Guyana Times Daily - November 10, 2015

Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 2673

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

PRICE

GRA's unbridled access

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

PSC calls for data protection laws

Govt to give tax incentives for builders to use local materials P17

Page 3

Harbour Bridge fatal accident

Annandale woman stabbed by rejected lover

Woman died from drowning – autopsy

Page 10

P14

Thousands attend Berbice, Essequibo motorcades Pages 19 and 20

America Street robbery

Two charged, remanded P8 To stimulate sinking economy

PSC presses for tax and VAT cuts, P7 increased tax threshold Let go of negative attitudes, commit to working P18 together – Minister Henry Diwali celebrations were in full of enthusiasm in Berbice as the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha hosted its annual Diwali Motorcade with thousands of Berbicians in attendance. In composite: Part of the Golden Om Dharmic float and the East Canje Mandir display

Region 6 REO’s inexperience may cost region millions – Chairman

Page 18

PPP/C not Management interested meets with Small in Deputy Aircraft Operators Speaker post Ogle Airport controversy

Page 16

Page 7

Work of Region 10 Land P7 Selection Committee at a standstill – Chairman uncertain of his role

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BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, November 10 – 14:30h-16:00h and Wednesday, November 11 – 14:30h-16:00h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, November 10 –15:40h-17:10h and Wednesday, November 11 – 16:10h-17:40h

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Weather: Thundery to heavy rain showers can be expected throughout the day and into the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East South-easterly to East Northeasterly between 3.12 metres and 4.47 metres per second.

High Tide: 15:39h reaching a maximum height of 2.65 metres.

Low Tide: 09:15h and 21:36h reaching minimum heights of 0.66 metre and 0.55 metre respectively.

Saturday, November 7, 2015

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DISCLAIMER: WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ERRORS IN PUBLICATION. PLEASE CALL THE HOTLINE FOR CONFIRMATION - TEL: 225-8902

GRA's unbridled access

PSC calls for data protection laws

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he Private Sector Commission (PSC) said it was concerned

by Government’s pending ability to access persons’ banking information in the absence of relevant laws to ensure protection of individuals’ private data.

As such, the Commission is calling for data protection laws and regulations for the disclosure of customer information to be established.

The Financial Institutions (Amendment) Bill is currently before Parliament.

The amendments will bestow upon the Guyana Revenue Authority the power to access persons’ banking information for various purposes and investigations.

Although the PSC understands the merit of these amendments, the body highlighted major concerns in respect to the protection of citizens’ confidential data.

In a letter addressed to Attorney General Basil Williams, the PSC said it was critical to have data protection laws in place to accompany this development. “…We are cognisant that the granting of legislative authority for access to citizens’ bank account data is not peculiar to Guyana and many countries around the world, particularly the more developed ones, have similar provisions in their legislation. However, jurisdictions where such legislation exists usually have corresponding provisions dealing with criteria for access and pro-

PSC Chairman Norman McLean

Attorney General Basil Williams

tection of the data once accessed or released.”

The Commission pointed out there are several frameworks in developed countries which Guyana can adapt. In the United Kingdom, there is a Data Protection Act. In the United States, the protection is built in to the same Act which provides for access, along with regulations governing the criteria for the federal revenue authority’s access to and usage of the data.

The PSC recommended as a short-term measure, Guyana adopted the framework being used in the US. Therefore, in the absence of a Data Protection Act in Guyana, the PSC said it preferred to see an amendment which catered to these concerns, and corresponding regulations guiding the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on criteria governing requests for access, notice to be served on citizens regarding intended request for access along with an indication of the law for which enforcement is being sought

via such access, care and control which such data is in the custody of the Authority, recourse available to citizens if said data is unlawfully released or published by the Authority, among others.

Other entities and persons have also raised major concerns over the GRA’s pending authority to access persons’ banking information, particularly the impact it would have on the business community.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo had said the businessmen were worried the Authority would be used politically to go after their information in the banks, which he said could trigger businessmen to pull their monies out of the banking system.

He had noted also that this development seemed to be fuelling fear among Guyanese since the confidentiality of their personal information would be breached.

Jagdeo conceded that there was nothing wrong with the GRA having

the ability to investigate and check bank accounts.

However, he said it was the vindictiveness behind the move that was causing uneasiness.

“It is driving a lot of fear among people who have bank accounts that the GRA will start to poke into their personal matters. I am very fearful that a lot of those people will start taking their money out of the banking system and converting it to US dollars or we will have massive capital flight because they think that the Government is becoming very intrusive in their business,” the former President outlined.

The Opposition Leader noted that by giving GRA access to banking information, the Government was sending a signal to the business community that while there was freedom, it was encroaching on this all the time.

“This is why I keep saying there is a crisis of confidence too and that is why we have such a precipitous drop in economic activities,” he remarked.

Jagdeo, however, underscored that he strongly supported any attempts to investigate money laundering or illegal proceeds, because he did not want such activities to be practised in Guyana.

It is the hope of the Government that this legislation would aid tax enforcement mechanisms and reduce the incidence of tax avoidance. (devinas@guyanatimes)

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Views Happy Diwali Editor(ag): Michael Younge Tel: 225-5128, 231-0397, 226-9921, 226-2102, 223-7230 or 223-7231. Fax: 225-5134 Mailing address: 238 Camp & Quamina Streets, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

Lights for Guyana D

iwali, like Christmas, even though originally a particularistic religious festival, has become a national event with the passage of time. The “Diya”, or small fired earthen receptacle for holding a wick in oil, is the traditional centrepiece of a veritable constellation of stars on earth created in modern times along with all sorts of electrical lights that the entire nation turns out to admire. The motif of “light conquering darkness” also strikes a universalist chord in Guyanese.

So the contretemps over the exact night on which Diwali is to be commemorated has affected in more ways than one, the entire country. For one, at a mundane level, being a Public Holiday, calendars would have been printed since last year to indicate when it would “fall” this year.

This was because, unlike the Muslim holidays that are also based on the lunar calendar, Diwali’s commemoration does not depend on a personal “sighting” of the moon in one of its phases.

Its definition as the “darkest night” at this time of the year in Guyana can be calculated with great precision ahead of time. Last year, the date given by the government to the printers of calendars was 11 November and many institutions such as banks would have scheduled their routine activities around that date. When the 10 November was chosen as the “official” public holiday by the Minister of National Security, these schedules had to be changed.

But the two dates have also presented a dilemma to the ordinary citizen who now will have to act according to the exigencies of the situation rather than any deeply held principles in forcing them to go along with the “official” date. Suppose, for instance, an individual want to celebrate Diwali on the “non-public holiday” date, and his place of work demands that he shows up, can he be docked or fired if he refuses?

We support, therefore, the suggestion that the Hindu bodies of the country get together with their experts in astronomy, and decide on a date that they all agree on.

This must be done expeditiously, before calendars are printed for next year. Unlike what prevails in India to produce different dates for Diwali, it appears that all the Guyanese groups agree on the timing of the phase of the moon under question. The disagreement is evidently over the application of the modern precise measurements to the moon’s position with respect to the Sun and there should be no problem. All of Guyana will breathe a sigh of relief.

In respect to “all of Guyana”, for the first time in Guyana’s history, a National Diwali Diya was illuminated last Sunday night on the confluence of the East Bank Road, Mandela bypass to the East Coast Highway. Since Diwali is actually commemorated over the course of five days in India, it would appear that this National Diya has not only served to widen the timespan of Diwali’s observance but also widen its scope to include the entire Nation.

These is a misconception that a “secular state” is one that has nothing to do with “religions”: nothing could be further from the truth. A secular state is one which must be Equidistant from all religions and not favour any one over another. Thus a “National Christmas Tree”, or a “National Diya” or a “National Moon and Star”, to mention the symbols of three Guyanese religions, would remind the peoples of this great land of our essential religious freedom.

Finally, as we have emphasised in this newspaper, the symbol of “light” overcoming “darkness” is a universal one, and one which cannot be expropriated by any one community. It might be trite, but that makes it no less true, that the removal of darkness, whether within the mind and heart of man or within the workings of the institutions of society, will always be a work in progress.

Whatever reminds us of this fact should be encouraged.

Let there be more light!

Employees of Guyana Times, Television Guyana (TVG) and Radio Guyana Inc (RGI) dressed in cultural wear as part of the celebrations for Diwali 2015

Parliament should host Diwali celebrations as in other countries Dear Editor, I do not know if Guyana’s Parliament celebrates Diwali. But legislatures and executives of several countries, where Diwali is not a national holiday, hosts Diwali celebrations to show appreciation for the festival and to join their colleagues in solidarity and national cohesion. If the Guyana Parliament and members of that body as well as national political figures do not celebrate (host) Diwali, they should take a page from the books of politicians from around the globe and start doing so (in addition to Eid, etc) to help with national unity and building a harmonious cohesive society.

The British Parliament, Canadian House of Commons as well as Provincial Legislatures and City Councils, US Congress, the White House (President Obama) and the Vice President’s Home (Vice President Biden), Governors and Legislatures of several states, New York City Council and other local governments, Metropolitan Museum of Arts, etc hosts Diwali celebrations (in addition to Eid celebration).

I was in Trinidad and attended several celebrations. Trinidad’s Parliament hosted Diwali celebration; Members of Parliament of all ethnicities (and faiths) dressed up in traditional Indian garb and attended parliament. The Speaker hosts Diwali cel-

ebration. Each Ministry of Government in Trinidad also host Diwali celebration with staff of diverse ethnicity all dressed up in traditional Indian attire. The Trinidad President also hosts Diwali celebration and invites the Prime Minister, Opposition Leader, MPs, diplomats, Judges, etc to his special Diwali programme.

Former President Max Richards, a non-Hindu, lit Deyas in his Presidential home and hosted dinner for special invitees that included diplomats and other dignitaries. The Opposition Leader celebrated Diwali at her constituency office with the Indian Ambassador as Chief Guest. The political parties (PNM, UNC, COP) also hosted Diwali celebrations. Each MP (Indian and non-Indian) hosted Diwali celebrations in their constituencies. These have been annual events going back for many years. It is a tradition for the President, MPs and Ministers to attend the nine nights of Diwali celebrations at the Nagar in Central Trinidad that attracts ten thousands nightly and 20K on the final night before Diwali.

The Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley closes the celebration this year organized by the National Council of Indian Culture.

Diwali has been celebrated annually in Congress, at the White House, at Governors Mansions (Texas, Ohio, New York, New Jersey,

Pennsylvania, Minnesota, California, etc) over the last fifteen years.

President Bush started Diwali celebration at the White House in 2001 and it has been observed annually since then. The Congress also hosts annual Diwali celebrations. The US Congress celebrated Diwali on November 4 with over 1000 Indian American invitees and others including Guyanese and other Caribbean people attending.

Diwali is celebrated by more than two million people in the US including over 250K Guyanese Hindus. Some 30 members of Congress partook in the celebrations last Wednesday evening. The event was used to celebrate the accomplishments of the Indian American Diaspora.

The annual celebration, which attracts leaders from Indian American organizations from all over the US, was organized this year by Congressman Ami Bera and Congressman George Holding, Democratic and Republican co-chairs of the Caucus on India and Indian Americans. Previous celebrations had IndoCaribbean pandits presiding over the ceremony.

Prof Anant Rambachan of Trinidad led celebrants once at Diwali lighting at the White House. Guyanese Americans were invited to past celebrations at the White House and in Congress.

The Members of Congress say Diwali at Capitol Hill provides an opportunity to meet with members of Congress and other elected officials to celebrate the contributions of the South Asian community in medicine, business, technology, healthcare, arts, academics and much more.

Bera, the lone Indian American congressman, and one of only two Hindus in the august body, in a release about the event said: “This event celebrates who we are and all our community has accomplished”. He added: “Over the next decade, I look forward to making DC the hub for connecting members of the community not just from the surrounding region, but across the country to celebrate our progress and talk about the future.

The Indian American community has been playing a key role in building needed ties between our two countries, and I congratulate the volunteers who worked to make this year’s Diwali celebration in Washington a success.”

The Guyana President, Prime Minister, Opposition Leader, and the political parties should initiate and hosts their own Diwali celebrations (indeed all major cultural celebrations) that will help bring about national cohesion.

Yours faithfully, Vishnu Bisram

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Time to release How to celebrate sugar CoI results Spiritual Diwali Dear Editor, The much anticipated report from the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the operations of GuySuCo has been submitted to Ministry of Agriculture for delivery to Government. This was made known to the Guyanese public through various media outfits more than two weeks ago.

It is understandable that Government needs to review the report since it is a product of a multi-million dollar exercise paid for by taxpayers however, these findings should be released without much hesitation or it will foster exponential growth in anxiety within the society. The average Guyanese citizen understands the importance of sugar in the country’s economy. The expectation therefore from this inquiry is not a re-statement of known facts but provision of strategies on “how” to revive and remodel the industry into a “New GuySuCo” to overcome present and future challenges.

Delaying the release of this report will not help the process of a new GuySuCo. With each passing day, Government’s “pregnancy” with this report is becoming worrying without a delivery date.

The Honourable Prime Minister has been very vocal on GuySuCo and seems to have sugar among other sectors under his belt. It is therefore logical to identify him as the bearer of this pregnancy and therefore sugar workers are now agitating that labour be induced to end this pregnancy.

Government should have no reason to be guarded and cautious about the contents of the report since a key member on the inquiry panel, Professor Clive Thomas is also Chairman of the Board of Directors

of GuySuCo. This means Prof Thomas, being a CoI member was part and parcel of the recommendations emanating from investigative work and will be tasked with execution of those recommendations as Chairman of GuySuCo. Recent history also tells us that Prof Thomas along with at least two Board members (Anthony Vieira and Earl John) have been analyzing GuySuCo continuously and have produced numerous missives in the print and electronic media on the industry’s performance and reasons for it.

These learned gentlemen are now in very influential positions in the Corporation and have ample opportunity to practice what they preached not so long ago while not in Government circles. Any deviation from what they preached will justify how flawed their analyses were and will require an apology to the nation. It will be the morally correct thing to do.

Delayance of the CoI report has now precipitated a spat between GAWU and GuySuCo. It is simply because the Corporation is awaiting advice on a way forward from Government (via CoI report) while GAWU cited a breach of Trade Union Recognition Act for refusing to meet at the bargaining table.

If Government has an interest in sugar, and “will not abandon it in troubled

times” to use the words of the Honourable Prime Minister, it must intervene now by requesting GuySuCo to engage the union in negotiations.

The Minister of Agriculture should stop making wild statements and politicizing recent actions by workers. Instead, he should be advising Government on the importance of presenting the CoI report without hesitation. At least, he was given an increase in salary recently for being a “smart” Minister.

Anymore delays simply mean Government is boldly facilitating industrial unrest, reduced production performance and further financial crisis by deliberately withholding a report and breaching the Trade Union Recognition Act. Therefore, Government must accept the reward of its own actions or inactions.

Yours faithfully, Frederick Yuvraj

Dear Editor, At this time of the year people around the world is getting ready to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights.

One of the biggest festivals in the world, Diwali symbolizes the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance.

For an oil lamp to burn, the wick has to be partially immersed in the oil. If the wick is completely drowned in oil, it cannot bring light.

Life is like the wick of the lamp, you have to be in the world and yet remain untouched by it. If you are drowned in the materialism of the world, you cannot bring joy and knowledge in your life. By being in the world, yet not drowning in the worldly aspect of it, we can be the light of joy and knowledge.

Diwali is the commemoration of the light of wisdom in our lives. Lamps are lit on this day not just to decorate homes, but also to communicate this profound truth of life. Light the lamp

of wisdom and love in every heart and bring a radiant smile on every face.

Every human being has some good qualities. And every lamp that you light is symbolic of this. Some people have forbearance; some have love, strength, generosity, while others have the ability to unite people.

The latent values in you are like a lamp. Don’t be satisfied with lighting just one lamp; light a thousand! You need to light many lights to dispel the darkness of ignorance. By lighting the lamp of wisdom in yourself and acquiring knowledge, you awaken all facets of your being. When they are lit and awakened, it is Diwali!

Diwali means to be in the present, so drop the regrets of the past and the

worries of the future and live in the moment. It is a time to forget the bickering and negativities that have happened through the year.

It is a time when you throw light on the wisdom you have gained and welcome a new beginning. When true wisdom dawns, it gives rise to celebration.

The Yajurveda says, “Tanme Manaha Shivasankalpamastu” -- let noble intentions flow from this mind of ours.

This Diwali, celebrate with knowledge and take an intention to serve humanity.

Happy Diwali to all Guyana.

Pt Surendra Tiwari Patentia Mandir

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By Sara Bean, MEd

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ecently, a frustrated mom sat in my office and said, “I just don’t know what to do anymore.

We’ve tried everything!

There’s no punishment that gets through to our child; there’s nothing we can say that will fix the behaviour.

There’s so much going on we just don’t know where to start.” Sound familiar?

Parents often get by on intuition and advice from others, but let’s face it – that’s not always enough, especially if you have a child who doesn’t respond well to your attempts to manage their behaviour. All children push the limits, but the stress this causes parents can range anywhere from overwhelming to nearly unbearable.

There are so many

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parents out there who would give anything to have some peace and quiet at home, and peace of mind about their family life. Not only are you struggling to keep your head above water, you’re caught in a flood of behaviour issues that pop up one after the next— and you may also be struggling to just hold on so you don’t get swept away. If your child has ODD or ADHD, it can feel like every day is a new parenting obstacle course. What I say to parents who come to me feeling this way is, first take a deep breath. You’re not alone. And what’s more, you didn’t find yourself in this situation with your child all at once, so you don’t need to put pressure on yourself to climb your way out of it all at once, either.

We all go to that place of fear and negativity when we’re anxious about our children

or our parenting. Fear says, “You have to fix this right now or else!” But if you put that

feeling aside, logic might tell you that you and your child are both human, and can

only do so much at one time.

So instead of trying to turn around five years worth of issues in a matter of minutes, it’s more effective to think about one thing you can start doing differently today to be a more effective parent than you were yesterday.

Once you’ve shifted your thinking a bit and taken some pressure off, there are some other practical steps you can take to start to regain your sense of control and confidence as a parent. Here are some of the suggestions parents have found most helpful over the years.

One thing at a time. Sitting down and making a list of every single thing you want to change about your child is not what I mean here – any parent could easily come up with a dozen or so things they want to change! Looking at such a big list will only make you feel more overwhelmed and cause more stress in the long run.

What I do suggest is to just think about your top three concerns. What behavioural issues are causing the most chaos and stress in your home? Choose the three most troublesome issues and write them down. Your list might look something like this: Defiance Refuses to do homework Disrespectful behaviour Then ask yourself, are there safety issues because of this behaviour? Issues that pose a safety risk, either to your child or to others, should always be dealt with first. Once you’ve considered any safety risks, rank your top three concerns in order of priority – and the top issue on the list is where you put your focus for now. Those other two things might need to wait until you build up your confidence and have more energy. Working on just one thing is enough. Remember,

when tackling multiple behaviour issues as a parent, it’s important for you to take one step at a time. Eventually, those steps will add up to better behaviour and more effective parenting.

Come up with a plan.

Know what your expectations are – what do you want to see your child do? Make sure you are able to communicate your expectations in clear terms.

Describe actions that you see and hear rather than using words like “good”, “nice”, and “better.” Action words are much clearer, and far less subjective than adjectives.

Here’s an example. A parent who wants their child to put forth more effort in school might say, “You need to quit goofing off in school. I really want you to get better grades and study harder.” A clearer way to say that is, “I want you to listen and pay attention in school, and when you get home I want to see you sitting at the table for an hour each day doing schoolwork. The electronics will be off, and you won’t have any privileges until you’ve worked for an hour. Once your grades improve to Bs and above, we’ll revisit this plan.”

Before you talk with your child, you should also come up with a plan on how you will hold her accountable.

What will you do if she does not meet your expectations?

How will you respond? In the moment, it’s most effective to restate your expectation and then walk away. When things have calmed down, problem solve and then give a consequence if the situation calls for it. When you have established your plan and you are sure you can follow through with it, clearly state your expectations to your child and let her know what is changing. (Excerpt from Empoweringparents.com)

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PPP/C not interested in Deputy Speaker post

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eople’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has made it clear it is not interested in nominating one of its members to occupy the post of Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly.

This is according to Party General Secretary Clement Rohee.

Rohee was asked if the Party has decided on a nominee for the Deputy Speaker position. His response was “You are assuming that we

General Secretary Clement Rohee says PPP/C not interested in Deputy Speaker post

are interested in it.”

Rohee then declared that the PPP/C is not interested in the post.

“We are not interested in that,” he firmly stated.

PPP/C Chief Whip Gail Teixeira when asked in Parliament about the matter by Speaker Dr Barton Scotland in August stated that the Party has no nominees for the post.

Currently, there is no one to attend to the business of the National Assembly if

the substantive Speaker is unable to carry out his responsibilities for any given period of time.

On Sunday, during the Remembrance Day wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph, Speaker, Dr Barton Scotland fainted and had to be rushed to hospital.

The possibility exists for the government to nominate someone to occupy the post of Deputy Speaker should the need arise.

Work of Region 10 Land Selection Committee at a standstill – Chairman uncertain of his role

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he status of the Region 10 Land Selection Committee is cause for concern, as farmers and residents in the region continue to be faced with a number of issues regarding land.

The Committee was established in 2012 under the stewardship of former Regional Chairman Sharma Solomon, and formed part of the August 21 Agreement between the previous administration and the region.

Although the Committee was established in an effort to give hope to farmers and investors, its present status is unknown, with Region 10 Democratic Council (RDC) Chairman Renis Morian stat-

ing that he does not know what his position is regarding its operation.

Morian made the disclosure to Councillors during a statutory meeting, after concerns were raised by Councillor Owen DeSouza over the status of the Committee in looking into some issues at Dakoura Creek.

According to DeSouza, no permission was given by the Guyana Forestry Commission for concessions involved in wood cutting at Dakoura Creek water site at Block 22, Wismar, Linden. He added that there was evidence of chemicals used for farming extremely near the water site which provides certain areas

with potable water, deeming the practice by farmers as dangerous.

As such, DeSouza prompted an update from the Regional Chairman regarding the role of the Committee. In response, Morian said he is uncertain of his role with regards to the Committee.

When questioned on the status of the Committee, Solomon told Guyana Times on Monday that the responsibility now lies with Morian who is expected to act in the capacity as Chairman.

He said the Committee was established by way of Motion by former Councillors of the RDC, along with the Information Management and

Development Committees, through the Ministry of Local Government. Solomon added that while representatives of the committee may change, its members are expected to remain the same. Additionally, he noted that the way in which representatives are identified may also remain the same.

The Regional Land Selection Committee in the past saw representation from the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission and the Guyana Forestry Commission.

It was established to deal with Regional and agricultural land use, with the aim of creating more opportunities for land utilization and distribution, especially for farmers.

To stimulate sinking economy

PSC presses for tax and VAT cuts, increased tax threshold

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ith consultations for Budget 2016 ongoing, the Private Sector Commission (PSC) is pressing for a number of concerns to be addressed in the financial plan, including the reduction of several taxes.

During a meeting of the Tax Reform Committee and PSC, the latter recommended that moves be taken swiftly to reduce corporate income taxes and PAYE in order to stimulate the economy and make Guyana’s exports more competitive in the region. The PSC noted too that the reduction of these taxes would actually lead to increased collection of revenue by government.

In addition to tax reforms, the Commission recommended the zero-rating of additional items for VAT in order to reduce the tax burden on the poor and to make way for a more equitable taxation system.

This newspaper was told the PSC suggested that the tax threshold be increased to $75,000 initially and be increased by the rate of in-

flation in each subsequent year.

The PSC had also pressed for these reforms during the consultations with Finance Minister Winston Jordan for the upcoming Budget.

This newspaper was further told the PSC discussed the issue of interior roads and airstrips, export marketing support, liberalisation of the telecommunications sector, and the National Competitiveness Strategy — all of which should have provisions for in Budget 2016, it noted.

Meanwhile, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) coalition had campaigned heavily on the need for a total tax reform.

After assumption to office, government established a tax reform committee which was mandated to review the tax system and make recommendations for tax reforms.

Such adjustments were not made available in Budget 2015 as was promised by the APNU/AFC during its elections campaign.

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tuesday, november 10, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

America Street robbery

Two charged, remanded Eyew tness T

wo men claiming to be labourers were on Monday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when they appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with robbery under arms.

Troy Abrams and Anthony Primo of 153 West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, are accused of robbing several America Street ‘money changers.’

It is alleged that on November 3 at America Street while being armed with a gun, they robbed Rayburn Fraser of $520,000; US$3000, TT$2000 and $SR2000, all to a total of $1,600,000.

Additionally, they are charged with robbing on the same day Osafo Bourne

Anthony Primo

of $400,000 and $US700, a total of $540,000.

According to reports, at about 20:00h the two men reportedly opened fire indiscriminately before

snatching the money from the money changers.

Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones informed the court that following the incident, the Police while acting on information arrested the two accused.

The Prosecutor also disclosed that four separate identification parades were conducted and the men were positively identified in all.

The two accused however, argued these facts and stated that while they were placed in identification parades, the others present in the parade bore no resemblance to them.

They told the magistrate that they were in police custody for over 72 hours, despite they had alibis.

They both requested bail and a speedy tri-

Some can run…

W …but AFC can’t hide

Troy Abrams

al. However, they were remanded to prison and the case will continue on December 11.

e all know Watergate brought down the most powerful President in the world – Nixon of the US. But what most folks’ve forgotten, it wasn’t because Nixon knew of the illegal break-in – but because he LIED about it. Well, it looks like the AFC honchos know about some “non-kosher” shenanigan they pulled on “Salary-gate” – and they’re doing everything to KEEP FROM LYING about it in Parliament.

They don’t want to get caught lying in Parliament – that’s all recorded. They’d rather “throw talk” from outside. But they should remember what heavyweight champion Joe Louis told Max Schelling in the ring, “You can run, but you can’t hide.” Right now APNU and AFC are caught like deer in headlights: paralysed and scared shi*less.

With Christmas around the corner, their supporters will be peering into their purses for lots more than the five per cent “frek” they got – to buy something nice for the holidays. And when they realise not only are their purses empty, but their cupboards are bare – they’ll be hunting for their “representatives” – who’re sipping champagne while nibbling on caviar purchased with their million-dollar salary bump.

So, expect the wankers to find all sorts of excuses not to have their 50 per cent salary increases hit the headlines. But what struck your Eyewitness was even though both APNU and AFC are now on easy street with their big salaries and duty-free SUVs – it was the AFC that took time to convene an EXECUTIVE meeting and issue the Press Statement throwing talk at the PPP! Why? Enquiring minds want to know. One theory floated is that when the AFC realised they were shafted royally (that’s without lubricants!), they demanded they be compensated.

Not that they’d do the principled thing and tell the Guyanese people they were raped, but “compensated”.

The leader of this pack demanding “blood money” was Nagamootoo who’s supposed to be PRIME Minister, but who pretty much got stuck with hocking propaganda at the Kronic. Pouted because he was the one most bloodied (ouch!!), he ought to get the biggest “compensation”. And the AFC don’t want this to get out in public. They shame.

Especially in Parliament where the media’s always out in force.

So how long does Nagamootoo think he can give the excuse that he’s “flying” and can’t make Parliament? How long? Not long!

After all, what goes up must come down! And Nagamootoo’s coming down. Haaaaard!

…but can’t fly

Interesting story broke over the weekend on some runnings that’ve been going on over at the Ogle Airport – which now has “international” status. Seems that one family’s been flying under the radar of the Government for 15 years on this national asset, which they ran like a personal fiefdom. The story begins around the turn of the millennium when the Government privatised the Guyana Airways Corporation.

With Ogle, which was a bit of a backwater then, they went into what’d now be called a Public-Private Partnership (P3) – Government with a group of small aircraft owners using the facility. The Airport would be modernised with funds coming in from the EU as grants to the Government of Guyana.

But, as is usual with these sorts of arrangements, folks got greedy. The Government was cut out of the deal and no dividends declared that could’ve gone into the Consolidated Fund to benefit the common people of Guyana – for whose benefit the EU money had been given. No sir. The Company that the private owners formed kept kit and caboodle!

But there’s no honour among thieves, eh? Soon one of the owners decided his family were more equal than the other owners – and so not only would they screw the Government, they would now screw over the others.

Now we’ll see the knives come out!!

…and some still want to

Ralph Ramkarran’s one ambitious dude. Looks like he thinks there’s room for him back in the PPP. Hence the vicious attacks against Jagdeo.

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

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tuesday, november 10, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

10 news

tuesday, november 10, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Annandale woman stabbed by rejected lover

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woman is now nursing several stab wounds to her neck and wrist after she was attacked by her reputed husband whom she had dumped earlier in the year.

Injured is Shondell Hernandez, 22, of Lot 121 Curbane Park, Annandale, East Coast Demerara.

Reports reaching Guyana Times stated that Hernandez was at home talking to her sister on the phone when she heard an unusual sound.

Upon investigating she saw her former lover climbing though her window. Before

Injured woman, Shondell Hernandez

she could have retreated, the man made his way into the house, whipped out a knifed and dealt her several stabs to her neck and wrist. Following the stabbing he escaped.

The woman’s sister, who heard the commotion over the phone, went over to the house only to find her sister on the floor in a pool of blood. Hernandez is said to be in a serious condition at a city hospital.

This newspaper was told that Hernandez ended the relationship with the man because of his abusive behaviour. The two were together

for six years.

Although the relationship had ended, Hernandez had an arrangement with her assailant to visit their 3-year-old child.

However, of recent, the suspect reportedly began following her whenever she left the house. This newspaper was told the suspect would regularly telephone the woman and threaten to harm her if she did not get back with him.

The police have since launched an investigation into the stabbing incident.

Miner on bail for armed robbery

A

miner who was on Monday slapped with a robbery under arms charge was remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when he appeared at Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Damien Robenson of Lot 266 D South Field, South Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, denied the allegation which stated that on February 27 at Bel Air Park while being armed with a

knife, he robbed the Virtual Complainant (VC), Andrew De Agrella of one Samsung Note 2 smartphone valued $85,000.

According to Police Prosecutor Neville Jeffers, the VC was walking in Bel Air Park when he was approached by the 29-year-old defendant, who subsequently held him up at knifepoint and demanded his valuables.

Robenson then relieved De Agrella of his phone and made good his escape.

The defendant, Damien Robenson

A report was made to the Police and an investigation was launched. During the investigation, the phone was traced and the defendant’s girlfriend was found with it.

She was taken into custody and based on information provided, Robenson was arrested and charged. The defendant was also positively identified by the VC during an identification parade. He was placed on $150,000 bail. The case will continue on December 11.

The double silence

E

xchanges in the dailies on Indian voices have raised some interesting and interrogating issues that cannot be easily dismissed since they speak about the struggle to be heard in a conflict habituated multiethnic Guyana. My purpose here is not to get ensnared among the exchanges, but rather to add to the dialogue and discourse on Indian voices in Guyana not only from Indian intellectuals but also from the general public.

Lomarsh Roopnarine What has been going on since post-independence, and more so for the past two decades, is a double silence, which has gone undetected by analysts. What do I mean by a double silence? The first is that in some sections in Guyana and mainly in the fourth estate (the dailies), well-to-do Indians, some are owners of newspapers, have been paying Indian writers to attack other Indian writers and professionals who have been passionate about Indian issues such as identity, political affiliation, religion, etc.

The manner in which this has been conducted and carried out is the most extreme form of yellow journalism: character assassination, propaganda, misinformation, accusation, etc. In consequence, some Indian writers as well as activists have shied away from the public, pushing and muzzling themselves essentially into silence for the fear of being abused and embarrassed constantly and consistently.

The second silence is even more provocative and perturbing than the first one. Indians have been attacking and insulting each other not only on Indian issues but also on African issues such as marginalisation, exclusion, and racism. While this approach is welcome insofar as to bring about a better understanding and solutions on issues affecting both ethnic groups, the result is that some Guyanese Africans, rightly or wrongly so, do not feel compelled to voice their feelings publicly. The anti-Indian writers are doing that for them, a task that might have been more difficult to get across the spectrum if they were voiced mainly from Guyanese Africans. AntiIndian Indian writers and activists are doing the work for Africans, and in some ways, have created a zone of silence for some Guyanese Africans.

This sort of tactic worked very well during the colonial days when the colonial masters used Guyana’s diverse race and ethnic background to pit one group against the other in an attempt to divide and rule. Soon after independence, Forbes Burnham used Indians against Indians skilfully to carry out his dogmatic and dictatorial rule and such Indian names are not worth repeating here. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration also used Indians against Indians as evidenced by Indian defectors from the PPP/C and the formation of Alliance For Change (AFC), now in the coalition, although arguably without the same level of vitriol that goes on right now from anti-Indians to other Indians.

What these dynamics have created is social mayhem nourished and nurtured by monstrous and marauding sentiments. The result is that we have now reached a state of confusion rather than confirmation as to who we are as ethnic Guyanese. To take out the ethnic factor on Guyanese identity is nonsense which is more in vogue with Europe but at variance in multi-ethnic developing nation states like Guyana. Ethnicity – grounded in culture – is one of the givens of social existence, which may shape and reshape as well as assert and reassert itself over time but it cannot be wiped out. It is ironic that some in the corridors of power have denied the existence of ethnicity but yet there is a Ministry of Social Cohesion. Along what cleavage will be the "cohesion"?

The maelstrom of who is an Indo-Guyanese or for that matter an Indo-Caribbean person has been at the centre of book analyses, articles, discussions, and debates at many international conferences as well as before, during and after Guyana’s 2015 national election by individuals from various backgrounds. To eschew any suggestion of "essentialism" some specific questions have been – how does one define an Indian?

Or, what makes one an Indian in the Caribbean? What does the label Indo-Guyanese or Indo-Caribbean mean? How does an Indian see him or herself in a multi-ethnic Guyana and the Caribbean? How do other groups see and treat Indians in Guyana and the Caribbean? What has become of the Indian culture since indentured emancipation in 1917? Have Indians in Guyana and the Caribbean become increasingly interconnected with other cultures through the process of creolisation and globalisation? Have Indians resisted assimilation and instead display a desire for a separate identity.

What these questions suggest is that the exchanges emanated from the dailies, for whatever reasons and purposes, cannot be analysed from centric perspectives, namely, to singularise and demonise those who do not share some particular sentiments. This is counterproductive, reproducing the double silence already described above. What is needed is a platform such as a conference or some sort of a gathering to discuss these issues at the highest level.

The Minister of Social Cohesion seems to be gone in the state of social wilderness. Is the Ministry of Social Cohesion as decorative as the degrees and awards on the desks and walls in offices in Government? I hope not. What are the echoing sounds from the Ministry concerning the exchanges in dailies on the ethnic factor in Guyana? One would expect the Ministry to be abreast with emerging social concerns in Guyana, however maligned and marginal to itself.

For example, what the exchanges in the dailies have raised are: what is the current state of social capital in Guyana? What is the current concept of sociability in Guyana? How are these concepts played in Guyana? Minister, are you there?

Dr Roopnarine can be reached at: lomarsh.roopnarine@jsums. edu

tuesday, november 10, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

News

Inauguration spending

Govt breaches its own code of conduct

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overnment is in violation of its own Code of Conduct since it accepted donations in excess of $10,000 for the extravagant inauguration events for President David Granger, yet failed to publicly disclose related information, even amid continuous public pressure.

The Code of Conduct stipulates that the acceptance of gifts and other forms of rewards, worth more than $10,000, by Ministers, Members of Parliament and public office holders in their official capacity, shall be made public.

Government is claiming that majority of the funding for the inauguration events, which were held in May 2015 was covered by donations from private individuals.

However, to date, the administration is still stonewalling on releasing the amount of monies donated and the names of the donors.

However, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) General Secretary Clement Rohee, during a media conference on Monday,

11

PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee

drew attention to this blatant breach in the Code.

“The government’s acceptance of gifts of money and cash donations was way beyond the stipulated $10,000 to fund the lavish inauguration event at the stadium, at Camp Ayangana and elsewhere diminishes the Code of Conduct in the eyes of the public as farcical since the government by its own acts of omission and commission violated its own Code of Conduct from the very beginning,”

Rohee stated.

Rohee explained that by interpretation, conclusions may be made that the donations referred to in the Code only applies to the individuals however, he pointed out that the document for the individual government ministers is in fact the collective Code of Conduct for the entire government. Therefore, he contended that by that failure to disclose the monetary values it claimed to have received for the inauguration spending, government is breaching the Code of Conduct.

“Since according to government, public funds were not used to fund the massive and spectacular event, the question that continues to be raised is: ‘Where did the money come from to fund the Presidential extravaganza?’ ” Rohee questioned, adding that assuming the money came from monetary gifts and/or cash donations, it follows that the event must have a cost and a complete breakdown of the donors should be tabulated showing the total value of the monetary donations and cash gifts

received. This information, he added, must be made public.

Additionally, Rohee said the Party expects that Transparency International and other public commentators would break their silence and speak out against this travesty.

Already, former Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Henry Jeffery and former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran have called on the government to make public the information on the inauguration spending.

Governance Minister Raphael Trotman assured that government would soon make this information public.

“We are now in the process of compiling that list and I see no reason why Government should not share, to the best of its abilities, how that list is populated in terms of how much. Some persons have expressed a view that their donations of contributions were to be anonymous, but I believe that in the best way as possible we will provide, once the tally is made,” Trotman said.

Fisherman charged with robbery

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fisherman was on Monday remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan after he appeared before her charged with armed robbery.

Renhart Khan, 21, of Lot 147 Cooper Street, Albouystown pleaded not guilty to the charge which stated that on December 23, 2014 at Vryheids Lust, East Coast Demerara, while being armed with a gun, he robbed Parbattie Ramroop also known as Diane, the Virtual Complainant (VC), of $2,027,000 and one Samsung Galaxy cellular phone valued at $120,000. The accused was also slapped with robbing, on the sane occasion, Hemchand Narine of one .32 revolver valued $200,000 and six matching live rounds valued $6,000; all to a value of $206,000.

Defence Attorney Clive Forde made an application for bail but Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones objected, telling the court

Renhart Khan

that the nature and gravity of the charges are serious.

He added that the incident was recorded on CCTV footage and two others are expected to be charged shortly in connection with the incidents.

Bail was denied and the defendant remanded.

The matter will continue at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on November 30.

12 news

tuesDAY, november 10, 2015 | gu

Bring healing to our Greetings to the FITUG’s Diwali Message 2015: The S nation in the light Hindu community T – PNC of Diwali – AFC

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s we prepare to celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights, the Alliance For Change sends special Diwali greetings to our Hindu brothers and sisters, and to all Guyanese.

The Festival of Diwali, or the Festival of Lights as it is also known, is of special religious significance to Hindus, as it marks the return of Lord Rama after 14 years of exile.

This year, as we light diyas commemorating the

return of Lord Rama, let those little lights kindle in our hearts a huge commitment to ensure the darkness of ignorance is replaced with the light of knowledge.

Let us use this time to forgive and bring healing to our nation so that together, as one people with many customs and religions, we can move forward towards a bright future.

Happy Diwali!

O

n this Happy and Joyous occasion of Deepavali, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) wishes to extend special greetings to the members of our Hindu community, especially the religious leaders, and to all Guyanese.

This year’s observances are occurring at a very important moment in the history of the nation when there is a clear need for peace, understanding, stability and social cohesion. These values are common to all the

religions in Guyana and assume particular significance in respect of the Deepavali celebrations. The idea of the triumph of light over darkness, symbolically and otherwise, carries a powerful message for the Guyanese nation.

The PNCR, therefore, joins with the Hindu community and the rest of the nation in celebrating this important event.

A HAPPY AND JOYOUS DEEPAVALI TO ALL GUYANESE!

he Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) joins with the nation’s Hindu community in celebrating the festival of Diwali 2015. However, as for other festivals in Guyana these days – Easter, Phagwah, Eid, Christmas – the occasion of Diwali attracts participation of all groups of Guyanese. The melas and motorcades are joyous representations of the dazzling light of illumination when the darkness of discord and disappointment are banished – if only for this celebratory period.

Research shows that, beginning in ancient India, the four-day celebration has attracted diverse traditions in separate parts of that vast country. Some Hindus celebrate the marriage of Lakshmi to Lord Vishnu; others worship the

dark Goddess of Strength Mother Kali; then there is the return from exile of Lord Rama.

Whatever the emphasis, the celebration of life, love, enjoyment and illumination remains constant. Given the ideals of the Diwali observances the Federation was very much disappointed to note the unfortunate noisy reaction which has surrounded the festival for the first time since its celebration commenced in our country 177 years ago.

This year, disappointingly, the lighting of diyas would not be done by all Hindus on the same night.

Had we decided to stick with the approved calendar of holidays, the national holiday would have been (Wednesday) November 11, 2015.

Taking into account that the national holiday could have been either November 10 or 11, 2015

it se agai uate giou W the m joyou Laks ness mus A Rela nigh light agre to jo ters love, ing.

H f F

news 13

er 10, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

15: The Supreme Light

th Mother turn from

hasis, the ve, enjoyremains als of the Federation pointed to oisy reacunded the ime since ced in our

tingly, the ot be done me night. k with the idays, the have been 11, 2015. that the have been 11, 2015

it seems that disguised politics again is used to divide and perpetuate hidden agendas in our religious practices.

We urge Guyanese to heed the meaning of Diwali behind the joyous celebrations. The light of Lakshmi thrown upon the darkness of division and all things evil must prevail now and for all time.

As the GuySuCo Public Relations Officer declared a few nights ago: “Let the supreme light illuminate the soul”, FITUG agrees and enjoins all Guyanese to join our Hindu brothers and sisters in sharing the diyas’ light of love, knowledge and understanding.

Happy Diwali 2015 from FITUG!

From Humanitarian Mission of New Jersey Arya Samaj, Inc

M

ay the spirit of Diwali extinguish darkness in our personality – What is the darkness we want to remove on this Diwali.

“Diwali” is a time for celebration, but it is also a time for reflection; and we must recommit, rededicate and refocus ourselves to our core values, a time when we must remember that there are always others less fortunate than ourselves. This holiday reminds us about our relationship with God and that we should commit ourselves to helping those in need.

On behalf of the Humanitarian Mission of New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir, Inc, and its Guyana and Canadian Chapters, I am pleased to extend “Shubh

Deepavali” greetings to all my Hindu brothers and sisters in Guyana and across the globe on the occasion on the festival of light.

At this time, we must renew our commitment to kindness; to think of all those less fortunate individuals, especially all those who are sick, invalid, lonely, abused, homeless and our seniours. A significant event in the Hindu religious calendar, Deepavali, celebrates prosperity and showers its light over darkness. A very special occasion that is cherished and loved by many people across the world, Diwali is now celebrated by all communities in Guyana and across the globe; it is a beautiful recognition that light is something which is universal,

significant and important for everyone of us.

A single “diya” or lamp holds infinite beauty and hope from within us. We need to kindle the light of hope and love from within our personalities, so we can brighten ourselves and the people around us. From time immemorial, Diwali has been a celebration of victory over evil or darkness, and also symbolizes the coming of a New Year.

On this Diwali, we need to pray and get rid of all the darkness from within our society and ourselves. Darkness is when our thoughts are negative, and when these thoughts are reflected in our words or actions, they bring hurt and sorrow to others at every turn.

GAWU’s Diwali Message 2015

T

he light of peace, tolerance, understanding and even negotiated compromise should shine forth as the collective glare from thousands of Diwali diyas light up the darkness and shines like a lighthouse of hope for all.

Against those sentiments the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) whose membership includes thousands of Hindus joins the dazzling celebrations to wish Guyanese Hindus and indeed the wider community a joyous but peaceful Diwali.

Guyana needs all the understanding and celebration of life and goodness that it could get at this time. Our robust political life and divergent opinions sometimes intrude upon our typical, good-natured, routine co-existence as a people who share the yearning for

common peace and progress.

Differences of opinion should never lead to hostility or lingering division. Diwali’s lights must be rays of and a reminder that humanity in these times needs tolerance.

GAWU, therefore, hopes that even the current differences surrounding the actual dates for this year’s highpoint of the festival would not detract from full participation of the festivity nor serve to obscure its enduring significance.

We wish all the practitioners of the Hindu faith, and indeed, all Guyanese a happy and enjoyable Diwali, the festival of lights. Come November 11, 2015 we look forward all Hindus taking part in the observances.

Let the lights, at this time, represent too hope, tolerance and harmony.

14 NEWS

tuesday, november 10, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Harbour Bridge fatal accident

Woman died from drowning – autopsy A

post-mortem examination of Gangadai Persaud, the mother of one, who went overboard following an accident on the Demerara Harbour Bridge on Sunday, showed she died as a result of drowning.

The autopsy was done at the Georgetown Public Hospital Mortuary by Dr Nehaul Singh on Monday.

However, police have launched an investigation into the incident since the post-mortem also showed she suffered a blunt trauma to the head.

Persaud was in a Canter truck with her husband, Ramdeo Ramall, when he reportedly lost control of the vehicle resulting in it top-

A relative of the dead woman on Monday told Guyana Times that Ramall remains in police custody at the Providence Police Station as investigations into the incident continues.

This newspaper understands police are questioning the husband since he reportedly gave conflicting statements about the incident.

“First they do not sell

balangers (egg plants) so that is out and it cannot be he was turning on the bridge because he knows it is against the law”, another relative told this newspaper.

The police are continuing their investigations into the matter but Guyana Times understands they are trying to secure evidence from the surveillance cameras of the Bridge.

Vendor remanded for businesswoman’s murder

A Dead: Gangadai Persaud

pling overboard. He managed to escape but his wife went down with the vehicle.

beverage vendor was on Monday remanded

by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts charged with the murder of a Linden businesswoman.

Stepharai Hopkinson, 22, also known as Alexander Williams of Laing Avenue,

Ruimveldt, Georgetown, was not required to plead to the indictable charge.

It is alleged that on April 4 at 125 One Mile, Block 22, Wismar, Linden, he murdered Shevon Gordon during a robbery.

Additionally, it is alleged that on March 23 at Laing Avenue, Georgetown with intent to commit murder, he discharged a loaded firearm at Curtis Thom.

The accused was also slapped with several armed robbery charges. The first read that on November 4 at La Raisonable, Mahaicony while being armed with a gun, he robbed Yasoda Singh of one Blu cellular phone valued $30,000, a handbag valued $3000 and $3000 cash.

Additionally, he was charged with robbing Roopnarine Singh of a Samsung Galaxy cellular phone valued $110,000, $9000, US$300 and a wallet valued $5000 on the same occasion.

The third armed robbery charge is that on the same occasion, he robbed Natasha Bobb of a Nokia cellular

Murder accused Stepharai Hopkinson

phone valued $20,000, two gold rings valued $50,000 and $80 cash. Also, on the same occasion, he robbed Lalranie Singh of a Toyota Itz valued $3,000,000, $300,000 cash and a quantity of jewellery and electronics all to a total of $4,367,300.

Reports stated that Gordon and her husband had just returned home and were entering their premises when they were confronted by two armed men. The men demanded a bag with

cash that Gordon had in her possession but she resisted and was shot about her body.

The men then took the bag and fled the scene on foot. The woman’s husband and son pursued the bandits and her son managed to catch up with the men and a scuffle ensued. During the altercation, the son man was shot to his left thigh.

The men however escaped with the money.

Shevon Gordon and her son were taken to the Mackenzie Hospital where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

In relation to the armed robbery charges, the accused was apprehended by residents after he and two others reportedly robbed a supermarket.

He was remanded to prison. The murder case will continue on November 25 while the attempted murder case will be on December 10.

Those cases were transferred to Linden.

The robbery under arms cases will continue at the Mahaicony Magistrates’ Court for November 18.

Around the world

15

tuesday, november10, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Myanmar ruling party Mexico violence: 10 dead in Guerrero cockfight shootout concedes as Suu Kyi heads for poll landslide A t least 10 people have been killed in a shootout at a cockfighting event in the restive central Mexican state of Guerrero.

A 12-year-old boy, who was watching the event, on Sunday evening in the town of Cuajinicuilapa, is among the victims.

Another seven people were injured.

There are conflicting accounts of the incident – with some reports saying that it was caused by a row between rival groups at the fight, others that gunmen stormed the venue.

Officials told the AFP news agency that the shootout broke out after an argument between two groups who were watching

Though only a few seats have official results, NLD supporters have begun celebrating in Yangon [BBC News]

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yanmar’s ruling party conceded defeat on Monday in a general election as the Opposition led by democracy figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi appeared on course for a landslide victory that could ensure it forms the next Government.

“We lost,” Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) Acting Chairman Htay Oo told Reuters a day after the Southeast Asian country’s first free nationwide election in a quarter of a century.

By late afternoon on Monday, vendors outside the headquarters of the National League for

Democracy (NLD) in Yangon were selling red T-shirts with Suu Kyi’s face and the words “We won”.

The election commission was announcing the results of Sunday’s election as they trickled in, constituency by constituency. Suu Kyi’s party won 49 of the first 54 seats declared for the lower House, where 330 seats were contested.

The keenly watched vote was Myanmar’s first general election since its long-ruling military ceded power to President Thein Sein’s quasi-civilian Government in 2011, ushering in a period of reform and opening up to foreign investment.

The NLD said its own tally of results posted at polling stations around the country showed it was on track to win more than 70 per cent of the seats being contested in Parliament, above the two-thirds threshold it needs to form Myanmar’s first democratically elected Government since the early 1960s.

“They must accept the results, even though they don’t want to,” NLD Spokesman Win Htein told Reuters, adding that in the populous central region, the Nobel peace laureate’s party looked set to take more than 90 per cent of seats. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

Gunmen stormed a fair in Guerrero, Mexico, killing 10 and injuring at least seven others [Twitter/Telesur photo]

the event.

But local media said that the victims were killed by unidentified gunmen, who stormed the arena just after 21:00 local time and began shooting randomly.

Mexico’s powerful criminal

gangs are active in Guerrero, one of the country’s most troubled states. Last year’s disappearance of 43 students in the town of Iguala exposed the depth of the problem. (Excerpt from

BBC)

Warming set to breach 1C threshold

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lobal temperatures are set to rise more than one degree above preindustrial levels according to the UK’s Met Office.

Figures from January to September this year are already 1.02 degree Celsius above the average between 1850 and 1900.

If temperatures remain as predicted, 2015 will be the first year to breach this key threshold. The world would then be half way towards two degrees Celsius, the gateway to dangerous warming.

The new data is certain to add urgency to political ne-

gotiations in Paris later this month aimed at securing a new global climate treaty.

For researchers, confusion about the true level of temperatures in the 1750s, when the industrial revolution began and fossil fuels became widely used, means that an accurate assessment of the amount the world has warmed since then is very difficult.

To get over this problem, the Met Office use an average of the temperatures recorded between 1850 and 1900, which they argue makes their analysis more accurate.

Their latest tempera-

ture information comes from a dataset jointly run by the Met Office and the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia.

The HadCRUT database showed that in the first nine months of this year, the global mean temperature had just gone above 1C, hitting 1.02 with a error factor of plus or minus 0.11C. Scientists say that the one-degree mark will be broken in 2015 because of a combination of carbon emissions and the impact of the El Niño weather phenomenon. (Excerpt from BBC News)

16 news

tuesday, November 10, 2015| guyanatimesGY.com

Ogle Airport controversy

Management meets with Small Aircraft Operators T alks are currently ongoing between management of the Ogle International Airport (OIA) and the Small Aircraft Operators to address prevalent issues which have recently been highlighted in the media.

Guyana Times understands that on Monday Michael Correia of the Correia Group of Companies, which is in charge of operations at the airport, met with some of the disgruntled operators to discuss problems and issues affecting them.

When a visit was made to the airport on Monday seeking clarity from management of Oagle Airport Inc (OAI) on the issues highlighted by the Small Operators, this newspaper was told Correia will meet with the media at a later date to address the issue.

In a letter to various sections of the media, the Small Aircraft Operators recently complained that there was an “eruption of an unbearable discontent which is rife at the airport.”

It was reported that according to six small operators, there is myriad of serious and ‘vexing’ issues which they have to face on a daily basis with the OAI, the company which runs the Airport.

“Ogle Airport, while improving its regulatory compliance and infrastructure in the past decade, is in fact an anti-competitive and oppressive business environment.

The Ogle International Airport

The establishment of an aviation operation requires large amounts of capital and the operating environment definitely contributes to the success or failure of the enterprise,” the operators had said in their letter.

According to those affected, the Airport has refused to allow cargo transport operations to use the main terminal, although foreign operators, including LIAT, are allowed to do so.

The small operators said they have been ordered to use the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) for their cargo operations.

This, they said, would add to their operational costs.

They further claimed that management is consistently reluctant to respond to their needs in a “timely manner; gives them no voice on issues affecting them, imposes staff on them with authoritative and confrontational attitudes”, often threatening, shouting, and demanding; is sub-leasing land for facility

development at prohibitive rates; is charging astronomically high fees for airport usage, and has introduced a “toxic and draconian operators’ agreement which demands that we sign over liens on all of our property including our aircraft, among other odious provisions”.

The operators said given the issues were serious, one could imagine how difficult the operating environment was when compounded with anti-competition measures

by Ogle Airport Inc’s management, led by the Correia Group.

ASL had accused OAI of deliberately creating conditions to ensure its fuel would not be cheaper and it would be forced to continue buying fuel stored at a fuel farm operated by Caribbean Aviation Maintenance Services (CAMS).

Ogle International Airport is owned by the Government but is run by the private company, Ogle Airport Inc, which exerts total control over the fa-

cility greater than that of the private partner in a PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP).

Guyana Times was told the facility is a public utility which is managed and controlled by the Private Sector.

The operational arrangement was negotiated after the initial five investors who formed the corporation, Ogle Airport Inc, made a proposal to operate the Airport following safety concerns

which were raised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

Ogle Airport is the base of operations for several local aircraft operators including: Trans Guyana Airways; ASL; Roraima Airways Ltd; Oxford Aviation; Hinterland Aviation, Domestic Aviation, Phoenix Aviation, Hopkinson Aviation, Wings Aviation and JAGS Aviation (BK).

Abram Zuil Secondary hosts Rangoli Competition

Dispute

In 2011, Air Services Limited (ASL) had called for a Commission of Inquiry into the Ogle Airport after it accused the OAI of running a “monopolistic” family affair.

Again in 2013, management and ASL clashed in a bitter dispute over the requirements for the start-up of the carrier’s US$1 million fuel farm. In that instance,

Teachers and students from the Abram Zuil Secondary School in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) on Monday participated in a Rangoli Competition. Creative designs were displayed at the competition. The children were eager to take part in such an activity ushering in Diwali, the Festival of Lights.

The Aurora Secondary School held a similar competition for their students. At the end to the competition, a Diwali programme was held featuring rich cultural items.

17

news

tuesday, November 10, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Diamond businesswoman's murder

Police intensify hunt for “Rasta Man” A s police continue their investigations into the two-yearold murder of Sirmattie Ramnaress, who was killed at her Diamond, East Bank Demerara house, they have intensified their hunt for the mastermind who planned and execute the murder.

Collin Grant of Diamond who was arrested on Friday evening remains in custody but has since confessed to being the “look out” man on the night the heinous crime was committed. The suspect according to reports does not know the correct name of his accomplice nor where he lived but would refer to him as “Rasta Man”.

A senior police source told Guyana Times Grant was part of a plan aimed at executing the now dead woman’s reputed husband but that plan feel through.

Guyana Times understands the suspect in police custody was a close associate of Paul Bascom who was gunned down during a police operation.

The suspect reportedly told investigators the woman was choked in the house

and after she was dead, they dragged her into the office area to give police the impression that the woman

Murdered businesswoman Sirmattie Ramnaress

was murdered there.

After the murder, they searched the woman’s home where they carted took away laptop, jewellery, television sets and other valuables.

On the day Grant was arrested, the laptop and a diamond ring belonging to the woman were found in his possession.

The senior police rank stated that investigations

are ongoing and once completed, the file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.

It is expected the suspect will make his court appearance on Wednesday.

The lifeless body of Ramnaress, also called “Sabo”, of Lot 2430 21 Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme, was found about 10:00h lying face down in her office near her garage.

Her throat was slit, her head bashed in and her hip was disjointed; sections of her multimillion-dollar property were also destroyed by fire.

The entire bottom-flat of the house was drenched with kerosene and her house ransacked, which suggested the woman was robbed before she was killed.

The perpetrators also set fire to a bond aback the house, which was completely destroyed. After the robbery, the killers escaped in one of the woman’s cars.

Further information revealed the recordings from the internal and external surveillance cameras were missing while there were no signs of forced entry.

Govt to give tax incentives for builders to use local materials safety codes, support volunteerism to help those in need of assistance to build homes, and build starter homes across Guyana, for those in need of transitioning from rented homes to homeownership.

It must be noted that Bulkan is the owner of Bulkan Timber Works. On its website, the company acclaims itself as Guyana’s

Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan

G

overnment will be seeking to give tax incentives to encourage home builders to use locally produced materials.

This announcement was made by Communities Minister Ronald Bulkan while addressing the close-out ceremony of the Government of Guyana/Inter-American Development Bank (GOG/ IDB) Second Low Income Settlement Programme.

He stated that focus would also be on ensuring that basic infrastructure, (electricity, roads, water, drainage) was in place, as house lots were issued. In this way, communities will develop in tandem with individual dwellings, he explained.

He said too that as part of making the process easier, Government was working with financial service providers to facilitate affordable loans for home builders.

Government will also standardise building and

largest manufacturer of lumber and other wooden products.

“We are owners and operators of our mills, kilns, and moulders. All of our lumber is graded first by our Quality Control Department, then again certified and stamped by the Guyana Forestry Commission,” the website states.

18 news Region 6 REO’s inexperience may cost region millions – Chairman R Tuesday, november 10, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

esidents of Region 6 (East BerbiceCorentyne) will be short-changed, as millions of dollars that were allocated for developmental purposes in the area may have to be returned to the national treasury at the end of 2015.

This is because of the inexperience of APNU/AFC appointed REO, Veerasammy Ramayya. He had been described by Minister of the Presidency Joe Harmon as a “quasi political” rather than a qualified bureaucrat that REO’s are supposed to be.”

While the other regional offices throughout the country are carrying out developmental works with funds allocated, Region Six is having major difficulties doing the same.

Regional Chairman David Armogan told Guyana Times on Monday that although $260 million was awarded to the region for its advancement and to cater for the needs of the people in the area, only $15 million in capital works has been spent thus far.

“We are pretty slow right in terms of expending the $260 million, only having

Region Six Chairman David Armogan

spent $15 million to date, and we only have a month and half really to spend out all this money. So, we have to really speed up,” he said.

According to Armogan, while the money is there for the regional office to utilise, many of the works are yet to be awarded thereby preventing a large number of very important projects from being executed.

“The slowdown in awarding these contracts is because the tender board, we have

a new Regional Executive Officer (REO), who seem to be having difficulties with procedures that govern the operations of the tender board. He is the Chairman of the tender board, but in some cases if the tender board is called, the work has not been evaluated, so they have to go back and they can’t meet because unless the thing is evaluated you can’t go and award tenders,” Armogan told this newspaper.

He acknowledged that while the REO, Dr Veerasammy Ramayya, is “willing” to have these projects carried out, there were many procedural errors.

According to the Regional Chairman, these errors occur because the REO is lacking sufficient knowledge about tender procedures and this issue needs to be rectified immediately.

“It is a matter of knowledge with tender procedures, there is lack of knowledge, so every time now you have to go and correct what you did already so that is where the problem is … I think he needs to learn the work very fast, I don’t think he has an

Veerasammy Ramayya

understanding of the work and he needs to learn very fast because we don’t have the time. He doesn’t come to me, I will teach him, but he doesn’t come, he is the kind of a person thinks he knows everything,” he stated.

Guyana Times was further told that while Armogan was willing to assist in areas where Dr Ramayya may not have enough knowledge about or was ill-informed, the REO never asked for help or assistance in such matters.

As a result, this will cause the regional office to come to a stand-still on the developmental works of the region, thereby affecting residents in the area.

“He is this kind of a person who believes that he knows it all and I think there is where the problem is, he doesn’t come for consultation and try to learn things from other people who have been around for some time and who have the experience,” Armogan complained.

He added that the region has a number of outstanding projects inclusive of buying equipment for the regional hospitals to improve services.

This newspaper understands that when the regional officials recently met with the budget committee, the members on the committee expressed dissatisfaction with the level of spending by the region.

As such, the REO and other officials were urged to ensure that they accelerate their spending so as to utilise as much money as possible before the end of this year to ensure that projects are exe-

cuted as budgeted for.

He reminded that whatever money was not used by the regional office would have to be returned to the national treasury and if this amount was not spent as catered for, then the residents of the region stood to lose a lot in terms of services being delivered to them.

Recently, the Councillors of the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) who have seats on the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Six moved a ‘no confidence’ motion against Dr Ramayya.

This motion was filed on the grounds that Dr Ramayya did not possess the minimum prerequisite academic qualifications, his appointment as REO was of a political nature, and he lacked experience in accounting, finance or management which were crucial for his position and more.

The ‘no confidence’ motion was brought to the RDC’s monthly statutory meeting by PPP/C Councillor Haseef Yusuf on Thursday last. (kristenm@guyanatimesgy.com)

Let go of negative attitudes, commit to working together – Minister Henry

T

he Department of Culture, Youth and Sport on Monday ushered in the auspicious celebration of the Festival of

Lights, at a ceremony held in the ministry’s compound.

The short programme shared with the gathering, the origin and meaning of the

Festival of Lights, with songs and dances from students of the KuruKuru College.

Minister within the Ministry of Education,

Department of Culture Youth and Sport, Nicolette Henry, told the gathering that Diwali is not restricted to lighting lamps, and others should take advantage of this auspicious event to foster peace and harmony among themselves and community.

The minister stated that even though this holiday is

such as family, service to our community and the importance of trying to see good triumph over evil, and that,” she stated,“is what Diwali is all about”.

Henry added that the celebration of Diwali cannot be restricted to the lighting of lamps, but rather that each citizen should seek to have this spiritual light ablaze in

sity in Guyana, which is the reason for this initiative.

“We live in a diverse country where we learn to appreciate and share each other’s culture. We are always impressed with the message of Diwali, and we always try to appeal to our good nature to adopt some of what the scope of the celebration really is, which is to always see

Minister Nicolette Henry and Permanent Secretary Alfred King light a diya during the celebrations on Monday

a celebration mainly by the Hindu community, many Guyanese throughout this country also partake in this event in one way or another.

“We are a multi-religious community and all of us have our religious differences, but we also have our similarities.

We all have our time in each year when we want to celebrate what really matters,

their hearts and minds, serving as a guide to their lives as they live each day.

“As we celebrate this festival of light, let us let go of all negative attitudes, hindrance and darkness” Minister Henry added.

Permanent Secretary Alfred King stated that the ministry feels obligated to showcase the cultural diver-

the positive side of life”, the Permanent Secretary stated.

In Guyana, the national holiday of Diwali, also known as the “Festival of Lights” or the celebration of “Good over Evil”, is being observed on November 10. However, some sections of society will be celebrating on November 11. (jpinder@guyanatimesgy.com)

19

news

tuesday, november 10, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Essequibo Coast Motorcade

Golden Fleece Mandir emerges winner Diwali motorcades for 42 years to date and thanked the Mandirs for participating while showing confidence in the Sabha’s work and programmes.

Dr Persaud expressed her happiness that some Essequibians were joining in celebrating Diwali on the same date as the Sabha, as she explained in detail why Hindus should celebrate Diwali on that date.

She cautioned the

By Indrawattie Natram

O

utshining nine other spectacular floats, Golden Fleece Vishwa Jhotir Mandir’s float emerged as the winner at the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha Motorcade held in Anna Regina, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam).

Creativity and neatness were in abundance on that float which depicted the coming of Mother Lakshmi and the different forms of the Hindu goddess. Young women attired as goddesses sent out Diwali messages to the audience and even before the Chief Judge announced the first-place winner, everyone already had favoured Golden Fleece for the top prize.

The Mandir received a prize of $110,000 for its impressive display. <<Guyana Times>> understands that the float was designed by Vishnu Mahadeo, a budding local designer, who was assisted by youths from the Mandir.

Copping second place was the Richmond Swarswattie Mandir followed closely by the Reliance Mandir who came in third.

Fourth place was awarded to the Anna Regina Mandir, while the fifth spot was given to the Cullen Mandir. The other mandirs depicted the coming of goddess mother Lakshmi and a strong message on Diwali (the Festival of Lights).

Additionally, consolation prizes were awarded to the Aurora Estate Mandir, Johanna Cecila Mandir, Airy Hall Mandir and Affiance Mandir.

The various floats were judged based on creativi-

The winning Mandir

ty, originality, dress, discipline, oral aspect, depiction, arrangement of lights, relevance and punctuality.

Some 4000 persons converged at the Anna Regina Community Centre to view the various float parades.

Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha President, Dr Vindhya Persaud, who was at the event, called on all Hindus to “stand strong” and not to allow anyone to

divide them. She noted that she was particularly impressed with the creative designs and neatness of the floats that participated in the motorcade.

Dr Persaud stated that Hindus inherited a rich culture and legacy from their ancestors and as such, preservation was important.

She explained that the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has been hosting

A section of the gathering

Essequibians not to allow the change of the Diwali date to affect them, but rather to use it to become stronger while living in unity. They were urged to observe the Festival with utmost faith and devotion.

“Controversies are there to break you, how tall you stand makes you, we need to be united and stand together, then we have a more powerful voice. Whenever there is injustice, don’t be

afraid: speak out, believe that there is a God and he will protect this culture…

Let’s do this with one mind, one devotion, one voice,” she stated.

Vice President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha and spiritual leader, Pandit Jagmohan Persaud, during his address, posited that the audience’s support was a testimony of love and support for the Hindu culture. He urged Hindus to remain vigilant and watchful and to stay focused.

Meanwhile, Region Two Chairman Devanand Ramdatt also attended the activity and brought greetings on behalf of the Region Two Administration. He commended the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha for its efforts over the past 42 years in keeping the culture alive and standing strong despite the many challenges faced.

20 news

tuesday, November 10, 2015| guyanatimesGY.com

Thousands attend Berbice motorcade ing with Wednesday as the Diwali date and has already verified this date via external sources which include the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

However, she noted that Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha is not against any

I

Diwali while the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha raised its objection to this date advising that the correct date for the auspicious day is November 11.

Minister Ramjattan after receiving support from scores of Hindu Priests who have all maintained

Persons gathered along the roadway to get a glimpse of the motercade

One of the floats that was on display

n spite of the APNU+/ AFC government’s declaration that Diwali celebrations should be commemorated today, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha is calling on all Hindu brothers and sisters nationwide to join with them and celebrate this auspicious day on Wednesday.

President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Dr Vindya Persaud, while addressing thousands of Berbicians on Sunday, who had turned out to view the motorcade processions arranged by the Sabha, stated that in spite of the controversy between the religious organisation

and the government, it is hoped that “good sense will prevail” and all other Hindu bodies in the country observe the festival of lights on November 11.

While addressing the massive crowd at the Welfare Community Centre, East Canje, Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne), Dr Persaud explained that the philosophy behind Diwali is that persons must always welcome Maha Laxmi (Mother Laxmi) and by doing so they will be enabled to triumph over the evil that sometimes threaten to overcome them.

She maintained that her organisation is stick-

The epic battle between Mother Durga and the wicked demon king being depicted by Cumberland Mandir

organisation which wants to observe Diwali today instead of Wednesday.

In recent weeks, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan had declared that today will be the date that Guyana observes

that Diwali should be observed today, decreed that Diwali is today.

Meanwhile, President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, East Berbice Prant Pandit Deodat Persaud explained to Guyana Times that Diwali is celebrated on the darkest night of the year.

He noted that according to NASA, Wednesday night will be the darkness

of the year with zero per cent visibility.

“So let us say that the argument goes to a point where we are looking to see which side has the strongest argument, there is no right or wrong to it as it relates to the fuss that is being persued.

There shouldn’t have been a fuss in the first place because what is important is what we perceive Diwali to be. We have always maintained that our stance is according to astrology and the Dharmic has been in the business of doing this calendar for a number of years so we are a bit saddened by the way this has escalated but we are hoping that even at this time good sense can prevail and we will not have a repeat of this next year,” he posited.

With regards to the motorcade, competitions of the Palmyra Sri Krishna

Prem Bhakti Mandir copped the first place with the Golden Om Dharmic Youth Organisation placing second, and Number 19 Vishnu Mandir capturing the third spot.

It should be noted that the other participating Mandirs include Cumberland Sri Radha Krishna, Canefield Vishnu and Goed Bananaland Rana Krishnar.

Judging was based on six areas and not just on the appearance of each float. The floats were expected to depict the aspects of Diwali, and were also judged on what it depicted to society, its originality, craftsmanship and music that accompanied the float.

The event was sponsored by Church View Gift Shop, Digicel, Banks DIH Ltd and Natasha Travel Service.

sports

YELLOW PAGES

Narine reported for suspect action

tuesday, NOvember 10, 2015

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S

unil Narine, the West Indies offspinner, has been reported for bowling with a suspect action during the third ODI against Sri Lanka in Pallekele.

Narine finished with figures of 0 for 24 in the Pallekele ODI, which Sri Lanka won by 19 runs based on the DuckworthLewis method. The match officials’ report, handed to the West Indies team management after the game, cited concerns about the legality of Narine’s deliveries.

Narine will need to undergo testing on his action within 14 days, and will be permitted to continue bowling until the results of his testing are known.

This is the first time Narine has been reported in an international game, though he has undergone scrutiny of his action during the IPL and the Champions League T20. He was reported twice in two matches during the 2014 edition of the CLT20, forcing him to miss Kolkata Knight Riders’ final against Chennai Super Kings.

Though he was free to bowl in international cricket, West Indies withdrew Narine from their tour of India to allow him “the opportunity to have his action assessed and plan his return to cricket”. West Indies left him out of all their subsequent international assignments until they picked him for the 2015 World Cup. Though he had remodeled his action in the interim, Narine pulled out of the tournament, saying the return would be “a little too much too soon”.

Narine endured further trouble with his action during the 2015 IPL - he was first cleared to bowl in the tournament, reported and sent for a re-test, banned from bowling his offbreaks, and then cleared again, with a “final warning”.

The Sri Lanka tour was Narine’s first international

Sunil Narine has been reported for a suspect bowling action for the first time by the ICC. (AFP photo)

tournament since August 2014. He picked up four

wickets at an average of 18.00 in the three ODIs,

while conceding 3.34 runs per over. (Cricinfo)

22

guyanatimesGY.com

tuesday, November 10, 2015

Calvin Ming has the making Clear Waters hydrates PCL of a F1 prodigy commentary team

By Akeem Greene

Y

oung Formula 4 race car driver Calvin Ming, the son of Veteran racer Stanley Ming has so laid a platform that can only result in him catapulting to highest category of racing which is the Formula One. At a press conference on Monday at the Ming’s company, the new Formula Four (F4) driver expressed great excitement over being able to race in Mexico.

“It was a very surreal experience for me, there were about 300-400 persons in attendance, driving in front of such a large crowd was extremely amazing”, the driver said.

The young Ming said that balancing school and racing would require a lot of time management. In addition he added when he does the exhibition drive come November 15 at the South Dakota track it will be extremely memorable to drive in front of his home crowd Calvin further went unto say that racing overseas is different from racing in Guyana as now he has to do more mechanical work. In addition he added that a lot of the work is done off the track as there lots of fitness and video work done to improve his driving.

Father of the young prodigy Stanley Ming is of the view that the Caribbean has

the pedigree of the talent to reach that prized category of Formula One. “I always believe that Guyana has talent to do wonders, and this is not only by son’s experiences but also the other talent we have a round the region and in Guyana”.

However Ming is positive that corporate support would be needed by both govern-

we would have to design tracks to the necessary requirements.

The elated father explained that Calvin has packed schedule ahead as he soon will be leaving for Las Vegas for GoKart Championships before heading back to Mexico City for another round of the Championships.

The

John Ramsingh, on behalf of the commentators, collects Clear Waters from Narendra Lucknauth, Marketing, Sales and Distribution Manager of International Pharmaceutical Agency Calvin Ming (in car) with other supporters and his father

ment and the private sector to develop this form of racing. The businessman is positive that if we develop this form of racing the Caribbean Community can reap huge benefits. Ming gave the example that November to March period in other countries would usually be winter as such no driving can be done, however the Caribbean would be a prime area for these racing to come and do their off season testing but

young Ming’s exploit has already gained attention as he has been asked to test a car in Spain in the upcoming weeks.

The F4 car is MYGALE and is powered by a Ford ECO-Boost 1.6L Turbo charged engine and is excellent for taking turns at a fast pace. Though the car will not be able to touch top speed on Sunday, it will still give fans some thrills. (akeemg@guyanatimesgy.com)

T

he National Communications Network Inc. has made a bold decision to keep cricket fans aware of action in matches in the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Professional Cricket League Regional Four-Day 2015/16 season.

The state owned radio and television network will provide live ball-byball commentary of the five matches to be played at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, from November 2015 to March 2016.

The International Pharmaceutical Agency has made a timely donation to the commentators of Clear Waters to keep the broadcasters hydrated.

The partnership will continue throughout the season where the Region's best cricket commentators will be calling the game. Some names include Inderjeet Persaud, Sean Devers, Matthew Kissoon and Brij Parasnath, a Guyanese living in Trinidad and Tobago, along with Barbadian Andrew Mason.

Former West Indies players Clyde Butts and Travis Dowlin will be joined by former Guyanese First-Class players Neil Barry, Sydney Jackman and Jermaine Neblett in offering expert analysis of the games.

Narendra Lucknauth, the Marketing, Sales and Distribution Manager of International

Pharmaceutical Agency, said his company is committed to sports development throughout Guyana and will fill any role to make sports a national success.

He said in this regard his company is pleased to partner with the National Communications Network Inc. to have cricket commentary of regional matches through the radio sets into homes and vehicles of fans throughout Guyana and wider afield.

Commentary will be on air daily with thanks to the Guyana Cricket Inc. and the ardent members of the local business community who have done their part in making the joint venture a tremendous success.

tuesday, november 9, 2015

guyanatimesGY.com

23

Suriname reclaims IGG tennis title

T

Players from the three countries pose for a photo at the conclusion of the event

hrough the minor setback of losing one of the female team members to injury, the players representing Guyana at the Inter-Guiana Games 2015 put up a good fight, but were unsuccessful in their pursuit to hold this year’s trophy.

The team was in high spirit going into the final day of Doubles competition

after posting a difference of two losses from the top of the Singles leader board.

However, failing to convert critical opportunity with tactical maneuvers after being in the lead ultimately led to a decline in team’s morale, which cost them to slip, resulting in an overall lost.

Out of the total of 54

matches played (36 Singles, 18 Doubles), Suriname came in first with 21 wins, followed by French Guiana with 19 wins, and Guyana third with 14 victories.

The ladies secured 10 wins of the 14 matches won, despite having to forfeit three of their matches because of an injured player.

It was pointed out by the

WICB/PCL Regional 4-Day Cricket….

Superb Jaguars hammer Volcanoes by 104 runs

By Rajiv Bisnauth

T

he Guyana Jaguars compensated for a dismal second innings batting effort with a sensational bowling display on Monday to whip the Windward Islands Volcanoes by 104 runs in their opening round of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Professional Cricket League (PCL) Fourday game at the National Stadium, Providence.

Scores in the match: Guyana 362 & 95; Windward Islands Volcanoes 228 & 125.

Left-arm medium pacer Raymond Reifer and offspinner Steven Jacobs were the Jaguars inspirations, taken 4-41 and 4-35 respectively. Jacobs finished with match figures of 8-92.

Fast bowler Ronsford Beaton and left-arm-spinner Gudekash Motie are the other successful bowlers.

Set 230 to win, Miles Bascombe and Liam Sebatien were the only two

batsmen to offer resistance with 38 and 36 respectively.

Beaton completed an excellent session for the Jaguars when he drew Kyle Mayes forward and bowled him through the gate for eight, to leave the visitors at 76-7.

The visitors defeat was imminent, only the margin was to be decided. However, following a brief lower order rally after the interval between Sebatien and Shane Shillingford where they added 45 runs for the eightwicket, Jacobs removed

both batsmen in the space of eight balls.

The formalities were completed when Kenroy Peters was trapped leg before wicket to Jacobs.

Opener Rajendra Chandrika was adjudged man-of-the-match with his first innings 146.

The Jaguars, who earned 18 points from the victory, will host the Leeward Islands Hurricane in their second round from Friday. (rajivb@guyanatimesgy. com)

SCOREBOARD Windward Islands Volcanoes second innings T Theophile lbw Reifer 4 D Smith c Johnson by Jacobs 11 M Bascombe lbw b Motie 38 K Lesporis c wk Bramble b Reifer 2 S Ambris c wk Bramble b Reifer 0 D Polius lbw b Reifer 0 L Sebatien c Reifer b Jacobs 36 Kyle Mayes b Beaton 8

S Shillingford c wk Bramble b Jacobs 14 M Matthew not out 0 K Peters lbw b Jacobs 4 Extras: (nb-3, lb-5) 8 Total: (all out; 46.1 overs) 125 Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-36, 3-49, 4-49, 5-59, 6-63, 7-76, 8-121, 9-121, 10-125 Bowling: Jacobs 16.1-6-354, Beaton 10-3-37-1, Reifer 11-4-41-4, Motie 9-5-7-1

coaches that although the scores reflect a loss, there were outstanding perfor-

mances from Kalyca Fraser, Shivani Persaud, Keenan Persaud, and especially Jordan Beaton, who is 13 years old and matched the power of the top two French and Dutch Under-18 players.

The trip also saw Joshua Kalekyezi and Viraj Sharma making their debut on the IGG scene and showcasing great potential and discipline. While the Regional Development Officer John Goede, highlighted Afurica Gentle’s power and Mark McDonald for his energy, he noted there were several technical parts of their games that needed correcting before they break into the next level.

At the officials meeting, it was agreed that the tournament would be rebranded with a new name

and plans are afoot to incorporate other territories in the long run as to make this tournament the biggest tennis tournament in the Southern Caribbean. Next year the tournament will be held in French Guiana and Guadeloupe and Martinique have been invited to compete.

Coaches Leyland Leacock and Jason Andrews headed the team made up of Girls Under-12: Sarah Klautky and Alana Chung; Boys Under-12: Joshua Kalekyezi and Viraj Sharma; Girls Under-14: Kalyca Fraser and Shivani Persaud; Boys Under-14: Mark McDonald and Keenan Persaud; Girls Undder-18: Afruica Gentle and Aretta Dey; and Boys Under-18: Daniel Lopes and Jordan Beaton.

tuesday, November 10, 2015

Sports is no longer our game, it’s our business

WICB/PCL Regional 4-Day Cricket….

Superb Jaguars hammer Volcanoes by 104 runs

Pg 23

The Guyana Jaguars players leaving the field after completed 104 runs victory over the Windward Islands Volcanoes

Smalta/Ministry of Public Health girls U-11 Dilshan and Mathews football tourney launched seal thumping win

A

rollicking 91-run opening partnership, brisk stands through the middle, and a violent Angelo Mathews finish sent Sri Lanka hurtling

but his teammates could not prosper long against Sri Lanka’s spin. Sachithra Senanayake claimed four wickets, Milinda Siriwardana two, and

ANSA McAL Marketing Manager Angelica Rodney (second right) poses alongside Petra Director Troy Mendonca (extreme right) and Dr Melissa DeHaarte (third right) in the presence of some of the teams after the press conference

By Treiston Joseph

T

he second edition of the Smalta/Ministry of Public Health girls U-11 football tournament organised by the Petra Organisation was launched on Monday with action set to start on November 14.

At the press conference held at the Ministry of Education ground, Director of the Petra Organisation Troy Mendonca highlighted the importance of a tournament of such a nature.

“We are happy to be assisting in areas that we

think need some attention, the amount of effort that FIFA is making in terms of female football… if we don’t create the opportunity now you would find that at that level you would not get the interest,” Mendonca stated.

Marketing Manager of Ansa McAL Angelica Rodney shared Ansa McAL’s desire to be onboard with such a programme.

“We are so excited and honoured to be a part of the tournament, we know that sports and exercise plays a vital role for the development of our young people

and it is refreshing to see young ladies to get a chance to compete especially in football,” Rodney mentioned.

Representative of the Ministry of Education, Nicholas Fraser who commended Petra for their work also gave them a goal to work together.

“It is important that the females get these types of opportunities to showcase their talents and that the experiences are always positive… I would like to challenge the Petra Organisation to get more tournaments like these out of Georgetown

as well because they too need these opportunities,” Fraser quipped.

Representative of the Ministry of Public Health Dr Melissa DeHaarte was keen to mention the benefits of physical activity while PRO of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Rawle Toney stressed that the tournament will aid in the development of the women’s game.

The tournament will be a 16-team round-robin knockout tournament with medals and trophies up for grabs.

Milinda Siriwardana claimed two vital wickets. (AFP photo)

to 215 for 3 - the highest ever T20 international total on the island - and set the scene for a 30-run victory.

Tillakaratne Dilshan topscored with 56 off 37 balls, but it was Mathews’ 13-ball 37 that grew Sri Lanka’s total from imposing to enormous.

Andre Fletcher cracked 57 off 25 balls in response,

Shehan Jayasuriya picked up the last scalp, to wipe out the visitors for 185 in the penultimate over. The start of the match had been delayed by over an hour due to rain, but it commenced at 8:10pm with no overs lost.

West Indies go 0-1 down in the two-match series, and are still awaiting their first win on tour. (Cricinfo)

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