Guyana Times Daily - March 17, 2015

GECOM denies reports of staff shortage Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Most important elections since 1964 ahead guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 2435

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

P3 MMU launches probe into racial incitement by Kaieteur News

Page 3

...Guyanese must give PPP/C majority – Ramotar

Providence murder

Wanted bulletin P11 issued for suspect “Lapsy”

Nagamootoo demands Police protection

Page 3

Holder-Allen scrambles to conjure up party P11 …after ‘candidates’ walk away

...wants to match Granger's security detail APNU+AFC Presidential Candidate David Granger surrounded by ex-military and Police officers as he makes his way through the crowd during Saturday’s “Unity Rally” in Linden

Unions to reopen 2 stabbed to negotiations death in separate with UG Admin incidents Page 10

Pages 7 & 17

Guyana P16 achieves 98% coverage for childhood vaccination

2 News

tuesday, march 17, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Nagamootoo demands Police protection ...wants to match Granger’s security detail

A

gainst the backdrop of a claimed deteriorating security situation here, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change ((APNU+AFC) coalition has asked the Guyana Police Force (GPF) to provide “strong security” for its Presidential and Prime Ministerial Candidates, David Granger and Moses Nagamootoo respectively.

Granger as Opposition Leader is already provided with a personal security detail as well as state security at his home.

Meanwhile, in a statement, APNU+AFC said a team of officials representing the coalition met with Police Commissioner Seelall Persaud and top Police commanders representing the Guyana Police Force (GPF) executive management team.

The meeting, the coalition said, was requested to communicate with the Commissioner and his team, its concerns, security considerations and the current security situation in the leadup to the May 11 General and Regional Elections.

“The APNU+AFC team made it clear that the security situation in the country required the provision of strong security by the GPF for the coalition’s Presidential and Prime

APNU+AFC Prime Ministerial Candidate Moses Nagamootoo

Ministerial Candidates. The security of campaign offices, major rallies and party elections officials were also discussed,” the statement said.

According to the coalition, the Commissioner and his team briefed the APNU+AFC team on the Police Force’s pre and post elections security arrangements. “The Commissioner gave the APNU+AFC team the assurance that the GPF was well-prepared for any eventualities. The Police executive management team said that they were prepared to cooperate fully with campaign personnel nationwide and made available to the APNU+AFC team the

contact information of all Divisional Commanders,” the statement added.

The policy regarding the holding of public meetings was also discussed and assurances given to the coalition that once applications were received in a timely manner, the GPF would embrace the principle of granting permission.

The APNU+AFC team was headed by Campaign CoChairs Joe Harmon and Raphael Trotman and included Winston Felix, David Patterson and Paul Slowe.

Last week, Persaud had told the media that the Force was preparing and would be prepared for the worst case scenario during the upcoming elections. Persaud noted that the Force would not be taking anything for granted during this season and would be prepared for any situation which may arise.

“That we are preparing for our worst case situation way beyond what we are expecting to happen,” Persaud said.

When questioned on what would be the possible worst case scenario, he said this would be “the complete breakdown of law and order in the country”. The Commissioner added that the GPF has been preparing for elections since the prorogation of Parliament in

November so that his ranks could understand clearly what public order was all about.

“We started retraining them on public order issues, on elections campaign issues, and so on, so our ranks can have an understanding of what the law is, what they are required to do, what

their role is when they get on the ground,” he noted.

He went on to state that the water cannon, which was given to the Force by Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee for the purpose of maintaining public order, was up and functioning and “ready to be used” should the need arise during this

period. Crime Chief Leslie James, who is also serving as Assistant Commissioner of Police, had related to this publication that every political party should cooperate and support the GPF in fulfilling its mandate so that a peaceful elections process is achieved for the benefit of all of Guyana.

Applications for SPISE close on March 31

Students at last year’s programme making their presentation

T

he Caribbean Science Foundation (CFS) will be hosting its annual Student Programme for Innovation in Science and Engineering (SPISE), and is therefore encouraging interested students to apply before March 31, when the application process closes.

SPISE is an intensive four-week summer programme in Barbados for gifted Caribbean highschool students who are interested in studying and exploring careers in the fields of science and engineering. Through this programme, the CFS is aiming to help address the low numbers of Caribbean students pursuing advanced degrees in science and engineering, while at the same time grooming the next generation of science, engineering technology and business leaders in the region.

Those who are accepted for the programme are said to be among the top scholars in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Under the programme, students were afforded the opportunity to attend classes, which were taught by leading professors from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Through the programme, students were also allowed to participate in a career seminar series during which they had firsthand exposure to the career paths, decisions and experiences of six distinguished professionals, in science and engineering, from the diaspora and the region. The instructors at the seminar included faculty members from the University of the West Indies and senior management from the US biotechnology industry.

Last year, 21 students participated in the programme, three of whom were from Guyana. They were Cecil Cox, who topped the Caribbean in the field of Science at the 2013 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination, Benedict Sukra and

Lawrence Faria.

This year’s programme will run from July 18 to August 15. Students, who excel in STEM and are between the ages of 16 and 18, are asked to apply for the all-expenses paid SPISE programme.

At the end of SPISE, there will be a project competition, where groups of participating students will do oral presentations on their hands-on projects before conducting demonstrations. These final competitions are opened to the public, and sponsors and parents are urged to attend and cheer for their students.

Top SPISE students go on to enroll at some of the best science and engineering universities in the world with generous financial aid packages. Student, teaching assistant and instructor application forms are posted on the CSF website at http://caribbeanscience. org/projects/spise.php. The application process will be closed on March 31.

Meanwhile, CSF is also encouraging sponsors to join in supporting the programme. Sponsors may opt to designate support for students from specific countries and each student will be branded as a scholar of their sponsor. The cost per student is US$6000 plus round-trip airfare between the student’s country and Barbados.

The cost covers student’s housing, meals, stipends for the instructors and teaching assistants, and partial costs of lab equipment and supplies. The CSF will supply the sponsors with interim and final updates on the performance of their students and assist the sponsor by providing reports, photos and other materials to showcase their corporate social responsibility.

news

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tuesday, March 17, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, March 17 – 14:30h-16:00h and Wednesday, March 18 – 14:30h-16:00h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, March 17 – 14:05h-15:35h and Wednesday, March 18 – 15:00h-16:30h

FERRY SCHEDULE Ferries will be departing the Parika and Supenaam stellings on: Tuesday, March 17 – 05:00 and 16:00 Wednesday, March 18 – 05:00 and 16:00

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected throughout the day, with thundery showers returning in the early evening hours. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly between 3.12 metres and 4.91 metres per second.

High Tide: 02:04h and 14:28h reaching maximum heights of 2.43 metres and 2.56 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 07:59h and 20:28h reaching minimum heights of 0.77 metres and 0.59 metre respectively.

Most important elections since 1964 ahead

...Guyanese must give PPP/C majority – Ramotar

P

resident Donald Ramotar on Sunday told a State House fun day that the upcoming elections would be the most important ever held in this country.

He also warned supporters at the fun day, which was held in honour of the late Dr Cheddi Jagan, that winning the presidency was not enough as his party needed to secure a majority of the votes to continue progress for the country.

As has been the tradition, hundreds of persons turned up at State House to be part of the fun day, which enabled families and friends to celebrate the life and work of the late President. Attendees were treated to live performances from the Shakti Strings Orchestra and several dance groups. According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) release, in all corners of the State House lawns children were seen enjoying the different fun activities, including the bouncy castle, and the merry go-round.

Ramotar and First Lady Deolatchmee took time out to interact with the gathering.

Among other dignitaries who attended the event were Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General Secretary Clement Rohee, PPP/Civic Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper and former President Bharrat Jagdeo.

President Donald Ramotar

President Ramotar encouraged the gathering to take this current period seriously. He noted that as Guyanese celebrate the life and work of Dr Jagan, they should remain cognisant of the fact that it was a very important time in Guyana’s history. “The election that we are about to have on May 11 will be one of the most important elections ever fought in this country. It is so because over the last three years you’ve seen the attempts by the Opposition to stymie every project, every developmental effort of the Government.”

The Amaila Falls Hydro Project, the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) expansion and the Specialty Hospital were identified as critical projects that were blocked by the Opposition.

These, the President said, show clearly that the Opposition did not have the

country’s and its people’s interest at heart because many of these projects would have created highly paid jobs for thousands of Guyanese.

President Ramotar pointed out, that in spite of these frustrating moves by the Opposition, the country’s economy grew by almost five per cent every year for the past three years.

It is for these reasons he said that this election would determine much for the country and its people as it was a similar coalition, which was formed in 1964 that caused total destruction for Guyana.

“On May 11, you have an important duty to ensure that our country will not go back, that our country will move forward, every single vote must be counted.”

The Head of State reminded the large gathering that the upcoming elections were about the country’s future, the future of every citizen, and their children.

He also urged the constituents to play their role and be educated on every aspect of voting so as to ensure that this time around, the incumbent Government was returned to power as a majority Government.

Other speakers included Rohee and Harper. This year marks the 18th death anniversary of the founder of the PPP/C, Dr Jagan, and the State House fun day

has for years been one of activities held in the month of March to celebrate his life.

For her part, Harper urged the youths to recognise their role in determining the future of Guyana. “Everyone has a stake in our development,” she said, adding that the efforts to consolidate the gains made in the past two decades must not be lost.

“You must build on the foundation that has already been laid,” Harper stressed.

Rohee hailed Dr Jagan as one of the greatest men who walked Guyana’s soil, saying that the late President’s ideals still guide the PPP, which he founded decades ago. He called on Guyanese to ensure that the ruling Party is reelected to office.

“This is no time to go backwards…PPP is battle ready. We are ready for the battle, not only ready for the road…the battle lines have been drawn and Guyana is at a crossroad. We must go forward, not backward,” Rohee said.

He added that the Party remained a strong one and remained committed to all Guyanese people. “We are a Party that has stood the test of time,” he said, adding that while the naysayers want to “turn back the clock”, the PPP will continue to march forward in sync with the beats of peace, progress and prosperity.

MMU launches probe into racial incitement by Kaieteur News saturday, MARCH 14, 2015

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infringements” in the local media.

On the date mentioned, the publication had as its headline “Rohee endorses Jagdeo statement that PPP/C is a ‘coolie people’ party”.

According to Mustapha, there was no corresponding article to that headline. He also stated that the former President Bharrat Jagdeo then complained to Kaieteur

the MMU about two instances where the media, particularly the Kaieteur News and DTV Channel 8, blatantly violated the Racial Hostility Act. When questioned about the consequences those media entities can face as a result of their actions, Surujbally expressed his preference not to speculate on the topic. Instead, he af-

PPP/C Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha

G

uyana Elections C o m m i s s i o n (GECOM) Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally said the Media Monitoring Unit (MMU) has launched its investigation into the claims that the Kaieteur News and DTV Channel 8 violated the Racial Hostility Act. The Chairman stated that the MMU has been consistently recording data about similar infringements and will subsequently be conducting investigations into the incidents.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Executive Secretary Zulfikar Mustapha recently informed

AFC Executive Member Veerasammy Ramayya

firmed that once it was found that the Racial Hostility Act was violated, then the law should take precedence.

Meanwhile, as highlighted by Mustapha, DTV Channel 8 had aired a pro-

gramme on February 28 entitled “Alliance on the Move”, during which Alliance For Change (AFC) Executive Member Veerasammy Ramayya made statements labelling the PPP/C as an “Indo-Guyanese Party” and indicated that it was conducting a campaign against “Afro-Guyanese”.

Furthermore, Mustapha said Ramayya then proceeded to make statements that peddled untrue information of a racist nature.

Similarly, the Kaieteur News, in its March 10 edition, carried a headline which Mustapha deemed as one of the “most glaring

Kaieteur News owner Glenn Lall

News Editor Adam Harris about the situation.

Reports indicate that Harris then replied that the published headline was the doing of Kaieteur News owner Glenn Lall.

Turn to page 7

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, march 17, 2015

Views Editor: Nigel Williams Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134 Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Modernising sugar

W

ith the now well-known and well-publicised problems of the Skeldon Sugar Factory, Moses Nagamootoo at the APNU/AFC rally at Linden has only been the most recent to take pot shots at the modernising of the Sugar Industry. And he will not be the last.

There has been a plethora of criticism ranging from why was the particular contractor selected to why it was considered necessary in the first place.

But what they will not say is that when the Strategic Plan was released in 1998 and outlined the modernization, beginning with Skeldon and continuing with Albion and Blairmont, no one in the Opposition said a word.

And Nagamootoo and Ramjattan who were in the PPP/C at the time were fulsome in their praise of it: Berbice, after all was at the centre of the sugar expansion that would include co-generation, a sugar refinery and a distillery.

While it has been said that hindsight is always 20/20, the questions generally ignore the situation at it was in 1998. We must not only take this plan into consideration as a matter of historical clarification, but as a practical exercise that might shed some light on a path for the industry going forward.

Right up front, the goal was to increase production of sugar from the 350,000+ tonnes that the industry would achieve the following year, to a new plateau approach aching 500,000 tonnes annually.

The major justification for this decision was that the European Union had signed the Lome Protocol which guaranteed Guyana a market for at least 167,000 tonnes at a price far above the world market levels. And this agreement was to exist "in perpetuity".

With hindsight, one can assert that "nothing lasts forever", but at the time, no one could believe that the Europeans would unilaterally walk away from a contract signed when the price was very attractive to them and, secondly, which benefitted their very powerful beet sugar producers.

Also, at that time sugar markets were dominated by agreements exemplified by Lome and the world market's very low price was actually a residual price that bore very little relation to fundamental supply and demand for the commodity.

But even with the attractive European price, it was conceded that Guyana was a high-cost sugar producer and that we needed to lower it to generate even higher profits.

Efficiencies of scale was one way to bring down production costs while focusing the expansion in Berbice, which historically had always been the lowest-cost production region because of more optimum soils and shorter periods of rainfall.

Albion at that time was the most efficient and modern factory, while the 1998 Strategic Plan envisaged its expansion, there were insufficient available new lands to provide canes for the expansion.

Skeldon, on the other hand, had the oldest factory that would soon need to be replaced in any event and additionally was surrounded by large swathes of suitable land. More to the point, the land was going to be in private hands which satisfied the World Bank's demand that at least 30 per cent of the canes for the expanded production come from this source.

And this, in a nutshell, was the reason for the Skeldon Modernisation Project. The present critics completely ignore the fact that the World Bank signed off on the project.

While the Opposition has been very vocal in its criticisms of the project, they were completely mute even after implementation kicked off in 2004. By that time the Economic Services Committee, in which the Opposition alternated the chair with the Government, examined executives of GUYSUCO on several occasions. They were also mute on the concessional financing by China Ex-Im Bank which led to the selection of CNTIC as the Skeldon Contractor.

The fundamentals of the project were sound and we should all get behind fixing the problems rather than, as Nagamootoo implied at Linden, to close the industry down.

Solar Impulse 2, the plane attempting to fly around the world powered only by the Sun, completed the second stage of its journey.

By flying the 1468km (just over 900 miles) from Muscat in Oman to Ahmedabad in India, it set a new record for the longest distance covered by a solar-powered plane

Govt has demonstrated commitment to public safety, security Dear Editor, David Granger has conveniently ignored, as he is wont to do, the significant investments and progress Government has made in the security sector. Mr Granger has obviously done so for political reasons. He has chosen once again to use the security sector as a political football.

A press statement issued on December 23, 2014 by the Guyana Police Force put it rather candidly stating: “The Guyana Police Force is appealing to members of political parties not to use the Police for political mileage and wishes to inform the public that it is making great efforts to improve the quality of service it provides and to gain public trust.”

Mr Granger likes to set himself up as the guru for the security sector in Guyana and tries to convince the na-

tion that no one else but he has all the answers to the security situation in our country, ignoring all accomplishments and investments done since 1992 by the PPP/C Administration.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has revealed time and again what Mr Granger’s PNC never did in its 28 years of misrule for the security sector compared to what the PPP/C has done.

And his Security Advisor Winston Felix is very much aware of these facts.

It is appropriate to recall that on December 24, 2014 the Guyana Times published an editorial stating: “They (meaning the political Opposition) have also stood on the side of criminals and other persons with shady characters whenever the Police are seen as acting forcefully or aggressively. It has also become a norm for the Opposition parties to

lash out at the Police over isolated instances of criminal activity even without the facts to support their claims.

“It is not surprising, therefore, that these parties find comfort in rejecting various proposals made by the Government which are aimed at arresting crime and causing a reduction in criminal activities in our society.”

In this regard, Granger has made several erroneous comments which must be addressed so that the public can be better informed of the efforts this Government is making in the area of public safety and security.

First of all, on the piracy situation, it is a well-established fact that a Guyana Police Force Marine Floating Base was commissioned to operate collaboratively with ranks of other law enforcement agencies and the Guyana Defence Force

(GDF), which has a similar floating base located at the mouth of the Pomeroon River.

This $49.9 million capital investment was complimented by the procurement of a boat imported from the US costing $71.4 million in addition to four new vessels built at a cost of $4.9 million.

Government has consistently demonstrated its commitment to public safety and security and this is evident in capacity-building by way of training provided to the marine wing of the Police. It should also be noted that instances of piracy has dropped significantly within the past months.

Guyana’s collaborative efforts with those of Suriname have contributed significantly to the reduction in instances of piracy on the Corentyne River . continued on page 5

GRA parking hardly used by taxpayers Dear Editor, Despite repeated attempts to set the record straight on the use of the parking facility opposite the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Headquarters on Camp Street, Georgetown, concerns and queries by taxpayers on the issue of parking facilities continue to mount, much to the Authority’s surprise.

The GRA had made the facility available to taxpayers at a minimum fee, as it sought to resolve once and for all the problematic traffic situation that was created when both staff and taxpayers were utilising Camp

Street for parking.

However, after the GRA had opened the lot in late January this year for the benefit of taxpayers, occupation was dismal and there was a high degree of reluctance to pay for parking.

The notion that the facility should be free was ruled out by the fact that the Authority does not own this lot. The GRA had also reiterated that it is not associated with any fees charged for its use.

After weeks of review and the notable disinterest towards the lot, management was promoted to in-

stead utilise the space for staff parking, for which a fee is attached. Taxpayers who henceforth seek to utilise the lot for parking will be denied access.

It should also be noted that plans were also put in place, through the help of a foreign developer, to prepare the Lamaha railway embankment, Georgetown to facilitate staff parking after the GRA had surrendered a lot it had previously occupied at the corner of Camp and Quamina Streets.

However, underutilisation of the Lamaha lot by staff resulted in the GRA

extending the offer to vehicle owners of other entities. Since then a positive response has been noted.

Even though the interventions by the GRA did little to achieve the desired results, the Authority wishes to reiterate that it remains committed to convenient parking and order in the busy sections of the capital.

However, with the parking situation still hovering, the inconvenience taxpayers who have been utilising the facility now face is regrettable.

Public Relations Dept GRA

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, march 17, 2015

Culture cannot be separated from religion Dear Editor, Devanand Bhagwan, in his comments appearing in the letter columns recently, regarding letters by Shivanie Rampersaud and Sharma Solomon on Phagwah, among other things, stated that “Holi (Phagwah) is a cultural celebration, not a religious one” and “there is little religious significance in the celebration of Holi”. He then proceeded to give a lesson on the origin and use of the words “Hindu” and “Hindustani”. Whether Phagwah is the name of the festival in the Bhojpuri districts in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, and called

by Holi in the remaining parts of India, is of little or no significance to Hindus in Guyana.

Guyanese Hindus have ‘re-invented’ many of the festivals and religious observances brought by our forefathers from India, making them uniform throughout Guyana, and giving them newer and more sublime meanings and significance.

That these are celebrated in different ways in different parts of India does not diminish us in the least. Whether it is called Phagwah (from the month of Phalgun), or Basant Utsava (Spring Festival), or Holi (from the burnt offering, Hola, in the sacred fire), they all refer to the same thing.

Hindus in Guyana do not care and are not bothered in the least.

Mr Bhagwan has men-

tioned that, “there is virtually no reference to the Hindu New Year by Hindus when they celebrate Holi in India (in the sense that Chinese acknowledge their New Year)”.

This may be the case in India. But believe me, Mr Bhagwan, the case is different in Guyana. Every Guyanese Hindu knows that Phagwah marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year; the name of the year is even mentioned in every calendar. Moreover, the pandit mentions this name when reciting the samkalpa (resolution) before commencing every ritual. Mr Bhagwan has unwittingly concluded that “Ms Rampersaud ought to have given the description ‘Indian festival’, as opposed to ‘Hindu festival’.”

Ms Rampersaud was quite in order. Phagwah is a Hindu festival. It is not embraced by Christians and Muslims of Indian descent. Is Phagwah one of your festivals, Mr Bhagwan?

Mr Bhagwan has also stated that “Holi (Phagwah) is a cultural celebration, not a religious one”. What is religion?

What is culture? If my memory serves me right, ‘religion’ is derived from the Latin “religio” or “religare”, meaning “to bring or bind”. Any act or discipline which brings back or binds the soul to God is religious in nature. “Culture”, according to the Oxford Dictionary of Word Histories,

is derived from the Latin “cultura”, meaning “to tend, to grow, to cultivate”. So, we have agri-culture, horti-culture, aqua-culture, etc. In the middle ages it was cultivation of the soil. It later developed into cultivation of the mind, morals, etc. According to Thesaurus, it is an elevation, improvement and refinement of a person. Isn’t this what religion seeks to promote?

During Phagwah or Holi, we sing chautaals (praise of God), attend mandir (prayer), make offerings of food-grains (thanksgiving), visit homes and partake of sweet-meats (expression of love), smearing each other with colours (becoming one with Mother Nature), reading the story of the devotee Prahalad’s unwavering faith in God’s saving power and the ultimate destruction of his evil father (ultimate triumph of Good over evil). Are these acts religious or cultural?

Where does culture end and religion begin? Hinduism does not see a distinction between the two. Our songs (bhajans) and dances, our food and drink, our fasts and festivals, our rituals and ceremonies are all meant to take us closer to our Bhagwan (no pun intended). Ask any Hindu and he/she will tell you, “This is our religion.” Culture cannot be separated from religion.

Pt R Balbadar

Police must institute correct charges to stop drunk driving

Dear Editor, Time and time again I have been reading in our newspapers that vehicle drivers are being charged for driving under the influence of alcohol and are being fined $7,500 on conviction, There seems to be a mistake in the charges the Police are instituting. In 2008, the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act was amended to include the breath test, and speaks of breath exceeding the prescribed limit and not driving under the influence of drinks, which is an offence under section 39, and which is still in existence.

This offence carries

much greater penalties than $7,500, such as disqualification from driving and imprisonment.

There are two stages, one for being over the prescribed limit of alcohol and two being incapable of driving.

The lesser offence is the former, attracting a small fine, whereas the latter is more serious and attracts larger fines, together with disqualification from driving and imprisonment.

Police traffic officers must be trained to distinguish between the two offences and to prepare the evidence that is required to convict drivers for the driv-

ing under the influence of alcohol.

I tried some time ago to advise senior traffic officers of this but was told that the influence of drink charge is no longer in the law books and that the breath test law is the only law applicable. This is not so. Perhaps the Police Legal Advisor, if there is any, could clear up this matter for the Police.

Until such time that the Police institute the correct charges, this lawlessness of driving under the influence will continue on our roads.

Moenudin Mc Doom, SC

Govt has demonstrated...

The second point that the public should be aware of is the fact that all previous strategic plans developed during Government’s engagement with local and overseas consultants have been subsumed in the current strategic plan whose implementation is being overseen by the civilian composed Strategic Management Department.

The Ministry of Home Affairs is awaiting resources to further engage the

UK-based Capita Symonds Consultancy to implement four additional areas which are critical to building the institutional capacity of the Guyana Police Force.

It should be noted that the move by the Opposition to challenge in court the disbursement of resources from the IDB security sector loan will again stymie the implementation of plans for the achievement of our primary objective of providing com-

prehensive citizen security sector for all Guyanese.

Thirdly, it should be noted that the recommendations of the Disciplined Services Commission are being implemented.

Recent presentations by the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Fire Service, and the Guyana Prison Service gave status updates on the progress each agency is making towards the full realization of those recom-

5

Immoral dance of AFC with APNU will come to a disastrous end Dear Editor Reading the Kaieteur News, makes one want to wonder if there is any sane person in this media house.

Just imagine Adam Harris, the Editor, claiming that a headline that he had for KN on March 11 was changed

by Glenn Lall. The headline that Harris claimed that Lall forced him to print was very offensive, not only to the former President, but to all supporters of the PPP/C, especially our African Guyanese supporters of the adminstration. Yet nothing is done and the Kaiteur news continues on this madness of printing fabricated, sensational haedlines to create mayhem and incite racial insecurity, especially at this sensitive time when elections are quickly approaching.

The GHRA, which is dormant when it comes to issues of this nature, has not said anything so far. I am watching to see what the MMU will say on this issue. Another disturbing issue is the tendency of Freddie Kissoon to pronounce on important matters without having any evidence.

This is very dangerous practice and Kissoon knows that he will get away with whatever he writes because this Government is not vicious like the PNC. Kissoon in his March 14 feature column claims that "the nation knows who sent the killers looking for Courtney".

Seriously Kissoon? The Police need to take you in to provide evidence on the death of Courtney Crum-Ewing. You seem to know a lot. You don't

have any respect for law and order. You project yourself as judge, jury and executioner. No one esle is as bright as you. But time will soon catch up with your diabolical, prejudiced and vindictive writing!

Another issue that not many people said anything about is the abuse that Hasseb Yusuf, the former Berbice AFC Councillor, has to endure. His school was vandalized and robbed and he is being verbally abused because he stands up to curruption in the AFC Berbice Group. Do not let them intimidate you, MrYusuf. We in Berbice support you! The immoral dance of the AFC with APNU will come to a disastrous end on March 12!

Rakesh Singh

Hinds has lit a slow burning fuse Dear Editor, In his letter of March 12, Dr David Hinds sounds like Yasser Arafat at the United Nations General Assembly, with a gun at his side threatening to unleash death and destruction to one and all if he does not get his way.

Hinds defines himself as an African freedom fighter.

Like a sniper with a high resolution telescope he chooses his words carefully and accurately to invoke deadly and violent emotions.

His words are meant with certainty to that part of the population that he represents. His “tit for tat” message is tantamount to shouting fire in a crowded theatre.

This evokes memories of Forbes Burnham asking his highly agitated supporters “where is the gold, who has the gold, who worked for the gold and what are you going to do about it”? Is he the making of another Burnham/ Kabbaka? I have a question for David Granger, Moses Nagamoottoo and Khemraj Ramjattan. Does Hinds’ letter and opinions express your views?

By allowing his “tit for tat” statment to be printed in the news paper, neglecting its editorial responsibility knowing full well the highly election charged atmosphere, is Stabroek News adding fuel to the fire? Have we not learned anything about election violence in Guyana?

Where is the watch dog committee? This is clearly not a

from page 4

mendations.

The Progress Report was circulated to Members of the National Assembly in June 2014. Mr Granger is entitled to his opinion, but not to his own facts in this matter. It is therefore disingenuous for him to pontificate and attempt to pronounce on any of the above issues in the manner that in which he is attempting to so do.

Ministry of Home Affairs

case of freedom of speech.

Hinds in his missive has lit a slow burning fuse that will have serious consequences for the Guyanese public. He is an ardent student of the sage of Buxton who is an elder statesman to the Guyanese nation. Your views on his letter are urgently needed, not only because you are his ‘guru’, but also because your opinion has enormous significance and can have a positive effect. Without an iota of evidence he has singly handedly identify Indian supporters of the PPP/C as his targets and has no compunction about pulling the trigger. This is a blatant and naked call for violence at a time when the na-

tion is at its most vulnerable.

This kind of call is reminiscent of the Burnham dictatorship period when Dr Walter Rodney, that internationally beloved freedom fighter, was assassinated by members of the very party that Hinds now calls home. You are no Rodney.

You cannot touch the dust that African freedom fighter walked on. Are you a case of the victim becoming a bigger abuser? You have taken the first step by admitting that you have no evidence to support your claim. Why go half way? Man up and admit that in your haste you made a mistake.

Latchman Mohabir

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tuesday, MARCH 17, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

Page Foundation How to stop your anger affecting your child

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any parents get angry – particularly with each other.

But be careful, your anger can have huge effects on your child’s personality and behaviour.

It’s hard to be a parent, as Supernanny Jo Frost has found out over her many years of working with families. And badly behaved children can be hell to deal with.

But there’s usually a reason for a child’s bad behaviour. It could be a problem at school such as bullying or unhappiness at the birth of a new sibling. But there’s sometimes another reason too – and it’s not their fault.

Instead, it’s your anger and frustration.

go entirely. How do your children react? They get confused. They’re not sure where their boundaries lie when mom says yes but dad says no. They might even attempt to play you off against one another.

Above all, they see your anger and they think it’s

Anger and discipline

Angry discipline is wrong discipline. Discipline is about guiding your child towards the right behaviour and choices. Anger is about punishment – and if your anger comes out physically when you discipline your children, that’s not positive

Children don’t see shades of grey – they don’t realise your anger with them isn’t personal, but is actually a projection of your anger and disappointment with each other. In this type of situation, they only see that mom and dad are angry with them all the time.

he does; because they overreact to the small things, he does – and because they smack him when he misbehaves, he thinks it’s fine to hit out himself. His backchat may be a reflection of the way you speak to him – and because he starts firing it right back at you, your an-

Understand why you’re angry

Angry parents = confused children

If your relationship as a couple is not healthy, it’s alltoo-easy to let it affect your attitude towards your children. At a time when you want to do nothing more than shut out the world and try to work through your problems, you’re having to care for young children who need you all day every day to meet their practical and emotional needs.

Your anger affects the way you parent. It affects the way you talk to and discipline your children.

If you’re not seeing eye-toeye over family issues then you’re not presenting a united front when it comes to discipline. You might drift into the ‘good cop, bad cop’ routine, where one of you mutates into a drill sergeant and the other lets discipline

which you express your anger and frustration. Do you hold it inside until you explode in sheer rage? Do you let it out in an overcritical way that focuses entirely on your child’s character? Do you express it in an aggressive way in order to dominate others and get control of difficult situations?

Remember that your child learns by imitation and he will copy you when it comes to expressing his own anger.

normal to react in that way when life does them down.

They see mom or dad explode at the slightest thing and think it’s acceptable to do that themselves. Hey presto: you have a ‘problem child’ on your hands.

Remember that your child learns by imitation and he will copy you when it comes to expressing his own anger.

discipline. Angry discipline is tied up with over-criticism. Instead of picking your battles, you’ll tell your child off for the slightest thing.

This means you expect more from your child than they are capable of at a young age – resorting to harsh measures to make them meet unrealistic standards.

Your anger and your child

See it from your child’s point of view. Maybe he can’t do anything without hearing the words ‘no’, ‘can’t’, don’t’, ‘shouldn’t’. His selfesteem and confidence suffer because he thinks mom and dad don’t love him. And because he knows he can’t match up to what they want, he becomes aggressive and destructive. Because mom and dad shout all the time,

ger raises a notch.

Breaking the vicious circle

It’s natural to get angry but the key is not to let it prevent you from responding to your child in a positive and constructive way when he misbehaves. How do you do it?

Face up to your anger

Look at the ways in

When you get angry with your child it’s often due to you misinterpreting your actions. Your child wants to please you and make you happy – but his attention span is short and he often has a totally different agenda from yours. Let’s say you dress him in his best clothes for a party. Then while you’re getting ready, he goes out into the garden and spends 15 minutes climbing trees and jumping in the mud. Now he’s all dirty and it’s time to leave. You get angry because you think he’s done it on purpose. But why did he really do it? He got bored waiting for you and went outside to pass the time. He didn’t realise he was getting dirty and it would cause problems – he was just trying to find something to do while he waited. .

Supernanny solutions

Use positive discipline. Let your child know you don’t approve of what he’s doing, but communicate your feelings without focusing on him. Focus on the behaviour itself. Don’t say, “It was so mean of you to hit your sister”; say “hitting isn’t kind”.

Understand why he acts up. Your child doesn’t act out deliberately to make life difficult for you. He’s at an age when he can’t control his impulses and can’t focus his mind on a long list of chores. He might be too young to express his own frustration verbally so yes, he hits his sister. But having you hit out at him or react to him with verbal aggression won’t cure him of that tendency. In fact it’ll teach him the very behaviour you’re trying to curb.

Don’t punish your child in anger. Anger tends to overtake rational thought and if you discipline your child when you’re not in control, you’ll be reacting out of emotion and not thinking logically.

Don’t let your anger result in harsh punishment, take time to cool off instead of doing something you might regret.

Otherwise you won’t be using discipline to guide your child towards good behaviour – you’ll be using it to work off your anger. (www. supernanny.co.uk)

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tuesday, march 17, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

GAWU backs President’s call for more funds for GuySuCo

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uyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) President Komal Chand has said he was in full agreement with President Donald Ramotar that more funds needed to be pumped into the sugar industry for it to become more viable.

However, according to Chand, if any money should be injected into the operations of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), then a greater percentage should go towards the acceleration of the mechanisation process.

President Ramotar, meeting with journalists last Thursday, and speaking directly on the country’s economic standing, had indicated that his Administration would be seeking to, among other things, put more money into the country’s ailing sugar industry.

But Chand, speaking to the Guyana Times on Monday, said because the mechanisaton process has not yet taken full effect, there remained a continuous decline in the Corporation’s yearly production target.

The mechanisation of the sugar industry was in-

troduced by Government through the Agriculture Ministry to lessen the burden on sugar workers, particularly the bell loaders in the field.

Already, GuySuCo has taken a decision to utilise the majority of the $6 billion subvention approved in the National Assembly to facilitate its ongoing mechanisation programme. But Chand said more needed to be done to improve the process.

“There are still contentions with the cane cutters, who have to cut and load.

When they cut the canes they have about five and a half loads. When they have to cut and load, they will have about two and a half loads,” Chand told the Guyana Times in a phone interview.

The GAWU President said while there were machines for this purpose, they were not sufficient. This inadequacy is preventing the cane harvesters from cutting more sugar cane, thus forcing a continuous decline in the yearly production.

He reiterated that the soil here was incompatible with the machines being used.

According to him, a much

The Agriculture Minister had further pointed out that an additional $2.5 billion had been set aside to improve the operations of the seven sugar factories including Uitvlugt, Wales, Enmore, Blairmont, Albion, and Skeldon in this regard.

Meanwhile, Chand said he could not say what else specifically would need improvement in the industry with the additional funds, as he was not at the helm of operations there.

GAWU President Komal Chand

lighter machine is needed for the work to be carried.

Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy had already indicated that the conversion of land was critical to the mechanisation process.

In a prior interview with this publication, he had said the Corporation would be utilising some $1.3 billion to convert 2500 acres of land to accommodate mechanised operations.

That move, he said, would pave the way for the increased use of bell cane loaders in the harvesting of sugar cane and other machinery.

Increasing efficiency

The Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Rajendra Singh, had said high operational costs, among other things, have always been a major stumbling block for the sugar industry.

He is, however, hoping that the industry’s efficiency rate will increase this year with the injection of the US$7.5 million provided by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

He said the loan, which was approved on December 11, will be completely utilised in the area of mechanisation.

According to the CDB, the

Father of 4 stabbed to death at Port Mourant bar

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olice in B (Berbice) Division have arrested a 21-year-old man in connection with the stabbing to death of 41-year-old Bourda Market grocery vendor, Karamchand Jagessar in Port Mourant, Corentyne on Sunday night.

According to reports, Jagessar, also called “Gano” of Lot 40 Cloud Nine Street, Williamsburg, Corentyne and of Second Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, came to Berbice for the horse race meet at the Bush Lot Village, Corentyne and later visited a bar to have a few drinks with friends.

Jagessar and the suspect subsequently became embroiled in a heated argument and he was stabbed in front of the bar.

According to a relative, Menawattie Peter, the family received a call shortly after 01:00h informing them that “Gano” was stabbed.

“We got a call little af-

Karamchand Jagessar

ter one saying that Gano got bore, so we hurry went to Port Mourant and when we reach we see he on the ground like he done dead, the Police were already there and they didn’t want us to go near the body, so after they picked him up and take him to the hospital, we see that he had a long gash

from his chest to his lower belly and his guts were showing,” she related.

When asked what could have caused the confrontation, the relative said she was unclear, but was told that some say the men were arguing about money.

Elizabeth Narine, the mother of the dead man, said after learning of the incident, she left home with the intention of taking her son to the hospital, but was met with a lifeless body.

“I saw him about few weeks ago and he was telling me how much he loves and care for me,” with tears in her eyes, the woman said she wanted justice for her son. She described him as a caring individual and was shocked that he died in such a brutal manner. Narine said her family vowed to leave no stone unturned to ensure that justice is served.

Jagessar leaves to mourn four children aged 18,16,7

Litter wardens to be deployed in Central Georgetown

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he commercial zone of Central Georgetown will be the primary focus of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Litter Enforcement Unit for the next two weeks.

According to a release by the EPA, wardens from the Unit will be monitoring the area from Church Street to Lombard Street to ensure that members of the public comply with the Litter Regulations and keep the heavily traversed commercial zone free of litter.

The Unit believes that focus on single areas will

prove to be more effective than spreading resources across the city. With assistance from the City Engineers Department and the Georgetown Solid Waste Management Department, works have already commenced, with sanitation workers clearing garbage from the canal next to the Non Aligned Monument on Church Street last Wednesday.

Persons using this area are reminded that litter not only makes our city look like an open dumping ground but prolongs flooding, provides a breeding ground for

disease carrying pests, and creates numerous other social, environmental, and economic problems, the cost of which is felt by all. While the majority of officers from the Unit will be in the area, the Roving Response Team will continue to investigate complaints, and patrol areas outside of the commercial district. To report cases of illegal dumping, contact the Litter Unit on 600-0620, 225-5471-2, email greenguyana@gmail.com, or send a message to the Unit’s Facebook page Anti-Litter Guyana.

and 9. He and his wife separated several years ago.

The Police are continuing their investigations.

loan will be used to reduce operational costs and simultaneously improve mechanisation.

GuySuCo, in keeping with its 2013-2017 Strategic Plan, will continue to accelerate its mechanisation programme to cushion the impact of a dwindling labour force.

Gradually, sugar workers are downing their tools as they seek to capitalise on emerging commercial activities that are transforming Guyana’s economical landscape.

In 1995, GuySuCo’s labour force stood at 24,000, but today it has dropped to 16,000.

The worrying labour situation has left GuySuCo no choice but to find alternative means of producing sugar.

The Corporation has already moved to mechanise more than 30 per cent of its 48,000 hectares of fields.

In addition to mechanisation, the Corporation has been working closely with private farmers, to whom it has been leasing land. This model has been successfully implemented for a number of years at the Wales Estate, where private farmers are working closely with the Corporation. At that estate, 40 per cent of the sugar is provided by private farmers.

MMU launches...

The Racial Hostility Act Chapter 23:01 states that “a person shall be guilty of an offence if he wilfully excites or attempts or excite hostility or ill-will against any section of the public or against any person on the ground of their or his race – (a) by means of words spoken by him in a public place or spoken by him and transmitted for general reception by wireless telegraphy or telegraph; (b) by causing words spoken by him or by some other person to be reproduced in a public place from a record; (c) by means of written (including printed) matter or pictorial matter published by

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him…

(4) For the purpose of this section, the proprietor, printer, publisher or editor of any newspaper, or the printer of any other printed document, in which any particular matter has been published, shall be presumed himself to have so published that matter unless he proves that such publication was made without his authority, consent or knowledge and did not arise from want of due care on his part.”

According to the Act, any person guilty of an offence shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of $65,000 and to imprisonment for two years.

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tuesday, march 17, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Norton Street man eager to go to jail, sentenced to 18 months

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Norton Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown resident could not get to the Camp Street jail fast enough as he kept insisting to the various Magistrates that he was guilty of stealing $460,000 worth in items on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Damien Austin, 38, admitted to stealing an apple laptop valued $250,000, an apple ipad valued $60,000, an $80,000 black leather wallet and a $70,000 black leather bag from Virtual Complainant (VC) Narendra Capen on March 11, at the Exora Avenue, Bel Air Park.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru stated that the VC on the day in question secured the lower flat of his home where he had left the items on a table. He then went upstairs with his family where they retired to bed at about 23:30h for the night.

The Prosecutor continued that the following morn-

Damien Austin

ing when the VC went downstairs, he noticed that the eastern door and the grill were opened along with the padlock. The VC also discovered that the items he had left downstairs were gone.

He reported the incident to the Police and the defendant was later arrested where he admitted to stealing the items.

With his assistance the Police were also able to recover the ipad, the leather bag

and the wallet. The defendant told Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry that he was guilty of the crime, shouting to emphasis the issue. He explained that he was working on Sheriff Street as a porter when a guy named Prakash gave him the laptop and that’s when he gave it to Dexter Cummings as a gift.

He stated that Cummings did not know the laptop was stolen. However, he (Austin) “done get catch with it so put a break and enter”, he told the court.

Nevertheless, Chief Magistrate SewnarineBeharry stated that the court cannot document a guilty plea when the defendant’s statement indicates that he did not break and enter the home of the VC. Even so, the VC insisted that he was guilty.

This explanation was also related to Magistrate Annette Singh when the matter was transferred to Court Eleven where she pre-

sides. The Magistrate was about to record a not guilty plea when the defendant shouted “no”, almost falling out of the prisoner’s box.

He further detailed to her that he did break into the VC’s home and removed the items.

His lawyer, Paul FungA-Fat, stated that the defendant is married with two children and he also looks after his father who had a stroke. He continued that the defendant had one brush with the law in 2009 for not paying child support.

He told the court that the defendant was contrite over the matter and thus throwing himself at the mercy of the court.

Magistrate Singh stated that she has “never seen somebody so ready to go to jail.” She told the court that since it is the first time the defendant will be going to jail and he wished to not waste the court’s time with a trial, he will be sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.

Mistress withdraws case against lover

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35-year-old husband and father was saved he full weight of the court on Monday when his mistress withdrew charges of theft against him.

The Bent Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown resident Charles Austin is alleged to have stolen a pair of gold earrings, a gold chain and a Samsung cellphone from his mistress, Davelyn Daniels on March 10.

Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru told the court that the defendant and the Virtual Complainant (VC) are known to each other as they had a relationship with each other. He said on the day of the incident, the defendant snatched the chain from the defendant’s neck and relieved her of the other items. The VC then had

Charles Austin

the incident reported to the Prashad Nagar Police Outpost where the defendant was subsequently ar-

rested and charged for offence.

The prosecutor objected to bail on the grounds that the offence was of a serious nature. However, Prosecutor Mangru stated that if granted bail that it be one that carries the full weight of the alleged offence the accused has been charged with.

However, defence lawyer Paul Fung-A-Fat told the court that the defendant was quite contrite over what he did. He said that his defendant took the items when his mistress broke up with him as he was angry.

However, Attorney FungA-Fat stated that the VC no longer wished to go ahead with the matter as the defendant was willing to compensate her for the stolen items.

Presiding in Court One, Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry told the Attorney that the defendant must repay the VC for the items he took. However, she will be going ahead with the case.

Magistrate SewnarineBeharry placed Austin on $100,000 bail and transferred the matter to Court Eleven where Magistrate Annette Singh presides.

At Court Eleven, the Magistrate allowed the VC to withdraw the matter, ensuring that the VC receive $100,000 in compensation from the defendant’s wife (who was there to support her husband). The VC told the court that she was not threatened nor forced to withdraw the charge against Austin.

Eyew tness Daughters...

N ...as obtuse commentators

adira Jagan-Brancier rushed to fight a strawman of Ramkarran’s artifice. But in doing so, exposed why her parents insisted she never be part of their POLITICAL legacy. She just never took time to cultivate the analytic - much less Marxist - outlook that guided her parents. Unsurprisingly, her judgements and opinions are always undermined by her lack of objectivity.

But some people will say “Jagan’s daughter should know Jagan”. Your Eyewitness is reminded of an incident in one of VS Naipaul’s novels of life in Trinidad - his masterpiece “House for Mr Biswas? - where his cousins decide to write the Cambridge Exam in Hindi simply because they were the sons of pandits.

Of course they failed ignominiously!! Knowledge of things don’t just flow into you by magic...you have to study and analyse them. Brancier’s never even bothered to study the context in which Ramkarran so viciously attacked Jagdeo - who he sees as the person who “prevented” him from becoming President in 1997.

Does Brancier know that it was her mother Janet who actually “stood in Ralph’s way” - and did this country an invaluable service?? Or that she was backed

by Moses Nagamootoo who now hypocritically praises Ramkarran??

Now if Brancier had taken time to examine the issue, she’ll see that no one - least of all Jagdeo - ever claimed that Cheddi Jagan “used their position for personal gain” - as she states. All Jagdeo claimed was, “I don’t believe Ministers should have to live in a logie to prove that they are not corrupt… Cheddi Jagan didn’t have to prove that by living in a logie.”

When Jagan was mobilising sugar workers for instance, thousands of them were still living in logies.

Just to illustrate his point, Jagdeo observed that “I don’t think Cheddi Jagan, living in Bel Air Park at that time, in a nice house, was typical of Guyana”.

Does Brancier deny the veracity of what Jagdeo said aside from Ramkarran’s vile embellishments? The house wasn’t nice?? Jagdeo also said Jagan wouldn’t want his Ministers to ride around on bicycles..

Even in 1960, Jagan had a car - when very few people did. Does Brancier remember the incident VS Naipaul wrote about in “The Middle Passage” when he’s taken to Berbice with Jagan and his family - including Brancier - in Dr Jagan’s car?? Did that in fact make Jagan care less for sugar workers he addressed - who couldn’t even afford a bicycle??

Brancier’s obtuseness might make some question, why - if Dr Jagan was so gung ho on taking vows of poverty - he sent her brother to a Canadian rather than an Eastern Bloc University? Which the poor country PYO lad named Bharrat Jagdeo had to attend??

...and pawns

Granger and the PNC just had their rally in Linden.

OK, dear reader, you may object it was the APNU+AFC holding the rally. But then that’d mean you were just regurgitating the tripe the PNC’s spin doctors are spewing.

Can anyone seriously argue - without breaking into giggles - that APNU is anything but a fig leaf for the PNC??

Do you think that GAP, NFA and WPA can pull more votes that the fingers on your hands?? C’mon!! And the AFC itself conceded that the best it could do was to promise 11 per cent - from Berbice!

Anyhow, what stood out at Linden was the despicable way in which Granger’s treating the women in the PNC. If it’s one thing Burnham recognised it was the power of PNC women to mobilise. And he gave them respect.

While Granger talked of healing the rift with Linden, notice that Vanessa Kissoon got zilch - even as Sandra Adams was tossed aside like a sucked orange!!

... and inheritance

Word is that half of the Jagan’s yard with a house in Bel Air was sold for over US$2million?? When is Brancier going to cash in her half?? Things are getting hard in Canada, no?

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tuesday, march 17, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, march 17, 2015

News Unions to reopen negotiations with UG Admin …threaten to launch petition for VC’s sacking

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he University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) and the University of Guyana Workers’ Union (UGWU) have decided to launch a petition calling for the dismissal of the Vice Chancellor, Dr Jacob Opadeyi if the second round of negotiations yields similar results as the first.

Just two weeks back on the job, the unions met with the University’s Administration to resume negotiations concerning salary increases and better working conditions as demanded by the UG staff.

However, the unions said they feel quite insulted and disappointed after what they termed a “farcical” negotiation.

They explained that the meeting yielded no progress as the UG negotiating team made no counter proposal to their demands.

But, in putting their anger aside and notwithstanding the “unproductive nature” of the first meeting, the unions have decided to give the negotiating process one

UGSSA Vice President Melissa Ifill

more try.

According to the unions, if the second meeting produces similar results or if they are met with “intractable attitudes” from the negotiating team, then they will withdraw from the process and staff will re-engage in various forms of industrial action.

Additionally, they threatened to launch a petition calling for the Vice Chancellor and the senior administration to be dis-

missed on the grounds of poor management of the University and demonstration of bad faith to its workers.

When contacted by Guyana Times, Dr Opadeyi declined to comment on the matter, claiming that he will issue a press statement on the situation. The unions also threatened to expose the various violations of the Terms of Resumption (ToR) agreement.

The ToR agreement clearly states that upon the recommencement of classes, there shall be no victimisation or harassment by either side such as dismissals, demotions, transfers, among others. It also states that there shall be no loss of pay for strike days and no loss of work for the University.

By now arrangements should have been made for staff to work back the times spent on strike in order to complete the backlog of work and meet the various deadlines.

Some of the other terms and conditions included the

right for salaries withheld for strike action to be released upon the signing of the agreement and resumption of negotiations within seven days of resumption of duties.

The first issues to be addressed, as outlined in the agreement, will be allowances and other conditions of work, according to the demands of the unions.

Subsequently, the multi-year salary agreement negotiations will commence.

The UG Administration is also expected to broker agreements with the management of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), credit unions, and all other loan agencies paid through the university to prevent penalties to staff members for outstanding payments.

Some of the other demands made by the unions are for projectors to be installed in all large classrooms, well-refurbished blackboards and whiteboards to be available in all classrooms; sufficient markers, chalk, whiteboard and blackboard erasers, among other teaching materials must be available as well as an adequate internet supply.

For nearly five weeks, the unions have been protesting on the grounds of the University, demanding better working conditions and salary increases.

These series of protests caused massive disruption of classes, much to the annoyance of the University of Guyana Student Society (UGSS) which also took to protested for the resumption of classes.

The protests finally ended about a week ago following the signing of the ToR agreement between the unions and the Administration.

Some cold cases fuh de Pullice

E

very body who know de Prezzi know de Prezzi as a good and decent man. Some seh de Prezzi ain’t gotta bad bone in he body. But de Prezzi mek a bad mistake de other day.

Was a honest mistake though, so not plenty people gon hold it against de Prezzi, except de Pullice, Rum Jhaat and de Nagga Man. De other day de Prezzi was talkin to de Pullice bout Pullice wuk. Now every body who know de Pullice know that when Pullice stop yuh on de road dem does be cold. And is only some ting cold that does get dem to stop bein cold.

Prezzie he self start to talk to de Pullice bout opening some ting cold de other day. Some cold cases. Problem is, as soon as de Prezzie done talk, de Pullice, Rum Jhaat and de Nagga Man was lookin out fuh de cold cases.

All of dem fellas was actually waitin fuh de cold cases of beer which dem thought de Prezzi was about to give away. So dem was disappointed with de Prezzie.

Of course, after de Rummie and de Nagga realise that dem totally misinterpret de Prezzi, which ain’t any ting new anyway, dem was so disappointed that both of dem went ahead to Station Street and order dem own cold cases.

Well, that turn out to be another case by itself. At least dem was no longer disappointed by de next mornin! But it had a lotta people who was still disappointed, although dem wasn’t lookin out fuh cold cases of beer.

In fact, some get friken. De same Rum Jhaat fuh instance hopin that de cold case wid him tekkin all de KFC money that come in from New York and Canada gon never get hot. As fuh de Nagga man, he plan to tell de Pullice shut dem so-and-so mouth when dem start to open de cold case with dem people he rob in Berbice.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie!

De Tax Man gon be outta de picture here. So these cold cases might get hot soon!

Alleged drug pusher remanded for ganja possession

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One Mile, Linden, Region 10 resident was brought before Chief Magistrate Priya sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday, for being in possession of 31 grams of cannabis sativa (marijuana).

Nigel Gordon was busted by Police in Mahdia,

Region Eight with the illegal substance on his person. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

After hearing the facts of the case, the defendant was remanded to prison.

Gordon was told to report to court on April 20 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

21-year-old pleads guilty to trafficking, gets 3 years imprisonment

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wenty-one-year-old Estric Simmonds pleaded guilty to the charge of drug possession with the intent to traffick on Monday when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

Simmonds was busted by Police Officers with 16 grams of cannabis sativa (marijuana) while he

was in One Mile, Linden, Region 10.

The young man had nothing to say to the court on Monday when he was brought before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer to the charge of drug possession with the purposes of trafficking. When asked his plea, he surprisingly stated that he was guilty.

Magistrate SewnarineBeharry explained to the accused what he was admitting to as the charges are commensurate with a three to five-year sentence. Simmonds maintained that he was guilty as charged.

Magistrate SewnarineBeharry fined him $30,000 along with the three-year sentence.

tuesday, march 17, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

Rohee notes drop in piracy attacks

Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee

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ome Affairs Minister Clement Rohee said that there has been a marked drop in the incidence of sea piracy across the country.

Rohee’s comments were made in response to statements made by Opposition Leader David Granger, who recently unveiled plans to improve security in the Corentyne. Granger had alluded to the piracy situation, saying that the APNU+AFC coalition would guarantee stricter protection for all with special emphasis placed on reducing piracy.

“I will tell them that I will make the country safer from piracy which affects the Corentyne more seriously than the others. I would make sure that the residents are safe from banditry,” Granger said.

However, Rohee said “it is a well-established fact that a Guyana Police Force marine floating base was commissioned to operate collaboratively with ranks of other Law Enforcement Agencies, and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) which has a similar floating base located at the mouth of the Pomeroon River.” He said this $49.9 million capital investment was complemented by the procurement of a boat imported from the US costing $71.4 million, in addition to four new vessels built at a cost of $4.9 million. According to him, Government has consistently demonstrated its commitment to public safety and security and this is evident in capacity-building by way of training provided to the marine wing of the Force.

“It should also be noted that incidence of piracy has dropped significantly within the past months,” Rohee said. He said Guyana’s collaborative efforts with those of Suriname have contributed significantly to the reduction in instances of piracy on the Corentyne River. Last year, Surinamese authorities had criticised Guyana’s anti-piracy fight, saying this country could have done more to curb the increasing cases of piracy at sea.

Last year four fishermen, the youngest 19 and the oldest 41, were thrown into the sea with tied hands and

feet. A fifth victim, Feroze Hack, captain of the boat, survived the incident which took place on July 8, 2014 off the Surinamese coast.

The body of 41-year-old Andre Gopie washed ashore 10 days later in Guyana.

No trace of the other victims, Vinesh Drunarain, 24; Raymond Gomez, 37; and Chandrapaul Jallim, 19, has been found. The authorities assume these men, all Guyanese, are dead.

Suriname had said that the pirates are Guyanese and they deliberately targeted their countrymen knowing that they would not report their case to the Surinamese officials.

to challenge in Court the disbursement of resources from the IDB Security Sector Loan will again stymie the implementation of plans for the achievement of our primary objective of providing comprehensive citizen security sector for all Guyanese,” Rohee said.

Thirdly, Rohee said that recommendations of the Disciplined Services Commission are being im-

Strategic plans

Meanwhile, regarding the strategic plans for the security sector, which Granger also criticised, Rohee said the public should be aware of the fact that all previous strategic plans developed during Government’s engagement with local and overseas consultants have been subsumed in the current strategic plan.

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

“It should be noted that the move by the Opposition

Opposition Leader David Granger

plemented. “Recent presentations by the Guyana Police Force, the Guyana Fire Service, and the Guyana Prison Service gave status updates on the progress each agency is making towards the full realisation of those recommendations.

The progress report was circulated to members of the National Assembly in June, 2014.

Providence murder:

Wanted bulletin issued for suspect "Lapsy" 1.

Dead, Ryan Sooklall

A

wanted bulletin has been issued by the Guyana Police Force for Jermaine Simon also called ‘Lapsy,’ of Lot 41 Norton Street and of Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara (EBD), for the murder of Ryan Sooklall who was gunned down in Providence, EBD on March

The 24-year-old suspect is believed to have absconded to Suriname, according to sources but the Police are of the opinion that he is still in Guyana.

Sooklall, 19 of Lot 27 Providence was shot at least twice to the back with a .38 pistol by the suspect who attacked him while he was in the company of his friends at Parker Street, Providence.

According to reports, the now dead young man went to the house of the suspect’s aunt, Tessa, and threw an improvised bomb, thereby upsetting the family.

This might have stemmed to the shooting incident. More so, Police also confirmed that the teenager was part of a gang which often got into trouble.

The gang at Bagotstown and the one at Providence, Police claim are always

Wanted, Jermaine ‘Lapsy’ Simon

fighting between themselves, and they have been under Police radar for quite some time.

However, Shamaz Ali, the mother of the dead teenager, admitted that her son was a “wayward child,” but stressed that he was never a part of any criminal gang.

She stated that her son lived as any young man would live, noting that “boys must be boys”.

According to information received, the teenager and his friends were at a shop when Simon stormed into the yard and opened fire. Upon seeing the man with the gun in his hands, Sooklall reportedly ran towards the backyard but he was shot twice from behind.

He ran some distance but collapsed.

The incident occurred at about 18:35h but his body was found in a clump of bushes at about 21:30h by his friends.

Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of Simon also called “Lapsy’ is asked to contact the Police on telephone numbers 2256411, 226-1326, 227-1149, 226-9941, 911 or the nearest Police station.

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News

Holder-Allen in scramble to conjure up party …after “candidates” walk away

T

he National Democratic Party of Guyana (NDPOG), headed by former Chief Magistrate Juliet HolderAllen has encountered several membership problems since it was announced that the party will be contesting the General and Regional Elections on May 11.

On Friday last, HolderAllen stood almost alone at the Guyana Legionnaires Hall, Carifesta Avenue to announce the NDPOG’s intention. Additionally, she disclosed the names of a handful of persons, including several lawyers, whom she claimed were involved in the party.

However, those lawyers, who held key positions in the party, immediately disassociated themselves from the NDPOG shortly after the announcement was made.

Lawyers Patrice Henry and Lyndon Amsterdam as well as public relations specialist Namela Rowe have disassociated themselves from the party. Holder-Allen in an interview with Guyana Times, speculated that the members were afraid hence their decision to back out of the party.

In response to their retraction, Holder-Allen expressed her disappointed, noting that she thought they were her “friends.” The former Chief Magistrate explained that she selected those persons for the various positions in the party because she was confident in their ability to perform their duties; however, she is extremely surprised at their sudden action to disassociate themselves from the party.

Despite the hiccups, Holder-Allen is determined to keep the NDPOG in the competition and is currently in the process of finding new persons to fill the positions. She claimed that the process will not be a challenge because “there are a number of people out there” who want to be a part.

This time around however, Holder-Allen said she will be more careful in her selection.

Currently, HolderAllen is the Presidential Candidate for the party, while the General Secretary is Donna Stephens – a housewife and the Administrative Manager is Garfield Hoyte – a businessman.

Meanwhile, NDPOG was formed in 2010 but wide-

spread recognition was limited due to several complications. But Holder-Allen said she is now on a mission to mobilise resources to get her party on the right track to victory.

According to HolderAllen, her past involvements will allow her to gather enough votes to secure a spot in the National Assembly. “I’ve served my country on a national level and my people will know from my past history what I have to offer,” she said.

On that note, Allen expressed that she is not at all

NDPOG Presidential Candidate Juliet Holder-Allen

worried about Nomination Day on April 7. She reiterated her confidence in gaining supporters, as she is sure the NDPOG will offer the revitalisation Guyana needs. In its manifesto, the NDPOG states that it intends to bring positive changes in the areas of politics, social culture, education, judicial, security, economics, sports, youth, infrastructure, and arts. NDPOG’s motto is “Together We Grow” and is represented by a stalk of rice which signifies “Providing a better life for all Guyanese through the use and enjoyment of our entire natural and human resources and efforts.”

On September 2, 2008, Holder-Allen handed in her resignation at the Court of Appeal after being sent on indefinite leave for almost five years following allegations of misconduct. Then on July, 2009, she was arrested at her home and taken to the Brickdam Police Station for questioning pertaining to the then fire at the Health Ministry. It was reported that Police had left a message requesting that she report to the Brickdam Police Station, which she had ignored, prompting her arrest.

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tuesday, march 17, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

President Ramotar vows Amputees aiming to compete to fix faulty 911 system in Boston Marathon

– William “The Conqueror” France tries for record of oldest man in marathon

...says it’s vital for Police to regain public’s confidence

P

resident Donald Ramotar said he would do all in his power to fix the faulty Police emergency number 911, saying this mechanism was too vital to be failing. He also underscored the need for the chronic issue of poor Policepublic relationship to be tackled head on.

Speaking on his programme, “At Home with the President” aired Monday evening, Ramotar said the issue of the non-working 911 system “has to be fixed, even if we have to go to some special arrangement to get it fixed, so that every time a phone call is made, it is answered and action is taken”.

The President explained that his Administration was looking at putting in the systems, to ensure that even “if it means that I have to outsource this, I am ready to do that, because this is extremely important for the Police Force, to ensure that all calls are answered and that they act, they respond to these issues that citizens have been complaining about (and) rightfully so”.

During his address at the recent Guyana Police Force’s annual conference, he had spoken of the Police initiating better work ethic and engendering trust from the populace.

These sentiments were made in the context of the findings of the last survey, conducted by the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP), which found that Guyana has the lowest level of trust in the Police in the region, and that trust in the local Police Force was continuing to decrease. He opined that what he found out in the report was very unacceptable, and this was exactly why he mentioned the matter, when he spoke at the Police Officers’ Conference.

Unacceptable

His pronouncement was emphatic: “I was very explicit on this matter, to say how much I am disappointed, and I said very frankly (that) it is not acceptable to me, nor is it acceptable to

the Guyanese people, and I expect that it is not acceptable to the leadership of the Guyana Police Force, and, therefore, we have to ensure that we work on these issues, to build back the trust of the Guyana Police Force with the population.”

President Ramotar explained that his Administration, via the Police, has already started to do ‘trust building’ work within the communities, noting that “they had some work done in Albouystown; they had some work done in Agricola, and they are now spreading out some of that type of work in other areas, and that I think is beginning to pay off for them, because they are winning more and

President Donald Ramotar

more support in the community and that is extremely important.”

The President said that he was encouraging the Force to continue that aspect of its work. He mentioned the sore topic of response time to crime and declared that “we have been talking to them about their response time when they are called in by citizens, and I’m putting it to them … as we have to ensure that they have a proper response time … the shortest possible time, for their arrival on the scene must be very short and as short as possible in that regard.”

An optimistic President Ramotar believes that there would be a quick turnaround. He thinks that with the general work that the

Police are doing and the resources that the ruling People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) is now putting into the Police Force, that they would help considerably to restore confidence in the Police. At that same Police conference, the President laid out a 15-point plan ‘15 in 2015’ to ensure a more effective force.

President Ramotar said the public sees the work of the Police as most important for the general development of the society, as “security is extremely important and people want to work, people want to carry on their business, people want to go about their leisure, but with a feeling that they are secure in what they are doing”.

He noted that security helped production and productivity and, “it will attract more people to our country, and I believe that it is vital for us to ensure that the Police build that confidence and the public get that confidence again in the Police, to make them very respectable in every community.”

President Ramotar also implored the Police to be conscious of the fact that the leadership of the Police Force will have to do more supervision of the lower ranks and the Community Policing Groups (CPGs), to see that they were discharging their functions as intended, to understand and to be there with the ranks and to have a good understanding of what was taking place within the various communities. He pointed to the use of science and technology, as far as possible, in the detection and fight against crime at all levels.

President Ramotar went as far as telling the officers that they should reopen old unsolved crimes, as “criminals must not feel that they can get away with their criminal activities (for) if they feel that way, then they will continue to want to live a life in crime, but if they know that they will be caught, that will serve as a deterrent from people to commit crime within our society”.

External public debt plummets in Caribbean – ECLAC

I

n its annual fiscal report on Latin America and the Caribbean, the United Nations’ Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) highlights that in the last 25 years, external public debt has fallen from 70 per cent to 16 per cent of the Region’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Projects financed with public or public-private resources can increase economic activity, especially when the economy is going through

a period of idle capacity and when infrastructure investment needs are clearly identified, which is true of the Region today, ECLAC said in “Fiscal Panorama of Latin America and the Caribbean 2015: Policy space and dilemmas”.

Latin America and the Caribbean has used fiscal policy to reactivate investment and confront the current context of economic deceleration, although with variations among countries, according to the document,

which was presented during the XXVII Regional Seminar on Fiscal Policy last week at ECLAC’s headquarters in Santiago, Chile.

In the study, the United Nations organisation warns that the decline in commodities prices implies a reduction in the income derived from non-renewable natural resources, which will weaken the public finances of countries that export these products. turn to page 13

Men on a mission

Terry Roopnarine said that it is important that persons with disabilities have hope

T

hree men stopped traffic on Saturday as they stood in the middle of the roadway, clutching their crutches to balance on their three legs. These men were appealing to the public for financial assistance as it is their aim to be part of the 2015 Boston Marathon.

Guyana Times had the opportunity to speak to these men while they stood on the public road of Montrose to get the attention of commuters. Surprisingly, people were very supportive, as cars stopped to donate what little they could to the men’s hopes for an experience of a lifetime.

William France, a well known amputee, who thrives on giving back and fighting against enormous odds, was found to be the man behind these men’s efforts.

France said that it cost a total of $1.23 million for three amputees to go to the marathon. However, what they need at this point is $184,000.

France had taken part in the Boston Marathon before, the last time being eight years ago. This time, he said he has a specific purpose as it will be his last time and he wants to be the oldest man in the world to compete in the marathon. He stated that winning is not a must but it would be great to hold that record. The oldest man currently holding the record for competing in the Boston Marathon is Dick Shoe, who was 56 years old when he last competed in the marathon. France is 58 years old.

France admits to Guyana Times that he was a bad egg. He lost his leg as a result of stealing from Hamilton Green, who was the Prime Minister at the time. He elaborated on the incident, stating that he was shot eleven times about the body but managed to survive. He however lost his leg, but says he wears it as a badge of honour, as the loss of the leg taught him a lot about life.

He stated that losing one’s leg or having a disability does not make one helpless, one is still human all through this.

“Na because you get a disability you can’t do things”, he stated. This has been his mantra as he has continuously encouraged persons to not give up on life.

It has been 35 years since he lost his leg but he has been able to be a part of many competitions; the Boston Marathon being the most notable of them. France was also able to raise funds for several charities, at one time raising over $8.43 million.

France spoke with pride when he told this publication about his family – his wife and three children.

Terry Roopnarine – one of the tree men soliciting support from the public – is quite happy that France went down the road he did as he told this publication that France encouraged him a lot, lending unwavering support when he lost his leg four years ago. The 33-year-old said he lost the use of his right leg in an accident in the interior when a tree fell on him. Roopnarine said at the time of the accident, he was working as a Pork knocker and said he was quite lucky to be alive, even without a leg.

He told this publication that at first that he felt quite helpless, as he was married with a son and a daughter and there was not much he could have done for himself. However, Roopnarine said that he fell in with some other amputees and found that it was not as bad as he thought. He began to teach himself how to do things for himself and now he can even drive without help.

The amputee said that such activities help to boost one’s morale and it is better than feeling sorry for yourself. He spoke of people committing suicide because they no longer have an arm or leg and said that it is important “to have hope… put down that feeling, that thinking and everything gon be good for them.”

Roopnarine said he is looking forward to the marathon as it is an experience that does not come around every day. He said he, along with some friends have been

William France wants to go to the Boston Marathon to be the oldest man to compete in the marathon

training in the National Park, at the seawalls, and even Mocha, on the East Bank of Demerara. He stated that it is a lot of work, since the distance covers 26 miles.

However, Roopnarine stated that they still need a lot of money to be able to make the trip to the United States for the marathon.

The last of the three man team, Garvin Jeffers said that the marathon is a chance for him to show the world that amputee persons can still be part of life. He reminisced on that time when there used to be persons in wheelchairs paying basketball at the park and at sports centres in Georgetown. He said that there is “nuff thing we could do.”

He said that he has even spoken to a cycling coach about encouraging young boys and girls to take part in cycling, as it is a sport that persons with disabilities can be a part of. He said this give people hope and an independence that goes a long way.

news

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tuesday, march 17, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

GECOM denies reports of staff shortage T

he Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has denied reports that it is facing a shortage of staff ahead of the May 11 General and Regional Elections.

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee said his party was informed that GECOM is experiencing staff shortages in multiple regions, including Region One ( Barima-Waini) and Region Six ( East BerbiceCorentyne). The revelation was made at a press conference held at Freedom House on Monday.

Rohee said that PPP/C is recommending that GECOM reopens the application process to allow for new submissions from applicants who are qualified and desirous of working on Elections Day. The General Secretary said, “situations like this can lead to the relaxing of requirements, accepting ‘second standard’ choices and handpicking of persons which the PPP/C is totally against, since it may have dire consequences to the integrity of the electoral process.”

Rohee added, “this justifies the party’s persistent

Gecom Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally

calls for public vetting of Election Day staff.” He also explained that this in not in any way meant to deprive anyone of an opportunity, but to build public trust in GECOM’s machinery.

He claimed that time and again flaws and inconsistencies have marred elections in Guyana due to biased and unqualified polling day staff.

The PPP/C views the public vetting of elections day staff as the practical and proactive step towards having transparent, free and fair elections. Rohee believes that this will strengthen the nation’s democracy.

“The PPP calls for GECOM to ensure that all measures are taken to implement policies and procedures that will create voter friendly polling places manned by competent and trained staff.”

The PPP/C is hoping that the 2015 elections are free and fair, and also free of fear. However, when contacted by Guyana Times, GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally said that there is no longer a shortage of staff for elections day.

He stated that the issue has been resolved and therefore would allow for the smooth running of the election.

greater participation of fixedrate debt, a greater proportion of resident debt holders and the growing importance of debt denominated in the local currency. In this sense, in the last 25 years the reduction of external public debt has been notable in the Region: in the early 1990s, it represented more than 70 per cent of GDP,

from page 12

Dominican Republic and Panama), as well as Mexico, have moderate levels of indebtedness (between 36 per cent and 44 per cent of GDP).

On the other extreme, with debt levels below 22 per cent of GDP, stand Chile, Peru and Paraguay. According to the “Fiscal Panorama of Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America: External and internal public debt relative to GDP 1970-2014

Blue line equals external debt; yellow domestic debt over external debt

followed by phases in which they fell (1990-1997 and 20042008, after a brief period of increases between 1998 and 2003), and they ultimately stabilised between 2009 and 2014.

Changing composition

Between 2003 and 2008, the level of public debt fell considerably and its composition also changed in a significant way, with longer maturities,

CCJ rules in gas station dispute By: Kara Graham – Norman Manley Law School

External public debt...

This could be compensated by recent tax reforms, the report says, especially by the strengthening of direct taxation. Taking a long-term view with regard to the proportion of public debt versus GDP, Latin America (considering the average of 19 countries) experienced a long period of rising debt levels (1970-1989),

Feizal Mohamed Amin v Guyana Oil Company Ltd:

compared with 16 per cent in 2014.

Indebtedness levels vary widely among countries.

Brazil has the highest public debt in Latin America (63.5 per cent of GDP in 2014), although the amount of its net debt is much lower (37 per cent). Other countries in South America (Uruguay, Colombia and Argentina) and some in Central America (El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, the

2015”, the tax burden rose five points of GDP between 2000 and 2013 in the Region, with a structure of regressive taxes. This explains why the impact of fiscal policy on income distribution is not significant.

For that reason, ECLAC urges countries to continue taking action to fight fiscal evasion and circumvention, reduce preferential treatment and generally strengthen taxation on capital gains.

F

eizal Mohamed Amin, a gas station owner, had an agreement with Guyana Oil Company Ltd (Guyoil), for the oil company to supply him with petroleum and petroleum products. Guyoil claimed that between September 5 and September 28, 2005, Amin failed to make payments for goods delivered to the value of GUY$101,280,423.

Amin argued that he had paid all his debts to Guyoil and set out to challenge the accuracy of the alleged debt. In response, Guyoil produced a letter written and signed

by Amin in which he admitted that he owed the company the sum of GUY$97,609,000 and would pay that sum as soon as possible.

Amin readily admitted that he did in fact write this letter, but he stated that it was written as a result of “economic coercion.”

He argued that he was intimidated into signing the letter because Guyoil indicated that he would have to confess to some indebtedness if he were to continue receiving their products.

As with any other legal case, producing evidence is crucial and this letter would prove to be the piece of evidence which was instrumental in the final outcome of the case.

The CCJ held that the letter could be accepted as proof of the debt. The Court focused its attention on a number of factors such as the fact that Amin never once challenged the contents of the letter and the fact that the explanation as to why it was written in the first place was not sufficiently believable. The CCJ therefore ruled in favour of Guyoil. However, the Court ordered that Guyoil only be paid $97,609,000.00, the amount admitted in the letter, rather than the entire sum claimed by Guyoil.

This summary is intended to assist the Caribbean public in learning more about the work of the CCJ. It is not a formal document of the Court. The judgment of the Court is the only authoritative document and may be found at http://www. caribbeancourtofjustice.org/wp-content/ uploads/2014/05/Feizal-Amin-v-GuyanaOil-Co-Ltd-Judgment-Final.pdf

14

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, march 17, 2015

Regional

to pay Cuba, US renew talks on Jamaicans less income tax restoring diplomatic ties E C uba and the United States meet for talks on restoring diplomatic relations on Monday, seeking more progress toward an agreement while not allowing differences over Venezuela to impede their historic rapprochement.

Assistant US Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson is due to meet in Havana with Josefina Vidal, the Cuban foreign ministry’s chief of US affairs, with talks possibly continuing into Wednesday.

Jacobson and Vidal led their respective delegations with great fanfare in Havana in January and in Washington in February, but this session will take place with smaller teams

The head of the Cuban delegation, Josefina Vidal, appears at a news conference during talks between the United States and Cuba at the State Department in Washington February 27

and, so far at least, a media blackout.

The United States severed diplomatic ties with

Venezuelan diplomat grateful for TT support

V

e n e z u e l a ’ s Ambassador to TT Coromoto Godoy on Sunday expressed gratitude to the many local groups that have shown support and solidarity with her country. “Venezuela has been developing solidarity with TT for many years now. Today, there are different social movements from TT, political movements like the Movement Social Justice (MSJ) and trade unions, saying they want to express solidarity with us.

“We have two buses coming from Cedros who are fishermen. There are university lecturers calling us to show support. It means the people from TT are with us and they understand what is happening in Venezuela and the terrible incident with US President Obama,” she said.

The Ambassador made the comment during a baseball game at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, on Sunday involving Venezuelans, Cubans and

nationals of The Dominican Republic. Groups representing TT’s civil society were in attendance showing solidarity with Venezuela in its diplomatic tug of war with the United States. In a statement, the MSJ expressed solidarity with the Venezuelan people and democratically elected Government of Venezuela.

“The events of the past week in which the United States has intensified sanctions against Venezuela and deemed that Government as a threat to national security interests have made the issues clearer.

The MSJ has no doubt that the United States is pursuing its old imperial agenda of seeking to control strategic resources globally and to control oil and energy resources,” the release said.

The MSJ said the issues is not democracy as claimed by the United States but its unstable relationship with Venezuela is about oil and geo-politics. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Cuba in 1961, and relations remained hostile even after the end of the Cold War. But President Barack

Obama reversed the US policy of isolating Cuba, entering 18 months of secret talks that led to a joint announcement with Cuban President Raul Castro on December 17 that the two adversaries would seek to restore diplomatic ties, as well as a release of prisoners by both sides.

Obama told Reuters on March 2 he hoped the United States would open an embassy in Cuba before a Western Hemisphere summit in Panama set for April 10-11, when Obama and Castro could have their first face-to-face meeting since shaking hands at Nelson Mandela’s funeral in December 2013. (Excerpt from

ffective January 1, 2016, the threshold on Personal Income Tax will be increased from J$557,232 to J$592,800 per annum. "For all PAYE persons, this will mean an additional J$35,568 per year of tax free income, but the impact in terms of lower effective tax rates will be greater for the lower income PAYE tax payers," Finance and Planning Minister Peter Phillips said.

Opening the 2015/16 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives last Thursday, the Minister said the proposed increase in the threshold would relieve another 9000 households from

income tax and bring the total number free of tax to 129,000. The revenue loss from this adjustment is J$644 million. There will also be a removal of duties on racehorse breeding stock in order to facilitate the continued viability of the racehorse industry. The category of horses which presently attracts a tariff of 40 per cent will be subject to a lower tariff of five per cent.

"This will result in a minimal revenue loss for the fiscal year of J$1 million and will help stabilise conditions in the sector and support the divestment exercise. (Excerpt

from Jamaica Observer)

Barbados gets US$17.8M boost for human resource Clintons in spotlight over programme from EU Haiti gold mining deal ithin a few days,

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton

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new book, which goes on sale May 5, reveals that Tony Rodham, brother of former US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, sat on the board of a company that landed a sweetheart gold mining deal in Haiti after Bill and Hillary Clinton directed millions into postearthquake relief.

Clinton Cash: The Untold Story of How and Why Foreign Governments and Businesses Helped Make Bill and Hillary Rich, by Government Accountability Institute founder Peter Schweizer, describes an unusual nexus of mining interests, relief work in Haiti,

Reuters)

and the former US first family, suggesting cronyism, back-room Government dealing, questionable ethics and a blurring of the lines between charity and profiteering.

Schweizer’s publisher, HarperCollins, said in a press release that the book “reveals how the Clintons went from ‘dead broke’ on leaving the White House to being millionaires, describing in detail the way in which the Clintons habitually blur the lines between politics, philanthropy, and business.”

HarperCollins Executive Editor Adam Bellow, son of novelist Saul Bellow, said in a statement that “Schweizer’s exhaustively researched book raises serious questions about the sources of the Clintons’ sudden wealth, their ethical judgment, and Hillary’s fitness for high public office.”

Rodham reportedly sat on the board of VCS Mining when the unlisted Delaware corporation was granted a ‘super-rare’ permit to mine gold in Haiti following the massive earthquake on the impoverished island nation in 2010. (Excerpt from Caribbean News

Now)

W

the European Union (EU) will pay Bdn$35.65 million (US$17.825 million) into the Consolidated Fund as part of its continuing support of the Barbados human resource development (HRD) programme.

Finance Minister Christopher Sinckler described the HRD programme as an important stepping stone in the reform of the Barbados economy.

He made the comments on Friday during a press conference to announce the payment of the third tranche of budget support to Barbados under the HRD programme.

Those present included the head of delegation of the European Union to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Ambassador Mikael Barfod. Sinckler said: “The human resource development programme seeks to unleash that potential among Barbadians across a number of spectrums. The central focus in this case is among public sector employees, but it is not limited to them, it is in fact extended to all Barbadians.” This will

Finance Minister Christopher Sinckler

be the third payment of an overall contribution of Bdn$130 million to the sector, and the Minister disclosed that the programme had been going exceedingly well.

“The ministries and departments have been meeting their targets. They have designed an integrated programme that seeks to address a number of issues in relation to skills building, the expansion of knowledge, the integration of different types of skills across applications within the service and beyond, and of course, to chart a new platform for emerging areas within our economy,” he explained.

(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Venezuela leader Maduro’s decree powers divide opinion

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President Nicolas Maduro says the powers of decree will allow him to defend Venezuela

law giving Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro the power to temporarily govern by decree has been met with criticism by Opposition politicians.

The law was passed on Sunday by the National Assembly, where Maduro’s party has a majority. Critics of the president called it a power grab.

President Maduro asked for the extra powers to counter what he described as threats by the US Government after the White

House imposed fresh sanctions.

Pro- and anti-government politicians heatedly discussed the new powers for more than two hours before they were approved.

The new “Antiimperialist Law for Peace” allows President Maduro to bypass the National Assembly and take action to “protect against the meddling by other nations in [Venezuela’s] internal affairs as well as any warmongering or external or internal activity which breaches

the peace”.

It is not yet clear what decrees Maduro plans to pass with his new powers.

Maduro was given powers to govern by decree once before in November 2013 “to counter the economic war” the government said was being waged against it.

That time, Maduro used the powers to put in force a number of laws to kick-start Venezuela’s ailing economy, including anti-monopoly laws and the creation of special areas of economic development. (Excerpt from BBC News)

tuesday, march 17, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the world

Cyclone-hit Vanuatu appeals for help

Just about every house in the capital Port Vila has received some damage and the situation for many people is bleak

V

anuatu is in “immediate” need after Cyclone Pam tore through the country at the weekend, its President says.

President Baldwin Lonsdale said the storm had “wiped out” all development of recent years and his country would have to rebuild

15

“everything”.

Aid has begun arriving in the storm-hit nation – one of the world’s poorest – but contact has still not been made with some of its more remote islands.

Aid agencies say it could be one of the worst disasters ever to hit the region.

The official death toll stands at eight, but it is expected to rise. The Category Five storm, with winds of up to 300km/h (185mph), struck populated areas when it reached Vanuatu early on Saturday local time (+11 GMT).

The BBC’s Jon Donnison, in the capital Port Vila, says just about every house there has received some damage and the situation for many people is bleak.

One village chief told our correspondent there was a desperate need for freshwater supplies.

The sense of devastation is absolutely immense and when you land it doesn’t take long for that sense of devastation to increase.

Many family homes have been stripped of their roofs

or flattened by very powerful winds and torrential rain.

The air is very thick with smoke because the cleanup has already begun – the debris is being chopped down, collected and burned. There is a sense here that people will rebuild, but it only takes a brief moment in the capital to realise that this rebuilding effort will take many months if not years.

This is a vast archipelago, the population is spread over more than 60 islands and communications are down. It’s very difficult for the authorities to have a true picture of the devastation, but it’s clear the number of dead will increase when communications are made with those outlying areas. (Excerpt from BBC News)

US and Iranian top diplomats hold nuclear talks

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he US Secretary of State and his Iranian counterpart have held four hours of nuclear talks in the Swiss city of Lausanne, after which the Iranian delegation headed to Brussels for meetings with European Ministers. John Kerry and Mohammad Javad Zarif are aiming to agree on the outlines of an agreement by the end of March. A full accord is then due by July 1.

“If [Iran’s nuclear programme is] peaceful, let’s get it done. And my hope is that in the next days, that will be possible,” Kerry told American CBS television on Sunday.

There were, however, “important gaps”, he said.

The meeting between Kerry and Zarif included US Energy Secretary Ernest

Moniz and Iran’s nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi, who also met on Sunday to negotiate technical details of Iran’s nuclear programme.

“I’m very optimistic,” Salehi said afterwards, leaving Zarif and Kerry in the room for a one-on-one meeting. Six world powers, the US, Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China, are trying make a deal with Iran that would curb Iran’s most sensitive nuclear activities for at least 10 years in exchange for the gradual easing of some sanctions.

After their meeting in Brussels, the Iranian delegation will return to Lausanne for more talks with the Americans, and will be joined later in the week by European Ministers. (Al Jazeera)

Israel to head to polls in Uganda to send medics elections too close to call abroad despite aid-cut threat

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s Israel’s right-wing Likud and the centreleft Zionist Union parties are neck and neck in the polls, experts say the electoral campaigns reflect the country’s growing divisions towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governance.

Netanyahu’s Likud had for weeks been tied with the Zionist Union coalition at a projected 23 seats each.

Yet, a poll, conducted one week before the elections by Israel’s Channel 2, expects that the Zionist Union will gain 25 seats to Likud’s 21.

The elections were announced when Netanyahu sacked Justice Minister Tzipi Livni and Finance Minister Yair Lapid over disagreements stemming from the controversial Jewishstate bill, a proposed law that defines Israel as “the

Prime Minister Netanyahu

Benjamin

nation-state of the Jewish people”.

During a recent visit to Jerusalem, where tensions have soared between Jewish Israelis and Palestinian residents since last summer, Netanyahu vowed to squash unrest and continue build-

Tusk presses EU leaders to pledge to keep sanctions on Russia

European Council President Donald Tusk is pressing European Union leaders to pledge this week to keep sanctions on Russia until a Ukraine ceasefire deal is fully in place, effectively extending sanctions until at least the end of the year. Europe must maintain pressure on Russia with sanctions until Ukraine has full control of its borders, Tusk said in an interview with several newspapers published on Monday.

“I’m sceptical about the goodwill of the Russians and I’m convinced that what’s needed is to maintain pressure,” he was quoted as saying by Italian daily La Stampa, one of six European newspapers which took part in the interview.

“We have to keep up sanctions until there is full respect for the (Minsk) agreements. That is until Kiev is responsible for its national frontiers,” he was quoted as saying.

EU economic sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict are due to expire in July. Some EU Governments want the bloc to act now to renew them, while others want to delay a decision to see how a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine develops. Tusk is pressing EU leaders, meeting in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, to decide this week that sanctions will not be lifted until Minsk is fulfilled and Ukraine regains control over its eastern border, a senior EU official said. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

ing Jewish-only settlements if he wins the elections.

“Unlike Tzipi Livni, who condemns our building in Jerusalem, and unlike [Zionist Union co-leader Isaac] Herzog, who will allow the establishment of a second terrorist state in Judea and Samaria, we will preserve a secure and united Jerusalem forever,” he proclaimed.

The Jewish Home (Habayit Hayehudit), a right-wing Zionist party that supports unilaterally annexing large swaths of the occupied West Bank, is currently projected to gain 12 seats.

The Joint Arab List, a coalition of four Arab-majority parties, is expected to take 13 seats, as is Yesh Atid, the centrist party headed by former Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid. (Excerpt from Reuters)

U

ganda plans to send more than 240 of its health workers to the Caribbean despite criticism and the threat of an aid cut.

The plan to transfer at least 241 Ugandan health workers to Trinidad and Tobago has already been met with fierce criticism inside the East African nation.

Officials have said the scheme is merely part of Uganda’s bilateral cooperation with Trinidad and Tobago, from which Uganda has also benefited – with aid such as oil and gas industry training and financial support for its police.

Last week, Alexander De Croo, Belgium’s Cooperation Minister, said his country was suspending a transfer of development money destined for Uganda’s health sector.

He said the expatriation of the health workers – brand-

The transfer of at least 241 health workers to Trinidad and Tobago has been met with fierce criticism inside Uganda [Reuters]

ed by activists in Uganda as a state-sanctioned braindrain – “would considerably weaken Uganda’s health system”.

The Government scheme has already been criticised by the US, which gives US$400 million in aid to Uganda’s health sector every year. “It is extremely premature for the Belgians to cut aid,” Fred Opolot, Ugandan Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, told AFP news agency.

“If they engage us, we can enlighten them on what

formed our decision. We believe they will reverse their decision.” Opolot said the export of health workers was “a good policy for the medical fraternity in Uganda”, saying it would also “address the unemployment problems”.

However, the Institute of Public Policy and Research (IPPR), a Ugandan think tank, is challenging the expatriation and seeking a court injunction to block what it has blasted as a violation of the right to healthcare. (Excerpt

from Al Jazeera)

Indians protest over US millionaire held after rape of 74-year-old nun saying he "killed them all"

H

undreds of people have held a silent demonstration to protest against the rape of an elderly nun in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Ten men have been detained in connection with the incident, which happened early on Saturday morning.

But none of them resemble the six alleged attackers who were caught on CCTV burgling the convent before the 74-year-old nun was raped.

The nun is being treated in a Kolkata (Calcutta) hospital.

Monday’s protesters – ranging from schoolchildren to elderly people – held banners with slogans such as “Save Women” and “Save

India”.

Similar demonstrations have been reported in other parts of the country.

A BBC correspondent in Kolkata says the rape case and recent attacks on churches have made Indian Christians feel insecure, although it is not clear whether the assault on the convent was sectarian.

The attackers ransacked the convent school in Ranaghat and stole money before raping the nun in the convent itself.

The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, has promised swift and strong action against those involved. The special police service of the state, the CID, has taken over the investigation. (Excerpt

from BBC News)

A

n American millionaire from a prominent New York family has been arrested on suspicion of murder after appearing to admit to several killings.

Robert Durst was recorded saying in private that he had “killed them all”, soon after being asked in an interview about the death of a friend in 2000. The 71-yearold has always maintained his innocence in Susan Berman’s murder.

Durst agreed to be transferred from New Orleans to Los Angeles, where he will face a first-degree murder charge. Prosecutors are also reportedly tying the case to the unsolved disappearance of his first wife, Kathleen, in 1982. She went missing after spending the weekend at

their country home in New York State and was eventually pronounced legally dead.

In 2001, Durst was acquitted of murder after convincing a jury that while living in Texas disguised as a mute woman, he had shot dead elderly neighbour Morris Black, dismembered his body and dumped it in Galveston Bay in an act of self-defence. Durst’s estranged family, who are believed to be worth at least US$4 billion, said they were “relieved and also grateful to everyone who assisted” in his arrest.

“We hope he will finally be held accountable for all he has done,” said his brother, Douglas, in a statement quoted by the AP news agency. (Excerpt from Reuters)

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tuesday, march 17, 2015| guyanatimesGY.com

GRPA on the road to achieving its goal – wants to send 100+ adolescent mothers back to school

One of the post cards signed at Friday’s event

W

ith the support of Guyanese businesses and citizens in general, the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) may very well be able achieve its goal of sending at least 100 adolescent mothers back to school.

This is according to youth coordinator of the non-governmental organisation, Norwell Hinds.

Hinds, rehashing the event of last Friday, told Guyana Times, that the first time initiative was a resounding success, with hundreds of individuals and businesses signing the petition to give the young mothers a second chance at education.

Hinds said a number of local organisations have already pledged their support.

These include the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), CUSO International, Help

and Shelter, Child Link, Youth Media Guyana (YMG) Rotary International, the United Nation Population Fund (UNPF) and Red Thread.

Along with those organisations, local businesses had also pledged their support to the programme.

At the event on Friday, which was held on Main Street, Georgetown, hundreds of persons who participated or passed by, were well informed about the social malady and found newer ways of dealing with it.

Hinds told Guyana Times that apart from the post cards signed for the girls, some 100 cards were also signed to leaders both here and across the region.

He said the petition and fundraisers will continue until September, when the young mothers are expected to resume classes.

Hinds had told this newspaper that teenagers

account for 97 out of every 1000 pregnancies, a situation that does not bode well for the country.

In fact, this figure means Guyana has the second highest number of teenage pregnancies in the Caribbean and Latin America.

In light of this, the organisation had signed on to a global campaign dubbed “Girl stand up for school”, a United Nations (UN) sponsored programme to raise funds to assist adolescents to acquire an education.

The organisation is seeking the support of Guyanese leaders through the “Postcards For Girls” initiative, urging them to support education for girls and the implementation of the strategic framework for adolescent pregnancies.

According to the youth coordinator, girls who become pregnant are forced out, or feel pressured to leave the school system.

Oftentimes they do not reintegrate and, according to him, that brings on the challenge of finding livelihood opportunities because there are educational constraints.

The GRPA is among the leading non-governmental organisations in the area of holistic sexual and reproductive health and chronic diseases, providing optimum services in a safe and comfortable environment where people are encouraged to live healthy and productive lives.

The main objective of the association is to develop high-quality sustainable services and programmes specifically in the area of sexual and reproductive health.

Hinds said included in the menu of programmes is a curriculum for the youth programme, aimed at supporting and providing information and services to safeguard their health.

First local regional spelling competition to kick off this Saturday

T

he European Caribbean Culture (ECC), in collaboration with Align Arts, will be hosting its first-ever regional spelling competition in Guyana with over 100 participants from four regions.

The first segment of the competition will commence on Saturday at the West Demerara Secondary School.

Initially, over 300 students, aged 13-15, had applied to participate in the competition; however, at a simple orientation ceremony on Saturday last, that list was narrowed to approximately 100 students.

The students from Region Three (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara); Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica); Region Five (MahaicaBerbice); and Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) will be competing.

At the end, 10 winners

Mechanic gets second chance to make something of himself

Magistrate Judy Latchman said Quacy Roberts has potential, hence the reason for his particular sentencing

Guyana achieves 98% coverage for Q childhood vaccination programme G uyana’s Childhood V a c c i n a t i o n Programme has been labelled by Health Minister, Dr Bheri Ramsaran as an example of a best practice in the Caribbean and Latin America.

In fact, he highlighted that Guyana has received prestigious awards in the past for maintaining a successful programme. Guyana is already achieving 96-98 per cent coverage for child borne vaccinated preventable diseases, a step up from 2012 when the country recorded some 90 per cent coverage.

Currently, the programme offers 16 antigens, including the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

However, Dr Ramsaran noted the drugs are quite expensive both on the local

Health Minister, Ramsaran

Dr

Bheri

and international market, which poses a challenge for the Health Ministry.

He stressed that the acquisition of affordable drugs was a great challenge faced by the entire Caribbean, in-

dicating that a combined effort is needed to demolish certain barriers.

“Guyana cannot shape the vaccine market alone; it has to be a regional issue,” he said.

Further, the Minister pointed out that Guyana no longer receives certain benefits they usually would in that area, creating more setbacks in the sector. “Now that Guyana’s graduating from a poor country to being a developing country, some of the support and concessions we’ve had are fading,” he highlighted.

Nonetheless, Dr Ramsaran applauded the achievement of the programme, even under these troubling circumstances.

He noted that the programme has been ensur-

ing most, if not all, children are provided with proper healthcare. “It’s such an impactful thing at the personal level of the child, the family level and the economic level,” he stated.

Additionally, Dr Ramsaran recognised that an increasing number of mothers are becoming more knowledgeable about vaccinations and thus, are taking advantage of the programme.

On that note, he encouraged every parent to get their children vaccinated.

Meanwhile, in boasting the success of the local health sector, the Health Minister also highlighted that Guyana’s Maternal Health Unit is another example of a best practice in the Caribbean.

will be announced, of which four will be awarded scholarships to pay examination fees in Grades 10 and 11, and six will be awarded $100,000.

According to Align Art representative Rosanna Lackhan, every year the organisation will work in the area of literacy to help promote education among students.

She explained that they decided to host a spelling competition, especially for schools in the outlying regions to get involved.

“Usually, when these projects are offered through the Ministry of Education, not everyone gets the opportunity because by the time the Ministry puts the press release out there, and students apply, it’s usually already full, I don’t know what happens, so we are doing this to give them an opportunity to participate in these competitions,” she noted.

uacy Roberts, a mechanic from Tucville, North East La Penitence, Georgetown, was sentenced to complete the SKYE programme on Monday after being convicted for hijacking a car and possessions belonging to the Virtual Complainant (VC) Teresa Fredericks.

Roberts after being released by Magistrate Judy Latchman on Monday was told that he needed to attend a SKYE programme as he has great potential. He was told that if he does not complete the programme, then he will be sentenced to one-year imprisonment.

Twenty-two-year-old Roberts was found guilty on February 26 of feloniously appropriating from Teresa Fredericks a Toyota Primo motorcar that was left in her possession by Jeremy Knights. The car was valued at $2.8 million.

The convict also stole a Samsung Galaxy S4 cell phone valued $53,000, Jeremy Knights’ BlackBerry Torch cellphone valued $50,000, Fredericks’ purse

valued $10,000 and $3000 which was in her purse. The incident reportedly occurred on October 18, 2014.

The accused was unrepresented but had presented a strong defence of his innocence throughout his trial, particularly with the last trial day when his girlfriend, Candace Thomas and his mother, Agnis Roberts testified on his behalf.

Nevertheless, Magistrate Latchman was able to see through his well placed lies.

On Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts she told the young man that she believed that his talents can be better served if he knows how to direct it, adding that he can make something of himself.

She stated that she had handed down the sentence for the SKYE programme after hearing the probation report that was submitted by Ms Hodge. The report stated that the defendant is the sole provider for his family and that it was his first offence.

SKYE, or the Skills and Knowledge for Youth Employment programme is a project which seeks to strengthen youth’s access to justice and equip youth with market-driven skills and attitudes to improve their ability to transition to the workforce.

The programme also provides capacity building support to local partner organisations, as well as relevant Government ministries and the court system. SKYE works in seven regions, which were selected for their high populations of vulnerable youth, high crime areas, and high rates of unemployment.

It is being funded in Guyana by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

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news

tuesday, march 17, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

LAPOP poll contradicts Granger’s Kitty man found dead claim Guyanese are unhappy on Yarrowkabra farm

A

s the world prepares to celebrate International Day of Happiness, on Friday, March 20, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee says that under that Party’s administration, the citizens of Guyana have become happier.

Speaking to media operatives at the Party’s weekly press conference Monday, Rohee stated that the Party was proud of the role it has played in contributing to the happiness of the Guyanese society by reducing poverty and strongly advocating for a better and just society.

He noted that the happiness which was pervaded the land is as a result of the PPP/C Administration.

“This mood of happiness is as a result of hard and painstaking work by the PPP/C Government to empower our people, in particular our young people through the creating of a knowledge-based society where Guyanese from all walks of life are in a much better position to realise their dreams of a good and satisfying life,” Rohee told media operatives.

The General Secretary further sought to debunk claims made by Opposition Leader and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU+AFC) Presidential Candidate David Granger, at the media launch of the coalition’s campaign two weeks ago, that Guyana was an ‘unhappy’ country.

Granger had stated that Guyana was an unhappy country and this was reflected in the number of suicide cases it has recorded over the years, noting that “happy people do not kill themselves’’. Guyana has one of the highest rates of suicide, according to the World health Organisation (WHO).

According to Rohee, the statements made by Granger are unfounded and baseless.

“The PPP/C has strong objections to the statements made by Leader of the APNU, David Granger that Guyana is an unhappy country. The statement

A

People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee

by Granger is not only unfounded, but is a stark contradiction to the findings of the Latin American Public Opinion Poll (LAPOP), which in a recent survey found that the happiness levels of all Guyanese have risen significantly within recent years… whatever ‘unhappiness’ exist can only be a figment of Granger’s biased and jaundiced imagination and is at completely at odds with the true reality,” Rohee shared.

“The polls found that three quarters of Guyanese are happy, with 73 per cent happy with their life.” Rohee said According to him, this is due to the number of opportunities the Government was creating for the young people “to create that good life to which they do not only aspire but to which they are entitled”.

“Three quarters of Guyanese feel that the government is on the right path in creating a high quality of life for all. The findings are applicable to Guyanese as a whole, but especially to the young people who are today the main beneficiaries of new development paradigms…,” the General Secretary expressed.

He noted that this wave of prosperity can be measured by the increased number of Guyanese who are able to own their own homes, personal vehicles and other consumer durables which he said, could only be a “distant dream” under the People’s National Congress (PNC).

According to Rohee, the happiness level of the country has also led to an increase in number of re-migrants to Guyana after being forced by the PNC regime to look for a better life elsewhere.

Rohee, however, could not comment on the nexus between all of the ‘happy’ Guyanese and the fact that Guyana also has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.

The General Secretary said that he did not see any “comparison” and as such, could not comment on that link, if there was one, without being provided with documentation to this effect.

This is even as the information was released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on September 4, 2014.

According to him, everything that is said about Guyana especially by those outside of the country cannot be taken for granted, since the majority of the times, it did not represent the true reality of what was taking place in the country.

The United Nations General Assembly established International Day of Happiness in 2012 to acknowledge that “the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal” and to recognise “the need for a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes sustainable development, poverty eradication, happiness and the well-being of all peoples”.

caretaker was on Sunday morning found dead in a house on a Yarrowkabra farm, Soesdyke/Linden Highway with at least four stab wounds to his body.

The dead man has been identified as 64-year-old Errol Clement Gregory Hernandez, of Lot 49 Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, Georgetown. He resided on the farm up to the time of his demise.

According the reports received, the lifeless body of Hernandez was found lying in a pool of blood at about 7:00h. The entire house was ransacked at the time of the discovery.

Based on reports received, Hernandez would normally take off the generator at midnight on a nightly basis but after workers realised that it was morning and the generation was still running, they thought something was amiss.

As they went to check on the man, several calls went unanswered but a decision was subsequently taken to break the door opened. As the workers entered the house, a bloodied Hernandez was seen

sprawled on the floor.

The now dead man has been living on the farm for the past four weeks.

However, the Police have confirmed that four men including the owner of the farm are being questioned in connection with the murder.

Phillip Hernandez, brother of the dead man told Guyana Times that he was at his East Coast Demerara home on Sunday evening, and at about 20:00h, he received a telephone call from the owner of the farm informing him that his brother was dead.

He said that upon enquiring, he was told that someone had entered his brother’s dwelling place and from all indication would have robbed him of his personal belonging before stabbing him to death.

In addition, he was told that the Police were summoned and an investigation was launched. He later learnt that the Police at Timehri are investigating the matter.

“I was told that after the workers went to check on my brother there were no answers thus they went back and told the boss’ wife

who instruct them to kick down the door…when they went into the house, blood was everywhere… my brother, they said, he was sprawled off on the floor and the house was ransacked…”

The aggrieved brother also stated that as they checked around, they saw a broken window which the perpetrators might have gained entry. He told Guyana Times that after meeting with the Police at Timehri; he was informed that his brother had multiple stab wounds about his body.

The workers reportedly claimed that they slept through Saturday evening and did not hear any unusual sound. The distressed brother could not say if his now dead brother had any issue with the workers on the farm.

The Police, however, were not able to retrieve the murder weapon. The man’s body was taken to the Lyken’s Funeral Home where it is awaiting a post mortem examination set for Wednesday. The elderly man leaves to morning his siblings.

Mother who was threatened by her son withdraws case

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mother came to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday to withdraw the charge of threatening language against her son who threatened to kill her at her work place.

Thirty-one-year-old Otis Daniels walked free on Monday after his mother, Claudette Tyrell approached Magistrate Annette Singh in Court Eleven to have the charges she had laid against her son on February 25 be withdrawn. She said that she was not threatened nor forced to do so but just wanted the matter dropped.

Otis Daniels was released after the charge against him was withdrawn by his mother

Daniels initially pleaded guilty to the charge

which alleged that on February 25, at Tucville Secondary School where his mother works, he made use of threatening language to her. However, a not guilty plea was recorded when he told the court that he did not threaten the woman but pleaded guilty, thinking it was the easiest way to get rid of the matter.

Magistrate Singh who presided over the matter placed a bond on the defendant to maintain the peace for one year. Daniels was told that a breach of this can earn him two years imprisonment.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, march 17, 2015

ARCHIE

Stay on top of your workload. Someone from your past (March 21- will help you remember your April 19) youthful and carefree self and the goals you aspired to.

ARIES

Making promises you TAURUS can’t keep will not lead to (April 20- popularity. Overindulgence May 20) and extravagance will concern your peers. Get back on track before matters escalate and complaints are lodged.

dilbert

Enroll in seminars, courses GEMINI or groups that will stimulate (May 21your intellect and increase June 20) your skills. The information you learn and the friends you make will serve you well, both personally and professionally.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Expect headaches if you have overspent or been careless. Pare down your standard of living in order to free up cash for unexpected expenses. Put safety and responsibility first.

Passion and romance will LEO figure prominently today. A (July 23special liaison with a loved Aug. 22) one will strengthen your bond and be a source of pleasure and additional security.

Calvin and Hobbes

Resolve to take on a new VIRGO challenge.

Sticking to the (Aug. 23same routine will lead to Sept. 22) boredom and dissatisfaction.

Choose an activity, pastime or hobby that interests you, and take the plunge.

Move forward with perLIBRA sonal changes that promise to (Sept. 23improve your status and outOct. 23) look. Taking a leadership role will increase your confidence and lead to new opportunities.

SUDOKU

You are in need of some SCORPIO down time. Struggles on the (Oct. 24Nov. 22) job or at home will take a toll on your health. Avoid group activities for now and treat yourself to some pampering.

Look for individuals who SAGITTARIUS are in a position to help you (Nov. 23- reach your goals. Present Dec. 21) your ideas and listen to the advice that’s offered. A reunion will bring about a prosperous encounter.

Don’t wait for someone to CAPRICORN do things for you. You know (Dec. 22- what needs to be done and Jan. 19) how to do it, so get moving.

Being proactive will help you advance.

Monday, solution AQUARIUS

Others may expect you to act on their behalf. Don’t take (Jan. 20- on more than you can hanFeb. 19) dle. Make it known in no uncertain terms that your own tasks take top priority.

PISCES You will face problems (Feb. 20- with authority figures if you March 20) haven’t been playing by the rules. Diligently keeping all of your documents in order will relieve some pressure. Do what’s right.

tuesday, march 17, 2015

19

Windies must be smarter, says Holding M

ichael Holding, the West Indies bowling legend turned analyst, has implored members of the current team to play smart cricket.

impressed with the team’s approach despite winning.

The Windies, after dismissing the UAE for 175, reached their victory target in 30.3 overs, with half-cen-

poor strategy.

“You may get the end-result that you want but there has to be the correct process,” he said.

“I’m not too suMichael

Jason Holder and Johnson Charles of the West Indies speak at a post-match press conference

Speaking after the West Indies won their last group match to advance to the quarter-finals, Holding was not

turies from Johnson Charles (55) and Jonathan Carter (50). But Holding believes the team still employed a

Holding, the West Indies bowling legend turned analyst, has implored members of the current team to play

smart cricket.

Speaking after the West Indies won their last group match to advance to the quarter-finals, Holding was not impressed with the team’s approach despite winning.

The Windies, after dismissing the UAE for 175, reached their victory target in 30.3 overs, with half-centuries from Johnson Charles (55) and Jonathan Carter (50). But Holding believes the team still employed a poor strategy.

“You may get the end-result that you want but there has to be the correct process,” he said.

“I’m not too sure what the thought-process was to send in Andre Russell when they sent him out to bat. What for? They started out needing five runs an over, and in modern One-Day cricket, that’s not difficult. When Andre Russell went out to bat, they needed about four runs per over or a little bit less. What was the purpose of sending Russell out to hit fours and

Andy Murray beats Vasek Pospisil in Indian Wells second round B ritain’s Andy Murray beat Vasek Pospisil 6-1 6-3 in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

The Scot, 27, broke Canada’s Pospisil five times in a dominant display.

Murray dropped his own serve at the start of the second set but immediately levelled on the way to victory. He will face Philipp Kohlschreiber next.

World number one and reigning champion Novak Djokovic won by the same scoreline as he saw off Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in just under an hour.

“It went very well for me, a very solid performance from the beginning,” said the Australian Open champion, who will play Albert RamosVinolas of Spain in the third round.

“I served well and from the baseline I didn’t give Marcos many chances to come back in the match.”

Murray, who beat Pospisil in the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam last month, sealed his win in one hour 19 minutes.

The Scot hit 14 winners against the Canadian and is set for a tougher test against

Andy Murray

German Kohlschreiber on Monday.

The pair last met in the third round of the 2014 French Open, Murray prevailing 12-10 in a five-set thriller that was played over two days.

At Indian Wells, Murray said he found it difficult to adjust to the contrast in atmosphere from Great Britain’s Davis Cup tie against the United States in Glasgow last weekend.

“I’ve struggled a bit in the last few years here so I decided to try and play a very solid

match and adjust to the conditions,” he said. “It was very hot and that made the ball pretty lively.

“Controlling the ball isn’t that easy. I thought I played quite a smart match.”

Murray could face a quarter-final meeting with Japan’s world number five Kei Nishikori, who recorded a 6-4 6-4 win over American Ryan Harrison. Nishikori will play Spain’s Fernando Verdasco next. Juan Monaco upset number 10 seed and US Open champion Marin Cilic, sealing a 6-4 6-4 win.

In the women’s draw, second seed Maria Sharapova needed six match points before seeing off Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer 6-1 7-5.

The Russian set up a highly anticipated third-round match against Belarus’s Victoria Azarenka, after the former world number one beat Belgian Kirsten Flipkens 6-2 6-4.

“To play against one of the best players, it’s perfect,” said Azarenka. “I definitely need to play my best tennis because she’s been playing great.” (BBC Sport)

Michael Holding

sixes? Bat sensibly!”

Holding also chastised the team for their approach while bowling during the UAE’s innings. The West Indies had their associate opponents struggling at 26 for 5 and mainly through the efforts of Jason Holder’s 4 for 27 and Jerome Taylor’s 3 for 36.

However, the UWE recovered and put on a 107-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

“They got four early wickets, had UAE 46-6, which was a fantastic position, and then when (Amjad) Javed and (Nasir) Aziz had that partnership going they sort of lost interest. They were just waiting on things to just happen instead of going out there and making them happen,” he said.re what the thoughtprocess was to send in Andre Russell when they sent him out to bat. What for? They started out needing five runs an over, and in modern OneDay cricket, that’s not dif-

ficult. When Andre Russell went out to bat, they needed about four runs per over or a little bit less. What was the purpose of sending Russell out to hit fours and sixes?

Bat sensibly!”

Holding also chastised the team for their approach while bowling during the UAE’s innings. The West Indies had their associate opponents struggling at 26 for 5 and mainly through the efforts of Jason Holder’s 4 for 27 and Jerome Taylor’s 3 for 36.

However, the UWE recovered and put on a 107-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

“They got four early wickets, had UAE 46-6, which was a fantastic position, and then when (Amjad) Javed and (Nasir) Aziz had that partnership going they sort of lost interest. They were just waiting on things to just happen instead of going out there and making them happen,” he said. (Digicel Sportsmax)

Alleged racial abuse mars Reading victory R eading winger Garath McCleary was allegedly racially abused by a fan during Monday’s FA Cup quarter-final win over Bradford City.

Monday was supposed to be a time of celebration but Reading’s FA Cup semi-final berth has been marred by allegations of racism, with Jamaican winger Garath McCleary claiming he was abused at Madejski Stadium.

Reading advanced to the final four of the FA Cup for the first time in 88 years courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Bradford City in their sixth-

round replay.

The triumph, however, has been overshadowed after McCleary, who scored Reading’s second goal, made a complaint to the assistant referee late in the first half on Monday.

Reading released a statement following the match, revealing a fan had been arrested.

“An incident was reported to the match officials just before half-time, who in turn told Reading staff. A man was then arrested and ejected during the half-time interval,” the statement read.

(Digicel Sportsmax)

20

guyanatimesGY.com

tuesday, march 17, 2015

Greaves, John, Niles Westbrook leads top cyclists to date Thunder to win NBA roundup…

By Avenash Ramzan

R

oraima Bikers Club’s Alanzo Greaves and the Team Coco’s pair Jamal John and Junior Niles are the top riders of their respective categories following the conclusion of the second leg of the Cheddi Jagan memorial road race on March 8 in the Ancient County of Berbice.

A group of cycling enthusiasts has set up a point system to award riders af-

Junior Niles

ter every race, giving the wheelsmen a clear idea of who is the leading contender at any given time of the year in the various categories, namely Senior/Open, Junior and Veteran.

The race in the Senior/ Open division is a tight one at the moment with just a point separating the top two. Greaves has accumulated 61 points to date, one more than Team Evolution’s Orville Hinds.

Hamzah Eastman is a distant third on 44 points, followed by Paul DeNobrega (38); Michael Anthony (37); Christopher Holder (23); Marlon Williams (20); Mark Harris (19); Shaquille Agard (17); Stephano Husbands (16); Robin Persaud (14); Alanzo Ambrose (12); Raynauth Jeffrey (11); Akeem Arthur (10); and Romello Crawford (10).

Seven riders have single figure scores and they are Akeem Wilkinson and Paul Choo Wee Nam with eight each; Raul Leal (7); Jamal John (5); and the trio Warren McKay, Walter Grant Stuart and Mario King on three apiece.

In the Junior category, Jamal John is sitting comfortably at the top with 34 points, 11 more than Romello Crawford. They are followed by Raphael Leung (16); Andrew Hicks (13); Jaleel Jackson (11); Christopher Griffith (11); and Jornel Yearwood (2).

Junior Niles is a runaway leader in the Veteran segment with a whopping 50 points. Jaikarran Sookhai is way behind in second position on 22 points. No other rider in this division has managed to reach double figures.

Talim Shaw and Ian Jackson are on six each, followed by Stephen Fernandes and Shameer Baksh, who are locked on five; Sybourne Fernandes and Kennard Lovell have four each; and the quartet of Wilbert Benjamin, Ralph Williams, Andrew Spencer and Turhan Harris have two

T

Russell Westbrook

Just a point separates Alanzo Greaves (left) and Orville Hinds at the top of the Senior/Open category

points each to their credit.

The points system is powered by Guyana Cycling News, a Facebook forum designed to share information about cycle racing in Guyana.

The page is administrated by a group of former cyclists and enthusiasts, including Malcolm Sonaram, Alvin Singh, Elvis “Palmfly” Budhram in the USA and Damian Persaud of the Bishops’ High School.

“We keep a database of the cyclists’ results and award points to the top six finishers in Senior races, top three finishers in Junior events and top three finishers in the Veteran catego-

ry. At the end of the year, we will award the top performers with prizes. It is a very prestigious accolade to win and place in the top end of our ranking…and riders keep a close eye on the points because this is a gauge on your chances of national selection,” the group said in a statement.

The riders will look to add valuable points to their standings this weekend when the second annual Star Party Rentals 11-race programme is staged in the National Park on Saturday and the third and final leg of the Cheddi Jagan memorial road race is hosted in Essequibo the following day.

Windwards survive scare to earn draw with Pride

W

indward Islands Volcanoes survived a scare as their ninth round match against Barbados Pride finished in a draw on the final day at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Monday.

Chasing 232 for victory, the Windwards stumbled to 29 for three before recovering to finish on 101 for six, and steal a share of the points from the contest.

They were undermined by left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican who grabbed five for 29.

However, Dalton Polius top scored with 32 and added 41 for the fourth wicket with Romel Currency who stroked 18, a partnership that repaired the damage.

Polius faced 88 balls in 97 minutes and counted four fours, before he was fifth out with the score on 73, lbw to Warrican.

Umpire Verdayne Smith delivers the verdict and Jomel Warrican celebrates the dismissal of another batsman

Captain Liam Sebastien perished soon afterward, bowled behind his legs by Warrican for five, to leave the Windwards in a spin at 85 for six.

But wicketkeeper Denis Smith, in only his second first class game, occupied the

crease 49 minutes for his unbeaten 17 to quell Barbados’ quest for victory.

Earlier, the Windwards had been bowled out for 416 after resuming the day on 394 for eight, handing Barbados a first innings lead of 64.

Fast bowler Miguel Cummins picked up the last two wickets to end with three for 83 while off-spinner Ashley Nurse did not add to his tally of four for 98.

The hosts then rattled up 167 for five in their second innings before declaring, with Roston Chase top scoring with 65 off 97 balls with five fours and two sixes.

Shane Dowrich struck an unbeaten 33 from 51 balls while Kevin Stoute hit 29 and Kraigg Brathwaite, 25.

Stoute and Brathwaite put on 52 for the first wicket before Barbados lost four quick wickets for 21 runs to slump to 73 for four.

However, Chase and Dowrich put on 94 for the fifth wicket to tilt the balance back in Barbados’ favour.

Left-arm spinner Alston Bobb claimed three for 55 and Shane Shillingford, two for 65. (CMC)

he Thunder’s Russell Westbrook had 36 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists, including one to Anthony Morrow for a game-clinching 3-pointer in the final minute, helping Oklahoma City hold off visiting Chicago, 109-100.

Nikola Mirotic scored 27 points for Chicago.

Rockets 100, Clippers 98 James Harden scored 34 points, Terrence Jones had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Houston defeated host Los Angeles to move to two games behind idle Memphis for the Southwest Division lead. Blake Griffin had 11 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists in his return to the Clippers after surgery on his right elbow.

Spurs 123, Timberwolves 97 Host San Antonio lost Manu Ginobili to a sprained right ankle in the third quarter of a victory over Minnesota. Ginobili was injured when he went for a rebound and landed on the side of Gorgui Dieng’s left

foot. San Antonio finished with 38 assists, a season high.

Nuggets 118, Pelicans 111 Will Barton scored 25 points, including the gametying 3-pointer late in the first overtime, and Denver won its fourth straight, a double-overtime victory over host New Orleans. Anthony Davis had 36 points, 14 rebounds, 9 blocks and a career-high 7 assists for New Orleans, which fell to a game behind Oklahoma City for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Trail Blazers 113, Raptors 97 LaMarcus Aldridge had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and visiting Portland beat Toronto for the 12th time in 13 meetings.

Cavaliers 123, Magic 108 Kyrie Irving scored 33 points, J. R. Smith had 25, and visiting Cleveland rolled past Orlando. LeBron James finished with 21 points, 13 assists and 8 rebounds for the Cavaliers. (The New York Times)

SCOREBOARD

BARBADOS 1st Innings 480 WINDWARDS 1st Innings (overnight 394 for eight) D Smith c Chase b Stoute 151 T Theophile b Cummins 125 K Lesporis lbw b Nurse 12 D Polius lbw b Nurse 5 R Currency c Brathwaite b Stoute 10 *L Sebastian c wkp Dowrich b Nurse 14 +Denis Smith lbw b Cummins 30 S Shillingford c wkp Dowrich b Nurse 1 A Bobb c Brooks b Best 18 M Matthew not out 10 D Johnson b Cummins 1 Extras: (b4, lb9, w1, nb25) 39 TOTAL: (all out, 130.2 overs) 416 Fall of wickets: 1-269, 2-305, 3-309, 4-326, 5-330, 6-352, 7-354, 8-390, 9-413, 10-416.

Bowling: Best 15-3-541, Cummins 23.2-5-83-3, Stoute 21-6-66-2, Nurse 365-98-4, Warrican 22-6-56-0, Chase 8-0-31-0, Brathwaite 4-0-7-0, Brooks 1-0-8-0.

BARBADOS 2nd Innings *K Brathwaite c Shillingford b Bobb 25

K Stoute st Denis Smith b Bobb 29 S Hope lbw b Shillingford 13 S Brooks c Bobb b Shillingford 2 R Chase c Shillingford b Bobb 65 +S Dowrich not out 33 TOTAL: (5 wkts decl., 45.1 overs) 167 Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-57, 3-60, 4-73, 5-167.

Bowling: Johnson 2-0-13-0, Matthew 2-0-13-0, Shillingford 19-2-65-2, Bobb 20.1-2-553, Sebastien 2-0-21-0.

WINDWARDS 2nd Innings (target: 232 runs) D Smith b Warrican 11 T Theophile lbw b Warrican 0 K Lesporis b Nurse 11 D Polius lbw b Warrican 32 R Currency b Warrican 18 +Denis Smith not out 17 *L Sebastian b Warrican 5 S Shillingford not out 6 Extras: (lb1) 1 TOTAL: (6 wkts, 45 overs) 101 Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-13, 3-29, 4-70, 5-73, 6-85.

Bowling: Cummins 2-07-0, Warrican 20-12-295, Nurse 14-2-37-1, Chase 8-3-23-0, Stoute 1-0-4-0.

sports

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21

Misbah backs inform Pakistan M

isbah-ul-Haq has backed his in-form Pakistan side to carry their recent improved run of results into the Cricket World Cup quarterfinals.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq feels his team-mates can maintain their upturn in form at the Cricket World Cup following Sunday's seven-wicket win over Ireland.

Sarfraz Ahmed hit an unbeaten 101 to help Pakistan into the knockout stages of the competition at Ireland's expense, with Pakistan set to face co-hosts Australia next.

Having opened their World Cup campaign with defeats to India and West Indies, Misbah feels confidence is now high after four straight wins.

"Nothing changed. I think those were the tough games [against India and West Indies] and that was unfortunate that we played the two toughest games at the top in the beginning," he said.

"But I think we just kept on doing good things, basics, and everybody believed in themselves, kept working hard, and now we are in the quarter-finals. I think

Misbah-ul-Haq

it's all about just holding the nerves and keep doing the right things.

"It's always difficult, especially if you are playing against a team which is having no pressure, because Ireland are there. They are just playing their cricket without any pressure, and all the pressure is on the other side.

"All the pressure is on these sort of sides, Testplaying nations, and I could really see that this was even a much bigger game for us in terms of pressure, and it will be less against Australia because they are the favourites.

"They are playing at

their own, you could say, own grounds. We have nothing to lose, just go there, express yourself, and that's all for the best."

When asked if Pakistan could spring a surprise and send Australia out in Adelaide on Friday, Misbah added: "Yeah, of course, why not?

"You could say on a day, the team that plays better, they could win, and the oneday game, you never know.

"One good spell, one innings could change the course of a game. We've got those sort of bowlers, we've got some sort of players that could do it for Pakistan."

(Digicel Sportsmax)

Pietersen IPL deal, England comeback in balance

K

evin Pietersen's involvement in the 2015 IPL hangs on a crisis meeting at Lord's on Tuesday that will examine England's response to a disastrous showing at the World Cup. That Pietersen might withdraw entirely from the IPL in the hope of making an England comeback would be a remarkable twist in an extraordinary career, but that probability - first intimated by ESPNcricinfo - is becoming likelier by the day as a battle for the control of English cricket takes shape.

At that Lord's meeting, Paul Downton, the managing director of England cricket and the man whose first act upon assuming the job a year ago was to end Pietersen's international career, will face further questions about the series of disasters that has bedevilled England, on and off the field, ever since the decision was made.

If Pietersen receives any encouragement from the outcome of those talks that his England career might potentially be revived, his representatives will immediately step up negotiations to release him from his contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the hope of one last hurrah in Test cricket.

It is also entirely possible that Downton, even if he avoided the sack, might re-

Kevin Pietersen

gard his own position as untenable.

Sunrisers have made no comment on the situation but it is understood that IPL officials are already aware of the growing probability that Pietersen will want to withdraw.

Although, from the point of view of England or the player himself, that Sunrisers might challenge Pietersen's right to resume an international career might be regarded as beyond contemplation, the IPL franchise might feel that their auction strategy and subsequent marketing push demand that the player honours his contract - whatever the cost on both sides.

Money is not the prime motivation for Pietersen, who is perpetually excited by the fact that he might challenge all assumptions and commit himself to England in what would instantly be-

come the most talked-about Ashes series in England since 2005 - his debut Test summer and one in which he was a prime force in England securing the Ashes in the final Test at The Oval.

It is The Oval, home of Surrey, which is strongly expected to provide the next chapter of the Pietersen story. Surrey released him at the end of last season - not only did they did not want to consider him as a Twenty20 specialist, there was the possibility of legal action over his impending autobiography to consider - but if he expresses a desire to play in all forms of the game then his return will be sanctioned.

Around six English counties have been in the running to provide a home for cricket's most controversial son, with some of them prepared to offer him a T20only deal. (Cricinfo)

22

guyanatimesGY.com

tuesday, march 17, 2015

Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” futsal tournament...

Banks launches East Coast leg

Organiser Troy Mendonca (centre left) receives the trophy that will be presented to the winners after the press conference

By Treiston Joseph

B

anks DIH on Monday under its Guinness brand was proud to launch the third edition of the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” East Coast leg at Thirst Park.

At the press conference on Monday, Guinness Brand Manager Lee Baptiste was pleased to be on board with the tournament once again.

“Banks is very proud and thankful for the support, we want to show that Guinness

“Greatest of the Streets” is here to stay,” Baptiste mentioned.

Meanwhile, the Petra Organisation that runs the operations of the tournament through one of its Directors, Troy Mendoca, noted the benefits of the tournament as an organiser.

“The pleasure comes from seeing the support of the patrons, and the exuberance of the players as well as to bring camaraderie among the communities,” Mendonca noted.

The tournament will start on Wednesday with 16 teams being divided into fourth groups as the top two teams will advance to the quarterfinals after a roundrobin stage.

The top finisher in the final, which is expected to be on April 4, will receive $300,000 while second will be in receipt of $150,000.

The tournament will be played at the Haslington tarmac with games scheduled to begin from 19:00h on each playing night.

Bakewell supports Kashif and Shanghai Football Tournament

T

Bakewell Manager Rajin Ganga hands over the sponsorship cheque to Kashif Muhammad

he Kashif and Shanghai Organisation benefited from Guyana’s top bakery, Bakewell, on Monday when the company decided to join the fray of sponsors for its 25th edition of the football championships.

At a simple ceremony, Bakewell handed over a

cheque for an undisclosed sum to the organisers of the tournament.

That marked 23 years since the company has supported the tournament according to Bakewell Manager Rajin Ganga.

Kashif Muhammad thanked Bakewell and noted that they were looking

forward for their continued support to aid in the success of the event.

The Kashif and Shanghai Football Tournament kicks off on Friday at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) Ground and concludes on April 5 at the Guyana National Stadium.

Thomas narrowly misses century but Leewards win to break drought

C

aptain Devon Thomas agonizingly missed out on three figures as bottom-of-the-table Leeward Islands Hurricanes broke their eight-game losing slump to beat Jamaica Franchise by four wickets in St Kitts on Monday.

Resuming the final day of their ninth round WICB PCL contest on 139 for six and requiring only a further 26 for victory, the Leewards needed just 45 balls to complete victory at Warner Park.

Fittingly, they were led by

their captain Devon Thomas who finished on 99 not out, narrowly falling short of his second first class century.

He, along with Jeremiah Louis, who finished on 18 not out, carried their seventh wicket stand to 60, to see the Hurricanes over the line.

All told, the right-handed Thomas struck nine fours and two sixes, in an innings spanning 159 balls in a shade under three hours at the crease.

Louis, spent just over three-quarters of an hour at

the crease and faced 39 balls.

Resuming on 78, Thomas kept the scoreboard ticking over and the Hurricanes reached the 150-run mark in the fourth over of the day.

The pair brought up their 50-run stand with eight more runs added and Jamaica captain Tamar Lambert recalled leg-spinner Odean Brown in one last attempt to break the stand.

However, with victory in sight, Thomas lofted the bowler for a six and a four, to end the game in style. (CMC)

Premier League record-holder to join Golden Jaguars

T

he Golden Jaguars’ quest for a berth in the 2018 World Cup has been given a major boost with a commitment from Matthew Briggs, the youngest player ever to feature in the Premier League, to join the squad.

A left-back, Briggs is currently on loan at Colchester United from Millwall. The 24-year-old is expected to link up with the Golden Jaguars this month and will be considered for selection for the March 29 international friendly against Grenada.

Also joining the squad is Bolton Wanderers midfielder Neil Danns, as the country gears up to contest the World Cup Qualifiers, set to commence in June.

Briggs made Premier League history back in May 2007 by playing for Fulham against Middlesbrough at the tender age of 16 years, 65 days, a record that still stands to this day.

Capped for England at the Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 levels, Briggs has now decided to play for Guyana. He qualifies to wear the Golden Jaguars colours through his grandmother, who is Guyanese.

“Playing for Guyana would be an honour,” Briggs said.

The news of Briggs and Danns joining the squad comes a day after it was announced that two promising Under-23 players have been drafted into the squad ahead of the international friendly against St Lucia this Sunday at the Guyana National Stadium.

Matthew Briggs

They are Jermine "Panky" Junior of Fruta Conquerors and Delano Mentore, originally from Port Kaituma, of Slingerz FC. In drafting the two youngsters, Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz said, “"Panky" is quite a character; he is quick and explosive and is a pretty fast learner. Delano has a touch of gold – it may be early days yet, but he can be the future Shawn "Fatso" Bishop that our football needs."

Shabazz added that the youngsters have talent, but need international exposure for them to materialise

into 'real' players. "And I am very eager to throw these young Jags into the wild world of international football," Shabazz said.

Foreign-based players Brandon Beresford and Jamaal Smith have also linked up with the Golden Jaguars squad and have participated in training sessions.

Beresford is a skilful midfielder, who plays for Graceland College in the USA and has played with the Jaguars before. Smith is the six-footer centre back, who has been involved with the Jaguars since the 2012 World Cup Qualifiers.

Jaguars, Red Force play...

After being given a reprieve on 59 by wicketkeeper Steven Katwaroo off Marlon Richards, Chanderpaul, along with Singh, remained vigilant until the declaration came within the final hour of the

second session, at 266-5 from 93 overs, a lead of 217 runs.

Chanderpaul had 69 from 144 balls with seven fours, while Singh was unbeaten on 41 from 86 deliveries, with four boundaries.

SCOREBOARD GUYANA Jaguars 2nd innings (O/N 120-3) R Chandrika lbw b Khan 31 A Fudadin b Mohammed 50 L Johnson lbw b Mohammed 28 N Deonarine lbw b Khan 41 D Bishoo c K Ottley b Charles 4 S Chanderpaul not out 69 V Singh not out 41 Extras: (nb-1, b-1) 2 Total: (for 5 wkts, off 93 overs) 266 Fall of wickets: 1-60, 2-108, 3-111, 4-120, 5-183 Bowling: Gabriel 11-1-350 (nb1), Richards 11-1-400, Emrit 14-6-35-0, Khan

20-3-67-2, Charles 20-3-501, Mohammed 17-5-38-2 T&T Red Force 2nd innings J Solozano lbw b Deonarine 21 I Khan c Johnson b Bishoo 40 K Ottley lbw b Permaul 1 J Mohammmed not out 10 R Emrit not out 24 Extras: (nb-2, w-1) 3 Total: (for 3 wkts, off 32 overs) 99 Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-64, 3-69 Bowling: Joseph 2-0-22-0 (nb1) Barnwell 3-1-7-0 (w1) Permaul 14-6-29-1 Bishoo 10-5-161 (nb1) Deonarine 3-0-25-1

from back page

Off-spinner Jason Mohammed (2-38) was the other successful bowler but his two wickets came in the final session on the penultimate day.

Jeremy Solozano and Imran Khan survived a testing five-over period, with the Red Force reaching the interval at 23 without loss.

Deonarine then removed Solozano (21), before Veerasammy Permaul and Man of the Match Bishoo accounted for Kjorn Ottley (1) and Khan (40).

The final round of the tournament bowls off Friday, with Guyana Jaguars playing the Windward Islands Volcanoes at Windsor Park, Barbados Pride will take on Jamaica Franchise at Sabina Park and T&T Red Force will oppose the Leeward Franchise at the National Cricket Centre.

guyanatimesGY.com

tuesday, march 17, 2015

23

GSL/GSCL Inc Inter-County softball...

Joseph misses century but Demerara A victorious

K

awson Joseph stroked a fine 98 as Demerara A defeated Berbice by 94 runs to capture the first leg of the Guyana Softball League (GSL)/Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc (GSCL Inc.)/National Sports Commission/Essequibo Softball Cricket League and the Berbice Softball Alliance Inter-County T20 softball tournament on Sunday at the Everest Cricket Club.

Joseph slammed one four and 14 sixes as Demerara A posted a challenging 278 all out in 20 overs, batting first. Skipper Chien Gittens struck an even half-century inclusive of one four and five maximums, while Safraz Esau scored 32 and Sachin Singh 31.

Bishram Deolall snared 3-38 and Devindra Thakoordeen 2-33.

Berbice threatened briefly as they were bowled out for 184 in 16.2 overs in reply. Pooran Debidyal scored 33 not out (6x4s), while Steven DeFreitas made 32 (3x4s, 2x6s) and Delbert Hicks 24 (2x4s, 2x6s).

Members of the victorious Demerara A team display their accolades with officials of the GSL and GSCL Inc

Martin Dutchin grabbed 4-32, while Richard Latiff took two wickets. Joseph was named the Man of the Match.

Demerara A took home a trophy and $50,000 and Berbice received a trophy and $25,000.

Demerara A, sponsored

by Regal Stationery and

Computer Centre, finished the first leg with four points.

They overcame Demerara B by one wicket in their semifinal encounter. Demerara B, who are being sponsored

by Wolf’s Furniture Store, batted first and scored 163 all out in 18.5 overs. Amrit Rai cracked 28, Vishnu Tammechandra, 18; Amir

Serena Williams reaches Indian Wells last 16

W

Serena Williams celebrates a crucial match point

orld number one Serena Williams is through to the last 16 at Indian Wells after completing a 6-2 6-0 win over Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan.

She now meets fellow American Sloane Stephens after a 53-minute victory in the BNP Paribas Open third round.

Williams, who boycotted the event for 14 years after being booed and heckled in 2001, says she now feels comfortable playing at the California tournament.

“It definitely felt back to normal out there,” the 33-year-old said.

“I was able to relax because I was able to do more of the right things and not

make as many mistakes as I did in my last round.”

Stephens beat two-time major champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6 (7-4) 1-6 6-4 to set up the last-16 meeting with Williams.

Switzerland’s Roger Federer beat Diego Schwartzman 6-4 6-2 in the second round of the men’s tournament.

The four-time Indian Wells winner, who is now two short of 50 wins at the event, says his mobility around the court was the biggest factor in his 63-minute victory over the Argentine.

“I’m moving well, which is key on this surface because the easy shots and easy points are not going to

happen so easily here like they maybe do in Dubai or Australia or the indoor season,” Federer, 33, said.

The world number two will face Andreas Seppi, who beat him in the Australian Open third round in January.

Seppi advanced with a 6-4 6-4 win over Romania’s Victor Hanescu .

“I’m happy I’m getting an opportunity to play him right away again,” Federer said.

Three-time champion Rafael Nadal dropped just seven service points as he beat Igor Sijsling 6-4 6-2 to set up a fourth-round meeting with Donald Young of the United States. Nadal’s fellow left-hander Young beat France’s Jeremy Chardy 6-4 6-2.

“I moved a little bit quicker than what I was doing one month ago,” Nadal said. “I was able to defend some points well, to have some good passing shots, have some winners, some good shots down the line with my forehand. That always gives me a lot of confidence.”

Earlier, British number one Heather Watson pulled off the biggest win of her career, beating world number eight Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4 6-4. (BBC Sport)

Nizamudeen, 17; and Safraz Karim 16.

Gittens snared 3-17 and Mohamed Rafeek 3-25.

Demerara A responded with 168-9 in 19.1 overs.

Latiff led with 41, Ricky Sargeant made 24 not out, while Navin Singh and Joseph chipped in with 12 each. Nizamudeen claimed

3-28, Mark Harold 2-19 and Leo Singh 2-29.

Berbice ended the leg with two points after defeating Essequibo by four wickets in their semi-final game.

Essequibo scored 197-9 in 20 overs, batting first.

Latchman Rohit topscored with 81, Patrick Rooplall hit 49 and Greg Singh,

40. Darshan Chalitar and Thakoordeen took three wickets apiece.

Berbice replied with 199-6 in 18.2 overs.

DeFreitas cracked 68 and Thakoordeen, 64. Wazir Hossain and Yodhan Sooklall had one scalp each.

The second leg will be played in Berbice, while the third leg will be contested in Essequibo. The competition is still open since the teams with the most points after the three legs will advance to the grand finale, which will be held in Demerara later this year.

The first leg was hosted by the GSCL Inc, while the trophies were sponsored by Trophy Stall.

Meanwhile, GSCL thumped West Demerara by 32 runs in the Masters game.

GSCL Masters took first strike and managed 165-9 in 20 overs.

Eric Thomas made 28 and Rudolph Baker, 18. West Demerara Masters responded with 133-6 in 20 overs.

Randolph Perreira got 40; Clyde Butts claimed 2-5 and Rahaman Khan took 2-24.

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

tuesday, march 17, 2015

WICB PCL 4-Day tournament...

Jaguars, Red Force play to tame draw

By Rajiv Bisnauth

H

osts Guyana Jaguars and Trinidad and Tobago Red Force played to a tame draw in their ninth-round match in the West Indies Cricket Board’s Professional Cricket League Four-Day tournament at the Guyana National Stadium on Monday.

Set 218 for victory in just over a session, the Red Force were 99-3 before both the captains decided to call off play within the final hour, bringing an end to a gripping match.

When play was called off, skipper Rayad Emrit was on 24 and Jason Mohammed on 10.

Scores in the match: Guyana Jaguars 291 and 266-5; Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 340 & 99-3.

Earlier, when play resumed at 120-3, Guyanese Devendra Bishoo failed to add to his overnight score of four.

He was dismissed with

Devendra Bishoo

the very first ball of the day’s play by Bryan Charles (1-50). Narsingh Deonarine, who resumed on six, and the new batsman, fellow left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul were largely untroubled, defying the Trinidadian attack for most of the session.

Deonarine was trapped leg before wicket to leg-spinner Imran Khan (2-67) on the stroke of lunch for 41, at 183-5.

Chanderpaul, who was making steady progress, was joined by Vishual Singh, and together they guided the Guyanese to the interval. Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 38, while Singh was on three.

The duo then went about their business with patience.

The West Indies middle-order batsman in particular batted with a perfect balance of sound defence and took 117 balls for his halfcentury. As a statement of intent, he also hit six boundaries. turn to page 22

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Star Party Rentals renews commitment to cycling

By Avenash Ramzan

L

ennox Cush is a cricketer by trade, a businessman by profession, but a true sportsman at heart. After retiring from playing at the national level, the former Guyana allrounder ventured into the business of providing rental equipment through his establishment, Star Party Rentals.

Ever since the entity came into being, Cush has been using it to promote and invest in the various disciplines, most times venturing outside the realm of cricket.

One such sport to benefit from Cush’s benevolence is cycling, which has had the fortune of the cricketer turned entrepreneur volun-

tarily coming on board last year as a sponsor of the popular 11-race programme in the inner circuit of the National Park.

Such was the success of the inaugural event, Cush has been motivated to fund the programme for a second time, with the Hassan Mohamed organised activity set for Saturday.

The action will pedal off at 09:00h with the BMX events, with the feature 35-lap School Boys and Invitational race capping the day’s programme.

Last year’s main race was won by the evergreen Godfrey Pollydore, who crossed the line in a time of one hour, 17 minutes, 0.68 seconds (01h: 17m: 0.68s).

Upcoming World Cup matches (with Guyana time) Tuesday: 1st Quarter-Final, South Africa v Sri Lanka, 23:30h Wednesday: 2nd Quarter-Final, Bangladesh v India, 23:30h Thursday: 3rd Quarter-Final, Australia v Pakistan, 23:30h Friday: 4th Quarterfinal, New Zealand v West Indies, 21:00h

Lennox Cush

Michael Anthony rode in second, followed by Robin Persaud, Mario King, Paul deNobrega and Paul Choo Wee Nam in that order.

Other winners were Jeremiah Harrison in the BMX Boys 6-9 category; Thuran Garbharran in the BMX 9-12; and Stephan Wilkinson and Rawle Small in the BMX 12-14 and the BMX Boys Open respectively.

Avish Ramlakhan took top honours in the BMX 12-14 Boys and Girls, with Romello Crawford and Ozia McUally

Flashback! Godfrey Pollydore receives his trophy from a little lady after winning the 2014 event (Avenash Ramzan file photo)

winning the Juveniles and Mountain Bikes races respectively.

The Veteran races were won by Junior Niles (Under-50); Linden Blackman (Over-50); and

Roy Mendonca (Over-60).

Cush was on hand to witness the races in 2014, and he is expected once again to grace the occasion and assist in the presentation of prizes at the conclusion.

Mohamed said he was pleased to welcome Cush and Star Party Rentals on board, noting that it was corporate sponsors like Cush who keep the sport alive through their investment.

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