Guyana Times Daily

Today is the funeral of Courtney Crum-Ewing, the unfortunate one-man protestor of Attorney General Anil Nandalall’s intemperate and scatological outburst that was illegally taped by Kaieteur News’ owner Glenn Lall. It appears that CrumEwing developed an appetite for greater civil activism following that exercise against the AG, who he claimed was his contemporary at Queens College. He was actually gunned down last Tuesday in the village of Diamond, adjoining the one where he lived, while hailing the

residents around 20:00h to vote for the coalition APNU/AFC.

In the past week, CrumEwing has not only been made into a martyr, but a “political” martyr by the entire Opposition, their allies in the media and several civil society groups. With greater or lesser directness, without a shred of evidence, they have all pointed to the PPP/C Administration as “responsible” for the murder, even though the President and the Minister of Home Affairs have both called for the Police to move with alacrity to solve the murder.

wednesday, March 18, 2015 |

BRIDGE OPENINGS

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

Wednesday, March 18 – 14:30h-16:00h and Thursday, March 19 – 14:30h-16:00h

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

Wednesday, March 18 – 15:00h-16:30h and Thursday, March 19 – 15:45h-17:15h

FERRY SCHEDULE

Ferries will be departing the Parika and Supenaam stellings on: Wednesday, March 18 –05:00h and 16:00h

Thursday, March 19 – 05:00h, 13:00h and 17:00h

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers can be expected in the morning, giving way to heavy rain showers until mid afternoon. Light rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected in the late afternoon. Partly cloudy conditions are expected in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 27 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly between 4.91 metres and 6.25 metres per second.

Hight Tide: 02:58h and 15:20h reaching maximum heights of 2.62 metres and 2.73 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 08:53h and 21:18h reaching minimum heights of 0.57 metre and 0.44 metre respectively.

Guyana/Venezuela border controversy: Sir Shridath backs judicial settlement

…says Good Offices process has outlived usefulness

By Janelle Persaud

Revered Guyanese diplomat Sir Shridath Ramphal has backed the move by Guyana to explore other options outside of the United Nations Good Offices process to resolve its border controversy with neighbouring Venezuela. He told Guyana Times that Venezuela has ‘abused’ UN Secretary General designated process over the last two and half decades.

“We have pursued the Good Offices route for 25 years and Venezuela has abused the process to hinder Guyana’s development and now to threaten Guyana’s security,” he expressed noting that “the minister (Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett) is absolutely right I will back her to the hilt.”

Minister RodriguesBirkett has told this publication in an invited comment that the Good Offices Process yielded little results after more than 20 years. “We are, therefore, looking at the other options under the Geneva Agreement,” she added, suggesting that “the other side (Venezuela) is comfortable with the Good Offices Process because it suits their purpose – no movement.”

The Good Offices and Mediation are roles taken up by the UN Secretary-General in the prevention and the peaceful settlement of disputes, as enshrined in the UN Charter. These roles can be set in motion at the SecretaryGeneral’s own initiative, in response to a request from one or more of the parties to a dispute, or as a result of a request from the Security Council or the General Assembly.

The process ended in April 2014 when the latest Special Representative, Professor Norman Girvan died. “I hope those alternative options lead us ultimately to full and perfect and final settlement that this should have been,” said Sir Shridath.

He explained that all oth-

er modes of settlement such as arbitration have been explored and now there is only one available option. “We are left now with a judicial settlement…the Secretary General has to choose a judicial close…the decision now is the Secretary General’s for him to conclude this,” the former Foreign Minister added.

According to the UN, the role of the Secretary-General as an important peacemaking actor has evolved through extensive practice. The range of activities carried out by the Secretary-General has included good offices, mediation, fa-

State insists that it remains committed to the Good Offices Process.

“The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela once again calls on the Government of Guyana to restore as soon as possible, without reservation or equivocation, the peaceful, legitimate and legal mechanism of the Good Offices of the Secretary General of the United Nations as an optimal and convenient methodology to assume bilateral and amicable, without the irritating interference of foreign factors, negotiations in

cilitation, dialogue processes and even arbitration. But Venezuelan experts have reportedly insisted that their Government sticks to the current mechanism.

Sir Shridath is a former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, having served between 1975 and 1990 and was the lead lawyer for Guyana in the maritime dispute between this country and neighbouring Suriname.

Venezuela in a publicised communiqué last week labeled as “unjust and false” claims that it was deliberately stymieing Guyana’s development. It pointed to instances of collaboration and support between the two states as evidence to the contrary.

The western neighbouring

order to achieve a practical and satisfactory solution for both sides,” read the communiqué.

Given its promotion of peace the Caracas said it would explore all other options within the confines of international law.

“The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela as a promoter of peace, unity and solidarity development as inherited patterns of behavior of our Liberator Simón Bolívar and the Eternal Commander Hugo Chávez, reserves the right to execute all actions in the diplomatic field and in accordance with international law, that might be necessary to defend and safeguard the sovereignty and independence of our country under the border

dispute over the Essequibo Reclamation Zone.”

The genesis of the controversy began in the late 1800s, when Guyana was a colony of the British. A Tribunal of Arbitration finalised its decision on October 3, 1899, awarding unanimously to the Britain almost 90 per cent of the disputed territory.

But as Dr Odeen Ishmael, a Guyanese Diplomat wrote, in 1944 - “45 years after the Arbitral Award, Severo Mallet-Prevost, one of the four lawyers who had appeared for Venezuela before the Arbitral Tribunal, wrote a memorandum in which, for the first time, he attacked the Award on the alleged grounds that it was the result of a political deal between Great Britain and Russia.”

This formed the basis of Venezuela’s claim which they raised in the UN in 1962 and which is addressed by the Geneva Treaty of 1966. Guyana had insisted that Venezuela must first prove its claims of the Arbitral Award being void, but Venezuela has obdurately insisted on going to the substance of the Award.

The issue of the Guyana/ Venezuela territorial controversy was again brought to the fore after the Venezuelan Foreign Minister objected to ExxonMobil’s dispatch of a rig to proceed with the exploration of oil in the concession.

A similar incident occurred in 2013 when Venezuelan authorities seized the research vessel, Teknik Perdana, in Guyanese territory and held its crew members.

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

Security and the coalition

Since David Granger’s official debut on the national political stage back in 2011, he has taken a purely antagonistic stance against the Guyana Police Force, riddling it with criticisms, and sometimes undermining its effort at enhancing its own image and rebuilding public confidence.

Granger has also made it clear that the Force, in his estimation, lacks the ability to effectively fight crime and criminality. He pointed out several purported deficiencies in the manner in which the organisation is managed and given policy directions, while strongly condemning and politicizing all forms of alleged Police excesses.

Granger has not failed once in rubbishing every single anticrime plan put forward by the ruling current Administration, rejecting in the process a spate of hallmark reforms expected to transform both the organizational and tactical strength of the Force. Recently, he has also heavily criticized a 15-point security strategy presented by President Donald Ramotar.

Granger, who managed again to emerge as the Presidential Candidate within a coalition of convenience after closed door negotiations, was critical of Government’s decision to appoint Seelall Persaud as Police Commissioner.

That aside, both the press statements and recorded positions of leaders within the Opposition coalition point to a lack of confidence in the Police and Government in dealing with all forms of security situations.

It therefore comes as a surprise that the same Grangerled coalition would now seek to ask the “poorly performing” Police to provide “strong security” for its Presidential and Prime Ministerial Candidate, while hiding behind the justification that the country’s security situation warranted such a request.

Granger knows fully-well that Guyana does not have a “security situation” that warrants such a move when compared to other Caribbean and South American countries, where there are high levels of political instability, ethnic and religious intolerance, and a culture where there are countless coups and political assassinations take place.

He knows that the families of politicians and their colleagues have never been threatened publicly or otherwise with violence under the administration ship of the PPP/C. If the coalition is aware of any threats intended or being plotted, they should quickly inform the public and the Police with the requisite evidence.

But the coalition goes further to say that the security of the coalition’s properties, elections personnel, rallies and public meetings should receive full protection from the same “incompetent” Police.

Again, the public is not aware that the properties or personnel aligned to the Opposition coalition have been the subject of threats, either privately or publicly. How then does one explain the context of these discussions when there has been no precedent or current development to support their concerns?

Ironically, the coalition met with the Force’s management, which included the Top Cop who was referred to as the Police Commissioner in the very release on the meeting. This is despite Granger saying publicly that he would not recognize Persaud as confirmed.

What is the real agenda behind the sudden meeting with the Police? Is it a case where the APNU/AFC grouping is just being extremely cautious because of their distrust in the Guyanese people in the lead to the General and Regional Elections, coupled with their “disbelief” that there will be peace and quiet?

Or does the coalition have a premonition about things that will happen in the near future.

It was Shakespare who said: “All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts.”

The Police must not take this meeting at face value; they must work assiduously to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order in this country in the lead up to elections. They must provide all the necessary security so that no stone will be cast in any eventuality, while being mindful of the manner in which the coalition views the Police.

For a funeral not a conflagration

Today is the funeral of Courtney Crum-Ewing, the unfortunate one-man protestor of Attorney General Anil Nandalall’s intemperate and scatological outburst that was illegally taped by Kaieteur News’ owner Glenn Lall.

It appears that CrumEwing developed an appetite for greater civil activism following that exercise against the AG, who he claimed was his contemporary at Queens College. He was actually gunned down last Tuesday in the village of Diamond, adjoining the one where he lived, while hailing the residents around 20:00h to vote for the coalition APNU/AFC.

In the past week, CrumEwing has not only been made into a martyr, but a “political” martyr by the entire Opposition, their allies in the media and several civil society groups. With greater or lesser directness, without a shred of evidence, they have all pointed to the PPP/C Administration as “responsible” for the murder, even though the President and the Minister of Home Affairs have both

called for the Police to move with alacrity to solve the murder.

David Hinds of the WPA has even been cautioned by the Police for a letter he wrote to the press in which he plucked out of context a statement by President Bharrat Jagdeo, in which the latter had suggested that President Ramotar should have been tougher to the Opposition in their obstructionist practices in Parliament.

Hinds went beyond the “political” accusation to identify Crum-Ewing as an “African- Guyanese” and asked that there not be a “tit for tat” response. He admitted he had no evidence for blaming any political party, for the statement which the Police deemd to be an “incitement to violence”.

Since then, Hinds’ position has been adopted by David Granger, who used almost the same phrasing in his speech at the APNU/ AFC’s rally at Linden last Saturday. Regional Chairman of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) Sharma Solomon, who had been one of the organisers of the protests in Linden in 2012 that led to the death of three protestors, also evoked

Crum-Ewing’s murder within a political context.

On the social media there has been a great deal of mobilisational activities around the murder, with vigils and demonstrations already taking place. The atmosphere has become noticeably tense.

On Monday, there was an event attended by several hundred persons at the Parade Grounds in Georgetown, where politicians Sharma Solomon, his APNU MP colleague Vanessa Kissoon, other politicians and “civil society” persons spoke about Crum-Ewing’death in very apocalyptic tones, while evoking the historical connections of the ground with the 1823 Slave Rebellion. There were calls for “action” and not mere “words”.

The funeral for Courtney Crum-Ewing will be taking a rather long – chronological and spatial – route from Golden Grove on the East Bank of Demerara to Le Repentir Cemetery for burial. It will have stops and speeches at the Parade Ground and the Heavenly Light Full Gospel Church at Cooper Street, Albouystown.

It is our hope that the

politicians both from the APNU/AFC and those in “civil society” will not continue along the incendiary line that they have already invoked in their speeches. Guyana’s history is replete with events careening out of control when large crowds gather in emotionally charged contexts and are then prodded into violence by the coded words of politicians.

On February 16, 1962, at the same Parade Ground, Forbes Burnham and Peter D’Aguiar came together in front of a large crowd gathered to protest the PPP actions in Parliament. Later D’Aguiar announced that a baby was killed from the tear gas that the Police had earlier used to break up the crowd at another location. The already worked-up crowd went berserk and before they were through, half of Georgetown’s commercial district had been burnt down.

It is sad that those who forget the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them. We hope that at this critical juncture of Guyana’s history, the Opposition forces remember our history so that it is not repeated.

Child Protection Agency telephone lines not working

Dear Editor, The Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security wishes to notify all that the telephone lines servicing the Child Protection Agency are not working at present.

This includes the child protection hotline number

227-0979 and another office line frequently called by members of the public 2274420. Hence, persons will be unable to report any case of child abuse or related children’s issues to the agency via telephone.

In the interim, persons desirous of making ur-

gent contact with the Child Protection Agency could visit the office at Broad Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, or call the Ministry on telephone number 2256545 during working hours (08:00h-6:30h).

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company has since advised the Ministry that it is working to restore service to these lines soonest.

Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security

Racism in a Guyanese context

Dear Editor,

According to the Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia racism is defined as "both prejudice and discrimination based in social perceptions of biological differences between peoples, It often takes the form of social actions".

What is racism in a Guyanese context? Seeing it is election time, some sections in Guyana would define racism as the act of an Indian voting for an Indian - in this case the "Indian Party" PPP/C. This is the definition/explanation that readily comes to their mind.

The problem with that racism claim is that an AfroGuyanese can or must vote for the predominantly Black party, PNC/APNU, or whatever you may call them, but this is not considered a racist act, but the Indian voting for the PPP/C is so branded.

As an uncle of mine would say "that’s the way it should be, the Black Man

must vote for the Black Man, that is not racism".

The "Black Man was made to rule", that is another race talk that for them is not racial at all.

A vivid example of that is 28 continuous years of Black dominance in a multi-racial society where the so called dominant Blacks are a minority race. Fantastic! So racism in a Guyanese context makes for jocular reading.

Let's turn our attention to the public service and a stomping ground for Blacks. When an Indo-Guyanese is appointed, it is considered "racism" because he does not belong there. That Indian person is automatically called a racist. He/she is an intruder.

On the other hand, the Afro-Guyanese surrounding himself in an environment that is, and one that he wants to retain that status-quo should not be called "racist" at all. However,

the Indian infiltrating that space is so branded.

A former magistrate went so far as to say these people do not belong, they "ought not to be here". You would understand that this same magistrate would release an Afro-Guyanese charged for any crime because "he belongs" and readily convicts an Indo-Guyanese because he is an alien.

At the drop of a hat she would make, according to her, these "non racial" decisions. These were the workings of her court until the judicial authorities sought to have her removed. I've read some place in the media where this former magistrate is running for the Presidency of this country. How far she will go with those racist views is anybody's guess. The University of Guyana is another area where their so called racial or should I say "non racial rantings" is obvious.

APNU + AFC = zero

Dear Editor, APNU+AFC = zero. It’s disgusting to hear what is coming from the mouth of these morons from the Opposition coalition.

Moses Nagamootoo mentioned that the former President Bharrat Jagdeo needs pampers for his mouth. Well I wish to let Mr Nagamootoo know that after the May 11 election is come and gone, he, Nagamootoo, will really need to put the pampers on for the rest of his life.

Mr Nagamootoo along with the rest of jokers from APNU+AFC will be greeted rudely by the result of the elections, something they will never wish to be remembered.

To gain the Prime Ministerial position, Mr Nagamotoo had to promise David Granger and APNU that he will deliver 11 per cent of the Indian votes, which will be enough to take the Opposition coalition over the line.

Well, I don’t know what line he is talking about. The line has been drawn and these hooligans will soon see the clear writings on the wall. If Mr Nagamootoo is having dreams about Indian votes, he needs to be awakened and face reality.

I think the entire Opposition is starting to see jumbies during these times and are in a different world.

The bunch of APNU+AFC crooks needs to be remind-

ed that the PPP/C does not campaign on race, but on the grounds of its rich record and, come elections day, the APNU+AFC, which is really PNC, will be judged by their record, which will see them remain in the Opposition, but with fewer seats in Parliament. My humble advice to Mr Nagamootoo is to take the first jump and be ahead of the rest of the APNU+AFC, and secure enough pampers for himself. When the elections are over, a lot more guys from his APNU+AFC will be flocking the supermarket searching for pampers.

Suresh Silas

I have no political association

Dear Editor, I wish to state emphatically that my work at The Caribbean Voice has no political association.

Any press release or documentation with my contact

When there is no tit, there would be no tat

Dear Editor, Former PNC Vice Chairman Vincent Alexander’s blueprint in a 2002 interview in another section of the media, which assessed the initial stages of the Buxton Taliban’s 2002-2008 crime rampage, reveals much about racial violence coming from the former UG academic. He allegedly “made clear that it was necessary to attack Indo Guyanese” (www.guyanaundersiege.com). He is reported as saying: "Whilst I do not look forward to paying a high price, the fact is, in the long term, these things add up to the general good (sic) of the society.”

What I find is that even though these instances may be painful and costly, the accumulation of all these interactions and conflicts may result in a state of affairs, which is far better than that which existed before" (Stabroek News, August 14, 2002.)

Let’s examine the proPNC multitude, who speak in many tongues. Frederick WA Collins in a letter found agreement with another former UG academic Dr Henry Jeffrey, who wrote:

Dedicated

“We must not fool ourselves, it matters not how bad the other side appears to us, when the stark choice has had to be made between them and us, we have historically chosen us. After three decades of PNC rule, in 1992, that party still won some 42.3 percent of the votes cast: the largest proportion of votes it has ever won in free and fair elections to date.”

Despite the economic

trauma which all Guyanese faced, Dr Jeffrey observes Afro Guyanese nevertheless voted their race loyalties with the PNC again in 1992 despite its 28 years of misrule.

Why is it an evil when Indians emotionally cling to the PPP/C when they have become preferred targets replacing the departed colonials and Portuguese? Many other races remain dedicated PPP/C supporters as the others can also claim similar membership. As a former PPP/C Minister, Dr Jeffrey has been no different by his own many admissions. His analysis is also a significant assessment of Guyana. Obviously, he needs to get in touch with his Indo Guyanese countrymen’s realities and cultural values for a more accurate and complete picture.

Critics

But now no longer seated at the PPP/C’s table, Dr Jeffrey could, from a privileged pedestal, have selectivity upbraided “them”, more so for their economic failings and credited successes, but instead he picks race for his focus appeal. Former Chinese Communist reformist leader Deng Xiaoping has a noteworthy lesson. "Whether a cat is black or white makes no difference. As long as it catches mice, it is a good cat".

All PPP/C critics have met a pushback response about race which emanates from behind their formidable ideologically barrier. They routinely reject labels of being an ethnic party. It is true that the Indo Guyanese base of the PPP/C is predominantly working class

as the same is also true of the Afro Guyanese PNC. What makes one racist and the other simultaneously divine?

The PNC’s many name changes are all conceived in rigging and violence when it is later born. No foresight exists in that party’s intelligentsia to correct their errors?

Should there be the usual PNC election violence come May 11, can the party survive afterwards with another name change? The PPP/C has historically managed to include a hard working, dedicated, committed and loyal Afro Guyanese top level leadership inclusivity without any similar equal in other parties.

When the ruling party routinely reaffirms that its whole is composed of many parts and that one part cannot define the whole, is it a fallacy? It is public knowl-

edge that the ruling party has severely neglected its base.

Dr Jeffrey can spare the clarifications for openly writing that democracy is in jeopardy, as he says, because “it is simply that the PPP/C regime, rooted as it is in ethnic allegiances, has been in Government for too long and this is not and has not been good for our (sic) freedoms or democracy”. For him race trumps ideology. But Federalism which will allow enhanced freedoms and a more lively democracy has been met with a remarkable tippy toe around it by the usual suspects. Why?

Where was his hat of ethnic allegiance, not ideology, hung up during his homely presence within the PPP/C Government now that there is a rolling stone on the move?

turn to page 18

information on it is the views of The Caribbean Voice and not my personal opinion.

My personal life is no one’s business and I have no ambition or desire to get involved in the political af-

fairs of my country. I love my country and truly believe in humanity, love, hope and care for people

Bibi Ahamad

Some vehicles have extra bright white headlights

Dear Editor,

There are motorists driving motor vehicles that carry what can be considered extra bright white headlights and which negatively affect the vision of oncoming motorists, as frequently the drivers of such vehicles do not dip their headlights.

The Guyana Police Force Traffic Department is urging motorists driving such vehicles to extend the courtesy of dipping the lights in order to assist other motorists and avoid a possible accident.

These include speeding (628); driving under the influence (50); breach of condition of Road Service Licence (60); careless driving (15); dangerous driving (seven); failure to wear safety helmet (15); failure to wear seat belt (45); and prohibition of the use of hand held mobile phone (20).

Twenty persons were charged for the soliciting of passengers (touting).

Ivelaw Whittaker

As the Police Force continues with its traffic enforcement, unto March 16, there has been a total of 21 road fatalities compared to 25 for the corresponding period last year. During the period March 9-14, a number of cases has been made against motorists for breaching the traffic laws.

Police Public Relations and Press Officer

Time to go home

― long hours put the squeeze on workers and their families

By MiriaM SchulMan

Aphotograph in the morning paper shows a group of grown-ups coasting down a yellow spiral slide. Are they taking turns with their toddlers at the park? No, they are enjoying the office of the ‘90s — complete with amusements like slides to speed them from one floor of the building to another. Silicon Valley lawyers report that their offices supply them with catered dinners, and engineers’ workplaces come complete with cots for their cubicles.

Although these amenities are always presented as perks, they raise a question: Don’t these people want to go home?

Of course they do — but not without their cellular phones, fax machines, and modems just in case they have a free moment that might be filled with business. As one CEO told Juliet B Schor, Author of The Overworked American, “People who work for me should have phones in their bathrooms.”

No doubt, there are workaholics for whom such a driven atmosphere is paradise, but many Americans are beginning to resent the encroachment of work into every moment of their waking (and sometimes sleeping) lives. The 50- or 60-hour workweek has begun to raise ethical questions: Are employers respecting the contractual arrangements they

make with their employees? Are employees placing too much value on work and the material things work makes possible? What impact do such long workweeks have on families and, through them, on the common good?

The overworked employee

Before addressing these questions, it might be well to establish the dimensions

– but, at the least, a lot of Americans are feeling overextended. In a 1996 survey by the International Survey Research Corp, 42 per cent of employees reported that their workload was excessive. The impetus behind much of this strain is quite simple: The average 40 hour-a-week job no longer provides sufficient income for many families. Schor cal-

of the problem. Schor begins her book with this sobering sentence: “In the last 20 years, the amount of time Americans have spent at their jobs has risen steadily.” According to her calculations, the average worker is now on the job about one month longer per year than his or her 1969 counterpart.

There are researchers who disagree – John Robinson and Geoffrey Godbey of the University of Maryland report that the average American gained five hours a week in free time between 1965 and 1985

culates that “just to reach their 1973 standard of living [production and nonsupervisory employees] must work 245 more hours, or six-plus extra weeks a year.”

Another factor behind extra hours is downsizing, which has created both a surplus of work to do and an insecurity that makes employees feel they have to do it or lose their jobs. A middle-level Manager told Business Week magazine:

“This year, I had to downsize my area by 25 percent. Nothing has changed

in terms of the workload. It’s very emotionally draining. I find myself not wanting to go in to work because I’m going to have to push people to do more, and I look in their eyes and they’re sinking into the back of their heads.... But they’re not going to complain because they don’t want to be the next 25 per cent.”

The squeeze

The ethical uneasiness in this Manager’s comments is palpable. Unless a worker has been slacking, there is something morally questionable about asking him or her to do more work for the same remuneration. Some employees are legally protected from such pressures – for example, by the Fair Labour Standards Act, which makes unpaid overtime illegal for hourly workers. In 1993, settling a suit with employees, Food Lion grocery chain agreed to pay US$16.2 million in back wages to an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 employees who had been pressured to work “off the clock”— that is, extra hours they did not report. “They were impelled, they claimed, because the company set unrealistic productivity goals and dealt harshly with employees who did not meet their targets,” David M Gordon writes in Fat and Mean: The Corporate Squeeze of Working Americans and the Myth of Managerial “Downsizing.”

Easter family traditions your toddler will love

Easter features lots of things absolutely loved by little children (and lots of grown-ups): baby animals, a gift-toting rabbit, and colorful treats hidden in the yard. To make the day even more special for your pint-sized bunny, check out these perfect-for-toddler activities and Easter craft ideas that’ll make your Easter family traditions even more meaningful.

Explain the day. At its heart, Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But that concept is tricky for a little child to grasp. The simplest explanation: “Easter is a day when we celebrate new life and have some springtime fun,” complete with brightly coloured blossoms and eggs, fuzzy chicks, and baby bunnies.

art supplies too, like some chunky markers.

For preschoolers: Your three- or four-year-old can handle all the above. He can also try this big-kid Easter craft idea. Hand him a newly boiled (and slightly cooled) egg and a box of crayons. The remaining heat will melt the wax tips just enough to make it a cinch to colour.

For both : There are tons of other dye-free Easter craft ideas. Help your tot morph his egg into a mini Easter bunny or even a whole bunny family. Use glue to attach tiny construction-paper ears and a cotton-ball tail – your little one can draw dots for eyes with a marker.

Decorate eggs. You probably loved doing it as a child, and now it’s time to turn your tot on to this timehonoured Easter family tradition. (Save the drippy dyes for older children and opt for these mess-free options instead.)

For toddlers: Set out a bowl of hard-boiled eggs and a range of stickers, from Easter-themed pictures to coloured dots, and let your tot have at it. Your little decorator might have the fine-motor skills to handle other toddler

Hold a kitchen sunrise service. Your early bird may already be rising at the crack of dawn, so why not inaugurate an Easter family tradition: a greet-the-sunrise gathering. On Easter morning, create a special springthemed breakfast with a few easy recipes that won’t have you burning the midnight oil the night before. For instance, pour a drink that mimics the brightness of the dawn by filling plastic cups with a splash of cherry juice, followed by orange juice and seltzer. Or turn ordinary cinnamon rolls into mini bunnies by sticking two rolls together, then cutting a third in half for ears. Bake, frost with cream-cheese frosting, and add blueberry eyes. And you can always stick with the egg theme, too (check out these breakfast ideas for kids). While you munch, share some thoughts on the meaning of the new day. Watching the sun peek over the roof tops is a wonderful reminder of the rebirth that Easter represents. Get hunting. Who doesn’t love an Easter egg hunt? Typically the highlight of the day, this Easter-familytradition favourite usually features dozens (and dozens) of candy-filled orbs strewn around the house or yard. But there are ways to maintain the thrill of the hunt without all that sugar. One option: Fill eggs with healthier goodies like whole-grain fish crackers, Cheerios, and yogurt-covered pretzels. Or hide empty eggs, letting your child trade them in foran Easter basket filled with small toys and books your toddler will love (maybe one with an Easter theme?). Once the hunt is over, extend the fun by letting your little one sort eggs by color, fill them with treats, and hide them again for older siblings or you to hunt down.

(www.whattoexpect.com)

Granger touts education as driver of economic transformation

APartnership for National Unity/ Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Presidential Candidate, David Granger on Tuesday promised to transform Guyana’s economical landscape through education, if he is elected into office following the May 11 General and Regional Elections.

At the time, he was addressing members of the business community during the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) Business Luncheon

ailing University of Guyana, and not five star hotels.

“Under the APNU+AFC, every single region, will have a regional technical institute and a regional agricultural institute,” he added, stating too that the young generation will be guided along paths that will allow them to be experts in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

“It is time to move our indigenous citizens and residents of the hinterland and our

range of programmes catering for students at all levels. For last year government committed $32.3 billion into the sector to carry out infrastructural and other improvements.

The allocation was $3.8 billion more than what was expended in 2013 ($28.5 billion), and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh had told Members of Parliament during the budget presentation that the funds are to be used to implement the first year of a “new Education

at the Pegasus Hotel.

In an effort to overcome the scourge of poverty, Granger said major emphasis will be placed on repairing the “broken education system,” noting that an APNU+AFC Government would invest heavily in the development of five-star universities starting with the

population as a whole out of poverty and ignorance, by building more and more educational institutes, not drop-in centres.”

The PPP/C Government over the years has plugged billions into the education system, virtually subsidising university education and also implemented a

Strategic Plan.”

As part of the plan $2.9 billion was used “towards the construction, rehabilitation, extension and maintenance of education facilities including a new and expanded Zeeburg Secondary School and the Kato Secondary complex.”

The previous year $2.7

billion was spent on infrastructural works, including the commencement of “the reconstruction of the One Mile Primary School, La Venture Secondary School and Parfaite Harmonie Primary.”

Granger told the gathering that every month 500 children are dropping out of school. But this he said is just a tip of the iceberg, explaining that within days, 16, 000 children will be writing the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) Examination of which 8000 will fail everything. Most of the failures he said will be from the hinterland. “We can’t build a world class economy under the rubble of a broken education system,” he further emphasised.

Political Stability

Turning his attention to the political scene Granger claimed that Guyana is starving for political stability. According to him, the “winner takes all” system, which has been long established, is stymieing development within the country. But this trend, he emphasised must be broken or it will lead to the creation of more minority Governments.

“The APNU+AFC preelection coalition will create for the first time in Guyana a Government of National Unity, we will reduce clashes in Parliament and we will guarantee political stabili-

ty,” Granger told the members of the Private Sector.

Though not comprehensively laid out, the APNU+AFC Presidential Candidate in reeling out his plans for the nation, said his Government will ensure that Local Government Elections are held, noting that it will simultaneously pave the way for the establishment of a strong institutional framework, an independent judiciary, an independent Guyana Elections Commission, a free Auditor General Office and a fully equipped Ombudsman Office.

“Most of all, we will make the National Assembly free from executive control, we will make the National Assembly one where its bills which are passed in the House, are assented to. We will ensure that there is a tripartite budget committee and we will not have a Legislative Branch dominated by an Executive Branch.” In an invited comment, Minister of government Irfaan Ali asked, “How can there be a ‘unity government” if the government is made up of only APNU and AFC? Similarly the Constitution lays down an Executive Structure that performs the Executive functions. For a majority “Executive” not to control the Assembly Mr Granger will either have to violate the Constitution or change it with a two thirds majority. Which is it?”

wednesday, march 18, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

GRA says committed to regularising “bottom house” rum shops

The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) said it was committed to regularising the large number of illegal rum shops across the country, and solicited the help of the regional authorities to fight the scourge.

Taking issue with a Guyana Times article last week captioned: “Bottom house rum shops breeding crime …Regional heads blast GRA’s lax control”, the GRA said the report quoted fractions of a press release it had issued on March 5, which saw the GRA appealing to members of the public to provide information on any illegal rum shop in their area, since this is one of the main ways the Agency is able to take action against these operations.

The release also noted that for the year 2014 alone, the GRA conducted a series of control visits throughout Guyana in an effort to ensure non compliant businesses were regularised.

These visits, the GRA said, saw more than 200 business operatives being engaged over a 10-month period by staff of the Agency and efforts were made to have them legalise their operations. The article noted that of the 200 visited, only 60 businesses complied and were able to have their operations regularised. The GRA

said it was rather unethical that the reporter, who made contact with the GRA and received credible information about these visits, would later report that only 60 businesses were able to legalise their operations.

“It should be noted that these 60 businesses were the only ones that could legally do so. The other 140 businesses could not be licensed since they did not fulfil the licensing requirements for various reasons,” the GRA said.

More help needed

Further, the GRA acknowledged that the Guyana Times article quoted several Regional Chairmen whom it said acknowledged that the GRA had made efforts to combat this social ill. Most of the Regional Chairmen had

criticised the GRA’s efforts.

“The GRA wishes to point out that the Agency is the authorised Licensing Agent for some categories of Liquor, Trade and Miscellaneous Licences and as such has the authority to license, disallow or revoke licence for any business that falls within this category, as well as to seize commodities from any unlicensed business as has been done in the past and continues to do once the situation warrants such action.

“However, the GRA does not have the authority to control the quantity of alcohol an individual consumes or to arrest an individual who consumes alcohol and behaves disorderly thereafter.

” As it relates to the number of rum shops in the same area and unfair competition, the GRA said these issues

too can be curtailed if more persons would bring the existence of illegal rum shops to its attention. Moreover, GRA said there are several categories of licences that would allow a person or business to legally sell alcohol.

These range from Occasional Liquor to Off Liquor to Malt and Wine Licences which are controlled by the GRA.

However, Liquor Licences (licence to sell hard Liquor) are also regulated by the District Licensing Boards for Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice. For the GRA’s part, the Agency takes into consideration the existing businesses in the area as well as the population size before granting these licences.

“The GRA wishes to highlight that, given the vast expanse of Guyana and the limited human resources at the Agency’s disposal, most of these visits are conducted in central areas, or in areas where intelligence would have been received in relation to illegal rum shops.

“The GRA reiterates previous statements and once again appeals to the public, the Toshaos and more so these Regional Leaders to report instances of illegal rum shops in their communities so that the Agency can take action and do more to have these issues addressed,” the release said.

Anns Grove resident gets bail for allegedly stealing $40,000

A29-year-old resident of 66 Anns Grove, East Coast Demerara, was released on $40,000 bail at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday for stealing $80,000.

Onkia Fraser, a vendor, was brought to Court Eleven to answer the charge of relieving the Virtual Complainant (VC) Gavin Pablo of $80,000 on March 14 while at Light Street, Georgetown.

The charge against the defendant was indictable; however, Police Prosecutor Adduni Inniss requested that the matter be tried at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts instead. This was granted by presiding Magistrate Annette Singh.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge with explanation, adding that she will be able to explain herself once her trial starts. Prosecutor Inniss had no arguments against bail thus the defendant was granted same in the of $40,000.

She was told to return to court on March 30 for statements.

Eyew tness Amnesia or Alzheimer’s...

...by Nagamootoo?

Imagine Nagamootoo kept insisting that he fought the Burnham dictatorship for 50 years – especially the rigging of elections – and now says he “forgotten” all of that. Who’s going to believe him??

Certainly not the relatives of Parmanand and Ramessar who were shot like dogs by soldiers and allowed to bleed to death after they followed Nagamootoo’s instructions in 1973 to “protect” the ballot boxes.

Burnham had moved past the tactics of the 1968 elections – when he’d used “proxies”, overseas phantom votes and a padded electoral list. This time he’d be more direct. The votes would all be counted – not at the place of poll – but at Camp Ayanganna – headquarters of the GDF.

Why the GDF?? They could count better than polling agents! So soldiers would collect all ballot boxes from across the country and bring them to “town”.

Could Nagamootoo have forgotten this? Nah!! It has to be either amnesia or Alzheimer’s. The fella’s getting old, you know...he’s what?? Seventy five? And then completing law school in his late 60s must’ve taken its toll.

Your Eyewitness doesn’t want to believe those cynics who say Nagamootoo doesn’t want to make waves for his new bed-mate Granger, who wrote that the soldiers who killed Nagamootoo’s voting agents performed their “duties splendidly”.

Granger, after all – according to Nagamootoo’s leader Ramjattan – is “an officer and a gentleman”! And such creatures can’t tell any lies – especially since they swore oaths to that paragon of truth and verisimilitude, Forbes Burnham!

But even worse, this Eyewitness wouldn’t want to believe that even if the PNC used to rig – as they say in Whim when they drink their Bush Rum – Nagamooyoo believes “this time na lang time”. Because Nagamootoo went to school with Granger (remember?) and he learnt about conditioned Pavlovian Reflexes.

Repeat the same action for 50 years – and even if you want to stop – there’s no way in hell you can!! It’s now a deeply ingrained “reflex”. In Whim, Nagamootoo must’ve heard the old fishermen talk about “dogs who can’t stop sucking eggs”.

By that time Granger must’ve gone on to town school – but he showed he knows about sucking eggs. After all, even Desmond Hoyte – who’s now made out to be Saint Desmond – rigged a bigger majority for himself than the master Burnham had ever done!! To be fair to Granger, he never had a chance to rig a national election – but that didn’t stop him.

If Nagamootoo can’t remember, all he has to do is ask Aubrey Norton!!

…by Granger

Granger says he doesn’t have to give evidence to the Rodney COI because he wasn’t in Guyana on June 13, 1980 when Rodney’s face was blown to smithereens by a bomb planted by GDF Sergeant Gregory Smith. He was in Yugoslavia!! As if Hitler was at Auschwitz when the Jews were being gassed! That alone should make him testify. If this Eyewitness had ordered Rodney killed, he’s arrange to have “deniability”!

Let’s pick sense from nonsense. At the PNC Congress of August 1979 – Burnham declared the WPA of Rodney to be the “Worst Possible Alternative”, warned them of his “sharper steel” and told Rodney to “make his will”. Burnham couldn’t have feared Rodney because he was drawing crowds and they wouldn’t vote PNC. Burnham rigged elections!!

Burnham was scared because Rodney was infiltrating the GDF – and they might refuse to shoot WPA supporters storming the barricades. As Conrad Taylor, GDF West Point graduate wrote in “Path to freedom”:

“In August 1979, Colonel Ulric Pilgrim, the operational force commander, and Colonel Carl Morgan, a battalion commander, were dismissed. Pilgrim and Morgan had been two of the most popular officers in the GDF. Burnham appointed a PNC loyalist, Colonel David Granger, commander of the GDF.”

Why would Granger, described by Taylor as “a loyal PNCite” and just appointed to deal with the Rodney threat, not know about the final “option”?

Who do you think you’re fooling?

Woman dead in clump of bushes at Charity

– 3 suspects in custody

By IndrawattIe natram

Amother of two from Charity Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast, was on Tuesday morning discovered dead in a clump of bushes near the Six Star Cocotal Hotel and Bar at Charity.

Dead is Quineza Patricia Benn, 26.She was discovered dead around 06:00h Tuesday morning by residents in the area. Her body bore marks of violence; there were two deep cuts on the lip and the left eye.

Up to press time, three persons were in custody assisting with the Police investigation, including her common-law husband, Anthony Joseph.

According to her grieving and frustrated grandmoth-

er, Mary, Benn was last seen on Sunday. She said that her granddaughter was living in an abusive relationship and was often threatened by her commonlaw husband that he would killed her and throw her in some bushes.

The tearful Benn said

that she could not imagine that those words she heard from the man would actually become reality. “When I saw her, she had on a checker purple top with blue pants; she had marks to her face and she was lying in a clump of bushes next to a mango tree. Many persons were there when I reached, “Benn related.

She said at one time the suspect beat her granddaughter while she was pregnant causing her to lose her baby and spent time in hospital for her injuries, “since that incident I was scared: he told her just as he killed her baby, he would kill her”.

The grandmother said that she learnt of the discovery of the body early Tuesday morning from vil-

Granger touts education...

In the area of crime and security, Granger a former Commander of the Guyana Defence Force pointed out that the APNU+AFC coalition if elected into office will take the requisite steps needed to suppress crime in the country. He said a safer Guyana cannot be achieved, if the Guyana Police Force is not reformed.

According to him, the time has come for the Force to undergo serious transformation, pointing out that over the past 15 years; it has received more than 15 plans and recommendations from the British Government and other Governments but to no avail.

Government has adopted a number of these plans referred to by Granger and has begun implementing them. One of the most comprehensive plans the Disciplined Services Commission report has been implemented in

parts and only on Monday Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee pointed out in a statement that all previous strategic plans developed during Government’s engagement with local and overseas consultants have been subsumed in the current strategic plan.

He said the Home Affairs Ministry is awaiting resources to further engage the UK-based Capita Symonds Consultancy to implement four additional areas which are critical to building the institutional capacity of the Guyana Police Force.

“It should be noted that the move by the Opposition to challenge in Court the disbursement of resources from the IDB Security Sector Loan will again stymie the implementation of plans for the achievement of our primary objective of providing comprehensive citizen security sector for all

Guyanese,” Rohee said.

Thirdly, Rohee said that recommendations of the Disciplined Services Commission are being implemented. “Recent presentations by the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Fire Service, and the Guyana Prison Service gave status updates on the progress each agency is making towards the full realisation of those recommendations. The progress report was circulated to members of the National Assembly in June, 2014.

Armed robberies

Meanwhile, Granger, said in Guyana, three armed robberies occur daily, every eight hours. This he said is complemented by piracy, drug trafficking, trafficking of guns and ammunition, and murders among others. In an effort to combat the situation, the security spe-

lagers. She said when she went to the scene and saw the body, she was convinced it was indeed that of her granddaughter. The grandmother, who is a mother of 10, said the deceased’s

cialist said the Force must be effectively equipped.

“They need boats, they need all terrain vehicles, and they need aircraft. They need sufficiently trained personnel, but along with the personnel they must be properly paid.” According to him, “we cannot keep the entire Police Force on life support and expect to keep

mother, who now lives in Venezuela, left her in her care since she was two years old and she took care of her until she got married.

The 73-year-old woman said her granddaughter was

in her second marriage and was not happy. She said she was taking care of Benn’s two children for years now. She is appealing to the general public to assist her in whatever way they can to help her buried Benn.

According to the owner of the hotel and bar, Benn did not visit his bar. He said he did not see the now deceased on Tuesday, but he was summoned by residents who informed him that a body was found next to his hotel and bar.

Residents living close to the house Benn shared with her common-law husband said that the couple would have constant fights.

The body was taken to the Suddie Mortuary to await an autopsy.

Guyana safe.” Amidst Granger’s criticisms Government early this year handed over five new vessels to the Police Marine Branch to police the country’s waterways in order to protect fishermen and other persons who work offshore. The five vessels were procured as part of the Force’s anti-piracy strategy, an area which is of grave concerns to authorities, which earlier this week pointed out that piracy had recently decreased with its new deployment of equipment. Granger also touched on corruption, unemployment, underemployment, high taxation, money laundering and the effective use Guyana’s renewable energy resources.

Private sector wants govt to address high electricity, transportation costs

President of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association, Clinton Williams on Tuesday outlined a range of issues, including the high cost for electricity and transportation which he said must be fixed urgently if the private sector is to remain the engine of economic growth in Guyana.

Addressing a business luncheon held at the Pegasus Hotel during which Presidential Candidate of the APNU+AFC coalition, David Granger was the featured speaker, Williams outlined a range of issues which he described as inhibiting factors to the private sector. Among them are: high costs and unreliable supply of electricity; road, marine and air transportation; logistics and cargo handling facilities as well as the high trade transaction cost for import and exports. According to Mr. Williams, the ultimate aim of the local business community is therefore, to ‘’benefit from the wide range of natural resources that this country is blessed with, and to see our respective environments blossom with a cleaner, healthier, better

equipped, more educated and more committed population’’. In keeping with this proposal, Mr. Williams made comparisons with Singapore and Guyana stating that they are many‘’we achieved independence about the same time, our populations are diverse and multi-cultural, among other things’’. However, he

capital, while Guyana is endowed with numerous natural resources’’. He said that the full utilisation of the nation’s resources can pave the way for the continued economic growth of the country.

Williams said in seeking to secure a stabilised nation one must be knowledgeable of the fact that once political leaders are fully informed

for the continued economic development of the country.

Williams told the gathering that the local business community, the true engine of the nation’s growth wants to be able to produce and earn.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Private Sector Commission Ramesh Persaud in closing, ex-

stressed that ‘’our differences perhaps lie in the governance structure and support for the business sector and also that Singapore has very few natural resources except for its human resource

about the concerns of the private sector and have one on one discussions not only during the pre- election period but also the post-election period, this would indeed guarantee and pave the way

pressed gratitude to the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association for organising the event and also thanked Granger for accepting the invitation.

Pregnant teen in court again, remanded for armed robbery

A19-year-old pregnant teen was before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday charged for armed robbery and also for refusing to acknowledge the court.

1313 Norton Street resident, Tenika Kennedy was brought into Court Eleven for the second time in a week after robbing Troy Roberts of a Samsung Galaxy S4 cellphone valued $80,000 and $25,000 while she held a knife.

The Police reports state that the defendant was trying to solicit the Virtual Complainant (VC) as a client on March 15 when he rebuked her and commented on her swollen tummy. She then took away his phone and ran away with it, yell-

Pregnant Tenika Kennedy was remanded for robbery underarms

ing that he can get it back if he reaches her at a hotel.

Roberts showed up at the hotel where Kennedy and two men came out while she

held a knife at him and proceeded to relieve him of the $25,000. The VC said he then ran away from the accused and her friends. The VC lodged a complaint at the Police Station. However, it was when he was at South Park that he saw the defendant and held unto her until a passing Police Officer accosted her. She was subsequently arrested and charged for her offence.

In Court Eleven the defendant was brought in to answer to the charges but she refused to acknowledge the Magistrate. The defendant instead let loose a string of expletives which did not tone down when she was asked to stop by the Prosecution and Police Officers in the court. She

was removed from the Courtroom.

When the defendant returned, however, she maintained her silence. With her being unwilling to plead to the charges, Magistrate Annette Singh recorded a not guilty plea on her behalf.

The defendant continued with her obnoxious behaviour outside the courtroom inviting a string of court clerks, Police Officers and other court officials that was curious about the source of the noise.

Kennedy was remanded since she has no place of abode or employment, as she refused to respond to the Magistrate’s queries. The case was adjourned until March 31 for statements.

Nagga's security detail

Sariricus was worried because Nagga Man was worried. And Nagga Man was worried that Nagga Man didn't have a security detail. GrainJa had a security detail - that was true. And it was now also true that now that Nagga Man and GrainJa were hitched upand everywhere that GrainJa went, the Nagga Man was sure to go.

That was part of the deal. And so if GrainJa had a security detail, they would automatically cover Nagga Man also, no??

Well, humphed Satiricus, "That's because they don't understand Nagga Man". Nagga Man didn't want a security detail to protect HIM. Jeez!! Nagga Man had boozed his way through every rum shop from Point Playa to Crabwood Creek, hadn't he??

His blood alcohol level was so high - it just dissolved and neutralized any poison! Physical attacks?? He'll forget about the Police security detail. Wasn't one out every two fellas in Granger entourage from the military?? If any wanted to harm him they would've don't that long ago.

No...Nagga Man wanted a security detail to protect his "large" which was more inseparable to him than his wife - and certainly provided him with more comfort!! Now that Nagga Man had taken vows with GrainJa, he had to change his whole life style.

With RumJhaat as his leader of the KFC, when he was on the stage speaking, the Jhaat would keep the large. And he would have keep his eyes on the Jhaat so that the "large" wasn't finished before he was finished with his speech. Nagga Man had to admit that this made him keep his speeches short.

But with GrainJa, the fella refused to even take a drink after his speech much less drink from the bottle directly!! Who had time to walk around with glasses?? What a party pooper!

Nagga Man concluded that even though he knew GrainJa when they were both in short pants at Whim, it was all too clear that GrainJa didn't spend enough time to get inducted into the joys of drinking Bush Rum.

With his own security detail...they'd keep his "large" safe. He didn't even have to share it with the Rum Jhaat! Aaaahhh...there WERE fringe benefits with this Alliance business!

Woman accused of stealing children’s clothes

A40-year-old woman was released on $40,000 bail on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for not returning a quantity of clothing.

It is alleged that on February 17, Kimmie Hendricks of Lamaha Squatting Area, Greater Georgetown, was entrusted with male and female children’s clothing by the Virtual Complainant (VC) Denise Kellerman valued $247,000. However, she never returned it. The VC is of the mind that the defendant converted the items for her own use.

The defendant’s Attorney Paul Fung-A-Fat stated that the defendant was given the items by the VC to sell, however some of the clothes

could not be sold. He said the defendant still has the items home and the VC can have them.

He told the court that she has two children and has no pending matters or prior matters with the court. She was given $40,000 bail and transferred to Court 10 for a resolution to the issue.

UG denies violating ToRs with Unions

The University of Guyana (UG) is strongly refuting the accusations that it has violated the Terms of Resumption (ToR) Agreement that it signed with the Unions some three weeks ago. In a press statement, the Vice Chancellor Dr Jacob Opadeyi noted that the UG Administration along with its Negotiating Team is working towards ensuring that all the clauses under the ToR are met “in both spirit and in deed”.

On Tuesday last, the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) stated that the first round of negotiations with UG yielded no progress as none of their demands were met with counter proposals.

In fact, according to UGSSA President Melissa Ifill, “nothing happened. It was a waste of our time.”

But, Dr Opadeyi noted that the administration does not wish that the UGSSA and the University of Guyana’s Workers Union (UGWU) demand the similar levels alacrity from its members who still have not submitted grades for examination papers that were written in December 2014.

Further, the Vice Chancellor indicated that the members of the Unions have been underperforming and are not entirely committed to their duties to the students.

In making his point, he said the Negotiating Team is comprised of council members, several of whom are from the private and public sectors and therefore will have other pre-scheduled engagements, yet they are still timely in their manner to address the issues at hand.

Vice Chancellor, Dr Jacob Opadeyi

“Can we expect from the Unions the same level of timeliness in the performance of its duties to our

students?” Opadeyi asked. He also pointed out that upon resumption of work, the bursary staff, in keeping with the ToR, had commenced with the preparation of salary for those workers who were on strike.

According to him, the task was completed two days after and therefore, questioned how does this constitute a breach of the agreement.

“It speaks of ‘immediately released (salaries) upon both parties signing the Terms of Resumption agreement’. How can the UG Administration “immediately release” salaries that it has not prepared before the agreement was signed? We should not forget the fact that several of the Bursary staff were on strike actions for the 5 weeks and only returned to work on March 3rd. For the Unions to

expect the Bursary to undertake salary computations and payments to striking workers on the first day of resumption (March 3rd, 2015) constitute a high level of efficiency that is unimaginable,” Opadeyi affirmed.

Meanwhile, in its most recent statement, the Unions have decided to give the negotiations another try. However, it was noted that if the second round of negotiations yields similar results as the first, then the Unions will once again resort to protest actions.

Additionally, the Unions threatened to launch a petition calling for the dismissal of the Vice Chancellor on the grounds of poor management of the University and demonstration of bad faith to its workers.

Miners upbeat about gold price recovery

Despite the challenges being faced by the significant drop in gold prices on the world market for the past year, President of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA) Patrick Harding believes that the industry is still viable and will recover.

In the past week, gold was traded at the price of US $1150 per ounce compared to US$1800 in mid 2011, figures which represent a slump of approximately thirty per cent. This was stabilised for the past three months.

Harding related that despite the highs and lows, 2013 was the year which proved to be the one with the highest gold declaration figure.

Nonetheless, this year was “a trying time” for the miners since the challenges and financial obligations were still too many. This he said, led to a difficult start of 2014 with even bigger challenges as all costs associated with production skyrocketed while the price for gold declined.

“At the beginning of 2014, there was a crisis because you would have used up all your savings, the new investors and persons entering into the industry were finding it to be a difficult because the prices remained high, the prices for fuel, the price for spare parts, transportation; all the factors of production remained high while the drop in price remained,” Harding explained.

Total gold declaration at December 20, 2014 decreased by 22.61 per cent when compared to 2013, while gold purchased by the Guyana Gold Board had decreased by 41.24 per cent for the same period. In 2013, the gold industry declared a total of 481,087 ounces of gold which represented a 9.7 per cent increase over the previous year’s figure. Meanwhile, according to Harding, while 2014 generally saw a low declaration; when the first two months of 2014 were compared to January and February of 2015, declarations for this year so far are lower.

“I would average that in excess of 30 per cent which means one of two things; the first one being that the miners have not gone out back to

work as yet which could be because they have decided to come out of the industry,” Harding disclosed. He noted that apart from the miners being vastly affected, the present low price of gold is also creating a wave effect in all sectors directly and indirectly.

“Equipment sales are down, that’s the spare parts people and other executive member is made up of all dealers of spare parts and their sales are down by approximately thirty per cent so the ripple effect is that the whole economy is feeling it, the butcher, right up to the heavy duty machinery dealers. Even the airlines are saying that their charters are down; the truck transportation people are not getting work so it is having an effect all across,” the GGDMA president expressed.

He noted that while the industry might appear daunting right now, it is hoped that it will get better.

“I can’t predict that but what I know is that the industry at present is suffering. We are three months into 2015 and production has dropped… but hopefully that will change,” he said.

During a recent meeting with Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, Robert Persaud and all stakeholders, the measures needed to ensure the sector’s viability into 2015 and beyond were discussed and announcements made.

At that meeting, a 10% reduction in tax for diesel fuel imported for the sector which was requested by the miners was approved with the necessary measures were put in place with relevant agencies such as the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). The cost of fuel has often been cited as the largest expenditure for miners, often around 40 % of production cost.

A licence was also granted to GGDMA to import fuel for use within the sector. There was also a proposal to examine the granting of duty-free concessions to miners whose operations exceeded a certain level of production, and this too has been approved.

With these concessions now being made available to

the miners, it is anticipated that volatile gold and diamond prices would improve as this year’s production ef-

forts begin. Gold exports for the 2013 fiscal year amounted to US$648.5 million, a 9.5

per cent decline compared to 2012. The sharp decline was linked to the average price of US$1344 per ounce compared

to US$1575 in 2012, negating the six per cent increase in export volume, which amounted to 482,527 ounces.

wednesday, march 18, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Rice farmers unhappy with paddy prices

Two weeks into the first crop of the year rice and farmers have already begun fuming over the reduced prices they are receiving for paddies.

While some are concerned that the price has dropped

significantly, there are others who are disappointed that they have not yet been given a price for the paddy, although they have already begun harvesting.

Rice farmers in Regions three (Essequibo Islands, West Demerara), five (Mahaica/Berbice) and six (East Berbice/Corentyne) told Guyana Times on Tuesday that they are peeved over a situation that shows no signs of improvement.

“I already start harvest-

ing and I don’t know the price yet. I carried my paddy to Hack’s mill and all I hear is the price ain’t set yet. I think the Rice Producers Association and GRDB need to do something; they must come out and lend a helping hand to the farmers”, was the sentiment expressed by Darvendra Pancham of Bush Lot Village West Berbice.

Another farmer said rice price remains the biggest bugbear. “We need better price for our paddy, the inputs are costly, $3000 or less can’t pay we, we need more than that “, the man told this publication.

While the export target for 2015 stands at some 521,000 tonnes, and while the Agriculture ministry continues to praise the success of the industry, the farmers have complained that they are the ones suffering the most.

However, several millers have told this publication that they have all set their prices based on the price on the world market. The owner of a rice mill in Burma, West Coast Berbice told Guyana Times that the price per bag of paddy at his mill stands at $2,860. According to him, he

conducts business with close to 500 rice farmers and cannot set prices against those on the world market. The miller related that he is currently exporting to Caribbean and European markets.

An employee at the Hack Millers in Region five said that prices have not yet been set for farmers at that mill. The man, who chose not to be named, said the company may be awaiting market.

Meanwhile, Head of the Guyana Rice Development board (GRDB) Jagnaraine Singh told this publication that the board has already had several meetings with millers, particularly those that are supplying rice to the Venezuelan market. He said the board has also already indicated to the millers the price farmers should be paid for their paddies. If they fail to comply with the set rules, they could be at risk of losing out in the Venezuela agreement, the GRDB head informed.

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy had stated that 2014 was another record-breaking year for the rice industry. According to him, production was recorded at 635,238 tonnes of which

501,208 tonnes were exported. Production in the final crop of 2014 had surpassed that of the first crop, which recorded just over 300,000 tonnes.

The minister reported that the sector has seen consistent improvements over the past several years. Production for 2013 was 535,212 tonnes, which was far above the original target of 413,000 tonnes and reflected a 27 per cent increase over the production in 2012. The average production per hectare was some five tonnes.

Additionally, the Agriculture Minister disclosed that the export target for 2015 is some 521,000 tonnes.

Guyana currently has export agreements with several countries in the Caribbean as well as with Venezuela and Panama. He said arrangements to ship rice to countries to West Africa are still being finalised, but the delay was due to the Ebola epidemic. Given the continuous success of the rice industry, efforts are also being made to secure a greater foothold in Nicaragua and other Central American countries, including Belize.

Wortmanville woman gets bail for stealing from lover

Afemale resident of 68 Wortmanville, Georgetown, was released on $50,000 bail on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for stealing $207,210 from the man she was dating.

Twenty-three-yearold Cassie Monefa smiled in Court 11 on Monday as she was charged for alleged robbed the Virtual Complainant (VC) Lester Cummings on March 11 of US$1000 and $20,000.

The young lady smiled even more when the VC told the court that he could not be present all through the

presence, he said arrangements will be made to have his flight postponed.

Defence Attorney Paul Fung-A-Fat told the court that the defendant has been going out with the VC for some time. She has a fixed place of abode and works at the Georgetown Public Hospital as a cleaner.

trial as he has plans of travelling soon. However, upon being told that the case cannot proceed without his

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru had no objections to bail thus she was granted $50,000 bail.

Magistrate Annette Singh adjourned the matter to March 23 for statements.

5 months in jail for man found guilty of malicious wounding

After a month-long trial, a 57-year-old resident of Neems, West Bank Demerara, was sentenced to five months in jail on Tuesday for unlawfully and maliciously wounding his friend.

Leroy Johnson was brought before Magistrate Annette Singh at the Georgetown Magistrates’

Courts last month accused of chopping his friend, Shaunette Smith in front of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on February 6. The defendant claimed that he was trying to help her but a charge of threatening language was also levied against by the Virtual Complainant (VC).

The Prosecutor brought

forward three witnesses to give testimony, as well as a medical report as evidence against Johnson. The defendant was given the opportunity to produce witnesses and/ or evidence in his defence, but he opted to remain silent.

Magistrate Annette Singh sentenced the defendant to five years imprisonment.

Conman gets 18-month sentence for robbery under arms

Faizal Mohamed, a well known conman of 236 Albert Street, Georgetown, was today sentenced to 18 months imprisonment at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for robbing Rajesh Jaharan of a Samsung Galaxy S4 cellphone and $100,000.

Mohamed, age 48, was found guilty by Magistrate Fabayo Azore after a trial proved the accused did indeed rob Jaharan at Orange Walk, Bourda, Georgetown, at gun point.

The firearm used in the commissioning of the robbery was never recovered. Mohamed was before the court only last week for conning two taxi drivers who had driven him across town and he had refused to pay. Mohamed currently has a matter ongoing in Court 11 for an assault charge.

Teixeira urges swifter justice for sexually abused women

By Devina Samaroo

Presidential Adviser on Governance

Affairs

and Former Home

Minister, Gail Teixeira has urged swifter justice for sexually abused women, chiding the judicial system for both the sloth in the disposing of these cases and the alarmingly low conviction rate.

Teixeira made the comment during a discussion programme sponsored by the USAID under the LEAD Project: Women’s candidates roundtable discussion. Last year, Attorney General, Anil Nandlall had made a similar observation. Teixeira explained that there is a low conviction rate when it comes to sexual violence cases, partially because the delay.

She explained that the problem lies in ensuring that justice is administered in a timelier manner, something the government is working towards. Additionally, she said women organisations across the country need to intensify their programmes that educate women about their rights. She said those organisations need to do greater work so that women are more educated about the law and how they can effectively these to their advantage.

Women in politics

Meanwhile, the panel which also comprised Education Minister Priya Manickchand, Alliance For Change (AFC) Executive Member Cathy Hughes and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Executive Member Volda Lawrence also discussed women’s role in politics. It was pointed

out that while other countries in the world are struggling to empower women to vote, Guyana has come a long way in that regard. Minister Manickchand disclosed that although statistics are unavailable, it can be observed that Guyanese women are actively involved in politics. She pointed out that many women are seen at the polls casting their vote on Elections Day. “I don’t think there is problem where women don’t vote in Guyana. Of course, there are other countries in the world where this happens but let’s hope that Guyana does not import that…,” she said. Similarly, Teixeira noted that women are involved in all aspects of the electoral process.

“Not only are women at rallies, they’re at polling

stations as polling agents, they’re scrutineers, persons are involved in every facet of election preparation,” she said. Further, she highlighted that Guyana is ranked around 25th in the world for the number of women in parliament and cabinet, noting that it is a remarkable achievement for a developing country.

Hughes also recognised the increase of women’s involvement, however, she said more women need to participate in the decision making process in order to effect the change they want to see. She urged women to increase their representation at the community level through organisations and other social groups.

“If they can’t do that then they can’t shape the country,” she explained. In her contribution, Lawrence highlighted the changes women can make once they hold key positions in the decision making process. She said, based on their nature, women can implement policies that will ensure their offspring feel secure and more particularly, implement policies so that “women can be given equal pay for equal work”.

“Despite all the strides we have made as women, we still have women not being paid for work being done as their counterpart. Being the caring elements in society, we need to take that across and be involved in policy making so that we can represent our interest,” she noted.

The politicians also elaborated on the issue of women who are disenchanted with the electoral process. Manickchand stressed on the importance of voting, noting that everyone should participate in their own development. “If you’re disenchanted with the process, it’s all the more reason to vote, so that you can put the party in power that you believe can change the process,” she stated.

Similarly, Hughes opined that disenchanted women should not sit, complain and do nothing about the situation since the situation could worsen. “All across the world women have struggled to get that right so instead of sitting down and doing nothing, get up and get involved in the process and let you voice be heard...You have to advocate,” she urged. Teixeira also stressed on the importance of voting, calling it a “powerful tool”. She told

women if they fail to exercise their right to vote, then they should not complain about the results post-elections.

“You deserve what you get at the end,” she said frankly.

Improve lives of women

Meanwhile, Lawrence said if elected the government of national unity will ensure that the Family Court becomes operational. Additionally, she pointed out that the current laws for the protection of women’s rights are extremely weak and therefore, her party intends to make the necessary reforms to ensure the justice system is more reliable in this regard.

Hughes in alluding to her party’s vision for women if elected stated that the initial target would be to transform society’s perception of women. She explained that many

are aware that women are making strides through education and careers but somehow it does not transcend to society and women are still treated with less respect than they deserve.

Further, she said the private sector needs to play a more active role in the involvement of women’s lives. She suggested that companies have their own daycares, so female employees with children can feel more secure and not worry about their children. She also said policewomen should be encouraged to make other women feel comfortable whenever they visit the stations to make complaints, especially in relation to sensitive issues like domestic violence or sexual assault.

Teixeira has acknowledged that there are many gaps and challenges as it relates to creating a comfort-

able society for women. She said one of the key aspects in changing that is to empower women, initially by ensuring that they are more involved in shaping the economy. Teixeira pointed out that 29 per cent of households in Guyana are

headed by women. On that note, she said until the issue of male responsibility in the home is addressed, women will not be able to meet their zenith because they are being held back by traditional responsibilities. Therefore, the PPP/C plans to create more daycares so that women can prosper in their careers with little burden of childcare.

Manickchand on the other hand, highlighted that all the problems Guyana is facing also exists in many other countries across the globe and until those issues are addressed on an international level, then countries will continue to struggle. Moreover, she said the PPP/C plans to review those laws that dependently address women and women’s issues in order to pinpoint gaps or loopholes in the system and make corrections where necessary.

APNU/AFC “coalition” only “shared out” positions

...still no agreement on policies, programme

With less than two months before Guyana elects a new government, the leader of the major opposition

of APNU and AFC. On another occasion maybe that could be done but today I speak only on behalf of the partnership and for myself,”

‘Cummingsburg Accord’ on February 14 after months of related discussions. While they hold on to individual identities they intend to cam-

coalition, A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) David Granger had to concede that the two groups are yet to merge their policies and position on varying issues of national import.

Addressing a Business Luncheon at the Pegasus on Tuesday, Presidential Candidate David Grange said the position he represented what that of his own and APNU. “Today, I cannot claim to speak on behalf of the coalition because the coalition has not yet merged the two policies; the policies

he stated before sharing his vision for an improved private sector.

Granger made the same concession when asked about the coalition’s position on GuySuCo by journalists later. In an invited comment he explained that efforts are ongoing to complete a joint manifesto. “I expect that within another three weeks of so…the teams are working on it; APNU and AFC have teams working on merging the two plans into a common action plan,” Granger revealed. The two brokered the

paign on a single platform. APNU, made up of several other groups including the People’s National Congress/ Reform, and AFC have already divided the pie 60/40 should they win the May 11 General and Regional Elections. As per the agreement, APNU gets the Presidential Candidate and AFC, the Prime Ministerial Candidate; the latter party has been assured 12 seats in the 65 seat Parliament. This would be approximately 36% of the combined seats by the two parties in the 10th Parliament.

In the construct of a new Government, APNU will be allocated one Vice President while AFC will be allocated two Vice Presidents, both of whom will be members of the Cabinet. Under this arrangement, the President will delegate several responsibilities to the Prime Minister including the chairmanship of the Cabinet and matters supporting the Domestic National Affairs.

Recently, Political Commentator Ramon Gaskin said he was disappointed with the heavy focus on positions, rather than policies. He had told Guyana Times in an invited comment that despite the fact that the two parties have been preaching that they wish to see a Government of national unity and wanted what was best for Guyanese society, this was not reflected during or after their dialogue. He said it would appear that the political parties were only fighting for positions and their piece of the ‘meat’. “I noticed that in the coalition talks, they were only talking about who gets what and what goes to whom…I am very disappointed with that because in the entire discussions, all they could have said was that this goes to that person, he gets that, she gets this and nothing is said about the needs of the Guyanese people,” Gaskin said.

He noted that it would appear to him that the two political parties seem to have the procedure all wrong and had placed self-interest first, as he strongly believes that a programme or agenda on the needs of the Guyanese should have first been worked out, before positions and leadership were discussed. Similarly, former Government Minister, Dr Henry Jeffrey labeled the recent launch of the coalition as “all fluff and no substance” and noted that while the coalition has promised its supporters better living conditions, reduced crime rates and improved education, they have constantly failed to provide details on how they intend achieve those objectives. “They put out a plan that’s not detailed and that’s unacceptable,” Dr Jeffery stated. This publication was told that the manifesto will be available in due time, after Nomination Day, as is the norm. On the other, the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic is also working on its manifesto and in an invited comment said consultations were ongoing with civil society to ensure their needs and aspirations are reflected in the plan. This party’s last manifesto was reflective of ‘continuity’.

“Exceptional” spring tides predicted for March 17-24

Guyana’s coast will experience exceptional spring tides during the period March 17 through 24, based on published tide forecasts for 2015.

Notably high tides, in excess of 3.30 metres (referenced to chart datum) are expected to occur along the oceanic coast and tidal rivers during March 20 to 22, with the highest tide of 3.35 metres expected to occur on Saturday, March 21 at 04:27h, the Public Works Ministry said. The augmentation of high tides during this period has been attributed to the alignment of the earth, moon and sun during the March 21 Spring Equinox, resulting in increased gravitational pull. This phenomenon will coincide with a solar eclipse which will be visible in Europe, northern and eastern Asia and northern and western Africa.

The Public Works Ministry – through its Sea Defence Unit – has intensified its public notification, monitoring and flood prevention activities in preparation for possible occurrences of flooding due to overtopping or structural compromise of sea and river defences.

Previous occurrences of extreme spring tides, coupled with high energy waves and strong ocean currents have resulted in varying levels of flooding along Guyana’s coast due to over-

topping of flood protection structures. Residents of vulnerable low-lying coastal and riverine communities are, therefore, advised to be on the alert and take necessary precautions to prevent damage to property or personal injury in the event that flooding occurs.

The following coastal villages are particularly susceptible to possible flooding as a result of storm surges which may induce overtopping of sea/river defence structures: Johanna Cecelia, Cullen/Perseverance, Dunkeld, Westbury –Essequibo Coast; Zeelandia/ Moor Farm, Marionville/ Bendorff, Good Success/ San Sousi, Melville/Sarah – Wakenaam Island; Cane Garden, Cane Field/ Amsterdam, Blenheim/ Endeavour – Leguan Island; Parika, Look Out/ Grove, Salem/Sparta – East Bank Essequibo; La Retraite – West Bank Demerara; Rotterdam/Crane, Anna Catherina to Leonora –West Coast Demerara; along Water Street, Georgetown; Kingston; Georgetown to Ogle, East Coast Demerara; Mosquito Hall/Unity and along the Mahaica River banks; Number 74 to 76 Villages, Bush Lot/Maida, Corentyne and along the banks of the Berbice and Canje Rivers. Persons residing in these areas should exercise a heightened level of vigilance.

Court orders reopening of arbitration into Skeldon worker’s dismissal

Acting Chief Justice Ian Chang on Tuesday ruled that the arbitration into the dismissal of Skeldon Estate worker Daniel Stephen should reopen.

Justice Chang handed down the decision in his chamber during the hearing of the matter filed by the Guyana Agriculture and General Workers Union (GAWU) to have an interim injunction to stop the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) from dismissing Daniels.

During the arbitration, former Chief Labour Officer Mohamed Akeel ruled that Daniels be dismissed but GAWU is now seeking for him to be reinstated but sus-

pended without pay until the completion of the court proceedings.

Both GuySuCo and Akeel were named Plaintiffs in the legal document. The injunction was previously granted by the Chief Justice, who ordered Akeel to appear before him. On Tuesday, the arbitrator was present in the acting Chief Justice’s chamber when the ruling was handed down.

Guyana Times was made to understand that Justice Chang ruled that Akeel’s decision was wrong and that they should return to arbitration in order to conclude whether Stephen was properly dismissed as this was not done.

“If you live in a glass house, dont throw stones!”

It is for good reason that the months leading up to elections here are dubbed "the silly season". With the elections that President Donald Ramotar says are "the most important since 1964", rather than the plans for developing the country by the competing parties being compared and contrasted, a huge discourse has developed over the home of Dr Cheddi Jagan – whose life and legacy are being commemorated this month.

It all began with former President Bharat Jagdeo holding his first press conference after demitting office in 2011 and addressing the strident criticisms about his "benefits" as an ex-President and the house he built at Sparendaam.

On the former, contrary to the tens of millions that his critics in the Opposition claimed had been drained from the Treasury to pay for his medical and other "benefits" – Jagdeo flatly announced that he hadn't "received a cent".

But contrary to their libellous statements for over three years, a sudden deafening silence descended in this subject. Not a single one

of his critics had the grace to say they were wrong, much less offer an apology. What they did was to simply move on to another line of attack.

On the issue of the house he had built at Sparendaam, Jagdeo explained he was able to do this from the proceeds he received from selling his previous house at Ogle. All of this had been in the public domain from the onset, but the spin placed on the attack on Jagdeo was to claim that Jagdeo had "betrayed" the legacy of Dr Jagan.

In this manner critics in the Opposition were assuming and asserting that it was against the tenets of the teachings of Dr Jagan to have a large home and that a member of his party, such as Jagdeo, should live in circumstances amounting to poverty.

Responding to a direct question based on this specious argument at the press conference, Jagdeo stated: “I don’t believe Ministers should have to live in a logie to prove that they are not corrupt…. Cheddi Jagan didn’t have to prove that by living in a logie...I don’t think Cheddi Jagan, liv-

ing in Bel Air that time, in a nice house, was typical of Guyana.

“But Cheddi Jagan lived at that time there. Did that weaken his commitment to the cause? No. At that time that was a prime area. It

One of the first to try to rebut Jagdeo's explanation was Ralph Ramkarran, whose bitterness at Jagdeo had festered since he had left the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C), blaming the former President for Ramotar being chosen as the PPP/C's Presidential Candidate in 2011 rather than him.

He refused to accept that his erstwhile comrades had great resentment for his resentment in refusing to become a Minister under Jagan in 1992, because he felt under the new PPP/C Government more business would be steered his company's way.

Ramkarran even refused to take the role as a Minister of Government when Jagan offered him in 1992, because he wanted more pay, making it clear that a Minister’s salary was below his expectations.

He also demanded another ‘salary’, wanting all Government’s legal business go through his law firm,

benefit of the doubt was that Attorney General Anil Nandalall had only recently made a presentation to the Executive Committee of the party, detailing two alleged financial fraud scandals in which Ramkarran had been the central figure.

The matters involves a Trinidadian woman, Sherene Mongroo, who has strong Guyanese connections, and is still fighting to rescue her father’s estate, believed to be valued in the tens of millions of US dollars.

Fingered characters include members of her own family, a prominent Caribbean banker, an airline employee, medical doctors and various attorneys including Ramkarran. The case is currently before the courts in Guyana and is also under continued investigation. Ironically, Ramkarran is one of the attorneys appearing in the case.

Ramkarran has come out in his blog, which was picked up by the Opposition me-

was a big piece of land, nice house and it still is a nice house. Did that weaken his commitment to the cause? Did that make him corrupt or anything of the sort? What is the point they are making?"

Cameron and Shepherd. He also turned down another offer when Janet Jagan became President, citing similar financial reasons.

Most germanely, what made even some who were still willing to give him the

dia, not addressing Jagdeo's point that Dr Jagan did not intend to have his Ministers live in perpetuity in strained circumstances.

He supplied figures of $2000 for the land on which Jagan built his house which

would suggest in today's currency that it was very minuscule. But in doing so, he disingenuously avoids Jagdeo’s point that Jagan did not live in a "logie" to show he cared for the downtrodden.

His $2000 in 1960 could buy a larger piece of land that Jagdeo's present house is situated on. While his house might be modest by today's standard, it was certainly way beyond the quality of the home of the sugar workers who had just moved out of the logies.

But what was most disheartening to those Guyanese hoping for those Guyanese hoping for a reasoned discussion on whether a vow of poverty is necessary for public service was not the hysterical reaction of the Opposition.

This was expected – even though most of them live in very large glass houses and should not have been throwing stones. But it was the letter from Jagan's daughter, Nadia Jagan-Brancier, who had long ago decamped Guyana for Canada where she lives in luxury compared to any Guyanese.

Writing from her new homeland, she picked up Ramkarran’s vitriol-laden argument and using the "legitimacy" as a daughter of Jagan, berated Jagdeo for dare suggesting that her father lived in a "mansion" –something Jagdeo had never done. And of course the press pushed her maudlin and flawed argument.

In today's edition, following the maxim that "a picture is worth a thousand words" we print pics of relevant homes for comparison.

While pointing out what no one – including JaganBrancier and Ramkarran – can argue against as proposed by Jagdeo: Dr Jagan never intended to have his successors to live in hovels, riding bicycles. If so, why even bother to struggle?

wednesday, march 18, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

Crum-Ewing to be laid to rest today

Courtney CrumEwing, the 41-yearold former Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank, who was shot dead last Tuesday evening in Third Street, Diamond , East Bank Demerara (EBD), while urging persons to go out and vote on May 11, will be laid to rest today.

According to CrumEwing’s family, his body will be at his former residence, 189 Golden Grove, EBD, for viewing between 10:00h and 11:00h, and will then be taken to the Parade Ground, Georgetown for viewing between 12:00h and 14:00h. His body will then be transported to the Heavenly Light Full Gospel Church, Cooper Street, Albouystown at 14:30h for the funeral service after which he will be taken to the Le Repentir Cemetery for burial.

According to Police reports, about 20:00h last Tuesday, Crum-Ewing was walking along the roadway

Courtney Crum-Ewing

when a car with four men drove up behind him and shots were discharged at him from the vehicle, after which the car drove away.

Crum-Ewing was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

A post-mortem performed on the body proved that he was shot five times. The autopsy was done by local pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh

at the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary, and was witnessed by several family members and the family’s Attorney, Nigel Hughes. According to reports received, three of the five bullets were to the head, while one was to the back of the neck and the other under one of his arms.

Crum-Ewing grabbed attention some months ago as he undertook a one-man protest outside the Legal Affairs Ministry calling for the resignation of Attorney General and Legal Affairs

Minister Anil Nandlall after the taped conversation between the Minister and Kaieteur News Reporter

Leonard Gildharie went viral. Crime Chief Leslie James has confirmed to the Guyana Times that three men are in Police custody and were being grilled in connection with the murder. A car belonging to one of the men was impounded at the Diamond Police Station.

Burnt Pomona woman’s condition worsens

Sixty-year-old

Tarawattie Ronie, aka “Data “, of Pomona Housing Scheme in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) continues to battle for her life at Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to reports, her condition has worsened and relatives are hoping for the best. Ronie had suffered extensive third degree burns about her body when her reputed husband reportedly set her ablaze last week.

The incident occurred on March 8 at her residence in Pomona. She was rescued by neighbours and taken to the Suddie Public Hospital. Doctors at Suddie Public Hospital later transferred her to the Georgetown Public Hospital due to the severity of the burns.

Presently, the suspect Alan Allicock, aka “Balie”, of Pomona Housing Scheme, has been remanded to pris-

on on a charge of attempted murder.

“Dip your lights” – Police urge motorists

Police are urging vehicle owners with “extra bright” headlights to dip them when approaching oncoming traffic on the roadways.

In a statement, Police said there were motorists driving motor vehicles that carry what can be considered extra bright white headlights, which negatively affect the vision of oncoming motorists, as frequently the drivers of such vehicles do not dip their headlights.

“The Guyana Police Force Traffic Department is urging motorists driving such vehicles to extend the courtesy of dipping the lights in order to assist other motorists and avoid a possible accident.”

As the Police Force continues with its traffic enforcement, as of Monday there has been a total of 21 road fatalities compared to 25 for the corresponding period last year. During the period March 9 to 14, 2015,

“Gully Ross” shot in armed confrontation with Police

Aman identified only “Gully Ross” was shot during an armed confrontation with Police on Hadfield Street, Georgetown early Tuesday morning.

In a release, Police said about 01:30h on Tuesday, vendor Walter Drakes, 46, of Smyth Street, Georgetown, was riding a

bicycle along Croal Street when he was held up by a man armed with two cutlasses.

The perpetrator took away a bag containing confectionery and escaped. Quick response by the Police on receipt of the report led to the arrest of the suspect at Hadfield Street and the recovery of the

stolen articles. During efforts to arrest him, the suspect attacked the Police with the cutlasses and was shot to his legs. He has given his name as “Gully Ross” and is under guard at the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was admitted for medical treatment.

Zeelugt man found hanging

Suraj Sookhram, a 41-year-old father of five, was found dead hanging from a rope shortly after consuming alcohol at his home in Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo Tuesday evening.

His body was discovered by his daughter at the back of the house, hanging from the rafters around 17:00h.

The man’s wife, Vanessa John, told the Guyana Times on Tuesday evening that she left their home at 36 Zeelugt that afternoon to run some errands and upon her return home, she was confronted with the news.

John said that while she could not relate what exactly transpired, she was told that her husband was seen consuming alcohol and was in a state of drunkenness before he committed the act. “Me na know nothing. I been out when the thing happen so me na know, but he been ah drink before he go and

do this thing,” John told this publication.

The Guyana Times was told that the man’s brother had committed suicide early last year.

While stating that she could not fathom what would push the man to commit the act, John admitted that Sookhram was a frequent drinker and was unable to keep jobs. “He does hardly wuk…sometime he does do carpenter wuk or he

does do weeding wuk but hardly...he does drink too much…he always drunk,” she stated.

The couple had shared a common-law relationship for the past 12 years and share two children, aged 10 and 8, while Sookhram has three other children from a marriage, aged 17, 18 and 20. His body is at the Ezekiel Funeral Home awaiting a post-mortem.

a number of cases have been made against motorists for breaching the traffic laws. These include: speeding –628; driving under the influence – 50; breach of condition of road service licence – 60; careless driving – 15; dangerous driving – 7; failure to wear safety helmet – 15; failure to wear safety belt – 45; prohibition of the use of hand-held mobile phone – 20 and 25 persons were charged for the soliciting of passengers (touting).

Local Govt Ministry wraps up outreach in Region 1

Local Government and Regional Development Minister Norman Whittaker recently met and engaged with residents of Matthews Ridge, Four Miles, Canal Bank, Citrus Grove, Oronoque, Arakaka, Sebai Village and Eclipse Falls, in the Matarkai sub Region of Region One (Barima-Waini).

The meetings formed part of a local government three-day ministerial outreach to the Matarkai subdistrict, aimed at garnering the views, issues and concerns of the communities, thereby, enabling a proper response towards continued development; while simultaneously updating them with important recent developments in the country.

According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), at the Matthews Ridge meeting, Minister Whittaker highlighted some of the developmental works that have been taking place in the hinterland, and the fact that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration has been placing much emphasis on Amerindian development

since 1992.

Prior to 1992, he said, the focus was on urban development, and today there has been a diversification, because like those dwellers on the coastland, the hinterland people also have needs. “And so, whereas before, this national cake, that we call the National Budget, was divided primarily among a specific group of people in the urban and to some extent the rural areas, now this cake is divided to include those in the hinterland… we were able to enlarge this cake; we were able, through prudent economic policies and programmes, to increase the size of this cake, so everyone can get a slice,” Minister Whittaker told the residents.

Region One is one of the largest geographic regions, and as such, it brings to focus the Government’s strong interventions, in the most profound way, to ensure the continued development of the residents and their communities. However, the residents were reminded that development is a process. “There is no government in

this world that can satisfy all the needs of its people at the same time, and this is why you plan and have a budget.

Baramita were isolated, and had to travel by foot for days to get to another village. This has changed with this

roofs refurbished under the Second Income Settlement Programme-LIS-2. Minister Whittaker noted that the

There are some things you do today and some things you have to do tomorrow,” Minister Whittaker pointed out.

Referring to the Matthews Ridge/Baramita Road linkage, Minister Whittaker noted that for decades, the people of

link. He also spoke about home ownership and how the Government has improved the citizens’ access to social services.

To address the housing needs in the region, 23 households in White Water benefited from new homes, while 27 others had their

establishment of additional housing schemes has begun in Oronoque, White Water and Manawarin. As it relates to education, Minister Whittaker noted that two decades ago, teachers had to come from the coast to teach the students in that

region and students from the far-flung areas did not had access to primary education. Today, he pointed out, every primary age student has access to education and Government is moving, through the Education Ministry to provide Secondary Education to all of secondary school age in Guyana.

The region also has four hospitals – Port Kaituma, Matthews Ridge, Moruca and Mabaruma, and another is under construction at Port Kaituma. Health hut/ centres are also accessible to every community/village. “I’m not saying we have reached the zenith of the development ladder; I am saying that you measure progress in terms of what has been achieved and the depth from which you started,” he noted. The Minister invited residents to examine the state of Guyana when the PPP/C Government took over the mantle of leadership in 1992 and the progress they have made “individually, as a family, as a community, as a region and as a country”.

CGX issues final common shares to Prospector

Canadian-based oil and gas exploration company CGX Inc has announced the issuance of the final common shares to the marine seismic service company, Prospector PTE Limited, giving the Singapore Corporation some 15,534,310 common shares or approximately 16.6 per cent of the issued and outstanding common shares.

CGX had in September, 2014 entered into a seismic contract with Prospector to conduct a 3,116.74 km 3D seismic survey on the company’s 100 per cent owned Demerara Block, offshore Guyana. According to CGX’s General Counsel and Secretary, Michael Galego, the contract terms represented one of the most extensive 3D seismic studies to have ever been conducted in that area. He said the issuance of the remaining 6,254,245 common shares in the capital of the company’s shares to Prospector, was pursuant to the terms of the binding proposal previously announced in September last year.

“These common shares were issued at $0.49 per com-

mon share as partial payment for the acquisition of more than 3,100 km2 on its Demerara Block, offshore Guyana.” He said the common shares are subjected to a four month and one day period from the date of their respective issuance.

According the company, the aggregate cost of the seismic survey will be approximately US$17.9 million with 40 per cent of the cost or some US$7 million that will be paid to Prospector by way of issuance of the 15,534,310 common shares in the capital of CGX Energy.

The remainder will be paid in cash some twelve months after the conclusion of the survey.

CGX’s Chief Executive Officer Dewi Jones said his company was pleased to have Prospector as a significant equity partner in the company. He said the transaction offers the company the opportunity to engage a world-class geophysical service firm while also preserving cash in the short-term.

“The Guyana-Suriname Basin is an exciting new frontier that has increasingly dem-

Court orders reopening...

In December last, Akeel had declared that he was bringing an end to the arbitration proceedings since he was unable to determine whether the dismissal of Stephen was justifiable. According to the arbitrator in his ruling, “Mr Daniel Stephen remains dismissed, but whether the dismissal was justified or not, I was not allowed to determine.”

During the arbitration, Akeel was guided by the Terms of Reference (ToR)

“to enquire into the disciplinary action taken against Mr Daniel Stephen and having regards to the evidence and submission by the parties, make an award as the arbitrator deems fit.”

However, the arbitrator had pointed out that he should have never been tasked with determining the disciplinary action. He stated that the corporation had referred to the disciplinary action as “dismissal” but on the other hand, the union

onstrated the potential for hydrocarbons and is gaining significant international exploration attention. By bringing together CGX Energy and Prospector, two companies with extensive experience in frontier basins, we believe we are creating an opportunity for success in this demanding region,” Jones said recently.

Prospector limited will deploy its modern 12-streamer 3D seismic vessel, known as the R/V BGP Prospector that was specifically constructed for serving the high-end 3D, 4D and wide azimuth marine seismic survey market.

The vessel is outfitted with ION’s DigiSTREAMER seismic data acquisition system. It has a solid gel design that reduces the risk and noise during broad bandwidth data recording. The Demerara Block is comprised of an area spanning 3,953 km2 in the highly prospective GuyanaSuriname Basin.

The initial phase one work commitments are comprised of a 3D seismic survey consisting of a minimum of 1,000 km2 and the associated pro-

cessing and interpretation. The 3D seismic survey will cover substantially all of the Demerara Block and will provide detailed information on the reservoir distribution and structural integrity of the current leads. Ultimately, the 3D seismic survey will allow CGX Energy to better rank its prospects in the Guyana-

Suriname Basin and define future drilling locations.

CGX’s Co-Chairman Suresh Narine said his company has an extensive exploration track record in Guyana and has once again illustrated its loyalty to Guyana by significantly exceeding the minimum work commitment on the Demerara Block. The common shares issued to Prospector will be subject to a four month hold period and 6,254,245 of such common shares will only be issued to Prospector pending receipt of the final approval of the transaction from the TSX Venture Exchange.

“The Terms of Reference should have been clear and unambiguous. It seems that the parties, including the Ministry, could not interpret the Terms of Resumption they deliberated on, agreed to and signed and took the easy way out,” the arbitrator had contended. FROM PAGE 14

claimed that it was amended to “suspension” in the Terms of Resumption (ToR) following the strike actions.

Stakes in the upcoming elections are high

Dear Editor,

Someone once said that the greatest of all freedoms is the freedom of choice. Guyanese will once again be given that opportunity to make a choice on a May 11 as to which political party they would like to govern this country for another five years provided of course that there is no repeat of what transpired in the elections of November 2011.

However, unlike what happened in 2011, the chances of any of the contesting political parties winning a plurality of the

votes is almost zero. This is why the stakes in the upcoming national elections are so high.

The Constitution does not allow for post-election coalitions, which is why the APNU and the AFC agreed to join forces in advance of the elections with the hope of securing a majority of the votes and thereby taking control of two of the three powerful branches of Government, namely the Executive and the Legislative.

The PPP/C on the other hand is determined to recover lost ground espe -

cially in the context of a lower than expected voter turnout and a relatively high level of voter apathy.

There is a school of thought among political scientists to the effect that it is in the best interest of the country for someone to abstain from voting rather than voting for the wrong political party. This is referred to in the literature as functional apathy and speaks to the dangers that could befall any nation when wrong political choices are made.

This is why it is so important and necessary

When there is no tit...

Clearly by Dr Jeffrey’s confirming view, it would seem that Indo Guyanese are forever damned by their existence; on the other hand they are automatically guilty by numbers and culture.

If they are good they will also be damned; when they are not, their numbers and culture makes them guilty regardless.

In lamenting he did not expect Dr Jeffrey’s intellectual capacity to be vulnerable, Mr Collins imposes another umbrella of peculiarity which is somehow the best Black prized trophy proudly put on display.

For him the external aspiration targeting Indo Guyanese conquest cannot be unnatural. Why should Indians fear Blacks, he wants to know? In fact, he dismisses Indo Guyanese fears of their ethnic and cultural cleansing and eventual extermination as most insignificant.

God

Only God knows why Mr Collins is so disconnected from Guyana’s realities. When he writes about race, his pride is in commingling sleeping together and enjoyment of the “others” food.

It has become his only preoccupation it seems. In other words, to eat, sleep, drink and be merry - tomorrow will take place of itselfis good for him. Why is it not good for others he wonders?

Evaluate his mindset when he proclaims: “I do not believe that there are so many gullible simpletons left in Guyana to believe that Indians fear African Guyanese”.

Now to assimilate why he is out of this world astounding.

Buxton just for his educational purposes, and without diminishing the he-

roic sacrifices of so many Guyanese only Buxton will be examined. These are the facts which require, remorse, repentance and reparations to be the apology with no guilty race.

It will become obvious, who insists on devaluing Black peoples worth are only their own Black leadership, their advocates and no others. The targets are the pawns because they differ among themselves and violence has been the only uncivil method of rectification for a long time.

Haircut

Anita Singh of Melanie Damishana (in front of Enterprise) was attacked and robbed by a Buxton based gang of African criminals on August 4, 2002. Their racism and hatred of Indians was significantly revealing. In cutting off her long hair with a knife, the criminal told her, “Ah doing dis because ah don’t like coolie”. Race hate crimes are particularly heinous because the attacks are not personal.

They are directed against an entire people.

The same Buxton-based armed criminals, including convicted rapists "Inspector Gadget" (Premkumar Sukraj), and Melroy Goodman descended on Non Pareil/Enterprise families in a coordinated rampage and repeatedly raped two Indian women.

Elder Haroon Rasheed, who was joined by villagers in mourning for his deceased wife, was doused with gasoline and set afire. He became blind and died one week later.

The same Buxtonbased Rondell "Fineman" Rawlins gang massacred 11 Lusignan residents mostly Indo Guyanese and native Amerindians on January 26,

for voters to be guided by policies and programmes that are intended to promote the national good rather than appeals to baser human instincts and surface emotions.

With the exception of the PPP/C which already has a clear vision and a well defined and articulated strategy to propel this country forward, none of the other parties have so far presented to the electorate what plans they have that is comparable or superior to that offered by the present PPP/C Government.

Rather, the main fo -

cus by the APNU-AFC coalition is to be critical of the policies of the Administration without coming up with viable and workable alternatives. Simply being critical without offering credible solutions is at best dysfunctional and smacks of a fair measure of deception by the political Opposition.

The failure by the APNU and the AFC to lend parliamentary support to several pieces of legislation aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the country and creating jobs for our

young people put under severe strain their sincerity and credibility as a serious alternative to the incumbent PPP/C Administration. It would take an awful lot of explanation by the APNU-AFC coalition as to why the electorate should entrust in their hands the stewardship of administering the affairs of the state especially when seen against the anti-developmental stance they have taken during the life of the previous parliament.

Hydar Ally

Racism in a...

2008. The victims included degutting of children and sleeping women.

In a subsequent massacre by the same Buxton gang at Bartica, Essequibo, they attacked and murdered another 12 people, mostly Indo Guyanese.

Writing with enriched boldness of pride by his touting, Mr Collins wrote: “Let’s get some facts. Indian and African Guyanese sleep together. In fact, they have been doing so for generations. The evidence is there for all to see.”

First, while Mr Collins does not give the source of his “one love” trophy information, what he does not see, but what is known, is not always written in books or hung on lantern posts.

Has Stokely Carmichael’s, “Black is Beautiful”, lamentably lost its beauty appeal necessary for African redemption? Why do Indians remain targets?

Second, if “sleeping together” is a significant item achievement of Black pride to be displayed with such public glorification, it is effectively Mr Collins ignoble flushing of Mr Carmichael’s “Black is Beautiful” advocacy into the cesspit most tragic.

Is it a defining admission on race? So what’s the purpose of taxpayer-funded ACDA? Third, no race attacks on Indians should be condoned or recur, if the above two points are valid. Should Black men sleeping with Indian women - or whomever - have become the going rate of proud exchange for national peace and harmony, one-third of Guyanese are already mixed (Dr Elizabeth Zechmeister LAPOP poll) .

So who has decided on the “quota” of sacrifice to trigger its termination?

Indians cannot continue paying such a heavy price by their ethnic cleansing and extermination. It must cease.

Fourth, whether Indians are acknowledged or not, as more beautiful, better or worse, on any counts, to elevate them as most preferably, has at no time required any others validation. Neither should others require entitlement alloying and validation. Fifth, Black is indeed beautiful in many more ways than space can list. Is Black cultural progress in everlasting crisis? Shouldn’t it be resolved in house? Black relief can best be found in self sustaining resuscitation of Carmichael’s “Black is Beautiful” programme designed just for Black people.

Behave

What is amusing is Mr Collins’ own confusion and contradictions. He wrote: “I can’t help wondering what fear Dr Jeffrey is talking about that is ‘partly natural’. I know that the politicians have managed to hypnotize a huge number of the citizens of this country, for instance by making us behave as if they own it and rendering us tenants in our own land.” All politicians without exception?

Freedom of the press certainly gives Mr Alexander, Dr Jeffrey and Mr Collins every right to speak their minds in today's democracy. There were no reservations in stating their views. Hopefully Stabroek News will afford me the same courtesy without editing my thrust. Only one tat for those three tits still makes it unfair. Debate cannot make us losers one way or another.

Sultan Mohamed

According to the Afrocentric grouping, there all things must remain that way, one dominant race lauding itself above the others. Whenever they in their warped mind visualize another racial group taking up an appointment then, suddenly, the race tune is turned up full blast.

On the other hand when another member of that same dominant race group is selected as in the case of the present Vice Chancellor, and he for some reason is perceived as not carrying out their biased wishes, then he becomes a target for persecution.

Their dogma is, once you appear to "side with the Government" you automatically become a "soup drinker" or a "PPP/C man or woman" and one who "does not like Black people". In this regard you are to be treated with scorn.

A Vice Chancellor who is giving his all towards the upliftment of this beleaguered university can be categorized as being biased? Is this another sick joke! Come on, it just does not make any sense.

Where is the biased behaviour on the Vice Chancellor's part? But it makes perfect sense for them because it is that unconscious decision that is riveted in their psyche when they make these ridiculous claims.

It defies reason and common sense that one doing what is right like reducing the deficit in a substantial way, can be called a racist or a soup drinker? Isn't the reduction of the deficit beneficial to all, all Guyanese, so where is the racism?

Where is the dislike

for the race coming from? We turn our attention to the allocation of houses in the squatter settlements. Here you get another clear view of what they call "non racial" moves.

Let's take Sophia as an example. It is predominantly a Black housing area. This according to them is right and good. After all, Black people need housing. As if only Blacks are deserving house lots?

The Indian is rich and we Black people are poor. They (Indian) are racial. Well, I am not so sure of that "Black people poor, racial talk”, because I am Black and I am not poor. I also know of a large group of Blacks who are not poor also.

That group of Blacks are ambitious, hardworking and are in the upward mobility class; people who are gainfully occupied and thinking straight. So, coming back to the discussion, depending on who you talk to, racism has this nebulous, stupid connotation in Guyana.

What is very visible in Guyana is a narrow, jaundiced and at best distorted view of a misguided group. Their understanding of racism is my race is superior to every other race, hence prejudice, discrimination and antagonism should be directed by them against that other racial group. This is their racism grandiose, Guyana style. Therefore, I rhetorically ask the question, what is racism to prove a specific point? In Guyana it is really a discussion in nonsense.

Neil Adams

Trophy Stall badminton...

Cadogan, Singh, Liu early winners

Lesha Singh, Baoxiang Liu and Abosaide Cadogan emerged winners in their respective categories when the Guyana Badminton Association/ Trophy Stall annual age group singles tournament commenced Saturday at the Queen’s College Badminton Courts.

Players from different schools around Georgetown participated in the Under-11, U-13, U-15 and U-19 junior events.

The Under-11 Girls Singles was won by Singh; the Under-11 Boys Singles was won by Liu of China, and Cadogan won the Under-13 Girls category.

Results from the matches played are as follows: Under-19 Boys Singles Round 1: Akili Haynes defeated Josh Odit 21-10, 21-18.

Under-19 Boys Singles Quarter-Finals: Narayan Ramdhani defeated Akili Haynes 21-10, 21-18.

Jonathan Mangra defeated Ransell Ramsaroop 21-5, 21-14.

Under-19 Boys Singles Semi-Finals: Narayan Ramdhani defeated Hemraj Beharry 21-12, 21-1. Jonathan Mangra defeated Tyreese Jeffrey 21-10, 21-12.

Under-19 Girls Singles Quarter-Finals: Priyanna Ramdhani defeated

Nyckelle Yearwood 21-0, 21-4. Abosaide Cadogan defeated Andrea Bernard 21-1, 21-2.

Under-19 Girls Singles Semi-Finals: Priyanna Ramdhani defeated Shonatta Lowe 21-10, 21-5.

Abosaide Cadogan defeated Amanda Daniels 21-3, 21-6.

Under-15 Boys Singles Semi-Finals:

HJ Day of Sports scheduled for March 29

– Boom Concert cancelled in support of Guyana v St Lucia football clash

Hits and Jams (HJ)

Entertainment is set to host its second annual Day of Sports to commemorate the anniversary of its radio station coming in air on March 29.

The organisers broke the news on Tuesday during a press conference, highlighting that as was the case last year, Team Lightning would be up against Team Quick as well as other organisations such as a combined media team to determine an overall winner of the event.

HJ Directors Rawle Ferguson and Kerwin Bollers expressed their gratitude to their sponsors of the event while highlighting that their aim was to provide the populace with a chance to have some fun as well as to mix with the entertainers, influential figures and media representatives.

Meanwhile, HJ cancelled its annual Boom Concert

that was scheduled for Sunday in an effort to encourage Guyanese to support the Golden Jaguars football team’s clash with St Lucia at the National Stadium, Providence.

In addition, it has provided free advertisements to the Normalisation Committee of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) for the

clash with St Lucia as well as the clash with Grenada set for March 29.

Bollers and Ferguson also revealed that they planned to wrap up their Day of Sports early in order for their supporters to make their way to the stadium for the clash against Grenada on the same day. (Treiston Joseph)

Haynes defeated Ransell Ramsaroop 21-12, 21-5.

Under-15 Girls Singles Quarter-Finals: Siya Persaud defeated Selena Persaud 21-8, 21-2.

Under-15 Girls Singles Semi-Finals: Priyanna Ramdhani defeated Cassia Lewis 21-6, 21-7. Abosaide Cadogan defeated

Siya Persaud 21-9, 21-7.

Under-13 Boys Singles Semi-Finals: Baoxiang Liu defeated Etan Bianchini 21-3.

Under-13 Girls Singles Semi-Finals: Abosaide Cadogan defeated Wonita Yang 21-4. Siys Persaud defeated Priyanka Shivnauth 21-3.

Watson vows to make most of 2nd chance

Shane Watson is determined to make sure he cannot be dropped again after winning back his place in Australia's Cricket World Cup squad.

All-rounder Shane Watson has vowed to make the most of the second chance handed to him by Australia's selectors.

Watson was dropped for Australia's fourth match of the Cricket World Cup group stage against Afghanistan after a soft dismissal for just 23 at the hands of Daniel Vettori in their dramatic defeat to tournament co-hosts New Zealand.

But he was brought back for the win over Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground, posting a useful 67, and will likely be relied upon to produce the good again in Friday's quarter-final with Pakistan.

"I wasn't expecting to play after being dropped for the Afghanistan game for the rest of the tournament," Watson said.

"[Chief selector] Rod Marsh at that time made it very clear what their inten-

tions were.

"It was unbelievably disappointing. When it really sunk in I'd been dropped, it really hurt.

"It's just amazing how quickly things can turn around.

"I know [being dropped] is going to hold me in good stead over the next couple of years hopefully, because I don't want to be feeling like that again.

"I'm going to be doing everything I can to make sure

I make the most of this opportunity now."

Speaking about the challenge presented by Pakistan, Watson added: "They can play some incredible cricket, as they have in times I've played against them, but they also can self-destruct quite quickly as well.

"That's the reason why Pakistan are so dangerous especially in a knock-out game like this quarter-final."

(Digicel Sportsmax)

Cricket World Cup 2015: Are too many runs being scored?

It is enough to make bowlers pack up their boots and take the first flight home.

If it's not Chris Gayle heaving over the leg side, it's Brendon McCullum charging down the pitch and flat-batting through the covers. If it's not Kumar Sangakkara torturing fielders like a sadistic surgeon, it's AB de Villiers sweeping fast bowlers for six - with one hand.

The 2015 World Cup has been the most run-thirsty of all time: record scores, more sixes and more centuries than ever before. Fielders have become spectators and spectators have become fielders.

Why is the bat so dominant? Why are bowlers so powerless? And does a runfest actually make good cricket?

The numbers

In case you need proof, the statistics provide conclusive evidence that this World Cup in Australia and New Zealand has been all about the batsmen.

• With seven matches still to play, there have already been more team totals over 300 (25), more centuries (35) and more sixes (388) than any other World Cup

Australia's 417-6 against Afghanistan is the highest World Cup total

• Chris Gayle's 215 for West Indies against Zimbabwe is the highest individual score in the tournament's history

• Teams are scoring faster than any other World Cup - 5.63 runs per over

150, off 64 balls, against West Indies

• Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara became the first man to score hundreds in four successive one-day internationals

The Twenty20 effect

Much is made of the advantages given to batsmen - better bats, smaller bound-

Bowlers are finding wickets harder to come by - they cost 32.71 runs each

New Zealander Brendon McCullum's 18-ball fifty against England was the fastest World Cup half-century

South Africa's AB de Villiers hit the quickest

aries, pitches that encourage dazzling strokeplay.

But the increase in runs is most often attributed to the 2012 change in ODI playing conditions. Whereas teams were once allowed five fielders outside the 30yard circle, they can now have only four.

"If you have one less man

outside the ring, batters are targeting where the gap is," Ireland batsman Ed Joyce told BBC Sport.

"The skill level of the batters is exceptionally good and they are making bowlers bowl differently. When bowlers do something they don't want to do, they don't do it as well."

However, the change in regulations does not fully explain the heavy scoring, because batsmen are only just taking full advantage.

At the 2011 World Cup, the average runs per over was 5.03, while between 2013 and 2014 it was 5.20. In this tournament, that figure has jumped to 5.63.

With Twenty20 now more than 10 years old and fully embedded into a batsman's psyche, are we seeing the shortest form of the game finally impose a total influence on 50-over cricket?

"The batsmen have taken T20 cricket into the one-day game," said former Australia all-rounder Andrew McDonald.

"They have taken it to a new level with so many shots, the ability to score through 360 degrees. They have the confidence to play them in any game."

What can bowlers do about it?

At the moment, not a great deal.

Even a rule change that was thought likely to help bowlers has gone the other way. Using two balls, one at each end, was supposed to offer more assistance, but instead keeps the balls harder for longer so they travel further and faster off the bat.

"It's always tough to be a bowler. All the rules are against us," said South

Africa pace bowler Dale Steyn.

"We're starting to realise if bowlers can go for between eight runs and 10 an over in the last 10, you're actually doing a pretty good job."

Those have made the ball swing - the likes of Australia's Mitchell Starc and New Zealand pair Tim Southee and Trent Boult - have had success, but how do bowlers curb scoring when there is no assistance, particularly in the final overs of an innings?

"There are different theories - bowl short to use the square fielders - but I still feel the yorker is the best ball," said Pakistan coach Waqar Younis.

"I'm glad I'm not playing, because it is unfair to bowlers."

Do more runs mean more exciting cricket?

Seeing the ball constantly flayed to the boundary might be entertaining for some, but it makes for onesided contests in more ways than one. Not only is the ball struggling to compete with the bat, but a huge first-innings total often means the

game is over by the halfway stage.

Of the 20 completed World Cup games in Australia, 14 have been won by the side batting first. On the 20 occasions across the whole tournament that a team have posted in excess of 300, the side batting second have won only three times.

"A massive first-innings score kills the game," said BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew. "The team batting second is under so much pressure that they feel they have to go hard all the way through. They lose early wickets, then the game is gone."

In contrast, some of the most thrilling matches have been low-scoring. New Zealand chased Australia's 151 to win by one wicket, the same for Afghanistan as they overhauled Scotland's 210.

"The world wants entertainment, fours and big sixes," said Waqar. "Weighting the game in favour of the batsmen is a crowd-pulling thing, but it should be an even contest." (BBC Sport)

Injured Irfan out of World Cup

akistan fast bowler

PMohammad Irfan has been ruled out of the World Cup with a stress fracture of the pelvis. Pakistan's team management will call for a replacement only if the team wins Friday's quarter-final, against Australia in Adelaide, according to a PCB release.

The release said Irfan had undergone an MRI scan on Monday afternoon, which showed a stress injury of the pelvis but did not reveal the specifics. Pakistan's physiotherapist, Brad Robinson, then ordered a more detailed scan, which was done on Tuesday and confirmed a stress fracture.

"This injury rules Irfan out of the World Cup", Robinson said in the release.

The 7ft 1in Irfan has had trouble with his hip previously, suffering two fractures in the ischium bone of his hip in November

2013 that sidelined him till August 2014. In that period he had undergone extensive rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

He is the third player out of Pakistan's originally selected 15 to fall prey to injury, after Mohammad Hafeez and Junaid Khan. He had missed Pakistan's last group match, against Ireland on Sunday, due to the injury. Pakistan have preferred to play four specialist fast bowlers in this World Cup, meaning Ehsan Adil replaced Irfan for the Ireland game. (Cricifo)

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Arsenal eliminated from champions league on away goals rule

Arsenal failed to make the Champions League last eight for the fifth straight season despite beating Monaco in the second leg of their last16 tie.

Needing to score at least three unanswered away goals after a 3-1 defeat at home, they went ahead through Olivier Giroud's close-range finish.

A lively Danny Welbeck went close to doubling the lead before half-time.

And although Aaron Ramsey came off the bench to score late on, with Giroud going close again, Monaco held on.

It was a heartbreaking end to Arsenal's European campaign as they came agonisingly close to scoring the third away goal they needed to progress, a feat never before achieved in the Champions League era.

All over the pitch Arsene Wenger's side were vastly improved from the defeat at Emirates Stadium last month and they ensured that Monaco conceded their first Champions League goals at the Stade Louis II this season.

Arguably, though, the Gunners lost this tie in the first leg through their defensive fragility, where

NBA roundup…

they conceded a crucial goal in the 90th minute.

And although they continued their fine form with an eighth win from nine games, that blip in the first leg was enough to ensure Monaco reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 2004.

Giroud was among those who were widely mocked in the first game, but after the Gunners withstood some early pressure, the French striker was a key influence and combined cleverly alongside the impressive Welbeck.

After he had headed just wide and Laurent Koscielny turned a freekick onto the Monaco crossbar but was wrongly ruled offside, the visitors established control and could have been at least two goals ahead before the break.

Giroud gave Wenger's side the lead when he latched onto Welbeck's through ball and managed to steer his shot in at the near post after Danijel Subasic had blocked his first effort. Two minutes later Welbeck was unlucky not to join him on the scoresheet when his rasping drive was blocked by the prostrate Monaco de -

fender Aymen Abdennour. With Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez providing pace and width up front, Arsenal continued to cause problems for the Ligue 1 side as Mesut Ozil went close with a free-kick and flashed another effort wide.

But the hosts, who had had one more day's rest than their opponents, regained their composure around the 60-minute mark and caused some nervy moments in the Arsenal defence before Wenger brought on Ramsey and Theo Walcott in search of a second goal. It paid dividends as the substitutes combined for Arsenal's second with 11 minutes left, Walcott striking the post from a leftwing cross before Ramsey got on the end of Layvin Kurzawa's poor clearance.

Giroud almost tucked in at the back post from a free-kick but perhaps he was guilty in putting off the better-placed Sanchez. In the end, Arsenal were left frustrated and repeated the same results in their two-legged defeat by Bayern Munich two years ago. This, though, will be harder to swallow. (BBC sport)

heat snap cavs winning streak

Dwayne Wade collected 21 of his 32 points in the first half, Goran Dragic scored 20 and the Miami Heat handed LeBron James another loss on his former home floor with a 106-92 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night.

Hassan Whiteside had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Heat, which won both of James' regular-season visits to Miami this season — his first two games back since leaving the team and returning to Cleveland last summer. Miami closed the first half on a 19-5 run to take a 56-38 lead and pushed the margin to 25 in the third.

James scored 16 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter for Cleveland, which had its four-game winning streak snapped. Kyrie Irving added 21.

Dallas 119, Oklahoma City 115: Chandler Parsons scored 31 points, Dirk Nowitzki had 22 with some clutch three-pointers, and the Mavericks rallied from 15 down in the third quarter to take sole possession of fifth place in the Western Conference. Russell Westbrook had 24 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds but fouled out in the final minute for the Thunder, half a game ahead of New Orleans for the eighth and final playoff spot.

Toronto 117, Indiana 98: Kyle Lowry's triple-double

(20 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) helped the Raptors (40-27) set a franchise record by reaching the 40-win plateau in their 67th game. They'd never done it in fewer than 70.

Washington 105, Portland 97: John Wall had 21 points, 11 assists, nine rebounds and two blocks, and the Wizards held on after letting a 25-point lead dwindle to three.

Memphis 92, Denver 81: Zach Randolph had 21 points and 16 rebounds, and the Grizzlies held off the Nuggets, whose winning streak ended at four on a night when they rested starters Ty Lawson, Kenneth Faried and Danilo

Utah 94, Charlotte 66: The Jazz set a club record with 12 three-pointers in the first half (in 15 attempts), building a 61-30 halftime lead and rolling to their season-best sixth straight win. Boston 108, Philadelphia 89: Tyler Zeller scored a career-high 26 points and the Celtics won their fifth straight, a season high.

Atlanta 110, Sacramento 103: Paul Millsap had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Jeff Teague scored 23 and the Hawks held off the Kings.

Brooklyn

Minnesota

Joe Johnson scored 22 points, and the Nets won their second straight after a five-game skid. (The

Preparations in advanced stage for “Clash of the Titans” horse race meet

The “Clash of the Titans” horse race meet, slated for the Port Mourant Turf Club, Corentyne, Berbice on Sunday, is in an advanced stage of preparation.

The principals of the “Four Horsemen Promotion”, the organisers, have already put most systems in place for the event.

With entries topping the 70-horse mark, organisers have put together an impressive eight-race programme for the meet, with over $7 million up for grabs.

It promises to be an event with a difference with the best horses in the country down to participate. An impressive line-up of animals have already entered, including the newly imported Diplomatic Cat; Guyana’s only A class animal, Score’s Even; Treacle; CP Got Even; Curfew Tower; Princess She Not; Plum Plum; California Strike; Spit Fire; Country Armage; Appealing Harvest; Captain Crook; and Tiz A Holiday.

However, in an effort to improve the standard of horse racing in Guyana, the Four Horsemen Promotion is putting a number of initiatives in place, although the event will be held under the rules of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA).

This is in keeping with an agreement and commitment coming out of the last GHRA meeting held at Rising Sun Turf Club.

The members appointed to the classification committee were tasked with overhauling the entire classification system to reflect the ratings system used worldwide.

This means many horses

Score’s

winning last Sunday’s race meet at the Kennard Memorial Turf Club

will move out of their class, particularly many of the imported horses stuck in D3 and G3. The new format will see these horses being allowed to participate in lower class races. To simplify matters, the organisers are accommodating the D3 maidens and non-earners in the last six months in the fouryear-old West Indies Bred race.

This race will now be the 1500 metres open to all horses classified D3 maiden and non-earners in the same category for the last six months of under $300,000 and all other lower classes and ratings of horses.

The feature A and lower event over 1600 metres has a rewarding $1.2 million winner’s purse and the “Clash of the Titans” Cup.

A prize of $400,000 and a trophy is available for the winner of the three-year-old event for West Indies Bred horses over 1200 metres.

The G1 and Lower 1200 metres race fetches the winner $320,000 and a trophy.

The 1200 metres threeyear-old Guyana bred and I and Lower race has a first prize of $300,000 and a trophy.

The G3 Maiden and H and Lower 1200 metres race has $300,000 and a trophy set aside for the winner.

The J1 and Lower 1100 metres event has a firstplace prize of $240,000 and trophy.

The J3 and Lower race will also be an 1100m race for $200,000 and a trophy.

The top Jockey, along with the runner up, the top stable and champion trainer will all be presented with trophies and other incentives, compliments of the Trophy Stall and the organisers.

The next race organised by the group is fixed for August 2 at the same venue.

(Rajiv Bisnauth)

SSimply White Spa donates MVP trophy to Kashif and Shanghai tourney

Simple White Spa, a cosmetic teeth whitening establishment, donated the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament trophy for this year’s Kashif and Shanghai Football Tournament on Tuesday.

K&S Organisation CoDirector Aubrey “Shanghai” Major received the trophy from the proprietors, Tristell and Karen Manifold, who are first-time sponsors of the Tournament, which kicks off on Friday at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) Ground.

The proprietors highlighted that it was time to give back to the community and partnering with one of Guyana’s leading football tournaments was a step in that direction.

Located at the corner of Louisa Row and Norton Street, the establishment

opened its doors in July of 2014, offering aesthetic dental care and the siblings said that they were happy to be

Anamayah Memorial basketball

part of the Tournament which has played its part in helping to develop the country’s football.

final... Rose Hall Jammers declared winners after Smythfield’s no show

Rose Hall Jammers have been declared the winners of the second annual Anamayah Memorial basketball tournament.

The Corentyne team was declared winners on Sunday when Smythfield Rockers failed to show for the final slated for the Area H Ground at Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne).

Fans were disappointed as a keen competition was expected between last year’s finalist and the Jammers who sent the defending champions, New Amsterdam Warriors, pack-

ing with a 49-40 win in their semi-final game.

The Rockers had reached the final after disposing of newcomers to Berbice basketball, Hopetown Strikers in another semi-final encounter.

The competition, which was played on a round-robin basis, saw six teams participating.

While the tournament might have ended on a disappointing note, there were a lot of positives coming out of the 10-week competition.

Foremost was the emergence of the Hopetown Strikers, a team which entered Berbice basketball for

the first time and created two upsets – beating Ithaca Hardliners and then the Fyrish Black Sharks in the biggest upset of the tournament.

Secondly, it was the first time since the resuscitation of the Berbice Basketball Association (BBA) that the Jammers had reached a final of a Berbice basketball competition.

The Jammers, now with the bragging rights, were on Sunday presented with the Anamayah Memorial trophy and cash incentives. The tournament was organised by Vibert Garnet. (Andrew Carmichael)

Sanasie urges Guyana Jaguars to finish tournament on high note

Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Secretary Anand Sanasie urged Guyana Jaguars, who with one match left to be played, are guaranteed the West Indies Cricket Board’s Professional Cricket League Four-Day title, to win the Tournament on a high note.

Sanasie told the team at the Ogle International Airport just before they departed for Dominica for the final game against the Windward Islands that winning must become a habit, as that was what made champions legends.

“Professional athletes and successful teams understand that winning must become a habit and this is what makes champions become legends,” the GCB Secretary highlighted. He emphasised that even though Guyana

Jaguars have won the Regional Four-Day title, they must not take the fi -

nal match lightly, for it was their opportunity to continue their dominance.

PMTC knocked out of Suriname volleyball tourney in semis

Port Mourant Training Centre (PMTC) went down by one point in a semi-final clash of the Yelyco Invitational Tourney recently at the Lyco II Sporthal in the Surinamese capital of Paramaribo.

After arriving in Paramaribo, they were forced to play their first game hours later against top club and host Yelyco and went down in the new format, 20/20 style, three sets to one – 20-11, 20-15, 14-20 and 20-16.

The following day, the local boys were at full strength and recorded back-to-back wins that sent them through to the semi-finals – a 3-1 win over Livo (20-16, 20-14, 16-20 and 20-15) and a 3-0 thrashing of Gideon (20-6, 20-14 and 20-12).

On day three of the tournament, PMTC came up against the number two ranked team in Suriname, Yellow Birds and lost 3-2 after 2-0, eventually going down 20-17, 20-18, 17-20, 18-20 and 17-20.

PMTC again faced Yellow Birds in the semi-final and the result was the same, losing 3-1 – 20-14, 1520, 15-20 and 19-20. It was a heartbreaking loss as they were one game away from what would have been their maiden final overseas.

Nonetheless, PMTC were outstanding and at times won the hearts of the Surinamese supporters who had high praise for their ace players in Quacy Matheson and Trevorn Mc Rae.

Meanwhile, the local female squad was selected to be part of the five-team female segment and also did very well although six players suited up for three of the four games due to injury issues.

The ladies lost their opening night game to tournament runners-up Yelyco Ladies 3-0 (20-8, 20-7 and 20-9). They came back the following day and went down 3-0 to Gideon, losing 20-14, 20-16 and 20-13.

With injuries stepping in and three games played

within a few hours, the ladies showed grit and determination to battle the stronger and well-balanced outfits, but lost to Avanti 3-0 (20-11, 2017 and 20-12.

In the final game, with only four players fit, they lost the first set and were forced to forfeit the other two sets to the National Women’s Champs of Suriname, Condors.

The ladies’ performance was considered a great showing as they were not expected to do much in the competition. Prior to leaving Guyana, the ladies had no preparation as a team.

Sponsorship of both teams was made possible by the Berbice Volleyball Association, National Insurance Scheme, Guyana Sugar Corporation, Office of the President, Guyana Beverage Inc, Trophy Stall Bourda Market, William Boston, GTCPM, Satesh Car Rental, KP Jagdeo Construction, Club Fiesta, and Canawima Ferry Inc. (Andrew Carmichael)

Port Mourant gets Guyana’s 1st...

The laying of the surface was completed in two days and was undertaken by BVA Vice President Godwin Allicock with assistance from apprentices of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) Training Centre at Port Mourant spearheaded by Krishendat Etwaroo.

According to Allicock, the new court will see better quality volleyball being played in Berbice and it is expected to facilitate more of the county’s players making the national team.

When commissioned, the Port Mourant Volleyball Court will also host more international games. Allicock on behalf of the BVA has expressed gratitude to the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry, Guyana Defence Force, GTCPM, GuySuCo, D Balram Shane, Rose Hall Town, the President and Executives of the Port Mourant Cricket Club, Krishendat Etwaroo, Kavesh Persaud, Leon Stewart, Daniel Gowkarran, Navendra Ashram, Timothy

Adams, Narendra Persaud, Avishkar Jagasar, Rajeev Persaud, Michael Mahadeo, Kumar Persaud, Terry Bukal, Deonauth Ally, Shoaib S Isahack, Rakesh Tortaram, Calvin Garnett, and Marvin Gangaram.

Asked about a commissioning date, Allicock told Guyana Times Sports that they were waiting on Sport Minister, Dr Frank Anthony and Executives of the Guyana Volleyball Federation. (Andrew Carmichael)

“Let your final match act as a catalyst for the next tournament as upon your return and a short time off, you would begin preparation for the next season.”

After nine rounds, Guyana sits victoriously at the top of the points table with 130 points, 22 points ahead of Barbados Pride. Windward Islands Volcanoes is on 106,

Jamaica Franchise on 68, Trinidad and Tobago Red Force on 60 and Leeward Islands Hurricanes on 37. Since a team can only score a maximum of 20 points in a game, the Jaguars’ lead is impossible to overhaul.

The final round begins on Friday, March 20. Jaguars’ team reads: Rajendra Chandrika; Assad Fudadin; Leon Johnson (Captain);

and Ronsford Beaton. The Coach is Esuan Crandon and the Assistant Coach/Manager is Rayon Griffith.

Jaguars to be crowned Regional First-Class champions

– name unchanged squad, Chanderpaul inches closer to first-class landmark

After earning seven points from the drawn encounter against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force on Monday in the penultimate round of the West Indies Cricket Board’s Professional Cricket League Four-Day Tournament at the Guyana National Stadium, the Guyana Jaguars were an unassailable 22 points clear of nearest rivals Barbados Pride with one round of matches remaining.

They face Windward Islands Volcanoes in the final round, starting this Friday at Windsor Park in Dominica.

Based on the points standing, the Jaguars will be crowned the new Regional First-Class champions at the end of the tournament. It will be their first title since 1998.

Based on the allocation of points, a team can earn a maximum of 20 points at the end of each game. The Guyana Jaguars are on 130 points followed by Barbados Pride on 108; Windwards Volcanoes, 106; Jamaica

Franchise, 68; T&T Red Force, 60 and Leeward Hurricanes on 37.

Meanwhile, veteran West Indies left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul inched closer to yet another landmark in his illustrious career.

Chanderpaul stroked an unbeaten 69 in the Jaguars’ second innings and moved within sight of 25,000 firstclass runs, with just 38 required to reach the landmark.

The Jaguars have named an unchanged squad for the penultimate round. They departed for Dominica on Tuesday.

Guyana Jaguars squad: Leon Johnson (Captain); Rajendra Chandrika; Assad Fudadin; Narsingh Deonarine; Shivnarine Chanderpaul; Vishaul Singh; Raymon Reifer; Christopher Barnwell; Anthony Bramble; Veerasammy Permaul; Devendra Bishoo; Keon Joseph; and Ronsford Beaton.

Port Mourant gets Guyana’s 1st outdoor synthetic volleyball court

The court after being completed

Guyana’s first synthetic outdoor volleyball court will soon be commissioned at the Port Mourant Community Centre, Corentyne, Berbice. The $6 million facility replaces the concrete surface

which was considered the number one court for volleyball in Berbice. The venture was a collaborative effort of the Guyana Volleyball Federation; the Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA); Albion/ Port Mourant Sugar Estate; and the Culture, Youth and Sport Ministry. When commissioned, the court will fall under the Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB).

Bakewell, exclusive sponsor of Slingerz FC

Bakewell will now be the exclusive sponsor of top football club Slingerz FC, with the team now labelled Bakewell Slingerz FC. Both sides revealed the new partnership on Tuesday at Bakewell’s Albert Street, Georgetown branch. Bakewell Manager Rajin Ganga was pleased to partner with the West Coast side which has risen to prominence in the past three years.

Upcoming World Cup matches (with Guyana time)

Wednesday: 2nd Quarter-Final, Bangladesh v India, 23:30h Thursday: 3rd Quarter-Final, Australia v Pakistan, 23:30h Friday: 4th Quarterfinal, New Zealand v West Indies, 21:00h

Bakewell Manager Rajin Ganga (on the left) hands over the sponsorship cheque to Slingerz Managing Director Javed Ali

“Certainly, it’s a big occasion for us, especially ahead of the Kashif and Shanghai Tournament, and we look forward to success and a fruitful partnership,” Ganga stated.

Slingerz FC Public Relations Officer (PRO) Rawle Toney thanked the sponsors on behalf of the top ranked side and noted that Slingerz would produce the goods come game time.

The sponsorship deal is expected to last the remainder of the year, and is effective from Friday when the Kashif and Shanghai Tournament starts. (Treiston Joseph)