Guyana Times Daily

Bandits rob National Security Minister’s former home

Teenager steals iPhone and sells it for $5000

Oil prices slump below US$50 a barrel yet fuel prices soar

Ramsammy says

Confirmed officials’ pay hikes… Govt now stonewalls on exact numbers

– public rejects rationale; outrage explodes

Govt mulls reduction of $60B withdrawal from commercial banks

– following PSC’s prognosis of economic disaster

PPP/C deems Govt’s Rice, RDC Forums a “total fiasco” – participants left disappointed, no solutions to problems

thursday, august 6, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

GT&T completes enhanced broadband project

– consumers benefit from upgraded Internet speeds for same price

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) has completed the roll-out of its Enhanced Broadband project, at least five months ahead of the original schedule, with the delivery of the fastest and most affordable broadband Internet services to all customers who qualify to receive the service.

The project which was announced in March 2015 was expected to take the entire year to complete, but as of July 31, all eligible customers have been upgraded. This upgrade now gives Guyana one of the most affordable Internet services in the region for the new speeds being delivered. The new highspeed Internet service is now sold in packages of Bronze, Silver and Gold in the range of 1.5 Megabits per second (Mbps) to 10Mbps and is offered to both residential and small business customers.

GT&T’s Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Justin Nedd expressed satisfaction with how quickly the GT&T team executed the project, but said that he is even happier with the overwhelmingly positive customer feedback. “We couldn’t be more thrilled with our customers’ positive reception to our new blazing fast broadband Internet speeds. Coming out of last year, we have adopted an approach to quicken the pace and extent of new and exciting service offerings.

There are so many new and exhilarating developments in mobile communications, broadband, social media, online education, entertainment and other technology-driven applications. We humbly submit that we plan to be the best provider in Guyana for bringing all of these services together for corporate, small business and residential customers,

and we plan to fight to earn every customer’s trust and business.

“For our Enhanced Broadband project, we wanted to give something back to customers who have been so loyal to us over the years and this was a perfect way to demonstrate our appreciation. We are thrilled with the response that customers have given us about their upgraded speeds and we hope that new customers will now come and experience Guyana’s fastest and most affordable broadband

friends. My Netflix, browsing, upload and download experience has been nothing short of excellent. My gratitude to GT&T for taking us to the next level… I am a committed GT&T customer.”

Roger Singh, who is a student of the University of Guyana, said that he is now enjoying his upgraded 5Mbps speed. He expressed his deep satisfaction with the download speed and the fact that he can “stream and use multiple devices without buffering”. The comments from both Saul and Singh repre-

Internet,” Nedd stated in a press release. He concluded by saying “This is not the last piece of exciting news that you will hear from GT&T in 2015. We plan to keep the energy rolling in the coming weeks and months with our new services, great prices and enhanced offers.’

Thus far, customers have been enthusiastically sharing their positive feedback with GT&T to express their appreciation.

United Nations Development Programme official Lelon Saul, who is a resident of Georgetown, has expressed great satisfaction with the enhanced speed that he now experiences.

“Before I received the official letter telling me that my service was upgraded, I had already experienced the difference in the speed and told my

sent what a broad range of customers have been indicating to GT&T regarding the noticeably substantial speed increases.

GT&T stated that they will continue to upgrade areas that may have not been eligible for the first phase of this Enhanced Broadband Project. Those customers who did not originally qualify for higher speeds because of the locations of their homes received a substantial benefit of a different form –a price cut that slashed their cost in half for their existing speed. Customers can check their eligibility for the increased speeds at http:// www.gtt.co.gy/internet-eligibility.cshtml.

For more information, customers and interested persons can visit www.gtt. co.gy

US-based Guyanese preparing to mark 50th Independence celebrations

Guyanese living in the United States (US) have begun preparation for the commemoration of Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary in May of next year.

US-based Guyanese Rickford Burke, has been named Coordinator of the Commemoration Planning Committee, which will oversee the planning and execution of activities which are expected to be a grand occasion.

President David Granger is expected to be at the festivities.

The initial meeting of the Committee was held last Wednesday at Guyana’s consulate in New York. Guyana’s Consul General Brentnold Evans, and the Committee brainstormed a series of activities and assessed the financial resources necessary to stage such a huge celebration in the Diaspora. The team agreed to one week of activities, beginning shortly after the conclusion of celebrations in Guyana.

Burke said his team is

planning a spectacular celebration that will showcase Guyana’s rich culture and history, of which Guyanese will be especially proud.

He emphasised, “This will be a unified, bipartisan endeavour. Everyone, regardless of political, religious or social creed, will be invited and encouraged to participate. Guyana belongs to all of us. We must therefore fully embrace each other, as

Lack of Magistrates at Mahdia…

well as our unique Guyanese identity and come together to celebrate this historic milestone in the journey of our nation.”

“Our aim is to be uncompromisingly inclusive. Hence, the planning committee will be drastically expanded to represent all facets of the Guyanese society. In the coming weeks and months, we’ll be reaching out to various GuyaneseAmerican communities in the metropolitan New York area and beyond, to include persons who can bring to bear targeted resources, expertise and skill-sets to make this a truly momentous celebration,” he added.

Government here has already indicated that much effort will be put into the hosting of the country’s 50th independence anniversary. Minister of State Joseph Harmon had said that a special committee would be put in place to undertake preparatory works for the event. Guyana gained its independence from British rule on May 26, 1966.

Duo remanded, case to continue until October

Due to the lack of Magistrates at the Mahdia Magistrate’s Court, the court will not have another session until October 19. Until then, two brothers charged with unlawful and malicious wounding will be remanded.

Mark Gabriel, age 19 and his younger sibling, age 17, have been accused of unlawfully and maliciously wounding Alleyne Frederickson on August 20 while the trio was at a camp in Cambelltown, Mahdia, North West District. In court it was heard that the brothers had intentions of caus-

ing the Virtual Complainant (VC) grievous bodily harm.

However, the duo pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Prosecutor Deniro Jones told the court that on the day in question, the VC was walking at the back of a camp when he saw the defendants. He said they attacked the VC, injuring him. As a result, Jones said Frederickson is still hospitalised.

He objected to any bail that the court was considering for the two accused, stating that they had given the Police a different address than they provided in court.

Thus, Magistrate Ann McLennan was obligated to refuse the two defendants’ bail as she was unsure they would return to court at the next date.

The late dates for the various courts in the interior have been one of concern for many an attorney and prisoners, who had voiced this concern in their application for bail at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The scarcity of Magistrates has been one such issue that the current Administration has said it shall be working on.

thursday, august 6, 2015 |

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, August 6 – 10:00h-011:30h and Friday, August 7 – 11:00h-12:30h

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

Thursday, August 6 – 08:45h-10:15h and Friday, August 7 – 09:55h-11:25h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected in the morning, with heavy rain showers giving way to sunny weather in the late afternoon. Partly cloudy skies with light rain showers can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East to East South-easterly between 2.23 metre and 4.91 metres per second.

High Tide: 08:58h and 21:22h reaching maximum heights of 2.50 metres and 2.47 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 02:28h and 14:52h reaching minimum heights of 0.64 metre and 0.77 metre respectively.

Govt to increase travelling “per diem” allowances

“Fat Cats” perks for officials – on top of massive salary increases

By Michael younge

overnment is currently taking steps to increase the per diem and other benefits for its officials, Ministers and other members of the administration by an average of some 60 per cent whenever decisions are made to travel abroad for state business.

Sources close to the Finance Ministry on Wednesday told the Guyana Times that after becoming dissatisfied with what was offered by the State under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) as allowances for travel aboard, the new Government decided to make changes that would see its members experiencing higher levels of comfort while on official state business at the expense of the public coffers.

This newspaper was informed that Finance Minister Winston Jordan is

actively considering a proposal to increase the per diem offered to Ministers, political advisers and other state officials after the tabling of the 2015 National Budget. These increases in per diem allowances for overseas spending are in addition to the massive salary increases that the Government has already conceded are under “consideration”.

The Minister is said to be favourably considering increasing the per diem from US$25 per day to about US$500 per day as far as the out-of-pocket allowance was concerned.

The new Government was also considering raising the allowance offered for hotel accommodation to approximately US$200 per day. Under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government, Ministers and other offi-

cials were only entitled to US$150 per day when even they travelled abroad.

Additionally, steps are being taken to increase the allotted monies for meals from the US$100 offered per day by the previous PPP/C Administration to approximately US$200 representing a 100 per cent increase.

The Guyana Times also learnt on Wednesday that Minister Jordan was also considering putting in place a US$3000 “contingency allowance” for Government Ministers and Advisers. This amount would be spent at the discretion of the official who would determine what the “contingency” was. Under the PPP/C, there was no such allowance and the only monies made available to the Government Ministers were the US$25 out-of-pocket allowance at the expense of the treasury.

Ever since the change of administration, several officials, including President David Granger, have gone on numerous trips abroad under the rubric of doing “State business” without sometimes properly informing the public and other stakeholders.

Ministers have been claiming that the trips that they have embarked on to attend political party meetings have been sponsored in full by the private individuals without disclosing the identity or quantum of the funds received.

Government has also denied funding these trips abroad from State funds unless it is for official State business.

Currently, Tourism Minister Cathy Hughes and State Minister Joseph Harmon are abroad and have been participating in what have been considered political meetings in the

US.

Governance Minister Raphael Trotman, speaking at this week’s post-Cabinet press briefing, confirmed that the trip of the two Ministers were sponsored in part by Government but failed to say who else contributed.

When contacted, former Junior Finance Minister Bishop Juan Edghill expressed shock at the development explaining that under the past Government no attempt was made to increase the per diem allowance and other allowances significantly.

He confirmed the figures stated in this article as the ones paid by the previous administration as per diem and other allowances. He explained that every time a Minister or official travelled aboard, a Cabinet Paper was prepared and approved by Cabinet.

The former Minister also said that every detail of the travel and the expense incurred by the Government was provided before the

travel was approved.

He said that if other agencies, local or international, provided funding or other allowances for the trip, these would also be detailed and approved by Cabinet.

“I am not aware that private individuals funded State trips or the trips of Ministers for functions closely associated with the business of the people aboard. We never got any increased per diem or benefits to do the work of the people,” Edghill maintained.

It was not clear whether the per diem allowances were claimed on the trips deemed to have been privately funded. These latter arrangements have been widely condemned by analysts and observers outside of the PPP since it was pointed out that in politics, “there are no free lunches”. In the US, for instance, such paid expenses for public officials are expressly forbidden and if engaged in would lead to dismissal.

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

Rising Crime

From the reports that cross our news desk and enter the pages of our newspaper, there is no doubt that there has been a steady escalation of violent crimes in our nation. There has thankfully been a reduction in attacks against women by their male partners but unfortunately that has been replaced in exponential fashion by an upsurge in robberies under arms accompanied by callous killings of the victims.

These used to be most prevalent in Georgetown but in the last year the phenomenon has spread all across the country. The most egregious recent examples have been the killing of the MultiPlex Mall owner Ganesh Ramlall on the West Coast of Demerara and the murder of the 77 year old pensioner Carmen Ganesh. Execution-style murders that have now become all too common in the country and the matter of fact accounts in this area by Sean Hinds, even if exaggerated, should give all Guyanese pause.

Entering our country as part of the drug trafficking culture, one fears that the grisly innovation may have percolated into the repertoire of those just desirous of settling “scores”. It is suspected that the murder of the Montrose pensioner could have been a paid “hit”. Guns and gunmen are now evidently readily available for hire. This recourse is simply an extension of the increasing proclivity of our people to escalate their difference of opinions from the verbal into the physical.

It is not surprising that there have been increased calls from several sections of the public for the National Security Minister and the police to increase their vigilance and their anti-crime activities to quell this upsurge of violence. Governments, after all, have been instituted by the people to deal with just this sort of contingency, among others. However, we would like to suggest that the irruption of violence across such a wide spectrum of strata and constituencies should give some pause to a focus solely on a law and order response to the problem.

Stable and successful societies remain as such not at the point of a gun or at the threat of incarceration. Citizens follow the rules, norms and laws of their society and country that were evolved for maintaining stability because they have been socialised to do so. What has been happening in our society is there has been an increased effort from a disgruntled section to undermine and corrode that socialisation process by trashing our rules and norms and suggesting violent responses to inevitable individual frustrations.

For almost two decades there has been one pretext or another to stir up tension and hatred that breaks out into violence. Who can forget the East Coast violence circa 20012008 that came out of a political strategy of “slow fyaah, mo fyaah”? Once the genie is let out of the bottle it is almost impossible to get it back in.

Such provoked anger and accompanying violence cannot be confined hermetically into “political” action alone. They percolate by osmosis into interpersonal relations among the general populace (spousal and family violence) and more directly into criminal activity. Even a cursory review of our history will reveal the stark correlation of heightened violence in our society with inflammatory rhetoric from opportunistic disgruntled political activists.

What we are proposing therefore, is that in addition to increased law and order preparedness – such as the recent introduction of a SWAT team - is that right-thinking members of our society have to reject the path to chaos proposed by the rabble rousers in our midst. They have to insist that violence and a flouting of our norms and rules – not to mention laws will not be tolerated.

We have seen the gradual degradation of the moral fibre of our nation since the introduction of political violence in the sixties. Not only has it threatened our survival as a state and nation but inevitably as individual persons.

Ramjattan misinforms Diaspora about rice export

Dear Editor,

It is reported in the media that Mr Khemraj Ramjattan, as a senior member of the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Cabinet and as a Vice President in Guyana, told the Diaspora that while there might be hiccups with Venezuela, the rice market is not in trouble. He failed to tell our sisters and brothers who live abroad that his Government so mismanaged the rice contract with Venezuela that the largest and most lucrative rice market for our farmers has virtually ended. Not a grain of paddy has been exported since the middle of May and that shipment was the last made under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP/C) Government.

Mr Ramjattan stated that the Government is building new markets in Portugal, Panama and Haiti. None of these are new markets for Guyana’s rice and pad-

dy. The new APNU/AFC Government, in fact, has done nothing to either sustain or enhance existing exports to these destinations.

As far as Panama is concerned, the previous PPP/C Government opened up this market and exported more than 56,000 tons through a Government-to-Government deal and through opening up the markets for direct Private Sector engagement. While we exported more than $US18 million worth of packaged rice to Panama through a Government-to-Government deal in 2014, there has been no shipment to Panama on this deal in 2015. There is potential for the Government and the private millers to export between 100,000 to 150,000 tons of rice to Panama, but nothing has been done by the APNU/AFC Government to assure this happens.

It is dishonest to say that the Government is building a new market in Portugal.

Portugal has been an export destination for Guyana’s cargo rice for a long time. While it is possible to expand that market, we must note that our Asian competitors in Portugal and Europe sell rice at prices sometimes 50 per cent of the prices Guyana offers to Portugal.

Haiti was a market that the PPP/C Government carefully nurtured from around 2001 to 2010. The earthquake placed a temporary stoppage to export to that country in 2010. At the time, more than 50,000 tons were being exported to Haiti. Indeed, SAG Mills in Mahaicony was established in collaboration with the PPP/C Government and Haitian investors to push the Haitian rice market. This was another of the Bharat Jagdeo initiated deal to catapult the rice industry. But after the earthquake with gifts of rice from the USA, the market was stopped.

Since 2012, we have reentered the Haitian mar-

ket. But the amount being shipped is slowly increasing and reached about 20,000 tons in 2014. The problem with this market is that we are in intense competition with Vietnam which sells rice at a substantially lower price than Guyana can afford to sell.

These are, therefore, not new markets that the present Government is building. These are markets the PPP/C developed and it is up to the new Government to further nurture and expand them. I am hopeful they will not cause these established markets to degenerate and implode like the Venezuelan market.

Mr Ramjattan did concede that these existing markets (which he told the Diaspora were new markets) offer prices markedly lower than the Venezuelan market.

Regards, Dr Leslie Ramsammy

Was the CSO programme cut to facilitate Ministerial pay hike?

Dear Editor, I am appealing to the Granger-led Government to quickly reinstate the Community Service Officers (CSOs) Programme in the Amerindian Communities of Guyana for the continuity of youth participation in the development of their communities. Prior to the abolishment of the CSOs Programme, the CSOs were actively involved in the development of their communities, assisting their respective Village and Community Councils in the execution of their multiple tasks. They were involved in capacity-building programmes and channelling their energies in the areas of

education, health, culture, village governance and leadership, information technology and in other area for village/ community development.

Now with the abolishment of the CSOs programme, some 2000 young Amerindians in 187 Amerindian communities and settlements have been denied and deprived of the opportunity to stay in the villages and contribute to social and economic development.

I am of the opinion that the Granger Government should have never abolished the Amerindian CSOs Programme but instead build on and perfected it for Amerindian Youth Development in Guyana. In this connection, while

President Granger is probably being poorly advised by the Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock, to abolish the CSOs Programme, it smacks of racial discrimination against the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana by the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change Government. Also, this is a blatant violation of the principle of Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), a violation of the Amerindian Act 2006, a violation of our national Constitution and a violation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Where is the voice of the Amerindian Peoples

Association (APA) in the condemnation of this offensive act by the Government against Guyana’s Indigenous Peoples? The APA is now voiceless for the Amerindian peoples of Guyana since it is now closely partnering in suppressing indigenous rights with the Government. But with the alleged 100 per cent increase in salaries for Guyana’s Vice Presidents (VPs) and 27 Ministers, can President Granger say if the Amerindian CSOs monies have now been reallocated to the pay hike of the Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister? Please let the Amerindians know.

Yours faithfully, Sonia Thomas

Freddie Kissoon must stop insulting his readers

Dear Editor,

Freddie Kissoon has once again disgraced himself and the newspaper for which he writes (of nothing substantial) as he insulted Guyanese, this time secretaries and security guards. Of secretaries and security guards, Kissoon stated: “In my long activism, some of the stupidest people I have met are secretaries and security personnel. It has to do with the nature of their job. They are perhaps the most regimented humans in daily life”.

I would not respond to the idiocies he published in this column as the ignorance of his work speaks for itself. Kissoon is far from the intellectual he would like us to believe he is, for the limits of HIS stupidity seems to be reaching unparalleled heights these days.

Kissoon seems to have developed a knack for unfounded and unconstructive criticism filled with a sense of bitterness, as he portrays a limited but aspiring intellect and a severe inferiority complex. He shows little respect for his own readers, and has nothing but criticisms to offer them.

Kissoon , however, should know that it is those very secretaries and security guards, the very people at the bottom, who contribute heavily to ensuring that the newspaper he writes for is the most read in the country.

For someone who taught Philosophy at the University of Guyana, Kissoon seems to have missed the most basic lesson: the one on Socratic arrogance. Socrates in his final words was perceived by many to be too arrogant though he was destined for the noose in Athens. Many believed that had he shown more humility in his final speech, he may have been saved. However, Socrates has offered the world vision and food for thought to ponder, which have transcended centuries of schools of thought. Kissoon on the other hand, is an enraged dog whose arrogance and pride compensate for his limited intellect, and were he in the place of Socrates, he would most likely have not been allowed a final speech. One would remember in Kissoon a bitter and sad individual, that is, if ever he is remembered.

Finally, Freddie Kissoon in each of his columns confuses concepts, none of which he masters. This time, he pretends to understand what the “human nature is like” just because of his “studies in philosophy”. I strongly suggest he leaves this to Psychologists, Sociologists and experts of understanding psyches and human behaviour.

In order to be a philosopher Mr Kissoon, one has to master the art of giving birth to ideas. I strongly suggest that you review your basics as a soi-disant philosophy teacher lest your own credentials be reviewed. I also suggest that you refrain from judging your readers through your personal experiences which serve no purpose but to reinforce your insults. Lastly, there is no point in flaunting an oversized ego when one has nothing to teach his readers, especially when lack of substance is compensated by 29 “I” referring to the first person, in the space of a basic newspaper column.

Sincerely, De Sà

Convicts of serious crimes should receive imposing penalties

Dear Editor,

Former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Cecil Kennard has chided a city Magistrate for imposing a light sentence on two youths ages 20 and 21 to a total of 150 hours community service after they were found guilty of robbing a business house of cellphones worth $8,968,000 on July 26 last year.

The maximum penalty for the offence charged is life imprisonment, and according to media reports, the presiding Magistrate was known to have imposed stiffer penalties on other persons found guilty for similar offences.

Chancellor Kennard, who was a Prosecutor for decades, and served as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Antigua, was a presiding Judge, Court of Appeal Judge and Head of the Judiciary, is peeved about the unreasonable penalty the Magistrate

imposed and suggested that the Prosecutor consult the DPP to consider appealing the decision.

This prompted me to research whether there are sentencing guidelines in Guyana for Judges and Magistrates to follow, and it is regrettable to state that there is none. In fact, Trinidad and Tobago is the only country in the Region that has sentencing guidelines.

There were discussions in the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) to introduce sentencing guidelines in the nine circuits of the ECSC. In fact, it should have started with the introduction of the Criminal Division of the ECSC, but it never got off the ground. The safeguard against that is usually by an appeal by the DPP where possible.

In Belize, the Chief Justice, Guyanese Kenneth

Benjamin is now compiling guidelines to usher in a plea bargaining type of process. In that Central American country, unlike other jurisdictions in the Caribbean Community, a single Judge can hear murder and attempted murder cases without a jury.

It is my view that presiding Judges and Magistrates should send a strong message to persons convicted of serious offences by imposing penalties fitting for the crimes they were charged and convicted.

Perhaps steps should be taken by the Chancellor and the Attorney General to take steps to work on sentencing guidelines which should be followed by presiding Judges and, as done in the United Kingdom and several other jurisdictions in the Commonwealth.

Sincerely, Oscar Ramjeet

Our Garden City needs more community parks and leisure spaces

Dear Editor, I commend President Granger and his Government for having contributed to the cleaning of our Garden City.

However, although Georgetown is often referred to as a Garden City, residents don’t get a good chance at enjoying its beauty. There are hardly any parks and play spaces one could go to on weekends or in the afternoons. Young people now adopting roller skating and skateboarding are forced to go to the seawall to practice. However, they become a nuisance to people who go there

just to relax. There are no community multipurpose buildings where young people could engage in healthy productive activities. Maybe, as the national budget has not yet been presented, community centres and parks can be catered for. The benefits of such investments would help to significantly reduce delinquent actions often committed by idle youth, and encourage healthy and dynamic activities for people of all ages and backgrounds. Leisure activities could become more sportive and allow us to enjoy the

There is a place for youth in nationbuilding and development

Dear Editor,

A recently released Caribbean Development Bank study pegs youth unemployment in Guyana at approximately 40 per cent. With approximately 60-65 per cent of the population 40 years and younger, this situation raises eyebrows. It says too that the Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Romatar Governments didn’t have a youth policy to address this crisis. This level of unemployment can result in crime, increased poverty, poor health, increased drug trade and reduction in life expectancy. It also contributes to brain drain, further depleting the nation of its most vital resource.Young people desire to make their own history and want to build Guyana while cooperating with their elders in doing so. They have ideas on how things can be done and since this is needed at the policymaking phase, having a seat at the table will make a difference. The general outlook of youth, especially those who are engaged, is to make a positive difference, to push new limits, set new boundaries, do things a little differently in order to realise new outcomes and growth.

This engagement comes with love for fellow citizens and dedication of energies towards the happiness and prosperity of Guyana. Though the young may have been told about or have listened to the ‘bad’ stories of 30 plus years ago, they are not necessarily wedded or interested in these stories in an unholy manner, because they have not ex-

perienced them personally.

History through the lens of youth is revisited with the desire to understand what made the former leader do what he did and is usually devoid of deep seated rancour. Youthful zeal isn’t impatience, unless impatience is caused by being tied to, and burdened by, a political past you were not responsible for, had no control over or played no part in. Our having to feel that your entire life will be wasted, tied down to marking time and settling old scores.Youth don’t want to be shackled by the past; they want to learn from the past, correct the mistakes and retain the positive of the past. Youth can see benefits in and learn from the mistakes from all leaders of the past and don’t want to have to feel forced to choose one over the other, or see good only in one and bad only in the other. The dead cannot be raised and there is no interest in jumbie politics. Young people are also not looking for handouts and sympathy. They believe a country is allowed to grow and is always better off with fresh ideas and young blood. In looking within and out of Guyana there are many persons who have shaped this world and have done so in their youth. Some are Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, Cheddie Jagan, Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow, Martin Luther King Jr, Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X, all of whom were in their 20s and 30s when they became involved in national issues and held the reins of Government. In ad-

dition to the urgent need for a Job Creation Plan that would aggressively pursue employment opportunities and an examination of the education system to ensure needed training for a competitive job market, it may be opportune to examine the establishment of a National Service. A National Service along the line where Guyanese are engaged in personal growth and nation building, through skills acquisition and application, populating the hinterland and reinforcing border security. Just what Guyana needs at this time. I am advised the military component in the Guyana National Service (GNS) was guided by a policy to have Guyanese equipped to deal with border threats and that the Service was also a mechanism for satisfying employment needs. Among those who were in the GNS and now leading successful lives are Second Lady Mrs Sita Nagamootoo, Messrs Joe Singh, Desmond Roberts and Gerry Gouveia. I am aware of an ugly perception of the Service and the unfortunate experiences shared. These can be examined and remedial policies put in place, but they do not give rise to throwing out the baby with the bath water. The ongoing Venezuela agitation also makes it pressing to review the necessity of such an institution which can simultaneously provide employment opportunities and reinforcement of our borders.

Respectfully, Sharma Solomon

beauty of Georgetown in open spaces. Also, this would encourage volunteering and humanitarian work within communities, by creating the spaces required for interpersonal exchanges and activities. This would also boost community spirit.

As budget time is coming up, I seize the opportunity to ask the Government to continue on its path of beautification of Georgetown and create the spaces our communities need.

Sincerely,

Marcia Braithwaite

Page Foundation

By Megan Maas, Ms

Talking with parents about sexuality and online safety, it seems as if everyone just wants to know what button to push or what software to buy to ensure their child never sees porn, never talks to strangers online, and never posts provocative pictures. So let me say this from the get-go: There is nothing you or any other parent can do to guarantee your child will never do anything potentially dangerous online. There are, however, steps parents can take to drastically reduce the probability that a child will develop problematic internet behaviours.

In general, your goal should be to first focus on becoming a reduced-tech family. Putting more emphasis on the real world and less emphasis on the digital realm can help children and teens put their value and energy into their real lives. It will lead to healthy use of the web – as a tool to connect with others and to learn about the world on an as-needed basis –instead of constantly trolling the cyber-sphere searching for the next thrill.

Here are 10 steps to get you and your family establish rules and practices for online safety: Get to know the technology, apps, and websites: So many parents I speak with don’t know how to

work apps, navigate a laptop, or turn on the Wii. Search YouTube for how-to videos and spend some time getting comfortable with the technology your child is using. You can also check out this App Guide for Parents, to fill you in on all the latest apps and how they work. Learn all about teens’ use of social media sites and other online behaviours. Hint: Facebook is old news.

Use existing privacy settings: Check the privacy and parental settings on all of your devices—desktop computers, laptops, phones, tablets, game consoles – and use them. Super savvy teens can bypass these if they work hard enough, but younger children can’t. And even older children may be deterred or at least slowed down by them. Filter and monitor: Parents will tell me that they talked to their child about the Internet, so they don’t need to install monitoring software. Wrong! No matter how much you trust your child, it is essential to install software that can monitor tablets and smart phones. Of course, there are ways for your child to get around these, which is why you need to continually check the devices and re-install the software as needed. Remember to be honest about your monitoring. Secretly recording a kid’s Internet usage will likely do more harm to the relationship than good for the child.

Talk to your children about digital citizenship: It’s important for your children to know that everything online is permanent. Everyone can see your “likes” and “favourites” as well as your comments on other photos, not to mention your own photos and videos. This permanency makes it important to consider your online reputation. Teens can start building a positive reputation online using LinkedIn and keeping all other social media profiles completely private. For example, most people keep their Twitter and Instagram profiles public and college admission committees will search applicants online and see those profiles. Encourage teens not to post sexy or wild photos of themselves, or at least not as a profile pic.

Limit technology use: Try to limit tech and screen time by providing windows of time for when it is allowed and when it is not. You can also try a tech curfew, such as no Internet after 7 or 8 pm. Some families have instituted rules banning tablet or smartphone usage from 5-7 pm., after which they allow a 30-minute window for responding to emails, messages, and texts, before having all devices turned off again at 7:30. There is also software which tracks time spent on Netflix, Facebook and games as well as applications like Microsoft Word and Excel,

which is another way to monitor time spent on a computer doing recreational activities vs homework activities. There is a new trend called “vamping”, where teens stay up all night on social media while their parents think they’re asleep. If this is the case in your home, you might have to disable the wireless router at night.

Keep internet devices in public places: It’s easy to sneak a peek at porn when at a friend’s house or even in your own living room. However, it is hard to watch hours of porn every day or to chat with a paedophile online if the only available devices are in the living room or den. So it’s a good idea to forbid laptops, tablets, or smartphones in bedrooms or bath-

rooms. They are not private devices, so they do not belong in private rooms. Here’s the catch: You should be rolemodelling this behaviour. Try to have a “home” for all your devices, such as a basket or cabinet (and consider locking them away if need be). This sends the message that these devices don’t belong to your child – they belong to you, the parent, and you are allowing your child to use the device, as long as it’s used responsibly.

Set rules with consequences. Digital behaviour should be thought of as an extension of the self or a representation of the self. If you wouldn’t do something in person, “in real life,” you probably shouldn’t be doing it online. Little children un-

derstand this better than big children who can think more abstractly and can rationalise their bad behaviour online. One way to get your children to think about their online behaviour is to have them sign a contract agreeing to the digital-behaviour rules you set and outlining consequences if the agreement is broken. You can find a sample contract here.

Gradually build autonomy: Your goal as a parent is to build autonomy within your child in almost every area: finances, emotions, social bonds, chores, and so much more. You want your child to be able to take care of himself or herself. The same is true for his or her cyberself. Trying to block and/or monitor everything or eliminate technology completely isn’t going to help your children regulate their digital behaviour once they leave your house. That said, children under 14 don’t really have the ability (developmentally) to regulate themselves, so blocking and/or monitoring as much as possible is essential. As they get older, you can expand their cyber freedom as they earn your trust.

Respect privacy ”This step is perhaps the most important one, because it sends the message that your monitoring efforts aren’t about stifling their privacy; they are about protecting your children. Respecting their privacy can include providing physical privacy (eg always knocking before entering their bedroom); providing a private diary or voice recorder for them to record their thoughts and desires; giving them access to sexual health websites (you may have to manually allow these if you are filtering their web use); providing them with books about bodies and sexuality for them to read on their own (and making clear you are available to answer questions); and allowing them to have private conversations with their friends on the phone. Fill in with fun: Now that you’ve carved out some time where everyone won’t be glued to their devices, fill in that time with fun activities. Model the behaviour you want to see in your children and the healthy attitude they should have toward technology and the Internet. Make your fun time together as creative and stress-free as possible to help ensure that they don’t shrug off the wonders of the real world and face-toface relationships in favour of what they are missing at that moment online. (empoweringparents.com)

CLICO financial crisis deepen... Guyanese policyholders may not get back monies – BoG Governor

By Alexis Rodney

Given the current financial status of the collapsed Colonial Life Insurance Company Limited (CLICO), there is a possibility that Guyanese policyholders may not get back their life savings which were transferred to the company’s Bahamian office.

Before the major collapse of CLICO in 2009, CLICO Guyana had invested close to US$40 million in CLICO Bahamas.

According to Guyana’s Central Bank Governor, Dr Gobind Ganga, in terms of beneficiaries, Guyana is “way down the ladder” nestled at category “D”. This being the case, according to Dr Ganga, it does not seem like Guyana would anytime soon be able to recover the monies invested since, like many other countries, it is still awaiting its day in court.

CLICO Guyana had transferred some US$36 million to CLICO Bahamas. And while the investments were said to be “liquid on paper”, investigations carried out revealed that the sum had been tied up in several investments, including real estate which CLICO Bahamas had in Florida through subsidiaries. When CLICO Bahamas was ordered liquidated on February 24, 2009, the local company was subsequently placed under judicial management.

Guyana was then forced to retain lawyers to help recover its money, some 53 per cent of the assets of CLICO Guyana. That matter was filed in the Bahamas court after the CLICO Bahamas’ liquidator “rejected” Guyana’s claims.

According to Ganga, it is obvious that Guyana’s case has been “put for last”, on the list of cases filed by other Caribbean countries against the group. Suriname is one such country, claiming a US$15.5 million from CLICO Bahamas. Guyana’s case is being represented by an esteemed lawyer, John Wilson of McKinney Bancroft & Hughes.

CL Financial collapsed in January 2009, following the global financial crisis in 2008. The global recession exposed the company’s inability to meet its commitments to pay maturing investments at CLICO and CLICO Investment Bank (CIB).

Zooming in on the gravity of the situation, it was pointed out that just last month, Bahamian policyholders held a massive protest, demanding from Government there their US$30 million payout.

The insolvent insurer’s policyholders and pensioners have been left in ‘financial limbo’ since early 2009, unable to access their life savings and long-term investments until they are acquired by another underwriter.

But the transfer/acquisition of CLICO Bahamas policy portfolio will not happen until the Government there delivers on its long-promised US$30 million guarantee to underwrite such a deal, as all potential buyers have said they will not conclude a purchase without it. As a result, the 13,000-plus long-suffering policyholders are unable to move on with their lives.

The CLICO Bahamas situation is now threatening to become an ever-increasing political liability for the Christie Administration, es-

pecially given the families and votes bound up with the 13,000 policyholders.

The issue received additional publicity from Dr Andre Rollins, the maverick Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Member of Parliament, recently, while Bishop Simeon Hall, a CLICO Bahamas policyholder and former member of its creditors committee, has been leading the call for the Government to provide the long-awaited guarantee. The senior clergyman held a meeting with policyholders on Tuesday over the issue.

At the end of June 2012, CLICO Bahamas’s portfolio contained 13,835 policies with a total surrender value of US$20.074 million and cumulative sum assured of US$1.093 billion.

Its balance sheet showed a solvency deficiency of US$22.162 million at June 30, 2012, with total assets worth US$44.794 million outmatched by liabilities totalling US$66.956 million.

Police to launch Suicide Prevention Hotline today

In efforts to combat the societal scourge of suicide, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will be launching its Inter-Agency Suicide Prevention Hotline today that will see ranks tending to persons who may feel the need to harm themselves.

After months of training and work to have the suicide prevention hotline on stream, the initiative comes on stream at the Police Officers’ Training Centre, Camp Road, Georgetown. This project has been in the works for several months.

During a GPF event held two weeks ago, Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud, in addressing the gathering, had pointed out that suicide rates in Guyana are as significant as murder and fatal accident rates. Therefore, he stated, it is a huge problems that was not given the same urgency and attention as murders and fatal accidents.

“So the intention here is to have these hotlines with Police ranks who are trained to answer them…so whenever a depressed person calls in, there is someone who is trained who will answer that call, engage that depressed person,” he noted.

According to Persaud,

while that is happening, simultaneously ranks from the Police Station closest to where the caller is from will be alerted to activate a process. “They will go pick up a counsellor, either from the Ministry of Social Cohesion or a member of the faithbased organisation and take them to the location...they will take over the case and work with that person until he/she is ready to engage society again,” he added.

“We believe that even if we save one life, we would have achievement and, therefore, our encouragement, our motivation to move with (this) project,” the Police Commission declared.

Furthermore, the Top Cop disclosed that he has had discussions with the Public Security Minister with regard to legislation that will enforce control of access to pesticides and weedicides. He outlined that these chemicals are “probably the largest means” by which persons commit suicide hence the need to monitor their availability.

Persaud outlined that these are a few of a combination of measures intended to address the high rate of suicide in Guyana. He went on to say that in addition to the Social Cohesion Ministry, the Police Force is also collaborating with the Health Ministry to execute this project. He noted that several doctors had provided training sessions to ranks as well as the faithbased members who will be involved in this initiative.

In a report issued in September last year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) listed Guyana as the country with the highest estimated suicide rate for 2012. Suriname was named the sixth-highest.

This matter was examined during the 60th Caribbean Public Health Agency Research Conference held last year.

thursday, august 6, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Psychiatric patient steals car while owner was inside

– escaped from Psychiatric Hospital

Atwenty-fouryear-old patient of the National Psychiatric Hospital was on Wednesday placed before Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with stealing a car while the owner was in the driver’s seat.

Raymond Samaroo, a minibus driver, of 20 Owen Street, Kitty, Georgetown, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which read that on Monday, August 3 at 35 Garnett Street, Campbellville, he stole one Honda CRV motorcar valued $5 million, one Samsung cellular phone valued $25,000 and $30,000 cash; all to a total value of $5,055,000 property of the Virtual Complainant (VC), Rhonda Joaquin.

forcing her to exit, and drove off with it.

The court was also informed that the accused subsequently drove through two Police road blocks, nearly injuring two officers in the process. The Prosecutor also revealed that the accused has a pending matter of a similar nature before Court Five.

Attorney Clyde Forde made an application for bail stating that his client suffers from a mental disease and could not be held accountable for his actions as he suffers from Delusions and Amnesia.

Who's minding...

...sugar?

According to Police Prosecutor, Corporal Deniro Jones, on the day in question, the VC was parked in front of her yard and was about to exit the vehicle when the accused rushed into the vehicle,

The court heard that Samaroo was charged for stealing a 4 Runner in a similar manner while the driver was purchasing a meal at a Chinese restaurant. It was while he was on bail for that charge that he committed the offence.

The Prosecutor objected to bail on these grounds, adding that the accused gave the Police a varying address from the one that he gave the court.

The Attorney presented a certificate which declared that his client is indeed a patient of the Psychiatric Hospital and requested that he be placed on bail so that he could receive his monthly treatment.

Upon further inquiry, Magistrate Ann McLennan discovered that the accused had escaped from the Psychiatric Hospital in Berbice. After making this discovery, she remanded the accused to prison until he is returned to the Hospital and adjourned the matter until August 20.

Meadow Brook man charged for armed robbery

... matter to be tried in the High Court

Ayoung man on Wednesday appeared before Magistrate Ann McLennan in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with armed robbery.

CheddiJagan and Eric Williams both used the phrase "Bitter Sugar" to get people's attention. They were both looking at the social consequences of this product - the raison d'être for our existence. Today, sugar is bitter because we just can't produce it at a price to make a profit. The more sugar we produce, the more money we lose! Very bitter!

But what exactly happened? That Scotsman Robert Burns said it best when he pointed out that sometimes, "the best laid plans of mice and men can go awry". Pedants will say that Burns never said "awry" but we know what to do with such people, don't we? Anyhow, as far back as 1998, those in charge of GuySuCo knew that "a change was gonna come" in sugar. And they made a plan to deal with it.

At that time, the efficient Berbice factories like Albion were producing sugar at US 8 cents per pound while the best the Demerara plantations could do was THREE times that cost! So the plan was to expand production in Berbice, while gradually phasing out Demerara's. While the world market price for sugar would fluctuate up and down, it had a base of $US 12 cents per pound. This was the base price for the sugar substitute HFCS - used in soft drinks and suchlike - and which the US can churn out at will.

The Magistrate asked the accused whether he would like the matter to be tried in the High Court where he could be faced with a harsher penalty if found guilty or in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The accused requested that the matter be transferred to the High Court.

Police Prosecutor

Peter George, 20, of 103 Meadow Brook Gardens, Greater Georgetown was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on Saturday, August 1, at East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, while being armed with a dangerous weapon, that is a gun, he robbed Elena Garraway of $60,000; the property of Christopher John.

Corporal Deniro Jones objected to bail citing the nature and gravity of the offence, while highlighting that an alleged firearm was used in committing the offence. The Magistrate refused bail and the accused was remanded to prison. The matter was transferred to the High Court for August 20.

Earlier in the year, the accused was brought before the court along with several others charged with unlawful wounding and assault.

And so the Skeldon Factory was decided on to get Guyana's sugar produced at a cost that'd make a profit in even the "residual ", usually dirt cheap, world market. Well, everyone knows that the Chinese-built factory hasn't performed and we need to make a decision on it. Why Chinese? Folks seems to forget that the Chinese were the largest funder of the project and this is how these things operate. Wasn't it the US company BB McCormick & Sons that built the Soesdyke Linden Highway with funds from the States? And at that time, wasn't the U.S.$17 million (now worth over US$100 million) the single largest investment in Guyana?

Now even Jagdeo who played a lead role in the SkeldonModernisation concedes that a decision has to be made with the factory. But what's disheartening is that the administration seems more interested in pointing fingers of blame (of course only when it concerns the past administration) rather than making decisions to fix or improve problematic areas.

Sugar isn't sweet right now...but if the industry continues to be used as political football, it'll be bitter to the end.

...the economy

The economy's clearly in a free fall - with no parachute in sight - much less an engine to provide some reverse thrust. There's the aforementioned sugar woes, the much commented on rice crash with the cancellation of the Venezuelan market and the plunge in gold prices. So you'd think if there were anyone in charge of the economy, they'd be using some tools at the Government's disposal to get things back on track, no?

No! No...There’s clearly no one in charge. And no, the tools are actually being used to make things worse. Rather than give the public servants their raise - which they'll plunge directly back into the economy on consumables - they're giving their "fat cats" fat salary increases that'll be put away in their fat bank accounts. What else do you expect Prime Minister Nagamootoo to do with that $200,000 raise he's getting on top of the $2 million he already draws?

And now the Government takes out $60 billion out of the commercial banks - at a time when we need incentives for easy credit to businesses!

With no parachute, there's a rough landing ahead!

...crime

Now some might think your Eyewitness is picking on Ramjattan. But hey! He lobbied for and got the National Security Ministry - not to mention the VP spot.

So could he tell us what's he doing to earn his monthly millions?

Govt commits to increasing School Uniform Voucher

Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine said Government will not be heeding to the recommendation that the School Uniform Voucher be bumped up to $15,000 per child, but maintained that there will be an increase.

Last week, the NonGovernmental Organisation (NGO) Red Thread had suggested that since the new Government had scrapped the “Because we Care” $10,000 cash grant, it should instead spruce up the School Uniform Voucher, which for years has been at $1500 per child to $15,000.

Red Thread’s contention was that the $1500 offered was simply insufficient and could not adequately assist a family in preparing a single child to return to school.

“We appreciate the reported commitment of Government to continue the School Uniform Voucher Programme and its promise to consider increasing the amount. We would like the amount per voucher to be increased from the present sum of $1500 to at least $15,000,” the organisation said in a media release.

Speaking to Guyana Times on Monday, Education Minister, Dr Rupert Roopnaraine said “I don’t think that it feasible. We are going to raise the Uniform Voucher, but we are still in discussion about that, on how much we are going to raise it... it will certainly not be to the extent to what they are calling for”. Roopnaraine explained that what Government intends to do is to apply the $10,000 not just for the uniform, but

also to the school feeding programme.

“We would like to extend the feeding programme and have more children benefit from school feeding than has been previously benefited. So the $10,000 would be applied to increase in uniform voucher and school feeding programme”.

Red Thread listed the current prices for school attire as: skirts $900-$1700; shirts $1500-$2000; long pants $3000 up (the bigger the size, the more you pay); bags $3500-$4000; a pair of shoes $3500 and a pair of socks $300. That amounts to an estimated total of $12,700-$14,500 to purchase a single uniform to send one child back to school.

“These are very basic (and of course cheap and inferior) items and there is still the need for us to deal with the cost of stationery, textbooks, transportation, lessons fees, assignments and projects, plus other contributions demanded by schools,” the organisation pointed out.

In addition, the NGO noted that there were some

issues with regard to using the voucher. “The voucher is used to purchase different school items, readymade pieces of the uniform, uniform materials or stationery. Depending on what we buy, if the item costs less than the voucher amount, we have to take something else even if we don’t need it. We also have to pay the difference if the balance on the voucher is not sufficient to cover the cost of the extra item taken,” the organisation explained.

As such, Red Thread recommended that there be an increased voucher and arrangements in place so that if there was a balance, it should be given to the customer in cash so she/he was not forced to make an unnecessary purchase.

Moreover, Red Thread said it was in strong agreement with recommendations made by other officials concerning breakfast for schoolchildren as many of them attend school in the morning without having a meal.

“In 2001 to 2011 when Red Thread organised a literacy programme for schoolchildren at our centre, we were forced to provide a meal at each session after one child told us he couldn’t focus on the work because he was hungry and we realised that this was a widespread problem,” it pointed out.

Red Thread said that these little adjustments would help to ease the “already heavy burden” on grassroots parents, especially single parents. As such, it is calling on the Government to consider these recommendations.

Police to train youths in crime prevention

In keeping with the Police Force’s Social Crime Prevention Initiative which is on stream in all the divisions with particular focus on youths of the various communities, aimed at strengthening the Policecommunity relationship, F Division (Interior locations) launched a three-week community project at Itaballi, Mazaruni, Region Seven.

The project was launched by Divisional Commander,

Senior Superintendent Ravindradat Budhram in the community on Sunday last. It involves 64 youths between the ages of seven and 17 who are attached to the Purple Heart Police Youth Group. The Police will be assisted in the venture by facilitators from the community, and it is intended to engage the youths in skills training, crafts, sports, and educational talks on topics

Man found with ice-pick released after warning

Aman who was caught with an icepick was warned then summarily dismissed at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he was charged for having the offensive weapon on his person.

Kelvaugh Miles, from 1047 Sophia, Greater Georgetown, was allowed to walk out of Court 10 a free man after he told Magistrate Alex Moore that he will not walk with an offensive weapon on his person again.

The accused had been charged with carrying an ice-pick when he was apprehended by Police on August 3 with the sharp edged tool on the Avenue of the

Republic, in Georgetown. He had explained in court that the weapon was for his protection, though he admitted to never being in any kind of altercation in his life.

Miles was also charged for behaving disorderly. The Police report stated that after he was arrested and taken to the Brickdam Police Station, he got agitated and let loose a string of expletives. He was asked to restrain himself but his behaviour continued.

Magistrate Alex Moore, who presides in Court 10, heard his explanation and discharged him after reprimanded him for the offences.

Fuel businessmen remanded for theft

Two businessmen were remanded to jail on Monday when they made their first appearance in Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer theft charges.

Levi and Aadion Boyers of Three Boat Village in Mabaruma, North West District told the court that they were not guilty of breaking into the home of Jonathan Hudson on July 31. They said that they did not steal a wooden boat valued $600,000 nor a Yamaha engine valued $3,600,000.

The charge was deemed indictable thus the men were given the option to have their case tried at the Magistrate’s Court or the High Court, where the penalty is steeper. They opted for the former, and pleaded not

guilty.

Their attorney, Peter Hugh made an application for reasonable bail, stating that his clients were not flight risks. He said they have not been in jail previously and both have been in the business of selling fuel. He stressed that the stolen items were not found when the defendant’s premises were searched.

Prosecutor Deniro Jones objected to bail based on the gravity of the charge. Also he stated that the men had given a different address to the Police than the one they provided in court on Monday.

Magistrate Ann McLennan transferred the matter to the Maburama Magistrate’s Court for August 17.

Taxi Drivers spared for Avenue of the Republic brawl

Two Taxi Drivers called their case to a halt on Wednesday after remembering the solidity of their friendship in Court 10 of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Michael Skeete, age 36, of 36 John Street, Lodge, Georgetown; and Jimmy Hendricks, age 32, of 33 Lying and Howes Street, Charlestown, were obliged to appear before Magistrate Alex Moore on Wednesday to answer charges of unlawful and malicious assault. However, after talking through their problems, the men left the court quite amicably.

In Court 10, Guyana Times heard that on July 27, Hendricks unlawfully and maliciously wounded Michael Skeete. He

had hit him with a cutlass. For Skeete, the charge was quite similar as he was accused of assaulting Hendricks with intention of causing actual bodily harm. He hit Hendricks with a chair.

Both men pleaded guilty to the charges. They said they were teased by each other during a discussion they had on “antimen” but expressed their belief that their friendship was of greater value than the issue at hand as they have been working together for some time now.

Thus, both Hendricks and Skeete refused to offer evidence against each other. The matter was thus dismissed against both parties.

Asuch as health issues, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, child abuse and conflict resolution.

Additionally, the Division recently established another Youth Group at Baramita, North West District (NWD) that comprises 34 youths. The business community at Baramita has already extended its support with donations of sports gear that included footballs, bats and softballs to the group.

young man was on Wednesday placed before Court Two of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with simple larceny.

The 17-year-old who hails from Charlestown, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on Monday, August 3 at Robb Street, Bourda, Georgetown, in the Georgetown Magisterial District, in the county of Demerara, he stole one iPhone 4S Smartphone valued at $120,000, property of Karen Jones.

The Magistrate asked the accused whether he would like the matter to be tried in the High Court where he could be faced with a harsher penalty if found

guilty or in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts. The accused requested that the matter remain at the Magistrates’ Courts

The teenager told the Magistrate that he recently wrote the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate Examination and is looking for a job.

Police Prosecutor Corporal Deniro Jones made no objection to bail, informing the Court that the item was recovered after the teen admitted to selling it under the Stabroek Market clock for $5000. The Magistrate granted bail in the sum of $75,000 on the condition that the accused report to the Alberttown Police Station every Friday at 07:30h. The matter will return to court on August 18.

PPP condemns APNU/AFC proposed salary increases for Ministers, MPs

The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has called out the David Granger-led A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) Government on its double standards as it relates to the appropriation of benefits for Cabinet Members.

In a press release, the Party stated, “it has taken note of the duplicity and tongue-in-cheek “explanation” offered by the Grangerled Government in connection with the scandalous pay hikes for Prime Ministers, Vice Presidents and Ministers of Government.

These sentiments come after Finance Minister Winston Jordan made a proposal that Cabinet consider a salary increase for not only Ministers of Government but Advisers as well as Members of Parliament (MP). The PPP stated that it has taken note of the “staunch defence” on this monstrous increase by sections of the media as opposed to the reaction that would have been garnered had the PPP proposed such an increase.

The Party made reference to one of the first acts of the APNU+AFC coalition

Government in the National Assembly where it used its majority to reduce the benefits of former Presidents who served minimally three years.

While a hue and cry was created over the former Presidents’ pension which the APNU+AFC Government declared to be outrageous, no question is being raised over the proposed increase of Government salaries for these Ministers who have not spent four months in office.

These increases would see the country’s treasury being depleted by $245 mil-

lion annually and the PPP says that this will have a long-term effect, stating “… they have raised their salaries which will have a major impact on the treasury not only now but forever as pensions are tied to salaries”.

According to the Party, the pension of an APNU+AFC Minister after five years would be equivalent to what a PPP Minister would have received after serving for 12 years and if the current Administration’s MPs were in the Parliament for a minimum of seven years preceding their appointment as Ministers , it would be more than double that amount. This point was made in full retrospect of the APNU+AFC’s ‘small’ Government promise in their Manifesto where they stated that there would be a maximum of 15 Ministers.

The Party also highlighted the recent move by the Government to terminate the “Because We care” $10,000 per child voucher, stating that it is “fiscally sustainable for any economy”. This, along with it rendering more than 2000 Amerindian youths jobless and putting rice farmers on the breadline have raised

serious questions about the Government’s ability to maintain their promises while on the campaign trail. “In this hard guava season, the APNU+AFC fat cats are having caviar. That is callousness of the high-

est order,” the Party stated. It was also noted that during the PPP/C’s tenure, the APNU+AFC had accused it of having Minister’s travels being paid for privately, and in this regard, it is calling for the Granger

Administration to state publicly who are the financers of their private visits and what is the quid pro quo as the new Government claims to be a champion of transparency and accountability.

Oil prices slump below US$50 a barrel yet fuel prices soar

World-market prices for crude oil have slumped to below US$50 a barrel, a level it has held above for the past six months.

And as international prices for oil continue to tumble, fuel prices in Guyana continue to soar.

Minister of Governance and Patrimony, Raphael Trotman indicated on Wednesday that Government would consider slashing the prices for fuel at the Guyoil Gas Stations if the trend continues.

Experts already predict that there will be a steady decline in prices for oil until year-end.

As the price for oil continued to dip lower and lower in early January, gas stations across the country, amid public pressure, significantly slashed the local prices for fuel by some 30 per cent.

However, this turned out to be a fleeting experience for consumers as prices began to slowly increase in mid-March.

International oil prices began to climb around May, but drastically fell again in July. Since then, prices have been fluctuating, although there have been no major increases or decreases until they crashed to below US$50 a barrel on August 4.

But with oil prices this low, Guyanese have not been benefiting from cheaper fuel.

In fact, the prices for fuel at the various gas stations are higher than they were in March.

At Guyoil Gas Stations, the price for gasoline per li-

tre stands at $210 compared to $179.3 in March, while for diesel, the cost remains stable at $174.7 per litre. However, when the price was slashed in January, the cost was $152.9 per litre for gasoline and $152.7 per litre for diesel.

At Shell Gas Stations, the prices are currently $229 per litre of gasoline and $188.5 per litre of diesel. In March, the price per litre of gasoline was $194 compared to $154.9 in January (when

Reuters report that US oil giant ExxonMobil registered a steep decline in revenue and profits last quarter, as compared to the same period one year ago. Amid the crisis in this industry, analysts believe that many oil exploration companies will be cutting back on their spending.

Reuters reported that some producers have already cut back drilling by 60 per cent or more. It is unclear whether ExxonMobil

Analysts believe that many oil exploration companies will be cutting back on

prices were slashed) and the price per litre of diesel was $176.6 compared to $156.9 in January.

At the Rubis Gas Stations, the price currently stands at $225.9 per litre for gasoline and $187.9 per litre for diesel.

Prices are expected to remain depressed in the coming months amid a weakening Chinese economy and the prospect of Iranian oil further flooding the market.

ExxonMobil Meanwhile, BBC and

will too be cutting back on its expenses.

Recently, ExxonMobil confirmed that its oil rig, the Deepwater Champion, left the waters offshore the Essequibo where it was drilling and was now anchored in the Gulf of Mexico.

Country Manager Jeff Simons explained that the reason the vessel departed was because it had completed its course of operation. He stated that a vessel is expected to return in early 2016 to commence another period of drilling.

Ramsammy says APNU/AFC killing rice industry

Former Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, is discrediting the claims made by Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan that while there might be “hiccups” with Venezuela, the rice market is not in trouble. According to Dr Ramsammy, while the Vice President stated this to the Diaspora, he failed to explain that his Government “so mismanaged” the rice contract with Venezuela causing the largest and most lucrative rice market for Guyanese farmers to virtually end.

“Not a grain of paddy has been exported since the middle of May (2015) and that shipment was the last made under the [People’s Progressive Party/Civic] PPP/C Government. Mr Ramjattan stated that the Government is building new markets in Portugal, Panama and Haiti. None of these are new markets for Guyana’s rice and paddy,” the former Agriculture Minister said.

He emphasised that the new A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government has “done nothing” to either sustain or enhance existing exports to these destinations. It was noted that there was potential for the Government and the private millers to export between 100,000 to 150,000 tonnes of rice to Panama but nothing has been done by the Administration to assure this happens.

“As far as Panama is concerned, the previous PPP/C Government opened up this market and exported more than 56,000 tonnes through a Governmentto-Government deal and through opening up the markets for direct Private Sector engagement. While we exported more than US$18 million worth of packaged rice to Panama through a Government-toGovernment deal in 2014, there has been no shipment to Panama on this deal in 2015.

Also, it is dishonest to

say that the Government is building a new market in Portugal, since Portugal has been an export destination for Guyana’s cargo rice for a long time,” Dr Ramsammy explained.

Guyana Times was told that while it is possible to expand that market it should be noted that the country’s Asian competitors in Portugal and Europe sell rice at prices sometimes 50 per cent of the prices Guyana offers to Portugal.

“Carefully nurtured”

It was further explained that Haiti was a market which the PPP/C “carefully nurtured” from around 2001 to 2010. The earthquake in the French-speaking country had placed a temporary stoppage on Guyanese exports to Haiti in 2010.

“At the time, more than 50,000 tonnes were being exported to Haiti. Indeed, SAG Mills in Mahaicony was established in collaboration with the PPP/C Government and Haitian investors to push the Haitian rice market. This was another one of the Bharrat Jagdeo initiated deals to catapult the rice industry, but after the earthquake with gifts of rice from the USA, the market was stopped.”

Dr Ramsammy posited that since 2012, Guyana had re-entered the Haitian market and the amount of rice being shipped out was slowly increasing; reaching about 20,000 tonnes in 2014.

Guyana Times was also told that the problem with this market is that Guyana was in intense competition with Vietnam which sells rice at a substantially lower price than Guyana can afford to sell.

“These are, therefore, not new markets that the present Government is building. These are markets that the PPP/C developed and it is up to the new Government to further nurture and expand them. I am hopeful they will not cause these established markets

One-man protest staged outside Venezuelan Embassy

to degenerate and implode like the Venezuelan market,” the former Agriculture Minister said.

Dr Ramsammy added that Vice President Ramjattan did concede that these existing markets (which he told the Diaspora were new markets) offer prices markedly lower than the Venezuelan market.

Only last month, President David Granger, during his address to farmers and millers at the National Rice Industry Conference, said while the local rice industry was currently facing many challenges, it is not in crisis.

The President had urged stakeholders not to believe that it was on the verge of collapsing.

“Rice is not in crisis! We do have challenges yes, but we must disabuse ourselves of the view that the industry is at the point of collapsing. It does face challenges because of years of neglect, institutional decay and some bad decisions, but we must make those challenges into opportunities for change,” he had stated.

Aone-man protest was staged in front of the Venezuelan Embassy on Wednesday by Guyanese socio-political activist Dennis Atwell against the illegal decree issued by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro which threatens Guyana’s territorial integrity and maritime sovereignty.

This is not the first time Atwell is publicly exercising his disgust with Maduro’s contentions.

As a matter of fact he has been protesting for a number of weeks now and he has braved the inclement weather on many occasions because he claims this matter should not be taken lightly.

Atwell went on to describe the claims as disgusting, disturbing, unacceptable and ridiculous. He also said that Maduro should withdraw the decree and allow Guyana and Venezuela to live in peace and harmony. He said he wanted Maduro to be more like his country’s late president Hugo Chávez and fight to keep the peace between the two nations. Atwell also called for the reinstatement of the PetroCaribe deal that saw Guyana bartering rice for oil from the neighbouring nation.

He said the David Granger Administration must invest in educating the Guyanese people about the

relationship between the two nations. He added that the Venezuelan Government has always taught its school-aged children that Essequibo is a part of their country and he believes that Guyana needs to teach their youths the total opposite.

The Essequibian native wants the government to set up an “Essequibo Institute of Research” where young people will have access to information about the county’s history, its wealth, the history of the border controversy and other issues concerning to the Cinderella County. Atwell’s plan is to continue protesting until the decree is completely withdrawn.

thursday, august 6, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Daring Corentyne robbery

Bandits rob Public Security Minister’s former home

– douse woman with kero before shoot-out with Police

It was a movie-style operation as eight heavily armed bandits violently entered the home in which Public Security Minister and Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan was born and raised at Number 48 Village, Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) early Wednesday morning.

The village was almost asleep as a power outage had forced residents to turn in early when the incident occurred. A sound similar to that of a speedboat engine in operation caused residents to pull their window curtains aside to investigate.

Four men, armed with guns, were on the shed of rice farmer and rice mill operator Tagraj Tulshi.

They were using a chainsaw to cut a hole into the side of the 38-year-old farmer’s home.

Before the hole was com-

plete, gunshots started to ring out. Two other men, also armed with guns, stood guard next to the house and at the entrance to the street, there were two more men heavily armed. In less than two minutes a hole to accommodate an averagesized person was opened and the four men on the roof entered the house. At the time, six persons were at home including Tulshi’s three children ages 12, 8 and 4; his wife, Indranie Takean, 32, and his mother-in-law.

The men demanded money, jewellery and other valuables, but had difficulty moving around in the dark house. The eldest child, a girl, was hit with a gun as the children made the bandits’ job more difficult for them by distracting them.

Reports are that the bandits were taken to a room and shown a computer, but they did not want that. One

of the children also brought a quantity of $20 bills in response to a request for money.

Not getting what they desired, one of the four men who were all unmasked took a bottle of kerosene which they had brought and poured it over Takean, threatening to ignite her if she did not hand over money. The demands were met and $100,000 was

which had two huge bullet holes in the side.

As the Police were in pursuit of those two gunmen , the other two who had stood guard near to the house made good their escape via the sea coast.

Police were unaware that there were four men still in the house. When the Police gave chase behind the two men into the backdam, the four men who

Keeping it real

Social Media can be dangerous for politicians

Iscrounged up and handed over as the mother of three said that it was all that she had.

Meanwhile, ranks of a Police mobile patrol responded to the report received about the incident in progress. On approaching the scene, they came under fire from the two men who were on the lookout on the Corentyne Highway. The Police returned fire in a heated exchange. The two men managed to escape into the backlands, but not before damaging the Police vehicle.

This publication was shown the Police vehicle,

were in the house opened the front door and left heading towards the seaside.

The entire incident lasted about 20 minutes. Residents say that during the ordeal, shots were fired in the directions of their homes and they also received threats.

No arrests have been made as yet, as the investigation continues.

Up to press time, the Guyana Times was unable to get a response from the Public Security Minister on the savaging of his childhood home and the occupants who are said to be his relatives.

Man confesses to seaman’s murder – Police hunt second suspect

Almost one week after the decomposed body of 37-year-old Davonan Sookram, a seaman of Philadelphia, West Coast Demerara was found in a clump of buses at Ruby Backdam entrance, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) with a bullet wound to his chest, one of the murder suspects has confessed to the crime. This was confirmed by Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum who also disclosed that the Police are hunting for a second suspect involved in the murder. The suspect reportedly told Police ranks that he and an accomplice went to collect the seaman at his home since they had some unfinished business to tend to. He claimed that on their way to Parika, the second suspect pulled out a gun and shot the man killing him instantly. As a means of getting rid of the body, the two men then disposed on the body at the entrance of Ruby Backdam, EBE. The vehicle, Guyana Times understands was subsequently impounded and several pieces of materials were collected and sent for DNA testing.

handed. It was until August 1, the decomposed body of the fisher man was found.

The body was positively identified by his wife and other relatives since he was clad in the same clothes he left home on the day he went missing. Detectives have come in for praises as they continue to work in solving murder cases despite challenges. From reports received, they followed every possible lead that was at their disposal and were successful.

The seaman left home on July 27 and after days passed with no contact made with the man, his wife made a missing person’s report to the Police. The relatives also formed several search parties but came up empty

Two days prior to the gruesome discovery of Sookram, the body of 76-year-old Henry Lalman, of Number 55 Village Corentyne, Berbice, was found in a shallow grave in

Skeldon. He also went missing on July 27.

Based on information received, the now dead man and a customer had an argument over old grievances involving money owed to him. Lalman reportedly threatened to inform the suspect’s father about the money which might have triggered an altercation.

This publication understands that the suspect in this incident, whose name was given as Asif Hamid, had subsequently confessed to Police that during the altercation he strangled the pensioner and then dumped his body in a shallow grave. He then used a portion of a zinc sheet to cover the hole.

n 1968, the United States Defense Department contracted a company called Bolt Beranek and Newman (BBN) to create an effective modern communication system. In 1971, a computer engineer at BBN, Ray Tomlinson, was able to send an electronic message from one computer to another. Thus, the internet, the vessel for social media, was born. Imagine a student at UG conducting research on the origin of the Devonshire Castle revolt and riots of 1872 in Essequibo or a study of land rights of the indigenous Akawaio people of the Essequibo. Imagine also that all of this information is available electronically (textbooks are becoming obsolete) for people to download or read instantly. This would be a tremendous achievement for mankind.

The internet opens up a whole new world to people who have access to computers and cell phones. Tens of millions of email-enabled devices are in use every second of every single day. Email remains the most popular application, with over a billion and a half users communicating across the traditional barriers of time and space adding new meaning to the concept of time-space compression and the notion that the world is a small village. A friend of mine, sitting at home, was able to use his cell phone to remotely connect to the cameras in his place of business. What he saw shocked him – one of his trusted employees was stealing a laptop. Today people post their pictures on Instagram, use Facebook to share and update their information and twitter can be used to “follow” people. They are part of “social media”. Social media and the internet have the potential to create misery for some people. I am not referring to the child predator, the high school bully or the terrorist. These people lurk in the dark underworld of the internet. But here are some examples from the more open flow of communication offered by social media. A popular businessman, Donald Trump, who wants to be the US Republican presidential candidate, fired one of his political advisors for posting racist messages on Facebook. He said President Obama was a “Socialist Marxist Islamo Fascist Nazi Appeaser” and described Obama’s 2009 inauguration as a “hip hop inaugural ball.” In his defense, Trump’s advisor claims to be a novice in the use of social media but his firing was “effective immediately”. Then there is the case of a dentist, Walter Palmer, who paid more than US20, 000 to track and kill a rare lion specie named Cecil in Zimbabwe.

We have our fair share of more than a few cases in our midst where social media has been abuzz with soundbites and pictures of politicians caught in compromised positions in Guyana. There is the alleged conversation between then former top cop Winston Felix and APNU’s executive Basil Williams regarding the Agricola murders, the national elections, Ronald Waddell’s execution and about planting drugs. Both individuals refused to address the content of the tape though it has gone viral on youtube.com. Of course, we have the serious pedophile accusations made against former House Speaker Raphael Trotman by Anthony Welshman, though nothing came of it.

Let’s not forget the taped recording of Dr. Bheri Ramsarran in his now famous encounter with Sherlina Nageer and the picture of Ramsarran standing on the street as if he was going to a pajama party. Then there is the tape recording of Anil Nandlall in his conversation with a staff writer at Kaieteur News. One wonders why he’s still on the PPP parliamentary list don’t have the decency to recuse themselves. Nandlall was seen as a rising star in the PPP, but the PPP should have cut him loose a long time ago. Let’s not forget Rohee’s unceremonial ink-stained middle finger directing our attention to the moon on Election Day. And yes, there are the undignified “dancing” pictures of our last two presidents. And hey, who could forget Granger and Nagamootoo, hands on their chest, swaying to the beat of kumbaya on stage during the election campaign –one would think theirs was a marriage made in heaven.

Be careful with what you post online – it stays there forever.

Dr Baytoram Ramharack is an Associate Professor of Political Science (adj) at Nassau Community College. Send comments to BRamharack60@gmail.com

Confirmed officials’ pay hikes…

Govt now stonewalls on exact numbers

public rejects rationale; outrage explodes

–

By Devina Samaroo

Amid widespread pub-

lic outrage over the proposed pay hike for Government Ministers and other officials, Government on Wednesday stonewalled questions from the media about the particulars of the pay hike and while insisting that there would be no drastic or 100 per cent increase, Government refused to offer specific alternative numbers.

Government also remains mum on how soon this increase will be implemented; indicating only that it will not take place “at this present time”.

Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman, speaking during a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday, noted that it was imperative that Government establish a concrete pay grade system which can differentiate the different levels of authority in Government. He ignored the possibility that a salary differential could have been achieved by moving the scales downward, in view of the stagnant economy. The expenditures could also see the various Government officials getting an attractive increase in the per diem for travel and contingencies.

“Government is of the view that there has to be differentiation between Vice Presidents, Minister and what we have termed Senior Ministers and Junior Ministers. None of these were catered for between the last 20 years. As a matter of law, there will have to be adjustments,” said Trotman, who was once the Speaker of the National Assembly.

Trotman explained that Professor Harold Lutchman, who was selected to be the Representative of the List of Candidates for the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition, is now in charge of reviewing the pay structure for all public servants and this process will also capture the pay rate differentiation Government intends to establish among the high-level officials.

This entire process, Trotman anticipates, will conclude in a “few months”.

“He is reviewing everything, salaries of parliamentarians, regional Councillors and salaries to public servants,” the Minister emphasised.

Last week, Guyana Times broke the story that Government is actively considering a pay hike for Cabinet members and parliamentarians after only occupying Executive officer for some three months.

This revelation sparked a resounding outcry from the public.

The increase in being considered at a time when Government fired hundreds of public servants,

putting them on the breadline, on the basis that it cannot afford to waste taxpayers’ monies on employees who are not doing anything of substance.

Some of those “callously” fired include 2000 Community Service Officers (CSOs) who assisted Amerindian Village Councils in its daily activities and over 50 staff who were employed under the One Laptop Per Family Project (OLFP).

Making matters worse, Government had quashed the ‘Because We Care’ $10,000 cash grant initiative which benefited children in Guyana and was gladly accepted, particularly by the poorer sections of society.

Various leaders have argued that it appears as if the APNU/AFC Administration is taking money out of the hands of the ordinary people to “full their own pockets”. Even Region Nine Regional Chairman Brian Allicock, brother of the Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister and Vice President Sydney Allicock recognised that this move spells doom for the economy.

Guyana Times was informed that the pay hike which is being considered by APNU+AFC coalition Government could see the country’s treasury being depleted by $245 million annually but Government officials have been denying this figure.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan had initially confirmed that Cabinet is considering raising the pay for top-brass officials in Government and other members who make up the National Assembly.

2015 Budget to include concessions for miners

The National Budget 2015, which will be presented in the National Assembly on Monday, August 10, will include allocations for concessions to be granted to miners who are currently feeling the brunt of the rapid decline in gold prices on the international market.

This agreement was reached following extensive discussions between representatives of the Guyana Gold and Diamond Mining Association (GGDMA) and the Government of Guyana.

Gold prices currently stands at US$1087 per ounce, hitting more than a five-year low with a high possibility that the precious metal could plunge to a detrimental US$1000 per ounce.

And as gold prices continue to fall, the cost of production, particularly for the small- and mediumscale miners of gold and diamond remain largely unchanged. Miners are finding it extremely difficult to meet their obligations and the sector is now plagued with repossessions, of mining equipment and property, and defaulting bank payments as many of the

smaller operations find it difficult to continue to subsidise the cost of production.

Recognising this crisis, the GGDMA had approached the Government requesting that concessions be granted to small- and medium-scale miners to help cushion the drop in gold prices.

Minister of Governance and Patrimony Raphael Trotman, during a postCabinet press briefing on Wednesday, told media operatives that the Government will be granting some concessions to the miners and these will be included in the Budget.

“Some concessions will be given, the stark reality is that not everything that is asked for can be afforded but certainly the GGDMA left with a good feeling that concessions will be offered in the 2015 Budget,” said Trotman, who has responsibility for the natural resources sector.

In late July, the GGDMA reported that small- and medium-scale miners are experiencing hardships with the present gold prices. The body noted too that economies are already crumbling due to the inactivity in the sector.

Largest creator of private wealth

“Mining remains the largest creator of private wealth among Guyanese and the current slump, if not checked, will result in poverty for many,” the organisation stated. Without these concessions, chances are the gold industry will crumble and this will have a resounding impact on the economy at large.

There is already a noticeable downturn in the economy of many hinterland mining communities such as Bartica, Port Kaituma, Mahdia, among others. Other communities such as Linden, Diamond, Beehive, Ann’s Grove, Essequibo Coast and other coastal communities where miners generally reside are also seriously affected as there is a visible reduction in the economic spending power.

In addition, the current gold price combined with the unmoved cost of production, puts at a risk not only the jobs of direct employees, but also the thousands of other Guyanese who indirectly depend on the industry for a living.

Govt and TT exploring new oil deal

Government has said it is seeking to initiate an oil deal with the twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, even as its original arrangement with the Spanish speaking oil rich nation Venezuela is reportedly heading down the hill. Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman on Wednesday said discussions between the two countries were held on possible areas of collaboration, particularly in the area of energy, including oil and gas development, the supply of fuel by Trinidad and Tobago to Guyana and the exploration of alternative energy initiatives.

Trinidad and Tobago is one of the wealthiest and most developed nations in the Caribbean and is also the leading Caribbean producer of oil and gas. Oil and gas account for about 40 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and 80 per cent of exports.

It has transitioned from an oil-based economy to a natural gas-based economy. In 2007, natural gas production averaged four billion cubic feet per day.

Guyana has for years been accessing oil from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, but the recent upsurge of an ever increasing controversy being peddled by that country, could see the deal altogether abandoned. Through the PetroCaribe deal, Guyana and Venezuela have been bartering rice for oil. The arrangement has been on a go slow recently, after Venezuela upped its claims of a portion of Guyana’s territory; a dispute which was settled by arbitration more than a century ago.

Furthermore, Venezuela became increasingly aggressive, after US-based oil exploration company ExxonMobil reported that it had discovered oil off the Stabroek Block.

Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar met with President David Granger at the 36th Regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community in Barbados

The two countries have already agreed to a joint commission between the two nations which will overlook areas of construction, business and education.

“The discussion started sometime ago, where we have

begun exploring exchanges on our part – to sit with the experts, not only in the area of oil exploration, but in the managing of resources and wealth. Being a sister country just next door, it could provide valuable information

to us”, Trotman related on Wednesday.

The Minister had earlier said that the deal would be explored at two levels. “One is the supply of oil and lubricants to Guyana to see if there could be favourable terms and concession from the twin-island republic for the supply and the other is for the actual assistance in the development of the oil sector itself, in terms of exploration, agreements and being able to interface with the investors who come”.

The visit to Trinidad and Tobago by President Granger last week had confirmed the establishment of a commission to overlook the a unified approach to education, business and other areas of interest that could see a deepening relationship between the two nations.

The discussion, held at the San Fernando Teaching Hospital, included Dr Bhoendradatt Tewarie,

Minister of Planning and Sustainable Development; and acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Kevin Ramnarine, Minister of Energy and Energy Affairs; and officials from those ministries.

Talks focused on enhancing the existing bilateral relationship in various industries while both leaders exchanged views on deepening the collaboration already initiated in agricultural production, skills development, and energy cooperation. Additionally, it was agreed that a joint commission will be formed to assess the furtherance of these and other items such as construction, education and business.

President Granger welcomed the presence of Trinidad and Tobago’s expertise and companies and also noted that, in order for significant progress to be made, there must be sufficient political will.

Antigua and Barbuda moving to join CCJ

The Antigua and Barbuda says it is moving towards joining the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), as the island’s final court. Cabinet has accepted a recommendation from Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Steadroy Benjamin on the issue.

The CCJ was established in 2001 to replace the London-based Privy Council and while most of the Caribbean countries have signed on to the court’s original jurisdiction, only Barbados, Guyana, Belize and Dominica, are signatories to the appellate jurisdiction of the CCJ that also serves as an international tribunal interpreting the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that governs the 15-member regional integration movement.

Antigua and Barbuda Ambassador to the Caribbean Comunity (Caricom), Dr Clarence Henry, has been appointed to spearhead the national

engagement and consultation to fully explain the rationale for the adoption of the CCJ in its appellate jurisdiction.

Benjamin said that the diplomat will head a national committee of stakeholders that will coordinate and manage the national engagement and consultation on this matter. He said committee would also include representatives

from the trade unions, political parties, the Private Sector, the Bar Association, the Electoral Commission, the Barbuda Council, the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Civil Society, and the media.

Benjamin said the committee’s mandate includes preparing the country to determine the matter by way of a referendum at the end of the consultative process.

(Jamaica Observer)

Three prison officers suspended in Trinidad jailbreak probe

Three prison officers have been suspended as Police carry out investigations into last month’s jailbreak at the Port of Spain Prison. The suspension of an Assistant Superintendent and two junior officers was confirmed on Tuesday by the President of the Prison Officers Association, Ceron Richard, the Trinidad Express has reported.

Investigators are trying to determine the cir-

cumstances surrounding the incident and whether Christopher Selby, Hassan Atwell and Allan Martin had any inside help in their escape from the prison on July 24.

The trio somehow managed to obtain guns and a grenade before breaking out that Friday around midday. Constable Sherman Maynard, who was sitting in a Police vehicle on patrol outside the prison, was fatally shot during the escape.

Martin was killed by Police shortly after fleeing the prison; Atwell’s bulletriddled body was found the following Sunday morning, with Police saying he was killed by gang members; and Selby surrendered to Police a few hours later.

Selby appeared in court on Monday to face 10 charges, including Maynard’s murder. He was remanded to a maximum security prison. (Caribbean360)

Investigation ordered into death of suspected cop killer in Police custody in Jamaica

Police Chief, Dr Carl Williams has ordered a probe into the death of a 29-year-old man held in connection with the murder of a female constable. Marlon Cherrington, alias “Kemar Anderson”, died in hospital last Friday, two weeks after being admitted with injuries he sustained while at the Hunts Bay Police Lock-up in the Southeastern parish of St Andrew. He was a suspect in the murder of 24-yearold Constable Crystal Thomas. She had left work at the Denham Town Police

Station in the capital on the night of July 14 and boarded a bus, walking into a robbery in progress. When she confronted the culprits she was shot dead. Commissioner Williams has requested the urgent completion of internal investigations into the circumstances that led to the serious injuries Cherrington sustained while in custody.

“The Police have a responsibility to protect all persons within its custody, and any failure to give full protection to individuals in our custody is a serious violation of our duty to en-

sure the safety of persons in Police lock-ups,” he said in a statement.

He added that although stricter measures have been implemented in lockups across the island to improve the conditions under which detainees are held, Cherrington’s death highlighted the need for urgent implementation of additional measures, including installing CCTV cameras in all lock-up facilities.

“This will ensure greater transparency and accountability for police actions,” he said. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Puerto Rico extends water rationing as drought deepens after arid July

Adeepening drought in Puerto Rico that has affected 2.5 million people forced the Government to extend severe water rationing measures to more communities that are already struggling with an economic crisis.

Another 180,000 customers will now receive water only every third day, raising the total facing 48-hour cuts in service to 400,000, as the US territory’s main reservoirs continue to shrink, according to the island’s water and sewer company.

“We have to keep the water that’s available under control,” said Alberto Lázaro, the company’s Executive Director, on Wednesday. Nearly 13 per cent of Puerto Rico is under an extreme drought and another 39 per cent under a severe one, according to the National Drought Mitigation Centre.

July was the fourth-

OECS states refocus efforts to ease interstate travel

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has breathed new life into plans to introduce a “biometric card” to facilitate the free movement of residents of member states.

OECS Director General, Dr Didacus Jules said the electronic identification card has already been developed through a project with the World Bank. “All the member states have been given printers that are capable of printing those cards as well as the template cards,” he said.

But Dr Jules said the process of finalising the utilisation of the cards has seen many drawbacks. He said one of the major problems in the implementation of the programme is making legislative changes on the level of each member state and which one would be charged with the distribution of the cards.

While the OECS official was

OECS

not able to give a definitive date for the launching of the initiative, he said the body is mulling ways to “expedite” the process, thus doing away with immigration cards for residents from member states.

Meantime, Dr Jules has denied that the St John’s based OECS Assembly is dead. Since the assembly was convened here in 2012 for its inaugural meeting as part of

the OECS integration movement, the grouping has failed to meet again. But Dr Jules said changes in Government in different member states have been limiting factors in plans for another meeting.

“It’s a work in progress. What we need to do is give real life to the assembly so it becomes a forum for non-partisan debate to take place,” he said. (Antigua Observer)

driest month on record in San Juan since 1898, with only 1.6 inches (4cm) of rain, said Carlos Anselmi, a Meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

So far this year, it has rained as much as 12 inches (31cm) less than usual in San Juan, and as much as 20 inches (51cm) less in some areas at the Carraizo reservoir, he said.

Forecasters blame the El

Niño phenomenon, a warming of the tropical Pacific that affects global weather and has led to a quiet Atlantic hurricane season, which began in June and ends in November.

The lack of rain has forced some businesses in Puerto Rico to temporarily close, while others, such as motels, have reported a slight increase in customers.

(Excerpt from The Guardian)

Mexico seeks suspects in journalist Espinosa’s murder

Mexican Police are searching for three men shown on surveillance video leaving the building where photojournalist Ruben Espinosa was killed. The bodies of Espinosa and four women were found in a flat in the Narvarte district of Mexico City on Friday.

They had been tied up and shot dead. Mexico City prosecutor Rodolfo Rios Garza said the three men were the prime suspects in the murder, which has shocked Mexico City residents. The surveillance footage shows them leaving the flat at 15:02 local time, 50 minutes after Espinosa sent a text message to a friend, his last known communication.

Investigators said one of the men was pulling a suitcase. Another can be seen getting into a red Ford Mustang which belonged to one of the victims.

The car was found abandoned

on the outskirts of Mexico City on Monday.

The bodies of the five victims were found by one of their friends in the flat on Friday evening. Investigators said three of the four women had been raped and the body of Espinosa showed signs of torture. Rios Garza said they were looking into all possible motives for the crime.

On Sunday, officials said the fact that one of the victims’ cars had been taken pointed to a robbery. But the theory was dismissed by the editor of news magazine Proceso, for which Espinosa took photos.

The editor said that the brutality of the crime suggested it was not a simple robbery. Espinosa spent eight years working in the eastern Mexican state of Veracruz, where almost a dozen journalists have been killed in the past years.

Many feared dead off Libya as migrant boat capsizes

Hundreds of migrants trying to reach across the Mediterranean from Libya are feared to have drowned after their fishing boat capsized off the North African country.

Statements on Twitter by UNHCR suggest that 399 people have been rescued so far and another 25 confirmed dead out of an estimated 600 migrants on the boat.

Italian coastguard is organising the rescue efforts, the statements say.

Journalist Karl StagnoNavarra, reporting on Wednesday from the Maltese capital Valletta,

told Al Jazeera that Maltese authorities confirmed that an Irish navy vessel and a vessel of Doctors Without Borders (MSF), the aid group, were on site assisting the rescue.

He said that the boat sent out a distress signal that was picked up by the authorities.

“There have tragically been many deaths, but [the MSF] does not have figures at this stage,” the MSF said on Twitter.

He said that the boat sent out a distress signal that was picked up by the authorities.

The Mediterranean Sea is the world’s most deadly border area for migrants.

Over 2000 migrants have died so far this year trying to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe, confirming this as the deadliest route for migrants in search of a better life, the Switzerlandbased International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday.

In the same period last year, 1607 migrants perished and a total of 3279 lost their lives in the whole of 2014, the international organisation added. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

China says has stopped reclamation work in South China Sea

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday that Beijing had halted land reclamation in the South China Sea, and called on countries in the region to speed up talks on how claimant states should conduct themselves in the disputed waters.

In June, China said it would soon complete some of its reclamation in the Spratly archipelago of the South China Sea, while adding it would continue to build facilities on the manmade islands.

Wang’s remarks at a regional meeting in Kuala Lumpur appeared designed to defuse tensions with other countries that lay claim to parts of the sea, through which US$5 trillion in shipborne trade passes every year.

Around the World

Dozens dead as two trains derail over river in India

At least 27 people have been killed after two passenger trains travelling in opposite directions derailed within minutes of each other, sending carriages tumbling into a river in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

The Kamayani Express derailed around midnight local time on Tuesday near the Kudawa railway station, about 20 kilometres from the town of Harda.

A second train, the Janata Express, travelling in the opposite direction from Patna to Mumbai, also derailed on the same bridge minutes later.

Police have recovered 27 bodies so far, but many more are feared dead.

Al Jazeera’s Nidhi Dutt, reporting from New Delhi, said there were reports that at least 300 people had been rescued, but witnesses were giving accounts “that many people may have been washed away”.

Al Jazeera’s Faiz Jamil said that seven carriages from the first train and three from the second were submerged in the Machak River following the derailments.

“On Indian trains, they have classes so there could be a dozen or up to 100 people travelling per train car,” he said.

Anil Saxena, a spokesperson for Indian Railways, said the bridge was partially

submerged as the water level of the river was high due to heavy monsoon rain over the past two weeks.

Teams of rescuers had trouble reaching the area overnight, due to the weather and the remote location of the accident.

A train carrying around 100 doctors and rescuers was dispatched to the location as other medics were sent by road. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Cafe built over Jerusalem Islamic graves sparks anger

The opening of a cafe in Jerusalem built over a revered Islamic cemetery has sparked condemnation and anger from the Muslim community.

The Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage said on Tuesday that the construction of the site was part of an Israeli plan that aims to demolish “everything related to Arabic Islamic history on this land”.

Landwer Cafe’s Independence Garden branch opened on Sunday on part

of an area of land located between occupied East Jerusalem, which is predominantly Arab, and West Jerusalem. The area was being transformed into a park.

For centuries, the land housed the Maaman Allah cemetery, the oldest and largest Muslim graveyard in the country, and is believed to contain the remains of some of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad.

The owner of the restaurant told Al Jazeera that he did not know there was a

grave under the cafe, but refused to make further comments.

“It’s not just the loss of the cemetery that angers the Palestinians. The cafe’s selling of alcohol [forbidden in Islam] is seen as a grave violation of the sanctity of the Islamic site,” Al Jazeera’s Elias Karram, reporting from Jerusalem, said. The cafe is just one part of a plan that includes the construction on the site of 192 housing units, a 480-room hotel, commercial spaces, park-

India lifts porn ban after widespread outrage

India will restore free access to 857 pornographic websites, following widespread outrage over the move.

The United States and Japan have expressed alarm at China’s expansion in the South China Sea, which they suspect is aimed at extending its military reach, and US Secretary of State John Kerry raised the issue with Wang in the Malaysian capital.

“China is always committed to working with the countries concerned to resolve disputes through

Beijing claims most of the waters, while the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims.

peaceful negotiation,” Wang told Kerry, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

“Countries that are not in the region should respect the efforts made by China and ASEAN countries.”

Wang made his remarks on the sidelines of meetings involving the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), where tensions over the South China Sea have dominated talks this week. (Excerpt from Reuters)

The department of telecom told Internet Service Providers (ISPs) not to disable URLs that “do not have child pornographic content”, the PTI agency reported.

The Government denied charges of moral policing, saying it wanted to prevent children from accessing the sites.

In July, the Supreme Court criticised the Government’s inability to block sites featuring child pornography.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad met senior officials on Tuesday to review the ban and decided that ISPs would be immediately asked not to block those sites which did not contain any child pornography.

However, service providers have said the fresh directive is unreasonable.

“How can the Government put the responsibility on us to see whether a website carries child pornography or not?” the head of the India Internet Service Providers Association told the Times of India. News of the ban caused

a furore on Indian social media, with several senior politicians and members of civil society expressing their opposition to the move.

The Indian Government said that it was merely complying with the Supreme Court order and was committed to the freedom of communication on the Internet.

“I reject with contempt the charge that it is a Talibani Government, as being said by some of the critics. Our Government supports free media, respects communication on social media and has respected freedom of communication always,” Prasad told PTI. (Excerpt from BBC News)

South Africa debates hunting of captive-bred lions

In the aftermath of the anger that followed the killing of Cecil, the lion from Zimbabwe, debate is intensifying in neighbouring South Africa over the practice of hunting captivebred lions.

Ian Michler, maker of a documentary film called “Blood Lions”, has estimat-

ed that close to 1000 lions bred in captivity in South Africa are fatally shot every year by trophy seekers.

The practice is an “extreme and a brutal form of trophy hunting”, Michler said in a telephone interview with the Associated Press news agency this week.

Those who oppose the

practice and refer to the custom as “canned hunting” say lions that are bred in captivity are not afraid of people, making them easy targets for shooting in relatively confined areas.

While hunting operators in South Africa describe their industry as well-regulated, a key hunting associa-

tion has called for a review of captive-bred lion hunting amid growing public criticism.

In neighbouring Zimbabwe, authorities have said two American hunters were involved in illegal lion killings in separate cases in the area of Hwange National Park in April and July.

The cases have put fresh scrutiny on hunting in Africa at a time when poaching has heavily reduced wildlife numbers, including threatened species such as lions, rhinos and elephants.

South Africa has had success in the conservation of wild lions.

Last month, however, Edna Molewa, South Africa’s Environment Minister, held a meeting to discuss concern about alleged irregularities at what she called “the fringe” of the “legal, well-regulated” lion breeding and hunting industries. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

16 NEWS

thursday, august 6, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

Govt mulls reduction of $60B withdrawal from commercial banks

– following PSC’s prognosis of economic disaster

Amid grave concerns from the Private Sector Commission (PSC), it appears that Government is now undecided on its announced withdrawal of $60 billion worth of State funds from commercial banks across Guyana.

Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman, during a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday, acknowledged the concerns expressed by the PSC about this decision, noting that the Finance Ministry will arrive at a reasonable compromise with the commercial banks regarding this situation.

“The Minister of Finance (Winston Jordan) will come to a healthy compromise between the banks’ and Government’s position. I don’t think that either way we will have all of Government’s money out of commercial banks or all of Government’s money in commercial banks,” Trotman speculated, though he was unsure of the total amount of money Government has in these financial institutions.

The PSC, following discussions with members of the business community on Tuesday, issued a release warning the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) coalition Government against its decision to withdraw the monies which were deposited by the previous People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration.

The PSC was concerned that the withdrawal of this huge sum of funds from the commercial banks could result in a crash in the local economy.

Trotman, in response to these statements, stated, “Naturally they would be

concerned, but they should accept that it is not always the case that Government keeps that amount of money in other parts of the world in commercial banks and secondly, they themselves would admit that there is excess liquidity that people are not borrowing and there is a lot of money just lying in the bank.”

The Minister of Governance appeared unaware that if there was “excess liquidity” in the private banking system, then the banks would be forced to lower interest rates which could increase investments in both commercial and individual endeavours.

The PSC’s warning had risen out of concerns in relation to the current stagnant state of the economy.

The Commission recognised that there has been a drop in consumer spending and expectations, proj-

ects are being delayed/suspended due to the cessation of payments on some projects and foreign and local business partners have put a hold on some investments.

The withdrawal of the $60 billion of state funds, the PSC believes, would only compound the situation.

“The PSC is concerned that the current situation can lead to a high level of non-performing loans and is extremely concerned about the intended removal of over $60 billion in Government funds that are deposited at the commercial banks.

It said a decline in consumer expectations and spending can create a drop in sales and profits. According to the PSC, the situation would force businesses to freeze on hiring and inevitably retrench employees. Some businesses have already started layingoff.

Govt somersaults on prior criticisms...

Technocrat MPs court battle

Parties commence preliminary arguments

The parties named in the motion filed at the High Court challenging the appointment of two Government Ministers as Technocrat Members of Parliament, on Wednesday commenced preliminary arguments before acting Chief Justice Ian Chang.

The legal action filed against Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams and Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs by the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is claiming that Minister of Citizenship Winston Felix and Minister within the Ministry of Communities Keith Scott are illegally present in the National Assembly since they are technocrats. The motion states “Winston Gordon Felix and Keith Winston Harold Scott are not lawful members of and cannot sit in the National Assembly of the 11th Parliament of Guyana”.

When the matter came up for hearing on Wednesday, Attorney General Basil Williams argued that the court does not have any jurisdiction to preside over the case because the PPP is challenging the Ministers’ right to sit in the National Assembly as elected members. Therefore, he pointed out, the opposition needed to challenge the matter via an Elections Petition and not a motion as was done. Williams cited several authorities to the court in support of his position.

According to the Attorney General, if the Opposition is questioning the Ministers’ right to sit as members of the National Assembly, then the proper procedure to adopt is in accordance with Article 163 of the Constitution, which states that they must

go to the court’s exclusive jurisdiction that deals with matters arising from the elections by way of petition.

“We have come on a preliminary point to say that the court has no jurisdiction to proceed with Mr [Anil] Nandlall’s application because he has not come by way of an election’s petition, but, in fact, he has come by motion,” he explained to reporters after the hour-long hearing.

However, in his response, Attorney-at-law Anil Nandlall told the court that the Attorney General has “misconstrued” the gist of the case as well as the Constitution. He explained at length that he was not challenging the Ministers’ election but their selection as technocrat Members of Parliament.

“I am not challenging election of the two persons, Mr Keith Scott and Mr Winston Felix, to the Parliament, I’m saying they have been properly elected.

I am questioning their selection to the Parliament as technocrat Minister. They should not, they appeared on the List of Candidates, they

NCN to be given multimillion$ bailout to compete with private media

The Stateowned National Communications Network has asked government for a $20 million bailout to help it meet its financial obligation.

At his post-Cabinet media briefing on Wednesday, Governance Minister Raphael Trotman told journalists that the request was before cabinet, but could not say if the money requested would be used to assist in the payment of bills and salaries for the more than 160 employees of the radio and television news outlets.

NCN currently has several outstanding payments to receive; one in particular from the People’s Progressive Party/Civic, which owes the company in excess of $14 million.

Trotman said Government was disappointed at the position the State-owned company has found itself in, saying that with a monopolistic posi-

tion of having the reach, the equipment and direct guaranteed contracts with Government and other entities and agencies, it should have been on a sound finan -

cial footing. “We’re quite disappointed with the position that we found and we have since, under the directorship of the Prime Minister,

we have agencies give an account for outstanding invoices and bills and in the meantime, Cabinet has been asked…to provide a small amount of bridging finance until accounts receivables are pulled in and we can bring the entity back onto a strong footing,” Minister Trotman explained.

Although it has been reportedly making some $500 million annually under the PPP/C Administration, NCN had been seeing its annual budget cut to a mere $1 by the then Opposition A Partnership For National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC).

The company was then accused of fulfilling the agenda of the then Government.

were elected as members of that List but were not selected by the head of the List and therefore, they cannot now be selected as technocrat Ministers,” he stated.

Nandlall posited that when a party presents its List of Candidates at an election and secure a seat or seats in Parliament, all the persons named on the list are automatically elected to sit in the National Assembly; however, the party will have select persons from that List be appointed MPs based on the number of seats allocated. Hence, he added, in the case of an MP needing to be replaced then the party can select someone from the List as they are all elected Members and will not have to go back to Elections. However, the Attorney General declared this position as “preposterous”.

The PPP/C attorney rubbished claims that he went about filing the legal action improperly. “Had I challenge this by way of an elections petition, I would have been wrong because I am not challenging their election. I am challenging their selection,” he declared.

Nandlall, in efforts to support his arguments, made reference to a case that was heard before Justice Carl Singh in 2006 that was filed by now Government Ministers Khemraj Ramjattan, Raphael Trotman and David Patterson in association with other attorneys. In the decision, Justice Singh defined an elected member of the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution, the same way he has explained.

After just over an hour of arguments between the two lawmen, Justice Chang opted to adjourn the matter until August 13, advising Attorney Nandlall to continue his presentation on that day, hence he will have enough time to also research and address the court on the authorities that the AG cited.

Additionally, Nandlall is expected to continue his arguments dealing with the legality of an elected member being appointed a technocrat Member of Parliament.

CPCE teachers to benefit from Govt’s “One Laptop Per Teacher” Initiative

Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman, on Wednesday announced that teachers from the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) will be the first beneficiaries of the Administration’s “One Laptop Per Teacher” Programme.

During a press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency, the Governance Minister stated that emphasis would be placed on those teachers who were still being trained or those who have recently concluded training.

“I believe in the first instance we would like to target teachers that are currently in the Cyril Potter College of Education. Those that are perhaps pursuing degrees or diplomas at the University of Guyana… Then we will roll it out from there,” Minister Trotman disclosed.

It is still unclear when the selection and distribu-

tion process will begin.

Meanwhile, families with children attending schools are concerned about the abrupt change in the programme.

It was formerly called the “One Laptop Per Family” (OLPF) Initiative under the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Government whereby children and their families were given laptops instead of teachers.

The PPP/C had conceptualised and implemented the OLPF programme with the visionary aim to bridge the information and telecommunication gap, not only between those on the coastland and the interior of Guyana but also between Guyana and the rest of the rapidly advancing technological world.

PPP General Secretary Clement Rohee, in a recent press briefing, had stated that his Party felt that having a computer in the home would enhance research and learning approaches in

academia and general social studies.

It was also expected that the achievement gaps between children of poor or working class parents and those from high-income families would have been narrowed.

However, in July, Trotman had stated that the Government was aware of a new batch of computers ordered by the OLPF Project, and decided to give these to teachers across Guyana.

He shared that the Cabinet has been in discussions about taking care of the teachers, so the Government of Guyana was at that time thinking about possibly renaming the project One Laptop Per Teacher (OLPT).

Guyana Times was told that the 10,000 laptops are valued at US$8 million and were ordered as part of the OLPF programme by the PPP/C Government before it left office.

Reunion debris is from missing MH370 plane – Malaysian Prime Minister

Part of the aircraft wing found on Reunion Island is from the missing MH370 plane, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has confirmed.

Najib said experts examining the debris in France had “conclusively confirmed” it was from the aircraft.

But the investigators have stopped short of confirming the link, saying only that it is highly likely.

The Malaysia Airlines plane carrying 239 people veered off course from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014.

The debris was found on the remote French Indian Ocean island a week ago and was taken to Toulouse for testing.

The plane is long believed to have crashed into the southern Indian Ocean after veering off course –though no evidence had been found despite a massive search operation.

“It is with a very heavy heart that I must tell you

that an international team of experts has conclusively confirmed that the aircraft debris [...] is indeed MH370,” Najib told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

“We now have physical evidence that [...] flight MH370 tragically ended in the southern Indian Ocean,” he added.

Najib said he hoped the discovery “will at least bring certainty to the families” of the victims, saying the burden they had faced was “unspeakable”.

French prosecutor Serge Mackowiak later confirmed the wing fragment, known as a flaperon, was from a Boeing 777 – the same make and model as the missing Malaysian airliner.

He said initial tests showed there were “very strong indications” that it was from flight MH370. But he said confirmation would only come after further tests on the fragment, which would begin on Thursday.

“[Investigators] will try to do it as soon as possible

in order to provide total and reliable information to the family of victims, who are on our minds at the moment,” Mackowiak added.

Australia has been leading the search for the plane in the area it is believed to have gone down, some 4000 kilometres (2,500 miles) east of Reunion.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott told Melbourne Radio 3AW the discovery “does seem to confirm that it went down in the Indian Ocean, it does seem very consistent with the search pattern that we’ve been using for the last few months”.

Relatives of the victims were told about the initial results shortly before Najib’s news conference on Wednesday.

Jacquita Gonzales, the wife of crew member Patrick Gomes, said: “Now that they have confirmed it as MH370, I know my husband is no longer of this world but they just can’t leave it with this one flaperon.” (BBC News)

Taskforce to restore Guyana’s

The National Taskforce established by Government to oversee the effective functioning of Guyana’s drainage and irrigation system and to make recommendations for its upgrade has been awarded $36 million by the Cabinet. This was disclosed on Wednesday by Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman, who hosted the postCabinet press briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency. Regarding the approved sum, the Minister told report-

ers that, “the intention is to ensure that come 2016 for our 50th independence activities, incidents of flooding, damaged roads and culverts, and clogged drains will be eradicated, or at least brought to a minimum.”

The Task Force is slated to have representatives from various ministries and committees, including the commemoration committee that is handling the Guyana’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the Government Information Agency (GINA) aid. Its aim is

PPP/C deems Govt’s rice, RDC forums a “total fiasco”

–

participants left disappointed, no solutions to problems

Participants from the recently conducted National Rice Industry Conference and the Leadership Forum for the Regional Democratic Councils are voicing their disappointment in the activities, claiming that these were a “total waste of time”, claiming that the meetings did not bring to them any “tangible benefits” to the stakeholders or the country.

According to a press statement by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on Wednesday, the Opposition Party received reports from participants stating that they “were not told anything they did not know” at the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/ AFC) Government activities which were held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

The PPP/C in condemning the two activities, explained that invitees at the Rice Farmers Conference reported that they received no solution to the present suffering they are enduring.

“There were no assurances that the $9000 per bag of paddy promised to the rice farmers by APNU+AFC during the election campaign will be forthcoming. Farmers heard nothing to assure them that the uncertainty now facing farmers in respect to market access will be positively addressed. All they heard from Granger was that they must go out and seek out markets themselves,” said the Opposition Party.

Left to fend for themselves Guyana Times was told that rice farmers left the conference “empty handed” and deeply disappointed, no more the wiser about the future of their livelihoods.

After returning to their respective communities the rice farmers are more resolved than ever that only through struggle, together with the Rice Producers Association (RPA) will they be able to achieve improved market access and better prices for their product.

“The ‘Good Life’ that the APNU+AFC promised Guyanese during the elections campaign evaporated

before the eyes of the rice farmers… Farmers are convinced that the PPP’s plans for the rice industry is a better option and expressed their commitment to work towards its full achievement.

The PPP reaffirms its support to the RPA and is committed to working with the Association to realise a programme for the improvement of the industry as outlined in its manifesto,” the press statement said.

Even rice farmers close to the Government on the Essequibo Coast have been silenced by the callous and uncaring riposte of the Government on finding viable alternative markets for the rice already on the docks and silos and also for the coming “big crop”.

Total fiasco

Meanwhile, the PPP/C has deemed the leadership forum organised by the Ministry of Communities held under the theme “Unveiling a vision for Regional Empowerment” a total fiasco.

“The participants, most of whom were Councillors, Chairmen and Vice Chairmen from the seven Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs) controlled by the PPP left the Conference Centre in total disgust and disappointment. The 10-minute presentations by Government officials was empty rhetoric and left much to be desired.

Four of the RDCs present at the ‘Forum’ are populated with Amerindians, thus the 10-minute snippets did not give justice to their cause,” the PPP further stated.

Guyana Times was also told that no opportunity was given to the Chairmen of the 10 RDCs to either make pre-

attractiveness awarded $36M

to restore Guyana as a land of great attractiveness and prosperity and one which offers a good life for all its citizens and its visitors.

The Taskforce, headed by Major General Ret’d Joe Singh, will include Charles Sohan, Malcolm Ally, Egbert Carter, Andrew Bishop, Stanley Ming, Joseph Holder, Charles Ceres and Dr David Singh. Members of the Guyana Association of Professional Engineers (GAPE), the Private Sector, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) as well as representa-

tives of various ministries will also be included.

This Task Force will address principally the following areas:

• Drainage

• Solid waste Management & Derelict Vehicle Removal

Traffic Management

Sustainable Urban Physical Structure Renewal

• Welfare Management of the Homeless and Addicted

The Taskforce is ex-

pected to present its first report to the Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson in six months. It is supported by an Administrative Secretariat, which is currently gathering all the necessary information on the status of the drainage and irrigation system in the country.

At the end of its work, the Taskforce is expected to create and propose a long-term plan, that will be implemented with support and funding from the Government.

sentations or to engage the Ministers in interactive dialogue. It was noted that participants were quick to discover that the RDC forum was more of a political forum to ‘bash’ the PPP/C and to rubbish its successes hailed by the people of the hinterland communities.

Lacked substance

“It was clear to the participants that the organisers had preferences from whom they wanted to solicit questions. Questions from the RDCs controlled by the PPP were bypassed in favour of the regions controlled by the APNU/AFC. All the talk by Government spokespersons about democracy and decentralisation was boring, lacked substance and was no help to the Councillors, Chairmen and Vice Chairmen present,” the Opposition Party’s statement included.

According to the PPP/C, from all appearances the event was clearly a ‘backslapping” and “mutual admiration engagement” for Government officials with the most astonishing activity at the said forum being the presentation of Regional flags and emblems for adoption by the RDCs.

A request was made that the Chairmen consider and submit their views to the subject Minister.

“The rationale for introduction of this farcical innovation was that they will ‘make the regions more competitive’. Many of the participants expressed reservations about this proposal on the ground that it is unconstitutional and will bring unnecessary costs to each region. In the end, no vision for regional empowerment was unveiled, save for attacks on the PPP and promises of support to each region to formulate a ‘Plan of Action for Regional Development’ which most regions have already submitted in their respective 2015 Budget proposals,” the PPP explained. The Opposition Party is calling on the Granger Administration to bring an end to these “circuses” which are in effect political, primarily to attack the PPP/C and provide a political profile from the APNU/AFC in those regions where the population have rejected them electorally.

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

Your life will be less stressful if you get your financial particulars in order. Pare down your expenses and start saving instead of spending. Being mindful of your indulgences will help cut costs.

Stop procrastinating. Being afraid of what lies ahead will paralyze you. Deal with any issue you face boldly if you want to find your way to the finish line.

Rely on yourself. Develop one of your promising ideas and ask others about marketing strategies or funding possibilities. Keep in mind that nothing ventured means nothing gained.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Don’t trust others when you should be instead trusting in your abilities. Insecurity and self-doubt are best put aside if you want to move forward. Put your positive attributes to use.

You will be questioned and should prepare fully if you intend to speak up. What you have to offer, when presented with poise and intelligence, will result in success.

Unscrupulous people will be happy to take your cash. Pursue beneficial financial opportunities, but keep the details between you and a trusted adviser or handle matters personally.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

You will feel used if someone asks you to take care of his or her responsibilities. Don’t say yes if you feel you aren’t going to benefit from the request.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Changes in personal and professional relationships will be unexpected and unnerving. Use your intuition to help direct your energy wisely. It’s vital that you make good choices.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

Don’t be too trusting when it comes to your personal dealings. Someone you trust with important information will try to use the knowledge you offer to his or her own advantage. Be discreet.

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

Be good to yourself. A day of pampering will help to take the edge off of a turbulent situation. Subtle selfimprovements will give your confidence a boost.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

Think before you blame someone else for your problems. If you reassess your current situation, you will discover that your stubborn streak has contributed to your current predicament.

Love is on the rise. Don’t be afraid to open your heart and share your feelings. Favors you ask for will be granted, and joint ventures look promising.

England v Australia, 4th Investec Test, Trent Bridge…

England’s inconsistency keeps Ashes uncertain

England thrust aside Australia in less than three days at Edgbaston to go 2-1 up in the Investec series, but for all that there is no widespread conviction that they are about to settle the job at Trent Bridge. Almost counter-intuitively, it is Australia who are more fancied to bounce back, which would be in keeping with a series of great unpredictability.

England’s win in Birmingham came at a heavy cost - an injury to the leader of their attack James Anderson which prevents him from playing at a venue where he has taken 53 wickets in eight Tests at 19.24. Instead, he will be offering advice from the dressing room to an attack which will be led, on his home ground, by Stuart Broad. Much responsibility rests with Broad who will be playing only his fifth Test without Anderson in the side. The identity of his new-ball partner remains to be seen, with both Steven Finn and Mark Wood having different attributes.

That presents Australia with an opportunity to find

some batting form in a series when, their top three apart, they have batted dismally. Much focus is on Michael Clarke, who has been increasingly feisty in the build-up, and it says something for Australia’s predicament when the most impressive of the middle order has been Peter Nevill.

There remains the feeling that both sides are often on the brink of a batting collapse, although the depth of England’s order - with Moeen Ali at No. 8could yet be a deciding factor. Last year the Trent Bridge Test against India was a bore draw, and resulted in a ‘poor’ rating for the surface, but it would be no surprise if this encounter more mirrored what happened in 2013 when wickets fell steadily throughout. And while it would not be good for the nerves, either side would happily take another nail-biting win.

In the spotlight

Shaun Marsh has a strong claim for an opportunity in an Australian batting line-up that has looked flimsy as soon as

the second wicket has fallen. Perhaps only his inexperience in English conditions counted against him at the start of the series, but he has made hundreds in tour games against Kent and Derbyshire. Repelling a Test attack in swinging conditions at Trent Bridge would be a different challenge.

Pitching an opening batsman into Test cricket in an Ashes series is a big ask and Adam Lyth has struggled in his first three Tests on home soil to justify England’s faith. He seems to have reverted to the chancy style outside off stump that was apparent in his early Yorkshire seasons. A result perhaps of a rise in quality or an over-eagerness to buy into England’s commitment to attacking cricket. A more methodical approach is needed.

Team news

Wood’s fitness record suggested from the outset that he is not designed for a world of back-to-back Tests, but his problematic ankle has come through training sessions successfully and, barring a last-minute deterioration, he will play. Liam Plunkett and the uncapped left-arm quick Mark Footitt are on standby.

England (probable) 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2

Adam Lyth, 3 Ian Bell, 4 Joe Root, 5 Jonny Bairstow, 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Jos Buttler (wk), 8 Moeen Ali, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Mark Wood, 11 Steven Finn.

Such has been the weakness of Australia’s middle-order that a switch to six specialist batsmen, with Shaun Marsh replacing his brother Mitchell, is one option that could be considered. Alternatively, he could replace Adam Voges, enabling Western Australia’s brothers to team up in Tests for only the second time.

Australia (probable)

1 David Warner, 2 Chris Rogers, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Shaun Marsh, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Peter Nevill (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Nathan Lyon. (Cricinfo)

Tambe unlikely to face sanction for playing with banned Ashraful

Rajasthan Royals legspinner Pravin Tambe, and a host of players from various other countries, who participated in a private T20 tournament in New Jersey that also featured banned Bangladesh player Mohammad Ashraful, could avoid penalties because of the nebulous state of affairs at the USA Cricket Association (USACA).

A day after ESPNcricinfo revealed that Tambe, who has also represented Mumbai in the Ranji trophy, had played with Ashraful in the Laurel Hill Cricket Twenty20 tournament in the last week of July, officials familiar with the code of conduct set up by the ICC watchdog ACSU said Tambe had not breached any regulations. Both the Mumbai Cricket Association and the BCCI have not yet given a formal reaction though.

“He has not violated any code of conduct,” a BCCI official well versed with the anticorruption code said. Though the ICC did not want to comment on the matter, a source revealed the prevailing view was that Tambe had not broken any code by playing alongside Ashraful.

The BCCI official said that normally the blame for Ashraful’s participation would lie with the host country, but because the USACA had been suspended by the ICC in June, the case was not so straightforward. “Normally it is the responsibility of the host association to ensure that no banned player participates in any match organised by them. In this case it is not known if this match was played under the aegis of USACA.”

According to him the

BCCI or ICC communicates information on bans imposed to the affiliated associations only. “Hence there may be occasions when players are actually not aware of every player they are playing with or against.”

He said Tambe could not be blamed directly. “If it was local club cricket and Tambe claims he did not know that Ashraful was participating, then we have to take Tambe’s word for it unless proved otherwise.”

When asked if Tambe was at fault for not seeking a noobjection certificate from the MCA, the official said that it would not have been aware of Ashraful’s presence in any case. “Even if MCA had given him a NOC, MCA themselves would not verify the players playing. It is the duty of the host association to see no banned players are participating in the tournament.”

On June 26, at the end

of its annual conference in Barbados, the ICC announced it was suspending the Associate membership of USACA. The ICC thus became the adjudicator for sanctioning official tournaments in the USA. Other than the overseas players, when asked whether any of the USA or Canada players picked for an ICC Americas tryout scheduled for September in Indianapolis could face local sanctions for playing in the same tournaments as Ashraful, an ICC spokesperson replied in the negative.

“The ICC is aware of the issue you have raised and will be reminding its members and other relevant parties of the regulations regarding players who have been banned by other boards,” an ICC spokesperson said in an email. “This matter will not affect players selected in the [Indianapolis] Combine.” (Cricinfo)

Doping allegations a ‘declaration...

from page 20

“It has caused intense embarrassment but we have always taken the view that we would rather have short-term embarrassment and protect the clean athletes.

“This is what it is about and that is why we are so angry at the moment.”

Sergey Bubka, Coe’s rival for the position of IAAF president, says even more transparency in the organisation is needed to aid the fight against doping.

The former Ukrainian pole vaulter also believes a “faster and more efficient” anti-doping system is necessary to ensure the organisation stays “a step ahead of the dopers”.

“This is a battle we can’t afford to lose, for the sake of athletics and all sports,” he said.

“We must be more proactive and even more transparent in our aggressive pursuit of a zero tolerance policy against doping cheats.”

The Sunday Times then issued its own statement on Wednesday standing by its story and accusing the IAAF of being “disingenuous” by dismissing their story as sensationalist after spending “just two days conducting what it describes as a ‘thorough’ investigation”.

It also questioned the governing body’s level of commit-

ment, adding: “It only employs 10 people to oversee a testing regime covering thousands of athletes across more than 200 countries.

“Its refusal to accept any criticism raises serious questions as to whether the IAAF is truly committed to its primary duty of policing its sport and protecting clean athletes.”

The two experts used by the Sunday Times said they “rebutted each and every one” of the IAAF’s “serious reservations”, saying their judgements were based on the “entire blood-test profile for the athlete not just on individual scores”. (BBC Sport)

Mayweather to face Berto on September 12

Floyd Mayweather will face Andre Berto on September 12 as he attempts to match Rocky Marciano’s record of 49 successive victories. Former welterweight champion Berto has 30 wins and three losses before his bout with his fellow American.

“Promise you this - I’m gonna be as ready as I’ve ever been. Don’t act surprised on 9/12,” tweeted Berto, 31.

Britain’s Amir Khan had hoped for a September bout with Mayweather, 38, after beating Chris Algieri in June.

Khan thought he was “closer than ever” to securing a meeting with the sport’s pound-for-pound

king after his success over American fighter Algieri and Mayweather’s own points defeat of Manny Pacquiao in their lucrative meeting in May.

However, Mayweather has instead opted for an opponent who has lost three of his last six fights, with Berto suffering reverses to Victor Ortiz and Robert Guerroboth of whom have also been beaten by Mayweather - as well as Jesus Soto.

“I always bring my A-game and this fight against Andre Berto is no exception,” said Mayweather.

“He’s a young, strong fighter who is hungry to take down the best - 48 have tried before and on 12 September,

I’m going to make it 49.”

If he wins, Mayweather’s record will equal that of legendary 1950s American heavyweight Marciano, who retired from the sport without suffering a professional defeat.

Mayweather’s meeting with Berto will be the final bout in a six-fight deal he agreed with American broadcaster Showtime in February 2013.

Mayweather previously claimed his 49th fight would be the last before he retires while his father and trainer Floyd Mayweather Sr claimed in July that his son wanted a “couple of easy fights” with which to finish his career. (BBC Sport)

Celtic reach European playoff

Celtic progressed to the Champions League playoff round as a goalless draw in Baku allowed them to complete a 1-0 aggregate win over Qarabag.

An excellent save by Craig Gordon denied Qarabag’s Richard Almeida midway through the first half.

Stuart Armstrong and Stefan Johansen fired shots wide for the visitors after the break as openings remained scarce.

Ronny Deila’s side are now two legs away from the group stage and will discover their opponents on Friday.

Dedryck Boyata’s headed goal from the first leg sealed Celtic’s seeded place in the draw, while Qarabag dropped into the Europa League playoff round.

There had been concerns about the pitch at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium following reports the surface had been badly damaged by the heat.

However, Deila had dismissed suggestions that either the pitch or the heat in the Azerbaijan capital would

hamper his side’s chances.

Celtic, fielding an unchanged starting line-up from last Wednesday, absorbed pressure from the hosts in the opening half-hour but had few direct efforts at goal to deal with.

Gordon flapped at a cross and Rydell Poepon could not take advantage but the goalkeeper was much more convincing when he beat away Richard’s effort.

The Brazilian lined up his left-foot shot from 22 yards and curled the ball towards the inside of Gordon’s righthand post only to be left frustrated by the Scotland international’s stretching save. In attack, the visitors were restricted to breakaways and rarely got into dangerous areas.

Nir Bitton attempted to catch Ibrahim Sehic out with an audacious shot from near the centre circle, the keeper clutching after a momentary panic.

Alharbi El Jadeyaoui tried a chip of his own early in the second half but Gordon

‘Foolhardy’

Faulkner given two-year driving ban

James Faulkner has been banned from driving for two years and fined £10,000 after he admitted the drink-driving offence which had already led to him missing the forthcoming limited-overs leg of Australia’s tour of England.

Faulkner, who was Man of the Match in the World Cup final in March and is currently playing for Lancashire, was found to be nearly three times over the legal limit when he gave a breath test after his Toyota hit the back of a BMW 3 Series car in West Didsbury, Manchester on July 2.

Manchester Magistrates’ Court heard that he did not want to walk the one mile home in heavy rain following an evening out with a friend from Tasmania, previously reported to be teammate Tim Paine.

District Judge Mark Hadfield said: “I am sure you accept it was foolhardy in the extreme to get behind the wheel of your vehicle having been out for a meal with your friend.”

The judge explained that he had reached his decision on the level of Faulkner’s fine because a community order would not be possible given his circumstances.

Speaking on behalf of Faulkner, his manager Phil Weston said: “I deeply re-

gret my actions which gave rise to my behaviour.”

Cricket Australia had already implemented their own disciplinary procedures shortly after Faulkner was stopped by police last month while he was also fined by Lancashire.

He was handed four suspension points by CA for a level three offence which meant he was immediately ruled out of Australia’s ODI against Ireland then the T20 against England and the start of the one-day series.

“Given he will be un-

available for a significant component of that series, Faulkner will not be considered for the Australian T20 or ODI squad when it is announced in mid-August,” a CA statement said. “Faulkner may be considered as a replacement for an injured player following his suspension if required.

“Faulkner will also have to undergo an alcohol management counselling programme, as determined by the Cricket Australia chief medical officer and pay for any damage to property caused by his actions while driving.”

(Cricinfo)

Doping allegations a ‘declaration of war’ on athletics – Lord Coe

Lord Coe has described allegations of widespread doping in athletics as a “declaration of war” and says it is time to “come out fighting” to protect the sport’s reputation.

comfortably caught the 20yard shot.

Though Qarabag’s attacking continued to stutter, Celtic became less and less able to mount meaningful advances and their passing often let them down.

However, Armstrong sought to break the malaise with a shot from the left that had power but lacked accuracy.

As the game entered its closing stages, Johansen had only Sehic to beat as he latched on to an Armstrong pass but could not hit the target.

James Forrest injected fresh pace as a replacement for Armstrong and his forceful, driving run took him clear of the Qarabag defence, but he elected to pass instead of shoot and the hosts scrambled clear.

After five minutes of stoppage time, the Celtic players were celebrating and will now contemplate the challenge of overcoming their final hurdle to the Champions League group stage. (BBC Sport)

The Sunday Times published data from 5,000 athletes, which it says reveals an “extraordinary extent of cheating”.

Athletics’ world governing body, the IAAF, said the blood results were not positive tests or proof of doping.

“The fightback has to start here,” said Coe, an IAAF vicepresident.

“It is a declaration of war on my sport. There is nothing in our history of competence and integrity in drug testing that warrants this kind of attack.”

The Sunday Times and German broadcaster ARD/ WDR examined leaked data from the IAAF database of results of 12,000 blood tests between 2001 and 2012.

The reports by the British and German media outlets said that more than 800 athletes - and a third of all medallists in endurance events at recent Olympics and World Championships - had suspicious blood-test results and that they were not followed up by the IAAF.

To review the data, the Sunday Times and ARD/WDR used two of the world’s “foremost anti-doping experts”, sci-

entists Robin Parisotto and Michael Ashenden, and they said that while “abnormal” results were not proof of doping, they were suspicious.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the IAAF called the allegations “sensationalist and confusing”.

It said: “What the IAAF cannot accept under any circumstances from the ARD/ Sunday Times, or the scientists whom they have retained, is an accusation that it has breached its primary duty to act in the best interests of the sport of athletics.”

The IAAF called the allegations “guesswork” and said it “categorically refutes all allegations”, and specifically rejected the claim that it “failed in its duty to pursue an effective blood-testing programme at all times”.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday, Lord Coe backed the IAAF’s stance, saying he and the governing body

were angered by accusations that they had done nothing to tackle doping.

Coe cited the introduction of the Athlete Biological Passport programme in 2009 as one of the ways the IAAF has been at the forefront of attempts to eradicate doping in sport.

“Every athlete in 2012-13 was subjected to a blood test, which was unprecedented. We have led the way on this and have consistently done so,” said Coe - who won Olympic gold in the 1500m at the 1980 and 1984 Games and wants to be the next IAAF president.

“To be selectively suggesting that an elevated one-off reading is the same as a positive test is just so wide of the mark. The blood passport itself is designed to create a profile and it is that profile that has chased some of the highest-named athletes out of our sport.

YELLOW PAGES

thursday, august 6, 2015

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Akram safe after being shot at in Karachi

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram is safe after being involved in a road-rage shooting incident in Karachi. He was on his way to the National Stadium for a fast-bowling camp when the attack occurred.

Akram told Express News, a Pakistan television channel, that was he was “in shock” and that he had noted the car number and given it to the police.

“Wasim was driving himself, and the car next to him tried to jam his car to one side and opened fire. He did not get hit, he is now at the National Stadium, dealing with police formalities,” Arsalan Hyder, Akram’s manager, told ESPNcricinfo.

Deputy Inspector General of Karachi East, Munir

Sheikh, said it was a case of road rage. “According to preliminary investigation, the incident appears to be a case of road rage. But we cannot say clearly what the motive behind the attack on Wasim

Akram was,” Sheikh told reporters outside the National Stadium. “We have identified the car from CCTV footage and will have the suspect in custody in a couple of hours.”

Amazon Warriors youth policy...

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He added, “I want to emphasise that the Under-19 players were given every opportunity to participate in all the activities of the Guyana Amazon Warriors camp and Coach Carl Hooper himself spent a lot of time advising the Under-19 players on their respective game development. Strength and Conditioning programmes were also given to the players to help with their overall fitness and endurance as part of improving their skills as better players.”

Khan said the Amazon Warriors management team is pleased to have played a part in the growth and development of the players. The Team Operations Manager also had a word of gratitude for the Guyana Cricket Board, which facilitated the process of allowing the players to be part of the Guyana Amazon Warriors set-up.

Great rewards

Persaud, during an indepth interview with Guyana Times Sport earlier this year, said being involved with the Guyana Amazon Warriors and training with leading modern-day cricketers was a boost to his career.

“Being part of the team is a really nice boost to my career in general. Being exposed to the international area at an early age is more than a

privilege for me. Last year’s stint with the team was a really good experience, and this year is even better. Being around players who have played regional, international and franchise cricket is a motivation itself to my career. Rubbing shoulders with likes of Sunil Narine, Brad Hodge, Shiv Chanderpaul, Denesh Ramdin and the others was a really good experience because I learnt a lot from them,” Persaud explained.

The talented young man was also very appreciative of the franchise investing in youth cricketers. “This would encourage youngsters to perform to the best of their abilities and there will be more competition among the youngsters throughout the region. Any young emerging cricketer will want that dream of playing in a CPL team to come through because it provides the opportunity to work alongside both local and international cricketers and also those who have played franchise cricket.”

Top players

Hetmyer, an opening batsman, is no doubt the most prolific young batsman in the region. He was the WICB Under-19 Cricketer-of-theYear in 2014 and at this year Under-19 tournament, he scored the most runs (355)

with one century and two halfcenturies. He also registered the highest individual score of 135 against the Leeward Islands.

Left-arm off-spinner Persaud is noted for his economical bowling figures and his ability to withstand pressure. He is also a dependable middle-order batsman. He compiled an excellent 92 for Demerara in the final against Berbice in this year’s Under-19 Inter-County competition.

All-rounder Paul burst onto the scene last year in the Inter-County competition and kept progressing rapidly. He is deemed as Guyana’s most dependable youth cricketer, as he is noted for pulling his team out of trouble. One such innings was the fighting 54 he made against Windward Islands in a match-winning partnership with Kasim Khan (51) in this year’s regional Under-19 tournament.

Imlach is an opening wicket-keeper batsman, whose skills with the bat and behind the wicket is definitely remarkable. In the recently concluded Under-19 tournament, he scored 61 against Trinidad and Tobago. What was significant about that innings was that he batted through the innings, keeping the innings together and taking Guyana to victory.

WI Legends endure...

Both batsmen retired hurt/not out after crossing fifty, placing the West Indies Legends on a solid platform at the halfway stage. Chanderpaul, the Caribbean’s most capped Test player, scored an attractive 52 off 29 balls with five fours and two sixes, while the stylish Sarwan cleared the fence five times in a 28-ball evenfifty.

Gus Logie chipped in with 11 not out towards the end, as John Levine, Neil Lewis and Peter Singh claimed a wicket each.

The brilliant partnership by Chanderpaul and Sarwan took the game away from New York Masters, as they never came close to overhauling the target, being limited to 134-4 when the overs expired.

Levine made 31 (21 balls,

4x4s, 1x6), Hafeez Ali 26 (27 balls, 5x4s) and Singh 21 (22 balls, 2x4s) for New York Masters, while Gomes claimed 2-21, and there one wicket apiece for leg-spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo and left-arm seamer Pedro Collins.

The previous day, the West Indies Legends were on the losing end, with a brilliant all-round effort from Massiah separating the teams.

Massiah provided a blitz at the top of the order for New York Legends, who posted 154-6 off the 20 overs.

The right-hander batsman cracked 34 off 18 balls with two fours and three maximums, while openers Richard Staple and Odelmo Peters with 24 each, and 20 not out from Derek Kallicharran continued with the momentum.

Sarwan, bowling leg-spin,

claimed 2-9 from 1.2 overs, while there was a wicket each for Collins, Chanderpaul, Adam Sanford and Clayton Lambert.

Massiah then returned with the ball to bag 4-20 from 2.2 overs and Staple captured 2-9 from two overs as West Indies Legends were dismissed for 131 with four balls remaining in the innings. Lambert topscored with a pedestrian 29 off 35 deliveries, while fast bowler Mervyn Dillon (15) was the only other batsman to reach 15. Chanderpaul and Ganga made 13 apiece.

Prior to the two games, the West Indies Legends were the centre of attention at a banquet where patrons were afforded the opportunity to dine with the cricketers, share stories, take photographs or just meet and greet.

Junior hockey team tour to T&T…

Guyanese top T&T in penalty shootout

Although Monday was a tournament rest day for Guyana’s national junior men’s hockey team competing in the Player Tournament, the boys used the opportunity to play the most important match of their week-long tour of the twin-island republic.

The match against Trinidad’s national Under-21 team who, like Guyana, are also preparing for the Pan American Junior Championships scheduled for Toronto, Canada, next year, was arranged to test the team’s level against one of the Caribbean’s best sides.

The game started with Trinidad playing their freeflowing, short-passing game, while Guyana struggled to maintain possession in the midfield. Although Trinidad dominated the first quarter, a solid defensive structure helped Guyana keep a clean sheet throughout.

As the starters began to tire, both teams made several substitutions, but the change in personnel caused a breakdown in Guyana’s defensive tactics, which allowed Trinidad’s wing backs to overlap at will.

In the final minute of the second quarter, one of Trinidad’s midfielders broke through the Guyana defense and sent a powerful shot towards the goal, which was saved by Guyana’s goalkeeper Medroy Scotland, only for the rebound to be slapped in.

Guyana tightened up on their tactics in the third quarter and created numerous turnovers in the midfield, which led to goal-scoring opportunities, but the Trinidadian goalkeeper made several key saves to keep his side ahead.

Trinidad would go two goals up near the end of the third quarter when Guyana failed to pressure the ballcarrier at the edge of the scoring area and he was able put his forward through on goal with a piercing pass through the stationary defense.

Guyana found their second wind in the fourth quarter and made several raids on Trinidad’s goal, which were turned back by some outstanding goalkeeping. With eight minutes left in the game Guyana’s captain Mark Sargeant made a key interception near his own goal then ran the length of the pitch before laying off to Aroydy Banford, who’s initial

shot was saved, but he dived over the goalkeeper to send home the rebound.

The hunt was now on and Guyana employed a high press to go after the Trinidadian backs. With three minutes left, Branford channelled the Trinidadian left back into his teammate Andrew Stewart, who turned over the ball and the two played out a brilliant counter attack of ‘one touch’ passing, which was finished by Branford.

The score remained level at 2-2 for the remainder of the game. In the ensuing penalty shootout, Branford and Kareem McKenzie scored for Guyana, while their goalkeeper Medroy Scotland made several saves to give his side the 2-1 victory.

Another success Meanwhile, fresh off their late comeback against the Under-21s on Monday evening, Guyana took on an Under-21 training squad selection on Tuesday.

Choosing to rest two senior national players, Banford and Andrew Stewart, Guyana’s young brigade was forced to step up. The youngsters struggled to maintain possession in midfield and wasted several goal scoring opportunities in the first quarter, which ended scoreless.

In the second quarter, Guyana’s goalkeeper Scotland made a vital reflex save to prevent his side from conceding the first goal for the fourth time in five games.

That close call seemed to trigger a sense of urgency in the Guyanese and they increased their work rate, which forced the Trinidadians into several mistakes.

In the final minute of the second quarter, some high pressure on the Trinidadian central defence by forward Keon McKenzie forced him into a wayward pass, which was intercepted by Rosario Ramsammy and the counter attack was on.

Ramsammy sprinted towards the goal and played a through pass to McKenzie, whose initial shot was well saved only for rebound to be put in by Ramsammy.

Guyana started the second half with a stifling full court press and the tactic paid of just three minutes into the quarter when

Instructors/Assessors back from FIFA Futuro

111 Course

McKenzie intercepted a pass from a Trinidadian free hit then laid off to Deheron Wilkinson before finishing the return pass. Despite several more goal-scoring opportunities the score would remain 2-0 until full time.

Guyana now face the tournament leaders Malvern Sports Club, who defeated them 5-3 on the opening night, before completing the round-robin phase of the tournament today against Queens Park.

Local FIFA Instructors/ Assessors Stanley Lancaster, Abdullah Hamid and Trevor Beckles have returned from participating in the FIFA Futuro 111 Course in Montego Bay, Jamaica, for officials in the CONCACAF Region.

The Course, which ran from July 28 to August 2, allowed for the sport’s governing body to be updated on the progress of officials from their Member Associations within CONCACAF, go through the amended laws and also plan the way forward, catering for the expansion of referees in the regions.

According to Lancaster, there were no adjustments to the laws of the game, but an inclusion of ‘Return Substitution’ and the use of Electronic Performance and Tracking Systems (EPTS).

The ‘Return Substitution’ rule, which also provides for an unlimited amount of substitution, is only applicable and permitted in the lowest levels

(grassroots and recreational) of football, subject to the agreement of the member association concerned.

Lancaster, who also holds the portfolio of Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Head of Refereeing

Department, said that the plan now is to host a similar course locally to bring the Guyanese referees and instructors/assessors abreast with the laws of the game. This, he said, will be done later this month.

Respect the Game Charity Basketball… Team Bond, Team Toney ready to ignite Linden

Respect the Game Inc., the only ‘Sportainment’ Charitable Company in Guyana, is taking its Charity Basketball to Linden on Friday with a triple-header at the Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Court.

Attorney-at-law

James Bond will lead his ‘Team Bond’, which will see Georgetown clubs Ravens, Pacesetters and Colts against Sport Journalist and Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Communications Director Rawle Toney’s Amelia’s Ward Jets, Half Mile Bulls and Victory Valley Royals.

The ‘Team Bond’ versus ‘Team Toney’ concept was birthed last year when a group of friends (Herman Liverpool, Toney, Bond, Edison Jefford, Campton

Bobb and Surika Danraj) came together and used the sport of basketball, their players and celebrities, to help give back to the less fortunate.

“We started the ‘Respect the Game’ movement last year when we had out celebrity event at the Sports Hall and now, we’re taking

it to Linden,” Toney said.

He further added, “I’m from Linden so ‘Team Toney’ will be bringing the best team from the town (Linden) and I know James’ ‘Team Bond’ will be very strong. The idea though, is to first help in giving back to basketball, making sure the players benefit, as well as using all the funds to support those in need in Linden.”

The event in Linden was made possible through sponsorship from E-Networks, Gravity Lounge, Sleep Inn International Hotel, Buddy’s Pools Hall and Fitness Express.

“Linden is a basketball community and it’s been a while since they’ve actually seen some good basketball. This event will reignite that Linden versus Georgetown rivalry while doing so for a good cause,” Toney said. Meanwhile, according to Toney, Respect the Game Inc, is presently doing a School Supplies Drive for the month of August to assist 200 children when school reopens in September.

Cricket statistician Ron Legall passes on

Veteran cricket statistician and scorer, Ron Legall, passed away this week after a period of illness. He was 72. The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), with whom Legall was attached to some years back, on Wednesday expressed its sadness at the passing of the always resourceful cricket official.

Below is the statement issued by the GCB on Wednesday.

“He was not a stranger to the cricket fraternity as he was one of the persons approached for accurate cricket records; something he took pride in compiling.

His contribution to cricket in Guyana was instrumental and will

always be remembered. He was a dedicated cricket scorer for the radio during regional and international tournaments in Guyana, and an efficient statistician.

He was courteous, helpful, humorous and a pleasant person, always trying to cheer others. He was also very devoted and passionate about his work. During his years as a book scorer and statistician, he tried to get others onboard with him; especially the youths. He even made himself available to train them.

The GCB offers warmest condolences to his family, relatives and friends, our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.”

BM Soat Auto Sales onboard with Guyana Cup

By Rajiv Bisnauth

BM Soat Auto Sales has become the latest company to throw its support behind the ninth staging of the annual Guyana Cup horse race meet, billed for Sunday August 16 at the Port Mourant Turf Club.

The event, which is a collaborative effort of Jumbo Jet Auto Sales and the Port Mourant Turf Club, will gallop off at noon with close to 100 of the country’s top horses set to battle for over $25,000,000 in cash and prizes.

Rovin DeSouza, a member of the organising team, was at the business office on Brickdam on Wednesday to seal the sponsorship deal ahead of the highly anticipated event.

DeSouza expressed grat-

itude to BM Soat Auto Sales for its support, noting that it is critical to the successful staging of the meet.

Secretary attached to the business entity, Nandanie Persaud said that her company was pleased to come onboard with what is arguably the biggest horse-race meet locally.

Meanwhile, dozens of jockeys from Canada, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, the U.S.A. and Barbados are expected to match strides with their local counterparts.

The feature race is for animals classified A1 and Lower. A total of $7.5 million will be up for grabs in that race. The race will be contested over a distance of 1800 metres.

Other races listed on the programme are: the Threeyear-old race for West Indies

bred horses; Two-year-old race for West Indies horses, E1 and Lower, Four-yearold for West Indies bred animals, F3 and Lower, G3 and Lower, Two-year-old race for Guyana bred horses, I1 and Lower, J1 and Lower, as well as a race for unclassified horses.

The top jockey, the runner-up, the top stable and champion trainer will all be rewarded for their performances.

Meanwhile, interested horse owners are required to deposit a 50 percent non-refundable fee by August 8.

The remainder of the entry fees must be paid in full on or before race day.

Apart from the rivalry among the horses and jockeys, the organisers have put together an entertainment package catering for both adults and children.

gFsca , Paradise of t&t square off Friday

The Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association (GFSCA) will host the visiting Paradise Sports and Cultural Organisation from Chaguanas, Trinidad, in a feature 20/20 cricket match this Friday at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground, Queenstown, starting 18:30h.

The versatile men from Floodlights, who are Guyana Softball Cup 4 and 2015 New York Independence Cup champions, will put on pads, batting gloves and helmets as they switch to hardball cricket to facilitate a match with the visitors.

The players of Paradise Sports and Cultural Organisation were first hosted in 1972 by the then famous Ogle Cricket Club. They then followed up this inaugural tour with several others up to the mid-eighties where they played various clubs on the East Coast of Demerara.

Some members from that 1972 trip will be in attendance at DCC on Friday. Meanwhile, the GFSCA has announced a strong squad to take on the twin-islanders.

The team reads: Ricky Deonarain (Captain), Reyaz Hussein, Wayne Jones, Uniss Yusuf, Khalid Baksh,

RHTY&SC cricket teams assist football and volleyball clubs

The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club’s (RHTY&SC) Pepsi Under-19 and Bakewell Under-17 cricket teams on Monday last assisted the Heart of Oaks football team of New Amsterdam and the Kewdana Village Volleyball Club of Region One.

The teams, as part of their personal development programme and the RHTY&SC’s Silver Jubilee anniversary celebration, donated several football trophies, a cartoon of food boxes and 50 copies of the club’s Youth Information Booklet to the football club for its annual ‘Teach Them Young’ football camp.

The cricket teams also donated a volleyball and net to the youths of the Region One club after a request was made to the RHTY&SC. Twelve copies of the Information Booklet were also handed over to the Kewbana youths to assist

them in their development.

Club Secretary/CEO, Hilbert Foster, praised the club for being agents of positive change and noted that the RHTY&SC is the only cricket club in Guyana, which actively involves its members to reach out and touch the lives of others.

Each year, the eight cricket teams of the RHTY&SC undertake a total of 160 activities with the main aim of making a positive difference in the lives of youths, the elderly and less fortunate. These activities are undertaken under the sub-headings of sports, charity, educational, anti-drugs, youth development and community development among others.

Foster hailed the work of the Heart of Oaks football club under the leadership of Neil Humphrey as a role model organisation and expressed pleasure at assisting them to successfully host

the 2015 camp, which has attracted over 80 youths in the New Amsterdam/Canje area. The Kewbana area requested assistance to get the volleyball equipment, so that the youths can use sports as a safe avenue away from drugs and crime. Foster urged the two organisations to redouble their efforts and to always strive for excellence. He also committed the RHTY&SC and the cricket teams to assisting in the future with sport gear and trophies. He also promised to obtain sponsorship for a youth football tournament as part of the club’s “Say no to drugs” campaign. Neil Humphrey of Hearts of Oak football club and Stanley Alexander, who received the volleyball equipment on behalf of the youths of Kewbana, expressed gratitude to the RHTY&SC and its cricket teams.

Richard Persaud, Dharam Persaud, Aravinda Gainda, Romeo Deonarain, Steve Narine, Rahaman Khan, Surendra Nauth, Rakesh Goverdhan and Rohan BojRaj (Manager). According to the GFSCA, admission is free, with lots to on sale to eat and drink, while there will be live entertainment.

Amazon Warriors youth policy reaping rewards

By AvenAsh RAmzAn

Since the inception of the Caribbean Premier League in 2013, two-time runnersup, the Guyana Amazon Warriors, has displayed a strong interest in investing in youth players, with the intention of nurturing their young careers and preparing them for senior cricket.

Last year, the franchise had six national Under-19 players attached to the camp during the training sessions in Guyana, and those players were able to draw from the experience of top regional and international cricketers, who were more than willing to share their vast knowledge.

For the 2015 tournament, three of those playersopener Shimron Hetmyer and all-rounders Keemo Paul and Akshaya Persaudreturned, while wicketkeeper/batsman Sherfane Rutherford was added to the line-up.

But while the group was smaller this year, the rewards have been tremendous with Hetmyer, Paul and Persaud, along with opener Tevin Imlach, doing so well for the Guyana Under-19 team at the recently concluded West Indies Cricket Regional Under-19 tourna-

ment, they have found themselves in the West Indies Under-19 training squad for the ICC Youth World Cup in Bangladesh next year.

Guyana emerged champions of the regional tournament for the second year in succession, and the trio played a major part in the success. The three

Amazon Warriors recruits, along with Imlach, are currently encamped with the rest of the regional players at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies.

The camp started on Tuesday last and will conclude on August 17.

Team Operations

WI Legends endure mixed fortune in NY

West Indies Legends

defeated New York Masters by 47

runs, but suffered a 23-run defeat at the hands of New York Legends in their two T20 matches dubbed ‘West Indies Cricket Legends tour of New York’ last weekend at Idlewild Park in Queens.

Former West Indies captains Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan, along with former Guyana youth player Steve Massiah were among the outstanding performers on the two days of exciting cricket.

The likes of legendary West Indies players Sir

Garfield Sobers, Joe Solomon and Alvin Kallicharran watched the action from the sidelines, while soaking in the atmosphere at the picturesque venue.

On Sunday, the West Indies Legends recovered well to post 181-4 from the allotted 20 overs, largely in part to a crucial fifthwicket partnership from Chanderpaul and Sarwan.

The West Indies Legends had slipped to 69-4 at the start of the 11th over when opener Daren Ganga fell for 40 off 33 balls, an innings

that included five fours and a six. Former West Indies players Gordon Greenidge (12), Faoud Bacchus (02) and Larry Gomes (00) were already back in the hut.

The West Indies Legends needed some impetus at the back-end of the innings, and Chanderpaul and Sarwan provided just that, rolling back the years with another solid partnership, much the likes of what they have consistently stitched together for Guyana and the West Indies over their illustrious careers.

Manager of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, Omar Khan, on Wednesday expressed congratulations to the team on winning the regional Under-19 team, and also reserved special recognition for Hetmyer, Persaud and Paul on their elevation to the regional training squad.

“It is indeed very heartening to us in the Guyana Amazon Warriors team to follow the success and de-

velopment of the Under-19 players who were part of the Guyana Amazon Warriors squad for the CPL 2015. It must be noted that Shimron Hetmyer was selected as a full member of the Guyana Amazon Warriors team for the CPL and Keemo Paul, Sherfane Rutherford and Akshya Persaud were all part of the training camp held prior to the CPL,” Khan pointed out.

Former WICB president Peter Short dies

Former president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Captain Peter Short, has passed away, according to media reports in Barbados.

Short, who also served as WICB’s representative on the International Cricket Council (ICC), died early Tuesday morning at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after a lengthy illness. He was 89.

A former president of the Barbados Cricket Association, Short has been described as the longest serving and arguably the

best known chief administrator of cricket in Barbados. Short, who was born in Trinidad and was married to a Barbadian, is a former captain of Barbados Division One champions Wonderers. He was also a cricket commentator from 1957 until 1979, covering every first-class and Test match at Kensington Oval. Short considered himself fortunate to have managed West Indies cricket with the minimum of criticism, given the controversy that has dogged successive WICB administrations. (CMC)