Final

GECOM failed Guyana – Jagdeo

saturday, august 8, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

12 patients underwent 'club foot' operations

Some 12 Guyanese underwent corrective surgery for club feet at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) during the course of this week. The operations were done by a team of doctors from the Health Education and Relief Organisation Incorporated (HERO Inc).

The team recently visited Guyana to perform the corrective surgeries on a number of children as well as a few adults with lower limb deformities. Clubfoot is a birth defect of one or both feet which renders the limb or limbs twisted so that the sole cannot be placed flat on the ground.

The volunteer organisation had commenced a programme back in 2006, which saw a team visiting Guyana twice a year to do outreaches and perform corrective surgeries on children with club foot and other lower extremity problems.

However, since 2011, there was a hiatus in the programme. HERO Member, Dr John Mitchell, noted that the organisation now planned to pick up from where it left off.

Over the last four days, the team of doctors from HERO has performed at least 20 procedures on about 12 persons as some patients required two operations. The surgeries were performed on patients as young as un-

der one-year-old and also on adults who were born with chronic deformities that were never treated. The surgeries were performed with assistance from doctors attached to the GPHC.

Paediatric Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Claude Scott had indicated that the patients who underwent the operations are recovering well so far. He stated, “We have had no complications,

those who were ready for discharge have already been sent home.”

In addition, Dr Mitchell also stated that the response received has been very favourable and the parents have been very grateful. He added too that the team has had complete support from the city hospital at every level, from the senior administration to the surgical attendees.

Grounded Insel Air agrees to fly out Indian nationals

...no

After initially refusing to transport several Indian nationals out of Guyana, the Insel Air flight that was grounded by the Central Immigration Office was given approval to take off from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) after it agreed to transport the foreign nationals.

On Thursday, the CJIA issued a statement informing passengers that the Immigration Office located in Timehri has grounded the carrier that was scheduled to depart the Airport at 06:45h the said day. The release stated that “the aircraft was not permitted to depart CJIA until arrangements were made to transport eight Indian nationals out of the jurisdiction”.

According to reports, these nationals arrived at Guyana’s main port on July 19, but were refused entry into the country for various immigration reasons. They were reportedly unable to provide Immigration Officers with relevant information as it relates to the purpose of their stay and other details such as accommodation arrangements.

The eight Indian nationals have been in the custody of the Guyana Police Force since their arrival almost three weeks ago.

Guyana Times was made to understand that the Immigration Office had arranged for the Indian nationals to be flown out of the country on Thursday on an Insel Air flight since they used the said airline to travel to Guyana. However, the persons were not allowed on the aircraft which was allegedly full; hence, authorities opted to have the flight grounded until the following day. This newspaper was also informed

that there were no facilities to accommodate the Indian nationals who were forced to wait on the CJIA tarmac as their case was being discussed by authorities. Also it was indicated that the meals provided were not suitable due to their religious background. By Friday morning, the Insel Air officials had agreed to transport the nationals back to the location they came from. Given Guyana’s geographical location and other favourable conditions, many foreign nationals opt to travel here although they are not in possession of all the required immigration documents. Many of them end up finding themselves before the courts.

Back in June, some 11 nonnationals were charged and placed before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts for illegal entry and overstaying their time in Guyana.

The women hailed from Colombia, Venezuela and Dominica. They were all fined a total of $180,000 after they pleaded guilty to their respective charges. Six of the women had entered the country via Charity, Essequibo River, while the other five had overstayed the one-month period granted to them.

They reportedly told the court that they came to Guyana for various reasons – some to visit their boyfriends or get married and others to commit prostitution. They were among 27 persons who were taken into custody by Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Simona Broomes, after she, along with a team, conducted a spontaneous “Trafficking In Person (TIP)” raid in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni/ Mazaruni).

Mother-daughter duo busted in cocaine sting remanded

Amother and daughter duo was on Friday remanded to prison by Magistrate Fabayo Azore in Court Five of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Ayesha Rodriguez , a 22-year-old clothes vendor, and Jackie Rodriguez , a 42-yearold clothes vendor, both of Durban Street, Lodge, pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that on Thursday, August 6 at Durban Street , they sold 296 grams of cocaine to Police Constable 20457 Dhanraj.

According to the facts presented by Police Prosecutor Corporal Deniro Jones, on the day in question, ranks of the Police Force were on an undercover operation and went to the said address to make a purchase from the defendants. After purchasing the substance from the younger Rodriguez in the presence of her mother with marked money, the undercover rank identified himself and re-

moved the marked money. It was revealed that during the incident, the accused flushed the remaining illicit substance down a toilet. It was also stated that the mother claimed the drug belonged to her and her daughter had no knowledge of it.

Attorney-at-Law

Paul Fung-A-Fat who appeared for the women made an application for bail stating that the younger woman was almost four months pregnant. During the court proceedings, the young woman suffered a panic attack, vomiting and almost collapsing. Attorney Fung-A-Fat requested that bail be granted as the women were willing to lodge their documents in the court. Prosecutor Jones objected to bail, stating that no special reasons were put forward. The Magistrate remanded the women to prison until August 10 when the matter will return to court.

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, August 8 – 12:00h-13:30h and Sunday, August 9 –13:30h-15:00h

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Saturday, August 8 – 11:10h-12:40h and Sunday, August 9 –12:35h-14:05h

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 sunny weather in the afternoon. Clear skies can be expected in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East to East North-easterly at 3.57 metres per second.

High Tide: 11:04h and 23:31h reaching maximum heights of 2.23 metres and 2.29 metres respectively.

Low Tide:03:25h and 15:51h reaching minimum heights of 0.77 metre and 0.91 metre respectively.

saturday, august 8, 2015 |

GECOM failed Guyana – Jagdeo

– discloses PPP’s plan to push for massive reforms

By Michael younge

Former President

Bharrat Jagdeo says that the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has failed the country because of its inability to deliver free, fair and transparent elections in 2015 explaining that it is time for a spate of reforms to be piloted to strengthen the entity and exclude undue political interference.

Jagdeo, speaking during an exclusive interview on Television Guyana Channel 28’s (TVG 28) Under the Microscope Show, said that GECOM still has a lot of burning questions to answer following what he described as the fraudulent and rigged May 11 General and Regional Elections which

saw the A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition forming the new Government with a oneseat majority. They ousted the Peoples Progressive Party Civic into the opposition benches after 23 years in office.

“We are hoping to get some of these answers from the elections petition that we filed which has outlined the many deficiencies associated with those elections and how we thought that the results do not reflect the will of the people”, Jagdeo said during the 90-minute unedited interview which was aired on Friday evening for the first time.

Jagdeo said that the petition will give Guyanese an insight as to the inner workings of all those bodies with the GECOM infrastructure that were set up to safeguard a free and fair elections process but which were

inefficient, compromised and politically skewed.

He said even with all of the manipulation of votes that took place, the PPP/C still managed to clinch over 49 per cent of the votes which means that it remains the single largest political organism in the country.

That aside, Jagdeo maintained that the 2015 elections experience has left a sour taste in the mouths of the PPP supporters and leaders because of the manner in which the elections was conducted by officials at GECOM.

Reforms

He said that the PPP had arrived at a plan of action to remedy some of the deficiencies encountered during the last elections.

Firstly, he made it clear that GECOM’s Chairman Dr Steve Surujbally has to go and the PPP/C is not willing to compromise on this aspect of the reforms it will pursue over the coming months.

“We believe that Surujbally does not have what it takes to deliver free and fair elections since the last elections…he has succumbed to pressure and has allowed himself to act in a partisan manner”, Jagdeo said firmly during the interview.

The former President said he found it unacceptable that Surujbally was making attempts to shift blame for the conduct of the elections to the Chief Elections Officer Keith Lowenfield following the PPP/C’s calls for him to resign.

Jagdeo insisted that “… he cannot put the blame on the CEO. He’s in charge”

Secondly, he said that the PPP/C was going to focus

its efforts to advocating for a clean and sterilized Official List of Electors (OLE) with higher levels of accuracy. He argued that this was important as many of the concerns the party raised about the need to sanitize the voters list fell on deaf ears or were ignored by GECOM ahead of the May 11 elections.

He spoke about the need for GECOM to look closely at the appointment of Senior Staff including Presiding and Deputy Presiding Officers as some of them acted unlawfully during the last elections.

“We have to look at presiding officers because in the last elections you had presiding officers who were sympathetic to the opposition giving people extra bal-

lots to vote”, Jagdeo alleged.

Introduction of Biometrics, electronic voting

Jagdeo, who is poised to become Guyana’s next Opposition Leader after he takes up his seat in Parliament, said that the PPP would push for the introduction of biometrics as part of the process of reforming the electoral process.

He believes that if you have enhanced biometrics outside of just a photo ID, then it would be difficult for the electoral process to be manipulated.

Jagdeo also disclosed that the party would be pushing for the introduction of electronic voting as well as a means of strengthening the system.

“You have a system that can do both. You can vote in the machine which has enhanced biometrics and it will issue a small paper which is a ballot which shows how

you have voted…”, he suggested.

The Former President also called for an overhauling of the system and processes used to hire electoral staff and permanent workers for far flung areas arguing that the system needed to become more “fair”.

He made no bones about the need to cleanse of the system and the removal of all the political recruits.

He advised that already, steps are being made to lobby the international community for these reforms disclosing that the PPP wants to make the system at GECOM as fool proof as possible ahead of the next General and Regional elections or possible snap polls.

Denied recounts

Additionally, the former President also bemoaned the level of bias and lack of impartially that characterized GECOM’s system during the last elections as he referred to what obtained, for example, in the case of Region 8.

The PPP/C had lost that region by one vote as the APNU and AFC clinched onto the parliamentary seat for the Region.

“How could a request for a recount there be unreasonable…”, Jagdeo questioned before pointing out that even if GECOM wanted to deny requests for recounts elsewhere, the one for this region should have been accommodated given the number of spoilt votes there.

Probe of fake SOPs

Jagdeo said that he was appalled by the manner in which GECOM under Surujbally’s management handled the entire issues surrounding the discovery of fake and fraudulent Statement of Polls (SOPs).

“Fraudulent Statements of Polls means that someone put in place and gave GECOM fake statements of polls “, he started before stating, “What they should have done was to call in the police..It is a criminal offence to do this (produce fake SOPs)…Until now neither Surujbally nor Lowenfield have asked the Police to investigate how those fraudulent statements of polls got into GECOM”, the Guyanese leader said.

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

The intention behind the Government’s negligence

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan remained almost invisible and quiet since the coalition Government took Office. So quiet that one is led to wonder if he’s being deliberately silenced. His few attempts to address the drastic soar in crime observed over the past three months, appear to be a source of mockery and anger for the public, probably causing him to return to hide in his cocoon away from public criticism.

Could it be that the Securities Minister is being dictated a code of conduct and a restricted agenda by others in Government, or is he simply incapable of handling the savagery which currently defines the actions of criminals?

While no one seems to be safe from the crime spree, not even 77 year old grandmothers or immigrants, the measures initiated by the Public Security Minister are a firsthand reflection of his inaptitude in understanding the challenges of and producing the solutions to the issue and nature of crimes in Guyana. It also questions the intention of the PNC-led Government, considering its apparent indifference to the escalation of crime.

Although female officers on horseback parading in Bel Air Park might be an interesting attraction, it most certainly doesn’t impact the reduction of crime. Nor is trying to convince Guyana that all Guyanese will be safe if they stop drinking at 2 am. Here Minister Ramjattan actually incurs the risk of developing underground activities to compensate for the reduction of business income, (probably boosting the “bush rum” industry!), subsequently increasing vulnerability of Guyanese.

Now, Minister Ramjattan has decided to take up the fight against suicide, which, although it is a major socioeconomic issue in our society, doesn’t represent an immediate threat to random Guyanese going about their daily businesses. This is an initiative which could be prioritized simultaneously with policies aimed at reducing crime. Yet, it doesn’t seem to retain the Minister’s attention as one needing immediate action, even though the crimes committed are sometimes tinged with hues of this country’s ethnic divide.

While the majority of victims remain Guyanese, immigrants, particularly from the Brazilian and Chinese communities, who contribute heavily to what was a vibrant South American economy up to a few months ago, are also targeted. The brutal massacre of a Chinese national who owned a restaurant on Mandela Avenue is proof that no one is exempt from being targeted. The Government’s laid-back attitude could be interpreted by both the criminals and the wider society as a calculated negligence regarding the exposure of hard working Guyanese, including those of the business community, to crime.

Also, the discriminatory behavior of public authorities regardless of the country’s cultural diversity or constant flux of foreigners, is overtly visible. For instance, there’s the case of a Canadian woman being assaulted by guards at a popular Regent Road mall. Even more recent is the case of eight Indian nationals who were left on the Tarmac of the CJIA after an Insel Air aircraft refused to transport the men who were initially refused permission to stay in Guyana for different reasons. They were treated no better than criminals, as they were left on the CJIA tarmac until it was decided what the next step would be in dealing with their case.

However, Guyanese who are known to have migrated in countries across the world also face strict, sometimes discriminatory immigration policies, especially in the U.S. In this regard, the Government, and in particular Citizenship Minister Felix, should promote nondiscriminatory policies, especially for immigrants who come to Guyana to invest, and must also ensure that Guyana is perceived as a non-hostile country on the international scene. After all, what message are we sending to our neighbours and the world if our own Government, overseeing a culturally diverse country, cannot treat immigrants with respect?

But what is the point of even investing in a decent immigration policies when the Public Securities Ministry is failing at its principal mandate, that of creating a friendly, hospitable and secure society? For although this country needs the human and financial capital offered by immigrants, our Government is failing to create the environment in which they could safely thrive. The negative consequences will befall both Guyanese and investors.

More ominous signs

Dear Editor,

We draw to the attention of the public the ominous signs of racial and political discrimination taking place in our country. Hundreds of Indo-Guyanese have been dismissed from Government jobs. What has not been spoken about are the scores of persons that have tendered their resignations because of difficult working conditions being imposed by the current regime. This trend is continuing unabated.

The regime is not yet one hundred days old, yet we are seeing the excessive spending, the squander of Government funds and the total disregard for the welfare of public servants.

We have also seen that in that short space of time, it has greatly increased the size of its bureaucracy.

As reported in the Guyana Time of August 02, “The very visible – almost ubiquitous –expansiveness of the Executive is clearly visible. This is not very surprising since the Executive is swollen to include the President, Prime Minister, four Vice Presidents, 20 advisors to the President, 15 Senior Ministers and 12 Junior Ministers, 15 Permanent Secretaries and the staff of the Ministries.”

The article also notes:

“There was even greater alarm at the ethnic composition of the Executive, especially since the coalition had acknowledged the country’s ethnic divide as a major impediment to progress and prosperity. In fact, its major partner APNU had explicitly courted the AFC and hammered out the

“Cummingsburg Accord” to achieve its stated goal to create an ethnically “inclusive” Government. Yet the Presidency and 15 senior Ministers included only four persons or 25 per cent Guyanese of Indian origin. In the wider pool of the overall Executive, the percentage is even smaller.”

Reports have also indicated that there will be huge increases in their salaries and allowances while they halted the ‘Because We Care’ programme, which granted each child attending school $10,000 on a yearly basis.

The APNU/AFC misrepresentation that the PPP/C was planning to close this programme after the elections is completely false.

The PPP/C was actually considering increasing the amount and designing other initiatives that would have encouraged higher attendance in schools.

The Granger regime, has proceeded to swell its already enlarged bureaucracy, by adding even more parliamentary secretaries and support staff, while IndoGuyanese are being expelled from the Public Service and replaced by high-profile APNU personnel, mainly of Afro-Guyanese extraction.

Moreover, replacements are being paid twice as much as their predecessors, regardless of their levels of competencies which often cannot match that of previous employees.

But one has to question, with all these huge monetary increases, how could the regime claim that the PPP/C left and empty trea-

sury?

All the critics of the former PPP/C administration are now being given top positions, such as the contracting of Messrs Christopher Ram and Anand Goolsarran to conduct forensic audits, clearly a cover up scheme for witch hunting.

No bidding process, advertisement and evaluation process justified the granting of these contracts, but presumably they’re not working for free.

The regime also created ‘bodies’ which basically serve no purpose and, therefore, have little or no work to do, such as the Asset Recovery Committee. One wonders how much the persons serving on this committee receive in salaries and allowances.

Maybe recognizing the fact that there is little evidence of corruption, the regime has gone on another witch hunt, this time, targeting persons who were granted house lots in the Pradoville Two Housing area.

The public was informed of this since 2011 and even one of President Granger’s Advisors occupies a residence there.

The moralizing and pious talks of conflict of interests has all gone overboard as the de facto Government is unashamedly doing what it pleases with little regard for consultation with stakeholders or the general welfare of the people.

Ministers now occupy State boards despite that this is represents a conflict of interest although APNU/ AFC had made much of this

when only one Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, had chaired NICIL’s Board.

Now Finance Minister Winston Jordan chairs NICIL but we hear nothing from the press and human rights bodies that were so vociferous in the past.

Instead, sections of the media are being acknowledged by the Government for all the good work they did for the APNU/AFC when they were in opposition. The saturation of the public with distortions, half-truths and even lies by these media houses has reaped rewards for the coalition.

Now these media houses hold the largest allocation of Government ads and as such have cast aside journalistic ethics. The press statements now issued by the PPP are seldom allowed space in these newspapers and if they are published, are butchered, distorted and twisted by the editorial body.

Because of their bias and privileges, these media houses seem to have no qualms about suppressing views that aren’t pro-Government. Many persons who write letters that are critical of the de facto Government are being silenced in these newspapers. These ominous signs point to a rapid descent into a society where freedoms will be restricted and the elite will once more push our country back to the dark old days of Burnhamism.

Let your voices be heard now before it is too late.

Donald Ramotar

The Government’s assertion of its preparedness for Local Government Elections ought not to be the only determinant of the Nation’s readiness for those Elections

Dear Editor,

I will not dispute the fact that many of our Local Democratic Organs have proven unable to deliver continuously and efficiently the range and quality of services which residents seek and which these Local Authorities ought to be delivering. But while I concede that Local Government is needed for the effective and efficient management of the affairs of our Country; and while I accept that Local Government Elections would no doubt provide opportunity for the replenishment of Councils and the “imbuing of fresh blood with fresh ideas” that are necessary if our community leaders are to successfully face and address the challenges to development that daily beset us as a Society; it is in the context of the opportunities that properly conducted Local Government elections offer to the people of Guyana that I, like thousands of other Guyanese, reemphasize the importance of adequate preparations for such Elections so that no one is deliberately disenfranchised. And may I add that adequate preparations must not satisfy the expectations of Government only but a number of major players and participants also; including GECOM itself, political parties, candidates and voters; many of whom have never had opportunity to vote at these Elections before.

With regards to Gecom’s readiness for Local Government Elections before the end of 2015, the PPP’s concern has to do with the electoral process and Gecom’s willingness and ability to take such adequate and timely steps, necessary to ensure that the process is not compromised.

These steps, many of which are fraught with geographic and logistic challenges include but are not limited to: (a) delineation with accuracy of the boundaries of the 585 Constituencies and providing accurate lists of electors for each of these Constituencies. In this regard, physical verification is required in the Communities. Recall that the many Housing Schemes established by the PPP/C Government have resulted in the change of land mass and

population in many NDCs across Guyana (b) amendments to some sections of the relevant Legislation re. the conduct of Local Government Elections. These were apparently recently addressed in some measure in the Parliament (c) civic and voter education for voters and candidates. I do recall Gecom’s Chairman, Dr Surajbally remarking that “this is a brand new election: a new process and we ought not to rush into it”.

Gecom has got to get it right; moreso, since it would have taken some years waiting and at high cost. Furthermore, I do not recall Gecom’s CEO Mr Keith Lowenfield publicly pronouncing, as of late, Gecom’s readiness to have these elections before the end of 2015.

Adequate administrative and logistic arrangements must be in place if we are to have efficient, free, fair and transparent Local Government Elections. These must include transparency in staff recruitment and consequent comprehensive staff training. Be reminded also that Gecom has frequently assured that though it has a Work Plan to facilitate the holding of Local Government Elections when this is called by the Minister; it needed six months’ notice to operationalize that Plan.

Though the Communities Minister has made this call, most rightful thinking Guyanese view this call as a public expression of the APNU/AFC obvious eagerness to be seen as fulfilling one of the 21 commitments it made to the Guyanese public in their 2015 Elections campaign. It is obviously part of the 100 days Plan. Matters to do with the adequacy of preparation for these elections are no doubt secondary for the Ministry and the Government of which he is a part. But for us in the PPP, the adequacy of preparation for LGE is important.

The PPP/C’s position is that the holding of Local Government Elections and its timing are a function not only of the readiness of the Government; but also the readiness of Gecom to execute the duties and responsibilities that are a sine qua non for fair and free elections. It is also a function of the public Education and aware-

ness of the Political Parties, Groups and Individuals who would wish to contest these elections whether at the First Past The Post (FPTP) or Proportional Representation (PR); and the voters. They are an important part of the process. Otherwise the huge Investment in the activities that include preparation for/ the holding of and the counting and declaration of results would be a wasted investment of public funds.

The need to educate and inform candidates as well as voters of their rights and responsibilities as voters. There’s new Local Government voting system, a mixed Electoral System of Proportional Representation and First Past the Post. 50% of the number of Councillors of each Local Authority Area will be elected through the PR component and the other 50% through FPP or the Constituency component. Only Voluntary Groups or Political Parties can contest the PR aspect of LGE. People must know.

We want as many persons as possible to cast their votes. We make a mock of true democracy if a significant number of eligible voters do not vote. We need to ensure that all who are eligible to vote are properly registered to do so and furthermore, that they understand where and how to exercise their franchise. Moreover, a significant number of those eligible to vote at the upcoming LGE will be young people; most of whom have never voted at LGE before now but have always celebrated Christmas. Coming so soon after the 2015 General and Regional Elections, where will the mass of young people place their priorities if they are not properly prepared: Local Government Elections or Christmas. Recall the 1994 LGE where a mere 32% of eligible voters did cast their vote. Is this what we want? I think not.

The PPP has continuously and publicly extended a hand of cooperation to work with all the parties to ensure adequate preparation for LGE. Such an approach would ensure large voter turnout and acceptable results welcomed by all Guyanese.

Norman Whittaker

Is

the Granger Government disinterested in Climate Change?

Dear Editor, It has become obvious that the Granger Government does not have Climate Change as one of its top priorities. And as a result the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) with Norway appears to be on a standstill, probably at the risk of being scrapped. This is so because the Granger Government definitely seems uninterested in the extension of the Forest Protection Programme with Norway which came to an end in June 2015.

The fact that the Granger Government is allegedly pursuing a path of termina-

tion for the LCDS, leads one to wonder if the Kingdom of Norway along with the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) were part of any consultation since the new Administration took over.

The People of Guyana who depended on funds for various LCDS Projects will now be disappointed because the LCDS which is Guyana’s national initiative to combat Global Climate Change is now seems dead.

Importantly in this regard, the World Bank’s International Development Association, the trust-

ee of Guyana’s REDD+ Investment Fund (GRIF), must also ensure that no payments received from Norway for our Forest Climate Services are released to the Granger Government. Editor, it is sad, but our LCDS is in jeopardy under the Granger Government which seemingly indifferent to Climate Change issues. The International Community, represented particularly the United Nations (UN) must be made aware about this and engage the Government.

Sincerely,

Stanley Williams

Alleged corruption under Regional Engineer, Region Nine

Dear Editor

On behalf of contractors of Lethem, I call on President Granger and his Government, as well as on the Communities Minister to consider the immediate removal of the Regional Engineer, Mr. Mohamed Hussain, who is presently attached to the Public Works Department of the Regional Democratic Council of Region 9.

Mr Editor, this engineer in particular is allegedly colluding with regional contractors of his interest to make personal profit. Proof to this allegation can be provided by several in the region who are aware of this, including acting REO Carl Parker.

The said engineer would have passed and recommended two bridge payments for a reputable road contractor in the region. The bridge however were to be completed since last year. To date the bridges are incomplete but it is alleged that the contractor was already paid for works done. It is a known fact that contractors frequent the engineer’s apartment and since the engineer’s estimate was not published for Region 9 for respective projects for 2015, I am of the opinion that only a clique of contractors associated with the engineer will be awarded projects. The secretary of the acting REO Carl Parker

and the engineer has a cordial relationship and are related and are friends to regional contractors.

How is this transparent?

We the concerned citizens call on the responsible Minister to investigate this engineer who also supplies all vehicle parts for the RDC vehicles only, through one mechanical establishment.

We urge the responsible Minister to act quickly and have this particular allegedly corrupt engineer of removed when found guilty, from this region. We look forward to change.

Faithfully,

R Nicholson

Mining allegedly forced on some Toshaos of the Rupununi

Dear Editor, The South and South Central residents of the Rupununi, Region 9 are highly concerned over recent actions by the acting Regional Executive Officer (REO) Carl Parker. It is alleged that Parker met with Toshaos and begged them to sign a “no objection letter” to the President of Guyana to have the Falcon Gold Mining Company of Canada conduct mining activities at the Marudi Mountains. Residents are of the view that Tony and Dorothy James of the American Peoples

Association (APA) are behind this move by trying to form South and South Central District Toshaos Councils to give the impression that Toshaos support this initiative. This is a contravention of section 35(1) of the Amerindian Act 2006. It is only the Minister of Amerindian Affairs (now Indigenous Affairs) who “may by order establish a district council”. But can the Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan say if Carl Parker, the acting REO is employed by the Falcon Company since the work that he’s doing for the Falcon Gold Company is not related to his position as acting REO? Residents of villages are claiming that corruption under Carl Parker has now started. The village residents also strongly contend that it is wrong for the Falcon Company to engage Carl Parker for their proposed investments at the Marudi Mountains instead of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and affected Amerindian Communities.

Yours faithfully Paul Thomas

Page Foundation

By AnnA StewArt, FAmily AdvocAte

Today’s mothers are all too familiar with the so-called “Mommy Wars,” an expression used to stereotype the struggles and challenges faced by stay-at-home mothers versus those of working or career mothers. Like with all stereotypes, the Mommy Wars conflict is far more complicated than that. When we talk about the Mommy Wars, what we’re really talking about is passing judgement. And not just society’s judgement about the choices mothers make, but the judgements that we mothers make about other moms, their choices, and their kids.

She must be a bad mother

See if this sounds familiar. In kindergarten, my son got invited to a classmate’s birthday party. Upon arrival at the party, he flipped out on the front porch and refused to enter. I was mortified. I cajoled, bribed, and strongarmed him into the house, sure that Linda, the host mom, was judging me for not being able to control him. Once in the house, he got no better. And so I took him home, feeling like a failure.

too often: we judge each other as mothers by what we think of their children.

A desire to protect

My reaction to the birthday party also stemmed from a strong desire to protect my son from life’s hurts. I wanted to be his buffer, his safety zone. I love him so much, his pain is my pain. And that probably sounds familiar, too. That deep love, that desire to protect and keep our children safe, can cause us to judge others either in response to criticisms, or (to keep with the war metaphor) so that we can “draw first blood.”

Weekly breaks: Parent groups are a great way to get out of the house without the children, but it’s still focused on the children. See if you can also do one thing a week just for you, even if it’s just for 15 minutes.

Reviewing with our partner or friend: Sharing our concerns moves them out of the shadows and into discussion and reflection. Be willing to examine an incident or experience and to see it from all sides. Talk as if the person you are with does not know your child. What questions would they ask? How would you present yourself? Your child?

Linda never invited my son over again and even avoided me at school functions. I felt like she was judging me. My son was anxious, aggressive and loud. So it had to be my fault.

But, I judged her, too. Instead of sharing my fears that something was really wrong with my son, I labelled Linda as stuck-up, elitist, and rude. I didn’t invite her son over either, and I secretly passed judgement on him, too: he was too short, too loud, too bossy. My response to the situation was to silently wage war on Linda and her son. And this happens all

When we assume…

As the mom of a non-traditional child (one who doesn’t behave within the narrow definition of acceptable), I know that other mothers of non-traditional children particularly feel the weight of judgement. We feel it when our child melts down in the store, pushes a child at the playground, or throws their dinner all over the table because there are peas in the fried rice. We get used to the glares.

But what about the glares we give? What about the judgement we pass on the mom who won’t look at us as she scuttles past us in the store with her own two children? We assume she is avoiding us, but what if she is trying to avoid her own child’s meltdown? What if her daughter is triggered by other children screeching?

Cultivating compassion

So, how can we cultivate more compassion and less judgement and put an end to our own silent Mommy Wars?

Here are five practices you can try:

Parent groups. As the facilitator of numerous parenting groups, I see many guarded and defensive moms transform quickly to compassionate, friendly and available people. And I see groups of strangers who come to stand together and support each other.

Journaling*: For many, journaling is the next best thing to talking (for some of us, it’s even better).

Write out your worries and your whatifs. Write about your dreams and desires. Write about your first bike, or how you feel about rainy days, or a story about someone who helped you. Write for at least three minutes a day, no mat- ter what.

Breathe: Practise intentional breathing by taking three slow, deep breaths with long exhales. Do this while you are rinsing your hair in the shower, or are waiting for the garage door to open, or lighting a candle at the dinner table. Calm breathing can be done anytime, anyplace.

It also helps to remember that other moms are simply doing the best they can, just like we are. Perhaps we need a universal signal so that we can say without words, “I see you. I feel for you. I have been there and this, too, will pass. You got this.” Wouldn’t that change things? (empoweringparents.com)

By megAn devine, lcPc

Here

at Empowering

Parents, we’ve received many messages from parents sharing sadness and disappointment over the way their children have turned out. It’s a subject we don’t talk about very often, but it’s one that really deserves some attention.

In The Total Transformation Program, James Lehman talks about parenting the child you have rather than the one you wish you had. What he means is that we each carry an image of who our child will be; and we often hold on to that powerful image, attempting to connect with the fantasy of our child rather than trying to relate to our child as they really are.

In order to be effective parents, we need to see our children as who they are, right now, not who they used to be.

Letting go of that “fantasy child” isn’t easy. In fact, it can be hard to even admit our disappointment when our children don’t turn out exactly as we imagined, when they don’t like the things we enjoy, or don’t want the career we’d wish for them. Many parents feel grief at the loss of that fantasy—and that’s normal.

When your child goes wrong

But what happens when the reality of who your child is goes beyond disappointment? When the reality of who they are is actually incredibly painful? Here’s one parent’s story; maybe you can identify with the grief in her words. My son was a beautiful little boy. He was smart and kind, and got along with everyone. Right up through his younger years, he was everything I dreamed of. That changed when he started school. He started bullying other children. He got into fights, refused to follow directions and just argued with everyone. My formerly calm, kind boy became anxious and aggressive and eventually started using drugs. He’s dragging himself through the end of high school now, but there’s nothing left of that sweet child he used to be.

I know I failed him. But, I still look at him and see the boy he used to be. My heart is just so broken. My beautiful boy is gone, and I don’t seem to be able to let him go. How do I accept my son now? How do I let him be the person he’s become when all I see is that sweet little boy he used to be? It’s difficult enough to see your children become people other than you imagined; it’s deeply painful to see them making mistakes, poor choices, or otherwise not living up to their potential. In this parent’s case, her son has veered far from both her dream of him and from what he used to be, so that “parenting the child she has” is far easier said than done.

(Excerpt from empoweringparents.com)

Jagdeo unveils massive Govt corruption scandal

– identifies executive lawlessness in politically-motivated State Audits

By Devina Samaroo

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo announced that the opposition will precipitate what he called a “massive scandal” surrounding the haphazard manner in which it decided to embark on the execution of State Audits since it came to power back in May this year.

As a result, the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) administration could facing severe legal actions over the unprincipled State forensic audits it has launched into several State agencies in the country.

While not against forensic probes into the State accounts the prior administration had overseen, former President Bharrat Jagdeo said once the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) gets into Parliament, it will waste no time in informing the international accounting bodies about the illegal nature in which these audits were initiated.

Foremost, Jagdeo

pointed out that there was not even a public procurement process to contract the accountants who are currently conducting the audits. Notably, two of the contracted auditors, former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran and chartered accountant Christopher Ram are known to be staunch supporters of the current government and in consequence, staunch critics of the PPP/C. Many have argued that the lack of transparency regarding the hiring of these two individuals and the actual hiring of them, knowing their political bias, presents a clear conflict of interest as it relates to the audits.

“We in the PPP will support any forensic audit but for a forensic audit to be fair and to do its work to find corruption, you have to have the skills to do that and I submit that these two persons, they are political operatives. They do not have the skills to practice forensic audits… We are in favour of hiring a reputable international company, in a transparent process to do this, to

do forensic audits of all of our accounts,” Jagdeo posited, noting that the work of Goolsaran and Ram will not be credible.

When asked why the Government did not publicly advertise for professionals for this job, Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma, who is leading

GECOM failed Guyana...

“…so they abdicated their responsibilities and I guess the reason why they never did that…were because they were afraid to find out the results of the investigations”, he maintained.

He said that he was “worried” about the police being asked to do it now because of the executive pressures on the Guyana Police Force and the development of worrying trend of undue political interference in its day to day management.

Had they done he investigation before, Jagdeo said that he suspected that a lot of people would be found guilty.

“We are not ruling out taking private criminal charges now since this is in vogue now against the people at GECOM”, he remarked.

Changing Commissioners, holding the fort Jagdeo also announced that soon the Peoples Progressive Party Civic would move to change the three Commissioners that represent it at the level of GECOM.

He said that this was necessary given the party’s opposition status and there was a need for much more to be done to drive these reforms and ensure that all

of GECOM’s failures are exposed and corrected.

He maintained that the PPP achieved the results as announced by GECOM in the most difficult socio-economic and political circumstances back in May.

“We were battling against time and there is a curiosity factor that said what if you had change?... battling a combined opposition…a significant part of the media that over the many years through a series of continuous assaults on the Govt and party created the impression that we were inefficient or corrupt…battling three years when every development of the Government were scrapped”, he contended before saying that “With all of these things stacked against us, we still managed to achieve over 49 per cent of the votes”.

He admitted that over the last two months, he has been talking to the party’s supporters and other stakeholders who have not fully recovered from GECOM’s announcement that the PPP lost the elections and its offensive postelections posture.

“We have to hold together…it will be five years of difficult times for the country if the elections peti-

tion does not succeed…. the country will have to go through a bit of trauma…

.I have this sense that our base is strong and waiting for our chance to go back in Government”.

this operation, had noted that time was against them. He explained that Government needed to get this underway as soon as possible and if it had to go through the established process, too much time would have been wasted causing a late start in the audits.

This, Jagdeo noted, is one aspect of the illegality and corruption that occurred in relation to these audits.

“This audit will run us probably into $150M… Imagine if we had handpicked two pro-PPPC people and give them contract without no public tender that could be $150M,” he

argued, showing the double standards that exist in the society.

Another legal flaw, Jagdeo contended, is the fact that the Government is undermining the Audit Office of Guyana.

“We know that the audit is illegal because our laws do not allow anyone outside the Audit Office to conduct audits and assign audits to other people… They are also calling on other people to do the audits and the Audit Office is the only one allowed to do it,” he stated.

Sharma had explained that Government decided not to use the Audit Office for this purpose as it did not want to overburden the entity with “extra work”.

It was explained that discussions were held with the Auditor General Deodat Sharma and it was mutually agreed upon that the Audit Office will not conduct the State forensic audits.

“It would be unfair to the Audit Office to give them additional work,” the Minister asserted.

But Jagdeo contended that this is illegal as it undermines an important constitutional body.

And moreover, Jagdeo said these individuals do not even possess the requisite skills to conduct the audits.

“Normally when you do an audit, you get all your findings and you submit a management letter and the management responds

to your findings…But everyday they are releasing little bits to the newspapers to make it a political process,” he highlighted.

As a consequence of the above, the PPP/C will be having Goolsaran and Ram brought before the Public Accounts Committee where the criteria for their selection will be put under scrutiny. He said the individuals will have to provide the detailed terms of reference being used, the procurement process through which they were hired and he requisite skills for the job.

“We will ensure that this is exposed through that mechanism,” Jagdeo persistently stated.

Jagdeo made it clear that the PPP/C is not against any forensic audit but it must be done in a professional manner. Moreover, he noted that the only reason the Party did not move to the courts to put an end to this illegal activity is because it does not want the Guyanese people to think it is attempting to prevent “evidence of corruption” from coming to light.

“We don’t want people to think we have something to hide and that we are afraid of these audits and that is one of the reasons why we haven’t moved to the Courts to stop this audit because we don’t want people to think we are opposed to the audit,” he insisted.

“Grey Boy” charged for Crum-Ewing’s murder

Five months after exsoldier Courtney Crum-Ewing was executed in Diamond, East Coast Demerara, Regan “Grey Boy” Rodrigues was Friday arraigned for his murder.

Rodrigues, 37, of River View, Ruimveldt, a miner works in Suriname, appeared in Court Five of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts one day after Police reported that they had completed the probe into the murder. The capital charge, read by Magistrate Fabayo Azore, stated that on March 10, Rodrigues murdered Crum-Ewing while he was in Diamond.

Rodrigues was not required to plead to the offence.

The accused had quite a lot to say about the charge against him. He denied murdering Crum-Ewing, stating that he did not wish anyone to see him as a murderer and said he was being framed.

He told the court that when he was arrested, no one questioned him about the murder, but the Police held him on the basis of a

gun that was allegedly found on him. Rodrigues was first suspected to be the murderer when he was caught with a .32 Taurus pistol which ballistics proved was the weapon that killed the exsoldier.

He was charged with illegal possession of the incriminating pistol which had 14 matching rounds of ammunition. Rodrigues had not been cooperating with Police

and had been tight-lipped about his alleged involvement in the murder.

Also, Rodrigues told the court that he was approached to kill Mark Benschop but he had gone to the Police with this information.

This was corroborated by Benschop himself when he disclosed that $3 million was offered to Rodrigues to have him killed. After he would

have been eliminated, the next alleged hit was to be on Crum-Ewing. Benschop had claimed that Rodrigues would have reported to the Police that he was paid for the two hits; however, contrary to his claims, the Police have no knowledge of such allegations.

On Thursday, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum told reporters that the case file was with the Director of Public Prosecutions, Shalimar Ali Hack for legal advice.

The file contained more than 30 statements taken from eyewitnesses, family members and police ranks. The file was reportedly returned to the Police on Friday morning advising that there was enough evidence to institute charges against the miner.

Crum-Ewing was gunned down on March 10 while encouraging residents of Diamond New Housing Scheme, to vote for the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) at the May 11 General and Regional Elections.

Man confesses to torching mother’s home – after stealing from her

Twenty- four-year-old Jason Gobin of Better Success, Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam) was sentenced to jail after he pleaded guilty to five of seven charges.

Gobin made his first appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce on Wednesday at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court to answer to charges ranging from two counts of damage to property, using abusive language, threatening behaviour, assault causing actual bodily harm, break and enter and larceny and setting fire to building.

The charges of using abusive language and threatening behaviour were dismissed. He admitted to committing all the offences on his mother, Carmelli Pitamber. Gobin was not represented by an Attorneyat-Law.

The facts of the matter state that on July 29 around 13:30h, the defendant, who was put out of the home, returned with a bottle of kerosene and matches and set some curtains on fire. He reportedly then said: “Look fire, Sergie.”

Earlier, between July 12 and 13, the defendant

broke in to the home and stole one gas bottle valued $12,000 and one cutlass valued $2000, property of his mother.

On July 12, he also unlawfully and maliciously damaged a mirror valued $6000, property of his mother. This followed an earlier instance on May 27 of him damaging his mother’ home – he damaged a bedroom door valued $1000, a chair handle valued $2000, and a step beam valued $50,000.

For the assault causing bodily harm charge, the court was told that on the day in question around

17:00h, the defendant approached Boney Chaitram and dealt him several chops with a cutlass causing actual bodily harm.

He will have to spend 12 months in prison for setting his mother’s home on fire, 12 months for break and enter and larceny, six months for assault causing actual bodily harm, six weeks for the first damage of property charge if he cannot pay a $30,000 fine, and three months for the other damage of property charge. The sentences for arson and break and enter and larceny will run concurrently.

Eyew tness Good intentions...

...and the path to hell

Burnham's "legacy" was felicitated and lauded by a host of his admirers and followers a couple of days ago, on his death anniversary. Now let's get this straight. This Eyewitness will never try to deny Burnham's role in the history of our republic. But as to the nature of that rolehis "legacy" and all that - the aforementioned fans should be a tad more objective. It's your Eyewitness' opinion that these folks assess Burnham more by his putative intentions rather than his actual actions and the consequences of those actions. From that perspective we're reminded by the old saying: "the road to hell is paved with "good intentions."

Now, not being seized by the power to read minds, your Eyewitness will defer to the partisans of Mr Burnham as to his state of mind when he was around. We'll stipulate that he never INTENDED to be "racist", "vindictive", "discriminatory" or suchlike, and just look at some of his policies and their effects on Guyana.

Let's start with his "Declaration of Sophia" back in 1974. This announced that the "PNC party" was "paramount" over the Government. Now it could be that Burnham's "intention" was simply, as he said, to describe the existential relationship between any party and the Government they form after winning elections. But we know the consequences of "party paramountcy" wasn't so innocuous and benign, was it? What it meant in practice was that "party boys" (they weren't called "commissars" like in Russia) could override any Government bureaucrat at any time.

Burnham might not have intended this...but that's how it played out. And before you knew it, every Government department was subverted and eventually had to collapse from the lack of a correspondence between authority and responsibility. Then, who could question Burnham's intention to "Feed, Clothe and House" the nation? Only an idiot would propose that he wanted us to become "hungry, naked and homeless". But that's what happened by the time he died in 1985, didn't it?

And of course Burnham wanted to "bring the races together". When he split the PPP in 1955, didn't he take most of the Indian leaders with him? The question, of course, is that when in 1957 and 1961 he found that the Indians insisted on supporting Jagan, why didn't he accept offers and attempts to coalesce with the latter?

And if his assessment was that he had to support the destabilisation of Jagan's Government by the U.S., because this was the pragmatic course to follow, didn't he realize what ethnic violence would savage his "intention" at unity?

But, like all of us, the Burnhamites also need some myths to survive, no?

...and suicide

OK...we're sure that the Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had the best of intentions when we weighed in on Guyana's suicide rate - said to be the highest in the world. After all, faced with one of the steepest spike in serious crimes in the history of the country (since the special circumstances following the 2002 jailbreak) he takes time off to deal with issue.

Talk about multitasking!! A veritable "Renaissance Man" is our Minister! The goodly gentleman, fresh from his innovate approach to dent crime by imposing and ensuring a 2 am curfew on bars closing, proposed that "suicide be decriminalised".

Ramjattan obviously figures that if our suicide rates keep climbing, then the laws making it a crime haven't served as a deterrence. But isn't he throwing out the baby with the bath water?

Your Eyewitness just hopes that because the law against armed robbery isn't working as a deterrence, Ramjattan will "decriminalise" it!

...and banking

Here again, the Government might have the best of intentions to pull $60B from commercial banks. But could they get their stories straight? Trotman says it's because of too much "liquidity". Jordan says it's to "finance deficits". Which is it?

Or more importantly, who's in charge?

Police find 44 lbs of marijuana at Vriesland foreshore

As Police in D Division (West Demerara) continue their drug eradication exercise, over 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of compressed marijuana was discovered on the Vriesland Foreshore, West Bank Demerara on Friday morning. The discovery was made about 08:30h.

According to reports received, a team of Police ranks were conducting a routine boat patrol along the Demerara River when they saw three men on the foreshore who ran upon seeing the Police boat. Upon reaching the foreshore, Police discovered a huge quantity of seeds, leaves and stems suspected to be cannabis in several bags.

The dried plants were taken to the La Grange Police Station where they were weighed. Police stated that the area was a hot bed of drug-related activities and as such, more emphasis was being placed there.

Unfortunately, the three men who made good their escape could not be identified by the Police given the distance they were from the

boat. Police ranks are, however, certain that the men are just the workers for the real drug dealers.

A mobile phone, several cutlasses and a five-gallon bucket were recovered on the foreshore and were taken as evidence.

Over the past few weeks, Police have been successful in clamping down on the drug trade on the West Bank of Demerara following reports that illicit drugs are

Eight-year-old Guyanese author to launch book at National Library

An eight-year-old girl

Anaya Lee Willabus of Guyanese heritage will be launching her book, “The Day Mohan Found His Confidence”, at the National Library’s Conference Room on Wednesday August 12, at 10:00h. Willabus, who was recognised by the New York State Assembly Chambers as the area’s youngest published author, was inspired by her vacation in Guyana to write the book.

Her book tells the story of a young boy named Mohan and the many difficulties he experiences at home and at school.

The aspiring teacher was born in Brooklyn, New York to Guyanese parents Dimple

and Winston Willabus who hail from Georgetown.

On June 9, 2015, the young writer was recognised by Guyanese-born New York State Assemblywoman Roxanne Persaud, and received a proclamation recognising her work. Willabus has been invited to over 10 different events locally and internationally for book signings and a bigger initiative, which is to promote reading and giving back. She hosted her first book signing event at the Bergen Beach Youth Organisation in Brooklyn, New York.

Members of the public are invited to attend the book launch at the National Library.

flooding the streets. Police sources confirmed that a man was arrested at that same location with over 3kg (six pounds) of drugs sometime ago.

Earlier in April, Kishore Rambarran, a businessman of Lot 21 Vriesland, was charged following the discovery of more than two kilos of marijuana at his home. He was remanded to prison, but subsequently secured bail from the High Court.

It was reported that a team of Police ranks from the La Grange Police Station swooped down on the man’s home after receiving a tip-off. Upon their arrival, they saw

Rambarran attempting to get rid of a black plastic bag.

The man then walked into his home, but the Police ranks retrieved the bag and upon closer inspection, a quantity of seeds, leaves and stems were discovered.

The man’s house is reportedly close to the sea dam which gives him easy access to the Demerara River leaving investigators to believe that his business is conducted via that route.

Nothing substantial was found in the man’s house after a search was conducted. Police confirmed that Rambarran was previously charged for a similar offence.

Chinese Restaurant owner chopped to death, wife beaten in home invasion

The proprietor of the Jade Stone Chinese Restaurant was in the wee hours of Friday beaten to death and his wife hospitalised after bandits invaded their Mandela Avenue, Georgetown business place. The incident occurred about 00:30h.

The dead man has been identified as Zhenjz Su, 35, also called “Black Chiney”. His wife, Fei Su, 32, is nursing lacerations to the face, body and head at the Georgetown Public Hospital. According to reports received, a group of bandits gained entry to the premises via a door that was left open in the lower flat of the building.

The men upon entry demanded money, but the couple refused to cooperate; hence, the woman was knocked unconscious and left in the upper flat of the building. At the time of the home invasion, the couple’s two children aged three and five were asleep and were left unhurt.

She reportedly told investigators that after she regained consciousness some three hours later, she found her husband bounded and gagged on the kitchen floor in the lower flat.

His hands and feet were tied with tape and a piece

of cloth secured by tape was stuffed in his mouth. He also sustained several chops wounds to his head.

His body was covered with several empty rice bags and in a pool of blood. The woman immediately telephoned the police who responded promptly and cordoned off the area. She was then escorted to the hospital where she was admitted. The two children are in Police protection.

Investigators are treating the matter as a robbery/ murder. Up to Friday morning, they were at the scene searching for pieces of evidence and to dust the area for fingerprints. It is unclear

what the bandits would have taken, but the entire upper flat was ransacked.

Several Chinese nationals believed to be relatives of the dead man were seen in the yard as the ranks conducted their investigations. There are security cameras around the building, but according to reports, they are not in working order.

Guyana Times was told that the now dead Chinese national has been operating the business for several years now and the incident came as a surprise since the couple would close for business very

murder. Several of them were heard praising the now dead man for his good deeds in the community. He was a people’s person, they recalled.

One woman vented her concerns about the escalation of crime in the community. “Look what happen now… they come and kill Chiney… who they go say kill Chiney now… Is people from out of the village coming in and do nonsense but this got to stop,” the woman stated.

She further stated that there was need for a Police outpost in the area which

early in the nights.

Persons who gathered at the popular restaurant were appalled at the gruesome

might reduce the number of criminal activities that are being perpetuated on innocent people.

Meanwhile, as persons passed by, they reminisced

on the good person the now dead man was. One man recalled purchasing dog food from the Chinese restaurant on Thursday evening and having a long chat with the friendly owner.

The gruesome murder of Zhenjz Su is the third for the past several days, thus far.

On Saturday last, the body of 77-year-old Carmen Ganesh of Lot 121 Montrose, East Coast Demerara, was found in a pool of blood with a gash to her head and a cloth tied around her neck. A knife was found close to the woman’s body.

This was followed by the gunning down of Akeem Yorrick, 23, of Lot 78 Prince William Street, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara. He was shot once to his abdo-

men by a suspected bandit while in the company of his friends in the squatting area on Wednesday evening.

Despite an increase in serious crime as was reportedly by the Police, President David Granger was quoted as saying that the current crime situation in Guyana is high, but still lower than what Guyana experienced eight years ago.

“The murder rate as of last year was almost at the same level as when ‘Fine Man’ was alive eight years previously. We feel that we are on to the solution as it relates to some of the more serious crimes; we are not going to eradicate crime altogether but we feel that we are making headway,” the President disclosed.

Cash jet pilot now faces ‘structuring’ charges

Guyanese pilot Khamraj Lall is in more hot water as he is expected to face structuring charges brought against him by the United States Government. Structuring, according to court documents, is making financial transactions in an effort to avoid detection.

With these charges, it means that he will make court appearances for serious crimes in three jurisdictions – New Jersey, New York and Puerto Rico.

Lall was arrested on July 22, 2015 in New Jersey. He made an initial appearance in federal court in the District of New Jersey. The defendant, who is in custody, will be returned to the Western District of New York at a later date.

While in custody in New Jersey, Lall reportedly attempted to pay authorities to be released from detention. At the time of his court appearance, the case was under seal but was reportedly unsealed on August 7 thus the structuring charges were made public.

Lall was previously charged following the discovery of US$620,000 on his private Lear Jet in Puerto Rico as it stopped to refuel. The money was found in several black plastic bags in a suitcase under a seat. He

was destined for Guyana. At the time of the stop, he had failed to declare the money to US authorities.

It was only in July, Lall and nine others were charged with the possession of over five kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking between the period December 2013 and February 2015.

The nine others who were charged are Edward Mighty, Seymour Brown, Andre Taylor, Ricardo Bailey, Robert Wilson, Kenneth Harper, Desmond Bice, and Christopher Samuels, all of Rochester, New York.

They were charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 280 grams or more of cocaine base, and use of a telephone

to facilitate drug trafficking that is distribute marijuana. Defendants Mighty, Brown, Taylor, Wilson, Harper, Bice, and Samuels were also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

In addition, Winifredo Gonzales, of Brooklyn, NY, was charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

According to the complaint, Mighty is one of the leaders of a Rochester-based drug trafficking organisation and would obtain kilogram quantities of cocaine from Gonzales.

The cocaine was transported to Rochester and processed, re-packaged, and distributed in various quantities of both powder and crack cocaine through multiple sellers in the Rochester area. On February 10, 2015, officers executed a search warrant and arrested Gonzales at a residence in Brooklyn.

Officers recovered 17 kilograms of cocaine and two handguns, including an UZI 9mm pistol. Officers also seized approximately US$70,000.

No tax reduction, significant increases – Jordan

Laying aside another campaign promise, Government will not be implementing any tax regime changes within 100 days of occupying office as it had profusely assured its support base it would.

Even earlier this month, Finance Minister Winston Jordan dismissed reports by the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) that a tax reduction would be put on hold. He pointedly stated that the National Budget 2015 will include Value Added Tax (VAT) reductions on certain consumer items.

However, at a press conference at the Finance Ministry on Friday, Jordan admitted that the promise was farfetched and could not be granted at this moment.

“I already indicated we cannot do a percentage point VAT reduction in this Budget…you cannot wake up one night and determine that you are going to fiddle with a tax that you heavily depend on without having

the benefit of a substantial study,” he said.

In fact, Jordan indicated that if there should be a VAT reduction in the future, chances are the Government would have to introduce new taxes in order to cushion any damage caused via a reduction in VAT.

“A study on that tax (would) tell you how much to remove it, and how much you would lose and

what new taxes, if any, you would need to put in place to recover what you are losing from the VAT,” he said.

Nonetheless, the Minister did assure that more stringent measures would be in place to ensure the tax collection system was efficient and effective. He noted too that the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) would have to refocus its energies towards ensuring there was a better revenue collection system across the country.

Meanwhile, asked how the current Government intended to source the necessary funds for the Budget, the Minister responded, “any Minister of Finance or budgeter will have had to assure himself of the sources of funding before he makes commitments on the expenditure side”.

Moreover, while there will be no tax reduction this time around, the Minister assured that the Budget will include allocations for salary increases and concessions for miners.

Taxi driver gets 2 years for causing cyclist’s death

Two years was the sentence handed down to taxi driver Wendell Sukhlall after he was found guilty of causing the death of Quacy Leigh by Magistrate Annette Singh on Friday.

Sukhlall, 23, of 185 Pike Street, Kitty, was close to tears when he was once again put in the prisoners’ dock after being found guilty of causing the death of Leigh.

He was charged for causing the death of the deceased after an accident on Homestretch Avenue, Georgetown on January 18. Guyana Times understands that he was driving PPP 6592 down the southern carriageway of Homestretch Avenue while Leigh was heading in the same direction on a pedal cycle.

It was the prosecution’s case that Sukhlall was driving at a fast rate and collided with the back wheel of the cycle. In Prosecutor Bharat Mangru’s submission, he stated that the accused had admitted to driving above the allotted speed limit and was mov-

Guilty, Wendell Sukhlall

ing at more than 65 miles per hour instead. However, Sukhlall’s Attorney, Jed Vasconcellos, told the court that his client was not denying that he was driving above the speed limit but he did not see the accused. The Attorney explained that the road was quite dark owing to the lack of street lights, preventing his client from seeing the other road user.

In her ruling, Magistrate Singh said she relied on the prosecution’s witnesses and the post-mortem re-

Post Office Corporation deficiencies to be addressed

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson, in a recent exclusive interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), indicated that the major deficiencies that currently plague the Guyana Post Office Corporation would soon be addressed.

Minister Ferguson added that customer service was the backbone of the Post Office and as such, she intended on ensuring that the staff was adequately trained to provide a better quality of service.

Additionally, staff from the Human Resources Department will undergo specialised training to ensure they possess the req-

Minister within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Annette Ferguson

uisite skills, which will help them to adapt to the changing environment.

She added that since she assumed office, she had the opportunity of meeting with the Board of Directors and Management, and was able to ascertain the immediate deficiencies which are to be addressed.

“…the main problem is security…you would recall just before the 2015 Elections, the Post Office was hit by banditry…millions of monies which were to be used to pay Old Age Pension were taken,” she noted.

In this regard, Minister Ferguson intends to solicit assistance from the Guyana Police Force for security, specifically where the transporting of large sums of money for the payment of pensions is concerned.

Castellani House Art exhibits to be displayed in Haiti at CARIFESTA

Castellani House is featuring for the next four days the artwork that Guyana will put on show at the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) XII in Haiti. Guyana is slated to yet again be on the biggest stage in the Caribbean, showcasing its many talents.

The exhibition, which opened today, is on the ground floor of the Art Gallery. It features 27 pieces from nine artistes. The art pieces are in three disciplines: paintings (12); drawings (6) and sculptures (9.)

The paintings are large, roughly 3x5 feet in size.

port. She stated that the evidence did indicate that he was not a “competent or careful driver”.

In his mitigating plea, Vasconcellos urged the court to consider the rationale behind prison once more – that it rehabilitates and keeps offenders from society. Vasconcellos said his client was not a threat to society, had cooperated with police, had been present at each court session and took the deceased to the hospital on the day of the accident.

Prosecutor Mangru, on the other hand, urged the court to consider the spate of accidents that plagues the roadways and to make the sentence a deterrent for road users.

Thus, Magistrate Singh sentenced Sukhlall to two years’ imprisonment given that it was the first time he was charged for an offence, he assisted the deceased to the hospital, cooperated with the police and the road was indeed dark during the accident. Along with the sentence, he was forbidden from acquiring a licence for the next four years.

Acting National Art Gallery Curator Ohene Koama explained that the visual arts pieces are from pioneer artists such as

One of the drawings exhibited at

Guyana’s National Award winner Michael Griffith, who will represent the youth component.

CARIFESTA is a celebration that showcases multiple disciplines in terms of

arts and culture from across the Caribbean and Latin American countries. The exhibition at Castellani House will end on August 10, 2015 and is free of charge to the public.

saturday, august 8, 2015 | guyanatimesgy.com

Jordan backflips on per diem increases scandal

– now releases figures, says increases inevitable

inance Minister

FWinston Jordan made a somersault on his position that there will be no increases whatsoever in the per diem allowances for government ministers, advisors and other high-ranking officials who venture on various trips abroad to conduct businesses on behalf of the State.

Jordan had adamantly told the Guyana Times that Government had never even discussed any increases as far as per diem was concerned. “I am the Minister of Finance and I am telling you that there is no such document or proposal existing,” he insisted categorically.

However, at a press conference at the Ministry of Finance on Friday, the Minister now explained that increases in the per diem allowances are inevitable as the figure varies on the circumstances surrounding the time of travel and that the rate submitted to Cabinet is just used as a guideline.

Currently, the President and Prime Minister are not limited to amounts of money they can spend on these state-related trips.

Ministers traveling to the South/North American/ Caribbean regions will be given accommodation allowance of US$275 per night but if traveling to the Europe/ Asia region, the stipend will be US$350 per night.

For Permanent Secretaries and other of-

ficers of similar positions, those staying in the South/ North American/Caribbean regions will be given US$175 per night and in the Europe/ Asia region they will be given US$250 per night.

For other officers, the allowances are US$150 and US$175 respectively.

Meal allowances and out-of-pocket expenses will remain the same for all officials at US$100 for meals per day and US$25 for outof-pocket allowances.

But he pointed out that these figures will not necessarily reflect on the precise amounts expended on trips as the prices will fluctuate at various times of travel and therefore, sometimes, the cost may be higher or lower.

Moreover, Jordan said that Ministers will no longer be given the option of using an advance allowance due to malpractices by the previous administration.

“In the past…you could have signed an honour statement saying that I’ve spent the money and I have no bills and the advance would have been cleared…that practice has been stopped,” he said.

In addition, the Minister said if an official fails to present bills for the expenses he endured, he will be required to pay 60 per cent of the amount he is claiming.

The Minister believes that these measures, which came into effect on June 16,

Finance

will aid in preventing officials from wasting taxpayers’ monies.

Moreover, he disclosed that several officials from the previous People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) administration still have to clear advances and is urging them to do swiftly do so.

“There are a significant number of ministers who have not cleared, past ministers who have not cleared their advances. Some of them haven’t cleared advances that I believe is as old as at least one year old…so I am urging to them please come to the treasury and clear the advances,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Minister once again used the opportunity at the press conference

to attack the Guyana Times newspaper for publishing articles as it relates to the administration’s intended plan to increase monies given to ministers, advisors and other officials.

Guyana Times had reported that government is proposing a 100 per cent pay hike for its members along with significant increases in the per diem allowances for travel.

Jordan had initially admitted that Cabinet is considering pay considerable salary increases for its ministers. Other government officials have since stepped forward to defend this position, claiming that the increases are needed to establish a pay grade that can differentiate between the various levels of officials. Subsequent to that, government then denied that the pay increases will be 100 per cent but refused to give an alternative quantum of increase that is being considered.

When question at the recent post-Cabinet press briefing, Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman said he is not prepared to provide an answer at the moment.

Nonetheless, Jordan had denied the information published in this newspaper and indicated that he is currently engaging his lawyers with the intention of pursuing legal actions against the entity.

…as GPL Deputy CEO contemplates legal action APNU/AFC to face more lawsuits for wrongful dismissal

Guyana Power and Light Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO) Aeshwar Deonarine will be pursuing legal action if the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration continues to insist that he returns monies that were paid to him as his salary.

In July, the Government through a State forensic audit discovered that some $27.8 million was paid to Deonarine from the PetroCaribe fund, which it has since dubbed illegal and demanded that the DCEO return the money.

However, in a letter to the governing Administration, Deonarine’s lawyer, Chandrapratesh Satram, explained that the money was rightfully his as the entitlement thereto was duly created by a decision of a subcommittee which was binding on GPL.

“In all the circumstanc-

es, we have advised our client not to refund the monies as demanded,” the letter read, noting that legal proceedings may follow if the Government insisted that Deonarine paid the sum back.

The letter further explained that remuneration of the Company’s executives was not a decision which

needed the approval of the shareholders.

“Part 3.22 of the By-laws requires that the approval of shareholders be given in writing with respect to the remuneration of directors. Our client is not and has never been a Director of the Company. The approval of the Prime Minister was, therefore, not required as suggested by you,” it read.

The letter further highlighted that “it is obvious that the question of our client’s remuneration did come to the attention of the Board of which you are not a member. The letter to the Prime Minster you refer to would not have been dispatched if the Board gave no consideration to the matter. Contrary to what you allege, our client has instructed us that members of the Board did not object to the decision of the sub-committee to increase his salary and benefits.”

It added that, “You are well aware that since 2010

our client has been a duly authorised signatory to the account out of which the monies were paid. The impression given by your letter seems to be that payments out of the said account were totally unauthorised.”

Furthermore, it was highlighted, “The Board at its meeting for the month of March 2015 considered retroactive payment of Board fees for a period of 48 months. The Corporate Secretary to the Board requested in writing that fees be computed retroactively for this period and this was duly done. Mr Duncan who was proceeding on vacation requested expedited processing of his fees and having regard to the aforementioned request of the Corporate Secretary, Mr Deonarine proceeded to process the payment. Immediately upon receiving information through the Secretary that the Chairman of the Board decided not to pay fees ret-

GPL fraud Police still awaiting report from company

Investigators from the Guyana Police Force’s Fraud Department are yet to receive the report on the forensic audit recently conducted at the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) Limited that reveals officials have been allegedly siphoning off funds into their personal accounts.

Two weeks ago, Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson disclosed that GPL Deputy Chief Executive Officer (DCEO), Aeshwar Deonarine, was sent on immediate administrative leave after he allegedly transferred some $27.8 million to his personal account. He is also being accused of paying board member Carvil Duncan the sum of $948,000 that was not authorised.

Speaking to media operatives on Thursday, Head of the Police’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Wendell Blanhum, indicated that the investigators were still awaiting the audit report from the Management of GPL so that they can further probe the allegations.

“That report has not been submitted as yet,” the Crime Chief Blanhum informed reporters.

After coming into office, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC)

Administration found that close to $142 million of the PetroCaribe Fund was plugged into the operations of the state-owned GPL. This was realised after Government said it had found an empty PetroCaribe Fund when it took office and later launched an investigation.

Based on information gathered, Patterson explained that the power company has two DCEOs – one for operations and the other for administration. He said apparently the operations DCEO was receiving a higher salary than the administration DCEO and the operations DCEO had been making representations to the Board for there to be

roactively, our client took all reasonable steps to have Mr Duncan repay the fees to Guyana Power and Light Inc. The exchange of correspondence between the parties involved relating to these matters are instructive and are in the possession of Guyana Power and Light Inc. Our client acted properly and in good faith at all times acting in accordance with directions given to him by the Secretary to the Board.”

The forensic audit be-

parity in the salaries of the two.

This, the Minister pointed out, was reportedly disapproved by the previous Board. In June of this year, with the signature of Director Duncan, Deonarine made the payment to himself retroactive from January 2013 to June 2015.

Patterson further stated that Board Members had made several representations to have board fees increased from $5000 to $20,000. He noted that while the Board had discussed the recommendation, no final decision was made in that regard.

However, Duncan later went ahead and approved payment to the tune of $948,000 for himself, representing “back pay” for the 48 months that he has been a Board Member of GPL.

Duncan, who sits on several other Boards and Commissions, including the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the Judicial Service Commission, is reportedly the only director who received a retroactive payment from GPL.

Patterson said when clarification was sought, Duncan had given conflicting reports. On one occasion, Duncan reportedly stated that the Board had given him the authority to take the money but when he was later confronted again, he said the Chairman had given him permission.

However, Chairman Winston Brassington was contacted and denied ever giving such permission. Patterson said when further questioned, Duncan disclosed that former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds had given the go-ahead.

The former PM was also contacted and he too denied such and when later confronted again, Duncan reportedly said that it “had to be President Ramotar”.

The Public Infrastructure Minister had stated that all the information gathered would be forwarded to the Police to assist them in the criminal investigation.

ing carried out into the PetroCaribe Fund has revealed that officials at the GPL have been allegedly siphoning off funds into their personal accounts. Government had found that close to $142 million of the PetroCaribe Fund was plugged into the operations of the state-owned GPL. This was realised after Government said it had found an empty PetroCaribe Fund when it took office and later launched an investigation.

Granger admits crime rate high – still insists Govt making headway

By Andrew CArmiChAel

Head of State David Granger says the current crime rate in Guyana which sees one robbery being perpetrated every eight hours is high, but that figure is still lower than what Guyana experienced eight years ago.

“The murder rate as of last year was almost at the same level as when ‘Fine Man’ was alive eight years previously. We feel that we are on to the solution as it relates to some of the more serious crimes; we are not going to eradicate crime altogether, but we feel that we are making headway,” President Granger said.

In an invited comment on the current crime rate in Guyana, President Granger said efforts have been put in place to bring it down.

“The crime situation is not as bad as it used to be before. This is in relation to the ‘troubled period’ between 2002 and 2008 when there were many executions which have not been fully investigated as yet. When we speak crime, we have to look at causation, and we feel that some of the executions and murders are as a result of narco-trafficking in Guyana. We feel that some of the other crimes could be stamped out, for example piracy on the Corentyne. Measures are being put in place to equip the police to enable them to conduct some form of maritime

surveillance,” he said.

Granges said too once the illegal weapons were brought under control, there would be fewer armed robberies as right now the rate of that category of crime was too high with three robberies occurring a day.

He noted that there was a serious problem of illegal weapons and last year there were about three robberies every 24 hours or one in every eight hours.

“To the extent that weapons are being used for armed robberies, the Police Force and the Ministry of Public Security has put in place some measures to continue vigorous searches to seize illegal weapons and we will be strengthening our border patrol to stop illegal weapons from entering the country.”

The Police in the hinter-

land are being upgraded to deal with banditry, he reported too as more patrols in the rivers, on All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and horseback, were ongoing.

The President said as it relates to crimes on the coastland, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) was being strengthened.

“You can see that these measures are starting to work; gangs are being dismantled, criminals are being caught. So I think it will need a little more time but we feel that we have broken the back of the beast and with the dismantling of the gangs and the improved equipment for the Police; we feel that we will be able to overcome the crime situation which has been worsening over the last seven years.”

According to him, the Police Force is under strength and efforts are being made to strengthen the Force.

“We know that the Force doesn’t have sufficient equipment: speed boats, aircraft and All-Terrain Vehicles. The Police Force has started interior patrols and also along the Coast. More attention has to be paid to the Police Training Schools for both officers and recruits.”

The Head of State is of the view that within the next few weeks, Guyanese will be able to see the benefits of the measures that have been put in place.

Bosai has up to Monday to decide fate of workers

“Government cannot interfere with the operations of Bosai, except to ensure that the laws be adhered to and workers’ rights be protected.” This is according to Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Simona Broomes , who was at the time commenting on the recent protest action by Bosai workers against the planned issuance of retrenchment letters to 47 of them.

Following the protest action by the workers on August 6, the Ministry held a meeting with Bosai, where the company suggested that the only way its operations would be profitable was to reduce the working hours.

The Guyana Bauxite and General Workers Union proposed that the working hours be reduced by four, which would ultimately see a reduction in the workers’ salary by 40 per cent.

During an interview with the Government Information Agency (GINA), Minister Broomes explained that the bauxite company has up to Monday to make a firm decision on the issue.

Prior to the protest action by the workers, Minister Broomes explained that the Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle, was in contact with Bosai, which had initially sent a letter to the Ministry, indicating that there would be some retrenchment of a specific category of workers.

Thereafter, Bosai, Region 10 (Upper DemeraraBerbice) Chairman Rennis Morian, and the Union met, and it was agreed that the bauxite company will review the intended retrenchment. However, the Union will now have to discuss the agreement with the workers.

“The workers have a right to say if they will take it or not, and what actions they will take against the company, as against the company’s position… We cannot tell the company that they have to keep them. However, we will ensure the laws be followed. It is important for them to come up with a reasonable bargain for the employees,” the Minister said.

According to Minister Brooms, the Ministry will

Guyana/Venezuela border controversy Venezuela starts diplomatic tour to secure solidarity for claim

Venezuela is moving ahead with its efforts to intensify its claims on Guyana’s territory, seeking the support of Caribbean nations.

The country’s Vice President, Jorge Arreaza and Foreign Affairs Minister, Delcy Rodríguez have begun a diplomatic tour of several Caribbean countries to present leaders there with the situation on the controversy over the territory of the Essequibo.

Vice President Arreaza on Thursday met with Grenada’s Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell, explaining to him, the situation of the Essequibo. Arreaza also handed over to Minister Mitchell some documentation on the territorial dispute. Arreaza hoped Grenada “could help the people of Venezuela and Guyana by means of international law and peace”.

Arreaza noted that Caracas had adopted a peaceful diplomatic strategy.

“We do not seek the Governments of the Caribbean to take a stance in favour of a conflict; on the contrary, we hope they help us make public international law to be observed, so we can build solutions bilaterally,” the Vice President said.

The Vice President has also asked the Government of Guyana to “reconsider” and urged Guyanese President David Granger to look for a peaceful solution to the territorial controversy.

Government meeting held in July last, registering their solidarity with Guyana.

President Granger pleaded for solidarity with Guyana, over the decadesold controversy, condemning Venezuela’s provocation and warned Caricom that if it did not take a stand, it would risk becoming a spent force.

Caracas remains fixed in its claims that Essequibo belongs to it even after an international arbitration panel some 116 years ago unanimously determined the current border. It has recently intensified its pressure on Guyana, particularly after the reported discovery of oil by US-based oil giant ExxonMobil.

He said these countries consider the decree by Venezuela an act of aggression against Guyana’s sovereignty, and an assault on its right to assess and develop its maritime resources. He told the representatives of the Caricom Member States, that they have assembled, conscious of the reality that they were all part of the international community which was characterised by “unequal nations and foreign exchange”. He said while they may all be “powerless” as individual states, when put together, they are “powerful” as a community of sovereign states.

Granger noted too that the Caribbean has already demonstrated the capacity to collaborate to confront some of the “transnational threats”. These threats, he added, have demanded that “we seek regional rather than purely national responses”. “They form the basis of regional cooperation. Transnational threats formidable as they are, pale in significance of the much more potential threat, the threat to our territory. The very land, sea and space on which we rely for our daily existence”, Granger told his colleagues.

also have to carry out an investigation to check on whether or not the workers were paid for the fourhour overtime they worked, in keeping with the labour laws.

In the interim, Bosai signed off on the terms of resumption.

For her part, Foreign Affairs Minister Rodríguez posted on her Twitter account that she had arrived in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, where she met with her counterpart, Winston Dookeran, to continue spreading the “truth” about the Essequibo.

The new development comes on the heels of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) States, at the last Caricom Heads of

President Granger said years of “superiority” should not be allowed to suppress the law, noting that the actions, as demonstrated by Venezuela must be condemned. He called for mutual respect for each other’s territorial sovereignty, mutual nonaggression, mutual nonappearance in each other’s internal affairs and mutual cooperation for peaceful co-existence between neighbours. He said the decree issued by Venezuela has dire implications for the entire region but most particularly the eastern states including Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Head of State told reporters that he was still prepared to have discussions with Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro, not just on the border controversy, but on the “reduction of tension, the removal of aggressive actions on the part of Venezuela and I would like to discuss the restoration of cordial relations among all states of the Caribbean and the hemisphere, those are the things I want to discuss with Maduro. I want to discuss making the Caribbean a zone of peace; I want to discuss giving Guyana an opportunity to develop its resources without interference,” the Guyanese leader said.

Senate confirms new US Ambassador to Guyana

The United States Government has confirmed the appointment of Perry L Holloway as its new Ambassador to Guyana.

Holloway was nominated by President Barrack Obama and was confirmed by the Senate on August 5, 2015.

Ambassador Holloway replaces D Brent Hardt as the US’s representative here following a period of icy relations between the former People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and the US Government over its implementation of the USAID LEAD Project.

Holloway has pledged

to work with Guyana in improving its border security, fighting crime and tackling the dreaded HIV/AIDS virus in remarks during his confirmation hearing before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 15, 2015.

He said Guyana was a key partner in bolstering regional security, noting that through the President’s Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, Washington was cooperating to counter the threats of transnational crime and terrorism.

Halloway told the Committee that he has had the honour to serve the US as a Foreign Service Officer

for the past 26 years in nine countries.

“I have served primarily in countries in the Western Hemisphere, so I am familiar with the types of challenges and opportunities that exist in Guyana. I have worked on programmes dealing with security, drug trafficking, democratic values and human rights, energy and the environment, Trafficking In Persons, corruption, and the exchange of people and ideas. I have extensive experience with interagency partners like USAID; [DoD] Department of Defence; Peace Corps; [DEA] Drug Enforcement Agency; and

[DHS] Department of Homeland Security. If confirmed, I believe that my experience in the Region and my work with other agencies has prepared me well to lead the US mission in Guyana.” He said Guyana was a country with tremendous potential with vast pristine rainforests, fertile agricultural lands, proven mineral resources, potentially large oil reserves, and a close affinity with the US. “It is also a country facing challenges from crime, poverty, corruption, HIV/AIDS, natural resource management, and drug trafficking,” Halloway said.

Regional

IDB says Jamaica economy about to turn the corner; approves US$130M loan

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is giving Jamaica a US$130 million loan to strengthen its economic reform programme, with a top official of the institution confident that the country’s economy is “about to turn the corner and harvest the results of its efforts”.

The IDB said the Jamaica Government has been improving its public finances in recent years in order to set the stage for stronger economic growth.

Alexandre Meira da Rosa, Vice President for Countries at the IDB, said there was no dissent, from anyone on the Board, when consideration was being given to the Jamaica loan.

“This is a credit and tribute to the efforts of Jamaica to carry out the reforms necessary to achieve economic and social growth. We believe that Jamaica is about to turn the corner and harvest the results of its efforts,” he said.

The IDB official said the agreement fulfilled a commitment that he and the Bank’s President made to Finance Minister Peter Phillips last year – “to walk hand-in-hand with Jamaica on the reform journey”.

Humanitarian crisis looming over Venezuela, says think-tank

“A sharp fall in real incomes, major shortages of essential foods, medicines and other basic goods and breakdown of the health service are elements of a looming social crisis” – ICG

ABrussels-based thinktank has warned Venezuela of an impending humanitarian calamity in tandem with growing political instability.

While the accelerating deterioration of the South American country’s political crisis is cause for growing concern, says the International Crisis Group (ICG), there is a less widely appreciated side of the dramatic situation: “A sharp fall in real incomes, major shortages of essential foods, medicines and other basic goods and breakdown of the health service are elements of a looming social crisis.”

In a recent briefing, the group says: “If not tackled

decisively and soon, it will become a humanitarian disaster with a seismic impact on domestic politics and society, and on Venezuela’s neighbours. This situation results from poor policy choices, incompetence and corruption.”

The ICG points to another aspect of the impending humanitarian crisis: “Those with ailments such as cancer, HIV-AIDS or cardiovascular disease can go months without medicines they require to survive. Hospitals and even private clinics cannot maintain stocks of medicines and other basic supplies, including spare parts to repair equipment.” (Excerpt from Caribbean360.com)

Minister Phillips said while the Government and the IDB do not always see eye to eye, the Bank has been a consistent partner in Jamaica’s economic reform programme, and it is because of the institution’s support that considerable

progress has been made.

“We don’t always agree on everything, but when we don’t, we can discuss and emerge with an even stronger bond of collaboration and are better off for having these discussions,” he said. (Excerpt from caribbean360.com)

Trinidad: Boy kills boy

Four boys played with a shotgun Thursday in the Diego Martin hills of Trinidad. Only three lived to tell the tale.

Reuben Rocky Reid, 11, was pitched backwards, his face literally blown off as one of his friends who was holding the shotgun, pulled the trigger. Reuben’s body was later found down a precipice – his face unrecognisable.

The student of Diego Martin Boys’ RC Primary School was shot dead just before midday. Another 11-yearold is now in Police custody.

The deadly gunplay took place along a hillside garden at the top of Richplain Road and involved a single-barrel shotgun illegally owned by the father of one of the boys. The owner of the shotgun has gone into hiding, while officers are also searching for a 13-year-old youth who fled when the shotgun went off.

Police said that about

11:30h, two boys, aged 11 and six, were tending to their father’s garden off Richplain Road. The two brothers’ 13-year-old sibling and Reuben later joined the group.

It is not clear which of the boys found the shotgun in a nearby shed, but Newsday was told that the 13-yearold loaded the weapon with two shotgun cartridges also found in the shed. The teen kept opening and closing the ammunition loading part of the firearm while the other three youths stood around him staring.

Without warning the weapon was discharged and Reuben, who was standing in front of the 13-year-old, was pitched back as pellets from the shotgun cartridge slammed into and ripped off his face. He rolled down the hill, with his body stopping at the end of the precipice.

(Excerpt from Trinidad Newsday)

Earthquake rocks Barbados

An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.6 rocked Barbados on Friday, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damages.

The Trinidad-based Seismic Research Centre (SRC) of the University of the West Indies (UWI), said the tremor was felt at around 14:21h (local time) and was located 224 kilometres north-east of the capital, Bridgetown. It had a depth of 10 kilometres and

was at latitude 13.86 north and longitude 58.82 west.

This is the second quake to hit Barbados in a 72hour period. On Tuesday, the island was rattled by an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.4.

The SRC said that it is continuing to monitor the situation in the neighbouring Caribbean island following a series of earth tremors in recent weeks with the strongest being 6.5, three weeks ago. (CMC)

Former Argentina President Menem misses Jewish centre bomb trial

Former Argentine

President Carlos Menem has missed the opening day of his trial over a huge bomb attack against a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires in 1994.

Menem, 85, said he could not attend because of health reasons.

He is one of 13 people accused of obstructing the investigations. He has repeatedly rejected the allegations.

The attack against the Amia Jewish Cultural Centre in the heart of the Argentine capital killed 85 people and injured more than 300.

Argentine Prosecutors say it was planned and financed by Iran, and carried out by Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia Islamist movement.

The Iranian Government has always denied any involvement.

The trial is expected to last at least a year. More than 100 witnesses will be heard.

Menem’s former intelligence chief Hugo Anzorreguy also missed the trial citing health reasons.

Menem, the son of Syrian immigrants, was President of Argentina between 1989 and 1999.

He was sentenced to seven years in jail in 2013 for his role in a scheme to smuggle weapons and ammunitions to Ecuador and Croatia.

But he has avoided serving time in jail because of his age and because of his immunity as a senator for La Rioja province.

Relatives of the victims say there is a culture of impunity and intimidation in Argentina that have hampered the investigations.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Senate gives green light for economic citizenship programme in St Lucia

St Lucia is set to become the fifth Eastern Caribbean nation to introduce a Citizenship by Investment programme, and the country’s Attorney General has suggested a regional body be established to constantly examine these types of initiatives.

The Senate passed the Citizenship by Investment Bill this week, paving the way for St Lucia to join Grenada, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, and Antigua and Barbuda in offering citizenship to the wealthy in return for substantial investment.

“We cannot sit back as other countries participate in this process,” Minister for Legal Affairs, Home Affairs and National Security, Senator Victor Phillip La Corbiniere told the Senate on Tuesday.

“We must be at the forefront of it, both locally and at the international level. I would suggest perhaps that down the line, it may well be that countries

in the Caribbean that have Citizenship by Investment programmes may want to look at coming together in some kind of standing committee – perhaps a standing committee of Caricom to keep this matter under constant examination and to be able to keep the Government properly advised on developments taking place in this area, and how we need to be proactive in addressing some of these issues.” He said the programme would bring tremendous economic benefits to the country.

“We know that the Citizenship by Investment programme has the potential to generate significant sums of money, and it is important particularly at this time – in terms of the economic realities of the world and economic realities of St Lucia – to look at various modalities such as this to raise the requisite revenue,” Senator La Corbiniere said.

(Excerpt

Dozens killed as wave of bomb attacks hit Kabul

Asuicide bomber killed dozens of cadets at a Kabul Police Academy on Friday and blasts hit an area near the airport in a wave of attacks that began with a huge early morning truck bomb explosion in the Afghan capital.

“The bomber was wearing a Police uniform and detonated his explosives among students who had just returned from a break,” a Police official said.

Shortly afterwards, two explosions hit an area north of Kabul airport, close to a US special forces base. Small arms fire was also heard.

Details were still unclear but the explosions took place near several potential targets, including a counternarcotics Police camp near to a base for US security contractors and a US Special Forces base known as Camp Integrity.

Around the World

Migrant ‘chaos’ on Greek islands – UN refugee agency

The refugee crisis on the Greek islands of Kos, Chios and Lesbos is “total chaos”, the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR says, with inadequate accommodation, water and sanitation.

Around 50,000 people arrived in Greece in July alone, the organisation says.

Greece’s leader said the country was unable to cope, and called for European Union help.

Separately, Italian Police arrested five suspected traffickers over the deaths of about 200 people after a migrant boat sank on Wednesday.

The attacks came just over a week after the Taliban announced a new leader and appeared to dash any hope of a swift return to peace talks between the insurgent movement and the Government of President Ashraf Ghani.

A Taliban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack on the Police Academy, in which security sources said at least 50 or 60 people had been killed or wounded.

Fourth Bangladesh blogger hacked to death

ABangladeshi blogger known for his atheist views has been hacked to death by a gang armed with machetes in the capital Dhaka, police say.

Niloy Neel was attacked at his home in the city’s Goran area. He is the fourth secularist blogger to have been killed this year by suspected Islamist militants in Bangladesh.

Imran H Sarkar, head of the Bangladesh Blogger and Activist Network, told the BBC that Neel had been an anti-extremist voice of reason.

“He was the voice against fundamentalism and extremism and was even a voice for minority rights – especially women’s rights and the rights of indigenous people,” he said.

BBC World Service South Asia editor Charles Haviland says that, like previous vic-

tims, Neel was not only secular but atheist and, like two of the others, he was from a Hindu, not a Muslim, background.

All four men killed were on a list of 84 “atheist bloggers” drawn up by Islamic groups in 2013 and widely circulated.

It was originally submitted to the Government with the aim of having the bloggers arrested and tried for blasphemy. The groups which wanted bloggers arrested told us they have no knowledge of who is behind the killings.

There is also a more complex backdrop to the killings. Islamic groups label all these bloggers “atheists” – and many did indeed use the Internet to criticise those who believe in God. But in fact, not all the bloggers were atheists. (Excerpt from BBC News)

“Anti-Government elements launched a complex attack against Camp Integrity, initiated with a vehicle-borne bomb and followed by small arms fire and further explosions,” one Western security source said.

Shortly after the explosions, military jets were heard flying over the centre of Kabul. (Excerpt from Reuters)

They included two Libyans, two Algerians and a Tunisian, held on suspicion of multiple murder and people trafficking.

Survivors have said that traffickers used knives to slash the heads of African migrants and belts to thrash Arabs to keep them in the hull.

In other developments: Some 380 people res-

‘Almost quarter of a million people’ dead in Syria war

Almost a quarter of a million people, including nearly 12,000 children, have been killed in Syria’s conflict since it broke out in March 2011, a UKbased activist group has said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said on Friday that it had documented the deaths of 240,381 people, up from its tally of 230,618 announced on June 9.

The latest death toll shows that 11,964 children were among 71,781 civilians killed in Syria.

At least 88,616 regime forces were killed – or one thirds all deaths documented by the SOHR – including 50,570 soldiers, with the rest made up by allied fighters.

The monitor, which relies on a wide network of sources on the ground, put the death toll for rebel fighters at 42,384 and said 34,375 foreign fighters had also been

Risk of future Nepal-India earthquake increases

There is an increased risk of a future major earthquake in an area that straddles the west of Nepal and India, scientists warn.

New data has revealed that the devastating quake that hit Nepal in April did not release all of the stress that had built up underground, and has pushed some of it westwards.

The research is published in the journals Nature Geoscience and Science.

Its authors say more monitoring is now needed in this area.

Prof Jean-Philippe Avouac, from the University of Cambridge, told BBC

News: “This is a place that needs attention, and if we had an earthquake today, it would be a disaster because of the density of population not just in western Nepal but also in northern India, in the Gangetic plain.”

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal earlier this year killed about 9000 people, and left many thousands more injured and homeless. It occurred in a geological collision zone, where the Indian tectonic plate pushes north into the Eurasian plate, moving the ground an average of 2cm a year. (Excerpt from BBC News)

killed in Syria.

The identity of another 3225 people killed in the conflict remains unknown, according to the observatory.

The fate of 30,000 people who have gone missing in Syria, including 20,000 said to be held in Syrian jails, was not documented in the toll.

It also did not take into account the fate of thousands of loyalist forces held by rebel factions or by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant group.

The Syrian conflict began with anti-government protests before spiralling into a multi-front war after a brutal regime crackdown.

The news comes as the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously on Friday to set up a panel to identify who is behind deadly chlorine gas attacks in Syria, which the West blames on President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. (Excerpt from Reuters)

cued from a fishing boat were brought to Sicily, a day after being rescued

The UNHCR strongly criticised the British and French Governments over the situation in Calais, where 3000 migrants are living in makeshift camps, saying it should be treated as a “civil emergency”

A Sudanese national has been charged after allegedly walking nearly the full 50.5 km (31-mile) length of the Channel Tunnel towards the UK

Austrian authorities have stopped taking any more migrants at the country’s main reception camp in Traiskirchen (Excerpt from BBC News)

Typhoon Soudelor bears down on Taiwan; China next target

It is likely that the entire island of Taiwan will see at least tropical storm-force winds

Typhoon Soudelor is closing in on Taiwan where it will unleash destructive winds and life-threatening flooding rain through today. Eastern China will then become Soudelor’s final target.

While no longer a super typhoon, Soudelor is still a very dangerous typhoon with its strength equal to that of a Category 3 hurricane in the eastern Pacific or Atlantic oceans.

Gunmen attack UN hotel in Mali, hostages taken

Suspected gunmen have attacked a hotel in central Mali used by United Nations staff, killing at least five people and exchanging fire with troops encircling the building, residents and military sources have said.

Malian military officials also said on Friday that three Russian pilots were believed to have been kidnapped during the attack in the town of Sevare, though the Russian embassy in Mali, speaking to the TASS press agency, denied this.

“There are people inside the hotel that we are trying to save,” Colonel Diarran Kone, the Defence

Ministry Adviser said.

The attack well south of the Saharan desert strongholds of armed fighters highlights the threat posed by remnants of an alQaeda-linked insurgency that appears to be stepping up its campaign against Malian and UN troops.

Moussa Bah, the owner of a hotel nearby, said he was told by military personnel that several people have been killed, including fighters and soldiers.

He said the hotel is frequented by pilots with the UN peacekeeping mission. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Meteorologist Anthony Sagliani expects Soudelor to maintain that intensity until landfall in Hualien County, Taiwan, early this morning local time (late Friday afternoon EDT).

“Soudelor will be the most impactful typhoon to strike Taiwan since Typhoon Morakot from August 2009,” stated AccuWeather Tropical Weather Expert Dan Kottlowski, “and its impacts in terms of rainfall will be similar to Morakot.”

Morakot unleashed severe rainfall and left 461 people dead across Taiwan. Morakot’s rainfall peaked at 109.3 inches. Lives and property will be threatened throughout Taiwan as Soudelor crosses the island into Saturday and unleashes destructive winds and extremely heavy rainfall.

“Soudelor is a large storm in terms of the overall area of its tropical storm- and typhoon-force winds,” stated Sagliani. “It is likely that the entire island of Taiwan will see at least tropical stormforce winds [winds in excess of 60 kph/38 mph] and onehalf of the island will see typhoon-force winds [winds of 119 kph/74 mph or greater].” (Accuweather)

saturday, august 8, 2015| guyanatimesgy.com

$65M for Guyana’s contingent at CARIFESTA XII

Local officials announced on Friday that $65 million has been allocated for Guyana’s 80-man contingent to Haiti for the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA).

The 80 participants will leave Guyana on a chartered flight on August 20, and will remain in Haiti until the 30th. Guyana will be participating under the theme “Rites and Rhythms of Guyana” , and will be involved in Visual Arts, Literary Arts, Culinary Arts, Performing Arts, Fashion, Craft, Body Art, Symposia, Youth Focus, Film and Music, among other disciplines.

These participants went through an open audition and the best of the group was selected.

Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry, shared that Guyana was the first to host the CARIFESTA celebration in 1972, and again hosted it in 2008. She added that Guyana has participated in all 11 of the festivals, and has always been a front runner. She hopes that the country will continue to excel at showcasing the richness and variety of Guyanese culture.

Minister Henry said that although the Government wanted to contribute more funds, but $65 million was all that could have been afforded at this time. She said, however, that she was proud of what the officials have accomplished to represent Guyana so far.

Local CARIFESTA Coordinator Lennox Canterbury said Guyana will also make presentations based on the county’s folklore history, which will be showcased through song and dance, which is a new focus of the event officials. He added that another new aspect which Guyana will showcase is the art of body painting which will be headed by local art company, Bravo Arts.

Through dance, the participants are seeking to explore Guyana’s rich cultural heritage, depicting Guyana’s myths, legends, rhythms and folklore.

The dancers’ production

will showcase Guyanese traditions and creative direction of the local dance world through the perspectives of leading choreographers, such as Clive Prowell, Vivienne Daniel, Linda Griffith, Dr Seeta Shah Roath and Roshni Boodhoo.

Guyanese fashion will be represented by some of the county’s top designers, such as Kesha Edwards, Randy Madray, Carol Fraser, and others who each represent a specific area of fashion.

Meanwhile, the CARIFESTA Symposium will be looking at real issues that engage creative artists in Guyana and the Caribbean, explained Al Creighton, who is in charge of Guyana’s representation of Literary Arts.

He added that theatre

in Guyana was not fully researched and published upon across the Caribbean, because of its current state. Creighton explained that hopefully what is presented to the Caribbean community during the time of CARIFESTA will prove to them what Guyanese are capable of. He added that there will also be a major exhibition of Guyanese literature, which was put together by the University of Guyana’s Library.

Canterbury added that an Indigenous Forum and Indigenous activities will also be presented in Haiti, alongside a Guyana Booth which will include arts and craft, tourism information and development and investment opportunities.

Hinterland

Concern over lack of local support for skills training centre at Port Mourant

G– AH & L Kissoon saves the day ahead of Sunday’s opening the project and a further $6 million is needed to furnish the building which is situated at Babu Jaan, Corentyne.

uyanese are expected to benefit immensely from the multimillion-dollar New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir (NJASM) Humanitarian Mission’s Skills Training and Counselling Centre

The building will house a welding and wood joinery shop, sewing machines and counselling facilities

which is expected to be opened on Sunday, but financial support from the local corporate community is lacking.

Ninety-five per cent of the project has been funded by Guyanese living overseas who have now started to question the lack of local support for the project.

NJASM Humanitarian Mission President , Pandit Surish Sugrim says $38 million has been put into

Housing Project to see 200 more houses built

The

Hinterland

Housing Pilot Project will soon be expanded as US$3.1 million has been obtained by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA) to ensure the construction of 200 homes in the hinterland.

This project was a component under the Government of Guyana and InterAmerican Development Bank (IDB) Second Low Income Settlement Programme.

In an exclusive interview with Guyana Times on Friday, Minister within the Ministry of Communities, Keith Scott, stated that the project profile was currently being finalised for approval by the IDB.

“This new project will see the construction of 200 more houses in the hinterland. These homes will have rainwater harvesting systems and work is expected to commence early in 2016. The objective of the pilot was to address the housing needs of eight communities in Regions One and Nine,” Minister Scott said.

Minister

This housing project for the hinterland commenced under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration in 2009.

It is aimed at providing housing for vulnerable hinterland households through a community partnership approach, involving novel participatory approaches to project design and the actual provision of affordable housing.

“The objective of the pilot was to address the hous-

ing needs of these communities as mentioned before and was supported by a subsidy arrangement involving the disbursement of 208 subsidies for the completion of 500 square-foot houses. It also catered for the replacement of defective roofs with zincs, complete with a rainwater harvesting system,” the Minister explained.

The successes of the Hinterland Housing Project include: reduced overcrowding in hinterland homes, improved access to safe drinking water for hinterland households, and improved sanitary conditions for hinterland families.

It also included the increased social cohesion with participating communities.

“There is also the employment of over 100 persons in participatory communities, reduction in labour intensive work on women, overall improvement in improved housing conditions of hinterland households and, mutual learning between the implementing agency and beneficiary communities,” Minister Scott added.

to function as an empowerment centre for youths and adults.

According to Pandit Sugrim, foreign donors have entrusted him with money for the project and were happy with what has been done, but were now questioning

way with some furniture for the office. Pandit Sugrim noted that he has contacted the company for assistance, but up until then had not received a response.

Meanwhile, funding for the sewing machines and for the equipment which will be placed in the carpentry and welding workshops is still lacking. The building is also in need of more office furniture. Despite this, Sugrim is going ahead with Sunday’s opening. He says the overall goal is to break the cycle of poverty through education, empowerment and creating jobs.

“Basic fundamental things to take a person through life and get them to move away from laziness and suicidal thoughts… We will also address things like HIV, drugs and help victims of teenage pregnancy to be able to cope by trying to educate them and provide them with a skill.”

In calling on the business community to come forward, Pandit Sugrim noted that we all must be our brother’s keepers. “That is the golden rule that we all should live by.”

The NJASM Humanitarian Mission has

where the local donors are.

“Through the benevolence of the foreign donors, we will be able to provide education and training to locals but others need to chip in.”

At the time when Pandit Sugrim was speaking with Guyana Times, the building still needed furniture and several top Government officials and members of the Diplomatic Corps had already been invited to Sunday’s opening.

“I am leaving everything in the hands of God, but it is worrying that the people in Guyana do not see the need to support a project like this…”

As he spoke, a canter truck from AH & L Kissoon Ltd pulled into the drive-

been working in Guyana over the past years spending millions of dollars providing for the needs of persons. “In 2011 we realised that hand-outs is not the solution to the problems and, therefore, more effective means of being able to change lives [were needed]. That gave birth to the idea of an empowerment centre,” Pandit Sugrim said.

“We have come to realise that instead of giving a man a fish, you teach him how to fish and this is the whole concept behind the project. We no longer believe in handouts. There are only two categories that still benefit from your hand-outs that is: the bed ridden child and sick adults.”

Taxi driver charged with Philadelphia farmer’s murder

Ataxi driver was on Friday placed before Magistrate Fabayo Azore in Court Five of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with the murder of a farmer.

Joel Brandon, 30, of 3 Orange Stain, East Bank Essequibo, was not required to plead to the indictable charge which read that between July 22 and July 31 at Ruby, East Bank Essequibo, he murdered Davonan Sookram, 37. He was represented by Attorney-at-Law Jed Vasconcellos.

Police Prosecutor Corporal Deniro Jones informed the court that on July 27, the accused went to the deceased man’s home and picked him up in his car. That was the last time that Sookram was seen alive. It was further revealed that on July 31 at approximately 16:00h, Sookram’s de-

accused, Joel Brandon

composed body was found in Ruby Backdam beneath a jamoon tree.

The Prosecutor told the Magistrate that while the investigation was not yet complete, the accused confessed to committing the crime as he gave his caution statement.

The Magistrate remanded the man to prison and

transferred the matter to Court One for August 10.

Sookram’s body was discovered with a suspected bullet wound to his head along the Ruby access road.

According to reports received, a formal missing person’s report was made to the Police after days passed and the man did not show. Relatives then established a search party and went in search of him. During the search, they received a call that the decomposed body of a male was spotted in a clump of bushes.

As they arrived on the scene, the Police were already there. The relatives were given access to see the body. It was then that his wife, along with others, positively identified the body as that of Sookram. The Police then launched an investigation, which resulted in the arrest of Brandon.

Kitty resident on bail for cocaine possession charge

AKitty, Georgetown resident was placed on bail on Friday when he appeared before the courts on a charge of cocaine possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Welton Deeges, who was employed at Footworks, told the court that he was not guilty of possession of the one gram of cocaine that was allegedly found in his possession.

Initially, he had pleaded guilty to the offence. However, when told of the penalty attached – three to

five years’ imprisonment, he changed his plea to not guilty. He explained to the court that he lived with his brother in Kitty as his mother was dead and his father left them when he was quite young.

Police Prosecutor Corporal Deniro Jones objected to bail, stating that the offence is quite serious in nature. However, Magistrate Azore granted the defendant bail on the amount of $25,000. He is expected back in court on August 10.

OAS report urges State funding for political parties

The Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) of the Organisation of American States (OAS) to the General and Regional Elections in Guyana on May 11 has released its report and, among its recommendations, is consideration of State funding for political parties.

This has always been a topic of interest in the political domain, with sections of society urging that Government allowed some sort of State funding to be given to contesting parties during elections.

On the topic of financing, the OAS/EOM observed that while a legal framework already exists, there is the clear need to revise and modernise aspects of the law which are “obsolete” and which allows violations and non-compliance with few sanctions. The body urged that this be corrected.

The Mission said it also

recognised, based on information garnered from a wide variety of stakeholders, that access to the State Media was not provided to all political parties on an equal basis and urged that Government ensure systems are in place to allow equitably airtime for all parties, especially during an elections campaign.

Some other general recommendations include the need for a legal framework that promotes the holding of elections based on positive political platforms; the implementation of a system of electronic tabulation of the preliminary results; the adoption of a continuous national civic education programme to promote political participation and democratic values; and the implementation of more robust procedures for periodic updating of the national voters list. Meanwhile, the

FAO Food Price Index hits lowest level in almost six years

Prices for major food commodities in July hit their lowest average monthly level since September 2009 as sharp drops in the prices of dairy products and vegetable oils more than offset some increases for those of sugar and cereals. Meat prices, meanwhile, remained stable. This is according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)

The FAO Food Price Index averaged 164.6 points in July, down 1.0 per cent from June, and 19.4 per cent from a year earlier.

The trade-weighted index tracks prices on international markets of five major food commodity groups: cereals, meat, dairy products, vegetable oils and sugar.

In July, the dairy price index dropped 7.2 per cent from the previous month, mainly due to lower import demand from China, the Middle East and North Africa amid abundant EU milk production which has resulted in good availability of dairy products for export.

The July vegetable oil price index was some 5.5

per cent below its June level, reaching its lowest value since July 2009. The recent slide was primarily caused by a fall in international palm oil prices due to increased production in Southeast Asia combined with slower exports especially from Malaysia, and a further weakening of soy oil prices on ample supplies for export in South America and a favourable outlook for global supply in 2015/16.

The cereal price index rose by 2.0 per cent from June, but was still 10.1 per cent below July last year’s level. For the second consecutive month, higher

wheat and maize prices, in part due to unfavourable weather in North America and Europe, kept the cereal index rising, but rice prices continued to fall.

In July, the meat price index remained nearly unchanged from the previous month. An increase in international prices of bovine meat offset a decline for pig meat and ovine meat, while prices for poultry remained stable.

The sugar price index rose by 2.5 per cent from June 2015, largely due to less than ideal harvesting conditions in the main producing region of Brazil.

“Sure Cash” Promotion winners receive prizes

Permanent Representative of Guyana to the OAS, Bayney Karran, described the elections as “historic”. It was noted that “significant efforts were made by the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to plan and prepare for the electoral process and that significant improvements were implemented particularly in relation to the packaging and distribution of electoral material, the extensive training provided to poll workers and the voter education efforts”.

The OAS team included 22 observers from 13 countries who were present from the opening of the polls up to the counting of the votes in all 10 regions of the country, visiting a total of 379 polling stations on Election Day.

This is the fifth time the OAS has observed elections in Guyana, following Missions in 1997, 2001, 2006 and 2011.

ANSA McAL Trading Limited on Friday rewarded the second set of winners in its TRINCHLORO Clean & White “Sure Cash” Promotion with US$100 each at its head office, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara (ECD).

The winners’ names were pulled in the drawing held in Berbice at the new J’s Supermarket on July 31, 2015. They are Shailendra Arjune of Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice; Nicole A Rodrigues of Beterverwagting, ECD; Amar Nauth Bhojan of

Lancaster Village, ECD; Coretta Culley of Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara and Haimwantie Persaud of Golden Fleece Estate, Essequibo Coast.

TRINCHLORO Brand Manager Padma Prashad congratulated the winners, and encouraged those who have not yet participated to take advantage of the opportunity to win “Sure Cash” by using Trinchloro Bleach.

The next drawing in the promotion is scheduled for August 15 at Jaigobin’s Supermarket, Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast. This promotion will give

20 TRINCHLORO customers the chance to win $2 million in cash, with the first-place winner receiving US$5000, second place US$3000, third place US$1000 and fourth and fifth place US$500 each. Additionally, 15 persons will win US$100 in the three consolation drawings. To enter the promotion, persons are required to place a TRINCHLORO Clean & White label (any size) along with their name, address and telephone number in entry boxes provided at all leading supermarkets countrywide.

SUDOKU

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

(May 21June 20)

CANCER

Look into making a professional change if you feel that your talents are being wasted. Do your research and stay on top of job opportunities both in and outside of your locale.

Don’t jump to conclusions. If you are not clear about something, ask. You are likely to end up in a vulnerable position if you have made an assumption or misinterpreted an offer.

Money matters are highlighted. Focus on building a secure future. Purchases that grow in value should be considered. Be smart, do your research and make your move.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Concentrate on important relationships. Do something you enjoy with the people you care about. Building closer ties with loved ones will relieve stress and promote happiness.

Save your breath. Getting into a battle of wills with someone who won’t back down is pointless. Agree to disagree, make your own decisions and do your own thing.

Tend to the needs of someone who is struggling. Don’t get stuck in a routine or be afraid of trying something new. Take a stand and make decisions that will improve your life.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Spend time improving your living space. Get rid of items that are no longer useful and replace them with products that will make your life more comfortable.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Don’t allow anyone to make you feel guilty for doing things you enjoy. You will eventually overextend yourself if you keep paying for others. Consider your health and well-being.

CAPRICORN (June 21July 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

If you surround yourself with people who share your beliefs and morals, you’ll feel secure. Judgmental, critical or negative people are best avoided if you want to get ahead.

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

Updating your look will help improve your image and self-confidence. Presenting a capable, take-charge persona will make others see you as an accomplished and responsible leader.

AQUARIUS

PISCES

(Feb. 20March 20)

Take a close look at the people around you. It’s time to break free from anyone who is too controlling or only looking to use you to get ahead. Focus on your own advancement.

Organize a get-together with people who make you happy. Workplace woes will fade into the background once you are having fun with likeminded people.

Mayweather defends upcoming Berto fight Williamson sweeps awards in series win

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Andre Berto

off during a press conference to announce the upcoming fight on September 12

Floyd Mayweather’s latest title defense began outside the ring on Thursday as he fought to validate his upcoming bout against Andre Berto. Mayweather, coming off his victory over Manny Pacquiao in May, is gearing up for what he says will be the final fight of his career on Sept. 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Victory would take him to 49-0 and match the record of former heavyweight great Rocky Marciano, though Mayweather has been criticized for choosing what many consider an easy oppo-

nent for his swan song.

“I hear I’ve been getting backlash. I chose Berto because he’s exciting,” Mayweather told reporters from his podium.

“The difference between Berto and Pacquiao is you guys put all the hype in Manny. But this fight is a very intriguing matchup.”

The fight is a far cry from Mayweather’s ‘mega-fight’ clash with Pacquiao, which took five years to finalise and became the richest bout in boxing.

There was less fanfare on Thursday with both Mayweather and Berto in

casual dress and flanked by the boxers confirmed for the undercard while the 38-year-old Mayweather took time out to pose for photos with fans.

The 31-year-old Berto, who has known Mayweather since he was a amateur, has a 30-3 record and is a twotime welterweight world titleholder, but is just 3-3 in his past six bouts.

Despite the impressions that Mayweather ignored several more qualified boxers, Berto promised if the fight does not deliver a good show he would not be to blame.

“Have you ever seen a boring Andre Berto fight? Everyone needs to question Floyd,” Berto said in relation to reaction from the outcome of the clash with Pacquiao where Mayweather was criticized for being too defensive and the fight failed to live up to expectations.

“Every time I fight it’s exciting. Every time Pacquiao fights it’s exciting. There’s one common denominator that’s making it (boring).”

For his part, Mayweather does not seem fazed by the muted interest in the fight.

“No one is forced to buy this fight,” Mayweather added.

“Andre Berto is going to push Floyd Mayweather to the limit. That’s one thing I do know.” (Reuters)

Miller sets up 400m clash with Allyson Felix

Bahamian rising sprint star Shaunae Miller has opted to compete in the 400m event at the Beijing World Championships, ahead of the 200m distance.

With a personal best 49.92 seconds set only last month at the Lausanne Diamond League meet in Switzerland, it seemed the one-lap event was always going to be the sprinters likely choice.

Following the decision, Miller is expected to be among the hot medal favourites at the event, with her time over the distance bettered only by United States’ Francena McCorory’s 49.83.

New Zealand’s total of 273 appeared to be inadequate on a few occasions, particularly when Hamilton Masakadza was raining powerful blows, but the visitors eventually whipped up sufficient bowling ammo to snuff out Zimbabwe’s challenge and win their first ODI series after the World Cup. Sean Williams, with 63 off 62, took the game deep but once he holed out to deep midwicket in the 46th over, Zimbabwe were effectively down for the count.

After captain Kane Williamson had made 90 off 109 balls - his sixth consecutive fifty-plus score - to guide New Zealand’s innings, Zimbabwe’s fairly placid chase was scuppered by wickets at inopportune moments. It was Mitchell McClenaghan, who finished with three wickets, who triggered the first slide by dismissing Chamu Chibhabha after the batsman put on 97 runs for the opening wicket along with Masakadza.

Masakadza’s dismissal in the next over set Zimbabwe back further. The nature of his exit would particularly rankle the opener: he deposited a long hop from Williamson straight into deep midwicket’s palms. Zimbabwe continued to lose their wickets softly, as captain Elton Chigumbura drove legspinner Ish Sodhi straight to covers.

or shape away. The breakthrough for Zimbabwe, however, came through offspinner John Nyumbu, playing his first game of the series, in the 10th over.

Williamson, though, came in and weaved substantial partnerships with Martin Guptill and Grant Elliott. Williamson had spoken at the toss about the difficulty of identifying a “good total”, and he ensured nothing was left to chance. Between the 11th and 41st overs, Williamson’s presence was the only constant even as the way he batted kept changing over the course of the innings.

During the early part of his 56-run association with Guptill, Williamson played a risk-averse game, not giving in to twitchy urges to score. But even then, he did not miss out on bashing loose deliveries, like in the 17th over when he carted Chibhabha over wide long on for six, and then, after three dot balls, slapped a back-foot punch uppishly between long off and sweeper cover.

ing off Sikandar Raza’s bowling. It was at this point that Williamson was cranking up his scoring rate.

Legspinner Graeme Cremer, though, kept Williamson and Guptill guessing by melding slow flight with sharp turn. Guptill was excised by one such delivery that took his edge and was pouched at slip. Soon after, Colin Munro played across the line only for the leg-break to fizz through a big bat-pad gap.

Williamson, along with Grant Elliott, then added 70 runs in 13.1 overs to set New Zealand up for a strong finish, but their dismissals in successive overs nearly derailed the visitors. While Elliott was out sweeping to Cremer, his leading edge going only as far as short fine leg, Williamson was subdued in the 90s for the fourth time in his last six innings at long on where Ervine showed incredible presence of mind. Cremer and Nyumbu finished with 5 for 96 between them and stunted the visitors’ progress in the middle stages.

Williamson was equally efficient against the spinners, using his feet to drill Nyumbu on the on side whenever the ball was tossed up. On other occasions, he shuffled across off stump to get inside the line of Nyumbu’s deliveries, most of which turned appreciably from outside off to middle or leg. Williamson, on 53, also enjoyed a reprieve in the 26th over when Regis Chakabva missed a stump-

New Zealand’s scoring, however, received a leg-up through some late hitting from James Neesham, replacing an injured Ross Taylor in the XI, and Nathan McCullum, who raised 50 runs in 4.1 overs for an unbroken seventh-wicket stand. They pushed the visitors’ score beyond 260, as New Zealand muscled 54 runs in the last five overs. Those strikes proved decisive in the end. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

Zimbabwe innings

New Zealand innings

Sanya Richards-Ross who has the third fastest time over the distance at 49.95 also failed to meet the grade.

Having surprisingly opted for the 400m event ahead of the 200m as well, American Allyson Felix will still be the favourite heading into Beijing.

Felix has clocked a season’s best of 50.05 this year, fourth best in the world, but has gone as fast as 49.57 over the distance.

McCorory could have earned a spot at the Championships had Felix opted for the 200m. (Digicel Sportsmax)

McCorory will, however, be absent from the Championships after finishing fourth at the US National Trials.

The home side’s hopes lifted again when Williams and Craig Ervine put on 45 runs for the fourth wicket. But, Ervine’s dismissal in the 33rd over when he backed up too far only for bowler Ben Wheeler to effect a direct hit sent Zimbabwe towards a freefall. Apart from some persistent hustling from McClenaghan and Wheeler, the spinners, Nathan McCullum and Sodhi, played a part in suffocating Zimbabwe.

After being inserted in the morning, New Zealand betrayed caution in the beginning - the tempo not dissimilar to that in the first ODI which was played on the same surface - rather than any attempt at smash-mouth stuff. Their first fifty runs, in fact, came off 76 balls - their second slowest in ODIs against Zimbabwe since 2001.

Guptill, who played out a maiden in the first over, ensured he accounted for Tinashe Panyangara’s difficult angles. Panyangara, like he has often done this series, bowled from wide of the crease, and was either getting the ball to stay the course

MJ Guptill c Masakadza b Cremer 42 TWM Latham c Cremer b Nyumbu 16

KS Williamson* c Ervine b Nyumbu 90 C Munro b Cremer 9

GD Elliott c Chigumbura b Cremer 36

JDS Neesham not out 37

L Ronchi† c Madziva b Williams 7

NL McCullum not out 25

Extras (b 1, w 8, nb 2) 11

Total (6 wickets; 50 overs; 210 mins) 273

Did not bat: MJ McClenaghan, BM Wheeler, IS Sodhi

Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-100, 3-128, 4-198, 5-202, 6-223

Bowling: T Panyangara 9-1-53-0, N Madziva 6-0-41-0, J Nyumbu 10-0-52-2, CJ Chibhabha 4-0-200, AG Cremer 10-0-44-3, Sikandar Raza 4-019-0, SC Williams 7-0-43-1.

H Masakadza c Wheeler b Williamson 57 CJ Chibhabha b McClenaghan 32 CR Ervine run out (Wheeler) 32 E Chigumbura* c Guptill b Sodhi 3 SC Williams c Guptill b Neesham 63 Sikandar Raza c Neesham b Sodhi 5 RW Chakabva† c & b McCullum 3 AG Cremer run out (Wheeler) 14 N Madziva c Neesham

The Ashes… Stokes leads England in final Ashes push

Foreboding clung to Australia throughout the second day at Trent Bridge as they successfully delayed what seemed to be inevitable England progress towards regaining the Ashes. The word “successfully” is used loosely. For the second Test in succession, they were faced by the threat not just of defeat, but defeat inside two days, but just as they did at Edgbaston, they summoned enough resistance to delay the suffering.

Delaying the suffering is one thing, tempering the condemnation that is already sounding back home quite another. Michael Clarke, poised to lose his second Ashes campaign as captain in England, suffered another disheartening dismissal that, at 34, might yet tip him into international retirement at the end of the series.

A two-day Ashes result is such a rarity it last occurred in 1921, and it seemed an evens bet when Australia embarked upon their second innings shortly before lunch with a deficit of 331.

Ben Stokes did his best to make it happen. He summoned by far his best bowling display of the Ashes summer, finding markedly more swing than any member of the England attack, but others were beginning to flag. Waiting can be such a tiring business.

Stokes took three wickets in consecutive overs late in the afternoon session as Australia’s opening stand of 113 crumbled before their eyes, and left the field briefly for cramp in the final ses-

sion, but he returned with his effectiveness unimpaired to strike twice more. By the close, with Australia seven down and trailing by 90 runs, he had 5 for 35 in 16 overs and the persistent threat of his boomerang swing will have caused many to see him with different eyes.

Stokes was not just the combative allrounder who England envisage can become a game-changing figure for years to come, he was also the fourth seamer who Australia, mistakenly, had gambled that they did not need. The message - one of many unwelcome lessons - will not be lost upon them. So Saturday survives, for a while at least, even if tickets for the cricket may not quite have the cachet they once had. But at least spectators will now be spared alternative attractions such as Nottingham’s urban beach, where Australians could have more sand kicked in their faces.

The fortune that favoured England on the open-

ing day when Stuart Broad’s dream sequence blew away Australia for 60 was reluctant to bestow its favours upon them a second time.

Edges turned into play and misses and when England did find the bat, the slip catches that had been brilliantly taken first time around were spurned. David Warner was twice reprieved, firstly on 10 when Alastair Cook could not hold a diving catch at first slip, again on 42 when this time Ian Bell failed to hold a testing opportunity.

Steven Finn bowled in lacklustre fashion, there was no spin for Moeen Ali, and the pitch began to quieten. There was a suspicion of drooling around Warner’s moustache. Rogers, too, broadened his range and there was further frustration for England when Wood had him caught at third slip for 47 only for replays to show he had overstepped.

He had bowled several no-balls before then without umpire S Ravi thinking to signal it, or mention

mcilroy will defend his us Pga title after injury

orld number one

WRory McIlroy will defend his US PGA Championship title next week at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin after recovering from injury.

Tee times were released on Friday with McIlroy grouped with the winners of this year’s majors, Jordan Spieth and Zach Johnson.

The 26-year-old had given hints via social media that he would be able to return to action.

He suffered a “total rupture” of ligaments in his left ankle last month.

McIlroy’s post on Friday showed the inside of a private plane along with various emojis depicting a US flag, a thumbs-up symbol and a golf flag.

The on-board video screen suggested McIlroy was departing from Faro in Portugal, where the fourtime major winner was understood to have been practising and the location for Thursday’s video of him hitting a driver on the range.

Rory McIlroy

On Wednesday, McIlroy posted a video in which he was seen balancing on his left leg and twisting and throwing a gym ball to mimic the actions of the golf swing.

He has also shared photographs of his ankle from four and three weeks ago, saying: “I’ve come a long way since.”

McIlroy, who was ruled

it. Finn suffered the same outcome in the final session when Peter Nevill was spared. Ravi clearly favours a non-interventionist philosophy of life.

Two fraternal handshakes later, though, with half-centuries banked by both openers, the resistance ended. Rogers was the first to go, a slick, one-handed rescue at third slip by Joe Root which bore comparison with Stokes’ own effort the previous day. Warner’s flip pull, which had caused his downfall at Edgbaston, almost cost him when he squirmed Mark Wood over long leg for six. A repeat against Stokes popped up a catch to mid-on. Shaun Marsh’s poor Test was then completed by another catch for Root, a simpler one this time.

England’s plans then proved strikingly successful, Cook bringing Stokes in at short cover for Steven Smith and being rewarded when his sliced drive at a wide one was held low down, taking the bowler, Broad, past Fred Trueman’s tally of 307 Test wickets. Four wickets had fallen in 27 balls and Stokes almost followed up with a run out.

Why Smith did not seek to calm the game ahead of tea was mystifying. There is no end to the appetite for batting aggression in this series even when it defies all logic. For England it has become a relief to escape their attritional cricket of previous years. For Australia, the swagger has been around for a long time. But in Smith’s case it looked self-indulgent.

The post-tea session was

a slog for all but Stokes. Wood’s only intervention could have major ramifications - Clarke caught by Ian Bell after Cook twice juggled the catch towards him. Stokes then removed Peter Nevill and Mitchell Johnson, the latter backing away to make room to what he fatally discovered was actually a huge outswinger. Three left-handers removed in this way from around the wicket - and this was the best of them. Perhaps only bad light spared Australia from an extra half hour.

Earlier, Mitchell Starc had salvaged his best Test figures of 6 for 111 from a match that otherwise has provided unremitting gloom for Australia. After the delight of the first day came the levity of the second as England added a further 117 for the loss of five wickets. Three of them went to Starc, who swung the old ball skilfully, and late too, and at one stage had six of the first seven wickets to fall.

Root, 124 to his name, had played the one innings of quality on the opening day, but he never locked on to the second morning. Starc persisted with wide deliveries outside off stump, and not for the first time Root this series looked fallible, caught at the wicket as he tried to drive.

There was curious cricket at the other end, with Johnson serving up driveable deliveries to the nightwatchman, Wood. Starc plucked out his leg stump to end the fun and, in his next over, another lavish inducker emphatically cleaned up

Buttler, so continuing his unproductive series.

When Stokes fell softly down the leg side against Josh Hazlewood, England, at 332 for 8, had seemed a touch wasteful, but Moeen was joined by Broad, who had arrived at his home ground to see his 8 for 15 already engraved on the Trent Bridge honours board.

The pair gambolled along with a stand of 58 in eight overs, Hazlewood suffering the indignity of 20 from one over, including two elegant drives on the up from Moeen and a topedged six by Broad into the beer queue - a strategic position, one imagines, he will be joining himself before too long. (Cricinfo)

out of the Scottish Open and the defence of his Open and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational titles with the injury, was always going to be included in the tee times for Whistling Straits unless he called the PGA of America to withdraw.

His last competitive round was a closing 66 in the US Open at Chambers Bay on 21 June. (BBC Sport)

WADA launches urgent investigation into athletics drug claims

Claims made in the German and British media regarding alleged doping in athletics are to be investigated by WADA’s Independent Commission.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has responded to the most recent wave of doping allegations made against international athletics by confirming its Independent Commission will be launching an urgent investigation.

The subject of alleged doping in athletics has again returned to the public spotlight in the wake of a documentary aired on German television earlier this month.

The programme claimed German broadcaster ARD and British newspaper The Sunday Times had obtained a leaked database belonging to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), which contained over 12,000 blood tests taken from approximately 5000 athletes between 2001 and 2012.

In a statement issued on Friday, WADA president Sir Craig Reedie in-

sisted that the Independent Commission would receive full cooperation from the IAAF during its investigation and also condemned the leaking of confidential material to the media.

“WADA is committed to protecting the confidentiality of athletes and, therefore, has asked its Independent Commission to commence its investigation with urgency,” said Reedie.

“We are confident that the IAAF, which has formally agreed to full cooperation with the Commission with

respect to its inquiries, is equally committed.

“WADA deplores the manner in which this data was obtained, leaked to the media and analysed.

“To suggest or imply doping with respect to any athlete whose data is contained within the database is, at the very least, irresponsible and potentially libellous.

“I ask that any athlete, or anti-doping organization, concerned that their rights are being eroded or inappropriately challenged refer those concerns to the Commission, which intends to commence its work immediately.”

Another ARD documentary, concerning allegations of doping in Russian athletics and aired late last year, led to the formation of the Independent Commission, chaired by WADA’s founding president, Dick Pound.

The Independent Commission is scheduled to deliver its report by the end of the year, unless WADA president Reedie opts to extend the mandate.

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World Swimming Championships: 10-year-old Alzain Tareq competes

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Tareq, whose mother is Scottish, finished last in 41.13 seconds, the slowest of all 64 swimmers in Kazan.

Her goal is to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

“I was a bit nervous walking out there, I have never swum in front of so many spectators,” said Tareq, who got a photo with her idol Sarah Sjostrom.

“The other swimmers are often surprised, they ask me

“I feel so happy. I want to learn the techniques and how they swim.”

The 10-year-old caused quite a stir in the media zone - and among the other competitors.

“I don’t know what to make of it - she’s dinky,” said Britain’s Fran Halsall, who was fifth fastest in qualifying for Friday evening’s semi-finals.

“Good on her for having a go.”

American star Missy Franklin said: “She is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I got in her warm

“Every time she sees me she gives me the biggest smile.”

On day five of the eightday meeting, Great Britain’s men’s 4x200m freestyle relay made it through to Friday’s final with the third fastest time.

Ben Proud reached the semi-finals of the 50m freestyle, while Lizzie Simmonds also progressed from the 200 backstroke heats.

Jazz Carlin qualified for Saturday’s 800m final in 5th place. (BBC Sport)

Windies trio fire Barbados to easy win over Jamaica

AShaquana Quintyne half-century and three-wicket hauls from Deandra Dottin and Shakera Selman, helped Barbados beat Jamaica by 32 runs in their opening game of the Regional Women’s Super50 here Thursday.

Opting to bat first at Caldrac Cricket Club, Barbados were dismissed for an inadequate 172 off 45.5 overs, with skipper Quintyne top-scoring with 60 and fellow West Indies player Kyshona Knight getting 40.

Part-time seamer Natasha McLean spearheaded the Jamaica attack with four for 18 while offspinner Chedean Nation picked up two for 31.

In reply, Jamaica put up a short fight before being bundled out for 140 off 41.3 overs, as Windies seamers Dottin (3-22) and Selman (326) destroyed the innings.

West Indies batting star Stafanie Taylor hit a patient 29 but was the only batsman to get past 20.

Barbados started shakily, losing key West Indies players Hayley Matthews for seven and Dottin for two, to slump to 22 for three after six overs.

However, the 19-yearold Quintyne combined with Knight in a 91-run, fourth wicket stand to rescue the innings. Quintyne faced 107 deliveries and struck four fours while Knight, a lefthander, hit two fours and a six in an innings lasting 71 balls.

Deandra Dottin

Once the partnership was broken, Barbados fell away, losing their last seven wickets for 59 runs.

Jamaica were making a fist of it at 99 for three until Selman and Dottin were introduced, and they lost their last seven wickets for 41 runs.

Jodian Morgan perished in the fourth over for eight with the score on 14 but Taylor and opener McLean (16) added 27 to stabilise the run chase.

When McLean and Jerona Walcott (7) fell in quick succession, Taylor and Nation put on a further 40 runs for the fourth wicket to frustrate the Barbadians. Taylor spent two hours at the crease and faced 77 balls, but failed to hit a single boundary. Her dismissal, bowled by Selman in the 31st over with the score on 119, triggered the slide as Jamaica lost six wickets for 21 runs. (CMC)

Guyana Athletics: Nothing but hopes and dreams Namilco supports Boyce and Jefford Classic

By TreisTon Joseph

Iview Guyana’s athlet-

ics the way I view the vast cherished rainforest of Guyana: filled with untapped natural resources.

However, in the case of our local athletes, they are not cherished.

Every athlete who has graced Guyana with their talent at some point or the other has had a dream, has had a hope...

...For some it might have been as big as being Guyana’s first track and field Olympic gold medallist, for others probably as simple as winning at the National Schools Championship.

Yet despite the hundreds who have shown the ability to be great, all have tried and failed.

From the outside looking in, you wonder why is this so? But from the inside looking out, one wonders when will this change?

You see Martin Luther King Jr, Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Malcolm X and Nelson Mandela all had dreams, but all these great leaders also had a vision to guide them.

Guyana’s athletics lack extensive vision; therefore, the ability to develop our untapped natural resources over a long-term period is non-existent.

Why do I say this? Ask the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) to show its developmental plan for the sport for at least the next year, much less four years.

Ask the previous Government and the current Administration for their sports policy as well as their vision for the sport.

Ask the coaches to display their plan to move their most talented athlete from one level to the next over a three-year period.

Understand the picture I’m trying to paint?

However, you really can’t blame the coaches holistically when there is no plan to even grow the knowledge of the coaches by AAG or even the Government.

Just to fortify my points with examples; take for instance, the previous Director of Sport, Neil Kumar begged all sport associations for a development plan called the ‘Road to Rio’ since the

ending of the 2012 London Olympics, to this day only the Guyana Amateur Boxing Association (GABA) and the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) have submitted such documents. What happened to the AAG’s? Nobody knows.

Take for instance, the previous Government after building the National Aquatic Centre without a warm-up pool which meant no international competition could be held in this country ends up building the National Track and Field Centre not just in an incommodious location but also without a warm-up track, preventing internationally sanctioned International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) meets from being held in Guyana despite knowing that a warm-up facility is a mandatory requirement to hold international meets, where is the vision in that?

Just to note a warm-up pool was later installed at the National Aquatic Centre after it was realised that international competitions would not have been sanctioned by the International Swimming Federation, FINA, without such an important component.

Meanwhile, even recently if it was not for Digicel appreciating the accomplishments of the Special Olympic athletes, the new Government would have probably been clueless that Guyana bagged six medals, including one gold and three silver medals at the recently-held Special Olympics in Los Angeles, California.

To further note the lack of vision, all the Minister with responsibility for sport, Nicolette Henry basically said at the appreciation was that the Government was proud. Really?

No word on any plan to develop these types of athletes in order for them to become better sportsmen and women, no plan to develop this type of sport so that it can grow and encourage others to possibly showcase their abilities despite having some sort of disability.

Calvin Thomas who won gold for Guyana at the Special Olympics in the men’s 5000 metres was interviewed by ESPN after

his win, in any other country that is a big deal but for some reason in Guyana, his feat feels like it never happened.

When you think of it, there is a reason why sponsors are somewhat reluctant to spend their money in lump sum towards our athletes and the development of sport, but it is definitely not because our athletes aren’t talented.

It is simply because they probably feel that just like the wasted talent of the past, their money might be wasted as well.

Now where does this leave the current crop of young stars with loads of potential as well as hopes and dreams such as Jason Yaw, Cassey George, Tirana Mitchell, Kevin Abbensetts, Natricia Hooper, Claudrice McKoy, Kenisha Phillips, Tevin Garraway, Arinze Chance, just to name a few...

Well, as the cycle has gone on throughout the years, probably just another raw, natural, gifted bunch with just hopes and dreams.

The sixth annual Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic is just a week away, but the conveyor belt of support continues to roll smoothly, with the National Milling Company (Namilco) being the latest corporate entity to join forces with the event.

The event is billed for August 15-16 at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground in the mining town of Linden, and Namilco has committed to honouring the champion male and female athletes of the two-day activity.

Chairman of the Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Committee, Colin Boyce, expressed gratitude to Namilco for being involved in this year’s event, which will see participation of athletes from two Caribbean nations.

“I want to express sincere gratitude to Namilco for being onboard and honouring the champion male and the champion female with a cash incentive,” Boyce said.

The former Athletics Association of Guyana President boasted that the event, which was first held in 2010, has grown to become the premier local event, attracting top male and female athletes.

“We believe in clean competition; we believe in healthy competition for our Guyanese athletes, so while it might be a very difficult task for the Athletics Association to be able to send out large contingents to represent Guyana abroad, one would think that what we are always trying to do is bring the competition home,” Boyce reasoned.

Boyce added that four Jamaicans from Racers Track Club, the home of world record holder Usain Bolt, and one athlete from The Bahamas have confirmed their participation for the event.

Namilco Finance Controller Fitzroy McLeod, in recognising the growth and popularity of the Classic over the years, said the

event has generated much interest, not just among local athletes, but those across the Region.

“Certainly, we at Namilco look forward to partnering with productive organisations that promote a healthy lifestyle, that promote keeping our young people gainfully occupied and developing whatever talent there is in existence,” McLeod expressed.

Also in attendance at Friday’s function were Secretary of the Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Committee Cheryl Sam; Co-Director of the Classic, Edison Jefford; Namilco’s Accountant, Vishal Lalbachan and Namilco’s representative, Affeeze Khan.

Guyana’s top clubs will be matching strides for the top prize of $600,000, while the athletes finishing first to third in the international races will be receiving US$250, US$150 and US$100 respectively. (Avenash Ramzan)

Local cyclists to invade National Park today

Local riders will step on the gas today when they compete for supremacy in the 12th annual Seven Seas 11-race programme on the inner circuit of the National Park.

The day’s activities, which commence at 09:00h, will cater for all categories of riders, from those now learning the trade at the annual “Teach Them Young” programme to the seasoned campaigners.

The BMX riders will take centre stage in the 6-9, 9-12, 12-14 and Open divisions, and the likes of Alexander Leung, Christopher Goring, Thuran Garbarran and Esau Jaisingh are among the riders to watch.

The Juniors/Juveniles and Mountain Bikers, as well as the Veterans Under and Over-50, and the Over60 will set the stage for the grand showdown in the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational, which usually attracts the ‘big boys’ of local cycling.

Last year’s main race

was won by the young Mario King, who clocked a record one hour, 13 minutes, 45.29 seconds (01h: 13m: 45.29s), the fastest time ever for the 35-lap race in the Park. Raynauth Jeffrey was a close second, followed by Raymond Newton, Hamzah Eastman, Alanzo Greaves and Christopher Holder.

Other winners of the day included Rakeem Blair (1214 Boys and Girls); Junior Niles (Veterans U-50); Linden Blackman (Veterans Over-50); Maurice Fagundes (Veterans Over-60); Alonzo Ambrose (Juveniles); Emmanuel Gayraul (Mountain Bike); Sherwin Sampson (BMX 6-9 and 9-12) and Sherwin Forde (BMX Open).

The race is being organised by national cycling coach Hassan Mohamed, and Seven Seas representative Marwanna Thakur will be on hand to witness the races and assist in the distribution of prizes.

Ramzan).

GCA/NBS launch 4th Division 2 tourney

– 16 teams to compete

By Rajiv Bisnauth

With the aim of providing quality competition for the city’s clubs, the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) for the fourth consecutive year has partnered with the New Building Society (NBS).

On Friday, the two entities officially launched the GCA sponsored NBS 40-over Second-Division competition that will target 16 city teams at the financial institution’s location on North Road and Avenue of the Republic.

The tournament is scheduled to bowl off on August 22, and as was the case last year, the competition will be played on a league basis where points will be allocated.

A number of new initiatives will be taken during this tournament and one such initiative is the emphasis on developing fast bowlers. At least 40 per cent of the overs in the game must be bowled by fast bowlers as stated in the playing regulations.

Part of the regulations also state that one bonus point will be issued for the team that pass 100 runs and thereafter the team will collect one bonus point for every 25 runs; also, the team will collect a bonus point for every two wickets taken.

The tournament will be divided into two Zones and the teams listed to participate are: Guyana National

Industrial Corporation (GNIC); Ace Warriors; Transport Sports Club (TSC); Everest Cricket Club; Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC); Third Class; Guyana Defence Force (GDF); Police; Muslim Youth Organisation; University of Guyana; Demerara Cricket Club (DCC); Diplomats; Gandhi Youth Organisation; Sophia; Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) and St Stanislaus.

Meanwhile, NBS Vice Chairman Seepaul Narine, in his remarks, said that the organisation was pleased to be associated with this tournament for the fourth consecutive year, since according to him, sport was an integral part of nation building.

“The Directors of NBS through this sponsorship for the fourth consecutive year expressed confidence at the people at the helm of the GCA. We at NBS strongly believe that this sponsorship contributes towards the development of the cricket in Georgetown and by extension, nationally and regionally, which is very much needed particularly when one considers the current state of West Indies cricket,” Narine pointed out.

He added: “Hopefully a cricketing star or maybe a few can emerge from this competition. This SecondDivision competition provides an excellent opportunity for players with concealed talent to make a name for themselves.”

The Vice Chairman, while wishing the GCA every success in running the tournament, urged the Association to ensure that discipline was its utmost priority among the players.

“Discipline in sport is of utmost importance, and consequently we urge the GCA to be strict in this area while running the tournament,” Narine concluded.

GCA President Roger Harper thanked the NBS for so willingly continuing the partnering with the Association in running this tournament and investing in youths.

Harper, a former West Indies Vice Captain, noted that the GCA was focused on the development of young cricketers and also in taking the game to a higher level.

Harper, the former Guyana Amazon Warriors Head Coach, explained that the competition was not only an opportunity for the players to showcase their talent, but also serves as further development for the youths.

He explained that over the past three years the tournament has produced 12 players who have represented Guyana at the various youth levels.

Harper assured that the tournament will be run at the highest standard and the GCA’s commitment to the NBS will be fulfilled.

The Georgetown Cricket Club won the three previous tournaments.

Walsh gets Supreme backing for cricket clinic

West Indian bowling legend, Courtney Walsh, and children waning to learn the game of cricket are reaping the benefits from a continuedn relationship with Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL).

The betting and gaming oganisation yesterday renewed its sponsorship of the big Jamaican’s Courtney Walsh Cricket Clinic to the tune of J$2.5 million. The clinic begins on

August 11 abnd runs for a week. On its end date, August 17, it is hoped the clinic will have identified cricketing talent from around the island at the under-15 level.

Walsh will be joined by long-time friend and former West Indies opening batsman, Robert Samuels in the coordination and execution of the programme. The two will conduct senior coaching duties during the week but will be sup-

Hajji yaseen memorial t20 match on today

The Ogle community will today remember one of its cricket stalwarts when the Ogle Community Centre square off with Paradise Sports Club of Trinidad and Tobago in a specially arranged T20 game from 11:00h.

The match, which will be hosted at the Ogle Community Centre Ground, is the highlight of Paradise Sports Club’s tour of Guyana, and will be held in memory of the late Hajji SM Yaseen, who was a long-serving Manager of what was then Ogle Sports

Club.

Yaseen served as Manager of the Club during the 70s and 80s, and it is understood the club never lost a match during his tenure. He died in 2003 at the age of 76.

Yaseen’s offspring have come together to honour their late father, and they have put up five trophies for today’s highly anticipated match-up.

There will be a lien trophy, one for the winner and another for the losing team, while the Most Valuable Player on each side will also receive a trophy.

Charles; John Eric Sookdeo; Michael Edwards; Lyndon Patterson; Rudy Cassie; Anand Ramlochan and Dane Sennon.

ported by a team of specialists.

The clinic begins in Kingston and St Andrew and moves from there to St Catherine and Clarendon on August 12.

After that, children in Manchester and St Elizabeth will have their opportunity to learn from two of the region’s best talents on August 15.

St James and Trelawny will complete the series of clinics. (Digicel Sportsmax)

Fortune wins gold at World Masters Championships

Top female veteran sprinter Alisha Fortune continues to display her longevity with a masterful performance at the World Masters Association (WMA) Championships being held in France.

Fortune, who is a North, Central American and Caribbean Masters World Championships gold medallist, delivered for Guyana in fantastic fashion by winning the women’s 40-44-year-old 100 metres in 12.35s.

Emilia Paunica of Spain

and Khama Beckles of Canada finished in second and third respectively with times of 12.56s and 12.59s.

Fortune, who endured difficulty in securing money to travel to the event, will also compete in the women’s 200 metres.

Guyana up 7 places in FIFA rankings

Courts sponsors Boyce/ Jefford Classic for 5th time

By TreisTon Joseph

Courts Guyana continues to show their dedication to the devel-

opment of sports by jumping onboard with the most prestigious track and field meet in the Boyce and Jefford Track and Field Classic.

At the simple handing over ceremony on Friday at Courts Main Street, Georgetown branch, its Public Relations Officer, Roberta Ferguson, indicated the top furniture store’s reason for sponsoring the event for a fifth time.

“It has grown over the last couple of years and we want to commend them for maintaining a high stan-

dard that continues to attract international athletes, so it is just part of our role to develop sport,” Ferguson highlighted.

Co-Director for the track and field classic which is in its sixth year, Colin Boyce thanked Courts for its generosity.

“Like Courts’ motto bringing value home, we are committed to bringing valuable competition to the shores of Guyana and we hope Courts stay onboard to help us reach heights of international recognition that

Guyana’s senior national men’s team have made a positive move in the latest world rankings issued by football’s world governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).

The FIFA/Coca Cola August rankings have seen Guyana moving up seven spots from its July ranking to 152nd in the world. Guyana is now ranked 15th in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Region.

The move is a good one for Guyana’s football, especially since the national team were only resuscitated in February this year. Since then, the national team, dubbed the “Golden Jaguars”, have played several international friendlies, and also participated in the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

The senior national men’s team have been unbeaten this year, either winning or drawing their matches, with their latest exploits being 2-2

and 4-4 drawn encounters against St Vincent and the Grenadines in home and away fixtures in the World Cup qualifiers.

Jamaica, with a world ranking of 55, and Trinidad and Tobago (56) remain the top two countries in CONCACAF, followed by Haiti (84). Fourth is Antigua and Barbuda (105); followed by St Vincent and the Grenadines (115); St Kitts and Nevis (119); Cuba (119); Dominican Republic (129); St Lucia (131); Bermuda (135); Aruba (137); Barbados (138); Curaçao (148); Puerto Rico (150); Guyana (152); Grenada (160); Suriname (165); Dominica (173), US Virgin Islands (176); Montserrat (178); Cayman Islands (189); Turks and Caicos (193); British Virgin Islands (194); Anguilla (208) and The Bahamas (208).

The top three countries in FIFA have remained unchanged in the August rankings, with Argentina, Belgium and Germany occupying those spots in that order.

we have already attracted,” Boyce mentioned.

Guyana’s top clubs and athletes will be matching strides for the top prize of

$600,000, while the athletes finishing first to third in the international races will be receiving US$250, US$150 and US$100 respectively.

The two-day event scheduled for August 1516 will be held at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground in Linden.