Guyana time Friday September 13,2019.

Special needs school for Bartica P14

Carter Center meets with Opposition Leader Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana guyanatimesgy.com

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Issue No. 4045

friday, september 13, 2019

PRICE

WHAT'S INSIDE:

P8 Criminal charges against NBS Directors dismissed

Pages 3 &9

…as Jagdeo continues to engage int’l community …calls for int’l presence to ensure credible elections

Berbice businessman shot during robbery Page 11

Elderly man crushed to death Page 7

in EBE accident

$80 vat included

PPP to pursue resuscitation of Amaila Falls Hydro Project

Caretaker severely beaten by neighbour

P10

Bicycle thief P8 jailed GTT, customers clash on P13 new e-billing system …utility company comes under fire at PUC hearing

Page 7

After Dorian, disease is next threat on shattered Bahamian island

See story on page 12

Albouystown man jailed for seawall robberies P8

Labourer’s P11 body fished out of canal

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friDAY, september 13, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

3 Carter Center meets with Opposition Leader news

friDAY, september 13, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Friday, September 13 – 04:30h – 06:00h and 14:30 – 16:00h and Saturday, September 14 – 05:30h – 07:00h.

…as Jagdeo continues to engage int’l community

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Friday, September 13 – 16:10h – 17:40h and Saturday, September 14 –16:30h – 18:00h.

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunshine will prevail throughout the day. There will be clear skies at night. Temperatures should range between 21 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius.

Winds: North-Easterly to Southerly between 4.02 metres and 4.91 metres.

High Tide: 04:00h and 16:19h reaching maximum heights of 2.54 metres and 2.54 metres.

Low Tide: 09:55h and 22:09h reaching minimum heights of 0.66 metre and 0.65 metre.

wednesday, SEPTEMBER 11, 2019

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Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

T

he United Statesbased Carter Center delegation continues to engage local political actors and have already met with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.

Speaking at his weekly press conference on Thursday, Jagdeo briefed reporters on the meeting with the Carter Center delegation earlier in the week.

“I met with the Carter Center [representatives] and we discussed elections and the conduct of elections, credible elections and early elections. That’s what they’re here for and constitutional compliance – that this government is illegal,” he stated.

Further, the Opposition Leader went on to say that he has been meeting regularly with the international community.

In fact, on Thursday afternoon, he met with members of the western diplomatic community here.

The ABCE Chief of Missions at the meeting were: United States Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, Deputy British High Commissioner Ray Davidson, Canadian High Commissioner Lilian Chatterjee and Deputy Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation in Guyana Philippe Coessens.

Meanwhile, Jagdeo was joined in that meeting by People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Presidential Candidate Irfaan Ali on Thursday.

The four-member Carter Center delegation is currently on a one-week visit to Guyana to get a better understanding of the situation here.

Following a meeting with Attorney General Basil Williams on Wednesday, Carter Center’s Associate Director – Democracy Programme – Brett Lacy told reporters that the organisation is trying to get the various perspectives of the current situation.

“We were happy to have an opportunity to meet with the Attorney General, to hear from him about the laws of Guyana and to his various arguments relating to the current circumstances in Guyana… And I can say from the Carter Center, we are really just here to listen and we are hoping

to meet with different actors to understand everyone’s perspective on current events here in Guyana,” she stated.

This is the Center’s second visit to the country.

Back March, another delegation led by Jason Carter, the grandson of former US President Jimmy Carter, visited Guyana and met with local political stakeholders.

In fact, after a meeting with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) at the time, the younger Carter posited that there was a lot of political desire to reach a solution but noted this will have to be done by the political leaders here.

“Ultimately, our role here, of course, is limited.

We are not Guyanese, we care about this country…

But ultimately, the issues that are being confronted right now are going to require the cooperation of the political leadership of this country and we are optimistic…” Carter had stated back in March.

But even as the USbased delegation continues to engage local political stakeholders, there appears to be a gridlock as to when elections will be held. In fact, discussions in this regard are still ongoing at GECOM. Elections were constitutionally due since March 21, 2019 – following the passage of the December NoConfidence Motion (NCM) against the current government. However, with the legal challenges which ensued, that timeline was on pause but was subsequently reinstated after the July 18, 2019 Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) ruling, which validated the passage of the motion.

The four-member Carter Center delegation

Despite the constitutional timeline for early elections long expired, the coalition Government has insisted that a date cannot be set without the President first being advised by GECOM on its preparedness to host polls.

GECOM, on the other hand, had come under heavy criticism for also deliberately delaying the elections by going ahead with the controversial Houseto-House Registration. The constitutionality of that exercise was then challenged in court.

In fact, Chief Justice Roxane George last month ruled that the conduct of House-to-House is not unconstitutional or illegal.

However, she noted that GECOM cannot operate as it would in a normal elections cycle. Given that the NCM triggered early elections, the Chief Justice had stated that there are other methods that can be used to sanitise the voters’ list

in a timely manner, such as Claims and Objections.

She had also ruled that it would be unconstitutional for the Commission to remove qualified persons already on the voters’ list, since the House-toHouse exercise was aimed at creating a new National Register of Registrants (NRR) Database, which the Opposition said would have disenfranchised thousands of Guyanese.

Nevertheless, the Elections Commission has since scrapped the Houseto-House Registration, which had recorded over 300,000 new registrants, and is looking to merge the new data obtained with the existing NRR database – something which the Opposition is against.

Jagdeo insists that there should be polls long before the end of 2020 and made a case for this when he met with the Elections Commission on Tuesday.

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, september 13, 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

All women are at risk J

ust being a woman is the biggest risk factor for developing breast cancer. In a published article some years ago, USbased Oncology Surgeon, Dr Theophilus Lewis pointed out that all women are at risk for breast cancer, since the risks associated with contracting the disease are not controllable.

This worrying pronouncement was made during a seminar held right here in Guyana, which was spearheaded by USbased Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Organisation for Social and Health Advancement in Guyana (OSHAG).

Most notably, it was revealed that age and family history are among the biggest risk factors for contracting the disease.

According to the Surgeon, where the incidence of a young woman contracting the disease in her 30s is very small – 0.4 per cent— he is currently treating five patients, all under 30 years, for the disease. A rather unusual occurrence, according to the Oncologist.

This grabs the attention since the focus on breast cancer usually starts when a woman turns 40; it was explained too that after this age, the incidence of contracting breast cancer doubles, going from 0.4-1.46. With each passing decade, the risk factor increases; hence, age is one of the primary risk factors for breast cancer.

One of the other important points highlighted was that oestrogen is a driver for breast cancer and what this means is that once a woman has a long exposure to oestrogen, which is not interrupted by pregnancies, then the risk factor for developing breast cancer becomes greater.

Oestrogen can be defined as a female steroid hormone that is produced by the ovaries and, in lesser amounts, by the adrenal cortex, placenta, and male testes. Oestrogen helps control and guide sexual development, including the physical changes associated with puberty.

This risk is especially pronounced in women who have menstruated very early (9 or 10 years old) and who menstruate into their 50s, and would have been exposed to oestrogen for many years. If, however, the years of exposure are broken up by pregnancies, this increased risk is considerably reduced, Dr Lewis said, even as he pointed out that a pregnancy is regarded as a protective period.

It was also explained that a woman who conceives and gives birth after the age of 34 or 35 will likely lose the protection from oestrogen by that age, and will also be at high risk of developing cancer.

It is not usual for young women to develop breast cancer at a young age; when a woman is young, oestrogen stores in the fat. The more obese a woman is, the more fat she is likely to be able to store. But although a woman stops making oestrogen when she is older and begins menopause, the oestrogen already stored in the fat makes them more at risk for developing cancer.

For this reason, Dr Lewis noted that developing breast cancer is not necessarily impacted by what you eat, but due to the amount of oestrogen you are able to store because of being overweight. Other risk factors include family history.

Women with close relatives who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer have a higher risk of developing the disease. If you’ve had one first-degree female relative (sister, mother, daughter) diagnosed with breast cancer, your risk is doubled.

Among the other risk factors, research suggests that women with low levels of vitamin D have a higher risk of breast cancer. Vitamin D may play a role in controlling normal breast cell growth and may be able to stop breast cancer cells from growing.

Every woman wants to know what she can do to lower her risk of breast cancer. Some of the factors associated with breast cancer –being a woman, your age, and your genetics, for example – can’t be changed. Other factors – being overweight, lack of exercise, smoking cigarettes, and eating unhealthy food – can be changed by making choices.

By choosing the healthiest lifestyle options possible, you can empower yourself and make sure your breast cancer risk is as low as possible.

A jockey races a pair of bulls on a paddy field during the annual Kalapoottu Bull Running Festival in the village of Vengannur, near Palakkad, India (AFP photo)

A tribute to Thelma Pinder

Dear Editor, Thelma Pinder Doobay passed away on September 9, 2019, at her home in Bent Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown. She was surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren when she took her last breath.

Thelma was ailing for some time now and was hospitalised a few months ago. I am aware that some will ask who was Thelma Pinder?

She was an ordinary working woman. However, she had deep political convictions, a passion for justice and was a bold fighter for freedom and peace. She had liberated herself of racial prejudice. She saw things in terms of class interest and in her way was a champion of the working people.

Thelma developed her political awareness at a very young age. At that time, Guyana was a colony ruled by the British. Her political awareness came from her mother, Ruth Pinder, who was also an ordinary working-class woman. She was one of the thousands who was made aware of her own oppression by the Political Affairs Committee, which was founded by Cheddi and Janet Jagan, Joslyn Hubbard and Ashton Chase in 1946. Ruth Pinder understood that to obtain a better life she had to be part of the struggle for widespread progress. She encouraged her daughter, Thelma, to be involved in the fight for freedom. Thelma, with her mother Ruth, was part of many epic demonstrations for independence and for improving the conditions of workers, particularly women workers. At that time the PPP was focusing on the cruel exploitation of domestic servants. Ruth Pinder was in the movement at the time when the PPP split in 1955.

This is where she and many

others distinguished themselves as patriots and who did not allow themselves to fight against the interests of Guyana and working people during the struggles of the late 1950s and 1960s. She stood with the PPP and refused to allow herself to be misled by racial propaganda of what later became the PNC. After the split of the PPP, which was engineered by the British, the PNC was formed. Race became its main instrument for mobilising and organising that party. That was the main tool to prevent independence from coming to Guyana much earlier. Moreover, since race was identified by the colonial power as the main weapon to crush the PPP they had to purge the PPP of their African support. After all, they knew that their propaganda would not have the desired effect while the PPP had a substantial amount of African Guyanese in the party. While a massive attack was unleashed on the PPP as a whole, the Black PPP members were targets to get them to leave the PPP. The method used by the colonial power and the PNC was the carrot and the stick.

The comrades who refused to break with cajoling, pushing the racial line and outright bribery, were viciously attacked by the PNC and suffered physical attacks on their persons, property and family. If you look at those comrades in detention in 1964 you would see that a third were African Guyanese PPP leaders and members. Many of them were attacked in the areas where they lived. Comrade Felix Baptiste of Plantation Washington, West Coast Berbice, was one such victim. Having failed to get him to leave the PPP, they applied open terror. During 1964 while he and his family were asleep, sticks of dy-

namite were hurled through his window. His home was badly damaged and he suffered serious injuries, causing him to be hospitalised in Georgetown.

On the day he was discharged he dropped in at Freedom House at Robb Street to see how things were going. While at Freedom House, a powerful bomb that was planted by the PNC terrorist, Batson, exploded. It killed Michael Forde and injured others, including Comrade Baptiste who had to be hospitalised once again. The PNC x 13 Plan was in full cry.

Those were the kinds of insults and attacks that Ruth and Thelma Pinder had to endure because of their strong convictions and their support for the PPP. Thelma worked with the PPP for many years. She was a staff of the New Guyana Company, the printers of Mirror, and worked dedicatedly for Freedom and after independence for democracy.

Thelma, while having her strong working-class convictions, was also deeply interested in the conditions of working women. She served in the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO) and passionately advocated for the equality of women and men.

Thelma Pinder has participated in many demonstrations for independence.

She and her mother were in the Freedom March in 1963 and in many protests to free the detainees during 1964.

She was also an active participant in the PPP’s solidarity activities with South Africa, Vietnam and for the Freedom of Angela Davis. Thelma served on the Central Committee of the Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO). She represented the WPO at conferences in Europe.

This for me, a youngster

in the party in those times, caused me to be inspired

by Thelma and many other of our African Guyanese comrades such as Ashton Chase, George Robertson, EMF Wilson, Cyril Belgrave, Shirley Edwards and others who made many personal sacrifices in the fight for Guyana’s freedom.

Today. We face the same dangers in a different period. The PNC-led APNU regime is once more demonstrating their disregard for our Constitution and the rule of law. They are ready to sacrifice the interests of Guyana for their personal power and ill-gotten wealth.

Even though they shout the loudest of love for country, in practice they are proving to be the worst anti-nationals.

Thelma’s story must be a lesson to us and also must serve to inspire us to continue to fight against oppression. And injustices from whatever form they come in.

Thelma’s story must not be lost to our African Guyanese compatriots. Far too many of whom are still trapped in the racial prejudice that the PNC has been spreading throughout its existence since 1957.

It is time for them to look at Guyana’s interest and their own well-being.

To Thelma’s children and grandchildren, to her husband Harold Snagg (Doobay), I extend my deepest sympathy. To my PPP comrades, I urge you to always remember our heroes, some who achieved prominence and many others who were silent heroes but whose contribution was very important to the country and the PPP. Their contributions must never be lost and forgotten.

Thank you, Thelma, for a job well done, I salute you.

Sincerely, Donald Ramotar Former President

guyanatimesgy.com

Friday, september 13, 2019

5

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

A full stop has been put to delaying twists and turns Dear Editor, Now that Justice Ret’d Claudette Singh has awoken out of her slumber and issued the statement that elections have to be held before the year’s end, immediately heads start to roll, because the PNC Commissioners at GECOM have realised that this is it, this is the end of the road for them.

A full stop has been put to their shenanigans and delaying twists and turns.

We must respect the Constitution, and that entails free and fair elections this present year, not a fu-

turistic fantasy election of next year as proposed by the PNC. Elections have to be held within the timeframe stipulated by the Constitution and our courts.

For too long, we have been bogged down by this illegal Government and its Commissioners stifling the rights of the people at every turn. It is time for this nonsense to come to an end.

We look forward to a headway straight into the Claims and Objections period and the production of a verified, updated, national voters’ list in time for elec-

tion. As a nation, we have waited, too long to be exact, and here we are at the brink of a new day. Let us be vigilant and never let our guards down, we have to be constantly on the alert.

However, there are two other major obstacles in our path on our way to a free and fair election. These two shackles I shall explain as we move swiftly forward to that healthy place called freedom.

Dear Editor, Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence has been quoted in the local media as stating that “investigations ought to be conducted in suicide deaths caused by the intake of pesticides or other toxic chemicals, to ascertain whether safety and best practices were breached.”

May we remind the Minister that in early 2015, The Caribbean Voice (TCV) and a number of other stakeholders had met with the Pesticides and Toxic Chemicals Control Board (PTCCB) and an agreement arrived at that the PTCCB would unveil an adaptation of the Shri Lankan Model later that year. Nothing has since been heard about that unveiling.

The Shri Lankan model encompasses: 1. Introducing a minimum agro-chemicals list restricting the use of pesticides to a smaller number of pesticides least dangerous to humans.

2. Placing import restrictions to ensure that more dangerous chemicals do not enter the country.

3. Restricting the availability of agro-chemicals by ensuring they are stored safely in locked boxes in rural households, along with all equipment with which these pesticides are used.

4. Ensuring that empty containers are safely and effectively disposed of.

5. Restricting sale of agro-chemicals only to licensed premises and to licensed farmers.

6. Implementing administrative controls to ensure that sales outlets safely store all agro-chemicals.

7. Implementing an ongoing safe use policy to educate people about safe handling, use, storage and disposal.

Concurrently, for small-scale farming, non-chemical methods, including organic farming, should be encouraged.

8. Improving medical management of pesticide poisoning: an important facet of control because better management will reduce the number of deaths.

Requirements are the better availability of antidotes (both in central referral hospitals and ideally in peripheral health units) and ventilation facilities, better training, and better evidence for interventions.

9. Constantly monitoring all measures to ensure ongoing conformity, including random home visits to check for locked box storage and field visits to ensure that only licensed premises and licensed farmers have access to chemicals and that safe handling, use, storage and disposal are in effect.

In this context the policy of sharing out cabinets to farmers makes sense.

However, given that there are tens of thousands of farmers in Guyana, the few hundreds cabinets doled out so far is simply a bandaid approach. Thus time for government to reach out to the World Health Organization and other potential international and local partners to come up with an effective, long term plan to tackle agro-poisons suicide.

This plan must, of necessity, include a widely publicized list of all banned agro chemicals. Additionally potent agro-poisons such as gramozone, the choice of poison in Guyana, must be added to that list.

Gramozone contains the lethal ingredient paraquat a substance banned in many nations across the globe.

There is no known antidote and it has one of the highest death rates for poisons once ingested. While there has been no study on its usage in Guyana, a 1997 study by Dr Daisley and Dr Simmons on forensic analysis of acute poisonings in south Trinidad showed that of 105 deaths analysed, almost 95 per cent were cases of suicide, and almost 80 per cent of deaths were

due to paraquat. An analysis of international literature, especially a study in South Korea, shows that the introduction of national policies regulating and banning paraquat led to a significant decrease in pesticide-associated mortality. Yet access to this poison in Guyana is as easy as access to candy. And, considering that those who attempt suicide generally do not want to die, ingestion of gramozone effectively takes away from them that option to survive.

As well, at the Second Caribbean Regional Symposium on Suicide held in December 2015 in the Cayman Islands, a representative from the government spoke with UWI’s toxicologist and founder/head of UWI’s poison control center, Dr. Verrol Simmons, and indicated to him that the Guyana government would employ his services in addressing agro-poisons suicides.

At the third symposium in Trinidad & Tobago, Dr. Simmons disclosed to TCV that he never heard back from that individual or the government.

Respectfully, Neil Adams

WPO condemns APNU/AFC-appointed REO’s attack on Vice Chairwoman Dear Editor, The Women’s Progressive Organisation condemns the recent physical and verbal onslaught on the ViceChairwoman of Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Ms Nandranie Coojah and calls on the Government to stop the harassment and victimization of political elected women and professional women in Guyana.

Since 2015, several women have suffered emotionally, financially and in this case, verbally and physically by the Granger’s Caretaker government and in this specific case at the

Tackling agro-poison suicides

Dr. Simmons also indicated that once a person ingests poison, critical first steps can be taken right there and then to start the lifesaving process. There is no doubt that such information is desperately needed in Guyana for training and for nationwide dissemination.

As well, Dr. Simmons can provide technical and other assistance with respect to the poison control centers, which were supposed to have been established in mid-2016, according to a January 2016 disclosure in the media by Dr Shamdeo Persaud. To date no such center has ever been set up.

The combination of an adaptation of the Shri Lankan Model and training by Dr. Simmons, even without the poison control centers, can ensure that there are no gaps and that in the mid to longterm agro-poisons suicides would be significant reduced if not eliminated.

Sincerely, The Caribbean Voice

hands of the REO of Region Two. While this matter was reported to the police station at Anna Regina, Essequibo Coast and is under investigation, the WPO will be paying keen interest to how the Guyana Police Force will be handling this issue of harassment, physical and verbal abuse.

Women in Guyana is more than 50% of our population, and in the last three decades, women’s empowerment and gender equality have been gradually climbing to the fore of the national agenda. On March 8, 2016, the Caretaker President, Mr. Granger, at the International Women’s Day celebrations at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, committed his government to achieve women’s equality in governance of 50/50 by 2030 as recommended in the SDGs. In contravention to this commitment, the APNU/AFC politically appointed and directed official continues to indiscriminately violate the rights of this elected women to political office.

Reports received during the past 4 years suggest that the REO and his predecessors have used the powers of their office to discriminate, victimize and harass Ms. Coonjah, who is an elected member and ViceChairwoman of the Regional Democratic Council, Region #2. It was said that the REOs have deliberately sabotaged the Vice-Chairwoman from effectively performing her duties by not providing her office with the necessary entitled amenities, which includes a vehicle

and a driver. The Minister of Communities was written regarding the REOs blatant disregard for the rule of law, gender equality and gender equity.

WPO is concerned about the continuous harassment at the place of work and remind those in authority that Guyana is a signatory to the Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women (CEDAW), the sustainable development goals (SDGs) that speaks to gender equality of 50/50 by 2030 and several other conventions that speaks to women’s empowerment and gender equality.

Nandranie Coonjah is a member of the Central Committee, Secretariat and is the Assistant General Secretary of the WPO. Further, Ms Coonjah is a Commissioner on the Women and Gender Equality Commission with responsibility for Regions Two, Five and Six. WPO Calls on all women’s organisations, including the Women and Gender Equality Commission to condemn the actions of the REO of Region Two, and for his resignation with immediate effect.

Further, the WPO calls on the Minister of Communities, with responsibility for RDCs, and Minister of Social Protection with responsibility for Gender Affairs to launch an immediate investigation into this matter.

Sincerely, Women’s Progressive Organisation (WPO)

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Friday, september 13, 2019

Page

Continued from Thursday

Keeping track of sources

Once you’ve found a good source, make a note of it so that you can use it for your paper. Keep a notebook or computer document that has the source’s title, the page number of the important information, and a few notes about why it’s important. This will help you move ahead efficiently as you write. It will also help you to cite your sources correctly (more on this later).

Writing your paper

The great part about doing lots of research is that when you really know your topic, writing about it becomes easier. Still, sitting with a blank computer screen in front of you and a deadline looming can be pretty intimidating. Even if you’ve read countless books, websites, and journals, and have all your notes prepared, it’s normal to struggle with exactly how to get started on the actual writing.

The best way to begin?

Just start putting ideas down on paper! The first few words don’t have to be perfect (and there’s a good chance they won’t be), but you’ll find it gets easier after you’ve started. And you can always revise the actual writing later — the important thing is getting your ideas down on paper. (You may have learnt this approach in school as writing a “web”) After your ideas are on paper, you can start outlining them.

Some people like to think of their first writing attempt as a “first draft”, taking the pressure off of

Foundation themselves to write every sentence and line perfectly. Another good tip for getting started is to write down your ideas like you’re telling your parent, brother, or sister about them.

Don’t feel that you have to write a paper in order.

If you know how you want to prove your thesis, for instance, but don’t know how to introduce it, you could write some or all of the supporting paragraphs before doing the introduction.

Most people make revisions while they’re working. For example, you may be halfway through writing paragraph four when you realise there’s a better way to argue the point you made back in paragraph two. This is all part of the

thinking process. (And it’s a good reason to leave plenty of time to do your paper rather than putting it off until the last minute!)

It’s also a good idea to leave enough time after finishing a paper to put it aside for a few days and then go back to make revisions. Revising a paper is a step that even the best writers think is essential. When you haven’t worked on your paper for a few days, any flaws or problems will stand out more: Look for things like unnecessary words, sentences that don’t make sense, and points that don’t follow on from or support each other.

Citing your sources

Your teacher will probably want you to cite your sources (which means list the sources you used for ideas, statements, and other information in your paper). Sources can be cited in different ways — such as endnotes, footnotes, or a bibliography. Each teacher has different preferences so ask yours for guidance.

Citation not only shows that a paper is well researched, it also lets the reader know which ideas came from your mind and which ideas came from someone else’s. The only time it’s OK not to use a citation is if the content is common knowledge (like the date of a well-known battle) or if the idea is your own.

Citing sources is important because it can help you avoid something called plagiarism. Plagiarism is using someone else’s ideas or words without giving that person proper credit for creating them. The most common ways students plagiarise are copying, quoting, or summarising from a source without properly citing where the information came from.

Plagiarism is a form of cheating — just like looking over someone’s shoulder to copy answers during a test.

But many people who plagiarise don’t realise they’re doing it. That’s why it’s so important to keep track of sources. After weeks of research, the average student will have a hard time remembering what points he or she came up with and what points came from sources. Teachers usually are tough on plagiarism —

even if the student didn’t mean to plagiarise. So keep good notes on your sources!

Dealing with paper stress

Knowing they have a paper to write can be stressful for many students.

To avoid becoming overwhelmed, take these two simple steps: Start as soon as the paper is assigned. That way you’ll have plenty of time for unexpected events — such as research that takes longer than you think or realising you don’t really like the topic you chose and need to come up with another.

Break the paper down into manageable “mini-projects”. Your first is brainstorming an idea or topic, the next task is doing research, then comes writing the paper, and after that you’ll revise it. Figure out how much time you’ll need for each “mini-project” — this will not only help you feel more in control, it will also give you an idea of how much time the overall paper will take, from research to finished product.

Writing papers is a learning exercise — that’s why teachers assign them!

Most teachers don’t expect you to do it perfectly all by yourself. Even college students head to their professors after class for help. If you need help — anywhere from the brainstorming to understanding difficult material to the writing — don’t be afraid to talk to your teacher. (Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

P

eople have always been storytellers, from the Stone Age until today. In ancient times, humans painted or carved their stories on cave walls or rocks using pictures. They drew things that were important to them like celebrations, hunting, and animals. Prehistoric cave paintings more than 40,000 years old have been discovered in France (Lascaux) and Spain (Altamira). Rock carvings (petroglyphs) can be found throughout the world.

What would you paint on a rock or cave wall? The night sky? Animals? Family? Celebrations?

What story would you tell? For each of the following activities, talk with your parent about what you chose to draw and why.

Sandpaper petroglyphs

Use rough sandpaper as your “rock” surface and let your imagination fly. Drawing with crayons on the rough surface creates an interesting texture!

What you’ll need: • Squares of rough grit sandpaper • Crayons

Sidewalk petroglyphs

What you’ll need: • Spray bottle with misting nozzle • Cornstarch • Food colouring 1. Gather up items that have interesting shapes: leaves, small kitchen utensils, plastic animals – and your hands! You could also cut shapes out of heavy construction paper. These objects will be used as your sidewalk stencils.

2. Mix six tablespoons of cornstarch with one cup of water until dissolved. Stir in a few drops of food colouring.

3. Pour the mixture into your spray bottle and shake (you’ll need to re-shake often to keep everything well mixed).

4. Set your found objects on the sidewalk and spray around each. Lift up the objects to reveal the “petroglyph” underneath. (startwithabook.org)

news

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friDAY, september 13, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

PPP to pursue resuscitation of Amaila Falls Hydro Project

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he People’s Progressive Party (PPP) has rolled out its energy plan which includes not only a significant reduction in costs, but some 400 megawatt (MW) capacity – which is more than double the less than 200 MW that is currently being generated.

This was revealed by the Party’s General Secretary and Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, on Thursday at his weekly press conference.

His comments come as the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) continues to grapple with the provision of reliable energy due to the shortfall of its capacity. In fact, only last week the power company complained of a generation

shortfall at the DemeraraBerbice Interconnected System (DBIS) as a result of unforeseen occurrences and generation/operational issues.

Days later, it announced that GPL was proceeding with a power purchase deal with Giftland Mall for the provision of some five megawatts of power to feed into the national grid. But the power company subsequently disclosed that it is unable to purchase power from any private company because of its existing licence and the country’s laws.

While Government has been talking about amending the laws to pave way for buying electricity from private companies, Jagdeo said

this situation is as a result of the coalition Government’s lack of vision for the sector.

“If you talk to them, they’re clueless… The ability to conceptualise or implement things is missing from this government,” he contended.

The Opposition Leader went on to blast the coalition for scrapping the Amaila Falls Hydro Project (AFHP), which he noted would have brought in some 160 megawatts of renewable power into the national grid by mid-2017.

“They killed that and they said they’re going to do solar, wind… [But] so far, they’ve done very little in bringing in new capacity,” he noted.

Elderly man crushed to death in EBE accident

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pedal cyclist was crushed to death by a truck after he was hit off his bicycle on the Parika Access Road, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) on Thursday morning.

Dead is 65-year-old Christian Bowlin of Parika Backdam, EBE. Reports are at about 09:15h on Thursday, the pedal cyclist and the lorry truck driver were on the same lane along the main public road heading in the northern direction when the accident took place.

This newspaper was told that the driver of the truck, GWW 4008, attempted to overtake Bowlin on the roadway but during this process, he hit the right handle of the bicycle. As a result of the impact, Bowlin fell off the bicycle and landed between the front and back wheels on the left side of the moving truck.

Seconds later, the back wheel of the truck ran over Bowlin’s head and instantly crushed the pedal cyclist to death.

Commander of D Division (West Bank Demerara-East Bank Essequibo), Senior Superintendent Linden Lord when contacted told Guyana Times that ranks in the Division conducted a breathalyser test on the driver but there was no trace of alcohol in his system.

He stated that the truck driver is presently in police custody assisting with investigations.

In May month, a 57-yearold pedal cyclist named Ramlackhan (only name given) was struck down by an intoxicated corporal attached to the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) on the East Coast of Demerara, and almost one month later succumbed to his injuries at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).

His death occurred less than two weeks after he underwent emergency surgery while in an unconscious state at that hospital.

In March, a hit-and-run accident along the Timehri

The truck, GWW 4008, that crushed the pedal cyclist to death on Thursday morning along the Parika, East Bank Essequibo roadway

Public Road, East Bank Demerara (EBD), claimed the life of 50-year-old pedal cyclist Peter Billison of Lot 17 Soesdyke, EBD. Also in March, Rupununi resident Jennifer Williams, a 40-year-old pedal cyclist, died after she was allegedly struck down by a motor pickup on the Wowetta Main

Road in North Rupununi, Region Nine.

In February, a 41-yearold pedal cyclist, Joel Jacobs, of Number 28 Village, West Coast Berbice, was killed after he reportedly collided with hire car HC 8140 on the Onverwagt Public Road, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

The AFHP, which was initiated under the PPP Administration, was continually blocked by the then APNU and AFC combined Opposition while controlling the National Assembly by a one-seat majority.

The AFHP would have assisted GPL to get adequate electricity supply, thus, providing cheaper and more reliable power to citizens and businesses. But the Norway-funded project was scrapped and Government has diverted its US$80 million funding, which Guyana has earned for sustaining its rainforests to absorb global carbon emissions, to a 100 megawatt solar energy project.

However, Jagdeo, a former President, said that if the PPP returns to office at the upcoming elections, then resuscitation of the Amaila Falls Project would be among its top priorities for the energy sector.

“Our plan is resuming discussions on Amaila.

Immediately, starting to

move forward on that project but recognising that that project will take some time into the future because it will take about four to five years to be completed. You can wait on that to bring in power now – base load,” he acknowledged.

To this end, the General Secretary said that the PPP administration will move on to a gas power plant, which it believes could be done easily. However, while will be bring another 20 megawatt into the system, he stressed that it will not come into fruition until maybe 2021. As such, they will have to rely on fossil fuel initially to stabilise power supply in the country and bring an end to the constant blackouts.

“So immediately, we move to fossil fuel and then the medium term – well by 2021 – to get to the gas fire power plant and then the hydro in about four years. That should put over 400 megawatts of new power [into the grid]. Right now, we generating under 200 megawatts,

so that [400 megawatts] will allow us to do street lights, it will allow us to reduce the cost of electricity significantly and it will allow us to do a number of other things both for household and [commercial purposes],” he stated.

Parallel to this, Jagdeo added, the PPP plans to improve transmission as well as the isolated grids, which will have either wind power or solar.

Another project he said his party will resume is the residential solar panel project for hinterland communities. He noted that the current project that Government is rolling out giving hinterland communities internet is being funded with US$17 million that the PPP has left in place for ICT development in the Hinterland. That money was also from the Norwegian Fund.

“But now they’re doing it with the money and calling it their own,” he posited.

The Opposition Leader disclosed that under the previous PPP administration, 100 of the 215 hinterland communities had already been identified and major areas were wired for the establishment of commercial solar panels. In fact, he noted that they had even started the procurement of the solar panels when government changed in 2015.

Nevertheless, he said the PPP will resume this initiative.

“So we have a combination, a suite of measures that will deal with the power situation. Everything is planned already,” he declared.

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friDAY, september 13, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Criminal charges against NBS Directors dismissed C

riminal charges of false imprisonment which were filed against three Directors of New Building Society (NBS) in March 2018 were dismissed against them on Thursday at Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The eight charges were dismissed by Senior Magistrate Dellon Bess on the grounds the special Prosecutor and Assistant Counsel failed to attend court or provide the court with any explanation for their absence on several appearances.

Attorney for the Directors, Nigel Hughes, informed the press that the dismissal came after the court waited in excess of 90 minutes for counsel to appear and after causing several inquiries to be

made about whether the Prosecutor had informed the Clerk of Court or any other court official about their absence. The inquiries revealed that no such notification had been sent.

The charges detailed that on January 23, 2018,

Anil Beharry, Anil Vishnu, and Deka Tularam prevented eight persons, inclusive of Court Marshals and Police officers, from leaving NBS’ Avenue of the Republic, Georgetown office.

The prosecution was contending that on January 23,

2018, Court Marshals and Police officers had visited the lending agency to execute a levy of the business’ assets.

Just two days prior, Justice Brassington Reynolds awarded some $59 million in damages to the company’s former CEO, Maurice Arjoon, for wrongful dismissal and pension.

The company had locked its doors, claiming that it was under the impression the lending agency was being robbed, preventing customers from leaving the building.

However, during the sixhour standoff Gina Arjoon, Martin Brown, Alex Green, Patrick Higgins, Joseph Allen, Ganesh Hira, Shawn Kalicharran, and Goodish Singh were all confined within the building.

Albouystown man jailed for seawall robberies

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21-year-old man was on Thursday jailed for three years after he was found guilty of two counts of robbery.

Ceon Ray, 21, who gave his places of residence as Sussex Street, Campbellville and Albouystown, Georgetown, was found guilty of two robbery offences at the conclusion of his trial before Magistrate Rondel Weaver.

The charge stated that on June 15, 2019 at Kingston seawall, Georgetown, he robbed Tyrell Chu of a quantity of items amounting to $17,000. The second charge stated that on the same day at the same location, he robbed Ishan Singh of a cell phone and cash valued

$56,500.

Magistrate Weaver sentenced Ray to three years imprisonment on each charge. However, the sentences will run concurrently.

Reports are the couple were having lunch at the

seawall when they were attacked and robbed by Ray and an accomplice.

A nearby Police patrol responded to their plea for help and apprehended the two men with the stolen items in their possession.

Ray’s accomplice, Navin Ally, had admitted to the charges and was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment. In June, as the men were being escorted into the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, they made a short-lived dash for freedom.

Ali ran in the direction of the Kitty minibus park but was captured by a group Police officers who were in the vicinity and saw ranks from the court firing shots in the area.

Ray, on the other hand, ran towards Lombard Street, Georgetown, but quick actions by the Police ranks resulted in him too being rearrested.

Bicycle thief jailed

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mason who stole a bicycle was on Thursday jailed when he appeared at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

John Cameron was on trial before Senior Magistrate Dylon Bess and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for stealing a bicycle.

The 20-year-old mason had initially denied the charge which stated that on June 8, 2019, at North Road, Bourda, Georgetown, he stole one bicycle valued $22,500 from Marlon Walcott.

However, when the matter was called on Thursday,

Cameron changed his not guilty plea to guilty.

The prosecution’s case contended that on June 8 at about 08:00h, the Virtual Complainant rode his bicycle to his workplace and parked it. However, upon returning a few hours later, he noticed the bicycle missing.

The matter was reported and CCTV footage in the area was examined.

Cameron was seen removing the bicycle and as such, Police arrested him.

The Magistrate, after listening to the facts, sentenced him to six months behind bars and placed him on a bond to keep the peace for one year.

Referee…

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…for elections? he Carter Center made an invaluable contribution to Guyana and Guyanese back in 1992 when after two years of “behind the scene” and “on the scene” work, they were able to shepherd through the first “free and fair” elections in 28 years. Fast forward another twenty eight years and we’re once again in need of some help to facilitate another such elections. This weekend, the Carter Center’s back cause clearly, we haven’t been able to get our act (electorally) in all that time.

There’s hope in some local quarters that the Center will once again be able to perform its legerdemain on this go-around, even though its team leader says they’re only here to “observe” our preparations. Back in 1990, when elections were due after the PNC’s massive 1985 rigging, Opposition parties had done yeoman work to lobby the Carter Center to offer their elections monitoring services.

But if the truth be told, it wasn’t so much “legerdemain” than a shift in US foreign policy towards Guyana that really made the Carter Center’s intervention effective.

We don’t have to rehearse the US’ objection to Jagan on ideological grounds in the 1960s that resulted in them orchestrating the PNC of Burnham’s taking of power. The PPP was seen as affecting the US strategic interest in controlling its “backyard”. It was the fall of the USSR in 1989 that made the US administration take a second look at the question of the PNC’s legitimacy vis a vis the PPP. Their Marxist slant was now seen as irrelevant to global politics.

When lumpen elements organised by Hamilton Green stormed elections headquarters as the election results showed the PPP ahead, it took a call from the White House to President Hoyte to have him call in the troops to make them stand down. The point your Eyewitness wants to make is if the Carter Center will become a broker for free and fair elections once again, it will be the call of the present US administration of Donald Trump.

The question, once again, is what is the US strategic interest at this time in Guyana and which party – the PPP or the PNC – do they see as best protecting that interest to cause them to engage into the process. Economic interest occasioned by ExxonMobil’s massive oil strikes are, of course, at the top of any list. But there is also our proximity and facility to Venezuela, where Maduro has been stymying the US administration’s call for a democratic regime change after they seized assets of US firms, including ExxonMobil’s. …for cheaper consumer goods?

Well, the Trini conglomerate Ansa McAL has opened up what they call a “Massy Mega” in Guyana. They’ll be selling groceries and consumer goods at close to wholesale prices – imitating Costco and BJ’s in the US. Winston Jordan bigged up the opening as a massive infusion of Foreign Domestic Investment (FDI) into the Guyanese economy.

He took time out to “throw shade” at the Opposition Leader for calling out some foreign businessmen but wasn’t possessed of the testicular fortitude to call the name of the man who used to be his boss in the same Ministry he now heads. But your Eyewitness has a couple of questions for Jordan. Does he really think that opening bigger stores to sell imported consumer merchandise to Guyanese is really “developing” Guyana?? Who’ll be buying these consumer goods when his Government has actually reduced the cash circulating in the economy by tossing thousands into the streets and taxing the remaining working stiffs to such $90Billions out of their pockets?? …in CPL slugfest Your Eyewitness is still breathless at more than 485 runs being scored at Warner Park in St Kitts the other night by the Tallawahs and the Patriots.

He swears the referee got whiplash from following the ball over the stands!!

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

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friDAY, september 13, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Opposition calls for int’l presence to ensure credible elections A

s Guyana awaits the Guyana Elections Commission’s (GECOM) readiness for General and Regional Elections, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has called for international presence during this period to scrutinise activities surrounding the polls.

He stressed on Thursday during a press conference that the presence of international observers is key to ensuring credible elections. It was explained that in the past, the United Nations was requested by GECOM to oversee the process but their assistance was later refused. This was under the leadership of former Chairperson, Justice James Patterson. Prior to this, international officials were also stationed at the Commission to inspect the operations.

“There are other things that are vital to the conduct of elections and credible elections. One is international presence. Before 2014, we had international staff embedded in the Commission. The APNU Commissioners and the [former] Chairman that was there, Mr Patterson, requested help from the UN. When the UN came out with a report saying no House-to-House Registration, they refused the help,” the Opposition Leader insisted.

He further stated that the international community can be deployed immediately to assess the situation and in some instances, they are just waiting on a call to do so. During a meeting some time ago with the UN, it was reestablished that their offer still exists.

“I’m sure that the international community is just waiting for the request.

But immediately it could start. When I met with the international community a few months back, particularly in relation to the UN, I asked is that offer still on the table? They said yes, the offer is on the table.

We’re ready to move,” the former Head of State informed.

Meanwhile, the Caribbean Community (Caricom) and other bilateral donors gestured in

a similar fashion. In recent time, the Opposition has met with both the diplomatic community and GECOM officials.

GECOM engagement

A meeting was convened with the elections body this week to encourage discussions on preparations for the polls. Jagdeo debunked statements which were made by Government Commissioner, Vincent Alexander after the meeting, stating that the possibility of elections is not likely this year.

He clarified that the Chairperson, Justice Claudette Singh, gave her assurance of facilitating the polling process before the end of this year.

“I thought it was the decent thing to do, not to report exactly on the content on the meeting but allow the Chairperson and GECOM to report as to what took place at that meeting. I often make the same mistake, that is, I count on the decency of people who have an agenda; that they would come out and report accurately about the meeting,” Jagdeo said.

He further added, “Vincent Alexander, a Commissioner who was present at the meeting, came out and said no room for elections this year. The

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo

Chairperson in summing up said…‘We are working towards elections before the end of the year’. Not a single objection was raised at that point in time”.

During the meeting, the decision to merge the existing database with the new registration data was not accepted, with the Opposition arguing that it would contaminate the list with duplicate names. This has been reiterated several times, owing to the impact it would have in facilitating a credible electoral process.

Additionally, the Opposition Leader lobbied for Claims and Objections to commence, which would allow new registrants to be

added to the list in a shorter period of time. He insisted that the data obtained during the ceased Houseto-House Registration was unscrutinised, which ques-

tions the accuracy and credibility.

Jagdeo repeated, “GECOM has put together a schedule based on the urging of their Commissioners to take three months to do this merger so that we would start Claims and Objections, which can start immediately…I asked the Commission’s members ‘Are you prepared to put your neck on the block for the 3400 enumerators that they did not do anything illegal?’ because we have cases where we believe you had illegal registration”.

He added, “You only need to get new registrants added to the list.

That could be done through Claims and Objections which can start immediately and it’s a more transparent process. With us doing that, we can be ready

for elections long before the end of the year.”

Officials of the Government are scheduled to meet with the elections secretariat today.

According to Jagdeo, it is likely that the delaying tactics will continue despite assurances to support early elections.

“I heard that the APNU (A Partnership for National Unity) nominated Commissioners said [to GECOM] that you should meet with APNU too. APNU never requested a meeting. I had requested a meeting with the Commission several weeks ago. It just happened that it was scheduled only now…In spite of those signals, they will go tomorrow (Friday) and try to delay the timelines for elections once again.”

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friDAY, september 13, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Caretaker severely beaten by neighbour

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62-year-old caretaker is nursing several wounds about his body after he was severely beaten with a piece of wood by his neighbour.

Injured is Charles Lamazon, a craft man of Lot 50 South De Kinderen, West Coast Demerara (WCD). He is hospitalised at the Leonora Cottage Hospital, nursing injuries to his head, face, and left hand.

Reports are that on Thursday at about 15:00h, Lamazon was at the residence that he takes care of and was in the process of doing repairs to the door of the house when he received information that the suspect, a 29-year-old construction worker, would usually enter the premises when he and his wife are not around.

Moments after being given this information, Lamazon no-

ticed the suspect entering the yard and a confrontation occurred.

This newspaper was told that as the argument escalated, the suspect allegedly armed himself with a piece of wood that was lying in the yard and dealt several lashes to Lamazon’s body, inclusive of his head, face and hands.

Lamazon’s wife, who was also on the premises, rushed out af-

ter hearing the commotion and called the police.

The police arrived at the scene and arrested the suspect while Lamazon was rushed to the Leonora Cottage Hospital.

According to a source close to the investigation, the suspect admitted to the police that he assaulted Lamazon with the piece of wood.

When contacted, Commander

of D Division (West Bank Demerara-East Bank Essequibo), Senior Superintendent Linden Lord told this publication that ranks returned to the crime scene where they found the piece of wood that the suspect allegedly used to assault his neighbour.

He stated that the suspect is presently in police custody and that investigations are ongoing into the matter.

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friDAY, september 13, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

businessman shot Labourer’s body fished out of canal Berbice during robbery

Seeram Khemraj also called “Blackie”

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olice are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a Berbice labourer.

Dead is 37-year-old Seeram Khemraj also called “Blackie” of Lot 611 Katcha Street Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice (WCB), Region Five (MahaicaBerbice). His body was fished out of a canal adjacent to Number 27 Village, WCB, on Thursday morning.

This newspaper was told that Khemraj left home on Monday for the backdam where he and another labourer had gone to work with a rice farmer.

The dead man’s sister, Tina, told this publication that on Wednesday afternoon they received a message stating that he had drowned.

According to her, the family was told that Khemraj was working on

one side of a canal at Tiger Island and the other individual was on the other side. She said that according to the information they received, Khemraj had finished his task and had attempted to cross the canal to assist his friend.

She said that the family was told that one eyewitness claimed that she saw him with his hands above his head in the middle of the canal as he disappeared beneath the murky water and resurfaced a few times before going out of sight.

The eyewitness reported seeing him earlier with a cutlass in his hand.

An alarm was raised and a search party found his cutlass but not him.

On Thursday a search party which included Police officers returned to the area and Khemraj’s body was seen floating in the canal.

The body is currently at the Fort Wellington Hospital awaiting a post-mortem examination. An investigation has been launched.

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n East Coast Demerara businessman was on Wednesday shot by a lone gunman in Berbice as he was attempting to purchase cattle.

The injured man has been identified as 64-year-old Abdool Hack of Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

Reports are that Hack and his 22-year-old son, Afab, had made arrangements to purchase cattle from a Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) businessman.

They were expected to collect the animals at Babu Jaan, Port Mourant, where payment was also expected to be handed over.

Hack told investigators that he arrived at the loca-

tion at the prearranged time and had to wait for a long period.

He said that as he waited, a lone gunman approached him and his son and demanded that he hand over the cash. He said that he was not willing to lose his money so easily and he and the gunman ended up in a scuffle. It was then that the bandit pulled out a firearm

and discharged one round which hit Hack in the buttocks.

Hack was relieved of $600,000 while his son was relieved of $40,000 and a cellular phone.

He was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital, treated and sent away. A report was made to the police and an investigation has been launched.

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friDAY, september 13, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

After Dorian, disease is next threat on shattered Bahamian island P

iles of debris, decaying human and animal corpses and fetid water on storm-hammered Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas are posing a new risk for those who survived Hurricane Dorian's wrath: Disease.

As the insect population temporarily cleared when Dorian slammed into the islands on Sept. 1 with top sustained winds of 185 miles (298 km) per hour, water-borne and insect-borne diseases, including malaria

Organization (PAHO) said in a report this week.

Disease outbreaks could further drive up the death toll of one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record, which currently stands at 50, but which Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said he expects to significantly increase.

Some 1,300 people have been registered as missing in the storm's wake and the Bahamian Ministry of Health has requested 500

viruses."

Still, efforts to recover and keep disease at bay may be sabotaged by further weather events.

The Caribbean basin remains in the midst of hurricane season with heavy weather over the islands on Thursday, and the U.S. National Hurricane Center was monitoring a system that has a 70% chance of becoming a tropical storm.

The World Health Organization earlier this

of health statistics on the most affected islands for at least the next six months.

The Bahamian Ministry of Health has requested extra supplies of Diphtheria and Hepatitis A vaccines for health care providers working in storm-hit areas, the PAHO said.

Around Marsh Harbour, where officials estimate that 90% of the homes and buildings were damaged or destroyed, survivors remained worried.

US Coast Guard Petty Officers Nicholas Eudier (left) and Nate Matthews unload relief supplies from their C-130 aircraft in Andros, Bahamas

Personnel from the Royal Bahamas Police Force and a US urban search and rescue team work to remove bodies recovered in a destroyed neighbourhood, in Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco, Bahamas (Reuters photo)

and dengue fever, are fresh threats for those who remain or return to the island, the Pan American Health

body bags, according to the PAHO. Former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham believed

hundreds of people were dead on Abaco, the local Nassau Guardian newspaper reported on Thursday, citing an interview with Ingraham after he toured that island.

The health risks could be compounded on Abaco, where officials plan to erect two tent city relief centers to house about 4,000 people near Marsh Harbour, John Michael-Clark, co-chairman of the Bahamas' disaster relief and reconstruction committee, told reporters this week. That figure matches the number of people PAHO estimates remained on Abaco after the storm.

Many who evacuated Abaco to Nassau told Reuters this week they ultimately plan to return to the island to rebuild their homes and lives.

In addition to the vast of destruction on Abaco, some hospitals and health clinics across the islands are only partially operational after sustaining severe storm damage, and face a shortage of personnel and medical supplies.

"Getting the infrastructure back up and running is really key in safety planning," said Dr. Elizabeth Greig, a physician and disaster response expert with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

"Having safe sources of potable water and effective sanitation is key to keeping populations healthy in temporary housing conditions, along with making sure those shelters are structurally safe and not overcrowded, which can lead to the passing around of respiratory and gastrointestinal

Personnel from the Royal Bahamas Police Force remove a body recovered in a destroyed neighbourhood in the wake of Hurricane Dorian in Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco, Bahamas (Reuters photo)

week said the establishment of early warning systems would be critical to staving off sickness. It emphasized the need for shortterm healthcare, water and sanitation improvement, disease monitoring, and widespread collection

"Every day, they're picking up bodies, who knows how many died?" said Izlaine Jean, 39, a housekeeper and private chef.

"We don't know if it's safe to live here ... we know we can't drink the water, so how can we survive?" (Reuters)

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friDAY, september 13, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

GTT, customers clash on new e-billing system …utility company comes under fire at PUC hearing

Political Commentator Ramon Gaskin highlighting the problems with his bill from GTT at the PUC hearing on Thursday

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he Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GTT) Company came under scrutiny on Thursday at a Public Utilities Commission (PUC) public hearing for moving ahead with its new electronic billing service format for which it has been accused of unilaterally and arbitrarily implementing.

GTT forged ahead with its new e-billing service, a move that did not go well with customers, including political commentator Ramon Gaskin, who filed a complaint with the Public Utilities Commission.

At the public hearing on Thursday, PUC Commissioner, Dr Leyland Lucas sought to clarify the provisions GTT had in place for consumers who cannot or would not optimise the online services.

“What systems are in place to address situations such as we have before us where individuals either by choice or as a consequence of their maturity do not have the details that are necessary for them to feel comfortable paying GTT a bill?” he questioned representatives of the telephone company.

According to GTT, channels are available and consumers can visit any retail store to obtain a copy of their bill but there is a fee attached to this process.

Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, Mark Reynolds expounded on the fact that the online service is much welcomed by many of GTT’s customers, however, he acknowledged that no notification was done to allow consumers countrywide to become acclimated.

“Section One of the PUC Commission Act speaks about the obligation of GTT to bill in this manner. In that Section, there is no indication of the manner in which bills are supposed to be stated [or] delivered and in the interest of customers…we will clearly expound on this position and marry the particulars of the law and the regulations with practice…

Yes, there was no notification issued to customers and GTT takes that and we apologise to Mr Gaskin for that and to the consumers.”

When questioned about the implementation of its e-billing service, Reynolds

speedy it will get to the customer, if, and that is the situation, I mean we have the statistics that will show you that at times it takes three weeks to a month to get a paper bill in the hands of a customer. We have that experience.”

PUC Commissioner, Rajendra Bissessar pointed out that although GTT claims that 70 per cent of the populace has access to the internet it should not be overlooked that this could mean limited access and limited knowledge in the online services being offered.

GTT’s senior team at the PUC hearing

ternet on any mobile device for any purpose will incur a cost especially if a consumer chooses to download information but maintained that the usage of the apps (applications) online to pay bills is free of charge.

Adding his views to

you make a demand for money, why don’t you tell a customer as before what you are asking him to pay for? You pay, the details, you have cellphone calls and you have overseas calls and what you do when you do it at the same time, you ask

noted that it was necessary since it is will help to transform the nation and also allow for better services to customers.

He explained that by using the online service, it is less likely that customers will miss payment deadlines since their billing information is available before the due date.

Returned bills

Reynolds further stated that in the past, using the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) to deliver GTT’s bills has resulted in many customers receiving the important document and information later than the due date of payments. In fact, he said that for last year, statistics reveal that almost 10,000 bills that were posted to customers had been returned to GTT because they were never delivered.

“In the month of November alone we had about 4000 bills being returned…if we issue a paper bill and we issue it through the GPOC we have no control as to how quick or how

Some members of the public who attended the PUC hearing

“But people use internet for Whatsapp or to just make calls… 70 per cent having internet connection, it does not mean they are internet savvy and have no idea to browse etc…if you use data on a cellphone there is cost, every time I go online to utilise data to download…is that true? The fact is when I use my phone to download I utilise data which I have to pay for it. So put me to download the list of telephone calls and so, you are putting an additional cost to me.”

Vice President for Customer Experience at GTT, Orson Ferguson confirmed that utilising the in-

the matter, Patrick Dyal of the Guyana Consumers Association, pointed out that GTT needs to ensure that consumers know how their monies are being spent for services that the company would have provided.

“Why don’t you, when

him you tell him what he is paying for. You don’t tell him a rigmarole and go to the internet which he does not even know about and cannot go to.”

GTT’s Ferguson also clarified that the case with Gaskin should have never

occurred and took responsibility for the blunder of notifying the political commentator about the new format for the billing process.

As such, he offered a direct apology to Gaskin and the public for the mistake in not giving an appropriate notice period to allow for a smoother transition but Gaskin did not accept the explanations or apology.

“The GTT is forcing me to take services that I don’t want and I don’t need. That is the whole purpose of all of these things….I want my original bill, the way I used to get it…I am saying to you, you cannot do it, the licence does not allow you to do things unilaterally and arbitrarily, that is why you have the PUC, that is why you have the PUC Act, that is why you have the licence. You cannot do things on your own and come and apologise,” he bluntly told the forum.

The hearing on Thursday was adjourned to a date to be announced.

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friDAY, september 13, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

Special needs school for Bartica Robotics kits gifted to 6 city secondary schools R egion Seven (CuyuniMazaruni), more so its township Bartica, is slated to house the hinterland’s first special education needs school.

According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), recently delivering the announcement was Regional Chairman Gordon Bradford, who explained that the institute will be outfitted with dormitories. These dorms will cater to children with special needs living in the hinterland, remote and riverine communities.

It was noted that the move to establish such a facility in the hinterland demonstrates the Government’s commitment to providing equitable and inclusive education across Guyana. The Ministry of Education, in its mandate, aims to eliminate illiteracy, modernise education, and strengthen tolerance.

Access to education is a basic need and right and the Region 7 administration, working with the Ministry,

S

A special education needs school established at Schoonord, West Bank Demerara, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara)

has taken its commitment seriously and has so far built two new schools this year, with another three under various degrees of construction.

Additionally, in Waramadong, at the newly-renamed DC Caesar Fox Secondary, a new science laboratory will be constructed for the students.

This school currently houses students from several catchment areas including Waramadong, Paruima and

Kamarang.

Bids for the special education needs school were at the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB) attracting an engineer’s estimate of $25.9 million.

For this year, Region Seven has a capital allocation of $448.6 million, which will be used for developmental projects throughout Upper, Middle and Lower Mazaruni.

ix secondary schools in the city are now better prepared to participate in the annual Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) challenge set for the end of November, following the acquisition of robotic kits donated by Volunteer Youth Corps (VYC).

With funding from US oil and gas giant ExxonMobil, the VYC provided kits to the Richard Ishmael Secondary, Tucville and Dolphin Secondaries, Central High, St John’s College, and Charlestown Secondary School.

According to the Department of Public Information, while the packages will aid in the students’ preparation for the upcoming competition, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Youth Corps, Goldie Scott said the kits will also support innovation and creativity among students. “We want to ensure that they have the technology to use, and today is a great opportunity for that,” Scott is quoted as saying by the DPI at a simple ceremony held at the Richard Ishmael Secondary.

The VYC has been partnering with the oil company for almost a decade to pro-

The robotics kits that were donated

vide after school STEM education to over 11 secondary schools, Scott said. The Youth Corps has been utilising the services of Grade Nine to Eleven teachers to assist in the afternoon sessions.

She said the organisation works hand-inhand with the Ministry of Education for the benefit of all students.

For the STEM challenge later in the year, participants will be required to build a robot that can alleviate an environmental concern, including pollution, deforestation or combatting climate change. An objective of the challenge is to allow students to work as a team while at the same time, learn STEM concepts while solving real-world challenges, using research and creativity.

ExxonMobil’s Senior Director of Public and Government Affairs, Deedra Moe said robotics can be a foundation for students to realise their passions, learn to communicate across different technology platforms, enhance team building and community involvement.

Since her arrival in Guyana just over a year ago, Moe has been able to witness the positive impact STEM has had on education. “Through STEM education has increasingly become a centre for development and ExxonMobil Guyana has recognised that and supporting and empowering youth is essential. We look to you to find solutions to challenging problems and that is why we partner and continue our support to Volunteer Youth Corps”.

es -- and a key part of his 2020 reelection platform.

And this week he celebrated a string of victories.

The latest boost came Wednesday when the Supreme Court said he could enact severe restrictions on asylum seekers.

The ruling requires would-be refugees to ask for asylum in the first country they visit and only then -- if they are rejected -- can they attempt to apply in the United States.

The ruling -- which has temporary effect while challenges play out in lower courts -- shuts out large numbers of people fleeing violence and poverty in Central America. They will now have to apply for asy-

lum in Mexico, rather than head directly to the United States.

Trump's opponents, as well as dissenting Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, said the change upends decades of tradition in which the US, itself founded by waves of often poor immigrants, has welcomed refugees. But Trump, who argues that economic migrants abuse the system with fraudulent asylum claims, went on Twitter to herald the "BIG United States Supreme Court WIN for the Border on Asylum!"

"The Southern Border is becoming very strong despite the obstruction by Democrats," he tweeted. (AFP)

Trump's immigration crackdown starts to gain traction

W

ith a little help from the Supreme Court and Mexico, US President Donald Trump's fitful crackdown on immigration is finally gaining traction.

Trump has spent his entire presidency promising to stop illegal immigration, shut out asylum seekers and wall off the Mexican border.

The far-reaching policies sparked an avalanche of court challenges, complaints from human rights organizations and derision from opposition Democrats ahead of next year's elections.

Undeterred, Trump has hammered away, making the construction of a USMexican border wall one of his presidency's centrepiec-

news

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friDAY, september 13, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Stakeholders participate in oil and gas regulatory workshop

A

s Guyana continues to prepare for first oil, regulations must be in place to ensure there is smooth functioning of the oil and gas industry. To this end, several key stakeholders are participating in a workshop aimed at providing an overview of the use of standards and recommended practices in the industry.

The two-day workshop commenced on September 12 and saw representatives of from the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), Department of Energy (DE), Civil Defence Commission (CDC), ExxonMobil, Hess Corporation, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and other key agencies being engaged in the interactive session.

Speaking to the Department of Public Information (DPI), International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP), Americas Director,

Director of Standards of American Petroleum Institute, David Miller

Wafik Beydoun said the organisation of the workshop was as a result of the request from the DE and GNBS. He explained that IOGP does not develop standards, but rather combines standards from various institutions to establish recommended practices. Beydoun

also noted that the company “works with API in trying to make standards more homogenous so that countries like Guyana can benefit”.

The IOGP Director emphasised that with Guyana poised to begin oil production in early 2020, it is important to host workshops of this nature. He noted that they should be held at frequent intervals to help key stakeholders understand the complexity of the regulations. “The landscape of standards and best practices is complicated, and that is what we’re trying to show in this first workshop”.

Over the two days, the participants will be exposed to areas such as metrology standards, use of standards by regulators, standards of adoption among several others.

David Miller, Director of Standards, American Petroleum Institute, told DPI that the participants will be briefed on the stan-

Participants at the two-day workshop

dards of the API Committee on petroleum measurements. He explained that API publishes 180 standards in manual petroleum measurement which is used for worldwide custody transfers. “Anytime you move gas from one point to another, you have to measure it and demonstrate what is

coming off of the rig going to the ship, what’s going to the ship to the platform etc.

So, these standards help the industry do that accurately and safely”.

Miller noted that emphasis will be placed on crude lifting, which is, bringing the oil and gas from the deep-water wells. “We have

a series of standards specific to offshore crude lifting that you would account for all those different streams because oftentimes you’ll have different regulatory agreements for how oil is treated and how gas is treated”.

The workshop continues today at the GNBS training room.

New storm heads to The Bahamas I t’s not going to get better in the Bahamas.

Another storm is threatening the hurricane-ravaged archipelago, and will bring up to 8 inches of new rainfall in areas where rescue efforts remain underway in the wake of destruction wrought

by Hurricane Dorian, according to forecasters.

“It’s definitely going to hinder recovery efforts over the next few days there,” said Dan Kottlowski, a senior meteorologist and lead hurricane expert for AccuWeather.

“There’s no doubt, mentally, that this is not a very good thing for the people of the Bahamas.”

“Regardless of (the weather system’s) development, it’s still going to bring them gusty winds and rainfall.”

The culprit is 95L, an area of

“disturbed weather” off the southeast end of the island chain.

The forecast comes as an international rescue operation remains underway in portions of the Bahamas, primarily the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama Island.

Officials report 50 confirmed dead, but the death toll is widely expected to rise radically — particularly as some 2,500 people from the islands have been registered as missing. “It’s definitely going to work on the mental psyche of the Bahamas,” Kottlowski added.

The devastation began when Dorian hit the commonwealth Sept. 1 as a Category 5 hurricane, with storm surges over 20 feet, and sustained winds of 185 mph with staggering gusts over 220 mph.

Thousands of military personnel, police officers and volunteers

continue to comb through the debris.

Those efforts could suffer another setback from 95L, with the National Hurricane Center saying there is a 70 percent chance it will develop into a tropical cyclone or tropical storm over the next 48 hours.

Kottlowski said that, at minimum, the system will bring 4 to 8 inches of rain over the same portions of the Bahamas that were hit by Dorian, with some gusting winds.

The worst-case scenario is it develops into a more serious weather system and brings 40- to 70mph winds to the Bahamas — or it could move farther west and fizzle out near Florida or in the Gulf of Mexico. (New York Post)

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Friday, september 13, 2019

Regional

Mexico pushes back after top US court Twitter suspends favours Trump on shunning migrants Cuban Govt-

M

exico’s Government and Central American migrants in overcrowded shelters expressed concern on Thursday after the US Supreme Court allowed President Donald Trump to slam the door on asylum-seekers at the USMexico border.

The court on Wednesday found that Trump’s restrictive asylum rule could go into effect nationwide while a lawsuit challenging its underlying legality proceeds, handing the President a victory as he brandishes his anti-immigration credentials for the November 2020 presidential election.

The rule requires immigrants who want asylum to first seek safe haven in a third country through which they travel on the way to the United States.

Central American migrants, returned to Mexico from the US under the Migrant Protection Protocol (MPP) to wait for their court hearing for asylum seekers, have breakfast at a migrant shelter in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico [Photo by: REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez]

Trump’s immigration crackdown has animated his base of supporters while immigrant advocates in the United States fear the court decision will endanger the lives of asylum-seekers, many of them fleeing poverty, street gangs and domestic violence in Central American coun-

tries.

With the threat of automatic rejection hanging over the most recent arrivals, thousands of migrants are cramped into shelters or sleeping in the streets of Mexican border cities in places such as the state of Tamaulipas, where the US State Department has placed

a “do not travel” advisory due to violent crime similar to its warnings against visiting Sudan or Syria.

One asylum-seeker from El Salvador who staying in a Tijuana shelter while awaiting her immigration hearing in San Diego said she could only hope to God she would not be sent back.

“I’m very scared, I hope this won’t affect me. I cannot return to my country, they tried to rape me there twice because I am a lesbian and the last time I ended up in a hospital in intensive care,” said Veronica Martinez, 23. “I trust in God that the court’s decision does not affect me”.

The Mexican Government also pushed back against the US high court’s action, one that could create a new headache for Mexico. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Oil spill adds to list of Dorian-induced woes in Bahamas

T

he air smells like fuel, the ground is covered in a black paste-like substance and the residents of Grand Bahama are afraid.

After sowing mass destruction across the island, Hurricane Dorian delivered one final blow: an oil spill at the Norwegian Equinor facility.

Dozens of residents of the small town of High Rock have set up tents among the rubble that was once their homes, where they divvy up meagre hand-outs that come their way.

They survive amid the disaster, but now, adding insult to injury, they fear that the air that they breathe and the water that they drink is

not safe.

Residents say the water filters they were given are not useful against the toxicity.

The oil is “deadly, deadly,” said Marco Roberts, 38, holding a mask and lamenting the poisoned state of his island.

“The oil is actually leaking

in the water, and now you can’t bathe in the water, or you can’t drink the water.

The only water we can bathe in is what you all give us,” he told AFP. Six kilometres (four miles) away the ground is saturated with a black, thick paste.

“They need to evacuate the

whole East End or come do something,” Roberts said.

At ground zero, several huge oil storage tanks are coloured black by overflown oil, which has spread over a still yet to be defined section of land near the coast.

It remains unknown if oil from the Equinor facility reached the ocean.

Equinor said in a statement “there is currently no observed leakage of oil to the sea from the South Riding Point terminal”.

However, it said “surveillance has identified potential product in open waters 70-80 kilometres north east of the terminal within Long Point Bight close to Little Abaco Island”. (Excerpt from AFP)

Colombia has borne the brunt of the exodus – it is now home to more than 1.4 million Venezuelans, many of whom arrived with little money and in need of services like healthcare.

“I’m pleased to announce new help of 30 million euros for the identification of migrants and their socio-economic integration,” Mogherini said during a joint Bogota press conference with President Ivan Duque.

“We support these efforts

by the government and local authorities to offer employment, entrepreneurship and dignified housing for refugees, migrants, returned people and also receiver communities”.

The EU has already given some 130 million euros to countries in the region to help them provide for migrants, Mogherini said.

Colombia and the EU will hold a conference in Brussels in October about the crisis, Duque said, in a bid to raise

more funds for migrant care.

Colombia has repeatedly lamented a lack of funding for Venezuelans, saying other humanitarian crises in Syria, South Sudan and Myanmar have received many times more in donations from the international community.

The United States said last week it would give an additional $120 million in humanitarian assistance to help Latin America cope with the crisis. (Excerpt from Reuters)

of weakened leftist rebels who support drug-traffickers, Interior minister Carlos Moran said.

A 45-day operation in the Vraem starting November 1 will aim to destroy 750 hectares (1,853 acres) of coca plants, which are used to make cocaine. Next year eradication in the region would continue more intensely, Moran said, without offering details.

The Vraem, a mountainous jungle region the size of Puerto Rico, produced about 70% of estimated cocaine produced in Peru in 2016, the last year for which data was available in a Dec report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Despite a state of emergency that has suspended civil liberties and authorized military control in the region for decades, recent gov-

ernments have declined to send coca-eradication teams there, wary of a violent backlash from coca farmers and a remnant band of Shining Path rebels.

Moran said rebels have been weakened by captures of key commanders in recent years, and that eradication will start in parts of the Vraem that intelligence reports have identified as less risky. (Excerpt from Reuters)

A damaged container spills oil at the Norwegian Equinor facility on Grand Bahama Island on September 10, 2019

EU to give Colombia €30M in aid for Venezuelan migrants T

he European Union will give 30 million euros (US$33 million) in aid to Colombia to help the Andean country grapple with an influx of Venezuelan migrants fleeing economic and political strife at home, EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini said on Thursday.

More than 4 million Venezuelans have fled in recent years amid widespread shortages of food and medicine in their homeland.

Peru to start uprooting coca plants in top drug-trafficking region

P

eru to start uprooting coca plants in top drug-trafficking region Peruvian security forces will start eradicating illegal coca plants for the first time in a lawless jungle region that produces most of the cocaine in the country, the Government announced on Thursday.

Authorities want to push back against a rise in cocaine output and take advantage

run accounts

President Miguel Díaz-Canel is a regular user of Twitter

T

witter has suspended several accounts run by the Cuban Government, including those of state-run media and of officials, including the daughter of Communist party leader Raul Castro.

The social media giant cited violations of its policies.

The move came just as President Miguel DíazCanel made a televised statement about potential fuel shortages.

Cuba's pro-government journalists' union denounced the suspensions as "massive censorship".

"What is new here is the massive scope of this act of cybernetic warfare, clearly planned, that aims to limit the freedom of expression of Cuban institutions and citi-

zens and to silence the leaders of the revolution," the union said in a statement.

The suspensions began a little before the announcement on state TV on Wednesday by President Diaz-Canel and continued the following morning.

They include the account of the TV programme, Mesa Redonda, on which DíazCanel appeared; the staterun newspaper Granma Digital; the state radio station Radio Rebelde, and the account of Raul Castro's daughter and head of the Cuban gay rights commission, Mariela Castro.

Díaz-Canel's account was not suspended and he used it to share the journalist union's statement. (Excerpt from BBC News)

2 overnight bombings damage Colombia’s Cano Limon pipeline

T

Colombia's Cano Limon pipeline

wo overnight bombings have damaged Colombia’s Cano Limon pipeline, state-run oil company Ecopetrol said on Thursday, one spilling “highly volatile” oil into a river in the eastern province of Norte de Santander.

The company asked those in communities near the first attack - which took place outside the town of Toledo - to stay away from the spill in the Cubugon River and not to use cell phones or other electronics, light cigarettes or start fires in the area.

The second attack took

place in Arauquita municipality, also overnight, the company said in a statement.

The attacks bring total bombings of the Cano Limon so far in 2019 to 32.

Eighteen have taken place in Arauca province and 14 in Norte de Santander.

Although Ecopetrol did not name the group responsible, the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels - considered a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union - regularly attack oil infrastructure. (Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

Friday, september 13, 2019

Around the World

Johnson denies lying to Queen over Parliament suspension

B

oris Johnson has denied lying to the Queen over the advice he gave her over the five-week suspension of Parliament.

The Prime Minister was speaking after Scotland’s highest civil court ruled on Wednesday the shutdown was unlawful.

Asked whether he had lied to the monarch about his reasons for the suspension, he replied: “Absolutely not.”

He added: “The High Court in England plainly agrees with us, but the Supreme Court will have to decide.”

The power to suspend or prorogue - Parliament lies

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Queen Elizabeth

with the Queen, who conventionally acts on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The current five-week suspension began in the early hours of Tuesday, and MPs are not scheduled to return until October 14.

Meanwhile, the EU has

said it is willing to revisit the proposal of a Northern Ireland-only backstop to break the Brexit deadlock, despite Johnson ruling this out.

The Yellowhammer document - published on Wednesday after MPs forced its release - warned of food

and fuel shortages in a no-deal scenario.

But Johnson insisted the UK “will be ready” to leave the EU by the current October 31 deadline without an agreement “if we have to”.

But shadow chancellor John McDonnell said he was “angry” that MPs would not be able to debate the planning document during the suspension.

In a unanimous ruling on Wednesday, the Court of Session in Edinburgh said Johnson’s decision to order the suspension was motivated by the “improper purpose of stymieing Parliament”. (Excerpt from

BBC News)

10 dead, dozens wounded in Mozambique election rally stampede

A

t least 10 people have died and 98 others wounded in a stampede at a campaign rally of Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi, health authorities said.

Nampula Central Hospital officials said the deaths and injuries occurred when a crowd tried to move through a single gate of a stadium in the northern city of Nampula, where the rally was being held on Wednesday.

People were trampled on as they attempted to leave the facility, with a witness

The stampede happened at a campaign rally of President Filipe Nyusi

describing the scene as “total chaos”.

Frelimo party officials

said six women and four men were killed in the stampede.

Twelve people were killed in the first week of campaigning - 10 in traffic accidents and two in political violence - while at least 29 were injured, according to the Public Integrity Centre monitoring group.

Mozambique is currently in its second week of election campaigning in advance of the October 15 general elections, in which Nyusi is hoping to secure a second term.

The party has dominated power in the East African

country of just under 30 million people for more than four decades and the President is expected to win again.

His Government and former rebel group-turned-opposition party Renamo finalised a long-awaited peace deal last month, 27 years after the end of the first civil war in the country.

But Renamo has said dozens of its members have come under attack just days after the signing of the historic deal, threatening the landmark agreement. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Washington, Beijing lay ground for trade deal talks; China buys US soybeans

T

he United States on Thursday welcomed China’s renewed purchases of US farm goods while maintaining the threat of US tariff hikes as the world’s two largest economies prepared the ground for talks aimed at breaking the logjam in their trade war.

Lower-level US and Chinese officials are expected to meet within days in Washington ahead of talks between top trade negotiators in early October, seeking to ease a dispute that for more than a year has rattled financial markets and fuelled fears

of a global recession.

Top-level negotiators last met face-to-face in China in July.

Washington is pressing China for an end to policies and practices including industrial subsidies and forced technology transfer. Meeting those demands would require structural change that it is unclear China would be willing to undertake.

The trade war is impacting the global economy. The International Monetary Fund on Thursday forecast that US and Chinese tit-for-tat tariffs could reduce global GDP in

China’s Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Gao Feng attends a news conference at the Commerce Ministry in Beijing, China, June 19, 2018

2020 by 0.8 per cent and trigger more losses afterward.

Global stocks rose on

Thursday after both sides made concessions ahead of the talks. On Thursday, China importers bought at least 10 cargoes, or 600,000 tonnes, of US soybeans for October-December shipment, the country’s most significant purchases since at least June, US traders with direct knowledge of the deals said.

That came after US President Donald Trump on Wednesday delayed an increase in tariffs on Chinese goods by two weeks and China exempted some US drugs and other goods from tariffs. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Trump Administration reinstates military aid for Ukraine

P

resident Donald T r u m p ’ s Administration has released $250 million in military aid for Ukraine, US senators said on Thursday, after lawmakers from both parties expressed concern that the White House had held up money approved by Congress.

The money is intended for use by Ukraine in its struggle with pro-Russian separatists backed by Moscow. Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea region in March 2014.

Some Democrats had

17

questioned whether the Administration had withheld the money to put pressure on Ukraine’s Government to support Trump’s re-election campaign by launching an investigation into one of Trump’s main rivals in the 2020 US election.

It was one of several disputes recently between Trump and members of Congress, including some of his fellow Republicans as well as Democrats, over his Administration’s decision to sidestep congressional approval to fund its own policy initiatives.

Lawmakers from both parties had said they expected Congress would pass legislation to reinstate the aid for Ukraine if the Administration had not released the money.

The White House has sought repeatedly to slash foreign aid since Trump took office in January 2017, but Congress has pushed back against such plans.

This week, three national security committees in the Democratic-led House of Representatives announced that they were launching an investigation

into whether Trump, his lawyer Rudy Giuliani and possibly others had been trying to put pressure on Ukraine’s Government to assist in Trump’s re-election campaign.

The committees had said they would investigate whether withholding the military aid was part of Trump’s effort “to coerce” the Kiev Government into launching an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden and his family.

Biden is running against Trump in the 2020 presidential campaign.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Israel must have freedom to act against Iran, Netanyahu says in Russia

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Bocharov Ruchei state residence in Sochi, Russia September 12, 2019

I

srael must be allowed to act freely against Iran, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday during a visit to Sochi, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss security coordination in Syria.

The two leaders have met more than a dozen times in recent years and the countries’ militaries have been working to avoid accidental clashes in Syria, where Israel says it has carried out hundreds of strikes against Iranian targets to stop Tehran establishing a permanent military presence there.

“Security coordination between us is always important, but it is especially important now, since in the past month there has been a serious increase in attempts

by Iran to hit Israel from Syria and to place their precision missiles to use against us,” Netanyahu said at the start of the meeting.

Iran and Iran-backed Lebanese militia Hezbollah have helped President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war. Russia, which is also aiding Assad, has largely turned a blind eye to the Israeli air strikes.

Following the talks, which lasted for several hours, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said both Russia and Israel agreed to boost dialogue between their militaries in regards to Syria, Interfax news agency reported.

The news agency, also citing the Minister, said that Putin and Netanyahu both underlined the need to safeguard Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

After an earlier meeting with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Netanyahu reiterated that for Israel to ensure its security, its military needed to have “freedom of action” against Iran in the region.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

Saudi Princess gets suspended jail in France for beating plumber

H

assa bint Salman, a Saudi princess, was on Thursday handed a 10-month suspended sentence by a French court for ordering a bodyguard to beat a workman at her luxury residence in Paris in 2016.

The 42-year-old, a sister of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), the de facto ruler of the oil-rich Gulf state, had been charged with instructing her bodyguard to beat, hold captive and humiliate the plumber.

Bint Salman, a daughter of King Salman, was tried in absentia following an arrest warrant issued in December 2017. She did not show up for the trial since it kicked off in July this year.

She was also ordered by the Paris court to pay a fine of 10,000 euros (US$11,000).

The punishment was heavier than that demanded by the prosecutors, who had sought a sixmonth suspended sentence

and a fine of 5,000 euros (US$5,480).

The princess was accused of instructing her bodyguard Rani Saidi to beat up Ashraf Eid after he was seen taking pictures inside her home in September 2016.

She had been charged with complicity in an act of intentional violence, complicity in illegal confinement and complicity in theft.

The bodyguard, who was the only protagonist in the case present in court, was handed an eightmonth suspended sentence and a 5,000-euro fine, in line with the recommendations of prosecutors.

The case is the latest blow to the image of the kingdom.

Social and economic reforms have been badly undermined by the imprisoning of female activists and by the murder of dissident writer Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul last year. (Excerpt from

Al Jazeera)

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guyanatimesgy.com

friday, september 13, 2019

m l i y m

e w y s

ARCHIE

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

Be careful whom you believe. Someone will try to disrupt an important relationship. Emotional manipulation should be stopped before it leads to a battle or no-win situation.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Don’t be afraid of the unknown. The experience you gain will make your life easier. Take a leap of faith, commit wholeheartedly and embrace love.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

SUDOKU

If you learn as you go and do your best, good things will transpire. How you handle others will determine how much support you receive. Romance is in the stars.

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

Peanuts

Calvin and Hobbes

Do your research.

Preparation will be the key to your success. Offer a loved one support and advice that will ensure his or her success. Work as a team player.

Don’t feel that you must follow the crowd. If something doesn’t feel right, take a pass. Time is on your side, and a break will encourage peace of mind.

Participate in events that excite you. The people you encounter will encourage you to try something new. Expand your interests and friendships. Romance is in the stars.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Be secretive about what you are doing. It’s better to finish what you start before you share anything with others. Avoid getting involved in someone else’s drama. Look out for yourself.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

Size up situations and take advantage of an opportunity that presents itself.

Recognizing how best to utilize your skills to fit a need will pay off.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

An emotional situation won’t get better if you poke the bear. Find a way to stabilize your current situation instead of confusing things further. Truth and integrity matter. Avoid temptation and indulgence.

Talk to someone you think can shed light on a situation. Money, medical and legal matters are best put in perspective and dealt with accordingly. Home and personal improvements are favored.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

solution for LAST PUBLISHED puzzle

Take care of your responsibilities and move on.

Don’t get trapped in someone else’s mess. If you offer suggestions, you’ll be accused of meddling. Don’t let a change someone makes ruin your plans.

Stick to basics and to PISCES (Feb. 20- what’s doable. If you exagMarch 20) gerate or take on too much, you will end up having to depend on others to bail you out.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19)

S ( J P 2 G 2

*

p v

S

M

5

friday, september 13, 2019

19

The Ashes 2019: Buttler defies Australia after Marsh's 4 M

ick Jagger, in attendance at the Oval on Thursday, must have been reminded of this famous song on a familiar day for England. And increasingly so after Tea, when they lost five wickets for 56 runs to nearly surrender two sessions of borderline dominance. Tim Paine won the toss and opted to bowl, ruling out a dry pitch in favour of overhead conditions, but it turned out to be nothing like Australia would have hoped. At 169 for 3, with Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow in the middle of a reassuring 40-run stand, it was Mitchell Marsh's late swing after Tea that helped Australia draw the honours on the first day. But all that not before Pat Cummins, who was in the middle of it all when Steven Smith wasn't, yet again.

"We are playing as Ashes Test and we can't afford to rest our best bowler," Tim Paine said at the toss, the last of this Ashes series

which has seen a shrewd rotation policy for fast bowlers from Australia. But not when it came to Cummins, who's gone on and played all five Tests. And Joe Root's wicket after Tea showed exactly why he did. Six and a half inches (as David Lloyd would say), a little bit of seam, top of off... it was Manchester all over again.

That's when Mitchell Marsh took over.

Marsh's late swing with a ball that was nearly 60 overs old took England by surprise. Running in with Ben Stokes's wicket already under his belt, Marsh had Jonny Bairstow leg-before with a big booming inswinging yorker, having cleverly set him up with three overs of outswingers. Sam Curran was next, both to walk back to the pavilion and watch Marsh roar out like Hulk.

Curran, in fact, wouldn't have been there if Cummins hadn't overstepped on a delivery that hit him plumb on the pad. But despite that

lifeline, Marsh prised him out cleverly, making him think that he could attack the swinging ball and getting him edging to second slip. Chris Woakes got out similarly soon after.

But once Australia had wreaked havoc after Tea, it was a Jos Buttler show from thereon. Maybe that helmet blow from Josh Hazlewood woke him up, or maybe it was Mick Jagger's redemption song One Hit (To The Body), but he looked a different batsman while attacking, as hitting Hazlewood for three sixes en route to a much-needed half-century would suggest.

It was an innings not without luck though; plenty of edges through the slip cordon but at stumps on Day 1, he's still unbeaten on 64 and holds key to England getting over 300 here.

Luck was something that Australia didn't

Afghanistan Premier League postponed because of payment issues, "risks for league's integrity"

The inaugural Afghanistan Premier League was held in 2018 and several high-profile international names were present (AP)

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he second season of the Afghanistan Premier League (APL) has been postponed to 2020 after the league's commercial partner failed to pay the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) rights money. The ACB has terminated the agreement, also citing concerns about the integrity of people associated with Snixer Sports, the partners. The tournament had been scheduled for October this year.

"The failure by Snixer Sports to pay the complete rights fees of the first edition as per the fees and payment schedule of the agreement, and concerns about risks for integrity of the league posed by people connected to Snixer Sports are the reasons for termination that form material breaches of the agreement," the ACB said in a statement.

The allegation around the integrity of the people involved is especially pertinent, given the talk swirling around the league in its first season.

Mohammad Shahzad reported an approach and it was one of the leagues the ICC's ACU was keeping an especially close eye on: there were, it is understood, a number of other approaches made that were reported by players to the anticorruption body.

The ACB hjas written to the Attorney General's

Office of the Government of Afghanistan to "fully investigate the administrative allegations of corruption in the league" and that it remained committed to "ensuring transparency in all its affairs and is accountable to all stakeholders."

Following the signing of the tournament's MoU in January last year, the first edition of the league was held between October 5 and 21 in Sharjah, UAE and featured a host of international names.

Chris Gayle, Shahid Afridi, Andre Russell, Brendon McCullum and Rashid Khan were picked as icon players by the five franchises, representing Paktia, Kabul, Balkh, Nangarhar and Kandahar.

A tender for commercial rights to the second season of the league will be issued in due course.

The league is the second T20 league to run into problems in as many months. In August, the inaugural season of the Euro T20 Slam was cancelled, only two weeks prior to its scheduled start. The Euro T20 Slam organisers, led by Gurmeet Singh's Bombay Sports Limited and Woods Entertainment, the same group in charge of the Global T20 Canada, had run into increasing financial difficulties. The Global T20 Canada, too, faced issues, with player protests over unpaid wages. (Cricinfo)

know at the start of the day.

And it has to be self-inflicted if you drop Root for three times -- THREE TIMES -- in the first session of a Test match and then some. Root was first

dropped by Peter Siddle at deep square leg, then

by Paine behind the wicket, and then by Smith at second slip. The first two drops were off the bowling of Cummins, who with that Curran's non-wicket off the no-ball had a day of what could have been. But even on an average day, he stood out.

To put things into perspective, it was no one's day, quite contrary to how you would expect from an

Ashes Test with no urn at stake. England were 130 for 2 one minute, and then 226 for 8 in the next. Australia had made a bad call at the toss one minute, and were getting an old ball to hoop around corners in the next.

Marsh had crushed through England with four wickets one minute, and was walking off the field clutching his hamstring in the next. It was no one's day.

Tumbling Dice, as Mick Jagger said it in 1972. (Cricbuzz)

SCOREBOARD

Jos Buttler (The Guardian)

England 1st Innings RJ Burns c Marsh b Hazlewood 47 JL Denly c Smith b Cummins 14 JE Root (c) b Cummins 57 BA Stokes c Lyon b Marsh 20 JM Bairstow †lbw b Marsh 22 JC Buttler not out 64 SM Curran c Smith b Marsh 15 CR Woakes lbw b Marsh 2 JC Archer c †Paine b Hazlewood 9 MJ Leach not out 10 Extras (b 2, lb 7, nb 2) 11 TOTAL (82 Overs, RR: 3.3) 271-8 Yet to bat: SCJ Broad

Fall of wickets: 1-27 (Joe Denly, 8.3 ov), 2-103 (Rory Burns, 30.5 ov), 3-130 (Ben Stokes, 39.5 ov), 4-170 (Joe Root, 56.1 ov), 5-176 (Jonny Bairstow, 59.4 ov), 6-199 (Sam Curran, 63.6 ov), 7-205 (Chris Woakes, 65.5 ov), 8-226 (Jofra Archer, 70.4 ov) BOWLING PJ Cummins (22.5-5-73-2) JR Hazlewood (21-7-76-2) PM Siddle (17-1-61-0) MR Marsh (16.1-4-35-4) NM Lyon (4-0-12-0) M Labuschagne (1-0-5-0)

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GUYANATIMESgy.COM

friday, september 13, 2019

8th Pee Wee Tournament gears up for kick-off on 21st …GFF extends licence offer to amateur coaches/teachers

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ourts Guyana is again fuelling the Boys Under-11 Pee Wee tournament, this time with an investment of $4 million. Banks DIH is also on board, and the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has made a tangible offer to upcoming coaches.

This eighth annual tournament is expected to kick off on Saturday, September 21st, and 24 male teams are set to battle for the spoils.

While these business giants Courts and Banks DIH are its sponsors, the tournament is being coordinated by the Petra Organization, whose Co-Director Troy Mendonca has hailed the sponsors’ investments as worthy causes, citing the number of national youth players who have passed through the Pee Wee tournament in former years.

“Recently, we would have seen the country involved in a whole host of youth tournaments, and I think we can safely say a lot of players throughout the national programme, from Under 15 to seniors, would have come through the ranks of the Pee Wee tournament. So the investment that Courts and Banks have been making for the past seven years does not stop at football, and I think it’s a worthy one,” Mendonca explained.

The 24 participating teams comprise of 16 Georgetown schools and eight hailing from the East Bank, East Coast and West Coast of Demerara. They would each be placed into one of six groups of four participants for the round

robin segment of the tournament, after which the knock out stage will begin.

Explaining that he is eager to see what this year’s tournament has in store, Banks Communications Manager Troy Peters declared that the Pee Wee tournament is the highest level of competition for that age group.

"We look forward to a very exciting time; and I can say that with Courts and Petra Organization, they’ve really given us that encouragement to stick with this tournament, because it has really reached a high level; or, as I should say, the top of the bar,” Peters declared.

Roberta Ferguson, who spoke on Courts’ behalf, professed higher hopes for those who begin their football careers at the Pee Wee tournament.

“I know that at this level, getting them involved enables them to find a love for it (football). So we’re happy to see so many students being able to commit to it from such an early age; and we hope that from this year especially, we’re able to produce even more great players for years to come, who can join Guyana’s national team,” Ferguson shared.

Shifting his focus from the students, GFF’s Youth Development Officer Bryan Joseph

stressed the need for certified coaches.

He extended to the amateur coaches and teachers that lead the Pee Wee an invitation to become certified. “CONCACAF has now made it available to us, and we’re making it available to the teachers to participate in licensed coaching courses. So, hopefully, in two years or so, all the teachers that are leading the teams in the tournament would have acquired a minimum ‘D’ CONCACAF licence.

If the knowledge that the teachers have is increased, then it would be passed on to the players,” he reasoned.

The tournament is expected to run from September 21st to November 2nd, and play would be at the

Courts’ Roberta Ferguson

Ministry of Education Ground, where St Pius Primary will defend their championship.

Starting time for the tournament has been pushed to 1pm or 13:00h, to facilitate the Ministry of Education’s Math Camp that is held on Saturday mornings. (Jemima Holmes)

Semenya to receive gold medal from 2011 World Championships

Next Gen & HJ Entertainment’s “Not In My House” …

Over $5M in tickets given to Armed Forces

Russia’s Mariya Savinova sported a smile when she won the 2011 WAC 800m Women’s Gold ahead of Caster Sementa

Promoter of the event Aleem Hussain alongside members of the of the Caribbean Knockout Programme

By Timothy Jaikarran

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he time is drawing closer for the showdown, the day when the highly anticipated feature boxing event presented by Next Gen Global Marketing and Hits & Jams Entertainment is staged at the Durban Park in Georgetown.

“Not In My House” will feature more than 50 rounds of high quality boxing that is certain to set the Durban Park ablaze on September 28.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sport, event promoter Aleem Hussain excitingly disclosed that the armed services of Guyana will be receiving a special treat, compliments of the promoters.

“I would like to make just a quick update: The promotion team, HJ Entertainment and Nex Gen Global, along with our partners, (is) going to donate more than 5 million dollars in complimentary tickets (for) free entry to the armed services. That basically includes the Police Force, Fire Service, Prison Service and the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), as a thank you for

their service, so they can come out and enjoy the boxing on the 28th September,” Hussain said.

The main event of the night will see Guyanese superstar Dexter Marques in hot fistic contention with Jose Antonio Jiminez of Colombia. Winning is everything to Marques, because it would mean that he gets another shot at a major fight if he prevails against the Colombian star.

Marques sees this event as a “grudge match”, since his last matchup with a Colombian boxer saw him losing the encounter by a single point.

Jiminez has an unblemished record of 21 fights without a loss or draw, but Marques remains confident he can overcome the Colombian, even though he has spent some time away from the ring.

According to Hussain, HJ Entertainment would be providing patrons with fabulous entertainment. There will also be an after-party powered by 94.1FM and HJ Entertainment Guyana Carnival. Complimentary tickets are available at Hits & Jams Entertainment’s main office, and at New Trend Auto.

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APE TOWN - Olympic 800 meters champion Caster Semenya will be officially awarded her gold medal from the 2011 world athletics championships at this year’s edition in Doha, but will not be there to receive it.

Semenya was elevated to the gold medal position two years ago when Russian athlete Mariya Savinova, who sped past her on the final straight, was later disqualified for doping violations.

The South African athlete had hoped to defend her 2017 world championship title in Doha starting on Sept. 27, but was forced to withdraw with no verdict yet delivered in her appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal against testosterone regulations imposed on her.

Semenya is appealing the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) ruling that supported regulations introduced by the sport’s governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

These say that XY chromosome athletes with differences in sexual development (DSDs) can race in distances from 400m to a mile only if they take medication to reach a reduced testosterone level.

Semenya has refused to be bound by these

restrictions, placing a cloud over her future in athletics.

Athletics South Africa (ASA) confirmed on Thursday that Semenya would not be in Doha to receive the medal personally during an IAAF ceremony, but that a representative would collect it on her behalf.

Sunette Viljoen, who has been elevated from bronze to silver in the javelin from the 2011 championships will take part in the ceremony.

Russian athlete Mariya Abakumova, the original gold medallist, was also later disqualified for doping violations.

“Congratulations to our athletes for their achievements and for being honored as clean athletes,” ASA president Aleck Skhosana said in a media statement.

“We are happy that the IAAF now offers a chance to the rightful winners a podium celebration in front of a capacity stadium which the cheats denied them at the original competition.”

ASA say they will conduct a formal handover to Semenya at a later date.

Semenya now has two Olympic, three world championship and one Commonwealth Games gold medal in the 800m. (Reuters)

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friday, september 13, 2019

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Archery Guyana’s inaugural Seven Seas Indoor Championship on Sunday A

rchery Guyana will be hosting its inaugural Seven Seas Indoor Championship tournament on Sunday, September 15, 2019 at the National Gymnasium.

Guyana’s best local talents will be on display, aiming for bragging rights after being declared ‘best indoor archer’.

In this tournament, archers will have to demonstrate great discipline, strength, and stamina to walk away with the title. The qualities required by the archer to achieve success twin harmoniously with the Seven Seas products, which are the culmination of a continuous process of rigorous and intense research and development, resulting in natural products known for their excellent quality and high standards.

The Seven Seas brand helps families live their ‘TRUEAGE’ by the range of products built on the science of OMEGA3. According to Nirvana Thakur, Brand Coordinator, Seven Seas sees itself as a natural collaborator with the sport of archery. This is especially true given the intense level of stability, precision and concentration required to succeed in this sport.

Gratitude has been expressed by Vidushi PersaudMcKinnon, Secretary-General of Archery Guyana, for Seven Seas collaboration as a competition sponsor.

Members of the public are invited to witness this tournament free of cost. The official opening ceremony will commence at 9:30 hrs at the Gymnasium.

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Indoor Archery action at the National Gymnasium

Brooklyn-based Guy Ballers to be headed by Karim hails Louis Webster NYNCL a success ꟷ intends to give back to basketball in Guyana ꟷ aims to impress in Franchise League S everal former basketball players who congregate on weekends at the South Pacific Park to have ‘pick’ games have formed themselves into the Guy Ballers organisation with the intention of giving back to the sport in Guyana.

Following a meeting last Sunday, the unit of past players, who played competitive basketball in Linden especially, are now seeking to throw support behind the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA), which concentrates on playing competitive basketball matches at the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.

Louis Webster, a promising local player before he migrated to the United States, will head the steering committee of the new Guy Ballers body. Other office holders are as follows: Larry Bobb -- 1st vice president; Terrence James -- 2nd vice president; former national centre/ forward Dwayne Roberts – secretary; Dexter Walton – treasurer; Carl Wills -- assistant treasurer; Ashton Angel Jr -- organising secretary.

Committee members are former national forward Neil Marks, Rae Bayrd-Webster, Errol Hinds and Marcelle Angel.

At its initial meeting the name was suggested, and was confirmed earlier this week.

The executive body of this organisation has committed to paying a monthly contribution towards fund-raising.

Joseph Chapman, Secretary of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association and the Mackenzie Sports Club, congratulated this new organisation on its formation, as did former World Boxing Champion Wayne 'Big Truck' Brathwaite, who also finds time to be with the basketball players on the playground.

Chapman was asked to update the body on what obtains with basketball, especially in Linden, and he spoke about the problems in getting a new fibreglass backboard for the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court, and the efforts which were made to obtain a new one after appeals were made to the various authorities for assistance, without success.

Chapman discussed the needs of the game back in Guyana, and said there was

By Timothy Jaikarran

Guyana, and recently I’ve been doing a lot of indoor sessions he New York National with the bat. I normally do Cricket League (NYNCL) batting practice 2 times a has concluded, and week, just to stay in touch.

Javed Karim is hoping that his “I would like to score a performances with the bat lot of runs in the Guyana therein are a precursor to his Franchise cricket, knowing that performances in the upcoming I’m in a good batting form; and Guyana Franchise League. also (in) the upcoming Hailing from the tournaments in Berbice.

Blairmont Community If franchise cricket is Centre Cricket Club being played this year, (BCCC) of Region 5 in my goal for 2019 is to Guyana, Karim played be a part of the academy in only nine matches in team; and to achieve this, the NYNCL, but emerged I will work extra hard as one of the on my game and standout my fitness.” players on his K a r i m team, having opined that a m a s s e d his form has a total of improved 285 runs at d r a s t i c a l l y, a batting especially average of when it comes 47.50 to stand to stepping 6th on the up the batting batting charts; pace. He noted and he is now that, in the optimistic NYNCL, the ball about his comes through performance on fairly quicker local soil. because of the In an type of surface, interview with and he said it is a Guyana Times great experience.

Sport, Karim was Karim says asked about his he would like to current form. He extend gratitude replied, “Well, to Vijai Hansraj, since before I came Ravi Etwaroo and over here (USA), I Powan Persaud, was making runs. I for making his scored 56 against journey to play in Young Warriors in the NYNCL Javed my last match in possible.

Karim

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Louis Webster

hope through the initiative of the Social Cohesion Ministry, which has recently made funds available to start upgrading the basketball courts at Amelia’s Ward, Retrieve, Silver City, Christianburg, and Kwakwani.

He, however, disclosed that the Christianburg hard court had not as yet received any cash to get the project off the ground.

At the same time Chapman, Assistant Secretary of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), outlined that the GABF intends to host its national club championship by the end of the year, and this makes getting a new fibreglass backboard for the MSC hard court an immediate need, as this would ensure Linden clubs are prepared for the national club championship, popularly known as The Road to Mecca championship.

He said the LABA and the MSC had retrieved one of the discarded metal backboards it had taken down some years ago to substitute for the broken fibreglass backboard, which was damaged since November last year.

The Guy Ballers is one of two groups of basketball players who have an interest in restoring the game in Linden. The other is stationed in New Jersey, USA and has among its planning team former national players Mike, Clifton and James Brusche, and former national coaches Linden Alphonso, John Davidson and Gary Stephens.

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friday, september 13, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Hero CPL 2019: Tallawahs VAR fails to overturn four incorrect decisions to face TKR today

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he 10th match of the Caribbean Premier League 2019 will be played between Jamaica Tallawahs and Trinbago Knight Riders at Sabina Park, Kingston in Jamaica.

Just a few hours after their match against Saint Lucia Zouks, Jamaica Tallawahs will clash against Trinbago Knight Riders. The Knight Riders are currently placed at the

the 116-run knock from Chris Gayle and 73 from Chadwick Walton which helped them set a daunting target.

Their bowlers, though, did not come to the party as they allowed the Patriots to chase the target with as many as seven balls remaining. Steven Jacobs, Oshane Thomas and Andre Russell were particularly expensive and all went at over 13 runs per over.

Jerome Taylor

Dinesh Ramdin

second spot in the Caribbean Premier League 2019 points table with three wins from three matches.

They started their campaign with an 11run win over St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and then doubled up with another 22-run victory against Jamaica Tallawahs. TKR registered their most recent win against Saint Lucia Zouks by seven wickets. They would like to keep their momentum going against Jamaica Tallawahs.

Tallawahs, on the other hand, have lost both of their matches and are placed at the bottom of the points table. They lost their last match against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots despite putting up 241 runs on the board. It was

Although Thomas picked up four wickets, he will have to figure out a way of not leaking runs.

Kieron Pollard is the highest run-scorer for Trinbago Knight Riders while James Neesham has bagged the most wickets.

Jamaica Tallawahs- Chris Gayle, Glenn Phillips, Chadwick Walton, Rovman Powell, George Worker, Andre Russell, Shamar Springer, Steven Jacobs, Jerome Taylor, Christopher Lamont, Oshane Thomas Trinbago Knight Riders- Lendl Simmons, Tion Webster, Sunil Narine, James Neesham, Denesh Ramdin, Kieron Pollard, Seekkuge Prasanna, Khary Pierre, Mohammad Hasnain, Javon Searles, Anderson Phillip

MHS receives badminton gear …GBA hopes to resurge sport in Linden

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n a benevolent act that is intended to spur the growth of this sport especially outside of Georgetown, the Guyana Badminton Association (GBA) has donated racquets, nets and shuttlecocks to the Mackenzie High School (MHS) of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

Shavin Greene, Physical Education teacher at MHS, received on behalf of the school this timely donation that would facilitate the start of the GBA’s outreach programme to revive the sport of badminton in Linden.

Greene, who completed a two-day training session last month with the Guyana Badminton Association, was taught the necessary rules and regulations of badminton so that he can return to Linden and begin the process of teaching the sport with the aim to get it started in school.

The GBA disclosed that it would, from time to time, visit the school in order to

follow up on the progress and share its vast knowledge and expertise where

needed.

Also on the GBA agenda for the second weekend in October are Under-11, -13, -15 & 17 tournaments which would cater to all schools.

in Premier League

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he Video Assistant Referee (VAR) failed to overturn four incorrect decisions during the first four rounds of Premier League matches this season.

During those rounds, there were 227 incidents involving goals, red card offences, and actual and potential penalty decisions. Of those incidents, six decisions were changed by VAR. Referees' chief, Mike Riley, told Premier League clubs on Thursday that four more incidents should have been changed.

The 4 incidents in question are: Claims for a penalty from Manchester City for a foul on midfielder David Silva in their 3-1 win at Bournemouth on 25 August.

A foul on West Ham striker Sebastian Halle in their win against Norwich City on 31 August.

Leicester City's Youri Tielemens should have been

sent off for his foul on Bournemouth's Callum Wilson on the same day.

A handball by Newcastle United's Isaac Hayden on 31 August was missed in the buildup to Fabian Scharr's equaliser against Watford.

Both the Manchester City and West Ham incidents were immediately dismissed by the referee.

Overall, the Premier League are reasonably satisfied at how the new technology is being used, and feel they have got six decisions right when, 12 months ago, they would have been incorrect.

In addition, a meeting of all 20 clubs in London earlier had a discussion about the merits of moving the transfer window back towards the end of August, in line with most other European countries, but decided more talks were required at their next gathering in November. (Excerpt from BBC Sport)

Serbia beats Team USA in World Cup S erbia beat Team USA 94-89 in a consolation game at the FIBA World Cup in China on Thursday, continuing a spiral that will conclude Saturday with no better than a seventh-place finish in the tournament.

It is guaranteed as the worst showing in international play by the United States, as the top-ranked team in the world will wrap up the World Cup with another consolation game Saturday. In 45 major international competitions, Team USA had never finished worse than sixth and medaled 39 times.

Serbia exploded with a 32-7 advantage in the first quarter when it nailed 8 of 9 attempts from 3-point range and added six free throws courtesy of fouls on 3-point tries. Serbia finished out the victory behind a game-high 28 points from Bogdan Bogdanovic (Sacramento Kings), who was 7 of 14 from 3-point range.

Team USA came right back in the second quarter, outscoring Serbia 33-12 on 72 percent shooting, but shaky defense and the inability to consistently score allowed Serbia to keep a comfortable cushion.

The Americans, paced by Harrison Barnes with 22 points, played without Jayson Tatum (ankle) and his Boston Celtics teammate Marcus Smart, who injured his

Serbia's Vasilije Micic in action with Jaylen Brown of the US

left hand. Tatum has missed the past five games.

Vladimir Lucic scored 15 points for Serbia. Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) added nine points.

The winner of Poland-Czech Republic will face Serbia for fifth place, with the loser taking on Team USA. (Reuters)

Report: NBA banning "ninjastyle headwear" this season

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GBA Executives Marlon Chung and Emelia Ramdhani present the Badminton gears to Shavin Greene

he NBA has decided to ban “ninja-style headwear” beginning with the 2019-20 season, according to an ESPN report.

Teams were notified in May of the decision, and the issue was expected was expected to be further discussed by the NBA Competition Committee at meetings in Chicago on Monday.

Details such as the size and length of the headbands will be determined prior to making an official rule change.

“The ninja-style headwear is not part of the NBA uniform and hasn’t been through the league approval process,” NBA spokesman Mike Bass told ESPN in a statement. “Teams have raised concerns regarding safety and consis-

tency of size, length and how they are tied which requires a thorough review before consideration of any rule change.

“When some players began wearing them last season, we didn’t want to cause a disruption by intervening midseason, but we notified our teams in May that they would not be part of this season’s uniforms.”

Among the players known for wearing the headwear in the past are Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat, Jrue Holiday of the New Orleans Pelicans and KarlAnthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Jimmy Butler

guyanatimesgy.com

friday, september 13, 2019

Digicel CPL Cricket Series…

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GAW take time out to meet Buxton youths T

he Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW), known for their great work on and off the field of play, have teamed up with Digicel Guyana to most charitably put a smile on the faces of some young cricketers on the East Coast Demerara.

As a part of Digicel’s CPL Cricket Series initiative, which gives young, aspiring cricketers a chance to meet and learn from their heroes, and be encouraged and given tips by CPL players and coaches, the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Sunday interacted with 20 youths from the Buxton Cricket Academy.

The lucky bunch had the opportunity to meet and talk with GAW superstars Shimron Hetmyer, Shoaib Malik, Keemo Paul and Sherfane Rutherford, among others from the team; and Paul and Hetmyer took the opportunity to give some encouraging words of advice to the youths.

Hetmyer encouraged them to get involved in sports, since he sees this as a means of staying motivated and not falling by the wayside, while Paul encouraged them to follow their dreams. “Nothing comes easy, you have to be disciplined at all times,” the 21-year-old Paul noted.

He also noted that sports can be the way out of poverty.

Saying that he knows what it’s like to work hard by using sports to change your situation, Paul urged them to “just keep training, work hard and stay focused.”

GAW Captain Shoaib Malik led the interaction on Sunday

After the ‘meet-and-greet,’ the youths were allowed to stay and watch Guyana Amazon Warriors take on the Barbados Tridents, compliments of Digicel.

“We are very pleased to be a part of this activity

GFF-NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power U-17 League…

3 WDFA matches slated for this weekend

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ompetition in the West Demerara leg of the GFF-NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power U-17 Intra-Association League will continue this weekend with three matches at the Den Amstel Community Centre Ground, West Coast Demerara.

The lone match tomorrow from 16:00hrs will see bottom of the table Wales Football Club coming up against Pouderoyen FC, which sits third in the standings. With all the teams having at least one win, they would each be looking to consolidate their respective positions.

Sunday will see two matches being played. The first would see points leaders Eagles Football Club of Stewartville -- the only unbeaten team in the League -- going after their fifth triumph when they take on Wales FC from 10:00h.

The second match brings together home team Den Amstel and HurryATE from 12:00hrs.

EBFA zone

On a hectic weekend, wherein 40 goals were scored in five matches, the East Bank Football Association (EBFA) leg of the GFF-NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power U-17 Intra -Association League continued at the GFF’s National Training Centre at Providence, East Bank Demerara.

A total of four walk-overs were also recorded, but Grove Hi Tech stole the spotlight by racking up a massive 23 goals in their two matches, in process mauling Herstelling Raiders 16-0 on Sunday last, and trouncing Samatta Point/Kaneville 7-0 on Saturday.

Leading the way on Sunday were: Kurwayne Lyte with a helmet-trick (13th, 14th, 31st, 41st); Samuel Garnett with

a hat-trick (5th, 27th, 36th); goalkeeper Usher Jones with a brace (65th, 69th); and a single goal each from Rasheed Evans (38th), Vincent Chin (49th), Devon Padmore (53rd), Safwan Cordis (55th), Jamal Thorne (59th), Oneil McKenzie (61st) and Orwin Hunte (67th).

Their 7-0 triumph on Saturday against Samatta Point/Kaneville was crafted around a double off the boot of Samuel Garnett, who hit the network in the 37th and 47th minutes respectively. The other goals came compliments of Jomal Thom (16th), Kurwayne Lyte (20th), Jonas Isaac (23rd), Rasheed Evans (46th), and Tyresse McKenzie (51st).

Soesdyke Falcons collected full points and two goals as a result of Swan Football Club not showing up for their match.

In the other match on Sunday, Mocha Champs capped a fine weekend with backto-back wins when they got past Diamond United 5-2.

Crafting the win was Tyresse Prowell with a hat-trick in the 50th, 55th and 59th minutes.

Opening the scoring was Warren Williams in the 10th minute, and closing out same was T. Price in the 61st minute. Diamond United got their goals from Steffon Castello and Shaquan Joseph.

Friendship All Stars romped to an exciting 2-1 win over Diamond United, thanks to a Kobe Robertson double in the 16th and 52nd minutes. Rick Ramotar’s 45th minute effort had brought parity to the game for Diamond United, but Friendship restored their advantage and eventually rallied for the win.

In the battle of the Panthers, the Timehri ‘A’ side prevailed.

today, simply because providing these young people with an ‘experience’ and the possibility of changing the course of their lives through cricket is what the Digicel Youth CPL Series is all about,” Digicel Communications Officer Vidya Sanichara said.

She added, “We are giving them an opportunity

to experience CPL first-hand, and meet and learn from their heroes. This is the essence of cricket: to foster development and growth of tomorrow’s generation. CPL exemplifies this not only in Guyana, but throughout the region, and Digicel cannot be any prouder to be a part of this.”

The youths, ranging in age from 13 to 19 years, are from East Coast Demerara villages stretching from Plaisance to Ann’s Grove. Cordel Martins, a club member, expressed appreciation for the experience. “It was a great experience getting to meet players of such high standards (and) having them tell us things that actually make sense.

Cricket is a great outlet (in) getting us off the streets.”

The Buxton Cricket Academy strives to use sports as a means to give youths a chance to focus on something positive. Martins is a product of this initiative, as formerly he was getting himself into trouble on the streets, but is now gainfully employed and has developed a passion for the game.

“This is a great opportunity given to us by Digicel today. We would like to thank them for (us) getting to meet such great players; and hopefully, one day some of us in turn will become players like them and get to meet youths so we can inspire them like they inspired us today,” said the youth coach.

This is the third instalment of the Digicel CPL Youth Series, and it is being conducted in each home country of the 6 CPL franchises: Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, St Lucia and St Kitts.

Crown Eco Golf Tournament on Saturday at the LGC

LGC President Aleem Hussain; Junior Director, Crown Mining Supplies, Avashti Persaud; and Patanjilee “Pur” Persaud, one of the Managing Directors of Crown Mining Supplies

T

he “Crown” Jewel of tournaments for the second half of the LGC golf season is being sponsored by Crown Eco, a division of Crown Mining located on North Road, Georgetown.

This tournament commences on Saturday (tomorrow) at 12:30pm, and prizes for different categories of players, along with incentives for longest drive and nearest to the pin, are being provided by the company.

At launching of this tournament, LGC President Aleem Hussain said, “This is going to be one of the largest turnouts, come this Saturday. The course is in great condition, and I think the scores are going to be very competitive this week. We are happy that Crown is on board, as every time they are onboard we have a massive turnout. The flights being competed for are 0-9, 9-18 and 10-28. We at the LGC just want to (thank) Crown Eco, a division of Crown Mining, for coming on board.”

Avashti Persaud, Junior Director of Crown Mining Supplies, responded that Crown Eco is one of the new lines of the company, and wanted to get involved in the ‘green economy’. Persaud said she is excited about t h e

upcoming tournament, and urged all supporters to go to the LGC on Saturday.

As always, the Crown Group of Companies’ tournament is expected to attract a large field of golfers and spectators, and the public is invited to experience the thrill of the game and the ambience of the Lusignan Golf Course.

The company’s massive, newly expanded headquarters is home to the new division of ecofriendly products, such as air-conditioning units, refrigerators, and all types of solar lighting to fit any need and budget.

With Guyana heading towards a ‘green economy’, Crown Eco, always the leader, has stepped in to ensure that electrical power will no longer pose a challenge for Guyanese either in the city or in hinterland areas. For the best in comfort and advanced technology, customers can turn to a trusted name that has stood the test of time over the years to guarantee that all their eco needs and financial savings are fulfilled.

For more information on the entire line of products available at the Crown Eco division and other Crown divisions, interested persons are invited to simply stop by and chat with the friendly staff, or call 227-0001. Facebook Crown Mining.

Information about the LGC, golfing, and other LGC activities can be obtained on their Facebook page lusignangolfclub or by calling 220-5660.

friday, september 13, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Digicel CPL Cricket Series…

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GAW take time out to meet Buxton youths Page 22

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