Guyana Times 15 February 2018

P11

Rafiq Khan appointed as acting Justice of Appeal Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

Issue No. 3482

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Thursday, February 15, 2018

PRICE

President sees no need to review

$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Pensioner discovered hanging in home

Page 3

Cummingsburg Accord

P8

CJ, Chancellor non-appointment

…says AFC has not formally approached APNU

Jagdeo, Granger trade P7 barbs

Ex-sugar workers to Granger: Controversial Lindo Creek CoI “Sit with us, feel our pain” commences …as desperation kicks in as a result of collapsing today economic situation

Truck driver remanded for 9.376kg of cocaine P11

…insists agreement can be allowed to expire if not reviewed now

Page 9

Page 15

GTT technician falls from utility pole after P15 electric shock …company launches probe

No review of ExxonMobil contract – President Granger P16 Worshippers, including one little girl, receiving their cross of ashes during the Ash Wednesday mass at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Brickdam on Wednesday, signalling the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of reflection and fasting for Christians leading up to Easter

2 more arrested at Yarrowkabra Page 13

…as Police cut deeper into carjacking ring

Elderly women homeless after early morning blaze … arson suspected

Page 8

Woman nabbed with cocaine in handbag at P16 CJIA

2 news

thursDAY, February 15, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

GWI to crack down on delinquent water users GTT staff donate

– unmetered car washes to be targeted; steep tampering fines proposed

W

ith the entity’s revenues dropping, the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) will be cracking down on a number of delinquent water users; of which unmetered car washes are among those in its sights.

This was revealed during the first public hearing before the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and consumer representatives into GWI’s proposed rate hikes; a hearing that saw the entity facing questions about what it planned to do with those who do not pay their fair share.

GWI Chief Executive Officer, Dr Richard Van West-Charles sought to assuage those concerns, noting that steps are being taken to protect the company’s losses. In fact, the entity is even contemplating hikes in fines for tampering.

“The public has been very helpful in helping us find many people who are stealing. The people that are stealing are not necessarily small people. They are big, commercial people,” Dr Van

West-Charles explained.

“We are metering every car wash and the people to the left, right, back

for commercial customers is also being proposed.

For unmetered residential properties, GWI is al-

Car washes are in the cross hairs of GWI

and front of the car washes. If they give access to a car wash, they give access at their own cost,” the CEO made clear.

Dr Van West-Charles revealed that a $50,000 fine for domestic customers found to be tampering with connections or the meters is on the table; while a $100,000 fine

ready proposing a monthly fixed charge of $500 along with $1500 per month. Their metered counterparts face charges of $500 per month and $112 per cubic meter.

For unmetered pensioners, a water usage charge of $740 per month is proposed, while the fixed charge will be waived.

Metered non-residential customers face a monthly charge of $500 and a monthly consumption charge of $150 per cubic meter.

Unmetered non-residential customers are charged based on the category of their operations… small, medium and large.

All these categories are proposed to pay a fixed monthly charge of $500. In the case of small operations, it is proposed that they pay $3750 per month, while medium operations are facing a $12,000 charge. Large scale consumers can end up paying $24,000.

For the sewerage tariff, GWI is proposing $417 per month for residential customers and pensioners; while a monthly charge of $2860 is being proposed for non-residential metered and unmetered small-scale consumers. Medium-scale consumers are facing a $4350 fee and large-scale consumers, a $6375 per month fee.

These charges exclude ancillary charges, which will encompass fees, including reconnection charges.

blood as gift of life for Valentine

GTT’s CEO, Justin Nedd donating blood

A

s part of showing their love for the community this Valentine, staff of GTT organised and donated blood to the National Blood Transfusion Service as their contribution towards saving lives.

The blood donation drive which was purely a staff initiative speaks of the employees care, love and concern for others.

“Being able to give the gift of life is the most loving thing our team can do

this Valentine” said Malini Gouridat, organiser in chief and head of the company’s Social Committee.

Staff member Tanesa Hodge who donated blood for the first time said she feels elated that she can actually save a life through the simple act of giving, a sentiment which was echoed by the others who also donated.

GTT’s CEO Justin Nedd also modelled the way by being a donor.

news

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thursDAY, February 15, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

BRIDGE OPENINGS The Demerara Harbour Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Thursday, February 15 – a night retraction at 04:30h and a day retraction at 14:30h-16:00h and Friday, February 16 – 05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Thursday, February 15 – 16:35h-18:05h and Friday, February 16 – 16:45h-18:15h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

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

WEATHER TODAY

Thundery showers can be expected throughout the day and into the evening, with overall temperatures ranging between 22 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East North-easterly to North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 5.36 metres.

High Tide: 04:25h and 16:38h reaching maximum heights of 2.50 metres and 2.62 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 10:13h and 22:35h reaching minimum heights of 0.70 metre and 0.58 metre respectively.

WEDNESDAY, february 15, 2018

LOTTERY NUMBERS L

04 06 07

20 21 27

9 Bonus Ball

FREE TICKET

DAILY MILLIONS 03 13 15 21 25 LUCKY 3 7 6 0

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Afternoon Draw DRAW DE LINE

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Evening Draw

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

President sees no need to review Cummingsburg Accord …says AFC has not formally approached APNU …insists agreement can be allowed to expire if not reviewed now

S

ome three months after announcing plans to review the coalition deal with its governing partner, the Alliance For Chance (AFC) is yet to formally approach the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) for this to be done.

“I have not received any word from the Leader of the Alliance For Change,” President David Granger, who is the Leader of the APNU, told reporters on Wednesday.

The APNU and AFC celebrated their third anniversary since signing the “lovers’ deal” which formed the coalition that is now governing the country.

However, the AFC of recent has come under fire for the submissive role it has been playing since joining forces with the APNU. In fact, the top leadership of the AFC had decided back mid-November to revise its governing agreement with its coalition partner.

But according to President Granger, his party is committed to the coalition and the Accord.

“What I can assure you is that the A Partnership for National Unity, which I led, has had several meetings and in the event that the Alliance For Change would like to meet or to discuss, we’re quite prepared,” he stated.

The Cummingsburg Accord has a lifespan of a minimum of three years and a maximum of five years, and was focused primarily on the General and Regional Elections. As such, the Head of State explained that the AFC has several options, including allowing the agreement to proceed as is until its expiration in two years’ time.

“All I can say at this point in time is that there is no compulsion that the Accord be reviewed…

(The AFC) can allow it to expire in 2020 or it can make request for a meeting but the A Partnership for National Unity is committed to coalition politics and I would say that the advent of the coalition into Government has been good for Guyana – we are better together and we would like to see the Accord continue,” Granger opined.

Last month, AFC’s Leader Raphael Trotman told reporters at a press conference that the party has already identified a team that will represent their interest in talks with

President David Granger

the APNU. The Cummingsburg Accord Review Committee (CARC) has eight members which include Dr Vincent Adams, Dr Rohan Somar, Marlon Williams, David Patterson, Joel Edmond, Sherod Duncan and one representative each from the party’s Women for Change and Youth for Change.

The AFC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) has mandated that the party’s leadership formally write to APNU with regard to the review and revision of the Cummingsburg Accord.

Trotman had committed to doing so to initiate discussions with its coalition partner. But several months have passed and Trotman is yet to write the APNU. This process had to be completed by the third anniversary of the signing of the Accord, February 14,

2018.

On the other hand, following the AFC’s decision to review the Accord, the minority party in the coalition Government went on to announce last month that it is considering contesting the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE) separate from the APNU. However, when contacted on Wednesday, Chairman of the AFC, Khemraj Ramjattan, indicated that the party will be discussing these matters and make the necessary decisions at their National

AFC Leader Raphael Trotman

Executive Meeting which will be held on Saturday.

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guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, February 15, 2018

Views Editor: Tusika Martin News Hotline: 231-8063 Editorial: 231-0544, 223-7230, 223-7231, 225-7761 Marketing: 231-8064 Accounts: 225-6707 Mailing address: Queens Atlantic Investment Estate Industrial Site, Ruimveldt, Georgetown Email: news@guyanatimesgy.com, marketing@guyanatimesgy.com

Loving Guyana

Y

esterday was Valentine’s Day and most Guyanese would have exchanged tokens and expressions of affection and love with others. But life in Guyana goes on and unfortunately it is not exactly suffused with "affection and love". Nowadays, especially in the public sphere, our relations are characterised by rancour and bitterness, precipitated by those emotions dominating our political relations.

But we would like to remind all Guyanese of a message we first offered during the Jubilee Year of our independence. Our country is our mother and going forwards it is hoped all of us will spare her a thought and act in a manner that expresses some "love and affection" for her. What can we do? Having achieved independence from Britain over 50 years ago – there cannot be a Guyanese who has not recited the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag, the Golden Arrowhead. We have all taken therefore, the following vow, with our hand across our breasts to emphasise our seriousness about the words recited: "I pledge myself to honour always the flag of Guyana/ and to be loyal to my country;/ to be obedient to the laws of Guyana; to love my fellow citizens and to dedicate my energies towards/ the happiness and prosperity of Guyana." Today, following Valentine's Day, let us repeat and try to put into effect our promises in our "Pledge of Allegiance".

There is that promise to "honour always" our flag – which, of course, is a symbol of our nation. In making the promise, we are asserting that Guyana must be honoured and as such we must never let it's flag be sullied. In the end, we would only be allowing our individual selves to be dishonoured. We are not sure that enough has been done to inculcate into our citizens the respect of flag and country that, for instance, was insisted on in reference to the Union Jack of Britain during the colonial era.

The prior question is whether Guyanese citizens have a deep sense of loyalty to their country – which is the second promise. Would they react positively to JFK's famous exhortation: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country"?

While one cannot speak conclusively on this issue, anecdotal evidence suggests that it does not take much for Guyanese to "bad-mouth" their country and even to "shake the dust off their feet" from it. We are reminded of some Guyanese who could actually advise investors to avoid our country.

Obeying the laws of a country is the sine qua non of peace and stability and is summarised in the phrase, "rule of law" which exhorts all that they are "under" the law equally. There are troubling signs that this is being violated. But equality of treatment under the law is one of the most important practices that must be adhered to if the country is to be honoured and inspire loyalty.

And since we have taken an oath to obey the laws, we must help in insuring that others also do the same. This does not mean that there may not be "bad" laws, but that the law itself would encompass procedures that would allow the people to deliberate on and change them if that is the general consensus.

And we arrive at our promise to love each other as citizens. That is an important distinction: we have not promised to love someone in general, but as "citizens".

We Guyanese are all citizens of this country and as such are endowed with particular rights and responsibilities towards each other and the country. To "love" another citizen, we each have to ensure that we do not infringe on their rights and that we assist them to fulfil their obligations. In that sense, we are our brother's (and sisters) keepers.

The final promise is that we do all within our power towards "the happiness and prosperity of Guyana". We commend this to our politicians.

“Valentine Mashment”: The beaming faces said it all as several persons won costumes for Mashramani on Valentine’s Day at the GTT BlackBerry Office, Brickdam see story on page 14 (Carl Croker photo)

Grace of Lent

Dear Editor, Many times, people ask me as to what I have given up for this Lent? Many Christians decide to forgo something for the season of Lent; be it meat, alcohol, chocolate, biscuits, smoking and so on. Apart from material forgoing, some make decision to forgo the things that help them to rediscover God in their lives. Why do we do that in the Lent alone? Why can’t we do it other times of the year?

What makes Lent so significant for the people of God? Lent is one of the important seasons in the Christian Liturgical Calendar. It is a season of Grace; a grace poured into our hearts ever

since we were born. We grow into an awareness of this grace and renew our relationship with God. In this season we are invited to reflect on our lives and realign our lives towards God. Lent offers us an opportunity to retrospect our commitment to God through prayer, fasting, almsgiving and penance. We acknowledge that we are weak and fragile before God despite our technological advancements. We turn towards God so that he can work in us through his mercy and compassion. We also recognise our love for God and love for our neighbour. Hence, it is a time for fixing our relationship with God. It is the time to make

God relevant in our modern times where God has become irrelevant.

Lent means ‘spring’; it is a springtime where we are renewed and refreshed through the Lenten observances. We are washed clean so that we enter into paschal mysteries of Christ death and resurrection.

The Latin-based language uses the word “Quaresma” for Lent, which simply means 40 days. After the baptism, Jesus was tempted and tried in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights while he was in prayer and fasting. Thus, the Church invites the faithful to reflect on one’s own life to be aware that we are also

tempted in our everyday lives. Temptation is part of human life, but how do we deal with it, is more important than dwelling on the issue of temptation.

The four pillars of Lent – prayer, penance, almsgiving and fasting – help not only the people in need but makes us empathise with the poor, in other words it makes us feel the pain of the needy; for instance, when we fast, we feel the hunger that a poor person goes through. These pillars help us to mend and to deepen our relationship with God. Sincerely, Fr Jerri Dias SJ

Poor sugar-consuming public Dear Editor, Reference is drawn to the article captioned “Local sugar price increases” that was carried in Guyana Times on February 13, 2018, wherein GuySuCo’s acting CEO, Paul Bhim, confirmed that the price of sugar on the local market has been increased since early February. The CEO further stated that the price “has not been increased for about eight or nine years. So, we had just finished reviewing the prices on the local market and we thought it was opportune time to increase”.

Editor, the CEO needs to advise the consuming public on who is “we” that reviewed the price and determined the increase, and secondly why now is con-

sidered the “opportune time to increase” the price of sugar; a time when almost 7000 sugar workers are out of a job, struggling to make ends meet.

There must have been valid reason why for the past eight or nine years that either the Government, its Board or corporate management decided against increasing the price of sugar. The CEO opined that “the increase has been active for about three weeks already and we haven’t had a single complaint about it. I haven’t seen anything or anyone coming to GuySuCo”.

It was only earlier this week, in a Guyana Times article, that a housewife at Canje, Rose Hall lamented that with her husband

being out of a job through the closure of the Rose Hall Estate, they could only afford one meal and the other being “sugar water” per day. Sugar, therefore, become a luxury consumable product for this family. For sure, I don’t think this family could afford to travel to the CEO’s office to complain about the increase in the price of sugar.

The CEO, in the said article, makes it appear that the increase is insignificant, which is rather misleading. Let’s look at what the increase means to the sugar company’s revenue. GuySuCo sells approximately 28,000 metric tonnes of sugar to the local market, which is equivalent to 560,000 (50)kg bags.

The CEO said the price has

been increased from $4900 to $5145 per 50kg bag; an increase of $245. It means therefore, that GuySuCo will rake in $137 million in additional revenue from an increase in price that the CEO described as insignificant.

This increased revenue is not from any strategic marketing initiative, but from the backs of the consuming public.

If the company really wants to look at conserving on cost, it needs to critically look at its high overhead expenses, including its head-office costs, and not extracting its revenue from the poor sugar-consuming public.

Yours faithfully, Selwyn Narinedatt

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

Communal pastures should Radio can be impacting remain communal Dear Editor, There is now land giving away galore at the Office of the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) at Corriverton.

On February 13, 2018, nearly 800 prospective and current cattle and rice farmers flocked the GLSC’s office to apply for lands located at the #52/66 Communal Pasture. Some even came all the way from the USA allegedly making gifts to certain officials in an attempt to get preferential treatment. It is also alleged that many local applicants followed suit.

There was a haste to dispense of monies for favours – a typical Guyanese sickness!

This pasture comprises 17,000 acres and has been in existence for decades but in the last 12 years or so, there has been a gradual fencing of portions of this pasture by cattle farmers who have been trying to stake ownership.

This was accelerated since this coalition took office. These cattle farmers have been digging and fencing huge areas which makes it impossible to drain the Pasture since water is now being trapped in these canals.

The drainage and irrigation system bore no structured design. This was evident during the heavy rainfall last year.

The savannah was heavily flooded and the water took a long time to recede.

Unfortunately, this has now progressed to the stage where the GLSC at Corriverton has been inviting and receiving applications from farmers inviting them to show an expression of interest. The Application Form is on the GLSC letterhead.

These prospective applicants have been told that they should apply for the lands at that particular location.

On many occasions, Agriculture Minister Noel Holder would have made statements on his visits to Region Six in support of the development of our cattle and dairy farming. This was also supported by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo and the Junior Finance Minister Jaipaul Sharma. However, from the applications made, it is evident that many of these applicants, nearly 90 per cent, are rice farmers and many applicants do not own any cattle, especially those from abroad. It is apparent

also that those overseas applicants have real estate intentions or intentions to rent the lands at a later date, especially when it is a known fact that many of the lease land owners reside abroad and are renting their lands for hefty rental fees.

Moreover, many cattle farmers would have complained to the PM’s representative in Region Six, Gobin Harbhajan, about the constant problems and struggles they face with rice farmers and it is clear that should rice be planted in localised areas within this savannah, then bloody and murderous conflicts may arise among these farmers.

It is indeed baffling why the Commissioner of the GLSC, Trevor Benn has not seen it fit to discuss this matter at length with Regional Chairman David Armogan so that a collective decision can be made at the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) level. Many times, the GLSC would try to impose its will in the region and the RDC have had to block the applications after the matters were reported by the affected Neighbourhood Democratic

Councils (NDC).

I have two cases at the Kilcoy/Hampshire NDC where communal pastures of more than 200 acres have been applied for and claimed by avaricious individuals to the detriment of the residents who now have no pastures to rear their animals.

Although the applications to the GLSC were blocked by the RDC upon my intervention, the individuals went ahead and fenced the lands.

These communal pastures should remain as that and should not become the private property of greedy individuals. There are lands available in remote areas – let them apply for those.

Everyone should have access to these pastures to rear their cattle and it is the function of the Government to provide access roads and proper drainage to facilitate this.

Why would Trevor Benn desire to commit such an injustice?

Yours sincerely, Haseef Yusuf RDC Councillor – Region Six Chairman (Kilcoy/ Hampshire NDC)

Dear Editor, On February 13, 2018, Word Radio Day was celebrated. The day was dedicated to the role of radio and sports.

Radio is a medium of educating, providing information, and promoting freedom of expression.

Very early in my life, I developed a keen interest in radio. I remember my parents purchasing a Panasonic Radio Cassette player in the late 1970s, way before the first television set – a gift from a migrating friend – entered our home in 1990.

My fondness for radio remains strong, with an acquired preference for certain stations and programme content.

In the 1980s I was an ardent DX-er. Only persons familiar with listening to International Radio via Short Wave would be familiar with the term DX. I listened mostly to English and Spanish broadcasts from the BBC, VOA, Radio Habana, Czech Radio and HCJB, just to name a few.

HCJB, which transmitted out of Quito, Ecuador was one of my favourites. That radio station transmitted programmes in English and Spanish.

I continue to pay keen attention to both local and international media. It is on

such volition that this missive was inspired.

In his World Radio Day message, the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres posited – “On World Radio Day, let us celebrate both radio and sports as helping people achieve their full potential.”

What I hear on many of our local radio stations nowadays is particularly worrying. I often wonder if our radio practitioners ever READ, other than when they are tasked to do so from work scripts. Sometimes, their efforts reveal a lack of familiarity or preparation of what they present. My curious thoughts also ponder if they ever hear or listen to other internationally renowned media outfits; the quality of language, grammatical usage and correctness of pronunciation.

Radio is not just informative or entertaining, it is also a learning tool and beacon of who we are and what we represent. In closing, I encourage our radio practitioners to be cognisant of the importance of their roles and thrive to perform professionally and eloquently. For radio impacts lives!

Sincerely, Orette Cutting

Ground zero at the Georgetown City Council?

Dear Editor, Well, well, well! Is it not yet ground zero at the Georgetown City Council? Is it not yet time to call in the Audit Office of Guyana and have a thorough forensic audit of its financial systems? Is it not yet time to call in the National Police?

And is it not yet time to have a Commission of Inquiry at City Hall? Where there is no vision, the people perish.

With the municipality owing the Credit Union over $26 million; the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) $127.4 million; and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), $132 million, what worse can happen at the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown that would prompt Central Government to intervene and restore some semblance of sanity there. And we have not begun to talk about their debts to agencies such as the Guyana Power and Light, the Guyana Water Inc and the other creditors.

Why is it left to the poor workers to have to go on strike to ensure that the deductions from their hard earned wages and salaries are remitted to the relevant agencies? City Hall is just a sordid den of crime.

Listening to the Council’s administration, one would never get the impression the laws of Guyana are being broken, it

more seems like they are entitled to withhold these deductions because they are cashstrapped, and that they will get around to paying it sometime when they get the money. Can you believe that?

Why does the Commissioner General of the GRA, the General Manager of the NIS and the Head of the Credit Union not take the Council to court for so palpably breaking the law? Does this have anything to do with politics? Would they allow a private entity such laxity? Why doesn’t the Social Protection Ministry come to the rescue of the municipal workers who have no benefits to obtain

from the National Insurance Scheme when they become ill, no tax refunds or clearance from the GRA and no loans from the Credit Unions when needed?

How could a public institution so publicly and casually be allowed to break the laws of the land? Why are these errant administrators still at their desks? Is there no recourse for municipal workers other than to take strike action? Is there

no recourse for the ratepayers of Georgetown? The senior administrators at City Hall are just square pegs in round holes and everyone knows it, but seems unwilling to rock the boat. They just thumb their noses at the citizenry.

The perennial excuse that the Council is cash-strapped is a feeble and worn out one. Why not slash its ginormous wages bill in half? Instead they are hiring more staff. Why not get

rid of all of those contractors, incidentally they are hiring more contractors. Why don’t they stop flying around the world with large delegations to achieve nothing?

Instead of trying to seize State lands for personal fortification, instead of forging ahead with a parking meter scam that will never work, should they not have taken the windfall they got from the container tax and paid the GRA, the NIS and

the Credit Union.

Will someone stand up and say enough is enough at City Hall? Will the incompetent, deceitful and irresponsible fat cats at City Hall who are living luxuriously off the backs of the citizens be removed and replaced with honest, capable and knowledgeable persons.

Best regards, Sambu Jacobus

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By Rebecca Wolfenden

Foundation

steps to changing child behaviour

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rocrastinating about homework.

Backtalk. Refusal to do chores.

Cursing. Most of the parents I speak with on a daily basis know something has to change with their child’s behaviour, yet they feel overwhelmed about how to change it and unsure of where to start. With this uncertainty, it’s easy to get “stuck” in a place of inaction and growing resentment that nothing is changing. What’s a parent to do?

Sometimes a good place to start is by talking with your child about what is going on. Chances are, if you are feeling that something isn’t working and are tired of constant conflict, your child has similar feelings and may be motivated to change her behaviour. But she might be overwhelmed about how to do it as well. This is when it’s helpful to remember that, as James Lehman said, good behaviour is a skill, and kids can learn the skill they need by making it a goal to achieve.

No matter what you and your child want to change, the process is similar: pick a behaviour, define the issue, plan a goal, and create steps to work toward that goal. In order for change to happen most effectively, all steps in the process need to occur.

Let’s look at each step, and how you can help your child achieve her goals.

Pick a behaviour When we coach parents, we typically advise them to focus on only one or two issues at one time. Let’s say your daugh-

guyanatimesgy.com

ter’s room is constantly dirty and messy, it’s irritating you, and you’re both arguing about this…as well as homework and bedtime issues. You can start by picking one behaviour – keeping her room clean and organised – and make a goal of that.

It is not going to be helpful to add in the other issues you’re experiencing around homework and bedtime right now. This way, you are not feeling overwhelmed, and neither is your child.

For some parents, the behaviour to work on first may be very clear-cut and easy to pick out. For others, it can feel like they are drowning in a sea of misbehaviour from their child. For these parents, it might look something like this:

the day starts with a struggle to get your kid out of bed and out the door on time.

Then you are dealing with calls from school about discipline problems in the classroom, battles with homework, and explosive outbursts which could involve verbal abuse, physical abuse, and/or destroying items within the home. When trying to address so many issues at once, it can be difficult to determine where to focus the most attention to start to make progress. In this type of situation, we recommend prioritizing any issues which pose a health or safety risk, such as substance use, abusive behaviour or any illegal activity. If none of these are present, it can be helpful to determine which area will have the most impact for your family when it is changed.

Define the issue Once you have decided where to focus your efforts, it helps to be specific about the issue at hand, and discuss how it affects your child. In the example of your daughter’s disorganised room, it isn’t very effective to simply say, “You’re so messy! How do you find anything in here?” It will be more helpful to say something like, “When I look in your room, I see laundry all over the floor and thrown in your closet. There are papers, dishes, and books stacked on your desk and your nightstand, and trash on your floor. It makes it very hard for you to find the things you need in order to be prepared to leave on time each morning. What do you see here? How do you think you would benefit from having a cleaner room?” (empoweringparents.com)

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ways to

show

your child

love

...how to dish out unexpected hugs, kisses, and cuddles to show your child affection

H

ugs, kisses, and cuddles can be a perfect cure-all – studies show that affection may boost kids' mood, health, and confidence, says Kenneth Rubin, PhD, professor of human development at the University of Maryland. Maximise the power of touch: Try massage Baby rubdowns help preemies gain weight faster and improve sleep quality.

nect in smaller ways: Ruffle his hair, roughhouse with him (yep, this counts!), dance together, or exchange winks.

Be there when she fails "Kids learn more from their missteps than their successes," says Rubin. Let her make some mistakes— then listen, and give reassurance and cuddles.

Give hugs in good times – and bad

Be random Tell your child you love her during dinner, riding in the car, or after she makes you laugh.

It's easy to be affectionate when your kid is being an angel, but it can be even more powerful to give him a big, loving squeeze after an argument.

Discipline affectionately Touch your kids even when they're acting naughty. If one sibling whacks another, for example, get down to his level, hold his hand or rub his back, and say "We don't hit. Hitting hurts!"

Get creative If your child just isn't a cuddler, you can still con-

Respect her limits Try not to smother your child if she's annoyed by it, and don't force her to kiss or hug anyone she doesn't want to (Great-Auntie will have to get over it). You also needn't stress about being Super Affectionate Mom all the time to make sure your child feels loved.

She does! (parenting.com)

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thursDAY, february 15, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

CJ, Chancellor non-appointment

Jagdeo, Granger trade barbs F

ollowing Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo’s rejection of the nominees for the Chancellor of the Judiciary and Chief Justice posts, President David Granger has reiterated that he wants to rid State offices of acting appointments, and as such, he will be meeting with his legal team to ascertain the way forward as it relates to the appointments of these two top judicial positions.

“I have to be advised by my Minister of Legal Affairs and Attorney General.

We cannot be without a Chancellor and a Chief Justice (any longer). Right now, two persons are acting and I had hoped that we could have moved forward by having a substantive or fulltime appointment agreed.

But this has not happened and the Constitution requires me to await the approval of the Leader of the Opposition and this hasn’t come so I will have to depend on legal advice and make sure the court continues to function,” he told media operatives on the sidelines of an event at the State House.

When asked about the possibility of his two nominees being appointed to act in the positions given the Opposition Leaders’ non-approval for their substantive appointment, the Head of State noted that, “It is not desirable to continue the practice of acting which existed for several years and I would like to have sub-

substantive appointments for the top judicial posts.

In keeping with Article 127 (1) which states that “the Chancellor and the Chief Justice shall each be appointed by the President,

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

stantive appointments. It’s a question of necessity; the courts cannot be paralysed by the behaviour of one person. After the first meeting I waited nearly a month and I was a little disappointed with the final outcome but that is his constitutional decision,” the President stated.

Last week, Jagdeo in a letter – which was released to the media – addressed to the President, said after having duly considered the nominations of Justice Benjamin and Justice Cummings-Edwards under Article 127 (2) of the Constitution, he is unable to offer his agreement for their appointments.

However, the Opposition Leader has since indicated his willingness to further engage the President on substantive appointments to the top judicial positions.

To this end, Minister of State Joseph Harmon the following day said

President David Granger

Government will be going ahead with “meaningful consultations” between the two sides as provided for in the Constitution.

“Mr Jagdeo’s rejection is constitutional, the President’s powers are also constitutional and there is a provision in the law which provides that in the event there cannot be agreement… then there is a second level which now requires meaningful consultations. So I believe that is the next step we will go to,” the Minister had said.

According to Article 127 (2) of the Constitution; “If the office of Chancellor or Chief Justice is vacant… then, until a person has been appointed…, those functions shall be performed by such other of the Judges as may be appointed by the President”.

On January 3, President Granger and his team held a meeting with the Opposition Leader and his team on the

Suspect nabbed after allegedly raping 3-year-old

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enior Police officials on Wednesday confirmed that the 24-year-old Corentyne man who was on the run after allegedly raping his 3-year-old relative on Friday last was apprehended and is expected to be charged shortly.

A source told Guyana Times that the man was apprehended by Police a short distance from his Corentyne, Berbice home.

It was reported that on the day in question, the child was left in the care of the suspect’s mother, as the child’s mother went to attend to her farm in the backlands.

On Friday last, the suspect’s mother left the child unattended and it was then that her son allegedly committed the act.

Based on reports, it was when the mother of the child collected her daughter af-

ter returning from the backlands, that the girl complained that the suspect interfered with her private parts.

As such, the mother contacted the Police and the three-year-old was medically examined, where it was confirmed that there was sexually penetration. The suspect remains in custody and is assisting with investigations.

acting after obtaining the agreement of the Leader of the Opposition”, the two parties agreed to meet again on February 7, 2018 to follow up on the proposed names for appointment of

the Chancellor and Chief Justice.”

However, on that date, the Opposition Leader wrote the Head of State, indicating his rejection of the nominees after due diligence.

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Elderly women homeless after early morning blaze, arson suspected

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pensioner and security guard are now without a roof over their heads after an early morning fire destroyed their D’Urban Street, Georgetown home.

Homeless are Ingrid Barry, 80, and Donna Forth who both occupied the Lot 59 D’Urban Street house.

According to reports, the fire broke out in the upper flat of the two storied concrete house at around 01:00h.

Guyana Times understands Barry was reportedly asleep in her home when she was awakened by a loud noise; as if something was

The burning house

thrown through a window of the house.

After the sound, the woman relayed that she

smelled strong smoke and as such, quickly escaped the building through the back door.

Upon reaching to safety, the woman reportedly alerted neighbours who contacted the Guyana Fire Service.

However, upon their arrival, the fire was well underway.

Forth, who occupied the lower flat of the house, was not at home at the time of the incident.

This publication was informed by Fire Chief Marlon Gentle that the matter is being treated as an act of arson, as a bottle with a wick was found at the scene.

Reports also indicate that ownership of the property has been under dispute for quite some time.

Pensioner discovered hanging in home

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he body of a pensioner was on Tuesday discovered by his son, hanging in his Cove and John, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home in an apparent suicide.

Seventy-four-year-old Kemraj Ramadar of Lot 3

South, Cove and John, was last seen alive on Monday.

According to reports, the man who suffers from stroke-like illnesses lived alone. He was reportedly last seen when he visited his doctor.

Guyana Times under-

stands that the dead man’s son, 54-year-old Negnadeo Ramadar, however reported that he visited his father on Monday afternoon and returned on Tuesday morning where he found his father hanging in the patio.

His body was discovered

in a standing position with a yellow rope around his neck.

Checks made showed no signs of foul play, however blood was found on the man’s cabinet.

The Police are investigating the matter.

North Ruimveldt granny murder

Case adjourned as defence lawyer withdraws appearance

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he High Court trial of Second Street, Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara resident Kevon Alfred was halted on Wednesday, following the withdrawal of his attorney, Senior Counsel Stanley Moore.

Presiding Judge, Justice Navindra Singh informed the

12-member jury of the lawyer being unable to continue the case due to “other obligations”. Alfred was given time to secure another attorney and Justice Singh adjourned the matter to Monday for an update.

Alfred stands accused of murdering 75-year-old Joyce Lewis on March 26, 2014,

at her Lot 3630 Christiani Street, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown home. According to reports, Lewis’s lifeless body was found in her home

by Police and her sister, Veronica Deen on the morning of March 26.

Five months after the woman was killed, Alfred was arrested and charged with the

Murder accused: Kevon Alfred

Murdered pensioner: Joyce Lewis

murder. He was committed to stand trial in the High Court on October 19, 2015 by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

The State’s case is being presented by Prosecutors Tiffini Lyken, Abigail Gibbs and Narissa Leander. The State is expected to call several witnesses when the trial commences on Wednesday.

Playing around…

T …with crime numbers

o say the Police Force has a credibility problem would be the understatement of the year. What with daily revelations of Cops and ex-Cops involved in robberies, murder, carjackings, extortion (at traffic stops) etc etc…you’d have a hard time distinguishing between the Cops and the robbers!! And it doesn’t help that the Police Complaints Authority building was broken into and robbed of its computers. Is your Eyewitness paranoid to suspect it may be an “inside job” looking for files?? Have they even replaced Justice Kennard as head?

Anyhow, the Police just released their stats on “serious” crimes for last month, compared to last January. And of course the point of the whole exercise was to announce that “serious” crimes are down 19 per cent!! Are they serious?? Who’d they think they’re fooling? Not the Americans and Brits who – during that same month when crime was supposedly plunging precipitously – warned their citizens in Guyana to take special precautions because of the crime wave!! And be assured since the Brits are the driving force behind Police Reform, they have hard data to back up their warning!!

But for what it’s worth (no much!!) let’s look at what the Police concocted. First of all let’s examine what they call “serious” crimes. Murder’s serious…but that remained identical. Robberies under arms (firearms) remained the same astronomically high 45. “Robberies with violence” is serious…and that ROSE by 45 per cent!! But guess what?

The Police included “larceny from person” as a “serious” crime and that FELL by 50 per cent!! To wipe out the rise!!

Now you know the Police is messing with our heads, don’t you?? “Larceny from the person is when the goods are taken directly from the person but without any violence or intimidation.” How can the Police give the same “value” in their calculations to the seven murders and the six “larceny from person”?? So the fella “thief” your sheep…it’s a crime all right. Or more pertinently so is the Traffic Cop shaking you down for a “Granger”. But is it what we, the ordinary citizen think about when we think of “serious” crimes?? In fact, in England, where our laws originated, they’ve abolished the crime of larceny and broken it down into the other categories our Police state separately, such as robbery and robbery under arms etc!!

Let’s face it dear readers, we’re concerned about “serious” crimes that expose us to personal danger – aren’t we?? And from the Police own figures – which your Eyewitness has some serious concerns – those crimes have certainly not decreased by any 19 per cent.

So imagine if the real numbers – which the Brits must’ve seen – were released!!

And this Govt’s supposed to be the “law and order” mavens!!

…with love

Now that Valentine’s Day is behind us and hopefully Cupid has put away his bow and arrows for a while, your eyewitness hopes APNU and AFC will get their act together. In Guyana, domestic violence is a serious thing and these two national entities aren’t setting a good example on how a marriage should unfold. They started out well like very modern couples when they announced their “pre-nuptial” Accord, brokered in the ward of Cummingsburg.

But from there onwards it’s been all downhill. The bride got absolutely nothing she was promised. And very sadly, has had to remain quiet for fear of having her spending money and credit cards taken away. But the pre-nup had a clause mandating after three years, there has to be a new agreement. Your Eyewitness suggests the AFC should now file for divorce…since from the actions of APNU, they clearly have some fresh young “meat” in sight, claiming the AFC’s “dead meat”.

The property acquired during the marriage will have to apportioned equally for alimony.

Fifty per cent of oil revenues?? …with rice No here it was, the Administration’s boasting about ALL the rice produced had found markets.

So could they please inform Panama it has to PAY for the rice and paddy shipped??

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

News

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thursDAY, february 15, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Controversial Lindo Creek CoI commences today A lmost 10 years after the eight miners were killed, the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the Lindo Creek Massacre, which has been dubbed a “kangaroo commission” is set to commence the first set of public hearings this morning at the Ministry of the Presidency’s Department of Public Service on Waterloo Street, Georgetown.

According to reports, another set of public hearings is set for February 19 to 22.

The hearings will be heard from 09:00h to 16:00h.

Retired Justice Donald Trotman, 80, is the lone commissioner who was selected

by President David Granger to oversee the CoI. Trotman had said that the main objective of the CoI was to find the truth and to bring healing and closure to the nation as a whole. He said he hoped that the Lindo Creek and

Retired Justice Donald Trotman

other inquiries would help bring about reconciliation among Guyanese. Justice Trotman, who has decades of experience serving in the legal profession, said that the process could not be seen as a one-man show, but rather the Commission would include all persons who know and have information and come forward to say what

happened, in the national interest and in the interest of Government.

President Granger had described Lindo Creek as a “massacre of the innocence”, saying that his Government believed the way the investigation was handled indicated that there was a high level of collusion. He had also rejected suggestions to extend the CoI’s focus to several years before 2008 when other major criminal activities had plagued the country.

“We are not going backwards, we are going forward,” he had observed.

Some time between June 12, 2008 and June 24, 2008, miners Cecil Arokium, Dax Arokium, Compton Speirs, Horace Drakes, Clifton Wong, Lancelot Lee, Bonny Harry and Nigel Torres were shot and killed, and their bodies burnt at the Upper Berbice River mining

camp which was being operated by Leonard Arokium.

Retired Justice Trotman is the father of Government Minister Raphael Trotman.

This is just one of the reasons why the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) has expressed scepticism about participating and supporting the work of the Commission as the Party believes that given the manner in which the CoI was dragged constituted and the commentary from senior Government officials, it is designed to achieve a political outcome and continue the Government’s programme of witch-hunting Opposition personalities.

The PPP/C has even said that the inquiry should have started from the period 1998 when the real wave of ethno-political violence commenced, which would assist in addressing the root cause of the violence.

Jagdeo says Granger’s ‘paralysing Judiciary’ comment disingenuous, dishonest

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pposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo on Wednesday described comments made by President David Granger with respect to his decision to reject two persons nominated by the President to be appointed as Guyana’s next Chief Justice and Chancellor, as disingenuous and dishonest. Jagdeo said it is his constitutional right to object to the appointment of any nominee if he has sufficient believe that a better candidate could be appointed. He maintained that a careful decision was taken after his due diligence process not to agree to the appointments of Justice Kenneth Benjamin and Yonette CummingsEdwards as Guyana’s next substantive Chancellor and Chief Justice respectfully.

“I’ve always harboured the suspicion, and I’ve spoken publicly about this before, that President Granger

has to be living in a parallel universe,” the Opposition Leader remarked.

He said for the President to “say that a decision of mine, which does not agree to his nominees for the Chancellor and Chief Justice positions would paralyse the Judiciary, is disingenuous.

It is not only disingenuous, it is downright dishonest”.

Jagdeo reminded that for 12 years, the People’s National Congress and the A Partnership for National Unity never agreed to a substantive appointment in the Judiciary as a whole, especially to the Chancellor and the Chief Justice’s posts and that did not paralyse the Judiciary. “To say now that my decision not to agree to his nominees will paralyse the Judiciary is dishonest”, Jagdeo insisted as he promised to address the comment made by the President in more detail during his next media briefing.

B Division Commander visits dead officer’s family GTT begins free modem

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ollowing the death of a 38-year-old Police Inspector, a group of religious leaders from the Force’s Cops and Faith Network along with the Divisional Commander on Wednesday visited the officer’s grieving family.

Inspector Ian Welch of Rose Hall, Berbice, died in a vehicular accident sometime around 17:15h on Tuesday at Rattle-Snake Hill Trail Road, Central Rupununi, Lethem.

The team comprised of B Division (Berbice) Commander, Assistant Commissioner Lyndon Alves; Force Welfare Officer, Deputy Superintendent Lorraine Saul; Force Chaplain, Pastor Patrick Doolichand; and Reverend

Dead: Inspector Ian Welch

Raphael Massiah of the First Assembly of God Church.

They met and consoled the bereaved mother, sister and common-law wife of the now deceased Inspector,

and informed them that the Force will be lending its full support to the family in their time of turmoil.

Reverend Massiah, who is one of the founding members of the Fallen Heroes Foundation Inc, shared prayers with family members as he listened to their heartfelt remarks about Inspector Ian Welch.

According to reports, Welch along with Constable Lyzandel Northe, Corporal Fitzgerald Adolphus, Special Constable Ryan Doris and Rural Constable Chavez Francis were on patrol duty when the accident occurred.

It was reported that the ranks were on patrol duty when the vehicle, PVV 662 driven by Northe, which was

proceeding along the trail, experienced a ‘blow out’ of its right rear tyre after which the driver reportedly lost control and the vehicle turned-turtle twice before coming to a halt.

Inspector Welch, who was seated in the front passenger side of the vehicle, sustained severe injuries.

They were all rushed to the Lethem Regional Hospital where the Inspector was pronounced dead on arrival and his colleagues were treated for minor injuries.

Welch, 38, of Rose Hall, Corentyne, Berbice, joined the Force on May 5, 1999 and was recently recognised by the Force after being adjudged third place winner of its Quarterly Essay Competition.

change in Berbice

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ustomers in the New Amsterdam and Rose Hall, Berbice areas will soon begin experiencing significantly better online experiences, more stable and stronger Internet connections, and better technical support as a result of GTT’s project to change their modems. The modem change-out programme will be done from Friday, February 16 until Sunday, February 18, 2018, and is the first part of a wider ongoing project, which will be done in phases in several other parts of Guyana.

The process is a simple one where customers are sent appointment invitations via email, SMS and phone calls,

encouraging them to take their modems to the GTT New Amsterdam office.

Invited customers are required to take their current modem along with the power cord and present their national ID. Those who are not the account holders must present a written authorisation along with their ID and that of the official account holder. The process would take no longer than five minutes.

Every customer who keeps their appointment for the change-out will receive $3000 credit on their April DSL bill.

Similar invitations will be sent to customers as the project moves to other communities.

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NEWS

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thursDAY, February 15, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Rafiq Khan appointed as Truck driver remanded acting Justice of Appeal for 9.376kg of cocaine

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n order to address the current shortage of Judges at the Court of Appeal, President David Granger on Thursday appointed Senior Counsel Rafiq Turnhan Khan as an acting Justice of Appeal.

Senior Counsel Khan is expected to hold the position for a period of six months.

In an invited comment, he explained that he was interviewed for the post since last July but had some hiccups in clearing his workload, hence the reason for him only now taking up the post.

“I think I can bring vast experience in civil procedures. When you come out of the Private Sector and come onto the bench, I think you bring a different perspective, not saying it’s a better perspective but you get wider views of complex legal problems and you have different experiences and it helps to widen the scope and vision of the decision you initially give,” he noted.

President David Granger said the Constitution guarantees citizens equal access to justice and protection.

“The Government of the Cooperative Republic of

From left: Attorney General Basil Williams; acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards; President David Granger; Justice Rafiq Khan; acting Chief Justice Roxane George; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon; and Public Affairs Minister Dawn Hastings-Williams

Guyana is committed to ensuring equal protection and benefit of the law through its support for access by all to justice and the efficient and timely dispensation of justice by the courts.

Equality before the law can exist only where there is access to the law. The absence of such access deprives citizens of equal protection and benefit of the law,” the President said.

He also pointed out that an efficient and independent Judiciary must include a full complement of legal officers, Magistrates and Judges, which enables judicial efficiency, to ensure that citizens’ cases are heard expeditiously. This, he said, will enhance public confidence in the rule of law.

Justice Khan was elevated to the status of Senior Counsel in 2017. He has been practicing mostly civil law for the past 30 years and is a partner at the Cameron and Shepherd Law Firm.

According to his biodata on the firm’s website, he was admitted to practice in Guyana in 1984 after graduating from the University of the West Indies with a law degree and obtained a Legal Education Certificate from the Norman Manley Law School in Jamaica. He joined Cameron and Shepherd the same year as an associate counsel and became a partner in 1986. Senior Counsel Khan is the leading practitioner in intellectual property in Guyana and has represented Government at

intellectual property conferences in Geneva and Ecuador. He has served on the Legal Practitioners Committee for several years and is a member of the Rules Committee charged with revising the Rules of the High Court, in addition to having lectured in contract and equitable remedies at the University of Guyana.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon; Attorney General Basil Williams; Public Affairs Minister Dawn Hastings-Williams; acting Chancellor of the Judiciary, Yonette CummingsEdwards; acting Chief Justice Roxane George; and Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan were also present at the swearing-in ceremony.

Baldeo Persaud

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he truck driver who reportedly drove the vehicle which contained 20 pounds of cocaine concealed in a shipment of frozen fish was on Wednesday remanded to prison, after he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Thirty-two-year-old Baldeo Persaud of Kingston Street, C Field Leonora, West Coast Demerara (WCD), was not allowed to plead to the charge which alleged that on February 6, 2018, at Laparkan Cargo Shed, Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), he attempt-

ed to traffic 9.3766 kilograms of cocaine.

The father of one was represented by Attorney Bernard DaSilva. He was remanded to prison and will return on March 7.

His accomplice, 30-yearold businessman Amir Ally, was slapped with the same charged and remanded to prison on February 9, 2018.

The court heard that the cocaine was concealed in party frozen fish scheduled for export to the United States of America. The shipper, Ally, was arrested shortly after.

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thursDAY, February 15, 2018 | GUYANATIMESGY.COM

Insurance applicants’ political affiliation not required – FIU

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wo days after the Opposition slammed moves taken by several local insurance companies here to request from applicants their political affiliation, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has noted that this should not form part of any requirement and was a total misunderstanding.

FIU Director Matthew Langevine said the policy may be misguided based on provisions for the Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/ CFT) legislation for Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs).

A PEP is defined by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as an individual who is or has been entrusted with a prominent public function and owing to their position, has some influence.

Langevine said, “It is not intended to work by these reporting entities asking you about your political affilia-

tion.” While explaining that each insurance company is expected to use its discretion to identify PEPs, he said the move to ask everyone their political affiliation was reckless.

“Persons will give information that could be misleading.

So, it is not for you (insurance companies) to go questioning every single person whether they are politically exposed or not. You are supposed to make that determination based on your knowledge of the office that that person may hold,” Langevine stated.

The FIU Head also stated that these companies should be guided Recommendation 12 from the FATF, the global body which sets standards and promotes effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats. The AML/ CFT Act of 2009 has risk management systems in place to

determine whether a customer is a PEP. On that note, Langevine noted that the regulations do not apply to any customer. The FIU, he said, has already been asked by the Bank of Guyana to meet with insurance companies to discuss the issue and clarify how their due diligence should be conducted within the right framework.

Langevine said the intention was not to place additional burden on customers of different entities, including insurance companies.

Instead, it should be implemented within the context of addressing the issue, understanding the nature of transactions being done by these PEPs. The People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was the first to speak out on this issue when it noted that almost all insurance companies have included on their application

FIU Director Matthew Langevine

forms a query about political affiliation. The Party has since urged Government to take action to reverse what it described as a “retrograde move”.

The PPP/C said that Article 149 (2) specifically protects all Guyanese citizens from discrimination on many grounds, including “political opinion, conscience and belief”. Article 147 also guarantees citizens’ right to freedom of association, the right to be-

long and form political parties.

“Therefore, any request for one’s political affiliation would be in violation of these Articles of the Constitution.

In addition, S18 of the 1998 Prevention of Discrimination Act, which specifically addresses ‘Application forms, etc’, states that it is unlawful for a person to request or require any other person to provide information relative to their political opinions.”

As such, the PPP/C has urged Government, the insurance companies in question, and related entities, to disclose if this was a new policy, under what statute has it been implemented, and why there has been no public announcement of this new requirement.

Attorney and political analyst Christopher Ram has also described the move as unconstitutional. While not commenting specifically on

the Opposition’s arguments, Ram said that it was absurd that any insurance company or banking institution should be given that authority.

“The thing about Politically Exposed Persons is a question of definition and it’s persons who hold positions in political parties and so on.

A member of a political party isn’t automatically a PEP,” he said.

When asked whether there was need for a further amendment to the Act, the Attorney said that the question should be asked whether that was necessary or it was being badly applied.

Refusing a business relationship with a PEP simply based on the determination that the client is a PEP is contrary to the letter and spirit of Recommendation 12. The PPP/C contends that this definition does not refer to nor require any citizen to state their political party affiliation.

NEWS

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2 more arrested at Yarrowkabra ‌as Police cut deeper into carjacking ring

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s the Police continue to put a dent in the carjacking ring, two other men were taken into custody following an-

evening, resulted in the arrest of 14 people to date, including an ex-Policeman.

In the most recent raid, ranks of A Division

been stolen.

Shortly after, the team travelled to another location in the same village and arrested a 39-year-old

The cars and bikes suspected to be stolen or unlawfully obtained

other raid at Yarrowkabra, Soesdyke/Linden Highway, which earthed four other vehicles that might have been stolen or unlawfully obtained.

The operation, which was launched on Friday

(Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) swooped down on a location at Yarrowkabra where they found a black Toyota Premio motorcar bearing registration number PMM 6979, suspected to have

taxi driver on whose premises two dirt bikes – a black Honda Tornado and a CRF Honda 150 where found.

Both motorbikes are suspected to have been unlawfully obtained.

In addition, a 22-year-

old taxi driver of Chand Sand Road, Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara was alerted of the operation and hurriedly handed over a beige Spacio motor car with reg-

istration plates PPP 82 to ranks of the Timehri Police Station.

The car was reportedly given to him to work on by the ex-Policeman who is

already in Police custody.

Nevertheless, the Soesdyke resident was arrested. All the vehicles are lodged at the Brickdam Police Station.

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GTT promotion kick-starts Mashramani activities

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TT on Wednesday c o m m e n c e d the drawing of its “Valentine Mashment Promotion” at the Blackberry Office, Brickdam, in which 70 customers were winners of many colourful costumes.

This Promotion is also in light of the company’s 23rd anniversary celebrations. The 70 persons who purchased unlimited data plans were the recipients of these costumes and would be featured in the company’s costume float parade contingent, which is themed “Amazon Gems”.

They are expecting to see a huge turnout of approximately 400 persons.

GTT Public Relations Officer (PRO) Nadia De Abreu, when asked about the celebrations, stated that it has been a while since the company has participated in the Mashramani parade, so this would be a big comeback. This is also the company’s gesture of

Tuschen kidnapping

Child Care and Protection Agency probing child’s living arrangements ...as Police search for suspect

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Representatives of GTT, including GTT PRO Nadi De Abreu conducting the drawing

giving back to valued customers and providing them with an unforgettable experience.

There are many ongoing and scheduled activities slated for this period in which persons can get a chance to win costumes and participate in the GTT Mash band. There is an ongoing fitness campaign on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Everest Cricket Club Ground that will conclude on February 21, with the fitness finale.

“Activation giveaways” were also conducted, in which 20 persons who applied for service during the anniversary period also won costume prizes. The number of combined winners from these promotions will add up to over 90 winners. There will also be a limited number of costumes available at Pulse Entertainment, who has partnered with GTT and online, for those who would like to be part of the company’s float.

he Guyana Police Force is currently hunting a man who allegedly grabbed eightyear-old Anellie Hoyte and forced her into a dark coloured car as she was about to enter the Tuschen Primary School’s compound on Wednesday last. This is being done in conjunction with the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) as they investigate the living arrangements of the minor.

She was found in the care of her father’s great aunt at North East La Penitence, Georgetown on Monday.

The minor has since been taken into State custody and according to the head of the CC&PA, Ann Greene, they have since launched an investigation to determine what transpired and the state of care afforded to the minor by her mother.

It was reported that a relative abused Hoyte a few years ago but when asked, Greene indicated that the Agency is yet to receive such information, noting that they have only now begun their investigation.

The child was abduct-

ed at about 09:00h on Wednesday last, reportedly as she was about to enter the school’s compound. She was grabbed from behind by a male and placed in a parked, dark coloured car, which then sped away.

Students milling outside of the school witnessed the incident and quickly reported what transpired to a teacher, who then made contact with the child’s mother and the incident was reported to the Leonora Police Station. According to the child, the male took her to the Vreed-en-Hoop junction in a dark coloured car and left her there. She then boarded a route 32 minibus, travelled to Georgetown and was seen by friends of relatives who took her to the North East La Penitence area.

Her mother, Alisha Marcus, related that her husband died just over two months ago, and his mother, who resides overseas, has since allegedly been attempting to take her daughter from her. In her attempts to so do, it is alleged that the child’s paternal grandmother made contact

with the Welfare Office in Guyana, where she accused Marcus of being an unfit mother.

The worried mother of three explained that a group of welfare officers had carried out an investigation of the woman’s allegations and found them to be untrue.

However, the grandmother, Mrs Hoyte (only name given), vehemently denied playing a part in the abduction of the minor. She said the child was placed in her care a few years ago after it was discovered that a relative of her mother abused Anellie.

She said the issue was reported to the Police and the welfare officers granted her temporary care of the minor but alleges that the child was coerced into moving back with her mother.

Mrs Hoyte explained that she was informed that her granddaughter was found wandering the streets at around 20:00h last Wednesday and that was the reason she was taken to North East La Penitence.

Investigations are still ongoing as the child remains in State care.

news

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thursDAY, February 15, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ex-sugar workers to Granger: “Sit with us, feel our pain” …as desperation kicks in as a result of collapsing economic situation

By Samuel Sukhnandan

A

n ex-employee of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) is urging President David Granger and his Cabinet Ministers to give up being transported in their luxury vehicles for one day and instead meet with the fired workers, to have a better understanding of the issues they face and their families.

Glen McCloud, an ex-employee of the Rose Hall Estate, said only then will

Retrenched sugar worker Glendon Grant

the Government be able to realise the effects of the unconscionable decision they have taken, not only to close sugar estates, but to downsize the industry, putting thousands of people on the breadline.

“Don’t come on the television and talk nonsense that God want this or that. Come and sit with the people. Feel and see where it hurts most,

then you are going to realise what is going on. But when you come and tell we this and that and jump in your fancy vehicle and gone, it’s like out of sight out of mind.”

McCloud who was accompanied by a small group of ex-workers at the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU) headquarters in Georgetown on Wednesday; spoke extensively about the issues facing persons affected by the retrenchment and what could be done to reverse the hardships.

While a lot of non-governmental organisations have already reached out to affected communities, McCloud said no one from Government ever made an effort to meet with the ex-employees on the ground. “Instead, they getting on the television and telling you about jobs and gas and oil,” he stated.

And although a commitment was made by Government to provide land spaces to these ex-employees to cultivate other crops, they are yet to deliver on this promise. McCloud said, “Up to today we don’t know where the land is. Nobody has gotten on back to us. All they doing is to get on the television and tell the people what they want but let them tell the public the reality and the truth of it.”

“All we are asking them to do is to come and see where it hurt most. Nothing hurts a man or a family or a father like when your kid gets up in the morning and cry, and when you look at

The group of sugar workers from all estates on Wednesday

them and you can’t do anything. They know what is depression? They know what frustration is?”

McCloud said he finds it disturbing that the

Former Rose Hall Estate employee Glen McCloud

Government which sent large delegations a few days ago to meet with workers came empty handed. The visitors, he said, came just to make speeches filled with sweet words and to take photographs.

“Not one of them took the time to walk the villages and see the evident deterioration which has stepped in the communities; to look

us in our eyes and to explain to us why they took such terrible decisions; and to visit our homes, to see firsthand the paucity of rations, and to see the hardships we and our families face.”

McCloud said while the advice on how to utilise their severance pay is welcomed, he believes that people are being misled to believe that it is a substantial amount.

He said investing $500,000 into a long-term employment option is highly impossible, especially when certain considerations are taken into account.

“Workers simply do not know what to do. We spend our days moving from street to street, village to village, and business to business seeking jobs. Some of us have looked far and wide but simply cannot find one or one with pay that you can survive on,” he explained.

Even some workers who have secondary and technical education have found securing a job difficult. And, in those per chance instances where workers do manage to find a job, they confront the stark reality that it is temporary and their wages are far below what they earned in

De Kendren Health Centre woes

RHO says his hands are tied, blames drug shortage on politics

R

egion Three’s (Essequibo IslandsWest Demerara) Regional Health Officer (RHO) is now claiming that the “political nature” of the community of De Kendren, West Coast Demerara (WCD,) is the contributing factor that has led to the Public Health Ministry not being able to implement the “Public Health agenda” at the health centre there.

Guyana Times had recently reported the woes that are plaguing the De Kendren Health Centre which had caused the doctor and nurses at the facility to down tools, refusing to work. One of those woes was a major drug shortage.

The health centre’s Pharmacist, Jennifer Thompson, decried the medication shortage which she said has been ongoing for a lengthy period.

Thompson relayed that on many occasions, and as a result of the shortage, she was forced to use her own monies to purchase drugs for patients at the centre.

“We do not get the amount

One of the pipes being used by the medical personnel

of drugs and our clinic people are using the drugs. I am working at another place and sometimes I have to bring drugs from that end to give my patients. Sometimes I have to take my own money, especially to buy the types of medication needed the most here. When you go to uplift drugs, they have your book long and when you do get the drugs, it is just a few things,” Thompson complained.

However, the Region’s Health Officer, Dr Ravendra Dudhnath denied that there

is a shortage at the facility and in the same breath reported that two former RHOs had informed that there were grave difficulties in implementing the “public health agenda in the predominantly agricultural community based on the nature of politics there”.

According to the doctor, the reports given by the pharmacist and a pensioner who reported that since October last, he was unable to receive insulin from the facility, are false.

Dr Dudhnath reiterated that there “is no shortage of drugs at the facility”.

Additionally, the RHO blamed the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI) and a dismantled trestle for the lack of water at the centre.

Nurse Nikita Johnson had reported to this publication that in order for care to be provided to patients, nurses would be forced to fetch water from aback the facility’s yard which has not been cleaned for months and as such is “high with grass!”

The angered nurse decried the punishment that

has to be endured at her place of work explaining “out of the kindness of my heart I go at the back to climb up on a trestle to turn on a pipe to get some water. When that tank is empty, we have no water. The clinic attendant she usually does it because she has to wipe and clean and it is very unfair to her to be putting on a long boots to go where snakes and all different things that can attack her. And I said to myself that I am not doing it anymore!

When it comes to the washroom, you gotta take a bucket and throw in water over the urine and faeces and what not and that is unsanitary!”

The condition of the health centre’s yard, Dudhnath explained, is as a result of tenders being out for maintenance of the yard and as a consequence he cannot employ anyone to clear it of the overgrown weeds. The RHO said his hands are “tied”.

As such, the medical personnel at the health centre are calling for the officials of the Health Ministry to send a team to visit to the facility.

the sugar industry.

Unfair

Another former employee of GuySuCo, who has given over two decades of his service to the industry, decried the manner in which Government went about its reconfiguration and downsizing plans. Glendon Grant described this move as “unfair”, especially when one is to take into account the social and economic implications this decision has had on many communities countrywide.

“We area in East Canje depends primarily on sugar, the whole of Skeldon and Rose Hall, the whole rural area. That is what we grow up on. And we got so much people done not working and some more people by March month would get them severance and that is it,” he explained.

The ex-sugar worker said by downsizing the industry, the Government has now affected thousands of people’s livelihoods and things could only get worse going forward.

Grant who spoke passionately about the challenges he and his colleagues face said its only time before more

people start turning to suicide and other social ills to deal with their problems.

A former worker of the Wales Sugar Estate said the situation is now having a negative effect on the family unit in many rural communities like his, since there have been several instances where housewives have left their unemployed husbands.

He said not only are people worried about how they will pay their mortgage, but also their hire purchase bills, electricity, water and other utilities.

“Now with the severance you might be able to patch up lil holes that yah got but how long that will last? I got but seven or 10 friends and them man wife left them the other day. When you get a porter work, give you for a week.

It’s a lot of things we got on we head to study. We got children to go to school and that’s why we wife leffing we and we have to hold up.”

The group of former GuySuCo employees from almost all of the estates is also urging Government to reconsider its decision to close the estates and have them reemployed with the Corporation.

GTT technician falls from utility pole after electric shock …company launches probe

G

TT technician David Kunath was rushed to a city hospital following his swift fall from a power pole at New Garden Street, Queenstown, Georgetown, on Wednesday.

According to reports, the technician was performing network activity duties for the phone company when he came into contact with

a Guyana Power & Light (GPL) transformer around 09:00h.

Eyewitnesses who immediately contacted emergency services reported hearing a loud band and witnessing a flash a light. They then saw the injured man on the ground. Guyana Times understands that Kunath’s condition was listed as serious as medical personnel continue to address his injuries which extended to burns about the body.

GTT issued a statement

following the indecent which confirmed that the man was performing duties on their behalf. “Right now, our primary concern is the health and wellbeing of our colleague and his family members,” the phone company noted.

Meanwhile, GPL observing the seriousness of the man’s injuries stated that it wishes him a speedy recovery.

“At present, both GPL and GTT officials are working collectively to ascertain the circumstances which led to the injuries sustained by Mr Kunath. Following the completion of ongoing investigations of [Wednesday’s] regrettable occurrence, both companies will further update the family of Mr Kunath and the general public,” the power company advised.

16 news

thursDAY, february 15, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

No review of ExxonMobil contract – President Granger J

ust over one week after Presidential Adviser on Petroleum, Dr Jan Mangal said Government can review and renegotiate the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with ExxonMobil, President David Granger on Monday said Cabinet does not intend to do such at this time.

He noted that the PSA is currently engaging the attention of Cabinet and a decision would be made.

“The contract is an agreement between two parties and these things have to be portrayed carefully. There is no prospect at the said time that it is the intention of Cabinet to review it (the contract) but as I said, it is before Cabinet,” Granger said as he spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the swearing in ceremony of acting Justice of Appeal, Rafiq Turhan Khan.

But Dr Mangal told reporters on the sidelines of an oil and gas forum at the University of Guyana last Wednesday that when situations change and one party to a contract is dissatisfied

President David Granger

with the contract it has with another, then amendments can be made. He was at the time referring to the oil contract between Guyana and ExxonMobil, criticising the low royalty, tax exemption and large concession given to the US oil company.

Under the renegotiated agreement, Guyana receives two per cent royalty on earnings from ExxonMobil’s oil sales while the US oil giant would not be required to pay taxes on its share of the profits and according to

the President’s Petroleum Adviser, that is low compared to global standards. He also raised concerns about the system used to negotiate that agreement and also the expertise of the persons doing the negotiating.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall called the President’s statement an abomination and a slap in the face of the Guyanese people.

He noted that the PSA is the most important contract entered into by any Government since Independence and called for the immediate review of the agreement since there are several analysis of the agreement that supports that view.

“It is pellucid to any sensible Government that this contract was a badly negotiated contract… any government that has the people’s interest at heart would want to ensure that Guyana’s interest and the people’s interest are paramount and if that contract does not make those interests paramount then a government would want to have that contract rectified,”

Nandlall said in a invited comment.

“This Government seems to be acting in the best interest of ExxonMobil and not Guyana and everything they have said and done thereafter is supportive of that posture.

Therefore, the President’s latest disclosure confirms and corroborates that posture,” he added.

He further stated that the contract is riddled with illegalities and contravenes certain sections of the law.

Based on the 1999 agreement and the new 2017 deal, ExxonMobil is controlling the entire Stabroek Block of about 600 blocks or 10 times more than what Guyana’s laws allow. However, the oil and gas expert noted that allocating such a huge chunk is contrary to international best practice and creates unfair competition.

Additionally, since the controversial statements were made, the Government has since indicated that Dr Mangal is not authorised to speak on behalf of the President and Cabinet.

77-year-old granted bail for fatal road accident involving vagrant

S

eventy-seven yearold pensioner John Haynes was released on $200,000 bail on Wednesday morning after denying allegations that he killed Morris Jeffery by dangerously driving motorcar HC 184 which he operates as a taxi. According to the police’s case, the accused Alexander Village, Georgetown resident committed the offence on February 10, 2018 on the Brickdam Public Road in the early morning hours.

Haynes, through his attorney, Adrian Thompson, informed Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan that he is a father of three as he petitioned for pre-trial liberty.

As Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield had no objection to bail being granted to the defendant, Haynes was ordered by the court to report to the Brickdam Police Station every Friday for the duration of the trial.

The Chief Magistrate adjourned the matter to February 28 when Haynes will make his next appearance at the Georgetown

Accused pensioner: John Haynes

Magistrates’ Courts.

Morris’ death is another recorded case of fatal accidents, which according to police statistics saw a 20 percent increase.

“Speeding, speeding/ driving under the influence of alcohol and Pedestrian crossing in the path of approaching vehicles were the main causes of the fatal accidents,” the Police said in a statement earlier this week.

Woman nabbed with cocaine No official report made – Police in handbag at CJIA “Otesha”’s disturbing paedophilia comment

P

olice have not received any reports to suggest that they should investigate the allegations of paedophilia against Otis “Otesha” Pearson, who has recently been recorded in the media stating that he was involved with “little boys”.

This is according to Police C Division (East Coast Demerara) Commander Calvin Brutus on Wednesday evening. He, however, noted that he was unaware of how “headquarters” – Police A Division (Georgetown-East Bank Demerara) – was acting on the issue.

Efforts to make contact with the Division Head Marlon Chapman proved fu-

tile.

Over the past few weeks, Pearson, a member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community, has come under fire for disclosing on national television that he was involved with “little boys”.

He was at the time seeking to get an apology from the Guyana Police Force after he was wrongfully detained in connection with the murder of another member of the LGBTI community. after, while Shortly Pearson sought to clarify that he referred to men younger than himself as “little boys” and he did not mean underage boys,

Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) Director Ann Greene had stated that an investigation would be launched into the matter. Greene’s call came at the heels of a picture surfacing on social media with Pearson and a young boy, suspected to be underage, embracing each other.

Another disclosure that raised eyebrows was the fact that, during his interview with media operatives, Pearson did not fail to mention that he had a relatively good relationship with members of the Guyana Police Force. “Many of the officers of the Guyana Police Force has my number,” he had said.

R

anks attached to the Customs AntiNarcotics Unit (CANU) working at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Wednesday night conducted a search of a female passenger, who was scheduled to travel to the USA and found a quantity of suspected cocaine concealed in her handbag.

The 19-year-old passenger resides on the East Coast of Demerara and was accompanied to the Airport by her mother and family members.

The total weight of the suspected drug is 2.660 kilograms. Three persons, including the young woman and her mother, are currently in custody assisting with The bag in which the illegal substance was found on Wednesday the investigation.

thursDAY, february 15, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

Around the World

Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro ‘not welcome’ in Peru

P

eruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has said that Venezuela's leader Nicolás Maduro is "not welcome" at a regional summit to be held in the Peruvian capital, Lima, in April.

Just last week, Venezuelan officials had confirmed that President Maduro would attend the summit. Kuczynski cited "a rupture in the democratic order" in Venezuela as the reason for uninviting Mr Maduro.

Peru's leader also called on Venezuela to release all political prisoners.

Kuczynski made the announcement after a meeting of the Lima Group, which is made up of more than a dozen Western Hemisphere countries concerned about the political and economic crisis in Venezuela.

Peruvian Foreign Minister Cayetana Aljowin said President Nicolás Maduro would not be welcome at the Summit of the Americas

On Wednesday, the group, which includes regional powers Argentina, Brazil, Canada and Mexico, criticised the decision by the Venezuelan Government to hold a snap presidential election on 22 April without reaching an agreement with the Opposition coalition.

In a joint statement, 14 countries from the Lima

Group said the elections would not be free and fair as long as Venezuela's Opposition was not allowed to fully participate. A number of leading Opposition politicians cannot run for office because they have either been barred, are under house arrest, or have left the country after being threatened with legal action.

They include Henrique Capriles, who twice ran for president, Leopoldo López, who led anti-government protests in 2014 and was jailed for inciting violence, a charge he denies, and the former Mayor of Caracas, Antonio Ledezma.

The Lima group urged Venezuela to present a new electoral calendar.

The presidential polls were originally due to be held in December but were brought forward by the constituent assembly, a body made up exclusively of government supporters.

Colombia, a member of the Lima Group, has already said it would not recognise the result of the Venezuelan elections unless there were sufficient guarantees for a transparent electoral process. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Maid dies in Malaysia after being left to 'sleep outside with dog'

A

The domestic worker slept on the veranda with her employer's dog. She was found with untreated wounds on her arms and legs

domestic worker in Malaysia has died after suspected abuse by her employer, including being made to "sleep outside with the dog," a politician has said. The maid, known only as Adelina, came from Indonesia and worked for a family in Penang.

Her employers are accused of not feeding Adelina and allowing her wounds to go untreated. Adelina was rescued on February 10 after a neighbour reported

her situation to politician Steven Sim. She was admitted to hospital on Sunday, where she later died. A 36-year-old woman and her brother are now under investigation for suspected murder, Police told Malaysian state news agency Bernama. Their 60-year-old mother has also been detained in Police custody.

There has been no final conclusion about the cause of Adelina's death, but possible

untreated animal bites, malnutrition are amongst the possible causes, according to Lalu Muhammad Iqbal, director of the Protection of Indonesian Citizens and Legal Entities department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It is understood Adelina had wounds that had not been treated and had become infected, leading to organ failure in her body.

Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi said she

wanted justice for Adelina.

Malaysia is one of the largest importers of labour in Asia, where migrant workers provide cheap labour.

There are approximately 2.5 million Indonesians employed in Malaysia and half of them are working illegally, according to Iqbal.

Other domestic workers come from Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Laos, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Zimbabwe Opposition Leader Morgan Tsvangirai dies aged 65

Z

imbabwe’s main Opposition Leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has died aged 65. He had been suffering from colon cancer for at least two years, but his condition deteriorated rapidly in recent days despite treatment in neighbouring South Africa.

His death will be an enormous blow to the Opposition in Zimbabwe, coming only months before the first elections were due to be held in the former British colony since the end of Robert Mugabe’s near four-decade rule last year.

Tsvangirai’s illness, revealed in 2016, has divided his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party, with three deputy leaders and other officials

17

Morgan Tsvangirai dominated Zimbabwe’s fractured Opposition until his death

publicly manoeuvring to succeed the former trade union leader.

The party will have to choose a new leader and launch a campaign against a resurgent Zanu-PF, the

ruling party, to contest polls that may be held as early as May. Without its founder at the helm, the MDC is likely to face immediate instability and could even

split, handing a gift to Zimbabwe’s new President, Emmerson Mnangagwa.

A broader alliance of seven political parties formed last year to take on ZanuPF could also be destabilised.

“Tsvangirai’s death will force the MDC to convene an emergency conference to sort out the differences between the three vice-leaders. His sickness meant an impasse around internal dynamics so this might force a resolution. That’s a possible silver lining to this tragic event,” said Piers Pigou, Zimbabwe analyst for the International Crisis Group. Tsvangirai died in a clinic in Johannesburg.

(Excerpt from The Guardian)

Opening Lent, Pope urges people to slow down, rediscover power of silence

O

n Ash Wednesday devout Christians in churches around the world have ashes rubbed onto their heads in a ritual reminding them of their mortality as a priest recites the biblically inspired phrase, “Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.”

On Wednesday, a cardinal rubbed ashes on the pope’s forehead and then Francis did the same to other members of the congregation at a Mass in the Basilica of Santa Sabina on Rome’s Aventine Hill.

“Pause a little, leave behind the unrest and commotion that fill the soul with bitter feelings which never get us anywhere,” he said in his homily. ”Pause from this compul-

sion to a fast-paced life that scatters, divides and ultimately destroys time with family, with friends, with children, with grandparents, and time as a gift... time with God,” he said.

During Lent, which ends on Easter, Christians are urged to occasionally fast from food, give up something they enjoy as a sign of humility, carry out extra acts of charity and reflect on how they can improve themselves.

Francis, who led a procession along the streets of Aventine Hill before saying the Mass, urged his listeners to beware “the emptiness of everything that is instantaneous, momentary and fleeting” and not forget tenderness and compassion.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Homes evacuated as mud volcano erupts in Trinidad

A

few homes in a community in the South of Trinidad have been evacuated following at least two eruptions at the Devil’s Wood Yard mud volcano on morning.

The rumbling began around 04:00h at the volcano in Hindustan Village near New Grant, Princes Town, and another eruption was reported after 09:00h.

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) said it is closely monitoring the situation, along with the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), the Geological Society of Trinidad and Tobago, the University of the West Indies (UWI) Geological Society, the UWI Seismic Research Centre and the

Princes Town Regional Corporation.

Police and fire officials also converged at the site.

“The EMA is mobilising a team to visit the site to conduct air testing in the area.

TTFS [Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service and Police Service are on site to maintain public safety and security,” the OPDM said in a statement this morning.

Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat reported that there was still some seismic activity at the site and the size of the mud flow was growing, and he advised citizens against visiting the volcano.

He said three homes close to the site have been evacuated and cracks were visible on the road and on lands in the area. (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Zuma refuses to quit, calls ANC ousting moves 'unfair'

E

mbattled Jacob Zuma has hit back at calls to step down as South Africa's president, saying the ruling African National Congress (ANC) had not given him an adequate reason why he should leave office.

His comments on Wednesday, his first after weeks of silence, came as the ANC threatened a no-confidence motion if he did not resign by the end of the day.

Speaking to state television, Zuma said he would not quit and could not understand why the party's leaders, who had met with him on Tuesday, were so insistent on pushing him out.

The remarks capped an extraordinary day in South African politics. First, in the early hours of Wednesday, an elite police force raided the homes of the Gupta

family, who are accused of wielding undue influence on Zuma.

Through Zuma, the Guptas are said to have been privy to sensitive state information and enjoyed access to ministers, including playing a role in hiring and firing them.

Later in the day, the ANC announced that it would back a motion of no-confidence against Zuma on Thursday, and replace him with Cyril Ramaphosa, who was elected as head of the party in December.

Paul Mashatile, ANC Treasurer General, said "a new era" was about to begin.

"The conference of ANC (in December) has created new hope," he told reporters. "Our people want to see change. We want to go with renewal." (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

thursDAY, February 15, 2018

ARCHIE

Don't share personal inARIES formation, passwords or pos(March 21- sessions. Being secretive will April 19) keep you safe and ward off any attempt by someone looking to make some fast cash or take advantage of you.

Put your energy into someTAURUS thing you enjoy doing. A cre(April 20- ative outlet will do you a world May 20) of good and help you realize that you do have something unique to offer.

dilbert

Don't be too eager to share GEMINI (May 21- with someone digging into June 20) your past or trying to be overly friendly. Protect your reputation and question other people's motives.

Your strength will come from your insight and ability (June 21- to express your feelings and July 22) what means the most to you.

Don't hold back if you want to gain ground when dealing with important relationships.

CANCER

Peanuts

Overspending on things you

LEO don't need will be your down(July 23- fall. Consider being more of a Aug. 22) minimalist when it comes to lifestyle, love and entertainment. Look for cheaper ways to have fun.

You'll be drawn into someVIRGO one else's dream. Before you (Aug. 23promise to take part, considSept. 22) er what's entailed. You should consider taking a pass and focusing more on something you want to do.

Calvin and Hobbes

Do whatever is required to LIBRA (Sept. 23- take care of the responsibiliOct. 23) ties concerning the younger or older people in your life. It's the little things you do that will make the biggest difference.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — ASCRIBES

SUDOKU

Average mark 30 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 47 or more words in ASCRIBES? The list will be published tomorrow.

YESTERDAY’S WORD — EDITIONS idiot indite inset inside into iodine tend tide tidies tied tine

toed tone onset onside nest nisei node sedition send sent side

sine site snide snit sonde sone stein steno stone

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

es you want to make and get things done.

Getting together with SAGITTARIUS friends, relatives or some(Nov. 23one you'd like to do business Dec. 21) with will be productive. The decisions you make will lead to positive results. Love and romance are highlighted.

(ASCRIBES: uh-SKRIBES: Attributes something to a particular cause, source or origin.)

edit deist dent diet dine dint does done dose dote ides

You can make headway at SCORPIO home and with important rela(Oct. 24tionships if you take responsibilNov. 22) ity for your chores or the chang-

solution for LAST PUBLISHED Puzzle

You may want change, but CAPRICORN (Dec. 22- that's no reason to make an Jan. 19) unnecessary move. Don't feel deprived just because someone is bragging about how much he or she has. Live life your way.

Think it, feel it and do it.

AQUARIUS The changes you bring about (Jan. 20will reflect exactly what you Feb. 19) want to see happen. Embrace change. Love is featured.

PISCES You'll feel passionate about (Feb. 20- life, your responsibilities and March 20) doing what you can to get ahead. A disciplined approach and an energetic and positive attitude will lead to success and greater opportunities.

thursDAY, february 15, 2018

19

Ronaldo double propels Madrid to comeback win over PSG C

ristiano Ronaldo scored twice and Marcelo got another as Real Madrid came from a goal down to take a 3-1 lead over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League clash at the Bernabeu.

Madrid began at a fierce pace and won an early corner from which they felt Toni Kroos had been fouled, only for the referee -- after giving himself some thinking time -- to wave away the appeals.

Before five minutes had passed Madrid had created more danger, with Cristiano Ronaldo fizzing an effort across goal.

PSG were struggling for a foothold at a raucous Bernabeu and were under pressure again when keeper Alphonse Areola saved from Kroos with seven minutes gone.

Five minutes later, Areola clutched a Marcelo cross after more purposeful Madrid build-up -- but within seconds, PSG could have been in front.

The chance arrived when Marco Verratti fed Neymar, whose cross was cleared by Raphael Varane with Edinson Cavani waiting to pounce.

With a quarter of an hour gone, Neymar went into the book after a foul on Nacho and, as the game began to settle, the Brazilian saw another dangerous cross cut out.

At the other end, Marquinhos headed clear as Ronaldo lurked, but with 25 minutes played the home side had another chance to test Areola but Ronaldo blasted his free kick over from just outside the box.

Neymar tried to set up Kylian Mbappe, only for the striker to fail to control, before Marcelo put Ronaldo through with a superb pass on the halfh o u r but, oneon-one with Areola, the Portugal captain blasted straight at him.

He was made to regret it after 33 minutes when PSG grabbed an away goal, Adrien Rabiot finishing stylishly when

the ball was flicked to him by Neymar after a counter down the right.

Ronaldo curled another effort over, but suddenly the tide had turned and Cavani was close to adding a second when his effort was blocked.

But with half-time looming and Areola having denied Karim Benzema with a superb save, Madrid were awarded a penalty when Lo Celso --already booked for an earlier foul -- shoved Kroos and Ronaldo made it 1-1.

The second half started with PSG on the front foot, Keylor Navas called into action when Kylian Mbappe fired a low shot after Neymar's pass.

Ten minutes in, the visitors wanted a penalty as Rabiot's attempt hit Sergio Ramos on the arm, but the referee remained unmoved.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Neymar, already booked, then appeared to dive but escaped a second yellow card and, shortly after the hour, Madrid won a soft free kick when Luka Modric went to ground but Ronaldo hit the wall.

After 66 minutes, PSG coach Unai Emery brought on defender Thomas Meunier for striker Cavani, with Madrid introducing Gareth Bale for Benzema as the first leg entered its last 20 minutes.

As the final quarter of an hour approached, a good block from Ramos denied Neymar and the tension among home fans was increasing as Yuri Berchiche's cross only just eluded Dani Alves.

Nacho was booked for a foul on Neymar before Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane made a double change, bringing on Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio for Isco and Casemiro.

With seven minutes to go Zidane and the Madrid fans were celebrating as Ronaldo touched home from close range after Asensio's cross had been parried to get his second of the game.

And three minutes later Marcelo took possession inside the area and, with the help of a slight deflection, fired the late third goal that completed a first-leg comeback and put Madrid firmly in charge of the tie. (ESPN)

Sir Viv bestowed with Mumbai to play Chennai Super life-long Govt benefits Kings in IPL season opener S

ir Vivian Richards, one of the greatest batsmen ever, is to be honoured with tax exemptions, a monthly pension and other benefits by the government of Antigua and Barbuda.

Richards, who will 66 on March 7, played 121 Tests for the West Indies between November 1974 and August 1991 and scored 8540 runs at an average of 50.23. He scored 24 centuries and 45 half centuries in his brilliant Test career.

He was knighted on February 28, 2014, and now the grateful government is planning to do more.

“The promise to treat living National Heroes with a high degree of respect is fulfilled. Sir Vivian Richards will also remain an Ambassador for Antigua and Barbuda” Chief of Staff Lionel Max Hurst was quoted as saying.

According to antiguanewsroom.com, Sir Vivian will now be paid a monthly pension that’s equal to the amount now paid to Ministers of State within the Antigua and Barbuda Government. He will also be exempt from duties and other charges on the importation of personal items.

The Master Blaster will also not be required to property taxes on the house he owns and will be allowed a duty-free car every seven years. If needed, he will be provided a driver and a home helper to be paid by the Treasury. (Sportsmax)

Sir Vivian Richards

D

efending champions Mumbai Indians will face Chennai Super Kings in the IPL opener on April 7 in Mumbai. Super Kings will also play the last match of the league phase, which ends on May 20, against Kings XI Punjab. The IPL has also decided not to alter the tournament’s regular match timings with afternoon matches scheduled for a 4pm IST start and the evening matches commencing at 8pm.

In a welcome change, all the double headers - 13 in total - will be played over Saturday and Sunday. In the final schedule released by the IPL on Wednesday, 44 matches during the league phase will be played in the evening, while the remaining 12 games will be start in the afternoon.

In addition to the home bases of the eight franchises, Indore will be the ninth venue, playing host to the home games of Kings XI. Apart from the tournament opener and the final, Mumbai will also host the first qualifier.

Incidentally the venue for the other two play-offs the eliminator and the second qualifier - remains unnannounced.

The main reason behind that was because the Maharashtra

Mumbai and Chennai Super Kings have some thrilling matches

Cricket Association (MCA) sent a letter to IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla, demanding the two play-off matches be played in Pune, home of last year’s runner-up Rising Pune Supergiant.

In the letter, MCA president Abhay Apte told Shukla that he was merely asking the IPL to stick to the norm and allot the Eliminator and second qualifier to the home base of last season’s runner-up. A final decision on the issue is

likely to be taken by the IPL Governing Council at its next meeting.

Meanwhile, the IPL acquiesced to the franchises’ demand of sticking to the original match timings and not alter it. In January, the Governing Council had approved the proposal - worked out with the host broadcaster Star - that afternoon matches would begin at 5.30 pm, and evening games would commence at 7pm. The immediate repercussion of that move,

the franchises argued, was the second innings of the first match and the first innings of the second would overlap on double-header days.

According to an IPL official, one solution was to start the day match at 3.30pm to “avoid” the overlap. That, however, was not a feasible solution considering the IPL is played during peak summer and the franchises did not want the players to suffer in India’s unforgiving heat. (Cricinfo)

20

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thursDAY, february 15, 2018

Cornwall, Warrican shine in tight Windies A win W

est Indies A held on for a close two-wicket victory over the England Lions on Wednesday’s final day of the first unofficial Test at the Trelawny Stadium in Jamaica on Wednesday.

The Windies capitulated early but were saved by the steady batting of Rahkeem Cornwall who saw them home to a nerve-racking victory.

Needing just 75 to win, the home team resumed with Kieran Powell on 16. The Windies had lost John Campbell on the final ball of Day 3 for 15 as the Windies reached 31 for 1 at stumps.

On resumption on Wednesday, Powell and Jermaine Blackwood added 20 to the overnight score when Liam Livingstone had the former caught by Nick Gubbins for 30 with the Windies still comfortably placed at 51 for 2.

What followed was a harrowing tale of soft dismissals triggered by the off-spin of

Jomel Warrican took 7-33

SCOREBOARD England Lions 1st innings 252 Windies A 1st innings 279 England Lions 2nd innings 132 Windies A 2nd innings (target 106) (overnight 31-1) K Powell c Gubbins b Livingstone 30 J Campbell c Livingstone b Leach 15 J Blackwood b Leach 4 S Brooks lbw Leach 16 V Singh c Porter b Leach 17 S Dowrich b Leach 4 R Reifer c Hameed b Livingstone 3 R Cornwall not out 14 J Warrican c&b Crane 0 J Lewis not out 1 Extras ( b 3, lb 0, w 0, nb 1) 4 Total (29.4 Overs) 108/8 Fall of Wickets 1 - 31(Campbell, 4.4 Ov) , 2 - 51(Powell, 9.1 Ov) , 3 - 57(J Blackwood, 12.5 Ov) , 4 - 80( Brooks, 20.6 Ov) , 5 - 86( Dowrich, 22.3 Ov) , 6 - 91( Reifer, 25.4 Ov) , 7 - 97( Singh, 26.6 Ov) , 8 - 98( Warrican, 27.3 Ov) DnB: K Joseph Bowling: Porter 2-0-11-0, Livingstone 12-1-52-2, Leach 13-2-26-5, 2.4-0-13-1

Rahkeem Cornwall leads a successful appeal for Nick Gubbins

Jack Leach.

Leach mowed through the Windies middle order starting with Blackwood whom he bowled for 4 to make it 57 for 3. He then had Shamarh Brooks trapped leg before for 16 to reduce the Windies to 80 for 4.

Shane Dowrich was next to go, bowled by Leach to make it 86 for 5. Livingstone then claimed the wicket of Raymon Reifer for 3, and

S

D

Chris Froome of Sky Sports

espite his doping test controversy, Chris Froome made his return in stage one of the Ruta del Sol. Chris Froome started his 2018 season amid his ongoing drugs test controversy at the Ruta del Sol, he and his Sky team-mates finishing safely in the peloton in the opening stage.

Froome’s presence at the event has been the subject of much debate, with the fourtime Tour de France champion having provided a urine sample revealing twice the

permitted amount of the asthma drug salbutamol in his system during his successful Vuelta a Espana campaign last year.

As salbutamol is not a banned substance, Froome’s results did not trigger an automatic suspension. However, the Briton will be subject to a ban if he and Team Sky are unable to give a legitimate physiological explanation for the finding.

UCI president David Lappartient has called for Froome to recuse himself

from racing until the case is settled, but he was back in the saddle for Wednesday’s 197.6 kilometre ride from Mijas to Granada.

The stage culminated in a dramatic sprint finish that saw Direct Energie’s Thomas Boudat pip Sacha Modolo of EF Education First-Drapac, who prematurely raised his arms in celebration believing he had crossed the line.

Next up for Froome and his competitors is a 140km route from Otura to La Guardia de Jaen. (Sportsmax)

the West Indies were staring possible defeat in the face at 91 for 6.

Leach than claimed the wicket of Vishual Singh for 17 and the West Indies were 97 for 7.

First innings hero Jomel Warrican came and went caught and bowled by Mason Crane for a duck and the West Indies were 98 for 8.

Six wickets had fallen for just 47 runs.

However, Rahkeem

outh Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has picked up a fine and a demerit point for giving India opener Shikhar Dhawan a send-off in Port Elizabeth. He lost 15% of his match fee over the incident, and gained one demerit point, taking his overall tally to five.

Each demerit point stays on a player’s record for a period of 24 months. Four demerit points warrant the first suspension, and eight lead to another longer suspension.

Rabada was already suspended for one Test against England in mid-2017, for having accumulated four demerit points. He picked up the first three of those on February 8, 2017, following an ODI against Sri Lanka.

Rabada If reaches eight points before the second week of February, 2019, he will receive a weightier penalty - a ban of two Tests, or one Test and two ODIs/T20Is, or four ODIs/ T20Is - whichever comes f i r s t for the player.

Cornwall managed to restore some semblance of order with a well-played 14, scoring the winning runs when he smashed Crane to the extra cover boundary for 4. He and Jeremiah Louis had put together a crucial 10-run stand that sealed the victory.

Leach, who almost won it for the Lions ended with 5 for 26 from 13 overs. Livingstone returned figures of 2 for 55 from 12. (Sportsmax)

Rabada had dismissed Dhawan in the eighth over the India innings, caught at deepsquare leg off a bouncer, then waved at the batsman, pointed him to the dressing room and, according to an ICC release, “made a comment which could have resulted in a reaction from the batsman”. Rabada admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Andy Pycroft, so there was no formal hearing. (Cricinfo)

Kagiso Rabada

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21

Bayliss won’t rush Stokes back into England ODI team

E

ngland coach Trevor Bayliss has welcomed the return of Ben Stokes but said the all-rounder is unlikely to play the first one-day international of the New Zealand series.

Stokes indicated a plead of not guilty to a charge of affray at Bristol magistrates’ court on Tuesday and will join his England team mates this week in Hamilton ahead of their five-match series starting Feb. 25.

Bayliss said Stokes, who will miss the Twenty20 game against the Kiwis on Sunday, needs to get back up to speed before he can feature in the starting 11. ”He hasn’t played for a while,“ Bayliss told reporters. ”It is not as if we can maybe bring him straight back for these T20s, for example. ”We have got to get him up to speed and hopefully during this oneday series we can get him back into the team.

“At this stage I’d have to say it

England cricketer Ben Stokes leaves Bristol Magistrates’ Court in Bristol

was unlikely (he’ll play the first ODI). We’ll have to wait and see how

he is with travel, with practice.”

Stokes, one of world cricket’s most

destructive batsmen, last played a competitive match for Canterbury in New Zealand’s domestic T20 competition last December.

His absence was not necessarily felt during England’s 4-1 ODI series win against Australia. However, that success has been followed by three consecutive T20 failures, with two losses against Australia and on Tuesday against New Zealand.

“Right throughout the summer we’ve been down to five bowlers, especially in the one-dayers and T20s,” Bayliss added.

“We’ve been able to have six bowlers before, which gives the captain plenty of different options. I think that’s what we’ve missed the most apart from his individual performances.”

Stokes is expected to feature in England’s two tests against New Zealand at Auckland and Christchurch next month. (Reuters)

PMTC 1 cops 1st BVA win of 2018

T

he Berbice Volleyball Association (BVA) spiked off their first competition of 2018 at the Kilcoy Community Ground with Port Mourant Training Center 1 (PMTC) emerging winners of the Male category.

The Male/Female competition was affected slightly by rain but managed to spike off a few matches nevertheless. Teams featured were; PMTC1, PMTC 2, Rollers, GTCPM1, GTCPM 2, Corriverton Jets Combined, Black Bush Polder, Kilcoy and Recruits.

In the end, PMTC 1 displaced rivals PMTC 2 who brought second with Rollers coming in third. The winning side pockets some $10,000 for their efforts.

Meanwhile in the Female category Corriverton Jets Combined emerged winners.

Winners of last week’s volleyball tourney pose with their spoils

Manchester City the best team in world football, says Barton F

ormer Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton believes Pep Guardiola has moulded the team into the best side in world football.

Pep Guardiola has built the best team in world football at Manchester City, according to the club’s former midfielder Joey Barton.

City are on track to win the quadruple, with Guardiola’s men 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League and through to the final of the EFL Cup, where they will face Arsenal on February 25.

A 4-0 thrashing of Basel on Tuesday - in which Leroy Sane returned from injury - leaves City with a foot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, while a trip to League One side Wigan Athletic awaits in the FA Cup fifth round on Monday.

And Barton, who started his career at City and played for the club between 2002 and 2007, says his former employers are the real deal.

“Yeah no doubt about it. I think they’re the best team in world football,” Barton told Omnisport. “At this moment in time, there’s no better team in world football than them.

“They’re going to have the league

Manchester City have looked a dominant unit in 2017 and thus far in 2018

wrapped up here in the next 10 games, eight games. I think they’ll have it done with a couple of games to spare. They’re on for the quadruple at this moment in time.

“I watched them live on Saturday [in a 5-1 victory over Leicester City], it’s going to be a good team that’s going to stop them. There’s some good teams in

Europe and there’s some big hurdles for them to overcome but I think they’ve still got a couple of gears to find.

“When they find them... they’re going to have players coming back from injury soon - Sane, Gabriel [Jesus], David Silva. I think they’re going to go on again and for me they’re the best side at this moment in time in world football, but

I still think they’ve got to go and show that big-game experience.”

City came unstuck against Monaco in the quarter-finals last season, with Leonardo Jardim’s men progressing on away goals after a wildly entertaining 6-6 aggregate draw.

And Barton believes whether City can complete the quadruple will depend on how Guardiola’s side handle themselves on the big stage.

“It takes an awful lot of bottle, pressure, handling the occasion, handling the moment,” Barton said.

“City are relatively new in those terms in European football, but they’ve got all the capabilities to do it. It’s just whether can keep it all together under pressure.

“It’s a challenge for PSG, it’s a challenge for Spurs if they progress, it’s a challenge for Man City if they get there. The likes of Barcelona, the likes of Bayern Munich, the likes of Man United, they’ve been there before, they’ve won European Cups.

“For a lot of the sides - for Man City, for Spurs, for PSG - they haven’t and there’s a lot to be said for having walked the path before.” (Sportsmax)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

thursDAY, february 15, 2018

Corona Futsal Tournament

T

he twenty-four teams participating in the Corona Beer in collaboration with NAMILCO Futsal tournament were given balls to aid in their preparation and briefed on the rules ahead of the highly anticipated kick-off on February 24 at the National Gymnasium.

The simple ceremony was held on Tuesday evening at the Brandsville Hotel by Petra Organisation as they billed towards what they deem as one of the biggest futsal tournaments to hit the country.

Co-Director of the organising body Troy Mendonca expressed gratitude for the continued support of the teams which have grown tremendously since their birth from street football.

Mendonca applauded the Guyana Football Federation and the National Referees Council for their continued efforts to improve the sport given the growth of futsal tournaments over the last year.

Head of Referee

Players and team representatives pose with their practice balls and playing bibs at Brandsville Hotel, Campbellville

Department Stanley Lancaster thanked Petra for sponsoring the futsal referee refresher course over the

weekend. Lancaster also encouraged teams to understand there is a difference with street football and

EBSC President Parmanand Dindyal with top awardees Bhaskar Yadram (right) and Vivian Albert by his side (newsroom photo)

T

he Enterprise Busta Sports Club (EBSC) 2017 awards ceremony was dominated by West Indies Under-19 all-rounder Bhaskar Yadram and local batting star Vivian Albert; who snared majority of the awards.

Yadram, the 18 yearold West Indies U19 player who was a part of the team during the recently concluded ICC Youth World Cup in

New Zealand, walked away with the coveted Cricketerof-the-Year award, along with three others.

The hard-hitting opener was rewarded for his many strides including; his selection to the Guyana senior team and the West Indies Youth side, which toured South Africa and Zimbabwe in 2017.

He also made his maiden List A appearance, turn-

ing out for the Windies U19 side in the Super50, playing eight matches, emerging as the Man-of-the-Series in South Africa as the leading run-scorer with 205 runs in five innings with two fifties and a best of 81.

Albert carted away four awards after an outstanding all-round year as he topped Enterprise’s batting charts with 637runs with a best of 150 not out and 24 wickets.

futsal and they will be seeking to implement those rules in the tournament.

The lucrative tour-

Meanwhile several persons were hailed for their contributions to the success of the club.

Seemangal Yadram, V. Gobin and Khalel Mohamed were recognized under the category of Outstanding Helper, while Curators Chatterpaul Singh and V. Gobin were given medals for their work in 2017.

Club Secretary, Chandrapaul Tickaram, was also honored by President Parmanand Dindyal for his dedicated and hard work during the past season. Additionally, the club presented trophies of appreciation to News Room Sport Editor/News Anchor Avenash Ramzan, Guyana Times/TVG Sport Editor John Ramsingh and Kaieteur News Sport Reporter Zaheer Mohamed for their coverage of the club’s activities during the past 12 months.

Several businesses and individuals partnered with the EBSC to pull of the ceremony. They are Muneshwar Hardware, R.P Construction, Star Sports, Rajesh Woodworking and Construction, Puran Lumber Yard, Harry Sanichara, Navin and Sons Construction, Factory Price, Trophy Stall and Super J’s Fashion.

nament sees the winning purse being $600,000 and the championship trophy.

Second to fourth will take

home $300,000, $150,000 and $75,000 along with the corresponding accolades.

Two motor cycles will be awarded, one to the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the other to a lucky spectator at the grand finals on Easter Saturday (March 31).

More so, with teams being split into six groups of four, the battle will not be just to progress to the knockout stages but cop the group prizes; $40,000 for first place team, $30,000, $20,000 and $10,000 will be awarded to second to fourth-place group teams.

The participating teams come from Alpha Warriors, Pro Kleaners Campbellville, Showstoppers, Mocha, Agricola, Plaisance , Sparta Boss, Old Skool Ballers, Leopold Street, Albouystown, Kingstown, North East La Penitence, Back Circle, West Front Road, North Ruimveldt, Tiger Bay, Broad Street, Channel Warriors, Bent Street, Tucville, Alexander Village, Future Stars, NK Ballers and Sophia.

Beharry Automotive Limited Marketing Officer Ulex Smith on Wednesday presented the cheque to the Lusignan Golf Club newly-elected President Aleem Hussain

B

eharry Automotive Limited one of Guyana’s top automotive dealers have thrown their weight behind the Lusignan Golf Club’s (LGC) growth.

BAL’s Marketing Officer, Ulex Smith during Wednesday’s handing over ceremony, presented the sponsorship cheque to the Club President Aleem Hussain at the company’s Wellington and Charlotte Streets location.

The new venture tees off with an exciting Open tournament billed for this Saturday at 12:30hs. Hussain hailed BAL for supporting the vision and noted that the financial aid will play a key role in their on-going project.

Meanwhile Smith added that Beharry will continue to back the LGC in their future endeavours. Also, the golfer who scores a hole-in-one on Saturday will win four new Yokohama tires as the attraction prize.

thursDAY, february 15, 2018

guyanatimesgy.com

23

Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Football West Dem Zone

Showstoppers, ESPN set final date E

SPN will hope to dethrone two-time defending champions Showstoppers when the two side meet in the final of the West Demerara/East Bank Demerara Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Football Championships on Friday.

The two teams rose to the occasion when the penultimate night of action unfolded at the Pouderoyen Tarmac on Tuesday.

In the first semi-final, Pernell Schultz helped ESPN defeat Dream Team 3-0 when he scored in the 7th and then a Guinness goal in the 18th minute. (A Guinness Goal is any goal scored in the final 3 minutes of play) The other semi-final was even more lopsided as the champs again show their title retention endeavours by crushing West Side ballers 6-0.

One man made the difference again as Marvin Josiah had three Guinness goal in the space of four minutes; in the 32nd, 34th and 36th.

In the quarter-finals, ESPN defeated Ballers Empire 1-0, West Side Ballers 2-0 against Rising Stars; 2017 runners-up Hustlers lost 1-0 on penalty kicks to Dream Team and Showstoppers wining 4-0 against Boom Bang.

The tournament which is in collaboration with Colours Boutique will see the winning team take home $400,000 and the championship trophy, while the runner-up will receive $200,000 and the corresponding accolade. The third and fourth placed finishers will receive $150,000 and $100,000 respectively along with trophies.

The action was on Tuesday during the West Demerara/East Bank Demerara Zone

G

Guyana Karate Federation (GKF) President Amir Khouri

ticing hard and may just have to play easy for another title and $100,000 first prize. With the likes of Rudolph Baker, Eion Abel, Mahesh Chunilall, Mahendra Hardyall, Eric Thomas, Raymond and David Harper and Troy Kippins in green and yel-

uyana Karate Federation (GKF) President Amir Khouri confirmed that the 2018 Junior National Championships will kick off on July 8 with the Senior leg set for September 30 2018.

Khouri, who was recently reappointed GKF President told Guyana Times Sport on Wednesday that the two main events which are used as criteria for National selection, will kick off a few months apart at the Cliff Anderson

Sports Hall(CASH).

Khouri said that with the 2020 Japan Olympics fast approaching, it is important for the local fighters to start getting themselves in order. He said that due to the ongoing basketball programme among other activities, the Juniors which are usually held in May were forced to July.

The senior instructor said that these two events will be very important as it will allow them to identify the best on the local scene from the various clubs. Khouri pinpointed the Senior’s as extra important due to the high concentration of prized martial artists who represent Guyana in that level.

Apart from the two major competitions, Khouri said there will be numerous mini-tournaments in between leading up to the summer events. Also, the GKF President said he was gearing towards working closely with the government in 2018 as he seeks to improve standards of the federation and its fighters.

With numerous overseas assignments per year, Khouri said that he hoped for more backings from the government who could help aid in offsetting travel expenses which will help to generate more international exposure for the local karatekas.

Regarding the Olympics, the sensei added that the cost to travel from Guyana to Japan is roughly USD $2,000 but hopes that when the time comes the deserving fighters will be able to represent their country at the highest level of martial arts and help put Guyana on the map.

Meanwhile, Khouri said that he will be seeking out further help from the government as it relates to internationally recognized equipment, more specifically the matting which is used in the dojos.

He said that the GKF are on quest to ensure that Guyana will be well prepared should the time arrived when they are needed to represent Guyana as ambassadors on the world stage of martial arts. (Clifton Ross)

T

Rooplall and Nandram Samlall take the field.

The day will begin with semifinal action in the female category, with Trophy Stall Angels taking on Blue Divas and Wellwoman battling 4R Lioness before the winners meet in the final for a winning purse of $50,000

Cunning leg-spinner Lakeram “Mike” Singh will be crucial with the ball for Wellman Masters

he finals of the Guyana Floodlights Softball Cricket Association’s (GFSCA) Nauth’s Motor Spares, Trophy Stall and Mike’s Pharmacy softball tournament is now fixed for the Zeeburg ground, West Coast Demerara on Sunday February 18.

After inclement weather prevented the organizers from setting a date in December 2017, a date was fixed for last Sunday at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground in Queenstown but once again the rain had the final say with a total washout.

Now with the total shift venue from the capital city, the organizers, players and fans will be hoping for a full day action from 09:30h.

In the Male Open fi-

nal, Speed Boat who will now feel at home in West Demerara region will be challenged by the re-energized Success Sports Club with the winner set to pocket $100,000 while $25,000 will go to the runners-up.

It is the first major final for Success who have been off the ball for a while, whereas their opponents, Speed Boat has been the giant killers recently due to their consistent plays that allowed them to reach and win finals.

In the Male Masters Category, Wellman will be looking to turn the tables on the star-studded Regal Masters when they meet for the third time in a major final.

Regal Masters who are known for winning championships have been prac-

David Harper (left) and Mahendra Hardyal will lead the Regal Masters charge in their final

low, the Regal Masters will still be favourites.

However, the Wellman side will look for the upset when Jagdish Persaud, Lakeram ‘Mike’ Singh, Wayne Jones, Sheldon Perch, Latchman Kallicharran, Lloyd

and bragging rights.

Player of the match in each final and MVP in each category will win $5,000 each.

The action begins at 09:30h and admission is free.

thursDAY, february 15, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Pg 23

Karatekas plotting course to Olympics The Guyana Karate Federation (GKF) is investing heavily in the young prospects

Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Football West Dem Zone

Showstoppers, ESPN set final date Pg 23

ESPN seem to have the talent to challenge Showstoppers for a title given their splendid display on Tuesday evening at the Pouderoyen Tarmac

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