Guyana Time Wednesday September 18, 2019

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Guyana to strengthen cooperation with Chile in mining, petroleum Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana

THE BEACON OF TRUTH

PPP Commissioner expresses no confidence in GECOM Secretariat timelines – to propose timetable for elections today Issue No. 4050

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, september 18, 2019

– GECOM to advise President after today's meeting

– as life of Govt expires today

Page 3

Unrestricted access to oil rigs necessary – EPA Chief

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WHAT'S INSIDE:

Essequibo Hindu temple robbed twice in 3 weeks P2

King uncertain of returning to City Hall as Town P13 Clerk

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— says unannounced visits by regulators should not be prevented

Cutlass-wielding bandits attack, rob woman P2 CH&PA vehicle bursts into P11 flames on Rupert Craig Highway

Enterprise drinking spree murder

Sons were main breadwinners for home – mother The ten delegates vying for the title of Miss Amerindian Heritage 2019. The pageant is slated for later in the month as Guyana celebrates the contribution of its first peoples

Pensioner bound, Oil to contribute 40% of GDP by robbed during 2024 home invasion ...as production kicks in fully – IMF Page 2

See story on page 9

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2 news

wednesDAY, september 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Pensioner bound, robbed during home invasion A 70-year-old pensioner is now traumatised after two bandits invaded his house, held him at knife point and relieved him of his valuables.

The incident reportedly occurred at Lot 1106 Tuschen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), where the pensioner, Matchane Harinarine, operates a small liquor store.

Reports are that around

Cutlass-wielding bandits attack, rob woman

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42-year-old woman was attacked and robbed on Monday evening by cutlass-wielding bandits as she was walking home along the Tuschen

Public Road, East Bank Essequibo (EBE).

Samantha Spelling was confronted by two men around 22:30h.

One bandit, who was

armed with a cutlass, stopped directly in front of Spelling and demanded that she hand over her handbag.

However, she refused and the armed suspect grabbed her handbag and began to tug at it. A brief struggle between Spelling and the bandit took place before the suspect managed to overpower her.

The bandit, along with his accomplice, then made good their escape on foot. The woman’s handbag is said to have contained a Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone valued at $40,000, a Blu cellular phone worth $20,000 and $22,000.

Spelling raised an alarm and persons responded to her calls for help, but the suspects were already long gone.

No arrests have been made as Police continue their investigations.

19:30h on Monday evening, Harinarine, who lives alone in the one-storey concrete and wooden building, closed his business and retired to bed.

However, between 01:00h and 02:00h on Tuesday morning, he was awakened after hearing a loud noise emanating from the door at the northern side of his house.

The pensioner got up and went to investigate. As he opened his door, he was

confronted by two men, one of whom was armed with a knife.

The armed bandit then placed the knife to Harinarine’s neck and ordered him to turn off the lights.

The traumatised man, without hesitation, complied and the bandits proceeded to bind his hands and feet together with a piece of cloth.

After doing so, the men ransacked the house in search of cash and other

valuables.

They reportedly found $200,000 in cash, a quantity of Digicel and GTT phone cards worth $60,000, two Blu cellular phones, and a silver hand band valued at $20,000.

The bandits, after securing the loot, walked through the door and made good their escape on foot.

An alarm was subsequently raised and the Police were summoned to the scene. No arrests were made.

Essequibo Hindu temple robbed twice in 3 weeks

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he Hare Krishna Temple located at Land of Plenty on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon- Supenaam) was

The Hare Krishna Temple

Temple President Radha Raman Dass

broken into twice during the space of three weeks.

The perpetrators stole a quantity of food items along with a gas bottle, a cellular

phone, and a gallon of paint.

Temple President Radha Raman Dass told Guyana Times that there was a breakin about two Sundays ago and some items were stolen.

In the second instance, the perpetrators reportedly entered the living quarters where Dass was asleep

Sunday evening. However, they did not harm him. When he woke up the next morning, he saw two sets of boot prints in the yard.

As he checked around, he realised that items were again missing. The Police were contacted and an investigation is underway.

news

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wednesDAY, september 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Wednesday, September 18 – 05:00h – 06:30h and Thursday, September 19 – 05:00h – 06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on:

Wednesday, September 18 – 06:30h – 08:00h and Thursday, September 19 –07:05h – 08:35h.

PPP Commissioner expresses no confidence in GECOM Secretariat timelines – to propose timetable for elections today – GECOM to advise President after today's meeting – as life of Govt expires today

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions are expected during the early morning hours; however, thundery showers will prevail during late morning hours leading into the afternoon. There will be clear skies at night.

Temperatures should range between 22 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius.

Winds: Northerly to South South-Easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.02 metres.

High Tide: 06:43h and 18:56h reaching maximum heights of 2.63 metres and 2.62 metres.

Low Tide: 24:17h and 12:33h reaching minimum heights of 0.52 metre and 0.64 metre.

saturday, SEPTEMBER 14, 2019

LOTTERY NUMBERS F

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tuesday, september 17, 2019 DAILY MILLIONS

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

GECOM Commissioner Sase Gunraj

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fter yet another marathon meeting at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) on Tuesday, it turns out that the entity has made little progress in narrowing down a timeframe to hold national elections.

However, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) nominated Commissioners will be taking matters into their own hands at the next meeting scheduled for today.

Commissioner Sase Gunraj revealed that they will present a proposed plan of their own for early elections.

“As we are speaking today, we have not come to any realistic timeline for the holding of elections… the discussion on [merging the data] is what is taking this time. We could have gone to Claims and Objections starting [today], because we have asked members of the Secretariat to get information on that.”

“If we made a decision today, we could go to Claims and Objections and start moving this process forward. Unfortunately, all of this discussion and delay is because of discussions about merging… I have undertaken to present a timeframe of my own. So I’m optimistic that that will be adopted.”

Gunraj also expressed a lack of confidence in the timelines that are being prepared and presented by the GECOM Secretariat to the Commission. He said that less than half of the registrants’ data have been encoded, despite the exercise starting last month.

The Commissioner also noted that these delays contradict GECOM’s earlier deadline for completing the encoding of data, which he said was supposed to be since September 15. Gunraj made it clear that he is dissatisfied with the pace in which GECOM is working.

“As we speak today, I believe that only [approximately] 200,000 records were encoded. The timeline presented to us by the commission was September 15 for conclusion. As you know, we are at September 17. And

the Secretariat is saying we will require three weeks.”

“You will recall me saying weeks ago that I did not trust that timeline. My understanding of it will not take the time they are saying. That has led me to the conclusion that all of the timelines prepared and presented by the Secretariat are not to be trusted,” he said.

Gunraj noted that the Secretariat’s timelines are meant to tie the Commission into a definite decision. He explained that once the Secretariat has decided to embark on a course of action, any timeline extensions have to be endured.

President David Granger has promised to act swiftly when advised by GECOM. His word will soon be put to the test

GECOM Commissioner Vincent Alexander

When asked, Government nominated Commissioner Vincent Alexander noted that there are three shifts of encoders working to input the House-to-House data.

Decision imminent

This is the latest of several weeks of meetings, whereby GECOM has been unable to narrow down a definite timeframe for holding elections.

President David Granger has repeatedly said he is awaiting the advice of GECOM before naming an election date.

This was repeated in an address to the nation on Monday following a meet-

However, he was optimistic that GECOM would even be able to come up with an election timeframe it could present to President David Granger today.

ing with Carter Center representatives… a meeting during which he promised the organisation not to delay but to act swiftly once

GECOM advises him.

During the address, President Granger repeated the substance of previous statements; that GECOM is an independent agency and that he has to await advice from GECOM before he can name an election date.

GECOM’s meeting scheduled for today comes on the very day that the constitutional deadline for holding elections, as set out by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), expires. When it made its July 18 ruling on the no-confidence cases, the CCJ had said that the effect of the No-Confidence Motion was on pause while the cases were being litigated.

That process, CCJ President Adrian Saunders had clearly said, was no longer on pause following the Court’s June 18, 2019 ruling, which upheld the validity of the No-Confidence Motion and thus triggered the need for fresh elections.

In keeping with the constitutional three months’ provision once a No-Confidence Motion is passed, this would mean that General and Regional Elections should be held on or before September 18, 2019.

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wednesday, september 18, 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

Ongoing electricity woes

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he ongoing and seemingly unending spate of power outages is far more troubling than probably thought. With the now customary schedule of blackouts published in the media, one may have been led to believe that the outage for a particular day was that which is reflected in the advisory.

However, this was revealed not to be the case as the electricity company, Guyana Power & Light (GPL), shocked the nation by announcing last week that Guyanese have been experiencing eight outages per day, especially over the last two months. This appears to be a macro perspective as no one is spared from the company’s inability to deliver an acceptable service.

Over the past few years, the situation got worse, as the outages are far more frequent and extended. Helpless, and with no alternative to access electricity during a blackout, ordinary Guyanese have been forced to endure daily and lengthy periods of inconvenience. This latest revelation by GPL may bring into question the accuracy of the blackout schedule it publishes.

Aside from that being viewed as possibly misleading information given to the public, eight outages on average per day seem unfathomable. It is, however, the harsh reality which consumers face in this modern time. To say it is utterly unacceptable would be a gross understatement, as the inconvenience has become a major source of distress to those affected.

To small business enterprises, the lengthy outages negatively impact production and productivity and unavoidably, revenue generation as planning and timelines are thrown off track. Those with financial obligations to lending institutions would be very hardpressed to meet commitments. The possibility for other devastating consequences, like forced termination of jobs and the business unable to be sustained, are easily created.

From the perspective of an ordinary Guyanese, their lives are constantly disrupted by any duration of power outage. Routine preparation for work and children for school are made unnecessarily difficult as basic appliances to aid that process are rendered useless. Access to much needed potable water is hampered as free movement in the dark. In addition, appliances are often damaged when the electricity switches on and off, or through the seemingly regular power surges.

Spoilage of food and food items has also increased as refrigerators are not allowed to function to keep the items wholesome for consumption. Naturally, this incurs additional and unnecessary financial burdens on the backs of hardworking Guyanese who are already challenged in that regard. There are many people who are struggling to provide the basic of meals and depend on the use of a refrigerator, no matter how small, to help preserve precious items for a budgeted period.

When those ordinary citizens are faced with additional challenges, it becomes virtually impossible for them to cope over time. They would have worked hard to be able to afford basic appliances to bring some level of ease to their lives’ daily routine.

The constant power outages , therefore, strip them of that ability to be able benefit from the use of those appliances, especially when travel time is already onerous.

Students are not spared as completion of homework and preparation for examinations are severely hindered. In a time when access to the internet in crucial to learning and school projects, the setback from power outages is unimaginable. In some of these cases, alternatives, through increased data phone plans to access the internet so that project deadlines are met, are forced to be found— which comes at an additional cost. Very often, just to manoeuvre around the house or for basic revision of school work, parents and children are forced to use candles or lamps.

This is not just a backward step for both Guyana and Guyanese, but could be seen as an indictment on the electricity company to provide a reliable service. Consumers have lamented their high monthly cost for this utility service and concerns that reduction is not reflected, even after prolonged outages.

They have also voiced concern over what they describe as a burdensome process to make a successful claim for appliances damage as a result of a power surge or outage. There is also the lingering risk of a fire from that, more especially, when the electricity switches on and off frequently. Blackouts, during the nights, also provide an enabling environment for criminals to operate.

This is the reality of the impact of these outages on Guyanese.

Many have questioned whether the power company fully understands this impact, especially given the lengthy time it took to inform on the true picture. Many have and continue to question the company’s implementation of mitigating measures in keeping with the growing demand.

The APNU/AFC coalition government cannot avoid blame over the poor service consumers are forced to endure. From all appearances, it has done little to improve the situation. Had it not, while in the Opposition, derail the Amaila Hydroelectricity Project— which was designed to provide cheaper, cleaner and reliable supply of power— the current woes would have been a thing of the past.

The Government seemingly has found a way of keeping the past in the present.

People enjoy fireworks after the ‘Cry of Independence’ as Mexico marks the 209th anniversary of its independence from Spain at the National Palace in Mexico City (Reuters/Luis Cortes)

Hundreds killed in Brazil's Amazon over land, resources in past decade – HRW report

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Human Rights Watch (HRW) report on Tuesday found that more than 300 people have been killed over the past decade in conflicts over the use of land and resources in the Amazon, many by organised criminal networks profiting from illegal deforestation.

Of those cases, only 14 were tried in court, the nonprofit said in the report based on 170 interviews.

“This really shows the level of impunity,” Cesar Munoz, a senior investigator at Human Rights Watch told Reuters on the sidelines of an event in Sao Paulo to discuss the report. “There is really a failure of investigation and accountability.”

The President’s office in Brazil did not respond to a request for comment.

Environment Minister Ricardo Salles, responding to the report, told Reuters the Government has combated criminality, including in the environmental sphere. He pointed to the mobilising of troops to combat illegal fires and other environmental crimes in recent weeks.

About 60 per cent of the Amazon rainforest, considered a crucial barrier against climate change, lies in Brazil.

Destruction of the forest has surged this year, and the highest number of fires since 2010 has drawn worldwide condemnation of the policies of President Jair Bolsonaro, who advocates opening the Amazon to development.

Human Rights Watch travelled to several Brazilian states between 2017 and the first half of this year to research the report, which showed that almost half of the murders linked to deforestation took place in the northern state of Para.

The town of Novo Progresso, in Para, recently made headlines for a “day of fire”, in which Prosecutors suspect a coordinated group set a series of blazes to burn forest and pasture land on August 10.

“In most of the killings that we examined, the victims had received threats or had been attacked before.

If the authorities had taken their complaints seriously, these people might be alive today,” Daniel Wilkinson, Managing Director for the Americas at

An aerial view taken by a drone shows logs that were illegally cut from the Amazon rainforest in Anapu, Para state, Brazil, September 2, 2019

Human Rights Watch, told reporters.

Bolsonaro has weakened Brazil’s environmental enforcement agency Ibama, cut its budget by 25 per cent and restricted the ability of field agents to torch the equipment of those found committing environmental crimes, Reuters has reported.

Marina Silva, a former Environment Minister and presidential candidate, said the report was evidence of Brazil’s backsliding on the environment.

“The little that we achieved in the past is now being taken apart,” she said. (Reuters)

Criminal gangs behind the destruction

The 165-page report “Rainforest Mafias: How Violence and Impunity Fuel Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon” outlines the ways gangs exhibiting this illegal, criminal behaviour not only threatens the world’s largest rainforest but also the people who live in and around it.

Destruction in the Amazon has dominated international headlines for weeks as the forest fires grew so severe that São Paolo, turned dark in the middle of the day last month. As data from Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research shows, more than 123,000 fires have burned in the country so far this year, a 52 per cent in-

crease from last year this time.

Criminals cut down trees in the Amazon and burn the rest of it to help make room for cattle pastures or croplands. The Guardian reported Tuesday that Marfrig, a Brazilian meat supplier for companies like McDonald’s and Burger King, sourced meat from a farmer who’s used deforested land. And the people most at risk when these fires burn are the Indigenous tribes who live in and depend on the rainforest to survive.

Many have equated these intentional fires to genocide. Coincidentally, indigenous Amazonians delivered a letter to Congress on Tuesday demanding US leaders take action to protect their blazing home and endangered lives.

Now, this latest report highlights just how relentless the individuals behind this massive deforestation can be—especially under President Bolsonaro, whose far-right ideals on privatizing the forest have emboldened these criminals. Amnesty International put out a similar report earlier this year, and its findings aligned with Human Rights Watch: The number of death threats is rising under Bolsonaro, and the threat to the forest—and its inhabitants—is real.

(Excerpted from Gizmodo)

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, september 18, 2019

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

September 18 is D Day Dear Editor, I have postponed important decisions regarding my family’s residence until September 18, 2019, the most recent Court (CCJ) ordered date for General Elections in Guyana following the successful NCM on December 21, 2018.

If on September 18 the new Chairman of GECOM, Justice (ret’d) Claudette Singh, does not announce that General Elections

will be held in 2019 itself I would be forced to conclude that both the Iron Lady and GECOM are irreparably compromised and to such an extent that the next General Elections will not be free and fair.

My conclusion will be supported by the fact that the Govt is openly spending taxpayer dollars to buy votes and the obvious machinations that are underway with the HtH and the list of voters.

Secondly, if on September 18 I do not see a firm statement from the diplomatic community and ABC countries, in particular, on the date of the next elections, I would conclude that they too have endorsed APNU/ AFC and its dictatorial behaviour so as to put their commercial interests first.

I refer readers to Trotman’s 1 per cent giveaway to Tullow as an example from which I will

conclude that Guyana and Guyanese will not benefit from our recent and enormous oil bonanza but rather, will be saddled with the environmental and social costs of exploitation.

Naturally, if either of the above does not happen on September 18, I will have to conclude that there is no future for Guyana.

Sincerely, Ravi Ram

Will the State be prepared to compensate for accident?

Dear Editor, My question will be very short. I just wish to know who will be held accountable when an accident occurs on the corners of Alexander and Charlotte Street. It has been months now, if not longer since “STOP” signs

on both streets have been sending the same command to vehicles heading north and west; cutting across each other, with no indication as to who has the legal right -of -way.

I am always left in awe at simple yet potentially catastrophic mistakes like

these. I bang my head to wonder whether the person (s) who authorised and/or placed the stop signs did not see that both streets were giving the command or whether he cared to notice or whether he even knew what he was doing?

Should a collision occur at the corner of Alexander and Charlotte Streets, is the state prepared to compensate drivers for this ridiculous faux pas on the part of its agents?

Thank you, Zena Henry

New oil discoveries

Dear Editor, Guyana’s oil discoveries have set insider trading alarm bells ringing at all the major stock exchanges in the past week. On September 8, a report by online magazine Petroleum Economist attributed new discoveries to Government of Guyana official, Owen Verwey. “There have been some big discoveries and by next Friday, we will be announcing another one…

We are one of the hottest destinations for the oil and gas industry right now and that is set to continue,” this statement was made during an address at the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Offshore Europe Conference and Exhibition in Aberdeen, Scotland.

The price of Tullow Oil and ExxonMobil stock rose significantly after the statement. On September 14, Verwey hosted a press conference where he tried to distance himself from his words by saying, “when comments are made, only the Department of Energy information is relevant when it comes to the oil and gas industry”. Thirtysix hours later ExxonMobil and Tullow announced major new discoveries.

It is clear Mr Verwey had inside information, not in itself illegal; however, Verwey is not an ‘insider’— who is defined as someone with either access to valuable non-public information about a corporation or ownership of stock equalling more than 10% of a firm’s equity. The questions that will be asked by the Securities

and Exchange Commission are: Who told Verwey?

When was he told? Why was he informed? Who else is in this information loop?

Which Government officials hold stock in the oil companies? When did they buy?

The information of new oil discoveries must come from the oil companies, in this case, ExxonMobil and/ or Tullow; the big question is the amount of lead time between informing Government of Guyana officials and making of public announcements. A week is an eternity on a stock market, where fortunes are made and lost in hours.

Insider information can be used to enrich a person via insider trading very easily; in fact, it can easily be a way to ensure the pliancy of officials instead of actual bribes. Have we unearthed a new type of kickback scheme?

Earlier this year I posited that “Dr Jan Mangal ascribes knowledge of oil reserves to former President Donald Ramotar and Minister of Natural Resources at a time (April 2015) that would land ExxonMobil in hot water with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for failure to report an event that would have major impact on the price of the company’s publicly traded stock (XOM) on the New York Stock Exchange”. The same applies in this instance, and we do have Mr Verwey’s statement at an oil conference as evidence of pre-announcement knowledge.

Editor, Officials of the

Government of Guyana continue to act as if they are running a ‘cake shop’ and Guyanese are suffering from gross incompetence or deliberate mismanagement. The Local Content Policy deficiencies are costing Guyanese the opportunity to compete on a levelled playing field in their own country.

Mr Carl Greenidge recently suggested that our country should make sovereign wealth investments

in ExxonMobil stock; it would be a travesty if officials of the Granger administration, their friends and/or family were already so invested and are now working inimical to Guyana’s interest in favour of their own. Nothing less than a full investigation into the ‘Verwey’ pronouncement is acceptable.

Respectfully, Robin Singh

Taxpayers’ monies are being misused to preserve Burnham name Dear Editor, In response to an article in kaieteur news, where the Mayor of New Amsterdam Winifred Haywood stated that the contract cost of the synthetic track at Burnham Park New Amsterdam Berbice, is $167M has exposed her incompetence in that the Department of Public Information in an press release dated 25th October 2017 ,clearly outlined that the Government ink a contract at the sum of $141.8M and not $167M as quoted by the Mayor in the newspaper.

It must be noted too that the Mayor condemns the statement that was made pertaining to increase in spending based on the disasterrous location of the synthetic track but confirmed that the space is inadequate to construct the Pavillion and other amenities so the Council is closing the nearby dumpsite to facilities the construction. She also forgot to mention that the abattoir would be removed too.

Since the location is a flood prone area additional money would have to be spent to create an independent drainage system, likewise the curb wall around the track had to be increased to double the height of a normal synthetic track to prevent possible flooding and damages of the synthetic track. It must be noted that if the location was the Bermine Ground, then taxpayers would have saved about $50-$60 million dollars.

Traffic congestion at the location would also be disastrous at the present location.

The Mayor FAILED to

understand that taxpayers’ monies are spent there and as a councillor or any citizen have a right to question any projects that is being executed by this Government because of their track record of being the most corrupt Government since Guyana independence.

Since the signing of the project to date it is approximately two years and the project has not been completed, the people would be happy if the additional monies that is being spent and the total contract sum for all the facilities must be made public.

This APNU/AFC coalition Government is known for failing to complete projects, the Indian Monument Site at Palmyra that was completed by the Indian government is a typical example. Also because of the secrecy and corruption within this Government, information is being kept as state secret, refusing to even give copies of contracts documents to the RDC because the APNU/AFC government is fearful of scrutiny and the exposure of corruptions by public and residents.

In the 2017 Budget presentation debate speech by former Minister of Education Nicollette Henry, $210M was proposed for synthetic track facilities to be laid in region 2,4,6,7, and 10 as was outlined to the National Assembly. Based on this information the Mayor of New Amsterdam needs to asked Nicollette Henry what she was speaking about.

Regards, Zamal Hussain

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wednesDAY, september 18, 2019

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People make a difference

hen you’re dealing with a stressful situation or going through a rough time, the people in your life can help you cope. When someone who cares knows what you’re going through, it helps you feel understood – and not so alone.

Knowing someone loves you means a lot on a typical day. And it really counts when you’re under stress.

Problems seem smaller and more manageable when we talk about them with the right person. We may actually cope better and see solutions more easily when we share our problems.

Many ways to help

There are lots of different ways to get and give help.

Sometimes we just want to hear an encouraging word.

Other times we need advice or a fresh perspective on things. Help can be very specific and immediate, like assistance with a homework project. Or it can go on for a while, like tutoring to bring up a failing grade or counselling to get through a difficult personal situation.

It’s likely you remember the times someone has helped you. A parent may have taught you to drive or supported you when you quit a bad habit. Perhaps a friend helped you get through sadness or deal with disappointment. A favourite teacher might have guided you through the col-

lege application process.

And you can probably remember times when you’ve helped others.

Friends, parents, teachers, and other adults can be great resources when we need help. There are also times when we need the extra help that a professional can provide best.

Therapists, counsellors, and doctors can offer specialised help for a health concern, mental health issue, or personal problem.

Turning to the right people for help pays off. You just have to ask.

Helping a friend?

Help yourself too

We often worry about friends who are having troubles. It’s natural to want to help a friend in crisis — it can be just as rewarding to help another person as it is to have someone help you.

Being there for a friend who needs your advice, support, and ideas is a positive part of friendship.

However, if you’re feeling pulled down by a friend’s troubles, it’s time to step back and regroup. Decide what you can do and what you can’t. These three little reminders can help keep things in perspective: There are limits to what we can do to help. We can’t make other people do things they’re not ready for.

We need to take care of ourselves first. If a friend’s problems are overwhelming you, step back. Don’t let

yourself be dragged down.

We can’t help friends when we’re not feeling our best or are feeling resentful.

We can’t always fix the problem. Some things are beyond our control. Sometimes the best you can do is listen and offer your support and understanding.

Sometimes a friend rejects or ignores your advice or help. You might feel frustrated if someone continues with self-destructive or unhealthy behaviour when you have tried hard to steer your friend toward a healthier path. It’s not up to you to fix the problem, though. You can still let a friend know that you care, want the best for him or her, and believe in him or her.

It can help to remember that making changes or letting go of old patterns is hard for some people, so it takes time. This is one reason why a friend might not immediately follow advice.

If you don’t feel dragged down or taken advantage of, be patient. Just offer support until things change.

Making help a habit

Here’s something people don’t often think about: Helping helps even when there’s not a problem.

Getting in the habit of giving and receiving help builds positive relationships. It makes us feel more connected and cared about. It prevents stress from building because we know someone else is think-

ing about us and looking out for us. And if there is a problem, we’re sharing it before it gets too big. It just feels great to help.

Try these small gestures at home and see how they make you feel: Help your little brother or sister with a homework problem.

Help your dad prepare dinner.

Help your mom carry groceries.

Offer to do a chore that’s not usually yours “just because”.

There’s more to it than just feeling good: Kindness is contagious. It can create more kindness. So you might start to notice your family (or friends) reaching out to help more.

Just don’t fall into the trap of expectation. If we help out only because we expect the other person to do something in return, we will probably end up feeling disappointed and angry instead of happy and fulfilled. So decide to help simply because of the positive feelings it creates. Then, when someone else does something nice for you (and it will happen!), it’s a wonderful surprise.

Giving and receiving is one of the most basic friendship skills. With a good network of supportive people, we are less stressed. We feel loved and understood, so we’re better able to solve problems, bounce back from disappointments, and try again. (Excerpt from kidshealth.org)

rchaeologists uncover all kinds of artefacts among ancient ruins, like ornate jewellery, simple baskets, and stone tools. One of the most common items found at archaeological sites is pottery, or objects made of clay. Looking at a single pot might tell you how old it was or how it was made. Looking at a group of pots might tell you how a society was organised.

In ancient times, pottery was used to make many everyday things, such as dishes, cooking pots, and jars for storing food. Pottery was also used to make precious items, from sacred statues to musical instruments, like flutes.

There’s another reason why pottery is a common discovery: it doesn’t disintegrate or decay as easily as things made of wood or cloth.

Sometimes pottery is found in one piece, especially when it’s found in a burial or offering.

Most of the time, pottery is found broken into many pieces.

It can be a big challenge putting all the pieces back together, especially when some pieces are missing.

Archaeologists read the parts like pieces of a puzzle.

They can tell which pieces go together by their shapes and colours.

Decorate, shatter, and piece together your own pottery artefact: a flowerpot.

As you design your flowerpot, imagine archaeologists finding it. What would it tell them about you?

Supplies • A ceramic flowerpot (made of clay or terracotta) • Paint or markers • Piece of paper and a pencil • Stencils of different designs (optional, see attached sheet) • An old pillowcase • Rubber band • Hammer • Newspaper • Scotch tape Decorate your pot Imagine you are an artist who designs and decorates pottery for people in your community.

Your next assignment is to decorate a flowerpot.

Before you begin, think about who will use your flowerpot: an important public figure? A local family? Will you use geometric designs, or symbols and images that reflect your community?

• Choose your design and sketch it out on a piece of paper. You can do this several times until you are happy with the way it looks.

• Make the design on your ceramic flowerpot using paint or markers. Wait for the paint

to dry.

Turn it into ruins!

Imagine your community is abandoned over the centuries. Buildings collapse and many personal belongings are broken and buried. Your precious flowerpot is shattered and scattered among the ruins.

Smash the flowerpot using a hammer (be very careful not to injure yourself). If you need help, ask an adult to do it for you.

Piece it all together Now, imagine one thousand years have passed since you

designed your flowerpot. An archaeologist discovers the site where your community once stood. After months of digging, she unearths many pieces of pottery. If you were that archaeologist, could you put the pieces together?

• Take the larger pieces of the shattered flowerpot out of the pillowcase and spread them on a newspaper.

• Try to reassemble the flowerpot piece by piece.

Tape both sides of the pieces together with Scotch tape.

Dig deeper: Mixed-up artefacts When archaeologists find pieces of artefacts at a site, how do they know which ones go together?

When archaeologists find pieces of pottery, they’re faced with some big challenges: they have no idea what the original object looked like, the pieces may be mixed in with pieces of other artefacts, and several pieces might be missing. Try this challenge: • Decorate two flowerpots.

Then, break them in the pillowcase, and try to put them back together. Is it harder to do it this time? Why? • Ask a friend to decorate a flowerpot with designs and then break it in a pillowcase.

Then, decorate another pot yourself and break it in another pillowcase. Now switch pillowcases, and try to put each other’s pieces back together. Does it take longer?

Can you figure out what the designs are?

• By yourself, or with a friend, decorate flowerpots and break them. This time, remove a few pieces from the pillowcase and put them aside.

Then try to put the rest of the pieces together without the missing pieces. How does this change the activity? (startwithabook.org)

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wednesDAY, september 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Unrestricted access to oil rigs necessary – EPA Chief – says unannounced visits by regulators should not be prevented

T

he need for regulators to be able to make unexpected visits to operations of oil and gas operators was emphasised by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director, Dr Vincent Adams.

Adams made this pronouncement on Monday during a seminar for capacity building in the oil sector.

He acknowledged that they do not have the requisite local standards in place yet to really monitor operators.

However, Adams noted that what they have done is adopt international standards for environmental protection. One such standard is unfettered access to oil rigs and other vessels, which Adams noted is important for oversight of the sector.

“There should be no prevention or stiff arming of

The Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel that recently arrived in Guyana’s waters

Government employees or people who provide oversight and go on that rig, at any time. Of course, it’s our responsibility when we go, not to interfere or interrupt the work. But we should not be prevented from visiting the site at any time, including unannounced visits”.

While this is the opti-

mal situation, Guyana’s model Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) included a seven-day notice before regulators could visit operations. This PSA model is currently under review.

According to the EPA Director, it is important to guard against complacency in these types of environ-

ments. In fact, Adams noted that on site, Government representatives are even more effective when it comes monitoring oil companies, their environment, health and safety practices and compliance with the law.

“Environment, health and safety is something (intangible). That’s why we take

GHDS donates to relief efforts for The Bahamas

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he Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on Tuesday received a cheque valued $500,000 from the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) to support the procurement of much-needed relief supplies for the hurricane-ravaged island of The Bahamas.

Director General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, in brief remarks, expressed gratitude to the GHDS on behalf of the Government and the people of Guyana for giving so generously and contributing to the disaster relief efforts of the Commission.

“We [the CDC] were happy when we received a call from the GHDS who inquired about the assistance needed and were able to subsequently supply the cash donation for the relief of not only The Bahamians that are affected but also the Guyanese that are affected and this money will

Director General of the CDC, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig receives the cheque from the President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Dr Vindhya Persaud

be added to all the donations collected thus far. [The CDC] will be handing over the funds to the Bahamian Government,” he said.

The Director General in providing an update on Guyana’s relief efforts stated that in keeping with the criteria set out by the Caribbean Disaster

Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Government of Guyana through the Commission will continue to provide financial assistance as indicated by the island state and will continue to monitor the situation.

Meanwhile, President

of the GHDS, Dr Vindhya Persaud said the organisation has always contributed to those in need and the donation is in no way different from what has been done in the past for Haiti.

“At the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS), our motto is ‘Action thy duty reward, not thy concern,’ so we feel it is time to act and this donation is a humble one and we hope that this donation can help to elevate some of the losses that the affected would have suffered,” she said.

it for granted. We tend to get complacent. We measure it by, oh nothing has happened over the past year. So we go, we celebrate. A million hours have passed without any incident. Every day you come to work, tell yourself something could happen”.

“In my experience, we have always found that our members on site found 90 per cent of the precursors.

A lot of time, we only realise that there is an issue or we judge our system when something happens. We should be judging our systems based on the things we find before something happens. When something happens, it’s too late”.

Adams further noted that the National Oil Spill Plan is still being developed in a multiagency collaboration led by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC). The oil spill prevention strategy has been in development for some time. Previously, Government had promised it would be completed by mid-year.

Guyana’s last taste of an environmental disaster was a cyanide spill in 1995.

In gold mining, cyanide is used as an extracting agent for the ore. In the case of Guyana’s cyanide spill, the highly poisonous material spilled out of a reservoir into the Essequibo River.

Since Exxon announced its oil find in the Liza-1 well in 2015, a pertinent question has been the capacity of the relevant agencies to protect the environment in case of an oil spill. It is a topic that

EPA Director, Dr Vincent Adams

has regularly been raised at public lectures.

Previously, President David Granger commissioned Guyana’s first oil spill response operation service at the Gaico Wharf at Nismes, West Bank Demerara— Gaico Oil Spill Response Operation Services. The service was set up as a pre-emptive measure against probable spillage once production commences in the future.

A study by the EPA had found that while an oil spill was possible, factors such as the location of ExxonMobil affiliates’ operations, combined with the region’s water temperature, would minimise the effects.

On the side of the Government, it is understood that efforts have been underway to train and build capacity in the Natural Resources Ministry. When it comes to the oil spill contingency plan, a workshop was organised in March of this year to work on the draft.

CDC Head Colonel Kester Craig was recently quoted saying that the long overdue plan was almost complete.

8 news Tower owner to go on trial for drug conspiracy charge in April O The day of judgement… wednesDAY, september 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

wner of the Hotel Tower and suspected drug kingpin, Shervington Lovell aka “Big Head”, who pleaded not guilty to a conspiracy to violate US maritime drug enforcement law charge, is set to go to trial on April 14, 2020, according to an order made by US District Judge Paul G. Gardephe.

The last courtroom status conference for the case, in which Lovell is charged along with his co-accused David Cardona-Cardona, Argemiro Zapata-Castro and Steven Antonius, was held on August 19, 2019 before Justice Gardephe.

However, it was during the conference the order was made. Lovell, along with his co-accused was ordered to submit a joint letter by September, 3, concerning the status of the discoveries issues they discussed at the previous hearing in August.

Hence, Justice Gardephe, ordered the government to produce the defendant’s translations of transcripts of all the audio and video re-

Shervington Lovell

cordings the government intends to introduce at trial by February 14, 2020.

Nevertheless, another conference is expected to be held on September 23, 2019.

A letter by the United of States Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman dated on April 1, 2019, had indicated that the accused persons may be in plea bargaining negotiations with authorities, however Lovell was not listed as one of the persons in the negotiation.

There is evidence that Omar Torres and Godofredo Leandro-

Gonzalez, pleaded guilty and are set to be sentenced on December 4, 2019.

Nonetheless, the status of the case of the other accused is unclear; Luis Rafael Febres Monasterio, Murvin Reigoud Maikel, Moses Roopwah, NeredioJulian Sucre, Jean-Claude Okongo Landji, Jibril Adamu, and Youssouf Fofana.

It was reported that Lovell who had been under the radar of CANU and international investigators for a lengthy period was arrested along with two others.

According to reports, Lovell is allegedly conspired with others to ship more than 1300 pounds of cocaine to The Netherlands in a drug trafficking operation that involved laundered money from South Africa and other countries.

US agents have said that the cocaine was found aboard a “stateless” vessel in international waters back in July. According to US agents in their indictment, the Guyanese hotel owner met with other suspected drug traffickers back in Guyana in June to plan the shipment. He also met with other drug traffickers in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where he owns a house.

A vessel, property of Lovell, was intercepted which is suspected to be used by the businessman to ship the illicit drugs from Jamaica to St Maarten.

The hotelier has been under the radar of local Police since 2010 when he was being investigated for a series of executions.

However charges were never brought against him for those allegations.

…for the PNC regime It has been prophesised that at the conclusion of the age, there shall be “weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth” by the ones who didn’t do the right thing. Today – Sept 18 – is the end of the span allocated by the CCJ to the PNC regime after they determined that the latter had played fast and loose with the highest law of the land. They claimed MP’s had to be chopped into halves and then put together again to determine what a majority of 65 was!! They certainly didn’t do the right thing!

And your Eyewitness predicts (he doesn’t do prophesies since he’s bereft of the requisite wispy extended beard!) there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth in the PNC camp today. Never mind the insistence by Granger and his PNC camp followers that the CCJ wasn’t “specific” about the end of their days. If one were to say, “the sun will rise tomorrow”, is it necessary to add “in the east”??

The culprits know that Sept 18 is three months after June 18 – which was when the CCJ took their fingers off the pause button on the clock!!

So what will it be? Will Granger continue to hide under the skirts of the new GECOM Chair and insist he won’t dissolve Parliament and set an elections date until she tells him when she’ll be ready?? Is he going to tough it out as the de facto President, even though he’s lost his de jure imprimatur?? Sadly, even though the Chair knows that Granger is playing the fool and is the one who should set a date in accordance with Art 61, your Eyewitness thinks she’ll allow him to save face and outline a timetable at the meeting to be held today with her Commissioners.

But what’s going on in Guyana is very dangerous for our future: The GECOM Chair’s sacrificing principles for expediency in trying to “give something” to each side. But it’s as if King Solomon was allowed to go ahead and chop the disputed baby into two. One commentator said the stipulations of the Constitution were made for our society and not the other way around. Maybe, but he misses the point about constitutional rule. So, henceforth, just because one political party stamp their feet and pout, it’ll be OK for them to violate the Constitution?

The Constitution is like that baby that won’t survive if it’s only obeyed selectively: it’ll be dismembered. But the PNC has shown they care not a whit for the Constitution or Guyana.

But they shall still weep and wail come elections. …for Maduro?

The US Administration has once again imposed sanctions against some persons and groups who worked closely with Maduro to profiteer from food aid to the beleaguered Venezuelan people. These “personalised” sanctions have been imposed for a decade now but they haven’t seem to have had any effect on Maduro’s hold on power. While some might have viewed Chavez/Maduro kindly because of their PetroCaribe rice initiative, it’s good to remind ourselves of that old International Relations aphorism: there are no permanent enemies or friends; only permanent interests.

And with respect to Venezuela, our permanent interest is the inviolability of our Essequibo border.

Your Eyewitness took note of the representative of Maduro’s opponent Guaido, who Maduro accused of treason for daring to suggest Venezuela drop its ridiculous controversy. Our interest was furthered when the Government voted as a member of the Lima Group to condemn Venezuela for its subversion of humanitarian aid. It was recognised by a State Dept desk officer who “thanked” Guyana on behalf of its Government.

Maybe, at long last, the Venezuelan albatross may be removed with Maduro’s fall. …dodged The GHRA claims the Police Force didn’t bite the bullet on allegations by junior ranks of all sorts of corrupt activities against Deputy Commissioner of Police Lyndon Alves.

Don’t they know about the blue wall?

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

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wednesDAY, september 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Oil to contribute 40% of GDP by 2024 ...as production kicks in fully – IMF

By Jarryl Bryan

T

he International Monetary Fund (IMF) having concluded its Article IV consultations in Guyana, has come up with projections that oil will dominate Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by as much as 40 per cent.

This is contained in the Fund’s concluding statement, which estimates that this shift in GDP share and financial contribution will occur by 2024. This is also the time when Guyana is expected to really start earning its share of oil revenues, once cost oil has been accounted for.

“The oil sector is project-

The IMF team during one of its consultations in Guyana this year

of oil production,” the IMF said, adding that for this year, the current account deficit is expected to reach 22.7 per cent of GDP owing to higher oil sector-related imports.

According to the Fund,

To say that the IMF expects oil to dominate Guyana’s economy is an understatement

ed to grow rapidly, accounting for around 40 per cent of GDP by 2024 and supporting additional fiscal spending annually of 6.5 per cent of non-oil GDP on average over the medium term, which will help meet critical social and infrastructure needs”.

“Public debt and the external current account deficit are projected to decline steadily following the onset

these imports will mostly be financed by Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the oil sector. However, it was optimistic of Guyana’s overall economic outlook around the time of the commencement of oil production, pegged for early next year.

“Real GDP grew by 4.1 per cent, led by construction and services sectors, up from 2.1 per cent in 2017.

Inflation remained low at 1.6 per cent at end-2018.

The external current account deficit rose to 17.5 per cent of GDP, from 6.8 per cent in 2017, due to weaker exports and higher imports related to oil production”.

“Public finances improved in 2018 as the central government deficit came in at 3.5 per cent of GDP, lower than the budgeted 5.4 per cent of GDP. Economic growth is projected at 4.4 per cent in 2019, extending the broad-based expansion across all major sectors,” the Fund added.

As of the middle of this year, no single sector had more than a 15 per cent share of the GDP. According to the Finance Ministry’s 2019 mid-year report, the highest individual bite of the GDP came from the wholesale and retail trade, which had a 13.4 per cent share of the GDP. Combined, agriculture, fishing and forestry has just a 15.6 per cent share of the GDP, with major sectors like sugar, rice and forestry having just 0.9 per cent, 3.5 per cent and 1.7 per cent respectively.

Sugar and GDP

Back in 2016, before the closure of the sugar estates

by the coalition Government and the redundancy of thousands of workers, sugar had a 1.5 per cent share of the GDP and agriculture, fishing and forestry combined had 17.4 per cent.

Meanwhile, the midyear report also showed that critical sectors like gold and manufacturing had 9.4 per cent and 6.5 per cent respectively. For a single sector to have 40 per cent is therefore a significant portion of the GDP. Exxon Mobil, which announced its 14th oil find only on Monday (the very day as Tullow announced its 2nd), has pegged oil production at 120,000 barrels of oil per day utilising the Liza Destiny FPSO. Furthermore, Liza Phase 2 is expected to start up by mid-2022, after Exxon made a final investment decision after getting regulatory approval earlier this year. It had been reported that the project would use the Liza Unity FPSO to produce up to 220,000 barrels per day.

The Liza Destiny, Guyana’s first oil production vessel, arrived in Guyana’s waters at the end of last month after travelling nearly 11,000 nautical miles for 42 days from the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore.

The vessel is a significant component of the Liza

Phase 1 development, which involves four undersea drill centres with 17 production wells. Besides its production capacity of 120,000 barrels of oil per day, it also has an overall storage volume of 1.6 million barrels.

During normal operations, there will be at least 80 persons living and working onboard the vessel.

Before its departure

from the Keppel Shipyard in Singapore, the Liza Destiny was commissioned by First Lady Sandra Granger. The Liza Destiny FPSO was converted from oil tanker, “Tina”, a 1999 Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC). The conversion included upgrading of the hull and integration of 14 topside processing modules, totalling 16 thousand metric tonnes.

10 news

wednesDAY, september 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Enterprise drinking spree murder

Sons were main breadwinners for home – mother

Dead: 47-year-old Satnarine Jattan, also called “Dalim”

A

69-year-old mother is lost for words following an incident that took place at her Enterprise, East Coast Demerara (ECD) home which resulted in one of her sons fatally stabbing another during a drinking spree on Monday evening.

Dassie Samroo of Lot 471 Charlotte Street, Enterprise, ECD is yet to come to grips with reality as she has lost two sons on the same day; 47-year-old Satnarine Jattan, also called “Dalim”, is dead and the other will soon be incarcerated for the heinous crime.

Speaking with Guyana

Times on Tuesday at her home, in tears, she stated that her now dead son and the suspect were her support system since they made sure that she was financially taken care of.

She is now left to fend for herself, since she is also a widow. Her third son, who left moments before the fatal stabbing on Monday evening, is yet to be heard from.

However, when asked to recount what took place between her sons on the fateful night, she replied, “I don’t know what happened between them two, I can’t say because me deh at the back and one deh in the hammock here and one sitting on the chair”.

Samaroo recalled that about 15:00h on Monday, the now dead man and his younger brother were imbibing at home after completing two weeks of work.

According to Samaroo, she went to check on her sons after hearing loud talking and as such, warned them about arguing with each other. They, nevertheless, assured her that they were having a peaceful conversation.

suming alcohol together at the residence when an argument ensued.

After being warned by their mother, the men suddenly stopped talking. The mother became suspicious

and, as such, ventured outside to check on them.

However, the woman stumbled upon Jattan’s body, which was on the floor near their bathroom door.

The dead man’s body

is presently at the Lyken Funeral home, whilst the suspect is in Police custody assisting with investigations. He has since admitted to the Police to killing his older brother.

North West man remanded on armed robbery charges Mother of the two brothers: 69-year-old Dassie Samaroo

However, the woman went back to her hammock, after which the place went quiet. This, she added, prompted her to make another check. It was at that time she saw the now dead man holding onto his abdomen with blood gushing out – he later collapsed.

The visibly shaken woman described both sons as “gentle” and “hardworking”.

At the loss of her two sons, Samaroo is now left to depend solely on her monthly pension to maintain herself.

Meanwhile, Police reports indicate that Jattan and the suspect, who is his younger brother, were con-

A

North West District (NWD) man was on Tuesday remanded to prison when he appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

Thirty-one-year-old Marlon Carter was slapped with two robbery charges.

The Police stated that on September 10, 2019, at Five Star Backdam, NWD, Region One (Barima-Waini), while being armed with a gun, Carter attempted to rob Zamal Poliah.

The second charge stated that on August 24, 2019, at Five Star Backdam, he robbed Kumar Nandkumar of 58.3 pennyweight of raw gold valued $900,000.

According to Police Prosecutor Gordon

Mansfield, on the day in question, Poliah was in the company of four workers on an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) heading back to camp when they were stopped by the defendant, who was armed with a gun.

The defendant then instructed them to lie on the ground and hand over their valuables; when the men failed to comply, the defendant poured gasoline on them and attempted to set them alight.

It was then the men tackled the defendant and disarmed him. The matter was reported.

In relation to the second

matter, the Prosecutor told the court that the victim was at a shop when the defendant approached him from behind and dealt him two lashes to his head with a gun and relieved him of the raw gold.

The matter was reported and upon investigation, the defendant was arrested and charged.

The Prosecutor objected to bail being granted on the grounds of the serious nature of the offences and the penalties they attract.

The defendant is set to make his next court appearance on November 4, 2019 at the Matthews Ridge Magistrate’s Court.

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wednesDAY, september 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt stands cost for CH&PA vehicle bursts into flames on Rupert Craig Highway Guyanese in hurricane– 5th vehicle for year to burst into flames

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pickup belonging to the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) on Tuesday afternoon burst into flames on the Rupert Craig Highway in the vicinity of the Rubis Gas Station The driver, Wilbert Mingo, who is said to be in his late 30s, was accompanied by his colleague, Daniel Persaud, in the Nissan pickup which bore registration plate PNN 7686. They were heading to East Coast Demerara when the incident occurred.

Guyana Times understands that Mingo observed smoke billowing from his air conditioning vents and thought something was amiss. Before he could have brought the vehicle to a halt to make checks, the vehicle burst in flames.

He and Persaud rushed from the vehicle on to the flooded roadway to safety and escaped unhurt, but the vehicle was completely destroyed.

Fire fighters at the scene told Guyana Times that it was too early to determine the cause of the fire. The driver, who was still shaken up as a result of the incident, was unable to speak with the media.

An investigation is ongoing.

The Government vehicle is the fifth for the year to be mysteriously destroyed

The Nissan vehicle on fire

by fire. While some persons have blamed a specific fuel, others say the reason for the fires may be linked to uncertified vehicular upgrades and poor maintenance.

On February 13, a father and his child barely managed to escape unhurt at Oronoque and Charlotte Streets, Bourda, Georgetown, after their Toyota Allion car which bore registration number HC 8512 caught fire.

Fire Prevention Officer Andrew Holder told Guyana

Times that the owner’s daughter complained of smelling a burning scent.

The owner later observed smoke coming from under his bonnet and upon checks, discovered that the engine of the car was engulfed in flames.

On February 7, a minibus in Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), mysteriously caught fire.

Prior to that, two vehicles in Georgetown also faced the same fate in separate incidents.

Princess Street man attacked, robbed of valuables

A

Princess Street, Lodge, Georgetown man is now left counting his losses after he was attacked by two bandits, one of which was armed, and robbed of his valuables on Sunday evening.

The victim, 39-year-old Gregory Shawn was reportedly walking to his home at around 19:00h after purchasing a small amount of groceries from a nearby shop when he was pounced upon.

The man told Police that he saw his attackers pass him, both on bicycles headed in the opposite direction but did not notice when the duo began following him.

However, he explained that he felt an arm around his neck and someone demanding that he “not move or I’ll injure you!”

The frightened man explained that he dropped the groceries and began struggling with the bandit when he was confronted by the

other perpetrator.

Shawn recounted that he ceased struggling when he felt a cold object to the side of his chest and realised that the perpetrator was armed.

The second suspect reportedly searched the victim’s pockets and collected his cellphone valued $75,000 and his wallet containing his identification card, bank cards and just over $25,000.

The duo, both unmasked, quickly made good their escape on their bicycles. The matter has since been reported to the police.

This newspaper contacted several experienced mechanics for an opinion on the recent incidents and was told that it is not normal for vehicles to burst into flames, even if servicing is not done on time. One mechanic who works for a major mining company pointed to the possibility of contaminated fuel being the source of the issue.

However, the Fire Prevention Officer in a previous interview told this publication that the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) has not ventured into investigating the fuel being used by the vehicles since preliminary investigations point to poor maintenance of the vehicles.

However, he noted that this option has not been ruled out, but expressed willingness to explore this area if other vehicles combust under similar circumstances.

Moreover, he admitted that the fire department is incapable of running tests to verify the quality of fuel being used by the vehicle owners.

“The Fire Service in itself, we are not equipped to test the fuel to see if it is something about the fuel causing these fires, but rest assured that if this continues to happen, definitely, we will have to examine that possibility,” Holder noted.

ravaged Bahamas to be flown home

Orin Grimmond and his family upon their arrival at the CJIA on Sunday

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he Government of Guyana is presently preparing to yet again stand the cost to fly home 23 more Guyanese who were left devastated and stranded following Hurricane Dorian which ravaged The Bahamas on September 1.

A family of five Guyanese has already returned home by flights sponsored by the Guyana Government on September 15.

Though Citizenship Minister Winston Felix could not give an approximate figure for the flights, he noted that Government’s focus is presently on returning 23 more Guyanese safely home shortly.

“We dealt with this first five, this family, and we anticipate there are others. We do not leave Guyanese in distress, who are outside of Guyana. We do not do that.

We showed that in 2017 and it continues now…those arrangements have to be properly organised and then we [will] know how they are coming, but these are issues under consideration now” Minister Felix assured.

Thirty-five-year-old Orin Grimmond and his wife, 35-year-old Sholme Grimmond, arrived with their three children at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) on Sunday last. turn to page 12

12 news

wednesDAY, september 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Govt to develop policy to assist overseas-based

Guyanese affected by natural disasters

M

inister of Citizenship, Winston Felix has assured that the Government is working with various stakeholders to develop a draft national policy, which will outline a coordinated approach for assisting Guyanese based in Caribbean territories, who are affected by natural disasters.

Minister Felix made this announcement on Monday moments after chairing a meeting held with aircraft owners and operations and various Government entities, to streamline efforts to facilitate the return of Guyanese from the hurricane-ravaged island, The Bahamas, and to get feedback on the drafting of the

policy.

“This meeting has guided us to a path of seeking further guidance on best practices in chartering the response that we need, which at the end of the day seeks to ensure that the interest of Guyanese is attended to in circumstances of disasters and any misfortune which may befall them outside of Guyana.

“At the end of this exercise, we should develop a policy to respond to the needs of Guyanese outside of Guyana,” the Minister told the Public Information and Press Service (PIPS) Unit of the Ministry of the Presidency.

The Minister informed that the stakeholders’ meeting was held based on

Minister Felix and other stakeholders at the meeting

a Cabinet directive, which was handed down last week. Monday was the second time that the meeting

was held.

He further added that the 2017 response to Hurricane Irma, which affected the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Turks and Caicos and St Maarten, has created a “template by which future disasters of whatever magnitude can be responded to, with particular steps to be taken along the way”.

In relation to the situation in The Bahamas,

Minister Felix said that there is an option available to address the repatriation of the 23 Guyanese who have expressed their desire to return. He pointed out that this number can change as there are another 108 persons, who have yet to indicate what their desire is.

“So, work goes on and the Guyanese public will be kept informed as decisions

are taken,” the Minister assured.

He said too that the meeting discussed an approach to Caribbean Airlines for humanitarian assistance to bring home the affected Guyanese in The Bahamas.

“This was done because it was observed that the range of aircraft in Guyana would not take them to The Bahamas without them having to stop for refuelling on a couple of occasions.

Then, there is another option, where Government can be invited to subsidise the cost of the aircraft bringing returning Guyanese… and the third is the employment of the [GDF] sky van to assist in the return of Guyanese from The Bahamas,” Minister Felix said.

It was suggested that Government deploy a point-person from CDC to The Bahamas to work along with the Guyana Honorary Consul, to assess the needs of Guyanese prior to the decision to repatriate them.

Govt stands cost for..

They were greeted by Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Karen Cummings; Minister of State, Dawn HastingsWilliams and Director of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig.

Orin Grimmond, who was a teacher along with his wife in The Bahamas detailed the horrific experience they faced when the hurricane hit.

The young father reported that his family sought refuge in the ceiling of their Marsha Harbour home.

Noting that his family miraculously survived, Grimmond recounted “The water was rising…It was terrifying because there is no way to escape…And so what we did, we kicked the door out”.

The family does not intend to return to The Bahamas to live but stated that they will return to visit friends and family.

Presently, there are about 80 Guyanese families living on the affected islands. The Government, through the CDC, is coor-

from page 11

dinating relief efforts for Guyanese living there.

Dorian, a category five hurricane, ripped through the small Caribbean archipelago with winds near 240 kilometres per hour (150 miles per hour), the US National Hurricane Center said.

A BBC report stated that Dorian was the most powerful storm to hit The Bahamas.

Bahamians are now facing severe health threats as they are trying to cope with the lack of access to toilets, clean water, and medication.

Meanwhile, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) has set up an account here for persons who would like to make contributions towards assisting persons in The Bahamas.

Persons desirous of contributing financial donations are asked to make those contributions to the account named GBTI Hurricane Relief FundBahamas # 011802963011.

news

13

wednesDAY, september 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

King uncertain of returning to City Hall as Town Clerk D

ays after the High Court reversed the dismissal of Former Town Clerk Royston King, paving the way for him to be reinstated at the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC), he is yet to make a decision as to whether he will return to the post.

King made this revela-

tion during an appearance on local radio programme “Hot seat” hosted by broadcaster Stan Gouveia on Tuesday. When asked directly if he will be returning as Town Clerk, King firmly asserted that this decision is yet to be made since he is leaning on the guidance of his lawyers.

“As far as my returning to the Council is concerned, I am guided by the advice of my lawyers. So, I haven’t made that decision as yet, I’m being guided by the advice of my lawyers.” He said But even as he expressed uncertainty towards same, King reminded that his contributions to the city’s de-

velopment when he held the previous post, was done out of “passion and great initiative”.

“I must say though that I believe that I’ve made contribution and restoration and in some aspects of the city of Georgetown. And I must say that I did that with passion and I did that

Corriverton Mayor bypasses LGC and hires tractor operator – says had written to LGC without a response

C

orriverton Mayor Winston Robert on Tuesday hired a tractor operator without

one operator, thus, making it very difficult for it to properly manage solid waste.

that is within his rights but then we cannot sit and wait on the Local Government Commission to come and in-

Corriverton Mayor Winston Roberts

The garbage pile-up in Corriverton

consulting with the Local Government Commission (LGC), as is mandated.

The Municipality has for some time been waiting on the Commission to employ a tractor operator and a revenue clerk.

According to Mayor Roberts, the Municipality of Corriverton is being stifled by the LGC. Several letters have been dispatched to the Commission to have the vacancies filed with urgency, but there was no response.

“We are waiting on them to come and do the interviews. They say that we cannot do the interviews just like that. Today [Tuesday] I took it upon myself with the councillors to go ahead and employ a tractor operator.

Whereby, we wrote a letter to them informing them of our actions with the signature of all the councillors.

We had to do it,” the Mayor noted.

Residents say the Municipality has not been collecting solid waste in a timely manner, which has led to a pile-up of garbage in residential areas.

“We only have one operator and we are supposed to have two. We have our daily work in the market. We have to clean the fishery. So, I could not wait any longer on the Local Government Commission to come and make that decision for us.

I took the chance off of my own. I am willing for them to prosecute me at any time for my decision,” the Mayor told this publication on Tuesday.

When asked for a comment, LGC Head Mortimer Mingo declined.

Mayor Roberts related that for the past week, the Municipality has only had

“He is a senior officer who will come off of the job in October. He has a backlog of 46 days leave and he chose to take the leave;

terview applicants and then to wait five or six months for them to have the person employed. Who will pick up our garbage? Who will clean

the fishery? What will become of our community? So, I went ahead with what I had to do,” the town’s Mayor boldly stated.

Mayor Roberts highlighted that before the employment on Tuesday, he sought the advice on the Council but more so, he stressed that the reason for hiring the operator was to ensure that the town remains clean.

with great initiative and with strength and with wisdom, and I believe in part that, that is responsible for what transpired during the period in which I was sent off on administrative leave”, the former town clerk noted.

Furthermore, in pointing out the functions of the Local Government Commission – that is to protect public officials from political excesses – King made it clear that he holds no animosity for the LGC or its officials, despite its decision to fire him back in January of 2018.

“There is no bad blood between me and the members of the Local Government Commission, the Commission has its work to do and the Commission had certain responsibilities, rights and power which they must exercise…the Local Government Commission was set up to protect public officials, Local Government officials from political excesses not to facilitate such excesses, not to enhance such excesses” he pointed out.

Last Friday High Court Judge, Justice Simone Ramlall in handing down her ruling, found that the former Town Clerk was unlawfully dismissed. She also ruled that the CoI in its entirety was unlawfully established hence all of its decisions and findings are null, void and of no effect.

Former Town Clerk Royston King

This includes King’s dismissal, which was based on the findings and recommendations of the probe.

According to the Judge, the Commission is only permitted under the Local Government Commission Act to delegate its powers within the Local Government system and not investigative bodies outside such as the CoI that was set up to look into the operations of City Hall.

This ruling comes after the 2018 CoI conducted by ret’d Justice Cecil Kennard found King guilty of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and misappropriation of funds. He had also stated that King performed the duties of treasurer and other officers of the Council, which were not his designated duties.

14 news

wednesDAY, september 18, 2019| guyanatimesgy.com

3rd Sexual Offences Court opens in Essequibo T

he Social Protection Ministry in collaboration with the British High Commission of Guyana and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) on Monday commissioned the third Sexual Offences Court, this time in Essequibo, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

The structure was built

leadership of Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag), Justice Yonette CummingsEdwards, victims or survivors of sexual violence in the “Cinderella” county have been given a haven to testify without fear of secondary trauma.

According to Justice Cummings-Edwards, the justice system was virtual-

and prosecutors.

Meanwhile, Social Protection Minister Amna Ally lauded the project as Guyana has managed to establish three specialised courts within the three counties to address sexual offences.

She said the scourge of sexual violence in Guyana and the need for robust interventions for specialised infrastructural requirements in courts for victims of sexual violence were things that could no longer be overlooked by the judicial system.

“The idea of a specialised court is to reestablish trust in the system, to show that the system can adapt, and victims can rely on trained individuals who

Social Protection Minister Amna Ally cuts the ribbon to commission the facility with Deputy British High Commissioner to Guyana, Ray Davidson and UNICEF Country Representative Sylvie Fouet [DPI image]

understand the particulars of sexual violence… We must be able to tell victims ‘you are heard’, and it’s our job to adapt the system to their complex reality, rather than they being forced to adapt to the system itself,” Ally posited.

Deputy British High Commissioner to Guyana, Ray Davidson said institutions such as the Sexual Offences Court will make a difference.

The specialised court has a main courtroom that will house the defence counsel, prosecutors and jurors.

It has a closed-circuit system linked up to the special measures room that will allow victims to give evidence without having to face the perpetrators.

No fake Magnum Tonic Wine in circulation Inside of the new courtroom (DPI image) in Suddie at the tune of $17.4 million, with funding from the British High Commission and UNICEF. The two other Sexual Offences Courts are located in Georgetown, Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) and Berbice High Court, Esplanade Road, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

The Department of Public Information (DPI) reported that under the

ly failing victims of sexual violence, who were before exposed to a hostile system.

“What you are about to see here in the Sexual Offences Court and the special measures room, will tell you that we have come a long way in ensuring that victims are able to give their evidence in such a comfortable and dignified way to ensure that justice is done,” she told the gathering of judges, lawyers

A

NSA McAL Trading Limited, Guyana’s sole distributor of Magnum Tonic Wine, would like to inform the general public that there is no fake Magnum Tonic Wine in circulation.

J Wray & Nephew Limited, which is the exclusive manufacturer of Magnum Tonic Wine and owner of the Magnum Tonic Wine brand, categorically denies recent social media reports that there are counterfeit Magnum Tonic Wines in circulation.

Magnum Tonic Wine

brand currently utilises two bottles since 2010 in the

packaging of the much-loved product.

Both bottles are identical, except for the embossing on the bottle which includes the numbers at the bottom.

One bottle has no numbers at the bottom and the other has visible numbers that can be felt by touch. The liquid contained in both bottles are absolutely the same.

ANSA McAL Trading Limited is kindly asking members of the public to refrain from spreading this misinformation.

For further information kindly visit our Facebook page at “ Magnum Tonic Wine Guyana”

news

15

wednesDAY, september 18, 2019 | guyanatimesgy.com

Ramsammy’s Ruminations Guyana to strengthen cooperation Granger, APNU/AFC inherited with Chile in mining, petroleum a country with many funded P transformational projects

I

t is a failed Government that, after almost five years, it now has to rely on a massive misinformation campaign and a devious rewriting of history to prove there is no reason for people’s loss of confidence. This is what David Granger and APNU/AFC presently face. People have totally lost confidence in the Granger-led APNU/AFC government and this is the major reason why APNU/AFC is so mortified of elections and why they are breaching the Constitution by illegally preventing the elections due since March 21.

One part of the misinformation is the false narrative that APNU/AFC inherited a bankrupt country in 2015, with no money and no plans for major Dr Leslie Ramsammy development. Last week, in my weekly column, I debunked the fake narrative that Guyana was bankrupt in 2015.

Part of their rewrite of history, part of the fake narrative, is the PPP left the country in 2015 with no transformational project and no sources of funding for any project. This is not just patented fake news, it is arrogant misinformation. One notable loss for Guyana is the pussyfooting with Norway in the low carbon credit payments. The PPP left US$250M from the Norway Climate Change Agreement in the treasury, partly to fund the Amerindian Development Fund and the Amaila Hydroelectric Project.

Granger and APNU/AFC replaced the Low Carbon Development Strategy with the Green Economy Strategy, which appears to be a maddening repainting of all Government buildings green, insisting that private businesses and residences paint green to show their support for the Government. Businesses have been targeted for not painting buildings green. The sloth and the lack of a credible low carbon economy have led to a slowing down or even a suspension of the Norway Agreement. At the end of 2014, Guyana had accumulated US$250M from Norway. We have not had any additional payment made to the Norway low carbon credit payments.

Outside the Norway US$250M (GY$50B), the PPP left detailed plans for projects and funding of more than GY$300B. Among the major funding arrangements was the EU Budget Grant-Support Grant of €25.9M (GY$6.5B), resulting from the arbitrary ending of the Sugar Protocol. Sugar was earning its own support, secured by the PPP, yet APNU/AFC closed estates, arguing it cannot provide support for GuySuCo. The PPP secured also US$150M (GY$30B) from China for the expansion and modernisation of the CJIA. After undue delay, having voted against the budget in 2013 and 2014, under the pretext the budget was too high, APNU/AFC resumed the CJIA project with a different scope and today the CJIA is less than what was proposed by the PPP, but for more money. As GPL continues to provide a deteriorating service, with blackouts at levels never experienced since 1992, APNU/ AFC has squandered the US$66.2M (GY$13B) IADB funding for the upgrade of the electricity system. APNU/AFC also wickedly scuttled the Amaila Hydroelectric Project and its $150B funding.

There were also funding as follows: US$50M (GY$10B) from India Exim Bank for the East Coast to East Bank bypass road, now behind schedule; US$34.4M (GY$7B) from CDB for upgrading the West Coast Demerara Highway, this having been completed, but already decaying; US$31.7M (GY$6B) from the IADB and EU for improvement of the water and sanitation infrastructure, US$15M (GY$3B) from IADB for improved Citizen Security, US$12M (GY$2B) from World Bank for flood risk management, US$10M (GY$2B) from World Bank for secondary education improvement, US$10M (GY$2B) from World Bank for UG science and technology support, US$7.5M (GY$1.5B) from CDB to fund sugar industry mechanisation.

These and many other projects were already in the pipeline, with secured funding and detailed implementation plans to catalyse the economy and transform Guyana— but APNU/AFC abandoned them. For instance, APNU/AFC never seriously pursued the Corentyne River Bridge construction with Suriname, abandoned plans for the Deep Water Harbour in Berbice, pussyfooted around the extension of the Abary Conservancy to the Mahaica River— opening up more than 400,000 hectares of new land— dumped the Specialty Hospital project and construction of new hospitals in Skeldon, West Demerara, Kwakwani, Lethem, Matthews Ridge, etc; discontinued building of secondary schools in the new megahousing communities, abandoned plans to increase drainage and irrigation pumping capacity by more than 30% by 2020, abandoned plans to provide each NDC with mini-excavator fleets and plans for improvement of community roads.

David Granger and APNU/AFC abandoned the PPP’s transformation development programme, replacing it with an ad hoc plan, lacking vision and cohesion. This is why people lost confidence in APNU/AFC and this is why APNU/AFC is so petrified of elections.

resident David Granger and First Lady Sandra Granger on Tuesday evening attended the 209th Independence Anniversary of the Republic of Chile at the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown.

President Granger in his address said Guyana and Chile have enjoyed excellent relations since the establishment of formal diplomatic ties on July 22, 1971. “Relations between our two states have fostered cooperation in the fields of diplomacy, language-training, geochemical and geological mapping, immigration, port security and transportation,” the President said.

The President, who paid a State Visit to Chile in October 2016, said Guyana looks forward to strengthening bilateral cooperation with Chile, especially in the mining and petroleum sectors, disaster management and environmental protection.

“The Statement of Intent on Cooperation in Energy and Mining and the Memorandum of Understanding between the “Andres Bello” Diplomatic Academy of Chile and the Foreign Service Institute of Guyana which were signed in Montego Bay on 6th July 2018 manifest our common commitment to deepening and widening cooperation for our mutual benefit,” he said.

President Granger also said that Guyana and Chile share common concerns about what occurs in South America while noting that “the raging wildfires in the Amazon and the devastating effects of hurricanes in the Caribbean highlight the urgent need for intensified continental cooperation on environmental catastrophe”.

Granger noted too that relations between Guyana and Chile have been strengthened by high-level exchanges between respective Presidents, including at the 19th Summit of the Rio Group Summit, which was held

President David Granger and Chilean Ambassador to Guyana Patricio Becker shared a toast

in Georgetown, in March 2007; the 23rd Inter-sessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, which was held in Paramaribo, Suriname, in March 2012; 1st Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) which was held in Santiago, Chile in January 2013; his State Visit to Chile in October 2016; and the 39th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community held in Montego Bay, Jamaica, in July 2018.

President Granger also congratulated the Government of Chile on its hosting of the 25th Session of the Conference of Parties [COP] 25 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Santiago in December 2019.

The President said Guyana has accepted the invitation to participate at that Conference, the objectives of which are in accord with Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040.

Meanwhile, Chilean Ambassador Patricio Becker said Guyana and Chile’s relations over the years have been strengthened through enhanced cooperation between the two countries.

“Mr President, we are confident that Guyana has a great future with the development of the oil and gas industry; exploration and exportation of a growing mining industry as well as the development of the timber industry… my country wishes to contribute to that future in different fields,” Ambassador Becker said.

Residents decry state of Parfaite Harmonie access road R

esidents and motorists who utilise the La Parfaite Harmonie access road at Schoonord on the West Bank of Demerara are calling on the relevant authorities to execute urgent repairs on sections of the main access road.

The residents are contending that the huge potholes along the roadway have caused severe damage to their vehicles which amounts to hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs.

The residents further indicated that as a result of the deteriorating roads, vehicular accidents have increased.

Daniel Manohar, a resident, told Guyana Times that a female motorcyclist slipped into a pothole, which caused her to be flung off the bike. She had to be taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where she was treated for several injuries.

“I was on my way home when I noticed this woman lying on the ground, I quickly rushed over to her, and to my surprise, she was bleeding profusely from the injuries that she sustained”.

He said it was while at the medical institution that

carting building materials, among other things, as the scheme rapidly develops.

In 2017, Gaico Construction Company’s workmen fixed potholes along the road following a deadly accident.

Presently, the Schoonord access road serves as one of three access points to the La Parfaite Harmonie Housing Scheme, with the other two being through Independence Street, La Grange, and Canal Number One.

The pothole that the female cyclist fell into and injured herself

he was informed that other persons have been taken there due to injuries sustained as a result of the roadway.

“I was quite stunned when I learnt that the woman was lying on the road for almost two hours without any assistance. That area is desolate, no proper street lights and to make matters worse, animals are traversing the area,” the man stated.

In addition to the deplorable state of the road,

the 3.5-kilometre stretch of road is yet to be outfitted with streetlights, thus making it dangerous to travel at nights.

The road was constructed to the tune of over $604 million and commissioned in September 2014. BK International and Gaico Construction undertook the project.

Since the commissioning, the road has rapidly deteriorated as a result of the high volume of heavy-duty vehicles that traverse the road

16

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesDAY, september 18, 2019

Regional

Massive blackout hits 4 countries in Central America

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massive blackout has left thousands without electricity in at least four countries in Central America, following a failure in the region’s electrical grid.

“At 11:48 (17:48GMT) there was an emergency in the Central American Electrical System due to a failure in the 230-kilowatt supply line in Honduras,”

El Salvador’s electricity operator EOR said in a statement on Monday.

“A full blackout took place in the electrical systems of Nicaragua and Honduras,” EOR said, adding that Guatemala and El Salvador only experienced partial outages.

The blackout continued until 19:55GMT, according to information provided

by the Nicaraguan government.

Leonardo Deras, energy generation manager of Hondura’s National Electricity Company, said the problem resulted from an overload at a substation on the Caribbean coast.

“When the fault occurred, it was a time of maximum demand, therefore the protection systems [decided] that to prevent damage to the transmission

lines it was better to disconnect,” Deras told local media.

Salvador Mansell, president of Nicaragua’s state power transmission company Enatrel, said the blackout hit his country’s capital, Managua, and 15 other provinces.

Internet service and water distribution in parts of Managua, which relies on pumps, were also knocked out. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Data on almost every Ecuadorean citizen leaked

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ames, financial information and civil data about 17 million people, including 6.7 million children, were found by security company vpnMentor.

The massive cache of data was found on an unsecured cloud server almost anyone could look at.

Access to the server has now been restricted thanks to Ecuador’s computer emergency security team.

“The data breach involves a large amount of sensitive personally identifiable information at the individual level,” wrote Noam Rotem and Ran Locar, from vpnMentor.

As well as basic identity data, the exposed files include: official government ID numbers, phone numbers, family records, marriage

The data appears to have been used to help target marketing

dates, education histories, and work records.

The cache of information also included some financial records tallying account balances of customers of one large Ecuadorean bank. Tax records, including official revenue ID numbers for companies, were found on another file.

“This data breach is par-

ticularly serious simply because of how much information was revealed about each individual,” the security researchers said.

The pair said they had found the 18GB of data spread across a variety of files saved on an unsecured server set up and run by Novaestrat – an Ecuadorean marketing and analytics

company.

Novaestrat has not yet responded to a BBC News request for a comment or statement.

The news about the data breach was broken on the ZDNet website by reporter Catalin Cimpanu, who said it would be “as valuable as gold in the hands of criminal gangs”.

Simple searches of the data could reveal lists of wealthy Ecuadoreans, their home addresses, if they had children, the cars they drove and their registration plate numbers, he said.

Access to the data had been cut off after the Ecuador Computer Emergency Response Team had been alerted, Cimpanu wrote. (BBC

News)

Chile’s ex-President Bachelet denies links to Brazil’s Car Wash scandal Michelle Bachelet, Chile’s ex-president and now the UN Human Rights Chief, has denied allegations by a Brazilian businessman under investigation in Brazil’s massive Car Wash scandal that he paid $141,000 to cover debts incurred by her 2013 presidential campaign.

Bachelet, a socialist who served from 2006 to 2010 and again from 2014 to 2018, denied the claims that were reported on Monday by the Brazilian newspaper Folho de Sao Paolo. It said Leo Pinheiro told prosecutors as part of a plea bargain that his engineering firm, OAS [OAEP.UL], paid the money at the suggestion of the for-

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet holds a news conference at Centro Cultural Espana in downtown Mexico City, Mexico [Photo by: REUTERS/Carlos Jasso]

“My truth is the same as always, I have never had links with OAS,” she told Chilean TV station 24 Horas in Geneva.

Lula is serving a 12-year prison sentence for taking bribes in connection with the scandal, which involved payoffs and political kickbacks on contracts with oil company Petrobras and other state-run companies.

Cristiano Zanin Martins, Lula’s lawyer, told Reuters his client had not recommended any such payments and that the latest claims were part of a “strategy” by prosecutors to persecute Lula “politically”.

Mexico to keep fuel prices stable despite Saudi attacks – President

M

exico’s Government will uphold its pledge to keep fuel prices stable and has gasoline supplies secured despite attacks on Saudi oil sites, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Tuesday.

Lopez Obrador told a regular news conference that officials from the Finance Ministry and state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) would meet on Tuesday.

The President said oil-producing Mexico benefited from higher oil prices but was also exposed to market fluctuations because it imported gasoline and diesel.

“We need to see how this equilibrium is,” Lopez Obrador told reporters.

“We have gasoline supplies secured without any problem, due to imports, and because the refining capacity of Pemex’s plants has increased.” (Reuters)

Vale misled public on dangerous dams, prompting Brazil probe – source

F

aced with public outrage after its second mining dam collapse in four years killed at least 240 people in Brazil, Vale SA misrepresented what it had done to shut down its riskiest dams, a review of the company’s statements shows.

Fabio Schvartsman, Vale’s then-Chief Executive, said at a nationally broadcast news conference days after the dam burst in late January that the company had already decommissioned nine “upstream dams” in the wake of a 2015 disaster involving the same type of structure, and planned to dismantle 10 more over the next few years. The company repeated the claim in a statement on its website.

Reuters asked Vale for details on these moves on February 5, seven days after Schvartsman’s news conference.

In March, some five weeks later, Vale gave Reuters a list of nine dams that it said it had closed since 2014, a year before the Mariana disaster. Five were smaller structures,

The logo of the Brucutu mine owned by Brazilian mining company Vale SA is seen in Sao Goncalo do Rio Abaixo, Brazil [Photo by: REUTERS/Washington Alves]

called dikes, which Vale said should be considered “upstream dams,” while four others were listed as single-step dams, which experts consider less dangerous.

But Eduardo Leão, a director of the Brazilian mining regulator ANM, and another expert who reviewed the list for Reuters, said that they were all in fact smaller structures and not the dangerous upstream type.

Vale also listed the 10 dams that it said it planned to close, including the collapsed one at Brumadinho.

(Excerpt from Reuters)

US targets 3 people, Trinidad PM blasts BBC ‘agenda’ in migrant report 16 groups in new Venezuela sanctions W

hile Trinidad and Tobago recently made headway in the US on Venezuela, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley is most upset with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) recent documentary on T&T’s Venezuelan amnesty registration exercise – and he’s writing to the British Government on it.

The BBC programme, ‘The Displaced’, which started airing on social media yesterday, focused on Venezuelans seeking betterment in Trinidad via Government’s registration drive over May to June.

mer Brazilian President Luiz

Inacio Lula da Silva.

The Government had stated that 16,523 Venezuelans registered.

The BBC video aired aspects of the registration process, including the anti-amnesty group which protested outside of the Queens’ Park Oval. Rowley particularly took issue with the aspect claiming T&T had 40,000 Venezuelans and only 16,000 were allowed to register.

Rowley said TT had 16,000 odd Venezuelans here and they were registered, including approximately 2,000 children.

But he added, “This

didn’t prevent the BBC from going out of their way to misrepresent the position on T&T. As a lifelong listener and respecter of the BBC, the programme the BBC mentioned on T&T isn’t worthy of the BBC”.

“Everyone around has an agenda and I’m not to believe there are people in the BBC who allowed themselves to be part of someone’s agenda. The BBC is too sacred to us in the Commonwealth for that nonsense to go on,” he said.

He said that on the last day of the registration there was nobody in the

(Excerpt from Reuters)

line and Government even continued the process on the weekend after.

“So it’s quite wrong for the BBC to put pressure, saying we have 40,000 people and registered 1600 and didn’t allow the other 14,000 to register. That’s feeding into people’s agenda... I don’t know where they were getting those numbers from,” Dr Rowley said.

Rowley said Government made it clear if Venezuelans didn’t want to be registered, then they could not stay in this country. (Excerpt from

T&T Guardian)

T

he United States imposed sanctions on Tuesday on three people and 16 groups it says helped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his government profit from food aid in the economically struggling country, the Treasury Department said.

The individuals are Amir Luis Saab, Luis Alberto Saab and David Nicolas Rubio, according to a Treasury statement.

In July, the Treasury Department said Colombian national Alex Nain Saab or-

chestrated a vast corruption network for food imports and distribution in Venezuela and profited from overvalued contracts, including the food subsidy programme.

“This action increases pressure on Alex Saab and his network, which have profited off the hunger of the Venezuelan people and facilitate systemic corruption in Venezuela,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in the statement.

“Treasury will continue to target those who corruptly profit at the expense of the Venezuelan people”. (Reuters)

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, september 18, 2019

17

Around the World

Taliban suicide attacks kill at least 48 Spain to hold before Afghan elections fourth election

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t least 48 people have been killed and dozens more wounded in two separate attacks in Afghanistan - one at a campaign rally by President Ashraf Ghani and the other in the capital, Kabul.

In the first blast on Tuesday, a suicide bomber on a motorcycle targeted the rally by Ghani, who is reported to be safe and unharmed.

The suicide bomber rammed his explosives-lad-

en motorcycle into the entrance of the venue hosting Ghani’s rally.

At least 26 people were killed and more than 40 wounded in the attack, which was claimed by the Taliban, in Charikar, the capital of Parwan province, north of Kabul.

Nasrat Rahimi, spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, said the death toll of 26 included four soldiers.

Abdul Qasim Sangin, Head of Parwan hospital,

said children were among those killed and there were fears the number of victims could rise.

The President was present at the time of the explosion but is safe and unharmed, his campaign spokesman, Hamed Aziz, was quoted as saying by The Associated Press news agency.

In a separate incident just hours later, another explosion went off near Kabul’s Green Zone, where the

Defence Ministry, US embassy and NATO headquarters are located. Taliban also claimed responsibility for the blast in the capital, saying it was also a suicide attack.

Rahimi, the Interior Ministry spokesman, said 22 people were killed and 38 wounded.

Across Afghanistan, attacks have continued as the country prepares for a presidential election later this month. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

in 4 years

Hong Kong leader to hold dialogue aimed at easing tensions S

Caretaker PM Pedro Sánchez lost a post-election parliamentary vote of confidence in July

H

dialogue can provide a platform for us to discuss,” Lam told reporters at a weekly briefing.

She said the issues included housing and land shortages in one of the world’s most densely populated cities of 7.4 million. Young people are particularly frustrated by the high cost of finding a place of their own to live.

The former British colony has been roiled by nearly four months of sometimes violent protests.

The trigger for the unrest was an extradition bill, now withdrawn, that would have

ong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam, said on Tuesday she and her team would begin dialogue sessions with the community next week, while reiterating that violence that has roiled the city over three months of protests must end.

Lam, who is under pressure from Beijing to defuse the public anger stirring the protests, said the dialogue sessions would be as open as possible, with members of the public able to sign up to attend.

“Hong Kong society has really accumulated a lot of

deep-rooted economic, social and even political issues. I hope these different forms of

ompanies in India will seek exemptions from the Government’s planned ban on certain plastic items, fearing the move will disrupt supply chains and raise costs ahead of a festive season, according to sources and an industry document seen by Reuters.

India is likely to impose a nationwide ban on plastic bags, cups, small bottles, straws and some types of sachets next month as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to reduce use of pollution-causing, single-use plastic.

But the plans have stoked fears among consumer firms, which, use plastic in packaging for everything from sodas and biscuits to ketchup and

shampoo.

“This has created an existential issue for multiple sectors,” said the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), a lobby group, in a two-page draft note, seen by Reuters, which is likely to be finalised and sent to the Government in the coming days.

The CII will ask the Government to consult industry executives and define what will be categorised as single-use plastics, while also pitching for some exemptions, according to the note.

A senior Indian Government official said several industry representations were being reviewed, but the aim was to “get rid of the menace of plastic pollution” without causing disruption.

India lacks a system for management of plastic waste, but environmentalists have hailed Modi’s move, saying it will help combat plastic waste that chokes rivers and drains.

A ban on certain plastics

won 18.4 per cent of the vote while Karoui, owner of popular television station Nessma TV, garnered 15.6 per cent.

Ennahdha’s Abdelfattah Mourou came in third with 12.9 per cent.

Both front runners though very different - were seen as outsiders, drawing “anti-system” votes from an electorate disillusioned with

the status quo.

Mistrust of the political establishment runs high in Tunisia, where unemployment is at 15 per cent and the cost of living has risen by almost a third since 2016.

Saied, a fiercely independent academic, advocates radical decentralisation of power, with local democracy and the ability to remove elected officials from office during their mandates.

Karoui, who built his appeal on high-profile charity

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam attends a news conference in Hong Kong, China September 17, 2019

allowed people to be sent from Hong Kong to mainland China for trial.

But the demonstrators’ demands have broadened to include universal suffrage and an independent inquiry into their complaints of excessive force by the police.

Lam, who has been a focus of protesters’ anger, capitulated to one of their main demands on Sept 4, announcing the full withdrawal of the extradition bill.

But some said that was too little, too late, and the protests have continued.

pain is set for another election - its fourth in four years.

Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez made the announcement on Tuesday, having failed to secure enough support in Parliament to form a Government.

King Felipe VI, the Head of State, spent two days consulting with rival party leaders, but no consensus could be found on a candidate for Prime Minister.

The election will take place on November 10. The last one was in April.

Sánchez’s socialist PSOE party gained the most seats

in that election, but it fell short of a majority in Spain’s 350-seat Parliament.

In an evening press conference, Sánchez blamed the Opposition for the political deadlock.

“It has been impossible to complete the mandate given to us by the Spanish people on April 28. They [the rival parties] have made it impossible for us,” he said.

The acting PM had been seeking to find a political solution for several months.

His preferred partners, the left-wing Podemos party, had already rejected any arrangement short of a formal coalition.

A potential alliance between PSOE and the Catalan party, Ciudadanos, also fell through.

El País newspaper reported that attempts to reach a deal went up until the last minute.

After the announcement, Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias blamed Sánchez for the impasse, saying he had “arrogance and disdain for the basic rules of parliamentary democracy”. (Excerpt from BBC

News)

Israel election: Spooked by Modi’s plastics ban, Exit polls show India Inc seeks clarity, exemptions Netanyahu trails C rival Gantz (Excerpt from Reuters)

P

A man buys a packet of milk at a shop in Kolkata, India

from Oct 2, however, will come just weeks ahead of big Hindu festivals for which business plans are laid out far in advance because they typically see a sharp rise in consumer purchases. (Excerpt from Reuters)

Tunisia: Saied, Karoui advance to runoff after topping polls

I

ndependent candidate Kais Saied and imprisoned media mogul Nabil Karoui have advanced to a runoff after obtaining the most votes in Tunisia’s September 15 presidential election.

The official announcement by the country’s electoral commission on Tuesday confirmed constitutional law professor Saied

campaigns, is under investigation for alleged money laundering and has been in pre-trial detention since August 23.

He denies all wrongdoing and his supporters attribute his arrest to political manipulation.

He was unable to take part in televised debates before the vote and electoral monitors have voiced concern that voters have been deprived of a chance to hear him campaign. (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

olls have closed in Israel and ballots are being counted after millions took part in the election widely seen as a referendum on the fate of incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu, who became Israel ‘s longest-serving Prime Minister in July, is seeking a record fifth term in office. He is competing with his toughest rival in years, former army chief Benny Gantz, leader of the centrist Blue and White party.

According to the first round of exit polls, Israel faces the same situation as it did in April, with Netanyahu and his rightwing bloc failing to get a 61 seat majority.

Two exit polls put Gantz’s party in a narrow lead. A Channel 12 exit poll said it would win 34 seats, putting Netanyahu’s Likud one seat behind. The poll put Arab Joint List at 11 seats with eight for Liberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu.

Meanwhile, an exit poll on Channel 13 put Likud party at 31 seats, trailing Gantz’s party by two seats.

Although many observers expected election fatigue to hit Israeli citizens as they vote for the second time in less than six months, early voter turnout was the highest in decades.

Netanyahu actively rallied his supporters through-

Coalition Governments are the norm in Israel as no single party has won a majority of seats in the Knesset

out the day, using various social media platforms, phone messages, and direct engagement with voters on the streets of several major cities.

Netanyahu is also facing a pretrial hearing in connection with three separate corruption cases - bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

He denies wrongdoing.

Final results will be announced on September 25.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

18

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wednesday, september 18, 2019

ARCHIE

ARIES

(March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

Peanuts

Calvin and Hobbes

You’ll appear to be more transparent if you remove yourself from a situation before making a decision.

Time spent with a loved one will give you a different perspective regarding longterm plans.

Get moving. Your actions will affect how your day unfolds. An aggressive attitude will help you reach your objective and encourage positive change.

Spend more time nurturing a relationship with a loved one. Whether it’s a youngster, friend or romantic interest, what you share will bring you closer together. Personal improvements are favoured.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

If you don’t do the work, you can’t expect to be rewarded. If you set your priorities and a budget, you’ll live up to your expectations.

It’s OK to be different.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Be open to suggestions, but when it comes down to making a decision, do what feels right. If you act prematurely, it will end up costing you emotionally or financially.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Make changes based on experience. Look for something new and exciting to incorporate into your everyday routine. A close friend or relative will offer valuable information.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23)

Refuse to fit into a slot that doesn’t suit you. Make your voice heard and your priorities clear. If you don’t speak up, others will make decisions for you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

SUDOKU

If something excites you, take a chance on it. Your enthusiasm will help you coax a loved one or co-worker into joining your pursuit.

Look at every angle beSAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23fore you get involved in Dec. 21) something that has been hyped by someone who is a good talker. Protect yourself against those trying to take advantage of you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Take an interest in your home, possessions and plans to make your life better. Projects that will add to your assets and ease your stress are favoured.

Don’t let anyone limit what you can do. Take care of details personally and avoid setbacks. If you abide by the rules, you’ll reach your goal. A commitment can be made.

A change may tempt you, but you should take a test drive before making a move.

The grass may look greener on the other side of the fence, but don’t be fooled by appearances.

wednesday, september 18, 2019

19

India’s batting approach in focus as stage shifts to Mohali

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haramsala was a bummer. Probably more so for South Africa than their hosts, India. A week of hard work and toil in the sun, only for the persistent thunderstorms to wipe out any possibility of their T20I series opener.

That’s one game less against one of the better teams on the circuit, in foreign conditions, in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup that comes next October.

Effectively it’s now rocking irat Kohli down to a two-match Captain V training w e ia’s n affair, the first of Team Ind ion ctice sess which will be played in ex p e c t : kit at a pra Mohali today.

Mohali has traditionally It is a homecoming been a batsman’s delight despite its long of sorts for David Miller and pacer boundaries. The pitch has been well baked in sun Beuran Hendricks, who are both familiar with the in the lead-up, for the weather there has been in conditions there having played for the Mohali- sharp contrast to that of Dharamsala. The heat and based franchise in the Indian Premier League. humidity peak through the day but it promises to Miller, especially, boasts of a terrific record at the get more bearable by the scheduled start time. venue. He comes into his own at the IS Bindra And with no rain on the cards for today, the series Stadium as the numbers suggest, averaging nearly should finally get underway with an uninterrupted 42 for Kings XI Punjab and striking at over 150. A game. Chasing has been a trend there, with the reminder of the good times he’s had there would expected dew likely to play a part in the decisionbe good to start off the tour from South Africa’s making at toss. point of view. India’s potential top three – Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli – have Team news their own reasons to feel nostalgic. Kohli, in fact, India: If Hardik and Krunal’s impromptu net recently did publicly “remember” a knock and session on a travel day, on Monday, is anything a partnership there, from back in 2016, which to go by, the Pandya brothers are set to feature was widely misinterpreted as a farewell post in India’s XI together after a long time. Speaking for MS Dhoni. But, he doesn’t seem to be going of brothers, there’s a strong case for the Chahar anywhere. Not with all the current chatter around cousins also to feature alongside each other again Rishabh Pant and his recklessness that didn’t go for a second game on the trot should the hosts down with the Captain and the Coach, at least. want to persist with the legspin option in Rahul.

Otherwise, little has changed from Dharamsala In which case, if offspinner Washington Sundar to Mohali - a transitioning South African side will be is also persisted with to let him have a crack at up against the mighty hosts with equally concerning Quinton de Kock at the top, Ravindra Jadeja could gaps to plug in both sides. The conditions though be the likely casualty. However, it does rob India of may tempt South Africa into tweaking their line- an extra batting option down the order. up a bit to accommodate another spinner at the Probable XI: Rohit Sharma; Shikhar Dhawan; expense of a pacer/medium-pace all-rounder, Virat Kohli (c); Shreyas Iyer; Rishabh Pant (wk); while India ponder on their spin make-up that Hardik Pandya; Krunal Pandya; Ravindra Jadeja/ might just see the most experienced of them all Rahul Chahar; Washington Sundar; Deepak – Ravindra Jadeja – sitting out for variety. What to Chahar and Navdeep Saini.

Neymar Champion League ban reduced

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aris St-Germain forward Neymar’s three-game European ban for insulting match officials has been cut to two by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The 27-year-old was charged by Uefa after PSG’s Champions League exit at home to Manchester United on March 6. Neymar called the award of a decisive 94th-minute United penalty in the last-16 second-leg tie “a disgrace”. He will miss the games against Real Madrid and Galatasaray, but can return to face Club Bruges on October 22.

PSG took the case to CAS after Uefa rejected their appeal against the ban. CAS says it will publish the reasons behind the ruling in a few weeks.

Neymar was injured with a broken metatarsal and missed both legs of the tie against United.

Referee Damir Skomina reviewed footage of a Diogo Dalot shot striking the hand of PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe before awarding the visitors the injury-time spot kick having initially given a corner.

Marcus Rashford’s penalty ensured a 3-1 win in Paris for United, who went through to the Champions League quarter-finals on away goals after the tie ended 3-3 on aggregate.

Neymar wrote on social media: “It’s a disgrace.

Four guys who know nothing about football watch a slow-motion replay in front of the television. “What can he do with his hand while his back is turned?” (BBC Sport)

South Africa: Of all four uncapped players, Temba Bavuma is most certain to get a debut match as South Africa brought just five specialist batsmen on tour. Left-arm spin all-rounder George Linde could be another one to be handed his maiden cap should South Africa want an additional spinner to assist Tabraiz Shamsi. Perhaps the tougher choice that the visitors have to make is between Junior Dala and the uncapped Anrich Nortje. There’s an interesting rivalry brewing between Dala and Rohit Sharma, which the bowler is winning hands down for now, and then there’s the KKR recruit who brings to the table serious pace to trouble the Indians.

Probable XI: Quinton de Kock (c); Reeza Hendricks; Rassie van der Dussen; Temba Bavuma; David Miller; Andile Phehlukwayo; Dwaine Pretorius/George Linde; Kagiso Rabada; Beuran Hendricks; Junior Dala/ Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi.

What they said “In the recent past, maybe T20 cricket was not taken seriously in international cricket, but now we’re preparing for World Cup, and all these games are going to be important. As far as going hard at the top, we have the team and the players and we can afford to go a little hard. We’ll try a few different things in the coming series and see what works for us. Again, all we are asking from the batters is to play with intent, backing your strengths and go for it with a game plan” – Vikram Rathour, India’s Assistant Batting Coach, on whether India’s top order would be improvising their batting approach in the first 10 overs.

“It is a bit of a negative, obviously. We would like to have got a shot at three games against the Indian team. Leading into the World Cup, to lose out on a game in different conditions is not quite ideal. But it is what it is now; you’ll have to deal with it.” Quinton de Kock, South Africa Captain, on rain washing out a crucial game in World Cup prep.

(cricbuzz)

GFF-NAMILCO Thunderbolt Flour Power U-17 League

Milerock FC are champions in Linden …Golden Stars secure win

I

t was a weekend of competitive football when the GFF- NAMILCO U-17 Intra-Association Tournament continued in the three Regional Member Associations of Upper Demerara Football Association (UDFA); East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) and the Berbice Football Association (BFA) on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

Matches began in the UDFA on Saturday when they wrapped up their leg of the tournament, and Milerock FC were crowned champions after defeating Botofago by a 5-1 margin following kicks from the penalty mark at the Wisburg Secondary School Ground at 14:00.

The match, played in front of a sizeable crowd, saw both teams playing with intensity, but it was goalless after the first half. The rivalry continued in the second half but after ninety minutes, the score remained

respectively. Not wanting to give up the match on home ground, it was Daniel Murphy who claimed redemption for the Scorpions late in the second half with a 70th minute goal. Unfortunately, the first scheduled match – Mahaica Determinators FC vs Ann’s Grove FC – had to be rescheduled to this Sunday due to unforeseen circumstances.

Sunday’s matches saw Buxton United FC and Melanie FC gaining walkovers from Dynamic FC and Buxton Stars FC respectively.

The tournament continues this Saturday and Sunday with the finals set for Saturday, September 28 at 13:00h and 15:30h respectively.

The Milerock FC U-17 team In the BFA, a hat-trick from tied at nil-all resulting in kicks Hopetown Rangers FC’s Kevin from the penalty mark, which Wilson, assisted by a brace Milerock won to secure the from Luke Langevine and a goal from Denroy George, ensured a win for the team on Sunday against Hearts of Oak by a 64 goal difference at the Esplanade Park, New Amsterdam.

Credit should be given to Hearts of Oak who fought valiantly for a comeback after Christall James and Joshua De Souza trailing 2- 1 at half – goalscorers for Golden Stars time. Among the scorers for Hearts match. Eagles United gained of oak were Jonathan Dolphin third place following a no- with a brace, and Emmanuel show by Amelia’s Ward in the Phillips and Shamar Mc first scheduled match.

Andrew with one goal apiece.

Meanwhile, over at the In Saturday’s scheduled fixture, EDFA, Saturday saw the Corriverton Lynx FC gained Victoria Community Centre a walkover from Mahaicony Ground come alive when FC. Matches continue this Golden Stars FC snatched a 2-1 weekend at the same venue – win from Victoria Scorpions Monedderlust FC vs Arsenal FC with goals from Christall James and NA United vs Cougars FC in the 33rd minute and Joshua on Sunday.

De Souza in the 59th minute

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wednesday, september 18, 2019

Healy hammers another fifty as Australia clinch series A

belligerent unbeaten half-century from Alyssa Healy helped Australia Women cruise to a nine-wicket win over West Indies Women in Barbados and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, with one match to go.

Healy struck 10 fours in her 43-ball 58 not out to help Australia overcome the small target of 98 with 33 balls to spare. The righthander feasted on some wayward bowling to register her fourth fifty-plus score in five matches on this tour, but also benefited greatly from a number of missed chances in the field as the gulf between the two sides continued to grow.

Healy clubbed three consecutive half-trackers for four in the opening over of the chase off Shamilia Connell. She then miscued a fourth short ball off the toe of the bat and it ballooned

to mid-on, only for Sheneta Grimmond to let it land at her feet without even attempting t h e catch.

Alyssa Healy

West Indies missed numerous chances off Healy, Beth Mooney and Meg Lanning, w i t h Mooney the only wicket to fall in the chase for eight. The opener top-edged an attempted slog sweep off Afy Fletcher, which was held by Natasha McLean at midwicket.

Adding injury to in-

sult, Chinelle Henry was stretchered off the ground after suffering a knee injury while bowling in the fourth over. Henry, who had trouble with her footing in the slippery conditions following some rain pre-game, tumbled after her delivery stride and had to leave the field.

Earlier, Lanning had no hesitation in sending West Indies in to bat after w i n ning the

toss, in the hope of exploiting the surface following the shower. The home side made a good start, reaching 1 for 47 by

the ninth over, with Britney Cooper striking six boundaries and a six to lay a solid platform. But after Stafanie Taylor holed out, a collapse of epic proportions unfolded.

West Indies lost five wickets for nine runs in 19 balls, including three calamitous run-outs. Cooper was unfortunately run out backing up too far, as Ash Gardner parried a straight drive from Stacy-Ann King onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Three balls later, McLean was run out without facing a ball.

King had worked a ball to Jess Jonassen at midwicket and called for an easy single, but McLean was ball-watching and didn’t run, and as a result, both ended up at the same end. Jonassen was credited with the run-out despite fumbling several times and throwing well wide of the stumps, forcing Healy to run several metres away to gather.

Grimmond completed the trifecta, when she failed to ground her bat properly after Henry called her through for a tight single. Henry made a composed 21 not out from 25 balls to at least salvage

something from the innings.

Five of Australia’s six bowlers claimed wickets, with Jonassen the only multiple wicket-taker claiming 2 for 19 as West Indies finished on 97 for 9 from their 20 overs.

(ESPNcricinfo)

3

SCOREBOARD

West Indies Women Kyshona A Knight c Wareham b Kimmince 6 B Cooper run out (Gardner) 39 SR Taylor (c) c Mooney b Wareham 6 SACA King lbw b Gardner 2 NY McLean run out (Jonassen) 0 R Boyce † c Burns b Jonassen 0 SS Grimmond run out (Wareham) 5 CA Henry not out 21 S Gajnabi c Kimmince b Schutt 11 ASS Fletcher b Jonassen 1 SS Connell not out 1 Extras 5 (lb 1, w 4) TOTAL 97/9 (20 Overs, RR: 4.85) Fall of wickets: 1-30 (Kyshona Knight, 5.3 ov), 2-47 (Stafanie Taylor, 8.5 ov), 3-55 (Britney Cooper, 10.1 ov), 4-55 (Natasha McLean, 10.4 ov), 5-57 (Reniece Boyce, 11.1 ov), 6-59 (Stacy-Ann King, 12.2 ov), 7-64 (Sheneta Grimmond, 13.1 ov), 8-87 (Shabika Gajnabi, 18.2 ov),

9-91 (Afy Fletcher, 19.2 ov) BOWLING: M Schutt 4-0-17-1, EA Perry 3-0-20-0, JL Jonassen 4-0-19-2, DM Kimmince 2-011-1, G Wareham 4-0-171, A Gardner 3-0-12-1 Australia Women Innings AJ Healy † not out 58 BL Mooney c McLean b Fletcher 8 MM Lanning (c) not out 22 Extras 10 (lb 1, w 9) TOTAL 98/1 (14.3 Overs, RR: 6.75) Did not bat: EA Perry, RL Haynes, A Gardner, EA Burns, JL Jonassen, DM Kimmince, G Wareham, M Schutt Fall of wickets: 1-44 (Beth Mooney, 5.6 ov) BOWLING: SS Connell 1-014-0, CA Henry 1.4-0-13-0, SS Grimmond 3-0-22-0, SACA King 1.5-0-9-0, ASS Fletcher 4-0-13-1, SR Taylor 2-0-150, S Gajnabi 1-0-11-0

Napoli score late to Namilco Thunderbolt Flour is new official beat Champions League sponsor of RHTY&SC First Division Team holders Liverpool

D

Dries Mertens has scored four goals in his last four games for Napoli

ries Mertens’ penalty and a late Fernando Llorente goal condemned Liverpool to defeat in their Group E Champions League opener against Napoli.

Belgian forward Mertens scored from the penalty spot after Liverpool defender Andy Robertson was judged to have fouled Jose Callejon.

Former Tottenham forward Llorente then capitalised on a mistake from Virgil van Dijk in stoppage time to roll the ball past Liverpool keeper Adrian.

J u r g e n Klopp’s side are the first winners of the competition to lose the opening game of the following campaign since AC Milan in 1994.

Goalkeeper Adrian had earlier made two keys saves for Liverpool, who

initially struggled to impose themselves in the intimidating atmosphere of the San Paolo Stadium.

The 32-year-old, deputising for the injured Alisson, twice saved from compatriot Fabian Ruiz during the first period and produced an outstanding point-blank save from Mertens’ volley just after the break.

However, unlike the corresponding fixture last term, when Liverpool failed to register a shot on target in their 1-0 defeat, Klopp’s side did produce moments of slick football to threaten the hosts.

A flashing Mohamed Salah drive was superbly tipped to safety by Napoli g o a l k e e p e r Alex Meret, who also saved Sadio Mane’s t o e poked s h o t with the score at 0-0.

“O

The RHT Namilco Thunderbolt Flour Team pose with Namilco Managing Director Bert Sukhai and RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster

n behalf of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), MS, First Division Team, I would like to reassure Namilco that we would represent your brand with pride, passion, dedication and, most importantly, results. The First Division Team as it has done in the last 28 years would achieve success via a simple formula of sheer hard work, dedication and team unity. The Namilco Thunderbolt Flour brand would be promoted throughout the Ancient County and it is our hope that this sponsorship would be a longterm one.”

Those were the words of RHTY&SC Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster, at a simple presentation ceremony to induct the National Milling Company as the official sponsor of the Club’s First Division Team under its Thunderbolt Flour brand.

The RHTY&SC First Division Team was sponsored by Gizmos & Gadgets for the last nine years, but would now be known as the Rose Hall Town Thunderbolt Flour Team.

Foster, who is also the President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), stated that the RHTY&SC first played First Division cricket in January 1992

and since then have won over 40 tournaments and have produced dozens of players for Berbice and Guyana and the West Indies.

These include Test player Assad Fudadin, ODI player Royston Crandon, Sixes Player Esuan Crandon, Clinton Pestano, Neil Williams, Shawn Grant, Dominique Rikhi, Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Kevin Sinclair, Sylus Tyndall, Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Eon Hooper, and Delbert Hicks.

Shabika Gajnabi and Sheneta Grimmond, who last week made their international debut against Australia, are also products of the well-structured RHTY&SC developmental programme.

Former National Under-19 Captain Shawn Pereira is the Captain of the Team while Amazon Warriors’ Clinton Pestano would serve as his deputy. Exciting youth players Jonathan Rampersaud, Mahendra Gopilall, Nicholas Lawson, Kevin Sueraj, Doorsammy Mahadeo, Chanderpaul Govindan, and Jeremy Sandia are all part of the 2019 line-up and would offer support to Pereira, Pestano, Eon Hooper, Delbert Hicks, Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Keith Simpson, Kevin Sinclair, Surendra

Kissoonlall and Sylus Tyndall.

The RHTY&SC also have plans to feature some of their female West Indies players at the First Division level against weaker teams as part of its development programme. The team would be under the management of RHTY&SC Assistant Secretary/ CEO Simon Naidu and Executive Members Keith Hicks, Ravindranauth Kissoonlall, and Tyrone Pottaya.

The RHTY&SC Namilco Thunderbolt Team would also undertake dozens of personal projects under the sub-headings of education, charity, anti-drugs, anti-suicide, sports, support to senior citizens, anti-alcohol and religion among others.

Namilco Managing Director Bert Sukhai told the 13 players present at the launching that his company was proud to be associated with the RHTY&SC, MS, and that he expected them to be disciplined at all times.

He expressed confidence that the team would be perfect representatives of the Thunderbolt Flour brand. Namilco, he stated strongly, believed in investing in sports and education. The company, which was founded in 1969, is a strong supporter of sports in Guyana, especially football and cricket.

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, september 18, 2019

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GBTI GCC, GCC Pitbulls dominate over hockey weekend RHT Thunderbolt Flour,

BCB/Stag Beer 50-Over First Division Cricket Tournament…

with a hat-trick and Alan Fernandes put up a brace.

Medroy Scotland contributed a lone goal to push the total to six.

The hockey action continued at the same venue on Sunday afternoon with another set of exciting matches.

In the Under-20 division, John Phang and Meshach Sargeant secured one goal each to give GCC Pitbulls a 2-0 win over the SHC Samurai.

A brace from Baraka Garnett and one each from Troy Hodge and Hilmar Chester ensured that the SHC Shockwaves would sit pretty in the men’s Second Division as they defeated YMCA OFHC Rusty 4-1.

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O

ver the past weekend, brilliant sunshine permitted the reconvening of the Bounty Paper Towel – Quicker Picker Upper – Second Division and the Solo Soft Drink Under-20 hockey leagues.

With both leagues entering the second round of play, the action was intensified at the St Stanislaus College Ground, Carifesta Avenue.

The Saints ladies sought to keep their stellar track record going in the Under-20 women’s division as they thumped Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Her-ricanes 5-0 on Saturday. Sueann Fraser and Charlia Webb paved the way for the win with two goals each and Kezia Chinian contributed one for the 5-0 victory.

The male division had similar hype as the GCC Pitbulls silenced the YMCA Old Fort Hockey Club (OFHC) Generals 6-0.

Vladimir Woodroffe was the leading man for the Pitbulls with a brace.

Shakeem Fausette single-handedly propelled his team, Saints Hockey Club (SHC) Samurai to a 2-0 win in their Under-20 encounter.

Coming up against YMCA OFHC Ballerz, Fausette netted in the 23rd and 27th minutes for Samurai’s 2-0 victory.

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Devandra Ramoutar grabbed 5-46 for Young Warriors

T GBTI GCC were relentless on Saturday

Meanwhile in the Second Division league, GBTI GCC Women had the largest tally of the day when they pummelled YMCA OFHC Wildcats 12-0. Both Sonia Jardine and Princessa Wilkie netted hattricks for the GCC Women, as Sandy Roopnarine contributed two to the mammoth total.

Over in the men’s division, YMCA OFHC Aces had a close call, but eventually edged out the YMCA OFHC Rusty 4-3.

Dominic Alleyne, Shaquon Favourite, Simeon Moore, and Theodore Thierens each netted one goal for the Aces’ victory.

GCC the Sequel also found themselves in the winner’s row as they flattened the Hikers Cadets 6-0. Damon Woodroffe led from the front

YMCA OFHC Rusty never really got their groove going on Sunday as they experienced another defeat, this time at the hands of Hikers Cadets. Travis McKenzie notched his name twice on the score sheet for Hikers Cadets.

Sherwyn Caesar and David Williams both scored once for Hikers’ 4-1 win.

Captain of the SHC Savages Hilton Chester pulled off some heroics on Sunday, netting a hat-trick of goals to hand his team a victory over YMCA OFHC. However, Old Fort did not take the loss lying down as Theodore Thierens and Shaquon Favourite netted one goal each for a final score of 3-2.

GAICO Construction chess tournament starts this weekend he inaugural GAICO Grand Prix Chess Tournament gets underway on Saturday, September 21, 2019 at the National Resource Centre, Woolford Avenue, Georgetown from 13:00h.

Registration starts at noon and the fee is $500 for seniors and FREE for juniors. All chess players are invited.

The Grand Prix Tournament is the first in a series organised by the new executive of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) to canvass top Guyanese chess players to represent Guyana at the Chess Olympiad in Russia next year.

Newly-elected GCF President Frankie Farley is

Blairmont among victors in opening round

West Indies Under-15 pacer Isaiah Thorne grabbed 5-44 against a top-quality Rose Hall Town

T GUYANA COPIES OF THE

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GCF President Frankie Farley

upbeat about the new initiative. “I see the series of tournaments being the catalyst that will catapult the development of chess in Guyana when combined with other initiatives. The tourna-

ments have the potential to stimulate interest to play, knowing wins translate to the opportunity to make the Guyana 2020 Olympiad Chess Team,” Farley declared.

The Tournament consists of eight rounds, and the first three rounds will run off this weekend. Round Four is set for Wednesday, September 25 from 17:00h and the remaining four rounds will conclude the following weekend.

Each player will be allotted 90 minutes per round plus 30-second increments after each move. Interested players can contact Rashad on 681-6000 or Davion on 656-4032 for more information.

he 2019 Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) First Division season finally got underway after a long four-month rainy season, with the Board hosting the opening round of the ANSA McAL/Stag Beer 50-Over First Division Tournament.

With 11 First-Division teams participating in the Tournament, the Port Mourant and Albion Community Centre match was postponed at the request of the former team while Tucber Park drew the bye.

Rose Hall Town Thunderbolt Flour, Upper Corentyne, Blairmont Community Centre and Young Warriors recorded victories to start the season on a high.

Zone B: Rose Hall Town Thunderbolt Flour defeated Rose Hall Canje by 47 runs at the Canje Ground in front of a fair-sized crowd. Batting first after winning the toss, Rose Hall Town Thunderbolt Flour amassed 233 all out in 47 overs, with Sylus Tyndall (36); Kevin Sinclair (33); Junior Sinclair (30); Jason Sinclair (25); and Captain Eon Hooper (25) being the principal scorers. West Indies Under-15 pacer Isaiah Thorne bowled well to take his maiden five-wicket haul, 5 for 44, while R Vankenie took 2 for 35.

In response, Rose Hall Canje were bowled out for 186 all out in 44.2 overs with L Davis (34); J Henry (21); B Ramsarran (24) and Ameer Rahaman all batting well.

Former senior national player Eon Hooper with 3 for 33 and national Under-19 player Junior Sinclair with 3 for 35 bowled well for Rose Hall Town Thunderbolt Flour.

West Berbice lost to Blairmont Community Centre by four wickets at the Bush Lot Ground.

West Berbice were 156 all out in 36.5 overs, with Carlton Nurse (32) and Adrian Dutchin (25) being the best batsmen. National youth player Nigel Deodat with 5 for 30 and offspinner Shabeer Baksh with 2 for 28 were the best bowlers for Blairmont.

Needing to score at just above three runs per over to register an opening victory, Blairmont Community Centre cruised to 160 for 6 from 33.3 overs.

Former national youth player Javed Karim batted well to

Nigel Deodat grabbed 5-30 for Blairmont

top score with 51 and received support from Marvin Prashad (30) and Seon Glasgow (15 not out).

Young Warriors Cricket Club arrested Police Sports Club by 140 runs at the Cumberland Ground. Young Warriors were 230 all out in 34.5 overs. Linden Austin made 55, Trevlon Stanislaus 33, Kassim Khan 31, and Suresh Dhanai 21. Police Sports Club were 90 all out in 17.3 overs. Grisean Grant 30.

Devindra Ramoutar 5 for 46 and Trevlon Stanislaus 2 for 13.

Upper Corentyne easily defeated Skeldon by 115 runs at the Number 69 Vikings Ground.

Upper Corentyne 252 for 8 from 40 overs after pitch preparation moisture affected the start of play. R Chatterpaul made 57, Devindra Budhoo 20, V Gooniah 21 and S Embrack 73. Bowling for Skeldon, Wayne Garnett, Sherain Murray, and Zukeel Gordon all claimed two wickets apiece.

Skeldon were bowled out for 137 in 30 overs as Murray returned with the ball to score 37 while Devindra Budhoo (3 for 18); R Chatterpaul (2 for 15) and L Roopchand (2 for 15) bowled well for Upper Corentyne.

BCB President Hilbert Foster visited three of the venues and expressed disappointment that several of the teams were attired in a variety of uniforms. Foster stated that First Division cricket was the highest level in Berbice and as such, a high standard must be maintained at all times.

He urged all clubs to get their houses in order or face disciplinary action from the BCB.

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wednesday, september 18, 2019

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

Brathwaite dazzles as Super Over heroics end TKR’s winning streak

C

arlos Brathwaite was the all-round hero in a stunning St Kitts & Nevis Patriots Super Over victory as Trinbago Knight Riders’ winning start to the 2019 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) came to an end in the most dramatic way possible.

Brathwaite first made 64 from 30 balls to get the Patriots’ pursuit of the Knight Riders’ 216-4 back on track after they slumped to 80-4. When the scores ended level after 20 overs each, Brathwaite then smacked two sixes and a four to take the Patriots to 18-0 from their Super Over before bowling six nerveless deliveries as TKR mustered only 5-1 in reply.

In regulation time, Lendl Simmons had continued his run of fine form with a 45-ball 90 that set the Knight Riders on their way to another big total.

But another explosive contribution from Evin Lewis at the top of the order and Brathwaite’s spectacular intervention got the Patriots within striking range.

Veteran all-rounder Rayad Emrit then flayed an unbeaten 21 from 11 balls

with two Hero Maximums and, more importantly, a four sliced down to third man from the final ball of the innings to bring t h e scores level and send the match into the first Super Over of the 2019 Hero CPL. A required rate that had approached 15 at one stage had been brought right down to 62 runs from the last 30 balls by Brathwaite before Ali Khan made what seemed the telling contribution with the wickets of Brathwaite and Fabian Allen to end with 2-27 from four overs on a night when bowlers generally took a pounding.

None more

so than James Neesham, who bowled the fateful final over of the regular match and conceded a record-breaking 68 from his four overs in all. And on his 29th birthday.

Lewis set about spoiling the birthday celebrations with a boundary blitz in Neesham’s first, taking 30 runs from an over which, thanks to a wide, cost 31 in all.

It included three sixes down the ground as well as three fours and took the Patriots rattling along to 59-1 after the fourth over, Devon Thomas having fallen to Anderson Phillip early.

But the Knight Riders aren’t champions for nothing. They immediately put the squeeze on the Patriots and conceded only 17 runs – while picking up the key wickets of Laurie Evans and Lewis – in the next four overs to take a firm grip of the game once more.

Both men, like Thomas, fell to Phillip, whose tactic of bowling wide to Lewis was a smart one that brought big rewards from a sliced drive that carried out to Kieron Pollard on the cover boundary.

That was Pollard’s 49th Hero CPL catch and a pretty st ra i g ht fo r wa rd one. His 50th came in the very next over and was a sensational leap and one-handed grab to pluck the ball out of the sky just inside the boundary to

remove Mohammad Hafeez.

At 80-4, the Knight Riders appeared well set for victory, but Brathwaite had other ideas.

His second ball disappeared into the stands and he dealt chiefly in boundaries from then on, bringing up his half-century in just 22 balls and keeping the required rate in check.

That proved so important in allowing Emrit’s late flurry to take the match into the tiebreaker where the Patriots were comfortable winners.

Ali Khan, so impressive in his four regular overs, couldn’t quite nail his yorkers in the Super Over and with Brathwaite in this kind of mood it proved oh so costly. The first ball was smoked back past the bowler for six, with another following over square-leg three balls later.

The final ball was again hit back past the bowler with interest for a one-bounce four.

The Knight Riders never got close in reply, Darren Bravo edging the second ball behind, having made no contact with the first. By the time Pollard dispatched ball five to the boundary, the game was over.

Way, way earlier in the night, Simmons had made his third successive half-century, after scores of 63 and 86 in his last two outings against St Lucia Zouks and Jamaica Tallawahs, which was also enough to take him clear of Chris Gayle at the top of the 2019 Hero CPL run charts.

His quick-fire partnership of 49 in just four overs with Mark Deyal set the ball rolling.

Deyal was the initial aggressor, clearing the ropes twice in nine balls before miscuing a Brathwaite full toss to mid-on to depart for 21.

Colin Munro hit Brathwaite for a six and a four in the final over of the Power Play, but was generally content to play second fiddle to Simmons, who

was in electric form.

He brought up his 50 in just the seventh over of the innings, uppercutting Emrit over the third-man boundary for his second six and really cut loose from there.

Four more Hero Maximums followed in the space of eight balls from Hafeez and Alzarri Joseph, but, just when it appeared certain a Hero CPL century was his, Simmons was undone. Surprised by a welldirected bouncer from Sheldon Cottrell, Simmons attempted to bail out of a pull shot, but couldn’t do so in time and managed only to sky the ball to point, 10 runs short of three figures.

The Patriots were then able to drag things back nicely despite Pollard’s arrival in the

middle. After conceding 136 in the first 11 overs, the Patriots gave up just 20 in the next four.

Munro and Pollard were dismissed in quick succession, with momentum restored to the innings as Bravo and Neesham sent the total soaring past 200 with an unbroken fifthwicket partnership of 40 in the last three overs.

Neesham hit four fours in his 13-ball 22*, while Bravo – who has hit more sixes than fours in his Hero CPL career – stayed true to form with two big Hero Maximums in his unbeaten 24 from 12.

It would prove not quite enough, though, as World Cup runner-up Neesham suffered more Super Over disappointment. (CPL)

SCOREBOARD Trinbago Knight Riders Innings (20 overs maximum) LMP Simmons c Brooks b Cottrell 90 M Deyal c Cottrell b Brathwaite 21 C Munro c Brooks b Joseph 28 KA Pollard (c) c Akeem Jordan b Brathwaite 19 DM Bravo not out 24 JDS Neesham not out 22 Extras: (lb 2, nb 1, w 9) 12 TOTAL 216/4 (20 Overs, RR: 10.8) Did not bat: D Ramdin †, S Prasanna, K Pierre, A Phillip, Ali Khan Fall of wickets: 1-49 (Mark Deyal, 3.6 ov), 2-139 (Lendl Simmons, 11.4 ov), 3-153 (Colin Munro, 14.1 ov), 4-176 (Kieron Pollard, 16.4 ov) Bowling: Akeem Jordan 2-028-0, SS Cottrell 4-0-40-1, CR Brathwaite 4-0-48-2, RR Emrit 4-0-48-0, Mohammad Hafeez 2-0-25-0, AS Joseph 4-0-25-1 St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Innings (target: 217 runs from 20 overs)

DC Thomas † c Pollard b Phillip 1 E Lewis c Pollard b Phillip 45 LJ Evans c Bravo b Phillip 15 Mohammad Hafeez c Pollard b Pierre 7 CR Brathwaite (c) c Bravo b Ali Khan 64 SSJ Brooks c Deyal b Pollard 20 FA Allen c Bravo b Ali Khan 12 RR Emrit not out 21 AS Joseph not out 7 Extras: 24 (b 2, lb 4, nb 1, w 17) TOTAL: 216/7 (20 Overs, RR: 10.8) Did not bat: Akeem Jordan, SS Cottrell Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Devon Thomas, 1.1 ov), 2-67 (Laurie Evans, 5.6 ov), 3-75 (Evin Lewis, 7.4 ov), 4-80 (Mohammad Hafeez, 8.4 ov), 5-164 (Shamarh Brooks, 15.5 ov), 6-173 (Carlos Brathwaite, 16.5 ov), 7-198 (Fabian Allen, 18.5 ov) Bowling: K Pierre 4-0-25-1, A Phillip 4-0-38-3, Ali Khan 4-0-27-2, JDS Neesham 4-068-0, S Prasanna 2-0-240, KA Pollard 2-0-28-1

Reliable Ramnauth delighted with win over DCC A

Eleven-year-old Rampersaud Ramnauth was promising before he got run out

t the Port Mourant Community Centre Ground, a vocal gathering supported local boy Rampertab Ramnauth on Sunday last in their clash against Demerara Cricket Club (DCC).

The West Indies Under-15 batting sensation took full responsibility to lead his team to a four-wicket win in the Under-15 40-over match with an unbeaten innings of 81, which was decorated with six fours. Batting first, DCC reached 1398 in their allotted overs.

Opening batsman Romeo Deonarine topscored with 32, but his blooming innings ended when he was forced to retire hurt.

His fellow open-

Rampertab Ramnauth bats during his 81 (Brandon Corlette photos)

er, Jadan Campbell supported with 17, and along with Captain Jonathan Van Lange (20), was the only batsman to offer some resistance on the flat wicket in the fairly large outfield. Berbice youth spinner Salim Khan had 3-18 in his eight overs, which included two maidens.

Ramnauth, who spoke to this reporter after his reliable innings, stated that he was under pressure, but held his composure in the chase.

He opened the batting with his brother, Rampersaud Ramnauth, 11, and no other Port Mourant batsman surpassed double digits.

The left-handed West Indies Under-15 batsman, who is also eligible for the 2020 West Indies Under-15 team struck six sweetly timed fours in his match-winning knock as Port Mourant ended victoriously on 140-6. These teams will meet in a return fixture shortly.

(Brandon Corlette)

guyanatimesgy.com

wednesday, september 18, 2019

23

Amazon Warriors seeking to extend unbeaten streak against Tallawahs r e -

By Brandon Corlette

T

he top team in the 2019 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), the Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) will meet the jaded Jamaica Tallawahs today, Wednesday, September 18 from 20:00h.

These teams have been involved in riveting contests in past seasons, but when they return to Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, GAW will be the more confident unit.

GAW will be looking to make it five wins in as many matches while the Chadwick Walton-led Tallawahs team will be eyeing their second win this season in six matches. One of the most memorable matches between these teams came in 2018 in Florida where Guyanese batting sensation Shimron Hetmyer Shimron Hetmyer scored his maiden T20 century against Tallawahs in 2018 (CPL/Getty images)

corded his maiden T20 century.

With Tallawahs playing their home matches in Florida in 2018, the last time they hosted GAW in Jamaica was back in 2017. In that encounter, GAW cruised to a nine-wicket win. Having played four matches and registered that equal number of wins, GAW will be confident of entering the Tallawahs fortress and registering a fifth win in their 2019 Hero CPL campaign.

Pre-match press conference

At the pre-match press conference, GAW Head Coach Johan Botha and Captain Shoaib Malik addressed media operatives; Botha highlighted that GAW will be looking to turn up and remain a consistent team. Meanwhile, Tallawahs Assistant Coach Ramnaresh Sarwan and stand-in Captain Walton spoke on behalf of their team.

Sharing his sentiments on Andre Russell’s condition, Sarwan stated that the star all-rounder has

been undergoing some concussion tests, but he may be hopeful for this clash.

“He has been going through his testing, but we have to wait and see,” Sarwan stated. After gaining their first win, Sarwan disclosed that the team are in a good state of mind.

GAW are equipped with top spinners; Botha stated that the spinners have been very effective, but playing in Jamaica, the team will have to assess if the same combination will be effective at Sabina Park. Captain Malik continued to emphasise consistency as the tournament moves forwards.

With Tallawahs scoring 200-plus totals twice this season, Malik stated that their bowlers will have to take wickets regularly. “We have been playing leg-spinners, because they have been creating wicket-taking opportunities,” Malik disclosed.

Players to watch for

In addition to Hetmyer, some players from the respective teams have had good outings in the season thus far.

Chris Gayle, who is among the leading scorers again this 2019 CPL with his 205 runs, will be eyeing a special innings against a quality GAW bowling attack. Walton, who has been in form with 166 runs to his name, will be aiming to prove a point against his former CPL franchise, the GAW. Kiwi wicket-keeper batsman Glenn Phillips has been playing for his money’s worth; he has 162 runs thus far and has been among the few bright sparks for the Tallawahs. The bowling ef-

forts from these teams have been contrasting, with GAW having all the top guns performing at their optimum.

Romario Shepherd, who is among the leading bowlers in the tournament with seven wickets, will be eyeing a good outing on the bouncy Sabina Park wicket. Spin trio Imran Tahir, Qais Ahmed and Chris Green also pose a threat to the Tallawahs. In the GAW batting department, local boy Brandon King will be aiming to continue from where he left off.

Playing in front of his home crowd in Jamaica, King will want to dominate on home soil when he wears the armoury of the GAW. His opening partner, Chandrapaul Hemraj, who is the GAW leading scorer thus far with 138 runs, will be aiming to continue his fruitful homecoming.

Hetmyer has had some failures after his 70, but it will be the perfect time for him to bounce back against the team he scored his century. Nicholas Pooran and Sherfane Rutherford will also be aiming to add the fireworks to the Sabina Park night sky.

Chris Gayle has 205 runs with one century to his name in the CPL 2019

GBTI GCC strike gold twice in Trinidad

The Guyanese team inclusive of manager and coach

T

he GBTI GCC girls hockey team are back from a successful stint in Trinidad & Tobago over the weekend where they secured double gold in the girls’ Under-16 and Under -21 divisions.

The GCC girls took a bit of time in their first Under-16 match against the Magnolias to get accustomed to the fast surface at the Woodbrook Youth Facility; they managed to emerge with a 5-1 victory.

That goal would be the only one conceded in the entire Under-16 competition by all-star goalkeeper Jessica

Mittelholzer, and her fellow Guyanese teammates.

The GBTI GCC girls then followed that victory with a 5-0 win over Checkers, 6-0 over Sepos and 5-0 over Bishops.

The Under-16 final would see a repeat of the very first Under-16 match contested by the GCC girls as they took on Magnolias, who had finished second in the pool.

GCC managed to best their earlier effort by outclassing Magnolias by 6-0 to lift the Under-16 trophy. Striker Abosaide Cadogan was on fire for GCC, scoring four of their goals while Madison

Fernandes added one field goal and Kirsten Gomes scored a penalty corner.

The Under-16 side was strengthened by 16-yearold Makeda Harding for the Under-21 competition. Once again, GCC topped the pool round and this time faced Paragon in the Under21 final. This match was more challenging for the Guyanese girls as Paragon played a more physical game and were able to deny space to the GCC strikers.

After a 0-0 halftime score, striker Sarah Klautky raced up the right side of the court to unleash

Three Guyanese were part of the all-star squad

a shot which was blocked by the Paragon goalkeeper. Top goal-scorer in the Under-21 competition, Abosaide Cadogan, however, was first onto the rebound and managed to slide her reverse shot into the net for the opener. Cadogan would return six minutes later to score her second of the match and push the game beyond Paragon. This time, Sarah Klautky received a pass from midfielder Madison Fernandes on the left, drew the last de-

fender and goalkeeper before guiding a perfect pass across the scoring circle to the speedy Cadogan on the right, who slammed her shot into the open net.

The 2-0 victory saw the GBTI GCC girls walk away with both trophies in the girls’ category.

Cadogan received the leading goal scorer award for the Under-21 competition. The tournament organisers announced a six-player all-star team at the end of the competition which

comprised four of the GBTI girls. Striker and GBTI Under-16 captain Klautky, striker Cadogan, midfielder Madison Fernandes and goalkeeper Mittelholzer.

The full GBTI GCC team: Abosaide Cadogan, Haley Carpenter, Sarah Klautky, Madison Fernandes, Makeda Harding, Kirsten Gomes, Madison Singh and Jessica Mittelholzer, along with Coach Philip Fernandes and Manager Dominique DeGroot.

wednesday, september 18, 2019

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Amazon Warriors seeking to extend unbeaten streak against Tallawahs Page 23

Brathwaite dazzles as Super Over heroics end TKR’s winning streak

Page 22

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