Guyana Times Daily - June 2, 2015

Rohee broadsides Urling over critique of Jagdeo P3

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

Issue No. 2511

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

PRICE

Man shot dead in daring minibus ambush

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Harmon sworn in as Defence Board Secretary

Page 2

P9

…gunmen flee on motorbike with bag

PPP/C ratchets up protest action against GECOM Page 7

Former Housing Minister Irfaan Ali leading protesters outside the Guyana Elections Commission calling for a recount of the May 11 vote. Also among the protesters are PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee and PPP/C Candidate Dr Peter Ramsaroop (Carl Croker photo)

3 die in Green separate ignored broken Berbice pumps for accidents over a year Pages 8&17

Georgetown drowned Page 7

$80 vat included

Basil Williams takes oath as Attorney P9 General

Several P11 questioned over Parafaite Harmonie killing

Mocha man gunned P12 down during row Govt to probe rice deal with Venezuela P13

...promises action against delinquent millers

Parliament P16 likely for June 10 opening …coalition submits list of MPs, GECOM awaits PPP/C’s list

2 News

tuesday, june 2, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Man shot dead in daring minibus ambush …gunmen flee on motorbike with bag

By Bhisham Mohamed

P

andemonium broke out in a route 44 minibus on Monday afternoon after a passenger was shot dead by another, who relieved him of a bag containing over $500,000, in the vicinity of University of Guyana road, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown. The dead man has been identified as Hardat Kissoon, 42-year-old rice farmer of Lot 94 Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara. He was shot once to his chest and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to information received, the now dead man boarded a loaded minibus at the East Coast minibus park at about 14:45h. As the minibus travelled up to the East Coast and into the vicinity of the University of Guyana access road, a man who was sitting in the back passenger’s seat requested a stop. One his way out, he grabbed the bag containing the money from Kissoon.

Kissoon, who was also sitting in the back passenger seat of the minibus, reportedly put up a fight but the bandit whipped out a gun and shot him at close range. The shooter then took the bag and threw it out of the bus through a window to an accomplice, who was waiting on a CG motorcycle.

The man exited, jumped on the motorcycle, and fled the scene.

Passengers were left in shock and started to scream.

Police at the scene of the shooting

Some of them even attempted to jump out of the moving minibus when the gunshot was heard. The man was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, but did not make it.

One passenger told media operatives that the incident occurred right in front of him. He said it happened in a “jiffy” and seemed as though he was a part of a movie. After the man pulled out the weapon, the passengers, he noted, started to scream in fear.

The shooter was not wearing any mask and could be easily identified. Within minutes of the shooting, the Police arrived at the scene where they took statements from the passengers and driver, who

were visibly shaken up by the event.

At the Lyken’s Funeral Home, Soko Ramgobin, brother of the dead man, told the Guyana Times that Kissoon left home for Georgetown shortly after 10:00h on Monday.

The rice farmer visited the bank where he changed a check valued over $500,000 and was on his way home when he was killed. From reports received, it is believed that the now dead man might have been trailed from the city bank.

Ramgobin told the Guyana Times that it is a norm for his brother to travel to Georgetown to change his cheques and, more so, he always used

public transportation. He explained that, at about 15:00h, the man’s son who was in the backdam received a telephone call from the Police. However, after he told them he was in the backdam, he furnished them with a landline number. “When the Police call they tell we that Hardat end up in an accident and we must come to the hospital… is til we reach at the hospital, we know that he get shoot and dead,” the man said with tears in his eyes. The bag he disclosed had the man’s identification card, passport and other documents along with the money.

The deceased’s wife and mother, along with other family members, were also at the funeral home to get a glimpse of the man’s body.

The wife and mother were in tears and had to be consoled. The man leaves to mourn his wife, four children and siblings. The Police have launched an investigation into the shooting incident.

This came less than 48-hours after Dennis Narine, a taxi driver, was shot and killed by a lone gunman who was attempting to gain access into the man’s home at Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara.

Narine was shot once in the chest and was pronounced dead on arrival at the West Demerara Regional Hospital. Police are yet to make an arrest as they continue their investigations.

Young man remanded over attempted cellphone theft

A

young labourer was today remanded to prison by Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he attempted to rob a young woman of her cellular phone.

Shawn Maynard of 154 Hadfield Street, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that on May 25, at Hadfield Street, Georgetown, he attempted

to commit a felony. That is, while armed with a knife, he attempted to relieve the Virtual Complainant (VC) Yugini Cameron, of a Samsung cellphone valued $60,000.

According to the facts which were presented by Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru, on the day in question at around 20:30h, the VC was on her cellular phone on Hadfield Street when she

was approached by the defendant who was riding a bicycle. The defendant then advanced towards her with a knife and demanded that she hand over her phone.

The young woman raised an alarm and, in response, the defendant attempted to ride away. His attempt to escape was foiled by public spirited citizens who apprehended Maynard and handed him over to the Police. He was ar-

rested and charged for the offence. Mangru also stated that it is likely that other charges will be brought against the defendant in relation to other robberies.

The prosecution objected to bail on the grounds of the seriousness and prevalence of the offence. Bail was refused and the defendant was remanded to prison until June 22, when the matter is scheduled to return to court.

7-yr-old girl loses battle to cancer

…3 days before scheduled operation

S

Colleacia Harcourt

even year-old Colleacia Harcourt of Plantation Litchfield, West Coast Berbice, succumbed to brain cancer three days before she was scheduled to undergo surgery for the illness. Harcourt died on May 20, 2015.

Upon the discovery of her unfortunate condition, the little girl’s family had pleaded with the public for financial assistance in order to facilitate the medical treatment necessary to improve her condition. She was scheduled to undergo surgery on May 23, but the family never succeeded in raising enough funds for the operation.

The cost of the surgery was estimated to be $7 million; however the family only succeeded in garnering $2 million through donations from private citizens. According to recent reports from the family, the Ministry of Health had promised to provide an additional $2 million, but never delivered on that promise.

The net estimation, however, only catered for hospital fees, anaesthesia fees, supplies and medications required for the surgery, hospitalisation, seven days in the intensive care unit and seven days in a regular room. The family still needed assistance to cover the costs of airfare and accommodation.

Harcourt was diagnosed with a rare intra-ventricular tumour that obstructs the

flow of fluids in the brain and causes a build up of pressure in the skull. Without immediate medical intervention, any patient is at severe risk of developing a life threatening complication.

The bright girl had begun experiencing agonising migraines just before school closed for the Easter Holidays this year. Initially, the family did not suspect it to be anything serious, therefore they opted to treat it with a home remedy and recommended rest to take the pain away. However, the excruciating throbs in her brain did not go away.

Harcourt was rushed back and forth from several hospitals as her parents desperately tried to detect the source of the problem.

Eventually, a brain scan was done upon request of her father and it was then that the tumour was discovered. The doctors advised that the child needed immediate medical attention if she were to survive.

Through the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), the family received a quotation of $7 million for treatment overseas.

However, the family could not afford this on their own and thus sought to seek the public’s assistance. The family, speaking with the Guyana Times shortly after the child’s death, extended gratitude to the public for the assistance they rendered during their desperate time of need.

news

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tuesday, june 2, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, June 2 – 05:00h-06:30h and Wednesday, June 3 – 05:00h-06:30h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, June 2 – 16:25h-17:55h and Wednesday, June 3 – 17:05h-18:35h

Rohee broadsides Urling over critique of Jagdeo

FERRY SCHEDULE

Ferries will be departing the Parika and Supenaam stellings : Tuesday, June 2 and Wednesday, June 3 – 05:00h, 11:00h and 16:00h

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers can be expected in the morning, with heavy rain showers dominating in the afternoon.

Thunder showers can be expected to return in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations.

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

Winds: Easterly between 3.12 metres and 4.47 metres per second.

High Tide: 04:03h and 16:30h reaching maximum heights of 2.69 metres and 2.61 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:04h and 22:17h reaching minimum heights of 0.49 metre and 0.62 metre respectively.

saturday, MAy 30, 2015

LOTTERY NUMBERS H 04 06 07 08 15 20 01 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

Monday, June 1, 2015 Daily Millions

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Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

By Vahnu Manikchand

G

eneral Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Clement Rohee, has chided businessman Clinton Urling’s critique of former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s leadership and his alleged stranglehold on the party’s machinery.

In a letter that was published on Sunday in a local newspaper, Urling, who was a candidate for the PPP/C at the May 11 polls, said that the party needs to move on without the former President if it wants to retain its previous political prestige. “It will be a difficult task for the party if it continues on the current path with Jagdeo as de facto leader. Moreover, it would be difficult to attract and, in my case retain, the type of people who can help reinvent the party. Plainly stated, the party has to move on without Jagdeo if it is to ever recapture its former political prestige,” Urling concluded in the letter.

He further penned that during his time as a PPP/C candidate, he observed and interacted with sever-

al members regarding the party’s inner workings and infrastructure. The businessman stated that it was evident that the former President was the party’s “central figure” and after the elections, most members were placing the blame “squarely on Jagdeo’s shoulders”.

However, when asked about the statement at the party’s weekly press conference on Monday, General Secretary Clement Rohee noted that while he was taken aback by the comments, Urling is entitled to his opinion and that does not necessarily reflect the party’s position. “I think it is more perception. You know what they say perception is more like reality, but its

PPP/C Candidate Clinton Urling

Mr Urling’s perception,” he said. The General Secretary pointed out that the businessman merely joined the party about two months prior to the elections, as such he is not in any position to pronounce on the party or its members. Rohee further stated that one has to be with the party for a number of years in order to understand and learn its culture and inner workings.

PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee

“Mr Urling in no way could have been associated with the PPP in such as short time and know all these things about the inner workings of the PPP/C and so on… People meet with people and they talk and formulate their ideas and perception… As one of the longest serving members of the PPP/C I wouldn’t give much credence to what Mr Urling says as to his understanding of the nature and inner workings of the party,” he explained. According to the General Secretary, he is particularly disappointed with the way in which the candidate went about expressing his views, noting that he could have written to him first. Furthermore, Rohee outlined that following the elections, the party’s executives have been meeting with the candidates to discuss various matters. He disclosed that they have had two such meetings, on Wednesday last and two weeks prior. However Urling never attended any of them or raised any concerns he may have had with the leadership of the party.

Also weighing in on the issue was former PPP/C

Stalwart Ralph Ramkarran who in another article supported the views expressed

by Urling, but highlighted that the former President is not one to sit quietly on the sidelines. Ramkarran even opined that in order for the PPP/C to be “saved”, disaffected and incumbent members needs to establish a new political party that is devoted to the ideals of Cheddi Jagan. “Such a party will aim primarily at winning over supporters of PPP/C and gaining seats in the National Assembly at the next elections. The objective is to deprive the PPP/C of the possibility of gaining an absolute majority,” he stated.

In response to this, Rohee said that while Ramkarran

Former PPP/C member Ralph Ramkarran

was a member of the PPP/C, he was never involved in party business but was focused on his legal practice, hence, he too is not familiar with the inner workings of the party such as the decision making process. The General Secretary went onto say that he cannot agree or disagree with the positions taken by either man, noting that they both have axes to grind with the PPP/C.

Robbery accused walks free for lack of evidence

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19-year-old mechanic, who was accused of robbery, walked out of the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday a free man after spending months in prison on remand. The accused, Rayon Finman, was charged for his alleged part in a robbery that occurred on June 26, 2013.

According to the Police’s report, the defendant in the company of others when he

went into the home of businessman Derrick Haley and robbed him of a motorcycle, two cellular phones and a quantity of cash, totalling $277,000. Finman was also charged for using personal violence against the VC immediately after or before removing the aforementioned items.

When he first appeared in court on January 23, Finman pleaded not guilty to the charge. However, the prosecu-

tion, led by Police Prosecutor Deniro Jones, stated their confidence in a strong case against the defendant. He had petitioned the court at that time too to not grant bail to Finman, which was maintained by Magistrate Ann McLennan.

In her ruling on Monday, the Magistrate told the court that the prosecution was obligated to prove two elements of the robbery for a convic-

tion to be made. However, she said that this was not done to the satisfaction of the court as the prosecution was unable to prove that the defendant actually robbed or hit the VC. She said she was forced to stop the case at this time as the prosecution had failed to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant did commit the crime. Thus the court was forced to dismiss the case against Finman.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, june 2, 2015

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

Editorial

Guyana’s Thucydides Trap

T

here is talk that the APNU/AFC coalition might be looking to work out a rapprochement with the PPPC, which has refused to accept its bona fides and appears headed to challenge the latter in the courts.

Sometime ago, we referred to foreign policy wonks in the US, dubbing China’s challenge to its post-1989 hegemony as the “Thucydides Trap”. This conceptual framework, picked up in China, might also serve us in Guyana as the two political heavyweights manoeuvre for legitimacy.

Seeking to explain the cause of the great Peloponnesian War of the fifth century BC, Thucydides’ conclusion was, “What made war inevitable was the growth of Athenian power and the fear which this caused in Sparta.”

In the centuries since, scholars have pondered how power shifts between states have led to competitive tensions, which sometimes have been managed and sometimes led to conflict.

The meeting between the Presidents of the US and China two years ago was one attempt to avoid “that deadly combination of calculation and emotion that, over the years, can turn healthy rivalry into antagonism or worse”.

Thucydides spawned the school of political “realism”, which posits that interstate relations are based on “might” rather than “right”.

Following his lead, theorists have avoided applying the theory to relations within a particular state on the assumption that unlike inter-state relations, the former are guided by agreed-upon moral rules for the good of the wider society.

Thucydides drew a fundamental distinction between the mode of politics within a certain state and the pattern of political interaction among several states.

Within a state, citizens enter a community based on a form of social contract, which provides the protection of laws at the expense of some individual freedom. As a result of the legal equality with which the social contract provides the citizens, the weak are able to withstand the strong and ethical considerations are respected.

In the international realm, however, there is no social contract among citizens of different states, and, consequently, there are no laws to defend legality and morality of state interactions.

Thus, in interstate relations, it is the strong who decide how the weak should be treated, as moral or ethical judgments are virtually nonexistent Later realists, such as Machiavelli agreed with Thucydides that “might makes right” but argued that this maxim might be applied within a state for a “prince” (competitor for power) to secure and retain power.

Burnham, the founder of the PNC, famously boasted that Machiavelli’s “prince” was one of his favourite texts and guiding light.

His party was evidently moulded in consonance with that philosophy, because even though his successor Hoyte was persuaded by their original sponsor, the US, to allow free and fair elections, he and his successors reverted to Thucydides’ amoral stance of interstate actors when dealing domestically with the PPPC government after the 1997 elections and up to 2011.

The “slow fyaah, mo’ fyaah” strategy was a direct attack on the state with no holds barred or any sign of morality displayed.

While the PPPC has studiously avoided launching any action in the present to protest its claims of electoral rigging beyond the legal framework, it would be in the interest of the new government to attempt negotiation of the rules of engagement a la the ongoing attempt of the Chinese and Americans. At this time, the PPPC is simply insisting that the rule of law be followed.

President David Granger is a trained historian and should be fully aware of the dangers of the “Thucydides Trap”.

But in his case he should be also alert that it was not only “fear” that drove Sparta and Athens into conflict, but also the behaviour of two of their allies. It is understood that one ally of APNU is adamantly against any rapprochement with the PPPC. Like Athens, President Granger must reign in its bellicose ally.

Children play soccer during sunset at a beach in Lima, Peru, December 26, 2008 (Reuters/Enrique Castro-Mendivil)

Clinton Urling cannot be trusted to advance, protect PPP/C’s interest Dear Editor, I cannot allow a recent letter by my colleague PPP/C Candidate Clinton Urling to go unchallenged.

It is clear to me that Mr Urling may be positioning himself to defect from the party he recently supported, in anticipation of being offered a position in the new de facto Granger Administration.

I am also disappointed that Mr Urling seems convinced that the PPP/C lost this election when all evidence suggests it was rigged with the help of GECOM. Let there be no doubt that I have always respected and admired Clinton Urling’s entrepreneurial skills that have made him a successful businessman.

I was pleased with his inclusion as a PPP/C Candidate, and was optimistic of him getting a ministerial position with a PPP/C victory at the polls.

But I never thought of him as an opportunist until now.

Bharrat Jagdeo is undoubtedly extremely popular with those who have support-

ed the PPP/C for many years.

The gigantic crowds he attracted at meetings and rallies during the recently concluded election campaign bore testimony of this.

Those party members who, according to Urling, thought Jagdeo was responsible for the party’s “defeat” are nothing but cowards who, like rats that abandon a sinking ship, sought to protect their own interest believing all to be lost.

Urling was well aware of the pressure placed on GECOM to come clean with the results and the non-cooperation of GECOM’s Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally and his team, despite the presence of fake Statements of Polls (SOPs).

So what appeared to be “an information blackout” a day or two after the election was, I believe, an attempt by those at Freedom House to get GECOM to recount the ballot boxes before disseminating information which could have been inaccurate and misleading.

Candidates were later briefed and given the opportu-

nity to interact with the party leadership at a meeting that Urling attended. At no time did anyone “whisper and angrily criticize Jagdeo’s divisive campaign rhetoric”.

Not even Clinton Urling.

Are we to believe that no one there had the courage to blame Jagdeo if in fact they thought his involvement cost us the election? I don’t think so.

Bharrat Jagdeo was an asset to the campaign and I’m sure thousands of PPP/C supporters would concur with me.

I also know one prominent PNC-APNU stalwart that supports this argument.

Clinton Urling had been courted by the APNU camp prior to the election, and many were surprised that he chose instead to join the PPP/C. It is now evident that by this letter targeting the former President, a man who is despised by the PNC-APNUAFC, he sends a strong message that he is available and willing to serve if offered a substantial position by the new Administration.

At the very least, he is pro-

tecting his business interest from the inevitable boycott that is threatened.

If Clinton Urling had any reservation about Bharrat Jagdeo’s involvement in the campaign, he should have declined his invitation to be part of the team.

But with his eyes wide open, he accepted the offer to be a Candidate for the PPP/C knowing fully well that the former President was a leading Candidate with tremendous experience that the party relied on to sell its track record and to energize the base.

I wager that this letter would never have been written if the PPP/C was declared victorious. This man cannot be trusted to advance or to protect the PPP/C’s interest if, God forbid, he’s asked to serve in the 11th Parliament.

And President Granger should also be aware that a soldier deserting an allegiance in the heat of battle to support the enemy cannot be relied upon to show loyalty.

Harry Gill

Mr Carter’s credibility is on the line Dear Editor, The Carter Centre known for its above board monitoring of elections is about to get a reality check in its handling of the 2015 elections in Guyana.

I make this critical statement based on a news report which said that the PPP/C agents did not present their statement of polls (SOPs) for disputed results.

Whether it is the actual statement of Mr Carter or one of these overworked versions of the tabloids in Guyana, I would be on record as branding it as quite an unfortunate statement to make.

Because this is the bone of our contention right from the very start, fake statements of polls, how, when and at what scale did it influence the electoral process? This is our main concern among other glaring instances of rigging. To ignore these claims is an indictment

on the Carter centre.

Mr Carter could act amnesiac and pretend that this was not discussed, seeing he was away when the shenanigans were in process. Could it be that this is the main reason for him leaving under highly suspicious circumstances?

Was this all in the plan, a plan to hijack the elections while I was “away” that I was not aware of what went on? Is this the while I was “away” excuse he is using? Well, Carter has to come clean on this one.

Neither can he pretend not to know what rigging in a Guyana context is all about?

This has been a perennial problem at every election in Guyana. Carter knows this and everybody knows this.

In 1992 when he mounted an observer mission here he got first hand experience as to the workings of the system. When he tried to

make suggestions to the PNC Opposition about these irregularities, he was greeted by a hostile PNC mob, which at one stage shoved members of the Carter Centre into gutters.

Carter himself became infuriated at PNC’s intimidation and issued the call for “those obnoxious people to cease their obnoxious operations.”

Am I to believe that those same obnoxious people are no longer obnoxious? Is Carter so naive to believe that these obnoxious people have changed because they are now under a rebranded name called coalition? We want answers.

Could I be the devil’s advocate and surmise that this is the main reason for him leaving Guyana on a sick leave – reports indicate that he was back at work the very next day.

Could it be that he had prior knowledge of rigging and conveniently decided to absolve himself of the process, throwing the PPP/C under the bus? Is this another Carter Centre/USA interference in the internal affairs of Guyana? Is this another stark reality of the USA’s bullying tactics in getting a legitimate government out of office?

These are all pointed questions that deserve straight forward answers. Because if we do not get truthful answers it puts the Carter Centre’s credibility in great disrepute.

We want straight forward answers as to what the Carter Centre knew beforehand on the Guyana electoral watch, and why they could have readily accepted the results of a highly controversial election?

Neil Adams

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, june 2, 2015

My actions are being misrepresented, and it amounts to injustice Dear Editor, I am writing in response to the statement in the newspaper in regards to me being sent on leave.

My actions are being totally misrepresented and it amounts to injustice. There was display of unprofessional conduct on the day in question, but it was certainly not by me and this could be attested if a proper inquiry is conducted.

It seems that trying to represent staff, being honest and forthright amount to being “grossly unprofessional, constituting insubordination, contemptuous and untenable”.

The incident took place at the end of the visit and in my office when only the Deputy Director and I, along with the Ministers, the

Permanent Secretary and the Permanent Secretary’s Administrative Assistant, were present. No other staff member was present.

I presented the Hon Ministers with packages containing information on the operation of the Agency and a goal for the next year.

It was thereafter that I suggested to the Junior Minister, in conversational tone that she should build relationships because the staff and I are hurting from her remarks and utterances during the campaign trail, which we feel was an attack on professionals serving the people and should not have been.

There is no time that I demanded an apology or said that I am not willing to work with the Ministers.

On the contrary I have been preparing the staff for this from the time the announcement was made.

I am not going to say more on this matter. A proper investigation should be conducted for the facts.

I stand by what I said and I have been a public servant for over 40 years and worked with a number of Ministers through transition phases and always zealously guarded my professionalism, being honest, genuine and sincere.

I see no reason for me to change my approach now.

I intend to continue to be a professional. Consequently I will have no further comments in the media on this matter.

Anne Greene

Internal party democracy urgently needed Dear Editor, With regards to the Carter Center’s report, I applaud the NGO for urging and appealing for democratic governmental reforms as well as calling for the establishment of a national unity government.

However, mention is not made of internal party reform of all the parties. Since 1992, the Carter Center has called for a system of governance that would include representatives of all the political parties (with electoral representation) and by extension the ethnic groups.

But the center’s recommendations have been ignored. It will not be any different now.

No party wishes to share power unless it is mandated by the Constitution. The PPP did not share power between 1957 and 1964.

The PNC refused to share power between 1965 and 1992. The PPP/C refused to share power between 1993 and 2015. And the PNC/AFC will not share power. I must, however, point out that Moses Nagamootoo, during the campaign, advocated for the inclusion of the PPP/C in government formation should it win the elections.

I think Moses is very genuine in his offer of sharing political power among all the ethnic groups and all the parties. As I have consistently stated, one ethnic group cannot run a country or a government. It was a failure in the past and it will be a failure now.

David Granger has stated he is willing to include the PPP/C in a national government but the terms are not stated; the offer of two Ministries is a non-starter.

Imagine 50 per cent of the votes is rewarded with 26 ministers and 49 per cent of the vote is being offered two ministers. And at any rate, while the outcome

of the election is being challenged in court, a national unity government is out of the question.

When the issue of a recount is settled, then the idea of a national unity inclusive government can be entertained. Unity government or not, what is badly missing in Guyana’s politics is internal party democracy.

Unlike the US or say in Germany, where members of a party, can choose its executives and leadership, in Guyana, the party’s members and supporters have virtually no say in who is its leader or who will be its candidates for President, Prime Ministerial, Parliament, regional council, chairman and local government, etc.

In the US, mandated by law, the party’s members choose the candidate for electoral office in primary elections. In Guyana, there is a rigged delegate system during which deals are made in a corrupt infamous Tammany Hall type system used that was used decades ago.

In Guyana, the delegate selection is rigged with the partyies’ convention stacked with delegates who are supposed to support a desired outcome. And when the desired outcome is not certain, the election itself is rigged to make sure the right result is obtained as happened in the PNC’s last two internal elections.

All the parties utilize this method. Even the AFC utlizies this method although several of its leading officials condemned it when they were members (officials) of the PNC and PPP/C. It only goes to show they were against the system when it did not serve their interest.

But once they are beneficiaries of it, they practice the same system in a different environment (in a new party). The Carter Center

should have assailed such a system and urge its replacement with one person one vote.

Political parties in our Caricom sister nation, Trinidad, has embraced the one person one vote to choose its leadership and other members of its executives. It also utilizes a screening process to choose candidates for parliament and other elected offices.

The latter is not perfect but the parties promise to move to a primary election process as used in the US. The American system is ideal for Guyana and indeed for all countries. The political parties in Guyana should open up themselves to membership by the public.

The members should choose its national leadership and candidates for office. Given their history, I do not think the PPP/C and PNC will embrace democratic reforms.

I hope the AFC leadership will see the bigger picture and not continue its emulation of the behavior of the other parties. As a much younger party, it should open itself to membership to the masses and empower its membership to choose the leader, the deputy leader, other executives, candidate for office as well as to vote on decisions.

I urge the diplomats of the ABC countries, which were vocally active during the election campaign as well as in the declaration of the election results to lean on the leadership of their favorite parties, PNC and AFC, to pursue democratic reforms.

PPP/C supporters should pressure their leaders to pursue internal party reforms to democratize its functioning; this is necessary if the party is to make a comeback.

Vishnu Bisram

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Alarmed at report carried by online news site Dear Editor, The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPPC) is very alarmed at a report carried by the internet news site Demerara Waves in which the reporter Mr Denis Chabrol contends that during our picketing exercise outside the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Monday, a young unidentified activist was quoted as saying, “He is a clown, he need to get shoot down”, in appar-

ent reference to Mr Gino Persaud of Transparency International who staged a counter protest against our efforts for a recount of the votes at the recent general and regional elections.

Individuals present during this period, including Mrs Indra Chandarpaul who is named in the media report are contending that to the best of their knowledge and taking into consideration the boisterous atmosphere,

they could not recall such a comment being uttered.

The party therefore encourages Mr Chabrol who was recording the events during this period, to provide a copy of the evidence so we can identify and take the necessary disciplinary action immediately, if indeed such a comment was made.

PPPC Freedom House

Separation of Church from State: the evolution speeds up Dear Editor, Recent pledges by the President that he will not impose his religion on anyone and that he will be guided by events in other countries is quite a welcome remark in view of the history not only of Guyana but of Western Civilization.

If he is looking guidance he can find it in a decision of the Supreme Court of Canada dated April 15.

Alain Simoneau, an atheist and resident of Saguenay, Quebec, and a regular at council meetings objected to the practice of the recitation of Catholic prayers by the mayor and councillor. A sacred heart statue and a crucifix also adorned the walls of council.

This he testified, caused him to experience feelings of isolation and exclusion thus violating his rights to freedom of religion and conscience as outlined in both the Quebec Charter and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

With the help of Movement Laique Quebecois (MLQ) He took his grievances to the Quebec Human Rights Tribunal which agreed with him. However, the Quebec Court of Appeal felt otherwise. It reasoned that prayers expressed universal values and that the sacred heart statue and crucifix were works of art and not religious.

The Supreme Court of Canada in a unanimous decision rendered on April 15 ruled that the practice of reciting any form of prayers at the start of council meetings constituted a violation of Charter Rights.

In doing so, the highest court in the land rejected the argument the prayers were justified on the basis

of tradition and that council’s attempt at reasonable accommodation by inviting those with objections to leave the chambers during prayers and then re enter, far from tempering the discrimination only exacerbated it.

This identifies and stigmatises the non-believer.

Quebec has a long tradition of the Catholic and Anglican Churches being quite influential in government policies and practices but the court felt it was time to change a practice even though it was followed since the 19th century.

Justice LeBel writing for the court, Stated that Canadian Society has given rise to a concept of neutrality, according to which the State must not interfere with religion and beliefs. This requires that the State neither favor nor hinder any particular belief or non-belief.

Canadian Cultural landscape includes many traditional and heritage practices that are religious in nature. Sponsorship of one religious tradition by the State in breach of its duty of neutrality amounts to discrimination against all other such traditions as it creates a distinction, exclusion or preference that has the effect of nullifying or impairing the right to full and equal recognition and exercise of freedom of conscience and religion.

The court looked at the purpose and effect of the practice and opined that even a Nondenominational prayer is a religious practice that excludes atheists and agnostics and the interference is more than trivial or insubstantial.

Any form of religious expression under the guise of cultural and his-

torical reality or heritage breaches the duty of neutrality.

Furthermore the expression “Supremacy of God” in the preamble of the Charter cannot be relied on to deny the guarantees expressly provided in the Charter.

Pursuit of the ideal in a free and democratic society requires the State to encourage everyone to participate freely in public life regardless of their beliefs thus preserving the multicultural nature of Canadian society.

In response to the argument that this would now give atheists and agnostics preference, the court Stated that true neutrality presupposes abstention, but it does not amount to a stand favouring one view over another.

Some public bodies have replaced their prayers with a moment of silent reflection to show respect for cultural diversity.

Any country, in particular the Western democracies that are member States of the United Nations, may now have to remind themselves of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which States in part that “everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion”.

Finally, if they profess to be secular and has a constitutional document protecting freedom of conscience and religion this decision may guide them towards that long elusive ideal of separating Church from State.

Ramnarine Sahadeo Retired lawyer, Author of “Mohandas K Gandhi: Thoughts, words, deeds”

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Weather Alert

Yoga sensation for the nation: Tip 1 Submitted by: Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh - Guyana (Hindus for Selfless Service)

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re you new to yoga and want to start practicing it? Here is your first posture, technique and health benefit that will increase flexibility, strength and gave you that perfect body shape you desire.

Tadasana (mountain posture)

This is a position in yoga wherein the individual stands with the feet parallel and hands loosely at the side. It involves inhaling and exhaling as you move from one position to another in slow motion. It is a basic stance that is used as a foundation for many others, and acts as a restful pose in between more difficult ones.

By preforming this asana one can attain tremendous benefits such as: • Energizing • Firms the abdomen • Firms the butt • Strengthens the ankle • Relieves muscle tension and joint pain

Technique

(i) While breathing in, stretch both arms sideways to the horizontal position, palms facing down. Breath out (ii) While breathing in, raise the arms above the head, join the palms, keeping elbows straight and

stretch the whole body upwards. Look at the palms of the hands. Breathe out. (iii) While breathing out, return to position and breathe in. (iv) Breathe out and relax.

Citizens along Coastal Guyana can expect varying levels of cloudiness with light to moderate showers, predominantly during the early hours. The rainfall is expected to be between 5 mm and 15 mm.

The National Weather Watch Station said all other Regions can expect cloudy to overcast skies with light to moderate showers and possible isolated thundershowers.

Overall conditions are likely to improve as the night progresses. Rainfall is expected to be between 5 mm and 30 mm (0.19685-1.1811 in) with the maximum being over areas with thunder showers.

Residents of low lying, riverine, and flood prone areas are advised to take necessary precautions against possible flooding, to safeguard their properties and crops and livestock.

Small craft operators, marine users and sea bathers are advised that moderate seas can be expected with waves reaching a height of 2.0 m to 2.5 m (6.56168-8.2021 ft.) in open waters.

What is the best age to get your child a cellphone?

BY JEANA LEE TAHNK

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ome parents consider cellphones for their young children as essential tools for staying in touch and keeping that line of communication open.

Yet others argue that cellphone adoption among children prematurely opens the door up for threats like cyberbullying, sexting and inappropriate Internet use.

There’s room for debate and both sides present valid points, but the behind the discourse, the issue

still begs – when should children get cellphones?

According to a recent study by Elizabeth L Englander at Bridgewater State, one-fifth of third graders (eight years old) already own their own cellphones. Her study for the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Centre (MARC) of more than 20,000 children in the state between Grades Three and 12 aimed to research cellphone adoption and its impact on cyberbullying.

Of all children studied, Englander found that 20 per cent of boys and 18 per cent of girls in the third grade have their own cellphones. The number climbs to 39 per cent across both genders in fifth grade and jumps dramatically to 83 per cent of children in middle school with devices.

While the study doesn’t specify if these cellphones are smartphones, it’s safe to assume that many modern cellphones nowadays have access to the Internet, texting capabilities and more.

In addition to cell phone adoption at earlier ages, Englander also found that by the third grade, 90 per cent of children are already online, mostly playing games.

Due to the numbers she found, one of Englander’s conclusions from the study is that dialogue with children about cyberbullying needs to start young. She states: “Education on cyberbullying and cyber-behaviours needs to begin well before middle school. Children are all online by third grade and over 20 per cent report experiencing problems with peers online.” (www.parent-

ing.com)

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tuesday, june 2, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

PPP/C ratchets up protest action against GECOM

By Michael Younge

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cores of People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) supporters and leaders intensified their calls for the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to recount votes casted at the May 11 General and Regional Elections, following widespread allegations of electoral fraud, impropriety and systematic rigging.

Appearing unfazed by the current political environment, party supporters from all walks of life picketed the Elections Commission calling for its Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally, to resign and facilitate a request made by the PPP/C for a forensic audit of the elections results and a recount of the ballots cast.

PPP/C Central Executive Member and former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall in an interview with the Guyana Times, while on the picket on Monday, said that his party will keep pressuring the commission to do the right thing and submit itself to scrutiny, if it is confident and has nothing to hide. Nandlall reasoned that the position adopted by GECOM is illegal and it would appear that, sometimes, is amiss as far as

the elections results are concerned.

Wearing the “peaceful picket” sign on his right shoulder, the former Attorney General said that the PPP/C will continue to protest until the issues it is concerned about are addressed at the level of the Commission.

“Protest actions never get old,” he said, maintaining that over 200,000 Guyanese who voted for the party feel jilted and treated unfairly because of the manner in which the election results were handled by the Guyana Elections Commission.

“Our protestations are going to manifest itself into different ways. Protests like this – marches, public meetings, rallies, petitions, court actions – are among the remedies that we will resort to.

Unfortunately, over 200,000 Guyanese who voted at those elections, precisely half of the electorate, have a genuine feeling that they have been cheated,” Nandlall told this newspaper.

He said that the PPP/C was “asking simple questions; recount the ballot; give us a breakdown; a box by box breakdown of the results”, while noting that “these are things that have been done

PPP/C Central Executive Member and former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall speaking to the media

at every single election without any request made by parties; it was given as a matter of course. Why is it not been given now?”

Nandlall also expressed concerns over statements made by President David Granger, which suggest that he is unwilling to support a forensic audit. “That is a callous disregard for the feelings of people. We are not asking for anything that is unreasonable; we want a break-

down of the results. We want the SoPs that were used to tabulate those results. Those are things that must be given as a matter of recourse,” the former Attorney General stated.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Progressive Youth Organisation, Irfaan Ali, said that youths across the country are concerned about their future and the type of illegal decisions being made by the Guyana Elections

Commission. “Democracy is a very important aspect of every country’s life, especially for young people. Young people must be able to say that they live and participate in a democratic society; one in which the rule of law is respected and one in which the basic tenants of the elections of Government is secured and free from bias and free from anything that would contravene or act against the fairness of any election process,” Ali reported.

He also stated, “We, in the PPP/C, believe strongly that there is enough evidence to show that these elections were far from free and fair. It is interesting to note that in such a close election, there is no move by GECOM for a recount. Anywhere else in the world, a recount would have been a natural course.”

Also present at the PPP/ C’s picket were former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Home Affairs Minister and PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee, and former Government Minister Leslie Ramsammy.

Next door to Guyana in Suriname, that country’s ruling party National Democratic Party (NDP), led

by President Desi Bouterse,

has disputed results in several districts of the capital, which now will be recounted Sunday, authorities said.

The NDP alleged there were problems with polling at 20 stations, its spokesman Winston Lackin told reporters Saturday. Unofficial results from Monday’s general parliamentary elections give the NDP 26 seats, a small margin of the majority in the 51-seat National Assembly.

Of those 26 seats nine are likely to be awarded in the capital, which is the largest electoral district.

Bouterse, 69, will have to muster another eight votes to guarantee his own re-election, since the president is chosen by a two-thirds majority of parliament. Though the NDP wants to rule alone with its small majority, it needs more support in case a lawmaker drops out and they need 34 votes to reelect Bouterse. A two-time coup leader and former international fugitive, Bouterse has long loomed large over Suriname, whether in his military fatigues and sunglasses, his sharp presidential suits or the Che Guevara T-shirts he favors as leisurewear.

Georgetown drowned:

Green ignored broken pumps for over a year …blames lack of funds, negligence

By Gomatie Gangadin

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he four pumps which were reportedly out of order resulting in the mass flooding in and around the capital city, were is such a condition for more than a year.

This is according to acting Chief Engineer of the City Rawle Eastman and the Mayor of the Georgetown City Council, Hamilton Greene, who told media operatives that the lack of financing was the reason for the pumps being neglected. At a press conference on Monday by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, questions were posed to Minister David Patterson and Mayor Greene on the amount of time during which the pumps were down and what were the major problems experienced.

It was during this time that the question was passed to Eastman, who said that the pumps were inoperable for the specified amount of time as they had required repairs, which would have in turn cost money; money the City Council did not have. “We had a number of mechanical matters, which includes some of the discharged pipes that had to be repaired and some minor engine matter…I cannot give a period as to how long they were not working but I can say that it was over a year or so,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Greene said that while monies have been allocated to the Council over the past years for the maintenance of drainage systems in the city, the lack of management resulted in

the city being in the condition it is currently in. “To achieve the integrity of anything, you need money and management. The Council has been starved of both for over 20 years. That is simple facts. We have just been able to breathe from that. I don’t have to put it in nice terms. At City Hall, we only had administrative structure and zeal

Mayor of the Georgetown, Hamilton Greene

to respond to these problems that we have had overtime.... the neglect has indeed been criminal,” the Mayor said.

Greene was recently awarded the Order of Roraima, Guyana’s second highest National Award, when the list of awardees was announced at the Independence Day celebrations at the Guyana National Stadium last Tuesday, much to the surprise to many given his disastrous management of the capital city.

In the meantime, the Minister with the responsibility for Public Infrastructure,

David Patterson, said that he was appalled by the failure to upkeep the drainage system which he said was in place since the creation of the city, calling the neglect criminal.

“After looking at them I almost consider it a criminal activity to see the condition in which the outfalls are. I know there is neglect and then there is one stage beyond neglect, which is criminal,” he noted.

He pointed to the money and man hours that have to be put in to fix the system, before pointing to the loss of crops, livestock and other properties that would have resulted from the flooding. Patterson plans to take his request to the Cabinet on today in the hope of obtaining the necessary funds to fix the drainage infrastructure.

However, he is assuring residents of Georgetown that relief from the flood waters within the next 36 to 48 hours barring any rainfall is coming, as he indicated that the Ministry was assiduously working to ensure that normalcy is restored to the capital city and its environs within the next two days.

According to him, while the pumps at Kingston and Lamaha Canals were the only two previously working, they will not be aided by the ones in Sussex Street in the vicinity of JP Santos and the Riverview, as these have been fixed while the sixth one at Lamaha was operational at 18:00h on Monday evening.

The team including the Ministry’s Chief Engineer, Walter Willis, has assured that all systems are being put in place to ensure that at

least 5 pumps are in operation by tomorrow. In the meantime, Patterson said that he has briefed President David Granger and his Cabinet of Ministers on a suitable way forward and is awaiting a de-

cision. This would include the immediate desilting of the Kingston, Lamaha, Sussex and Meadow Bank Canals, he stated.

This is even as he has approached Finance Minister

Winston Jordan to see what funds are immediately available for the Ministry to commence drainage and irrigation works and to undertake an examination of the drainage networks in and around the city.

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tuesday, june 2, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

CJIA employees remanded on trafficking charge

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he three men who were charged in connection to the cocaine laced rum discovered at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), were on Monday remanded to prison

by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Keon Bruster, a 21-year-old mechanic of B Field Sophia, Greater Georgetown; Loric Williams, a 24-year-old air conditioning (AC) technician of 51 Prospect, East Bank Demerara; and Chris Douglas of X Alliance Street, Timehri, East Bank Demerara – the latter two who are employee of the CJIA – pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that on May 29, at CJIA, Timehri, they had in their possession 6.304 kilograms of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking.

According to Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru, on the day in question, Guyanese-born American Bruster was an outgoing passenger at CJIA when a routine search was conducted on his person and luggage.

During the search, three bottles of unusually thick El Dorado Five Year Old rum were discovered. The rum was tested, and was discovered that it contained a very high amount of cocaine.

The young man admitted ownership of the substance and pointed out two airport

Y

CJIA employees – Loric Williams (left) and Chris Douglas (right) – charged with drug trafficking

employees who conspired with him to traffic the substance. Bruster claimed that the two AC technicians gave him the cocaine laced rum in a bathroom at the airport.

A subsequent review of the CCTV footage revealed the men going into the same washroom together at the airport. They were subsequently arrested and taken into custody.

The prosecution stated that when cautioned, the men all admitted that they were paid by persons unknown to transport the sub-

stance.

Williams’ defence lawyer, Attorney Latchmie Rahamat stated that her client was forced to sign a statement that was written by the Police.

She stated that her client has no knowledge of the narcotics nor does he know the third defendant who was caught with the substance.

She said that the statement which was forcibly signed by her client was written based on the information obtained from Bruster.

Attorney Gordon Gilhuys, who was represent-

ing Douglas, argued that the mere fact that the men were in a bathroom together does not incriminate them, neither does the word of the number three accused.

Gilhuys stated that his client was threatened and induced to sign a statement with the promise of receiving a shorter sentence if it implicated himself.

As such, the attorneys made applications for bail which was refused by the Magistrate. The men were remanded to prison until June 16 when they will return to Court One.

GuySuCo employee dies in motorcycle crash

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father of two died instantly after he crashed into a utility pole on his motorbike at Borlam Turn, East Coast Berbice.

Dead is 26-year-old Kelvin Balgobin, of 26 Williamsburg Squatting Area, Corentyne, Berbice, who was employed as a fitter machinist with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) for the past 10 years.

According to his mother, Kamaldai Balgobin, her son left home around 17:00h on his motorcycle to go to the Albion senior staff compound for a swim and she did not hear from him again.

She related that around 23:00h, they received a phone call informing them

Dead: Kelvin Balgobin

that Kelvin was involved in an accident and was at the Port Mourant Hospital.

They quickly got to the hospital where they were referred to the morgue where

his mother positively identified his body. In tears, the distraught mother related that Kelvin was her only child and she could not believe that he was no more.

It has not yet fully sunk in that she lost her only child so suddenly.

According to reports, Balgobin left the pool and was on his way to visit his two children who live with their mother at Number 19 Village when he lost control of his motorcycle and slammed into a utility pole.

He was picked up by publicspirited citizens who took him to the Port Mourant Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Balgobin only returned from vacationing in the United States on Friday

29th May after spending a month. His love for swimming took him to the poll and his desire to seek his kids lead to the ill fated accident.

He leaves to mourn his parents and two children. His death came in the wake of another accident that occurred earlier on the Corentyne that resulted in the death of two other persons.

The Borlam Turn has been the site of several accidents over the years and residents have been calling for street lights along the stretch of road from Borlam to Palmyra which is one of the longest straight roadways in the Region as it is noted for the presence of many animals.

Sex-worker charged with using abusive language

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transgender sexworker was on Monday released on his own recognisance after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on a cross charge for abusive language.

Akeem Hodge, a 20-year-

Eyew tness On floods...

old sex-worker of 117 Third Street, Alberttown, Georgetown, pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that he made use of abusive language against Samantha Liverpool.

Additionally, Liverpool, 38, of 43 Thirrd Street, Alberttown, was charged for a similar offence against Hodge.

According to Hodge’s Attorney, Paul Fung-AFat, the two individuals are neighbours. He stated that because of his client’s sexual orientation and the fact that he is “living his dream of being who he wants to be”, Liverpool frequently discriminates against him and verbally abuses him. He

requested that his client be released on his own recognisance, and the prosecution made no objection.

The Magistrate released both parties on their own recognisance and transferred the matter to Court 10. The matter will return to court before Magistrate Alex Moore on July 31.

...and honours

our Eyewitness woke up yesterday morning and discovered Georgetown was transformed into the "Venice of the Caribbean". Forget the "Garden City" that some old fogeys carry on about like there's no tomorrow.

Hey? What's the big deal about trees in the tropics?

Every country and piddling little dinky island can have those. But a city where you can move around in gondolas? Jeez! Look how the Venetians've been raking in the moolah for CENTURIES!!!

The new Minister of Tourism, who's a Georgetown girl, must be relieved she doesn't have to traipse around Iwokrama or the Pakaraimas extolling the virtues of "eco-tourism". Here she can stand right on the balcony of her café and point to the charms of boating around the Promenade Gardens!!

All we have to do is put up some signs and Main Street can be marketed as our "Grand Canal", the lighthouse as "Piazza San Marco" and Brickdam Cathedral as the "Santa Maria Della Salute".

Your Eyewitness doesn't have to give more examples, does he? You world weary travellers can fill in the blanks.

Now, of course, we in Guyana don't have to depend only on the oil that Exxon just struck off our shores.

Naaah! Oil will run out...see what's happening with Trinidad? Even they've suddenly started "niceing up" to we Guyanese.

After we've gone through the US$100 billion or so like Carnival Land did, what then? Well, we now have our Venetian charms. Remember how we learnt that back in the day the Venetians got rich by bringing in spices from "the East" and hocking them to the rest of Europe?

Well, Columbus and Da Gama put an end to that by 1500, didn't they? But it didn't put a dent on Venice's charms as a city on water. And the big bucks kept pouring in. Well, your Eyewitness doesn't believe the man responsible for creating this inexhaustible source of wealth for this generation of Guyanese and the ten to follow, should go unrecognised.

And as we all know, that fella is no other than THE ONE AND ONLY ...LORD MAYOR OF GEORGETOWN...... (drum roll please).....Haaaaaa- Milllll....ton Green!!!

Sorry, that's Hamilton Green, OR. And if the Lord Mayor was awarded the second highest honour in the Land - the Order of Roraima (OR) - for deeds done in the 60s and 70s, this Eyewitness insists that we now go one better.

So for modestly announcing that he allowed four of the six city pumps to be broken and ensuring Georgetown becoming the "Venice of the West", your Eyewitness nominates him for the number one honour Order of Excellence!!

No man deserves this more that Hamilton Green!

What a guy!!

...and clean up

As our Eyewitness drove around Georgetown this morning and surveyed the flood, he was reminded of the caution from Ecclesiastes "All is vanity! What does man gain by all the toil, at which he toils under the sun?"

He had joined in the earnest clean-up efforts of the city that he called home. He's felt so proud! He had also joined in the billion dollar effort of a year ago. He's been proud then, too. But after that brief moment when he felt some hope that a trip into the city centre wasn't a descent into Dante's Inferno, here we was rudely returned to reality. All is vanity!

Where did all these styrofoam containers come from? Weren't they banned? Or did he imagine that too - along with the Order of Roraima being taken away from Hamilton Green?

Your Eyewitness suspected the verse must've popped into his head because it had spoken of water and hydraulics. "All streams run to the sea, but the sea is not full; to the place where the streams flow, there they flow again."

Yup!! The streams do flow back into Georgetown!!

Especially under Hamilton Green OR and so to be OE.

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tuesday, june 2, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Harmon sworn in as Defence Board Secretary

State Minister Joseph Harmon takes the oath of office as Secretary to the Defence Board before President David Granger

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inister of State Joseph Harmon was on Monday sworn in as Secretary to the Defence Board; a position previously held by his predecessor, Dr Roger Luncheon.

The board which is a statutory body includes the President, the Chiefof-Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, the Police Commissioner, the Public Security Minister and a few other members. In brief remarks, President David Granger said that there are still challenges facing Guyana’s defence, particularly in the maritime area.

“We expect that the Defence Board will be making decisions in order to safeguard our maritime security”. The first meeting of the Defence Board is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at the

Ministry of the Presidency.

Meanwhile, President David Granger also spoke of plans to review at least once per year, the custodial sentences of youths, especially women and young persons, in particular, for non-violent offences. “I really feel that separating a woman from her children, for minor offences is not in the culture of APNU+AFC, and we should try as far as possible to keep families together”.

The Head of State opined that the time would be better spent in school rather than in jail, and “As far as possible, we should look at those cases. We know the law may have to be revised.” He added that for misdemeanours, discretion can be applied and those culpable could be returned into the school system. “I

have asked the Minister of Public Security to investigate the emergence of some non-governmental organisations to do rehabilitation (of youths).”

Granger is also of the opinion that for persons under age 25, it would be fruitful for the Government to cooperate with NGOs, “which can encourage young people who have committed minor offences to get back into the world of work.”

The President is firm in his belief that unless young offenders are violent or dangerous, they should be rehabilitated, and be contributing members of society. As part of observances for Guyana’s 49th Independence Anniversary celebrations, President Granger pardoned 60 nonviolent youth offenders.

Basil Williams takes oath as Attorney General

Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams (left) taking the oath as Attorney General before President David Granger

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ttorney-at-law Basil Williams, who was recently formally appointed as Guyana’s Legal Affairs Minister under the A Partnership for National Unity /Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Government, was sworn in on Monday as Attorney General by

President David Granger at the Ministry of the Presidency.

The Attorney General is the main legal advisor to the Government and is selected by the Head of State.

Williams holds an LLB (Honours) Degree from the University of the West Indies,

Cave Hill, Barbados and a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago. He has served in several capacities in the public domain and in the 10th Parliament as the Shadow Legal Affairs Minister.

Damage to GT&T cables at Turkeyen disrupts ECD phone service

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pproximately 800 Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited (GT&T) land line subscribers on the lower East Coast of Demerara are currently without service as a result of extensive damage done to company’s cabinet facility at the junction of the University Of Guyana Road and the Railway Embankment.

The areas and institution affected are Liliendaal, Turkeyen, University Gardens, Sophia and the University of Guyana Campus. In a release, GT&T stated that it has been unable to ascertain the details of the cause of the damage to the cabinet which houses telephone cables but surmised it may have resulted from a ‘hit and run’ accident.

“Contrary to reports in a section of the media, the site of the damaged facility was inspected on May 31 last by Engineers and security per-

The damaged cabinet facility at UG

sonnel from GT&T. The damage has been assessed as extensive and will require major civil works”, the release added.

While the company is unable to release a restoration timeframe, the engineering review and design for emergency restoration is in progress. The type and extent of damage to the cabinet is the second such within recent times; the other occurring at the junction of

Main and Middle Streets in Georgetown, in March.

We again appeal to the public to report acts of vandalism by calling our confidential hotline number 0908.

A significant reward is offered for information leading to the arrest of persons involved.

GT&T wishes to remind everyone that disruption of communication facilities can have a major adverse effect on the security, economic and social life of all citizens.

Explosion aback Sophia preceded blackout

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onday afternoon’s power shutdown in the Demerara Berbice interconnected system was preceded by an explosive sound aback of Sophia, Greater Georgetown, the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) has said. According to the company, around 15:49h, following sounds of an explosion aback of Sophia, there was a disruption in the supply

of electricity to the Demerara Berbice grids.

Emergency crews are currently investigating the transmission lines aback of Sophia in an effort to identify the cause of the outage, GPL stated. According to the power company, while the investigation continues, GPL was able to restore electricity to Central Georgetown at 16:05h continuing into all other af-

fected areas in Demerara and Berbice.

The company said, in recognition of the current inclement weather season, they wish to reassure customers that several initiatives have been implemented to mitigate network faults likely to occur during this season; emergency response services have been strengthened to assist in emergencies of this nature.

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tuesday, june 2, 2015

News

Clean-up ‘fever’ spreads to Linden, Berbice which are on board with the clean-up exercise,” she said.

By Utamu Belle and Andrew Carmichael

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he clean-up exercise that has swept through Georgetown over the past two weeks has now spread to Linden and Berbice, with residents in those regions launching massive campaigns over the weekend.

In Linden on Sunday, residents launched their campaign under the theme, “Come on the scene and keep it clean”, mirroring several countrywide campaigns which have been conducted recently.

The initiative was spearheaded by Region 10 (Upper Demerara- Berbice) Chairman Sharma Solomon and Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), Reycia Nedd.

Scores of residents, armed with cleaning and clearing gear, targeted areas such as Central Mackenzie, Republic Avenue, One Mile, Co-op Crescent, Winifred Gaskin Highway and Burnham Drive, and several other places, both on the Mackenzie and Wismar shores. The public-spirited citizens, male and female, focused mainly on clearing drains and unwanted vegetation, in an effort to enhance the view of the community, an initiative which forms part of the Linden Beautification Programme.

Several stakeholder groups were also in full support of

New Amsterdam joins in

Lindeners cleaning up their surroundings

the programme and have assisted in providing some much needed materials. The campaign, which was also social media driven, saw participation from scores of youths.

Members of the public have praised the initiative, especially the efforts made to clear drains at Central Mackenzie, which suffered tremendous flooding on Thursday during the inclement weather. The area which houses the main shopping district in Linden has been prone to flooding during heavy rains over the years.

Solomon said that residents should continue to play their respective roles by participating to produce a healthy and clean environment, adding that it was a form of self-help driven spirit which should be encouraged. “… in the beautification programme, a lot of work would

have been put into it. A lot of research was done … we’ve had a lot of young people expressing enthusiasm … we hope that it can spark interest for other residents across Region 10 to want to get involved,” he said.

Nedd noted that following Sunday’s campaign, the exercise was expected to be organised into a more structured format. “After Sunday’s exercise, we are looking to streamline the whole cleanup campaign into a more structured body and after doing that we hope to see canals being de-silted. We hope to see the dumpsite at the Mackenzie Market Square removed, the dumpsite at the Dakoura Creek removed, and redirected to some other area. So, these are things we already have in plan … and we’re looking to give assistance to other communities

Not to be left out, residents of New Amsterdam also on Sunday commenced a massive “Clean up NA” project.

More than 300 residents representing Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), the business community, civil society and faith-based organisations converged on the town thoroughfare and began removing the solid waste which had been indiscriminately thrown in the drains, parapets and sidewalks.

Persons walked with their own tools, while large machinery was supplied by businesses from within the town.

Businesses also supplied gasoline for grass cutters which were used for the slashing of parapets.

By the end of the day, the town took on a different look, but this was nothing unusual in the country’s oldest township. Several organisations in the past have spearheaded massive clean-up campaigns in New Amsterdam.

However, all of them have been followed by the usual dumping of garbage about the town. Businesspersons have in the past continued to pay ‘junkies’ to remove their garbage on a daily basis. This is dumped on parapets and empty plots of land throughout the town, hours after any massive cleanup exercise in New Amsterdam which has seen only a momentary transformation and within hours, the littering continues.

The last massive clean-up of New Amsterdam took place on April 4, by Berbice Unity Promotion. The overseas-

based group cut parapets, cleaned drains and removed heaps of garbage from places where it should not be. Of specific note was the beautifying of Republic Road, which is commonly used illegally as a dumping place by residents of central New Amsterdam.

Days after the transformation was made, the Region Six (East Berbice-Canje) Administration cleaned the Republic Road canal and the mud and other debris remain on the parapet to this day.

Recently, the Grace

vate contractor the go-ahead to collect residential garbage and can ill sustain an adequate service; hence, many residents who do not have waste receptacles placed in their yards dump their garbage on the shoulders of the roads.

In 1998, the New Amsterdam Youth and Parent Drug Awareness Team, an NGO, had undertaken a project to place bins around the town, but the project lacked sustainability, as the bins were never replaced when

New Amsterdam residents join in the clean-up

Environmental Club organised a massive clean-up of New Amsterdam, but less than one week after, the only evidence of that was the cut parapets, which were littered with refuse including Styrofoam boxes, empty drink bottles, used disposable diapers, kitchen waste, empty cardboard boxes and other commercial waste.

Apart from the problem businesses create by not disposing of their solid waste in an organised manner, residents also play a major role in littering as the municipality has refused to give a pri-

damaged. This project is being touted as being one with a difference. Organiser Jevaughn Stephens says that the project will continue during the week and is also expected to have a large turnout of volunteers on Sunday. “This is going to continue every week,” he told the Guyana Times.

A few days after President David Granger took his oath of office, residents in the capital city commenced cleaning up their environments, an activity which caught on in several wards of the city and soon spread to other parts of the country.

GAWU presses GuySuCo on outstanding credit union dues

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uyana Agricultural and General Workers Union’s (GAWU) President, Komal Chand, has registered his dissatisfaction with the non-action seemingly taken by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) amid the grave crisis between the two entities. GuySuCo and GAWU have been battling over the outstanding payment of $154 million in credit union dues.

In an invited comment, Chand told the Guyana Times that GuySuCo has not been updating the union on the matter. “We expected to hear from GuySuCo, taken into consideration the matter at hand…we have heard nothing from GUYSUCO… there is no update,” he said.

Chand noted that, if GAWU does not get a response from GuySuCo by the end of this week, the union will write to the Agriculture Ministry for a meeting to discuss the matter.

GAWU was forced to suspend its Cooperative Credit Union Society Limited due to GuySuCo’s failure to remit over $154 million of workers’ contributions.

GAWU President Komal Chand

An official from GuySuCo, however, had told this publication that the account on the outstanding credit union dues is inaccurate.

The official stated that in 2013, GuySuCo begun collecting union dues but it was not remitted in a timely manner.

The corporation has since been remitting the dues, although there are still some outstanding amounts.

Due to the closure of the credit union, it is now unable to continue to facilitate savers’ withdrawals in the light of the non-payment of the workers’ savings by the corporation.

The credit union is also

now unable to secure further loans to satisfy savers’ withdrawals. If GuySuCo does not urgently address the matter, it can cause the jobs of credit union’s employees to be in jeopardy as well. Chand, during the interview, reiterated that GAWU expects an early response from GuySuCo on the situation so that the thousands of workers will know their fate and not wait in limbo.

In a recent statement, GAWU noted that, “The credit union, therefore, looks forward to receiving, as early as possible from the corporation, the workers’ outstanding savings so that its dependable services to thousands of sugar workers would resume as early as possible.”

This urgent demand for the outstanding payments comes at a time when GuySuCo is facing threats of closure due to lack of funding.

The corporation is currently in the process of securing financing. Reports indicated that GuySuCo will be benefitting from $400 million via a line of credit from the National Commercial Bank of Jamaica.

tuesday, june 2, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

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News

Bourda Market vendors flay City Hall over floods

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Vendors peeved as Bourda Market was under water again

endors and stall holders at the Bourda Market, Georgetown vented their anger and frustration at the Council over yet another bout of floods.

Following Sunday morning’s heavy torrential rainfall, most part of Georgetown was inundated. The entire two blocks that housed the Bourda Market was under water.

The market gates were clothes as a result of inches of water; business went on as usually outside despite

vendors being peeved at the despicable conditions that they are being made to work under.

The floods caused many stall owners and vendors to suffer major losses in goods. Speaking to the Guyana Times, several vendors expressed their frustration at the condition they have to work in and the losses they suffered.

Natasha told this newspaper that she is very upset that after experiencing massive floods in January, she is yet again in the same situ-

ation trying to earn a living. “This is absolute nonsense. The authorities need to come see the condition we in here… they ain’t doing nothing for we when we in trouble, but they always on time to collect their money every time,” the frustrated woman vented. The angry woman continued that every morning and afternoon they have to pay rent and still, every time it rains, they are left to ply their trade in floodwaters. “What we paying them for?

We giving them money to improve the conditions around us but nothing they don’t do; nothing!” she added.

Seeta Singh, another vendor, related that she was fearful the market would flood out due to the heavy rains. Upon her arrival, her worst fears came through.

The woman noted that most of her goods stored on the floor of her stall were damaged; hence she incurred a great loss. “I can’t sell these damage goods to customers; I have to throw it away. Nobody don’t check and see how much we does loose when the time comes and the market flood out,” she cried. The woman noted that she has been selling at the market for 36 years and every time it rains a little heavily,

they face the same fate. However, this time it was a bit higher than previous occasions.

A walk around the market block revealed that a few buyers came out to do their shopping. This added to the anger the vendors felt since the shopping crowd was less due to the floods.

However a mother, accompanied by her teenage son, was among those who still came out to get their weekly shopping done.

The woman related that while she did not want to come out because of the situation in the city, she was forced to since she is a single parent, works long hours during the week, and can only find time to shop during the weekends.

“Sundays is the only time I get to do some shopping so I had to come out I don’t have a choice… but it is disgusting that I had to be out here in these conditions,” the woman added.

Bourda Market was shut down on Sunday following hours of heavy rainfall that resulted in massive floods

Amelia’s Ward man commits suicide Dead whale washes up at Marias Lodge R elatives and friends of 35-year-old Nigel Millington were driven to a state of shock and mourning, when his lifeless body was recovered from his home at Amelia’s Ward, Mackenzie, Linden on Monday morning.

Millington who was a well known sales clerk at a popular snackette at the Mackenzie Arcade is believed to have committed suicide, since he was reportedly found hanging with a sheet wrapped around his neck inside his home. According to one of his co-workers, he was expected to be at work on Saturday, but did not

Nigel Millington

show. Calls to his cellular and landline phones also went unanswered. Checks were thus made to his home on Saturday, however the door was locked. Persons in the vicinity also reported to observing a stench coming from the house.

After more calls went unanswered and Millington not showing up for work again on Monday, it was then that concerned relatives and friends decided to contact his landlord to have the home investigated.

Upon entering the house, the gruesome discovery was made.

Millington, a father of

three who was living alone at the time, was reportedly separated from his wife of a few months and according to an associate, he appeared to be troubled by the situation. Recent posts on his Facebook profile also suggested that Millington may have been troubled, since on May 5 he posted the status, “May look happy, hurting on the inside”, to his wall. He also posted several pictures of his wife saying goodbye and wishing her well.

Millington was noted to be a very jovial person and many have expressed shock over his death. Police investigations are ongoing.

Several questioned over Parfaite A Harmonie killing

The dead whale that washed up at the Marias Lodge seashore

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s Police continue their investigations into the shooting to death of taxi driver Dennis Narine in his Parfaite Harmonie, West Bank Demerara home on Sunday morning, several persons have been questioned but no arrests have been made.

Guyana Times understands that the area where the man was murdered has been under Police surveillance for quite some time and was described as a “hot spot”.

Several persons were arrested in the area for the possession of narcotics. A Police rank told Guyana Times, that they are working hard to get rid of the bad elements in the area.

“And now with this incident, we have more reasons to clamp down on the area”,

Dead: Dennis Narine

he added. Narine, a father of three, was shot dead by a suspected bandit who was attempting to gain access to his home at about 01:30h on Sunday morning.

The 26-year-old taxi driver of Lot 587 Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme

was shot once to his chest by the lone gunman and was pronounced dead on arrival at the West Demerara Regional Hospital moments after arriving.

It was reported that at about 23:00h, the now dead man was at home with his wife and two children when he heard someone removing a louver pane from the window. He raised an alarm and the perpetrator ran away, thus Narine went back to sleep without contacting the Police.

About 01:30h, the man was again awakened by the sound of crashing louver panes; hence, he reportedly collected a cutlass and rushed toward the window and it was then that the suspected bandit pushed the gun through the window and discharged two

rounds hitting him to the left side of his chest.

The bullet exited his back. From all indications, the weapon used was a .38 revolver since no spent shells were retrieved at the scene.

The man was placed in his taxi and was driven to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, but died on his way. After some time, the matter was reported to the Police who visited the area and launched an investigation.

The young man’s car windscreen was shattered a few months ago by someone in the neighbourhood but no one was arrested. In addition, a man went to the West Side Taxi Service relating that he was paid to kill Narine sometime last year.

huge dead whale washed up at the Marias Lodge seashore, on Sunday morning, drawing a large crowd of curious residents.

Residents have also complained about the stench that has emanated from the creature. One resident, Sunil Singh, said that the entire Marias Lodge has a funny smell. “Imagine I live in the back street and the stench from the whale is smelling by us,” Singh complained. Residents are calling on relevant authorities to find ways of disposing the dead whale.

Many persons flocked the seashore to take pictures of the whale. Residents are still unsure as to how it ended up at the seashore. This newspaper understands that authorities from Public Health Department were informed about the whale washing up and, up to press time, nothing has been done about it.

Meanwhile, the Region

Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) administration, in collaboration with the Public Health Department, is working assiduously to bury the whale.

Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud, accompanied by engineers and officers from the Public Health Department, visited the scene early Monday morning.

Persaud said he also visited the area Sunday night and was contemplating what to do. “I have been receiving numerous complaints over the stench and we are working to bury the whale,” the Chairman stated.

Persaud said the whale is huge and as such they are trying to get an excavator machine to dig a hole to bury it. Senior Environmental Officer Shaleena Baksh said that the whale has already started to decay and will difficult to remove; therefore a 20 feet deep pit will be dug to bury the animal at its current spot.

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tuesday, june 2, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Mocha man gunned down GRA to conduct own probe into during row

Undertakers removing the body of 23 year old Terrence Lanferman

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errence Lanferman, a 23 year old mechanic was on Monday evening shot dead execution style while in his home at 127 Nelson Street, Mocha Arcadia East Bank Demerara (EBD).

According to reports reaching the Guyana Times, the young man was at home in the lower flat of house, playing music at a high volume, when the lone gunman dressed in a black coat, entered the yard and proceeded to his front door. Further reports indicate that the gunman then rapped on the door and it was after Lanferman opened the door that he was shot approximately four times to the chest.

When Guyana Times arrived on the scene, the body had already been transported to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, Bank Demerara by a neighbour, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

At the house, amidst solemn songs, residents and friends had all converged to get a glimpse of the crime scene, while expressing their shock

at what had transpired. A neighbour told this publication that she was watching television and Lanferman was blaring music in his home, when she suddenly heard explosive sounds. The woman said she along with her husband later ventured out to see what had transpired.

It was then she was told by the neighbour who resided in the upper flat of the rented home where Lanferman stayed with his mother, that he had been shot. She related that a friend of the now dead man, immediately rushed over, picked him up and took him to the hospital.

Guyana Times was told that immediately after the shooting, the gunman, dressed in black clothing was seen fleeing the scene. They related that upon seeing the man and realising that Lanferman had been shot, a resident gave chase on a bicycle but the gunman who had apparently parked his CG motorcycle, which bore no number plate at one of the corners

away from the home, jumped on the cycle and made good his escape.

Over at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, Viola

ceived a call that her son had been shot and was at the hospital. The elderly Lanferman said when she arrived at the institution she was greeted with the news that he had passed on. The mother said too that while her son was no stranger to the police, it was due to the fact that he has always been wrongfully accused and arrested for things he had no knowledge of.

Asked if she knew whether he had any problems with anyone, the woman said that he has had several misunderstandings with several persons in the area but was more recently involved in one in which money was involved and the matter had reached the police. She could not say

Viola Lanferman (in blue shirt) mother of the dead man could not contain herself at the hospital after learning of his death

Lanferman, mother of the dead man related to media operatives that she was at work at Diamond when she re-

however, whether any of those could have led to his early demise.

parking lot robbery

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ommissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Khurshid Sattaur on Monday rebutted a statement made by Nigel Ranah, an auto dealer who accused security personnel of the agency of stealing $1.6 million after breaking into his car on Camp Street, Georgetown.

The businessman’s car was reportedly parked in the GRA’s parking lot on Friday last when it was allegedly broken into and a bag containing $1.6 million was stolen. The young man admitted that he gave the security at the gate a “raise” to park in the parking lot intended for staff but at no point in time established that he was a staff member. He told Guyana Times that he spent less than 10 minutes is the remission department of the agency and upon his return to the parking lot, he found his car broken into and the money missing.

However, Sattaur in response to the allegation stated that it was a “pathetic response” offered by Ranah, as he has accused two drivers employed by the agency of being connected to the theft. As such, Sattaur implored the businessman to rescind the statement at once, unless he has evidence to support his allegations, since the GRA’s code of conduct does not condone such

behaviour.

Nonetheless, Sattaur disclosed that he intends to investigate this allegation and the relevant department will be in contact with Ranah in due course to obtain further information that would assist in substantiating his claim. Sattaur iterated that on the day in question, the young man misrepresented himself as a staff of the Revenue Authority and subsequently bribed the security in an effort to have his vehicle secured.

“Had Mr Ranah not been dishonest from the inception then his story would have had more credibility”, Sattaur said in the release.

Ranah on the other hand is asking Sattaur not to call him names while challenging him to look into the affair of the agency and to stop making excuses when a robbery is committed under his “nose tip”. “You cannot put cat to watch milk”, he added.

Meanwhile, the GRA is urging the aggrieved businessman to continue to pursue the theft with the Guyana Police Force since they believe that the robbery was carried out presumably in a public place. “Once investigations into this allegation have been completed, the Revenue Authority will provide the findings to the various media houses”, the release added.

Ramjattan assures Berbicians sugar industry will survive Alleged nut thief

President David Granger

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he A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/ AFC) Government has committed itself to the full recovery of the sugar industry in Guyana, and said it will be working towards this no matter how long it takes.

Second Vice President and National Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan made the promise when he appeared on a live television programme in Berbice on Saturday evening.

The recently sworn in Minister said “the recovery of the sugar industry will take forever, but whatever time it takes to save the industry, we are going to do it and we are going to do it by making the right decisions.

"We have to make the right decision because it is a bad set of decisions that have caused the industry to be in the state it is,” he said.

Just last week the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) reportedly told workers’ unions; the Guyana Agriculture and General Worker’s Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agriculture Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE), that it was unable to pay sugar workers for the month of May. News got worse when reports surfaced that the already cash strapped entity had failed to account for some $154 million of employees’ credit Union savings owed to GAWU. The union had to make a “regrettable, but unavoidable decision” advising GuySuCo to cease deductions from workers earnings in this regard.

persistently pledged his support for the sugar industry, he has been critical of the management of the Corporation.

During a recent interview with this publication, he said his Government will soon be making critical decisions that will put the industry on “a sound footing”. “The Board has been too heavily politi-

turnaround plan. We were asked from time to time for subventions but we had asked them [the former Government] in turn what was the plan to make the industry viable… that is the stage where we are at now… to ensure that the industry doesn’t collapse and the means of financing are identi-

The defendant, Selroy Boyce

Funding

GuySuCo has received a sum of $400M which will allow the company to continue its operation for the remainder of this week. The Corporation has received the money from the National Commercial Bank of Jamaica. As part of that loan arrangement, the bank holds GuySuCo’s receivables from the sale of sugar.

GuySuco currently owes the GAWU’s Cooperative Credit Union Society Limited some $154 million. Due to the lack of funding, the Corporation also owes its senior and junior employees their salary for the month of May. Meanwhile, while President David Granger has

remanded to prison

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder

National Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan

cised…,” President Granger indicated as the foremost reason why the sugar industry has been failing.

Granger had in the past called for the privatisation of the industry, but of recent he has floated the commissioning of an intense investigation into the operations of the industry, particularly since there have been numerous reports of workers not turning up for work, among other things.

“We’ve been calling for a

fied,” the President continued.

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, in an earlier interview with Guyana Times had said he intended to commission an inquiry into the operations of the Sugar Corporation as one of his top priorities after assuming office. He noted that it was absolutely necessary that a commission of inquiry be conducted, since the sugar industry was a vital part of the country’s economy.

A

Linden resident was on Monday remanded to prison

by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after he appeared before her charged with robbing a peanut vendor of two packets of peanuts and his day’s earnings.

Selroy Boyce, a Joiner of Linder, Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) pleaded not guilty to the charge which read that on May 21, at Kingston, Georgetown, while being armed with a cutlass, he robbed the Virtual Complainant (VC)

Areefah October of two packets of parched peanuts valued $200, and $3000 in cash.

According to the facts presented by Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru, on the day in question, the VC was selling peanuts in the said area when he was confronted by the defendant who demanded a packet of nuts from him, while threatening him with a cutlass.

The VC refused and the defendant took the nuts and money away from him, threatening to harm him if he reported the incident to the Police. The VC proceeded to walk away and met a Police Officer some distance away, who he reported the matter to.

The two went to the scene where the VC pointed out the defendant, who was arrested and charged for the offence.

The prosecution objected to bail on the grounds that if granted bail, the defendant is unlikely to return to court. The Magistrate refused bail and the man was remanded to prison. The matter will return to court on June 4.

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tuesday, june 2, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Encouraged by Exxon’s oil find:

Kaneville stabbing

CGX to move faster with concession Homeowner released pending C

anadian oil and gas exploration company CGX Energy said, with the recent oil discovery made by its counterpart United States (US) based oil company Exxon Mobil, it will now be moving quickly to determine how best it could develop its acreage given its current financial constraints.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer Dewi Jones, in an announcement late last week disclosing its 2015 first quarter financial statements, said, “We are encouraged by the recent announcement by ExxonMobil in connection with its ‘significant discovery on the Stabroek Block’ located approximately 120 miles offshore Guyana and immediately adjacent to our acreage.” The company’s licences in Guyana covers some 3.3 million acres gross and 3.0 million acres net.

The discovery by Exxon Mobil has somehow given CGX some hope of finding oil in Guyana since after being here for a number of years and carrying out a few drilling activities, has came up empty handed.

Of all the companies operating in the country, CGX Energy is said to be the most exposed. The company’s entire portfolio is focused on Guyana, in both the onshore and offshore basins. Onshore, the company holds a majority stake in the Berbice Block, through the ON Energy joint venture, owned 62.5 per cent

by CGX Energy and 37.5 per cent by local investors.

However, exploration results on the block have been disappointing, with three

Canadian oil and gas exploration company CGX Energy

dry holes drilled in 2005.

Moving offshore, it has a 100 per cent stake in three offshore blocks, Corentyne, Corentyne Annex and Pomeroon.

In 2012, CGX participated in two offshore wells the Eagle-1 well was drilled on the Corentyne Licence and the Jaguar-1 well was drilled on the Georgetown Licence. The Eagle-1 well had oil and gas, and the Jaguar-1 well sampled light oil in two zones. Both wells were abandoned. Eagle-1 as a dry hole and Jaguar-1 for safety concerns.

On February 12, 2013, CGX announced that the Government of Guyana issued a new Demerara petroleum agreement and petroleum prospecting licence in offshore Guyana, which encompasses the former Annex Licence as well as a new Berbice petroleum

agreement and prospecting license onshore Guyana.

This combines the former Berbice Licence and former onshore portion of the Corentyne Licence. Both licenses are renewable after four years for up to ten years.

Meanwhile in its financial results, the company has recorded a net loss of US$837,278 or US$0.01 a share for the three month period ended March 31, 2015, compared with US$1,185,644 or US$0.02 a share for the same period in 2014.

In its cost cutting initiatives, it reported that general and administrative costs increased slightly to US$447,593 in the three month period ended March 31, 2015 from US$436,269 for the same period in 2014. These lower costs are consistent with the prior

year and are a continued result of an overall cost cutting initiative undertaken by the company in the latter half of 2013, driven by the reduction in non-essential staff and purchases. In addition, management and consulting fees decreased to US$502,667 during the three month period ended March 31, 2015 compared to US$543,988 for the same period in 2014.

The company said it continues to seek a joint venture partnership for all three of its petroleum prospecting licences and is actively pursuing this initiative. In the short term the company will require additional financing and seek to widen its shareholder base, but still with a view of negotiating far out transactions as the primary way to enhance shareholder value.

Subsequent to March 31, 2015, the company received an invoice for its share relating to the mobilisation fee of approximately US$5.6 million under the definitive rig agreement with Japan Drilling Co Ltd, and related rig sharing agreement with Teikoku Oil (Suriname) Co Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Inpex Corporation, for the provision of rig services for the use of the jack-up drilling rig known as the “HAKURYU-12” rig. The Company is currently considering all of its available options under this agreement.

CGX Energy is a Canadian-based oil and gas exploration company focused on the exploration of oil in the Guyana-Suriname Basin.

investigation

T

he man, who killed an alleged bandit attempting to gain entry into his home, was released by Police on Monday as they continue their investigations.

A senior rank told the Guyana Times that the Police will have to establish whether or not the story told by the homeowner about the incident is correct. Once that is proven, he explained that man will be free to go but as of now, he has to report to the station from time to time. “In case like this, the man was protecting his property… even if the dead bandit did not get in the house, he attempted to gain entry… and the owner did as any other person would do… defend his house and family”, the Police stated.

Darson Ramatar, 23 of Kaneville, Grove Village, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was stabbed to death on Sunday morning during an attempted robbery at Kaneville, Grove Village, EBD, with at least four other accomplices. According to information received, the now dead man, along with four other men, was attempting to break into the house when one of the occupants stabbed him to his throat.

The young man reportedly fell to the ground and, upon seeing this, the four other men made good on their escape. Their whereabouts are yet to be established. The Police were summoned and the injured man

was rushed to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre. However, due to his injuries, he was referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The man who inflicted the injuries upon Ramatar was detained at the Grove Police Station where he is assisting with investigations.

On Friday last, a suspected bandit was shot dead

by Police in the wee hours, while another was arrested, as they were seen attempting to gain entry into a store on Regent Street, Georgetown. He was later identified as Leslie Semple also called “Johnny Ringo”.

It was reported that the man was seen trying to scale a fence when Police discharged a round in his direction as a warning, but he allegedly advanced towards the officers with a chopper in his hands, thus forcing the rank to retaliate. The Police rank discharged another shot hitting the man, who then ran into Robb Street, Georgetown where he reportedly collapsed.

Police gave chase and found him lying on the roadway.

He was then picked up and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The chopped was retrieved and taken into evidence. Meanwhile, following the incident, the Office of Professional Responsibility has launched an investigation.

Govt to probe rice deal with Venezuela ...promises action against delinquent millers

Guyana has been able to obtain increased prices every year, a development that has since brought added benefits to rice farmers and the economy as a whole. Actually, for Guyana it has spurred a rapid increase in rice production, due to the lucrative Venezuelan market, thus increasing the food supply in the region.

By Alexis Rodney

T

he frequent quarrels between rice farmers and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) might soon come to an end, with the new Government promising to launch a forensic audit into the operations of the body.

The GRDB has been criticised in the past for alleged poor management practices and a lack of initiative to find markets for Guyana’s rice.

However, there is a third element as mentioned by National Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan during a live televised programme in Berbice over the weekend.

He said that there are serious issues with the administration of the Petrocaribe rice agreement between Guyana and Venezuela and believes that a lot of fraud might have been committed.

“We feel that there is a lot of corruption in the transportation, arranging for the shipment and all of that, with fake jacking up of the prices for the ship-

Guyana is expected to supply approximately 210,000 tonnes of paddy and polished rice annually to Venezuela

ping and where the farmers are getting a mere $3000,” Ramjattan said.

He noted that the investigation was currently ongoing and as soon as it was completed “and we can have cheaper prices, farmers could look forward to receiving at least $1000 more for their paddy”.

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo during the recent elections campaign had cleared the air on the workings of the Venezuelasponsored Petrocaribe deal and dismissed claims by the then Opposition-backed rice farmers in Essequibo that the People’s Progressive

Party/Civic (PPP/C) Government was using funds from the deal to subsidise itself. Petrocaribe, in addition to supplying oil at concessionary rates to Caribbean countries, is aimed at promoting trade among member states, and Guyana has been supplying rice to Venezuela under the initiative. Under the current trade agreement, Guyana is expected to supply approximately 210,000 tonnes of paddy and polished rice annually to Venezuela.

The value of this supply amounts to US$130 million.

Under this rice agreement which dates back to 2009,

Low prices

Currently, farmers across the country are complaining about the low prices they have been receiving and the length of time taken by millers to pay them what is owed, but Ramjattan urged millers to pay the rice farmers on time. According to him, the Agriculture Ministry has already begun engaging millers to find out from them the reason why they are not paying the paddy farmers early.

He noted that while he does not think that Government should force itself into an industry that is capable of standing on its own, if there has to be an establishment of a revolving fund to assist

in that area “then we will do that”.

He is of the opinion that the industry requires better marketing of the products.

“We are seeking to use the marketing department to go worldwide to ensure that we get better prices internationally for the rice,” Ramjattan said, noting that as indicated

by President David Granger, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, under the stewardship of “top economist” Carl Greenidge would place much emphasis on economic diplomacy, and not so much political diplomacy.

“We want to talk to people that can bring in investments, that can buy our products. What they are looking for, so if there is a special variety that we have to plant here, we can change and plant those varieties for those markets around the world,” he noted.

Other matters on the ground, Ramjattan said, were ensuring that all the areas that have massive flooding receive equipment. He said Government was urg-

ing contractors to ensure the cleaning of all the clogged drains and kokers to release the massive amount of water that has accumulated over the last couple of days.

“At the level of the ground too, we want better support services for our farmers. We want to bring in fertiliser that is at a cheaper price, because we realise that at the rice department, we were having a lot of players who were arranging to bring in for big prices, low quality fertilisers that caused lot of damage, not only to the land itself but causes poor yields.

We feel that as soon as we get some cover for the sugar, we can go on.”

Currently, the Finance Minister is working on the budget which is going to be a herculean effort to pull off, seeing that it is a brand new start, Ramjattan said.

However, he said he was hoping that it could be done with at the earliest possible time, so that “we can be able to take care of the people and keep some of the promises we said that we are going to do”.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesday, june 2, 2015

Regional

Education officials in Jamaica, Colombia General on trial over Antigua ban “Charlie Charlie Luis Carlos Galan murder Challenge” in schools A

T

he Education Ministries in Jamaica and Antigua and Barbuda have announced a ban on the controversial “Charlie Charlie Challenge” in schools, following reported displays of “paranormal behaviour” by students.

In Antigua, Education Minister Michael Browne said the game had no place in the island’s schools and the Ministry would be adopting a zero tolerance approach. He has warned that students who break the rule would be immediately suspended, with the possibility of expulsion.

A t least 12 students at one secondary school were

rushed to the hospital by emergency personnel after they complained of nausea, fainting and shortness of breath.

Over in Jamaica, the Education Ministry issued a bulletin in which Chief Education Officer Grace McLean instructed all schools to closely monitor students to ensure they were not taking the challenge which allegedly involves summoning a demon to answer questions with “yes” or “no” answers. “Some reports intimated that students displayed demon-possessed or paranormal behaviour while playing the game,” the Ministry said.

In addition to asking teachers to keep close watch and to “immediately contact the regional offices if they need help and further support to address the situation”, the Ministry urged parents and guardians to monitor their charges, since playing the game could have seriously psychological effects on and cause physical harm to children.

The Ministry of Education in St Lucia, where students reported seeing desks lifting off the ground, implemented a similar ban last week. In Barbados, the Ministry is carrying out an investigation. (Excerpt from Caribbean 360)

TT Govt borrowing US$75M to buy patrol boats

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he Trinidadian Government ordered 12 vessels from Dutch Damen Shipyards for TT$1.358 billion for the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard without the money in hand to pay for them.

It accepted one vessel, which Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar toured last Wednesday when it was docked at the Port of Spain Waterfront, without being able to make a down payment. The Government needs an immediate US$75 (TT$478) million to pay for six of the vessels. It is scheduled to go to Parliament this week to secure it.

The Note recalls that “Cabinet agreed to source funding in the amount of US$75 million as a downpayment to ensure the delivery of naval assets. Pending finalisation of financing agreements with the preferred financial institution, the Ministry requires funding in the short term in or-

T

Presidential Candidate Luis Carlos Galan

Colombian drug traffickers, who often enjoyed special, sometimes luxurious treatment in Colombian jails, feared extradition to US jails.

Prosecutors alleged that the General played a role in Galan’s killing by reducing his security detail and replacing his experienced Chief of Security with someone relatively new to the task. They say he also collaborated with the Medellin drug cartel and its leader,

Pablo Escobar, to infiltrate Galan’s security team.

The General told a news agency that he himself had been the target of assassination attempts by drug cartels, including a massive car bomb which killed dozens of people in December 1989.

He said accusations that he had collaborated with the Medellin cartel were therefore “ludicrous”.

His trial began yesterday. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Bahamas builds resilience against surging sea

S The TTS Point Lisas docked at the Port of Spain Waterfront

der to adhere to obligations to the vendor”.

The Government’s contract with Damen is for four Damen Stan Patrol 5009 coastal patrol vessels, two Damen Fast Crew Supply 5009 utility vessels, and six Damen Interceptor DI 1002 boats.

Finance Minister Larry Howai said, in response to emailed questions, “We are borrowing to acquire the

Finance Minister blasts foreigners for celebrating their culture in TCI he Finance Minister in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) has told foreigners living in that British overseas territory that if they want to celebrate their native countries’ festivities they should go back where they came from.

Washington Misick, who also served as Chief Minister in the 1990s, chastised immigrants for celebrating their culture publicly, according to the TCI Sun newspaper.

“We have something coming up here called Haitian Flag Day. We have got Haitian Flag Day. We got

retired Police General is going on trial in Colombia for his alleged role in the 1989 murder of Presidential Candidate Luis Carlos Galan. General Miguel Maza Marquez was the Head of Colombia’s now defunct spy agency at the time of Galan’s murder.

Galan was shot dead on August 18, 1989 as he walked onto a stage to address a crowd in the town of Soacha. Prosecutors accuse Marquez of conspiring with a drugs cartel to murder Galan, which he denies.

The murder of Galan, which took place in front of thousands of people, rocked Colombia. The liberal politician campaigned on an anticorruption platform and was a favourite to win the 1990 election.

Galan made powerful enemies when he said that if elected he would have drug traffickers extradited to the United States (US).

Jamaica Day. We have got Bahamas Day…If these people want to be part of us, we cannot encourage; we can’t support them with all these days,” the newspaper quoted him as saying in the House of Assembly last week.

Misick also pointed fingers at those in the Private Sector “who encourage this kind of stuff”, saying that they were “part of the problem”. “We, as a people, have to make sure that we do the right thing by our country, and by the same token we have to make sure that people who come here do the right thing by our country,” he insisted. (Excerpt from Caribbean 360)

boat and we expect to complete the transaction in the week of June 22. There was a delay in doing so as there was not an appropriation in the budget and we shall correct that by making an appropriation in the bill that will go to Parliament next week.” (Excerpt from the Jamaican Observer)

mall Island Developing States (SIDS) have championed the phrase “1.5 to stay alive” in demanding that global temperature increases be kept as far below 1.5C as possible to limit the anticipated devastating effects of climate change on the world’s most vulnerable countries.

But for the countries of the Caribbean, the challenge associated with the ongoing climate change negotiations is that even if the goal to limit global warming to 1.5 or 2C is achieved, they will still experience severe adverse impacts for which stronger programmes of ad-

aptation would necessarily have to be implemented.

In The Bahamas, if the sea level rises some five feet, 80 per cent of the country would disappear. To assist with ways to build resilience against this possibility, the Inter-American Development Bank Multi-Lateral Investment Fund (IDB- MIF) and CARIBSAVE have given The Bahamas a grant of US$100,000. It is part of the Climate Change, Coastal Community Enterprises: Adaption, Resilience and Knowledge (C-ARK) project that has a total budget of US$2.5 million.

Regional Director of

CARIBSAVE Judi Clarke said that The Bahamas was an easy pick for the grant because it was one of the most low-lying countries in the world. “We’ve been working with the Bahamian Government for nearly 10 years on climate change resilience and trying to strengthen the resilience of The Bahamas and the Bahamian people,” Clarke stated.

CARIBSAVE brings together specialist knowledge, project management expertise, convening power and innovation with the goal of achieving a sustainable future for all. (Excerpt from Caribbean 360)

Rihanna causes stir in Cuba

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arbadian pop princess Rihanna caused a stir while cruising down Havana’s Malecon Shore Boulevard, Cuba in a classic 1950s American convertible.

No sooner had word got around that the Four Five Seconds singer was in the neighbourhood than Cubans of all ages swarmed around the car, using cell phones to snap pictures of the 27-year-old star while security guards kept a watchful eye on the proceedings.

Rihanna arrived in Cuba last Wednesday and made an unannounced appearance at the La Fontana restaurant, according to Cuban state media. Reports say that the Diamonds girl also recorded video footage in Havana’s central district of El Vedado and at the La Guarida restaurant,

Rihanna during a photo shoot in Cuba

where the Cuban movie Strawberry and Chocolate was filmed.

The pop princess’s

Cuban gig came in the wake of flying visits from New York, to London, to Miami and then on to

Cuba. The singer sat for a vintage-themed photo shoot by Annie Leibovitz looking a picture of retro glamour in a scarlet corset, skinny pants and matching high-heeled patent leather mules. The photo shoot was complete with Cuba’s vintage American cars, but the classic Detroit rolling stock reportedly failed to upstage Rihanna’s classy chassis.

The Caribbean superstar has barely had time to change her own clothes of late, juggling her modelling and business commitments with recording more tracks for her upcoming album R8, said to be produced by rapper Kanye West. Earlier this year, Rihanna was also appointed the face of Dior, making history as the first black woman ever to represent the French haute couture brand. (Caribbean 360)

tuesday, june 2, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

Malaysia Airlines Modi to become first Indian PM to visit Israel N lays off 6000 employees

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alaysia Airlines is “technically bankrupt”, but could breakeven by 2018 after cutting staff, selling surplus aircraft and flying less on some routes, its new German Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Christoph Mueller said on Monday, as he outlined plans to stabilise the failing flag carrier including 6000 job cuts.

“We are technically bankrupt and that decline of performance started long before the tragic events of 2014,” he said, referring to two deadly disasters that rocked the airline last year.

Malaysia Airlines took its first major steps on Monday under Mueller, sending termination letters to all of its roughly 20,000 employees, followed by new contracts offered to 14,000 of them.

Under Mueller, Malaysia Airlines plans to “re-invent” itself, beginning from September 1, with an unspecified new brand image and expected new livery as

it seeks to shed the stigma of a disastrous 2014. In March of last year, Flight MH370 disappeared with 239 passengers and crew aboard, remains are still missing.

Four months later, Flight MH17 was blown out of the sky by a suspected groundto-air missile over Ukraine and all 298 people on board were killed.

The tragedies were the final straw for an airline that analysts say had been poorly managed for years, slipping further into the red.

A state investment fund took it over in a rescue bid late last year, tapping Mueller to take the helm.

Mueller said he planned to “stop the bleeding” in 2015, stabilise the business next year, and seek to start growing again by 2017. Besides cutting staff, Malaysia Airlines is expected to cut unprofitable long-haul routes, but Mueller said those plans could not yet be divulged for competitive reasons. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

South Africa lion attack kills tourist

The Lion Park near Johannesburg is popular with international tourists

A

tourist believed to be from the US has been killed in a lion attack at a game park in South Africa, a park official has told the BBC. The lioness jumped through the open window of the couple’s car and started mauling the woman, assistant park manager Scott Simpson said.

Paramedics were called to the scene, but she died from her injuries, while the man is still receiving treatment.

The popular Lion Park is 30km (19 miles) north of Johannesburg.

The park’s rules forbid visitors from driving through the lion enclosure with their windows down, reports the BBC’s Milton Nkosi from Johannesburg.

Park rangers chased the lioness away after the attack, and it is not clear whether the animal will now have to be put down, our cor-

respondent adds.

Local media are reporting that the woman’s death marks the third incident in the past four months at the park.

The official South African tourism website describes the park as a “hybrid between a zoo and a game reserve”, while the Lion Park’s website says “super close-up animal views” are guaranteed. Cheetahs, spotted hyenas and giraffe are also in the park.

The Lion Park is one of the region’s most popular destinations, attracting tourists from around the world.

Previous high-profile visitors have reportedly included Colombian singer Shakira, Hollywood actress Natalie Portman, as well as the entire German football team before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

arendra Modi is to become the first Indian Prime Minister (PM) to visit Israel, India’s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj has said.

The dates of Modi’s visit are being “worked out”, the Foreign Minister stated.

Reports say Modi’s landmark visit could happen this year after an Indian delegation’s visit to Israel in July.

The two countries have shared 23 years of diplomatic relations and are working together on counter-terrorism, defence, agriculture and the water and energy sectors. But no Indian Prime Minister or President has ever visited Israel.

Swaraj told reporters that she will be travelling to Israel, Palestinian terri-

India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi

tories and Jordan later this year. “As far as the Prime Minister’s visit is concerned, he will travel to Israel. No dates have been finalised. It will take place as per mutu-

ally convenient dates,” she said.

The Israeli Ambassador to India, Daniel Carmon, welcomed the announcement. “High level visits be-

tween both countries... are a natural ingredient of tightening relationship between Israel and India,” Carmon was quoted as saying by The Hindu newspaper. In 2000, Jaswant Singh became the first Indian Foreign Minister to visit Israel. Ariel Sharon was the first Israeli premier to visit India in 2003.

Correspondents say trade between the two countries has grown substantially - from US$200 million in 1992 to about US$4.39 billion in 2013. In 2013, India was Israel’s 10th largest trade partner and its third largest trade partner in Asia, after China and Hong Kong. Israel has also emerged as a major defence supplier to Delhi. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

US Muslim wins in Abercrombie hijab case

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he United States Supreme Court has ruled in favour of a Muslim woman who was denied a job because of her headscarf. Abercrombie & Fitch Co refused to hire Samantha Elauf because her dress violated the clothing retailer’s “Look Policy” for sales staff.

Elauf wore a hijab in the interview, but did not say she was Muslim. Justice Antonin Scalia said the retailer “at least suspected” that she wore a headscarf for religious reasons and she did not need to make a request.

US law requires that em-

Samantha Elauf

ployers must “reasonably accommodate” an employee’s religious beliefs, as long as it does not provide an undue hardship to the business.

In an 8-1 verdict, the court ruled that Abercrombie

had violated the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which bans discrimination based on religious beliefs and practices.

Groups representing Jews, Sikhs, Christian, gay, and lesbian rights organisa-

tions filed papers in court in solidarity with Elauf, who told reporters she sought to protect the rights of people of all faiths at work. The woman was 17 years old when the discrimination occurred during a job interview at a shop in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2008.

In 2013 Abercrombie & Fitch Co settled with two American Muslim women who were targeted by management for their use of the hijab. Each woman was awarded US$71,000.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co has since reversed its policy on headscarves. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Nigeria bankers held Beijing public smoking ban begins for “mega scam”

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ublic smoking in China’s capital, Beijing, is now banned after the introduction of a new law. China has over 300 million smokers, and more than a million Chinese die from smoking-related illnesses every year. Smoking bans already existed in China, but have largely failed to crack down on the habit. These tougher regulations, enforced by thousands of inspectors, ban lighting up in restaurants, offices and on public transport in Beijing.

On the first day of the ban, a hotpot restaurant in Beijing became the first venue to receive an official warning. Inspectors found cigarette butts inside the restaurant, which had also failed to promote a smoking complaint hotline.

Ministry of Health guidelines published in 2011 banned smoking in all public spaces nationwide such

as hotels and restaurants.

However, the rules were vague and often flouted by Chinese smokers who are accustomed to lighting up at will. The new rules were agreed by lawmakers in November 2014 but only came into effect on 1 June.

Under the legislation lawbreakers in Beijing will be fined 200 yuan (US$32) and businesses that turn a blind eye could be fined up to 10,000 yuan (US1600).

The World Health Organisation has welcomed the new tougher regulations. “When implemented, this new law will permanently bring clean air to all of Beijing’s indoor public places - in doing so, protecting Beijing’s more than 20 million residents from the deadly effects of exposure to toxic second-hand smoke,” said its representative in China, Dr Bernhard Schwartlander. (Excerpt from BBC News)

N

igeria’s anti-corruption agency has arrested six senior Central Bank officials over an alleged US$33 million currency fraud. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also held 16 private bank workers for the “mega scam”.

The suspects stole “tonnes of defaced naira notes”, which were meant to be destroyed, the EFCC said.

Newly-installed Nigerian President Muhammudu Buhari has pledged to make tackling corruption a priority.

The arrests were made last week, before the President’s official swearing-in ceremony, and so should not be seen as part of Buhari’s promised clampdown on corruption, reports the BBC’s Will Ross from Lagos, Nigeria. The move is more likely to be a show of strength from the EFCC, in an attempt to prove its relevance, our correspondent

adds.

The suspects allegedly filled boxes that were supposed to contain damaged currency with bits of newspaper cut into the shape of naira notes, before sending them to branches of the Central Bank of Nigeria for destruction, according to the EFCC. The actual banknotes were held back so that they could be reused.

The EFCC suspects the scam has been going on for years and has been on such a scale as to put inflationary pressure on the economy.

The suspects are to make their first appearances at the federal court in the city of Ibadan today.

Many analysts say the EFCC has been extremely weak when it comes to fighting corruption as low-ranking officials tend to be investigated rather than so-called “big fish” who appear untouchable, our correspondent says. (Excerpt from BBC News)

16 news

tuesday, june 2, 2015| guyanatimesGY.com

Another charged in connection with Sterling murder Port Kaituma resident remanded T on narcotics charge

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resident of Port Kaituma, Region One (Barima-Waini) was refused bail on Monday at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts after being read charges of narcotic possession.

The accused, 38-yearold Clarence Kingston, was brought to court on Monday afternoon where he pleaded not guilty to being in possession of 1134 grams of cannabis sativa (marijuana) with the purpose of trafficking while in the North West District on May 31.

Kingston’s Attorney, Dexter Todd, told the court that the accused is a prominent member of Oronoque, Port Kaituma, where he is a businessman known to the Police who patronise his business. He stated that his client lives with two of his four children as they are minors, adding that he has never been accused of any crime.

Thus, Attorney Todd told the court that when the Police came and asked his client to open four of his speak-

er boxes, he thought nothing of it until the marijuana was found in the boxes. He said his client did not run from the Police, but tried to assist them with their investigation as to how the illicit drug could have been concealed in the boxes and who it belonged to. Relating this as a special reason, the lawyer asked that the Magistrate grant reasonable bail for his client.

However, Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru told the court that the Police was informed of possible drugs being in the defendant’s home and thus showed up around 08:30h, urging him to open the speakers to be searched. He said Kingston had admitted to placing the drugs in the speakers.

Upon hearing this, Chief Magistrate Priya SewnarineBeharry remanded the accused to prison. He will appear at the newly constructed Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court on July 27.

he third suspect in connection with the murder of Sterling Products Ltd Security Guard Wilbert Stewart, made his first court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday. The accused, Urea Varswick, was remanded to prison after being read the indictable charge of murder

by Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry. He was not required to plead.

Varswick stands accused of murdering Stewart on December 8, 2014, in the course of a robbery at Sterling Products at Providence, East Bank Demerara. Police Prosecutor Bharat Mangru told the

court that the charge is in connection with the charges against the other accused – 26-year-old Rayon Paddy and 26-year-old Orin Arthur; former officers of the law.

Stewart was killed after 10 men stormed the Sterling compound through the front gate armed with high powered rifles. However, according to a release from the Guyana Police Force (GPF), there were only three gunmen. According to Police, Stewart was relieved of a .32 revolver with six rounds.

The men were also able to locate a safe in the building, but were unable to open it and decided to leave empty-handed. Ranks at the

Murder accused: Urea Varswick

Providence Police Station responded to the report, but the men had already escaped.

Paddy and Arthur made their first court appearance in April 13, where the murder charge was read to them. However, other charges of robbery, gun and ammunition possession, and a second murder were also read to the men. They are alleged to have killed the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission employee, Trevor Abrams, in the vicinity of Demerara Distillers Ltd. The Police had reported that the accused had admitted as much when arrested.

Paddy alone has two other charges against him – a robbery charge as well as escaping from Police.

Varswick is expected back in court on June 22.

ATM thief admits to offence

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n account holder at Republic Bank, Otisha Headley, became a victim of ATM fraud when 28-year-old Alvin Marshall, an Engineer from the Maritime Administration, withdrew $30,000 from her account.

The accused appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday to answer to the offence before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-

Beharry.

Police Prosecutor, Corporal Bharat Mangru told the court that the Virtual Complainant (VC) went to the bank’s ATM and withdrew an unknown sum of money, and subsequently forgot her card inside.

When she returned to the ATM to retrieve it, the card was given to her by the bank’s security; however, it was not

until later that Headley realised that money was withdrawn from her account.

The VC reported the matter to the bank’s authorities who reviewed their footage of the ATM booth and saw the accused making the withdrawal after Headley had left her card in the machine.

In Court One on Monday, Marshall admitted that he did indeed take advantage of the

fact that the card was there and withdrew $30,000 cash from Headley’s account. He asked the court for leniency, saying that he was willing to return the money to the accused. This was done in court before the Chief Magistrate.

Chief Magistrate Sewnarine-Beharry told the court that the accused will be sentenced pending a probation report.

The "Health for All" agenda: vast opportunities and limitless possibilities On May 28, former Minister of Health and former Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy delivered the Commencement 2015 address at the Harvard’s T H CHAN School of Public Health. This was not only an honour for Dr Ramsammy, but for all Guyana and Guyanese here and in the Diaspora. Here is Part III (final).

I

Part III

, therefore, reiterate my call for a 75X25 Initiative, a proposal I made more than decade ago. Quite simply it is that we develop a global strategy and a financial package to ensure that every country in the world achieve a life expectancy of 75 by 2025.

Some will argue that we cannot do it in such a short time. I say it is possible and I invite the class of 2015 to join me in making 75X25 a workable goal. Let this be the spe-

scourge of malaria now. I am confident that the End of Malaria can be a part of your legacy.

As part of the unfinished agenda, we still struggle with the Neglected Tropical Diseases, such as filariasis, Chagas and African Guinea Worm, etc. While eliminated in many countries, there are still too many countries where these diseases continue to destroy lives and shatter dreams.

While not considered a Neglected Tropical Disease, we must end the neglected problem of

A part of the graduating class and Academics at the graduation

cial goal for the Class of 2015.

This will mean that all maternal deaths and all child deaths which are due to preventable causes are eliminated. It will mean universal access to safe, potable water and sanitation, to medicines and commodities, and a hunger free world, not just in some countries, but all countries.

Several countries have reached elimination stage for mother to child transmission of HIV and universal access to HIV medicines.

Your generation can make the End of AIDS part of your legacy. The number of Malaria cases and malaria deaths has dropped tremendously; we must end the

vitamin-A deficiency linked blindness in children now.

Our public health landscape today sees more than 38M people die from the growing NCD pandemics.

More than 14 million new cases of cancer are reported every year, even as we confirmed the microbiological basis for many cancers.

This opens up the possibility of vaccine-preventable cancers.

Almost 20 million people die of cardiovascular diseases, even as we have firmly established a lifestyle basis for most of these deaths.

You will have to navigate a public health landscape that is dotted with public health chal-

lenges like medication safety; climate change; epidemics of obesity and diabetes; an aging world demographic; end of life care and emerging infections.

As you navigate the public health landscape before you, Innovations and research remain a basis for solution in the future.

You have a vast opportunity to make a better world with paradigm-changing innovations.

You will be challenged with an investment imperative. Margaret Chan, the Director General of the WHO, declared that money don’t buy health, good policies and programs do. I would like to state it differently. Money alone cannot buy health, just as good policies and programs by themselves cannot bring about good health.

The USA spends more per capita in health than anyone else in the world, but its health indicators are not the best in the world. Cuba spends a fraction of what the US spends on health, but Cuba’s life expectancy, maternal and child mortality rates are not too different from the USA’s.

Guyana spends less than two per cent per capita compared with health expenditure in the USA. But Guyana has 100 per cent immunization rates for about 15 different antigens. In this case, it is not about the willingness to spend, it is about policies relating to vaccines.

But having said so, generally countries that spend more per capita on health generally also have better health outcomes. We need good policies and we need good programs, but we need investment in health.

The truth is that such investments are impossible for many countries in the world. For this reason I strongly support the

call for a Framework Convention for Global Health that would ensure that a package for Universal Health Care is agreed to and signed on as a treaty by all nations ensuring countries that cannot invest the required resources for a package of universal health care will get support from better off countries.

This package of universal health care must include the neglected area of mental health and the emerging pandemic of neurological conditions, such as dementia, the growing problem of autoimmune diseases and the more than a million suicide deaths per year around the world. The neglect of these conditions is simply scandalous and unfathomable.

I must highlight the troublesome reality that we are losing our antibiotics because of the perfect storm created by imprudent use and the lack of investment in research for new antibiotics. I call on the global authorities to institute a global emergency now. AMR stands in front of us as a major emergency in the same order as climate change.

As you graduate today, there are feverish preparations ongoing for a meeting in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia which will discuss global development financing for a better world. It is encouraging that global leaders will discuss making available global resources to tackle the deficits in social justice that exist today. It is expected that agreements for substantial movement of resources from better off countries will flow to poorer countries to level the playing fields.

This meeting will be followed by the UN Special Meeting in September to reflect on the MDGs and to agree on a new framework for development called the

Former Health and Agriculture Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, as he addresses the 2015 graduates of the Harvard’s School of Public Health

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In December, in Paris, we will have the Climate Change Meeting to agree on a way forward to deal with climate change.

These meetings will set the global development agenda to shape the world that we will have twenty years from now. This is your world. It is one full of promise and vast opportunities for you to make a difference.

Generations before you did not have the platform for global development to achieve equity and equality in the pursuit of social justice as you now have.

This is the public health landscape before you.

Navigate it well and a better world will be your legacy. I am confident that because of the time spent here at the Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health we can expect that by the time your generation passes the baton on to the next you will hand them a better world than my generation gave you.

Congratulations and God bless!

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tuesday, june 2, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

GAPSO blasts 2 dead, 2 critical after Alness accident “greedy” $6M T liquor thieves T

he Guyana Association of Private Security Organisations (GAPSO) said it is stunned by the news of the alleged disappearance of approximately $6 million worth of foreign liquor from the Guyana Revenue Authority’s Eccles, East Bank Demerara warehouse facility at the hands of private security officers.

The allegation describes an unappetising culture of greed and betrayal that continues to cast the private security industry in a negative light, GAPSO said in a statement. According to the organisation, the general public rightly expects security officers to hold themselves at a higher standard.

“This alleged action is an erosion of the public’s ability to trust private security personnel who have taken a promise to protect against such egregious, criminal activity.”

GAPSO said it stresses honour and integrity in every aspect of its mission and conduct, and the overwhelming majority of security officers perform their duties with honour and distinction, working tirelessly every day to keep our country safe. “GAPSO will not tolerate corruption, abuse or criminal activity within the security industry, and expect all of our members and non-members within the industry to fully cooperate with any criminal or administrative investigations of alleged misconduct by any of private security personnel, on or off duty.”

Besides, GAPSO said it is pleased to learn that Professional Guard Services (PGS) is supporting this ongoing investigation, so the members of the public can continue to trust in the vast majority of security officers who respect their pledge and are committed to duties and responsibilities of the private security industry. GAPSO is the leading professional association of security practitioners in Guyana, promoting the highest standards through advocacy, collaboration, education, and the promotion of high ethical standards in the operation and management of security services within Guyana.

Persons identified

Meanwhile, following the discovery of some $6 million worth of seized liquor missing from an East Bank Demerara warehouse attached to the GRA two weeks ago, ranks from the Professional Guards Service (PGS) have been caught redhanded and were handed over to the Police. In an updated statement to the media on Saturday, the GRA disclosed that after reviewing the Close Circuit

Television (CCTV) footage from the warehouse located at Eccles, a copy was handed over to the private security firm. After reviewing the security footage, PGS positively identified personnel from its service as being actively involved in the criminal act.

Furthermore, the release disclosed that the suspects have been questioned and have named their accomplices. The questioning was done in the presence of their supervisors, officers from the Guyana Police Force and staff of the GRA’s Law Enforcement and Investigation Division (LEID). The suspects were subsequently placed in Police custody.

On the other hand, GRA has reiterated that it continues to hold PGS responsible for the loss and is awaiting the necessary response before considering any further action against the security firm. Additionally, the tax body outlined that a comprehensive audit is being conducted at the warehouse facility.

“It should be noted that GRA’s Internal Audit Division is currently engaged in a comprehensive audit of the warehouse to determine whether other thefts may have occurred, and to ascertain possible weaknesses in the system of internal control that could have contributed to and prevented a more timely disclosure of such occurrences,” the GRA stated. In addition, the external and the state auditors have also been briefed of the situation.

On May 13, during a routing inventory exercise, officers of LEID discovered approximately $6 million worth of foreign liquor missing from the Eccles warehouse facility.

Commissioner General of the GRA Khurshid Sattaur, has since assured that the agency will spare no effort in having the perpetrators brought to justice.

He noted that the revenue body had previously installed CCTV monitoring systems to safeguard against such incidents, and this has significantly aided the investigation.

From all indications, this incident was orchestrated utilising the cloak of darkness in an effort to avoid detection of the activity and the identification of the perpetrators. Preliminary investigations have revealed that no current employee of the GRA is involved.

As a result, the agency is urging members of the public, including members of the press to avoid speculating at this point. As investigations continue, additional information will be provided as it becomes available.

wo persons are now dead while two remain in critical condition after the car they were travelling in collided with a donkey before hitting a parked truck on the Alness Public Road, Region Six (East BerbiceCorentyne) on Sunday night.

Dead are 24-year-old Abdool Jaffar Ramaiah, popularly called “Akbar”, a hire car driver of 152 Miss Phoebe, Port Mourant, Berbice, and Devanand Sewsankar, 27, called “Vicky”, of Free Yard Public Road, Port Mourant.

Injured are Suresh Nandlall, 26, called “Ajay”, a hire car driver of Ulverston Village, and the fourth passenger who

An eyewitness who asked to remain anonymous said he was at home when he heard the impact, and, along with his brother and father, rushed out to see what happened.

“We deh home and hear a big noise, we run out to the road and see the car crash into the truck, a donkey fold up in the corner and the people were pinned and we had to use an axe to break the car; we took out the front seat passenger and recognise that it was Ajay. He break up bad, but was breathing. We then tek out the driver, he did done dead already, he neck break.

We tek out the two back-seat passenger and carry dem to the hospital”. Was bear blood everywhere you can’t really recognise anybody, but some of them de smell of alcohol”.

Hanging out Meanwhile, Ramaiah’s mother Rasheeda Rahaman 48, said her son left for work on Sunday morning, after he failed to return at his usual time, she decided to call him.

She related to this publication she tried on several occasions, but his phone went to voicemail, before she finally got on to him around 19:00h when he

bers, “Akbar” met with friends and they were hanging out and the four later left together.

Speaking with Guyana Times one of his younger sisters said after their mother became worried, she decided to check up on him around 21:00h, and he told her he was taking some friends home.

Shortly after they received the devastating news of the accident. His father and other family members went to the scene and it was then they discovered he was already dead.

His mother said she ventured to the Port Mourant Hospital and demanded to see him and it was then her worst fear were confirmed. She said when she went to the Port Mourant Hospital and saw her eldest child in that condition, it was heartbreaking.

“Akbar” was described as a joyful person, who assisted many in the community. He was well known for his Tassa drumming skills at the Miss Phoebe Kali Temple.

His death came as a shock to many who gathered at the home to offer support to the grieving family. He leaves to mourn his parents, five sisters

Dead: Devanand “Navin” Sewsankar

was only identified as Anand, called “Cow” of Tain.

According to sources, Ramaiah, who was driving Fielder Wagon HB 5067, died at the scene. He suffered a broken neck, arm and feet among other injuries. He was reportedly pinned in the vehicle before rescuers proceeded to break open the vehicle to gain access using an axe. The other three occupants were rushed immediately to the New Amsterdam Hospital and were later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital where Sewsankar succumbed to his injuries around 13:30h on Monday.

Reports reaching this newspaper indicate that the driver was proceeding at a fast pace around 22:00h when he collided with a donkey on the road and then lost control of the car before slamming into a parked truck. The impact was such that it shifted the truck a short distance.

The mangled car

told her he was coming home shortly and he was at the carwash.

According to family mem-

and one brother.

Over at the home of Sewsankar, his mother, Virma Veersammy, wept un-

Dead: Abdool “Akbar” Ramaiah

controllably as she got the news of her son’s critical condition. She said he left home late Sunday afternoon. When this publication visited, Veersammy was praying for the safe recovery of her son who she described as the “apple of her eyes”; at that time, he was said to be on life support.

After battling for his life, Sewsankar succumbed to his injures just after midday on Monday. After learning of the death of her son a short while after, the distraught mother broke down in tears and questioned why her son had to leave her.

She noted that after they received the call about the accident on Sunday evening, her husband and her other son went to the accident scene.

She said she was able to see her son for a short time at the Port Mourant Hospital before he was transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

“I couldn’t recognise my son, his face was covered in blood and swollen, I can’t believe this: my son has gone and left me.”

Meanwhile, Nandlall, who was the front seat passenger, remains in a critical condition. He reportedly suffered multiple broken bones, including arms and feet as well as serious head injuries.

According to a family member, he was due to undergo several surgeries and they are hoping that he fully recovers.

In the meantime, the fourth occupant, Anand, is said to be in an unconscious state. The Police are investigating the accident.

DEMTOCO calls for greater understanding of illegal tobacco trade

T

he Demerara Tobacco has reiterated the need for greater understanding of the illegal tobacco trade, the criminals behind it and the need for cooperation and collaboration to fight it.

This call to action is part of a new campaign, developed by British American Tobacco, to raise awareness of the facts around the illegal tobacco trade. DEMTOCO’s Managing Director, Maurlain Kirton indicated that the nature and scale of the illegal tobacco trade and, the approaches required to tackle it, vary from country to country.

However, he said it is believed that if all of the different organisations involved in the illegal tobacco trade around the world were combined into one conglomerate, they would become the third largest international tobacco company by

revenue.

Jerome Abelman, Director of Legal & External Affairs, British American Tobacco, also commented: “The impact of illegal tobacco may not be felt as immediately and directly as other crimes, but the consequences are very real. By some estimates, illegal tobacco costs governments around the world $40-$50 billion each year in unpaid tobacco taxes - the equivalent to approximately one $110million bank robbery every day of the year - and sales of illegal tobacco are reported to fund human trafficking, drug and arms trades as well as terrorist organisations.

The amount of illegal tobacco is much more significant than is generally realised: an estimated 400-600 billion cigarettes, the equivalent of approximately 10-12%

of world consumption. It is a transnational, multi-faceted issue and one that requires a collaborative approach to tackle it, from governments and law enforcement agencies with whom we work in partnership to retailers and customers who can arm themselves with the facts.

The nature of the illegal tobacco trade varies from country to country but the causes are similar. These include large excise increases causing price differences between countries and ineffective law enforcement measures. We believe that illicit trade through the Caribbean uses a complex supply chain and potentially can come into markets as: under-declared legally registered brands; leakage from Duty Free bonds and product smuggled via in transit goods or through the

under invoicing of CIF prices.

Mrs Argle-Kirton reiterated that DEMTOCO as part of the British American Tobacco Group is an important part of the solution. The British American Tobacco Group invests over $75 million each year to fight the illegal tobacco trade and has dedicated Anti-Illicit Trade teams across the globe that work with government agencies, including police and customs officials, with the aim of bringing criminals who are involved in the illegal tobacco trade to justice.

We also support the introduction of the FCTC Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products in Guyana as an important part of the solution, but this treaty will only be effective if it is consistently applied and enforced by joined up governments.”

18 news

tuesday, june 2, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Parliament likely for June 10 opening …coalition submits list of MPs, GECOM awaits PPP/C’s list

By Devina Samaroo, Gomatie Gangadin and Vahnu Manikchand

P

resident David Granger is likely to open the 11th Parliament on June 10 or 11, a top administration official has confirmed. However, while the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has received the list of Members of Parliament (MPs) for the ruling A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) coalition, it is still awaiting the submission from the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C). The coalition will occupy 33 seats while the PPP/C has 32.

Minister of Governance under the Minister of Presidency, Raphael Trotman who spoke to Guyana Times on Monday evening said that as it is, the President has been having discussions with his Ministers and other stakeholders and had assured that he wishes to see the Parliament reconvened at the earliest possible time.

Minister Trotman said that while the discussions were ongoing, however, the reconvening will take place on one of those two dates, depending on the outcome of the discussions. He however declined to say who were some of the people who are likely to be Members of Parliament

Soldiers on bond after interior brawl reaches court

A

brawl involving two soldiers and one former soldier resulted in a court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Monday. The accused, Melvin Seepersaud, Randy Torres and Marvin Hopkinson were brought before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry to answer charges of assault.

The charges read that Torres from 12 Golden Fleece, West Coast Berbice, and Hopkinson from the East Coast of Demerara, unlawfully and maliciously assaulted Seepersaud on April 12 while in Takatu, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

The Virtual Complainant (VC) in that matter, Seepersaud, also became the defendant when he was charged for the same offence against Torres. The men pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Police Prosecutor, Bharat Mangru told the court that Torres and Hopkinson were soldiers while Seepersaud is a former soldier. They had an argument which escalated to assault. However, the Prosecutor stated that the men wished to drop the matter. This was granted by the Magistrate. She placed the men on a bond to maintain the peace for one year.

Minister of Governance Raphael Trotman

and who the Speaker will be.

Meanwhile, GECOM has confirmed that the APNU/ AFC has already submitted their list of MPs and the Commission is now awaiting the submission from the PPP/C before it can officially gazette the election results of 2015.

Speaking with this publication on Monday, GECOM’s Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally disclosed that the Government already submitted its relevant documents and the delay of the gazetting is owed to the PPP/C’s own delay in making its submission. Surujbally said the Commission expects to soon receive the documents from

the PPP/C and therefore, the official gazetting should occur sometime in the near future. He noted too that, during the Commissioners’ meeting today, discussions will be focused on the gazetting of the elections result.

But Surujbally was quick to remind that following the General and Regional Elections 2011, which occurred in November, the election results were not gazette until January 2012.

According to the laws of Guyana, the General and Regional Elections 2015 results were supposed to be gazetted 15 days after Election Day. However, the law contains a provision which allows GECOM to extend that time.

PPP/C MPs

Speaking on the issue on Monday at the party’s news conference, General Secretary Clement Rohee told reporters that lengthy consultations are required for decisions to be made on who will be appointed to the various postings. He noted that these selections will have to be made from the Regional, Geographical and National Top-Up lists, and as such, extensive consultations will be needed from the “grass roots” to the top leadership of the party. Rohee explained that this is so because many of the names on the lists are not necessari-

ly members of party, and as such, there needs to be discussion among party members so that there would be no fallout in the future.

The PPP/C General Secretary further explained that compiling the List of Candidates for the May 11 Election was a tedious task with back and forth consultations; likewise preparing a list of MPs would be similarly intense. “That is why we are taking our time to consult with various levels within the party to settle on these matters so when we settle on these matters, there is no problems later on with our membership or various people saying they were not consulted,” he noted. According to Rohee, the consultative process began on Monday as they progressed through the various steps.

He outlined that a preliminary list will first be drafted and then shortlisted. That will then be presented to the members who will make the amendments if necessary. He added that during the consultations process, the candidates will be informed of whatever criteria the party is looking for in their MPs.

Former Presidents

Asked whether former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar would be serving in the National Assembly, the PPP/C

PPP/C General Secretary Clement Rohee

General Secretary could not say at the time. He also could not confirm whether the party’s Prime Ministerial Candidate Elisabeth Harper would be an MP, maintaining that discussions on all these matters are ongoing.

On the other hand, Rohee pointed out that sorting out a list of candidates does not necessarily mean that the party will be participating in the 11th Parliament.

“In choosing your MPs and so forth, you will go to Parliament right away. There have been periods in our history where we settle on our Parliamentarians but we did not go to Parliament… One has to look at this in all its

complexities,” he remarked.

The General Secretary noted that both the PPP and the People’s National Congress (PNC), which is one of the parties that formulates the APNU coalition, has in the past selected their MPs but never went to Parliament.

He disclosed that the decision on whether the PPP/C takes its seat in the National Assembly as the Opposition lies with the party’s Central and Executive Committees.

In addition to the MPs, the party is also consulting on the appointments of Regional Chairmen and Vice Chairmen for the regions that they won at the May 11th Election and Regional Councillors for those regions that they did not win.

Former President and Leader of the PPP/C Donald Ramotar had previously told Guyana Times that the party is still to determine what its attitude to the new Government will be, since as far as the PPP/C is concerned, the new Administration was formed on the basis of rigged elections. According to Ramotar, the PPP/C is focusing on getting the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to release the election results it had asked for.

“We are still to determine our role as far as Parliament is concerned. We are still in discussion on this matter,” Ramotar had stated.

Rodney CoI racks up $325M – reporter cashes in on $16M

By Alexis Rodney

T

he Commission of Inquiry (CoI) probing the circumstances surrounding the death of Guyanese historian and political leader, Dr Walter Anthony Rodney has so far exhausted $325 million and this does not include the amount that still has to be pumped into its final sitting.

That sum includes $16.8 million (US$80,300) that was paid to an unnamed journalist attached to a state-owned print media entity, who received a monthly fee of US$7300 to write on the proceedings of the Commission.

Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams made the disclosures during conversations with reporters in his chambers Monday afternoon. So far the amount of money spent on salaries for the three-man commission carrying out the investigation amount to $150 millon Williams said.

The Commission, including its Chairman, Barbadian Queen’s Counsel Sir Richard Cheltenham; Jamaican Queen’s Counsel

Jacqueline SamuelsBrown and Trinidad-based Guyanese Senior Counsel Seenath Jairam, was set up in February of 2014, by then Head of State, President Donald Ramotar to investigate who or what was responsible for the massive bomb blast that caused the instant death of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA) Co-founder on the evening of June 13, 1980.

At that time, Ramotar had said that the establishment of the inquiry was due to a persistent request made by Rodney’s widow, Patricia, and their three children. However, the People’s National Congress (PNC), the major player in the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition, had maintained that the move was a political stunt taken to tarnish the reputation of the political unit.

Since Rodney’s death, both the WPA members and civil society here and abroad have pointed their finger in the direction of the then PNC Government, a claim that has always been denied by party executives.

The contention was that the PNC had used ex-Army

Sergeant William Gregory Smith, known for his electronic skills, to plant a bomb in a communication device, which exploded and killed the educator. Rodney was said to be a thorn in the side of the then Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham Administration.

“Squandermania”

Williams described the situation as “squandermania and abuse”, noting that while the efforts of the then PPP/C Government to sully the party’s image have failed miserably, he just could not see why so much money had to be pumped into an operation that made no sense.

“The real reason for this was political. We said from the outset it was a witchhunt. How it proceeded, it really did not serve any useful purpose other than vindicating the PNC in their contention that it had nothing to do with the death of Dr Walter Rodney.”

He said while the PPP/C sought to hurt the party, its efforts have backfired.

“You would recognise that the campaign that the PPP had campaigned against the PNC. What is impor-

tant about that is that the electorate came out in their numbers and voted in their numbers for the same PNC-APNU that they were labelling and the fact that that happened, they did not believe anything the PPP were contending that the PNC was responsible for his death,” the AG said.

Williams said the Inquiry, which Government hopes could be resumed by July of this year, will be just for submissions to be made after which Commissioners could consider and render their decision in the matter.

If that is the case, he said, contact will have to be made with all the lawyers that they should be prepared to come to the final sitting of the Inquiry to make submissions and then the Commissioners will retire and deliberate.

The lawyers in the Inquiry include Lead Counsel for the Commission, Glen Hanoman and his assistant, Latchmi Rahamat; lawyer for the WPA, Christopher Ram; representative of the Rodney family, Andrew Pilgrim; lawyer representing the interest of Donald Rodney, Keith Scotland; and Selwyn

Peters for the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC). Williams, who was at that time representing the PNC, said he will be recusing himself from that post, giving his current status. Attorney James Bond, who was assisting him, will take over.

President David Granger only last week had told the Guyana Times that he was hoping for the soon conclusion of the investigation and had indicated his intention to write the Commissioners in this regard.

He had said that too much money has been spent and too much time spent on the investigation that was standing by mere “hearsay” evidence. The CoI, which had initially received a $112 million allocation from Parliament, was originally expected to last for some three months.

However, after its first sitting came to an end, it was further extended for month duration in June.

Since then, it has had several extensions and up until its last sitting in March of this year had not yet come to any conclusion.

tuesday, june 2, 2015

19

Windball tourney geared at Harriette selecting team for Trinidad Thompson, 92, becomes oldest visit – organisers

T

he Al Sports Promotions annual primary schools wind ball cricket champions trophy is should produce a team which will be touring Trinidad and Tobago during the August school holidays.

Organiser of the event, Alistair Munroe made the

we have not made a return trip, that’s another part of these programme we must put on our front burner in a hurry,” Munroe added.

Munroe noted that the organizers will be selecting outstanding players from across Guyana for a one week camp where there will

plause and screams filled the air. But it was all short lived as only four games were possible.

Diamond Primary after been invited to take first strike made 59 for2 off their allotted 5 overs with Steven Simon scoring 20 runs, Jamal Thomas 11 and

16. For Providence Joshua Hamilton (24) and Seon King (16) were the principal scorers.

Craig Primary replying to Diamond Primary’s 61 for 2 was restricted to 45 for 2.

Last year’s first runners up; St Anne’s Primary after electing to field was re-

woman to complete a marathon

A

92-year-old cancer survivor rocked her way into the record books Sunday, becoming the oldest woman to finish a marathon.

Harriette Thompson of Charlotte, North Carolina, completed Sunday’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon in San Diego in 7 hours, 24 minutes, 36 seconds. She was mobbed by well-wishers as she crossed the finish line.

“I’m fine, they’re really pampering me here,” Thompson said in a firm, joyful voice as people all around her shouted congratulations.

her finish time of last year, which was 7 hours, 7 minutes, 42 seconds. That set a record for a woman 90 or older, shattering the old one by more than an hour and a half.

A classically trained pianist who played three times at Carnegie Hall, Thompson says she mentally plays old piano pieces she had performed to help her get through the 26 miles, 385 yards.

She didn’t begin running marathons until she was in her 70s, after a member of her church approached her

The students and teachers pose ahead of the tournament’s proceedings

disclosure at the start of the East Bank Demerara tournament on Thursday.

Munroe said they will have to change some aspects of the tournament, “We are hoping some day in Guyana we will able to run a Primary School Wind ball cricket league, like Trinidad,” he noted.

“We did start an exchange Primary School wind ball cricket with Trinidad and Tobago a few years ago in which Trinidad did visited us three times and today

be trials to selected the best to travel overseas.

This he hopes will act as a motivation for the students competing in the different zones. “You play hard, perform well and get a chance to see another part of Guyana and to travel overseas.”

Meanwhile rain had the final say on the opening day of the tournament in the zone despite a breezy start in an atmosphere of excitement at the Farm Ground where flags, whistles, ap-

Kenny Kalpoo 10.

Devendra Krishnall grabbed 2 wickets bowling for Eccles Primary which replied with 58 for1 to win by nine wickets. Rawl Gittings made a solid 36 with six maximums.

Providence Primary scored 31 for 2 after winning the toss and electing to take first strike against Covent Garden Primary. Amario Griffith made 17 runs.

In reply Covent Garden reached 32 for 1 off 3 overs with Vincent Chin making

Gay eyeing World Championships

T

yson Gay ran a 9.88, ahead of fellow American Michael Rodgers (9.90), to win the 100 meters on Saturday in the Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field.

Gay, whose doping case led to the 2012 U.S. men’s 400 relay team being stripped of its Olympic silver medals, accepted a oneyear ban in 2014.

He has a goal of making the U.S. team for the world championships later this year. The USA championships will be held at

Hayward in June.

“I want to make the team, man,” Gay said. “A lot of people don’t know I haven’t competed in the world championships since 2009. That’s been a very long time, and people don’t realize it because I’ve been around the sport for so long.

“So to make the team would be a huge blessing for me because I haven’t been in that environment for so long. It would be great for me to get back in that position.” (ESPN)

Tyson Gay

stricted to 34 for 3 when their turn at the crease came. They were replying to 54 for 2 made by Peters Hall Primary of which Joshua Hamilton (24) and Seon King (16) led the way. A new date will be set for the continuation of play in the zone.

Meanwhile the girls will be in action at a different venue at a date to be announced, this was due to the fact that there is no washroom at the Farm Ground.

(Andrew Carmichael)

Harriette Thompson

This was her 16th Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon and, by far, the hardest.

“It’s always harder but this year has been a bad year for me,” she said, adding her husband died in January following a lingering illness and she battled a staph infection in one of her legs.

“I couldn’t train very well because my husband was very ill and I had to be with him for some time and then when he died in January I had some treatments on my leg,” she said. “I was just really thrilled that I could finish today.”

The oldest woman to previously complete a marathon was Gladys Burrill, who was 92 years and 19 days old when she completed the 2010 Honolulu Marathon.

Thompson is 92 years, 65 days old, according to race organizers.

Despite her training woes, she nearly matched

about being one of her sponsors in the marathon to raise money to fight leukemia and lymphoma.

“At that time I had lost several people in my family to cancer and I said, ‘Oh, maybe I should do that,’ “ she recalled. “When I got out there the first year I just planned to walk it, but everybody else was running so I started to run with them.”

She isn’t sure if she’ll run again next year. But after last year’s race she wasn’t sure she’d run this one either.

She added she enjoys raising money for cancer research and figures the competition has helped keep her healthy.

“I don’t think I’d be living today if I didn’t do this running,” the cancer survivor said. “I’m helping them and they’re kind of helping me.”

(ESPN)

20

guyanatimesGY.com

tuesday, june 2, 2015

Khan defeats Algieri by unanimous Holder hoping decision, hopes Mayweather is next Dominica debut

F

or more than a year, Amir Khan has been chasing a fight with pound-for-pound king and welterweight world champion Floyd Mayweather but remained the bridesmaid.

Mayweather teased him about a possible fight three times, only to pick Marcos Maidana twice as an opponent and then finalize the long-anticipated showdown with Manny Pacquiao, whom he beat on May 2. But Khan might be the bridesmaid no longer.

Although Khan looked vulnerable at times, especially early, he picked it up in the second half of the fight and cruised to a unanimous decision victory against fellow former junior welterweight titleholder Chris Algieri in their welterweight main event Friday night before 7,372 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Two judges had the fight 117-111 in Khan’s favor, and the third had it 115-113.

ESPN.com also had it for Khan 116-112.

Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) plans to fight again on Sept. 12 to close out his six-fight contract with CBS/ Showtime, and he needs an opponent. Khan is clearly the highest-profile foe, and perhaps the most dangerous, of those remotely in the running. Titleholder Keith Thurman is scheduled for a fight on July 11 and would not be available. Junior welterweight champion Danny Garcia does not appear to be a serious consideration and

might be fighting Aug. 1.

Former welterweight titleholders Shawn Porter and Adrien Broner are fighting each other on June 20, but neither have the profile of Khan, who would bring considerable money to the table thanks to television revenue in his native England.

So Khan just might get the call, especially after winning but looking just vulnerable enough that Mayweather might be interested.

“I think everybody knows

the opening round with his movement and crisp punches, but Algieri (20-2, 8 KOs) did land a clean right hand that got Khan’s attention, buckling him in the final seconds. The shot might have hurt Khan enough that it took him a few rounds to get himself back together.

Algieri, 31, who is from Huntington, New York, on Long Island, had a strong second round, picking up where he left off, as he pressed the action and landed some sharp punches.

Amir Khan lands a hard left to the face of Chris Algieri

Amir Khan wants to fight Floyd Mayweather,” Khan said. “Mayweather is a champion, so let’s make it happen.”

After a difficult first half of the fight, Khan settled down, found his groove and beat Algieri over the second half with his speed and accuracy.

The 28-year-old Khan (31-3, 19 KOs) dominated

Algieri, who looked much bigger than Khan, continued pressing forward in the third round and landing right hands as his hometown crowd chanted “Algieri!

Algieri!”

Khan was trying to move and looked surprised by the aggression Algieri was showing, because that was not his usual style -- although Algieri was work-

ing with trainer John David Jackson for the first time, and the difference showed.

“A few mistakes I made.

Obviously, I didn’t think Algieri would come forward,” Khan said. “I figured he would be on the back foot.

[Trainer] Virgil [Hunter] gave me a game plan, and it worked for me.”

Algieri continued to land clean right hands in the fourth round, seemingly wobbling Khan multiple times. But Khan got himself together and began to box smartly and pick the overaggressive Algieri apart during the sixth and seventh rounds. In the eighth round, he landed a clean right hand that stopped Algieri in his tracks.

“I spent a lot of time in the pocket. It worked, and plan on doing it more in the future,” Khan said.

By the ninth round, Algieri’s left eye was swollen and black and blue. A left hook seemed to hurt Algieri in the 10th round as Khan continued to pour it on, although Algieri, game as they come, pressed forward until the final bell.

“I have to show so much respect for Chris Algieri,” Khan said. “He came to fight and win.”

According to CompuBox statistics, Khan landed 218 of 609 punches (36 percent), and Algieri connected on 199 of 703 (28 percent), although he appeared to land far more in the first half of the bout than the second. (ESPN)

Blatter disgraced FIFA, says former VP Warner

N

Sepp Blatter

o one has brought more shame on FIFA than its president Sepp Blatter and he should step aside for a younger leader, the organization’s former vice president Jack Warner has said.

Warner, who has been accused of soliciting bribes as part of a U.S.-led corruption case against senior soccer officials, left jail in Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday after he was granted bail, according to local media.

“Why are there no investigations in Asia, or in Europe?” Warner told German magazine Stern in an interview released on

Monday.

“Why are there no investigations into Sepp Blatter?

No other person has brought so much shame and disgrace

Jack Warner

on FIFA.” Warner is among nine FIFA officials and five corporate executives charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with running a criminal enterprise that involved more than $150 million in bribes.

Asked by Stern if he thought 79-year-old Blatter was corrupt, Warner said: “I only know this: he was elected FIFA boss five times in succession. Is he corrupt? I don’t know.

“If I were his age... I’d retire and pass the presidency of FIFA on to someone younger. But everyone has different ideas of what to do with their lives.”

Once one of the most

powerful men in FIFA, Warner surrendered to authorities on Wednesday after U.S. officials sought his extradition.

Prosecutors say Warner solicited bribes worth $10 million from the South African government for them to host the 2010 World Cup and diverted bribes for personal use.

Warner issued a statement protesting his innocence on Wednesday as FIFA reeled from police raids in Switzerland and the U.S. and a second investigation opened by the Swiss authorities into the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Warner, who faces 12 charges, including racketeering and bribery, said on Wednesday he was innocent and noted he had left soccer activities four years ago.

The 72-year-old resigned from FIFA after ethics investigations were begun into a meeting he held with former Asian Football Confederation chief Mohammed Bin Hammam where payments were made to Caribbean soccer officials ahead of the election for FIFA president in 2011.

pays dividends

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ll-rounder Jason Holder is hoping his first game of competitive cricket in Dominica turns out favourably for West Indies, when they clash with Australia in the opening Test at Windsor Park starting Wednesday.

The 23-year-old set foot on the Nature Isle for the first time on Saturday when West Indies arrived to begin their final preparation.

And despite not having

Jason Holder

played a single first class game here, Holder said he was looking forward to the experience, and also hoping West Indies could get a positive result.

“We’ve had a good week in Barbados of preparation and we’re here just raring and reading to go,” Holder said here Sunday.

“This is actually my first time to Dominica so I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve heard a lot of things before and obviously seen the last Test match when Australia played West Indies here so hopefully it is a little better than our last time in terms of the pitch and we get a

good game.”

West Indies have a mixed record at Windsor Park. In the first ever Test here four years ago, they drew with India and then lost by 75 runs to Australia in 2012. A year later, they crushed Zimbabwe by an innings and 65 runs.

Holder, who comes into the series on the back of impressive form in the recent three-Test series against England, was suspicious about the pitch but said he hoped it shaped up well as a decent wicket.

“We had a look at the wicket … it seems a little bit slow. Hope fully over the next week days of cricket, it dries out a bit and hopefully we get a good Test match wicket.”

West Indies are confident especially coming off a 1-1 draw in the recent series against England. They drew the first game in Antigua, lost the second in Grenada by nine wickets but rebounded to capture the third Test in Barbados by five wickets.

Holder now feels they can use this momentum to seriously challenge the number two side in World cricket.

“We’ve taken a lot from it (series result against England). Obviously we did pretty well to come back and draw the series and we’re just looking to keep that momentum going in that series,” he explained.

“We did a lot of good things in that series and we’re just looking to continue on in that rich vein and compete well with the Australians.” (CMC)

Federer eases into final 8 of French Open

R

oger Federer reached the French Open quarter-finals after completing a comfortable win over Gael Monfils.

The Swiss, 33, won 6-3 4-6 6-4 6-1 to set up a lasteight tie with compatriot and Davis Cup team-mate Stan Wawrinka.

“I’m pumped up to be in the quarter-finals again, said Federer after wrapping up victory on Monday.

The fourth-round match with Frenchman Monfils was suspended for bad light late on Sunday with the tie evenly poised at one set all.

But 2009 champion Federer needed only about an hour to finish off 13th seed Monfils.

“At this stage it’s about progressing in the tournament,” added Federer after securing an 11th Roland Garros quarter-final.

“What’s important right now is that I am physically

Roger Federer

fresh for the back end of the tournament.”

When the players resumed on Monday, Monfils, a semi-finalist in 2008, was nowhere near his best slipping to a break down in the first game of both sets. (BBC Sport)

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Mark Craig made his third Test half-century

N

ew Zealand’s enterprising cricket during the second Investec Test had put them in a position where only the weather or a recordbreaking performance by England’s batsmen could deny them a series-levelling victory. They scored quickly enough to be able to declare with more than five sessions left in the game but were thwarted in their initial attempts to claim any of the ten wickets required as heavy rainfall wiped out much of the fourth day at Headingley.

Less than 30 overs were bowled on Monday, a further significant loss of time in a Test that had suffered a curtailment on the first day. The unrelenting showers over Leeds effectively removed the already slim prospect of England chasing 455, while at the same time reducing the number of overs they would have to see out for a draw and a 1-0 series win.

England’s openers, Alastair Cook and Adam Lyth, reached 44 for 0 in 13 overs either side of lunch, leaving a requirement of 411 from 98 overs on the final day. Even by the standards of a rip-roaring series, that would be something special.

Headingley has seen a few miracles but the odds of an England victory were north of 500/1. Still, if England’s batsmen wished to clutch an omen to their breasts when marching out to brave the Leeds chill, history records that the last time two teams were tied on first-innings scores, West Indies pulled off the highest successful chase in Tests, against Australia at Antigua in 2003.

Perhaps more pertinently, only one team had ever scored more than 455 in the fourth innings - and that was in a timeless Test.

Batting through the final day might be more manageable.

New Zealand declared around 12.15pm, having added 116 runs to their overnight 338 for 6 in just 16 overs. Brendon

McCullum, almost certainly aware of the forecast for rain, gave his bowlers a crack at England before lunch but they could not make any early gains - although an exploratory over of spin from Mark Craig suggested that the challenge for survival would only increase.

New Zealand’s formidable third-innings total was built around BJ Watling’s century, an innings he extended to 120 while continuing to play in a crisp, compact manner, like a subaltern diligently going about his business. Craig and Tim Southee then resumed the more brazen approach that has been a hallmark of New Zealand’s play in this match, crashing a series of boundaries during a stand of 67 off 52 balls.

Craig finished unbeaten on 58, his third Test halfcentury, and dealt severely with anything off line - though he was dropped on 24 when Stuart Broad could not hold a thumping drive diving to his left at mid-off. England’s bowlers once again gave a desultory performance against the tail, with Matt Henry twice hooking Broad into the stands before McCullum called off the assault with the target beyond 450.

Henry’s first blow meant that eight New Zealanders had hit sixes in the innings, a record in

Tests. Broad also set a new bar, though one he will be less keen on remembering, conceding more than 200 runs in a match for the first time, at an economy if you could call it that - of 6.12.

Cook, England’s captain, strode out at the start of play wearing three jumpers to keep out the cold, while Broad kept his sleeveless sweater on while bowling. There was little else to warm them as New Zealand added almost 100 runs in the first hour.

James Anderson has been somewhat subdued in this series, creeping rather than charging past the 400-wicket mark, but he finally chiselled out Watling with a prancing delivery that took the glove and flew to the right of Joe Root at third slip, who swooped to take it with both hands.

Southee played and missed at five consecutive deliveries from Mark Wood before edging the sixth for four, high and to the right of an unmoving Ian Bell. Southee, grinning throughout, exchanged a fist bump with Craig, while England’s fielders swapped dark looks. That was Southee’s first scoring shot but he was soon piling in, taking Broad for 4-6-44 and closing in on his own New Zealand fastest fifty record before holing out to long-on against Moeen Ali. (Cricinfo)

SCOREBOARD

New Zealand 1st innings 350 England 1st innings 350 New Zealand 2nd innings TWM Lathamc †Buttler b Broad 3 MJ Guptill c Root b Wood 70 KS Williamson c †Buttler b Broad 6 LRPL Taylor c Stokes b Wood 48 BB McCullum* lbw b Wood 55 BJ Watling c Root b Anderson 120 L Ronchi† c †Buttler b Anderson 31 MD Craig not out 58 TG Southee c Anderson b Ali 40 MJ Henry not out 12 Extras (b 4, lb 6, w 1) 11 Total (8 wickets dec; 91 overs) 454 Did not bat: TA Boult

Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-23, 3-122, 4-141, 5-262, 6-315, 7-368, 8-435 Bowling: JM Anderson 23-496-2, SCJ Broad 16-1-94-2, MA Wood 19-2-97-3, BA Stokes 121-61-0, MM Ali 16-0-73-1, JE Root 5-0-23-0.

England 2nd innings (target: 455 runs) 24 A Lyth not out AN Cook* not out 18 Extras (lb 1, w 1) 2 Total (0 wickets; 13 overs) 44 To bat: GS Ballance, IR Bell, JE Root, BA Stokes, JC Buttler†, MM Ali, SCJ Broad, MA Wood, JM Anderson Bowling: TA Boult 7-0-20-0, TG Southee 3-1-13-0, MD Craig 1-0-1-0, MJ Henry 2-0-9-0.

22

guyanatimesGY.com

tuesday, june 2, 2015

Baird happy with national record

Windies to build on England series, Australia prepare for Ashes

– aims for World Championships

By Treiston Joseph

T

op Javelin thrower, Leslain Baird broke Guyana’s national javelin record that held just last weekend at the Hampton International Games in Trinidad.

Baird who is also a Pettey Officer in the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) held the record since June 2013 and eclipsed the old mark of 65.32 metres with 67.60 metres.

While bettering his own mark was a mark of progression for the top athlete who is also a smooth quarter-miler, Baird did not expect to be in such form.

“It felt great to break it again but I did not expect it because I was not doing much training due to the elections period and I was also coming off a six seek layoff from a groin injury I picked up in March,” Baird told Guyana Times Sport.

Reminiscing on the event, Baird noted that while the competition was tough, his coach Robert Chisholm helped with his mental preparation for the event.

“My coach was there and he was constantly on me to forget about the athlete participating especially since I

West Indies will aim for progression against the mighty Aussies

W

Leslain Baird

was nervous because I was not training. Our aim was to keep the 70 metres mark in mind through the competition and that’s what I did,” Baird noted.

While Baird has improved on his national record, he highlighted that there is still a few areas that he will be working on to improve his throws.

“Well my coach says that I have to work on the whipping of my hip, a lot of gym work till to do as well working on my run up so that I

can try to perfect my technique,” Baird noted.

Meanwhile Baird revealed that his aims for the year are to make it to the Pan American Games in July as well qualifying for the World Championships in August.

Baird will depart Guyana this month end for Trinidad to participate in the Sagicor General/NGC National Championships in order to realize his goals for 2015.

est Indies are set to be an Ashes form guide, with Australia’s two-Test series to begin after England drew 1-1 in the Caribbean.

West Indies are looking to build on their recent drawn Test series against England, while Australia are looking to prepare for the Ashes when the first Test gets underway in Roseau on Wednesday.

The Australians are in the Caribbean for a two-Test series, their final international tune-up before the Ashes begins on July 8.

All eyes will are on the Australian selectors to see if they throw a debut the way of leg-spinner Fawad Ahmed, one of six players in the squad to have not played in an Ashes Test.

West Indies paceman Jason Holder said Ahmed, 33, was largely unknown to him and his team-mates.

“No, I don’t know much about him,” Holder said on Sunday.

“Obviously, I’ve heard a little talk about him. We just

have to see him.

“We have a few guys who played in the warm-up game, seen him a little bit, and they’ve shed some light on what he does so hopefully we just see him for the first time, and play well.”

Ahmed is expected to earn his Baggy Green in the Caribbean, while fellow potential debutants Adam Voges and Peter Nevill are also in the mix.

Shaun Marsh made 118 in their tour match against West Indies Cricket Board President’s XI and a strong Test series will see him sew up an Ashes berth in the first Test in Cardiff.

Voges was Australia’s second-highest scorer in the tour match with 52, and could yet come into the XI for Shane Watson - the all-rounder’s preparation for the series disrupted after he stayed back in Australia for the birth of he and wife Lee’s second child.

Shaun’s brother Mitch Marsh and Josh Hazlewood are the others yet to play England in the five-day format.

But before England, Australia must do what their old rivals could not - and claim a series win over the Windies.

West Indies have gained plenty of confidence from their 1-1 draw with England, according to Holder.

“We’ve taken a lot from it,” Holder said, with West Indies winning the third Test by five wickets on May 3 to avoid series defeat.

“Obviously, we did pretty well to come back in the series.

“We drew the series, and we’re looking to keep that momentum going in this series.

“We did a lot of good things in our series, we’re just looking to continue on in our rich vein, and compete.”

Holder said the pitch at Windsor Park in Dominica looked dull.

“We’ve had a look at the wicket. We obviously had a little practice here just now, it’s a bit slow, hopefully in the next few days of cricket it dries up a bit, and hopefully get a good Test match wicket,” the 23-year-old said. (Digicel SportsMax)

Ninvalle tops class in Granger Phillips replaces May on GFF’s Normalisation table tennis tourney Committee

Stuart May

T

The winners pose after the presentation ceremony

N

ational Mini-Cadet Champion, Kaysan Ninvalle won the “C” Class Open final when the President David Granger Inauguration Table Tennis Tournament concluded recently at the Cliff Anderson

Sports Hall.

Ninvalle defeated Nicholus Romain 3-1 at 1311, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9. Joint third place went to Terrence Rausch and Keshon Reece.

Devon Richmond was the winner of the ‘’B’’ Class

Open final with a 3-0 win over Xenophon Goliah at 114, 11-3, 11-5.

Meanwhile Michael Vieira defeated Bruce Vieira 3-1 in the 60 years and over final while Colin France was the in the winner of the 55

years and over category with a 3-1 win over Goliah.

The trophies and Cups were donated by Michael Vieira, Bruce Vieira, Triumph International and Roraima Airways.

he Guyana Football Federation (GFF) on Monday announced the appointment of Eric Phillips as the replacement for Stuart May as a member of the GFF’s Normalisation Committee.

May was part of the Normalisation Committee since its induction by football’s world governing FIFA in October 2014. His resignation from the Normalisation Committee is due to family commitments.

As a result, FIFA has ap-

pointed Phillips to complement the members of the Normalisation Committee, effective May 25, 2015.

Phillips will join the Normalisation Committee in an effort to complete the mandate provided by FIFA by the September 30, 2015 deadline.

Chairman of the Normalisation Committee, Clinton Urling, has expressed his appreciation to May for his time devoted to the development and restoration of systems and procedures at the Guyana Football Federation. He also stated he is looking forward to working with Phillips to ensure that the work of the Normalisation Committee is completed within its specified timeline.”

Other members of the Committee are Dr Karen Pilgrim, Rabindranauth Chandarpal and Tariq Williams.

The Normalisation Committee was installed by FIFA last year to regularise Guyana’s football after the game was brought into disrepute with administrators accusing each other of several wrongdoings.

guyanatimesGY.com

tuesday, june 2, 2015

GCB congratulates Chandrika on Test call-up

Rajendra Chandrika has been selected for the first Test against Australia starting Wednesday

T

he Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) has extended congratulations to Rajindra Chandrika on what it says is his very much deserved call up to the West Indies 14-man squad to take on Australia in the two home Test matches.

The first match starts on Wednesday in Dominica, and the second from June 11 in Jamaica.

“The GCB is extremely proud of Chandrika’s growth and development as a cricketer and we strongly believe he is ready for the challenge at the highest level and will surely produce handsomely,” the GCB said on Monday.

Chandrika made his

First-Class debut for Guyana in 2010 against Trinidad and Tobago and scored 65 in the first innings; ever since, he has been working very hard at his game. He also had a stint with the Sagicor High Performance center a few years ago.

The GCB pointed out, “WICB launched its Professional Cricket League last year and the classy right-hander wasted no time in cementing his spot at the top of the order for the Guyana Jaguars as he kept scoring consistently. He has been Guyana most dependable batsman in the longer version of the game and came second in the last sea-

son in terms of runs aggregate.”

It further added, “And when he was given the chance last week to play for the WICB President XI in the Australia warm-up match, he impressed again with an aggressive 74, hitting 10 fours. We believe he has the right attitude and discipline to complement his skills and talent as a top cricketer. We are hoping that he makes the final XI and start his journey as a West Indies Test player. The executives, members and staff of the GCB and Cricket Guyana Inc. wish Chandrika well as a West Indies player.

We urge him to do justice to his selection and continue to make us proud.”

Chandrika enjoyed his most productive season with the Guyana Jaguars team in the just concluded Professional Cricket League Four-day tournament, finishing as the team’s second highest runscorer with 525 runs at an average of 35 with five half-centuries.

Moments after his selection on Friday evening, Chandrika’s home club the Enterprise Busta Sports Club and the Berbice Cricket Board offered congratulations to the right-handed opener.

RHTY&SC invites nominations for special awards

G

uyana’s leading youth and sports organisation, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), is seeking the assistance of the Berbice community in obtaining nominations for two major award ceremonies to be held in July.

The club would be hosting the third annual Ansa McAl Award of Excellence and the third annual Gregory Gaskin Memorial Berbice Sports Award Scheme.

Secretary/CEO of the RHTY&SC, Hilbert Foster, stated that both awards ceremonies would be held on July 17, 2015 at the St Francis Community Developers Complex and the club would be inviting President David Granger to give the feature address. Minister of Education Dr Rupert Roopnarine would also be invited under the Ansa McAl Award of Excellence.

Four outstanding Berbicians would be rewarded for their outstanding contribution to the county in the fields of sport administration, education and community

development.

The general public is invited to submit nominations of persons who have excelled in a leadership capacity under the sub-heading of sports, education and community development. The awardee would be selected based on years of service, impact on society and role model status.

Hilbert Foster

Nominees must be over 40 years old and has served for over fifteen (15) years under one of the category.

The Gregory Gaskin Memorial Berbice Sports Award Scheme sponsored

by Sentinel Security Inc. would see the RHTY&SC sharing out four awards-

Berbice Sportsman-ofthe-Year 2014, Berbice Sportswoman-of-theYear 2014, Berbice Sports Personality-of-the-Year 2014 and Berbice Sports Organisation-of-theYear.

Foster disclosed that RHTY&SC members are not allowed to nominate any person and RHTY&SC members also cannot be nominated. Each of the awardees would receive a plaque, trophy, a medal of excellence and a collection of gifts.

Nominations can be sent to the club’s office, Area “H” Ground or via email at the following address:-foster_hilbert@ yahoo.com before July 5, 2015.

Only persons living in the Ancient County are allowed to make nominations and are allowed only one nomination under each sub-heading.

Persons must also submit their full name, address and contacts.

The winners for both awards would be selected by the RHTY&SC Awards Committee headed by veteran Journalist and Sports Administrator, Gregory Rambarran.

23

GCC Ladies finish Trinidad visit on high note

T

he Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ladies hockey team wrapped up their final game in Trinidad on Sunday with a 2-0 victory over Ventures Hockey Club to take their weekend final outcome to two wins and one draw.

The win takes GCC to a total of 20 points which extended their lead at the top of the competition table.

With the match opening

were skilfully parried over the top bar Ventures goalkeeper Sarayah-U Plaza.

The match remained scoreless at the half despite GCC enjoying the greater possession and attempts at goal.

The goalkeeping prowess of Plaza kept the match exciting as she was able to deny the visitors on every occasion.

Despite the earlier heroics of Plaza, the pressure by GCC

adrenaline for the GCC side as they relentlessly attacked the Ventures circle over the next few minutes earning several penalty corners in the process.

After winning a penalty corner in the 48th minute, Tricia Woodroffe’s strike was blocked by the diving Plaza only to be rebounded in by Gabriella Xavier on the near post. The score of 2-0 would hold to the end of the match

Sonia Jardine slips her pass to teammate Kerensa Fernandes in the scoring circle

on an even keel, both teams took some time to settle into their rhythm while exchanging possession more frequently than they would like before posing any serious threats.

After a slow opening 5 minutes however, GCC began to surge deeper into the Ventures defence offering striker Kerensa Fernandes two early shots at net which

finally paid off as Fernandes received a pass from midfielder Trisha Woodroffe on the left, drove to the scoring circle and slipped her pass across the face on the goal to the waiting Sonia Jardine on the far post for the finish. It was 38 minutes into the match and GCC had finally made their breakthrough.

The goal was a shot of

leaving GCC victorious on their final match of their successful debut season.

Although GCC have competed both their rounds of matches, there are still several outstanding matches to be contested by local Trinidadian teams which is likely to see the season running down into July.

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

tuesday, june 2, 2015

Shiv’s sacking sets bad precedent – Sanasie

By Avenash Ramzan

S

ecretary of the Guyana Cricket Board, Anand Sanasie, believes the unceremonious sacking of ace batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul for the upcoming two-Test series against Australia sets a bad precedence with regards the way regional players are being treated.

Chanderpaul, a veteran of a West Indian record 164 Test matches, was dropped by the Clive Lloyd-led Selection Panel, which noted the batsman’s dip in form over the past two series as the reason for his omission.

The middle-order stalwart had a rare lean patch, stitching together just 183 runs in his last 11 innings at an average of 16, but many share the view that the former captain deserved a better send-off or should have been afforded the luxury of retiring on his own terms.

During an illustrious career spanning 21 years, Chanderpaul has emerged as the West Indies second highest Test runscorer with 11, 867 runs at an average of 51.37 with 30 hundreds and 66 fifties.

Sanasie, speaking at a GCB press conference recently, was explicit in his views on how the matter

was dealt with by the selectors.

“We [GCB] had and we’re having extensive discussions with authorities of the board because we do not feel that this is a good thing. It can’t be a good thing; it’s a bad thing and it’s not a good precedence for players in the future. Players would look at this and say ‘I can give 20 years service and may very well be treated this way,” Sanasie, who is also a director on the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), reasoned.

He added, “My opinion on this- and this is personal- is that no one knew how Chanderpaul would have performed in the England tour. Had Chanderpaul scored two centuries we would not have been having this discussion, and I think that is where the administration erred…and you want to cover up your wrong with another wrong. That is not right, you can’t do that.”

Sanasie reiterated that the GCB will continue to stand in Chanderpaul’s corner, noting that the “icon” should be treated better.

“The Guyana Cricket Board would be in support of him and we would continue to petition the West Indies Cricket Board and the Selection Panel as we move

forward because we intend to ensure that this icon is given what is due to him after yeoman service to West Indies and Guyana cricket. I think Chanderpaul re-

tioned a few weeks back that Chanderpaul deserved a fitting send-off when his career ends.

“For me I was hoping that that would change, and you

been pleased with how former players had been treated at the end of their careers.

“I have never really liked how we have ushered out

Is it the last we’ve seen of the trademark celebration after a hundred?

quested a final series, which is two matches. At least he should have been granted that,” Sanasie pointed out.

Experts believe the sacking of Chanderpaul is another demonstration of the WICB’s disregard for the contributions of its players after they retire, although current President Whycliffe “Dave” Cameron had men-

mentioned Dave Cameron saying what he said…I think he meant well when he said that, but he never knew his selectors were not part of that plan. I want to be fair to him [Cameron], because he tried his best,” Sanasie commented.

Cameron, who in March gained re-election for a second term, said he had not

our players, so as president I am always trying to figure out how to honour them,” he told the Jamaica Gleaner.

“We’re doing it now on a continuous basis, year by year, for their performances, but at the end of a long and illustrious career like Shivnarine Chanderpaul’s we want to ensure that whatever we do, it is well re-

spected and that he knows and the region knows how much we value his services to West Indies cricket.”

It was initially reported that Chanderpaul was dropped for the upcoming two-Test series against the Aussies, only for that decision to be reversed with the intervention of some WICB Directors.

Chanderpaul was subsequently due to travel to Barbados on May 24 to join the rest of the squad, but was informed by Cameron moments before the flight that the original decision stands, as the selectors have stuck with their initial agreement.

According to Sanasie, as a matter of policy of the WICB, the selectors are duty bound to select the teams, and the Directors do not have the power to make changes. Despite Chanderpaul’s snub, Sanasie gave the assurance that the veteran left-hander will not be subjected to the same level of neglect by the GCB. “Well the fact is Chanderpaul has not retired from playing cricket. He would be selected as normal in our [Guyana] squad for the regional tournaments and once he is performing he’ll be selected,” he asserted.

CPL: Patriots coach Simons backs Afridi to shine

T

he St Kitts and Nevis Patriots will make their debut in the Caribbean Premier League against the St Lucia Zouks on 24 June. They will be coached by Eric Simons, who will be experiencing the Biggest Party in Sport for the first time.

We caught up with the South African to ask him about all things Patriots ahead of the tournament…

Q: How much are you looking forward to the 2015 Caribbean Premier League?

A: I’m really excited to be part of this tournament. I love spending time in the West Indies and the CPL is a tournament that is growing all of the time. As it’s going to be my first time coaching in the competition, it’s going to be a good challenge as well to bring together 15 players who I am getting to know at the moment.

“We needed a dynamic playmaker with a bit of mystery about him and Afridi fitted the bill” - Eric Simons Q: How are you going to use your experiences in the IPL when you

Shahid Afridi

start working with the Patriots?

A: I was involved in the IPL for a long time as a coach and this year I’ve had the chance to sit back and watch as a fan. I’ve got some ideas of what I want to bring to the Patriots. The key thing for me is about consistency. We have to find a cause and a focus and this will help the team grow and develop.

Q: As you are the new franchise, does it make this tournament slightly easier as no-one will be expecting to win the title?

A: That’s an interesting question. Outside the island I am sure there people will be looking at us and not expecting big things. We will be the underdogs for sure as we haven’t got a core team like some of the other established franchises.

But we will relish that label as underdogs and I’m sure the island will be really excited that we are part of the competition, especially if we start winning some matches.

Q: Marlon Samuels is going to captaining the team, how excited are you that he is going to lead the franchise?

A: It’s great to have him on board. We’ve chatted a few times and it’s important to have a leader like him. He’s a West Indian icon and has the ability to win games with bat and ball. He’ll bring a calmness to the team and it helps he has a good understanding of the opposition.

“If you’re after one name to

Eric Simons

look out for, it’s South Africa leftarm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi” - Eric Simons Q: Speaking of Shahid Afridi, was it easy to make him the first pick in the Player Draft back in February?

A: We did have a lot of conversations about the number one pick and who to pick. We knew we needed a dynamic playmaker with a bit of mystery about him and Afridi fitted the bill. Marlon was very clear

he wanted to take Shahid with the first pick. So in the end it was fairly easy, yes.

Q: What is he (Afridi) going to bring to the franchise and the CPL? A: Like I said, he’s dynamic. He has the ability to change the game with bat and ball. More importantly, though, he really understands what role he needs to play. He’s a really confident person with a great character. I am sure it will be great for the youngsters to be around him. I know I’m excited to work with him.

Q: Apart from the established players, is there anyone else that we should be watching from the Patriots?

A: For me it’s an exciting squad.

But if you’re after one name look out for the South Africa left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi. No-one’s really seen him but Marlon was impressed and keen to have him on board after playing against him in a tour game for the West Indies. He could be a bit of a surprise package.

(CPL.com)

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