Guyana Times, Wednesday July 03, 2019

Top Cop promises disciplinary action against corrupt cops Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 3973

wednesday, july 3, 2019

Caretaker Govt approves removal of custodial

sentences for small amounts of marijuana …PPP says Cabinet resigned by law See story on page 3

...has no authority to issue order

CCJ consequential orders submission

Lawyer calls for Court to supervise enforcement of orders Page 7

…Opposition seeking order directing President, Cabinet to resign

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$80 vat included

WHAT'S INSIDE:

Ex-cop nabbed with over 94kg of ganja P13

14-year-old P8 charged for killing friend “We want back our spot” – displaced WBD hire car drivers P15

See story on page 10

Death at Suddie Police Station

“We need answers; we need justice” – family demands thorough probe

GDF launches probe into “excessive” beating of new ranks Page 13

Nurse found dead at Mahdia hostel Page 16

Private schools dominate NGSA top 10 Page 9

P8 Ganja on kitchen table lands men on remand

Reg 5 residents accuse MMA of corruption P9 …lead protest at Onverwagt office

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WEDNESday, JUly 3, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

news

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WEDNESday, JUly 3, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Wednesday, July 3 –05:00h-06:30h and Thursday, July 4 –05:00h-06:30h.

…PPP says Cabinet resigned by law …has no authority to issue order

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, July 3 – 17:10h-18:40h and Thursday, July 4 –05:00h-06:30h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny intervals are expected to prevail, interrupted by light rain showers in the midmorning to early afternoon hours. Cloudy skies are expected in the evening followed by light to thundery showers. Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East South-easterly to North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 17:13h reaching a maximum height of 2.64 metres.

Low Tide: 10:44h and 23:00h reaching minimum heights of 0.42 metre and 0.60 metre.

saturday, JUNE 29, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS H

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Caretaker Govt approves removal of custodial sentences for small amounts of marijuana

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

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he surprise announcement on Tuesday that a ‘Cabinet’ ordered the removal of custodial sentences for persons found in possession of small amounts of marijuana has been described by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) as both misleading and for political mileage.

This is because Cabinet, by law, was supposed to resign after the Government was defeated by a NoConfidence Motion in the National Assembly last year.

According to the release from Government, after extensive discussions and reviews, “Cabinet has approved a proposal to remove custodial sentences for persons found to be in possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana”.

The PPP, in a statement soon after the announcement, denounced the Government’s actions as nothing more than a “political gimmick”, intended by A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) to trick persons and boost their chances at the early elections that are inevitable.

According to the PPP, the APNU/AFC coalition Government is currently illegal and Cabinet should have already resigned, consistent with Article 106 (6) of the Constitution and the recent ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). “How then, is Cabinet meeting and making decisions? Does the coalition not intend to comply with the ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice?” the party questioned.

It reminded that the provisions of Article 106 (6) and (7) are clear. It went on to reference the ruling of CCJ President, Justice Adrian Saunders, in the No-Confidence Motion challenge case.

“Justice Saunders’ ruling [paragraph three] adds that: “Article 106(6) of the Constitution states that the cabinet, including the president, shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly ‘on a vote of confidence,” the party said.

“Additionally, the David Granger-led coalition has had over four years to address the issue of removing custodial sentences for possession of small quantities of marijuana. It failed to do so. The Narcotics Drug and

‘Cabinet’ has approved removing custodial sentences for small amounts of marijuana

Psychotropic Substances (Control) (Amendment) Bill – a bill to remove custodial sentences for possession of small amounts of marijuana – was brought to the National Assembly since December 10, 2015.

The coalition Government refused to debate it.”

The party reminded that instead, in May 2016, President Granger declared that: “This is not something that is a preoccupation of the administration at the present time…I would not counsel the use of marijuana by young people or anybody.”

According to the PPP, such an announcement is not enforceable without an Act of Parliament. As such, it noted that any talk in the current circumstances of removing custodial sentences is “nothing more than talk”.

“It is not a promise fulfilled by the coalition Government. It is a reminder that this is just another

promise that was broken.

Further, the position of the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) on this issue has been clear for years now”.

The issue of reviewing possession of quantities of marijuana, the party added, which attracts a mandatory, minimum jail sentence, was included in the PPP/C 2015 manifesto and this issue has been used repeatedly by the APNU/AFC Coalition “to secure political mileage, nothing more”.

Still an offence

Meanwhile, in its release, the Government had said that narcotics possession remains an offence, but persons will not be sentenced to prison as obtained in the past.

“This is the first of several steps that Government intends to take as it considers the recently submitted Caribbean Community (Caricom) Report on the usages of marijuana, and

in particular, usages by our Rastafarian brothers and sisters who require it for use in their worship and sacrament”.

In the wake of confusion over social media regarding what the directive meant, Government subsequently sent out another statement in which it stated that this is just the first step in the process towards removal of custodial sentences. And it stressed that possession was still illegal.

“The draft amendments of the Narcotics Drug and Psychotropic Substances (Control) (Amendment) Bill 2015 were presented to Cabinet meeting in Linden on April 30th, 2019. However, there was a process involved, following which, this information has now been made public. This is the first in a series of actions that have to be taken to ensure the proposed changes are enacted”.

“Before a Bill is sent to the National Assembly, it has to be approved

by Cabinet. If there are any changes, it is sent to the Attorney General’s Chambers. However, once the final draft has been approved by Cabinet, it is added to the National Assembly’s Order Papers, read, debated and then voted on. The approval of the proposal therefore does not render it law; it is simply the first step”.

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WEDNESday, JUly 3, 2019

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

Pertinent questions

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he results of the general elections of 1997 were not accepted by the then Opposition. That refusal led to prolonged, massive street protests and in the process, violence was unleashed on many citizens and some properties burnt. The ensuing instability heightened tension and fear, businesses and the national economy almost ground to a halt, and the country’s progress set back.

The Opposition, which was pellucid that the elections were fraudulent despite the contrary as expressed by observers, maintained that the then Government would not be recognized. Its actions to make the country ungovernable were therefore not by coincidence, but deliberate means to have the Government demit office.

The situation worsened as time progressed and Guyana’s postelection violence made international headlines, tarnishing the country’s image in the process. The Government maintained that it was democratically elected and that the Opposition, with a history of such actions, was attempting to take the seat of power by illegal means.

The Opposition refused to relent and allow constitutional and democratic processes to work. Turning a blind eye to the negative consequences its actions were having on the country and people at the time, it seemed obsessed with its intention of being the Government. As the stalemate continued and as fear and uncertainty swirled, the Opposition made demands for external intervention, which resulted in Caricom establishing a commission to help resolve the impasse.

As months went by, the commission derived the Herdmanston Accord which both sides signed in acceptance, willingly or unwillingly.

That Accord instructed an agreement from the Government to reduce its five-year constitutionally-mandated term in office to three years and fresh elections be held two years before legally due.

The context of that is without any semblance of ambiguity. Simply put, a democratically elected Government was made to reduce its term in office after deliberately orchestrated and sustained acts by the Opposition to render the country unstable and ungovernable; their wishes seemingly realized by Caricom’s intervention and presence.

The Government in question was the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) and the Opposition, the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). It’s worthwhile to note that the elections in 2001, which followed 1997 as per the accord, were not without violence.

Having, again, not wanting to accept that the PPPC had won, street protests were mounted with inevitable consequences.

Not to be forgotten, on January 12, 1998, the Court ruled in favour of the PPPC regarding the outcome of the 1997 elections.

On that now infamous day, many Guyanese, predominantly of one ethnic group, were beaten, robbed and molested. That incident led to a private group conducting an inquiry with documented evidence from many victims.

The main takeaway: the unmistakable trait of a political entity unwilling to invoke destabilizing mechanisms when its desire is not fulfilled, even if fulfilment would contradict democratic norms leading to negative consequences and a seeming lack of intent to conform to the rule of law.

While in Opposition during 2011-2015, it began the process of bringing a No-Confidence Motion (NCM) against the then Donald Ramotar administration. In the act of doing so, it boasted of its clear understanding of the constitutional procedures of a successful NCM. Armed with its combined one-seat majority of 33 against 32, it knew the threatened NCM would be successful, that the Government would have fallen and fresh elections to be held with the constitutionally mandated 90-day period.

Cognizant of that, Ramotar prorogued Parliament as he was constitutionally allowed. Of utmost importance was the fact the then Opposition knew that a majority of one vote was all that was needed to topple the Government; 33 out of 65. Now in Government and with an NCM successfully passed against it as upheld by the Speaker, it found all excuses to claim that 33 is not a majority of 65 and as such the NCM was invalid.

That’s a wholesale and convenient contradiction of what it boasted of previously. Its preposterous arguments were knocked down by the High Court, upheld by 2:1 in the Appeal Court and knocked down again by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Even in the face of the CCJ’s ruling while awaiting the consequential orders, there has been no genuine attempt to implement the constitutional procedures that follow a successful NCM. From all appearances, it is consumed with efforts to remain in office despite what the Constitution and Court rulings mandate.

To try and “justify” its actions, it protested against itself for Houseto-House registration, thereby defying the 90-day period for fresh elections and constitutional provisions to accommodate eligible voters.

Its continued defiance is not only unimaginable but extremely worrisome in the context of its own history of being reluctant to accept electoral defeat and abide by the rule of law. That is aside from conveniently dumping its own position while in the Opposition a few years ago.

As it is, fear and uncertainty prevail and business seems at a standstill. The related consequences are obvious and not totally dissimilar to previous times in the country’s history. Given that history, a very pertinent and probably sensitive question would be; what if the PPP had done what the Government has regarding the successful passage of the NCM? Another maybe; where is Caricom now?

People across Europe are searching for ways to keep cool amid soaring temperatures. A heatwave ― caused by a plume of hot air from the Sahara, according to meteorologists ― is sweeping parts of the continent, with Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic seeing their highest-ever June temperatures on Wednesday, and intense heat in the southwest on Thursday. In photo, a young boy puts a fountain to good use in Hungary (BBC Photo)

Venezuelan teen blinded by Police rubber bullets at protest

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Venezuelan teenager was left blind after Police fired over 50 rubber bullets at his face as they dispersed a group of people protesting shortages of cooking gas in the border state of Tachira, his mother and a doctor said on Tuesday.

The 16-year-old, Rufo Chacon, had been helping his mother, Adriana Parada, carry a gas canister during the protest, held by locals after three months without cooking gas, reflecting widespread shortages of basic goods across the country.

Parada, speaking to reporters at the hospital close to the Colombian border where Chacon was being treated, said Police Officers had charged at the protesters and fired the rubber rounds at her son. Photos on social media showed Parada carrying Chacon away from the scene, clutching his blood-covered face.

“They ruined my son’s life ... He was fanatical about computers, now he is asking to die,” Parada said after leaving his hospital room. “I want justice.”

Chacon had been shot with 52 rubber rounds, including several in both eyes, said Doctor Luis Ramirez, head of the hospital in the state capital of San Cristobal.

“Unfortunately, he has permanently lost his sight,” Ramirez said.

Chacon had been only a week from completing secondary school, his mother said.

Jesus Arteaga, the Director of Tachira’s Police Force, told reporters that two Police Officers had been arrested for injuring Chacon, adding that Police

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet (UN file photo)

had injured two other people at the protest with batons.

Venezuela’s Chief State Prosecutor, Tarek Saab, said on Twitter that his office would investigate both officers and they would be “severely sanctioned” for the attack.

The country’s five-year economic crisis has left millions of people across the country with shortages of gas, petrol, food, and medicine, forcing many to choose exile with thousands crossing the land border daily into Colombia.

President Nicolás Maduro’s Government has used security forces to crack down on protesters.

(Reuters)

“Shocked” by alleged torture, death of navy captain, UN human rights chief urges “in-depth” investigation

“I am shocked by the alleged torture of Captain Acosta Arévalo, and that his treatment in custody may have been the cause of his death,” said United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet in a statement on Monday. “I remind the Venezuelan authorities that they are re-

sponsible for the life, and the physical and psychological integrity of all people deprived of their liberty”.

After being detained on June 21 by unidentified armed men, Captain Rafael Acosta Arévalo’s whereabouts were unknown for seven days. Despite repeated requests, his family and lawyers were given no further information. The case may also constitute enforced disappearance, which is prohibited under international law.

A military tribunal of the Directorate General of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM) tried the Captain on June 28, along with four other military officers and two former security officers accused of plotting to assassinate President Maduro.

According to his lawyer, Captain Acosta Arévalo was brought before the Judge showing clear signs of having been tortured, unable to speak from his wheelchair. The Judge sent him to a military hospital, where he died early on Saturday.

Regardless of making numerous requests, neither his family nor his lawyer has been given access

to his body.

“I urge the authorities to conduct an in-depth investigation, including an autopsy meeting international standards, that is both independent and transparent,” Bachelet said, describing it as “essential” not only to shed light on what happened to him, but also “to facilitate bringing to justice those responsible for his death”.

Two weeks ago, Bachelet made the first-ever visit to Venezuela by a UN human rights chief, and called on the Government to release all those imprisoned for peacefully protesting, and announced that a team from her office would be remaining in the country to monitor the human rights situation.

She welcomed the decision by the Attorney General’s Office to open an investigation into the Captain’s death, noting that two DGCIM members have been charged with first-degree murder; however, regretted that torture allegations do not appear in the charges.

“I also call on the Venezuelan authorities to allow the other six military and former security officers detained along with Captain Acosta Arévalo to receive visits from their lawyers and relatives, to ensure they are treated with humanity and dignity and are protected from torture and other forms of ill-treatment,” Bachelet said.

“Structural measures should also be urgently adopted to prevent the recurrence of torture and other ill-treatment of people held in custody by the State,” she concluded. (UN News)

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESday, JUly 3, 2019

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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

Distorting, obfuscating CCJ’s recent rulings Dear Editor, Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, is now the latest member of the Government’s orchestra synchronizing to distort and obfuscate the Caribbean Court of Justice’s recent rulings, in their desperate quest to delay elections, avoid the electorate like a plague and continue to squat in Government.

Not being satisfied with his comical and clumsy attempt broadcast on National Television, a few weeks ago,

to explain and justify that 33 is not a majority of 65, the Prime Minister was at it again in his weekly column, ‘My Turn’, published last Sunday in the Chronicle Newspaper. In that article, Prime Minister Nagamootoo abysmally failed in his attempt to make out a case for house-to-house registration as a sine qua non for Regional and General Elections, which he so frantically set out to do. Clearly unfamiliar with the relevant statutory provisions

that govern Registration and which mandate a cyclical form of continuous registration as opposed to houseto-house registration, Mr. Nagamootoo deliberately makes no reference to the law but instead premised his arguments on certain statements attributed to Dr. Steve Surujbally, allegedly, made on the eve of the 2015 elections.

Conspicuously, Prime Minister Nagamootoo deliberately omitted to recall that there was no house-

to-house registration immediately preceding the 2011 elections, which the APNU and AFC won the majority in the National Assembly, nor the 2015 General and Regional elections, in which APNU+AFC won Government as a coalition, nor the 2016, nor the 2018 Local Government elections, both of which were held under the Coalition Government.

The nation is unaware of any criticisms, whatsoever, from the Prime Minister,

Using political influence to gain land Dear Editor, In light of information coming to light on the ‘land grab’ that has accelerated since December 21, 2018, I feel compelled to share my personal experience with the process of land acquisition.

My quest began in 2013, six years ago, following the success generated by the E-Networks Baseball Star programme, I wrote to GuySuCo’s CEO, Mr Paul Bhim, (11.3.2013) asking for consideration in the sale of a plot of land suitable for a baseball facility. I was referred to the Guyana Office for Investment as the proper channel for application.

I spent two years providing GO-Invest with detailed business plans, feasibility studies, supporting documentation of various types and results of our pilot programmes. The proposed multi-sport facility encompasses baseball and ten other sports whose National Governing Bodies have indicated interest. In December 2014, Baseball Guyana got our approval and GO-Invest wrote GuySuCo directly and attached a satellite photograph of a plot of land suitable to the first phase (of 3)

of development.

There were many negotiations with GuySuCo, offers, counter-offers and finally an offer was made to us for the plot identified by GO-Invest at $25 million per acre. We accepted the offer as fair market value and asked for time to raise the required $522 million.

It took two years of explaining our unique circumstance to benefactors in the baseball world that we needed funding to purchase land.

Unique, because in those countries, projects such as ours would have states and counties competing to offer land and tax breaks to attract such a facility.

In May 2019, I wrote to GuySuCo in my capacity as CEO to inform that Guyana Baseball had acquired the funds for purchase as promised and we could make a payment in full if needed at any time. The land committee of GuySuCo met and affirmed our agreement; what followed must rankle even the most jaded of observers, NICIL was informed of our pending sale and issued a “cease and desist” letter to GuySuCo on June 5, 2019, on which I was copied.

Upon the advice of our lawyers, I replied and provided the extensive paper trail to support our application and agreement for the purchase of this 20.9acre plot of land. I have to date received no official reply. Imagine my surprise to learn via a social media post that the plot of land identified in 2014, has been surreptitiously offered to various individuals by NICIL. That NICIL could even contemplate sale to ‘Johnnycome-lately’ individuals, with no regard for the arduous process that is required to ensure the State benefits fully from disposal of assets, not only monetarily, but in the benefits of our project which include opportunities for youth, jobs, education and tourism revenue along with intangibles such as positive self-image that would come when (not if) we develop our first Major League stars.

In reading the replies of Eric Phillips and Charles Ceres to revelations of questionable land acquisition, it is interesting to note that Ceres relinquished 1299 acres previously acquired because he lacked

the wherewithal to develop same and Phillips is forging ahead despite losing his investors. This is what makes it difficult for Guyanese with projects, ideas and solid backing to be taken seriously. Officials have seen the rosy plans and ideas with no financial backing fail time and time again. These speculative ventures and strategic acquisitions by those who clearly lack the financial means to execute any project is the bane of development, they use their political influence to gain land and then fail to develop anything other than debt for themselves and despair for others.

Editor, I am cognisant of my rights as a citizen of Guyana; my passion for ethical and honest behaviour in life, both public and private, is well known. I do not intend to fail the youth of the nation. The Guyana Baseball League has moved to the law courts of Guyana to seek redress of this grave injustice to ourselves and the youth of our nation; we will yield no ground willingly to hustlers.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

or his Government, regarding the integrity of any of those elections or the lists used in respect thereof.

Unsurprisingly, the Prime Minister glaringly neglected to allude to the new and emerging circumstances and factors that precipitated his sudden clamour for house-to-house registration.

Unfortunately, for the Prime Minister, to the initiated, the reason is clear: it is nothing but a recent and senseless fabricated charade to delay the elections with which the Government Commissioners at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and its erstwhile Chairman are willing co-conspirators.

I am of the considered view that the article was intended to make an unethical and unsavoury pitch to the President of the CCJ, whom the Prime Minister knew was in Georgetown, to par-

ticipate in a judicial colloquium.

The Prime Minister, however, did not end his perversity there. He went on to prophesied that the CCJ “would make orders that are advisory and not coercive”. In my considered view, this is another malevolent attempt at influencing the Court. Thankfully, most law student would know that Court Orders are declaratory, coercive or prohibitory.

In any event, none of the parties in the cases have approached the CCJ for “advice”. Hence, the Court has adjourned the matter to hear the parties via written submissions, in respect of “consequential orders”, not “consequential advice”.

Yours faithfully, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, MP Attorney-at-Law

Total disrespect for Guyanese Dear Editor, We have seen total disrespect for the people of Guyana. President Granger and his advisers have shown total disregard for the Constitution and the very honourable courts.

Such delaying tactics must cease, and the only way is by means of sanctions against Guyana, and in particular, financial sanctions – which would halt all banking transactions to and from Guyana.

Such sanctions are to be withdrawn once there are free and fair elections according to the Constitution and the CCJ. With the Government presently engrossed with

their survival, the investors and oil companies must be gleaming and rubbing their hands saying let it continue as long as possible so there is no interference with their operations. The Government forgot their responsibility to all Guyanese. They are the losers.

Finally, I think President Granger should extricate himself from the shell where he is cocooned by his not so clever advisers, and show the nation that he is at least trying to be a statesman with respect for the people of Guyana, its Constitution and the law.

Sincerely, Quin Anderson

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Foundation salad for breakfast! He would never clear his plate from the table. “It’s too heavy,” was his usual excuse.

After vacation, he started showing his parents how many plates he could carry at once –up to five at a time!

He usually never allowed his mom to help him with spelling or other homework. Any suggestion was rebuffed, or taken as a criticism. After vacation, presto! He was easy to work with, interested in suggestions, open to help.

The boys’ mom says that they have a neighbour who gives very few compliments, and who has known her son since infancy. A week after they came home, he said to her, “Your son has become so flexible, so easygoing! I’ve never seen him like this.”

She is sure that what allowed this progress to happen was the close family time, and the Special Time, Playlistening, and Staylistening they did.

They hadn’t planned to create an emotional “spa” for their children. But children know when an opportunity is at hand, and they’ll go for healing and a better connection any chance they have. May your vacation offer such chances. (Excerpt from handinhandparenting.org)

Continued from Monday

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or children, the best thing about vacations is that their parents aren’t so busy. The prolonged contact (which often starts in the car or on a plane) gives children’s emotional minds a sense of greater safety. This, in turn, can translate into children trying to set up chances to heal from the harder times they’ve had.

Feelings bubble up from a child’s emotional memory that were stored there during times of forced separation, strict boundaries, or tense parental preoccupation with adult issues.

When the family comes together and spends extended time, a child’s limbic system, the seat of her emotions, gets the signal that life is better than usual. Feelings that don’t correspond to the closeness, the ease, or the sense of relaxation pop up, ready to be released. Those feelings, held in storage for days or months or years, don’t match the present circumstances. It’s as if the limbic system says, “Hey, we have a wad of xyz upset in here that is old and taking up lots of space. The world isn’t xyz any longer. Let’s heave it on out!” and up comes the upset, right at the time when parents are trying to relax and enjoy their children.

If you’re not ready for your children’s emotional cleansing sessions, you’ll be irritated for sure. You’ll think, “This ungrateful kid can’t tell that we’ve practically stood on our heads to get her to Jungle World.

And now she’s crying because we won’t buy her a second stuffed animal! What have I done wrong to raise such a child!?”

If you can remember that when conditions are especially good, children can cry about times they weren’t wonderful, and that they do this so they can leave the emotional debris of that past incident behind, you’ll think, “Well, this is a hassle for sure. But here we are, we don’t have anywhere we have to be. We can sit here and listen to her cry about wanting a second stuffed animal. We can just keep saying ‘No’, and loving her. That’s what she needs, and that’s what we’ve got. Time and love. The rest of the people here we’ll never see again. If they are bothered by us, they can find another gift shop.”

Here’s what it can look like:

One of our Hand in Hand moms went with her husband and her two sons on vacation in Hawaii. It was a very special trip. The whole family went through a

three-hour time change, and this upset sleep and family rhythms for the first day or two. They used Playlistening – wild wrestling and pillow fights in the morning – to help relax her children, who were tense with the changes and the early rising. They also took care to give their boys Special Time –each of them took one son, and did an hour of Special Time each day, trading boys back and forth from one day to the next for it. The boys were also getting unusual treats: special foods, lots of fun in the water, and even a video or two, usually forbidden at home.

By the third day, their older son, who has been an edgy, tightly wound child from the beginning, launched into a big cry. The pretext was small, but the theme was, “You never take me anywhere!” He went on for very long time. His next upset was, “You never buy me anything,” launched right after he’d been allowed to buy a new toy.

He was clearing out old feelings that the new and relaxed situation had shoved up for healing.

The parents guessed that, over the next week, he cried a total of four or five hours, hard! They listened and didn’t hurry him. Yes, it was disappointing at times, but they decided to trust his sense of what he needed to do at any one time.

His little brother also had some really big cries, the most obvious of which was one sitting on the jetway on the way home, refusing to walk because the airline attendant had handed his brother a boarding pass after scanning it, but not him.

Not surprisingly, the parents were feeling a bit badly. They’d imagined an idyllic time, full of play and enjoyment, and then found themselves handling a least one big long cry each day. But, when they returned, they noticed a huge payoff in the behaviour of their oldest. He was one who had always refused to touch a vegetable. He began showing off, eating every vegetable at dinner, and

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How can I feel better about my body?

o you ever wish you could change something about your body? Do you wish you were taller? Or smaller? Do you wish you had a different shape? More muscles? Or more curves? Do you wish you looked older?

Kids’ bodies change as they go through puberty. But puberty doesn’t happen at the same time for every kid.

Some kids develop early. They may feel awkward at first.

They might feel proud too. Other kids develop much later. They may wish they would hurry up and grow. They feel excited to become an older kid.

But there’s no way to rush it along. A young girl won’t grow breasts until her body is going through puberty.

And a young boy won’t develop big muscles like teen guys and adult men have. Not even if he lifts weights.

It’s hard to be patient.

As your body changes, the way you feel about it might change too.

What things can help?

If you want to feel better about your body, here are some tips: Don’t expect your body to be perfect. No body is.

It’s good to accept and like the body you have. It’s all yours, so show it some kindness.

Think of things you like about your looks. Do you have long legs? Broad shoulders? A great smile? A friendly face? Try to see the good things others see when they look at you.

Think of things your body can do. Are you a fast runner? Are you strong? Can you dribble ball? Ride a bike or a skateboard? Kick a ball down the field? Hike up a hill? Swim a lap? Do a cartwheel? Balance in tree pose?

Take a moment to be glad for what your body can do.

Eat good foods. Feed your body healthy foods.

Eating a healthy diet helps you look and feel your best.

It gives you energy and keeps your body working well.

Get to bed on time. Your body needs plenty of sleep to look good and stay healthy. Sleep gives you the recharge you need to learn and play all day.

Be active every day. When you move your body, you exercise your muscles. When you exercise a muscle, it gets stronger. With strong muscles, your body is fit and healthy. You can be active by playing, dancing, doing a sport, or even cleaning your room.

Keep your body clean and groomed. Take a shower or bath. Wash your hair and face. Brush your teeth.

Wear clean clothes. Find your style. Stand up tall and proud. Take a good look at fresh clean you. Let yourself feel happy with how you look.

Keep to a healthy weight. Being a healthy weight is good for you. And it helps you feel good about your body. But don’t try to diet on your own. It’s not safe or healthy for kids to do that. Always talk to your parent and doctor. When you have a check-up, your doctor can let you know if your weight is healthy. If your weight could be healthier, your doctor can suggest things you can do. Eating right and getting more activity helps a lot.

Talk to a parent. If you’re having trouble feeling better about your body, tell a parent how you feel. Talk about ways you can feel happier with your body.

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WEDNESday, JUly 3, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

CCJ consequential orders submission

Lawyer calls for Court to supervise enforcement of orders …Opposition seeking order, directing President, Cabinet to resign

CCJ's President, Adrian Saunders

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Justice

head of the July 12 hearing where the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) will hand down consequential orders in the No-Confidence Motion cases, lawyers for the various parties have submitted their proposals for what the Court should order.

The CCJ had previously given each side until July 1, 2019, to make written submissions varying from 20 to 40 pages in length. Attorney Sanjeev Datadin, who represents former Alliance for Change Parliamentarian Charrandas Persaud, in his submission asked that

the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) be ordered to hold elections

by September 18 – three months after the CCJ first ruled the Motion valid.

Datadin included the advice given by GECOM Legal Adviser Excellence Dazzel that the commission should update the previous voters list to ensure they follow the law. He also warned that to ensure compliance, the Court would have to set strict timelines and oversee their implementation.

“The orders that are made must be strict with time stipulated and this Court must exercise full supervision of its enforcement and implementation.

This is the only way to protect the rule of law for the people of Guyana,” he said in his submissions.

He added that the orders must reiterate to the Government that they are only a “caretaker Government” and restrict the opportunity for delay.

“It is humbly submitted the Court must act to protect the rule of law in Guyana.

It must not tolerate the delays and system of de-

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall, part of a battery of lawyers representing Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

lays being sought by the Government and GECOM,” he also wrote.

Opposition’s position

Meanwhile, former Attorney General Anil Nandlall made known on Tuesday evening during his live-streamed callin programme, that one of the things the People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP) team is seeking is an order directing that President David Granger and his Cabinet resign, as they should have done in accor-

Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin, representing former AFC MP Charrandas Persaud

dance with Article 106 (6 and 7).

Article 106 (6) of the Constitution states: “The Cabinet including the President shall resign if the Government is defeated by the vote of a majority of all the elected members of the National Assembly on a vote of confidence.”

Meanwhile, Article 106 (7) states that “Notwithstanding its defeat, the Government shall remain in office and shall hold an election within three months, or such longer period as the National Assembly shall by resolu-

tion supported by not less than two-thirds of the votes of all the elected members of the National Assembly determine, and shall resign after the President takes the oath of office following the election.”

Nandlall explained that the PPP sought “liberty to apply”, which means that if the Government does not comply with the consequential Court orders, they can return to the CCJ to report them for disobeying Court orders.

On the matter of the appointment of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chairman, Nandlall added that his party will be seeking orders giving the President a few days to comply. He warned that the consequences for disobeying Court orders can lead to international sanctions against both individual ministers and the Government as a whole.

The Government side has also confirmed that it made its submissions. It argued in its submissions that House-to-House registration was still necessary. Reports in sections of the media indicate that

Attorney Williams, state

General Basil representing the

the Government is maintaining that the National Assembly extends its time in office.

Such a resolution, which requires a two-thirds majority by law, has already been rejected by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

During a previous press conference, Jagdeo had pointed out that when the opposition was offering the chance for a parliamentary extension in keeping with the constitutional timeline, the Government was whiling away time in the judicial system.

8 News

WEDNESday, JUly 3, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

14-year-old charged for killing friend

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14-year-old teen who allegedly murdered his friend at Matthews Ridge, North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini) was on Tuesday charged and appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The teen stood before Magistrate Faith McGusty and was not required to plead to the indictable charge which stated that on June 27, 2019 at Matthews Ridge, he mur-

dered Joseph Bumbury. The matter was held in-camera.

Reports are Bumbury and his cousin were reportedly imbibing alcohol in a shop at Flat, Matthews Ridge when they were approached by the 14-year-old. It is alleged that the accused immediately attacked Bumbury and dealt him several punches about his body. Seeing this, his cousin intervened, but was also attacked by the suspect with a

knife.

The teen suspect reportedly whipped out a knife from his waist and stabbed the cousin to his hand which caused him to retreat. According to reports, the suspect continued his attack on the now dead teenager by stabbing him several times to his chest and hand. After committing the act, he escaped.

The teen was rushed to the Matthews Ridge Hospital

where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Detectives then visited the home of the accused and took him into custody. Guyana Times was told that it was during interrogation, the teen reportedly confessed to the killing his friend and led detectives to the murder weapon.

The case will continue today before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Ganja on kitchen table lands men on remand

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wo men who were allegedly caught with over 200 grams of cannabis on a kitchen table were remanded to prison on Tuesday at the Georgetown Magistrates, Courts.

Thirty-six-year-old Jason Carmichael of Lot 318 Lamaha Park, Georgetown and 29-yearold Cordel David of Lasco Housing Scheme, East Bank Berbice stood before Magistrate Ann McLennan and both denied the charge.

The charge stated that on June 26, 2019 at Lamaha Park, Georgetown,

they had 245 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

Police Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that on the day in question, Police ranks received some information and went to the house. He added that the ranks then carried out a search on two men while a female and a child were present in the home. During the search of the premises, a plastic bag containing cannabis was discovered on a table in the kitchen.

The two men were then taken into custody and

Jason Carmichael and Cordel David

Carmichael allegedly admitted to the offence and gave a written statement that the cannabis belonged

to him, to the ranks, the Prosecutor said.

The case will continue on July 26, 2019.

Between the lines… …of the land grab Looks like this PNC land-giveaway isn’t going to just fade away as a topic du jour. Every day, one or another of the PNC beneficiaries is ISSUING missives – which look more like missiles than anything else – that just scream for “condign” treatment (as GL&SC’s Benn and Burnham would say). And this is just perfect grist for your Eyewitness’ mill!! The latest was one from retired Major Aubrey Heath-Retemyer, who’s the Deputy Director over at SARA – formed, we’re told, to recover any and all State assets illegally acquired.

SARA and Heath-Retemeyer were in the news last December when Heath-Retemeyer objected to Basil Williams informing Parliament that he was making $3 million monthly (with his boss, Clive Thomas, clocking in at $4 million!). Retemeyer huffed, “The figures that were read (in Parliament by the Attorney General) included, in addition to the monthly salary, vacation allowances, gratuity and a number of other things which combined.”

As if vacation allowances etc., aren’t part of the benefit packages of all employees, private or public!! $275Million was budgeted for SARA’s salaries for its 44-member staff – not mentioning the monthly rental for its HQ of another $200 million!!

Now you’d think a fella in this position – where he’s going after people who’d scammed the Government – would know he had to be seen as purer than Caesar’s wife, wouldn’t you?? But not Heath-Retemeyer!! The man honeyed to the PNC line to insist there’s nothing wrong with Government officials benefitting from possible insider information to enrich themselves!! No wonder that Code of Conduct never saw the light of day after the perfunctory draft by Raphael Trotman!

But in examining into the Retemeyer lease of 10 acres at Yarrowkabra, he claimed he applied for these lands back in the 2000’s and again in 2013 and 2014, but wasn’t approved!! But a cursory Google of his name revealed a different story. Wasn’t he in NYC during those years, when he became a citizen and started teaching mathematics at a High School? He claimed he earned a Master’s in Education – which makes sense since one has to take at least 18 credits in Education in NYC to teach… and it’s not much more to get that Masters.

But what struck your Eyewitness was how exactly did he qualify himself to work in SARA with teaching Maths and having all those credits in Education?? But then, he’s listed as the Chairman of the Pan-African Development Foundation (PADF) of NY, so maybe Clive Thomas, Eric Phillips, and Tacuma Ogunseye – all from ACDA – wanted another common mind?

And on the 10 acres? How’d his application get selected out of the 30,000 backlog?? …on Police’s 180 years The Police force is celebrating its 180 anniversary. But it’s a sad day indeed when such a venerable institution – with all that time to get its act together— is mired in accusations of corruption and graft. David Granger’s father was a Police officer back when the British still had an Englishman at its head. We wonder what he’d tell his father if he were around! Because back in the British days, it wasn’t just a tradition of “spit and polish” but one of professionalism from top to bottom.

But Granger had a direct hand in the corruption of the Police force – as Burnham’s man, tasked with inculcating into all members of the disciplined forces the notion that it wasn’t loyalty to Guyana that was paramount, but loyalty to the PNC and the paramount leader Forbes Burnham. In Father Morrison’s book, “<<<Justice: The struggle for democracy in Guyana>>>”, he detailed the lengths Burnham would go to deny principled officers’ promotion and push those loyal to him. The Police force has never recovered! …on oil bonuses Jan Mangal pointed to the anomaly of Frontera shelling out a bonus payment of US$33 million for a block with no confirmed oil, versus Exxon’s US$18Million for confirmed 1.4Billion barrels of oil.

So why didn’t he blame the PNC Government?

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

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wednesday, JUly 3, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Private schools dominate NGSA 10 performers C

V Nunes Primary in Anna Regina, Region Two (PomeroonSupenaam), and Graham’s Hall Primary School located on the East Coast of Demerara are among the top performing schools in this year’s National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA).

The much-anticipated results will be revealed today before the excited children who sat the two-day exams on April 17 and 18.

Guyana Times understands that five children who secured places as top performers were from the Academy of Excellence and were invited to the National Centre for Education and Resource Development (NCERD), Kingston,

Georgetown, where the results will be revealed today.

Additionally, three pupils from Success Elementary School on the East Bank of Demerara who also performed well were invited to the event.

One pupil from Mae’s Primary in Georgetown, one from CV Nunes in Anna Regina and another from Graham’s Hall, ECD, will be attending to celebrate their success of being placed in this year’s top 11 performers.

A few of this year’s outstanding students include Dave Chowtie, from Graham’s Hall Primary and Sarita Somai, Akaia Griffith and Maaseia Salikram from Success Elementary.

Pupils of CV Nunes reciting a prayer before sitting the NGSA exam in April

Guyana Times spoke with an excited Chowtie, who is one of two public school pupils that made this year’s top 10. On Tuesday evening he said he thinks

he did well enough to cop the country’s envied spot as valedictorian. He said without a doubt that his favourite subject was mathematics.

This year, some 14,715 students across the country sat the exams and were tested in four subject areas including mathematics, English, science and social studies. This was an increase as 14,551 wrote the assessment in 2018.

Along with the announcement of the top performers today, pupils will also be able to view their scores online by providing their respective candidate number and other details.

This assessment marks the completion of the primary education programme and determines which secondary institution these students will be placed at.

However, prior to this, the students had to write

the National Grades Two and Four Assessments back in 2012 and 2014 respectively. A percentage of the marks from all three assessments will be calculated to determine the overall performance of each student.

The NGSA performance is calculated by adding five per cent of each candidate’s Grade Two scores in mathematics and English, and 10 per cent of the Grade Four score in the same subjects.

This is then added to a further 85 per cent of each candidate’s score in those subjects at the Grade Six Assessment. The combined scores in mathematics and English are then added to the scores gained in science and social studies.

the Presidency, through the Lands and Surveys Commission, of alleged corruption in the leasing of State lands.

Jagdeo pointed to a number of land leases and showed that they were all handed out recently to of-

ficials, who worked close to the Government. Majority of the leases that the Opposition Leader revealed were handed out after the No-Confidence Motion was passed against the Government on December 21, 2018.

Reg 5 residents accuse MMA of corruption …lead protest at Onverwagt office

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esidents of Region Five ( MahaicaBerbice) staged a peaceful protest outside of the Mahaica-MahaiconyAbary Agriculture Development Association (MMA-ADA) Tuesday morning calling the association out on corruption.

The residents accused the MMA of taking the lands that they occupy and distributing thousands of acres to members of their Board, relatives and friends of Board members, as well as Members of Parliament.

“The former chairman of MMA board got over 5000 acres of land and I barely have 10 acres and fighting to take it back. How this could be fair? We are farmers and we just trying to make a living for ourselves and families,” one of the residents said.

Peter Jaikaran, a resident who spoke with Guyana Times on Tuesday, called on the Government to conduct a thorough investigation into the gross mismanagement of the State’s resources by the MMA Board. He made calls for the Board members to go as they have been distributing land to APNU/AFC close associates, who are not farming on the land but rather, renting it out.

“We are farmers and we can’t even get a piece of land to farm. But APNU and their friends getting thousands and thousands

of acres of land which they renting out,” he said.

Meanwhile, other protesters questioned if MPs are getting land, why ordinary farmers who are occupying the land and depending on farming for their livelihood cannot benefit.

“How these people getting

and given to APNU MPs,” the protester stated.

Meanwhile, Region Five Vice Chairman Rion Peters, who was also in support of Tuesday’s protest, said that he stands firm with the residents since they are being treated unfairly. He said the protest is in response to

Some of the residents of Region Five who protested peacefully outside the MMA office Tuesday

land? Jennifer Wade and other MPs and so… and we living right here on these lands and can’t get,” a protestor questioned.

Peoples Progressive Party Member of Parliament Faizal Jaffarally, and other residents of the region who formed part of the protest action, called for an independent inquiry into how the lands were distributed and urged the Minister of Agriculture and President to examine the process by which the lands were given.

“We want the President and the ministers to help these farmers to get back their lands that were taken away

large quantities of land being distributed by the Board of the MMA to family and friends while region five farmers cannot acquire any and are left to suffer as they depend on farming for their livelihood. He said such an act cannot be condoned and reiterated calls on those responsible to investigate the way the Board has been handling State lands in Region Five. “We cannot allow them to trample on the rights of the people in Region Five who were occupying these lands for years and we believe that every resident should be able to have equal access to these

lands. I am supporting this cause because it is just and the MMA should have acted fairly,” the Vice Chairman said.

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, at his press conference last week, accused the Ministry of

10 news

wednesday, JUly 3, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Death at Suddie Police Station

“We need answers; we need justice” – family demands thorough probe

W

hen he was arrested on a drunk driving offence, family members of Lalbachan Bachan never thought his life would have come to such an abrupt end.

Bachan, a 39-year-old father of four, of Maria’s Lodge, Essequibo Coast, died under mysterious circumstances after three days of being confined in the lockups at the Suddie Police Station.

Bachan was the lone prisoner in the cell at the time of his demise.

Though emotionally distraught, his wife and children are willing to fight for justice, as they strongly believe the man’s death was more than just an accident.

A post-mortem examination performed on the man’s body showed that he died as a result of asphyxiation due to a fractured larynx (voice box).

This means that Bachan suffocated due to a fractured voice box but a police statement issued by Public Relations Officer Jairam Ramlakhan suggested that this could be as a result of a “fall”.

But Bachan’s eldest daughter is contending that the explanation cannot be justified.

Dead: Lalbachan Bachan

In fact, she told Guyana Times that she told the police of her suspicion that her father was attacked, but the officer who visited the family did not seem to care.

“I asked the question; how can someone possibly get a fractured larynx by a simple fall? Something is not right.”

“He is not a crazy person to go and knock himself on a wall or if he fall, I would understand there [will be] marks on his head, but the throat have black and blue marks, what happened there?” the daughter posited.

Family members took to the streets to demand an investigation into the matter. Even the children

were outside of the Suddie Police Station waving placards reading “we are fatherless” and “our father is murdered”.

The family suspects that Bachan was attacked

by Police officers on duty because he did not pay $100,000, which they demanded for him to be set free.

Bachan’s mother, who joined the protest, waved a placard which read “My son life cost him $100,000”.

“We need justice; we need answers,” relatives demanded, some even in tears.

Bachan’s wife, Samantha, told this publication that she is trying with all her strength to be strong for her kids but she cannot help but break down and cry every time her youngest child asks for his dad.

Bachan’s mother, Maharanie, recalled seeing her son for about fifteen minutes on Sunday at the police station. She had gone down to the station since Friday, when he was arrested, but the officers allegedly refused to let her visit him.

“When me was at the station on Friday to take food for me son, the police take the food from me and they did not allow me to see

Family members picketting outside the Suddie Police Station

he but me hear me son ah cry out fuh pain he saying that he nah feeling well but the police just ignored he,” the grieving mother said.

Photos seen by Guyana Times show bruises on the man’s knees, hands and neck.

The Guyana Police Force’s PRO, when contacted, confirmed that an investigation should be launched into the matter, as it is a policy of the administration to probe such incidents.

Jury finds taxi driver guilty of 2017 rape charge

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nother convicted rapist is expected to remain on remand for the next month until his sentencing date, which is scheduled for August 26, 2019 at the Sexual Offences Court of the Demerara High Court.

After almost two hours of deliberation at the High Court on Tuesday, a 12-member jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict against Morris Johnson, who was accused of the offence of rape.

The charge against the taxi driver stated that be-

tween August 12 and August 13, 2017 in the county of Demerara, he engaged in sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 16.

Johnson was represented

by Attorney-at-Law Ronald Burch-Smith, who, in an address to Justice Brassington Reynolds, requested that a probation report be prepared before the sentence is handed down. The application was granted. In addition, a victim impact statement was also ordered prepared, and is expected to be presented on August 26 when Johnson will be sen-

Remanded: Morris Johnson

tenced. Prosecutors Abigail Gibbs and Seeta Bishundial represented the State.

NEWS

Top Cop promises disciplinary action against corrupt cops

P

olice Commissioner Leslie James has promised that ranks found guilty of misconduct will not be condoned within the Guyana Police Force.

The Commissioner’s statement comes as the GPF is celebrating its 180th Anniversary and a week after Crime Chief Lyndon Alves was sent on administrative leave to facilitate a probe into corruption allegations levelled against him.

James has acknowledged that there is the pervasive issue of corruption among his ranks.

Among the allegations against Alves is his alleged use of his influence during his tenure as Commander of B Division to protect rogue cops. Another allegation levelled against the Crime Chief is his reported influence used to prevent his daughter, who was involved in an accident, from being charged. In that incident, the young woman allegedly struck four-yearold Mohan Ramkaran close to his Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) home.

However, after she was

arrested, she was later placed on $20,000 station bail and over two years later, she is yet to be charged.

Meanwhile, the Top Cop in a statement said, “…the membership of the Guyana Police Force number in excess of seven thousand (7000), most of whom have been professional, law-abiding, conscientious and humble. And for those who chose to run contrary, disciplinary actions have been taken against them”.

Improved service Commissioner James said as the Force proceeds further in 2019, the administration seeks to strengthen systems that will result in improved service to communities and citizens of Guyana.

The Commissioner highlighted that in 2019, the Force will seek to bolster its system of prosecution through the operationalisation of the Police Prosecutors’ Coordinating Unit.

Additionally, the Training Board will be operationalised, which will evaluate and supervise

Police Commissioner Leslie James

the revision of the Force’s training curricula as necessary.

The Traffic Advisory Board will also be operationalised, which will evaluate traffic management posture and coordinate appropriate improvement strategies. He noted that the Force will realign its divisional boundaries to the regional administrative boundaries to foster greater cooperation at the regional level as well as strengthen the manage-

ment of Divisions and commitment by ranks.

The Police Force is celebrating 180 years of being in existence; a celebration which commenced on July 1.

As the anniversary is being observed under the theme, “Serving and protecting our nation through collaboration and dedication”, on Tuesday Commissioner of Korps Politie Suriname Roberto Prade, who is visiting Guyana for the occasion, met with Commissioner James and other senior ranks and discussed matters that commonly affect both countries such as human trafficking, drugs trafficking and smuggling of arms and ammunition and several other aspects of transnational crimes.

They also discussed the importance of strengthening their intelligence sharing arms and contining to work closer.

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wednesday, JUly 3, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Sophia teen arrested with ganja

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19-year-old E Field, Sophia Squatting Area teen is now in Police custody after he was nabbed with a quantity of cannabis on Sunday.

Ranks from C Division swooped down on the teen’s home after receiving information about the illegal substance on the premises.

According to Police, the teen was found with 40 grams of cannabis concealed in a small bag. He was tak-

en into Police custody and is expected to appear in court shortly.

In March of 2019, a Kitty, Georgetown man was jailed for three years and fined $30,000 after he was found with 8.69 grams of cannabis in his possession. In April, a 27-year-old Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD) man was also jailed for three years and fined $30,000 after he was found with 25 grams of cannabis.

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wednesday, JUly 3, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

13 GDF launches probe into “excessive” beating of new ranks A news

wednesday, JUly 3, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

n investigation has been launched by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) into allegations that a number of newly commissioned ranks from the Reserved Officers’ Course (ROC) were “excessively” beaten during an “initiation” process.

This was confirmed by GDF Major and Attorneyat-law Michael Shahoud during a telephone interview on Tuesday.

Major Shahoud related that several of the newly commissioned ranks have complained about the treatment they received and as such, the investigation was launched to determine what exactly transpired and the

way forward.

While the Official did not divulge more information about the “excessive” whipping, he noted that the “initiation into the club” is a tradition and could not say what went wrong this time.

The issue was first highlighted in a section of the media where a young doctor, who was part of the reserved course, is likely to undergo surgery for an injury to his eye.

Another officer, who refused to speak on the matter when contacted, said that he had worked extremely hard to graduate the course and would not want to put himself and colleagues in a position to be victimised

Some of the newly-inducted ranks after receiving their instruments on Thursday last

or stripped of their instruments.

He nevertheless confirmed that he was one the victims who had suffered from the process. “I recalled going to sleep in pain af-

ter the exercise…it was extreme. Initially, I heard about the tradition but did not think it was this painful,” he added.

Another rank told Guyana Times that ranks

who would have received their instruments on Thursday last were summoned to a meeting today (Wednesday).

Following the complaints, the senior ranks believed that the incident went too far and that it was not supposed to be violent to warrant hospitalisation. It was reported that in the past, the newly commissioned ranks were welcomed to the club by receiving some lashes with soaps wrapped in socks.

This time around, the ranks were reportedly beaten with belts and other items.

Over 50 new ranks attached to the Guyana

Defence Force (GDF) were administered their oath and presented with Instruments of Commission in the presence of their Commander in Chief, President David Granger on Thursday last.

This year, 28 officers successfully completed the Standard Officers Course 50, three of which were members of the Belize Defence Force and one from the Guyana Prison Service.

In addition, 27 individuals, including six females, completed the Reserve Officers Course 16.

They were promoted to Second Lieutenants, while three overseas-trained personnel were also recognized as Lieutenants.

Ex-cop nabbed with over 94kg of ganja

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n ex-police detective was on Tuesday morning nabbed with a large quantity of cannabis during an operation by the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) in Berbice.

county, CANU said it will continue to tighten its grip on narcotics distributors throughout the country.

In January, a combined total of 477 kilograms of cocaine and 994 kilograms of

The ganja that was in Grant’s possession

Khushyal Grant, 28, of Number Two Village, East Canje Berbice, was arrested after he was found with 94.3 kilograms (207 lbs) of ganja in his possession. In addition, Kerry Charles Grimmond, 34, of Nickalay Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice, was also found to be in possession of 140 grams of cannabis during the raid.

Both men were taken into custody, charged and are expected to appear in court later this week.

Following the successful operation in the ancient

cannabis were destroyed at Yarrowkabra, LindenSoesdyke Highway, by rep-

resentatives from CANU, the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA) and the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory (GFSL).

Further, a total of 132 kilograms of cocaine and 440 kilograms of cannabis were destroyed by the police, while 45 kilograms of cocaine and 554 kilograms of cannabis were also destroyed by CANU in other areas. A combined street value of the narcotics amounted to $513,310,940.

Meanwhile, the arrests to the two men came days after members of the Guyana Police Force arrested one man following the discovery of a large quantity of ganja along the Weldaad Public Road, West Coast Berbice, on Friday evening last.

It was reported that on the day in question, Police ranks observed a vehicle which was heading to Georgetown stop a short dis-

Kerry Charles Grimmond

tance away from a roadblock.

Soon after, two men were seen in a nearby street with two large bags. As such, the police approached the vehicle and the men. Upon seeing the ranks, the two men dropped the bags and escaped.

When the policemen inspected the bag, 13 parcels of cannabis were found.

Further checks nearby also revealed nine other parcels of ganja. The illegal substance was weighed and amounted to 55.9 kilograms (123 lbs). The vehicle was searched but nothing illegal or unlawful was found.

Khushyal Grant

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wednesday, JUly 3, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ramsammy’s Ruminations

APNU/AFC’s plundering of Guyana's national assets – the land-grabbing stench

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he exposé of the scandalous, mind-numbing, shocking land-grabbing exercise within the Ministry of the Presidency and the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission (GL&SC)— an exposé resulting from the courage of whistleblowers— is only the tip of the iceberg. There is clear evidence that questionable transfers of land have occurred through the GL&SC, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), Mahaica/Mahaicony Abary (MMA), etc. There are more shocking stories that would emerge in the coming days and weeks. This is in spite of the illegal, mad rush to surreptitiously remove and hide files and threaten public Dr Leslie Ramsammy servants.

Even as Government officials twist in the wind— twisting more than an American pretzel— to obfuscate the obscene issuing of tens of thousands of acres of land to a few people, there can be no dispute that this is a massive landgrabbing scandal orchestrated and facilitated by APNU/AFC. In fact, the amount of State land being transferred into the hands of families, friends and cronies of APNU/AFC since December 21, 2018 to the present time, a period of about seven months, surpasses the total amount transferred for the period between 1992 and 2015. In just a few months, more land had been given out illegally than the total amount of land distributed for the 23 years of the PPP Government. The amount of land given out to families, friends and cronies in just a few months is more than the total amount of land existing in the majority of Caricom countries; more land than what exists in Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

When the whole story is told, this brazen APNU/AFC landgrabbing will stand out as one of the worst corruption scandals in Caricom's history and rank amongst the most corrupt Government behaviour anywhere in the world in modern history. This is not hyperbole. Despite the futile efforts of obfuscation, only a hypocrite, a cynic, or a fool could argue against the indisputable evidence that there is a corrupt land-sharing orgy, with mostly prime properties given away to a handful of persons linked to APNU/AFC. Even if all the information shared is not accurate, the fact remains there is an obscene giving away of prime State lands.

As Guyana's national assets are being plundered, David Granger remains silent, as if this is happening somewhere else.

Not only is it happening right under his nose, it is happening in his name. Of course, SOCU and SARA have no eyes to see, no ears to hear. Of course, SOCU and SARA are impotent.

While it is true that many Guyanese have become numb to the rampant corruption binge happening in Guyana during the last four years, and particularly since the No-Confidence Motion on December 21, 2018, the latest whistleblower exposé of landgrabbing and the quicksand of corruption at the GL&SC are truly mind-boggling.

The response of the CEO of the GL&SC was outright despicable. Instead of being concerned that national resources might be improperly and illegally distributed, he had vouched to "deal condignly" with the whistleblowers. Beside threatening public servants for doing their civic duty reporting wrongdoings in accordance with the Public Disclosures Act 2018, he threatened to send Police to arrest Bharat Jagdeo for being in receipt of stolen properties. The irony that Jagdeo was informing the nation about stolen State property was entirely lost on the CEO. The CEO's pathetic effort to obfuscate included the allegation Jagdeo got thousands of acres of State land, but he could not say where and could not provide any proof. I expect, once again, innocent and committed public servants will be punished for exposing a crime. This is the modus operandi of APNU/AFC. Earlier, a whole department in the public service was fired and then unfired and subsequently suspended for exposing illegal payments to two children of a Minister.

Some of the sycophants tried desperately to defend the land-grabbing stench by changing the narrative into an ethnic discrimination foolishness. One of the sycophants claimed the land-grabbing mess is merely one to correct what they alleged was land distribution in which only Indo-Guyanese received land under the PPP. But in the same breath, this AfroGuyanese admitted he received over 1,200 acres of land under Jagdeo's PPP. Another denied being a recipient, but when faced with evidence, claimed his denial was that he never received 3,000 acres, but only 2,000 acres of useless land. All of the sycophants ignored the truth that the land being illegally given away are prime properties linked to significant, transformative developmental projects, such as deep-water harbours and oil refineries. Guyana's future is being mortgaged because once these projects are ready for implementation, the State will have to pay an arm and a leg just to re-secure these lands.

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wednesday, JUly 3, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

“We want back our spot” – displaced WBD hire car drivers

H

ire car drivers at the Vreed-en-Hoop Junction who ply the West Bank Demerara route were given the shock of their lives on Friday last after a “No Stopping” sign was painted along the area where they would usually park. This has now led to the drivers calling for the intervention of the relevant authorities since they are maintaining that the sign was illegally extended to cover their area at the request of a popular businessman.

According to them, the

they were quite surprised when they saw persons repainting the previous “No Stopping” sign as well as extending it.

Guyana’s traffic regulations dictate that vehicles are not allowed to stop within 30ft of a corner or junction but the drivers are contending that the sign exceeds the stipulated 30ft.

Lakeram (only name given) said he has been plying the West Bank Demerara route for over 25 years now and this is the first time he has experienced such an issue. He noted that their live-

Some of the affected drivers

businessman would have acquired a property in the vicinity of their parking area and ever since, he has been abusive towards them. They related that he continuously threatened to have the sign painted there. The drivers said that they paid him no mind and went on plying their trade but on Friday

lihoods are now being affected and most of the drivers out there are working and paying for their vehicles.

“We begging that the relevant authority to give us our spot back so that we can park and we can support our family and transport the people smoothly. Them just come here and put this sign

and didn’t tell anybody anything and that is not fair.

Them need to tell us and find somewhere for we to go because this is not good enough for we,” he said.

Meanwhile, Keon James questioned whether it is only the business folks that matter in society.

“We does pay our taxes too and we deserve to get our spot to work because we are here and are not bothering anybody. This spot here [at the Junction] is where all the passengers come. They does come from all over the West Coast, from Essequibo, from the islands and even people does come over with the speedboats from town.

They do their shopping and come here to get a car to go on the West Bank. It is ridiculous now that we don’t have a place to go,” James said.

The driver said he has been on the road for over five years and is calling for the return of their spot. He lauded the system the drivers have developed over the years and noted that it is now being threatened by them being displaced.

Another driver, Jason, said he is now worried about the future of his family. He noted that a little over two years ago, he lost his job at the Wales Estate and resorted to driving a car because of the lack of employment opportunities.

“I am driving hire car for about 9 years now but is only

Fly Jamaica fails to refund passengers again …CCAC says Board to pass judgement

F

or the second time, the embattled Fly Jamaica Airline has failed to refund owed passengers, although it promised to process those refunds by July 1.

Consumer Affairs Officer Feyona Austin-Paul, who is attached to the Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC), in an interview with this publication on Tuesday said the airline’s officials were contacted after fuming passengers turned up at the agency’s Sophia, Georgetown office on Tuesday morning to seek answers on their owed monies.

“They have not processed the refunds. They didn’t give us a reason, so we are trying to organize another meeting with them so that they can update us on what is really going on and we can know what other steps we have to take,” the officer said.

Asked about the next decision, given that the airline has failed to deliver on its second promise to repay passengers, AustinPaul said the Commission’s Board will now hand down judgement.

“That’s at the Board level; because once an investigation is finished and they have not complied, then

Consumer Affairs Officer Feyona Austin-Paul

we’ll have to refer to our Board and they will make that decision on what steps should be taken,” she said.

Further, the Consumer Affairs Officer noted that this step is usually the one taken after a service or goods provider refuses to comply.

On Tuesday morning, a number of aggrieved passengers turned up with plaque cards at the Commission’s office.

Initially, the airline had promised the Commission to begin payments in March but was unable to do so due to lack of funds. Subsequent to this announcement, Fly Jamaica made its staff redundant at the end of March.

Passengers were left

stranded when a Boeing 757 flight crash landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) at Timehri, East Bank Demerara, in November 2018 after encountering hydraulic issues.

The flight left the CJIA for Toronto at about 02:10h on November 9 from the CJIA, but the pilot returned to the airport where the aircraft crash-landed at about 02:53h.

Of the 120 passengers on board the flight, along with eight crew members, at least six were injured during the crash landing.

The cash-strapped airline has since made all its workers redundant, effective from March 1, 2019. Most of the fired former employees are still awaiting their salaries as well.

In fact, only earlier last month, those ex-workers stormed out of a meeting with the Social Protection Ministry’s Labour Department after they claimed the meeting failed to address the issue of owed salaries, among others, affecting some 300 workers.

One employee claimed she is owed more than $700,000 for the period of November 2018 through March 2019.

The designated hire car park taken over by private cars

two years now since I doing this full time. I start because the estate close down and now they want take this away too. The supermarket man already tell us that he is going to put this sign here and we want to know if he is bigger than the law because he can do what he want,” he said.

“I come here to make my daily bread. We can’t go and thief if that is what they want we do. We have to come here and get we daily bread and we got we family to take care of. Man I don’t know what they want we do now because it nah got space for we up the stelling there,” Jason added.

There is a designated parking spot for hire car drivers close to the Vreeden-Hoop Stelling, however, the spots are used by private vehicles who have the blessings of Police Officers. When the hire car drivers complain to the officers, they are told to “come early and hold yuh spot”.

The drivers are also calling on the Traffic Chief and the other parties to meet with them to discuss the issue. The drivers are now contemplating their next move since there is nowhere for them and the No Stopping sign means more fuel for the vehicles and very little money to take home.

When contacted, Traffic Chief Linden Isles related that he is not aware of the situation and calls to Divisional Commander, Edmond Cooper’s phone went unanswered.

16 news

WEDNESday, JUly 3, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Guyana Goldfields workers strike Nurse found dead at Mahdia hostel

…union says workers want representation …company denies unlawfully hindering unionisation

M

atters have come to a head at Aurora Goldmine (AGM), owned by Guyana Goldfields, where reports have emerged of some workers going on strike over grievances related to their unionisation and severance payments.

According to a source, workers at Aurora Goldmine were even threatened with having their Wi-Fi – vital to ensure they can communicate from their Cuyuni/ Mazaruni location to the coast ― cut off.

When contacted by this newspaper, Guyana Goldfields Human Resource Manager Peter Benny denied that the company turned off the Wi-Fi to isolate workers, claiming that there are times when technical difficulties may cause them to prioritise business links over worker’s personal communication links.

The human resource manager also confirmed that while there was a strike, it did not spread through the entire Aurora Goldmine operations but rather, only a part. Asked if the strike had to do with STRACON ― which signed an open-pit agreement with Goldfields last year ― Benny insisted that the contractor was performing.

“The STRACON contractors are performing their duties,” Benny said when contacted on Tuesday morning. “There’s been a crew from the AGM who had a stand down to discuss issues that were affecting them”.

According to Benny, workers have been known to call meetings among themselves to discuss grievances. Asked what issues the company has with paying severance, Benny denied that there were any.

“We pay severance to all employees who are severed.

All employees. There’s never a problem paying severance. Persons laid off are paid severance and redundancy, in keeping with the law,” Benny said.

In a similar fashion, Benny denied that the company is deliberately hin-

Aurora Goldmines

dering the process for its workers. But he noted that while the National Mining Workers Union (NMWU) is only seeking to represent workers at Buckhall, Benny stressed that the union needs to get the required percentage of support from workers drawn from its entire operation.

“You can’t try to recognise a small scope of workers. The law requires that you seek to have the membership, 41 per cent of the bargaining unit. Not a part of the bargaining unit,” Benny continued.

Benny was asked why the union’s President, Mining Advocate Sherwyn Downer, was not being allowed to meet workers and seek their support. Benny admitted that while the company was not averse to Downer meeting workers, it has to be off-site. He advised that an off-site meeting with works be sought

by Downer.

Workers

This publication spoke to several workers attached to the Aurora site where a picture that differed from the Human Resource Manager was painted. According to one worker who works with the blasting (explosives) crew, workers have several grievances against the company.

“We have a situation where there is a merger. They told us in April that we’re merging. April gone, May gone, they put a deadline to July 1 that the merger would happen and we would be paid off severance. Now when the 1st reach, we call the manager and the manager said

he wasn’t aware of that and we have to go back to work,” the worker said.

“We said we’re not going back to work, this has to be solved. We told them the situation is very tense.

This is very disrespectful to us. The manager is saying he doesn’t know this, he doesn’t know that… now, there are about 300 workers on the ground stand down,” the employee, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said. He added that the mills, part of the AGM operation, also stood down with them.

A

26-year-old nurse of was found dead at a hostel at Mahdia, Region Eight (PotaroSiparuni).

Dead is Schenise Apple of Lot 323 Block 22, Linden, Region 10.

Reports are Apple, who is a nurse at the Mahdia Hospital, was last seen on Tuesday morning after completing the night shift.

Guyana Times understands that she retreated to the nurses’ hostel. Speaking with Guyana Times, another nurse said that no one saw Apple during the day but that was nothing strange.

“It is normal when you finish the night shift to sleep most of the day. So after no one saw her, we didn’t take it for anything,” a nurse told this publication.

However, at about 18:15h, another colleague

enquired about Apple and it was then that they visited the hostel and found her body. It is suspected that the woman committed suicide since she was allegedly found hanging in her room.

The Police were notified and the woman’s body was removed. The Police have since launched an investiga-

Wakapao suspected poisoning

Son discharged from ICU

Union

Meanwhile, President of the NWMU, Sherwyn Downer, confirmed that he is in receipt of the workers’ complaints and has been apprised of the situation at the mining camp.

According to Downer, he stands ready to work to ensure a solution and noted that he will be making contact with the company and the Labour Department to facilitate a trip. Later, he noted that when he contacted the Social Protection Ministry, he was told that workers wanted to meet with the ministry and not the union, at odds with media reports.

“NMWU is concerned for the welfare and safety of Guyanese workers at Guyana Goldfield.... and urges the Guyana Government to intervene on behalf of Goldfield Inc. employee in the absence of a union and restore or raise the bar of confidence in the Department of Labour and Social Protection Ministry,” Downer subsequently said in a statement.

Schenise Apple

tion.

When contacted, Apple’s family in Linden said that they last spoke with her on Sunday and everything seemed fine. Apple is said to be the niece of Sherwin Apple who was killed some time ago after he was implicated in the alleged rape of the Linden minor which was caught on video.

Persons who feel like they are at risk of harming themselves or are in need of emotional help should call the ‘Suicide Helpline’ on Telephone numbers (+592) 2230001, 223-0009, 6007896, 623-4444, or Email: guyagency@yahoo.com; Twitter: guyanaagency, WhatsApp: +592-600-7896, 592- 623-4444; FaceBook: Guyana Interagency Suicide Prevention Help Line.

Edward Richards

T

he son of one of the victims who died from a mystery illness at Wakapao two weeks ago has been discharged from the Intensive Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital after spending about two weeks at the institution.

Gavin Thomas, 30, of Wakapao Village in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), was discharged on Friday last.

A relative who spoke to Guyana Times on Tuesday said that she is happy that his condition is much better although he remains a bit weak.

“We are thanking the father that he is home and that he pulled through because we have been very worried since the death of his father and sister. He is

recovering well,” she said.

He was the last of four family members that were hospitalised with the illness to be discharged. Three others were discharged earlier last week.

Selena Thomas and her father, Edward Richards, were laid to rest on Tuesday last at Wakapao during an emotional funeral service where scores of persons from their village gathered to get a glimpse of their remains.

Relatives had said that they are trying to come to grips with what transpired.

“We are still trying to deal with the whole situation.

Everything happened so fast. Just like that, we lost two of our family together it’s really rough. They were both healthy and jovial,” the relative had said.

She stated that the family has made no alternative arrangements regarding what will be done with their farm, as they insisted that no pesticides were used.

“They haven’t decided yet what they will do about their crops and so on, but they maintained that they never used any pesticides or chemicals or anything like that,” she said.

The police have since visited the community and questioned several residents. However, no further information was obtained.

Efforts by this publication on Tuesday to obtain an up-

Selena Thomas

date from the police on the status of the investigation were unsuccessful.

The entire family became ill after consuming cassava bread on June 10. It was also reported that two dogs were also fed the cassava bread and subsequently died. They were reportedly being treated for cyanide poisoning.

However, post-mortem examinations conducted on both Richards and Thomas were inconclusive. Samples were sent overseas for further testing.

Meanwhile, indigenous leaders have come out to voice their concerns over this issue. They called for a full investigation into the matter and refuted the claims of cyanide poisoning reported to relatives by medical officials.

Inmate who killed Lusignan Presidential Guard still unconscious at GPHC prisoner to be charged today

T

he 32-year-old Police Constable attached to the Presidential Guard Service, who was picked up in an unconscious state on Monday from Mandela Avenue Public Road, Georgetown, is still unconscious and is in a critical state at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

This is according to a senior police source, who in an interview with this publication on Tuesday said surveillance footage is also being reviewed, even as the rank, Winston Cooper of Lot 761 East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, continues to fight for his life in the

Injured: Cooper

Constable

Winston

Intensive care Unit (ICU).

Guyana Times was told by a source that Cooper is

suspected to be a victim of an attempted robbery since it is more than likely that he was approached by bandits who demanded his valuables, and may have been beaten for failing to comply with the request.

Cooper’s backpack, which was found near his body, had his police uniform inside, and sources say his assailants may have fled the scene after realising that he is a cop.

Other reports conversely suggest that the Presidential Guard may have been a victim of a hit-and-run accident.

Investigations are ongoing.

T

he inmate, who killed his fellow prisoner at the Lusignan, East Coast Demerara Prison on Wednesday last, is expected to be charged today.

Director of Prisons, Gladwin Samuels said the prisoner, Samuel Lyttle, was involved in an argument with another male prisoner on Tuesday last at about 14:00h. During the argument, the enraged prisoner struck Lyttle with a piece of wood. Initially, he was treated at the prison infirmary but rushed to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) due to the severity of his injuries. He was even placed on life support

but breathed his last on Wednesday around 10:35h.

However, Guyana Times was told on Tuesday that Lyttle, also called “Tuff Chest” was attacked by a prisoner called “Fish Teeth” of Unity Backdam, Mahaica, after he (Lyttle) bullied the 31-year-old and other inmates in Holding Bay Four.

Sources close to the investigation told this publication that the now dead man was in his hammock when “Fish Teeth” attacked him with a piece of wood which had a nail stuck through it. Lyttle was reportedly struck several times to his head by his furious inmate who had

to be restrained by several prison officers.

Both men were on remand for breaking and entering and larceny cases.

Police said the inmate is presently in custody assisting with the investigation.

In the meantime, statements have been taken and the murder weapon was recovered and has been sent for analysis at the Guyana Forensic Science Laboratory.

A post-mortem examination (PME) conducted on Lyttle’s body by Government Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh on Thursday revealed that he died as a result of multiple blunt trauma to the head.

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESday, JUly 3, 2019

17

Around the World

14 sailors killed in Russian Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen underwater vessel fire nominated to lead EU Commission

F

ourteen Russian sailors on board a submersible military vessel were killed after a fire broke out and they suffocated on the fumes.

The deep-sea research vessel was carrying out a survey in Russia’s territorial waters when the blaze erupted on Monday, the Defence Ministry was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

The fire was later extinguished and the submersible subsequently docked at the Northern Fleet’s base in northwestern Severomorsk on the Barents Sea. An investigation was launched to establish the cause of the fire.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu soon, staterun RIA Novosti news agency quoted the Kremlin as saying later on Tuesday.

The Kremlin gave no reason for the planned meeting.

The report came after Russian news outlet RBC cited an unnamed military source as saying the vessel was a nuclear-powered AS12 submarine, but there was no official confirmation.

Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen, reporting from the Russian capital Moscow, said the AS-12 was known in the West as

a “spy submarine”.

“It is not exactly clear what exactly this vessel can do, but there has been a lot of concern, especially in the United States, that in the case of a global conflict this submarine could cut off all the major internet data and other important data that are used by governments and other important institutions,” she said.

The deadly incident echoes one in August 2000 when a Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kursk sank to the floor of Barents Sea after two explosions in its bow, killing all 118 sailors on board.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

E

U leaders have put forward their choices for the bloc’s top jobs, with a woman for the first time proposed for European Commission chief.

The nomination of German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen came as a surprise after the main front-runners were rejected.

IMF Head Christine Lagarde has been nominated for the Head of the European Central Bank (ECB).

Belgian liberal Prime Minister Charles Michel is nominated to replace European Council President Donald Tusk while Spain’s Josep Borell is proposed as foreign policy chief.

The ECB role is currently filled by Mario Draghi, who

was widely credited with saving the euro during the eurozone debt crisis.

Lagarde said she was “very honoured” to have been nominated, tweeting that she had “decided to temporarily relinquish my responsibilities as IMF Managing Director during the nomination period”.

Their nominations must be approved by the European Parliament.

If Von der Leyen is confirmed in the role it would be the first time in over 60 years that a German has been given the post.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said the nomination of two women for key jobs sent a powerful message that the EU was leading the

Ursula von der Leyen was backed by Angela Merkel but there was resistance to her nomination within the German coalition

way towards gender equality.

Parliament is set to elect a president today. (Excerpt from BBC

Venezuelan lawmaker Juan Mumbai: Heaviest rain Requesens charged over drone attack in decade triggers chaos

Juan Requesens took part in many anti-government protests, during one of which he was injured

A

judge in Venezuela has announced that imprisoned lawmaker Juan Requesens will face trial for allegedly trying to kill President Nicolás Maduro in 2018.

Requesens was arrested three days after a drone

carrying explosives blew up at a military parade attended by Maduro on August 4.

The Opposition politician, who denies the charges, could face 30 years in prison if found guilty.

President Maduro was not hurt in the attack.

A former student leader who organised anti-government protests in 2014, Juan Requesens was elected to Venezuela's legislature, the National Assembly, in 2015.

The 30-year-old is a member of the Opposition Primero Justicia (Justice First) party and a vocal opponent of President Maduro.

He often led protest marches demanding the release of imprisoned students.

Requesens faces two charges of attempted murder. He has also been ac-

cused of terrorism, treason, public incitement, illegal possession of a firearm, and conspiracy to commit a crime.

His lawyer, Joel García, said he had pleaded not guilty to all of them.

During the parade last August in the capital Caracas, a small drone carrying explosives detonated in the air not far from the stage where the President and the top officers of the military were standing.

Maduro's bodyguards rushed to protect the President with foldable shields and ushered him away. The President and those on stage were unhurt.

Panic broke out among the soldiers on parade with many running for cover. Seven members of the National Guard were injured in the melee. (Excerpt from

H

eavy rain has caused at least 18 deaths and triggered massive rail, road and air transport disruptions in India’s financial capital Mumbai.

Authorities have declared a public holiday on Tuesday and have requested people to stay indoors.

Met department officials have confirmed that this is the heaviest rainfall in the city for a decade.

Experts have blamed rapid construction and bad urban planning for what many call Mumbai’s annual rain chaos.

The victims were mostly labourers working at

a construction site in the suburban area of Malad.

Authorities said the wall had weakened after several days of rainfall.

The city has witnessed continuous rain in the past two days, causing flood-like situations in many areas.

Railway officials have also announced that the suburban rail network, which is known as the city’s lifeline, will not be running on several routes, with officials from the central railways - one of the three main lines in the city - calling it “nature’s fury”.

Aviation authorities have also shut down the

C

China in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” formula that allows freedoms not enjoyed in mainland China, including freedom to protest and an independent judiciary.

Monday was the 22nd anniversary of the handover.

Police cleared roads near the heart of the financial centre, paving the way for business to return to normal.

However, Government offices, where protesters smashed computers and spray-painted “anti-extradition” and slurs against the police and Government on

BBC News)

chamber walls, were closed.

Millions of people have taken to the streets in the past few weeks to protest against the now-suspended extradition bill that would allow people to be sent to mainland China to face trial in courts controlled by the Communist Party.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s selfstyled Iron Lady, has created a fresh crisis for Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is already grappling with a trade war with Washington, a faltering economy and tension in the South China Sea. (Excerpt from Reuters)

main runway at Mumbai’s international airport after a plane skidded off the runway while landing amid a heavy downpour. Officials said no passengers were injured in the incident.

Mumbai was also brought to a halt in 2017 as well when heavy rain lashed the city. And it witnessed one of its worst disasters in 2005 when at least 900 people died in rain-triggered floods.

Meanwhile, at least nine people have died in other parts of Maharashtra state, taking the overall death toll to 27. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Total solar eclipse hits South America

China condemns violent Hong Kong protests as “undisguised challenge” to its rule hina on Tuesday condemned violent protests in Hong Kong as an “undisguised challenge” to the formula under which the city is ruled, hours after police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters who stormed and trashed the legislature.

A representative of China’s Hong Kong affairs office denounced the demonstrators, who are furious about proposed legislation allowing extraditions to China, and said Beijing supports holding criminals responsible, State media said.

The former British colony of Hong Kong returned to

News)

The Moon passed directly in front of the Sun, blocking out the light for just a few minutes

I

t's the turn of South America to enjoy the spectacle of a total solar eclipse.

Skywatchers in parts of Chile and Argentina saw the Moon pass directly in front of the Sun, blocking out the light for just a few minutes.

It was late in the day, however, and anyone lucky

enough to be in the "path of totality" was looking at the event close to the horizon.

The Moon's great shadow, or umbra, first touched the ocean surface east of New Zealand.

Ships and planes headed out from French Polynesia to witness it.

The first – and only – piece of land in the Pacific

to lie in the path of totality is tiny Oeno Island – part of the Pitcairns British Overseas Territory.

This uninhabited atoll was plunged into darkness for nearly three minutes, starting at 10:24 local time (18:24 GMT).

The umbra then reached across to the coast of Chile, near La Serena, arriving at 16:38 local time (20:38 GMT).

Passage over the Andes Mountains and through the South American continent was swift. Among those last to experience totality were the inhabitants of Chascomús in the district of Buenos Aires at 17:44 local time (20:44 GMT), not long before sunset.

"You're completely mesmerised by totality," says astronomer Patrick McCarthy (Excerpt from BBC News)

Brazil Senate panel says Vale CFO, ex-CEO should be indicted for murder

I

ron ore miner Vale SA’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and its former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) should be indicted for murder, a Brazilian Senate committee probing a deadly dam collapse recommended on Tuesday.

The committee is also seeking the indictment of Vale and dam stability au-

ditor TÜV SÜD for environmental damages and corporate responsibility for the actions of their employees in the late-January disaster that killed nearly 250 people.

The 400-page report recommended that a total of 15 individuals, including the two executives, be indicted for murder, wrongful bodily

injury, environmental damages and pollution.

Fabio Schvartsman stepped down as Vale’s CEO under pressure from Prosecutors in March.

Luciano Siani, also targeted by the committee, continues to serve as CFO. The committee’s initial report recommended manslaughter charges, but at

a hearing it approved an amendment to upgrade the charges to murder and add a 15th individual to its list for recommended indictments.

Vale, a formerly Stateowned Brazilian “national champion” which is a leading exporter and employer, said it “respectfully disagrees” with the indictment recommendations.

A “forensic, technical and scientific conclusion about the causes of the dam burst” should be arrived at before holding certain people responsible, the company asserted in a statement.

TÜV SÜD said it was cooperating in full, but declined to comment further, citing ongoing investigations.

Vale shares, which early in the session touched their highest since before the Brumadinho disaster, closed down 4.2 per cent.

The nonbinding recommendations could influence prosecutors in their ongoing probe of Vale and its executives for negligence regarding the disaster. (Excerpt

from Reuters)

18

guyanatimesgy.com

WEDNESday, JUly 3, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

Keep your emotions under control to avoid conflict. Focus on making personal physical improvements and developing ideas that will encourage you to raise your qualifications or knowledge.

Taking a short trip, spendTAURUS ing time with someone who can (April 20teach you something about life May 20) or helping an older or younger friend or relative should be on your agenda. Don’t make assumptions.

dilbert

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

Trust in what you know, not in what someone leads you to believe. Joint ventures are not in your best interest.

Do your own thing and avoid interference. Say less and stifle meddlers.

CANCER

Take on a new project.

Do what excites you, not what everyone else is doing.

Be your own person and do what feels right and comes naturally.

(June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

SUDOKU

An unusual situation will require your attention.

Don’t make a snap decision or let anyone pressure you into something you don’t want to pursue. Be true to your beliefs.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Participate in something that makes you feel good or encourages you to learn something new. If you share your knowledge and talents, a fantastic offer will come your way.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Think, plan and take action. Don’t be too quick to spend money or trust what others tell you. Do your research and take the initiative to follow through with your ideas.

SCORPIO

The less you say, the more you’ll get done. Focus on what’s doable, and use your discipline and experience to help you reach your goal. A physical change will be uplifting.

(Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

solution for LAST PUBLISHED puzzle AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

When it comes to personal finances, contracts or settlements, use your intelligence to figure out what’s best for you. Acting too quickly or following an inconsistent person will result in loss.

A personal encounter will bring back memories.

Reconnect with someone you haven’t seen in a long time. Attend a reunion or visit a place you used to frequent. Romance is highlighted.

Your mind will race, and the likelihood of blurting out something you shouldn’t will be high. Impulsive purchases should be avoided.

Think twice before you act.

Let your creative imagination take charge, but don’t let it result in debt. Put a spending limit in place and carry on with your plans. Something you develop will end up being helpful.

wednesday, JUly 3, 2019

19

:

England beaten by USA in dramatic semi-final E

ngland’s dreams of reaching their first Women’s World Cup final were dashed as Steph Houghton’s late penalty was saved in a dramatic semi-final loss to holders the United States.

The England skipper’s 84thminute spot-kick was held by Alyssa Naeher, shortly before Houghton’s fellow centre-back Millie Bright was sent off for a second bookable offence, as the Lionesses exited at the last-four stage for a third major tournament in a row.

Winger Christen Press and striker Alex Morgan scored with headers either side of Ellen White’s instinctive equaliser as the USA took a deserved 2-1 lead in a frenetic first half.

A spirited Lionesses side improved after the break and White thought she had equalised with a low strike from Jill Scott’s flicked through ball, only to be found to be marginally offside on a video assistant referee (VAR) review.

White was then clipped in

Christen Press (23) rises above England’s Lucy Bronze to open the scoring for the USA (Getty Images)

the area and Phil Neville’s side were awarded a penalty after another VAR review.

But Houghton could not convert from the spot and the wait for a senior England side

to reach a first global final since 1966 goes on.

The USA, who were backed

by the majority of the 53,512 crowd in a gripped Stade de Lyon, are through to their third consecutive World Cup final and will now bid for a record fourth title when they face either Sweden or European champions the Netherlands on Sunday.

Those two sides meet on Wednesday and the losers will take on the Lionesses in Nice in Saturday’s third-place play-off.

The Lionesses were the first senior England side to reach the semi-finals of three consecutive major tournaments, after their thirdplace finish at 2015’s World Cup in Canada and their run to the last four at Euro 2017.

After winning this year’s invitational SheBelieves Cup in the USA earlier this year, wins over Scotland, Argentina and Japan saw them top Group D in France, as belief that they could win their first major trophy grew.

Consecutive 3-0 victories over Cameroon and Norway in the knockout stages followed, but Neville’s side were unable to play with the same

composure on the ball against the confident defending champions.

England came under intense pressure in the early stages and may have been slightly relieved to be only 2-1 down at half-time, after the lively Rose Lavelle twice went close for the holders.

England had the better of the second 45 minutes and they were rewarded with a late chance to level when Becky Sauerbrunn made contact with White’s shooting leg when the Manchester City striker was poised to tuck home.

However, Houghton’s penalty was weak and Naeher saved low to her right - the third spot-kick out of four England have missed in this tournament.

Two minutes later Bright was dismissed for a second yellow card for a clumsy foul on Morgan.

Some of the devastated England players sank to the ground in despair as the final whistle extended their wait for a first major title. (BBC Sport)

Federer survives Wimbledon Tottenham sign France 2019 scare, Nadal to face Kyrgios midfielder from Lyon for £53.8M

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Williams roared in delight as she set up match point at 6-5 and then clinched the best exchange of the match, with a volleyed winner to secure her spot in the next round.

Williams, Barty, Kerber into round 2 Seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams moved into the second round with a straight-set win over Italy’s Giulia Gatto-Monticone on Tuesday.

World number one Ashleigh Barty and defending champion Angelique Kerber also made it comfortably through.

Williams, 37, won 6-2 7-5 in one hour and 19 minutes on Centre Court.

French Open champion Barty overcame Chinese world number 43 Zheng Saisai 6-4 6-2 and will now play Belgian Alison van Uytvanck.

Kerber saw off fellow German Tatjana Maria 6-4 6-3 and faces American world number 95 Lauren Davis in round two.

Williams, the 11th seed, is looking to equal Australian Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles but has struggled with a knee injury this year.

The American had the chance to serve out the match at 5-3 in the second set only for 31-year-old Gatto-Monticone, making her debut in the Wimbledon main draw, to break back.

Murray and Serena partner for mixed doubles Britain’s Andy Murray has confirmed he will play mixed doubles with Serena Williams at Wimbledon.

Murray, a two-time singles champion at SW19, will compete in both the men’s and mixed doubles less than a month after returning following hip surgery.

American Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles winner, had earlier told journalists: “If you guys really want it... all right, done.”

The pair are expected to play their first match together on Thursday.

Murray, who won Queen’s with Feliciano Lopez, will partner Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the men’s doubles.

The Scot was turned down by world number one Ashleigh Barty before suggesting he might pair up with 37-year-old Williams, who has won seven doubles titles at Wimbledon.

Murray said: “Serena is obviously a brilliant player, has a great doubles record and is brilliant on grass obviously. She’s arguably the best player ever.”

Laughing, he added: “So she’d be a solid partner.”

The only issue will be whether the American’s knees will cope with the extra demands of playing doubles as well as singles - and whether Murray’s fitness holds up to what will be a packed doubles programme if they have a good run. (BBC Sport)

ight-time champion Roger Federer survived a first-set scare to see off South African debutant Lloyd Harris and reach the Wimbledon second round.

Federer, 37, moved through the gears to win 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-2 on Centre Court.

The Swiss, aiming for a record-extending ninth men’s title, will face Britain’s Jay Clarke next.

Third seed Rafael Nadal faced fewer problems against Japanese qualifier Yuichi Sugita, winning 6-3 6-1 6-3 to set up a meeting with Nick Kyrgios.

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ottenham have signed France midfielder Tanguy Ndombele from Ligue 1 side Lyon for a club record 60m euros (£53.8m).

The 22-year-old has signed a deal until 2025 and the fee could rise to 70m euros (£62.8m) with incentives.

Tottenham’s previous transfer record was the £42m paid to sign defender Davinson Sanchez from Ajax in August 2017.

Ndombele joined Lyon in 2017 and helped them finish third in the French top-flight last season.

He also twice played against Manchester City in Champions League group games.

In total Ndombele, who has six caps for France, made 96 appearances for Lyon and registered 16 assists.

Lyon thanked the player for his time at the club, praising his “professionalism and his performances”.

Ndombele is Tottenham’s second signing of the summer following the arrival of Jack Clarke from Leeds United.

The winger, who was Spurs’ first signing since Brazil forward Lucas Moura joined from Paris St-Germain in January 2018, was immediately loaned back to the Championship side for the

Harry Maguire

2019-20 season.

Man United bid £70M for Leicester defender Manchester United have made a £70m bid for Leicester defender Harry Maguire.

United boss Ole Gunnar

Solskjaer is keen to sign an experienced central defender and Maguire also has the leadership qualities he is looking for.

It is understood that Leicester’s board have been made aware of Maguire’s wishes and that the 26-year-old would welcome the chance to step up to what he regards as a higher level.

However, £70m would also be short of Leicester’s valuation of the player.

The England defender, who has also attracted interest from Premier League champions Manchester City, signed a fiveyear contract last September and manager Brendan Rodgers made it clear at the end of the season he feels Maguire can develop even more if he remains at the club.

Maguire, who is currently on holiday, has been concerned at the prospect of Leicester pricing him out of a move away from the King Power Stadium.

United have already signed youngsters Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Swansea and Crystal Palace respectively. The addition of Maguire would take their summer spending to almost £140m. (BBC Sport)

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wednesday, JUly 3, 2019

ICC World Cup: England, New Zealand battle to seal semi-final berth

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s the league stage of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 reaches its twilight, hosts England and 2015 runners-up New Zealand look to confirm a spot in the semi-finals as they face off at The Riverside Durham on Wednesday, 3 July.

An ultra-aggressive batting approach, smart bowling aided by some shrewd captaincy and vibrancy in the field - England’s performance during their 31run win against India reminded everyone of their dominance in one-day cricket over the last four years, and the potential they hold in this format. Roy’s return has instantly bolstered England, as he resumed his imperious opening partnership with Jonny Bairstow against India, where the duo put on 160 for the first wicket.

Against a tough opponent in New Zealand, in what could potentially be a virtual quarterfinal, England will need to bring in similar intensity.

New Zealand, after being unbeaten for the first six matches, come into this game after back-to-back losses against Pakistan and Australia.

While the bowlers have delivered on each occasion, the consistent failures of the opening batsmen have left Kane Williamson and the

middle order to do the heavy lifting. New Zealand need Martin Guptill to fire, much like he did in the 2015 edition, where he had emerged as the leading run-scorer of the tournament.

As of this moment, it’s a bit of a stretch to imagine New Zealand not making the semifinals, given they have a strong net run rate. Even so, they would want to finish off well, as a heavy defeat could possibly rest their qualification chances on the performances of Pakistan and Bangladesh, and their clash on Saturday.

Ben Stokes (England): The New Zealandborn England all-rounder has scored four fifties t h i s

tournament, with the last one against India proving to be a game-changing difference.

With his grit and aggressive stroke-play, Stokes might once again be a key player for England in a must-win game.

Ross Taylor (New Zealand): Ross Taylor, alongside Kane Williamson, has been leading the New Zealand batting at this World Cup. Taylor, who has already scored five centuries

against England, including a match-winning 181*, which is also his career best, in a run-chase of 335 in their last meeting at Dunedin, will look to register another big score against one of his favourite opponents on Wednesday.

A fine day is expected in Durham, with good sunny spells, although there could be a partial build-up of cloud and some gentle winds in the middle of the day.

Teams batting second have won three of the last four ODIs

Squads England: Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wk), Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root,

Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood New Zealand: Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Tom Blundell (wk), Mitchell Santner, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Colin Munro, Ish Sodhi, Henry Nicholls, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Jimmy Neesham

(ICC)

Kane Williamson and Eoin Morgan

Robert Singh shines in Dominican Republic F

or the f i r s t time-ever, the Golden

Robert Singh takes aim during the competition

played at The Riverside Durham, with the last one being won by Sri Lanka by a narrow margin of 23 runs, defending 338 against West Indies on Monday.

Arrowhead was hoisted in the Dominican Republic by a Guyanese for an archery competition, as Robert Singh bagged Archery Guyana’s first medals on the international stage at the third annual Caribbean Beginners and Developmental Championships held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The championships, hosted over the past weekend (June 28-30, 2019), were contested by participants from eight countries: Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Colombia, British Virgin Islands, St Kitts and Nevis, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana.

These championships were organised as a stepping stone to prepare for world tournaments and games for Caribbean archers who have not competed in a

...bags 3 medals for Guyana world ranking event.

Guyana’s sole representative, Robert Singh, secured medals in all of the events. On the first day with 72 arrows Qualification Round, the Guyanese archer secured the second position with 292 points trailing by three points behind a Dominican Republic archer.

Singh later held his own among all the archers displaying excellent form and marksmanship as he threatened the contestants in the qualifying round with 576/720 losing the gold by a mere 11 points behind the eventual gold medallist Jeudy Santos (Dom), and was 92 points ahead of the thirdplace contender Moises Llopart (Dom).

He then went on to secure a bronze medal in the Beginners Male Individual Category Match. The eventual silver medallist was Franklin Alcantara (Dom). The bronze was contested against Jonathan Ward (SKN).

In the team matches, Singh was then placed with Javlyn Frett from the BVI. Under the excellent guidance and coaching by Guyana-born Wynette Lawrence, an internationally ranked Compound Archer living and coaching in the BVI, the team walked away with a silver medal.

Meanwhile, the Board of Directors of Archery Guyana congratulated Singh on his excellent performance.

Farewell Test for Gayle would be utter nonsense, insists Ambrose

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indies bowling legend Curtly Ambrose has dismissed the idea of veteran batsman Chris Gayle playing what would amount to a farewell Test series against India next month.

The 39-year-old Windies talisman was expected to announce his retirement from international cricket following the ICC World Cup. The big left-hander, however, seemed to have a change of heart during the tournament and targeted India’s tour of the West Indies as his final appearance.

Never one to shy away from speaking his mind, Ambrose has flatly rejected any type of sentimental appearance for the opener.

“Let me tell you something, one word; nonsense,” Ambrose said of Gayle’s plans for going beyond the Wo r l d Cup.

centuries, Gayle has not made a Test appearance for the West Indies since 2014.

“He hasn’t played Test cricket for five years and he can barely make it in a One Day International, with long periods in the field. A Test match is five days, six hours every day and he hasn’t does it for five years,” Ambrose told BBC Sounds.

“What kind of message would it send to one of the opening batsmen?

‘It’s a farewell game for Chris Gayle so sit this one out’ - that is utter nonsense,” he added.

“He should bow out of this World Cup gracefully. He’s done extremely well for West Indies in world cricket, but you bow out. Move forward.” (Sportsmax)

Despite scoring 7,214 Test runs, which puts him eighth on the alltime list, and notching two triple

Chris Gayle (right) and Curtley Ambrose share a light moment in the nets

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, July 3, 2019

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Mohammed Nabi after a victory against West Indies in the World Cup Qualifiers

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Windies to sign off disappointing World Cup with Afghanistan clash

By Brandon Corlette

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icholas Pooran’s maiden century and the presence of megastar Rihanna have failed to help West Indies win a second match of the 2019 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup. The jaded West Indies team will sign off their World Cup campaign on Thursday, July 4, 2019, at Headingly, Leeds from 05:30h local time, against the winless Afghanistan.

With West Indies’ current performance in this World Cup, this contest could be evenly poised and the Afghanistan team will be hungry for their maiden win in World Cup cricket. Prior to this World Cup, West Indies Captain Jason Holder made Afghanistan a target. The reason for Holder’s comments was because his team lost to the Afghanistan team twice in 2018, including the World Cup qualifiers.

Afghanistan showed great promise against Asian giants India and Pakistan during this World Cup. Against India, Afghanistan lost by a mere 11 runs restricting the star-studded Indian team to 224-8 in 50 overs. In their match against Pakistan, they lost by three wickets; the Afghanistan batting has been the

major hiccup since the spin attack is rated as one of the better ones in world cricket.

In a World Cup match with little significance, West Indies and Afghanistan will play in the bottom-ofthe-table clash. West Indies have had many games to win, but they failed to capitalise and as a result, they lost matches in bundles. The Caribbean team played Afghanistan in 2017 in a three-match OneDay International (ODI) series that was levelled 1-1.

Afghanistan then further defeated the West Indies twice in the World Cup Qualifiers.

It was Rashid Khan, who handed Afghanistan their first win over the West Indies team back in June 2017.

West Indies were tasked to chase 213 in 50 overs, but Khan’s magical 7-18 saw the Caribbean team crumble to 149 all out.

In the World Cup Qualifiers, in the group match, West Indies lost to the same team by three wickets, as they were restricted to 197-8 in 50 overs and Afghanistan achieved that target. Sweet revenge did not come for West Indies as they lost by seven wickets to Afghanistan in the final of the World Cup Qualifiers.

A lot of ‘teeth’ is between these two teams and it is clear that both teams want to win. However,

the batting of Afghanistan has been on the weaker side; no batsman has surpassed 200 runs in the eight matches played. Najibullah Zarden has 199 runs while Hashmatullah Shahidi has 197 runs.

Mohammed Nabi is their leading wicket-taker with nine wickets while skipper Gulbadin Naib has nine scalps as well. Spin prince Mujeeb Ur Rahaman, who removed Chris Gayle in the World Cup Qualifiers, has seven victims thus far in this World Cup. Meanwhile, West Indies batting has been promising at times, but they lacked cohesion. Pooran is the leading batsman with 309 runs while Gayle has 235 runs. Shimron Hetmyer has 218 runs while Shai Hope has 197 runs thus far.

These batsmen will be aiming to fill their boots against a lesser-ranked opponent. Sheldon Cottrell has 12 wickets for West Indies while Holder and Oshane Thomas have eight wickets each. A win for the West Indies will be a good feeling, but it would not take away the poor quality of cricket they played throughout this campaign. A defeat against Afghanistan will further dent and embarrass West Indies as a unit.

Guyana’s U-19s in preparation mode for CWI Regional Tournament 223-7230-1 (Ext 55)

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he 2019 Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Under-19 tournament slated for St Vincent and the Grenadines is expected to commence around July 23.

This date has not yet been confirmed, but the players have been gearing up to compete in this tournament.

It was revealed that the 2019 edition of the tournament would only utilise the One-Day format since it would be used to select the squad for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under-19 World Cup. This World Cup will be played in the 50-over format in South Africa from January 17, 2020.

CWI has selected a training squad, with Under-19 players around the Caribbean being involved in training camps.

Currently, the Guyana Under-19 team are yet to be announced, but the probable players have been undergoing training.

Guyana will enter this 2019 edition of the CWI Regional Under-19 Tournament as the defending champions. Under Coach Julian Moore, Guyana

The moment Demerara won the One-Day inter-county title (Brandon Corlette photo)

have been a dominant force, winning the One-Day title on four consecutive occasions.

The 2019 batch of players from Guyana that includes West Indies U-19 selectees will be eyeing a fifth consecutive championship when the tournament commences later this month.

The Hand-in-Hand U-19

Inter-County Tournament saw some good performances mainly from Demerara and Berbice.

Demerara won the One-Day title while Berbice took the three-day title. Therefore, most of the players who will represent the Guyana U-19s in 2019 come from these teams. Currently, the Berbice players who are

expected to gain selection have been engaged in training sessions together.

Hand-in-Hand is set to brand the Guyana team when they compete in this tournament. During the InterCounty Tournament, Berbice’s trio – Alex Algoo, Kevin Umroa and Junior Sinclair were the top performers. Algoo was

the leading batsman with 374 runs while Umroa had 31 wickets, the most in the tournament. Sinclair was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) with four half-centuries, in addition to wickets and dismissals to his name.

Along with this trio, the likes of Kevlon Anderson, a West Indies U-19 selectee; Garfield Benjamin; Nigel Deodat; Leon Swamy and Seon Glasgow are prospective players for Guyana’s U-19s.

From Demerara’s perspective, skipper Ashmead Nedd, the only current U-19 player with World Cup experience; Sachin Singh; Qumar Torrington and Alphius Bookie are almost certain picks for this tournament in St Vincent and the Grenadians.

Adrian Hinds, Yeudister Persaud, and Joel Spooner may also be considered for the final 14-man squad that will be announced later this month. Essequibo had a poor season, but the likes of Kevin Christian, Amit Persaud and Orlando Jailall looked promising. (Brandon Corlette)

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Pooran believes Windies

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Nicholas Pooran

will get stronger

icholas Pooran knows when and how to be tough. Looking back, four years ago, he suffered a horrific car accident which led to several fractures and broken bones.

He has to go through months of rehab to learn to walk again. Many felt his cricketing days were over. It was a long hard journey back to the field of play, but he has conquered that hurdle and showed his prowess with a stunning century against Sri Lanka in just his ninth ODI on Monday. The 23-year-old left-hander made 188, his maiden ODI century and his highest score in any senior cricket as the West Indies narrowly went down to Sri Lanka in Durham. “I was coming home from training, swerved and someone hit me,” Pooran recalled.

“I can’t remember much. I woke up with the car smashed.

Then the ambulance came and prised me out. I was

in so much pain, I just wanted them to knock me out. When I woke up the next day, both my legs were in casts. They were numb. I couldn’t feel them at all. I was on painkillers throughout the 12 days I was in hospital. The doctor told me he wasn’t sure if I could play cricket again. He wasn’t sure if I would ever run properly again.

My blood pressure kept going up. I was worried.

I just kept praying, and that kept me going,” he continued. He had two operations. The first addressed the ruptured patella tendon in his left knee. Severe swelling in his right leg meant the repair of his fractured ankle was delayed a couple of days. “Mentally it was tough for me, heading into therapy. At first my muscles were very weak, so I had to get the strength back in my knee, then the physio had to bend it because it wouldn’t move at all, there was a lot of pain.” On Monday he showed the capacity crowd which included Bajan mega star Rihanna, what he’s capable of as he hammered an 83-run stand for the seventh wicket with Fabian Allen to give West Indies a shot at a record World Cup chase. The West Indies however fell short by 23 runs. This is the third time they’ve come close to a big scalp in recent weeks, after also losing out narrowly to Australia – by 15 runs and New Zealand – by five runs. “This hasn’t been a successful tournament for us but as sportsmen you fail more than you win and this has been a learning experience,” he said, after his brilliant contribution. “We have a young team and a young bat-

ting line-up. Hopefully a lot of guys like me, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope and Fabian Allen have learned from this tournament. Hopefully when we play our next series against India we can start heading in the right direction and restore pride in West Indies cricket. Pooran and Allen looked to have put the West Indies on top before Allen was run out.

He added: “Myself and Fabian were in control. The bowlers didn’t know where to bowl and we were scoring easily. This is cricket, it’s unfortunate. I had to capitalize in that over. I could have hit the ball for four and six and it’s a different game. I’m just disappointed. We are just finding ways to lose our games.” Pooran has been marked out as a special player from a young age and this was his coming of age on the big stage, despite being on the wrong side of the result. He acknowledges the comparisons with Brian Lara and admits that he watched a lot of film of the great man but does not intend to fuel the hype. “I know people say a lot of things about me but if I don’t perform on the field it makes no sense. I just want to get better and better each day. I have had a lot of starts in this tournament but not converted,” he said.

“I don’t know what the future holds – I’m just thankful that I got the opportunity to play and I could show the selectors that I could play. I don’t want to be like anyone else, I just want to be Nicholas Pooran.” (CWI)

Guyana Under-17 team Guinness Greatness heads set to depart on Thursday to Georgetown on Friday!

– squad not officially announced

Team Manager Nazeer Mohammed during the Guyana U-17s training session at Providence (Brandon Corlette photo)

A glimpse of last year’s Georgetown sub meet

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he Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional Under-17 tournament will commence on Saturday, July 6, 2019 in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Guyana Under-17 team will depart the local shores on Thursday, July 4, 2019, and the Cricket Board has not yet revealed the official squad despite the commencement of the training camp on Friday last.

The players encamped are expected to represent Guyana; the Guyanese will bowl off their tournament against hosts Trinidad and Tobago followed by a clash against Barbados, the defending champions.

Guyana Times Sport visited the La Bonne Intention (LBI) cricket facility, on Tuesday, where the 14-man squad completed an intense indoor nets session.

This publication contacted the team manager, and he explained that the Cricket Board was responsible for announcing the squad.

Further contact was made and it was revealed that the Board would traditionally announce the squad on the eve of departure. Other Caribbean countries have disclosed their official 14-member

squads.

The omission and inclusion of certain players in the current training camp may be seen as an area of concern. Currently, the 14 members in the camp are the players who participated in the InterCounty Under-19 Tournament, playing as the Select U-17 team. The likes of Matthew Nandu, Sheldon Charles, Zeynul Ramsammy, Mavindra Dindyal, Chanderpaul Ramraj, Niran Bissu, Sarwan Chaitnarine, Marvan Prashad and Andre Seepersaud are certain picks.

West Indies U-15 players Isai Thorne and Rampertab Ramnauth have not been included in the training camp.

However, their West Indies U-15 teammate, Dindyal has been selected. During the Inter-County U-19 Tournament, only Ramnauth was selected, but he had a soft showing with the bat for the Select XI Under-17 squad in the highly-competitive U-19 tournament.

Only time will tell if the current training squad in camp will be changed when the final 14 depart for Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday. (Brandon Corlette)

treet football fans in the Georgetown area can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the playoff round in the Guinness “Greatest of the Streets” Georgetown Championship is slated to be staged on July 5 and July 6 at the Burnham Court, Carmichael and Middle Streets.

This information was disclosed by the tournament coordinator Three Peat Promotions, who shared that the registration process would officially end today.

According to an official release, “The registration forms were available at Caesar’s Palace Banks DIH location on Durban Street for the teams that will need to enter the playoff round for more than two weeks. To date, we have received several new entries which bode well for the expansion of the event and we envisage a highly competitive playoff round as teams vie for a coveted spot in the main draw.”

The correspondence further disclosed, “The anticipation and expectation for the competition is at an all-time high. Many of the teams have already commenced training and whenever you venture in the respective communities, there is a buzz and atmosphere for the event.

We envision a wonderful and exciting tournament as many teams vie for the coveted title.”

The playoff round will be contested in an elimination format. The competition, which will run for seven days, is also slated to make its debut at the National Racquet Centre at Woolford Avenue and Camp Road, alongside the traditional venue – the National Cultural Centre Tarmac.

After this weekend’s playoff to see who will

make it into the final 32, the competition will officially begin next weekend. The other playing dates are July 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27, with the grand final scheduled for August 3. The first two nights of the event, which features 32 teams, will feature an elimination format.

The successful 16 winners will progress to the group stage. This will be staged over the period of three days. After which, the top two teams from each group will progress to the quarter-final round and subsequent semi-finals. These will be held on the penultimate match-day.

On the other hand, the eight teams that failed to advance from the groups will feature in the Guinness Plate Championship.

Currently, 16 teams have secured automatic qualification to the event owing to their stellar performances in the previous edition.

Those teams are defending champions Gold is Money, GTI Ballers, Queen Street Tiger Bay, Upsetters, Rising Stars, North Ruimveldt, Future Stars, Kingston, California Square, Avocado Ballers, Leopold Street, Ol Skool Ballers, Bent Street, North East La Penitence, Sparta Boss, and Norton Street.

The winner of the zone will automatically seal their place in the National Championship, which is slated to commence in August.

To date, Beacons (Bartica champions); Melanie B (East Coast Demerara winners); Brothers United (West Demerara/East Bank Demerara winners); Trafalgar (Berbice champions) and High Rollers (Linden champions) are the teams to have secured automatic berths to the national championship.

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wednesday, JUly 3, 2019

23

Rohit, Bumrah help India seal semis spot

Jasprit Bumrah celebrates taking Sabbir Rahman’s wicket

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ndia became the second side to seal a spot in the ICC World Cup 2019 semifinal with a 28-run win over Bangladesh at Edgbaston on Tuesday (June 2). Shakib al

Hasan, as usual, was among the runs - scoring 64 - but lack of support from the other batsmen meant Bangladesh managed 286 to fall short in the chase. India’s total of 314

was built by Rohit Sharma’s 104 - his fourth ton in this World Cup. Rohit’s ton also matched the record set by Kumar Sangakkara as the former Sri Lanka captain scored four centuries in the 2015 - the most in a single edition.

Bangladesh were hampered to quite an extent as the pitch slowed down considerably and then were let down by the batsmen, who failed to rally around Shakib.

The allrounder became the first player to score more than 500 runs and take more than 10 wickets in a single World Cup edition. It was a shame really that none of the top six were able to top Soumya Sarkar’s 33. Hardik Pandya continued to take the pace off and accounted for the wickets of Sarkar and Liton Das before bagging the crucial wicket of Shakib in the 34th over.

By then, Bangladesh were struggling at 179 for 6 and the game had already slipped

away.

In a tricky chase, Bangladesh got off to a cautious start with the openers scoring 39 for the first wicket. Tamim Iqbal chopped one back, Sarkar clobbered a wide one to cover and Mushfiqur Rahim swept a tossed up delivery from Yuzvendra Chahal to square leg. Bangladesh’s inability to string together a productive partnership cost them the game in the day with the highest being the Shakib-Rahim association that fetched the side 47.

Mohammad Saifuddin and Sabbir Rahman played some enterprising strokes, with the former registering a halfcentury, but only kept delaying the inevitable.

Earlier in the day, things could have been a lot different had Tamim managed to hold on Rohit’s pull

at the square leg fence when the opener was on 9. Once the coin fell in India’s favour, and they decided to bat, the pressure was already on the bowlers and the drop didn’t help. If you want to see how fluent Rohit was on the day, find yourself the clip of the first three balls of the sixth over.

Mohammad Saifuddin beat the outside edge on the first delivery, got a good one up next and forced Rohit to

Additional exposure needed at the Under-20 level, says Joseph

Rohit Sharma has now scored consecutive World Cup centuries

A snippet of the KFC U-20 action

By Jemima Holmes

T

here are only two games left to be played before the inaugural KFC Under-20 Independence Cup tournament concludes.

Reflecting on the tournament, which began in April, Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Youth Development Officer Brian Joseph believes that more work still needs to be done at the Under-20 level.

The competition, which first began in the nine regional member associations and boiled down to a national tournament, will see newcomers Dynamic FC and the renowned Santos FC battle for a shot at the grand prize.

Given the length of the tournament and the number of players that were involved, one would think that a few surprises would arise, but according to Joseph, this was not the case.

“Outside of what Dynamic FC have been able to do so far, there haven’t been any real surprises,” the Youth Development Officer stated.

Not taking away from the quality of the tournament that was hosted, Joseph explained some of the issues at the Under-20 level and revealed that some improvements were witnessed over time.

“We’re not very happy with the level of the tournament in terms of the quality of play and that is expected. We came understanding that at the U-20 level, there hasn’t been a lot of football playing and as a result and once the tournament started, teams have been able to find their way.

Now we’re seeing a little better quality,” Joseph disclosed.

Usually, Under-20 players find themselves

in a peculiar position given the fact that they are now out of the academy system, but most players are not immediately put in a senior team. This situation causes a certain lack of training and exposure for those developing players. Joseph explained how this situation could affect the improvement of upcoming players.

“Under-20 is a very technical area, because, for example, in the academy structure, there is no provision for U-20 football. So with no provisions, it means that the Clubs will have to fill that mantle and it is not being done at the club level. It means now that if we want to fill that gap, we need private promoters; we need these teams training on a weekly basis so that these players can graduate into the senior teams,” the Youth Development Officer explained.

As such, he made a plea to member associations, clubs and corporate Guyana to jump on board with

GFF Youth Development Officer Brian Joseph

the GFF in order to better football at the Under-20 level, and by extension, senior football.

“This tournament, KFC, came on board and we were able to do it nationally, but this cannot be the mandate of the GFF to run national tournaments alone. The MAs (member associations) need to run tournaments so that they can develop, so when the GFF steps in, we have the players coming in at a much higher level and raising the bar,” he said.

Meanwhile, the GFF representative was questioned about the scouting process for the upcoming CONCACAF Under-23 World Cup qualifier. When asked if they were able to identify any new talent, Joseph answered in the negative, while stating that there might have been two to three players who have earned themselves an invite. Outside of this, the shining stars are those who have been playing consistently.

“It’s unfortunate, but we basically know all the players. The players who have been standing out are those who would have played in the youth teams coming up.

So we haven’t found a new gem, what we’re seeing is experienced players continuing to shine,” Joseph revealed.

The last showdown of the inaugural KFC tournament was initially slated for Monday, July 1, but the semi-finals and final were postponed owing to inclement weather.

Dynamic FC and Santos FC will battle for the $500,000 top prize, while Fruta Conquerors and Botofago FC will vie for third place.

defend. Having played two dots, Saifuddin got another decent delivery - pitching outside off and on length only to see Rohit dance down and smoke it over cover.

Rohit’s fluency allowed KL Rahul to get in but the latter failed to shrug off his struggles during his 92-ball stay. India ended the first ten with 69 - their highest score in the powerplay this tournament with all wickets intact. Rahul completed his half-century off 57 balls, but continued to struggle for timing. The moment of the innings came on the last ball of the 29th over as Rohit crunched a single to complete his 26th ODI ton off 90 deliveries. The hopes of a double ton, however, were extinguished by Sarkar as an off-cutter was mistimed to cover. Rahul fell for 77 off 92 to Rubel Hossain soon after, but Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant got the momentum going with a 42-run stand.

Bangladesh made a brief comeback via a double-wicket maiden from Mustafizur.

Kohli’s pull found squareleg and then Pandya edged his second ball to first slip.

India still had more than 11 overs to go but had lost two accelerators. Pant looked a lot at ease and kept the score moving with timely hits during his knock of 48 before his sweep carried easily to fine-leg. There was no major flourish from MS Dhoni - once again as India’s finishing issues were exposed once again.

Mustafizur completed his five-wicket haul with two wickets in the last over but the pressure of chasing a 300-plus total eventually got the better of Bangladesh. (Cricbuzz)

3

SCOREBOARD India Innings (50 overs maximum) KL Rahul c †Mushfiqur Rahim b Rubel Hossain . . . . . . . . 77 RG Sharma c Liton Das b Soumya Sarkar . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 V Kohli (c) c Rubel Hossain b Mustafizur Rahman . . . . . . 26 RR Pant c Mosaddek Hossain b Shakib Al Hasan . . . . . . . . 48 HH Pandya c Soumya Sarkar b Mustafizur Rahman . . . . . . 0 MS Dhoni † c Shakib Al Hasan b Mustafizur Rahman . . . . . 35 KD Karthik c Mosaddek Hossain b Mustafizur Rahman . . . . . . 8 B Kumar run out (†Mushfiqur Rahim/Mustafizur Rahman) �� 2 Mohammed Shami b Mustafizur Rahman . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 JJ Bumrah not out . . . . . . . 0 Extras (lb 6, nb 1, w 6) . . . . 13 TOTAL (50 Overs, RR: 6.28) 314-9 Did not bat: YS Chahal Fall of wickets: 1-180 (Rohit Sharma, 29.2 ov), 2-195 (KL Rahul, 32.4 ov), 3-237 (Virat Kohli, 38.2 ov), 4-237 (Hardik Pandya, 38.4 ov), 5-277 (Rishabh Pant, 44.1 ov), 6-298 (Dinesh Karthik, 47.2 ov), 7-311 (MS Dhoni, 49.3 ov), 8-314 (Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 49.5 ov), 9-314 (Mohammed Shami, 49.6 ov) BOWLING : M Mortaza (5-036-0), M Saifuddin (7-0-59-0), M Rahman (10-1-59-5), S Al Hasan (10-0-41-1), M Hossain (4-0-32-0), R Hossain (8-0-48-

1), S Sarkar (6-0-33-1) Bangladesh Innings (target: 315 runs from 50 overs) Tamim Iqbal b Mohammed Shami . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Soumya Sarkar c Kohli b Pandya . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Shakib Al Hasan c Karthik b Pandya . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Mushfiqur Rahim † c Mohammed Shami b Chahal . 24 Liton Das c Karthik b Pandya . 22 Mosaddek Hossain b Bumrah 3 Sabbir Rahman b Bumrah . . . 36 Mohammad Saifuddin not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Mashrafe Mortaza (c) c †Dhoni b Kumar . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Rubel Hossain b Bumrah . . .9 Mustafizur Rahman b Bumrah 0 Extras (b 1, lb 1, w 10) . . . . 12 TOTAL (48 Overs, RR: 5.95) 286 all out Fall of wickets: 1-39 (Tamim Iqbal, 9.3 ov), 2-74 (Soumya Sarkar, 15.1 ov), 3-121 (Mushfiqur Rahim, 22.6 ov), 4-162 (Liton Das, 29.4 ov), 5-173 (Mosaddek Hossain, 32.2 ov), 6-179 (Shakib Al Hasan, 33.5 ov), 7-245 (Sabbir Rahman, 43.1 ov), 8-257 (Mashrafe Mortaza, 44.2 ov), 9-286 (Rubel Hossain, 47.5 ov), 10-286 (Mustafizur Rahman, 47.6 ov) BOWLING : B Kumar (9-0-51-1), JJ Bumrah (10-1-55-4), M Shami (9-0-68-1), YS Chahal (10-050-1), HH Pandya (10-0-60-3)

wednesday, JUly 3, 2019

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Rohit, Bumrah help India seal semis spot Page 23

Additional exposure needed at the Under-20 Robert Singh shines level, says in Dominican Republic Joseph ...bags 3 medals for Guyana Page 20

Page 23

Robert Singh shares the podium with his Caribbean colleagues after a second-place performance

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