Guyana Times Daily - February 25, 2015

wednesday, february 25, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana inks US$32.16M IDB loans

... for security, environment management

Guyana last week signed two separate loans valued US$32.16 million with InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) to improve environmental management and strengthen citizen security.

The loans were signed at the Fourth IDB Caribbean IDB Governors Regional Meeting held in Freeport, The Bahamas, on February 19, 2015. Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh represented Guyana at the signing while, IDB President, Luis Alberto Moreno signed on behalf of the Bank.

According to a statement by the Bank the loan for environment management to the tune of US$17.16M is the second loan operation in the environment programme that was approved by the IDB in 2013.

Approval was made possible by full achievement of all the policy reforms agreed in 2013; as well as the maintenance of an appropriate macroeconomic policy framework. The programme will support the consolidation of Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and REDD+

(Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation).

The activities under this operation include: (a) organising multi-stakeholder consultations; (b) supporting the implementation of a transparent, rules-based, and inclusive accountability and enforcement system for forest governance; (c) aiding MNRE’s efforts to minimize and manage forest degradation from extractive activities, in particular from mining; (d) integrating land use planning; and (e) operating a reliable Monitoring,

Reporting and Verification System (MRVS) for these activities.

According to the IDB the loan comes 50 per cent from the IDB’s ordinary capital, with a 30-year maturity, and a 6-year grace period, and 50 per cent from the IDB’s Fund for Special Operations, with a single payment upon a 40-year gratuity, with a fixed interest rate.

Citizen security

Regarding the citizen security programme the loan is valued at $15 million. It was approved by the Board of Directors on December 10, 2014. It is the second in this sector since 2006 and is designed to build on the achievements of the Citizen Security Programme (1752/ SF-GY) and to enhance sustainability of the achievements of that earlier operation, the IDB said.

According to the Bank the loan comes 50 per cent from the IDB’s ordinary capital, with a 30-year maturity, and a 6-year grace period, and 50 per cent from the IDB’s Fund for Special Operations, with a single payment upon a 40year gratuity, with a fixed interest rate.

The citizen security programme helps communities better resolve conflicts in non-violent ways, improves police effectiveness and availability of crime data, and provides opportunities to rehabilitate and reinsert prisoners back into society.

Guyana´s homicide rates have nearly doubled since 2000, to 20.7 per 100,000, and the country suffers from high rates of robberies and domestic violence, with one out of every six women reporting physical abuse in

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) today will hold its 5th Delegates’ Conference, under the theme “Upholding Democracy and Struggle for Social Transformation” Minister of Labour, Dr Nanda K Gopaul who is also an expert in Industrial Relations will declare the Conference after he provided the feature address, FITUG said in a release.

The Conference, the Federation’s highest decision-making forum, will see some seventy-five (75) delegates from its affiliates –

the past year, the IDB said. The project will focus on 20 communities that have the highest rates of homicides, robberies, burglaries and domestic violence. The operation will finance a series of surveys to measure changes in levels of crime victimisation and citizens’ perception of security, a national survey to understand the extent and causes of domestic violence and violence against women as well as a crime and violence study in Amerindian communities.

The programme aims to certify 8400 individuals in vocational training and conduct 240 training workshops to community members, ranging from mentoring programs to job placement.

The project will set up an evidence-based community policing model that includes training, technological improvements, and crime and violence surveys to improve data availability. About 3400 officers are to receive community engagement training and 1700 in will attend courses on forensic and investigation techniques. Actions to improve rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners include a prison census in five prisons and the design a new case management system, among other outputs.

Half of the $15 million loan is financed from the IDB´s Fund for Special Operations, which carries a 0.25 per cent interest rate and a 40-year amortization period. The remainder is financed from ordinary capital with a fixed interest rate and a 30-year amortization period.

the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the Guyana Labour Union (GLU), the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) and the Clerical and Commercial Workers Union (CCWU) – attending the Conference.

Delegates will review the Organisation’s work taking into account the Federation’s activities since the 4th Conference. The Conference will also elect a new Executive Committee, approve a number of resolutions.

FERRY SCHEDULE

WEATHER TODAY

Parliament to be dissolved on Saturday

The 10th Parliament of Guyana along with the 10 Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) will be dissolved on Saturday, President Donald Ramotar has announced, confirming earlier reports issued by Guyana Times

This announcement comes approximately 36 days after he proclaimed that the General and Regional Elections would be held on May 11.

In delivering this most recent proclamation on Tuesday, President Ramotar disclosed his reason for not dissolving Parliament on January 20 when he announced that elections would be held in May.

“I did not dissolve the Parliament at the same time because had I done so, the Claims and Objections Period, which also allows for transfers, would have been truncated. Were the latter to have occurred, thousands of Guyanese voters who changed their place of residence would not have been able to obtain their transfers and this could have led to them being disenfranchised. The Claims and Objection Period ended last Sunday, February 22, 2015, clearing the way for me to dissolve the Parliament.”

In his address to the na-

tion, President Ramotar reiterated his earlier position that he had no other choice than to prorogue the 10th Parliament in November 2014 and subsequently call elections, due to failed negotiations with the Opposition.

“As I explained then, that action was taken to allow the parties in Parliament additional opportunities to talk and hopefully resolve the pressing national issues that were confronting us …. Unfortunately, the Opposition refused to dialogue and I was left with no option, but to call elections for May 11, 2015.”

But shortly after setting a date for elections, the

GECOM swears

in

President came in for major criticism over his failure to dissolve Parliament.

Legal parameters

Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman was among persons who questioned the reason behind the President’s refusal to dissolve Parliament at the time.

Trotman had said that while there were no legal constraints, it has been the convention for three clear months of campaigning to be made available following the Parliament’s dissolution.

According to Trotman, Article 61 of the Constitution specifies that elections be held “within” three months of the dissolution of Parliament.

Trotman had acknowledged that there “may very well be a six-week sprint” to elections, while outlining that some other Caribbean countries have had just over a month. “It is not uncommon,” he had said.

Nandlall had explained that the law also adumbrated another requirement: political parties must present their lists of candidates some 32 days prior to the planned date for elections to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).

The Attorney General said if one counted backwards and subtracted the 32 days which must be available for the political parties to submit their lists, then the President can choose to dissolve Parliament any date before this time period expired. Thirty-two days before May 11 would be April 9.

President Ramotar on November 10, 2014, issued a proclamation proroguing the National Assembly just before the Alliance For Change (AFC) moved a NoConfidence Motion against his Administration. The Head of State insisted that the move was intended to ensure that development was not curtailed at the hands of the Opposition and the parties could engage in meaningful talks. But after Parliament’s prorogation, the parliamentary political parties say they were not interested in any such engagement.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall had explained that the Head of State could dissolve Parliament any date after February 12 this year. He argued that the Constitution required that Parliament “must be dissolved within three months” of the date announced for elections.

Returning Officers

– urges them to stage “impeccable 2015 elections”

As part of its preparations for the staging of the upcoming General and Regional Elections, the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has sworn in Returning Officers for each of the 10 districts. These officials are responsible for the conduct of elections in the various districts.

At the ceremony where the group took the oath of office, Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield stated that they had undergone an expansive management training programme in September 2014. He noted that the group of mostly men was “knowledgeable of the issues to be treated with and with guidance provided by us (GECOM Secretariat) they will be the ones who will be carrying out the mandate of the Commission”.

According to an advisory for contesting political parties, “as soon as practicable after the receipt of all the ballot boxes and the envelopes and packets delivered to the Returning Officer, the Returning Officer shall, in the presence of such persons entitled to be present..., ascertain the total votes cast in favour of each list in the district by adding up the votes recorded in favour of the list in accordance with the Statement of Poll, and thereupon publicly declare the votes recorded for each list of candidates.”

The Returning Officers in order of district from 1 to 10 are Murphy De Souza, Rabinauth Boodram,

other requirements for the efficient conduct will be provided so you can do an excellent job,” he added. Meanwhile, in a brief charge to the Returning Officers, GECOM Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally stated that the team had a mandate to deliver a flawless electoral process. “If you read your training manual regards in the functions of the Returning Officer, there are thoughts that reflect our desire that you create history; create history in conducting an impeccable election,” he urged. “I expect that you carry out that oath that you just took to such a degree that no one can fault us later.”

Carlos Melville and Lorna Marks.

“The coming together of these Returning Officers are being done at a time when we are bringing our list in order,” the Chief Elections Officer informed. GECOM is in the Claims and Objections Period following which the Revised List of Electors will be compiled.

Full support

According to Lowenfield, all necessary support will be available to ensure the efficient conduct of Elections 2015. “You can rest assured that guidance will be provid-

ed by the secretariat to you in every subset of your operations. We will be working to ensure that notwithstanding geography, all materials and

Having observed the work of several of the Returning Officers before, Dr Surujbally said he had no doubt that they would deliver despite questions about their ability.

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

Elisabeth Harper

The Peoples Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), after much internal discussions, on February 21 announced career diplomat Elisabeth Ann Harper as its Prime Ministerial candidate for the upcoming May 11 General and Regional elections. The announcement no doubt came as a surprise to those in the Opposition camp and lots of supporters of the PPP/C.

While stating the rationale behind the party’s decision, General Secretary Clement Rohee explained that Harper was both qualified and competent to function as Guyana’s Prime Minister were the PPP/C to win the upcoming elections. He said her selection was unanimous, hinting that the party stayed true to the agreement it had back in 1992 which led to the formation of its ‘Civic’ component.

The PPP/C’s current Presidential Candidate Donald Ramotar appeared confident and upbeat about victory after making the announcement. But their confidence and optimism could not stave off the attacks from A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) which entered a formal coalition on February 14.

These attacks started moments after the announcement on social media and when responses were sought from the coalition leaders to the PPP/C’s decision. Any critical analysis of the comments made by the APNU/AFC coalition about Harper’s selection will reveal that there is an attempt to create a storm in a tea cup.

The Opposition appears to be arguing that Harper’s alleged lack of political experience will make her an incompetent PM if she were to be elected at the polls. The Granger-led coalition is also arguing that Harper’s selection will not affect the outcome of the 2015 polls, as she is unable to garner mass electoral support.

That aside, the coalition group is unable to make any formidable criticism of Harper’s selection as the PPP/C’s PM candidate. It cannot criticize her qualifications; moral stock or her integrity when compared to Nagamootoo..

When compared to Nagamootoo, Harper is seen as a cut above the edge and someone with the ability to move Guyana away from the politics of revenge, hate and vendetta which have been endorsed by Nagamootoo when one considers his actions and utterances in the past.

Why should Harper, who is a mature woman, be critcised for being ambitious? If she was unveiled as APNU’s PM Candidate or a Minister in its proposed Government of National Unity, would there be such a frenzy in our society?

She could swing more non-traditional support towards the PPP/C in what could be Guyana’s most historic and closely contested elections. Harper is also seen as an appealing candidate to women from all walks of life and stands a beacon of hope for those women who are fearful to accept such roles in a political system that is dominated by male chauvinists.

This means that she will face many hurdles and challenges as she prepares to hit the campaign trail especially from a coalition that apparently has no respect for women who are outspoken and passionate about a cause or opponents of bullyism.

Ask Vanessa Kissoon, Gomatie Singh, Volda Lawrence, Valerie Garrido-Lowe and a string of others who have suffered various degrees of injustices at the hands of their male dominated party.

The PPP/C’s decision to select Harper, who is the mother of three girls (Michelle, Melissa and Natasha), is strategic and does not appear to be based on the colour of her skin, nor a desire of the party to appeal to race. The PPP/C has not made any reference to the need for the party to campaign in Afro-Guyanese communities with a candidate of the same ethnicity.

There is no record, public or otherwise, that Harper was brought on board by the PPP/C because she was never affiliated with its bureaucracy. Therefore, the Opposition parties may be underestimating Harper’s appeal as a woman of substance and a professional with an excellent track record.

She is quite similar to Janet Jagan. And just like Janet, she may be able to cause a major upset at the upcoming elections.

What should constitute our Republic Day parade

Dear Editor, I wish to thank the Albertown Police Station for heeding my desperate plea on Monday night and turning up in my Queenstown neighbourhood to shut down the Banks DIH post-Mash noise.

This was after 21:00h. It took the Police an hour to get there, but they did, and for that I am very grateful.

I intended to check whether there is any law that allows a commercial entity to plop itself down in a residential neighbourhood and emit from 10:00h in the morning and onwards a thumping, raucous racket – I think it’s called music – until whenever they decide to turn it off.

But is this about legality or about being good citizens?

And since I am on the subject of the annual dutty wine that serves to mark our

Republican status, I am stating here that I will vote for whichever party is willing to change this annual parade and by doing so change our nation.

We are bent on copying Trinidad and Brazil. Since we are bereft of creativity and cannot make anything of our own, I move that we copy the more decent nations and have a Republic Day parade that we can all be proud of. It is a day to parade our best and finest.

I want to see our Army and Police in dress uniform marching in perfect order down our streets before bands that have rehearsed and are in perfect tune and harmony.

Our Fire Service, Drug Enforcement Unit, our schools and clubs, our Girl Guides and Boy Scouts, our

judo and shakti masters and students, and our commercial sector who will build and display aesthetically pleasing floats to a theme and can compete for prizes – these should constitute our Republic Day parade.

Note that I am not asking for better education or economic systems, or a cleanup of corruption. Whichever of the two Presidential Candidates has the cojones to institute a decent Republic Day celebration will, in that one decisive move, turn this country around.

He will be stating that ours is a proud, law abiding nation where the attributes of decency, neighbourliness, morality, and all around pleasantness like good manners and courtesy are the ones we encourage and reward.

These are the characteris-

tics on which progressive nations are built. What we have and will continue to have for a long, long time is leadership that will now send around a cleanup crew to pick up the droppings of litter that the dutty winers have left behind. I usually flee my home on dutty wine day. This year I stayed. Next year, I will flee again unless the incoming President changes the nature of our Republic Day parade. Given that this will not happen, would he at least change the parade route?

The citizens of Queenstown and Kitty have more than done their duty for country and the annual dutty wine should now be inflicted on another neighbourhood.

Ryhaan Shah

Voters welcome Harper's selection for PM candidacy

Dear Editor,

Although the selection of Elisabeth Harper as the PPP/C Prime Ministerial candidate comes as a complete shock to PPP/C supporters and even to the nation at large, almost everyone has given their approval for the selection.

In a NACTA poll on Prime Ministerial preference, Harper's name was never suggested as a candidate by respondents.

Off course, no one thought Ms Harper has any interest in political office, having served as a diplomat for over 25 years. Among the names mentioned for Prime Ministerial preference by party supporters were Bharrat Jagdeo, Sam Hinds, Robert Persaud, Irfaan Ali, Dr Frank Anthony, Priya Manickchand and Dr Ashnie Singh.

It is generally felt that if Jagdeo were the Prime Ministerial candidate, the PPP/C would win the general election with a majority. Even PNC and AFC support-

ers concede that a RamotarJagdeo combination would lead the PPP/C to victory.

The poll did not test support for a Ramotar-Harper ticket. But voters wanted a fresh face for Prime Minister, while praising Sam Hinds for his service to the nation.

Many commentators say it is doubtful that Ms Harper will bring any more (African and Mixed) support to the PPP/C than what Sam Hinds brought between 1992 and the last election in November 2011.

Nevertheless, as a new face and as a person of integrity and honesty, and as a female Prime Ministerial candidate, she could be an asset to the PPP/C on the campaign trail, since many voters who are sitting on the fence raised integrity as an issue in deciding how they vote.

Also, she can bring some middle class voters who have been turned off by the behaviour of certain officials in the PPP/C.But Ms Harper will have to be on the ground

campaigning hard – house to house. Her rapport with certain voters can sway them into the PPP/C camp. If she spends time with voters engaging them, and she has ten long weeks to do it, she will be a tremendous asset to the PPP/C.

She may not bring much more Africans than what the PPP/C currently obtains, but every vote matters for the PPP/C and she can cement the Indians to the party, given that they are tired of seeing the same old faces for some 22 years.

People want younger political leaders. Voters feel tired of seeing the face of Hinds as Prime Minister, although they respect and admire him and view him as someone of integrity. But they feel there should be a replacement and that the party should give someone new a chance.

Among African names being bandied about as Prime Minister, people felt Sam was the best option; no other African name had significant support.

However, Harper’s name was not in the bag and no one really feels she had an interest in politics. And among those now being interviewed, since her name was announced as the Prime Ministerial candidate, she has received overwhelming approval by PPP/C supporters and swing voters. Those who were turned off by recent happenings involving the PPP/C, say they are pleased with the choice and look forward for more fresh faces.

In short, Harper is seen by some especially in the urban areas as an excellent replacement for Hinds. The middle class respondents in the NACTA poll feel, as a new face, she will aid the PPP/C to win the election since voters want a fresh face. NACTA is testing support for the political parties in an ongoing tracking poll.

AFC leaders wish Guyanese would forget the PNC’s past

Dear Editor,

There are some recent developments in the political arena which would suggest that the PNC has intensified its efforts to resurrect their late Founder-Leader Forbes Burnham.

Guyanese would have thought that the PNC was serious in projecting a new image when they embarked on name changes and party symbols. One would have thought that the WPA leaders believed that the ‘hand’ on APNU’s symbol was meant to be a ‘clean hand’, one which can be trusted.

Furthermore, AFC leaders have now embarked on a journey to convince Guyanese that they must forget the past. What is a great puzzle is on one hand Guyanese are asked to forget the past, while on the other hand, the current leaders of the PNC are intensifying their efforts to resurrect the past and the man who destroyed this country in his dictatorial rule, through the barefaced rigging of elections, corruption, and thievery.

Firstly, the PNC decided to start their election campaign on Burnham’s

birthday and this is no co-incidence. They want the supporters of the PNC to know that they have not moved away from the principles of the FounderLeader and that the identity of the party has not been compromised in any way.

This is in effect saying the WPA has been swallowed into the belly of the PNC and has lost its identity. APNU is the PNC of old! This is the spirit of revival which will cause the emotional surge to revitalise and energise the PNC supporters since the message is: the old PNC is here again!

Secondly, the strategic coalition of the AFC and APNU is the old modus operandi which was used by Burnham in 1964. The PNC is willing to coalesce with AFC in order to depose of the PPP/C.

The Cummingsburg Accord is without legal merit – it is outside the Constitution and depends heavily on the premise that Granger will honour the arrangement.

But again, it should be recalled that when D’Augiar resigned as Finance Minister, the other Ministers of the UF

were bought by Burnham and the UF lost its third party status forever.

The present APNU/ AFC coalition can be seen to be taken from the ‘playbooks of Forbes Burnham’, not Cheddi Jagan’s, as was wrongfully attributed by Ralph Ramkarran!

Ramkarran should know that the present coalition is about acquiring power by the PNC and has nothing to do with the social and economic development of this country. Show some sense of objectivity, Mr Ramkarran!

Thirdly, it must be noted with great interest that Robert Corbin is back! According to APNU’s General Secretary, “The party has realised that its past members as well as its present members can make all the difference in the results of the elections…so Mr Corbin has a role to play.”

Corbin’s nefarious role in the old PNC is not easily forgotten. Is it a co-incidence that the old PNC players are coming home to roost? These are people who were part of the gang which destroyed this country.

They have deliberately kept in the background,

but have now emerged because the final kill has been made – the AFC has been craftily snared and the PNC has everything on stream to achieve what they have been deprived of since 1992.

Trotman has done well to use the hatemongers – Nagamootoo and Ramjattan – to the advantage of the PNC!

But the PNC has failed to understand that those who have supported the AFC in the past will never support the PNC, since the past has been indelibly written in their very psyche and soul.

This is not about IndoGuyanese and AfroGuyanese, it is about a dictatorial Government which jailed people and seized their property simply because they wanted food; a Government which pauperized an entire nation; a Government which rigged and murdered people to stay in power; a Government which caused an exodus of its people; and a Government which denied its people the basic human rights and dignity.

The old PNC is back so beware!

Haseef Yusuf

Every community needs to practise being our neighbour’s keeper

Dear Editor,

The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) wishes to express our shock and disgust at the gruesome murder of the late Suroogpattie Ramlakan of Richmond Village, Essequibo Coast.

Such incidents are visited upon our citizenry with an uncomfortable regularity, and the time for positive and productive action is now.

The CIOG extends our sympathies to the families of the late Ms Ramlakan and all those who suffered

losses in similar incidents.

The people of Guyana follow and practice teachings of great religions that promotes the sanctity, preservation, dignity and respect for life.

However, these values are being diluted in our societies, and we need to return to the original values that prevailed in Guyana. These values can only be achieved if it is inculcated in our youths by education and a replanting of the seed of morality, decency and achievement by hard work.

Our communities need

to take heed the saying that “it takes a village to raise a child”. We need in every community to practise in being our neighbour’s keeper, look into the welfare of the poor, single people living alone, the disabled, the weak and the sick.

This can be achieved if we remove the self-centered attitudes and acknowledge that the welfare, needs and wants of others are interconnected and are an integral part of our building a safe and sound society.

The CIOG urges all citizens irrespective of religion, colour and creed to join together as fellow human beings in offering our support, protection and goodwill to our fellow man, and diligently subscribe to the elimination of ignorance, violence and greed.

This scourge of hate, violence immorality and decadence will not augur well for our future generation, and it is our duty today to ensure our efforts will redound to their benefit.

CIOG

APNU supporters are bewildered

Dear Editor, It is no secret now why the why the AFC insisted on secret talks with APNU. The AFC had a secret strategy and missile for which the APNU had no defense. As a longtime supporter of the PNC, I am at a loss for words to express my disappointment in the APNU.

A lot of APNU supporters are bewildered as to why the APNU will agree to a 40-60 share of Cabinet and parliamentary seats. The word is out that APNU never agreed to this formula, but was forced to accept it to save face and tell the Guyanese people that there is a coalition.

At the secret talks, APNU got the shock of their lives when they realized that the AFC engaged a Jamaican negotiator who acted more as an ‘enforcer’ than a negotiator.

The Jamaican took APNU to task and they had only one answer: Yes! Yes!

The shock is now over.

A prayer for our nation

Dear Editor, As we celebrate another anniversary of republican status, let us pause to give God thanks for his leading thus far and his continual guidance in the years to come.

Almighty and Eternal God, you know the longings of our hearts and the desires of our souls to live in peace and prosperity. In your goodness, watch over those in authority, so that people everywhere may enjoy freedom, security and peace.

Father, you guide and govern everything with order and your love. Look down upon our national leaders and fill them with the spirit of your wisdom. May they always act in accordance with your will and their decisions be for the peace and well-being of all. God bless Guyana.

O Lord, bring righteous people who fear you, to lead our nation into the future. Establish godly leaders who will glorify you as they lead.

And let their tenure be

as welcome as the light of morning, at sunrise and like the brightness after rain that bring green grass to the earth (II Samuel 23: 3- 4).

O God, your plans are firm faithful and forever. The purposes of your heart prevail through all the generations. Let your mighty perfect will be done in the coming elections (Psalms 33: 11).

So we ask you for godly, good leaders, who will bring joy, to those they lead. Do not allow wicked persons to gain public office, but only those who honour and fear you (Proverbs 29: 2).

If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways. Then will I hear from heaven, and forgive their sin and will heal their land (II Chronicles 7: 14).

Lord, hear us. Amen! Neil Adams

The Jamaican is gone, the AFC is laughing and APNU is crying. I pity these guys. I will not wait around to be losers like the APNU.

The coalition is already proving that nothing is united.

Bryan Carr

Page Foundation

Work and family: dads finding a balance

Many dads feel they don’t have enough time for family because of their work. It’s possible to get the balance right, though. A good first step is working out what’s most important to you and your family.

How to get the balance right

There is no one ‘perfect’ balance. Every family is different. So it’s important to start by talking with your partner about the type of parents you both want to be. Your chances of finding a good balance are greater when you work together.

Here are some ideas from other dads to help you build on this foundation.

Take some time off when your baby is born

This will give you the chance to help care for your child – getting up in the night, feeding, dressing and changing nappies, as well as playing and reading. As you rack up the ‘flying hours’, you’ll find your parenting skills and confidence levels growing.

Be conscious of your time

Keeping a timesheet for a week or so might help you become more conscious of how you spend your time. Once you know exactly what you do with your days, you can work out whether you’re spending enough time on the really important things – like your children. You can also see whether you need to change your habits and routines to make time for them.

Try to make some special ‘dad time’ each day, doing things your children want to do. It’s a great way to listen to them, find out about their world, and show them you’re interested.

Dads and teenagers

Be actively involved in your children’s everyday routines and their special occasions. For example, when you can, take them to playgroup, drop them at child care or school, volunteer for par ent help, or help with home work, sport or music. Work with your partner to plan birthday par ties and special family outings.

Talking to your employer is a good start. Tell them how important being a dad is to you and ask about family-friendly policies. You can also look at the hours you work. Is there room for change? Working part-time for a few months might be a good solution.

You can break down the barrier be-

Benefits of a good balance

Children with dads who are involved and interested in their lives are more likely to feel secure, confident and happy. Warmth and physical affection from fathers is associated with higher selfesteem and fewer social and emotional problems in children.

As your children get older, their needs will change. You might need to change your timetable to suit. Last but not least, leave some regular time for yourself. This will help you have plenty of energy for your children.

Work at getting the balance right

The balance between work and family won’t just happen. You’ll probably have to work at it.

tween work and home by telling your children about your work – where it is, what you do, what happened to you today. You could call them from work, or take them in and show them around.

Before you get home from work, do things that prepare you to be with your children. This could be listening to some music or going for a short walk. This ‘transition time’ can help you move more smoothly from work to home life.

DA good work-family balance also lets you develop better relationships with your child and your partner. One Australian study found that fathers who were happier in their relationship with their partner also spent more time playing with their child and involving children in everyday activities.

What dads want

As a dad, you might be trying to balance some of the following:

• enjoying time with your children while they’re young

• developing a strong relationship with your children

• sharing your children’s care

• earning enough money to do the things you want to do

• enjoying and having satisfaction from your work

• being a positive influence on your children – guiding, teaching and supporting them. (raisingchildren. net.au)

ads really do matter to teenagers, because good relationships between dads and children can boost teenage self-esteem and wellbeing. Just being around and spending every day time with your child is a great start.

Dads matter

Mums and dads play different roles and bring their own strengths.

Good relationships between dads and teenagers are about dad being around and being involved. These kinds of relationships can boost teenagers’ self-esteem. For example, some research shows that teenage girls whose dads are warm and supportive report higher levels of self-esteem than peers.

Loving and attentive fathering has also been linked with fewer symptoms of depression in teenagers. Research shows that dads being involved can help teenage boys stay out of trouble too.

Children, especially boys, learn a lot from their dads about being in relationships. For example, the ways dads interact with their partners and children tends to influence how their children act in relationships later in their lives.

The bad news is that

harsh fathering (when dads give less support and have more fights with children) has been associated with more symptoms of depression in teenagers. Depression in dads themselves is also linked to psychological problems in teenagers, possibly particularly for girls.

How relationships change

Both mums and dads spend less time with their children during adolescence as teenagers gain more independence. But changes in father-teenager relationships can open doors to new ways of connecting.

Dads can find new ways to bond with their children in the teenage years. For example, you might find yourselves sharing leisure activities that you both enjoy, such as watching movies, sport or getting out for some exercise. Teenagers might also turn to their dads for help in areas such as deciding on careers, getting a drivers licence or managing money. So dad’s role is still important – as much as in your child’s younger years.

Building a strong relationship with your child

Even though your role has changed, you’re still important to your child’s health and wellbeing. You’ve got a big part to play in guiding your child’s path to adulthood.

Here are some ways to stay involved in your child’s life:

* Just be there. esearch shows that when parents are around, adolescent children are likely to have fewer behaviour problems. You don’t have to be in your child’s face all the time – it might just be that you’re in the house when she’s in her bedroom. Your child will benefit just from knowing that you’re there if she needs you.

* Try to relax sometimes on rules. Trying to work out what you can give way on will help you cut back on fights with your child. If you do have a fight, see if you can work out something positive that will help you both feel better about it.

* Negotiate and compromise. Using negotiation skills and compromising when possible will help you have a positive relationship with your child. This is also a good way of modelling more grown-up ways of communicating. (raisingchildren.net.au)

Harper resigns as Director General

The People’s Progressive Party Civic’s newly selected Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Ann Harper has resigned as Director General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

This was confirmed by General Secretary of the party Clement Rohee on Tuesday who stated that the resignation was handed to Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues- Birkett following discussions of Harper’s selection. He could not specify an exact date.

Harper who serves as an Ambassador to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has held the post of Director General since 2001.

Meanwhile, Minister Rodrigues-Birkett has confirmed that Director in the Department of the Americas, Ambassador Audrey Waddell is acting Director General.

Harper, 57, who hails from David Street Kitty, Greater Georgetown is married to Guyanese cricket coach and former cricketer, Mark Harper. She is the mother of three girls, Michelle, Natasha and Melissa.

the Foreign Affairs Ministry in 1976 as a Registry Clerk, moving her way to hold the title of Director General at the Ministry.

She has previously served as Director, Department of the Americas and Asia at the Ministry from 1996 to 2001; a Consular at the Guyana High Commission, London 1991-1995, Head of the Frontier Division, Foreign Affairs Ministry 1990-1991.

Private Sector support for Mash dwindles

glecting to participate, that’s for them to answer,” Dr Anthony told this publication in an invited comment.

Minister Anthony did however highlight the participation of companies such as Republic Bank and Banks DIH in the Steel pan competition and Soca Monarch events. He said Banks DIH partially sponsors the Calypso event while Republic Bank has been providing full sponsorship for the steel pan competition over the past five years.

Meanwhile, Minister Anthony stated that there was a new feature in Mashramani 2015 where designer Maxi Williams designed costumes for sale. The Minister said this initiative is a welcome one and hopes that it becomes a trend, which could encourage greater participation of Guyanese.

In the face of criticisms of the influx of ‘party trucks’ replacing traditional floats,

TShe holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honors) in French from the University of Guyana as well as the title of the Best Graduating Student (19811986) as well as a Certificate in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Oxford, England.

The newly selected PM candidate, who also holds the Golden Achievement Award, began her career at

The diplomat who has served for service for decades succeeds outgoing Prime Minister, Samuel Hinds who has held the since 1992.

Described as a distinguished public servant, Harper has been a member of Guyana’s delegation to various meeting of the Caribbean Community, the Latin American Economic System, the Association of Caribbean States, United Nations, the Commonwealth and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), among others.

Harper has served in several other positions as Ambassador to Caricom (2003 to present), Nonresident High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago (2003-present), Nonresident High Commissioner to Barbados (2004-present), Non-resident High Commissioner to Grenada (2006-present and Nonresident High Commissioner to St Kitts and Nevis.

113 teachers sacked last year

…over porn, sexual misconduct

The Teaching Service Commission (TSC) last year sacked some 113 teachers for various disciplinary infractions, the body said in a statement on Monday.

According to the TSC, it continued to execute its Constitutional mandate of appointing, promoting, transferring and taking disciplinary action against teachers in nursery, primary and secondary schools in all regions of Guyana. Towards this end, 703 junior appointments were made, 217 senior posts were filled and 113 teachers were dismissed.

In addition, the Commission said it appointed and placed 183 trained Class I Grade I and Class III teachers from the Cyril Potter College of Education.

In selecting persons as junior teachers, the TSC said it continued its policy of appointing matriculated graduates of secondary schools – those who would have passed English Language and Mathematics with acceptable grades –as Temporary Qualified Masters and Mistresses. These selectees attended orientation sessions arranged by the Commission, where they were encouraged to remain in the pro-

Chairperson of TSC,

fession, and upgrade themselves by entering the teacher-training and other institutions.

“The Promotion exercise to fill the vacancies of Heads, Deputies and Senior Teachers by and large was highly competitive, although there were some applicants who failed to meet the established criteria that were set. The absence of suitable housing for teachers in many hinterland and riverine communities made it difficult to encourage teachers from the coastland to accept postings to schools in those areas,” the TSC release noted.

Meanwhile, in the exercise of its disciplinary function, the TSC said it dismissed 113 teachers including 60 who failed to give adequate statutory notice. Besides, the Commission said appropriate action was taken against teachers who left classes unattended by attending the University of Guyana without approval of release.

“An increase in persistent unpunctuality and poor attendance is a sore point in education, and this practice was met by stern action by the Commission. So too was the response to improper conduct by some teachers, and complaints of financial impropriety.”

The Commission said it adopted a zero tolerance approach to more serious cases of sexual misdemeanours, inappropriate teacher-student relationships and pornography. “Stern action was also taken against those who breached the education code with regards to the administering of corporal punishment in schools,” the Commission added. The Senior Promotions Vacancy List (2015) has been advertised and the promotion exercise is expected to conclude well before the start of the new academic year.

he private sector continues to show little interest in participating in the Mashramani float parade and has made up less than 40 per cent of participants in Monday’s event.

Guyana Times understands that only 9 of the 25 participating floats have come from the private sector. Culture Minister, Dr Frank Anthony revealed that his ministry had sent 40 letters to businesses encouraging their participation.

However, the Minister pointed out that many failed to even acknowledge receipt of such requests.

“We started planning several months in advance and the companies were not giving us a straight answer. I don’t know why they are ne-

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Ramesh Persaud could not determine the reason for businesses failed support. “I don’t know, I have not heard any talking in this regard from any business persons. This is the first time this has been brought to my attention,” he stated.

Persaud speculated that it may be a matter of cost versus returns but committed to examine the issue.

Creating Image by Maxi Williams, Don Gomes Optical, Digicel, and the Chinese Association, Hits and Jams, Pulse Entertainment and two political parties were among the private entities to participate in Monday’s Float Parade.

Companies such as the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T), once a major supporter, have not participated of recent years.

Dr Anthony was quite receptive. “We can’t be too rigid and lock out what people want. The way in which people want to celebrate has changed,” he opined Anthony added that prior to the commencement of Mashramani celebrations; the Mash Committee discussed and approved the increasing number of party trucks.

Eccles woman accused of phone theft, indecent exposure

The Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts came alive on Friday when 21-one-year-old Nyomi Williams appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan charged for stealing a Samsung Galaxy S4 cellphone and indecently exposing herself.

Magistrate Ann McLennan detailed that the defendant, whose address was given as Lot 67 Eccles, East Bank Demerara, on February 18, while at Dinette’s Embroidery on Austin Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, stole a Samsung Galaxy S4 cellphone worth $70,000 belonging to the Virtual Complainant (VC) Romona Yusuf.

The Magistrate further stated that on February 18, while at the Kitty Police

Station, the defendant behaved in a disorderly manner and exposed herself in the Enquiries Office, hence another charge of indecent exposure was levied against her.

Magistrate McLennan stated that the defendant was not required to plead to the charge as the matter was indictable.

Magistrate McLennan told the defendant that she had the choice of opting for her case to be tried at the High Court or at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to adjust the indictable charge.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones read the details of the case for the court. He stated that for the first charge of simple larceny, the VC left her phone on a sewing machine at Dinette’s

Embroidery where she worked. The Prosecutor detailed that the VC returned five minutes later to find her phone missing. The VC made a report and an investigation was launched by the Police.

Police Prosecutor Jones continued by telling the court that the VC’s place of employment was fitted with security cameras which showed that the defendant had stolen the cellphone. He said she was then confronted with the evidence and then charged.

Police Prosecutor Jones said the Prosecution had no objections to bail.

For the double charge of disorderly conduct and indecent exposure, Police Prosecutor detailed that the young lady had asked to use the washroom and

was escorted by a female officer. He went on to say that she asked two more times and she was taken, however, on the third occasion, she pulled down her underwear and urinated and spat on the floor. The Prosecutor said that it was at this time that she lifted her skirts to display her private parts.

After hearing all of the details of the case, the court granted the defendant bail for the charge of larceny. She was told to return to court February 26 for her trial. For the disorderly conduct charge, she was placed on self-bail, while for the charge of indecent exposure, she was placed on a bond for six months. Failure to maintain the bond would result in jail time for a week.

Duo charged for illegal gun possession

Amother and her son were brought before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Tuesday in Court One of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for the charge of

illegal possession of several weapons.

It is alleged that Satyendra Kemraj was found with a gun and ammunition at a location on Austin Street, Campbellville, Georgetown, and then was led to the home of his mother where Chandrana Kemraj was about to throw another weapon through a window of her home.

Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry transferred the matter to Magistrate Ann Mc Lennan in Court

Two where Rural Counsel (RC) Jeffrey Grant prosecuted the case.

The Prosecutor detailed that the Police were acting on information when they approached the first defendant in Campbellville. A search of the premises uncovered another weapon with live ammunition. According to RC Grant, Satyendra Kemraj was shown the items, told of the offence associated with it and arrested.

The defendant was then taken to his home in Fifth Street, Subryanville, Georgetown, where the second defendant, Chandrana Kemraj was seen throwing a 9 mm pistol with a round of ammunition through a window of the house. RC

Grant continued that a further search of the premises was made and more guns and ammunitions were found.

The mother and son duo was remanded until March 3.

Eyew tness

Remembering...

...a hero Malcolm X

Last Saturday, February 21 was the 15th anniversary of Malcolm X’s assassination. We wonder why there wasn’t any event organised in Guyana to mark the occasion. While Cuffy’s contribution to our independence struggle had to be taught to us in the schools - for those struggling for our independence, Malcolm was a living lesson!

Sure he was fighting for the rights of African-Americans in the US...but like all just struggles, it reverberated wherever there was oppression. Like in colonial British Guiana.

Malcolm X first and foremost rebelled against a system that oppressed him, but which insisted on telling him how to conduct his struggle. And this was his most important contribution to the eternal struggle for justice.

If you’re being oppressed by a system you have to be very leery of those defending the system...no matter how well meaning they sound. It’s not that Malcolm X, for instance, doubted Martin Luther King’s intentions - he just distrusted real change coming with the help of the establishment.

Back in the Caribbean, Malxolm X (and his mother was WI!) was a hero in the fledgling movement for Black pride here. Our own Dr Walter Rodney wrote perceptively on Malcolm’s contribution to the struggle of oppressed people everywhere - and adopted the slogan, “By any means necessary”, from him.

Malcolm was a threat to the powers that be so 50 years after his death, the facts of his assassination are still shrouded in secrecy. What’s known is that unlike theories about JFK’s assassination, it’s proven that others were involved in Malcolm’s death - but the NY Police still refuse to open their files.

But Malcolm’s relevance in the US is even higher today than 50 years ago. He shot to fame when he protested the shooting of an unarmed Black man in Harlem back in 1957. What’s so different with the shootings in Ferguson Missouri or New York City this year??

Well, for one, it wasn’t just one man protesting - and that’s part of the legacy of Malcolm X.

But Malcolm also demonstrated that ordinary folks have to be very leery of leaders who practice “do as I say but not as I do”. Just before he was assassinated - and this was the reason he was assassinated - Malcolm X denounced the leader of his organisation for betraying the principles of the organisation.

He also moved beyond defining the Africa-American struggle purely in racial terms. It’s very sad that 60 years after his death, local leaders from the AFC-APNU are stuck on “race”.

... a traitor Moses Z (for Zero)

Malcolm Little dropped the “Little” because he noted this was the name of some old slave owner - and adopted the marker for the unknown “X”. In Guyana, Moses Nagamootoo should drop his name and call himself “Moses Z - for Zero” - because he’s proven to be just that: a bit, fat, nothing!

Imagine this louse...errr..lush, claiming that TVG 28/12 was purchased “under highly controversial circumstances”!! What the heck’s “controversial” about Bobby Ramroop plunking down millions of US greenbacks to Tony Vieira to buy the station?

This is still a free-enterprise economy, no?? Nagamootoo might be confused since he usually picks up the “large” he consumes daily, on “trust”. And doesn’t pay. Now that’s controversial!!

And that’s a laugh - placing “trust” and “Nagamootoo” in the same sentence! Then there’s his nonsense about the radio licences the Ramroop Media Group received.

Nagamootoo would know - as one who Dr Jagan gave a squeeze in the media - that with his purchase of Vieira’s VCT...Ramroop obtained his radio licences when he pursued Vieira’s suit against the Government!

Magamootoo should build a shrine to Ramroop for breaking the state radio monopoly in Guyana!!

...Cuffy?

Forget the Mash revellers forgetting Cuffy’s heroic actions in 1763. Even the writer the Culture Ministry brought in to offer an “intellectual” take on the event, forgot our National Hero!!

APNU’s Kissoon in alleged attempt to beat PPP/C's Edghill

that landed Kissoon in hot water, leading to her suspension from the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) last year.

Her relationship with the leaders of the PNCR deteriorated following an alterca-

APartnership for National Unity (APNU) Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice)

Member of Parliament Vanessa Kissoon had to be restrained by ranks of the Guyana Police Force after reportedly attempting to physically assault Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Bishop Juan Edghill on Sunday.

The alleged attempted attack was launched on Sunday during a Flag Raising Ceremony held at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) Ground in Linden to mark Guyana’s 45th Republic Anniversary.

During an interview with Guyana Times on Tuesday, Edghill recalled that it was while he was delivering the feature address on the future of Guyana, that Kissoon mounted her protest. According to him, the MP and her four fe-

has tried to attack him, the Minister said this recent attack was made although he did not respond to statements earlier made by the Regional Chairman, Sharma Solomon.

“What is of greater concern is that the Regional Chairman used that occasion to openly campaign for APNU, calling out people to vote and even went on a Government bashing exercise, of which he was cheered on by Vanessa Kissoon and four other women,” he added. “I refused to respond to him, but rather spoke about the future of Guyana.”

Distasteful

Bishop Edghill said Kissoon’s distasteful behaviour is now “the expected”, noting that “no Lindener should be surprised by her actions.”

As an MP, a school teacher and a mother, her ac-

male supporters, who were equipped with placards, were “shouting and yelling”.

But, as if that was not enough, Bishop Edghill said in the middle of his speech, Kissoon “advanced” towards the stage and had to be restrained by officers.

But despite being warned by the Police, at the conclusion of the ceremony, Kissoon and her supporters launched a similar attack on the Minister as he was about to enter his vehicle, having greeted and mingled with the crowd.

Noting that this was not the first time Kissoon

tions are despicable, he added, noting that her actions should be condemned by all Lindeners. “Is that the type of person you want to represent you on regional and national levels?”

With the exception of her four supporters and a few others, Guyana Times was reliably informed that her actions were condemned by the majority, with many saying that Kissoon should lead by example. “She over doing it now, I think she gone too far… that wasn’t the time and place,” one Lindener told this publication.

It was a similar issue

tion with General Secretary Oscar Clarke at the party’s Sophia Headquarters last year. It was alleged that Kissoon verbally and physically assaulted to the General Secretary. Subsequent to PNCR’s Biennial Congress in

July, Kissoon was instructed to apologise for misconduct; however, this recommendation which was made by the party’s Disciplinary Committee has been blatantly ignored.

In September 2014, an-

other letter was dispatched to Kissoon by the Opposition Leader regarding her membership in the party, but she did not issue an immediate response. Today it is unclear whether Kissoon would have apologised to Clarke.

Burma accident… All 7 victims drowned – PME

Apost-mortem examina-

tion (PME) conducted on the bodies of the seven persons who were killed in the Burma Road accident at Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, confirmed that they died as a result of drowning.

The examination was conducted by State Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh on Tuesday morning at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) mortuary. The teacher, 41-year-old Shondell Duke and the six children of Augsburg Primary School were killed on Friday afternoon when the car they were travelling in ran into a nearby trench. All seven occupants died before they could have been rescued.

The dead children are seven-year-old Martina Persaud; nine-year-old Justin Abel; 10-year-old Asiyah Abel and seven-year-old Raydon Abel along with nine-yearold Atisha Woolford and Asaficia Fraser, all of Burma,

Mahaicony.

Reports revealed that the senior teacher took the children to participate in a Mashramani programme at Calcutta Primary School and were on their way home when the accident occurred.

The bodies of the seven occupants were removed from of the water minutes after passersby saw the wheels of the toppled car in the water.

Officials told Guyana Times that investigations have commenced by the Region Five Regional

Democratic Council (RDC), the Public Works Ministry and the Police Traffic Department to determine the cause of the accident, which is considered to be one of Guyana’s most tragic incidents in recent times.

Following the accident, several Government Ministers travelled up to the mourning community to offer condolences to the grieving families. Additionally, Government has since announced that it will be bear-

ing the cost of funeral expenses for the seven victims.

Moreover, several agencies have been expressing their sympathy towards to the families. Only on Tuesday, the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) said that it is “profoundly saddened” by the tragedy.

“The Commissioners believe that this is indeed a national tragedy and joins the rest of the nation in offering our sincerest condolences to the families of the deceased. The RCC is driven by the con-

viction that the children of our nation are our most precious and valued possession and resources. Their deaths, in such bizarre circumstances, are always difficult to contend,” the Commission stated.

In addition, the Commission is calling for a day of mourning and a minute of silence to be observed in all schools throughout the country. The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG) also conveyed its sadness.

“It is even sadder to learn that six of those who succumbed shared the innocence of children. This is certainly a great loss to the families and our nation. The CIOG wishes to express to all the parents of the children, the relatives of the teacher and all family members of those who perished our deepest and sincere sympathies,” the religious organisation said.

While there is no way to tell the definite cause of the accident, the Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department has been reporting that speeding and drunk driving continues to be the case of most accidents, whether fatal or non-fatal.

In light of this, the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) has renewed calls for road users to be more responsible in their day to day activities on

the roadways to help put an end to the frequent road carnage.

The Council observed that of recent, there has been an increase in the number of serious road accidents in and around the city, mainly due to speeding, recklessness and driving under the influence (DUI), which reflects total neglect to our traffic laws.

“The GNRSC would like to express sincere condolences to all families and friends of those who lost their lives on the roadways, especially to the teacher and students of Burma Primary School family. It is always heart wrenching when persons die or are injured on our roadways. Almost all accidents impacted economically on our economy and have distressed all parties involved both emotionally and physically. Also, serious accidents have significantly disturbed the social welfare of all the affected families,” the council pointed out.

According to the GNRSC, speeding and DUI are a total neglect of our traffic laws and total disregard for the five

Freedom to bulge...

Satiricus was proud that Guyana had solved the problem of hunger. Forget the Millennium Goals and all that - we had this "hunger" thing beat by a mile! All his life Satiricus had been reminded of how tough things were back in "the old days".

And when Cuffy and his band decided that they'd had enough - it was because they DIDN'T have enough food.

Fifty miles up the Berbice River, slaving in the cane fields - "And this wasn't just a figure of speech in those old, old days," realised Satiricus - would drive even a saint to rebel when your belly was touching your back!

Heck! fellas like Cuffy and Atta and their friends sometimes went for days without food. So with hunger as a fact of life, so was anger: a hungry man is an angry man, no? But hungry men were also "maaga" men - meagre?? And Satiricus wasn't surprised that in all the drawings and paintings of Cuffy's band they were all tall, skinny and angry.

All of these thoughts flashed through Satiricus' head as he looked at the Mash bands "wine" past his vantage point at from his friends verandah. That Satiricus' head didn't have much inside it made the "flashing" of thoughts rather painless.

And then it dawned on him as to why the Government had decided to back Mash as a way to commemorate Cuffy's Rebellion back in the day. Of the 30 bands or so, Satiricus could swear that more than 20 of them were sponsored by the Government!

They wanted to show the world that unlike what Cuffy and his band had to bear up with - and which drove them to their rebellion - Guyanese weren't hungry, starvingguts!! And what a clever way it was they'd chosen.

Back in his schooldays, Satiricus' English teacher had literally beaten into his (empty) head after he'd meekly presented his "story-essay": "SHOW!! (whack!) don't tell!! (Whack!!)"

And here it was the Government was SHOWING the world that Guyana had solved Cuffy's problem of hunger. Why else would they get all these well-fed women to struggle into tights and wine down the road?? In the ordinary course of things, "svelte" was still the guiding mantra for women's beauty.

"Supersized" might be good for that coke at Mc Donald's - but there had to a darn good reason why with nine out of ten women "wining" down Georgetown Mash, you couldn't just "pinch an inch". You could darn well "grab a slab"!!

Mash gave us the opportunity to show the world that Cuffy's sacrifice wasn't in vain. Free at last! Free at last!! Thank God almighty...we were free at last!! Free to bulge all over!!

Cs; that is, Care, Courtesy, Consideration, Caution and Common Sense, when using the roadways. These behaviours, the Council noted, should be discontinued immediately to put an end to some of the avoidable road crashes and deaths.

The GNRSC is imploring all road users and responsible Guyanese to join in the campaign to help stop the road carnage by correcting the careless ways that they use the roads and by adhering to the road safety and traffic laws in order to make our streets and roads safer.

Claims and Objections period ends Sunday

With the General and Regional Elections less than 90 days away, efforts are being increased to sanitise the list of electors.

Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Keith Lowenfield has disclosed that the ‘Claims’ subset of the process has been completed. According to him, while the Objections period officially ends on Sunday, March 1, appeals to objections could be made beyond that time.

In explaining the process, Lowenfield told media operatives on Tuesday that in accordance with the law following an objection, an elections officer informs the ‘objector’ and ‘objectee’ who are invit-

ed to a hearing at which time the requisite evidence of objection would have to be provided. He added that Registration Officers, acting as Hearing Officers, will determine whether that person stays on the list.

“This will have to be done in the divisions and sub-divisions; it will not be done centrally. What we receive from our officers will be an objection made, a hearing done and the outcome,” the CEO pointed out.

He further stated that this can be appealed in the case of dissatisfaction. This process will be chaired by Lowenfield himself as Commissioner of National Registration. The Commission is encouraging political parties and the general public to come forward with ob-

jections to persons who should not be on the list.

The conclusion of this process will lead to the compilation of the Revised List of Electors, which should be available on or

by March 10.

“Once completed, this will be posted for 21 days,” Lowenfield told the media at a press conference last week, noting that this would give

stakeholders a second opportunity for review.

There have been 3200 new registrants and 3000 requests for transfers during this latest round of the Claims and Objections Period. As of now, there is a total of 567,125 registered voters as against the 492,123 listed in 2011. This means there are 75,000 new registrants.

Reservoir nearly filled

Meanwhile, the CEO has said the intended reservoir of polling day staff is almost full.

According to him, there are shortfalls in Districts One, Four and Six, with Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) requiring some 1000 Polling Day staff still.

“We have utilised other media of ensuring that these vacancies are filled; it’s the best we can do at this point in time. All things being equal we are hoping to have all these persons trained to be employed on a temporary basis from April 2nd,” he expressed. Lowenfield had earlier said some 1623 more persons are needed to make up the complement of staff. He told reporters then that the intent was to hire 12,000 persons to man the more than 2200 polling stations across the country.

According to him, these staff, most of whom have already started to undergo training, will also be involved in ‘mock polls’ to ensure accuracy on May 11.

PPP/C says Harper not in popularity contest

The People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) has said that its newly selected Prime Ministerial candidate, Elisabeth Harper is not involved in any popularity contest and will not pander to opposition’s desperate criticisms.

The party was at the time responding to criticisms from political and social analysts that the former Director General of the Foreign Affairs Ministry is not popular within the country and as such, cannot draw votes for the party.

Speaking at the party’s weekly press conference on Tuesday, General Secretary, Clement Rohee told media operatives that the woman’s popularity or lack thereof was

not a consideration.

He admitted that while Harper may not be known in some circles, every individual has to start somewhere while making comparisons with Opposition Leader, David Granger.

“In the genealogy of politics, not everyone has to be a popular person. I don’t know that Granger was a popular person when he became the leader for the PNC. How popular was he? How much was he known? How much was Joseph Harmon known? Many of these people under the PNC were hardly known by anyone. They themselves had to promote him [Granger],” Rohee told media operatives.

He noted that Harper’s lack of

popularity does not make the selection incredible.

“It may have come as a surprise but it doesn’t mean that because it was a surprise, the candidate wasn’t a credible one. Everyone, even the critics, has admitted that she has a professional and distinguished career and comes with no baggage,” the general secretary expressed.

Rohee said that the party saw the need for a change. “The party believes is reaching out in change just as the Opposition has also ventured out in change. If it is good for the Opposition, then is it bad for government? The PPP has never been afraid of change. The PPP remains strong and confident that it will excel at the general

and regional elections on May 11.”

Meanwhile, Rohee has also rebuked the Opposition for seeking to cast shadows at the woman’s candidacy. He noted that the opposition parties’ motive for attacking the diplomat stemmed from the fact that her selection will create ‘serious panic’ and pandemonium in the coalition.

“The PPP takes note of the serious panic in the APNU/ AFC camp following the announcement of one of Guyana’s outstanding daughters Ms Elizabeth Ann Harper as our PM candidate. It is indeed interesting to note how the announcement of Mrs. Harper’s candidacy has caused pandemonium in the already unpopular and weak APNU/AFC coalition

Collective approach needed to rid Mashramani waste

Percise.

She added that in the past, garbage trucks were dispatched as early as 5:00h to commence clean-up activities following the Mashramani celebrations. Elections 2015

ersons living in Georgetown have asserted that a collective approach is needed to clean the city after the National Mashramani Costume and Float Parade on Republic Day.

For years, this has been a major problem with this year being no exception. On Tuesday morning, piles of

collective effort. After the vendors are done, they should collect their garbage in heaps or bags and just have a Government truck pass around and collect it,” Michael Grant said.

“Well it’s them (vendors) who mess it up and I feel they should assist in some way along with the authorities in getting the place cleaned

Sanitation engineers attached to City Hall hard at work along

garbage were seen in all sections of the city.

Speaking with Guyana Times on Tuesday, many opined that vendors who often ply their trade on Republic Day should assist in the clean-up exercise.

“I think it should be a

up. It is not nice when the next day you see an endless amount of garbage,” Charlene Marks added.

Meanwhile, acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba said that the Georgetown Mayor and City Council dispatched garbage trucks since 7:30h to as-

sist in the clean-up exercise. However, she laid the blame on the City Mayor Hamilton Green and Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green for the untimely collection.

Sooba explained that although Mayor Green had declared he would have taken responsibility for the collection of the garbage, she was still forced to initiate the ex-

which hurriedly strung together a press statement attacking the PPP’s choice for a PM candidate. As a matter of fact it is clear that it is an act of desperation since the APNU/ AFC appears shell shocked due to the fact that our PM candidate is an outstanding but yet humble woman as against their power hungry prime ministerial candidate,” he said. Questioned on why Harper has not yet made a public statement, Rohee stated that media will be briefed in due time but the party has no plan to descend to the level of the opposition by responding to their statements and acts of desperation to lash out at the highly respected woman.

“The Mayor and Deputy Mayor shared out free spots to vendors which they were not authorised to do and I was told that they even received donations from these persons. The Town Clerk and Administration is responsible for clean-up and hadn’t they intervened; we would have started our clean-up activities much sooner”.

wednesday, february 25, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Armed man storms Christ Church after being robbed by expelled student

Students from Christ Church Secondary School were traumatised on Tuesday afternoon when an armed man stormed into the school in search of someone whom he claimed robbed him moments earlier.

Guyana Times was made to understand that around 14:15h, two men were walking along Middle Street, Georgetown, a short distance away from the school, when they were confronted by a young man who re-

lieved them of their belongings.

The perpetrator then ran into the school’s compound but he was pursued by the two men, one of whom was armed. The armed man also ran into the school’s compound, up the stairs and into a classroom. He was brandishing a handgun at the time. A student (name given) related to this newspaper that the class had a free period at the time of the incident.

“The man just ran up-

stairs and kept saying way he deh, way he deh. Then another student told him that he was hiding in the boys’ washroom. At this time, we had no idea who he was talking about but then he and another man went into the washroom and dragged out a boy,” the student recalled.

When the men brought out the culprit, it was then the senior student realised that he was a former student of the school, who was expelled about three years

ago because of his constant misbehavior.

While the troubled youth was being taken to the vice principal’s office, students found his bag in one of the classrooms.

“Apparently, when he came in the compound, he went around at the back of the school and called someone from the Fourth Form class on the second floor and threw his bag up for the person to hide but no one from the class is saying who it is,” the student further stated.

However, the student noted that nothing was found in the haversack except for the former student’s Identification Card (ID). The young man who is known as “Shaquille” was without a shirt when he was captured. It is believed that he took the stolen items and wrapped it in his shirt before hiding it somewhere in the school’s compound.

It is unclear what were the items stolen from the two men. A Police officer was later summoned to the school and is believed to have taken the former student into custody. However this bit of information is yet to be confirmed.

“Aunty Karmin’s” murder...

Autopsy reveals elderly woman died from strangulation, blunt trauma

The autopsy performed on Suroogpattie

Ramlakhan, also known as “Aunty Karmin”, age 73, of Richmond Village on the Essequibo Coast, revealed that the elderly woman died as a result of manual strangulation compounded by blunt trauma. The autopsy was performed on Tuesday by Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh at the Suddie Mortuary.

Police from G Division in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) are continuing their investigations into the death of the elderly woman. Thus far no one has been ar-

rested in connection with the alleged rape and murder of the elderly woman.

According to Commander of G Division (Essequibo Coast/Islands) Kevin Adonis, several persons have been brought before the Detective for questioning, however no one is in custody. Police are however working on several leads that may be of assistance.

Police thus far had recovered condoms, a rain cloak, and a piece of wood from the crime scene. Finger prints were uplifted from the items recovered by detectives. At about 07:30h on February 20, the elderly woman’s body was discovered by neigbhours lying motionless in the hallway to her kitchen. She was allegedly brutally rape and murdered. Her body bore marks of violence to her anus, vagina and neck.

At the time of her death, Ramlakhan was living alone in a wooden house and was never married.

Ramlakhan’s death came almost one week after a mother of one, Haimwattie of Lima Sands, was strangled to death by her husband Annirude. He has been remanded after he admitted to killing his wife.

Republic Day is about understanding what is being celebrated – AG

Delivering a message on the anniversary of Guyana’s 45th Republic Day as he represented Government at the flag raising ceremony at Corriverton, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) Monday evening, Legal Affairs Minister and Attorney General Anil Nandlall recalled the process of Guyana gaining Republican status, explaining that on February 23, 1970, Guyana severed its “last vestige of colonial rule from Great Britain”.

From that date, “we were able to design our own process to elect our Head of State. Prior to that, Her Majesty, the Queen of England was the Head of State, through her duly appointed Governor General”, the AG stated.

Describing the event as “a celebration of freedom”, Minister Nandlall stated that it was “a freedom for which a struggle commenced centuries ago by our forefathers”. He added that it was incumbent for the nation to reflect upon that struggle.

“Our Amerindians were captured by the Europeans and were subject to a system of forced labour, known as encomienda, to work on the plantations. They, therefore, lost their freedom and had to struggle to free themselves from that system of servitude. Then our African brothers and sisters were brought in chains to provide labour on the plantations under a sub-human system of slavery. They fought that

system and eventually won their freedom.”

“Our Indian, Chinese and Portuguese brothers and sisters next came, this time under an indentureship system to provide labour to the plantations. The conditions of living and working were slightly better, but similar to that of slavery. They lost their freedom under this system as they were contractually bound to work irrespective of the conditions. Through struggle, this system was also abolished,” he reminded the large gathering at the Corriverton tarmac.

It was pointed out that another struggle then commenced to free the country from colonial rule. Minister Nandlall said, “We won the first battle with the PPP [People’s Progressive Party] winning universal adult suffrage. This was the first time every Guyanese of 21 years was eligible to vote. As a result, Guyanese were able to elect their own leaders for the first time in centuries. The PPP won the 1953 elections. The next struggle was for political independence. This was won on the 26th of May 1966. The next struggle was for complete political independence. This was achieved on the 23rd of February 1970, when Guyana became a Republic.”

The Minister emphasised that despite gaining Republican status, this freedom for which “we struggled as a people for centuries was brutally taken away”, not by those from foreign lands “but

by our own”. The mechanism used to deny citizens, freedom, the Minister recalled, consisted of rigged elections and political authoritarianism. He added that many died in the new struggle that emerged to win back citizens’ freedom.

“Two young men were killed at a polling station at 64 Village Corentyne in 1973 simply because they insisted their votes be counted at the place of poll. Walter Rodney was blown to pieces in 1980 because of his political work to free our people from this political dictatorship. Eventually, we were able to win back our freedom from those who oppressed us.”

Minister Nandlall urged that Guyanese not become careless and complacent, as “these dark days can return. Therefore, Republic Day is not only about the celebrations rather it is about understanding what we are celebrating, recognising the sacrifices of those who made these celebrations possible.”

He further called on citizens to make a vow to ensure their struggles and sacrifices were not in vain.

The event was punctuated with songs, dances, poems and dramatic pieces, all of which were done by youths of Corriverton.

The town’s Mayor, Hawase Harripaul who also addressed the event, extended Republic Anniversary greetings to all those gathered.

Berbice Health Authority on war path against suicide

...unveils 10-point plan to tackle scourge

By: Andrew CArmiChAel

Amid spiralling sui-

cide rates in Guyana, the Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA) has put together a 10-point plan to address the issue countrywide.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) rates Guyana’s suicide incidence as four times higher than the global average. The country is ranked fourth in suicides per capita worldwide, which is the highest rate among South American and Caribbean nations. About 40 per cent of people who commit suicide in Guyana poison themselves by consuming agricultural pesticides.

Meanwhile, the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) estimates that in Guyana roughly 142,000 to 179,500 individuals are in need of mental health services. However, there are less than five full-time psychiatrists in the country and less than 300 beds in the National Psychiatric Hospital.

In Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), there were 82 reported suicide attempts in 2013. Statistics indicate that in 2014 the number of persons who died as a result of suicide in that Region was more than the 2013 figure, and an even higher number attempted suicide.

In Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), 114 cases of attempted suicide were reported at the New Amsterdam Hospital in 2013 – 62 being females and 52, males. Of the total figure, 10 died.

In the past, several strategies were developed by the Health Ministry to curb the issue but to no avail. However, the BRHA is hoping to reduce the number of cases through the establishment of its 10-point anti-suicide programme.

According to BRHA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Vishwa Mahadeo, the 10-point plan will adequately address the core issues linked to suicide.

However, before it was crafted, BRHA with the assistance of PAHO analysed previous anti-suicide programmes to determine their weaknesses and strengths. Based on the study conducted, many of the programmes lacked trained staff and critical resources.

Dr Mahadeo explained that many of the programmes placed emphasis on volunteerism, resulting in major setbacks.

As a result, BRHA in the execution of its plan will train 25 persons including health personnel, teachers, Police officers and religious leaders.

It is also the hope of the authority that in the long run, there will be at least five trained persons in every school to detect students with suicidal tendencies.

Additionally, an antisuicide unit will also be set up.

“This unit will do regular check-ups on persons who have attempted suicide. We need all these persons to be united, so we will follow up on them and link them with someone who will be equipped

with the skills to assist,” Dr Mahadeo explained.

According to him, the University of Guyana and the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) will also be enlisted during the programme.

“There are over 300 persons in the Social Work Faculty and if each one of them can talk to people in their community and identify troubled persons that will be able to assist the programme”.

While BHRA hopes to utilise the services of a hotline compliments of GT&T, Dr Mahadeo said the telephone company has not been supportive. Nevertheless, he said the authority will also be capitalising on social media in an effort to combat the scourge of suicide.

BRHA will also be calling on the National Assembly to put the requisite legislation in place to tackle the issue. “Every person who is under age should not have access to herbicides, weedicides and pesticides. They must not be allowed to purchase it”.

He added that harsher penalties should be put in place to penalise persons who sell these chemicals to minors.

BHRA is also recommending that containers with bleach and kerosene be properly labelled and stored.

Meanwhile, as part of the programme, farmers will receive training on effective storage with respect to chemicals. He said too that they will be edified on the legislation that is in place governing the sale and use of these chemicals.

Narcotics trafficking suspect remanded

Rastafarian Felayla

Vanessa Stevens was remanded on Tuesday for attempting to traffic 500 grams of cannabis out of Guyana.

The defendant was brought before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine- Beharry in Court One at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

It is alleged that the defendant on February 23, while at the Ogle International Airport, East Coast Demerara, tried to smuggle the drug to St Vincent and the Grenadines on Liat flight LI 512.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant detailed that the young woman was approached by an Immigration Officer who requested to search her bag and found the drug. It was stated that she had explained that it was bush weed to make wine. However, the substance was tested and came back positive for cannabis. She was subsequently charged with trafficking in narcotics. However, he stated that the defendant refused to be fingerprinted.

The defendant complained to the court that Police Officers, while at the airport had assaulted

her thus she had refused to have her fingerprints taken. She also told the court that she had anything to eat since being arrested. The defendant said that she has been “treated like a dog.” Also, the defendant complained that she has not been allowed to see her lawyer.

After reviewing the various statements attached to the defendant’s case, Chief Magistrate SewnarineBeharry remanded the defendant and transferred the matter to the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court for trial on February 27.

Venezuelan who overstayed time in Guyana jailed for 1 month

AVenezuelan national was brought to Court One of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Tuesday charged with overstaying his time in Guyana.

Relegio Perez pleaded guilty to the charge when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Tuesday for failing to comply with the commission he was granted in January.

Chief Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry detailed that the defendant had been granted per-

Relegio Perez overstayed his time in Guyana

mission to stay in Guyana between January 16 and February 16, however, he overstayed the time permitted.

The Magistrate fined the defendant $30,000, along with one month imprisonment if the fine is not paid.

However, the defendant told the court that he was unable to pay the fine at the time. He was visiting Guyana and was staying in a hotel the entire time. Thus, he was sentenced to one month imprisonment.

Brazilian remanded for drugs, gun possession

Eighteen-year-old Brazilian national Ricardo Perriera Da Silva was remanded to prison on Tuesday for being in possession of an unlicensed .32 Taurus Revolver with matching ammunition, along with six grams marijuana.

Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry read the charge which stated that the defendant was found with the items

in Central Rupununi on February 17. He was subsequently charged for being in possession of an illegal gun and ammunition and drug possession. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Police Prosecutor Michael Grant detailed that the Police had received information on the defendant and he was approached. He took Police to his home in St Ignatius, Lethem where the items were found and he

admitted to buying the firearm and ammunition from an unknown person in Boa Vista, Brazil for his protection.

The defence counsel stated that the defendant was still a student and lives both in Brazil and Lethem as he had family in both locations.

The matter will be tried at the Lethem Magistrate’s Court on March 9.

Antigua-Barbuda, Venezuela agree on terms for West Indies Oil Company acquisition

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez on Saturday successfully hammered out an agreement covering the acquisition of the West Indies Oil Company (WIOC).

Rodriguez and her team of ambassadors and technicians flew into Antigua on Friday on the instructions of Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, fulfilling a promise made to Browne in Costa Rica to collaborate on the acquisition of one of the most significant business enterprises in Antigua and Barbuda.

“We had a most successful – most productive meeting. We have in essence and in principal agreed to the terms of our arrangement which include an equity participation by Venezuela as well as a loan facility to help us to upgrade the West Indies Oil Company facility. Our plan is to turn WIOC into a major petrol distribution hub in the northern Caribbean. We have sold them the idea and they have agreed to support us. They will be providing US$24 million in funding,” Browne stated.

Browne also announced that his government has secured an additional US$30 million from a Chinese investor who will partner with Antigua and Barbuda in the acquisition.

“The excess funds will be utilized for maintenance and expansion of WIOC. We intend to turn WIOC into a major profit centre with the government maintaining 51 per

cent of the shares. Some of the shares will be divested to Antiguans and Barbudans eventually. I think WIOC is poised to become a major facility in the sub-region. This new enterprise has the ability to create more jobs for our people and make an even more significant contribution towards national development,” Browne said. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Top Panama judge Moncada pleads guilty to corruption

The former President of Panama’s Supreme Court Alejandro Moncada, has pleaded guilty to charges of illicit enrichment.

Moncada was suspended from his post in October when he came under investigation by Panama’s Congress. He also pleaded guilty to falsifying documents and was sentenced to five years in detention.

Moncada was appointed by former President Ricardo Martinelli, who himself faces a corruption probe. As part of the deal struck with prosecutors, Moncada will hand back two apartments worth a total of US$1.7 million (£1.1 million) he had bought since coming to office.

Shortly after taking up his position in 2010, Moncada had declared only

a gold watch and a 2005 Toyota van. He also said at the time that he had no other income apart from his judge’s salary.

Moncada’s lawyer said his client’s health was deteriorating and he had therefore agreed to plead guilty to two out of the four charges against him. He was also facing allegations of money laundering and corrupting officials.

It has not yet been decided whether Moncada will be sent to jail or whether he will be allowed to serve his sentence under house arrest.

Moncada is one of a series of officials to face corruption probes since President Juan Carlos Varela came to office on a promise to clean up Panamanian politics.

Last month, the supreme court voted to investigate Varela’s predecessor in office, Ricardo Martinelli, over allegations he had inflated multi-million-dollar contracts. Martinelli denies the allegations. (BBC News)

St Lucia rescue teams recover 1 body as search continues for missing brother

Rescue teams have recovered the body of one of two brothers who were swept away by strong waves off the coast of La Toc on the outskirts of the capital on Monday.

Police said that the body of Mervin Darcie, 31, had been recovered and the

search is continuing for his 30-year-old brother, Kervin. A third person, Kendel Charles, identified as a cousin of the brothers, was rescued on Monday, a public holiday here, as the island celebrated its 36th anniversary of political independence from Britain.. Reports posted on the

social media, including Facebook, said that the three men were sitting on the shore when a strong wave took them out to sea. The incident comes one day after four-year-old Torrel Joshua Elibox, of Augier, south of Castries, has been reported missing at sea since Sunday. (Antigua Observer)

Jamaica’s Health Minister under fire as concerns grow over Chick-V

deaths

Public concerns continue to mount over the number of deaths related to the Chikungunya virus (Chik-V) that severely impacted Jamaica over the last eight months.

Anecdotal stories from both doctors and the public suggest that at least 20 deaths have been linked to the debilitating virus. Reports are that the majority of deaths connected to the disease, contracted from infected mosquitoes, have resulted from complications developed because of pre-existing medical conditions.

“I want to take this opportunity to express serious concern at the number of persons dying from Chikungunya-related complications. That the Health Minister, Dr Fenton Ferguson, has said not a single word on the matter is an indictment in and of itself,” Charlene Wilson, a concerned citizen, said in a letter written to The Gleaner on Monday.

“It is even more frightening that Dr Marion BullockDucasse, the senior civil servant in the Ministry, who generally speaks on these matters, is silent.” She continued: “I had the unfortunate experience of going to three funerals over the last two months for persons who, according to family members, died mere days and weeks after getting chikungunya. I now have the terrible misfortune of preparing to bury my uncle whose organs failed three months after getting chikungunya. He had a preexisting condition against which he has been successfully fighting for seven years. (Excerpt from The Gleaner)

TT’s Dookeran talks up Arms Trade Treaty

Foreign Affairs

Minister, Winston Dookeran has underscored the importance of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) which he described as the “missing link” in the global regulation of the illicit movement of small and conventional arms and ammunition.

Addressing delegates from 86 countries during the opening of the First Preparatory Meeting of the First Conference of States Parties at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain on Monday, Dookeran said the time had come for small and big nations to join hands and share in the burden and responsibilities of dealing with the risks threatening global peace and security.

Welcoming regional and international representatives to the two-day event which will concluded on Tuesday, Dookeran said as the United Nations embarked on a new era of multilateralism, it had become necessary to build a global institution that would sustain efforts to combat these risks.

He said: “We are here

today to put into place the building blocks in order to ensure the institution we are building in the global context is able to withstand the stormy weather ahead and also be able to address the current problems we are facing.” During a briefing session last week, Dookeran sought to link the movement of unregulated arms and ammunition, to the local crime situation.

Claiming this initiative was not a “token solution” and should not be per-

ceived as such, Dookeran assured those present that their hard work and commitment to ensure the ATT came into being, would not be in vain. During the course of yesterday and today [Sunday and Monday], delegates will decide on the establishment of the permanent Secretariat of the ATT, its size and format, staffing requirements, institutional framework and terms of relations with States Parties.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Still no final vote count in St Kitts and Nevis a week after elections

Aweek after general elections in St Kitts and Nevis, the final ballot count has still not been announced by the supervisor of elections.

After declaring the election for the Team Unity alliance on February 17, the Supervisor of Elections, Wingrove George, speaking on state media, committed to providing the final counts by day’s end. By Sunday 22, he had made no further public statements nor released the final counts.

WINN FM’s attempts to reach him have been unsuccessful. In the early hours

of the morning on February 17, with results trickling in and only two seats declared, George stopped the count, and state media ZIZ announced that there would be no further results provided until further notice.

Within minutes, a caller to WINN FM claimed that the count had been completed in at least two other constituencies and the seats had gone to the Team Unity alliance.

Candidates’ agents and counters subsequently corroborated the report that Ian Liburd and Lindsay Grant of the People’s Action

Movement/Team Unity had won two key seats.

Speaking on WINN FM early Tuesday morning, chair of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerritt, was the first of many regional heads to call for the formal announcement of the results.

But it wasn’t until 08:00h on the morning of February 17, 14 hours after the close of the polls that the supervisor of elections advised the nation of the results. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Around the World

Spy Cables: Greenpeace among intelligence targets

Greece debt crisis: Eurozone backs reform plans

Secret documents leaked to Al Jazeera reveal a routine practice among intelligence agencies to seek the cooperation of their peers in other countries to curb political dissent.

The Spy Cables reveal a torrent of politicised requests to South Africa’s State Security Agency (SSA) for information on “rogue NGOs”, politicians and exiled groups from intelligence agencies around the world – many of them declined as inappropriate by the South Africans. They include:

An application from South Korea for a “specific security assessment” of Greenpeace Director Kumi Naidoo, a South African citizen; A request from Cameroon to spy on an Opposition

Leader just weeks ahead of elections;

An attempt by Rwanda to list “genocide fugitives” and “negationists” as targets for surveillance;

A deal with Zimbabwe to spy on “rogue NGOs” whose activities are “aimed at subverting constitutional order”, including think tanks and media, including social networks.

Continuous demands from Sri Lanka for South Africa to spy on Tamil diaspora groups, with Colombo making ongoing, unconfirmed allegations that separatists had run military training camps in South Africa since 1998.

One secret document from 2010 exposes how, nine months before the G20 Summit in Seoul in November, South Korea re-

quested “specific security assessments” on three men.

Two were listed as “dangerous persons” and were arrested in Pakistan in 2004. The third was Naidoo.

Al Jazeera informed the activist and campaigner of the request. He was not surprised.

“Sadly, the assumption

that we make, especially after the Edward Snowden leaks and the WikiLeaks information came out, is that we are heavily monitored and under constant surveillance.

It is not recorded within the documents whether or not South Africa complied with the request from South Korea. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

California train derails after collision with truck

Acommuter train and a truck have collided, causing four carriages to derail northwest of Los Angeles.

The vehicle became engulfed in flames and at least 28 people have been injured, a fire department spokesman told the BBC.

Police in Oxnard, California, say the crash was first reported at 05:44 local time (13:44 GMT).

The collision happened at a level crossing as the truck turned on to the tracks and stopped, officials said.

“I saw a bright flash, a big fireball and flames, flames going pretty high,”

Pro-Russia

troops show withdrawal of weapons; Kiev doubtful

Pro-Russia troops brought reporters on Tuesday to witness the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the front line in east Ukraine under a ceasefire deal, but Ukraine said the soldiers were using the cover of the truce to reinforce for another advance.

Fighting has eased in eastern Ukraine in recent days, raising hope that a ceasefire due to start on February 15 can finally take effect after the rebels initially ignored it to storm a Government-held town last week. The prospect that the ceasefire will fail has fuelled a rout in the Ukrainian hryvnia, which plunged 11 per cent to close at 31.63 to the dollar. The currency has already lost half its value since the start of this year after halving during the whole of 2014. Dollar bonds

A fire-fighter crawling out of a carriage said Glenn Frisbie, who was driving to work and sitting at an intersection about a block away from the incident.

Metrolink spokesman Scott Johnson estimated the train struck the truck at a

US

issued by Ukrainian companies sold off heavily after authorities tightened currency controls.

A feud over natural gas, which appeared to have been settled for the winter by an agreement late last year, has also resurfaced, with Moscow threatening to cut off Kiev’s supplies in two days unless Kiev paid more money.

Since taking the railway hub of Debaltseve in one of the worst defeats for Kiev of the war, the Moscow-backed rebels have indicated they now want to abide by the truce. Kiev says the rebels are still shooting, which the rebels deny.

Reuters journalists in rebel-held territory watched 10 trucks carrying howitzers roll through Makiyvka, near rebel-held Donetsk. (Excerpt from Reuters)

speed between 40 miles per hour (mph) (64 kmh) to 50 mph. Officials say that no one has died, but 13 people remained in emergency rooms Tuesday afternoon for treatment. (Excerpt from BBC News)

sea level north of New York City rose by 128mm in 2009-10

Sea levels along the northeast coast of the United States rose by record levels during 20092010, a study has found.

Sea levels north of New York City rose by 128 millimetres in two years, according to a report in the journal, Nature Communications.

Coastal areas will need to prepare for short term and extreme sea level events, say US scientists.

Climate models suggest extreme sea level rises will become more common this century.

“The extreme sea level rise event during 2009-10 along the northeast coast of North America is unprece-

dented during the past century,” Professor Jianjun Yin of the University of Arizona told BBC News.

“Statistical analysis indicates that it is a 1-in-850 year event.”

Scientists at the University of Arizona and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in New Jersey studied records of tidal levels along the east coast of the US and Canada.

They divided the coastline into three areas: north of New York City, New York City to Cape Hatteras on the coast of North Carolina, and south of Cape Hatteras.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Eurozone Finance Ministers have approved reform proposals submitted by Greece as a condition for extending its bailout by four months, officials say.

The Eurogroup said it had agreed to begin national procedures – parliamentary votes in several states to give the deal final approval.

The measures offered by Greece include combating tax evasion and reforming the public sector.

But the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said they lacked “clear assurances” in key areas.

Greece’s debt stands at more than €320 billion (£237 billion), and its current €240 billion bailout expires on Saturday. Fresh funding will not be released until Greece’s proposals are approved in detail.

The stakes of talks over continued financial aid have been high because of fears of

a Greek default that could push it out of the euro, triggering turmoil in the EU.

The main stock market in Athens rose by nearly 10 per cent on Tuesday afternoon, hitting a three-month high.

The Eurogroup said in a statement: “We call on the Greek authorities to further develop and broaden the list of reform measures, based on the current arrangement, in close coordination with the institutions.”

The European Commission and the European Central Bank (ECB) both stated that the Greek proposals were a “valid starting point”.

The agreement had “averted an immediate crisis”, said European Commissioner for Economic Affairs Pierre Moscovici.

“It does not mean we approve those reforms, it means the approach is serious enough for further discussion,” he added. (Excerpt from

Czech shooting: Gunman kills 8 in Uhersky Brod

Agunman opened fire at a restaurant in the Czech Republic, killing eight people before shooting himself dead, officials said.

The man burst into the restaurant in the eastern town of Uhersky Brod around lunchtime, “shooting indiscriminately”, the town’s Mayor, Patrik Kuncar said.

A woman who was hit in the chest is in serious condition in hospital.

Czech Interior Minister Milan Chovanec has said the incident was not a terrorist attack.

Some 20 people were thought to have been in the Druzba restaurant at the time.

The gunman has been described as a local man aged 60.

“I assume this was an isolated incident,” the town Mayor told state television.

“We have various antiterrorist measures, but we

can see that, here, probably a lone shooter struck with no warning.

“I’m rattled by this event. I never would have imagined something like this happening here, in a restaurant that I know well.”

The restaurant’s owner, Pavel Karlik, said the attacker had walked in to the property and started firing a handgun.

“I immediately ran out through the back door, along with other guests who then called an ambulance and Police,” he said.

The gunman called a national television station before he started the shooting.

Pavel Lebduska, head of regional broadcasting at the Prima channel, said the man had claimed “he was being bullied, no public institutions would help him, and that he had a gun and hostages and that he would deal with it his own way”.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

wednesday, february 25, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Police charge 4 more for drunk driving

Four more persons have been charged by the Guyana Police Force’s Traffic Department for driving under the influence of alcohol.

These men were found to

be above the legal limit in terms of alcohol consumption when they were stopped and made to undergo a breathalyser test at various check-points on February 7,

GECOM, Rohee at odds over elections preparations

The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) Clement Rohee are yet again at odds over preparations for the upcoming General and Regional Elections.

On Tuesday, Rohee told media operatives that the party was concerned about several issues in the lead up to the May 11 elections. These he said, included the existing vacancies and the lack of transparency in selecting polling day staff; the lack of public vetting for all electoral staff, last minute changes and voter education.

“The party has noted with concern the continuous extension to GECOM’s vacancy notice for polling day staff. The party urges that qualified and competent persons desirous of safeguarding Guyana’s democracy be employed. There has always been a lack of a transparent system for recruitment and to ensure that qualified people are employed. The party is concerned over the use of information clerks placed at polling places at more than one polling station and the confusion created by these clerks, whether deliberate or not; the PPP/C is against the use of the clerks in the 2015 elections. The PPP/C awaits GECOM response to the plea for free and fair elections,” Rohee said.

Rohee also reiterated his call for public vetting of polling day staff.

However, Deputy Chief Elections Officer, Vishnu Persaud who sought to provide a response to Rohee’s statements related that the Commission was doing everything possible to have any justifiable matter of concern addressed and to ensure free, fair and transparent elec-

2015.

Dave Lall of Lot 1 Alliance, Canal Number One, West Bank Demerara, was driving motor vehicle PJJ 3487 on Albert Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, when he was stopped. After being found to be above the legal limit, he was charged and appeared at the Providence Magistrate’s Court on February 10, where he pleaded ‘not guilty’. The matter has been adjourned.

Then, Shirdyal Hoosner of Lot 1934 Section C, Block X, Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was also found to be above the legal limit while driving motor vehicle PFF 9346 on Diamond Public Road, EBD. He appeared at the Providence

Magistrate’s Court on February 12, after being charged and pleaded not guilty to the driving under the influence charge when it was read to him. That matter was also put down for continuation on a later date.

While driving motor vehicle GPP 4374 on the Providence Public Road, EBD, Ramnauth Persaud of Lot 10 Grove Public Road, EBD, was found to be above the legal limit in terms of consumption of alcohol. He was subsequently charged and made an appearance at the Providence Magistrate’s Court on February 10. Persaud pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $7500.

Wayne Blackett also

pleaded guilty to a driving under the influence of alcohol charge when it was read to him on February 10 at the Providence Magistrate’s Courts. He is being accused

Anna Regina Multi students meet President

tions.

Responding to the issue of recruitment and public vetting, Persaud sought to defend the policy which governs this process, expressing that as far as he was aware, GECOM’s recruitment process did not lack transparency.

“Our recruitment process started with an ad which we stated for a certain period. People applied, we did shortlists, we call them for interviews, we did the training; the training was done in such a way that the marking of the evaluations was done with candidate numbers so there was no way that people who marked the papers knew the persons they were marking it for. So through that process, we have a pool of well trained and capable persons. Against this background we are confident that the persons we have appointed to work on elections day and the persons appointed to work even before are persons that were accurately trained and demonstrated their competence,” Persaud explained.

In response to the calls for public vetting, Persaud disclosed that persons have already indicated that they will not work if this is to be done. This, he added, could have a devastating effect on the agency’s efforts as it atempts to fill existing vacancies.

Meanwhile, Persaud said despite past experiences, the necessity of having certain staff on polling day should not be negated, pointing out that in other countries Information Clerks provide a valuable service during elections.

The Deputy Chief Elections Officer also stated that GECOM’s voter education has already begun and the Commission plans to have this intensified as the days go by.

President Donald Ramotar and Education Minister Priya Manickchand with some of the students of the Anna Regina Multilateral School, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) at the Presidential complex

President Donald Ramotar hosted a visit by students of the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School when they toured the Presidential Complex Tuesday.

For the students, it was an opportunity to meet the President, who they had only seen on television previously.

The students and staff also had the opportunity to meet Cabinet members

as they too were present for their weekly meeting, at the complex, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

The President thanked the students and staffers for the visit, saying it was

a “real delight” especially, since the school was doing well academically. He reminded them of the need to continue the work of those who preceded them, to keep the standards up and “at the same time set the bar higher for those coming”.

He also wished those who are preparing to write examinations soon, the “very best” and added that he would be looking out to see how well the school would perform, once the exams conclude.

In brief remarks, Education Minister Priya Manickchand also thanked the students for visiting and said they have a great responsibility particularly as they were an example of what can be achieved once the facilities are in place.

The students later visited other places of interest, before returning to Essequibo.

Govt cannot compel Mash bands to play Guyanese music – Minister Anthony

“Sling

Some have expressed concerns that the music of local artistes are not given enough airplay or not played sufficiently on Mash Day but Culture Minister, Dr Frank Anthony says the ministry has no control over this.

Speaking with Guyana Times Dr Anthony explained that while there are

guidelines and rules for the road march, the music is dependent on revelers’ taste.

John ‘Sling Shot’ Drepaul has said he is so disappointed that he will never take part in another Mashramani event in Guyana.

“What a shame! I was in Trinidad for the Carnival and for two months leading up to the Carnival, all they played was Trinidadian music. Here in Guyana is a different story. They are playing Bajan, Trinidad and all sorts of music except their own,” Drepaul said.

He pointed out that this was evident in the children’s costume parade as well. “They were playing all sorts of foreign music and it was not even age appropriate.”

He was also of the view

that more of Guyana’s culture should be showcased in order to attract tourists.

Sling Shot explained that over the past few months he has visited all the major hotels in Guyana, only to hear foreign music being played.

“The hotels are where our tourists are, how you can play Michael Bolton? What are we Guyanese

about? Even the local DJ’s on the radio try their best to speak Jamaican.”

On the other hand reigning Carib Soca Monarch Jomo “rubber waist” Primo believes that local artistes should push themselves to become more passionate and creative about their work.

“People are not going to listen to nonsense… straight! If we want people to listen to our music we have to ensure it sounds good. We would normally have to take our CD’s and give them to the DJ’s and sometimes they take it but they don’t play the music.”

Primo added that while he does share Drepaul’s view on playing more local music, at the same time, he believes local Artistes have a lot to work to do.

wednesday, february 25, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Health Ministry seizes canter of damaged, expired goods

The Health Ministry’s Pharmacy and Poison Board on Tuesday seized a canter filled with damaged and expired food items and goods, as they were being loaded onto the vehicle, to be transported for marketing purposes.

After receiving a tip-off, Pharmacy and Poison Board Registrar Khame Sharma, and Inspector of Pharmacy, Shivanand Geer, along with a Police Officer, proceeded to a bond in West Ruimveldt, where the items were being packed onto the vehicle by labourers.

Following their timely intervention, a quantity of Carnation Milk, Mak-C drink mix, Dry Pigeon Peas, Delisa Nutrient Boost,

en into the Ministry’s bond for further investigation.

The storage conditions of the goods were also deplorable and unhealthy, as rotting goods, such as potatoes, were seen among them, and the labels were torn and discoloured with mildew.

Speaking to the Government Information Agency (GINA), Sharma pointed out that the Board has been receiving numerous complaints about these products, which are distributed countrywide. He added that there have been many attempts to find them, but they were all futile.

It is still unknown who is the owner of the goods. However, the canter truck owner pointed out that he was only required to move

Channa, Mixed Vegetables, and Royal Jello, along with Hugs Fruit Berry juice and gloves were seized and tak-

the items from the bond to another truck owner, who was supposed to transport

Hundreds of Scouts celebrate Founder’s Day in Linden

Members of the Scout Association of Guyana participate in the parade in Linden

More than 350 members of the Scout Association of Guyana came out in Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) on Sunday, February 15 for a Parade and Day of Sports to celebrate the life of Lord Baden Powell.

Lord Baden Powell was the founder of the Scout Movement and the first Chief Scout of the Boy Scout Association. Scouts came from as far as Tain in Berbice and Parika in Essequibo. For many of them it was their first visit

to the town of Linden and they were very excited to have such an experience. Lindeners came out in large numbers to view the parade along Winifred Gaskin Highway, Silvertown, Wismar which ended at Bayroc Community Ground. The march past was taken by Deputy Chief Commissioner Andrew Ramcharitar, District Commissioner Charissa Rampersaud and Assistant District Commissioner of Linden, Nadia Jones. In scouting, Founder’s Day is celebrated on

them to Essequibo.

The Ministry is urging distributors to check their products and verify that they are in line with the specifications of the Guyana Bureau of Standards. Distributors are reminded that the marketing of unsatisfactory products can result in legal consequences.

Consumers are also encouraged to ensure that they receive a bill for all transactions, when purchasing goods. This is to ensure that customers can be compensated, if the need arises. The marketing of such goods are hazardous to human health, and for this reason the Ministry will

continue to be on the lookout for them on the local market. Citizens are advised to report any suspicious and similar activities or storage conditions brought to their attention, as they pose a threat to them and their families.

Neesa Gopaul murder trial: Mother said teen was “wayward” − Police Superintendent

When the trial into the murder of 16-year-old Neesa Lalita Gopaul continued on Tuesday at the High Court, Superintendent of Police Hugh Jessemy took the stand and testified that her mother, Bibi Sharima Gopaul had told him that her daughter became “wayward” when she was in second form.

The woman and her exlover, Jarvis “Barry” Small, are on trial for the murder of her teenage daughter. It is alleged that between September 24 and October 2, 2010, they murdered Neesa Gopaul at the Emerald Tower Resort in Madewini, Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

Jessemy told the court that he took an ordinary statement from the accused woman. The statement was tendered into evidence and the witness was asked to read it to the court. He narrated that the woman had told him that while in Form Two at Queen’s College, Neesa had become “wayward” and would even sleep out at times.

He added that the woman said that when her husband was alive, the teen never used to listen to him.

As Jessemy continued reading, the court heard that on September 23, 2010, Gopaul said that she along with her two daughters went into bed and they were watching television; however, she

fell asleep around 22:00h and when she woke around 05:00h the following morning, her eldest daughter was not in bed.

Different direction

The officer said that the woman further related to him that about an hour later she realised that Neesa was nowhere in house and on September 25, she filed a missing person’s report with the Police. According to the officer, the woman also narrated to him that on October 3, she received a call from a Police officer informing her that her daughter’s body was found; as such, she went to the Lyken Funeral Home and identified her, based on the clothing she had on the night she went missing, that is a many-coloured dress top and black tights.

Jessemy went on to tell the court that he also assisted with investigations and on October 4, he along with Gopaul, Mohammed Kayum and a party of Policemen went to the woman’s house at Lot 13 Leonora, West Coast Demerara, where they conducted a search.

The Superintendent of Police added that on October 6, 2010, he applied for an extension to keep Gopaul and Small in custody and it was granted. The witness is expected to be cross-examined by defence attorneys today.

Also on Tuesday, Assistant Commissioner of Police Joel David took the

stand and testified that in October 2010, he was stationed at the Brickdam Police Station and was involved in the investigations into the teen’s murder. The officer told the court that on October 6, he went to the Ruimveldt Station where he joined then Sergeant Mitchell Caesar during an interview with Small. He said that Caesar put the murder allegations to the man and cautioned him afterwards. David related that the accused denied the allegation and informed them that he would tell them a story that would take them in a different direction and that Gopaul would be charged as an accessory, but he would only do so in the presence of his attorney, whom he identified as Senior Counsel Bernard De Santos, The officer continued that the following day, the Senior Counsel showed up at the Police Station and Small told him in front of the two same officers that he wanted to tell the Police a story, but De Santos refused to be part of such conversation and left.

David further told the court that he had witnessed a confrontation between Gopaul and Small. He was then cross-examined by defence lawyers for both accused. The trial will continue today before presiding judge, Justice Navindra Singh.

1 hospitalised after car crash at Coffee Grove

AFebruary 22, the birthday of Lord Baden Powell. Many Scout groups around the world plan special activities throughout this month to celebrate his life. The Scouts had a packed day playing football, cricket, pitch the coin, and tug-owar as well as competing in tyre and three-legged races. The Scout Movement started in 1907 and is the oldest and largest youth movement in the world. Scouting started in Guyana in 1909 and is still going strong and expanding.

Mash Night vehicular collision along the Coffee Grove Public Road, Essequibo Coast has left one person hospitalised.

Patrina Stevens is presently in the Intensive Care Unit at the Suddie Public Hospital nursing serious head injuries after the vehicle in which she was travelling collided with another around 22:00h Monday night.

According to Stevens’ mother, Jeanette Bacchus, her daughter was returning from the Mash celebrations at the Anna Regina Community Centre Ground when the car in which her daughter was an occupant collided head on with anoth-

er that was turning out from a street. Bacchus said in addition to the head injuries and haemorrhaging her daugh-

SUDOKU

Wednesday, February 18 solution

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

CANCER

Your honest, open manner and true concern for others make you a trusted confidante. Do something special for someone who has been there for you in good times and bad.

Consider the motives of someone who wants you to loan out or invest your hardearned cash. A foolhardy joint financial venture will cause serious setbacks if you go into debt.

You’ll have to work hard to get things going. Dwelling on emotional issues will lead to depression. Take a mental health day, go out for a walk or do something you enjoy.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Don’t get drawn into the rumor mill, and avoid repeating negative or uncomplimentary comments. Gossip will not help you make gains, but it will put you in an awkward position.

Step into the limelight with confidence. Your suggestions will have a powerful impact on those around you, and you will be able to gain valuable support for your plans.

Deception is apparent. Someone will try to undermine your credibility. Be prepared to fight for what is rightfully yours. Work alone for now. The less said, the better.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

You are thirsty for knowledge. Attend informal events or seminars that will give you insight into different cultures and philosophies. The people you meet will figure prominently in your future.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

You will be asked to help with someone’s financial or legal matters. You will gain confidence and contentment knowing that you are doing something nice for someone.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Partnerships look promising. Show what you can bring to the table and find out how far you can go, based on the sum total of your and your counterpart’s contributions.

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

The more you do to help those in need, the more recognition and satisfaction you will receive. You have what it takes to get the work done in a timely manner.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

Get out and have a good time with a friend or lover. Lively activities will provide a welcome diversion from everyday pressures and tension. Romance is in the stars.

Find a quiet corner and get your work done without entering into a stressful dispute. Your attention to detail will ensure that you complete your tasks successfully.

Crawford beats Team Coco riders to claim Mashramani 40-miler

By Andrew CArmiChAel

Romello Crawford of Trojan Cycle Club (TCC) surprised several national riders when he won the Flying Ace Cycle Club (FACC) Mashramani 40-mile road race on Monday in Berbice.

Crawford completed the distance in a time of one hour, thirty-one minutes and thirty-three seconds. (1:31:33:02) after a sprint which involved Paul De Nobrega of the Lucozade Cycling Club.

Stephano Husbands and Jamal John, both of Team Coco, finished in third and fourth respectively.

The quartet broke away from the pack before 10 miles of the race had gone and was never caught. The winner was decided in the last 400 metres when Crawford came off of his seat and gave his all, with the rest of the lead group following closely behind.

Following the leaders

about half a mile behind were some of the nation’s top riders in Marlon “Fishy” Williams, Michael Anthony, Hamza Eastman, Silvie Inniss, Alanzo Greaves, Christopher Holder, Mark Harris, Shaquel A’Guard, Jeban Crawford, Akeem Archer, Orville Hinds and Andrew Hicks.

All eyes were on the trio from Team Evolution – Williams, Hinds, and Anthony.

The others were expecting that they would have attempted to catch the leaders and were waiting to follow, but Crawford, De Nobrega, Husbands and John were bent on staying ahead and reached 40 kilometres per hour on some occasions to maintain their lead.

The chase group had been shedding riders all along the journey and was down to 14 when they decided to take the last sprint to the finish line knowing that just two spaces were up for grabs. They finished with

Thompson keeps racking up the wins

US-based Guyanese Brenessa Thompson is in tremendous form, winning three events on Sunday at the City Champs in New York.

Thompson clocked a speedy 7.05s to win in the girls’ 55 metres dash and went out of her comfort zone to contest the girls’ 300 metres, which she won in a time of 38.43s.

The sprinter was also a part of the Medgar Evers

4x200 metres team, running the lead leg to inspire the team to victory in a time of 1:39.34s. Thompson, since the start of the season, has been unstoppable and is expected to start her outdoor season some time in March.

Further, Thompson has her sights set on winning gold for Guyana at the upcoming Carifta Games in April.

Greaves ahead of Eastman. Crawford, John and Husbands claimed two sprint points each while Niles and De Nobrega got one each.

The event was sponsored by several Corentyne businesses and rolled off from outside of Sha’veh Beer Garden at Rose Hall Town and proceeded to Number 51

Police Station before returning to the starting line for the finish.

Meanwhile, in the junior category, Crawford was also first with John second and

Anamayah Memorial basketball...

Seasoned campaigner Mercia Dick of FACC was an easy winner, with Christine Matterson of CorSkel Cycle Club coming in second ahead of Whitney Poyer.

Meanwhile, as part of Mashramani celebrations, a female six-mile road race was also organised with the winner being Melissa Kyte and second place going to Denise McKenzie.

The events were jointly sponsored by Sha’veh Beer Garden, Colin El Cock Racing Stables, Jumbo Jet Racing Stables, Chris Jagdeo Racing Stables, Spready’s Supermarket, Banks DIH, Hamid Hardware Store, Annirude Construction and Archway Snackette.

Hopetown in semi-final with 48-45 win over Black Sharks

Hopetown Hardliners are the first team through to the semifinals of the Anamayah Second Annual Memorial Basketball Tournament.

The newcomers to basketball in Berbice got past Fyrish Black Sharks in their playoff match on Sunday at the Fyrish Basketball Court with a 4845 win.

The closely-contested game saw the visitors doing just what was needed to stay ahead throughout the game. They led the first quarter 16-12 and maintained the lead at the end of the first half.

Despite good attacking play from Black Sharks’ Kevon Williams (14 points) and Linden Joseph (15 points), the Black Sharks were never allowed to go ahead as the third period ended with them trailing by three points and the score on 24-27.

Jerrol Alien led the way for the Hardliners with 13 points and received good support from Trevan Lewis and Sherlan Gellis with

Part of the action on Sunday

eight points apiece.

Hopetown will now meet Smithfield Rockers in their semi-final match-up on March 8.

Defending champions New Amsterdam Hardliners will get into ac-

tion for the first time in the tournament when they take on Rose Hall Jammers on Friday at the Area H Ground in Rose Hall, Corentyne. The venue for the final will be decided based on the

teams that make it through. The tournament is being organised by Vibert Garnette. At stake in the competition are cash and other incentives for the winning and runner-up teams.

(Andrew Carmichael)

Gayle sights fan pressure as motivation for history making feat

Chris Gayle says he was bombarded with an unprecedented amount of pressure from fans before his multiple record breaking performance against Zimbabwe in the ICC Cricket World on Tuesday.

Gayle smashed the first double century in the tournament and fastest ever in one-dayers, and shared a record breaking stand with Marlon Samuels at the Manuka Oval in Canberra.

His effort fired West Indies to a 73 run win over Zimbabwe to post their second wining in the tournament.

“It’s been a lot of pressure, and the runs haven’t been coming. I kept getting messages on my phone, as well as on my Twitter,” said Gayle, during the postgame news conference.

“I have never felt this kind of pressure, and this is the first time I have seen so many people want me to score runs, and I am happy I gave them something to cheer about”.

Gayle smashed 215 runs off 147 balls during his whirlwind stay at the crease, forming a 372-run stand with Samuels, who scored 133 runs off 156 balls.

The partnership is now the highest stand in OneDay International (ODI) history, breaking the 331run stand previously held by Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.

Gayle’s knock was also the third-highest innings score in ODI history.

“Eventually we knew we had to attack because we didn’t want to put ourselves under too much pressure. That was my game plan to try and push them back as far as possible. Eventually it worked,” said Gayle.

“I hope it’s the start of a new beginning and I will try and build on this as much as possible”.

Gayle, Samuels...

In his next over, he had Stuart Matsikenyeri lbw, deceiving him for length. This was entirely his day. Gayle’s innings distilled his biggest strengths: his patience - he faced 59 dot balls, or just over 40% of the total balls he faced; only Rohit Sharma’s 209 in Bangalore contained a bigger percentage of dots among the five ODI double tons - and his ability to maximise a fairly small range of shots. Not for him the ramps and the reverselaps. Not even the cover drives and the square cuts. Until he drilled Chatara to the extra-cover boundary to go from 196 to 200, he had hit only one four and one six through the off side. Everything else was launched down the ground or clubbed or pulled over the leg side.

It helped him that two of Zimbabwe’s spinners, Tafadzwa Kamungozi and Sean Ervine, turned the ball into him. They disappeared for 21 each in the 44th and 45th overs. West Indies went from 258 to 300 in that time, Gayle from 151 to 190, with two fours and five sixes in eight balls, the best of them an effortless pick-up shot off Kamungozi over backward square leg.

Gayle could have been out first ball. Tinashe Panyangara, who had already bowled Dwayne

Ireland, UAE seek to keep shop window open

Ireland and the UAE represent two sides of the Associate coin. The Irish have emerged as the tightest unit outside the Full Members, many of their players fully professional via the English system, and their record at ICC events conspicuous for its gallantry. The UAE are a little more problematic, having never won a World Cup match in two appearances 19 years apart, their ranks occupied by journeymen amateurs of largely subcontinental origin.

But whatever their pathways to the Gabba, both sides have shown promise so far at this event, and both are equally eager to continue prosecuting the case for the Associates to retain a

West Indies are now on four points from two victories and will next play South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Friday.

“I am quite happy to have gotten this hundred, and this will give the team some momentum ahead of the match against South Africa, which is an important one”, said Gayle.

“We toured South African recently, we know each other well so it’s going to be a good contest …we are going to make our best performance speak for itself and hopefully we can come out on top against South Africa”.

(CMC)

Smith for a duck, curled one into Gayle and bellowed in appeal for lbw. Steve Davis said not out. We don’t know for sure, but he may have suspected an inside edge. Zimbabwe reviewed. There was no inside edge. But Hawkeye suggested the ball would have gone on to hit

gan the process of slow accumulation that often lays the base for his biggest innings. Panyangara and Tendai Chatara were landing the ball on a good length, generally bowling stump-to-stump on a slow pitch, and moving it around off the seam. Neither Gayle

SCOREBOARD

West Indies

D Smith b Panyangara 0

C Gayle c Chigumbura

b Masakadza 215

M Samuels not out 133

Total: 2 wickets (50 Overs) 372

Extras: (b 1, lb 2, w 16, nb 5) 24

Did not Bat: J Carter, D Ramdin+, L Simmons, D Sammy, A Russell, J Holder*, J Taylor, N Miller. Fall of Wickets: 1-0 (Smith, 0.2 ov), 2-372 (Gayle, 49.6 ov).

Zimbabwe Bowling: T Panyangara 9-0-82-1, T Chatara 9.4-0-74-0, S Williams 5-0-48-0, E Chigumbura 7-0-44-0, S Raza 10-1-45-0, T Kamungozi 3-037-0, H Masakadza 6.2-0-39-1.

Zimbabwe (Target; 363 D/L)

S Raza c Simmons b Holder 26

R Chakabva LBW Holder 2

H Masakadza LBW Taylor 5

B Taylor+ c Ramdin

b Samuels 37

S Williams c Smith b Holder 76

the upper half of the bails. Umpire’s call. West Indies could have been 1 for 2. Who knows what might have happened then? Instead, Gayle be-

C Ervine b Gayle 52

S Matsikenyeri LBW Gayle 19

E Chigumbura* c Gayle b Taylor 21

T Panyangara c Ramdin b Taylor 4

T Chatara b Miller 16

T Kamungozi not out 6

Total: All Out (44.3 Overs) 289

Extras: (lb 9, w 14, nb 2) 25

Fall of Wickets: 1-11 (Chakabva, 1.4 ov), 2-26 (Masakadza, 4.6 ov), 3-46 (Sikandar Raza, 7.6 ov), 4-126 (Taylor, 20.1 ov), 5-177 (Williams, 27.5 ov), 6-226 (Ervine, 33.4 ov), 7-239 (Matsikenyeri, 35.4 ov), 8-254 (Panyangara, 38.1 ov), 9-266 (Chigumbura, 40.5 ov), 10289 (Chatara, 44.3 ov).

West Indies Bowling: J Taylor 10-0-38-3, J Holder 7-0-48-3, N Miller 6.3-0-481, M Samuels 9-0-59-1, A Russell 5-0-44-0, D Sammy 1-0-8-0, C Gayle 6-0-35-2.

nor Samuels looked fluent. At the 10-over mark, West Indies were 43 for 1.

Gayle’s first six came in the 11th over, over long-on off Williams, a warning that

decent-sized shop window at the World Cup. William Porterfield and Khurram Khan spoke more or less from the same hymn sheet on match eve in this respect, urging the ICC and the Full Members to take an expansionist view of the world. A close and thrilling contest here would help.

Ireland should be too strong in Brisbane, on the sort of surface neither side will have encountered much before. The bounce and pace of the Gabba invariably makes for bracing cricket, and it will be a question of which side adapts more quickly enough to the task at hand. For Ireland there is something of the unknown about this match, for their win over the West Indies has imbued many observers with the sense that a quarter-final berth is now theirs to lose.

In the spotlight If passion were the criteria, William Porterfield would lift the World Cup in Melbourne on March 29. His match eve words about the need for the game to expand rather than shrink were a rallying cry for the rest of the Associate nations, as well as a shot across the bows of the Full Members and the ICC. Against West Indies, Porterfield was the only member of his side’s top four not to get going, and this time, he will be looking to enjoy the extra pace afforded by a Gabba pitch that looks white and firm. (Cricinfo)

Philander out of crucial West Indies match

SAfrica fast bowler Vernon Philander will miss South Africa’s next match, against West Indies on February 27, and is in doubt for their game against Ireland next Tuesday after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain. Philander sustained the injury on Sunday, during the clash against India at the MCG, when he bowled just four overs and was off the field for most of the Indian innings. Although he returned to bat later in the game, an MRI scan on Monday revealed the extent of the damage.

Philander has been prescribed a recovery period of between a week and 10 days, which will mean South Africa will definitely seek a replacement quick for the West Indies game, but the management remains hopeful he will be able to play against Ireland. “We have to give him every opportunity to make sure that he can be available. At the same time we don’t want to be foolish by taking short-cuts. If he passes all the fitness tests and is symptom free going into the Ireland game he may play but at this stage it is too early to tell,” Mohammed Moosajee, the team’s manager said.

This is the second time in six months that Philander has been sidelined with the same problem. He was also

he could repeat the stroke whenever he saw one in his hitting zone. In the 17th, Samuels went for a cut and sliced Sikandar Raza straight towards Chatara at backward point. He dived forward, got both hands to the ball, and dropped it.

After 20 overs, West Indies were 96 for 1, and it wasn’t until the 29th that their run-rate crept up to five an over. Gayle by then was going along at over a run a ball but Samuels was crawling along at half that strike rate, struggling for timing and hitting balls straight to fielders.

At the start of the 40th

ruled out of the triangular series between South Africa, Zimbabwe and Australia with a hamstring niggle but recovered in time for the West Indies series at home.

The recurrence of the injury is South Africa’s most serious concern since the start of the tournament, after Quinton de Kock won the race against time to recover from an ankle ligament tear, Farhaan Behardien had a back problem and missed the second warm-up match and Dale Steyn suffered a bout of sinus, which kept

over, West Indies were 203 for 1 and Gayle was on 121. His innings could have ended there, had Panyangara not overstepped while sending down a ball that Gayle skied down long-on’s throat.

Off the free-hit next ball, as if to mock Zimbabwe’s wretched luck, Gayle gave long-on more catching practice. Zimbabwe’s bowlers probably knew what was coming next. They had conceded 146 in the last 10 overs against South Africa. Here they conceded 152. Just as they had done in that game, they had begun well with the ball and

him out of a training session. Philander’s hamstring was a concern before the match against India, when he received treatment for stiffness. He was also seen doing shuttle runs at training. His unavailability leaves South Africa without a frontline quick and affects the balance of their side. They have two reserve seamers in Wayne Parnell and Kyle Abbott, who will compete for Philander’s spot. Parnell was expensive and erratic in the India game and may make way for Abbott, who has not had a game so far, while South Africa will also bring in an extra batsman to ensure their batting depth is not disturbed. Behardien sat out against India but could make his way back to the No. 7 position or South Africa may look to Rilee Rossouw. While the composition of the XI will be debated, South Africa will not see the need for panic just yet. The match which was talked up as the biggest test of their groupagainst India – is over and they have had recent success against West Indies, albeit with an out of form Chris Gayle in home conditions. If they were going to experiment with their combinations, they may have wanted to do that against West Indies anyway, so Philander’s injury may present the opportunity they were looking for. (Cricinfo)

bowled reasonably well in the middle overs without threatening to take wickets. At Hamilton, it had left the well set David Miller and JP Duminy at the crease after 40 overs. Now it was the turn of Gayle and Samuels. After Gayle reached his double-hundred in the 46th over, it was Samuels’ turn to align some of the spotlight on himself. At the start of the 48th over, he tucked Chatara away to the fine leg boundary to bring up his century. It had taken him 143 balls to get there, and at that point his strike rate was 69.93. (Cricinfo)

YELLOW PAGES

wednesday, February 25, 2015

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WICB PCL 4-day cricket tournament… Griffith pleased with total team effort

– says no room for complacency

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Assistant Coach and Manager of the Guyana Jaguars called Monday’s emphatic victory over hosts Barbados Pride in round seven of the West Indies Cricket Board Professional Cricket League four-day tournament a “total team effort” and lauded his players for their commitment and hard work throughout the game.

the start they had to play “tough and smart” cricket and keep their “fitness levels up” to beat the plucky Barbadians, especially since the hosts entered the game with the huge advantage, having beaten the Jaguars here last year.

fidence is high within the squad, Griffith insists there will be no room for complacency despite impressive recent results.

“This win was a total team effort in every way. We did well in all departments. The way we executed our plans was one of the most pleasing aspects for me,” added Griffith.

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The Jaguars triumphed by four wickets in a run chase of 333, thanks mainly to superb knocks from Narsingh Deonarine (90), veteran West Indies batsman, Shivnarine Chanderpaul (64), opener Rajendra Chandrika (60) and an unbeaten 41 from Raymond Reifer.

Speaking after the team’s arrival at the Ogle International Airport on Tuesday, Griffith noted that his team knew from

“The batting was outstanding; especially Deonarine and Shiv in the second innings. The bowlers all did a splendid job but Bishoo and Beaton gives us the early momentum, so maintaining the momentum will be the main aim going forward.”

The Jaguars have being the dominant force throughout the tournament with six outright wins for the season.

However, while the con-

The Jaguars are set to battle the Jamaica franchise at the Guyana National Stadium from next week Friday. And the prospect of winning the title is definitely on course. They will then tackle Trinidad and Tobago Red Force from March 13 at home before playing hosts Windward Islands Volcanoes from March 20, in the final round.

Points standing Meanwhile, the Guyana Jaguars are on top of the points table with 107 points, followed by Barbados Pride, 82; Windward Islands Volcanoes, 80; Jamaica Franchise, 60; Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, 47 and Leeward Islands, 17.

Murray beats Gilles Muller in Dubai first round

Britain’s Andy Murray began his Dubai Championships campaign with a 6-4 7-5 win over Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller.

The Scot, 27, came through in one hour and 45 minutes and will play Joao Sousa in round two, three weeks after beating the Portuguese at the Australian Open.

Top seed Novak Djokovic plays Canada’s Vasek Pospisil later on Tuesday.

British number two James Ward could not build on his two qualifying wins as he lost 6-4 6-4 to Spain’s Feliciano Lopez, the world number 13.

The Englishman will now head to Glasgow for Great Britain’s Davis Cup tie against the United States, which takes place from 6-8 March at the City’s Emirates Arena.

Murray will hope to delay his return to Scotland

with a good run in Dubai and despite six double faults and a failure to serve out the match at the first attempt, he opened with victory over an in-form Muller.

“I made him work very hard on his service games,” said Murray. “That was something I wanted to try to do from early on.

“The end of both sets I didn’t serve so well but apart from that, I didn’t give him any opportunities really.”

Muller, coached by Briton Jamie Delgado, held on gamely in the face of four break points during a 19-minute third game but Murray made the breakthrough swiftly at the next opportunity.

One break proved enough to give the world number three the set, although he only narrowly came through an unconvincing service game to seal it after 62 minutes.

An early break in the second put Murray in complete control, the quality of his returns constantly troubling the Muller serve, and a straightforward win looked on the cards until he stumbled at the finish line.

Muller got the benefit of a net cord to level at 5-5 but Murray upped his game to break for a third time and made no mistake as he closed it out at the second attempt.

Ward, 28, was playing on the nearby Court One and pushed hard in the first set against Lopez, but he failed to convert any of six break points and the Spaniard grabbed his solitary chance.

Lopez moved 2-0 clear in the second and despite saving four match points on serve in game nine, Ward could not get the break back required and went down in straight sets.

Fudadin anxious to play in CPL

By Rajiv Bisnauth

Following the official Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2015 Draft last month, Test batsman Assad Fudadin was snapped up by the local franchise, as one of six newcomers in the Guyana Amazon Warriors 15-man squad for this year’s tournament.

Fudadin joined Australia’s Brad Hodge, West Indies veteran batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Sir Lanka’s Thisara Perera and local superstars Devendra Bishoo and Paul Wintz as the newcomers in the Guyana Amazon Warriors outfit.

Fudadin was bought by the franchise in Round 15 for US$5000, and is among eight Guyanese in the lineup, a clear indication that the Warriors management unit was keen to continue giving the local players an opportunity to showcase their talents.

“Obviously, it’s a great opportunity for me to represent the Guyana Amazon Warriors for the first time,”

the 29-year-old Fudadin said during an exclusive interview recently. With three Tests and three T20 games under his belt, Fudadin said he was excited to be part of the third edition.

The left-handed batsman, who is currently recovering from a finger injury he sustained during the West Indies recent Test tour to South Africa, said

he was eagerly looking forward to tap into the vast experience of the international quartet – Sri Lankan trio Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lasith Malinga and Thisara Perera and the Australian, Brad Hodge.

“It will be a good experience for me, since I will get the opportunity to mix with a few international players, who are specialised in oneday cricket, so it will be a

good opportunity for me to experience and I want to thank the management unit for putting their faith in me,” he said.

Guyanese Leon Johnson, Steven Jacobs and Robin Bacchus were not selected, along with New Zealander James Neesham, who was part of the team last season.

Other members of the squad are Trinidad’s Sunil Narine, Lendl Simmons and Denesh Ramdin and Guyana’s Christopher Barnwell, Veerasammy Permaul and Ronsford Beaton.

The CPL is the Region’s premier T20 tournament, attracting sold-out crowds and millions of viewers across the globe.

The third edition of the CPL, labelled by organisers as the Biggest Party in Sport, is set to take place from June 20 to July 26.

The Amazon Warriors lost at the final hurdle in the previous two editions, to Jamaica Tallawahs in 2013 and Barbados Tridents in 2014.

CGI, GCB congratulate Guyana Jaguars on victory

Several rain stoppages failed to save two-time defending West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Regional Four-Day champs Barbados Pride from a convincing and historic victory by the rampaging Guyana Jaguars at the Kensington Oval on Monday. Set an improbable 333 for victory, the Jags went about their task with admirable professionalism and game awareness, scoring the highest total in the match and the highest fourth innings total by a regional team at Kensington Oval for victory.

A joint statement from

Cricket Guyana Inc (CGI) and the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) read, “This was an impeccable team effort with almost all the batsmen who failed in the first innings putting their hands up to be counted in the second innings, resulting in an eventual resounding and sweet victory. Narsingh Deonarine topscored with 90, Shivnarine Chanderpaul crafted 64, Rajendra Chandrika laid the platform with 60, and Raymon Reifer and Anthony Bramble saw the Jaguars home with an unbeaten 41 and 27 respectively.”

The release added, “Cricket Guyana Inc (CGI) and the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) wish to record warmest felicitations and congratulations to the entire team for such a great victory. This win displayed the sort of character that our team is capable of, since they were playing catch up with Barbados throughout the match until the fourth day. Rain almost robbed us of completing this revenge victory against our arch rivals, Barbados, but the Jaguars held their nerves to score at nearly three and a half runs per over in this innings to record the highest run rate for the match. Not to be forgotten is the management team who obvious-

BCB congratulates Permaul on Sportsmanof-the-Year award

The President, executives and members of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) extended congratulations to West Indies left-arm spinner Veerasamy Permaul on being Guyana’s 2014 Sportsman-of-the-Year.

“We, the BCB, is very proud of Permaul once again as he continues to be a shining light in Berbice’s cricket and copping the 2014 Guyana Sportsman-ofthe-Year award is well-deserved,” a release from the Board stated.

The Board said it would also like to take this opportunity to wish him continued success in the ongoing regional first-class cricket tournament, and was very confident that he would soon regain his place in the West Indies Test and One-Day International (ODI) Teams.

ly had our team well and truly motivated to complete this crucial seventh round win which was almost a final. Congrats to all and sundry on a job well done.”

With the win, the Guyana Jaguars extended their lead in the tournament with 107 points with six victories, a clear 25 points ahead of secondplaced Barbados Pride on 82 points.

The CGI and GCB also congratulated young West Indies Test opener Kraig Braithwaite for recording two centuries in the match. “It was indeed a remarkable achievement,” the statement concluded.

Permaul, who is fast developing into a genuine allrounder, is one of 17 Berbicians to have played Test cricket for the West Indies.

He has represented West Indies in four Tests and six ODI and has 20 international wickets to date.

‘Exciting times...

Thomson is hoping to create a culture where the players can think beyond success at the regional level, but was cognisant of the challenges that surround the sport locally, key among them funding and the lack of matches between the “big competitions”.

He noted that for too long Guyana has been stuck at a point where the country has to compete at the major competitions without the luxury of having what can be dubbed preparation games against high-quality opposition.

This, of course, is partly due to the constant battle by the Guyana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) to secure funding to send the team to compete at major tournaments, much less fund such preparatory games.

GRFU Patron Christopher “Kit” Nascimento said the Union was in a much tougher position this year with regard to funding, noting that the Men’s 7s and 15s teams were being prepared simultaneously to defend their NACRA titles.

Nascimento, a former President of the Union, said nothing is remotely possible if they did not secure the finances, with a budget pegged at US$100,000. He put up a case for Government and

Private Sector support for the ruggers, noting that the benefits of the exposure for the country at events such as the Hong Kong Sevens and Olympic Qualifiers were enormous.

Nascimento said matches in those tournaments will be played in front of thousands of spectators and viewed on television by millions across the globe, hence the country’s tourism potential will be enhanced.

Training GRFU President Peter Green divulged that the Technical Director’s role was to lead Guyana’s chances in qualifying for the 2016 Olympics in Rio, Brazil. According to Green, he will also be working with the country’s Men’s 7s and 15s squads, as well as the Ladies programme, which was recently resuscitated.

Meanwhile, the local ruggers will be intensifying their preparations for the upcoming international engagements, starting with the home game in the NACRA 15s against Barbados on March 7 at the National Park rugby field.

Training will be supervised by a team of technical staff, led by Technical Director Thomson and Head Coach/Player Theodore Henry, at the National Park from 16:00h each day. The squad for the Barbados game is expected to be finalised by Monday, according to GRFU General Secretary Terrence Grant.

Nascimento called on all Guyanese to come out in their numbers and support the local lads as they hunt a successful defence of the 15s title. He is urging all sport-loving and patriotic Guyanese to don yellow or green apparel or a combination of both colours and cheer on the “Green Machine.”

NSC/GTTA Mashramani table tennis tournament… Britton, Edghill victorious

Racquet-wielding fiend Shemar Britton won the men’s Mashramani title on Sunday after an intense final against Nigel Bryan at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The immensely talented players battled for six sets, with Britton prevailing 4-2 in some drama-filled action.

Britton blazed to an early 3-0 (12-10, 11-6, 11-7) lead in the match as both players showcased their ability to loop and spin the ball.

However, Bryan showed some defiance and won the next two sets, with the fourth set seeing numerous rallies until Bryan won it 19-17. Bryan then won the fifth set 11-9.

Fatigue was obviously a major factor for Bryan in the sixth set, as it ended with Britton showcasing

Floodlight, Speedboat are GFSCA Mash champions

The Floodlight players receive their cash after winning the Masters division

Speedboat defeated Regal, Wolf Warriors and Countryside to cop the Open title of the Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) Mash softball 5/5 tournament, while Floodlight defeated Tropical Springs, Parika Defenders and Regal Masters to lift the Masters 10/10 title.

The day/night one-day tournament, which saw 14 teams competing, was played last Saturday at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) Ground in Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown.

Speedboat defeated Countryside by 19 runs in the Open final. Speedboat batted first and made 80 without loss in their allotted five overs. Greg Sing slammed 50 (2x4s, 5x6s). Countryside was restricted to 61-5 in their allotted five overs, with Sachin Ramcharan topscoring with 35. In the Over-40 (Masters) category, Floodlight defeated Regal Masters by eight wickets in a last-ball thriller. Regal scored 96-3 in 10 overs with Eric Thomas making 40, Eon Abel 17

and Raymond Harper 14, as Ramesh Narine took 2-11.

Floodlight responded with 98-2 in 10 overs with Unnis Yusuf leading the way with 50 (4x4s, 3x6s) and John Sumair on 15 not out.

Speedboat pocketed $50,000 as winners and Countryside $15,000 for being runner-up of the Open division.

Floodlight took home

$50,000 and Regal Masters

$15,000 in the Masters category. The GFSCA day/night 16-team tournament will be played once monthly at the DCC Ground. The next date is March 22, starting noon.

his dominance with an 11-3 win.

Meanwhile, in the women’s final, Chelsea Edghill dominated Natalie Cummings to win in four straight sets – 11-2, 11-9, 11-3 and 11-9.

Edghill also won the girls’ 18 years and under title, defeating Priscilla Greaves in four straight sets as well – 11-7, 11-7,

11-6 and 11-9.

Other results

Thirteen years and under boys’ final: Tyriq Saunders defeated Terrence Rausch 12-10, 118, 11-9; 15 years and under boys’ final: Miguel Wong defeated Jeremey Singh 11-7,11-3,11-7; 15 years and under girls’ final: Kristie Lopes defeated Selenas Jackman 13-15,

11-9, 9-11, 11-5, 11-7: 18 years and under boys’ final: Kyle Edghill defeated Alec Hopkinson 11-7, 11-7, 11-6, 11-9: 21 years and under male final: Stefan Corlette defeated Elishaba Johnson 11-7,5-11,11-4,1214,11-3,12-10; mixed doubles junior final:Kyle and Chelsea Edghill defeated Elishaba Johnson and Kristie Lopes 11-5, 11-9, 12-10.

Gayle, Samuels destroy Zimbabwe

An ODI double-hundred should feel monumental. This one felt inevitable. The fastest ODI double-hundred should feel exhilarating, like a rollercoaster ride. This felt like a quiet drive home from a suburban Tupperware party. That’s what Chris Gayle does. He makes a double ton seem inevitable after going 19 months without an ODI century.

This was the fifth double-century in ODIs, and it came exactly five years after Sachin Tendulkar first reached the landmark. Once a year is too frequent a rate for the milestone to be special any more, and since it was Gayle, it answered the question of when rather than if. Interviewed right after his dismissal off the final ball of the innings, Gayle himself said a lot of people had expected it from him. “A lot of fans,” he said, “have tweeted about it since Rohit

Sharma scored two doublehundreds.”

Gayle finished on 215 from 147 balls. He hit 10 fours and sent 16 sixes flying over the straight boundary or into a group of fans dressed as a coven of witches beyond the midwicket boundary. At the other end, unnoticed, Marlon Samuels made his highest ODI score and played second fiddle in a partnership of 372, the highest for any wicket in ODIs. It had drizzled all through the West Indies innings, but only got heavy enough for the players to go off the field in the third over of Zimbabwe’s innings, by which time they had already lost Regis Chakabva. When play resumed 20 minutes later, the target had been revised to 363 from 48 overs. Despite losing two more wickets by the end of the eighth over, Zimbabwe made enough of a fist of the chase to make you wonder

Griffith pleased with total team effort

Upcoming World Cup matches (with Guyana time)

Today: 17th Match, Pool A - Afghanistan v Scotland, 18:00h

Wednesday: 18th Match, Pool A - Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, 23:00h

Thursday: 19th Match, Pool B - South Africa v West Indies, 23:00h

Friday: 20th Match, Pool A- New Zealand v Australia, 21:00h

Saturday: 21st Match, Pool B- India v United Arab Emirates, 02:30h

what might have happened had West Indies only made 320.

The revival began with an 80-run partnership between Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams, before Williams and Craig Ervinewho had revived Zimbabwe in their chase against UAE - upped the rate of scoring with a 51-run fifth-wicket stand off just 46 balls. When Williams holed out off a miscued a pull in the 28th over, Zimbabwe needed 186 from 20.1 overs. They had brought the equation down to a Twenty20 chase, just about, but had lost five wickets in doing so. They just had too much left to do, and when Ervine, having used the stroke productively during his innings of 51, was bowled trying to sweep a darted Gayle offbreak, they were in danger of being bowled out. Gayle had struck four balls after coming on.

Exciting times for Guyana’s rugby – new TD

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

ewly-appointed Technical Director of Guyana’s rugby, Angus Thomson, believes the time has come for Guyana to venture onto the global scene and be recognised for what it’s worth.

Guyana has been a dominant force in the North American and Caribbean Rugby Association (NACRA) region, with the Men’s team being the current holders of the NACRA 7s and 15s titles, lifting both trophies in the same year, a feat never be-

fore achieved by a Caribbean nation.

Prior to that, the men had won the 7s title an unprecedented six years in succession, while the ladies has also won the 7s three years in a row.

Addressing media operatives at his introductory press conference on Tuesday at the Guyana Olympic Association headquarters on High Street, Thomson, a Guyana-born official who was bred in Scotland and lives in Australia, said his aim was to build on the structure that already existed.

His long-term goal, however, is to ensure Guyana competes against the top nations of the world, and his first major assignment is the Hong Kong Sevens set for March 27-29, followed by the Olympic Qualifiers in June and the Pan Am tournament in Toronto, Canada. Thomson, who first linked up with Guyana’s rugby five years ago when the Men’s 7s team was in Las Vegas, said he was amazed by the success of the country, given the small number of clubs and the number of persons who play the game. turn to page 22