Guyana Times Daily - March 10, 2015

GECOM could learn from Sri Lanka – Jagdeo P7 Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 2428

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Ramotar, Jagdeo dent Opposition’s “change” campaign Page 3

...say Granger wants Guyanese to relive Burnham’s legacy

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Man gets 43 years in jail for killing P7 wife at hotel

Lethem accident:

READ Project Coordinator died of fractured spine P9

The Guyana Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association observed Commonwealth Day on Monday with a special Sitting of a Youth Parliament. Around 35 youths between the ages of 14 and 17 from secondary schools across the 10 Administrative Regions of Guyana participated in the event. In this photo one of the Youth MPs addreses the House (Carl Croker photo)

Former AFC GS declares support for PPP/C Page 9

1 dead, another wounded during Amelia’s Ward fracas Page 8

Essequibo P11 miller converting rice husk to electricity

Bandits grab $2.5M cash from petrol dealer P12

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BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, March 10 – 05:00h-06:30h and Wednesday, March 11 – 08:30h-10:00h

Ramotar, Jagdeo dent Opposition’s "change" campaign ...say Granger wants Guyanese to relive Burnham’s legacy

The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, March 10 – 06:35h-08:05h and Wednesday, March 11 – 07:05h-08:35h

FERRY SCHEDULE Ferries will be departing the Parika and Supenaam stellings at 06:00h, 16:00h and 23:00h

WEATHER TODAY Thundery showers can be expected in the morning, with light rain showers prevailing in the afternoon. Partly cloudy conditions can be expected in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations.

Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly between 5.81 metres and 7.15 metres per second.

High Tide: 07:03h and 19:27h reaching maximum heights of 2.65 metres and 2.57 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 00:40h and 13:00h reaching minimum heights 0.61 metre and 0.56 metre respectively.

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Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

By Michael Younge

P

resident Donald Ramotar and former President Bharrat Jagdeo on Sunday put a significant dent in the combined Opposition’s social and mass media "change" campaign, aimed at mobilising Guyanese and young people in particular to shift their voting patterns in support of the newly-formed coalition.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Executives decried the Opposition’s elections campaign strategy, saying it utilised a wide range of mechanisms to get youths to become disinterested in the socio-economic and political history of the country while painting a picture for seniors that there has been no progress in Guyana.

Ramotar, the party’s Presidential Candidate for the upcoming May 11 General and Regional Elections, told a mammoth crowd at Babu Jaan, Corentyne, Berbice, which gathered for the annual Dr Cheddi Jagan memorial ceremony, that the Opposition wants to rewrite history.

He said the Opposition wants to erase the realities of what Guyanese endured under the then People’s National Congress (PNC) Administration, which was led by Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte for more than two and a half decades.

He insisted that the recently-selected Presidential Candidate for the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU-AFC) coalition, David Granger was on a mission to reintroduce Burnham’s ideology and leadership tactics.

Ramotar made it clear that over the last three years that his Administration has been in Government, the Opposition, led by Granger, played all of their cards strategically with the aim of frustrating and undermining development while trying to appear as though they were concerned with transparency and accountability.

The PPP/C Presidential Candidate said that Granger and his Prime Ministerial Candidate, Moses Nagamootoo, appeared bent on a mission to undo all of the progress made by the current Administration,

as a result of their personal ambitions and their hope that the ideology and practices of Burnham could be reintroduced once they got power in a new manner.

“Their problem is not the lack of involvement or the lack of consultation. Their problem is that they want power for themselves. They want to run this country as if it is their personal property and that is what we must stop them from doing on May 11, this year,” the Guyanese President said to loud applause.

He explained that the sabotage and non-cooperation displayed by the Granger-led parliamentary Opposition parties were characteristic of the style of politics practised by Burnham, who was his close associate.

He remarked that the PNC had been changing its name and hiding because it wanted people to believe that it was a new force and each time they were for change and transformation.

“They want us to forget Jim Jones … they want us to forget the facts …. they want us to forget that they handed out weapons to criminals and thugs,” he remarked.

Vintage Burnhamism

Jagdeo took the analysis further, as he pointed out that Granger and the AFC are now engaged in “vintage Burnhamism”, explaining that Guyanese appreciate the changes brought by the PPP/C over the years to the democratic fabric of Guyana’s socio-economic profile and governance.

“Granger is stuck in that mindset, the time of the 70s and 80s. He draws his philosophy from that period,” the former Head of State said, explaining that both APNU and the AFC have spent their entire parliamentary and political efforts opposing good initiatives that could have further transformed the lives of Guyanese.

“We know what they are against. You do not run countries by being against things – what are they for?” he asked, adding that they were misusing the concept of change and hiding behind it to fool Guyanese into believing that they were genuinely interested in delivering change that would be better than what the PPP/C has offered over the years.

He noted the Opposition’s 2015 elections campaign is aimed at discouraging Guyanese from remembering their past and understanding the difficulty that the Jagans, Ramotar and he himself have

had to endure to further develop the country, moving it away from bankruptcy to the point where it has been revitalised.

“Ramjattan's been around for donkey years….

Nagamootoo….Greenidge….

Granger …Carberry…

Clarke…Sharma. They are not change,” he warned as he called out some of the leading members of the recentlyformed Opposition coalition.

Reminding Guyanese about the change that the PPP/C brought over the years, Jagdeo spoke about the removal of the debt burden from the shoulders of the young people; the improvements in the fields of information, communication and technology; education; health and science; infrastructural development; poverty reduction and by targeting a wide cross-section of Guyanese; as well as the strengthening of the Guyanese Constitution to further empower the judiciary and legislative arms of Government.

Arguing that Guyana now only utilises five per cent of its revenues to service debt, with over US$3 billion in revenues, reserves of close to US$800 million, increased aggregate deposits and single-digit inflation rates, Jagdeo remarked, “That’s change”.

He chided Guyanese for allowing the Granger-led Opposition coalition to get away with the fact that some of them had a “short memory”, as he noted that some were unappreciative of the real changes brought by the PPP/C, because they have lived through it or forgotten about the struggle to attain it.

Real things

“Change has to be about real things. It cannot be about rhetorical things. It cannot be a gaff,” he declared.

Jagdeo accused the Opposition of being the single obstacle in Guyana to further change and transformation as he enlightened those present about the damage done to country’s future because of the coalition’s decision to axe more than $89 billion from the national budget over the past three years because of puerile and partisan politics.

He warned the Guyanese public not to fall for the Opposition’s bait that it signed a Cummingsburg Accord which will deliver change, accusing it

President Donald Ramotar

of using this accord in a similar manner to the Herdmanston accord to cut short the PPP/C’s tenure by two years.

President Ramotar said despite the challenges presented by the joint parliamentary Opposition over the past three years, he did not compromise on principles. However, he noted that it was the same when Dr Jagan was alive.

“I take comfort in the fact Cheddi Jagan had to fight against tremendous odds.

And so, today, I am not worried about the actions of the Opposition. Those who claim that they have nothing to apologise for,” Ramotar told supporters.

The President said over the past three years he did not have an Opposition that was patriotic and interested in the development of Guyana.

“I had narrow-minded people who seem to believe that they can make things bad in our country and drive us back to the time when we had to line up for a quarter pint of oil … in the hope that it will change their political fortune. That is what I had to deal with over the last three years.”

“Not one day did they use their one-seat majority to say ‘Donald Ramotar, build more roads in Berbice, build more schools for our people, build more hospitals for our people, not one single day. Instead, they used the one-seat majority to cut $89 billion from our budget, $89 billion that could have gone to develop the people of our country, and I tried, my friends, I really tried,” the President said.

He said elections in Guyana were not constitutionally due until the end of 2016, and if he wanted, he could have prorogued Parliament again, and when that prorogation period was up, keep doing it until elections were due.

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

Editorial

US-Venezuela contretemps T

he week before last Christmas, US President Barack Obama signed legislation into law allowing him to sanction Venezuelan Government officials, who in their estimation were involved in a crackdown on antiGovernment protesters.

This Bill was intended to offer additional options to turn the screws on the Maduro regime that went beyond those utilised since 2002, when the US via the efforts of the International Republican Institute (IRI) assisted the Opposition in a short lived coup against Hugo Chávez.

Venezuela sits on the world's largest reservoir of oil and the leftist Chávez regime had ousted a Government that had continued the friendly relations forged with the US even before WWII. As in most Latin American countries, several of those Governments had been dictatorships and all were oligarchies ruling over a poverty stricken majority.

Chávez's populist urge to "redistribute the wealth of the country to the poor" led him to remove control over its oil industry by American multinationals and this had not gone down well with the US. Only last October Exxon had won a US$1.6 billion award against Venezuela for seized assets.

The December bill authorised sanctions that could freeze the assets of and ban visas for anyone accused of carrying out acts of violence or violating the human rights of those opposing the Venezuelan Government.

Maduro defiantly said at the time that sanctions was a "crazy" path for the US to take. He had demanded that the US reduce its diplomatic staff from 100 to 17, the same number allowed to Venezuela by the US. In the preceding summer, the State Department had already imposed a travel ban on Venezuelan officials who were accused of abuses during street protests that left 43 persons dead.

Yesterday, the other foot dropped in the escalating tensions between the two countries when the Obama Administration utilised the recently enacted law to impose sanctions on seven Venezuelan officials for alleged human rights violations, calling the country's actions a threat to national security.

According to a White House statement, the sanctions target "Venezuelan officials past and present who violate the human rights of Venezuelan citizens and engage in acts of public corruption". They will have their "assets and their use of US financial systems blocked.

It is ironic that these increasing pressures against Venezuela, which could lead to all-out sanctions – even though this move is unlikely – are being applied at a time when the 55-year-old economic embargo and sanctions against Cuba are being loosened.

Critics also say that the US may be playing into Maduro's hands since his own crackdown against critics might have been intended to provoke just such an action. Sanctions by the US would rally Maduro's lower class base, which has recently become somewhat alienated because of economic hardships, in a patriotic movement against "Yankee imperialism".

From a Guyanese standpoint, we are caught in a delicate situation. The new rice deal with Venezuela signed last week should remind us of the credit facility and rice-foroil barter arrangement that is so crucial for our burgeoning rice industry.

While the Venezuelan Government of Maduro indicated to local office of Exxon their displeasure over the drilling for oil that has commenced off our Essequibo Coast, analysts believe that this might merely be pro forma since his Opposition has savagely attacked his regime for continuing Chávez' more conciliatory approach to the border controversy.

It is not in our interest for the tensions between Venezuela and the US to move beyond the diplomatic arena. But it may be also the right time for the Government, as it has signalled, to move more expeditiously from the UN Secretary General "good offices" process to a judicial settlement at the World Court.

On this issue there is bi-partisan agreement, since the latter process had also been proposed by the People’s National Congress (PNC).

These community-minded residents of Annandale South, East Coast Demerara caught this eight-foot camoudi on Sunday morning before it could do any harm in the village

Amerindian communities are administered by village councils Dear Editor, I read K Sharma Solomon’s recent letter in another section of the media, under the headline, “Were the Hururu villagers truly involved in the process of leasing their land to Bai Shan Lin?” Mr Solomon, a former Regional Chairman of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) seems to have penned his letter from the vantage point of ignorance in relation to the rights and self-determination of indigenous communities in Guyana as specified in the Amerindian Act 2006.

The utterly absurd question therefore should have been directed to the Hururu

Village Council and not the Minister of Amerindian Affairs, since it is not the Minister that makes decisions for any Amerindian village or community in Guyana, but the village or community council.

For Solomon’s information, Amerindian communities are administered or governed by village councils which are body coporates (Section 10 of Amerindian Act 2006) in demonstration of autonomy or self-government in the management of their affairs.

This is consistent with international obligations such as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

(UNDRIP), Articles 3-4.

Mr Solomon in his letter said, “As Regional Chairman, the village of Hururu falls within my boundary of responsibility.

This responsibility includes ensuring the rights of all our people are respected.”

Mr Solomon is wrong.

While the Hururu Amerindian village falls within the boundary of Mr Solomon’s responsibility, that does not give him the right to meddle in the internal affairs of Hururu village without consent given by its villagers, since it is the Amerindian Act 2006 that promotes good governance within Amerindian villages and communities.

Further the Amerindian Act 2006 provides for the recognition and protection of the collective rights of Amerindian villages and communities and not the Regional Chairman.

Succinctly, Amerindian villages and communities do not fall under the jurisdiction of RDCs and NDCs. So mind your language in relation to the self determination of Amerindian villages and communities, Mr Solomon. And moreso desist from trying to contaminate the decision- making process of the Hururu Amerindian village with your political venom.

Peter Persaud

Guyana’s present growth unprecedented in post-colonial history Dear Editor, The contrived spectacle witnessed at the launch of the APNU-AFC coalition would have left many Guyanese scratching their heads, or shaking them in shocked disbelief on reading some of the bold assertions of the coalition leaders.

Presidential Candidate David Granger spoke of taking the “… boldest step in six decades”; of the replacement of political hostility with unity; of replacing confrontation with cooperation; and replacing dictatorship with democracy.

Was this the same Granger who, as head of the combined Opposition in the 10th Parliament, led the charge to block legislation and funding which would have allowed for the realisation of the unity, coop-

eration and the “democracy” which he now so glibly speaks of?

Was there not ample opportunity to avoid the funding cuts for the University of Guyana Scholarship Fund; the Amerindian Development Fund; Interior Aerodromes; and the CJIA Expansion Project to name a few projects, and in so doing exemplify the unity of national purpose, and to so dispel the issues of animosity in our political life?

Isn’t it true that the incessant virulent attacks, in and out of Parliament, by the Opposition and certain sections of the national media have had a retarding effect on critical national projects?

A critical example is the Amaila Falls Hydro-electric Project which is so vital to reducing energy costs at the domestic, commercial and

industrial levels thereby encouraging both domestic and overseas investment, and expanding employment and the economy.

So we now have presented to us an APNU-AFC coalition of Opposition parties who were pivotal in the abject failure of the 10th Parliament dangling the suggestion to the nation that they are entirely blameless, and are squeaky clean, without any shadows arising out of their recent parliamentary sojourn.

And the unkindest cut of all, claims of “dictatorship”.

And this from the mouth of a former top commander once serving in an Army which swore fealty to the PNC, then in power. The same PNC – which he now leads, from a time when each and every Guyanese was a criminal for the pos-

session of wheaten flour, split peas or channa!

Is this the same Granger, whose continued refusal to appear before the Rodney Commission of Inquiry, and his weak efforts at distancing the PNC regime from any involvement in the murder identifies the studied recalcitrance of that organisation at this effort at truth and reconciliation in Guyana?

The remarks of life under a re-elected PPP/C becoming “nasty and brutish”, after all the above can only be taken as a gratuitous threat, and an insult.

One may well ask what has been APNU’s contribution to the state of affairs in Georgetown, where one of the leading personalities has been Lord Mayor for the better part of two decades???

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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The New York Phagwah parade Dear Editor, Phagwah – the Hindu festival of colours, songs, prayers and exchanges of pleasantries, has been celebrated with delight and much fanfare in the Caribbean by the descendents of Indian immigrants who had left India over 177 years ago to work as indentured labourers on sugar plantations in the West Indies.

In a second migration to North America, IndoCaribbean people continued the ardency of this celebration with even more beauty and significance, especially in Richmond Hill, Jersey City, Bronx, Hollis, and central Florida.

In Richmond Hill, normally a large parade of well over 50,000 celebrants revel in songs and dance on the streets in a trekking of colors, fragrances, good wishes and divine fervour.

This year marks 25 Glorious Years (its Silver Jubilee) for the New York Phagwah parade.

However, there may not be a parade as a result of inclement weather and petty, internal conflict among organisers.

Guyanese community leaders like Ramesh Kalicharran, Pandit (Pt) Ramlall, Pt Arjune Doobay and Pt Satish Prakash are largely responsible for the public celebration of Phagwah in America and the community should applaud and recognise their contributions to culture in America.

Phagwah in the broader context within Hinduism is the triumph of good over evil. However, within the Indo Caribbean context, one can say Phagwah marks the triumph of good over evil as a celebration of the banishment of the indenture system that had enslaved around the globe hundreds of thousands of

people from the India, and thus eventually empowered them with legal rights in order to to observe their religion and culture as they had practised for millennia on the Indian subcontinent.

Phagwah also marked the triumph over the evil Burnhamite system (in 1992) that sought to marginalize and extinguish the Indian culture in Guyana.

Holi, the symbolic burning of Holika, the evil within a system or an individual, and Phagwah are celebrated all over the world where People of Indian Origin (PIO) reside.

And the celebration is most apt in Guyana today where there is a triumph over the evil dictatorial system that prevailed for 28 years.

Never again should that of evil racist system be allowed to prevail.

In Guyana and India, Holi was celebrated on March 6. However, in New York, for convenience, several Indo-Caribbean mandirs celebrate(d) the festival of colour in their respective mandir this weekend and last weekend.

The Holi Sammelan and Festival Committee expresses thanks to Pt Swasti Doobey for hosting Holi Sammelan in the past at the Lakshmi Mandir.

Pt Swasti remarked that this reminded him of the first Holi Sammelan organised by Kalicharran (better known as Kali) under the banner of the USA Pandits’ Parishad held at the Hillcrest High School in Jamaica in 1986. He said he is happy that this tradition continues.

Year after year, celebrants look forward to the Phagwah parade. However, this year it appears as if the application to obtain the permit in a timely manner is gloomy with the matter headed to court by egoists.

Apart from that, this year there is inclement weather delaying the parade.

According to Kalicharran, a prominent community leader and businessman, the idea of the Phagwah parade was his, and he developed it with Pt Ramlall, Dr Pt Satish Prakash, Dhamacharya Arjune Doobay, Kishore Seunarine, Anand Sukul, and Radharaman Upadhyaya.

Kali, blessed with a deep passion for Indian culture in all its forms, was encouraged by Yash Paul Soi (an official by the India Day Parade) and Bal Naipaul to start the Phagwah Parade that began in 1990.

Paul Soi confirmed that he encouraged the idea with Kali and other community leaders and suggested that it be modeled after the India Day Parade that had started a decade earlier. Kali was liaison to the India Day parade.

I was there from the start in both parades and penned articles on preplanning and publicising the Phagwah parade. The parade started out small, but after several years, it has grown to a huge success. Kali was also able to obtain recognition of the festival from Government officials via proclamations and citations.

In fact, he was able to convince the former Queens Borough President Claire Shulman about the importance and significance of this colorful festival, and she then pronounced “March as Phagwah month” since 1991. In addition, the Board of Education has listed Phagwah (as well as Diwali) in its calendar year as excused ‘days-off’ for students and staff of the Hindu religion. turn to page 17

There is a new mood of confidence, satisfaction among Guyanese Dear Editor, I read with interest a recent article, headlined: “Fewer Guyanese looking to migrate”. The article was referring to a survey conducted for the Latin American Public Opinion Project (LAPOP).

According to the findings of the survey which was conducted mid-last year, Guyanese are more satisfied with their lives and are therefore less likely to migrate to overseas destinations.

I know of several Guyanese who are in receipt of US visas and who go on short visits to the United States and return home, even though they could have

remained much longer if they had so wanted.

This is quite unlike what transpired before, when Guyanese desperately tried to escape to the United States both legally and in some cases illegally, because of deplorable living and working conditions and PNC authoritarian rule.

This new mood of confidence and satisfaction among Guyanese today is consistent with the LAPOP findings that life in Guyana is much better than before; and that Guyanese are less inclined to work and live overseas than was the case under the former PNC regime.

Something good must be

happening in our country to have resulted in a new dispensation where the vast majority of visa holders prefer to go on short holidays overseas and return to their country, rather than spending longer periods or risk overstaying their stipulated time.

Both the so-called pull factor or what is referred to as the “greener grass” syndrome as well as the push factors such as crime and lack of opportunity to earn a decent living right here in Guyana, have been significantly reduced since the PPP/C assumed office on October 5, 1992.

Hydar Ally

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Letters continued on page 17

Long wait at Records Section of Suddie Hospital Dear Editor, No one in authority seems to care about the hardship, suffering and inconvenience being endured by members of the public in seeking to get some form of service at the Records Section of the Suddie Hospital, Essequibo Coast.Much to my surprise, just a few days ago, there was no seating accommodation, not even a lone chair, as several elderly persons like myself and pregnant women had to keep standing in a long wait, despite the presence of so many employees.

For reasons best known to the staff, all of them are kept behind three closed doors leading to their respective offices where no one from the public can even get a glimpse to make their presence known for being there.

It was not even possible to knock at any of the doors to gain attention for the simple reason of the staff having placed two tables, serving as barricade to prevent access for this to be done.

In my presence, several persons, by not seeing any employee in the open, kept enquiring where the Records

Section was now located, although it is still there. With the help of someone working at the institution, but not in this section, I was able to get through with a card for repeat treatment for my sickly sister. What became of the others still awaiting to be attended to remains unknown, but certainly some adjustments need to be made to bring about improvements.

This kind of retrogression just can’t work, as it is most unacceptable in a civilised society.

Baliram Persaud

Guyana’s present growth...

from page 4

And… yes folks! There was that public recognition and congratulation of Mr Granger for the APNU-AFC cooperation in ensuring the non-passage of the AntiMoney Laundering and the Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFATF) legislation in the National Assembly, an act which has brought Guyana regional and international ignominy, but which has, perhaps, put the new coalition now fully on the defensive in attempting to refute charges of facilitating money laundering, drug dealing, and terrorism.

The launch of the APNU-AFC coalition, given the main actors assembled and subliminal negative messages it portends, when seen against a backdrop of an ever improving economy and life in Guyana can only be seen as the launch of a “Trojan Horse” for a return of PNC rule. Over nearly 23 years of Government, the PPP/C has managed to bring Guyana from dire straits of existence to one of expanding progress and prosperity. The miracle that is unfolding all over Guyana is as a result of the hard work in all areas of national endeavour of the Guyanese people, facilitated by the sound, patient leadership of the PPP/C. Guyana’s present nine years of year-on-year growth is unprecedented in its post-colonial history, and our pride of place as an export economy, assuring national and Caricom food security has been re-established.

A diversified economy has allowed us to ride out the shocks of the world financial crisis since 2008, and an increasingly better educated, confident and assertive people are fulfilling vital roles at all levels at home and abroad. And now more than ever, the Guyanese people, in stark contrast to the National Assembly, have achieved peace, progress, more wellbeing, and ever increasing prosperity as a result of cooperation in accomplishing national tasks. The results in record production in agriculture and mining, im-

provements in health and education, remarkable increases in first-time home and car ownership, expanded energy and physical infrastructure, and ever improving employment are not simply palpable, but could be seen, felt, used and experienced all over Guyana!

Challenges certainly remain, but these are not unusual for developing countries coming out from an inherited situation of crippling debt, capital flight, near starvation and negative population growth, all inclusive of politically inspired strikes, arson, domestic terrorism, and political crises and assassination.

What has been unusual are the now well documented attempts at real economic sabotage rising from the

Opposition benches in the ill-fated 10th Parliament prompting its prorogation.

The relative peace and stability we have achieved is a tribute to the good sense of our people, and the maturity of the PPP/C leadership in Government over these 22-plus years.

The new platform has been proposed, which aims at further unlocking the creative energy, enthusiasm and resourcefulness of women and youth by widening opportunities and facilitating the widening of their ambition and horizons for accelerating their development and Guyana’s progress.

Robeson Benn Minister of Public Works

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Page

Foundation

How to make Maths fun M

aking children love Maths is a challenge to most parents. Maths is a skill that takes a lot of brain power

to master, and this can be experienced by children as hard work. A University of Chicago and Western University 2012 study even shows that for some people, doing Maths is similar to experiencing physical pain. Also, parents tend to tell their children that “Maths is hard”, as they relive their own experience as children struggling with formulas, exponents and equations. Consequently, children pick up this attitude and live their lives believing that Maths is a horrible monster that they have to face in their academic lives.

Yet being skilful, or at least, competent in Maths is necessary to survive in modern life. We use Maths

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to figure out personal finances, construction projects, as well as doing everyday chores such as cooking and shopping. Engineering,

high technology, finance and other in-demand careers require above average Maths skills. Even non-Maths careers require that employees have sharp analytic and reasoning skills – skills that are acquired when brains are trained in Maths.

Many studies suggest that early Maths training in children give big benefits. It creates changes to the children’ brains so that the children become adept at problem solving. The children’s brains are primed for learning advanced Maths concepts. Also, a 2007 study published in the journal Developmental Psychology reveals that Maths skill at kindergarten is a stronger predictor of later school

achievement than reading skills or the ability to pay attention.

The children’ first teachers, the parents, play an important role in children’ attitude to Maths. According to Susan C Levine, a Professor of psychology and comparative human development at the University of Chicago, parents who engage in “Maths talk” provide their child with a solid Maths foundation for later Maths achievement. Those who explain to their children about numbers and spatial relationships by way of gestures and words tend to instil better Maths skills at age four.

Since children are more receptive to learning when it is associated more with play than with work, it is a good idea for parents to expose children to Maths in fun ways. The challenge to parents is to figure out ways on how to create simple interactions and early learning activities to serve as foundation for their children to enjoy Maths.

Making Maths enjoyable help children grow to associate Maths with fun, pleasure and parental love and attention. Instead of being afraid, the children will be excited about the subject throughout their school years. The secret to successful Maths education is to make it so much fun that children don’t even realise they are learning something that will help them later in life. (www.raisesmart-

kid.com)

TO BE CONTINUED

Tips for helping children and teens with homework and study habits

S

(Continued from Monday)

hould notes ever be rewritten? In some cases, they should be, particularly if a lot of material was covered, and the youngster had to write quickly but lacks speed and organisation. Rewriting notes takes time, but it can be an excellent review of the subject matter. However, rewriting notes isn’t worth the time unless they are used for review and recall of important information.

A home dictionary is essential, but if it is kept on a shelf to gather dust, it won’t do anyone any good. Keep it in an accessible place and let your child see you refer to it from time to time.

If the family dictionary is kept in the living room and the child studies in his room, get him an inexpensive dictionary for his exclusive use.

Good dictionary, encyclopaedia and organisational skills depend on the ability to alphabetise. See if your child’s teacher practices alphabetising in class. Try alphabetising spelling words, family members’ names or a few favourite toys at home as a way of practicing.

Help your child to feel confident for tests. Taking tests can be a traumatic experience for some students.

Explain to your child that burning the midnight oil (cramming) the night before a test is not productive.

Better to get a good night’s

sleep. Students also need reminding that when taking a test, they should thoroughly and carefully read the directions before they haphazardly start to mark their test papers. They should be advised to skip over questions for which they don’t know the answers. They can always return to those if there’s time. Good advice for

any student before taking a test: take a deep breath, relax, and dive in. Always bring an extra pencil just in case.

During a homework session, watch for signs of frustration. No learning can take place and little can be accomplished if the child is angry or upset over an assignment that is too long or too difficult. At such times the parent may have to step in and simply halt the homework for that night, offering to write a note to the teacher

explaining the situation and perhaps requesting a conference to discuss the quality and length of homework assignments.

Should parents help with homework?

Yes. If it is clearly productive to do so, such as calling out spelling words or checking a Maths problem

that won’t prove.

No. If it is something the child can clearly handle himself and learn from the process. And help and support should always be calmly and cheerfully given. Grudging help is worse than no help at all! Read directions, or check over math problems after your child has completed the work. Remember to make positive comments – you don’t want your child to associate homework with fights at home. Model research skills by involving your child in planning a family trip. Help your child locate your destination on a map or atlas. Use traditional encyclopaedia or a CDROM to find information about the place you will visit; try the Internet or books in the library.

How best to handle report cards?

To save shocks and upsets, gently discuss from time to time “how things are going at school with your child. Something casual, such as “How did the Maths test go?” “How did you do on the history report?” “How’s your science project coming along? Need any help?” are questions that aren’t “third degree” but indicate interest. Find out if it is a policy at your child’s school to send out “warning notices” when work isn’t going well.

Generally, such notices require the parent’s signature to verify that the parent has, indeed, been alerted. This is the time to contact the teacher of the course, along with your child, to learn what the difficulty may be. If such notices aren’t sent, then grades on projects and reports and from tests may be the sole source of information short of what your child wishes to share. Be tuned in to statements such as “He’s an awful teacher,” “She goes too fast,” etc. (childdevelopmentinfo.com)

7 GECOM could learn from Sri Lanka – Jagdeo news

tuesday, march 10, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

F

ormer President of Guyana Bharrat Jagdeo, who recently led a Commonwealth Observer Mission for recent elections in Sri Lanka said the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) could learn a lot from what was done in the Asian country to ensure credible elections here.

In an invited comment, Jagdeo told Guyana Times, one such area is the level of accountability to which elections officials were held.

“We here can learn a lot and hope our election goes well,” he said. “They (Sri

Lankan Elections authorities) published every procedure that they were going to use on elections day in the newspapers and on TV before the elections so everyone knew one what would happen and how people should act on elections.”

This a model the former President said would augur well for Guyana. “We have had lots on instances of capricious behaviour on the part of presiding officers, so if we publish this the media, the country, the voters and everyone will know beforehand that these are the things the presiding officers

should do and these are the things they shouldn’t do," Jagdeo said.

He opined that this will encourage such officers to act in line with the regulations.

Additionally he told this publication of the declaration by authorities in Sri Lanka to prosecute any election official found guilty of fraud or illegality on, before or during he elections period.

“We have had in Guyana lots of claims; the law is there we have never used it.

We need to take a strong position as a country and again I think GECOM should publish the offences and we should look out for such officials,” he added.

“In Sri Lanka they used people only with pensionable service, so you can lose your pensionable service if you commit any fraud,” Jagdeo stated in the interview.

Having observed the work of several of the returning officers before, Chairman of GECOM Dr Steve Surujbally said he has no doubt that they will deliver, despite questions about their ability.

Jagdeo who along with

a team of eight other observers, participated in the Observer Mission, said there was a plethora of concerns by the Opposition in Sri Lanka.

Primary among these, he said, was the abuse of state resources.

“They had 2000 buses running in the public transportation system the President took about 1000 of those to buses transport his supporters…he used state funds to buy gifts for Buddhist Monks…large sums of money were spent on gifts, large sums were spent on feeding supporters on a daily basis; it was direct cash being used,” he explained.

Jagdeo noted that this is very dissimilar from the kinds of claims made against the incumbent during the elections period here in Guyana. “We are not talking about an occasional use of a vehicle by a Minister or the President, we are talking about the massive abuse of state resources," he pointed out.

The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has in the past been accused of using State resources for po-

litical campaigning, including trucks from the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to transport its supporters to political rallies.

But it has been pointed

GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally

out that GuySuCo does not own vehicles for transportation, but contracts private owners to perform this service. These owners are free to use them for any other purpose.

This canard is often peddled by the Oppositionaligned media, most recently by the Stabroek News on Sunday in connection with the Babu Jaan memorial ceremony for the 18th death anniversary of Dr Cheddi

Jagan, the PPP/C FounderLeader.

Jagdeo was appointed by the Commonwealth Secretary General to head an Observer Group to Sri Lanka – an experience he labeled as “interesting”, given the country’s history and societal complexity.

Sri Lanka is a diverse country featuring many religions, ethnicities and languages. The country’s recent history is marred by a 30year civil war which ended in 2009 with military intervention. Escalating violence and military intervention were also a concern for many voters in 2015, Jagdeo related.

The nine-member Observer Group was drawn from across the Commonwealth, and included former politicians and members of parliament, former members of election commissions and representatives of civil society and the media.

The Group, he said, wassupported by a staff team of five, led by Katalaina Sapolu, Director of the Rule of Law Division at the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Man gets 43 years in jail for killing wife at hotel

T

hirty-six-year-old Vinod Balgobin has been sentenced to 43 years imprisonment after he was found guilty by a 12-member jury panel on Monday for fatally stabbing his wife in a city hotel two years ago.

Balgobin, of Lot 316 La Penitence Boulevard, Georgetown, was indicted with the murder of his wife Maryann Sunita Nauth between May 11 and 12, 2013, at the Hotel.

State Counsel Teshana Lake prosecuted the matter during which she called some 18 witnesses before Justice Franklyn Holder and the jury panel. Balgobin was represented by Attorney Compton Richardson.

According to State’s witness, Corporal Hubert Henry, the Police had obtained a Caution Statement from Balgobin in which he admitted that he “jook up” the woman after he found out she was unfaithful.

In the statement, which was admitted as evidence following a voir dire (trial within a trial to determine the admissibility of evidence), Balgobin reportedly told the Police that an argument ensued between him and his estranged wife after he noticed tattoo marks on her “belly” area when she had undressed.

The man noted in the statement that during the confrontation he pulled out a blade from his haversack and stabbed up the 31-yearold woman because he got angry when he realised she had given him “blow”.

However, in his unsworn statement to the court, Balgobin denied killing the woman and stated that he

Dead: Maryann Sunita Nauth

was forced to sign the statement by the Police who told him that his mother was incustody and he should sign the document to get her released.

“I signed the paper because I love my mother. I did not kill my wife,” Balgobin told the court while adding that he met Nauth drinking with her friends and he subsequently joined them after she invited him. He noted that before he left, he gave the woman some money for herself and children.

On the contrary, the State had also called Wendy Hutson, an employee of the Hotel. Hutson testified that she had seen Balgobin and the deceased entering Room 209 at the hotel the night before the woman’s body was discovered.

According to State Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh, he found 35 incised wounds about her body when he conducted the postmortem examination.

Dr Singh said that Nauth had died as a result of shock and haemorrhage. The State Pathologist also disclosed to the court that while con-

Vinod Balgobin was jailed for stabbing his wife to death at a city hotel

ducting an external examination on the body, he found incised wounds to her neck, forearm, armpit, abdomen

and left wrist along with 14 incised wounds to her left side chest and another two incised wounds to the heart.

Dr Singh further stated that the woman’s heart and lungs had collapsed.

On Monday morning, the trial judge had summed up all the evidences presented in the case to the panel before they retired to the jury room to deliberate.

After spending several hours in deliberation, the panel returned with a unanimous verdict, finding the man guilty of murder.

In handing down the sentence, Justice Holder told the man that he killed his wife and the mother of his children in a barbaric

manner.

The judge further told the man that not only did he leave his children without a mother but with emotional scars that they will have to deal with for the rest of their lives. He also said to Balgobin that his actions were pre-mediated and he had invited the woman to her death.

The judge imposed an initial 45 years sentenced onto Balgobin but deducted two years for the time the man spent in prison.

According reports surround the woman’s death, Nauth and Balgobin separated after 13 years together due to the man’s abusive behaviour. The cou-

ple shared three children.

However on May 11, 2012 (Mother’s Day), at about 17:00h, Nauth left her home and went over to Demico House, Stabroek to meet her estranged husband and collect money for their children.

About 22:30h, Balgobin and Nauth went to the Hotel where they booked room 209. Around 01:15h the following morning, a cleaner was making routine checks when she saw the room’s door ajar and subsequently discovered Nauth lying dead on the bed, with a knife stuck in her chest.

Balgobin was nabbed three days later in Essequibo en route to Venezuela.

8 NEWS

tuesday, march 10, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

1 dead, another wounded during Amelia’s Ward fracas Eyew tness A Selma on n early morning stabbing at Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden on Monday, has left one person dead and another hospitalised at the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC).

Forty-three-year old Kelroy Williams of First Phase Wisroc Housing Scheme succumbed to stab-related injuries while 37-year-old Marvin McLennan of 59 Phase 3 Amelia’s Ward was admitted to the hospital.

The incident took place at approximately 06:00h at McLennan's home.

According to information received by this newspaper, Williams and another man were involved in a confrontation with McLennan at his home which escalated into a heated argument during which the two were stabbed.

The third man managed to escape following the incident. According to one of McLennan's neighbours, she assisted him to the hospital in a timely manner and as such he was able to be treated for the injury which he secured to his neck.

The woman said she responded after hearing shouts coming from the home in which McLennan had lived alone for approximately a month.

"We just heard this person shouting for 'Rasta' (McLennan's nickname).

Then my daughter heard a noise and looked out ... we ran to the scene and when we looked, we saw two men running out of the house and he ran out and was stumbling," she related.

The woman went on to relate that a struggling McLennan then ‘braced’ on his car which was parked outside in the yard. At this

Bloodstains at the scene

point, the man who is said to have accompanied Williams escaped through nearby bushes.

summoned to the scene.

When this newspaper arrived on the scene, bloodstains were observed in the

The motive for the stabbings remains unclear; however, it is believed that money was owed to one of the parties involved. According to persons in the vicinity, McLennan, who worked as a construction worker and taxi driver, remained conscious throughout the entire ordeal.

Meanwhile, residents in the area are calling for an increased Police presence and lighting, noting that the area is prone to criminal activities.

"We need some Police protection in this place.

There are a lot of single parents and women living around here. This morning the majority out here on the scene were women.

There are a lot of unfinished houses in the area which are situated far

Marvin McLennan's home in Amelia's Ward

"The other one (Williams) run 'til he dropped and he left right there."

The Police were later

man's yard which led unto the roadway. A few louver panes appeared to have been removed from the home.

apart," a resident related.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Wash bay attendant released on bail for allegedly robbing Cuban doctor A

wash bay attendant was released on bail when the appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts faced with a charge of larceny.

The details of the Police report stated that Cuban doctor trusted Charlestown resident Akiwei Agard (defendant) and left her car, with her personal belongings within, entrusted to

him. She was shocked that he stole from her.

The facts of the case stated that the Virtual Complainant (VC), Dr Irene Ouandie went to the wash bay where the defendant worked to have her car washed. The doctor did not remove her purse when she left her car in the hands of the wash bay’s employee.

Police Prosecutor Adoni

Inniss stated that the defendant had taken the defendant’s bag out of the car while he was washing it and removed her Samsung N3 cellphone valued $130,000, $50,000 and other loose cash that was in her bag.

The VC had reported that she had found the defendant with her bag at the wash bay when she had gone back to her car for something she

needed. The defendant then told the doctor that the bag had dropped and he picked it up. The VC did a search of her purse and found the aforementioned items missing.

She informed the defendant that she was not going to pay him until her items were returned, but he stated that he knew nothing about it.

Nevertheless, she remained hopeful that the items were perhaps left at her office thus she went back but they were not there. A report was then made and the accused arrested and charged.

The defendant continued that he did not take anything from the VC’s purse.

Presiding Magistrate, Annette Singh released the defendant on $100,000 bail and told him to come back to court on March 23.

my mind...

P

...in Georgetown

resident Barrack Obama just made one of the greatest speeches in modern American political history at Selma, Alabama. He was there to commemorate the 50th anniversary of one of the most shameful episodes in that same American history - the brutal tear-gassing and beatings of innocent African-American men, women and children marching peacefully for the right to vote.

Described from then on as "Bloody Sunday", the bearings would eventually lead to the 1965 Voting Rights Act. But what's important for us in Guyana today, is not only knowledge of the ongoing struggle of African Americans for their civil rights - but that as President of the USA, Obama didn't try to sweep the incident under the rug - or pretend that it never happened.

In front of his political Opposition - including former Republican President George Bush - he recounted the horrors of those innocent victims and admitted that America still had a long way to go on equality for African Americans.

Now, dear reader, you may be asking why this is so important for us Guyanese. Well, we'll tell you why.

In Guyana, you see, there's a fella running for the presidency - David Granger - who doesn't just refuse to bring up past abuses of the rights of certain sections of the Guyanese people, but in fact, does his darnedest to deny those abuses ever happened! And this will not do - not in the 21st century.

Take, for instance, the very well-documented disturbances in the city of Georgetown on January 12, 1998, when hundreds of Indian-Guyanese were beaten during PNC "protests" because "they were PPP/C".

Imagine David Granger wrote about "Civil violence in Guyana between 1953 and 2003" and didn't think it necessary to include what Stabroek News reported in stark, full page headlines as "TERROR IN THE CITY!!!"

The GIFT organisation conducted meticulous investigations into the "condign beatings" and published a detained report that's never been challenged. Eusi Kwayana accepted that the report was credible.

But David Granger?? Naaaah!! Never happened...figment of a fevered imagination! It is this Eyewitness hope that the new, literally "combined" opposition will take a page from President Obama's playbook.

Hey!! let's stipulate that mistakes will be made once you undertake action in any field. The point is to acknowledge those mistakes - especially when it involves transgressions of people's rights.

Bishop Tutu called it "reparative justice" and David Granger and his new lieutenants Nagamootoo and Ramjattan must hark to its pleas on behalf of those who were denied their right to vote for 28 years, assassinated and knifed by thugs, and made to scale fences like Olympic high jumpers.

...on Dr Jagan

Dr Jagan's son wrote a letter to the press complimenting the Opposition APNU and AFC for their coalition. Said this is what his father always preached. Joey did it on the anniversary of the great man's passing, when the PPP/C - was commemorating the event. Now, as Daniel Moynihan once said, "Everybody's entitled to their own opinion but not to their own facts".

And Joey's "facts" of what his father stood for are absolutely cockeyed. Your humble Eyewitness has made this point before - and he's sure he'll have to make it again: Dr Jagan's history with coalitions demonstrated beyond a shadow of doubt that he wasn't "for coalitions for coalitions' sake". Like Selma he was all about people's rights.

And he certainly wasn't for coalitions just to garner a couple of Ministries and Vice Presidencies!! For Jagan, the programme was always first - then positions to execute that programme.

After two months of negotiations, courtship and marriage, we've seen "positions" galore but yet to see the coalition's programme. This isn't Jaganite!

...for soup?

This Eyewitness isn't sure they have cow-heel soup in Selma - but for sure they serve a mean ox-tail soup. And in Guyana is cow-heel maven Urling looking for a new soup to drink?

news

9

tuesday, march 10, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Former AFC GS declares support for PPP/C F

ormer Alliance For Change (AFC) General Secretary Sixtus Edwards has declared that he will be supporting the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration in the upcoming General and Regional Elections slated for May 11.

In an interview with the Guyana Times on Monday, Edwards said he was now putting his support behind the Donald Ramotar Administration and stressed that he had no intentions of returning to the AFC which he described as a party that lacked principles.

“I am saying very clearly that I have nothing to do with the AFC!” he declared.

Edwards stated that he left

ty went back on some of its core values, including the fact that it promised to never coalesce with any party.

“Those core values that they promised are not there anymore, it has left the AFC so I decided to resign… The AFC said they would not coalesce with either party, but I see that has changed.

I see they go back on their words and go back on the thing they said they won’t do, which is to be in a coalition,” Edwards highlighted.

The former AFC General Secretary was at the time responding to comments on social media by AFC activists that he wanted to return to the party.

Edwards condemned as nasty and vile statements being made by AFC activist

Mark Ross, in Berbice. Ross appeared to be trying to discredit those persons who helped build the AFC but decided to walk away of recent, mostly citing the coalition with A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) as the main reason.

Edwards explained that sometime last week he had visited his mechanic of 15 years, who happened to be located next door to an AFC office on the Railway. He noted that he subsequently saw comments on Facebook that he was “in the area, spying on the AFC and that he wants to return to the party.

Edwards pointed that he had even publically declared his support for the Ramotar Administration during a

televised programme in Berbice recently.

“I did say to the people (in Berbice) that they must vote for the PPP/C. It does not make any sense to go out there and waste your votes when these members of those parties (the Coalition) are not looking out for the interests of the people or the nation. All they want to do is to grab power and I don’t think that’s the way to go,” he mentioned.

Edwards added that he

was a political animal and can handle whatever the AFC threw at him but would not sit quietly and watch as they attacked his character.

The former member reiterated that despite joining the party from the beginning and serving as the General Secretary when he handed in his resignation, none of the AFC executives contacted him to get any further explanation or even tried to discourage him from leaving the party.

Man charged with stealing $1M in items remanded READ project coordinator died M of fractured spine Former AFC General Secretary Sixtus Edwards

the AFC because of the inconsistencies with their principles.

He outlined that the par-

Lethem accident:

Vimala Balgobin and her husband in happier times

V

imala Balgobin, Coordinator of the Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Development (READ) Project who was killed on Sunday following an accident at Pirara, Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) died from a fractured spine and blunt trauma to the head.

Her husband, 36-yearold Safraz Ameer sustained three broken ribs but was listed as stable. He is presently a patient at a private medical institution. The couple was reportedly returning to Lethem when the vehicle in which they were travelling toppled over the Pirara Bridge and landed on the bedrock of the river. The river at the time was reportedly dry.

Balgobin, 30, would have received the brunt of the injuries since she was sitting on the side of the vehicle that landed on the riverbed.

Both of the injured persons

were pulled from the wreckage by members of the team who were trailing behind.

They were air-dashed to the city but unfortunately, Balgobin reportedly died on the spot. The dead woman’s father, Tarachand Balgobin of the Finance Ministry, in a telephone interview with Guyana Times related that the accident occurred at about 14:00h, but the family did not receive the message until 7:00h.

He disclosed that the bridge where the accident occurred is a dangerous one and it is situated right after a turn but more so, it is situated on a descending hill.

He went on to explain that those who traverse the area have to be extremely careful, while noting that it is necessary to approach the area with caution.

“It had to be that the vehicle there were travelling in went too quickly onto the bridge… the bridge has no rails which makes it more

dangerous… as the vehicle hit the bridge, it went over and fell some 30 to 40 feet down”, he added.

The distraught father further related that the bridge has been a concern to road users since it has claimed a few lives in the past.

However, he recounted that his daughter left for Lethem on Friday evening last. Her purpose for the visit was to meet with various women’s group in several communities to conduct training in marketing and enterprise development.

The focus of the project in which she was involved was to improve the social and economic conditions of people in outlined areas.

The aggrieved father stated that she was due to return later this week. The now dead Balgobin of Lot 104 Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara is survived by her parents, husband and one sister.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary of the Agriculture Ministry, George Jervis told Guyana Times that the deceased cannot be replaced at any time. He recalled back in 2012, when the READ project was in trouble, he and the Agriculture Minister travelled to Barbados to derive a solution to keep the project alive.

It was in 2013, he added, that Balgobin came on board and worked with dedication and commitment in seeing the project conclude at the appropriate time. Jervis reiterated that the young woman found innovative means to extend the project.

He went on to say that on the day of the tragic accident, Balgobin had just concluded a training programme with the women at Beena Hill, Rupununi, and

was heading to Aranaputa Valley. The Permanent Secretary expressed his condolences to the bereaved family as he tried to contain his emotions.

agistrate Dylon Bess remanded a suspected thief on Monday for allegedly breaking into the home of an Albouystown resident and stealing $1,429,000 in items.

Latchman Sookhan appeared in Court Six of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts accused of breaking into the home of the Virtual Complainant (VC) Ellen Sonaran on Garnett Street, Albouystown between February 26 and March 5.

Police Prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent Desiree Griffith elaborated that the defendant had stolen the VC’s water pump valued $15,000, a gas bottle valued $14,000, clothes valued $300,000, four chrome rims valued $800,000, and a quantity of wares and cutlery valued $300,000.

He was refused bail.

Magistrate Bess instructed him to return on March 30 for his case.

10

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, march 10, 2015

News

PM Candidate selection influenced by public opinion – Rohee

PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee

G

eneral Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) Clement Rohee said the impression that the public was ready for a ‘new face’ in the upcoming General and Regional Election has influenced to party’s decision to replace long standing Prime Ministerial Candidate Samuel Hinds.

Questioned at the party’s weekly press conference on Monday on the criteria used to select Elisabeth Harper, Rohee related that it was a consensus decision based on the expectations of the general public.

He even pointed out that the media may have also played a role in the selection of a new Prime Ministerial Candidate to represent the party.

“The leadership of the party met and at many of these press conferenc-

es, it was constantly being asked who was going to be our Prime Ministerial Candidate.

"I have to assume that the rationale behind that question being posed was that there was some expectation that there was going to be some renewal in that specific area and the expectation of the public out there is that there will be some renewal and rejuvenation with respect to the faces of the PPP/C the party having considered the matter from all angles, felt that it was timely to make a change of its PM candidate,” Rohee told media operatives.

He added that this decision was communicated to Hinds, who “took it in good stead”.

Questioned further on whether this meant that the party will then be embarking on selecting fresh faces to fill its Cabinet if the PPP/C wins the elections, the GS said that it is a possibility noting that Guyanese should not be surprised by the unexpected.

“The PPP/C has the ability to attract many people… it has never been bankrupt of a list of candidates for the elections. For those who may wonder what it is likely to be, they should not be surprised at the unexpected,” he expressed.

Hinds on Sunday at the memorial service for former President the late Dr Cheddi Jagan and his wife, Janet Jagan, told the party’s supporters at Babu Jaan that while he was pleased that during his tenure as Prime

Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper

Minister, he was able to accomplish a lot, but regretted not being able to achieve all that was set out.

“I am particularly pleased on my last occasion as Prime Minister to feel that I have achieved quite a bit and I feel confidently pleased working in establishing a link joining villages into the interior…

"I regret I couldn’t come to you with Amaila already in construction; that’s something I regret.

"I regret I couldn’t come to you with the new telecoms law that ends the monopoly, but these are things I am sure once you return us to office on May 11, we will quickly get them up and continue the development of the country.”

He promised to continue to support the party as it continues to follow a path left by its late founder Dr Jagan.

During the announcement of Harper’s selection, Rohee had said that “Mrs Elisabeth Ann Harper brings to the table, that sparkle; that burst of freshness that will energise and inspire membership, supporters and well wishers to work hard for the party’s victory at the polls.”

Harper, 57, who hails from Kitty, Greater Georgetown, has worked in the Foreign Service for decades.

Harper succeeds the outgoing Hinds who has held that position since 1992 when the PPP/C was voted into office for the first time in 28 years.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in French from the University of Guyana as well as the title of the Best Graduating Student (19811986) as well as a Certificate in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Oxford, England.

The newly selected PM candidate, who also holds the Golden Achievement Award, began her career at the Foreign Affairs Ministry in 1976 as a Registry Clerk, moving her way to hold the title of Director General at the Ministry.

She has been a member of Guyana’s delegation to various meetings of the Caribbean Community, the Latin American Economic System, the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), the United Nations (UN), the Commonwealth, the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), among others.

After one time is another

O

ld people seh after one time does be another time. And no matter where yuh go in this world, that is how tings does be. Even in Guyana, people had one time under de Pee-an-See and another time under de Pee-Pee-P. That is why dem ain’t wanna leff de country no more any more.

Long before he pass away, Papa Cheddi at one time used to be able to be able to count on Burnt Ham to do good tings fuh de country. But soon it turn into another story and Papa Cheddi instead had to start countin how many times Burnt Ham rig de elections.

So at one time Burnt Ham was one ting to Papa Cheddi and when another time come, Burnt Ham turn into another ting. Then de Heights Man come and he promise one ting one time and then do another ting another time.

And de people gon never fuhget that, even if dem only hear bout de Pee-an-See from dem mother and father whah used to happen under Burnt Ham and de Heights Man. Now Green Jah followin in de same foot steps like Burnt Ham and de Heights Man. Green Jah was exercisin pun de road de other day and he ask a man who was also exercisin to vote fuh APNU + AFC + JPAP + WPA ÷ NIP ÷ HTNP ÷ IP ÷ URP = Pee-an-See. De man look round then turn round and tell Green Jah, “Whether Ah vote fuh de Pee-an-See or not is de same result like all dem years. So after one time is another time. This time Ah ain’t votin fuh yuh.”

Rum Jhaat and Nagga Man does tell de Guvament to be more accountable at one time. But at another time when it come down to accountin fuh money whah people give to de KFC, dem still can’t account fuh nutten.

Ting-a-ling-a-ling…friend tell friend…mattie tell mattie! Freedie de man kisser too does pretend to be one ting when he deh home and another ting when he on se sea wall.

Phagwah day murder accused High winds affecting some LIAT flights found dead in prison cell

A

man who was accused of killing his wife on Phagwah day was found dead in a cell at the New Amsterdam Prison on Sunday night.

Prison officials have confirmed that the body of Devanand Albert, 54, of Bhanjara Sawmill Dam, Lot One Grant 1803 Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) was discovered motionless at about 22:00h on Sunday.

He was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead. Albert was remanded to prison on March 10, 2014 for the murder of his 43-year-old wife Esther Albert, also called “Kamla”.

When he was seen by the doctor at the prison then, the now dead man was di-

Devanand Albert

agnosed with a heart condition. Ever since then, Albert was being treated for the heart condition at the prison.

It was on Phagwah day 2010 that the woman’s body was found at the home she shared with her husband and their children.

On March 2, 2010 Esther Albert and her husband had returned home after imbibing alcoholic beverages and an argument reportedly ensued during which Esther was allegedly slapped and struck with a pointer broom.

A post-mortem performed on the body by Government Pathologist, Dr Vivekanand Bridgemohan revealed that she was manually strangled.

The body bore two wounds on the head; one on the left eye and another on the forehead.

After the incident, her husband fled the scene and was not seen until March 2014 in Suriname. He was extradited and subsequently charged and remanded to prison. At the time of his death, he was awaiting trial.

In the interest of safety LIAT is being faced with the possibility of cancelling flights to/from Dominica and/or St Vincent

L

IAT has advised customers travelling to/ from Dominica and/ or St Vincent of the possibility of cancelled flights and delayed baggage due to seasonal high winds in both countries.

In a release the company

said its aircraft have tailwind limitations, which are set by the manufacturers during the certification process and they are therefore not permitted to take off or land when the prevailing winds are beyond these limits.

The departure out of E

T Joshua Airport and the night landings into DouglasCharles Airport are affected by tailwinds and therefore the decision to cancel flights is taken in the interest of safety. LIAT is also forced to restrict the number of bags on the aircraft at this time of the year when wind conditions in both Dominica and St Vincent restrict the takeoff weight of the company’s aircraft.

The current conditions are forecast to continue through to the month of April. The company’s Reservations and Airport personnel are ready to assist customers who have been affected by cancellations and baggage issues due to airport limitations at this time of the year.

tuesday, march 10, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

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News

Essequibo miller converting rice husk to electricity

Ramlakhan and Sons Rice Mill converting rice husk to electricity

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ith the pace of science and technology in the fast developing world, more can be done in industries, particularly the rice and saw mills, to reduce cost as well as to save the environment.

The Gasifier at Ramlakhan and Sons Rice Mill at Exmouth, Essequibo Coast in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) is a classic example of an innovative measure that is environmentally friendly and also has proven to reduce fuel cost.

The rice mill is the first in Guyana to take up the initiative to purchase a Gasification Plant. Rice miller Ramesh Ramlakhan, who is optimistic about the project, said that he has in-

clean electricity.

The gases emitted is said to be free of solid particles, tar/carbon and water/moisture and directed into the combustion chambers of the engine of a 250 kW power genset.

The process will replace 70 per cent of the diesel required to run the generator set. The miller said the multi-dollar investment will greatly reduce his energy cost and improve his viability in a time when rice prices are on the decline.

Saving

The project, Ramlakhan, said will save him approximately G$1500 dollars on fuel per hour noting that one generator uses $6000 fuel, “

A test being run on the equipment

vested approximately $40 million in an effort to reduce the cost of fuel consumption at his mill. When asked what has prompted his investment, the prominent businessman said that high fuel cost was the primary driver.

Ramlakhan during an interview explained that the waste product from the rice (husk) will fuel the gasifier and consequently produce

a lot of money will be saved, why waste the husk when you can actually create ways of saving money as well as be a model for society to follow� the miller posited.

The mill on a daily basis produces two tons of dry paddy husk. He said that the equipment has a capacity to utilise 60,600 pounds of dry rice husk which is a surplus from the amount of waste he collects on a daily

basis.

The miller further explained that many researchers visited his facility and during the process it was revealed that cheaper energy can be produced by the mere use of rice husk.

To do this, he said the use of a gasifier conventional boiler/turbine combination was required. He explained the gasifier will produce power as co-generation to meet its heat and power requirements. Numerous tests have proven that the operation is profitable as well as cost saving.

He emphasised that the project will also help him to pay competitive prices for paddy to farmers. The Indian sourced equipment was installed in February and the businessman is hopeful to have an official commissioning ceremony in several weeks.

Gasifier operations at Ramlakhan and Sons Rice Mill

He is also willing to assist anyone else who may be interested in such an initiative.

Meanwhile, Government and the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to provide support as Guyana im-

plements it’s climate initiatives and Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

Under phase II of the Memorandum, it was proposed for studies to be conducted into various sectors including the rice sector to achieve energy efficiency

and cost reduction.

During initial studies TERI identified the energy cost component in direct expenses is over 35 per cent in rice mills. The cost of energy accounts close to US$15.5 per metric tonne of paddy process. During the survey it was noted that some rice mills are using wood as fuel to meet thermal energy demand and minimally use of rice husk.

The other challenge facing the rice millers in Guyana is the rising cost of production and decreasing rice prices. Studies have proven that energy management and conservation is an important tool to help the rice industry meet its critical objectives for short term and long term goals. To date, energy efficient studies were conducted at six rice mills and a best practice was developed for each rice mill.

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tuesday, march 10, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Bandits grab $2.5M cash from petrol dealer

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petrol dealer was relieved of $2.5 million by two bandits on a motorcycle as he turned up at the Guyana Oil Company (GUYOIL) Fuel Depot, Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD), on Monday to conduct business.

The dealer whose name was given as “Jaiprashad” arrived at the fuel depot at about 12:15h and as he parked his truck and walked towards the office, he was confronted by the two armed men. After snatching the bag containing the money the men then jumped onto a CG motor cycle and fled the scene.

According to reports, the businessman was left traumatised as they rode away.

A senior member of staff of the fuel depot when contacted told Guyana Times that as he arrived at his Providence, EBD office, he was told about the robbery.

“I was made to understand that the man was coming to the office when he

was relieved on the bag with the money… This businessman is a regular dealer”, he added. This publication was also informed that the businessman drove to the Providence Police Station where he lodged a report.

The senior official on the other hand related that the area is equipped with surveillance cameras but the police have not approached the company to review same.

The official also claimed that there were security guards on site but due to the haste in which the robbery occurred, there was little time for them to respond.

Meanwhile, a police rank stated that the matter is being investigated by the ranks at Grove Police Station. He confirmed that the robbery occurred at about 12:25h by two men who managed to escape on a motor cycle.

An investigation has been launched into the robbery. Attempts to contact the businessman proved futile.

Killers of Mocha mason remain on the run O

ne day after Mason Germing Giles was shot dead in his Mocha Arcadia, East Bank Demerara home, Police are yet to find his killers despite claiming that they have intensified their investigations and search.

This was according to a senior Police rank who stated that investigators will revisit the scene as they continue their investigations.

He said that that based on information received and the story told by the victim’s reputed wife, the shooting incident stemmed from a possible robbery. The manner in which the attempted robbery was committed is a clear indication that two youth were involved, the rank stated.

However, the post mortem examination proved that the now dead died of a single gunshot wound to head. The autopsy was performed by local Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh who also confirmed that he was shot

Dead: Germing Anthony Giles

at close range. The type of ammunition used to comment the act was not immediately available.

Gillian Ollivierre, reputed wife of the dead man witnessed the post-mortem along with his brothers. The woman claimed that due to the incident, she is afraid to stay in the house thinking the men might come again.

The woman on the day

of the shooting told Guyana Times that while one of the men was wearing mask, she could not have recognised the other due to the darkness. She has nevertheless given the description of the men to the Police.

The neighbours were tightlipped about the incident while some residents claimed that it was a mystery and are of the belief that the man’s reputed wife might have planned his death since the bandits did not harm the woman nor did they take anything substantial.

Giles of Lot 4 Barnwell, North Mocha Arcadia was shot once to his face by one of the two bandits who invaded his home about 01:00 on Sunday morning. He was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre from where he was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital but died on his way there.

According to information received, Giles and

his reputed wife, Gillian Ollivierre were at home when they heard a strange sound at the bedroom window. This prompted the now dead man to open the window and as he did, one of the masked men discharged a round at him. He was shot in his left eye.

The bandit then entered the house through the bedroom window and demanded that Ollivierre handed over all the cash and gold that were in the house. He also opened the door to allow his accomplice into the home.

The woman reportedly told them that they did not have money at home and after searching the house to determine the truth of that, they relieved the woman of her mobile phone and escaped. The woman works as a cook in the interior and only return on Monday last.

It was under this pretext that the bandits thought she had money and gold in the wooden house.

in moves to lend IT graduates charged to help develop Guyana CDB more for housing

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oung persons are being encouraged to take up the challenge of developing Guyana with Prime Minister Samuel Hinds saying that it is not only Government that has the challenge of building Guyana.

“That is a challenge worth taking up,” Hinds told graduates of a Information Technology programme at Port Mourant Community Centre Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) last Wednesday.

The 30 persons of different age groups had successfully completed studies in an Information Technology (IT) training programme. However apart from that group a similar group also received certificates at the Crabwood Creek Community Centre also on the Corentyne on Wednesday.

The six-week programme was an initiative undertaken by Government through Basic Needs Trust Fund and was executed at a cost of $2 million. It included introduction to basic office ethics, Introduction to computers, Microsoft office which included; Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Publisher, Power Point Access along with basic Mathematics and English. Sexual reproductive health was also part of the programme.

The Prime Minister in noting the importance of such programmes in the development of Guyana said that more males would come on board when other such programmes are being run. “More of our male folk

development

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The Port Mourant graduating class

need to become IT literate and participate in such programmes in order to take Guyana forward,” he said.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh who delivered the feature address at Crabwood Creek and at Port Mourant said the IT certificates enhance ones marketability on the job market. “Even though we are celebrating the individual accomplishments of those who are receiving their certificates, what we really are celebrating is the laying of another brick in a master foundation that is being constructed by this government for the future of Guyana.”

He said that master plan is one that is driven by the direction in which it is anticipated the world will be

going. Minister Singh explained that one of the realities is that of technology is the direction in which the world is going. It is being used in communication and also to conduct business.

“The future of the world will inevitable be technology driven and your government’s commitment, is to ensure that you are not left behind,” Minister Singh said, noting that the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) Administration has committed itself to ensure that all have access to the internet and to computers.

At Crabwood Creek, the Finance Minister told grandaunts that today many of us take for granted that fact that we go around with a device in our hands from which we can communicate

with persons in any part of the world. He noted that there were days when it took about one year to send a letter and get a reply when the mail was taken by boat.

“The advancement we experience in Guyana did not happen by magic but by technology and by your Government creating an environment that made that technology readily affordable. It happened by our government anticipating that this is the direction in which the technology is going, by let us facilitate modernisation by the telecommunication sector to bring in these new services.”

It was the third of such programmes to be implemented at Port Mourant while plans are afoot to have another one commence.

he Barbadosbased Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) says it is now revising its “Housing Sector Policy and Strategy” so as to better assist regional countries deal with their housing problems, particularly for low and lower middle-income segments of the population.

The CDB said that recent studies suggest that the housing deficit in Latin America and the Caribbean stands at between 42 and 51 million units in a region that is estimated to grow to 160 million households by 2020.

“This unmet demand, compounded by changing settlement patterns, has resulted in insufficient housing provision, as evidenced by informal settlements, particularly in urban areas,” the CDB added.

It said that although data on housing in Caribbean countries are not readily available, surveys of living conditions suggest that significant pockets of substandard housing still exist, especially among lower quintiles of the population. The CDB said that one step towards the revised policy was a recent workshop held here last month, the basis of which was two studies it commissioned that separately assessed, CDB’s involvement in the housing sector and work being undertaken by selected borrowing member countries (BMC).

The CDB said the workshop discussed the findings of these two studies as well as a presentation on the challenges, opportunities and successes of affordable housing solutions for low income households and provided an opportunity for participants to exchange views and experiences on the housing sector in their respective countries.

“Since 1990, CDB has provided over US$160 million in loans and grants to 12 BMCs in support of various initiatives in the housing sector. “Traditionally, interventions have been geared towards home ownership, including the provision of mortgage finance through financial intermediaries, improvements in housing stock, upgrading and regularising informal settlements and providing sites and services,” said the Bank’s Director of Projects, Michelle Cross Fenty.

She warned that without the necessary enabling environment in place, the actual construction of housing units will not have the desired maximum social, economic and environmental development impacts.

“Therefore, in order to maximise the impact of our interventions, and to facilitate an appropriate, holistic response to the…housing challenges, establishment of an enabling environment has become a critical consideration for the Bank,” Cross Fenty said.

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tuesday, march 10, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Temporary closure of Caricom Rice Mill hurting Essequibo rice farmers ... probe ongoing over death of teenager

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he temporary closure of Caricom Rice Mill, Essequibo Coast has put a severe strain on rice farmers who have complained about finding reliable buyers of their paddy and also millers who are within reasonable transporation distance.

Caricom Rice Mill has been out of operations since the February 5 death of a teenager – Threeson Gittens of Richmond Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast.

Gittens died when the bottom of a paddy storage tank fell off causing the tonnes of paddy to cover the youth.

By the time he was removed from under the paddy he had suffocated. Vishon Singh from Anna Regina was injured in the process. ] The incident occurred around 07:30h that day. An investigation is currently ongoing, which necessitated the closure of the mill.

Meanwhile, scores of rice farmers in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) who would have harvested paddy from their fields last week are complaining that Caricom Rice Mill has been refusing to buy their paddy.

Threeson Gittens

Farmers vented their frustrations during an interview with Guyana Times on Monday.

One farmer from Anna Regina said that usually when he harvests his paddy he takes it to the closest miller which is Caricom Rice Mill Limited.

He said that now he has to incur additional expenses to take his paddy to distant millers.

Farmers living in the Reliance, Anna Regina, Henrietta and Three Friends are predominately affected by the move.

PPP/C nudges GECOM to up voter education campaign

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he People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has once again called on the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to "aggressively intensify" its voters’ education programme across the country.

The call was made by the General Secretary, Clement Rohee on Monday at the party’s weekly press conference.

Rohee said GECOM must embark on more education campaigns to sensitise voters about Election Day procedures as well as the rights of voters at polling places.

“We are calling on GECOM to aggressively intensify its voters’ education programme throughout the country but more so in the rural and hinterland regions. It must be intensified. Voters’ knowledge of ‘E Day’ procedures will only serve to boost the efficiency and effectiveness of the voting process. It will help in reducing the number of rejected and spoilt ballots. A more proactive approach must be taken…,” Rohee said.

He expressed the party’s dissatisfaction with the number of Identification cards which have not been uplifted from the Elections Commission. Rohee related that the party would like to know what GECOM’s plan of action was to tackle this situation noting that the ‘wait and see’ period has been long gone.

He urged that qualified and competent persons desirous of safeguarding Guyana’s democracy be employed by the elections agency.

Rohee also reiterated his Party’s call on GECOM to have public vetting of persons employed or who have applied to be employed to work

on Elections Day. This call has been made several times in recent months. He told the media on Monday that public vetting will “justify the transparency of the process and enhance the confidence of the electorate in GECOM’s ability to deliver a free and fair election on May 11. Guyanese must demand public knowledge of all polling day staff since this should be of no secret to the populace.

Meanwhile, despite saying that it had full confidence in the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to conduct free, fair and transparent elections when the process is held on May 11, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) had too raised concerns with regard to the lack of voter education by the Commission.

Opposition Leader David Granger said APNU had serious concerns with the level of voter education which was being done by the Elections Commission. “More needs to be done on the part of GECOM for voters’ education. We have been going into some communities and we are being asked how to vote,” Granger said.

According to APNU General Secretary Joseph Harmon, the bits and snippets which were being published in the local media were simply not enough and the Commission must put adequate systems in place to address this.

Other parties have, on numerous occasions in the past, criticised the Commission for what they deemed as unpreparedness for the holding of General and Regional Elections in Guyana and have also called on the Commission to improve its provision of voters’ education.

When asked if they knew the reason why their paddy is being refused, farmers said that the mill is not accepting any paddy due to the recent tragedy with the teenager.

“This is the season for harvesting we need markets for our paddy, Caricom Rice Mill does help we out” one farmer explained.

Even while awaiting the report from the investigation, Labour Minister, Dr Nanda Gopaul said the company could be shutdown, if investigations confirm that the management is liable for the accident.

The Labour Minister said the accident occurred in a manner that suggests the incident could have been prevented, if proper safety measures were initially in place.

Minister Gopaul explained that the most severe penalty for an industrial accident is closure, noting that

a company would only be allowed to recommence operation until it is in compliance with the health and safety regulations.

“I can’t say any-thing until the report is released… an investigation was launched immediately after the incident occurred, so when that report is compiled, we’ll know the next step,” Dr Gopaul said.

According to a source, Gittens was in a huge metal tank when the cone attached to the top broke and the paddy started to rush down. The cone that is attached to the top of the tank usually stores approximately 300 bags of paddy.

Gittens saw the bottom of the cone coming off and tried to escape, but, unfortunately, he was trapped by the paddy pouring down.

The two other employees who were in the tank with Gittens managed to escape

from the tank unhurt. They were reportedly closer to the door.

The teenager was retrieved by officers from the Anna Regina Police Station with blood flowing from his mouth and taken to the Suddie Public Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.

Singh was also taken to the hospital.

He views with regret the terrible incident, as he calls on all manufacturing companies, mining industries, factories and other companies to stringently comply with international safety regulations and the Industrial Training Act. “We have continuously been urging companies to adhere to these regulations…we have been sensitising them about these things,” he said.

Dr Gopaul pointed out that industrial actions are quite costly to both the em-

ployee and the employer.

There has been a major reduction in the number of industrial accidents throughout the years, with 10 fatal accidents in the workplace last year.

Nonetheless, he believes that “it is 10 too many.” Dr Gopaul also disclosed that he has already prepared a draft legislation to give additional “teeth” to the existing constitution governing industrial safety procedures and penalties. “ We at the Ministry have also been encouraging people to form a work and safety committee in the workplace to monitor the workplace to ensure all safety rules are in place,” the Minister said.

He noted that workplace accidents are usually avoidable; therefore, employers and employees should pay more interest in ensuring their environment is safe.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, march 10, 2015

Regional

TT child witnesses parents’ murder/suicide

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s women across the world on Sunday celebrated International Women’s Day, a Marabella family were grief-stricken after man killed his wife and himself in the presence of their five-year-old daughter. The murder/suicide has left the families of both Jessica Brereton, 34, and Anil Lalmansingh, 41, of South Oropouche, in shock as they were unaware that the couple was in a violent relationship. Lalmansingh shot Brereton dead before turning the gun on himself on Saturday night.

Police said around 09:00h, a man was at Princess Margaret Street, San Fernando when he heard several loud explosions. The man saw a little girl, around five years old, running towards him. The child told the man that her parents were dead, Police said. He called the Police and when they arrived on the scene, the officers found both left side doors

CCJ says no to serial litigation Clyde Brown v Michelle Moore Griffith, Robin R Moore, Basil R Moore [2013]

By Ivy O Pitts: Norman Manley Law School

Jessica Brereton, shot dead. Anil Lalmansingh, committed suicide

of a silver BMW parked at Princess Margaret Street open and the bodies of a man and woman with gunshot wounds inside.

Brereton was slumped in the front passenger seat while Lalmansingh was in the driver’s seat. Police also recovered a revolver, believed to be the murder weapon, near the gear lever. Both Brereton and Lalmansingh worked at Iere Express Couriers Ltd and had been together for more than two years. They had no children together, but Brereton had two children – five-year-old girl and 11-year-old boy –

from two previous relationships. Lalmansingh had an 18-year-old daughter from a previous relationship.

At her Seaview Drive, Marabella home on Sunday, Brereton’s mother, Veronica Noel, said her daughter broke off the relationship before Christmas, but Lalmansingh would not leave her alone. Noel said she never knew that her daughter was in an abusive relationship until yesterday morning when one of Brereton’s friend told her that Lalmansingh used to beat and verbally abuse Brereton. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Jamaican-born athlete found dead in Times Square hotel

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amaican born student and athlete Sabrina Cammock was found dead on Saturday in a Times Square hotel the New York Police are reporting.

Cammock hails from Watt Town in St Ann and attended the Bethany Primary School near Alexandria in the parish. She left Jamaica after completing Grade Six for the United States. She is said to be approximately 22 years-old.

The following is a re-

port on the incident from the Associated Press: “More tests are needed to determine the cause of death of a Syracuse University sprinter found in a Times Square hotel room during spring break, medical examiners said Sunday.

Sabrina Cammock’s autopsy was conducted Sunday, but the results were awaiting further studies, medical examiners’ spokeswoman Julie Bolcer said.

Police say there were no

signs of criminality when Cammock was found at around 9:20 a.m. Saturday at the Hotel Edison. The hotel declined to comment on the death, first reported Saturday by the Daily News.

Specializing in sprinting, Cammock competed as recently as the previous weekend, when she was on the women’s 4x400 relay team at the 2015 ACC Indoor Championships at Virginia Tech, according to Syracuse’s sports website.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

US declares Venezuela a threat, sanctions top officials

Opposition supporters shout during a rally to commemorate International Women’s Day and in support of jailed Opposition leaders, Leopoldo Lopez and Antonio Ledezma, in Caracas, March 8

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he United States on Monday declared Venezuela a national security threat and ordered sanctions against seven officials in the worst diplomatic dispute with the oilrich country since socialist President Nicolas Maduro took office in 2013.

President Barack Obama issued and signed the executive order, which se-

nior administration officials said did not target the energy sector or Venezuela’s broader economy. The move raises tensions between Washington and the OPEC member just as US relations with Cuba, another long-time US foe in Latin America, are set to be normalised.

Declaring a country a national security threat is the

first step in starting a sanctions regime. The same process has been followed with countries such as Iran and Syria, US officials said.

The White House said the executive order targeted people whose actions undermined democratic processes or institutions, had committed acts of violence or abuse of human rights, were involved in prohibiting or penalising freedom of expression, or were Government officials involved in public corruption.

“Venezuelan officials past and present who violate the human rights of Venezuelan citizens and engage in acts of public corruption will not be welcome here, and we now have the tools to block their assets and their use of US financial systems,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a statement. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

T

he case of Clyde Brown v Moore illustrates that an appeal does not mean ‘ask until you get what you want.’

Instead, in applications for special leave, the resources of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) are to be used by litigants who have a case that has some prospects of success.

In 2012 Michelle Moore-Griffith, Robin R. Moore and Basil Moore brought a claim against Clyde Brown for possession of land.

Mr Brown claimed that he acquired title to land through adverse possession, having lived there for over ten years. The trial judge and the Court of Appeal rejected Mr Brown’s case because he did not present sufficient evidence of his occupation of the land. His application before the Court of Appeal to appeal to the CCJ also failed. Mr Brown then went directly to the CCJ for special leave to appeal.

The CCJ refused to grant special leave because Mr Brown did not show a realistic chance of success. He was seeking to overturn the findings of fact made by the trial judge and the CCJ applied the general principle that an appellate court will only interfere with findings of fact in exceptional cases.

Counsel for Mr Brown then applied to the CCJ for a rehearing of his application for special leave. The CCJ decided to hear the application but on written submissions without an oral hearing. Mr Brown’s main argument was that there had been a breach of natural justice

because he claimed that the panel of judges which heard his first application did not read his written submissions. The Court affirmed that it had “unfettered power to correct any injustice caused by an earlier order it has made.” However the application for a rehearing was dismissed as Mr Brown could not establish either that he had suffered an injustice or that his written submissions were not read.

Counsel for Mr Brown then again applied to CCJ for this decision to be set aside.

This third application alleged a breach of international law, a deviation from standard judicial norms, procedural irregularity and a breach of natural justice, mainly due to the CCJ’s use of written submissions instead of oral submissions. After an oral hearing, the Court ruled that this application was an abuse of process “designed to clutch at straws” in another attempt to reopen the case. The Court also referred to rule 8.1 and 9.6 (c) of its Appellate Jurisdiction Rules to show that it could determine any application based only on written submissions. The CCJ emphasised that there must be finality to litigation. It ordered that no further applications could be filed by Mr Brown on this matter without the permission of the Court and that Counsel representing Mr Brown pay costs of the application.

This summary is intended to assist the Caribbean public in learning more about the work of the CCJ. It is not a formal document of the Court.

More questions raised over AntiguaBarbuda connection with UAE project

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or the second time in less than three months, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda has attempted to clarify the relationship between its citizenship by investment programme (CIP) and a real estate develop-

whatsoever between persons purchasing such homes and the acquisition of Antigua and Barbudan citizenship.

However, the Government was forced to respond again on Friday to a report in local media that raised new questions about

would be paid a commission for doing so in an open and transparent manner.”

Hurst emphasised that persons referred to Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship

by Investment Programme (CIP) by the Sweet Homes project are required to invest

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne (second right) visits Sweet Homes’ Ajman Uptown and High Rise Towers projects

ment in the United Arab Emirates, which appears to claim that purchasing homes in the project somehow qualifies persons to become citizens of Antigua and Barbuda.

In late December last year, in a diplomatic note sent to its international partners, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda made it clear that, as it relates to the Sweet Homes’ project, there is no automaticity

the UAE project. Chief-ofStaff Lionel Hurst, said: “There is no requirement under the Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment programme for anyone to purchase any of the units under the Sweet Homes project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The contractual arrangement with the UAE project is that it can refer persons to the CIP for consideration, and

in Antigua and Barbuda, in accordance with the laws of the country.

He said that there are only three ways in which any applicant could be considered. These are by: (1) investing at least US$400,000 in real estate in Antigua; or (2) contributing US$200,000 to the National Development Fund; or (3) making a business investment of US$1.5 million in the economy. (Excerpt

from Caribbean News Now)

tuesday, march 10, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Putin says plan to take Crimea hatched before referendum

Russian marines take part in a military parade during celebrations marking the forces’ annual holiday in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, November 29, 2014

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ussian President Vladimir Putin has said he ordered officials to start work on taking control of Crimea weeks before a referendum which, the Kremlin has asserted until now, prompted the region’s annexation from Ukraine.

Russian state television channel Rossiya-1 aired a brief extract of an interview in which Putin said he had called an emergency meeting in February last year to discuss the overthrow of Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovich hours earlier.

Yanukovich, a Russian ally, had fled to the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk after being forced out by anti-government protests. “He would have been just annihilated... We got ready to get him out of Donetsk by land, by sea and by air,” Putin

said about his meeting in the Kremlin with commanders of special forces and Defense Ministry officials.

“This was on the night of February 22 through to February 23. We finished around seven in the morning. And, while saying goodbye, I told all the colleagues: ‘We have to start the work on Crimea’s return into Russia’.”

This account, broadcast on Sunday, appeared to be at odds with previous assertions from Russian officials that the annexation decision was taken only after the referendum on March 16, when Crimeans voted to become part of the Russian Federation.

The virtually bloodless seizure of Crimea – a Black Sea peninsula with an ethnic Russian majority and where Moscow has a naval base – was followed by a proMoscow insurgency in the east of Ukraine.

About 6000 people have been killed in the fighting in eastern Ukraine. A fragile ceasefire, agreed last month in Minsk, has largely held so far. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Edgar Lungu collapse: Zambian President needs treatment abroad

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ambian President Edgar Lungu has to undergo throat surgery abroad, his doctors say, after earlier reporting that he had malaria.

Lungu, elected in January, collapsed while giving a speech to commemorate International Women’s Day in the capital, Lusaka, on Sunday.

During the campaign, Lungu’s allies denied reports he was sick and he offered to undergo a medical check-up. The election was called following the death of his predecessor Michael Sata.

Lungu, 58, was treated at a local hospital and his office issued a report assuring Zambians that the President was “feeling better” and would return home on Monday.

A statement from the

UN investigator, Yanghee Lee, said she observed no improvements for displaced Rohingya Muslims

Solar plane finishes first leg of epic roundthe-world bid

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olar Impulse 2 landed Monday in Oman, completing the initial leg of its epic bid to become the first solar-powered plane to fly around the world, testing its pilots to the limit.

The aircraft touched down in Muscat after nightfall, 13 hours and two minutes after taking off from Abu Dhabi.

Pilot Andre Borschberg, who was at the controls on the 400-kilometre (215 nautical mile) trip, smiled and waved to his team after landing.

“The adventure has started,” Solar Impulse Chairman Bertrand Piccard had said just after Borschberg took off in the early morning from Abu Dhabi’s Al-Bateen airport on the historic circumnavigation aimed at promot-

ing green energy.

The takeoff by Solar Impulse 2, which had originally been scheduled for Saturday, but was delayed because of high winds, capped 13 years of research and testing by Swiss pilots Borschberg and Piccard.

Live video streaming on the www.solarimpulse. com website monitoring the unique aircraft’s progress showed the pilot, wearing an orange jumpsuit, breathing using an oxygen mask.

“From Mission Control Center in #Monaco the engineers are helping me to perform Oxygen Mask tests from #SolarImpulse,” he tweeted.

Borschberg earlier called his wife from on board, according to the live feed. (Excerpt from France24)

jority in Rakhine state.

She observed “a growing atmosphere of fear, distrust and hostility” during her latest visit in January, when she was publicly denounced as a “whore” and a “bitch” by a prominent Buddhist monk.

Lee witnessed “abysmal” conditions at a camp where displaced Muslims were being held “for their own security”, Rakhine’s chief minister told her. “Many people told the Special Rapporteur that they had two options:

to stay and die or to leave by boat,” said Lee’s report to the UN Human Rights Council.

Human rights violations in Rakhine were causing a “domino effect” in the region as people were smuggled or trafficked out to Thailand or Malaysia. The mostly stateless minority was likely to be the main loser from a new law initiated by the Rakhine National Party that restricts political party membership to full and naturalised citizens, she said.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

President’s office said he was suffering from a narrowing of the oesophagus which needed “high-tech medical procedure which is currently unavailable in Zambia”.

“Therefore he has been referred for specialised treatment abroad,” it said.

It said this was a recurrence of a condition for which he had been treated 30 years ago. The statement did not specify when Lungu would have the operation and journalists were not allowed to ask questions at the press briefing.

Lungu, a former Defence Minister, is due to serve the remainder of Sata’s term, until elections in 2016. While Sata was President, the Government was accused of covering up his ill-health. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Afghanistan in danger of sliding "under thumb" of Pakistan – Hamid Karzai

A UN says Myanmar sliding towards conflict M

yanmar is sliding towards conflict as the Government backtracks on pledges to protect human rights and “fear, distrust and hostility” spread, a UN investigator has said in a report published on Monday.

Yanghee Lee, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, saw “no improvement” for displaced Rohingya Muslims since her previous visit last July to investigate allegations of mistreatment of them by the Buddhist ma-

15

fghanistan’s historic struggles against British imperialism and Soviet invasion will have been in vain if the country succumbs to pressure from neighbouring Pakistan, Hamid Karzai has warned in an interview with the Guardian.

The former President of Afghanistan made his remarks at a time when his successor, Ashraf Ghani, has overturned the country’s traditionally hostile relationship with Pakistan in the hope of enlisting its help in brokering a peace deal with the Taliban.

Several once-unthinkable concessions made to Pakistan in recent months have horrified Karzai and

many of the men who helped him rule for more than a decade.

“We want a friendly relationship but not to be under Pakistan’s thumb,” he said.

It is a view many think Ghani cannot afford to ignore, given how many people agree with Karzai, a familiar and charismatic figure who remains in the thick of Afghan politics.

The man who famously never took a holiday while in power rushed back early from a recent break in China to his new home and office complex in Kabul, a scaled-down version of the capital’s 19th-century presidential palace. (Excerpt from The

Guardian)

Libya violence: Foreign oil workers kidnapped

Al-Ghani oil field is one of 11 rendered non-operational following attacks in recent weeks

I

slamic State (IS) militants are said to have kidnapped nine foreign oil workers in a raid in Libya, when they reportedly beheaded eight guards.

Four Filipinos, an Austrian, a Bangladeshi, a Czech and a Ghanaian were taken with an unidentified

ninth foreigner, Austrian officials say. The Foreign Ministry in Vienna said IS had attacked the al-Ghani oil field.

A Libyan Army spokesman told the BBC the field 700km (440 miles) SouthEast of Tripoli had been attacked on Friday. One oil

worker died of a heart attack after seeing the beheadings, he added.

The foreigners were working for oilfield management company Value Added Oilfield Services (VAOS) at the field. VAOS said it did not know which militants had carried out the attack

or where the oil workers had been taken.

It insisted that none of its employees had “died or were physically harmed in the attack”. Confirming that four of the missing workers were their nationals, the Philippines said it brought to seven the number of Filipinos now missing in Libya.

A spokesman for Libya’s National Oil Corporation, Mohamed Al-Harari, told the BBC he could not confirm the abduction of foreign oil workers. However, he added that local oil workers at the field had been held for two hours before being released.

“These oil workers have said that the gunmen kidnapped a number of foreigners,” he said. (Excerpt from BBC News)

16 news

tuesday, march 10, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Cocaine boulanger misstep lands Lusignan woman in jail O

nlookers in Court Three of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts were left stunned on Monday as a mother of three, who was caught with over 27 pounds in cocaine in 12 crates of boulanger, was sentenced to 56 months imprisonment.

In a 2013 Police report, it was stated that 39-yearold Badmattie Persaud was stoical as she was read the charges of drug possession with the purpose of trafficking. However, this was not the case on Monday as tears ran steadily down the defendant’s cheeks on the last day of the trial when Persaud was read her fate.

It was in November 2013 that the mother of three was arrested for spearheading the trafficking of 27.183 pounds of cocaine in several craters of boulangers which were headed for Canada.

In the courtroom on Monday, Magistrate Judy Latchman gave the defendant the chance once more to give her account of what transpired. Persaud told the court that she does no shipping, stating that she is the owner of T&R Seafood, and Tazim Gafoor, who was her boyfriend at one point, is the person who exports goods.

Persaud said that Gafoor had offered her a job at his business, encouraging her to leave her work at

the fishery to work at T&R Seafood. It was a month after that she found herself more involved than she warranted when she was called upon to mediate between some friends in exporting goods.

On the fateful day when the crates of boulanger were to be shipped to Canada, Persaud stated that it was Tazim who said she would accompany Nazim Gafoor to pick up the boulanger and drop them at the airport. Persaud reiterated that neither of them knew what was in the boulangers. She said that she had handed over the items at the airport, adding that she had not packed them into the crates.

She said when she was told that cocaine was in the vegetables she called her boyfriend and he said he knew nothing about it. He had advised her to go home and wait, upon which he contacted her and told her to go to the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) and tell them that she did not pick up the boulanger from the market.

Persaud continued by telling the court that she had gotten herself a lawyer who asked her some questions and a statement was written for her, however, she stated that she was unaware at the time that it was a statement she was making.

Badmattie Persaud

Her lawyer, Mohan Rampersaud, had asked her to sign the statement and she had did so – first saying she had done so without reading as she could not read, then saying that her lawyer had read it out loud to herself and a third party but she was not asked to comment on anything but simply sign. She said the statement then went to the East La Penitence Police Station. She never saw her lawyer again.

In her closing statements the defendant urged the court to believe her ignorance in all that had transpired in relation to the cocaine that was found.

However Police

Anti-drunk driving campaign snares 3 more appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on February 16 when he pleaded guilty and was fined $7500.

Ricky Jayram, of Lot 53 Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on February 15 while driving

Prosecutor, Inspector Stephen Telford, in his closing remarks told the court that the prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt that Persaud did indeed have intention to smuggle the cocaine out of Guyana to Canada. He asked the court to not be lenient with the defendant but to let the defendant be seen as an example against all potential drug traffickers as there has been a surge in the practice recently.

He detailed that the prosecution has proven that the defendant had possession of 21.330 kg cocaine, and the statements of their main witnesses Parmadeo Persaud, also known as “Basil” and CANU Officer Yugesh Babulall show that she was aware of the cocaine in the vegetables.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Telford reminded the court that Basil had informed that it was he who had purchased the boulangers for the defendant

while Officer Babulall had found the white substance inside of the vegetables in the presence of Basil. He stated that the Officer had become suspicious when the head of a boulanger had fallen off when he had examined them, as they had looked unusual.

He elaborated that the unusualness was based on the discoloured heads of the produce. This and the fact that he had never known a boulanger’s head to just fall off had made the CANU Officer check further, cutting a boulanger in half and finding packets of white substance in the middle of it.

He said the Officer had the items taken to CANU Headquarters where all the boulangers were checked and the white substance verified as cocaine.

Magistrate Latchman, in her sum up of the trial said that she had noted that the defendant had signed the statement but

afterwards stated that she was unsure of what she had signed although it had been read to her. The Magistrate stated that if there were some discrepancy in the statements, it would have been prudent to point this out when it was initially read.

The Magistrate also stated that the defendant would pick up produce from someone she did not know is quite suspicious.

She said she does not believe the defendant’s account that Basil had taken the items and boxed them off but the defendant did this, as was substantiated

by Charles in his testimony.

Magistrate Latchman sentenced Persaud to 56 months imprisonment with a fine of $11,097,000 after considering the value of the cocaine, the method of concealing the items and the fact that the defendant had already been in jail for two years.

Prisoner gets 3 years for smuggling marijuana in crotch again

P

rison does not appear to be having a rehabilitative effect on Selwyn Jackman.

The Camp Street Prison inmate has managed to be found guilty and sentenced to three years imprisonment for trying to smuggle cannabis into the jail in his crotch while serving a three-year term, for a similar offence.

Jackman was brought before Magistrate Fabayo Azore in Court Five of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts to answer to the charge of being in possession of 337 grams of cannabis sativa (marijuana) with the intention of smuggling it.

Police Prosecutor, Corporal Simone Payne stated that the defendant on March 2, around 18:15h, was entering the Camp Street Prison when he was noticed by Prison Officer Jodwayn Thursday.

He was subsequently searched and six brown Scotch Tape parcels containing leaves, seeds and stems were found in his crotch.

Prison Officer Thursday reported the discovery to the Alberttown Police Station on the same day and a Police officer went to the Prison to make contact with the Prison Officer.

The parcels of marijuana were handed over to the Police rank in the presence of the prisoner.

Jackman was told of the offence by the rank and subsequently arrested and charged.

Magistrate Azore sentenced the defendant to three years in jail.

In 2012, Jackman, who initially was in jail for a larceny charge that he was later found guilty of, was caught with six and a half grams of the same substance in his crotch at the New Amsterdam Prison. He was then sentenced to three years in 2013.

Woman beater gets 2 months imprisonment

T

Errol Persaud

Ravendranauth Jodha

he name and shame anti drunk driving campaign of the Guyana Police Force has snared another three men, including a Georgetown man, who all were fined $7500.

Errol Persaud, of Lot 46 Brickdam and Austin Place, Georgetown, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on February 15 while driving motor vehicle PPP 1253 on Brickdam, Georgetown. He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He was charged and

Courts on February 20 when he pleaded guilty and was fined $7500.

Ravendranauth Jodha, of Lot 67 Mon Repos, ECD, was stopped and tested with a breathalyser on February 15 while driving motor vehicle PEE 4887 on the Madewini Public Road, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway. He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He was charged and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on February 19 when he pleaded guilty and was fined $7500.

Ricky Jayram

motor vehicle PJJ 7115 on the Grove Public Road, EBD. He was found to be above the legal limit in terms of the consumption of alcohol. He was charged and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’

A

man was sentenced to two months in jail on Monday when he appeared before Magistrate Annette Singh. Giving a recap of the facts of the case, the Magistrate told the court that the defendant, Ron Clyde, had unlawfully assaulted and threatened to kill the Virtual Complainant (VC) Jenifer Puran on December 8, 2014, at 42 Sheriff Street, Kitty, Georgetown, at a bar where she works.

It was also shared in

the court that the defendant usually frequents the bar. The Magistrate detailed that the defendant had taken a glass bottle and pelted it at the VC’s forehead, who was pregnant then as well. No reason for such violence against the VC was indicated. The pregnant VC looked in remarkably good health on Monday considering the harm that had come to her just four months ago at the hands of the defendant.

In giving reasons for

her sentence, Magistrate Singh stated that she believed without a doubt that the defendant had indeed threatened to kill the VC and did hit her with the bottle. She detailed that evidence provided by a medical report showed the injury the VC sustained due to the defendant’s actions.

Magistrate Singh sentenced him to two months in jail. In addressing the court, the defendant maintained that he did not assault anyone.

17

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, march 10, 2015

AFC’s Ramayya should apologise Democracy, development came for his disrespectful behaviour in 1992; we are holding on Dear Editor, The residents of Berbice are calling on AFC Executive Member, Dr Veersammy Ramayya to give an official apology to us for his unprofessional, unethical and disrespectful behaviour during his one hour programme, "AFC on the move", aired on March 7.

One cannot deny the fact that Ramayya's venomous statements were racially directed and full of lies. Ramayya needs to let us know which bank in Guyana requests a housewife to issue them with a job letter to open a bank account, thereby referring to our sisters and wives who do not work as prostitutes.

The Guyana Bankers Association should investigate this because it is a direct lie and misinformation about our financial system.

Ramayya's needs to apologise for his disrespect for Hinduism. He needs to apologise for slamming the Holy Bhagavat Gita on his dirty desk. That was the most disrespectful thing to do and the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha and the Indian Arrival Committee should demand that he apologises for that lowly action.

Ramayya also needs to apologise for trying to create race hate in Berbice, a community where, although there is difference in political preference, ev-

eryone lives as one.

Also, Ramayya, one piece of information you forgot to mention, as with the APNU, the PPP/C also had thousands of votes that were not cast, so don't fool the Berbicians that had all the APNU votes cast, they would have formed the Government last election. Your math is poor and biased!

David Granger should not associate himself with venomous revengers like Moses Nagamootoo and Ramayya. These hypocrites will destroy the PNC along with themselves.

Dear Editor, The AFC continues to show respect for the Guyanese people, especially the young people and our women.

Not so long ago it was heavily publicised and criticised in the media with regards to prejudicial, discriminatory and ad hominem statements made against a female doctor attached to the New Amsterdam Hospital

by AFC’s Executive Member and Attorney Charrandass Persaud.

He later apologised but continued in a more subtle manner to make disparaging remarks about this woman, so I can only conclude that his apology was hypocritical, deceitful and was made under the duress of public opinion.

Lo and behold, on March 3, he attacked the wife of the AG. He attacked the AG being a "chatree" (kshatriya) and then said that he married a Muslim woman, whom he implied is a woman of a lower caste.

In Islam there is no caste system and all women are equal, but these are the leaders the AFC have. They can only attack women! What does the AG’s wife had to do with the AFC’s campaign message? What indecency is the AG guilty of? What is crime of the AG’s wife? She is an honourable and respectful woman! Leave our wives and children out of politics! Then a few days ago he posed for a ‘friendly’ photograph with two PYO members who were doing some work in his residential area in Canje, but obscenely gesticulated with his middle finger behind the backs of these two young people.

This is most disrespectful to the youths of our coun-

try and it is a disgrace for a senior Executive Member of the AFC/APNU will resort to such election campaign tactics. I have always said in my programme that these people are intellectually and morally bankrupt.

I wonder what the great moralist Daizal Samad has to say on this. Is this the people of high integrity he spoke so loftily about? I told Samad in one of my letters that he was in the wrong place looking for people of dignity and high moral values but he can try to change them! In the AFC’s programme in Berbice, “Alliance on the Move” on DTV Channel 8, he would normally beg callers into the programme to be civil since he has some of his young friends watching the programme, yet he can publicly show his middle finger to young people who belong to another political party.

What a hypocrite!

Then on February 28, Dr Veerasammy Ramayya, a man who claims in many of the AFC’s programme that he respects women and would normally call them ‘behen’ and sister and ‘mataji’ (mother), made the most derogatory statement ever on a TV programme when he insulted the Indian mother of this country by angrily telling them that “when you does be hollering in the hospital to make babies, people can hear you till on the road and it is the black nurses who does be looking after you”.

Does this man who claims to be a spiritualist and a moralist, a man who claims to be a devout Hindu and a man of great charity, have any respect for the mothers, sisters and daughters of the Indians of this

country?

Is he so desperate to sell the AFC/APNU coalition that he can be allowed to make such disparaging and racist remarks about Indian women? On that same programme, he also made racist remarks against the people of Black Bush Polder.

What are the women organisations in this country doing about this? What are the religious organisations doing about this? What is the legal fraternity doing about this? What is the Ethnic Relations Commission doing about this? Dr Ramayya and Persaud have no right to be on the political platform or hold any high offices in this country and the AFC/APNU. If they are serious about ‘change’ then they should distance themselves from these charlatans!

A couple days ago Ramayya was found to be libellous to Zulfikar Mustapha and had to pay $250,000 in damages and was directed by the judge to make a public apology within seven days, but I am sure that the AFC leaders will continue to disrespect the Guyanese people, especially the Indians, since the Indians have now rejected them. Hell hath no fury like a politician scorned!

I am calling on all Berbicians and by extension all Guyanese, to reject people like Ramayya and Persaud and their leaders who are bent on bringing this nation to its knees, even if it means to disrespect our women and our youths and to cause racial strife and disharmony.

Their quest is vengeance and power, so beware!

Narinedat Singh Angry Berbice resi dent

AFC most disrespectful to women, youths

Haseef Yusuf

Dear Editor, I am one of those individuals who can be classified as an overseas based Guyanese. I live here for three months at a time before going back home.

Guyana is my home I am a Guyanese no matter how long I have been in a foreign place. So it is with great interest I follow everything that goes on in Guyana. My country's affairs are mine, everything there is intertwined in my psyche it is riveted in my mind. I would like to do a brief comparison of my makeshift homeland St Lucia and Guyana.

You would remember that both countries held their elections on the same day in 2011, with similar results for both territories.

The only difference here is that the UWP here lost in a first past the post system (constituency system) while the PPP/C gained victory by a majority in a proportional representation system commonly called (PR).

In fact when you look at the two systems, one lost because of their traditional base which runs strictly along constituency lines, that is, St Lucia. Had it been a PR system – where every vote counts – the UWP would have won handsomely.

Because several constituencies saw the ruling SLP winning by a measly two votes. Unlike St Lucia, our system makes more for a fairer fight PR in Guyana irons out that torturous plight of losing by one vote.

Our system lends more for a fairer fight a situation of merit, you must get so many thousand votes for a seat in parliament. Our election saw a clear cut winner in the PPP/C with 32 seats.

The nearest rival was APNU with 26 seats and the AFC, seven seats. What happened thereafter was an illegality, wherein the AFC teamed with APNU against the PPP/C to have a one-

seat majority.

It is an illegal act for which the PR Constitution makes no provision.

Further, the Guyana Constitution does not make provision for a crossing of the floor like the constituency system does. Things remain as is after an election is held. For you to cross over it has to be done prior to an election.

It is this backdrop that caused the AFC to join forces with the APNU in the upcoming May 11 election, thinking that a combined Opposition can defeat the PPP/C. It is also their mistaken belief that the people will buy into that plan.

And this is my point would the people buy into that plan? I think not! What is clear is that the people of this country had a choice in 2011 in a third party, the AFC, now we have none.

A vote for the AFC is a vote for the arch enemy APNU. Central to the larger party, APNU is the PNC very visible, and very strong. There is no way those who voted for the AFC are going to wantonly squander their votes, knowing fully well that it will go to shore up the repulsive PNC/APNU. It will not happen. The people of this country aren't stupid, nor are they amnesiac as the PNC/APNU would have us believe. They are of the erroneous assumption that the youths who were not around in the 1960s could be corralled into their web of lies and vote for them.

Their theory is that the unsuspecting youth could be duped into believing their story.

But I have news for them the youths were here in the Lusignan, Bartica and Agricola bloody attacks when Indians and moderate Blacks were targeted by thugs who are supporters of that party.

They were here when the PNC and AFC sympathised with and made excuses for

their thuggery. There are many more areas where the ruling party has been people friendly, developmentally sound while being peaceful at the same time, but I shall take that up at another forum.

It all boils down to the million-dollar question which one of the two entities should I vote for?

Should I vote for a party that is anti-development and violent or should I vote for continued peace and development. Make no mistake, the developmental thrust of the PPP/C is all around you and the people, especially the youths are well aware of this. I am saying you can fool some of the people sometimes but you cannot fool all the people all the time.

So, trying to sneak up on our youths will not work.

Vishnu Bishram's 25 per cent undecided voters is indicative of what we are talking about this group is going to weigh the odds whether they can entrust a PNC/ APNU led Government over a PPP/C Government.

They are going to investigate what transpired during the long, arduous, continuous 28 years of PNC rule and ask the question what happened then? And the answer is, we had no choice. It was the PNC or the PNC, there was nothing else to choose from.

They will also ask why are all the other Caribbean territories more developed than Guyana? The answer comes back again they had a choice in choosing the best party whereas we in Guyana had none. We do have a choice today, we got that in 1992 and I dare say we are not going back into slavery; we are holding on to freedom and development and won't let go. So, it all boils down to which party bears a human and developmental face.

Neil Adams

The New York Phagwah...

from page 5

The festival of Phagwah has more than one story tied to it. All the stories are testimonies that truth will always triumph over untruth and evil forces. The large influx of New York Caribbean Indians made it possible for Phagwah to be celebrated here in its truest splendour, glamour and rich exuberance just like back home in Guyana, Trinidad and Suriname.

It is a site to behold, where thousands of Hindus dressed in the traditional modes of Indian wear, like the shalwar kameezs, saris, kurtas and dhotis, all dyed with the many colours, such as red, green, blue, yellow and rose pink,

signifying the luscious colours of the Spring season.

The air reverberates with the loud, tantalising sound of chowtal singing, accompanied by the rhythmic tempo, fascinating beats of the dholak and the echoing jhaal.

This combination of songs, music and dances, merriment, joy and laughter, are the characteristics of the celebration of Holi in New York, even much more so than in Guyana.

In keeping with the eternal spirit of Holi, it is hoped that Guyanese realise the importance of peace, love and brotherhood, more so, in these troubling times we find

ourselves living.

With the prospect of an election, when there is always ethnic tension and one party refusing to accept the outcome of democratic voting and finding creative ways to derail electoral outcome, one would hope that the message of Phagwah would be more precious to us.

We as a people should take every opportunity to spread that golden message that the Holi festival embodies the wider world, so that we could together try to make this world better in which we live.

Vishnu Bisram

18

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, march 10, 2015

ARCHIE

Take a look at your assets and consider what you can do (March 21- to raise your standard of livApril 19) ing. Look for a new property or investment that will grow in value.

ARIES

Set the record straight.

TAURUS Express your concerns and (April 20- wishes. You’ll feel much better May 20) once you address issues that have been dragging you down.

Share your suggestions and remain open to compromise.

dilbert

Take a little “me” time to GEMINI rejuvenate and get your pri(May 21orities straight.

Once you reJune 20) alize what’s most important to you, it will be easy to move forward with confidence.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

You can do no wrong if you stick to the things you do best. Plan to take part in an entertaining activity that will boost your awareness and self-esteem.

You will be overwhelmed LEO if you say yes to too many (July 23people. Take care of your Aug. 22) chores and do something to reward yourself, for a change.

Calvin and Hobbes

Stop dreaming and start VIRGO doing.

A short jaunt to visit a (Aug. 23friend or view an exhibit will Sept. 22) revive old plans and give you an incentive to enjoy life.

Step into the limelight.

LIBRA Your sophisticated way of do(Sept. 23ing things will separate you Oct. 23) from the crowd. Greater involvement in unusual pastimes will open your mind to a multitude of new ideas.

SUDOKU

You will be touchy if SCORPIO someone tries to push you in (Oct. 24Nov. 22) a direction that you’re uncertain about. Take time to be reclusive and work on projects that you enjoy.

Put your energy, effort SAGITTARIUS and time into making your (Nov. 23- home suit your needs. Add Dec. 21) to your entertainment center, or consider moving things around to lift your spirits.

Monday, March 9 solution

Think about what you CAPRICORN can contribute to a cause you (Dec. 22- believe in. Participation will Jan. 19) bring you satisfaction and the chance to make a difference in society. Stand tall and get ready to accept praise.

AQUARIUS

Someone will try to make you look bad. You can out(Jan. 20- smart anyone who is a threat Feb. 19) to you if you are secretive about your plans and personal affairs. Go about your business and avoid discord.

PISCES Get involved in an outing (Feb. 20- that will inspire you to incorMarch 20) porate some of your dreams, hopes and wishes into the mix. Your brilliant idea might be totally out of the blue.

tuesday, march 10, 2015

19

Lower Corentyne wins Republic Bank Inter-Zone U-17 final A

mature and classy half-century from opener Adrian Sukwah, and a four-wicket haul from his Albion team mate, Asif Ally led the powerful Lower Corentyne team to a massive 9-wicket win over New Amsterdam/ Canje Combined at the conclusion of the Republic Bank Guyana Limited Inter Zone 2014 Under-17 final played last Saturday at the Albion Sports Complex.

Sukwah hit an unbeaten on 67 in their run chase of 113 for victory.

New Amsterdam/Canje after winning the toss and make first use of the surface were bowled out for a paltry 112 in 42 overs.

Skipper Jaleel Jaffar top scored with 22. He was supported by Kyle Michael with 19 and Sasenarine Sookoo 18.

Off spinner Asif Ally

The winning Lower Corentyne team pose with their trophies and members of the Berbice Cricket Board

spun webs around the batsmen with 4-20 off ten overs. Skipper Brandon Persaud supported with 3-16 from 6 overs.

In reply, Albion junior opening pair Sukwah and Ritesh Omrao made light work of the total with very

attractive and sensible batting. They reached 1131. Umrao made 32.

At the presentation ceremony after the match, Adrian Sukwah was named man of the match.

Speaking on behalf of the board, President Anil

MCY&S/EBFA Pee Wee league…

Craig in pole position, but Herstelling in striking distance

Part of the action in the EBFA league last weekend

T

he final day of the inaugural Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCY&S) sponsored East Bank Football Association (EBFA) Under-11 Pee Wee League is set to be an intriguing one this Saturday at the Grove Playfield.

The final game of the league between Herstelling Raiders and Mocha Champs will decide if Craig Primary, currently at the top of the table with nine points from their quota of five matches will end as clear winners or

they will have to settle for the runner-up spot.

Herstelling will be coming out with all their players firing as they seek to win the competition, the first for the EBFA this year.

Mocha will be no pushovers as they have been improving with each game.

Their fifth and final game against Craig Primary last Saturday ended in a nil-all stalemate with Mocha coming the closest to scoring, including a missed penalty shot.

Craig’s custodian denied

Mocha on two other occasions from powerfully taken outside shots.

The joint leading goal scorers to date are Craig Primary’s Trevon Davidson and Grove Hi Tech’s Devon Padmore.

Jamal Mayers and Jamal Thom, both of Grove, along with Joel Ross of Diamond and Shoran James of Herstelling all have two goals each, with James the player likely to increase his tally as they others have already concluded their quota of matches.

Beharry thanked the management of Albion Estate, the grounds men, the players, who participated, the junior selection panel and most of all the sponsors, Republic Bank Guyana Limited. He said that the board looks forward for

their continued support.

Meanwhile the junior selection panel announced a strong 14-man squad to participate in the upcoming Inter-County tournament. The players are: Adrian Sukwah (Captain), Sasenarine Sukhu, Kevin

Sinclair, Zaheer Inshan, Steve Deonarine (vice-captain), Joshua Harrichand, Matthew Hardial, Kris Ramnarine, Filan Crandon, Asif Ally, Deon Sinclair, Raymond Vankenie, Rameshwar Somwaru and Sylus Tyndall.

Further, the junior selectors have also planned sessions for their Under-19 players in preparation for the upcoming Inter-County championship.

Sessions will be held as follows and clubs and players are asked to take note: Saturday March 14 at Upper Corentyne, Monday March 16 at New Amsterdam/Canje/East Bank Berbice, Tuesday March 17 at Lower Corentyne and Wednesday March 18 at West Berbice.

All sessions starts at 15:00h except for the Upper Corentyne Area, which starts at 10:00h.

Entries close today for KMTC horse race meet

R

egistration for the Kennard Memorial Turf Club’s (KMTC) post-Phagwah horse race meet closes today and according to President of the KMTC, retired Chancellor of the Judiciary Cecil Kennard, entries will not be extended for a second time.

Entries were supposed to close on Sunday, but with the number of horse owners still interested in having their animals register; organisers have decided to extend the registration process until today.

The meet was rescheduled for this Sunday at the club’s track at Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, from 12:30 hours.

The rescheduling of the meet was to facilitate the People’s Progressive Party’s annual ceremony to celebrate the lives of PPP cofounders and late Presidents Cheddi and Janet Jagan, which was held last Sunday Babu Jaan, Port Pourant.

Kennard told this publication on Monday that over 60 animals have already entered for the day’s event, which will be conducted under the rules of the Guyana

Cecil Kennard

Horse Racing Authority (GHRA).

Six races are slated for the day, and as usual, there will be lots of excitement for turfites and lucrative prize packages for top horse owners.

Several changes have been made from the original programme with the D3 Maiden and E and F Lower being removed to facilitate the D3 and Lower animals.

The winning tag remains at $400,000.

The race for K and Lower handicap horses has replaced by the J3 and Lower.

Further, Kennard stated that the top prize for the fea-

ture A1 and Lower race has been increased to $1M, providing that six or more horses enter for the race.

The prizes for the second, third and fourth place finishers in the seven furlongs race will also depend on the amount of entries. The other seven furlongs race is the G1 and Lower for a winning prize of $300,000.

The remaining four races will all run over five furlongs. The K1 and Lower and D3 and Lower races will see the owner of the winning horses taking home $120,000 each. The final race for J1 and Lower has a top prize of $180,000.

Race time is 12:30h, and admission to the venue is $1,200, while children will pay half that amount. Access to the car park is $500, while programmes cost $300 each.

Horse owners can register their animals through Roopnarine Matadial on 325-3192, Ivan Dipnarine on 331-0316, Cecil Kennard on 226-1399, 225-4818 or 623-7609, Isabella Beaton on 693-7812, Dennis Deroop on 609-9143 or Compton Sancho on 690-0569. (Rajiv Bisnauth)

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guyanatimesGY.com

tuesday, march 10, 2015

Bangladesh knocks England out of World Cup E

ngland are out of the World Cup, their abject challenge foundering once again with Bangladesh their latest tormentors, inflicting their fourth defeat in five, by 15 runs. After a high-octane finale, Bangladesh can delight in qualifying for the final stages of a major tournament for the first time, a breakthrough after so many lean years that cannot be overestimated. England, after fulfilling what will now be a hollow final match against Afghanistan, will return home to recriminations.

The possibility of elimina-

tion clung to England’s pursuit of 276 like stale cigarette smoke with only Jos Buttler, with 65 from 52 balls, summoning the wherewithal under the Adelaide floodlights to fling open the windows and lay down the saucers of vinegar to bring fresh air to a challenge, that without his intervention, would have died of suffocation much sooner.

All around him was staleness as England attempted to play within themselves in search of a challenging, but achievable target, one formulated by Mahmudullah’s assured maiden ODI centu-

SCOREBOARD

Bangladesh innings (50 overs maximum) Tamim Iqbal c Root b Anderson 2 Imrul Kayes c Jordan b Anderson 2 Soumya Sarkar c †Buttler 40 b Jordan Mahmudullah run out (Woakes) 103 Shakib Al Hasan c Root b Ali 2 Mushfiqur Rahim† c Jordan b Broad 89 Sabbir Rahman c Morgan b Jordan 14 Mashrafe Mortaza* not out 6 Arafat Sunny not out 3 Extras: (b 1, lb 4, w 8, nb 1) 14 Total: (7 wickets; 50 overs) 275 Did not bat: Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-8, 3-94, 4-99, 5-240, 6-261, 7-265.

England Bowling: JM Anderson 10-1-45-2, SCJ Broad 10-052-1, CJ Jordan 10-0-59-2, CR Woakes 10-0-64-0, MM Ali 9-044-1, JE Root 1-0-6-0.

England innings (target: 276 runs from 50 overs)

MM Ali run out (Soumya Sarkar/†Mushfiqur Rahim) 19 IR Bell c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Rubel Hossain 63 AD Hales c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Mashrafe Mortaza 27 JE Root c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Mashrafe Mortaza 29 EJG Morgan* c Shakib Al Hasan b Rubel Hossain 0 JWA Taylor c Imrul Kayes b Taskin Ahmed 1 JC Buttler† c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Taskin Ahmed 65 CR Woakes not out 42 CJ Jordan run out (Shakib Al Hasan) 0 SCJ Broad b Rubel Hossain 9 JM Anderson b Rubel Hossain 0 Extras: (lb 4, nb 1) 5 Total: (all out; 48.3 overs) 260 Fall of wickets 1-43, 2-97, 3-121, 4-121, 5-132, 6-163, 7-238, 8-238, 9-260, 10-260.

Bangladesh Bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 10-0-48-2, Rubel Hossain 9.3-0-53-4, Arafat Sunny 8-0-42-0, Shakib Al Hasan 10-0-41-0, Taskin Ahmed 9-0-59-2, Sabbir Rahman 2-0-13-0.

Bangladesh players pile on top of each other after the win against England

ry; Bangladesh’s first in the World Cup, a personal triumph on a day that roused a nation.

That Bangladesh responded with their best score against England in ODIs was predictable perhaps in a tournament characterised by good pitches, superhero bats and fielding restrictions, but it was a total that England had only successfully chased once before against a major nation in a World Cup. Symptomatic perhaps of England’s lowly status in one-day cricket, they fell not to the spin they might once have expected, but to pace with Rubel Hossain, the fastest bowler on view, finishing with four wickets. Mashrafe Mortaza, a captain held together by bandages for as long as anybody can remember, at one point pulled up his trouser leg to reveal the sort of appendages more commonly associated with an orthopaedic ward.

World Cups were about pressure – you just had to cope, the coach Peter Moores had asserted before a match

that England had to win to keep their hopes of qualification for the quarter-finals alive. They bowled respectably enough, but with the bat they flunked it, the architects of their own downfall as Ian Bell’s half-century ran out of energy and bad shots jostled for attention with bad luck. Moores insisted he was desperate to retain his job as England coach.

Mahmudullah, for all his elegance, had laboured through 113 previous ODIs without a hundred to his name. But he responded confidently to the urging from Mashrafe to respond positively to one of the biggest matches in their history, feasting on any width on the off side. Along with Mushfiqur Rahim, a scampish accomplice, forever bathed in smiles, he added 141 in 24 overs for the fifth wicket as England lacked intent in the middle overs.

Twice, Mahmadullah shared in a new World Cup landmark for Bangladesh, also adding 86 in 18 overs

for the third wicket with Soumya Sarkar as England’s heartening start – two wickets for James Anderson within seven balls – gradually faded.

Bell initially calmed fluttering English hearts with an understated half-century, but by the fact he fell to Rubel, his authority had departed at precisely the time he needed to take control.

Bangladesh successfully suffocated his shot square on the off side with two fielders and he fell in search of it.

There was also a capacity for self-harm. Moeen Ali’s run out was doolally, pushing Arafat Sunny to mid-on and then wandering halfheartedly down the pitch as Bell showed no inclination for the run. James Taylor’s leaping, nerve-ridden hack against Taskin Ahmed was equally culpable. Desperate moments from increasingly desperate men.

The calls for Hales’ inclusion had finally been answered - the supporters’ favourite, perceived as the man to add impetus to England’s

top order. Hales had been dealt a difficult hand - a first innings in what, for England, was essentially a suddendeath affair, and much of it against the slow bowling which has often unsettled him. He batted conservatively, almost Ballance-like, totting up 27 from 34 balls, before Mortaza defeated an indeterminate push.

Three balls after Bell’s departure, Morgan fell into Rubel’s trap, pulling to long leg. Australia has haunted him: four ducks in nine innings since he was awarded the England captaincy on the eve of the tournament, his method seemingly unpicked, his game unproductive whether he bats as if weighed down by responsibility or, as here, trusts to instinct.

England needed 95 from the last 10 overs with only four wickets left, but one of them was Buttler, closing on his fifty with steely-eyed aplomb. As if to announce his intent, he lofted his next ball, from the left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny, over extra cover for six.

But when he gave Muhfiqur his fourth catch, and Chris Jordan was run out next ball - his bat bouncing up as he dived for the crease, a devilishly difficult decision for the third umpire, Chris Fry, and one which left Moores incensed - England needed 38 from 24 and the game was as good as up. Stuart Broad’s midwicket six against Taskin was England’s last flicker. Twice, Robel struck the stumps, leaving Chris Woakes stranded on 42 not out. (Cricinfo)

Morgan expecting inquest Scenarios for West Indies to make World Cup playoffs after World Cup exit

E

oin Morgan says England must conduct an inquest after defeat to Bangladesh on Monday confirmed their exit from the Cricket World Cup. Following their elimination from the Cricket World Cup, England captain Eoin Morgan is expecting an inquest into what went so wrong during their campaign.

Defeat to Bangladesh by 15 runs in Adelaide on Monday confirmed England’s exit with one Pool A match remaining, while the victors secured their place in the quarter-finals.

Chasing Bangladesh’s 275-7, England looked on course with 38 needed off 26 balls and Jos Buttler in fine form alongside Chris Woakes at the crease.

However, they fell to 260 all out, rendering their last pool match against

Eoin Morgan

Afghanistan irrelevant.

“It’s pretty poor to be knocked out this early from a World Cup,” Morgan said.

“Unbelievably disappointing.

“I can’t pick where it went wrong. I am gutted at the moment. We struggled and fought and fought our

way to try and get through to the quarter-finals, and then from there find a way through to the last few games.

“Again, the changes we made at the start of the tournament were necessary. The two again we made today were also necessary.

“We had gone four games into the group stages without the results we wanted.

It ultimately comes down to the performance, and some of them did, but not all of us as a unit.

“We have tried to address the problem, but obviously it hasn’t worked. Our expectations were higher than the way we performed, so it is obviously disappointing.

“No idea what will happen from here. Again, there will be an inquest over the next few weeks to see what went wrong, and then we will go from there.” (Digicel Sportsmax)

– West Indies (played 5, won 2, lost 3, points 4)

W

est Indies have shown they can be very good or they can struggle during their first five matches. After starting the tournament with a disappointing fourwicket loss to Ireland, they followed up by thrashing Pakistan.

A big win over Zimbabwe, led by Chris Gayle’s 215, followed, before they were smashed by the Proteas in Sydney three days later. A disappointing batting performance and subsequent loss to India in Perth followed.

However, West Indies’ last remaining match is against UAE and they can still make the play-offs. If Ireland lose their two remaining games and the Windies beat UAE, the

The West Indies playing the wait game

quarter finals beckon due to their superior NRR. In a less likely scenario, the Windies could also make it on NRR if they

beat UAE and Pakistan lose to Ireland, but big margins would be needed on either side for it to happen. (Windies Cricket)

sports

YELLOW PAGES

Volcanoes melt Red Force to stay in hunt

tuesday, march 10, 2015

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Katwaroo who made 19.

Cariah faced 108 and struck four fours, in 159 minutes at the crease before he was eighth out.

Earlier, Kieron Pollard took five for 19 with his slow medium pace as the Windwards were bowled out for 249 after resuming on 199 for five.

Romel Currency, unbeaten on 53 overnight, finished on 66 not out.

He pushed his sixth wicket partnership with Dennis Smith to 63 before the wicketkeeper was run out for 33 off 61 deliveries.

With the victory, the Windwards moved to 98 points, just two behind Barbados, with Guyana Jaguars out front on 123 points. (CMC)

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Mervin Matthew

indward Islands kept up their pressure on second placed Barbados Pride with a resounding 175-run victory over Trinidad and Tobago Red Force, on the final day of their eighth round WICB PCL contest here Monday.

Seamer Mervin Matthew grabbed five for 19 as Red Force, set 301 to win at the National Cricket Centre, were bundled out for 125 in their second innings.

Left-arm pacer Delorn Johnson supported with two for 41.

Only left-hander Yannick Cariah with 38 showed any resistance as Red Force crashed to 50 for six and never recovered, to post their fifth defeat of the season and remain fifth in the six-team standings.

He inspired the best partnership of the innings, 46 for the seventh wicket with wicketkeeper Stephen

SCOREBOARD WINDWARDS 1st Innings 350 T&T 1st Innings 299 WINDWARDS 2nd Innings Devon Smith b Pollard 20 *T Theophille lbw b Emrit 4 M Bascombe c wkp Katwaroo b Pollard 42 C Emmanuel c wkp Katwaroo b Pollard 9 D Polius b Cariah 42 R Currency not out 66 +Dennis Smith run out 33 S Shillingford c M Richards b Imran Khan 1 M Matthew c Imran Khan b Pollard 1 D Johnson c Imran Khan b Pollard 20 K Peters c Ottley b Imran Khan 0 Extras (b1, lb7, w2, nb1) 11 TOTAL (all out, 73.1 overs) 249 Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-67, 3-82, 4-85, 5-159, 6-222, 7-224, 8-226, 9-247, 10-249.

Bowling: Richards 9-2-33-0,

Hosein 14-4-28-0, Emrit 7-036-1, Imran Khan 20.1-1-82-2, Pollard 12-2-36-5, Cariah 100-21-1, Mohammed 1-0-5-0.

T&T 2nd Innings (target: 301) J Solozano lbw b Matthew 1 Imran Khan c wkp Dennis Smith b Matthew 1 K Ottley lbw b Matthew 21 Y Cariah lbw b Shillingford 38 J Mohammed lbw b Matthew 4 K Pollard lbw b Matthew 3 A Hosein lbw b Johnson 2 +S Katwaroo b Peters 19 *R Emrit b Johnson 7 M Richards not out 21 D St Clair absent out Extras (b6, lb1, w1) 8 TOTAL (all out, 47 overs) 125 Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-10, 3-29, 4-37, 5-45, 6-50, 7-96, 8-96, 9-125, 10-125.

Bowling: Johnson 13-2-412, Matthew 13-5-19-5, Peters 9-2-24-1, Emmanuel 2-0-90, Shillingford 10-2-25-1.

Armstrong hopes for dope free cycling L ance Armstrong says he hopes for a "dopefree" future for cycling as a report revealed the sport continues to struggle with the problem.

Armstrong, who was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles for doping, was spoken to twice by the body which compiled the document.

"I am deeply sorry for many things I have done," he said in a statement.

"However, it is my hope that revealing the truth will lead to a bright, dope-free future for the sport I love."

The 43-year-old had his Tour de France titles taken off him and was banned from sport for life by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) in August 2012.

Five months later, he finally confessed to cheating in a two-part interview with US talk-show host Oprah

Winfrey.

The American recently told the BBC that he believed the time is coming when he should be forgiven for doping and lying, although that he would probably do it again.

Armstrong recalled his decision to dope was "bad", but taken at "an imperfect time".

The Cycling Independent Reform Commission (Circ) was set up last January to investigate cycling's drugs problem during the 1990s and 2000s.

Following the release of its report, Armstrong said he hoped young riders would be able to "chase their dreams without having to face the lose-lose choices that so many of my friends, teammates and opponents faced".

He added: "I hope that all riders who competed and doped can feel free to come

forward and help the tonic of truth heal this great sport."

Circ's 227-page document included a criticism of the sport's leadership throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

Former International Cycling Union's (UCI) presidents Hein Verbruggen and Pat McQuaid were accused of failing to follow their own anti-doping rules and showing preferential treatment to Armstrong.

Current UCI president Brian Cookson is set to ask Verbruggen to resign his honorary presidency role.

Verbruggen was president from 1991-2005 when Armstrong won his Tour de France titles.

Cookson says he is "frankly appalled by some of the things" in the report and will ask Verbruggen "to consider his position". (BBC

Sport)

22

guyanatimesGY.com

tuesday, march 10, 2015

GSCL Inc InterHuge wins for Renaissance, county softball Conquerors on opening weekend billed for Sunday Massy Under-15 football league…

T

By Avenash Ramzan

T

he inaugural Massy United Insurance’s Under-15 football league commenced last weekend with the cream of the city’s youth footballers displaying their skills and giving organisers of the tournament a clear insight of what the future holds for the game in Georgetown.

Several teams were able to record convincing victories, the highlight being Renaissance 7-1 drubbing of Riddim Squad, and Fruta Conquerors’ 5-0 demolition of Black Pearl.

Renaissance’s performance was the most commanding of the opening day on Saturday at the Tucville ground, with Sherman Bobb leading the rout with a double. He was supported by single strikes from Isiah Nero, Beveny Marks, Tony Vankenic, Carl Lynch and Travis Hercules.

On Sunday at the same venue, hosts Fruta Conquerors displayed their

Part of the action between Fruta Conquerors (orange uniform) and Beacon on the opening day at the Tucville ground (Photo: Avenash Ramzan)

prowess by slotting home five goals without conceding any. Only two players were required on the scoresheets as Raushawn Ritch led the way with a hat-trick, and Orwyn Garraway found the back of the net twice.

On the opening day, Western Tigers defeated Georgetown Football Club (GFC) 3-1 with Dominic Battse scoring a double and Romel Maxwell a single for the winners, while GFC’s consolation came off the boot

Bermuda arrive for basketball clash with Guyana – local players in training

G

uyana will face Bermuda in a three match series set to start from Wednesday at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

The Bermudans are already beginning to arrive in Guyana for the tri-match tournament that will from on March 11, 12 and 14.

Bermuda will field a 10 man squad while Guyana will counter with a 12 man squad and three stand-by players.

The final 15 for the Guyanese squad will be revealed today at a Guyana Amateur Basketball

Akeem Kanhai

Federation (GABF) press conference set to introduce some of the Bermudans and Guyanese players.

No foreign nationals will b on the Guyanese squad as the GABF aim to utilize the three games to evalu-

of Ruben Miller.

Fruta Conquerors drew nil-all with Beacon, while Santos gained a walkover from Houston Stars, who were a no-show.

Camptown and Pele played to a 1-1 stalemate with Carlton Mitchell scoring for Camptown and Julian Smith netting for Pele, while Order and Discipline FC prevailed 3-1 over Black Pearl in the final game of the first day.

In the opening match-up on Sunday, Santos whipped Riddim Squad 4-0 to remain unbeaten, while Riddim Squad suffered a second straight loss. A Ryan Dowlin double and a single strike each from Jamal Mingo and Deangelo Baux accounted for Santos’ four goals.

Houston Stars were again a no-show, handing GFC full points with-

out breaking a sweat, while Renaissance edged Western Tigers 2-1 to keep their unbeaten record intact.

Beacon defeated Camptown in a closelyfought encounter 2-1 with Shamar Austin and Oise Critchlow on target for Beacon and Shaun Jones scoring for the losing team, while Order and Discipline needled a 10-man Pele unit 1-0.

The competition, which is being organised by the Fruta Conquerors Football Club, with sponsorship from Massy United Insurance, will continue this weekend with another 12 games at the same venue.

It has received the blessings of the Normalisation Committee of the Guyana Football Federation and the Georgetown Football Association.

he Everest Cricket Club ground will be buzzing with activity from 10:00h this Sunday, when the Georgetown Softball Cricket League Inc (GSCL Inc) in collaboration with the National Sports Commission, Guyana Softball League, Essequibo Softball League and Berbice Softball League, stages an Inter-county T20 softball tournament.

National 10/10 champions Regal XI and their nemesis Wolf Warriors will be the two teams representing Demerara in this fixture, since they have both

Amerith Rai

been featuring in the finals of most of the tournaments hosted under the auspices of the GSCL Inc. The teams to represent Berbice and Essequibo will

Richard Latiff

be an open and combined line-up.

The draw for the two virtual semi-finals will be done at the venue, while the two finalists will be competing for $50,000 and a trophy with the losers receiving $25,000 and a trophy. In addition to these matches, a specially organised T20 fixture between GSCL Inc. Masters and a Rest XI will be contested.

This is being used by the GSCL Inc. as a yardstick for their trip to Fort Lauderdale later this year, where they have been invited to compete in a ‘big ball’ tournament. Players such as Chien Gittens, Richard Latiff, Pritvi Motilall, Troy Kippins, Amerith Rai and Sachin Singh are expected to be on show.

10th Diamond Mineral Water cycling set for Saturday – in form Hinds set to defend title

By Avenash Ramzan

F Travis Burnett

ate the local talent for selection to the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships set for later this year.

The squad of 21 locals has been going through rigorous for the past couple of weeks with home of honing their skill in time for the encounter.

The squad reads: Dominic Vincente, Dave Causway, Travis Burnett, Ryan Stephney, Shelroy Thomas, Nikolai Smith, Akeem Kanhai, Jason Squires, Chris Williams, Rodwell Fortune, Terron Welch, Amaniniki Archibald, Harold Adams, Ryan Gullen, Randy Richardson, Royston Siland, Jermaine Slater, Shaine Webster, Stefon Gillis, Head Coach: Darcel Harris.

resh off winning the Berbice leg of the Cheddi Jagan memorial road race on Sunday last, Linden’s Orville Hinds will look to continue his winning ways on Saturday when he defends the title he won last year in the main event of the annual Diamond Mineral Water 11-race programme.

The 10th staging of the event, sponsored by Demerara Distillers Limited, will take place on the inner circuit of the National Park, with action set to pedal off at 09:00h.

The day’s activities will be headlined by the gruelling 35-lap School Boys and Invitational, which Hinds, who was at the time riding for United Bike Shop, won in a record time of one hour, 14 minutes, 45.38 seconds (01h: 14m: 45.38s).

Hinds, who now competes in a Team Evolution uniform, had blew out his competitors, with Warren McKay, Raynauth Jeffrey, Andre Abdool, Robin Persaud and Stephen Fernandes rounding out the top six.

Flashback! Orville Hinds receiving his trophy and prime prizes from DDL’s Marketing representative Trishwantie Doodnauth at the end of the 2014 programme (Avenash Ramzan file photo)

Hinds will face stiff competition from those same riders in his defence, along with the likes of Hamzah Eastman, Alanzo Greaves, Christopher Holder and Michael Anthony among others.

Prior to the main event, Sherwin Sampson continued to rule the BMX 6-9 and 9-12

races, winning both comfortably. Jeremiah Harrison and Esau Jaisingh finished second and third respectively in the BMX 6-9, while Thuran Garbarran was the other entrant in the BMX 9-12.

Rawle Small and Adrian Sharma had won the BMX 12-14 and BMX Open respectively, while

Christopher Griffith, Avish Ramkhellawan and Toshawanna Doris were 1-23 in the 12-14 Boys and Girls.

The Juveniles race was won by Michael Anthony, with Andre Green in second and Alonzo Ambrose third, while Ozia McUally was the first to the line ahead of Clyde Jacobs and Wayne Nurse in the Mountain Bike.

In the veteran races, Junior Niles won the Under-50, Linden Blackman copped top honours in the Over-50 and 74-year-old Anthony Fariah was the lone competitor in the Over-60 category.

National coach and organiser of the event, Hassan Mohamed, said on Monday that the race will serve to give the riders another avenue to get fully prepared for the third and final leg of the Cheddi Jagan memorial road race in Essequibo on March 22.

Representatives of Demerara Distillers Limited will be on hand to witness the races and assist in the presentation of prizes.

guyanatimesGY.com

tuesday, march 10, 2015

23

Milo Under-20 School football tournament…

Teams make their final run for playoff spot

Some of the action in the last round of games

By Treiston Joseph

T

he final round of group stage action in the Milo under-20 school football tournament ended with teams securing their sports for the quarterfinals over the weekend at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.

On Saturday, in the only game played, Queenstown Secondary breezed by Central High School 4-1to secure their spot in the knockout stage of the tournament set to begin this weekend.

Kelsey Benjamin decimated the defence of Central with his forward attacks, scoring all four goals for Queenstown in the 28th, 33rd, 42nd and 56th min-

utes.

The second game of the day saw St John’s College defeating St Stanislaus College via walkover which was unable to help St John’s to qualify for the knockout round.

On Sunday, Dolphin Secondary won their matchup against Christ Church Secondary 3-0 which allowed them to qualify on top of their group.

Leon Richardson scored a double in the 38th and 50th minutes while Dakhawn Matthews scored the game’s opening goal in the 35th minute.

Chase Academy won their third game of the tournament in as many to qualify at the top of their group with a 2-1 win against South

Ruimveldt Secondary.

Isaiah Reddy scored both goals for Chase in the 46th and 65th minutes despite being put under pressure early with a goal from South Ruimveldt’s Shaquiel Blair in the 24th minute.

St Mary’s also booked their place in the knockout stage with their 2-0 win on Sunday against Brickdam Secondary School.

Curtez Kellman opened the scoring early in the 7th minute before Andel Smith sealed the deal in the second half with a goal in the 42nd minute.

Meanwhile Former champions, St George’s Secondary solidified their quarterfinal berth with a walkover win against Ascension Secondary School.

GTTA reschedules Bolt to run 200m on July 9 AGM and elections U T

he Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) has rescheduled its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and election of office bearers to March 15th from 10:00h, at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) Head office on High Street Kingston, Georgetown.

Each club registered with the association is entitled to send as many delegates as it may desire, however only one (1) representative member of each club will be allowed to vote.

The associations are asked to nominate that representative and send the necessary details to the General Secretary GTTA, Linden Johnson.

Clubs are also reminded to ensure that their annual subscription is paid in order to exercise their franchise.

The affiliation fee is

GTTA General Linden Johnson

Secretary

$2,000 per year and payments must be made to GTTA. On the agenda are the President’s address, Secretary and Treasurer’s reports, motions, along with the election and installation of office bearers.

sain Bolt will run the 200 metres at the Athletissima Diamond League meeting on July 9.

It will be Bolt's second big race of the summer, with the six-time Olympic champion from Jamaica also set to line-up in the 100 meters at the Areva meeting in Paris five days earlier.

Bolt has yet to finalize the remainder of his summer program before the world championships in Beijing from Aug. 22-30.

Bolt, the world-record holder in the 100 and 200, will race the 200 meters for the fourth time in Lausanne. He holds the meeting record of 19.58 seconds, set in 2012.

Pole vault Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie also confirmed his participation to the meeting, the ninth leg of the Diamond League.

(Digicel Sportsmax)

Six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt

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

tuesday, march 10, 2015

Permaul, Bishoo did a terrific job, says Johnson

Veerasammy Permaul

By Rajiv Bisnauth

T

he Guyana Jaguars secured a comfortable victory in round eight of the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB)

Professional Cricket League (PCL) Four-Day tournament on Sunday at the Guyana National Stadium to take Guyana closer to the title.

The Jaguars were led by devastating

spells from, spinners Veerasammy Permaul and Devendra Bishoo in both innings, and Captain Leon Johnson, who was pleased with the victory, praised the spin twins for doing a terrific job.

The 25-year-old Permaul claimed 5-33 and match figures of 10-110. It was also his 3rd 10-wicket and 4th five-wicket haul in the tournament to take his wicket tally to 56, while Bishoo (4-22) had match figures of 8-84 and carried his wicket tally to 44.

The spinners shot Jamaica out for a modest 138 in their second inning before half-centuries from Johnson and Vishual Singh fashioned an easy five-wicket victory over the visitors, who suffered their

Leon Johnson

fourth consecutive defeats.

Reflecting on the win against the Jamaicans Johnson said “Definitely I am happy that we won the game but credit must go to both Permaul and Bishoo, I think they were the trump cards

for us. The nature of the wicket would have always allowed them to bowl well. Once the ball gets older, scoring was a huge challenge and both Permaul and Bishoo took full advantage of that,” Johnson related.

The West Indies batsman added “I think we batted well in patches but there are still areas we need to improve on.

Johnson, who himself scored half-century in both innings said that this weekend’s encounter against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force is definitely crucial since a victory will secure Guyana their first title in seventeen years.

The win is the Guyanese seventh from eigth games. They now moved to 123 points, 23 points ahead of second place, Barbados Pride.

Devendra Bishoo

Fruta Conquerors zoom in on youth football

By Avenash Ramzan

D

etermined to provide an avenue for the development of Georgetown youths, the Fruta Conquerors Football

ings from the Georgetown Football Association and the Normalisation Committee of the Guyana Football Federation.

It is being organised by the Fruta Conquerors

youth football in the city.

“Going forward we believe that we can deliver to them [the sponsor] a good football product, one they would want to continue to invest in…so I can see this

making the transition from there to the senior level that we appear to fall away, and you could only fault administration in general: poor admin, poor coaching structure, poor coaching develop-

The Fruta Conquerors Football Club is aiming to shape the future of Georgetown’s football by investing in the game at the youth level

Club last weekend kicked off the inaugural Massy Under-15 League football at the Tucville ground.

The League is being sponsored by Massy United Insurance, with bless-

Football Club, whose President Wayne Forde, during an exclusive interview at the weekend, said they are hoping to keep the sponsor onboard as the aim is to continuously invest in

Upcoming World Cup matches (with Guyana time) Today: 35th Match, Pool A- Scotland v Sri Lanka, 23:30h Wednesday: 36th Match, Pool B- South Africa v UAE, 21:00h

becoming an item on the national football calendar each year,” Forde envisaged.

Forde, who witnessed the opening set of games on Saturday morning, said he was impressed with the level of talent on show, noting that there is a bright future for football, once the right decisions are made.

“Guyana has always been compared with almost every other country when it comes to this level. We always demonstrate raw talent from the Under-13 leading up to the Under-15. It is

ment,” the football administrator reckoned.

Quizzed on what prompted the club to venture into Under-15 football, Forde pointed out that little is being done to promote this age group within the Georgetown area, hence the investment. He also took a swipe at the Georgetown Football Association for not doing enough to promote youth football.

“The Georgetown Football Association has failed miserably and I want to go on record on this;

they know my sentiments on that issue in organising any meaningful youth football tournament,” he said.

“As a matter of fact, we [Fruta Conquerors] have been doing this for the past four years; almost every Under-13, Under-15 tournament that has been run in Georgetown for the past couple of years has been run by Fruta Conquerors. It is not something that we are disheartened to do, we actually enjoy doing it, but it comes with a huge cost to the club.

Forde said some of those costs have been minimised, since the club has its own ground and does not have to pay a rental. He mentioned however, that there is still the need for partnerships to aid the development of the game, as the organisers of any tournament still would have to provide basic things, such as meals and water.

“I’m of the impression that a lot of people don’t want to invest in youth football because it doesn’t attract the same hype and media opportunity as senior football, but if you don’t do that then the kind of quality you see in the football right now is as a consequence of no investment in youth football,” Forde highlighted.

He lauded Massy United Insurance for seeing the need to throw its support

and finances behind the tournament, noting that such an investment is what is needed to grow the sport in the city.

Twelve teams affiliated to the Georgetown Football

Wayne Forde

Association are competing in the tournament with all games being played at the Tucville ground on weekends.

Apart from hosts Fruta Conquerors, the participating teams are Western Tigers, Georgetown Football Club, Renaissance, Riddim Squad, Santos, Houston Stars, Beacon FC, Sunburst Camptown, Pele FC, Black Pearl FC and Order and Discipline FC.

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