Guyana Times Daily - March 11, 2015

Jagdeo says never tapped Treasury for medical expenses since leaving office Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Granger can’t do a “Pontius Pilate” guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 2429

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Exxon drilling off to smooth start P2

Page 3

…Jagdeo says he must account for PNC’s sordid past

2 gunned down in separate incidents

Pages 11& 17

Seelall Persaud sworn in as Top COP Page 8

Rohee denounces Kaieteur News' racist incitement P10 ..."product of sick, twisted, devious minds"

GECOM to meet with political P10 parties today Bouterse’s son jailed for aiding Hezbollah P12

…vows to reduce Police excesses Newly sworn in Commissioner of Police Seelall Persaud taking his oath of office before President Donald Ramotar

APNU/AFC to launch Linden campaign Saturday Page 13

Govt to change policy on medical assistance – Jagdeo P17

2 news

wednesday, march 11, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Exxon drilling off to smooth start

O

Exxon Mobil’s oil exploration ship the Deep Water Champion

il major ExxonMobil’s oil exploration activities in the Stabroek Block off Guyana’s Essequibo Coast are proceeding according to schedule with no disruptions from Venezuela, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Robert Persaud has disclosed.

“Exxon has begun its operations and so far, there has been no conflict or hiccups in that. Everything is progressing according to plan,” Persaud told the Guyana Times. The United Statesbased oil company’s exploration ship, the Deep Water Champion commenced its US$200 million oil exploration project on Thursday.

The company, which intends to pursue exploration activities over a 10-year pe-

riod, remained locked in what could be a possible showdown with Venezuelan authorities who had issued a warning for it not to proceed with the drilling, which was sanctioned by the Guyana Government.

ExxonMobil Guyana Public Relations Officer Carlton James told the Guyana Times that the company was proceeding with its operations as planned and was not bothered by the border issue existing between the two countries. To this end, he noted that the company was operating under the permission of the Guyana Government and any arising matter was for the Guyana and Venezuela Governments to sort out.

Venezuela has repeatedly laid claim to the area to be

explored, ignoring an 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award, which was declared as the full and final settlement of the boundary between the two South American nations. With Venezuela’s insistence on its position, Guyana is considering judicial settlement of the boundary.

Following Venezuela’s warning, Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, dispatched a diplomatic note to her Venezuelan counterpart, asking Venezuela to desist from any action that would stymie this country’s development. The total area allotted to Exxon for exploration covers 26, 806 square kilometres.

ExxonMobil, the largest public traded international company in the world, is an industry giant that has the leading inventory of oil and gas projects, and the world’s largest refiner of petroleum products.

Guyana has been receiving sustained international attention from huge companies, especially in the oil sector. The US Geological Survey said in 2000 that the Guyana-Suriname Basin has the second largest unexplored oil potential in the world after Greenland.

Caricom Heads clear way for countries to petition for reparations

Caribbean Reparations Commission head, Sir Hilary Beckles

C

aricom Heads of Governments have cleared the way for several of its members to seek reparations for slavery from Spain, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

The decision was taken at the 35th Caricom Heads of Government Conference, which was held February 26-27 in the Bahamas.

According to the Caricom Secretariat, “the Heads of Government agreed to pursue the cause of reparatory justice through a process of engagement with the relevant European countries. They acknowledged the activities that have taken place over the past six months towards building

momentum and awareness of the call for reparations in the Region and internationally, especially those inspired by the Community’s initiative on reparations.”

This approval means that the way has now been paved for the Caricom countries seeking reparations to dispatch their letters and reports to the relevant European countries to begin the process. This is expected to be done in the coming weeks.

Should the countries refuse to accede to the requests made in the letters or to engage in dialogue, Caricom will then approach the International Court of Justice for intervention in the matter. Caricom is expected to dispatch the reports on behalf of the countries to Great Britain and France.

Caricom, after calls made

by Head of the Caribbean Reparations Commission, Sir Hilary Beckles, has called on all of its member countries to follow Jamaica’s footsteps and to pass legislation which can guarantee and foster reparations.“The House of Representatives passed a motion proposed

by Mike Henry, which contained three resolutions.

First, that the House ‘make the political decision that the Government of Jamaica is entitled, on behalf of the former slaves and via the basic tenets of labour law and human rights, to receive payment from Great Britain, equivalent to the sum paid to the British slave owners as compensation for their loss of slave labour”. Second, “that the payment be used to clear off all the debt of Jamaica and to the education, infrastructural development, and health sectors, and a portion be set aside for the repatriation of African Jamaicans to Africa.”

It was also decided at the meeting that national programmes to promote and highlight the International Decade of People of African Descent, with the pursuit of Reparations for Slavery and Native Genocide as a desired outcome of that observance will be initiated in all Caricom countries.

Meanwhile, Guyana Reparations Committee Chairman Eric Phillips related that the Institute of Black World, an organisation based in the United States of America, in collaboration with the various reparations commissions, would be meeting in April, to discuss the issue so that a solution can be reached.

According to him, this will be the deciding factor on all future proceedings.

“The Institute of Black World, along with Mr Ronald Durand, a Congressman in the United States, has agreed to meet with the various reparations commissions. The organisations which will be going to that conference in April are the Caribbean

Reparations Commission, a delegation from Brazil because a group in that country is seeking reparations too; there will be a delegation from the United States and the United Kingdom will be sending a delegation also so that extensive discussions on the matter can take place,” the Chairman related to this newspaper.

The Guyana Reparations Committee was established under the Caricom Reparations Commission in October 2013 following the mandate of the 34th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government held in Trinidad and Tobago last year.

The Reparations Committee was established to seek compensation for the wrongs which were inflicted upon the indigenous people and Afro-Guyanese during enslavement by the Spanish,

Guyana Reparations Committee Chairman Eric Phillips

English and French. The Committee had been tasked with the preparation of a report via research on four key areas, to create a detailed historical narrative of indigenous genocide and African slavery, to create linkages from past discrimination to present-day inequality, to define and prove the nature of modern-day equality, and to denote policies adopted by the European countries to continue this process.

In presentation of the report, the Caribbean countries will be seeking an apology rather than a Statement of Regret, an admission of wrongdoing, a commitment to reasonable reparation and a commitment of nonrepetition of the sin against mankind from the countries named. It is expected that whatever reparations are given, they will be used for the development of citizens in the country, particularly the descendants of the people who were once enslaved.

Heading the Caribbean Regional Commission is Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, who is also the Principal of Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies, in collaboration with Assistant Secretary General for Human Development, Douglas Slater, a Vincentian who served as Health Minister in the Ralph Gonsalves Administration.

Dr Gonsalves was one of the persons who had advocated reparations and whipped up support in the Region.

3 Granger can’t do a "Pontius Pilate" news

wednesday, March 11, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, March 11 – 08:30h-10:00h and Thursday, March 12 – 08:30h-10:00h The Berbice River Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Wednesday, March 11 – 07:05h-08:35h and Thursday, March 12 – 07:50h-09:20h

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

WEATHER TODAY Light rain showers can be expected in the morning mid afternoon, with sunny weather coming through in the late afternoon. Partly conditions can be expected in the evening over coastal regions and near inland locations.

Temperatures are expected to range between 25 degrees and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly between 5.36 metres and 6.70 metres per second.

High Tide: 07:42h and 20:10h reaching maximum heights of 2.57 metres and 2.45 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 01:17h and 13:41h reaching minimum heights of 0.70 metre and 0.65 metre respectively.

saturday, MARCH 7, 2015

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…Jagdeo says he must account for PNC’s sordid past

Meanwhile, Jagdeo urged Guyanese and youths in particular to demand answers from the coalition group, whom he accused of entering “an alliance of convenience”, about their own track records as none of them were new to the political scene. “They are not new...the good thing about it is that some of us can still remember the record of these people and somehow it is felt and they get a free pass because they are shielded by some elements in the media from accounting for their record,” he said.

By Michael Younge

F

ormer President Bharrat Jagdeo has blocked any attempt

by David Granger, the Presidential Candidate for the recently formed Opposition coalition movement to play the role of ‘Pontius Pilate’, as he called on him to account for his sordid past and alleged involvement in the atrocities committed by the People’s National Congress (PNC) while it was in Government.

Jagdeo, speaking at his first local press conference since demitting office back in December 2011, said that Granger must account for his track record if he was serious about running to become the country’s next Head of State and President. He wasted no time in lambasting Granger for bobbing and weaving whenever he was questioned about the role he played in the PNC which is accused of rigging several Regional and General Elections and committing massive excesses against the Opposition in the country during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Jagdeo argued that while sections of the Oppositioncontrolled media, including the Kaieteur News and Stabroek News, could continue to shield Granger from answering potent questions about his track record, Granger needed to recognise the importance of coming clean especially since all Guyanese did not have “short memories” and were able to recall his role distinctly in a number of questionable practices. He called out the 69-year-old politician for pretending to have clean hands and a clean track record and past, telling journalists gathered at Freedom House on Robb Street, Georgetown that Granger and his allies were neither new to public life or politics.

Jagdeo explained that Granger was a Commander of the Guyana Defence Force and a confidant of President Forbes Burnham at one point in the country’s history. “He was placed in the Army in a political capacity. Not as a regular solider, he was the politician in the army. He was one of the authors of the ‘paramountcy of the party over the state’ doctrine prac-

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo ticed in that period. In fact, he wrote extensively defending it. Granger wrote several times in the news media that Indians are not suited for the Army. Granger was there when the weapons that were given to the PNC were lost. Granger was there when Walter Rodney was killed,” Jagdeo stated flatly.

“Should he not say something about this to the country before you aspire to high office?” Jagdeo asked before explaining that had Guyana been the US, Granger would have never been able to run for the Presidency or even the primaries because the media and analysts there would have dug up his record from the past. Jagdeo, who is both a member of the PPP’s 35-member Central Executive Committee and its Executive Committee, expressed shock that Granger refused to accept and admit that the party he now led was responsible for rigging countless elections, subverting the country’s democracy and prevailing over Guyana’s declining economic health.

Truth, principles

He said it was astonishing too that his running mate from the Alliance For Change (AFC), Moses Nagamootoo, who fought tooth and nail against the rigging of elections while he was a leading member of the PPP/C would not set the record straight or disassociate himself from Granger.

“Granger says there were no rigged elections in this country. How can you sit at the same table with the person next to you who says no, this is not true and all of your

life, Nagamootoo, you have fought against rigged elections and you believe that that person next to you will keep his promise?” Jagdeo asked.

Expanding his analysis of the situation, Jagdeo said that soon Nagamootoo would pay the price for assisting the PNC Leader to hide his own track record when the AFC is delivered a lethal blow after Nominations Day. “There will be no AFC…it will disappear, they will only be a name on the ticket, list of candidates, one head of the list …. and the head of the list has the right to recall any member from Parliament. He will decide who will go to Parliament.

Since there will be no AFC if Granger decides 80 per cent of the seats in Parliament will come from the PNC, they will have no leverage….,” Jagdeo warned.

Granger had served as a member of the Disciplined Services Commission back in 2003 while Jagdeo was serving his first term as President after being elected in 2001.

Asked on Monday, if he was not been hypocritical in expressing concern over the PNC Reform leader’s past and alleged involvement in criminal activities now, Jagdeo responded in the negative. “No, because when he participated as a member of a group.

It was not Granger’s report.

Granger at that time was not running to be President of Guyana. The situation is totally different now. If it was Granger, the ordinary citizen, it would be concerning but not that much … but I am talking about Granger, the Presidential Candidate,” Jagdeo responded.

Dismal record

He argued that the Opposition Shadow Finance Minister, Economist Carl Greenidge has a record that was dismal, referring to him as the “worst Finance Minister” in the history of the country who failed to allegedly produce audited accounts for over a decade. “Yet he speaks about accountability today,” he charged ,arguing again that the “same faces resurfacing in new guises, who want to rewrite the past and want this country to believe, particularly the young people because they do not have the memory of that past, that they are coming to the table with clean hands. They are not.”

Jagdeo wants the Opposition alliance to answer for their decision to axe $89 Billion from the National Budget over the past three years, frustrating national development and jeopardising the future of the country. He said that Ramotar was willing to debate the coalition’s presidential candidate and that he, if asked, was willing to debate anyone of them or all of them in defence of his presidency and the PPP/C collective track record which he claimed were defined by a period of “torturous change”.

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wednesday, march 11, 2015

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

Editorial

Through the looking glass

A

uthor Lewis Carroll continues to be recognized and admired for the role he played in redefining literature and playing with concepts that would keep any reader locked into a world of imaginary characters and occurrences.

Carroll wrote, “Through the looking glass”, which was a sequel to “Alice in Wonderland” in which chess was used as a central theme, as well as mirrors. The difference with these mirrors was the fact that many things within them appeared to be the opposite of real life and turned either backwards or upside down.

The phrase “through the looking glass” has therefore become a metaphor to signify strangeness or the opposite of reality. It can also mean looking at a perfectly normal situation or event and seeing things, including evil, that do not exist, or that are not actually there.

It would appear that sections of the media which turned up to the PPP/C’s Cheddi Jagan Memorial Service on Sunday at Babu Jaan, Corentyne, Berbice had a “through the looking glass” experience.

They apparently saw Guyanese who supported the PPP/C being “trucked and bussed” into the event which they claimed was an abuse of State resources. Surprisingly, no one saw the hundreds of privately owned vehicles that were present at the memorial service or the fact that many of the trucks and buses they saw were actually owned by supporters who voluntarily made their way to the event.

Some sections of the media saw “through the looking glass” a situation where former President Bharrat Jagdeo was accused of “cuss down politics”. They claimed Jagdeo’s conduct was disrespectful and he promoted racism.

The truth is that, before their eyes, Jagdeo took the Opposition to task for rolling out its whisper campaign aimed at inciting racial disharmony within certain communities and taking Granger to task for playing hide and seek whenever questions were asked about his track record.

Again, sections of the media failed to recognize in reality that Jagdeo was exposing the wrongs committed by the combined APNU-AFC during the 10th Parliament and the impact it had in undermining the country’s growth.

Not one of the media houses that benefit from the Opposition’s treasury saw Jagdeo urging Ramotar to adopt a more aggressive approach to those who are considered obstructionists to development.

Sections of the media that flocked the event noticed “through the looking glass” that Donald Ramotar seemed comfortable with the jabs delivered by the party’s General Secretary Clement Rohee and Jagdeo, which proved that he endorsed what they said.

But no one noticed that thousands of Guyanese applauded each time the speakers appealed to their sense of conviction. No one recognized the unity and solidarity shown by the supporters when the speakers urged them to continue the struggle and pilgrimage for progress in the country.

No one noticed the enthusiasm within the ranks of the supporters who left rejuvenated and reassured that the PPP/C had not lost its sting and will be able regain its majority with the help of their turnout at the polls and their votes.

Some politicians who watched “through the looking glass” saw the PYO members sitting and supporting in the hot sun, while others saw an opportunity to spark more controversy to put the PPP/C on the back foot.

None saw the PPP/C’s signal that it was ready to fight a long and hard race to regain victory at the polls and none saw the discipline and commitment in the eyes of the thousands of youths who rallied with along their party and will ensure that they “Vote like a Boss” come elections day.

But then again, “through the looking glass” some can see the things that fascinate, and the things that some hope could be real until they are greeted by the sad reality that they were asleep while history was being recreated before their eyes.

Some media houses must end their usage of the “looking glass” and must awake from their slumber as Guyanese are experiencing a reality defined by continued development and progress with a brighter future beckoning.

Guyana Times photographer Carl Croker gets thumbs up from these beaming children as they pose with family members for the camera during a relaxing day out at the Botanical Gardens on Sunday

The truth about crime under the PPP/C vs PNC Dear Editor, I refer to a letter on crime under the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).

As a young Guyanese professional, I am disheartened and somewhat insulted to read an article by three individuals who one might expect to engage in honest and unbiased debate.

The claim that the PPP/C has not done enough to fight crime in itself was the shock.

It was the evidence and suggested causes of the issues relating to criminal activities, their links to the economy, and addressing the problem are what dealt the disappointing blow, and convinced me that the content of the article was either convenient dishonesty or academic ignorance of the subject matter on the part of the authors.

Without doubt, crime in all its versions does not support economic, financial and social prosperity at the household level, nor at the country level. For this reason, it must be fought with intelligence, strategy and brute force when necessary, to abate all forms of it.

Crime in Guyana today is at its lowest in our history, and this did not happen because the PPP/C Government ignored the problem. It is because significant attention was paid to it.

Unlike the People’s National Congress (PNC) Administration, which supports criminal activities, the PPP/C has a record of anticrime strategy backed by evidence. Twenty-one murders in the first two months of 2015 is indeed bad, after all, a life is a life. But one cannot talk about the issue of crime without asking the question of whether this is an increase from last year and the year

before during the same period? What is the likely motivation of these murders? And whether these murders are linked to the fact that there is an election coming up? Is this a strategy of intimidation and scaring of the population that the PNC Administration has a record of?

Criminal activities are ever changing; globalisation, deeper integration, increased tourism and general economic development, all have significant influence on the nature, frequency, type, and severity of crime. With all the technology and financing in the United States, random shooting in theatres and schools have not been abated.

If anything it seems that criminals are always ahead of the game. I draw this comparison to convey clearly to the Guyanese people that even for a country like Guyana, fighting crime will and always will be a continuous and evolving challenge for the Government.

The suggestion from the authors that some effective multi-pronged approach to fighting crime that APNU+AFC would implement would make Guyana safer is nothing more than a gimmick considering the fact that the leader of the coalition, Mr David Granger was Brigadier when crime was at the highest level in Guyana.

So bad it was that today we are still struggling to deal with murder cases under the PNC Administration.

Do these people think that Guyanese are stupid? Or is it a convenient dishonesty aimed at instilling fear and panic in society – a signature of the PNC. It is an insult to the Guyanese people to use the

word “democracy”, “dignity”, “economic progress”, and the “PNC” in the same sentence.

History is always there for us to look for the evidence and none of this makes any sense to us.

It is true that addressing crime will take more than just increased budgetary allocations, BUT it is also true and even more important that the skills, talent, technologies, intelligence and human capital necessary for combating crime have to be invested in by the state and therefore necessitate more budgetary allocation.

APNU and the AFC slashed the very budgetary allocation that the PPP/C made for the Ministry of Home Affairs, but here these authors are telling Guyanese that the PPP/C didn’t do enough. This is outright hypocritical and again disappointing.

I am not sure how the authors measured majority versus minority, but claiming that the majority of Guyanese have had it hard because of bad economic policies of the PPP/C is yet another statement that demonstrated the ignorance and wicked intentions of the authors.

People always tend to think that they can do something better and, therefore, are always ready to blindly and widely condemn. Every report on Guyana’s economic performance including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank reports that have been published since 1992 have provided evidence and concluded that there are improvements in Guyana’s macroeconomic environment and overall economic management of the country’s affairs, even during

the worst economic crisis in modern history.

How do we interpret these results is as important as the results itself. This does not mean that because the economy is improving, everyone will suddenly get rich.

That is not how economic prosperity meets everyone, the process takes time and it will reach some before others. Nevertheless, one can still look and see what the evidence is showing thus far.

Not so long ago, one could have counted the number of cars in Guyana, today, you can’t even count how many pass you on a street every 30 minutes; more Guyanese today have affordable housing than ever before, more Guyanese are in school today than ever before, more Guyanese have access to health care today than ever before, there are more paved roads than any time in our history, and this list can go on and on.

Clearly this evidence of economic growth and with this, opportunities for further growth. But none of this means that tomorrow everyone can wake up and find wealth falling in front of their doors, it doesn’t mean that acquiring at least a decent and happy and prosperous life would require little or no work, and it certainly doesn’t mean that you don’t have to work and will have a salary.

What it does mean is that Guyana is becoming a better place for families to live and pursue their individual happiness and prosperity one day at a time. Every one of us still has to get up each day and work for the future we want for ourselves and family.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

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wednesday, march 11, 2015

5

Fidel meets "the 5" Dear Editor, I received them on February 28, 73 days after they stepped foot on Cuban soil. Three of them had served 15 long years of their youth breathing in the damp, foul-smelling, repugnant air of Yankee prison cells, after being convicted by venal judges. The other two, who also attempted to stop the empire’s criminal plans against their homeland, were also sentenced to various years of brutal imprisonment.

The very same inves-

tigating bodies, completely devoid of the most basic sense of justice, participated in their inhumane incarceration.

Cuban intelligence services had absolutely no need to track the movements of a single US military team, as they could observe from space everything that moved on our planet through the Lourdes Radio Electronic Exploration Centre, located to the south of the Cuban capital. This centre was able to detect any moving object thousands of miles from our

GNYC lacks the mandate for its mission Dear Editor,

I am calling on GECOM to quickly sever its relationship with the controversial Guyana National Youth Council (GNYC), since it appears that this cabal is an agent of the political Opposition with a sinister agenda of “voter education” directed to our youth population.

But I am led to believe that this GNYC currently lacks the mandate for its mission at this time from Guyana’s youth population, since it does not reflect in its membership a wide cross-section of youth organisations in Guyana.

The fact that the GNYC will seek to tell our youths

which political party to vote for at the upcoming General and Regional Elections cannot be overlooked or ignored since both Lurlene Nestor and James Bond of the PNC/ APNU-AFC coalition are in full support of the machinations of this GNYC. But if I am wrong in my judgements, can the Chairman of GECOM let the public know about the credibility of this GNYC as quickly as possible, which must be fully supported by all GECOM’s Commissioners?

This certainly can be done at a press conference. If not suspicions now surround GECOM where our upcoming elections are concerned.

Peter Persaud

The truth about crime...

from page 4

I dare the members of the Opposition, including the aforementioned authors to declare to the people of Guyana whether their individual wealth would have grown from 1992 and by how much.

I am sure they wouldn’t because it would be evident that they probably got richer than anyone else in Guyana under the same PPP/C-led Government. They wake up and realise that they have done so well, and suddenly feel that they can manage the economy better than the PPP/C. When people do not understand the true cause of things, it is very easy for them to blame it on corruption and mismanagement since these words sound intelligent and as if they know what they are saying.

If the author got one thing correct it was the fact that the PPP/C has always embraced the notion that “the political, economic, social and technological success require the safety and security of our country” as was clearly articulated in the PPP/C Manifesto in 2011 and it will remain there for as long as the PPP/C exists.

Every day leading up to an election always tests our level of awareness and how informed we are of the present as well as the past. For

every good story told there will be 10 to discourage and destroy us as a people, it’s a typical divide-and-conquer strategy, that has always been used by the Opposition.

I will do my part in trying to ensure that the lies, fabrications, dishonesty and malfeasance of those who devote their lives to destroy this country do not go without notice and questioning.

Sometimes these come from people who we least expect it from and from persons who feel they can deliberately misrepresent the reality to pursue their own cause.

APNU and AFC believe that Guyanese are cynical (stupid), for it is the only way they can gain control of the state. We all deserve to live without fear for our lives and in a society where we can pursue our own happiness.

The PPP/C has its strengths and weaknesses like every single organisation that exists on this planet, but from 1992 to now, in every walk of life there has been significant and notable improvement. This is the result of the choices our grandparents and some parents made. What will be the story of our generation and what will be the story of our children?

Dhanraji Singh, Stephen Kissoon

country.

The Five Anti-Terrorist Heroes, who never did any harm to the United States, worked to anticipate and prevent terrorist acts against our people, organised by US intelligence agencies which the world knows more than enough about.

None of the Five Heroes carried out their work in search of applause, awards or glory. They received their honorific titles because they didn’t seek them out. They, their wives, par-

ents, children, siblings and fellow citizens, we all have the legitimate right to feel proud.

In July 1953, when we attacked the Moncada barracks, I was 26 years old and had far less experience than that which they demonstrated. If they were in the US it wasn’t to harm that country, or take revenge for the crimes being organised there and the explosives that were being stockpiled to be used against our country. Attempting to stop this was absolutely legitimate.

The first thing they did upon arrival was greet their families, friends and people, without neglecting for a minute the rigorous health check-up.

I was happy for hours yesterday. I heard amazing tales of heroism from the group presided by Gerardo and supported by them all, including the painter and poet, whom I met while he was building one of his works in the Santiago de Cuba airfield. And their wives? Their sons and daughters? Sisters and mothers? Was I not also

going to receive them? Well, their return and joy must also be celebrated with the family!

Yesterday, I immediately wanted to converse with the Five Heroes. For five hours this is what we did.

Fortunately, yesterday I also had enough time to request that they invest part of their immense prestige in something that will be extremely useful for our people.

Fidel Castro Ruz

The rationale for fixing speed limits Dear Editors,

Referencing the letter published in February, “What is the rationale for fixing speed limits” from Mohamed Akeel, please allow the Guyana National Road Safety Council (GNRSC) the opportunity to respond to Mr Akeel with deep and sincere concern.

The rationale for fixing speed limits: There are four primary practices and methodologies that are used in establishing speed limits: engineering approach; expert systems; optimisation; and injury minimisation.

It also reviews the basic legalities of speed limits and presents several case studies for setting speed limits on a variety of roads.

This research was done

in this specific case, for Gangaram to New Forest, East Canje, through: immediate residents, Region Six Road Safety Association Chairman/ members, GNRSC Coordinator and Region Six Traffic Officer.

Speed limits promote public safety by helping drivers choose a reasonable and prudent speed that is appropriate for normal traffic, weather and roadway conditions.

They encourage more drivers to travel at about the same speed, which has been shown to reduce the likelihood of crashes.

Traffic engineers and safety officials determine rational speed limits based on a formal review of traffic flow, roadway design, local development and crash informa-

tion.

The speed limits are determined by a team of traffic engineers and public safety officials after analysing traffic flow and speed data from many locations along the roadway.

The case study took into account the following – which Mr Akeel’s letter cited – there were fatal and multiple accidents, deep turns and narrow sections in the road, and over 20 liquor shops along the road and the same or more in the streets.

Further, there are reckless and speedy drivers in the evenings when there is no police presence.

(Source of information: Residents, Police, Region Six Road Safety Association Chairman/Members) Also, the one-mile

stretch of road referred to in the query: it should be noted, it takes less than 25 minutes driving at the 50 kilometres per hour (kmph) to reach to the next village.

The GNRSC was reliably informed that two new housing schemes and a tourist resort will be opened in the same area shortly, thus, the area would become more populated.

Please note the Guyana National Road Safety Council is very concerned by this matter since road deaths and injuries are escalating at a rate that is becoming endemic.

Driving at 10kmph less save lives (based on global research).

Guyana National Road Safety Council

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Foundation

How to make Maths fun (Continued from Tuesday)

Here are some tips for you, the parent, to make Maths fun for your child: Make Maths a game – Make your child consider Maths not as work but as a game that can be played like computer games, sports or fun board games. Use digital games, apps and numerous websites as resources for making Maths a game.

There are numerous activity books that make Maths fun, as well as websites where you can download fun, early learning printables. Non-digital games are also fun. Encourage your child to play card and board games that involve calculations (For example, Chutes and Ladders and Monopoly).

A 2009 study conducted by Carnegie Mellon and the University of Maryland found that preschoolers who played Chutes and Ladders improve Maths skills significantly compared to those in the study who played a different board game or did non-Maths tasks.

Integrate Maths into fun activities – Find out what games or activities your child enjoy, and integrate Maths into it. If your child loves to bake or cook with you, for example, you can have your child measure ingredients in wholes or in parts, or count and estimate objects such as number of chocolate chips. One way to integrate subtraction prob-

lem, for example, is to ask your child, “We need to put five eggs, we already placed two eggs, how many more eggs do we need?” In road trips, you can play Maths games. When your child asks “Are we there yet?” a Maths problem. Ask how many more miles or kilometre before you reach your

Make Maths real and meaningful – We are surrounded by real Maths problems in the form of money, measurement, time and others. Point this out to your child as you go with him through life. This includes checking and comparing prices at the grocery store, driving down the street

lowance to buy it.

Encourage “mental Maths” so that your child learns to appreciate “number sense,” which is defined by the University of North Carolina’s School of Education as “an intuitive understanding of numbers, their relationships, and how

destination. For older children, ask travel Maths problems such as “If the GPS says we will arrive at 05:30h and it is 05:13h, how many more minutes before we reach the destination?” or “If we are travelling 60 miles per hour, and our destination is 120 miles, how long before we reach the destination?” If your child is a sports fun, teach him about the numbers used in sports such as scores, batting average, percentage of wins, and so on.

counting mailboxes, reading recipes, calculating coupons, or even measuring food or drink at the dinner table. Before approaching the checkout counter in the grocery, ask your child to estimate how much the items will cost, and if he is within a dollar or so of the right amount, he wins a prize.

Encourage your child to solve real-life problems outside of school. For example, in the toy store, ask her to calculate the price of a discounted toy and how long it will take to save up her al-

they are affected by operations.” Children with strong number sense are better problem solvers; they can approach solving a problem in different ways, identify errors in their work when they occur, and be more confident and interested in Maths because they understand that Maths is more than just a series of operations to be followed. Teach “mental Maths” as a game.

Give a reward when your child masters Maths skills like counting, doing addition or multiplication.

The reward does not have to be expensive. It could be a special dessert or an extra hour watching TV. Make sure rewards are attached to a specific goal or accomplishment and not used inconsistently or inappropriately.

Make Maths a fun competition – You can play Maths games with a group of children of similar ages, making a quiz show with points given to the kid who is first to say the correct answer to a Maths problem.

The overall winner can win a prize such as a toy or a chocolate.

Read books with Mathematical themes to your child such as Big Fat Hen by K Baker (A hen lays eggs in quantities that increase by two, up to a total of 10. This book features number comparison, object grouping, addition, and subtraction.), How Many Bugs in a Box by DA Carter (a book about measurements), and A Capucilli’s Mrs McTats and her Houseful of Cats (Mrs. McTats welcomes cats into her home, often in multiples, until she has a total of 25. Using good Maths vocabulary, this book encourages young children to think about adding more than one item at a Time.

Start your child young – You can begin teaching your child Maths concepts as early as his toddler stage.

The toddler stage is the best time to introduce your child

to Maths games as play because his brain is developmentally ready for it.

Importantly, anything that you do with your toddler is fun for him. Below are basic Mathematical concepts that you can help your young child learn through play: * Patterns – Pattern is important in Maths and science because the ability to discover and recognise patterns help us understand how our world works in logical and predictable ways.

You can jump start your baby in experiencing patterns through fun games such as patty-cake, peek-aboo, singing, dancing, touching of the nose and toes, and feeling different textures. * Sequence – Sequence is the organisation and order of successive events and experiences. Recognising sequences helps your child develop a sense of order, logic, and reason. An example of a play activity with your child that involves sequencing is playing with building blocks in a step-by-step way with a goal in mind, such as building a tall block tower.

Reading to your child with emphasis on how the story logically unfolds builds a mind-set for rational and logical thinking. * Seriation – Seriation is a Maths concept that involves ordering things in a logical way, in other words, making them a series. Play with your child using toys that can be manipulated, such as different sized stacking rings or blocks. Explore nesting them together. Do this in creative ways such as telling stories about the seriated sizes of the toys. * Spatial relationships – This concept involves making your baby aware of her physical self and her relation with the world. It lays the foundation for more Maths concepts involving directionality. Games that teach spatial relationships include navigating through a play tunnel, and climbing on structures. For your older child, playing with jigsaw puzzles, Rubik’s cubes, and anything else that involves moving, rotating, or fitting objects together teach this concept. Doing puzzles together or using gestures to help describe spatial relationships such as “taller” and “shorter,” can instill spatial abilities in your child. * Sorting – This is when things with similar attributes are grouped together.

Play with your toddler by sorting different toys. * Comparing – Here, your child identifies and examine specific properties of different objects or ideas and then make judgments about how they are similar or different. Play with your child games that involve comparing objects’ size, number or properties. (www.raisesmartkid.com)

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wednesday, march 11, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

100 women honoured for fight against domestic violence I

t was a sea of red filled with emotions of appreciation, empathy and love at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) on Monday evening as the Caribbean American Domestic Violence Awareness (CADVA) Inc, in collaboration with the One Billion Rising Revolution, honoured 100 women who are survivors of domestic violence and abuse.

The event was held under the theme “Let the women speak, the revolution unveiled.”

Amid an audience of more than 300, the women were each given a token in the form of a butterfly which, CADVA explained, represented the women’s metamorphosis process, that is, the transition from the being a victim of domestic violence to one of a survivor.

According to the Director of CADVA and Regional Representative for One Billion Rising Revolution, Dianne Madray, the women who were honoured were not those who are accomplished or well known women but rather were “your everyday, normal women.”

The women who hail from all parts of the coun-

Some of the “everyday, normal” women who were honoured by CADVA and the One Billion Rising Revolution

try and transcended all of the ethnic groups and ages were all smiles as they were honoured for their immense show of courage, strength and will power, to walk away from relationships and situations which encouraged violence and abuse.

It was a mixture of surprise and elation as their names were called one by one to accept the awards on stage.

Women’s empowerment

Meanwhile, persons who would have also worked to promote women’s empowerment were also recognised and honoured at the ceremony.

The three-hour long event which began at approximately 20:00h was chaired by popular Radio personalities, Nuriyyih

Gerard, Deborah Francis and Journalist Tracey Khan Drakes who all shared words of encouragement to the women present, urging them to “respect themselves, know their worth and to walk away from any form of violence” which can affect their wellbeing.

There were poems which were penned and performed by women who would have experienced violence and abuse and who utilised the art form as a way of escaping the traumatic experience.

The Visions All Female Band performed several musical pieces much to the delight of the audience while dancing entertainment was provided by the Creative Arts Dance Academy.

Former Miss Guyana Universe Ruqquyah Boyer,

Guyana to secure additional 10,000 ton rice deal with Venezuela

T

he Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) is in the process of securing a new deal with neighbouring Venezuela for the export of an additional 10,000 tonnes of rice this year.

Farmers had raised concerns over lucrative rice markets and General Manager of the GRDB, Jagnarine Singh said the board is trying to do just that.

As he prepared to travel to Venezuela on Tuesday to sign a contract for the exportation of close to 260,000 tonnes of paddy for 2015, Singh told Guyana Times in a telephone interview that last year Venezuela bought 250,000 tonnes of paddy from Guyana.

He explained that while the Government is bent on holding on to the preferential markets in Venezuela and the Caribbean, the excess has to go to international markets.

“When we have supplied the preferential markets the excess has to go Nicaragua and other Central American countries, North America, Europe and other parts of the international market,” Singh said.

However, farmers are not happy with the prices offered on the international market. As previous-

GRDB General Manager Jagnarine Singh

ly reported, Rice Producers Association (RPA) President Leekah Rambrich disclosed that there are “more than enough” markets available for Guyana to sell its produce.

However, he cautioned that the prices being paid for rice on other markets are not as lucrative. Rambrich explained that Venezuela pays well for Guyana’s high quality rice and paddy, but other countries are not doing the same.

The Agriculture Minister, along with RPA General Secretary Dharamkumar Seeraj and Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) General Manager Jagnarine Singh visited Panama in

August 2014, during which time the agreement was concluded.

While it is expected that the contract will continue throughout this year, further discussions still have to be made for a contract renewal for 2015, which will see 50,000 to 60,000 tonnes of rice being exported to Panama annually.

In 2014, Guyana produced a record breaking 635,000 tonnes of rice.

However, last year October, Agriculture Minister Leslie Ramsammy declared that the amount of rice exported up to that point was 401,000 tonnes and he was confident that rice exports for 2014 would surpass 500,000 tonnes.

The Minister has over time stated that whatever rice is left over is to be used domestically during the periods when there is no harvesting.

However, Chairman of the Rice Producers’ Action Committee, Jinnah Rahman and Chief Executive Officer of Alesie Group, Turhane Doerga have both declared that the rice industry is in an unfolding state of crisis.

They are adamant that the access to the lucrative markets is not readily available and as such, small scale farmers are suffering.

reigning Mr Talented Teen 2014 Delroy Walcott and Award winning author Robin Shaye also added their voices in the form of songs and speeches at the event.

Soldiers and numerous others were also on display.

Deceased social and women’s rights activist, Dr Faith Harding was also honoured by the groups who related to the audience that she worked

A scene from one of the dramatic plays at the National Cultural Centre on Monday evening

Dramatic pieces, musical pieces done by Cleon Cadogan, the Christ-like

tirelessly during her life to ensure that women’s struggles and challenges were mini-

mised in the country and that domestic violence victims received the best support they could have gotten.

International Women’s Day is an occasion which recognises the struggles and successes of women across the globe.

The survivors and recovering victims were given the opportunity to share their own experiences with each other, to offer advice and to extend support to the vulnerable ones.

Reaching out

Meanwhile, CADVA will be conducting supportive outreaches countrywide in the coming week as the organisation will be seeking to support other women who may be embarrassed to talk about their abuse. According to CADVA Founder Sukree Boodram, the hope is to strengthen the local women and as such, much focus will be placed on the community, grass root level activities since this is where most abuse begins.

While International Women’s Day represents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women, calls are being made internationally for greater equality for women and this year’s theme, “Make It Happen” seeks to encourage an effective action for advancing and recognising women.

8 NEWS Seelall Persaud sworn in as Top Cop wednesday, march 11, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

…vows to reduce Police excesses

A

fter acting for almost a year, Seelall Persaud has been confirmed as the Commissioner of the Guyana Police Force and was sworn-in before President Donald Ramotar on Tuesday.

He took the Oath of Office at the Office of the President in the presence of his family, Government officials and senior ranks of the Police Force along with the heads of the Disciplined Forces.

Persaud’s confirmation comes some two weeks short of a year since he has been appointed acting Top Cop following the retirement of former Police Commissioner Leroy Brummel.

President Ramotar, in brief remarks, congratulated the newly sworn-in Police Commissioner and extended his continuous support as Persaud discharges his constitutional duties.

On the other hand, the Police Commissioner stated that his confirmation in the post is marked by both humility and great accomplishments. He noted that his career was a long journey and despite the many challenges, it has been characterised by excitement and great reward.

The new Top Cop committed to channel his energies towards making the Police Force a professional one and for it to embrace democratic values.

“We have a five-year Strategic Plan that we are implementing. We went beyond that to implement a Social Crime Prevention Programme and a lot of efforts have been made to deal with police excesses and everything other thing so those will continue. It’s not like something new will start today,” he stated.

Persaud who is three years away from the age of retirement has almost 31 years of service in the Guyana Police Force, most of which he spent in the

Eyew tness

Elitism...

A Top Cop Seelall Persaud along with his wife and daughter with President Donald Ramotar moments after being sworn-in

Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

The former Crime Chief had led the CID for seven years and spent another 10 years heading the Drug Squad.

Persaud was questioned about his plans to address those reported incidents of Police brutality, the Top Cop pointed out that since he assumed the post last year he has been working on this issue. He noted that some new programmes were implemented and directions have been given to the Police not to hold anyone in custody for minor offences.

Persaud added that even the Office of Professional Responsibilities (OPR) has oversight on the matter.

“There is a whole range of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that have been in place for as long as I know and those need to be adhered to. The OPR is now doing unannounced visits to Stations to check what is happening, give feedbacks and take actions as necessary,” the Police Commissioner mentioned.

On the topic of his

plans for the Force’s Traffic Department, Persaud outlined that 2014 was a “bad year” in traffic since there were many fatal accidents, most of which were caused by speeding and drunk driving, as such he will be targeting these two factors.

Another programme the Top Cop said is aiding the Police’s work to make the country’s roadways safe for all users is the “Name and Shame” Campaign which he noted has come a long way in attracting more prosecutions in the Courts.

“It has a lot of impact because a lot of people go to Court, they are charged and their friends don’t know, their families don’t know so when it appears in the paper, it brings some pressure to bear and to make them become more conscious of what their recklessness is contributing to,” he pointed out.

Additionally, the Police Commissioner mentioned that the Force is trying to prevent the routine “traffic stops” to put an end to the frequent complaints of harassment. “So ranks are instructed do not make traf-

fic stop unless they would have seen an offence being committed so no more routine stops for traffic,” he said but noted that the police will continue the routine checks as it relates to crime.

On the other hand, Seelall said that he will also be working on preparing junior ranks to have the necessary requirements needed for promotions.

Furthermore, the new Top Cop was questioned about the Force’s preparedness for the upcoming General and Regional Elections. He responded saying that the Police Force has been preparing for the “side impacts” of an Election since Parliament was prorogued in November last year.

“We started training on Public Order issues, on Elections campaign issues and so on… so that our ranks can have an understanding of what the laws is, what they are required to do and what their role is when they get on the ground,” he stated.

The Police Commissioner further highlighted that the Force is prepared for a worst case scenario as well.

...of APNU and AFC

local writer, Milton Bruce, wants to know how the heck the APNU-AFC campaign could've been launched at the Pegasus. He pointed that it wasn't a place you'd usually find folks from "Lodge". I guess he's using "Lodge" as a trope for our local "man in the Clapham bus".

We thought with the AFC in tow, Bruce might throw in the incongruity of the launch-locale for folks from "Number 19 Village" also...but we get the idea, no?

Bruce should've gotten a hint of the elitist "leaders" he's dealing with in AFC-APNU when they insisted on negotiating their "union" at the Georgetown Club!! At the Pegasus, at least the ordinary schmuck will be allowed in - if he's willing to blow his life savings on a "night on the town".

But with the Georgetown Club - when the Governor and his cohorts used to swill their brandy - he'd need to be invited in by a member!

It's still a bastion of exclusivity - especially for those wanting to crow about being above the "great unwashed".

Fortunately, ordinary folks are completely oblivious about what the Georgetown Club and the Savannah Suite are supposed to signify. But Bruce would know that with fellas in their 70s like Granger and Nagamootoo, they soooo want to taste the flavour of the British Raj. Humiliated when they were kids (in Whim??), they've become abusive leaders.

But elitism is not just an innocuous pose - it's a disease that's destroyed Guyana before and will destroy it again - if Granger and Nagamootoo ever get their hands on power.

Burnham was the consummate elitist - and this is the man who Granger has patterned himself on.

He returned from a four-year sojourn in England and affected a faux English accent for the rest of his life!

Kwayana used to mock him about his "Churchillian" pauses.

Did you notice Nagamootoo "rounding up" his mouth as he tried to sound "educated"??!! But that's just part of the tell-tale pose.

The danger comes from these men believing to their last breath that they know what's "good" for everyone in the country. And as Burnham once said on a TV interview as Guyana collapsed around his ears, he didn't mind if the whole of Guyana perished, he'd continue with his plans. He knew better!

Men like Burnham, Granger and Nagamootoo are what the philosopher Eric Hoffer called "men of words". They'll never do actual work...but think that the fancy, elitist "big" words they use, will accomplish goals! Wankers!

...of Burnhamite structures

At Babu Jaan, former President Jagdeo pointed out the Burnhamite structures - such as a plethora of Vice Presidents and God-knows-what - the APNU-AFC combine will introduce if they ever get into power. Now it's not only in biology that "form dictates function". In human institutions it works in spades.

Call a man "President" of the local dog-catcher's club and suddenly you can't even call him by his first name - and have to seek an appointment to see him! Work?? You have to be kidding!!

Imagine what'll happen if Nagamootoo is ever called "Prime Minister" and Ramjattan, "Vice President!! These are fellas who only jumped the PPP/C ship because they couldn't be called "Presidential Candidate"! Is anyone surprised the only topic on the table during "negotiations" for the AFC-APNU union was "who got which position??"

Burnham created an Executive Presidency with more powers than his American counterpart. He ran around in a General's uniform even though he couldn't even execute a "left turn"!!

Granger should know that Nagamootoo's gunning for HIS Brigadier's uniform!!

...stymieing women

Africo Selma's a young schoolteacher who obviously fell for the "sweet talk" of the Opposition. But 20 years after the Beijing Declaration for advancing women's rights, other young women should listen to her horror story of how she was treated by David Granger.

Elitist male chauvinist...!

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wednesday, march 11, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

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guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, march 11, 2015

News

Rohee denounces Kaieteur News’ racist incitement ..."product of sick, twisted, devious minds"

Kaieteur News Publisher Glenn Lall

G

eneral Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), Clement Rohee on Tuesday knocked Kaieteur News for a ‘slanderous’ article headlined “Rohee endorses Jagdeo statement that PPP/C is a “coolie people party”.

The Kaieteur News headline of Tuesday screams “Rohee endorses Jagdeo statement that the PPP/C is a “coolie people” party. That incendiary headline was followed by three small columns in the accompanying report which were at complete variance with it. In a statement, Rohee pointed out the very story reports former President Jagdeo as

telling PPP/C supporters that the “Opposition” whispers to its supporters “let us throw out the coolie people” and that at the last elections the said Opposition went to villages populated by AfroGuyanese and beat drums while urging: “let us throw out these coolie people. Get up and go out and vote.”

The PPP/C General Secretary said decent minded and right thinking Guyanese would find nothing in the statements attributable to former President Jagdeo which can lead to the conclusion that he was saying that the PPP/C is a “coolie people” party. Clearly, former President Jagdeo was conveying to PPP/C supporters the mindset and perception of the Opposition and its members who were making the call to throw out these “coolie people”.

“When I indicated that I agreed with former President Jagdeo, it was an agreement on his disclosure of the Opposition whisper campaigns and the drum beating and exhortation to “throw out these coolie people” as being information available to the PPP/C. I was not expressing agreement with any statement

that the PPP/C is “a coolie people party”, Rohee said in his statement.

“Indeed, I could not be expressing any said agreement because it is absolutely untrue and false to say that former President Jagdeo made any such statement and the Kaieteur News report confirms this. It is my view that former President Jagdeo was fortright to make the disclosure and that the significant non Indo Guyanese supporters of the PPP/C could not be

Kaieteur News Editor Adam Harris

affected by former President Jagdeo’s disclosure because the disclosures could only serve to heighten an awareness of the Opposition’s clandestine appeal to racist

polarisation to garner electoral support.”

According to Rohee he is a disciple of Cheddi Jagan and a fierce advocate of national unity, which has been one of the pillars of Cheddi Jagan’s vision of a cohesive Guyanese society. “The PPP/C has always been from its birth a party of mass appeal to all the ethnicities which make up the mosaic of our society. The PPP/C has in its membership Guyanese of all ethnicities who are seen by all in the PPP/C as welcomed members of the PPP/C family. The PPP/C has always been and continues to be a party for all Guyanese irrespective of race, colour or creed who support its vision for Guyana, its programmes and its policies.”

According to Rohee, the Kaieteur News headline referred to earlier is nothing more than calculated mischief. “It is the product of sick, twisted, devious minds intended to sow the seeds of discord and disunity amongst the people of Guyana. It is journalism at its malicious, wicked and divisive best and must be condemned by all right thinking members of our society.”

GECOM to meet political parties today

P

olitical parties contesting the May 11 General and Regional Elections will today be apprised of the procedures for Nomination Day, as well as other electoral rules. The meeting, which will take place at the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) Kingston location, is open to all contesting parties.

According to a GECOM official, invitations have been sent out to all known political parties.

Nomination Day is due no later than 32 days before the election, which in this case cannot be held later than April 9. At this stage, the parties though their Representative and Deputy Representative, will present their lists of candidates.

According to a GECOM advisory, the Representative or the Deputy Representative in submitting the list to the Chief Elections Officer must ensure that it is submitted in the prescribed form, ascertain that the list is accompanied by a Statutory Declaration for each candidate and for the President named in the National Top-List.

GECOM says no person on the list could be on more than one Geographical Constituency’s List. The

GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally

Representative must also ensure that the necessary corrections are made and submitted to the Chief Elections Officer not later than the twenty-ninth day before Election Day if the List of Candidates is in any way defective; make an application in writing to the Chief Elections Officer for the allocation of a symbol not later than the thirtysecond day before Election Day. This symbol must be approved by the Election Commission.

For its part, the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) on numerous occasions, including Monday this week, criticised the Commission for what it deemed as unpreparedness for the holding of General

and Regional Elections in Guyana. General Secretary of the PPP/C, Clement Rohee said Monday that GECOM must embark on more education campaigns to sensitise voters about Election Day procedures as well as the rights of voters at polling places. He also expressed the party’s dissatisfaction with the number of Identification cards which have not been uplifted from the Elections Commission. Rohee related that the party would like to know what GECOM’s plan of action was to tackle this situation noting that the ‘wait and see’ period has been long gone.

GECOM Chairman, Dr Steve Surujbally when asked about this several weeks ago said the Commission was not going to pay an official to travel to ‘Brooklyn, New York to hand out ID Cards’, suggesting that many of the outstanding cards belong to those who would have migrated. He explained that voting was still possible as other systems were in place to so guarantee.

Meanwhile, the PPP/C General Secretary also reiterated his party’s call on GECOM to have public vetting of persons employed or who have applied to be employed to work on Elections Day. This call has been

made several times in recent months. He told the media on Monday that public vetting will “justify the transparency of the process and enhance the confidence of the electorate in GECOM’s ability to deliver a free and fair election on May 11. Guyanese must demand public knowledge of all polling day staff since this should be of no secret to the populace. The next major engagement between CEGOM and political parties is likely to be the signing of the Code of Conduct; which guides certain behaviours during the elections season.

Guyana Times spoke to the A Partnership for National Unity’s (APNU) Chief Whip Amna Ally on the advice of Leader David Granger, who stated she was unaware of the details of the agenda and could not say whether her party was going to raise concerns it had with GECOM’s preparations. She said there was no such concerns, that she could think of. Back in February, APNU had said that it has full confidence in the GECOM to conduct free, fair and transparent elections when the process is held on May 11.

Speaking at a news conference General Secretary of APNU, Joseph Harmon stated that the partnership

Piss Dacta apology

S

atiricus felt very sorry for the Piss Dacta from Berbice. He'd always been very misunderstood by the Guyanese people. Guyanese are very unexposed people. Just because they never heard about something they'd laugh if you brought it up. How would they ever learn about new things this way??

Take the Piss Dacta from Berbice. Folks don't mind drinking cow's milk...in fact it's advertised every day as so good for you. But science proved that folks weren't always drinking cow's milk - that's why some people are "lactose intolerant".

Cow's milk has lactose. So why would people laugh when the Piss Dacta say that cow's piss was good for curing all kinds of diseases?? Didn't they know that cow's piss have all kinds of good chemicals?? Science will show this later.

Anyhow, the Piss Dacta told a few lies about a PPEE man in Berbice, while he was on TV promoting cow's piss. Satiricus wasn't sure why the PPEE Man took him to court. Satiricus figured everybody lied on their ads on TV. Satiricus never took ads seriously when they insisted girls in skimpy outfits would swarm over him in nightclubs if he drank a particular beer. And in this case the Piss Dacta had to sell his piss...which, come to think of it, did happen to look like beer.

Anyhow what Satiricus was upset about was that the Piss Dacta was forced to apologise on TV to the PPEE Man and cough up $250,000!! He'd have to sell a whole lotta cow’s piss to make back that kinda dough.

He'd been defended in court by Ram Jhaat and Nagga Man, who were his leaders in the KFC party. The PPEE Man, in the meantime, had been represented by a Berbice lawyer who didn't even know where the Georgetown High Court was!

But then Satiricus brightened up. He realised it could've been worse. The Jhaat had recently represented the Mook to appeal a defamation fine against another doctor.

After the Jhaat was done with his representation, the Appeal Judge more than tripled the award from $4.5 million to $15 million!!

had no doubts in GECOM’s ability to ensure that the process is void of any negativity come May. “We have always said that GECOM possesses the competence to conduct free, fair and transparent elections. We believe that there are sufficient processes in place to ensure that they have fair elections,” Harmon said.

National importance Against claims made by Dr Steve Surujbally that Guyanese were distrustful and seem not to have confidence in the elections body.

Harmon had emphatically stated that it was imperative that the public’s trust in GECOM consistently be at an all time high, given the fact that an election is a matter of national importance. “All Guyanese should give GECOM their support as an independent entity to deliver fair results,” Harmon intoned. He said the party has confidence in the Commission’s ability,

adding that this faith does not mean that the partnership did not have previous grievances with GECOM, but he is hoping that that those will be ironed out through discussions before Election Day. “GECOM still has issues that they are working on. We have said on record that we have some issues in relation to the declaration of the results and we have raised these with GECOM and we are satisfied that they are working on these… there are still some issues that we are working on with GECOM,” said Harmon.

Harmon expounded on the issues which the party had problems with: the two most notable being voters education and the Code of Conduct for all political parties. He told the media that the party has concerns over the voter education, since they believe enough is not being done in this regard.

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wednesday, march 11, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Jagdeo never tapped Treasury for medical expenses ... since leaving office

F

ormer President Bharrat Jagdeo on Tuesday vehemently defended his monthly $3 million presidential pension, establishing that such benefits have been historically offered. He also clarified that since demitting office he has never tapped the Treasury to cover his medical expenses.

The former Head of State and now executive of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C), was at the time addressing journalists at a specially convened press conference at Freedom House to address issues he said were misrepresented from his speech at Babu Jaan on Sunday.

Other issues were, how-

ever, raised at the press conference, including his home on the East Coast of Demerara, a medical evacuation on a private jet to the US last year for treatment, and his $3 million monthly pension. But Jagdeo, in response, told the packed media room that his benefits now were no different than those of former Guyanese Heads of State.

“When Arthur Chung

got a pension, 7/8 of his salary, got medical benefits as part of his condition to serve as President; although he served for just a small period, no one questioned. He got electricity, water, all utilities, we hired two nurses for him, provided vehicles, got duty free concession and everything. The same thing was done for Desmond Hoyte, keeping the utility, the payment of the vehicles,

Ex-GDF soldier executed in Diamond

By Gomatie Gangadin

P

olitical activist Courtney Ewing Crum was on Monday evening executed at the end of Third Street Diamond, East Coast Demerara while urging residents to vote at the upcoming elections.

In a statement police said that at about 20:00h Crum-Ewing, 40 years, of Golden Grove, EBD, was walking along the roadway at Third Street, Diamond, EBD, when a car with four men drove up from which shots were discharged at him, after which the men escaped.

Crum-Ewing was hit to his body and was taken to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival, the

Courtney Ewing Crum

police statement read, adding that investigations are in progress.

Ewing Crum, an ex Guyana Defence Force soldier, grabbed attention some months ago after being the lone protester outside of the Ministry of Legal Affairs calling for the resignation of the Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, after the taped conversation between Minister and Kaieteur News’ reporter, Leonard Gildharie went viral.

According to the now dead man’s mother, she was out when she received a call from her daughter explaining that her son was just

The body of Courtney Ewing Crum being lifted into a Police pick-up truck at the scene of the execution

shot dead.

“My daughter called me and tell me that the Police call her and tell her that her brother get killed. I don’t know anything else. Oww… I don’t know anything else,” the woman cried.

His stepfather, who spoke to the Guyana Times related that he was in central Georgetown when he too received a call from a relative informing him that Ewing- Crum had been shot.

“I was in town and I got a phone call telling me that he got shot but I don’t really know what happened,” the distraught man related.

The man noted that it was only on Tuesday midday that he last saw him alive and he was in good spirits.

The family is contending that the shooting was orchestrated and the man was taken there and killed since according to the stepfather, Ewing Crum had never before ventured into that area and it was a puzzle to the family as to how he ended up in such a place.

“I saw him up to this midday (Tuesday) and he was okay… he lives in Grove, he don’t come here. Is somebody had to bring him here

and kill him. They had to bring him at the back here,” the man cried.

Attorney at law, Nigel Hughes, who was on the scene immediately after, claimed that according to reports he received, Ewing Crum was in the street with a public announcement system encouraging voters to head to the polls on May 11 and vote when a silverwhite Toyota 212 pulled up and four men exited the vehicle and approached the now dead man.

He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.

Meanwhile, Commander of ‘A’ Division, Clifton Hicken, who was present at the scene, told the media that detectives have received information with regards to the license plate number of the car and road blocks were set up.

He however, disclosed that it was last reported that the vehicle was seen at Leopold Street and police are pursuing all leads.

Ewing Crum is reported to have only recently moved back to Guyana after living in the United States for a number of years. He leaves

to mourn three children.

Meanwhile, in a swift statement the Ministry of Home Affairs condemned the shooting to death of Crum Ewing.

Turn to page 17

everything. Janet Jagan had the same thing; they were all subjects of Cabinet decision, historically,” Jagdeo told reporters.

He said his only “wrong” was seeking to make the benefits transparent. With that, he said a decision was made to have a bill passed in Parliament, which would prevent any President from making a decision on his benefits at the level of the Cabinet.

“I said ‘let us take all that the other Presidents had before and ensure that we put it in a bill and it becomes transparent. That we take it to Parliament so that in the future, the Head of the Cabinet, the President, can’t determine his own benefits. We passed that, then they said it is Jagdeo’s pension, Jagdeo took it for himself,” he explained. Jagdeo said he could not understand why such a huge “hullabaloo” was being made of his pension, since, while the same benefits have been offered to Presidents of the past, he remained the longest serving Head of State of the Republic of Guyana.

“I served 12 years, more than Hoyte, Janet Jagan, Arthur Chung and Cheddi combined and they still have issues with my benefits when every other Presidents prior to me got those benefits.”

He continued: “In 20 odd years in public office, the worst thing that they can say about me is that I have a pension that they try to make it look like I took for myself, which is not true and that I have a big house and that I earn a lot of money

abroad ... After 20 odd years in public office as Minister of Finance and President, everything I do, I am transparent about it,” the Former Guyanese President said.

Private medivac

Questions were also fired about the former President’s illness back in 2011, where he was medivaced to the United States for medical checks. In response, Jagdeo affirmed that it was not anyone’s business, as the money used was from his personal funds.

“Since I left office, I’ve been on two checkups and I have not been reimbursed for it, I have not received a cent on medical expenses from the state. The state did not pay, that is my private business. None from the Treasury for the three years that I have been out of office.”

Further questioned about his home at Sparendaam, East Coast Demerara and whether former President Cheddi Jagan would have been proud of his accumulation of wealth, Jagdeo said the former President’s living in a large house (for that time) at Bel Air did not weaken his commitment to the cause. According to him, honesty is top priority.

“I don’t believe that Minsters should have to live in a “logee” to prove that they are not corrupt. I believe that once what they achieve, they achieve honestly. why should they be ashamed of investing their money in a house like so many people are doing or aspiring to do?” he queried.

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wednesday, march 11, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

"Bottom house" rum shops breeding crime …regional heads blast GRA‘s lax control

By Devina Samaroo

A

mid the fallout over the mushrooming of “bottom house” rum shops across the country, several Regional Chairmen have voiced their concerns, noting that it was not only encouraging deviant behaviour among youths but was breeding crime and contributing to a lawless society.

They called on the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), which is charged with policing this sector to ensure that operators are properly regulated and to minimise the granting of too many licences for the sale of rum.

The GRA had recently acknowledged that it was struggling to regularise the alarmingly high number of illegal rum shops in the country, disclosing that out of the 200 it was able to identify last year, approximately 60 have been regularised.

In a statement, the GRA had also disclosed that it had limited staff, and hence was not in a position to clamp down on these illegalities.

“Given the vast expanse of Guyana and the limited human resources at the Agency’s disposal, most of these visits were conducted in central areas, or in areas where intelligence was received that illegal rum shops were in operation. It should be noted that in most instances the GRA only becomes aware of and take action against these illegal operators when the public provides information.”

Regular visits

However, while several Regional Chairmen acknowledged the efforts of the GRA, they said the Authority should be doing much more to crack down on the mushrooming of illegal

rum shops in Guyana.

Regional Chairman of Region One (Barima-Waini), Paul Pierre disclosed that many villages with the area were filled with illegal rum

Parmanand Persaud is of the belief that the numerous unregulated rum shops there contribute to the many social problems. “Generally, drinking creates problems,

cause a lot of young people are becoming alcoholic and, therefore, the authorities need to intervene because it is a grave concern to our society,” Faerber related.

Rum shops are ubiquitous in Guyana

shops. “Based on the reports we receive from the Toshaos, it is a very big problem,” Pierre said. Several bodies in the past have noted that alcoholism was a major social problem in the hinterland and the easy access to rum afforded by “bottom house” rum shops has been identified as a source of the problem. Pierre noted that there was no GRA outlet to monitor the operations in the region which leaves local authorities depending on the Police to try to curb the issue. “To be honest, we’re not sure who are the ones to address this problem, we’re not sure who to turn to, all we have is the Police and they are doing what they can by patrolling and making sure no fights or anything happens,” Pierre stated. On that note, he called on the GRA to conduct regular visits within the region to ensure the rum shops are regularised.

Across in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Regional Chairman

so if we have people by these shops all day, they will find themselves in problems with their health, domestic problems, a lot of things,” Persaud said.

He highlighted that GRA had once intervened and confiscated certain items from roadside vendors which caused them to cease their operations for a short while, but those efforts were not enough, he said.

Strengthen enforcement

“They need to strengthen their enforcement to make society safer, especially for the young people because they’re the ones with vulnerable minds and they are the future and so we need to show them what is acceptable and not through our actions,” he explained.

Regional Chairman of Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Julius Faerber, was also concerned about the impact this scourge has on young people in his region. “We need to break the fabric be-

Hunt down culprits

Regional Chairman of Region Five (MahaicaBerbice), Bindrabhan Bisnauth expressed that the situation was a great nuisance in the district.

He said he instructed all Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) to identify the culprits and they in turn would contact the Police.

Bisnauth said he was unaware if the GRA was informed during the process, but he noted that the Police would do their part in trying to curb the issue.

Too many rum shops

Meanwhile, it is the perception of many that excessive drinking in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) is a major problem owed to the abundance of “bottom house” rum shops. Regional Chairman David Armogan attested to this, noting that there were too many illegal rum shops in the district.

He said GRA needed to become more “proactive” in its approach to curb this issue.

He added too that the illegal rum shops created unfair competition for those with legitimate operations.

But worst of all, Armogan stated, there are too many rum shops in Region Six. “They need to make sure it is balanced. Let’s say you have 200 residents in a community with 60 rum shops, then that is too much,” he pointed out.

Therefore, he said the authorities needed to make sure the rum shops were regulated.

“It is a nuisance. These rum shops encourage a lot of bad habits like cursing and they end up playing loud and vulgar music and then it contributes to the road carnage. We have young people going to school and that’s the environment they pass and it is not good for society,” he argued.

Armogan further pointed out that many other countries had systems in place that control these types of activities, as he questioned why Guyana could not make a move to regulate these “bottom house” rum shops.

Heavy drinking

Regional Chairman of Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), Gordon Bradford said he was not in an informed position to comment on the issue. He explained that while there were numerous rum shops in Bartica and other areas within the region, he was not sure how many were licensed.

Nonetheless, he highlighted that many youths loiter around rum shops and engage in heavy drinking.

According to Bradford, there is a great need for there to be alternatives such as youth groups, sports complexes or cultural activities for youths to divert from

liming around rum shops and consuming heavy doses of alcohol.

Lack of security

Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) is another district greatly affected by the proliferation of rum shops, many of which are unlicensed. According to Regional Chairman Wilson Lorentino, many illegalities occur because the region is bordered by Brazil and people often take advantage of the lack of security in the area by partaking in unlawful practices, such as the illegal sale and consumption of alcohol.

Lorentino said the issue was prevalent in the communities near the border and the airstrip. He explained that children would often indulge in demeaning activities at those illegal rum shops and the Police would be summoned to remove them. As such, Lorentino is calling on the GRA to focus more on getting rid of the illegal rum shops to help curb the issue which develops into a social problem.

“I am glad if the GRA could patrol the communities in the border that line the south because it is in those communities these things usually happen.”

And lastly, Regional Chairman of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice), Sharma Solomon expressed that the issue was indeed affecting residents.

Throughout the years, Police and other stakeholders have said the many illegal rum shops were contributing to the high incidence of road fatalities in the country.

Over the years, the GRA has threatened to crack down on illegal rum shops, but has failed in its bid.

Bouterse’s son jailed for aiding Hezbollah T

he son of Suriname’s president was sentenced on Tuesday to 16-1/4 years in prison, after pleading guilty last August to US charges that he tried to offer a home base to the Lebanese paramilitary group Hezbollah.

Dino Bouterse, 42, who worked in a Suriname counterterrorist unit, was sentenced by US District Judge Shira Scheindlin in Manhattan.

Bouterse had also admitted to drug trafficking and firearms charges.

US prosecutors accused Bouterse of inviting people he thought were from Hezbollah to establish a base in his home country, located north of Brazil, in exchange for $2 million that was ultimately not paid. Bouterse was arrested by Panamanian authorities after a sting in which he allegedly talked about his activities with confidential informants

Suriname President, Desi Bouterse (L) and his son Dino at Radio 10 in Paramaribo back in May 22, 2010

from the US Drug Enforcement Administration.

Hezbollah has since 1997 been designated by the US State

Department as a foreign terrorist organisation. Dressed in a bluegray shirt and pants, Bouterse said prior to sentencing that

“what I did does not really represent my country,” and that his imprisonment would hurt his 11 children, aged 2 to 19.

“I really regret my actions, and I am deeply, deeply, deeply ashamed of myself,” he said. “I take full responsibility.” Prosecutors had urged that Bouterse spend 30 years to life in prison, in accordance with recommended federal guidelines.

Assistant US Attorney Michael Lockard said this reflected Bouterse’s agreement to “open up his country” to terrorist camps, and a need to deter other government officials “willing to sell access.”

But the judge said the guidelines were “fundamentally unfair,” given that Bouterse appeared motivated by a desire to make “a lot of money” rather than help terrorists. She also said the sting meant Hezbollah had no actual role to begin with.

“Nothing in his history shows that he is a terrorist, or that he had terrorist sympathies,” Scheindlin said. “His greed got the better of him.”

After the sentencing, family members blew kisses to Bouterse, who smiled and gave a thumbs-up sign. He had been in federal custody since being transported to the United States. Richard Rosenberg, a lawyer for Bouterse, called the sentence “very harsh,” but was glad Scheindlin “underscored the lack of any clear connection to any actual terrorism.”

Bouterse’s father, Desi Bouterse, ruled Suriname after a coup from 1980 to 1987, and has been accused of human rights violations. He reclaimed power in 2010 when he was elected president. The case is US v Bouterse, US District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 13-cr00635. (Reuters)

news

Zeeburg man killed in EBE collision A

Zeeburg, West Coast Demerara, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) resident is now dead after the vehicle he was driving collided with a minibus at Farm, East Bank Essequibo.

Dead is Andrew Budhram Sukwah, 29, of Zeeburg Public Road. According to reports, the accident occurred sometime around 21:40h at Farm Public Road.

A release from the Guyana Police Force detailed that Sukwah was driving a Suzuki Vitara motor vehicle bearing registration number PGG 4474 at a fast rate when he reportedly lost control and collided head on with a minibus.

Dead: Andrew Budhram Sukwah

Further reports revealed that upon impact, Sukwah’s vehicle spun around before coming to a halt. Persons from the area rescued the man from the wreckage and rushed him to the Leonora Cottage Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The driver of the minibus, bearing registration number BPP 2212, was also taken to seek medical attention after he sustained mi-

The badly damaged vehicle Andrew Sukwah was driving

nor injuries to his shoulder and stomach. He was treated and released.

Mark Sukwah, the younger brother of the now dead man, told Guyana Times he last saw his brother just before 21:00h when the man came home to have dinner. He said it was less than an hour later that he received a call about the accident.

“The person call and tell me that meh brother at de hospital… when I go there, that was the last I see (life) from he. I lift he and carry he inside then de doctor say that how meh brother past away… he died,” the distraught brother explained.

He noted that he is not sure how the accident occurred, stating that since Monday night onto midday Tuesday, no one has come forward to give the family an explanation.

However, one of the now dead man’s coworkers, Fizal Shakoor, told this publication that the driver of the minibus had related to him what transpired. “The driver come and said that the guy (Sukwah) turn in front of him. He (Sukwah)

was heading to Parika and the bus was coming from Parika,” the man stated.

An emotional Shakoor disclosed that he has known Sukwah for about 17 years and described him as good, hard working individual.

The 29-year-old man was an employee of the GuyAmerica Store in Zeeburg for over 15 years. He was in charge of the lumber and hardware sections of the mega business, and used to occupy the top flat of the three-storey building.

Shakoor further stated that he last saw Sukwah at about 20:30h on Monday and was informed about the accident sometime around 21:45h. He noted that by the time he got to the hospital, the man was already dead.

When Guyana Times visited the business place, his coworkers were all in a solemn mood. They had all praises for the man.

Sukwah leaves to mourn his four orphaned brothers along with other family and friends. Meanwhile, the driver of the minibus was taken into Police custody and is assisting with investigations.

Wakenaam hunter battling for life after being badly chopped

T

wenty-four-yearold Lilvamnauth Dhairam, aka “Lilvamp” of Marias Pleasure, Wakenaam, is currently battling for his life at the Georgetown Public Hospital. Dhairam was chopped severely about his body on March 7, 2015.

He is presently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with his condition listed as critical. He is said to be suffering from a fractured skull and is bleeding profusely due to the many chops he received.

According to a Police report on March 7, 2015, at Marias Pleasure, Dhairam during an argument with Vijay Sancharra was severely chopped to his feet, hands and head. As a result of the severity of the injuries, doctors at Suddie Public Hospital transferred him to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

According to persons

Lilvamnauth Dhairam battling for life

who were on the scene on the Island of Wakenaam, Dhairam dropped to the ground and was bleeding profusely after the attack. The accused then ran away, but Police caught him.”When we went, he was all bloody, the situation is terrible, the chops were deep, it’s just sad,” a resident said.

The incident has thrown the quiet community into deep shock. Meanwhile, the hunter’s alleged assailant, Vijay Sancharra, is presently remanded to prison after being charged for attempted murder. He appeared before Magistrate Sunil Scarce on Tuesday at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court

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wednesday, march 11, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

APNU/AFC to launch Linden campaign on Saturday

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he newly formed A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance for Change (APNU/ AFC) coalition is set to officially launch its public campaign with a massive rally in the mining town of Linden On Saturday.

According to sources, a unity motorcade will leave the square of the revolution Georgetown at 14:30h before heading to the mining district where a massive assemblage is expected at the minibus park there.

The coalition’s Presidential candidate retired Brigadier David Granger, Prime Ministerial candidate Moses Nagamootoo, executive members Nigel Hughes and Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon are all expected to deliver speeches at the event.

The two parties on February 14, had signed what it deemed the ‘Cummingsburg Accord’ to officially announce its pre-election partnership.

APNU’s General Secretary General Joseph Harmon had said the two parties will be campaigning on one platform in keeping with their ultimate goal and theme of a government of national unity. He said the coalition camp was enveloped in enthusiasm and anxiety as the members could not wait to experience the change Guyana has been for so long awaiting.

“Everyone is enthused, man. The Guyanese people’s long wait for change won’t be

a long wait anymore. There are only a few more days to go. The kind of government that they want to move forward will be here,” Harmon had said enthusiastically.

When questioned about the response the coalition has been receiving from its support base as it takes its campaign across the country, Harmon claimed that the support was indeed over-

great campaign; it is awakening the spirit of the people.

“We have been downtrodden for so long. Our campaign will make people think that Guyana is the place they want to be; that this is the place they need to be. Persons in the United States, in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Caribbean, they must be encouraged and tempted to come back to Guyana,” the

Presidential and Prime Ministerial candidates of the coalition, David Granger and Moses Nagamootoo have ensured that their wives are part of the campaign

whelming and has proven to be much more than what they had initially expected.

He added that even the citizens who had vowed not to head to the polls again and those who had given up hope of a change have been coming on board with the coalition, with the strong belief that change was coming for the country.

“It is excellent! Excellent!

Man, everywhere we go, people are enthused. The dormant are proceeding to become alive. It is going to be a

General Secretary said. He believes that when the campaign hits the road, the task of encouraging people to come out and show their support will not such a hard one after all.

He said the party was utilising every available tool at its disposal which included social media, print and electronic media, ground walks and bottom-house and public meetings to ensure that its message of change is spread throughout the length and breadth of the country.

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guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, march 11, 2015

Regional

Brazil passes femicide law to Other OECS states urged tackle rise in gender killings to follow Dominica’s

B

razil, where a woman is killed every two hours, is imposing tougher punishments on those who murder women and girls, as part of a Government bid to stem a rise in gender killings.

President Dilma Rousseff said the new law gave a legal definition to the crime of femicide – the killing of a woman by a man because of her gender – and set out jail sentences of 12 to 30 years for convicted offenders.

The law also includes longer jail terms for crimes committed against pregnant women, girls under 14, women over 60 and people with disabilities.

Brazil joins 15 other Latin American countries

President Dilma Rousseff said the new law gave a legal definition to the crime of femicide – the killing of a woman by a man because of her gender

which have brought in laws against femicide in recent years.

“This law typifies femicide as a grave crime and

identifies it as a specific crime against women. It’s a way to talk about this problem, make it visible by giving it a name and increas-

ing sanctions for this crime,” said Nadine Gasman, head of the agency United Nations Women in Brazil.

“It has taken us a long time to say that the killing of a woman is a different phenomenon. Men are killed in the street, women are killed in the home. Men are killed with guns, women with knives and hands,” Gasman told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a telephone interview.

The number of women murdered in Brazil rose by 230 per cent from 1980 to 2010, Government figures show.

An average of 4500 women are killed in the country every year, Gasman said.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

CCJ example

H

aving officially bid farewell to the London-based Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, Dominica is now encouraging the rest of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to fully embrace the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as soon as possible.

The island on Friday acceded to the Caribbean Court’s appellate jurisdiction, becoming the fourth Caribbean Community (Caricom) member state to do so.

The other three are Guyana, Barbados and Belize.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, at the of-

ficial ceremony in Roseau, noted that Dominica is the first OECS country to take that step, and said that as OECS Chairman he would try to influence the rest of the sub-region into taking the final CCJ step.

“I will ensure that some governments in the region take steps towards recognising the court,” Skerrit assured CCJ President Sir Denis Byron. “We need to show greater appreciation for the achievement of our people. Too many times we seek to question who we are as a people, to question our competence,” the Dominican Prime Minister said. (Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

TT Police sickout no Antigua-Barbuda Govt to boost efficiency threat to public safety through new agreement with Microsoft

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ivisional heads of the TT Police Service say they weren’t badly affected by the mass sickout action, but Prison and Fire Services both reported low staff turnout.

On Monday, the country went through a mass sickout action in which Police, Fire and Prison Service threatened to call in sick or go slow while on duty.

But TTPS Superintendant David Abraham, head of the Northern Division, said few people were absent on Monday. Likewise on Tuesday, Abraham said only a few members of the TTPS called in sick in the Northern Division.

Abraham reported that in the Division there was only one robbery, in St Joseph, and assured the public that there is no threat

to their safety.

Head of Eastern Division, Senior Superintendent Sacenarine Mahabir also said only four people were absent from work which was “nothing unusual” for the Division. He added that today there was the same number of absenteeism.

Leo Ramkissoon, President of the Fire Service Association, said there was a very low turnout both on Monday, as well we on Tuesday.

“Things are not going well at all. There was a very low turnout,” Ramkissoon said.

Ramkissoon said the sick ut action was not only because of salary negotiations but because of several issues including outstanding backpay for the period of 2008 to 2010, and health and safety issues. (Excerpt from The Guardian)

T

he Antigua and Barbuda Ministry of Information, B r o a d c a s t i n g , Telecommunications and Information Technology has signed a new agreement with Microsoft Trinidad and Tobago, which will transform how the Government does business, ultimately resulting in increased efficiencies and transparency for citizens, and new opportunities for the academic sector.

Today’s Governments face profound changes – an increasingly global, connected world; an aging population; rising citizen expectations; and tight budgets – and all this on top of the pressing need for a safer, healthier environment.

Local people have the power to meet these challenges and serve their communities better; however, to transform

government services, they need the right tools.

The agreement between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and Microsoft, allows for close collaboration to create a digital portal for citizen services; modernisation of IT infrastructure; and sharing resources so educators and school leaders can connect and collaborate, helping students realise their greatest potential.

Frances Correia, Country Manager, Microsoft Trinidad and Tobago, Eastern and Southern Caribbean, stated that the agreement is an important step as it will empower employees and citizens in Antigua and Barbuda.

This partnership ensures the Government of Antigua and Barbuda will work closely with a Microsoft licensing solution provider (LSP) on

Guillermo Almada (L), Public Sector Director, Microsoft Latin America New Markets, and Antigua and Barbuda Minister of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Melford Nicholas

a project to develop a digital portal for the 81,800 citizens residing in Antigua and

Barbuda to enhance engagement between both parties.

(Excerpt from Caribbean News Now)

Venezuelan leader Maduro Wind, biomass and hydro condemns new US sanctions sources cheaper than

V

enezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has called the latest US sanctions “the most aggressive, unjust and harmful step that has ever been taken by the US against Venezuela”.

In a televised address, Maduro named one of seven officials sanctioned by the US as his new Interior Minister. He also announced he would seek special powers from the National Assembly “to defend the integrity of the country”.

Tensions between the two countries have been rising for months. On Monday, US President Barack Obama issued an executive order freezing the assets of seven Venezuelan officials and banning them from en-

President Nicolas Maduro has slammed the US after the latest sanctions it imposed on Venezuela

tering the United States.

Obama also said the situation in Venezuela, including “the Government’s

erosion of human rights guarantees (...) constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States”.

He declared a “national emergency to deal with the threat”. In response, President Maduro accused Obama of “personally taking on the task of defeating my government, intervening in Venezuela, in order to control it from the US”.

He also said he would ask the National Assembly on Tuesday to grant him special powers to “fight imperialism”. Maduro did not specify what powers exactly he would ask for, except to say he would propose a “special enabling law to defend peace”. (Excerpt from BBC News)

solar energy – technocrat More and more Jamaicans have been making the switch from oil-powered sources to solar energy in recent times, but a technocrat in the Climate Change Division of the Environment Ministry revealed on Monday that energy generated from wind, biomass and hydro sources outrank that which comes from the sun.

The preference for solar among the general population, he reasoned, had to do with the fact that it doesn’t require the type of long-term studies that wind, hydro and biomass do; so where solar loses in terms of cost, it wins in terms of ease of set-up and installation.

“People do go towards solar a lot because it’s famous.

It’s been around for a while [and] it’s very easy to deploys [but] solar might not be the first place Jamaicans should look,” technical officer in the division Gerald Lindo told Jamaica Observer journalists during Monday Exchange at the newspaper’s Beechwood Avenue head office in Kingston.

He based his conclusion on the results of tender documents submitted to the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) bidding to supply some 115 megawatts of electricity to the grid.

Of a total of 20 bids received in 2013, Blue

Mountain Renewables LLC, Wigton Windfarm Limited and WRB Enterprises Inc were chosen as preferred bidders.

Blue Mountain and Wigton were to supply 34 and 24 megawatts of wind, respectively, while WRB was to provide 20 megawatts using solar PV. “If you look at the results of the last renewable energy tender, for instance, or at the bidding documents the OUR prepared, or some of the studies that the Ministry of Energy did, you’d see that solar is the most expensive renewable form of energy that we have available in Jamaica today.

(Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

wednesday, march 11, 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Myanmar Police crack down on student protesters

A

t least 16 Police officers and eight protesters were reportedly hurt, when Myanmar Police clashed with students, monks and journalists as they broke up protesters calling for academic freedom, according to news reports and witnesses.

About 200 students and supporters who have been protesting against an education bill, which they said stifles academic independence, had planned to march to the commercial hub of Yangon, when they were confronted by Police, Reuters news agency reported.

State run media confirmed that 127 people were arrested, including 52 male and 13 female students as well as 62 villagers, according to Al Jazeera’s Florence Looi, who is reporting from Yangon.

Haung Sai, a member of the National Network for Education Reform, which took part in the protests,

15

Scores of people protesting against an education Bill were arrested in a violent clampdown by baton-wielding Police in Yangon

told Al Jazeera that there were at least three Police officers to every one of the protesters and their supporters.

“The students never had a chance,” Haung Sai said.

“The authorities were clearly in force and geared up to end this as violently and as quickly as they could.”

She said about 1000 Police officers were present at the protest site, but only about half were deployed to crack down on the protesters gathered outside a monastery in Letpadan, about 140 kilometres north of Yangon.

Another witness told Reuters seeing about 100

protesters locked in two police trucks, while others fled the town and some were chased into a Buddhist temple.

Haung Sai said the Government had earlier promised to negotiate with the protesters to resolve the issue. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Ex-Yemen Leader asks President Hadi to go into exile

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emen’s former President Ali Abdullah Saleh has told President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who has fled from capital Sanaa to southern city of Aden, to leave the country and go into exile.

Saleh on Tuesday accused his successor of destroying the country, as Hadi re-established his presidency in the southern city after fleeing from a house arrest

by Houthi rebels believed to be backed by Iran.

“The people cannot afford to eat or drink, you have gobbled up their dues, suspended their salaries, brought their livelihoods to a standstill, investment to a halt and tourism too,” Saleh said at a news conference in the capital, Sanaa.

Shia Houthi, now the country’s de facto rulers, took over the Yemeni Government last month in a coup and announced their own Government.

Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Vall reporting from Aden said President Hadi faced a tough uphill battle to convince Yemenis that he was still in charge.

“Saleh is very clearly aiming for a strong comeback to the political scene.

Probably he doesn’t want to be President again but he has his son,” Vall said.

“We have seen thousands today inside Sanaa asking his son Ahmed Abdalla Saleh to run for President in the next elections in Yemen,” the Al Jazeera correspondent added.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia agreed to host talks in Riyadh between the different factions to solve the crisis that has thrown the country into turmoil.

The announcement by the Saudi king’s office came following a request from Hadi, but it was not clear who would take part in the talks. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Wikimedia Foundation sues Stunned France probes deadly NSA over surveillance Argentina helicopter crash

T

he US National Security Agency’s mass surveillance programme violates US laws on freedom of speech, alleges a lawsuit begun by the Wikimedia Foundation.

NSA’s so-called “upstream” surveillance work which targets communication with people not in the US. Such spying violates US laws on free speech and those that govern against unreasonable search

“By tapping the backbone of the Internet, the NSA is straining the backbone of democracy,” said Lila Tretikov, Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation, in a blogpost announcing the le-

are flown into rough terrain and filmed while they attempt to find food and shelter. Yachtswoman Florence Arthaud, Olympic swimmer Camille Muffat and Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine were the show’s celebrities on board at the time of the crash. They all died.

Other contestants were standing on the ground Camille Muffat

Alexis Vastine

rosecutors in France have opened a manslaughter investigation after two helicopters crashed in Argentina, killing eight French nationals.

Three well-known French sports personalities were among those killed in the collision, which also claimed the lives of the two Argentine pilots.

French President Francois Hollande said it was “a cause of immense sadness”.

Both helicopters were involved in the filming of TV survival show “Dropped”, which airs on French channel TF1.

On the show, celebrities

Line Productions (ALP), the company making the programme. They were named as Laurent Sbasnik, Lucie Mei-Dalby, Volodia Guinard, Brice Guilbert and Edouard Gilles.

The Argentine pilots were named as Juan Carlos Castillo and Roberto Abate.

Emergency workers began removing bodies from the wreckage and identifying remains on Tuesday morning.Local authorities said the bodies of five victims had been removed and taken to a morgue in the capital of Rioja province, about 300 kilometres (200 miles) from the crash site.

P

The extent of NSA surveillance has been revealed by whistle-blower Edward Snowden

The legal action has been filed against the spy agency and the US Department of Justice. The legal action, co-signed by eight other organisations, seeks to end the NSA’s large-scale surveillance efforts.

The Foundation is the non-profit group that oversees the running of the Wikipedia online encyclopaedia. The Wikmedia Foundation said it was taking action against the

and seizure, it said.

The scale of the monitoring carried out by the NSA has been revealed in documents made public by whistleblower Edward Snowden over the last two years. Some of those papers show the NSA tapped the net’s backbone network to siphon off data. The backbone is made up of high-speed cables that link big ISPs and key transit points on the net.

gal action.

Targeting the backbone means the NSA casts a “vast net” and inevitably scoops up data unrelated to any target and will also include domestic communications, violating the rules governing what the NSA can spy on, said Tretikov. Information in the Snowden papers revealed that Wikipedia has been explicitly targeted, said the blogpost. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Lorence Arthaud

blindfolded a few hundred metres away when the accident happened, French media said.

The five other French nationals killed were said to have worked for Adventure

(Excerpt from BBC News)

British Foreign Secretary warns of Russian threat to UK

B

ritish Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has said that Russia could once again pose the greatest threat to Britain’s security.

Speaking in London on Tuesday, he said the country’s spy agencies were stepping up efforts to counter

this.

“We are in familiar territory for anyone over the age of about 50 with Russia’s aggressive behaviour a stark reminder it has the potential to pose the single greatest threat to our security,” Hammond said.

“Hence continuing to

gather intelligence on Russia capabilities and intentions will remain a vital part of our intelligence effort for the foreseeable future. It is no coincidence that all of our agencies are recruiting Russian speakers again.”

Al Jazeera’s Laurence

Lee, reporting from London, said Hammond’s “apocalyptic” tone was partly influenced by the fact that he, as a former Defence Secretary, was seeking more funding for the Defence Department from the country’s coffers before the budget review

next week.

“There are warnings of enormous cuts to Britain’s military spending [and] 30,000 more military staff may lose their jobs,” he said.

“It seems Hammond is making a stump speech for more funding from the Government for his depart-

ments and using the threats of Russia and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant to justify that.”

“No doubt that Hammond means it when he warns of the threats, but there is also internal politics at play as well.” (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

16 news

wednesday, march 11, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

PUBLIC OPINION

VOX POPULI

I SAY...

What do you think should be done to address the issue of unlicensed rum shops in Guyana?

Kishore Baichand “You can’t get out bottomhouse rum shops. Here why, GRA got to come up with a better system, whereas, if a man got to apply for a licence, all the running around he got to do, he should stabilise it and put it in one place so that a man could go and get his business done. Not that you got to go to GRA and then to housing, it’s too much running around. With the issues like domestic violence and road accidents, I don’t think getting rid of the rum shops would stop that. We need the help of the Police Force and it’s a collective effort.”

Andrew Rambaran “GRA should fine them, put agents out to find them and fine them, take them to court.

The people in the communities also encourage it, so you should fine them too; if they buying from an illegal shop, and then fine them too.”

Maurine Madray “Well, GRA should look into it and place more emphasis on that area, on the bottom-house shops because when you got these things, any children can go and then they will grow up and think it’s normal and then when they become big, you can’t get them away from the habit and then it could lead to the wrong company and gangs. So it’s a serious issue and they should really look into that, make it important.”

Sherwyn Munroe “It’s the responsibility of the public to adhere to the law. And if the law states that you have to be licensed to operate, then you should go with that. So it all comes back to us, because if we evade the tax, then the country will get no money because the taxes that go to GRA comes back to us because we benefit. And then the normal people, they go to the rum shops, so they encourage them to continue selling illegally.”

Ras Wesley “GRA’s position on dealing with bottom-house rum shops should really be very strict.

If the law says you’re not supposed to do it, then they should strengthen the law and make certain that it goes the right way. I think we have enough law agents who could go out and do these things. We keep hearing about persons who are being hospitalised because of fights and when you check out these things and the establishment they’re drinking at is not licensed. We need to put things in place, we need churches to come and work with the Government in getting things right; it’s a collaborative effort within the community.”

Julius Campayne “Well, what you should do is just close them down and arrest the people that doing that.

If it’s illegal then it’s just that simple. It harvests underage drinking and it brings out a lot of illegal activities, because remember the entire operation is illegal so they will have no rules, they sell to anybody and so just arrest them. People in Guyana not scared of the laws.”

Koshan Barrat “GRA should send more people to patrol the area, or survey the area, set up groups to report to them and then figure out how they will address them when you find them because, it’s not like we don’t know.

Everybody in Guyana knows where to go and find a bottom-house rum shop.

You know, it contributes to road accidents and so, so they should strengthen their enforcements.”

Steven Persaud “Well, the bottom-house rum shops have a lot of young people associating with it and so, one way is to get jobs for these young people. The GRA should look into it and sort them out – those who don’t have the licence, and make sure they get the licence or they get shut down, simple as that.”

Andy Farley “It’s not a situation where you can get a fixed remedy to it. Bigger than anything in Guyana, I think we have social issues. So these things capture that and in a way suppress people.

Five years ago, they had an interview with a man about the meltdown in the world, the economic meltdown and the man said it don’t bother me, because I does sell rum; when they stressed out, they come here.

In order for this to be eliminated, we got to decide how we will deal with people issues. We have thousands of people graduating every year as social workers and they gone and do accounts, because there is not a sector for them. So people have nowhere to go and talk their problems, so they gone and drink it out. So these rum shops will always be here in society, so we need to address the core issue first.”

NDIA constructing $191M pump station at Lima

Machinery at work at the new pump station site

T

he Agriculture Ministry, through the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), is presently constructing a state-of-the-art pump station to house a

high-capacity pump at Lima in Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam) at the cost of $191 million.

The multimillion-dollar contract was awarded to Samaroo’s Investment

from Hampton Court.

During an inspection of the site on Tuesday, Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud said that the project is in its initial stages.

He said that he was pleased with the pace at which the constructor was executing the work slated to be completed in seven months.

Persaud said that the pump station will provide the Anna Regina to Hampton Court area with adequate drainage and irrigation. He noted that often the sluice is silted up, preventing gravity flow and hence promoting flooding in various residential and farming areas. The investment, he noted, will benefit thousands of rice farmers and residents.

The pump which will be

installed at the location was sourced from India. He added that a similar high-capacity pump station project was executed in Windsor Forest, West Bank Demerara.

Presently, Region Two has pumps installed at Three Friends, Devonshire Castle, Hampton Court and Anna Regina. Site engineer for Samaroo’s Investment, Raul Razack, said that presently excavation works and revetments are being done.

Razack said soon the driving of piles will commence, once he received the modifications he was awaiting.

The engineer said once the weather was favourable, he would assure that the project was completed within the specified time.

The pump when installed will push approximately

five cubic metre of water per second water. The pump at Lima, which was installed

during the recent January flooding, will assist in the process.

Region Two Chairman Parmanand Persaud at the construction site inspecting the works done by Samaroo’s Investment

17

News

wednesday, march 11, 2015 | guyanatimesGY.com

Govt to change policy on medical assistance – Jagdeo S hould Donald Ramotar be re-elected President he will establish a new policy that will prevent Government Ministers from accessing funds from the Consolidated Fund for medical assistance.

This was revealed by former President Bharrat Jagdeo, who explained that the Ministers will instead be offered an insurance premium to offset their medical expenses.

The revelation by the former Head of State comes on the heels of stringent criticisms by sections of society over leaked details of medical assistance to several Government Ministers in the years 2012 and 2013.

Amerindian Affairs Minister Pauline Sukhai had received assistance of some $2.1 million while Human Services Minister Jenifer Webster received $1.3 million to cover their dental expenses over a one-year period.

According to Jagdeo, Ramotar said while he could not take away benefits from persons who have held constitutional offices, including

the Leader of the Opposition, he will move mainly to a policy of insurance so that the charges against the Consolidated Fund will be limited.

“So if you spent $300,000

Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

a year to ensure a better policy for the person then that is the extent of the exposure of the Treasury. And that is a good policy and he has recognised that this cannot be and I have spoken to him about it,” Jagdeo said.

Eyebrows raised and criticisms mounted recently when word got out that the

Ministers had utilised the substantive sum for dental procedures.

The contention was that the money could have been used instead to assist Guyana’s less fortunate.

Asked if he was shocked at the amount of money spent on those services, Jagdeo said there were some issues that should not be funded by the state. He added that he knew how difficult it was when people, especially those in elected office, became sick.

He pointed out that during his tenure as President, former Opposition Leader Robert Corbin had also benefitted from the system, which he reiterated has been an age-old service. Jagdeo said he was pleased too to hear Opposition Leader David Granger saying that he wanted it to be rules-based and that it should not be the subject of Cabinet decisions or historical precedence.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon had last week lashed back at increasing media reports about the medical assistance be-

Former President’s portrait mounted at Queen’s College

A

s part of the activities to commemorate former President, the late Dr Cheddi Jagan’s birth and death anniversary, a portrait of the late Head of State was mounted on Monday at the secondary school he attended.

Speaking at the event on Monday, People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) stalwart and former deputy Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Hydar Ally said the month of March is a very significant month in Guyana’s history since it marks both the death and birth anniversary of the late President.

He explained, “As you are aware, this month of March is a very significant month in the calendar of this country because this is the month Dr Jagan died and is also the month he was born. As you know, he was born on March 22 and died on March 6, 1997.

Because of the significance of this month, we thought that it would be a great initiative to mount a portrait of the late Dr Cheddi Jagan at the school he attended.”

Ally stated that the mounting of the portrait is the third such exercise held to commemorate the former President. Another portrait mounting exercise was held earlier in March at the two primary schools he attended in Berbice, where he was born and grew up with his parents.

Dionne Fries, who is also a board member at the Cheddi Jagan Research Institute (CJRI), highlighted the humble beginnings of

Former President, the late Dr Cheddi Jagan

the former President, who is largely referred to as the ‘father of the nation.’

Fries felt that Dr Jagan’s achievements after coming from a home where both of his parents were illiterate – his father, Jagan, barely received three years of schooling – should be used as an example to all.

“Dr Jagan was able to come from very humble beginnings, very humble background where his parents were illiterate and thanks to education, he became the President of the country,” Fries pointed out.

She explained that after completing secondary school, the former President had difficulties acquiring a job and following the advice of a friend, he travelled to the United States and studied dentistry.

This move was a step in the path to becoming President of Guyana from 1992 to 1997 when he died on March 6 at the age of 78.

Dr Jagan was born on March 6, 1918 to indentured sugar workers Bachoni

(mother) and Jagan (father) who had arrived in British Guiana as infants with their mothers from the district of Basti in Uttar Pradesh, India.

According to published articles, Dr Jagan’s father wanted a better life for him than he could have provided since though he was dedicated to his job as a cane cutter until he was promoted to a driver, wages were not sufficient and the family lived in poverty. Hence, Jagan ensured his son received a proper education.

At the age of 15, the late Dr Jagan was sent by his father to Georgetown where he attended secondary school and boarded with three families.

Dr Jagan left for the United States in September 1935, with two friends and returned to British Guiana in October 1943. He lived in Washington, DC for two years and attended Howard University, taking a predental course, worked two summers in New York and spent the last five years in Chicago, Illinois, at Northwestern University.

After taking Social Sciences class, Dr Jagan married, Janet Rosenberg in August 1943 at the age of 21 before returning to Guyana in October with his wife following in December.

Following increasing popularity among sugar workers, he held the position of treasurer of the ManPower Citizen’s Association before eventually joining the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C). He was Prime Minister of Guyana in 1953 before becoming President.

President Donald Ramotar

ing rendered to members of Cabinet, noting that while it has never been a requirement within the Constitution, many parliamentarians have benefited.

According to Luncheon, the Government of Guyana, both current and prior, has

been assisting in what he described as a condition of service for any Guyanese holding a constitutional post.

“It is a condition of service. Maybe, unfortunately it isn’t written, it is a condition of service for Cabinet members when appointed, for the state to take care of their health expenses,” Luncheon said. He said the system was “not new”, pointing out that it was applicable to other public officers and overseas representatives, including diplomatic missions.

“The difference is that condition and its expenditure is not rules based. In essence, one can comb the laws of Guyana and would not find it...,” Luncheon said.

The Cabinet Secretary had contended that the Opposition has been up in arms over the practice, par-

ticularly A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Shadow Legal Affairs Minister Basil Williams.

According to Luncheon, Williams is contending that Opposition members have not benefited from the service.

Dr Luncheon reiterated that he would not engage in any tit-for-tat, but maintained that the evidence would speak for itself. Dr Luncheon said he has documents to prove and was willing to show if needs be, that Opposition members have also benefited from this service.

“He is fortunate I must say. He has not been afflicted by health consideration, but I defy him to say that he is unaware that this service is available to Opposition members of Parliament”.

Agricola man shot dead by lone gunman

A

n Agricola, Greater Georgetown family is now seeking answers after family member Randy Persaud, said to be in his early twenties, died after being shot six times to the body.

He succumbed at the Georgetown Public Hospital around 20:30h Tuesday evening.

According to the man’s

cousin who refused to give his name to protect his identity, they were all sitting in front of Persaud’s residence talking when a lone, masked gunman approached.

He stated that the gunman proceeded to kick the young man into a nearby gutter before firing six shots to his body and then fleeing the scene.

Persaud was picked up

and taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital, but later succumbed to his injuries.

The motive behind the killing remains unclear; however, Police reports revealed that the young man is said to be related to a gold dealer who was kidnapped some time ago. Police are investigating the matter and are following all possible leads.

Wakenaam farmer remanded for attempted murder

V

ijai Sancharra, a cash crop farmer from Marias Pleasure, Wakenaam Island was on Tuesday remanded to prison for attempted murder.

The 26-year-old made his first appearance before Magistrate Sunil Scarce at the Anna Regina Magistrate’s Court.

Sancharra was not required to plead the charge. According to the Police Prosecutor, on March 7, at Marias Pleasure, Sancharra wounded Lilvamnauth Dhairam.

The Prosecutor further told the court that the Virtual Complainant and the defendant were at a bar-

becue when the VC choked the defendant’s brother. The accused then asked the VC what happened and he was given no proper answer. The Police then intervened and the defendant was asked to leave and upon walking home, the VC rode behind him on a motorcycle. The VC was armed with a cutlass at the moment. It was alleged that the VC then held on to the defendant’s shirt and an argument ensued.

In self-defence, Sancharra allegedly then took the cutlass and dealt several chops to the feet and hands of Dhairam.

The VC was then escorted to the Suddie Public Hospital

where he was examined by a doctor and subsequently transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital. His condition is listed as critical. Sancharra told the court that he has been convicted in the past and sentenced to three years in prison in 2008. He was not represented by any Attorney-at-Law. Bail was refused given that the Virtual Complainant was still hospitalised, the prevalence of the matter and the fact that the accused had previous matters in court. He is expected to return to court on March 25, for the commencement of trial at the Wakenaam Magistrate’s Court.

Ex-GDF soldier executed...

“The Ministry of Home Affairs condemns in the strongest possible terms, the shooting to death of Courtney Crum Ewing by unknown person or persons this evening in the Grove/ Diamond area, East Bank Demerara.

Minister of Home Affairs, Clement Rohee has given orders to the Commissioner of Police to take immediate action with a view to getting to the bottom of this execution-type shooting incident, through the most thorough investigation.”

Rohee said though it is early yet to draw any specific conclusion or motive in connection with the perpetration of this dastardly act, the Ministry of Home Affairs “wishes to alert the general public to be vigilant in respect of any act of violence provoked or unprovoked, that might be possibly initiated by those who may have a political agenda.”

“The Ministry notes the deep coincidence between the fatal shooting incident and the earlier swearing in of the new Commissioner of

From page 11

Police.

The Ministry extends its sympathy to family and relatives of Courtney Crum Ewing and pledges to support the police in their investigations to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice.

The Ministry is calling on anyone who may have knowledge about the circumstances/motive surrounding the shooting death of Ewing Crum to give their full support to the police in their investigation,” the statement added.

18

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, march 11, 2015

ARCHIE

It’s a good day to begin renovations, invest in proper(March 21- ty or make self-improvements.

April 19) Your financial prospects look promising, and making changes will lead to good results.

Romance is highlighted and a celebration is in order.

ARIES

Do what you do best. A TAURUS partnership will leave you (April 20- with uncertain feelings that May 20) must be resolved if you want to stay focused on what needs to be done. Listen to what others have to say.

dilbert

You’ll end up in the midGEMINI dle of a situation that will (May 21help you move into a leaderJune 20) ship position. Let your ideas be known and you will solve whatever problems exist.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

Take on a new adventure.

Sitting at home will not motivate you to participate in life.

Get out and join a group that will bring you in touch with like-minded people.

Avoid rumors and idle LEO chatter if you want to avoid (July 23friction. Transportation diffiAug. 22) culties are apparent. If something isn’t working, do your best to fix the problem and keep moving forward.

Calvin and Hobbes

Mingle, network and VIRGO share your thoughts.

Using (Aug. 23Sept. 22) your motor skills in a novel way will allow you to offer a service that is needed in your community.

You will make a lasting LIBRA impression on anyone watch(Sept. 23ing you.

Don’t be shy; present Oct. 23) and promote what you have to offer, and you will get something in return.

SUDOKU

Don’t let your nerves get SCORPIO the better of you today. Being (Oct. 24Nov. 22) on edge will not help you solve a problem. Emotional turmoil is best dealt with swiftly before it can get out of control.

An unexpected turn of SAGITTARIUS events must be addressed be(Nov. 23- fore you can move forward.

Dec. 21) Honesty should take top priority. Once you clear the air, much can be accomplished.

You have plenty to offer, CAPRICORN but will lack the support nec(Dec. 22- essary to get ahead if you are Jan. 19) too vocal about your plans.

Preparation will be your key to success.

Tuesday, March 10 solution AQUARIUS

Don’t let your emotions dictate your actions or sti(Jan. 20- fle your productivity. No one Feb. 19) will do your job for you, and laziness will hurt your reputation. Stay focused and take your mind off your worries.

PISCES Search for an unusual hob(Feb. 20- by, take part in a discussion March 20) or join an organization with an unusual philosophy. Your compassion and understanding will attract new friendships.

wednesday, march 11, 2015

International friendly against St Lucia...

Local Golden Jaguars players to begin training today

Local based players gunning for spots in the Golden Jaguars line-up for the international friendly against St Lucia on March 22 will commence training this afternoon at the Police Sports Club Ground, Eve Leary.

The session will start at 15:00h and will be conducted under the watchful eyes of Head Coach Jamaal Shabazz and his Assistant, Wayne Dover.

This publication understands that some Under-23 players will also participate in the training to gain experience.

The local players set to train today are Derrick Carter, Joshua Brown, King Solomon Austin, Colin Nelson, Dwain Jacob, Clive Nobrega, Les Charles Critchlow, Vurlon Mills, Dwayne Lawrence, Kris Camacho, Calvin Shepherd, Daniel Wilson, Sheldon Holder, Manasseh Primo, Dorville Stewart, Amos

The Golden Jaguars will resume training today

Ramsey, Konata Mannings and Eon Alleyne.

The players will go into camp on Friday.

With the aim of affording the Golden Jaguars every opportunity to play competitively ahead of the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers, set to start in June, the Normalisation Committee of the Guyana

Football Federation (GFF) finalised the international friendly late last month.

The match will be played at the Guyana National Stadium, marking the return of international football to the venue after a brief hiatus. The game will be the Golden Jaguars’ second international friendly of

I

Treiston Joseph

f one had to pick the star of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG) Carifta Games trials, it would definitely be 13-year-old Kenisha Phillips.

While Phillips has performed well at School Nationals in times past, her sprinting showcase at the earlier development meets in 2015 before her explosion at the Carifta Games trials has catapulted Phillips into the spotlight as a youth athlete to keep a keen eye on.

With unmatched finishing speed, along with brilliant leg speed as well as strength, Phillips has the qualities of a versatile sprinter who can tackle all three events (100m, 200m and 400m) successfully, the way Alison Felix has done for America.

Her 24.6s 200 metres at Carifta trials on Sunday only proves that the 13-year-old is gifted and can achieve great things once she receives the right support.

Kenisha Phillips wins her 200 metres at Carifta trials on Sunday (Treiston Joseph photo)

Under the tutelage of her uncle, Linden Phillips, the speedster, who hails from Buxton, trains one time per day from 05:00h to around 07:00h.

Training for only two hours a day in the morning shows that Phillips has a far way to go in realising her through potential.

The senior Phillips believes that the 13-year-old dynamite is only showcas-

ing the tip of the iceberg.

“Every day she shows me improvement and she continues to get better, her performance at Carifta trials was exceptional,” Phillips, who started coaching in 2011, mentioned.

The story of Phillips’ rise is quite phenomenal since the athlete had the opportunity to be groomed with the likes of Jevina Sampson, Natricia Hooper and Avon

Viv Richards voted the greatest ODI cricketer ever

S

ir Viv Richards has been crowned the greatest one-day cricketer ever by a jury of 50 eminent players, commentators and writers assembled by the Cricket Monthly.

An astonishing 29 of 50 jurors picked Richards as their first choice, giving him a landslide victory over four other ODI legends: Sachin Tendulkar, Wasim Akram, Adam Gilchrist and MS Dhoni.

The contest for second place was a close affair between Tendulkar and Akram. Tendulkar, owner of 18,426 runs and 49 centu-

greatest one-day innings of them all."

Few walked to the crease oozing as much swagger as Richards, who never wore a helmet even when facing the fastest bowlers. "I felt strong about my presence, you know," said Richards in an interview to the Cricket Monthly. "Sometimes presence sends a message, 'Hey, I am ready.' It's just the duel between you and the bowler."

Many fine bowlers suffered at his hands.

Australia's Rodney Hogg, who was at the receiving end of a glorious 153 not out in Melbourne in 1979, recalled

the year, following their 2-2 draw with hosts Barbados on February 1.

The Normalisation Committee is also currently exploring the possibility of hosting another international friendly against a yetto-be-named country, almost immediately following the St Lucia game.

13-year-old Kenisha Phillips has untapped potential says

19

Samuels, who are some of the top junior sprinters from Running Brave but never really took off.

However, the senior Phillips after migrating in 2012 returned a year after and took over his niece’s training and the results have been marvellous.

It bodes well for Phillips because if she can perform at such a level while training with little competition who knows what will happen when she has a capable training partner.

However, the path is clear for the 13-year-old who is expected to make her debut at the Carifta Games come April.

“We are working to drop the times in the 200m, she is on par with some of the girls in the Caribbean and she is on grass so when she touches the rubber she will fly, but she is working hard every day,” Phillips noted.

Whether she wins a medal or not at Carifta, Phillips has put the youth and junior females of Guyana on notice, another star is about to shine.

Sir Viv Richards

ries, eventually prevailed by a hair's breadth over Akram, the most exceptional leftarm bowler the game has seen. Rounding off the top five were Gilchrist at No. 4 and Dhoni at No. 5.

In all, 21 cricketers received at least one vote from the jury: six Australians, five Indians, four Pakistanis, two West Indians, two South Africans, a Sri Lankan and an Englishman.

There was no dispute over the greatest, though.

Through the late 1970s and '80s Richards was way ahead of his contemporaries. He thrived in different conditions, against a variety of attacks, and raised the bar in the key matches. In an era before big bats, small boundaries and fielding restrictions, Richards tormented bowlers with his power and audacity.

"He batted at Nos. 3 or 4, maintained a strike rate of 90 and an average of 47 and did it in his sleep over 15 exhausting years of dominance," writes former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe in his tribute to Richards in the March issue of the Cricket Monthly.

"Arguably - categorically for me - his 189 not out in Manchester in 1984 is the

Richards' versatility. "If you pitched the ball on middle and leg it would go between midwicket and mid-on. If you pitched it on off or outside off stump it would go between mid-off and cover. We were all mesmerised."

The Cricket Monthly's 50-member jury, drawn from around the globe and spanning several eras, includes legendary cricketers Ian Chappell, Clive Lloyd, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting and Graeme Smith; veteran commentators Tony Cozier, Mark Nicholas, Mike Haysman and Sanjay Manjrekar; and respected writers Gideon Haigh, Mike Coward, Suresh Menon and Mike Selvey.

ESPNcricinfo's readers, in a poll run on the site, voted overwhelmingly for Sachin Tendulkar and Wasim Akram. Of the nearly 600,000 users who voted, about 239,000 chose Tendulkar as the greatest ODI player of them all, and more than 225,000 chose Akram.

The March issue of the Cricket Monthly contains full results of the exercise, celebrations of the top five, an interview with Richards, memories from bowlers who faced him, and much more.

(Cricinfo)

20

guyanatimesGY.com

wednesday, march 11, 2015

Ashwin, Dhawan make it 9 in a row I

ndia confirmed the top spot in their group, took their winning streak in World Cup matches to nine, their longest and now only behind the great Australian run between 1999 and 2011, and also maintained their record of bowling oppositions out in this World Cup, claiming their 50th wicket in five matches in the 49th over of Ireland's innings. Ireland scored the highest score

the best partnership - 89 against them, Niall O'Brien came within one run of the best individual score against their unbeaten opponents, but India's excellent offspin bowling and aggressive captaincy restricted them to 259, well below par on a flat pitch, small Seddon Park boundaries and given Ireland's weak bowling.

Shikhar Dhawan, with his second hundred this World

SCOREBOARD

Ireland innings (50 overs maximum) WTS Porterfield* c Yadav 67 b MM Sharma PR Stirling c Rahane 42 b Ashwin EC Joyce b Raina 2 NJ O'Brien c Yadav b Mohammed Shami 75 A Balbirnie c Mohammed Shami b Ashwin 24 KJ O'Brien c †Dhoni b Mohammed Shami 1 GC Wilson† c Rahane 6 b Jadeja SR Thompson run out (Kohli) 2 JF Mooney not out 12 GH Dockrell c †Dhoni b Yadav 6 AR Cusack c Yadav b Mohammed Shami 11 Extras: (lb 2, w 9) 11 Total: (all out; 49 overs) 259 Fall of wickets: 1-89, 2-92, 3-145, 4-206, 5-208, 6-222,

against India in this World Cup, William Porterfield and Paul Stirling registered

7-226, 8-227, 9-238, 10-259.

India Bowling: UT Yadav 4-034-1, Mohammed Shami 9-041-3, MM Sharma 6-0-38-1, RA Jadeja 7-0-45-1, R Ashwin 10-1-38-2, SK Raina 10-0-40-1, RG Sharma 3-0-21-0.

India innings (target: 260 runs from 50 overs) RG Sharma b Thompson 64 S Dhawan c Porterfield b Thompson 100 V Kohli not out 44 AM Rahane not out 33 Extras:(b 4, lb 2, w 13) 19 Total:(2 wickets; 36.5 overs) 260 Did not bat: SK Raina, MS Dhoni*†, RA Jadeja, R Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, MM Sharma, UT Yadav.

Fall of wickets: 1-174, 2-190.

Ireland Bowling: JF Mooney 6-0-44-0, AR Cusack 8-0-430, SR Thompson 6-0-45-2, GH Dockrell 5-0-44-0, PR Stirling 5-0-36-0, KJ O'Brien 6.5-0-42-0.

Cup, and Rohit Sharma knocked the runs off with ease.

Porterfield and Stirling attacked the Indian quicks with gusto, reaching 57 in nine overs before R Ashwin dragged them back. A period of quick overs and slow runs followed, and when Niall O'Brien began to pull Ireland back out, Ashwin came back to start another slide. Ireland went from 206 for 3 to their eventual middling total. This was the first time any batting side tested India. Unlike, say South Africa, India refused to go on the defensive. Ravindra Jadeja didn't have a great day, but Suresh Raina filled in superbly. He took out Ed Joyce to go with Ashwin's scalps of Stirling and the in-form Andy Balbirnie.

Between them Ashwin and Raina bowled 20 overs for 78 runs. That's where the match turned.

When spin came on in the 10th over, with the run rate over six and no wicket down, you would have forgiven a few other established captains defensive fields. MS Dhoni, the best captain of spin in limited-overs cricket, had a slip, a leg slip, and men saving singles even after the Powerplay was over.

It also asked a lot of the bowlers. Anything half bad was bound to go for boundaries. Jadeja was only half bad in the 14th over, and was taken for a four and a six. Dhoni had no qualms taking him off and going to Raina immediately.

Shikhar Dhawan's trademark hundred celebration

Even before Raina came on, though, Stirling tried to chip Ashwin over cover. Ashwin had bowled until then 17 balls for 12 runs, giving nothing away. It required Stirling to manufacture something. He tried, but could not open the face enough, and holed out to long-off. Now Raina and Ashwin began to run through their overs quite economically. The pressure was palpable. Dhoni could read the batsmen's minds.

He told Raina Joyce was under pressure and looking for a big hit. Raina stayed accurate. Joyce looked for a forceful back-foot shot to a full ball. Bowled.

Overs flew by. When Niall O'Brien took risks against Rohit Sharma in the

30th over and hit two fours, India had bowled the 15 preceding overs for 45 runs and surely in under 45 minutes.

The first sign of pace - Mohit Sharma - in 23 overs meant Ireland felt obliged to push the scoring. Except that Mohit didn't provide any pace, and Porterfield fell to a slower ball. This wicket was as much Mohit's as the spinners' who had created the pressure.

Niall O'Brien wasn't done yet, though. In the Powerplay he mounted another attack, and India were tested yet again by the 61run stand between him and Balbirnie. And again Ashwin provided the answers, getting Balbirnie on the sweep in the 39th over.

Mohammed Shami chipped

in immediately with Kevin O'Brien's wicket, and Niall O'Brien found himself under pressure again amid the falling wickets. When he moved across the stumps to try to hit Shami into the leg side, he chipped straight to square leg in the 43rd over.

It was now going to be difficult for Ireland to bat out the overs. They couldn't.

To turn this chase into a contest, Ireland needed early wickets. Dhawan provided them two opportunities, but John Mooney and Porterfield dropped him on 5 and 10 respectively. Now Dhawan has a sensational record when he is dropped.

Even against South Africa he was dropped by Hashim Amla. At 174 he and Rohit put together India's biggest opening stand in World Cups, and their partnership aggregate soared to 1760 runs, the fourth-highest for India.

Dhawan moved to No. 2 on the runs list this World Cup, second behind Kumar Sangakkara.

Once he reached the fifty Dhawan accelerated even as Rohit fell to a somewhat lazy dab, playing Stuart Thompson on. Dhawan went from 50 off 54 to 96 off 74 before bringing up the hundred with the 84th ball he faced and getting out to the 85th.

However, India needed only 70 at that time, and got them without drama. (Cricinfo)

Never played under captain like McCullum – Hadlee

N

ew Zealand have been playing it cool over recent weeks. They have known they are heavily fancied for the World Cup, as strongly as the nation has ever been, but while embracing the benefits of a home tournament they have been keen to try and keep a lid on the emotions.

Shortly, that lid could well be ripped off. Not against Bangladesh in Hamilton, but come a week on Saturday in Wellington. In a way, the cat is already out of the bag.

In his post-match press conference following the Afghanistan match in Napier, Daniel Vettori referenced "the biggest match of our careers" when throwing ahead to the quarter-final. And on Tuesday, the cricket team and the All Blacks were linked in the same question to Trent Boult, which led him to say: "I've never been compared to an All Black."

When the two sports are mentioned in the same breath you know something is brewing.

At the head of all this - and one of the men who will need to marshal the New Zealand players through the quarter-final and, the nation hopes, two further matches - is Brendon McCullum. He has certainly not been cowered by the demands of the last few weeks. If

Brendon McCullum

anything they have emboldened him to find new levels of aggression both in his captaincy and batting.

His 42 off 19 balls against Afghanistan was not the most significant innings in the tournament, but it meant he was the first batsman to make three consecutive scores over 40 at a strike-rate of 200-plus following his displays against England and Australia. In the field, he has almost created a new brand with his all-out attacking approach: the McCullum way.

He is the most talked about sportsman in New Zealand at the moment and there is no shortage of plaudits coming his way. In these pages recently he was labelled an "honorary Aussie" by Ashley Mallett. The latest praise came from two of New Zealand's finest ever players: Stephen Fleming, an outstanding leader himself, and the country's greatest cricketer, Sir Richard Hadlee.

"It's fair to say, that in my career of 18 years through the 1970s and the 1980s, I didn't play under a

captain as aggressive as Brendon," Hadlee said. "I had some good captains, but Brendon is something a little bit special at the moment."

Hadlee, taking the bowlers' view, pinpointed McCullum in the field and the utmost belief he has in his tactics and team-mates.

"When you're aggressive and proactive, it can be high risk, it can backfire. At this stage it hasn't," Hadlee said. "But, what he is saying to his bowlers, and if I had a captain like that what he would be saying to me is, I back you. I'll give you the field that you need to get wickets, and do the job. That would've been nice in my time, although it didn't happen."

Fleming, who led New Zealand 303 times across all formats from 1997 to 2007, argued that McCullum has been central to the evolution of the one-day game which is increasingly rewarding the pursuit of wickets ahead of containment.

"Those rave reviews are right.

I think over two years he's helped built a brand of cricket that is aggressive, and in some ways it's creating the new way to play the ODI game," Fleming, who retains strong links with McCullum through Chennai Super Kings, said. "You're now seeing Michael Clarke, also an excellent captain,

do the same. And Dhoni as well, he's had the bowlers to do it. It's one thing to have that style, number two create a team that can back it up, and that's what I think Brendon's got. But it's taken a while in the making, but I think you can see the fruits of it."

McCullum has won 55% of his ODIs as captain (26 out of 47), compared to 45% for Fleming, although the sample size is much smaller as the latter led in 218 games. As a further example, Martin Crowe won 48% of his 44 ODIs as captain.

If he leads a victorious World Cup campaign, McCullum will be forever revered.

"He's a naturally aggressive guy, a gambler as well, but I think he's better than that," Fleming said. "I think it's just an aggressive outlook where we want to hit every ball for six, and it's obviously contagious. You've got guys who can get up, whereas in the past we've been a little bit conservative. But now we're seeing a team that's ready to bleed runs to get wickets and that seems to be the way that the best teams are playing now."

Greatness is Contagious is one of the sayings plastered on posters promoting the tournament. So too, it seems, is the McCullum way.

(Cricinfo)

sports

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Davis drops career high to lead Pelicans to win

tuesday, march 10, 2015

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yle Korver and DeMarre Carroll each scored 20 points as the Atlanta Hawks bounced back from a rare loss by becoming the first NBA team to 50 wins, scoring a season high in routing the Sacramento Kings 130105 Monday night.

Resting three starters, the East-leading Hawks (50-13) were beaten by the lowly 76ers over the weekend to snap a six-game winning streak. Korver didn’t even make the trip to Philadelphia, the Hawks hoping the rest would help snap him out of a shooting slump since the All-Star break.

Boy, did it ever. Korver went 6 of 8 from 3-point range. The Hawks set a franchise record by going 20 of 36 beyond the arc, breaking the mark of 19 set against Dallas on Dec. 17, 1996.

The Hawks led 76-54 at the break — their most prolific half of the season. They finished with 42 assists, best in the NBA this season. Jeff Teague led the way with 13.

Rudy Gay scored 23 points as the Kings lost their fourth in a row.

Pelicans 114, Bucks 103

Anthony Davis scored 43 points, tying a career high and helping New Orleans pull away to beat Milwaukee.

Eric Gordon added 16 and Tyreke Evans had 13 before leaving the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury. The Pelicans shot 59 per cent for the game and 60 per cent from 3-point range.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had a career-high 29 points for the Bucks, who have lost seven of nine. Michael Carter-Williams tallied 25, his highest-scoring game for Milwaukee since being acquired last month in a trade-deadline deal, and Khris Middleton scored 17.

Milwaukee took a 101100 lead with 3:35 remaining on a runner by Antetokounmpo. Davis, who recorded his third career 40-point game, then scored eight consecutive points as New Orleans closed the game on a 14-2 run.

Warriors 98, Suns 80

Stephen Curry scored 25 of his 36 points in the second half and Golden State beat Phoenix for its 50th victory of the season.

Klay Thompson added 25 for the Warriors, who at 50-12 have the NBA’s best record, a half-game better than Atlanta.

Curry made 7 of 13 3-pointers, 6 of 8 in the sec-

ond half, in his 13th 30-point game of the season.

Eric Bledsoe scored 19 for Phoenix. Brandon Knight had 13 before leaving the game with a sprained left ankle in the second quarter.

Alex Len had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

The Warriors became the second NBA team to win 50 games this season.

Atlanta did it with a victory over Sacramento a few hours earlier.

Grizzlies 101, Bulls 91

Marc Gasol scored 23 points to lead Memphis past his brother Pau and Chicago.

Gasol was 10 of 16 from the field for the Grizzlies, who moved to two games ahead of idle Houston for the Southwest Division lead.

Jeff Green had 19 and Zach Randolph added 16 for the Grizzlies, who held the Bulls to 43.8 per cent shooting from the field and improved to 21-11 on the road.

Pau Gasol, Marc’s older brother, had 13 points and 11 rebounds for his 43rd double-double to match the career high he set during the 2010-11 season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Marc Gasol started opposite his brother at last month’s NBA All-Star Game.

Wizards 95, Hornets 69

Marcin Gortat scored 20 points and Washington rolled past Charlotte.

John Wall added 15 points and nine assists, Bradley Beal had 14 points and Kevin Seraphin scored 12 for the Wizards, who snapped a nine-game road losing streak.

Mo Williams scored 19 points for the Hornets, who shot just 32.5 per cent (25 of 77) and committed 16 turnovers to tie their lowestscoring game this season and end a five-game winning streak.

Al Jefferson added 14 points and Lance Stephenson 12 for Charlotte, which led twice in the first 2 1/2 minutes, the last at 9-8 on Williams’ three-point play with 9:21 left.

Clippers 89, Timberwolves 76

J.J. Redick scored 26 points, DeAndre Jordan had 20 points and 17 rebounds, and injury-depleted Los Angeles snapped a twogame skid.

Austin Rivers scored 13 points as the Clippers, despite the absences of Blake Griffin and Jamal Crawford, bounced back one day after a road loss to Pacific Divisionleading Golden State.

Chris Paul also managed

Anthony Davis

just two points and 15 assists while playing 29 minutes on a bruised knee.

Adreian Payne had 16 points and 15 rebounds while starting in place of Kevin Garnett for the Timberwolves, who opened a four-game road trip with their fifth loss in six games.

Minnesota has lost 12 straight to the Clippers since February 2012.

Celtics 100, Heat 90

Isaiah Thomas scored 25 points in another strong game off the bench, Brandon Bass added 14 and Boston beat Miami.

Luigi Datome scored 13 for the Celtics, and Kelly Olynyk finished with 10.

Dwyane Wade scored 34 points for the Heat, who got 14 from Michael Beasley and 12 from Mario Chalmers. The Heat got a pregame lift from the return of Chris Bosh to the team’s bench for the first time since he was ruled out for the season last month because of blood clots on a lung.

But it wasn’t enough to keep Miami’s playoff hopes from taking another blow, and the Heat missed a chance to climb into seventh in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Nuggets 106, Knicks 78

Kenneth Faried had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Denver routed New York.

Wilson Chandler and Will Barton scored 17 points apiece for the Nuggets, who enjoyed their second-largest margin in a win this season.

The Knicks lost their fourth straight and fell to 12-50, the NBA’ first 50-loss team this season. Alexey Shved had 19 points for New York, which has just seven wins in 2015.

The lead grew to as much as 34 in the fourth. It was the largest lead of the season for the Nuggets, who tied a season low with eight turnovers. They didn’t have a turnover in the second or third quarter. (The Vancouver Sun)

22

guyanatimesGY.com

wednesday, march 11, 2015

spurs Tang Soo Do martial Mahadeo RHT Bakewell to another win art hits Guyana R

Raffik and Son Construction 20/20 cricket...

T

ang Soo Do will make its way to the shores of Guyana through International specialist, Master Jose Torrers.

Guyana will be the first Caribbean country to open its doors to this type of martial arts, following locations in the USA, Mexico, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Tang Soo Do is a Korean martial art which incorporates fighting principles from Subak as well as Northern Chinese Kung Fu. The techniques of what is commonly known as Tang Soo Do combine elements of Shotokan Karate, Subak, Taekkyon, and Kung Fu. Classes for the new art form will start from April 1 at the National Gymnasium on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

According to Torres at the launching at the Ministry of Sport’s head office, persons will be able to adapt since it incorporates

From left: Fly Jamaica’s Roland Eudoxie, Senior Marketing Officer Wesley Tucker, Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony and Master Jose Torres

many styles.

“I think we should make it clear that if you want to join our school, you don’t have to leave another. The thing is with Tang Soo Do if you know another form of

martial arts, it will actually help you a lot.

“I’m happy that we were endorsed by the Ministry of Sport and so far our first corporate sponsor is Fly Jamaica,” Torres stated.

BCB pulls out of InterCounty U-17 tournament

Torres also pointed out that in November, the school will be hosting the Guyana Open Martial Arts tournament that will feature teams from North America and further afield.

ose Hall Town (RHT) Bakewell won their fourth consecutive game in the Raffik and Sons Construction’s 20-over tournament when they defeated Yakusari Cricket Club of Black Bush Polder by seven wickets at the Area H Ground last weekend.

In a match reduced to 15 overs a side due to extra moisture on the pitch, RHT Bakewell won the toss and invited the visitors to take first strike.

The Yakusari boys were restricted to 90-9 off their allotted 15 overs, with Rajesh Lalu muscling his way to a top score of 41, which included four massive sixes.

He received support from Churaman Ayana (20) and Naipaul Ayana (15).

Bowling for RHT Bakewell, off-spinner Khemraj Mahadeo continued his impressive season with 3-9 from three overs, while left-arm West Indies female pacer Erva Giddings (212) and veteran left-arm spinner R Lewis (2-28) offered support.

Khemraj Mahadeo

Needing to score 91 off 15 overs to continue their unbeaten run in the tournament, RHT Bakewell reached 93-3 off 11.3 overs, with Mahadeo returning with the bat to score an even 50 with five sixes and two boundaries. Vishal Crandon chipped in with 18.

The teams would now take a break from the Raffik 20-over tournament as the New Building Society 40-over competition commences this weekend.

BBCI sponsors KMTC postPhagwah horse race meet

– served with injunction, players threatened

T

he Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has pulled out of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) organised Inter-County Under-17 Tournament , slated to commence today.

According to the Board, this was done since an injunction was granted by Justice Nareshwar Harnanan against its executives with immediate effect.

The injunction was granted on March 9 to plaintiffs David Black, President of West Berbice Cricket Association and Godwyn Allicock in the capacity of Secretary of the Port Mourant Cricket Club.

The defendants are Anil Beharry in the capacity of BCB President; Direndranauth Samwaru, First Vice President; Qualis Winter, Second Vice President; Veemen Walters, Third Vice President; Angela Hannif, Secretary; Plaffiana Millington, Assistant Secretary; Vicky Barosay, Treasurer; executive members, Hubern Evans, Albert Smith, Julian Cambridge, Rabindranauth Saywack, Malcome Peters, Imtiaz Bacchus, Keith Foster, and Carl Moore; and Rajiv Bisnauth, Public Relations Officer.

The injunction barred the defendants, personally and in their respective purported capacities held in

the Berbice Cricket Board of Control, their servants and/or agents whomsoever from acting, operating, performing, functioning and or discharging in any manner whatsoever any of the functions, duties and obligations of or belonging to the Berbice Cricket Board of Control until the hearing and determination of a Summons in this cause to continue this injunction returnable for March 13, 2014 at 08:30h before Justice Nareshwar Harnanan.

Threats

Meanwhile, this publication understands that the players selected by the BCB were threatened by executives of the GCB late Monday evening.

According to information an official told the players that their careers were under threat if they failed to participate in the subject tournament.

It is understood that the players and coach Andre Percival have decided to participate in the tournament, but not under the BCB. As cricket in Guyana continues its tumultuous existence, observers maintain that the decision to debar the BCB from carrying out its mandate came after the Board failed to attend the GCB Annual

General Meeting (AGM) last January.

The BCB had stated that based on the Cricket Administration Act, it would not attend the GCB AGM. The BCB and the GCB have been at loggerheads ever since the national Board’s AGM and elections on July 10, 2011.

The BCB had pulled out of those elections, citing financial mismanagement among other irregularities by the GCB. However, then Vice President David Black reportedly went against the BCB’s decision and voted along with the nine other delegates from the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB).

Further, in 2013, the GCB AGM and elections were held with only Essequibo’s nine delegates participating. The BCB did not participate, while the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) was restrained from operating.

The GCB on January 25 last decided not to host its elections during its AGM. While no elections were held, all members were returned unopposed due to the Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) of October 2014 which saw the divided DCB as well as the ECB nominating the very executives that now run the GCB.

Chief Executive Officer of the BBCI Omadat Samaroo presents the sponsorship cheque and winning trophy to KMTC President Cecil Kennard

T

he Berbice Bridge Company Inc (BBCI) has thrown its support behind the Kennard Memorial Turf Club (KMTC) post-Phagwah horse-race meet.

The meet is slated for Sunday at the Club’s Bush Lot Farm, Corentyne, Berbice race track with six mouth-watering contests carded for the day.

Organiser of the event and KMTC President Cecil Kennard received a cheque for $225,000, which will go towards the prizes for the K1 and Lower event and winning trophy.

The presentation took place on Tuesday at the company’s head office at Main Street, Georgetown. The sponsorship was well received by Kennard, who stated that the race meet will feature some of Guyana’s finest-bred horses.

“It’s important that we express our gratitude to Berbice

Bridge Company for coming on board again, because as we all know, no sporting activity can be successfully promoted without sponsors,” he declared.

“I wish to thank Berbice Bridge Company once again and we are looking forward to their continued support in the future,” Kennard added.

Further, Kennard said that more than 70 of the country’s top horses have entered.

Berbice River Bridge Company Inc Chief Executive Officer Omadat Samaroo said that the company was pleased to once again support the Kennard Memorial Turf Club.

Several changes have been made from the original programme with the D3 Maiden and E and F Lower being removed to facilitate the D3 and Lower animals. The winning tag remains at $400,000.

The race for K and Lower handicap horses has replaced

by the J3 and Lower. Further, Kennard stated that the top prize for the feature A1 and Lower race has been increased to $1 million, providing that six or more horses enter for the race.

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

The remaining four races will all run over five furlongs.

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

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

guyanatimesGY.com

wednesday, march 11, 2015

23

Caribbean Cargo supports K&S tournament C

aribbean Cargo, through its Washington DC office, on Monday continued its alliance with the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, by presenting a quantity of footballs to be used in this year’s tournament to Co-Director Aubrey “Shanghai” Major.

Said to be Baltimore and the Mid-Atlantic US region’s most reliable and affordable personal and commercial haulier to Guyana, Caribbean Cargo also contributed to the tournament last year when they donated two desktop computers along with a large quantity of balls.

Major thanked the company for its timely support and said that its involvement will go a far way in helping to make the 25th edition of Guyana’s longest running sporting event successful.

When the tourna-

Aubrey “Shanghai” Major (centre) receives the balls from (left) Caribbean Cargo Chief Operating Officer Ansel Hall and Sales and Marketing representatives Barbara Eloi, Tanisha DeSouza and Ogo Amobi

Pollard takes indefinite break from first class cricket W

est Indies allrounder Kieron Pollard is to take an “indefinite break” from first class cricket, Trinidad and Tobago Cricket officials have confirmed.

The confirmation came shortly after Pollard took five for 36 Monday for T&T in a 175-run loss against the Windward Islands in the WICB Professional Cricket League (PCL) at the National Cricket Centre in Couva.

He will be out of the Red Force team for their next PCL four-day match against current leaders Guyana Jaguars in Guyana starting Friday.

“Pollard has informed the TTCB that he is taking an indefinite break from first class cricket,” said the TTCB facebook page.

“Pollard is now unavailable for selection for the remainder of matches in the WICB Professional Cricket League Four-Day tournament”.

Earlier this season opening batsman Adrian Barath pulled out of the team saying he, too, was taking a break.

Pollard’s announcement comes on the heels of countrymen Dwayne Bravo and Lendl Simmons’ retirement from Test cricket.

Simmons is currently in the West Indies ODI team taking part in the ICC World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.

“The Trinidad and

Kieron Pollard

Tobago Cricket Board would like to thank Kieron Pollard for his services in the firstclass match against the Windward Islands,” said another post on the TTCB facebook page.

“The board wishes him the best during his period of indefinite leave from firstclass cricket and wishes him an early return”.

Media reports from Port of Spain said Pollard sent an email to the CEO of the T&T Cricket Board and the team selectors informing them of the situation.

Pollard’s appearance against the Windward Islands was his first match for T&T since the Nagico Super50 tournament in January, hosted by T&T. He returned to the

T&T line up against the Windwards after recovering from a leg injury.

“He (Pollard) said the stress and strain of the fourday cricket was taking a toll on his body,” said T&T Cricket Board chairman of selectors Alec Burns.

“Well it is up to him, when he is ready he will return.”

Fast bowler Shannon Gabriel and batsman Mark Deyal have been included in the T&T squad to face Guyana in the next round of the WICB four-day competition.

Gabriel replaces Daniel St Clair, who is suffering with a kidney infection and Deyal comes in for Akeal Hosein, who has had a disappointing season. (CMC)

ment opens on March 20, Georgetown Football Club (GFC) will meet with Den Amstel, while Riddim Squad face off against New Amsterdam United at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) Ground.

When the competition

continues on March 21 at the Victoria Community Centre Ground, twotime champions Fruta Conquerors will play Mahaica Determinators and 2008 winners Pele come up against Grove HiTech.

Anns’ Grove will travel to Linden where they will play Winners Connection on March 23 at the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground, the same day Western Tigers clash with Hi-Stars.

Final first-round matches in the ‘win or go home’ formatted tournament will see Guyana’s number one club Alpha “The Hammer” United playing newcomers Agricola Red Triangle, and Slingerz FC, who themselves are playing in their first Kashif and Shanghai Tournament, feature against 2001 champions Victoria Kings at the DCC Ground.

The DCC Ground will also host the quarter-final matches on March 27 and 28, while the recentlybuilt stadium at Leonora will be the battleground for the tournament’s semifinals on April 1 and the final will be played at the Guyana National Stadium on April 5.

Winners of this year’s tournament will walk away with $2 million, runner-up $1 million, while third and fourth will pocket $500,000 and $250,000 respectively.

wednesday, march 11, 2015

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

All systems in place for Guyana/ Bermuda basketball tri-series

– GABF names final 16

By Treiston Joseph

G

uyana will host Bermuda in what is expected to be a highly competitive tri-match series starting this evening from 19:00h at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) President Nigel Hinds, at the launching on Tuesday welcomed the Bermudans, highlighting his expectations of the event.

“We have been bereft of this type of competition that will give our players exposure to quality basketball and players that I have been told toured Europe and we look forward to exciting games,” Hinds said.

Head Coach of the Guyana national team, Darcel Harris noted that his players were “ready to go”.

“So far, we have gone

Some of the Bermudan players pose with GABF President Nigel Hinds as well as Vice President Michael Singh and Coach Dracel Harris

through some good practice sessions and will have a revision tonight and a ‘shoot-

around’ in the morning and the guys will be ready to go… we will give fair play,

the guys are hungry and you can expect 200 per cent from us,” Harris stated.

India dilemma atop WICB’s agenda H

ead of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Dave Cameron, is keeping his cards close to his chest as it relates to how they intend to approach India over a US$42 million damage claim resulting from last October's abandoned tour.

At Saturday's postWICB annual general meeting press conference at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, Cameron refused to elaborate on what the next possible steps will be, pointing instead to a meeting he plans

to have with Grenadian Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell next week.

Mitchell is also chairman of the CARICOM Prime Ministerial sub-committee on cricket.

"One of our mandates, immediately, is to deal with that India event," said Cameron. "(But) All I can say to you is that I will be meeting with Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell within a week for us to discuss the delegation that will go and sit with India and re-

Upcoming World Cup matches (with Guyana time) Today: 36th Match, Pool B- South Africa v UAE, 21:00h Thursday: 37th Match, Pool A- New Zealand v Bangladesh, 21:00h Thursday: 38th Match, Pool A- Afghanistan v England, 23:30h Friday: 39th Match, Pool B- India v Zimbabwe, 21:00h Friday: 40th Match, Pool A- Australia v Scotland, 23:30h Saturday: 41st Match, Pool B- UAE v West Indies, 18:00h Saturday: 42nd Match, Pool B- Ireland v Pakistan, 23:30h

WICB President Dave Cameron

solve the matter," was all Cameron was prepared to say.

The Jamaican, who defeated West Indies legend Joel Garner 8-4 in presidential elections at the AGM, also refused to address reports that the Indian cricket

board is not in favour of his leadership.

"None," was his response when he was asked if he had any comments regarding reports that the Indians were not willing to negotiate with him and would have preferred the candidacy of Garner.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India made the US$42m claim after citing media rights and other revenue losses resulting from the West Indies pullout. The team withdrawal also affected subsequently planned Test and Twenty20 international matches.

One of the reasons for the player boycott was a breakdown in discussions between the WICB and West Indies Players Association over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

The agreement, a number of the players contend, significantly impacted their earning potential. (Jamaica Gleaner)

The Co-Captain of the Bermuda national squad, Chris Crumpler thanked the

GABF for its invitation, noting that the challenge was welcomed.

“It’s a privilege to be here not just for the games but for the culture and the country and we expect competitive basketball throughout, so thank you for having us,” Crumpler stated.

Meanwhile, the GABF has named its final 16 players who will be part of the tournament.

However, 12 will be named as seen fit by the coaching staff, with Wednesday’s squad being named on Tuesday evening after the final practice session.

Manager of the Guyana national side, Junior Hercules pleaded with the public to come out and support the games, stressing that it was imperative that basketball got the “respect it deserved”.

BCB pulls out of Inter-County U-17 tournament

Page 22

– served with injunction, players threatened

BCB President Anil Beharry

GCB Secretary Anand Sanasie

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