Guyana Times December 11, 2018

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Countdown to Christmas

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Nationwide coverage from the best news team in Guyana Issue No. 3773

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THE BEACON OF TRUTH

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

PRICE

SARA Director takes home $4.7M, assistant $3.3M monthly Page 3

…admin officer gets $2.5M, exec assistant $1.8M per month

PM comes under fire for unaccounted $65M

Acting President in National Assembly “Demand more from your regional “Let the Court decide officials” – Harmon on the way forward”

– political analyst

WHAT'S INSIDE:

GTT announces hiked DSL P2 service rates Improvised weapons P11 found during Mazaruni Prison raid

Robbery-murder

Page 9

…as Govt fires Commissioner of Information

Page 10

$80 vat included

Page 13

...PPP/C’s Chief Whip outlines precedent set by Samuel Hinds to Speaker

“Shoe Lace” gets life imprisonment for businessman’s P12 death

Venezuelan refugees

Reg 1 Chairman slams Govt for non-support P13 State to pay over $21M to mother of man killed by Police P9

2 months later Guyana Defence Force Chief-of-Staff Brigadier Patrick West is conducting a five-day visit in Tacama Savannahs, Region 10 where Cadets are currently undergoing training on the Standard Officer Course in "Exercise Tripflare" (GDF photo)

Teen dead, friend critical after minibus slams into bicyclePage …Police hunting for hit-and-run driver

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ERC still probing GECOM’s P14 hiring practices

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tuesdAY, december 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Teen dead, friend critical after minibus slams into bicycle …Police hunting for hit-and-run driver

Dead: Karamchand Khemraj also called “Ajay”

A

teenager is dead while his friend is in critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital after they were struck by a speeding minibus along the Annandale Public Road, East Coast Demerara (ECD) on Sunday about 18:45h.

Dead is 15-year-old Karamchand Khemraj also called “Ajay” of Lot 44 Annandale North, while 16-year-old Reaz Shaw of Lot 35 Annandale Public Road remains in serious con-

dition.

Based on reports received, the teens were heading home from a nearby shop on a pedal cycle when a speeding white Toyota Hiace ‘Pitbull’ minibus struck them down from behind and continued its journey without stopping.

Both boys were picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where Khemraj died about an hour later while receiving medical attention. His friend, who is also his neighbour, was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the medical facility.

At the home of the dead teenager, relatives were preparing for his wake, but his parents were still in a state of shock and disbelief over their son’s death.

His tearful father, Jaipaul Khemraj explained that as soon as he received news about the accident, he rushed to the scene only to see his son and the other teenager lying on the

Injured: Reaz Shaw

roadway. His son, he stated, was gasping for breath and his eyes were open.

He further stated that he rushed home to collect a jersey, but, by the time, he returned to the scene, the two young men had already been picked up and rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Without hesitation, he went straight to the hospital. While there he saw his son on a table attached to an oxygen bottle. “He de still panting for breath and he eyes open… the doctor call

me and tell me that meh son can’t make it … soon after he come back and tell me that meh son dead … I went back to see meh son and he eyes de still open looking at me as if he want to say something,” the father cried.

His wife, Loretta Ramroop, told Guyana Times that her son was at home on Sunday afternoon when his friend (Reaz) called out to him. “He de just done cut grass and de lie down in the hammock, so when he friend call, he get up and they went out,” the grieving mother told this publication.

At that time, she did not enquire where the young men were heading.

By 18:30h, the duo had not returned, and soon after, she recalled they received news of the accident. She later learnt that her son suffered a broken spinal cord and other injuries.

The dead teen’s sister, Shivanie Ramprasad, who witnessed the accident, related that she was standing on the roadway when the two young men passed her.

The area where the accident occurred

“My brother was riding and his friend was sitting in front … when he turn out, same time the bus was coming and the bus overtake another bus and hit he down … me couldn’t see the number plate … I only see it was a silver bus…,” she stated.

He leaves to mourn his parents and four other siblings.

Over at the Shaws’ house, Yacoob Shaw, the father of the injured teenager, told this newspaper that he left for work about 18:30h and soon after he got the message about the accident.

He explained that the driver of a pick-up arrived at the scene and the two teenagers were placed in the back and whisked away to the hospital. The father stated that he went to the hospital where he saw his son, who sustained a broken shoulder, broken left hand, and other injuries.

Shaw stated that he spent the night at the hos-

pital, but his son’s condition remained the same. “When I went back later, I see some improvement … but meh son eyes were still closed, and he couldn’t talk … the doctors tell me that the next couple hours gone be critical, but they trying them best so that meh son could pull through,” the man stated.

The injured teen’s brother stated that he was roused from sleep when a friend turned up at the house and told them about the accident. Without hesitation, he rushed to the scene where he saw the injured teens on the roadway.

The brother confirmed that the 16-year-old left home to make a purchase at a shop in Courbane Park – a short distance from their home. The Shaws are optimistic that the young man will pull through.

Meanwhile, the Police remain on the hunt for the driver of the minibus.

(Bhisham Mohamed)

GTT announces hiked DSL service rates

G

TT has announced increased rates for its Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service for residential and business use, beginning January 1, 2018.

In a notice published in several newspapers, the company said, “GTT has tried to maintain prices of our services despite the increasing cost of running the business due to factors outside of our control.

It is, therefore, with deep regret that we announce that we will be increasing our prices for residential and business DSL service.”

GTT said while giving the four-week advance notice to its customers that the new rates would be reflected on their February 2019 bills.

The increases range between $300 and $400.

Bills which ranged from $6299 to $9999 will be increased by $300, while bills ranging from $11,399 to $19,399 will be hiked by $400.

Back in June last year, the company’s request to increase landline rates and reduce international call rates was approved by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC). That hike took effect from August 1, 2017 while the reduction in international call rates took effect from July 1, 2017 although approved on June 9, 2017.

Those rates were being monitored as well as the services provided by the company.

The landline rates were increased on a per minute basis for the first minute or part

thereof and on a per second basis after the first minute.

Residential lines were being charged $2000 – an increase of $1500. Businesses which paid $1500 are now paying $4000.

Several acts of vandalism this and the previous year which struck the telecommunications company may have contributed to the increased costs for services.

The first act of vandalism was detected on July 14, 2017, one day before GTT officially launched the Blaze fibre-optic high-speed Internet. At one point, the company’s fibre-optic cable was also sabotaged at a time when it launched its high-speed LTE broadband in Essequibo.

The company had also revealed that over a 12-month period from September 2016 onwards, its loss of service and restoration efforts equated to $50 million. There have been prosecutions of persons for the vandalism.

Twenty-two-year-old Ricky Singh of Lot F Grove, East Bank Demerara (EBD), was in August placed on $350,000 bail upon being arraigned in court and denying that between July 22 and July 24, 2017, at Soesdyke, EBD, he was caught vandalising and stealing GTT fibre-optic cable.

Twenty-four-year-old fisherman Sanjay Seecharran of Grove Public Road, EBD has also recently been jailed for three years after confessing to stealing fibre-optic cable from GTT.

news

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tuesdAY, december 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

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

Tuesday, December 11 –05:00h-06:30h and Wednesday, December 12 –05:00h-06:30h.

The Berbice Bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic on: Tuesday, December 11 – 06:25h-07:55h and Wednesday, December 12 – 07:00h-08:30h.

FERRY SCHEDULE

SARA Director takes home $4.7M, assistant $3.3M monthly …admin officer gets $2.5M, exec assistant $1.8M per month

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

WEATHER TODAY Sunny conditions in the early morning are expected to be followed by light to heavy rain showers for the rest of the day into the evening. Overall temperatures are expected to range between 22 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius.

Winds: East-North-easterly between 1.78 metres and 4.47 metres.

High Tide: 06:39h and 18:50h reaching maximum heights of 2.42 metres and 2.51 metres respectively.

Low Tide: 12:24h reaching a minimum height of 0.82 metre.

Former Attorney General Anil Nandlall

Attorney General Basil Williams

he question of super salaries has raised its head once again, with the revelations that State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) officials earn almost $5 million a month in salary and benefits and the wage bill was over $200 million in one year for the Agency.

This came to light in the National Assembly on Monday during the consideration of the budget estimates for the Legal Affairs Ministry. Attorney

officer, $679,000.

The Director of SARA is Professor Clive Thomas, who was at one time also Chairman of the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo).

Thomas was also appointed a Presidential Advisor when the coalition Government came to office in 2015.

SARA’s Deputy Director is Aubrey Heath-Retmeyer.

It was just recently that audit firm Ram and McRae suggested that SARA be scrapped altogether and its functions transferred to the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), in its

T

SARA Director, Professor Clive Thomas

million; Deputy Director, $3.3 million.”

Williams also noted that another executive assistant was earning $688,000, while the Chief Administrative Officer was carrying home $2.5 million. In addition, SARA’s Legal Adviser earns $3 million, while a lawyer in the Agency earns $1.4 million and an administrative

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

General Basil Williams was interrogated by his predecessor, Anil Nandlall about various allocations.

One that stood out was the sum of $285 million allocated under line item 6321, ‘subsidies and contributions to local organisations’. Asked to explain which organisation the money was going to, Williams revealed that it was earmarked for SARA. He noted that $10 million of the amount was for capital expenses, while the remaining would be for current expenditure.

An incredulous Nandlall requested a breakdown of this amount. It was then that Williams revealed of the current amount, $225 million would be spent on wages and salaries for SARA employees in just one year.

“The post of Director, the salary and benefits is $4.7 million per month,” Williams revealed. “The special assistant, that amount is $3.3 million; executive assistant, $1.86

published ‘budget focus’ review of Budget 2019.

The firm had cited some qualms with SARA, including the Agency’s failure to have its annual plan and Code of Practice tabled in the National Assembly. Pointing out that the $285 million the agency is set to receive in 2019 is an increase from last year’s amount, Ram and McRae was critical of this lapse.

Also, the firm had been of the view that SARA has failed to live up to its expectations of even recovering assets.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesdAY, december 11, 2018

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

Alcoholism I

t would not take long for anyone to conclude that after observing what is happening in the society, especially during the holiday season, that the issue of alcohol consumption and the lasting negative effects it has on individuals and societies in general must be kept on the national agenda which needs urgent attention.

Not only can drinking too much alcohol cause negative short-term effects such as loss of judgment, loss of coordination, blurred vision, slurring of speech, and loss of balance, etc, it can also cause negative long-term effects; these include loss of brain cells, liver failure, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer, epilepsy, nerve damage, and heart failure.

Alcoholism contributes to a range of social problems; for example, there has been an increase in cases of domestic and other forms of violence in our society. Official statistics show that one in four Guyanese women have been physically abused in a relationship. The increase in domestic violence has been blamed on several reasons; one of which is the abuse of alcohol and drugs. In fact, quite a number of stories which were carried by the local press over the past few months pointed to the fact that the alleged abuser or killer of some of the women murdered was under the influence.

In addition, research shows that alcoholism contributes to suicide, which has been and continues to be a major social problem, and is also considered to be a public health issue, particularly in our own country.

The negative effects of alcoholism are well-known, what needs to be dealt with is how the problem could be addressed. One thing for sure is that the issue needs to be tackled by all stakeholders in a holistic manner. Stakeholders, including the religious community, Government, political parties, NGOs, community leaders, law enforcement authorities, bar owners and parents as a whole, need to sit at the table again and come up with a strategy that would deal effectively with the problem, since putting legislation in place alone, even though very important will not help.

To begin with, there are countless rum shops in the country, many of which are unlicensed. The authorities need to clamp down on those that are operating illegally, and the entire process as it relates to issuing licences should be reviewed.

Added to this is the issue of minors purchasing alcohol from these shops. And the uncaring rum shop owner ,in the interest of making profits, would take the chance and sell the product to juveniles. This is more so since they feel that no one will find out and even if so, very little will be done by the authorities to prosecute those found engaging in the activity.

What is even more worrying is that in most cases it is the parents or guardians who send their children to purchase alcohol. This, therefore, means that there must be legislation in place that holds parents and guardians accountable for their children’s actions, sometimes which they themselves cause.

Further, the country is assailed by reckless music that glorifies and trivialises rum drinking and its debilitating effects. Chutney songs such as “Rum Till I Die” and “One More Fuh De Road” promote rum drinking and could be heard in minibuses, at weddings, and even on the public airwaves. It is, therefore, no wonder so many of our young people engage in excessive drinking to the point of becoming addicts.

The authorities must, therefore, step up their education and sensitisation campaigns with the aim of discouraging the rum drinking culture amongst the population. The Ministry of Health may need to carry out sensitisation campaigns similar to the ones used for smoking cigarettes across the country, especially in hinterland areas.

It is certainly not our intention to place the blame for all our problems on the use of alcohol, but one cannot dispute the fact it is indeed a major contributory factor to some of the social ills we face in today’s society. As we enter another year and as we engage in the process of renewal, we must redouble our efforts, both as individuals and as a nation, in dealing with the issue of alcohol abuse and its negative effects on individuals and societies.

Anant Ambani, Ajay and Swati Piramal, Isha Ambani (bride to be) and Anand Piramal, and Nita and Mukesh Ambani were present at this pre-wedding celebrations in the desert state of Rajasthan, India (timesnownews.com)

“I can’t breathe.” Jamal Khashoggi’s last words disclosed in transcript, source says

“I

can’t breathe.” These were the final words uttered by Jamal Khashoggi after he was set upon by a Saudi hit squad at the country’s Consulate in Istanbul, according to a source briefed on the investigation into the killing of the Washington Post columnist.

The source, who has read a translated transcript of an audio recording of Khashoggi’s painful last moments, said it was clear that the killing on October 2 was no botched rendition attempt, but the execution of a premeditated plan to murder the Journalist.

During the course of the gruesome scene, the source describes Khashoggi struggling against a group of people determined to kill him.

“I can’t breathe,” Khashoggi says.

“I can’t breathe.”

“I can’t breathe.”

The transcript notes the sounds of Khashoggi’s body being dismembered by a saw, as the alleged perpetrators are advised to listen to music to block out the sound.

And, according to the source, the transcript suggests that a series of phone calls are made. Turkish officials believe the calls were placed to senior figures in Riyadh, briefing them on progress.

Some of the details in the transcript seen by CNN’s source have emerged in previous reports of the recording’s content. But this is the fullest account of the transcript that has so far been published.

It is likely to increase pressure on the Trump Administration, which has been determined to separate Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from the murder, and sought to frame the issue as a binary choice between supporting or cut-

Jamal Khashoggi

ting off a key partner in the Middle East. US President Donald Trump has been at odds with the CIA, which, sources say, has concluded Crown Prince Mohammed personally ordered the killing.

The revelations also threaten to undermine a key plank of an initial Saudi explanation for Khashoggi’s death, that it was a rogue operation that went horribly wrong.

The original transcript of the audio was prepared

by Turkish intelligence services. Turkish officials have never said how they obtained the audio. The transcript would have been translated before it was shared with other intelligence services; CNN’s source read a translated version and has been briefed on the investigation.

The office of one US Senator, who has received a briefing on the investigation by CIA Director Gina Haspel, told CNN that the source’s recollections of the transcript are “consistent” with that briefing.

CNN asked Saudi officials to comment on the contents of the transcript as described by the source, and to provide comment from those named in it. A Saudi official said: “The relevant Saudi security officials have reviewed the transcript and tape materials through Turkish security channels

and nowhere in them is there any reference or indication of a call being made.”

“If there is additional information Turkish authorities have that we are unaware of, we would welcome it being officially handed over to us for review, which we have requested numerous times and are still requesting. And, up until now, we have not received anything.” The official did not address the transcript’s characterisation of the scene inside the Saudi Consulate, nor Khashoggi’s last words.

“‘You are coming back”

The transcript begins at the moment Khashoggi enters the Saudi Consulate in a quiet residential district of Istanbul at lunchtime on October 2.

Khashoggi thought he had made a routine appointment to pick up papers that would allow him to marry his Turkish fiancée, Hatice Cengiz. But, according to the source, it dawns upon Khashoggi almost immediately that things are not going to plan, when he recognises one of the men who meet him.

He asks the man what he is doing there.

According to CNN’s source, a voice identified in the transcript as Maher Abdulaziz Mutreb, a former Saudi diplomat and intelligence official working

for the Crown Prince, and known to Khashoggi from their time together at the Saudi Embassy in London, addresses him.

“You are coming back,” the man says.

“You can’t do that,” Khashoggi replies. “People are waiting outside.”

(Khashoggi’s fiancée accompanied him as far as the Consulate, with instructions to call associates if he did not emerge.)

Without any further dialogue, according to the source, the transcript indicates that several people set upon Khashoggi.

Noises follow, and very quickly Khashoggi is fighting for air.

Despite his desperate pleas, the last discernible words the transcript records for Khashoggi are: “I can’t breathe.”

The transcript notes more noises, including the sound of a saw, and several more voices.

One of those voices is identified on the transcript by Turkish authorities as belonging to Dr Salah Muhammad al-Tubaiqi, the head of forensic medicine at Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry, the source says.

Aside from Khashoggi and Mutreb, he is the only other voice identified by name on the transcript.

According to the source, the transcript suggests Mutreb is updating someone, whom Turkish officials say was in Riyadh, with almost step-by-step details of what is taking place.

“Tell yours, the thing is done, it’s done.”

The transcript has been circulated to key Turkish and Saudi allies, including those in Europe, but only the United States and Saudi Arabia have received the recording itself, the source believes.

Continued on page 5

guyanatimesgy.com

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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

PM squatting in the National Assembly Dear Editor, Once again, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo’s presence in the National Assembly, while performing the functions of Office of President, has become a contentious one. When it first occurred during the Budget Debates in late 2015, in an article titled “Prime Minister squatting in the National Assembly” I publicly condemned it as a violation of the Constitution and posited that his presence thereof was unlawful.

In light of the Leader of the Opposition’s pronouncements last Friday in the National Assembly, the matter has become a live issue once again.

Perhaps, a convenient place to begin is Article 96 of the Constitution. In the current circumstances, it is beyond disputation that the Prime Minister was appointed to perform the functions of the office of President under Article 96 (1) of the Constitution.

Article 96 of the Constitution provides: “Whenever the President is absent from Guyana or considers it desirable to do

so by reason of illness or any other cause he or she may, by direction in writing authorise any member of Cabinet, being an elected member of the National Assembly, to perform such functions of office of the President as he or she may specify and the person so authorised shall perform those functions until his or hers authority is revoked by the President or until the functions are resumed by the President.”

Again, it cannot be disputed that the Prime Minister is an elected member of the National Assembly and a member of Cabinet. Therefore, he qualifies to have been appointed by the President, to perform the functions of Office of President.

The next relevant constitutional provision which falls to be considered is Article 178 (4) of the Constitution. The relevant portion reads: “During any period when a Minister is performing the functions of the office of the President under article 96 or 179 or has assumed the office under the provisio to article 95(1), his or her seat in the National Assembly shall

be regarded as vacant and may be temporarily filled in accordance with any provision made under Article 160 (3).”

The language of Article 178 (4) is unambiguous and unequivocal. Once a Minister, (who must be an elected member of the National Assembly), of the Cabinet is appointed to perform the functions of the office of President, then that Minister’s seat in the National Assembly “shall be regarded as vacant.”

Therefore, while he is performing the office of President, Mr. Nagamootoo’s seat in the National Assembly “shall be regarded as vacant.”

It must also be excruciatingly clear that it matters not whether he is an elected member of the National Assembly or not. In fact, the framers of the Constitution specifically provided that it is only an elected member of the National Assembly who is qualified to perform the functions of the office of the President (See Article 96 (1) above).

And in Article 178 (4), the framers of the Constitution, consciously rendered that

seat as vacant, when that elected member is appointed to perform the functions of the office of President.

The Prime Minister’s plea therefore, that he is an elected member of the National Assembly and therefore, cannot be “unelected”, is wholly devoid of merit and is simply puerile.

It is the Constitution itself, under which he is elected as a member of the National Assembly, that renders his seat vacant.

The other contention of the Prime Minister that he is “Prime Minister” and not a “Minister” is equally specious and untutored. Article 103 (1) of the Constitution conclusively puts this issue to rest. It provides: “The Prime Minister and every other Vice President shall be a Minister of the Government of Guyana.”

This provision establishes beyond any doubt that the Prime Minister is a Minister of Government.

There are additional and even more fundamental reasons, quite apart from the above, which disqualify an elected member who is performing the functions of Office of President from

sitting and participating in the business in the National Assembly.

The National Assembly is merely one component of Parliament. Article 51 provides: “There shall be a Parliament of Guyana which shall consist of the President and the National Assembly.” So what is loosely called a Parliamentary Sitting, is technically not.

It is merely a sitting of the National Assembly. It is the National Assembly that has the Constitutional responsibility of approving the annual estimates of expenditures, not Parliament. When estimates are approved by the National Assembly, an Appropriation Bill is then tabled, capturing all the estimates of expenditures approved and that Bill is then required to be passed by the National Assembly. Upon passage of that Bill by the National Assembly, it then goes to the President for his assent. The framers of the Constitution prohibited the President from participating in the National Assembly and in the approval of Bills because the President is empowered to assent to those Bills. It

would be a contradiction in terms if the President were to participate in the passage of Bills in the National Assembly and then have the functional responsibility of assenting to those very Bills. That is precisely why the President has a power to withhold his assent from Bills. The President is, therefore, neither a part of, nor a “rubber stamp” of the National Assembly. The framers of the Constitution went to great lengths in creating a clear divide between the National Assembly and the President. In the circumstances, while performing the duties for Office of President, the Prime Minister’s presence in the National Assembly is institutionally incongruous and constitutionally incestuous.

On the issue of convention and precedent, the record will establish that Mr Nagamootoo is the only elected member of the National Assembly who ever sat in the National Assembly while performing the functions of the office of President.

Sincerely, Anil Nandlall, MP

Georgetown has to be run like a modern corporate entity

Dear Editor, I would like to be given space in your letters column, to congratulate most sincerely the Former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Cecil Kennard for his perspicacity, thoroughness, intellectual dexterity and expediency in carrying through with the much-needed Commission of Inquiry into the shenanigans at City Hall.

His task was not a simple one, as corruption, malfeasance, nepotism, slackness and incompetence are the order of the day at the Georgetown City Council. To get an understanding of the magnitude of ineptitude, and lack of transparency and accountability at that

institution, one will have to go back more than a decade, during which time absolutely no audits were done, the payroll ballooned to well over $100 million per month for friends and family, and Georgetown became a failed city.

One can only hope that now that the commissioners who will have to sit and review these recommendations and pronounce on them, will not only accept all of the recommendations, but go even further in cleaning the Augean stables. It would be totally unacceptable for these delinquent officers to be given a ‘golden parachute’ and sent home with all of their benefits or just

given a slap on the wrist.

Not only should a clean sweep be made of all the errant officers but the Councillors who signed the vouchers for all of these billions of dollars that were improperly spent, those who approved the hiring of hundreds of their kith and kin, and those of the senior officers, and even those Councillors who flew around the world committing Council into shady deals in Panama, New York City and further afield, should also seriously be brought seriously to book.

If we are genuine about the restoration of Georgetown including the rehabilitation of City Hall,

ridding the markets and the areas contiguous to them of the of daily crimes, or fixing the roads, the street lights, cleaning the drains but more importantly of advancing our city to the elevated state of other capitals around the world, then City Hall has to be degutted and the intractable elements have to be replaced by fresh, honest and talented individuals.

Where did evils like corruption at the Georgetown Municipality arise from? It came from the never-ending greed of some senior officers and Councillors. The fight for a corruption-free ethical capital will have to be fought against this greed and replaced with a 'what

“I can’t breathe.” Jamal Khashoggi’s...

The working assumption among those allies is that Mutreb was talking to Saud al-Qahtani, bin Salman’s closest aide, the source said.

Saudi officials say al-Qahtani has been removed from his former position as media chief to the Crown Prince.

The transcript only records Mutreb’s side of the conversation. Without a recording of that call, or more details of which number was called, further conclusions based on the transcript alone cannot be made.

A source close to the Saudi investigation into Khashoggi’s killing told CNN that Mutreb and Tubaiqi deny making any phone calls.

The transcript is rela-

tively short, given the time span it describes, the source told CNN. There is not much dialogue; certainly no hint of a conversation about why Khashoggi should go “back”, and no suggestion either, as advanced at one point

by Saudi officials, that he had been drugged by the hit team.

There is nothing in this transcript that the source could describe as a “smoking gun” – a snippet of conversation or phone call that directly ties Crown Prince Mohammed to the so-called hit team, and to Khashoggi’s murder.

But the lasting conclusion the source drew from the transcript is that Khashoggi’s killing was a planned assassination by an

organised team that carried out its job with ruthless efficiency, keeping someone in Riyadh informed at each step.

While the transcript provides no smoking gun directly tying Crown Prince Mohammed to the killing, it seems to echo Senator Lindsey Graham’s sentiments after hearing

From page 4

the CIA’s assessment of Khashoggi’s killing.

Graham, who was among a group of senators to receive a classified briefing on the Khashoggi case, said earlier this week that he agreed with the conclusions of the US security services.

“There’s not a smoking gun, there’s a smoking saw,” he said. (Excerpt from CNN)

can I give' spirit.

Georgetown has to be run like a modern corporate entity, and not continue with this level of mendicancy delinquency and venality. The opportunity of the findings and recommendations of this CoI must be taken now to allow Georgetown to pick up the pieces and rise again, otherwise the citizens of Georgetown may be

doomed to a future for our children and grandchildren that relegates them to living in underdevelopment for decades to come while the ‘big enchiladas’ at City Hall continue to line their pockets, and abuse the city of its resources for their own selfish ways.

Sincerely, Modi Sankar

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Page

Foundation

H

ave you ever set a goal for yourself, like getting fit, making honor roll, or being picked for a team? Like lots of people, maybe you started out doing great, but then lost some of that drive and had trouble getting motivated again.

You're not alone!

Everyone struggles with staying motivated and reaching their goals. Just look at how many people go on diets, lose weight, and then gain it back again!

The reality is that refocusing, changing, or making a new start on something, no matter how small, is a big deal. But it's not impossible. With the right approach, you can definitely do it.

Staying motivated Check in with your goal.

Now that you've broken your goal down into a series of minigoals and daily tasks, check in every day.

It helps to write down your small goals in the same way you wrote down your big goal.

That way you can track what you need to do, check off tasks as you complete them, and enjoy knowing that you're moving toward your big goal.

As you accomplish a task, check it off on your list. Tell yourself, "Hey, I've run 10 miles, I'm nearly halfway to

Getting motivated So how do you stay motivated and on track with your goal? It all comes down to good planning, realistic expectations, and a stick-toit attitude. Here's what you need to do: First, know your goal Start by writing down your major goal. Your major goal is the ultimate thing you'd like to see happen. For example, "I want to make honour roll," or "I want to get fit enough to make the cross-country team," or even, "I want to play in the Olympics" are all major goals because they're the final thing the goal setter wants to see happen (obviously, some goals take longer and require more work than others). It's OK to dream big. That's how people accomplish stuff. You just have to remember that the bigger the goal, the more work it takes to get there.

my goal!" Reward yourself with something you promised yourself when you set your goal.

Feel successful – you are! Now think ahead to accomplishing

Make it specific It's easier to plan for and master a specific goal than a vague one. Let's say your goal is to get fit. That's pretty vague. Make it specific by defining what you want to achieve (such as muscle tone and definition or endurance), why you want to get fit, and by when. This helps you make a plan to reach your goal.

Make it realistic People often abandon their goals because their expectations are unreasonable.

Maybe they expect to get ripped abs in weeks rather than months, or to quit smoking easily after years of lighting up.

Let's say you want to run a marathon. If you try to run the entire distance of 26.2 miles tomorrow without any training, you're unlikely to succeed. It takes the average person 4 months of training to run that far! But the bigger risk is that you'll get so the rest of your goal: "What do I have to do to reach 26 miles?

How am I going to make the time to train?"

Writing down specific steps

bummed out that you'll give up your marathon dreams — and running – altogether.

Part of staying motivated is being realistic about what you can achieve within the timeframe you've planned.

Competing on the Olympic ski team is a workable goal if you are 15 and already a star skier. But if you're 18 and only just taking your first lesson, time isn't exactly on your side.

Write it down Put your specific goal in writing. Then write it down again. And again. Research shows that writing down a goal is part of the mental process of committing to it. Write your goal down every day to keep you focused and remind you how much you want it.

Break it down Making any change takes self-discipline. You need to pay constant attention so you don't get sidetracked. One way to make this easier is to has another advantage: If you're feeling weak on willpower you can look at your list to help you refocus!

Recommit to your goal if

break a big goal into small steps. For example, let's say you want to run a marathon.

If it's February and the marathon is in August, that's a realistic timeframe to prepare.

Start by planning to run 2 miles and work up gradually to the distance you need.

Then set specific daily tasks, like eating five servings of fruit and veggies and running a certain amount a day. Put these on a calendar or planner so you can check them off. Ask a coach to help you set doable mini-goals for additional mile amounts and for tasks to improve your performance, such as exercises to build strength and stamina so you'll stay motivated to run farther.

Reaching frequent, smaller goals is something to celebrate. It gives you the confidence, courage, and motivation to keep running – or doing whatever it is you're aiming to do. So reward yourself! you slip up. If you slip up, don't give up. Forgive yourself and make a plan for getting back on track.

Pat yourself on the back for everything you did right. Don't beat yourself up, no matter how far off track you get. Most people slip up when trying to make a change – it's a natural part of the process.

Writing down daily tasks and mini-goals helps here too.

By keeping track of things, you'll quickly recognise when you've slipped up, making it easier to refocus and recommit to your goal. So instead of feeling discouraged, you can know exactly where you got off track and why.

What if you keep slipping up? Ask yourself if you're really committed to your goal. If you are, recommit – and put it in writing. The process of writing everything down may also help you discover when you're not really committed to a goal. For example, perhaps you're more in love with the fantasy of being a star athlete than the reality, and there's something else that you'd rather be or do.

View slip-ups as lessons and reminders of why you're trying to make a change. When you mess up, it's not a fault — it's an opportunity to learn something new about your-

self. Say your goal is to fight less with your brother or sister.

You may learn that it's better to say, "I can't talk about this right now" and take time to calm down when you feel your temper growing out of control.

Keep a stick-to-it attitude.

Visualise yourself achieving your goal: a toned you in your prom dress or a successful you scoring the winning soccer goal. Self-visualization helps you keep what you're trying to accomplish in mind. It helps you believe it's possible.

You can also call up your mental picture when willpower and motivation are low.

Positive self-talk also boosts your attitude and motivation.

Tell yourself, "I deserve to make the honour roll because I've really been working hard" or "I feel great when I swim — I'm doing well on my exercise plan!"

Share with a friend.

Another boost is having supportive people around you.

Find a running buddy, a quit smoking buddy, or someone else with a similar goal so you can support each other. Having a goal buddy can make all the difference in times when you don't feel motivated — like getting up for that early-morning run.

If you're not getting support from someone when you really need it, you may need to take a break from that friendship and surround yourself with people who want to help you succeed.

For instance, if you've been going to your friend's house to study together every Thursday after school, but now your pal is turning on the TV, texting friends, or gabbing on the phone and ignoring your pleas to get down to work, it's time to find another study buddy. You can't stay focused on your goal if your friend doesn't share that goal – or, even worse, is trying to hold you back. Seek out others who are on the same path you are and work with them instead.

Don't give up!

Ending an unhealthy behavior or creating a new, exciting one is all about taking responsibility for our lives.

Finding the motivation to do it isn't necessarily easy, but it is always possible. You can stay motivated by writing down your goals, sticking to your schedule, and reminding yourself of what led you to set your goal in the first place. Change is exciting – we'd all be very bored without it. Good luck in reaching your goals! (kidshealth.org)

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tuesdAY, december 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

$209.4M spent on overseas trips for President …excluding medical trips

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ollowing inquiries from the parliamentary Opposition People’s Progressive Party/Civic, it was revealed that a total of $209.4 million has been spent by the coalition Government since it came to office in 2015 for the travelling expenses of President David Granger and his entourage.

According to information seen by Guyana Times, Granger completed a total of 37 official trips overseas between May 16, 2015 and November of this year. This includes almost a dozen trips overseas in 2015, costing some $57.5 million.

In 2016, Granger made eight trips at a total cost of $44.7 million. In 2017, he made a similar number of trips for marginally less – $42.7 million. For the year 2018, the President completed 10 overseas trips, costing $64.4 million. These expenses are outside of the cost of medical attention for the President.

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira, in whose name the questions were originally posed, had also questioned what short and long-term benefits Guyana gained from those trips. In his reply, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon related that the trips were for advancing Guyana's foreign policy objectives.

The benefits include, according to Minister Harmon, having Guyana's territorial case referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and advancing the Government’s much-vaunt-

ed Green State Development Strategy (GSDS).

“The attendance at the international conferences and meetings provided his Excellency and delegation with an opportunity to bring to the attention of the global community, issues of concern to Guyana.”

“Participation in the high-level encounters provided the President with the opportunity to meet world leaders and to discuss ways to elevate our bilateral cooperation programmes,” Harmon stated in correspondence accompanying the data.

The Minister noted that besides the territorial case and securing funding for renewable energy projects, Government was able to secure offers in capacity building for the oil and gas sector from various countries.

“In 2018, Guyana became a founding member of the International Solar Alliance and will be benefitting from expertise, training and equipment as a result of its membership. Other overseas trips were made to the World Water Forum in Brasilia, as well as the Global Environment Facility Assembly in Vietnam.

“It must be recognised that Guyana, as a small member of the international community, must ensure it is represented and its voice heard, if it is to be respected and taken seriously,” Harmon added.

Foreign policy

A major cornerstone of Guyana’s foreign poli-

Sir Shridath Ramphal and Ambassador Audrey Waddell are assisting Minister Greenidge. The United States has since announced that it supports Guyana’s case.

Prior to 2015, the then

President David Granger during one of his overseas trips when he met Queen Elizabeth II

cy has been its territorial integrity case with neighbouring Venezuela. Since Guyana submitted its memorial on Jurisdiction to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) last month, a date was set for the Venezuelan Government to submit its own counter memorial.

This was revealed only last week by Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge, during his contribution to the budget debate. According to the Minister, April 18, 2019 has been set for Venezuela to submit its counter memorial.

When US oil giant ExxonMobil announced the first of multiple oil finds in local waters in 2015, Venezuela renewed its claim to twothirds of Guyana’s terri-

tory. Venezuela has been against oil exploration in Guyana’s Stabroek Block, where multiple oil deposits were found by ExxonMobil, and has since renewed the claim to the Essequibo region.

On January 30, 2018, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres concluded that the Good Offices Process – which the parties had engaged in for almost 30 years – had failed to achieve a solution to the border controversy – and chose the ICJ as the next means of settlement, for which Guyana has long been advocating.

Opposition A Partnership for National Unity/Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) had constantly criticised Government-funded trips for the President and Government officials.

8 news

tuesdAY, december 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Attempted murder

High Court releases businessman on bail A fter spending more than four weeks in prison on an attempted murder charge, businessman Abdul Imran Khan was granted bail in the High Court.

Khan is accused of attempting to kill Romario Baljeet, also called “Short Boss”, outside a popular Main Street, Georgetown nightclub.

Khan’s lawyer, Glen Hanoman filed the bail application before High Court Judge Sandil Kissoon af-

ter his client was remanded on several occasions in the Magistrates’ Courts.

He was released on $700,000 bail and warned by Justice Kissoon to stay away from the Virtual Complainant (VC).

During Khan’s last court appearance at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, relatives of Baljeet had claimed that they were contacted by relatives of the businessman who asked them to “drop the matter”.

Attorney-at-Law Latchmi Rahamat, who has been assigned as the Special Prosecutor in the matter, had stated that a male relative of the accused visited Baljeet’s residence to settle the matter.

Meanwhile, the court also heard that the matter was still be investigated by Police.

The 37-year-old man was arrested after he was reportedly seen on Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage beating Baljeet on October 28, 2018 outside the Main Street,

Georgetown club.

Khan’s Attorney, on his first court appearance, questioned the charge that was instituted against his client. “This was a fight, not attempted murder,” the lawyer had told the court in a bail application.

The week prior to his appearance, Khan’s brother, 37-year-old Safraz Khan was brought before the said court on gun-related charges.

He was, however, granted $50,000 bail.

Robbery charge lands butcher before court

T

hirty-eight-yearold Dave Benjamin was on Monday taken before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts where he stood before Magistrate Fabayo Azore to answer to a

charge of robbery.

Benjamin, who plies his trade as a butcher in Bourda Market, Georgetown, denied that he robbed Elsa Phillips.

The charge stated that on October 16, 2018,

the D’Urban Backlands, Georgetown resident stole a gold and diamond necklace valued at $500,000 from Phillips while she was in the vicinity of King Street, Georgetown.

The father of two, who was represented by Attorney-at-Law Paul FungA-Fat, was released on $50,000 bail. The case will continue on January 21, 2019.

Back to the future…

E

…on PNC “party paramountcy”

ver since the PNC-led coalition began to govern in 2015, it quickly became apparent to your Eyewitness that they seemed determined to prove the old adage that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. The original PNC “trick” was their insistence on practising “party paramountcy”.

Party Chair Volda Lawrence’s statement that only her friends – all PNC, in any case – and PNC members could expect to get Government jobs is just another example of the “paramount party” mindset. Now young folks, who wouldn’t have experienced the first iteration of PNC paramountcy, might think, “Ah well, the party that wins the elections and becomes the Government will always “favour” their own members – so what’s the big deal?”

The “big deal” is that “party paramountcy” goes all the way to the bone in all relations in the society and justifies a mindset of “PNC uber alles!” Now this isn’t just what people OBSERVED about the PNC’s actions – but was EXPLICITLY announced in what was grandiosely named the “Declaration of Sophia”. Inter alia, this announced that the PNC would be: “mobilising the nation in every sphere and not merely for periodic elections and in support of specific actions and programmes…the party should assume unapologetically its paramountcy over the Government which is merely one of its executive arms…The country must be given practical and theoretical leadership at all levels – political, economic, social and cultural – by the PNC, which has become the major national institution.” Congress Place, the PNC’s headquarters, became the nation’s employment centre; and the party’s ‘card’, the passport to the State’s largess.

This was only being restated by Lawrence!!

Another more chilling comment was her follow-up which, surprisingly, hasn’t gotten as much notoriety as the first – even though it is in its implications since it was about how PNC members should deal with PPP winners in “PNC areas”: “You see this long, long story, me ain't able buse and cuss and waste me time; I lash you in you head and done the story!” The paramount party, being “more enlightened and always right” could use whatever means necessary, including their sharper steel, to show others the error of their ways!!

In case you were wondering about the massive expansion of the activities of the Ministry of the Presidency – this is just the new incarnation of the old “Office of the General Secretary of the PNC and the Ministry of National Development” (OGSPNCMND) That consisted of six departments, the names of which suggest the scope of its activity: National Production, Financial Administration and Economic Projects, Party Affairs and Mass Organisations, Personnel Administrative Service, National Orientation and International Relations and Maintenance and Welfare.

Sounds familiar?

…on law school

For three years, Basil Williams has been campaigning to launch a new law school in Guyana. This would, he asserted, save us the ignominy of having only our top 25 law students from UG be admitted to Hugh Wooding in T&T. It sounded good, but pretty soon when he announced he’d already lined up private partners from Jamaica to own and run the school, warning bells started to go off.

First of all, he claimed he’d already received approval from the Council of Legal Education (CLE) which local legal luminaries such as Anil Nandlall and then Chancellor of the Judiciary, Carl Singh insisted weren’t so!! Williams cried “sour grapes”, but when the Chairman of the CLE and a host of other members of the CLE confirmed there was no approval, he then cried “conspiracy!!”

Finally, it was revealed his application didn’t conform to the CLE’s mandate, had no curriculum and was unsupported by a feasibility study!

Would you trust a man who can’t even get his facts straight, to start a law school?

…on old murders

A “Cold Case Unit” was launched in the Guyana Police Force. Your Eyewitness is pleased.

Maybe we can finally nab the murderer of that bright, young Guyanese female lawyer Shirley Field-Ridley, who was just 45 years old?

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

News

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tuesdAY, december 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

PM under fire for State to pay over $21M to of man killed by Police unaccounted $65M mother …Police actions “negligent and callous” – Judge

…as Govt fires Commissioner of Information

Dead teen: Damien Belgrave

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

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here was tension in the National Assembly on Monday as the perusal of the budget estimates got underway. When the estimates for the Office of the Prime Minister were examined, it became apparent that $65 million could not be accounted for.

O p p o s i t i o n Parliamentarian Irfaan Ali, zeroing in on the revised estimates for 2018 for the Prime Minister’s Office, noted that it was indicated that the $65 million had been spent. When interrogated, however, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo denied this.

“It would have meant that the money had to be released to the agency. And the honourable Prime Minister has to direct us (to where it was spent),” Ali stressed to the House. He was supported by his colleagues, including Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira.

Ali noted that the sums which were saved from the stalled Constitutional Reform Process were actually wired to another programme. According to Nagamootoo, however, the sums are intact.

“They would have done their adjustments and balancing of the figures. You would have a true reflection of the revised figure.

The $65 million is within this figure of $107 million; it has not been expended,” Nagamootoo said.

Commissioner of Information Charles Ramson Sr

“This is up to December.

The $65 million is reflected in the $107 million, and it cannot be considered as spent. If it is not spent at the end of the year -- and we have no reason to spend it -it will be returned.”

Ramson Sr, had filed legal action against Nagamootoo and Attorney General Basil Williams. Among Ramson’s contentions was that his salary for the previous month had been withheld.

Commissioner of Information

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister also provided a breakdown for the money that was allocated to his office. Under line item 6284, ‘other’, a total of $80 million was budgeted. According to Nagamootoo, that money was used to purchase cell phones, internet-related activities, and for work study students.

“Under that head, some of the items will be school tours organised to cover 50 schools at the cost of $3 million. Repairs to furniture and sofas, Website hosting and maintenance: $2 million. E Networks for $250,000; purchase of power strips: $40,000. Purchase of cell phones: $400,000.

Stipend for work study students: $250,000; Prime Minister’s outreach programme: $5 million. “(for) Constitutional reform, an allocation of $38 million has been set aside.

That will depend on whether the commission will be formed under the law that is now being reviewed by the Standing Committee,” Nagamootoo explained.

The announcement that, as of March 8, 2018, former Attorney General Charles Ramson is no longer Commissioner of Information also caused some consternation in the House. This was revealed when Nagamootoo was questioned about monies not being allocated for that constitutional office.

Earlier, Minister of State Joseph Harmon had been asked about the absence of allocations, and had referred the matter to the Prime Minister. It was thus the first question confronting Nagamootoo from the Opposition.

In his response, Nagamootoo said that while Ramson is no longer there, his office is examining ways of resuscitating the post. He noted that the process to replace Ramson as Commissioner has been held up by the litigation that was filed. This caused concern for the Opposition, as they noted the importance of the office.

It was only last year that

Expenses

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ore than four years after two Guyana Police Force (GPF) ranks were freed of the October 5, 2012 shooting to death of Damien Belgrave outside the White Castle Fish Shop in Georgetown, the young man’s mother, Donna Sulker, has been awarded almost $22 million in damages by the High Court.

The decision was handed down by Justice Sandil Kissoon, who presided over the Statement of Claim proceedings that the woman filed in December 2012. She was represented by attorney Nigel Hughes. The State was represented by the Attorney General’s Chambers.

Sulker’s 21-year-old son, who has resided in Lethem, Region 9 (Upper TakutuUpper Essequibo) was at the Georgetown establishment when Police, who were reportedly pursuing suspected criminals, shot and killed him. It was later released that the person whom the Police were pursuing was a teenage driver who was unlicensed.

The two Policemen: Sheldon Williams, of Coldingen East Coast Demerara, and Errol Williams of Glasgow Village, East Bank Berbice, were charged in January 2013, some eight months after the death of the young man.

However, after a Magistrate’s Court Preliminary Inquiry the duo was freed. During the PI, it was revealed that Police presented ballistics reports which disclosed that the bullet which killed Belgrave was

not fired by either rank who was charged, but by a third Policeman who had not been charged.

Damien Belgrave’s parents had demanded that Police carry out a proper investigation to ensure that the real shooter be brought to justice. Later, the mother took the case to the civil court and was awarded the figure more than six years after she had filed the matter. Sulker, Belgrave’s mother, said her son was an NGO (non-governmental oragnisation) worker at the time of his demise, and that he was “negligently shot” by officers Sheldon and Errol Williams who were executing duties near the Hadfield Street fish shop.

She had also outlined that the ranks were not in any imminent danger at the time of her son’s killing, further noting that he died as a result of the injuries he sustained.

According to her case, she was suing for her son’s wrongful death; the breach of his fundamental right, as guaranteed under Article 138 of the Constitution of Guyana, not to be deprived of his life intentionally, and for assault and battery. The mother also petitioned the court to grant her exemplary damages, costs, interest and other orders the court saw fit.

In Monday’s decision, Justice Kissoon observed that not only was Belgrave an innocent bystander, but that the Police’s actions were “negligent and callous”. In fact, the Judge outlined that the case against the State was “strong, cogent and compel-

Mother of the dead teen, and claimant Donna Sulker

ling. Several witnesses, including the Police ranks, testified during the trial.

In giving the breakdown of the damages, Justice Kissoon ordered that the State must pay $250,000 to the claimant in special damages to cover her son’s funeral expenses.

More than that, $15 million was calculated for the man breach of his right not to be deprived of his right to life, as the Constitution guarantees. She also won $1 million in general damages, $1,040,000 for pretrial loss, and $4,680,000 for post-trial loss, which culminated to $6,720,000 which was awarded for loss of dependency.

Sulker also garnered court costs in the sum of $300,000.

The judge added that the damages be paid at a rate of six per cent per annum from when Belgrave died to Monday’s decision, and a rate of four per cent per annum until the monies are paid in full.

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tuesdAY, december 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Fallout over airline

GCAA being “vindictive” – Guyana Airways CEO

O

ne day after the Director of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Egbert Field came out saying that the Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC) never filed an application with the Authority to operate in Guyana, the airline has lashed back saying that the GCAA is doing nothing but trying to create discourse and is being vindictive in its ways.

In response to the statements made by Field, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the airline, Collin Abrams during a telephone interview with Guyana Times on Monday morning said the GCAA is being vindictive, especially since the airline recently won a court order against the Government and because the Director happens to be affiliated with Fly Jamaica.

“For him to say that, it’s vindictive and I don’t know why he’s got this smear campaign against Guyana Airways,” Abrams argued.

According to the airline’s CEO, GAC met with the Civil Aviation Authority back in March 19, 2018, and the two were locked in discussions concerning the operations of the airline.

However, it was five months after the initial talks that the airline was greeted with a court order, which documented that the name of the airline had been removed

Guyana Airways CEO Collin Abrams

from the registry; it also ordered a resubmission of documents for the proposed operations.

“We filed a pre-application…then we filed a PASI (Pre-application Statement of Intent) -that’s the pre-application stage and after you filed that...we were supposed to file the actual AOC (Air Operator Certificate) application, but we could not have filed the application until we had everything in place (such as) contracts for the aircraft, ground handling, hire contracts, every single thing had to be in place before you could submit the AOC application,” Abrams explained.

He went on to say that the airline was hoping to resume its application from where it left off. “Five months later when we were in the midst of our process they (GCAA) in-

terjected themselves, telling us, in a legal matter, that they stopped the entire process,” Abrams recalled.

Nonetheless the CEO said that GAC will be hand-delivering that court order, where they won the case against the Government for the use of the airline’s name, to resume the process.

On Saturday Field said the airline never filed an application to operate in Guyana.

Although it has been in the air that the proprietor of the airline had submitted his application for operations, the director noted, “They’ll have to submit an application.

They never did submit an application before and I want to make it pretty clear.”

According to him, Guyana Airways filed an ‘intent of operations’ on the work they intended to pursue. Guyana Airways was hoping to begin operations in February 2019 as was related by its CEO. His dream may once again be postponed as this may not be possible since it takes at least 12 or 13 months before an airline’s application is approved due to the processing requirements.

This period, Field said, is “absolutely important” as officials would use this phase to ensure that all aspects of the operation are covered such as training for staffers, evaluation of personnel and the documentation of the air-

“Demand more from your regional officials” – Harmon tells Mabaruma residents

Minister of State Joseph Harmon addressing residents at the Mabaruma Primary School

GCAA Director Egbert Field

line, essentially the operations manual, flight attendant manual, weight and balance manual, maintenance manual and several others, to outline the procedures for the specific section.

Government had taken the private airline to court this year for using the name which was used by two other companies which no longer exist.

The inconvenienced businessman explained during a previous interview, “Two years after we’ve been registered and putting all this together and spending all this money, they just snuffed the life out of us without a hearing, without anything. We just had a marshal show up at our secretary’s home and that’s it, so they kinda murdered us.”

According to him, 110 flight attendants have already been hired for the two airlines which will soon provide flights to Cuba, Barbados and Trinidad for now and will extend its services to the United States of America when Guyana becomes authorised to do so.

M

inister of State Joseph Harmon on Sunday, urged the residents of Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini) and its surrounding communities to hold public officials, inclusive of those in Regional and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (RDC/ NDCs) accountable.

Public officials, the Minister stated have been elected to serve and citizens must, therefore, demand that their interests and those of the community are addressed.

Minister Harmon was at the time speaking at a community meeting held at the Mabaruma Primary School where he addressed concerns raised by residents.

He told residents that Central Government would continue to play its part in ensuring that infrastructural, social and other needs were met but noted that the Regional and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils must also share in this responsibility.

Harmon also said that community leaders and regional and local officials must understand their roles and

endeavour to function efficiently. He posited that citizens suffer the most when leaders become complacent and do not serve in the best interests of those who elected them.

“Our community leaders must face the community. If you cannot talk to your people and do things for them then they will not respect you or listen to you. You have to see people and see what they need. As a leader, you need to get on the ground and relate to people so that you can understand what is taking place. It is always important to come on the ground and get in touch with the people, with their feelings, with their understandings and what needs to be done,” Minister Harmon said.

Several residents raised concerns about Governmentsponsored programmes such as the Sustainable Livelihoods and Entrepreneurial Development [SLED] Project, community training and other capacity-building opportunities, which they said is only beneficial to one section of the community. turn to page 12

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tuesdAY, december 11, 2018 | guyanatimesgy.com

Improvised weapons found during Mazaruni Prison raid

S

everal days after searches were conducted at the Camp Street, Lusignan and New Amsterdam Prisons for contraband items, the operations moved to the Mazaruni Prison on Monday during which a quantity of prohibited items were discovered.

The more than two-hour search unearthed 17 improvised weapons, two knives, two chisels, a screw driver, six USB cables, two cellular phones, 37 smoking utensils, 14 metal spoons, 18 cigarette lighters, two bottles of fermented wine, and other prohibited items.

On Saturday, members of the Joint Services swooped down at the New Amsterdam penitentiary during which 14 cellphones, five improvised weapons, 22 lighters, wires, 12 chargers,

11 earpieces, two SIM cards, and 12 grams of cannabis were discovered.

Two days prior, four small plastic packages containing a quantity of cannabis, 10 lighters, four improvised weapons, 30 razor blades, nine needles, a pair of scissors, a piece of broken glass, two metal nails, three geometry set compasses, one metal spoon, two cellphone batteries, six cellphones, five earphones, seven chargers, five SIM cards, two memory cards, and a quantity of wires were unearthed at the Lusignan, East Coast Demerara (ECD) penitentiary.

Meanwhile, over at the Georgetown prison, the members of the Joint Services unearthed 13 cellular phones, three cellular phone chargers, eight packs

and 10 loose Bristol cigarettes, 21 cigarette lighters, 226 grams of suspected cannabis, small transparent ziplock bags, a quantity of improvised weapons, and three hacksaw blades.

Contraband smuggling has long been a perennial problem within the prison system, and this is compounded by the fact that both prison officers and Police Officers are facilitating the illegal trade, which is said to be “big business�.

While the authorities have been struggling to curb the illegal practice, there has been a breakthrough on the apparent network among rogue prison officers. In fact, only in October, four prison officers were arrested after they smuggled a bottle of rum and a pack of ciga-

Venezuelan jailed for gun, ammo possession

A

Venezuelan was on Monday jailed for two years after he confessed to two counts of illegal firearm possession.

Chavez Suarez, through an interpreter, admitted to having 15 live rounds of 9mm ammunition and a Beretta 9mm pistol, while he was at Eteringbang, Cuyuni River on December 7, 2018 without being the holder of a firearm licence.

The sentences, which will run concurrently, were handed down by Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan.

Suarez told the court that he kept the firearm for his personal protection.

However, Police

The gun and ammunition which were found in Chavez Suarez’s possession

Prosecutor Gordon Mansfield told the court that on the day in question, ranks from the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and Eteringbang Police Station observed the foreigner act-

ing in a suspicious manner and decided to search him, uncovering the illegal items in a black handbag.

In addition, the unrepresented man was also fined $50,000 for each charge.

The contraband items found at the Mazaruni Prison

rettes into the Lusignan Prison the weekend prior.

These officers were subsequently charged and interdicted from duty.

In addition, another two ranks found themselves in hot water following the dis-

covery of illegal items at two separate prison facilities.

In Berbice, 1032 grams of suspected marijuana and 39 packs of cigarettes were found in the New Amsterdam Prison, and a prison officer admitted to

conspiring with inmates to hide the contraband that was thrown over the fence.

Meanwhile, another prison officer at the Timehri penitentiary was taken into custody after he was implicated by an inmate concerning the presence of 584 grams of marijuana in the compound.

Five other prison officers were relieved of their duties back in July after they were implicated in an incident whereby a parcel containing cannabis had been thrown into the Lusignan Prison Holding Bay area.

Director of Prisons (ag) Gladwin Samuels had disclosed in September that so far for the year, some 28 prison officers have been dismissed; 11 for facilitating or directly smuggling contraband into the prison system.

The Prison Director added that there were 12 ranks currently interdicted from duty; nine of whom have been charged either departmentally or criminally for trafficking-related activities.

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Robbery-murder Cop critical following EBD “Shoe Lace” gets life imprisonment accident for businessman’s death

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olice Sergeant Joseph Elton Ambrose, 42, who is stationed at Alberttown Police Station and resides at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD), is in critical condition at the Georgetown Public Hospital, following an accident.

Reports are the Sergeant was injured about 23:45h on Sunday on the Herstelling Public Road.

According to the Police, enquiries revealed that the Policeman, who was driving motor car PMM 9099 north along the western carriageway of the road, reportedly at a fast pace, lost control of

the vehicle and crashed into the rear of motor lorry GLL 5592, which was parked.

Public-spirited citizens rushed to the man’s aid and took the unconscious cop to the Diamond hospital, where he was treated and transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital.

Sergeant Ambrose is currently on annual leave.

Deceased: Kamal Ramsahoye

A

fter a jury found him guilty of killing a man for which he was

paid $60,000, Phillip “Shoe Lace” Paul was on Monday sentenced to life imprisonment at the Georgetown High Court.

It was during his trial that it was revealed that he was paid by an accomplice called “Tall Man” for the December 2012 murder of Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD) businessman Kamal Ramsahoye who met his demise when the killers stumbled upon him as they were about to rob his home.

Only “Shoe Lace” was on trial for the man’s murder and he had nothing to say before Justice Sandil Kissoon handed down the life sentence. The Judge ordered that he serve 30 years in jail before becoming eligible for parole after considering that the victim was stabbed 14 times about his body. The Judge had started at a base sentence of 36 years before parole, but took off six years for the time the accused spent on remand.

Ramsahoye’s relatives said that they fully agreed with the court’s decision as they continued to deal with their loss. The prosecution’s case, which was led

by Attorneys Lisa Cave and Orinthia Schmidt, was that, under caution, Paul told Police that he saw his friend “Tall Man” on the “line top”

A camera-shy Phillip “Shoe Lace” Paul

(Railway Embankment) and invited him to go to a house in Annandale.

After they scaled a fence, they entered Ramsahoye’s home, but encountered the homeowner who ran, but they caught up with him, and “Shoe Lace” reportedly held the businessman while “Tall Man” stabbed him to death. They then searched the man’s home and made off with a large sum of cash,

after which “Tall Man” gave “Shoe Lace” $60,000 and the two parted company.

Paul was represented

by Attorney Brandon De Santos who had appealed for mercy, citing that his client was only 19 at the commissioning of the crime.

However, the State proffered that the court should consider the seriousness and prevalence of robberies in society

“Demand more from your regional officials”...

from page 10

Harmon assured the aggrieved residents that the Social Protection and Public Health Ministries along with other agencies would be consulted on the approach used to select candidates for programmes and initiatives.

He made it clear that all must benefit from opportu-

nities made available by the Government.

Additionally, the Minister of State spoke of President David Granger’s Frontline Village Policy that was announced during his visit to Whitewater - also in Region One - earlier this year. The policy speaks to the estab-

lishment of military patrol bases and heightened 24hour security by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) and the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

As such, Minister Harmon urged the residents to continue being vigilant as the country’s borders are expansive.

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Acting President in National Assembly

“Let the Court decide on the way forward” – political analyst – PPP/C’s Chief Whip outlines precedent set by Samuel Hinds to Speaker

W

hile there have been many views shared on whether Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo should or should not be allowed to be present in the National Assembly while acting as President, Political analyst Dr Henry Jeffery feels that the matter should be sanctioned by the court of law.

Jeffery, a former Government minister for nearly two decades, said that only a court could decide on the best way forward because both the Government and the Opposition may never come to a compromise in resolving the issue.

The parliamentary Opposition feels Nagamootoo’s continued presence in the National Assembly is in violation of the Constitution, while the Government side feels that it is a non-issue.

“My own feeling is that the separation of power would seem to suggest that they PM should not be in Parliament when he is also

Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira

head of the executive,” Dr Jeffrey told Guyana Times on Monday while saying that despite this he also thinks the matter should be resolved.

“My take, outside of the formality of it being an issue of that we must maintain it, we have a difference of views on this matter and the court could resolve this,” he added.

Opposition Leader

Bharrat Jagdeo zeroed in on the matter during his contribution to the Budget debates. He cited Article 178 (4) of the Constitution, which states that any Minister performing the functions of the office of the President has to vacate his seat during that period.

“I believe the honourable Prime Minister is squatting in the House! It says, as part of our Constitution, during any period when the Minister is performing the functions of the office of the President, his or her seat in the National Assembly shall be regarded as vacant,” Jagdeo said.

But the political analyst said even if this is the case and the Prime Minister is in violation of the laws, then it would not affect the Government’s business. “… because if the PM could send someone else to the Chamber they will not lose by his vote in there,” Jeffrey noted.

Nagamootoo has rejected the Opposition’s conten-

Venezuelan refugees

Region 1 Chairman slams Govt for non-support

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he Regional Chairman of Region One (BarimaWaini) Brentol Ashley has slammed Government over the non-support of Venezuelan refuges despite a promise to render assistance.

On Monday, Ashley told this newspaper that while Government had promised to rectify the situation by lending assistance, there has been no feedback or support to demonstrate this commitment.

“Coming from the Government’s end that they’re committed, to date, we haven’t heard anything about on what is the progress of being made or whether if the commitment they would’ve made is still going to be fulfilled,” said Ashley.

The chairman also explained that for the past weeks, supplies for the refugees were donated by independent organisations and other agencies.

“There haven’t been any supplies sent to the region from the Government.

Whatever we have would have come through donations which was made by Food for the Poor and other persons.”

Presently, food supplies are necessary to provide for the growing number of migrants, particularly within the Region One borough.

When contacted, Head of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Kester

Region One Regional Chairman Brentol Ashley

Craig told Guyana Times that they were “working” to have supplies enter the region by this week or next week.

“We’re working on supplies to send up hopefully by the end of this week or earlier next week,” Craig assured.

The number of foreign nationals entering Guyana has been increasing over the past months and less than one week ago, it was reported that some 979 foreigners were given permission to reside in Guyana in the form of extensions and work permits.

These numbers include 225 Cubans, 175 Chinese, 165 Americans, 120 Indians, 70 from the Philippines,

75 Venezuelans, 59 British persons, 45 from the Dominican Republic, 30 from Trinidad and Tobago and 15 Surinamese.

Earlier in 2018, the Government admitted that immigration authorities have a limited capacity in tracking immigrants after they arrive in Guyana, even though data is collected when many of them enter Guyana through the borders.

Expectations were that Government would have strong and comprehensive immigration policies, primarily with the inflow of individuals coming to benefit from the impending oil and gas sector.

In July, Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge told media operatives that a Cabinet-vetted policy guideline was in place to establish how immigrants are to be treated. Immigrants, upon entry, must fill out an arrival card that details their country of origin and proposed place of residence while in Guyana.

Last month, officials from Region One (Barima-Waini) were in the process of conducting a survey to ascertain how many undocumented migrants were residing in the region, since they had taken up the mantle of providing shelter and other accommodations to persons who fled the harsh conditions of Venezuela’s economic crisis.

that both Government and the Opposition should seek to push the agenda of Constitutional Reform so that these matters could be better resolved.

Precedence

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland

tion saying that it is only if a minister is appointed to perform the functions of the president that the minister has to vacate his parliamentary seat while he is performing the functions of the president.

His comments were back by former Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran who told the State media, “The article in the Constitution requires a minister, if appointed, to vacate his seat. It does not require the prime minister, if similarly appointed, to do so.”

Jeffrey therefore said, “doesn’t the executive control that Parliament? It is passing and assenting it…The law should be maintained but this could be sorted it out by the court.” The political analyst said it is on that note

In a letter sent to the Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Barton Scotland from Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira dated Sunday, December 9, 2018, it said that in the 8th, 9th and 10th Parliaments in accordance with Articles 96 (1) and 178 (1) and (4) of the Guyana Constitution when the then Prime Minister Samuel Archibald Hinds was carrying out “the functions of office of the President” who was overseas, he was not allowed to attend a sitting or a committee meeting of the National Assembly.

It was further noted that there are records to this effect in the archives of the Parliament Office.

“Repeatedly the Minutes of the Sittings of the National Assembly reflected the absence on leave of the then Prime Minister Samuel Archibald Hinds who was carrying out the functions of the office of the President who was overseas,” Teixeira stated.

Mention was also made with regards to an official instrument being issued by the Office of the President which stated that the Prime Minister, or in some cases a

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

minister, was carrying out the “functions of the office of the President” and this was copied to the Clerk of the National Assembly. “There was no deviation from this during the tenures of either Speaker Ralph Ramkarran or Speaker Raphael Trotman,” it added.

The Opposition called upon the Speaker to uphold the constitution as was done by his predecessors. “Failure to uphold the Constitution will expose the entire consideration of National Estimates for the 2019 Budget and any other matters before the House during this period to be infected by the germ of unconstitutionality and thereby making it liable to be set aside by a Court of competent jurisdiction, should there be a resort to such an option,” it added.

Tiger Bay resident remanded on ganja possession charge

T

wenty-seven-year-old Jermaine Charles of Rosemary Lane, Tiger Bay, Georgetown appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on Monday and professed his innocence after being accused of possession of cannabis.

Charles denied that on

December 8, 2018, he had 88 grams of cannabis for the purpose of trafficking.

However, Police Prosecutor Arvin Moore objected to bail being granted to the defendant after informing the court that the illegal substance was found in an oven during a raid by

Police ranks in the community.

Despite the pleas of his attorney, Paul Fung-A-Fat for his client to be granted his pre-trial liberty, the Magistrate remanded Charles to prison. The case will continue on January 21, 2019.

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2 months later

ERC still probing GECOM’s hiring practices

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wo months after retired Judge and Senior Counsel (SC) Stanley Moore was hired to probe the employment practices at the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM), the investigation is not yet complete.

However, Guyana Times was reliably informed that the three-man team is close to wrapping up the inquiry with a view to completing the investigation before year end.

Justice Moore, in collaboration with former Deputy Commissioner of Police

Lloyd Smith and human resources consultant Jairam Petam, was to complete the investigation in three weeks during October. However, the time was extended as the probe widened.

The investigation was launched after People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) GECOM Commissioners Bibi Shadick, Sase Gunraj and Robeson Benn wrote a letter of complaint to the ERC, contending that there was an ethnic imbalance at GECOM and hiring practices were being manipulat-

Retired Judge Stanley Moore, SC, was selected to oversee the probe into GECOM’s hiring practices

24 primary schools to receive reading spaces

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rimary students in Regions Five (Mahaica-Berbice) and Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) will now have a place in their schools to read as a result of a drive held by students of the University of Guyana.

The Division of Education and Humanities in collaboration with the University of Guyana Berbice Campus’ Library and the Education Department on Saturday held its second Christmas Cheer and Book Drive drawing which will see 24 classrooms given a complete reading space equipped with fully stocked bookshelves.

The project is aimed at enabling primary schools to promote literacy through reading for pleasure and was undertaken by 36 students from the class “Teaching of Language Arts at the Primary Level”.

Lecturer and Project Coordinator, Pamela Rose, while delivering an overview of the project, explained that the course is to help teachers not only to understand the Language Arts needs of their students but to also design strategies to meet those needs.

“Classroom teaching in this course emphasises the transformational model of learning and the contextual view of learning where students’ learning is made more meaningful and relevant when linked with real-life ac-

ed in favour of one group.

After these allegations were made, the ERC had scheduled a meeting with Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, where the matters were raised. The ERC also met with President David Granger at that time.

At a press conference prior to the probe, GECOM Chairman and retired Justice James Patterson had said that qualifications ulti-

mately trumped race when filling vacancies.

When asked whether deliberate efforts to achieve racial diversity were being made, Patterson had contended that deliberate efforts were being made to get the best people and that he had “no apologies” for that.

ERC Chairman, Reverend Dr John Smith was hoping that the probe would have been completed before the November 12, 2018 Local Government Elections (LGE).

The ERC is a constitutional body established under the Herdmanston Accord. It works with persons and agencies to promote harmonious ethnic relations.

The Commission also deals with complaints, promotes training in racial harmony, and fosters a sense of security, among all ethnic groups.

Justice Moore had served as a Home Affairs Minister under former President LFS Burnham during the Administration of the People’s National Congress

(PNC).

The PPP/C Commissioners had registered complaints of Chairman Patterson using his post to muzzle them on the issue of hiring practices. Commissioner Benn had highlighted issues regarding the ethnic composition of the workforce of the secretariat of the Commission, having pointed out that the perception was that the vast majority of the staff of the Commission were persons of one ethnicity. However, the Chairman disputed the Commissioner’s claim.

The PPP/C Commissioners had said that the Chairman prevented Benn from further defending his position and when challenged, adjourned the meeting for over half an hour.

Their allegations followed by an earlier statement made by executive member of the PPP, Dr Roger Luncheon who made allegations against GECOM regarding the same issue.

Construction company makes donation to GPF

T The reading space that will be given to the 24 Primary schools in Regions 5 and 6

tivities and real-life needs.

This project undertaken by the EEN 4102 class has the potential to support national efforts to improve literacy in primary schools through collaborative partnership activities conducted in four phases,” Rose is quoted by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs Professor Michael Scott applauded the initiative and noted that literacy encompasses much more than reading and writing: it includes the capacity to read, understand and logically appreciate various forms of communication.

Meanwhile, a student of the class, Janelle Felix delivered the report on the project and said it positively helped teachers in addressing reading problems by enhancing the children’s word recognition and vocabulary skills.

The Book Drive initiative started in 2017 and after recognising the impact the programme made in 25 schools in Region Six including schools in the riverain areas, such as Orealla and Baracara, the team extended the project to Region Five. The reading spaces will be officially handed over in January 2019.

he Guyana Police Force, on Monday, was the recipient of 100 traffic cones following a donation by Retesh Singh of Bardon Construction Services.

The donation was received by Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Maxine Graham and Traffic Chief, Superintendent Linden Isles at the Forces’ Transport Department, Police Headquarters, EveLeary.

Singh, who is an ardent supporter of law enforcement initiatives, recently donated 50 traffic cones to D Division Commander, Senior Superintendent Edmond Cooper who has since been using same in front of several schools to avoid traffic congestion.

The businessman stated that in light of the upcoming Christmas holiday, he thought it best of donate the cones to assist in de-

Retesh Singh of Bardon Construction Services makes the donation of cones to Deputy Commissioner (Operations) Maxine Graham and Traffic Chief, Superintendent Linden Isles

ceasing the traffic congestion.

Both Graham and Isles applauded the business-

man’s kind gesture while thanking him for the donation of the much-needed equipment.

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151 students graduate from “Retool programme” in Linden …as LTI commissions health & safety training laboratory

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he first batch of 151 students attached to the Linden Technical Institute (LTI) on Friday graduated from the “Retool Safety Awareness Training Programme”, as the institution also commissioned its first multi-purpose Health and Safety Training Laboratory in its compound.

The pilot programme, aimed at training and equipping students with technical knowledge on health and safety practices in the workplace, is a collaborative effort between Guyana Goldfields Inc and its subsidiary, Aurora Gold Mines Inc (AGM); Cuso International; Global Affairs Canada; the Canadian High Commission of Guyana; the Education Ministry; and the Council for Technical, Vocational and Educational Training (CVET).

Over the course of the first year, 57 business and 94 engineering students were trained using an occupational safety and health module developed in British Columbia, Canada. There was also for lecturers a programme aimed at assisting them to teach students about health and safety.

Speaking at the commissioning, and later at

Students and officials at the graduation held at the Lichas Hall, Linden

the graduation ceremony held at the Lichas Hall in Linden, Cuso Health and Safety Curriculum Programme Advisor Trainer and International Volunteer Marshall Denh-off said the initiative came as a result of a need for improved awareness in health and safety education among tradesman in the community, known for its mining skill-set. Denhoff, who worked along with the students, further explained that the programmet aims at preparing them for the work-

place.

“There’s a lot of hazards in the workplace, and the whole purpose of us being here today is to make sure that these young adults, when they go to work, they come back in as good condition or better condition than they went to work...We know about 20 percent of injuries and fatalities to young workers occur in the very first month of the job...We know young workers are at the greatest risk of being seriously injured in their first 6 months on a job... and

young males face a 48 percent higher risk of injury than the overall working population... we have to try and change that culture...”, he noted.

Denhoff said the programme is expected to be rolled out at all technical institutes across Guyana. Materials used in the training module, he noted, will be put together to be presented to other training institutions.

Denhoff pointed out that there may also be a course for the general public. The cer-

57 graduate from aquaculture course

F

Graduates of the Overseas Training Course in Aquaculture Technology

ifty-seven participants have graduated from a two-week aquaculture course facilitated by the Chinese Government.

Their enthusiasm was applauded by the Councillor of the Chinese Embassy in Guyana, Chen Xilai, in his closing remarks at the ceremony.

The course came to an end on Monday following exercises which saw participants visiting the Sweet Water Aqua Farm at Canal Number Two Polder, West Bank Demerara and the Satyadeow Sawh Aquaculture Station at Mon Repos.

Chen explained that the training was aimed at improving the integrated technology and management of aquaculture in Guyana, so as to promote industry development.

He, however, said the experts from China including Professor Chen Jiayou from the Fujian Institute of Oceanography and Cao

Jianmenj, Researcher from the Pearl River Aquaculture Research Institute, also learnt valuable information during the two-week training programme.

Chen said with over 46 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, China stood ready to continue its support to Guyana in many areas, including education, agriculture, and technology. “Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, we have collaborated in the public health sector and recently agriculture sector; also we have frequent economic exchanges in business with the Private Sector …many Chinese businessmen are operating in Guyana,” Chen is quoted by the Department of Public Information (DPI) as saying.

Chief Fisheries Officer Denzil Roberts urged the participants to use their knowledge to better themselves and their communities.

He said officers from the

Fisheries Department would visit and monitor the progress of participants in the various regions.

The course was a collaboration between the Governments of Guyana

and the People’s Republic of China. The participants came from the Private Sector, Government agencies, civil society, security services, the University of Guyana and the farming community.

tificate, he noted, can be recognised if included in a resume when applying for a job in the oil and gas sector.

Reflecting on the training facility at LTI, Denhoff said he is excited about the future of the institution. He noted that it is well equipped, and will be a centre of excellence for health and safety training in Guyana. LTI Principal, Shurla Brotherson, said it is another milestone for the institute, which is now celebrating 60 years as an institution which provides quality skills training. She has thanked the partners of the initiative.

“Three years ago, the institution was approached by Guyana Goldfields Inc about the quality of students we were providing to the labour market. Although skilled in those various areas, there was lack of the ability to demonstrate safe working practices. It was as a result of this that this revigorating training opportunity...

‘Retool Guyana,’ was championed...The programme focused on increasing the participation of youths, young men and women, including disabled and indigenous persons...

“We can assure you that with the Occupational Safety and Health training that they have received, their performance in the various areas of specification would be evident. This is a great accomplishment for the Linden Technical Institute...,” she said.

Brotherson added that the programme also saw upgrading of the institution’s curriculum, with Cuso and Guyana Goldfields providing technical support.

Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, Lilian Chatterjee, in her remarks, congratulated the students and noted that the Government of Canada is proud to be associated with

the programme.

“Because, for Canada, youth development is a priority. Canada understands the importance of engaging youth not only on issues that affect them directly, but on all issues of national and global importance... Young people represent a generation of true global citizens... the trainees here today are role models for others out there,” she stated as she encouraged students to maximise the opportunity in an effort to develop themselves and the country.

Assistant Chief Education Officer (Technica) of the Education Ministry, Patrick Chinedu, in his address, extended gratitude to the companies, noting that the laboratory will be used to train safety officers for the school system and other agencies. This, he said, is as part of the Ministry’s policy to replicate and industrialise programmes.

He added it is expected that the Ministry would provide training for 2 staff members of LTI at the degree level, and other training opportunities will be extended throughout Guyana.

AGM Public Relations Officer Leon Roberts said the initiative is a very important undertaking for the company. He stressed that safety is its main priority. He noted that it is also a behavioural change exercise for students aimed at having them change their mindsets as it relates to safety.

Graduating student SaYoor Headly noted that the training received over the past year has equipped students to be better skilled in their areas of specialisation.

“This training will not only help us as individuals, but will also benefit our community and country as a whole”, he said.

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guyanatimesgy.com

tuesDAY, december 11, 2018

Regional

Venezuelan ruling party wins local polls marred by low turnout

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enezuela’s ruling party on Sunday emerged victorious in the local elections, marred by a high rate of abstention.

Only 27 per cent of about 20.7 million eligible voters cast their ballot, handing President Nicolás Maduro’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) a massive victory.

National Electoral Council chair Tibisay Lucena said the PSUV won 142 of the 156 jurisdictions in play. Lucena put the rate of abstention at 72.6 per cent.

She called it “a calm day of civic and democratic action”, while Maduro congratulated Venezuela on “consolidating its democracy” in a post on Twitter on Monday.

In the run-up to polling, analysts had predicted a record low turnout, citing mistrust in the electoral process, the banning of Opposition parties and widespread ex-

D

President Nicolás Maduro said the elections consolidated Venezuela’s democracy [Marco Bello/Reuters]

haustion amid the ongoing socioeconomic crisis.

Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said 150,000 Police and military personnel had been deployed to provide security at polling centres.

Maduro sought to strengthen institutional con-

trol as Venezuelans choose 2459 members for 335 city councils.

But the choice was limited after the Electoral Council disqualified the main opposition parties, which had controlled a quarter of city councils prior to the vote.

The ballot took place as the country’s economy continues to spiral out of control, with severe food and medicine shortages and a 1.35 million per cent inflation rate, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). (Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

Region urged to prepare for ‘big’ quake

T

he head of the seismic Research centre (SRC) at the St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Dr Joan Lutchman, is reiterating calls for the Region to be prepared for a major earthquake after several parts of the Caribbean have been jolted by tremors in recent times.

Over the weekend, the SRC said that a burst of 54 earthquakes occurred north

of St Kitts during a 21-hour period. The biggest had a magnitude of 4.1.

It said that the 54 earthquakes were in the magnitude range of 1.2 to 4.1, the SRC said, adding “there have been no felt reports thus far”.

The SRC reported that a quake measuring 3.8 was recorded Sunday night and was felt 104 kilometres (km) east of Fort-deFrance, in Martinique, 117 km north east of Castries in

St Lucia and 155 km south east of Roseau, Dominica.

It said it was located at Latitude: 14.67N, Longitude: 60.14W and at a depth of 10km. Speaking on a radio programme on Monday, Lutchman, who has for months now been warning that the Caribbean is long overdue a “big one”, said that several tremors have since been recorded following the weekend activities.

“At this time we have

had magnitude 4.1 associated with our magnitude events. So it could simply be a main shock with some aftershocks.

“These events are shallow; we had an additional 12 earthquakes over the weekend. Overnight through Saturday and into Sunday morning, I imagine there were even fewer which is what you expect when you have a subsiding sequence,” she told radio listeners. (Excerpt from CMC)

Holness to order forensic audit of J$5.2B unaccounted oil loss at Petrojam

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rime Minister Andrew Holness is to order a forensic audit into the J$5.2 billion worth of oil that has been unaccounted for between 2013 and 2018 at the State-owned oil refinery Petrojam.

Holness made the disclosure Monday morning at a press conference that was convened on the heels of a damning report from the Auditor General's Office last week, deepening the controversy that has engulfed the oil refinery since the start of the year.

The findings, which were tabled in the House of Representatives last Tuesday, revealed high levels of unaccountable oil losses, instances of management overriding procurement guidelines, poor management of capital investment projects and consultancy arrangements, inconsistent recruitment and employment practices, and

Prime Minister Andrew Holness

inadequate oversight and monitoring of Petrojam operations by the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology.

Holness said that those who benefitted illegally from State funds must

pay back; adding that the boards of Petrojam and the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) will be instructed to take steps necessary to reclaim any wrongly used public funds.

As it relates to the issue of pricing mechanisms employed to determine gas prices, the Prime Minister said there is some discretion used to determine prices locally and in that exercise lies an opportunity to bring transparency.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Holness was scheduled to meet with Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis on Monday on her Petrojam report.

He said that the meeting would focus especially on the system-wide changes in the administration of public agencies, to ensure better administration of the agencies. (Excerpt from Jamaica Observer)

Fake security officer robs CAL of TT$90,000

A

man dressed as a security guard from a prominent security firm robbed Caribbean Airlines of a large sum of money when he "collected" a money bag from the Caribbean Airlines counter at Piarco International

B’dos Prison Officers Association breaks ties with umbrella body after Head charged with inciting desertion

Airport on Monday.

Police said the bag contained close to TT$100,000 and the man went up to the counter after 11:00h pretending to be the security officer who had arrived to collect cash from sales.

CAL officials made a report to the Piarco Police Station about 13:00h.

CAL Head of Corporate Communications Dionne Ligoure confirmed that "an undisclosed sum of money was unlawfully removed from the Piarco

International Airport by a man purporting to be a G4S Security Officer."

Guardian Media has been able to confirm that the sum stolen was closer to TT$90,000.

Investigations are continuing. (Excerpt from Trinidad Guardian)

ays after its president was charged with inciting prison officers to desert their duties, the Prison Officers Association (POA) has terminated its membership in the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB), the umbrella body for trade unions in the island.

The POA says the move is to “protect its members from any further criminal charges arising from its association with trade unions or anything that is likely to be interpreted as trade union activity”.

Last week, POA President Trevor Browne, who has 34 years’ experience in the prison service, was charged with inciting the desertion of four prison officers. The 58-year-old pleaded not guilty to charges that he maliciously endeavoured to seduce the prison officers from their duties between May 1 and 9 this year.

He was granted BDS$1000 (US$500) bail and the case

adjourned to February 18 next year.

Industrial Relations Consultant to the Association, Senator Caswell Franklyn issued a statement over the weekend announcing the POA’s break from CTUSAB, noting that prior to 1982, prison officers enjoyed the constitutional right to belong to a trade union of their choice.

An amendment to the Prisons Act in that same year provided for the establishment of the POA and, as a result of that amendment, prison officers lost their constitutionally guaranteed right to belong to a trade union.

“Notwithstanding this prohibition, since 1992 the Government of Barbados has allowed the Association to become a member of CTUSAB and, by so doing, the Government has allowed prison officers to freely associate with trade unions and become part of the much vaunted Social Partnership. …” (Excerpt from Caribbean360)

Police investigating as Trinidad PM gets abusive calls after Opposition MP gives out number on social media

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rime Minister Dr Keith Rowley was forced to change his phone number after an Opposition Member of Parliament circulated it on social media.

United National Congress (UNC) MP Devant Maharaj posted the number on Twitter last Friday, urging members of the public to call and register their complaints about the sea bridge between Trinidad and Tobago and the performance of the Galleon’s Passage vessel which services the sea bridge.

And in a statement issued over the weekend, Rowley revealed that he had since been the subject of “abuse and threatening behaviour” that warranted the involvement of the Commissioner of Police.

Meantime, National Security Minister Stuart Young said Maharaj’s actions warranted a criminal investigation.

“The publication by Devant Maharaj of the personal contact information of the Honourable Prime Minister is an all-time low and worthy of a criminal investigation,” he said in a statement to media houses.

“He has continued inciting people to use the Prime Minister’s information to, at the minimum, harass the Prime Minister and at a maximum, expose him to harm.”

Young said he consid-

Opposition MP Devant Maharaj is being blasted for sharing the Prime Minister’s number on social media

ered Maharaj’s actions to be a “dangerous and a clear indication of the Opposition’s desperation and confirmatory of the type of destructive actions that they and in particular, he, engages in.

“It is plainly wrong and even dangerous to circulate publicly the private information of any citizen and that includes public officers,” he added.

The Newsday newspaper reported Maharaj as saying that he was not sorry for circulating Rowley’s number, stating that the Prime Minister was a public official and needed to be in touch with the people.(Excerpt from

Caribbean360)

17

tuesdAY, december 11, 2018

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Around the World

adds spunk to Isha Ambani’s UK PM calls off MPs' Beyoncé pre-wedding celebrations, Hillary Clinton vote on her Brexit deal and Bollywood stars attend the gala G B ritish Prime Minister Theresa May has called off Tuesday's crucial vote on her Brexit deal so she can go back to Brussels and ask for changes to it.

As it stands the deal "would be rejected by a significant margin" if Members of Parliament (MPs) voted on it, she admitted.

But she said she was confident of getting "reassur-

ances" from the European Union on the Northern Ireland border plan.

MPs reacted angrily to her announcement with Labour's Jeremy Corbyn saying she had "lost control of events".

And European Council President Donald Tusk insisted the remaining 27 EU countries would not "renegotiate the deal", including the controversial Northern Irish

backstop.

However, he said EU leaders would be willing to "discuss how to facilitate UK ratification" of the withdrawal agreement at Thursday's summit in Brussels.

The Prime Minister's U-turn came after she and senior Ministers had spent days insisting the vote would go ahead, despite the scale of opposition from MPs being obvious. (Excerpt from BBC News)

Macron addresses the nation, announces rise in minimum wage

President Emmanuel Macron makes his first public comments on the “yellow vest” movement

F

rench President Emmanuel Macron announced a range of conciliatory measures aimed at appeasing "yellow vest" protesters, including increasing the minimum wage and cancelling a planned social security tax hike for pensioners earning less than 2,000 euros.

While acknowledging on Monday he may have "hurt" people with some of his statements, Macron refused to reinstate a wealth tax and

to back down on his reform agenda, which he said would proceed in 2019 with overhauls of pensions, unemployment benefits and public expenditures.

"We will respond to the economic and social urgency with strong measures, by cutting taxes more rapidly, by keeping our spending under control, but not with U-turns," he said in a televised address.

"The salary of a worker on basic income will in-

crease by 100 euros per month starting in 2019," said Macron. "We want a France where we can live with dignity."

The 40-year-old leader said his government will also ask private employers to pay their workers yearend bonuses if they're able to.

Demonstrators held a fourth round of protests on Saturday to press for further concessions on reducing inequality.

The month-long campaign of nationwide road blockades and weekend protests in Paris, three of which degenerated into destruction and looting, has taken a toll on the French economy with an estimated US$1.5 billion in losses.

Political opponents, who have largely failed so far to tap into the discontent from the leaderless "yellow vest", criticised Macron's response on Monday as insufficient.

(Excerpt from Al Jazeera)

South Africa protests to Rwanda over Lindiwe Sisulu slur

S

outh Africa has summoned the Rwandan envoy in Pretoria after a Rwandan pro-Government news site reportedly called a key Minister a "prostitute".

Lindiwe Sisulu, the South African International Relations Minister, has also been criticised on Twitter by a senior Rwandan official.

Her spokesman told the BBC the remarks were "unacceptable" and "must stop".

Sisulu recently met an exiled critic of the Rwandan leader, triggering a diplomatic row between the countries.

She told a press conference last month that she had met Rwanda's former army chief, General Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, in Johannesburg.

She said she was "pleasantly surprised" to hear that Nyamwasa, who has established an opposition party in South Africa, was willing to negotiate a recon-

rammy Awardwinning singer Beyoncé gave a power-packed performance at the pre-wedding celebrations of Isha Ambani and Anand Piramal in India.

The pop star performed on Sunday night for a star-studded audience, which included former US First Lady Hillary Clinton and a slew of celebrities including newlywed Priyanka Chopra and her American singer husband, Nick.

Known for songs like “Crazy In Love,” “Single Ladies” and “Run The World”, Beyoncé chose a thigh-high slit red and gold dress with a plunging neckline by designer duo Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla. She completed her look with soft curls and a gold maatha-patti.

Beyoncé performed on numbers like “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran and belted out her greatest hits.

Beyoncé dazzles in an Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla outfit for Isha Ambani’s pre-wedding celebrations in Udaipur on December 9 (IANS photo)

The “Baby Boy” singer left Udaipur on Monday morning.

She was sporting a grey hoodie and sunglasses at the airport.

Beyoncé’s arrival for a private concert has been much talked about since September when American singer John Legend performed at Isha

Russia deploys two bombers to Venezuela for exercises

T

wo Russian longrange strategic bombers landed in Venezuela Monday for what the government said were air force exercises aimed at strengthening the defence of the leftist-ruled South American country.

General Vladimir Padrino, the Venezuelan defence minister, welcomed about 100 Russian pilots and other personnel after the two TU-160s and two other aircraft landed at the international airport that serves Caracas.

Padrino said the deployment showed “we also

are preparing to defend Venezuela to the last inch when necessary.”

President Nicolas Maduro often accuses the United States of plotting against his government, which has overseen the plunge of a once-rich petro state into a severe economic crisis.

Besides the two bombers, the deployment included an An-124 transport plane and an Il-62 passenger plane, according to a Russian military announcement in Moscow.

Padrino noted that Russian aircraft had visit-

ciliation deal with his former Government.

Nyamwasa has been living in exile in South Africa since 2010, after falling out with Rwanda's President Paul Kagame.

Rwanda's Deputy Foreign Minister, Olivier Nduhungirehe, criticised the meeting on his Twitter account, in remarks South Africa described as offensive.

A headline on a Rwandan pro-Government news website also referred to Sisulu as Nyamwasa's "prostitute",

a South African Government source told the BBC's Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg.

The story was removed, but the damage was done, our reporter adds.

Sisulu's spokesman, Ndivhuwo Mabaya, said that the Rwandan envoy in Pretoria had been told that the tone of comments was unacceptable.

He said the South African High Commissioner in Kigali, George Twala, had also been recalled to Pretoria for consultations. (Excerpt from BBC News)

ed before in 2013, but said their current deployment was part of a “new experience.”

He said exercises would be held to “raise the level of interoperability of the aerospace defence systems” of both countries.

It was unclear how long the Russian deployment would last, and Padrino did not provide details about the exercises planned.

In recent years, Venezuela has purchased millions of dollars in military equipment from Russia, he said.(AFP)

US sanctions 3 North Korean officials for suspected rights abuses

T South African International Relations Minister Lindiwe Sisulu

and Anand’s engagement in Italy’s Lake Como.

Among those who joined the party were business tycoons, as well as Bollywood celebrities like Aamir Khan with wife Kiran Rao; Abhishek Bachchan with mother Jaya, wife Aishwarya and daughter Aaradhya; Karan Johar; Salman Khan; Parineeti Chopra; Anil Kapoor and wife Sunita; Boney Kapoor with daughters Janhvi and Khushi; Siddharth Roy Kapur with wife Vidya Balan; John Abraham with wife Priya Runchal; Ronnie Screwvala with wife Zarine; Karisma Kapoor; Varun Dhawan and Karan Tacker.

Isha and Anand, scions of the Ambani and Piramal business families respectively, will wed as per Indian traditions, customs and culture at the Mumbai residence of the Ambani family on Wednesday. (IndiaWest)

he United States on Monday sanctioned three North Korean officials, including a top aide to North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un, citing “ongoing and serious human rights abuses and censorship,” the US Treasury Department said.

The sanctions “shine a spotlight on North Korea’s reprehensible treatment of those in North Korea, and serve as a reminder of North Korea’s brutal treatment of US citizen Otto Warmbier,” the department said in a statement.

Warmbier was an American student who died in June 2017 after 17 months of detention in North Korea, which contributed to already tense exchanges between Pyongyang and Washington, primarily over North Korea’s nuclear development program.

The Treasury identi-

Choe Ryong Hae, a close aide of North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, attends a meeting with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow

fied the three as Ryong Hae Choe, an aide close to Kim who heads the Workers’ Party of Korea Organisation and Guidance Department; State Security Minister Kyong Thaek Jong and the director of North Korea’s

Propaganda and Agitation Department, Kwang Ho Pak. The sanctions freeze any assets the officials may have under US jurisdiction and generally prohibits them from engaging in any transactions with anyone in the United States.

In the lead-up to the Trump-Kim summit, North Korea released three American prisoners, although talks between the two countries have since stalled. Last month, North Korea said it would deport another detained US citizen.

Talks that had been planned for November 8 between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and senior North Korean official Kim Yong Chol that aimed to pave the way for a second summit were cancelled with 24 hours’ notice. (Excerpt from Reuters)

18

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tuesdAY, december 11, 2018

ARCHIE

ARIES (March 21April 19)

TAURUS (April 20May 20)

dilbert

GEMINI (May 21June 20)

CANCER (June 21July 22)

Peanuts

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Calvin and Hobbes

Know your target and aim high. The more you do now, the easier it will be to justify spending more time with friends and family as the year comes to a close.

How you deal with others will determine what you get in return. Now’s the time to make an adjustment to your schedule to accommodate loved ones.

Look at the big picture, but don’t feel that you must take on more than you can handle. Don’t rely on others to take care of your responsibilities.

Be innovative when it comes to your work and when faced with competition. How you handle others will reflect how you are treated in return. Romance is favored.

You can have fun without going to extremes. Pace yourself and be careful not to make the wrong impression on someone who can influence your life. Take care of business first.

Get out and get things done. Going on a shopping spree or attending a community event will do you good and bring you closer to a loved one. Romance is highlighted.

Touch base with an old LIBRA (Sept. 23- friend or relative. Including Oct. 23) isolated people in your plans will be a kind gesture that could change your life.

WORD GAME TODAY’S WORD — HANDICAPS (HANDICAPS: HAN-dih-kaps:

SUDOKU

Disadvantages imposed upon contestants.)

Average mark 32 words Time limit 45 minutes Can you find 45 or more words in HANDICAPS? The list will be published tomorrow.

edit emit dame date dead deed deem deet demit diadem

died diet dime idea ideate item adit admit aide aided

aimed amid tame team tied teem tide tied time

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

Copyright 2015, Distributed by Universal Uclick for UFS

Let your heart lead the way. Share your feelings and vision for the new year.

Making plans with a loved one will bring you closer together.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21)

A personal change should be carefully planned before it’s executed. Rely on past examples to determine how to best bring about the alterations that will make your world better.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22Jan. 19)

YESTERDAY’S WORD — MEDIATED

made maid mate mead meat media meet mete mite edema

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22)

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

PISCES (Feb. 20March 20)

Personal gains can be made if you stick to your plan and put everything in order. Last-minute adjustments to the way you handle a pending problem will make a difference.

Take better care of yourself. Emotional matters will cause confusion or uncertainty that could lead to a poor financial choice. Don’t be too quick to make a move.

Don’t go overboard. Keep your spending to a minimum and refrain from overindulgent behavior. Sticking to a plan and doing your best to balance and stabilize your life will be essential.

tuesdAY, december 11, 2018

19

Ramesh Trophy Stall boosts KFC Goodwill Tournament

T

here are just a few more days to go before the KFC Goodwill Schools Football tournament is unveiled, and more sponsors have come on board to fuel the success of this highly anticipated competition.

The Ramesh Trophy Stall, located on South Road, Bourda, has generously donated a quantity of trophies to be given to the winners of the three-day tournament along with the individual prizes.

Speaking on Monday afternoon at the simple ceremony that preceded handing over of the trophies, Kevin Eshwar expressed the entity’s willingness to participate in initiatives that foster the development of youths. Eshwar also highlighted Petra’s excel-

lent track record.

“The Petra Organisation has a long history (of collaborating) with us in supporting the youths of tomorrow.

They’re always there, giving them athletics’ support.

Even (in) the educational aspect, they’re always there for our youths; and we are proud to be on board with all that, because they represent what we stand for here at Trophy Stall,” Eshwar stated.

Responding, Petra’s CoDirector Troy Mendonca explained that donations such as Trophy Stall’s help to further Petra’s vision of finding and developing local talent.

“This donation gives…opportunity for us to showcase the best of our local talent against one of the top teams from our neighbouring coun-

try, Trinidad and Tobago; and so the donation will go a far way in our developmental programmes that we have embarked on in the last couple of years,” Mendonca explained.

Expressing gratitude to Trophy Stall for its continued support, Mendonca said, “Once again, on behalf of Petra, we’d like to extend a special ‘Thank you’ to Ramesh Trophy Stall.”

The three-day KFC Goodwill Tournament will kick off this Saturday, December 15, with the four participating teams, namely: Annai Secondary, Annandale Secondary, ChristianburgWismar Secondary and the Shiva Boys Hindu College out of Trinidad and Tobago, being involved in play under a

Petra Co-Director Troy Mendonca

round robin format, with the winner being the team that amasses the most points.

On the first day, December 15, the visiting Shiva Boys will take on Annai Secondary while ChristianburgWismar take on Annandale Secondary. The second day’s play, Tuesday December 18, will see ChristianburgWismar battling Annai and Shiva Boys coming up against Annandale Secondary.

The final day of KFC Goodwill action will be on Saturday, December 22nd, when Annai Secondary will face off with Annandale Secondary while Shiva Boys engage Linden’s Christianburg-Wismar Secondary. Play in these games is expected to start at 5pm and 7pm on both days.

Big Bash League: Bat flip to replace coin toss for 2018-19

India withstand Australia’s gumption to seal famous win

I T

The coin toss has decided who bats first since Test cricket began in 1877

his year’s Big Bash League in Australia will feature a flip of a bat to replace the traditional coin toss.

Captains will choose between “hills or flats” instead of heads or tails to decide who bats first.

BBL officials said the bat used for the flip had been modified to promote an even result.

“For me it’s a great moment which reflects what BBL is about,” Cricket Australia’s head of the Big Bash League, Kim McConnie, said.

Cricket’s coin toss has been a topic of discussion in recent years with suggestions it should be abandoned

to allow the visiting team the decision to bat or bowl first.

Plans to remove the coin toss in Test cricket to reduce the degree of home advantage were backed by the England and Wales Cricket Board in May. The flip of the bat derives from backstreet cricket and Ms McConnie said: “Some people don’t like change but I’d also challenge people to say when was the last time anyone watched the coin toss or really focused on it?

“We are making it much more relevant to families, we are creating a moment which is much more fitting with kids.” (BBC Sport)

ndia overcame a spirited defiance from Australia to clinch a narrow, thrilling victory on the final day at Adelaide. A last-wicket stand worth 32 between Nathan Lyon (38*) and Josh Hazlewood took Australia within 32 runs of victory before the latter was dismissed by R Ashwin to help India go 1-0 up in the series in dramatic fashion.

Australia made a fist of a stiff chase with a string of useful lower-order stands worth 41, 31, 41, 31 and 32 as they made India work hard for the victory. Three of these partnerships were ended by Bumrah including that of topscorer Shaun Marsh for 60.

Marsh had led Australia’s resistance with a patient knock in the first session as he put on 41 with skipper Tim Paine and led the charge against R Ashwin’s off-spin. By playing him confidently, forward and back, Marsh dented India’s plans of dictating terms with spin. He soon got to his first fourth innings fifty in Test cricket and his partnership with Paine, coming after Travis Head was prised out early by

an Ishant snorter, kickstarted Australia’s defiance through the day.

However, Bumrah coming in for his first spell of the day had the better of him from a round-the-wicket line, repeatedly challenging him in the channel outside off and eventually getting him caught behind.

The next batsman in, Pat Cummins, survived nervous moments against R Ashwin’s big off breaks from the rough.

He had two TV reviews going in his favour - the first a caught behind appeal taken

by India and the second his own. Given out caught at short leg, Cummins reviewed and was vindicated as replays confirmed that the ball had come off his forearm.

Together with a busy Paine (40), Cummins survived and pursued the fight. But Bumrah, soon after Lunch, had Australia’s captain top-edging a pull. Mitchell Starc, who followed that wicket, played in typically brisk fashion even as Cummins held fort at the other end. That stand was ended when Starc played one drive

too many and edged Shami behind to give Rishabh Pant his 11th dismissal of the match.

Wickets though continued to come at a premium for India, with Lyon being put down by Pant, and Ashwin not able to extract enough pace off the pitch along with his turn. It was Bumrah once again who managed to induce an outside edge to end Cummins’ 121ball stay with Australia still 64

away.

But Lyon, along with Hazlewood, stretched and rode their luck in a last-wicket stand that had India sweating for a while before KL Rahul took a low catch to bring the Test to a dramatic end after a 68-ball resistance It gave India their first victory in an opening Test in Australia and first since 200708. (Cricbuzz)

SCOREBOARD

India – 250 & 307 Australia – 235 Australia 2nd Innings Australia 2nd Innings (target: 323 runs) AJ Finch c †Pant b Ashwin 11 MS Harris c †Pant b Mohammed Shami 26 UT Khawaja c RG Sharma b Ashwin 8 SE Marsh c Pant b Bumrah 60 PSP Handscomb c Pujara b Mohammed Shami 14 TM Head c Rahane b Sharma 14 TD Paine (c) †c †Pant b Bumrah 41 PJ Cummins c Kohli b Bumrah 28 MA Starc c †Pant b Mohammed Shami 28

NM Lyon not out 38 JR Hazlewood c Rahul b Ashwin 13 Extras (b 1, lb 6, nb 3) 10 TOTAL (119.5 Overs, RR: 2.42) 291 Fall of wickets: 1-28 (AJ Finch, 11.6 ov), 2-44 (MS Harris, 16.2 ov), 3-60 (UT Khawaja, 23.3 ov), 4-84 (PSP Handscomb, 36.5 ov), 5-115 (TM Head, 56.4 ov), 6-156 (SE Marsh, 72.1 ov), 7-187 (TD Paine, 84.1 ov), 8-228 (MA Starc, 100.4 ov), 9-259 (PJ Cummins, 108.4 ov), 10291 (JR Hazlewood, 119.5 ov) BOWLING: I Sharma (19-4-48-1), JJ Bumrah (24-8-68-3), R Ashwin (52.5-13-92-3), M Shami (204-65-3), M Vijay (4-0-11-0)

20

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesdAY, december 11, 2018

Is Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club the best youth organisation in Guyana?

– prime candidate for the GCB Club-of-the-Year Award

The victorious Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets Team won the Pepsi First Division tournament (Brandon Corlette photos)

By Brandon Corlette

T

he Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB’s) 2018 Awards Ceremony is fast approaching, and the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) of East Berbice (Region 6) may be in contention to cop The Cricket Club of the Year Award.

Primarily known for possessing one of the best cricket teams in Guyana, this youth organisation has dominated the various cricket tournaments played in Berbice in 2018; and has won the GCB Cricket Club of the Year Award in 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2016, in addition to receiving the International Olympic Committee Award for sports and the Rotary International Award for community development, both in 2011.

Another award received by the RHTYSC is the Medal of Service from the Government of Guyana in 2016.

The year 2018 has been another productive year for this illustrious cricket club,

with it having won numerous Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) tournaments, among which are: the Ramnaresh Sarwan Under-17; the New York Business Group Under-19; Patrons’ Cup First Division; Sky Vodka T20 First Division; Naeem Nasir Memorial Second Division; Rafick’s 100-ball Second Division; Rhonda Lewis Memorial Second Division; Magic Moments T20 Second Division; the Brian Ramphal double- wicket, and the Pepsi 50 Over First Division tournaments.

In the ongoing Ivan Madray 100-ball tournament and the Busta-sponsored tournament, RHTYSC have thus far performed brilliantly, and may well be lifting those titles.

In the numerous finals in which the RHTYSC were involved, they were at a disadvantage in that they had to play away from home conditions at their Area H ground.

Thirteen finals were played away from home conditions, in contrast to the two finals played at Area H.

The RHTYSC finished runners-up in these few tournaments: Mike’s Pharmacy Under-15 final, against Albion; Da Silva’s Under-13, against Port Mourant; and Elizabeth Styles’ Under-21, against Blairmont.

While the club has been winning tournaments, it has simultaneously been producing standout players who went on to represent the county of Berbice and were involved in the Cricket Guyana Inc. (CGI) Franchise tournament.

In 2018, four RHTYSC players were in the Berbice Under-15 team; one was in the Berbice Under-17 team; four were in the Berbice Under-19 team, while nine of its male players participated in the CGI Franchise League.

Additionally, five of its female players were in the Berbice Under-19 team, while eleven were in the Senior Berbice Female team.

Most of these players – both male and female -- went on to represent Guyana at different levels. Three male players were in the Guyana

Under-15 team, and three were in the Guyana Under-19 team; while six female players gained the opportunity to play for the Guyana Senior Team, and three female players were named in the Guyana Under-19 team.

Clinton Pestano, who has had a dream 2018 in the Guyana Jaguars colours, is one of the RHTYSC senior players. He played in the 2018-2019 Regional Super 50 tournament and picked up an unforgettable hat trick against the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force. He captured the wickets of West Indies star players Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Bravo and Keiron Pollard. Pestano’s impressive performance with the white ball has given him opportunity to play in the ongoing Cricket West Indies Regional 4-Day tournament, and he immediately has had an impact in the first game, scoring a glorious half-century and picking up six wickets in the match.

A x e d G u y a n a Jaguars batsman A s s a d Fudadin is also a senior member of the RHTYSC team, and is currently representing the Jamaica Scorpions in the Regional 4 - D a y tournament.

T h e

youths of RHTYSC have been equally brilliant, with Jonathan Rampersaud (West Indies Under-15), Kevlon Anderson (West Indies Under-19), Shabika Gajnabi (West Indies female team) and Sheneta Grimmond earning themselves maiden call-ups to West Indies training camps.

Shemaine Campbell and Sheneta Grimmond were selected to play in the historic ICC stand-alone Women’s World T20 tournament, with the latter sustaining an injury. Kevin Sinclair has captained the Berbice Under-19 team and has captured the Most Valuable Player award, along with consistent leftarm spinner Keith Simpson.

Jonathan Rampersaud – who at 14 years old was the youngest player to feature in the CGI Franchise League -- copped the Most Valuable Player award in the Under-15 Inter-County tournament.

Having achieved so much, the RHTYSC has given back to its outstanding players and members of the society.

The sports organisation has held an awards ceremony, and over 3 million dollars in cash and prizes were given to worthy recipients. Grassroots cricket is an important asset to an aspiring cricketer, and the RHTYSC has hosted a cricket academy for approximately 320 youths, with qualified coaches holding brainstorming sessions and sharing their knowledge.

With all this achievement, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) is among the elite cricket clubs in this country; and time will tell if the illustrious sports intuition would receive the well-deserved Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Club-ofthe-Year award.

RHTY&SC player Clinton Pestano is presently on duty with the illustrious Guyana Jaguars Team

Assuria commits to GFF-Stag “Super 16” year-end tournament

A

s December 14 approaches, when play in the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) Stag year-end tournament commences, Assuria has committed a monetary donation to the success of the tournament.

In a small ceremony held at the company’s head office, an undisclosed sum was donated by Assuria’s Financial Planner Patrick Hazelwood to GFF President Wayne Forde in the presence of Erwin Daniels, Assuria’s Agency Manager and Head of Life Department.

Concluding the presentation, Daniels said the agency is pleased to be associated with the initiative, as it has the potential to effect positive change in the behaviour of youths.

“The GFF is engendering good behaviour for our youths and

Assuria’s Patrick Hazelwood presenting the monetary donation to GFF President Wayne Forde

youth development. The tournament affords the youth the extra-curricular activities outside of education. Football has the ability to produce role models for the society through the development of national athletes, including coaches and players. It takes care of the youth, so Assuria will partner with any organisation which enhances society as a whole; and the GFF is such an organization,” he said.

Sharing those sentiments, Hazelwood said the partnership is monumental for Assuria. “It’s a great achievement in the sense that we’re among the first set of insurance companies to entertain such a thought. Based on that, I’m looking forward to the aspect of moving from strength to strength, making the GFF much more effective in terms of our input as well

as that of the Federation from an insurance and developmental standpoint, where football is concerned,” Hazelwood said.

Forde declared that the contribution would be impactful for the sport of football. “This is an extension of an already robust relationship. Assuria is the single supplier of all of our insurance products, and we’re happy to transition that relationship to the support of the game. Many young men will have an opportunity to positively engage themselves during this festive season in the game of football, which will no doubt take them away from any other form of activity that may not be in their best interest or the society’s best interest. So, we’re happy that Assuria has seen it fit to reinvest into the development of young people in Guyana,” he said.

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sports

Narine outsprints Crawford to win Homeline Furnishing’s 30-miler C

yclist Balram Narine outsprinted the Berbice champion rider Romello Crawford to win the Homeline Furnishing’s First Anniversary 30-Mile Road Race held in East Berbice on Sunday.

Dubbed “the Crawford/Balram battle”, the event lived up to expectations in terms of its competitiveness. Before the riders had taken the starting line outside of Homeline Furnishing’s new address at Strand and Church Street in New Amsterdam, it was being touted that Narine was being over-promoted; and when the race commenced, both riders approached the task with caution for about five minutes.

Narine then attempted to use the declivity of the Canje Bridge to make a break away from the competition, but he found Crawford keeping up with him, and the two riders left the peloton behind.

After five miles of competing against each other, these two riders decided to join forces and put more pressure on the peloton. They thus shared the eight sprint point prizes equally.

Turnaround point of the race was at the University of Guyana Tain Campus, and conclusion was at its point of origin. With two hundred metres left in the race, Narine and Crawford relinquished the union they had established and got off their seats in a bid to outsprint each other to the finish line. With bikes wobbling from side to side as each man employed his utmost effort to get first to the finish line, Narine prevailed over Crawford to win the race impressively.

Several minutes after that epic battle, Jerimiah Joseph crossed the finish line as third position win-

All the winners pose for a photo opportunity

ner of the race, ahead of Syborne Fernandez and Steve Bhimsen.

Competing in the Juvenile category, Joseph was first and Bhimsen second. Third place went to Mario Washington, with Marlon Boodram occupying the fourth spot. In the Under-14 category, Jason Campbell won over the second placed Shasim

Yakub. The lone female to compete in the race was Maria Carrington.

Operating in New Amsterdam for the past decade, and having branches in Rose Hall Town in Region 6 and at Rosignol in Region 5, Homeline Furnishing moved to its new location in New Amsterdam one year ago, and has promised to make

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the 30-mile cycle race an annual event. A few years ago, Homeline Furnishing had, through its Rose Hall Town store, sponsored a similar event.

Sunday’s event was organised

by Coach of the Flying Ace Cycle Club, Randolph Roberts. (Andrew Carmichael)

Monedderlust destroy Soccer City M

onedderlust advanced to the next round of the Candy Boss/Antics GT BEER 8-a-side Knockout Football tournament in Berbice on Sunday evening by administering a crushing 5-Nil defeat on Soccer City at the All Saints Ground on Princess Elizabeth Road in New Amsterdam.

The one-sided affair saw goals being scored against the hapless Soccer City by Kevin Layife in the 11th minute, Scon Watts in the 17th minute, Jamal McDonald in the 26th minute, Arieo Watts in the 47th minute, and Paul McDonald in the latter stage of the game.

A power outage to one side of the field with 16 minutes still left in regulation time briefly delayed play, but the action resumed twenty minutes afterwards, and Monedderlust were able to score their fifth goal.

During the power outage, Soccer City was demanding that the game be replayed, contending there was insufficient light to facilitate play, while Monedderlust insisted on playing.

Referee Colin Bowery, however, ruled there was insufficient lighting for the game to continue. Organisers had ruled that should play be discontinued, the game would be awarded to Monedderlust. Thus Soccer City decided to take to the field when the

The winning Monedderlust team

lights returned, only for them to be further humiliated.

The competition continues this weekend with Golden Stars tak-

ing on Mahaica Determinators, and Number 5 clashing with Paradise on Friday at the same venue. On Sunday, Paradise take on the

Georgetown Police.

The final game is set for January 5, with the winner taking home $600,000. (Andrew Carmichael)

22

GUYANATIMESgy.COM

tuesdAY, december 11, 2018

UG Trojans defy Young Warriors Club gets Guardians to capture support from former cricketer GABA U-23 title

T

Players and executives of the YWCC proudly display the balls received

The victorious UG Trojans

he Rainforest Water/ Malta Supreme/ Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) League concluded its Under 23 Division on Sunday with the UG Trojans squeezing past the number one ranked Plaisance Guardians to engender an eruption of pure joy among ecstatic University supporters as the Trojans claimed their maiden Basketball championship.

The action all started for the Trojans on Saturday when they faced the Pacesetters in the semifinal. It was a seesaw battle for most of its duration, with each team pushing the other to its limit. In the end, the Trojans stunned the Pacesetters 75-73, with Denzel Ross leading the way with 16 points, while Kadeem Peterkin supported with 12.

With the penultimate hurdle crossed, the Warren Wilson-led side now had a shot at the title. Prior to this match, Wilson had said the players were hungry and

wanted the win badly; and this was displayed when they emphatically carved out for themselves a 79-62 win over the Plaisance Guardians on Sunday.

At start of the highly anticipated finals, the Trojans accelerated the pace from ball one, and led the scoring in all four periods of the game, besting every performance they had registered at the beginning of the league.

Showing composure, style and class, they managed to restrict the in-form Terrence Daniels, upon whom great pressure was applied, and forced the other players to become desperate.

Scoring for the Trojans were Jonathan Browne, who top-scored with 18 points; Kadeem Peterkin, who scored 17; and Darrol Williams, who scored 15.

As the final buzzer sounded, the Trojan fans could scarce contain themselves.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sport, coach of the

University side, Warren Wilson, said: “I feel vindicated; because the odds weren’t against the players, but a lot of the coaches felt that since I had no experience playing basketball at a national level, and the fact that I am young…but I am happy that I was able to lead the guys this far.

“I really worked hard with them, and I think that this is a really good first step; and I hope that the administration would push basketball to get it more recognised,” Wilson declared.

In the third place playoff, the Pacesetters defeated the Eagles 72-41in commanding fashion.

Action in this tournament will continue on Wednesday, December 12, with the finals and third place playoffs in the second division, while the first division league will conclude on the following day. Matches are scheduled to commence at 18:30 hrs on both days.

(Timothy Jaikarran)

A

s the executives and players of the Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) of Cumberland, East Canje Berbice toil ceaselessly to return the club to its former glory after its recent resuscitation, they have been gifted three boxes of cricket balls from Yasin Mohamed of New York, a former resident of Canefield Settlement, East Canje Berbice.

The gift was received by former national player and coach Hubern Evans in the presence of a small audience.

In addition to the balls, an undisclosed sum of cash was also presented.

Stating how happy he was to give back to cricket

in the area he represented, Mohammed recalled his days playing for the Rose Hall Community Çentre Cricket Club, where he rubbed shoulders with many of the players from the YWCC. He added that with the recent closure of the sugar estate in the area, he knows that the community needs help, and he is confident that sports is a way out of the turmoil.

He made special mention of new West Indies batting star Shimron Hetmyer, who is a product of YWCC. In response, Evans thanked Mohamed for his timely gifts, and promised that the club would continue

to grow and recover quickly from its recent dormancy.

He alluded to the fact that, in the first division cricket competition, this team had given a good account of themselves since the resuscitation. That tournament, organised by the Berbice Cricket Board, saw the YWCC play unbeaten until they lost to the powerhouse Rose Hall Town in the final.

Evans also mentioned that the club have so far played unbeaten in the NBS Second Division Cricket Competition, and have topped their group in the preliminary round.

8 Berbice karatekas promoted

E

Berbician karatekas who were successfully graded pose with their instructors

ight Berbician karatekas were on Sunday graded in a simple exercise held at the New Amsterdam Town Hall in the presence of parents and guardians of the karatekas.

Displaying a competitive level of sparring skills and kata (karate form), the small group of karatekas were assessed by Instructor of the Association do Shotokan Karate – Guyana, 7th Dan black belt Master Amir Khouri; who was assisted by local instructors: 6th Dan Black Belt Sensei Clinton Moriah and 5th Dan Black Belt Sensei Hazrat Ali. Five of the eight karatekas from the New Amsterdam and Blairmont dojos jumped one place; while Daquin Crawford, Cleavand Campbell and

Javel Thom jumped two places. Crawford moved from green to purple belt (6 Kyu to 4B Kyu), Campbell from blue to brown (5 Kyu to 3B Kyu), and Thom from purple to brown (4 Kyu to 2B Kyu).

The others who were assessed are Navrisha Harrynarine, who moved from white to yellow (8 Kyu to 7 Kyu); Jaheil Albert, who moved from yellow to orange (7 Kyu to 6 Kyu); Tinan Hughes, who moved from orange to green (7 Kyu to 6 Kyu); and Elijah Sukhoo and Tomera Hughes, who both moved from green to blue (6 Kyu to 5 Kyu).

Sensei Khouri noted that two objectives of the programme related to the GKC wanting to promote the disciplined art of fighting by encouraging youngsters to

work at their own pace in the ancient art, and to develop modern strategies in conducting training sessions and practical examinations.

He is encouraging persons to participate in the sport, noting that it helps persons to become disciplined, apart from their receiving numerous health benefits.

However, the Sensei urges that persons do background checks of the trainers before joining a dojo.

While karate is an ancient art form, it has developed modern strategies in the conduct of training sessions and practical examinations.

Guyana falls under the International Karate Daigaku (IKD). (Andrew Carmichael)

guyanatimesgy.com

tuesdAY, december 11, 2018

23

2018-2019 CWI Regional 4-Day Tournament…

Hurricanes top table after opening round – Karty, Pestano, Walsh, Permaul among outstanding performers

By Brandon Corlette

I

t was a great start to the new season of the 20182019 Cricket West Indies (CWI) Regional 4-Day tournament, with the Leeward Islands Hurricanes and Guyana Jaguars reg-

istering contrasting victories.

In the Guyana Jaguars encounter against the Windward Islands Volcanoes, the four-time defending champions cruised to a 125-run victory; while the Leeward Islands Hurricanes completed a 34-run victory against the Barbados Pride.

Star performers for the Jaguars in their match against the Volcanoes was Player of the Match Clinton Pestano, Veerasammy Permaul, Christopher Barnwell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Vishaul Singh and Romario Shepherd. For the Volcanoes, the star players were Alick Athanaze and Taryck Gabriel.

Pestano picked up six wickets in two innings, while he contributed significantly with the bat in scoring 72 runs in two innings. Veerasammy Permaul picked up six wickets in a team wherein he was the lone front-line spinner selected in the starting XI. Tagenarine Chanderpaul’s marathon innings of 84 in

the second innings resulted in him finishing the opening round with the most runs scored for the Jaguars.

Christopher Barnwell was second on the batting chart for the Jaguars in the first round with 79 runs in his two innings. Vishaul Singh, who played a valuable knock in the first innings, has 78

runs thus far. Captain Leon Johnson has 66 runs in both innings, having scored an attractive half-century in the first innings. He will be aiming to convert those half-centuries into centuries in the upcoming rounds.

Keacy Carty was the only centurion in the first round, smacking for the Hurricanes

a masterful 114 from 199 balls. The 21-year-old was resilient during his splendid knock, which included 10 hallmark boundaries and one maximum.

It was a roller coaster match between the Hurricanes and Pride.

Hurricanes scored 252 all out, and Hayden Walsh captured five in the Pride reply of 248 all out. Carter scored a resolute 63 off 183 balls for Pride, while Joseph starred with four wickets.

In the second innings, the Hurricanes were bundled out for 165. The Barbados Pride required 169 runs for victory, but failed to achieve same and were bowled out for 135, with Terrence Wade capturing four wickets. Unsurprisingly, Keacy Carty was awarded Player of the Match for his match-winning century.

The second round will continue from December 13 with three exciting matches: Barbados Pride will play Jamaica Scorpions, Leeward Hurricanes will play Guyana Jaguars, and Trinidad and

Tobago Red Force will play Windward Islands Volcanoes.

All matches are scheduled for a 10:00h Eastern Caribbean Time start.

Newly-elected Archery President enjoys audience with Minister F

resh into his stint as President of Archery Guyana, Mohamed Khan, along with a delegation consisting of Archery Guyana’s Directors, was afforded opportunity to pay a courtesy call on Minister of Social Cohesion, with responsibility for Sport, Dr George Norton, at that Ministry’s headquarters on Main Street in Georgetown.

Archery Guyana representatives took this opportunity to outline and discuss their developmental plans with Minister Norton, while updating him on the progress that Archery Guyana has made thus far.

President of Archery Guyana Mohamed Khan locked in conversation with Minister, Dr George Norton about his plans for 2019

Among the topics discussed was the proposed Junior Archery Programme, Schools Programme, and Para-Archery Programme.

The body has also agreed to pursue more Outreach programmes.

Early in the New Year, Archery Guyana will be hosting an International Olympic Judge who is expected to conduct a Judge’s training Seminar. This event comes on the heels of the Level 1 Coaching training Seminar organised by Archery Guyana, wherein 19 National Archery Coaches were certified by the renowned International Olympic Coach

Phillip Greaves.

Persons interested in becoming involved in the sport as Judges are urged to engage with Archery Guyana early to be able to benefit from the said Judge’s Seminar.

The Minister has expressed commitment to continue working with Archery Guyana, especially in taking the sport into the hinterland areas of Guyana.

The Ministry and Archery Guyana agreed to collaborate to build a stronger working relationship in promoting and developing this novel sport for the benefit of all Guyanese.

stumpings.

Surrey batsman Ollie Pope was part of the original squad in Sri Lanka but left the tour ahead of the second Test to play for the Lions and is not included.

England have won only one Test series in the West Indies since 1968, when Michael Vaughan’s team sealed a 3-0 win in 2004.

The most recent tour in 2015 saw the Windies win the final match by five wickets to draw the series at 1-1.

Meanwhile, England are waiting to learn when Sussex’s Barbados-born all-rounder Jofra Archer qualifies to play for them.

Sussex said the 23-yearold, who was signed for £800,000 in the Indian Premier League auction last January, is likely to

qualify “at some point in March 2019.”

After the West Indies tour there are only six England one-day internationals - one in Ireland and five against Pakistan - before the World Cup begins in May. “At the moment Jofra Archer is not available for selection for the England squad so he wasn’t considered, so he’s not selected, so that’s it,” England national selector Ed Smith said.

“If he becomes available, as it looks like he will do, in the reasonably near future, we think potentially in the early spring, then at that point we will start to consider the best squad with Jofra Archer available. Until that moment I wouldn’t speculate about that at all.” (BBC

England Test squad unchanged for WI winter tour E

ngland have named an unchanged 16man squad for the three-Test series in the West Indies starting next month.

Joe Root’s team beat Sri Lanka 3-0 last month, with wicketkeeper Ben Foakes and opener Rory Burns making their debuts.

David Willey returns for the five-match one-day series starting in February, with Sam Curran, Liam Dawson and Olly Stone left out.

The squad for the threematch T20 series that completes the tour of the Caribbean in March will be named later.

Warwickshire seamer Stone, who made his ODI debut in Sri Lanka and took one wicket in three innings, remains in the Test squad

England have won their last five Test matches

with the younger of the Curran brothers, Sam, who has scored 404 runs and taken 14 wickets in his first seven matches.

Surrey left-hander Burns, 28, made a steady start to his Test career with 155 runs in six innings and a top score of 59.

Foakes, 25, impressed after being called in to cover for Jonny Bairstow, with a century and a fifty, plus eight catches and two

Sport)

tuesdAY, december 11, 2018

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

guyanatimesgy.com

Is Rose Hall Town Youth and Ramesh Trophy Stall boosts KFC Goodwill Sports Club the best youth Tournament organisation in Guyana?

Page 19

– prime candidate for the GCB Club-of-the-Year Award

Page 20 The victorious Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets Team won the Pepsi First Division tournament (Brandon Corlette photo)

Kevin Eshwar making the presentation on behalf of Ramesh Trophy Stall to Petra’s Troy Mendonca

Assuria commits to GFF-Stag “Super 16” year-end tournament

Newly-elected Archery President enjoys audience with Minister

Page 20

Page 23

From left: Archery Guyana’s President Mohamed Khan; Minister, Dr George Norton; Archery Guyana’s Secretary General Vidushi Persaud-McKinnon, and Treasurer Nicholas Hing

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