Binder1

Three held for murder of Plaisance woman

Police have confirmed that three persons are in custody - including a deportee - for the murder of 57-year-old Jennifer Ann Mendonca of Lot 41 Prince William Street, Plaisance, East Bank Demerara, who was found dead in her home on Friday evening.

A senior Police rank told Guyana Times that as they continue their investigations, they would receive information that is vital to the case.

The source said that three men have been held on the basis that only recently they had a feud with the woman and used threatening language to her.

The rank stated that Mendonca and the men who are her neighbours frequently have quarrels and presumed that this might have been a cause of the murder.

This newspaper also understands that two of

the three men went into the woman’s home about two weeks ago, but a report was never made to the Sparendaam Police Station.

While her son Gregory believes that it was a premeditated murder, the Police are convinced that it was a robbery-murder, since several pieces of electrical equipment and gold jewellery were found missing.

The son is however adamant that the perpetra-

tors may have taken the pieces of items as a diversion to throw investigators off track. At the home on Saturday morning, Police were continuing their investigations with the aim of finding possible leads.

The woman’s body was found on her bed on its back with two pillows covering her face. It is presumed that Mendonca was manually strangled. Her body was found around 22:00h.

The gruesome discovery was made by the woman’s son who was contacted by neighbours after several calls to the woman went unanswered. The young man, who works at Banks DIH Limited, rushed home only to find his mother lying on the bed, dead.

The woman lived alone with her son who worked while she tended the home.

The man said he last spoke to his mother around noon on Friday when she

told him that she was in the process of preparing lunch.

He believes that the gruesome act took place sometime after then, since the food was still on the stove uncooked when he arrived home.

Gregory explained that when he arrived, the house was in darkness, noting that is not a norm since his mother usually ensures that the lights are on.

He said that at this point he knew that something was amiss. The young man disclosed that while the home was ransacked, nothing was missing except for a DVD player.

They young man said sometime back, some young men had jumped the fence in a bid to create mischief, but his mother had raised an alarm.

He said he did not make a report to the Police at the insistence of his now dead mother.

Brazilian diplomat dies in Takutu Bridge collision – three others

ABrazilian diplomat in Guyana was on Saturday morning killed while several others suffered injuries following a two-vehicle collision on the Takutu Bridge, Lethem, Region Nine.

The incident occurred about 07:20h.

The dead Brazilian diplomat was identified as Theotonio Santa Cruz Oliveria, 61. His assistant Grace Nicholson and a woman identified as Caslin Thakurdeen were also injured in the accident.

This newspaper understands that one other person who was driving the taxi that collided with the diplomat’s vehicle was also hospitalised.

A Police source told Guyana Times that the diplomat was heading to Brazil while the taxi was travelling to Lethem. Both vehicles were on the bridge and were severely dam-

injured

aged.

While information is sketchy, it is believed that the diplomat’s vehicle came into contact with the taxi after the driver failed to change lanes.

He was reportedly the front- seat passenger and suffered lacerations to the head and other injuries to the body.

The diplomat, along with others, was taken to the Lethem Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The others were treated and immediately whisked away to Boa Vista.

In addition, the source who could not have given more details about the accident, confirmed that the injured were taken to Boa Vista, while noting that one of them sustained severe injuries and was bleeding profusely.

Attempts to contact the Brazilian Embassy in Guyana proved futile.

Fuel prices rise on Essequibo Coast

Gas Station owners are claiming that they are unaware as to what is responsible for the sharp increase in the prices for fuel along the Essequibo coast.

Increased prices for gasoline and diesel have also triggered an increase in the minibus and taxi fares in the region.

Guyana Times understands that commuters travelling the Essequibo roadway (Pomeroon-Supenaam) have to pay extra for short drops and long distance. The fares range from $120-$300 for short drops as opposed to $100- 200 in the past.

According to one gas station owner, David Shurland from Adventure Village, the prices for Gasoline and Diesel were raised approximately two weeks ago.

Shurland, who is the main supplier of “Sol” fuel, said he is unaware of the reason behind the sudden increases.

At his gas station, vehicle operators have to pay $1005 for a gallon of gasoline.

However, he said the price for kerosene remains the same.

At Johanna Cecilia, H and P Persaud Gas Station, pump operator said that indeed there have been increases in the prices for gasoline and diesel at all GUYOIL outlets.

The pump operator said that there was nothing advertised in the media by GUYOIL about the increase. They are selling $220.9 per litre of gas as opposed to $217.6 previously. Diesel is selling for $217.7 per litre as oppose to $218.7.

Passengers travelling on minibuses are paying $120 as opposed to $100 for shortdrops. Drivers said that they are requesting extra fares since they have to offset their fuel costs.

An official from GUYOIL disclosed that the price for oil increased on the world market and the company was forced to increase the price. The official said that the increase took effect two weeks ago.

BRIDGE OPENINGS

APNU’s position on shared governance still opportunistic

BY SVETLANA MARSHALL

SWinds: East north-easterly and east southeasterly at 2.23 and 0.89 metres per second.

High Tide: 16:25h reaching a maximum height of 2.75 metres.

low Tide: 09:57h and 22:17h reaching minimum heights of 0.40 metre and 0.44 metre respectively.

hared governance has been bandied as a possible panacea to Guyana’s problems dating back to1957 when the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) under the leadership of the late, Dr Cheddi Jagan attempted to form a broad united front to contest the General Elections.

At the time, Linden Forbes Burnham had rejected the notion of “shared governance”. But approximately 54 years after, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) reintroduced the concept, calling for a Government of National Unity.

APNU is a coalition which is dominated by the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR); a party formed by Burnham.

Since then, APNU has come in for high criticism, not because it championed the cause for “shared governance” months ahead of the 2011 General and Regional Elections, but because it has failed to advance the notion.

Back in 2011, the coalition comprising the PNCR, the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), the Guyana Action Party (GAP) and the National Front Alliance (NFA) had said that constitutional and institutional reforms were necessary for the realisation of shared governance.

APNU had pointed out that, “Under the present Constitution, if one party wins a majority of seats, it alone has the power to make decisions. Thus, even if another political party wins almost one-half of the seats, they have virtually no say in effective decision-making.”

Commitment

The coalition added: “We present you with a partnership that is committed to a true Government of national unity. We do not expect it to be easy.

"We know that to share Cabinet positions with our political opponents presents a real challenge, which the faint of heart will call insurmountable. But it is a challenge that must be accepted. We can find a way to work together.”

After issuing this am-

bitious statement on June 24, 2011, APNU lost the November 2011 General and Regional Elections to the PPP/Civic (PPP/C), but with the seven seats garnered by the Alliance For Change (AFC), a new dispensation was created in the National Assembly with a one-seatmajority Opposition.

According to critics, APNU should have used this opportunity to push for shared governance, in its quest to advance the interest of all Guyanese.

Dr Henry Jeffrey, who resigned as Foreign Trade Minister in 2008, but formerly served as Labour, Housing, Education, Human Services and Social Security Minister, endorsed the notion of “shared governance” during an interview with Guyana Times

According to him, a well thought-out system is essential if the country is to progress rapidly at this stage, pointing out that Guyana has been a ‘bicommunal’ society, in which two ethnic groups have been competing for power.

“A sensibly functioning democracy requires relatively frequent regime change to encourage transparency and avoid corruption.

"If regime change is not possible because of ethnic allegiances, the best alternative is for, at the very least, both of these groups to be at the Executive table, able to protect their interest when decisions are being made,” he said.

Caution

But he cautioned against irrational decisions, positing that the simple coming together of the APNU and PPP/C is not the answer. According to him, it can give rise to worse case of dictatorship compounded by problems of corruption, ineffectiveness and autocratic behaviour.

Zooming in on APNU, Dr Jeffrey said he has long called on the coalition to explain its position on shared governance.

“It is has not done so. Instead it has taken to putting in the public domain all kinds of amorphous ideas. When it is not 'inclusive governance' based on an aspiration expressed in

our constitution; it is 'one nation' taken from our national motto. This has been most disappointing,” Dr Jeffrey said.

Nevertheless, he maintained that shared governance is necessary, but said that in-depth public discourse is required before such a system is instituted.

African Cultural and Development Association (ACDA) Executive Director, Dr Eric Phillips also signalled his support for shared governance, saying Guyana is one of the world’s modern political tragedies.

This, he said is due to the country’s imprisonment in a "pernicious" Westminster political system where governance is based on a principle of Executive dominance.

While other observers begged to differ, saying that

the Westminster system was broken with the introduction of the 1980 Constitution, Dr Phillips maintains that the Westminster system is a contributing factor, coupled with the ethnic differences that the country has been struggling to overcome.

“I think we need to find the healing that will bring us together and I think shared governance or an ar-

chitecture that calls for that or involves principles of that definitely would be the way to move Guyana forward,” he said during an interview with Guyana Times

According to him, there are people who are genuinely ready to serve Guyana, but according to him, they are operating in a “bad system”.

Additionally, he opined that the three main political parties in Guyana, PPP/C, APNU and AFC are not alliances that have “lived the spirit” of inclusionary democracy.

“APNU of course went to the polls talking about a Government of national unity… but no one has been able to see them into operation.

"But it is a bit disappointing though that more has not been done by APNU,” he said.

According to him, political parties must move beyond proposal, saying that they must be proactive.

WPA Executive Member, Professor Clive Thomas had also expressed disappointed with the coalition over its inability to lead talks on a Government of national unity.

Editor: Nigel Williams

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

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

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

Editorial

Ebola and Chikungunya

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has just announced that the number of new cases of Chikungunya in the Caribbean increased by nearly 38,000 - bringing the total number of cases to 513,393. For some reason, Guyana was not included in the statistics, even though at least 62 cases have been confirmed in the country, spread primarily in Regions Six and Four, but not confined there.

We have to assume that this figure is on the low side since if we go by our history of dealing with similar outbreaks, many individuals would slip under the radar.

In the meantime, scores have been reporting to hospitals and clinics exhibiting the symptoms, which are similar to dengue fever with joint pains as well as headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. The name Chikungunya means “to be contorted” and graphically describes the effects of its symptoms on humans. Typically, the fever will last about two days but the other symptoms last at least a week and in some extreme instances can persist for years. Chikungunya cannot be taken lightly.

More than half of the Caribbean cases are in The Dominican Republic and overall there have now been 62 confirmed deaths in the Caribbean as a whole. Chikungunya is an illness caused by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito and while the figures quoted indicate that it is not fatal to a high degree, the manner in which Guyana deals with it is important in light of the spread of another, de adlier virus.

And this is because the World Health Organisation has just issued a warning that West Africa’s Ebola outbreak, which has killed more than 700 people since February, is spreading far quicker than efforts to contain the disease. A top official predicted that there was a “high risk of spread to other countries.”

The Ebola virus, which requires contact with the bodily fluids of a victim, their blood, urine, faeces, vomit, saliva or sweat, to leap into a new host, is almost certain to reach our shores before the end of the year. In contrast to Chikungunya, it is fatal in almost 50-90 percent of the infected cases, with 729 deaths so far, including more than 60 healthcare workers and two of the most experienced doctors, and 1,323 cases overall.

With Chikungunya being mosquito borne, the control of the vector is the first and most effective line of defence against the spread of the virus. The most that can be done is to prevent the mosquitoes from biting individuals. While this can occur during anytime during the day, dusk and dawn are the most at- risk period.

The Chikungunya virus is very protean, as all viruses, and can mutate to a more deadly variant that is transmitted via another species of mosquito - the Tiger mosquito or forest mosquito, Aedes Albopictus (Stegomyia Albopicta) with its white stripes giving it the name.

Guyanese should be well drilled in this exercise because of our long experience with malaria, but sadly this is not the case. Because of the lack of awareness there will have to be first and foremost an acceptance by the health authorities that we are dealing with an epidemic. We cannot afford to become defensive, because some might claim it is an indictment of our health responsiveness.

In like manner, our experience with HIV/AIDS, spread in a similar fashion to Ebola, will need an intensive educational programme to counter the virus. Chickungunya and Ebola have, for instance, both hit the USA, and while an experimental drug for Ebola was controversially administered to two American health workers, which appears to have helped, in both cases success, right now will depend on containing the transfer of the virus from infected individuals to healthy individuals.

We propose that our health system be placed on a higher alert to deal with this potential epidemic. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

Ann Jennifer Mendonca of Plaisance Village

Dear Editor

In February 1966, the 29 year old Queen Elizabeth II of England and her husband Prince Phillip of Edinburgh paid an official two-day visit to the then British Guiana. This was the first (and very probably the only time) that a reigning monarch visited Guyana.

It was a holiday in Guyana and the climax of months of preparation. Georgetown was festive at night with decorative lights and during the day with flags and buntings. People from all walks of life, near and far, thronged the streets of Georgetown in expectation of a glimpse of the Queen, to enjoy the ceremonial pomp and glamour, and to savour a moment of history.

Children from the various schools the coastal and interior regions were selected to travel to Georgetown to see the Queen. My brother,

Chaitram Singh, was one of the lucky students selected to represent Corentyne High School. I remember the day well because he brought back a miniature Union Jack which was my pride and joy for the next couple of days.

Upon disembarking from the Royal Yacht Britannia moored at the Sproston’s wharf, the Queen was greeted by Governor Sir Richard and Lady Luyt, Prime Minister Forbes Burnham, and the Chief Justice, Sir Joseph Luckhoo. The Queen then inspected a Guard of Honour commanded by Sandhurst-trained Major Ramon Sattaur.

The Royal party then entered a open back Austin Princess and were driven to Parliament Building where on the balcony, alluding to our country’s Independence which was just three months away, the queen said, “Now is time to look forward with

hope and resolution that all of this land, of whatever ancestry or creed, shall enjoy a shared prosperity and happiness as citizens of Guyana”.

Later that day, the Queen attended a civic ceremony at the Promenade Gardens, attended the races at Durban Park, and a reception that evening at the Prime Minister’s residence.

The next day, Sunday, February 3, 1966, the Queen travelled by train to the village of Plaisance. Plaisance lived up to its friendly reputation. There were thousands of people waiting to see the Queen. But it was going to be a very big day for a little Plaisance girl.

Ann Jennifer Mendonca was nine years old at the time and she was selected by the village elders to present a bouquet of flowers to the Queen. Dressed in a dainty white frock, pretty Ann Mendonca made her way to

the Queen, curtsied, and offered the flowers to the smiling Queen. Ann herself was bashful and smiling as she made three steps backward, curtsied again, then turned from the Queen’s presence. Ann still lives in Plaisance with her son and I was planning on visiting her the next time I go to Guyana. My hopes were dashed this (Saturday) morning when I read that Ann Jennifer Mendonca was found murdered in her home last night.(Friday) According to reports, her hands were bound with duct-tape and a black plastic bag was tied around her head, which was covered by two pillows. Where, oh where, is our country heading? O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts, and men have lost their reason.

Submittedby

Rishi Singh

The attacks on Chinese must stop!

Dear Editor,

Once again the combined efforts of the Kaieteur News and the Opposition Party (APNU/PNC) are bent on stalling Guyana’s progress by declaring foreign investors are illegitimate and engaged in criminal activities.

During the past days, I have been vividly following the misinforming being propagated by Kaieteur News, which is then endorsed by the gullible and attention seeking Opposition political party.

I have been associated with the forestry sector for over 15 years and the investment and technology imple-

mented by Bai Shan Lin in its forest activities can only be described as remarkable.

I was privileged to pass through one of the concessions where the company has been conducting its activities and was amazed at its efforts for sustainable forest management and harvesting.

This must be recognised and the company must be commended, as there are some Guyanese companies which are far from matching the investment and efforts of the Chinese company, Bai Shan Lin.

On a more panoramic view, over the past few

months the Oppositionaligned Kaieteur News, along with the APNU/ PNC, has undertaken a well-planned campaign against the Chinese living in Guyana. I say this with no apology, as this is the fact and the word out on the street.

Guyana is said to be the land of six races, yet Kaieteur News and the Opposition are making all effort to disenfranchise a Chinese company which have created thousands of jobs and billions worth in investment.

I cry shame…shame…. shame on Kaieteur News

and APNU for their continued attacks on all Chinese living, working and investing in Guyana. It’s a pity Kaieteur News and the Opposition are attacking a legitimate investment to gain cheap political mileage. Whilst I agree that laws and regulations need to be adhered to, Kaieteur News and the Opposition need to bring the evidence and instances where there are breaches rather than speculating and spreading misinformation

Sincerely, William Terence Jr

Despite challenges, Guyana continues along positive growth path – Finance Minister

Notwithstanding the challenges encountered in the parliamentary process, and the inevitable consequences that these challenges have for the political and by extension the economic environment, Guyana continues to experience economic growth.

Sustaining the eight years of consecutive growth in the country’s economy is high on the administration’s agenda as they take very seriously their responsibility for ensuring that the economic environment in Guyana continues to be attractive.

According to Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, who Saturday held a press briefing to update citizens on economic achievements for the first half of 2014, said the local economy continues to be one which is conducive to attracting investors, both local and foreign.

Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh

“We take very seriously the objective of ensuring that the conditions exist for steady improvement for the quality of life for all Guyanese,” he stated.

For this reason and with this commitment in mind, Dr Singh said the administration has managed to persevere in the implementation of Budget 2014 in order to ensure that the favourable environment that they have worked so hard to create and to improve steadily is preserved and further enhanced going forward.

“It’s important to bear in mind too that in addition to the complex domestic political situation and the inevitable implication that this situation will have for investor confidence, growth, etcetera, it’s important to bear in mind that we are also operating in an environment of considerable external challenges [as] the global economy and the Caribbean economy con -

tinues to be tentative.”

The Minister, however, noted that Guyana has been able to sustain its growth against the backdrop where the global economy is in rebound and sustained recovery has not been so evident on both the regional and international level.s

According to Dr Singh, many Caribbean countries continue to face very severe economic challenges mainly because of their limited opportunities for diversification.

“Indeed, it is the progress that we have made in Guyana in diversifying our economy that has enabled us to withstand some of the global and regional economic realities and still achieve the kind of growth that we have achieved,” the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported him as saying.

In the first half of 2014, Guyana’s economy recorded a 3.2 per cent growth, with almost every sector showing significant increase, all contributing to the overall growth in Gross Domestic Product.

In keeping along with

Hussain takes fight against domestic violence to next level

Miss Guyana World 2014 Rafieya Hussain has commenced her mission to tackle and reduce the impact of domestic violence in Guyana by establishing a shelter and safe haven for victims of the scourge.

Hussain expressed gratitude to the Region Two Administration for donating land and a building located at Land of Plenty, that will serve as the headquarters for the operations which will tackle issues affecting both men and women in the region.

While underscoring the importance of fighting domestic abuse, Hussain said it is necessary for more counselling and resources in the form of information to be made available to victims, with a view to empowering them to overcome the challenges they are facing.

Hussain remains committed to using her reign as Miss Guyana World to complete and equip the centre with the necessary resources to execute its mandate. As a result, work is being

done in Guyana and the US to raise funds following the region’s donation.

Meanwhile, Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud pledged the region’s continued support to the mission that Hussain has embarked on. He commended her on the “excellent” job that she has been doing after copping the coveted crown and title.

Persaud said the region found the initiative and objective of Hussain’s mission worthy of consideration and responded positively.

He expressed hope that the centre which will be built will serve the community well and will result in a significant reduction in domestic-related violence and abuse, which is a problem the region has been struggling to deal with.

Hussain’s mission was also endorsed by the Regional Executive Officer Sunil Singh and Women’s Advocate Juliet Coonjah, who were present at the ceremony.

When Hussain is finished refurbishing and resourcing the centre, it will be handed back to the region for operationalisation and maintenance. Hussain won the title of Miss Guyana World on May 26 at the National Cultural Centre, Homestretch and Mandela Avenues, Georgetown.

path of eight consecutive years of positive growth, the administration has managed to stick to its

outlined by Budget 2014 aimed at continuing this trajectory of strong economic performance spe -

many developmental projects, policies and programmes which were outlined in the 2014 national budget that was presented under the theme “A better Guyana for all”.

“You would recall too the various policies, programmes, and projects

cifically continuing our uninterrupted growth in the economy, trend of fiscal consolidation strengthen public finances out progress in improved delivery of social services to the people of Guyana.”

Since then she has been actively involved in the fight against domestic violence via campaigns here and overseas.

Page Foundation

Page Foundation

“In matters of healing the body or the mind, vacation is a true genius!”

Mehmet Murat Ildan

“What I did for my August vacation” – come September, the composition title that pretty much every school-child will expect to be asked to write on. It’s a wonder we don’t write one during the holidays preemptively so we can just lay back and relax when that assignment is given. On second thought, I know why. How many children ever actually do school-work while on vacation? There’s a reason that there’s a collective chortle at the Headteacher exhortation in her end-of-year speech to “crack open” our books during the summer.

I’ve never really seen the point of those essays though. They’re basically mostly just you listing off the things you did during the summer. “This vacation I visited the ______________ with my __________ and ______. It was very ____________. But the most fun was when we [insert thrilling anecdote]. I also ____________ and learnt how to swim.”

And so it goes as primary school children try to build up their essays to the required length – 250 words, I think? There’re only so many ways you can creatively list off all of your summer esca pades. Besides, most of us are just so sorry the vacation’s over, we’re only fuzzily focusing on our work anyway. We’re mostly hankering back to those lazy “summer” days.

I mean sure, you usually fill your friends in on what you’ve been up to, but it’s not in perfect grammar and stilted English – it’s usually a loud babble of voices all speaking at once. I’ve always wished that one of my teachers could come up with a more creative topic to kick off the school year. Or a more creative way. There’s something called “Digital Humanities” that just hit the English Graduate Programmes in the US –it utilises all the new media and electronic techniques available now to create narratives. Maybe it’ll percolate back into the Caribbean soon??

cations”. I’ve been informed that adults don’t get three-month holidays just like that, to lounge about. (My Dad – and certainly not my Mom – never had a “nine to five” job...until last year!!!) Even though I know it’s not practical to have the entire world just vacationing about for three months, it would be kind of nice, wouldn’t it? Every one needs a vacation (and then a vacation from your vacation). Vacations are important. They’re the light at the end of the tunnel during an extra hard sustained period of school or work.

Vacations don’t have to be jet-setting to far-off countries – you could just relax and unwind at home. Like after our gruelling exams, all my friends and I had on our minds for after the exams was to sleep – no extravagant plans, just sleep. But then instead of sleeping, we stayed up into the wee hours of the morning catching up on all the shows and movies we’d missed out on, so I’m not sure if this is the best example of using your vacation to relax.

But anyway, the

that you can spend them how you want, you’re not chained to a desk working anymore – the shackles are off. Sleep or don’t sleep. Save up your money and then spend it on travelling, if that’s your thing. Catch up on that new book that you’ve been trying to read or binge-watch all the seasons of that TV show you’ve been dying to watch. Meet new people, meet old people, visit your friends and family. Do whatever’s your cup of tea. Drink tea even, if you’re into that.

But maybe in time I’ll grow nostalgic about those essays, as I’m already preemptively growing nostalgic about “August va-

So for everyone still on holiday, “Happy vacationing!” and for those of you whose vacations are already over, I hope you had a pleasant holiday.

BY MARIAN WILDE

Are we unwittingly lowering the quality of life for those we mean to nurture? Are we degrading childhood by demanding ever more of our children? Many parents worry about these questions, as students report that they’re feeling stressed out.

“I have been really stressed because of the homework that is being assigned,” a middle-school student from Utah recently commented. “In pre-algebra, we get at least three pages of homework. In English, we get at least one page and a reading assignment, at least 30-50 pages in our books. Then there is science, five-six pages are assigned all days except Friday. In French, we have to do two to three pages of verbs in the French dictionaries. In Spanish, 80 flashcards are assigned two days before the test. As you can see, I don’t take any extra activities because I don’t have time!”

Stress on the rise

“Everyone has their own way of measuring stress, depression being one measure,” says Denise Clark Pope, author of Doing School - How We Are Creating a Generation of StressedOut, Materialistic, and Miseducated Students. “But the consensus is that there are more stressed-out kids.”

One recent study from the Stanford School of Medicine indicates that the number of children, ages seven to 17, treated for depression more than doubled between 1995 and 2001.

What’s causing the stress?

From kindergarten through high school, the causes of childhood stress are numerous. One of the most commonly cited is test stress, which starts in first grade in many schools.

High-stakes tests are particularly stressful, for students and teachers alike. Students must pass these tests to advance to the next grade. Whether you are for them or against them, high-stakes test create considerable stress.

And while experts are debating whether homework loads are in fact heavier now than in the past, many agree that it is being assigned at an earlier age than before.

Another source of school-related stress occurs in high school where more students are taking more rigorous classes. In the past 25 years, there has been explosive growth in the number of students taking multiple subjects at the SCEC examinations.

College admissions anxiety

The prize at the end of the rainbow for many students is admission to a tertiary institution, but the prize may seem less attainable now than in years past, especially depending upon how they and their parents define “prestigious.”

According to the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics, the number of high school graduates increased 24 per cent from 1991 to 2004, and the number is expected to grow another five per cent before 2017. That’s an additional 700,000 high school graduates queuing up for college admission, while the actual number of colleges has remained the same.

The result: Highly selective colleges have become even more selective. As the college admissions process becomes more demanding – more admissions tests, more rigorous classes, more applications, more college tours – the stress on students increases. “College admissions should be educational,” says Lloyd Thacker, author of College Unranked: Ending the College Admissions Frenzy, at a recent lecture to parents of high school students in San Francisco. “But the process has become impossibly confusing.”

Thacker, as the title of his book shows, has been campaigning to end the competitive frenzy to get into a brand-name college. He points out that “25 per cent of all college applications go to one per cent of colleges.”

“There are over 3000 colleges in the United States and 70-80 per cent of children get into a college of their choice,” Thacker says.

He encourages students to question the assumption that success in life is determined by the selectivity of the college that accepts them. “Two-thirds of Silicon Valley CEOs went to public colleges. Students are sacrificing their individuality, health and ethics to fit into a certain mould that they think colleges want. We’re squelching curiosity and risk-taking,” he says.

Some stress is good

Not all stress is bad. A certain amount of stress drives healthy competition in the classroom and in extracurricular activities. Good stress induces a student to strive for her personal best on an exam, a term paper or on the debate team.

“It’s impossible to live in a stress-free world,” says Pope. “A little bit of butterflies before a test may improve performance. Our definition of bad stress is that a student feels the situation is impossible or he feels he is not able to meet the demands upon him.”

Parents need to be sensitive to their child’s individual ability to deal with stress.

Some high school students may be able to handle eight or nine classes at a time, but many may not be able to. “There is a myth that if you’re getting great grades you’re OK. However, great grades are not an indicator of good mental health,” says Pope. If your child exhibits any of the above symptoms and it’s causing problems at school or home, or if any of the above symptoms persists for weeks, seek professional help. You can start with your school counselor or family doctor. (www.greatschools.org)

TO BE CONTINUED

Police given access to DHB cameras

The Guyana Police Force has enhanced its investigative capacity, as the Demerara Harbour Bridge (DHB), in collaboration with the Force’s ‘A’ Division (Georgetown and environs), Friday commissioned a surveillance system valued over $3.1 million at the Police Operations room at the Brickdam Police Station.

This system will allow police officers to monitor traffic across the DHB and activities in its environs without having to go to the bridge.

The Police will have access to 18 of the 26 cameras that cover the bridge, which will allow them to view live footage as well as archival footage from as far back as three months.

DHB General Manager Rolston Adams recognised the importance of time when investigating a matter and noted that sharing the signals will allow the Police to have immediate access to the footage.

equipment, ‘A’ Division Commander Clifton Hicken expressed his gratitude to the DHB management, adding that it will go a long way in assisting the Police in their investigations. The commander noted that because of the close relationship between the Police and the Harbour Bridge, they were privy to information and footage.

This, he went on to say, sparked the idea to share the signals and after several meetings, the decision was finally taken and now the Police are in possession of the equipment that will enhance its crime-fighting capability.

Hicken pointed out that one of the advantages of having first-hand access to the footage is the authenticity and confidentiality of the material. “There are technocrats who are retrieving this information for us and there is a possibility of deleting information, so having it (footage) independently installed is necessary,” he stated.

The ‘A’ Division Commander explained that time and accuracy, along with confidentiality, are important in criminal investigations; hence the Force is pleased to have this equipment which will enhance its capacity.

Farmer fined for fraud

The General Manager of

“So if these Police[officers] wants to view it [at] 2 pm in the morning, they have the capacity. We understand in investigating, time is crucial so it gives the Police the capacity to monitor this in real time and if there is an incident, they can instantly have access to what we are seeing at the Harbour Bridge and able to take whatever actions they chose,” he stated.

APNU’s position on...

In an interview with Guyana Times, Dr Thomas said among objectives, APNU had initially planned to persuade the Government that a national unity Government was necessary to advance the needs of Guyanese.

He said while the PPP/C may not have latched on to the idea, the coalition has not been forceful enough to take this forward.

“I personally had expected APNU to spearhead the national unity Government talks, but the PPP/C has not joined in any discussions to take the idea forward,” Thomas said.

He said at its inception, the coalition’s aim was not to contest the PPP/C for power, but to encourage it to form a national unity Government.

Thomas said no one party should feel it is capable enough to govern the country on its own, since it is impossible. “We would only continue to struggle against ourselves and be our own worst enemies,” he posited.

The PPP/C has maintained over the years that an atmosphere does not exist for shared governance with the political parties here.

In a position paper articulated back in 2003, the PPP/C had said that postIndependence politics in Guyana has been characterised by a lack of trust between the two main political parties, despite determined efforts.

The party said quite apart from the negative consequences associated with Executive power shar-

ing such as the institutionalisation of ethnic rivalry and the absence of political Opposition, no contrived system of governance will succeed in a situation where trust and good faith do not exist between the political parties.

Conscious effort

“The PPP/C believes that a conscious effort is required by the major political parties to build trust and establish confidence.

"Without such trust, suspicion will continue, motives will be questioned, policies will be judged on distorted criteria, resource allocation will always be followed by allegations of partisanship and agreements will be difficult to be arrived at.

"It is not even possible at this time to sign a crime communiqué as proposed by the social partners,” the party said.

As such, the PPP/C had proposed the implementation of all the constitutional reforms as an immediate measure to building trust and to further enhance inclusive governance.

Among these were the appointment of the Rights Commissions; the appointment of the Parliamentary Management Committee; the appointment of the Service Commissions; and the appointment of the Standing Committees.

In addition, the party had said that the establishment of these and other bodies provided for in the Constitution and their optional functioning will generate confidence and in-

the DHB explained that the process to share the signals began four years ago, but had to be placed on hold as they were moving their office. He noted that they also encountered some technical difficulties, but were able to sort those out to have the equipment up and running.

In accepting the

A46-year-old farmer appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry, at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday morning, after being charged for fraud.

The charge, which was read by the Chief Magistrate, alleged that on August 7, at the

creasing co-operation and good-will.

“The PPP/C will expand on these efforts by encouraging broader co-operation by all forces in the society involved in public affairs, but particularly the political parties,” the position paper stated.

These collaborative efforts would include establishing means and facili-

ties to enhance the work of Members of Parliament and strengthening their ability to present their views in legislative matters and to represent their constituents; improving the discourse between Government and Opposition through the appointment of Shadow Cabinet Ministers who can represent their views on policy to the Government and

Immigration and Passport Office, Chandrawattie Samaroo applied for a passport using the birth certificate of her sister Raywanttie Goberdan.

The defendant, who was represented by Attorney Paul Fung-A-Fat, pleaded guilty to the charge. FungA-Fat told the court that one of his client’s overseas-

be apprised of policy developments by the Government; improving ties between the political parties through discussions and debates which will also contribute to building confidence; and devising additional ways and means of working closer together in a non-partisan way at the Local Government level where national political controversies generate less di-

based family members was sick and she wanted to visit the person, so she committed the offence.

The defendant is a firsttime offender and requested minimum sentencing if she is given jail time. Samaroo was fined $40,000, with an alternative of three months imprisonment.

visions and where development and implementation issues give rise to the possibility of greater co-operation in the short-term.

“These measures are vital for our political development and the emergence of a new political culture, characterised by greater trust, civility and commitment to the national interest,” the party said.

sunday, august 10, 2014| guyanatimesgy.com

Mother of one killed in Non Pareil accident

Moments after leaving home for Georgetown to purchase school items, a mother of one was killed in the vicinity of Melanie Damishana, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Saturday morning.

Navita "Christine" Ishram, 28, of Lot 241 Section ‘D’ Non Pareil, ECD, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC).

She was the sister of Guyana’s national cyclist Raynauth Jeffrey.

Jeffrey was subsequently arrested for allegedly behaving in a disorderly manner, after he claimed that he saw the Police acting in a “slothful” manner when the matter was reported. Jeffrey is expected to make a court appearance on Monday at the Vigilance Magistrate’s Court.

According to information received, Ishram was standing on the main road awaiting public transportation when she was struck down by a motor car. It is believed that the driver of the vehicle lost control as he was speeding.

As a result, he ran off the main road and struck the woman, who was standing at the corner.

From reports gathered, the woman was seriously injured and died on the spots; Her bloodied body was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where a doctor pronounced her dead.

Mohan Thakur, the father of the dead woman, told Guyana Times that he was at work in Georgetown when he received a telephone call informing him

about the accident.

“They told me to go to the hospital since they were not sure if it was my daughter…. I left and when I reached at the hospital, I saw her lying on the stretcher…. She was already dead…. Then is

The father said he left home early and knew that this daughter was heading to Georgetown later in the day to purchase school uniforms and had reportedly left home in good spirits. The grieving father said her

when I contact her husband and other family,” the man cried.

death was indeed a shocker to the family.

His grief-stricken wife

was being consoled by relatives Thakur is concerned about the way the Police are investigating the matter.

“I had to go to the Vigilance Police Station to take my daughter`s Identification Card and Birth Certificate and I saw the driver of the car walking around the station as if he is a CID rank… I can’t believe somebody who just knock down someone being given the liberty that I see,” the man stated.

He is calling on the Police to investigate the matter thoroughly.

The woman’s body is at the hospitol mortuary awaiting a post-mortem on Monday. She leaves to mourn her parents, husband, son and siblings.

The driver of the car is in Police custody as investigations continue.

Eyew tness ...on

Sweet Guyana...

show

You’ve got to hand it to Minister Irfaan Ali...the fella has so much energy, this Eyewitness suspects if we had the appropriate technology to harness it, we wouldn’t need Amaila Falls Hydro-Electric!! He’s Minister of Housing – and let’s be honest – without criticising any of his predecessors, has there been any greater activity in this sector in the entire history of this country??

It has dwarfed even the massive housing drive by Bookers in the post-WWII era – which was dubbed “the largest housing drive in the entire Caribbean”. If FDR’s slogan for Americans was “A chicken in every pot”... looks like Irfaan’s is “A house for every man, woman and child”!! And we won’t even talk about his Water Ministry. “Water, water everywhere”?? But all of that seems mundane with what we have seen coming out of his Tourism Ministry.

Just look at the Guyana Festival that he whipped up almost effortlessly in the last couple of months, under the theme 'Myths and Legends… Sweet, Sweet Guyana". How sweet that opening was!!! Your humble Eyewitness is still reeling from the kaleidoscope of colours that dazzled his eyes; the medley of sounds that had him jiving; the smells that had his tongue slavering for the foods he just had to taste – and all the bodies, he just couldn’t touch!! Mrs Eyewitness can be such a spoilsport sometimes!

They say that all comparison is “odious”...so we won’t also talk about the old “Guyfesta” which was years in the making. Suffice it to say that this Guyana Festival should become an annual event – but it should retain the kind of spontaneity that was so evident Friday night. One of the problems of showcasing “culture” is that it soon becomes too “staged” – both literally and figuratively. We don’t want to become the kind of “Bongo Man” derided by Naipaul as primping for the gawking tourist. What your Eyewitness is particularly pleased about is the frank acceptance by President Ramotar and Minister Ali about our diversity and not apologising for it as if it somehow clashes with our national goal to become “One People and One Nation”. What we saw on display was “Unity in Diversity”!

So let the tassa roll, let the djembe drums beat and let the waists of all our peoples gyrate!! Thank you Minister Ali – this is we culcha!!

...raped

One of the things most people – even some of his supporters – resented about Burnham, was that he made Guyana look like a “Banana Republic”. He made a farce of our “parliamentary democracy”. We’re seeing a repetition of this under the APNU-AFC combine – with the support of their jointly appointed Speaker of our venerable National Assembly – Raphael Trotman.

Here’s a man (?), who can keep his face straight when after ruling that the Finance Minister must be sent to the Committee of Privileges said Ramjattan and Cathy Hughes shouldn’t!! Now, this Eyewitness doesn’t pretend to be a legal whiz as Trotman does. Have you seen him second guessing the Chief Justice??? But since when can it be a matter of parliamentary privilege for a Minister to execute a decision by the President and his Cabinet??

And an MP, Ramjattan, (who just happened to be Trotman’s co-leader of the AFC) has a client FeddersLloyd whose cause he pushes in Parliament, isn’t??

Oh judgement, thou are fled to brutish beasts!!!

...misrepresented

The revisionist history about Forbes Burnham continues unabated. This time from the curly locked one writing in both the Stabber and on behalf of the Rodney CoI in the Chronic. He obviously has to be schizoid. The fella claims Burnham won a scholarship to “Oxford University” – when it was actually to London University!!! And Burnham “studied together with Eric Williams of Trinidad and Tobago” who, in fact, WAS up at Oxford.

But between 1932-38 when Burnham hadn’t even finished fifth form!!

Mid-year report

Economy grew by 3.2 % – Dr Singh

Inspite of the challenges facing global and regional economies, as well as the new political situation locally, Guyana has been able to record a 3.2 per cent growth in the economy.

During a media briefing on Saturday, at the National Communications Network studios, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh highlighted sectoral growth, all of which have contributed to the overall growth of the economy, keeping Guyana along the path of eight years of consecutive, positive growth.

Of the 3.2 per cent growth, non-sugar Gross Domestic Product grew by two per cent, while the local economy is now projected to grow by 4.5 per cent in the full year 2014, with non-sugar growth now projected at 3.6 per cent.

According to the mid-year economic report, the rice industry continues to achieve an unprecedented production

boom, with production in the first crop of 312,283 tonnes, 18.3 per cent over last year’s record high first crop production of 263,868 tonnes.

Sugar production in the first crop of 79,995 tonnes was 66.5 per cent above the 2013 level, while the forestry sector recorded robust growth of 38.1 per cent, supported by the introduction of new incentives to harvesters.

However, gold declaration contracted by 17.2 per cent at the half year.

The manufacturing output grew by 11.2 per cent driven by increased levels of production for sugar and rice, with the construction sector recording an extremely strong 16.8 per cent growth reflecting both public and private sector activity.

The wholesale and retail, information and communication, and financial and insurance activities recorded growth of six per cent, 3.5 per cent and two per cent respectively.

Guyana’s overall balance of payments deficit improved to US$93 million, compared to US$145.6 million at half year 2013, excluding gold, while total exports grew by 4.3 per cent to US$307.5 million in the first half of 2014.

Despite the many challenges, sugar exports returned US$34.4 million in earnings, a 26.4 per cent increase, while rice export earnings increased to US$95.6 million, 14.9 per cent higher than at June

2013. Timber export earnings rose to US$21.3 million, a 31.3 per cent increase, as gold exports earnings contracted by 24.6 per cent to US$226.7 million.

Further net domestic credit by the banking system to the private sector grew by 2.9 per cent.

Credit growth was driven by the mining, construction and engineering and real estate sector, which expanded by 10.3 per cent, 7.6 per cent, and 7.5 per cent, respectively.

According to the Minister, given an external environment as well as the domestic political situation, which continues to be challenging, the achievement of growth is a most commendable achievement.

“Whilst we in Government are under no illusions about the importance about the work that we do and have to do to preserve the environment, the achievements of this level of growth and the sustaining of this growth over the protracted period of eight and half points clearly to investors confidence and optimism and indeed point to growing competitiveness and resilience,” the Finance Minister stated.

This, he pointed out, could have only been accomplished by both entrepreneurial and workers’ efforts, as well as with the significant contribution of the private sector, notwithstanding the many challenges.

Some of the key sector highlights are as followed:

Education

* A total of $12.1 billion was expended in the first half of the year;

* Over $554 million has been expended on the construction, expansion, rehabilitation and maintenance of education facilities countrywide;

* In the area of information and communications technology (ICT), works are on schedule to complete the equipping of the three remaining secondary schools with computer laboratories before the end of 2014; and

* Efforts to increase the proportion of trained teachers in the system have resulted in: 749 students currently enrolled in the Associate Degree Programme; 69 students enrolled in the Trained Teachers Certificate Programme; 102 students enrolled in the Teacher Upgrading Programme; and 17 staff members are currently accessing second and third degrees.

Health

* $21.5 billion was allocated for the continued implementation of the National Health Strategy Health Vision 2020, of which $9.2 billion was expended as at the end of June;

* 18 additional doctors were enrolled into postgraduate resident programmes; and

*7 post-graduate residents in the areas of orthopedics, surgery and emergency

medicine will graduate in the final quarter of 2014.

Housing

* $2.5 billion was expended in the housing sector towards ensuring access to adequate and affordable shelter;

* 1300 house lots distributed;

* Processed 2,196 land titles;

* of the 100 houses promised through the public-private turnkey partnership, 42 have been completed; and

* 116 core houses were completed out of the 176 targeted

Water

*Over $2.5 billion has been allocated to the water sector, towards increasing access to safe water and of this amount $661 million was expended at the end of June.

Sanitation

*Government allocated $544.6 million for the com-

pletion of the sewer system in Central Georgetown of which $292.5 million has been expended as at the end of June; and

*Works on the sewer system in Central Georgetown have resulted in the operationalisation of 24 sewer pumping stations and installation of 11.6 kilometres of delivery and force mains.

Agriculture

*$829.4 million was expended in the agriculture sector;

* Efforts were taken to enhance Early Warning Systems by installing an agrometeorological automatic weather station at La Bonne Intention;

· importation of 18 A-Nucleus breed of dairy cows;

· the appointment of the Veterinary Board; and

* Government has established a research oversight committee which has developed a national agriculture research agenda and plans to

hold national research conference in October 2014.

Drainage and Irrigation

*$2.2 billion has been expended in the first half of 2014;

· the Hope/Dochfour public road high bridge is completed; and · drainage pump stations at Number 66 Village and Paradise have been completed.

Infrastructure

*2.4 billion was expended during the first half of the year with $2.3 billion being spent on roads and $21.8 million on bridges;

*?$551 million was expended towards the completion of the four-lane access road to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) and the East Bank Demerara four-lane highway;

*$788.4 million has been expended on the improvement on rural and community roads;

*$1.2 billion was expend-

ed on CJIA from a budget of $6.6 billion to continue extension works on the CJIA runway; and

*??$527 million has been expended towards the further strengthening of our sea and river defence infrastructure.

Electricity

*$1.8 billion has been expended; · works have advanced on four substations and the upgrading of substation at Onverwagt has progressed; and · the installation of transmission lines from Columbia to Onverwagt has been completed.

Information and Communication Technology

*$450.6 million has been expended for the completion of works under the E-Government Project with civil works completed at all of the 54 LTE-A sites; and *4,254 laptops have been distributed in the first half of 2014.

Diplomats given tour of East Bank housing development

Several high-ranking diplomats were on Saturday given a tour of the Government’s hallmark East Bank Housing Development Project, which has seen billions of dollars invested over the past few years.

The tour was organised by the Housing and Water Ministry in collaboration with the Central Housing and Planning Authority.

The diplomats were from the US, Venezuela, Kuwait, Suriname, Brazil, the UK and Barbados. They visited Eccles and New Providence and inspected the area where the Ministry plans to lay a road that would link the East Bank corridor to the East Coast.

Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali, speaking with Guyana Times during the tour, said it was aimed at ensuring that diplomats and other representatives were kept abreast

with the significant transformation that was taking place locally, as far as housing development is concerned.

He said it was important that they were given a first-hand visit to the various housing areas to see the work that is being done and the impact that prudent Government policies and project implementation have on the end product.

Ali said he was very satisfied with the progress made thus far.

He gave the diplomats an update on the Young Professionals Project, which was conceived in 2012. Construction started in 2013 and was completed within the same year.

The Minister said the construction took a period of six months, during which approximately 300 persons were employed.

The houses are 1600 square foot with three bedrooms and two baths, along with a kitchen and living room.

According to Minister Ali, some $600 million was invested by the private sector in the project.

He further related that the Eccles area has been sub-divided with over 350 acres of land with 300 acres for housing and 50 for the industrial aspect.

Thousands of Guyanese have already benefited significantly under the East Bank Development Project, and this year, scores have become first -time homeowners as the Government continues to roll out One Stop Shops and other initiatives.

North Ruimveldt man shot after foiled robbery

Abusinessman was shot during a foiled robbery at his North Ruimveldt home on Saturday morning.

Clinton Anderson, 50, is nursing two gunshot wounds to his knee and back and was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

This newspaper understands that he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit after doctors examined the extent of his injuries when he arrived at the hospital. His condition has been described as stable.

Reports are that Anderson was entering his yard in the wee hours of Saturday morning, when two men pounced on him. One of the men was armed with a handgun.

In an attempt to escape, Anderson reversed the car but the alleged bandits discharged several rounds at the man’s vehicle, hitting him to his back and right knee. Guyana Times understands that this is not the first time the businessman was attacked and robbed, but it is the first time he was shot and injured.

Relatives of the businessman refused to comment on the incident when contacted by this newspaper.

The Police are investigating the incident.

A luta continua

Satiricus was ecstatic. He’d just about given up hope the old fire for “change” was still simmering somewhere...then lo and behold...came the news that Naga Man promising if the Government wouldn’t go quietly into the night after the passing of the “noconfidence” motion, there’d be “violence” in Guyana. Ahhhh...there was still fire in Naga Man’s belly. Never mind it might be caused by the bottle of “High Wine” he gulped down every day. Satiricus became all choked up.

“Naga Man was not an ordinary man,” thought Satiricus. He could hear things that no one else could hear. Those who were born in a “caul” could see things that no one else could see. While that wasn’t common, there were enough people around not to make it strange. Remember those dishevelled folks walking about on the streets of Georgetown, shouting strange noises?? Born in a caul.

Naga Man, however, was born in a black sack. One in a billion! And he could hear voices from other dimensions. There was that famous case in the Rupununi where Jagad was on stage at a political meeting with about a dozen younger workers – including Naga Man. Yet only Naga Man heard that Jagad had anointed him as his successor to lead the country to the Promised Land. After Naga Man revealed this message when Jagad passed away, most of his comrades scoffed because they didn’t know he was born in a black sack.

But those who believed, including Satiricus, started to call Naga Man, “Moses”. Naga Man also had a way with words. Some detractors said the words were “filthy”. They did not know that to those who could hear words from other dimensions such words were “terms of endearment”. So when he shouted to his one and only beloved grandson, “SHUT YUH SO AND SO MOUTH” – and actually spelling out, or rather saying, the “SO AND SO” – Naga Man was actually displaying affection to the lad.

“And that’s why he could proudly tell all the folks in Parliament, of what he’s yelled,” thought Satiricus, with a sigh. What a guy!

And here it was now, even though the Naga Man was in his dotage, he was still talking revolution!! While his threat wasn’t quite the “Give me Liberty or give me death” of Patrick Henry, it was still bold enough to get the hairs on Satiricus’ skinny arms to rise up to attention.

A Luta continua!! The struggles continues!! Long may Naga Man utter his terms of endearment to all his comrades in the Opposition. Shut yuh so and so mouth!!

Duo remanded for simple larceny

Two simple larceny suspects were remanded on Friday morning by Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court.

Twenty-three-yearold Gary McPherson and 20-year-old Ryan Goodluck of Lot 552 Sheriff Street, Campbellville,Georgetown, are accused of stealing on August 5, at Vlissingen Road, Georgetown, one Swiss motorcycle, CF 786, valued $300,000, property of Keith Hecker.

According to details of the charge, on the day in question, the Virtual Complainant went into Popeyes fast food outlet to

buy chicken. He accidently left his keys in his motorcycle and later noticed the defendants riding away on the bike, so he gave chase. He joined a minibus but was unsuccessful in his attempt to catch the duo. The matter was reported and the defendants were caught by Police officers who were on patrol.

Police Prosecutor Dinero Jones told the court that the bike was not recovered, but the defendants were positively identified. The defendants were unrepresented and pleaded not guilty to the charge laid against them. They will return to court on September 5 .

Pornography is new “crack cocaine” – religious leaders

… call on Police to be more vigilant

By Tajeram mohaBir

It has been described as “cancerous”, “a new form of crack cocaine” that helps stain the moral fabric of society.

From the open vending on the pavements of the busy Regent Street, Stabroek Market areas and Water Street in the capital city to mobile units on the Essequibo Coast, and “underground” shops in Linden and Berbice, pornographic DVDs can be had for any buyer who is willing to pay more for the “tempting” commodity.

According to some consumers, they have to “have a look” to feel comfortable – caught in the throes of an addiction more insidious than crack cocaine.

One vendor on the Essequibo Coast, when asked why he engages in the illegality, told Guyana Times it is better than “thieving”, and all he does is supply the demand of consumers.

“I am in business and I want to have DVD in all areas and pornography is on the demand,” he said. This newspaper was told that while grown men and women and even young girls buy the DVDs, the majority of buyers are young males.

These DVDs are downloaded from the Internet or are bought from vendors in Georgetown by sellers in the different regions.

Guyana Times observed that some vendors who did not have the obscene DVDs openly displayed on their stalls had them stashed in boxes nearby. This is to avoid being caught by Police openly vending pornographic material, as only recently several vendors who were busted were charged and placed before the court.

But the crackdown did not deter the Georgetown vendors, all it did was to force some of them to exercise greater caution when selling their goods: being on the look out constantly and only selling the DVDs upon request, if they were convinced the person seeking porn was a genuine customer.

Not enough

From all indications, if the illegal trade is to stop, it will not be enough for the Police to charge the guilty vendors, they need to find the DVD suppliers and charge them as well.

DVD vendors throughout the country earn more than the net national minimum wage of approximately $35,000 per month on just pornographic material. Based on Guyana Times investigation, on average, a pornographic DVD is sold for $300, and each vendor sells about six per day. This amounts to $1800 per day, $10, 800 per week and $43, 200 per month.

Religious leaders, par-

ents and teachers who spoke with this newspaper said the earnings from the illegal trade can be compared to “blood money” as the porn DVDs does more harm than good to the consumer.

Pandit of the Golden Fleece Vishwa Jhotir Mandir, Parmanand Persaud said the DVDs are a cancer, eating away at the moral fabric of society. Like his Muslim and Christian brethren, he is asking that the Police remove the “corrupting eye-sores” not only from public view, but from society as a whole.

According to a prominent pastor in Linden, who spoke to this newspaper on condition of anonymity, the vending of pornographic materials is not only a crime against the State but a violation in the eyes of God.

Television

He blames the growing interest of young people in pornography on poor parental guidance and the increasingly racy nature of television shows and ads.

“The television helps to support pornography. Youths are being exposed to half-naked women and this stimulates their imagination in a negative way to explore…. Where are their parents? There is a serious breakdown in parental guidance,” he stressed, as he called on the Police to “smoke out” the underground vendors in the mining town.

He also urged addicts to seek help and appealed to parents to block porn sites on their children’s computers.

Christian online site

“The Real Truth” reports that total porn revenue worldwide is estimated to be about US$97 billion; the daily pornographic search engine requests is about 68 million – some 25 per cent of total search engine requests; 42.7 per cent of Internet users view porn; there are some 4.2 million pornographic websites –about 12 per cent of total websites; and some 72 million people visit porn sites every month.

Studies say pornography contributes to social and physiological problems as it rewires the brain and demeans and objectifies women. It can be an influencing factor in rape, sexual dysfunction, difficulties in relationship, and child sex abuse.

According to the religious leaders, by virtue of his trade, the vendor of porn promotes, probably unknowingly, all of the above, providing a pathway to the destruction of families and society. In light of this, the Police are not doing enough to stop the illegal trade.

One young lady on the Essequibo Coast who gave her name as “Savitrie” re-

lated to this newspaper that she was forced to part ways with her porn-addicted boyfriend after he became “too arrogant”.

Affects the brain

A recent report published on online news website Caribbean360 reported that a new German study may give pause for thought: men who watch pornography may be shrinking their brains and dulling their responses to sexual stimulation.

The study’s lead author, Dr Simone Kühn, from the Max Planck Institute in Berlin, said the research provided the first evidence for a link between porn consumption and a reduction in brain size as well as brain activity in response to sexual stimuli.

The study, published in the JAMA Psychiatry journal, also found that men

who watched a lot of porn tended to be lazier.

The vending of pornographic materials in Guyana is illegal under the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:02 — Indecency and Obscenity.

That section of the act states, inter alia, that anyone, “Who for the purposes or by way of trade, or for distribution or public exhibition, makes, or pro -

duces, or has in his possession, or imports, conveys, or exports, or causes to be imported, conveyed, or exported, or in any manner whatsoever puts into circulation, any obscene writing, drawing, print, painting, printed matter, picture, poster, emblem, photograph, cinematograph film, or any other obscene object; or carries on or takes part in a business, whether public

or private, concerned with any of those obscene matters or things, or deals in any of them in any manner whatsoever… shall be liable to a fine of not less than $25,000 nor $50,000 or to imprisonment for 12 months”.

Guyana Times enquired from vendors who, apart from regular citizens, buys the DVDs, and was told that even some Policemen do .

Scenes from the Guyana

Guyana Festival day 2

IAC commends Guyana Festival organisers

The Indian Arrival Committee (IAC) has commended the organisers of the Guyana Festival for providing an occasion for Guyanese of all walks of life to celebrate their diverse and rich cultural heritage.

The IAC presented the Indian cultural booth at the inaugural festival, which was officially launched on Friday at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Younge’s Take Weathering the storm

The decision of the Alliance For Change(AFC) to table a no-confidence motion against the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration brings with it bitter-sweet moments.

The party, by its very action, has given the PPP/C an opportunity to regain massive electoral support at the polls, and to prove that despite all the smear campaigns by the opposition since 2011, it is still the party of choice for the masses.

The motion also affords the PPP/C the opportunity to end the gridlock that has created unnecessary social, political and economic tensions in Guyana.

But the PPP/C still has some groundwork to do. It must urgently re-organise and strengthen its youth arm to rally around its cause ahead of any possible elections.

Surely, the party must recognise that it is young people that will cause any major shift in power via their lobbying on the newer forms of media, given the impact of social media on decision-making.

The PPP/C can ill-afford commencing discussions on returning Donald Ramotar as its presidential candidate or fielding a new one if it so desires. Whatever decision it makes will impact its performance at the polls, despite the widely held view that it is in a better position to win a snap poll when compared to its opponents.

The booth seeks to capture all aspects of Indian culture, both then and now, showcasing historical mode of dress, cooking utensils, a logie on a sugar plantation and much more.

“There is also a section of the booth that captures the complete transition from the days of our foreparents to modern days, especially in the arena of Indian wear. The booth also showcases a wide array of Indian instruments and we take this opportunity to urge young people to learn to plan an instrument of your choice.”

The IAC commended the organisers of the Guyana Festival, noting that it joins with the cultural groups of other ethnicities to celebrate the rich Guyanese culture.

“We recognise the efforts being made by the organisers to bring our people together and for us to appreciate and cherish our various cultures in Guyana.

“The IAC wishes to invite all patrons to visit our booth and see the rich cultural displays and sample some delicious Indian cuisine.

“We also wish to extend Raksha Bandhan greetings to all those celebrating this auspicious day and encourage that you remember the significance of the bond between a brother and sister and a brother’s duty towards his sister,” the release concluded.

The party must ensure that it polices the voters’ list and the work of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) as these are desperate times. Testimony to this are reports that some parties are willing to rig and fix their own internal elections so one can imagine what could be the outcome when the stakes are bigger.

The PPP/C must weather this storm and must put in place a dynamic public relations plan that focuses on not only their accomplishments in office, but also where Guyana could have been were there not a failure in the hitherto much touted ‘new dispensation’.

Meanwhile, the PPP/C has a new lease on life and is expected to waste no time exposing the clandestine plan of the AFC and its new partner, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU).

It is believed that the two parties have been meeting behind closed doors since 2011. They have been creating the platform and right environment for a pre-electoral alliance to wrestle power away from the PPP/C. Their actions in parliament have certainly confirmed this.

Gone are the days when there were seemingly any stark differences between the policies advanced by the AFC and People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) dominated APNU. Both parties will fail if any attempt is made to suggest otherwise.

There have been little or no criticism of the actions of the AFC following from APNU, and vice-versa, even when it is warranted in and outside of parliament.

N o doubt, rapt attention will be paid to developments in the failed parliament over the next few weeks. But equally important to observe are comments and posturing of the two opposition parties as they commence massive campaigning behind the scenes.

These political parties are in a desperate position and are thirsty for power. Recent developments prove that they are willing to do all that is necessary to remove the PPP/C, even if it means breaking their promise to never form a coalition or unite under one banner.

The APNU has already re-introduced talk about shared governance and forming a broad alliance. Strangely, the party has not worked to create the environment to enable trust among parties and has failed miserably to take any serious step towards crafting a realistic plan for power-sharing in Guyana.

It is felt that the concept of shared governance is being used as a vehicle to win electoral support, but soon after this is accomplished it will be abandoned or it will die in the process of execution, because of lack of foresight and commitment.

Guyanese must remain resolute ahead and must take their vote seriously as it will determine the future of this country and its development. It can re-shape and redefine Guyana’s political culture in a way that was never imagined. No voter must fall for the fairy-tale promises.

Chikungunya symptoms at East Canje, Rose Hall alarming – Dr Jaglall

Scores of persons from East Canje on Friday received treatment for Chikungunya-like symptoms during a medical outreach hosted by the Guyana Watch Inc clinic.

At the clinic held at the Rose Hall Estate Primary School, of the some 450 persons who were treated, about 150 reportedly had symptoms of the virus.

Medical practitioner, Dr Neil Jaglall from Guyana Watch said tests done on the suspected Chikungunya patients indicate that they all had signs of fungal rashes, high fever, severe joint pain mainly in the arms and legs, headaches and muscle pain.

He said some of those patients also complained of back pain. They received medical supplies to help cushion the discomfort caused by the ailment.

The number of those with Chikungunya symptoms is alarmingly high, Dr Jaglall said, who noted that there were a number of cases of diabetes, hypertension and arthritis.

Shrimattie Latchmenarine, one of the patients who visited the clinic, said she has been experiencing Chikungunyalike symptoms since June 7.

“And up to now my joint is paining me and I have the fever… my cholesterol was high and my blood sugar was high, they told me that I am using too much of salt.”

The satisfied woman related that the medical attention she received, was given to her free of cost.

Another patient, named “Bato” also expressed gratitude to the medical team.

“I never like to go and check it because every time

I go and check, it is always up… I was given advice to stop drinking, take my medication, to exercise a lot and to be careful of my diet.”

The Rose Hall outreach was organised by the Canje Community Development Association with assistance from the East Canje Humanitarian Society.

Guyana Watch is a charitable non-profit humanitarian organisation that was established in 1992. Its main mission has been centred on reaching out to communities that need medical assistance and health care.

The organisation continues on an annual basis to identify where health care is needed most and to reach out to those communities while assisting other groups, churches and organisations in helping the needy.

Nigerian facing immigrationrelated charges

Nigerian national Francis Chikaodi Metu, who is accused of overstaying his time in Guyana, was Friday arraigned before Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on three charges.

It is alleged that between May 11 and August 5, 2014, the 32-year-old overstayed his time in Guyana, while on August 5, at Moleson Creek Stelling, Springlands, Corentyne, Berbice, he ut-

tered, with intent to defraud, one Nigerian passport # 03406027 to Constable 21566 Wright, with a forged Guyana immigration extension stamp, knowing same to be forged. The last charge alleged that between April 4 and August 5, he conspired with others to forge an extension stamp in his Nigerian passport to show that it was genuine and issued by the Immigration Office.

The defendant, who came to Guyana to visit his girlfriend whom he met on the

Caribbean tourism prepares for major change

Caribbean and global tourism thought leaders will gather in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands, next month to discuss and devise strategies to position Caribbean tourism for major change.

The Caribbean Tourism Organisation’s (CTO) State of the Industry Conference (SOTIC) brings together speakers of international and regional acclaim from various fields linked to tourism to provide bestcase practices and winning strategies on a wide range of issues that impact the Region’s primary money earner.

The conference theme dovetails nicely with the organisation’s own vision for Caribbean tourism, said CTO’s Secretary General Hugh Riley. The CTO’s vision is to position the Caribbean as the most desirable, year-round, warm- weather destination, while the conference theme is Realising the Vision: Positioning Caribbean Tourism for Major Change.

“Working towards that vision and measuring the steps to get there is really a very important part of what we do. We’ll have experts from throughout the Caribbean Region and across the world talking about these issues that affect the lives of Caribbean

people,” said Riley.

“It’s important to remind ourselves and the whole Region that because tourism is everybody’s business, everyone is invited to make their voice heard in their business and to hear what other people are saying about their industry,” he added.

The CTO has confirmed a line-up of presenters that include representatives from some of the world’s major brands, including Google. Riley has said that the Caribbean has a lot to gain by involving these brand leaders in SOTIC.

“The Caribbean brand is very proud and pleased to work with other strong brands to make sure that we get the point across that we are associating ourselves with the experts across this industry and across the

world so that we can give this information to the people of the Caribbean and we can benefit from the vast amounts of expertise that exist within and outside our Region,” the Secretary General said.

SOTIC is being organised in collaboration with the USVI’s Department of Tourism and will be held in St Thomas from September 17-19.

SOTIC is the Caribbean’s leading tourism conference. It brings together Caribbean tourism practitioners, policy-makers, strategic partners from the public and private sectors, academics and travel professionals, at the highest levels, to discuss issues, identify solutions and generally develop courses of action that will benefit the Region’s tourism industry.

(Caribbean360)

Internet, landed in Guyana on April 12 and was scheduled to leave on May 11. The address that the defendant gave to the court is the female’s address, according to Police Prosecutor Michael Grant.

The prosecution objected to bail because the prevalence of the offence and the fact that the defendant being a foreign national, may not return for his trial. The defendant was remanded until September 9 when his matter will be recalled.

Guyana Festival creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs

As the second day of the inaugural Guyana Festival got under way at the National Stadium, on Saturday, the organisers came in for showers of praise from the exhibitors, who said the initiative was well planned and executed.

The inaugural Guyana Festival was launched on Friday and is expected to conclude today with the “Night of Legends Concert” to bring down the curtains.

The festival was dubbed an everything Guyanese affair by acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali, who is the driving force behind the idea for the event.

At the launch on Friday, thousands of Guyanese turned out, filling the Stadium to capacity. Persons were seen going from booth to booth as they examined the interesting local products on display. Booths such as New Guyana Pharmaceuticals Incorporated INC (NEW GPC INC), the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company and Digicel (Guyana) attracted lots of attention from persons attending the festival.

Speaking to Guyana Times on Saturday, NEW GPC INC Marketing Associate Livasti Bhooplall explained that the event certainly brought a different

flair than what was expected.

She said that thus far, it has been a successful festival, given the amount of persons who would have visited the NEW GPC booth to enquire about products.

Bhooplall told Guyana Times that she saw the event as one that was family-oriented.

“I think it’s a great initiative that the Government of Guyana conceptualised... I think this is really showcasing Guyana on the international stage.... it is giving producers and manufactures in Guyana a chance to showcase their products on the main stage.”

Meanwhile, Phillip Joseph, who is a painter and sculptor, highlighted that the festival gave him the ideal opportunity to exhibit his work and hopefully gain some customers simultaneously.

He said while the immense turnout is much appreciated, it was definitely unexpected.

“I always looking for them to create something so that everybody could come out and we could do we thing and enjoy we self and so.”

Violet Whitehead, an arts and craft producer, highlighted that there were a lot of craft producers while there were no platforms for them to showcase their work.

Whitehead said the festival brings about an additional opportunity to fill the hole, but contended that there is still need for more ventures like the Guyana Festival.

Likewise, Samantha Persaud, an exhibitor of leather jewellery said more initiatives like the Guyana Festival are needed.

Made in Guyana

She related that there are many things that are being produced in Guyana, but little is known of them. Referring to a nearby doll stand, she pointed out that not everyone is aware that dolls are made in Guyana.

She said the festival “actually gives people a chance to see what is really made in our country, the arts, and the talents”.

A local artiste exhibiting his music at a small booth was also high in praise of the event. While he called for Guyanese to support local culture and music, Robert Davis said the festival was a step in the right direction for all of Guyana’s producers.

Also weighing in on the importance of the festival was Pomeroon Oil Mills Quality Control Manager Asraf Narine, who explained that the festival heralds a new era for Guyana’s producers.

He said all manufacturers and local producers should take advantage of the opportunities offered them through the Guyana Festival.

He pointed out from what he has observed, the local producers did not see the festival as an excellent marketing opportunity and that is where they were misguided.

“In think it’s a great initiative to get local entrepreneurs and businesses to showcase all that they have to offer to the Guyanese people, the Caribbean and the international markets.... I have walked around and I have seen quite a lot of local processors and producers, but I think more needs to be done for them to come out,” said Narine.

He said he saw the festival as something that was going to put Guyana on the world map.

Simply the Truth Security reform

The manner in which the general society views the Police, as well as the manner in which the Guyana Police Force (GPF) sees itself, has sprung from old ideas repeatedly employed. The result is a deeply demoralised Force.

This must change, and change can come in two ways: first, salary, bonuses, and advancement for law enforcement officers; second, modern training for recruits and active ranks.

In 2009 or so, as Director of the University of Guyana, Berbice Campus and Chairman of the Felix Austin Police College in B Division, I implemented a series of modern training courses run out of the Berbice Campus. This was done in close collaboration of some honourable gentlemen, including Commander Steve Merai, Sub-Divisional Commander Lyndon Alves, and Force Training Officer Clinton Conway, and John London.

In addition to the usual drills, classroom work, skill-atarms, and vehicular training, we added new compact courses to meet the demands of an increasingly more complex society. These courses included oral communication and mannerly conduct; ethics and ethical behaviour; written communication; Police report writing; conflict resolution and domestic violence; information technology; fundamentals of law; and first arrival medical procedures.

The people who conducted these courses were some of our community-minded lecturers, members of the legal and medical professions, and former Police instructors. It was all voluntary and we opened up the gates and doors of UGBC to the police. The results for several batches of FAPC B Division graduates was heartening.

There was a marked improvement in communityrelations and performance. It must also be said that the Home Affairs Ministry did not come forward in any tangible or lauding way, although they may have admired from afar. It is tragic that these proven improvements have been discontinued.

First, we will pay much greater attention to innovative and broad-based training in line with what we had at UGBC. This can begin with more stringent entry requirements in terms of aptitude. Excellence at the college should result in fast-track promotional opportunities depending on active performance.

Also, provisions must be made for ranks to access further training. If, for instance, a Policeman navigates an accredited professional course or academic programme, promotion should be almost instantaneous. Accommodations in terms of time must be made by the Force. In this way, we will have

a much more skilled, trained and educated Force.

I have also designed a full degree programme in Senior Police Management (again with the help of others). The higher the rank, the quicker a degree in senior Police management can be completed – as quickly as two years. In this endeavour, we could engage organisations bilaterally with the LAPD, NYPD and the RCMP. As happens with good ideas, however, this went nowhere since there was no vision to improve the lot of members of the GPF. These kinds of reforms would do wonders for the morale of the members of the GPF which is at an all time low.

Part of the training will be a tracking system that takes effect immediately upon graduation from the FAPC. How are these members performing, in what specific geographic areas, and what are they doing? Tracking can result in corrective measures to re-orient those who are not performing as they should. But it can also serve to identify and reward excellence.

We can also assist members of the Force by establishing a system of counselling for those who suffer forms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Police officers who have been shot at or wounded will inevitably suffer from some form of PTST; but the same goes for cops who have shot criminals. Not only does this make solid psychological sense, but it would show to members of the Force that the people they protect are ready to protect them in turn.

We currently pay a new constable something like 40 thousand Guyana Dollars. That is US$200. Do we seriously expect a cop to put his life on the line for us for such a meager price? Do we expect these husbands and wives and sons and daughters to focus on serving and protecting when half of their thoughts are about how they will feed their families next month or how they will find money to take care of a sick baby?

If we utilise some of the methods above, we can identify and put aside those who are undeserving of wearing the uniform. Simultaneously, we can identify and motivate (in tangible ways!) those who are deserving. We can flesh all of this out if we are given the chance.

Investors should get into processing – Go-Invest

After 20 years in existence, many persons still do not know of the services offered by the Guyana Office For Investment (Go-Invest), according to the entity’s Investment Officer Sean Doris.

To this end, the organisation has embarked on a series of outreaches aimed at improving awareness of the advantages of both small and large investors to make use of the services it has to offer.

The outreaches are part of celebrations to mark GoInvest’s 20th anniversary.

At a recent outreach in New Amsterdam, Doris explained that the entity does not provide money for investors, but provides them

with a comprehensive summary of steps necessary to commence business operations.

One of the more significant benefits of using GoInvest’s services is that it assists investors to obtain exemptions from customs duties and taxes on machinery, equipment and vehicles.

However, some feel that the investment facilitation body has not been doing ideally what investors want.

“Go-Invest needs to broaden its horizon,” one potential investor told Doris, noting that commercial banks are not there to assist businesses, but seek the earliest opportunity when possible for foreclose.

“There are just in busi-

ness to grab…”

However, Doris said investors could use their influence and affluence to determine how banks operate. He, however, warned that they must be organised in what they do.

“What we do at GoInvest is to take your challenges to Government so that policies can be implemented that would be of benefit to investors. While Go-Invest may recommend someone to the bank, it is the bank that has the final say…”

The investors were encouraged to stop just producing and to start doing some amount of processing.

“As investors, you have to start adding value to your products,” Doris said.

Rice industry recovering European markets – Minister Ramsammy

Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said at the end of July, Guyana had exported close to 250,000 tonnes of rice, and if exports continue at this rate (as is expected), the month of August would be one of the largest export months.

At present, several shipments are being loaded. Last year was seen as the biggest export year ever with a total of 395,000 tonnes

“We are sending to new destinations, and I expect that we will [reach] the 300,000 tonnes mark at the end of August,” Minister Ramsammy said.

Some of these destinations include: Panama,which is now buying a significant amount (in the 10s of thousands) instead of the traditional two containers. Haiti increased its imports from Guyana and so has many other Caribbean countries.

Meanwhile, some of the

European markets which Guyana had voluntarily given up in the past are now being recovered. In this regard, Spain, Portugal and Holland are buying more rice from Guyana, while Italy, which has always purchased a small amount, has increased its imports as well.

In the meantime, the

Agriculture Ministry is exploring possible markets in other countries. Minister Ramsammy said that over the next several weeks, he will be visiting various places in Central America and Africa to further negotiations, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

Antigua Hawksbills overcome TT Red Steel by 5 wickets

That left the responsibility with the two youngest members of this Red Steel side to get things going again as Evin Lewis and Nicolas Pooran were given it all to do. Their inexperience showed as both men departed to consecutive balls to the bowling of Justin Athanaze.

Lewis had played superbly before he edged the ball through to the keeper but he could not add to his three half centuries in the tournament, departing here for 38. The 22 year old remains the Red Steel’s leading run scorer by some distance.

The wickets of Lewis and Pooran began a startling collapse as the Red Steel lost six wickets for 24 runs to see them all out in the 18th over for 113. Laughlin was the chief destroyer, with three wickets for just seven runs, but Cottrell was in fine form yet again for the Hawksbills. The difference today was that he was well supported by the other bowlers.

This Red Steel total was clearly well under par, and the Hawksbills got off to a steady start. Samuels, nursing injury, promoted himself to open. It was the fifth opening pair that the Hawksbills had used, and they looked like they had finally found a winning combination at the top of the order. However, Dunk’s poor tournament continued as he fell in the seventh over.

Fresh from his hundred in the last match, Samuels began his innings with a crunching extra cover drive

for four and he looked like he was going to win this game on his own.

Such was his stability at the crease, it came as a surprise when he feathered an edge through to the keeper off a ball from Shannon Gabriel.

Orlando Peters had been the man to play the support act to Samuels as he scored his ton in the previous match; here he needed to take up the role of leading man.

At the half way stage, the equation for victory could not have been any

more straightforward; they needed a run a ball with eight wickets in hand. For a team full of confidence that would be a simple task, for one that has lost eight games in a row there was still work to be done.

Peters could not see the job through, mistiming a slower ball from Kevon Cooper that ballooned up for Samuel Badree to take the catch. The experience of David Hussey became the key, he was the man that needed to steer this team home to a face-saving win. With him there, it was the

Hawksbills game to lose.

Hussey went LBW to Cooper to put the result in question once again. The Hawksbills promoted Sheldon Cottrell up the order in a move that didn’t work. He went, bowled by O’Brien, but that only brought Carlos Brathwaite to the crease. He hit his first three balls for six to swing this topsy turvy chase back towards his team.

That took this game to the point where, even a team who have had the struggles that the Hawksbills have experi-

enced, could not lose. There will be prettier wins, but for the Antiguans, it was very much a case of any win being good enough.

“We are still in a good position as we have qualified for the final week of the tournament,” said Trinidad and Tobago Coach Simon Helmot. “However, our batting display today, and in our last match, is of real concern. It is not panic stations yet but we have to get back to starting strongly with the bat and that means keeping wickets in

hand for the later overs.”

On the other hand, the Antigua Hawksbills Coac Tim Nielsen said, “It is just nice to finish with a win as no team wants to lose all its games in any tournament.

“We bowled well today and did not panic when we were under a bit of pressure with the bat. I have loved my time at the CPL and would definitely come back if asked. I have come away with a load of good friends and it has been a great experience,” he added.

SCOREBOARD

Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel innings (20 overs maximum)

KJ O’Brien c †Thomas b Cottrell 0

E Lewis c †Thomas b Athanaze 38 LRPL Taylor lbw b Laughlin 16

DM Bravo c Dunk b Samuels 13

DJ Bravo* c Cottrell b Laughlin 6 N Pooran† c Dunk b Athanaze 9

JPR Scantlebury-Searles run out (†Thomas/Cottrell) 1

KK Cooper not out 11

S Badree lbw b Hogg 0

SJ Benn b Laughlin 2

ST Gabriel c Samuels b Cottrell 0

Extras (lb 4, w 13) 17

Total (all out; 17.3 overs) 113 (6.45 runs per over)

Fall of wickets 1-1 (O’Brien, 0.1 ov), 2-29 (Taylor, 4.2 ov), 3-50 (DM Bravo, 7.5 ov), 4-67 (DJ Bravo, 10.5 ov), 5-88 (Pooran, 14.1 ov), 6-88 (Lewis, 14.2 ov), 7-97 (Scantlebury-Searles, 15.2 ov), 8-97 (Badree, 15.3 ov), 9-112 (Benn, 16.6 ov), 10-113 (Gabriel, 17.3 ov)

Bowling O M R W

SS Cottrell 3.3 0 14 2

CR Brathwaite

(Dunk,

ov), 2-36 (Samuels, 8.2

3-58 (Peters, 11.4 ov), 4-83 (Hussey, 16.2 ov), 5-88 (Cottrell, 17.2 ov)

Harris reflects on Commonwealth performance

By TreisTon Joseph

Guyana’s

fastest man

Adam Harris barely missed the final of the men’s 100 metres at Commonwealth Games that recently concluded in Glasgow, Scotland.

The burly speedster who resides and trains in America, spoke on his performance in the men’s 100 metres, especially since he seemed in brilliant shape heading into the event.

“Well, in the 100 metres prelim, it wasn’t what I wanted, but I didn’t know

what to expect because I hadn’t raced in a while.

“For the semis, my start wasn’t good, but I was able to recover and come through at 10.23s, but I still ended up just missing the final.

“I should have made it, but the 100 doesn’t always go the way you want it,” Harris told Guyana Times Sport in an exclusive interview.

Harris, who also competed in the men’s 200 metres at the 20th edition of the Commonwealth Games, noted that rust in the 200 me-

Adam Harris

tres was the major reason for him not performing as he should.

“As for the 200 metres, I haven’t ran that at all this year, so I really didn’t know what to expect, I’ve only been focusing on the 100 metres, so I’m not really in the best shape for the 200 metres. I haven’t been training in the turn, so that’s always scary for me,” Harris highlighted.

Guyana rarely fields a relay team at any major championships, but registered a men’s 4x100 metres

team. Unfortunately, the team was unable to qualify for the final due to bad baton passing that resulted in the national team of Harris, Winston George, Stephan James and Jeremy Bascom being disqualified for not passing the baton in the takeover zone.

“For the 4x100, that was probably the best experience of my Commonwealth. The group we had never ran together, but we had great team chemistry, we just have to get the handoffs down and we could really be

a force.

“Of course the disqualification wasn’t something we wanted, but it’s good to know that with that group we can easily break the national record (39.59s) with clean handoffs… I just hope we get that opportunity again because we can be a serious power,” Harris mentioned.

Meanwhile, Harris is currently continuing his tour of Europe and is expected to compete in Belgium this weekend.

Lloyd to head new selection panel

Legendary former cap-

tain Clive Lloyd has been appointed the new Convenor of the West Indies selection panel.

This follows a decision of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) not to renew the contracts of members of the current West Indies selection panel.

The WICB announced on Saturday that former West Indies fast bowlers Eldine Baptiste and Courtney Walsh have been appointed to the new panel which also includes former West Indies wicketkeeper/batsman Courtney Browne – who has been retained – and current West Indies head coach Ottis Gibson, as well as the respective West Indies captain as a non-voting member.

Previous chairman, former Test off-spinner Clyde Butts and former leg-spin all-rounder Robert Haynes have made way for the new panel.

The changes for the way forward were approved at a directors’ meeting of the WICB held on July 12 in Antigua and were announced by Director of Cricket Richard Pybus, who confirmed that Lloyd, arguably the most successful West Indies captain ever, had been contracted for two years to head up the panel.

Pybus said the WICB had taken this opportunity to

bring new personnel and insights into the selection process as part of the continued review and restructuring of the game in the Caribbean which began with the directors’ meeting in March this year.

“We welcome the introduction of Clive Lloyd – one of the true legends of West Indies cricket –to the selection panel for the first time,” said Pybus.

“We are also glad that an iconic fast bowler like Courtney Walsh, and highly-experienced, former international player and coach like Eldine Baptiste have accepted to perform this important function.”

Pybus added: “Courtney Browne is retained on the panel as both selector and regional talent manager

with a specialist focus on youth and women’s cricket.

“We look forward to their input as we continue to work on building a strong and sustainable cricket system that produces elite cricketers for the West Indies senior teams.”

Pybus thanked Butts and Haynes for their contribution over the last two terms, when they worked together with Browne to form the core of the panel.

“We thank Clyde and Robert for their commitment and professionalism, and the job they have done in a challenging period in West Indies history and we wish them well in their future endeavours,” said Pybus.

“During their tenure, West Indies were crowned World Twenty20 champions and rose briefly to No.5 in the ICC Test World Rankings.”

Following his retirement from playing the game after a career that included 110 Tests and 87 Oneday Internationals between 1966 and 1985, Lloyd has served West Indies and international cricket in various ways.

He has been a West Indies coach, manager and board director, and currently serves on the WICB’s debriefing panel which assesses team performances following series and tours.

He has also served

the International Cricket Council, the sport’s World governing body, as a match referee and head of its cricket committee.

The 51-year-old Walsh played 132 Tests and 205 ODIs between 1984 and 2001. He has remained close to the game in the region too, serving as manager for the West Indies Under-19 side to the 2012 ICC Youth World Cup, making radio and television commentary appearances, as well as organising coaching clinics in his native Jamaica, where he is now a director on the national cricket association.

The 54-year-old Baptiste appeared in 10 Tests and 43 One-day Internationals for West Indies between 1983 and 1990. His path following his playing days led to a number of head coaching positions, including KwaZulu Natal in South Africa, Kenya national team, his native Antigua & Barbuda and his former side Leeward Islands.

The new panel will convene for the first time during the course of the week, with their first main task being the selection of the West Indies Test team for the Dhaka Bank Cup Series against Bangladesh.

A media conference with the new selection panel will be scheduled at a date to be determined.

Anthony wins NSC 35-lap cycling

Michael Anthony overcame a heated midday sun to capture top honours in the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational race sponsored by the National Sports Commission on Saturday at the inner circuit of the National Park.

The Lindener won the gruelling race in a time of one hour, 19 minutes, 17 seconds and also pocketed two of the eight sprint prizes on offer. It was Anthony’s fourth victory of the 2014 season.

Hamzah Eastman and Robin Persaud occupied second and third respectively, while Paul DeNobrega, Marlon Williams and Alanzo

Greaves rounded off the top six in that order.

Eastman also carted off two sprint prizes, while one apiece went to Persaud, Enzo Matthews, Stephano Husbands and Warren McKay.

Other winners of the day included Sherwin Sampson (BMX Boys 6-9 and 9-12), Rashidi Ceres (BMX Boys 12-14), Shamar Dass (BMX Open), Rakeem Blair (BMX Boys and Girls 12-14), Junior Niles (Veterans U-50), Linden Blackman (Veterans O-50), Maurice Fagundes (Veterans O-60), Michael Anthony (Juveniles) and Adrian Sharma (Mountain Bikes).

England beat India by innings in three days at Old Trafford

England stormed to a resounding victory over India inside three days at Old Trafford to take a 2-1 lead in the Test series with one match to play. The hosts took nine wickets in an extraordinary session after tea to bowl India out for 161 and win the fourth Test by an innings and 54 runs.

For the second match in a row, spinner Moeen Ali was instrumental in the final push, taking 4-39 as England made light of the absence of

runs, with 61 overs left in the day to bowl out India before Sunday’s predicted downpours.

In the end they needed only 43, completing an extraordinary turnaround by a team that was heavily beaten in the second Test at Lord’s to extend their winless run to 10 Tests. Even more remarkable is the transformation of Moeen, who took only 10 wickets at an average of 45 in his first four Tests this summer, but now has 12 victims

But the real havoc was wrought after tea in a breathless period in which five wickets fell for 13 runs in 29 balls.

Gautam Gambhir nicked Anderson down the leg side for 18 and, from the first ball of the next over, Cheteshwar Pujara was given out lbw to Moeen, although TV replays - unavailable to umpires in this series with India refusing to use the Decision Review System - suggested the ball was missing leg stump.

the injured Stuart Broad, whose nose was broken by a Varun Aaron bouncer at the end of England’s first innings. James Anderson claimed 2-18 and Chris Jordan took the final two wickets in two balls to the delight of a full house at a sun-drenched ground.

The hosts had earlier posted 367 all out, with Joe Root’s 77 and Jos Buttler’s 70 giving them a lead of 215

at 14 in his last two. England will hope to carry their winning momentum into the final Test at The Oval, starting on Friday, where only an India victory can deny them the series. Chris Woakes, taking the new ball in Broad’s absence, got the breakthrough for England with a delivery that nipped back slightly and rapped Murali Vijay’s pads in front of leg stump.

Ajinkya Rahane was superbly caught by Moeen off his own bowling and Anderson continued his hold over Virat Kohli by having the India batsman taken at second slip by Ian Bell.In the 30 balls he has faced from Anderson in the series, Kohli has scored seven runs and been out four times.

Ravindra Jadeja was out for four in Moeen’s next over as he pushed forward

and edged to Jordan at slip, Mahendra Dhoni’s counterattacking 27 was ended when he dragged Moeen to Gary Ballance at mid-wicket and Bhuvneshwar Kumar was run out attempting a suicidal second run.

Roaring in from the Brian Statham End with the crowd cheering him on, Jordan then had Varun Aaron caught behind off a short ball and Pankaj Singh bowled off his toes before wheeling away in celebration with his jubilant team-mates in pursuit.

Pankaj had earlier ended his wait for a maiden Test wicket in his 70th over, but only after England had pushed their lead beyond 150 runs. As the heavy rain that prevented any play after 14:15 BST on Friday gave way to bright sunshine, Root and Buttler played positively in a partnership of 134.

Buttler mixed good fortune - he was dropped by Kohli in the gully on 34 and badly missed by Dhoni when he should have been run out

for 44 - with fine strokeplay to record successive fifties in his first two Test innings.

Root was more cautious as he reached fifty off 103 balls, only to be denied a third Test century of the summer by Pankaj’s unlikely intervention. The Yorkshire batsman could not resist dabbling at a ball down the leg side and walked away cursing himself after the delivery flicked

his gloves and was taken by Dhoni.

Having waited 69.2 overs to take his first Test wicket, Pankaj only had to wait two more for his next. Buttler, driving on the up, spooned a slower ball straight to Pujara at mid-off.

The runs continued to flow as Woakes cracked a fluent unbeaten 26 and Broad - the man of the match following his destructive bowling in the first innings - twice cleared the ropes before trying to repeat the shot and top-edging the ball between his helmet and his grille. He received treatment to his gaping nose wound on the field and was later taken to hospital for X-rays, where the break was confirmed. But by then, England were well on the way to a comprehensive Test win. (bbcsport)

Letter to the

SportEditor

The GCB’s website Boyce/Jefford organizers clear air on misconceptions

Dear Editor,

In the August 9 edition of the Stabroek News, a letter with the headline, “GCB website has inaccurate information about North Essequibo Cricket Board”, was published under the penmanship of Elroy Stephney.

In his letter, Stephney incorrectly accused the GCB of publishing misleading and inaccurate information. The GCB strongly rejects Stephney’s assertions and encourages him to be a little more careful in his research and publications.

The GCB wishes to advise that its official website is www.guyanacricketboard.com. This website was launched at the Guyana Cricket Board’s Boardroom earlier this year and was widely publicized in most sections of the media, but this positive activity by the GCB may have eluded Stephney. This site is still in its infancy stages and can be considered to be a work in progress.

We always welcome constructive criticisms and suggestions on ways to improve our communication with the public at large, as we aspire to make this site the premier source of the latest news and information about our activities, development programs and cricket in Guyana, regionally and worldwide.

At the GCB, we pride ourselves upon disseminating very accurate information about cricketing and other related matters and wishes to advise the general public that meticulous care is taken by our host and administrators to ensure the authenticity of the information posted therein.

We invite Stephney and the general public to visit our site on a daily basis and witness the news and developments taking place as we continue to work hard to upkeep and maintain our mandate towards the development of cricket in Guyana.

Most current news on the victories at the WICB Regional Under 15 and Under 19 levels are posted therein and we encourage congrats to the respective Guyana youth teams for their achievements.

We trust Stephney will now do the honourable thing and be obliged to set the record straight and issue the appropriate apology to the Board. In addition, Stabroek News should also have been more diligent in its publication of this letter.

Thank you

Guyana Cricket Board

Boyce/Jefford Classic garners more support

Mohamed’s Enterprise has now aligned themselves with the Boyce/Jefford Track and Field Classic in an effort to help the fifth edition of the event, set for August 16 and 17 in Linden a success.

On Thursday, at a simple handing over ceremony at the headquarters of the company, Mohamed’s Enterprise specifically sponsored the male and female master’s 60 metres sprints.

The winners of the male and female events are now assured a reward of $25,000, while second and third will receive $15,000 and $10,000, respectively.

Director of the company Nazar Mohamed noted that Linden is a haven of talent and is in need of activities like the Boyce/Jefford Classic.

Mohamed, who has been

onboard with the Classic since it first introduced, also revealed that he intends to continue his support of the event, which has become Guyana’s premier track event.

Colin Boyce, Chairman of the Boyce/Jefford Management Committee, highlighted that it is sponsorship that will allow the meet to grow, as well as raise the level of competition in the country. He said he is grateful for the support shown by Mohamed.

The two-day event will be held at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground in Linden and has become Guyana’s only meet to pay cash prizes to winning clubs and athletes.

The meets also allows the participation of international athletes, which has grown over the years, thereby raising the level of competition.

The organizers of Boyce/Jefford Track and Field Classic have chosen to clear the air after an article was published by one section of the media that stated 400 metres specialist Kadecia Baird “pulled out” of the two-day event set for August 16 and 17 at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground, Linden.

“First, we believe that someone cannot ‘pull out’ from what they have not been in. We read a report that stated in headline that ‘Kadecia Baird pulls out of Boyce/Jefford Classic’; Baird was never confirmed for the meet, which we made clear when we launched the event and kept repeating to the media.

“We made it clear that we were in discussion with Baird’s team and other stakeholders to have her compete in Guyana. We had also said the same about

Adam Harris,” a release from the organisers said.

The article which also noted that Baird “pulled out” because of the condition of the ground was also addressed by the Boyce/Jefford committee.

“The Mackenzie Sports Club Ground is a multisport venue. Our preparation phase for the ground occurs when the ground is handed over to us, having cleared all other activities at the venue. This is usually done a little over a week before the meet.

“Hence, while minor works would have been ongoing to have the venue ready, extensive works will begin today with nothing apart from the Boyce/Jefford Classic happening at the venue over the next week.

“We were assured, as was the case in previous years, that our venue will be ready as major stakeholders

are involved in this process,” the statement said.

In addition, the organizers were clear that the quality of competition would not be affected by any one athlete or club missing from the championship that has become Guyana’s best.

“We believe, based on the entries we have received from local clubs and Caribbean countries, that our competition will rise to new heights this year.

“This is in direct response to the belief of some that because a particular club decided not to compete for its own internal reason (s), the quality of the meet will be reduced. That is not accurate.

“We have all other major clubs in Guyana competing at full strength this year in addition to contingents from Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and a

US-based Guyanese athlete. We are expecting very keen competition in Linden on August 16-17 based on the evidence of entries we have in our possession,” the statement added.

“No one athlete or club will ever be allowed to decide the quality of the Boyce/ Jefford Classic. We believe that no one should lay claim to such invincibility.”

However, the organizers were also clear on the process to entertain international athletes at the mega event.

“We will continue to extend such invitations and leave the decision at the discretion of those athletes,” the statement noted.

The Boyce/Jefford Classic is Guyana’s only meet that provides revenue for athletes and clubs, along with the fact that it enables local athletes to get a feel for international competition.

Sangakkara’s 10th double gives SL lead

Kumar Sangakkara continued to torment Pakistan with his tenth double-century that took him past Brian Lara and put him only behind Don Bradman’s 12.

Sri Lanka began the day 199 runs behind but Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews wiped off the deficit with a 181-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Mathews fell just before tea for the fifth time in the nineties, the last three of which have all been against Pakistan, and all 91s.

But Sangakkara carried on after equaling Bradman for 18 scores of 150-plus and ensured Sri Lanka had a healthy lead before they declared to leave Pakistan’s tired batsmen 20 minutes to survive till stumps.

Sri Lanka had almost the perfect finish to the day when Khurram Manzoor nicked Rangana Herath behind. After conceding 451 in the first innings, they kept Pakistan in the field for six sessions, and now have the chance to put the visiting batsmen under serious pressure on the final day.

Pakistan did not help themselves by dropping Sangakkara first ball in the morning off Junaid Khan, and then on 168 off Saeed Ajmal. They did take out Mahela Jayawardene with the fourth ball of the day, but it was all Sri Lanka after that on a largely unresponsive pitch.

The first over of the day began with immense promise for Pakistan. The second new ball was available at the start and Junaid had Sangakkara driving the first delivery straight to Abdur Rehman at point,

only for it to go through his hands. Junaid had Jayawardene edging the second past the cordon and beat him with the third. The fourth moved back to hit the pad, and Pakistan reviewed successfully against umpire Ian Gould’s decision, replays showing the ball hitting the stumps near the top.

The slight movement that had brought the wicket disappeared soon and the drop only made Sangakkara concentrate harder. Unless the ball was really full or short, he was not going for it.

He was alert enough into his fifth session of batting to keep working singles and twos regularly. At the other end was a man whose batting average as captain gets more unbelievable by the day.

Mathews calmly eased Junaid through extra cover to start off. Saeed Ajmal found plenty of slow turn and bounce at times, but his good length allowed Mathews to go right back and either hit him through off or work him to leg. A few did pop up off Mathews’ pad, but they could not snare the inside edge.

Mohammad Talha lacked Junaid’s discipline and even as he beat the batsmen now and then, he also did not make them play much. Talha tried the short ball against Mathews after lunch, and did have him top-edging a pull, only for the ball to sail over long leg.

Again, Rehman was used much less than Ajmal was, and again, he was less penetrative. Pakistan were also poor in the field, unable to cut out a few bound-

aries and singles. With no pressure exerted by either bowlers or fielders, Sri Lanka added 111 in 31 overs in the second session, and 84 in 23.1 after tea.

Just a couple of overs before tea, Ajmal had Mathews edging a doosra, and Younis Khan, who had put down Sangakkara, did not miss this time at slip. Ajmal now toyed with Kithuruwan Vithanage, beating him with doosras and offbreaks.

He ended the session by ripping one past Sangakkara’s outside edge, and consumed Vithanage, Niroshan Dickwella and Dilruwan Perera soon after the interval. Ajmal had waited 46.2 overs for a wicket, the longest he

Pakistan 1st innings 451 (3.20 runs per over) Sri Lanka 1st innings WU Tharanga lbw b Junaid Khan 19

JK Silva c †Sarfraz Ahmed b Mohammad Talha 64

KC Sangakkara st †Sarfraz Ahmed b Abdur Rehman 221

DPMD Jayawardene lbw b Junaid Khan 59

AD Mathews* c Younis Khan b Saeed Ajmal 91

KDK Vithanage c Asad Shafiq b Saeed Ajmal 5 N Dickwella† c Asad Shafiq b Saeed Ajmal 5

MDK Perera c Junaid Khan b Saeed Ajmal 5

KTGD Prasad st †Sarfraz Ahmed b Saeed Ajmal 31

Herath not out 6

27

has ever had to; he would pick up five in just under 13 overs. It was his most expensive five-for, at 166 runs. Sangakkara was still not done. He had a nervy moment or two on 199 before he punched Ajmal to point to bring up the double. With wickets falling around him, he started stepping out to loft the spinners for boundaries. He eventually charged Rehman and missed to be stumped off his 425th delivery.

Dhammika Prasad connected a few blows to swell the lead to 82, a figure that could appear much larger for Pakistan if Sri Lanka are able to strike early on the fifth morning. (cricinfo)

suNday, august 10, 2014

Taylor 93 leads Zimbabwe's fight

Zimbabwe had hoped to negate Dale Steyn and co by providing one of the drier surfaces at Harare Sports Club but the conditions ended up assisting debutant offspinner Dane Piedt, who became the 19th bowler in Tests to strike off his first delivery. Replacing Imran Tahir, he derived turn and bounce to pose a consistent threat and possibly offer South Africa what they want - a spinner who can control an end. But Brendan Taylor, for over four hours, was the bulk of Zimbabwe's resistance and ensured honours were even at stumps.

A lacklustre start had prompted him to wait with his full gear in the dressing room as early as the 10th over. His determination helped blunt Steyn's reverse swing, Morne Morkel's bouncers and Piedt's probing to drag his flagging side to end the day on a respectable note. Fearing that he would run out of partners, his scavenging for quick runs robbed him of a well-deserved century. Harare agreed, returning their captain to the dressing room with warm applause and hooting of horns. The Zimbabwean tail mustered some fight, had a little fun along the way with Tendai Chatara spanking 22 off 26 balls, and reached stumps with one wicket standing.

Zimbabwe had opted to bat and had looked uncertain against the new ball and lost Vusi Sibanda in the third over to Steyn. The wobble seemed at its end when Hashim Amla tossed

the ball to the spinner in the 16th over and Piedt outwitted Mark Vermeulen with alarming turn. Vermeulen was putting behind a 10year hiatus from Test cricket, slowly reacquainting himself with his off stump after playing and missing. He began to look confident, especially off the back foot, but that became his undoing as the offspinner got one to rip back in to strike the pads and surprise the batsman.

It wasn't the only time Piedt surprised a batsman. Hamilton Masakadza had bedded himself in during the morning session and began taking advantage after lunch. He struck two fours in the first three overs after lunch to enable the hosts to race along at five per over but his scrapping came to an end when Piedt, going around the wicket, looped one across on off stump and jagged it back between bat and pad. Though his celebrations did pale to Tahir's, his bowling was a marked improvement. He did get another opportunity to work on his fist-pumping technique when Regis Chakabva tamely chipped to short midwicket in the same over and Zimbabwe were back in a rut again.

Taylor would not let Piedt have his way for too long, and scored 41 runs in 61 balls. He hugged the crease against balls that weren't tossed up and clipped him behind square leg and when he saw some flight, he lunged forward and swept. However, as soon as that challenge was

done Steyn steamed in and discovered reverse swing. It was the 41st over of the match and the impact was almost immediate with Sean Williams sucked into a full awayswinger to go past Malcolm Marshall's 376 wickets. Williams looked peeved when the umpire judged him caught behind, believing he had not nicked it. But the one-off Test did not have DRS. (Cricinfo)

Guyana Festival Exhibition 20/20 match…

President’s XI outplay Masters by 41 runs

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Witnessed by a crowd of thousands of cheering spectators, the President’s XI defeated the Masters’ XI by 41 runs on Saturday evening in the Guyana Festival Exhibition 20/20 match at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Guyanese from all walks of life turned out at country’s premier sport facility to witness former and current stars in action and they were truly entertained by the on-field action.

Batting first, the Ramnaresh Sarwan-led President’s XI mustered 136-8 from the allotted overs, before tight bowling limited the Clayton Lambert-led Masters to 95-6 when the overs ran out.

Sarwan called correctly at the toss and decided to take first strike, a decision that immediately backfired as former West Indies opener Sewnarine Chattergoon was brilliantly caught by Lambert at slip off the bowling of pacer Kevin Darlington off the second ball of the match.

Opener Azeemul Haniff and fellow left-hander Assad Fudadin then entertained

the crowd during a partnership of 68 as they mixed aggressive running between the wickets with some solid hitting down the ground.

Fudadin retired out for 22 (2x4s) before Haniff was run out by wicketkeeper Sheik Mohamed for a topscore of 39 (4x4s, 1x6) at 77-2 in the 12th over.

Thereafter, Guyana’s

finest batsmen of the current generation, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and Sarwan proceeded to add 33 in four overs before Chanderpaul was caught for 15 by Clyde Butts at short mid-wicket off a leading edge from spinner Arjune Nandu.

Sarwan followed soon after for 24, caught by Lambert on the deep mid-

wicket boundary off the bowling of leg-spinner Amir Khan, who picked up three wickets in the 18th over.

Khan added the scalps of Esaun Crandon (0) and Lennox Cush (3) before removing Anthony Bramble (2) in the final over. Vishal Nagamootoo (0) was run out in the final over.

Khan was the pick of

the bowlers with 4-6 off two tidy overs.

Faced with a target of 137 on a low and slow wicket, the Masters’ innings never gained momentum, losing wickets at regular intervals.

Former First-Class opener Sudesh Dhaniram and former Test batsman Faoud Bacchus added 23

for the first wicket, before the former, who effortlessly flicked fast bowler Reon King over mid-wicket for six, was trapped leg before by Fudadin for 15.

Nine runs later, Fudadin shattered the woodwork of Travis Dowlin, who failed to score, before Lambert was trapped leg before wicket without scoring to a delivery that skidded on from leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo.

At 35-3 in the seventh over, the writing was on the wall for the Masters, as they failed to mount a serious challenge thereafter. Bacchus retired out for 22, Rabindranauth Seeram made 10, Deryck Kallicharran hit two fours and a six in 15 and Shiek Mohamed chipped in with 10 not out.

Fudadin and Sarwan ended with two wickets each, while Chanderpaul, bowling leg-spin, found some purchase on the wicket, delivering a Sunil Narine-like spell of two overs for two runs, inclusive of 11 dot balls.

After the match, the President’s XI players were presented with a huge trophy by Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali.

Another walkout as GFF Congress aborted again

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

ocal football hit anoth-

Ler snag on Saturday when the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) reconvened Annual Ordinary Congress was aborted following another walkout by the six associations that adopted a similar stance when the Congress was first held in April.

Representatives of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA), Guyana Football Coaches Association (GFCA), East Demerara Football Association (EDFA), National Women’s Football Association (NWFA), Guyana Football Referees Council (GFRC) and East Bank Football Association (EBFA) staged the walkout led by Aubrey Hutson of the EDFA.

Moments after, Hutson spoke with media operatives, explaining the genesis for the walkout.

“I can first speak about the position of the East Demerara Football Association where we refuse to be part of a process of a flawed Congress, where we’re going to allow people who are not legitimate associations and don’t have the right to vote be part of the process.

“It’s based on this alone, it’s no witchhunt, no need to be president or anything like that, we want it to be right whether these people are going to vote for us or against us, we want the process to be correct. Only del-

egates that are supposed to be in this Congress should have been there and that is all we’re trying to have,” Hutson stated.

Aubrey Henry, Secretary of the NWFA, was also aggrieved about the process.

“We had a situation whereby the provisional members of the Guyana Football Federation were being pushed in terms of voting. Our position is members of the Interim Management Committee cannot and must not vote,” Henry divulged.

He added, “We were told at a committee that we called to get the process forward that they’re only three constitutionally and fully eligible members in good standing from the Chairman of the Electoral Committee. Our position [is] let those three members vote.

“The President [Christopher Matthias] could not have accepted that and we were accused of excluding persons. We are saying as per constitution only three members are constitutional and empowered to vote. Let them decide the way forward for Congress; that is our position.”

The remaining associations were Bartica, Berbice, Essequibo, Upper Demerara and West Demerara.

Subsequent efforts to form a quorum [50 percent plus one] proved futile as there was representation of just 50 percent.

Immediately, the Congress was aborted for the second time in four months

at the Regency Suites on Hadfield Street.

Prior to the start of the reconvened Congress, Matthias met with representatives of the disgruntled associations, offering them a share of the two vacant Vicepresident positions. That was one of the items on the agenda of Congress.

Matthias suggested President of the Alpha United Football Club, Odinga Lumumba, as the candidate for the disgruntled faction, but that was reportedly met with some resistance. The VP positions became vacant following the resignation of Rawlston Adams and the suspension of Collie Hercules.

Also walking out of the

congress were GFF VicePresident Ivan Persaud and GFF Committee Member Vanessa Dickenson. Dickenson also holds the post of president of the NWFA.

Development Matthias said this latest setback will in no way affect the forward movement for football in Guyana.

“Guyana’s football development is moving ahead. Respectfully, the posture adopted by the gentlemen and people of the other faction is a posture which will now allow FIFA [football’s world governing body] to take full control of Guyana’s football in terms of its growth and development, so the medi-

ocrity which existed for the last 22 years will no longer continue to exist,” he said. Matthias added, “Guyana’s football development cannot continue to suffer by those who want to hold it within their tentacles not for the sole purpose of development, but for their own personal aggrandisement and that has been the issue. We would have bent backward to the degree that is unprecedented by asking for there to be a room for compromise.

“They have maintained a posture which they themselves would have condemned- the denial of voting rights to member associations and they came, despite FIFA’s pronouncement that

you can only lose your voting rights is you’re suspended, they came today with a similar posture that members should not have the right to vote and without evidence about how those members would have lost their rights.”

Matthias said his administration will work now with the ruling of FIFA, noting that he welcomes the intervention of football’s world governing body.

“We suggested to them that since they have maintained a posture that they’re factions in the Congress, most unfortunately so, that let there be a nominee from their camp and a nominee from our camp and then we basically make the appointment, and the Electoral Committee said it was the best suggestion I would have advanced.

The candidate that was identified was Lumumba and even in his faction they’re folks who don’t want him to be a Vice President… too may jockeys for one horse, according to one of my friends in the media, and that’s the reality,” the GFF head concluded.

Attending the meeting as international observers were CONCACAF Director of Legal Affairs Marco Leal, FIFA Representative Anton Sealey and CONCACAF Legal Advisor Bruce Blake, while the GFF Electoral Committee comprised Joseph Hamilton, Euclin Gomes and Dawn Holder.

St Lucia Zouks v Jamaica Tallawahs, CPL 2014, St Kitts…

Zouks beat Tallawahs on Pietersen's 2014 debut

Mervin Mathew›s 3-14 set up a shock seven-wicket victory for the St Lucia Zouks over the Jamaica Tallawahs on Saturday at Warner Park in St Kitts. The Zouks registered just their second win of the season while the Tallawahs wasted a chance to leapfrog the Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel into sole possession of first place in CPL 2014.

The Tallawahs got off to a decent start after being sent in to bat as Chadwick Walton bashed five sixes on his way to top-scoring with 48 opening the innings. However, no one else in the top five made it past 10. Darren Sammy caused some middle order damage with the wickets of Owais Shah and Adam Voges for 8 and 4 respectively.

Mathew made further inroads with the wickets of Nkrumah Bonner for 10 and Andre Russell for 18 to deprive the Tallawahs their best chance of a strong finishing kick to the innings. Mathew dismissed Jerome Taylor on the first ball of the 20th for Mervin Matthew picked up three wickets for the Zouks

WICB Regional Under-19, 50-over cricket…

Wins for Barbados, Windwards and Jamaica

Barbados, Windward Islands and Jamaica recorded wins on Saturday when fourth round action in the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Under-19, 50 over cricket competition was contested at various venues in Demerara.

At the Everest ground, Barbados defeated the Leeward Islands by eight wickets; Windwards Islands prevailed by four wickets over ICC Americas at the Wales ground, while Jamaica got the better of Trinidad and Tobago by

69 runs at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, Queenstown. At Everest, Leeward Islands made 151-9 with skipper Jeremiha Louis scoring 26 and N. Persaud and C. Williams claiming 3-11 and 2-24 respectively. In reply, Barbados coasted to victory at 152-2 from 43.3 overs with N. Kirton and L Boucher laying the foundation for victory with a opening partnership of 130. Kirton made 63 and Boucher remained unbeaten on 58.

At Wales, ICC America mustered 130 off 36.4 overs with G. Pope taking 3-25 and R. John 3-24. Pope then stroked 55 and K. JnoLewis an unbeaten 30 to lead Windwards to victory at 132-6 in 24.2 overs.

Jamaica batted first at DCC and posted 211 with L. Lugg hitting 68 and O. Smith 44. Smith returned to capture 3-29 and R. Lewis 2-8 as Trinidad and Tobago folded for 142 in 46.1 overs.

Fifth round action in the tournament will be played today.

the last Tallawahs wicket as they were wiped out for 143, a paltry total considering the tiny boundaries at Warner Park.

After Daniel Vettori removed Johnson Charles in the fifth over for 16, Andre Fletcher and Kevin Pietersen produced a 60run stand for the second wicket as the Zouks coasted toward the below par target. Pietersen’s mere presence underscored how badly he was missed throughout the earlier part of a season in which the Zouks middle order routinely folded cheaply. Fletcher played with increasing freedom and finished with a game-high 49 off 35 balls before he fell leg before to Russell in the 13th.

Pietersen only made 23 by the time he was dismissed in the 16th to make it 119 for 3, but the stability he provided took

pressure of the rest of the Zouks squad. Henry Davids (29 not out) and Sohail Tanvir (20 not out) finished off the match with

ease as Tanvir clubbed two sixes in the 18th to finish off the game with 15 balls to spare. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Jamaica Tallawahs innings (20 overs maximum) CAK Walton† c Mathew b Sebastien 48 CH Gayle* lbw b Shillingford 3 OA Shah b Sammy 8 AC Voges c Best b Sammy 4 NE Bonner c & b Mathew 10 AD Russell c Sohail Tanvir b Mathew 18 DE Bernard c Charles b Best 19 DL Vettori c Pietersen b Sohail Tanvir 8 J Theron c Davids b Best 13

JE Taylor c Sammy b Mathew 3

NO Miller not out 1

Extras (lb-1, w-7) 8

Total (all out; 19.1 overs) 143 Fall of wickets: 1-30 (Gayle, 4.4 ov), 2-64 (Walton, 8.6 ov), 3-64 (Shah, 9.2 ov), 4-77 (Voges, 11.2 ov), 5-86 (Bonner, 12.3 ov), 6-109 (Russell, 14.6 ov), 7-115 (Bernard, 15.2 ov), 8-128 (Vettori, 16.5 ov), 9-137 (Theron, 17.5 ov), 10-143 (Taylor, 19.1 ov) Bowling: Sohail Tanvir 4-020-1 (3-w), TL Best 4-0-36-2 (1-w), S Shillingford 2-0-22-1 (1-w), M Mathew 3.1-0-15-3 (1-w), DJG Sammy 4-0-29-2,

CULT / EBFA U-17

League…

Grove Hi Tech edge Herstelling

When football continued at the Grove Playfield in the Cult sponsored East Bank Football Association Under-17 League on Saturday afternoon, Grove Hi Tech squeezed to a 2-1 win over Herstelling in the lone game played.

Kuru Kururu Warriors were winners via the walk over route as Agricola Red Triangle did not show up for their clash.

The ever improving Herstelling held their own against the seasoned Grove side, but the home team kept their composure to take full points and in the process maintained their unbeaten record.

National Under-17 forward Joel Dick it was who

handed Grove the lead in the 28th minute. Up to that point, it was a close encounter as Herstelling matched the home team in every department.

Grove, one of the most lethal teams when it comes to goal scoring were just not bale to have their way against Herstelling, their second goal coming via the penalty spot in the 61st minute when Dick was brought down in the area.

Lloyd Matthews, the goalkeeper for Grove was tasked with the responsibility of taking the shot and he almost messed it up. His first attempt was partially blocked by his opposite number, National Under-17 goalie, Quazim Yusuf.

The second attempt by

Matthews hit the bottom of the right upright and somehow the ball again went back into the path of Matthews whose third attempt beat the diving Yusuf. Grove was put under pressure in the 70th minute when Dick received his second yellow card and was given marching orders. Herstelling sensed that they were now in with a better chance to make something of the game. They did reduce the lead when they were awarded a penalty in the 91st minute and it was buried by their leading scorer Seon Alfred to the right of Matthews who did not move. But it was a bit too late and the game ended with Grove taking all three points.

Antigua Hawksbills overcome TT Red Steel by 5 wickets

Abrilliant bowling performance from the Antigua Hawksbills gave them their first victory in this year’s Limacol Caribbean Premier League.

They pulled off a huge upset by beating the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel, one of this season’s front runners. Ben Laughlin was the man most responsible for the victory, although all the other bowlers came to the party in the best all round display the Hawksbills have managed this year by some distance.

The Antiguans got off to the best possible start, dismissing Kevin O’Brien with the first legitimate delivery of the game. The Irishman played a wafty

shot outside off stump and was caught behind by the keeper off the bowling of Sheldon Cottrell.

That brought Ross Taylor to the crease who never really got going in his innings of 16 off 18 balls. He was dismissed LBW by Laughlin in a wicket maiden that slowed the progress of the Red Steel.

Throughout this tournament, the Red Steel have looked to the Bravo brothers to rescue them when the top order has failed. Here, both men fell cheaply to poor shots. Darren Bravo went for 13 caught in the deep. Elder brother, Dwayne, departed shortly after getting a top edge that looped up for an easy catch.

continued