Guyana Times Daily

thursday, october 22, 2015

Ram and McRae to recruit new GO-Invest CEO

Chartered Accounting firm Ram and McRae has been hired by the Board of Directors of the Guyana Office for Investment (GOInvest) to handle the process of recruiting that entity’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Business Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement said the Chartered Accounting firm, part owned by Christopher Ram, one of the current forensic auditors combing state books, is tasked with preparing suitable terms of reference and a job description; advise on and prepare the advertisement and select appropriate placements; receive and acknowledge applications; interview applicants; shortlist applicants for interviews by the Board and facilitate final interviews.

The company said that it is still in the process of developing the Terms of Reference and the position will be advertised shortly, with the aim of completing the process by year end, following the appointment of a new Board of Directors of GO-Invest.

The Go-Invest Board, which is headed by Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, has expressed discontent in the performance of GO-

Invest, which was being headed by economist Keith Burrowes.

Following the appointment of the new Board of Directors, a decision was made to not continue with Burrowes as CEO. “The replacement, identification of a new CEO for GO-Invest, has to come out of a process that is open, transparent and fair. So it is not simply a question of replacing Mr Burrowes by picking somebody whom we like,” Gaskin had said.

He noted that Go-Invest would have to be more aggressive, strategic, and fair in promoting investments in Guyana and abroad.

“You cannot have one investment agency and then have most of your investments being handled out-

side of that agency. GOInvest needs to do what it was designed to do; and to that extent, it must be given the authority to do so, and it must be allowed to act without political interference,” Minister Gaskin said.

Meanwhile, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Clement Rohee, concerning about this development, said this was the first time in the history of Guyana that an external company/firm has been appointed to make such an important decision.

However, even in such a case, the General Secretary said that the best thing for government to do was to have it advertised. This was not done. “Why Ram and McRae?” Rohee questioned, positing that it was obvious that Government was fulfilling its usual political agenda by selecting a firm that was closely associated with it. He said no one knew the criteria that were sought for this position, noting that there would be some doubt with such an undertaking.

Guyana Times was unable to reach Minister of State, Joseph Harmon or Minister Gaskin to ascertain the process used to make the selection and the cost incurred for the project.

Police recruits receive suicide prevention training

By IndrawattIe natram

Police recruits training at the Richard Faikall Police Training College in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are now better equipped with the necessary knowledge to help in the fight against suicide.

The recruits were trained on Wednesday at the Boardroom of the College by Psychologist Dr Haimraj Hamandeo.

The training was a collaboration between G (Essequibo Coast and Islands) Division and the Regional Working Suicide Group.

Speaking at the training event, Dr Hamandeo told the police officers-intraining that they should act as responsible ambassadors to help curb the ills of society.

He informed them that the information provided would help them as officers to prevent suicide in the future.

“When you go out there as officers, many things you will face, if there is an attempted suicide case, you have to know how to appropriately address the issue,” Dr Hamandeo said.

During the interactive session, Dr Hamandeo enlightened participants

about ways of preventing suicide, adding that the most common risk factors were depression, alcohol abuse, drug abuse and schizophrenia.

The psychologist related that during a depressive episode persons may experience desperation, hopelessness, anxiety/psychic anxiety/panic attacks, aggression or impulsiveness.

Dr Hamandeo said preventing suicide was everyone’s business and education was the key. He further explained it was important for person to think positively, as it was only then that situations could change.

He urged the recruits to be aware of the warning signs and intervene so that referrals could be made to social groups. He said the first step in preventing suicide was showing that you care, asking about suicide and offering help.

At the end of the training session, the recruits suggested that more counselling be available to persons, while there was also a need for more public awareness, professional awareness and medication to deal with depression.

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

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, October 22 – 11:30h-13:00h and Friday, October 23 – 12:45h-14:15h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Salary-gate scandal

PPP/C moves to stop subversion of Parliament today – as Govt MPs receive inflated pay cheques

Ignoring the avalanche of public demands to rescind its decision to grant the huge salary increases to Ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs), the Government has compounded its highhandedness by unilaterally paying themselves the increases for the month of October.

However, this decision was not taken lightly by the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), which on Wednesday argued that the Government’s decision to implement the increases can only take effect after the Order receives the approval of the National Assembly.

In fact, the PPP/C will today lay a motion in the National Assembly to annul the exorbitant salary increases that the current Administration has given to all Government officials and imposed upon all MPs despite it being wholly rejected by PPP/C parliamentarians.

The Opposition said that several of its MPs on Tuesday received by hand their payslips from the Parliament Office for the month of October 2015 and to their surprise, they were paid the salary increases. This occurred despite the fact that Leader of the Opposition, Bharrat Jagdeo had announced that the PPP/C MPs would not be accepting the increased salaries.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Opposition said that the Government, by hastily paying these increases in salaries to themselves, was clearly subverting the role of the National Assembly, violating the Standing Orders and contravening the law. It added that this was designed to defeat the PPP/C’s efforts to challenge these “unconscionable salary increases in the National

Assembly”.

“On October 19, 2015, we issued a statement signalling our unequivocal rejection of these salary increases, as well as expressing our intention to lay a motion in the National Assembly seeking to reverse and annul all the salary increases which were the subject of an Order of the Minister of Finance issued under Ministers, Members of the National Assembly and Special Offices (Emoluments) Act. Our motion is intended to call upon the National Assembly not to approve these increases but to reverse them,” the statement reminded.

The Opposition said that the decision by the Government Ministers to pay themselves these salary increases was made in similar circumstances.

“No public announcement was made at any Cabinet press briefin gs or anywhere else although the decision was made some time ago,” the Opposition said in its statement.

The nation came by this information by a surreptitious extraordinary publication in the Official Gazette, it argued, adding that “we are again witnessing similar trickery and deception. But this

will not stop us from proceeding with our motion in the National Assembly and from pursuing every other available avenue to annul and reverse these reprehensible salary increases which we now realise have been paid in violation of the law and parliamentary norms and practices.”

Negative Resolutions

However, Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, when contacted by this newspaper, said that he did not share the view of the Opposition, which he deemed was “wrong”. He pointed this newspaper to Standing Order 70, dealing with Negative Resolutions.

The Standing Order states, “The period prescribed for the purpose of Section 22 (1) of the Interpretation and General Clauses Act, Chapter 2:01 [which relates to subsidiary legislation subject to negative resolution of the National Assembly] shall be 40 days from the date on which the subsidiary legislation is laid before the Assembly. (2) Where notice of a motion that any subsidiary legislation subject to negative resolution shall be annulled is given within 21 days of the date on which the subsidiary legislation is laid before the Assembly, that motion shall be debated as soon as practicable and in any event before the expiration of the period prescribed in paragraph one (1) hereof.”

Isaacs argued that the order was to be laid before the House for merely information purposes. He added that on the other hand, an Affirmative Resolution needed the approval of the Assembly and was normally accompanied by a motion.

Efforts to contact Finance Minister Winston

Jordan for a comment proved futile.

The Official Gazette, published on September 25, 2015, stated that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo would be benefiting from a whopping $20,580,000 per annum, while the other Vice Presidents would each receive $11,135,064.

In addition to the increased salary for Prime Minister Nagamootoo of $1.7 million monthly, an increase of over $200,000 each month, he is drawing vacation benefits and perks totalling more than an additional $500,000.

The three other Vice Presidents – Sydney Allicock, Carl Greenidge, and Khemraj Ramjattan –will earn some $1.13 million, double the $579,000 which they would have earned as Ministers. In addition, the vacation and other benefits are also $500,000.

A Cabinet Minister is now earning a hefty sum of $10,439,124 annually and a Junior Minister or a Minister within a Ministry is paid $8,346,492 per annum.

Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition is offered $10,439, 124 on an annual basis, but Jagdeo has already indicated he would not be accepting this salary.

Editor(ag): Michael Younge

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

Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown

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

Editorial

GDF reset?

President David Granger is an ex-Brigadier of our Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and is now their Commander-inChief. Surrounded as he is in his high command by such a plethora of other squaddies from his old command, it was perhaps not surprising that he has announced a complete “five pillars” refurbishing of the GDF complete with relaunching its reserve – the once and perhaps future “People’s Militia”.

While President Granger has linked the most comprehensive rehaul of the Army to the arms rattling on our western and eastern borders, many feel that this may be simply the occasion for the move and not its cause. In 1969, as a young junior officer in the GDF, President Granger would have seen up close and personal, the identical circumstances being used by the Prime Minister, Linden Forbes Burnham to boost our total “Disciplined” forces from 2600 to 21,000. This was one of the highest soldier-to-civilian ratios in the world.

Last year, President Granger, as then Opposition leader, commented on the GDF’s post-2002 deployment during the attacks against the State by armed gangs that were holed up in Buxton. As President, he has now reiterated his previously oft-stated position that the said deployment was an error. This position is rather troubling since the ex-Brigadier was a member of the Disciplined Forces Commission (DFC) that sat in 2003 to review all the forces of our country. Maybe we should remind him and the rest of the country what that Commission’s position was as far as the GDF being used as it was in Buxton and by extension other analogous situations.

In terms of “functions” of the GDF, the DFC quotes Section 5 of the Defence Act: “The Force shall be charged with the Defence of and maintenance of order in Guyana and with such other duties as may from time to time be defined by the Defence Board.” It is, therefore, unquestioned that the GDF is charged with “maintaining order in Guyana”. The DFC, however, pointed out that the GDF was not conferred “the coercive public law powers of arrest, detention and interrogation”.

As such, the Commission recommended that “whenever it is deemed necessary to deploy the GDF to carry out this public function, there should be joint operations between the GDF and the GPF [Guyana Police Force]”. Addressing the specific instance of GDF personnel deployed in Buxton refusing to arrest and apprehend lawbreakers, the Commission specifically pointed out that the GPF is empowered by Section 18 of the Police Act to OBLIGATE any member of the public, including the GDF, to “become directly involved in preventing violations of the criminal law by simply calling upon them whenever the need arises.”

Mr Granger should have stressed this part of the DFC’s report rather than the “unsuitability” of the GDF in maintenance of civilian order. We note that earlier this year, Mr Granger did not object to the GDF being placed on “alert”.

More pointedly for the present, the DFC’s report declares: “For the removal of lingering perceptions of statutory impotence, the Commission recommends that members of the GDF be conferred with powers of arrest and detention for the express purpose of maintaining order, thereby giving effect to the wisdom and foresight underlying the statutory imposition on the GDF of a public duty to maintain public order.”

In terms of “drug smuggling” from Guyana because of our extensive borders, the DFC made the following recommendations: for the Coast Guard, “(74) adequate inshore patrol vessels should be acquired to enable the suppression of illegal fishing, narcotics trafficking, gun running...and (75) adequate aerial and radar surveillance”; for the Air Corps: “(84) There should be increased operational employment of aviation resources in coastal, maritime and border surveillance...(85) Reconnaissance/surveillance aircraft should be acquired.”

President Granger has obviously revisited the DFC’s report on these matters which also extend the operational functions of the GDF to address new contingencies. He should also do so in reference to its deployment in civilian areas.

APNU/AFC affluenza and its cure

Dear Editor, I am very surprised about all the “garbar” over the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) increasing their salary by 50 per cent. Didn’t Guyanese vote for change? Why are they now complaining that they were short changed? Coalition Ministers must live the good life and they have only taken taxpayers money in public, what they are forbidden to steal in private. The people have got the Government which they deserve in the APNU+AFC coalition. Live with it. What did they expect? The coalition has caught People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) affluenza from the PPP/C abscondee Moses Nagamootoo when he joined and contaminated his coalition partners. Nagamootoo will not be caught dead in a house with decaying rats, roaches and granny sugar which former Prime

Minister Sam Hinds lived in without a complaint. The coalition Prime Minister now has SUVs at his beck and call and a brand new road leading to his house.

Understanding the People’s National Congress (PNC) affluenza requires an examination of their founding father Forbes Burnham, Hoyte and Granger’s lifestyle. None knew anything about economics which resulted in plunging the economy into many economic crises.

The PNC fathers must be held responsible for poor parenting of their supporters. Guyana’s treasury is viewed as a reservoir of fossil money to just drill pipes and pump the money out, flowing without any regards to taxpayers protests.

The arrogance of militarised might and racial entitlement has no institutional or moral interlocutionary restraints. The coalition proceeds without care or

concern about the public’s outrage. Change has come to Guyana by ‘gangnam style’ APNU+AFC coalition.

Now that free taxpayers millions has been taken and shared among APNU/ AFC Ministers as salary, they will escape being labelled as corrupt thieves. A future PPP/C Government will have no grounds for a similar Clive Thomas witchhunt investigation because the APNU/AFC have done in public which they believe was precedent. Sit back and enjoy the circus which was voted into power. Just like oil has no replacement the coalition will now bleed the national treasury to support their base without any replenishment plans.

PNC supporters were weaned by their leaders to be spoiled and to depend on the national treasury as entitlement rights of subsistence; no work, lots of play. Quick to take to the streets in mass protests the be-

lief exists among coalition supporters that this methodology will always be the perpetual solution when objections are made by others. Now with the children being subjected to a heavy dose of PNC affluenza, they have no option but to shut up and take it like Chinee. How long will they jump up and shout out bacchanal last? Long time man. What is necessary to cure the infectious virus in our midst is a strong knockout vaccine which can save our all children.

Such a potent dose must be able to cure the corruption of all Guyanese politicians, regardless of party affiliation. Come the Local Government Elections, the population should boycott all of them. Democracy belongs to the people and the confounded nonsense must finally stop.

Sincerely, Vassan Ramracha

Understanding the mentality of the current and past players in Govt and power

Dear Editor, I attended Saints Stanislaus (1977-1982) with Winston Brassington's brother ( my classmate). Winston was a class below us. We were smart, privileged and elitist. This resulted in us being aloof and arrogant.

Our only focus was to become leaders and date those good looking girls from Bishops and St Roses, while beating the crap out of the boys at Queens as well as those at the aforementioned girls schools.

In addition to being smart, we were athletes taught by Jesuit Priests

not to be wimps, but to be men. For example, we had to settle disputes by a pair of boxing gloves. I belonged to Etridge House, a bunch of tough guys. Other houses were Butler, Galton, and Weld. Winning was all we wanted in love and in war.

The Jesuits Priests were the foundation of our character. Aeterna Non Caduca. Father Bernard Darke is a martyr, he was tough and stood for the truth. Moreover, he was the Scout Master who's leadership caused us to survivor under any condition.

We were taught self sufficiency long before it was

vogue. We had the only functioning farm at Sophia where each class was bused once a week to grow our own food, harvest eggs and fish as well as milk our own cows. Yes, slaughtered and pluck chickens. We got mud and bovine waste on our shoes. Our classmates from the rural areas taught us city boys a thing or two on the farm. For this reason, we became better all round leaders.

Most of us migrated to North America because there was very little appetite for mediocrity and political tomfoolery. As such, hats off

to guys like Brassington, Minister Patterson, Nizam Hassan, Nigel Hughes, the Fernandes clan, and the rest of the Saints old boys and girls club that toiled to bring Guyana beyond 1967. I challenge those who are unaware of Saints (1970-1983) credo to do the research and interviews. We need more Saints guys and gals in leadership positions – both in Government and the Private Sector. Aeterna Non Caduca (Not for this life alone, but for eternity.)

Sincerely, Keith Bernard, also known as “Cheddie”

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Pay 92 unemployed doctors from one month PM's salary

Dear Editor,

While 92 young doctors sit languishing at home, make no mistake, this is another of the wicked anti-Jagdeo ploy by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC).

It is incredibly stupid, arrogant and a good example of neglect and uncaring that Guyana is being told that 92 young professionals, doctors, are sitting at home waiting for employment by APNU/ AFC. What is totally objectionable is that the Public Health Minister’s response to the tragedy of 92 unemployed doctors, children of ordinary people, is that it is another lie in the “stupifying” long list of lies APNU/AFC has come to be known for in just over five months in Government.

Another lie, another frightening example of arrogance that has been the most obvious character of APNU/AFC in the five months of being in Government!

Dr Norton’s explanation is that APNU/AFC is unaware of the fact that 92 doctors are sitting at home unemployed. We know this is a lie because it is impossible that they did not know. The truth is that they did not find time to formally employ the young people we sent to Cuba to become doctors and it is another concrete example of them being incompetent and not deserving of being Guyana’s Government for the next five years.

Many of the doctors have been calling and are being told that it might happen soon. At their orientation two months ago, the Minister himself told them that their employment is immediate and non-negotiable. The young doctors were told that they must serve with pride and serve their country which had given them the

opportunity to study and become doctors. The Minister, however, now says he was unaware. This is a barefaced lie.

What exactly is he unaware of? Does he know that many of the hospitals in Guyana have no medicine? I wonder if the Minister knows that the 2015 budget did not cater for the employment of the 92 doctors. Was it because the Ministry did not know that these doctors would graduate and be available for work at least since August?

The truth is that they are playing for time since they made no provisions to employ these doctors. It cannot be that they did not have the time to focus on this very necessary and needed action and could not be that Ministers were not being paid enough. After all, President David Granger said to the people that the hefty pay increases was to ensure efficiency of the Cabinet. Is this the quality of efficiency we are paying APNU/AFC Cabinet for?

The young doctors remain enthusiastic because they want to demonstrate their skills to the Guyanese public; they want to pay back for the opportunities Guyana has given them, since many of them come from poor family backgrounds. For these young doctors, it is not about politics, who they support etc, it is about paying back with gratitude. But APNU/ AFC has so far deferred the right of these young men and women to practice their profession and show our people how grateful they are.

While the doctors are sitting at home, impatient and wondering what will happen to them, hundreds of health centres do not benefit from the services of doctors and many hospitals still

provide Medex-led medical services. It is at a time when the emergency rooms at the Georgetown Public Hospital, the regional and district hospitals have long lines of people waiting unconscionably long times to see doctors because the hospitals are short of staff.

It is not like the Cabinet is so busy with urgent work that they simply could not get this simple act done. They seem to have lots of time to take care of themselves and pursue politics of revenge and witchhunting. APNU/AFC have had time to give themselves a colossal pay increase, unheard of anywhere in the Caribbean Community (Caricom), making them among the highest paid Cabinet in Caricom. Certainly, Guyana’s Cabinet is paid at all levels more than the Cabinet of Caricom’s richest nation, Trinidad and Tobago.

They have had time for various self-serving, costly activities, such as celebrations, costing millions of dollars. APNU/AFC had an unbelievable amount of time to establish Commissions of Inquiry and forensic audit teams, comprised of their friends, to do work already completed, with quite generous multimillion-dollar payments.

Three audit contracts which were awarded without due process cost over $150 million. They have had time to conduct the worse witchhunt in Caricom’s history, the consequence of which is that thousands of Guyanese have been forced into poverty because APNU/AFC has terminated their employment on the basis that the Amerindians did not vote for them and in some cases just because they were East Indians or Afro-Guyanese

suspected of supporting the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

I am wondering, in fact, if the delay in employing 92 doctors is not related to the fact that these doctors graduated from a PPP programme that sent more than 1000 young Guyanese of all ethnic backgrounds from across Guyana to Cuba to study medicine. I am wondering if this is another of APNU/AFC’s wicked anti-Jagdeo platform.

If this is an anti-Jagdeo platform, it is repugnant because it is not Jagdeo they are punishing; it is 92 young people and their families and it is the thousands of people around the country who need the service of these young doctors.

The programme between Guyana and Cuba to allow our young people to study medicine was nurtured by President Jagdeo himself. I remain very proud of this programme. The hundreds of young doctors who are providing high quality services around the country have shown that this was a visionary programme. It is up to APNU/AFC to build on the successes of this programme for the sake of our people and our country. By the way, the salaries and benefits for the 92 doctors for the remaining of the year can be paid for by just one month of Nagamootoo’s salary and benefits.

I urge that the 92 doctors be employed now with immediate effect. I urge that the doctors be employed with a retroactive date to make up for the neglect by APNU/ AFC whose incompetence and uncaring behaviour must not be at the expense of the Guyanese people.

Yours truly, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

GTT cellular service needs massive improvements

Dear Editor, It seems like before the ink could dry on the last letter I wrote (via the printed media) to GTT about their Internet service that leaves a lot more to be desired, here I am again in a sense of Deja vu expressing the utter dissatisfaction of most customers at the cellular service GTT offers.

Not only did this dictatorial company increased rates on all text messages and calls but it seems each time a customer purchase credit and recharges his/her account, the credit vanishes in a blink as if it is being siphoned off magically from one’s phone.

To add insult to injury, GTT introduced a new service of ‘After 2 Belongs to U’ where the customer has to opt in after every 12 minutes or so as each time you opt in, this service will allow approximately 12 minutes of talk to another GTT num-

ber for the price of two minutes. This was changed on Sunday, October 18, 2015, as customers were notified through SMS that the ‘After 2 Belongs to U’ service now expires daily at midnight.

My question is how many customers have time to opt in to access this service and whose ludicrous idea was it?

Come on GTT! If you are offering a service to your valued customers, why should those customers have to keep going through some mumbo jumbo to access it?

After all, we the customers are already paying inflated charges to your company and should receive these services automatically as is the case of your competitor Digicel –the Bigger, Better Network! It would seem it is a ploy and scam on GTT’s part to deprive its’ customers of their hard earned cash each time that customer opts in for this service. This of course; will be denied by

GTT but it has been the daily cry of foul on every low income earner GTT customer’s lips.

Maybe we should all switch to Digicel and perhaps this bigger, better network will read my letter and offer customers much more attractive packages and services to make that switch an easy transition from the dictatorial GTT.

May I remind GTT, that the majority of customers accessing your services are low income citizens and we pay for all of them out of our pockets, unlike those elite; whose bills are paid for by their employer, or the taxpayers of this country. We need and demand value for our hard earned monies. Do not increase rates for these services so that we could piggyback this elite clientele.

In closing, let me make a plea to you on behalf of fellow customers to please change that annoying mu-

President Granger is fundamentally wrong on the salary increase

Dear Editor, The general justification from this Government on their generous salary increase is based largely on a promise of “good to come”, “efficiency”, and that the “[People’s Progressive Party/ Civic] PPP/C took more”. I will challenge the President that his reasoning to the people of Guyana is not right and must accept the backlash of his action. The true nature of this increase is based mainly on greed and a reactionary tone to the previous Government. It is also based on insecurity of the sitting Government who feels that they must “grab” their share from the common Guyanese before their time runs out.

As a historian, the President is very much aware of the fallacy rooted in his justification to us. The actions of A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) are not new; it is the very behaviour I and others warned of, prior to the May 11 election. A behaviour that was critically illustrated by Walter Rodney and we can argue that it is that illustration that may have led to Rodney’s untimely demise. According to Rodney, our Government – in those days, the People’s National Congress (PNC) –sought to acquire their wealth on the backs of the working class, they are simply mirroring the behaviour of their colonial masters, who would have gained wealth on our backs prior to, and after, our Government took form.

regardless of racial identity. The President, who is a historian by profession, know these things to be true and factual, however he still made his decision to support a greedy reactionary group of politicians as they start the ball of exploitation and suppression in our country. I will admit that the so called upper class in the PPP/C base is in many ways guilty of the same practice; however, the only time in Guyana’s history, where the working and poorer classes saw real development, was with the PPP/C Government. The President should know better than to tell us the pay increase is to drive efficiency among his top brass, when they campaigned on rhetoric of servant leadership and liberating people out of poverty. Then if there is so much poverty that they spoke of, where are they getting all this money from? And where is the servant leadership that the President tends to portray in his public demeanor?

sic one is forced to listen to for at least 20 minutes before actually speaking with an agent (upon calling customer service); luckily some of us uses the speaker on our phones so we do not have to keep the handset near our ears throughout this whole ordeal. The choice of music simply frustrates and possibly irritates the customer a notch more. After all, the waiting time is much too long and most people do not possess great patience. In a matter of opinion, I suggest replacing that particular selection with Beethoven’s Fur Elise, a definitely better choice of classical music and far more soothing to the ears.

I once more beseech that GTT end the monopoly on telecommunication now. Thank you.

Respectfully,

Juliet Dukhi (Social Activist)

The supporters of APNU/ AFC have to understand that they were used, betrayed and ultimately deceived into this situation. It is a strategy that is rooted in the core apparatus of the PNC base that controls this current Government. From the time of our independence to this day, Guyana has always suffered from the exploitation of the so called upper class, which has always preyed upon the working and poorer classes,

I would dare to challenge this President by saying that if he really wants to see efficiency, they would be forfeiting their increases and spread it among the public servants who are working for less than $65,000 monthly, followed by a performance monitoring system that will ensure efficiency from the bottom up. The inflated number of Ministers, Vice Presidents and the President is expected to lead without laying the burden of their lavish lifestyles on the backs of working and poorer classes.

Once again this Government is attempting to suppress the voices of the new generation of Rodney in Guyana by creating a false image of hope, when they are the ones that will reap the benefits as they watch the others suffer.

Yours Truly, Malcolm Watkins, CSCP

Page Foundation

The structure of the modern nuclear family is a relatively new invention when considered along the timeline of human history. Long before “Leave It to Beaver” ideals appeared as if they were normative, families didn’t isolate themselves from their relatives, and parents didn’t leave home to spend their days in an office. Extended families lived together in the same community, every individual contributed to the welfare of the whole, and a wide variety of close, personal relationships were essential to a family’s survival. When children were old enough to help, they worked alongside their parents, and if a mother became overwhelmed with the care of an infant, there were grandparents, cousins or siblings who could step in and give her a break.

West, is very different. Families live hundreds, even thousands of miles from the support of relatives. Often they live somewhat isolated lives even among neighbours. Families have fewer children, and it is no longer unusual for a child to have no siblings at all. As a result, an increasing number of adults have had very little daily personal experience in providing for the needs of

decided to hire a cousin to care for the baby during the day. What Jane and Mark didn’t know was that the cousin had also obtained a job. For more than a year—the first year of the baby’s life—the cousin left the baby daily on its own, feeding and changing him in the morning after Jane and Mark left, again at her midday lunch break, and finally just before the parents returned.

Older children learned from the daily examples of their parents as they cared for infants in the family and they participated in the process. Consequently, by the time they had children of their own they were not ignorant about child care.

But that was long ago: society today, especially in the

young children. It should not surprise us then that by the time these adults are parents they are relatively ignorant about child care, and the results can be heartrending.

Jane hadn’t intended to return to work so soon after their new baby was born, but her husband’s business was booming and Mark needed her help. Concerned about the quality of daycare, they

Although Jane began to notice that the baby’s development seemed unusually slow, the Paediatrician felt it was not excessively so, and Jane was inexperienced enough to be reassured by the fact that her baby never cried. Then the inevitable happened. Jane came home unexpectedly one day to find the house dark. When she

found her son sitting alone in his crib with a soiled diaper and no one caring for him, she fired the cousin and heaved a sigh of relief that all had ended well – the house had not burned down; he hadn’t choked on anything – she was sure her son would be fine. He wasn’t. As the boy grew, no one connected the odd rocking behaviour he exhibited under stress or his stunted social development and depression with the neglect he’d endured in his first 18 months of life.

Finally, when their son was 14, Mark and Jane took him to see Dr. Bruce Perry for the first time. Perry is an experienced Child Psychiatrist with an impressive background. During his career he has served as Chief of Psychiatry at Texas Children’s Hospital, Vice Chairman for Psychiatric Research at Baylor College of Medicine, and a consultant to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He has treated children subjected to incredible traumas and extensive neglect. Perry uses a “neurosequential” approach to treatment, which is based on the contributions of neuroscience and the explosion of understanding that emerged from the 90’s “decade of the brain.” (www.vision.org) to be continued

Part 1: When your child says “I don’t care”

(continued from Wednesday)

BY JAMES LEHMAN, MSW

Don’t shout, argue, beg or plead: Personally, I think if you’re shouting, you’re just showing your frustration – and letting your child know that he’s in control. Here’s the truth: when people start shouting, it means they’ve run out of solutions. With children who are underperforming, I think you have to be very cool. Arguing, pleading, and trying to get your teen to talk about how they feel is not very effective when they’re using withholding as a relationship strategy.

In my opinion, you can try almost anything within reason for five minutes. So you can negotiate, you can reason, you can ask your child about their feelings. It’s fine to say, “Is something wrong?” Just be aware that a chronic withholder will be motivated not to answer you.

“It matters to me.” I think parents have to be very clear and tell their children that what they do matters to them. Personalise it by saying, “It matters to me. I care about you. I want you to do well. I can’t make you do it and I won’t force you. But it matters to me and I love you.”

By the way, when I tell parents to personalise it by saying “It matters to me,” that doesn’t mean you should take it personally. Taking something personally means believing that your child’s inappropriate behaviour is directed at you. It’s not – in reality, it’s their overall strategy to deal with the

stresses of life. The concept of “It Matters to Me” helps because relationships can be motivating, but your child is his own person. It’s no reflection on you if he doesn’t want to perform. You just have to set up the scenario and enhance the probability that he’s going to do what he needs to do. But don’t take it personally, as if somehow you have to make him do it. The truth is, you can’t. Stop doing your child’s tasks for him: “Learned helplessness” is when people learn that if they don’t do something, someone will step in and do it for them – and it’s a very destructive pattern. When children and teens use this shortcut, they don’t learn independence. In fact, in families where this occurs, many times you’ll find that the children weren’t allowed to be independent very much. Perhaps they had to do things a certain way and all the choices were made for them. Eventually, they gave up; they surrendered.

Regardless of why your child might have an attitude of learned helplessness, as a parent, it’s important to stop doing things that he needs to do for himself. Don’t do his homework – let him do it. You can be available for help if necessary, but don’t take on his tasks. I believe one of the most important things an adolescent has to learn is independence, and if you take on his responsibilities, you’re robbing him of this chance to develop.

Learn how to be a coach: Let’s face it: it’s often sports coaches who get the most out of our children. It’s their job to help children want to improve their skills. So the coach learns a little bit about each of his players. A good coach is not constantly saying, “You’re great, you’re the best, you’re a superstar!” Rather, they always keep their athletes looking forward by complimenting them on the specifics of their progress: “Nice layup, Josh. You positioned your hands better that time. Keep it up.” I think parents need to learn more about the Coaching parenting style. Always keep your child looking forward. Comment on his or her progress instead of telling them how great they are when they haven’t put forth much of an effort. Children see through flattery and false praise just like adults do – and it usually backfires.

Set deadlines and use structure: Tell your child clearly when to do chores and schoolwork – and when you want them done by. I think it’s important to schedule these children, to give them structure. “Do your chores from 15:00h to 16:00h, and then you’ll have free time until dinner. And during free time, you can do whatever you want to do.” There are other ways to motivate your child by saying, “If you can accomplish this in X amount of time, we’ll go to your cousin’s house on Saturday” or “I’ll take you to the boat show this weekend.” Remember, not everything that your child likes to do costs money, so add those activities into the equation. (empoweringparents.com)

REOs to receive higher pay, more benefits

On the heels of the massive hue and cry regarding super salary increases for Government officials, it was announced that the newly-appointed Regional Executive Officers (REOs) across Guyana will also be benefiting from a significant hike in their salaries in addition to a boost in their benefits.

Originally, REOs were paid some $292,000 plus $1500 as station allowance, $500 as entertainment allowance and $10,000 in cellular allowance.

In contrast, they will now be paid $300,000 as their basic monthly salary, $70,000 as duty allowance, plus additional benefits which will amount to some $300,000. These allowances cover vacation expenses, telephone bills, electric-

ity bills, security expenses and transportation expenses. Their contractual period was also adjusted to three years.

The REOs are Region One (Barima-Waini) Lesley Wilbert; Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) Rupert Hopkinson; Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) Dennis Jaikarran (Sr); Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica)

Pauline Lucas; Region Five (Mahaica- Berbice) Roderick Burrowe; Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) Veerasammy Ramayya; Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) Peter Ramotar; Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni) Raphael Dounces; Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) Carl Parker and Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) Gavin Clarke.

Motion for MPs to make public declarations of taxable incomes to be tabled today

High on the agenda today for the Opposition, the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) at the 17th sitting of the 11th Parliament is tabling a motion that all Members of Parliaments (MPs) make public declarations of taxable incomes.

Guyana Times understands that under the leadership of former President Bharrat Jagdeo, the Party will be seeking to ensure that all MPs are required to file annual income tax returns to the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) in compliance with the Income Tax Act, Cap 81:01.

This is in light of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration’s public declaration that it will uphold “greater transparency” in Government and ac-

M&CC mulls reversing

countability and scrutiny of persons holding public office.

According to the PPP/C, it is in this interest of transparency and accountability in public office that it

Mayor’s wife’s

...ignores “blatant conflict of interest” charges

Despite the many objections citing blatant “conflict of interest” and “abuse of power”, the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) evidently is considering Mayor Hamilton Green’s request for a full reimbursement of the $10 million paid by his wife for backdated taxes.

At the September 27 Statutory Meeting of the M&CC of Georgetown, Green requested that the owner of the property, his wife, Jennifer BasdeoGreen, be compensated for the monies she was mandated by law to pay for her property –Jelante Pharmacy on Mandela Avenue and Jamoon Drive.

According to the City Mayor, the $10.2 million

was monies that previous Town Clerk Carol Sooba “extracted in violation of a Council’s decision”. He said the “injustice” must be corrected.

When contacted on Tuesday, Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase-Green told Guyana Times that no money has been paid over to Basdeo-Green. However, she noted that the current Town Clerk Royston King was in talks with personnel to determine whether the M&CC was in the position to make the reimbursement.

The Deputy Mayor went on to point out that the Council has maintained its position that the Mayor’s wife should not have been made to pay the taxes. “The Council has always been

of the view that the money should not be collected, but the previous Town Clerk went to court and made her pay the money … we at the Council still hold that position,” she stated.

Last year, when reports

surfaced that the Mayor’s wife had owed the municipality millions of dollars in taxes, Green had initially denied the allegation. The Mayor had continuously bitterly complained that Town Clerk Sooba was deliberately attacking him and his family.

Thereafter, reports surfaced that Mayor Green was seeking to write-off the debt which he finally admitted was owed by his wife. Based on reports, after Sooba refused to write off the debt, the Mayor increased his calls for her to demit office. Then, finally in November, his wife paid off the full $10.2 million she owed the City Council in rates and taxes.

This apparent decision by the M&CC is sure to at-

will be seeking to have all members of the National Assembly make available to the public their tax returns to GRA for the last 10 years on or before December 31, 2015.

As such, the Opposition will be moving to have it resolved today that the National Assembly urge the Government to expeditiously table legislation to give effect to this motion.

It must be reminded that prior to coming into power the APNU/AFC coalition had made several promises to the nation with regard to better salaries for public servants, more opportunities for the youths of the country and a “good life” for all.

The APNU/AFC had trumpeted that should it be elected into office, its Ministers and officials would ensure that every-

thing was done in a “transparent” manner.

However, since the Government took office following the May 11, 2015 General Elections, many decisions taken by the coalition have been met with public displeasure.

A number of persons especially in the agricultural sector have complained bitterly that they were “led on” and given “false promises” by this Administration.

In fact, the APNU/AFC’s recent appointments to State Boards have caused many to feel as if only friends and “political hacks” were being favoured by this new Government.

Now the nation will be waiting to see if this motion put forward by the PPP/C today will be passed by the National Assembly and if so, the public will await the results of this action.

$10.2M back taxes

tract much controversy especially since observers contended that not only was the Mayor’s directive a reflection of a conflict of interest, it also represented a serious case of abuse of power and

was outright ultra vires and illegal.

If this motion is approved by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan, a series of unfortunate events could ensue where the rule of law will ultimately be undermined , as it would appear that any Government official can be exempt from facing the full force of the law. An approval of this motion could also set the tone for the outcome of the pending tax evasion cases of Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram and Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall where they too could be exempt from the penalties of the law for the millions of dollars they owe altogether to the City Council.

thursday, october 22, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Gunmen terrorise Parfaite Harmonie family

ALa Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara, family was terrorised on Tuesday night by two armed men, who stormed into their home after entering through the shop. The incident occurred sometime around 19:30h.

Guyana Times was told that the family operates a shop, which is connected to their two storey house located at Lot 1868 Parfaite Harmonie.

According to reports, three persons – a female and two males – went to the shop and the female bought a Malta and a beer. The trio then sat outside the shop on an old fridge for about 30 minutes before they all returned inside the shop and launched their attack on the family.

Speaking with this newspaper, businesswoman Bibi Balram, disclosed that she was at home with her four children, ages 16, 10, nine and five. The woman explained that she was lying on a bed in the house while her teenage daughter was tending to the shop. She recalled that the three persons after purchasing the items, came back inside the shop and while her daughter was attending to them, the two men pulled out guns on the teenager.

“One of them point the gun to my daughter and another one jump through the small door on the counter and collect she, then the other one jump in while the girl stay outside looking out,” she said. The woman explained that the men immediately ransacked the shop and took the

proceeds from the days sale as well as some phone cards and a 'top up' machine.

The woman noted that her two younger children, ages 10 and five, were sitting on the inside step of the building when the incident occurred. She recalled that the after her teenage daughter screamed, she realised that something was amiss and jumped up from the bed and tried to rush the two upstairs to safety.

“By the time I reach them (children), the gunman done deh behind me and hold pon me with the gun,” Balram stated. The woman noted that

while the men were pushing her and her teenage daughter, they kept enquiring about the location of the money.

She added that they tried to get them to go to the upper flat but she was adamant not to go. “I didn’t know what would have happened if we go, they could rape we and thing. So I tell them that nothing ain’t deh upstairs, everything is in the shop,” she said.

The woman added that one of the gunmen took the two young children upstairs and was ringing their ears with the gun point to their heads. Balram said that the

children were scared and so they directed the gunman to the shop where the money is kept.

Meanwhile, downstairs, the woman said that the other gunman kept pushing and tugging them asking for money and jewellery. She went on to say that they were screaming in hopes of attaching attention. The woman said that she even attempted to get into shop to raise an alarm but while doing this, the gunman fired a shot at her daughter.

“She start knock-up she hand like she get shot and the other one from upstairs run down and say that he get the money, let them go and they go out back through the small door on the counter and get away,” Balram recounted.

The woman pointed out that the ordeal lasted for about five minutes, noting that the men moved quickly. She added too that her nineyear-old was upstairs hiding under the bed during the entire ordeal.

After the men left, the woman immediately ran upstairs to check on her other three children and alerted neighbours about the robbery. The family had a surveillance camera in the shop.

Furthermore, Balram expressed her frustration at the pace at which the Police operated, noting that they did not show up until some two hours after she made the report. The woman is calling on the Police to diligently investigate the matter, since their faces were captured on the footage of the surveillance camera.

Eyew tness Thinking small…

…on hydro

It could be the powers-that-be in the APNU/AFC Administration were so scarred by the experience of their Founder Leader Burnham on “hydro”, that they won’t touch it with a 10-foot pole. Since we’re told 65 per cent of the persons who put them into office are “youths”, maybe we should rehearse that disaster of the 70s.

Sugar prices had spiked through the roof (x7 times) and the British Sugar Company was going to collect a cool $400 million in profits. Now don’t be fooled by this Monopoly money the PNC got us into after they were finished with us. Back then, Guyana money was “real money” - $2 GY for $1US. So we’re talking about US$100 million in 1974 – which would now be an astronomical US$1 billion today!

Now in those days, sugar workers had won “profit sharing” in a 60:40 ratio with Bookers – so cane cutters et al were about to collect US$600 million. But Burnham decided sugar workers wouldn’t know what to do with all that money – they’d probably spend it all at the rum shop, no? – and imposed a “levy” that put the money into “better” hands. His hands.

He promised he’d use the money to build a hydroelectric plant in the Mazaruni Basin. And he had all the fellas in the National Service, the Young Pioneers, the GDF and soldiers and foreign students and UG students hack a road to the site. The amount of money to feed and house these “volunteers” made Fip Motilall look like a piker! And in the end, when the US$1 billion was gone, not only did the sugar workers get “hydro” but so did the entire country. Only they called it by its Guyanese name: “goadie”.

Our Prezzie and his Foreign Minister both laboured on the debacle –so maybe we have to be kind to them for being such pikers on developing our hydro-electric potential. Imagine them passing up on Amaila Falls and boasting about Moco-Moco, Kato and Tumatumari! Are these fellas kidding? With all due respect for our interior folks and their needs and so on – those three projects can’t even fire up Banks DIH!

They say they’re waiting for the Brazilian handout on a big hydro project! Will these fellas never learn? Next year we’ll be 50 years independent and we’re still going around with the begging bowl?

Listen up chaps! We EARNED the US$80 million from the Norwegians. The Chinese development bank’s putting up $500 million. Why don’t you tap the “better” sources of equity you said you had – rather than Sithe? Like those investors, Nagamootoo and the rest of the AFC crew flew up to Toronto to woo!

…on headhunting

Pressed by that fella Kirton who helped out the Government with their “investment seminar” in Florida, as to who was doing the recruitment for the new head of Go-Invest, we finally learnt via the Muckraker that it is Christopher “Lalloo” Ram. Your Eyewitness’d nominated Lalloo for Finance Minister (gosh did that fellow lobby for the position!) but looking at all the audits, and consultancies and headhunting contracts (and who knows what else?), he’s definitely doing better than Jordan and his $$750,000.

And we know that paragon of probity (And no! That’s not someone who “probes”, thank you!) definitely won the contract for the headhunting through some kind of transparent international bidding contest. But the problem with being “transparent” is that it can be so “clear” that you can’t see a thing!! Like in this case. Who knew old Lalloo was going to bring in the wizard who’s going to bring in the investors to save our bacon.

We know Lalloo doesn’t think small on fees though!

…but suing big

When you seek damages against folks slandering your reputation, it’s correlated – or at least should be in the same universe – with the value of that reputation. This fella Wolfgan Mozart Thomas is suing former President Ramotar for $2.5 billion!!

Even Nagamootoo only asked for $20 million to cover his ruined reputation!!

Readers are invited to send their comments by email to eye@guyanatimesgy.com

Gun amnesty programme

All "amnesty" weapons will be destroyed

– no exceptions for Amerindians hunting for meat – Ramjattan

Public Security Minister Khemraj

Ramjattan has made it abundantly clear that there are no special arrangements in place for those hinterland residents who believed that by handing in their illegal weapons under the gun amnesty programme, which were used for hunting purposes, they would receive firearm licences in return.

Earlier this week, Amerindian leaders claimed that indigenous residents, particularly of Regions Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and Nine (Upper TakatuUpper Essequibo) were expecting to receive gun licences when they handed in their illegal firearms during the amnesty period. The leaders blamed an insufficient educational campaign, which has now left hinterland residents without a proper means of sustaining their families since they have no weapons to hunt or ward off predators.

However, Minister Ramjattan said that he is unaware of such a situation, noting that no such complaint was made to him or his office. Nevertheless, the Public Security Minister said that he has asked his colleague at the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry to look into the matter, but at the same time remained adamant that no special treatment would be given to any hinterland resident as it relates to obtaining a firearm licence.

According to Ramjattan, anyone who wishes to obtain a firearm licence can do so by applying and going through the process at his Ministry. “You do not go bypassing regular procedures, you have to go through the procedure. This is not like the previous Administration – no! If you had an illegal firearm in the hinterland

and you were caught with it, you would have been jailed. So not because you had it in the hinterland necessarily means that you are going to bypass the procedure,” he pointed out.

The firearm amnesty programme commenced on September 1 and was slated to last for one month; however, the programme was extended for another two weeks into October. By the end of amnesty period, a total of 186 illegal firearms were handed over to the Police. These included 153 shotguns, 13 pistols, 10 air rifles, nine revolvers and one AK-47 rifle.

In addition, the Police would have received a number of ammunition and ammunition components amounting to total of 2011.

Both the Police and the Public Security Minister himself have come under heavy criticism over the amnesty programme, with persons saying that it was a failure since none of the weapons or ammunitions collected were linked to any criminal activities or serious crimes in the country.

However, Ramjattan pointed out that they did not expect criminals to hand over illegal guns and ammunition that they would have used to execute criminal activities; nonetheless, he expressed satisfaction over the

fact that they were able to remove over 180 illegal guns and over 2000 ammunition from the streets of Guyana.

Asked what will become of the illegal guns and ammunition collected during the amnesty programme, the Minister explained that they will all be destroyed, emphasising that none will be reused by the Police Force or any other agency. “They are to be destroyed, that is the instruction I have given the Police – all of them will be destroyed,” he told this newspaper.

On the other hand, the Public Security Minister went on to say that the Police will now commence a “crackdown” exercise on those persons who are in possession of illegal firearms and did not take advantage of the amnesty period.

Previously, Minister Ramjattan had warned that at the end of the amnesty period, Police will be cracking down on all those persons who are in possession of illegal weapons. He noted that over the past few months, the police have been gathering intelligence on where to find such persons.

“Don’t think after the amnesty is over and we start cracking down, you can come and ask to be lenient – we won’t have any of that. They better bring it in, it’s not going to be nice when the am-

Air, river transport sector utilised $74.5M for first half of 2015

he Finance

TMinistry’s 2015 MidYear Report on the performance of key sectors has indicated that more than $70 million was spent for the first half of the year under the air and river transport sector.

Government’s investment saw $47 million being spent on capital works to maintain the Matthews Ridge, Port Kaituma, Kamarang and Imbaimadai airstrips, whilst $27.5 million was spent to expand the Cheddi

Jagan International Airport runway. Investigations have shown that the unfavourable soil conditions in the area earmarked for the extension of the runway has caused several delays in the execution of the CJIA Extension Project.

As the Administration continues its efforts to ensure the country’s air and river transport sector is transformed on par with the level of transformation envisaged for the country, the latter half of 2015 will see

the improvement of service delivery through the country’s waterways along with the rehabilitation of MV Sandaka, MV Barima and MV Kimbia, along with the dredging of the Demerara and Essequibo Rivers.

Guyana will also benefit from a modern airport at an economical cost since the Administration successfully renegotiated the CJIA contract to include upgrades and modifications to the existing terminal building and a realigned runway.

nesty ends,” Ramjattan had warned. The Ministry had announced that the "gun amnesty" was supposed to help reduce crime but preventing hustings does not do this.

DDL opts to sell its BBCI shares to Govt

... to deliver control of bridge

In attempting to gain majority control of the Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) to fulfil its campaign promise of implementing toll reductions, Government will buy the 10 per cent shares of common shareholder Demerara Contractors Limited, a subsidiary of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL).

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo announced during a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday that DDL offered to sell its shares to the Government for some $45 million and Finance Minister Winston Jordan was given permission to make the purchase.

He noted that moves were afoot to open discussions with the other shareholders regarding a buyout of their shares. These shareholders are Secure International Limited, NEW GPC INC, Queens Atlantic Investment Inc, and Hand-in-Hand Mutual Fire.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had suggested that the Government buy out the Bridge if it was truly committed to fulfilling its promise of reducing the bridge tolls.

The BBCI and Government had reached an impasse con-

cerning the reduction of the tolls which the Administration had announced would take effect from September 1. However, to date, the bridge tolls remain the same because the Bridge Company insisted that its current financial position was impeding the implementation of the reduction. The Company said it continuously pointed out to the Administration that the subsidy being offered by Government to facilitate the reduction was insufficient to offset its debts. Consequently, it requested that Government

extend the concession period from 21 to 50 years or increase the bridge tolls by 55 per cent before it implemented the new fare structure. Government, however, refused to do so.

The A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration had proposed a toll structure which saw cars crossing the Bridge for $1900 instead of $2000, while the tolls for all other types of vehicles would be reduced by 10 per cent.

Ex soldier drowns at Aberdeen back dam

The swollen body of an ex-soldier was on Wednesday discovered in the back dam of Aberdeen Village, Essequibo Coast, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

Mahesh Narine, also known as “Bigs” was discovered floating in a canal in the back dam at about 07:30h by a rice farmer.

Speaking with Guyana Times, Sarika Narine, the dead man’s sister, said she received a call early Wednesday morning informing her about her brother’s death. She said she last saw her brother on Tuesday evening.

“We get a call that his body floating in the back dam, it was swollen but no marks,” Narine told this newspaper. She related that her brother

was epileptic and a known alcoholic.

She further related that ever since her brother left the Guyana Defence Force, he became an alcoholic. Despite his alcoholism, she said he was

very cooperative and kind to family members. His body was removed by the Police and taken to the Suddie Hospital

where it awaits a

First Lady urges further development to agri sector –

North West Secondary wins Home Economics Competition

North West Secondary School copped first prize at the Education Ministry and Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) 7th Annual Secondary Schools Home Economics Competition at the Education Ministry’s Sports Complex on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown.

The competition was held in commemoration of World Food Day, which was observed on October 16, under the theme ‘Social Protection and Agriculture: Breaking the Cycle of Rural Poverty’.

The participants were asked to create dishes using root vegetables and were judged on taste, texture and presentation. It must be noted that though some 43 schools were invited to participate in the competition, only 18 took part.

Chief Judge, Principle of Carnegie School, Penelope Harris, shared that she was very disappointed with the turn out; however, she congratulated all participants on a job well done. Harris said the standards of food preparation and presentations were high.

Third place as awarded to the Betervawating Secondary which created their take of a pizza, using root vegetables, calling it “Sweet Picazza”.

Second place went to New Amsterdam Secondary, which made a zesty Sweet Potato Custard Pudding, while the winning dish from North West Secondary was white pudding made with cassava instead of rice.

The winning students –Nadine Joseph, and Daniela Gibbs – shares that they were very proud of this accomplishment and gave credit to their Home Economics teacher for her continued support and advice along the way.

In her feature address, First Lady Sandra Granger commended the efforts of the competitors and the teachers who have guided and assisted them, not only in their creativity, but their interest and capability in providing and promoting tasty quality food prepared from local produce.

The First Lady shared that given the extraordinary dependence of a small country such as Guyana on food imports, the extreme poverty of local citizens, Guyana’s vast potential for agricultural development and the pressing need for food security in a world buffeted by crisis caused by climate change, economic, social and political challenges, exhibitions and competitions as such shows that as a people, Guyanese can be proud of what we can

produce.

Mrs Granger noted that the theme for World Food Day resonates because “we are conscious that vulnerable sections of our population struggle to make it through the day and sometimes day to day in both our urban and rural communities”.

The first Lady stated that agriculture production and productivity will in particular, benefit the poor, but focus on agriculture development benefits the country in several ways, including creating employment particularly for rural youths. She noted that the sale of their produce and value-added products assist rural communities to achieve social and financial stability.

“For farmers who can earn a decent living from their farms, gardens and livestock, will not need to abandon farming and migrate in search of work” the First Lady posited. With support from agriculture extension officers from projects funded by organisations such as the FAO, the Inter-American Institute of Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), and others, and access to market for livestock and products, Mrs Granger stated that farmers can grow, develop and expand their business and live in prosperity. (jpinder@guyanatimesgy.com)

Guyana can tap into Caribbean, Europe rice markets – RPA Chairman

B y K risten M ac K linga M

In light of Venezuela teaming up with Suriname to exchange fuel for rice via a PetroCaribe deal and Guyana being knocked out from such a deal with Venezuela in 2016, this can still have a positive impact on the local rice industry.

This is according to Chairman of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA) Dharamkumar Seeraj, who told this newspaper that while the Dutch speaking country will now be supplying rice to Venezuela, this does not necessarily mean that Guyana’s industry will suffer more. As a matter of fact, he added Guyana should tap into the markets which Suriname had in the Caribbean and Europe.

“Suriname’s rice production is not that big so it depends on how much they supply to Venezuela and so depending on how much they supply to Venezuela then that corresponding amount will be available for us (Guyana) to supply the Caribbean and Europe,” Seeraj said.

Guyana Times was also told that even if Guyana

had to reduce the price at which it sells rice to Venezuela, it will still make a ‘reasonable’ profit based on the world market price for rice.

“I have always made the point that while Venezuela represents 38 per cent of exports in terms of volume, in terms of the value, it is about 75 or 76 per cent of the total value of export. That is why it is an important market,” Seeraj told this newspaper.

On Friday last, Venezuela officially ousted Guyana from inking another PetroCaribe deal to

Contractors seek clarity on Region Two tender board system

Several contractors have vented their frustrations regarding the awarding of contracts by the newly constituted Regional Tender Board, in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

According to information reaching Guyana Times, the newly elected Regional Executive Officer (REO) Rupert Hopinkson, did not arrange for the distribution of the Procurement Act 2003 and or other relevant documents, and has failed to train and equip the new members on the procurement process.

However, contractors are up in arms about the situation, since according to a few who spoke with this newspaper, they allege ‘favouritism’ in the awarding of contracts.

According to contractors, the new REO appears to have little or no knowledge about procurement procedures. The contractors have also accused the Regional Engineer, Latchman Parswatee of manipulating the tending process.

When Guyana Times contacted Region Two Chairman, Devanand Ramdatt on the issue, he said that he is in receipt of a number of complaints regarding the issue.

According to Ramdatt, there have been increasing concerns and complaints in the region about the lack of interest to conduct and establish meaningful monitoring and evaluation systems for project implementation. This resulted in poorly executed projects in the past at the expense of citizens, he said.

The Regional Chairman indicated that due to nature of the concerns raised, he and the new REO Rupert Hopkinson, had initial discussions and he has also recommended that a meeting be convened earliest with contractors and key stakeholders to address the concerns that were ventilated.

According to Ramdatt, equality in development is vital and as such, accountability and transparency must be a given priority. He is calling on all contractors to be patient as efforts are being made to have their concerns addressed.

The Regional Chairman is calling on all residents, farmers, Regional Democratic Council and Neighbourhood Democratic Council Councillors and other stakeholders to be vigilant during the implementation of tax payers funded projects.

see the exchange for fuel and rice at “favourable prices”, as the Spanishspeaking nation joined with Suriname to pursue such an agreement. According to media reports coming out of Suriname, the Presidents of the two countries reached this agreement.

Guyana Times understands that this agreement signed between Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his Surinamese counterpart Desi Bouterse, will allow Suriname to continue to receive favourable rates on oil in exchange for an agreement on rice exports.

Prior to this new development, Venezuela for a number of years under the leadership of the late President Hugo Chávez had inked “a rice for oil deal” with the Guyana

Government. This deal was secured under the then People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration in Guyana.

Recently, the border controversy between the two countries had been resurrected after Venezuela sought to once again lay claim to part of Guyana’s territory.

As such, the Guyana Government had lobbied support from the international community to denounce Venezuela’s claim on its territory. In spite of this, Venezuela has still persisted in its claims. President Granger has reiterated that Guyana would be seeking to move to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to have the controversy resolved once and for all. (kristenm@ guyanatimesgy.com)

Presidential Grant to resume next year –

over

200 hinterland communities to benefit

The Presidential Grant project will not be available for 2015; however, it is catered for in the 2016 National Budget, and will benefit approximately 204 Amerindian communities according to Jude DaSilva, Project Coordinator, Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.

DaSilva told the Government Information Agency (GINA) that 87 Amerindian communities are still to uplift their Presidential Grant for 2013 and 2014 to fund community projects, such as the construction of village shops, acquisition of passenger, cargo and fishing boats,

and the purchase of minibuses, tractors and AllTerrain Vehicles (ATV). She said these communities allowed their funds to back up for the past two years. She explained that if a community wanted to purchase an ATV, which costs about $4 million, and the grant is only $2 million, the community will allow the sum to reach that amount, and then collect the funds.

DaSilva told GINA that the Ministry was no longer allowed to keep such monies, and urged that communities collect their funds and place them in their respective bank accounts.

thursday, october 22, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Salary-gate scandal...

“Was me,” Nagamootoo

... Basil shouldn’t get more money than me

Amid immense pub-

lic outcry, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo attempted to justify the astronomical salary increases Government has given itself; declaring that it was utterly unfair that the Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams was being paid more than the Prime Minister.

Nagamootoo appeared to be taking the fall and the blame for a scandal that has done massive damage to the image and integrity ratings of the Government.

He admitted that it was for this reason that he requested the super increases in order to develop a “proper” pay scale which would differentiate between the various levels of Government personnel. He also took responsibility for the lack of information initially disseminated to the public regarding the increases.

“The anomaly that started quite a lot of this was the salary for the Attorney General. The Attorney General was getting a salary that was higher than the Prime Minister… so as I told you before, I had asked for more per month… as a matter of principle to correct the abnormality that existed,” he justified.

Nagamootoo explained that Government attempted to correct certain “abnor-

malities” in the pay scale of the “ministerial bureaucracy”, however, even this eventually proved futile to some extent. According to Nagamootoo, junior Ministers are still being paid less than the Permanent Secretaries (an “abnormality which Government intended to correct) and that the Prime Minister is still being paid less than the Attorney General.

“The Attorney General’s salary is tax free, so it comes back to a situation where his salary remains higher than the Prime Minister,” Nagamootoo stated, noting that his salary is subjected to tax.

Nagamootoo also admitted to backpedaling on his promise to his constituencies.

In responding to the upsurge of criticisms in the public domain regarding the salary increases, he explained that his supporters were indeed holding the Government to a “higher standard”, therefore adding that he “understood” their frustration.

The Prime Minister continuously insisted that the salary increases are not about greed. He also insisted that Government could not have afforded to increase the salaries of public servants at this time, therefore decided to increase the pay for Ministers and Members of Parliament.

“This was not done because Ministers feel we are entitled to super salaries, it was an adjustment for a handful of persons that the State could have afforded at this point in time rather than engaging the larger issue of public service that would have involved another type of calculations and affordability in terms of the quantum,” he said.

Moreover, Nagamootoo promised that the public servants will be attended to in a matter of time. In fact, he said Government is currently waiting until the Commissions of Inquiries are completed before they make a decision regarding an increase for the Public Sector workers.

“We intend shortly to engage trade unions to deal

finally concedes

with wages with the public servants,” he said. As it relates to the super salaries, Nagmaootoo affirmed that even amid the public uproar, Government will not be revisiting the remuneration packages.

“This is not about greed,” he continued his mantra. Nagamootoo revealed that he still travels with an economy ticket, that he still lives in his personal abode, that he uses his own money for upgrades to his house… I am trying not to drink anymore”.

Increases

Meanwhile, Nagamootoo confirmed that President David Granger received a

five per cent increase while he received a 10 per cent increase.

The new payment packages will see the Prime Minister earning a whopping $20,580,000 per annum, while the other Vice Presidents will each receive $11,135,064.

A Cabinet Minister will be given a huge package of $10,439,124 – annually – more than $300,000 over previous Ministers and a junior Minister or a Minister within a Ministry will be paid $8,346,492 per annum.

Harmon’s justification Nagamootoo’s justifica-

tion for the salary increases differs considerably from that given by State Minister Joseph Harmon. While Nagamootoo tried to exemplify that the increases were done as a matter of principle, Harmon’s justification was that the Ministers needed to be paid better to avoid corruption.

“It is justifiable, we cannot have a situation like the [People’s Progressive Party] PPP where they were prepared to accept low salaries because they were thieving money all over the place… we cannot have that,” he said.

Coalition Govt betrayed the trust of Guyanese, squandered goodwill – Ramsammy

Former Agriculture Minister under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration, Dr Leslie Ramsammy said the fivemonth-old A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition Government has betrayed the trust of the people.

Ramsammy said the Government squandered the goodwill that a new Government automatically comes in with and therefore, the call by Governance Minister Raphael Trotman for Guyanese to trust the coalition rings hollow.

Minister Trotman during a news conference last week, in a bid to defend the Government Ministers’ hefty salary increase, pointed out that the Administration was not unmindful or numb to the concerns of the citizenry in general or public servants in particular.

“We hear the concerns and we are not numb to the concerns of the people, but we ask that the people continue to trust us so that we can bring that better life to them,” he had implored.

In the Official Gazette published on September 25, it was revealed that a Cabinet Minister will earn a handsome $10,439,124 annually. It is further detailed that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo would be benefiting from in excess of $20 million per annum, while the other Vice Presidents would each receive $11,135,064.

Trotman went on to say that the salary increase was “inevitable”.

But Ramsammy in a statement on Wednesday, quoted from the famous English Nursery rhyme “Humpty Dumpty”, stating that “…all the king’s men and all the king’s horses cannot bring back the trust that the people have lost for APNU/AFC.”

He said that what was particularly astonishing is how rapidly people have lost trust and faith in APNU/ AFC administration.

“In asking the people to trust them after clearly deceiving them, Mr Trotman never considered that APNU/AFC should trust the people first,” Ramsammy added.

He said that the resounding majority of people in Guyana has rejected the salary increases for Ministers and justifiably so, added that while public servants were denied a 20 per cent increase, Ministers received a 50 per cent increase instead.

Ramsammy noted that the coalition Government has failed to listen to the people’s voices and instead responded “angrily” that the increases are “irreversible and a done deal and people ought to shut up”.

“Before Trotman demanded that people trust APNU/AFC, he should ask himself, given the overwhelming rejection by people, whether APNU/AFC should have trusted the people and at least reconsider the decision. This is a one way street – according to Trotman we must trust APNU/AFC, but we should not expect APNU/AFC to

trust us. This cannot be a Government of the people, by the people and for the people,” Ramsammy said. He accused the Government of continuously lying to the nation, pointing to a pronouncement made by Minister of State Joseph Harmon upon the APNU/ AFC’s ascension to office that Guyana was bankrupt, as well as statement from various Government Ministers on a number of issues, including the $23 billion support which was promised to rice farmers but was never delivered.

“How do you trust a Government that looks you in the eyes and tell you sorry, there is nothing here for you because we are bankrupt and at the same time boast of the US$1 billion reserve? How do we really trust them when they said that we are broke, but at the same time they were making arrangements to transfer $60 billion from Government accounts in private banks to the Consolidated account? How do we trust them when they said we are broke, but they found money to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to their friends to do unnecessary audits of entities that were already audited by the Auditor General?,” he asked. Ramsammy wants to Government to make public, the tendering process for Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s $22 million Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), the naming of the prisoners who were pardoned by President Granger, the salary of the Guyana Water Incorporated’s (GWI’s) new Chief Executive Officer, the earnings of the Commission of Inquiry Commissioners for the Public Service, the jobs and salaries that each member of the Cabinet had before the May election and the release of Ministers income tax returns.

Region 5 MMA dispute

Farmers forced to sign document to pay coop before harvesting

– Nandlall says AG misusing office

The ongoing battle involving rice farmers from Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and the Seafield Cooperative Society Limited continues, with the farmers now claiming that they were forced to pay the co-op members before harvesting over the weekend.

This is so although the farmers have validly issued leases from the Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA).

Guyana Times understands that the farmers were forced to sign a document, which states that they will have to pay the co-op some $8000 per acre before being allowed on the fields to harvest their crops over the weekend.

Speaking to this newspaper, one of the farmers, Phillip Johnson of Seafield, West Coast Berbice, explained that on Friday afternoon, he was summoned by a senior officer in the Police B Division (Berbice) to the New Amsterdam Police Station. The man stated that he, along with another farmer, went to the station, where they saw some of the co-op members.

Johnson said that he related to the senior rank the problems he was having with the co-op. He noted that he asked for Police protection since the co-op members were reportedly threatening farmers and workers in the backdam with cutlasses and sticks.

The farmer recalled that the officer told him that they could not act on that report because he (Johnson) never witnessed this and was merely acting on hearsay.

“He asked me if I see these men go down in the back dam, I said no but this is what happen ‘cause they do it to other people. He (the senior officer) turn and asked me if I does work hearsay and that if I would like him to lock me up on hearsay,” the farmer related

to this newspaper.

Johnson said he informed the officer that he would be harvesting on Saturday, but was told that if he went to the fields, he would be arrested, an order which he was told came from Attorney General Basil Williams.

Nevertheless, Johnson said he was adamant that he would be going on the field because his rice had to be cut and the combine operator would be there on standby, but was told that unless he made an arrangement with the co-op members to pay the farmers, he would not be allowed to enter the rice fields to harvest.

According to the farmer, he pointed out to the officer that the rice belonged to him and he was not renting any lands from the co-op. He related that the co-op members there said that they would deduct the money from the amount to be paid to the MMA/ADA and asked him to pay $10,000 to gain access to the fields.

“I told them no I cannot pay $10,000 cause the rice ain’t paying to that extent, but he (senior officer) made me promise to the men them right there by word of mouth to pay. And he tell them that he will send a Police with them, not me, to the fields on Saturday when I going to cut the rice,” he stated.

The farmer added that the following day, he received a call from another farmer in the back that the co-op members showed up saying no rice would be harvested unless an agreement was signed that the farmers would pay them.

Johnson pointed out that the combine operator was threatening to leave so he, along with other farmers, were forced to sign a document, which stated that they would have to pay $8000 per acre. He added that after signing, they were allowed to harvest their crops on Saturday and Sunday.

US pledges continuous support to Caricom

– as Ambassador hands over credentials to SG

Injunction

During this time, Johnson said that he was unaware that his attorney, Anil Nandlall, on Friday had secured an injunction from the High Court barring the members of the Seafield Cooperative Society Limited as well as two other named defendants, Lloyd Moore and Claude Cummings, from “entering upon, remaining or interfering with the (three farmers’ – Johnson, Rupert Blackman and Rawle Miller) peaceful and quiet employment and occupation of…. State Lands situated North Main Canal in the rear of Plantation Seafield … and it is further ordered that the (farmers named above) be at liberty to issue and serve on the respondents/defendants a sealed and certified copy of this Order”.

Speaking with this newspaper, Attorney Nandlall explained that the injunction was obtained late Friday, so he was unable to have them served on the named defendants. Nevertheless, Nandlall pointed out that the co-op society had no authority to collect any money from the farmers.

“This co-op society has no right, whatsoever, to demand or receive rent for those lands. The farmers whom I represent have all been issued with long-term agricultural leases by the MMA/ADA. The MMA/ADA is the only authority entitled to rent,” he stated.

Moreover, the Attorney said he would advise his clients to disregard the document which they have signed, promising to pay rent to the co-op, since they were signed “under duress and undue influence”. Furthermore, Nandlall said that it was particularly disturbing to learn of the alleged involvement of the Attorney General in this matter.

“I am told that Mr Williams has been giving directions to the Police in this case. I am aware that before his appointment as Attorney General, Mr Williams appeared in legal proceedings for this co-op society and now he is using the weight of his public office to still represent the interest of clients. He should have immediately distanced himself from this matter. In any event, he nor any other Minister of Government has not the legal authority to give the Police directions on operational matters. His involvement in this matter is absolutely unethical and constitute an abuse of his office,” Nandlall explained.

The United States has pledged its continuous support to the Caribbean Community (Caricom) as its new Ambassador Perry Holloway presented his Letter of Credence to the Secretary General of the Community, Irwin LaRocque, on Tuesday. Ambassador Holloway will serve as the Plenipotentiary Representative of the United States of America to Caricom. The Ambassador pledged to strengthen relations with the Caribbean in the areas of economic integration; combating organised crime and various environmental challenges, including climate change and energy.

In brief remarks at the accreditation ceremony, Ambassador Holloway expressed the US’s commitment to working closely with the

Region to advance the shared goal of combating organised crime. He said the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), which was launched in 2010, has brought benefits both in terms of reducing narcotics flows through the Caribbean and enhancing the personal security of Caribbean citizens.

The US Ambassador made reference to the Caribbean Security Summit held in The Bahamas earlier this year, pointing out that “we should redouble our efforts in order to ensure that together we can build greater security throughout the Western Hemisphere”.

In his remarks, Secretary General LaRocque stated that Ambassador Holloway’s accreditation was “one that is greatly welcomed as it is cer-

tain to facilitate the enhancement of the deep, strong and friendly relationship which exists between the Caribbean Community and the United States”.

He went on to highlight the importance of collaboration between the Region and the US on the troubling issue of security, especially since the Caribbean is said to be serving as a transit point for the drug trade between the producing and consuming countries. The drug trade, he stressed, has resulted in the proliferation and use of small arms and light weapons by criminal elements across the Community.

Further, Ambassador LaRocque recognised the US support in health, including the fight against HIV/ AIDS through the Global Fund and the US President’s Emergency Fund for Aids Relief (PEPFAR). He also welcomed backing for the energy sector, including the proposal to establish the Caribbean and Central American Energy Security Task Force and the US$20 million fund for energy related projects, announced by President Barack Obama at the Caricom-US Summit in Jamaica in April.

He said the Region’s strong push for a binding agreement on climate change at the global COP21 climate conference in Paris this December needed strong voices of support, and he welcomed the US President’s advocacy on this matter.

thursday, october 22, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Chronicle's salary smokescreen

NCN decries breach of privacy, financial emoluments – says

pay package

no different from ex-CEOs

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Communications Network, Molly Hassan has responded to reports carried in the Wednesday, October 21 edition of the Guyana Chronicle, where it was alleged that she was receiving a higher salary than Government Ministers.

The newspaper article gives figures showing what is alleged to be a breakdown of Hassan’s salary and benefits, putting the total close to $1 million.

In response to this, Hassan said she was the executing officer of all policies of the Board of Directors of NCN and have always acted in accordance with this directive.

“I was asked to manage a badly wounded company; but nevertheless I was able

to transfer my exemplary Private Sector record to the Public Sector. And in a matter of months despite the political challenges that were brought to bear on my ability to manage the company professionally, I was able to implement strategies which optimised employees output and improve the management and overall functioning of NCN,” Hassan said in a statement to this publication.

She said it has gone unnoticed. “And I do understand why it has gone unnoticed.”

According to Hassan, NCN has, over the years, been the subject of much “conjecture and ridicule”.

“That conjecture and ridicule appears to have now been transferred to me personally. I have within the past six months encountered several unwarranted and ma-

Chief Executive Officer of the National Communications Network, Molly Hassan

licious attacks on my character and reputation. And most recently, the unethical exposure of my private informa-

tion which sought to cause harm to my professional reputation. My right to employee-employer privacy has been breached in a most filthy way,” she lamented

She said all of it would appear slanted towards making her a scapegoat for ills affecting the company.

As an ex-officio member of the NCN Board, she said she could confirm that the newlyinstalled Board of Directors under the Chairmanship of Bishwa Panday has never convened a statutory meeting.

She claims that the Board of Directors has never conducted a performance appraisal with her nor have they ever discussed any dissatisfaction with her performance as CEO of NCN.

“My monthly emolument is no different from what was

PPP/C members being sued for $2.5B …lawsuit “frivolous” – Ramotar

Former President Donald Ramotar and other members of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) have been slapped with a lawsuit worth $2.5 billion for slander and libel by International Attorney Dr Phillip Mozart Thomas.

Dr Thomas, who is the Chairman of the Guyana National Council on Public Policy (GNCPP) and the Guyana National Civil

Society Council (GNCSC), moved to the High Court of the Supreme Court of Judicature recently to sue the individuals for damages and pecuniary compensation.

On Wednesday, Guyana Times viewed a copy of the court documents, which state that Dr Thomas is suing for defamation of character, inducing breach of contract, intimidation, interference with economic relations, nuisance, false light invasion of privacy and more.

This newspaper was told that Dr Thomas had organised a Guyana National Civil Society Summit for September 17-19 last year at the then Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

However, he claimed that he was “forced” to postpone the event to December 2014.

The other PPP/C members named in the court documents are General Secretary of the PPP/C, Clement Rohee; former Head of the Presidential Secretariat,

Dr Roger Luncheon, former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali and the Permanent Secretaries of the former Office of the President and the former Ministry of Trade, Industry and Commerce.

Dr Thomas is seeking a declaration and enforcement order compelling those accused to immediately publish a complete, unqualified retraction and apology to him for “malicious interference

and violation of chartered constitutional, civil and human rights; slander; libel; conspiracy to publish defamatory information” and more.

Former President Ramotar told this newspaper on Wednesday that the claims made by Dr Thomas were ‘frivolous’ and it was a clear case of him seeking publicity by this act.

According to the past Head of State, the GNCPP and GNCSC Chairman is “seeking attention”.

Former Minister Ali also told this publication on Wednesday evening that he was “shocked” that he was being sued by a man whom he did not know or had even met before.

“I don’t know anything about the lawsuit; I don’t even know who is Mr Thomas. All I can recall is when they had the Civil Society event, that is when I heard about him. I have never seen him; I have never spoken to him, so I don’t know, I don’t even know this individual,” Ali stated. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

enjoyed by any of the CEOs of NCN, including my predecessor who acted in the capacity for CEO for two years after the substantive CEO resigned."

A cursory glance through any of the audit reports tabled in Parliament will reveal this, she claimed, adding that after taxes and other deductions from her salary she made nowhere near $1 million as "is maliciously published by the Guyana Chronicle".

This seemingly orchestrated public attack on her character, she said, can only be interpreted as an attempt to undermine her authority as CEO of NCN and consequently, continue to infringe on staff morale. "As a professional, I should not be subject to this unfair level of scrutiny and misguided conjecture,” she said in her statement.

Most importantly, she said her right to privacy has been snatched from herself and family. “The security of my young children and hus-

band is now officially compromised.”

“And this has far-reaching social implications and consequences; this wanton attack and careless handling of confidential financial information by despicable individuals who have a clearly set agenda should concern similar professionals within the industry and Government and in fact any employee of a public organisation. Despite this unfair attack, I stand resolute in my functions as CEO of NCN and remain committed to the overall welfare of the staff of NCN.”

The Guyana Chronicle in its Wednesday's edition published that Hassan receives a basic salary of $707,347; duty allowance of $25,000; entertainment allowance of $25,000, security allowance of $30,000; housing allowance of $50,000; telephone allowance of $30,000; DSL internet allowance of $9980 and gratuity every six months of 22.5 per cent of her salary.

Copa Airlines increasing flights

to Guyana

In keeping with the public demand and its plans to expand its services to Guyana, Panamanian flag carrier Copa Airlines on Wednesday said it was increasing the number of flights to Guyana.

The announcement was made by Regional Sales Manager Diego Bermudez Parra, when he met with journalists at the Cara Lodge, Georgetown.

According to Parra, a request by the airline to increase the number of flights was recently approved by the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority.

Copa will operate the two additional flights on Wednesdays and Saturdays, bringing the total scheduled flights to four – one each Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

He said the company’s status as a Star Alliance member has provided many more opportunities for Guyanese to travel, covering 1321 destinations in 193 countries with more than 18,500 daily flights and more than 1000 VIP lounges.

“This is why we urge you to enrol for a frequent flyer card of our Connect Miles programme because we know that once you experience our world-class service you will become regular patrons of it,” the Regional Sales Manager said.

Copa’s decision to increase the number of flight days, Parra said, is based on growing demand from the travelling public as well as the airline’s plans to expand and improve its services to the Guyanese people. The airline recently celebrated one year of service to the country.

Copa Airlines Sales Manager in Guyana, Nadine Oudkerk, said providing additional flight days would be

welcomed by the public.

“We are extremely happy to provide our customers with even more travelling options. With the growing demand for our service, we have no doubt that this move will be welcomed. Copa looks forward to the continued support of the Guyanese people to whom we remain committed to providing an exemplary service.” She extended an invitation to Guyanese to make Copa Airlines their airline of choice, noting that “our world-class customer service is second to none and passengers are even given the privilege of checking-in up to two pieces of luggage free of charge.”

Earlier this year, the airline added five new destinations to its already-extensive route network: the diverse nation of Belize, vacation hotspots Villahermosa and Puebla in Mexico; California’s commercial hub – San Francisco; and New Orleans: Louisiana’s largest city in the United States.

Currently, Copa offers flights to 74 destinations in 31 countries in North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean from the Hub of the Americas at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City.

Copa Airlines and Copa Airlines Colombia, subsidiaries of Copa Holdings, are leading airlines in Latin America for passengers and cargo.

For over 65 years of uninterrupted operations, they have managed to make the Hub of The Americas, located in Panama, the leading hub in the entire continent. They also have one of the youngest and most modern fleets in the industry, composed of 98 aircraft.

Around the world

Netanyahu ridiculed over Mufti Holocaust comments

sraeli Prime Minister

IBenjamin Netanyahu has been mocked and condemned for claiming Hitler did not intend to kill Jews until he was convinced to do so by a Palestinian mufti (Islamic scholar).

Speaking to the World Zionist Congress in Jerusalem on Tuesday, Netanyahu said a meeting between the Nazi leader and Mufti Haj Amin al-Husseini in 1941 was instrumental in the former’s decision to exterminate Europe’s Jews.

“Hitler didn’t want to exterminate the Jews at the time, he wanted to expel the Jews and Haj Amin Husseini went up to him and said if you expel them, they’ll all come here (Palestine)...’So what shall I do with them?’ he (Hitler) asked, ‘burn them’ (Husseini responded),” Netanyahu told the audience.

The speech sparked ridicule online and condemnation by ordinary Israelis, Jews across the world and by academics.

David Schneider, a British Jewish comedian at-

Arrests made after Dalit children burnt alive in India

Police in northern India have arrested four men over allegations that they burnt alive two children from India’s impoverished Dalit community in an arson attack.

The arrests on Wednesday came amid street protests as communal tensions rose, and as condemnation came from Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition Congress, over a failure to protect the victims.

The toddler and the 11-month-old infant died after their home in Faridabad district adjoining Delhi was set on fire on Tuesday.

The father of the children, Jitender, said the family was sleeping when the attackers

doused their house with petrol and set it on fire.

The parents were also injured in the attack, a state police official said.

Jitender said the attack was a fallout from an old feud with an upper-caste group in the village. But authorities ruled out caste violence as a motive for the crime.

On Wednesday, two men carried the bodies of the dead children wrapped in white shrouds during a protest by about 1000 people demanding action. The protest blocked a major highway to the northern city of Agra, home to the Taj Mahal monument, and argued with Police. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

tacked the idea Hitler had needed any advice on how to deal with Europe’s Jews.

Claudia Prestel, a reader in Modern European and Jewish History at the University of Leicester, told Al Jazeera she had never

come across the idea that Hitler’s decision to kill Jews was influenced by Husseini.

“The Mufti came to Berlin when the expulsions and killings were well underway...it does not help that the mufti supported the Nazis – against the British,” Prestel said.

Numerous massacres of Jews during the Second World War, such as the Babi Yar and Jedwabne massacres, happened months before Hitler’s meeting with Husseini.

Gershon Baskin, the founder of the IsraelPalestine Centre for Research and Information, told Al Jazeera the comments formed part of a strengthening narrative in Israel associating the Palestinian leadership with the Nazis. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

OAS deploys 125 observers to Haiti for October 25 elections

The electoral observation mission of the Organisation of American States (EOM/OAS) for this Sunday’s elections in Haiti, headed by Brazil’s former Foreign Minister and Defence Minister Celso Amorim, will complete its deployment this week with the arrival of 125 international experts and observers from 27 different countries.

This team joins the specialists who have been in the country since October 1 to observe preparations for the presidential, legislative, and local elections on Sunday, October 25.

To make the voting process more efficient, the mission urged voters to use the means placed at their disposal by the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP), including voter lists pub-

lished in its departmental and municipal offices and on its website, to determine beforehand where they should vote. The mission also urged citizens to be patient on election day, given the complexity of organising an process that will simultaneously elect a president, deputies, senators, and municipal councils, which may delay the opening of polling places and the vote counting.

The EOM/OAS has verified the work that is being done jointly by the Haitian National Police (PNH, from its initials in French) and the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) to strengthen election-day security, to avoid a recurrence of the violence that occurred during the legislative elections of August 9. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Iran Supreme Leader endorses nuclear deal with caveats

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has endorsed a landmark nuclear deal reached with world powers, but warned against “ambiguities” in the agreement.

Khamenei, who has the final say on all major Iranian policies, backed the deal in a letter to President Hassan Rouhani that was read on State TV on Wednesday.

Until now he had publicly declined to approve or reject the deal while expressing support for Iran’s negotiators.

Iran’s highest authority said the United States and European Union should clearly announce the elimi-

nation of sanctions against Iran, and warned that the deal had several structural weak points.

He said he approved the decision of the coun -

British lawyer and wife brutally murdered in Tobago

Police are investigating the brutal double murder of a Britishborn Attorney and his wife in Tobago. Lawmen say Richard Wheeler, 73, a British national who was a senior partner with Lex Caribbean, was chopped to death while his 67-yearold wife Grace, a real estate agent with Island Investment, had her throat slit at their home in the middle-class neighbourhood of Riseland Gardens, Carnbee.

Grace’s body was found on the lawn of the property by the couple’s gardener around 11:00h on Tuesday. When Police were summoned, they found Richard’s body inside the house. He was lying face down in a pool of blood with chop wounds to both arms

and the back of the head.

“An initial assessment suggests robbery as the possible motive as the bedroom

and living room areas were ransacked,” the Police said in a statement. “However, all avenues are being ex-

plored and all leads pursued.”

In a statement to the Lex Caribbean family, Country Managing Partner Marjorie Nunez said the brutal killings had left the company’s employees with a sense of profound sadness.

“... His dream was to retire in Tobago, thus his move to the island in 1998. Richard and Grace loved life and ‘limed’, as we would say in TT, like they were still in their twenties. They were loving, caring people and developed strong relationships with our staff in Tobago,” she said. “They were family people and very proud of their children and grandchildren,” Nunez said of the couple who had three sons and several grandchildren. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

try’s top security committee, the Supreme National Security Council, to implement the nuclear agreement, but that it must be “tightly controlled” and

monitored “to prevent significant damage” to country’s future.

He also warned his country’s Government to be vigilant, saying the United States cannot be trusted.

The agreement reached in July with the US, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany would curb Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of crippling international sanctions.

Western nations have long suspected Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons alongside its civilian programme, charges rejected by Tehran, which insists its programme is entirely peaceful. (Al Jazeera)

Venezuelan President Maduro says US$88 oil price needed

enezuelan President

VNicolás Maduro has called for an average global oil price of $88 (£57) a barrel “to maintain investments worldwide”.

He was speaking on Tuesday evening ahead of a technical meeting of experts from Opec and nonOpec countries in Vienna on Wednesday.

Venezuela, one of the world’s biggest oil exporters, has seen its revenues hit hard by plunging oil prices.

Prices have dropped from US$115 a barrel in June 2014 to below US$50 this month.

Maduro said that “we are going to present proof, technical elements, at this meeting, that the average price needed to guarantee glob-

al investment in the next five to 10 years should be US$88”.

At Wednesday’s gathering in Vienna, Venezuelan Oil Minister Eulogio del Pino is also expected to press for a meeting of heads of state of major oil producers. Nevertheless, the Venezuelan Government does not seem to be counting on an oil price rise anytime soon.

Presenting his projected budget to the country’s National Assembly on Tuesday, Finance Minister Rodolfo Marco said it was based on an oil price estimate of US$40 a barrel for Venezuelan oil. The Government also predicted an annual inflation rate of 85 per cent in 2015 and 60 per cent in 2016. (Excerpt from BBC News)

thursday, october 22, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

Govt partners with trade union bodies to better workers’ lives – PM Nagamootoo

Government has established several committees to partner with the trade union bodies and other workers’ representative organisations in its quest to ensure that workers are treated fairly.

Reporting on Cabinet’s recent deliberations, Prime Minister and First Vice President Moses Nagamootoo told media operatives at the Ministry of the Presidency on Wednesday afternoon that this was one of the more outstanding features that Government wished to retain in the coalition system of governance. It will work to ensure that workers’ rights are upheld, they are remunerated fairly and have a conducive working environment.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo advised that Cabinet at its meeting on October 20, 2015 ap-

proved the appointment of the Board of Directors for the National Tripartite Committee, which will be chaired by Minister within the Social Protection Ministry, Simona Broomes.

Members will include Social Protection Minister

Volda Lawrence; representatives of the Consultative Association of Guyanese Industries (CAGI); the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) and the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG).

“This Committee will deal with matters relating to industrial relations, human resource management and labour policies. We have now given this an institutional clout in what is called the National Tripartite Committee,” the Prime Minister said.

He also advised that “we have appointed these entities to work along with the Government and this Board… very important features of the struggles of the working people of Guyana for trade union recognition emerged from the Trade Union Recognition Act Chapter 98:07 of the laws

of Guyana, and it concerns the procedures for certifying trade unions and recognised bodies.”

Cabinet has also appointed members of the Board of Directors for the Trade Union Recognition and Certification Board, which will be chaired by Justice Claudette La Bennett and will include representatives from CAGI, GTUC and FITUG.

Nagamootoo explained that “it means that if this body were to function effectively and efficiently, there should be no poaching, no renegade trade unions trying to impose themselves on the workers.”

Workers under the laws have a right to pick a union of their choice and, “I believe this is one of the historic high points of the struggles of the working people of Guyana.”

Guyana, Mexico cooperating on preservation of historical archive

In the framework of the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Independence of Guyana, Mexico and Guyana have promoted bilateral cooperation that includes a project for the preservation of the nation’s documental heritage and development of its archives.

In a statement issued on Monday by the local Mexican Embassy, it was stated that two Mexican experts from the General National Archives advised on the digitisation of historical documents to make them available to the public through an online portal. Also, the experts carried out a diagnosis of the collections and taught an introductory course in the field of conservation and possible actions for implementation.

Participants in the training activities had the opportunity to learn about conservation strategies and the experience of the National Archives. The workshop fo-

cused on designing a management strategy to meet the needs of preservation and dissemination of the documental collections with materials dating from the 18th Century.

The release also noted that the two experts met with Minister within the Education Ministry, Nicolette Henry. During the meeting, the specialists reported on the details of the activities carried out during their visit to the archives.

It was noted that this

project was an effort to support Guyana in the conservation of its historical documental heritage, which was vital to ensure the right to access information and which supports the sense of national identity through documents that record the history of the country. This project is part of the bilateral efforts and the joint work of the General National Archives, the National Archives of Guyana and the Mexican Agency for International Development

Cooperation which aim to strengthen human resources in Guyana through the transfer of knowledge, experiences and capacities of Mexican specialists.

With this contribution, the Government of Mexico reiterates its commitment in the field of cooperation with Guyana. This project is part of a series of commemorative activities being carried out by Mexico and Guyana in the following months to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Independence.

Cabinet approves Desrey Fox scholarship for hinterland youths

Cabinet has approved Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine’s request for the establishment of the Desrey Fox Scholarship Award for the most outstanding hinterland student.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, updating the media at a post-Cabinet briefing on Wednesday, pointed out that youths from the hinterland re-

gions would be eligible for this scholarship.

He added that the scholarship which would be awarded to the top performer from a government secondary school would allow that student the opportunity to study at the University of Guyana. All expenses relating to this scholarship would be fully covered by the Government.

The Prime Minister

PAHO/WHO gifts ATVs to Public Health Ministry

– to assist with vaccination in hinterland

Minister within the Public Health Ministry, Dr Karen Cummings

The Public Health Ministry on Wednesday received two All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), from the Pan-American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/ WHO) to assist with the distribution of vaccines in hinterland communities.

This forms part of the Biennial Work Plan (BWP)

2015 for supporting activities in low vaccination coverage areas.

The vehicles were handed over by Dr Williams Adu- Krow, PAHO/WHO Guyana Representative, who pointed out that the Baramita sub-district, in Region One (BarimaWaini) would benefit from one of the ATVs to improve vaccination coverage, since it is a remote community. He added that this vehicle would not only benefit that community, but also the total improvement of health services in the Region.

Meanwhile, Dr Karen Cummings, Minister within the Public Health Ministry, expressed her gratitude and appreciation to the organisation for its continuous assistance to the Immunisation and Health Programmes in the country.

The Minister also emphasised the fact that she would personally ensure that the vehicles were used for the assigned purpose.

VSP to host 2nd National Youth Award

The Volunteer Support Platform (VSP) has announced that it will be hosting its second National Youth Awards on November 30, 2015.

The first award ceremony was held in 2014 where awards were presented to persons who excelled in making a difference in health, education, sports, and advocacy among others.

This year’s awards will be handed out in various sectors, including the award of participation in both regional and national categories; award of services in categories including regional, national, media personnel, media houses and school and the award of excellence in youth entrepreneurship, health, sports, environment and agriculture.

also pointed out that this scholarship would serve as a motivational factor for hinterland students to further their studies, as well as an incentive for community development.

He added that the late Dr Desrey Fox, a former Education Minister was an outstanding daughter of the indigenous community and served the nation with great pride. The Minister passed away in 2009.

The VSP is inviting all persons between the ages of 14 and 35 and existing organisations to apply and contest for the awards. Forms and guidelines are available at the VSP office located at the Education Ministry’s Department of Culture, Youth and Sport Main Street office. Forms can also be obtained from the Regional Youth Officers or Village Councils.

The objectives of this peculiar award ceremony are to highlight outstanding work that young people contribute to communities by providing social services; to motivate young people

to develop a sense of duty and leadership to their community regardless of age; to establish benchmarks that challenge young people to increase their skills in different fields, thus improving their personal potential as productive citizens; to recognise youth and voluntary organisations for their achievements through youth-focused programmes/ initiatives; and to recognise voluntary organisations for their outstanding achievements in the fields of youth development and welfare; and to encourage young people to recognise volunteerism as a strategy to becoming involved in activities that they have interest in for the purpose of education, career, and/or leisure.

It is anticipated that the awards will increase the participation of youth in public affairs through volunteerism; increase the ability of youth to advocate for themselves; increase the value of youth and their contribution to community and national development; boost focus on highlighting, promoting and filling possible gaps existing in youth oriented services, and increase the value of volunteerism.

The VSP can be contacted on 227-7575 and 2267144. The point persons are Gillian Frank, Grace Roberts and Germaine Watson.

Region 2 Hindus end Navraatri with call to revere mothers

Hindus in Region Two on Wednesday concluded the period of Navraatri with visits to the riverside and congregational prayers. Hundreds of persons flock their various temples afterwards to conclude the auspicious period that was specially dedicated to the worship of the Hindu Goddesses Durga, Lakshmi and Swarswattie.

Persons were seen as early as 04:00hrs on the seawalls offering prayers.

At Golden Fleece Vishwa

Jhotir Mandir, President of the temple, Parmanand Singh urged Hindu men to respect women as they are considered "earthly mothers."

He also called on the children in the mandir to children to respect their mothers and to uphold the pillars of Satan Dharma.

The pandit said that the Navraatri period is very significant and it's a time when mothers are being adored and honoured, noting that this should happen

"everyday not just during Navraatri."

Spreading the message on how life is important,Singh urged young people not to be carried away with modern culture and be force to do things to fit into society.

Navraatri is nine days that is designated for the worship Goddesses Durga (remover of darkness), Lakshmi ( giver of health, wealth and prosperity) and Swarswattie ( giver of knowledge).

Dynamic Airways to lend support to Guyana’s 50th anniversary celebrations

Dynamic Airways has announced that it will be supporting Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary Celebrations.

Local representative of Dynamic Airways, Captain Gerry Gouveia told media operatives on Tuesday that the airline was preparing for the 50th anniversary celebrations and planned to increase its performance levels. He added that the group had met with Head of the Commemoration Committee for Guyana’s 50th Independence Celebrations, Larry London and both groups were working closely to collaborate on the events associated with the celebrations.

Vijaya Dashami

Today, Hindus all across the world observe Vijaya Dashami also known as Dussehra. Dussehra is one of the most important religious festivals celebrated and is derived from the Sanskrit word Dasha-hara meaning “remover of bad fate”.

It is celebrated on the 10th day of the month of Ashwin according to the Hindu calendar. The first nine days are celebrated as Maha Navratri and culminates on the 10th day as Dussehra.

Dussehra is celebrated to mark the triumph of Goddess Durga over Demon Mahishasura and the victory of Lord Rama

over Demon Ravana.

Victory of Lord Rama over Ravana

One of the main victories celebrated as “Good Over Evil” is that of Lord Rama’s victory over Demon Ravana, who had abducted his wife, Sita. Lord Rama; his brother, Lakshmana; their follower, Hanuman and an army fought a great battle to rescue Sita. The entire narrative is recorded in the epic Ramayana, the Hindu scripture.

Rama had performed “Chandi Homa” and invoked the blessings of Durga, who blessed him with knowledge of the way to kill Ravana and on the day of Ashvin

Shukla Dashami, Rama defeated Ravana and rescued Sita.

This victory is commonly celebrated in many parts of India by creating an effigy of Demon Ravana and burning it.

This year, the Jewan Ka Nritya Dance Group, in collaboration with the Indian Commemoration Trust, will be staging Ram Leela on

through this epic.

Ram Leela is directed and produced by Roshini Boodhoo, former Miss India Guyana 2011, who has been teaching dance for 12 years.

Boodhoo says, “The Ramayana teaches us values and morals instilled by Shree Ram as a child, a son, a brother, a husband and a friend. There are multiple characters in the Ramayana

October 24, 2015 at 18:30h at the Monument Gardens.

This play will be an illustration and depiction of the Ramayana: the story of Shree Ram and his victory over Ravana whereby the effigy of Ravana will be burnt as we celebrate Vijaya Dashami (Dussehra).

The JKN cast will take you through a river of emotions as they journey

that you might want to emulate, but by the end of the story you’ll want to be a Sita or a Ram.”

This is the second time the members will be putting on Ram Leela and this year the cast comprises 60 members.

Come out and together let’s celebrate the victory of “Good Over Evil”.

Admission: FREE!!!

He noted, however, that Dynamic will be responding to requests from the commit-

tee as the need arose. Gouveia shared that he understood while the focus of the activities will be independence, throughout the year there would be other activities. He added that Dynamic would be standing in support with the committee to satisfy the needs of the thousands of Guyanese expected to visit Guyana during that period.

IAC Cancer Awareness and Health Fair set for Oct 31

In support of Cancer Awareness Month 2015, the Indian Action Committee (IAC), in collaboration with the Cancer Institute of Guyana and Texila American University, will be hosting its Cancer Awareness and Health Fair on October 31 at the IAC Office on the Railway Embankment, Cummings Lodge, Greater Georgetown.

The event is slated to commence at 10:00h and conclude at 13:00h.

Doctors, nurses, consultants from the Cancer Institute of Guyana and students of the Texila American University will provide to the public a wide range of health services such as blood pressure testing, blood glucose testing, body mass index and dental checkups. There will also be a distribution of flyers and brochures on a range of topics such as mammograms, diabetes, hypertension, alcohol and tobacco use among many others.

In light of this, the IAC would like to bring to the forefront that breast cancer does not discriminate and affects persons of all ages, ethnic groups and income levels.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reported last year that there was a sharp rise in breast cancer worldwide.

The report indicated that in 2012, 1.7 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer and there were 6.3 million women alive who had been diagnosed in the

previous five years. Since 2008, breast cancer cases have increased by more than 20 per cent, while mortality has increased by 14 per cent.

Research has shown that breast cancer remains the most common cause of cancer death among women (522,000 deaths in 2012) and the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in 140 of 184 countries worldwide.

The IAC, over the years, has sought to engage members of the public in its activities whether it be a cultural event or one that seeks to educate persons on various social issues. This time, however, the Committee, for the first time, has decided to embark upon a health outreach programme which will allow the public to take advantage of the various health services that will be provided free of cost.

The IAC is, therefore, urging all that there is need for the raising of awareness on cancer and its symptoms so that we can easily identify it and most importantly, treat it at its early stage.

“This month as we honour those fighting cancer and lend our support to the families that are affected, the IAC calls upon the general public to come out and educate themselves on this disease which would in turn help in providing knowledge to those that are affected in either way,” the Committee declared in the release.

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

CANCER

Greater financial freedom should be your goal. List your expenses and go over your personal papers in order to find a way to save money. One of your skills can bring in extra cash.

You will get back what you give out. If you are demanding or stubborn, you can expect to face opposition. Be helpful and agreeable in order to gain allies.

You will be rewarded for your dedication. Don’t slack off just because your colleagues are doing less than you are. Your fine reputation and strong work ethic will serve you now and in the future.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

If you share your concepts with peers and friends, you’ll discover a way to turn something you enjoy doing into a paying gig. Romance is on the horizon.

A personal struggle is apparent. Don’t try to pretend that nothing is wrong. No one is immune to problems. An honest, open discussion will help you find a workable solution.

Change is heading your way. A partnership will undergo a transformation, and a joint venture or collaboration looks promising. Social events will lead to valuable associations.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Consider a career move. Gather information and stay current with the trends happening in your preferred field. Update your resume and reconnect with people who will give you a stellar recommendation.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Personal matters need to be put aside. Plan to have a relaxing day or get involved in something that will take your mind off troublesome concerns. Romance will help ease your stress.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Identify the improvements you need to make around your home. Anything that adds to your enjoyment or ups the value of your assets should be seriously considered.

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

Attend a conference, lecture or trade show in order to keep your credentials up to date. As an added bonus, you will meet others who share your interests and will suggest other networking outlets.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

Speak your mind, but make sure your facts are correct and your delivery precise. Go over the details and leave no room for error, or you risk damaging your reputation.

When in doubt, you should follow your intuition. Traveling and experiencing cultural differences will inspire you. Offer your time and talents to a charitable organization in order to make influential connections.

Sri Lanka v West Indies, 2nd Test, Colombo…

Pacy P Sara brightens visitors’ hopes

The only predictable thing about Sri Lanka’s weather is that the meteorological department’s forecasts will be wrong. They expect daily afternoon thunderstorms in Colombo all through the Test. Going by their track record from Galle, this is an excellent sign the cricket will not be interrupted over the next few days, even if plenty of rain has fallen on the city recently.

Both teams will be pleased a result looks likely. West Indies need a victory to save the series, and to inspire a new captain and his young team ahead of a difficult tour of Australia. Meanwhile, a strong series win would partially absolve the hosts of the disappointment of two mid-year humblings at the hands of India and Pakistan.

Sri Lanka arrive full of confidence following the innings victory in the first Test, of course, but their batting may still be vulnerable. Milinda Siriwardene and Kusal Perera are playing their second and third Tests respectively, opener Kaushal Silva has gone some time without a big score, and the no. 3 position has been so problematic Sri Lanka are likely to give 20-year-old Kusal Mendis an opportunity there. West Indies conceded 484 in Galle, but that had been more a reflection of poor catching, than toothless bowling. The extra pace and carry often available on the P Sara pitch will raise the visiting attack’s chance

of scripting an upset (much like Tim Southee and Trent Boult had done at the venue in 2012), so long as chances are held.

The hosts will be happy with the state of their own fielding, however. Dinesh Chandimal claimed a stunner at short midwicket in the first innings at Galle, but Sri Lanka were sharp in the field generally, where they had been almost abysmal for much of the past year. The board is still hunting for a head coach, but several players have already spoken positively of interim coach Jerome Jayaratne’s work so far.

In the spotlight

Dinesh Chandimal was virtually unselectable for large portions of 2014, but he has suddenly begun to bat with freedom and watched the runs flow. He averages 51.69 in 2015, and provides the positivity and dynamism Sri Lanka have often had from their longterm no. 4 batsmen. He has often enjoyed batting on quicker, bouncier tracks, and will hope for a good score at the P Sara, which might in turn set him up nicely for the Tests in New Zealand, in December.

Devendra Bishoo was not quite at his best in Galle, yet he created the most chances from the West Indies attack, and finished with the most wickets as well. Though the P Sara suits the quicks, it has also been kind to visiting spinners this yearYasir Shah, R Ashwin and Amit Mishra prospered at

the venue. If West Indies’ batsmen can keep their side in the match for the first three days, Bishoo may have a key role to play in the second innings.

Team news

Kusal Mendis appears almost a certainty to debut in place of Lahiru Thirimanne, who has suffered a poor stretch of Test form in the past three months. Rangana Herath will likely take up Thirimanne’s vice captaincy. Offspinner Tharindu Kaushal is also likely to be replaced by Dilruwan Perera, following Kaushal’s modest outing in the first Test.

Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Kaushal Silva, 2 Dimuth Karunaratne, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Dinesh Chandimal , 5 Angelo Mathews (capt.), 6 Milinda Siriwardana, 7 Kusal Perera (wk), 8 Dhammika Prasad, 9 Dilruwan Perera, 10 Rangana Herath, 11 Nuwan Pradeep.

Shai Hope’s twin failures in Galle may allow Rajendra Chandrika to reclaim a position at the top of the order. The rest of West Indies’ XI is likely to remain unchanged.

West Indies (probable): 1 Kragg Braithwaite, 2 Rajendra Chandrika/Shai Hope, 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Marlon Samuels, 5 Jemaine Blackwood, 6 Denesh Ramdin, 7 Jason Holder (capt.), 8 Devendra Bishoo, 9 Jerome Taylor, 10 Kemar Roach, 11 Shannon Gabriel.

The match started this morning at 00:30h Guyana time. (Cricinfo)

Ponting voices opposition to day-night Tests

Ricky Ponting has spoken out strongly against the looming day-night Test match to be played in Adelaide between Australia and New Zealand, reckoning that the experimental format and pink ball will have to stand up to the scrutiny of the players involved if it is ever to have the credibility of the existing five-day game.

On the night he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in Melbourne, Ponting said the Cricket Australia-driven concept was something he had always opposed. This was largely due to his belief that Test match cricket should be kept as the purest possible contest between bat and ball, while the game’s two other formats served as greater vehicles for entertainment and night-time events.

“I’ve actually been against it the whole time,” Ponting said. “I mean I understand the reasons behind wanting to innovate and wanting to be different, but at the same time I think Test cricket is all about history and tradition as far as I’m concerned.

“But I guess the game has to go on and move forward. It will be interesting to see what the players make of it all and how much they enjoy the occasion. That’s what it comes down to at the end of the day, the players have to want to enjoy it and have to want to be a part of it and want to make it something extra special and let’s hope it works out that way.”

Earlier this week, Ponting gave evidence via video link in the perjury tri-

al of Chris Cairns. While unwilling to comment any further on the trial, he said Australia had been a leader in educating players about the murky world of spot-fixing and that he was eager to ensure the game continued to be closely monitored for any evidence of impropriety.

“The way the game is it maybe does open itself up to more of that kind of thing because there is so much spot betting and so many things that you can bet on,”

Ponting said. “Don’t worry, everyone is doing their absolute utmost to keep on top of that stuff, but as we know at the end of the day it’s the players, it comes down to the players.

“I know that everything that’s been done within Cricket Australia has been absolutely first class, we’d be leading the world in so far as that sort of education is concerned so all we can do is make sure that we keep doing the right thing and make sure we keep our players out of it all.”

As for the summer ahead, Ponting predicted that the

captain Steven Smith would drop down to No. 4 in the batting order, with Usman Khawaja at No. 3 and the young West Australian batsman Cameron Bancroft slotting in alongside David Warner at the top of the order.

He spoke with some pride at his induction into the hall of fame, which also features the likes of fellow Tasmanian David Boon, Richie Benaud and Dennis Lillee. “Something like this once you are retired it gives you a chance to sit back and think about all the things you were able to do and wins you were able to have and things like that,” he said.

“Even just coming here and sitting at the stands now and thinking about some of the great things that happened out there is nice. And I’ve done a little, I wouldn’t say research, but I’ve read up on the Sports Australia Hall of Fame and the history behind it and it’s a pretty select group of people or members that I’ve been inducted into.” (Cricinfo)

Kallis appointed Knight Riders head coach

Kolkata Knight Riders have signed Jacques Kallis as their new head coach for the upcoming season. Kallis will succeed Trevor Bayliss, who took over as head coach of England in June. Kallis, who has been with the franchise since 2011, was the team’s batting consultant in IPL 2015.

“KKR is my family in India and the association since 2011 has been one of the most enjoyable experiences for me,” Kallis said. “I look forward to the new challenge and feel honoured to be part of the KKR family.”

Venky Mysore, Knight Riders’ chief executive, said the Kallis signing ensured a smooth transition for the team. “We couldn’t be happier that Jacques agreed to take on the role as head coach of KKR,” Mysore said. “The respect and regard he commands in the dressing room as well as his fondness for KKR made him our ideal choice.” (Cricinfo)

Chris Cairns perjury trial…

McCullum did not mention ‘matchfixing’ to ACSU

Brendon McCullum did not mention “match-fixing” in a statement relating to an approach made to him by Chris Cairns, according to John Rhodes, the Australasian head of the ICC’s anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU).

Cairns, who is on trial at Southwark Crown Court in London and denies two counts of perjury and perverting the course of justice, was claimed to have discussed spot-fixing during a meeting with McCullum in a Kolkata hotel room in 2008.

However, according to Rhodes, to whom McCullum admitted the approach three years later following an ICC anti-corruption briefing, the New Zealand captain’s statement in February 2011 mentioned a “business proposition” but did not include an explicit reference to match-fixing.

Orlando Pownall, QC, Cairns’ defence lawyer, read extracts from McCullum’s statement to the court: “We had a general conversation and then after about half an hour he [Cairns] asked me if I knew anything about spread betting. I told him that I didn’t. I initially thought he was taking the ****.”

Cairns then started to explain using a pen and paper: “He was telling me you can make a great deal of money. He told me you could make between US$80,000 to US$250,000 a day. He told me that he had never done it on an international match.”

Pownall put it to Rhodes that the conversation between McCullum and Cairns concerned betting, not an approach for McCullum to underperform in a particular match.

Rhodes responded: “The inference is in the statement. It is clear to me that an approach is being made by Mr Cairns to Mr McCullum.”

“To fix matches or to underperform?” asked Pownall.

“Yes,” said Rhodes.

“Where does it say that?” Pownall continued, to which Rhodes replied: “It doesn’t.”

When asked why he had not requested McCullum clarify what he meant, Rhodes stated he was not “in a position to put words” into his mouth.

The ACSU, Pownall suggested, had done “nothing” in response to McCullum’s statement, although Rhodes said that, as

GFF/Stag Elite League…

Buxton, Fruta conquerors pull off hard-fought wins

By Akeem Greene

Acomposed and ignited

Buxton United FC held off a challenging Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to earn them their third win from eight games in the Stag Elite League at the GDF ground, Camp Ayanganna, on Tuesday evening.

From kick-off to the blow of the final whistle, there was an upbeat tempo to the East Coast side’s game. The game started off with a heap of excitement after GDF’s Delwin Fraser got pass the Buxton backline and hit the back of the net, only to disappointingly see the offside flag go up.

points.

In the earlier game, Fruta Conquerors defeated Monedderlust 1-0. Jermaine Junior’s shot from within the left side of the box proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Fruta Conquerors defended well throughout the game as the Tucville based team, which boasts a number of young bright prospects had a greater level of ball control throughout the game.

The Berbice side Monedderlust gave away the ball too many times when they looked pinned to produce an equaliser.

an unsanctioned tournament, the Indian Cricket League (ICL) was beyond the jurisdiction of the ICC.

The allegations, Pownall suggested, were “potentially momentous”. However, Rhodes argued that without corroboration from any other source they remained unsubstantiated.

Rhodes added that he had “no reason” to believe McCullum had not been telling the truth. However, he said that as a field officer, his job was simply to collect information - it was up to his superiors to investigate his findings.

Rhodes recalled that McCullum had met him in Nagpur, along with his thencaptain, Daniel Vettori, whom Rhodes stated did not contributed to the meeting and had been attending to provide support for McCullum.

However, under cross-examination, Rhodes was shown a statement made by Vettori in February 2014, in which he said he had asked Cairns to buy him a diamond ring with the money he was owed for undertaking a promotional tour for an Indian toothpaste company after the Champions Trophy in 2011.

Asked why his evidence had omitted this detail, Rhodes said that he did not recall Vettori’s comment. “What I am saying is that if Mr Vettori is saying to me that he said that to me in Nagpur, then I will accept that.”

Rhodes told the court that he had not made any notes of that conversation, adding that he had lost his diary for 2011. He also admitted that he had not made a note of McCullum’s request that New Zealand Cricket should not be told he was making a statement.

Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the current chairman of the ACSU, also gave evidence. He denied that Cairns had been made a scapegoat to deflect media criticism into his unit’s lack of success in tackling corruption.

“Corners were cut, normal action was left to one side with a view to achieving the scalp of Chris Cairns,” Pownall suggested.

Flanagan replied, “absolutely not”, adding: “If scalp turns out to be an appropriate description, I think it is an absolute tragedy.”

The trial continues. (Cricinfo)

After that lapse in concentration, Buxton began a series of attacks on the GDF goal, which soon proved to be too much as a skillful chip by Delon Wright from outside the left side of the box in the 23rd minute floated over the GDF’s custodian and into the goal.

In quick response, GDF’s Eusi Phillips’ diving header hit the crossbar, which ended the attackminded football on display in the first half.

In the 49th minute, Buxton’s No.7 Kwadjo Garnett from inside the box headed a looping cross to extend the lead. The goal needed confirmation by the lines man after a GDF defender attempted clearance, but it already passed the goal line.

It was a rewarding goal for the young striker, as throughout the night he had been making several runs on goals, but too went wide.

GDF were desperately trying to get on the score sheet with few exceptional set pieces, which weren’t enough as young center back Kevin Dundas impressed with the use of his height and ability to read the game. He quickly shut down any attempt on goal by the soldiers’ center forwards.

It was until the 68th minute that Delroy Fraser scored through a wonderful header, which gave GDF some enthusiasm for a hopeful draw. However, that was not to be.

The victory has put Buxton United in sixth place on nine points as GDF remain in third on eleven

They started the second half with more vigour and intent, but many of their crosses in front of goal were kept out by some smart defending.

In the dying minutes, Junior attempted to inflict more pain into the Berbice side with a fantastic free kick about 30 yards from goal which beat the wall, but hit the side bar.

It is fair to say that Monedderlust had numerous opportunities to equalize, but unfortunately lacked the finishing touch.

It was Monedderlust’s fifth loss from eight games and puts them in the penultimate position of seventh. On the other hand, the much needed for Fruta Conquerors moved them fourth place on eleven points, level with GDF. (akeemg@guyanatimesgy.com)

Garnett hoping for greater exposure in Stag Elite League

By Akeem Greene

Twenty-one-year-old

Kwadjo

Garnett of Buxton United Football Club is hoping for an excellent showing in the ongoing Stag Elite League as he seeks to press for a place in the Guyana Under-23 football team.

Garnett was in high praise of the tournament, saying “the tournament is a great initiative not only for my personal development as a footballer, but football as a whole in Guyana.”

The footballer believes that the League will give the exposure needed for persons to recognise his talent.

However, he explained that, “I don’t believe me scoring a few goals will make everyone remember my name; what is more important is that I play a complete game, and help lead my team to victory; produce performances that will be memorable.”

Garnett further posited that keeping high fitness levels is vital since, for the first time, he is exposed to a prolonged period of football.

When quizzed about the possibility of a contractual signing sometime in the near future by some local club, the young man responded, “it would be great to receive remuneration for playing a game that I love, as it is another incentive to succeed, but I have to put in the work to make persons want me at their team; I have to show I am team player.”

Garnett is no stranger to the big stage as he has been play-

ing National League football since 2012 and was a part of the Buxton United team that won the Kashif and Shanghai tournament in 2013. That was an outstanding year for the young man as he also became one of Giftland’s Ambassadors.

In his appearances so far in the ongoing competition, he looked a bright prospect for Guyana’s football.

Playing mainly as a centre forward, Garnett has already scored in one match and made an assist in another, which helped his side come out victorious on both occasions.

Garnett has been playing football for 11 years now at the Buxton United and has appearances for the East Coast Under-15, Under-19 and Under–21 sides.

The former Mae’s and Bishops’ High School student, who played many of the school tournaments,

and would usually be a step ahead of his peers with his nimbleness with the ball, revealed that during the selection of the National Under-15 team, he had to put football on the backburner due to commitments at school.

Now a final year University of Guyana student in Business Management, Garnett believes that discipline is key when it comes to balancing sport and academics.

“Many times it is tiring, having to go to practice after a long day of classes and then start all over the next day, but it is a sacrifice I have to make if I want to succeed at both,” he reckoned.

When asked how he would feel about the possibility of securing a scholarship, Garnett said, “I would be extremely grateful, I would be getting to do two things I really love doing, and most importantly in a more structured manner.”

On the footballer he admires the most; Garnett said he is a Wayne Rooney fan.

“…because he is a team player, he looks to get on the ball a lot and plays both forward and defensively; that is how I like play to my game,” he explained.

The son of Dexter “Bushman” Garnett, the young footballer expressed his gratitude for the support given by his family and friends as he continues to build his promising football career.

For such a young player, his demeanour and composure on the football field certainly indicates that he has the pedigree to become a national star. (akeemg@guyanatimesgy.com)

YELLOW PAGES

thursday, october 22,

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inter-Ministry Futsal tour nament to kick start today

By Akeem Greene

The Banks Beer InterMinistry Futsal tournament will kick-off today at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

This was disclosed on Wednesday at the launch of the event at the Ministry of Tourism, where coordinator Esan Griffith disclosed that they would be 32 teams playing for championship honours. Griffith further underscored that as it regards the eligibility of players, they must have a legitimate association with the respective ministry or organisation.

What is more important is that a significant part of the proceeds will go towards the

fight against Breast Cancer in Guyana.

Speaking at the launch, Director of Sport Christopher Jones ushered in the tournament, noting that it is a pleasing sight for the football sport.

Most importantly, the Director felt it was great to have football return to the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall in recent times after a brief hiatus.

The Director also disclosed that he will be putting his own football skills on show in the tournament when his Ministry has to take centre stage.

Speaking on behalf of Banks DIH Limited, Banks Beer Brand Manager Brian Choo Hen said, “We at Banks are committed to sports; only

recently we had a similar tournament of this nature and we are here yet again to give our support.”

Also at the gathering was Liaison Officer from the Ministry of Tourism Catharine Martin and another Banks DIH representative, Communications Manager, Troy Peters.

Over $500,000 in cash and prizes will be up grabs, with first place receiving $200,000; second $150,000, third $100,000 and fourth $50,000. The first of nine games will be Qualfan versus Oasis Water. Patrons will be required to pay $300 to enter the venue on game nights. (akeemg@guyantimesgy. com)

BCB/BRCA launch second division cricket tournament

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ith the aim of having cricket played throughout the county, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) and Berbice River Cricket Association (BRCA) recently launched a roundrobin second division cricket competition for teams in the Berbice River area.

The tournament is set to commence shortly, and the board will also provide additional resources to make it successful.

At a simple ceremony held recently, Secretary of the BCB, Angela Haniff, thanked the Director of Sport, Christopher Jones, for his timely intervention in having the tournament. Jones, through the National Sports Commission, has provided balls for the tournament.

Haniff used the opportunity to urge the participating teams to take full advantage of the tournament.

In response, tournament coordinator, Floyd Benjamin, a coach and representative of the BCB, also thanked the board for the initiative, and the National Sports Commission for providing the balls.

He also extended thanked to Ramesh Sunich of Trophy Stall of Bourda Market for proving the winner’s trophy. Benjamin said that this event will surely help to raise the interest of the game in the area.

Haniff

Round one is billed for November 11, with Ebini Ranch Raiders hosting Wiruni Volcano, and Sand Hills playing host to Kimbia.

Round two will be played on November 18, with Ebini Ranch Raiders and Kimbia clashing at Ebini and Sand Hills hosting Wiruni Volcano.

The final preliminary round is scheduled for November 25, with Wiruni Volcano playing Kimbia at Wiruni and Ebini Ranch Raiders having home advantage against Sand Hills.

The final is billed for December 6 at the Cumberland Ground, East

Canje, Berbice. According to the organising committee, the host teams are responsible for the preparation of pitches. They must also provide solid snacks with drink, as well as adequate water.

Further teams must fill up attached report sheets for all matches played, and must be submitted to the BCB office at in New Amsterdam, Berbice, or to Floyd Benjamin of Ebini, Berbice River. Also teams are required to provide passport size photographs of outstanding performers.

Bravados CC crowned ECCB second division champion

Bravados Cricket Club produced an excellent all-round performance to whip Better Hope Sport Club by 109 runs to claim the East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) second division title last Sunday.

Played in front of a sizeable crowd, Bravados Cricket Club first put up a challenging total of 242, before bowling out the host for 133 in 24 overs.

Marcus Watkins top scored with 44. He received support from Anthony Ifill (40), Earl Gilkes (37), Rawle Merrel (34) and Nigel Estrado (20).

Bowling for Better Hope Sport Club, Jayadev Mana claimed 2-36, Daniel Kowlessar 2-38 and Amir Khan 2-20.

In reply, Better Hope Sport Club lost wickets at regular intervals, with only

Khan with an unbeaten 42, putting up some resistance.

Daniel Kowlessar (13) and Mulchan Singh (18) were the other batsmen to reach double figures. Extras contributed 31 to the total.

Courts pumps

With Guyana’s premier golf tournament, the Guyana Open, fast approaching, furniture and appliance store, Courts (Guyana) Inc., will stage its annual golf tournament this Saturday at the Lusignan Golf Course, East Coast Demerara.

The one-day tournament will be used by golfers to fine tune their preparations ahead of next weekend’s Guyana Open golf tournament.

At the simple presentation ceremony on Wednesday at the company’s Main Street Office, some $250,000 was handed over to the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC) by Pernell Cummings, Courts Marketing Manager. Cummings, in brief remarks, said Courts is pleased to once again come onboard with the tournament.

“Courts over the years played a major part in the development of sport in Guyana, and golf was no different,”

Seon Simpson, Gilkes and Alex Culley were the bowlers responsible for Better Hope’s demise. Simpson finished with 4-31, Gilkes 3-22 and Cully 2-28.

Gilkes was named Man-

$250,000

Cummings pointed out.

He anticipated that the tournament will see further growth of the sport locally, and at the same time produce more high-quality golfers.

President of the LGC, Oncar Ramroop, while expressing gratitude to Courts, highlighted the significance of the tournament, noting that it is a precursor to the Guyana Open.

“This tournament comes at an opportune time for golfers as they will definitely use it to fine tune their preparation for the Guyana Open,” Ramroop noted.

Saturday’s tournament will utilise a Flight format and is expected to attract a large turnout with several foreign players expected to participate.

Meanwhile, Ramroop revealed that preparation for the Guyana’s Open golf tournament is almost complete.

The tournament is billed for October 31 and November 1 at the country’s lone golf course at Lusignan, East

of-the-Match, while Khan was awarded with a medal for his outstanding performance.

At the presentation ceremony, President of the ECCB, Bissoondyal Singh, congratulated both teams for reaching the final.

He expressed gratitude to Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall, the participating clubs, the NDC and the umpires for their continuous contribution and support towards the development of the game on the East Coast of Demerara.

President of Better Hope Sports Club, Jagnarine Singh said, while he was disappointed in not winning the competition, he is satisfied with the hard work shown by his players. Singh congratulated the ECCB for a well-organised tournament.

UCCA/4R T20 Tournament…

Semi-finals billed for this Sunday

The four top teams in the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) sponsored 4R T20 cricket competition will clash this Sunday in the semi-finals.

The two games are billed for the Number 69 Vikings ground, with Number 64 Fighting Marines facing off against Number 70 “A” at 09:30h, while in the other semi-final game, Skeldon will come up against Number 69 Vikings.

Proceeds from the oneday event will be used to assist the association’s first division team.

Admission is $200 for adults, while children under 12 will be admitted free. Below are the four squads for Sunday’s games.

Number 70 “A” reads: Omesh Khemraj (Captain), Naeem Yacoob, Rayan Yaccob, Tameshwar Ramoutar, Chris Bollers, Omesh Kumar, Thameshwar Kumar, Kumar Mathura, Devendra Jaggernauth, Alim Haniff (wicketkeeper), Naresh Prashad, Akash Persaud and Kameshwar Ramjit.

Number 64 Fighting Marines reads: Jason Itwaru (Captain), Devendra Budhoo, Dineshwar Budhoo (wicket keeper), Steven Embrack, Vadanand Sugrim, Ramesh Joseph, Devindra Balram, Ramzan Subhan, Kumar Chand, Treva Thomas, Mahadeo Mallay , Somdat Singh and Emanuel Davidson.

Skeldon reads: Parmanand Narine, Junior Blair, Sherwin Murray, Charles France, Deon Esau, Nicholas Seenarine, Robert Moore, Christopher

into Saturday’s golf tournament

Coast Demerara.

Ramroop further pointed out that registration will be on a first come first, serve basis, since the first 80 golfers to register will be eligible to participate.

Interested golfers can confirm their participation by registering via the LGC email address, lusignangolfclub@

hotmail.com, or can make contact with the LGC on telephone number 220-5660.

Described as one of the most prestigious tournaments on the local golf calendar, the two-day event is expected to attract golfers from Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Suriname, French Guiana and North

America.

Meanwhile, apart from the usual categories: First Flight (0-9 handicap), Second Flight (10-18), Third Flight (19-28) and Ladies Flight, the club has decided for the first time in its history to introduce a Senior Flight. (rajivb@guyanatimesgy.com)

Jaundoo, Javed Alli, Mahendra Chetnarine, Tourend Shiwamber, Kord Griffith, Juan Velloza, Afseer Hussain and Sarwan Chetnarine.

Number 69 Vikings reads: Sachin Ramrattan (Captain), Viendra Gooniah, Wadikar Ramrattan, Totaram Persaud, Latchman Roopchan, Imran Khan (wicketkeeper), Surendra Rajaram, Vishwanauth Lalbeharry, Deon Bramdit, Yaad Prahalad, Trishan Narinedat , Chandrakant Narsingh and Vivendra Gooniah.

The competition featured 20 teams from Yakusari to Crabwood Creek and was played in four zones on a round-robin basis, home and away, with the top two teams in each zone advancing to the knockout stage of the competition. The winner will receive $100,000 and a trophy.

marian academy to host inter-school football tourney

Marian Academy will be hosting an inter-school football tournament starting today at the National Service ground.

The tournament will be for secondary schools as part of the CSEC Physical Education SBA project.

The teams, which will include Queen’s College, School of the Nations and Georgetown International Academy, will be playing for trophies from first to third.

The action is set to start from 15:30h today with the final day Saturday being held at the Police Sports Club ground, Eve Leary.

GVF/Tradewind Tankers International volleyball…

Local, foreign teams to face off on November 20-22

Top local and foreign club

teams will trade skills

on November 20-22 when the Guyana Volleyball Federation (GVF) stages the fifth annual Tradewind Tankers International volleyball tournament at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.

The invitational club tournament will take on an international flavour for the third year in succession, with three overseas teams so far confirmed to participate over the three days.

President of the GVF, John Flores, on Wednesday revealed that male and female club teams from Suriname, French Guiana and Trinidad and Tobago have confirmed their participation, while a team from Brazil should also

be coming.

As the host nation, Guyana has the luxury of entering two teams in the male category, and according to Flores, a Berbice all-star team and one from Demerara will represent the country. A Guyana all-star team will compete in the female category.

Flores said the GVF will use the tournament as much as possible to expose the local talents, especially those who did not make the cut for the male team that recently competed in the South American Championship in Macieo, Brazil.

He noted that the two male teams will be selected after inter-club tournaments in the respective county in the coming weeks. At the official launch on

Guyana Softball Cup 5…

Wednesday, Flores and his team of executives also received the sponsorship cheque from representatives of Tradewind Tankers, the shipping company for the Guyana Oil Company (Guyoil).

Operations Manager of Guyoil and former national player, Reggie Bhagwandin, said the company was pleased to once again support the tournament.

Proper accountability, Bhagwandin highlighted, was the main reason the company continues to invest in the tournament on an annual basis. This year, the company has injected $2.5 million into the event.

Meanwhile, Flores is encouraging the public to witness the games, as admission is absolutely free.

WJ Enterprise recommits to another year of sponsorship

WJ Enterprise on Wednesday renewed its support for the fifth edition of the Guyana Softball Cup by presenting its sponsorship cheque to the organisers at its Regent Street location.

WJ Enterprise, the sole importer and distributer of Croxley Copy Paper, confirmed its support for the mega softball event by coming onboard as a partner for the second year in succession.

Supervisor of the Regent Street business establishment, Teresa Naraine, said the company is overwhelmed to once again being offered the opportunity to be part of the country’s premier softball cricket tournament.

Naraine said the enti-

GABA League…

ty has been impressed with the success of the previous four Guyana Softball Cups, and it was an easy decision to recommit its support for another year. She wished the organisers and the local and visiting teams well, and urged softball fans to turn out in their numbers and witness the games.

The Guyana Floodlight Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) is the organising body of the tournament, and Secretary of the organisation, Lalta Gainda, was pleased to once again welcome WJ Enterprise as an official partner of the three-day event.

Gainda added that such support is critical to the successful hosting of the competition, noting that an event

of such magnitude attracts a hefty budget of approximately nine million dollars.

GFSCA member Petamber Maharaj also used the opportunity to announce that one of New York’s most successful softball teams, Mercenaries, is confirmed to compete at the October 30 to November 1 competition. Maharaj also stated that preparations are moving apace, and another successful competition is in the making.

This year’s tournament has attracted 24 teams spread across the two categories- Open and Masters. Wolf’s Warriors are the defending champions of the Open division, while Floodlights won the Masters category in 2014.

Colts blow away Sonics, Pacesetters top Eagles

The Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) League tipped off on Friday night with blow-out wins by the Bounty Colts and the Trinity Grid Holding (TGH) Pacesetters at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

In the League’s first game, the Bounty Colts demolished the Pepsi Sonics with a 75-point win in a show of total domi nation.

Leading from start to finish in the game, Colts were simply unstoppable on the offensive end of the court while playing stifling defence to pull out the big win 108-33.

Stanton Rose led the way for the Colts with a game-high 28 points, missing out on a triple-double with 14 rebounds and eight steals.

All Saints, Rose Hall Estate Primary knock out St Aloysius, NA

All Saints and Rose Hall Estate Primary Schools emerged victorious over St Aloysius and New Amsterdam respectively in the New Amsterdam/Canje District of the WICB/ GCB/Scotiabank Kiddy Progression One Cricket on Tuesday.

At the Berbice High School ground, St Aloysius won the toss and sent All Saints Primary in to take first strike. All Saints Primary made good use of the offer with Niquan Samuels and Richard Simon featuring in a second wicket partnership of 102 runs to help their team amassed 219-5.

Forde heads

Samuels scored superb 86, which included nine fours and four sixes. Simon supported with 39, which included four fours and one six. Bowling for St Aloysius, Dominika Crandon took 2-11.

In reply, St Aloysius only managed 84-6 from their allotted 14 overs. Lindon Simon hit 24 not out, while Samuels grabbed 3-0. Over at the All Saints ground, in the match-up between Rose Hall Estate Primary and New Amsterdam Primary, New Amsterdam posted 147-3.

Xavier Henry was not out on 54, and Zimiri Phillips contributed with 24. Vivek Cyril, Sarvesh Mohabir and Alianna Lallbeharry took one wicket apiece.

In response, Rose Hall Estate made 1494. Avishar Persaud made a useful contribution of 18, but it was Kenroy Giles unbeaten 35, which included two boundaries that help to guide his team to victory.

Matches in the New Amsterdam/Canje zones continue this week, with Betsy Ground Primary versus Fort Ordinance at Cumberland ground and Friends Primary versus Edingburg Primary at Edinburg ground.

“Team Integrity”

for GFF elections

As the date for nominations for the elections for the Guyana Football Federation draws closer, a new grouping “Team Integrity” is set to join the race with an official launch at the Pegasus Hotel today at 10:15h.

The team comprises presidential candidate Wayne Forde, who is the current president of the Fruta Conquerors Football Club, along with Brigadier Bruce Lovell, Rawlston Adams, and

Attorney Thandi McAllister. According to a release from “Team Integrity, “This grouping will form the management team along with other committee members, who will be drawn from the clubs and associations around Guyana.”

“Team Integrity” said it is committed to transforming the way football is run in Guyana and will present its manifesto as part of the launch. The GFF Congress is fixed for November 14.

John (21 points) and Damani Thomas (10 points) were the other scorers for the Colts.

Colts’ Orin Thomas did have a triple-double in the win with 19 points and 20 rebounds along with 18 impressive assists. Amoniki

No player from the Sonics touched double digits in any statistical category, with Lee Joshua having the most points with eight. In the other game of the night’s action, the TGH Pacesetters pulled off a comfortable 70-58 win against the Eagles.

Nathan Saul was the driving force behind Pacesetters’ win, dropping 30 points in an all-round offensive performance.

Jaleel Duke and Sheldran Noel scored 15 and 12 points respectively to help the Pacesetters pull off the win.

Scoring from the Eagles came from Travis Belgrave who missed out on a double-double with 24 points and nine rebounds, while Kevin Higgins also missed a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds. Action in the league will continue later this week.