Binder1

CSR Framework launched for youth development P13

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

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3060

Monday, December 5, 2016

Budget spells bleak Christmas for 2016

PRICE

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE: Months later

Leguan access bridge’s condition P10 remains unchanged

Page 3

…double taxation on businesses will hurt our economy – Ramsaroop

GO-Invest job creation, investment figures in question Page 7

Timehri family homeless as falling tree destroys house Page 10

…as Private Sector joins Jagdeo in rejecting ‘imaginary figures’

President Granger to push regional security P10 agenda as Caricom Chair New VAT regime was not recommended – Ram & P7 McRae

President fetes over 300 children in West Berbice No evidence found against Tagore P2 teacher for alleged cannibus use

As the year winds down and Guyanese prepare to usher in 2017, President David Granger is urging citizens to hold strong to the value of fellowship, which is best exemplified at Christmas time. The President made these remarks on Sunday at Onderneeming Village, West Coast Berbice, where he distributed Christmas gifts to over 300 children. In the composite photo, President Granger addressing the children of West Coast Berbice joined by Parliamentarian Jennifer Wade (centre) and Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson (extreme right)

Ram & McRae demands full inquiry into D’Urban Park Project Page 9

Cut VAT from water, electricity Page 9

… “Guyanese, it seems, are destined to remain in poverty” – Central Corentyne Chamber

Adult men are far less likely to know about HIV and AIDS ‒ New Amsterdam Hospital CEO

P12

2 news

monDAY, december 5, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Caribbean’s call for reparations

Prince Harry has no say in the matter – Phillips I n light of a profound letter written by Chairperson of Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Support Commission, Dorbrene E O’Marde to Prince Harry, fifth in line to the throne of England, about the Caribbean’s call for reparations, Guyana’s Reparations Committee Chairman, Dr Eric Phillips highlighted that the Prince had no say in the matter.

Last week, during his visit to several Caribbean nations, including St Vincent and the Grenadines, nationals commenced a “Not My Prince” campaign, calling for reparations from Britain for the Caribbean countries.

That campaign preceded a letter written by the Antigua and Barbuda Reparations Commission, which demanded that the

Prince recognise fully the crimes against humanity that “your people have committed against us”.

After the Prince was greeted by a handful of protesters on coming to Guyana on December 2, Dr Phillips said the Guyana Reparation Committee chose not to address the issue with Prince Harry, “because he has no say in the matter”.

“As much as we understood what was said by (Dorbrene), we have our own agenda… We chose not to go down that line; we didn’t think it was necessary. You have to choose your battles,” Phillips said. He added that given where Britain was in dealing with Brexit and other things, “we really didn’t think it was necessary”.

According to Phillips, the Prince was surely aware,

Programme Manager, Culture and Community Development at the Caricom Secretariat, Dr Hillary Brown accepts the Reparations Baton from Guyana Reparations Chairman, Dr Eric Phillips

however, of the reparations issue throughout his tour.

Phillips said the

Reparations Committee, as part of the Caribbean Reparations Commission,

No evidence found against Tagore teacher for alleged cannabis use

A

n investigation into allegations that a teacher of Tagore Memorial Secondary School was smoking cannabis on the school’s premises has concluded that there is no evidence to substantiate the claim.

In October last, management of the school had denied the allegations when they first surfaced. However, some teachers told this newscast that the teacher has been smoking in the vicinity of the school and had offered the drug to students.

Following several media reports, the Department of Education had called for an investigation. Now that the

investigation has been completed, there was nothing found against the teacher.

Head of the Regional Education Committee, Zamal Hussain, says the teacher has been found not guilty.

He explained that the

enquiry was conducted and there was not enough evidence to hold the teacher to any wrongdoing.

When the investigations were initiated, some teachers were of the view that the investigation would not bring out the truth because

certain regional officials were involved.

According to one teacher, they risked the chance of being victimised if they were to say what has been taking place at Tagore Memorial Secondary School.

However, Regional Education Officer Volika Jaikishoon had assured that the investigation would have been properly done. She stated that all the necessary procedures were followed; which included having the Guyana Teachers Union there to represent the questionable teacher: “There was no person that came forward to give evidence.”

was still in its fight for reparations, noting that a letter has already been written to former Prime Minister David Cameron by Barbados Prime Minister Freundel Stuart.

“We are firm in the sense that we are going through a process; the Third Convention on the Eradication of Discrimination (CERD) which all governments have signed on to. After negotiating with them on a diplomatic basis, if there is no response from England or Holland, then it will be taken to the International Court of Justice.” This, he said, will be done in a matter of three to five years.

Meanwhile, on the local scene, he said the Guyana Reparations Committee was requesting lands from the Government, in the same way it has made such issue to the members of the indigenous community who were the first to settle in Guyana.

“We found that three of the indigenous groups came 400 years after us and we also pointed out that we were enslaved here for over 200 years and that 450,000 Africans died for Guyana”.

These groups include the Wai Wais, Makushis and Wapishanas who, he said, came hundreds of years after the Africans arrived here.

Caribbean leaders in 2014 had approved a 10-point plan to seek reparations from the former slaveowning states of Europe.

These points include those countries providing diplomatic help to persuade countries, such as Ghana and Ethiopia, to offer citizenship to the children

whose foreparents were brought to the Caribbean to “return” to Africa; devising a developmental strategy to help improve the lives of poor communities in the Caribbean still devastated by the after-effects of slavery; supporting cultural exchanges between the Caribbean and West Africa to help Caribbean people of African descent rebuild their sense of history and identity; supporting literacy drives designed to improve education levels that are still low in many Caribbean communities; and providing medical assistance to the Region that is struggling with high levels of chronic diseases, such as hypertension and type two diabetes that the Caricom Reparations Commission linked to the fallout from slavery.

It has been reported that if the European powers fail to publicly apologise and refuse to come to the negotiating table, the Caricom nations will file a lawsuit against them at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Governments in the Caribbean have estimated that reparations for the slave trade could cost trillions of dollars and some have floated the idea of debt relief.

Some 46,000 British slave-owners, including a distant relative of former British Prime Minister David Cameron, were among those reportedly compensated at a currentday equivalent of £17 billion (US$36 billion) for “loss of human property” after the country emancipated its slaves in 1833.

news

3

MONDAY, december 5, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS

The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, December 5 – 08:30h-10:00h and Tuesday, December 6 – 9:30h-11:00h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Monday, December 5 – 07:35h-09:05h and Tuesday, December 6 – 8:25h-09:55h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY Thundery to heavy rain showers with sunny intervals can be expected throughout the day, followed by cloudy skies in the evening. Temperatures are expected to range between 24 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-easterly to East North-easterly between 1.34 metres and 3.57 metres.

High Tide: 08:07h and 20:26h reaching maximum heights of 2.37 metres and 2.41metres respectively.

Low Tide: 13:57h reaching a minimum height of 0.89 metre.

saturday, december 3, 2016

LOTTERY NUMBERS K

07 08 14 18 26 27 17 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

Daily Millions

01 03 10 11 26 LUCKY 3 5

9

2

8

Afternoon Draw

Draw De Line 02 08 09 10 11

5

5

Evening Draw

17 20

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

Budget spells bleak Christmas for 2016 …double taxation on businesses will hurt our economy ― Ramsaroop

T

he debate over the 2017 Budget begins today in earnest, but the coalition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Government will be hardpressed to defend it.

This obtains given the mounting consternation from sections of society, including the political Opposition, the Private Sector, labour and civil society.

The measures announced in Budget 2017 have also attracted significant criticism from financial analysts, economists, business consultants and strategists; the latest being Peter Ramsaroop, the former AFC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who appeared on the campaign trail for the Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

Ramsaroop, who had been a candidate on that party’s list, joined with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo over the weekend to reach out to the business community.

He later joined with Guyana Times for an exclusive post-Budget analysis ahead of the beginning of the debate, and he too railed against several of the measures outlined by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, saying it has laid the groundwork for a bleak Christmas.

Ramsaroop told Guyana Times that economies were driven in part by consumer spending and, “this Budget for both businesses and consumers gives no comfort to spend more this Christmas…

The accountant Jordan acted like he was smart; he presented a budget that takes more of our hard-earned money in order to fund the wasted pet projects of this government… double taxation on businesses will hurt our economy.”

He told Guyana Times that a finance minister has to be gravely incompetent to present such a budget just before the Christmas season, and suggested too that the measly 2.6 per cent growth he projected may very well not be attainable.

1980s economic policies

Peter Ramsaroop (right) joins with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo (centre) during a walk around the streets of Georgetown over the weekend

He called the proposals by Jordan representative of 1980s’ economic policies—policies that the Administration has no problem implementing since they are individually well-off.

“This is so easy for APNU/ AFC President and Ministers to implement… They are enjoying over one million a month, free housing, free electricity and water… cooks, guards, cellphones, telephones, Internet, drivers, trips around the world,” said Ramsaroop.

He recalled that during the 1980s – Burnham’s era – Guyanese were restricted on the amount of money that they could leave the country with, “fast forward to his protégé President Granger, he is taxing us more on passports, so if we want to travel, we will have to be punished, let us make business less competitive by taxing them more, and force them out of the country, like the mass exodus in the 70s and 80s…

This is an alarming trend that we as a people need to take serious note of.”

Expanding on the matter of the Value Added Tax (VAT), Ramsaroop observed that although the rate was reduced, the Government then expanded the base for collection.

“This meant that mostly the poor who did not pay VAT will now pay… Most of us know that our water bill is over $1500 and electricity for most homes is over $10,000.”

According to Ramsaroop, “Jordon, the accountant who wants more money to spend

randomly, believes it’s a clever move… It is simply a regressive tax… Their failures to stimulate the economy are evident in this budget.”

Seeking to break down the figures presented by the Finance Minister, Ramsaroop noted that the projected total revenue collection for 2016 is $174.8 billion, which is 0.9 per cent more than that budgeted and 7.4 per cent better than in 2015. According to Ramsaroop, Jordan said that this was projected to rise.

Meanwhile, VAT collection is projected to increase

by 1.7 per cent to $36 billion.

“So if we were truly getting a reduction in VAT in 2017, shouldn’t the number go down rather than up? As we say around town, ‘de man nah smart, bai’, he is getting more revenues, they are getting free water and electricity and yet APNU/AFC taxes us more.”

The former AFC CEO told Guyana Times that Minister Jordan was not an economist and that his “goal is to get money from us, not grow the money we have.”

Expanding on Jordan’s proposed taxation, Ramsaroop noted the words of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who said, “For a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.”

According to Ramsaroop, the APNU/AFC Government believes in making the masses suffer; with “the incompetence’s of a government without a smart leader, with an incompetent Finance Minister, Guyana is bound to regress.”

4

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, december 5, 2016

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707

Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, sales@guyanatimesgy.com

Editorial

For a Coherent Budget

T

he debate on one of the most contentious Budgets will begin today and it is our hope more light than heat will be generated. The Guyanese people do not just need to know just what is wrong with the programmes and projects of the budget but suggested alternatives to what are being criticised.

There have been criticisms, for instance, that the two per cent reduction on VAT is insufficient to positively impact significantly on the working and unemployed poor. The Opposition should state clearly whether they, in fact, would have reduced VAT and if not, in what way they would have ensured greater relief was offered to the poor.

From our perspective, the greatest failure of Budget 2017 is it does not appear to be guided by a clear strategy to address the challenges that confront Guyanese society today; and,inevitably, it, therefore, lacks coherence in its proposals and projects. Take for instance, the several actions proposed on VAT and their impact on the poor in the short term. While the two per cent reduction might be seen as “better than nothing”, the benefits were not only wiped out but actually the burdens increased by removing so many basic items from the “zero rated” basket to the “exempt” one. The manner in which that is effected has been explained ad nauseum and does not bear repetition.

But it is in the medium and long term that the incoherence of the Budget is most manifest. With taxes, this is a direct result of the PNC-led Government not following up with its Manifesto promise to review the tax regime of which VAT is but one component. The Manifesto declared the Government would “commission a comprehensive review of current taxation systems and policies, including the VAT, to identify and recommend fiscal innovations that would not only address adverse consequence of the current structure taxation, including hardships effects, but would create incentives that could attract needed investment in critical sectors of the economy.”

There was, in fact, a “Tax Reform Committee” (TRC) launched and it submitted its report back in May. It is ironic that the 133-page report suggested on the “zero rated” VAT category, a large number of items that are used by the poor, which were removed, be retained. On the other hand, it recommended that a withholding tax of five per cent to 10 per cent be imposed on contract services rather than the two per cent specified by the Budget. Another lack of coherence was clear when the Budget ignored the TRC’s recommendation to apply a “health levy” on alcohol which creates such a “range of economic, social and health outcomes”.

It would appear that, as with the recommendations of the CoI into the sugar industry, those exercises were so much window-dressing.

Another example of the lack of coherence in the Budget can be seen from the Government’s refusal to follow up on its promise to, “prepare a long term National Development Plan with consequential Programmes, based on consultation with relevant bodies and key stakeholders. The objective would be to take sustainable advantage of the vast potential of Guyana’s resource endowments.” In the absence of such a plan, the Budget inevitably becomes manifestly an exercise in “ad hocism”, especially when it comes to the economic development of the country.

We can do worse than begin with the “vast potential of Guyana’s resource endowments” specifically in energy – which we have consistently highlighted in this space for years. While the Budget identifies wind and solar energy for development, it has continued with its obdurate refusal to develop the Amaila Falls HydroElectric Project (AFHEP).

The lack of coherence is shown by the emphasis on a wind farm, which will sell 25MW power generated from wind to GPL but more insidiously will be given permission to have fossil fuel generating equipment to deal with wind lulls.

AFHEP, however, would have supplied 165MW – enough to push the industrialisation of Guyana to create the jobs needed, Budget 2017 is an incoherent missed opportunity

The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) held its Media Awards for excellence in Health Journalism 2016 on Saturday evening at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown. Awards were presented in eight categories including Best News Story Television, Best News Feature/Article-Television, Best News Feature/Article-Radio, Best News Story Print, Best News Feature/Article Print, Best News Story – Online, and Best News Feature/Article - Online. Among the awardees was Guyana Times/Evening News journalist Jeanna Pearson who won the second prize for excellent reporting of hard news related to health issues in Guyana

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Dear Editor, This is the second of our letters to mark the 16 Days of Activism Against GenderBased Violence. While we acknowledge improvements made by the Guyana Police Force to address and reduce crime generally, little information is available to NGOs and the general public about the composition and functioning of the police domestic sexual violence units.

Quite a few years ago when these units were first being discussed, it was recognised that NGOs and other civil society organisations have a crucial role to play in any system for prevention, protection and prosecution of domestic and sexual violence. The police force has initiated the Cops and Faith programme, which has been cited as being very successful, especially as it relates to juveniles in conflict with the law, but little effort has been made to initiate similar collaborations with NGOs that have years of experience and who run successful programmes ad-

dressing all forms of gender-based violence including all forms of child abuse.

We know that domestic and sexual violence is seen as playing an important role in constructing gender roles, power relations and as a means for some men to dominate and inflict harm on women. We only have to listen to some of the lyrics dominating popular music to understand how this is affecting the psyche of young men and boys and young women and girls.

All forms of genderbased violence share a common thread, ie power relations between men and women and gender inequality.

Sexual violence is often used as a mechanism for controlling the body and sexuality of women.

The pervasiveness of rape culture and rape myths also fuels a psychological and cultural mindset that blames the victim/survivor (‘She asked for it’) and trivialises sexual offences (‘Boys will be boys’). It tolerates sexual harassment in the

workplace and schools; defines masculinity and manhood as the ability of men to exert power and control, especially over their women, including control over their sexuality and defines femininity and womanhood as being submissive, sexually passive, obedient and subservient.

Rape culture believes that when women say no they mean yes in sexual matters and that when men get sexually turned on it is impossible for them to stop; assumes that men don’t get raped or that only ‘weak’ men get raped; is influenced by music styles and lyrics that glorify violence, portray explicit sexual imagery and is homophobic, insults and denigrates women and incites and encourages sexual assault and rape of women and the killing and maiming of gay and homosexual men; assumes that only promiscuous - ‘fast’, ‘easy’ - women and girls get raped and minimises the physical and psychological trauma of sexual violence.

Factors that increase men’s

risk of committing sexual violence include gang membership; harmful or illicit use of alcohol or drugs; exposure to domestic violence as a child; history of physical or sexual abuse as a child; belief in gender inequality; limited education; acceptance of violence (belief that it is acceptable to beat one’s wife or girlfriend); multiple partners and infidelity.

Let us not forget that criminals and persons in conflict with the law are not born but are the product of the social, economic, cultural and political environment in which they are raised. And as long as programmes and policies fail to address the acceptance, and tolerance for gender-based violence in Guyana, the high level of intimate partner domestic and sexual violence will continue.

Yours faithfully, Danuta Radzik Niveta Shivjatan Denise Dias Chabela Lord For Help & Shelter

Refining the Budget Dear Editor, As sure as there is a tomorrow, businesses will pass on to customers some portion of the input VAT costs related to Electricity and Water.

Additionally, for other increases in tax costs, businesses will also raise prices and pass the costs on

to their customers. Due to the foregoing factors, point number 1 below should be a necessary change to the 2017 budget submitted to the National Assembly for approval.

Points two and three express in a positive way the type of liberty and justice system that should be ap-

portioned and inherent to the Guyanese way of life.

1. Limit the 14% VAT on electricity and water to non-residential dwellings and remove any exemption threshold for such entities.

2. Freedom to travel abroad must not be prevented by an order from Guyana Revenue Authority

(GRA), with the order arising from a taxpayer’s indebtedness to GRA. 3. Any withdrawal

by GRA from an entity’s or person’s bank account/s for tax debt must result from a court ruling.

Sincerely, Nigel Hinds

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, december 5, 2016

5

You can send your letters with pictures to: Guyana Times, Queens Atlantic Investment Estate, Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown, Guyana or letters@guyanatimesgy.com

Late philanthropist lamented Time to start airing the internal wrangling in PPP parliamentary sittings Dear Editor, The passing of humanitarian icon Shri George Subraj, as related by mourners at his wake and funeral, has left a void within the Guyanese community in America. As evidenced by the fact that hundreds came out nightly for his wake and for his funeral service and cremation, George was indeed a very popular and respected cultural figure in the greater New York-based diaspora.

But he also held political views on Guyana and especially on internal wrangling in the PPP that cost it its majority in 2011 and its removal from office in May 2015 by the US Embassy with the blessings of the UK and Canada. Had PPP listened to George, it would not have lost power.

George was the President of Zara Realty, a multimillion-dollar enterprise, whose headquarters is in Queens, NY. George employed scores of workers, many of whom are Guyanese. He also provided affordable housing for middle-income and working-class families, many being Guyanese and other Caribbean nationals. He owned several apartment complexes.

However business success did not bring George popularity or recognition.

Rather, it was his embrace of charitable causes that elevated him to superstar status within our community and beyond.

Around 1995, George was introduced by cultural leader Ramesh D Kalicharran to Dr Tara Singh, founder of the Guyana Watch Inc, (GWI) that was founded in 1992.

Dr Tara persuaded George

to join GWI. George became Vice President. Around the same time, Tony Yassin also joined GWI and became another Vice President.

The group performed some exceptional work in Guyana. They brought young Munilall of Canal No I Polder (West Bank Demerara) for heart surgery in the USA to repair a hole in his heart. A successful operation was performed at the Joe Di Maggio Children’s Hospital in Florida. That project was coordinated by Dr Vishnu Seodat and Dr Tara. That gave GWI enough inspiration to launch the GWI Advanced Medical Overseas Program (AMOP). Since 1995, some 30 patients have benefitted from this programme with overseas medical surgeries.

It was George’s experience with Guyana Watch, especially the Munilall surgery that gave him the impetus to explore other medical options for the needy.

George would always take down medication for Munilall whenever he went to Guyana.

In 2008, George developed and implemented a brilliant idea: he pioneered kidney transplant surgery in Guyana. That operation was conducted at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corp (GPHC), and the first beneficiary was Munesh Mangal. After conducting similar operations for a few years at GPHC, the kidney transplant operations were switched to the Balwant Singh Hospital, Georgetown. As of 2016, 25 kidney transplant surgeries were performed. This, more than anything else, had brought George national and international recog-

nition.

In addition, George had sponsored heart surgeries in 2010 when he collaborated with staff from North Shore-Long Island Jewish Medical Center to perform heart surgery on eight children in Guyana.

Likewise, he sponsored a medical team that performed 30+ corneal transplants in Guyana. Apart from medical projects, George supported educational programmes including helping establish a lab for Guyana Police Force.

George’s direct contribution to educational causes could not be ignored, either. A young lady from Guyana testified at the funeral that she was encouraged by George to study and elevate herself, and she was also lucky to have been given a grant by George to study for her MA degree in Psychology.

Aside from culture and humanitarian work, George also took an ardent interest in Guyana’s politics. He was disrespected by the leadership of the PPP because of his strong views against the direction the party was taking. In conversations with me, he spoke of arrogance in the leadership and among a few in the ACG NY branch.

George was critical of the political direction of the PPP in its last few years in office. He was upset that the party did not allow a democratic process to choose the Presidential candidate for 2011; and he spoke his mind.

And he felt not enough was done to prevent the depar-

ture of Moses Nagamootoo as well as Ralph Ramkarran from the party. He felt both should have been accommodated in the party that would have allowed it to remain in office.

George told me Donald Ramotar could not cut it as the candidate in 2011.

George felt Ramkarran would have won handily.

George’s view was ignored.

And George was quite upset when Ramkarran was let go with no effort made by the PPP leadership to reconcile with him. George saw PPP defeat coming in May 2015 and tried to reason with the leadership without avail.

It is hoped that George’s charity will continue in Guyana to help improve lives.

The PPP will also be a better party if it takes simple advice offered by humanitarians like George Subraj.

Yours truly, Vishnu Bisram

Dear Editor, I would like to suggest that all Parliamentary Sittings be systematically broadcast via the National Communications Network and other State-owned media when the House is in session. It is important for Guyanese to monitor the performance of the people they elect to represent their interests, in what ought to be the highest institution of democracy in Guyana.

This will ensure that as many Guyanese families as possible participate, albeit indirectly, in the national decision-making process and the enacting of policies in their names.

For now the Sittings are only available via Livestream which requires access to the internet. Unfortunately, too many of the people concerned and affected by what goes on in Parliament are without internet access, do not have high-speed connection or simply don’t know how to use it. I’m thinking about rural Guyana in particular, a good half of the country. This can explain why at any giv-

en time on Livestream, less than 500 people connect to view the proceedings.

Rebroadcasting is also a possibility which will benefit people who work and cannot tune in during regular working hours.

A survey conducted by the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association in partnership with UNESCO and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, asserted that while “parliamentary broadcasting is now very widespread in the Commonwealth”, the use of internet streaming has the advantage of being cheap but it is the outlet which presents the most limitations “if trying to reach mass populations in the developing world”. This is applicable to the case of Guyana.

Fortunately, the Government has planned to invest in the expansion of State media, which suggests that funds are not what is lacking in moving towards the national broadcasting of Parliamentary Sittings.

Anna Correia

Only Guyana Times is seriously engaged in making the Government accountable

Dear Editor, Now that the PPP has been removed from office, all the other media houses, except for Guyana Times, have been dormant on the excesses of this de facto government. Oversized ministries, spiraling crime rates, unwarranted dismissal of public servants, (especially indo-Guyanese) because of their affiliation with the PPP and many other horrible mistakes of this govern-

ment do not make the pages of the any of the media houses, except for the Guyana Times. This is what Guyana has become! In spite of the mistakes of the PPP, Guyana has never seen such a terrible spate of crimes under its watch. Nor has there been such vengeful politics as we’re having now. Keep up the awesome job Guyana Times. Without this paper, God knows what this country would have become!

Business in Berbice is really suffering. Imagine stores in Rose Hall closing at 3 pm instead of 6 pm, because of the deadly crime spree. I am fearful for my future under this Government!

In the meantime, except for Guyana Times, the other media houses are in a deep slumber, only waking to attack the PPP. Sincerely, Rakesh Singh

6

monday, december 5, 2016

Page

guyanatimesgy.com

Foundation

How parents raise children to fit in Rights of the Child Chairperson Aleema Nasir’s speech at the American University of Peace Studies

The child rearing studies conducted by 1970 suggest that neither love withdrawal or power assertion were particularly effective at promoting moral maturity, but that induction seemed to foster the development of all three aspects of morality – moral emotions, moral reasoning and moral behaviour.

I have raised Hoffman’s research with you as I humbly suggest such a discourse will have to be led by you in the employ of psychology in creating a more humane society.

In my engagement of Guyana’s children in contact with the law, the most violent and those society deems as delinquent would have acquired such conduct from their violent and abusive fathers and other role models.

It is you who will have to guide the policy and implementation of parenting initiatives which show how the negatives of gender-based violence, alcoholism and substance abuse are assimilated and perpetuated by children’s exposure to them.

There is a distinct connection between these maladies and Guyana’s children coming in contact with the law.

I call your attention to an important article of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 12 of the CRC establishes and enshrines the right of the child to be an active participant in the process and realm of self, family, education and community development. It is a very new concept to Guyana as it goes against the grain of

much of our traditional past that the child should be seen and not heard. However, the research has shown that the environments in which children feel free to express themselves are invariably those which are most safe, beneficial and empowering. I think that this connection between the proclivity to expression and a safe environment requires some level of expert psychological analysis and rationalisation. Perhaps this might make it more amenable to the school, family and community stakeholders.

In Guyana, the area of social psychology is very relevant and applicable though I am surprised that its analysis has not been applied to Guyana’s myriad social divisions, antagonisms and prejudice. Research has been concerned with factors which promote prejudice. The horrors of Nazism in the 1930s and 40s led to a major research at the University of California at Berkley aimed at diagnosing the origins of such realities as fascism, racism, etc. The research uncovered the patterns of authoritarianism, ethnocentrism and projection – whereby individuals unwilling to accept their faults, place them on members of other groups.

I posit that these patterns of prejudicial behaviour, as diagnosed by social psychology, is very applicable in analysing the perpetuation of a multidimensional polarisation in our country. The discussions of these patterns, as well as how they are to be addressed will have to be ad-

dressed by your fraternity with its special training and orientation.

I understand that some of you are also graduating in Research. Though I am not sure what approach to research you have studied, the general undergirding thrust of research which is to arrive at evidence-based conclusions to inform evidencebased approaches is very needed in our country.

I have been integrally involved in some very recent pieces of research going to the heart of Guyana’s children’s wellbeing and welfare. I urge you to examine UNICEF’s recent report examining the status of women and children in Guyana. This research has diagnosed that the categories of Guyanese children that can be deemed as vulnerable are 1) Children with disability; 2) Children

from the hinterland, as well as 3) Amerindian children.

Such research has now allowed for concerted initiatives to be crafted to address such categories of vulnerability.

Another significant piece of research that has been carried out by my Commission entailed a diagnosis that Guyana’s children in contact with the law were not availed their right to legal representation in breach of the CRC. This research has informed an initiative with the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic intended to address this significant breach.

I have raised this with you as it is you who will have to conduct research of this nature - research intended to effect levels of social change.

Finally, I reiterate my lauding of your hard work and congratulation of your success. I urge you to continue to work hard in continuing to hone your craft and profession of psychology and research. Sir Arthur Lewis, whom I spoke about earlier, has said in the very installation speech that “To achieve excellence, one must have self-discipline; to practise the same thing over and over again, while others are enjoying themselves; to push oneself from the easy part to the hard part; to listen to criticism and use it; to reject one’s own work and try again. Only the humble achieve excellence, since only the humble can learn.”

I wish you continued success and anticipate your work in service to our nation.

By Nigel Barber, PhD

T

here is a lot of scepticism about whether parents truly affect their children. Much of those doubts are exaggerated. That is particularly true about societal differences in parenting. These are adaptively matched to adult life in ways that psychologists ignore at their own peril.

Independence versus reliance on others

One of the most remarkable differences in child rearing around the world involves the physical distance between parents and children. In many societies studied by anthropologists, an infant is within arm's reach of the mother at all times of the day (1).

Some mothers carry the child close to the skin during the day and sleep with the infant at night.

Such practices are very different from how infants are raised in developed countries such as the US where there is a lot more physical distance between parents and children.

The most obvious example of this is the fact that young children (and even infants) customarily sleep in a different room from the mother causing sleep difficulties and crying at night.

Infants who spend more time close to the mother are generally a lot calmer. They are also more compliant which is reflected in fewer tantrums and less opposition by children to parents.

So why do parents in developed countries set themselves up for so many behavioural issues in young children by maintaining large interpersonal distances?

No doubt this is a complex issue and women in full time employment cannot drag their infants around with them all day. Yet, the most obvious functional explanation is that children are being socialised for independence. If a one-year-old masters the job of sleeping alone in a darkened room, perhaps they can succeed in an adult world where everyone looks out for themselves.

The self versus others

Children in some societies are raised to be far more helpful than others (2). Beatrice and John Whiting observed altruistic behaviours in children aged three to ten years in six societies — Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, Japan, India, and the US. Children in non-industrialised societies (Kenya, Mexico, Philippines) were very much more altruistic than children in industrialised ones (Japan, India, the US). They found that 100 per cent of Kenyan children scored high on altruistic behaviour compared to only eight per cent of American children, for example.

In less developed countries, like Kenya, people often live in large extended family groups. Children are economically valued because they help with subsistence activities and child care. The Whitings deduced that being given responsibilities from an early age, such as farm work, or caring for brothers and sisters, encouraged a more altruistic orientation early in life.

Even in America, children’s altruism is influenced by how much is expected of them in terms of helping out at home.

Boys who do housework along with their fathers are more popular with peers and are good at making friends (3). They make less trouble for teachers and start fewer fights. Children who help with housework are thus more altruistic in their interactions outside the home. (Excerpt from psychologytoday.com) To be continued

news

7

monday, december 5, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

VAT regime was GO-Invest job creation, investment New not recommended numbers in question – Ram & McRae …as Private Sector joins Jagdeo in T rejecting ‘imaginary figures’

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

F

ormer President Bharrat Jagdeo, along with the Private Sector Commission (PSC) this past week lambasted as almost imaginary the job creation figures supposedly facilitated by the Guyana Office for Investment (GOInvest) which was supplied to the House when Finance Minister Winston Jordan presented Budget 2017 Monday last.

Both the PSC and Jagdeo met with the local media on separate occasions and questioned the figures alluded to by the Finance Minister and supplied by GO-Invest – the entity responsible for facilitating investments locally on behalf of the administration.

Jordan in presenting Budget 2017 said: “Over the course of 2016, total investments, including foreign direct investments (FDI), facilitated by GO-Invest totalled $114.8 billion, a significant improvement over the $89.3 billion inflow in 2015.”

“This year’s investments will yield over 6,000 jobs in various sectors, including 1,327 in agriculture; 1,366 in energy; 1,500 in ICT; and 1,483 in tourism and services,” Jordan stated.

He announced that in 2017, GO-Invest will target $139.8 billion in investments and the composition of the investment portfolio

will be restructured to ensure greater diversification within the economy, with additional focus placed on the tourism, agriculture, and light manufacturing sectors, and that these ventures are estimated to create an additional 3,870 jobs.

Chairman of the PSC’s Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs, Ramesh Persaud was this past week, asked about the business community’s confidence in the projections by the Finance Minister with regards the monies to be invested in Guyana in the coming year in addition to the jobs to be created.

Persaud told the local media that he is unsure as to what is the basis for the determination of the numbers presented by the Finance Minister.

According to Persaud, while anecdotal evidence points to the Minister’s projection being unrealistic, there is a paucity of confidence in the local business community.

He said that as long as the local business committee is uninspired, this will inherently be passed on to any foreign investors.

The PSC, he said, is of the view that the Budget is without a clear vision and will in fact lead to more hardships.

Speaking of some of the inconsistencies in the lack of policies that have been daunting the PSC, it was pointed out that in the 2016 Budget, Government had made a special effort to add a range of items to the zerorated category of the VAT regime.

One year later, Government has abandoned this altogether.

Meanwhile, on the matter of GO-Invest and the unreliability of the figures it released, PSC executive Ramesh Dookhoo said bluntly that GO-Invest has a documented history of simply calling numbers, a

practice that had also obtained during the previous administration and “they (GO-Invest) seem not to have got rid of that position.”

Misleading impression

Jagdeo said Minister Jordan sought to create a very misleading impression that GO-Invest facilitated investments in 2016 that created over 6000 jobs.

He recalled that Minister Jordan said that 1327 jobs were created in the agriculture sector, but

PSC Economic and Financial Affairs Committee Chairman Ramesh Persaud

Jagdeo has since challenged the Minister to provide evidence that these jobs were actually created, saying it could not be in the rice and sugar sectors.

The former President explained that a proposal

could very well come into GO-Invest with a promise to create 50 jobs, but this does not mean it will actually materialise, since the proposals may very well never be implemented: “I would like to see where these 1327 new jobs were created in agriculture in 2016; he should be able to tell us.”

Jagdeo also used the occasion to challenge the Finance Minister to provide evidence that there was in fact 1366 jobs created in the energy sector.

According to Jagdeo, “It couldn’t be ExxonMobil; it couldn’t be (so) where else?”

The Opposition Leader stated that when the Finance Minister spoke vaguely about job creation

by GO-Invest, he consciously failed to deal with the net job loss as was experienced with the case of Barama, and Demerara Timbers, which has since pulled operations from Guyana.

On the matter of GoInvest, the former President conceded that during his tenure he would have taken advantage of using the misleading figures supplied

by Go-Invest saying, “GOInvest numbers have always been suspect.”

He said this is the position since it is difficult to track whether any of the proposals actually lead to the creation of any jobs through implementation.

he findings of a postBudget analysis undertaken by eminent accounting firm Ram and McRae, are contrary to what was reported to the National Assembly that the revised Value Added Tax (VAT) regime was informed through studies conducted by the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC) in conjunction with a Tax Reform Commission (TRC), which was set up by Head of State David Granger.

In its analysis of the 2017 Estimates, Ram and McRae found that the reduction of VAT from 16 per cent to 14 per cent differs from those of CARTAC and the TRC in very significant ways.

CARTAC recommended two rates – 16 per cent and 8 per cent. The TRC recommended 14 per cent and 7 per cent.

Meanwhile, as it relates to the application of VAT on electricity and water, the accounting firm found that at the proposed rate of VAT, “this is likely to cause a substantial increase in the VAT borne by affected taxpayers.”

On the matter of the elimination of all zero-rated items, except those pertaining to exports and man-

ufacturing inputs, Ram and McRae found that the consequences of these proposals are severe: “We have taken an actual spending of a taxpayer and calculated the VAT under the current and proposed regimes… VAT increases by 155 per cent and total expenditure by 7.3 per cent.”

According to the analysis supplied by Ram and M c R a e : “All taxpayers will have different spending patterns, but we bel i e v e t h a t they will face increases in their spending… It is not without significance that while the economy is projected to grow by 3.5 per cent, VAT collections are expected to rise by an average of 25 per cent on imports, as well as domestic supplies.”

On the matter of the amendment of the VAT Act to allow the Commissioner General to issue a direction to prevent a person owing tax under the Act from leaving Guyana, it was found that this measure is “completely unacceptable and the information referenced in the Speech is inaccurate and unreliable.” turn to page 11

8

News

monday, december 5, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ungrateful...

W ...Bajans

ith Barbados also celebrating the 50th Anniversary of their “independence” from Britain - but still revelling in their self-designation as “Little England” - not surprisingly Prince Harry was invited to represent his grandmother, the Queen of England. Barbados also retains the Queen as their Head of State and “Monarch”.

Our Head of State and Executive President David Granger was invited and he showed up to also partake in the glow of Harry’s presence.

It was a bit surprising to your Eyewitness that President Granger wasn’t conferred with any honour by Barbados since he’d awarded our Order of Roraima on THEIR Prime Minister at our Jubilee Independence bash.

Pressed to explain the anomaly Prezzie averred as to how the Bajan PM had stood up in our corner on the Border issue. But it seems that the help we gave to Barbados and Bajans have been interred with our forefathers bones.

So allow your humble but history-minded Eyewitness to set the record straight - which the Bajans insist on repressing.

At the abolition of slavery in 1834, unlike Guyana and Trinidad, their island had nowhere for the frees slaves to leave the plantations and be on their own. They had to remain on the plantations and continue to do the same work as slaves - but for wages that left the worse off than when they were slaves!!

Meanwhile in Guyana, where our enterprising freed slaves told the planters to “stick it” and left in droves to form our historic “village movement”, guess who VOLUNTARILY came over to take their place? Go to the head of the class, dear reader, you’re right - the same Bajans who treated us so shabbily when we fell on hard times after the 1970s!!

Bajans started coming right from the start in 1835 - the same year as the first Portuguese from Madeira. And while they and every other immigrant group like the Indians and Chinese - have been blamed for undercutting the wages of our freed slaves - the Bajans have slipped under the radar.

Fact of the matter is MORE Bajans came here to work in the sugar industry than the Portuguese!! They kept on coming as indentured servants up to 1928 - long after Portuguese emigration ended in 1882!!

Things were so hard with them in Barbados that they even were willing to undercut the wages of the Indian and Chinese indentureds! When the Police Force was formed in 1939, most of the recruits were Bajans because they sucked up to the British while the latter feared our local ex-slaves would rebel.

Guyana basically took the steam off Barbados by absorbing their excess population - But do we get any thanks?

Not from the way they dissed Prezzie!

...City Hall

Poor vendors of Georgetown. These individuals are direct descendants of those individuals who refused to accept the pittance offered to the freed slaves after “abolition” and gravitated to the towns to make an independent living. Their forbears were a hardy and pioneering lot and these qualities were passed in to our present generation.

The problem is that all the governments have failed to “regulatise” them in a fashion where they can go on to use their creativity and willingness to work long hours to break into a higher tier. A couple of decades ago, Dr Kenneth King had come up with a plan on behalf of ACDA but then it seemed to have died with its conceptualiser.

But the unkindest cut of all was applied by the City Council’s Gang of Four, which used them to harass the PPP’s Town Clerk but then dumped the ones from Stabroek Market Square into the garbage after the elections.

They were promised a new location - but three deadlines have passed and they’re still stuck in “limbo”.

That is, “on the edge of hell”.

...Finance Minister

Today, the Finance Minister will have his budget scrutinised by the Opposition.

If he has even a smidgen of shame, he should resign!

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

news

9

monday, december 5, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ram & McRae demands full Cut VAT from inquiry into D’Urban Park Project water, electricity …says investigations must shed light on directors, Govt role

R

eminiscent of the allegations of financial mismanagement that had accompanied the 2007 World Cup saga under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), eminent accounting firm Ram & McRae has now called for a full inquiry into all aspects of the D’Urban Park Project, including the Government’s role and that of Homestretch Development Inc and its directors.

The call for inquiry into the project and the several hundred million dollars that poured into the edi-

to undertake the D’Urban Park Project.

He named a number of persons as directors but whether by accident or design he omitted to mention Dr Rupert Roopnaraine as one of the directors.

President David Granger on his weekly show, sought to defend Dr Roopnaraine and offered his views about HDI which he described as a special purpose company.

According to Ram & McRae, “It appears that the President was misled into misleading the public as the company never was

It was observed too that President Granger was also reported as stating that the project was delayed because of the presentation of the Budget.

“In fact, when the President spoke his government had presented two budgets – one in August 2015 before sand filling of the site had taken place and the other in January 2016…HDI was incorporated in January 22, 2016, one week before the presentation of the 2016 budget in which $350 million was approved for the Jubilee Celebrations.”

D’Urban Park

fice through Homestretch Development Inc, attracted the attention of the accounting firm in its postbudget analysis of the 2017 Estimates.

According to the firm, “There are so many conflicting versions of this matter that it is hard to know where to begin.”

It was observed that the matter burst into the open only days ago when Minister of Public Infrastructure David Patterson admitted in the National Assembly that a private company – Homestretch Development Inc (HDI) - had been formed

a special purpose company.”

It was observed that, among the types of business it was formed to carry on included the “import and export generally to and from Guyana” and the “business of Real Estate.”

This is confirmed in the Articles of Incorporation which stated that there is no restriction on the business the company could carry on.

As such, Ram & McRae has determined, “That is not a special purpose company, if ever there was one.”

According to the accounting firm, “Whether a company is a special purpose vehicle, a government company or a private (nongovernment) company they are all required to comply with the Companies Act.” It was pointed out that the Act contains rules dealing with contracts entered before a company is incorporated, require an organisational meeting of the directors while the common law imposes fiduciary duties of incorporators and promoters.

In addition to the $350 million voted in the 2016

...“Guyanese, it, seems are destined to remain in poverty” ‒ Central Corentyne Chamber

P

Chartered Accountant Christopher Ram

Budget, a further sum of $406,758,312 was spent out of the Contingencies Fund for the “completion of D’Urban Park Development Project to facilitate the holding of Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary celebrations.

Ram & MaRae pointed out too that there would have also been moneys received from the celebrations all of which need to be accounted for: “In so far as the moneys were public moneys they ought to have been paid into the Consolidated Fund… As of now, there clearly are more questions than answers.”

resident of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC) has expressed alarm at the 2017 Budget, and is calling for Government to reconsider its proposal to have Value Added Tax (VAT) on water and electricity.

According to President of CCCC, Mohammed Raffik, the Budget proposes placing more taxes on an already burdened population: “One item that has jumped out at us and one which we have found to be totally reprehensible is the imposition of VAT on electricity and water. This is a real ‘sleight of the hand’ operation by the Minister, reducing VAT by 2 per cent and then coming in through the backdoor and poking it back at us. We are calling for this measure to be immediately withdrawn,” Raffik said.

He also noted that the majority of ordinary Guyanese pay more than $10,000 for electricity and $1500 in water bills on a monthly basis: “This means their bills will automatically go up by 14 per cent which may work out more than the salary increases they will get.”

The CCCC head stated that the two per cent transfer charge on the sale of a

President of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, Mohammed Raffik

vehicle is another backdoor tax and should also be withdrawn. According to Raffik, the increase in the threshold with a one-third measure of exempt income is welcomed and with a higher bracket of 40 per cent the effective tax rate as shown in the calculations, will be lower. “But why spoil this desirable measure by taking it back with the next hand.

Guyanese, it seems, are destined to remain in poverty,” the Chamber head added.

Raffik has promised to give a detailed comment on the impact the $250 billion Budget will have on Berbice.

10

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, december 5, 2016

News

President Granger to push regional security agenda as Caricom Chair

P

resident David Granger will be pushing for more “intense” cooperation among Member States on regional security when he assumes chairmanship of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in 2017.

Speaking on a special edition of ‘The Public Interest’ programme which was recorded in Barbados and aired locally on Friday, the Guyanese Leader pointed out that the issue of security in the region is important and no one State on its own can adequately tackle the issue.

He further noted that regional security should be looked at beyond crime fighting and illicit trade, adding that other areas such as emergency relief are fast becoming an integral matter that calls for cooperation among Member States.

President Granger believes that together Caribbean countries can make the re-

gion a much safer place for its citizens.

“Without cooperation each individual State would be unable to fulfil their obligations adequately. When you consider what happened to Grenada with Hurricane Ivan, no one State can expect to get out of that type of disaster on its own. Haiti right now depends on support; so I would say we need to have a more intensive programme for security cooperation because it goes into disasters and it goes into other areas,” the President posited.

According to the Head of State, security in the region does not only warrant cooperation with Britain, the United States or Canada, but there needs to be certain base level cooperation among Caribbean countries.

Moreover, the Guyanese Leader indicated that during his stint as chairman, there would have to be some introspection of Caricom to

President David Granger

see where it is and where it wants to be, especially since next year the body will be 44 years old.

“Certainly (Caricom has) matured and we have to make some mature judgments. Is Caricom moving as quickly as we want it to move? Where is it going? And are we serving the citizens of

our region the way they expect to be served? I would feel that the most important deliberation will be the consideration of the economy.

We have to be able to deliver a certain quality of life to our citizens and that quality of life will be based largely on ‘bread and butter’ issues,” he pointed out.

President Granger stressed that steps need to be taken to have the Single Market and Economy moving so that the wealth of the Caribbean can be used to develop countries in the region to benefit its people.

“Caricom has achieved a tremendous amount over the last 44 years and I feel that

T

51 Summerset Court, EBD, and Linden, stated that on Tuesday, December 23, 2015, while at his business on Burnham Drive, Wismar, Linden, he offered for sale a bottle of Black Label whiskey, along with a bottle of Ivanoff Vodka and a bottle of Grey Goose Whiskey, without being the holder of a valid intoxicating liquor licence.

For this offence he was previously granted bail in the sum of $25,000 by mag-

istrate Nurse.

The second charge against the defendant stated that on the said date he assaulted Leon George, Police constable #20310, a peace officer who at the time was executing his duties. It is alleged that he resisted arrest by the said Police officer.

Webster had also pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in an additional sum of $25,000. The case will be called again before magistrate Nurse at a later date.

trade and maybe even exploitation of our natural resources – we have not really kept abreast with the needs of our people and with the rest of the world. Other regions such as Asia and Europe are moving at a tremendous pace and we have to look at means to be competitive to keep up with those countries. Nobody is going to wait for us. Almost all of those preferential markets that we had have all disappeared so we need to look at the economy, and that is the direction I’m sure the Caribbean will take,” the Guyana Leader asserted.

President Granger will assume the Chair of Caricom from January 2017.

Months later

Leguan access bridge's condition remains unchanged

EBD man charged with assault M

he case against an East Bank Demerara (EBD) and Linden resident charged with the unlicensed sale of spirituous liquor was dismissed by magistrate Clive Nurse when it was called at the Linden Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a prima facie case has been made out against him for assaulting a peace officer. The charge against the defendant, Audie Webster, of Lot

the task in 2017 will be to convert that cumulated knowledge into benefits for the people. In that regard, I believe that the promise of a Single Market and Economy is what will deliver a higher quality of life to our citizens,” he stated.

Furthermore, he noted that the region needs to ensure that the educational standards and the social obligations of governments are discharged to benefit their citizens. Additionally he emphasised the importance of enhancing and increasing manufacturing, production and trade among Caribbean States.

“It is in those areas – production, manufacturing,

onths after reports in the media surfaced about the deteriorating conditions of the access bridge connecting the villages of Waterloo and Maryville on the Essequibo island of Leguan, the condition of the structure remain the same. This unchanged situation comes despite financial quotations being requested by the Public Infrastructure Ministry.

Residents have long complained that they have found much difficulty in navigating the bridge, while parents are especially worried for schoolaged students who now traverse the structure to sit for their current end-of-term examinations.

Additionally, farmers have expressed much hope for the situation to be corrected before harvesting of the island’s major

crops gets underway.

Meanwhile, Guyana Times learnt that subsequent to the mid-October reports carried in its publication over the declining state of the bridge, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure over one month ago obtained quotations for the supply of the requisite construction material.

The deteriorating conditions were first published October 10, when residents, especially parents of young children, were quoted about being fearful to allow their children to use the bridge.

Guyana Times was also informed that the bridge is the main access point through which many farmers transport their produce as farming is the principal means of sustenance on the island.

It had been reported that many of the boards on the bridge had risen with some sections bearing holes, and gaps which are too wide.

In October Guyana Times had also reported that a motorcyclist had narrowly avoided an accident after colliding with one of the holes at a section of the bridge.

Months have passed and nothing has been done, despite residents having voiced their concerns to the RDC of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara).

This came in light of reports that the Assistant Regional Executive Officer who has a sub-office on the island and had been informed of the bridge’s deplorable state.

It was also explained that Regional Executive Officer Dennis Jaikaran was officially informed of the matter.

monDAY, december 5, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

11

News

Budget 2017

There’s so much Govt needs to explain – PSC T

here are many intricacies in Budget 2017 that Government, through Finance Minister Winston Jordan, needs to explain to the country, so as to bring about understanding and relief to a confused populace.

Head of the Private Sector Commission’s Economic and Finance Committee, Ramesh Persaud, said the organisation has analysed all the measures in the Budget.

And while some have evoked grave concern, others need greater clarity on the reason for them being implemented in the first place.

Persaud was part of a panel of PSC officials who spoke with Journalists last week on Government’s $250 billion 2017 Budget.

He spoke of the re-imposition of the environmental tax levy on both importers and manufacturers. This, he said, has major implications.

He pointed too to the incentives to be provided for the green economy initiative. He said that that plan was a move in the right direction, and while there were not many businesses in this particular area, it could in later days open avenues for other businesses to come on stream.

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

The Finance Committee Chairman also spoke about the changes in the tax threshold, particularly with the 40 per cent rate and one-third tax-free allowance and the comments made about allowances and benefits in kind.

“We would like the Minister and his Ministry to provide greater clarity regarding the application of this measure, because it is very difficult to interpret from the Budget speech, the exact determination of this particular measure.”

He said it was difficult to understand whether it would be applied under a tier system, progressively, as explained, and what were the implications for al-

Man fined $40,000 for dangerous driving

A

resident of Triumph, East Coast Demerara, was fined $40,000 after he was found guilty of dangerous driving

by Magistrate Clive Nurse.

Jamal Jacobs, 21, of 136 Ogle Street, Triumph, was fined the sum of $40,000 when he appeared at the

Linden Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

The court heard that on Thursday, November 10, he drove lorry GPP 104 in a manner dangerous to the public along the Adventure Public Road. The court also heard that the man is a repeat offender.

New VAT regime...

from page 7

“Penal, excessive and disproportionate,” was the description ascribed to many of the provisions proposed by the Finance Minister, including the $200,000 fine and sixmonth imprisonment with regards businesses failing to keep records or the late filing of income tax returns.

Ram and McRae have expressed disappointment that the Minister once again has not provided the cost of each of the proposed measures.

It was found too that the commitment to a client friendly and business friend-

ly tax environment may escape the taxpayers faced with charges for tax services and heavy penalties for administrative breaches. According to Ram and McRae: “If the tax authorities wish some equity, the law must provide for the payment of equivalent interest on amounts owed by the GRA as it does on amounts owed to the GRA… The Tax Measures proposed did not follow the recommendation of the Tax Reform Committee to abolish and slash concessions and exemptions on key political and other players.”

lowances, in particular benefits in kind as was being given to executives across the country; hence, greater clarity was needed.

On the other hand, he said it was a positive move to raise the threshold, although it was not by as much as was proposed by the PSC, taking into consideration various economic factors.

Only last week, former Foreign Affairs Minister Henry Jeffrey said while he was sure no Government set out to hinder the progress of the poor and working class, the A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) Administration needed to dig deeper to first quell the fears of the poor by giving a

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Henry Jeffrey

clear understanding on how it intended to see economic growth during the new fiscal year.

Part of the Budget, which

points to a two per cent reduction in Value Added Tax (TAX), also speaks to a 14 per cent tax imposition on customers who use electricity in excess of $10,000 and over $1500 in water rates.

While Jordan reminded that the Budget was intended to provide a “good life” for all, Jeffrey, a former parliamentarian, said there needed to be a thorough examination and retrospection.

“I believe that many of these things that he seems to be doing in terms of the VAT and others need to be better explained. His attempt to cut the income tax threshold will essentially cause, rather than a progressive tax situation, has created a regressive

Head of the PSC Economic and Finance Committee Ramesh Persaud

tax situation. He said most of these things need to be properly explained,” Jeffery told Guyana Times.

12

news

MONDay, december 5, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

Timehri family homeless as falling tree destroys house

A

The completely destroyed house

mother and her three children are presently homeless after a tree fell and completely wrecked their wooden house at Alliance Road, Timehri,

and her three minor children were all at home when the tragedy struck. Luckily, no one was seriously injured. One of the children sustained a minor cut to her

The family now homeless after the incident

East Bank Demerara.

Based on information, the tree which once stood some 50 feet from the house came crashing down during a heavy shower on Sunday at about 12:30h.

Cindy (only name given), head of the household

nose and a younger child received lacerations to the hand.

When Guyana Times visited the scene, residents were assisting to remove the tree from the fallen house.

The house was completely furnished and most of the

household items were damaged.

Speaking briefly to the media, the confused woman said that she and her children were in the house when she heard a crashing sound and immediately felt the house falling.

Up to that point she was not sure what had occurred but it was until she and her children got out of the house that she saw the tree on the house. Only the stairs remained standing.

She explained that she checked that her children were safe and by that time neighbours rushed over to render assistance.

Cindy could not estimate her loses but related that her house was fully furnished. With Christmas around the corner, the mother of three, who works at a poultry farm in a nearby village to sustain herself and children is uncertain what her next move will be.

Villagers have come together to raise the roof of the mangled house in order for her household items can be kept dry. The woman and her children are now staying at a neighbour’s house as others assisted in other ways.

“Garnishing” of bank accounts

Finance Minister hopelessly confused ‒ Nandlall

E

xecutive Member of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Anil Nandlall has responded to accusations made

by Finance Minister Winston Jordan in another section of the media, that the PPP party, while in office had itself introduced the freezing of bank accounts.

The article, according might be a response to the “avalanche of criticisms heaped upon the measure announced by the Minister of Finance in his budget speech to take monies from persons’ bank accounts in satisfaction of outstanding taxes”.

The issue surrounds the Minister’s announcement during the reading of the 2017 National Budget last Monday that permission will be granted to the Guyana Revenue Authority to “garnish” outstanding funds from the bank account of tax defaulters.

But Nandlall on Sunday said the issue was never about “freezing of bank accounts, but the invasion of persons’ bank accounts without an Order of Court and to take monies from and apply it to taxes owed.

“In the article the Minister is quoted as saying that the provision of garnishment is one which already exists in the Value Added Tax Act promulgated

PPP Executive Anil Nandlall

by the PPP and the GRA already has this power under the VAT Act; that the government is simply provided a similar measure under the Income Tax Act”.

Nandlall said he can find no such provision in the VAT Act which authorizes the GRA to go into tax-payers’ bank accounts and seize proceeds in satisfaction of outstanding taxes.

“Of course the Minster did not refer to any section of the VAT Act. I do not think he could have. There appears to be none”, the former Attorney General said.

He continued, “On the contrary, garnishment is provided for in the Income Tax Act. However, it is limited to authorizing GRA to go after the debtors of a defaulting tax payer and recover the debts from those debtors and apply the same to liquidate

the tax arrears of the taxpayer. In their current formulation the relevant sections of the Income Tax Act do not authorize the GRA to go to the defaulting tax-payers’ bank accounts and take proceeds therefrom in satisfaction of outstanding taxes.

It would appear that this is a new measure being introduced by this Minister into the legislative tax architecture of Guyana”.

Another issue of concern, Nandlall continued is that the VAT Act allows the GRA to prevent a person who owes VAT from leaving the country, but only by an Order of Court. He said the Minister has indicated an intention to amend the VAT Act to remove the requirement of a Court Order.

“Why would the Minister want to do such a thing?

This, again, smacks of authoritarianism and unconstitutionality”.

“This is the very Minister who says at page 22 of his budget speech: “Mr. Speaker the Constitution of the Cooperate Republic of Guyana is the bedrock of governance and serves to secure the fundamental rights and establish the rule of law for all Guyanese”… “It is either the Minister of Finance is engaging in amateur propaganda or he is hopelessly confused”, Nandlall said.

Adult men are far less likely to know about HIV and AIDS – New Amsterdam Hospital CEO

C

hief Executive Officer of the New Amsterdam Hospital, Colin Bynoe, made this deathly revelation of men at a rally in New Amsterdam on Thursday in front of the Banks DIH New Amsterdam outlet at Main and New Streets in observance of World AIDS Day. Prior to the rally, healthcare providers marched with others from Barks Bridge, sharing anti-AIDS flyers.

Speaking at the rally, Bynoe noted that the campaign against AIDS focuses not only on prevention, but also on ways to improve strategies to slow down the rate at which the epidemic has been spreading.

“In 2016 this epidemic has now given us a total of 78 million persons who have been diagnosed with HIV, and 38 million people who died from AIDS-related diseases over the years. Adult men are far less likely to know about HIV and AIDS as compared to women… that is why over the years we had a larger amount of men passing on than women. Men have been behaving that way because of our macho nature. HIV and AIDS have no barriers, it has no respect for being macho or whether you want to be a ‘Tessa real girl’,” he emphasised.

He added that AIDS ruins one’s life and all that they would have planned to do.

Meanwhile, Director of Regional Health Services, Jevaughn Stephens, stat-

CEO of the New Amsterdam Hospital, Colin Bynoe

ed that annually HIV/AIDS is only focused on at World AIDS Day on December 1: “I believe that we here in Region Six can turn it around next year. In 2017 the Regional Health Services will be launching an HIV campaign, inclusive of bumper stickers, flyers, stickers and constant reminders. Because we want to ensure that we are constantly reminding ourselves as residents of Region Six to make smart choices and remember that HIV does not discriminate.”

The event was also used to celebrate the hard work of health workers, social service providers and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in bringing help to those living with HIV/AIDS and also to remember all those affected and those who have lost their lives as a result of

AIDS-related illnesses.

The emotionally-charged ceremony, especially for some healthcare providers, was punctuated with dramatic poetry and songs.

Medical Superintendant of the New Amsterdam Hospital Dr Vishalya Sharma noted that the NGOs which participated, United Brick Layers, Comforting Hearts, and FACT, do understand the impact and effect of HIV/ AIDS: “Not just on the person, but on the family and the community.”

When World AIDS Day was first observed in Guyana in 1988, it was the first time that Region Six participated in an internationally-recognised health event.

Dr Sharma noted that back then, the objective was to highlight the importance of prevention.

He explained: “Today the goal remains the same: to prevent HIV. Today in Region Six we are focusing on preventing HIV from affecting our brothers and sisters and more importantly to improve the quality of life of those living with HIV/AIDS.” While the number of incidents of HIV on a global level has decreased since 2008 by 35 per cent and the number of deaths of AIDS-related ailments by 45 per cent, Dr Sharma noted that Berbice would have played its role in the reduction.

This year’s World AIDS Day was observed under the theme, ‘Hands up for HIV Prevention’.

news

13

MONday, december 5, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

President fetes over 300 children in West Berbice A

s the year winds down and Guyanese prepare to usher in 2017, President David Granger is urging citizens to hold strong to the value of fellowship, which is best exemplified at Christmas

time.

The President made these remarks on Sunday at Onderneeming Village, West Coast Berbice, where he distributed Christmas gifts to over 300 children. He was assisted by

Minister within the Natural Resources Ministry, Simona Broomes and Minister within the Public Infrastructure Ministry, Annette Ferguson.

The President stated, “Christmas is about faithfulness and fellowship. We

CSR Framework launched for youth development This little guy seems to be getting all the information he needs about his new toy truck from President David Granger while Minister Simona Broomes looks on

T

A section of the gathering at the launch

he Natural Resources Ministry on Thursday rolled out its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Framework 2017-2020 which seeks to foster youth empowerment and community development at the Herdmanston Lodge.

The framework outlines a number of areas corporate partners can choose to invest in to the benefit of the communities within which they operate. Present at the launch were many companies and associations in the forestry, mining and petroleum sectors, including Vaitarna Holdings Pvt Ltd, Puruni Woods, the Forest Products Association, the Guyana Gold and Diamond Miners Association, Guyana Shield Resources Inc, Mid-Atlantic Oil & Gas Inc., and Esso Exploration & Production Guyana Ltd. Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman, reminded companies that there is a need for a wider cross-section of citizens to enjoy the right to their national patrimony, therefore they have a legal and ethical responsibility to provide services directly or indirectly to the communities they encounter in their operations.

The proposed activities contained in the document were drawn from engagements with various stakeholders including youth, on the development needs and priorities in Guyana.

While the projects will target natural resources industries, it is not restricted to just those entities, and the whole of corporate Guyana is encouraged to take up the challenge of making communities better.

There are many instances of companies in the extractive sector being good corporate citizens; however, it was observed that a more streamlined approach to corporate social responsibility was needed to ensure the greatest impact in the lives of those in the communities served by such entities.

The Framework therefore gives direction on how companies, principally those in the extractive industries, can make a real contribution to the development of all Guyanese. It is divided into four priority areas of focus for demonstration of corporate social responsibility: ‘Greening Guyana – Communities at Peace’, ‘Youth in Natural Resources’, ‘Land Restoration Initiative’ and ‘Green Business Development Fund’.

The Greening Guyana – Communities at Peace initiative aims to support the green development agenda at the community level in mining and newly established towns across Guyana. It was highlighted that this is essential because of the absence of wellkept community recreational spaces resulting in loss of the ownership and a diminished sense of harmony and belonging.

The Youth in Natural Resources initiative is designed to increase youth representation and participation in the natural resources sector. As such the initiative seeks to provide opportunities for training in high-demand areas as determined by the industries themselves. It will also seek to strengthen pathways for out-of-school youth to formally enter the workforce.

The Land Reclamation Initiative is intended to support ongoing efforts to enhance land reclamation and restoration in mining districts and also to reduce land and forest degradation. In a bid to support the land reclamation and restoration efforts of the Government, the Land Restoration initiative will establish or resuscitate plant nurseries in the six mining districts in Regions 1, 6, 7, 9 and 10.

The Green Business Development Fund’s aim is to stimulate the green business sector and demonstrate how the private sector can support environmental conservation and the establishment of Guyana’s green economy.

forget our differences, we forget our religion, we forget racial differences, we forget geographical differences and we all come together and we look forward to living a good life in this country… [And] as we plan for the New Year, we must hold certain values.”

The Head of State said that Guyana’s rich diversity

was what made it a unique country and reminded the gathering that they all have the good fortune of living in the biggest, most beautiful and bountiful Caricom country that was capable of producing enough for everyone.

Turning to the children, he urged them to stay in school and said that

the Christmas gifts were a demonstration of his Administration’s love and concern for children and their welfare. “It is a token of our faith for the future and it is a token of our commitment to you to make sure that Guyana remains a land of plenty that is capable of providing a good life,” he said.

14

guyanatimesgy.com

Monday, deceMber 5, 2016

Regional

Fidel Castro interred, closing last chapter of historic life

F

idel Castro’s ashes were encased in a large granite boulder on Sunday, in a ceremony that capped nine days of public mourning in Cuba that aimed to literally set in stone the legacy for one of the 20th Century’s most influential figures.

Revolutionary leader Castro toppled a USbacked strongman in 1959 and went on to build a Communist state a short distance from the Florida coast that survived the collapse of the Soviet Union.

He relished tormenting Washington during half a century in power and crossed swords with 10 US Presidents, before stepping down a decade ago.

Since Castro’s death on November 25 at age 90, hundreds of thousands of Cubans lined streets and plazas to bid farewell to “El Comandante” (The Commander), with a combination of tears, vows to sustain socialism and choruses of “I am Fidel!”.

His monument at the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery in the city of Santiago de Cuba, sits a few steps from the mausoleum of independence hero Jose Marti, another towering figure of Cuban history with whom Castro shared a mistrust of the United States.

Castro was educated in the eastern city and launched his revolution there with a failed attack on the Moncada army barracks in 1953.

Cutting a solitary figure in his four-star general’s uniform, President Raul Castro placed a wooden box containing his elder brother’s cremated remains in the 10-foot (3-metre) polished stone at the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, photos released by State media showed.

A dark plaque engraved with the word “Fidel” was then fixed over the niche.

Raul Castro saluted the rock, which was flanked by two honour guards in white

People watch the cortege carrying the ashes of Cuba’s former President Fidel Castro drive toward Santa Ifigenia cemetery in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, December 4, 2016 (REUTERS/Carlos Barria)

uniform.

Castro had been out of power for a decade but never far from the center of public life. In his final years, he wrote a periodic column on world and local matters and received foreign dignitaries at his home on the outskirts of Havana.

Castro gave Cuba an outsized influence in world affairs. He was feted by Nelson Mandela for helping to end apartheid at a time when the West supported the racist system, but helped take the world to the brink of nuclear war during the Cuban missile crisis.

Forced to step down due to an intestinal ailment, he ceded power to his brother, at first provisionally in 2006, then definitively in 2008.

His send-off reflected a man who had a vast public career, but was intensely private about his health and family.

Dominating Cuban life for almost 50 years as President, Castro angrily rejected suggestions he was a dictator, denying any personal enrichment or personality cult around him.

In keeping with his wishes, Castro’s image will not be immortalised with statues and public places will not be named after him, his brother said on Saturday.

Cubans still do not know the cause of his death. After a three-day caravan in which Cubans lined streets and packed squares to bid him farewell, the last ceremony was not broadcast on Cuban media.

Instead, in Havana, military cannons unleashed a 21-gun salute that thundered across the capital city as the ceremony began hundreds of miles to the south east.

Castro’s naturalistic memorial was dwarfed by Marti’s mausoleum and other elaborate edifices at the cemetery. The stone is a few steps from a monument to rebels who died fighting in the Moncada attack in Santiago, which started the revolution.

Seeing greatness in himself long before taking power, Castro created his own, enduring persona, and played the role with a flourish throughout his long public life.

He was at various times a triumphant revolutionary, an indefatigable speaker, and a military strategist.

His larger-than-life character instilled Cuba with pride and national identity,

while also generating acute hatred among his enemies.

He ruled for 49 years, longer than any contemporary except for Queen Elizabeth of England. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

HIV scam in T&T I n order to get documentation showing that they are HIV negative, some people in Trinidad have resorted to paying others TT $500 to impersonate them during blood tests.

The Health Ministry of the twin-island republic confirmed receiving reports of people impersonating others during blood tests but could not “definitively say” whether or not the impostors were being paid for their services.

A Health Ministry spokesman, who has been exposed to the scam, said “We do not know why they are doing it, but it is scary to think there are people out there being tricked into believing one thing and could be putting themselves at risk because someone is waving around a document that could be false.”

People may want to keep their HIV-positive status a secret from their employers, partners, and friends.

However, this puts others at

risk.

When the Sunday Guardian asked the Health Ministry whether it had ascertained why people would have chosen to have others impersonate them during HIV tests, the Ministry said “The issue of perhaps stigma and fear of testing, challenges with partner disclosure, and workplace policy.”

As a result of this scam, where people are pretending to be others, the Ministry has now implemented a policy where picture identification must be provided to get HIV tests done, Chief Medical Officer Dr Akenath Misir said.

The process of checking ID did not become mandatory until a couple months ago. In the past, someone could walk into a centre and state their name and give an ID number which would be recorded by the clerk without any photo ID verification, and the test would then be done. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

Simpson Miller to step down as PNP President

P

eople’s National Party Leader Portia Simpson Miller has announced that she will not be seeking re-election as party president next September.

Simpson Miller, who was addressing party members at a National Executive Council meeting in Cedar Grove, Portmore, St Catherine, said that “I will leave you as party leader but I will always be with you,” Simpson Miller said on Sunday.

Her announcement came on the heels of two major political defeats, the first in the February 25 General Election and then again on November 28, in the Local Government Election.

Many, including the youth arm of the party, Peoples National Party Youth Organisation (PNPYO), have since called on her to resign.

PNPYO has called for a change in the political vision being presented to the public, beginning with her as leader, as “the premier political movement

People’s National Party Leader Portia Simpson Miller

in Jamaica, finds itself at a crossroads, where the noble institution has lost the faith, trust, and confidence of the majority of Jamaica’s people”.(Jamaica Observer)

US commends Barbados for ‘exemplary leadership’ in CBSI

T

he United States has congratulated Barbados as it celebrates its Independence Golden Jubilee, stating that the island has portrayed “exemplary leadership” in the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).

Speaking on behalf of US President Barack Obama and the people of the US, US Secretary of State, John Kerry lauded the Caribbean island “more broadly, for its steadfast commitment to strengthening the political, economic, and social bonds among Caribbean nations.”

Barbados marked its 50th anniversary of political independence from Great Britain on Wednesday.

“As you reflect on the

US President Barack Obama

Jubilee’s theme, ‘Pride and Industry, Celebrating 50,’ know that the United States will continue to stand with you in support of broadbased and inclusive develop-

Barbados’ Prime Minister Freundel Stuart

ment,” Kerry said.

“Together, we will continue to harness the talent and potential of the next generation to ensure a bright fu-

ture for all,” he added.

“My government joins with all of you in celebrating Barbados’ 50 years of independence and your beautiful country’s many accomplishments in democratic governance, environmental stewardship, and the creation of economic opportunity,” Kerry continued.

He said that the United States “deeply values the friendship between our two peoples – a friendship based on mutual respect and shared responsibility.”

In his Independence Day message, Barbados’ Prime Minister Freundel Stuart said that the island had made significant socio-economic and political strides during the past 50 years.

(CMC)

MONday, december 5, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

15

Around the World

Austria far-right defeated Netanyahu says will discuss with Trump ‘bad’ Iran nuclear deal in presidential poll

I

F

ar-right candidate Norbert Hofer has lost Austria’s presidential election.

On Facebook, he described himself as “infinitely sad” and congratulated Alexander Van der Bellen, former head of the Greens, on his victory.

Although the post is ceremonial in Austria, the poll had been seen as a sign of how well populist candidates might do elsewhere in Europe.

Van der Bellen called the result a vote for a “pro-European” Austria based on “freedom, equality and solidarity”.

Referring to the Austrian flag, he said a “red-white-red signal of hope and change, a red-white-red signal today goes from Austria to all the capitals of the European Union.

“Finally, you know, I will try to be an open-minded, a liberal-minded and first of all a pro-European federal president of the Republic of

Norbert Hofer

Austria.”

Sunday’s vote was a rerun of May’s election, which Van der Bellen narrowly won but was marred by postal vote irregularities.

He said there had been significant changes – Brexit, the US election – since then, along with an increase in political interest – “an enormously broad electoral movement”.

His margin in May – 30,000 votes – had now increased tenfold.

European Union leaders have been welcoming the result, which comes amid fears of populism undermining established parties.

European Council President Donald Tusk conveyed “wholehearted congratulations” while Germany’s Social Democrat Vice-Chancellor, Sigmar Gabriel, called the result “a clear victory for reason against right-wing populism”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister suffers cardiac arrest

T

amil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa suffered a cardiac arrest late on Sunday. She has been put on a heart assist device.

Jayalalithaa has been in intensive care since September 22, after she complained of fever, dehydration and congestion. It had been announced on December 4 that she had made a full recovery.

“She (Jayalalithaa) is being treated and monitored by a team of experts, including pulmonologists, cardiologists and critical care specialists,” said Subbiah Viswanathan, COO

of Apollo Hospitals, where Jayalalithaa has been receiving treatment.

Later, the hospital tweeted, “She was put on extracorporeal membrane heart assist device (a heart pump) and is being treated by a team of expert doctors and critical care specialists.”

Dr Richard Beale from London, who had earlier been consulted in the course of Jayalalithaa’s treatment, has concurred with the line of treatment by our cardiologists and pulmonologists, the hospital said.

In another tweet, the hospital made an emotional appeal requesting all to pray

for her good health.

Earlier, sources in the hospital said she was moved back to the intensive care unit from her room, where she was shifted to on November 19.

Acting Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao visited the hospital in the early hours of Monday to enquire about Jayalalithaa’s health.

President Pranab Mukherjee tweeted, “Distressed to hear about CM Jayalalithaa suffering a cardiac arrest, my prayers for her speedy recovery.”

(Excerpt from Times of India)

sraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he will discuss with Donald Trump the West’s “bad” nuclear deal with Iran after the US President-elect enters the White House.

During the US election campaign, Trump, a Republican, called last year’s nuclear pact a “disaster” and “the worst deal ever negotiated”. But the businessman-turned-politician has also said it would be hard to overturn an agreement enshrined in a United Nations resolution.

“Israel is committed to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

That has not changed and

will not change. As far as President-elect Trump, I look forward to speaking to him about what to do about this bad deal,” Netanyahu told the Saban Forum, a conference on the Middle East, in Washington, via satellite from Jerusalem.

Netanyahu has been a harsh critic of the nuclear deal, a legacy foreign policy achievement for President Barack Obama. But he had largely refrained from attacking the pact in recent months as Israeli and US negotiators finalised a 10year, $38 billion military aid package for Israel.

Before the nuclear agreement, Netanyahu, a conservative, further strained

relations with the White House by addressing the US Congress in 2015 and cautioning against agreeing to the pact.

The Obama Administration promoted the deal as a way to suspend Tehran’s suspected drive to develop atomic weapons. In return, Obama, a Democrat, agreed to lifting most sanctions against Iran. Iran denies ever having considered developing nuclear arms.

“I opposed the deal because it doesn’t prevent Iran from getting nukes; it paves the way for Iran to get nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said in Sunday’s questionand-answer session. (Excerpt from

Reuters)

Uzbekistan votes for president

U

zbekistan is voting to elect a new president following the death of Islam Karimov, the only leader the country has known since the fall of the Soviet Union.

He turned the country into one of the most repressive states in the world.

So, who’s going to win?

The acting president, Shavkat Mirziyoyev –- who has also held on to his position as Prime Minister – will almost certainly win.

Uzbekistan has never had free and fair elections, and it is common for the incumbent to receive more than 90 per cent of the vote.

Although Mirziyoyev is running for the first time, being acting president gives him access to so-called “administrative resources” – which are often used to guarantee a landslide victory on polling day.

The three other candidates pose little challenge, even though two of them

Acting President Shavkat Mirziyoyev

competed during the last election in 2015.

The head of the Senate was supposed to become the interim leader after the death of Karimov. But he opted out in favour of Mirziyoyev – illustrating who holds real power.

The leaders of neighbouring countries have also openly supported Mirziyoyev’s candidacy.

Islam Karimov’s eldest daughter, Gulnara

Karimova, was once among the most powerful people in the country, and regarded as a possible successor to her father.

But she fell from grace several years ago, when US and European authorities launched a corruption probe against her. Uzbekistan’s prosecutors also named her in a separate investigation.

In the aftermath, she disappeared from the public eye.

(Excerpt from BBC News)

Trump-Taiwan call: China lodges protest Death toll in California warehouse fire rises to 30 C

Officials said the names of the victims would be released “in the coming hours” after their families were notified [Reuters]

T

he death toll from a blaze that gutted a California warehouse during a rave party has climbed to 30 and is expected to rise, officials said.

The fire erupted at about 2330 local time on Friday (0730 GMT on Saturday) during the party featuring electronic dance music that dozens of people attended.

Authorities said they did

not suspect arson, but investigators want to find out if the building, which was partitioned into artists’ studios, had a history of code violations.

The party was taking place on the second floor of the building, which had just two exits, officials said.

There was no evidence of any smoke detectors or sprinklers, officials said.

“We have confirmed that the count of the deceased at 30. That is an astronomical number,” Sergeant Ray Kelly of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department told reporters.

Authorities had only searched a small part of the two-story building.

“We are still not done ... they are working and pulling this building apart and dissecting it. And so we’re really starting to get deeper into the building. As we do that, we continue to find more victims. In regards to the amount of people that are still missing, yes, it’s a significant number.”

The warehouse, which served as a base for the Ghost Ship Artists Collective, was one of many converted lofts in the city’s Fruitvale district. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

hina’s Foreign Ministry says it has lodged a complaint with the US after Presidentelect Donald Trump spoke to Taiwan’s leader in a phone call.

China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province. US policy set in 1979 cut formal relations with Taiwan.

Trump’s transition team said he and Tsai Ing-wen noted “close and security ties”.

The US is Taiwan’s most important ally and provides Taiwan with sufficient weaponry to defend itself.

China said it had lodged a “solemn representation” with Washington.

According to the State news agency Xinhua, China urged the US “to cautiously, properly handle Taiwan issue to avoid unnecessary disturbance to Sino-US relations”.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi dismissed the call as a “pet-

Donald Trump’s team said he “congratulated” Tsai Ing-wen on becoming President of Taiwan in January

ty trick” by Taiwan, Chinese State media said.

Trump tweeted on Friday that Tsai had called him to congratulate him on winning the US election.

His team said that the US President-elect had also congratulated Tsai on becoming the President of Taiwan last January.

No US President or

President-elect has spoken directly to a Taiwanese leader for decades.

Following media reports pointing out the risks of angering China, Trump tweeted: “Interesting how the US sells Taiwan billions of dollars of military equipment but I should not accept a congratulatory call.” (Excerpt from BBC

News)

16

monDAY, december 5, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

VOX POPULI

What the people say

I SAY...

Your views on the proposed $250B 2017 National Budget Leslie McCurdy – Linden

Yashoda Sukhdeo – Essequibo Coast

“I personally feel that the budget could have been a better one; yes, there has been an increase in the various sectors, but then we have seen a tremendous increase on most items. This is a signal of hardship. I really think Government should reconsider some of its decisions and serve in the best interest of the people.”

Regon Martin – Linden

“I think the present Government is more like in a tax collection mode, but they’re not in a mode whereby they are projecting and creating industries to provide tax revenue base. The people who are in the Government they don’t know anything about business, they collect taxes. What they allotted for the budget is what is their projection. They allotted that on the presumption based on taxes that you gonna take in next year. But I think if they don’t take in that amount of taxes, they will shortfall.”

Manisha Persaud – Essequibo Coast

“The budget is one to talk about; in my opinion, Guyanese people did not benefit much, instead there has been a lot of increases that will send strain to people’s pocket.

Most Guyanese work for a meagre salary, when heavy taxation is given, then the cost of living will eventually increase; this is not a good thing for Guyana.”

Gordon Callender – Linden

“I think the budget is good. The time has come for this present Government to put certain things in place where the revenue system is concerned. When we go abroad we adopt ourselves to the tax system in these countries. This Government see a way where they could have take off a two per cent from the VAT. Now, if these people sit down and study carefully about their electricity bills and their water bills and do their maths, a lot of them don’t burn $10,000 on their light bills. Income tax, the average Guyanese is going to be beneficiaries; they will be carrying home more money. ”

“I think the budget is a balanced one. I listened to the Finance Minister and I think it’s a balanced view. I’m for and against some of the measures, but overall I believe that it will work out for Guyanese.

Just that some people would want to criticise, like every single thing the Government do. It’s balanced, but as Guyanese we got to get up and get. We got to work. In the budget, some of the workers will get a little extra to take home for their families, but Guyanese got to get up, because the budget don’t have thing for everybody to sit and enjoy. You got to get up. Nothing goes down over time, everything goes up, but if certain things are in place when it goes up, it will be better for all.”

Phillip Rose – New Amsterdam

“I think the intention of the budget is to have Guyanese enjoy a good life, but then when you look at the figures and the taxation that comes into play, it would frighten investors. At the moment, we have quite a lot of people who are at the bottom of the ladder so to speak, especially you young people who are seeking jobs and I don’t see this budget encouraging them have more. Electricity and water are very important for the ordinary man.”

Dennis Morris – East Bank Berbice

“The budget has no assurance for the poor people. We have not seen any infrastructure for youth development; those who come out of school with their CXC; all we have seen is that the tax reduced from one area and then it is placed in another area.

If you examine the budget closely, you can see that there is no place for poor people. It is very disappointing that there was so much promise by the Government that they would provide jobs for the young people, more than the previous Government did but now it is worse and there is nothing in the budget to assure the youths that the Government care about them.”

Roycelyn Alleyne – West Coast Demerara

Mark Sheppard – Georgetown

“The budget is bad; it is affecting we a great lot because light and water are the basic necessities. At the same time, they are not improving road infrastructure and as minibus operators, we got to spend money on tyres.”

“The budget at first seems much worse than it actually is. We as Guyanese just have to keep an open mind and see what 2017 holds. Having said that, I think the Government have to clarify for the citizens of this country what the budget entails and what it would mean for them. Many people are panicking because they do not really understand. I am keeping an open mind.”

Shomain Wilson – Kwakwani

Alisha Medas – West Coast Demerara

“This budget is one of the worst I’ve ever seen; this Government doesn’t even seem to know what they are doing. It seems like instead of betterment, this country is going to the dumps. I am actually in fear of what is going to happen with the future of Guyana, but all that I can do is wait and see, nothing else.”

“When one is educated enough to clearly understand the budget, then you can be able to see that it is not as bad as it seems. I think that Guyanese are panicking for no valid reason. When you do your calculations for example on the amount of VAT that in 2017 will have to be paid on water and electricity, it is nothing much.

People are panicking, because they don’t understand; however, it is the job of the Government to explain more clearly what the budget entails.”

Anil Singh – West Coast Demerara

“This budget not for poor people, it’s a rich people budget because everything got on VAT. They reduce it by two per cent, but they taking 19 per cent [in total] from we.”

Vishnu Persaud – Georgetown

Jerrol James – Georgetown

“This budget is different than what I was expecting. Old Age Pension only raise to $19,000, but now we have tax on water and light.

The business people will feel the squeeze, especially those who pay $1-2 million per month.”

“Guyana suffering with the VAT – not just with light and water. Why we are paying 14 per cent when other countries like Trinidad pay lower (12.5 per cent). I believe this budget is heisting the economy.

Right now business slow and this is December. I spoke to other business owners who said they were forced to lay off workers even though they didn’t want to do it. The taxes destroying the business economy and money can’t circulate. We have a grocery business and you want to know if people really eating. People don’t have money to shop.”

Stefon King – Georgetown

“Pros and cons of the budget…

Taxes are necessary but not when it killing the lesser man of the entire population. I think they could’ve done a better job. To measure up with progressive nations, the new taxes were necessary but the ceilings should’ve been higher. It’s gonna crush lower middle class which I think deserve a break, especially in a country like Guyana.

news

17

monday, december 5, 2016 | guyanatimesgy.com

The Prince was given a tour of a small farm maintained by the children at the charity house

Prince Harry poses for a group photo with the staff and children of Joshua House

H

is Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales fondly called Prince Harry ended his first visit to Guyana with the underprivileged children at Joshua House and a recep-

in 2000.

The Prince was then escorted to the open-air community hall, where he was treated to a miniconcert with traditional dancing and singing as well as speeches

Prince Harry and First Lady Sandra Granger engaging some of the attendees at a reception held on the lawns of State House

tion hosted by First Lady Sandra Granger, thus wrapping up a two-week tour of the Caribbean on behalf of his grandmother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Prince visited six Caribbean countries before arriving in Guyana on Friday last, to a ceremonial ‘red carpet’ welcome after which he paid a courtesy call on President David Granger and several Cabinet members. He also paid respects and laid wreaths at the Independence Arch and Commonwealth War Graves, and briefly toured the Guyana Defence Force Headquarters Camp Ayangana, before attending a reception that night hosted by the British High Commission.

On his penultimate day here, the younger of Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ sons spent the day touring Guyana’s hinterland. He was first flown to Surama Village, Region Nine (Upper Takatu/Upper Essequibo), where he was greeted by villagers, mostly children waving the British and Guyana flags, who lined the pathway to greet him. He was then ‘crowned’ with a traditional headdress made from macaw feathers. He followed in the footsteps of his father, who was also fitted with a similar headdress when he visited the community back

from elders about the history of the community. He was also presented with several presents from the village including a painting of traditional homes.

“My father told me what an amazing time he had here, when he was far younger and had far more

Iwokrama International Centre, which has close links to Prince Charles of Wales, who has been a patron of the facility since 2000. At the Centre, Prince Harry engaged the rangers,

where he interacted with the staff and children who reside there.

Following a brief meeting with administrators of the facility, Prince Harry was welcomed by the chil-

his name and even asked what it was like being a prince, to which he responded: “There’s good and bad.

But with lots of good”.

On leaving the Prince stopped to greet a small

This woman got a very special birthday gift when the British Prince stopped to greet a small crowd gathered outside Joshua House

who work in the Iwokrama rainforest, and was told about the measures and practices undertaken to protect the natural resource.

During a visit to the lake, a caiman popped its head up from under the water. The Prince kept a cautious eye on the partially submerged

The First Lady treated the Prince to some steel pan music

hair,” he joked during the brief speech to the villagers.

The fifth in line to the British throne subsequently embarked on a similar tour in Fairview, also located in the North Rupununi District, where he was given a warm welcome. There, he paid respects to the village elders and visited the community's school, where he distributed books to the children.

He then visited the

Later that day, he was flown over to Region Eight (Potaro/Siparini) for a trip to Guyana’s pride – Kaieteur Falls. He was given the procedural tour of the Kaieteur National Park

creature as he chatted with the rangers on the eco-tourism of Iwokrama.

The British Royal seemed to be pleased with the eco-practice since he had praised the people of Surama for the eco-tourism project they have undertaken. “The positive thing you are doing here, it's incredible, your leadership is so important to ensure the protection of this place,” he remarked.

as they trekked to the majestic waterfalls in the company of Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Sydney Alicock, who accompanied the British Royal throughout the day.

At the closest of three vantage points of the waterfall, Prince Harry cautious-

dren with a song as they waved the Union Jack. This prompted the British Royal to enquire why no one was holding a Guyana flag. He was then given a tour of the House.

He visited the small vegetable garden maintained by the children, who

crowd gathered outside, eagerly waiting to get a glimpse of the royal. He took a few pictures with some of the persons before heading over to State House, where the First Lady hosted a reception in his honour.

At that event, the Prince interacted with teenage

Prince Harry bidding farewell to British High Commissioner Greg Quinn (first from left in row) and other Guyanese officials

ly stepped closer to the end to have a peek at the bottom of the falls, after which he quickly sprung back seemingly stunned at the height.

After a memorable day in Guyana’s tropical rainforests, the Prince was flown back to Georgetown to rest and prepare for his final day here.

Early Sunday morning, he arrived at Joshua House, one of Guyana’s oldest charitable children’s homes,

briefed him on the contents.

The Prince then toured the dorms and was captured by the girls’ colourful and vibrant living quarters. He even made the girls smile when he told them that the boys’ dorm is boring compared to theirs.

The Prince then asked the girls about their lives at the facility and in turn was not spared from the curiosity of the children. He was questioned about the palace,

mothers and young girls who were victims of human trafficking. He was also treated to some traditional Caribbean steelpan music before leaving for the Eugene F. Correia International Airport.

There, the GDF band played the National Anthems before Prince Harry hopped onto the Trans Guyana aircraft, which flew him to Barbados from where he departed for England.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, december 5, 2016

ARCHIE

Don’t make an assumption. It’s important to be (March 21- ready to act without quibApril 19) bling or gossip. Search for the truth in order to justify your actions.

ARIES

You need to exchange ideas TAURUS in order to figure out a way to (April 20- use your skills and knowledge May 20) more diversely. Avoid emotional arguments about religion, politics or money matters.

dilbert

If you do your own thing, GEMINI you’ll make a lasting impres(May 21June 20) sion. Your ability to set goals and meet them will put you in a good position for advancement and increased opportunities.

Don’t sit back when you should be looking for ideas (June 21- and starting conversations July 22) with people who want to make a difference. Set high standards and impressive goals, and stick to them.

CANCER

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Take a close look at your financial situation and health.

Look for a way to cut corners without incurring more debt.

Set up a health routine that will strengthen you mentally, physically and emotionally.

Don’t take anything for VIRGO granted, and focus on prepa(Aug. 23Sept. 22) ration. A detailed approach to getting things done will help you gain acceptance and rewards.

Calvin and Hobbes

Engage in interesting LIBRA spur-of-the-moment plans.

(Sept. 23Taking part in something will Oct. 23) help you recognize what it is you want to pursue. Don’t let anyone deter you from following your dreams.

WORD GAME

SUDOKU

Don’t get angry when you SCORPIO can get even. Accomplishing (Oct. 24your goals and gaining respect Nov. 22) from your peers will help you overcome lingering bad feelings from a rival’s efforts.

A positive change will SAGITTARIUS help you improve your posi(Nov. 23- tion, reputation and lifestyle.

Dec. 21) Changes made at home must be based on your emotional needs. A job opportunity looks promising.

Plant your feet firmly on CAPRICORN the ground and don’t try any(Dec. 22thing that sounds the least Jan. 19) bit risky. Stick to your game plan and budget.

SATURDAY'S

solution for Last Published Puzzle If you don’t like someAQUARIUS thing, change it. It’s up to you (Jan. 20to walk away from unsavory Feb. 19) situations. Concentrate on getting ahead and bringing about positive change.

RULES OF THE GAME: 1. Words must be of four or more letters. 2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed. 3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” is not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible. 4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed. To contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe, write to Word Game, Kathleen Saxe, Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

PISCES Choose your words wisely (Feb. 20- and remain firm about what March 20) you want to see happen. Have a plan in mind and present your solutions with diplomacy and a willingness to make minor adjustments.

guyanatimesgy.com

monday, DECember 5, 2016

19

Captain’s innings sets India lift 6th Asia Cup up big Aussie win

― Guptill is quickest Kiwi to 5000 ODI runs

F

or the first time this summer, Steven Smith could do no wrong. In the Tests against South Africa, he didn’t win a single toss, didn’t manage a hundred, didn’t lead his side to a victory until the series was dead. But a change of format and opposition brought a change of fortunes. Smith won the toss, plundered for himself the highest ODI score ever made at the SCG, then took a truly remarkable catch as Australia secured a 1-0 lead in the Chappell-Hadlee series.

There were other highlights in a match that finished as a 68-run victory for Australia.

Martin Guptill, for the first time in 41 innings against Australia across all formats, blasted a century. Travis Head struck a fifty to help Australia post 8 for 324. Josh Hazlewood took three wickets. Colin Munro gave New Zealand the faintest glimmer of a late hope with 49. But after Smith’s contributions, everything else felt inconsequential by comparison.

In 153 one-day internationals at the SCG, nobody has ever scored more than the 164 Smith compiled in this game. It was also the equal seventh-highest score by an Australian in an ODI, as well as Smith’s best in all of oneday cricket. His innings was the key difference between the sides, although the standard of fielding perhaps ran a close second, for New Zealand were uncharacteristically sloppy and provided Smith and Head with costly let-offs.

Smith was dropped on 13 when Steven Smith gets into position for a big shot

SCOREBOARD Australia innings (50 overs maximum) DA Warner b Ferguson 24 AJ Finch b Henry 0 SPD Smith* c Munro b Boult 164 GJ Bailey c †Watling b Neesham 17 MR Marsh run out (Neesham) 1 52 TM Head c & b Boult MS Wade† b Henry 38 PJ Cummins not out 0 MA Starc c †Watling b Neesham 11 A Zampa not out 2 Extras (lb-1, w-9, nb-5) 15 Total (8 wickets; 50 overs) 324 Did not bat: JR Hazlewood Fall of wickets 1-1 (Finch, 0.3 ov), 2-47 (Warner, 9.6 ov), 3-89 (Bailey, 18.6 ov), 4-92 (Marsh, 20.1 ov), 5-219 (Head, 41.1 ov), 6-302 (Smith, 47.2 ov), 7-311 (Wade, 48.5 ov), 8-322 (Starc, 49.4 ov) Bowling : MJ Henry 10-0-74-2 (nb-1, w-1), TA Boult 10-1-51-2 (w-2), LH Ferguson 9-0-73-1 (nb-4, w-2), C de Grandhomme 6-0-27-0, MJ Santner 9-0-40-0, JDS Neesham 6-0-58-2 (w-4)

New Zealand innings (target: 325 runs from 50 overs) MJ Guptill c sub (GJ Maxwell) b Zampa 114 TWM Latham b Hazlewood 2 KS Williamson* c Smith b Hazlewood 9 JDS Neesham c Hazlewood Starc 34 BJ Watling† c Smith b Marsh 6 C Munro c Bailey b Cummins 49 MJ Santner c Warner b Zampa 0 C de Grandhomme lbw b Hazlewood 6 MJ Henry c Bailey b Cummin27 LH Ferguson b Marsh 0 TA Boult not out 1 Extras (lb-4, w-4) 8 Total (all out; 44.2 overs) 256 Fall of wickets 1-3 (Latham, 1.6 ov), 2-34 (Williamson, 7.5 ov), 3-126 (Neesham, 21.5 ov), 4-140 (Watling, 24.3 ov), 5-185 (Guptill, 32.6 ov), 6-187 (Santner, 34.4 ov), 7-203 (de Grandhomme, 37.4 ov), 8-253 (Henry, 43.2 ov), 9-255 (Munro, 43.5 ov), 10256 (Ferguson, 44.2 ov) Bowling: MA Starc 7-1-371, JR Hazlewood 10-0-49-3 (w-2), MR Marsh 8.2-1-382 (w-1), PJ Cummins 9-0-622 (w-1), A Zampa 10-0-66-2

he glanced Trent Boult down leg and the wicketkeeper BJ Watling grassed a chance diving to his left. If it wasn’t exactly easy, nor was it unattainable: Watling later pouched a very similar take to get rid of George Bailey. An even simpler opportunity went begging when Head was on 7, as he drove Jimmy Neesham to mid-off, where Matt Henry spilled a sitter. Smith and Head went on to build a 127-run partnership.

Smith was also dropped on 152 by Munro but by then the horse had bolted, had a few birthdays, won the Golden Slipper and been put out to stud. Still, compare New Zealand’s catching to that of Australia. George Bailey spilled a tough chance at midwicket when Guptill already had 56, but New Zealand had nothing to match Smith’s stunning, diving, one-handed take at backward point to get rid of BJ Watling. The rest of Australia’s chances were held.

It was just one of those days for New Zealand. Not only could they have had Smith on 13, but later in the same over they might easily have had him lbw for 14. Boult swung one in and rapped him on the pads, but the lbw shout was turned down by umpire Mick Martell. New Zealand chose not to ask for a review but had they done so, the decision would have been overturned. To misquote the fine New Zealand band Split Enz, they saw red, they saw red, they saw red.

The day had started in more auspicious fashion for New Zealand. In the first over of the match, Aaron Finch played on to Henry for a golden duck, and David Warner also chopped on within the first ten overs of the game, handing debutant Lockie Ferguson a maiden international wicket in his first over.

Watling’s diving take down leg off Neesham got rid of George Bailey for 17, and when Smith’s straight drive flew through Neesham’s hands and ran out Mitchell Marsh for 1, Australia were 4 for 92.

Had Henry caught Head, it would have been 5 for 115. Instead, Head went on to strike five fours and brought u p his second ODI half-century.

Eventually, on 52, Head drove hard back to the bowler Boult, who pouched an excellent return catch. But Head’s role was a supporting one only. The starring turn in this innings belonged to Smith, who was powerful all around the wicket and particularly punishing when the bowlers dropped short.

He moved to his century from 120 balls and struck 14 fours and four sixes during the innings.

His seventh ODI century ended when he skied a chance to Munro, but by then the late runs were flowing freely. Matthew Wade pounded three late sixes in his 38 from 22 balls, and Australia piled up 101 runs in their final eight overs. It took New Zealand not quite into record-breaking territory for ODI chases in Australia, but close to it.

Hazlewood picked up two early wickets - Tom Latham played on for 2 and Kane Williamson was well held at slip by Smith for 9 - but a 92-run stand between Guptill and Neesham put the innings back on track. Hazlewood played a part in breaking the partnership, completing a fine catch at long-on when Neesham (34) misjudged an attempted slog off Mitchell Starc. Then came Smith’s catch of Watling, and New Zealand were wobbling.

But while Guptill remained - he was scoring at better than a run a ball - Australia could not relax. He looked effortless in striking six sixes and 10 fours, and brought up his hundred from his 93rd delivery with a six smashed over long-on off Mitchell Marsh. During his innings Guptill also became the quickest New Zealander to the 5000-run mark in ODIs, and the 10thfastest of all comers, but he was unable to turn it into a matchwinning innings.

On 114, Guptill pulled Adam Zampa to the substitute Glenn Maxwell at midwicket, and New Zealand slumped. Mitchell Santner holed out to Warner off Zampa for a duck, Colin de Grandhomme was lbw to Hazlewood for 6. Munro and Henry put on 50 before both were caught in the deep by Bailey off Pat Cummins, and Ferguson was finally bowled by Marsh for a duck. But for all the various contributors along the way, this was a win for Smith, a day when everything he touched turned to Australian gold.

The second ODI is on December 6 in Canberra and the final match is in Melbourne on December 9. (ESPNcricinfo)

The victorious Indian team with the Asia Cup trophy

I

ndia’s dominance in the women’s Asia Cup extended as they sealed their sixth title in as many editions with a 17-run win over Pakistan in Bangkok. It was the second consecutive time India had beaten Pakistan in an Asia Cup final, having done so in 2012-13 as well. The win also ensured India remained unbeaten in this year’s tournament, which was being played in the T20 format for the second time.

It was Mithali Raj who set up the win, scoring an unbeaten 73 after India opted to bat and taking them to 121 for 5. The bowlers then sent down economical spells to choke Pakistan in the chase, restricting them to 104 for 6. Raj dominated almost every partnership she featured in. She started off by putting on 24 for the first wicket with Smriti Mandhana, who contributed just 6. After her dismissal, it was the turn of Sabbhineni Meghana to play second fiddle as she made 9 in a second-wicket stand of 44. Veda Krishnamurthy and Harmanpreet Kaur, the India captain, were also sent back for single-digit scores, before Jhulan Goswami’s late cameo lifted India. Goswami pinged two sixes on her way to a 10-ball 17 before perishing off the penultimate ball of the innings. Raj had struck seven fours and a six in her 65-ball knock.

Left-arm spinner Anam Amin topped the wickets column with 2 for 24 in four overs, while Sana Mir and Sadia Yousuf were economical in their respective quotas and took a wicket apiece.

Pakistan scored at nearly a run a ball during the first half of the chase, but lost three wickets. Goswami had Ayesha Zafar bowled in the fifth over before Asmavia Iqbal fell in similar fashion in the next over, sent down

by Shikha Pandey. Javeria Khan added 28 with captain Bismah Maroof, but could not make her start count as she was snuffed out by Ekta Bisht, the left-arm spinner, and Pakistan became 56 for 3. That third-wicket stand was the highest Pakistan could manage as regular wickets stalled them. Nida Dar and Mir made identical scores of 12 not out in late resistance, but both were kept quiet - neither scored a single boundary - as Pakistan fell short.

India’s bowlers shared the wickets around. Bisht, who opened the bowling, took 2 for 22. Anuja Patil, Goswami, Pandey and Preeti Bose took a wicket apiece. (ESPNcricinfo)

Mithali Raj

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

MONday, DECember 5, 2016

Bangladesh Premier League 2016-17

Mahmudullah steers Khulna A into playoffs

Mohammad Mahmudullah hit five fours and two sixes in his 28-ball 50 © Raton Gomes/BCB

R

angpur Riders fell short by eight runs against Comilla Victorians and were unable to make it to the playoffs after Khulna Titans beat Dhaka Dynamites later in the evening on sunday. Rangpur were left to rue a batting collapse that cut short their tournament as Comilla signed off with a consolation win.

Ziaur Rahman waged a fightback to make an unbeaten 21-ball 38, but it wasn’t enough. Mohammad Shahzad did a bulk of the scoring initially - he made 45 of Rangpur’s 57 runs. But the loss of four wickets in the process hampered their chase.

When Rashid Khan, the Afghanistan legspinner, had his hero Shahid Afridi stumped off a googly for a 19-ball 38, Rangpur were all but out of the contest. Rashid was the best bowler on the night, taking 3 for 13 off his four overs.

Earlier, Comilla werre driven by an 88-run stand in just 10.2 overs between Imrul Kayes and Khalid Latif.

Imrul brought up his first fifty this season; he made 52 off just 35 balls with seven fours and two sixes, while Latif struck 43, before the middle order stumbled to ensure they finished with far less than they should have got.

For Rangpur, Arafat Sunny and Rubel Hossain took two wickets apiece while Afridi had one.

Meanwhile, the Khulna Titans, having to win their last league game to qualify for the playoffs, did so emphatically courtesy Mahmudullah’s half-century. They finished the group stages in second position to ensure the first qualifier against the same opponents on December 6. The eliminator will be played between Chittagong Vikings and Rajshahi Kings.

Khulna, having never gone past 157 in the tournament, had to make their highest team total. And against a weakened Dhaka side that rested Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell, they breezed to the target with 12 balls to spare.

It didn’t seem a cakewalk when they lost Andre Fletcher early. Mohammad Hasanuzzaman struck three sixes and as many fours in his 18-ball 40 to get them ahead of the asking rate. Mahmudullah then took over after Hasanuzzaman’s dismissal; he hit five fours and two sixes in his 28-ball 50. The trigger boost meant Abdul Mazid’s strike rate of 58.33, the lowest of the season for batsmen who have faced 35 or more deliveries, was negated.

Mahmudullah fell with Khulna needing eight, but with no pressure, they cantered home to dash the hopes of Rangpur Riders, who lost to Comilla Victorians earlier in the evening.

When Dhaka batted first, Kumar Sangakkara, reprieved on 2, brought up his second half-century of the tournament. The rest of the Dhaka batting line-up threw away starts with, with Mehedi Maruf, Nasir Hossain, Shakib Al Hasan, Seekkuge Prasanna and Ravi Bopara not going past 20. Junaid Khan picked up three wickets. (ESPNcricinfo)

n ex-Southampton youth coach accused of abusing boys in the 1980s was not police checked for a later coaching job, the BBC understands.

Bob Higgins, who had been a coach with Fleet Town Football Club, was cleared of sexual abuse charges in 1992.

Fleet Town FC said that Higgins was not police checked in 2012 as his role did not involve working with children.

On Sunday the club said he was no longer involved with it and had worked on an “informal unpaid basis.”

A statement from club chairman Steve Cantle said: “His involvement was limited to assisting the coaching team with the adult firstteam squad of players.”

He said the club had received no notification from either the Football Association or the police about allegations made about anyone involved at the club, but would co-operate fully in any investigation.

Earlier, Fleet Town Football Club told the BBC that their welfare officer did not check Higgins’ criminal record at the time he joined the club as his role did not involve working with children.

The BBC has made attempts to contact Higgins for comment.

In 1997, police and social services sent a joint letter to schools and youth

Bob Higgins is no longer with Fleet Town FC and had worked on an “informal unpaid basis”

groups warning them that “Mr Higgins poses a risk to children.”

Six former Southampton youth players have come forward with allegations about Higgins. Hampshire police has confirmed it is investigating.

Former Southampton youth player Dean Radford, who alleges he was abused

by Higgins, told the BBC: “It’s just unbelievable that he is allowed to carry on his life as normal, and that nothing has been put in place to make sure he is not allowed to work in football.

“The letter was sent out, but no one followed it up, to check that he wasn’t still working with clubs.

“Everybody that works with clubs should be checked. Because if there is even 1% of doubt about someone, then they should not be allowed to be coaching”.

According to the Football

Association’s policy, anyone working with children and young people in football must complete Enhanced CRC (Criminal Record Checks), formerly known as CRB (Criminal Records Bureau Check), with the Children’s Barred List Check.

CRCs are not currently required where under 18s play within what the FA calls “open-age football.”

An Enhanced CRC would have flagged up Higgins’ previous charges and the acquittal, plus the worries police and social services had expressed about him in 1997.

Fleet Town said it did not carry out such a check on Higgins because he did not have unsupervised access to young players.

'Massive wake-up call’

Meanwhile, former footballers Andy Woodward, 43, Steve Walters and Chris

Unsworth, both 44, have launched a support organisation - called the Offside Trust - to support players who are victims of abuse and their families.

The former players broke their silence last month to make claims of abuse in football, prompting several more to come forward.

A total of 350 people have come forward alleging they were victims and 55 football clubs are linked to allegations of abuse.

Some 18 police forces have announced investigations into claims of sexual abuse in football.

Earlier on Sunday, the FA head of equality and safeguarding Sue Ravenlaw told BBC Radio 5 live that the scale of the abuse allegations was the biggest challenge for the FA, alongside reassuring young people that football is safer today.

Pointing to the safeguarding regulations that have been put in place over the last 10-15 years, she said: “I would like to think the culture has changed.”

However, she said the scale of the abuse allegations was a “massive wakeup call” for club owners and directors to do the right thing at every level.

She said: “I’d like to think that we’re doing the right thing, and others will follow our lead. This is a time for transparency and openness and for us to get things right for children.” (BBC Sport)

Guinness Greatness of the Streets Futsal Tournament…

Camp St All Stars steal game from Stevedore T

― defending champs needle Channel-9 Warriors

he Guinness Greatness of the Street top 16 teams began the round robin stage on Saturday night at Burnham Court, on Middle Street with the Camp Street Prison team, Camp Street All Stars taking the game away from Stevedore in a tense sudden death shootout while seven more high profile games entertained the crowd.

Camp Street All Stars who romped past Railway Kitty in the knockout stage, faced a hyped Stevedore team who edged past West Front Road but held their composure to t a k e t h e match in the 4-3 in t h e s u d d e n death kicks after having played to a scoreless draw in fulltime.

Defending champions, Sparta Boss reinstated their claims for their title when they registered another win in the tournament by needling Channel-9 Warriors after Dennis

Edwards converted in the 9th minute.

Up Like Seven were unfortunate to come up on the losing side when they faced Festival City Warriors in a 2-1 contest. The Warriors scored in the 7th minute thanks to Daniel Favourite while Eon Alleyne scored in the 15th minute to put the Warriors 2-0 up. After multiple attempts, Dwayne Lowe’s goal in the 25th was the only shot to find the back of the net for the Up Like 7 boys.

In the North versus West battle, the two sides fought valiantly to end full time unable to penetrate their opposing defensive line but having reduced the match to penalty shootout, North Ruimveldt secure three shots while West Back

R o a d only managed one.

North East La Penitence and Leopold Street also matched play for play in a scoreless draw, however North East pulled off a blinder and won the penalty kicks 3-2.

Similarly, Back Circle and Tucville played to a nil all draw as Back Circle piped Tucville 2-1 from the penalty spot.

Meanwhile, Broad Street Bullies continued their commanding style of play to take away the match from Bent Street 2-1. Bullies marked their name on the scoresheet in just two minutes if play with Lennox Cort being amongst the goals once more.

Sloppy work from the Bullies resulted in an own goal being the equalizer in the 20th minute but Jimmy

Gravesande’s goal in the 22nd ensured the Bullies continue their press for the

title.

In the final contest of the night Queen Street Tiger Bay and Albouystown were in another tight contest that forced the match to go down to the wire in a penalty shootout when Tiger Bay squeezed past with a 2-1 victory.

The action continues on Tuesday at the National Culture Centre Tarmac with eight more contest beginning at 19:00h with Camp Street All Stars taking on Broad Street Ballers, Leopold Street matching skills with Up Like 7, Queen Street Tiger Bay tackling Channel 9, Bent Street coming up against Stevedaore, Festival City going head to head with North East La Pentance, North Riumveldt challenging Tucville, Back Circle will meet West Back Road and Sparta Boss battling Alboystown A. The teams will all be vying for over one million dollars in cash and prizes with the first team taking home $500,000 while second, third and fourth will cart off with $200,000, $150,000 and $75,000 respectively.

21

sports

YELLOW PAGES

New Era Entertainment/Cell Smart Mohamed’s Enterprise Futsal tournament…

monDAY, december 5, 2016 | www.guyanatimesgy.com Business Opportunity

lAND FOR Lease

Complete package, key cutting machine plus 1000 blank keys:.Price: $450,000. Vers Realty: To Rent Office Space & Store Front, 17 Brickdam & Smyth Street, Stabroek, Georgetown Guyana. Tel: 223-1217 Or 600-5759

Land for Lease. 1.5 Acres WBD. Close to Plantation Walk, Vreed-EnHoop. Call: 658-0115

CAR RENTALS

SERVICES: polygraph testing, cheating spouse, background checks, criminal investigations, private investigations, security survey – risk analysis, due diligence, bodyguard service, security consultancy, any other worldwide services. Contact Central Advisory Service – email: internationallpi1@yahoo.com. Tel : 592-630-4041

Need a car to rent? Then call 6111018 for the best cars at great prices.

Progressive Auto Rental: Cars from $4000 and up. Tel: 219-3900, 6435122

dentistry Dentures provided in 72 hours from as low as $4500. Contact Dr B Stuart, 209B Charlotte St, Lacytown. Tel: 225-5034

Driving School Shalom Enterprise Driving School 2 Croal Street, Stabroek. You can obtain an International Drivers Permit Covering 131 Countries. Tel: 2273869, 644-7052, 659-3381

EDUCATION REGISTER - learn to play drums, guitar, keyboard and train your voice NOW OR in the Summer. Call 2251151/ 657-8404 Learn to Play Music at Foundation7 : Call NOW: 225-1151/6578404

FOR SALE MX 2000, 1500, 1000 AMP, 4 BASS, 4 MID, 4 HORN, 4 TWEETER, MIXER, JUGGLER CABLE AND 1 JACUZZI. CALL: 253-3070 Powerline Battery Water/wholesale.

1 litre and 0.5 litre sizes. Tel: 680-3863 Clean Garden Earth. Also excavating, grading and leveling done. Call 6279977 Road to Belwasa and A Dip at the Sangam, Indentureship Novels at Austin’s Book Store and Lachmansingh Drug Store. Tel: 226-5053.

flowers Available: Fresh long-stemmed roses, fresh dried and silk floral arrangements, gift items, bridal boutiques and wreaths. Nesha’s Flowerland. 78 Church Street (opposite St George’s Cathedral). Tel: 227-3553/225-3315

immigration Immigration & Visa Services We handle all Canadian, USA and UK immigration and visa matters. Self sponsorships, holiday/visitor’s visas, work permits, students visas, family, class, immigration forms, embassy enquiries, appeals for refused cases, US green card lottery, business class waivers, pardons, etc.

Get your visa approved. High success rate. Balwant Persaud & Associates.

Certified Immigration Consultants, 68 Sixth Street, Alberttown, Georgetown (Between Cummings & Lights Sts) Tel: 225-1540, 622-8308, 655-3105. Email: balwantpersaud@yahoo.ca

prIVATE INVESTIGATION

Eccles: $27M Neg. Enterprise Sec C: $20M Neg. Mon Repos: $30M Neg. South Ruimveldt Park: $20M Neg. Broad Street: $80M Neg. Charlotte Street between Camp & Alexander: $55M Neg. Providence (land): $6.5M Neg. Parfaite Harmonie (land): $4.5M Neg. Contact: 691-1521 GOOD HOPE AND OGLE. CONTACT: 673-5546, 222-3066, 682-7257, 679-0987

services House plans & estimates, weeding of grass & spraying done within 48hrs.

Call: 216-0671; 622-0267; 692-8464

Healthworld Clinic – Providing professional psychological therapy for all mental and behavioral health problems. Call (592)-690-1824 MondaysSaturdays 9am-3pm. Email; healthworldhc@gmail.com

Spikeland and Good Fellers had a heated battle on the opening night at the MSC

Classified Ads $5+VAT per word

Call: 223-7230 Ext 35

spirituality Dutch spiritual healing in removing evil spirit, bad luck, evil sickness, spells, reuniting lovers and prosperity to business. Call: 612-6417, 687-5653 Surinamese spiritualist. Resolving all problems. Money, love, blockage etc.

Call 223-6834/600-7719.

Suriname’s Astrology, Palmist and Hindustani Spiritual Healer, solve all purpose problems, 100% confidential guaranteed. Phone: 602-8997 HEPHZIBAH MINISTRIES 24 hrs Prayer Line 322-5081, 322-5738, 322-5788, 337-4510, 337-4259, 3373070, 337-5103. For healing, deliverance, financial difficulties, marriage issues call now. Jesus Cares.

Ifa Temple – Are you having serious problems and urgently need spiritual help? Call 621-0552 now. Email: anew-life@live.com

SPIRITUAL HEALING: REMOVE BLOCKAGE , VOODOO, HEXCURSE, BLACK MAGIC, SPELL, BUSINESS, UPLIFTMENT, PREGNANCY, LOVE & MARRIAGE PROBLEMS, CLEARANCE ETC. Contact: 612-1975, 683-5228

223-7230-1 (Ext: 35)

T

he 3rd annual New Era Entertainment Cell Smart Mohamed’s Enterprise Futsal tournament slated for last Friday and Saturday night at the McKenzie Sports Club hard court, Linden were rescheduled to today at the same venue.

Friday’s games were forced to be rescheduled due to technical issues with the MSC hard court which resulted in the electricity being affected and inevitably resulting in no play.

On the other hand, Saturday’s matches were forced to be pushed back even further to Monday following the inclement weather that flooded the court.

All things being equal, the action will continue tonight with a number to big names taking to the court. It is expected that there will be the hosting of six more ex-

citing matches and judging from the hype of last weekend’s, it is expected to have fans flocking the stands to witness the action.

In the first match of the night, fans will see Spikeland, who has had a dream start to their competition with Keiron Cammorn and Andre Chester but will face serious skills from new comers, Customs while Ballers will go up against Silver Bullets while plantain and cheese with the likes of the Daw brothers, Dawin Keto and Keron Lio who will play East Side Jammers.

In the final match of the night, Coomacka United will play Town Cars who have already sent a warning to their opponents. Already fans have seen Clarence ‘Shark’ Huggins decimate his opponents as Good Fellers advance to the next

round.

While there will be competitive games, it is also likely to feature exhibition matches including a female clash that is in the pipeline.

The first prize is $400,000 along with trophies and replicas, up by $100,000 from last year. The second placed team will claim $150,000 and trophy, third $75,000 and trophy and fourth place will collect a trophy. Other prizes are on offer for the MVP, Best goalkeeper and Best young player.

The competition runs today and continues December 9, 10, 17, 23 and 26 the grand finale. The organisers are promising an exciting and entertaining tournament with side attractions and are encouraging all to come out and support as the team put their best on the court to claim the prize money on offer.

Sunshine Girls win Vitality Series 2-1 over England’s Roses

taxi services GR Taxi, 24 hours. Phone: 225-7878, 219-5000 or 227-2100

CALL FOR INTERVIEW 231-8344 , 223-1027 OR 223-1034

health

SALES GIRLS WITH EXPERIENCE PLEASE BRING WRITTEN APPLICATION AND CV TO TRISTAR ELECTRICAL, BRASSONIC Bldg. (MAIN ENTRANCE 42 WATER ST. G/Town. 231-7101

Repairs and Spares, Air Conditioning, Car AC, Washers, Stoves. Call Nick: 683-1312, 627-3206

KEY CUTTing

Da Silva’s Optical. For Your Eyes Only, Look Better See Better. Phillip A Da Silva OD, Shannon L Da Silva OD, Natalie Da Silva OD. 248 South Road, Bourda. Phone: 227-3529, Linden: 444-6376, Corriverton: 339-3536, Meten-Meer-Zorg: 275-0322, Grand Cayman Islands: (345) 943-1515 for the perfect trendy touch.

WANTED

Two buildings on lot at 180 Charlotte Street. L 20 x W 30. Contact Tel: 6247341, 227-6817, 226-5183. Price Neg.

FAST GROWING FOOD DISTRIBUTION COMPANY SEEKING A BOOK KEEPER / INVENTORY CLERK, EXPERIENCE AND POLICE CLEARANCE NEEDED

optician

Rain forces shift in fixtures

property for sale

IMMIGRATION SERVICES PROFESSIONALLY PREPARED BY IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT. PASSPORT AND VISA APPLICATIONS (PERMANENT/VISITOR) FOR USA, CANADA, UK, CHINA, INDIA, ETC. SABITA’S IMMIGRATION SERVICES. TEL: 225-6496/662-6045

Professional Key Shop, 125 Carmichael Street, Georgetown. Phone: 225-3923, mobile: 621-3249. We cut any type of key, service and repair all types of locks.

Get your extra key today.

3 TONS OPEN TRAY; 2 TONS 4WD; NISSAN ATLAS 2 TONS OPEN TRAY TRUCK. PRE-ORDER YOUR UNITS EARLY AND GET THE BEST PRICES. FULL AFTER SALES SERVICES AND FINANCING AVAILABLE. DEO MARAJ AUTO SALES, 2 CHIMNEY ROAD, CHATEAU MARGOT, ECD. 624-0762, 220-5177. A NAME AND SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST

VACANCY

VEHICLES FOR SALE FOR SALE 1 FLAT TRAY NISSAN PICK UP. VERY GOOD CONDITION. CALL: 662-3997 OR 610-4897

J

1 TOYOTA IPSUM (7-SEATER) IN EXCELLENT WORKING CONDITION WITH MUSIC (5800 W): CONTACT 653-1003 JUST ARRIVED: TOP QUALITY RECONDITIONED VEHICLES; TOYOTA NOAH; TOYOTA VOXY; TOYOTA IST (NEW SHAPE); SUZUKI SWIFT; DAIHATSU MOVE (660CC); MERCEDES BENZ C200 KOMPRESSOR; COROLLA AE100 WAGON; TOYOTA HIACE MINIBUS RZ; PITBULL-STYLE FREEZER VAN; LAND CRUISER (FULLY LOADED); MAZDA PROCEED 4WD EXTRA-CAB PICK-UP; TOYOTA HILUX 4WD EXTRA CAB PICKUPS - 3RZ, 5L, 3L SOLID DEFFERNTIAL; MITSUBISHI CANTER TRUCKS 4 TONS FREEZER;

223-7230-1 (Ext: 35) NOW!

Sunshine girls take the three-test contest 2-1

amaica’s Sunshine Girls won the third Test against England’s Roses in the Vitality International Series on Sunday night to take the three-Test contest 2-1.

The visitors streaked away in the final quarter to win the final Test 6457 at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena to follow up on their first Test win in London before England

levelled the score in Manchester.

The Caribbean netball queens led 33-29 at half time but by the end of the third quarter the score was tied at 46-46 after England’s Eboni Beckford-Chambers helped her side claw their way back into the match.

However, Shamera Sterling re-established the Sunshine Girls’ lead

with two goals before Jamaica blockaded their own net to keep England at bay until the final whistle.

Sunshine Girl Shanice Beckford was named Player of the Match while her teammate Fowler-Reid was their Player of the Series. Ama Agbeze was handed the prize for England’s best performer. (Sportsmax)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

monday, december 5, 2016

GCA/Noble House Seafoods 2nd division

TSC leads teams into semis with outright win

Overwhelming support for inaugural Digicel Special Olympics

Winners all the way! The happy prize winners along with Jacquelin James (back row, red top) and Wilton Spencer (back row, yellow cap) at the closing ceremony of the 5k walk, run, wheel, for persons with disabilities in the National Park on Sunday

By Delvon McEwan

Ashmead Nedd about to depart after being stumped off the bowling of Saheed Mohamed, who finished with four wickets

Gajanand Suknanan

T

ransport Sports Club (TSC) leads three other teams as they completed an outright victory against Muslim Youth Organistion (MYO) to move into the semifinals of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA)/ N o b l e House

Seafoods second division two day competition.

TSC started the day needing five wickets to complete an innings victory after the host folded for 51 in their first innings and were 53-5 in their second innings when play ended on the first day. Compliments of offspinner Joshua Wilson, TSC got the required five wickets early on the second morning and went on to win the match by an innings and 108 runs. MYO made 107 in 15.4 overs in their second innings, S. Sankar made 31 while Wilson claimed 7-24.

Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC), Police and Everest Cricket Club were the other teams to advance to the semis.

At Camp Ayangana, GDF fell for 71 on the second day after closing on 22-7 on day one after GNIC made 325-9 declared

in their first innings.

Off-spinner Gajanand Suknanan spearheaded GNIC’s attack with 5-28 to dismantle the military unit in their first innings.

In a rather strange move, instead of enforcing the follow, GNIC chose to bat again to compile 223-8 before declaring for a second time in the match. Ovid Richardson followed up his first innings top score of 121 with 100 before he retired hurt. He was supported by Premchand Sookdeo, who made 61.

Spinners Randy Lindore

and

Joshua Wilson

Dennis Legay were the pick of GDF’s bowlers with three and two victims respectively.

Across at Eve Leary, the lawmen arrest Malteenoes Sports Club (MSC) after a

Ovid Richardson

brilliant century (146) by all-rounder Steven Harris.

Resuming on 68-1 the host rallied to 360 all out.

Apart from Harris’ century, Paul Tyndall and Jason McCalmont chipped in with 44 apiece.

Meanwhile, at Everest, DCC conc e d e d to the host after they reached 213-9 in reply to 387.

Everest’s innings ended early on the second morning after they resumed at 368-7, Khemraj Ramdeen made 98. Linden Lyght and Dennis Squires took three wickets each while Sherfane Rutherford assisted with two scalps.

Fourteen year old batting prodigy, Sachin Singh made 48 for the visitors while West Indies u-19 player Tevin Imlach scored 39 and Raymond Perez 38. Saheed Mohamed and Dwayne Adams collected four wickets each for Everest.

GNIC will clash with Everest in semifinal one while Police and TSC will do battle in semifinal two.

Days and venues for these matches will be announced later.

A

high level of intensity was displayed by special athletes as Digicel yesterday in the National Park hosted the inaugural Guyana Special Olympic 5k walk, run, wheel, for persons with disabilities.

The event was funded

by Digicel but organized by National Director of Special Olympic Guyana, Wilton Spencer, on behalf of his entity.

Some 43 persons participated in the event which was spread across four categories-Visually Impaired, Amputees, Persons with intellectual disabilities and wheelchair.

In the male division of the visually impaired section, Paul Cotton finished first and Siles Rogers came

in second while Mekyla B e l g r a v e won the female segment.

Vlysess Edwards a n d

Utramkumar Isurdeen were the respective winner and runner up in the wheelchair section.

Meanwhile, in the Amputee group, Dennis

Berne, Pereirra Looknauth, Gavin Jeffers and Andre Richards finished first to fourth in that order.

Finally, Niomi Hicks won the Persons with intellectually disabilities and was followed by Ruthann Collis and Carolyn Matthews in second and third respectively.

In a brief comment, Digicel’s Head of Marketing Jacquelin James, said for an inaugural event it was fairly good and she is pleased with the amount of support for the athletes. She added that it is another area of exploration taken by Digicel as a part of development for sport in Guyana.

Spencer shared similar sentiments as James and was happy that the day went as planned, with the exception of late arrival by some athletes.

GLTA/Trophy Stall Doubles Tournament 2016

Familiar pairs rule day 2

T

Action in the Trophy Stall Tennis Doubles Tournament on Sunday at National Racquet Centre, Woolford Avenue

he second day of Trophy Stall Tennis Doubles tournament went smoothly with the familiar players winning their matches in the round of 16 at the National Racquet Centre.

The day was off to an unusual start with the pair of Anthony Downes and Afruica Gentle claiming a walk over against Shawna Gentle and K. Rodney in the mix doubles.

In the day’s first completed match, Philbert Clarke and Diana Bharat combined to defeat Ariel Khan and Nicola Ramdyhan 6-0 7-6 (7-2).

In the very next clash, national coach Shelly Ramdyhan team up with Robert Bostwick and they delivered a blow to Alexander Almeida and Sarah Klautky 6-7 6-4 6-3.

The Kalekyezi brothers, Joshua and Jeremiah surrendered a first set lead to lose 4-6 6-2 6-1 to Mark McDonald and Ronald Murray in their men’s doubles match.

In the final match of the day Robert Bostwick and Khalid Gobin lost to Heimraj Resaul and Jordan Beaton 6-1 6-2.

The tournament will continue on Wednesday.

guyanatimesgy.com

MONday, december 5, 2016

23

GFF Grassroots Festival 2016

Football passion restored in Berbice to learn new skills. I just had a good time and I enjoyed ver 60 youths from how the goals were set up in and around the because we do not have all Corriverton town of those things when we are area on Saturday had their playing by ourselves. Plus hopes restored in the foot[in addition], we only get ball fraternity as they parto play football for an hour ticipated in the Guyana without having any fun and Football Federation (GFF) today we had the most fun.”

Grassroots festival which Meanwhile, at the end of was hosted in the Berbice the activities the children Association at Scottsburg were awarded certificates Community ground. for their outstanding perfor“We want to develop mances by Greenwood. your skills in the game of The Grassroots festifootball so that we can seval was launched only a lect you in the next 10 to 15 few weeks ago with the aim years from now to be in the All participants pose for a group photo with GFF Technical Director Ian Greenwood, coaches and parents at the Scottsburg of revitalizing the football national team of Guyana.” Ground on Saturday sport in a younger age group Those were the words of the in the country’s nine football newly appointed Technical associations.

Director Ian Greenwood that Greenwood had initialis spearheading the grassly explained at the launch roots festival. that “the idea of the fesUnder the beaming suntival is to design a brand light, children within the new programme for kids 5 age range of 3 -14 years to 12 years old since what old participated in a numwe want is to get new boys ber of skilled activities and and girls players into federa“showed-off” their best skills tion’s system.” which impressed a numThe long term of goal ber of the coaches who were of the project is to create present. leagues at the under-13, unBerbice Football der-15, and under-19 levels Association President Keith for boys and under-15 for Ojeer welcomed the initiagirls to run nationwide. tive in the town whiles exThe Grassroots Festival pressing his elation for the opened at the Buxton exposure given to the chilCommunity Centre ground Participants broke up into smaller groups to work on the various aspects of the beautiful game dren. in the East Coast Demerara Despite a poor turnAssociation on November 19 festival very much today and it makes me want to play the out of parents at the festithen rolled on to the East val, the scores of children were not dismayed but instead game more and I enjoy how we were thought dribbling tech- Bank Demerara and Essequibo Associations last weekparticipated energetically in all of the activities that were niques”. end before this weekend’s triple play at Leonora (West The lad continued that he now feels comfortable playing Demerara Association), Wisburg ground (Upper Demerara well planned. Some of the activities included fundamental warm-ups, dribbling techniques, King of the ring, passing the sport since he is more knowledge of the game.

Association) and Scottsburg ground.

Another 11 year old who was eager to speak to this pubtechniques, head tennis and football ‘tag’.

This weekend the Georgetown and Bartica Associations One of the lads who participated in the day’s activity lication made it clear that the Grassroots festival was the will host their festivals before Rupununi Football Association stated that the Grassroots festival has definitely motivat- best experienced he had in a very long time. will have the last stanza on December 17.

“I enjoyed everything today! I had a good time and I got ed him to keep playing the sport. “I enjoy the Grassroots

By Renella Bourne

O

B

arima-Waini’s (Region One) Ricky Williams and East Berbice - Corentyne’s (Region Six) Delroy Leitch are aiming to have his names mentioned with the big guns of local distance running as they head into the 2017 season where they will look to establish their careers.

The two young men who have already shown they have the skills, stamina and endurance to go the distance are at the point in their lives where they are heading into the year where they can fully capitalize on their gifts to take over the future of distance running.

Williams, who is from the village of Waramuri has dominated the junior’s category in 5K and 10K races and after his

Delroy Leitch

main rival in that category, Odwin Tudor is expected to now be classified in the seniors division, he will now be the looking for new competition.

The 16 year old National Schools Athletics champion annihilated the competition in the recently concluded schools championship where he brought first in the 5k track race, a 16-lap run around the track at the National Stadium, Providence, lapping all but two of his opponents and second in the 10K road race.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, young Williams said that he is hopeful of making a bigger impact in road racing as well as bettering his timings.

“I have been training hard and I believe I can be right up there with the big boys next year.” Williams said while going on to say that he looks up to National Champion Cleveland Forde as a mentor.

Meanwhile, young Berbician, Delroy Leitch is now ready to become more competitive in the local road races as he piped Williams in the 10K and earned second in the 5K. Williams who tries to perfect his breathing and better his natural back end speed should be a force to reckon with. The young man said that he is also training hard and based his diet around just what his mother cooks for him, believing that a natural diet is what is best when it comes to his career.

Both of the talented athletes, who have represented Guyana at the Inter Guiana Games have agreed that they are watching each other and recognizing that they are both getting better with each race as competition brings out the best in people. The sky is the limit for the rising stars of middle distance races.

Ricky Williams

monday, december 5, 2016

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Overwhelming support for inaugural Digicel Special Olympics

Pg 22

And they are off! Persons with Intellectual disabilities were sent out of the starting blocks first, followed by the amputees then the wheelchair-bound and finally the visually impaired

GFF Grassroots Festival 2016 Pg 23

Football passion restored in Berbice Coach Randy Sears taking the young football enthusiasts through their paces at the Scottsburg ground

GUYANA TIMES - www.guyanatimesgy.com, email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, News Hotliine: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230,223-7231,231-0544, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 SALES AND MARKETING - lezas@guyanatimesgy.com - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY GUYANA TIMES INC.