look successful.
3. Neglecting to teach children the life skills they need to survive in the “real” world beyond their home:
* Tying shoes and dressing 4-yearolds who are perfectly capable of dressing themselves.
* Doing the laundry for teenagers who are more than capable and need to learn to do it for themselves.
I admit that I slipped into overindulgence in raising my sons in more than one area. It’s important to realise the harm this can do to our children. According to one study conducted in 2001, children who are overindulged are more likely to grow up to believe the following:
* It is difficult to be happy unless one looks good, is intelligent, rich, and creative
* My happiness depends on most people I know liking me
* If I fail partly, it is as bad as being a total failure
* I can’t be happy if I miss out on many of the good things in life (www.familylife.com)
to Be Continued
– we’re seeing a surge in girls taking the initiative with guys at younger and younger ages, and aggressively attempting to lure them into sexual activity
(Continued from friday)
BY DENNIS RAINEY
I think one of the finest illustrations of this is in Proverbs, Chapters 5-7. In this passage, the writer was reflecting back on conversations he had with his son about aggressive women. And over and over he basically says, “Listen, my son. Hear my warnings. Embrace what I say, because it’s important.”
The writer concludes the whole passage by saying, “Don’t fool around with her, Son. Don’t go near her. Because she runs a halfway house to hell, and she has your grave clothes and your coffin, Son. Heads up. This is dangerous stuff we’re talking about here” (my paraphrase of 7:24-27).
One other Scripture your son should be familiar with, and commit to memory, is 2 Timothy 2:22: “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
That passage is equally helpful for young men and young women. And while we’re on the subject, what if you have daughters; how do you keep them from being drawn into this culture of aggressive girls?
Training your daughters
If you are raising a daughter, there are at least four things
you should consider:
1. Equip your daughter with a biblical, healthy, God-centred perspective of her sexuality. She needs to understand how her clothes and her behaviour affect boys. When girls are too flirty or too friendly with the opposite sex, they need to be told. If you witness this kind of behaviour, rehearse it and relive it later on and talk about what it does to guys. Explain what is appropriate in terms of a friendly relationship between a young lady and a young man. This needs to be done without being rude, but we cannot let our daughters get away with being overly friendly or overly aggressive.
2. Moms, model what you teach to your daughters. You need to dress appropriately, the way you would want your teenage daughters to dress when they’ve matured. There is a mixed signal that is sent when a mom is telling her daughter to dress conservatively, but her own clothes call too much attention to her body.
3. Dads, actively love your daughters. Give your daughter words of affection, warm hugs, and gentle kisses that let her know that she’s sweet, you’re her daddy, and that no matter how big she gets and how mature she is, you’re never going to stop giving her those words and those hugs. No matter how threatening that may be as your daughter matures, you need to let her know that there’s a wholesome love through words and affection that occurs within a God-centred family.
4. Appropriately correct inappropriate behaviour. Pray about how you should instruct her, help her, and correct her. Then begin to train her as to what is appropriate and what isn’t. This could be everything from how she looks at guys, to the makeup she wears, to the clothing she wears.
One of the most important things I did with our daughters was to go shopping with them. It was important for two reasons: It showed me how difficult it was for them to find appropriate clothing that is modest and fashionable; and secondly, it allowed me to give my approval or disapproval before the purchase was made.
Whether you’re a mom or dad, and whether you’re raising boys or girls, your children need your love and guidance as never before. They need to be loved when they don’t believe in themselves. They need to be clothed in wisdom that morally protects them like armour. (www. familylife.com)
As the Police continue their investigations into the murder of Nathan Persaud whose body was found in the living room of his Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD) home, his wife has been arrested and is the main suspect.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told Guyana Times that the man’s wife was taken into custody and is being questioned in connection with her husband’s murder.
The woman, who operates a drinking bar in Diamond, EBD, and the now dead man have been separated for more than a year.
The Crime Chief added that investigators are working on the theory that the couple had been at loggerheads over a property. It is also believed that the woman played a major role in the murder of Persaud. A post-mortem examination performed on the body of the dead man proved that he died as a result of blunt trauma to the head. The autopsy was performed by State Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh at the Georgetown Public Hospital on Friday.
The deceased’s son, Nathan Jr, when contacted told Guyana Times that his brother witnessed the postmortem examination and was told that his father was struck to the head about 20 times.
On this note, he recalled that upon entering the house on Thursday, the numeral 20 was written on the door of the refrigerator.
“I think that the killer wanted to send a message to the
family… but at that time, we didn’t realise until when the post-mortem was done…,” the young man stated.
The grieving young man said his father’s body did not receive any stab wounds.
Nathan Persaud, age 43, of Lot 66 Herstelling New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara was on Thursday morning found in a pool of blood in the living room of his home. His head was bashed in at the time of the discovery which was made at about 10:00h by a relative.
A knife, hammer and several pieces of clay bricks were found next to the man’s body. He was last seen alive by one of his sons when he left for classes. He was reportedly on the telephone at the time.
Neighbours reportedly heard sounds emanating from the home but did not check, only becoming aware of the murder after the discovery of the man’s body was made. In addition, neighbours claimed that a man was seen leaving Persaud’s property prior to the discovery. Police are working with several leads at their disposal as they continue to investigate the murder. (bhisham@guyanatimesgy.com)
Jordan says $23B for rice “shipment” not for rice “farmers” – still unclear if it is "real" money
After weeks stonewalling over mounting pressure following his announcement of $23 billion for rice farmers during his maiden 2015 Budget presentation in the National Assembly, Finance Minister Winston Jordan has finally admitted that Government never intended to give rice farmers any money to assist them, while the industry continues to founder in its current crisis.
Seeking to set the record straight on Friday, Jordan during an interview with Guyana Times said his announcement of providing $23 billion to the rice industry, is not to pay farmers, but to assist in the shipment of rice to Venezuela.
He still did not address
money but just a paper transaction by the Government.
When Jordan announced the subsidy for the industry, it appeared that it was going directly to struggling rice farmers. As a result, farmers were ecstatic and overjoyed at the announcement as it meant that they would get assistance during their time of turmoil in paying for their investment in the present crop, from the Government.
But Jordan reminded that the new Administration allegedly met an empty PetroCaribe Fund, with a mere $.8 million remaining.
He said his portfolio as Finance Minister is to honour all financial agreements, and not to finance the farmers.
Government had already
Ministry of the Presidency, demanding that Government honour its obligation and pay up the $23 billion that was promised to them. From
the Opposition Leader's contention that the sum was not "real" nor exactly to which entities the $23B was paid. The sum would represent payment for an entire year's shipment of 200,000 tonnes of rice to Venezuela.
Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had made the shocking disclosure when he rose to debate the Budget, revealing in the process that the $23 billion announced by Jordan was not real or liquid
said that the rice industry is a private entity and although assistance has been given to the industry, it remained just that.
Jordan reiterated that all the monies owed to the farmers have already been paid and that no more money could be paid to them until the next rice shipment.
On Friday, close to 400 rice farmers from across the country gathered in front the Agriculture Ministry and the
the picket line they also demanded that Government honour its promise of paying $9000 per bag of paddy. Half of that amount would be acceptable, they said.
General Secretary of the Rice Producers Association Dharmkumar Seeraj, who was also at the picketing exercise said the new Administration has duped the hapless farmers. He said his inquiries of Government’s promised $23 billion have come up emp-
ty handed as neither the Ministers of Agriculture or Finance, who made the announcement, could give any information.
Seeraj said the industry under the current Administration is bound to suffer as no attempt is being made to arrest the situation, which is leaving many farmers in distress. He added that while Government has stepped in for an equally important industry; the mining sector, the same attention should be paid to the rice industry.
“Rice over the years has been the largest earner of foreign exchange for this country. It is the best vehicle for rural development… Rice has been pumping up this economy. Now if you are going to turn a blind eye to your largest earner, then you don’t have the interest of the country at heart, if you are going to concentrate on a few miners and leave out your largest foreign exchange earner, you shooting yourself in the foot”.
He said right now the only way to address this issue is for Government to find the money that was promised to the farmers. (alexisr@ guyanatimesgy.com)
saturday, september 12, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com
– further remanded, matter transferred
Regan “Grey Boy” Rodrigues on Friday made his second appearance in Court Two of Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he accused the court of making him a “scapegoat”. “I cyah understand the law in this country,” the defendant exclaimed in a fit of anger.
The matter has been transferred to Court Five for October 12 for statements.
Rodrigues, 37, of River View, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, but who works as a miner in Suriname, had previously appeared in court at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to face a capital charge which stated that on March 10, he
murdered Courtney CrumEwing in Diamond, East Bank Demerara. Rodrigues was not required to plead to the offence but he had quite a lot to say about the charge against him. He denied murdering CrumEwing, stating that he did not wish anyone to see him as a murderer and said he was being framed.
He previously told the court that when he was arrested, no one questioned him about the murder, but the Police held him on the basis of a gun that was allegedly found on his person. Rodrigues was first suspected to be the murderer when he was caught with a .32 Taurus pistol
which ballistics proved was the weapon that killed the ex-soldier.
He was charged with illegal possession of the incriminating pistol which had 14 matching rounds of ammunition. Rodrigues had not been cooperating with Police and had been tight-lipped about his alleged involvement in the murder. The defendant has also, on his previous appearance in court, said that he was approached to kill Mark Benschop but he had gone to the Police with this information.
This had been corroborated by Benschop himself when he disclosed that $3 million was of-
fered to Rodrigues to have him killed. After he would have been eliminated, the next alleged hit was to be Crum-Ewing. Benschop had claimed that Rodrigues would have reported to the Police that he was paid for the two hits; however, contrary to his claims, the Police have no knowledge of such allegations.
Crum-Ewing was gunned down on March 10 while encouraging residents of Diamond New Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, to vote for the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change at the May 11 General and Regional Elections.
Aphone thief was on Friday sentenced to two years in prison by Magistrate Ann McLennan when he appeared before her badly injured in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.
Shem France, a 33-year-old employee of John Fernandes Limited, who resides at Old Road Eccles, East Bank Demerara, pleaded guilty to the charge which read that on Friday, September 4 at Prashad Nagar, Greater Georgetown, while being armed with a knife, he robbed the Virtual Complainant (VC), Arudranauth Parasnath of one Samsung Galaxy S5 smartphone and other valuables, to a total value of $250,000.
According to Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones, on the day in question, the VC who is a student of the University of Guyana, was walking home in the vicinity of Dennis Street, Sophia.
While walking, he was approached by the defendant who demanded that he
for robbing a UG student of his phone and other valuables
hand over all of his valuables. He then snatched the VC’s phone and other valuables and attempted to ride away on a bicycle.
The VC raised an alarm which led
to public spirited persons coming to his rescue and apprehending the defendant. After being apprehended, the perpetrator was dealt a sound thrashing by his captors, receiving a broken arm and leg in the process. He was then taken to the Prashad Nagar Police Outpost where he was told of the charge.
After reviewing the charge and the particulars of the offence, the Magistrate sentenced the defendant to two years in prison.
Speaking to Guyana Times, the VC related that during the ordeal, the defendant choked him and a scuffle ensued. He said that he managed to retrieve his phone and attempted to throw it into a nearby yard.
He stated that when the defendant stepped away to pick up the phone, he raised an alarm. He expressed his appreciation for the assistance rendered to him by several men who rushed to his aid and apprehended the crook. (areefab@guyanatimesgy.com)
ow we know that APNU doesn't give a fart about social cohesion, of which "shared governance" is a subset. As soon as they ignored most of the activists from the turn-of -the-century media debates on how this country could be brought together peacefully, you know "things na regulah". And this Eyewitness isn't even talking about fellas and felines from the "other side" like Ravi Dev (who whinged about being left out) and Ryhaan Shah (who didn't).
Where were old PNC stalwarts (but at the time, young lions) such as James Mc Allister, Aubrey Norton and Sherwood Lowe who helped convinced Desmond Hoyte that "shared governance" wasn't a dirty word? If the present PNC (and let's not kid ourselves - it's the PNC that's calling the shots) crop of leaders junk all that institutional memory on power sharing and social cohesion, it's only for one reason - they're just mamaguying the PPP. Or trying to.
But this Eyewitness thinks the PNC overplayed its hand when they confirmed Nagamootoo's bombastic boast that he was in charge of "unity talks" with the PPP!! Every PPP leader who's going to sit across the table for the PNC's negotiating team, knows that Nagamootoo has as much control over what comes out of his mouth as he does over his nether orifice. Whatever bubbles up from within - out it comes!! And from both ends. It ain't pretty - or salubrious!!
Imagine Nagamootoo insisted all was well with his marriage to the APNU - until he returned to his mother's home in Whim and tearfully confessed that there were "problems" but they were now resolved! But apart from Nagamootoo himself being a standing indictment on the PNC's bona fides on "unity", by putting him up as the "go between" between them and the PPP, surely they can't possibly overlook his own self-interest in scuttling any such talks.
Quick now: "What's Nagamootoo value to the PNC?" OK...everyone take a bow ... But no prizes for saying it's the Indian vote he brought to the coalition. And that's why he can get a $22M SUV to tool around to visit the fellas kicking paddy on the public road at #59 Village. But if the PPP were to hitch up with the PNC, Nagamootoo's stock sinks to "junk bonds" value. Zilch. And that's why the PNC can't be serious in all the talk about "unity".
That's just playing to the gallery of the Guyanese voter, who're all sick and tired of the constant bickering and bitching between our politicians.
Nagamootoo's the perfect trope for the PNC hypocrisy on "social cohesion and national unity"!
This Eyewitness has been critical of Minister "I is" Broomes for injecting and inserting herself in the line of fire, so to speak, in this TIP business. And it is a business. But at least she's showing some solidarity with her troops - and even some of the National Security Minister's Police ranks. When she swooped down on working girls in Bartica and shop girls on Regent Street in her fluorescent vest - you could just see how her staff got into the spirit of her action - some taking copious notes and all.
The fella who should take some notes is Ramjattan whose troops are taking a lot of flak for the "crime spiral". Shouldn't he get off his crusade of closing bars by 2 am by personally closing the bars in Georgetown and taking the "last drink"?
Why doesn't he show the same fidelity to the cause by going out with the men in blue when they're engaged in their high-speed chases or SWAT shootouts?
...with ferries
The goodly folks who say "bring back the ferries" to give some competition to the Berbice Bridge should read that recent report on what it takes to just take off the barnacles from these beauties.
The 4 ferries being dry docked, will cost a cool $220 M!!
saturday, september 12, 2015
Vice President and Public Security
Minister Khemraj Ramjattan met with the new High Commissioner of Canada Pierre Giroux, to discuss several security related matters.
The meeting was held on Friday, as the High Commissioner paid a courtesy call on the Public Security Minister at his Brickdam office, during which they discussed judicial educational programmes as well as programmes to enhance Police training.
Minister Ramjattan gave a brief preview to the media before heading to the meeting with High Commissioner Giroux. According to Ramjattan, they will be focusing more on training, noting that it will not be only for Police Officers.
“It will involve more than merely Police training, this time we will include Magistrates and the judiciary as a whole. We want to finalise when this programme will start,” he indicated to reporters.
Prior to her departure in June, former Canadian High Commissioner, Dr Nicole Giles met with Minister Ramjattan and had talks on various areas of mutual interest between the two countries. One such matter was training and capacity building for ranks of the Guyana Police Force.
Additionally, the former High Commissioner had committed a grant of Cdn$750,000 to help develop the justice system in Guyana. This money is a part of a project with the Justice Education Society (JES) of British Columbia, a Canadian NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO) that aims at strengthening the justice
system.
Following Friday’s meeting, a release from the Ministry’s office detailed that the two officials discussed the Government of Canada two-year strengthening the Guyanese Criminal Justice System Project, which will be implemented by the Vancouver-
of Public Prosecutions Chambers and the Legal Affairs Ministry.
Minister Ramjattan expressed gratitude to the Canadian High Commissioner, highlighting the immediate outcomes; being competencies in crime scene investigation, strengthening skills of
based JES. The JES delegation is expected to meet with the Minister sometime in the near future.
During the meeting, the Canadian High Commissioner informed Minister Ramjattan about the objectives, project activities, scope and structure of the project. He also mentioned October this year as a possible date for the commencement of training. Giroux added too that a coordination committee for the project will be created.
The programme is expected to enhance cooperation among participating agencies including the Magistracy, the Director
prosecutors to organise and present cases, and enhancing legal knowledge of Magistrates. The Minister said he is looking forward for the project to be a success while further indicating his desire to see the project being replicated in other parts of the country.
The new Canadian High Commissioner was welcomed to Guyana by President David Granger and Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge on August 19, when he presented his credentials.
High Commissioner Giroux said he intends to carry out the legacy of mutual respect and coopera-
tion, noting that the relationship between the two countries has always been a strong one.
Pierre Giroux has worked in the federal public service for 34 years, during which time he has held a wide range of positions relating to international affairs.
Overseas, Giroux has served as Ambassador to El Salvador; Chargé d’affaires en pied to The Dominican Republic; Deputy Head of Mission to the Organisation of American States in Washington, DC; Canadian representative on the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s development assistance committee in Paris; Adviser in the Canadian embassies to Venezuela and to Algeria; Cooperation Section Chief in the Canadian embassies to Tunisia and to Guatemala; and technical expert in planning for the Governments of Mali and Haiti.
At Headquarters, he has held the positions of Director, West and Central Africa; and Canadian representative for the peace process in the African Great Lakes region; Deputy Director for climate change and energy policy, Deputy Director for recruitment and management of the development assistance file; and Senior Planning Officer for the Canadian International Development Agency’s Haiti Programme. Giroux and his wife Blanca Ureta, have one son. Giroux replaces Dr Nicole Giles. (vahnum@guyanatimesgy.com)
While the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) continues to execute works to clean up the city of Georgetown, in order to restore it to its natural beauty, talks are presently ongoing between its Town Clerk Royston King and other Town Clerks in the country.
According to a recent press release from City Hall, a meeting between King and the Town Clerks of Anna Regina, Essequibo; and Rose Hall, Berbice took place on Wednesday.
The main purpose of this meeting was to examine the prospect of establishing a Town Clerk’s Association.
According to the M&CC, the focus of the Association will be to form an alliance which facilitates institutional strengthening and capacity building among the municipalities.
Presently, the municipalities are all guided by common legislation, they share similar functions, and thus far these bodies experience common problems.
Guyana Times understands that the Association will seek to empower its members so that they will be able to provide an efficient service to the citizenry.
The M&CC noted that it is anticipated that the Town Clerk’s Association would be collaborating with similar Associations in the Caribbean, Asia and Latin America.
King also stated that such an association is “necessary and timely” since it can provide an opportunity to share knowledge and expertise in municipal governance and administration.
“The Association can be an invaluable communication tool which can help to remodel, reshape retool the work of municipalities,” the release also noted.
This publication also understands that the budding Association has set up a committee to draft the legal document that would define its purpose as well as specify its powers and limitations. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy. com)
– despite 2:00 am curfew
As the 02:00 am curfew remains in effect, 80 persons have lost their lives due to vehicular accidents during the period January to August 31, 2015 when compared to 89 road fatalities for the same period last year. One person would have lost their life in September.
This proved that there is a 10 per cent decrease in fatal accidents.
The highest amount of fatalities, 25, occurred in A Division (GeorgetownEast Bank Demerara), followed by 22 in C Division (East Coast Demerara) and 17 in B Division (Berbice). There were seven apiece in G (Essequibo CoastIslands) and D (West Bank Demerara-East Bank Essequibo) Divisions. There was also one road death each in E (Linden-Kwakwani) and F (Interior locations) Division.
Pedestrians have been the main category of road users affected so far, with 28 such persons losing their lives at the end of August 2015.
In addition, six pedal cyclists, 21 persons in motor vehicles, 11 motor cyclists, 10 drivers, three pillion riders and one person who was
being towed on a bicycle also lost their lives.
Speeding has been the major contributory factor to fatal accidents, having been the cause of 31 of the 66 fatal accidents unto August 2015. The Police also record decreases in all other categories of road accidents; serious, minor and damage.
However, traffic enforcement by the police has resulted in a total of 37,545 cases being made against errant motorists for 2015 thus far.
Of this total, 15,640 cases were for speeding, 1251 for driving under the influence of alcohol, 398 for using cellphones while driving and 1034 for failing to wear seatbelts. In addition, 1654 persons were prosecut-
ed for breach of condition of road service licence/music; 672 for breach of traffic light signals; 508 for tinted motor vehicles; 410 drivers were charged for unlicensed driving and 368 for dangerous driving.
Further, the Police have instituted charges against 427 individuals for careless driving, while 241 were charged for failing to wear safety helmets and a whooping 1955 were charged for overloaded minibuses, with 495 charged for overtaking on a double line.
The latest road fatality was that of 53-yearold Baspattie, also called “Beelda” of Number Two Village, East Canje, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) on Sunday evening. She was struck when she attempted to cross the Number Two Village Public Road.
It was reported that the car was travelling at a fast pace and the driver was on his cellphone when he struck the pedestrian who was at the time in the centre of the lane in which he was driving.
The now dead woman was tossed about 13 metres into the air. There are reports which suggest that she may have been intoxicated at the time.
– Guyana Chronicle article “misleading”, “mischievous”
The People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) has debunked claims in the Guyana Chronicle Newspaper in its September 10, 2015 edition, where it published an article stating that three of the Party’s Councillors in Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) have resigned.
In a press release on Friday, the PPP/C stated that this article by the State-owned newspaper is deceitful and inaccurate, since the trio highlighted in the publication was never officially sworn in as Councillors under this Administration.
According to the Opposition Party, Shafiran Bhajan, Bhurpaul Jhagroo and Quincy Henry were identified as Candidates for the General and Regional Elections held in May this year.
As such, they were included on the PPP/C’s Regional List of Candidates which was submitted to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
After this step was taken and following the announcements of the election results, the Party initiated an internal pro-
PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee
cess of selection and extraction of names of individuals to serve on the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Six.
Guyana Times understands that after consultations took place between the PPP/C and the trio, their names were extracted among others and submitted to GECOM. This was based on agreements which took place during the consultations.
However, during the period of the submission of the names to GECOM and the swearing in of the other persons whose names had been extracted, the three individuals indicated to the General Secretary of the PPP/C Clement Rohee, that they were unable to serve due to various reasons.
Hence, contrary to the story published in the Guyana Chronicle Newspaper, the Party is firmly stating that the three individuals were never sworn in as Councillors since they had indicated their unavailability before this could occur.
“In order for the three persons to be replaced on the Council, it became necessary for them to formally submit their letters of resignation because notwithstanding the fact they were not sworn in as Councillors; their names had already been extracted and submitted to GECOM. This is precisely what happened at the last statutory meeting of Region 6 RDC. It was simply following a procedure in a matter that was settled months ago but which the mischievous hands of Minister Ronald Bulkan and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo could be seen at work,” the press release noted. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)
ALeyland DAF truck bearing Surinamese licence plates was intercepted at Number 5 Village, West Coast Berbice, after four hundred boxes of smuggled chicken with an cumulative value of over $2.8 million, was discovered on Sunday last.
The truck and its contents were seized by officers from the Guyana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID) after the truck was intercepted by officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) at Number 5 Village on Sunday afternoon.
A release from the GRA stated that the quantity of chicken was then transported to Georgetown where it was lodged at two secure locations for safe keeping pending further investigation. The boxes bearing the brand Rockingham, also carried the production date
27/05/15 and expiration date 27/05/16.
Meanwhile, two of the couriers; the driver and porter, were issued with notices of seizure/detention for the chicken and motor vehicle after submitting voluntary statements to the authorities. They had failed to produce the relevant documentation to show legal importation for the said commodity, and both stated that the supplies were given to them as hire by an unknown individual, to be transported to Georgetown. The motor vehicle is lodged at the GRA’s Warehouse Facility.
Actions are pending in lieu of an offence being committed under Section 218 (d) of the Customs Act, Chapter 82:01 which states “every person who knowingly acquires possession of or is in any way knowingly concerned in carrying, removing, depositing, concealing, or in
any manner dealing with any goods with intent to defraud the revenue of any duties thereon, or to evade any prohibition or restriction of or applicable to such goods, shall be liable for each such offence to a fine of triple the value of the goods or ten thousand dollars at the election of the Commissioner General; and imprisonment for one year and all goods in respect of which any such offence shall be committed shall be forfeited.”
Additionally, given the perishable nature of the commodities, directives will also be given regarding disposal. This latest bust adds to the ongoing efforts by LEID in conjunction with other law enforcement entities to tackle smuggling and the concomitant loss of state revenue, not to mention potential threats to human safety and the environment. (jpinder@guyanatimesgy.com)
Aman who allegedly staged his own robbery after his wife filed for divorce was on Friday remanded to prison along with two others for robbing his wife.
Khrisondat Jetoo, 41, of Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, and two others appeared before Magistrate Rabindranauth Singh at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court and was refused bail on two charges. He is accused of robbing Tejkumarie Jetoo along with others of $590,000 in diamond jewellery, in excess of $700,000 in gold jewellery, G$1 million and US$1900 on September 6, at Crabwood Creek.
Jetoo is jointly charged with Matthew Gangaprashad also called “Abel”, age 24, of Number 77 Village, Corentyne and Satram Kushley, also called “Oracle”, age 21, of Lot 470 Bangladesh, Port Mourant. Gangaprashad is said to be a taxi driver and Kushley is a cane harvester.
It is alleged that Jetoo staged the robbery and provided information on how the home could be broken into, in addition to leaving
doors open so that the bandits could gain entry.
Jetoo was also charged with conspiracy to commit a robbery and was also refused bail on that charge. Police Prosecutor, Inspector Godfrey Playter told the court that during the robbery, the victim was beaten and had to seek medical attention. He also mentioned that during the robbery, a firearm was used; hence he requested that the court deny bail to all there accused, noting that if bail is
granted it is likely that they will not return to court.
Magistrate Singh told the defendants that they must return to court on September 28, and to ensure that they do, he remanded them to prison.
The three accused were represented by Attorney Krisondat Persaud.
It was reported in the media that Jetoo and his wife were at their Crabwood Creek home when it was invaded by five gunmen on Sunday. The bandits beat the couple and carted off in excess of $5 million in cash and jewellery. Police in conducting their investigation interviewed Jetoo and re-
ceived conflicting reports.
It was also reported that Acting Commander of B Division (Berbice), Senior Superintendent Errol Watts speaking of the investigation said it revealed that the couple was going through a divorce and the husband organised the robbery against his wife. “But he never expected that they would have beaten him like that. He was beaten severely but he was hoping that he would have received a couple claps so at it would not look as though he set it up. He told us that he never expected the boys to be so ruthless.”
The robbery hit headlines and remained there after information surfaced that the husband might have staged his own robbery during which he received a thrashing which he did not bargain for.
The issue comes on the heels of a husband being placed before the court and remanded for the fatal shooting of his wife after initially claiming that she was shot by bandits but later allegedly confessed to shooting his wife and staging it as a robbery at their Number 45 Village, Corentyne home.
The Canadian funded Justice Education Society (JES) Project was the topic up for discussion between Attorney General and Justice Minister Basil Williams and the Canadian High Commissioner Pierre Giroux on Friday when the Canadian Diplomat paid a courtesy call on the Attorney General.
This crucial discussion, though it was brief, took place at the Chambers of the Attorney General, where the Canadian team comprising Development Officer Marcella Thompson and Programme Development Officer Krysta Bisnauth attached to The Canadian Embassy in Guyana. The Attorney General’s team of State Counsel Judy Stuart and Senior Superintendent of Police Paul Williams were present.
Guyana Times under-
Canadian High Commissioner Pierre Giroux and Guyana’s Attorney General Basil Williams
stands that this initial discussion is the precursor for the JES Canadian team scheduled visit to Guyana on September 14. The JES Project is geared toward the improvement of the Criminal Justice System of the country which will entail Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) training for Police and state Prosecutors as well as Magistrates. (kristenm@ guyanatimesgy.com)
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Guianas Guyana office, on Thursday announced the release of “Monitoring the Impact of Gold Mining on the Forest Cover and Freshwater in the Guiana Shield” – an analysis of the impact of small-scale gold mining on forests and rivers across Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and the Brazilian State of Amapá.
The study was coordinated by the French Forestry Agency’s (ONF) ‘REDD+ for the Guiana Shield’ Programme, with financial support from
the WWF. The analysis of satellite imagery, which forms the basis of the study, was carried out by the relevant forest service in each of the four territories (the Guyana Forestry Commission in Guyana). This study documented the deforestation caused by small-scale gold mining between 2008 and 2014 and updates a previous study by ONF and WWF that analysed the same impacts between 2001 and 2008. In the 2001-2008 study, mining’s impacts were spread more or less evenly across the three Guianas, but between 2008 and 2014,
while deforestation from mining doubled regionally, it grew much faster in Guyana than in the other territories. While Brazil effectively shutdown garimpeiros in Amapá, and French Guiana attempted to do the same, the centre of mining shifted West. While the mining-related deforested area grew by only 16 per cent in French Guiana over the latest period, it doubled (97 per cent) in Suriname and grew by four and one half times (354 per cent) in Guyana. This rapid growth of deforestation in Guyana occurred at the same time
that we were being paid by Norway to maintain a low deforestation rate. The expansion of deforestation over the period of that agreement reduced Guyana’s payments by tens of millions of US dollars.
The study clearly illustrates gold mining’s impacts on Guyana’s forests and illustrates another aspect of the recent disclosures about gold smuggling. Guyana has experienced the bulk of the region’s negative environmental impacts from mining (50 per cent of the total deforestation, versus 34 per cent
in Suriname, 15 per cent in French Guiana and one per cent in Amapá), but is not enjoying the benefits. Guyana’s gold declarations in 2011 were 373,313 ounces while in Suriname, despite the significantly smaller mining area, nearly twice the gold (670,000 ounces) was declared.
These results emphasise the need to develop means to ensure that Guyana fully benefits from the gold that is mined from our soils, while we work to reduce mining’s environmental impacts.
Terrence Adams was on Friday evening elected President of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) during the organisation’s annual general meeting.
The new President thanked the miners for the opportunity to represent them and pledged to take the industry forward. He announced that his first order of business during his term is to meet with Minister of Governance and Patrimony Raphael Trotman to discuss issues affecting the sector on Monday.
Other newly elected members of the Association include Andron Alphonso as Vice President, Mahendra Persaud as Secretary, Azeem Baksh as Treasurer, and Charles Da Silva was elected the group’s Organising Secretary.
saturday, september 12, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com
The stark truth about the level of authority which has been granted to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo by the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is out in the open for all to see.
In spite of the agreements between the Alliance For Change (AFC) and APNU which cemented the union of the two parties, the Prime Minister’s constitutional authority and influence has been ‘downsized’ under this new Administration.
This is in sharp contrast to what prevailed under the presidencies of both Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham and Desmond Hoyte, as well as the general functions of a Caribbean Community (Caricom) Prime Minister.
Caribbean Journalist Rickey Singh, in a letter to Guyana Times on Friday, highlighted the fact that the portfolio allotted to AFC’s Nagamootoo is the responsibility for information with oversight pertaining to the Government Information Agency (GINA) and other Dtateowned/operated communication agencies.
“Ironically, these are portfolios he held way back in 1992 when he became an elected People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Parliamentarian…
To the surprise of supporting ‘comrades’ and ‘friends’, Nagamootoo, a former Journalist and long standing Central Committee member of the PPP/C from which he had defected in Parliament along with Mr [Ralph] Ramjattan was left to be surprised about his promised powers and responsibilities as Prime Minister. The reality was a mirage,” the Journalist explained in the letter which exposed the full contents of the column he wrote which was not published by the Guyana Chronicle.
Singh stated that as the Prime Minister perhaps unwisely made public in the spirit of the so-called “Cummingsburg Accord” wanted empowerment for domestic national affairs, including chairing of Cabinet meetings; making recommendations for ministerial appointments, as well as offering recommendations for Ministries to be created by the President.
However, this never came to pass.
According to the veteran Caribbean Journalist, President David Granger is yet to make this a constitutional reality for Prime Minister Nagamootoo.
“The core features of what emerged as a socalled Cummingsburg Accord (named after the venue of the agreement) had provided for the traditional enormous powers of an Executive President as Head of State as well as the constitutional responsibilities allotted to the Prime Minister – normally number two person in the Guyana Cabinet. Currently the President seems busily engaged in the further constitutional empowerment of his former Army colleague, ex Guyana Defence Force Colonel Joseph Harmon. This leaves no doubt about the reality of a two-some power status quo-he and ‘comrade’ Joe,” Singh said.
The Journalist’s letter further stated that with the “Granger-led coalition” and the departure of the former Prime Minister under the PPP/C Administrations over some 23 years, the sharp contrast in portfolio responsibilities and influence with which Minister Nagamootoo has as Prime Minister reflects ‘quite an amazing down-sizing in the history of Cabinet-style Government in Guyana’, if not the entire Caricom.
To add insult to injury, Prime Minister Nagamootoo has now come under public scrutiny especially by the IndoGuyanese for his recent passionate verbal outburst against former two-term President Bharrat Jagdeo in Parliament.
The honourable Prime Minister seems to have lost his control during that sitting when he lashed out Jagdeo, who is now the Opposition Leader, castigating him as a “pompous, arrogant coolie”.
“Of course, irrespective of ethnicity and nationality, citizens across our Caribbean region are quite aware of the depth of abuse residing in the accusation of being deemed a ‘coolie’. Or
Weven its derogatory equivalent ‘nigger’ when hurled at a citizen of African descent. The big surprise was that the first-time but quite learned Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland did not immediately, or since, reprimand Prime Minister Nagamootoo for such a slanderous verbal blast. This blast is in violation of the norms of civilised parliamentary debates,” Singh further noted.
Meanwhile, the PPP/C has decided to pursue a plan of action to ensure what it deems “proper respect” for the rules and decorum of Parliament in view of claimed “recurring violations “ by some Government Members of Parliament.
Among these are senior Cabinet Ministers, inclusive of Prime Minister Nagamootoo.
Guyana Times understands that a letter would soon be sent to Speaker Scotland expressing growing concern over recurring “parliamentary abuses” by the Prime Minister and others. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)
ith Guyana’s economy in a state of upheaval and persons unsure of job opportunities, the future of their livelihood, and prices that continue to escalate for local commodities, the once booming construction in the housing sector has come to a halt.
Despite the large number of houselots awarded to citizens under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, many have been unable to commence construction on their homes.
In fact, many individuals are experiencing difficulties in completing their houses in the various housing schemes.
This being the stark truth, the main concern of the citizenry in this regard is the repossession drive which they expect the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) to soon embark upon.
However, former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali, in an exclusive interview with Guyana Times stated that while it is very important that the agreement in relation to the allocation and the purchase of land is adhered to, Government must be considerate.
“It is also equally important that we put structures and plans and programmes in place that will allow persons to honour those agreements. We (the PPP/C) have had a fairly high degree of adherence in terms of the agreement or terms and conditions of the agreement between allottees and the [Central Housing and Planning Authority] CHPA over the years. For a matter of fact, over the years you have seen an increase in allocation of loans, increase construction and high occupancy rate in a faster period of time, so it is also very important that the Administration itself create an environment that will stimulate the speedy construction,” he explained.
According to Ali, his Government was aware of the constraints and challenges potential home-owners and persons who wished
to build their own houses would and could face.
Hence, the PPP/C had moved into ‘actual home construction’ so as to allow a certain level of activity in the housing schemes which would motivate and encourage other persons to commence construction.
Guyana Times was further told that in some of the new housing schemes, the relevant authorities need to be flexible with regard to the provision of infrastructure.
“The policy and programme creates an environment for a time land between infrastructure, preparation, allocation of land and home construction and that is why we have tried various models. One of the most recent models was tried in Cummings Lodge where we allocated the land while we were designing the infrastructure. So what this allows for is that the allottees would complete all of their administrative hurdles while we were providing infrastructure so that by the time the infrastructure would be mature, they would already have had their loans processed,” Ali elaborated.
He told this newspaper that for this reason it is essential and vital that there is confidence in the housing sector.
Once there is this confidence, in terms of value and equity, the bank is more progressive in lending and individuals also become more aggressive in building.
As it relates to any repossession drive which the
Gunraj pointed out that his client’s contract was arrogantly and arbitrarily terminated. The Attorney further stated that the architects of this “vindictive design” have now exposed the Sugar Corporation to pay compensation to his client to the tune of several million Guyana dollars. Moreover, the Attorney stated that to date, GuySuCo has failed to file a defence to legal proceedings filed by his client yet they have “the time and energy to engage in further encroachment of my client’s legal rights, thereby,
exposing the Corporation to even greater legal liabilities”.
Gunraj detailed that one such libel was carried in a recent article by Kaieteur News’ edition of September 4, 2015, concerning the importation of a used 2003 vehicle by D. Rajendra Singh, former CEO of the Guyana Sugar Corporation.
The article states “extremely reliable sources have informed this newspaper that there is a provision within Dr Singh’s contract with GuySuCo which allows him to be exempt
from duties for another vehicle. But this came with a condition”.
According to Attorney Gunraj, Singh’s contract does not contain any such provision which requires the Board to make any request for exemption of duty. In fact, he explained that his client made a request to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) for certain duty free concessions, for which he was contractually entitled.
“He provided GRA with a copy of his contract which included the provision for duty exemption for the ve-
A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Government may commence through the CHPA, Ali stated that the relevant authorities must be able to address constraints on an individual basis.
“And this is where a lot of time has to be spent, if for example, a larger segment of the population which is not building is the higher income or the middle income allottees then you can be more drastic in your action. But if the higher level is low income then you have to be more coercive and more helpful in letting them move towards home construction. That is why we had launched the core home policy and so on,” Ali emphasised.
Guyana Times was also reminded that presently there are many economic, social and environmental factors which can and are affecting the pace in which home construction is going. It was also stated that with the political situation becoming a factor as well this has definitely slowed the pace in which persons have been constructing their homes and also prevented others from commencing construction on their properties.
“I think that there cannot be a willy-nilly repossession drive. It must be structured and targeted in a way that examines the circumstances the people are facing,” the former Housing Minister added. (kristenm@ guyanatimesgy.com)
hicle. Quoting the relevant sections of the laws governing the exemption from duty, the GRA then issued a letter to Dr Singh dated March 31, 2015 for the 12-year-old used vehicle to be exempted from duty,” Gunraj noted. The Attorney went on to say that the approval letter was copied to the Agriculture Minister and other relevant officers of the GRA. He further sought to clarify that Dr Singh has applied to GRA for permission to export the vehicle back to the USA.
As the business own-
ers count their losses following the fire at Ashok Dry Goods building, at the corners of Regent and King Streets, Georgetown, in the wee hours of Thursday morning, some members of the public spared to thought in seizing the opportunity to loot the premises of whatever items survived the inferno.
According to reports reaching Guyana Times , on Thursday evening several persons broke into the
building, fetching away items untouched by the flames, including clothes, footwear, ornaments, and other domestic items as well as decorative materials. It was disclosed that persons used an external shed on the front to the building to gain entrance while others broke-in via the doors.
On Friday morning, this newspaper was told that several persons had gathered around the building, picking out whatever they
could get their hands on, as goods that were salvaged from the fire were laid out on the pavement surrounding the building. However, when this publication visited the scene sometime after, the Police had arrived and cordoned off the environs around the building as dozens of people stood on the street watching on.
Persons were heard commenting about the looting the night before, talking about what they knew of the incident. One woman
was heard saying that had she known, she too would have taken part, while another spoke about the merchandise someone she knew managed to loot.
One woman, who seemed to be the owner of one of the stores, was distraught as persons approached her asking for items that were saved from the fire. The woman tried to ward off these people as she stood at the door of the store looking on at the charred remains of millions of dollars that
went up in flames.
The building was destroyed by fire on Thursday morning around 03:00h, cutting at least three businesses located within the building. The building once housed the Ashok Store and two smaller variety stores.
According to reports received, the flames were seen emanating from the lower flat of the building which quickly engulfed the entire building due to the contents of the stores. During the
blaze, neighbouring Pagoo’s General Store also received some damage. However, quick response by the fire service averted what could have been another major fire in the city.
The fire service and the Guyana Police Force are investigating the fire. Based on initial reports, investigators from the Fire Department are suspicious that it may be a case of arson since the fire started in several parts of the building simultaneously.
As nations around the globe marked World Suicide Prevention Day 2015 on Thursday, Social Protection Minister Volda Lawrence, along with Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings, joined with the Mibicuri Community Developers (MCD), to mark the day’s observances.
Speaking at a forum
held at the Black Bush Polder Secondary School, East Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Minister Lawrence lamented the fact that family time is what is needed, as the nation strives to fully get a handle on the social scourge. She said “More time needs to be shared among families. Children need to be heard, listened to, not shut out.”
Minister Lawrence noted that a part of the Guyanese culture dictates that parents make the decisions and children have no option but to follow directives given; most times with their voices not being heard.
The Minister also addressed the role of Teachers, emphasising that there is need for more professionalism. “Teachers need to stop
discussing children in public. Stop forming cliques and discussing children as though they are not there, stop discussing the children in front of the class,” Lawrence chided.
According to the Minister, Guyana is losing its most valuable resource – the human resource –through the number of lives lost annually to suicide. She called for the availability of more councillors and recreational facilities in communities so that those in need of interactive relationships can seek help.
Education is paramount
Minister Lawrence also outlined a plan to educate community members who will eventually be able to assist those struggling with thoughts of suicide.
Verma Jadunath, a representative of the MCD, pointed out that Region Six is known as the “suicide nest,” since it is the largest contributor to the suicide rate in the country.
She added that information received from the region’s medical institution showed that within the past eight months and 10 days, there have been 37 suicide attempts of which two were
successful.
According to her, a survey conducted by the foundation in 2012 shows that there is no specific reason for these actions. However, non approval of relationships and easy access to chemicals were the two most common factors that influenced those who made attempts on their lives.
In addition, Regional Chairman David Armogan highlighted that “Black Bush Polder is called the suicide belt of Guyana.”
Noting that suicide is a mental health problem, he pointed out that according to the Pan American Health Organisation, 33-93 per cent of the people in Latin America suffer from some form of mental illness. This, he added, is also a serious problem in Region Six and there is only one Psychologist in the entire region.
The day’s activities were held under the theme, “Reaching out and Saving Lives.” (Excerpt from GINA)
Prime Minister, Dr Keith Rowley Friday named a 21-member Cabinet with emphasis on youth and a sprinkling of people with cabinet experience, four days after his People’s National Movement won the general elections in Trinidad and Tobago.
“You will see a lot of our young people cross the stage today (Friday) and what that means is that we have put the affairs of state into the hands of a lot of young people in Trinidad and Tobago,” Prime Minister Rowley said.
He told the audience that among the young people “are a few, hopefully sufficiently experienced ones, who will provide them with the guidance.
“But there is one thing that holds us all together and that is we are here to serve all the people of Trinidad and Tobago and as
Prime Minister of this country I intend to hold every single one of them against the oath of office they have just taken.
“That oath demands that you act without fear, without favour, without affection and without ill-will,” he said adding that his style of management is to give responsi-
bility and to hold people accountable.
“Responsibility will be given, Ministers will be held accountable but the buck stops with the Prime Minister. I take responsibility for this Cabinet,” he added.
Rowley kept to his election promise and reduced significantly the number of Ministries from the previous Administration adding “there’s enough for all of us to be sustained maybe not lavishly…but we need to change our attitude if there isn’t any more in the pot, like Oliver, let us not keep shouting please can I have some more.
“We will try to make sure that whatever this country has to offer everyone will be at the table and everyone will share with what’s on the table,” he said. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)
The Americas region, which includes the Caribbean has been declared free of rubella.
The declaration of the elimination of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome was made by the international expert committee for Measles and Rubella Elimination in the Americas during the recent meeting of the Pan American Health Organisation and World Health Organsation (PAHO/ WHO) in Washington, DC.
This brings to four the number of vaccine-prevent-
able diseases to be eliminated from the Americas, the other two being smallpox in 1971 and polio in 1994.
“The elimination of rubella from the Americas is an historic achievement that reflects the collective will of our region’s countries to work together to achieve ambitious public health milestones… All four achievements prove the value of immunisation and how important it is to make vaccines available even to the remotest corners of our hemisphere,” said PAHO/
WHO Director, Carissa F Etienne.
There were widespread outbreaks of rubella, also known as German measles, throughout the Americas before the introduction of the Measles-Mumps-Rubella) (MMR) vaccine.
Although the virus is usually mild or asymptomatic, when contracted by pregnant women, it can cause miscarriage, or CRS, which is a constellation of birth defects including blindness, deafness and congenital heart defects. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)
Prominent Venezuelan Opposition Leader
Leopoldo Lopez has been sentenced to 13 years and nine months in prison.
He was found guilty of inciting violence during protests in 2014 in which 43 people – from both sides of the political divide – were killed.
The 44-year-old had been held in a military prison since February 2014.
While the court verdict was being awaited, fighting broke out between his supporters and pro-Government activists outside the courthouse in Caracas.
Lopez’s supporters said one of their number had suffered a heart-attack during the disturbances. The court ruling was revealed by Lopez’s Voluntad Popular (Popular Will) political party and later confirmed by his lawyers.
His defence team earlier said there had been serious irregularities in the trial, with the judge hearing 138 witnesses for the prosecution but only one of the 50 witnesses and pieces of evidence submitted by the defence.
His family says he has been in solitary confinement for most of his 19 months in prison and that his human rights have been violated. (Excerpt from BBC News)
The first meeting of the US-Cuba Bilateral Commission took place on Friday in Havana to define an agenda to be considered following the reestablishment of bilateral relations between the two countries.
According to Cuban television, the island’s delegation was headed by the Director
General for the United States at the Cuban Foreign Ministry, Josefina Vidal, and, on the US side, the acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere affairs Edward Alex Lee. The Bilateral Commission, whose creation was announced by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez and by
Cuba has said it will release more than 3500 prisoners in a goodwill gesture ahead of a visit by Pope Francis.
The Government in Havana says those to be freed include inmates due for conditional release next year, as well as a number of foreign prisoners.
Those found guilty of crimes against state security will not be eligible, seemingly ruling out several high-profile political prisoners.
The Pope will make a
three-day visit to the island next week. According to Cuba’s state-run newspaper Granma, prisoners were chosen for early release depending on the severity of their crimes, amount of time served, and good behaviour.
Among those to be freed are a number of inmates over 60, prisoners under 20 years old with no prior criminal records and inmates with chronic health conditions.
No prisoners with sentences for murder, other violent crimes or drug traf-
ficking will be released, the paper said. Pope Francis is expected to meet with Fidel Castro if the former Cuban leader’s health allows. The 78-year-old Argentinean pontiff is credited with helping bring about last December’s diplomatic thaw after the decades-old enmity between communist Cuba and the US.
He was directly involved in organising a series of secret diplomatic meetings between the two sides. (Excerpt
Bank accounts of individuals and businesses in Antigua and Barbuda are being targeted by cybercriminals, the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP) has warned.
The agency said it had received several reports about criminals using a scamming technique known as “phishing” to send fraudulent email messages luring victims into providing information such as credit
card and bank account numbers, passwords and log-on details. The information is used to access online banking applications and steal funds from the accounts of victims.
“It is reported that once the criminal gains access the accounts, he solicits individuals via email or social media by offering them well paid jobs as mystery or secret shoppers which require them to pose as customers and evaluate the services
of various money transfer businesses.
“The cyber thief then transfers the funds from the account holder to the unsuspecting individuals and instructs them to keep a portion of the money as payment and send the balance via a money transfer business to another jurisdiction where he then collects it,” it said.
The ONDCP has advised all individuals and businesses to be particularly vigilant when divulging their bank account information and passwords.
“It is essential that you verify whether received emails are from your financial institution before entering sensitive information online. For example, if your bank’s email domain is @ ondcpbank.com, make sure that the emails you receive are not sent from @ondcp-bank.com or some other variation,” the ONDCP said.
(Excerpt from Caribbean360)
US Secretary of State John Kerry, will focus on the new areas for cooperation in the benefit of the two countries.
The meeting also dealt with bilateral and multilateral issues, including those on which the two countries have different positions, as well as other pending subjects between Havana and Washington. (Caribbean News Now)
Opposition leaders from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) will meet in St Lucia next Wednesday to review the Revised Treaty of Basseterre that governs the Economic Union in the subregion.
A statement from the St Lucia-based OECS
Commission said that Opposition politicians will also discuss the “OECS’ Growth and Development Strategy as well as the accession of Martinique to Associate Membership.
“The OECS Commission recognises that this upcoming meeting of the Leaders of Parliamentary Opposition will be a significant oppor-
tunity to inform this key stakeholder group on developments towards the regional integration movement in areas such as the free circulation of goods and the free movement of persons,” the statement said.
It said it hopes that the meeting will “strengthen the capacity of Leaders of Parliamentary Opposition to share vital information on the regional integration movement with their constituents”.
The OECS groups the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands. (Antigua Observer)
At least 87 people have been killed and 183 others injured after a crane collapsed in Mecca’s Grand Mosque on Friday, Saudi Arabia’s civil defence authority says.
Al Jazeera’s Hasan Patel, reporting from Mecca, said witnesses told him that a crane fell on the third floor of the Grand Mosque around 17:45h. Our correspondent said the mosque was packed, even though the incident happened shortly before the 18:30h prayer.
“Dozens of ambulances are heading to the site. The authorities closed off the area shortly afterwards,” he said. “This whole place is already a giant construction site. What made it worse is that around 5:30pm there was severe rain and it’s just gushing down the road,” he said.
“I am surrounded by people who are grieving. The mood here is of sadness.”
Al Jazeera’s Omar Al Saleh said bad weather was thought to be the cause of the collapse. Saudi Arabia has
been hit by strong sand storms in the past few days.
Pictures circulating on social media showed pilgrims in bloodied robes and masses of debris from a part of the crane that seemed to have crashed
through a ceiling. Mecca is Islam’s holiest site. Pilgrims from around the world have been converging on the city and the mosque for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which starts on September 21. (Al Jazeera)
Hungary’s Prime Minister angrily accused illegal migrants on Friday of “rebelling” against the rule of law in his country as security forces across Europe struggled to control record flows of hungry, scared refugees.
The United Nations called for the swift creation of large-scale reception centres in frontline states such as Hungary and Greece, and one United Nations (UN) agency warned that millions more refugees could arrive in Europe if Syria’s civil war continues to rage.
Many of the tens of thousands of refugees now trekking from Greece via the Balkans and Hungary towards western Europe are fleeing the Syrian war in search of sanctuary, above all in more welcoming and generous countries such as Germany and Sweden.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said his country, which expects to take in 800,000 asy-
(UN) agency warned that millions more refugees could arrive in Europe if Syria’s civil war continues to rage
lum seekers this year alone, had finite resources and urged other European countries to do much more to share the burden. He said Germany expected to receive another 40,000 migrants this weekend. And as politicians from the left and right accused Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government of losing control of the refugee situation, the defense ministry put 4000
troops on standby to help with the influx.
Citing security concerns, Austria partially shut a highway linking Vienna and Hungary on Friday. Some 8000 people had crossed the border on Thursday and a further 4500 arrived overnight, Austrian Police said. The rail link to Hungary also remains shut due to “massive overburdening” by the migrants. (Excerpt from Reuters)
At least four killed in attack on
At least four people were killed on Friday when gunmen ambushed the Burundian army’s chief of staff in a failed assassination attempt, local media and a morgue source said.
The Iwacu newspaper said three soldiers and three gunmen were killed in the early morning attack in the capital Bujumbura but that General Prime Niyongabo had survived. A morgue source told Reuters an army
pick-up had brought in four dead soldiers.
Niyongabo is the highest-ranking official to be targeted in a series of attacks on officials since April when President Pierre Nkurunziza announced he was seeking a third term, something the opposition says violated the constitution and a peace deal that ended an ethnically charged civil war in 2005.
Earlier this week, gunmen shot dead an Opposition official and last
month General Adolphe Nshimirimana, who was in charge of the President’s personal security, was killed in an ambush.
A local leader of the ruling party and a prominent rights activist have also been killed. Nkurunziza was sworn in on August 20 for another five-year term. His party won a sweeping victory in a parliamentary election that the European Union and the United States said was not free or fair. (Reuters)
Indian and Pakistani border forces agreed on
Friday to maintain restraint on their disputed Kashmir frontier, as they sought to defuse tensions that have been heightened in recent months by militant attacks that each side blames the other for.
The heads of India’s Border Security Force and the Pakistani Rangers met in New Delhi to find ways to de-escalate tensions along the border as part of a series of measures agreed by the leaders of the two countries in July.
The border chiefs agreed to hold back cross-border firing and not to retaliate immediately to violations of a 15-year ceasefire, an Indian
Interior Ministry official said.
“Both have decided not to immediately retaliate against firing from either side and to contact the other side to know the cause of firing,” the official said, reading from a draft text the two Governments agreed.
Tens of thousands of soldiers are massed on either side of Kashmir, one of the world’s most militarised regions, and in recent months they have stepped up crossborder firing.
Last month, nine people were killed by the firings on the day the nuclear-armed neighbours marked the 50th anniversary of a war between them. (Excerpt from Reuters)
US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama led a moment of silence on the White House lawn Friday to mark the 14th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington.
The moment of silence was observed at 08:46h (12:46 p.m. GMT), the moment when the first passenger plane crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Centre in New York after being hijacked by
members of al Qaeda.
The attacks killed nearly 3000 people in New York, at the Pentagon and aboard a hijacked airliner that went down in Pennsylvania. The US flag over the White House flew at half mast as a few hundred people –National Security Advisor Susan Rice as well as White House chefs, gardeners and other residence staff – joined the Obamas for the ceremony.
In New York, Police and the relatives of those killed
at the World Trade Centre began the annual reading of all the names of the victims who died at Ground Zero, now the site of the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum. US security is heightened every year around this time, but Federal Bureau of Investigation Chief James Comey said there were no “specific or credible threats” tied to this year’s anniversary. US authorities continue to watch closely for new threats from either al Qaeda or the Islamic State group. (France24)
Rescue work is continuing across northeast Japan, where at least three people have died in severe flooding and many remain stranded.
Twenty-four people are still missing and at least 27 people have been injured, eight seriously. Officials have warned of further heavy rain and the risk of mudslides, as the extreme weather moves north.
The torrential rain was
caused by a severe tropical storm, which hit Japan earlier this week. The region affected is a vast area northeast of Tokyo, stretching from Ibaraki prefecture, a short distance from the capital, right up to Miyagi prefecture, around 350km (217 miles) away.
Sixty-two-year-old Hisako Sekimoto, who was rescued by military helicopter in the early morning, said she spent a sleepless
night on the upper floor of her flooded house with her husband and three cats.
“There was no time to escape. All we could do was go upstairs. It was horrifying,’’ she said. “I kept praying the water wouldn’t come upstairs.”
The chief forecaster at the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Takuya Deshimaru, has said the rainfall over the past few days was “unprecedented”. (Excerpt from BBC News)
DHaynes, a hire car driver in Diamond Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara (EBD), is left distraught after two male passengers hijacked his car on Thursday evening. The incident occurred sometime around 22:50h.
Speaking with Guyana Times, Haynes of 11th Avenue, Diamond, said he was working in the scheme
when two men entered his car followed by a female and another male. He noted that the last two persons who entered the car were known to him and so he proceeded to drop off from the spot used by hire car drivers and headed into the scheme. While in the vicinity of Fourth Bridge, the man said he slowed down and enquired from the passengers whether they were all go-
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Smalta Brand Manager Anjeta Hinds stated that this promotion is a great way to kick off the Christmas season with prizes for the entire family. Hinds noted that Smalta is a non alcoholic malt beverage, perfect for children between the ages of five and 13 years, adding that the beverage is enjoyed by everyone; as such, any-
ing to 21st Avenue but there was no response. As such, he continued to the last street in the scheme where he dropped off the female first, followed by the other male passenger.
“So I asked the next (two) where y’all really going bai, where y’all coming off. One said he going 17th Street, the next one said he going 19th Street. So I turn and tell them I already pass there, where y’all really going,” Hayne related.
Nevertheless, the man noted that he used the access road to the northern end of the scheme heading to 19th Avenue, when the passenger in the front seat pulled the gear stick causing the car to run into some mud on the side of the road.
“The car ran and got stuck there. The one in the front seat telling the one in the backseat “tek out the gun fat man, tek out the gun Gangsta”. He then turn and tell me “we aint really want
shoot you, is the car we really come fuh, come out this car”. So I turn and ask them is what really wrong with y’all,” Haynes recalled.
He went on to detailed to Guyana Times that the one is the front seat continued talking to his accomplice in the backseat, saying that if they had to, they would shoot him. Haynes added that the man then opened the car door and pushed him out. He noted that before the duo drove off with the vehicle, the men relieved him of his days earnings which amounted to about $20,000.
The 37-year-old man added that he called a few other drivers who also work taxi in the scheme and they came in the scheme to help look for the car. However on their way in, they saw the car heading out of the scheme and chased the car heading to Georgetown but lost track of it at Farm on the East Bank.
Haynes said he ran all
the way to the Golden Grove Police Station, which is located at Third Bridge in the Scheme, where he reported the carjacking. The ranks there then alerted Police stations along the East Bank about the hijack.
Haynes noted that while he does not know the two hijackers, he says he can recognise them if they are in front of him. He explained
that the one in the front seat was slim and about five feet, seven inches tall while the one in the backseat was a bit “chubby”, averaging about five feet, three inches in height. Both men appear to be in their late 20s to early 30s, Haynes recounted.
According to the distraught man, he only acquired the silver Alliion, bearing registration number HC 3569, about 14 days before it was stolen. He noted that he has been working taxi in Diamond for about three months now and has never been attacked or robbed before.
The taxi driver noted that he usually comes out to work in the afternoon and works through the night until about 02:00h to 03:00h in the morning. Haynes is pleading for anyone with information on the hijackers or the whereabouts of his car to contact the nearest Police station. (vahnum@ guyanatimesgy.com)
The Guyana Police Force is continuing with its traffic enforcement activities, this time “naming and shaming” six more persons who were found driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI).
These men were all charged and placed before the courts for driving under the influence of alcohol after they were found to be above the legal limit in terms of alcohol consumption.
Basil Drepaul of Lot 1 Kilmonook, Corentyne, Berbice, was stopped and tested with a breathalyzer on August 2, while driving motor vehicle PRR 8981 on the Springlands Public Road, Berbice. Drepaul was found to be above the legal limit in terms of consumption of alcohol. He was charged and subsequently appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court the following day, where he pleaded guilty and was fined $7500.
him. Consequently, he was charged and appeared at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court some four days after, where he pleaded guilty to the offence.
Meanwhile, Emron Rahanat of Line Path, Corentyne, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on July 28, while driv-
he did the following day. Rahanat pleaded guilty to the traffic offence and was fined $7500.
While driving motor vehicle PRR 3628 on the Number 67 Public Road, Corentyne, Bishram Roopram of Lot 112 Grant 1805 Crab Wood Creek, Corentyne, was stopped and tested with a
Finally, Zavita Singh of Lot 1 Number 75 Village, Corentyne, was also sentenced to pay a fine of $7500 after he pleaded guilty to a DUI offence. The charge stated that the man was driving motor vehicle PSS 9012 on the Springlands Public Road, Corentyne, on August 1, when he was
one can enter and anyone can win.
There will be three fortnightly drawings with six prize each – a total of 18 prizes – including Samsung Galaxy S6; Samsung Galaxy tablet; and cash voucher prizes amounting to US$400, US$200, US$100 and US$50.
To enter the Smalta “The Prize Is Right” promotion, persons are required to submit three Smalta crowns in an envelope with their name, telephone number, address and age in entry boxes located at all leading supermarkets and gas stations countrywide.
On August 9, Asif Shafirllah of Lot 218 Prospect, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was stopped and tested while driving motor vehicle GNN 807 on the Providence Public Road, EBD. He too was charged and placed before the Providence Magistrate’s Court on August 12. Shafirllah pleaded guilty to the DUI offence as such a $7500 fine was imposed on him.
Safraz Ally of Lot 235 Charity Housing Scheme, Essequibo, was also sentenced to pay a fine of $7500, after he was found to be above the legal limit in terms of alcohol consumption on August 7. According to reports, he was driving motor vehicle PRR 3056 on the La Belle Alliance Public Road, Essequibo, when the Police conducted a breathalyser test on
ing motor vehicle PTT 194 on the Number 74 Public Road, Corentyne. He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol as such a DUI charge was made out against him and he was ordered to make an appearance at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court, which
breathalyser on July 27. The Police found that the man was above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol hence instituted a DUI charge against him. The following day, Roopram appeared at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court, where he pleaded guilty and was fined $7500.
stopped and tested by the police. Singh was subsequently found to be above the legal limit hence he was charged and one day later, appeared before at the Springlands Magistrate’s Court where she pleaded guilty and was fined $7500.
Chairman of the National Task Force Commission, Retired Major General Joseph Singh on Friday visited stakeholders in Region Two (Pomeroon-Suepnaam) and held discussions about the National Task Force Commission (NTFC) and its functions.
Speaking to regional officials, members of the Anna Regina Town Council, Regional Democratic Councillors (RDC), businessmen, representatives of the local government, in the Boardroom of the RDC at Anna Regina, Singh said Cabinet has taken a decision to restore and rehabilitate Guyana, making it a land of attractiveness, prosperity and one that offers a good life for all citizens and visitors.
The project has a completion deadline of May 26, 2016.
tains its glory and standard.
Further explaining, Singh said that the new Granger-led Administration, through its Cabinet, has conceptualised the project and has spoken about it throughout their political campaign.
He explained that the project has nothing to do with politics but involved the coming together of persons to make a difference in their community and to preserve what their ancestors built.
Elaborating about Commission, he said that issues such as solid waste management, drainage, traffic management, derelict vehicle removal, welfare management of the homeless, rural and hinterland physical structure renewal
Introducing the NTFC to persons in Region Two, Singh said it is Cabinet’s vision to renew civic pride, adding that Guyana has to become a hub of commerce, tourism and development.
He said Region Two has an important role to play in the National Task Force ensuring that the region main-
will all be addressed.
Singh stressed that although it’s a National Task Force, the region plays its role by providing valuable ideas and projects that need to be done in an effort to enhance the life of person living in Region Two.
“You have a lot of land-
marks, monuments, old buildings that need a face lift, you need to come together and clean the drains to avoid the garbage build up so we can restore Guyana,” Singh said.
He urged Regional officials to further discuss the task and implement a regional commission through
the RDC. He further explained that the Regional Executive Officer (REO) has the responsibility to organise as well as to be accountable for the projects within the area.
“This is a regional effort and everyone should get involved, Guyana is a land of hospitality,” Singh said, adding that Guyana has faced many challenges over the years such as unplanned settlements, traffic and garbage build up and occasional flooding in many areas.
Five committees will be established within the Commission as a conceptual approach to implement the mission. Under the National Task Force Commission, various committees such as national drainage committee, solid waste management committee, traffic management, sustainable physical renewable countrywide committee, welfare
management of homeless, addicted and mentally challenged committees will report directly to the National Task Force secretariat.
By the end of September, the Region Two administration is expected to present a summary report derived from the research and public consultations and by October, a draft restoration plan including detailed plan and budget for phase 1 activities will be embarked upon. From November 2015 to May 2016 a final restoration plan as well as monitoring implementation will be done in Phase 1
Region Two Chairman Daveanand Ramdatt in welcoming the stakeholders said that consultations are important among the people, adding that it is his desire to work with the new REO and the relevant authorities to address issues in his region.
... economic slowdown makes "bearish market" – private
Private land developers have taken to task the timeline given by Government for them to complete work on their East Bank Demerara housing developments, noting that there is a dearth of information on the challenges housing development pose on the reclaimed cane fields of the area.
Minister within the Ministry of Communities Keith Scott earlier this week, told a group of land developers that Government was giving them until February 2016 to come up to standard and complete infrastructural works on their East Bank Demerara housing developments. He had met with them after visiting several sites that he said were mostly under developed.
According to Minister Scott, amicable agreements were reached with several of the housing developers who explained the reasons for delays in their construction of homes or preliminary infrastructure works. Commitments were given to ensure that new deadlines to begin works would be met, as apologies by delinquent representatives were given. Owner of BK International Brian Tiwari was one of the investors but was
taken to task specifically by the Minister because he failed to show up at the meeting and tour of the development projects.
He explained that Government was “not about putting people out of business but to help them along the way, ultimately to the benefit of all Guyanese”.
All of those engaged, have given commitments to complete long overdue works.
Unfair deadlines
But a local investor speaking to Guyana Times on Friday sought to explain the intricacies involved in the process, which generally affect the delivery of services.
The source said he was given a mere two years to have 100 per cent construction, sale and occupancy of all the houses. According to him, that was unrealistic, since when the agreements were inked, the economy and its prospects were "bullish" as the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) was pushing hard to drive housing development, there was a construction boom and everyone was optimistic.
“The transport took nearly a year (nine months) to pass which meant if an investor need-
Government told Private land developers they were giving them until February 2016 to come up to standard and complete infrastructural works on their East Bank Demerara housing developments
ed financing, he had to wait on the transport to secure it. All monies for the land had to be paid before transport was passed so at that point I was already in a cash deficit”, the source told this publication.
According to him, lands were previously abandoned with cane beds and in some cases just swamp. He said it took a long time and was expensive to clear, drain, fill and settle the land.
“I am not sure if the [Neighbourhood Democratic Council] NDC is yet in the picture. They will have to "rate" the
land for taxes and only then it can consider granting house construction approvals. This is after the transport is passed, secondary plans and mutations approved.
The Ministry of Housing, NDC, Land and Survey and [Central Housing and Planning Authority] CHPA are all involved. Electricity poles are only now being installed, two years later. No idea when water will be there,” the investor said. According to him, with the recession taking hold, there is an absence of buyers so investors are caught in a bind – having no basis to raise financ-
ing, whether it is from potential buyers or through financial institutions and facing an arbitrary deadline from Government to construct and sell. This is called a "bearish" market and developers may be stuck with properties for long periods even as they have to repay their loans.
“Under the agreement of sale, Government has the right to levy draconian penalties and even seize the land if not developed so there is just too much uncertainty on top an already fragile situation”, he said.
Meanwhile, Scott told the group of investors that he will not be “satisfied until I can see deliverables”. Those engaged in the meeting included representatives from Bai Shan Lin, Courtney Benn Construction, Bradford Enterprises, Dax Construction, Sun Set Lakes and Odinga Lumumba.
Their responsibilities include the building of drains, electricity supplies and roads. Minister Scott said that it is important that revised construction schedules be set and progress maintained, in keeping with the new agreements, “I can safely say that movement has now began”.
ARIES (March 21April 19)
TAURUS (April 20May 20)
(May 21June 20)
Have faith in your abilities. You have the versatility and knowledge necessary to turn a venture into a personal benefit. As your status grows, a leadership opportunity will become available.
Consider a change in direction. Don’t waste valuable time waiting for others to catch up to you. Set your own pace and keep moving forward. Be responsible for your own success.
Clearing up old debts will take a load off your mind. Make beneficial changes to your living quarters, but be sure the people you live with are in agreement before you start.
Honesty and open dialogue will help you keep the peace at home. Someone from your past will create a problem if he or she tempts you to revisit an old lifestyle.
LEO (July 23Aug. 22)
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to make positive changes in your life. With the right contacts and timing, you can move forward in any direction you choose.
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Take command and make the changes that will improve your life. Don’t expect things to fall into place without putting in an honest effort.
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Gambling, lending money or impulse buying must be avoided. Take stock of your situation and deal with financial issues. Penalty charges or loss of money will occur if you are lax about updating personal documents.
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Don’t make any life-altering decisions right now. Take your time and do your research until you are fully aware of any pitfalls that may develop or consequences that may ensue.
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Family members will be upset if you make choices without their input. Consider the needs of others before you act, or you’ll risk causing a rift in an important relationship.
AQUARIUS
PISCES
(Feb. 20March 20)
Shake things up a little. Make refreshing changes to your living environment. You will find that more comforting surroundings will inspire you to make personal changes as well.
Stress and frustration will result if you are unwilling to accept the changes going on around you. Consider the options presented to you as a chance to add excitement to your life.
Justin Gatlin was crowned overall Diamond League champion in the 100m after winning the final race of this year’s series in 9.98 seconds.
Qatar’s Femi Ogunode was also given the same time, but Gatlin got the nod with France’s Jimmy Vicaut third in 9.99.
Briton Chijindu Ujah finished eighth in Brussels, in a time of 10.19.
American Gatlin, 33, has run personal bests for the 100m and 200m this season, but finished runner-up to Usain Bolt in both events in the World Championships.
The Jamaican opted to end his season rather than run in Belgium.
Gatlin was also due to run in the 200m, but pulled out. That event was won by Ogunode in an impressive 19.97.
In one of the races of the
night, Dutch 2015 world champion Dafne Schippers beat Olympic champion Allyson Felix to win the 200m in 22.12.
American Felix, who won 400m gold in Beijing this year, clocked 22.12. Briton Jodie Williams was seventh in 23.34.
Williams’ compatriot, Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock, eased to vic-
tory in the T44 100m with a time of 10.99. Germany’s Felix Streng was second in 11.08, while world record holder Richard Browne was disqualified for a false start.
There was more British interest in the 100m hurdles, with Tiffany Porter taking fourth spot in 12.81 behind winner Dawn Harper-Nelson of the USA who clocked 12.63. (BBC Sport)
This season’s NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day registered the day’s worst UK broadcast viewership since the competition began in 2003. Coming just a fortnight before county chiefs are expected to confirm ECB proposals that will preserve the existing structure of the competition, this news will intensify opposition to doing so.
According to the Broadcasters Audience Research Board (BARB), Finals Day at Edgbaston on August 29 attracted an overall average audience of 388,000 on Sky Sports - 159,000 for the semi-finals and 229,000 for the final programme between Lancashire and Northamptonshire. The figure is 10 per cent down on the previous lowest Finals
Day in 2013, and 498,000 worse than the highest recorded in 2005.
When approached to comment the ECB was keen to point out that individual-day viewing figures are highly susceptible to rival attractions - such as in this instance: Mo Farah winning 5,000 metres gold at the World Athletics Championships, the third week of the Premier League football season and the launch episode of X Factor - and should be interpreted with caution. But in this case the figures are representative of a broader trend that has seen the past two seasons of the T20 Blast record the lowest average viewing figures as a whole in the competition’s 13-year history. Although aggregate at-
tendances for this season’s event totalled a record 827,654, a rise of 17 per cent on 2014 and Finals Day itself attracted a record attendance of 24,357, the competition’s television appeal appears to be at best stagnating and at worst declining.
The 2015 season saw 37 matches broadcast and a slight rise in average audience of 140,216, almost 3000 higher than 2014 but the two figures are considerably lower than the average across all 13 seasons and significantly lower than audiences recorded in the early seasons of the competition. Indeed, the average viewership of this season’s final has been bettered by group-stage matches on 15 occasions in the past. (Cricinfo)
Dear Editor,
The Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) Hostel was built about eight years ago under the stewardship of its former President Mr Alvin Johnson, with funding mainly from the Guyana Cricket Board, through the Stanford initiative. Its key purpose was to host teams arriving from distant areas including inter-county teams from Demerara and Berbice, hence minimising the financial burden on the ECB. Additionally, the Hostel was to provide a firm basis for the growth and development of the Essequibo players by way of encampment since the facility has provisions for practice and it is in close proximity to the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground.
Recently, the North Essequibo Cricket Committee (NECC) coordinated a 20/20 Cricket Tournament in the Pomeroon and invited the Lusignan Sports Club from the East Coast of Demerara to participate. Given the location of the tournament, the NECC formally sought the use of the Hostel to host the players. Contact was made to both the Secretary and President of the ECB, Mr Brian Christiani and Mr Fizul Bacchus respectively. They both vehemently refused permission to use the building without providing a valid reason. This has been the attitude of the ECB towards the NECC and I. The Hostel is currently not in use, but reports state that it is being occupied by relatives of the Secretary. The conditions under which they were allowed to occupy the hostel are unknown to the Constituent Members of the ECB. I am ex-
tremely disappointed as a former President of the ECB, instrumental in ensuring that the building was secured, maintained from being infested by bats and rats and even painted. As such, the blatant refusal by the executives is a clear indication that they disregard the conscientious efforts of the NEEC to promote cricket in the Region as well as to frustrate and deny cricketers the legitimate right to have access to a sports facility that was intended to be readily accessible. This is unacceptable and therefore I am appealing for some decency and morality to be restored to the administration of the ECB. The Hostel must not be held hostage by any executive member. Many times, reports are received of missing chairs, matresses and kitchen utensils. There seems to be no inventory. There are also reports that ustensils were loaned to an executive for a wedding in Wakenaam and were stored in an insanitary location. It is alleged that the Hostel is being rented to a number of organisations, yet there is no income to show for its usage.
The visible mismanagement has turned the facility into a white elephant. Should these allegations be true, relevant authorities must intervene to rescue the Hostel from the unscrupulous manner in which it is being managed so that it may return to benefit the cricketers.
Yours Faithfully, Prince
Holder
President NECC
Serena Williams’ hopes of securing a calendar Grand Slam were ended in stunning fashion by Italy’s Roberta Vinci in the semi-finals.
Vinci, the world number 43 and playing her first Grand Slam semi-final, caused a huge upset with a 2-6 6-4 6-4 win.
Williams, 33, had been two wins from completing a clean sweep of all four majors in 2015.
Vinci, 32, will play Flavia Pennetta in an allItalian final at Flushing Meadows today.
Williams’ hopes of winning a first calendar Slam
ended just two victories short, and in the most sensational of upsets.
The American had survived 11 final sets in 25 Grand Slam matches during 2015, but at the 12th time of asking came up against an opponent who simply grew stronger.
When Williams smashed her racquet after dropping the second set it was clear that the tension was beginning to boil over, and her cries of “Come on!” in the third set took on an increasingly desperate air.
There was still the possibility that Vinci would crumble in the decider, but
she served out to love with two nerveless half-volleys for the win of her life.
“It was an incredible match,’ said the Italian. “I lost the first set, and tried to stay in every point. I tried to stay focused and not think about Serena. It is the best moment of my life.”
Williams remains the holder of all four major titles for another 24 hours, having completed the “Serena Slam” at Wimbledon, but the calendar Slam remains something achieved only by Maureen Connolly (1953), Margaret Court (1970) and Steffi Graf (1988). (BBC Sport)
Mohammad Hafeez, who has been banned for one year, is bowling in the Haier Mobile T20 Cup tournament without having undergone any remedial measures to his action. Though bowlers banned from international cricket for suspect action are allowed to play in domestic cricket, it is unusual for them to do so without any attempt at correction.
Hafeez has so far bowled only in one matchthree overs for 35 runs on Tuesday against Islamabad and has not been used since owing to a slight side strain.
But ESPNcricinfo understands Hafeez has not remodelled his action since he was suspended for a second time in two years in July. He was first pulled up for a suspect action in November 2014, then made
the necessary changes and was cleared by the ICC in April 2015. However, he was back under scrutiny two months later and when tests revealed his elbow extended beyond the permissible 15 degrees, the ICC banned him for 12 months.
Hafeez cannot approach the ICC for a retest of his bowling action until the completion of his suspension. So at present there is no conclusive way to determine if he is bowling with his old action or a changed one.
According to ICC policy on illegal bowling actions, the concerned board shall formulate and implement a strategy to deal with players with illegal bowling actions in domestic cricket.
“We are monitoring him as there is a provision that he can bowl (despite his international ban),” Intikhab
Alam, the PCB’s director of domestic cricket, told ESPNcricinfo, “It’s not like we are being lenient with him. The umpires can still report him if they suspect anything wrong in his action.
“Since this ongoing tournament is being televised, it’s the best opportunity for us to monitor him closely. In a while, if he is reported at this level as well then he will be suspended for another three months.”
As per ICC rules, a bowler can have maximum elbow extension or flexthe amount he bends and straightens his elbow while delivering the ball - of 15 degrees; anything more, and the action is deemed to be illegal. When he was first banned, Hafeez had been found to bend his elbow as much as 31 degrees. At an unofficial retest in January, he had brought it down to 17 and 19 degrees following which the PCB applied for an official retest which he cleared. Tests after his second report in July though indicated the elbow extension had exceeded the permissible limit again and he was banned.
Last year, the PCB had decided to clamp down on questionable actions right from the domestic level and had directed match officials to report any bowler with a suspected action. The results were encouraging. Dozens of bowlers were reported and all of them were cleared after a short-term session at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. (Cricinfo)
Saturday’s final. “Today I think I played really well.”
After rain forced officials to postpone the Women’s semi-finals by a day, the clash had an undercard vibe to it as it preceded the match featuring Williams, who is two wins away from sweeping the year’s four grand slams.
Pennetta, playing in her 49th Grand Slam, needed 59 minutes to get by Halep and secure a long-awaited berth in the final of one of the sport’s four blue riband tournaments.
Fcrushed Romanian
seed Simona Halep 6-1 6-3 to kick off a packed day of action at the U.S. Open on Friday with an stunning upset that put the Italian into her first grand slam final.
Pennetta, 33, entered the contest as the clear underdog but the 26th seed
showed her experience and was not overwhelmed on the big stage having reached at least the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows in six of the last seven years.
“It’s amazing. I didn’t think to be so far in the tournament,” said Pennetta, who will play either compatriot Roberta Vinci or topseeded Serena Williams in
FMayweather did not follow the rules correctly when seeking approval for an intravenous drip before his victory over Manny Pacquiao, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) says.
The US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) gave retrospective permission after Mayweather had the drip of saline and vitamins on the eve of his May 2 fight.
But the NSAC says only it could approve the drip, and not Usada.
Pacquiao wants a rematch, according to the AFP news agency.
Usada said it granted unbeaten American Mayweather, 38, a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for the infusion, in accordance with NSAC regulations.
But NSAC executive director Bob Bennett told BBC Sport: “Anyone should know worldwide, if you fight in the state of Nevada we are the sole authority for approving a TUE.
“Usada has been known historically as the premier performance-enhancing drugs-testing organisation and they have an outstanding record. But they do not have the authority to authorise a TUE to a fighter in the state of Nevada.”
Mayweather’s drip, administered to combat dehydration after a tough training session, had already attracted controversy.
A report claimed he received favourable treatment from Usada in being given permission to have it. It said, although the substances in question were not
Aside from her U.S. Open resume there was little to hint at a U.S. Open final by Pennetta, who by her own admission had an unimpressive run-up to the year’s final grand slam that included second-round exits in Toronto and Cincinnati and a first-round loss in New Haven.
“I just tried to play every match the best I can from the first one. Try not to think too much about the draw, just play match by match,” Pennetta said after her win.
(Reuters)
banned, an IV drip “can dilute or mask the presence of another substance that is already in the recipient’s system”.
Usada said the report was “riddled with significant inaccuracies and misrepresentations”, while Mayweather highlighted his own anti-doping stance.
“I follow and have always followed the rules of Nevada and Usada, the gold standard of drug-testing,” he said.
“Let’s not forget that I was the one six years ago who insisted on elevating the level of drug-testing for all my fights.”
Very rare
Bennett explained the process of successfully obtaining a TUE, adding that it was very rare for one to be granted so close to a fight.
“The process is you go online and you submit an application with supportive evidence from your doctor. Upon our receiving it, we give the application to our doctor. After his review we will determine if a TUE is approved.
“We are very meticulous, we look at each TUE very thoroughly before our doctors make a final decision. We want to do all this for the health and safety of the fighter.
“I don’t recall a time when we have authorised a pre-fight TUE for an intravenous drip. I’m not saying it hasn’t ever happened, but I don’t recall it.”
BBC Sport’s Ade Adedoyin in Las Vegas: “The Manny Pacquiao camp are quite unhappy about his situation.
“They point to the fact that before Pacquiao went out to face Mayweather he asked for permission to have an injection of painkillers but was denied by the NSAC.
“One of his business advisors has spoken to the media and has been saying how ironic it is for Mayweather to be in this situation now.
“He has also says that perhaps the best way forward is for Mayweather and Pacquiao to have a rematch.”
Pacquiao has been addressing the media in his native Phillipines and has called for a rematch.
The 36-year-old was refused an anti-inflammatory shoulder injection before his fight with Mayweather - the richest in the history of the sport - after failing to notify the correct authorities.
He later blamed the injury for his points defeat, claiming it stopped him using his right hand.
“That is why I want a rematch,” AFP news agency quoted him as saying. “One without any injury and with fair play. No favouritism. Not one where the Mayweather camp gets to dictate all the terms and conditions.
“The Mayweather camp accused me of using performance-enhancing drugs. Now look what happened. The truth has finally came out and I was vindicated.
“If needed, the NSAC should impose the appropriate sanction to sustain its credibility and to show the world they did not give preferential treatment to the Mayweather camp.” (BBC Sport)
Ireland have confirmed they will tour Zimbabwe for a three-match ODI series in October. They will also play a four-day game against Zimbabwe A before travelling to Windhoek for their Intercontinental Cup fixture against Namibia starting on October 24. Harare will host all the matches.
“It’s great to be play-
ing what should be a really competitive series,” Ireland head coach John Bracewell said. “Ireland have enjoyed some really hard tussles with Zimbabwe over the years and I expect these games will be equally as tough.
“It’ll be a test for the squad playing in different conditions, and it’ll also serve as good prepa-
ration for when we travel on to Windhoek for the Intercontinental Cup clash with Namibia.”
Ireland have played Zimbabwe only five times in ODIs since their first meeting at the 2007 World Cup ended in a tie. Their most recent encounter was in the World Cup where Ireland defeated Zimbabwe by five runs in Hobart. (Cricinfo)
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Eoin Morgan led England to a threewicket victory in the fourth ODI at Headingley, where they levelled the series 2-2 and ensured the final match at Old Trafford on Sunday will be the decider. It was, in the end, a near perfectly judged runchase. England needed 300, exactly a run-a-ball in 50 overs, and Morgan showed his team-mates how to pace the pursuit, with 92 off 92 balls himself.
tacular was to come when Liam Plunkett clubbed what looked destined to be a six off Cummins in the 46th over.
ly with poor bowling, too many balls pitched up and not swinging, too much to drive, and with the exception of Cummins (4-49), too little pace to really cause England any problems.
Earlier, Australia were left to rue their inability to capitalise on the strong platform constructed by Maxwell and George Bailey through the middle of their innings. Willey had struck three times early on to put England on top, but Maxwell and Bailey then combined for a 137run partnership and they moved the score along to 167-3 in the 30th over.
They got there with 10 balls to spare, but not without some high drama along the way, including a pair of spectacular catches from Glenn Maxwell that threatened to bring Australia back into the contest. But England’s nerve held, and fittingly David Willey clubbed the winning six down the ground off John Hastings to complete a fine day that began with him claiming three wickets in the first ten overs of the morning.
The key for England was Morgan, who compiled a 91-run partnership with Ben Stokes and then a 58-run stand with Jonny Bairstow. Morgan was in no real hurry early and brought up his halfcentury from 66 balls, but he started to move a little quicker as his innings wore on, and a walking smack at Hastings, down the ground for an enormous six that landed on the roof of the stand, suggested he was ready to kick on.
However, Morgan fell to the first of Maxwell’s screaming catches. Morgan cut hard off Pat Cummins and Maxwell, at backward point, dived to his right with superhuman speed and clung on one-handed. Something even more spec-
At deep midwicket, Maxwell jumped high to his left and controlled the ball, but felt himself falling over the boundary and tossed the ball back up. His shimmy back off the ground to reclaim the ball one-handed and land within bounds was timed to perfection; it was in effect two brilliant catches that combined to become one of the most remarkable of the modern boundary style.
But it was not enough for Australia; Moeen Ali and Willey saw England home without any further hiccups, though a Matthew Wade drop of Moeen eased their path. Australia had let themselves down ear-
innings (50 overs
Burns b Willey 2
Finch c †Bairstow b Willey 15
Smith* lbw b Willey 5
Bailey c & b Plunkett 75
GJ Maxwell b Ali 85
MR Marsh c Willey b Plunkett 17
MS Wade† not out 50
MP Stoinis c Rashid b Ali 4
JW Hastings not out 34
Extras:(lb-8, w-3, nb-1) 12
Total:(7 wickets; 50 overs) 299 Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Burns, 2.5 ov), 2-25 (Smith, 6.2 ov), 3-30 (Finch, 8.3 ov), 4-167 (Maxwell, 29.4 ov), 5-210 (Marsh, 40.1 ov), 6-210 (Bailey, 40.3 ov), 7-215 (Stoinis, 41.4 ov)
Bowling: DJ Willey 8-0-513 (1-w), MA Wood 9-065-0 (1-nb), LE Plunkett 8-0-47-2 (1-w), BA Stokes 5-0-25-0 (1-w), AU Rashid 100-63-0, MM Ali 10-0-40-2
From there, a total in the mid-300s seemed feasible. But Maxwell departed, Mitchell Marsh failed to find a boundary in his 24-ball stay, Bailey fell, Marcus Stoinis failed on debut and it looked like Australia might struggle to even reach the mid-200s. Some late power hitting from Wade and Hastings split the difference, and 299-7 seemed near enough to a par total.
Wade and Hastings clubbed 77 in the final six overs as England’s fast men failed to find the yorker length. It was the second time in the series that Wade had rescued Australia in the first innings with some late striking. Not all of his shots went where he wanted - in particular one attempted ramp that skewed off the edge and flew over third man for four - but he was effective.
Wade crunched three sixes in a 26-ball 50 not out, and Hastings cleared the boundary twice in his unbeaten 34 off 26 balls.
(Cricinfo)
England innings (target: 300
Guyana’s senior national Women’s football team, the Lady Jags- would have to wait a little longer than anticipated for their clash against Puerto Rico, in the final round Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Women’s Olympic Qualifier, with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) receiving communiqué of it being postponed.
The CFU Women’s Olympic Qualifiers Final Round was scheduled for October 2-4 at a venue that was still to be determined, after Guyana, Jamaica and Puerto Rico had qualified for the ‘four-team playoff’ by coming out on top of their respective groups.
The Lady Jags clinch their berth in the final round by conquering Group Four that comprised Cuba and St Kitts and Nevis, while Puerto Rico played undefeated against Haiti, Grenada and Aruba in Group One.
Jamaica, who was placed in Group Three with the Dominican Republic and Dominica, also qualified after dominating the group.
Information reaching the GFF stated that part of the postponement was due to the fact that the Group Two winners have not yet been decided since the group is yet to be played. Initially, St Lucia was identified as the host nation of Group
two and to also play alongside Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua and Barbuda and the Cayman Island.
Unfortunately, according the document, the CFU is yet to also find a host for the final four-team playoff. The GFF had shown interest in hosting the matches, but the steep cost attached was a factor in the Lady Jags not having a chance to make history in front of their home fans.
However, the CFU said that they have received communications from interesting parties who have displayed some willingness to host the Group.
As such, according to the CFU, a final decision will be determined shortly, which will see the Group being rescheduled for late October or the first week of November.
In the final round, the four teams will play a single-elimination tournament. The two finalists and the winner of the third place match will qualify for the 2016 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship as CFU representatives.
Should the Lady Jags finish within the top three, they will face the likes of U.S.A., Canada, Mexico and two representatives from the Central America region. (aramzan@guyanatimesgy. com)
Veteran sprinter
Alisha Fortune has expressed gratitude to Fly Jamaica Airways for facilitating her flight to France in order to take part of World Masters Athletic Championships last July.
At a simple ceremony at the company’s Ogle headquarters on Monday, Fortune made a presentation of a photo collage displaying her medals from the championship to the management of Fly
DeSinco Trading, through its Degree brand of deodorants, will pull off its 15th annual 11-race cycling programme today at the inner circuit of the National Park.
The event, to be organised by national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed, will pedal off at 09:00h with some of the country’s top
age-group set to compete.
The day’s programme will be headlined by the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational race, which was won by Team Coco’s Raynauth Jeffrey last year in a time of one hour, 16 minutes, 20.06 seconds (01h: 16m: 20.06s).
Some of the other category winners from 2014 were
Jamal John (Juveniles), Jaikaran Sookhai (Veterans Under-50), Adrian Sharma (Mountain Bikes) and Toshawna Doris (Boys and Girls Open).
On Sunday, the riders will head to the West Demerara roadways for the fifth annual Powerade 50mile race from 08:00h. The race will commence in front
of the Wales Police Station, proceed to Bushy Park, Parika, before returning to Schoonord for the finish.
Team Gillette Evolution’s Orville Hinds is the defending champion, having clocked one hour, 55 minutes, 55 seconds (01h: 55m: 55s) to win the event in 2014. (aramzan@guyanatimesgy.com)
After a brief hiatus, the local rugby calendar will roll again this afternoon, with two exciting pre-season games at the National Park rugby field, starting at 16:00h.
The 10-a-side, warm-up matches will involve players from all the top rugby clubs in Guyana.
In the opening match, a female encounter, the Kiskadees, a team comprising players from the Guyana Defence Force and the Pepsi Hornets, will lock horns with the Blue Sakies, which is a combined Yamaha Caribs and Police unit.
The coaches for this encounter are Elwin Chase and Laurence Adonis, while the referee is Carlton Heywood.
Game two, which is set for a 16:30h scrum-off, will
feature two powerful Men’s teams. Players from Police, the Guyana Defence Force and Yamaha Caribs will form one team to face a combined unit featuring players from the University of Guyana Wolves and the
Pepsi Hornets. Kenneth Grant-Stuart and Clinton Clarke will perform coaching duties, while Conrad Arjoon will be the referee. The supporting officials will be John Lewis, Philip Browne and Abiola Blair
Also upcoming on the Guyana Rugby Football Union’s programme for 2015 is the Banks Sevens tournament and the Annual General Meeting and election of office-bearers.(aramzan@guyanatimesgy.com)
The highly anticipated semi-finals of the 2015 Berbice Bridge Company Inc. (BBCI) 50over first division cricket competition is set for Sunday at the Area “H” ground in Rose Hall and the picturesque Cumberland cricket ground in East Canje.
Jamaica.
Fortune was extremely grateful to the popular airline for its support of her athletic exploits.
The management of the airline expressed confidence in Fortune, while sharing the athlete indeed made her country proud.
Fortune copped three gold medals at the World Masters Athletic Outdoor Championship in Lyon, France, winning the 100m, 200m and 400m races.
At the Area “H” ground, host Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets will clash with Port Mourant, while Police will play Albion at Cumberland.
The rivalry will bring the best out from the teams with Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets having the home advantage.
They have in their lineup West Indies middle-order batsman, Assad Fudadin. He will be supported by wicketkeeper batsman Jason Sinclair, Delbert Hicks, Vidal Crandon and all-rounders Clinton Pestano, Shawn Perreira and Eon Hooper.
Port Mourant will be lead by the young and talented all-rounder Arif Chan, with support from Lloydel Lewis and Demitri and Nicholas Cameron.
On the other hand, giant killers, Police may not have individual stars, but they have over the last 12 months performed beyond expectations, defeating many top
teams in Berbice cricket.
They will be led by the experienced former Berbice allrounder Michael Newland. He will have support from Brentnol Woolford, Andel Doris, Albert Sinclair and Qwesi Mickle.
However, the powerful Albion team will start as favorites. Their lineup consists of dropped
West Indies left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul. Prolific T20 star Jonathan Foo will lend support, along with the young brigade of Kandasammy Surujnarine, Sharaz Ramcharran, David Latchaya, Balchand Baldeo and Gudakesh Motie. Both matches will commence at 09:30h.(rajivb@ guyanatimesgy.com)
By Akeem Greene
Talented Guyanese opening batsman, Trevon “Bugsy” Griffith, is highly confident of success at the upcoming Processional Cricket League (PCL) Four-day tournament organised by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) in November.
In an Interview with Guyana Times Sport, Griffith said that he is currently in training with the main emphasis on his fitness and improving his technique. With the introduction of the PCL format last year, the WICB took a new approach to regional cricket by instituting a franchise system.
Griffith was selected by the Jamaican franchise when the draft took place in Barbados on June 19 this year. When questioned about being placed in a new franchise, Griffith was adamant that being in the Jamaican team will give him a better opportunity to perform. In the past, many felt the elegant Demerara Cricket
Club (DCC) player underperformed at the national level. Griffith felt the stint
he had at the Sagicor High Performance Centre in 2012 was helpful to him as he seeks to address technical issues surrounding his batting.
The left-hander, who was the leading scorer at the TCL Regional U-19 Threeday competition in Jamaica in 2009, became a great prospect for regional cricket with a pugnacious 84 in the opening game at the West Indies Under-19 World Cup 2010 held in New Zealand.
Since then he has been on the selectors’ radar, but the lack of big scores at the regional level limited his chances of elevation to the regional side. The opening batsman said that he is looking at this upcoming tournament as a platform to elevation to the regional side, once given a lengthy run in the tournament.
The 24-year-old has played seven First-Class games and has an average of 13.66 with a highest score of 58. These figures certainly do not reflect the tal-
ent and ability of the young batsman.
With the WICB selectors’ currently in a rebuilding phase with the team, a successful tournament by this dashing left-hander could see him knocking on the doors. Griffith, who has represented the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League, spoke of his interaction with the international players and the helpful advice given by them to better his game
and allow him to be productive in the upcoming regional season.
The Guyana Jaguars swept the inaugural edition of the WICB’s revamped, regional First-Class tournament with 148 points, outscoring second placed Barbados Pride, who managed only 117 points.
The Windward Islands Volcanoes (109); Jamaica (75); Trinidad and Tobago Red Force (65); and Leeward Islands Hurricanes (54) rounded off the table.
Jamaica’s first game is on November 14 against the Windward Islands at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica.
Jamaica Franchise reads: Dave Bernard Jr., John Campbell, Sheldon Cottrell, Jason Dawes, Nicholson Gordon, Damion Jacobs, Brandon King, Tamar Lambert, Nikita Miller, Marquino Mindley, Carlton Baugh Jr., Kirk Edwards (Barbados), Trevon Griffith (Guyana), Paul Palmer and Shacaya Thomas. (akeemg@ guyanatimesgy.com)
New Zealand have made only one change to their Test squad for this summer’s tour of Australia, with James Neesham included at the expense of Neil Wagner. The rest of the 15-man squad that will play three Tests in Australia - including the inaugural day-night Test in Adelaide - is the same as the touring party that drew 1-1 with England earlier this year.
Fast bowler Trent Boult and all-rounder Corey Anderson have been included after missing the recent limited-overs tour of Africa with back-related stress problems. Ross Taylor has also been named in the Test squad after suffering a groin injury during the Africa tour that required minor surgery.
Neesham had missed the England tour with a stress fracture in his back, but had showed in his first year of Test cricket the value that he offered as a No.6 batsman and seamer. Neesham scored centuries in each of
his first two Test matches last year, against India in Wellington and West Indies in Kingston.
His inclusion has encouraged the selectors to take only four frontline fast bowlers to Australia. The New Zealand coach Mike Hesson said it would be more valuable to have the remainder of the fast bowlers in contention bowling on domestic cricket back home.
“A lot of our recent success has been based on the value of our No.6 batsman bowling some overs, and we’re comfortable continuing in that vein,” Hesson said. “Rather than having an extra fast bowler not playing in Australia, we thought it more prudent for those in contention to remain in New Zealand and be playing domestic cricket.”
Mark Craig is the only spinner in the squad, but a back-up wicketkeeper has been included, with Luke Ronchi remaining the second in line behind BJ Watling. Ronchi scored 88
on Test debut in Leeds this year.
“This is a tour in which we spend quite a lot of time on the west coast of Australia and, given what happened to BJ’s knee in England, it seems wise to have options close at hand,” Hesson said.
The tour of Australia begins with a Test at the Gabba starting on November 5, followed by a Test at the WACA and then the historic daynight Test at Adelaide Oval beginning on November 27.
Hesson and selector Gavin Larsen have also named a New Zealand A squad to play four-day and one-day games against Sri Lanka A in New Zealand next month. The one-day series includes four matches from October 5 to 13, and the four-day squad then plays two games from October 17 to 27. Hamish Rutherford will play in the first two onedayers before joining the Test squad for a pink-ball trial match in Hamilton on October 8-9.
“It makes sense to have our fringe Test players included in these matches,” Hesson said. “It’s good to keep them involved in high level cricket, especially on the cusp of the tour to Australia. We know at some stage someone will be required - that’s the attritional nature of a three-match Test series.”
New Zealand Test squad Martin Guptill, Tom Latham,
Hamish Rutherford, Kane Williamson, Brendon McCullum (capt), Ross Taylor, James Neesham, BJ Watling, Luke Ronchi, Corey Anderson, Tim Southee, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Matt Henry, Trent Boult.
New Zealand A oneday squad Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Jacob Duffy, Andrew Mathieson, Henry Nicholls, Ed Nuttall,
Michael Pollard, Hamish Rutherford, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Ben Wheeler, George Worker, Will Young
New Zealand A four-day squad Todd Astle, Michael Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Derek de Boorder, Jacob Duffy, Colin Munro, Henry Nicholls, Ed Nuttall, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Neil Wagner, Ben Wheeler, Will Young (Cricinfo)
By Rajiv Bisnauth
Guyana’s premier golf tournament, the Guyana Open, is billed for October 31 to November 1, at the country’s lone golf course at Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, according to the club’s captain, Chatterpaul Deo.
Deo told Guyana Times Sport on Friday that the
Lusignan Golf Club is hoping to attract close to 100 golfers from Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Suriname, French Guiana and North America for the annual showpiece golf tournament.
He said the organisers are anticipating a large turnout of competitors on the nine-hole course with heated rivalry in the usual categories: First Flight (0-9 handicap), Second Flight (10-18), Third Flight (19-28) and Ladies Flight.
However, Deo further indicated that the club has de-
Serena Williams’ hopes of securing a calendar Grand Slam were ended in stunning fashion by Italy’s Roberta Vinci in the semifinals.
cided for the first time in its history to introduce a Senior Flight at the two-day event. This, according to Deo, is expected to make the tournament more competitive.
The club captain also highlighted that like the previous years, the overall champion in the Men’s division will be judged by the player with the Best Gross,
while on the distaff side, the winner will come from the person with the Best Net.
In giving an update to this publication regarding plans for the event, Deo said that all the logistics are being coordinated at the moment.
In 2014, Avinash Persaud was easily the top golfer, winning the event for
a fifth time.
Persaud led from start to finish, relegating his sibling Avinda Kishore, who was the 2013 winner, into second place, after finishing with a superior overall Gross of 144.
Kishore occupied the second spot with an over-
all Gross of 153, while Rishi Suknanan finished third with an overall Gross of 160.
On the distaff side,
fell all the way to third with Net 149. (rajivb@guyanatimesgy.com)
